The guy who built and played that list was on the Discord last night. He acknowledged that it was sub-par in multiple ways, including those you just mentioned.
Postmortem Lunge is good. I'm using that slot for my 22nd land to improve my grind, as my meta is disproportionately fair and very likely to kill my mana dorks.
You probably want a more combo focused version to beat Big Mana.
Druid Evolution crushes those decks
That version also has a much harder time vs BGx and Burn than this deck does.
Everything seems to struggle vs Phoenix, but Kitchen Finks certainly helps. Chumps TitI well.
Alright, so I'm back on this deck and my list is pretty close to that of SaintDoom.
The primary discussion topic these days is improving the Phoenix matchup. Post-board, we're probably fine due to 4-6 removal (with 2-4 Eternal Witness in the maindeck), 1-2 Eidolon of Rhetoric, a 2nd Scavenging Ooze, and other spice as desired. But things are still rocky game 1, despite the new tech Mirror Entity which does WORK against Thing in the Ice. Anyone have any thoughts on improving our game 1 against Phoenix?
Cleansing FireRR
Sorcery {U}
~ deals damage to each player equal to the number of artifacts that player controls.
~ deals damage to each player equal to twice the number of enchantments that player controls. It only hurts if there's filth that needs removing.
IIW:
Make Zoo (WRG aggro, with some burn) competitive in Modern
Are Pongify and Rapid Hybridization still worthwhile in this deck? The enforce restrictive deckbuilding and provide minimal advantage (E1, Young Wolf in play, Pongify the Wolf, end up with a 2/2 E1, 2/2 Wolf and a 3/3 Token none of which are particularly impressive).
Skipping Young Wolf and Pongify/Rapid Hybridization led me to this shell:
One question that may have been answered before, what is the point of the Dryad Arbor? I might just be dumb, but I don't think I quite get it.
Getting land flooded? Your fetchland turns into an extra dude. 7x maindeck Anthem effects mean that 1/1 can do work.
Extra dude is also super relevant for Windbrisk Heights.
Lastly, hold up a fetchland against Liliana of the Veil. When they -2 her, fetch in response and get Dryad Arbor. Sac Arbor to Lili instead of your high quality creatures, then kill Lili on the crackback.
From the start, this is a 'Feel Good' deck. If they win, fair enough, they have done something special.
I enjoy playing this deck, and a 4th Little Thalia adds problems and 'No Fun' draws.
Fair enough. But if you want this deck to be competitive, that 4th Little Thalia should be in the sideboard. She is super relevant against many pillars of the format where the difference between winning and losing is often Turn 2 Thalia: Red Spells, Burn, Death's Shadow, Tron, UWx Control, BGx Midrange, Storm, and more.
Light Up the Stage may be the latest tech, but it is not necessarily optimal. And you're correct that it has some major nonbos. One you missed: it doesn't play very nice with Ethersworn Canonist.
The ultimate answer is to use what's right for you. I'm on 3 Copter, 2 LUtS split and I like it.
SSG can be fetched with Recruiter if you need beatsticks and it crews Copter. Don't knock SSG unless you're reliant on LUtS.
That is a SPICY list! I like it a lot.
Only change I would make: 4x Thalia in the maindeck is a MUST. She messes with almost every gameplan in the format. And she always gets shot on-sight BECAUSE she's so good, so playing 4 is reasonable and logical, despite the Legendary issue. I would go -1 MD Gaddock Teeg for +1 MD Thalia, Guardian of Thraben. But I know you've very partial to Teeg, despite the Spectral Procession nonbo. Maybe -1 MD Leonin Relic-Warder for the 4th Thalia?
Despite both Miracles and Grixis Control playing Snapcasters + heavy removal suite + other GY cards, neither deck would be considered Graveyard Decks, like Reanimator or Dredge or Storm combo. Besides Miracles and Grixis Control, what other NON Graveyard Decks would you bring in Surgical against?
I've heard talk of using Surgical Extraction against control to cripple the removal suite that they depend upon. If this is viable, I'd stick with 4 Surgical.
Ever-Vigilant Tomb Guardian2B
Creature - Spirit {U}
Vigilance
~ can block an additional creature each combat
1/4 It's unhallowed eyes never need rest. It's unhallowed touch outnumbers the enemy.
IIW:
Deadpool or Deadpool-related or Deadpool-themed
You have 39 cards maindeck, including Chrome Moxs, that cannot be put on a Chrome Mox. Chrome Mox just seems very bad here.
The default graveyard hate is actually Surgical Extraction. I like Tormod's Crypt because it is re-usable with Welder. I suppose Nihil Spellbomb would work, but I don't think it's particularly necessary.
Enthusiastic BanneretWRR
Creature - Goblin Soldier {U} Battalion - Whenever ~ and at least 2 other creatures attack, attacking creatures get +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is the number of attacking creatures you control.
1/1 Despite his stature, he somehow manages to have the loudest charge.
Postmortem Lunge is good. I'm using that slot for my 22nd land to improve my grind, as my meta is disproportionately fair and very likely to kill my mana dorks.
Druid Evolution crushes those decks
That version also has a much harder time vs BGx and Burn than this deck does.
Everything seems to struggle vs Phoenix, but Kitchen Finks certainly helps. Chumps TitI well.
The primary discussion topic these days is improving the Phoenix matchup. Post-board, we're probably fine due to 4-6 removal (with 2-4 Eternal Witness in the maindeck), 1-2 Eidolon of Rhetoric, a 2nd Scavenging Ooze, and other spice as desired. But things are still rocky game 1, despite the new tech Mirror Entity which does WORK against Thing in the Ice. Anyone have any thoughts on improving our game 1 against Phoenix?
EDIT:
I just came across this. It's hilarious but undeniably effective against Phoenix!
http://tcdecks.net/deck.php?id=29967&iddeck=252709
Sorcery {U}
~ deals damage to each player equal to the number of artifacts that player controls.
~ deals damage to each player equal to twice the number of enchantments that player controls.
It only hurts if there's filth that needs removing.
IIW:
Make Zoo (WRG aggro, with some burn) competitive in Modern
Skipping Young Wolf and Pongify/Rapid Hybridization led me to this shell:
4 Experiment One
4 Pelt Collector
4 Narnam Renegade
4 Vexing Devil
3 Strangleroot Geist
4 Avatar of the Resolute
3 Rancor
2 Vapor Snag
3 Chart a Course
2 Light Up the Stage
4 Wooded Foothills
4 Misty Rainforest
3 Scalding Tarn
1 Forest
1 Island
1 Mountain
1 Stomping Grounds
1 Breeding Pool
1 Steam Vents
1 Botanical Sanctum
1 Copperline Gorge
I think this would be higher power and more consistent, though slightly less vulnerable to removal (no Pongify your own guy in response to removal).
Fair enough. But if you want this deck to be competitive, that 4th Little Thalia should be in the sideboard. She is super relevant against many pillars of the format where the difference between winning and losing is often Turn 2 Thalia: Red Spells, Burn, Death's Shadow, Tron, UWx Control, BGx Midrange, Storm, and more.
The ultimate answer is to use what's right for you. I'm on 3 Copter, 2 LUtS split and I like it.
SSG can be fetched with Recruiter if you need beatsticks and it crews Copter. Don't knock SSG unless you're reliant on LUtS.
Only change I would make: 4x Thalia in the maindeck is a MUST. She messes with almost every gameplan in the format. And she always gets shot on-sight BECAUSE she's so good, so playing 4 is reasonable and logical, despite the Legendary issue. I would go -1 MD Gaddock Teeg for +1 MD Thalia, Guardian of Thraben. But I know you've very partial to Teeg, despite the Spectral Procession nonbo. Maybe -1 MD Leonin Relic-Warder for the 4th Thalia?
- Go into Trading Post.
- Click on one of the top posts.
- Find a card in their "Have" list.
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- "No results were found."
Am I doing something wrong?Creature - Spirit {U}
Vigilance
~ can block an additional creature each combat
1/4
It's unhallowed eyes never need rest. It's unhallowed touch outnumbers the enemy.
IIW:
Deadpool or Deadpool-related or Deadpool-themed
The default graveyard hate is actually Surgical Extraction. I like Tormod's Crypt because it is re-usable with Welder. I suppose Nihil Spellbomb would work, but I don't think it's particularly necessary.
Creature - Goblin Soldier {U}
Battalion - Whenever ~ and at least 2 other creatures attack, attacking creatures get +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is the number of attacking creatures you control.
1/1
Despite his stature, he somehow manages to have the loudest charge.
IIW:
Anything Deadpool-related