Thanks for your thoughts! I do see your point, plus her ultimate would likely not be too great in this deck since I imagine we will be running a ton of non-basics.
Part of me thinks a 3/3 split on Xenagos/Sarkhan would be good, but Xenagos does feel very important for this deck.
Part of me wonders if maybe the shell will end up including Goblin Rabblemaster to provide early pressure and also because he can help Xenagos create even more mana.
Mono black and control don't win every open series weekend. That means the meta is healthy.
I was really hating it when those 2 decks were dominating. Now the mana base from the full set of scrylands has stabilized things have settled down a bit.
I love that revelation decks get punished with draws. If people want to play control they need to win, not not lose.
It was the type of weekend where many went in expecting green based midrange decks to be good and got beat up by aggro. Black aggro, red aggro and blue aggro all over the top 8. The blue deck was good because it could shift gears with a sideboard full of counters otherwise UW control might have done it. That long semi was the real final and a great match of magic, one for the ages.
It is good that the metagame shifts around but on the flip side it means you need more cards to build more decks so you can change your strategy when you need to.
What happened to Eidolon of Blossoms? Current flavor of the month. I have no love for the card. Just too slow and too weak. Hall of Triumph is a better card and proved its worth. Can't kill the wave tokens by taking out Master of Waves?? NOOOOOO!!!!!
I think people (myself included) are still trying to work out the right build for Eidolon. I do think it will be a very real card in the coming months. (just my opinion!)
Thanks for all the suggestions, folks! I may play in a gameday event tomorrow and I will likely tweak it based on your suggestions!
Boon Satyr will likely go a long way in helping to close out games because I always wanted one more bigger creature. I thought about Master of the Feast as well but I hate the idea of giving away card advantage.
Been lurking this thread since inception and testing this deck. First of all - thanks to all of you who tested and found that some choices that seemed obvious were anything but.
I went to my first Standard FNM in...ever? last night and brought the following:
Round 1 was vs something I can't really remember but it wasn't horribly memorable and I won 2-0.
Round 2 was vs American Control. I'm not sure how this MU is for you guys but this is one I was worried about. Game 1 we traded my creatures for his removal and I eventually got a Pharika down, and killed him with Snake tokens. Game 2 was the opposite...Keranos + Thassa is pretty deadly and something I think this deck will need to figure out going forward. In fact, Gods in general were a headache last night and something i'm not sure how to deal with without splashing white (which I tried and didn't particularly care for). Game 3 was a long one that eventually ended with him running out of ways to deal with my creatures and Herald of Torment doing it's thing.
Round 3 was against Naya Hexproof. This was also a problematic matchup and I lost both games handily. The first to a Fiendslayer Paladin with Madcap Skills + Unflinching Courage. Couldn't find a Devour flesh to save my life. Game two was something fairly similar.
Round 4 was against Mono B devotion. I lost 1-2 but all the games were very close and with a little more luck I think I definitely could have beaten him.
So, after playing this i'm not sure what i'll change, if anything yet. Finding a way to deal with Gods is something i'd like to do (Unravel the Aether maybe?) Also I know there has been a lot of talk about Caryatids or not. I honestly did not miss them as much as I thought I would and I think the extra kills spells made a big difference.
Again - thanks for all the contributions here. The deck is extremely fun to play and is pretty competitive as well.
haven't done one of these in awhile, been drafting my face off from Theros, wanted to see what you thought of this one. Beyond the obvious ticket grab of Thoughtseize I thought it went reasonably well - the first pack i wasn't quite sure what I was in but then I kept seeing good red and went for it.
Pack 1 pick 1:
Chosen by Heliod
Pheres-Band Centaurs
Nylea's Presence
--> Nemesis of Mortals (FOIL)
Lost in a Labyrinth
Pharika's Cure
Rage of Purphoros
Feral Invocation
Traveler's Amulet
Akroan Crusader
Ordeal of Purphoros
Tormented Hero
Triton Fortune Hunter
Chained to the Rocks
Plains
Pack 1 pick 2:
--> Leafcrown Dryad
Gods Willing
Nessian Courser
Coastline Chimera
Baleful Eidolon (FOIL)
Satyr Hedonist
Read the Bones
Last Breath
Ray of Dissolution
Vaporkin
Burnished Hart
Akroan Hoplite
Coordinated Assault
Island
Pack 1 pick 3:
Guardians of Meletis
Battlewise Valor
Loathsome Catoblepas
Omenspeaker
March of the Returned
Spark Jolt
Last Breath
Scourgemark
Boulderfall
Setessan Battle Priest
Vanquish the Foul
--> Soldier of the Pantheon
Plains
Pack 2 pick 6:
Pheres-Band Centaurs
Nylea's Presence
Lost in a Labyrinth
Agent of Horizons
Fade into Antiquity
--> Observant Alseid
Ray of Dissolution
Tormented Hero
Triton Fortune Hunter
Plains
Pack 2 pick 7:
--> Titan's Strength
Traveling Philosopher
Yoked Ox
Benthic Giant
Scholar of Athreos
Triton Shorethief
Rescue from the Underworld
Gainsay
Mountain
Pack 3 pick 3:
Gray Merchant of Asphodel
Plains (FOIL)
Fleetfeather Sandals
Aqueous Form
Silent Artisan
Blood-Toll Harpy
--> Spearpoint Oread
Ray of Dissolution
Vaporkin
Magma Jet
Witches' Eye
Hythonia the Cruel
Forest
Pack 3 pick 4:
Lash of the Whip
Messenger's Speed
Gods Willing
Crackling Triton
Plains (FOIL)
Last Breath
Scourgemark
Griptide
Savage Surge
Opaline Unicorn
--> Nylea's Emissary
Mountain
Pack 3 pick 5:
--> Nessian Asp
Two-Headed Cerberus
Time to Feed
Asphodel Wanderer
Breaching Hippocamp
Silent Artisan
Wavecrash Triton
Opaline Unicorn
Chronicler of Heroes
Artisan's Sorrow
Island
Pack 3 pick 7:
Boon of Erebos (FOIL)
--> Leafcrown Dryad
Nessian Courser
March of the Returned
Asphodel Wanderer
Ray of Dissolution
Hunt the Hunter
Erebos's Emissary
Island
Left:
Isperia, Supreme Judge
Detention Sphere
Ash Zealot
Mizzium Mortars (Centaur Herald)
Havoc Festival (Golgari Charm)
Mana Bloom (Abrupt Decay)
Jace, Architect of Thought
Nivmagus Elemental
Sphinx of the Chimes
Blood Crypt
Search the City (Island)
Deadbridge Goliath
pretty sure i should never buy a fat pack again. all of my luck has definitely been used up now (that's a foil Detention Sphere by the way...hard to see in pic.)
I made a last minute decision to run two Redirects main board on Sunday at a GPT I played in. Rather amazingly I didn't run into any Bonfires but I did Redirect a Rancor onto my flipped Delver which won me a game in short order.
I have to say I like it main, I think it's abnormal that I didn't see any Bonfires...i'd definitely run it again.
4-0'd FNM against Boros Humans and Zombies of all varieties.
Doomed Traveler is an all star. Really he's such a good counter to most any aggro strategy. Not to mention how well he interacts with DOJ post board.
Sorin is still fine, I've cut him to a two but I'm rarely unhappy to see him. To the contrary he's been very handy against control decks that run lots of plainswalkers.
I just don't know why this deck can't seem to get there in big events. It has favorable match ups to Delver and Zombies and good wipe resistance....
Dark Ascension for me. I don't know what it is about that set but it just has flavor that gets me. Also contains so many of my favorite standard cards.
Sorin, Lord of Innistrad is still good, at least in my deck. I guess it depends on the build but I love the fact that I can play him as either a token machine or an anthem depending on the situation. There are the times when I have 3 anthems in play but have no creatures remaining, and then there are the times when I have a lot of creatures but no anthems. Sorin balances those situations quite well. The lifelink is also handy, especially if you play Angelic Destiny.
I definitely agree with you Tony. His utility is what makes him good. That and the fact that he can buy you a few turns
Part of me thinks a 3/3 split on Xenagos/Sarkhan would be good, but Xenagos does feel very important for this deck.
Part of me wonders if maybe the shell will end up including Goblin Rabblemaster to provide early pressure and also because he can help Xenagos create even more mana.
Can't wait to see the charm, but why is no one running Nissa, Worldwaker so far?
I think people (myself included) are still trying to work out the right build for Eidolon. I do think it will be a very real card in the coming months. (just my opinion!)
Boon Satyr will likely go a long way in helping to close out games because I always wanted one more bigger creature. I thought about Master of the Feast as well but I hate the idea of giving away card advantage.
Been lurking this thread since inception and testing this deck. First of all - thanks to all of you who tested and found that some choices that seemed obvious were anything but.
I went to my first Standard FNM in...ever? last night and brought the following:
4 Brain Maggot
4 Courser of Kruphix
3 Doomwake Giant
4 Eidolon of Blossoms
4 Herald of Torment
2 Pharika, God of Affliction
3 Abrupt Decay
2 Devour Flesh
2 Golgari Charm
4 Hero's Downfall
4 Thoughtseize
2 Mana Confluence
4 Overgrown Tomb
7 Swamp
4 Temple of Malady
1 Abrupt Decay
4 Bile Blight
1 Devour Flesh
3 Drown in Sorrow
1 Duress
1 Golgari Charm
2 Putrefy
2 Whip of Erebos
I ended up going 2-2.
Round 1 was vs something I can't really remember but it wasn't horribly memorable and I won 2-0.
Round 2 was vs American Control. I'm not sure how this MU is for you guys but this is one I was worried about. Game 1 we traded my creatures for his removal and I eventually got a Pharika down, and killed him with Snake tokens. Game 2 was the opposite...Keranos + Thassa is pretty deadly and something I think this deck will need to figure out going forward. In fact, Gods in general were a headache last night and something i'm not sure how to deal with without splashing white (which I tried and didn't particularly care for). Game 3 was a long one that eventually ended with him running out of ways to deal with my creatures and Herald of Torment doing it's thing.
Round 3 was against Naya Hexproof. This was also a problematic matchup and I lost both games handily. The first to a Fiendslayer Paladin with Madcap Skills + Unflinching Courage. Couldn't find a Devour flesh to save my life. Game two was something fairly similar.
Round 4 was against Mono B devotion. I lost 1-2 but all the games were very close and with a little more luck I think I definitely could have beaten him.
So, after playing this i'm not sure what i'll change, if anything yet. Finding a way to deal with Gods is something i'd like to do (Unravel the Aether maybe?) Also I know there has been a lot of talk about Caryatids or not. I honestly did not miss them as much as I thought I would and I think the extra kills spells made a big difference.
Again - thanks for all the contributions here. The deck is extremely fun to play and is pretty competitive as well.
the three mythics were medomai, hythonia, and ashen rider. I did get a Thoughtseize and a Nykthos but holy crap was it bad.
oh well.
haven't done one of these in awhile, been drafting my face off from Theros, wanted to see what you thought of this one. Beyond the obvious ticket grab of Thoughtseize I thought it went reasonably well - the first pack i wasn't quite sure what I was in but then I kept seeing good red and went for it.
Comments are very welcome!
Event #: 6356115
Time: 11/22/2013 4:51:33 PM
Players:
Goldeselchen
foxtrottcharly
Bjartyparty
aTOMic99
TheDuinoElegies
Zsander
AwesomePatchie
varratia
------ THS ------
Pack 1 pick 1:
Chosen by Heliod
Pheres-Band Centaurs
Nylea's Presence
--> Nemesis of Mortals (FOIL)
Lost in a Labyrinth
Pharika's Cure
Rage of Purphoros
Feral Invocation
Traveler's Amulet
Akroan Crusader
Ordeal of Purphoros
Tormented Hero
Triton Fortune Hunter
Chained to the Rocks
Plains
Pack 1 pick 2:
--> Leafcrown Dryad
Gods Willing
Nessian Courser
Coastline Chimera
Baleful Eidolon (FOIL)
Satyr Hedonist
Read the Bones
Last Breath
Ray of Dissolution
Vaporkin
Burnished Hart
Akroan Hoplite
Coordinated Assault
Island
Pack 1 pick 3:
Guardians of Meletis
Battlewise Valor
Loathsome Catoblepas
Omenspeaker
March of the Returned
Spark Jolt
Last Breath
Scourgemark
Boulderfall
Setessan Battle Priest
Vanquish the Foul
--> Soldier of the Pantheon
Plains
Pack 1 pick 4:
Fleshmad Steed
Benthic Giant
Time to Feed
Baleful Eidolon
Traveling Philosopher
Two-Headed Cerberus
Akroan Crusader
Horizon Chimera
Erebos's Emissary
Pharika's Mender
--> Anthousa, Setessan Hero
Swamp
Pack 1 pick 5:
March of the Returned
Lightning Strike
Fleshmad Steed
Baleful Eidolon
Annul
Dissolve (FOIL)
Two-Headed Cerberus
Cavern Lampad
--> Centaur Battlemaster
Arena Athlete
Island
Pack 1 pick 6:
Viper's Kiss
--> Lightning Strike
Pheres-Band Centaurs
Guardians of Meletis
Defend the Hearth
Leonin Snarecaster
Priest of Iroas
Savage Surge
Setessan Griffin
Forest
Pack 1 pick 7:
Viper's Kiss
--> Dragon Mantle
Returned Centaur
Fate Foretold
Portent of Betrayal
Scholar of Athreos
Artisan's Sorrow
Warriors' Lesson
Swamp
Pack 1 pick 8:
Pharika's Mender (FOIL)
Messenger's Speed
Wild Celebrants
Silent Artisan
--> Time to Feed
Akroan Crusader
Pharika's Mender
Swamp
Pack 1 pick 9:
Pheres-Band Centaurs
Nylea's Presence
Lost in a Labyrinth
--> Feral Invocation
Traveler's Amulet
Akroan Crusader
Plains
Pack 1 pick 10:
--> Nessian Courser
Satyr Hedonist
Ray of Dissolution
Burnished Hart
Akroan Hoplite
Island
Pack 1 pick 11:
Loathsome Catoblepas
March of the Returned
--> Scourgemark
Boulderfall
Plains
Pack 1 pick 12:
Fleshmad Steed
--> Two-Headed Cerberus
Pharika's Mender
Swamp
Pack 1 pick 13:
March of the Returned
--> Fleshmad Steed
Island
Pack 1 pick 14:
--> Defend the Hearth
Forest
Pack 1 pick 15:
--> Swamp
------ THS ------
Pack 2 pick 1:
Lash of the Whip
Minotaur Skullcleaver
Chosen by Heliod
Baleful Eidolon
Traveling Philosopher
Two-Headed Cerberus
Aqueous Form
Silent Artisan
Akroan Crusader
Setessan Griffin
Kragma Warcaller
Dark Betrayal
Sealock Monster
--> Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
Mountain
Pack 2 pick 2:
Bronze Sable
Messenger's Speed
Mnemonic Wall
Last Breath
Unknown Shores
Crackling Triton
Portent of Betrayal
Commune with the Gods
Cavern Lampad
Sedge Scorpion
Karametra's Acolyte
Satyr Piper
--> Prognostic Sphinx
Forest
Pack 2 pick 3:
Viper's Kiss
Pheres-Band Centaurs
Fate Foretold
Thassa's Bounty
Lagonna-Band Elder
Priest of Iroas
Fade into Antiquity
Felhide Minotaur
Shredding Winds
Dissolve
--> Burnished Hart
Evangel of Heliod
Forest
Pack 2 pick 4:
--> Nylea's Disciple
Stymied Hopes
Nessian Courser
Griptide
Satyr Hedonist
Satyr Rambler
Leonin Snarecaster
Feral Invocation
Staunch-Hearted Warrior
Boon of Erebos
Ordeal of Erebos
Swamp
Pack 2 pick 5:
Bronze Sable
Messenger's Speed
Mnemonic Wall
Pharika's Cure
Rage of Purphoros
--> Feral Invocation
Returned Centaur
Wavecrash Triton
Cavern Lampad
Akroan Hoplite
Forest
Pack 2 pick 6:
Pheres-Band Centaurs
Nylea's Presence
Lost in a Labyrinth
Agent of Horizons
Fade into Antiquity
--> Observant Alseid
Ray of Dissolution
Tormented Hero
Triton Fortune Hunter
Plains
Pack 2 pick 7:
--> Titan's Strength
Traveling Philosopher
Yoked Ox
Benthic Giant
Scholar of Athreos
Triton Shorethief
Rescue from the Underworld
Gainsay
Mountain
Pack 2 pick 8:
--> Ill-Tempered Cyclops
Guardians of Meletis
Battlewise Valor
Loathsome Catoblepas
Vulpine Goliath
Asphodel Wanderer
Anvilwrought Raptor
Plains
Pack 2 pick 9:
Chosen by Heliod
Traveling Philosopher
Silent Artisan
--> Akroan Crusader
Setessan Griffin
Dark Betrayal
Mountain
Pack 2 pick 10:
Bronze Sable
Messenger's Speed
Commune with the Gods
--> Karametra's Acolyte
Satyr Piper
Forest
Pack 2 pick 11:
Viper's Kiss
Fate Foretold
Priest of Iroas
--> Fade into Antiquity
Forest
Pack 2 pick 12:
Stymied Hopes
--> Satyr Hedonist
Satyr Rambler
Swamp
Pack 2 pick 13:
Bronze Sable
--> Messenger's Speed
Forest
Pack 2 pick 14:
--> Lost in a Labyrinth
Plains
Pack 2 pick 15:
--> Triton Shorethief
------ THS ------
Pack 3 pick 1:
Cavalry Pegasus
Loathsome Catoblepas
Nylea's Presence
Annul
Titan's Strength
Yoked Ox
Voyaging Satyr
Wild Celebrants
Boulderfall
Sedge Scorpion
Ordeal of Thassa
Ordeal of Nylea
Thassa's Emissary
--> Thoughtseize
Plains
Pack 3 pick 2:
Divine Verdict
Guardians of Meletis
Prescient Chimera
Blood-Toll Harpy
Wingsteed Rider
--> Spearpoint Oread
Breaching Hippocamp
Vulpine Goliath
Sedge Scorpion (FOIL)
Opaline Unicorn
Fanatic of Mogis
Prowler's Helm
Rageblood Shaman
Plains
Pack 3 pick 3:
Gray Merchant of Asphodel
Plains (FOIL)
Fleetfeather Sandals
Aqueous Form
Silent Artisan
Blood-Toll Harpy
--> Spearpoint Oread
Ray of Dissolution
Vaporkin
Magma Jet
Witches' Eye
Hythonia the Cruel
Forest
Pack 3 pick 4:
Lash of the Whip
Messenger's Speed
Gods Willing
Crackling Triton
Plains (FOIL)
Last Breath
Scourgemark
Griptide
Savage Surge
Opaline Unicorn
--> Nylea's Emissary
Mountain
Pack 3 pick 5:
--> Nessian Asp
Two-Headed Cerberus
Time to Feed
Asphodel Wanderer
Breaching Hippocamp
Silent Artisan
Wavecrash Triton
Opaline Unicorn
Chronicler of Heroes
Artisan's Sorrow
Island
Pack 3 pick 6:
Fleetfeather Sandals
Ill-Tempered Cyclops
Guardians of Meletis (FOIL)
Agent of Horizons
Crackling Triton
Traveler's Amulet
Shredding Winds
Tormented Hero
--> Nylea's Emissary
Forest
Pack 3 pick 7:
Boon of Erebos (FOIL)
--> Leafcrown Dryad
Nessian Courser
March of the Returned
Asphodel Wanderer
Ray of Dissolution
Hunt the Hunter
Erebos's Emissary
Island
Pack 3 pick 8:
Fleetfeather Sandals
Demolish
Ephara's Warden
Fate Foretold
--> Dragon Mantle (FOIL)
Agent of Horizons
Flamecast Wheel
Island
Pack 3 pick 9:
Loathsome Catoblepas
Nylea's Presence
Annul
Yoked Ox
Boulderfall
--> Sedge Scorpion
Plains
Pack 3 pick 10:
Guardians of Meletis
Blood-Toll Harpy
--> Vulpine Goliath
Opaline Unicorn
Prowler's Helm
Plains
Pack 3 pick 11:
--> Plains (FOIL)
Fleetfeather Sandals
Silent Artisan
Witches' Eye
Forest
Pack 3 pick 12:
Messenger's Speed
Plains (FOIL)
--> Scourgemark
Mountain
Pack 3 pick 13:
Silent Artisan
--> Chronicler of Heroes
Island
Pack 3 pick 14:
--> Traveler's Amulet
Forest
Pack 3 pick 15:
--> Island
Left:
Isperia, Supreme Judge
Detention Sphere
Ash Zealot
Mizzium Mortars (Centaur Herald)
Havoc Festival (Golgari Charm)
Mana Bloom (Abrupt Decay)
Jace, Architect of Thought
Nivmagus Elemental
Sphinx of the Chimes
Blood Crypt
Search the City (Island)
Deadbridge Goliath
Middle:
Rest in Peace
Grave Betrayal
Martial Law
Hallowed Fountain
Precinct Captain
Conjured Currency
Wayfaring Temple (Pursuit of Flight)
Overgrown Tomb
Niv Mizzet, Dracogenius
Carnival Hellsteed
Growing Ranks (Vitu Ghazi Guildmage)
Pithing Needle
Right:
Deathrite Shaman
Cyclonic Rift (Swamp)
Worldspine Wurm
Jarad’s Orders
Underworld Connections
Righteous Authority
Counterflux
Grove of the Guardian
Corpsejack Menace (Spawn of Rix Maadi)
Collective Blessing
Mercurial Chemister
Dreadbore
pretty sure i should never buy a fat pack again. all of my luck has definitely been used up now
I have to say I like it main, I think it's abnormal that I didn't see any Bonfires...i'd definitely run it again.
Dusty, could you post your list?
I definitely agree with you Tony. His utility is what makes him good. That and the fact that he can buy you a few turns