After playing DSJ for a few months, I've found some of the more complex cards to sequences are this deck's cantrips. Hopefully someday we'll have a nice primer detailing some of this information, but I wanted to take a little time to share my thoughts on how to best utilize Bauble, Street Wraith, and Delirium-less Traverse in this deck. While they aren't the flashiest cards, I think we all have had openers that need a bit of time to figure out how to navigate them.
I'm having trouble against burn and bant eldrazi. I can get a game in each match against my playtesting partner but can't seem to crack a whole match yet. Both matchups seem really tough and i feel sort of "swept along" by whatever hands they draw rather than be able to set the aggression like I want. Won one match (against Eldrazi) out of a combined 12 or more matches. Abysmal record haha.
What's the secret here? I feel like I'm finally playing the deck properly and making optimal decisions, but the matchups remain steadfastly awful. Drowner is the worst thing ever.
I'm close to thinking burn is a actual bye, currently undefeated vs it and think its close to affinity in terms of how easy the matchup gets after board. whats your current list?
Bant eldrazi is another kettle of fish, its the main reason Im looking to cut fulminator as its only really goodish vs tron (you cant side it in vs bant)...having more cards like terminate and dismember help I'm also siding in the additional push now...I think ranger shines in this match up if you have white as you can fetch death shadow which is better than goyf due to potential rip, I think its a bad matchup however (it was my first loss the other day which ended my mtgo win streak of 24-0)
Also quick edit - Id be surprised if anyone ever plays a game of magic making all optimal decisions maybe recording and rewatching games should be something to move towards?
Not all optimal decisions, but when I test we go over plays analytically for whole matches and while initially I recognised I was making some weird play errors now I've ironed out my game to the point where even given multiple options all are defensible.
No idea how you managed to make burn such a good matchup honestly. Even siding out all my self-pain cards and bringing in stuff like lingering souls and collective brutality I just get burnt out. My threats don't come online fast enough & I always end up in this awkward situation where my opponent has maybe one threat left, I've got a goyf maybe, and I'm on 5 or 6 life. If i attack I'm dead to quite a few topdecks (Boris charm etc) and then it has ended up going in my opponent's favour each time. Doesn't fill me with confidence anyway haha
Woah, Never bring in Lingering Souls against Burn. This match is a race, one that we are very good at winning with bigger threats.
I do feel she is a sideboard card. I think the way to play burn is to side out maybe 1 or 2 wraiths only, not all. As the Death Shadow player, you just have to know how to manage your life total.
He seems to side out Liliana Last Hope a lot. Also in matches where Kolaghans command can help grind. He does give a good basic outline, but anyone should playtest and learn to sideboard for certain matches themselves
Hey guys, regarding the article, I dont generally like his choices and decisions, even when it was the old Death Shadow Zoo, he was posting an older list, rather than the refined one.
I do disagree with him on dropping the forest. But I do think Ghor-clan is not as important
Ive been testing a heavier white splash in the deck, replacing:
* 3 tarfires to 2 Path to Exile and 1 Orzhov Charm.
* Stomping Ground changed to Temple Garden
* Ghor-clan rampager to Abrupt Decay
So far its been decently well. I do get delirium on by turn 2 or 3 as well, though obviously not as consistently.
I'm shocked people aren't running more things like Destructive Revelry in the side, it hits all those problem permanents and pings the opponent, might just be my meta however but its packed with random Leylines/RIP/Worships/BatterSkulls, we have the main deck anti artifact hate in KCommand, however the pesky Enchantments are annoying, along with lingering souls, I'm using 2 Golgari Charm and 2 Destructive Revelry in the side, among other things too haha.
My sideboard would freak people out and I know its down to the meta, however I feel I could help people out as I have 5/0'd a lot with the generic maindeck and this side
Ive been thinking about destructive revelry as well. Its great against all those enchantments for sure. Only reason to use Caustic caterpillar or reclamation sage is so that you can tutor them. How have the charms worked for you? Yes they are felxible but their modes won't always be relevant
Ok, so I haven't had time to test it yet, but I'm considering 1 architect of will in the mb. Not 100% on what I would drop, but it would give us a 5th cantrip critter and artifact for delirium/goyf
My gut feeling is that this won't be worth it. Test it out, of course.
It'll make all your midrange matchups worse, due to filling your deck with "do-nothing" synergy stuff.
If he was set on playing such a card, wouldn't night's whisper be better?
I need a help against Burn. I thought it's a good matchup for us but I just played against it and got completely wrecked. Maybe I payed too much life to play Death's Shadow and when I was low enough to play it he had enough burn in hand to kill me. I don't know what to do about it. I can be more careful about my life total but them I won't be able to play Death's Shadow on time or risk and go low enough to play it but then I'll be very vulnerable to all burn he has.
Game 1, you need to fetch for basics when you can, or tapped shocks. Handling their creatures is more important, especially Eidolon. Make sure to keep an uncracked fetch or Street Wraith in hand if you drop a 1/1 or 2/2 Death shadow.
After SB, side in any collective brutalities. I would cut street wraiths before thoughtseize, as its imperative to make them discard Path to exile, Deflecting Palms and Eidolons.
Against ad nauseam i would go for the ethersworn canonist route
Sorry I should have specified, only for straight jund.
How has the white splash been for you Flying?
Oh, alright, then I would agree with you. Discard, artifact hate and landhate are the best options. But over anything though: a fast clock.
The whitesplash is really great so far, i haven't had any consistancy issues whatsoever until now like some people have stated. So right now I can't confirm that, its actually great so far. I will try the jund version myself next to see where the differences are and if I miss the white cards then. I have to admit, being able to run anger seems intriguing.
Besides this I will write my take on a sideboard guide soon using my knowledge for regular jund and applying it to the Death Shadow deck.
I've been testing both. Straight Jund helps gives a more control focus post sideboard, where as splashing white gives a better midrange game, but not as great at control. Obviously playing bullets in the side help as well.
Reclamation Sage
Phyrexian Revoker
Eidolon of Rhetoric
Kataki, war's wage
Ethersworn canonist
Big game hunter
Magus of the moon
Love this guide, its a great walkthrough for neww users of the deck and a great refresher for others!
Also by racing burn I meant keeping in TBR and knocking their life total quickly. But I guess pacing it out is a better term
Affinity
Legacy:
GBCombo Elves
EDH:
GEzuri, Renegade Leader's Elf Ball
Cube:
180 Peasant Micro Cube
Woah, Never bring in Lingering Souls against Burn. This match is a race, one that we are very good at winning with bigger threats.
Affinity
Legacy:
GBCombo Elves
EDH:
GEzuri, Renegade Leader's Elf Ball
Cube:
180 Peasant Micro Cube
Affinity
Legacy:
GBCombo Elves
EDH:
GEzuri, Renegade Leader's Elf Ball
Cube:
180 Peasant Micro Cube
Affinity
Legacy:
GBCombo Elves
EDH:
GEzuri, Renegade Leader's Elf Ball
Cube:
180 Peasant Micro Cube
I do disagree with him on dropping the forest. But I do think Ghor-clan is not as important
Ive been testing a heavier white splash in the deck, replacing:
* 3 tarfires to 2 Path to Exile and 1 Orzhov Charm.
* Stomping Ground changed to Temple Garden
* Ghor-clan rampager to Abrupt Decay
So far its been decently well. I do get delirium on by turn 2 or 3 as well, though obviously not as consistently.
Affinity
Legacy:
GBCombo Elves
EDH:
GEzuri, Renegade Leader's Elf Ball
Cube:
180 Peasant Micro Cube
Ive been thinking about destructive revelry as well. Its great against all those enchantments for sure. Only reason to use Caustic caterpillar or reclamation sage is so that you can tutor them. How have the charms worked for you? Yes they are felxible but their modes won't always be relevant
Affinity
Legacy:
GBCombo Elves
EDH:
GEzuri, Renegade Leader's Elf Ball
Cube:
180 Peasant Micro Cube
-Displacer
-Drowner of Hope
-Path to Exile
-Engineered Explosives
-Rest in Peace
-Worship
So only side out:
Kolaghan's Command
Ghor Clan
TBR
1-2 Tarfire
Against Eldrazi Tron:
Chalice of the Void
Spellskite
Relic of Progenitus
Ratchet Bomb
Dismember
So side out:
Ghor-clan
1-2 Tarfire
1-2 IOK
Affinity
Legacy:
GBCombo Elves
EDH:
GEzuri, Renegade Leader's Elf Ball
Cube:
180 Peasant Micro Cube
If he was set on playing such a card, wouldn't night's whisper be better?
Affinity
Legacy:
GBCombo Elves
EDH:
GEzuri, Renegade Leader's Elf Ball
Cube:
180 Peasant Micro Cube
Game 1, you need to fetch for basics when you can, or tapped shocks. Handling their creatures is more important, especially Eidolon. Make sure to keep an uncracked fetch or Street Wraith in hand if you drop a 1/1 or 2/2 Death shadow.
After SB, side in any collective brutalities. I would cut street wraiths before thoughtseize, as its imperative to make them discard Path to exile, Deflecting Palms and Eidolons.
Affinity
Legacy:
GBCombo Elves
EDH:
GEzuri, Renegade Leader's Elf Ball
Cube:
180 Peasant Micro Cube
Affinity
Legacy:
GBCombo Elves
EDH:
GEzuri, Renegade Leader's Elf Ball
Cube:
180 Peasant Micro Cube
Affinity
Legacy:
GBCombo Elves
EDH:
GEzuri, Renegade Leader's Elf Ball
Cube:
180 Peasant Micro Cube
I suggested this as a Traverse bullet. it can certainly win you the games if you fetch correctly.
Affinity
Legacy:
GBCombo Elves
EDH:
GEzuri, Renegade Leader's Elf Ball
Cube:
180 Peasant Micro Cube
Reclamation Sage
Phyrexian Revoker
Eidolon of Rhetoric
Kataki, war's wage
Ethersworn canonist
Big game hunter
Magus of the moon
Affinity
Legacy:
GBCombo Elves
EDH:
GEzuri, Renegade Leader's Elf Ball
Cube:
180 Peasant Micro Cube
Sorry I should have specified, only for straight jund.
How has the white splash been for you Flying?
Affinity
Legacy:
GBCombo Elves
EDH:
GEzuri, Renegade Leader's Elf Ball
Cube:
180 Peasant Micro Cube
Affinity
Legacy:
GBCombo Elves
EDH:
GEzuri, Renegade Leader's Elf Ball
Cube:
180 Peasant Micro Cube