Hey all, so I've been playtesting mainboard surgical extraction against a couple control and midrange decks, and it feels amazing. Taking problem cards out of your opponents deck, blanking snapcasters and shrinking goyfs, and being able to effectively draw 3 if you surgical your own Eternal scourge is amazing. I'm seriouly considering straight up cutting two chalice to the board to play 2 surgical in the main, since surgicaling scourge feels like it gives free wins in the matchups where chalice is usually bad.
So, I've been pretty interested in this deck recently (specifically the shaku version) and was wondering how are the matchups, and how is this deck against the current meta?
I'm not currently playing souls, but my experience with it was bringing it vs creature decks like elves, taxes, humans and hollow one to help chump their dudes till I could stabilize. I would also occasionally bring it vs uw control, as it is hard for them to deal with, and you can just hold your threats and wait for them to wrath the tokens so you can start slamming delve creatures and shadows.
Lingering souls is impressive, but doesn't feel worth the 4-5ish sideboard slots it takes up. I might try souls in the main, and see how that plays out since I think it's good against a couple of our rougher matchups but putting them in the board takes up space for the cards that are good for us in other matchups like tron or titanshift or jund.
I would argue that souls is slightly more flexible, and therefore better, since you can bring it against creature decks like elves so you have more cards to break board stalls and block creatures. Also, on the godless shrine thing, while it does suck, it's still possible to cast souls because of flashback, it can just makes your future plays a little more awkward.
Is Flaying Tendrils still worse out of the board than Kozilek's Return now that B/R Hollow One is one of the best decks? I feel like the exile clause is super relevant against them.
They're pretty much the same card against hollow one, the only difference being that tendrills exiles their flamewake phoenix.
Although at that point I'd rather just be playing anger of the gods.
could maybe use some work and fine tuning but this seems like it will be really strong
Some other good wizards are soul-scar mage: could be good against collected company decks and other value-based creature decks. Nimble Obstructionist: it's pretty good against a bunch of random stuff like storm. Jace, Vryn's prodigy: a good card for grindy mu's and for against bridge decks Baral, Chief of Compliance: could be good in a more value oriented build without the spellstutter sprites
So I wanted to show of a few cards I've been looking at that I think could be cool in our deck.
Hall of the Bandit Lord: This could be really cool to play as maybe a 1-off because it can lead to some really explosive turns with hasty Thought-Knots and Scourges.
Apostle's Blessing: Might be an interesting card for our sb since it can protect our creatures against very removal heavy decks.
Marrow Shards: Probably just a worse gut shot, but could be good in the right meta.
Jinxed Idol: Seems like a cool alternative to Copter, but probably isn't good enough. (EDIT: its pretty good against ensnaring bridge)
Heart of Kiran: Another cool alternative to Copter. Could see play if we end up playing that new Karn that was leaked.
I've opted to play more creatures and no Bridge because I dislike playing bridge. As a result of that, I'm also playing a little more spot removal so I can get around those pesky gurmag anglers and goyfs. I considered Dire Fleet Daredevil but I don't think it's good enough. No cavern of souls because those are expensive as hell and bad with moons.
Any advice would be appreciated.
https://twitter.com/bmjmtgo
dont see any sb guide though.
Edit: a little late
Edit: also curious about how this deck sideboards
Lingering souls is impressive, but doesn't feel worth the 4-5ish sideboard slots it takes up. I might try souls in the main, and see how that plays out since I think it's good against a couple of our rougher matchups but putting them in the board takes up space for the cards that are good for us in other matchups like tron or titanshift or jund.
They're pretty much the same card against hollow one, the only difference being that tendrills exiles their flamewake phoenix.
Although at that point I'd rather just be playing anger of the gods.
1 Anger of the Gods
1 Ceremonious Rejection
2 Collective Brutality
2 Disdainful Stroke
1 Dreadbore
1 Izzet Staticaster
1 Liliana of the Veil
1 Liliana, the Last Hope
2 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Pyroclasm
1 Stubborn Denial
1 Temur Battle Rage
If I pick up jace, what should I cut for him?
Is jace even any good to begin with?
2 Bloodstained Mire
4 Concealed Courtyard
1 Fetid Heath
4 Field of Ruin
2 Godless Shrine
1 Marsh Flats
1 Plains
4 Shambling Vent
4 Swamp
Artifacts (4)
4 Smuggler's Copter
2 Anguished Unmaking
4 Fatal Push
2 Path to Exile
Sorceries (11)
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
4 Lingering Souls
4 Thoughtseize
Planeswalkers (4)
2 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
2 Liliana of the Veil
Creatures (10)
2 Aven Mindcensor
4 Dark Confidant
4 Pack Rat
3 Collective Brutality
1 Damnation
1 Disenchant
1 Flaying Tendrils
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Kambal, Consul of Allocation
2 Mirran Crusader
3 Stony Silence
2 Surgical Extraction
1 Bloodstained Mire
4 Island
1 Mountain
1 Mutavault
1 Polluted Delta
4 Scalding Tarn
4 Spirebluff Canal
2 Steam Vents
Instants (19)
1 Dismember
2 Electrolyze
1 Opt
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Remand
4 Wizard's Lightning
4 Wizard's Retort
3 Chart a Course
4 Serum Visions
Creatures (16)
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Spellstutter Sprite
2 Stormchaser Mage
2 Vendilion Clique
2 Ceremonious Rejection
2 Dispel
1 Grim Lavamancer
1 Izzet Staticaster
2 Magus of the Moon
1 Pithing Needle
2 Precognition Field
1 Pyroclasm
2 Relic of Progenitus
1 Surgical Extraction
could maybe use some work and fine tuning but this seems like it will be really strong
Some other good wizards are
soul-scar mage: could be good against collected company decks and other value-based creature decks.
Nimble Obstructionist: it's pretty good against a bunch of random stuff like storm.
Jace, Vryn's prodigy: a good card for grindy mu's and for against bridge decks
Baral, Chief of Compliance: could be good in a more value oriented build without the spellstutter sprites
Thoughts?
Hall of the Bandit Lord: This could be really cool to play as maybe a 1-off because it can lead to some really explosive turns with hasty Thought-Knots and Scourges.
Apostle's Blessing: Might be an interesting card for our sb since it can protect our creatures against very removal heavy decks.
Marrow Shards: Probably just a worse gut shot, but could be good in the right meta.
Jinxed Idol: Seems like a cool alternative to Copter, but probably isn't good enough. (EDIT: its pretty good against ensnaring bridge)
Heart of Kiran: Another cool alternative to Copter. Could see play if we end up playing that new Karn that was leaked.
Thoughts on these?
I've come up with a list more like this:
3 Gemstone Caverns
19 Mountain
Artifacts (6)
4 Chalice of the Void
2 Mind Stone
Enchantments (4)
4 Blood Moon
Instants (8)
4 Abrade
4 Desperate Ritual
2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
2 Koth of the Hammer
Creatures (16)
2 Glorybringer
4 Goblin Rabblemaster
2 Hazoret the Fervent
2 Magus of the Moon
2 Prophetic Flamespeaker
4 Simian Spirit Guide
3 Anger of the Gods
1 Boil
3 Eidolon of the Great Revel
2 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Harsh Mentor
2 Shattering Spree
2 Sorcerous Spyglass
1 Torpor Orb
Thoughts?
This is the list I was thinking:
3 Gemstone Caverns
18 Mountain
Artifacts
4 Chalice of the Void
1 Sword of Body and Mind
1 Sword of War and Peace
Enchantments
3 Blood Moon
Instants
2 Abrade
4 Desperate Ritual
2 Dismember
2 Pyretic Ritual
2 Koth of the Hammer
Creatures
1 Hazoret the Fervent
4 Kargan Dragonlord
4 Magus of the Moon
1 Pia and Kiran Nalaar
4 Prophetic Flamespeaker
4 Simian Spirit Guide
2 Anger of the Gods
2 Boil
2 Eidolon of the Great Revel
2 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Harsh Mentor
2 Shattering Spree
2 Sorcerous Spyglass
1 Torpor Orb
I've opted to play more creatures and no Bridge because I dislike playing bridge. As a result of that, I'm also playing a little more spot removal so I can get around those pesky gurmag anglers and goyfs. I considered Dire Fleet Daredevil but I don't think it's good enough. No cavern of souls because those are expensive as hell and bad with moons.
Any advice would be appreciated.