I did not perform as well at the IQ as I should have. The deck felt fine but a couple of misplays really cost me. That’s what I get for being rusty.
Spoiler: I ended up going 2-2 and dropping to save time.
Round 1: Jeskai Control 1-2
I lost the dice roll.
Game 1: Opponent opens with scalding tarn into Hallowed Fountian and I know I’m in for a fun one. I don’t remember much about this game. It went long and I was on the beat down plan for most of it. I got him down to 2 but could not finish him off. Azcanta+Teferi was too much.
Out:
1 Qasali Pridemage
3 Vizier of Remedies
1 Chord of Calling
In:
3 Sin Collector
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Selfless Spirit
Game 2 goes better for us. I curve Hierarch into Spirit into Finks into Shalai and he uses all his resources to clear them out of the way. I drop Druid and combo off shortly after.
Game 3 was another grind fest. Again I was able to get him low a sphinx for 4 was able keep him alive. I had one last chance to untap and combo but my opponents single card in hand was a path for my Druid. Colonnade beats sealed the deal.
We finished this round with about 3 minutes left. Overall it was a fun match against a really nice guy.
Round 2: Burn 2-0
I lose the dice roll and opponent opens with Goblin Guide. My opponent was a young kid and showed that he was still pretty new to the game. I was able to exploit it by comboing easily game 1 and 2.
Game 1: My opponent leads with a swift spear. I didn’t know my opponent was on burn and kept a hand that was pretty punishing. Horizon Canopy + Fetchland with no dork and no finks. I lost handily before I could do anything.
Game 2: My first hand consisted of only one land, a Gavony township. I mulled and the second hand had no lands. I mulled to 5 and kept Land, Land, Hierarch, Chord, CoCo. My opponent plays turn 1 Grafdigger’s Cage and shuts off half of my hand. I proceed to draw Township, land, BoP, and another chord. He durdles on draws for a little while and I put some significant pressure on with Gavony beats but ultimately lose.
I didn’t see a Finks or Shalai either game.
Round 4: U/W Control
I won the dice roll.
Game 1: My opponent decides to drop a Search for Azcanta instead of pathing my Druid and I combo off. (He didn’t know the combo)
I sideboard the same as round 1.
Game 2: I am putting significant pressure and feeling confident with 2 Finks and a selfless spirit. He plays terminus and then beats me down with colonnade.
Game 3: I play around the terminus and am able to out value him.
Overall, the deck felt fine. I omitted my crucial play mistake that I made against the second burn player because I don’t feel like typing THAT much. I felt like I played fine other than that one critical mistake.
There were times when I wasn’t sure if I should just ‘go for it’ against Jeskai or hold back and play smart. I need more reps with the deck.
So what’s the verdict on the madcap sideboard package? I’m also considering the shackles in the sideboard. Is it still a good card? What do you bring it in against?
It’s certainly has some negative chemistry with Finks, but it makes the rest of our creatures better in those grindy, removal-heavy matchups.
What about something like Return to the Ranks?
Some other options off the top of my head for removal heavy matchups:
Shapers Sanctuary
Thrun, the Last Troll
Athreos, God of Passage
Fiendslayer Paladin
Phyrexian Arena
Finks is better than knight against midrange and control. The reason being that it generally eats 2 removal spells.
BRx decks hate to see Finks.
I think Knight is certainly better against Tron though.
Spoiler: I ended up going 2-2 and dropping to save time.
Round 1: Jeskai Control 1-2
I lost the dice roll.
Game 1: Opponent opens with scalding tarn into Hallowed Fountian and I know I’m in for a fun one. I don’t remember much about this game. It went long and I was on the beat down plan for most of it. I got him down to 2 but could not finish him off. Azcanta+Teferi was too much.
Out:
1 Qasali Pridemage
3 Vizier of Remedies
1 Chord of Calling
In:
3 Sin Collector
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Selfless Spirit
Game 2 goes better for us. I curve Hierarch into Spirit into Finks into Shalai and he uses all his resources to clear them out of the way. I drop Druid and combo off shortly after.
Game 3 was another grind fest. Again I was able to get him low a sphinx for 4 was able keep him alive. I had one last chance to untap and combo but my opponents single card in hand was a path for my Druid. Colonnade beats sealed the deal.
We finished this round with about 3 minutes left. Overall it was a fun match against a really nice guy.
Round 2: Burn 2-0
I lose the dice roll and opponent opens with Goblin Guide. My opponent was a young kid and showed that he was still pretty new to the game. I was able to exploit it by comboing easily game 1 and 2.
Out:
3 Eternal Witness
1 Qasali Pridemage
In:
3 Sin Collector
1 Burrenton-Forge Tender
Round 3: Burn 0-2
I lost the dice roll again.
Game 1: My opponent leads with a swift spear. I didn’t know my opponent was on burn and kept a hand that was pretty punishing. Horizon Canopy + Fetchland with no dork and no finks. I lost handily before I could do anything.
Out:
3 Eternal witness
1 Qasali Pridemage
In:
3 Sin Collector
1 Burrenton-Forge Tender
Game 2: My first hand consisted of only one land, a Gavony township. I mulled and the second hand had no lands. I mulled to 5 and kept Land, Land, Hierarch, Chord, CoCo. My opponent plays turn 1 Grafdigger’s Cage and shuts off half of my hand. I proceed to draw Township, land, BoP, and another chord. He durdles on draws for a little while and I put some significant pressure on with Gavony beats but ultimately lose.
I didn’t see a Finks or Shalai either game.
Round 4: U/W Control
I won the dice roll.
Game 1: My opponent decides to drop a Search for Azcanta instead of pathing my Druid and I combo off. (He didn’t know the combo)
I sideboard the same as round 1.
Game 2: I am putting significant pressure and feeling confident with 2 Finks and a selfless spirit. He plays terminus and then beats me down with colonnade.
Game 3: I play around the terminus and am able to out value him.
Overall, the deck felt fine. I omitted my crucial play mistake that I made against the second burn player because I don’t feel like typing THAT much. I felt like I played fine other than that one critical mistake.
There were times when I wasn’t sure if I should just ‘go for it’ against Jeskai or hold back and play smart. I need more reps with the deck.
Have you tried Kitchen Finks and just not liked it?
Reason being, he’s a house against Jund and Death Shadow. He always buys me enough time to stabilize.
E: like a Facebook group or subreddit
One protects the combo and is better on its own.
The other is a better secondary win condition and can be hit off of CoCo.
Here is the list: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1090357#paper
I have a general idea of what to bring in for each matchup, but I’m having a hard time decided what to cut.
Is it ever correct to shave a vizier?
The main cards I look to cut is pridemage and scooze in matches where they aren’t great, and I’ll sometimes trim witnesses and some chords.
Any help is appreciated.
I was a fan of Rhonas in this spot but I think Shalai is better.
I was going to go with TiTi because I think it might be better overall, but the MetA seems kind of bad for it.