On a serious note though, Standard is still dominating in the local area. We got 3 people out for Modern this last week (so the event didn't happen) and there were almost 20 that showed up for standard.
Life is sad when you're a Modern/Legacy player that hates standard ):
Yeah. The same thing is occurring at my LGS as well. 25 people for Standard and 5 for Modern, so the event didn't go on.
I don't really like standard either, but I feel that having a standard deck is a necessity because most modern/legacy FNMs get canceled.
They're a bunch of cards that are an instant win when combined with this combo, but the one I think works the best is Bitter Ordeal. You exile their library and win the game. Good luck brewing!
It's like Junk combined with Loam Pox... interesting. I just came here to say the infinite combo you're thinking of is Saffi Eriksdotter+Crypt Champion+Bitter Ordeal to exile the opponents library.
I prefer Steppe Lynx over Goblin Guide in this deck because it's a faster beatstick with all the fetches you run. I'd also like to suggest you play a full set of Snapcaster Mage mainboard, just because he's a boss in any deck jam packed with quality instants and sorceries.
Storm is definitely viable. I drafted with my friends at our LGS on Saturday and they let all the good storm cards float around (I'm not sure why. Maybe they thought it wasn't viable?). I literally took every storm card I saw and never took a second thought, which worked great and I got a pretty good storm deck. I ended up going 2-1, playing against UWr Artifacts Aggro with Auriok Salvagers and spellbomb support, a Bant Goodstuff list containing a Tarmogoyf (I wish I got that) and Reveillark, and Jund Giants Ramp list with bombs and acceleration.
I beat UWr Artifacts 2-0. He was fast, but he sacrificed staying power for the speed. After his board disappeared to a Grapeshot and he was staring down 10 Goblins and a 3/3 Flyer, he never recovered. I went off turn 5-6 consistently, using Grapeshot as a board wipe before casting Empty the Warrens to finish the game (same scenario both games).
I lost to Bant Goodstuff 2-1.
Game 1: He applied decent pressure early game and Path to Exiled my Grinning Ignus. After I resolved Empty the Warrens for 8 Goblins, his flyers finished me before my Goblins finished him.
Game 3: This was a real grindfest. He gets a good hand and I'm at 3 life when I go off. Grapeshot gets rid of his flyers and Empty the Warrens tokens stall the ground, buying me time to rebuild and go off again. He doesn't draw any fliers for a couple of turns, so I'm safe drawing cards and stalling. I draw into Grapeshot, Empty the Warrens, and Pardic Dragon. However, he hardcasts Reveillark next turn, hoping to attack and end the game. At this point, I'm forced to answer his Reveillark or die. I draw a Forest and play it. To build up a large storm count, I bounce my Grinning Ignus as much as I can, generating a storm count of 3 with enough mana to cast my two storm spells. I cast Grapeshot, with 3 aimed a Reveillark and 1 at his face (opponents life total: 19). Reveillark brings back a Mulldrifter and Veteran Armorer, giving me another flyer to deal with. However, let's not forget that Pardic Dragon sitting in my hand! Empty the Warrens gives me 10 Goblins to work with, and combined with Pardic Dragon, gives me a way to win the game! I pass the turn and take 2 from Mulldrifter. He passes back to me. I cast Pardic Dragon and he resolves. I believe I'm going to win. I swing in for 9 damage with my Goblins and he goes to 10 life. I pass the turn. He draws and casts Eternal Witness, targeting Path to Exile. Path to Exile then targets Pardic Dragon, allowing Mulldrifter to swing in for the win. Good game bro, good game.
I won 2-0 against Jund Ramp/Giants. He was too slow, spending the early turns casting ramp spells. I cast Empty the Warrens around turn 7 or 8, swarming him and his 1-2 large creatures.
Overall, Storm was really good for me. It has loads of raw power and is really viable, able to put up a fight even when the initial combo has failed. I think a RUG list with cantrips and better suspend cards will work even better.
Lessons learned: Grinning Ignus is a house! He helped me combo off when I needed extra mana or when I needed that extra storm count. He does it all. If you draft MM again and try Storm, be sure to get some decent suspenders (not the clothes), a healthy amount of storm spells, and as many Grinning Ignuses as possible!
Cheers, men. Merfolk works fine as I have alot of the more expensive cards already, like Jitte, Vials and Caverns. Should I be playing 4 caverns instead of 2 if I have them?
Yeah. Cavern is great, especially in a monocolor list where the other lands can pick up the slack for noncreature spells that need to be cast. The uncounterability is great and it can cast Jitte and Vial. Definitely run 4 if you have them.
What in your opinion is the overall most competitive in that list, disregarding meta?
Dredge, Combo Elves, and Merfolk. I think those are the most competitive. Merfolk has been consistently placing well in the past few months, as has Combo Elves. Dredge still has good showings as well, just not as many.
Merfolk needs Wasteland and most builds use Force of Will, but it can work without them. You will have to play a better aggro game with more lords than usual.
Combo Elves generally run Gaea's Cradle, but a budget version without them can still work (or you can buy one and run Crop Rotation).
Dredge usually runs Lion's Eye Diamond, but functions fine without them. It just becomes less explosive.
Here are some non-budget lists that have performed well at large events recently:
Overall, I would say Merfolk is the most competitive budget deck. Both Combo Elves and Dredge can be hated out and their expensive cards don't have much use outside of these decks. Are they strong decks? Very much so. I just believe Merfolk is a great introductory deck that can perform decently on a budget and just gets better as you purchase expensive staples. Merfolk's expensive staples (Force of Will and Wasteland) see play in loads of decks and will help you break into Legacy. I hope my advice helps you.
EDIT: -Spooky- has some good, competitive, budget friendly lists for each of these archetypes in the second post of his Legacy on a Budget thread.
Thanks for the input everyone. I'm looking to be relatively competitive (was very much a spike last time I played). I'll check out some of the ideas you guys have mentioned.
Thanks again,
Mr_Zero
Definitely look into Junk/Naya Midrange or UW/x Control. These decks are reliable, competitive, and lean heavily on RTR block cards.
Here's one of my favorite lists that will stay pretty solid post-rotation:
well basicly what your saying is "Red gives us 1 really good card that can sometimes be better than a mind wrench (And both are still bad hymns) and we can get a semiboard wipe to support our bridges.
Thats why (I think) green is better. it gives you natures claim to take out the one card that stops the deck dead in its tracks (red and black dont) and 2 different cure all answers (pulse and decay). After that you also get deathrite, which is gravy in the same way pyro is. Plus, if I really need a semi board wipe, I'll look to damnation, or even golgari charm
Yeah. I just wanted somebody's opinion on that matter before I dismissed or accepted that idea.
What do you guys think of a red splash instead of a green splash? I realize you lose some of the deck's power in Deathrite Shaman and Abrupt Decay, but you gain Rise // Fall and Pyroclasm. Do you think it is a justifiable splash?
Greaves gives Paladin shroud, blanking their removal (Mizzium Skin is another option). Leyline nerfs all forms of targeted discard. Pact is a free counter (deals with anything upon casting). Noxious Revival returns destroyed discarded Paladin as well as being decent during combo turns by returning much needed Retracts and other goodstuff. Titan is there if you want more beatdown from the board. I think it can help with problem matchups.
Yeah. The same thing is occurring at my LGS as well. 25 people for Standard and 5 for Modern, so the event didn't go on.
I don't really like standard either, but I feel that having a standard deck is a necessity because most modern/legacy FNMs get canceled.
The addition of 4-5 fetches in place of 2-3 basics and a couple of shocks would help your deck if you're going to run Steppe Lynx.
I prefer Steppe Lynx over Goblin Guide in this deck because it's a faster beatstick with all the fetches you run. I'd also like to suggest you play a full set of Snapcaster Mage mainboard, just because he's a boss in any deck jam packed with quality instants and sorceries.
Here's the list I played:
4 Grinning Ignus
1 Giant Dustwasp
1 Pardic Dragon
1 Nantuko Shaman
1 Rift Elemental
1 Manamorphose
1 Desperate Ritual
3 Empty the Warrens
2 Grapeshot
2 Lava Spike
2 Rift Bolt
3 Search for Tomorrow
7 Forest
More In-Depth Report:
I lost to Bant Goodstuff 2-1.
Game 1: He applied decent pressure early game and Path to Exiled my Grinning Ignus. After I resolved Empty the Warrens for 8 Goblins, his flyers finished me before my Goblins finished him.
Game 2: I was too fast. Pyromancer's Swath+Lava Spike+suspended resolution Rift Bolt+Grapeshot all cast on turn 5 ended the game. Nothing competes with the storm god hand. Nothing.
Game 3: This was a real grindfest. He gets a good hand and I'm at 3 life when I go off. Grapeshot gets rid of his flyers and Empty the Warrens tokens stall the ground, buying me time to rebuild and go off again. He doesn't draw any fliers for a couple of turns, so I'm safe drawing cards and stalling. I draw into Grapeshot, Empty the Warrens, and Pardic Dragon. However, he hardcasts Reveillark next turn, hoping to attack and end the game. At this point, I'm forced to answer his Reveillark or die. I draw a Forest and play it. To build up a large storm count, I bounce my Grinning Ignus as much as I can, generating a storm count of 3 with enough mana to cast my two storm spells. I cast Grapeshot, with 3 aimed a Reveillark and 1 at his face (opponents life total: 19). Reveillark brings back a Mulldrifter and Veteran Armorer, giving me another flyer to deal with. However, let's not forget that Pardic Dragon sitting in my hand! Empty the Warrens gives me 10 Goblins to work with, and combined with Pardic Dragon, gives me a way to win the game! I pass the turn and take 2 from Mulldrifter. He passes back to me. I cast Pardic Dragon and he resolves. I believe I'm going to win. I swing in for 9 damage with my Goblins and he goes to 10 life. I pass the turn. He draws and casts Eternal Witness, targeting Path to Exile. Path to Exile then targets Pardic Dragon, allowing Mulldrifter to swing in for the win. Good game bro, good game.
I won 2-0 against Jund Ramp/Giants. He was too slow, spending the early turns casting ramp spells. I cast Empty the Warrens around turn 7 or 8, swarming him and his 1-2 large creatures.
Overall, Storm was really good for me. It has loads of raw power and is really viable, able to put up a fight even when the initial combo has failed. I think a RUG list with cantrips and better suspend cards will work even better.
Lessons learned: Grinning Ignus is a house! He helped me combo off when I needed extra mana or when I needed that extra storm count. He does it all. If you draft MM again and try Storm, be sure to get some decent suspenders (not the clothes), a healthy amount of storm spells, and as many Grinning Ignuses as possible!
Yeah. Cavern is great, especially in a monocolor list where the other lands can pick up the slack for noncreature spells that need to be cast. The uncounterability is great and it can cast Jitte and Vial. Definitely run 4 if you have them.
Dredge, Combo Elves, and Merfolk. I think those are the most competitive. Merfolk has been consistently placing well in the past few months, as has Combo Elves. Dredge still has good showings as well, just not as many.
Merfolk needs Wasteland and most builds use Force of Will, but it can work without them. You will have to play a better aggro game with more lords than usual.
Combo Elves generally run Gaea's Cradle, but a budget version without them can still work (or you can buy one and run Crop Rotation).
Dredge usually runs Lion's Eye Diamond, but functions fine without them. It just becomes less explosive.
Here are some non-budget lists that have performed well at large events recently:
Merfolk
Merfolk
Merfolk
Dredge
Dredge
Combo Elves
Combo Elves
Combo Elves
Overall, I would say Merfolk is the most competitive budget deck. Both Combo Elves and Dredge can be hated out and their expensive cards don't have much use outside of these decks. Are they strong decks? Very much so. I just believe Merfolk is a great introductory deck that can perform decently on a budget and just gets better as you purchase expensive staples. Merfolk's expensive staples (Force of Will and Wasteland) see play in loads of decks and will help you break into Legacy. I hope my advice helps you.
EDIT: -Spooky- has some good, competitive, budget friendly lists for each of these archetypes in the second post of his Legacy on a Budget thread.
Definitely look into Junk/Naya Midrange or UW/x Control. These decks are reliable, competitive, and lean heavily on RTR block cards.
Here's one of my favorite lists that will stay pretty solid post-rotation:
RWU Control
Junk Midrange can be composed of all the goodstuff cards in RTR like Loxodon Smiter, Obzedat, Ghost Council, Blood Baron of Vizkopa, Putrefy, Abrupt Decay, Deathrite Shaman, the Guild Charms, and much more. These lists are very versatile and can be tuned to combat any particular deck.
Good Luck!
Yeah. I just wanted somebody's opinion on that matter before I dismissed or accepted that idea.
Generally, they're a couple of guys with Jund, UWR, or Tribal Zoo decks as well.
I hope this helps!
Here is a list that has more elements of control.
4 Magus of the Moon
4 Leonin Arbiter
4 Blade Splicer
4 Aven Mindcensor
4 Lightning Helix
4 Path to Exile
3 Blood Moon
3 Ghostly Prison
4 Clifftop Retreat
4 Sacred Foundry
9 Plains
6 Mountain
If you are looking for an aggro list, I suggest you check out this thread: http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=453343
3 Noxious Revival
4 Pact of Negation
Greaves gives Paladin shroud, blanking their removal (Mizzium Skin is another option). Leyline nerfs all forms of targeted discard. Pact is a free counter (deals with anything upon casting). Noxious Revival returns destroyed discarded Paladin as well as being decent during combo turns by returning much needed Retracts and other goodstuff. Titan is there if you want more beatdown from the board. I think it can help with problem matchups.