MTG Salvation

Quote from Soratachi

@Atog: How come Olivia isnt in the MD? I understand that nothing is entirely set in stone, but she's good in multiple matchups, I don't see why you wouldn't want her main except for space.

Nighthawk is a better call in my local meta. We're overrun with lots of weenie decks, and I need to drop something to protect myself Turn 3 (and I'm not running any Farseeks).

Vraska steals games. In the control matchup, they're so scared of her, that she is a D-Sphere target. So I'll drop her, Vindicate Jace, she'll get Sphered, and I'll abrupt Decay, and vindicate Tamiyo. Her ultimate does go off sometimes, which is unexpected.

Mortars doesn't work for me. Bonfire is going to make it into my sideboard this week, I think. Sigarda is the target of Appetite for Brains & Slaughter Games.

Sigarda is the most annoying card for us to play against. Shuts down Liliana, and hexproof is a broken mechanic. Blasphemous act if she hits the board. Appetite for Brains, otherwise.

Quote from SajberT

Tbh I see little reason to use Disciple of Bolas when you have cards like Garruk, Primal Hunter.

I really want to run Primal Hunter, but I don't like the idea of GGG.

I'm not sure whether I'd call this midrange, as it plays a lot more like tempo, or even control to an extent. Early game removal, building up to efficient threats, all while keeping your opponent's board clear.

Credit where it's due: This list is a tweaked version of what beat me in the first round of the top 8 @ PA States, crafted and piloted by Josh Milliken at legitmtg.com

Why I'm playing this: I've been playing BR Zombies since Dark Ascension, and I enjoy control a lot more. I feel like with Gruul, it can only get better.



Matchups:

Zombies - Favorable. Keep a hand with lots of removal (preferably Pillar) and try to keep the board clear. Once you start dropping your dudes, you've usually won.

GW Humans - Favorable. Same strategy as Zombies, but be sure you can kick Thalia in the teeth as early as possible.

UW Aggro - Tough match up. Keep a hand where you can cast Liliana on Turn 3... because Geist is a pain in the ass.

Reanimator - Can be a rough match pre-board. Post-board, Deathrite Shaman and Cremate do a lot of work for you.

WUR Miracles - Play around their stupid counterspells. Watch out for Sphinx's Revalation and Terminus. Hang on to Sever the Bloodline until they hit their Entreat. After board, Slaughter Games targets (in order of importance): Entreat, Pillar of Flame, Terminus.

Bant Control - Same basic strategy as USA. Side in Slaughter Games and hit their Thragtusks. Hold dreadbores for Jace/Tamiyo.

Bant Enchantments- Liliana wins this match. Golgari Charm slows them down. You may want to side in Slaughter Games in this match, because the only answer to Sigarda main board are your Nighthawks.

Rakdos Aggro - Mulligan into removal. Stay out of the Brimstone zone until you can drop Huntmasters & Tusks. Like any red deck, life gain predatorizes them.

RDW - Haven't seen anyone playing it, but there's always that one guy at FNM. Same plan as Rakdos Aggro. If this becomes a real thing, I'll consider Witchbane Orb.

GW Midrange - I feel like we have the edge here. More reach, and way more removal.

Critique would be lovely.

I had a good time at PA States, my first top 8 at a competitive REL. I feel like the prize support was asinine, though. Top 8 each got 26 packs, 13 M13/13 RTR. I hear that it was blamed on a supply shortage, however, they ran at least 3 RTR draft events. Why would you short your main event winners prize, so that non-competitors and people who scrubbed out early could play side events?

Liliana is ABSOLUTELY A HOUSE... but she's a sideboard card. She's our only way to deal with Geist of Taint Traft without blocking (seriously, who BLOCKS these days?).

Champion of Lambholt says hello. That guy is a house, and he wins games quickly.

I'm doing some prep for a TCGPlayer platinum event.

Based on what I learned at states, I feel like a LOT of people are putting a ton of stock into gaining 20-40 extra life per game. How do we deal with that? Beat them or join them?

Could a UW or UB mill deck do the job in the current meta, and would it be a good idea to try to sleeve something up?

I think I made the right meta call, because honestly, my removal never really came into play (lots of control decks that do nothing until it's too late), but I don't remember any mana screw at all. I was able to Dreadbore when necessary. Brimstone was a finisher more than it was removal.

Top 8-ed PA States with this list:



Changes I'd make after going 5-0-2 in Swiss, and punting in the first round of the top 8:

Mainboard:

-1 Tragic Slip - Wasn't relevant at all today. Don't think I even saw it once.
+1 Dreg Mangler - Dude is a house, and helps our curve.

I'm also considering cutting Blood Artists for two more Rakdos Cacklers and another Dreadbore. His job today (and he did it well) was to waste my opponent's removal spells.

Sideboard:

-2 Abrupt Decay - I see why the price on this thing is tanking hard. This blew up a Detention Sphere once all day.
+1 Appetite for Brains - THRAGTUSK CAN EAT A BOWL OF PENISES. Lifegain in general can. We need a way to 1-for-1 Thragtusk and Huntmaster.
+1 Bonfire - Though I never saw the mirror, we need a way to clear the path in aggro matches.

PA

1 - UW Humans
2 - BR Zombies
3 - ?
4 - ?

I punted first round of top 8, so I'm not sure what that places me at, but I was running Jund Zombies.

Tonight should be a really good tuning opportunity, as a lot of people will be testing for states. It would be awesome if everyone kept decent notes as to what was good/bad. That way, Zombies can have a strong showing this weekend.

What's the best way people are dealing with Geist of Taint Traft?

Quote from Franck438

On the point of removal. What about the idea of MDing some number of Pillar of Flames?

I feel like Pillar isn't good in the control match, which I plan on seeing at least 40% of the field at States this weekend.

I'd give the cards back. Most people would see how awesome that is and reward you. Plus, you quote scripture in your sig. I'm not one for religion, but if it earns you points with whatever you believe in, do the right thing.

Or, you and the owner of the cards join forces, and curb stomp the living hell out of the guy who stole the cards... and you take value from his stock.