No Sword of Feast and Famine? Perhaps I love swords too much, but adds extra discard, and can pay for itself in the long run (mana wise). Then again, essentially 5 to do anything with it... but I love swords.
Also, Gaka, why isn't this deck in your signature? I didn't know you had a Skullbriar deck...
Some of the lands seem a bit questionable. Tainted Wood suffers from a lot of the same problems as Reflecting Pool, it's difficult to use on turn 1-2 and you run a lot of non-swamp lands in general. I'm not sure how reliable Bojuka Bog is going to be, there's not a lot of graveyard decks and it's sorcery speed. Is it worth it for a 1-color EtBT land? Depending on what your meta looks like you might want to consider Tomb of Urami.
Tainted Wood - I've yet to not have this tap for mana at a bad time (early). You aren't forced to cast skullbriar turn 2, and often isn't actually the correct play.
Bojuka Bog - Some consideration must be made to graveyard interactions, seeing as they're generating an increasingly large slice of importance to how the game is played (just look at how much this deck runs, as an aggro deck). However, there would be nothing wrong with turning it into a swamp.
Tomb of Urami - I can't ever recommend this, regardless of the meta. There is just too much removal out there to justify getting geddon'd by a badly timed spell. It's best in SI in legacy, after your opponent has boarded out all of their removal. There are no boards here.
No Sword of Feast and Famine? Perhaps I love swords too much, but adds extra discard, and can pay for itself in the long run (mana wise). Then again, essentially 5 to do anything with it... but I love swords.
Also, Gaka, why isn't this deck in your signature? I didn't know you had a Skullbriar deck...
I tried out the swords, but most weren't useful enough over another creature to power out vengevine, feed a troll, or survival away into something more useful.
Check my blog for all of my decks, some are active, some are not. I'm slowly getting the pieces together for this, and then it will be inserted into the sig. For now, blog.
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Tantarus: It didn't make the gaka greifer level, so it should be fine
i would really like to say is i really love this deck, and it the deck played pretty well in my past tourny i was in, even though i played kind of a mixure version between ur list and the french national guys, i still play unearth and reanimate and i droped gftt and elvish spirit guide for imperial edict and diabolic edict. but either way it really helped to play aggressive creatures like putrid leach and creakwood liege! i love this deck! i survival for liege like everytime after i ditched the venge and crawler =]
My list is a little more control than yours, but I'm growing convinced that a purer aggro build is the way to go.
A Thragtusk or Spiritmonger could round out the curve at 5 and be great targets for Pod (not sure Spiritmonger is good enough, Thragtusk seems perfect though). I'm actually testing out Massacre Wurm as a late-game, "Please save me from the horde of 2/2s because otherwise I'm losing this game" card, seems good vs. Talrand, Rhada, Lyzolda, and more. Only started testing it today and it pretty much won me two games on its own vs. a Rhada (killed two creatures the first time and SIX the next game when I would have died the next turn probably). I don't think having one 5 and one 6 that are very swingy would be too much of a sacrifice from the speed - you have lots of 4 cmc targets for Pod, it'd be nice to have another upgrade.
I found Volrath's Stronghold to be slow. I always wanted to draw a card at the point where I would be using it, because if I'm in a hole it's usually more than what a creature in my gy can dig me out of.
Is Bojuka Bog worth it? I've found it to be pretty useless and it just makes Scavenging Ooze, Tarmagoyf, and Deathrite Shaman worse (and Reanimate if you choose to run it). I haven't run across a dedicated reanimator deck in 1v1 often enough to warrent a CIPT swamp that has anti-synergy with other cards in the deck (though I guess there is Karador).
Have you considered Aether Vial?
What about Homeward Path? Getting Skullbriar Dominated has proven pretty backbreaking.
Hi, I was trying to find the original decklist that topped the French nationals, but without any success. Do you have a link or at least some idea how it looked like? Thanks!
Master of the Wild Hunt looks like very slow, isn't it ? Investing four mana and several turns for a bunch of 2/2 looks like a bit underwhelming. How did it work for you ?
So far yes, it's quite slow - the best time to have a master out was when plan A failed and you're starting the card advantage grind. So basically it's just okay.
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Tantarus: It didn't make the gaka greifer level, so it should be fine
I think I'd actually prefer a card like Smallpox in this deck. This looks to break the symmetry of it quite well, and it is quite a crushing card versus control.
Of the "really scary" generals of late (GAA4, Zur, Geist, Maelstrom Wanderer, Talrand) I've been able to beat talrand and Wanderer, with this deck more than I lose, but I tend to lose the other match ups pretty handily. What would be the ideal way to play against the aforementioned generals using this deck?
I think I'd actually prefer a card like Smallpox in this deck. This looks to break the symmetry of it quite well, and it is quite a crushing card versus control.
Are you still updating this, Gaka?
I'm still updating it, yeah.
I tried Smallpox momentarily and didn't like it in the least. When you're ahead it's win-more and when you're behind you're hurting yourself. This isn't the deck for the tiny pox.
Of the "really scary" generals of late (GAA4, Zur, Geist, Maelstrom Wanderer, Talrand) I've been able to beat talrand and Wanderer, with this deck more than I lose, but I tend to lose the other match ups pretty handily. What would be the ideal way to play against the aforementioned generals using this deck?
Zur:
Kill Zur. Do whatever it takes to kill Zur. When Zur isn't on the board or threatening to do so, kill your opponent.
If something like Ghostly Prison pops up, decide either to go strictly with skullbriar beats and use the rest as support (Ulvenwald Tracker is the nuts.)
Don't overextend into wipes. Zur likes tutoring for wipes or for topdecking them in a timely matter. Like any w/x control deck, don't herp derp into a losing position simple because they had a wipe.
For Geist - get skullbriar to a 2/2, and win from there. In my testing, the Geist matchup has been relatively decent if you utilize hand control well. Most Geist decks rely on the top of their deck more than anything. If playing against the tempo version, skullbriar will be bounced. Don't worry. He's now a 2 mana block this or suffer creature-type.
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Tantarus: It didn't make the gaka greifer level, so it should be fine
Varolz is, as expected, utterly insane. So is Bitterblossom, of course. These two were easy. Both can and will take over games the moment they are dropped.
Less easy, Blood Scrivener. Sometimes it doesn't draw. But, the threat of it drawing, the ease of casting and the fact that it's so easy to cast makes it a winner in my book.
On the cutting side of things...
Triumph was replaced by scrivener - I'd prefer my draws to beat in the face, and Triumph isn't always useful. Scrivener at least beats for two.
Sign in Blood is hard to cast at BB. BB is easy to cast at 1B. Which one wins games?
And, lastly, Tainted Wood - We're running a fairly high number of initial mana sources, so I feel safe justifying losing a land for a threat.
A question for fellow beatstick players - what is the opinion of Skylasher?
What about life from the loam or darkblast? With the fetches, lftl is really powerful, and dredge seems fairly synergistic with a lot of other cards.
Also, i'm not so sure on the elf sub-theme. It looks like its main purposes are to enable gilt-leaf palace and allow you to run an uncomfortably low land count. Am I missing something?
any update for m14? I'd like to see kalonian hydra make the cut and elvish mystic is another good one drop mana dork/elf. I'm worried the hydra is too slow, but it is also really abusive and demands a response on its own.
I personally think this list has no future after the release of Sidisi, Brood Tyrant. I am now playing Sidisi instead of old Skully, RIP zombie... Sidisi is just SO MUCH better.
For all the benefits of Sidisi, Skullbriar is still the faster deck, but Sidisi has a much better mid-game. When considering which one to play, Skullbriar is far more aggressive and resilient, while Sidisi can just simply "win" with the right sequence. I feel like Sidisi will be more powerful for a generic meta, but Skullbriar remains the quickest deck.
Temple's ETB tap basically removes it from consideration. The early game is everything. Following that, Bloodsoaked Champion and Rakshasa Deathdealer are easy additions.
I don't like Pack Rat too much here, and Pharika is iffy. It has potential to end the game, but it isn't something you want in an opening hand. Reaper of the Wilds is far better in that regards, but even then four mana needs to have a far higher effect on the game than a simple 4/5 that can gain some abilities.
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Tantarus: It didn't make the gaka greifer level, so it should be fine
I am making one Skulbriar deck, but I want to ask yuo about few cards I would include and you don't have:
Slitherhead - even it is 1/1, it is just for 1 mana and it has scavenge for 0 mana. also, clamp-able, also zombie. Phyrexian Crusader - 3cmc, but protections, first strike and infect Sudden death - split second is the thing and helped a lot because of that
Also, I am wondering, why Lotus Petal and Hatred? I know 5 mana is a lot, but it is instant and can end the game.
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Also, Gaka, why isn't this deck in your signature? I didn't know you had a Skullbriar deck...
Playtest my Cube on Cube Tutor
Tainted Wood - I've yet to not have this tap for mana at a bad time (early). You aren't forced to cast skullbriar turn 2, and often isn't actually the correct play.
Bojuka Bog - Some consideration must be made to graveyard interactions, seeing as they're generating an increasingly large slice of importance to how the game is played (just look at how much this deck runs, as an aggro deck). However, there would be nothing wrong with turning it into a swamp.
Tomb of Urami - I can't ever recommend this, regardless of the meta. There is just too much removal out there to justify getting geddon'd by a badly timed spell. It's best in SI in legacy, after your opponent has boarded out all of their removal. There are no boards here.
I tried out the swords, but most weren't useful enough over another creature to power out vengevine, feed a troll, or survival away into something more useful.
Check my blog for all of my decks, some are active, some are not. I'm slowly getting the pieces together for this, and then it will be inserted into the sig. For now, blog.
EDH:
RNorin the WaryR <-Link! (Primer - Mono Red Control)
GUEdric, Spymaster of TrestUG <- Link! (Mini-Primer - Dredge)
Duel Commander:
WUGeist of Saint TraftUW <- Link! (Aggro-Control)
BGSkullbriar, the Walking GraveGB <- Link! (Aggro)
BUGDamia, Sage of StoneGUB <- Link! (Extinction Control)
Church of the Wary
Talrand, Sky Summoner - Link (Mono Blue Tempo)
Isamaru, Hound of Konda - Link (Mono White Voltron)
Ezuri, Renegade Leader - Link (Aggro/ Combo)
Lyzolda, the Blood Witch - Link (Aggro)
Sliver Queen - Link (Combo)
Multiplayer EDH:
Grand Arbiter Augustin IV - Link (Tax/ Stax/ Lock/ Control)
A Thragtusk or Spiritmonger could round out the curve at 5 and be great targets for Pod (not sure Spiritmonger is good enough, Thragtusk seems perfect though). I'm actually testing out Massacre Wurm as a late-game, "Please save me from the horde of 2/2s because otherwise I'm losing this game" card, seems good vs. Talrand, Rhada, Lyzolda, and more. Only started testing it today and it pretty much won me two games on its own vs. a Rhada (killed two creatures the first time and SIX the next game when I would have died the next turn probably). I don't think having one 5 and one 6 that are very swingy would be too much of a sacrifice from the speed - you have lots of 4 cmc targets for Pod, it'd be nice to have another upgrade.
I found Volrath's Stronghold to be slow. I always wanted to draw a card at the point where I would be using it, because if I'm in a hole it's usually more than what a creature in my gy can dig me out of.
Is Bojuka Bog worth it? I've found it to be pretty useless and it just makes Scavenging Ooze, Tarmagoyf, and Deathrite Shaman worse (and Reanimate if you choose to run it). I haven't run across a dedicated reanimator deck in 1v1 often enough to warrent a CIPT swamp that has anti-synergy with other cards in the deck (though I guess there is Karador).
Have you considered Aether Vial?
What about Homeward Path? Getting Skullbriar Dominated has proven pretty backbreaking.
(Multiplayer)
BRGKarrthus, Tyrant of Jund
WUBSharuum the Hegemon
(American 1v1)
BGSkullbriar, the Walking Grave
WUGDerevi
Doesn't put opponent's life total closer to or below zero. Pretty much just cute.
EDH:
RNorin the WaryR <-Link! (Primer - Mono Red Control)
GUEdric, Spymaster of TrestUG <- Link! (Mini-Primer - Dredge)
Duel Commander:
WUGeist of Saint TraftUW <- Link! (Aggro-Control)
BGSkullbriar, the Walking GraveGB <- Link! (Aggro)
BUGDamia, Sage of StoneGUB <- Link! (Extinction Control)
Church of the Wary
Here it is.
Also is the OP decklist up to date? Just curious.
Standard:RWUJeskai WinsRWU
Modern:GWBMelira PodGWB
Legacy:WDeath & TaxesW
The fact that it's a sorcery kills it for me. I don't want to blatantly make aware my plots.
Yes, OP is up to date, although I've been testing Master of the Wild Hunt.
EDH:
RNorin the WaryR <-Link! (Primer - Mono Red Control)
GUEdric, Spymaster of TrestUG <- Link! (Mini-Primer - Dredge)
Duel Commander:
WUGeist of Saint TraftUW <- Link! (Aggro-Control)
BGSkullbriar, the Walking GraveGB <- Link! (Aggro)
BUGDamia, Sage of StoneGUB <- Link! (Extinction Control)
Church of the Wary
So far yes, it's quite slow - the best time to have a master out was when plan A failed and you're starting the card advantage grind. So basically it's just okay.
EDH:
RNorin the WaryR <-Link! (Primer - Mono Red Control)
GUEdric, Spymaster of TrestUG <- Link! (Mini-Primer - Dredge)
Duel Commander:
WUGeist of Saint TraftUW <- Link! (Aggro-Control)
BGSkullbriar, the Walking GraveGB <- Link! (Aggro)
BUGDamia, Sage of StoneGUB <- Link! (Extinction Control)
Church of the Wary
Are you still updating this, Gaka?
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
I'm still updating it, yeah.
I tried Smallpox momentarily and didn't like it in the least. When you're ahead it's win-more and when you're behind you're hurting yourself. This isn't the deck for the tiny pox.
Zur:
Kill Zur. Do whatever it takes to kill Zur. When Zur isn't on the board or threatening to do so, kill your opponent.
If something like Ghostly Prison pops up, decide either to go strictly with skullbriar beats and use the rest as support (Ulvenwald Tracker is the nuts.)
Don't overextend into wipes. Zur likes tutoring for wipes or for topdecking them in a timely matter. Like any w/x control deck, don't herp derp into a losing position simple because they had a wipe.
For Geist - get skullbriar to a 2/2, and win from there. In my testing, the Geist matchup has been relatively decent if you utilize hand control well. Most Geist decks rely on the top of their deck more than anything. If playing against the tempo version, skullbriar will be bounced. Don't worry. He's now a 2 mana block this or suffer creature-type.
EDH:
RNorin the WaryR <-Link! (Primer - Mono Red Control)
GUEdric, Spymaster of TrestUG <- Link! (Mini-Primer - Dredge)
Duel Commander:
WUGeist of Saint TraftUW <- Link! (Aggro-Control)
BGSkullbriar, the Walking GraveGB <- Link! (Aggro)
BUGDamia, Sage of StoneGUB <- Link! (Extinction Control)
Church of the Wary
+ Blood Scrivener
+ Varolz, the Scar-Striped
+ Bitterblossom
- Triumph of Ferocity
- Tainted Wood
- Sign in Blood
Varolz is, as expected, utterly insane. So is Bitterblossom, of course. These two were easy. Both can and will take over games the moment they are dropped.
Less easy, Blood Scrivener. Sometimes it doesn't draw. But, the threat of it drawing, the ease of casting and the fact that it's so easy to cast makes it a winner in my book.
On the cutting side of things...
Triumph was replaced by scrivener - I'd prefer my draws to beat in the face, and Triumph isn't always useful. Scrivener at least beats for two.
Sign in Blood is hard to cast at BB. BB is easy to cast at 1B. Which one wins games?
And, lastly, Tainted Wood - We're running a fairly high number of initial mana sources, so I feel safe justifying losing a land for a threat.
A question for fellow beatstick players - what is the opinion of Skylasher?
EDH:
RNorin the WaryR <-Link! (Primer - Mono Red Control)
GUEdric, Spymaster of TrestUG <- Link! (Mini-Primer - Dredge)
Duel Commander:
WUGeist of Saint TraftUW <- Link! (Aggro-Control)
BGSkullbriar, the Walking GraveGB <- Link! (Aggro)
BUGDamia, Sage of StoneGUB <- Link! (Extinction Control)
Church of the Wary
I think this guy can be great. Owns Geist, and forces removal from Zur. I think it's a keeper.
And is Sylvan Safekeeper worth it with just 34 lands?
Except Geist is already a good matchup, and Zur really doesn't care as it doesn't kill it. I don't think I want the lasher, however cool it is.
Safekeeper has been fine thus far - you only use it once or twice, realistically.
EDH:
RNorin the WaryR <-Link! (Primer - Mono Red Control)
GUEdric, Spymaster of TrestUG <- Link! (Mini-Primer - Dredge)
Duel Commander:
WUGeist of Saint TraftUW <- Link! (Aggro-Control)
BGSkullbriar, the Walking GraveGB <- Link! (Aggro)
BUGDamia, Sage of StoneGUB <- Link! (Extinction Control)
Church of the Wary
Duel Commander
URG [Primer] Maelstrom Wanderer [Primer] URG
Duel Commander Current Projects:
RGWMarath, Will of the WildRGW
BRXMogis, God of SlaughterBRX
RWxIoras, God of VictoryRWx
WBxAthreos, God of PassageWBx
Created By: DarkNightCavalier
Someone should update this then. http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=389492
Also, i'm not so sure on the elf sub-theme. It looks like its main purposes are to enable gilt-leaf palace and allow you to run an uncomfortably low land count. Am I missing something?
For all the benefits of Sidisi, Skullbriar is still the faster deck, but Sidisi has a much better mid-game. When considering which one to play, Skullbriar is far more aggressive and resilient, while Sidisi can just simply "win" with the right sequence. I feel like Sidisi will be more powerful for a generic meta, but Skullbriar remains the quickest deck.
Temple's ETB tap basically removes it from consideration. The early game is everything. Following that, Bloodsoaked Champion and Rakshasa Deathdealer are easy additions.
I don't like Pack Rat too much here, and Pharika is iffy. It has potential to end the game, but it isn't something you want in an opening hand. Reaper of the Wilds is far better in that regards, but even then four mana needs to have a far higher effect on the game than a simple 4/5 that can gain some abilities.
EDH:
RNorin the WaryR <-Link! (Primer - Mono Red Control)
GUEdric, Spymaster of TrestUG <- Link! (Mini-Primer - Dredge)
Duel Commander:
WUGeist of Saint TraftUW <- Link! (Aggro-Control)
BGSkullbriar, the Walking GraveGB <- Link! (Aggro)
BUGDamia, Sage of StoneGUB <- Link! (Extinction Control)
Church of the Wary
Slitherhead - even it is 1/1, it is just for 1 mana and it has scavenge for 0 mana. also, clamp-able, also zombie.
Phyrexian Crusader - 3cmc, but protections, first strike and infect
Sudden death - split second is the thing and helped a lot because of that
Also, I am wondering, why Lotus Petal and Hatred? I know 5 mana is a lot, but it is instant and can end the game.