I can see your arguments for things like Teeg, Padeem, and Magus in that they can't be grabbed via Stirrings and that there are artifacts that can do the same things.
The way I see it, though, is that they diversify our answers. One of the problems here as of late for us is that our cards are kind of linear - They're pretty much all non-creature artifacts. Thus, Kolaghan's Command, Ceremonious Rejection, Stubborn Denial, etc., are great against us. What these creatures do is supplement our artifact suite, but are harder to answer because it forces the opponent to also diversify their answers to our answers.
Again, I'm not going to say with absolute certainty that it's correct, but it seems to be at least worth discussing, if not testing. I just got done testing vs. Grixis Shadow tonight at the LGS (except they ran Kolaghan's Commands) and it was miserable That was before Magus, though. If I'd drawn a Magus instead of either of the Bridges I drew, I would have won, hands down.
I can definitely see your argument. I guess the question that needs to to be answered is whether or not diversifying answers outweighs consistency or vice versa. I've been seeing success with a straight bg artifact heavy version, though I will admit the mirror gets a little worse. (Nod to thinkr) I will also build a white splash version with utility creatures in the board. I just wish we had a reliable way to search for them.
Definitely agree with this. We have access to more efficient cards than gaddock that don't require white. Same for padeem, he's basically just a spellskite for 4 Mana that can't be grabbed with stirrings. A general rule of thumb for me is that if a card is only good enough to run one it's probably not good enough to go in the deck.
After testing with out leylines, I'm leaning towards them not being needed. When you get them on turn 0 they are gas, but when you don't they are pretty sub optimal. Honestly I would rather have access to more discard or creature removal. Also I think spellskite deserve a fresh look. Not going to go over all the uses since this forum has pretty much covered it, but I think it is still a pretty relevant card against quite a few stategies. Also running 4 Mishra's baubles. I think this is a more consistent way to combat targeted discard, while keeping the Mana cost and color pie as lean as possible. Let me do a few more rounds of testing and see where it goes. So far I am 3-0 all against grixis shadow, seems like every one is on that deck.
Sry for the double post but also for those who have trouble with their bridges getting extracted. Remember you can always surgical your own bridge in response and fail to find the others.
I'm trying a bg only build that drops leyline for more brutality and spellskite. Working right now but I'll post the list later with some analysis of my games.
Seems like the as foretold version is the way to go.been playing a lot with it. Being able to cast restore balance is huge most of the time and savor the moment becomes a lot more playable in that deck versus something like temporal mastery.
If anything from sram-o's gets the Axe its gonna be retract. That is the deck's engine. It can be replaced with hurkyl's recall, but would slow the deck down to a consistent turn 4 win uninterrupted. MOX is definitely a good card but by no means is it busted. Not like a lotus petal would be, cuz you don't always get the mana turn 1.
Noticed a lot of win condition discussion going around. My experience recently has been that most people concede once you have to lock. A few people will make you "combo" but I've noticed those are the ones that get locked up early so its no issue. If an alternate win con is what you are after then I would go with glint nest crane. It's on curve and it does something besides "win" the game, so it always gets value.
I have never tested against the Cheerios deck, but I know my three matches I have the most problems with is Burn, Tron, and WR Prison. Any thoughts on ways to improve? I've been thinking about trying Mechanized Production to give some inevitability.
burn is always tough. One thing I have noticed is that if you let a goblin guide stick around he might fill your hand with lands and you won't be able to lock them out with bridge. My sideboard cards for that match up are fatal push, spellskite, welding jar, leyline of sanctity, sun droplet, and nature's claim. Push is good for knocking of early creatures or an eidolon. Leyline and droplet for obvious reasons. I went with a singleton droplet so that I would have one piece of burn hate that I could grab with stirrings. Against tron you want gquarter, surgical, pithing needle, and thoughseize. Against sun and moon bring in nature's claim, seal of primordium, and the third thoughtseize.
What does everyone sideboard in golgari charm for?
kills stony silence and is good against infect, but its not really a great choice right now. I will say that I'm tempted to side in fatal push to have some better hate for the sram-o's deck. Seems like everyone and their dog is trying it out. Obviously best line of play is to iok their creature and surgical it. But if your on the draw and they have 2 creatures your in a world of hurt.
What role do the fulminators fill that molten rain wouldn't be better at? I suppose you can use for a Block/Sac to prevent early creature damage, other then that I just think molten rain is so much better.
also running molten rain in sideboard. Yeah can attack with it, block with it. Its a little more versatile, and land destruction is pretty strong right now.
deck feels pretty boss right now. i'm running a 1-1 split of dragonlord dromoka and batterskull. just feel like the dragonlord can take over the game a little easier.
Noticed a lot of win condition discussion going around. My experience recently has been that most people concede once you have to lock. A few people will make you "combo" but I've noticed those are the ones that get locked up early so its no issue. If an alternate win con is what you are after then I would go with glint nest crane. It's on curve and it does something besides "win" the game, so it always gets value.