MTG Salvation

Quote from Unahim

Had some amusing times with Triskelion + basilisk collar though.

Nice to hear about this.

my creatures just aren't threatening enough for my opponent to choose to block.

Darksteel Juggernaut can be a good replacement for the Arcbound Bruiser. Can't be naturalized, burned, but still susceptible to -1/-1 counters and white removal (Day of Judgment won't get rid of it though).

Steel Overseer would certainly add strength to the deck if you can afford to get some.

Sideboard

2 Pyroblast
2 Red Elemental Blast
3 Naturalize
4 Spell Pierce
4 Ratchet Bomb


Had the luck to test my deck today against some legacy players whom I had a trade with. It's the first time I met them, and they brought their own decks for playtesting against mine (after we traded).

A little bit tired since I've just had a game with 3 people, but will try to be accurate as possible.

Match 1 vs Rein playing a GW Cat deck that uses exalted cats and loxodon warhammer as win con.

Game 1: We both mulligan to 5, but we both agreed to start with 7 cards in hand. I counter and burn all cats I see, and manage to keep her side of the table relatively clean. Threshed mongoose make quick work of her. The only damage I receive game 1 is from my fetch lands.

Game 2: Board in nothing. She seems to have boarded in some things. I counter and burn 2 mana cats again (pridemage and another white cat with exalted that I can't remember the name). Then she lays down a Stirring Wildwood which beats me down to 10 life. The wildwood is 4 toughness, can't be killed by bolt alone. Also can't Fireslash it because it turns back into a land on my turn. I eventually kill the wildwood by blocking it with Vendilion Clique (send down a Raksha Golden Cub to the bottom of her library as well) + bolt. I Rushing River her Leyline of Lifeforce and she dies to 2 Flametongue Kavu on the following turns.

Match 2 vs Hans with UB Jace Mill Control - he is the winner of the mini tourney that they did at their college. Thought I would lose game 1 easily.

Game 1: He mulls down to 4, and keep complaining that his deck hates him. He concedes due to being unable to find enough lands.

Game 2: -4 Spell Snare -4 Flame Slash -2 Counterspell - 2 Rushing River +4 Ratchet Bomb +4 Spell pierce +2 Red Elemental Blast +2 Pyroblast

I start with a mongoose, and he complains again about lack of land. He starts with a Hedron Crab which I bolt. Un-threshed goose beats him down to 15 before he plays a Bokuja Bog which exiles my graveyard, preventing goose from getting larger. The game goes on with him being attacked by my 1/1, until he tries to play a Guard Gomazoa, I bolt it, he mana leak my bolt. Kavu's come into play effect deals 4 damage and kills his Gomazoa on my turn. On his turn he plays this artifact that can produce 2 colorless mana, but he has to return 2 lands, I let it resolve. On my turn, I try Vendilion, but he has one more mana leak. I play a 2nd goose. The game went on a for a few more minutes, until he dies to a Kavu and 2 threshed geese.

Match 3 vs Nigel with RG Eldrazi Ramp - I later learn that win condition of his deck is eldrazi spawn + raid bombardment combo.

Game 1: He plays a rg dual land and pass. I play a fetch and pass. He gets 3 mana and tries to cast Raid Bombardment which I counter. We both played a passive game just laying down lands for awhile, until he tries to cast some Nest Invaders which i also counter. I cast Vendilion, and send an Awakening Zone to the bottom of his library, it seems he was baiting me with the Nest Invaders so that his Awakening Zone would go uncountered (lucky that I cast Clique at the right time). He bolts my fairy. I eventually get a threshed goose and another clique (grab a banefire from his hand this time). After a long battle, and him using a lot of fog effects. I was finally able to kill him with fairy and goose.

Well, it was afternoon and we were all tired, so we had to say goodbyes. Happy on the performance of my deck, even if it's just against some decks which seemed to be all homebrew (the fetches were worth the money ^^!). Now, I'm thinking of looking for something to replace Fireslash. Just in case manlands get used on me again.

Quote from Practical Joke

This is what happens:

Null rod is "on the stack" it is not yet in play, so it's effect is not working.
At this moment you can still use any artifact abbilities from cards in play.

Which means you can get mana from both lands and mox opal.
You however cannot cast krosan grip targeting the null rod at this point since it is still on the stack.

However, you can float the mana, since this main phase has not ended yet.
So you have 3 mana in pool, null rod resolves and comes into play.
When this card is in play, your friend still has priority to do things, but before the main phase ends, you can still use your 3 mana to cast krosan grip targeting the null rod.

That's a good explanation, I think she'll be convinced when I explain it to her tomorrow. Thanks much!

I think my pet dog has a casting cost, and he's a 2/2.

I have a question please.

Today, I was playing a casual game with my friend, and ended up into a small debate regarding Null Rod. She thinks that when she cast the rod, I have no more "time" to get mana from opal and 2 artifact lands to cast Krosan Grip. I believe it's possible to get mana from the mox and cast grip in response to the casting of the rod. Is my friend right?

@Chipmunk

I haven't read your discussion with Vader on the previous page when I posted, I thought someone was asking what's good against multiple enchantments.

Anyway, you're right. Back to Nature is a narrow choice for sideboard.

Quote from chipmunk19

and those would be? i missed enchantress so that goes in there. but what else?

Back to Nature might be good.
It gets rid of all enchantments for only 2 mana, and at instant speed too.

You're welcome.

Sorry, I miscounted, there are only 58 cards in the deck.
I suggest adding 2 more Trinket Mage, or 2 more of any low cost creature / artifact you want to put in.

Quote from Vader

For the record, I am only trying to stimulate some conversation when I mention things like stoneforge.

Conversation about new and interesting cards is never a bad thing, and sometimes it can lead to really great things! No one should get upset or be harsh or anything like that.

Well I agree, and it's fun to experiment.
The mystics proved to be a fatal slowdown most of the time in my testings though. Tested against Zoo (Domain type), Eva Green, and Merfolk (the only deck that the mystics became effective). It's 5 games against each deck.

I've also tried replacing Thoughtcast with Infiltration Lens, results aren't good as well. The lens becomes a dead card (compared to thoughtcast) when I don't have any creatures left. And most of the time, they respond with removal instead of blocking, so I don't draw any cards.

Also, if I remove both of the vedalken archmages, my only remaining reason to play artefact lands is arcbound crusher... that might be too little incentive. Perhaps -1 vedalken archmage -1 arcbound crusher + 2 trinket mages

Ok, I didn't notice that you edited your post.
Well, that's up to you. If you like the card draw from the archamage, then go ahead.

- or if you really want continous card advantage, try using 2 Crystal Ball instead of the archmages. Easier to cast, and has the added benefit of not being susceptible to creature removal. Your deck has a lot of land, Crystal Ball will help you avoid drawing too many lands.



The deck can still be improved, but this is one decklist you can choose to have on a limited budget.

Your sideboard consists of 15 cards. You can exchange cards from your 60 card maindeck with cards from your sideboard on Game 2.

Domineer looks nice. But if you're confident on producing 2 more mana, Mind Control is another choice. It will get any creature, assuming that creature doesn't have shroud or protection from blue.

EDIT: If it's to sideboard against a pure artifact deck, Domineer is better.

Goblins? Infect decks?
Your deck needs to be faster.

-1 Cloak +1 more collar (if you can afford it)
-2 Archmage +2 Trinket, the deck needs more speed and consistency. If you're getting burned badly, being able to search for the collar can be a lifesaver.
- 1 Arcbound Overseer +1 Triskelion, he's great when you're getting mauled by a bunch of 1/1 goblin tokens. Will also get rid of some merfolk, provided you can slip him past their counterspells. And your energy chambers are good for "reloading" him.

Sideboard suggestion:

Chill will give goblins and other mono red decks a hard time

Personally, I would replace the overseer with Triskelion. He's easier to cast, and gives you access to direct damage.
Your modular creatures would feed him counters as well.

If you tell me what kind of decks that you would possibly face in the tournament, then I could suggest a sideboard.

Your deck looks like the win condition will be by attacking with creatures.
Maybe try to increase the number of Arcbound Crushers? He's good, espescially if equipped with the collar.

And lastly, I notice that there will be a lack of card drawing spells (since Skullclamp isn't allowed).
You might want to try infiltration lens. Can also be tutored witht the mage, and equipping it to a large creature will usually give your opponent a hard decision on whether to block or not.

If the Skullclamps would be legal in the tournament that you plan to join, then I would suggest having some Trinket Mage (cheap price at stores too).

Other suggested cards:

Basilisk Collar - can be tutored with Trinket mage and makes your creatures deadlier in combat.
Fabricate - helps tutor for cards in your deck.