I think WW Quest is arguably better than both, It has better game against control decks because you get the vindicate effect. But if your going to play one or the other id say Boros is better ina heavy ramp meta than RDW is due to the 0/X blockers in them and control, Due to the ability to get bigger than your oppositions wall. Also Goblin Guide is just bad against control decks, I know that I personally love seeing T1 guide against me.
Are you trolling or something. As a control player, the last thing I want to see is a Turn 1 Goblin Guide. The win percentage of RDW or Boros rises dramatically when it has a turn 1 guide.
The only few cards that dodges SoJI's evasion are day of judgment and consuming vapors, plus gatekeeper of malakir. I'd love to see a UB list like INS's w/vapors as I played a B/G ramp deck I've never posted online before that ran them as. 3 of, the lifegain can put you ahead in so many situations, and playing permission could cause you to slowplay removal, I will personally play 2 soji, and builds w/abyssal persacutor, but I would definately love to see some consuming vapors in an ins builld.
Consuming Vapors is horrible in the permission build. The absolute ONLY card you want to tap out for in that deck is Jace, the Mind Sculptor and only in certain situations.
I advocate Jace of Bel-Air in just about any Tap-Out build (I always ran 2 in my builds), but I (and likely most other people) were assuming it was a slightly more permission based deck list as that's what is dominating the meta.
How do you figure permission is dominating the meta? The permission deck won one states tournament. The tapout variants have won multiple states, top 8s in 5ks, won a 5k...
If were going by statistics, The UB permission that won in california was a fluke. Every other UB that has had a major win has been a tapout. Even the UB decks that have been in top 8s have been tapout style. The 5k winner in boston played a tapout deck and another UB in the top 8 was another UB tapout. I havent seen permission doing anything lately.
I like chalice in UB control. The faster you can play a grave or frost titan the better. I really like trinket mage into chalice as it basically garuntees you can drop a titan in the next two turns. Some matches you really need to get a grave titan out there asap (elves, vengevine decks) and chalice helps tremendously with that.
Plus in a removal heavy Meta (Every deck has an answer to titans) Sphinx is just so useful... In the control match up your opponent is forced to use inefficient spells just to deal with him...
this meta is not removal heavy...hence why i said i dont like sphinx in this meta.
@Well321
Don’t only focus Sphinx’s shroud... He also has evasion and more importantly the ability to look at the top card of your library... For a control deck knowing the top card of your library before making any play is invaluable... It interacts with Jace because it gives you information and can help you get rid of cards you don't need through fate sealing your self... The list that won the Boston 5k is running fetches to not only help thin out the deck but also achieve a semi Sphinx effect by shuffling the library to get rid of unwanted cards, however this means he used a card or ability to know what cards he was drawing already, which he could have saved if he had Sphinx... I can go on and on about Sphinx but in the end it depends on the type of deck you are playing and the Meta in your area
the looking at the top card does not matter that much, yes its nice but its not a reason to play sphinx. Flying is relevant although locking down two blockers (Frost Titan) or creating two guys each time you attack (Grave Titan) is even better usually.
IMO sphinx of jwar isle is not that good in this meta. Sure he's great if your already in control of the game and are going to win anyway. You drop him and your all set. However in a game where your struggling for control, he does not help that much. Definitely not as much as say Grave Titan, Frost Titan, or Wurmcoil Engine does. I do see the value in running only shroud creatures, however a lot of decks are just not running removal anyway.
Think your choice of finisher depends on the meta that you think you will be faceing. The Cal state champ was saying that he expected tons of doom blades so he went with the Sphinx.
THat doesnt make sense. If he was expecting a lot of doom blades, then Grave Titan should be your finisher of choice.
I agree. I run 2x Wurmcoil and 1x Grave Titan main, otherwise my list is very similiar to his.
How are the wurmcoils testing? I've been thing of running them maindeck also. do you usaully tap out for it turn 6 like you can with sphinx or do you wait ?
There's an article at rcgplayer which features matt's u/b list. I really dislike the guys suggested list (bloodhusk ritualist, really?). But he definitely has some interesting insight
I really didnt like his assesment of Inquisition of Kozilek. He said all the best threats are 4+ mana so it misses them. Yes that is true, that is what counterspells are for. IoK is to hit the early cards before you can get counter mana up. I think he basically missed the point of the deck a little bit, although I do agree consume the meek could be maindeck as a 1 or 2 of. At worst it can take out manlands and tokens.
When your playing preordain and inquisition of kozilek and duress in the same deck, the first turn dual mana is key. I think darkslick shores is the 2nd best land for UB besides Creeping tar Pit
Been testing I-never-smile's list with great results so far. I tweaked the board a little bit, but I think this is what im running at the 5k on Saturday.
the sideboard might be overkill on agro, but I expect elves to make a big showing.
This card lets them effectively play EIGHT Primeval Titans, four of which are instant speed, four of which can also, transmorph into an Emrakul sometimes. Oh, and as a side note -- it completely hoses control.
Summoning Trap is only as good as the creatures you play in your deck. With Eldrazi and Primeval Titans, it's one of the best cards in the format, it's that insane.
In short, look at all of the other traps. They're garbage unless you use their "cheat" ability. Summoning Trap is awesome without its cheat ability. Since when are "hoser" cards awesome by themselves? This makes it insane when you factor in the freebie chance.
I think thats the way traps should be anyways. Good even without the cheat, but awesome if you do get to activate it. Summoning trap is not a badly designed card IMO. It is actually a card that is designed very well.
Are you trolling or something. As a control player, the last thing I want to see is a Turn 1 Goblin Guide. The win percentage of RDW or Boros rises dramatically when it has a turn 1 guide.
Consuming Vapors is horrible in the permission build. The absolute ONLY card you want to tap out for in that deck is Jace, the Mind Sculptor and only in certain situations.
How do you figure permission is dominating the meta? The permission deck won one states tournament. The tapout variants have won multiple states, top 8s in 5ks, won a 5k...
this meta is not removal heavy...hence why i said i dont like sphinx in this meta.
the looking at the top card does not matter that much, yes its nice but its not a reason to play sphinx. Flying is relevant although locking down two blockers (Frost Titan) or creating two guys each time you attack (Grave Titan) is even better usually.
THat doesnt make sense. If he was expecting a lot of doom blades, then Grave Titan should be your finisher of choice.
How are the wurmcoils testing? I've been thing of running them maindeck also. do you usaully tap out for it turn 6 like you can with sphinx or do you wait ?
I really didnt like his assesment of Inquisition of Kozilek. He said all the best threats are 4+ mana so it misses them. Yes that is true, that is what counterspells are for. IoK is to hit the early cards before you can get counter mana up. I think he basically missed the point of the deck a little bit, although I do agree consume the meek could be maindeck as a 1 or 2 of. At worst it can take out manlands and tokens.
7 Island
4 Swamp
4 Tectonic Edge
4 Creeping Tar Pit
4 Darkslick Shores
2 Drowned Catacomb
CREATURES 2
2 Sphinx of Jwar Isle
SPELLS 33
3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
4 Jace's Ingenuity
4 Preordain
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
4 Doom Blade
2 Into the Roil
2 Stoic Rebuttal
3 Mindbreak Trap
2 Cancel
2 Negate
4 Mana Leak
3 Flashfreeze
2 Consume the Meek
2 Grave Titan
2 Duress
2 Disfigure
2 Ratchet Bomb
2 Vampire Hexmage
the sideboard might be overkill on agro, but I expect elves to make a big showing.
7 Island
4 Swamp
4 Tectonic Edge
4 Creeping Tar Pit
4 Darkslick Shores
2 Drowned Catacomb
CREATURES 2
2 Sphinx of Jwar Isle
SPELLS 33
3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
4 Jace's Ingenuity
4 Preordain
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
4 Doom Blade
2 Into the Roil
2 Stoic Rebuttal
3 Mindbreak Trap
2 Cancel
2 Negate
4 Mana Leak
3 Flashfreeze
2 Consume the Meek
2 Grave Titan
2 Duress
2 Disfigure
2 Ratchet Bomb
2 Sign in Blood
I think thats the way traps should be anyways. Good even without the cheat, but awesome if you do get to activate it. Summoning trap is not a badly designed card IMO. It is actually a card that is designed very well.