I had a bit of success with a 8-Rack Pox deck. Pox's weakness is hoards of creatures, and I thought this build might be a bit more stable vs aggro decks.
Sideboard choice is a meta thing, but I am open for any suggestions.
8-Rack has trouble with decks that draw a lot. Shardless Bug is a bad match up, maybe less so for this build vs Pox build. Ideas? My best plan is to Extirpate Ancestral Vision
Would Deathrite Shaman be better then Nyxathid? I like Nyxathid for the ability stop attackers, though obviously he will attack when the time is right.
Hymns, Wrench Mind Keep, and Liliana keep hand empty. Often in this deck a late game Hymn can send 6 damage at your opponents head.
"This draft needed X in order to make this pile into a deck. I need to watch out for X in the future and be sure to value it more highly in the future. I also need to be more leery about committing to this strategy if I don't see any X fairly early on in the draft."
Well, with a draft deck it's a little hard to say, since we don't know what your alternatives were in your packs. Based just on what you imply you could have taken, I'd definitely put in Nessian Asp over Staunch-Hearted Warrior (you don't have a strong Heroic theme), and I'd always play every copy of Voyage's End I can, in this case probably replacing a Vulpine Goliath or a Nylea's Emissary, depending on your needs (they both more-or-less give you a big trampler for 6 mana).
I'm looking for any cards that should be in the deck to make it better, not necessarily things I had in my sideboard.
Thing is, you can say this about many competitive level aggro decks. The come out too fast and too powerful for most "casual" decks to do anything meaningful about. So why is it just fast combo that's the problem?
Combo decks being a problem is very dependant on what you are playing, what your opponent is playing, and if you are playing within a format or in a multiplayer game. Without specific situations we are all probably thinking in different directions.
I assume his friend's are playing casual creature based decks in a multiplayer format. In this type of meta it is likely for there to be lots of removal and the group should be able to stop an aggro deck that is getting out of control most of the time. Counterspells (and black hand disruption) are horrible in multiplayer. Combo's two weaknesses are going to be missing from a multiplayer game. If the combo deck revolves around 2 or more artifacts/enchantments it may fit the meta. Most multiplayer meta's should be able to deal with those permanents. Busting out a turn 2-6 combo deck (that often goes off) in a creature based meta is kinda douche. I have indulged in blowing away 4 people before they even get a chance, and then I put the deck away.
I've played dredge in legacy, I love how some people are so scared when they find out you are playing combo. I also love crushing combo with cards like Hymn to Tourach, Thoughtseize, Sadistic Sacrament, and Extirpate.
The key is when to know to play combo. If your group of friends love combo decks then fill yer boots. If you are going to a new playgroup for the first time you should bring more than one style of deck.
You should never hear serious players actually groan about combo within a format. Learning how to deal with these decks are part of the format and the game.
If one guy is changing how your group plays you need to tell him to change to your group's play style.
I have a group I play with, I know the power level. When I play with a new group, I bring different levels of decks. Once I know the groups style, I may make decks just for that group.
Multiplayer is rarely fun when people run prison decks or really fast combo decks.
One reason combo is hated is because you often don't get the magic experience. No attacking no blocking.. Maybe a few counter spells, but besides that the combo player may as well be off in the corner diddling him/her self. I'm not bashing combo players, just telling it like it is.
I like combo in a tournament setting, it has it's place in legacy. Is your meta rife with combo? If so plan for it and know your best plays against it.
Combo decks that win really fast like dredge or storm really have no place in casual play. Those decks are no fun to play against unless you are practicing for legacy or are in a tournament. Some combo decks that take a while to assemble there combos can be fine for casual play, just know when to put it away.
Acidic Slime, Wurmcoil Engine(I traded mine away when they were $20 a pop, I need to get some), Primeval Titan, Reveillark, Hornet Queen and Fierce Empath could all be nice additions.
I like the Sylvan Ranger over Viridian Emissary for consistency. I really want 5 mana on turn 5 ect ect. Sometimes you just can't get Viridian Emissary to die. I never miss land drops and I have dudes to block or attack or get skullclamped. This is a multiplayer deck, I have time.
Any other ideas on how to get select creatures from my gy back into my library?
I can see Melira, Sylvok Outcast with persist creature being quite formidable. I simply have not gone that route. I was indeed trying to keep away from black.
I appreciate your ideas and they will be useful to others, but you are asking me to basically change my deck fundamentally.
In my multiplayer games I don't have time to pod from a 1 drop, two a 2 drop, to a 3 drop, to a 4 drop, to finally where my good creatures are 5 and higher. Early on I love to pod the smaller creatures, but mid game I'm usually poding a 4 or 5 drop.
I don't know how important Lightning Greaves is in this deck. Always useful but it could be replaced with something more fun.
Running with 3 Birthing Pods at the moment. Deck runs well even without them.. though it’s insane with him. I do want a fourth, but I may not need it.
Conjurer's Closet is in the deck for fun/filler. Could be replaced with a fun creature, though it triggers a lot of my creatures.
Roc Egg is a solid three drop for the pod. Though it feels a bit underwhelming, getting two creatures have sacking it to the pod is a great move. I haven't come across another 3 drop I like as much.
Eternal Witness is amazing in the deck. One more would be great. It is more of a late game play though.
False Prophet is my only mass removal. It sucks I will have my guys exiled as well. But you can't complain when you save your own ass.
Mistmoon Griffin is a little weak since it is exile when it dies. I could use another good 4 drop.
I am thinking about fitting Mistveil Plains into the deck. I don't know if it currently has enough white permanents. I would try to add some Wildfield Borderpost's into the deck to help.
4 x The Rack
4 x Shrieking Affliction
3 x Dark Confidant
4 x Tarmogoyf
4 x Nyxathid
4 x Inquisition of Kozilek
4 x Hymn to Tourach
3 x Wrench Mind
4 x Liliana of the Veil
4 x Abrupt Decay
4x Verdant Catacombs
4x Marsh Flats
1x Forest
9x Swamps
2 x Pithing Needle
1 x Disfigure
2 x Duress
1 x Engineered Plague
4 x Extirpate
2 x Geth's Verdict
1 x Ghastly Demise
1 x Maelstrom Pulse
1 x Choke
Sideboard choice is a meta thing, but I am open for any suggestions.
8-Rack has trouble with decks that draw a lot. Shardless Bug is a bad match up, maybe less so for this build vs Pox build. Ideas? My best plan is to Extirpate Ancestral Vision
Would Deathrite Shaman be better then Nyxathid? I like Nyxathid for the ability stop attackers, though obviously he will attack when the time is right.
Hymns, Wrench Mind Keep, and Liliana keep hand empty. Often in this deck a late game Hymn can send 6 damage at your opponents head.
Abrupt Decay is Abrupt Decay. Though for this deck it can specifically stop Engineered Explosives and Chalice of the Void.
Any general ideas?
This is what I need to know for my deck.
Thanks for all the tips so far guys.
How many would be best? 1? 2?
I'm looking for any cards that should be in the deck to make it better, not necessarily things I had in my sideboard.
Thanks for the tips.
2 Vaporkin
3 Leafcrown Dryad
2 Nimbus Naiad
1 Boon Satyr
2 Nessian Courser
1 Staunch-Hearted Warrior
2 Nylea's Emissary
1 Horizon Chimera
1 Centaur Battlemaster
1 Vulpine Goliath
1 Mistcutter Hydra
1 Aqueous Form
1 Voyage's End
1 Griptide
1 Order of Nylea
1 Sea God's Revenge
What was this deck missing? I played a fast deck 5 times and he got me every time. Did well vs my other opponents.
Perhaps:
Nessian Asp over Centaur Battlemaster
Voyage's End over Aqueous Form or the Order.
Combo decks being a problem is very dependant on what you are playing, what your opponent is playing, and if you are playing within a format or in a multiplayer game. Without specific situations we are all probably thinking in different directions.
I assume his friend's are playing casual creature based decks in a multiplayer format. In this type of meta it is likely for there to be lots of removal and the group should be able to stop an aggro deck that is getting out of control most of the time. Counterspells (and black hand disruption) are horrible in multiplayer. Combo's two weaknesses are going to be missing from a multiplayer game. If the combo deck revolves around 2 or more artifacts/enchantments it may fit the meta. Most multiplayer meta's should be able to deal with those permanents. Busting out a turn 2-6 combo deck (that often goes off) in a creature based meta is kinda douche. I have indulged in blowing away 4 people before they even get a chance, and then I put the deck away.
I've played dredge in legacy, I love how some people are so scared when they find out you are playing combo. I also love crushing combo with cards like Hymn to Tourach, Thoughtseize, Sadistic Sacrament, and Extirpate.
The key is when to know to play combo. If your group of friends love combo decks then fill yer boots. If you are going to a new playgroup for the first time you should bring more than one style of deck.
You should never hear serious players actually groan about combo within a format. Learning how to deal with these decks are part of the format and the game.
I have a group I play with, I know the power level. When I play with a new group, I bring different levels of decks. Once I know the groups style, I may make decks just for that group.
Multiplayer is rarely fun when people run prison decks or really fast combo decks.
I like combo in a tournament setting, it has it's place in legacy. Is your meta rife with combo? If so plan for it and know your best plays against it.
Combo decks that win really fast like dredge or storm really have no place in casual play. Those decks are no fun to play against unless you are practicing for legacy or are in a tournament. Some combo decks that take a while to assemble there combos can be fine for casual play, just know when to put it away.
Acidic Slime, Wurmcoil Engine(I traded mine away when they were $20 a pop, I need to get some), Primeval Titan, Reveillark, Hornet Queen and Fierce Empath could all be nice additions.
I like the Sylvan Ranger over Viridian Emissary for consistency. I really want 5 mana on turn 5 ect ect. Sometimes you just can't get Viridian Emissary to die. I never miss land drops and I have dudes to block or attack or get skullclamped. This is a multiplayer deck, I have time.
Any other ideas on how to get select creatures from my gy back into my library?
I appreciate your ideas and they will be useful to others, but you are asking me to basically change my deck fundamentally.
In my multiplayer games I don't have time to pod from a 1 drop, two a 2 drop, to a 3 drop, to a 4 drop, to finally where my good creatures are 5 and higher. Early on I love to pod the smaller creatures, but mid game I'm usually poding a 4 or 5 drop.
Today after somebody cleared the table, I cast Karmic Guide bringing back Sun Titan, bringing back a Sylvan Ranger, then I used the Birthing Pod to sac Karmic Guide and grab the Armada Wurm. Twas Nuts for 9 mana.
2 Viridian Emissary
4 Roc Egg
1 Eternal Witness
4 Solemn Simulacrum
1 False Prophet
1 Mistmoon Griffin
1 Archon of Justice
1 Weatherseed Treefolk
1 Karmic Guide
1 Flayer of the Hatebound
2 Sun Titan
1 Twilight Shepherd
1 Adarkar Valkyrie
1 Molten Primordial
1 Stalking Vengeance
1 Sylvan Primordial
Artifacts
1 Lightning Greaves
3 Birthing Pod
1 Conjurer's Closet
2 Skullclamp
1 Obelisk of Naya
3 Copperline Gorge
4 Forest
1 Kazandu Refuge
3 Mountain
4 Plains
1 Razorverge Thicket
2 Selesnya Guildgate
4 Sunpetal Grove
1 Naya Panorama
I don't know how important Lightning Greaves is in this deck. Always useful but it could be replaced with something more fun.
Running with 3 Birthing Pods at the moment. Deck runs well even without them.. though it’s insane with him. I do want a fourth, but I may not need it.
Conjurer's Closet is in the deck for fun/filler. Could be replaced with a fun creature, though it triggers a lot of my creatures.
Roc Egg is a solid three drop for the pod. Though it feels a bit underwhelming, getting two creatures have sacking it to the pod is a great move. I haven't come across another 3 drop I like as much.
Eternal Witness is amazing in the deck. One more would be great. It is more of a late game play though.
False Prophet is my only mass removal. It sucks I will have my guys exiled as well. But you can't complain when you save your own ass.
Mistmoon Griffin is a little weak since it is exile when it dies. I could use another good 4 drop.
I am thinking about fitting Mistveil Plains into the deck. I don't know if it currently has enough white permanents. I would try to add some Wildfield Borderpost's into the deck to help.
I can cast Innocent Blood and just sac a reacurring faerie.
I can flashback Cabal Therapy easily with a reacurring faerie.
Or is it a strictly case by case basis needing to refrence Oracle.
Thrun, the Last Troll is an example of a creature who has been updated in Oracle to now have Hexproof.
This is in reference to the new Gate Crash cardGlaring Spotlight
When asking questions about officially spoiled cards Links to the official card gallery are required. Here's Glaring Spotlight
Kahedron
Thanks.
My opponent attacks with Trained Caracal.
I activate Security Blockade's ability to prevent the next 1 damage done to me.
Will the damage be prevent by Security Blockade(and end there)?
Or will it be redirected to Paradise Giant?
Do I have a choice?
Thanks