No. That sample size is much too small. And even if it wasnt, why chose day 1 undefeated instead of top 32 or something? What I want to know is what the format looks like as a whole.
Essentially I'm playing Snapcaster instead of planewalkers or lingering souls. And I trimmed some fatal pushes and decay for bolts so that I am better against the small creature decks and have more ways to close out a game against control and big mana. Against the decks you would think I would miss the fatal pushes (shadows) I play enough bolts and snaps that it's really hard for them to walk the line to avoid the bolts (much like we have to do against jeskai except we also play huge threats.)
And now Spooly has come around and agrees that we don't want to play long games and try to outvalue our opponent. Just kill them. Bolt does that while also being at least decent against almost every deck.
No. That sample size is much too small. And even if it wasnt, why chose day 1 undefeated instead of top 32 or something? What I want to know is what the format looks like as a whole.
Essentially I'm playing Snapcaster instead of planewalkers or lingering souls. And I trimmed some fatal pushes and decay for bolts so that I am better against the small creature decks and have more ways to close out a game against control and big mana. Against the decks you would think I would miss the fatal pushes (shadows) I play enough bolts and snaps that it's really hard for them to walk the line to avoid the bolts (much like we have to do against jeskai except we also play huge threats.)
And now Spooly has come around and agrees that we don't want to play long games and try to outvalue our opponent. Just kill them. Bolt does that while also being at least decent against almost every deck.
Could I get your decklist to play test? I have been playing with Bolts and really love them even without a Snaps. I was shocked how so many games I would do the math on a T4 TBR and I would have the opponent between 1-3. When I started adding bolts I found that the game just ended right there and I could hold up my Stub to protect my Bolt. Which just threw them off because they hit your creature with removal and you let it happen, bolt face, win.
What matchups are you bringing in 2 more Snapcaster Mage? Have you tried with just a single in the board and utilizing that slot for something else? Not sure exactly what I would put there, really, just seems that with 3 Snapcaster Mage and 3 Traverse the Ulvenwald you probably have one whenever you need one, no?.
No. That sample size is much too small. And even if it wasnt, why chose day 1 undefeated instead of top 32 or something? What I want to know is what the format looks like as a whole.
Essentially I'm playing Snapcaster instead of planewalkers or lingering souls. And I trimmed some fatal pushes and decay for bolts so that I am better against the small creature decks and have more ways to close out a game against control and big mana. Against the decks you would think I would miss the fatal pushes (shadows) I play enough bolts and snaps that it's really hard for them to walk the line to avoid the bolts (much like we have to do against jeskai except we also play huge threats.)
And now Spooly has come around and agrees that we don't want to play long games and try to outvalue our opponent. Just kill them. Bolt does that while also being at least decent against almost every deck.
Heh, I'm not so sure about going *that* far, but it is interesting.
Bolt is one of the best SB cards against Humans though, along with Grim Lavamancer. So if you're expecting something like the PT metagame all over again, go ham I guess.
1) BBE is obviously a strong contender for the 4 drop traverse target slot, and a reason to try to completely reimagine the deck.
2) We will lose to the Jace decks a lot. A whole lot. Probably to most of the BBE decks too.
3) Now is a good time to sleeve up Karn.
Edit:
4) MD bolt looks a lot better now
So I guess we'll be running more Maelstrom Pulse and Dreadbore in the SB now? BBE into temur battle rage seems terrible. But the haste is a nice counter to Jace's bounce. Maybe BBE could be a SB option?
I'm trying to get back into Magic and looking at this deck. Does it play out more like a Tempo deck or more like a Midrange deck?
Its more tempo than midrange. But it can theoretically do both depening on your list. Its highly customizable. However, its strenght lies in tempo plays.
I'm trying to get back into Magic and looking at this deck. Does it play out more like a Tempo deck or more like a Midrange deck?
Its more tempo than midrange. But it can theoretically do both depening on your list. Its highly customizable. However, its strenght lies in tempo plays.
Thanks guys. These unbannings look bad for tempo strategies? Midrange and Control got significantly better which means you'd need to play faster and under them to compete?
I'm trying to get back into Magic and looking at this deck. Does it play out more like a Tempo deck or more like a Midrange deck?
Its more tempo than midrange. But it can theoretically do both depening on your list. Its highly customizable. However, its strenght lies in tempo plays.
Thanks guys. These unbannings look bad for tempo strategies? Midrange and Control got significantly better which means you'd need to play faster and under them to compete?
Mostly it means they'll be more ubiquitous and as they're our worst matchups across the board it's gonna be a bad time for Shadow decks. It's gonna be a good time for Tron though, and we can beat them, but if I'm gonna be a bye for half the field and focus on taking down big mana I'll just build Infect and call it a day.
In the short term, Jace decks will be everywhere, and they will be hard to beat. In the long term, the rest of the format will speed up to try to beat the Jace decks. In other words, more degenerate combo and big mana decks, which we can feast on. These decks are especially likely to be spell-based combo decks since the Jace decks can always load up on removal. So Ad Nauseum, but not Affinity. So in the long term, it might even benefit us, depending on how metagame shares shake out.
In any case, I want blue in my Traverse Shadow deck. Stubborn Denial counters Jace, Ad Nauseum, and Karn. And we probably can't win if a Jace resolves.
There will be a wide variety of Jace decks, and we will have an OK matchup against some of them so long as we can effectively prevent Jace from resolving. But if e.g. UWR is the Jace deck of choice, we just aren't beating that in a million years.
In the short term, Jace decks will be everywhere, and they will be hard to beat. In the long term, the rest of the format will speed up to try to beat the Jace decks. In other words, more degenerate combo and big mana decks, which we can feast on. These decks are especially likely to be spell-based combo decks since the Jace decks can always load up on removal. So Ad Nauseum, but not Affinity. So in the long term, it might even benefit us, depending on how metagame shares shake out.
In any case, I want blue in my Traverse Shadow deck. Stubborn Denial counters Jace, Ad Nauseum, and Karn. And we probably can't win if a Jace resolves.
There will be a wide variety of Jace decks, and we will have an OK matchup against some of them so long as we can effectively prevent Jace from resolving. But if e.g. UWR is the Jace deck of choice, we just aren't beating that in a million years.
You think this brings Stubborn Denial to a 4 of include on the Main Deck list?
I would hate to reduce the threat count but, the alternative could be bad.
Do you think the reinstatement of Jace and Bloodbraid increases the value of Lightning Bolt in our deck?
tjd2191 could be on to something here with the increase of reach into our Main Deck. The only thing I do not like is the decrease of Stubborn in the main deck.
Should we consider the amount of Inquisition of Kozilek since they can't hit either of these targets?
Essentially I'm playing Snapcaster instead of planewalkers or lingering souls. And I trimmed some fatal pushes and decay for bolts so that I am better against the small creature decks and have more ways to close out a game against control and big mana. Against the decks you would think I would miss the fatal pushes (shadows) I play enough bolts and snaps that it's really hard for them to walk the line to avoid the bolts (much like we have to do against jeskai except we also play huge threats.)
And now Spooly has come around and agrees that we don't want to play long games and try to outvalue our opponent. Just kill them. Bolt does that while also being at least decent against almost every deck.
Could I get your decklist to play test? I have been playing with Bolts and really love them even without a Snaps. I was shocked how so many games I would do the math on a T4 TBR and I would have the opponent between 1-3. When I started adding bolts I found that the game just ended right there and I could hold up my Stub to protect my Bolt. Which just threw them off because they hit your creature with removal and you let it happen, bolt face, win.
4 Tarmogoyf
2 Snapcaster Mage
1 Grim Flayer
4 Street Wraith
3 Traverse the Ulvenwald
4 Mishra's Bauble
4 Thoughtseize
4 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Stubborn Denial
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Dismember
2 Fatal Push
2 Temur Battle Rage
3 Bloodstained Mire
3 Polluted Delta
2 Misty Rainforest
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Watery Grave
1 Breeding Pool
1 Stomping Ground
1 Blood Crypt
1 Swamp
2 Delay
2 Stubborn Denial
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Nihil Spellbomb
2 Snapcaster Mage
1 Abrupt Decay
1 Maelstrom Pulse
1 Hostage Taker
1 Golgari Charm
1 Izzet Staticaster
I really like your list so if this week’s testing goes well then I’ll be registering something very close to this 75 for Indy
Does anyone have good recommendations for streamers/youtubers who pilot traverse ?
@Robo_Memer on Twitter, Twitch, Reddit, and YouTube
Feel free to PM me about Affinity decks in any format!
What matchups are you bringing in 2 more Snapcaster Mage? Have you tried with just a single in the board and utilizing that slot for something else? Not sure exactly what I would put there, really, just seems that with 3 Snapcaster Mage and 3 Traverse the Ulvenwald you probably have one whenever you need one, no?.
Dylan Hovey focuses almost entirely on traverse shadow and streams a couple times a week on twitch.
Check out his playlist.
Heh, I'm not so sure about going *that* far, but it is interesting.
Bolt is one of the best SB cards against Humans though, along with Grim Lavamancer. So if you're expecting something like the PT metagame all over again, go ham I guess.
Abzan Traverse / Traverse Shadow / UR Kiki
Quick thoughts:
1) BBE is obviously a strong contender for the 4 drop traverse target slot, and a reason to try to completely reimagine the deck.
2) We will lose to the Jace decks a lot. A whole lot. Probably to most of the BBE decks too.
3) Now is a good time to sleeve up Karn.
Edit:
4) MD bolt looks a lot better now
NO way, JUND is going to rise again
Its more tempo than midrange. But it can theoretically do both depening on your list. Its highly customizable. However, its strenght lies in tempo plays.
Wait and see how the metagame shapes up after today's earthquake. Things might get very bad for Shadow decks, like Spooly outlined a few posts prior.
I absolutely love this deck but I don't see the point in playing it in a Jund / UW Control meta whatsoever as we'll get wrecked beyond measure.
Abzan Traverse / Traverse Shadow / UR Kiki
Thanks guys. These unbannings look bad for tempo strategies? Midrange and Control got significantly better which means you'd need to play faster and under them to compete?
Mostly it means they'll be more ubiquitous and as they're our worst matchups across the board it's gonna be a bad time for Shadow decks. It's gonna be a good time for Tron though, and we can beat them, but if I'm gonna be a bye for half the field and focus on taking down big mana I'll just build Infect and call it a day.
Abzan Traverse / Traverse Shadow / UR Kiki
In any case, I want blue in my Traverse Shadow deck. Stubborn Denial counters Jace, Ad Nauseum, and Karn. And we probably can't win if a Jace resolves.
There will be a wide variety of Jace decks, and we will have an OK matchup against some of them so long as we can effectively prevent Jace from resolving. But if e.g. UWR is the Jace deck of choice, we just aren't beating that in a million years.
You think this brings Stubborn Denial to a 4 of include on the Main Deck list?
I would hate to reduce the threat count but, the alternative could be bad.
Do you think the reinstatement of Jace and Bloodbraid increases the value of Lightning Bolt in our deck?
tjd2191 could be on to something here with the increase of reach into our Main Deck. The only thing I do not like is the decrease of Stubborn in the main deck.
Should we consider the amount of Inquisition of Kozilek since they can't hit either of these targets?
Trying this list tonight; I think it has a ton of charm and was a sleeper before the reinstatement of JtMS and BBE.