I've got two copies of throes in my sideboard for my R/G version of the deck. I haven't had the opportunity to play it yet though. It's definitely a solid card in the long grindy matches against things like control or jund where you need gas every turn.
How is ruination rioter? Seems like high potential just not sure how well he works in practice
I like the landfall plan to reduce reliance on the graveyard, and the good news is half of the graveyard hate is just ok to useless against the deck anyways
I’m testing using some cycle lands instead of tectonic reformation. Cycle lands seem better against everything except Rest In Peace.
Rioter is a shock for most people. I drop it with 4 or 5 lands in the yard and my Opponent's eyes are like well either I take 2 or I take more. It is also good to hold up for blocks, deters them from swinging in unless they have trample. Even with no lands in graveyard it makes people hesitate, they don't know if I have the capability to toss lands into the yard or not.
I'm for sure switching most of the basics out for cycle lands and probably the Dryad Arbor. Dryad is a nice fetch vs lily when I have a big Knight on the field but has been under performing.
Landfall is a viable option to test, it always felt a bit lack luster last year when I was playing it. You may be right that these cards may push it over the top. I tried to bump the deck with Elspeth.
Here is the Naya list that Im currently on and testing out. Finale is nuts since I have more creatures than usual. Delerium on Traverse is actually triggered quite a bit here, the Helixs are probably gonna be switched for paths but I am liking the life gain quite a bit. I agree that the M20 print elf is gonna be worth testing.
just played faeries and all i can say is I'm glad that deck isn't prominent. Every card basically reads counter target spell or tap all lands at draw step -.-
the person who made the video was on golgari midrange not loam. they faced a jund loamvortex and got destroyed by both rng and the redundancy of the loam deck.
Edit: I misunderstood your post I apologize for that. But yeah I agree with what you observed
Man that list looked super sweet but we didn't get to see it do anything but bully the video maker. They had really bad rng, or they could just be a worse deck than us all together. Also the person was complaining about having to have tight play. For me, most of my losses have come from playing too loose that's to say, making mistakes or poor judgement calls.
Edit: changed the bad word to not get stared out.
Edit:spelling
So I'd be happy with some lists and match write ups, however the outdated or optimized lists would need to be updated when they get tested and optimized.
I'd be more than happy to start tracking data on lists and help optimize everything. I'll be sad to remove my jank but would be worth it.
urborg, tomb of yawgmoth helps with the feeling like you don't have enough black mana, and arboreal grazer is still a great one drop. Though others have been feeling its lack luster to top deck later on.
edit: removed my bolt comment didnt see them in the list at first
So I started running 2 quicksand main to help with aggressive creature decks. Got tired of hoping for a clasm effect or using my vortex activations to clear boards.
I'm aware there are probably better answers but I'm enjoying playing the sands.
The thing about blast zone is that it's a pre-emptive card. It requires intimate knowledge of other decks. Cards like cindervines and engineered explosives can be used reactively but are also easier to interact with.
I'm not trying to say one is better than the other but that they fill similar roles in different ways. Each of our decks will have differences based on personal play styles.
Blast zone is essentially a engineered explosives. It's a land that has to be set up preemptively which requires knowledge of the opponents deck. Blast zone is similar to and assault vs creature decks but vastly better vs things such as boggles or prison decks.
Rioter is a shock for most people. I drop it with 4 or 5 lands in the yard and my Opponent's eyes are like well either I take 2 or I take more. It is also good to hold up for blocks, deters them from swinging in unless they have trample. Even with no lands in graveyard it makes people hesitate, they don't know if I have the capability to toss lands into the yard or not.
I'm for sure switching most of the basics out for cycle lands and probably the Dryad Arbor. Dryad is a nice fetch vs lily when I have a big Knight on the field but has been under performing.
Landfall is a viable option to test, it always felt a bit lack luster last year when I was playing it. You may be right that these cards may push it over the top. I tried to bump the deck with Elspeth.
3 Knight of the Reliquary
4 Ruination Rioter
2 Scavenging Ooze
1 Courser of Kruphix
1 Dryad Arbor
Instant 8
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
Sorcery 14
4 Faithless Looting
3 Finale of Devastation
4 Traverse the Ulvenwald
3 Life from the Loam
Enchantment 3
3 Seismic Assault
1 Mortuary Mire
3 Ghost Quarter
1 Bojuka Bog
1 Temple Garden
1 Sacred Foundry
2 Stomping Grounds
3 Forest
1 Mountain
2 Plains
3 wooded foothills
2 windswept heaths
2 Fire-lit Thicket
2 Quicksand
3 Anger of the Gods
3 Leyline of the Void
2 Wrenn and Six
2 Qasali Pridemage
4 Damping Sphere
1 Courser of Kruphix
my sideboard is due to alot of tron, dredge, and an annoying zombie deck so pick what works for your meta.
I'll post the current list I'm on tomorrow when I'm more awake.
edit: I may add a copy or two of boseiju, who shelters all to my sideboard.
Edit: I misunderstood your post I apologize for that. But yeah I agree with what you observed
Edit: changed the bad word to not get stared out.
Edit:spelling
I'd be more than happy to start tracking data on lists and help optimize everything. I'll be sad to remove my jank but would be worth it.
edit: removed my bolt comment didnt see them in the list at first
I'm aware there are probably better answers but I'm enjoying playing the sands.
I'm not trying to say one is better than the other but that they fill similar roles in different ways. Each of our decks will have differences based on personal play styles.
As far as 3 drops to finish the game might I suggest undergrowth champion in addition to tireless tracker