Extremely minor little detail I just noticed about the Kor Firewalker. If it's being used against us and becomes highly played for some reason, Punishing Fire combats it very well. You can pay the extra red right away and essentially have "1RR: Deal 1 to opponent or 2 to a creature" with no card loss. If they choose to gain the life at least.
Edit: Actually I'm a bit rusty on the rules, would the Kor's controller decide on gaining the life before you chose a target?
The process of casting a spell includes choosing targets. The person playing Punishing Fire would choose a target and complete the process for casting the spell, the Firewalker player would put a trigger on the stack above the Punishing Fire that would allow them to gain the life. Punishing Fire is still on the stack at this point, so it wouldn't be in the graveyard to trigger off of the life gained from Firewalker.
NOONE has answered me, please write down what you think about that...
If you're packing Infest or Marsh Casualties, that's probably one of your best options even though it does nothing to Chosen. It'll still deal with all of the mana dorks unless they have two Archdruid out. I think this is a tough matchup for Vampires because they're packing Stags and enough other dorks to prevent Gatekeeper from getting him.
I suppose all those comments about too many ETB Tapped lands must have some merit. What changed that made Oran-Rief get completely cut? I mean, it was a subjective call before to include it at all, but something about WWK says it isn't even in the discussion anymore?
That strikes me as a new "stock" mana base for Jund. I kind of just did that on the fly, but I think it's fairly reasonable. Obviously, it could change depending on your particular tech in your Jund but I think I want to lean on green more after WWK due to Great Sable Stag getting better, imo. I also wish to test Explore in Jund with 26 land. I'll probably be working with my list soon and seeing how it goes.
I think I like more of a toolbox deck with Ranger of Eos, the one-drop Dragon maker, Scute Mob, etc... Knight of the Reliquary can go get some of those new lands that do things when they ETB or she can get man-lands... or the new Wasteland... so many options.
Quenchable Fire is a house right now. Who has blue mana in standard? I'd suggest it over Fireball probably. It's quite a house. I actually saw a guy run Quest for Pure Flame in a deck with Mana Barbs as well. Let me tell you, every land you tap for mana triggers Mana Barbs independently and activates Quest for Pure Flame independently. It was quite a beating.
I know this may be a long shot, but I've been messing around with Pyromancer Ascension and Valakut. I just built the deck so I cant test it but I figured maybe some others should look into the idea as well.
I originally had lightning bolt but didnt like only taking out one thing, maybe two. I figured 8 sweepers on an active ascension or two would be plent of removal. Cascade helps, espcially from BBE into the other cascade which could hit another pyroclasm, expedition map or ascension. Harrow and an active ascension is really where are the damage comes from, on top of all the other burn. Sylvan bounty was an attempt to A, land cycle a spell to thee GY and help get a mountain for valakut, or net you 8-16 life from all the other chaos on the board.
Black might give more cascade spell advantage but I don't think I'm willing to go tricolor in an unfinished deck yet.
A deck either needs to dedicate toward Valakut or Pyromancer Ascension, imo. Trying to do both just puts you in limbo between them. You'll almost get one and almost get the other but never really reap the benefits of either. I don't really get why Blitz Hellion is in there, either.
If Blue is in the mix, I see no reason why Thopter Foundry isn't in the list. If you're buying time to draw Ad Nauseum, you can use any 0 cost artifacts in your hand to make chump blockers and gain one life. Not to mention, the turn you go off, play a 0 cost artifact, sac it, Glaze Fiend gets bigger and bigger. I kind of like this idea. I might toy with it.
If you've ever played the Spreading Seas deck, it can really mess with you by turning forests or Valakuts into islands... If you use the forest the turn you play it, you can overcome the spreading seas by Harrowing or something... and your big dudes might get there... although they do run lots of spot removal.. it's a tough matchup.
Now, this deck looks like it has game against Jund and Vampires for sure. I really like Deft Duelist for mono-red Ball Lightning decks, but I suppose with Knight of the White Orchid and White Knight, it's a bit excessive? I'm not sure. I'd definitely want him in the sideboard. Perhaps over Right of Replication? Although, I could see that being a ridiculously awesome spell.
I do think that Deft Duelist could replace Vedalken Outlander because if you have a Honor the Pure, all of your creatures survive Jund Charm, Fallout, etc. Except Deft Duelist in that case... so I don't know. I just think the guy is a house against red.
I seriously suggest a 1 of Lethargy Trap. It acts like a fog in a lot of matches, especially against Jund.
My friend had a mill deck based on Archive Trap. He used Trapmaker's Snare, Whiplash, and Lethargy to stall long enough for the mill. It actually works quite well.
Has anyone tried the Grixis version against the Time Warp / Naya Charm combo version? I'm curious which one comes more highly recommended from testers. I could build either and I kind of like the Lucky Charms version where you just Warp and Charm all day long, but if Grixis control is getting better match-ups, then I could see myself playing that.
I'm curious as to how viable a deck based around the Ally creature type will be in draft or sealed. In draft, I see a lot of those rare and uncommon Allies being passed because they aren't too great unless you have a theme of allies. The obvious problem is trying to limit your colors in limited would become increasingly difficult if you are trying to incorporate the Ally creature type. I suppose, though, that if I got a couple of the red Ally that burns creatures or players when an Ally ETB, I might try to push for a 3-color deck with an Ally theme. I doubt this strategy would be possible in sealed unless you won the lottery with your distribution, obv. But if you win the lottery at sealed, you probably won't have to focus on a creature type like that. At the very least, it'd be funny to have to deal with all those triggers.
He's bad because he's strictly a win more creature. I'd rather play Bogardan Hellkite or whatever it's name is. The flash one from previous sets and M10. It's more of a trick and it does something even if they have a doom blade.
The process of casting a spell includes choosing targets. The person playing Punishing Fire would choose a target and complete the process for casting the spell, the Firewalker player would put a trigger on the stack above the Punishing Fire that would allow them to gain the life. Punishing Fire is still on the stack at this point, so it wouldn't be in the graveyard to trigger off of the life gained from Firewalker.
If you're packing Infest or Marsh Casualties, that's probably one of your best options even though it does nothing to Chosen. It'll still deal with all of the mana dorks unless they have two Archdruid out. I think this is a tough matchup for Vampires because they're packing Stags and enough other dorks to prevent Gatekeeper from getting him.
4 Verdant Catacomb
4 Raging Ravine
3 Dragonskull Summit
2 Rootbound Crag
2 Swamp
2 Mountain
2 Forest
2 Oran-Rief, the Vastwood
That strikes me as a new "stock" mana base for Jund. I kind of just did that on the fly, but I think it's fairly reasonable. Obviously, it could change depending on your particular tech in your Jund but I think I want to lean on green more after WWK due to Great Sable Stag getting better, imo. I also wish to test Explore in Jund with 26 land. I'll probably be working with my list soon and seeing how it goes.
A deck either needs to dedicate toward Valakut or Pyromancer Ascension, imo. Trying to do both just puts you in limbo between them. You'll almost get one and almost get the other but never really reap the benefits of either. I don't really get why Blitz Hellion is in there, either.
The list:
2 Misty Rainforest
4 Marsh Flats
7 Plains
2 Island
4 Fieldmist Borderpost
4 Devout Lightcaster
4 White Knight
4 Knight of the White Orchid
3 Emeria Angel
4 Baneslayer Angel
4 Vedalken Outlander
4 Honor of the Pure
3 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
3 Brave the Elements
3 Rite of Replication
4 Day of Judgment
4 Negate
4 Celestial Purge
Now, this deck looks like it has game against Jund and Vampires for sure. I really like Deft Duelist for mono-red Ball Lightning decks, but I suppose with Knight of the White Orchid and White Knight, it's a bit excessive? I'm not sure. I'd definitely want him in the sideboard. Perhaps over Right of Replication? Although, I could see that being a ridiculously awesome spell.
I do think that Deft Duelist could replace Vedalken Outlander because if you have a Honor the Pure, all of your creatures survive Jund Charm, Fallout, etc. Except Deft Duelist in that case... so I don't know. I just think the guy is a house against red.
My friend had a mill deck based on Archive Trap. He used Trapmaker's Snare, Whiplash, and Lethargy to stall long enough for the mill. It actually works quite well.