I haven't really scoured the numbers for participation/conversion rate or anything, but my gut feeling is that CES is performing really well right now. I think it's made a top 16 appearance or better in nearly every event the last few weeks. Yet it still feels like a dark horse deck. It's kind of strange
Watched Jim Davis' stream the other day when he played CES, he went 5-0 and still said basically that the deck was neat, but it wasn't anything special. Even though he dominated everyone he played.
Edit: Jinxed it! Not in the top 32 of GP Phoenix.
Was it even played at the GP? Looks like the new RG Eldrazi decks were performing really well...I wonder if they're just the better deck.
this deck is probably stronger overall but rg is still really good.
idk I've found 1 cavern to be fine, though I wouldn't play any more than that.
what have you thought of scavenger grounds? maybe it's just my meta but I haven't found it all too impressive.
Also on one cavern over one sea gate wreckage.
Scavenger grounds are great, and two is the right number I've found. It just does so much against a variety of decks.
ive been playing 1 cavern over a scavenger grounds as I don't like playing more than one. I think the draws in the mid-late game are far too valuable.
although I like 1 tectonic edge over 2nd scavenger grounds or cavern. The 5th LD just feels so good to me.
couple notes on things above... that BR list , i played a league with it and it was pretty bad.
cavern is not necessary... its not wrong, but theres other lands that are more important i think. if you look at the last two lists posted (jordans classic, and my comp league 5-0)... neither have any caverns... our lists were the same but i had 3 ratchet bomb 2 neeedle, he had 4 bomb 1 needle) ... 0 endless ones.
idk I've found 1 cavern to be fine, though I wouldn't play any more than that.
what have you thought of scavenger grounds? maybe it's just my meta but I haven't found it all too impressive.
I don't think the one showing of the list means that we're positioned well but I don't mind more midrange running around. With that I think the list is nice, it's not trying to be cute it's just trying to kill people. Which is nice and I will be adjusting mine to help with that. With other thoughts about it I don't know about Fiery Justice but it may replace Ghostly Prison for my way to deal with creatures. One of the the things I've been wanting to test for a while now is Leylines of Sancity in the main, with burn being well positioned against Jace decks I expect a rise in burn which at least for me seems to be he hardest matchup. So with hand hate being as good as always I can't help but think that it's great for us to play Leylines in the main. I will be talking about this after testing but if anyone has tested I would love to hear about it. Finally am I the only person who likes Dismember or should I be playing better cards?
Edit: In addition to above what's people's thoughts on 3 vs 4 Restore Balances?
I think 4 Restore balance is strong, but only in the builds that play as foretold.
Has anyone else here seen the list that took a 5-0 yesterday? The list looks super strong, and makes me think the deck may be well positioned right now.
@Endurr I know Jace needs UU, but only 10 tron pieces? I don't think that's a good idea. 2 Field of Ruin and 2 Talisman seems enough. I mean, we already play snapcaster/gearhulk, there's no problem getting blue.
The reason for less tron lands is that the list is less reliant on tron. I want lots of blue to guarantee jace on t4 as much as humanly possible.
That being said, I think that this jace unban has started pushing my sanity...
I will be playing the following list over the next few days online.
Hey guys, wrote a 4000-word article on tips & tricks while playing the deck. Combined with the sideboarding and mulligan guides, that should be enough to get anyone started! Enjoy.
Good article for sure, thanks for the write up. How much better is copter than key to the city? Gonna try it tomorrow.
I think Copter is irreplaceable in this deck. Key is so clearly bad that I have never tried it. We don't have two mana to throw around for loots.
I've personally enjoyed one copter main, one key in the board. key is pretty good in grindy matchups, and has the added bonus of being randomly good, like in the mirror, or against skred, key targeting the opponent's eternal scourge, or against humans, targeting their phantasmal image.
You guys should try field of ruin, I've been playing 4 of them and they've worked amazingly so far. They help improve the tron MUs and have kept my mana pretty smooth all at once.
this deck is probably stronger overall but rg is still really good.
Hall of the Bandit Lord.
Thoughts on a x1 of this?
ive been playing 1 cavern over a scavenger grounds as I don't like playing more than one. I think the draws in the mid-late game are far too valuable.
although I like 1 tectonic edge over 2nd scavenger grounds or cavern. The 5th LD just feels so good to me.
idk I've found 1 cavern to be fine, though I wouldn't play any more than that.
what have you thought of scavenger grounds? maybe it's just my meta but I haven't found it all too impressive.
I think 4 Restore balance is strong, but only in the builds that play as foretold.
Here's the list: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/modern-wubrg-45517#paper
Here's the list: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/modern-br-45515#paper
Imo seems pretty strong.
Thinking about trying them and would like to hear what others think of them.
The reason for less tron lands is that the list is less reliant on tron. I want lots of blue to guarantee jace on t4 as much as humanly possible.
That being said, I think that this jace unban has started pushing my sanity...
I will be playing the following list over the next few days online.
1 Academy Ruins
1 Field of Ruin
3 Gemstone Caverns
4 Island
1 River of Tears
2 Snow-Covered Island
2 Tolaria West
3 Urza's Mine
3 Urza's Power Plant
4 Urza's Tower
Artifacts (9)
1 Batterskull
4 Chalice of the Void
1 Mindslaver
1 Oblivion Stone
2 Talisman of Dominance
4 Condescend
1 Cyclonic Rift
1 Mana Leak
1 Remand
2 Repeal
3 Spatial Contortion
1 Supreme Will
4 Thirst for Knowledge
Planeswalkers (4)
4 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Creatures (6)
1 Platinum Angel
2 Snapcaster Mage
1 Treasure Mage
1 Trinket Mage
1 Wurmcoil Engine
2 Dismember
2 Engineered Explosives
1 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Negate
1 Relic of Progenitus
1 Spatial Contortion
2 Spreading Seas
1 Surgical Extraction
2 Thought-Knot Seer
1 Wurmcoil Engine
I'm thinking about adding a couple Search for Azcanta.
1 Batterskull
2 Chalice of the Void
4 Condescend
1 Cyclonic Rift
1 Emrakul, the Promised End
4 Expedition Map
1 Field of Ruin
2 Gemstone Caverns
5 Island
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1 Mana Leak
1 Mindslaver
1 Oblivion Stone
1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds
1 Platinum Angel
1 Remand
2 Repeal
1 River of Tears
1 Snapcaster Mage
2 Snow-Covered Island
2 Spatial Contortion
1 Supreme Will
2 Talisman of Dominance
4 Thirst for Knowledge
1 Tolaria West
1 Treasure Mage
1 Trinket Mage
3 Urza's Mine
3 Urza's Power Plant
4 Urza's Tower
1 Walking Ballista
1 Wurmcoil Engine
2 Dismember
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Negate
1 Pithing Needle
3 Spreading Seas
2 Surgical Extraction
1 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
1 Wurmcoil Engine
I've personally enjoyed one copter main, one key in the board. key is pretty good in grindy matchups, and has the added bonus of being randomly good, like in the mirror, or against skred, key targeting the opponent's eternal scourge, or against humans, targeting their phantasmal image.
Filter lands and og dual manlands would be nice
Khans fetches could be okay, they're probably more likely to see a reprint then zendikar fetches, but I digress.
kolaghan's command would be nice too.
Chalice of the void and Engineered Explosives wouldn't be unreasonable to see as rares.
Some slivers would be cool.
Maybe some random money planeswalkers?
4 Death's Shadow
3 Gurmag Angler
2 Snapcaster Mage
4 Street Wraith
1 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
Spells
1 Dismember
4 Fatal Push
1 Kolaghan's Command
2 Opt
4 Stubborn Denial
1 Terminate
4 Thought Scour
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
4 Serum Visions
4 Thoughtseize
2 Blood Crypt
4 Bloodstained Mire
3 Flooded Strand
4 Polluted Delta
1 Snow-Covered Island
1 Snow-Covered Swamp
1 Steam Vents
2 Watery Grave
1 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
1 By Force
2 Ceremonious Rejection
1 Collective Brutality
2 Disdainful Stroke
1 Izzet Staticaster
2 Kozilek's Return
2 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Temur Battle Rage
2 Young Pyromancer
The lack of Scalding tarns and only two snapcasters are simply for budget reasons. Thoughts on this list?