I think what really changed the game are Death's Shadow decks. Without them, we would all be drowning in some version of Tron right now. That matchup is terrible for Jund and pretty bad for all forms of control. Spell Queller gives some control decks enough flexibility to go aggro to "shut the door."
I'm new to jeskai and wanted to share my deck. In my meta both lantern control and Eldratron are fairly abundant, so I have a sideboard that focusses on artifact hate.
The deck plays pretty smooth, although I think I can cut a geist for a counter or another electrolyze. I find it hard to put together a decent sideboard, hope you guys can give me some tips. Oh, the 4th snap will be part of the deck pretty soon.
I'm redoing my Nahiri blend so that I can try out the Ancestral Vision cards that I picked up from Iconic Masters. Its more of an adaptation of a blue/white control shell with a splash of red. I've also gone out of my way to diversify the CMC for my answers and threats as there are plenty of Chalice floating around my LGS.
Looks like Ben nikolich is in top 8 with his jeskai draw go list, I seen he was on nahri over ajani which is interesting.
List is here. I actually greatly prefer this version to the Queller versions that have been springing up lately. I wish I could talk to the guy to get some insight on it. Particularly Search for Azcanta. I know a lot of pros have their eyes on it, I saw Ali Antrazi playing it at the team constructed open in Baltimore and Shaun put out some videos on it over on SCG. I'm just still not entirely sold though. Everyone thought Nahiri+Emrakul was amazing until the metagame got smart to it and then we heard similar things about how As Foretold was going to revolutionize control. Admittedly Search looks way better than either of those but I haven't played enough games to be sure of it myself.
Unfortunately every try hard from Sacramento to Shanghai preaches from the top of their 27 lands + Mana Reflection that Tooth and Nail and Time Stretch are fine to play in the same turn but Armageddon is unfair.
Looks like Ben nikolich is in top 8 with his jeskai draw go list, I seen he was on nahri over ajani which is interesting.
List is here. I actually greatly prefer this version to the Queller versions that have been springing up lately. I wish I could talk to the guy to get some insight on it. Particularly Search for Azcanta. I know a lot of pros have their eyes on it, I saw Ali Antrazi playing it at the team constructed open in Baltimore and Shaun put out some videos on it over on SCG. I'm just still not entirely sold though. Everyone thought Nahiri+Emrakul was amazing until the metagame got smart to it and then we heard similar things about how As Foretold was going to revolutionize control. Admittedly Search looks way better than either of those but I haven't played enough games to be sure of it myself.
Search for ascanta is pretty much a planeswalker that cannot be attacked. It is probably the best card to have in any fair matchup in modern but it is a turn 2 do nothing vs anything aggressive. 2 is probably the right number for this card because you do not want too many cards that do not affect the board early on but it essentially breaks grindfests.
I like SFA but I don't really see a reason to go Jeskai with it; is the burn plan still on the table of you're planning to go that long? I feel like SFA fits better in an UW shell, or maybe Esper.
Hey guys, quick question: What's the general opinion about Spell Snare right now? I'm thinking about changing my 2 copies in the Main for 1 Ajani Vengeant and 1 Thundermaw Hellkite, but I'm not sure if that would be a good move (the rest of the list is a pretty stock Jeskai Queller)o)
Both tend to require some sort of pressure/clock. Traditional tron is usually pretty difficult, as spell queller doesn't hit most of their scary things. In general, you want to counter whatever you can (thats meaningful) and try to get as much damage with creatures/burn spells as possible.
A lot of people like slapping down snapcaster mages on t2 to get a clock started, which can be a reasonable play (but I think people over-state it in these types of matchups), but slapping down a queller for no value is very often the right play.
For eldrazi tron, the matchup is better IMO. They are a creature deck at heart, so a lot of hard removal will get there. They usually only play 1 cavern of souls, which is really nice. Obviously you have to watch out for reality smashers (can't be quellered, obviously).
Geist is substantially worse here, and probably worth boarding out.
Both tend to require some sort of pressure/clock. Traditional tron is usually pretty difficult, as spell queller doesn't hit most of their scary things. In general, you want to counter whatever you can (thats meaningful) and try to get as much damage with creatures/burn spells as possible.
A lot of people like slapping down snapcaster mages on t2 to get a clock started, which can be a reasonable play (but I think people over-state it in these types of matchups), but slapping down a queller for no value is very often the right play.
For eldrazi tron, the matchup is better IMO. They are a creature deck at heart, so a lot of hard removal will get there. They usually only play 1 cavern of souls, which is really nice. Obviously you have to watch out for reality smashers (can't be quellered, obviously).
Geist is substantially worse here, and probably worth boarding out.
Is there a way to beat tron in a more control version though without queller or geist?
How's that new land hate card working out.
Or any sideboard options?
Is there any way we can make tron a good favorable matchup post board.?
While also considering valakut and eldrazi?
Hey guys, quick question: What's the general opinion about Spell Snare right now? I'm thinking about changing my 2 copies in the Main for 1 Ajani Vengeant and 1 Thundermaw Hellkite, but I'm not sure if that would be a good move (the rest of the list is a pretty stock Jeskai Queller)o)
Well first and foremost you are replacing two one mana spells with a four and five mana spell, that should ring some alarm bells. I also think that Spell Snare is very strong atm and I would recommend running two.
I like SFA but I don't really see a reason to go Jeskai with it; is the burn plan still on the table of you're planning to go that long? I feel like SFA fits better in an UW shell, or maybe Esper.
What I'm looking for in SFA is a way to smooth out the draws in the matchup that are poor for us (Eldrazi, Valakut, Tron) or to win the grindy games (Shadow, other control decks, Abzan/Jund).
Azcanta does that and it's amazing when you're in topdeck mode. I get that the stock version of UWR Queller is relying on geist and burn to close out the game, so it has no interest in azcanta, but for the control version I think that is a valid candidate.
But that does not answer my question; if you plan to go that long, why go Jeskai? I think SFA is much stronger in an UW build, where you are drawing to a more powerful endgame.
Hey guys, quick question: What's the general opinion about Spell Snare right now? I'm thinking about changing my 2 copies in the Main for 1 Ajani Vengeant and 1 Thundermaw Hellkite, but I'm not sure if that would be a good move (the rest of the list is a pretty stock Jeskai Queller)o)
Well first and foremost you are replacing two one mana spells with a four and five mana spell, that should ring some alarm bells. I also think that Spell Snare is very strong atm and I would recommend running two.
I like SFA but I don't really see a reason to go Jeskai with it; is the burn plan still on the table of you're planning to go that long? I feel like SFA fits better in an UW shell, or maybe Esper.
What I'm looking for in SFA is a way to smooth out the draws in the matchup that are poor for us (Eldrazi, Valakut, Tron) or to win the grindy games (Shadow, other control decks, Abzan/Jund).
Azcanta does that and it's amazing when you're in topdeck mode. I get that the stock version of UWR Queller is relying on geist and burn to close out the game, so it has no interest in azcanta, but for the control version I think that is a valid candidate.
But that does not answer my question; if you plan to go that long, why go Jeskai? I think SFA is much stronger in an UW build, where you are drawing to a more powerful endgame.
Why not? Jeskai has some matches that are just easier/better than with UW. Jeskai has enough flex spots to allow for something like Search for Azcanta so why is it a problem for you?
There is no "problem" per se, but if you'd start from the ground up with building a deck around SFA, would you arrive at Jeskai? Or are you playing Jeskai to begin with and are jamming SFA into that? It'll work in Jeskai just fine, but I think UW is at the least a better starting point.
To not get too philosophical on deck design and staying to the point I would just like to hear this: what is the reasoning to use the jeskai shell for SFA?
Also just to make certain; this is a legit question. I have not tested SFA myself, but my own initial ideas would push me towards trying it in UW. I do not care about winning arguments about the internet, I come here to exchange information
There is no "problem" per se, but if you'd start from the ground up with building a deck around SFA, would you arrive at Jeskai? Or are you playing Jeskai to begin with and are jamming SFA into that? It'll work in Jeskai just fine, but I think UW is at the least a better starting point.
To not get too philosophical on deck design and staying to the point I would just like to hear this: what is the reasoning to use the jeskai shell for SFA?
Also just to make certain; this is a legit question. I have not tested SFA myself, but my own initial ideas would push me towards trying it in UW. I do not care about winning arguments about the internet, I come here to exchange information
Interesting. I feel like this card helps Jeskai dig better for cheaper. That's something UW has no issues doing as-is. That's why I like it more for Jeskai, but I would probably only play one if I put it in the main deck.
@Bearscape - good questions. Search for Azcanta has a few attractive features for Jeskai Control (not tempo, I dont believe it belongs in a tempo list) in my eyes. Firstly, any sustainable draw engine coupled with burn is going to make our win con (burn) more accessible, and will allow us to recover quickly from boardstates that have required us to expend that burn in the early game to survive. Secondly, when digging ("Searching") with Azcanta, the Sunken Ruin, we have the distinct advantage of having a sizeable suite of CHEAP interaction (bolt / path / snare / helix / knot) that we can cast immidiately after a reactive activation with a pool of 5 or 6 mana. This really does typify what a reactive control deck wants to do. UW may run more planeswalkers than Jeskai, but that probably means Azcanta is even more valuable to Jeskai late game when digging for a singleton Ajani, Gideon, or Nahiri, since we have so little chance of naturally drawing that copy on each draw step. If you are on Jeskai Nahiri then the value potential of "Searching" skyrockets. The base value of any good card draw engine is also higher in Jeskai, since we typically run fewer cantrips than UW. Some of these points have been touched on already, but thats my 2 cents on the card. I do have an unhealthy love for it though.
Private Mod Note
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Modern Decks
------------ URW Jeskai Control GUWRB Amulet Titan GR Ponza
Missed Top Eight of an IQ by one match, which I got crushed by Affinity. Even though this is supposed to be a good MU, I've struggled with it repeatedly. Any tips?
Esper draw go Control!
Twitch stream: http://www.twitch.tv/pimpdonny
Can anyone explain why this has happened?
None of the cards are new. It's not as if Jeskai got a sweet new toy to push itself over the edge.
David Ochoa: "Mono-bacon!..."
Well it kinda did in the form of Spell Queller. UWx also became very good because it is strong against the death shadow decks
Esper draw go Control!
Twitch stream: http://www.twitch.tv/pimpdonny
4 Celestial colonnade
4 Flooded Strand
2 Scalding Tarn
2 Arid Mesa
2 Steam Vents
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Sulfur Falls
1 Spirebluff Canal
2 Island
1 Plains
1 Eiganjo Castle
2 Ghost Quarter
3 Snapcaster Mage
3 Geist of Saint Traft
3 Restoration Angel
4 Spell Queller
Instants (19):
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Lightning Helix
4 Path to Exile
1 Electrolyze
2 Remand
2 Cryptic Command
3 Logic Knot
Sorceries (4):
4 Serum Visions
2 Stony Silence
1 Wear//Tear
1 Disenchant
1 Leyline of Sanctity
1 Smash to Smithereens
1 Ceremonious Rejection
1 Electrolyze
1 Izzet Staticaster
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
1 Blessed Alliance
2 Cryptic command
2 Supreme verdict
The deck plays pretty smooth, although I think I can cut a geist for a counter or another electrolyze. I find it hard to put together a decent sideboard, hope you guys can give me some tips. Oh, the 4th snap will be part of the deck pretty soon.
4 Path to Exile
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Serum Visions
2 Mana Leak
2 Logic Knot
3 Remand
4 Snapcaster Mage
2 Detention Sphere
3 Supreme Verdict
4 Nahiri, the Harbinger
1 Ajani Vengeant
3 Celestial Colonnade
2 Sulfur Falls
4 Scalding Tarn
4 Flooded Strand
2 Steam Vents
2 Hallowed Fountain
1 Sacred Foundry
2 Island
1 Plains
1 Mountain
2 Pithing Needle
2 Wear // Tear
1 Supreme Verdict
2 Ceremonious Rejection
1 Sphinx's Revelation
2 Dispel
2 pyroclasm
RGWNaya BurnRGW+++RGWKiki ComboRGW
UGInfectUG+++++++++.++++++++UGMerfolkUG
GGNykthos WaveGG++++++++++GGStompyGG
BRVampiresBR+++++++.+++++++BRGoblinsBR
WGBogglesWG+++++++++++++CRSkred RedCR
UBRGDredgeUBRG++++++++++BB8 RackBB
URWJeskaiURW+++.++UBRGrixis DelverUBR
URStormUR++++++++UWGBant CompanyUWG
WUBRGHumansWUBRG+CCEldrazi TronCC
http://sales.starcitygames.com//deckdatabase/displaydeck.php?DeckID=117663
Search for ascanta is pretty much a planeswalker that cannot be attacked. It is probably the best card to have in any fair matchup in modern but it is a turn 2 do nothing vs anything aggressive. 2 is probably the right number for this card because you do not want too many cards that do not affect the board early on but it essentially breaks grindfests.
A lot of people like slapping down snapcaster mages on t2 to get a clock started, which can be a reasonable play (but I think people over-state it in these types of matchups), but slapping down a queller for no value is very often the right play.
For eldrazi tron, the matchup is better IMO. They are a creature deck at heart, so a lot of hard removal will get there. They usually only play 1 cavern of souls, which is really nice. Obviously you have to watch out for reality smashers (can't be quellered, obviously).
Geist is substantially worse here, and probably worth boarding out.
Is there a way to beat tron in a more control version though without queller or geist?
How's that new land hate card working out.
Or any sideboard options?
Is there any way we can make tron a good favorable matchup post board.?
While also considering valakut and eldrazi?
Well first and foremost you are replacing two one mana spells with a four and five mana spell, that should ring some alarm bells. I also think that Spell Snare is very strong atm and I would recommend running two.
But that does not answer my question; if you plan to go that long, why go Jeskai? I think SFA is much stronger in an UW build, where you are drawing to a more powerful endgame.
Thanks
Why not? Jeskai has some matches that are just easier/better than with UW. Jeskai has enough flex spots to allow for something like Search for Azcanta so why is it a problem for you?
To not get too philosophical on deck design and staying to the point I would just like to hear this: what is the reasoning to use the jeskai shell for SFA?
Also just to make certain; this is a legit question. I have not tested SFA myself, but my own initial ideas would push me towards trying it in UW. I do not care about winning arguments about the internet, I come here to exchange information
Interesting. I feel like this card helps Jeskai dig better for cheaper. That's something UW has no issues doing as-is. That's why I like it more for Jeskai, but I would probably only play one if I put it in the main deck.
------------
URW Jeskai Control
GUWRB Amulet Titan
GR Ponza
UWR Control
BR Hollow One