@Grimble: I haven't played my Deadguy deck in a few months, but I was having a lot of success with Hidden Stockpile when it first came out (running with 10 fetches). I agree with all of your assessments of the card. I never tried it with Copter, but I'm intrigued enough that I might sleeve it up and give it a try again. One thing I was doing with it was running Abyssal Persecutor. That dude is no joke, he rumbles with just about anything in modern and wins, and the Stockpiles give you a very reliable sac outlet to get rid of him once he has taken care of business. If you look back a page or two you will see some of my lists.
I really like the look of your list, and I'm happy to see someone else playing (and having success with) Hidden Stockpile. I've fallen in love with it myself. I'm finding that opponents don't respect it at the moment, and it ends up costing them when the value lets you take over a game. You're absolutely right that once they do realize it's a problem, it's very hard to remove for most decks. People who don't play it think it's a tokens card, but I think it's lackluster in that deck, while it shines in ours. I recently went up to the full 4 copies (after starting 2x Stockpile 2x Ayli, then moving to 3x Stockpile and 1x Ayli).
I have a couple questions:
Gatekeeper of Malakir is spicy. Can you elaborate a bit on why it's good for you? I've considered it myself, but I never gave it a shot because I decided that at BBB, it might be too hard to cast. I'm guessing it's worth slamming on turn 2 if you have no other play? Or do you find yourself holding it for the kicker effect?
I like seeing Brimaz in lists too. I'm leaning towards slotting one back into my main deck myself. However at 24 lands and with no Gatekeepers to worry about, my deck has an easier time making WW than yours. Is dropping him on curve ever an issue?
How often do you side in your Zealous Persecutions? Partially because of the Hidden Stockpiles leaving me with more tokens, I settled on two in the main and one in the board. It's useful in almost every matchup for blocking blowouts, killing blows, or to mise Affinity/Infect in the early turns.
Went 4-0 at FNM last night with the list I posted above. Was very happy with how the deck performed.
Round 1 - Abzan CoCo Chord (won 2-1)
This was a pretty grindy match that I won on the back of lingering souls tokens and my ability to exile my opponent's threats. He was using Renegade Rallier to bring back things like Goyf, and had some number of Finks. I boarded in my other two Path to Exile, my extra Anguished Unmaking and my Kalitas to deal with it. Felt like a bit of a nonbo to bring in Kalitas with the exile effects, but we were trading a lot in combat and I figured I could get some value there, also at 3/4, Kalitas lined up nice against a lot of his threats. He was also running a number of infinite combos that I needed to watch out for, so I used my discard spells and my Tidehollow Scullers to take away the pieces when I could. Hidden Stockpile came through in a big way keeping Servos on the board to block, and giving me a scry every turn in those long games to keep my draws relevant.
Round 2 - Abzan Midrange (Won 2-0)
Another grindy matchup. I managed to snag Maelstrom Pulse with Inquisition early in both games and ride my spirit and servo tokens to victory. Went up to the full 8 1-mana removal spells from the board to deal with all the Goyf/Flayer/Rallier shenanigans. The lifegain from Shambling Vent after stabilizing kept me in both games, and in game 2 the Scry from Stockpile actually saved me at 4 life the turn before I won by letting me put an Abyssal Persecutor on the bottom while I had a Bob in play.
My manabase felt like the real advantage in this matchup. I took far less damage from fetch/shock lands than he did, and Shambling Vents let me claw my way back up. My removal just lined up so well against all of his threats, too.
Round 3 - Mardu Eldrazi (Won 2-0)
I killed him pretty quickly in game 1 and didn't really get a sense of what he was doing. I saw Hangarback Walkers, Relic of Progenitus, and Ratchet Bomb so I sided in 2 Pithing Needle and 2 Stony Silence... Then saw Reality Smasher and Thought-Knot Seers. Managed to fight through them with a couple Revolt-activated Fatal Pushes and a Zealous Persecution blocking blowout, stabilizing at 2 life. 2 Shambling Vents brought my life back to a comfortable 6 the next turn (outside smasher range, he was top decking, so smasher bolt was not possible) and I won the turn after that.
Round 4 - BGRW Delerium w/ Death's Shadow
I haven't played against this deck before, but he was doing a lot of the same things as my firs two opponents, like slamming Goyfs and Flayers then bringing them back with Renegade Rallier. My removal lined up too well against that plan and I slowly managed his threats before killing him with spirits/servos both games. Sorin's +1 off the top of the deck won me the first game the turn before he was poised to kill me, letting 4 spirits get in for 8 lifelink.
Some observations after the fact.
- I need to drop Liliana and play a second Sorin. I boarded her out almost every game. With the addition of the Hidden Stockpiles I am now sort of halfway between tokens and midrange and she doesn't fit the script the way she used to (plus it sucks only being able to run 1). Sorin is always a good draw and just wins me games, or helps get me back in them.
- 4x Fatal Push 2x Path to Exile main with 2x Path board felt right last week, but this week I found myself bringing the extra Paths and even Anguished Unmaking in constantly to deal with Renegade Rallier. The Fatal Push were still fine, but it feels bad pushing an attacking Goyf and then seeing it come right back. I was pushing a lot more on my own turn. Push was still insane, just need to figure out the split.
- Hidden Stockpile is amazing against fair decks. People don't respect it game 1, and as an enchantment it's hard to remove in games 2/3. My deck wants to grind, and it fits the script perfectly. It makes Zealous Persecution better, it smooths draws, it gives me a sac outlet for Persecutor... I just love everything it does.
I've picked Modern up again after about 8 months away. Still sticking it out with this deck and I thought I would share my current build that I've been having FNM-level success with.
I've been pleasantly surprised with the Hidden Stockpiles, if you get multiple out they can really take over. They help me trigger revolt for Fatal Push, the scry to dig for answers is great in any game that goes even remotely long, and they give me a sac outlet for Abyssal Persecutor after he has done his work. I upped my fetch count to 8 to help me make servos more reliably, and I'm thinking of even going to 10.
I took out 2x Ayli and 1x Slaughter Pact to fit them in.
The Concealed Courtyards have also done wonders for the mana.
Round 1: Beat a sweet RUG brew 2-0. He was playing Goyfs, Cliques, Snaps, Darkdwellers, Bolts, Remand, Ancestral, etc. My discard and removal kept him from doing too much and I just beat him down with my bears and Vents. I also got to live the dream of processing an Ancestral Visions with Wasteland Strangler for the first time.
Round 2: Beat RW burn 2-0. I typically do well against burn decks, especially post board. He nearly had me game 1, but I exhausted his resources at 3 life and Shambling Vents ticked me out of Boros Charm range once he was top decking. Game 2 I mulled to my SB cards and won.
Round 3: Lost 0-2 to Bogles. This might be my worst match up. It really feels like I can't do anything against them except hope to make them discard key enchantments. All of my point removal is useless and I'm often facing a 3+ first strike Bogle before I have sufficient blockers, and it snowballs from there. I'm almost considering a couple Smallpox in the board. Bogles always seems light on lands and it seems to me like an early Pox could really get them. Short of dropping cash on a couple LotV, my only other option might be a Damnation in the board.
In general, I have been loving the Anguished Unmaking thus far. The 3rd one in the board might be unnecessary, but I need another week or two before I know for sure.
Declaration in Stone did nothing all night, it probably needs to go.
I'm already built that way, herfs, so I'll be continuing down that path. I was planning on removing my Stranglers for [[Anguished Unmaking]], but I'm not sure I want to do that with Ancestral Vision coming back.
I've been thinking about the best gy hate to combat Sword combo. [[Relic of Progenitus]] seems to easy for them to get around. Is [[Moratorium Stone]] too expensive at 2 per activation? You get that sweet second ability which could be good. I also just realized that [[Withered Wretch]] was time-shifted. Nothing wrong with playing another zombie-bear, especially if you run Kalitas.
Kalitas is pretty solid life gain, no? Couple that with upwards of 6-10 life from Vents.. Seems manageable
The only problem is the nonbo with Kalitas. I'm running lots of life gain in the main (4x Shambling Vents, 2x Ayli, 2x Kalitas, 1x Vault, 1x Sorin) with even more in the board (Blood Baron, Finks, Firewalkers). I already want more kill than exile effects with my current setup and I think playing 2x Anguished Unmaking means moving away from Kalitas, unfortunately.
I agree with all the things deaddrift said about Strangler/Sculler. At this point I wouldn't give them up. Going turn 1 Inquisition, Turn 2 Sculler, Turn 3 Strangler is good enough that I don't mind the games where it doesn't pan out that way and your Sculler bites the dust early or you have nothing to process in the early turns. In those cases your Sculler still absorbed a removal spell that could have gone somewhere else, and by the mid to late game there is almost always something to process for Strangler thanks to Path/Kalitas/Other Scullers.
He's also right that against Affinity Strangler saves you from opposing Etched Champions quite well, both as a blocker and with his ability. This is the same reason I run 3 Mutavault in my deck.
herfs, that creature base looks interesting, and very similar to what I look like post-board in a lot of matchups. I guess it comes down to what you want to be doing with the deck. That collection of guys gives you more creature based pressure at the cost of discard. I have found the deck at its best when you are starving the opponent out of resources and then taking over the game with Manlands/Tokens/Sorin when you pull ahead.
I think of it a bit like a slower Jund, but with many more ways to gain back the life we lose to Bob/Shocks/Fetches. Maindeck I run 4 Shambling Vent, 2 Ayli, 2 Kalitas, Vault of the Archangel, and Sorin, Lord of Innistrad. Unless I'm playing burn, sitting at something around 4 life (or lower, if they're not on bolt) doesn't phase me. Eventually when we're both on topdecks my life will tick up while theirs ticks down. That kind of game favours us.
Here's a report from Tuesday night playing the deck I updated on page 34 of this thread.
Round 1 - Jund
I was paired against my buddy on the deck that I have played far and away the most games against. I know the matchup inside and out and know that I am favoured because these games go long and my manlands and lifegain give me the edge. It also helps to know exactly how he will sideboard.
Game 1: Opponent mills to 5 and I have discard/answers for everything he tries to do as I'm on the play. Not much to see here.I Inquisition a Confidant from his hand turn 1, then I Thoughtseize an ooze and Path his Goyf. Then it's just beats with Spirits and Scullers until he's dead.
Game 2: This was just a war of attrition. I hit his turn 2 Confidant with Darkblast then Scullered him on my turn 2. Turn 3 I cast Wasteland Strangler processing the card under Sculler and killing an Ooze. He forgot about the Darkblast and cast another Confidant, so I dredged it back and killed it. Once we got to topdecks I basically had inevitability between Lingering Souls and Manlands.
Round 2 - Mono Black
I'm familiar with the deck this guy is playing from watching Frank Lepore's stream, but I have never actually played against it
Game 1: I don't remember exactly how this game went except that we traded discard and removal for the first few turns. I focused on getting rid of Nighthawks since I knew Spirits would be my path to victory. I eventually went Sorin->Emblem then Zealous Persecution with 4 spirits on the board to get the kill a turn before Obliterator would have killed me. I couldn't find a Path for it, so I just ate beats. Ayli came in and saved the day a turn before my lethal swing, letting me sac a Strangler and Sculler to gain 4 life and buy me a turn.
Game 2: Couldn't find Paths or Celestial Purge, took big beats from Obliterator. At 1 life it looked like I was going to be able to take the game after assembling a next-turn lethal board with a bunch of spirits and a Sorin emblem while holding a Zealous Persecution. I had enough blocks on the ground to live through his turn and sac to the Obliterator. I made a Gut Shot joke and then he drew Geth's Verdict.
Game 3: I actually blew this one. This was a long and grindy game where I eventually gummed the ground up with Ayli, Kalitas and Shambling Vents and picked him apart with Spirits. We went to turns. Turn 3 I took him to 4 life with 4 spirits on board, feeling confident that I would have him when turn 5 came to me. I was at 10 life and neglected to use my Vault of the Archangel to gain the 4 life from my attack. Turn 4 he drew and slammed a Gray Merchant for 10 exactly and won. If I remembered to Vault, I would have taken the draw.
Round 3 - Goblin Burn
I played against this guy last week and learned that 10 life is not a safe life total, despite what I may have thought previously. I now have nightmares about getting double goblin-bombed
Game 1: I am a luck sack. Stabilized at 2 life and took board control figuring that he would just draw into burn and kill me. He whiffed 3 turns in a row and Shambling Vents pushed me back up to 8 life while I built up Spirits. By the time he drew anything it was too late. I feel like this one was gifted to me, as I usually plan to lose game 1 in this matchup.
I think that Fiend Hunter could pair nicely with Wasteland Strangler. It does kind of the same thing as Strangler while also feeding the other Stranglers at the same time. Maybe try a 2/2 split?
I've considered Fiend Hunter, but I'm weary of pushing my curve any higher because of Bob and also how important it is that I'm casting things T1 and T2. I'm running 3 Stranglers right now, maybe I could go 2 Stranglers and try out a single Fiend Hunter.
I took out 4x Pack Rats from the main deck and replaced them with 2x Ayli, 1x Zealous Persecution and a 3rd Wasteland Strangler.
I've wanted to try Ayli for a long time and I have to say that she has been excellent. She stonewalls so many creatures in the format with her 3 toughness, and Deathtouch means she trades with most anything that doesn't fly. I don't have any Abyssal Persecutor type tricks to abuse with her sac ability, but it has helped get me there a significant number of times by providing a few extra life points. This deck wants the game to go long and Ayli is excellent at facilitating that.
I've been impressed enough with the Wasteland Strangler that I added the 3rd copy. Processing cards from underneath Sculler is just too good to pass up. I will admit that they sometimes disappoint when there is nothing to process, but the good out-weighs the bad, I think.
A couple quick SB notes: I found I was boarding the Pack Rats out in almost every match. I left one in the board to bring in against things like Jund, that feels like enough. I also dropped 2x Fulminator Mage from the board to make way for Celestial Purge. I don't see enough Eldrazi or Tron at my store to worry about LD (not to mention they are probably too-slow against Eldrazi anyway). If I was seeing these decks I would probably put the Fulminators back in and swap some number of my manlands for Tec Edge/Ghost Quarter in the main. I'm trying out the one Relic Warder as another tool against Affinity that also pairs well with Strangler, but I haven't had that match come up yet.
I went 2-1 at my local store last night. I'll type up a report later and post it.
I've got 3 Ayli sitting in a stack of "maybe for this deck" cards. In my build (see a few posts ago) I don't think I would play her over Tidehollow Sculler, but I might take 1-2 Pack Rat out and give her a try.
LOTV - you run none? Neither do I, just wondering your thoughts.
Simple answer: I'm too poor. I'd like to run 3x Lili, but I only own 1. This led me to prioritize a creature-heavy build with the Scullers and Pack Rats. Running the full 4 Scullers made me want to try out the Wasteland Stranglers. I still wish I had the Lilis, but I'm happy where I ended up, Even when they die immediately, Scullers are excellent for tempo.
Pack Rat - is it really a 4-of card? I haven't had much experience using so I might not be privy to its power level.
I'm questioning this. Sometimes it is, but a lot of times it gets boarded out. In games where you can stick a Bob and start getting extra cards, they can just take over. They also go very well with the Mutavaults, making for some great attacks. It's possible I want to go down to 2 or 3 Rats and MD more removal.
You run 7 mankind's - is that excessive? How necessary was Mutavault for you?
I don't think it's excessive. Mutavault is great, See above about Pack Rats. I've been playing a lot of Jund and having 7 Man-Lands really helped me grind them out in the late game. I wouldn't trade the Shambling Vents for anything (Unless they reprint Scrubland or Wasteland :P). They are late-game all stars in most matchups, and with them + Kalitas and Sorin, the deck has enough life gain preboard to steal game 1 from Burn. I don't play any Fetid Heath or Isolated Chapel because of them, though.
And how about burn? How did you Sideboard?
As I said above, game 1 against burn isn't so bad with all the lifelink in the MD. I board in 2x Finks and 3x Firewalker and 2x Zealous Persecution, taking out 4x Thoughtseize and 3x Rats. Now we have 12 cards that gain life, most of which block very well, and a spell that can make for some blowout blocks or eliminate x/1's.
How did your other match ups go? How much of a mirror was the mirror? I feel BW control is pretty fringe as it is.
I was surprised to play another BW deck in round 1. He was less hateful than my deck, and slower than I was, running Blade Splicers & Restoration Angels. We talked a bit after the match and he told me he was still building the deck and missing a few things he wished he had. For example, he was only running 2 Marsh Flats and was playing Wall of Omens because he didn't have Bobs. I think my deck was just better. I took game 1 relatively easily and then hated him out with a Blood Baron in game 2.
I took game 1 from Naya burn after stabilizing with Shambling Vents and then sealed it with Kalitas. Game two was really close and I hung on between 6 and 1 life for a few turns, whittling him down to 4 with Spirits, but he stonewalled my life gain a couple times with Atarka's Command and Skullcrack. Game 3 we went to time (he was playing a little slowly). I stabilized around 9 life with a Bob on board and killed him with Shambling Vent and Spirits. A Zealous Persecution off of Bob on my last turn gave me the win instead of having to draw.
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I really like the look of your list, and I'm happy to see someone else playing (and having success with) Hidden Stockpile. I've fallen in love with it myself. I'm finding that opponents don't respect it at the moment, and it ends up costing them when the value lets you take over a game. You're absolutely right that once they do realize it's a problem, it's very hard to remove for most decks. People who don't play it think it's a tokens card, but I think it's lackluster in that deck, while it shines in ours. I recently went up to the full 4 copies (after starting 2x Stockpile 2x Ayli, then moving to 3x Stockpile and 1x Ayli).
I have a couple questions:
Gatekeeper of Malakir is spicy. Can you elaborate a bit on why it's good for you? I've considered it myself, but I never gave it a shot because I decided that at BBB, it might be too hard to cast. I'm guessing it's worth slamming on turn 2 if you have no other play? Or do you find yourself holding it for the kicker effect?
I like seeing Brimaz in lists too. I'm leaning towards slotting one back into my main deck myself. However at 24 lands and with no Gatekeepers to worry about, my deck has an easier time making WW than yours. Is dropping him on curve ever an issue?
How often do you side in your Zealous Persecutions? Partially because of the Hidden Stockpiles leaving me with more tokens, I settled on two in the main and one in the board. It's useful in almost every matchup for blocking blowouts, killing blows, or to mise Affinity/Infect in the early turns.
Round 1 - Abzan CoCo Chord (won 2-1)
This was a pretty grindy match that I won on the back of lingering souls tokens and my ability to exile my opponent's threats. He was using Renegade Rallier to bring back things like Goyf, and had some number of Finks. I boarded in my other two Path to Exile, my extra Anguished Unmaking and my Kalitas to deal with it. Felt like a bit of a nonbo to bring in Kalitas with the exile effects, but we were trading a lot in combat and I figured I could get some value there, also at 3/4, Kalitas lined up nice against a lot of his threats. He was also running a number of infinite combos that I needed to watch out for, so I used my discard spells and my Tidehollow Scullers to take away the pieces when I could. Hidden Stockpile came through in a big way keeping Servos on the board to block, and giving me a scry every turn in those long games to keep my draws relevant.
Round 2 - Abzan Midrange (Won 2-0)
Another grindy matchup. I managed to snag Maelstrom Pulse with Inquisition early in both games and ride my spirit and servo tokens to victory. Went up to the full 8 1-mana removal spells from the board to deal with all the Goyf/Flayer/Rallier shenanigans. The lifegain from Shambling Vent after stabilizing kept me in both games, and in game 2 the Scry from Stockpile actually saved me at 4 life the turn before I won by letting me put an Abyssal Persecutor on the bottom while I had a Bob in play.
My manabase felt like the real advantage in this matchup. I took far less damage from fetch/shock lands than he did, and Shambling Vents let me claw my way back up. My removal just lined up so well against all of his threats, too.
Round 3 - Mardu Eldrazi (Won 2-0)
I killed him pretty quickly in game 1 and didn't really get a sense of what he was doing. I saw Hangarback Walkers, Relic of Progenitus, and Ratchet Bomb so I sided in 2 Pithing Needle and 2 Stony Silence... Then saw Reality Smasher and Thought-Knot Seers. Managed to fight through them with a couple Revolt-activated Fatal Pushes and a Zealous Persecution blocking blowout, stabilizing at 2 life. 2 Shambling Vents brought my life back to a comfortable 6 the next turn (outside smasher range, he was top decking, so smasher bolt was not possible) and I won the turn after that.
Round 4 - BGRW Delerium w/ Death's Shadow
I haven't played against this deck before, but he was doing a lot of the same things as my firs two opponents, like slamming Goyfs and Flayers then bringing them back with Renegade Rallier. My removal lined up too well against that plan and I slowly managed his threats before killing him with spirits/servos both games. Sorin's +1 off the top of the deck won me the first game the turn before he was poised to kill me, letting 4 spirits get in for 8 lifelink.
Some observations after the fact.
- I need to drop Liliana and play a second Sorin. I boarded her out almost every game. With the addition of the Hidden Stockpiles I am now sort of halfway between tokens and midrange and she doesn't fit the script the way she used to (plus it sucks only being able to run 1). Sorin is always a good draw and just wins me games, or helps get me back in them.
- 4x Fatal Push 2x Path to Exile main with 2x Path board felt right last week, but this week I found myself bringing the extra Paths and even Anguished Unmaking in constantly to deal with Renegade Rallier. The Fatal Push were still fine, but it feels bad pushing an attacking Goyf and then seeing it come right back. I was pushing a lot more on my own turn. Push was still insane, just need to figure out the split.
- Hidden Stockpile is amazing against fair decks. People don't respect it game 1, and as an enchantment it's hard to remove in games 2/3. My deck wants to grind, and it fits the script perfectly. It makes Zealous Persecution better, it smooths draws, it gives me a sac outlet for Persecutor... I just love everything it does.
4x Godless Shrine
4x Marsh Flats
4x Bloodstained Mire
4x Concealed Courtyard
3x Shambling Vent
2x Plains
2x Swamp
1x Vault of the Archangel
Planeswalker(2):
1x Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
1x Liliana of the Veil
Creature(11):
4x Dark Confidant
4x Tidehollow Sculler
1x Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim
2x Abyssal Persecutor
4x Fatal Push
2x Path to Exile
2x Zealous Persecution
1x Anguished Unmaking
Sorcery (11)
4x Inquisition of Kozilek
3x Thoughtseize
4x Lingering Souls
Enchantment (3)
3x Hidden Stockpile
3x Kor Firewalker
3x Stony Silence
2x Pithing Needle
2x Path to Exile
2x Leyline of the Void
1x Zealous Persecution
1x Anguished Unmaking
1x Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
I've been pleasantly surprised with the Hidden Stockpiles, if you get multiple out they can really take over. They help me trigger revolt for Fatal Push, the scry to dig for answers is great in any game that goes even remotely long, and they give me a sac outlet for Abyssal Persecutor after he has done his work. I upped my fetch count to 8 to help me make servos more reliably, and I'm thinking of even going to 10.
I took out 2x Ayli and 1x Slaughter Pact to fit them in.
The Concealed Courtyards have also done wonders for the mana.
4x Godless Shrine
4x Marsh Flats
3x Mutavault
2x Plains
4x Shambling Vent
3x Swamp
1x Vault of the Archangel
3x Bloodstained Mire
Planeswalker(1):
1x Sorin, Solemn Visitor
Creature(14):
4x Dark Confidant
2x Abyssal Persecutor
3x Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim
4x Tidehollow Sculler
1x Wasteland Strangler
1x Darkblast
1x Declaration in Stone
4x Path to Exile
2x Anguished Unmaking
2x Zealous Persecution
Sorcery (11)
4x Inquisition of Kozilek
4x Lingering Souls
3x Thoughtseize
1x Blood Baron of Vizkopa
3x Kitchen Finks
2x Kor Firewalker
2x Wasteland Strangler
3x Stony Silence
1x Zealous Persecution
2x Celestial Purge
1x Anguished Unmaking
Went 2-1 the other night at my local shop.
Round 1: Beat a sweet RUG brew 2-0. He was playing Goyfs, Cliques, Snaps, Darkdwellers, Bolts, Remand, Ancestral, etc. My discard and removal kept him from doing too much and I just beat him down with my bears and Vents. I also got to live the dream of processing an Ancestral Visions with Wasteland Strangler for the first time.
Round 2: Beat RW burn 2-0. I typically do well against burn decks, especially post board. He nearly had me game 1, but I exhausted his resources at 3 life and Shambling Vents ticked me out of Boros Charm range once he was top decking. Game 2 I mulled to my SB cards and won.
Round 3: Lost 0-2 to Bogles. This might be my worst match up. It really feels like I can't do anything against them except hope to make them discard key enchantments. All of my point removal is useless and I'm often facing a 3+ first strike Bogle before I have sufficient blockers, and it snowballs from there. I'm almost considering a couple Smallpox in the board. Bogles always seems light on lands and it seems to me like an early Pox could really get them. Short of dropping cash on a couple LotV, my only other option might be a Damnation in the board.
In general, I have been loving the Anguished Unmaking thus far. The 3rd one in the board might be unnecessary, but I need another week or two before I know for sure.
Declaration in Stone did nothing all night, it probably needs to go.
I've been thinking about the best gy hate to combat Sword combo. [[Relic of Progenitus]] seems to easy for them to get around. Is [[Moratorium Stone]] too expensive at 2 per activation? You get that sweet second ability which could be good. I also just realized that [[Withered Wretch]] was time-shifted. Nothing wrong with playing another zombie-bear, especially if you run Kalitas.
The only problem is the nonbo with Kalitas. I'm running lots of life gain in the main (4x Shambling Vents, 2x Ayli, 2x Kalitas, 1x Vault, 1x Sorin) with even more in the board (Blood Baron, Finks, Firewalkers). I already want more kill than exile effects with my current setup and I think playing 2x Anguished Unmaking means moving away from Kalitas, unfortunately.
He's also right that against Affinity Strangler saves you from opposing Etched Champions quite well, both as a blocker and with his ability. This is the same reason I run 3 Mutavault in my deck.
herfs, that creature base looks interesting, and very similar to what I look like post-board in a lot of matchups. I guess it comes down to what you want to be doing with the deck. That collection of guys gives you more creature based pressure at the cost of discard. I have found the deck at its best when you are starving the opponent out of resources and then taking over the game with Manlands/Tokens/Sorin when you pull ahead.
I think of it a bit like a slower Jund, but with many more ways to gain back the life we lose to Bob/Shocks/Fetches. Maindeck I run 4 Shambling Vent, 2 Ayli, 2 Kalitas, Vault of the Archangel, and Sorin, Lord of Innistrad. Unless I'm playing burn, sitting at something around 4 life (or lower, if they're not on bolt) doesn't phase me. Eventually when we're both on topdecks my life will tick up while theirs ticks down. That kind of game favours us.
Round 1 - Jund
I was paired against my buddy on the deck that I have played far and away the most games against. I know the matchup inside and out and know that I am favoured because these games go long and my manlands and lifegain give me the edge. It also helps to know exactly how he will sideboard.
Game 1: Opponent mills to 5 and I have discard/answers for everything he tries to do as I'm on the play. Not much to see here.I Inquisition a Confidant from his hand turn 1, then I Thoughtseize an ooze and Path his Goyf. Then it's just beats with Spirits and Scullers until he's dead.
Board out: 4x Thoughtseize, 4x Inquisition
Board In: 2x Kitchen Finks, 1x Pack Rat, 2x Celestial Purge, 1x Blood Baron, 2x Zealous Persecution
Game 2: This was just a war of attrition. I hit his turn 2 Confidant with Darkblast then Scullered him on my turn 2. Turn 3 I cast Wasteland Strangler processing the card under Sculler and killing an Ooze. He forgot about the Darkblast and cast another Confidant, so I dredged it back and killed it. Once we got to topdecks I basically had inevitability between Lingering Souls and Manlands.
Round 2 - Mono Black
I'm familiar with the deck this guy is playing from watching Frank Lepore's stream, but I have never actually played against it
Game 1: I don't remember exactly how this game went except that we traded discard and removal for the first few turns. I focused on getting rid of Nighthawks since I knew Spirits would be my path to victory. I eventually went Sorin->Emblem then Zealous Persecution with 4 spirits on the board to get the kill a turn before Obliterator would have killed me. I couldn't find a Path for it, so I just ate beats. Ayli came in and saved the day a turn before my lethal swing, letting me sac a Strangler and Sculler to gain 4 life and buy me a turn.
Board out 1x Doomblade, 1x Slaughter Pact, 1x Darkblast, 4x Inquisition
Board in 2x Kitchen Finks, 2x Celestial Purge, 2x Zealous Persecution, 1x Blood Baron
Game 2: Couldn't find Paths or Celestial Purge, took big beats from Obliterator. At 1 life it looked like I was going to be able to take the game after assembling a next-turn lethal board with a bunch of spirits and a Sorin emblem while holding a Zealous Persecution. I had enough blocks on the ground to live through his turn and sac to the Obliterator. I made a Gut Shot joke and then he drew Geth's Verdict.
Game 3: I actually blew this one. This was a long and grindy game where I eventually gummed the ground up with Ayli, Kalitas and Shambling Vents and picked him apart with Spirits. We went to turns. Turn 3 I took him to 4 life with 4 spirits on board, feeling confident that I would have him when turn 5 came to me. I was at 10 life and neglected to use my Vault of the Archangel to gain the 4 life from my attack. Turn 4 he drew and slammed a Gray Merchant for 10 exactly and won. If I remembered to Vault, I would have taken the draw.
Round 3 - Goblin Burn
I played against this guy last week and learned that 10 life is not a safe life total, despite what I may have thought previously. I now have nightmares about getting double goblin-bombed
Game 1: I am a luck sack. Stabilized at 2 life and took board control figuring that he would just draw into burn and kill me. He whiffed 3 turns in a row and Shambling Vents pushed me back up to 8 life while I built up Spirits. By the time he drew anything it was too late. I feel like this one was gifted to me, as I usually plan to lose game 1 in this matchup.
Board out: 4x Inquisition, 4x Thoughtseize, 1x Slaughter Pact
Bord in: 3x Kor Firewalker, 2x Kitchen Finks, 2x Zealous Persecution, 2x Celestial Purge
Game 2: I snap-keep a hand with 2 Kor Firewalker and two white sources. He never stands a chance.
I've considered Fiend Hunter, but I'm weary of pushing my curve any higher because of Bob and also how important it is that I'm casting things T1 and T2. I'm running 3 Stranglers right now, maybe I could go 2 Stranglers and try out a single Fiend Hunter.
4x Godless Shrine
4x Marsh Flats
3x Mutavault
2x Plains
4x Shambling Vent
3x Swamp
1x Vault of the Archangel
2x Verdant Catacombs
1x Bloodstained Mire
Planeswalker(1):
1x Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
Creature(15):
4x Dark Confidant
2x Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
2x Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim
4x Tidehollow Sculler
3x Wasteland Strangler
1x Darkblast
1x Zealous Persecution
1x Doom Blade
4x Path to Exile
1x Slaughter Pact
Sorcery (12)
4x Inquisition of Kozilek
4x Lingering Souls
4x Thoughtseize
1x Blood Baron of Vizkopa
2x Kitchen Finks
3x Kor Firewalker
3x Stony Silence
2x Zealous Persecution
2x Celestial Purge
1x Leonin Relic Warder
1x Pack Rat
I took out 4x Pack Rats from the main deck and replaced them with 2x Ayli, 1x Zealous Persecution and a 3rd Wasteland Strangler.
I've wanted to try Ayli for a long time and I have to say that she has been excellent. She stonewalls so many creatures in the format with her 3 toughness, and Deathtouch means she trades with most anything that doesn't fly. I don't have any Abyssal Persecutor type tricks to abuse with her sac ability, but it has helped get me there a significant number of times by providing a few extra life points. This deck wants the game to go long and Ayli is excellent at facilitating that.
I've been impressed enough with the Wasteland Strangler that I added the 3rd copy. Processing cards from underneath Sculler is just too good to pass up. I will admit that they sometimes disappoint when there is nothing to process, but the good out-weighs the bad, I think.
A couple quick SB notes: I found I was boarding the Pack Rats out in almost every match. I left one in the board to bring in against things like Jund, that feels like enough. I also dropped 2x Fulminator Mage from the board to make way for Celestial Purge. I don't see enough Eldrazi or Tron at my store to worry about LD (not to mention they are probably too-slow against Eldrazi anyway). If I was seeing these decks I would probably put the Fulminators back in and swap some number of my manlands for Tec Edge/Ghost Quarter in the main. I'm trying out the one Relic Warder as another tool against Affinity that also pairs well with Strangler, but I haven't had that match come up yet.
I went 2-1 at my local store last night. I'll type up a report later and post it.
She would definitely be good in a deck that ran Abyssal Persecutor.
Simple answer: I'm too poor. I'd like to run 3x Lili, but I only own 1. This led me to prioritize a creature-heavy build with the Scullers and Pack Rats. Running the full 4 Scullers made me want to try out the Wasteland Stranglers. I still wish I had the Lilis, but I'm happy where I ended up, Even when they die immediately, Scullers are excellent for tempo.
I'm questioning this. Sometimes it is, but a lot of times it gets boarded out. In games where you can stick a Bob and start getting extra cards, they can just take over. They also go very well with the Mutavaults, making for some great attacks. It's possible I want to go down to 2 or 3 Rats and MD more removal.
I don't think it's excessive. Mutavault is great, See above about Pack Rats. I've been playing a lot of Jund and having 7 Man-Lands really helped me grind them out in the late game. I wouldn't trade the Shambling Vents for anything (Unless they reprint Scrubland or Wasteland :P). They are late-game all stars in most matchups, and with them + Kalitas and Sorin, the deck has enough life gain preboard to steal game 1 from Burn. I don't play any Fetid Heath or Isolated Chapel because of them, though.
As I said above, game 1 against burn isn't so bad with all the lifelink in the MD. I board in 2x Finks and 3x Firewalker and 2x Zealous Persecution, taking out 4x Thoughtseize and 3x Rats. Now we have 12 cards that gain life, most of which block very well, and a spell that can make for some blowout blocks or eliminate x/1's.
I was surprised to play another BW deck in round 1. He was less hateful than my deck, and slower than I was, running Blade Splicers & Restoration Angels. We talked a bit after the match and he told me he was still building the deck and missing a few things he wished he had. For example, he was only running 2 Marsh Flats and was playing Wall of Omens because he didn't have Bobs. I think my deck was just better. I took game 1 relatively easily and then hated him out with a Blood Baron in game 2.
I took game 1 from Naya burn after stabilizing with Shambling Vents and then sealed it with Kalitas. Game two was really close and I hung on between 6 and 1 life for a few turns, whittling him down to 4 with Spirits, but he stonewalled my life gain a couple times with Atarka's Command and Skullcrack. Game 3 we went to time (he was playing a little slowly). I stabilized around 9 life with a Bob on board and killed him with Shambling Vent and Spirits. A Zealous Persecution off of Bob on my last turn gave me the win instead of having to draw.