So I am guessing our worst matchups right now center around Jund and Control Decks.
I am going to start testing out a semi transformational sideboard versus these 2 decks to give us more threats.
Some combination of Bedlam Reveler & Bloodbraid Elf to see how they work. I think I can reasonable give 6-8 cards as a whole to these two matchups and not have the sideboard suffer versus the rest of the field.
Storm, Titanshift, Tron, Bogles, Affinity, Infect all feel slightly favorable to me and 1-2 sideboard slots help keep it favorable.
Humans and Dredge still seems slightly unfavorable and that is probably the matchups I choose to not devote anything too (Outside of 1-2 sweepers that come in versus other decks.
I'll report back when I have some results but if anyone wants to join me in testing I think it could prove beneficial.
I am running very close to the same list except with Opt instead of Manamorphose. Does the randomness of the card draw hurt a lot or do you find that so much of the deck is relevant that card selection just isn't that important?
This is the deck I ran. This was my first time using Grim Flayer and I definitely made a few sequencing mistakes. Other than those, the deck ran extremely well. I felt like I had a chance at winning every game I played. I have no plans to change the main deck currently. The sideboard changes constantly though so don't put too much stock in it.
I played the traditional Traverse shadow list this weekend. Top 8ed a 37 person event going 4-0-2 during swiss. The proactive speed of the deck felt very strong. A lot of decks feel too light on early interaction and I think it's actually very well positions right now.
Lost in the quarterfinals in 3 against affinity. Losing to a topdecked cranial plating both games.
After playing a fair amount with the BBE Shadow list.
It just feels overall weaker than the old Traverse Shadow.
Sure it can grind a bit better, but the explosive starts just aren't there anymore. You grind pretty well but at that point it feels like I am trying to win a topdeck war where I am only slightly favored against most decks.
List looks great geneyquakes. With 19 lands did multiple BBEs ever get stuck in your hand?
Any thoughts on dropping a land and a BBE and adding 2 more relevant spells? (Maybe TBR) I could see also going down to 2 K Commands and adding a 3rd cheaper spell.
It would go back to the 18 lands plan (which has always felt like borderline too many) and gives you 1 less clunky spell to get caught in hand.
It seems an easy jump to make to splash a 4th color into the sideboard against storm. Not too much of an investment to play 1 island and 3 stubborn denials.
I am testing Golgari charm and really like it as a 1 of in many matchups.
Control - Leylines, Supreme Will
Mardu Pyromancer/Free win red - Rabblemasters/pyromancers and blood moon
Elves - Everything
Ad Naus - Leyline
For 1 sideboard slot it can give you an extra solid card in a lot of matches.
As humans gains some traction, I am considering putting 2 Grim Lavamancers into the sideboard. If you can land one early it seems like it would help shore up the matchup a lot and change it from 45/55 to 55/45 in our favor.
Getting stuck on 2 lands happens a lot in the typical shells, and getting 2 black sources or all 4 colors of mana is usually the priority. Getting double blue for Deprive will be typically be a much lower priority. And we can (and should be able to) win with only 2 lands. We wouldn't play 18 lands otherwise. Opt helps this some, but we're still putting more pressure on the mana.
This is probably the biggest issue. 5c feels like it can and does win with only 2 lands. This version loses a lot of power if it doesn't find the 3rd land just because of the need for mana to power the cantrips, snaps and stubborns.
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I am going to start testing out a semi transformational sideboard versus these 2 decks to give us more threats.
Some combination of Bedlam Reveler & Bloodbraid Elf to see how they work. I think I can reasonable give 6-8 cards as a whole to these two matchups and not have the sideboard suffer versus the rest of the field.
Storm, Titanshift, Tron, Bogles, Affinity, Infect all feel slightly favorable to me and 1-2 sideboard slots help keep it favorable.
Humans and Dredge still seems slightly unfavorable and that is probably the matchups I choose to not devote anything too (Outside of 1-2 sweepers that come in versus other decks.
I'll report back when I have some results but if anyone wants to join me in testing I think it could prove beneficial.
1 Snapcaster Mage
1 Grim Flayer
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Street Wraith
3 Traverse the Ulvenwald
4 Mishra's Bauble
3 Opt
4 Thoughtseize
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
3 Stubborn Denial
3 Fatal Push
1 Dismember
2 Abrupt Decay
2 Temur Battle Rage
4 Polluted Delta
3 Misty Rainforest
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Blood Crypt
1 Watery Grave
1 Breeding Pool
1 Steam Vents
1 Swamp
1 Island
2 Collective Brutality
2 Kozilek's Return
2 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Ancient Grudge
2 Kolaghan's Command
2 Liliana of the Veil
1 Liliana, the last hope
1 Deprive
1 Ceremonious Rejection
1 Disdainful Stroke
Lost in the quarterfinals in 3 against affinity. Losing to a topdecked cranial plating both games.
It just feels overall weaker than the old Traverse Shadow.
Sure it can grind a bit better, but the explosive starts just aren't there anymore. You grind pretty well but at that point it feels like I am trying to win a topdeck war where I am only slightly favored against most decks.
I am thinking some combination of abrupt decay, seal of fire, or dreadbore.
Any thoughts on dropping a land and a BBE and adding 2 more relevant spells? (Maybe TBR) I could see also going down to 2 K Commands and adding a 3rd cheaper spell.
It would go back to the 18 lands plan (which has always felt like borderline too many) and gives you 1 less clunky spell to get caught in hand.
I would like to fit at least 2 TBR and 2 Inquisitions back in and going -1 mountain, -1 seal, -2 K commands seems like it might be the correct choice.
Control - Leylines, Supreme Will
Mardu Pyromancer/Free win red - Rabblemasters/pyromancers and blood moon
Elves - Everything
Ad Naus - Leyline
For 1 sideboard slot it can give you an extra solid card in a lot of matches.
As humans gains some traction, I am considering putting 2 Grim Lavamancers into the sideboard. If you can land one early it seems like it would help shore up the matchup a lot and change it from 45/55 to 55/45 in our favor.
This is probably the biggest issue. 5c feels like it can and does win with only 2 lands. This version loses a lot of power if it doesn't find the 3rd land just because of the need for mana to power the cantrips, snaps and stubborns.