Travelling to these events is costly, we will see less recognizable faces for sure because now these pros can't even guarantee breaking even on the trip.
Rationalizations aside, this comes down to WOTC trying to cut costs, crossing their fingers and saying "hopefully we can get away with this". When they can't spotlight as many recognizable names, this may change.
Trust that many players get engaged in the coverage because of their favourite players.
After a while, I just came to the decision that Sharuum is better. The attraction of Sydri is using her to destroy your opponent's lands with Mycosynth Lattice, but most of the time I would only get 2 or 3 lands and then she would get killed. It isn't worth it.
I am trying to build a more tap out style sharuum to see how that works. I had a decent control build up, but I am going to test an extreme tap out version with a lot of mana rocks to see what works and then try to find the sweet spot somewhere in the middle.
One card which I have realized I NEED is Cursed Totem.
I have been trying it out on modo in the tournament practice room. I really like it in the deck, getting Foundry + Sword + Crucible + Academy Ruins is a strong pile. Plus if you have any of the above already, you can get something else like Ghost Quarter.
I think that this ban list would have been healthier:
Banned:
Tasigur
Gaea's Cradle
Watchlist:
Yisan
Narset
Marath
I don't think we can realistically be talking about banning Jenara. Perhaps Animar could be abused in the future but even that I don't think needs to be especially scrutinized yet.
yeah.. you just sold me on the wall. Didn't think of how good it would be against eldrazi.
Although on second thought.. I have been getting decent results against eldrazi siding in Leylines. Most of the time, I am actually faster than them but Thought-Knot Seer ruins my plans. I did grab two to put aside.
I like Drown because it is good against the Chord of Calling decks.
Slaughter Games has been decent against other combo decks and the mirror. Will be leaving it in for now.
I put path in place of one of the 3 Ethereal Daze I was running as it often works as well since it is usually used against 1 infect creature plus it can disrupt creature decks like the same Chord decks.
Ok, so I am going to run this in the MOCS tomorrow. I am going to take Patrician's Scorn out of the sideboard because it is bugged and can not be played for free. I figure I can find something better to put in. Any suggestions?
Just recently put the Path to Exile in the sideboard. I found myself wishing I could bring in an extra removal spell quite often so.. there it is..
The Slaughter Pact has helped quite a few times in bad matchups like Infect and Affinity. Also good against Thalia.
Dark Petition has been working ok so far.
I feel like I haven't been doing as well playing Spoils. I keep trying because I know in theory it should be better though. Also, I started playing it around the time that Eldrazi became a thing so I don't know if I can attribute my lower win rate to it.
I have swapped out one spoils for a Dark Petition, been pretty happy with that.
I have added wastelands and crucible of worlds. It has been working pretty well. I have 2 Transmute Artifacts and 2 Tezzeret the Seekers to get my main "silver bullets": Crucible of Worlds, Ensnaring Bridge, Trinisphere. I also run a 1 of Spellskite which I can get to protect a particularly effective silver bullet.
I am down to 5 mana rocks. 4 Mox Diamond and 1 Dimir Signet. Mox Diamond gives me more turn 2 chalices and even turn 1 trinisphere. I'm running 23 lands now.
Rationalizations aside, this comes down to WOTC trying to cut costs, crossing their fingers and saying "hopefully we can get away with this". When they can't spotlight as many recognizable names, this may change.
Trust that many players get engaged in the coverage because of their favourite players.
Lattice + Hurkyl's Recall for a one sided Upheaval is pretty spicy too.
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/commander-edh/forum-1-vs-1-duel-commander/649347-sydri-the-galvanic-genius
After a while, I just came to the decision that Sharuum is better. The attraction of Sydri is using her to destroy your opponent's lands with Mycosynth Lattice, but most of the time I would only get 2 or 3 lands and then she would get killed. It isn't worth it.
I am trying to build a more tap out style sharuum to see how that works. I had a decent control build up, but I am going to test an extreme tap out version with a lot of mana rocks to see what works and then try to find the sweet spot somewhere in the middle.
One card which I have realized I NEED is Cursed Totem.
Sure there are the sanctioned ones, but what community regulated formats are popular in your area?
Here in Barbados, we play a lot of Duel Commander.
Here are the formats I know about:
EDH
Duel Commander
Pauper
Peasant
Canadian Highlander
German Highlander
Historic Standard
Choose Your Own Standard
No-Banned-List Modern
Banned:
Tasigur
Gaea's Cradle
Watchlist:
Yisan
Narset
Marath
I don't think we can realistically be talking about banning Jenara. Perhaps Animar could be abused in the future but even that I don't think needs to be especially scrutinized yet.
I approve of the bans though. These green decks have been doing as they like for too long!
Although on second thought.. I have been getting decent results against eldrazi siding in Leylines. Most of the time, I am actually faster than them but Thought-Knot Seer ruins my plans. I did grab two to put aside.
I like Drown because it is good against the Chord of Calling decks.
Slaughter Games has been decent against other combo decks and the mirror. Will be leaving it in for now.
I put path in place of one of the 3 Ethereal Daze I was running as it often works as well since it is usually used against 1 infect creature plus it can disrupt creature decks like the same Chord decks.
Here is my current sideboard:
I am leaning towards a 4th Leyline of Sanctity.
I am playing a typical spoils list, with 2 Pact of Negation and 1 Slaughter Pact main deck.
Has anyone else encountered the bug where the game gives control of Lighting Storm to your opponent without them activating it?
4 Pentad Prism
4 Simian Spirit Guide
4 Serum Visions
4 Sleight of Hand
4 Angel's Grace
4 Phyrexian Unlife
2 Pact of Negation
1 Slaughter Pact
4 Ad Nauseam
2 Spoils of the Vault
1 Dark Petition
1 Laboratory Maniac
1 Lightning Storm
4 Temple of Deceit
3 Temple of Enlightenment
1 Darkslick Shores
1 Island
1 Plains
1 Swamp
4 Gemstone Mine
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
2 Seachrome Coast
1 Pact of Negation
3 Leyline of Sanctity
1 Slaughter Games
1 Echoing Truth
1 Patrician's Scorn
1 Drown in Sorrow
1 Dragonlord Dromoka
1 Boseiju, Who Shelters All
1 Hurkyl's Recall
2 Ethereal Haze
1 Duress
1 Path to Exile
Just recently put the Path to Exile in the sideboard. I found myself wishing I could bring in an extra removal spell quite often so.. there it is..
The Slaughter Pact has helped quite a few times in bad matchups like Infect and Affinity. Also good against Thalia.
Dark Petition has been working ok so far.
Could also be support for a new format like Duel Commander or Canadian Highlander.
I have swapped out one spoils for a Dark Petition, been pretty happy with that.
I am down to 5 mana rocks. 4 Mox Diamond and 1 Dimir Signet. Mox Diamond gives me more turn 2 chalices and even turn 1 trinisphere. I'm running 23 lands now.