I think your sideboard should be considered alongside your main 60. We're going to play at least as many sideboarded games as pre-boarded ones, and with access to as effective sideboard cards as Stony Silence, it could very well affect your main deck choices.
That being said, I'd add Zealous Persecution to your list. I am curious to see if Gideon & Windbrisk Heights work for you after I failed with them.
I'll throw in my two cents for Brimaz as the best creature card to have in the sideboard. You can go back to my last tournament reports earlier in this thread for details on how he won me sideboarded games.
I want to bring in a creature from the sideboard against fast creature decks and burn for defense and an eventual way to turn the corner, as well as against most combo decks as another threat when I side out my creature removal. Brimaz and his cat soldier army accomplish both tasks very well. Drana unfortunately fails the first test for me, and at 4 mana, Hero fails too. As mentioned above, we have a lot of options for our 75, and Brimaz does enough things well that it frees up sideboard slots for other difficult matchups.
[quote from="Thumbs »" url="http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/modern/developing-competitive-modern/562369-bw-tokens?comment=3939"]Star City Games Modern Premier IQ Report - Somerset, NJ, 11/29/2015
Couple of questions... notably absent disenchant/sundering growth anywhere in the SB compared to your GP list. Did you ever feel like having access to these would have helped a matchup? Also, 2x ZP main, how have these been performing for you? I have always found these to be flex spots (of which there are increasingly few) and have moved away from them recently... how did they perform overall, do you still feel they are worth 2x main?
I would LOVE to have had Sundering Growth in the round 1 mirror match - that's pretty much the best sideboard card to have! I just don't think many other decks are playing enchantments that we need to worry about. The worst enchantment for us to see is Night of Soul's Betrayal out of BGx decks, but it's probably just a 1-of. It could hit some artifacts in Tron, but I decided to just run Stony Silence to screw them over more.
I feel Zealous Persecution is worth 2 in the main deck. I like having more than 4 pump effects in the deck, but not too many. If your opponent has lots of creatures, this screws up combat math so much in our favor; if they don't have creatures, it takes 1 turn off our clock. I wish I had a 3rd in my sideboard this past weekend vs the mirror, Affinity, and Abzan, and will make room going forward.
[quote from="CavalryWolfPack »" url="http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/modern/developing-competitive-modern/562369-bw-tokens?comment=3941"][quote from="murzzzz »" url="http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/modern/developing-competitive-modern/562369-bw-tokens?comment=3940"]
Edit: Also, thanks for the write ups! Honestly, I had been drifting away from the deck and working on other formats, but this actually gets me so pumped to play tokens again. I think the tokens lists overall are getting quite well tuned.
You're welcome. I've put up some detail of all the competitive rounds I've played over these last couple of pages in an attempt to find a 75 I like the most.
And in the sideboard:
-1 Duress
+1 Engineered Explosives
I'm a fan of no less than 7 turn 1 discard spells main deck. There's just too many crazy combo decks in Modern for me to feel safe with any less. Engineered Explosives is pretty much our deck's worst nightmare when set to 0, and I am not sure if it is worth setting to 1 or 2 in a lot of matchups (especially 2 because of Bitterblossom & Intangible Virtue).
Also, after this weekend, I am quite disillusioned with all lands that come into play tapped, so I will try not playing with any Windbrisk Heights next time.
Star City Games Modern Premier IQ Report - Somerset, NJ, 11/29/2015
Saturday - Signed up for the Legacy Open. I went 5-3-1 with a Grixis Young Peezy deck (I guess I play tokens in every format ) - I miss day 2 by one win, so I start thinking about how to change my Modern deck after GP Pittsburgh last weekend. I decide on this:
Why did I change the deck?
- I thought Liliana's +1 and -2 help out in virtually every matchup I struggled with last weekend (Twin, Scapeshift, and decks with big creatures)
- Y'all liked Auriok Champion so much that I felt I wanted it vs red fast decks and Twin only, probably making me the only person ever to register it only in the sideboard
- Stony Silence gives me a better chance to steal a win vs Tron, which I lost to twice
- I wanted more Isolated Chapels and less Windbrisk Heights because Liliana really wants me to have more black mana early
Round 1 out of 9 (260 players) - Beat BW Tokens 2-1
I was shocked to face the mirror for the first time ever. It was my opponent's first big tournament ever too. Game 1, I draw more token spells than him, and his Elspeth, Knight Errant is no match for my flying army. Game 2 is the opposite - he Thoughtseizes my Bitterblossom, and I don't have enough dudes to stop his flying, Intangible Virtue'd army. Game 3, he mulls to 6, and a Thoughtseize reveals a Blood Baron of Vizkopa. I fortunately had a Bitterblossom, Spectral Procession, Intangible Virtue, and Sorin on my side to win right after he casts the Baron.
Round 2 - Beat Scapeshift (Bring to Light ver.) 2-1
Game 1, I keep a hand with 2 Path to Exiles, Bitterblossom, and Thoughtseize, which reveals that I have no way of stopping her from casting Scapeshift for the win in short order. Games 2 & 3, I'm able to cast Liliana very early, which with the help of lots of Duresses and Thoughtseizes, put her in top deck mode, which is exactly the way we need to win. I never casted or owned Lili before this match, so I don't think I played her correctly when I drew the 2nd in hand, but I learn fast enough. She had an Obstinate Baloth in her hand in g3, which I bluffed her into casting when I shocked and TS'd myself down to 10 life on turn 3-4. Liliana was cast soon after, and I get revenge from last weekend's T4 Scapeshift loss
Round 3 - Beat Naya Burn 2-1
I was so excited to have Liliana in my main deck that I unfortunately wished I had Timely Reinforcements back like I did last weekend. I lose a close game 1 when he top decks the Bolt to win before my 5 tokens can finish him off. Game 2, I'm able to Duress away a Boros Charm, cast Timely Reinforcements for the full value, and cruise. Game 3 involved us both mulling, me finding another Timely Reinforcements on turn 3, which I safely cast after Inquisitioning his hand to make sure the coast was clear.
Round 4 - Beat Jeskai Control 2-0
It felt like I was back in 2013 standard again, playing against Sphinx's Revelation, Supreme Verdict, and Snapcaster Mage. He kept a non-interactive hand in game 1, which gave me plenty of time to find a lot of token spells and Virtues to continuously put him under pressure. Game 2, I keep a hand with 3 discard spells, followed by Liliana, which completely crippled any chance for him to interact much. Even when he found a Supreme Verdict, I just made 4 tokens on the following turn to force him to have an answer immediately, which he didn't.
Round 5 - Beat Naya Fast Zoo 2-1
I thought this matchup was as hopeless as Tron before playing out this round. Game 1, after Thoughtseizing a Tarmogoyf on turn 1, I think I've slowed him down long enough to stabilize early with Bitterblossom... until he goes Burning-Tree Emissary into Wild Nacatl and Grim Lavamancer. I lose after he Bolts away enough blockers. Games 2 & 3 featured the amazing awesomeness of Auriok Champion. She showed up on turn 2 both times. Since I have never owned or cast the card before, I most definitely missed a few life gain triggers in game 2. I thankfully started to remember quick enough to gain at least 12 life by notes in game 2, and at least 8 life in game 3. The champ combos very well with both Timely Reinforcements and Brimaz. This matchup is why I have Brimaz in the sideboard over any other creature - he's only 3 mana and is still tougher than everything Naya Zoo can throw at me (except Goyf). I felt amazing after winning this matchup for the first time.
Round 6 - Beat Jeskai Twin 2-0
After this round, I felt everything truly went my way. I've now played against Twin enough to know what to do - when I cast a discard spell, and Remand is one of the cards in hand, I will take that every single time. I drew a plethora of removal early in both games, so even after Vendilion Clique'ing me, I still had enough extra removal in hand to not worry. I also only cast 1 Bitterblossom each game, even though I drew a 2nd one early - I learned last week not to die to my own enchantments! I drew enough token spells to eventually win both games (even through a Supreme Verdict in g2). One more win, and I am in top 8.
Round 7 - Lost to Abzan Aggro 0-2
Game 1, keep a 2 land hand and never see a 3rd - die to t2 Loxodon Smiter and friends. Game 2, I'm able to Dismember his t1 Birds of Paradise and cast Timely Reinforcements for full value, but I run out of gas and draw only lands afterwards, and although my 3 soldiers knocked him down to 4 life, his Lingering Souls + Gavony Township quickly kills me before I can find a Zealous Persecution.
Round 8 - Lost to Affinity 1-2
Game 1, he mulls to 6, doesn't keep a powerful hand that does anything, and I win pretty quickly. Game 2, I mull to 6, and he Thoughtseizes away my Inquisition turn 1, plays an Etched Champion, then Cranial Plating for the quick win. Game 3, I keep a horrible hand with both of the Sorins in my deck, one piece of interaction, and 1 token spell. He ends up Thoughtseizing me on turn 1 again, puts out lots of 0 cost artifacts, then casts both Thoughtcast and Thoughtseize on turn 2, screwing up any chance of me properly stopping his plan. He actually casts two more Thoughtcasts, has way more cards than me, and is able to assemble Etched Champion + Cranial Plating again. I should've mulled to 6 to maybe try to find a Stony Silence - but it probably was getting Thoughtseized if it was in my hand on turn 1. I missed having a 3rd Zealous Persecution - casting two of those in the same turn is probably the only way I can think of beating his Champ + Plating.
Round 9 - Lost to RW Burn 0-2
So I felt just regularly sad about losing the prior two win-and-ins for top 8, but I didn't think I made too many bad decisions. I don't feel the same about this round (which was another win-and-in - this opponent made top 8). I know he's on burn since he sat near me in prior rounds. I keep a 2-land hand with some removal and a couple 3-drop token spells. He goes t1 Goblin Guide, t2 Goblin Guide + Monastery Swiftspear. Goblin Guide triggers reveal no lands, which means no 3rd land for me until I'm dead on board. Game 2, I keep a hand only a little better - 2 Sorins, Brimaz, Go for the Throat, and 3 lands. He has a multiple Goblin Guide start, but Brimaz briefly stabilizes things. He uses a Rift Bolt and a Lightning Helix to kill Brimaz and clear the way for one Goblin Guide to keep attacking, which is great for me. At this point, I duress, take another Helix, and he has 2 Eidolon of the Great Revels in hand. After this, it's a blur, but I did everything wrong. I was so afraid to make any moves after I cast Auriok Champion that I forgot how she could gain me life if I just kept her alive and just started casting Lingering Souls and other spells after he had an Eidolon out. I didn't do anything, which gave him extra draw steps to find burn (which is his whole deck of course), and I lose an embarrasing game 2. The worst part is somewhere in this game, I play Windbrisk Heights, and the first card revealed is Timely Reinforcements (I didn't have 3 dudes out). If I simply not had this land in my deck, I would've just drawn TR, played it for full value, and probably won this game. I felt very tilted that I pretty much milled my best anti-Burn card away.
Even though I feel I wasted a golden opportunity to put this deck on the map and play in a big top 8, doing well in this Modern tournament and at GP Pittsburgh has convinced me that this deck is the real deal. I'll probably just use the $ from this to get even more RK Post tokens that match, so that I can look good while flooding the board with all sorts of great-looking creatures.
Hey guys, I finished 6-3 today. I was 6-0, at table 1 for round 7, but I unfortunately could not win after, when any of the wins put me in top 8. Needless to say, Liliana & Auriok Champion were ridiculously awesome. I won 2 matchups I have never come close to winning thanks to them (Scapeshift & Naya fast Zoo), but since I never cast them before, I didn't make the right decisions with them in r8&9.
I'll make a long report this week when I feel better about my 26th place finish out of 260 for $50 - it just could've been so much more. Definitely couldn't have gotten there without all of your ideas.
In your last parts #3, when you say Timely Reinforcements, you mean Raise the Alarm, right? Timely gives you 3 dudes & 6 life when you're behind, and Raise gives you 2 dudes at instant speed. I agree that Raise is underwhelming, especially against decks like Anafenza Company that can block non-flying creatures well before they get their combo.
BTW, I traded for 2 Auriok Champion & 2 Liliana of the Veil for today's Modern 5K Premier IQ in New Jersey, so brace yourselves for another long report from me!
It seems that you are getting burnt out against conbo decks, do you think mainboard Auriok Champions would help against that? Or are you set on no changing anything? I love the notes from the modern tourney so thank you very much for that! Also how did Brimaz do for you? A lot of people just say to use Hero instead of Brimaz and just curious if you felt it lined up well
Also you play 11 fetches, do you feel that is a burden to your life total or do you feel like it's a necessary evil for consistency? When I play with only 7 fetches and 2 Mainboard champions I hardly ever get burnt out it feels like, and mostly lose to quick starts and extra bolts to storm alongisde strong attackers or of course... TRON lol
Super happy t osee such good results and It's unfortunate to have so many losses in day two
Thanks. I run 8 fetches, not 11. I run that many to have 14 lands that cast a B discard on turn 1, and W to cast Spectral Procession later.
Auriok Champion? So let's go over the decks I played against this past weekend:
Great: Twin (3x), 4-color Zoo
OK: Delver
Bad: Abzan (3x), Tron (3x), Scapeshift, Infect, Affinity, Amulet Bloom
I still don't like it as a main deck option, but it might be a great sideboard card. If I simply didn't cast 2 Bitterblossom the two times I got burned out, I would've won.
Brimaz is 1 mana cheaper than Hero of Bladehold, so that's why I went with him. I wanted as few 4 mana cards in my deck as possible because of all the combo and aggro decks out there. Brimaz and his cat army also plays great defense against Wild Nacatl and Goblin Guide, while still being a very annoying creature versus Jund, Abzan, and slow combo decks like Scapeshift.
Friday - I arrive in time for the last Modern grinder of the night. During the 5 hour drive, to confirm the 75 cards I wanted to play, my car companion wrote out a sideboard plan for the 20 decks I expected to face. We determined that the above 75 was good as long as I could find a second Sundering Growth at the site. That didn't happen
Friday R1 - Beat Abzan 2-1
He had too many Goyfs and other big creatures for my lack of removal and creatures game 1. Game 2, I'm stuck on lands, but he Paths one of my spirit tokens that unlocks the rest of my hand, unleashing a lot more spirits. Game 3, he Thoughtseized my Lingering Souls from my hand
R2 - Beat GR Tron 2-0
That's not a typo. He mulled to 4 game 1, and I still gave him enough time to be 1 turn away from casting Ugin to win. Game 2, I have a slow hand, but he keeps a hand with lots of colored spells but no colored mana nor Tron. I'm able to get 8 creatures out with BB + Spirit spells. He eventually gets Tron, casts Ulamog, but I have too many creatures out, and after attacking me with Ulamog for the lulz, he concedes.
After a bye, R4 - Beat Merfolk 2-0
If you've read any of my other posts, you know how this goes - I need lots of removal, and with now 7 removal spells main deck, I'm confident I can draw enough to race Fish. Whenever my life total was in danger, Vault of the Archangel and Sorin were there to save the day and win both games.
I then split the finals with the Burn player, giving him the 2 byes and getting 60 prize wall tickets. So, I was very confident in my GP chances after these matches.
GP Round 3 after 2 byes - Beat Infect 2-0.
I mulled to 6 and had to keep a hand without removal g1. He goes t1 Hierarch, t2 Blighted Agent & Dryad Arbor. I rip a Zealous Persecution off the top for the perfect 3-for-1 and cruise to the win. G2, I ZP'd away 2 other infect creatures and raced a 1/1 Glistener Elf that never got bigger thanks to Duress'ing away all his pump for a nice way to start the day.
Round 4 - Beat UR Twin 2-0
Game 1, thanks to t2&t3 Bitterblossom, my end-game board state was 16 Faerie Rogues and 3 Spirits when I won. It got that crazy thanks to 3 Cryptic Commands and 1 Timely Reinforcements on my part to avoid dying to my own stuff. Game 2, I draw a few Dismembers and cast them to kill off 3 Exarchs, and eventually swing for lethat with 6 fliers with Intangible Virtue out.
Round 5 - I'm at table 12 against Amulet Bloom. It felt nice being around the pros.
Game 1, I'm at first shocked I survive past turn 4 without him drawing either Amulet or Bloom. Unfortunately, he finds Engineered Explosives off of an Ancient Stirrings, destroys about 7 tokens, and cruises to a Primetime-fueled win after that.
Game 2, I keep a t2 Bitterblossom hand, hoping to race him. That plan went out the window when he cast Prime Time on turn 3 via Tolaria West -> Summoner's Pact. I have a Path to Exile in hand, waiting to exile it next turn... but he incredibly draws a card without paying for his Pact!!!!!!!11 I recognized it right away, and off we go to game 3.
Game 3, he cast Prime Time 4 times. 4 times, I had a removal spell in hand for it. I didn't draw a token maker for many turns though, so he has a chance if he can find a Hive Mind. After a long game, I eventually find a Lingering Souls, which combined with my 2 Virtues out, end the game in short order.
Round 6 - I'm at table 6 now...
...but so is Tim Turner with GR Tron. Both games were not even close. Game 1, I don't keep a hand with discard, he gets to Tron early, and Wurmcoil + O Stone is too much for me to recover from. Game 2, I mull to 6. I have a couple Duresses, but I can't keep him off neither Tron nor colored mana. He Pyroclasm'd first, then Ugin'd, then Ulamog showed up. He wrote a great tournament report on Reddit that is worth reading (except where I lost :))
Round 7 - Lost to 4-Color Zoo 0-infinity
I thought the last matchup was bad... this was worse. Wild Nacatl, Kird Ape, Noble Hierarch, Boros Charm were all cast really fast to beat me game 1, while Dromoka's Command, Atarka's Command, Ghor-Clan Rampager w/bloodrush, and *2* Negates completely blew me out game 2. I saw zero Timely Reinforcements either game, which would've been real nice. At this point, I'm not very confident in my day 2 chances.
Round 8 - Beat Abzan 2-0
If you're ever feeling bad about playing Tokens, just play a couple games against Abzan. With a Courser of Kruphix showing Liliana of the Veil on top of his deck, he tried to shuffle it away 3 different times, but she came back every time in game 1. I drew lots of Lingering Souls tokens to keep her happy and block his Goyf to win. Game 2 was a lot closer thanks to some Siege Rhinos, but Dismember is a good enough answer to stop his pressure while my Bitterblossom army got bigger and bigger till they won via Zealous Persecution.
Round 9 - Affinity - This is the deck I played to a PTQ top 8 last year, so I thought it was fitting that I had to beat it to make my first Modern day 2. Game 1, I mull to 6. He hits me fast with a Cranial Plating'd guy to get me to 6 life fast. I have Bitterblossom out, and I think that those blockers + Timely Reinforcements will give me enough time to turn the tide, but he casts two Shrapnel Blasts and a Galvanic Blast to burn me out. I should've gotten the message that this wasn't a typical Affinity list, and board more Timely Reinforcements in, but I didn't. I just bring in the 3rd ZP and the two Disenchant-like cards. Game 2, he mulls down to 5, and I win by casting Lingering Souls a few times with a Virtue out.
Game 3, I have to mull to 6. I keep a hand with a Godless Shrine, Windbrisk Heights, two Path to Exiles, a Sorin, and an Intangible Virtue. He goes t1 Ornithopter x2, Opal, Blinkmoth Nexus, Ensoul Artifact on Ornithopter, pass. I Path the creature, and he doesn't even try to find a basic land. Turn 2, he has another Ensoul for the 2nd thopter and hits for 5. I path again, and again he doesn't try to find a land. He then tries to play a 2nd opal and a drum to animate his Nexus and attack, but he can't do that, and he gets a judge warning. So he has 2 permanents and can't do anything. Unfortunately, for 5 turns, neither can I, as I miss hitting a land for that long (drawing only lots of 3-mana token makers). I have a Virtue under my Windbrisk Heights, so I can end the game very quickly once I get the 3rd land. I finally do, attack him for 12, then another 12. He eventually found colored mana and started to burn me out, which got very scary, but I somehow emerged victorious @ 7-2 to make day 2.
Day 2 - pretty much everything went wrong.
Round 10 - Lost to RG Scapeshift 0-2
I got Scapeshifted on T4 thanks to Khalni Heart Expedition in g1. I got primetime'd in game 2. Didn't find any discard in either quick game.
Round 11 - Lost to Jeskai Twin 1-2
I win g1 when he mulls to 4. Game 2, I thought my 2 Bitterblossoms would easily win, especially when I thoughtseize his Splinter Twin and Exarch and he only has a Lightning Helix and Lightning Bolt. He of course then finds another Bolt and a Snapcaster Mage to burn me out.
Game 3, I was stuck on 3 lands, got Remanded a lot, and eventually died to Restoration Angel + Kiki-Jiki. I was really pissed I lost game 2.
Round 12 - Lost to GR Tron 1-2
Game 1, he gets Tron quickly and I can't beat an O-Stone plus 2 Karns and a Wurmcoil after I mull. Game 2, he mulls to 5, I mull to 6, but I draw the fastest hand I could - BB, Spectral Procession, Virtue + Heights activation = easy win when he can't cast anything. Game 3, the board state got weird. He didn't find Tron for awhile, which let me set up a Virtue and a few dudes. He O-Stones it all away, but I then find a Sorin, and start making Vampires with a Virtue out. I have my 1-of Disenchant in hand and Path to Exile when I attack with 1 Vampire to put him to 4. He then casts Wurmcoil Engine with 1 card in hand. I go to Path at the end of his turn, he tries to Nature's Claim it to gain 4 life, and I disenchant it. There's only 1 problem - since it's a disenchant and not a Sundering Growth, I can't get a free 3/3 vampire and attack for the win. Instead, he draws and casts Emrakul with a 3/3 lifelink wurm out. He annihilates for 6, and I can't keep enough permaments out to swing back for the win and have enough mana to cast anything off the top. Another frustrating way to lose. I REALLY thought I would be on 2 Stony Silence instead of the Sundering Growth plan, which is why I didn't try to get a 2nd until the day of.
Round 13 - Lose to UR Twin 1-2. G1&2 were uneventful, but g3, he goes t1 Engineered Explosives, t3 flash in Izzet Staticaster without me drawing an Intangible Virtue, and Keranos with plenty of gas to burn me out.
Round 14 - My only win of day 2 coming against... I'm sure you guessed it was against Abzan. I had to take a screenshot of my g2 win to feel better. It involved a Cat Soldier, a bunch of Faeries, 2 Virtues, and a Rest in Peace that blanked about every card in my opponent's hand.
Round 15 - Lost to Grixis Delver 0-2
Game 1, I go t2&t3 bitterblossom. Again, I think it'll win me the game after making him discard twice, but again, he draw nothing but Bolts to kill me. Game 2, I mull to 4, and am too exhausted to play anymore.
That's my journey. I played against gracious and nice opponents all 3 days, reminding me how much I love the Magic community. My RK Post tokens looked great on the battlefield all weekend. I am totally sticking with this deck for the foreseeable future.
Thanks... I just wanted the 14th black mana on turn 1 to cast a discard spell more than I wanted the 21st white source for Spectral Procession, and I was too afraid to run a 2nd Fetid Heath and draw both to start the game.
How many Secure - I believe that the vast majority of Modern decks I've played against lately don't give us enough of a "late game" for Secure the Wastes (or Gideon ) to shine, so I will not be running any this weekend. The creatures other decks have also make the soldiers from Raise the Alarm seem weak unless Intangible Virtue is out, so I'm not playing them either. I will bet that Bitterblossom + removal + life-gain will work out.
Removal - I'm still very fearful of all the Wild Nacatl & Merfolk decks, so I am considering cutting the 3rd Sorin for another removal spell.
24 lands - I really don't want to miss any land drops. I've seen the discussion above about Windbrisk Heights vs. Shambling Vent. Vent didn't work out for me before, but now that I am going to run Dismembers in the main deck (mainly vs Twin), it would be nice to have extra B that doesn't hurt. Flipping an anthem off Heights is awesome... but having an extra way to gain life in a pinch sounds good too. You guys just might have convinced me to put a couple Vents back in.
I agree now that splashing red just for Crumble to Dust is not good. Having Lightning Bolt sounds good too, but I'd rather be able to fetch basics and protect my life total.
Thanks again everyone for all of your thoughts. I'm off to GP Pittsburgh tomorrow, hopefully in time to play a little that night. I'll do what I can with my 2 byes!
Here's a summary of the 13 rounds I played in the last 4 days or so. Thursday & Friday, I played a build with no Spectral Procession, opting for Secure the Wastes & Raise the Alarm instead.
Thursday R1: Lose to GR tron 2-0
G1:He has t3 tron via Expedition Map into Karn + Ugin... Enough said
G2: Board into Ghost Quarter + Surgical Extraction... Mulled to 6, don't see either, and my discard does not slow him down enough to get to Tron and Ugin me out.
R2: Beat Restore Balance 2-0
Even when they cascade into the namesake spell, they're way slower than us, and Bitterblossom by t4 generated enough pressure both games.
R3: Beat Jund 2-1
G1, he wins with a fast start of t1 discard, t2 goyf, t3 abrupt decay on my Bitterblossom. Games 2&3, I side out most of my discard, side in Rest in Peace, and grind him out very well.
R4: Beat Abzan Aggro 2-1
I took advantage of a number of mistakes from my opponent to win. Zealous Persecution sure makes my Lingering Souls tokens happy and his sad.
Friday R1: Beat Ad Nauseum 2-0
He mulled to oblivion both games.
R2: Lost to Merfolk 1-2
He mulled to nothing g1. This might, my 75 didn't have many individual removal spells, so it was really hard to race this deck, and I lost g2&g3.
R3: Lost to Abzan CoCo (no combo) 0-2
Even without infinite combos, I got rekt by CoCo into Goyf + Eternal Witness, getting back CoCo, repeat.
R4: Lost to Merfolk again 0-2
Same story as R2.
After those 8 rounds, I decided that Secure the Wastes & Raise the Alarm were not good for me. They don't fly, so Abzan & Merfolk can block them, and they themselves don't block well without an anthem. I also decided against the GQ + Surgical Extraction plan because it was taking up too many spots in the 75, and opted for Vault of the Archangel.
Sunday IQ R1: Beat Merfolk 2-1
Spectral Procession immediately proves its worth again. I'm able to race him well in g1&g3 thanks to that, Bitterblossom, Vault gaining life, and Murderous Cut'ing a Lord.
R2: Tied Abzan 1-1-1
I *hate* to ever tie. I win g1 fast, but in g2, I keep top decking creatures to block his, all while drawing multiple Rest in Peaces from the sb to lower his clock. I have the kill in g3 if I had 1 more turn.
R3: Beat Merfolk 2-1
I was really happy to beat Merfolk again after my previous failures. Again, having extra cheap removal spells was key, as was gaining 12 life with Vault the turn before he thought he could win.
R4: Lost to Elves 0-999999
He nut drew me both games by dumping a lot of Elves on the first 3 turns. Zealous Persecution wouldn't have helped after he dropped an Elvish Archdruid to give the squad +1/+1.
R5: Lost to Grixis Twin 1-2
I make top 8 if I win this. Game 1, he Remands me about 20 times, and wins via new Jace & Tasigur. I board like he is on Twin anyway, which I'm right about. He mulls in g2, and doesn't assemble the combo to win fast enough. G3, he mulls to 5, but beats me after I make him discard Twin, 2 pestermites, but top deck Remands me 3 times again, so I have no pressure, and after wasting my 1 removal spell on Tasigur in an attempt to race, he twins me out. Tough way to lose
Sorry for the long post, but here's my TL;DR summary:
- Secure the Wastes was not good in any of these matchups. It shouldn't be in the 75 IMO.
- We need *at least* 7 removal spells in the 75 for Merfolk and related matchups.
- Vault of the Archangel is worthy enough to be a 2-of.
- I want to try splashing Red for Crumble to Dust for Tron, and Radiant Flames for Elves and any deck with mana creatures.
I tried a 2/2 split last night, and it felt right. It can be pretty much a dead card (like last night vs the 2 combo matchups RG Tron & Restore Balance), and a good card even when not vs Burn or fast creature decks (like my other 2 matchups last night, Jund & Abzan Aggro).
I'm currently aiming to bring in about 5 cards from my sideboard for Affinity. Right now for me, those cards would be 2 Ghost Quarter, 2 Stony Silence, and either a Surgical Extraction (hopefully getting Etched Champion) or a Timely Reinforcements. With 2 Zealous Persecution in my main deck, I feel pretty good about my chances.
My favorite is Burning-Tree Emissary. I have had success in tournament play because of her subtle power in both starting fast and comboing with Nykthos.
That being said, I'd add Zealous Persecution to your list. I am curious to see if Gideon & Windbrisk Heights work for you after I failed with them.
I want to bring in a creature from the sideboard against fast creature decks and burn for defense and an eventual way to turn the corner, as well as against most combo decks as another threat when I side out my creature removal. Brimaz and his cat soldier army accomplish both tasks very well. Drana unfortunately fails the first test for me, and at 4 mana, Hero fails too. As mentioned above, we have a lot of options for our 75, and Brimaz does enough things well that it frees up sideboard slots for other difficult matchups.
I would LOVE to have had Sundering Growth in the round 1 mirror match - that's pretty much the best sideboard card to have!
I feel Zealous Persecution is worth 2 in the main deck. I like having more than 4 pump effects in the deck, but not too many. If your opponent has lots of creatures, this screws up combat math so much in our favor; if they don't have creatures, it takes 1 turn off our clock. I wish I had a 3rd in my sideboard this past weekend vs the mirror, Affinity, and Abzan, and will make room going forward.
You're welcome. I've put up some detail of all the competitive rounds I've played over these last couple of pages in an attempt to find a 75 I like the most.
I'm a fan of no less than 7 turn 1 discard spells main deck. There's just too many crazy combo decks in Modern for me to feel safe with any less. Engineered Explosives is pretty much our deck's worst nightmare when set to 0, and I am not sure if it is worth setting to 1 or 2 in a lot of matchups (especially 2 because of Bitterblossom & Intangible Virtue).
Also, after this weekend, I am quite disillusioned with all lands that come into play tapped, so I will try not playing with any Windbrisk Heights next time.
Saturday - Signed up for the Legacy Open. I went 5-3-1 with a Grixis Young Peezy deck (I guess I play tokens in every format
4 Godless Shrine
2 Bloodstained Mire
2 Windswept Heath
4 Marsh Flats
3 Isolated Chapel
2 Snow-Covered Swamp
3 Snow-Covered Plains
1 Fetid Heath
2 Vault of the Archangel
1 Windbrisk Heights
Dudes:
4 Bitterblossom
4 Lingering Souls
4 Spectral Procession
2 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
4 Path to Exile
2 Dismember
1 Murderous Cut
4 Inquisition of Kozilek
3 Thoughtseize
2 Liliana of the Veil
Pump:
4 Intangible Virtue
2 Zealous Persecution
3 Rest in Peace
2 Duress
3 Stony Silence
2 Auriok Champion
1 Go for the Throat
2 Timely Reinforcements
2 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
Why did I change the deck?
- I thought Liliana's +1 and -2 help out in virtually every matchup I struggled with last weekend (Twin, Scapeshift, and decks with big creatures)
- Y'all liked Auriok Champion so much that I felt I wanted it vs red fast decks and Twin only, probably making me the only person ever to register it only in the sideboard
- Stony Silence gives me a better chance to steal a win vs Tron, which I lost to twice
- I wanted more Isolated Chapels and less Windbrisk Heights because Liliana really wants me to have more black mana early
Round 1 out of 9 (260 players) - Beat BW Tokens 2-1
I was shocked to face the mirror for the first time ever. It was my opponent's first big tournament ever too. Game 1, I draw more token spells than him, and his Elspeth, Knight Errant is no match for my flying army. Game 2 is the opposite - he Thoughtseizes my Bitterblossom, and I don't have enough dudes to stop his flying, Intangible Virtue'd army. Game 3, he mulls to 6, and a Thoughtseize reveals a Blood Baron of Vizkopa. I fortunately had a Bitterblossom, Spectral Procession, Intangible Virtue, and Sorin on my side to win right after he casts the Baron.
Round 2 - Beat Scapeshift (Bring to Light ver.) 2-1
Game 1, I keep a hand with 2 Path to Exiles, Bitterblossom, and Thoughtseize, which reveals that I have no way of stopping her from casting Scapeshift for the win in short order. Games 2 & 3, I'm able to cast Liliana very early, which with the help of lots of Duresses and Thoughtseizes, put her in top deck mode, which is exactly the way we need to win. I never casted or owned Lili before this match, so I don't think I played her correctly when I drew the 2nd in hand, but I learn fast enough. She had an Obstinate Baloth in her hand in g3, which I bluffed her into casting when I shocked and TS'd myself down to 10 life on turn 3-4. Liliana was cast soon after, and I get revenge from last weekend's T4 Scapeshift loss
Round 3 - Beat Naya Burn 2-1
I was so excited to have Liliana in my main deck that I unfortunately wished I had Timely Reinforcements back like I did last weekend. I lose a close game 1 when he top decks the Bolt to win before my 5 tokens can finish him off. Game 2, I'm able to Duress away a Boros Charm, cast Timely Reinforcements for the full value, and cruise. Game 3 involved us both mulling, me finding another Timely Reinforcements on turn 3, which I safely cast after Inquisitioning his hand to make sure the coast was clear.
Round 4 - Beat Jeskai Control 2-0
It felt like I was back in 2013 standard again, playing against Sphinx's Revelation, Supreme Verdict, and Snapcaster Mage. He kept a non-interactive hand in game 1, which gave me plenty of time to find a lot of token spells and Virtues to continuously put him under pressure. Game 2, I keep a hand with 3 discard spells, followed by Liliana, which completely crippled any chance for him to interact much. Even when he found a Supreme Verdict, I just made 4 tokens on the following turn to force him to have an answer immediately, which he didn't.
Round 5 - Beat Naya Fast Zoo 2-1
I thought this matchup was as hopeless as Tron before playing out this round. Game 1, after Thoughtseizing a Tarmogoyf on turn 1, I think I've slowed him down long enough to stabilize early with Bitterblossom... until he goes Burning-Tree Emissary into Wild Nacatl and Grim Lavamancer. I lose after he Bolts away enough blockers. Games 2 & 3 featured the amazing awesomeness of Auriok Champion. She showed up on turn 2 both times. Since I have never owned or cast the card before, I most definitely missed a few life gain triggers in game 2. I thankfully started to remember quick enough to gain at least 12 life by notes in game 2, and at least 8 life in game 3. The champ combos very well with both Timely Reinforcements and Brimaz. This matchup is why I have Brimaz in the sideboard over any other creature - he's only 3 mana and is still tougher than everything Naya Zoo can throw at me (except Goyf). I felt amazing after winning this matchup for the first time.
Round 6 - Beat Jeskai Twin 2-0
After this round, I felt everything truly went my way. I've now played against Twin enough to know what to do - when I cast a discard spell, and Remand is one of the cards in hand, I will take that every single time. I drew a plethora of removal early in both games, so even after Vendilion Clique'ing me, I still had enough extra removal in hand to not worry. I also only cast 1 Bitterblossom each game, even though I drew a 2nd one early - I learned last week not to die to my own enchantments! I drew enough token spells to eventually win both games (even through a Supreme Verdict in g2). One more win, and I am in top 8.
Round 7 - Lost to Abzan Aggro 0-2
Game 1, keep a 2 land hand and never see a 3rd - die to t2 Loxodon Smiter and friends. Game 2, I'm able to Dismember his t1 Birds of Paradise and cast Timely Reinforcements for full value, but I run out of gas and draw only lands afterwards, and although my 3 soldiers knocked him down to 4 life, his Lingering Souls + Gavony Township quickly kills me before I can find a Zealous Persecution.
Round 8 - Lost to Affinity 1-2
Game 1, he mulls to 6, doesn't keep a powerful hand that does anything, and I win pretty quickly. Game 2, I mull to 6, and he Thoughtseizes away my Inquisition turn 1, plays an Etched Champion, then Cranial Plating for the quick win. Game 3, I keep a horrible hand with both of the Sorins in my deck, one piece of interaction, and 1 token spell. He ends up Thoughtseizing me on turn 1 again, puts out lots of 0 cost artifacts, then casts both Thoughtcast and Thoughtseize on turn 2, screwing up any chance of me properly stopping his plan. He actually casts two more Thoughtcasts, has way more cards than me, and is able to assemble Etched Champion + Cranial Plating again. I should've mulled to 6 to maybe try to find a Stony Silence - but it probably was getting Thoughtseized if it was in my hand on turn 1. I missed having a 3rd Zealous Persecution - casting two of those in the same turn is probably the only way I can think of beating his Champ + Plating.
Round 9 - Lost to RW Burn 0-2
So I felt just regularly sad about losing the prior two win-and-ins for top 8, but I didn't think I made too many bad decisions. I don't feel the same about this round (which was another win-and-in - this opponent made top 8). I know he's on burn since he sat near me in prior rounds. I keep a 2-land hand with some removal and a couple 3-drop token spells. He goes t1 Goblin Guide, t2 Goblin Guide + Monastery Swiftspear. Goblin Guide triggers reveal no lands, which means no 3rd land for me until I'm dead on board. Game 2, I keep a hand only a little better - 2 Sorins, Brimaz, Go for the Throat, and 3 lands. He has a multiple Goblin Guide start, but Brimaz briefly stabilizes things. He uses a Rift Bolt and a Lightning Helix to kill Brimaz and clear the way for one Goblin Guide to keep attacking, which is great for me. At this point, I duress, take another Helix, and he has 2 Eidolon of the Great Revels in hand. After this, it's a blur, but I did everything wrong. I was so afraid to make any moves after I cast Auriok Champion that I forgot how she could gain me life if I just kept her alive and just started casting Lingering Souls and other spells after he had an Eidolon out. I didn't do anything, which gave him extra draw steps to find burn (which is his whole deck of course), and I lose an embarrasing game 2. The worst part is somewhere in this game, I play Windbrisk Heights, and the first card revealed is Timely Reinforcements (I didn't have 3 dudes out). If I simply not had this land in my deck, I would've just drawn TR, played it for full value, and probably won this game. I felt very tilted that I pretty much milled my best anti-Burn card away.
Even though I feel I wasted a golden opportunity to put this deck on the map and play in a big top 8, doing well in this Modern tournament and at GP Pittsburgh has convinced me that this deck is the real deal. I'll probably just use the $ from this to get even more RK Post tokens that match, so that I can look good while flooding the board with all sorts of great-looking creatures.
I'll make a long report this week when I feel better about my 26th place finish out of 260 for $50 - it just could've been so much more. Definitely couldn't have gotten there without all of your ideas.
BTW, I traded for 2 Auriok Champion & 2 Liliana of the Veil for today's Modern 5K Premier IQ in New Jersey, so brace yourselves for another long report from me!
Thanks. I run 8 fetches, not 11. I run that many to have 14 lands that cast a B discard on turn 1, and W to cast Spectral Procession later.
Auriok Champion? So let's go over the decks I played against this past weekend:
Great: Twin (3x), 4-color Zoo
OK: Delver
Bad: Abzan (3x), Tron (3x), Scapeshift, Infect, Affinity, Amulet Bloom
I still don't like it as a main deck option, but it might be a great sideboard card. If I simply didn't cast 2 Bitterblossom the two times I got burned out, I would've won.
Thank you!!
Brimaz is 1 mana cheaper than Hero of Bladehold, so that's why I went with him. I wanted as few 4 mana cards in my deck as possible because of all the combo and aggro decks out there. Brimaz and his cat army also plays great defense against Wild Nacatl and Goblin Guide, while still being a very annoying creature versus Jund, Abzan, and slow combo decks like Scapeshift.
TL;DR - 7-2 on day 1, 1-5 on day 2, 237th place out of ~2600.
The Deck:
4 Godless Shrine
2 Bloodstained Mire
2 Windswept Heath
4 Marsh Flats
1 Isolated Chapel
2 Snow-Covered Swamp
3 Snow-Covered Plains
1 Fetid Heath
2 Vault of the Archangel
3 Windbrisk Heights
Dudes:
4 Bitterblossom
4 Lingering Souls
4 Spectral Procession
2 Timely Reinforcements
2 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
4 Path to Exile
2 Dismember
1 Murderous Cut
4 Inquisition of Kozilek
3 Thoughtseize
Pump:
4 Intangible Virtue
2 Zealous Persecution
3 Rest in Peace
3 Duress
1 Disenchant
1 Sundering Growth
2 Burrenton Forge-Tender
1 Zealous Persecution
1 Go for the Throat
1 Timely Reinforcements
2 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
Friday - I arrive in time for the last Modern grinder of the night. During the 5 hour drive, to confirm the 75 cards I wanted to play, my car companion wrote out a sideboard plan for the 20 decks I expected to face. We determined that the above 75 was good as long as I could find a second Sundering Growth at the site. That didn't happen
Friday R1 - Beat Abzan 2-1
He had too many Goyfs and other big creatures for my lack of removal and creatures game 1. Game 2, I'm stuck on lands, but he Paths one of my spirit tokens that unlocks the rest of my hand, unleashing a lot more spirits. Game 3, he Thoughtseized my Lingering Souls from my hand
R2 - Beat GR Tron 2-0
That's not a typo. He mulled to 4 game 1, and I still gave him enough time to be 1 turn away from casting Ugin to win. Game 2, I have a slow hand, but he keeps a hand with lots of colored spells but no colored mana nor Tron. I'm able to get 8 creatures out with BB + Spirit spells. He eventually gets Tron, casts Ulamog, but I have too many creatures out, and after attacking me with Ulamog for the lulz, he concedes.
After a bye, R4 - Beat Merfolk 2-0
If you've read any of my other posts, you know how this goes - I need lots of removal, and with now 7 removal spells main deck, I'm confident I can draw enough to race Fish. Whenever my life total was in danger, Vault of the Archangel and Sorin were there to save the day and win both games.
I then split the finals with the Burn player, giving him the 2 byes and getting 60 prize wall tickets. So, I was very confident in my GP chances after these matches.
GP Round 3 after 2 byes - Beat Infect 2-0.
I mulled to 6 and had to keep a hand without removal g1. He goes t1 Hierarch, t2 Blighted Agent & Dryad Arbor. I rip a Zealous Persecution off the top for the perfect 3-for-1 and cruise to the win. G2, I ZP'd away 2 other infect creatures and raced a 1/1 Glistener Elf that never got bigger thanks to Duress'ing away all his pump for a nice way to start the day.
Round 4 - Beat UR Twin 2-0
Game 1, thanks to t2&t3 Bitterblossom, my end-game board state was 16 Faerie Rogues and 3 Spirits when I won. It got that crazy thanks to 3 Cryptic Commands and 1 Timely Reinforcements on my part to avoid dying to my own stuff. Game 2, I draw a few Dismembers and cast them to kill off 3 Exarchs, and eventually swing for lethat with 6 fliers with Intangible Virtue out.
Round 5 - I'm at table 12 against Amulet Bloom. It felt nice being around the pros.
Game 1, I'm at first shocked I survive past turn 4 without him drawing either Amulet or Bloom. Unfortunately, he finds Engineered Explosives off of an Ancient Stirrings, destroys about 7 tokens, and cruises to a Primetime-fueled win after that.
Game 2, I keep a t2 Bitterblossom hand, hoping to race him. That plan went out the window when he cast Prime Time on turn 3 via Tolaria West -> Summoner's Pact. I have a Path to Exile in hand, waiting to exile it next turn... but he incredibly draws a card without paying for his Pact!!!!!!!11 I recognized it right away, and off we go to game 3.
Game 3, he cast Prime Time 4 times. 4 times, I had a removal spell in hand for it. I didn't draw a token maker for many turns though, so he has a chance if he can find a Hive Mind. After a long game, I eventually find a Lingering Souls, which combined with my 2 Virtues out, end the game in short order.
Round 6 - I'm at table 6 now...
...but so is Tim Turner with GR Tron. Both games were not even close. Game 1, I don't keep a hand with discard, he gets to Tron early, and Wurmcoil + O Stone is too much for me to recover from. Game 2, I mull to 6. I have a couple Duresses, but I can't keep him off neither Tron nor colored mana. He Pyroclasm'd first, then Ugin'd, then Ulamog showed up. He wrote a great tournament report on Reddit that is worth reading (except where I lost :))
Round 7 - Lost to 4-Color Zoo 0-infinity
I thought the last matchup was bad... this was worse. Wild Nacatl, Kird Ape, Noble Hierarch, Boros Charm were all cast really fast to beat me game 1, while Dromoka's Command, Atarka's Command, Ghor-Clan Rampager w/bloodrush, and *2* Negates completely blew me out game 2. I saw zero Timely Reinforcements either game, which would've been real nice. At this point, I'm not very confident in my day 2 chances.
Round 8 - Beat Abzan 2-0
If you're ever feeling bad about playing Tokens, just play a couple games against Abzan. With a Courser of Kruphix showing Liliana of the Veil on top of his deck, he tried to shuffle it away 3 different times, but she came back every time in game 1. I drew lots of Lingering Souls tokens to keep her happy and block his Goyf to win. Game 2 was a lot closer thanks to some Siege Rhinos, but Dismember is a good enough answer to stop his pressure while my Bitterblossom army got bigger and bigger till they won via Zealous Persecution.
Round 9 - Affinity - This is the deck I played to a PTQ top 8 last year, so I thought it was fitting that I had to beat it to make my first Modern day 2. Game 1, I mull to 6. He hits me fast with a Cranial Plating'd guy to get me to 6 life fast. I have Bitterblossom out, and I think that those blockers + Timely Reinforcements will give me enough time to turn the tide, but he casts two Shrapnel Blasts and a Galvanic Blast to burn me out. I should've gotten the message that this wasn't a typical Affinity list, and board more Timely Reinforcements in, but I didn't. I just bring in the 3rd ZP and the two Disenchant-like cards. Game 2, he mulls down to 5, and I win by casting Lingering Souls a few times with a Virtue out.
Game 3, I have to mull to 6. I keep a hand with a Godless Shrine, Windbrisk Heights, two Path to Exiles, a Sorin, and an Intangible Virtue. He goes t1 Ornithopter x2, Opal, Blinkmoth Nexus, Ensoul Artifact on Ornithopter, pass. I Path the creature, and he doesn't even try to find a basic land. Turn 2, he has another Ensoul for the 2nd thopter and hits for 5. I path again, and again he doesn't try to find a land. He then tries to play a 2nd opal and a drum to animate his Nexus and attack, but he can't do that, and he gets a judge warning. So he has 2 permanents and can't do anything. Unfortunately, for 5 turns, neither can I, as I miss hitting a land for that long (drawing only lots of 3-mana token makers). I have a Virtue under my Windbrisk Heights, so I can end the game very quickly once I get the 3rd land. I finally do, attack him for 12, then another 12. He eventually found colored mana and started to burn me out, which got very scary, but I somehow emerged victorious @ 7-2 to make day 2.
Day 2 - pretty much everything went wrong.
Round 10 - Lost to RG Scapeshift 0-2
I got Scapeshifted on T4 thanks to Khalni Heart Expedition in g1. I got primetime'd in game 2. Didn't find any discard in either quick game.
Round 11 - Lost to Jeskai Twin 1-2
I win g1 when he mulls to 4. Game 2, I thought my 2 Bitterblossoms would easily win, especially when I thoughtseize his Splinter Twin and Exarch and he only has a Lightning Helix and Lightning Bolt. He of course then finds another Bolt and a Snapcaster Mage to burn me out.
Game 3, I was stuck on 3 lands, got Remanded a lot, and eventually died to Restoration Angel + Kiki-Jiki. I was really pissed I lost game 2.
Round 12 - Lost to GR Tron 1-2
Game 1, he gets Tron quickly and I can't beat an O-Stone plus 2 Karns and a Wurmcoil after I mull. Game 2, he mulls to 5, I mull to 6, but I draw the fastest hand I could - BB, Spectral Procession, Virtue + Heights activation = easy win when he can't cast anything. Game 3, the board state got weird. He didn't find Tron for awhile, which let me set up a Virtue and a few dudes. He O-Stones it all away, but I then find a Sorin, and start making Vampires with a Virtue out. I have my 1-of Disenchant in hand and Path to Exile when I attack with 1 Vampire to put him to 4. He then casts Wurmcoil Engine with 1 card in hand. I go to Path at the end of his turn, he tries to Nature's Claim it to gain 4 life, and I disenchant it. There's only 1 problem - since it's a disenchant and not a Sundering Growth, I can't get a free 3/3 vampire and attack for the win. Instead, he draws and casts Emrakul with a 3/3 lifelink wurm out. He annihilates for 6, and I can't keep enough permaments out to swing back for the win and have enough mana to cast anything off the top. Another frustrating way to lose. I REALLY thought I would be on 2 Stony Silence instead of the Sundering Growth plan, which is why I didn't try to get a 2nd until the day of.
Round 13 - Lose to UR Twin 1-2. G1&2 were uneventful, but g3, he goes t1 Engineered Explosives, t3 flash in Izzet Staticaster without me drawing an Intangible Virtue, and Keranos with plenty of gas to burn me out.
Round 14 - My only win of day 2 coming against... I'm sure you guessed it was against Abzan. I had to take a screenshot of my g2 win to feel better. It involved a Cat Soldier, a bunch of Faeries, 2 Virtues, and a Rest in Peace that blanked about every card in my opponent's hand.
Round 15 - Lost to Grixis Delver 0-2
Game 1, I go t2&t3 bitterblossom. Again, I think it'll win me the game after making him discard twice, but again, he draw nothing but Bolts to kill me. Game 2, I mull to 4, and am too exhausted to play anymore.
That's my journey. I played against gracious and nice opponents all 3 days, reminding me how much I love the Magic community. My RK Post tokens looked great on the battlefield all weekend. I am totally sticking with this deck for the foreseeable future.
4 Godless Shrine
2 Bloodstained Mire
2 Windswept Heath
4 Marsh Flats
1 Isolated Chapel
2 Snow-Covered Swamp
3 Snow-Covered Plains
1 Fetid Heath
2 Vault of the Archangel
3 Windbrisk Heights
Dudes:
4 Bitterblossom
4 Lingering Souls
4 Spectral Procession
2 Timely Reinforcements
2 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
4 Path to Exile
2 Dismember
1 Murderous Cut
4 Inquisition of Kozilek
3 Thoughtseize
Pump:
4 Intangible Virtue
2 Zealous Persecution
3 Rest in Peace
3 Duress
2 Disenchant
2 Burrenton Forge-Tender
1 Zealous Persecution
1 Go for the Throat
1 Timely Reinforcements
2 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
How many Secure - I believe that the vast majority of Modern decks I've played against lately don't give us enough of a "late game" for Secure the Wastes (or Gideon
Removal - I'm still very fearful of all the Wild Nacatl & Merfolk decks, so I am considering cutting the 3rd Sorin for another removal spell.
24 lands - I really don't want to miss any land drops. I've seen the discussion above about Windbrisk Heights vs. Shambling Vent. Vent didn't work out for me before, but now that I am going to run Dismembers in the main deck (mainly vs Twin), it would be nice to have extra B that doesn't hurt. Flipping an anthem off Heights is awesome... but having an extra way to gain life in a pinch sounds good too. You guys just might have convinced me to put a couple Vents back in.
I agree now that splashing red just for Crumble to Dust is not good. Having Lightning Bolt sounds good too, but I'd rather be able to fetch basics and protect my life total.
Thanks again everyone for all of your thoughts. I'm off to GP Pittsburgh tomorrow, hopefully in time to play a little that night. I'll do what I can with my 2 byes!
Thursday R1: Lose to GR tron 2-0
G1:He has t3 tron via Expedition Map into Karn + Ugin... Enough said
G2: Board into Ghost Quarter + Surgical Extraction... Mulled to 6, don't see either, and my discard does not slow him down enough to get to Tron and Ugin me out.
R2: Beat Restore Balance 2-0
Even when they cascade into the namesake spell, they're way slower than us, and Bitterblossom by t4 generated enough pressure both games.
R3: Beat Jund 2-1
G1, he wins with a fast start of t1 discard, t2 goyf, t3 abrupt decay on my Bitterblossom. Games 2&3, I side out most of my discard, side in Rest in Peace, and grind him out very well.
R4: Beat Abzan Aggro 2-1
I took advantage of a number of mistakes from my opponent to win. Zealous Persecution sure makes my Lingering Souls tokens happy and his sad.
Friday R1: Beat Ad Nauseum 2-0
He mulled to oblivion both games.
R2: Lost to Merfolk 1-2
He mulled to nothing g1. This might, my 75 didn't have many individual removal spells, so it was really hard to race this deck, and I lost g2&g3.
R3: Lost to Abzan CoCo (no combo) 0-2
Even without infinite combos, I got rekt by CoCo into Goyf + Eternal Witness, getting back CoCo, repeat.
R4: Lost to Merfolk again 0-2
Same story as R2.
After those 8 rounds, I decided that Secure the Wastes & Raise the Alarm were not good for me. They don't fly, so Abzan & Merfolk can block them, and they themselves don't block well without an anthem. I also decided against the GQ + Surgical Extraction plan because it was taking up too many spots in the 75, and opted for Vault of the Archangel.
Sunday IQ R1: Beat Merfolk 2-1
Spectral Procession immediately proves its worth again. I'm able to race him well in g1&g3 thanks to that, Bitterblossom, Vault gaining life, and Murderous Cut'ing a Lord.
R2: Tied Abzan 1-1-1
I *hate* to ever tie. I win g1 fast, but in g2, I keep top decking creatures to block his, all while drawing multiple Rest in Peaces from the sb to lower his clock. I have the kill in g3 if I had 1 more turn.
R3: Beat Merfolk 2-1
I was really happy to beat Merfolk again after my previous failures. Again, having extra cheap removal spells was key, as was gaining 12 life with Vault the turn before he thought he could win.
R4: Lost to Elves 0-999999
He nut drew me both games by dumping a lot of Elves on the first 3 turns. Zealous Persecution wouldn't have helped after he dropped an Elvish Archdruid to give the squad +1/+1.
R5: Lost to Grixis Twin 1-2
I make top 8 if I win this. Game 1, he Remands me about 20 times, and wins via new Jace & Tasigur. I board like he is on Twin anyway, which I'm right about. He mulls in g2, and doesn't assemble the combo to win fast enough. G3, he mulls to 5, but beats me after I make him discard Twin, 2 pestermites, but top deck Remands me 3 times again, so I have no pressure, and after wasting my 1 removal spell on Tasigur in an attempt to race, he twins me out. Tough way to lose
Sorry for the long post, but here's my TL;DR summary:
- Secure the Wastes was not good in any of these matchups. It shouldn't be in the 75 IMO.
- We need *at least* 7 removal spells in the 75 for Merfolk and related matchups.
- Vault of the Archangel is worthy enough to be a 2-of.
- I want to try splashing Red for Crumble to Dust for Tron, and Radiant Flames for Elves and any deck with mana creatures.