Ok, so this is along the lines of what I am thinking a semi viable (tribal style) zombie aggro deck looks like with the new mythic 2 drop gem that zombies didn't have before. Relentless Dead seems to be good enough to hold it down and improve on a tribal zombie deck, maybe enough so to make it able to win a local legacy event at least, lol. I am a little confused making this deck as there is so much competition for card slot's but I think it could work.You could go heavy 1 drop and do Carnophage maybe even the 1 drop enchantment (name) even that makes the 2/2 zombie that you sacrifice if you control no zombies. I want to have a decent curve and utilize going wide. Maybe Rotlung Reanimator You've got Withered Wretch for the sideboard which is kinda nice I suppose (haven't even thought of it yet i'll get there in time). Maybe more removal? Go for the Throught or something like Dead Drop, but I kinda like the random swings of Thoughtsieze in to Hymn to tourach, that variance can just win with hymn. Maybe more discard, a couple Inquisition? Tell me what you think. Tidehollow Skuller??
SO this list has been doing amazing in testing and I just would like to know what you all think about it. I tested extensively against both ramp and Abzan and it seemed to be up there with the best of em. Also out of 5 tournaments playing against Atarka Red I only lost 3 games, 1 round total because he had a god draw and I whiffed too much. So I think that match-up is pretty favorable.
It can struggle against decks with Kolagans Command but aside from that it seems to have a great matchup against a lot of the field.. Rallyhas caused me problems but more testing is needed.
(10-12 fetches depending on makindi/become meme se numbers, i like 11]]
SB
4 roast
4 ark lightning
3 fiery impulse
2 goblin heelcutter
2 thunder break reageant
(Cardpool buddy using all 4 of our hangarbacks so none of those.. I would probably run 2-4 tho and cut one of burns. Also thinking of skab-clan berserker
I wanna fiddle but I think the sweet spot is 3 become immense, 3 battle rage, 1-2 makindi and 10 or 11 fetch lands to fuel it. Basically the same as the top 8 list recently that won.. I r net deck. I can see trying 2 battle rage though in favor of a creature maybe 2 become
Immense also minimum.. It really has been testing insanely as i listed it, try it! Also me and my pool buddy were thinking of trying 2 maindeck avaricious dragon out, but that might be a diff deck involving draconic roar. Also maybe dragon whisperer but I think the landfall common guy makindi is amoung the best two drops with 10+ fetches and 2+ battle rage. A t3 attacking 4/3 makindi with Titans + battle rage = 7/4 double strike. It gets nasty.
This deck can do some crazy stuff by turn 3 and if it dodges languish or any board wipe it can consistently win on turn 3-4 even through blockers/hangarbacks and removal.
A nice T1 monestary seiftspear, T2 titan's strength + any one drop creature (they are most likely at 14-12) T3 either atarka's command and a dasher is near lethal, or strength and battle rage/become immense/abbot is fine, the deck runs so consistently fast. I was kind of wanting to move abbot to 2 to test 2-3 of the landfall common but I think abbot is a 4 after testing he really holds it together and can help progress quick when you are dumping. Overall it wrecks the bring to light deck relatively nicely (it feels close to 65%-35% honestly but it is probably a little worse after sideboards are included).Did good against my buddies abzan list too. All I am really scared of is the new converge anger of the gods clone card and languish and rasa rely a t5 board wipe, it's that fast on the play and even draw you can win by T5 against blockers/a removal piece easy. It's a solid Atarka red deck with a cute little temur B-raging combo in it with BE,TS, and just prowess/landfall sometimes.
I can't pinch many holes in it.. If they miss a one/two/ or three drop
Or one land drop before turn 4 you can usually just win with any kind of decent hand. God hands on the play beat any deck without turn 3 wipes. Just don't keep one landers it's a trap!
Seem good enough to win a local tourney with a decent field? I want to get int modern and just bought my snapcasters so I'm thinking this is the best idea.
Sooo... Keepsake Gordon.. Doesn't seem like the best card but he serves well as a blocker and when you hit his monstrosity he gets pretty nuts and does stuff that mono black likes to do.
What d you guys think.. I think i like him more than Shadwborn demon at least in the sideboard.
Yeah I will start working on snapcasters... Once I get them how does this look.. It is pretty universal hard to mess up a build it seems but here goes.
Let me know what you think.. I am just looking at sideboard options now.
OR shuld I try for the Pila-Pala comb as well? I am on the fence but I think I like it without the Pila-Pala combo as it is primarily a tempo deck anyhow and the mages u need to fetch stuff and all that jazz take away from that plan a bit. Meh I am on the fence like I said it really is a beautiful game neding 2 card combo.. well 3 but still.
EDIT: ALso 100 bucks for 4 snapcasters seems pretty damn steep... I thought they were around 15 a pop? Plus I have some decent trade.
Ok so I really really want to build a modern deck as standard is starting to wear on me. However I don't want to spend more than let's say 100 dollars on the project. It seems some of my best options would either be grand architect aggro/tempo or a rack/shrieking affliction control deck (I have 4 mutavault and 4 thoughtsieze). I'm thinking something as follows:
When I add money to the deck obviously the first pick is snap caster Mage, but after that should I work on splashing white? Or maybe queen cool engines? Let me know what u would do with it! Any help is greatly appreciated. And do you think B rack/affliction would hold it's ground better in a tournament than this?
I was a huge supporter of Civic Saber back in RTR/RTR/RTR draft. If I was Rakdos I made it a high priority to pick up a Saber. I very much wanted to see it become viable in standard.
The problem in Standard is, Civic Saber belongs in an 2-color agro deck and agro decks need to use their mana extremely efficiently. While Civic Saber appears to be an efficient use of mana, it is not. An ideal turn 1 should be spent playing a creature with 2 power (Rakdos Cackler is currently the best agro one drop. Firedrinker Satyr is second best). Your ideal turn 2 should be spent doing one of three things: 1) Play a two or three power creature with haste (Rakdos Shred-Freak, Ash Zealot, Spike Jester), 2) Play two additional 2-power threats, or 3) remove your opponents blocker.
The reason Madcap Skills saw standard play and Civic Saber didn’t was because it often enabled 5 points of damage on turn 2 because it was difficult for your opponent to play a second blocker. If your opponent wasn’t running well, Madcap Skills could enable 10 or even 15 damage before either getting 2-for-2’d via a second weak blocker or 2-for-1’d with removal. Those are the kind of trades any agro deck is happy to make.
Civic Saber enables, at best 4 points of damage on turn 2 which your opponent can happily block with any number of Standard playable 1 and 2-drop blockers. Like Madcap skills, Civic Saber risks sinking your mana into a damage enabler and getting blown out via your opponents instant-speed removal. The difference that makes Madcap Skills worth it however is that, if it does stick, your opponent is on the back foot dealing with this 5/2 beast that can only be blocked by 2 or more creatures. The fact that Civic Saber sticks around after removal is pretty irrelevant when, by turn 3 and 4 you’re up against Loxodon Smiters, Boros Reckoners, Master of Waves, and Desecration Demons.
Sadly, Civic Saber is one of those jewels of limited play that is JUST beneath the minimum-standard playability floor.
THanks for this, this makes a lot of sense actually. I am thinking of going down to 2 or 3 saber main and then try to add tormented hero or firedrinker for another 1 drop. Not sure.. I like the suggestion of trying a U base to I am going to think up a list real quick. Maybe U/W or U/G for the Dryad militant also. hmmmm I also like the Slitherhead Idea... Here let's try this again..
I almost wanna try to fit Death-rite shaman in there somewhere... Mostly cause it was one of the first good play-sets I collected and I never get to use it anywhere.. Can't believe a card that is viable in every format has depreciated in value since I bought it, meh.
Yeahhhh I don't know man the Saber just might not be good enough anywhere to really steal the slot... I like this kinda deck though seems like it could blow some people out.. I like it more than mono R think.. Don't see slitherhead often. Maybe G/B for Varolz would be something? I need to get some MTGO cards to test there.. Or just DL cockatrice again,
Sooo I was looking through some random junk this morning and I came across that little card Civic Saber... Now it doesn't necessarily surprise me that this card hasn't seen the light of day in standard yet because it just hasn't found the right set of creatures to make it work.. But I honestly think that Rakdos has enough now with Spike Jester....
This Civic Saber allows you to play a one drop on turn one (obv unless you have cackler first) that will constantly provide a threat when coupled with creatures. It serves as a mana sink along with the Rix guildmage which I am kind of on the fence about but I do think she belongs here... same with Rakdos Shred Freak.
It has a pretty nice curve for an aggro deck and the thing I really like about saber is you can keep moving it around post combat if you are in an aggro mirror to set up some super desireable blocks (IE trading yur equipped rakdos cackler with a 4 toughness creature or something of the sort). Especially with Rix since u can cast the -1/-1 as many times as you want... trade my rakdos cackler for your polukranos and 2 of my open mana? sure thing boss.
I am very open to suggestion here and I am not sure how many mutavaults to run.
Some questions for you smart doods:
I dunno cause I haven't tested it yet but I like the look of it... Any other decks that could use Saber? Maybe a simic style aggro deck? What do you think of Rix here? Desecration Demon over Exava (doubtful)? Woulda singleton Rakdos Return be worth it, maybe 2? How would you set up the removal package? What is the best way to do lands here? Thrill-kill assassin MD? Mogi's Marauder need to be here?
Thinking about something like this... maybe switching the Jarad with Desecration Demon or trying to fit him in there somewhere at least. Should I put in the Whip instead of the Bow? I knowthe lands are not there is the only problem but aside from that fact which I am aware of is this deck viable? it has a pretty good curve and seems like it if it did curve out with any decency it would do well.
Was running lili for 2 weeks and every time I had her in hand I always wished she was a demon or another removal.... Sure tutoring a swamp every turn for pack rat is a positive but you can only do that when you have control of the board. If not then you're just getting a swamp and lili probably dies next turn. IF u have control of the board then it's safe to say underworld connections is sufficient for you to get cards for pack rat
This is the exact problem I have been running into recently. Honestly I haven't tested my list as much as I should, mostly just tournaments (of which I have been doing great in lately), but you are on point about this card. Often times it would serve me better as just another removal spell, and we have a pretty nice plethora of removal to choose from anyhow.
The thing is in the mirror or against most midrange she will sometimes end up getting her X off with a whip on board, which even with just a pack rat can turn a table or at the very least buy you a turn.
If she is in there I think she is just a 1 of honestly, because I think she likes hitting the board once a demon has already resolved. Sometimes it will draw out a counterspell that would otherwise hit a demon though which is good.
Also she runs well with Corrupt, and I have been running 2 maindeck over other removal.
I think I am going to go down to 1 in favor of maybe 1 doom blade or 1 more devour flesh main deck.
did you consider playing Blood Baron of Vizkopa ? Would be fitting nicely into this Deck. I guess i would kick the Ashen Rider & Abhorrent Overlord out of the deck, for 2 Barons.
I concur because as I am sure Friday will contest to, you WILL see mono black if you plan to play standard often. I like at least 1 blood baron main, if not 2-3, and undoubtedly I would finish the play-set in the sideboard (if I had the money/trade to get them).
I would love to play MBC. .. and the card pool is almost there but not quite. A functional reprint of damnation would be nice. I've tested black splashing into each of the 4 other colors. I still hesitate to go 3+ colors because of mana issues and losing devotion more or less. I've gauntleted each variation and so far running it as golgari rock seems to work best, not only in matchups vs. popular decks (from here, modo, and minor tourneys) but against each other. I think it is somewhat naive at this point to consider black devotion as mono black and to take advantage of what splashing can help accomplish. So I would agree, discussing splashing (as OP also suggested) is not just warranted, but prudent. Each color offers unique options.
I disagree solely because Corrupt has been doing very well for me lately. It is a blowout card that serves as removal and can be phenomenal in the mirror if they can't find their Erebos (I keep 2 in, take 2 out against aggro match ups and R/G midrange). Also good against Esper as it is one more thing to hit Elspeth or other walkers with.
Alrighty, so I have been having some trouble figuring out what to sideboard in and out in many matchups lately and have regrettably found myself going 61-63 in the MD after SB which is obviously not desirable.
So obviously I need more lifebane in the side and am working on that but how should I board against let's say Esper, given it's popularity?
Something like -2 Pack Rat, -1 or 2 Lilliana, -1 to 2 thoughtsieze, -UP and r Devour Flesh (maybe leave DF in there)... For like +1 Erebos, +3 Durress, or something like that?
What about the mirror? I never know what to take out to get to 60.. Also I saw somene post that they take out DD in the mirror... is this right? He seems like such a boss when he hits I don't know if I can bring myself to take him out even in the mirror.
Basically I need some major SB halp! And you think I should go -1 Nikthos +1 Mutavault? Makes sense to me as nikthos can be kinda lack luster.. thing is it goes great with corrupt and doing crazy shenanigans late game with underoworld.
In addition I think what Friday is trying to say is that regardless of your individual player field (which should only matter a little bit) at any competitive tournament you will see certain decks that have proven themselves to be competitive. It is important to understand that out of your entire meta, it is still likely that globally, regardless of location, there will be some consistency in what decks are being seen. So it is more important to prepare for these established decks than it is to try to pinpoint what people are playing in your local "meta" and respond to this. It is an interesting theory that I mostly agree with, although I think there are sometimes freak occurrences like a FNM meta being 90% aggro or something crazy (FNM is a low sample size) like that. I think I see your point though (let me know if I murdered that).
Another benefit to going mono B is access to Corrupt, which I personally have been playing 2 of in my mainboard with much success. It will just win a game outright if you do it late game for 5-9 or whatever which is pretty huge. It is one of the cards that when you are digging for gas late game you really want to see, like Gray Merchant. It's ability to serve as removal while sill gaining you life is also pretty damn tits and it will work as a closer often as well if not just stabilize you. I almost even want to cut my 2 MB temples for this reason. It is good in the mirror and I couple it with 2 Lilliana MB who's ability to thin the deck and get bigger is already pretty useful when your digging with underworld or whatever. I assume we will get something to do with #of swamps and/or other lands in this block also which could make mono decks that much more effective.
I'm thinking something like this:
2 Diregraf Ghoul
4 Carrion Feeder
4 Relentless Dead
3 Lord of the Undead
3 Death Baron
1 Zombie Master
3 Geralf's Messenger
2 Diregraf Collosus
4 Hymn to Tourach
4 Thoughtsieze
2 Unholy Grotto
4 Cavern of Souls
4 Wasteland
9 Swamp
Ok, so this is along the lines of what I am thinking a semi viable (tribal style) zombie aggro deck looks like with the new mythic 2 drop gem that zombies didn't have before. Relentless Dead seems to be good enough to hold it down and improve on a tribal zombie deck, maybe enough so to make it able to win a local legacy event at least, lol. I am a little confused making this deck as there is so much competition for card slot's but I think it could work.You could go heavy 1 drop and do Carnophage maybe even the 1 drop enchantment (name) even that makes the 2/2 zombie that you sacrifice if you control no zombies. I want to have a decent curve and utilize going wide. Maybe Rotlung Reanimator You've got Withered Wretch for the sideboard which is kinda nice I suppose (haven't even thought of it yet i'll get there in time). Maybe more removal? Go for the Throught or something like Dead Drop, but I kinda like the random swings of Thoughtsieze in to Hymn to tourach, that variance can just win with hymn. Maybe more discard, a couple Inquisition? Tell me what you think. Tidehollow Skuller??
Here is the list I am using.
4x Thought-Knot Seer
4x Reality Smasher
4x Eldrazi Mimic
2x Endless One
3x Hangarback Walker
4x Matter Reshaper
2x Grasp of Darkness
1x Murderous Cut
2x Spacial Contortion
1x Ruinous Path
1x Mirrorpool
2x Sea Gate Wreckage
4x Ruins of Oran Rief
4x Caves of Kolios
4x Llanowar Wastes
2x Swamp
4x Crumbling Vestige
2x Rogues Passage
2x Tomb of the Spirit Guide
SIDEBOARD:
It can struggle against decks with Kolagans Command but aside from that it seems to have a great matchup against a lot of the field.. Rallyhas caused me problems but more testing is needed.
What do you think?
3 lightning berserker
3 zurgo bellstriker
4 abbot of the feral keep
1 makindi side runner (may go to 2 or 0 not sure yet)
4 dragon fodder
1 hordeling outburst
4 titan's strength
3 temur battle rage
3 become immense
1 Chandra, fire of kaldesh (would be 2-3 don't have her)
4 wild slash
4 atarka's command
1 forest
4 bloodstained mire
4 wooded foothills
3 Windsweapths Heath
3 cinder glade
6 mountain
(10-12 fetches depending on makindi/become meme se numbers, i like 11]]
SB
4 roast
4 ark lightning
3 fiery impulse
2 goblin heelcutter
2 thunder break reageant
(Cardpool buddy using all 4 of our hangarbacks so none of those.. I would probably run 2-4 tho and cut one of burns. Also thinking of skab-clan berserker
I wanna fiddle but I think the sweet spot is 3 become immense, 3 battle rage, 1-2 makindi and 10 or 11 fetch lands to fuel it. Basically the same as the top 8 list recently that won.. I r net deck. I can see trying 2 battle rage though in favor of a creature maybe 2 become
Immense also minimum.. It really has been testing insanely as i listed it, try it! Also me and my pool buddy were thinking of trying 2 maindeck avaricious dragon out, but that might be a diff deck involving draconic roar. Also maybe dragon whisperer but I think the landfall common guy makindi is amoung the best two drops with 10+ fetches and 2+ battle rage. A t3 attacking 4/3 makindi with Titans + battle rage = 7/4 double strike. It gets nasty.
This deck can do some crazy stuff by turn 3 and if it dodges languish or any board wipe it can consistently win on turn 3-4 even through blockers/hangarbacks and removal.
A nice T1 monestary seiftspear, T2 titan's strength + any one drop creature (they are most likely at 14-12) T3 either atarka's command and a dasher is near lethal, or strength and battle rage/become immense/abbot is fine, the deck runs so consistently fast. I was kind of wanting to move abbot to 2 to test 2-3 of the landfall common but I think abbot is a 4 after testing he really holds it together and can help progress quick when you are dumping. Overall it wrecks the bring to light deck relatively nicely (it feels close to 65%-35% honestly but it is probably a little worse after sideboards are included).Did good against my buddies abzan list too. All I am really scared of is the new converge anger of the gods clone card and languish and rasa rely a t5 board wipe, it's that fast on the play and even draw you can win by T5 against blockers/a removal piece easy. It's a solid Atarka red deck with a cute little temur B-raging combo in it with BE,TS, and just prowess/landfall sometimes.
I can't pinch many holes in it.. If they miss a one/two/ or three drop
Or one land drop before turn 4 you can usually just win with any kind of decent hand. God hands on the play beat any deck without turn 3 wipes. Just don't keep one landers it's a trap!
If I wasn't on a budget that is...
4x Snapcaster mage
1x Vendillion Clique
2x Ninja of the deep hours
2x Invisible Stalker
4x Grand Architect
1x Treasure Mage
1x Trinket Mage
1x Cryptic Command
4x Gitaxian Probe
4x Mana Leak
2x Remand
4x Serum Visions
1x Silver-Inlaid Dagger
1x Wurmcoil engine
1x Steel hellkite
17x Island
2x Mutavault
Just cause wormcoil is so boss in the format.
4x Snapcaster Mage
2x Invisible Stalker
2x Ninja of the Deep hours
1x Phantasmal Image
4x Grand Architect
1x Steel Hellkite
1x Wurmcoil Engine
4x Gitaxian Probe
3x Vapor Snag
4x Serum Visions
4x Mana Leak
1x Spell pierce
1x Spell Snare
1x Remand
2x Mutavault
17x Island
Seem good enough to win a local tourney with a decent field? I want to get int modern and just bought my snapcasters so I'm thinking this is the best idea.
What d you guys think.. I think i like him more than Shadwborn demon at least in the sideboard.
4x Snapcaster Mage
2x Invisible Stalker
3x Phantasmal Image
4x Grand Architect
4x Ponder
4x Gitaxian Probe
4x Mana Leak
2x Spell Snare
1x Gut shot
1x Cryptic Command
20x Land
Let me know what you think.. I am just looking at sideboard options now.
OR shuld I try for the Pila-Pala comb as well? I am on the fence but I think I like it without the Pila-Pala combo as it is primarily a tempo deck anyhow and the mages u need to fetch stuff and all that jazz take away from that plan a bit. Meh I am on the fence like I said it really is a beautiful game neding 2 card combo.. well 3 but still.
EDIT: ALso 100 bucks for 4 snapcasters seems pretty damn steep... I thought they were around 15 a pop? Plus I have some decent trade.
4 grand architect
4 invisible stalker
1 trinket Mage
1 treasure Mage
4 mana leak
4 vapor snag
1 negate
4 serum visions
3 gitaxian probe
2 gut shot
2 dismember
1 silver inlaid dagger
20 land (mutavault?)
When I add money to the deck obviously the first pick is snap caster Mage, but after that should I work on splashing white? Or maybe queen cool engines? Let me know what u would do with it! Any help is greatly appreciated. And do you think B rack/affliction would hold it's ground better in a tournament than this?
THanks for this, this makes a lot of sense actually. I am thinking of going down to 2 or 3 saber main and then try to add tormented hero or firedrinker for another 1 drop. Not sure.. I like the suggestion of trying a U base to I am going to think up a list real quick. Maybe U/W or U/G for the Dryad militant also. hmmmm I also like the Slitherhead Idea... Here let's try this again..
4 Slitherhead
4 Rakdos Shred Freak
4 Spike Jester
3 Hellhole Flailer
2 Exava Blood Witch
2 Mugging (dig the idea for maindeck)
3 Dreadbore
2 mizzium mortars
2 Chandra, Pyromancer
3x Rakdos guildgate
2x Mutavault
4x Blood Crypt
7x Mountain
7x Swamp
I almost wanna try to fit Death-rite shaman in there somewhere... Mostly cause it was one of the first good play-sets I collected and I never get to use it anywhere.. Can't believe a card that is viable in every format has depreciated in value since I bought it, meh.
Yeahhhh I don't know man the Saber just might not be good enough anywhere to really steal the slot... I like this kinda deck though seems like it could blow some people out.. I like it more than mono R think.. Don't see slitherhead often. Maybe G/B for Varolz would be something? I need to get some MTGO cards to test there.. Or just DL cockatrice again,
SOmething like this..
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Spiked Jester
2 Rakdos Shred-Freak
3 Rix Maadi Guildmage
2 Mogi's Marauder
4 Hellhole Flailer
3 Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch
3 Dreadbore
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Chandra, Pyromancer
This Civic Saber allows you to play a one drop on turn one (obv unless you have cackler first) that will constantly provide a threat when coupled with creatures. It serves as a mana sink along with the Rix guildmage which I am kind of on the fence about but I do think she belongs here... same with Rakdos Shred Freak.
It has a pretty nice curve for an aggro deck and the thing I really like about saber is you can keep moving it around post combat if you are in an aggro mirror to set up some super desireable blocks (IE trading yur equipped rakdos cackler with a 4 toughness creature or something of the sort). Especially with Rix since u can cast the -1/-1 as many times as you want... trade my rakdos cackler for your polukranos and 2 of my open mana? sure thing boss.
I am very open to suggestion here and I am not sure how many mutavaults to run.
Some questions for you smart doods:
I dunno cause I haven't tested it yet but I like the look of it... Any other decks that could use Saber? Maybe a simic style aggro deck? What do you think of Rix here? Desecration Demon over Exava (doubtful)? Woulda singleton Rakdos Return be worth it, maybe 2? How would you set up the removal package? What is the best way to do lands here? Thrill-kill assassin MD? Mogi's Marauder need to be here?
3 Korzada Guildmage
3 Lotleth Troll
2 Scavaging Ooze
4 Dred Mangler
4 Varolz, the scar striped
2 Jarad Glgari Lich Lord
3 Reaper of the Wilds
4 Abrupt Decay
4 Thoughtsieze
4 Heroes Downfall
Thinking about something like this... maybe switching the Jarad with Desecration Demon or trying to fit him in there somewhere at least. Should I put in the Whip instead of the Bow? I knowthe lands are not there is the only problem but aside from that fact which I am aware of is this deck viable? it has a pretty good curve and seems like it if it did curve out with any decency it would do well.
4x Desecration Demon
4x Gray Merchant of Asphodel
2x Lilliana of Dark Realms
4x thoughtsieze
4x Heroes Downfall
2x Ultimate Price
1x Devour Flesh
1x Doom Blade
2x Corrupt
2x Whip of Erebos
1x Erebos, God of the Dead
19x Swamp
2x Temple of Deceit
3x Mutavault
1x Nikthos, Shrine of nik
SB
This is the exact problem I have been running into recently. Honestly I haven't tested my list as much as I should, mostly just tournaments (of which I have been doing great in lately), but you are on point about this card. Often times it would serve me better as just another removal spell, and we have a pretty nice plethora of removal to choose from anyhow.
The thing is in the mirror or against most midrange she will sometimes end up getting her X off with a whip on board, which even with just a pack rat can turn a table or at the very least buy you a turn.
If she is in there I think she is just a 1 of honestly, because I think she likes hitting the board once a demon has already resolved. Sometimes it will draw out a counterspell that would otherwise hit a demon though which is good.
Also she runs well with Corrupt, and I have been running 2 maindeck over other removal.
I think I am going to go down to 1 in favor of maybe 1 doom blade or 1 more devour flesh main deck.
I concur because as I am sure Friday will contest to, you WILL see mono black if you plan to play standard often. I like at least 1 blood baron main, if not 2-3, and undoubtedly I would finish the play-set in the sideboard (if I had the money/trade to get them).
I disagree solely because Corrupt has been doing very well for me lately. It is a blowout card that serves as removal and can be phenomenal in the mirror if they can't find their Erebos (I keep 2 in, take 2 out against aggro match ups and R/G midrange). Also good against Esper as it is one more thing to hit Elspeth or other walkers with.
4x Desecration Demon
2x Pack Rat
4x Gray Merchant of Asphodel
4x Thoughtsieze
4x Heroes Downfall
1x Ultimate Price
1x Devour flesh
2x Corrupt
4x Underworld Connections
1x Erebos, God of the dead
2x Whip of Erebos
19x Swamp
2x Temple of Deceit
3x Mutavault
1x NIkthos shrine of nik
So obviously I need more lifebane in the side and am working on that but how should I board against let's say Esper, given it's popularity?
Something like -2 Pack Rat, -1 or 2 Lilliana, -1 to 2 thoughtsieze, -UP and r Devour Flesh (maybe leave DF in there)... For like +1 Erebos, +3 Durress, or something like that?
What about the mirror? I never know what to take out to get to 60.. Also I saw somene post that they take out DD in the mirror... is this right? He seems like such a boss when he hits I don't know if I can bring myself to take him out even in the mirror.
Basically I need some major SB halp! And you think I should go -1 Nikthos +1 Mutavault? Makes sense to me as nikthos can be kinda lack luster.. thing is it goes great with corrupt and doing crazy shenanigans late game with underoworld.
In addition I think what Friday is trying to say is that regardless of your individual player field (which should only matter a little bit) at any competitive tournament you will see certain decks that have proven themselves to be competitive. It is important to understand that out of your entire meta, it is still likely that globally, regardless of location, there will be some consistency in what decks are being seen. So it is more important to prepare for these established decks than it is to try to pinpoint what people are playing in your local "meta" and respond to this. It is an interesting theory that I mostly agree with, although I think there are sometimes freak occurrences like a FNM meta being 90% aggro or something crazy (FNM is a low sample size) like that. I think I see your point though (let me know if I murdered that).