I feel like Esper Mentor should really be running some Serum Visions, right? It seems awesome in combination with Thought Scour, as you can either fix what goes into your hand OR fix what goes into your graveyard to be snapped back or delved away. I feel like I want to move Spell Snare to the SB, perhaps? I haven't played the stock list a ton, but I wonder how it would function with a more proactive stock game plan vs. the potentially dead Spell Snare game 1. The sideboard can feature Negate, Spell Snare, or Countersquall as the player sees fit for the meta. I know Spell Snare has a LOT of targets game 1, but Serum Visions can do the job of filling the graveyard with the cantrip, triggering prowess reliably, refilling the hand, and fixing your draw all at the same time. That seems a little more powerful to me.
OK, after the 8 regional championships decks got posted, my mind is made up. Gods Willing is out. There wasn't a single copy in any of the 4 Jeskai decks that made top 8 in any of them. Instead, more Valorous Stances were seen. Additionally, my secret fears about Shaman of the Great Hunt were potentially proven true, as he wasn't seen in 3/4 of them. The one build he was in was a departure from the others, as he ran Flamewake Phoenix and no Seeker of the Way. I feel like Shaman might be a win more type creature in the standard build. If you are getting damage through and potentially getting counters on your dudes, you are already in good shape. I think the creature/planeswalker count should be dropped to about 17-18, down from 19. The easy cut is the guy that wasn't putting up results, so Shaman is going to go to where he belongs: my RG Monsters deck.
I played RG Monsters through most of KTK standard, but with a few new cards from FRF I think Jeskai Tempo is in a great position again. Here is my current deck that I stole from another dude on the internet:
I ran it to a 4-1 finish at a FNM, have won most of the games I've tested on Cockatrice, but went 2-4 drop at the SCG Regionals this weekend. I think it was a combination of running bad (I believe I mulled to 4 three times), questionable plays, and Magic being Magic. However, here are some of my thoughts after playing a number of games with it:
- The mana is basically perfect. I see no reason to change anything, besides MAYBE dropping a temple for a painland, specifically Temple of Triumph for Battlefield Forge. Sometimes you need to drop that 3-drop more than anything and an untapped source of mana really helps.
- I keep wanting more Stormbreath Dragon/Sarkhan, but that's mostly because I didn't draw him as much as I should this weekend. I'll be patient and stick with the current number.
- I'm not 100% sold on the current spell lineup main/sideboard. I'm not sure 4 Lightning Strike is where I want to be main. Strike kills about 3 creatures that see play in the format with much regularity: Fleecemane Lion, Mantis Rider, Sidisi, and like... Nyleas Disciple. Only Lion sees a LOT of play right now and makes me want to see a Strike in my opening hand. With all the 2 toughness creatures, more Wild Slash might be better maindeck, or I could even be convinced to run a singleton Magma Spray just for taking care of a stubborn Ashcloud Phoenix or Flamewake Phoenix that kept popping up.
- Continuing on the Lightning Strike/burn discussion: I feel like I'd be better off saving my creature from removal or burn than from casting Lightning Strike. I'd consider running 2 Gods Willing maindeck, which would allow me to be a touch more patient or more comfortable in not dropping a creature (especially Rabblemaster) on turn 3 on the play, allowing me to perhaps wait until turn 4 and have Gods Willing to save it from removal. So an ideal line of play might become hold up a wild slash or lightning strike turn 2, drop a 2 drop turn 3 holding up removal/protection, drop a 3 drop turn 4 holding up removal/protection. It just feels like it might be more flexible and getting something through blockers for big damage or to get a Shaman of the Great Hunt counter from connecting with damage.
- Dig Through Time sometimes feels like the most necessary card and the least necessary card at the same time. I'm not sure what to make of that.
Sideboard discussions:
- The current setup is designed to be able to switch to pretty tough control when it needs to with the Anger of the Gods, End Hostilities, Elspeth, etc. It can go long with Keranos as well, and he is amazing. I've never really had the control sideboard really feel like it works out in actual matches, however, but I playtested against a RDW last night and it was doing OK.
- This might sound super Timmy, here, but hear me out. I think I want 1-2 Deflecting Palm in the sideboard. These would be brought in against basically any deck that doesn't focus on going super wide to beat you and can hit you with something, say, 4+ power and doesn't run countermagic. Things like Whip, Abzan, Mardu, the mirror, UW Heroic (a maindeck Stubborn Denial hurts on that one, sure, but you can hopefully back it up with a Negate. You'd definitely want to declare a blocker if they have the possibility of casting Denial just so you don't get blown out there. I feel like Deflecting Palm is essentially a 2 mana lifelink burn/protection spell. You save your creature or yourself from damage and instead deliver it to your opponent, for fairly cheap. And no one is really going to play around Deflecting Palm game 2. However, it might be more powerful to simply play something like Glare of Heresy instead, but the wording of Deflecting Palm (does not target, which means it can work against UW Heroic alpha strikes, hexproof creatures, and still works against Stormbreath Dragon as well even though it's white) makes it really broadly useful. I'm definitely going to test it. But what to take out?
- I'm not sure I care enough about Chandra to keep her in the sideboard. Plinking away at tokens 1 at a time isn't that great. If I'm going controlling I can probably just rely on Keranos for card advantage and cast Dig Through Time at least once.
So here is the direction I can see this deck taking:
I still wish I had more slots in this sideboard. I'm not sold on having 4 slots devoted to wrath. I'm not entirely sure the maindeck needs that many creatures, as well, and removing one of them for a second maindeck Valorous Stance might be superior.
I'm looking at building an Alesha deck that is centered around a warriors theme. I looked through a number of other Alesha-based and warrior-based decks to select what I believed to be the strongest warriors in the colors and casting costs. I then tried to support these warriors with efficient burn and removal, to keep my dudes hitting hard.
Alesha, Who Smiles At Death - obviously good at bringing back a large number of creatures from this deck back into play. One shortcoming is that she can't bring Chief of the Edge back in, but Scale can come in for an immediate +1 to toughness for the entire team.
Tymaret, the Murder King - another creature who can sacrifice anyone on the battlefield to shock the opponent, and then Alesha can bring that creature back when she attacks.
Adaptive Automaton - quick boost of +1/+1 to the entire warrior team when cast or brought back by Alesha.
Stingscourger - Abusable creature bouncing
Fulminator Mage - not a warrior, and very expensive, but totally gnarly ETB effect. Best case scenario is destroying two non-basic lands a turn, over and over.
Buried Alive - a perfect way to tutor for 3 creatures for Alesha to begin to bring back and abuse their ETBs and team-pumping abilities.
Shared Animosity - kind of obvious.
Sunforger - absurdly powerful in this kind of deck (I hope)
So I haven't ever really played EDH or Tiny Leaders, so I don't know if this deck is just not going to be powerful enough or what. I also don't really know if this manabase is the way to go. And finally, I need to shave 1 card off.
Thanks in advance for any feedback.
Guess I should start testing/tinkering this if I want to stay Naya given that something pretty similar without white was the most successful Gruul deck this past weekend ...
I think with no Rattleclaw Mystics you will need to be running at least 2, if not 3, Mana Confluence. What is your goal with 2 maindeck Polukranos?
I saw a surprising amount of fellow RG players at the Chicago PTQ. Glad you made it far. I'm surprised you consider Abzan Aggro a favorable matchup, because I've lost a lot to it in solo playtesting. It is INCREDIBLY weak to UW Heroic, but I think that star is falling a bit lately.
However, your list is really different than the usual RG Aggro list so maybe I should give it some playtesting!
SCG posts decklists on the homepage of their site towards the lower right.
What I will be testing this week:
4 Goblin Rabblemaster
2 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
4 Mantis Rider
3 Seeker of the Way
1 Soulfire Grand Master
2 Stormbreath Dragon
Planeswalkers
1 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
1 Chandra, Pyromaster
Land
4 Flooded Strand
3 Battlefield Forge
2 Island
2 Mountain
4 Mystic Monastery
2 Plains
2 Shivan Reef
2 Temple of Epiphany
3 Temple of Triumph
4 Jeskai Charm
4 Lightning Strike
2 Dig Through Time
4 Stoke the Flames
2 Valorous Stance
2 Wild Slash
2 Anger of the Gods
3 Disdainful Stroke
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
2 End Hostilities
2 Erase
1 Keranos, God of Storms
1 Negate
1 Valorous Stance
1 Glare of Heresy
1 Deflecting Palm
4 Goblin Rabblemaster
2 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
4 Mantis Rider
1 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
2 Seeker of the Way
2 Shaman of the Great Hunt
2 Soulfire Grand Master
2 Stormbreath Dragon
Land
4 Flooded Strand
2 Battlefield Forge
2 Island
2 Mountain
4 Mystic Monastery
2 Plains
2 Shivan Reef
2 Temple of Epiphany
4 Temple of Triumph
1 Gods Willing
3 Jeskai Charm
4 Lightning Strike
2 Dig Through Time
4 Stoke the Flames
1 Valorous Stance
2 Wild Slash
2 Anger of the Gods
1 Chandra, Pyromaster
3 Disdainful Stroke
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
2 End Hostilities
2 Erase
1 Keranos, God of Storms
1 Negate
2 Valorous Stance
I ran it to a 4-1 finish at a FNM, have won most of the games I've tested on Cockatrice, but went 2-4 drop at the SCG Regionals this weekend. I think it was a combination of running bad (I believe I mulled to 4 three times), questionable plays, and Magic being Magic. However, here are some of my thoughts after playing a number of games with it:
- The mana is basically perfect. I see no reason to change anything, besides MAYBE dropping a temple for a painland, specifically Temple of Triumph for Battlefield Forge. Sometimes you need to drop that 3-drop more than anything and an untapped source of mana really helps.
- I keep wanting more Stormbreath Dragon/Sarkhan, but that's mostly because I didn't draw him as much as I should this weekend. I'll be patient and stick with the current number.
- I'm not 100% sold on the current spell lineup main/sideboard. I'm not sure 4 Lightning Strike is where I want to be main. Strike kills about 3 creatures that see play in the format with much regularity: Fleecemane Lion, Mantis Rider, Sidisi, and like... Nyleas Disciple. Only Lion sees a LOT of play right now and makes me want to see a Strike in my opening hand. With all the 2 toughness creatures, more Wild Slash might be better maindeck, or I could even be convinced to run a singleton Magma Spray just for taking care of a stubborn Ashcloud Phoenix or Flamewake Phoenix that kept popping up.
- Continuing on the Lightning Strike/burn discussion: I feel like I'd be better off saving my creature from removal or burn than from casting Lightning Strike. I'd consider running 2 Gods Willing maindeck, which would allow me to be a touch more patient or more comfortable in not dropping a creature (especially Rabblemaster) on turn 3 on the play, allowing me to perhaps wait until turn 4 and have Gods Willing to save it from removal. So an ideal line of play might become hold up a wild slash or lightning strike turn 2, drop a 2 drop turn 3 holding up removal/protection, drop a 3 drop turn 4 holding up removal/protection. It just feels like it might be more flexible and getting something through blockers for big damage or to get a Shaman of the Great Hunt counter from connecting with damage.
- Dig Through Time sometimes feels like the most necessary card and the least necessary card at the same time. I'm not sure what to make of that.
Sideboard discussions:
- The current setup is designed to be able to switch to pretty tough control when it needs to with the Anger of the Gods, End Hostilities, Elspeth, etc. It can go long with Keranos as well, and he is amazing. I've never really had the control sideboard really feel like it works out in actual matches, however, but I playtested against a RDW last night and it was doing OK.
- This might sound super Timmy, here, but hear me out. I think I want 1-2 Deflecting Palm in the sideboard. These would be brought in against basically any deck that doesn't focus on going super wide to beat you and can hit you with something, say, 4+ power and doesn't run countermagic. Things like Whip, Abzan, Mardu, the mirror, UW Heroic (a maindeck Stubborn Denial hurts on that one, sure, but you can hopefully back it up with a Negate. You'd definitely want to declare a blocker if they have the possibility of casting Denial just so you don't get blown out there. I feel like Deflecting Palm is essentially a 2 mana lifelink burn/protection spell. You save your creature or yourself from damage and instead deliver it to your opponent, for fairly cheap. And no one is really going to play around Deflecting Palm game 2. However, it might be more powerful to simply play something like Glare of Heresy instead, but the wording of Deflecting Palm (does not target, which means it can work against UW Heroic alpha strikes, hexproof creatures, and still works against Stormbreath Dragon as well even though it's white) makes it really broadly useful. I'm definitely going to test it. But what to take out?
- I'm not sure I care enough about Chandra to keep her in the sideboard. Plinking away at tokens 1 at a time isn't that great. If I'm going controlling I can probably just rely on Keranos for card advantage and cast Dig Through Time at least once.
So here is the direction I can see this deck taking:
4 Goblin Rabblemaster
2 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
4 Mantis Rider
1 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
2 Seeker of the Way
2 Shaman of the Great Hunt
2 Soulfire Grand Master
2 Stormbreath Dragon
Land
4 Flooded Strand
3 Battlefield Forge
2 Island
2 Mountain
4 Mystic Monastery
2 Plains
2 Shivan Reef
2 Temple of Epiphany
3 Temple of Triumph
2 Gods Willing
3 Jeskai Charm
3 Lightning Strike
2 Dig Through Time
4 Stoke the Flames
1 Valorous Stance
2 Wild Slash
2 Anger of the Gods
3 Disdainful Stroke
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
2 End Hostilities
2 Erase
1 Keranos, God of Storms
1 Negate
2 Valorous Stance
1 Deflecting Palm
I still wish I had more slots in this sideboard. I'm not sold on having 4 slots devoted to wrath. I'm not entirely sure the maindeck needs that many creatures, as well, and removing one of them for a second maindeck Valorous Stance might be superior.
Thoughts and comments are welcome.
http://deckstats.net/decks/23303/186817-alesha-who-smiles-at-death-mar
Thoughts behind certain selections:
Thanks in advance for any feedback.
I think with no Rattleclaw Mystics you will need to be running at least 2, if not 3, Mana Confluence. What is your goal with 2 maindeck Polukranos?
However, your list is really different than the usual RG Aggro list so maybe I should give it some playtesting!