So a little on my card choices that I haven't seen others running. First, I'm running one less Through the Breach. Through the Breach is more of a backup wincon. It resets your graveyard if you hit an Emrakul and costs significantly more than the primary combo (Faithless Looting + Goryo's Vengeance). Its upside is that you can cast it at the end of your opponents turn and keep that creature around. For consistency reasons I went to 3. I also cut Pentad Prism. The card is slow, clunky, does nothing to further our boardstate, graveyard, or hand, and dies to tons of removal like mainboard abrupt decays, which usually have no other target. I also cut down on my Fury of the Horde. This is also for consistency reasons. I found that the other versions of the deck were drawing dead hands too easily. To help combat this, I added four Serum Visions. It's the best card draw/fixing spell blue has access to. In early versions it was a Peer Through the Depths, but that can't find our bombs. Eventually it became Telling Time, but Serum Visions just does Telling Time's job better. For lands I added a Desolate Lighthouse and three Temples. The temples are currently on my watch list, but so far they've been helpful. They're a nice t1 if you don't have a Serum Visions or Thoughtseize, since t1 Faithless Looting is usually risky. Desolate Lighthouse gives me a little bit of reach with the loot ability. So far it's been great, I've never had a problem with it interfering with my mana fixing. I highly recommend it.
A brief note before I begin my report. So far my lowest win % is vs. Twin. The players I am playing against have adapted to Rakdos charm to the point where it almost does nothing. Because of all the direct damage and self-inflicted damage I take, they usually have a higher life total. I am considering replacing it with something else.
Match 1: Affinity
I find this matchup to be our easiest. Emrakul sets them back incredibly far. Many decks don't have the interaction required to stop us. In the sideboard I bring in Rakdos Charms for Cranial Platings and Anger of the Gods for a boardwipe. Normally I'll take out 4 Thoughtseize, but I have also taken out 3 Izzet Charms and a single Thoughtseize.
Our game one was over quickly. He won the dice roll, played out most of his hand t2. On my turn, I exiled a simian spirit guide, faithless looting'd an Emrakul, goryo's and he scooped. Game 2 went similarly, with Emrakul coming down t3 for the win.
Match 2: Abzan
This matchup is incredibly close. They have tokens of hand disruption, which can really mess with our plans. I'm tempted to take out Emrakuls against them, but then I fear I'd never be able to win. Lingering Souls can be a pain in the ass if we don't get a t2/t3/t4 emrakul on them. They chump incredibly well. Griselbrand is stronger against them, since he still lets you draw cards.
Game one went great for me. I get an early Griselbrand and hit him once to set up an Emrakul through the Breach. Game two and three, he stripped my hand into nothing. Getting Emrakul thoughtseize'd is rarely what we want. Against them I sided in Blood Moon (backfired game Two), and two Pack Rats in game three. I'm still getting used to using Pack Rat and when to bring them in, but I didn't get to see them game three.
Match 3: ???
I forgot, sorry haha. It was a while ago. I won this game, and I remember him being salty about it. The affinity player from earlier was complaining with him about the speed and consistency of my deck. Felt good.
Match 4: Bolt
I still need more practice in this matchup, but I think its favorable. Griselbrand can buy us time very effectively, but it can really come down to draws.
Game One I resolve an Emrakul and wipe her board of three lands and two eidolons. She loses shortly after. Game two, I side in two Chalice of the Void. I hit her with an early Emrakul, then play a Chalice on 1 the next turn. The next 20+ turns are painful as neither of us draw anything. Eventually I hit a Through the Breach and finish her with a Griselbrand.
Match 5: Ad Nauseam
This matchup was horrifying. My sideboard tech was Chalice on 0 and a prayer. I considered Rakdos Charm, but it was about the race, not stopping him. I think that now having four mainboard Thoughtseize will help.
Game One I get him with an early Griselbrand Fury Fury. Game two he Lotus Blooms past my Izzet Charm and hits me with a Lightning Storm(?) for lethal. Game three I hit him with an Emrakul to clear his board, and another Emrakul later to finish him. This matchup was purely about speed. I desperately dug through my deck for the fastest answer. I have no plans to include cards for this matchup.
Top 8 Cut: Affinity
Solidly in the top 8, I get to play the Affinity player I beat round one. He was less than happy about this. He gets me to 5 in game one, but I quickly griselbrand + fury + fury him. In the second game he gets to 33 life and I am down to 4. I emrakul him and he sticks on one permanent for a while. Eventually I hit him with another emrakul, but he refuses to scoop. I topdeck a Through the Breach and finish him with a Griselbrand. The salt flowed.
Looking at the rest of the top 8, my options were either Twin, Twin, Twin, or BW Tokens. None of those matchups are ones I enjoy. The Twin player beat the Twin player, and the Twin player beat the BW tokens player. I had to play the (Arguably) best player in my state on the twin Matchup. I completely psyched myself out. I got two warnings, one was going to be a game loss but my opponent appealed it. Allegedly I scooped early game one, but I couldn't tell. I threw the last matchup. Oops. I went home with 3rd/4th.
Against Twin, I brought in Boseiju. Now that we have Rending Volley, I would bring in both.
I've never done a tournament report before, sorry if it was a little hasty.
Hey folks. I'm glad to see this thread get a fresh primer, I think it's been long overdue. I recently got 4th place at a modern Win-a-box event, there were ~36 people if I remember right. I can do a brief writeup if people are interested. So far I haven't seen anyone run the exact list I am, so I thought it might help people develop their decks. The Blood Moons are now Rending Volleys.
This is because of her activated ability, which has a white symbol and a black symbol. Hybrid counts as both. Pontiff of Blight is black, so you can run it.
Be careful not to run too many equipment. It's better to have fewer really strong equipments than a lot of eh ones. The strongest probably are Umezawa's Jitte, Batterskull, Skullclamp, and the Sword of X and X cycle. Skullclamp is pretty much required because of it's interaction with Nahiri.
Hey guys. I've been working on a RDW build with the new god Athreos. It tries to abuse ETB damage from creatures. Any thoughts? Sideboard is still a work in progress.
Brimaz is unplayable in my mind. I rather maindeck Mirran crusader which crushes Jund, Junk, Nykthos Green and pod variants.
A 3rd lavamancer, and more tidehollow scullers are a possibility. Sculler is insane against slow/weak hands, but pretty bad against good hands. At the very least, he demands removal, so IoK into a Sculler is pretty good at protecting your bob.
I think its pretty unlikely DRS gets banned... card hasn't even won that much lately. I think we will just see unbans this time around. If bitterblossom gets unbanned, probably jam 3-4, go down to 2-3 lingering souls and lose the MD scullers.
I think you're underestimating Brimaz. I still don't plan on taking Mirrans out of my sideboard, but I migt replace Hero. It's a 3 drop instead of a 4 drop, and cranks out a lot of bodies (starting before Hero if they swing).
I've heard rumors of the unbanning or banning list for modern may include a ban of our fave 1 drop deathrite shaman.
If this does happen what 1 drop should we replace with them? Should we do 3 Grim Lavamancers then add maybe 2 other cards? How do we adapt to this change if it happens?
If we lose DRS, I think we lose a ton of power. Nothing really fills his slot as well. I would probably go up to 2 Grim Lavamancers, and maybe run more hand hate like additional Inquisitions?
This deck does not want to run board clears. Unless you're playing the more control-y version of the deck.
Land hate? Why does Bogles lose to land hate? By time they get one to 2 lands, they've already have a hexproof dude swinging for 5 damage with trample and nonsense.
You're also not allays guaranteed to get Liliana to save your butt.
I am running the more control-y version of the deck. I think it's superior, this deck does very well when it comes down to topdecking. Although I wish we had more draw outlets.
Hand hate, not land hate.
Yes, this is true. However, DRS + Bob usually help me stall until I can get one.
I'd like to talk about Brimaz. I know a lot of us are running Hero of Bladehold, who synergizes incredibly well with Lingering Souls, and I think Brimaz fills a similar slot. The vigilance is incredibly relevant, and he avoids bolt. Thoughts?
Fish
Bogles
Any deck that has swarms of dudes that don't die to our Helixes or Bolts are tough for us.
Bogles though, are a horrid match up for us though.
I haven't had too many problems with Fish so far. I mulligan hands until I have plenty of bolts and paths, I think you just have to play a much more controlling game. Getting Bob is usually pivotal in those games too. It's close, but not terrible.
I've faced bogles once, and it seems to just lose to liliana or hand hate. The mainboard damnations also help a ton. The only sideboard I have for them is Mirran Crusader, which works very well until they get a rancor.
Also, I'ma have to find room for a 4th Path to Exile in the MB.
As well as room for B-skull in sideboard.
I don't really like batterskull. It's very expensive, and I can't think of decks I would side it in against over Mirran Crusader. Definitely fit a fourth path though, card is very good.
I've been playing lots of Cockatrice recently, haven't had any matches that have made me rethink any part of my current list. What does everyone think our hardest matchup is? I haven't been having too much difficulty outside of RG Tron pre-sideboard.
I've just discovered this deck in my attempt to find a modern deck that I enjoy playing, and it's been a blast. I haven't gone to any tournaments yet but I'd just like to share some thoughts.
A lot of people seem to be taking a very midrange direction with this deck, and I wanted a bit more control. My first change was getting rid of Grim Lavamancer. Every time I played him, I felt like I was playing a worse Deathrite Shaman. I replaced him with Damnations, feeling that I needed a sweeper to take care of some decks that played a large amount of bodies, but not enough for Rakdos Charm to just one shot them.
I quickly removed the swords and placed in Hero of Bladehold (saw other people were using her here), who instantly became one of the best cards, next to Helix. While she lacks protection, she can end the game whenever she sticks.
I've noticed that the hardest matchup I've faced so far is anything with Sphinx's Revelation. Any suggestions to combat this?
I seem to now be on a spree of getting thrashed.
Lost to Melira pod for the first time, lost to Bant lifegain counterspell control thing, Splinter Twin, Rock beats... It hasn't been a good few days.
I'm currently 1-0, played against Ajundi first round. I'll update in a bit.
Also, I don't have the Ensnaring Bridges right now unfortunately. If I get any tix for this, then that's probably what I'm going to pick up. Incredibly useful against Affinity.
1-1 now. Played against Melira Pod without the Pod. Kept drawing lands. I might go down to 9 mountains.
Went 3-1. Going to be testing this a lot more now, I might put in a 1 of lavamancer to replace a mountain unless I can find another bolt.
4 Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
4 Griselbrand
4 Simian Spirit Guide
Instant
4 Goryo's Vengeance
3 Izzet Charm
3 Through the Breach
Sorcery
4 Faithless Looting
2 Fury of the Horde
4 Serum Visions
4 Thoughtseize
3 Tormenting Voice
4 Bloodstained Mire
4 Polluted Delta
2 Blood Crypt
2 Steam Vents
2 Temple of Malice
1 Temple of Epiphany
1 Watery Grave
1 Desolate Lighthouse
2 Swamp
1 Mountain
1 Island
2 Chalice of the Void
3 Pack Rat
2 Rakdos Charm
3 Blood Moon
3 Boseiju, Who Shelters All
2 Anger of the Gods
So a little on my card choices that I haven't seen others running. First, I'm running one less Through the Breach. Through the Breach is more of a backup wincon. It resets your graveyard if you hit an Emrakul and costs significantly more than the primary combo (Faithless Looting + Goryo's Vengeance). Its upside is that you can cast it at the end of your opponents turn and keep that creature around. For consistency reasons I went to 3. I also cut Pentad Prism. The card is slow, clunky, does nothing to further our boardstate, graveyard, or hand, and dies to tons of removal like mainboard abrupt decays, which usually have no other target. I also cut down on my Fury of the Horde. This is also for consistency reasons. I found that the other versions of the deck were drawing dead hands too easily. To help combat this, I added four Serum Visions. It's the best card draw/fixing spell blue has access to. In early versions it was a Peer Through the Depths, but that can't find our bombs. Eventually it became Telling Time, but Serum Visions just does Telling Time's job better. For lands I added a Desolate Lighthouse and three Temples. The temples are currently on my watch list, but so far they've been helpful. They're a nice t1 if you don't have a Serum Visions or Thoughtseize, since t1 Faithless Looting is usually risky. Desolate Lighthouse gives me a little bit of reach with the loot ability. So far it's been great, I've never had a problem with it interfering with my mana fixing. I highly recommend it.
A brief note before I begin my report. So far my lowest win % is vs. Twin. The players I am playing against have adapted to Rakdos charm to the point where it almost does nothing. Because of all the direct damage and self-inflicted damage I take, they usually have a higher life total. I am considering replacing it with something else.
Match 1: Affinity
I find this matchup to be our easiest. Emrakul sets them back incredibly far. Many decks don't have the interaction required to stop us. In the sideboard I bring in Rakdos Charms for Cranial Platings and Anger of the Gods for a boardwipe. Normally I'll take out 4 Thoughtseize, but I have also taken out 3 Izzet Charms and a single Thoughtseize.
Our game one was over quickly. He won the dice roll, played out most of his hand t2. On my turn, I exiled a simian spirit guide, faithless looting'd an Emrakul, goryo's and he scooped. Game 2 went similarly, with Emrakul coming down t3 for the win.
Match 2: Abzan
This matchup is incredibly close. They have tokens of hand disruption, which can really mess with our plans. I'm tempted to take out Emrakuls against them, but then I fear I'd never be able to win. Lingering Souls can be a pain in the ass if we don't get a t2/t3/t4 emrakul on them. They chump incredibly well. Griselbrand is stronger against them, since he still lets you draw cards.
Game one went great for me. I get an early Griselbrand and hit him once to set up an Emrakul through the Breach. Game two and three, he stripped my hand into nothing. Getting Emrakul thoughtseize'd is rarely what we want. Against them I sided in Blood Moon (backfired game Two), and two Pack Rats in game three. I'm still getting used to using Pack Rat and when to bring them in, but I didn't get to see them game three.
Match 3: ???
I forgot, sorry haha. It was a while ago. I won this game, and I remember him being salty about it. The affinity player from earlier was complaining with him about the speed and consistency of my deck. Felt good.
Match 4: Bolt
I still need more practice in this matchup, but I think its favorable. Griselbrand can buy us time very effectively, but it can really come down to draws.
Game One I resolve an Emrakul and wipe her board of three lands and two eidolons. She loses shortly after. Game two, I side in two Chalice of the Void. I hit her with an early Emrakul, then play a Chalice on 1 the next turn. The next 20+ turns are painful as neither of us draw anything. Eventually I hit a Through the Breach and finish her with a Griselbrand.
Match 5: Ad Nauseam
This matchup was horrifying. My sideboard tech was Chalice on 0 and a prayer. I considered Rakdos Charm, but it was about the race, not stopping him. I think that now having four mainboard Thoughtseize will help.
Game One I get him with an early Griselbrand Fury Fury. Game two he Lotus Blooms past my Izzet Charm and hits me with a Lightning Storm(?) for lethal. Game three I hit him with an Emrakul to clear his board, and another Emrakul later to finish him. This matchup was purely about speed. I desperately dug through my deck for the fastest answer. I have no plans to include cards for this matchup.
Top 8 Cut: Affinity
Solidly in the top 8, I get to play the Affinity player I beat round one. He was less than happy about this. He gets me to 5 in game one, but I quickly griselbrand + fury + fury him. In the second game he gets to 33 life and I am down to 4. I emrakul him and he sticks on one permanent for a while. Eventually I hit him with another emrakul, but he refuses to scoop. I topdeck a Through the Breach and finish him with a Griselbrand. The salt flowed.
Looking at the rest of the top 8, my options were either Twin, Twin, Twin, or BW Tokens. None of those matchups are ones I enjoy. The Twin player beat the Twin player, and the Twin player beat the BW tokens player. I had to play the (Arguably) best player in my state on the twin Matchup. I completely psyched myself out. I got two warnings, one was going to be a game loss but my opponent appealed it. Allegedly I scooped early game one, but I couldn't tell. I threw the last matchup. Oops. I went home with 3rd/4th.
Against Twin, I brought in Boseiju. Now that we have Rending Volley, I would bring in both.
I've never done a tournament report before, sorry if it was a little hasty.
4 Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
4 Griselbrand
4 Simian Spirit Guide
Instant
4 Goryo's Vengeance
3 Izzet Charm
3 Through the Breach
Sorcery
4 Faithless Looting
2 Fury of the Horde
4 Serum Visions
4 Thoughtseize
3 Tormenting Voice
4 Bloodstained Mire
4 Polluted Delta
2 Blood Crypt
2 Steam Vents
2 Temple of Malice
1 Temple of Epiphany
1 Watery Grave
1 Desolate Lighthouse
2 Swamp
1 Mountain
1 Island
2 Chalice of the Void
3 Pack Rat
2 Rakdos Charm
3 Blood Moon
3 Boseiju, Who Shelters All
2 Anger of the Gods
This is because of her activated ability, which has a white symbol and a black symbol. Hybrid counts as both. Pontiff of Blight is black, so you can run it.
4 Goblin Guide
4 Hellspark Elemental
4 Eidolon of the Great Revel
4 Keldon Marauders
3 Athreos, God of Passage
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Rift Bolt
4 Boros Charm
4 Arid Mesa
3 Marsh Flats
4 Sacred Foundry
3 Blood Crypt
2 Mountain
1 Plains
4 Skullcrack
3 Wear // Tear
3 Blood Moon
3 Torpor Orb
2 Pithing Needle
I think you're underestimating Brimaz. I still don't plan on taking Mirrans out of my sideboard, but I migt replace Hero. It's a 3 drop instead of a 4 drop, and cranks out a lot of bodies (starting before Hero if they swing).
If we lose DRS, I think we lose a ton of power. Nothing really fills his slot as well. I would probably go up to 2 Grim Lavamancers, and maybe run more hand hate like additional Inquisitions?
I am running the more control-y version of the deck. I think it's superior, this deck does very well when it comes down to topdecking. Although I wish we had more draw outlets.
Hand hate, not land hate.
Yes, this is true. However, DRS + Bob usually help me stall until I can get one.
I'd like to talk about Brimaz. I know a lot of us are running Hero of Bladehold, who synergizes incredibly well with Lingering Souls, and I think Brimaz fills a similar slot. The vigilance is incredibly relevant, and he avoids bolt. Thoughts?
I haven't had too many problems with Fish so far. I mulligan hands until I have plenty of bolts and paths, I think you just have to play a much more controlling game. Getting Bob is usually pivotal in those games too. It's close, but not terrible.
I've faced bogles once, and it seems to just lose to liliana or hand hate. The mainboard damnations also help a ton. The only sideboard I have for them is Mirran Crusader, which works very well until they get a rancor.
I don't really like batterskull. It's very expensive, and I can't think of decks I would side it in against over Mirran Crusader. Definitely fit a fourth path though, card is very good.
I've been playing lots of Cockatrice recently, haven't had any matches that have made me rethink any part of my current list. What does everyone think our hardest matchup is? I haven't been having too much difficulty outside of RG Tron pre-sideboard.
Great idea, going:
-1 Rule of Law
-1 Pithing Needle
+2 Slaughter Games
I won't get to test this much outside of Cockatrice for a bit, but I'll post my findings when I play some games.
First off, here is my current list.
4 Arid Mesa
4 Marsh Flats
2 Godless Shrine
2 Blackcleave Cliffs
2 Lavaclaw Reaches
1 Temple Garden
1 Tectonic Edge
1 Swamp
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Plains
1 Blood Crypt
1 Mountain
1 Overgrown Tomb
4 Path to Exile
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
Creatures
4 Deathrite Shaman
4 Dark Confidant
2 Hero of Bladehold
Sorceries
3 Thoughtseize
4 Lingering Souls
2 Damnation
2 Inquisition of Kozilek
Planeswalkers
3 Liliana of the Veil
1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
1 Ajani Vengeant
3 Mirran Crusader
2 Pithing Needle
3 Rakdos Charm
1 Rule of Law
2 Sowing Salt
2 Stony Silence
2 Relic of Progenitus
A lot of people seem to be taking a very midrange direction with this deck, and I wanted a bit more control. My first change was getting rid of Grim Lavamancer. Every time I played him, I felt like I was playing a worse Deathrite Shaman. I replaced him with Damnations, feeling that I needed a sweeper to take care of some decks that played a large amount of bodies, but not enough for Rakdos Charm to just one shot them.
I quickly removed the swords and placed in Hero of Bladehold (saw other people were using her here), who instantly became one of the best cards, next to Helix. While she lacks protection, she can end the game whenever she sticks.
I've noticed that the hardest matchup I've faced so far is anything with Sphinx's Revelation. Any suggestions to combat this?
Lost to Melira pod for the first time, lost to Bant lifegain counterspell control thing, Splinter Twin, Rock beats... It hasn't been a good few days.
4 Goblin Guide
4 Vexing Devil
2 Keldon Marauders
4 Hellspark Elemental
Instants
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Searing Blaze
4 Lightning Helix
4 Boros Charm
2 Skullcrack
4 Rift Bolt
4 Lava Spike
Lands
4 Arid Mesa
4 Sacred Foundry
10 Mountain
1 Plains
1 Blood Crypt
3 Ensnaring Bridge
4 Rakdos Charm
2 War Priest of Thune
2 Pyroclasm
2 Torpor Orb
2 Tempest of Light
I'm currently 1-0, played against Ajundi first round. I'll update in a bit.
Also, I don't have the Ensnaring Bridges right now unfortunately. If I get any tix for this, then that's probably what I'm going to pick up. Incredibly useful against Affinity.
1-1 now. Played against Melira Pod without the Pod. Kept drawing lands. I might go down to 9 mountains.
Went 3-1. Going to be testing this a lot more now, I might put in a 1 of lavamancer to replace a mountain unless I can find another bolt.
1 Ashling the Pilgrim
99 Mountain