With the new Sigarda's Aid card being printed (the 1cmc enchantment that makes equipment have flash and instant equip), it is probably still too slow for D&T, yea?
So I've been messing around with Wg D&T and have been very happy with it's consistency over the Eldrazi list i was running previously. However I am unsure about what 3 mana "Beater" I want to be playing in my deck. Having Access to Mirran Crusader, Kitchen Finks, Blade Splicer, Brimaz, King of Oreskos, and Loxodon Smiter I'm fairly unsure which I'd like to run. I've been testing this deck
Using Loxodon Smiter as my beater of choice, due to a fairly large prevelance of Gixis, Jund, and Jeskai Control in my meta. Still I'm really testing for the Syracuse open where i expect i much broader metagame. I was wondering if anyone has experience running other of these beaters in a Wg build and could give me opinions on which i should run and if it's worth using sideboard slots on others. I hadn't been overly impressed with Brimaz specifically but wonder how different it is with exalted triggers abound.
Vial, with thought knot seers and smasher the vials become less good. The threats are more spread out over the curve
The deck has pretty much the same cmc curve. Blade splicer becomes strangler, and resto angel becomes TKS.
Unless you run the Smashers as well, which does warp the curve a little.
What warps it more is Tidehollow Sculler, which led to me eventually cutting it and smoothing the curve overall with early-game artifacts and less WW and WB cards. With 4 TKS, and 2 Smasher, as long as you limit it to 8 2-drops, you'll have 13 3-drops to profit nicely off Vial.
It still warps the curve.
Traditionally D&T has run 14/16 2 drops and another 12/16 3 drops with 0/2 4 Drops (Restos), making an end deck 8/9 non creatures and 29/30 creatures.
Having 8 2 drops 14 3 drops 4 4 drops and 2 5 drops is awful for vial, and that is what diversifies (or warps) the curve, not the colors to cast spells, but the ability to profitably gain steady value from keeping vial on a specific number. Spells being WW, BB or WB don't affect a vial on 2.
Benefiting from a Vial on 3 is so much slower than benefiting from a vial on 2, then moving it to 3 when the gamestate needs it (being it the CMC in your hand, your manabase being compromised or the ETB triggers needed). It's even worse when you 'have' to move the vial to 4 for Seer because you have been ghost quartering your opponent and don't get to 4 mana, been cut off colorless , or because you know your opponent has a full grip of counterspells you won't be able to pass through by casting it.
When Eldrazis start rolling, the are really good. But a sinlge stick in the wheel and the deck becomes really slow and can be dealt with pretty easy. That's why I stepped out of E&T.
Mana colors tie directly to "the horrible mana base" that everyone complains about with the Eldrazi version of the deck. Running 11 turn 2 black sources and 13 turn 2 white sources is not enough to consistently cast turn 2 Scullers and turn 3 Flickerwisps. You have to adjust your list (and expectations) accordingly. You can't rely entirely on vial to fix the problem.
Go read the old primer. Conventional wisdom on Modern D&T is 7-8 2-drops which have, historically, been Leonin Arbiter (x4) and Thalia, Guardian of Thraben (x3-4). This is frequently thrown out the window for splashes, which is why so many people have problems with their vials when playing D&T that isn't monowhite, especially if they're new to the deck. Resto doesn't see every list now, but pre BFZ 2-4 was a mandatory inclusion in all competitive lists. The basic formula is 8 noncreature spells, 27 creatures, 23 lands, 2 flex spots. Within the creatures, traditionally, 0-4 are 1-drops, 7-8 are 2-drops, 11-20 are 3-drops, and 2-4 are 4+ CMC. This curve exists partially because of vial, and partially because classic (Modern) D&T runs 6-12 lands that sacrifice themselves.
It's difficult to evaluate the Eldrazi lists using this curve because Temple provides unusual ramping. If it just added cards to the top end, it'd be fine, and if it just added 2-drops it'd be fine, but by adding at both ends, the middle sags, and there isn't a strong enough cluster of 3-drops to maximize vial. Bring the 2-drop count down from 12 to 8 and you'll immediately notice a difference in value vial plays, regardless of the 6 top-end cards.
It's very rare that I've "needed" to step vial to cast TKS or Smasher, though I have walked it to 5 to run away with a game. I'd say the occurrence is about as frequent as when half my manabase was detonating and I was playing Resto. The difference is that now I have enough 4 and 5 CMC spells not to mind.
Being able to "set and forget it" at 3 again, however, has lead to stronger lines and being able to put my attention where it needs to be: on my opponent.
I agree that Sorin can be great in WB. I ran him when I was still playing the Anafenza combo and Flip Lili in the deck (before I switched to Lingering Taxes). He's fantastic, but rough to cast, and is functionally similar to Vault.
Leyline is only good if in your opener. The likelihood of this with only 2 is small. Late game it can be okay, but not against Jund or Burn.
If you have it, try Auriok Champion in those slots instead. It has great game against both decks.
2Chalupacabra
Thanks for the insightful comments! Unfortunately I already run 2 copies of Auriok Champion in my sideboard and can't afford any more copies in my budget right now. It does wonders in the burn matchup and has some utility vs Grixis and BGx decks. My problem with Leyline of Sanctity, though, is that I'm looking for cards that shore up both the Burn and BGx matchups. Perhaps ticking Leyline to 3 by cutting a single Stony Silence could do the trick? Or maybe cutting the 3rd Stony Silence AND the Leylines to make room for other good stuff? What would you recommend? Much appreciated!
2 copies is all you need for Auriok Champion. Just sit back and block Kalitas all day (Lifelink is irrelevant when damage is prevented) and get life on the tokens (which Displacer then kills). You'll out grind them just fine. It gets even sillier against burn.
“Modern has provided us a non-rotating format that is far more accessible than Legacy or Vintage, but still retains many of the qualities that people enjoy in those formats—such as a more stable metagame, the ability to play and tweak the same deck week after week, and simply a much more powerful card pool than Standard.”
- Sam Stoddard, “Developing Modern” (June 21, 2013) (by means of Sheridan Lardner, "Fixing Modern: Defining Format Mission (March 16, 2016))
I think UW has some interesting interactions, and I'd be interested to see where it went. I'm not sure that the new cards really add that much power, though.
I think that makes 7 Noble Hierarch. In any case, that is too many mana dorks for an aggressive deck running Aether Vial. I'm thinking about her in an Abzan Liege deck I'm planning to build someday however: I think she fits better in a strategy that skips 2-drops altogether (Liege, Bant Eldrazi, etc.).
I love the idea of the UW taxes !!!! Any of you have experience with a list and want to share?
Best cards to try in UW?
For a long time, I was the keeper of a mini-primer for this (and for WR). I'm actually making updates to it, and will update this post when I can. (Hopefully within the next week for WU.)
In the meantime, please look here for a slightly outdated version.
Playing millions of cards every turn... Slowly and systematically obliterating any chance my opponent has of winning... Clicking the multitude of locking mechanisms into place... Not even trying to win myself until turn 10+ once I have nigh absolute control... Watching my opponent desperately trying to navigate the labyrinthine prison that I've constructed... Seeing the light of hope fade and ultimately extinguished in an excruciatingly slow manner... THAT'S fun Magic.
We have 2-3 users that are dramatically making this thread incomprehensible and non-productive for anyone else to possibly join in the discussion. This needs to change.
Every time I see [ktkenshinx] post in here, I get the impression of a stern dad walking in on a bunch of kids trying to do something dumb and just shaking his head in disappointment.
Near Mint: The same as Slightly Played, but we threw some Altoids in the box we stored it in to cover up the scent of dead mice. Slightly Played: The base condition for all MTG cards. This card looks OK, but there’s one minor annoying ding in it that will always irritate and distract you whenever you draw it. Moderately Played: This card looks like it survived the Tet Offensive tucked inside the waistband of GI underwear. It may smell like it, too. Heavily Played: This card looks like the remains of Mohammed Atta’s passport after 9/11. It may be playable if you double-sleeve it to stop the chunks from falling out. The condition formerly known as "Washing Machine Grade" Damaged: This card is the unfortunate victim of a Mirrorweave/March of the Machines/Chaos Confetti/Mindslaver combo.
[M]aking counterfeit cards is the absolute height of dishonesty. Ask yourself this question: Since most people...are totally cool with the use of proxies...what purpose do [high] quality counterfeit cards serve?
(...) Atm I'm running a GW list because of how eager I am to play new Thalia in turn 2. In my testing against RG Eldrazi she hasn't been game breaking but 4 mb lb and kozileks return weaken her impact so it may not be the best deck to test against. That being said, I don't think it's that good if played after turn 2. As we all know, there's a lot of fast decks out there and this just doesn't have an immediate impact like the old Thalia. (...)
I love the idea of the UW taxes !!!! Any of you have experience with a list and want to share?
Best cards to try in UW?
For a long time, I was the keeper of a mini-primer for this (and for WR). I'm actually making updates to it, and will update this post when I can. (Hopefully within the next week for WU.)
In the meantime, please look here for a slightly outdated version.
Thanks guys for your posts! I´m going to test all your suggestions.
CharonsObol I would love to see your UW guide
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Modern: Jeskai control / Jeskai Geist
Death and taxes / UW control
I love Glen Elendra, but it doesn't make the cut most of the time.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“Modern has provided us a non-rotating format that is far more accessible than Legacy or Vintage, but still retains many of the qualities that people enjoy in those formats—such as a more stable metagame, the ability to play and tweak the same deck week after week, and simply a much more powerful card pool than Standard.”
- Sam Stoddard, “Developing Modern” (June 21, 2013) (by means of Sheridan Lardner, "Fixing Modern: Defining Format Mission (March 16, 2016))
While it might gimp yourself in a more reactive U/W spirit deck, running Eidolon of Rhetoric effectively gives you the chance to flicker Spell Queller in response to opponents cast and effectively blanking their "free-cast" while exiling the new spell. Eidolon of Rhetoric + Spell Queller + any flicker is basically a soft lock on it's own unless people are packing Krosan Grip or something. All parts are easily protected and assembled with vial + flash shenanigans with counterspell/ Mausoleum Wanderer backup
Traditionally D&T has run 14/16 2 drops and another 12/16 3 drops with 0/2 4 Drops (Restos), making an end deck 8/9 non creatures and 29/30 creatures.
Having 8 2 drops 14 3 drops 4 4 drops and 2 5 drops is awful for vial, and that is what diversifies (or warps) the curve, not the colors to cast spells, but the ability to profitably gain steady value from keeping vial on a specific number. Spells being WW, BB or WB don't affect a vial on 2.
Benefiting from a Vial on 3 is so much slower than benefiting from a vial on 2, then moving it to 3 when the gamestate needs it (being it the CMC in your hand, your manabase being compromised or the ETB triggers needed). It's even worse when you 'have' to move the vial to 4 for Seer because you have been ghost quartering your opponent and don't get to 4 mana, been cut off colorless , or because you know your opponent has a full grip of counterspells you won't be able to pass through by casting it.
When Eldrazis start rolling, the are really good. But a sinlge stick in the wheel and the deck becomes really slow and can be dealt with pretty easy. That's why I stepped out of E&T.
Mana colors tie directly to "the horrible mana base" that everyone complains about with the Eldrazi version of the deck. Running 11 turn 2 black sources and 13 turn 2 white sources is not enough to consistently cast turn 2 Scullers and turn 3 Flickerwisps. You have to adjust your list (and expectations) accordingly. You can't rely entirely on vial to fix the problem.
Go read the old primer. Conventional wisdom on Modern D&T is 7-8 2-drops which have, historically, been Leonin Arbiter (x4) and Thalia, Guardian of Thraben (x3-4). This is frequently thrown out the window for splashes, which is why so many people have problems with their vials when playing D&T that isn't monowhite, especially if they're new to the deck. Resto doesn't see every list now, but pre BFZ 2-4 was a mandatory inclusion in all competitive lists. The basic formula is 8 noncreature spells, 27 creatures, 23 lands, 2 flex spots. Within the creatures, traditionally, 0-4 are 1-drops, 7-8 are 2-drops, 11-20 are 3-drops, and 2-4 are 4+ CMC. This curve exists partially because of vial, and partially because classic (Modern) D&T runs 6-12 lands that sacrifice themselves.
It's difficult to evaluate the Eldrazi lists using this curve because Temple provides unusual ramping. If it just added cards to the top end, it'd be fine, and if it just added 2-drops it'd be fine, but by adding at both ends, the middle sags, and there isn't a strong enough cluster of 3-drops to maximize vial. Bring the 2-drop count down from 12 to 8 and you'll immediately notice a difference in value vial plays, regardless of the 6 top-end cards.
It's very rare that I've "needed" to step vial to cast TKS or Smasher, though I have walked it to 5 to run away with a game. I'd say the occurrence is about as frequent as when half my manabase was detonating and I was playing Resto. The difference is that now I have enough 4 and 5 CMC spells not to mind.
Being able to "set and forget it" at 3 again, however, has lead to stronger lines and being able to put my attention where it needs to be: on my opponent.
First of all, thanks for the detailed reply. It's clear that you know a lot about what you're playing and D&T in general. So thanks for the feedback.
All I'm saying is that someone said 'E&T diversifies the curve for vial, making it worse' and you responded by talking about cards costing WW/BB/WB. The point was that E&T is a worse vial deck for this reason, while it has a worse manabase that all other taxes variants, like you said.
Now for vials and CMCs I agree on the numbers you mentioned traditionally on monowhite. I should have mentioned that the numbers I was talking about were for BW with no Eldrazi. I have tried the E&T version and I've got all the cards for it, but I am not convinced by it. You want less to sac your lands to screw your opponent, you slow yourself down with clunky draws off your available mana colors and your vial is worse. When the deck rolls, it generally trumps over other decks easily. But a single misstep or stumble, and you're likely to lose to your own deck, especially against fast decks that don't forgive.
Another vial problem is that if your curve contains 20-22 3drops and you can't get a vial or it gets destroyed before it started shining, then you are more likely to lose that game as you won't profitable play the mana denial plan, you don't filter/draw cards and you play too little lands to keep up with your opponents plays.
This is why I have settled in a Wb Taxes that focuses on beating Jund, Control and Combo MUs, all slightly favored to favored (especially after board). The deck grinds well and can close up games fast as well, while being disruptive enough. The more I play it, the more I love it.
I am considering removing the 2 MB Splicers for 2 Mirran Crusaders (to have 4 in the 75). Also considering 1/2 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar in the board, that guy is so busted.
Now for vials and CMCs I agree on the numbers you mentioned traditionally on monowhite. I should have mentioned that the numbers I was talking about were for BW with no Eldrazi. I have tried the E&T version and I've got all the cards for it, but I am not convinced by it. You want less to sac your lands to screw your opponent, you slow yourself down with clunky draws off your available mana colors and your vial is worse. When the deck rolls, it generally trumps over other decks easily. But a single misstep or stumble, and you're likely to lose to your own deck, especially against fast decks that don't forgive.
Another vial problem is that if your curve contains 20-22 3drops and you can't get a vial or it gets destroyed before it started shining, then you are more likely to lose that game as you won't profitable play the mana denial plan, you don't filter/draw cards and you play too little lands to keep up with your opponents plays.
This here encapsulates my feelings for E&T to a tee. I love the deck, but if the draws are slightly against you it's probably too late unless the opponent punts hard-
2x Eternal Witness
4x Flickerwisp
4x Leonin Arbiter
2x Loxodon Smiter
4x Noble Hierarch
2x Qasali Pridemage
2x Restoration Angel
2x Scavenging Ooze
3x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3x Thalia, Heretic Cathar
1x Forest
1x Gavony Township
4x Ghost Quarter
2x Mutavault
3x Plains
4x Razorverge Thicket
2x Stirring Wildwood
1x Tectonic Edge
3x Temple Garden
1x Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
4x Path to Exile
4x AEther Vial
Using Loxodon Smiter as my beater of choice, due to a fairly large prevelance of Gixis, Jund, and Jeskai Control in my meta. Still I'm really testing for the Syracuse open where i expect i much broader metagame. I was wondering if anyone has experience running other of these beaters in a Wg build and could give me opinions on which i should run and if it's worth using sideboard slots on others. I hadn't been overly impressed with Brimaz specifically but wonder how different it is with exalted triggers abound.
Thanks
Go read the old primer. Conventional wisdom on Modern D&T is 7-8 2-drops which have, historically, been Leonin Arbiter (x4) and Thalia, Guardian of Thraben (x3-4). This is frequently thrown out the window for splashes, which is why so many people have problems with their vials when playing D&T that isn't monowhite, especially if they're new to the deck. Resto doesn't see every list now, but pre BFZ 2-4 was a mandatory inclusion in all competitive lists. The basic formula is 8 noncreature spells, 27 creatures, 23 lands, 2 flex spots. Within the creatures, traditionally, 0-4 are 1-drops, 7-8 are 2-drops, 11-20 are 3-drops, and 2-4 are 4+ CMC. This curve exists partially because of vial, and partially because classic (Modern) D&T runs 6-12 lands that sacrifice themselves.
It's difficult to evaluate the Eldrazi lists using this curve because Temple provides unusual ramping. If it just added cards to the top end, it'd be fine, and if it just added 2-drops it'd be fine, but by adding at both ends, the middle sags, and there isn't a strong enough cluster of 3-drops to maximize vial. Bring the 2-drop count down from 12 to 8 and you'll immediately notice a difference in value vial plays, regardless of the 6 top-end cards.
It's very rare that I've "needed" to step vial to cast TKS or Smasher, though I have walked it to 5 to run away with a game. I'd say the occurrence is about as frequent as when half my manabase was detonating and I was playing Resto. The difference is that now I have enough 4 and 5 CMC spells not to mind.
Being able to "set and forget it" at 3 again, however, has lead to stronger lines and being able to put my attention where it needs to be: on my opponent. 2 copies is all you need for Auriok Champion. Just sit back and block Kalitas all day (Lifelink is irrelevant when damage is prevented) and get life on the tokens (which Displacer then kills). You'll out grind them just fine. It gets even sillier against burn.
As for sideboard, I keep it pretty simple:
2 Auriok Champion
3 Grafdigger's Cage
3 Pithing Needle
3 Stony Silence
2 Zealous Persecution
- Sam Stoddard, “Developing Modern” (June 21, 2013) (by means of Sheridan Lardner, "Fixing Modern: Defining Format Mission (March 16, 2016))
How to Use Spoiler Tags
Starting Over: The Origins of the Mulligan Rule
Practical Approach to Slow Play
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 2: SWARM and TOOLBOX
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 3
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 4
These videos are by MTG Salvation Moderator Lantern!
Introduction to Tempo
Controlling Tempo
Elements of Tempo
Roadblocks to Tempo
How Not To Build A Deck - Tempo
Learn How To Sideboard, Dammit!
Mulligan's Island
The Art of the Mulligan
The Art of the Mulligan: Eight Case Studies
Fundamentals: The Mulligan
Some Mulligan Exercises
A Mulligan Is Worth Three Cards
The Mulligan Debate
Common Sense: The Art of the Mulligan
Who's The Beatdown?
3 Caves of Koilos
3 Eldrazi Temple
2 Fetid Heath
3 Godless Shrine
4 Ghost Quarter
3 Plains
3 Shambling Vent
2 Tectonic Edge
Artifacts (4):
4 Æther Vial
4 Path to Exile
Creatures (29):
3 Aven Mindcensor
3 Eldrazi Displacer
3 Fiend Hunter
4 Flickerwisp
4 Serra Avenger
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3 Thought-Knot Seer
3 Tidehollow Sculler
3 Wasteland Strangler
3 Chalice of the Void
2 Dismember
2 Oblivion Ring
2 Rest in Peace
3 Stony Silence
3 Surgical Extraction
3 Flooded Strand
6 Island
3 Polluted Delta
3 Steam Vents
3 Sulfur Falls
Creatures (16):
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Stormchaser Mage
2 Gut Shot
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Mutagenic Growth
3 Spell Pierce
3 Twisted Image
3 Vapor Snag
Sorceries (8):
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Serum Visions
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Blood Moon
2 Dispel
1 Forked Bolt
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Repeal
2 Roast
1 Spell Snare
2 Spellskite
1 Vapor Snag
4 Bloodstained Mire
1 Clifftop Retreat
1 Copperline Gorge
5 Mountain
3 Sacred Foundry
2 Stomping Ground
4 Wooded Foothills
Creatures (14):
4 Eidolon of the Great Revel
4 Goblin Guide
2 Grim Lavamancer
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Atarka's Command
4 Boros Charm
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Lightning Helix
3 Searing Blaze
Sorceries (8):
4 Lava Spike
4 Rift Bolt
2 Deflecting Palm
4 Destructive Revelry
2 Kor Firewalker
2 Path to Exile
2 Rending Volley
3 Skullcrack
19 Forest
3 Treetop Village
Creatures (24):
4 Avatar of the Resolute
4 Dryad Militant
2 Dungrove Elder
4 Experiment One
4 Leatherback Baloth
2 Scavenging Ooze
4 Strangleroot Geist
4 Rancor
Instants (10):
3 Aspect of Hydra
4 Vines of Vastwood
3 Dismember
2 Choke
2 Gut Shot
2 Deglamer
2 Feed the Clan
2 Oxidize
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Skylasher
1 Unravel the Æther
I love the idea of the UW taxes !!!! Any of you have experience with a list and want to share?
Best cards to try in UW?
Death and taxes / UW control
Rattlechains and the two new spirits could also do a lot of work.
I'll leave the actual deck building to someone else however: no experience in Modern yet.
Edit: Glen Elendra Archmage, Vendilion Clique, Meddling Mage
WBC Eldrazi & Taxes CBW
UR Keep on Cantripin' (UR Phoenix) RU
WU Surprise! It's not UW Control! (UW Midrange) UW
BG The Rock, Straight BG
U Mono-Blue Fish U
RBW Mardu Pyromancer BWR
RG Rabble! Rabble! (GR Blood Moon Aggro) GR
Legacy
W Death & Taxes W
I think UW has some interesting interactions, and I'd be interested to see where it went. I'm not sure that the new cards really add that much power, though.
Edit: also http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/uw-flash-taxes/
BW Eldrazi & Taxes
BG Collected Company Elves
Legacy
W Death and Taxes
EDH
GW Sigarda, Host of Herons
GW Saffi Eriksdotter
WBC Eldrazi & Taxes CBW
UR Keep on Cantripin' (UR Phoenix) RU
WU Surprise! It's not UW Control! (UW Midrange) UW
BG The Rock, Straight BG
U Mono-Blue Fish U
RBW Mardu Pyromancer BWR
RG Rabble! Rabble! (GR Blood Moon Aggro) GR
Legacy
W Death & Taxes W
WBC Eldrazi & Taxes CBW
UR Keep on Cantripin' (UR Phoenix) RU
WU Surprise! It's not UW Control! (UW Midrange) UW
BG The Rock, Straight BG
U Mono-Blue Fish U
RBW Mardu Pyromancer BWR
RG Rabble! Rabble! (GR Blood Moon Aggro) GR
Legacy
W Death & Taxes W
In the meantime, please look here for a slightly outdated version.
WUDeath&TaxesWG
Legacy
UBRGDredgeUBRG
UHigh TideU
URGLandsURG
WR Card Choice List
WUR American D&T
WUB Esper D&T
The Reserved List
Heat Maps
Now you are just playing a different deck.
I think it depends on the matchup. The new thalia, heretic cathar is good at any point vs kiki-jiki, mirror breaker because it stops the combo with restoration angel. It is also good vs nahiri, the harbinger because the cheated emrakul, the aeons torn etb tapped. Also all deck with flash or haste creature are hindered by her ability. Vs those deck vialing thalia can turn their winning plays into a losing play.
Now, of course she is better turn 2 but i still think she can do work later vs some decks. Also just vialing in a first striker can mess up combat.
Thanks guys for your posts! I´m going to test all your suggestions.
CharonsObol I would love to see your UW guide
Death and taxes / UW control
I love Glen Elendra, but it doesn't make the cut most of the time.
- Sam Stoddard, “Developing Modern” (June 21, 2013) (by means of Sheridan Lardner, "Fixing Modern: Defining Format Mission (March 16, 2016))
How to Use Spoiler Tags
Starting Over: The Origins of the Mulligan Rule
Practical Approach to Slow Play
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 2: SWARM and TOOLBOX
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 3
THE Guide to Aggro, Part 4
These videos are by MTG Salvation Moderator Lantern!
Introduction to Tempo
Controlling Tempo
Elements of Tempo
Roadblocks to Tempo
How Not To Build A Deck - Tempo
Learn How To Sideboard, Dammit!
Mulligan's Island
The Art of the Mulligan
The Art of the Mulligan: Eight Case Studies
Fundamentals: The Mulligan
Some Mulligan Exercises
A Mulligan Is Worth Three Cards
The Mulligan Debate
Common Sense: The Art of the Mulligan
Who's The Beatdown?
3 Caves of Koilos
3 Eldrazi Temple
2 Fetid Heath
3 Godless Shrine
4 Ghost Quarter
3 Plains
3 Shambling Vent
2 Tectonic Edge
Artifacts (4):
4 Æther Vial
4 Path to Exile
Creatures (29):
3 Aven Mindcensor
3 Eldrazi Displacer
3 Fiend Hunter
4 Flickerwisp
4 Serra Avenger
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3 Thought-Knot Seer
3 Tidehollow Sculler
3 Wasteland Strangler
3 Chalice of the Void
2 Dismember
2 Oblivion Ring
2 Rest in Peace
3 Stony Silence
3 Surgical Extraction
3 Flooded Strand
6 Island
3 Polluted Delta
3 Steam Vents
3 Sulfur Falls
Creatures (16):
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Stormchaser Mage
2 Gut Shot
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Mutagenic Growth
3 Spell Pierce
3 Twisted Image
3 Vapor Snag
Sorceries (8):
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Serum Visions
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Blood Moon
2 Dispel
1 Forked Bolt
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Repeal
2 Roast
1 Spell Snare
2 Spellskite
1 Vapor Snag
4 Bloodstained Mire
1 Clifftop Retreat
1 Copperline Gorge
5 Mountain
3 Sacred Foundry
2 Stomping Ground
4 Wooded Foothills
Creatures (14):
4 Eidolon of the Great Revel
4 Goblin Guide
2 Grim Lavamancer
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Atarka's Command
4 Boros Charm
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Lightning Helix
3 Searing Blaze
Sorceries (8):
4 Lava Spike
4 Rift Bolt
2 Deflecting Palm
4 Destructive Revelry
2 Kor Firewalker
2 Path to Exile
2 Rending Volley
3 Skullcrack
19 Forest
3 Treetop Village
Creatures (24):
4 Avatar of the Resolute
4 Dryad Militant
2 Dungrove Elder
4 Experiment One
4 Leatherback Baloth
2 Scavenging Ooze
4 Strangleroot Geist
4 Rancor
Instants (10):
3 Aspect of Hydra
4 Vines of Vastwood
3 Dismember
2 Choke
2 Gut Shot
2 Deglamer
2 Feed the Clan
2 Oxidize
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Skylasher
1 Unravel the Æther
While it might gimp yourself in a more reactive U/W spirit deck, running Eidolon of Rhetoric effectively gives you the chance to flicker Spell Queller in response to opponents cast and effectively blanking their "free-cast" while exiling the new spell. Eidolon of Rhetoric + Spell Queller + any flicker is basically a soft lock on it's own unless people are packing Krosan Grip or something. All parts are easily protected and assembled with vial + flash shenanigans with counterspell/ Mausoleum Wanderer backup
First of all, thanks for the detailed reply. It's clear that you know a lot about what you're playing and D&T in general. So thanks for the feedback.
All I'm saying is that someone said 'E&T diversifies the curve for vial, making it worse' and you responded by talking about cards costing WW/BB/WB. The point was that E&T is a worse vial deck for this reason, while it has a worse manabase that all other taxes variants, like you said.
Now for vials and CMCs I agree on the numbers you mentioned traditionally on monowhite. I should have mentioned that the numbers I was talking about were for BW with no Eldrazi. I have tried the E&T version and I've got all the cards for it, but I am not convinced by it. You want less to sac your lands to screw your opponent, you slow yourself down with clunky draws off your available mana colors and your vial is worse. When the deck rolls, it generally trumps over other decks easily. But a single misstep or stumble, and you're likely to lose to your own deck, especially against fast decks that don't forgive.
Another vial problem is that if your curve contains 20-22 3drops and you can't get a vial or it gets destroyed before it started shining, then you are more likely to lose that game as you won't profitable play the mana denial plan, you don't filter/draw cards and you play too little lands to keep up with your opponents plays.
This is why I have settled in a Wb Taxes that focuses on beating Jund, Control and Combo MUs, all slightly favored to favored (especially after board). The deck grinds well and can close up games fast as well, while being disruptive enough. The more I play it, the more I love it.
4x Path to exile
4x Leonin Arbiter
4x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4x Tidehollow Sculler
4x Dark Confidant
2x Serra Avenger
4x Flickerwisp
2x Blade Splicer
2x Aven Mindcensor
2x Kitchen Finks
1x Brimaz, King of Oreskos
1x Sword of Fire and Ice
4x Ghost Quarter
1x Tectonic Edge
1x Vault of the Archangel
4x Caves of Koilos
3x Godless Shrine
2x Shambling Vent
1x Eiganjo Castle
3x Plains
1x Swamp
2x Sunlance
1x Disenchant
2x Stony Silence
2x Rest in Peace
2x Zealous Persecution
2x Vryn Wingmare
2x Mirran Crusader
I am considering removing the 2 MB Splicers for 2 Mirran Crusaders (to have 4 in the 75). Also considering 1/2 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar in the board, that guy is so busted.
How is it a nonbo? If you flicker it in response to the exile spell trigger, the spell exiles into oblivion. At EoT you get back your queller for future shenanigans. Card is also great with Eldrazi Displacer, Meddling Mage, Wasteland Strangler, Ethersworn Canonist, Thalia, Guardian of Thraben and Vryn Wingmare.
This here encapsulates my feelings for E&T to a tee. I love the deck, but if the draws are slightly against you it's probably too late unless the opponent punts hard-
"W
Enchantment
You may cast Aura and Equipment spells as though they had flash.
Whenever an Equipment enters the battlefield under your control, you may attach it to target creature you control."
It's obviously screaming for a Puresteel Paladin deck, but can it work here?
PS. long time follower, first time poster
This deck plays 0 to 1 sword, 2 at most and 0 Auras.