i have made the decision to just build straight abzan. My deck has been evolving more and more towards that deck where it jst becomes the question why not play goyfs and lilli's. Also dont have the interest in keeping up to date with what bullets i need to get and tweaks i need to make any given week.
yeah i tried him and he was the definition of average. I also really like Glyph Keeper. Great card to bring in against temur. I dont like cats in that matchup. Too many ways to take them out.
I dont usually cut censors. Hitting land drops is curcial and at times you will censor something, it feels glorious. The best thing is when you have two in hand to cycle one then when they tap out the second one is huge
I managed to get Top 8 at a recent PPTQ but didnt bother to write it up. I have been having great success with the following list online. I manage to have chained consistent 4-1 with this list. A lot of the numbers i feel fairly certain on such as the number of searches and the sweeper package but others such as farm//market are meta numbers and can be adjusted accordingly. Will be playing this in the PPTQ this weekend
I tried Baral in just UW approach. It didnt really live up to expectations. i think you want that card with harnessed lightning as a must. Not convinced yet by the red splash tbh. The UWR approach deck didnt have the best standard record something like 6-4 so i would read too much into his list. Also no fumigates seems wrong. Multiple times he got punished by that choice. Good players will play around the card then it just becomes a 4 mana path whereby you need to draw it multiple times
My cuts for the temur matchup are as follows. especially given that we are on the draw game 2 because game 1 is a breeze.
4 Censor, 1 Pull from tomorrow/Glimmer, 2 Gideon, 1 Supreme Will
In 4 negate, 2 Gearhulks, 2 Gylph Keepers.
Censor is already being played around by Temur so they take sub-optimal lines. We want to turn into a more controlling deck. Frequently the game comes down to turn 6/7 having a settle/fumigate with a negate backup. I would say the macthup is even overall except we have two chances to win the match given there poor win percentage game 1 Glyph Keeper is a current flex slot I am trying out. Kefnet wasnt doing enough for me and is dealt with by other control decks. If glyph keeper doesnt work then tempted to try angel of sanctions
I think Hour of revelation causes too much tension with other parts of the deck. It also may not turn on too easily to only cost 3.
I think a key discussion we need to have is around opt. Is it even worth it? I have found myself wanting to trim copies and I see now lists have cut it completely. Valid cards to put in its place are illuminations, essence scatter, azcanta and disallows.
Another change im looking to make is a pull from tomorrow in place of one glimmer. One thinking is that it helps fuel azcanta and sometimes you have a window to resolve for 4 or 5 which is pretty much game.
Thanks Pumpmonkey for starting the primer again. I have been missing the chance to discuss strategies and what not going forward. I managed to go 5-0 the other day and feel very certain with the list. The only thing I am torn on is the 4th approach instead of the 3rd opt. I have felt like 2 Search for Azcanta was the right number. I tried three and it seemed subpar in game 1.
Another list. I think its crucial not to get attached to any particualr list. Judging by the amount of control people say they are seeing it looks like this is geared for the mirror
Thank you so much for copying that list. I was very curious when i saw the article. I like the look of it a lot as well. Surely 2 search for azcanta is better than one? Havent done testing yet so would be keen to know. I also would prefer some more early interaction like meltdowns or perilous voyage in that list. On the whole that is exactly where i will start. Also the new counterspell that creates treasures when you counter the spell seems great in the side. Imagine in the miroror. Countering an approach then playing two next turn!
I agree Pathrogas. I think its better to play Druid compancy or abzan humans. Especially when running our higher value creatures due to evolution (getting us there quicker)
I havent been playing much modern lately. traded some stuff to build a standard deck for nationals. Will likely ride it out until rotation. Im hoping opt gives a boost to blue in modern
4 Glacial Fortress
3 Ipnu Rivulet
4 Irrigated Farmland
5 Island
7 Plains
2 Aether Meltdown
4 Censor
1 Essence Scatter
1 Pull from Tomorrow
3 Search for Azcanta
2 Disallow
2 Gideon of the Trials
3 Supreme Will
3 Cast Out
3 Glimmer of Genius
1 Ixalan's Binding
3 Settle the Wreckage
3 Fumigate
3 Approach of the Second Sun
1 Farm // Market
2 Glyph Keeper
4 Negate
4 Regal Caracal
2 Torrential Gearhulk
4 Censor, 1 Pull from tomorrow/Glimmer, 2 Gideon, 1 Supreme Will
In 4 negate, 2 Gearhulks, 2 Gylph Keepers.
Censor is already being played around by Temur so they take sub-optimal lines. We want to turn into a more controlling deck. Frequently the game comes down to turn 6/7 having a settle/fumigate with a negate backup. I would say the macthup is even overall except we have two chances to win the match given there poor win percentage game 1 Glyph Keeper is a current flex slot I am trying out. Kefnet wasnt doing enough for me and is dealt with by other control decks. If glyph keeper doesnt work then tempted to try angel of sanctions
I think a key discussion we need to have is around opt. Is it even worth it? I have found myself wanting to trim copies and I see now lists have cut it completely. Valid cards to put in its place are illuminations, essence scatter, azcanta and disallows.
Another change im looking to make is a pull from tomorrow in place of one glimmer. One thinking is that it helps fuel azcanta and sometimes you have a window to resolve for 4 or 5 which is pretty much game.
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Irrigated Farmland
6 Island
8 Plains
3 Opt
3 Aether Meltdown
4 Censor
2 Search for Azcanta
2 Gideon of the Trials
2 Supreme Will
2 Farm // Market
4 Cast Out
4 Glimmer of Genius
2 Settle the Wreckage
4 Fumigate
3 Approach of the Second Sun
4 Negate
4 Regal Caracal
2 Spell Pierce
2 Torrential Gearhulk
Also you should add this guy (Searzist) who produces good videos of approach https://www.youtube.com/user/MrPickle30
Another list. I think its crucial not to get attached to any particualr list. Judging by the amount of control people say they are seeing it looks like this is geared for the mirror
3 Approach of the Second Sun
4 Fumigate
3 Hour of Revelation
4 Censor
4 Glimmer of Genius
3 Opt
2 Settle the Wreckage
2 Slash of Talons
4 Supreme Will
4 Aether Meltdown
2 Fetid Pools
2 Field of Ruin
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Irrigated Farmland
7 Island
7 Plains
1 Gideon of the Trials
1 Disallow
4 Negate
1 Primal Amulet
3 Regal Caracal
1 Search for Azcanta
4 Sunscourge Champion
Interesting things for me are 3 approaches, the gideon split, 9! wraths, also no main deck Search for Azcanta