I haven't seen a thread for this deck yet, but it has had two league 5-0s on MTGO and a deck of the day feature on CFB. Anyone else think it has legs? it definitely crushes grixis energy.
I think the deck has some legs. It's certainly very grindy and can be adapted to any meta with the tutor package. There is definitely some discussion to be had about choices of win cons. I have even seen lists that splash blue and red for Bolas and Angrath.
Interesting take on the deck. I am not sure if Approach of the Second Sun is a needed win con for the deck with Torment of Hailfire and Sandwurm Convergence, but having access to Fumigate is probably nice. It seems like the Abzan version of the deck has a much worse control match-up, which was my main complaint with Davis' bant approach deck. The straight BG versions have much more hand disruption to work with.
Though I would almost splash white just to play Profane Procession,because that card seems awesome. As far as wildest dreams, I think it's a little slow for a maindeck slot, but in the slower matches you have time to tutor it up with acquisition.
This is going to be an archetype to watch. I've got a mono black version splashing blue for three The Scarab God. I plan on adding some red for firey cannonade as I will have a combination of kitesail freebooter and dire fleet poisoner in my main deck. Maybe some big red hasty dragons or phoenixes as one of in my sideboard to tutor for.
Looting with the gateway definitely helped me reach my removal. THAT is a must for this deck.
I liked how grindy my matches were. As long as I kept up with their creatures, I was in a good position.
I'll be playing his deck for a while. It makes for good long interactive games of magic!
Interesting take on the deck. I am not sure if Approach of the Second Sun is a needed win con for the deck with Torment of Hailfire and Sandwurm Convergence, but having access to Fumigate is probably nice. It seems like the Abzan version of the deck has a much worse control match-up, which was my main complaint with Davis' bant approach deck. The straight BG versions have much more hand disruption to work with.
Though I would almost splash white just to play Profane Procession,because that card seems awesome. As far as wildest dreams, I think it's a little slow for a maindeck slot, but in the slower matches you have time to tutor it up with acquisition.
The idea is Torment of Hailfire is marginal without having access to tons of mana and Sandwurm Convergence could be worse than Approach if opponent has ways to deal with enchantments. And vice versa if opponent is playing counters or can mill you for a few cards.
Against control you have Thaumatic Compass which means they can't win you with a single gearhulk and Ipnu Rivulet. The way Bant Approach was winning those matchups was by milling them G1 and then siding out all Approaches and siding in 6 creatures. Davis himself said that Approach is just an alternative wincon
After few playtesting - probably I did wrong removing Azor's Gateway. Also in those long games which Wildest Dreams is supposed for I often cleared graveyards a few times so it was less effective.
MTGGoldfish link
Alternatively a visual view.
3 Azor's Gateway
2 Battle at the Bridge
4 Blooming Marsh
1 Bontu's Last Reckoning
4 Desert of the Glorified
2 Desert of the Indomitable
4 Doomfall
3 Duress
4 Fatal Push
2 Field of Ruin
2 Forest
1 Gonti, Lord of Luxury
4 Hour of Promise
4 Ifnir Deadlands
2 Mastermind's Acquisition
3 Moment of Craving
1 Never // Return
2 Scavenger Grounds
5 Swamp
3 Vraska's Contempt
2 Vraska, Relic Seeker
1 Yahenni's Expertise
2 Arguel's Blood Fast
1 Duress
3 Gifted Aetherborn
1 Gonti, Lord of Luxury
1 Lost Legacy
3 Naturalize
1 Sandwurm Convergence
1 Wildest Dreams
1 Yahenni's Expertise
MTGGoldfish link.
3 Azor's Gateway
2 Battle at the Bridge
4 Blooming Marsh
1 Bontu's Last Reckoning
2 Desert of the Indomitable
4 Doomfall
3 Dunes of the Dead
2 Duress
4 Fatal Push
2 Field of Ruin
2 Forest
1 Harsh Scrutiny
4 Hour of Promise
4 Ifnir Deadlands
2 Lay Bare the Heart
2 Mastermind's Acquisition
1 Never // Return
1 Ramunap Excavator
3 Scavenger Grounds
1 Shefet Monitor
5 Swamp
3 Vraska's Contempt
2 Vraska, Relic Seeker
1 Yahenni's Expertise
1 Arguel's Blood Fast
1 Deadeye Tracker
1 Dispossess
2 Duress
1 Gonti, Lord of Luxury
1 Lost Legacy
2 Naturalize
1 Sandwurm Convergence
1 Tetzimoc, Primal Death
2 Wildest Dreams
The CFB deck of the day post is here.
I think the deck has some legs. It's certainly very grindy and can be adapted to any meta with the tutor package. There is definitely some discussion to be had about choices of win cons. I have even seen lists that splash blue and red for Bolas and Angrath.
What does everyone think?
2 Duress
4 Fatal Push
3 Baffling End
3 Thaumatic Compass
1 Doomfall
1 Profane Procession
4 Gift of Paradise
3 Ixalan's Binding
3 Mastermind's Acquisition
1 Vraska's Contempt
2 Yahenni's Expertise
2 Fumigate
3 Hour of Promise
2 Wildest Dreams
1 Arch of Orazca
4 Blooming Marsh
2 Desert of the Glorified
2 Desert of the Indomitable
2 Forest
1 Hashep Oasis
1 Ifnir Deadlands
1 Ipnu Rivulet
2 Plains
2 Scattered Groves
1 Scavenger Grounds
1 Shefet Dunes
3 Sunpetal Grove
3 Swamp
1 Baffling End
2 Duress
2 Fumigate
1 Gideon's Intervention
3 Naturalize
1 Overwhelming Splendor
1 Protection of the Hekma
1 Ramunap Excavator
1 Sandwurm Convergence
1 Wildest Dreams
Thaumatic Compass is a huge sleeper. After you've played it in a deck with Hour of Promise it would be an immediate candidate to any deck with the Hour.
Wildest Dreams is another nice way to transform mana advantage into card advantage (first one in Arch of Orazca). I think it is a better maindeck slot than Vraska.
Ixalan's Binding is a clean answer to The Scarab God, Hazoret the Fervent or other problematic cards like Anointed Procession
Gift of Paradise is better than Beneath the Sands because it gives double coloured mana for Fumigate and Mastermind's Acquisition and 3 life is a significant bonus.
I wonder how many matches of those 2 5-0 did BG won by time?
Though I would almost splash white just to play Profane Procession,because that card seems awesome. As far as wildest dreams, I think it's a little slow for a maindeck slot, but in the slower matches you have time to tutor it up with acquisition.
Looting with the gateway definitely helped me reach my removal. THAT is a must for this deck.
I liked how grindy my matches were. As long as I kept up with their creatures, I was in a good position.
I'll be playing his deck for a while. It makes for good long interactive games of magic!
The idea is Torment of Hailfire is marginal without having access to tons of mana and Sandwurm Convergence could be worse than Approach if opponent has ways to deal with enchantments. And vice versa if opponent is playing counters or can mill you for a few cards.
Against control you have Thaumatic Compass which means they can't win you with a single gearhulk and Ipnu Rivulet. The way Bant Approach was winning those matchups was by milling them G1 and then siding out all Approaches and siding in 6 creatures. Davis himself said that Approach is just an alternative wincon
After few playtesting - probably I did wrong removing Azor's Gateway. Also in those long games which Wildest Dreams is supposed for I often cleared graveyards a few times so it was less effective.
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/943116#online
1 Gonti, Lord of Luxury
2 Tetzimoc, Primal Death
3 Walking Ballista
Planeswalkers (1)
1 Vraska, Relic Seeker
Artifacts (1)
1 Thaumatic Compass
Enchantments (1)
1 Arguel's Blood Fast
Instants (10)
4 Fatal Push
2 Moment of Craving
4 Vraska's Contempt
Sorceries (16)
2 Battle at the Bridge
4 Doomfall
3 Duress
4 Hour of Promise
2 Mastermind's Acquisition
1 Never // Return
1 Arch of Orazca
4 Blooming Marsh
4 Desert of the Glorified
1 Desert of the Indomitable
1 Field of Ruin
2 Forest
1 Hashep Oasis
1 Hostile Desert
4 Ifnir Deadlands
2 Scavenger Grounds
5 Swamp
2 Carnage Tyrant
1 Liliana, Death's Majesty
1 Crook of Condemnation
1 Sorcerous Spyglass
1 Thaumatic Compass
1 Arguel's Blood Fast
1 Sandwurm Convergence
1 Moment of Craving
3 Naturalize
1 Battle at the Bridge
1 Lost Legacy
1 Yahenni's Expertise
Modern
UWGB 4c Snow Control BGWU
Eeeennnnteresting.