I like the nevermore idea. I might try it. I have Gideon's intervention in the sb for the same case against ramdom hard to kill stuff like dredge's bloodghast. I might try the Anger tho
Tournament report. There were 14 players last week. I lent out my lantern and g-tron decks. 4 rounds. Also, couldn't find a 4th restore balance for trade or sale. Played the list from my last post.
R-1 Tron Gw
G1 was missing that 4th RB. Needed to do it 1 more time, but used all 3 already.
G2 he played sacred ground and I Nahiri'd it. I ultimated Ajani a few turns after I stuck a blood moon.
G3 I made a play mistake and went for restore balance sac all lands over blood moon. He then assembled Tron and then Karn, so I conceded.
1-2, 0-1
Budget Burn
G1 made another play mistake. I was at 1, so I was dead to any burn spell. I RB'd when I should have waited because of unearth on hellspark elemental.
G2&3 Leyline t0
She didn't know about the new damage redirect rule when she didn't burn down any of my planeswalkers. I told her after. She also tried to bolt the leyline itself.
+4 leyline, + intervention, +2 dead/gone
-3 blood moon -1 o-ring, -1 d sphere, -1 fiery justice, -1 gargadon
3-3, 1-1
Naya Burn
G1 just couldn't get anything going. Got burned out
G2 had some back and forth. Ultimated Nahiri and attacked for exactly leathal.
G3 leyline t0, then RB to mind twist him down to 1 card in hand and 1 land. Scales ate a swiftspear and held him back. Win.
+4 leyline, + intervention, +2 dead/gone, +1 scales, +1 rough/tumble, +2 wear/tear (mostly for eidolon)
-3 blood moon -1 o-ring, -1 Jace, -2 gargadon, -2 SSG, -1 As Foretold,
5-4, 2-1
BW eldrazi and taxes
G1 Blood moon kept him off balance. He played a Thought-knot Seer and didn't take my cascader, took a Nahiri instead I think. Won.
G2, went 2 SSG into as foretold, but he kept resetting it with flickerwisp. Was stuck on mana thanks to Thalias.
G3 went fine. He had a slower start. Killed a Thalia EOT with dead/gone to untap and cascade and wipe his board. Scales came down and ate everything he played rather than him taking a turn or two off.
-1 Gideon, -1 As Foretold, -3 blood moon, +1 Scales, +1 leyline, +2 dead/gone, +2 wear/tear, +1 rough/tumble
7-5, 3-1
Got $17.5 store credit for 4th. Picked out some bargains out of the $1 box. Not bad for $5.
Moving forward, I might -1 O Ring, -1 mistveil plains +4th Restore Balance, +2nd As Foretold. Sideboard is fine for now.
Usually go to Sb out SSG and Gargadon. Does anyone have any sideboarding guides or can direct me to some past discussions about it? Sideboarding is really hard with this deck.
I would love some more constructive criticism. Thanks!
Thank you for the constructive criticism. Here is some of my reasons why I made the deck construction decisions:
Humans is a top played deck, with that, meddling mage on RB and detention sphere can be game over. Having Fiery Justice and Oblivion Ring as different names can be the edge you need against humans. Also both answer Lili.
1 As Foretold: I concede that I probably should run a second for consistency, especially if I go up to 4 RB.
1 Mistveil Plains: I might try a bow or 4th RB here. Fights surgical extraction
Jace, the Mind Sculptor: Does some work bouncing creatures, drawing cards, keeping the opponents draws bad. 4 was too many. 2 seems fine right now. He does filter cards away on a cascade.
Gideon of the Trials: Planeswalkers can be hard to deal with as previously stated, so he can man up and punch them with exalted bonuses. Kiora gets bolted and costs 4. I may try her as a 1 of. I concede that she locks something down, draws cards in a pinch, an can ultimate to win eventually. My testing with Gideon was extremely positive.
Ajani Vengeant: Every time I go to cut him he shows up and wins the game. Locking something down or having MD life gain are underrated for this deck.
Culling Scales: Holds down the fort and is a major threat. Blows up stony silence, vials, Lili, and if worst comes to worst, it can eat Ardent Plea before borderposts. Great results.
Rough // Tumble: 2 mana interaction that can kill things is a super surprise.
Gideon's Intervention: yes it's 4 mana. But it is extremely versatile. (Slaughter games is 4, this works)
Modern is a very wide and diverse format. Varied sideboards with overlapping cards are very effective. Also, they are going to grudge you. You can't do anything about it. Seriously. Games are pretty easy when everything goes right. Gargadon into RB is lights out. Great. What about when it doesn't go that way? That is the reasoning behind my decisions. I'm playing another tournament on Thursday, so I'll be able to report back with my changes.
Thanks for your input.
Culling scales was great. Gideon is a must. The intervention looks odd, but it is like a slaughter games (no black) that can turn off bloodghast or prized amalgam. Fiery justice can kill planeswalkers, so I like its versatility. Any input?
Played a few matches at FNM tonight with a list like it: -1 as foretold, planeswalkers: 2 Jace, 3 Nahiri, 1 ajani vengeant. Sb was good. Went 4-0 against grishoalbrand, lantern (rough), w hatebears with eldrazi, bant spirits. Played a culling scales in the board and it was great! Might go up to 2. It seems tailor made for this deck.
What do we have against surgical extraction? I was thinking faerie macabre to get the targeted balance, but was wondering what other people were running.
As for sideboard, with the split card errata, we can now play all of those cards and have cheap interaction! My sb is in flux, but it starts at a minimum:
2 wear/tear
2 dead/gone
1 rough/tumble
1 dismember
Vs hollow one, wear/tear can get the hollow ones along with dismember and nahiri can exile bloodghast
I was afraid of humans, but since there's not really a company in their list, and we really only care about freebooter, meddling mage, and hierarch, it doesn't seem too bad. I was going to try to sneak a reckoning in the sb, but it might be premature. Video was good, but I'm going to test this matchup more.
Torpor orb does not stop meddling mage
If Thalia is out, you can cast EE for 1, pay 1 of a different color for Thalia, and it comes in with 2 counters (because of rules). This needs only 4 mana vice 5
Hey everyone!
After a bit of a slump with my regular lantern list, I ended up testing Thnkr's whir list yesterday at a local free modern event and it went great! The only changes were 1/1 split of needle and spyglass in the main, and I added a nihil spellbomb as a bullet. The 12 card package of stirrings, bauble, and whir definitely shrink your deck, so you always have a bridge. I know we have all lost due to not finding a bridge in a timely manner. Don't be afraid to whir for mill rocks as it is a super split card of anything you need. EE was fantastic! You can set it to 2,4,5 no problem. I was super surprised by how useful it was over a 2nd decay. If you are trying to do cute things, then this is not the deck for you. It is straightforward and consistent. I definitely believe this is the version I will run for the GP in CT in April.
I still feel like it is missing something. Most likely I might add a 61st card and make it a ruins or shredder.
Matches (sorry for the lack of details, when you play this deck for so long, the board state dictates your actions and most things become reflexive.)
R1-Abzan-He Mulled to 4 game 1 and didn't have much action g2
R2-Eldrazi d&t- torpor orb was great!
R3-Naya 1 drops- g1 I Spyglass a rampager and whir a bridge. I Misplay a my ruins t3 instead of a fastland. Doesn't cost me much
G2 I EE for 1 t3. I didn't see any Boros charms g1, so I wait to blow it up and it works out. Find bridge, game.
R4-Naya burn-
Gets lucky with 2 destructive revelry. G2 Still get it. He kept burn with no creatures.
R5-id with counters company. Play a game, but it was still super rough. Could use some help on this one. EE for 2 multiple times.
2-0'd everyone.
Deck is great! Sideboarding isn't too difficult. If you have any specific questions please ask!
Has anyone thought about or playtested Thopter Spy Network? I know it's 4 mana, but it nullifies an attacker every turn, and can possibly draw cards if you want. What do you think? I'm looking for another bridge effect aside from magus, whir helps, but just looking for other options.
@thursdayisgod: GDS fights the stack with ceremonious rejection and stubborn denial. Discard should stay in to clear the way for bridge. Brutality is questionable, but I can see keeping 1 in. Against jund, the brutalities should stay because of bob and scooze, but the game goes to top decking very quickly, and TS/IOK are just dead draws. If you fear or see shatterstorm, maybe you could keep some, otherwise I would leave board it out.
Hello Lanterneers/Lumineers!
Finally got a chance to jam some modern and went to the modern PPTQ at Kirwan’s Games on Saturday 29JUL17. Here’s what I registered:
1 Mishra’s Bauble
1 Welding Jar
1 Crucible of Worlds
4 Codex Shredder
3 Ghoulcaller’s Bell
1 Pyxis of pandemonium
4 Lantern of insight
2 Pithing Needle
4 Ensnaring Bridge
4 Ancient Stirrings
2 Inquisition of Kozilek
4 Thoughtseize
2 Collective Brutality
2 Surgical Extraction
2 Abrupt Decay
2 Leyline of Sanctity
4 Mox Opal
2 Academy Ruins
2 Ghost Quarter
2 Inventors’ Fair
1 Llanowar Wastes
2 Blooming Marsh
1 Concealed Courtyard
4 Glimmervoid
1 Spire of Industry
1 Mana Confluence
1 Forest
1 Swamp
SB
1 Gaddock Teeg
1 Spellskite
1 Magus of the Moat
1 Padeem
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
2 Welding Jar
1 Grafdigger’s Cage
1 Pithing Needle
1 Collective Brutality
1 Lost Legacy
1 Abrupt Decay
1 Seal of Primordium
1 Ghirapur AEther Grid
1 Leyline of Sanctity
Some decklist discussion
Obviously it resembles a lot of Adrian Sullivan’s SCG Invitational 8-0 list. I tooled with the manabase a little. With confluence allowing a T1 discard spell vs spire not giving pain all the time I went with a 1-1 split and 4 thoughtseize. TS grabs anything, and the life loss is upset by Fair and no fetches/shocks. The Bauble is a flex spot, and yes the deck is 61/15. That’s how I roll. I have some thoughts about the sideboard after some play. Magus of the Moat is the real deal. I would consider going up to 2. If you were skeptical, get them now before they become unreasonably priced. The metamorph was discussed in Sullivan’s article, but it is just ok to me. I might put the other magus there. The Teeg was another flex SB, and I would go for a Nature’s Claim moving forward. The 3rd decay was ok, might switch to Maelstrom Pulse or Anguished Unmaking/Utter End or have that in place of Metamorph/Teeg. Everything else has been belabored or discussed. I feel that the deck still needs something. (Maybe it’s artificer’s intuition? It’s not. It’s definitely not. Don’t take this joke too seriously). I might try a 1 of whir. I know the color requirements are pretty harsh, but having that 5th MD bridge might be it. It definitely pitches to Collective Brutality. Or maybe just go back to an Infernal Tutor. I’m going to be firing up gatherer for some inspiration.
Onto the report!
There were 16 players, so they went to 5 rounds cut to top 4. Sideboard notes are a little sketchy and from memory. I’m also fluid with my Sideboarding. I sided out a Mox Opal almost every match and it was fine.
Round 1- living end.
G1 could not find a bridge in the top half of my deck.
G2 sugical’d in response to a living end and blanked him. Lost legacy’d the rest of his living ends, and locked him up.
G3 Had to topdeck a bridge, but got Magus of the Moat instead. It would have been fine, except I let him draw a Shriekmaw at some point. He also SB Leyline of the Void this game and cramped me pretty well. He eventually went to win the tournament.
SB: -2 Leyline, -2 CB, - 1 AD +2 Jar, +1 spellskite, +Magus, + Padeem, + Lost Legacy
If anyone is familiar with this matchup, please offer your suggestions. It’s not on the matchup analysis page.
0-1, 1-2
Round 2- Infect
G1-Kept a sketchy hand and was able to surgical Glistener Elf and Blighted Agent. Slowed him down so much. Established the lock and he conceded to Fair against his Heirarch after he blew his pumps. Stabilized around 9-10 life.
G2-Collective Brutality was great! It did the usual thing of emptying my hand and clearing the way for a bridge. He conceded.
SB: -2 Leyline -2 Bell, -Bauble, +CB,+2 Jar, +1 spellskite, + AD
1-1, 3-2
Round 3- Esper Gifts
G1- Don’t remember much. Almost died to a reanimated Obzedat, but had fair to offset a little plus bridge and eventually drew a Leyline.
G2- Frustrating. He Ultimated Jace, Vryn’s Prodigy and was milling me. Eventually got a Leyline down, but died to my own Padeem that was dropped before and could not kill her. I was going to go to the crucible double ruins plan, but I needed 1 more turn to get that going. Tough break.
G3- Drew. He had me dead at end of turns, but I declined to concede in order to stay live.
SB: He had a variety of enchantments. It was rough. Don’t remember much, kept my discard in against my better judgment. Again, anyone familiar with this matchup?
1-1-1, 4-3-1
Round 4 Ad nauseam
G1- Blind mill Ad Nauseam, then surgical. Pithing Needle Lightning Storm, mill Laboratory Maniac as his only out was Spoils of the Vault into Lab Man off Angel’s Grace.
G2- Same as before.
Ad Nauseam either wins early or pretty much loses to you after T5. If you surgical Ad nauseam or hit hard with discard and Leyline backup, then you have enough time to establish the lock and kill them. Watch out for Mystical Teachings into Hurkyl’s Recall after bouncing your Leylines with Echoing Truth. They have a few bounce spells, but you should aggressively shred back Surgical or Lost Legacy to dwindle their outs. Blind milling is great against them. Watch out for Empty the Warrens.
SB: -3 Bridge, -1 Pithing Needle, -1 Mox Opal, -1 Pyxis; +1 Gaddock Teeg, 1 + Spellskite, +1 Welding Jar, +1 Collective Brutality, +1 Lost Legacy, +1 Leyline of Sanctity
2-1-1, 5-3-1
Round 5- Bant Eldrazi
Read the matchup analysis right before the start of the tournament after some scouting. It is pretty much a bye.
G1-Land a Bridge, get a lock, Leyline some Thought-knots, Pithing Needle Displacer.
G2- Same as above, except he had an Engineered Explosives in the yard, and rather than Surgical it while he was tapped out, I tried to surgical EE at end of draw step, which he then Stubborn Denial’d and dropped EE for 3, killing my bridge and Reality Smashing my face.
G3- See G1.
3-1-1, 7-4-1
Placed 5th on tiebreakers, so I did not advance. Got $25 store credit for my $20 entry fee and got some foil commander goodies. Hope you enjoyed my report, and I hope to get some feedback on some of my matches, as well as Eldrazi Tron. Thanks.
I have a different take on this deck.
I've played this deck for a while. I loved the shards/lorwyn standard back in the day, and wondered if it would work in modern. I tried a fetch/shock manabase a few years ago at a GP (almost made day 2), but lost due to having my life total starting around 12. I played in a side event with this version in May at GP Charlotte, and went 3-0-1. The key is so many cheap interactive spells, and then cruel/Ugin endgame. Painful truths keeps you fueled better than vision, and your life total is pretty decent. It takes some practice, but I really like it for modern if blood moon isn't super dominant in your area. I found electrolyze and chromatic lantern too slow,
Fatal Push also looks good in the future.
Let me know what you think...
R-1 Tron Gw
G1 was missing that 4th RB. Needed to do it 1 more time, but used all 3 already.
G2 he played sacred ground and I Nahiri'd it. I ultimated Ajani a few turns after I stuck a blood moon.
G3 I made a play mistake and went for restore balance sac all lands over blood moon. He then assembled Tron and then Karn, so I conceded.
1-2, 0-1
Budget Burn
G1 made another play mistake. I was at 1, so I was dead to any burn spell. I RB'd when I should have waited because of unearth on hellspark elemental.
G2&3 Leyline t0
She didn't know about the new damage redirect rule when she didn't burn down any of my planeswalkers. I told her after. She also tried to bolt the leyline itself.
+4 leyline, + intervention, +2 dead/gone
-3 blood moon -1 o-ring, -1 d sphere, -1 fiery justice, -1 gargadon
3-3, 1-1
Naya Burn
G1 just couldn't get anything going. Got burned out
G2 had some back and forth. Ultimated Nahiri and attacked for exactly leathal.
G3 leyline t0, then RB to mind twist him down to 1 card in hand and 1 land. Scales ate a swiftspear and held him back. Win.
+4 leyline, + intervention, +2 dead/gone, +1 scales, +1 rough/tumble, +2 wear/tear (mostly for eidolon)
-3 blood moon -1 o-ring, -1 Jace, -2 gargadon, -2 SSG, -1 As Foretold,
5-4, 2-1
BW eldrazi and taxes
G1 Blood moon kept him off balance. He played a Thought-knot Seer and didn't take my cascader, took a Nahiri instead I think. Won.
G2, went 2 SSG into as foretold, but he kept resetting it with flickerwisp. Was stuck on mana thanks to Thalias.
G3 went fine. He had a slower start. Killed a Thalia EOT with dead/gone to untap and cascade and wipe his board. Scales came down and ate everything he played rather than him taking a turn or two off.
-1 Gideon, -1 As Foretold, -3 blood moon, +1 Scales, +1 leyline, +2 dead/gone, +2 wear/tear, +1 rough/tumble
7-5, 3-1
Got $17.5 store credit for 4th. Picked out some bargains out of the $1 box. Not bad for $5.
Moving forward, I might -1 O Ring, -1 mistveil plains +4th Restore Balance, +2nd As Foretold. Sideboard is fine for now.
Usually go to Sb out SSG and Gargadon. Does anyone have any sideboarding guides or can direct me to some past discussions about it? Sideboarding is really hard with this deck.
I would love some more constructive criticism. Thanks!
Humans is a top played deck, with that, meddling mage on RB and detention sphere can be game over. Having Fiery Justice and Oblivion Ring as different names can be the edge you need against humans. Also both answer Lili.
1 As Foretold: I concede that I probably should run a second for consistency, especially if I go up to 4 RB.
1 Mistveil Plains: I might try a bow or 4th RB here. Fights surgical extraction
Jace, the Mind Sculptor: Does some work bouncing creatures, drawing cards, keeping the opponents draws bad. 4 was too many. 2 seems fine right now. He does filter cards away on a cascade.
Gideon of the Trials: Planeswalkers can be hard to deal with as previously stated, so he can man up and punch them with exalted bonuses. Kiora gets bolted and costs 4. I may try her as a 1 of. I concede that she locks something down, draws cards in a pinch, an can ultimate to win eventually. My testing with Gideon was extremely positive.
Ajani Vengeant: Every time I go to cut him he shows up and wins the game. Locking something down or having MD life gain are underrated for this deck.
Culling Scales: Holds down the fort and is a major threat. Blows up stony silence, vials, Lili, and if worst comes to worst, it can eat Ardent Plea before borderposts. Great results.
Rough // Tumble: 2 mana interaction that can kill things is a super surprise.
Gideon's Intervention: yes it's 4 mana. But it is extremely versatile. (Slaughter games is 4, this works)
Modern is a very wide and diverse format. Varied sideboards with overlapping cards are very effective. Also, they are going to grudge you. You can't do anything about it. Seriously. Games are pretty easy when everything goes right. Gargadon into RB is lights out. Great. What about when it doesn't go that way? That is the reasoning behind my decisions. I'm playing another tournament on Thursday, so I'll be able to report back with my changes.
Thanks for your input.
4 Simian Spirit Guide
4 Greater Gargadon
1 Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
3 Restore Balance
1 Fiery Justice
4 Violent Outburst
4 Ardent Plea
1 As Foretold
3 Blood Moon
2 Detention Sphere
1 Oblivion Ring
2 Gideon of the Trials
1 Ajani Vengeant
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
3 Nahiri, the Harbinger
2 Fieldmist Borderpost
4 Firewild Borderpost
3 Wildfield Borderpost
1 Breeding Pool
4 Flooded Strand
2 Island
1 Mistveil Plains
1 Mountain
1 Plains
1 Sacred Foundry
4 Scalding Tarn
1 Steam Vents
Sideboard:
1 Faerie Macabre
1 Culling Scales
1 Rough // Tumble
2 Dead // Gone
2 Wear // Tear
1 Dismember
1 Ravenous Trap
1 Ricochet Trap
1 Gideon's Intervention
4 Leyline of Sanctity
Culling scales was great. Gideon is a must. The intervention looks odd, but it is like a slaughter games (no black) that can turn off bloodghast or prized amalgam. Fiery justice can kill planeswalkers, so I like its versatility. Any input?
As for sideboard, with the split card errata, we can now play all of those cards and have cheap interaction! My sb is in flux, but it starts at a minimum:
2 wear/tear
2 dead/gone
1 rough/tumble
1 dismember
Vs hollow one, wear/tear can get the hollow ones along with dismember and nahiri can exile bloodghast
Torpor orb does not stop meddling mage
If Thalia is out, you can cast EE for 1, pay 1 of a different color for Thalia, and it comes in with 2 counters (because of rules). This needs only 4 mana vice 5
After a bit of a slump with my regular lantern list, I ended up testing Thnkr's whir list yesterday at a local free modern event and it went great! The only changes were 1/1 split of needle and spyglass in the main, and I added a nihil spellbomb as a bullet. The 12 card package of stirrings, bauble, and whir definitely shrink your deck, so you always have a bridge. I know we have all lost due to not finding a bridge in a timely manner. Don't be afraid to whir for mill rocks as it is a super split card of anything you need. EE was fantastic! You can set it to 2,4,5 no problem. I was super surprised by how useful it was over a 2nd decay. If you are trying to do cute things, then this is not the deck for you. It is straightforward and consistent. I definitely believe this is the version I will run for the GP in CT in April.
I still feel like it is missing something. Most likely I might add a 61st card and make it a ruins or shredder.
Matches (sorry for the lack of details, when you play this deck for so long, the board state dictates your actions and most things become reflexive.)
R1-Abzan-He Mulled to 4 game 1 and didn't have much action g2
R2-Eldrazi d&t- torpor orb was great!
R3-Naya 1 drops- g1 I Spyglass a rampager and whir a bridge. I Misplay a my ruins t3 instead of a fastland. Doesn't cost me much
G2 I EE for 1 t3. I didn't see any Boros charms g1, so I wait to blow it up and it works out. Find bridge, game.
R4-Naya burn-
Gets lucky with 2 destructive revelry. G2 Still get it. He kept burn with no creatures.
R5-id with counters company. Play a game, but it was still super rough. Could use some help on this one. EE for 2 multiple times.
2-0'd everyone.
Deck is great! Sideboarding isn't too difficult. If you have any specific questions please ask!
Finally got a chance to jam some modern and went to the modern PPTQ at Kirwan’s Games on Saturday 29JUL17. Here’s what I registered:
1 Mishra’s Bauble
1 Welding Jar
1 Crucible of Worlds
4 Codex Shredder
3 Ghoulcaller’s Bell
1 Pyxis of pandemonium
4 Lantern of insight
2 Pithing Needle
4 Ensnaring Bridge
4 Ancient Stirrings
2 Inquisition of Kozilek
4 Thoughtseize
2 Collective Brutality
2 Surgical Extraction
2 Abrupt Decay
2 Leyline of Sanctity
4 Mox Opal
2 Academy Ruins
2 Ghost Quarter
2 Inventors’ Fair
1 Llanowar Wastes
2 Blooming Marsh
1 Concealed Courtyard
4 Glimmervoid
1 Spire of Industry
1 Mana Confluence
1 Forest
1 Swamp
SB
1 Gaddock Teeg
1 Spellskite
1 Magus of the Moat
1 Padeem
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
2 Welding Jar
1 Grafdigger’s Cage
1 Pithing Needle
1 Collective Brutality
1 Lost Legacy
1 Abrupt Decay
1 Seal of Primordium
1 Ghirapur AEther Grid
1 Leyline of Sanctity
Some decklist discussion
Obviously it resembles a lot of Adrian Sullivan’s SCG Invitational 8-0 list. I tooled with the manabase a little. With confluence allowing a T1 discard spell vs spire not giving pain all the time I went with a 1-1 split and 4 thoughtseize. TS grabs anything, and the life loss is upset by Fair and no fetches/shocks. The Bauble is a flex spot, and yes the deck is 61/15. That’s how I roll. I have some thoughts about the sideboard after some play. Magus of the Moat is the real deal. I would consider going up to 2. If you were skeptical, get them now before they become unreasonably priced. The metamorph was discussed in Sullivan’s article, but it is just ok to me. I might put the other magus there. The Teeg was another flex SB, and I would go for a Nature’s Claim moving forward. The 3rd decay was ok, might switch to Maelstrom Pulse or Anguished Unmaking/Utter End or have that in place of Metamorph/Teeg. Everything else has been belabored or discussed. I feel that the deck still needs something. (Maybe it’s artificer’s intuition? It’s not. It’s definitely not. Don’t take this joke too seriously). I might try a 1 of whir. I know the color requirements are pretty harsh, but having that 5th MD bridge might be it. It definitely pitches to Collective Brutality. Or maybe just go back to an Infernal Tutor. I’m going to be firing up gatherer for some inspiration.
Onto the report!
There were 16 players, so they went to 5 rounds cut to top 4. Sideboard notes are a little sketchy and from memory. I’m also fluid with my Sideboarding. I sided out a Mox Opal almost every match and it was fine.
Round 1- living end.
G1 could not find a bridge in the top half of my deck.
G2 sugical’d in response to a living end and blanked him. Lost legacy’d the rest of his living ends, and locked him up.
G3 Had to topdeck a bridge, but got Magus of the Moat instead. It would have been fine, except I let him draw a Shriekmaw at some point. He also SB Leyline of the Void this game and cramped me pretty well. He eventually went to win the tournament.
SB: -2 Leyline, -2 CB, - 1 AD +2 Jar, +1 spellskite, +Magus, + Padeem, + Lost Legacy
If anyone is familiar with this matchup, please offer your suggestions. It’s not on the matchup analysis page.
0-1, 1-2
Round 2- Infect
G1-Kept a sketchy hand and was able to surgical Glistener Elf and Blighted Agent. Slowed him down so much. Established the lock and he conceded to Fair against his Heirarch after he blew his pumps. Stabilized around 9-10 life.
G2-Collective Brutality was great! It did the usual thing of emptying my hand and clearing the way for a bridge. He conceded.
SB: -2 Leyline -2 Bell, -Bauble, +CB,+2 Jar, +1 spellskite, + AD
1-1, 3-2
Round 3- Esper Gifts
G1- Don’t remember much. Almost died to a reanimated Obzedat, but had fair to offset a little plus bridge and eventually drew a Leyline.
G2- Frustrating. He Ultimated Jace, Vryn’s Prodigy and was milling me. Eventually got a Leyline down, but died to my own Padeem that was dropped before and could not kill her. I was going to go to the crucible double ruins plan, but I needed 1 more turn to get that going. Tough break.
G3- Drew. He had me dead at end of turns, but I declined to concede in order to stay live.
SB: He had a variety of enchantments. It was rough. Don’t remember much, kept my discard in against my better judgment. Again, anyone familiar with this matchup?
1-1-1, 4-3-1
Round 4 Ad nauseam
G1- Blind mill Ad Nauseam, then surgical. Pithing Needle Lightning Storm, mill Laboratory Maniac as his only out was Spoils of the Vault into Lab Man off Angel’s Grace.
G2- Same as before.
Ad Nauseam either wins early or pretty much loses to you after T5. If you surgical Ad nauseam or hit hard with discard and Leyline backup, then you have enough time to establish the lock and kill them. Watch out for Mystical Teachings into Hurkyl’s Recall after bouncing your Leylines with Echoing Truth. They have a few bounce spells, but you should aggressively shred back Surgical or Lost Legacy to dwindle their outs. Blind milling is great against them. Watch out for Empty the Warrens.
SB: -3 Bridge, -1 Pithing Needle, -1 Mox Opal, -1 Pyxis; +1 Gaddock Teeg, 1 + Spellskite, +1 Welding Jar, +1 Collective Brutality, +1 Lost Legacy, +1 Leyline of Sanctity
2-1-1, 5-3-1
Round 5- Bant Eldrazi
Read the matchup analysis right before the start of the tournament after some scouting. It is pretty much a bye.
G1-Land a Bridge, get a lock, Leyline some Thought-knots, Pithing Needle Displacer.
G2- Same as above, except he had an Engineered Explosives in the yard, and rather than Surgical it while he was tapped out, I tried to surgical EE at end of draw step, which he then Stubborn Denial’d and dropped EE for 3, killing my bridge and Reality Smashing my face.
G3- See G1.
3-1-1, 7-4-1
Placed 5th on tiebreakers, so I did not advance. Got $25 store credit for my $20 entry fee and got some foil commander goodies. Hope you enjoyed my report, and I hope to get some feedback on some of my matches, as well as Eldrazi Tron. Thanks.
I've played this deck for a while. I loved the shards/lorwyn standard back in the day, and wondered if it would work in modern. I tried a fetch/shock manabase a few years ago at a GP (almost made day 2), but lost due to having my life total starting around 12. I played in a side event with this version in May at GP Charlotte, and went 3-0-1. The key is so many cheap interactive spells, and then cruel/Ugin endgame. Painful truths keeps you fueled better than vision, and your life total is pretty decent. It takes some practice, but I really like it for modern if blood moon isn't super dominant in your area. I found electrolyze and chromatic lantern too slow,
Fatal Push also looks good in the future.
Let me know what you think...
4 snapcaster mage
2 engineered explosives
1 batterskull
2 inquisition of kozilek
1 thoughtseize
2 serum visions
4 painful truths
1 timely reinforcements
1 supreme verdict
1 cruel ultimatum
2 lightning bolt
3 path to exile
3 abrupt decay
2 lightning helix
4 rune snag
1 kolaghan's command
2 cryptic command
1 Ugin
3 vivid creek
3 vivid marsh
3 mana confluence
4 reflecting pool
1 celestial colonnade
1 shambling vent
2 polluted delta
1 hallowed fountain
1 breeding pool
1 steam vents
1 watery grave
1 urborg, tomb of yawgmoth
1 island
1 academy ruins
SB:
1 nihil spellbomb
1 thoughtseize
1 timely reinforcements
2 crumble to dust
1 hero's downfall
1 dispel
1 gut shot
1 surgical extraction
1 ancient grudge
1 ray of revelation
1 stony silence
1 night of souls' betrayal
1 damnation
1 negate