Hey all I have a SB question. I know answers about SB are meta dependent but I'll give y'all some background. At my two local shops I've been getting stomped by tron as usual, however now there is an eldrazi tron list at both shops, and I've never felt so outmatched in magic. Rather than having variety in my SB for any of the matchups I may face, I'm thinking of stacking it with the focus on eldrazi and burn. I'm thinking about running 4 of ceremonious rejection, 2 molten rain, shattering spree, and maybe damnation for the eldrazi match up. Has anyone ever approached anything like this situation? I don't think I can beat eldrazi tron without drawing at least 3 SB cards.
Welcome to the realization of why this deck will never be tier 1!
I don't mean to sound like a downer, but Eldrazi and Tron are probably our worst of the worst matchups. They're extremely difficult and mostly miserable to play, even if we DO draw all our sideboard cards. Don't let it get under your skin, just know that it's a massive uphill battle against these decks. Blood Moon is probably our best option against both, unless we want to run the Fulminator Mage/Surgical Extraction set, but none of those are effective without early/consistent pressure. Ceremonious Rejection is bad because Eldrazi plays Cavern of Souls and will just laugh at that card. Timely Countersquall and early Mana Leaks on Tron's setup pieces can help (like counter their sylvan scrying or ancient stirrings). I can say one of my best matches against Tron involved an early Surgical Extraction targeting Ancient Stirrings and then smashing with Tasigur while he spun his wheels looking for lands and threats. But in the end, it's like a 30/70 matchup. It's very likely you will lose, so if it does happen, just try not to let it tilt you for the next round.
Thank you very much for the response. You're right ceremonious rejection isn't great thanks to cavern. Fortunately, I think at least one of the decks at my shop only runs 1 or maybe 2. I almost want to just drop the round when I'm paired against it. I once beat a very very good player on tron 3 out of 5 matches before modern night started by being super aggressive, however I've never even gotten to breathe against eldrazi tron. I really think eldrazi tron is even worse for us. One of these days when I make it to a real tournament I'll have to just cross my fingers I don't see eldrazi tron.
Hey all I have a SB question. I know answers about SB are meta dependent but I'll give y'all some background. At my two local shops I've been getting stomped by tron as usual, however now there is an eldrazi tron list at both shops, and I've never felt so outmatched in magic. Rather than having variety in my SB for any of the matchups I may face, I'm thinking of stacking it with the focus on eldrazi and burn. I'm thinking about running 4 of ceremonious rejection, 2 molten rain, shattering spree, and maybe damnation for the eldrazi match up. Has anyone ever approached anything like this situation? I don't think I can beat eldrazi tron without drawing at least 3 SB cards.
Thank you for the response on spell snare, y'all convinced me to keep 2. I've considered deprive myself. I like the idea of having at least one hard counter in the graveyard for the late game flashback. I currently put a single countersquall in the MB with the open spots from probe/YP. I think I'll run 3 leak, 2 snare, and a squall or a spell pierce. I really want to MB a second collective brutality though.
Hey all I posted above but didn't seem to get a response. What do you all think about the effectiveness of spell snare going forward? Push now deals with two drop creatures and if push becomes widely popular, snare does nothing against it. Will spell pierce become important to protect delver etc? I see people adding even more push now with the probe ban with many lists running 3. I've played delver for a couple months now and I've had it sit as a dead card in my hand many games. I'm going to start recording situations where Spell Pierce would be better. I'm also going to MB a countersquall with the open spots left from probe and YP.
Hey all, what do y'all think about the effectiveness of spell snare in the future? Push now takes care of the two drop creatures and spell snare is ineffective against opposing pushes. Do you think spell pierce may become the better choice? I'm planning to run the following MB counter suite:
3x Mana Leak
1x Spell Snare
1x Spell Pierce
1x Countersquall
And then I'll massage those numbers as I test. I like having at least one late game hard counted to hit with snap like countersquall or maybe even deprive. I like the idea of protecting drivers with pierce. I've also decided to ditch the YP's and probes for a 9th fetch, 2 push, a third leak, a second MB collective brutality, and a clique.
Yes I've seen the posts about it, however they're from when it came out, I'm revisiting now that it's had plenty of time. I didn't mean to be comparing it to replace the function of bob, but I'm sure as hell not playing both in the same deck and losing 8 life. I would take the bobs out to accommodate BR, not to replace. With that said, yes it does generate card advantage as well and I would likely run it with some painful truths.
I didn't choose Mardu because I'm obsessed with the color combo, I picked it as a more burdget jund/junk. I love midrange playstyles and loved playing Mardu in khans standard. I'm okay with less potent creature threats but stronger removal (and lingering souls). Over time it's become stronger with recent printings, and can stand as more than just a budget jund deck now. The playstyle of dropping a wall of omens, dropping a planeswalker, ticking up a couple turns, and the game ends just isn't appealing at all to my playstyle. I don't play control as much as I play midrange. SFGM into lingering souls into Kalitas is much more my style. So in other words, I'm not trying to crack the best Mardu list, I'm trying to crack the best Mardu midrange list.
Is anyone playing bedlam Reveler? I have been considering it over dark confident. Dodges bolt and abrupt decay, plus discard spells play great with it. Only downside is discarding valuable removal spells.
I wish there was a separate thread for the Nahiri lists. As someone that plays the traditional Mardu control/midrange deck, I have zero interest in reading about the Nahiri lists. Am I the only one that feels this way?
What do you guys think about Kambal, Consul of Allocation?
Doesn't past the modern test on any level. Dies to bolt, doesn't give any value when it enters the battlefield or leaves the battlefield, does not offer 2 for 1 value other than a few points of health. I'd say mediocre standard card at best.
Since you guys are discussing bedlam Reveler I feel it's important to note that the new Chandra will help with casting him or dark dwellers, albeit after turn 4. I don't fully see the rush in casting him early in a Mardu deck that's goal is to just keep the board clear for the first few turns.
So sometimes when I'm bored I like to design 2 drop creatures that would help put mardu on the map. What do y'all think it would take? I try to make double color ones like:
Boros swiftspear
RW
2/3 prowess haste
Whenever you cast a non creature spell target creature can't block this turn.
Orzhov spirit
WB
2/2 lifelink deathtouch
When ~ dies put a 1/1 lifelink and 1/1 death touch tokens into play.
Rakdos warrior
RB
2/1
Haste Menace
If you have less than 10 life ~ gets double strike.
Oh whoops yeah I didn't mean to omit lilly from the second list. I would play her whether I go midrange or Bob. I'm just really stuck on this two drop spot like everyone else. Right now I'm leaning towards tidehollow or wall of omens. I never see wall of omens discussed, but it does what the deck needs. Some card draw, and stalls the ground game for our powerful 4 drops to hit the board.
Hey all this is a great thread as I have been building mardu as my first modern deck. I'm almost there but I've come to a fork. Either play the traditional Bob deck that curves into Lilly/lingering souls, into kalitas, or a more creature heavy midrange that curves I to brimaz, kalitas, and then avacyn. I k ow avacyn is 5 mana, but my god is she powerful. Now my question comes with the two drop spot as most of us seem to struggle with. I've contemplated the following: ayli, YP, tidehollow sculler, seeker of the way, and wall of omens. The plan would be to control the game before taking over with our powerful creatures. Wall of omens would help stall the board and wouldn't die to a flipped avacyn nor would brimaz and kalitas. Why isn't seeker of the way every mentioned? Is it because a lot of our spells are reactive? Thanks all!
Here is my temur version. I might switch to four color and add dromoka and Ojutai when khans rotates. I will likely switch the rattleclaws for savants and knuckleblades for either shaman of forgotten ways or deathmist raptors. My list now includes two lumbering falls. I would love to add 4 sylvan advocates. Also, I am not sure why you don't like knuckleblade or sarkhan, I feel like they're the lynchpin of any temur midrange deck. An unchecked sarkhan is game, and knuckleblade is the perfect way to stall the board before the dragons roll out.
Thank you very much for the response. You're right ceremonious rejection isn't great thanks to cavern. Fortunately, I think at least one of the decks at my shop only runs 1 or maybe 2. I almost want to just drop the round when I'm paired against it. I once beat a very very good player on tron 3 out of 5 matches before modern night started by being super aggressive, however I've never even gotten to breathe against eldrazi tron. I really think eldrazi tron is even worse for us. One of these days when I make it to a real tournament I'll have to just cross my fingers I don't see eldrazi tron.
3x Mana Leak
1x Spell Snare
1x Spell Pierce
1x Countersquall
And then I'll massage those numbers as I test. I like having at least one late game hard counted to hit with snap like countersquall or maybe even deprive. I like the idea of protecting drivers with pierce. I've also decided to ditch the YP's and probes for a 9th fetch, 2 push, a third leak, a second MB collective brutality, and a clique.
Doesn't past the modern test on any level. Dies to bolt, doesn't give any value when it enters the battlefield or leaves the battlefield, does not offer 2 for 1 value other than a few points of health. I'd say mediocre standard card at best.
Boros swiftspear
RW
2/3 prowess haste
Whenever you cast a non creature spell target creature can't block this turn.
Orzhov spirit
WB
2/2 lifelink deathtouch
When ~ dies put a 1/1 lifelink and 1/1 death touch tokens into play.
Rakdos warrior
RB
2/1
Haste Menace
If you have less than 10 life ~ gets double strike.
3 Yavimaya Coast
2 Cinder Glade
3 shivan Reef
1 Island
3 Mountain
3 Forest
4 Frontier Bivouac
2 Haven of the Spirit Dragon
2 Crater's Claws
3 Den Protector
2 Dig Through Time
4 Draconic Roar
2 Dragonlord Atarka
3 Icefall Regent
4 Rattleclaw Mystic
3 Sarkhan Unbroken
4 Savage Knuckleblade
3 Stubborn Denial
4 thunderbreak Regent
1 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
Sorry would have formatted better but it's a pain on mobile taking it from tappedout.