Just wondering, does RAL's (the new PW) +1 make this land any more playable? You can untap and use it the turn you play it, maybe be able to win by turn 14-15 instead of 20+?
Here's the rule of thumb to the best of my knowledge. If a card doesn't say "target" on it, then the creature with protection from that color is not protected.
Says "Put X -1/-1 counters on each creature" so a creature with protection from black CAN have the counters put on it because it's not a targeted spell.
Hopes this helps clear this up a bit.
Now it makes sense. So Pro-color means 'Can't be blocked, damaged, or targeted by that color'. It does clear it up, Thank you for that!
Has anyone tried mainboarding a pair of the crusaders (Mirran Crusader & Phyrexian Crusader)? Having a three drop to slow down their attackers and give us a turn or three to get our game going wouldn't be a bad thing right? I like that Phyrexian survives a DoJ
I am a little late reporting on FNM but I had a busy day yesterday. I am extremely happy with how this latist revision ran and I think I am going to continue running this version with maybe a few minor tweaks.
Like most of you I noticed early on that the mana base was the biggest problem with this deck as it was two hard to get all the required colors when you needed them. But while some are looking at cutting back on black (and removing Liliy) and other are cutting back on white, I chose to cut back on the blue in my original build.
The reason I decided to do this is two fold, I love playing both Liliy and DoJ and can't see playing this deck without either of them. If damnation was still around I would of course play UB only just like the rest of you, but oh well. The other reason is the different styles of play U brings to how you are piloting the deck. Before turns 2-4 were about draw-go, then you start playing tapout. My problem was learning when to transition from draw-go to tapout. So I went in a more tap-out direction.
The only reason I am running blue is for Alchemy & Snap, so that makes that color splashable. I do have a spinx in the deck but I have 2U by turn 6/7 so that isn't a problem. I did cut mana leaks though and that has helped out A LOT! Now I don't need U on turn 2, BB on turn 3, WW on turn 4. I focus on removal and wait till I can get my fattys on the board.
I did trade for another Liliy at FNM but don't think I will run a full set of her in this deck. Almost every game I played I drew atleast one so 4 would probably be too much.
Round 1 vs GW Tokens
This was probibly my hardest match of the night since we both kept building bigger and bigger. Game 1 went long as he got mana screwed and didn't draw any of his parallel lives, Once I got elsh nor out he scooped. Game 2 he drew his nut hand and I was dead by turn 5 with parallel, intangable virtue, and hero on the field. Game 3 was a lot like game 1 but his spirits finished the game since I didn't have any answer for them. 1-2
Record 0-1
Round 2 vs W humans
I've played this guy quite a bit since he is in my testing circle so we both knew how this game was going to go. We went back and forth with removal until I got my fattys out. Nothing unmanagable 2-0
Record 1-1
Round 3 vs BG Vampires ?
This kid was playing some home brew he put together, it was a weird deck with mostly INN. Most notable move from the round was when I was swinging for the game with Gidion and he played victim of night on him...:-/
2-0
Record 2-1
Round 4 vs BG Infect
Been a while since I've seen a infect deck, but it wasn't a suprize when he swung with plague stinger and slapped 2x Mutagenic Growth on turn 3. I played my removal and slowed him down, inkmoth got me in the end since I never drew my doom blade. Game 2-3 he never got inkmoth out and I slowed him down quite a bit with Liliy, removal, and him not pulling hard;y any land on Game 3. 2-1
Final Record 3-1
This was a complete 180 from last week and I had a lot of fun piloting it this week. I didn't see much GY hate but next week, but may see more next week since the majority of the shop I play at now knows what Im playing. *SHRUG* we will see.
Oh, Card thoughts...
Dead Weight, this card is AWESOME in this deck. Being able to recure it with titan saved me several times. Most of the fast decks don't have anything bigger than a 2/2 so its just deadly.
Rune-Scarred Demon, I know several people on are the fence with this guy. I know I was NEVER unhappy to see him in my hand. Play him, hunt for Elsh or Wormcoil, or Liliy. He is a flying beat stick that doesn't die to doom blade/dismember and tutors anything! Whats not to like!
Grimore of the dead, I threw this in thinking it would help with discard. Never played it. Was basicly a dead card, early game I had better things in my hand to play, late game it didn't matter. Will probibly be pulling this card.
Thats it for me, hopefully this has helped someone out. I know for myself reading all of your thoughts on different cards and how matches go help me decide what I want to include, so thank you salvation.
I have mixed feelings about this, I sounds like it MIGHT work but I keep coming back to *This is not a re-animator* deck and we don't want EVERYTHING to go to the yard. Thoughts?
Don't forget B/W with a splash of blue. Other than Dissipate there isn't anything you need double blue for before turn 6 if you are playing consecrated sphinx. I have been toying with some ideas using blue as the splash color and it does seem to allow for way more consistent turn 3 liliana and turn 4 day. Not exactly where I want it but its definitely better.
This is exactly what I have been thinking ever since last weekend and being mana screwed 50% of the time due to the inconsistent mana base.
Here is my new list I am considering taking to FNM this week...
I am focusing on W/B and only splashing U for Alchemy, Snapcaster, & my Sphinx. I have play-tested this quite a few times since last weekend and it really seems to smooth out the mana requirements.
I prefer Divine Offering, but it's a more narrow answer. I like it because I have a lot of trouble against Inkmoth Nexus, and this helps a ton with that. It's better against Tempered Steel as well because of the life gain.
If you face more Wurmcoil Engines or Oblivion Rings, Revoke Existence is probably a safer choice.
They both are good at what they do, I see your side of the argument but I prefer using Revokes for Tempered Steel's or ORings since that is the heavy meta around me. I just save my doom blades for inkmoths and Divine Offering can't hit their enchantments. I lost count of how many times I would get Elsh Nor out only to get her ORinged, then I would ORing his ORing, then he would ORing my Oring targeting his original ORing which would drop back on Elsh...*Sigh* I need an answer for all these dang ORings.....enter revoke
Long story short I guess my point is that this is never going to be a deck with a cookie cutter build that everyone starts with and branches out from. This deck just has so many options that it is super hard to settle on 1 build.
That's one of the things that's making me go crazy is seeing all these different version and me going back constantly tweaking my version thinking it's better than the last. I know either my build is junk or I'm piloting it wrong because I did so bad (1-3) at FMN last week and everyone else seemed to do much better.
After my experiences at FNM last week and reading how everyone did at states this weekend I am wondering if switching the mana base from a more heavy U centered base to more of a W/B centered base and just splashing U would make more sense. Pulling the leaks out would make this even more of a good idea wouldn't it? Then you would only need U for alchemy, think twice, & maybe snapcaster.
I am debating pulling the mana leaks and just concentrating on W/B removal until I get stabilized with mana/fatties. I would be interested to hear from anyone who has already gone down this road, did it work? From my limited goldfishing I still am pulling enough U to play my needed 2-3 spells.
I just got tired of how many times I had to mulligan during the FNM to get the right mana base. Going down to five game 1 sucks!
EDIT: And as of now, 8:27am CST they have been pulled off the website, Damn!
Just thinking....
Now it makes sense. So Pro-color means 'Can't be blocked, damaged, or targeted by that color'. It does clear it up, Thank you for that!
Thanks, I have a copy...just haven't had a chance to finish reading it yet
Ahh okay, guess I just thought Pro-white would dodge DoJ
Like most of you I noticed early on that the mana base was the biggest problem with this deck as it was two hard to get all the required colors when you needed them. But while some are looking at cutting back on black (and removing Liliy) and other are cutting back on white, I chose to cut back on the blue in my original build.
The reason I decided to do this is two fold, I love playing both Liliy and DoJ and can't see playing this deck without either of them. If damnation was still around I would of course play UB only just like the rest of you, but oh well. The other reason is the different styles of play U brings to how you are piloting the deck. Before turns 2-4 were about draw-go, then you start playing tapout. My problem was learning when to transition from draw-go to tapout. So I went in a more tap-out direction.
The only reason I am running blue is for Alchemy & Snap, so that makes that color splashable. I do have a spinx in the deck but I have 2U by turn 6/7 so that isn't a problem. I did cut mana leaks though and that has helped out A LOT! Now I don't need U on turn 2, BB on turn 3, WW on turn 4. I focus on removal and wait till I can get my fattys on the board.
I did trade for another Liliy at FNM but don't think I will run a full set of her in this deck. Almost every game I played I drew atleast one so 4 would probably be too much.
3 Oblivion Ring
3 Doom Blade
1 Timely Reinforcements
4 Forbidden Alchemy
3 Unburial Rites
2 Go for the Throat
1 Black Sun's Zenith
3 Day of Judgment
1 Grimoire of the Dead
CREATURES 11
3 Snapcaster Mage
1 Wurmcoil Engine
2 Sun Titan
1 Consecrated Sphinx
1 Grave Titan
1 Sheoldred, Whispering One
1 Rune-Scarred Demon
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
3 Liliana of the Veil
1 Gideon Jura
LAND 26
4 Isolated Chapel
4 Drowned Catacomb
4 Glacial Fortress
2 Island
6 Plains
6 Swamp
2 Timely Reinforcements
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
2 Revoke Existence
1 Oblivion Ring
2 Stony Silence
2 Mental Misstep
1 Spellskite
2 Ghost Quarter
1 Sphinx of Uthuun
1 Sheoldred, Whispering One
FNM Report:
Round 1 vs GW Tokens
This was probibly my hardest match of the night since we both kept building bigger and bigger. Game 1 went long as he got mana screwed and didn't draw any of his parallel lives, Once I got elsh nor out he scooped. Game 2 he drew his nut hand and I was dead by turn 5 with parallel, intangable virtue, and hero on the field. Game 3 was a lot like game 1 but his spirits finished the game since I didn't have any answer for them. 1-2
Record 0-1
Round 2 vs W humans
I've played this guy quite a bit since he is in my testing circle so we both knew how this game was going to go. We went back and forth with removal until I got my fattys out. Nothing unmanagable 2-0
Record 1-1
Round 3 vs BG Vampires ?
This kid was playing some home brew he put together, it was a weird deck with mostly INN. Most notable move from the round was when I was swinging for the game with Gidion and he played victim of night on him...:-/
2-0
Record 2-1
Round 4 vs BG Infect
Been a while since I've seen a infect deck, but it wasn't a suprize when he swung with plague stinger and slapped 2x Mutagenic Growth on turn 3. I played my removal and slowed him down, inkmoth got me in the end since I never drew my doom blade. Game 2-3 he never got inkmoth out and I slowed him down quite a bit with Liliy, removal, and him not pulling hard;y any land on Game 3. 2-1
Final Record 3-1
This was a complete 180 from last week and I had a lot of fun piloting it this week. I didn't see much GY hate but next week, but may see more next week since the majority of the shop I play at now knows what Im playing. *SHRUG* we will see.
Oh, Card thoughts...
Dead Weight, this card is AWESOME in this deck. Being able to recure it with titan saved me several times. Most of the fast decks don't have anything bigger than a 2/2 so its just deadly.
Rune-Scarred Demon, I know several people on are the fence with this guy. I know I was NEVER unhappy to see him in my hand. Play him, hunt for Elsh or Wormcoil, or Liliy. He is a flying beat stick that doesn't die to doom blade/dismember and tutors anything! Whats not to like!
Grimore of the dead, I threw this in thinking it would help with discard. Never played it. Was basicly a dead card, early game I had better things in my hand to play, late game it didn't matter. Will probibly be pulling this card.
Thats it for me, hopefully this has helped someone out. I know for myself reading all of your thoughts on different cards and how matches go help me decide what I want to include, so thank you salvation.
I have mixed feelings about this, I sounds like it MIGHT work but I keep coming back to *This is not a re-animator* deck and we don't want EVERYTHING to go to the yard. Thoughts?
This is exactly what I have been thinking ever since last weekend and being mana screwed 50% of the time due to the inconsistent mana base.
Here is my new list I am considering taking to FNM this week...
3 Oblivion Ring
3 Doom Blade
1 Timely Reinforcements
4 Forbidden Alchemy
3 Unburial Rites
2 Go for the Throat
1 Black Sun's Zenith
3 Day of Judgment
1 Grimoire of the Dead
CREATURES 11
3 Snapcaster Mage
1 Wurmcoil Engine
2 Sun Titan
1 Consecrated Sphinx
1 Grave Titan
1 Sheoldred, Whispering One
1 Rune-Scarred Demon
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
3 Liliana of the Veil
1 Gideon Jura
LAND 26
4 Isolated Chapel
4 Drowned Catacomb
4 Glacial Fortress
2 Island
6 Plains
6 Swamp
2 Timely Reinforcements
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
2 Revoke Existence
1 Oblivion Ring
2 Stony Silence
2 Mental Misstep
1 Spellskite
2 Ghost Quarter
1 Sphinx of Uthuun
1 Sheoldred, Whispering One
I am focusing on W/B and only splashing U for Alchemy, Snapcaster, & my Sphinx. I have play-tested this quite a few times since last weekend and it really seems to smooth out the mana requirements.
I play tested with it thinking the same thing and then quickly pulled it. Too easy to target it with hate after the second counter.
They both are good at what they do, I see your side of the argument but I prefer using Revokes for Tempered Steel's or ORings since that is the heavy meta around me. I just save my doom blades for inkmoths and Divine Offering can't hit their enchantments. I lost count of how many times I would get Elsh Nor out only to get her ORinged, then I would ORing his ORing, then he would ORing my Oring targeting his original ORing which would drop back on Elsh...*Sigh* I need an answer for all these dang ORings.....enter revoke
That's one of the things that's making me go crazy is seeing all these different version and me going back constantly tweaking my version thinking it's better than the last. I know either my build is junk or I'm piloting it wrong because I did so bad (1-3) at FMN last week and everyone else seemed to do much better.
Here is my current list after I altered my mana base to focus more on W/B.
3 Snapcaster Mage
1 Consecrated Sphinx
1 Grave Titan
1 Sun Titan
1 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Rune-Scarred Demon
2 Sheoldred, Whispering One
Spells: 20
1 Black Sun's Zenith
2 Day of Judgment
2 Doom Blade
1 Go for the Throat
4 Mana Leak
4 Forbidden Alchemy
2 Oblivion Ring
1 Timely Reinforcements
3 Unburial Rites
3 Liliana of the Veil
1 Gideon Jura
Lands 26
4 Drowned Catacomb
4 Glacial Fortress
2 Islands
4 Isolated Chapel
6 Plains
6 Swamp
2 Ghost Quarter
2 Mental Misstep
2 Revoke Existence
1 Spellskite
2 Stony Silence
2 Oblivion Ring
2 Timely Reinforcements
2 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
What I am talking about doing is this...
-4 Mana Leak
+1 Oblivion Ring
+1 Go for the throat
+1 Day of Judgment
+1 Timely Reinforcements
Basically leaning more towards W/B removal to stabilize the mana base so I just have to splash blue for the 4 blue cards I would be running. Thoughts?
I am debating pulling the mana leaks and just concentrating on W/B removal until I get stabilized with mana/fatties. I would be interested to hear from anyone who has already gone down this road, did it work? From my limited goldfishing I still am pulling enough U to play my needed 2-3 spells.
I just got tired of how many times I had to mulligan during the FNM to get the right mana base. Going down to five game 1 sucks!