Quote from chrisgabriel »UWR Geist alive in the top 32 of GP Singapore! No cliques MB, Elspeth SC and Walls in the SB.
Seems like a good list. Thoughts?
This is really interesting to me because I have been testing something very similar. I've been testing his 60 with the differences of -1 Serum Visions, +1 Electrolyze, -2 Spell Snare, +2 Vendilion Clique since Wednesday (6/24) of this week. I mention that because I want it to be clear that I've had some time to test before diving into a controversial subject regarding Serum Visions in Jeskai Geist/Midrange. What I've been testing...
I don't know if I have just been wrong for a long time, or if the meta is different from it was the last time we tested, but I have really liked Serum Visions. One thing I've considered is that as my build has gotten more controlling (swapping 2x Remand for 2x Leak, adding 2 Cryptic), Serum Visions stock has risen. The reason is, when your on the all proactive burn em' plan, you're affected less by not having the selection/draw because all you want to do is draw gas, so being as redundant as possible means the selection is less important. However, when you're more of a traditional Aggro/Control deck the selection Serum Visions provides becomes incredibly valuable. If you need to be an Aggro deck, you can scry all of your controlling cards to the bottom, and vice versa. Additionally, Serum Visions allows you to plan ahead if you have a good handle on the game state. "Plan to turn the corner and switch to the aggro deck in two more turns?" Scry that Geist of Saint Traft beneath the top card and get ready to go to town. Serum Visions enables more hands to be keeps, helps you grind back against discard, finds sideboard answers, finds Geist, finds burn etc... In the interest of utilizing data over impressions to make decisions, I should be more patient, but honestly I think I am ready to "slaughter the sacred cow" and recommend that we all be running 3-4 Serum Visions in Jeskai Geist.
Side notes.
- Cryptic Command has been very good and I think two is the right number
- Elspeth is something I've test before. Very good vs Jund, good vs Junk but just ok vs Lingering Souls.
- I do not like his sideboard, I'm much more of a fan with where I've been going.
- I like Spell Snare, but not more than I like Vendilion Clique.
Also posted this as an article on my site.
http://www.greatnate.com/articles/2015/6/28/on-running-serum-visions-in-jeskai-geist
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Perhaps a nerfed Rishadan Port that has 1, T: Until end of turn, target land loses all abilities and gains "T: Add <> to your mana pool."?
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Grixis Dragon Combo is a midrange deck that constantly threatens a combo win. In early turns, tokens clog up the field and stall into late game threats or the potential combo finish. Draconic Roar is one of the best removal spells in standard, killing anything up to Mantis Rider and netting value. Foul-Tongue Invocation is not particularly impressive with the many creatures that decks in the meta are playing, but a 3 mana edict that gains life and can potentially answer Ojutai certainly makes the cut. With 11 fetches, Dig Through Time can often go off as early as turn 4. This deck is particularly weak to counterspells, but right now, they are few and far between in the meta. There are many sideboard options that can be taken into account if control decks become more popular (such as Dragonlord's Prerogative) but for now, the deck prays on a lack of counterspells.
3 Dragon Tempest
3 Descent of the Dragons
Tokens:
4 Dragon Fodder
4 Hordeling Outburst
Dragons:
4 Thunderbreak Regent
2 Kolaghan, the Storm's Fury
1 Silumgar, the Drifting Death
Interaction:
4 Draconic Roar
3 Foul-Tongue Invocation
3 Silumgar's Scorn
4 Dig Through Time
Lands: (25)
4 Bloodstained Mire
4 Polluted Delta
3 Wooded Foothills
2 Smoldering Marsh
2 Sunken Hollow
4 Shivan Reef
3 Island
2 Mountain
1 Swamp
1 Dragonlord Silumgar
2 Dispel
2 Fiery Impulse
3 Silumgar's Command
3 Ultimate Price
2 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
1 Arc Lightning
1 Self-Inflicted Wound
Playing the deck:
Sideboarding:
VS. Atarka Red
+1 Dispel
+2 Fiery Impulse
+3 Ultimate Price
+1 Arc Lightning
-3 Descent of the Dragons (six drops are too slow here)
-2 Dragon Tempest (still useful to have one copy as it pings creatures)
-2 Silumgar's Scorn (pretty slow and not as useful as removal)
VS. GW Megamorph
+2 Fiery Impulse
+3 Silumgar's Command (great answer to Gideon)
+3 Ultimate Price
+2 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker (GW can't answer an indestructible 4/4 flyer)
+1 Self-Inflicted Wound
-3 Descent of the Dragons (our tokens are all spent blocking)
-3 Foul-Tongue Invocation
-2 Silumgar's Scorn
-3 Dragon Tempest (poor vs Dromoka's Command)
VS. Jeskai Black
+2 Dispel
+2 Fiery Impulse
+3 Silumgar's Command
+1 Self-Inflicted Wound (sadly poor against Gideon but necessary for Ojutai)
-3 Descent of the Dragons (they have counters SB)
-3 Dragon Tempest
-2 Silumgar's Command
This deck is still a work in progress but I'm very happy with the progress I've made so far. I'd love to get some more people testing it or inputting ideas to try and improve the matchups. Thanks!
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Beckon Apparition W
Instant
Exile target card from a graveyard: