Hey, new to MTGsalvation, found this thread googling for Nyx Wave haha. I picked the deck up a few days ago after seeing someone play it on MTGO in the tournament practice room, realized that the hype for it is gone (I'm a mtg hipster, powerful fringe decks are my thing), and wanting to try it out and maybe improve upon it.
I dislike Burning-Tree Emissary. It feels like a win-more card. It makes the deck faster, sure, but only when hands are amazing. If it made RG hybrid mana, sure I'd play it. The R is usually being worthless though. Maybe Firelit Thicket would add value to it, but no thanks. I like only having Nykthos and Kessig as non-forests. Maybe a Cavern or a Beseiju could be good somewhere but as I'm new to it I'd like to keep the mana strong as I tweak.
A singleton Knight feels sweet. I'm not sure if I like the 8th fetchland or a 6th forest. Either way 7-8 feel great with him and his primary use of untapping Nykthos... As I type this I suddenly realize, if untapping Nykthos and saccing a land is all he does, why aren't I just running something like Satyr Wayfinder (?). Something to think about. KotR's value increases if you're playing Cavern, Beseiju, etc.
Acidic Slime kills lands and adds 2 devotion. I like him as a catch-all.
Elesh Norn kills many of the strongest decks in the format on the spot. I don't think I would consider playing without her main.
Craterhoof and Primeval Titan numbers are kind of tricky. I like being grindier with Primal Commands than all in dopey combo, but they're still very powerful. I kind of like the 1:3 split, but I'm not sure on this one. So far when I Wave I've been Waving for lethal, chaining them with Eternal Witnesses (I would not consider playing less than 4, they are vital) so I always get a Craterhoof. I haven't felt light on Titans either, so seems good.
4:2 Primal Command Genesis Wave split feels great. You have game against decks that you have no business beating as pure Wave with the Commands (I actually beat my first GW Auras opponent I faced by putting his land on top 3 times in a row, chumping, and then waving for lethal. The 2 Waves are enough too I think. Sure it'd be nice to play the full set, but a lot of the time when I was playing 4 I wouldn't get enough ramp to get them, not enough interaction to stop them from getting me. 2 is still a decent amount to finish them off with. I have 1 in the board for fair matchups like GB. I would like to have 2 in there but this deck seems to be tighter on sideboard slots than any other I've played.
Abundant growth is Elvish Visionary but better. It also helps me cast my numerous red sideboard cards, Elesh Norn (I don't think I want 2 Temple Gardens?) and KotR. I like cantriping with this deck.
Courser of Kruphix seems cool, as does a Eidolon of Blossoms deck. Kruphix is expensive online though as it sees tons of standard play so I'll hold off on that. That strategy does seem more all-in and fragile and less good-stuff than my deck, but it's worth exploring in the future.
Summoning Trap is ridiculous. They counter something, you get an awesome fatty. Makes counterspell matchups awesome. I'd like 4 if there was room but I don't think there is. It's also very castable. Maybe going deeper on this card could be a thing. That's another archetype though, I'm satisfied now with just my sided pair.
Spellskite is tutorable and the stone cold nuts against some of our hardest matchups. I love this little guy... I don't actually have one online though.
Genesis Wave for the fair matchups. Can't counter me? Can't combo me quickly? I'm Waving you. I'd like to complete the set in the board, maybe I'll do the math to see if it's worth it one day. Pretty busy this month though
Combust. Kills Colonnades and Splinter Twins. Fantastic card, likely not expected.
Ancient Grudge. DIE AFFINITY DIE! STOP KILLING ME. Affinity is now the most popular deck online. It crushes this deck. I want at least 6 slots interacting against them. I'm not sure if some of these or somewhere else should be artifact sweepers of some sort. I haven't played the matchup much.
Damping Matrix. Stops Pod, Twin, Cranial Platings. Great card, wide spread against the most powerful decks in modern? Count me in.
My list could use some improvements, but I'm really liking this archetype. I tried going pure Wave day 1, but it wasn't my cup of tea. Adding the Primal Commands day 2 made it so much better for my taste. Fatesealing them with their own land is so so sweet, especially when you get to do it again, again, and again. I just wish Command was an instant. I thought it was until I played against Living End, trying to respond to his cascade spell thinking "wtf do I not have priority or something?". Still, a relatively small downside. Cryptic got to be an instant though (although a sorcery speed counterspell would be interesting).
Thanks for this thread guys, I tried to seek advice for the deck on Reddit/r/spikes after making my day 1 deck and not being happy with it but got little help (they don't like fringe strategies there). This thread/site is a fantastic resource of sharp minds
Here's my current list:
4x Arbor Elf
4x Birds of Paradise
4x Eternal Witness
4x Wistful Selkie
1x Knight of the Reliquary
1x Acidic Slime
3x Primeval Titan
1x Craterhoof Behemoth
1x Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
Sorcery
4x Primal Command
2x Genesis Wave
4x Utopia Sprawl
3x Abundant Growth
Planeswalker
4x Garruk Wildspeaker
Land
5 Forest
4 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Misty Rainforest
1 Temple Garden
1 Kessig Wolf Run
1 Stomping Ground
2x Summoning Trap
3x Damping Matrix
1x Spellskite
1x Genesis Wave
4x Combust
4x Ancient Grudge
I dislike Burning-Tree Emissary. It feels like a win-more card. It makes the deck faster, sure, but only when hands are amazing. If it made RG hybrid mana, sure I'd play it. The R is usually being worthless though. Maybe Firelit Thicket would add value to it, but no thanks. I like only having Nykthos and Kessig as non-forests. Maybe a Cavern or a Beseiju could be good somewhere but as I'm new to it I'd like to keep the mana strong as I tweak.
A singleton Knight feels sweet. I'm not sure if I like the 8th fetchland or a 6th forest. Either way 7-8 feel great with him and his primary use of untapping Nykthos... As I type this I suddenly realize, if untapping Nykthos and saccing a land is all he does, why aren't I just running something like Satyr Wayfinder (?). Something to think about. KotR's value increases if you're playing Cavern, Beseiju, etc.
Acidic Slime kills lands and adds 2 devotion. I like him as a catch-all.
Elesh Norn kills many of the strongest decks in the format on the spot. I don't think I would consider playing without her main.
Craterhoof and Primeval Titan numbers are kind of tricky. I like being grindier with Primal Commands than all in dopey combo, but they're still very powerful. I kind of like the 1:3 split, but I'm not sure on this one. So far when I Wave I've been Waving for lethal, chaining them with Eternal Witnesses (I would not consider playing less than 4, they are vital) so I always get a Craterhoof. I haven't felt light on Titans either, so seems good.
4:2 Primal Command Genesis Wave split feels great. You have game against decks that you have no business beating as pure Wave with the Commands (I actually beat my first GW Auras opponent I faced by putting his land on top 3 times in a row, chumping, and then waving for lethal. The 2 Waves are enough too I think. Sure it'd be nice to play the full set, but a lot of the time when I was playing 4 I wouldn't get enough ramp to get them, not enough interaction to stop them from getting me. 2 is still a decent amount to finish them off with. I have 1 in the board for fair matchups like GB. I would like to have 2 in there but this deck seems to be tighter on sideboard slots than any other I've played.
Abundant growth is Elvish Visionary but better. It also helps me cast my numerous red sideboard cards, Elesh Norn (I don't think I want 2 Temple Gardens?) and KotR. I like cantriping with this deck.
Courser of Kruphix seems cool, as does a Eidolon of Blossoms deck. Kruphix is expensive online though as it sees tons of standard play so I'll hold off on that. That strategy does seem more all-in and fragile and less good-stuff than my deck, but it's worth exploring in the future.
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For the sideboard
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Summoning Trap is ridiculous. They counter something, you get an awesome fatty. Makes counterspell matchups awesome. I'd like 4 if there was room but I don't think there is. It's also very castable. Maybe going deeper on this card could be a thing. That's another archetype though, I'm satisfied now with just my sided pair.
Spellskite is tutorable and the stone cold nuts against some of our hardest matchups. I love this little guy... I don't actually have one online though.
Genesis Wave for the fair matchups. Can't counter me? Can't combo me quickly? I'm Waving you. I'd like to complete the set in the board, maybe I'll do the math to see if it's worth it one day. Pretty busy this month though
Combust. Kills Colonnades and Splinter Twins. Fantastic card, likely not expected.
Ancient Grudge. DIE AFFINITY DIE! STOP KILLING ME. Affinity is now the most popular deck online. It crushes this deck. I want at least 6 slots interacting against them. I'm not sure if some of these or somewhere else should be artifact sweepers of some sort. I haven't played the matchup much.
Damping Matrix. Stops Pod, Twin, Cranial Platings. Great card, wide spread against the most powerful decks in modern? Count me in.
................................................................................................................
My list could use some improvements, but I'm really liking this archetype. I tried going pure Wave day 1, but it wasn't my cup of tea. Adding the Primal Commands day 2 made it so much better for my taste. Fatesealing them with their own land is so so sweet, especially when you get to do it again, again, and again. I just wish Command was an instant. I thought it was until I played against Living End, trying to respond to his cascade spell thinking "wtf do I not have priority or something?". Still, a relatively small downside. Cryptic got to be an instant though (although a sorcery speed counterspell would be interesting).
Thanks for this thread guys, I tried to seek advice for the deck on Reddit/r/spikes after making my day 1 deck and not being happy with it but got little help (they don't like fringe strategies there). This thread/site is a fantastic resource of sharp minds