At the very least, I can definitely say that I'm always fascinated by how our deck inspires lots of variants and personal experiments. It's an indisputable asset to us all when we run tests and experiments, a failed idea is only an actual failure if it isn't documented, to paraphrase Jin-Gitaxias!
That said, I stepped back and looked at what our archetype was doing in the abstract. Going by the Aggro/Combo/Control classification scheme, we generally fall into an Aggro-Control standpoint. The Modern format in general has a bevvy of extremely powerful answer cards: Abrupt Decay, Lightning Bolt, Path to Exile, Pyroclasm, Anger of the Gods, and so on. The Blitzkrieg archetype is founded on the premise of disrupting opposing decks as much as possible, and converting our use of disruption into an aggressive pressure that is conveniently unopposed by an already-taxed opponent. So in a sense, we're a deck that thrives on the pivot: hand pressure and removal effects create the opening for our choice of trump card.
That's what Young Pyromancer, Gurmag Angler (or any Delve card), Nyxathid, and Rack effects all have in common: the more cards we play, the more effective they are. They're the "Pivots", converting the Blitz of our archetype's namesake into a game win in the cases where we aren't burning our opponent out. So I made myself a little diagram:
(May not display properly against dark backgrounds)
Burn decks excel, to the point of being tier 1, because they never face a Pivot. The same applies to aggro decks, as they have one primary strategy, and (being very general), most anything they do will advance that strategy. As with any engineering idea, a single focal point of stress, force, or exertion becomes a ‘point of failure’. It's a chokepoint, a bottleneck. However, as control and combo decks demonstrate, this Pivot is entirely possible to work with and make effective. Especially in our case, as our strategy revolves around proactively shredding the opponent's ability to respond. This is where we differ from most traditional control decks, as rather than counter-acting, we're preventing. Being proactive in our disruption folds directly into the idea of a fast and unstoppable Pivot.
So, having re-evaluated my experiments through the lens of "Disrupt and Pivot", doing both of those things as optimally as possible would lead to the greatest success.
Smallpox was great for disrupting, but casting it interfered directly with my Pivot. Even if I fully took advantage of all of its effects, at the very least, I'd be slowed down. Casting it turn 2 or 3 would cause the most havoc for an opponent's plan, but then throttle my lands to the point where I'd be unable to capitalize on the weakness. Later in the game, it'd be almost ineffectual. I do think that I was on to something with adding Dredge fuel to Delve spells, maybe.
If there was one card that tempted me above all else, it's Life from the Loam, as I've mentioned before, but a G splash hurts enough before we even take into account the complete overhaul to a landbase Loam invites. Likewise, Monastery Mentor is essentially the perfect Pivot card, as it does Young Pyromancer's job in an amplified way, and each disruptive spell we cast also translates into an increasingly nasty board advantage. Once again, however, it's out of our colors.
More recently, I've been puzzling over Goryo's Vengeance, Griselbrand, Through the Breach, and Desperate Ritual. Given how Griselbrand and Goryo's Vengeance combos are notoriously fast (and notoriously finicky), they seemed like a reasonable supplement. The problem swiftly arose that Griselbrands in the hand were dead cards, as was anything but Desperate Ritual if Griselbrand wasn't in the hand or yard. This prompted a re-injection of Dredge, but by that point as you can imagine the sheer complexity had torn the deck apart into a dysfunctional mess.
Back to square one, as over and over again I catch myself adding too much complexity, which is about the most basic deckbuilding mistake possible. Inspiration strikes, is pursued, and then I realize I'm only adding more problems. Still, paring down and simplifying again and again, and all the runaway deck tests, has been productive in terms of working out which cards really do ultimately work best.
- Manchego
- Registered User
-
Member for 10 years, 2 months, and 27 days
Last active Thu, Mar, 17 2016 09:03:45
- 0 Followers
- 64 Total Posts
- 4 Thanks
-
3
EpeeEm posted a message on Blitzkrieg - B/R Control - Shock and AwesomePosted in: Deck Creation (Modern) -
3
augiedoggy18 posted a message on [Primer] BW TokensI think this is the first time I have commented in this thread, but since I am both a B/W tokens player and a G/R Tron player, I feel its time.Posted in: Modern Archives - Deck Creation
Basically, Tron is an abysmal matchup for Tokens. There is absolutely no debate here. I have played the matchup from both sides well over 100 times. I have lost exactly two games to Tokens while playing Tron. Both of those were SB games where I kept a hand with no colored mana sources and the Tokens player landed a T2 Stony Silence on the play. Can't use Expedition Map, can't use colored mana generating artifacts, can't cast Sylvan Scrying, can't cast Ancient Stirrings. I didn't topdeck what I needed and just died. But, this is the exception to the rule.
If you want to try and make the Tron matchup 50/50 post-board, you would need a sideboard like:
DeckMagic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards 3x Stony Silence
4x Despise
4x Surgical Extraction
4x Ghost Quarter
This might give you a reasonable shot. And then, every other matchup gets far worse. We are simply better off just running some Stony Silence and Rest in Peace and just ignoring Tron after that. If we face a Tron deck, just hope that they keep loose hands and get punished for it. I don't think there is really much point in trying to make the Tron matchup much better. -
3
Judge Sewall posted a message on [Primer] R/W Prisons ("Sun and Moon" etc.)Tournament Report: Modern PTQ in Omaha Nebraska. 163 participants. 8 rounds.Posted in: Control
I decided to play R/W Stax (Control) based off of the deck list Orry Swift did well with at the modern IQ in Dallas. The deck looked sweet and, at least on paper, seemed to have a lot of good game against most of the field. It reminded me a lot of the Painter type decks in legacy. And I really like those.
The morning started out right. I stopped by Taco Johns and got 2 breakfast burritos. I wanted something that could power me through a lot of rounds, and this did the trick.
I arrived around 9:15 (started at 10) to write out my decklist and scope out the field. I saw a decent amount of burn, so I was feeling decent (although I didn't play against the deck at all).
Match 1: Blistercoil Weird Combo
For those unfamiliar, the deck tries to use Blistercoil Weird in combination with Paradise Mantle and other cheap cantrips that can untap the creature to put it to a huge attacker and kill the opponent.
Not much to say about this game. Chalice for 1 ended both games. They can't beat it.
2-0
Match 2: Boggles
I cast Ensnaring Bridge.
2-0
After the match, he said "I'm pretty sure that deck was built to beat mine."
Match 3: Melira Pod
Anger of the gods plus the massive amount of disruption overwhelmed him.
I later played this guy in the top 8 but more on that later.
2-0
Match 4: Some kind of control deck
I didn't get to see much of his deck. He told me it was so and so's list but I couldn't hear him speaking because the sound of my blood moon hitting the table was so loud.
2-0
On an interesting side note, in game 2, he cast a Stormbreath dragon on turn five that nearly killed me. Turns out Stormbreath doesn't care about blood moon. I still had too much disruption and took him down.
Match 5: Affinity
This is the point where I really start thinking I could do very well this tournament.
Game one he was just too fast and I lost in less than five minutes. I would have my revenge.
During game 2, I opened up with a chalice for zero. I pass the turn, he plays nothing, then just passes back. Chalice is good.
Game 3 he actually puts up a decent offensive. I get to 2 life but an Ensnaring Bridge and Baneslayer eventually wraps it up.
2-1
Match 6: U/R Delver
At this point I am 5-0. If I win this match I can draw the next two rounds.
He is on the play and takes me down game 1. Too much tempo. From my limited experience, I consider this a 40/60 matchup in their favor.
At this point, he doesn't really know my deck, which was an advantage for me the whole tournament. He sideboards incorrectly. I cast a chalice for 1 on turn one and eventually get there with planeswalkers/anger of the gods.
Game 3 was actually pretty close, but his replicated shattering sprees get through my stax (FYI, chalice can't counter the copies).
This guy makes it to top 8.
1-2
Match 7: Merlira Pod
Game 1 I am mana screwed and he gets me.
Game 2 he sideboards incorrectly and I take over the game with my plethora of disruption.
Game 3 I nearly get there but his restoration angel hits me in the air to death with the help of exalted creatures. I think my deck is a good favorite, but it was just who drew the right cards this time.
This guy makes it to top 8.
1-2
Match 8: Blue Moon
There isn't really much to say about this game. Defense grid is a beast. It's a weird matchup, but I have too many huge threats for him to counter.
2-0
Being 6-2 I was on the bubble but I had a shot. As the top 8 competitors were announced, my name is uttered as the 8th competitor. I give lots of high fives. I had a lot of people on my side because of the deck I was running.
TOP 8
Match 1: Pod
This is the same guy I beat earlier. The games played out much the same with Anger/Bridge/Wrath/Matrix/Planeswalkers eventually getting there. Before the match he told me the deck was one of the most frustrating things he has ever played against. I told him I thought it was fun. He said "For you, yeah."
2-0
Match 2: R/G Tron
This turns out to be a horrendous match up. Karn plus Oblivion Stone was too much.
0-2
I was extremely happy with my finish. I won a box of 2015, a playmat, and $75.
On the way home "Into the Ocean" came on the radio by Blue October and I sang very loudly.
Here is the decklist:
DeckMagic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards Lands (23):
7 Plains
2 Mountains
2 Clifftop Retreat
4 Sacred foundry
4 Arid Mesa
4 Temple of Triumph
Creatures (6)
2 Magus of the Moon
4 Simian Spirit Guide
Sorcery (5)
2 Wrath of God
3 Anger of the Gods
Instant (3)
3 Lightning HelixArtifact (10)
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Ensnaring Bridge
2 Damping Matrix
Enchantment (8)
4 Blood Moon
2 Leyline of Sanctity
1 Ghostly Prison
1 Assemble the Legion
Planeswalkers (5)
2 Ajani Vengeant
1 Chandra, Pyromaster
1 Gideon Jura
1 Elspeth, Knight ErrantSideboard (15)
3 Defense Grid
2 Wear/Tear
2 Wurmcoil engine
2 Rest in Peace
2 Stony Silence
2 Leyline of Sanctity
1 Nevermore
1 Baneslayer Angel
Thanks to the people who replied to a facebook group back at a local game shop in Houston (heroes collectibles) about a week ago I was able to tune the deck a little and get a better sideboard plan. Overall the deck is freaking sweet. People don't know how to play against it and will generally sideboard incorrectly. I liked Elspeth, Knight Errant for this particular tournament but Koth might be better depending on the meta. Elspeth helps with all the grindy matchups too. For now, I recommend her. Saved my butt a couple of times today. I also had lots of people wanting to look at my deck. Lots of people thought it was awesome and were rooting for me during the tournament. - To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
1
1
2
Check the Dega Midrange sticky in this forum, there are some people running it.