I wonder if there is a way to totally staunch your decks up against misstep in the first match. There really is no replacement for drum though is there? Maybe one day.
My old decklist cared not for missteps. I had no signal pests and Springleaf drum didn't play a major role. Tombs added acceleration, Mox opals and glimmervoids were the main color fixers. I pretty much blanked misstep before I added maindeck Dispatch.
This might be weird but i'd like to point out that you could actually transfer arcbound worker's counter more than 3 times
I've actually returned to arcbound worker to see how he fares in a swarm/creature heavy affinity, and it is pretty fun to transfer between worker and ravager and to finally transfer it to EC/skirge
Wow, thanks for all the great answers to my question. Let's take a look at some of these:
In terms of what I am most concerned about in order:
1. Sneak Attack to Emrakul
2. Show and Tell to Emrakul
3. NO to Progenitus
4. Here I will just state my opinion about the card's usefulness in our deck otherwise.
I will list after each how they are at dealing with these.
Diabolic Edict - Instant speed answer. Tremendous answer to both Emrakul and Progenitus provided you leave the mana up and that is the only creature they have out. Probably the best answer to Emrakul in most situations but NO decks will frequently have another creature to sac instead of Progenitus. The card I see the most in pro sideboards.
1. Almost always works
2. Almost always works
3. Sometimes works
4. Mildly useful otherwise
Retribution of the Meek - If only this were instant! Works beautifully for either and also fat Goyfs and KotR. Does nothing about a Sneak Attacked Emrakul... Unfortunately you may also have to sac a creature with Cranial Plating on it or a MoE.
1. Never works
2. Always works
3. Always works
4. Moderately useful otherwise
Phyrexian Metamorph - This answers any fatties by giving you your own or destroying the two previously mentioned lords of Magic. It also increases your artifact count and can copy just about anything on your side that you might like another one of. I believe this card almost makes the cut to be run MD in affinity but that is another discussion. One downside is that it is the most expensive of the answers here but that extra expense will usually be 2 life and it can otherwise be cast with any colors which might make it the least cost restrictive actually.
1. Never works
2. Always works
3. Always works
4. Very useful otherwise
Vedalken Certarch - Instant speed, awesome! Does nothing to Progenitus, Boo! This could be a VERY powerful card in our deck as we will almost always have the metalcraft. Too bad he isn't an artifact himself. Probably another card that just doesn't make the cut for MD consideration. Quite possibly the best answer to Emrakul in all forms but once again, does nothing to Progenitus. He will also just sit there waiting to be removed before they trick their Emrakul in but if they don't have an answer it may just slow them enough...
1. Always works - considering he has survived for 2 turns.
2. Always works
3. Never works
4. Very useful otherwise
Tariff - Cheap, definitively deals with both, great! Sorcery, we may also have to sac a creature, boo!
1. Never works
2. Always works
3. Always works
4. Moderately useful otherwise
and I'll add one:
Phantasmal Image - for purely dealing with Emrakul or Progenitus at sorcery speed there is probably no better card available. It is cheaper than most of the other options and can sometimes be useful to copy other creatures. I don't know if when compared to phyrexian metamorph if the cheaper cost is worth not being an artifact, not being able to copy an artifact and its fragile nature...I doubt it.
1. Never works
2. Always works
3. Always works
4. Moderately useful otherwise
Basically all of the sorcery speed answers are the same for 1-3 but I would say that Phyrexian Metamorph wins that realm with its usefulness in a few more situations than the others.
For the instant speed answers I would say that while Vedalken Certarch is slightly more useful overall, his somewhat fragile nature and requirement that you had him in hand and cast him two turns before makes him weaker than Diabolic Edict as a sideboard card for dealing with these fatties. Furthermore, while he definitively takes care of Emrakul for as long as he is not summoning sick and alive, he never takes care of Progenitus.
Diabolic Edict is never a 100% card for dealing with either as they may have other creatures but it is the only card that has a chance of dealing with any of these situations. It is also one of only two of the mentioned cards that has a good chance to deal with the two most feared (for me) situations that both involve Emrakul. Progenitus is often less scary as he will kill you within 2 turns (sometimes one if a Goyf has done his job) but he is unable to block any of your flyers or Etched Champion so you may be able to kill them even with him out. Emrakul blocks both and laughs at them and then clears your board. Plus, pros use Diabolic Edict...maybe that was all we needed to know.
Verdict: Diabolic Edict is the best sideboard card for dealing with Progenitus and Emrakul. Discuss.
I wonder if there is a way to totally staunch your decks up against misstep in the first match. There really is no replacement for drum though is there? Maybe one day.
Sure there is: Paradise Mantle. It is very similar, sometimes better, usually worse, but could be considered a non 1 CMC substitute for Springleaf Drum
Dealing with the decks you mentioned that they get played in? No.
Pithing Needle is by and far the best answer to stop Emrakul from being Sneaked into play, so you really shouldn't account removal to that deck type.
All the other options are Sorcery speed, and Metamorph is the clear winner there, as it's colorless.
Also Metamorph is much better than the Image, as it can be equipped.
I think your focusing too much on niche meta here. Yes, Emrakul can be devastating, but if your facing against a deck with SnT and Emrakul, it's Hivemind, and they certainly don't need Emrakul to beat Affinity.
And if your worrying about Proggy, than your facing NO RUG, and Proggy, while big, is the least of your worries against that deck. They have so many answers to your threats you should be worried about trying to kill them rather than trying to stop ther big threat.
It's good to try theorize anwsers for SB's like this, but in actuality, it's not going to help you. It would be better to have a broad SB and ask "How can I utilize Pithing Needle against a deck that relies on Fetchlands to get most of it's colors" (which would be NO RUG). Do you see what I'm getting at.
Besides, Cabal Therapy is already better against those decks than any card you mentioned in your post, and it doesn't even kill creatures.
Dealing with the decks you mentioned that they get played in? No.
Pithing Needle is by and far the best answer to stop Emrakul from being Sneaked into play, so you really shouldn't account removal to that deck type.
All the other options are Sorcery speed, and Metamorph is the clear winner there, as it's colorless.
Also Metamorph is much better than the Image, as it can be equipped.
I think your focusing too much on niche meta here. Yes, Emrakul can be devastating, but if your facing against a deck with SnT and Emrakul, it's Hivemind, and they certainly don't need Emrakul to beat Affinity.
And if your worrying about Proggy, than your facing NO RUG, and Proggy, while big, is the least of your worries against that deck. They have so many answers to your threats you should be worried about trying to kill them rather than trying to stop ther big threat.
It's good to try theorize anwsers for SB's like this, but in actuality, it's not going to help you. It would be better to have a broad SB and ask "How can I utilize Pithing Needle against a deck that relies on Fetchlands to get most of it's colors" (which would be NO RUG). Do you see what I'm getting at.
Besides, Cabal Therapy is already better against those decks than any card you mentioned in your post, and it doesn't even kill creatures.
This. Vs both those decks I would bring in cabal therapy over something (NOT Tezz though!) and race. G2 NO RUG will be bringing in lavamancer to hit us with, and likely pithing needle or jitte if they have it.
The Hivemind matchup is actually one where MoE beats out Champ, as they have little to no removal for things on the table. Depending on the list, RUG might also be better with MoE, depending on the utility creatures they choose and the Lightning Bolt to Fire/Ice ratio. MoE is especially good as he can pump Ornithopter or a Ravager with 2 counters out of Lavamancer range, and lets Ornithopter trade with Vendilion Clique. Deck lists I have seen for NO RUG tend to favor Clique over goyf, running 2-3 goyfs but 3-4 cliques. With MoE, clique cant block a pest or be blocked by a ornithopter and survive.
That was a very good influx of information. Loved it!
I'd have to agree with Dyne about therapy and pithing needles. They really are your best answers. Why think about how to stop Prog or Emrakul, when you can shut down the way they put those cards into play via Needles, or stop them from reaching the board at all with therapies.
My current SB sports no graveyard hate atm. I'm still thinking of a way to fit it in. My current SB is:
The rational I have for the sideboard is that maximizing therapies makes it have higher chances of being drawn out early. Naming cards like Energy Flux, Null Rod, Kataki all the way down to maybe Emrakul or Progenitus. It goes in against a whole lot of decks. It's only dead against manaless dredge, since you can't name their draw engines, because they don't have any. (although I think you can name street wraith with therapy or needles, but street wraith isn't really that important for them, is it? I'm not sure. Haven't fought manaless dredge.)
3 Nature's claims are there just in case an energy flux or a null rod hits the board and your therapies miss.
The needle overload is because it can hit so many relevant decks, as Dyne said. Pithing to hit fetchlands and/or wastelands and revokers to hit anything else. Having 5 virtual needles also means it has a huge chance of being drawn out. Revokers also sidestep opponents who opt to keep missteps after game 1.
Ethersworn canonist is practically a staple for any SB for affinity. Goes in against combo alongside therapies.
Any suggestions will be welcomed. Can I afford to remove 1 therapy and 2 revokers for 3 graveyard hate? Won't that make it a bit more difficult to draw out a needle or a therapy when you need one?
Because Nature's Claim is cheaper. Having to only keep one mana up is so ridiculously better than having to leave two; in Affinity, that's the difference between winning and losing.
All the heavy hate is two mana, so we need to keep mana up to respond to it from as early as turn one. You can still develop your board and keep one mana up, but you can't accomplish anything if you have to keep two mana open.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"If you don't wear your seatbelt, the police will shoot you in the head."
- To my youngest sister when she was 6.
Everyone knows that good luck and good game are such insincere terms that any man who does not connect his right hook with the offender's jaw on the very utterance of such a phrase is no man I would consider as such.
Has anyone tried spellskite in the deck? 0/4 for 2 is not bad since it can swing with equipment, but its ability to protect your plating equipped evaders from swords and bolt seems pretty relevant.
However to play it your MD land base has to look considerabley different than mine.
@Alcarin - Your SB looks good, but I would indeed remove a Claim and the Revokers to fit in Grave hate. And against Dredge, you can name all of their discard outlets (Putrid Imp, Phantasmagorian, Tireless Tribe) so it's better than nothing.
I think Claim is bad right now because Merfolk is on the decline. StoneBlade is already a pretty good match-up blanking a lot of their counters (Daze and MM are pretty useless against Affinity) and most of their threats rely on time, which we don't give them. And against Hive mind it's only going to be good if you already have a Canonist in play.
@addict - I have not, no. However it could easily fit into my build, I will have to test them out.
@Alcarin - Your SB looks good, but I would indeed remove a Claim and the Revokers to fit in Grave hate. And against Dredge, you can name all of their discard outlets (Putrid Imp, Phantasmagorian, Tireless Tribe) so it's better than nothing.
I think Claim is bad right now because Merfolk is on the decline. StoneBlade is already a pretty good match-up blanking a lot of their counters (Daze and MM are pretty useless against Affinity) and most of their threats rely on time, which we don't give them. And against Hive mind it's only going to be good if you already have a Canonist in play.
Dealing with the decks you mentioned that they get played in? No.
Pithing Needle is by and far the best answer to stop Emrakul from being Sneaked into play, so you really shouldn't account removal to that deck type.
All the other options are Sorcery speed, and Metamorph is the clear winner there, as it's colorless.
Also Metamorph is much better than the Image, as it can be equipped.
I think your focusing too much on niche meta here. Yes, Emrakul can be devastating, but if your facing against a deck with SnT and Emrakul, it's Hivemind, and they certainly don't need Emrakul to beat Affinity.
And if your worrying about Proggy, than your facing NO RUG, and Proggy, while big, is the least of your worries against that deck. They have so many answers to your threats you should be worried about trying to kill them rather than trying to stop ther big threat.
It's good to try theorize anwsers for SB's like this, but in actuality, it's not going to help you. It would be better to have a broad SB and ask "How can I utilize Pithing Needle against a deck that relies on Fetchlands to get most of it's colors" (which would be NO RUG). Do you see what I'm getting at.
Besides, Cabal Therapy is already better against those decks than any card you mentioned in your post, and it doesn't even kill creatures.
I agree with most of what you've said and I already had Pithing Needle and Cabal Therapy in my SB. Thanks for helping me realize I didn't need to add Diabolic Edict. My only question is: do you really advocate siding in Pithing Needle to stop fetchlands? I think you should side something in that either provides a good answer to your opponent's main win condition or that stops hate that will destroy your win condition. Siding in soft hate that will affect maybe 4 cards that might slow their win condition will weaken your main plan without doing enough to stop your opponent IMO.
I have Disenchant in my SB instead of Nature's Claim because I have 13 W sources and only 9 G and I don't want to give them 4 life but I personally don't feel strongly that one is better than the other. If I start noticing that having one rainbow mana source left up is easier than a W and any other color then I may switch.
I agree with most of what you've said and I already had Pithing Needle and Cabal Therapy in my SB. Thanks for helping me realize I didn't need to add Diabolic Edict. My only question is: do you really advocate siding in Pithing Needle to stop fetchlands? I think you should side something in that either provides a good answer to your opponent's main win condition or that stops hate that will destroy your win condition. Siding in soft hate that will affect maybe 4 cards that might slow their win condition will weaken your main plan without doing enough to stop your opponent IMO.
I have Disenchant in my SB instead of Nature's Claim because I have 13 W sources and only 9 G and I don't want to give them 4 life but I personally don't feel strongly that one is better than the other. If I start noticing that having one rainbow mana source left up is easier than a W and any other color then I may switch.
I would say most definitely no. Followed by why. And then over what.
What on earth is in your list that is worth dropping for it? Don't forget, it is another 3 drop, and we cant handle more than 4-6 of them
Yeah, notice that I haven't changed my list and I keep my list pretty updated. I was just curious if anyone had any good reasons to run it.
Many would probably say that I could drop my Disciples but they continue to win me the game about 1/3 of my games (not saying that a replacement couldn't be a factor as well but I love the instant speed and uncounterability of killing my opponent with the Ravager/Disciple combo).
Yeah, notice that I haven't changed my list and I keep my list pretty updated. I was just curious if anyone had any good reasons to run it.
Many would probably say that I could drop my Disciples but they continue to win me the game about 1/3 of my games (not saying that a replacement couldn't be a factor as well but I love the instant speed and uncounterability of killing my opponent with the Ravager/Disciple combo).
To be honest, I would too, but not for that. More like, for 2 MoE and maybe pest.
But something I've learned developing this deck is that familiarization and comfort is unusually crucial to success. So if it works for you, go with it
Skirge, Rite and the sideboard have been mediocre so far.
Thoughts for/against taking this to GP Amsterdam?
Just for the lulz: considering Eon Hub against Hive Mind.
Where to start.
Inkmoth no, blinkmoth fine. A split of them is even worse than just running one or ther other.
To say vault skirge is under performing is counter to what i believe the entire magic community feels about it. How is it under performing?
Rite of consumption, It could work but honestly you would be better off with just more bodies providing synergies or even another land, which you are relatively low on.
4 opals is not great without a sac outlet or a way to flush extras. Consider either ravager or thirst for knowledge or cutting opal 4
Sideboard thoughtseize should probably be cabal therapy cause you are playing swarm.
Where to start.
Inkmoth no, blinkmoth fine. A split of them is even worse than just running one or ther other.
To say vault skirge is under performing is counter to what i believe the entire magic community feels about it. How is it under performing?
Rite of consumption, It could work but honestly you would be better off with just more bodies providing synergies or even another land, which you are relatively low on.
4 opals is not great without a sac outlet or a way to flush extras. Consider either ravager or thirst for knowledge or cutting opal 4
Sideboard thoughtseize should probably be cabal therapy cause you are playing swarm.
I have also made a Tezzeret Affinity deck, and I'm running 63 cards in my deck, is that stupid to go over 60 cards??
Post the list? In general, it makes the most sense to play 60 because than you olay the 60 best cards. the 3 other not-as-good-cards simply decrease the odds of drawing the better ones
My only question is: do you really advocate siding in Pithing Needle to stop fetchlands?
Depending on the deck, yes.
The reason I suggested it against NO RUG is very simple. They have a strong core of 19 lands, 9 of them being Fetchlands. 8 of those fetch Dryad Arbor, which is a key card to pulling of a quick NO.
Now, say you Pithing Needle Misty Rainforest or Wooded Foothills. This effectively cuts the fetch lands that can fetch Dryad Arbor in half. Now I know this doesn't sound like much, but the fact of the matter is now they actually have to use the other fetch lands to fetch colors they need, not Dryad Arbor. It also stops a lot of the skill in piloting the deck because they have more dead cards with Brainstorm, as they have fewer shuffle effects. They also more than likely sided out Mental Misstep to bring in cards such as Jitte (which kills Eteched Champion) and Ancient Grudge, because they are more beneficial to the match-up. Do you see how a simple play like that can warp the entire way the play their deck?
There's a reason I play so many decks in the format, so I can grasp on what to play with and against certain decks. The more you play, the more often you see lines of play that are familiar.
The reason I suggested it against NO RUG is very simple. They have a strong core of 19 lands, 9 of them being Fetchlands. 8 of those fetch Dryad Arbor, which is a key card to pulling of a quick NO.
Now, say you Pithing Needle Misty Rainforest or Wooded Foothills. This effectively cuts the fetch lands that can fetch Dryad Arbor in half. Now I know this doesn't sound like much, but the fact of the matter is now they actually have to use the other fetch lands to fetch colors they need, not Dryad Arbor. It also stops a lot of the skill in piloting the deck because they have more dead cards with Brainstorm, as they have fewer shuffle effects. They also more than likely sided out Mental Misstep to bring in cards such as Jitte (which kills Eteched Champion) and Ancient Grudge, because they are more beneficial to the match-up. Do you see how a simple play like that can warp the entire way the play their deck?
There's a reason I play so many decks in the format, so I can grasp on what to play with and against certain decks. The more you play, the more often you see lines of play that are familiar.
My opinion is written in bold.
I think you should remove the canonists, you dont need em unless your only faceing combo.
For the MoE / EC I just love the splitt of a 4-2 so thats mainly my opinion (EC is just that good)
picked up sets of ravagers, moe, plating, 2 ancient tomb, 2 glimmervoid. I cannot believe how hard it is to find ancient den and springleaf drum. also I still need 2 more mox opals but I'm going to use proxies for a week... I'm so excited I feel like a kid again.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
My old decklist cared not for missteps. I had no signal pests and Springleaf drum didn't play a major role. Tombs added acceleration, Mox opals and glimmervoids were the main color fixers. I pretty much blanked misstep before I added maindeck Dispatch.
I've actually returned to arcbound worker to see how he fares in a swarm/creature heavy affinity, and it is pretty fun to transfer between worker and ravager and to finally transfer it to EC/skirge
In terms of what I am most concerned about in order:
1. Sneak Attack to Emrakul
2. Show and Tell to Emrakul
3. NO to Progenitus
4. Here I will just state my opinion about the card's usefulness in our deck otherwise.
I will list after each how they are at dealing with these.
Diabolic Edict - Instant speed answer. Tremendous answer to both Emrakul and Progenitus provided you leave the mana up and that is the only creature they have out. Probably the best answer to Emrakul in most situations but NO decks will frequently have another creature to sac instead of Progenitus. The card I see the most in pro sideboards.
1. Almost always works
2. Almost always works
3. Sometimes works
4. Mildly useful otherwise
Retribution of the Meek - If only this were instant! Works beautifully for either and also fat Goyfs and KotR. Does nothing about a Sneak Attacked Emrakul... Unfortunately you may also have to sac a creature with Cranial Plating on it or a MoE.
1. Never works
2. Always works
3. Always works
4. Moderately useful otherwise
Phyrexian Metamorph - This answers any fatties by giving you your own or destroying the two previously mentioned lords of Magic. It also increases your artifact count and can copy just about anything on your side that you might like another one of. I believe this card almost makes the cut to be run MD in affinity but that is another discussion. One downside is that it is the most expensive of the answers here but that extra expense will usually be 2 life and it can otherwise be cast with any colors which might make it the least cost restrictive actually.
1. Never works
2. Always works
3. Always works
4. Very useful otherwise
Vedalken Certarch - Instant speed, awesome! Does nothing to Progenitus, Boo! This could be a VERY powerful card in our deck as we will almost always have the metalcraft. Too bad he isn't an artifact himself. Probably another card that just doesn't make the cut for MD consideration. Quite possibly the best answer to Emrakul in all forms but once again, does nothing to Progenitus. He will also just sit there waiting to be removed before they trick their Emrakul in but if they don't have an answer it may just slow them enough...
1. Always works - considering he has survived for 2 turns.
2. Always works
3. Never works
4. Very useful otherwise
Tariff - Cheap, definitively deals with both, great! Sorcery, we may also have to sac a creature, boo!
1. Never works
2. Always works
3. Always works
4. Moderately useful otherwise
and I'll add one:
Phantasmal Image - for purely dealing with Emrakul or Progenitus at sorcery speed there is probably no better card available. It is cheaper than most of the other options and can sometimes be useful to copy other creatures. I don't know if when compared to phyrexian metamorph if the cheaper cost is worth not being an artifact, not being able to copy an artifact and its fragile nature...I doubt it.
1. Never works
2. Always works
3. Always works
4. Moderately useful otherwise
Basically all of the sorcery speed answers are the same for 1-3 but I would say that Phyrexian Metamorph wins that realm with its usefulness in a few more situations than the others.
For the instant speed answers I would say that while Vedalken Certarch is slightly more useful overall, his somewhat fragile nature and requirement that you had him in hand and cast him two turns before makes him weaker than Diabolic Edict as a sideboard card for dealing with these fatties. Furthermore, while he definitively takes care of Emrakul for as long as he is not summoning sick and alive, he never takes care of Progenitus.
Diabolic Edict is never a 100% card for dealing with either as they may have other creatures but it is the only card that has a chance of dealing with any of these situations. It is also one of only two of the mentioned cards that has a good chance to deal with the two most feared (for me) situations that both involve Emrakul. Progenitus is often less scary as he will kill you within 2 turns (sometimes one if a Goyf has done his job) but he is unable to block any of your flyers or Etched Champion so you may be able to kill them even with him out. Emrakul blocks both and laughs at them and then clears your board. Plus, pros use Diabolic Edict...maybe that was all we needed to know.
Verdict: Diabolic Edict is the best sideboard card for dealing with Progenitus and Emrakul. Discuss.
Sure there is: Paradise Mantle. It is very similar, sometimes better, usually worse, but could be considered a non 1 CMC substitute for Springleaf Drum
Standard: UWR
Modern: RDW, Twin
Legacy: I am 3 Candelabra of Tawnos from being able to build almost any tier 1 or 1.5 deck. Here are the ones I care about right now:
-Aggro: UWR/RUB/WUB/RUG/UR Delver; Affinity; Burn
-Control: Stoneblade; UWr Miracles; UB Tezzeret
-Combo: Hive Mind; Combo Elves; Omni Tell; T.E.S.
Vintage: Grixis Painter
EDH: Rith, the Awakener
Dealing with the decks you mentioned that they get played in? No.
Pithing Needle is by and far the best answer to stop Emrakul from being Sneaked into play, so you really shouldn't account removal to that deck type.
All the other options are Sorcery speed, and Metamorph is the clear winner there, as it's colorless.
Also Metamorph is much better than the Image, as it can be equipped.
I think your focusing too much on niche meta here. Yes, Emrakul can be devastating, but if your facing against a deck with SnT and Emrakul, it's Hivemind, and they certainly don't need Emrakul to beat Affinity.
And if your worrying about Proggy, than your facing NO RUG, and Proggy, while big, is the least of your worries against that deck. They have so many answers to your threats you should be worried about trying to kill them rather than trying to stop ther big threat.
It's good to try theorize anwsers for SB's like this, but in actuality, it's not going to help you. It would be better to have a broad SB and ask "How can I utilize Pithing Needle against a deck that relies on Fetchlands to get most of it's colors" (which would be NO RUG). Do you see what I'm getting at.
Besides, Cabal Therapy is already better against those decks than any card you mentioned in your post, and it doesn't even kill creatures.
Thanks to Heroes of the Plane Studios for the amazing sig.
NO RUG: Primer
Tempo Thresh: Primer
This. Vs both those decks I would bring in cabal therapy over something (NOT Tezz though!) and race. G2 NO RUG will be bringing in lavamancer to hit us with, and likely pithing needle or jitte if they have it.
The Hivemind matchup is actually one where MoE beats out Champ, as they have little to no removal for things on the table. Depending on the list, RUG might also be better with MoE, depending on the utility creatures they choose and the Lightning Bolt to Fire/Ice ratio. MoE is especially good as he can pump Ornithopter or a Ravager with 2 counters out of Lavamancer range, and lets Ornithopter trade with Vendilion Clique. Deck lists I have seen for NO RUG tend to favor Clique over goyf, running 2-3 goyfs but 3-4 cliques. With MoE, clique cant block a pest or be blocked by a ornithopter and survive.
Level 1 Judge
Currently Playing:
W Death and Taxes
BGR ScapeWish Nic Fit
BGR Punishing Nic Fit
I'd have to agree with Dyne about therapy and pithing needles. They really are your best answers. Why think about how to stop Prog or Emrakul, when you can shut down the way they put those cards into play via Needles, or stop them from reaching the board at all with therapies.
My current SB sports no graveyard hate atm. I'm still thinking of a way to fit it in. My current SB is:
3 Nature's Claim
3 Pithing Needle
2 Phyrexian Revoker
3 Ethersworn canonist
I also have two main deck Phyrexian Metamorphs.
The rational I have for the sideboard is that maximizing therapies makes it have higher chances of being drawn out early. Naming cards like Energy Flux, Null Rod, Kataki all the way down to maybe Emrakul or Progenitus. It goes in against a whole lot of decks. It's only dead against manaless dredge, since you can't name their draw engines, because they don't have any. (although I think you can name street wraith with therapy or needles, but street wraith isn't really that important for them, is it? I'm not sure. Haven't fought manaless dredge.)
3 Nature's claims are there just in case an energy flux or a null rod hits the board and your therapies miss.
The needle overload is because it can hit so many relevant decks, as Dyne said. Pithing to hit fetchlands and/or wastelands and revokers to hit anything else. Having 5 virtual needles also means it has a huge chance of being drawn out. Revokers also sidestep opponents who opt to keep missteps after game 1.
Ethersworn canonist is practically a staple for any SB for affinity. Goes in against combo alongside therapies.
Any suggestions will be welcomed. Can I afford to remove 1 therapy and 2 revokers for 3 graveyard hate? Won't that make it a bit more difficult to draw out a needle or a therapy when you need one?
do needle is still needed, SA seems to dosn't exist now, it all about SnT ans HM
Because Nature's Claim is cheaper. Having to only keep one mana up is so ridiculously better than having to leave two; in Affinity, that's the difference between winning and losing.
All the heavy hate is two mana, so we need to keep mana up to respond to it from as early as turn one. You can still develop your board and keep one mana up, but you can't accomplish anything if you have to keep two mana open.
- To my youngest sister when she was 6.
Http://www.fantasticneighborhood.com/
Comedy gaming podcast. Listening to it makes you cool.
Yamikiri is correct, it's cheaper.
However to play it your MD land base has to look considerabley different than mine.
@Alcarin - Your SB looks good, but I would indeed remove a Claim and the Revokers to fit in Grave hate. And against Dredge, you can name all of their discard outlets (Putrid Imp, Phantasmagorian, Tireless Tribe) so it's better than nothing.
I think Claim is bad right now because Merfolk is on the decline. StoneBlade is already a pretty good match-up blanking a lot of their counters (Daze and MM are pretty useless against Affinity) and most of their threats rely on time, which we don't give them. And against Hive mind it's only going to be good if you already have a Canonist in play.
@addict - I have not, no. However it could easily fit into my build, I will have to test them out.
Thanks to Heroes of the Plane Studios for the amazing sig.
NO RUG: Primer
Tempo Thresh: Primer
Okay! Thanks for the input!
I agree with most of what you've said and I already had Pithing Needle and Cabal Therapy in my SB. Thanks for helping me realize I didn't need to add Diabolic Edict. My only question is: do you really advocate siding in Pithing Needle to stop fetchlands? I think you should side something in that either provides a good answer to your opponent's main win condition or that stops hate that will destroy your win condition. Siding in soft hate that will affect maybe 4 cards that might slow their win condition will weaken your main plan without doing enough to stop your opponent IMO.
I have Disenchant in my SB instead of Nature's Claim because I have 13 W sources and only 9 G and I don't want to give them 4 life but I personally don't feel strongly that one is better than the other. If I start noticing that having one rainbow mana source left up is easier than a W and any other color then I may switch.
Now, the next question in my mind is: do I MD some Phyrexian Metamorphs?
Standard: UWR
Modern: RDW, Twin
Legacy: I am 3 Candelabra of Tawnos from being able to build almost any tier 1 or 1.5 deck. Here are the ones I care about right now:
-Aggro: UWR/RUB/WUB/RUG/UR Delver; Affinity; Burn
-Control: Stoneblade; UWr Miracles; UB Tezzeret
-Combo: Hive Mind; Combo Elves; Omni Tell; T.E.S.
Vintage: Grixis Painter
EDH: Rith, the Awakener
I would say most definitely no. Followed by why. And then over what.
What on earth is in your list that is worth dropping for it? Don't forget, it is another 3 drop, and we cant handle more than 4-6 of them
Level 1 Judge
Currently Playing:
W Death and Taxes
BGR ScapeWish Nic Fit
BGR Punishing Nic Fit
Yeah, notice that I haven't changed my list and I keep my list pretty updated. I was just curious if anyone had any good reasons to run it.
Many would probably say that I could drop my Disciples but they continue to win me the game about 1/3 of my games (not saying that a replacement couldn't be a factor as well but I love the instant speed and uncounterability of killing my opponent with the Ravager/Disciple combo).
Standard: UWR
Modern: RDW, Twin
Legacy: I am 3 Candelabra of Tawnos from being able to build almost any tier 1 or 1.5 deck. Here are the ones I care about right now:
-Aggro: UWR/RUB/WUB/RUG/UR Delver; Affinity; Burn
-Control: Stoneblade; UWr Miracles; UB Tezzeret
-Combo: Hive Mind; Combo Elves; Omni Tell; T.E.S.
Vintage: Grixis Painter
EDH: Rith, the Awakener
To be honest, I would too, but not for that. More like, for 2 MoE and maybe pest.
But something I've learned developing this deck is that familiarization and comfort is unusually crucial to success. So if it works for you, go with it
Level 1 Judge
Currently Playing:
W Death and Taxes
BGR ScapeWish Nic Fit
BGR Punishing Nic Fit
Save us time and please read the primer
Level 1 Judge
Currently Playing:
W Death and Taxes
BGR ScapeWish Nic Fit
BGR Punishing Nic Fit
Where to start.
Inkmoth no, blinkmoth fine. A split of them is even worse than just running one or ther other.
To say vault skirge is under performing is counter to what i believe the entire magic community feels about it. How is it under performing?
Rite of consumption, It could work but honestly you would be better off with just more bodies providing synergies or even another land, which you are relatively low on.
4 opals is not great without a sac outlet or a way to flush extras. Consider either ravager or thirst for knowledge or cutting opal 4
Sideboard thoughtseize should probably be cabal therapy cause you are playing swarm.
Http://www.fantasticneighborhood.com/
Comedy gaming podcast. Listening to it makes you cool.
Just let him read the primer. it will be easier
Level 1 Judge
Currently Playing:
W Death and Taxes
BGR ScapeWish Nic Fit
BGR Punishing Nic Fit
Post the list? In general, it makes the most sense to play 60 because than you olay the 60 best cards. the 3 other not-as-good-cards simply decrease the odds of drawing the better ones
Level 1 Judge
Currently Playing:
W Death and Taxes
BGR ScapeWish Nic Fit
BGR Punishing Nic Fit
Depending on the deck, yes.
The reason I suggested it against NO RUG is very simple. They have a strong core of 19 lands, 9 of them being Fetchlands. 8 of those fetch Dryad Arbor, which is a key card to pulling of a quick NO.
Now, say you Pithing Needle Misty Rainforest or Wooded Foothills. This effectively cuts the fetch lands that can fetch Dryad Arbor in half. Now I know this doesn't sound like much, but the fact of the matter is now they actually have to use the other fetch lands to fetch colors they need, not Dryad Arbor. It also stops a lot of the skill in piloting the deck because they have more dead cards with Brainstorm, as they have fewer shuffle effects. They also more than likely sided out Mental Misstep to bring in cards such as Jitte (which kills Eteched Champion) and Ancient Grudge, because they are more beneficial to the match-up. Do you see how a simple play like that can warp the entire way the play their deck?
There's a reason I play so many decks in the format, so I can grasp on what to play with and against certain decks. The more you play, the more often you see lines of play that are familiar.
Thanks to Heroes of the Plane Studios for the amazing sig.
NO RUG: Primer
Tempo Thresh: Primer
Great points. I hate that darn Dryad Arbor.
Standard: UWR
Modern: RDW, Twin
Legacy: I am 3 Candelabra of Tawnos from being able to build almost any tier 1 or 1.5 deck. Here are the ones I care about right now:
-Aggro: UWR/RUB/WUB/RUG/UR Delver; Affinity; Burn
-Control: Stoneblade; UWr Miracles; UB Tezzeret
-Combo: Hive Mind; Combo Elves; Omni Tell; T.E.S.
Vintage: Grixis Painter
EDH: Rith, the Awakener
UWUW ControlUW
UGWSpiritsUGW
GHardened ScalesG
WGRUKiki PodWGRU [RIP]
Since right now in legacy its Mental Misstep O Clock, that version is bad.
Http://www.fantasticneighborhood.com/
Comedy gaming podcast. Listening to it makes you cool.
My opinion is written in bold.
I think you should remove the canonists, you dont need em unless your only faceing combo.
For the MoE / EC I just love the splitt of a 4-2 so thats mainly my opinion (EC is just that good)
ALL CREDIT GOES TO MASTER PIET