So this is the Nekusar deck I've put together. I've cut a lot of good cards from this deck as the color combination offers up a large variety of strategies and Nekusar is versatile enough as a General to support them. I would describe my strategy as an early midrange build. I would love to hear from player's who've played him, or played against him as to what works well and if there are any cards (I'm sure there are many) that I am overlooking or synergies that I am letting waste.
Basically what he's saying I'd your missing the point. You don't want to run 4 gyre sage and 2 sylvan carytids. Add the 4 elvish Mystic. There is almost no green deck in any format that doesn't run G mana rampers.
Edit: also voice of the hulcave is not that great. I wouldn't run him he's too slow and costs too much. Compare to archangel of thune who gives +1/+1 counters to every creature every time she hits.
Seething Counter2U
If red mana was spent casting this spell add RR to your mana pool.
Counter target spell. "If your talented enough spellcasting requires almost no expenditure of energy"
Casting this on your opponents turn could be tricky but I know a certain prophet in standard that could use a 1 mana counterspell and spend that mana at instant speed.
After some playtesting this is what i've settled on for now. On to more testing!
I doubt it is as consistent as the original decklist, but I've found it to be pretty solid. The combo allows for crazy early wins for a control deck, and with (my) list I've found consistency pretty good. With only mortars and Into the Infinite I know what I'm going to get. Best hand really is 2 mortars because you are guaranteed to hit into the infinite and win.
Of course Dracogenius is an amazing finisher on his own, and his card draw allows you to hit the combo easier. Test it out! tell me if you like it!
Im basically the same way. I haven't played outside of mtgo recently, but back when I played locally I would help out people who I met if they were new to me and/or young. If I've played you a couple times and don't consider you a sort of friend or at least a friendly face I won't treat you like that. People like that are either other competitive players or the ones who play terribly and make bad decks and don't care. I don't help them. Don't befriend them either. or the ones who are offensive in some way. smelly, rude, angry, etc. the list goes on. Luckily they are usually bad players as well. I suppose unluckily one might think. If you desire a higher level of opponent. But one would hope they wouldn't behave that way.
You're missing the point. The OP is already committed to playing a second set of 1 drops, so the inquiry is limited to 'whsts the next best option after Cackler?'. In that context my commentary is correct.
I would also strongly contend that the winner's list was the worst red deck in the top 16. It's easily the least tuned (21 land? 1 gore-house? No satyr? All problems). That archetype will continue but not without heavy changes.
Basically this but a couple things. First cackler is the second best one drop after satyr. And second if you are playing rdws or air or etc various acronyms put those 8 cards down and then start building around them. Other cards are negotiable. An abundance of 2/x 1 mana cards are necessary.
I really don't want to run green. It has the least to offer control, especially being more creature oriented where as i'm running a creatureless deck. For mana fixing I would mainly rely on Lissandra to search for Swamps/everything. She could be bumped up to a 3 of merely because you want to be able to manafix every game. But with the amount of draw etc I expect to see her a nice amount of the time. Other than adding green (which is probably never going to happen for me personally in this deck) are there any other opinions? Maybe good spells to consider? I thought about running Rakdos Revenge as a nice counterpart to Sphinxs revelation. there are other kill spells and counters and draw too apart from what I've put in the deck.
Anyways, Comments opinions and thoughts I appreciate them all.
Haha its funny you said that. I typed up a whole paragraph about how I disliked him. He is really expensive and his boardwipe ability isn't spectacular when we are splashing red. But I deleted it. And now here it is again much less articulately stated.
Not a final build or anything just what i've been brainstorming about.
I think Primeval Bounty is definitely a card to consider as a 2-3 of and one I don't see many other people running. With all the creatures you can drop this can double the size of your board in seconds.
No problem man I enjoy helping people and imparting what knowledge I have :P. I'm glad I could help. There are so many good cards in standard now that it is astonishing how many cards are considered unplayable. Rubblebelt Raiders, Wrecking Ogre, and Kalonian Tusker could have all seen play in another standard and been worth considerably more than they are. Of these Rubblebelt Raiders has the most potential I think because of his interactions with Kalonian Hydra. I think R/G counters could be an entire Sub-genre of R/G decks. Rakdos Cackler is a very nice 1 drop for early pressure and it can grow. So I think your deck definitely has some potential, and I always enjoy helping people realize the vision of the deck they wish to play. I'm also happy to hear that you've had success with the deck as it stands. People can build decks all day, but if they can't pilot them or play very well it will still get them nowhere. So Kudos to you for winning with a deck that is worth maybe 50 dollars. That's no easy feat, depending of course on your meta. But at the end of the day it's all about having fun win or lose :P.
@Valicious At the top of your message bar there is an option for wrapping card or deck tags around a list. In this case you should go to edit, highlight the deck and click the wrap deck tags button, It will make your list pop up in a nice little window with links to all the cards.
Hmm In your deck I don't think Ogre battledriver deserves a slot. I would also consider swapping 4 boon satyrs for 4 mistcutters mainboard, or at least a split. I would also recommend swapping in Savage Summoning against control.
Also what kind of control? U/W? W/B? Mono B? Esper? U/B maybe? Without knowing which colors your having trouble with, or what spells in particular give you a headache I can't be too much help.
Of course our blue hate lies in Savage Summoning and Mistcutter Hydra. Our White hate is in Stormbreath dragon, and we don't have many answers to black, such as a really good regeneration creature. Maybe speed up your decks clock a bit and try to win faster?
Also I'm not a huge fan of World Eater mainboard, especially seeing as how your siding him out. In red we have better board wipes, and in green we have better hydras. Although to be fair he is the only combination of both we have.
So anyways if you were considering cards to cut, imo start with
Consider mainboarding more Mistcutter Hydras and bump up your Kalonians to 4. Other than that I'm unsure without more match information. Maybe you need more burn. Maybe more early game.
General 1
Nekusar, The Mindrazer
Creatures 9
Artifacts 18
Spells 24
Enchantments 13
Lands 35
Edit: Sorry guess I don't remember how to do /deck
Edit: also voice of the hulcave is not that great. I wouldn't run him he's too slow and costs too much. Compare to archangel of thune who gives +1/+1 counters to every creature every time she hits.
If red mana was spent casting this spell add RR to your mana pool.
Counter target spell.
"If your talented enough spellcasting requires almost no expenditure of energy"
Casting this on your opponents turn could be tricky but I know a certain prophet in standard that could use a 1 mana counterspell and spend that mana at instant speed.
4 Sylvan Carytid
4 Prophet of Kruphix
3 Niv-Mizzet Dracogenius
1 Borborygmos Enraged
Instants 17
4 Syncopate
3 Thoughtflare
3 Magma Jet
3 Essence Scatter
2 Opportunity
2 Counterflux
3 Mizzium Mortars
2 Enter the Infinite
Enchantments 3
3 Possibility Storm
Lands 23
4 Breeding Pool
4 Steam Vents
4 Stomping Grounds
3 Temple of Abandon
3 Temple of Mystery
2 Forest
2 Island
1 Mountain
After some playtesting this is what i've settled on for now. On to more testing!
I doubt it is as consistent as the original decklist, but I've found it to be pretty solid. The combo allows for crazy early wins for a control deck, and with (my) list I've found consistency pretty good. With only mortars and Into the Infinite I know what I'm going to get. Best hand really is 2 mortars because you are guaranteed to hit into the infinite and win.
Of course Dracogenius is an amazing finisher on his own, and his card draw allows you to hit the combo easier. Test it out! tell me if you like it!
4 Sylvan Carytid
3 Prophet of Kruphix
2 Zhur-Taa Ancient
2 Niv-Mizzet Dracogenius
1 Borborygmos Enraged
Instants 15
4 Plasm Capture
2 Izzet Charm
2 Syncopate
2 Counterflux
3 Thoughtflare
2 Opportunity
3 Mizzium Mortars
2 Enter the Infinite
Enchantments 3
3 Possibility Storm
Lands 23
4 Breeding Pool
4 Steam Vents
4 Stomping Grounds
3 Temple of Abandon
3 Temple of Mystery
2 Forest
2 Island
1 Mountain
I was in another thread and thought about this. I like the possibilities presented with Prophet of Kruphix.
Basically this but a couple things. First cackler is the second best one drop after satyr. And second if you are playing rdws or air or etc various acronyms put those 8 cards down and then start building around them. Other cards are negotiable. An abundance of 2/x 1 mana cards are necessary.
Anyways, Comments opinions and thoughts I appreciate them all.
+4 Firedrinker satyr
Seriously make this change try it and tell me deck doesn't Run better
And I would drop Legion loyalist for the hammer and/or Phoenix
3 Jace, Architect of Thought
2 Chandra, Pyromaster
2 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
2 Liliana of the Dark Realms
1 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
1 Gideon, Champion of Justice
1 Ral Zarek
3 Supreme Verdict
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Read the Bones
1 Merciless Eviction
Instants 7
3 Dissolve
2 Sphinx's Revelation
2 Steam Augury
3 Chained to the Rocks
3 Detention Sphere
Lands 24
4 Hallowed Fountain
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Steam Vents
4 Blood Crypt
4 Godless Shrine
4 Watery Grave
So is it possible? I've thought up a list anyone have any opinions? Creatureless Control
2 Domri Rade
3 Xenagos the Reveler
Creatures 26
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Sylvan Caryatid
4 Kalonian Hydra
4 Stormbreath Dragon
4 Ghor-Clan Rampager
4 Mistcutter Hydra
2 Savageborn Hydra
4 Mizzium Mortars
Enchantments 2
2 Primeval Bounty
Land 23
9 Forest
7 Mountain
4 Stomping Ground
3 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
Not a final build or anything just what i've been brainstorming about.
I think Primeval Bounty is definitely a card to consider as a 2-3 of and one I don't see many other people running. With all the creatures you can drop this can double the size of your board in seconds.
@Valicious At the top of your message bar there is an option for wrapping card or deck tags around a list. In this case you should go to edit, highlight the deck and click the wrap deck tags button, It will make your list pop up in a nice little window with links to all the cards.
Hmm In your deck I don't think Ogre battledriver deserves a slot. I would also consider swapping 4 boon satyrs for 4 mistcutters mainboard, or at least a split. I would also recommend swapping in Savage Summoning against control.
Also what kind of control? U/W? W/B? Mono B? Esper? U/B maybe? Without knowing which colors your having trouble with, or what spells in particular give you a headache I can't be too much help.
Of course our blue hate lies in Savage Summoning and Mistcutter Hydra. Our White hate is in Stormbreath dragon, and we don't have many answers to black, such as a really good regeneration creature. Maybe speed up your decks clock a bit and try to win faster?
Also I'm not a huge fan of World Eater mainboard, especially seeing as how your siding him out. In red we have better board wipes, and in green we have better hydras. Although to be fair he is the only combination of both we have.
So anyways if you were considering cards to cut, imo start with
Consider mainboarding more Mistcutter Hydras and bump up your Kalonians to 4. Other than that I'm unsure without more match information. Maybe you need more burn. Maybe more early game.
2 Zhur-taa Druids
2 Wrecking Ogre
3 Kalonian Tusker
3 Zhur-taa Swine
As well as these changes
-4 Spire Tracker
+4 Elvish Mystic
-4 Burning-Tree Emmisary
+4 Sylvan Carytid
Cut these for these-
-2 Wrecking Ogre
+2 Xenagos, the Reveler
-2 Zhur-taa Druid
+2 Domri Rade
-3 Kalonian Tusker
-3 Zhur-taa Swine
+6 in any combination of
And personally
-2 Enlarge
+2 Mizzium Mortars
Other thoughts: With Rubblebelt Raidersand Rakdos Cackler you probably want to capitalize on Kalonian Hydra for the doubling season effect. Other cards to consider would be Savageborn Hydra and Mistborn Hydra for a heavy counters theme. Although that might be a bit win-more.
I think with this deck you will see more consistency, while still being very aggresive with 1 drops and 2 drops.