I came across a question when playtesting with a friend using my UG Deck. I had a Primeval Bounty on the board and I then cast a Thassa, God of the Sea My question is 1) Do I get both the counters trigger and the beast trigger and if so 2) am I able to stack the triggers in a way so that I can put the 3/3 Beast onto the field and then put the 3 +1/+1 counters on it, or do I need to have a target on the field for the counters before the Beast enters the battlefield?
I think the one thing I would change is using Bonds of Faith instead of Pacifism...You don't get the "cannot use activated abilities" bit, but you can add +2/+2 to your dudes if you don't need to stop their guys.
Also, I think that Silverblade Paladin might be better at the 3 spot, make it so that all of your dudes are humans so you can use things like Cavern of Souls just to stop counter magic from hitting your guys. Maybe even use the Silverblade Paladin instead of Ajani. Being able to pair up a Champion of the Parish with a Silverblade Paladin in an all human deck is very powerful. Bonds of Faith could also help this be powerful. An additional Thalia might be good as well, since most decks tend to want to cast spells these days.
I actually traded for one Liliana of the Veil thinking I might use her at some point, but I don't know. How often do I really want to be discarding things? I feel like she would be good at the mid game after I have an empty hand and I can be like "Yup discard", but if I played her early, it would be sitting there.
My sideboard is getting kinda interesting. I mean I was able to use Skirsdag High Priest pretty effectively in the G/W matchups where I thought he would be good and he did not let me down. Having them swing away and then blocking and tapping EOT for a 6/6 vigilant flying demon was the game ender. Thragtusk and resto angel combo was useless. Just took an extra turn due to life gain, but it was over after the first one. I am hoping that Odric will have a similarly good testing result against decks like reanimator if they get to hang out long enough or against a midrange deck of any kind or control stuff like jace and tamiyo. we'll see where he ends up showing his might.
After taking a look at your reasoning Nerubian, I think I will test myself with a 25th land and no dorks to see what happens. I mean, I have noticed at times that what will happen is that I will turn 1 pilgrim and turn 2 conclave and be able to play a shockland and have it be tapped and not need it, but sometimes when that happens, i had to pay 2 life turn 1 for the pilgrim, so it would be a trade off in that regard. If i drop the 4 dorks I can add another planeswalker (looking at a relentless as a 1 of on top of sorin, primal, vraska at 3 2 2 respectively) 2 oring main board which is good and the 25th land, probably another vault. then that frees up two spots sideboard (from the o-rings) for me to try out something else, and i have been sitting on the fence about testing odric but i will def try him out...the first strike is huge for all the reasons that have been stated. I will let you know whats up with the results.
Nerubian,
Why are you turning away from the mana dorks? I feel like the 4 pilgrim's are amazing. Even if your land is fine and you don't miss a drop getting to the top of your curve, the dork can usually draw out a burn spell or destruction of some kind because they don't want you to ramp against them. Even making them waste an Unsummon on a dork is fine because it makes one less spell they use on our tokens. I see it as this: If I get a dork down turn 1 (which is pretty common) then I can ramp into a midnight haunting EOt turn 2 and turn three toss down either 2 intangible virtue, a virtue and a call or sorin on turn 3 and swing in for a bunch they weren't expecting. If not, then turn 1 is a waste and turn 2 I play a call which is still fine and turn 3 i play a souls or haunting and then turn 4 make my turn 3 play. I am also fine with having a dork as a 1/1 because if you want to swing in with it, just use a rancor on it and with an emblem, he is a 4/2 trampler. If nothing else, he can become a chump blocker mid game when you have planeswalkers online. I personally think I am going to keep mine, at least until I hear why you haven't been sold on keeping them yet. (I didn't see a clear reason why you were shifting away from dorks anywhere, but I may have missed it.)
I haven't posted in awhile, so here is the updated version of the deck that I am running. I ran it last week and went 3-1at my local FNM...The only matchup I lost was to Junk Rites in my first match...I killed it first game when it was just rites by using Selesnya Charm and Vraska's -3 to kill his two big targets. Lost the second game when my only 3 mana was Gavony turn 1, Forest turn 2, Vault turn 3 and then drawing for 5 turns into nothing...Yep, mulliganed to 5 and got stuck with those lands...My only two colorless ones. Had I had a plains, I had 2 Calls of the Conclave, a Rancor and 2 Virtues...He changed into a Junk ramp for game two and was able to ramp for hard casting since I was mana screwed. Game 3 was very close and he ended up winning on the backs of a second Angel of Serenity because I didn't get one intangible virtue to get in for much early. I just had some 1/1s and a 3/3 centaur with no rancor or virtues. The other three matches were G/W midrange with Resto Angel and Thragtusk, G/W midrange ramping into Entreat for massive amounts and using Silverblade Paladins with Thragtusks, and a black blue weird deck(some little kid who didnt know what he was doing and got lucky to 1-2 (paired down from 2-1 to a 1-2)). I was able to use Skirsdag High Priest to mess with them by trading with Thragtusks and Silverblade Paladins and things of that sort, often times using Rootbound Defenses to get there. Twice I was able to use Sever the Bloodline to exile an Entreat the Angels miracle, usually leading me to win on my swing in. I was even able to flash it back once, which was fantastic. I never saw the Collective Blessings, and I am going to be changing them out for another Vraska and another Sorin to make my count 3-2-2 like I have seen many others on here doing.
I am not done at all with the sideboard, but I haven't tested against enough decks in my local meta to know if I like something or not. I think the Severs, the Shamans, the Sundering Growths and the O-Rings (at least 2) will stay, as they help in their own ways. I am liking Skirsdag in the sideboard, but do not know about the Rest in Peace (which I will keep if Rites stays big) and the Captains (which I am considering changing for Pithing Needles as they are very good all around for decks like control with their planeswalkers.
I figured I'd jump in on this conversation about custom tokens while it's going on. I recently got a guy at my local store who is a great artist to draw me up a custom token. He asked what and I said I dunno I wish this spirit token was cooler and then it came to me...Slimer from Ghostbusters!
He got a blank card (the ones that the store gets inside the FNM promo boosters) and drew up this bad boy.
So now I am trying to think of some more ghosts and spirits that I can draw...Was thinking maybe the Flying Dutchman from Spongebob Squarepants. Then I gotta figure out some more fun ones.
On a completely unrelated note, but related to this thread, I am totally pro Rancor in the mainboard. I have never drawn it and said "Damn, what the hell am I going to do with this?" OK, maybe one time but that was because I was in a bad situation and was going to lose due to a bad start and I needed a nasty top deck to survive and drew a Rancor. But I mean even if I have a mana dork out there, pop a rancor on him, even 2, and swing. Makes anything a threat.
I don't see how custom tokens helps in the discussion of this thread. Spam warning issued.
-Mabberman
Edit: Sorry Mabberman...Only reason I mentioned it in the post was because another person had mentioned custom tokens already.
This is an extremely relevant point. I don't know how I missed that myself. This is a very good idea, as GW doesn't have any (as I know) that has a way to deal with him minus ORing. I guess just stopping their attackers is a good way to deal with. I was trying to figure out a way to remove stuff midcombat, but because of doublestrike the creatures hit for a lot but aren't big per-say. Also, Skirsdag is a creature to get around Thalia. It also allows extra uses for Mana Dorks. I'll try this. However, to be honest, I don't see GW lists lasting very long as they fold to Zombies (aren't fast enough to out-race) and UW Control.
Hmmm...someone else found a place for the High Priest after all. I was hoping someone might think of a better reason to play him because I really love the giant 5/5 demon...Albeit not mainboard, but a reason to side this bad boy seems good. Does it work against any other decks? Maybe u/w control for when our little tokens can't finish off Jace with his -1/-0 and we just make a giant demon to handle it?
Either way, I have renewed interest in my Skirsdag High Priests. Go sideboard!
Lucid, I like your list. If I end up not liking mine as much this weekend, I may adjust and give yours a try. I really want to run Collective Blessing but it just doesn't fit in the one I'm trying to build which is a bit more controlling rather than aggressive.
I do think Precinct Captain is worth a spin. Perhaps I will put 2/3 of those sideboard and keep Rest in Peace (does seem good for Frites which I have always had an issue against as B/W tokens unless I got a surgical extraction). I think maybe I'll make the sideboard as follows and give it a shot
and see how that works out. I think that helps the spread a bit. Odric does seem to be pretty good also. I had overlooked him. Also if I make the board this way, I can kind of transform the deck from pure tokens, to more controlling and actual creatures by bringing in the Odrics, the Precincts, the Rest in Peace, additional Oblivion Ring and Deathrite Shamans and Sever the Bloodline with Thragtusk as a fatty. That might throw them off a bit. What do you think about that aspect?
My favorite card has to be Sarkhan Vol. I think the first part of it had to do with him being the first planeswalker that I ever opened in a booster pack and first that I ever owned. The second is that his ultimate is one of my most favorite card abilities ever. I get to make a ton of flying giant dragons?! I can dig that. Also, he is in the best two colors for giant fatties and just ramping into destroying face.
I came across a question when playtesting with a friend using my UG Deck. I had a Primeval Bounty on the board and I then cast a Thassa, God of the Sea My question is 1) Do I get both the counters trigger and the beast trigger and if so 2) am I able to stack the triggers in a way so that I can put the 3/3 Beast onto the field and then put the 3 +1/+1 counters on it, or do I need to have a target on the field for the counters before the Beast enters the battlefield?
Thanks!
Edit: added card links
I think the one thing I would change is using Bonds of Faith instead of Pacifism...You don't get the "cannot use activated abilities" bit, but you can add +2/+2 to your dudes if you don't need to stop their guys.
Also, I think that Silverblade Paladin might be better at the 3 spot, make it so that all of your dudes are humans so you can use things like Cavern of Souls just to stop counter magic from hitting your guys. Maybe even use the Silverblade Paladin instead of Ajani. Being able to pair up a Champion of the Parish with a Silverblade Paladin in an all human deck is very powerful. Bonds of Faith could also help this be powerful. An additional Thalia might be good as well, since most decks tend to want to cast spells these days.
Just some thoughts.
Why are you turning away from the mana dorks? I feel like the 4 pilgrim's are amazing. Even if your land is fine and you don't miss a drop getting to the top of your curve, the dork can usually draw out a burn spell or destruction of some kind because they don't want you to ramp against them. Even making them waste an Unsummon on a dork is fine because it makes one less spell they use on our tokens. I see it as this: If I get a dork down turn 1 (which is pretty common) then I can ramp into a midnight haunting EOt turn 2 and turn three toss down either 2 intangible virtue, a virtue and a call or sorin on turn 3 and swing in for a bunch they weren't expecting. If not, then turn 1 is a waste and turn 2 I play a call which is still fine and turn 3 i play a souls or haunting and then turn 4 make my turn 3 play. I am also fine with having a dork as a 1/1 because if you want to swing in with it, just use a rancor on it and with an emblem, he is a 4/2 trampler. If nothing else, he can become a chump blocker mid game when you have planeswalkers online. I personally think I am going to keep mine, at least until I hear why you haven't been sold on keeping them yet. (I didn't see a clear reason why you were shifting away from dorks anywhere, but I may have missed it.)
So ya, on to the list:
4x Avacyn's Pilgrim
Enchantments
4x Intangible Virtue
3x Rancor
2x Collective Blessing
Instants
4x Selesnya Charm
3x Midnight Haunting
3x Rootborn Defenses
Sorceries
4x Call of the Conclave
4x Lingering Souls
Planeswalkers
2x Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
2x Garruk, Primal Hunter
1x Vraska the Unseen
3x Plains
3x Forest
4x Overgrown Tomb
4x Temple Garden
2x Woodland Cemetery
4x Isolated Chapel
2x Sunpetal Grove
1x Vault of the Archangel
1x Gavony Township
2x Rest in Peace
3x Oblivion Ring
2x Precinct Captain
2x Sundering Growth
2x Deathrite Shaman
2x Sever the Bloodline
2x Skirsdag High Priest
I am not done at all with the sideboard, but I haven't tested against enough decks in my local meta to know if I like something or not. I think the Severs, the Shamans, the Sundering Growths and the O-Rings (at least 2) will stay, as they help in their own ways. I am liking Skirsdag in the sideboard, but do not know about the Rest in Peace (which I will keep if Rites stays big) and the Captains (which I am considering changing for Pithing Needles as they are very good all around for decks like control with their planeswalkers.
Comments welcome!
He got a blank card (the ones that the store gets inside the FNM promo boosters) and drew up this bad boy.
http://s10.postimage.org/6iiabbm95/photo_2.jpg
Then after he made that one I got to thinking and I decided I wanted some more funky looking spirits so I decided I would draw up these bad boys.
http://s9.postimage.org/d2xiig5i7/photo_4.jpg
So now I am trying to think of some more ghosts and spirits that I can draw...Was thinking maybe the Flying Dutchman from Spongebob Squarepants. Then I gotta figure out some more fun ones.
On a completely unrelated note, but related to this thread, I am totally pro Rancor in the mainboard. I have never drawn it and said "Damn, what the hell am I going to do with this?" OK, maybe one time but that was because I was in a bad situation and was going to lose due to a bad start and I needed a nasty top deck to survive and drew a Rancor. But I mean even if I have a mana dork out there, pop a rancor on him, even 2, and swing. Makes anything a threat.
I don't see how custom tokens helps in the discussion of this thread. Spam warning issued.
-Mabberman
Edit: Sorry Mabberman...Only reason I mentioned it in the post was because another person had mentioned custom tokens already.
Hmmm...someone else found a place for the High Priest after all. I was hoping someone might think of a better reason to play him because I really love the giant 5/5 demon...Albeit not mainboard, but a reason to side this bad boy seems good. Does it work against any other decks? Maybe u/w control for when our little tokens can't finish off Jace with his -1/-0 and we just make a giant demon to handle it?
Either way, I have renewed interest in my Skirsdag High Priests. Go sideboard!
I do think Precinct Captain is worth a spin. Perhaps I will put 2/3 of those sideboard and keep Rest in Peace (does seem good for Frites which I have always had an issue against as B/W tokens unless I got a surgical extraction). I think maybe I'll make the sideboard as follows and give it a shot
2 Sever the Bloodline
2 Sundering Growth
2 Deathrite Shaman
2 Precinct Captain
2 Rest in Peace
2 Odric, Master Tactician
1 Oblivion Ring
3 Midnight Haunting
2 Oblivion Ring
and see how that works out. I think that helps the spread a bit. Odric does seem to be pretty good also. I had overlooked him. Also if I make the board this way, I can kind of transform the deck from pure tokens, to more controlling and actual creatures by bringing in the Odrics, the Precincts, the Rest in Peace, additional Oblivion Ring and Deathrite Shamans and Sever the Bloodline with Thragtusk as a fatty. That might throw them off a bit. What do you think about that aspect?