I must have missed something. Why is more creatures even a consideration? What value do they add? What would you give up to add them?
I... don't know. Utility creatures seem to not be a good idea in this removal-heavy meta. The big reason we even use skite is that it saves other pieces, and is bolt-proof.
I'm discussing it as a thought experiment. Can't speak for anyone else.
As far as removal, I agree. That's why I think that if you're going to add creatures, you should have them in the sideboard, so they'll board out removal. Beyond that, Matter Reshaper turns any non-Path to Exile removal into whatever your top card is, which might not be awful. I'm not saying it's good by any stretch, but I'm loathe to straight up dismiss something that has potential without testing.
Boggart Forager also provides the shuffle if that's an effect you'd want more of and you'd like to try creatures.
Matter Reshaper seems real interesting out of the sideboard, though. It blocks and turns into other things, which we can likely determine given the control we have over the top card on both decks.
Jund is the most threat-dense deck in the format. Of course it's a rough matchup, there's a ton to control and you have to try and line up the right answers. It's not unwinnable, but it's hard.
Have we tried more blue sources in the deck? I was thinking of cutting a Blackcleave Cliffs for a Darkslick Shores. Does that sound insane?
What do you want from blue? Counters aren't strong because it means holding cards in our hands. This will make bridge less effective.
...activating Academy Ruins? I just feel like the way the deck is now, it's largely a GB deck with UR splashes. The red isn't noticeably more than the blue so I was looking to even things out a little is all. If it's totally absurd then I won't bother, but I'm looking to get as many edges as possible and this was a thought.
Jund is the most threat-dense deck in the format. Of course it's a rough matchup, there's a ton to control and you have to try and line up the right answers. It's not unwinnable, but it's hard.
Have we tried more blue sources in the deck? I was thinking of cutting a Blackcleave Cliffs for a Darkslick Shores. Does that sound insane?
Hurkyl's Recall Isn't really good at those things you mention there. Against affinity you don't really need it, against Shatterstorm somethig like Boros Charm would do what you want ( otherwise you'll be dead by your own hand. Have you ever played aginst Fish?). In the mirror it is interesting. It might gain you some tempo or forces to discard EoT/Glimmervoids to pop, but it won't reduce the cards which are important to your opponent. Also it is easy to discard. I don't think it really gives you an edge.
I think it's better against Affinity than Grudge because it's also occasionally Stone Rain as well as Evacuation. Also doesn't have the problem of not hitting an animated manland like Oblivion Stone does out of Tron.
Also, easy to discard applies to any card we have that isn't an artifact.
Leyline/Droplet split because of card availability and because Leyline is good against Jund and Burn instead of just Burn. The sweepers are selected for versatility: Pyroclasm hits on 2 which can help stop the super explosive Burn starts, Firespout is versatile and easy to cast, Anger is there for the exile clause. Hurkyl's Recall is an additional sweeper against Affinity while having the added bonus of being good in the mirror should I ever face it. I also thought about potentially having it to "counter" a Shatterstorm / Fracturing Gust if I'm unable to keep it out of their hand, but that wasn't a main consideration in the slightest because I'm not sure how good that play is.
What from the 75 would you suggest cutting? I mean, I can kill Grid but if Clock doesn't seem good in the main, then what from the side moves up? A pyroclasm effect?
I've heard a couple of things and had a couple of thoughts and was wondering if people had any feedback.
1. Is a singleton Leyline of Sanctity worth having or is it not worth sleeving up unless you've got 3-4? I was thinking of testing it because it's good against burn AND jund instead of just Burn.
2. Is Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas actually a good alternate win or is it a red herring? I guess I'm just looking for what matchups he's best against.
3. Has anyone tried Unwinding Clock? Yes, it costs 4 but it significantly increases our speed if it sticks around. I was considering giving it a run over Aether Grid since I've been seeing it get cut recently.
EDIT: Correction, Seek > Jester's Cap > Grinning Totem.
That does seem pretty good. My only counterpoints are the ease of recursion and the fact that Totem puts it into the 'yard if you don't cast it, making whatever you took fodder for Surgical Extraction. You'd know better than me, though. lol.
I would think needle on eye is best possible response, the difficulty is the number of needleable threats they have. Our discard and lantern helps us figure out what we need to name, but we could create list that priotizes the biggest threats first.
I'd go
-Karn
-Oblivion Stone
-Eye of Ugin
-Expedition Map
I recognize each game can be different, but assuming it's R/G Tron, I find that unless we can surgical extract a tron land or have a lantern and two mill rocks early, they will probably hit Tron or even just the number of lands they need eventually. Thoughts?
See, I always felt the order should be Karn, O Stone, Ugin, Eye in the dark. Shuts off the ways they have to kill you more or less in order of how quickly they can do it.
Relatively new to the deck. Still learning the ropes. I was poking around in Gatherer and wondered: Has anyone tried Grinning Totem in the sideboard? I haven't yet, but I thought it might be worthwhile as it's repeatable (despite being mana intensive). Thoughts?
3 Spellskite
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Torpor Orb
2 Dismember
2 Whipflare
2 Ethersworn Canonist
2 Nihil Spellbomb
Does anything seem particularly out of place? I've got 2 Spell Pierce in the main for when I expect Stony Silence. Canonist seems the loosest, but it's a bear and it helps against UWR and Living End and Storm. I don't really have anything to help against Tron and am just going to try to race.
I'm discussing it as a thought experiment. Can't speak for anyone else.
As far as removal, I agree. That's why I think that if you're going to add creatures, you should have them in the sideboard, so they'll board out removal. Beyond that, Matter Reshaper turns any non-Path to Exile removal into whatever your top card is, which might not be awful. I'm not saying it's good by any stretch, but I'm loathe to straight up dismiss something that has potential without testing.
Matter Reshaper seems real interesting out of the sideboard, though. It blocks and turns into other things, which we can likely determine given the control we have over the top card on both decks.
has anyone looked at Psychogenic Probe as a win-con?
...activating Academy Ruins? I just feel like the way the deck is now, it's largely a GB deck with UR splashes. The red isn't noticeably more than the blue so I was looking to even things out a little is all. If it's totally absurd then I won't bother, but I'm looking to get as many edges as possible and this was a thought.
Have we tried more blue sources in the deck? I was thinking of cutting a Blackcleave Cliffs for a Darkslick Shores. Does that sound insane?
I think it's better against Affinity than Grudge because it's also occasionally Stone Rain as well as Evacuation. Also doesn't have the problem of not hitting an animated manland like Oblivion Stone does out of Tron.
Also, easy to discard applies to any card we have that isn't an artifact.
Leyline/Droplet split because of card availability and because Leyline is good against Jund and Burn instead of just Burn. The sweepers are selected for versatility: Pyroclasm hits on 2 which can help stop the super explosive Burn starts, Firespout is versatile and easy to cast, Anger is there for the exile clause. Hurkyl's Recall is an additional sweeper against Affinity while having the added bonus of being good in the mirror should I ever face it. I also thought about potentially having it to "counter" a Shatterstorm / Fracturing Gust if I'm unable to keep it out of their hand, but that wasn't a main consideration in the slightest because I'm not sure how good that play is.
4 Ghoulcaller's Bell
4 Codex Shredder
4 Ensnaring Bridge
4 Ancient Stirrings
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Thoughtseize
1 Duress
2 Surgical Extraction
1 Noxious Revival
1 Ghirapur Aether Grid
1 Pyrite Spellbomb
3 Spellskite
3 Pithing Needle
2 Abrupt Decay
3 Mox Opal
4 Llanowar Wastes
4 Glimmervoid
1 Tendo Ice Bridge
2 Blackcleave Cliffs
1 Grove of the Burnwillows
1 Forest
3 Ghost Quarter
2 Academy Ruins
1 Pithing Needle
2 Grafdigger's Cage
4 Sun Droplet
1 Seal of Primordium
1 Ancient Grudge
1 Pyroclasm
1 Firespout
1 Anger of the Gods
I've heard a couple of things and had a couple of thoughts and was wondering if people had any feedback.
1. Is a singleton Leyline of Sanctity worth having or is it not worth sleeving up unless you've got 3-4? I was thinking of testing it because it's good against burn AND jund instead of just Burn.
2. Is Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas actually a good alternate win or is it a red herring? I guess I'm just looking for what matchups he's best against.
3. Has anyone tried Unwinding Clock? Yes, it costs 4 but it significantly increases our speed if it sticks around. I was considering giving it a run over Aether Grid since I've been seeing it get cut recently.
That does seem pretty good. My only counterpoints are the ease of recursion and the fact that Totem puts it into the 'yard if you don't cast it, making whatever you took fodder for Surgical Extraction. You'd know better than me, though. lol.
See, I always felt the order should be Karn, O Stone, Ugin, Eye in the dark. Shuts off the ways they have to kill you more or less in order of how quickly they can do it.
Relatively new to the deck. Still learning the ropes. I was poking around in Gatherer and wondered: Has anyone tried Grinning Totem in the sideboard? I haven't yet, but I thought it might be worthwhile as it's repeatable (despite being mana intensive). Thoughts?
Also, how do we feel about Disciple of the Vault in the mirror?
3 Spellskite
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Torpor Orb
2 Dismember
2 Whipflare
2 Ethersworn Canonist
2 Nihil Spellbomb
Does anything seem particularly out of place? I've got 2 Spell Pierce in the main for when I expect Stony Silence. Canonist seems the loosest, but it's a bear and it helps against UWR and Living End and Storm. I don't really have anything to help against Tron and am just going to try to race.
Gets around Ensnaring Bridge and Illness in the Ranks. But I think a lot of people would just rather ply Torpor Orb, which this gets shut of by, too.