i went for a 1-3 at my local playgroup yesterday.
Has been screwed very often and drew teh wrong side of my deck.
Round 1: BW Tokens
I mulled to 5. First i had 2 Lands, but no Spell below 3cmc, 2nd i got only 1 Land.
I've kept a 2 Lander w/o any real business at all.
Macht 2 i dropped Eldrazi's and he slowrolled and flooded out. 1-1
Match 3 i had to mull again and he had double Virtue into Souls + spectral procession.
I chumped for 2 turns but my lonely Smasher couldn't keep up with teh pressure. 1-2
Round 2: UWr Nahiri
I had to mull again. He suspended ancestral vision, but sadly my Strangler wasn't nowhere.
He drew into 3 Cards and killed me with Celestial Colonnade and snapcaster Beatdown. 0-1
His Vision resolved and drew him some removal, but that wasn't finally enough. 1-1
Match 3 brought down to trading stuff. He handled both of my shambling vent but Smasher put
him down quickly. 2-1
Round 3: Bogles
Match 1 she had a Bogle with Enchantments and beats me for 6 Lifelink evey turn. 0-1
Match 2 i saw only Creatures on her side and my Eldrazi's attacked relentless until the win. 1-1
Match 3 there was a Bogle and a bunch of enchantments. When she casted Rancor, i
responded with Anguished for Umbra and her Daybreak coronet were gone too. Sadly
she held a 2nd one in hand and beats me to death. 1-2
Round 4: UR TiTi
Match 1 i doom bladed his TiTi, but he followed up with a 2nd one. This one flips
as i saw no removal. I chumped some turns but couldn't keep up with a 7/8. 0-1
Match 2 i was droppin' Names and beat him down constantly. I took care of his creatures and
went for the win. 1-1
Match 3 i was on teh backfoot again (mull to 5, 2 swamp as my only lands).
I beat him with Smasher and Sorin in Game, trying to stabilize on 6 life. Awoken Horror
beats my, but i hoped to race him with Sorin + Smasher (i had no other outs). He finally brought me
down to 4, i stripped a Bolt from his Hand. He drew into a Swiftspear + Bolt which sealed teh deal.
1-2
Overall thoughts:
Teh Matches were i couldn't establish board-presence and apply pressure were horribly.
I feel teh need of always keeping a hand with at least 2 Eldrazi's to even get things going.
The hands with lingering souls felt super-clunky and it was the CArd that disappoints
me teh most yesterday.
Lingering souls is such a good card. Sure it's not great against a token deck where their focus is to make linger souls busted but not all cards are good against all match ups. On the other hand having them against BGx decks when they play a lili is just sweet. If you're really against it cut and try out something else. Don't trade away your souls tho' because you're going to come back to them.
I tried scourge for a while. It's great against grindy match ups (GBx) but overall was underwhelming. Quite slow. Sure it's a 2 mana 3/3 every turn when you've got a relic but that's a three card combo that doesn't do all that much.
So here's my list and SB guide I ran at the FtF 3k open last week with 176 players. I'm interested in peoples thoughts on the SB guide. If they agree or disagree with choices. Any questions on my choices feel free to ask.
Edit: PtE = Path to exile, TS = thoughtsezie, IoK = inquisition of kozilek, RoP = relic of progenitus, CoBr = collective brutality, GtfT = Go for the throat, Dec = Declaration in Stone, BA = Blessed alliance
Bant Eldrazi - Definitely bring in Blessed Alliance here. Usually only the sacrifice is relevant, but hitting a TKS or Smasher with it will happen very often, which is great. You've got relics to take out for them, they are way better than a cantrip here. I had not been bringing Pithing Needle in for this matchup, I overlooked how crazy the Displacer/Drowner combo can destroy us late in a stalled board-state. I run two Pithings and I think I'll try bringing them in and taking out more copies of Lingering Souls. Souls is quite weak against any deck running maindeck EE/ratchet and Smashers.
Speaking of Pithing Needles, I'm not sure if this is agreed upon widely, but personally I bring them in against any Sakura-Tribe Elder decks, pretty much Breach and Valakut. The way I see it is shutting down Tribe elder will slow them down, and that is exactly what we need to do in both matchups, be faster.
R/G Tron - Not sure if GftT is worth keeping in for pretty much just World Breaker, which is better to exile anyway.
Kiki Chord - I keep Thoughtseize in here, wanting as much hand removal to keep them off a T4 kiki combo. Obviously seize isn't great with their graveyard play through Eternal Witness, but I see Lingering Souls as weak in this matchup so I take two copies of that out instead. Not sure who's plan is better here, just mentioning that I do this matchup differently.
Cards - It seems Warping Wail is not brought in very often, especially against the higher % played decks. Maybe its a local metal choice and does work, but if it's not I suggest taking them out. I see Collective Brutality as basically a better version of WW, especially when the biggest draw to both is stopping a powerful sorcery (CoBr insant as well). With two open slots in the SB I'd bring in a second pithing needle, insta win in some games and useful in so many matchups. Your SB guide inspired me to rewrite one up for my current list, and out of 32+ matchups I bring Pithing in for 20, and in quite a few drawing both is great (infect and affinity for example). With the other slot without a doubt Anguished Unmaking. I see having one in the 75 minimum as highly important. Problem permanents (Ensnaring Bridge) and matchups where it shines (Tron/Infect) make it an asset that needs to be something you can bring in for G2 and 3.
I've also recently learned that at FNM you are allowed to have sideboard notes, you're just only allowed to look at them during sideboarding between games. It's a crutch I can use since I've only been playing mtg for basically a year and there's no way I can mentally catalog 30+ possible decks to face, and what to take out or bring in for them all. Also, running into time and losing or tying because of it sucks, so speeding up the sideboard part of the match is good, especially if you have no clue what to do in a certain matchup.
I like skite to interrupt buff decks like infect and bogles(as well as for stopping opponent's path on my TKS or smasher, when I hear 'in response to thought-knots trigger, path it', I die a little inside. It's just a solid T2 play to protect a T3 followup TKS or if the mtg gods are shining down on me T3 smasher), fulminator to slow down land decks like tron and valakut, and EE for asap removal of wide and/or fast aggro. Everything else is pretty standard for the sideboard.
Here's what Ive got(copying your framework out of laziness which I will play off as efficiency, I will say though not much a fan of the PtE abbreviation as it's only one letter shorter than path). Also the link in my sig is up to date list + sideboard:
PtE = Path to exile, TS = thoughtseize, IoK = inquisition of kozilek, RoP = relic of progenitus, CoBr = collective brutality, GtfT = Go for the throat, Dec = Declaration in Stone, BA = Blessed alliance
Deck: Soul Sisters
Out: -3 TS, -1 dismember, -1 PtE, -1 RoP (couldn't decide on Path or relic, relic seeming relevant because of Proclimation of Rebirth, but I had to look up a list on Mtggoldfish because Ive personally never played this matchup. It says 50% of decks run 3 copies, so maybe the decision comes down to whether you see it in game 1. I also see T2 reshaper as very relevant against their quick open)
In: +2 Damnation, +1 anguish, +1 Pithing, +2 EE
Deck: TiTi Ascension
Out: -4 souls (honestly not liking this choice, but I see relic as very key if you don't have removal for Ascension. If that thing goes off, with how much they can dig they can take the game over very fast. Paths need to stay in for TiTi removal, and I feel like all the eldrazi need to stay in for pressure because we need to be faster)
In: +2 EE, +1 anguish, +1 CoBr
This isn't even close to perfect, and I'm definitely looking for criticism or ideas to make this list better.
Bant Eldrazi: Yeh I like BA here and pithing needle is huge for the reasons you stated.
Valakut: So you bring in pithing needle of the Elder. Interesting. I'll try that out next time.
RG tron: is not a match up I've faced too often so I don't have a huge amount of exp against it. You be right to keep GftT in.
Kiki chord: I find their overwhelming redundancy makes TS next to useless.
Wail was included because of the large amount of RG ponza decks being played at my store. Blood moons and stone rains everywhere. But yeah, 2nd pithing needle will come in. I'll try out unmaking too.
I'll take a proper look over your SB guide later but don't you just slide in all your SB against mill? Their plan is to mill so having more cards is like having more life. I'd start at 22.5 life against burn if I could game 2.
Hey! I'm a long time lurker on this thread, as i'm building the deck on paper and soon will start my takes on local tournaments. Proxying it right now playing with friends and the deck is awesome! Not uber strong as some of the tiers, but I feel it is really really fun to play with so much strong cards as reality smasher, TKS, strangler, sorin in the same shell.
Right now i'm trying 2 thought seizes and 2 brutality, but feel like only 2 T1 discard is a little risky on the current meta. Also playing a split of 2 matter reshapers and 2 displacers, the latter as a threat removal more than a TKS blinker. reseting a Delver or tapping some troublesome creatures to land TKS blows is really good, because of lack of evasion.
Also thiking of dropping sea gate wreakage for a second vault or OGT oran-rif.
Yesterday I saw a list somewhere running 1-of Phyrexian metamorph. Do you think it could be a thing? as a 5th smasher/TKS?
Turn 1 discard is never risky. It helps us plan out our remaining turns and we can remove their best card from their hand. It is amazing if they mulligan and keep a shaky hand. Discard through thoughtseize or inquisition of kozilek is one of the main reasons to run B.
Phyrexian metamorph is horrible when we don't have a board presence. I would rather play something else.
So here's my list and SB guide I ran at the FtF 3k open last week with 176 players. I'm interested in peoples thoughts on the SB guide. If they agree or disagree with choices. Any questions on my choices feel free to ask.
Edit: PtE = Path to exile, TS = thoughtsezie, IoK = inquisition of kozilek, RoP = relic of progenitus, CoBr = collective brutality, GtfT = Go for the throat, Dec = Declaration in Stone, BA = Blessed alliance
Thanks for the nice sideboard guide! I do have a few comments/questions:
Infect
You should board in warping wail rather than a sorcery speed removal (declaration in stone) and a card that cannot hit lands (ratchet bomb)
Affinity
Zealous persecution is great in this matchup. Looking at your decklist I would try something like this:
Out: relic x4, thoughtseize x2, iok x2, go for the throat
In: ratchet, disenchant, zealous, declaration, pithing, languish, stony x2, damnation x1
Soul sisters
Discard is not as great in this matchup. All of their creatures have such a low CMC that they just dump their hand in the first couple of turns. I would side out the relics before matter reshaper. Bring in that disenchant to take care of honor of the pure.
Why do you bring in warping wail for blue moon?
You should try out a worship in the side sometime. Some decks cannot beat it.
This card seems insane for us, as it doesn't kill our big dudes, and deals with selfless spirit
Sadly it is not for us. It would be good in a bw deadguy ale brew. I was hoping for a -3/-3 3CMC sweeper instead. That would be great against zoo decks.
The worst part about this card is that now we know damnation will not be reprinted.
Infect: Yes, I do like warping wail against infect rather than bomb and declaration. I'll try it out.
Affinity: Again everything you say makes perfect sense. Better choices than I what I initial had.
Blue moon: Depending on the list warping wail can hit TiTi or can make a scion in response to BM giving you access to C which is super crucial if there is no mind stone/wastes out.
Souls sisters: I've honestly never played against it I just know it exists.
Yes I know all about worship. It can be pretty silly and give you a win where you have no right winning!
Pretty happy, I've never been disappointed to draw one. Trades with a lot of creatures, chumps big ones, draws out removal clearing the way for bigger threats and replaces itself. And ever so sweet when one dies and you reveal another one from its death trigger.
It does but it only affects creatures that are on the battlefield at resolution. The spirits aren't on the battlefield on resolution as lingering souls is still on the stack.
Rule for reference:
611.2c If a continuous effect generated by the resolution of a spell or ability modifies the characteristics or changes the controller of any objects, the set of objects it affects is determined when that continuous effect begins. After that point, the set wont change. (Note that this works differently than a continuous effect from a static ability.) A continuous effect generated by the resolution of a spell or ability that doesnt modify the characteristics or change the controller of any objects modifies the rules of the game, so it can affect objects that weren't affected when that continuous effect began. If a single continuous effect has parts that modify the characteristics or changes the controller of any objects and other parts that dont, the set of objects each part applies to is determined independently.
So here's my list and SB guide I ran at the FtF 3k open last week with 176 players. I'm interested in peoples thoughts on the SB guide. If they agree or disagree with choices. Any questions on my choices feel free to ask.
Edit: PtE = Path to exile, TS = thoughtsezie, IoK = inquisition of kozilek, RoP = relic of progenitus, CoBr = collective brutality, GtfT = Go for the throat, Dec = Declaration in Stone, BA = Blessed alliance
I definitely agree, Damnation is better since they are both double B and 4 CMC. This card is maybe better than flaying tendrils in that it's easier to cast double B on T4 rather than T3. Also getting a free 3-cost spell on T4 doesn't seem very exciting for this deck. Question: If I play lingering souls with the free cast, do they resolve after the -3/-3 resolves? Lastly, Damnation is solid in matchups like bant eldrazi and jund, which this new card would basically do not even close to as much of a boardwipe.
YE will have resolved while lingering souls is still on the stack so no, they would not be affected by the -3/-3.
This card seems insane for us, as it doesn't kill our big dudes, and deals with selfless spirit
I dunno, doesn't seem super great, can't cast any of our strong creatures off of it and like Sburani said for 4 mana I'd prefer to cast Damnation. That being said against go wide decks like elves it may be worth it.
I recently went to a 176 person open (didn't do very well, 3-3, drop). I have a sideboard guide I brought with me which may tie with your post of answers to threats in a more general sense. I'll try to make some time tomorrow for the report and SB guide.
I tried Batterskull and also Blood Baron of Vizkopa for several weeks each, and found that both were too high a mana cost because they didn't get ramped by Temple. Right now I am not considering them for the deck; Reality Smasher and Sorin both seem like stronger choices to me.
I've recently been re-considering the idea of playing two Surgical Extraction in the side for the atrocious RG Valakut matches, since I am still running three Ghost Quarters. (Right now I pretty much just hope to avoid Titanshift and RG Breach decks.) It could be a good side-in for Tron, Dredge, and combo like Living End or Ad Nauseam too. Don't know what I'd take out, though. I have been conflicted about Declaration in Stone because the card draw it gives the opponent is really pretty awful. But the added targeted creature removal--that exiles, no less--has been excellent, even at sorcery speed.
I've found declaration in stone useful against Jund decks and against Tezzerator decks (thopters). More removal always seems good against Jund. I originally put in the SB for Dredge but haven't played against in since I've put it in.
What's your current SB plan for Valakut decks? Mine is 2 warping wails (scapeshift), a surgical extraction, and a disenchant if I think they're running prismatic omen. I'll take out 4 relics for these.
What cards are you having trouble casting? I run similar land base (3 khans fetches instead of flats). I've found that it rarely makes a difference. Sure you may lose a few % points but those few points aren't worth the $150 it would cost me for the flats. Sometimes in the face of a blood moon you can ghost quarter your own land or path your own creatures for basics.
what are peoples thoughts on warping wail? It shores up combo matches a bit and can also allow for an out in response blood moon by making a scion for your <> spells.
tidehollow sculler being a 2/2 can be quite relevant. It can trade with a lot more creatures than a brain maggot can. Ex: goblin guide. Now I know the purpose of the 'sculler isn't to trade but after you've processed the exiled spell you're left with a far better body on the 'field with 'sculler compared to the maggot.
Do you rely on it for fixing? Seems like you have a lot of B/W sources and it may be unnecessary. I don't know though; never played with it. Just looks strange as a one-of.
Having to play a tapped land on T4 sucks when you have a thought-knot seer in hand (or temple + 2 land and reality smasher).
UBR Grixis Death's shadow
Lingering souls is such a good card. Sure it's not great against a token deck where their focus is to make linger souls busted but not all cards are good against all match ups. On the other hand having them against BGx decks when they play a lili is just sweet. If you're really against it cut and try out something else. Don't trade away your souls tho' because you're going to come back to them.
I tried scourge for a while. It's great against grindy match ups (GBx) but overall was underwhelming. Quite slow. Sure it's a 2 mana 3/3 every turn when you've got a relic but that's a three card combo that doesn't do all that much.
Bant Eldrazi: Yeh I like BA here and pithing needle is huge for the reasons you stated.
Valakut: So you bring in pithing needle of the Elder. Interesting. I'll try that out next time.
RG tron: is not a match up I've faced too often so I don't have a huge amount of exp against it. You be right to keep GftT in.
Kiki chord: I find their overwhelming redundancy makes TS next to useless.
Wail was included because of the large amount of RG ponza decks being played at my store. Blood moons and stone rains everywhere. But yeah, 2nd pithing needle will come in. I'll try out unmaking too.
I'll take a proper look over your SB guide later but don't you just slide in all your SB against mill? Their plan is to mill so having more cards is like having more life. I'd start at 22.5 life against burn if I could game 2.
UBR Grixis Death's shadow
Infect: Yes, I do like warping wail against infect rather than bomb and declaration. I'll try it out.
Affinity: Again everything you say makes perfect sense. Better choices than I what I initial had.
Blue moon: Depending on the list warping wail can hit TiTi or can make a scion in response to BM giving you access to C which is super crucial if there is no mind stone/wastes out.
Souls sisters: I've honestly never played against it I just know it exists.
Yes I know all about worship. It can be pretty silly and give you a win where you have no right winning!
Thanks for all your feedback. Much appreciated!
UBR Grixis Death's shadow
UBR Grixis Death's shadow
Rule for reference:
611.2c If a continuous effect generated by the resolution of a spell or ability modifies the characteristics or changes the controller of any objects, the set of objects it affects is determined when that continuous effect begins. After that point, the set wont change. (Note that this works differently than a continuous effect from a static ability.) A continuous effect generated by the resolution of a spell or ability that doesnt modify the characteristics or change the controller of any objects modifies the rules of the game, so it can affect objects that weren't affected when that continuous effect began. If a single continuous effect has parts that modify the characteristics or changes the controller of any objects and other parts that dont, the set of objects each part applies to is determined independently.
UBR Grixis Death's shadow
2x Polluted delta
4x Caves of Koilos
4x Eldrazi Temple
1x Flooded Strand
2x Ghost Quarter
2x Godless Shrine
1x Sea Gate wreckage
1x Plains
2x Shambling Vent
2x Swamp
1x Vault of the Archangel
1x Wastes
1x Sorin, Solemn Visitor
artifacts
4x Relic of Progenitus
2x Mind Stone
spells
1x collective brutality
2x Thoughtseize
2x Inquisition of Kozilek
4x Lingering Souls
removal
4x Path to Exile
1x Go for the Throat
creatures
4x Matter Reshaper
4x Reality Smasher
4x Thought-Knot Seer
4x Wasteland Strangler
1x ratchet bomb
1x disenchant
1x zealous persecution
1x declaration in stone
1x Pithing Needle
1x Grafdigger's Cage
1x languish
2x Stony Silence
1x Surgical Extraction
2x Blessed alliance
2x warping wail
1x Damnation
Edit: PtE = Path to exile, TS = thoughtsezie, IoK = inquisition of kozilek, RoP = relic of progenitus, CoBr = collective brutality, GtfT = Go for the throat, Dec = Declaration in Stone, BA = Blessed alliance
Deck: Junk
Out: -2 IoK, -1 CoBr , -2TS
In: +1 Needle, +1 Damnation, +1 Zealous, +1 Surgical, +1Dec
Deck: Jund
Out: -2 TS -1 IoK
In: +1 Needle, +1 Damn, +1 Zealous
Deck: Abzan CoCo
Out: -2 IoK, -2 TS,
In: +1 Cage, +1 Damn, +1 Languish, +1 Needle
Deck: Affinity
Out: -2 IoK, -2 TS, -1 RoP, -1 GftT
In: +1 Dis, +2 Stony, +1 Damn, +1 Ratchet, +1 Needle
Deck: (stupid) Elves
Out: -4 Relic, -1 Smasher, -1TKS
In: +1 Cage, +1 Damnation, +1 Languish, +1 Zealous, +1 Ratchet, +1 Pithing
Deck: Infect
Out: -1 Sorin, -3 smasher
In: +1 Zealous, +1 Ratchet, +1 Needle, +1 Dec
Deck: Bant Eldrazi
Out: -2 IoK -1RoP
In: +1 Zealous, +1 Damnation, +1 Needle
Deck: Merfolk
Out: -2 Relic, -1TS
In: +1 Zealous, +1 Ratchet, +1 Damnation, +1 Disenchant
Deck: Burn
Out: -2 TS
In: +2 BA
Deck: Dredge
Out: -2 IoK, -2 TS, -1 CoBr, -1GftT
In: +1 Cage, +1 Zealous, +1 Damnation, +1 Surgical, +1Dec, +1Languish
Deck: Death’s Shadow
Out: -1 Sorin, -2 Mind Stone
In: +2 BA, +1 Ratchet,
Deck: D&T
Out: -1 Sorin, -2 RoP
In: +1 Damn, +1 Ratchet, +1 Needle
Deck: Zoo
Out: -2TS, -1 CoBr, -2 Relics
In: +2 BA, +1 Damn, +1 Zealous, +1 Languish
Deck: Bogles
Out: -4 PtE -1GftT -1RoP
In: +1 Disenchant, +1 Damnation, +1 Zealous, +1 Ratchet, +2 Blessed Alliance
Deck: RG Tron
Out: -4 RoP, -1 CoBr,
In: +2 Stony, +1 Needle, +1 Surgical, +1 Disenchant
Deck: Esper Control
Out: -3 PtE,
In: +1 Damnation, +1 Ratchet, +1 Needle
Deck: UW Control
Out: -2 PtE,
In: +1 Needle, +1 Surgical
Deck: Jeskai Nahiri
Out: -2 PtE
In: +1 Cage, +1 Needle
Deck: Grixis
Out: ??
In: ??
Deck: Blue Moon
Out: -1 PtE, -1 GftT, -2 RoP
In: +1 Disenchant, +1 Ratchet, +2 Warping Wail
Deck: Soul Sisters
Out: -4 Matter
In: +1 Damnation, +1 Languish, +1 Zealous, +1 Ratchet
Deck: KiKi Chord
Out: -1 CoBr, -2TS
In: +1 Cage, +1 Damn, +1 Needle
Deck: Scapeshift
Out: -3PtE
In: +2 Warping Wail, +1 Surgical
Deck: Living End
Out: -4 Wasteland Strangler
In: +1 Surgical, +1 Damnation, +2 Warping Wail
Deck: Ad Nauseam
Out: -4 PtE, -1 Sorin, -1GftT
In:+2 Stony, +1 Disenchant, +1 Needle, +1 Ratchet +1 Surgical
Deck: Reanimator
Out: -1 PtE, -1 GftT
In: +1 Surgical, +1 Needle
Deck: TiTi Ascension
Out: -2 RoP
In: +2 Warping Wail
Deck: Storm
Out: -4 PtE, -1 Sorin,
In: +1 Cage, +1 Disenchant, +1 Zealous, +1 Ratchet, +1 Dec
UBR Grixis Death's shadow
YE will have resolved while lingering souls is still on the stack so no, they would not be affected by the -3/-3.
UBR Grixis Death's shadow
I dunno, doesn't seem super great, can't cast any of our strong creatures off of it and like Sburani said for 4 mana I'd prefer to cast Damnation. That being said against go wide decks like elves it may be worth it.
UBR Grixis Death's shadow
UBR Grixis Death's shadow
I've found declaration in stone useful against Jund decks and against Tezzerator decks (thopters). More removal always seems good against Jund. I originally put in the SB for Dredge but haven't played against in since I've put it in.
What's your current SB plan for Valakut decks? Mine is 2 warping wails (scapeshift), a surgical extraction, and a disenchant if I think they're running prismatic omen. I'll take out 4 relics for these.
UBR Grixis Death's shadow
UBR Grixis Death's shadow
UBR Grixis Death's shadow
UBR Grixis Death's shadow
UBR Grixis Death's shadow
B/R got absolutely annihilated by dredge. Dredge got a fairly nuts hand game two it has to be said.
Do you rely on it for fixing? Seems like you have a lot of B/W sources and it may be unnecessary. I don't know though; never played with it. Just looks strange as a one-of.
UBR Grixis Death's shadow