4 x Geist of Saint Traft
4 x Snapcaster Mage
2 x Restoration Angel
3 x Vendillion Clique
4 x Path to Exile
4 x Lightning Bolt
3 x Lightning Helix
2 x Spell Snare
3 x Remand
2 x Electrolyze
2 x Cryptic Command
2x Elspeth, Knight Errant
25 Land
That is what I am running right now, with a pretty typical sideboard. I have thought about going to 2 x Remand for 4 x Lightning Helix, but more often than not I want an extra Geist swing for 6 than 3 to the face or creature for three life gain.
How about moving 1 PTE to the side and then add the 4th helix? I know it can take out any creature, but it's not that good vs Storm or Scapeshift
Are you referring to the traditional UW decks that plays with a bunch of 3 drops and Restoration Angels? I've seen a couple do well, but I personally feel the UWR versions are better because it gives us more options.
Most of the players that I know started with a stock UW list. They only did this because it doesn't require you to use fetch lands. But after they've acquired fetches, they eventually added the red splash, added bolts, helixes and electrolyze to their existing decks. There might be a few exceptions, but most of the time it is due to budget constraints.
yep, looks that way. not sure why he's playing a 3/2 split of leak to remand if that's the case, though.
The one of spell snare is probably there to give your opponent the illusion that you are loaded with countermagic. You could just swap it for the 3rd remand.
i think we'll see more UW decks and less URW ones, and i am pretty sure (very happy to fail in this prevision, obviously!) we are not gonna see our "traditional" build in top8, but we could see some unexpected ones (maybe some different creatures)
Why do you think there will be more UW variants? I personally feel that someone would only play UW if it's a Tron list or if they have a tight budget.
I was able to watche Cheon's stream when he was tuning the list. You won't get a lot of value with your Resto against decks like Jund or UWR mirrors because your blink targets die pretty fast. But against the combo MU, she's pretty good because you don't have to tap out a lot and you have a better chance of blinking her.
I'll definitely try this list and see how far it would take me. And yes, I also agree to get the most out of Resto, you need to run 3 Cliques main.
Playing Restoration Angel and 3 Cryptics main is probably a meta call... the deck want to have a good MU vs combo pre board. Resto and Cryptics can be sided out for EE, PTE and Thundermaws when you are trying to race against a creature heavy deck.
Stony Silence for sure. It's not end game, but delays Tron a lot, so you gain a couple turns to burn your opponent's life points.
When I play Tron I really hate to see Restoration Angel and Cliques. They either kill me quickly or prevent me from playing an early TfK to avoid a flash creature in response.
Aven Mindcensor is good. Responding to a cracked Expedition Map or Treasure Mage with it is backbreaking a lot of times.
Keep a couple Paths in. A lot of times I play against UWR I'll keep Wurmcoils in because people side out Path.
Sowing Salt is ok. It's not something you want to rely upon on that matchup because tapping four mana on turn 4 to cast a sorcery versus that deck is suicide. But you can take advantage of misplays from your opponent (like tapping out to play Solemn Simulacrum) and get a big advantage (the deck can still operate if the game goes long, but the odds are totally in your favor now).
I haven't tried out Sowing Salt vs U Tron. I personally don't like it because you are leaving yourself open for a blowout if the Tron player managed to counter that. I probably won't be bringing it in. I would probably bring in mindcensors just because it's flash.
There are times when I bounce their only untapped Island if I'm trying to cast a geist the following turn. As long as they do not cast Emrakul or Mindslaver next turn I'm not that worried.
play an Snapcaster turn 2 and race them with it+burn. There will be a point in the game in which they will no longer we able to just ignore your bolts and helixes, so when they tap to counter them, just resolve a geist or an ajani.
Keep an eye on mindslaver, and you should be fine.
Yeah, that's pretty much what I did. I tested it for a couple of hours with a friend and it's not favorable. I know we're trying to move away from Restoration Angel, but it's the card that I always wanted in this matchup since it lets me leave my mana up and rebuy cliques.
As far as sideboarding goes, what do you normally bring in? It's just annoying to play against this deck because they can blank mana leaks pretty fast and remands are not that great against them when they have all the mana to recast their spells.
As a MonoU player I can say you must apply pressure ASAP. The Snapcaster line may work as Tron player shouldn't waste counters on Bolts and Helixes.
It's definitely a favorable matchup for Tron. After SB you may want to bring in Dispel or Counterflux to ensure a resolved Geist, which usually means GG. Sundering Titan and Mindslaver are your worst enemies.
I know what you mean. Slaver lock is pretty much game. Since you've played both decks, aside from Flux and Dispels, what are other cards that UWR midrange brings in against them?
I also think Surgical Extraction is something you could consider as a 1 of. It's pretty good against combo decks because it takes away their win condition.
Sure several of these can be fixed with existing cards and sure many of these are not staples, but ALL of these are seen in decks and many of them are win conditions. If your meta calls for Celestial Purge, then I submit that you should run it. Would I run it at a GP? Probably not. Would I run it at an LGS? Odds are there.
I get that these cards die to purge, but the creatures in this list, the one that really needs to get exiled asap would be redcap. I know some of them don't die to bolt and prolly need you to 2 for 1 them if you don't draw Path. But I just don't like the idea of holding purge against Birthing Pod or RG Aggro when most of their guys are green. The sb card is just too narrow. If there's a need for it, a copy would do but not more than that.
The only time I'd want purge would be against Jund, and sometimes against the random red deck.
I don't see 6 hate cards for Pod. There's Cage, but all the other have crossover applications, which is exactly what you need in a deck like this.
Glass Cannon is a deck as is Storm, even without Song. Both had good appearances in GP Portland. Also, as is clear in my post, no cards are dedicated hate versus it. But they can be used if you come to face the deck (Purge is mainly for Jund and Twin, Cage for Pod, etc). I don't get the harshness of you response, but unfortunately it appears to be a norm around here.
As noted, Eslpeth is good versus Control decks, as well as Counterflux and Dispel.
I believe at least 3 Stony Silence, 2 Counterflux and 2 Celestial Purge should be a given. Some PWs like Elspeth and Ajani are good. EE is a bit slow, I like Wrath/Supreme and Pyroclasm more. Spellskite is good versus Burn, Bogle and Infect.
I have to agree with Stony Silence and Counterflux, but not so much with Celestial Purge. I know it hits bob, LoTV, DRS. But these are cards that we can deal with. I just can't think of another relevant matchup where you'd want purges. Unless BG/x is huge in your meta, I believe it is better to have something else it it's place.
As for EE, it might be slower than Wrath effects when you need to have 3 charge counters on it, but the card is too flexible. Maybe it is just me, but having the option to keep our Geist alive and at the same time destroy certain threats at the other side of the table makes it worth it. It's even playable vs Twin because you can drop it for 0 and wipe Pestermite / Exarch tokens.
the only reason i'm hard on shadow of doubt is the two-cost for isochron and the replacement effect. my list wants to be more tempo, i think, so getting draw is useful. i should be at 4 remand if that's the case. but i hear you.
2 Wrath of God
2 Counterflux
2 Stony Silence
2 Rest in Peace
2 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Wear // Tear
2 Spellskite
1 Supreme Verdict
That's a lot of sweepers and GY hate. I think 2 is enough. You could probably a replace Wrath effect for Engineered Explosives.
How about moving 1 PTE to the side and then add the 4th helix? I know it can take out any creature, but it's not that good vs Storm or Scapeshift
Are you referring to the traditional UW decks that plays with a bunch of 3 drops and Restoration Angels? I've seen a couple do well, but I personally feel the UWR versions are better because it gives us more options.
Most of the players that I know started with a stock UW list. They only did this because it doesn't require you to use fetch lands. But after they've acquired fetches, they eventually added the red splash, added bolts, helixes and electrolyze to their existing decks. There might be a few exceptions, but most of the time it is due to budget constraints.
The one of spell snare is probably there to give your opponent the illusion that you are loaded with countermagic. You could just swap it for the 3rd remand.
I'm just curious how he sides vs Pod.
Why do you think there will be more UW variants? I personally feel that someone would only play UW if it's a Tron list or if they have a tight budget.
I'll definitely try this list and see how far it would take me. And yes, I also agree to get the most out of Resto, you need to run 3 Cliques main.
Playing Restoration Angel and 3 Cryptics main is probably a meta call... the deck want to have a good MU vs combo pre board. Resto and Cryptics can be sided out for EE, PTE and Thundermaws when you are trying to race against a creature heavy deck.
I haven't tried out Sowing Salt vs U Tron. I personally don't like it because you are leaving yourself open for a blowout if the Tron player managed to counter that. I probably won't be bringing it in. I would probably bring in mindcensors just because it's flash.
There are times when I bounce their only untapped Island if I'm trying to cast a geist the following turn. As long as they do not cast Emrakul or Mindslaver next turn I'm not that worried.
Yeah, that's pretty much what I did. I tested it for a couple of hours with a friend and it's not favorable. I know we're trying to move away from Restoration Angel, but it's the card that I always wanted in this matchup since it lets me leave my mana up and rebuy cliques.
As far as sideboarding goes, what do you normally bring in? It's just annoying to play against this deck because they can blank mana leaks pretty fast and remands are not that great against them when they have all the mana to recast their spells.
I know what you mean. Slaver lock is pretty much game. Since you've played both decks, aside from Flux and Dispels, what are other cards that UWR midrange brings in against them?
I get that these cards die to purge, but the creatures in this list, the one that really needs to get exiled asap would be redcap. I know some of them don't die to bolt and prolly need you to 2 for 1 them if you don't draw Path. But I just don't like the idea of holding purge against Birthing Pod or RG Aggro when most of their guys are green. The sb card is just too narrow. If there's a need for it, a copy would do but not more than that.
The only time I'd want purge would be against Jund, and sometimes against the random red deck.
I have to agree with Stony Silence and Counterflux, but not so much with Celestial Purge. I know it hits bob, LoTV, DRS. But these are cards that we can deal with. I just can't think of another relevant matchup where you'd want purges. Unless BG/x is huge in your meta, I believe it is better to have something else it it's place.
As for EE, it might be slower than Wrath effects when you need to have 3 charge counters on it, but the card is too flexible. Maybe it is just me, but having the option to keep our Geist alive and at the same time destroy certain threats at the other side of the table makes it worth it. It's even playable vs Twin because you can drop it for 0 and wipe Pestermite / Exarch tokens.
That's a lot of sweepers and GY hate. I think 2 is enough. You could probably a replace Wrath effect for Engineered Explosives.
And here's the thread of UWR Control: http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=474558