I think you're definitely right about a few issues here: Hellrider is just too good not to run more -- and I've since upped it to 4.
Similarly, I have removed any thought of Vexing Devil from my list and upped the Mizzium Mortars. It's really nice to clear out (especially GW) creatures.
That said, I've also gone into a heavier-red build, since I was realizing that the clock a Gr presented wasn't as imposing as the clock Rg presented. I'll update later with a revised decklist. Thanks for the input!
- bearsman6
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Feb 17, 2012bearsman6 posted a message on Aggro has really sped up the meta.Yeah, not everyone was lucky enough to get their playset before the PT jacked the price of the Huntmaster sky high, so for that slot I'd probably fill in with some combination of:Posted in: bearsman6 Blog
- the fourth Ghoultree
- Kessig Cagebreakers
- more Phyrexian Metamorph (because they're your best creature, even if that just means a legend-killer
- maybe even Hero of Oxid Ridge if you have it around.
The goal is not to extend too heavily on the casting cost, but to provide big, useful utility... or a beater. -
Jan 20, 2012bearsman6 posted a message on Seeing Red -- but still with the Graveyard themeCurrently Thrun is in to hose the control-heavy meta I play in. However, when testing previously, I had given those two slots to mainboarding the Daybreak Rangers. I just found that they never flipped, and I really only needed them to fight off flying creatures... so i switched them.Posted in: bearsman6 Blog
Thrun mb just plays better for me, not that this deck cares so much for its curve (often enough Splinterfright is the T4 drop). -
Jan 18, 2012bearsman6 posted a message on UG Dredge (Standard)If you're really going the Pod in the sb, you'd need to add more filler creatures for the pod chain. Viridian Emissary at 2, for example, to get you up to a Fright, or Solemn Simulacrum at 4, to get you to the Cagebreakers.Posted in: Fev Blog
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Jan 12, 2012bearsman6 posted a message on More play means more tuning. And More SPIDERS!Regarding Ghoultree: yeah, 10/10 is a big beater though, especially if you can cast him T3 or T4. T5 is way too easy, especially with as much ramp as the deck has.Posted in: bearsman6 Blog
Ezuri's Archers is actually a really cool idea. Costing only G is a nice touch, and not having to pay each turn to block a flyer is also great. I'll need to test it! True, it makes me all that much more vulnerable to Crusaders, as you note, but I have found my meta shifting much more heavily into Delver decks. It's actually quite frustrating, since that seems to be the one deck I consistently have issues with. (Probably why they're all shifting over, as I can run roughshod over other Tier1 decks, especially with proper sideboarding.)
Which brings us to that topic: Gnaw to the Bone is a beast. Mental Missteps deal with Nihil Spellbombs, Vapor Snags, Delvers, Bears, Surgical Extractions... all sorts of useful things.
Vapor Snag helps to provide the tempo boost this deck is crying for. Once it gets ahead, it's darn near impossible for the opponent to catch up without a Spellbomb.
I haven't had the need to go after the Replicas of late, but they're remnants from when my friends ran tons of Tempered Steel. They still have their uses. And it, combined with Ratchet Bomb, deals with many White variants, be it Angelic Destiny or tokens or what have you. -
Jan 4, 2012bearsman6 posted a message on FrustrationsI think you make several very valid points. As someone who took a multiple-year break from the game, just to be dragged back into it by friends, I've been amazed (or is it appalled?) by how expensive building a "good deck" is.Posted in: Dakarai Blog
That said, I've also taken up the challenge of trying to build a GOOD budget deck. For the most part, that involves playing under-used cards, or finding those odd combinations that you mention. Or just going for the decks that people don't see the potential in and running with them, refining them, and striving to improve them.
For what it's worth, I think I got in on the ground floor of the UG Mill Yourself format before the cards got crazy expensive, and I also got lucky on a few Innistrad packs. The reason I stuck with it, though, beyond all that, was that it was a fun deck to play.
Find one of those, that you really enjoy, and let the rest just be what it is. Best of luck! -
Dec 31, 2011bearsman6 posted a message on just starting legacy some help would be greatWhich colors do you enjoy more? Do you have a favorite archetype? Do you know if you're more of a Johnny, Timmy, or Spike in terms of player?Posted in: dochalliday60 Blog
These are the questions you might consider when figuring out what you want to play and how to get started. Legacy is expensive, but if you don't want to spend lots up front, consider reading this. It might help you out (and that forum is all about Legacy, so it could answer the starter questions, too). -
Dec 22, 2011bearsman6 posted a message on SpiderFright: It's more than just masochismIt's true. The early game is all about setting up the mill, and against aggro or tempo it's preferably getting Gnaw to the Bone either in-hand or in the yard. When a single cast of that averages 12+ life, though, it helps a ton. That's why there are more in the sb, too.Posted in: bearsman6 Blog
Any other suggestions to negate the opening weakness? - To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
I test ran my deck today against a friend who played both a MBInfect. My deck essentially just swapped Mana Leak in the Wurm spot, and Ambush Vipers in for the Invisimancers and Bonehoards in Vulcan's list.
Against Infect:
I found the counters to be really nice, especially since that was one of my few true answers against a first-striking Crusader (Vipers cried at their own ineffectiveness). Spider tokens not only chumped but killed his Inkmoths and Plague Stingers (even though I was up to 7 counters at that point). I couldn't find a KCB, but his Doom Blades found my Splinterfrights every time. Flashing back Spider Spawning was crazy, and won it for me. I guess I was lucky he didn't find his Lashwrithe and he was uninformed enough to block my Viridian Emissary T3.
Second game was much the same, except he had to mulligan to 5, and even then I think he got mana screwed. My turn3 Armored Skaab ended up being a superb blocker. Then when I leaked his turn3 Crusader, he didn't have another answer for my T4 Splinterfright. He eventually bladed it, but I think he wished he hadn't when Turn5 he saw my KCB.
At that point, though, his gf showed up and it was lunch time. We didn't really pick up again after. Those two games were a good show for the deck. I just feel it isn't really consistent.
I'm also going to back up the praise for GttB. It seems like I'm always surprised by just how much life I'm getting from that card, as is my opponent. Then I flash it back. Against aggro, that's all this deck really needs. The only time it didn't matter for me was against an infect deck, and a few quick sideboard swaps helped there.
That said, I ended up pulling all my Boneyard Wurms (for their lack of evasion), Deranged Assistants, and Bonehoards because they just weren't doing enough for me. Then slotting in 4 Mana Leaks reallllly went a long way. Sure, it makes the deck play more like control, but I've found with the Leaks and even an Ambush Viper or two (which I know some people hate), this deck can respond to seemingly-oppresive creature conditions.
Also, I've only resolved a KCB assault once, but Spider Spawning is like the gold standard. It wins. It also helps that it provides some much needed Reach to this deck, which otherwise has issues with flyers.
As an example, Boneyard Wurm really hasn't been performing that well for me. Yes, it can get huge, but that's not especially valuable when it's got no evasion, and it's (unless you had a profitable Dream Twist turn1) a horrible turn2 drop. However, if you can somehow get two Splinterfrights on the field at the same time, your opponent has serious issues. One game i got 3x, and that was just nuts. (But that was because I had 2xMana Leak in my opening 7, and drew a third on turn3).
That said, I still feel like this deck wants to go control or tempo, but it just can't yet. It's almost to the point where I considered adding in Unsummons or Aether Adept... Yeah.
The Lunges definitely work best with the Cagebreakers, but it feels weird having a card that requires the B with the predominant theme being GU. Spider Spawning and Forbidden Alchemy are already dead mills if you don't get that rare B source... though I suppose that's what the Birds are for.
On the topic of the Alchemy: I ended up cutting them because they just didn't feel as useful (too expensive!) when compared to Dream Twist, which was the ideal Turn1 drop. Have others found the pure card-draw to really be that nice? Doesn't Mulch do basically the same thing in this deck but better -- and cheaper?
Bonehoard is great when they aren't cluttering up your hand, which is why I initially put in 3, but then thought 2 might fit better, allowing for more freedom of design. But I still feel like having the potential to feed off both graveyards is worth considering more.
Lastly, I think the Slimes really are nice to respond to the more common threats: Innistrad lands, for example, or swords.
It still hurts this deck that there aren't enough ETB, LTB, or in-the-GY effects on worthwhile creatures in UG, and stacking more counters really hurts the original GY-based wincons.
My current deck just feels like it's missing something, and it's frustrating because I'm not sure what that something is. I've even tried playing with alternate mana sources and Spider Spawning to see if reach helped me weather flying attacks. Results were... ehh. Also, I know my lands aren't quite budget, but I figured I'd put it in exactly as it was so you all could see what I'm looking at.
4x Birds of Paradise
4x Boneyard Wurm
4x Ambush Viper
4x Viridian Emissary
4x Splinterfright
2x Armored Skaab
2x Kessig Cagebreakers
2x Acidic Slime
2x Dream Twist
4x Mulch
4x Mana Leak
2x Bonehoard
2x Spider Spawning
Lands: (20)
8x Forest
6x Island
4x Hinterland Harbor
2x Woodland Cemetary
3x Gnaw to the Bone
4x Naturalize
3x Surgical Extraction
1x Ratchet Bomb
2x Bonehoard
2x Negate
I've built a deck similar to this, but the problem I always found with mirror-mad phantasm is that it's a 5CMC in a deck that has better. Further, to use it to best effect, you only want one, and you have to protect it and it's piddly one toughness.
Granted, it's got some evasion if you've got mana, but then you're talking turn 5+. It just didn't test well for me...