My metagame is composed by Affinity, Gx Tron, Burn, Jeskai Control, UR Breach, Counters Company, Eldraton, Titanshift, Zoo, Death and Taxes, Grixis Control,UR thing in the Ice, Merfolk and Knightfall.
Do you think my deck could be succesful?
What are the good matches of Ponza?
What are Ponza's bad pairings?
Weaknesses and strengths of RG Ponza?
Thank!!
From your meta;
Affinity
G1: Un-favoured
G2/3 Slightly Favored
Gx Tron
G1: Favored
G2/3 Favored
Burn
G1: Un-favored / Even
G2/3: Slightly Favored
Jeskai Control
G1: Favored
G2/3: Favored
UR Breach
G1: Unfavored
G2/3: Unfavored
UR Thing in the Ice
G1: Unfavored
G2/3: Unfavored
Counters Company
G1: Unfavored
G2/3: Slightly Favored
EldraziTron
G1: Even / Slightly Favored
G2/3: Favored
TitanShift
G1: Favored
G2/3: Favored
Zoo
G1: Unfavored
G2/3: Even / Slightly Favored
Death and Taxes
G1: Unfavored
G2/3: Unfavored
Grixis Control
G1: Favored
G2/3: Favored
Merfolk
G1: Heavily unfavored
G2/3: Unfavored
Knightfall
G1: Even
G2/3: Even
You will get better at guaging how each match up plays out with experience. Please feel free to scroll through all the post histories on this page for a wealth of information. Otherwise check out r/PonzaParty on Reddit or search for the Ponza FB group for more. I do think a traditional style without BBE is fine and viable, if not optimal.
Your questions were pretty broad so I'm going to leave you to test a bit and come up with some more specific questions. Good luck!
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Modern Decks
------------ URW Jeskai Control GUWRB Amulet Titan GR Ponza
By the way, for those of you who may not have picked up on this already, if your Jund opponent casts BBE and cascades into Liliana, Lili will be on the stack above BBE. When Lili resolves, BBE will still be on the stack, your opponent will not be able to tick up, and you will receive priority. You can then bolt Lili straight away. This and Bob are good enough reasons to keep bolts against Jund.
This is also the case with BBE into Nissa, VoZ.
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Modern Decks
------------ URW Jeskai Control GUWRB Amulet Titan GR Ponza
Courser is our best MD flex slot in an aggro and burn filled meta. It will 100% of the time be our best G1 card against burn and quite often our best g2 card.
BBE and Tireless Tracker are pretty brittle blockers.
It is also a great card against any discard or attrition strategy as it gives your topdecks more value.
It also blocks and kills BBE while surviving combat.
Courser is simply the under-appreciated workhorse of the deck.
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Modern Decks
------------ URW Jeskai Control GUWRB Amulet Titan GR Ponza
Chandra is your best win con against control and non-BBE GBx decks (Abzan/Rock). Against Jund she has always been strong, but less so now that they run 4 Bolts and 4 BBE.
In almost every other match up she is always relevant in some way. She is least useful (but still fine) in hyper aggressive match-ups with creature lands. Affinity, new Zoo, Merfolk etc. But with her +1 redirect rule change she will become SLIGHTLY, although noticeably worse.
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Modern Decks
------------ URW Jeskai Control GUWRB Amulet Titan GR Ponza
Hey peeps, since I'm taking Ponza to GP Sydney I thought I might ask the hive mind for some thoughts on my current sideboard plan. I am particularly hazy on my Humans and Death and Taxes / Hatebears match-ups. Any advice or disagreement with my choices is more than welcome! The only thing ill ask is that if you don't agree with a choice, please provide an alternative plan from my list. My current list for reference.
Keep some LD in against Humans, Taxes variants. They run lesser lands and they may get screwed with just a T2 LD. Baloth are too slow in the matchups.
Remove some LD against Jund. KEEP ARBOR ELVES IN.
Remove all your moons against storm, keep titan and Chandra in for killing mana bears.
I prefer a 22nd land (or any card 4cmc and over) over Chandra, flamecaller. Not very hot on her.
Cheers! I can see myself running Hazoret or a Garruk, Primal Hunter in the Chandra, Flamecaller slot. But not because I think they're better, it's just the CMC.
Against humans - how much LD exactly to leave in though, and to what effect? I figure if I end up cutting the first stone rain it might just be worth cutting all stone rains.
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Modern Decks
------------ URW Jeskai Control GUWRB Amulet Titan GR Ponza
Hey peeps, since I'm taking Ponza to GP Sydney I thought I might ask the hive mind for some thoughts on my current sideboard plan. I am particularly hazy on my Humans and Death and Taxes / Hatebears match-ups. Any advice or disagreement with my choices is more than welcome! The only thing ill ask is that if you don't agree with a choice, please provide an alternative plan from my list. My current list for reference.
Does anyone think Damping Sphere will replace Trinisphere in the sideboard?
Well it's a strict upgrade to Thorn of Amethyst, which saw marginal play because it decent against storm without completely killing cascades off of BBE.
The reality is Trinisphere is so much better against storm, burn and other Jank like hollow one and Ironworks, that the cost of nerfing BBE is not a great one. I'd rather have Trini any day.
The half of the card that hits big mana is not needed by our deck.
I have to intercede on the point of Storm. Trinisphere and Damping are equally strong against storm. When you consider one can be played on turn 2 regardless of whether you have ramp or not, the scales tip slightly toward Damping. But this is purely a storm context.
Overall, I agree Trinisphere is preferred, since it can hit more the Matchups that we are interested in. Tron isn't a problem for us.
Sure, assuming you don't have access to mana ramp t1 then damping sphere could be better against storm.
We do play 10 dorks for a reason though.
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Modern Decks
------------ URW Jeskai Control GUWRB Amulet Titan GR Ponza
Does anyone think Damping Sphere will replace Trinisphere in the sideboard?
Well it's a strict upgrade to Thorn of Amethyst, which saw marginal play because it decent against storm without completely killing cascades off of BBE.
The reality is Trinisphere is so much better against storm, burn and other Jank like hollow one and Ironworks, that the cost of nerfing BBE is not a great one. I'd rather have Trini any day.
The half of the card that hits big mana is not needed by our deck.
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Modern Decks
------------ URW Jeskai Control GUWRB Amulet Titan GR Ponza
Hi all - I haven't played Modern since Birthing Pod was banned way back when, but BBE getting unbanned made me pull the trigger and sleeve up Bloodbraid Ponza. Planning on taking it out for a spin for the first time this Friday. Anyhow, I was hoping someone(s) could critique my list and more importantly provide me with side boarding advice. I have a general idea of what decks exist in the format and how they play, but not sure what I'd be boarding in against who save the obvious. Anyhow, here's what I have built at the moment:
I think it's greedy to run 1x 5 drop and 3x 6 drops with only 1 BoP. I would go -1 Titan or -1 Stormbreath for +1 BoP. If you reeeeallly want to roll with only 1 bird then lower the curve a bit and go -1 Titan +1 Chandra main- deck or Nissa.
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Modern Decks
------------ URW Jeskai Control GUWRB Amulet Titan GR Ponza
I think too that cutting 1 dork can be ok. Moreover also 1-2 tracker cause they suddently die! Why do you cut coursier? They are decent blockers and provide a sort of card drawing.
Jund players will discard your courser then play tarmogoyf as a 4/5 (Courser gives 2 card types by itself). The pseudo card advantage is nice vs. Jund too though, and it blocks BBE well. I can see keeping it.
But dorks definately get trimmed.
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Modern Decks
------------ URW Jeskai Control GUWRB Amulet Titan GR Ponza
Hello guys! does it ever take to you to side out some copies of blood moon against some decks that suffer it a lot (as for example Jund) just cause you know they will be playing around it and so play slower?
Short answer - no. Good card is good card.
So what is tha plan against jund? As expected I have a ton of them in my LGs and I side in finks, relic and ooze but no idea of what to side out. I took out the lightning bolts and I missed them when try to deal with dark confidant. Also tireless trackers gets bolted immediately providing few advantage
JUND
----
+1 Sorcerous Spyglass
+1 Thrun, The Last Troll
+2 Obstinate Baloth
+2 Relic of Progenitus
-1 Chandra, Flamecaller
-2 Courser of Kruphix
-1 Birds of Paradise
-1 Arbor Elf
-1 Tireless Tracker
Cutting mana creature against Jund is usually correct, as we are more likely to want better topdecks and they will usually die or get discarded. I can see cutting another one to be fine as well.
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Modern Decks
------------ URW Jeskai Control GUWRB Amulet Titan GR Ponza
2. Should I drop down to 22 land, perhaps adding Courser there? The primer hints that 21-22 land, with 3 dual-types is appropriate. That would mean dropping to 2x Stomping Ground.
3. What's the game plan against GDS? I imagine a resolved Death's Shadow is still bad news.
4. The primer recommends Obstinate Baloth. Is that really fast enough against Burn? I see its use against Liliana of the Veil and Reality Smasher, but I think we win those matches anyway. Zoo and Burn look more dicey.
5. Are Roast and Return good options, or do you think a few of these ought to be changed?
6. My experience has been that Primeval Titan, Courser, and Tracker are absurd together. Is this interaction silly here, or is it sufficiently useful to be incorporated?
I'll answer in order. Please keep in mind the primer is somewhat out of date.
1) Bonfire is not recommended over bolt if you decide to use BBE. Without BBE bonfire or bolt can be used, depending on your desired main deck focus.
2) 23 lands is too many. 22 lands is acceptable especially if you have a colorless land like KWR. 21 lands is stock standard. 4 fetch-able red sources is also considered minimum (1 mountain 3 stomping grounds for example).
3) Game plan against DS is to gain a board presence which can chump DS or threaten their life if they go too low, while locking them out of mana and then cleaning up.
4) Baloth can come down turn 2 or 3 against burn, which is indeed fast enough.
5) Roast is a good option. K-return is a trade off. You will curse the 1 less damage compared to Anger when your human opponent drops a lieutenant and his team gets 3 toughness, or against Dredge. You will praise it when it catches an Inkmoth Nexus or Vizier of Remedies at instant speed.
6) Prime Time is not the right titan for this deck. We aren't a lands-matter deck (Well, we are in a perverse way, just not the way that Prime Time needs to be worth it). I can see Prime Time as a 1-of fun-of. There is indeed nice incidental value with courser and tracker.
From your meta;
Affinity
G1: Un-favoured
G2/3 Slightly Favored
Gx Tron
G1: Favored
G2/3 Favored
Burn
G1: Un-favored / Even
G2/3: Slightly Favored
Jeskai Control
G1: Favored
G2/3: Favored
UR Breach
G1: Unfavored
G2/3: Unfavored
UR Thing in the Ice
G1: Unfavored
G2/3: Unfavored
Counters Company
G1: Unfavored
G2/3: Slightly Favored
EldraziTron
G1: Even / Slightly Favored
G2/3: Favored
TitanShift
G1: Favored
G2/3: Favored
Zoo
G1: Unfavored
G2/3: Even / Slightly Favored
Death and Taxes
G1: Unfavored
G2/3: Unfavored
Grixis Control
G1: Favored
G2/3: Favored
Merfolk
G1: Heavily unfavored
G2/3: Unfavored
Knightfall
G1: Even
G2/3: Even
You will get better at guaging how each match up plays out with experience. Please feel free to scroll through all the post histories on this page for a wealth of information. Otherwise check out r/PonzaParty on Reddit or search for the Ponza FB group for more. I do think a traditional style without BBE is fine and viable, if not optimal.
Your questions were pretty broad so I'm going to leave you to test a bit and come up with some more specific questions. Good luck!
------------
URW Jeskai Control
GUWRB Amulet Titan
GR Ponza
This is also the case with BBE into Nissa, VoZ.
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URW Jeskai Control
GUWRB Amulet Titan
GR Ponza
BBE and Tireless Tracker are pretty brittle blockers.
It is also a great card against any discard or attrition strategy as it gives your topdecks more value.
It also blocks and kills BBE while surviving combat.
Courser is simply the under-appreciated workhorse of the deck.
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URW Jeskai Control
GUWRB Amulet Titan
GR Ponza
Rule change.
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URW Jeskai Control
GUWRB Amulet Titan
GR Ponza
In almost every other match up she is always relevant in some way. She is least useful (but still fine) in hyper aggressive match-ups with creature lands. Affinity, new Zoo, Merfolk etc. But with her +1 redirect rule change she will become SLIGHTLY, although noticeably worse.
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URW Jeskai Control
GUWRB Amulet Titan
GR Ponza
Cheers! I can see myself running Hazoret or a Garruk, Primal Hunter in the Chandra, Flamecaller slot. But not because I think they're better, it's just the CMC.
Against humans - how much LD exactly to leave in though, and to what effect? I figure if I end up cutting the first stone rain it might just be worth cutting all stone rains.
------------
URW Jeskai Control
GUWRB Amulet Titan
GR Ponza
Shared via TopDecked MTG https://www.topdecked.me/decks/e63594cf-d8b8-480f-9903-5ac1ca61f49f
BURN
----
+3 Trinisphere
+2 Baloth
-1 Chandra, Flamecaller
-2 Tracker
-2 Moon
EMERIA CONTROL
--------------
+1 Thrun
+1 Spyglass
+2 Relic
-1 Titan
-1 Courser
-2 Bolt
JESKAI CONTROL
--------------
+1 Thrun
+3 relic
+1 Spyglass
-2 Bolt
-2 Titan
-1 BoP
-1 Courser
JESKAI TEMPO / QUELLER / GEIST
----------------------
+1 Thrun
+2 Relic
+2 Anger
-2 bolt
-1 BoP
-2 Titan
AFFINITY
--------
+2 Ancient Grudge
+2 Anger of the Gods
+1 Slagstorm
+1 Spyglass
+2 Baloth
-3 Molten Rain
-4 Stone Rain
-1 Chandra, Flamecaller
DnT (MONO-W)
----------
+2 Anger
+1 Slagstorm
+1 Spyglass
+2 Baloth
+1 Thrun
-3 Molten Rain
-4 Stone Rain
HUMANS
------
+2 Anger
+1 Slagstorm
+1 Spyglass
+2 Baloth
+1 Trinisphere
-3 Molten Rain
-4 Stone Rain
JUND
----
+1 Thrun, the Last Troll
+2 Obstinate Baloth
+2 Relic of Progenitus
-1 Courser of Kruphix
-2 Birds of Paradise
-2 Arbor Elf
TRON
----
+1 Spyglass
-1 Nissa
STORM
------
+3 Relic
+3 Trinisphere
-2 Moon
-1 Courser
-1 Titan
-1 Nissa
-1 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
COUNTERS COMPANY
----------------
+2 Anger
+1 Slagstorm
+1 Spyglass
-2 Molten Rain
-1 Moon
-1 Courser
More match-ups to come!
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URW Jeskai Control
GUWRB Amulet Titan
GR Ponza
Your point is taken though
I'm a pretty aggressive with my mulligans.
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URW Jeskai Control
GUWRB Amulet Titan
GR Ponza
Sure, assuming you don't have access to mana ramp t1 then damping sphere could be better against storm.
We do play 10 dorks for a reason though.
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URW Jeskai Control
GUWRB Amulet Titan
GR Ponza
Well it's a strict upgrade to Thorn of Amethyst, which saw marginal play because it decent against storm without completely killing cascades off of BBE.
The reality is Trinisphere is so much better against storm, burn and other Jank like hollow one and Ironworks, that the cost of nerfing BBE is not a great one. I'd rather have Trini any day.
The half of the card that hits big mana is not needed by our deck.
------------
URW Jeskai Control
GUWRB Amulet Titan
GR Ponza
I think it's greedy to run 1x 5 drop and 3x 6 drops with only 1 BoP. I would go -1 Titan or -1 Stormbreath for +1 BoP. If you reeeeallly want to roll with only 1 bird then lower the curve a bit and go -1 Titan +1 Chandra main- deck or Nissa.
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URW Jeskai Control
GUWRB Amulet Titan
GR Ponza
Jund players will discard your courser then play tarmogoyf as a 4/5 (Courser gives 2 card types by itself). The pseudo card advantage is nice vs. Jund too though, and it blocks BBE well. I can see keeping it.
But dorks definately get trimmed.
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URW Jeskai Control
GUWRB Amulet Titan
GR Ponza
I'll accept that to some degree, but I probably would always drop at least 1.
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URW Jeskai Control
GUWRB Amulet Titan
GR Ponza
This is my plan. And my list for reference.
Ponza (R/G): BBE / 7 Rain
Shared via TopDecked MTG https://www.topdecked.me/decks/e63594cf-d8b8-480f-9903-5ac1ca61f49f
JUND
----
+1 Sorcerous Spyglass
+1 Thrun, The Last Troll
+2 Obstinate Baloth
+2 Relic of Progenitus
-1 Chandra, Flamecaller
-2 Courser of Kruphix
-1 Birds of Paradise
-1 Arbor Elf
-1 Tireless Tracker
Cutting mana creature against Jund is usually correct, as we are more likely to want better topdecks and they will usually die or get discarded. I can see cutting another one to be fine as well.
------------
URW Jeskai Control
GUWRB Amulet Titan
GR Ponza
I'll answer in order. Please keep in mind the primer is somewhat out of date.
1) Bonfire is not recommended over bolt if you decide to use BBE. Without BBE bonfire or bolt can be used, depending on your desired main deck focus.
2) 23 lands is too many. 22 lands is acceptable especially if you have a colorless land like KWR. 21 lands is stock standard. 4 fetch-able red sources is also considered minimum (1 mountain 3 stomping grounds for example).
3) Game plan against DS is to gain a board presence which can chump DS or threaten their life if they go too low, while locking them out of mana and then cleaning up.
4) Baloth can come down turn 2 or 3 against burn, which is indeed fast enough.
5) Roast is a good option. K-return is a trade off. You will curse the 1 less damage compared to Anger when your human opponent drops a lieutenant and his team gets 3 toughness, or against Dredge. You will praise it when it catches an Inkmoth Nexus or Vizier of Remedies at instant speed.
6) Prime Time is not the right titan for this deck. We aren't a lands-matter deck (Well, we are in a perverse way, just not the way that Prime Time needs to be worth it). I can see Prime Time as a 1-of fun-of. There is indeed nice incidental value with courser and tracker.
------------
URW Jeskai Control
GUWRB Amulet Titan
GR Ponza