Didn't really get to play with Walking Ballista all day, so I'm not sure how good it is yet. Might just play 2 and go back to 3 Warping Wails. Feel free to ask any questions.
Firstly, thanks for the writeup.
WB should have done well in the Elves matchup. Didn't see you mention it. Its also good in the Jund matchup to wipe out Bobs and keep Lily in check but it looks like Chalice did the heavy lifting those games. Cutting to 2 may be in order with your list. It probably is meta dependent.
How was Cavern of Souls for you? Did it make a difference in the UW and Grixix control match ups? I sorely am needing a copy but don't feel like popping down 60 bucks for one card. Wish I knew if it were being reprinted in MM3.
The only "combo" that we most certainly lose to is valakut ramp. We're almost certainly better against combo than Gx Tron is.
That is a bad matchup for sure. What have you tried to combat it?
I've watched Ari Lax play his 3 games. Although I admire his accomplishments, it really seemed he didn't have a full grasp on the deck. I'm guessing this was his first time piloting it. It showed. I don't know if the outcomes would have been any different but a couple of his sideboard choices and a couple of his mulligan choices seemed rushed and incorrect. It does point out we have a weakness to combo. (Its why I run a ramp package with Gemstone Caverns and SSG) But there are a lot more decks than just combo out there and he seems to favor Bant Eldrazi over us anyway.
I haven't watched the others yet but save your time on the Lax video, not much to learn there that we don't already know.
OK, thanks for the thoughts. I'm pretty much in agreement with you both. Other than an early game play it seems like a bad draw. Might as well stick with Eldrazi Mimic if you are looking for a 2 drop. I guess that might bring up another question, are there any other viable 2 drops out there that may contribute to the game plan?
Out of curiosity, anyone have any interest in testing Metallic Mimic as a 2 of?
Naming Eldrazi is the obvious choice. Taking TKS out of Galvanic Blast range or Endbringer/Smasher/Conduit out of Dismember range sounds good as well. Making Smasher trample through for an extra damage never hurts. I've also thought naming Construct would enable you to cast Walking Ballista or Hangarback Walker at one basically for zero mana. A "free" spell tacked on to M.Mimic turn two. Or Germ could be named and Batterskull could be equipped on another Eldrazi and we'd be left with a chump blocking 1/1 Germ token.
I'm not sure it would be worth it but I'm always trying to brainstorm new strategies. Any interest?
For those on Sea-Gate Wreckage, there is the option of running Conduit of Ruin or Planar Bridge and cutting SGW for another land. Just tutor up what you want. Works great. Cutting Endbringers or Batterskulls can be tough but try it out, see what you think.
I love the Basilisk Collar/Ballista or Endbringer combo, but a 1 cmc it makes the collars a nonbo with Chalice. 6 vs 4 1cmc spells locked out does make a difference.
I just wanted to follow up with I hope if people want to discuss G splash EldraziTron in this thread that they don't think I'm against it or them. There is definitely room to discuss those builds as well. Ingenuity breeds success. I think we have room here for variants like those that don't swing too far away.
Also for some of the comparisons, in my opinion…
Conduit > Sower
Ballista > Walker > Endless One
Sanctum of Ugin > Tomb of the Spirit Dragon
Mimic just seems out of place without Eye of Ugin
We will just have to agree to disagree. Reworking the mana base to play G cards changes the deck closer to GX Tron play lines if you ask me. I'm not discouraging anyone from doing so, but changing the mana base and dropping Chalices I believe veers away from the core strategy of the colorless version. Play what you desire.
And yes, Ballista is flat out good in most match ups.
Personally I think we should concentrate on the colorless version. I think G splash almost turns it into another deck something more akin to RG Tron. Nothing wrong with that but its a variant that doesn't quite fit the archetype. Happy brewing and playing.
What is going on with Sigil of Distinction? I don't see anything that makes it better than the other 0-mana equipment that Cheerios plays.
I think you answered your own question.
Never reprinted, low print number rares have nowhere to go but up when a deck pops up that uses multiple copies. Paradise Mantle is headed up as well because of that deck but at least it has seen a reprint. MM reprints every 2 years will NEVER be able to keep up with some of these fringe cards. Without a proper and yearly reprint schedule, this will continue to happen as new cards pop up that have synergies with old low volume, single print cards.
Ugin isn't actually that bad against Infect as it kills every non-Inkmoth threat they have.
I agree. Problem is it might be too late by turn 4 and we are dead. Turn 3 Karn could give us a fighting chance.
Slightly off topic but it makes me wonder if we will ever see another colorless planeswalker at 4,5 or 6 cmc. Would be cool seeing one in the next block or two but I won't hold my breath.
I am not a rules judge, but both Rage Extractors should trigger when you cast a spell with Phyrexian mana in the cmc. And that is on cast as well. If they counter your Phyrexian mana spell the triggers still should go on the stack. I hope I'm right and hope I helped. Might want to wait for a rules judge to confirm or correct me.
Not sure if I want Mind Stone going forward. I only drew it like 2 times during all 6 rounds. Could play Spellskite in the sideboard instead and some Walking Ballistas main. Might try that next time.
First, thanks for the report.
Yep the Mind Stones aren't worth it. Try Walking Ballista or Spellskite in its place. Mind Stones are just too slow and clunky imo. You could even stick Filigree Familiar in that slot in a pinch vs. fast decks for some quick life and card draw. Ballista can help vs. Infect as well if timed right, could have given you a better chance in that matchup, who knows maybe a 6-0!!!
Good points on Metamorph above. I missed them on first inspection. Colorless is good, but would need a ETB effect instead of a cast effect then as shared above. And as stated drawing it on an empty board would feel bad. I suppose if you had Chalice set to 1 and already had a Map on board, you could copy the map for 3P to skirt Chalice. Something to keep in mind I suppose. Not sure of its efficiency though.
Firstly, thanks for the writeup.
WB should have done well in the Elves matchup. Didn't see you mention it. Its also good in the Jund matchup to wipe out Bobs and keep Lily in check but it looks like Chalice did the heavy lifting those games. Cutting to 2 may be in order with your list. It probably is meta dependent.
How was Cavern of Souls for you? Did it make a difference in the UW and Grixix control match ups? I sorely am needing a copy but don't feel like popping down 60 bucks for one card. Wish I knew if it were being reprinted in MM3.
That is a bad matchup for sure. What have you tried to combat it?
I haven't watched the others yet but save your time on the Lax video, not much to learn there that we don't already know.
Naming Eldrazi is the obvious choice. Taking TKS out of Galvanic Blast range or Endbringer/Smasher/Conduit out of Dismember range sounds good as well. Making Smasher trample through for an extra damage never hurts. I've also thought naming Construct would enable you to cast Walking Ballista or Hangarback Walker at one basically for zero mana. A "free" spell tacked on to M.Mimic turn two. Or Germ could be named and Batterskull could be equipped on another Eldrazi and we'd be left with a chump blocking 1/1 Germ token.
I'm not sure it would be worth it but I'm always trying to brainstorm new strategies. Any interest?
I love the Basilisk Collar/Ballista or Endbringer combo, but a 1 cmc it makes the collars a nonbo with Chalice. 6 vs 4 1cmc spells locked out does make a difference.
Also for some of the comparisons, in my opinion…
Conduit > Sower
Ballista > Walker > Endless One
Sanctum of Ugin > Tomb of the Spirit Dragon
Mimic just seems out of place without Eye of Ugin
Just my 2 cents.
And yes, Ballista is flat out good in most match ups.
I think you answered your own question.
Never reprinted, low print number rares have nowhere to go but up when a deck pops up that uses multiple copies. Paradise Mantle is headed up as well because of that deck but at least it has seen a reprint. MM reprints every 2 years will NEVER be able to keep up with some of these fringe cards. Without a proper and yearly reprint schedule, this will continue to happen as new cards pop up that have synergies with old low volume, single print cards.
Not sure how it would fit in, we have a silver golem and a spirit dragon, maybe a stone sphinx, spirit or semi-deity??? Need more colorless walkers.
I agree. Problem is it might be too late by turn 4 and we are dead. Turn 3 Karn could give us a fighting chance.
Slightly off topic but it makes me wonder if we will ever see another colorless planeswalker at 4,5 or 6 cmc. Would be cool seeing one in the next block or two but I won't hold my breath.
First, thanks for the report.
Yep the Mind Stones aren't worth it. Try Walking Ballista or Spellskite in its place. Mind Stones are just too slow and clunky imo. You could even stick Filigree Familiar in that slot in a pinch vs. fast decks for some quick life and card draw. Ballista can help vs. Infect as well if timed right, could have given you a better chance in that matchup, who knows maybe a 6-0!!!