MTG Salvation

Quote from jacobk »

I feel like right now we are not playing the most optimized version of this deck that we'll see in standard. I think we're getting by based on the fact that individual cards we play are very powerful and we have decent card selection that lets us get to those powerful cards. I don't really feel like I'm playing a smooth, streamlined deck. The big problem I see is what I call faux optionality.

Optionality is the fancy word for having options. One of the perks of playing at instant speed is that you can wait until the last possible second before you commit to a course of action. You can decide whether you want to play a removal spell, a counter spell or a draw spell after your opponent commits to their big move for the turn. Ideally you make sure that your opponent's decision is always wrong.

The problem is that we can't always do that. We have this mix of true instant speed spells, sorcery speed spells, and restricted instant speed spells. For example, if your opponent attacks on turn two, you have to either kill the creature during the attack or give up on the option of killing it altogether. You can't wait to see what they cast and then kill the creature.

We also get kind of locked into plays. Like how Glimmer is much better than most things we can do on turn four, so we try to cast it unless we're really desperate for something else. Or how Fumigate is usually better than everything else on turn five, and if we wait to see if a counterspell is more important then we miss out on the chance to sweep the board.

I think the post-Ixalan version of this deck will come together a lot better. I won't go into the new cards since it's forbidden, but I think even just switching to Aether Meltdown over Blessed Alliance (with the power level of aggro falling so meltdown is good enough) will be good for smoothing out the deck. We also look to have some actual four mana options over Glimmer, and a few other things that will help us out. Even though my recent results with the deck haven't been great I think the future is bright.

Quote from whiskerbiscuit44 »

Quote from The_Tutor »

Congrats @whisketbisket44 !!

Isnt Rest in Peace better than Relic?

4th inspiring vantage really good? Didnt have same problem as Copperline Gorge, when draw it mid/late?

Thanks Tutor!

I can;t give the definitive answer on whether one is better than the other. i like the card draw personally, and not having to tap out to play a card that doesnt further my plan. it's 2 mana either way, and i feel paying one to land it, and being able to hold up more mana is worth it, as opposed to having a card land and be tapped out not able to represent anything else. small mana investment is my thinking.

I love the 4th Vantage, never ran into a problem with it. i expected to play against aggressive decks and just wanted to go easy on the fetch/shock game. i think in a list like mine if it was copperline gorge that would be a bit rougher, as i would want to guarantee it come in untapped, so i could play the critical green card im siding in. Vantage and Gorge are the same card in design, but Gorge is just a weaker Stomping Ground.

I hope this addresses your questions adequately, but let me know if you'd like me to go more in depth. Thanks for taking time to read and respond.

Quote from SlowLNF »

I like both Thicket and Canopy. I think the biggest merit for Canopy is that you don't have to tie up a green source to activate it, where Thicket requires green. This helps when you're trying to cast Loam and Punishing Fire(s). I highly recommend playing the full 4 Grips out of the side, and I personally like Sphere of Resistance over Chalice. Chalice tends to hurt us just as much as an opponent, if not more. A prime example is the Top 4 feature match from SCG Baltimore where the Lands player played a Chalice for 1 at the beginning of the game and proceeded to do nothing because he locked his own spells out that he had in hand. If you play Chalice, I think you should SB out Rotations, but again, I'm just not a fan of the Chalice in the side.

I haven't really warmed up to Trackers either. They're fantastic when they get into play, but too often they just get dredged over and end up as a dead card. I'm still on the fence about Trackers for GP Louisville.