I like a 2-2 Skullcrack split. Burn isn't the boogeyman right now, so lifegain is low and that makes it safe to move Skullcrack around. Without the lifegain-hate, it's just a player-only Lightning Strike and that's not great.
I like Relic the most because of the cantrip mode. You can slow down delve by tapping it every turn and crack it to empty their graveyard when they get too close for comfort. It doesn't do anything about Collected Company, but I think that's a fine matchup anyway with the removal we play. I'd rank them Relic > RiP -> Cage.
I wouldn't play Sudden Shock. Searing effects are a lot stronger. It's cute to mess with Ravager this way, but I'd rather use two cards (Searing effect and something else) to force them into using Ravager and then kill whatever they target with the counters. It's fine against Infect, but we already have a very strong Infect matchup. Just control their board, keep up blockers when you have to, and beat them. You don't need anything special to do it.
With your board, I'd play Blood over Shock and Relic whenever you decide to switch to Relic. Everything else is reasonable for a generic sideboard outside of Kor Firewalker, which isn't played that often these days. Is this for a local meta that you know has Burn? If yes, play Firewalker. If there's not much Burn, I'd take these out in the future for something else you think you'll need.
Thanks for replying so quickly!
My sideboard doesn't seem right because I seem to have forgotten Deflecting Palm in there somewhere. I agree with most of what you said except for the part about Rest in Peace being better than Grafdigger's Cage. You're the expert, so clearly there's something that I'm not seeing, but I think the converted mana cost is a huge issue when it comes to graveyard hate. Like I said in my previous comment, decks where I would bring in Rest in Peace already require me to bring in other cards as well. Still, I think you've convinced me to play Relic of Progenitus. I'll just have to learn how to use it optimally.
I see your point about the Arcbound Ravager interactions. I guess a skilled player won't need the split second ability from Sudden Shock, because they will just sequence their cards to make their opponent find themselves in an awkward situation.
My sideboard should look like this now:
Yeah.. about Kor Firewalker, my LGS does see a fair bit of burn (to be honest it's more on the diverse side), but I'm still really curious as to why you don't think including two is a good idea. It basically gives you an auto-win if unanswered in the mirror, and burn seems to be pretty popular.
What sources do you use to determine the overall metagame? (I use modernnexus.com, which ranks Burn as #2)
I think RiP is better than Cage because I value the permanent removal of the graveyard to hating on Collected Company and other library stuff.
I love and hate Deflecting Palm. I've played as many as 3, but I don't see myself playing more than 2. It's really bad in a board state where your opponent is trying to stabilize, because they won't do anything to try to kill you until they're good and ready and it's just dead in that case. Sometimes it's just a fog, where you're targeted by TKS and it would take Palm, so you cast it and choose their biggest creature and they just won't attack with it this turn. It can be a blow out in other situations, though, and 2 is a fine number to play.
I use mtggoldfish, which is problematic because WotC is curating MTGO reports in order to artificially enhance diversity by only showing lists that are substantially different. I'm not sure there are enough paper results to offset that anyway, so it's just something you have to be aware of.
That's right. The only way to get around it would be to never use dailies/leagues/whatever they curate and only use higher level stuff and paper results. I'm not sure there's enough of that data to do that without big error bars.
I can pull from mtgtop8 as well, which brings more paper results in but it's all manually reported stuff.
I feel like it's about even. You want to dump your hand as fast as you can before they can wreck you with Brutality. I'd play graveyard hate to shut off Bedlam Reveler, KCommand buyback, and Lingering Souls and also make sure you have 4 Skullcracks. I'd probably cut Blazes because there are so few targets, even though that's a powerful card against Pyromancer. Maybe Helix instead, if you figure they won't be winning the game without Pyro such that Blaze probably isn't dead?
Burn at 1, 10, 12, and 16 at the classic this weekend. 1 and 10 are RWg decks with Drev, 12 and 16 are RW decks with only 1 copy of wear//tear between the two.
No Skullcracks at all, only two Helixes main (one sideboard), four Shard Volley main, then a sideboard that contains Explosive Engineering, three Ensnaring Bridge and two Exquisite Firecraft.
Burn at 1, 10, 12, and 16 at the classic this weekend. 1 and 10 are RWg decks with Drev, 12 and 16 are RW decks with only 1 copy of wear//tear between the two.
How many fetches should you play with 2 Grim Lavamancer mainboard? Does this number change when playing 19 vs 20 lands? I was discussing my 2-2 Skullcrack split between sideboard and mainboard with someone, and they said replacing it with 2 Grim Lavamancer would be too much when only playing 8-9 fetchlands, which seems to be where I'm leaning.
Burn at 1, 10, 12, and 16 at the classic this weekend. 1 and 10 are RWg decks with Drev, 12 and 16 are RW decks with only 1 copy of wear//tear between the two.
Almost none in the whole database. There aren't any in those SCG results. The following tables are fractions of burn decks in each color combination summed over the whole month. These are the fractions of Burn decks that are RB or RWB maindecks for the last year. RB/RBW
How many fetches should you play with 2 Grim Lavamancer mainboard? Does this number change when playing 19 vs 20 lands? I was discussing my 2-2 Skullcrack split between sideboard and mainboard with someone, and they said replacing it with 2 Grim Lavamancer would be too much when only playing 8-9 fetchlands, which seems to be where I'm leaning.
For what it's worth, I think that you want to be at 10-11 fetches for color fixing anyway. You can get by with fewer if you're playing RW, though. Grim Lavamancer doesn't suddenly become unplayable with 8-9. You aren't severely changing Grim Lavamancer by dropping 1-2 fetches. We're probably talking a few percentage points, here. If you want to play Lavamancer, go for it. I'd suspect that you're low on fetches because you just don't have them, in which case you can quite easily use the build you're talking about to win your way into more fetches.
I'd suspect that you're low on fetches because you just don't have them, in which case you can quite easily use the build you're talking about to win your way into more fetches.
You're absolutely right about me not having enough fetches for the moment. I do plan on getting more, but unfortunately I can't win my way into them since my LGS only hands out packs instead of store credit for most prizes. Based on what you said though, I will stick to my Grim Lavamancer in the mainboard strategy.
I will see if I can find time to play with bomat on cockatrice, but my gut feeling is that it's not worth it.
I don't like kataki in Burn. I don't even like Stony Silence, and it's better than kataki. I'd rather just play stuff to blow things up. Kataki just forces affinity to sac to ravager's ability on upkeep.
You're control in that matchup. Side out Eidolon and bring in stuff to kill their creatures and artifacts and control their board as best you can. Choose a spot to get into a fight over ravager when you can kill/exile ravager and kill whatever they target with its counters before the modular ability resolves. It can become a 5 for 2, and put you way ahead.
I'd suspect that you're low on fetches because you just don't have them, in which case you can quite easily use the build you're talking about to win your way into more fetches.
You're absolutely right about me not having enough fetches for the moment. I do plan on getting more, but unfortunately I can't win my way into them since my LGS only hands out packs instead of store credit for most prizes. Based on what you said though, I will stick to my Grim Lavamancer in the mainboard strategy.
Ah, that's a bummer. Do they buy cards? You could always crack packs and buylist them at the store or online somewhere.
I'd suspect that you're low on fetches because you just don't have them, in which case you can quite easily use the build you're talking about to win your way into more fetches.
You're absolutely right about me not having enough fetches for the moment. I do plan on getting more, but unfortunately I can't win my way into them since my LGS only hands out packs instead of store credit for most prizes. Based on what you said though, I will stick to my Grim Lavamancer in the mainboard strategy.
I would personally just buy some moderately played Khan's fetches. They're actually pretty cheap
You're absolutely right about me not having enough fetches for the moment. I do plan on getting more, but unfortunately I can't win my way into them since my LGS only hands out packs instead of store credit for most prizes. Based on what you said though, I will stick to my Grim Lavamancer in the mainboard strategy.
A couple of things to try: Make certain your LGS won't give out credit. My store goes default packs but will give credit if you ask for it.
If you're stuck with packs, just keep them sealed and trade them away. Trading into Modern or standard staples that can eventually be trade for fetchlands are better than packs.
If you can't find people to trade, just keep your packs and organize a draft. My friends and I will occasionally do "Grab bag draft" where we use up all of the random packs we've collected for a draft. It's actually more fun than it sounds. I was skeptical at first, but it's fun to draft without the defined tribes archetypes et. Then you'll have money to buy fetches! Be well
I like Relic the most because of the cantrip mode. You can slow down delve by tapping it every turn and crack it to empty their graveyard when they get too close for comfort. It doesn't do anything about Collected Company, but I think that's a fine matchup anyway with the removal we play. I'd rank them Relic > RiP -> Cage.
I wouldn't play Sudden Shock. Searing effects are a lot stronger. It's cute to mess with Ravager this way, but I'd rather use two cards (Searing effect and something else) to force them into using Ravager and then kill whatever they target with the counters. It's fine against Infect, but we already have a very strong Infect matchup. Just control their board, keep up blockers when you have to, and beat them. You don't need anything special to do it.
With your board, I'd play Blood over Shock and Relic whenever you decide to switch to Relic. Everything else is reasonable for a generic sideboard outside of Kor Firewalker, which isn't played that often these days. Is this for a local meta that you know has Burn? If yes, play Firewalker. If there's not much Burn, I'd take these out in the future for something else you think you'll need.
My sideboard doesn't seem right because I seem to have forgotten Deflecting Palm in there somewhere. I agree with most of what you said except for the part about Rest in Peace being better than Grafdigger's Cage. You're the expert, so clearly there's something that I'm not seeing, but I think the converted mana cost is a huge issue when it comes to graveyard hate. Like I said in my previous comment, decks where I would bring in Rest in Peace already require me to bring in other cards as well. Still, I think you've convinced me to play Relic of Progenitus. I'll just have to learn how to use it optimally.
I see your point about the Arcbound Ravager interactions. I guess a skilled player won't need the split second ability from Sudden Shock, because they will just sequence their cards to make their opponent find themselves in an awkward situation.
My sideboard should look like this now:
2x Deflecting Palm
4x Destructive Revelry
2x Relic of Progenitus
2x Skullcrack
2x Kor Firewalker
Yeah.. about Kor Firewalker, my LGS does see a fair bit of burn (to be honest it's more on the diverse side), but I'm still really curious as to why you don't think including two is a good idea. It basically gives you an auto-win if unanswered in the mirror, and burn seems to be pretty popular.
What sources do you use to determine the overall metagame? (I use modernnexus.com, which ranks Burn as #2)
I wouldn't go that far.
I think RiP is better than Cage because I value the permanent removal of the graveyard to hating on Collected Company and other library stuff.
I love and hate Deflecting Palm. I've played as many as 3, but I don't see myself playing more than 2. It's really bad in a board state where your opponent is trying to stabilize, because they won't do anything to try to kill you until they're good and ready and it's just dead in that case. Sometimes it's just a fog, where you're targeted by TKS and it would take Palm, so you cast it and choose their biggest creature and they just won't attack with it this turn. It can be a blow out in other situations, though, and 2 is a fine number to play.
I use mtggoldfish, which is problematic because WotC is curating MTGO reports in order to artificially enhance diversity by only showing lists that are substantially different. I'm not sure there are enough paper results to offset that anyway, so it's just something you have to be aware of.
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Feel free to PM me about Affinity decks in any format!
I can pull from mtgtop8 as well, which brings more paper results in but it's all manually reported stuff.
Burn at 1, 10, 12, and 16 at the classic this weekend. 1 and 10 are RWg decks with Drev, 12 and 16 are RW decks with only 1 copy of wear//tear between the two.
http://sales.starcitygames.com//deckdatabase/deckshow.php?&t[C1]=28&start_date=01/19/2018&end_date=01/21/2018&start=1&finish=32&event_ID=49&city=Dallas&start_num=25&start_num=0&limit=25
And 4 more in the team event top 32. 1 RW, 3 RWg.
No Skullcracks at all, only two Helixes main (one sideboard), four Shard Volley main, then a sideboard that contains Explosive Engineering, three Ensnaring Bridge and two Exquisite Firecraft.
Sorry to be off topic, but is there a pauper burn forum?
If so, please send me to the right direction.
Go burn!!!
heres the google search link:
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/other-formats/paper-pauper-and-peasant/paper-pauper-and-peasant-primers/488524-primer-pauper-peasant-burn
in those stats, did you see any RBx variants?
Almost none in the whole database. There aren't any in those SCG results. The following tables are fractions of burn decks in each color combination summed over the whole month. These are the fractions of Burn decks that are RB or RWB maindecks for the last year.
RB/RBW
Here's RW maindecks:
Here's Naya RWG(Atarka's Command) maindecks:
2016-12 0.714286
2017-01 0.714286
2017-02 0.583333
2017-03 0.52
2017-04 0.233333
2017-05 0.280702
2017-06 0.157895
2017-07 0.09375
2017-08 0.125
2017-09 0.111111
2017-10 0.0714286
2017-11 0.0888889
2017-12 0.0625
Here's straight RW (no DRev):
2016-12 0.119048
2017-01 0.0714286
2017-02 0
2017-03 0.0133333
2017-04 0.1
2017-05 0.0877193
2017-06 0.131579
2017-07 0.109375
2017-08 0.125
2017-09 0.25
2017-10 0.142857
2017-11 0.222222
2017-12 0.1875
Here's RW Maindecks with DRev in the sideG:
2016-12 0.857143
2017-01 0.892857
2017-02 1
2017-03 0.906667
2017-04 0.8
2017-05 0.824561
2017-06 0.789474
2017-07 0.78125
2017-08 0.833333
2017-09 0.75
2017-10 0.75
2017-11 0.755556
2017-12 0.8125
For what it's worth, I think that you want to be at 10-11 fetches for color fixing anyway. You can get by with fewer if you're playing RW, though. Grim Lavamancer doesn't suddenly become unplayable with 8-9. You aren't severely changing Grim Lavamancer by dropping 1-2 fetches. We're probably talking a few percentage points, here. If you want to play Lavamancer, go for it. I'd suspect that you're low on fetches because you just don't have them, in which case you can quite easily use the build you're talking about to win your way into more fetches.
You're absolutely right about me not having enough fetches for the moment. I do plan on getting more, but unfortunately I can't win my way into them since my LGS only hands out packs instead of store credit for most prizes. Based on what you said though, I will stick to my Grim Lavamancer in the mainboard strategy.
I don't like kataki in Burn. I don't even like Stony Silence, and it's better than kataki. I'd rather just play stuff to blow things up. Kataki just forces affinity to sac to ravager's ability on upkeep.
You're control in that matchup. Side out Eidolon and bring in stuff to kill their creatures and artifacts and control their board as best you can. Choose a spot to get into a fight over ravager when you can kill/exile ravager and kill whatever they target with its counters before the modular ability resolves. It can become a 5 for 2, and put you way ahead.
Ah, that's a bummer. Do they buy cards? You could always crack packs and buylist them at the store or online somewhere.
I would personally just buy some moderately played Khan's fetches. They're actually pretty cheap
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lG5OGdRQ-6lbZnDXpsh57HKvv0PiBBvgjgciJDRW_jA/edit?usp=sharing
A couple of things to try: Make certain your LGS won't give out credit. My store goes default packs but will give credit if you ask for it.
If you're stuck with packs, just keep them sealed and trade them away. Trading into Modern or standard staples that can eventually be trade for fetchlands are better than packs.
If you can't find people to trade, just keep your packs and organize a draft. My friends and I will occasionally do "Grab bag draft" where we use up all of the random packs we've collected for a draft. It's actually more fun than it sounds. I was skeptical at first, but it's fun to draft without the defined tribes archetypes et. Then you'll have money to buy fetches! Be well