Got into top 8 on Saturday, ended up 3rd out of 23 players. Really liked this build. Do you guys feel like you need your Jace, Architect of Thought in the deck? Never played with it and went straight Gideon.
What were your opponents playing? I like Jace because he helps you dig during times when you need an out or more options. Obviously, your opponent will cut the 3 cards by giving you the worst options during the 2-1 split, but taking that board wipe or Elspeth or Runed Halo can make a big difference. And even then, if ALL options are bad during the reveal, you take the best pile and get through 3 crap cards you were gonna draw for the next three turns, anyway. He's also fairly hard to take down as his plus 1+ takes him to 5 and reduces the opponents creatures by 1- during the attack.
How was Lil Gideon? There's a few things about Lil Gideon I like and dislike. Fyi, this is all on paper and I haven't tried him yet, just from what me and my friends were observing -- I'm not particularly a fan of the opponent being able to take a win condition with IOK, shoot him with Abrupt Decay, or Dismember him; I do like how he comes down a turn before a board wipe, he can lockdown pesky cards like Eidolon of Great Revels or Reality Smasher, and his synergy with big Gideon is pretty neat.
I braced myself and had to bite the bullet... I bought Ancestral Visions. Should I run Wall of Omens? Some lists run some, while others don't. I know the land base is weird, but I'm working on it.
Gideon Jura. Is his defining character trait, is to be dumb muscle that ALWAYS trusts the seemingly good characters he meets? For real, is he not supposed to grow and develop a sense of caution?? The last time he trusted and followed a purely white god... he was manipulated and almost killed. Oh, and that god ended up killing Elspeth.
Im planning to add at least 1 more solid finisher to the deck, as sometimes if we didnt draw Elspeth on time, our opponents will just recover eventually while we durdle finding our finishers. Battled 2 colorless drazi, and my Colonnades were shut down. Little gid and big gid is not enuf to close games fast.
What do you think of adding 1 Aetherling or maybe Sphinx of Final Word?
I feel like Aetherling is slow and Sphinx is only good against control decks. I'm assuming they locked out Colonade with Pithing Needle, which means they can just as easily Needle an Aetherling. If you're needing another closer, I would suggest another Gideon Jura, Elspeth, Dragonlord Ojutai, or a Secure the Wastes.
Welcome to Tier 1. Home of the Big Mac, Marvel movies, the Halo 1 pistol, Meta Knight, Dr. Manhattan, and Mr. Popo. But for real: the fact straight blue white outshines or can outplay the splashed versions like Jeskai or Esper truly speaks volumes at how good it is. It's more simplistic and straightforward with fewer options, but it's less gimmicky and has a fluid game plan that adapts well.
Counter Target spell. If it is a creature spell, lose 2 life. If it is a noncreature spell, exile the top 3 cards of your library. When casting this spell you may pay an additional mana to not lose life or exile cards from your library.
Counter Target spell. If the spell is a creature, lose 2 life. If it is a noncreature, mill the top 3 cards of your library.
This is a really elegant design in my opinion. The only issue is that the "noncreature" clause is more of a upside than a downside. If it read just "Counter Target Spell. You lose 2 life" like Thoughtseize it would be a tad more likely to be printed. With Delve and Snapcaster mage this counterspell would turn out to be
"Counter Target Spell and choose one:
-Gain 3; or
-Draw 3 cards"
Between this one and the Contracharm that rogue_LOVE has posted before, there are two pushed but reasonably fair concepts of Counterspells to have in modern since they seem to be reluctant to print Counterspell itself.
Change mill to exile cards top cards from your library.
I'm sorry, but discrediting people (specifically artists) because they're male in favor of another because of gender is not fair or equal. As for how can it be a coincidence? For all we know, the artists requested to attend or Wizards just grabbed 35 artists out of a bag or maybe Channel Fireball don't see gender during their equation.
Here comes the difficult part of guessing when a card bottoms out. I bought Noble Hierarch's when they hit $30 and felt a mild sting, but that quickly vanished when they jumped back up again to $60. I need 4 Goblin Guides, 4 Cavern of Souls, and 4 Scalding Tarns. Anyone want to take a guess on their absolute lowest price?
Welp, 3 days in so far and my preorder from this 130k feedback seller is holding strong. With TCG prices rising everyday, (now at 220) my 174.50 boxes are looking extremely fragile to hold, but I believe!
The only thing I need to see that would completely satisfy me is Cavern. Unfortunately it will be mythic, mark my words. But if I see it, wizards just shut up and take all my money
If they print Cavern of Souls I will be content and not care about anything else. They could print 200 Comet Storms and I wouldn't care. Aether Vial or Chalice of the Void would be great, but Cavern of Souls is the one card I want. It's insane how much value this set currently has.
Let's be reasonable with our predictions everyone. I love their game, I've played it for years now. But after having two decades under their belt they still disappoint and make choices that can be perceived as mistakes. Sometimes they even make decisions that are outright stupid or make zero sense. A FTV about board destruction without Damnation, Dragon's Maze, Saheeli Kitty, Battle for Zendikar, Comet Storm. I'm playing this one cautiously.
Monday. I swear if they only reveal Stoic Angel, Grislebrand, and Domri Rade I will be convinced Wizards are just immature trolls who don't take their jobs or players seriously.
If they put the enemy fetchlands in that Modern Masters set, it would make sense to increase the supply that much. That said, I don't expect them to do that: it wouldn't affect the prices of the fetchlands that much and would crash the price of the other cards in the set.
If it crashes the price Blood Moon, Ensnaring Bridge, Through the Breach, Goblin Guide, Cavern of Souls, Aether Vial, Chalice of Void, Ancestral Visions, Liliana Veil, Goyf, Bob, Damnation, Clique, Snapcaster, Noble Hierarch, Mox Opal, Voice of Resurgence, or any other expensive card in Modern... then I say BRING IT ON. The price of admission into this format is too high.
What were your opponents playing? I like Jace because he helps you dig during times when you need an out or more options. Obviously, your opponent will cut the 3 cards by giving you the worst options during the 2-1 split, but taking that board wipe or Elspeth or Runed Halo can make a big difference. And even then, if ALL options are bad during the reveal, you take the best pile and get through 3 crap cards you were gonna draw for the next three turns, anyway. He's also fairly hard to take down as his plus 1+ takes him to 5 and reduces the opponents creatures by 1- during the attack.
How was Lil Gideon? There's a few things about Lil Gideon I like and dislike. Fyi, this is all on paper and I haven't tried him yet, just from what me and my friends were observing -- I'm not particularly a fan of the opponent being able to take a win condition with IOK, shoot him with Abrupt Decay, or Dismember him; I do like how he comes down a turn before a board wipe, he can lockdown pesky cards like Eidolon of Great Revels or Reality Smasher, and his synergy with big Gideon is pretty neat.
Work in Progress UW
2x Hallowed Fountain
4x Scalding Tarn
2x Plains
5x Island
4x Ghost Quarter
4x Celestial Colonnade
Creatures (5)
3x Snapcaster Mage
2x Wall of Omens
4x Ancestral Vision
4x Path to Exile
4x Serum Visions
4x Spreading Seas
3x Condemn
1x Logic Knot
1x Detention Sphere
1x Sphinx's Revelation
3x Supreme Verdict
2x Cryptic Command
1x Gideon Jura
1x Jace Architect of Thought
1x Elspeth, Sun’s Champion
1x Geist of Saint Traft
1x Celestial Purge
2x Runed Halo
2x Negate
2x Stony Silence
3x Rest in Peace
1x Dispel
1x Wrath of God
U U
Counter Target spell. If it is a creature spell, lose 2 life. If it is a noncreature spell, exile the top 3 cards of your library. When casting this spell you may pay an additional mana to not lose life or exile cards from your library.
Counter Target spell. If the spell is a creature, lose 2 life. If it is a noncreature, mill the top 3 cards of your library.