I actually don't think grouping together all of the Burning-Tree decks ("Mono"red, RG Saito, Jund Aggro, Humans) is that big of an issue. Actually, in this ridiculously diverse meta, what if we had subforums for a handful of big archetypes divided into more subcategories?
GWx Midrange needs something. If anything, Naya could even use it's own subforum, imo. It's been doing fairly well and there are a lot of variations on it. Junk and Bant are both performing as well, though, but it'd be too much to give them all their own forums but they'd feel awkward all clumped together, imo. Not too sure what the best solution is here.
Esper Control definitely needs a forum.
Are we also really planning on clumping RG Saito, Monored, and Jund Aggro all into the same forum? (Rx Aggro?) Maybe call it Burning-Tree Aggro instead, as that's the centric card in all of these decks?
I still feel like Gideon is a far better 4 drop than Olivia out of my testing today. I needed to find room for her today to test and Gideon was what I dropped for her and man I find her remarkably underwhelming in comparison
But Olivia actually does something... Gideon is sometimes a big, easily chump blocked attacker.
Like I said, I would prefer not to play Crypt Ghast because he's very vulnerable and as a 2/2 for 4 he doesn't even impact the board much when he does stick. I'd much rather have a 4 drop like Olivia or Sorin that immediately needs to be dealt with and can win all on its own. But if it works for you, good on it.
Crypt Ghast is ramp. I also wouldn't run it, too vulnerable and doesn't do a lot even if it does stick.
If you're running the Unburial Rites package, a singleton Griselbrand seems fine. However, I think part of the reason the deck with the package (http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Digital/MagicOnlineTourn.aspx?x=mtg/digital/magiconline/tourn/5088699) did well was that it didn't rely on it. Aurelia isn't unreasonable to cast on turn 6. Casting Griselbrand on turn 7 is fairly difficult. (Consistently hitting 7 lands is a lot more difficult than 6, which is more difficult than 5, etc.) I would probably run 26 land if I were to include Griselbrand.
imo, however, the Rites package is not necessary for this deck. It makes you unnecessarily vulnerable to GY hate. If you don't rely on it too much, however, you can just side all of the reanimator stuff out if you expect them to bring in any GY hate.
Andy, Naya Midrange is not a terrible match. It shouldn't be at least. SB you have tools like Slaughter Games, Appetite for Brains and spare removal. Gideon is a power house against midrange. Smiter doesn't laugh ate Boris Reckoner, it is still a 3 drop trade I don't really mind making if I have no removal for it, and if they resto in then at least they did not do it on a thrag tusk. If you can keep them at bay to let something like Obzedat or Thundermaw resolve you are in good shape, and Auriela is brutal for them once you start jamming up the board to a stand still. Just have to play a slower control game with the right tools.
I didn't get an opportunity to play against it in the practice rooms so this was my first time playing the matchup. It may just been my draws, then. I didn't write anything down but iirc I mulliganed both games and drew a lot of land.
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Nope, not all competitive players are spike. And also, there exist spikes that are brainless, they only netdeck at any deck winning the tournament and copy the playstyle.
You seem to be implying that copying a winning list from a tournament is bad.
There are no Liliana's simply because I don't have them. I would like to be playing them but she's a little ridiculous to get ahold of at the moment (~45 tix and rising). The deck functions just fine without her, though.
Matches:
R1: Naya Midrange, 0-2
It may have just been bad draws, but I have a feeling this is a terrible matchup. Everything that they play things I hate playing against. Loxodon Smiter laughs at Reckoner, Thragtusk provides ridiculous advantage, Resto Angel negates your removal. This is not what the deck is designed to play against, and it shows.
R2: WB Aggro/Midrange, 2-0
This is more like it. I have plenty of removal to deal with their early 2 power threats, as well as Gloom Surgeon to keep them off of attacking at all. This deck also folds to Boros Reckoner. Imo a good matchup.
R3: Human Reanimator, 2-1
I lost game 1 to the combo with a hand full of sorcery speed removal. Felt bad, but post board the matchup improves significantly. Between Slaughter Games and Rest in Peace, they'll have a hard time getting much done. Their beatdown plan B is fairly weak and easy to handle.
R4: Golgari Aggro, 2-1
Plenty of removal for early threats. Strangeroot Geist is midly annoying, and Predator Ooze can get out of hand fairly fast, especially with a Rancor on it. (My Game 2 loss) However, they don't have an answer to Obzedat, and Olivia can take out their whole board. Reckoner is a big problem for them, and Gloom Surgeon does a lot of work as well. Overall a good matchup so long as you have a way of getting rid of Predator Ooze. (Oring, Tragic Slip, Liliana)
I already posted in the Dega Control thread but this seems to be more active atm. I would have 3-1'd a Daily last night if it wasn't for the Pillar of Flame bug. I currently don't have Lilianas, I'm hoping they'll settle down in price before getting them (currently ~45 tix which is crazy), but I honestly haven't missed them very much. I might wind up not running her at all.
Also, does anyone agree that Borzhov is a much catchier name for this?
Something like:
Green Midrange
- Jund
- Naya
- Bant
- Junk
Burning-Tree Aggro
- Humans (Naya & Mono White)
- RG Aggro
- Red Deck Wins
- Jund Aggro
Black Aggro
- B/x Zombies (Orzhov and Golgari)
- Aristocrats
Control
- Esper
- WUx Tempo
- Bant
Reanimator
- Angel of Glory's Rise
- Craterhoof Behemoth
Esper Control definitely needs a forum.
Are we also really planning on clumping RG Saito, Monored, and Jund Aggro all into the same forum? (Rx Aggro?) Maybe call it Burning-Tree Aggro instead, as that's the centric card in all of these decks?
Haha me and my friends are all trying to do the same thing!
Lingering Souls uses the promo artwork.
But Olivia actually does something... Gideon is sometimes a big, easily chump blocked attacker.
If you're running the Unburial Rites package, a singleton Griselbrand seems fine. However, I think part of the reason the deck with the package (http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Digital/MagicOnlineTourn.aspx?x=mtg/digital/magiconline/tourn/5088699) did well was that it didn't rely on it. Aurelia isn't unreasonable to cast on turn 6. Casting Griselbrand on turn 7 is fairly difficult. (Consistently hitting 7 lands is a lot more difficult than 6, which is more difficult than 5, etc.) I would probably run 26 land if I were to include Griselbrand.
imo, however, the Rites package is not necessary for this deck. It makes you unnecessarily vulnerable to GY hate. If you don't rely on it too much, however, you can just side all of the reanimator stuff out if you expect them to bring in any GY hate.
I didn't get an opportunity to play against it in the practice rooms so this was my first time playing the matchup. It may just been my draws, then. I didn't write anything down but iirc I mulliganed both games and drew a lot of land.
You seem to be implying that copying a winning list from a tournament is bad.
4 Gloom Surgeon
4 Boros Reckoner
3 Olivia Voldaren
3 Obzedat, Ghost Council
Spells - 18
2 Tragic Slip
2 Dreadbore
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Orzhov Charm
3 Searing Spear
4 Lingering Souls
2 Rakdos's Return
1 Blasphemous Act
2 Oblivion Ring
Land - 26
4 Godless Shrine
4 Sacred Foundry
2 Blood Crypt
4 Dragonskull Summit
4 Isolated Chapel
4 Clifftop Retreat
3 Plains
1 Mountain
4 Duress
3 Slaughter Games
2 Pillar of Flame
2 Rest in Peace
3 Rolling Tremblor
1 Assemble the Legion
There are no Liliana's simply because I don't have them. I would like to be playing them but she's a little ridiculous to get ahold of at the moment (~45 tix and rising). The deck functions just fine without her, though.
Matches:
R1: Naya Midrange, 0-2
It may have just been bad draws, but I have a feeling this is a terrible matchup. Everything that they play things I hate playing against. Loxodon Smiter laughs at Reckoner, Thragtusk provides ridiculous advantage, Resto Angel negates your removal. This is not what the deck is designed to play against, and it shows.
R2: WB Aggro/Midrange, 2-0
This is more like it. I have plenty of removal to deal with their early 2 power threats, as well as Gloom Surgeon to keep them off of attacking at all. This deck also folds to Boros Reckoner. Imo a good matchup.
R3: Human Reanimator, 2-1
I lost game 1 to the combo with a hand full of sorcery speed removal. Felt bad, but post board the matchup improves significantly. Between Slaughter Games and Rest in Peace, they'll have a hard time getting much done. Their beatdown plan B is fairly weak and easy to handle.
R4: Golgari Aggro, 2-1
Plenty of removal for early threats. Strangeroot Geist is midly annoying, and Predator Ooze can get out of hand fairly fast, especially with a Rancor on it. (My Game 2 loss) However, they don't have an answer to Obzedat, and Olivia can take out their whole board. Reckoner is a big problem for them, and Gloom Surgeon does a lot of work as well. Overall a good matchup so long as you have a way of getting rid of Predator Ooze. (Oring, Tragic Slip, Liliana)
Also, does anyone agree that Borzhov is a much catchier name for this?
4 Gloom Surgeon
4 Boros Reckoner
3 Olivia Voldaren
3 Obzedat, Ghost Council
Spells - 18
2 Tragic Slip
2 Dreadbore
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Orzhov Charm
3 Searing Spear
4 Lingering Souls
2 Rakdos's Return
1 Blasphemous Act
2 Oblivion Ring
Land - 26
4 Godless Shrine
4 Sacred Foundry
2 Blood Crypt
4 Dragonskull Summit
4 Isolated Chapel
4 Clifftop Retreat
3 Plains
1 Mountain
4 Duress
3 Slaughter Games
2 Pillar of Flame
2 Rest in Peace
3 Rolling Tremblor
1 Assemble the Legion