I was playing with your list nonstop for the past week. I'm in love with it so far, the only question I have is regarding the sideboard. Since the majority of your list is counters, I'd assume you'd have to take out some to bring in your sb cards. Can you go into which ones you'd take out against which matches (I know there are some obvious ones, like taking out negate against creature heavy decks, or mindbreak trap against fast decks).
Thanks
Here's some of his thought processes from the archives.
I know they're not there for thsoe matchups. My point is, they're absolutely dead cards to draw against decks that dont' give you a lot of time to draw dead cards.
My bad. I didn't notice they were in the main. I'd never have them in main unless I had a vampire or elf infested meta.
Consider it fixed Matt! I knew there was something wrong, and I appreciate you clarifying it. Oh, btw... what do you think about boarding 4 Smother vs 2/2 with Disfigure?
I'm not Matt, but in my thought process, with all the draw in the deck, you'll be able to see both. Disfigure lets you block and kill things you shouldn't be able to with Sphinx of Jwar Isle.
ok i am having a hard time deciding which third color to go with between black, white and red. can some one help me with such by stating the pros and cons of each with this deck. I mean like previously stated red really doesn't have much to offer. I kinda like Vendetta over Doom blade since it is one less mana and essentially most of the time that is what we would have left over for the first few turns. I not really sure about going the bant version with this i kinda this black is a bit better. also with black if your running monument you can run a 2-3 of with bloodghast so that you don't need to worry about saccing even if monument is more of a win-more condition. Anyways just looking for some input. let me know. TY.
Black is good due to the lack of removal in current standard (especially instant speed). As for Vendetta vs. Doom Blade, do you really want to Vendetta an eldrazi or a titan?
For people saying Duress is better in the main, Kozilek hits those early creatures that can lower your life total really fast. Which Duress cannot hit.
Which would you rather be able to hit against a B deck Vampire Hexmage, Nantuko Husk or Mind SLudge which you could easily counter later on.
The only change I am wanting after some play with the deck is at least 1 more 1-2 cmc counter in the main.
This is exactly my thought process. IoK is better main deck because you can use it before you're able to have mana up to counter.
Right, but most exile effects are gone now, and Skithiryx regenerates. The most popular forms of removal will not work against it, and it kills faster (not to mention is a better blocker, too.) So if you are only running 3 SoJI, why not run 3 Skithiryx instead? Both have one removal spell (2 after sideboard for Skithiryx) that work on them (assuming you have mana open for regeneration.)
Condemn and Celestial Purge get rid of Skittles, but can't touch the Sphinx.
The nice thing about the Sphinx is he makes removal in the first game dead. I suppose you could side in Skittles in the second game, hoping they pulled the removal...
My only problem with that article is how he says that he cut the Ooze/Gigantomancer combo for the Masticore. Most of us are just running both. I'm a fan of threat density, and I like the Ooze combo more than his Trinket Mage/Skinrender plan.
That's just my opinion, though. I actually really like Skinrender and am playing it in another deck. I just don't think it's as powerful as Necrotic Ooze in this deck, for the same cost.
IMHO, Masticore has board presence. With as much yard hate as there is, I wouldn't count on being able to use lots of Oozejinx.
4 Jaces may be too many. In my past dealings with Jace 2, I've often sat with multiples in my hand. I don't usually burn him like Jace 1, but he is nice to have to unsummon polymorphed Eldrazi. It might be nice to see a Necrotic Ooze in the SB to deal with creature heavy decks (if you get Assassin in the yard).
I'm looking for decks for the new standard. So I'm looking at a lot of lists to get some ideas. But too many decks have Jace 2 in it.
Now, the moment I see that guy, I stop looking at that decklist, because I'll never get 4x Jace.
You see, I don't play vintage because I can't afford a mox. But 4x Jace is almost a mox!
I'm curious where people get the money for a jace.
Am I the only who is working and has to pay for his home and his food?
There is no logic in it. So you have 4 Jace, and you can build the best deck in standard... How many wins do you need before earning the money you invested?
I have 4x Jaces, which I bought when the price was low (right after announced). That doesn't happen anymore since the pre-release prices start at $50 for planeswalkers. It's still frustrating for me to see that so many decks require other cards that are nearly as high (Vengevine, Primeval Titan, Gideon).
I tried this before with Archive Trap. You need to run R so you can get the damage to activate Bloodchief. When it worked, it worked great, but it was hardly consistent.
Here's some of his thought processes from the archives.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showpost.php?p=5919941&postcount=92
My bad. I didn't notice they were in the main. I'd never have them in main unless I had a vampire or elf infested meta.
They're not there for U/W control and Titan decks. You have 4 Doom Blades and a mess of counters to deal with those threats.
I'm not Matt, but in my thought process, with all the draw in the deck, you'll be able to see both. Disfigure lets you block and kill things you shouldn't be able to with Sphinx of Jwar Isle.
Black is good due to the lack of removal in current standard (especially instant speed). As for Vendetta vs. Doom Blade, do you really want to Vendetta an eldrazi or a titan?
This is exactly my thought process. IoK is better main deck because you can use it before you're able to have mana up to counter.
Condemn and Celestial Purge get rid of Skittles, but can't touch the Sphinx.
The nice thing about the Sphinx is he makes removal in the first game dead. I suppose you could side in Skittles in the second game, hoping they pulled the removal...
IMHO, Masticore has board presence. With as much yard hate as there is, I wouldn't count on being able to use lots of Oozejinx.
http://www.starcitygames.com/php/news/article/20208.html
I'm going to build something similar and give it a shot.
1 Brittle Effigy
1 Chimeric Mass
Artifact Creatures
1 Memnite
1 Molten-Tail Masticore
Creatures
4 Birds of Paradise
4 Fauna Shaman
1 Frost Titan
4 Lotus Cobra
2 Skinrender
3 Trinket Mage
1 Vampire Hexmage
4 Vengevine
4 Doom Blade
Planeswalkers
4 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Basic Lands
5 Forest
3 Island
4 Swamp
Lands
4 Creeping Tar Pit
1 Drowned Catacomb
4 Misty Rainforest
4 Verdant Catacombs
1 Nihil Spellbomb
3 Acidic Slime
4 Obstinate Baloth
1 Royal Assassin
2 Skinrender
1 Tajuru Preserver
3 Duress
4 Jaces may be too many. In my past dealings with Jace 2, I've often sat with multiples in my hand. I don't usually burn him like Jace 1, but he is nice to have to unsummon polymorphed Eldrazi. It might be nice to see a Necrotic Ooze in the SB to deal with creature heavy decks (if you get Assassin in the yard).
The 2 Skinrenders in the SB might be better as Marsh Casualties.
I have 4x Jaces, which I bought when the price was low (right after announced). That doesn't happen anymore since the pre-release prices start at $50 for planeswalkers. It's still frustrating for me to see that so many decks require other cards that are nearly as high (Vengevine, Primeval Titan, Gideon).