Currently, I have 4 Hydroblast, 4 Pyroblast, and 1 Dispel in the side. When I sideboard, I try not to side in more than 4-5 spells, since it's never good to over-side with a combo deck.
I think the deck is pretty good against the meta. Mono-green seems like a really good matchup, since the only way they can interact is with a Vines of Vastwood to keep me from targeting my guy, and that doesn't do a whole lot. Mono-green seems to be getting more popular, as well. Mono-red (goblins, burn, or straight mono-red) and Bogle Pants are in a similar boat in that they have minimal interaction, so going off on turn 3-4 is pretty easy.
Affinity is also a reasonably good matchup, since their only interaction is Galvanic Blast. It does more than Vines, since it kills a guy more often than not, but Apostle's Blessing helps.
It's primarily the Blue and Black matchups that are tough, since they have plenty of interaction. But, even those seem like they are no worse than a 60-40 in their favor.
I recently picked up U/R Kiln Fiend combo. I've done reasonable well in the practice room (I'm probably close to 10-3 in tournament practice), but I can't seem to ever do well in Daily Events with the deck. I've played in 4-5 so far, and I've gone no better than 1-2 -> drop. Does anyone have any tips on how to play the deck? Primarily: how do I play around counters/kill spells when I don't know if they have them or not? Do I even TRY to play around them? If so, how often?
What are you talking about? That bold part just shows how inane your argument is. Please explain this?
Lets see: Reaver comes down on your turn, dies at EOT to instant speed removal. No swing in the game at all.
Now: AOS comes down exiles two of their creatures and one of yours from the graveyard then dies at EOT to removal. You get a creature in your hand and theirs are effectively bounced.
Now take a minute and think about it. Which creature is more susceptible?
In the current standard, how much instant speed removal is there that could kill Reaver? Not a whole lot. Off the top of my head there is Murder, Morbid Tragic Slip/Brimstone Volley, and Double Searing Spear/Searing Spear that exiles (can't remember the name). And how many of those are actually played by most people? Tragic Slip and Searing Spear are the most prevalent.
Do you know what is better than Drogskol Reaver? Drogskol Reaver that is Wolf Run-ed for pretty much any amount. I played OmniDoor ThragFire at the SCG Super IQ in Denver this past Saturday and placed 10th. I played Drogskol instead of Angel of Serenity with 2 mainboarded Kessig Wolf Run, mainly because I REALLY wanted to draw it, and Drogskol was MVP of the day. I'm going to start playing 2 Drogskol Reaver and splash red for Kessig instead of black for Drownyard in my Bant Control lists for a while.
I played this at the SCG Super IQ in Denver yesterday. If you want to see my quick write up about it, as well as my decklist, you can find it Here.
One thing that I found was amazing in the deck was Drogskol Reaver over Angel of Serenity. He was an amazing last minute change. He helps stabilize against aggro (Kessig Wolf Run for 7? Sounds pretty good), is able to trade, or even just straight up kill, every relevant creature that is played, and is immune to Selesnya Charm (before Kessig). If I were to play this deck again, and I probably will, I might drop the Griselbrand for another.
I think the deck is pretty good against the meta. Mono-green seems like a really good matchup, since the only way they can interact is with a Vines of Vastwood to keep me from targeting my guy, and that doesn't do a whole lot. Mono-green seems to be getting more popular, as well. Mono-red (goblins, burn, or straight mono-red) and Bogle Pants are in a similar boat in that they have minimal interaction, so going off on turn 3-4 is pretty easy.
Affinity is also a reasonably good matchup, since their only interaction is Galvanic Blast. It does more than Vines, since it kills a guy more often than not, but Apostle's Blessing helps.
It's primarily the Blue and Black matchups that are tough, since they have plenty of interaction. But, even those seem like they are no worse than a 60-40 in their favor.
In the current standard, how much instant speed removal is there that could kill Reaver? Not a whole lot. Off the top of my head there is Murder, Morbid Tragic Slip/Brimstone Volley, and Double Searing Spear/Searing Spear that exiles (can't remember the name). And how many of those are actually played by most people? Tragic Slip and Searing Spear are the most prevalent.
Now, what instant speed removal can hit Angel of Serenity? The same, plus Selesnya Charm and Ultimate Price. And those are being used in pretty much any deck that can play them.
One thing that I found was amazing in the deck was Drogskol Reaver over Angel of Serenity. He was an amazing last minute change. He helps stabilize against aggro (Kessig Wolf Run for 7? Sounds pretty good), is able to trade, or even just straight up kill, every relevant creature that is played, and is immune to Selesnya Charm (before Kessig). If I were to play this deck again, and I probably will, I might drop the Griselbrand for another.