Sounds good. I would start with just 1 Zealous Persecution, unless you anticipate playing against a lot of Affinity, CoCo, and Lingering Souls. The max I'd ever play is 2.
As far as cuts for Gideon/Sorin, I agree and would cut a Castigate and an Anguished Unmaking.
edit: You could even just move those cards to board and cut Grand Abolisher completely.
so from your posted list:
-4 Wall of Omens
-1 Castigate
-1 Anguished Unmaking
+4 Thraben Inspector
+2 Gideon
sideboard:
-3 Grand Abolisher
-2 Smother
-1 Gideon
+1 Zealous Persecution
+1 Anguished Unmaking
+2 Blood Baron
+1 Go for the Throat
+1 Fatal Push
for instance
Nice, thank you! Those were the exact changes I was thinking, except I'm up in the air on cutting a Castigate or a Sculler. Sculler is a much better tempo play but the card stays gone with Castigate which is also relevant for Strangler. And I'd like to put 2x Push in the board (cutting Disenchant).
1. Cool.
2. I could see that but I think I want that 4th Ghost Quarter more, especially if you were going to add a 4 drop over the 24th land. GQ can also give you revolt for Fatal Push
3. 5 Mana is a ton. The decks that have removal will also often have either Snapcaster Mage and Lightning Bolt or Liliana of the Veil so it's not quite as unkillable as it looks.
4. Fair enough.
5. Yeah, 1 vs 2 CMC is a huge game. Think playing on the draw against decks with great 2 drop creatures. If you are going to spend the extra mana, then I think you want Go for the Throat to kill huge stuff like Reality Smasher, Thoughtknot Seer, Primeval Titan, etc. Sure Affinity exists but 2 mana removal is pretty bad there anyway.
6. lol
7. Zealous persecution is great against Affinity, Lingering Souls mirrors (e.g. Abzan where it may also kill Dark Confidant), and Noble Hierarch / Birds of Paradise decks. It's even ok against Dredge since usually you have to race and killing all their Narcomoeba and Bloodghast while pumping your team is great. It is a tad narrow though. If budget wasn't a thing I'd play an Engineered Explosives.
I goldfished 23 land with Gideon in the main board a ton yesterday... And, you're right, 24 is definitely the number this deck wants. Going to try out the 4x Ghost Quarter.
I see your point about Blood Baron but in grindy matchups, 5 mana seems fine to me and I'm ok with someone spending Bolt-Snap-Bolt to remove it. I'm going to test 2x in the board. You're probably right, but I see some potential there.
I'm also going to try out some number of Zealous Persecution in the board, how many would you recommend?
Picking up some Fatal Push as soon as my store re-ups.
I think Crucible is very intriguing, but I'll protect my wallet and let someone else brew with that. Probably pretty good in a Smallpox-esque list.
Edit- What would everyone cut for a 2/2 split of Gideon/Sorin? I'm thinking I should move 1 Anguished Unmaking to the board and then cut 1 Sculler or Castigate (leaning towards Sculler).
Questions
1. Thraben Inspector or Wall of Omens?
2. How does the mana base look? Could I fit another Ghost Quarter? Could I run more basics?
3. Blood Baron of Vizkopa in the sideboard? I run Gids AoZ to help midrange mirrors. Would 2x Baron work better, as it dodges so much removal?
4. Speaking of Gideon... 1-2x in the sideboard, 1x in the main, is he even worth it?
5. I know Fatal Push is better than Smother, but in my deck, not being able to trigger Revolt reliably, how MUCH better is Push than Smofher?
6. I definitely want more removal in my sideboard... But how much? And what? Should I be looking at Go For the Throat, Journey to Nowhere, Dismember, something else?
7. Sideboard suggestions? This deck has a fairly even matchup percentage across the board, so I prefer to run broader answers that can get me a few percentage points against multiple decks instead of 20 percentage points against one deck.
8. Anything else you can think of?
1. If I had to choose, I'd play Thraben Inspector. Inspector is better with Sorin and better in your best draws where you are aggressive.
2. Manabase looks fine. I would consider cutting Vault of the Archangel for the last Ghost Quarter. In my experience Vault of the Archangel is too situational and expensive. With 4 Leonin Arbiter in my deck, I'd want to draw Ghost Quarter as often as possible.
3. I think Gideon is way better than Baron.
4. I like Gideon more than Sorin. Sorin only shines with multiple creatures in play. Gideon is fine all by himself and is better when you are behind on board. I even think he's better in Lingering Souls mirrors because his emblem increases toughness. I'd honestly try 2 in the main over Sorin, or the 1/1 split you mentioned.
5. I'd go so far as to say Smother is now unplayable. If you wanted another removal spell I'd play Go for the Throat or Dismember.
6. See above.
7. At the very least I'd cut Grand Abolisher from your sideboard and add at least one Zealous Persecution. I might also play a Cast Out. Another interesting card is Dusk // Dawn but it ain't great with Wasteland Strangler.
8. Cool deck!
Thanks for the responses!
1. That was the way I was leaning, for the same reasons.
2. I think I might cut Vault to just go down to 23 lands. Wish it was possible to run 23.5 because that's what this deck seems to want.
3. That's fair. But I think Baron has some merit as it dodges Path and Push and survives Bolt.
4. I'm going to run 1 Gideon in the main, may go up to 2. But I'd never run less than 2 Sorin. It's been a beast in my testing.
5. Whoa, I knew it was a bad budget option until I upgrade to Pushes but didn't realize it was that bad now. Just because of the CMC?
6. I put a Go for the Throat in the sideboard, I know I have a Dismember somewhere but I can't find it.
7. I've considered Zealous Persecution but it seems narrow, what matchups do I want it for. And I've been considering Cast Out, maybe even main deck.
TL,DR: 3-1, 2-1 W Blink, 2-1 Death's Shadow, 1-2 U Eldrazi Tron, 2-1 Knightfall Brew
Match 1: 2-1 vs Mono-White Blink
Game 1 on the play-
I shred his hand early with [[Inquisition of Kozilek]], [[Castigate]], and [[Tidehollow Sculler]]. Pick off his [[Thraben Inspector]] and [[Wall of Omens]] with some [[Wasteland Strangler]] processing and he hits 1 of my Stranglers with a [[Journey to Nowhere]]. I resolve the first half of [[Lingering Souls]] followed by [[Sorin, Solemn Visitor]] the next turn. He resolved and +s [[Gideon Jura]] to buy himself a turn. I [[Anguished Unmaking]] Gids and swing for the win.
Board: -2 Leonin Arbiter, +2 Smother
Game 2 on the draw-
Game 2 starts very similarity to Game 1. I made a huge misplay around turn 5-6 when I had the board and used the second half of Souls to get blown out by a Wrath... That I had seen with my turn 1 Inquisition. After that he resolved a [[Mirran Crusader]] who just took the game over with the help of [[Ajani, Caller of the Pride]]. I managed to grind for a while with Walls, Sorin, and Shambling Vents but never drew a [[Path to Exile]] and he managed his Crusader well.
Game 3 on the play-
I start with the dream of Inquisition, followed by Sculler, followed by Strangler processing the card to kill his turn two play. I resolve a Sorin and Souls, with a grip of removal, and Castigate a Wrath. He resolves a [[Restoration Angel]] that I deal with and a [[Mirran Crusader]] but it's too late and I cruise to the match win.
Match 2 (2-1 vs Death's Shadow)
Game 1 on the draw-
I resolve a turn 2 [[Leonin Arbiter]] and protect it with some hand hate. The Arbiter helps me keep him off his colors with [[Ghost Quarter]] and keep his life total high enough that I have a grip full of removal and some Walls when he finally removes it. I resolve half of Lingering Souls as I know he only has one counter in hand. He goes all in, goes down to 4 life and has [[Tasigur, the Golden Fang]] and 3x [[Death's Shadow]] in play, setting up for next turn lethal. I Inquisition his one card hand, it's a [[Thoughtseize]], so I'm safe to drop Sorin, +1, and swing with 2 spirit tokens for the win.
Board: -2 Tidehollow Sculler, +2 Smother
Game 2 on the draw-
I draw a good hand with some removal which he shreds with hand hate. He gets the Shadows out early and I attempt to stabilize with Walls and [[Shambling Vent]]. He gets Tasigur online and has a couple of [[Snapcaster Mage]]s that he uses to finish my hand and blockers off.
Game 3 on the play-
We shred each other's hand early and I win the topdeck war afterwards. I draw removal for his threats and then he floods out. I ride Vents and Soul tokens to victory.
Match 3 (1-2 vs Blue Eldrazi Tron)
Game 1 on the play-
I keep him off Tron with Leonin Arbiter and GQs. His hand is threat light and I Sculler a [[Thought-Knot Seer]]. I followed that with my most interesting line of the day; processing the Seer with a Strangler to kill my own Sculler because I saw a [[Repeal]] and no other threats with an Inquisition. Unfortunately, I just can't finish him quickly enough and he eventually resolves [[Ugin the Spirit Dragon]] who just takes over the game.
I land some early Arbiters to keep him from searching out Tron and hit him with some mid game hand hate to keep him off any big threats. I deal with a [[Reality Smasher]] by pitching Lingering Souls and flashing it back. 1 resolve [[Gideon, Ally of Zendikar]] and token. Next turn I clear his blocker and Gidspunch. He finally gets Tron online and drops Ulamog, clearing Gideon and a body. But with my tokens and an activated Vent I have exact lethal past a blocker.
Game 3 on the draw-
He assembles turn three Tron but I hang in with hand hate and some well timed removal. Eventually I play and flashback a few Souls and resolve Sorin to start pulling myself back in and ahead. He Ulamogs, hitting Sorin and a Vent. I drop another Sorin and a Wall and I'm winning the race. He topdecks [[Mindslaver]] with [[Academy Ruins]] out but is a mana off of the lock. He takes my next turn but with my blockers, I'll win on the crack back even against Ulamog. He has to kill me with my own cards or draw a land on his turn. He draws my [[Godless Shrine]], shocks me, and pains me for 1 with [[Caves of Koilos]] (he actually almost missed the Cave and passed). Looked at his next card, not a land... Oh well, them's the beats.
Match 4** (2-1 vs Bant Knightfall Brew w/ B splash and [[Gifts Ungiven]] package)
Game 1 on the play-
I get out to a great start, removing his mana dorks and [[Knight of the Reliquary]] with hand hate and Stranglers. I'm a turn away from the win when he hard casts [[Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite]] and blows me out. He follows it with [[Grave Titan]] and things look bleak. I drop some Walls to stall and eventually draw into removal. I manage to stabilize with Vents, Sorin, and some tokens and grind out the win with some more removal.
Board: -2 Castigate, -1 Leonin Arbiter, -2 Wall of Omens, +2 Relic of Progenitus, +2 Smother, +1 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
Game 2 on the draw-
I keep a questionable 2 lander after mulling to 6. He ramps with dorks and I Path the first Knight. He starts recurring Ghost Quarters with Life from the Loam after I dropped a Leonin Arbiter, a misplay on my part. He reanimates a dredged Elesh Norn with [[Liliana, Death's Majesty]] and that's the game.
Game 3 on the play-
He has to mull to 4. I remove any relevant cards he has in hand and Souls/Sorin into a quick, easy victory
Notes:
- Very fun, grindy games.
- Feels like a deck with matchups ranging 60-40/40-60, no auto losses but no easy wins.
- Sorin, Solemn Visitor is an absolute house in this deck.
- Have to be very careful with how you sequence your lands with this budget mana base. Turn 1 Inquisitions are great but I think having W and B turn 2 is more important.
- I switched my Thraben Inspectors out for the Wall of Omens on a whim before the event. Wall of Omens performed great but I'm still not sure if the immediate card is better than Thraben being a proactive turn 1 play and attacking with Sorin's buff.
- Need to upgrade my Smothers to [[Fatal Push]] and maybe find a way to main deck them, I wanted the extra removal a lot.
-Leonin Arbiter is 1 of the best or 1 of the worst cards in the deck depending on the matchup.
-I was worried running 4x Shambling Vent but the card is fantastic, 4 is the right number IMO.
- It felt great holding my own against $500-$1000 decks with my $150 home brew.
Questions
1. Thraben Inspector or Wall of Omens?
2. How does the mana base look? Could I fit another Ghost Quarter? Could I run more basics?
3. Blood Baron of Vizkopa in the sideboard? I run Gids AoZ to help midrange mirrors. Would 2x Baron work better, as it dodges so much removal?
4. Speaking of Gideon... 1-2x in the sideboard, 1x in the main, is he even worth it?
5. I know Fatal Push is better than Smother, but in my deck, not being able to trigger Revolt reliably, how MUCH better is Push than Smofher?
6. I definitely want more removal in my sideboard... But how much? And what? Should I be looking at Go For the Throat, Journey to Nowhere, Dismember, something else?
7. Sideboard suggestions? This deck has a fairly even matchup percentage across the board, so I prefer to run broader answers that can get me a few percentage points against multiple decks instead of 20 percentage points against one deck.
8. Anything else you can think of?
Well, played in that mini last night and ran terribly, went 0-3. There was a fair amount of variance (I got mana flooded, playing 21 lands, in every single game except two) but I also think it is because the listed I posted a couple days ago is trying to do too many things.
Match 1: Dimir Mindcrank Combo
(1-2)
Game 1- Got off to a great start and got him down to a handful of life. Unfortunately, all my draws were lands and I never drew a sac outlet so I ran out of gas before he went off.
Game 2- This was the best game of the night for me. Curved out with Doomed Traveler, Aristocrat, Lingering Souls, Zulaport/Blood Artist. Killed him on turn 4 by saccing my board for drain triggers.
Game 3- Mulled to 6 after having a hand full of lands, kept a questionable 4 lander (+path, cartel aristocrat) and flooded out.
Match 2: RG Devoted/Quillspike Combo
(1-2)
Game 1- Opponent mulled to 5. I drew a decent opening 7. He removed my early threats but I picked away with Spirit Tokens and managed to do a big sac/drain on turn 5 or 6 for the finish.
Game 2- First 7: all lands. Next 6: All lands. Next 5: 3 lands, path, lingering souls that I keep. Never got going and he combo'd off even through the path before I could draw anything else relevant.
Game 3- I get a good starting 7 but only draw lands all game long. I don't get any of my boarded in hand hate or a path, he draws the nuts and flings an infinitely large Quillspike at me after a chump block.
Match 3: BW Tokens
(0-2)
Game 1- Get off to a decent start, gum up drawing only lands, get blown out by a Zealous Persecution clearing 5x Spirit tokens. Get blown out the next turn by another wiping by the 4x tokens I just flashbacked double Lingering Souls for. Possibly a punt as I overextended twice, but considering I was stalling out and flooding may still have been right to push. His board presence gets out of control and my hand full of lands doesn't help there.
Game 2- First 7: 6 lands, 1 path. Next 6: No lands. Next 5: 3 Lands, Cartel Aristocrat, Lingering souls. My opponent inquisitions both of his first turns shredding my hand, I draw 3 lands off the top, and scoop.
So a lot of mana issues there, which I think are outliers as I thought I was being super greedy only running 21. I did realize that unless I go full RallyFenza, Anafenza/Safehold elite really don't do too much for me. I was trying to ride the line between grindy/fast and combo/aggro and I think aggro is just the better build.
Also, Leonin Arbiter just didn't do much for me. Even though I don't have the money for Marsh flats, I had enough copies/saved up store credit to run 6x other fetches that can grab Godless Shrines.
So here's the list I will be testing and playing in next week's FNM:
Trying out Grim Haruspex to grab a bit of extra gas but I plan on switching it out for 2x Bontu once Amonkhet drops unless I am extremely impressed by the Haruspex
I see him mainly as a Menace beatstick, the sacrifice/lifedrain ability is costed too high to be more than a fallback when all other sacrifice outlets have been removed/disabled (looking at you, pithing needle).
Definitely. He's a 3 cost, evasive, resilient beater. It's just gravy that his activated ability has some synergy with the rest of deck.
I was thinking the same thing. Seems like it could be pretty strong.
He seems great in a more aggro build. Mine was trending towards grindy so I'll need to tweak. Seems like Bontu could be a finisher in the traditional aggro list.
I've had moderate success so far and am playing in a mini on Wednesday that should give me so valuable testing.
I can't afford 4x Marsh Flats so I am ok with sticking with the Hatebears style no-fetch manabase. However, I know there should probably be some tweaks. Shambling Vent is probably too greedy and only 21 lands is probably risky too. Not sure if the Caves/Courtyard mix is right, either.
I am also considering swapping Inquisition of Kozikeks in for the Duresses in the board. And I REALLY want to find a way to fit some Fatal Push into the 75.
Other cards I'm intrigued by: Smuggler's Copter, Sram's Expertise, Hero of Bladehold.
Also looking for a budget ca/draw engine replacement for Bob. I've tried Grim Haruspex out but had mixed results. Edit: I have tried 2x Phyrexian Arena as well but them not being on a body is rough. I am actually considering Sygg, River Cutthroat. Most of the time, triggering the 3 life shouldn't be too hard... But the times it is hard is when I probably need the draw the most.
Has there been any experimentation with a blue splash instead of green? I know there was the Esper Rally list that filled their own graveyard with stuff like Hedron Crab and had an entirely different payoff with Below the Bridge.
I'm thinking more the classic SaffronOlive list with Muddle the Mixtures to help find the specific piece you need/some main deck protection, Judge's Familiar as more main deck protection/a self sacrifice creature, and more permission (if needed) out of the board. Maybe even stuff like Surveiling Sprite or Palace Familiar that help you dig with a sacrifice.
Cards You Own:
EDH player with a lot of good singletons. Mana: 1x of every Shocklands, 1x of every allied fetch(+Breeding Pool. Modern Staples: 4x Path to Exile
Colors You Like to Play:
I like them all but probably Blue, White, and/or Black in 60 card formats.
Style you like to play:
Midrange or Control. The deck I've been cutting my Modern teeth on is Blistering Rage so I don't want something as aggro or all in. Also, I want a deck that can be upgraded over time.
Budget: ~$80 to spend right now. Will be able to spend more in the future but how much and when will be dictated by my wife and kids.
Level: FNM Competitive. And what I mean by FNM competitive is a deck I can take to the store and put up a fight with at least.
Nice, thank you! Those were the exact changes I was thinking, except I'm up in the air on cutting a Castigate or a Sculler. Sculler is a much better tempo play but the card stays gone with Castigate which is also relevant for Strangler. And I'd like to put 2x Push in the board (cutting Disenchant).
I goldfished 23 land with Gideon in the main board a ton yesterday... And, you're right, 24 is definitely the number this deck wants. Going to try out the 4x Ghost Quarter.
I see your point about Blood Baron but in grindy matchups, 5 mana seems fine to me and I'm ok with someone spending Bolt-Snap-Bolt to remove it. I'm going to test 2x in the board. You're probably right, but I see some potential there.
I'm also going to try out some number of Zealous Persecution in the board, how many would you recommend?
Picking up some Fatal Push as soon as my store re-ups.
I think Crucible is very intriguing, but I'll protect my wallet and let someone else brew with that. Probably pretty good in a Smallpox-esque list.
Edit- What would everyone cut for a 2/2 split of Gideon/Sorin? I'm thinking I should move 1 Anguished Unmaking to the board and then cut 1 Sculler or Castigate (leaning towards Sculler).
Thanks for the responses!
1. That was the way I was leaning, for the same reasons.
2. I think I might cut Vault to just go down to 23 lands. Wish it was possible to run 23.5 because that's what this deck seems to want.
3. That's fair. But I think Baron has some merit as it dodges Path and Push and survives Bolt.
4. I'm going to run 1 Gideon in the main, may go up to 2. But I'd never run less than 2 Sorin. It's been a beast in my testing.
5. Whoa, I knew it was a bad budget option until I upgrade to Pushes but didn't realize it was that bad now. Just because of the CMC?
6. I put a Go for the Throat in the sideboard, I know I have a Dismember somewhere but I can't find it.
7. I've considered Zealous Persecution but it seems narrow, what matchups do I want it for. And I've been considering Cast Out, maybe even main deck.
8. Thanks!
4x Leonin Arbiter
4x Tidehollow Sculler
4x Wasteland Strangler
4x Path to Exile
2x Anguished Unmaking
2x Sorin, Solemn Visitor
4x Inquisition of Kozilek
4x Castigate
4x Lingering Souls
4x Concealed Courtyard
3x Ghost Quarter
4x Godless Shrine
2x Plains
4x Shambling Vent
2x Swamp
1x Vault of the Archangel
1x Disenchant
3x Grand Abolisher
2x Kor Firewalker
2x Smother
2x Stony Silence
1x Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
2x Stain the Mind
TL,DR: 3-1, 2-1 W Blink, 2-1 Death's Shadow, 1-2 U Eldrazi Tron, 2-1 Knightfall Brew
Match 1:
2-1 vs Mono-White Blink
Game 1 on the play-
I shred his hand early with [[Inquisition of Kozilek]], [[Castigate]], and [[Tidehollow Sculler]]. Pick off his [[Thraben Inspector]] and [[Wall of Omens]] with some [[Wasteland Strangler]] processing and he hits 1 of my Stranglers with a [[Journey to Nowhere]]. I resolve the first half of [[Lingering Souls]] followed by [[Sorin, Solemn Visitor]] the next turn. He resolved and +s [[Gideon Jura]] to buy himself a turn. I [[Anguished Unmaking]] Gids and swing for the win.
Board: -2 Leonin Arbiter, +2 Smother
Game 2 on the draw-
Game 2 starts very similarity to Game 1. I made a huge misplay around turn 5-6 when I had the board and used the second half of Souls to get blown out by a Wrath... That I had seen with my turn 1 Inquisition. After that he resolved a [[Mirran Crusader]] who just took the game over with the help of [[Ajani, Caller of the Pride]]. I managed to grind for a while with Walls, Sorin, and Shambling Vents but never drew a [[Path to Exile]] and he managed his Crusader well.
Game 3 on the play-
I start with the dream of Inquisition, followed by Sculler, followed by Strangler processing the card to kill his turn two play. I resolve a Sorin and Souls, with a grip of removal, and Castigate a Wrath. He resolves a [[Restoration Angel]] that I deal with and a [[Mirran Crusader]] but it's too late and I cruise to the match win.
Match 2
(2-1 vs Death's Shadow)
Game 1 on the draw-
I resolve a turn 2 [[Leonin Arbiter]] and protect it with some hand hate. The Arbiter helps me keep him off his colors with [[Ghost Quarter]] and keep his life total high enough that I have a grip full of removal and some Walls when he finally removes it. I resolve half of Lingering Souls as I know he only has one counter in hand. He goes all in, goes down to 4 life and has [[Tasigur, the Golden Fang]] and 3x [[Death's Shadow]] in play, setting up for next turn lethal. I Inquisition his one card hand, it's a [[Thoughtseize]], so I'm safe to drop Sorin, +1, and swing with 2 spirit tokens for the win.
Board: -2 Tidehollow Sculler, +2 Smother
Game 2 on the draw-
I draw a good hand with some removal which he shreds with hand hate. He gets the Shadows out early and I attempt to stabilize with Walls and [[Shambling Vent]]. He gets Tasigur online and has a couple of [[Snapcaster Mage]]s that he uses to finish my hand and blockers off.
Game 3 on the play-
We shred each other's hand early and I win the topdeck war afterwards. I draw removal for his threats and then he floods out. I ride Vents and Soul tokens to victory.
Match 3
(1-2 vs Blue Eldrazi Tron)
Game 1 on the play-
I keep him off Tron with Leonin Arbiter and GQs. His hand is threat light and I Sculler a [[Thought-Knot Seer]]. I followed that with my most interesting line of the day; processing the Seer with a Strangler to kill my own Sculler because I saw a [[Repeal]] and no other threats with an Inquisition. Unfortunately, I just can't finish him quickly enough and he eventually resolves [[Ugin the Spirit Dragon]] who just takes over the game.
Board: -3x Wasteland Strangler, +2 Stony Silence, +1 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
Game 2 on the play-
I land some early Arbiters to keep him from searching out Tron and hit him with some mid game hand hate to keep him off any big threats. I deal with a [[Reality Smasher]] by pitching Lingering Souls and flashing it back. 1 resolve [[Gideon, Ally of Zendikar]] and token. Next turn I clear his blocker and Gidspunch. He finally gets Tron online and drops Ulamog, clearing Gideon and a body. But with my tokens and an activated Vent I have exact lethal past a blocker.
Game 3 on the draw-
He assembles turn three Tron but I hang in with hand hate and some well timed removal. Eventually I play and flashback a few Souls and resolve Sorin to start pulling myself back in and ahead. He Ulamogs, hitting Sorin and a Vent. I drop another Sorin and a Wall and I'm winning the race. He topdecks [[Mindslaver]] with [[Academy Ruins]] out but is a mana off of the lock. He takes my next turn but with my blockers, I'll win on the crack back even against Ulamog. He has to kill me with my own cards or draw a land on his turn. He draws my [[Godless Shrine]], shocks me, and pains me for 1 with [[Caves of Koilos]] (he actually almost missed the Cave and passed). Looked at his next card, not a land... Oh well, them's the beats.
Match 4**
(2-1 vs Bant Knightfall Brew w/ B splash and [[Gifts Ungiven]] package)
Game 1 on the play-
I get out to a great start, removing his mana dorks and [[Knight of the Reliquary]] with hand hate and Stranglers. I'm a turn away from the win when he hard casts [[Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite]] and blows me out. He follows it with [[Grave Titan]] and things look bleak. I drop some Walls to stall and eventually draw into removal. I manage to stabilize with Vents, Sorin, and some tokens and grind out the win with some more removal.
Board: -2 Castigate, -1 Leonin Arbiter, -2 Wall of Omens, +2 Relic of Progenitus, +2 Smother, +1 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
Game 2 on the draw-
I keep a questionable 2 lander after mulling to 6. He ramps with dorks and I Path the first Knight. He starts recurring Ghost Quarters with Life from the Loam after I dropped a Leonin Arbiter, a misplay on my part. He reanimates a dredged Elesh Norn with [[Liliana, Death's Majesty]] and that's the game.
Game 3 on the play-
He has to mull to 4. I remove any relevant cards he has in hand and Souls/Sorin into a quick, easy victory
Notes:
- Very fun, grindy games.
- Feels like a deck with matchups ranging 60-40/40-60, no auto losses but no easy wins.
- Sorin, Solemn Visitor is an absolute house in this deck.
- Have to be very careful with how you sequence your lands with this budget mana base. Turn 1 Inquisitions are great but I think having W and B turn 2 is more important.
- I switched my Thraben Inspectors out for the Wall of Omens on a whim before the event. Wall of Omens performed great but I'm still not sure if the immediate card is better than Thraben being a proactive turn 1 play and attacking with Sorin's buff.
- Need to upgrade my Smothers to [[Fatal Push]] and maybe find a way to main deck them, I wanted the extra removal a lot.
-Leonin Arbiter is 1 of the best or 1 of the worst cards in the deck depending on the matchup.
-I was worried running 4x Shambling Vent but the card is fantastic, 4 is the right number IMO.
- It felt great holding my own against $500-$1000 decks with my $150 home brew.
Questions
1. Thraben Inspector or Wall of Omens?
2. How does the mana base look? Could I fit another Ghost Quarter? Could I run more basics?
3. Blood Baron of Vizkopa in the sideboard? I run Gids AoZ to help midrange mirrors. Would 2x Baron work better, as it dodges so much removal?
4. Speaking of Gideon... 1-2x in the sideboard, 1x in the main, is he even worth it?
5. I know Fatal Push is better than Smother, but in my deck, not being able to trigger Revolt reliably, how MUCH better is Push than Smofher?
6. I definitely want more removal in my sideboard... But how much? And what? Should I be looking at Go For the Throat, Journey to Nowhere, Dismember, something else?
7. Sideboard suggestions? This deck has a fairly even matchup percentage across the board, so I prefer to run broader answers that can get me a few percentage points against multiple decks instead of 20 percentage points against one deck.
8. Anything else you can think of?
Match 1: Dimir Mindcrank Combo
(1-2)
Game 1- Got off to a great start and got him down to a handful of life. Unfortunately, all my draws were lands and I never drew a sac outlet so I ran out of gas before he went off.
Game 2- This was the best game of the night for me. Curved out with Doomed Traveler, Aristocrat, Lingering Souls, Zulaport/Blood Artist. Killed him on turn 4 by saccing my board for drain triggers.
Game 3- Mulled to 6 after having a hand full of lands, kept a questionable 4 lander (+path, cartel aristocrat) and flooded out.
Match 2: RG Devoted/Quillspike Combo
(1-2)
Game 1- Opponent mulled to 5. I drew a decent opening 7. He removed my early threats but I picked away with Spirit Tokens and managed to do a big sac/drain on turn 5 or 6 for the finish.
Game 2- First 7: all lands. Next 6: All lands. Next 5: 3 lands, path, lingering souls that I keep. Never got going and he combo'd off even through the path before I could draw anything else relevant.
Game 3- I get a good starting 7 but only draw lands all game long. I don't get any of my boarded in hand hate or a path, he draws the nuts and flings an infinitely large Quillspike at me after a chump block.
Match 3: BW Tokens
(0-2)
Game 1- Get off to a decent start, gum up drawing only lands, get blown out by a Zealous Persecution clearing 5x Spirit tokens. Get blown out the next turn by another wiping by the 4x tokens I just flashbacked double Lingering Souls for. Possibly a punt as I overextended twice, but considering I was stalling out and flooding may still have been right to push. His board presence gets out of control and my hand full of lands doesn't help there.
Game 2- First 7: 6 lands, 1 path. Next 6: No lands. Next 5: 3 Lands, Cartel Aristocrat, Lingering souls. My opponent inquisitions both of his first turns shredding my hand, I draw 3 lands off the top, and scoop.
So a lot of mana issues there, which I think are outliers as I thought I was being super greedy only running 21. I did realize that unless I go full RallyFenza, Anafenza/Safehold elite really don't do too much for me. I was trying to ride the line between grindy/fast and combo/aggro and I think aggro is just the better build.
Also, Leonin Arbiter just didn't do much for me. Even though I don't have the money for Marsh flats, I had enough copies/saved up store credit to run 6x other fetches that can grab Godless Shrines.
So here's the list I will be testing and playing in next week's FNM:
4x Doomed Traveler
3x Viscera Seer
4x Blood Artist
3x Bloodthrone Vampire
4x Cartel Aristocrat
4x Zulaport Cutthroat
2x Grim Haruspex(Bontu the Glorified)
4x Path to Exile
2x Rally the Ancestors
4x Lingering Souls
4x Caves of Koilos
4x Concealed Courtyard
1x Flooded Strand
4x Godless Shrine
2x Plains
1x Polluted Delta
2x Swamp
1x Windswept Heath
2x Fatal Push
3x Inquisition of Kozilek
1x Disenchant
2x Grand Abolisher
2x Stony Silence
1x Tidehollow Sculler
2x Stain the Mind
Trying out Grim Haruspex to grab a bit of extra gas but I plan on switching it out for 2x Bontu once Amonkhet drops unless I am extremely impressed by the Haruspex
Definitely. He's a 3 cost, evasive, resilient beater. It's just gravy that his activated ability has some synergy with the rest of deck.
He seems great in a more aggro build. Mine was trending towards grindy so I'll need to tweak. Seems like Bontu could be a finisher in the traditional aggro list.
3 Viscera Seer
3 Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit
3 Blood Artist
4 Cartel Aristocrat
4 Leonin Arbiter
3 Safehold Elite
4 Zulaport Cutthroat
3 Rally the Ancestors
4 Lingering Souls
4 Caves of Koilos
2 Concealed Courtyard
4 Godless Shrine
6 Plains
1x Shambling Vent
4 Swamp
2 Disenchant
3 Grand Abolisher
2 Stony Silence
4 Tidehollow Sculler
I've had moderate success so far and am playing in a mini on Wednesday that should give me so valuable testing.
I can't afford 4x Marsh Flats so I am ok with sticking with the Hatebears style no-fetch manabase. However, I know there should probably be some tweaks. Shambling Vent is probably too greedy and only 21 lands is probably risky too. Not sure if the Caves/Courtyard mix is right, either.
I am also considering swapping Inquisition of Kozikeks in for the Duresses in the board. And I REALLY want to find a way to fit some Fatal Push into the 75.
Other cards I'm intrigued by: Smuggler's Copter, Sram's Expertise, Hero of Bladehold.
Also looking for a budget ca/draw engine replacement for Bob. I've tried Grim Haruspex out but had mixed results.
Edit: I have tried 2x Phyrexian Arena as well but them not being on a body is rough. I am actually considering Sygg, River Cutthroat. Most of the time, triggering the 3 life shouldn't be too hard... But the times it is hard is when I probably need the draw the most.
Any and all feedback is welcomed and appreciated.
I'm thinking more the classic SaffronOlive list with Muddle the Mixtures to help find the specific piece you need/some main deck protection, Judge's Familiar as more main deck protection/a self sacrifice creature, and more permission (if needed) out of the board. Maybe even stuff like Surveiling Sprite or Palace Familiar that help you dig with a sacrifice.
I know there is an Esper Rally list out there, but I'm not that interested in the self-mill with Crab combo-centric playstyle.
EDH player with a lot of good singletons. Mana: 1x of every Shocklands, 1x of every allied fetch(+Breeding Pool. Modern Staples: 4x Path to Exile
Colors You Like to Play:
I like them all but probably Blue, White, and/or Black in 60 card formats.
Style you like to play:
Midrange or Control. The deck I've been cutting my Modern teeth on is Blistering Rage so I don't want something as aggro or all in. Also, I want a deck that can be upgraded over time.
Budget: ~$80 to spend right now. Will be able to spend more in the future but how much and when will be dictated by my wife and kids.
Level: FNM Competitive. And what I mean by FNM competitive is a deck I can take to the store and put up a fight with at least.