round 3 vs Mono W Prowess, 2-0.
SB: +4 Patrician's Scorn, +1 Thermal Glider. -4 Ramosian Sergeant, -1 Nightwind Glider. He had a low removal count.
Game 1, he gave his dude w/2 white auras - pro white...
me - This creature gains pro white?
him - Yup.
me - Your auras fall off -_-;
him - 0_0 i'll target him instead!
me - *sigh* sureee.
Game 2, I surprised him by casting Patrician's Scorn for free.
conclusion: discovered Mono Black decks can actually run enough removal to answer my 16 Rebel searchers... That's pretty scary! At least I overcame my fear of timing out due to removing Bonesplitter from my build (I played fast.)
2/29/20 Legacy Tribal Wars
12 players, 3-1, 1st place
Tourney Rules: The Tribal Wars event will use the following rules:
The banned list found here: https://mtg.gamepedia.com/Tribal_Wars
As well as any card currently banned in the modern format
*Lily and Aether Vial nonbo so I chose Lily over Vial.
Test vs R/g Satyr, 0-1.
Satyrs are pretty limited in selection. I'm surprised he could jam the 20 minimum into his deck!
I was winning but then our TO announced registration... My test partner wouldn't budge so I just scooped.
Round 1 vs B Zombies, 2-0.
SB: +3 Leyline of the Void, +1 Spreading Seas. -4 Ancestral Visions.
In game 1, I saw graveyard recursion. Leylines arrived too late in game 2 to make a difference.
Round 2 vs B/w Knights, 2-0.
SB: none
He didn't like my True-Name Nemesis (held off his army) or my Underground Seas (too expensive.)
Round 3 vs (Dason Lee) B/w Vampires, 1-2.
SB: none
I named this opponent b/c of all 4 black decks I've faced tonight, Dason was the smartest since he also ran 4 Witch's Vengeance. Kudos!
He seemed to think Ancestral Visions was broken. I disagree since it left modern's ban list. I would run Ponder instead, if I could, *shrugs*
Even though I lost, I felt my deck was more consistent due to all the card draw (Ancestral Visions, Benthic Biomancer, Brainstorm, Silvergil Adept.)
Round 4 vs B/w Vampires, 2-0.
SB: none
Post match, I gave him budget card advice, such as:
-add 4 Evolving Wilds, 4 Terramorphic Expanse, 1 Plains. His deck only had 4 Godless Shrine to cast his 4 white cards.
-add 4 Sign in Blood. It's a cheap cantrip that can trim 1-2 lands from your build. His deck also gains life.
After round 4, there were no undefeated players. There were four 3-1's.
-1st tiebreaker criteria: we all defeated each another so we all had no superior opponents.
-2nd tiebreaker criteria: I finished w/a game record of 7-2.
Since I had the best game record of the 3-1's, I got the nod into 1st place.
1. Dramatic Reversal is a "win more" card. It only works when you're already ahead - it won't help you get ahead.
2. Ponder/Preordain should be maxed out. Cantrips are powerful!
3. Sandbar/Sanctuary aren't Snow-Covered. I prefer my 8 fetch lands but they enter tapped out so your Sandbar/Sanctuary would be too slow.
test vs MarduKnights, 0-1.
opponent got a fast start and i couldn't catch up.
round 1 vs UGevolve, 2-0.
SB +4 ratchet bomb, -4 siren stormtamer.
he had many 1 drops so i brought in ratchets (intended for boggles!)
sided out stormtamers so i wouldn't kill my own team.
round 3 vs E.Tron, 1-2.
SB +4 ceremonial rejection, -4 siren stormtamer.
games 1 and 3, he assembled tron quickly and won.
game 2, 1-for-1'd him a few times and won our resource war.
round 4 vs RakdosBurn, 2-0.
SB +3 tidebender mage, -3 deprive.
veteran player's son. his dad played for him when possible.
i predicted: "going 2-2 but wanting 3-1." at least my prediction's correct!
after my 3rd event finishing mediocre w/this deck, i'm going to shelf it.
ProTip: if you run Sphinx of Foresight - always elect to draw over play.
on the draw, you can keep a 0 land/Sphinx hand and scrye 3 into your first land drop.
on the play, keeping a 0 land/Sphinx hand will cause you miss your first land drop.
this happens rarely but it did happen to me so i suggest making the safer play.
01/03/2020 play test.
2 games vs Elves.
0-2, no SB.
GR LD is a lost cause vs Elves. They hardly rely on their lands plus all those mana elves... Quirion Ranger even protects Forests.
I had no urge to test out my +4 Gut Shot/-4 Earth Rift SB plan.
*If you've ever played Hellrider in standard, it's insane how fast fliers end games.
**4 mana, haste for 5. Next turn drop a creature and 5 more. So easy!
round 1 vs Dimir, 2-0.
novice player didn't grasp his "deck wasn't working" b/c it was slow. helped him rebuild after our match.
round 2 vs MonoG, 2-1.
she had ramp and fatties. solid technical play from her.
round 3 vs Selesnya, 2-0.
both games he had early bear aggro but my efficient midrange creatures outraced him.
for $10 entry, i won 3 boosters and a Dreadhorde Arcanist promo!
aside: when you're a LGS regular and seated around drafters you don't know, it boosts your confidence
What Elves did was SB +2 Spidersilk Armor, +2 archer (anti-flying.)
My unblockable Guardians carried equipment ftw here.
I lost 2 games.
Lost a game due to +X/+X pump elf allowing any unblocked guy to hit for a ton. He untapped pump elf w/Quirion Rangers and repeated...
Lost another game to mana screw. I was stuck on 2 lands and if I reached 3 early enough, I could've Trinket Maged or evoked Mulldrifter for more mana.
You're a little land heavy for a deck with so much card selection and a generally low curve. Even with 4 Mutavault, id expect this list to flood a little more than you'd like.
Smuggler's Copter loots away excess land. Spectral Sailor's a fine mana dump!
Id reccomend some number of "hard" counterspells in the main, and possibly move some of the Dive Downs to the board.
"moving fwd, i'd main 4 negate and 'board 4 dive down."
Curious Obsession also just seems like a card this list is lacking in a big way.
I run Smuggler's Copter instead of Curious Obsession.
In my Pioneer variant thread, we discussed how i'd have to drastically adjust the creature base to accommodate CO (lots of 1 drop unblockables.)
Best of luck at your next event!
Thanks, I appreciate your feedback.
round 3 vs RDW, 2-0.
SB +4 tidebender mage, -4 merfolk trickster.
he complained about his bad draws after our match. while true, idk how consistent his deck really is (his cantrips were red, not blue.)
after our match he challenged me for more games. we went 2-2 for my grand total of 4-2 vs him. after my 4th win, he settled down
I wholly endorse 4 sphinx of foresight, if your mana base already supports it. Leyline scrye3 was powerful all night!
Boggles pilot took 1st! he's relatively new but always the nicest gamer here. it was def a feel good moment seeing him win
there were 3 total RDW players, making it the most represented deck. no RDW placed high so i wouldn't recommend it for my current LGS meta.
moving fwd, i'd main 4 negate and 'board 4 dive down.
4 rounds, 14 players.
2-2 record, 7th place.
4 Amrou Scout
4 Aven Riftwatcher
4 Bound in Silence
4 Defiant Falcon
4 Ramosian Lieutenant
4 Ramosian Sergeant
4 Zealot il-Vec
2 Thermal Glider
1 Nightwind Glider
4 Unmake
(25) lands:
17 Plains
4 Kabira Crossroads
4 Radiant Fountain
4 Gut Shot
4 Patrician’s Scorn
4 Relic of Progenitus
2 Nightwind Glider
1 Thermal Glider
round 1 vs Mono B, 1-2.
SB: +2 Nightwind Glider, -2 Thermal Glider. He had a high removal count.
Found out he main'd: 4 Defile, 4 Tendrils of Corruption, 3 Geth's Verdict, 3 Crypt Rats.
Game 3, he even killed my Nightwind Glider w/Nausea!
round 2 vs GR Slivers, 2-1.
SB: +4 Gut Shot, +1 Thermal Glider. -4 Ramosian Sergeant, -1 Nightwind Glider. He had a low removal count.
Fetched Thermal Gliders to block his red Slivers.
Fetched a Bound in Silence on his Rancor'd Sliver (didn't want Rancor returning to his hand.)
Zealot il-Vec wiped out his army. SB Gut Shot made this faster.
round 3 vs Mono W Prowess, 2-0.
SB: +4 Patrician's Scorn, +1 Thermal Glider. -4 Ramosian Sergeant, -1 Nightwind Glider. He had a low removal count.
Game 1, he gave his dude w/2 white auras - pro white...
me - This creature gains pro white?
him - Yup.
me - Your auras fall off -_-;
him - 0_0 i'll target him instead!
me - *sigh* sureee.
Game 2, I surprised him by casting Patrician's Scorn for free.
round 4 vs Mono B LD, 1-2.
SB: +2 Nightwind Glider, -2 Thermal Glider. He had a high removal count.
Game 1, he goes 1st. Swamp, Dark Ritual, Dark Ritual, Thorn of the Black Rose. I ended up swarming him and we traded monarch back and forth. He never got to abuse his land destruction.
Game 2, he killed all my Rebel searchers.
Game 3, he goes 1st again. Swamp, Dark Ritual, Cuombajj Witches. He kept my Rebel numbers low.
conclusion: discovered Mono Black decks can actually run enough removal to answer my 16 Rebel searchers... That's pretty scary! At least I overcame my fear of timing out due to removing Bonesplitter from my build (I played fast.)
12 players, 3-1, 1st place
Tourney Rules:
The Tribal Wars event will use the following rules:
The banned list found here: https://mtg.gamepedia.com/Tribal_Wars
As well as any card currently banned in the modern format
Merfolk Tribe:
4 Benthic Biomancer
4 Lord of Atlantis
4 Master of the Pearl Trident
4 Merfolk Trickster
4 Silvergil Adept
4 True-Name Nemesis
(16) Other:
4 Ancestral Visions
4 Brainstorm
4 Liliana, of the Veil *
4 Witch’s Vengeance
4 Flooded Strand
4 Island
4 Misty Rainforest
4 Scalding Tarn
4 Underground Sea
4 Harbinger of the Tides (vs mirror, -4 Lord of Atlantis)
4 Phantasmal Image (vs mirror, -4 Witch's Vengeance)
3 Leyline of the Void
3 Null Rod
1 Spreading Seas (4th Leyline/Rod)
*Lily and Aether Vial nonbo so I chose Lily over Vial.
Test vs R/g Satyr, 0-1.
Satyrs are pretty limited in selection. I'm surprised he could jam the 20 minimum into his deck!
I was winning but then our TO announced registration... My test partner wouldn't budge so I just scooped.
Round 1 vs B Zombies, 2-0.
SB: +3 Leyline of the Void, +1 Spreading Seas. -4 Ancestral Visions.
In game 1, I saw graveyard recursion. Leylines arrived too late in game 2 to make a difference.
Round 2 vs B/w Knights, 2-0.
SB: none
He didn't like my True-Name Nemesis (held off his army) or my Underground Seas (too expensive.)
Round 3 vs (Dason Lee) B/w Vampires, 1-2.
SB: none
I named this opponent b/c of all 4 black decks I've faced tonight, Dason was the smartest since he also ran 4 Witch's Vengeance. Kudos!
He seemed to think Ancestral Visions was broken. I disagree since it left modern's ban list. I would run Ponder instead, if I could, *shrugs*
Even though I lost, I felt my deck was more consistent due to all the card draw (Ancestral Visions, Benthic Biomancer, Brainstorm, Silvergil Adept.)
Round 4 vs B/w Vampires, 2-0.
SB: none
Post match, I gave him budget card advice, such as:
-add 4 Evolving Wilds, 4 Terramorphic Expanse, 1 Plains. His deck only had 4 Godless Shrine to cast his 4 white cards.
-add 4 Sign in Blood. It's a cheap cantrip that can trim 1-2 lands from your build. His deck also gains life.
After round 4, there were no undefeated players. There were four 3-1's.
-1st tiebreaker criteria: we all defeated each another so we all had no superior opponents.
-2nd tiebreaker criteria: I finished w/a game record of 7-2.
Since I had the best game record of the 3-1's, I got the nod into 1st place.
Ramp/MidRange can sate this preference.
https://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/pauper/paper-pauper-and-peasant/811699-rebels
we both use - 4x Bonesplitter.
my mono-black pauper:
https://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/pauper/paper-pauper-and-peasant/812854-mercenaries
we both use - 4x Gray Merchant of Asphodel, 4x Sign in Blood, 2x Tendrils of Corruption and 2x Diabolic Edict.
4x Didn't Say Please
4x Thought Scour
Sorcery (8)
4x Ponder
4x Preordain
4x Iceberg Cancrix
4x Jace's Phantasm
12x Persistent Petitioners
4x Winter's Rest
Land (20)
4x Evolving Wilds (synergy w/Cancrix and Ponder)
4x Terramorphic Expanse (synergy w/Cancrix and Ponder)
12x Snow-Covered Island
1. Dramatic Reversal is a "win more" card. It only works when you're already ahead - it won't help you get ahead.
2. Ponder/Preordain should be maxed out. Cantrips are powerful!
3. Sandbar/Sanctuary aren't Snow-Covered. I prefer my 8 fetch lands but they enter tapped out so your Sandbar/Sanctuary would be too slow.
4 rounds, 2-2 drop.
test vs MarduKnights, 0-1.
opponent got a fast start and i couldn't catch up.
round 1 vs UGevolve, 2-0.
SB +4 ratchet bomb, -4 siren stormtamer.
he had many 1 drops so i brought in ratchets (intended for boggles!)
sided out stormtamers so i wouldn't kill my own team.
round 2 vs Affinity (no Scales), 0-2.
SB +4 ceremonial rejection, +4 ratchet bomb. -4 deprive, -4 siren stormtamer.
game 1 he killed me aggressively. game 2 was grindier but i was still a step behind.
round 3 vs E.Tron, 1-2.
SB +4 ceremonial rejection, -4 siren stormtamer.
games 1 and 3, he assembled tron quickly and won.
game 2, 1-for-1'd him a few times and won our resource war.
round 4 vs RakdosBurn, 2-0.
SB +3 tidebender mage, -3 deprive.
veteran player's son. his dad played for him when possible.
i predicted: "going 2-2 but wanting 3-1." at least my prediction's correct!
after my 3rd event finishing mediocre w/this deck, i'm going to shelf it.
ProTip: if you run Sphinx of Foresight - always elect to draw over play.
on the draw, you can keep a 0 land/Sphinx hand and scrye 3 into your first land drop.
on the play, keeping a 0 land/Sphinx hand will cause you miss your first land drop.
this happens rarely but it did happen to me so i suggest making the safer play.
2 games vs Elves.
0-2, no SB.
GR LD is a lost cause vs Elves. They hardly rely on their lands plus all those mana elves... Quirion Ranger even protects Forests.
I had no urge to test out my +4 Gut Shot/-4 Earth Rift SB plan.
I don't think SB +3 Swirling Sandstorm, -3 Red Elemental Blast would make up for all my dead LD.
I don't run Swirling Sandstorm b/c the threshold requirement contradicts Hooting Mandrills delve feature. Also, SS kills all my finishers, esp Entourage of Trest (which would just hand monarch over to them.)
My LGS has an Elves regular so i'm taking this deck out of circulation until further notice.
Stormbreath Dragon?
12 players, 2 tables of 6.
3 rounds, 3-0, 1st place.
"Boros"
1 aegis angel
1 aetherstorm roc
1 bishop of rebirth
1 crater elemental
1 goblin diplomat
1 gustcloack savior
1 hellrider - MVP*
1 hoarding dragon
1 master of pearls
1 sin prodder
1 skyship stalker
1 victory herald
1 burn from within
1 chained to the rocks
1 collective defiance
1 repeating barrage
(3) enchantments:
1 citadel seige
1 sacred mesa
1 vance's blasting canon
(3) hoarding dragon artifacts:
1 boros locket
1 conqueror's galleon
1 fleetwheel cruiser - MVP**
9 mountain
9 plains
*If you've ever played Hellrider in standard, it's insane how fast fliers end games.
**4 mana, haste for 5. Next turn drop a creature and 5 more. So easy!
round 1 vs Dimir, 2-0.
novice player didn't grasp his "deck wasn't working" b/c it was slow. helped him rebuild after our match.
round 2 vs MonoG, 2-1.
she had ramp and fatties. solid technical play from her.
round 3 vs Selesnya, 2-0.
both games he had early bear aggro but my efficient midrange creatures outraced him.
for $10 entry, i won 3 boosters and a Dreadhorde Arcanist promo!
aside: when you're a LGS regular and seated around drafters you don't know, it boosts your confidence
My idea differed from TC's there so here's my thread:
4 Bonesplitter
4 Brainstorm
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Ponder
(12) 2 drops:
4 Journey to Nowhere
4 Snap
4 Squadron Hawk
(8) 3 drops:
4 Mulldrifter
4 Trinket Mage
4 Guardian of the Guildpact
(20) lands:
6 Island
4 Ash Barrens
4 Tranquil Cove
2 Ancient Den
2 Plains
2 Seat of the Synod
4 Gut Shot (elves)
4 Patrician's Scorn (boggles)
4 Relic of Progenitus (tron)
3 Circle of Protection: Red (burn)
01/03/2020 play test.
6 games vs Elves.
3 pre board (2-1.)
3 postboard (2-1.)
SB +4 Gut Shot, -4 Snap.
Elves makes a ton of mana so Snap doesn't buy much tempo. I'd rather kill an early mana dork for 0 mana.
I considered Patrician's Scorn for his Spidersilk Armor but my Journey to Nowhere vs his +X/+X pump elf is too important.
Elves should SB +Artifact/Enchantment removal for my Journey to Nowhere and Bonesplitter.
Journey to Nowhere is my only answer for his game winning +X/+X pump elf.
Bonesplitter allows me to race him.
What Elves did was SB +2 Spidersilk Armor, +2 archer (anti-flying.)
My unblockable Guardians carried equipment ftw here.
I lost 2 games.
Lost a game due to +X/+X pump elf allowing any unblocked guy to hit for a ton. He untapped pump elf w/Quirion Rangers and repeated...
Lost another game to mana screw. I was stuck on 2 lands and if I reached 3 early enough, I could've Trinket Maged or evoked Mulldrifter for more mana.
I won the other 4.
Couple early wins came from flipped Delver of Secrets w/Bonesplitters.
Couple later wins came from Guardian of the Guildpact w/Bonesplitters.
4 opt
4 siren stormtamer
4 spectral sailor
(12) 2cc
4 deprive (credit to Naifu Neko)
4 merfolk trickster
4 smuggler's copter
4 brazen borrower
4 tempest djinn
(4) 4cc
4 sphinx of foresight
(24) land
20 islands
4 mystic sanctuary (credit to Naifu Neko)
4 ceremonial rejection
4 leyline of the void
4 ratchet bomb
3 tidebender mage
Smuggler's Copter loots away excess land. Spectral Sailor's a fine mana dump!
Id reccomend some number of "hard" counterspells in the main, and possibly move some of the Dive Downs to the board.
"moving fwd, i'd main 4 negate and 'board 4 dive down."
Curious Obsession also just seems like a card this list is lacking in a big way.
I run Smuggler's Copter instead of Curious Obsession.
In my Pioneer variant thread, we discussed how i'd have to drastically adjust the creature base to accommodate CO (lots of 1 drop unblockables.)
Best of luck at your next event!
Thanks, I appreciate your feedback.
10 players, 4 rounds, 3-1, 4th place.
4 dive down
4 opt
4 siren stormtamer
4 spectral sailor (actually activated him once!)
(8) 2cc
4 merfolk trickster
4 smuggler's copter (2 good 4 pioneer!)
4 brazen borrower
4 tempest djinn
(4) 4cc
4 sphinx of foresight (leyline)
(24) land
20 islands
4 mutavault
4 ceremonial rejection
4 negate
4 tidebender mage
3 transmogrifying wand
see the origins of this deck here - https://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/pioneer/815286-monouleyline
round 1 vs *bye* (opponent no-show.)
tested vs Valakut, 2-1, no SB.
i seemed 1 turn too fast for him.
round 2 vs Valakut guy, 1-2.
SB +4 negate, +4 tidebender mage. -4 dive down, -4 merfolk trickster.
i tilted after primeval titan finished me game 2. so in game 3, after mulling once, i saw 2 island, 1 mutavault, 2 tidebender mage, 1 tempest djinn, 1 smuggler's copter. the lands are a must keep and so is my clock (tempest djinn.) the decision was between 1 of 2 tidebender mage (SB for primeval titan) and smuggler's copter. as i had no 1 drop, i sent smuggler's copter to the bottom. in hindsight, i believe this to be a mistake b/c i eventually lost to a scapeshift i could've negated had i "looted" for it. this also meant i held dead tidebender mages in hand, when if i played smuggler's copter, i could've hit on turn 3 and 4, dealing 6 extra dmg (he won at 7 life.) i forgot how powerful "looting" is!
round 3 vs RDW, 2-0.
SB +4 tidebender mage, -4 merfolk trickster.
he complained about his bad draws after our match. while true, idk how consistent his deck really is (his cantrips were red, not blue.)
after our match he challenged me for more games. we went 2-2 for my grand total of 4-2 vs him. after my 4th win, he settled down
round 4 vs RDW 2-0.
SB +4 tidebender mage, -4 merfolk trickster.
opponent was brand new and made some basic errors.
I wholly endorse 4 sphinx of foresight, if your mana base already supports it. Leyline scrye3 was powerful all night!
Boggles pilot took 1st! he's relatively new but always the nicest gamer here. it was def a feel good moment seeing him win
there were 3 total RDW players, making it the most represented deck. no RDW placed high so i wouldn't recommend it for my current LGS meta.
moving fwd, i'd main 4 negate and 'board 4 dive down.