The Living End in his meta is the Jund version, which is a much different game. I’ve played Living End in the last 4 Midwest opens to 4-1, 5-0, 5-1, 5-0 starts respectively before dropping matches in the real rounds, but never dropped a match to Grixis Deaths Shadow.
You can’t tap out, EOT they can Beast Within a Blue source, you don’t have an answer for Fulminator Mage, it’s a very different dynamic than playing against the Blue version that relies on sorcery speed Living End.
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I’d like to point out that against Living End, discard isn’t nearly as good as you’re thinking. They play 8 copies of their Cascade spells and ~16 1-mana draw spells. Not to mention Beast Within your guy after battle rage. I’d throw some games against that one, it doesn’t navigate like normal combo. You may play a Deaths shadow at 14 life with a fetch in play to Trump their yard flip.
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I really enjoy Midrange and Control mirrors also, specifically the Jund v GDS matchup. So many decision trees that can become relevant several turns down the line vs MUs like storm where you just play out your hand and if you have the right disruption you win.
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I wouldn’t say Jund is a good MU, in the sense that you’re happy to play It all day, but it’s favorable for sure. Jund has the tools to play a longer game and the MU becomes a very strategic hoarding and timely use of resources.
Mana efficiency is the way to beat Jund, most of their plan doesnt get online until they can cast multiple spells a turn. LotV is their best shot, but having played both sides of the coin I believe Jund piloted correctly can have a strong GDS match. I jammed the Jund side vs GDS for a couple days testing for an event, and after the first few matches I realized what Jund needs to be doing in that MU.
GDS has to prioritize overloadin Jund very quickly, because once they can cast multiple spells Deaths Shadow becomes an almost worse version of Jund. 9-11 kill spells + discard vs a deck with ~8 threats isn’t the most favorable condition.
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That’s so strange. I don’t feel like Abzan is very strongly positioned in the meta though, so I guess chalk that one up to “dodge a wrench, dodge this match”
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GDS is remarkably consistent, it plays a significantly larger number of draw spells than most decks in the format. Hence why it feels you’re flooding often.
It is a tempo deck, it relies on a clock backed by efficient disruption to get the job done. It will not “lock up” games against most opponents, if that’s what you’re wanting then play Jeskai.
GDS is incredibly consistent at knocking the opponent off balance, sticking a large threat, and ending the game before the opponent can get back into it.
The current meta is slightly hostile because GDS has such a strong metagame presence. TitanShift plays roughly 10-12 payoff cards, half of which GDS struggles to interact with. Combine that with the fact they can just play their lands and kill you out of nowhere, and you have a tough matchup.
Jeskai plays efficient removal, ways to generate get card advantage, and potential to just burn you out of the game (preventing you from going ultra-fast) — you have yet another tricky matchup.
None of this means the deck is bad, or poorly positioned. It still had the highest number of players pulled through to Day 2 of the most recent Open.
Instead of asking “why can’t it be easier?” — ask yourself “how can I be better?”
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I think painful truths could be fine but it’s also not where I would be. I’d rather play a card that generates advantage that must be answered — as mentioned, Liliana is a good one for that slot.
Sometimes drawing three cards just doesn’t cut it these days
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Tombstalker is cute but I dont’t know why the flying is relevant. Usually the problem with lingering souls is that they chump Block 4 times, not that they’re going over the top of a Gurmag Angler.
Flying is relevant against affinity for sure, but that’s more of a sideboard problem IMO.
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I didn’t say you had TBR, I said you represent the damage with it. You force your opponent to answer your DS immediately because you can punish their combat phase with lethal.
I’m not going to argue, having dismember in your hand while you have a DS out is completely within realms of reason, and the opponent attacking with 2 creatures is also completely within the realm of reason.
Affinity will be attacking with a Plated up robot, Eldrazi will be pressing with some large dudes, GWx will press with Knight of the Reliquary, et al.
Even if dismember is killing a dude they left back to chump on the backswing, your guy grows by 4/4 and can tango with almost every creature in the format profitably.
Edit: just read through your posts for the last few months, you have a condescending attitude towards almost everyone you interact with. That’s distasteful for sure. I didn’t realize you were so pretentious as to truly believe you are 100% correct, 100% of the time.
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You can’t tap out, EOT they can Beast Within a Blue source, you don’t have an answer for Fulminator Mage, it’s a very different dynamic than playing against the Blue version that relies on sorcery speed Living End.
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Mana efficiency is the way to beat Jund, most of their plan doesnt get online until they can cast multiple spells a turn. LotV is their best shot, but having played both sides of the coin I believe Jund piloted correctly can have a strong GDS match. I jammed the Jund side vs GDS for a couple days testing for an event, and after the first few matches I realized what Jund needs to be doing in that MU.
GDS has to prioritize overloadin Jund very quickly, because once they can cast multiple spells Deaths Shadow becomes an almost worse version of Jund. 9-11 kill spells + discard vs a deck with ~8 threats isn’t the most favorable condition.
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Opponent no longer has to assemble a kill, just stay alive for a few turns until you kill your self.
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It is a tempo deck, it relies on a clock backed by efficient disruption to get the job done. It will not “lock up” games against most opponents, if that’s what you’re wanting then play Jeskai.
GDS is incredibly consistent at knocking the opponent off balance, sticking a large threat, and ending the game before the opponent can get back into it.
The current meta is slightly hostile because GDS has such a strong metagame presence. TitanShift plays roughly 10-12 payoff cards, half of which GDS struggles to interact with. Combine that with the fact they can just play their lands and kill you out of nowhere, and you have a tough matchup.
Jeskai plays efficient removal, ways to generate get card advantage, and potential to just burn you out of the game (preventing you from going ultra-fast) — you have yet another tricky matchup.
None of this means the deck is bad, or poorly positioned. It still had the highest number of players pulled through to Day 2 of the most recent Open.
Instead of asking “why can’t it be easier?” — ask yourself “how can I be better?”
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Sometimes drawing three cards just doesn’t cut it these days
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Flying is relevant against affinity for sure, but that’s more of a sideboard problem IMO.
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But Gurmag, Tasigur, and DS are just going to outclass it every time
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I’m not going to argue, having dismember in your hand while you have a DS out is completely within realms of reason, and the opponent attacking with 2 creatures is also completely within the realm of reason.
Affinity will be attacking with a Plated up robot, Eldrazi will be pressing with some large dudes, GWx will press with Knight of the Reliquary, et al.
Even if dismember is killing a dude they left back to chump on the backswing, your guy grows by 4/4 and can tango with almost every creature in the format profitably.
Edit: just read through your posts for the last few months, you have a condescending attitude towards almost everyone you interact with. That’s distasteful for sure. I didn’t realize you were so pretentious as to truly believe you are 100% correct, 100% of the time.
Goodbye and good luck
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