It has been said, but I suppose I'll chime in... 3 is the right amount for Moorland Haunt, in my opinion. Having 3 will give you the benefits of the card without hurting you mana-wise.
I use this formula to decide how many of a card to run
4 - I need this card, I want to draw it every game, and having multiples is fine
3- I want to see this card every game, but drawing multiples doesnt help
2- I would like to see this card late in the game some time
1- I dont need to see this card every game, but I keep it in because if I draw it when I need it, it is incredibly useful.
I like this little rule of thumb. It's definitely useful for people just getting started with deck building/tweaking.
I guess Feeling of Dredge is a card that could go into that hyper aggressive build, but the paladin is definitely not worth it in a normal humans build specially in a heavy sweeper/white aggro decks.
I'm assuming that you mean Feeling of Dread? This is another card for which there are a lot of better alternatives. To be honest, these choices would make the deck seem more like a budget deck, rather than a Tier 1 competitive deck...
I don't think there is a very good answer because there are so many variables and so many meta decisions. The important thing is to understand which one is good against which expected decks.
I completely agree. I think that they're both great cards and we're lucky to have them as options. I'm not looking to take either of them out of my deck completely, so I think the sideboarding question comes down to a matter of personal preference. I'm a believer in being comfortable with your deck, and Thalia, Guardian of Thraben always makes me a little nervous... I also run 3 Angelic Destiny in my mainboard, as well as a Sword of War and Peace, so that influences my decision, as well.
I might be beating a dead horse here, but I'm still not sure about this... I have heard a ton of people swearing up and down by Thalia, Guardian of Thraben in the mainboard, and I know that a lot of people love Grand Abolisher... So, here's what I've been considering:
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben is a monster against a lot of different decks, but the consensus seems to be that she should be used on the play. In this situation, she creates a stumbling block for your opponent that slows them down long enough for you to build momentum and wreak havoc. The first strike is a nice touch, as well. However, she is a hindrance to some already mana-costly spells like Angelic Destiny and Sword of War and Peace (consider it as a converted cost of 6, including its equip cost, with her in play). Also, she gives our Oblivion Ring a converted cost of 4, which can be tough. I also don't like how she makes our Honor of the Pure cost more, which slows our momentum a bit.
As for Grand Abolisher, his effect of locking down your opponent is amazing in a ton of different situations, and his 2/2 body makes him an efficient beater, as well. The thing I like so much about him is the fact that he is a pure benefit to us, whereas Thalia, Guardian of Thraben benefits us and hurts us at the same time.
With all this in mind, it seems like Thalia, Guardian of Thraben would be a better sideboard choice, in my opinion. If you consider the fact that her strength lies in having her on the play, coupled with our 50/50 chance of being on the play in the first game, it seems like a statistically sound decision to keep Grand Abolisher in the mainboard and have Thalia, Guardian of Thraben in the sideboard. The lockdown that Grand Abolisher provides is going to be just as useful on the draw as on the play, and if you find yourself on the play in game 2 and in a situation where she would come in handy, you could easily side in Thalia, Guardian of Thraben... What do you guys think?
(Before anyone responds with, "Why not have both in the mainboard?", please understand that my current decklist only allows for a "2x" of one of them in the mainboard!)
Given the recent change in the Competitive forum structure, I thought it would be helpful to offer a reminder that the links to each deck's competitive subforum must be updated.
Yes, I agree. I have thought about throwing out the 1 Island in my deck for another Plains, because I feel it might screw me over less. I keep it in for those sideboard cases where I need some more blue. I would not use more than 1 Island in this deck, though.
I recently put Grand Abolisher in my sideboard and kept Thalia, Guardian of Thraben in the mainboard, but the more I think about it, I think that I should do the opposite. The consensus seems to be that Thalia, Guardian of Thraben is good on the play, but she gets sided out on the draw. Grand Abolisher, on the other hand, can be quite helpful in either situation. Statistically, it seems better to keep Thalia, Guardian of Thraben in the sideboard, because you have a 50/50 shot at being on the play or on the draw for the first game. If I'm on the draw for the first game, I'd rather have Grand Abolisher to lock down any potential threats than have Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, who might not be as efficient in that scenario. Then, I can side her in (if necessary) for the second game. If I'm on the play for the first game, I won't have her, but I'll still have a good answer for many threats, and I can figure things out from there... I'm not sure if that's the best strategy, but it seems like a decent idea to me.
I guess I was just looking for a general idea of how extreme the changes in a deck are due to the rotation, on average. Does a deck like this die out with the rotation fairly often, or does it adapt and move forward?
I like Elite Inquisitor, I really do... just don't know what to take in order to bring him in.
That was my problem, as well. I ended up putting him in for Grand Abolisher (which I moved to my sideboard). I love the first strike and vigilance, and I can sideboard Grand Abolisher in against control when I need him.
I think Fiend Hunter in the mainboard is a must (due to the fact that he is a removal as well as a creature to attack/block with), but I like Leonin Relic-Warder in the sideboard because I feel that he is a little more situational (and not human, for what that's worth). Oblivion Ring is great, and I would not get rid of it... I would give some thought to Corrosive Gale, as creatures with flying should be dealt with quickly. I look at Dismember as an answer to Phyrexian Crusader, which can be a killer if not dealt with immediately. Otherwise, the life cost for this card makes it undesirable. Removal is largely a sideboard concern, and the only mainboard cards I have seen you mention seem to be Fiend Hunter and Oblivion Ring. The rest is sideboard material, and is meta-dependent.
I have always looked at Dismember as the answer to Phyrexian Crusader...
4 Rootbound Crag
3 Ghost Quarter
14 Mountain
Creatures (22)
4 Stromkirk Noble
3 Grim Lavamancer
2 Goblin Fireslinger
4 Stormblood Berserker
4 Chandra's Phoenix
3 Hellrider
2 Hero of Oxid Ridge
4 Galvanic Blast
3 Arc Trail
2 Incinerate
4 Volt Charge
Artifacts (4)
4 Shrine of Burning Rage
2 Gut Shot
2 Corrosive Gale
2 Red Sun's Zenith
2 Dismember
3 Ancient Grudge
1 Manic Vandal
1 Chandra, the Firebrand
2 Act of Aggression
I know that my sideboard needs some Slagstorm, and as soon as I get my hands on them, I'll add them in, as well.
I like this little rule of thumb. It's definitely useful for people just getting started with deck building/tweaking.
I'm assuming that you mean Feeling of Dread? This is another card for which there are a lot of better alternatives. To be honest, these choices would make the deck seem more like a budget deck, rather than a Tier 1 competitive deck...
4 Doomed Traveler
4 Champion of the Parish
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3 Fiend Hunter
2 Geist of Saint Traft
4 Mirran Crusader
4 Hero of Bladehold
Spells (12)
3 Gather the Townsfolk
4 Honor of the Pure
2 Oblivion Ring
3 Angelic Destiny
1 Sword of War and Peace
Lands (23)
11 Plains
1 Island
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Seachrome Coast
3 Moorland Haunt
2 Grand Abolisher
2 Leonin Relic-Warder
2 Mana Leak
2 Celestial Purge
2 Dismember
2 Corrosive Gale
2 Day of Judgment
1 Oblivion Ring
I completely agree. I think that they're both great cards and we're lucky to have them as options. I'm not looking to take either of them out of my deck completely, so I think the sideboarding question comes down to a matter of personal preference. I'm a believer in being comfortable with your deck, and Thalia, Guardian of Thraben always makes me a little nervous... I also run 3 Angelic Destiny in my mainboard, as well as a Sword of War and Peace, so that influences my decision, as well.
I think I'm going to try running Grand Abolisher in the mainboard and Thalia, Guardian of Thraben in the sideboard for when I need her... We'll see how that goes.
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben is a monster against a lot of different decks, but the consensus seems to be that she should be used on the play. In this situation, she creates a stumbling block for your opponent that slows them down long enough for you to build momentum and wreak havoc. The first strike is a nice touch, as well. However, she is a hindrance to some already mana-costly spells like Angelic Destiny and Sword of War and Peace (consider it as a converted cost of 6, including its equip cost, with her in play). Also, she gives our Oblivion Ring a converted cost of 4, which can be tough. I also don't like how she makes our Honor of the Pure cost more, which slows our momentum a bit.
As for Grand Abolisher, his effect of locking down your opponent is amazing in a ton of different situations, and his 2/2 body makes him an efficient beater, as well. The thing I like so much about him is the fact that he is a pure benefit to us, whereas Thalia, Guardian of Thraben benefits us and hurts us at the same time.
With all this in mind, it seems like Thalia, Guardian of Thraben would be a better sideboard choice, in my opinion. If you consider the fact that her strength lies in having her on the play, coupled with our 50/50 chance of being on the play in the first game, it seems like a statistically sound decision to keep Grand Abolisher in the mainboard and have Thalia, Guardian of Thraben in the sideboard. The lockdown that Grand Abolisher provides is going to be just as useful on the draw as on the play, and if you find yourself on the play in game 2 and in a situation where she would come in handy, you could easily side in Thalia, Guardian of Thraben... What do you guys think?
(Before anyone responds with, "Why not have both in the mainboard?", please understand that my current decklist only allows for a "2x" of one of them in the mainboard!)
As chanco said, it's completely situational. She just becomes a slot to use for an answer to whatever I'm up against.
That was my problem, as well. I ended up putting him in for Grand Abolisher (which I moved to my sideboard). I love the first strike and vigilance, and I can sideboard Grand Abolisher in against control when I need him.