Ixidor; Good job on the results and insights into the deck, some questions for you!
1) How did you get there with Narset and 23 Land? Or was the scry/dig etc enough time to get there?
2) I took out the Steam Durdley/Dig combo for 4 action cards. It's a tempo deck with only 4 tempo cards. Did you find you needed the dig more or less to win? (Or could you just add 4 action cards and call it a day?)
I also took out Seeker after I was sideboarding him out EVERY game. The idea is not to force him through (with our non-tempo cards in our so called tempo deck) but to force Rabblemaster through.
Thank you! I really appreciate the kind words.
1) It's not like other Burn decks in Modern and Legacy where we end the game quickly. Most the time games can tend to drag on, so hitting 6 lands was never a problem at all, especially with Temple scry's and other helpful interactions, like my opponent giving me 2 lands and a spell off a Steam Augury, etc.
2) I think out of the 4 cards, I'm going to take out 2 Dig Through Time and put 1 in the side. Steam Augury is obviously the weaker card, but most the time more castable, and being able to dig deeper into the deck for 2-3 cards in generally a good pay-off. I really like the card Dig Through Time, but it takes too long to set up most the time, as most games I rather set up a board presence whenever possible. I'm thinking I could -2 Dig for something like +1 Banishing Light and another Stormbreath Dragon, or 2 Searing Blood. I wouldn't mind Void Snare either. I definitely want more proactive cards like you mentioned over the dig. I think between having 12 cards that have Scry (4 Magma Jet, 8 Temples) and 2 Steam Augury we have enough control over our draws while being pro-active every turn.
I was tempted to put in the 4th Seeker to see if it increases my chances of playing it turn 2, but I think I may drop him all together. It is definitely fun to bluff with him with a grip full of cards. One cool play I had was I was flooding on lands, holding the same 2 lands in my hand for a while. So every other land I drew I played it straight from my deck, making it appear I wasn't holding any lands in my hand. This in turn didn't make my opponent ever block with his 2 Sylvan Caratid's and I essentially given 4 free turns of damage. In general though Seeker is a weak draw especially in the late game and I just rather not have to deal with that.
Hello all.
I got 2nd at my TCGPlayer State Championship with this lovely deck. Link provided here.
(TCGplayer messed up on my sideboard. I didn't play 3 Defiant Strike, it was Disdainful Stroke)
I threw together my sideboard really quick on a budget. I hadn't tested a single game of new Standard at all, so I was pretty pleased to get as far as the Finals with the deck. I meant to add a Void Snare or 2 in the side, along with 2 Deflecting Palm. My bad.
Anyway, some notes:
- Mantis Rider is the feel good card of the year.
- I like the deck without Flooded Strands. At first it was a budget concern, but now that I've acquired them, I don't see myself adding them yet. Even when I faced the mirror in the Quarterfinals I think I won out because I always had access at any line of play with all my painlands and Temples, whereas he was forced to having just a Plains and Island at first with his fetches. With all the crazy color combinations, I found myself having a lot of different lines of play throughout the day that required a pretty intense mana base. I love fetchlands but I never really found the need throughout the tournament to have them. A lot of the time Dig Through Time was either super cheap or super expensive, so I don't think it really works for the argument as to fuel Delve since I may only hit 1 all game, maybe 2 but the grave could be big enough by the time that happens.
- Found myself taking out dig/draw when sideboarding. Usually I went -1 Steam and -1 Dig for more cards like another Banishing Light and/or Stormbreath Dragon. I love Dig but sometimes it is too costly; it gives you the option of taking anything whereas Steam Augury doesn't but I think most the time I am still pleased to play Steam just for the mere card advantage. I'm tempted to add another Banishing Light to the maindeck; it was a card I wanted to see every game and was always happy to draw.
- Never felt the need to have Sarkahn besides my Finals match against Monsters. Seems like a good match-up so he can shoot down some Stormbreaths or Savage Knuckleblades, or help race the opponent. I faced Mardu Midrange twice (rounds 2 & 3). I lost round 2 but won round 3. Ideally I guess he seems good in that match-up so I might add 1 to the main and 1 to the side. Most the day though I wasn't missing him.
- Chandra was underwhelming. Originally I wanted 2 so I could increase the chance to draw here and use as card advantage to not run out of steam (something this deck is very possibly of). However, with Standard having so many draws that are raw-power, I often didn't see myself putting her down at turn 4 at all. I didn't like how I had to wait until I had 6-8 mana so I could either safely put her down to and hold up a card to protect her, or put her down and have the mana to play whatever she flips. The previous times I played her they were completely different Magic environments where putting her down safely at turn 4 was possible. She is one of my favorite Planeswalkers ever but I may end up cutting 1 to the side.
- The single Narset was the all-star of the deck. Game 1 most decks don't play cards that can handle her (Anger of the Gods, Drown in Sorrow) so whenever she hit the board, she stuck, and then promoptly ended the game soon after. She also helps put the game to an end pretty quickly (helpful since I think I only had 2 matches out of 8 that didn't go past the 35 minute mark). Even if you are only hitting 2 cards, the value is absurd, especially when one is Chandra.
- Stormbreath was M.V.P. as well. So many decks rely on Banishing Light as their catch-all. It was also great in the mirror since outside of Stoke the Flames it gets past everything (Jeskai Charm, Banishing Light, big enough toughness against other burn spells and opposing creatures). I might maindeck 2.
- Seeker of the Way was underwhelming if I didn't play him turn 2.
The deck was ridiculously fun and mentally exhilarating since there can be so many different lines of play. I absolutely loved it and haven't had this much fun in Standard in quite a while!
People adjusted to saying Jund, Naya, Esper and I'm sure with time it will happen with Jeskai and Abzan. As much as I love the history and stories behind names like Junk and The Rock, these changes happen. It's not like long ago RUG Delver was called Canadian Thresh, BUG Delver was Team America, and Dredge decks simply referred to as Ichorid.
I think names like Shardless BUG and RUG Delver sound better than Shardless Sultai and Temur Delver, but it's personally prefernece. Sounds like SCG has got the team to stick with the new names already.
After moving cities, I have rarely been able to play Legacy these days. So I was pretty stoked to be able to play a GPT recently.
For a city that has no Legacy scene, enough people were able to scrounge up and borrow cards so 14 people showed up.
2-0 Storm/ANT
2-0 Affinity
I.D. Death & Taxes
I.D. Nic Fit
Top 8
1-2 Affinity
I didn't get to play much Legacy, but unlike other decks/formats, this is definitely a deck where I rather have my opponent not know what I'm playing if we play in the top 8 later, so I took the I.D. and chose not to play it out for fun. In testing D&T has been a pretty good match-up, so I figured I wouldn't let him know what I was on since I knew we were both locked for top 8.
Affinity is a great match-up, as I clearly beat him in the Swiss, but in the top he was able to hit RiP turn 1 both games 2 & 3 when he put me on the play. Game 3 I decided to side into 4 Mindbreak Trap since his RiP would usually be his 3rd spell played if he gets it turn 1 (Artifact land, Mox Opal, Memnite, RIP) but I didn't hit the Trap and was hoping he didn't hit the RIP, but he did. I never mulligan with the deck, but I figured he didn't hit it the first 3 turns I pretty much win the game anyway. I sat on my decisions for a while and decided to not Time Walk myself, but it backfired. Who knows, maybe I wouldn't of hit it anyway. Besides RiP that deck can practically not beat us since we can combo faster than they can dish out 20, plus if we hit more than 1 Bridge we can become the faster aggro deck, but hey, we all have those days.
I was just REALLY surprised I was able to beat Storm 2-0. That match-up seems atrocious for us, and he's a confident player, but everything that needed to happen did. Felt good!
Rest of the field was Burn, Burn, Bant, Sneak and Show, another Storm, etc.
Ad Nauseam got 2nd at the SCG Modern IQ on sunday (138 people, 8 rounds). He managed to get to the Finals, and just happened to get paired against our worst match-up. It rarely happens but... Infect vs Ad Nauseam. Blah. He had a pretty typical sideboard, but nothing to fight Infect or Bogles. Here's the list.
Ugh. IDK man. I was never a fan of Desperate Ritual. It feels greedy, so you can play your SSG's more freely, but against blue it seems awful and is a dead card (because you have to use the SSG's to not get countered). The Conflagerate itself is awful, the reason why I picked up the deck and loved it so much was because it is well-positioned against Twin, UWR, UR Delver, etc. So giving up the point of the free instant-speed kill if they even dare to tap a little mana is possibly one of the worst losses about the deck.
I am fine with a few small changes, like the 3rd Peer. Even with so many cantrips sometimes a Sleight/Serum just doesn't dig deep enough when you are facing lethal. 4 City of Brass seems terrible. I can rant a lot about Gemstone Mine, but giving your opponent free 3-7 damage a game (especially if you are on 2) seems awful against some decks, besides obviously Burn, even against Twin and a few others. The Dimir Adequate is awful and awkward, especially in a format where Tec Edge and Ghost Quarter are seeing more play.The Leyline maindeck over Conjurer's Bauble might be a meta call if he was seeing Thoughtseize everywhere. I never would, but kudos to him since it worked if he got the top 8.
Sideboard seems kind of rough too. Supression Field, from my own year testing, is usually a bust. I'm not a fan of Thoughtseize but people do it, so that one is more personal taste for sideboard I guess.
This list just seems so rough, but he ran hot with it, so he must of been doing something right.
This deck is def much better than people give it credit for.
I still get asked often "You're still playing Ad Nauseam?" and I have to chuckle. Why would I give up a deck that is giving me absurd x-0 and x-1 finishes in every single tournament the last 2-3 months? Yeah, eventually I want to figure out a non-combo deck I want to play for weeklies around it, but the deck packs a punch and I think it has surprised and convinced a handful of people over here.
Been a bit. Did have an interesting Night.... Didnt drop a single game until the last round. Beat our worst match-up, but lost one of our best... Game 3 was rough but i was onthe draw, mulled to 6, and scryed a Scorn to the bottom against a Blood Moon deck (had Unlife & Favor of the Mighty in hand, figured I could play around it but that didnt happen)
2-0 zoo
2-0 GR Tron
2-0 Jund
1-2 Twin
2nd out of 12. Small night, no top, but it was fun.
Quick update. Running on only 4 hours of sleep roughly the past 48 hours, so no notes for now, but I'll answer any questions later if you have any.
28 people, 4 rounds, cut to top 8.
Round one: 2-1 Angel Pod
Round two: 2-1 RDW
Round three: 2-0 UWR Control
Round four: intentional draw w/ GR Tron
Top 8: 2-0 BW Tokens
Top 4: 1-2 Melira Pod
GR Tron is byfar our best match-up, but I offered him the I.D. since we were both locked for top. No sense in wasting my mental capacity if it isn't Competitive REL Top 8 rules and I am super tired. Fun day of Magic indeed.
I'm a big fan of Tolaria West in the maindeck. With what seems like massive amounts of people playing UR Delver, UWR Control, and several forms of Twin, I like being able to close out the game quick. UWR Control is a favored match-up, but if we can't hit a Boseiju, sometimes taking down a game against a very skilled player can be an uphill battle. Newer UWR players I usually 2-0, but a lot of the good players can make a run for my money. I took out a Darkslick Shores for Tolaria West. As much as I like having a dual land that doesn't shock us, it doesn't really make or break the deck, whereas the Tolaria West + Boseiju/Pact package can change the outcome of a lot of games.
Man, I really need to pick up my 4th Leyline before the PTQ next week. I've pretty much kept my 75 as-is otherwise. I'm not sure what I'm cutting for the 4th Leyline. It will probably be Teferi or Favor of the Mighty; Favor is a good out to Infect & Bogles, and it usually baits a counter of Twin (that caused my win-and-in victory at the PTQ). However, I don't like how it can't be grabbed by Peer, which is pretty crucial since Bogles (and especially Infect) can close out the game so quickly so we either have to hit it naturally from Opening Hand, our first 2 draw steps, or a cantrip. On the other hand, I've been sleeving Teferi for 4 months now and have yet to cast him, even though I'm pretty sure our win percentage over blue decks is outrageously high.
Birch03
I just fail to run into a lot of BG(w) or Jund decks often. Seems like the last month or two, at both big and small tournaments I'm paired against a handful of blue decks (mainly UWR, Twin, and UR Delver), aggro (Merfolk, Affinity), or Melira Pod. I did face 2 Thoughtseize-Liliana decks in the top of the PTQ, but neither were BG/Jund (there was a BGw player, but he was eliminted in the top 4). What I have typically done in the past against any deck that packs discard, or can side into more discard, or generally hope to hit a Leyline in my first 7 or 6; I don't go below that though. If my 6 or 7 have lands, cantrips, and the such, I usually keep it though, and let the early Thoughtseize's eat a card like Mystical Teachings or such. This is pretty much the only match-up where I hope to not start with combo-pieces, so I can drawstep/cantrip into them and play them immediately before they Seize or Liliana on their turn. It's a pretty rough-match up, and with the larger meta's shifting towards those decks again, 4 Leyline of Sanctity is a must at this point, 3 just won't cut it.
Chaam I'm not too sold on GY hate like Tormod's Crypt and Relic of Progenitus. Outside of UWR (which is a fantastic match-up), I don't see a lot of graveyard decks running around. Living End is one of our best match-ups as they have little-to-no disruption outside of Land Destruction/Beast Within, and other decks like Griselbrand Reanimator are too fringe to really make room for. If you want the Relic for UWR that's fine but I rather use that slot for a card like Silence if we want something against match-ups like that.
Also, 2 Phyrexian Unlife in the main? I understand you cut 1 or 2 in favor of more Peers, as they can't grab the Unlifes, but I feel like 6 is an awfully low number. I like the Unlife's a lot, as they're also a good time-walk against aggressive decks like Affinity, Merfolk, Burn, etc. especially game one. Plus, sometimes hitting that 6 can be a problem, so playing that turn 3 is nice, just incase we only hit the 5 mana for Ad Nauseam rather than the 6 for Grace + Nauseam. Though, I don't blame you if this is a meta decision as BG decks are full of Abrupt Decay's...
Man, all these old Modern decks that are terrible I used to play 2-3 years ago are all now sitting at X-1 and X-0. Soul Sisters, Living End, Burn, Infect, Assault Loam. Exciting, but it brings back a lot of bad memories of PTQ and GP failures, haha.
I guess when you have this tattooed on your wrist. Surprisingly people don't notice it very often for it being very public. This picture is bad quality but I'm too lazy to get up and grab my phone to snap a new one.
Thank you! I really appreciate it. I'm so used to having mainly mediocre finishes in Magic, but ever since the beginning of the year I've been stepping back and see how I can approach the game differently. Picking up Ad Nauseam was a big difference as well. I had some really rough losses at first, and lost to decks that I now know are good match-ups. I've said it before and I'll say it again: once you start playing this deck a lot, you'll find out you should be the most feared deck in the room. Blue players have to respect that them tapping mana may cause them to lose the game, other combo players can't keep dull hands, aggro decks can't even afford to stumble once, etc.
I got a lot of grief from some people who said I should pick up a "real" deck, but it looks like I'm starting to convince the nonbelievers. It just feels good after 2+ years of terrible Modern failures with other decks, haha.
On Spoils: you have a point. Against blue decks like Twin and UWR we are usually allocated a nice amount to time to dig for Ad Nauseam, because they always assume we have the combo, so they don't bother risking tapping too much mana. However, against other decks that can apply pressure early and often (Burn, Merfolk, etc.) or aggressive Midrange decks (mainly Thoughtseize-Liliana decks like Jund, BGw) I wouldn't mind trying a Spoils or 2. Maybe over a Sleight and something else? If we can't find Ad Nauseam fast enough, a Liliana just wrecks us while beats on the board decrease our time. Cards like Slaughter Pact definitely don't add much time to the clock game 1. Although I really like my 75, I may have to pick up a Spoils or 2 just to see how it goes.
I've never found Spoils or Maniac to be necessary to play, though Maniac is more of a meta-call if you suspect Soul Sister/Martyr of Sands players. I generally play the same 75 at local events that I would take to a PTQ or GP.
After getting 2nd at the PTQ, I laid off Ad Nauseam the last few weeks. I've been testing a lot with my friend so he can fine-tune his deck, and testing other wild, whacky decks as well. But in our city we have a handful of shops who are now holding the 4th annual City Circuit. Over the course of 5 weeks, every night monday through friday, somewhere in our city metro a Shop is holding a qualifying tournament. Winners can play in an invite-only multi-format tournament later next month for big cash (last year I think top 8 split OVER $1k). After grinding a lot and having a disappointing result at the invitational last year (even though I was 1 of 32 to play out of over 200 people who competed) I was determined to qualify quickly this year, and put up good results. Well, I got back from my first tournament of the circuit, and I... well, uh... slayed? AD NAUSEAM IS SO GOOD IN MODERN RIGHT NOW.
2-0 UWR Control
2-1 UWR Control
1-2 Nykthos Green
2-0 Twin
Top 4:
2-1 UWR Control
2-0 Twin
Man, I have only ever played Modern at this particular shop once in my life, and it was over 15 months ago, so I had no clue what the meta could be. Blue... blue... blue... There was also other decks floating around that had soft blue splashes (4C Gifts, Affinity, etc.) But I think I've fine-tuned the main 60 so well to the blue match-ups it was a relative walk in the park. I actually lost to the pair-down which I thought be a relative ease. Both games 2 & 3 He hit his singleton Sylvan Primordial, ridding me of my Pentad Prism both times (when I was going to combo off as soon as I could untap). Even with Angel's Grace and Slaughter Pact, I couldn't come back fast enough game 2. Game 3 he blew it up, I take 15 damage and go to 1. I can't lay down the Hallowed Fountain untapped to combo, so I Supreme Verdict his entire board (10+ dudes), just to see him place a counter on the lonely Strangleroot Geist. How annoying! Despite a loss to a relatively low-key deck, the deck performed superb and I am beyond stoked to go play another PTQ next month, and take it to the Modern portion of the City Invitational.
Thank you! I really appreciate the kind words.
1) It's not like other Burn decks in Modern and Legacy where we end the game quickly. Most the time games can tend to drag on, so hitting 6 lands was never a problem at all, especially with Temple scry's and other helpful interactions, like my opponent giving me 2 lands and a spell off a Steam Augury, etc.
2) I think out of the 4 cards, I'm going to take out 2 Dig Through Time and put 1 in the side. Steam Augury is obviously the weaker card, but most the time more castable, and being able to dig deeper into the deck for 2-3 cards in generally a good pay-off. I really like the card Dig Through Time, but it takes too long to set up most the time, as most games I rather set up a board presence whenever possible. I'm thinking I could -2 Dig for something like +1 Banishing Light and another Stormbreath Dragon, or 2 Searing Blood. I wouldn't mind Void Snare either. I definitely want more proactive cards like you mentioned over the dig. I think between having 12 cards that have Scry (4 Magma Jet, 8 Temples) and 2 Steam Augury we have enough control over our draws while being pro-active every turn.
I was tempted to put in the 4th Seeker to see if it increases my chances of playing it turn 2, but I think I may drop him all together. It is definitely fun to bluff with him with a grip full of cards. One cool play I had was I was flooding on lands, holding the same 2 lands in my hand for a while. So every other land I drew I played it straight from my deck, making it appear I wasn't holding any lands in my hand. This in turn didn't make my opponent ever block with his 2 Sylvan Caratid's and I essentially given 4 free turns of damage. In general though Seeker is a weak draw especially in the late game and I just rather not have to deal with that.
I got 2nd at my TCGPlayer State Championship with this lovely deck. Link provided here.
(TCGplayer messed up on my sideboard. I didn't play 3 Defiant Strike, it was Disdainful Stroke)
I threw together my sideboard really quick on a budget. I hadn't tested a single game of new Standard at all, so I was pretty pleased to get as far as the Finals with the deck. I meant to add a Void Snare or 2 in the side, along with 2 Deflecting Palm. My bad.
Anyway, some notes:
- Mantis Rider is the feel good card of the year.
- I like the deck without Flooded Strands. At first it was a budget concern, but now that I've acquired them, I don't see myself adding them yet. Even when I faced the mirror in the Quarterfinals I think I won out because I always had access at any line of play with all my painlands and Temples, whereas he was forced to having just a Plains and Island at first with his fetches. With all the crazy color combinations, I found myself having a lot of different lines of play throughout the day that required a pretty intense mana base. I love fetchlands but I never really found the need throughout the tournament to have them. A lot of the time Dig Through Time was either super cheap or super expensive, so I don't think it really works for the argument as to fuel Delve since I may only hit 1 all game, maybe 2 but the grave could be big enough by the time that happens.
- Found myself taking out dig/draw when sideboarding. Usually I went -1 Steam and -1 Dig for more cards like another Banishing Light and/or Stormbreath Dragon. I love Dig but sometimes it is too costly; it gives you the option of taking anything whereas Steam Augury doesn't but I think most the time I am still pleased to play Steam just for the mere card advantage. I'm tempted to add another Banishing Light to the maindeck; it was a card I wanted to see every game and was always happy to draw.
- Never felt the need to have Sarkahn besides my Finals match against Monsters. Seems like a good match-up so he can shoot down some Stormbreaths or Savage Knuckleblades, or help race the opponent. I faced Mardu Midrange twice (rounds 2 & 3). I lost round 2 but won round 3. Ideally I guess he seems good in that match-up so I might add 1 to the main and 1 to the side. Most the day though I wasn't missing him.
- Chandra was underwhelming. Originally I wanted 2 so I could increase the chance to draw here and use as card advantage to not run out of steam (something this deck is very possibly of). However, with Standard having so many draws that are raw-power, I often didn't see myself putting her down at turn 4 at all. I didn't like how I had to wait until I had 6-8 mana so I could either safely put her down to and hold up a card to protect her, or put her down and have the mana to play whatever she flips. The previous times I played her they were completely different Magic environments where putting her down safely at turn 4 was possible. She is one of my favorite Planeswalkers ever but I may end up cutting 1 to the side.
- The single Narset was the all-star of the deck. Game 1 most decks don't play cards that can handle her (Anger of the Gods, Drown in Sorrow) so whenever she hit the board, she stuck, and then promoptly ended the game soon after. She also helps put the game to an end pretty quickly (helpful since I think I only had 2 matches out of 8 that didn't go past the 35 minute mark). Even if you are only hitting 2 cards, the value is absurd, especially when one is Chandra.
- Stormbreath was M.V.P. as well. So many decks rely on Banishing Light as their catch-all. It was also great in the mirror since outside of Stoke the Flames it gets past everything (Jeskai Charm, Banishing Light, big enough toughness against other burn spells and opposing creatures). I might maindeck 2.
- Seeker of the Way was underwhelming if I didn't play him turn 2.
The deck was ridiculously fun and mentally exhilarating since there can be so many different lines of play. I absolutely loved it and haven't had this much fun in Standard in quite a while!
I think names like Shardless BUG and RUG Delver sound better than Shardless Sultai and Temur Delver, but it's personally prefernece. Sounds like SCG has got the team to stick with the new names already.
For a city that has no Legacy scene, enough people were able to scrounge up and borrow cards so 14 people showed up.
2-0 Storm/ANT
2-0 Affinity
I.D. Death & Taxes
I.D. Nic Fit
Top 8
1-2 Affinity
I didn't get to play much Legacy, but unlike other decks/formats, this is definitely a deck where I rather have my opponent not know what I'm playing if we play in the top 8 later, so I took the I.D. and chose not to play it out for fun. In testing D&T has been a pretty good match-up, so I figured I wouldn't let him know what I was on since I knew we were both locked for top 8.
Affinity is a great match-up, as I clearly beat him in the Swiss, but in the top he was able to hit RiP turn 1 both games 2 & 3 when he put me on the play. Game 3 I decided to side into 4 Mindbreak Trap since his RiP would usually be his 3rd spell played if he gets it turn 1 (Artifact land, Mox Opal, Memnite, RIP) but I didn't hit the Trap and was hoping he didn't hit the RIP, but he did. I never mulligan with the deck, but I figured he didn't hit it the first 3 turns I pretty much win the game anyway. I sat on my decisions for a while and decided to not Time Walk myself, but it backfired. Who knows, maybe I wouldn't of hit it anyway. Besides RiP that deck can practically not beat us since we can combo faster than they can dish out 20, plus if we hit more than 1 Bridge we can become the faster aggro deck, but hey, we all have those days.
I was just REALLY surprised I was able to beat Storm 2-0. That match-up seems atrocious for us, and he's a confident player, but everything that needed to happen did. Felt good!
Rest of the field was Burn, Burn, Bant, Sneak and Show, another Storm, etc.
1 Island
1 Plains
1 Swamp
4 Gemstone Mine
2 Hallowed Fountain
2 Scalding Tarn
2 Seachrome Coast
2 Temple of Deceit
2 Temple of Enlightenment
1 Watery Grave
1 Boseiju, Who Shelters All
1 Gemstone Caverns
4 Lotus Bloom
4 Pentad Prism
3 Phyrexian Unlife
4 Ad Nauseam
4 Angel's Grace
1 Lightning Storm
1 Mystical Teachings
3 Pact of Negation
2 Peer Through Depths
1 Slaughter Pact
4 Serum Visions
4 Sleight of Hand
1 Torpor Orb
3 Leyline of Sanctity
1 Phyrexian Unlife
1 Rest in Peace
1 Echoing Truth
2 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Patrician's Scorn
2 Silence
1 Conflagrate
1 Drown in Sorrow
1 Tolaria West
I'm assuming people are opting for Conflagarate in the Sideboard against decks like Jund and even RG Tron can play cards like Slaughter Games.
Ugh. IDK man. I was never a fan of Desperate Ritual. It feels greedy, so you can play your SSG's more freely, but against blue it seems awful and is a dead card (because you have to use the SSG's to not get countered). The Conflagerate itself is awful, the reason why I picked up the deck and loved it so much was because it is well-positioned against Twin, UWR, UR Delver, etc. So giving up the point of the free instant-speed kill if they even dare to tap a little mana is possibly one of the worst losses about the deck.
I am fine with a few small changes, like the 3rd Peer. Even with so many cantrips sometimes a Sleight/Serum just doesn't dig deep enough when you are facing lethal. 4 City of Brass seems terrible. I can rant a lot about Gemstone Mine, but giving your opponent free 3-7 damage a game (especially if you are on 2) seems awful against some decks, besides obviously Burn, even against Twin and a few others. The Dimir Adequate is awful and awkward, especially in a format where Tec Edge and Ghost Quarter are seeing more play.The Leyline maindeck over Conjurer's Bauble might be a meta call if he was seeing Thoughtseize everywhere. I never would, but kudos to him since it worked if he got the top 8.
Sideboard seems kind of rough too. Supression Field, from my own year testing, is usually a bust. I'm not a fan of Thoughtseize but people do it, so that one is more personal taste for sideboard I guess.
This list just seems so rough, but he ran hot with it, so he must of been doing something right.
I still get asked often "You're still playing Ad Nauseam?" and I have to chuckle. Why would I give up a deck that is giving me absurd x-0 and x-1 finishes in every single tournament the last 2-3 months? Yeah, eventually I want to figure out a non-combo deck I want to play for weeklies around it, but the deck packs a punch and I think it has surprised and convinced a handful of people over here.
2-0 zoo
2-0 GR Tron
2-0 Jund
1-2 Twin
2nd out of 12. Small night, no top, but it was fun.
28 people, 4 rounds, cut to top 8.
Round one: 2-1 Angel Pod
Round two: 2-1 RDW
Round three: 2-0 UWR Control
Round four: intentional draw w/ GR Tron
Top 8: 2-0 BW Tokens
Top 4: 1-2 Melira Pod
GR Tron is byfar our best match-up, but I offered him the I.D. since we were both locked for top. No sense in wasting my mental capacity if it isn't Competitive REL Top 8 rules and I am super tired. Fun day of Magic indeed.
Man, I really need to pick up my 4th Leyline before the PTQ next week. I've pretty much kept my 75 as-is otherwise. I'm not sure what I'm cutting for the 4th Leyline. It will probably be Teferi or Favor of the Mighty; Favor is a good out to Infect & Bogles, and it usually baits a counter of Twin (that caused my win-and-in victory at the PTQ). However, I don't like how it can't be grabbed by Peer, which is pretty crucial since Bogles (and especially Infect) can close out the game so quickly so we either have to hit it naturally from Opening Hand, our first 2 draw steps, or a cantrip. On the other hand, I've been sleeving Teferi for 4 months now and have yet to cast him, even though I'm pretty sure our win percentage over blue decks is outrageously high.
I just fail to run into a lot of BG(w) or Jund decks often. Seems like the last month or two, at both big and small tournaments I'm paired against a handful of blue decks (mainly UWR, Twin, and UR Delver), aggro (Merfolk, Affinity), or Melira Pod. I did face 2 Thoughtseize-Liliana decks in the top of the PTQ, but neither were BG/Jund (there was a BGw player, but he was eliminted in the top 4). What I have typically done in the past against any deck that packs discard, or can side into more discard, or generally hope to hit a Leyline in my first 7 or 6; I don't go below that though. If my 6 or 7 have lands, cantrips, and the such, I usually keep it though, and let the early Thoughtseize's eat a card like Mystical Teachings or such. This is pretty much the only match-up where I hope to not start with combo-pieces, so I can drawstep/cantrip into them and play them immediately before they Seize or Liliana on their turn. It's a pretty rough-match up, and with the larger meta's shifting towards those decks again, 4 Leyline of Sanctity is a must at this point, 3 just won't cut it.
Chaam I'm not too sold on GY hate like Tormod's Crypt and Relic of Progenitus. Outside of UWR (which is a fantastic match-up), I don't see a lot of graveyard decks running around. Living End is one of our best match-ups as they have little-to-no disruption outside of Land Destruction/Beast Within, and other decks like Griselbrand Reanimator are too fringe to really make room for. If you want the Relic for UWR that's fine but I rather use that slot for a card like Silence if we want something against match-ups like that.
Also, 2 Phyrexian Unlife in the main? I understand you cut 1 or 2 in favor of more Peers, as they can't grab the Unlifes, but I feel like 6 is an awfully low number. I like the Unlife's a lot, as they're also a good time-walk against aggressive decks like Affinity, Merfolk, Burn, etc. especially game one. Plus, sometimes hitting that 6 can be a problem, so playing that turn 3 is nice, just incase we only hit the 5 mana for Ad Nauseam rather than the 6 for Grace + Nauseam. Though, I don't blame you if this is a meta decision as BG decks are full of Abrupt Decay's...
Man, all these old Modern decks that are terrible I used to play 2-3 years ago are all now sitting at X-1 and X-0. Soul Sisters, Living End, Burn, Infect, Assault Loam. Exciting, but it brings back a lot of bad memories of PTQ and GP failures, haha.
I got a lot of grief from some people who said I should pick up a "real" deck, but it looks like I'm starting to convince the nonbelievers. It just feels good after 2+ years of terrible Modern failures with other decks, haha.
On Spoils: you have a point. Against blue decks like Twin and UWR we are usually allocated a nice amount to time to dig for Ad Nauseam, because they always assume we have the combo, so they don't bother risking tapping too much mana. However, against other decks that can apply pressure early and often (Burn, Merfolk, etc.) or aggressive Midrange decks (mainly Thoughtseize-Liliana decks like Jund, BGw) I wouldn't mind trying a Spoils or 2. Maybe over a Sleight and something else? If we can't find Ad Nauseam fast enough, a Liliana just wrecks us while beats on the board decrease our time. Cards like Slaughter Pact definitely don't add much time to the clock game 1. Although I really like my 75, I may have to pick up a Spoils or 2 just to see how it goes.
After getting 2nd at the PTQ, I laid off Ad Nauseam the last few weeks. I've been testing a lot with my friend so he can fine-tune his deck, and testing other wild, whacky decks as well. But in our city we have a handful of shops who are now holding the 4th annual City Circuit. Over the course of 5 weeks, every night monday through friday, somewhere in our city metro a Shop is holding a qualifying tournament. Winners can play in an invite-only multi-format tournament later next month for big cash (last year I think top 8 split OVER $1k). After grinding a lot and having a disappointing result at the invitational last year (even though I was 1 of 32 to play out of over 200 people who competed) I was determined to qualify quickly this year, and put up good results. Well, I got back from my first tournament of the circuit, and I... well, uh... slayed? AD NAUSEAM IS SO GOOD IN MODERN RIGHT NOW.
2-0 UWR Control
2-1 UWR Control
1-2 Nykthos Green
2-0 Twin
Top 4:
2-1 UWR Control
2-0 Twin
Man, I have only ever played Modern at this particular shop once in my life, and it was over 15 months ago, so I had no clue what the meta could be. Blue... blue... blue... There was also other decks floating around that had soft blue splashes (4C Gifts, Affinity, etc.) But I think I've fine-tuned the main 60 so well to the blue match-ups it was a relative walk in the park. I actually lost to the pair-down which I thought be a relative ease. Both games 2 & 3 He hit his singleton Sylvan Primordial, ridding me of my Pentad Prism both times (when I was going to combo off as soon as I could untap). Even with Angel's Grace and Slaughter Pact, I couldn't come back fast enough game 2. Game 3 he blew it up, I take 15 damage and go to 1. I can't lay down the Hallowed Fountain untapped to combo, so I Supreme Verdict his entire board (10+ dudes), just to see him place a counter on the lonely Strangleroot Geist. How annoying! Despite a loss to a relatively low-key deck, the deck performed superb and I am beyond stoked to go play another PTQ next month, and take it to the Modern portion of the City Invitational.