I didn't make this list my sister did but I've been helping her try to improve it. We've been trying to come up with an anti-ramp deck that'll hold its own against the other stuff out there...
I took 2nd this FNM with it, although I attribute that to a preponderance of Valakut and RDW (which got hosed with the sideboard). Don't think it's fast enough to scare Eldrazi. Wondering if any fresh eyes can spot something to make this better.
i went 5-0 whit my White Green land destruction deck.
Played vs:green agro(hardest match) 2-0
Valakut 2-0
White blue control 2-0
mono black 2-1
white black(that was a strange deck) 2-0
Mimic vac was the all-star of that night,sa damn good.
I just got trashed by an America-aggro list. The player had [JPN] in his name so I assume he was from Japan. I was running Eldrazi Ramp and lost 0-2. I can't find the list anywhere, anyone have a link?
our house is decorated with icing,
confectioner's sugar
and also,
candy canes.
but the winter is dead-set
the sharp air around us cold like the
wolves circling just outside
noses pressed against the sugar panes,
the undying snow powdering their manes,
their maws contorted into smiles bearing fangs
i once longed to befriend much of their kind
but each is cursed with a black licorice mind
how long will it take them to eat through the front door?
i can't reinforce something made of gingerbread, no one could
and there she lies, bedridden and counting on me
in a warm room composed of more irrelevant sugar
she tells me to cheer up because we won't feel a thing this time
i must ask her to stay here while i venture outside
and lead them astray with a trail of red hots
through the uncertain and snow-filled forest paths
i always loved the silence of winter
On the rolling Kabira plains, a shadow rippled across the golden-green grass. At first glance, an unwary observer might have assumed that this darkened mass was simply the shadow of Emeria, the Sky Ruin, drifting past the sun. Or perhaps a swarm of Glint Hawks, scouring the plains with their eagle eyes for something shiny. Or even a Baneslayer Angel, soaring through the clouds with unmatched aerial prowess. But no. The shadow cast for an untold number of restless days came from something far more sinister. Something far beyond the command of the noble and beautiful Elspeth Tirel, or even the fiery and impatient Koth of the Hammer.
This evil presence had many names, but most knew of it as Emrakul, a great mass of tentacles, like a floating jellyfish but unbelievably huge. It was the leader of the alien Eldrazi tribe — a race of strange creatures encroaching upon the world of men.
Or, as Koth affectionately called it, the most absurd of all absurd fatties.
Koth of the Hammer sighed, pacing back and forth near the edge of Elspeth Tirel's war camp. He had been commanding his goblin forces in tandem with Elspeth's troops, and he didn't like it. Yet he found this a better alternative than to face the Eldrazi alone. He longed for the fierce battles of ages past, a time when honor meant something, when his men had to navigate Lightfield Mines, courageously and steadfastly waging bloody battles against the invulnerable Firewalkers. It was a different kind of war now. A war fought in the expanding and alien jungles that exist beyond his fiery mountains. It was simply unfair. Hammers had no place in this type of warfare. Goblins nullified by walls of overgrowth, armies destroyed by clouds of hazardous dust. Even from here, the terrible roar of a Primeval Titan echoed far off in the distance, new growth created in its wake.
Yes, it was an unlikely alliance — goblins and knights working side by side, the goblins sharing their crude jokes with the pristine chevaliers, or the best way to eat a fried rat, and in turn, the knights showing the goblins how to use forks and take a bath. Elspeth Tirel had agreed to join forces with Koth out of necessity. His guides, an elite unit of goblins, at least had some ability to navigate the alien jungles swiftly. Her own forces would be too slow and inconsistent without them. And, she had to admit, she felt a certain something the last time she saw Koth fighting valiantly. None of her men were brave enough to fight a Wurmcoil on their own, but Koth had summoned from the mountains a torrent of fire, and blasted one to pieces before it reached their camp with its life-sucking blades.
On the other hand, Koth's motivations were far more simple. He just wanted to hammer something. Burn something. Or even convince himself that he was hammering or burning. Therein lies the problem, something he'd mulled over for awhile. How does one hammer an absurd fatty such as Kozilek, the Butcher of Truth? You'd have to be riding one of Elspeth's pegasi just to hit anything higher than its toenail. And Koth hated pegasi — ever since that nightmare about a Mesa spawning an endless number of them, until the sky turned white with their shining wings.
Not too far away, a Glint Hawk swooped down and landed upon Elspeth's armored shoulder, glancing at its master with its golden eyes. It then snatched her brand new Mox Opal hanging from her breastplate with its razor-sharp talons and, before she could respond, flew off with a flurry of wings. Elspeth Tirel sighed, but she knew her hawk would return with her treasure at some point. She again focused her gaze on Koth.
“How is everything?” she asked.
Elspeth Tirel removed her helmet, letting her copper-colored hair flow down and blow in the breeze. She approached the brooding Koth as he stood watching the mountains in the distance. Then she winced. Koth was staring at a particular range of peaks known as the Molten Pinnacles. Koth never mentioned it to anyone, but whispers traveled between goblin and men about the anger he felt toward that mountain range — anger and impotence. The Molten Pinnacles were the finest examples of fiery, smoke-enshrouded crags in all the land, yet they were attuned to the alien Eldrazi — not Koth.
“I've lost another unit,” Koth said. “Only one of my guides made it back. He reported an absurd fatty appearing out of thin air, right before their very noses. It was a Trap. They didn't even have a chance...”
“I'm sorry,” she said. “We will continue to gather our forces.”
“It's no use.”
Koth continued to stare off into the plains.
“Where are your friends now? Jace, and Venser?”
“They're waiting,” she said. “The same as us.”
“No,” he says. “They're hiding, cowering, on a distant island, or in a far-off glacial fort. They plan no great attack. Real men fight, or meet the enemy on the field of battle, singing their death song, killing or being killed. To lurk at the edge of battle, hiding behind their walls... that's colder and slimier than the Mulldrifters they conjure forth.”
Elspeth lowered her eyes, understanding what he must feel. A growing kinship with an enemy had never come to her before; out of circumstance, or what, she really didn't know. She smiled as she remembered the reason for her visit.
“Koth,” she said. “I want to show you something.”
Koth's eyes narrowed. He had felt that she had something up her sleeve for awhile now. Yet what might turn the tables? What could possibly give them an advantage against an evil that could not be matched upon the battlefield?
He tore his eyes away from the crimson mountains and looked at Elspeth plaintively. Nearby, his goblin chieftains were beginning a tribal ritual of songs and dances, arm-in-arm with many Kor Firewalkers, in a sad attempt at bolstering morale within their armies — but Koth was in no mood for rabble-rousing. He nodded, following Elspeth across the war camp, into a large tent. And that was when Koth's Hopes were Dashed.
At the opposite end of the tent, sitting upon a mysterious throne, sat an enormous cat, a feline as large as a man. This creature was obviously powerful, for beneath him hovered a retinue of lesser cat-men, subservient and awaiting his order. It tapped its fingers upon the arm of the throne in obvious boredom.
“A cat?” Koth asked, as they made their way inside. He was beginning to lose all hope. A smoldering chuckle welled up inside of him. “So, this is your secret weapon, Tirel? A herd of cats? That's your plan then? Humoring the enemy? Perhaps you'll use them as a distraction. I'm sure the great Ulamog will enjoy juggling your cats high into the air...”
“Hush,” she said. “They are the Leonin. A powerful ally. They hold power over the land. A method similar to the Land Taxes of so long ago...”
“Impossible,” said Koth. “Those days are over and will never be seen again. You waste my time.”
The regal cat-man's eyes glowed yellow in the dim light of the tent. Its servants spread before Koth and Elspeth, allowing them passage. Elspeth Tirel sighed. The two Planeswalkers reached the foot of the throne, where Elspeth knelt before the majestic figure.
“Oh great ally, how I am thankful for your assistance during such times.”
“We are siding with the likes of him?” it boomed, in a dark voice. “A creature born of the fiery earth? I remember the times when our villages were razed, blistering lava-beasts roaming our plains, selectively incinerating kittens and old strays.”
Koth glowered, and hefted his fearsome hammer threateningly.
“Choose your words carefully, fuzzball,” he said. “Lest I forge that pink tongue of yours into something more useful.”
“Enough!” shouted Elspeth, stepping in front of Koth, turning to him, and then whirling around to meet the cat-man's gaze. “We have a new enemy. One that does not come from our world. One that does not fight a fair fight.”
Koth was not convinced.
“What possible weapon do you have against the enemy?” he asked. “Against the absurd fatties of incomparable power? The mountains that constantly burn, spewing ash and flame upon any who dare assault them? We are doomed.”
Koth didn't know if he were imagining this, but he thought he could see a slight smile on the Leonin's whiskery face.
“We will halt their progress,” said the Leonin. “Through a process of arbitration. We will attack them at the root, and prevent their strange alien lands from spreading too fast. Even the absurd fatties, as you say, are subject to the Laws of the Land.”
Koth mulled over this idea. It seemed a tricky plan, something the white legions were known for at times. It mirrored his own — although a more direct one — and that was when he felt that he must show them his own weapon. Still, he could not believe such times have required such dire measures. Goblins working with cats. What has happened?
Koth nodded in agreement.
“Perhaps you will enjoy what I have to offer, then. Come.”
With a little coaxing from Elspeth, the Leonin tore himself from his throne and followed the two Planeswalkers from the tent, to the edge of the camp, and beyond this, to a small hill where there was a cave. Smoke issued forth from its jagged maw, and a crimson glow came from the depths.
Where Elspeth led Koth through her tent, now Koth ushered the two through the steamy tunnels, where it grew hotter and deeper, until they entered a vast chamber with pools of lava. Several imp-like creatures crouched near the pools — eyes filled with mischief, bodies made of glowing embers.
Elspeth looked worried.
“And what are they, then?” she asked.
“They are called the Ignus,” said Koth, kneeling down to one and petting the creature's spiky mane. “If the lands of the absurd fatties spread too quickly, these creatures, born of flame, will erupt from underneath, rejoicing at the yawning tectonic shifts, and igniting the jungles in celebration.”
Elspeth and the Leonin seemed to understand, although they truly could not grasp the full extent of the lava elemental's power — maybe they didn't need to. The path was now clear. In addition to these secret weapons were the Molten-Tail Masticores, and Inferno Titans, and all of the knights under Elspeth's command.
They had many options.
More importantly, they had a chance.
Koth hefted his hammer with renewed interest. The absurd fatties would die by his hand and be expunged from this world; he swore to himself. The power of the Molten Pinnacles would soon fall within his grasp.
i tried this with call to mind awhile back, memoir is obviously better. its a cute idea but it still falls flat, sometimes you draw what you need... when you dont, scoop.
No deck in standard nor any matchup in standard right now requires an earth-shattering, gloat-worthy amount of intelligence to play. I never said matchups didn't require practice, because they require a lot of practice to get down. The idea I was trying to express earlier is that once you understand a deck and the matchup, it doesn't go further than that. Making good decisions in a game of Magic is like making good decisions when driving. The only good decisions you have are the ones that don't get you in an accident, where as in Magic those good decisions are the ones you make that ultimately win you the game.
And if I did switch to Pyromancer's Ascension, or some new rogue deck I'd never had any experience with, I wouldn't play it flawlessly, I'd probably be terrible at it at first. Magic is a game of understanding and utilizing resources, not "I'm the better player with more skill, so I win every game". I see far too many players make the mistake of becoming arrogant through play skill, whereas play skill only shows up when being placed in the hot-seat to make a risky, game-changing decision. Those are rare, and virtually every play in magic can be done through mental shortcuts. We play a game of consistency born through randomization of resources, not Chess.
Seriously, awesome post. That's what I've been saying for years. And so many of my friends are spouting skill this, "pilot" that.
I think the pros simply spend a great deal of time learning the metagame and how every single deck works, rather than be brilliant on some level. Sure, skill helps, but as you've said, only in the hot seat. And an entire game can take place without that situation ever occuring.
All right, this is just an idea floating around, but from around ten test games, it has done pretty well.
The idea: Searing Blaze is really good. Mark of Mutiny is really good, and it becomes even better in multiples. So, use Reverberate to increase the really goodness.
The best play, of course, is, burning their face & burning their dorks. Then, when they start to drop annoying stuff like Baneslayers and Primeval Titans, drop a Spires on one of their creatures (if necessary), then Mark + Reverb the other two for a huge swing.
This list is VERY rough... the whole idea is, "all eggs in one basket", frontload as much damage as possible. Let me know if you think it could work / what could improve it.
I posted something similar to this two weeks ago, you didn't think Frost Titan was good then
BTW from testing, mana dorks seem like the way to go (with 4x Mana Leak to help against DoJ)
Here's what I've honed my U/G tempo list down to, still not optimal... working on it. But it's holding up on MWS really well. I'm trying to reduce ramp so it's less schizo and more consistent (The problem with all Ramp decks)
It doesn't rely on LD, it's more creature beats with Tempo/LD thrown in to the mix to back it up.
Cobra: Because a T3 Titan is just backbreaking. The biggest kick in the nuts is T1 Birds -> T2 Cobra, Fetch, pop fetch, Adept, bounce a guy or Jace -> T3 Titan/Slime -> T4 Titan/Slime
Mana Leak: 4 counters seems about just right in here.
Nest Invader: Defense, offense, tempo-generator, and synergies with Garruk's Overrun.
Garruk: His ability to generate tempo doesn't need to be mentioned, and his overrun ability provides added teeth
Regress: Card disadvantage, but the more lands they're behind, the better your Mana Leaks and Frost Titans become. Plus, EOT Regress on a land into Slime/Titan is a huge tempo swing.
Jace 1.0: Curiously, he seems better than 2.0 in here. Three-drops are good because you can T1 Bird, T2 Cobra + Jace if you have a fetch. Also, you can continually spam the +2 ability while still getting cards in hand. This is nice since, sure, the opponent may be drawing cards too, but since you're hosing their land while boosting your own, you'll be able to play your own cards more.
Frost Titan: The MVP and ball-kicker of anyone who keeps a 2-land hand. I thought he was amazing from the start, but he is definitely nuts in a LD-style deck.
What about cutting Eye, and by extension, the Maps? Eye can really screw you, almost never sticks anyway and I run enough draw that finding one rarely becomes a problem. I replaced Maps with mainboard Needles because they're almost always relevant.
What about cutting Dust completely? Think about it, it's just not as good as it used to be because Superfriends isn't flying around everywhere. When it is, they're packing counters and only play 1 PW at a time. You have counters to stop PWs, Eldrazi Monument, and so on... beyond that you have Needle, and 4 DoJ main take care of beasties... just a thought.
Running three Eldrazi, for more draw...draw is always relevant, and drawing 2-3 Eldrazi early on is not fun. And with more draw, you can dig into them. It also makes this really hold up in the mid and late game. 2 Ball + 3 Jace should be good.
Not sure why everyone likes Ulamog. It's great vs Jund sure, but it's Vindicate seem so puny compared to drawing 4 cards. I dunno.
I totally agree with Cancel > Mana Leak. Cancel is good. UW Counterdrazi is made for the super late game and Mana Leak falls shortly. As soon as you hit turn three, you feel safe.
Mindbreak either main or sideboard has done wonders against a whole range of annoying crap.
I took 2nd this FNM with it, although I attribute that to a preponderance of Valakut and RDW (which got hosed with the sideboard). Don't think it's fast enough to scare Eldrazi. Wondering if any fresh eyes can spot something to make this better.
At any rate, a T3 Terastodon is pretty scary.
4 Verdant Catacombs
3 Island
9 Forest
4 Scalding Tarn
4 Misty Rainforest
3 Overgrown Battlement
4 Frost Titan
4 Birds of Paradise
4 Acidic Slime
4 Terastodon
3 Mold Shambler
4 Joraga Treespeaker
4 Lotus Cobra
2 Mimic Vat
4 Summoning Trap
List?
Also, maybe it was just a fluke. Dunno.
our house is decorated with icing,
confectioner's sugar
and also,
candy canes.
but the winter is dead-set
the sharp air around us cold like the
wolves circling just outside
noses pressed against the sugar panes,
the undying snow powdering their manes,
their maws contorted into smiles bearing fangs
i once longed to befriend much of their kind
but each is cursed with a black licorice mind
how long will it take them to eat through the front door?
i can't reinforce something made of gingerbread, no one could
and there she lies, bedridden and counting on me
in a warm room composed of more irrelevant sugar
she tells me to cheer up because we won't feel a thing this time
i must ask her to stay here while i venture outside
and lead them astray with a trail of red hots
through the uncertain and snow-filled forest paths
i always loved the silence of winter
This evil presence had many names, but most knew of it as Emrakul, a great mass of tentacles, like a floating jellyfish but unbelievably huge. It was the leader of the alien Eldrazi tribe — a race of strange creatures encroaching upon the world of men.
Or, as Koth affectionately called it, the most absurd of all absurd fatties.
Koth of the Hammer sighed, pacing back and forth near the edge of Elspeth Tirel's war camp. He had been commanding his goblin forces in tandem with Elspeth's troops, and he didn't like it. Yet he found this a better alternative than to face the Eldrazi alone. He longed for the fierce battles of ages past, a time when honor meant something, when his men had to navigate Lightfield Mines, courageously and steadfastly waging bloody battles against the invulnerable Firewalkers. It was a different kind of war now. A war fought in the expanding and alien jungles that exist beyond his fiery mountains. It was simply unfair. Hammers had no place in this type of warfare. Goblins nullified by walls of overgrowth, armies destroyed by clouds of hazardous dust. Even from here, the terrible roar of a Primeval Titan echoed far off in the distance, new growth created in its wake.
Yes, it was an unlikely alliance — goblins and knights working side by side, the goblins sharing their crude jokes with the pristine chevaliers, or the best way to eat a fried rat, and in turn, the knights showing the goblins how to use forks and take a bath. Elspeth Tirel had agreed to join forces with Koth out of necessity. His guides, an elite unit of goblins, at least had some ability to navigate the alien jungles swiftly. Her own forces would be too slow and inconsistent without them. And, she had to admit, she felt a certain something the last time she saw Koth fighting valiantly. None of her men were brave enough to fight a Wurmcoil on their own, but Koth had summoned from the mountains a torrent of fire, and blasted one to pieces before it reached their camp with its life-sucking blades.
On the other hand, Koth's motivations were far more simple. He just wanted to hammer something. Burn something. Or even convince himself that he was hammering or burning. Therein lies the problem, something he'd mulled over for awhile. How does one hammer an absurd fatty such as Kozilek, the Butcher of Truth? You'd have to be riding one of Elspeth's pegasi just to hit anything higher than its toenail. And Koth hated pegasi — ever since that nightmare about a Mesa spawning an endless number of them, until the sky turned white with their shining wings.
Not too far away, a Glint Hawk swooped down and landed upon Elspeth's armored shoulder, glancing at its master with its golden eyes. It then snatched her brand new Mox Opal hanging from her breastplate with its razor-sharp talons and, before she could respond, flew off with a flurry of wings. Elspeth Tirel sighed, but she knew her hawk would return with her treasure at some point. She again focused her gaze on Koth.
“How is everything?” she asked.
Elspeth Tirel removed her helmet, letting her copper-colored hair flow down and blow in the breeze. She approached the brooding Koth as he stood watching the mountains in the distance. Then she winced. Koth was staring at a particular range of peaks known as the Molten Pinnacles. Koth never mentioned it to anyone, but whispers traveled between goblin and men about the anger he felt toward that mountain range — anger and impotence. The Molten Pinnacles were the finest examples of fiery, smoke-enshrouded crags in all the land, yet they were attuned to the alien Eldrazi — not Koth.
“I've lost another unit,” Koth said. “Only one of my guides made it back. He reported an absurd fatty appearing out of thin air, right before their very noses. It was a Trap. They didn't even have a chance...”
“I'm sorry,” she said. “We will continue to gather our forces.”
“It's no use.”
Koth continued to stare off into the plains.
“Where are your friends now? Jace, and Venser?”
“They're waiting,” she said. “The same as us.”
“No,” he says. “They're hiding, cowering, on a distant island, or in a far-off glacial fort. They plan no great attack. Real men fight, or meet the enemy on the field of battle, singing their death song, killing or being killed. To lurk at the edge of battle, hiding behind their walls... that's colder and slimier than the Mulldrifters they conjure forth.”
Elspeth lowered her eyes, understanding what he must feel. A growing kinship with an enemy had never come to her before; out of circumstance, or what, she really didn't know. She smiled as she remembered the reason for her visit.
“Koth,” she said. “I want to show you something.”
Koth's eyes narrowed. He had felt that she had something up her sleeve for awhile now. Yet what might turn the tables? What could possibly give them an advantage against an evil that could not be matched upon the battlefield?
He tore his eyes away from the crimson mountains and looked at Elspeth plaintively. Nearby, his goblin chieftains were beginning a tribal ritual of songs and dances, arm-in-arm with many Kor Firewalkers, in a sad attempt at bolstering morale within their armies — but Koth was in no mood for rabble-rousing. He nodded, following Elspeth across the war camp, into a large tent. And that was when Koth's Hopes were Dashed.
At the opposite end of the tent, sitting upon a mysterious throne, sat an enormous cat, a feline as large as a man. This creature was obviously powerful, for beneath him hovered a retinue of lesser cat-men, subservient and awaiting his order. It tapped its fingers upon the arm of the throne in obvious boredom.
“A cat?” Koth asked, as they made their way inside. He was beginning to lose all hope. A smoldering chuckle welled up inside of him. “So, this is your secret weapon, Tirel? A herd of cats? That's your plan then? Humoring the enemy? Perhaps you'll use them as a distraction. I'm sure the great Ulamog will enjoy juggling your cats high into the air...”
“Hush,” she said. “They are the Leonin. A powerful ally. They hold power over the land. A method similar to the Land Taxes of so long ago...”
“Impossible,” said Koth. “Those days are over and will never be seen again. You waste my time.”
The regal cat-man's eyes glowed yellow in the dim light of the tent. Its servants spread before Koth and Elspeth, allowing them passage. Elspeth Tirel sighed. The two Planeswalkers reached the foot of the throne, where Elspeth knelt before the majestic figure.
“Oh great ally, how I am thankful for your assistance during such times.”
“We are siding with the likes of him?” it boomed, in a dark voice. “A creature born of the fiery earth? I remember the times when our villages were razed, blistering lava-beasts roaming our plains, selectively incinerating kittens and old strays.”
Koth glowered, and hefted his fearsome hammer threateningly.
“Choose your words carefully, fuzzball,” he said. “Lest I forge that pink tongue of yours into something more useful.”
“Enough!” shouted Elspeth, stepping in front of Koth, turning to him, and then whirling around to meet the cat-man's gaze. “We have a new enemy. One that does not come from our world. One that does not fight a fair fight.”
Koth was not convinced.
“What possible weapon do you have against the enemy?” he asked. “Against the absurd fatties of incomparable power? The mountains that constantly burn, spewing ash and flame upon any who dare assault them? We are doomed.”
Koth didn't know if he were imagining this, but he thought he could see a slight smile on the Leonin's whiskery face.
“We will halt their progress,” said the Leonin. “Through a process of arbitration. We will attack them at the root, and prevent their strange alien lands from spreading too fast. Even the absurd fatties, as you say, are subject to the Laws of the Land.”
Koth mulled over this idea. It seemed a tricky plan, something the white legions were known for at times. It mirrored his own — although a more direct one — and that was when he felt that he must show them his own weapon. Still, he could not believe such times have required such dire measures. Goblins working with cats. What has happened?
Koth nodded in agreement.
“Perhaps you will enjoy what I have to offer, then. Come.”
With a little coaxing from Elspeth, the Leonin tore himself from his throne and followed the two Planeswalkers from the tent, to the edge of the camp, and beyond this, to a small hill where there was a cave. Smoke issued forth from its jagged maw, and a crimson glow came from the depths.
Where Elspeth led Koth through her tent, now Koth ushered the two through the steamy tunnels, where it grew hotter and deeper, until they entered a vast chamber with pools of lava. Several imp-like creatures crouched near the pools — eyes filled with mischief, bodies made of glowing embers.
Elspeth looked worried.
“And what are they, then?” she asked.
“They are called the Ignus,” said Koth, kneeling down to one and petting the creature's spiky mane. “If the lands of the absurd fatties spread too quickly, these creatures, born of flame, will erupt from underneath, rejoicing at the yawning tectonic shifts, and igniting the jungles in celebration.”
Elspeth and the Leonin seemed to understand, although they truly could not grasp the full extent of the lava elemental's power — maybe they didn't need to. The path was now clear. In addition to these secret weapons were the Molten-Tail Masticores, and Inferno Titans, and all of the knights under Elspeth's command.
They had many options.
More importantly, they had a chance.
Koth hefted his hammer with renewed interest. The absurd fatties would die by his hand and be expunged from this world; he swore to himself. The power of the Molten Pinnacles would soon fall within his grasp.
not digging captain at all
i hate standard
actually all of mtg
why must all competitive decks be boring? why?
You need card tags in future posts. Read the Forum Guidelines. -Carsten
Seriously, awesome post. That's what I've been saying for years. And so many of my friends are spouting skill this, "pilot" that.
I think the pros simply spend a great deal of time learning the metagame and how every single deck works, rather than be brilliant on some level. Sure, skill helps, but as you've said, only in the hot seat. And an entire game can take place without that situation ever occuring.
The idea: Searing Blaze is really good. Mark of Mutiny is really good, and it becomes even better in multiples. So, use Reverberate to increase the really goodness.
The best play, of course, is, burning their face & burning their dorks. Then, when they start to drop annoying stuff like Baneslayers and Primeval Titans, drop a Spires on one of their creatures (if necessary), then Mark + Reverb the other two for a huge swing.
This list is VERY rough... the whole idea is, "all eggs in one basket", frontload as much damage as possible. Let me know if you think it could work / what could improve it.
9 Mountain
1 Terramorphic Expanse
1 Evolving Wilds
4 Arid Mesa
4 Smoldering Spires
4 Scalding Tarn
// Creatures
4 Kiln Fiend
4 Goblin Guide
4 Plated Geopede
4 Act of Treason
1 Fireball
4 Searing Blaze
4 Reverberate
4 Burst Lightning
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Staggershock
4 Forked Bolt
Don't spam
BTW from testing, mana dorks seem like the way to go (with 4x Mana Leak to help against DoJ)
Here's what I've honed my U/G tempo list down to, still not optimal... working on it. But it's holding up on MWS really well. I'm trying to reduce ramp so it's less schizo and more consistent (The problem with all Ramp decks)
It doesn't rely on LD, it's more creature beats with Tempo/LD thrown in to the mix to back it up.
Cobra: Because a T3 Titan is just backbreaking. The biggest kick in the nuts is T1 Birds -> T2 Cobra, Fetch, pop fetch, Adept, bounce a guy or Jace -> T3 Titan/Slime -> T4 Titan/Slime
Mana Leak: 4 counters seems about just right in here.
Nest Invader: Defense, offense, tempo-generator, and synergies with Garruk's Overrun.
Garruk: His ability to generate tempo doesn't need to be mentioned, and his overrun ability provides added teeth
Regress: Card disadvantage, but the more lands they're behind, the better your Mana Leaks and Frost Titans become. Plus, EOT Regress on a land into Slime/Titan is a huge tempo swing.
Jace 1.0: Curiously, he seems better than 2.0 in here. Three-drops are good because you can T1 Bird, T2 Cobra + Jace if you have a fetch. Also, you can continually spam the +2 ability while still getting cards in hand. This is nice since, sure, the opponent may be drawing cards too, but since you're hosing their land while boosting your own, you'll be able to play your own cards more.
Frost Titan: The MVP and ball-kicker of anyone who keeps a 2-land hand. I thought he was amazing from the start, but he is definitely nuts in a LD-style deck.
4 Misty Rainforest
3 Tectonic Edge
5 Forest
7 Island
4 Verdant Catacombs
Creatures
4 Birds of Paradise
4 Frost Titan
4 Acidic Slime
3 AEther Adept
3 Nest Invader
4 Lotus Cobra
3 Regress
4 Garruk Wildspeaker
4 Jace Beleren
4 Mana Leak
2 Pithing Needle
4 Obstinate Baloth
2 Pelakka Wurm
4 Flashfreeze
3 Mind Control
What about cutting Dust completely? Think about it, it's just not as good as it used to be because Superfriends isn't flying around everywhere. When it is, they're packing counters and only play 1 PW at a time. You have counters to stop PWs, Eldrazi Monument, and so on... beyond that you have Needle, and 4 DoJ main take care of beasties... just a thought.
Running three Eldrazi, for more draw...draw is always relevant, and drawing 2-3 Eldrazi early on is not fun. And with more draw, you can dig into them. It also makes this really hold up in the mid and late game. 2 Ball + 3 Jace should be good.
Not sure why everyone likes Ulamog. It's great vs Jund sure, but it's Vindicate seem so puny compared to drawing 4 cards. I dunno.
I totally agree with Cancel > Mana Leak. Cancel is good. UW Counterdrazi is made for the super late game and Mana Leak falls shortly. As soon as you hit turn three, you feel safe.
Mindbreak either main or sideboard has done wonders against a whole range of annoying crap.
I hated him at first, but I'm running something similar and he is a beast! Def my fave Titan