In a game earlier on Magic Online, I hit my opponent with Nightveil Specter, and the card I exiled was Hands of Binding. When I went to cast it after combat, it would only allow me to target my own creatures. Is this a bug, or does it work this way because of how Hands of Binding is worded (Tap a creature an opponent controls)?
In order to run homebrew, such as the emulators you described, you have to install custom firmware, which is obviously not sanctioned by Sony (and they try really hard to keep people from doing it by constantly putting out official updates). Basically, I was lucky enough to find a Slim 2000 series at a local game store with the necessary version software to modify. The various processes and tutorials can be found all over google and youtube, I suggest you look there.
I played this deck in the Chicago PTQ this past weekend and while it was sweet, I felt like it was just not as powerful as Sovereign Mythic. Additionally, both me and the other player that ran it were knocked out by Sovereign decks.
I would probably play a tolaria west shell because it allows you to run more 2cc transmuters as well as being able to fetch the blue pact for protection.
This is hilarious and awesome, and actually looks like it could be good.
That is, unless repeal is a real card in this format, in which case, I weep. ;_;
The two "best and most popular" decks are Five Color Cruel Control and Five Color Blood/Jund.
It would appear that people that said this is what direction the format was going would be the most in touch with the format. Maybe we should find those people and ask them, what they think.
Personally, I can't knock someone that wants to Baneslay. I just think that the way I build and play 5C, Broodmate is better at what I actually need, at the moment. There is no question that just because someone may have been in touch last week, last month, and last year, doesn't mean they are anymore. However, it does gives you some evidence to use when making your assessment. Besides, at the end of the day, to Baneslay or to Broodmate is not nearly as important a decision as things like:
Bloodbraid Elf
Cruel Ultimatum
Mistbind Clique
Swans of Bryn Argol
Reveillark
Plumveil
and so on... There are much more important debates to be having, so I would suggest that people play with whichever out of Broodmate and Baneslayer feels right to them, based on their play style, their deck, and so on.
Your first part I dunno that I agree with. The diversity of this format has had such an explosion that there is really no definitive most popular deck. For the most part, yes, people are likely to be playing a Pools deck. However, those two or three archetypes are only roughly a third of the viable archetypes in this format. Merfolk is a deck now (four PTQ wins this past weekend out of six, niiiice), and people are ALWAYS making excuses to not acknowledge Faeries. UW Baneslayer/Lark, RB, Naya, and Time Sieve all exist too. Plus, people who are trying to get ahead of Merfolk decks could bring back Kithkin, which is risky but plausible.
The rest of your point I pretty much agree with, as those are the 'least fair' cards in the format and define mostly every archetype in Standard. However, Baneslayer can often turn the tide of games that Broodmate just does not, and I do think that it's more powerful that you're giving it credit for. It's the function of line of defense, finisher, and way to turn your opponents running Anathemancer/Burn into a blank. It's not as sick as the cards you listed because those function as the strongest cards in their respective archetypes and generate some sort of higher level of advantage than just attacking and defending. But I do think it's close. (Also, I do agree that Plumeveil is probably better, albeit slightly; it's almost always a 2 for 1, which is absurd in an early game against Bloodbraid decks. It also makes it much safer to run out Banslayers and Jace).
Lastly, my comment wasn't meant to be offensive; in addition to zero Baneslayers and Burial in it's place, four Cruels seemed way too greedy to me. You've had a running theme in the past of being greedy with decks, which makes it really hard to acknowledge that what you're saying or proposing is optimal. I've always considered your decklists to be a higher risk higher reward alternative, rather than something built tight and in a conservative, reliable manner (which is what I'm trying to go for).
Unless you are Chapin, in which case you play no Jace in your 75 and play MD Burial. Also - no path or bolt.
Honestly, I am tired of reading supposed 'truths' of the deck when in reality they are preference. Jace is not strictly better than Mulldrifter and is not better against a heavy red aggro environment. Furthermore, anyone can name drop or mention an event to prove a point, but the facts actually maintain that the lists vary greatly and some choices vary more than others such as the Jace/Mulldrifter preference and I have personally seen more 5C lists place with Mulldrifter MD over Jace, but it is simply a preference regardless.
Are you kidding me?
Mulldrifter is fine. I played it in the one PTQ I've experienced with the deck, and it wasn't ever 'bad'. If you want eight draw spots, I would split them 4-2-2 (Charm-Jace-Mulldrifter). I think that in this format, you need to start shaving draw for removal. A 4-2-1 split makes no sense, and the only person I've seen do it the other way around (two drifter, one jace) is LSV, but his modo list looks very experimental. I admit that I got ahead of myself, but saying Jace seems way better is not saying that Jace is strictly better.
I think Chapin is out of touch with the format. It's widely accepted that building your deck with Baneslayer in mind is the best strategy, and that Hallowed Burial just does not accomplish as much in Standard. It's really easy for an opponent in this format to follow up our burials with more gas, whereas they have to have specific cards to follow up a Baneslayer, which isn't hard to protect. Broodmate Dragon is not good enough anymore; nice 4x Cruel Ultimatum. I sure do love mulliganing to six.
I agree. I'm lucky in the sense that we have 30+ turnout for FNM every week. There are 4 people who heavily frequent the PTQ scene and we've only managed to pull 9 between us. I've opened 3 Baneslayers myself, but even the leas competitive players won't cone off theirs. I basically offered to dump a binder on a kid and he wouldn't. Boo.
30+? Pssh.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa has 50+ player FNMs, regularly. It is just about the most absurd thing ever. A couple months ago the local community just blew up, and now the owner is roughly one table away from moving matches to the floor.
I agree on the Baneslayer sentiment. Your opponents will likely have four or none, so take that into consideration.
Another reason to give 'drifter the axe is that Puppeteer Clique is seeing a bit of sideboard play lately. It's not a groundbreaking reason, just something to keep in mind.
Just wanted to say that I find it interesting that people are arguing over the validity of as many as three Jace main deck. Wrapter won the San Jose PTQ with a version of 5cc that relied more heavily on spot removal to make his planeswalkers more valuable. With Paths, Bolts, and Plumeveils, Jace is way better, even against aggro.
Also, it seems that all the good players who have been playing this deck have cut Hallowed Burial completely, citing that it's just a worse 3WW spell than Baneslayer. Most lists now run 4 Fallout and 2 Firespout, though the numbers are somewhat split between the main deck and the sideboard.
love that list. just love it. manabase seems a bit awkward but if it works for you....
Yeah, I thought that was some cause for concern initially as well. However, as I've played with the deck more, I've begun to realize that the third Bluffs might not be necessary; I'd probably play a fourth Island instead, as you really cannot afford to play a ton of CIPT lands. I really wish I could just play something like six or seven Necropolis and call it a day.
In the last round of this past FNM I had a nice play that I think could potentially come up somewhat often in this format. It's game two, My opponent has a Boggart Ram Gang in play tapped, with one mountain up. I know he has Lightning Bolt and Flame Javelin in hand, as I Vendilion Cliqued him last turn, and he played the card he drew, which was ram gang and attacked me down to six with that and an unearth'd Hellspark. He is at ten. I animate two mutavaults, and attack for seven with them plus the Clique. At this point, I start putting on an act, as I often do when I need my opponent to play a certain way in order for me to win. Essentially, I'm acting excited, as though I can win if he doesn't Lightning Bolt one of my creatures; I'm trying to telegraph having drawn my own Bolt. He thinks for a long time, but eventually bites, Bolting my Clique, and I flash in Scion and kill him. This play would have been impossible any other way, because he just Bolts my Scion and I put him to three, then he untaps, attacks and Javs me out. Just thought it was worth sharing; having Bolt in your deck can make for great mind tricks.
Just curious as to how all of this works.
http://thestarkingtonpost.com/articles/-/PTQ_Atlanta_*1st*
This is hilarious and awesome, and actually looks like it could be good.
That is, unless repeal is a real card in this format, in which case, I weep. ;_;
Your first part I dunno that I agree with. The diversity of this format has had such an explosion that there is really no definitive most popular deck. For the most part, yes, people are likely to be playing a Pools deck. However, those two or three archetypes are only roughly a third of the viable archetypes in this format. Merfolk is a deck now (four PTQ wins this past weekend out of six, niiiice), and people are ALWAYS making excuses to not acknowledge Faeries. UW Baneslayer/Lark, RB, Naya, and Time Sieve all exist too. Plus, people who are trying to get ahead of Merfolk decks could bring back Kithkin, which is risky but plausible.
The rest of your point I pretty much agree with, as those are the 'least fair' cards in the format and define mostly every archetype in Standard. However, Baneslayer can often turn the tide of games that Broodmate just does not, and I do think that it's more powerful that you're giving it credit for. It's the function of line of defense, finisher, and way to turn your opponents running Anathemancer/Burn into a blank. It's not as sick as the cards you listed because those function as the strongest cards in their respective archetypes and generate some sort of higher level of advantage than just attacking and defending. But I do think it's close. (Also, I do agree that Plumeveil is probably better, albeit slightly; it's almost always a 2 for 1, which is absurd in an early game against Bloodbraid decks. It also makes it much safer to run out Banslayers and Jace).
Lastly, my comment wasn't meant to be offensive; in addition to zero Baneslayers and Burial in it's place, four Cruels seemed way too greedy to me. You've had a running theme in the past of being greedy with decks, which makes it really hard to acknowledge that what you're saying or proposing is optimal. I've always considered your decklists to be a higher risk higher reward alternative, rather than something built tight and in a conservative, reliable manner (which is what I'm trying to go for).
Are you kidding me?
Mulldrifter is fine. I played it in the one PTQ I've experienced with the deck, and it wasn't ever 'bad'. If you want eight draw spots, I would split them 4-2-2 (Charm-Jace-Mulldrifter). I think that in this format, you need to start shaving draw for removal. A 4-2-1 split makes no sense, and the only person I've seen do it the other way around (two drifter, one jace) is LSV, but his modo list looks very experimental. I admit that I got ahead of myself, but saying Jace seems way better is not saying that Jace is strictly better.
I think Chapin is out of touch with the format. It's widely accepted that building your deck with Baneslayer in mind is the best strategy, and that Hallowed Burial just does not accomplish as much in Standard. It's really easy for an opponent in this format to follow up our burials with more gas, whereas they have to have specific cards to follow up a Baneslayer, which isn't hard to protect. Broodmate Dragon is not good enough anymore; nice 4x Cruel Ultimatum. I sure do love mulliganing to six.
30+? Pssh.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa has 50+ player FNMs, regularly. It is just about the most absurd thing ever. A couple months ago the local community just blew up, and now the owner is roughly one table away from moving matches to the floor.
I agree on the Baneslayer sentiment. Your opponents will likely have four or none, so take that into consideration.
Also, it seems that all the good players who have been playing this deck have cut Hallowed Burial completely, citing that it's just a worse 3WW spell than Baneslayer. Most lists now run 4 Fallout and 2 Firespout, though the numbers are somewhat split between the main deck and the sideboard.
Yeah, I thought that was some cause for concern initially as well. However, as I've played with the deck more, I've begun to realize that the third Bluffs might not be necessary; I'd probably play a fourth Island instead, as you really cannot afford to play a ton of CIPT lands. I really wish I could just play something like six or seven Necropolis and call it a day.
In the last round of this past FNM I had a nice play that I think could potentially come up somewhat often in this format. It's game two, My opponent has a Boggart Ram Gang in play tapped, with one mountain up. I know he has Lightning Bolt and Flame Javelin in hand, as I Vendilion Cliqued him last turn, and he played the card he drew, which was ram gang and attacked me down to six with that and an unearth'd Hellspark. He is at ten. I animate two mutavaults, and attack for seven with them plus the Clique. At this point, I start putting on an act, as I often do when I need my opponent to play a certain way in order for me to win. Essentially, I'm acting excited, as though I can win if he doesn't Lightning Bolt one of my creatures; I'm trying to telegraph having drawn my own Bolt. He thinks for a long time, but eventually bites, Bolting my Clique, and I flash in Scion and kill him. This play would have been impossible any other way, because he just Bolts my Scion and I put him to three, then he untaps, attacks and Javs me out. Just thought it was worth sharing; having Bolt in your deck can make for great mind tricks.