This is my latest iteration, this is basically Bant Flash/Tempo at this time with a slightly different end game angle with Verdurous Gearhulk and Tamiyo, Field Researcher.
It is not, but it is extremely beneficial to run them, especially if you're on the SSG/GC plan. Turn 1 Chalice on 1 shuts down or severely cripples a vast majority of decks.
So, I'm still loving this deck going 3-1 at FNM, got there late and started with a game 1 loss and flooded game 2. I read Sullivan's Article on his build yesterday and I am considering swapping out Gisela for Woodland Wanderer. Gisela is great but easily dealt with by most of the formats removals, whereas Wanderer is a bit harder to deal with and the Vigilance is relevant with Tamiyo's +1. Has anyone else been running Wanderer and how is it working for you? I ran it way back in my Temur Black Dragons build abusing Rattleclaw Mystic to jam a T3 6/6 Vigilance/Trample beast, this is starting to feel a lot like that and am looking to push the envelope with this build. Once again, Tamiyo, Field Researcher is the real deal right now, Bant don't need no Company, just some Field Research.
Round 1 2-0 U/G Energy This was against a young man just there for the Con and he didn't really have much going on with his U/G Energy deck.
Round 2 2-1 Abzan Good Stuff Game 1 I Mull to 5 and still get there with amazing top decks, Game 2 I stumble and can't find a 4th land to help. Game 3 he stumbles and I draw the Nuts to bull rush.
Round 3 2-1 Mardu Reanimator Game 1 goes long as I get Tamiyo Ultimate and unload Advocate, Spirit and 2 Gearhulks and feel good, He drops a Cataclysmic and ultimate's his Sorin for 18 dudes, I couldn't draw a Dec in Stone. Game 3 I get some really good Tamiyo action and am able to push past his Hulks effectively.
Round 4 0-2 R/W Race Cars This deck. This has become my hardest matchup yet am still trying to figure out how to push it back to at least a 50/50 matchup as of now I have yet to win a match against it. I believe I may have over side-boarded a little too much, 12 cards. I was able to keep him at bay a little game 2 but just too much coming each turn to stem the tide.
Round 5 2-0 Mardu Reanimator again. This time I just get all the goods and he just can't get traction. This is turning into a really good matchup for this deck.
End of Swiss I am in 1st place going into Top 4.
Top 4 Round 1 2-0 B/G Delirium This is against my friend who I travel and test with and I basically helped build his deck. Game 1 I blow him out with Double Blessed Alliance after he gets a fast start with a Flayer and a Demon. Game 2 I get Tamiyo out and lock him down and Avacyn saves the day when he tries to remove my 5/6 Advocate with a Noxious.
Finals 1-2 R/w Race Cars At this point I was pretty sure I was not going to be able to go to Milwaukee as I am trying to go to the SCG Inv in ATL the weekend before, so I concede him the byes and we play it out anyway just for funsies. Game 1 he stumbles on Red mana and I am able to get there, next 2 same as our Swiss match, I just get rolled.
So now I need to figure out how to shore up the Race cars Match. Overall I am really pleased with this current build. Tamiyo, Field Researcher right now is the real deal. She stalls your opponent out enough to allow you to get ahead or gain parody. Drawing cards has been amazing, even targeting my opponents creatures is somewhat of a pseudo control mechanic. I did Ultimate her 2 times and it felt good both time although I did lose the match after as I overextended a bit much.
So had a rough day at a small PPTQ, 16ppl, going 1-2.
Round 1 R/G Energy 0-2 and didn't play a game of magic the match as I proceeded to flood both gameshaving 8 lands in play 4 in hand and an elvoving in the yard, started with 3. Of note, Hydra's hexproof was rough.
Round 2 R/W Humans 2-1 This match is rough but easier post board. Game 1 goes kinda long even after he gets a fast start as I get some stabilization with a pair of Tamiyo's b2b but he has answer's to my limited threat pkg I get and eventually overwhelm's me. Game 2 he gets stuck on 1 land and have a slower hand and allow him a chance to start getting back in before I can overpower with a Gearhulk and Tamiyo to get the needed removals. Game 3 goes to Turns as I get the board mucked up enough with lives at 8-7 2 of 3 blockers get Pia'd and I flash an Avacyn in, tapped due to Thalia, but can block and keep blocker goe to 2 he still ha 2 blockers back, I top a Tamiyo. Tamiyo, Field Researcher is the real deal in this style of deck.
Round 3 2-1 Jeskai Flash Clsssic match up, Green dudes vs. Blue spells. game 1 I get a pretty fast start with a couple Advocates and a Gearhulk. Game 2 he gets the goods in the way of 3 straight Fumigate's and is able to close it with some spirit's. Game 3 I stumble turns 3 and 4 and can't get back in.
Really was happy with most of the deck and seeing a few changes going forward, depending on what happens at the PT.
I will definitely be dropping Bruna, too cute. Going up to a 3rd and possibly a 4th Gisela. She is a removal magnet and boss when she sticks.
Going back to 25 lands and am still not sure if I want to include a pair of Falls or not, leaning towards yes.
Debating on a 3/3 split on Avacyn and Gearhulks, both are really good. Skywhaler's shot needs to be in the 75 somewhere as a 2 or 3 of, instant speed removals are important right now I believe.
Ihad been considering a Number of Falls but am trying to reduce the number of tapped lands. Tamiyo is the real deal in this style of deck and as Todd Stevens said no less than 4 and side out no more than 1, it is that good. Ihad thought of the blinky Angel but it seems too cute and fights for space with Avacyn, Gisela and Bruna.
Normally you are trying to turn 1 on 1, it will Slow down almost every deck in the format, putting it on 2 is also a valid line as well. Basically the faster you get it out the better.
Considering a small splash of B for Anguished Unmaking main deck and Sorin, Grim Nemesis out of the side. I beilieve I want to avoid using Shambling Vent on the main factor of it coming in Tapped no matter what, even though it gets reasonably better late game with Sylvan Advocate. For now I am going to try Concealed Courtyard as a 3 of and I am tinkering with a single Sylvan Scrying in the main. Her is the list I have for now.
So, finally got out and played some modern last, and well it was an interesting night. An old friend opened up a shop recently so I am starting to play there to help out and I like the shop, he is doing it right. Anyway, only 9 people showed up but still good to get some games in. Firstly, I was able to only get my Caverns as he didn't have any SSG's, so I was at least able to get them in. Also, have gone to MD Chalice, alas I only have 3 but seemed good enough tonight.
Round 1 I get paired against my friend (the store owner) I know he has some funky 4 Color Allies deck that is predicated on mill and discard but have never seen it in action. Game 1 goes as expected I get early fatties as he tries to set up his mill and discard engine and I just overwhelm him with Smasher's and Endbringer. Game 2 I start good but he gets one of his pump up the Jam's Allies with a Lightning Greaves SMH. He proceeds to get his self pumping Allies outa control and I get no answers. Game 3 Double Ratchet Bomb's and a pair Smasher's into Endbringer seals it quickly. One thing to note, after game 1 I found out he has Zero basics so I was playing with de facto Wasteland for the next 2 games, which was highly relevant.
Round 2 I get the guy who doesn't play Modern and thought it was Standard but wanted to play so into the fray he jumped with his Standard U/W Control. Game 1 goes long as I pull the Flood and draw nothing relevant allowing him to set up a little control, but a T3 Chalice on 2 slowed him down whilst I durdled and finally got enough going to punch through. Game 2 I finaly get to live the dream and get a free Caverns "Woo Hoo", T1 Reshaper into T2 Thought-Knot, T3 Smasher.... Too fast to high power level in the end.
Round 3 I finally get a "real" opponent U/G Infect. I'm on the draw, live the dream again open with a Caverns, T1 Chalice on 1 proceed to watch sad face but not too sad as he was able to a Hierarch out on his first turn and tried to get enough into his GY for a Become but I had a Contortion waiting. Game 2 Lived the dream AGAIN! but it was on a mull to 6 which made it even that much better. T1 I go Map, T2 Chalice, T3-6 Flod a little he has a little intereaction actually as we both get Spellskites in play and then comes the play of the night, nay I say play of the Month. So he got me off the Chalice and is looking to threaten but I have gotten a few answers and all he has left is a Skite and me with my own Skite, I top the Emrakul, the Promised End and try and see if she sticks and it does. I start to take his turn and he has like 3 pumps, a Negate and I think a Noble. I start to go about burning out his pump spells and realize I am at 20 still and he is only at 4 and *DING* light bulb comes on. Target his Skite, redirect to my Skite, redirect to his Skite, Rinse repeat, you loose. Another way to win with Emrakul!
Unfortunately with 9 ppl we ended the night there and due to losing the 1 game Round 1 i got 2nd, .But, I was able to parlay my credit into my 3rd Gisela, the Broken Blade for my standard experiment.
All in all really impressed with Gemstone Caverns, although I almost got caught in the trap of keeping a relatively bad hand just because I had a Cavern on the draw. Looking forward to trying out SSG's when I can get my hands on them.
here is his deck tech link
http://www.starcitygames.com/events/coverage/modern_eldrazi_tron_with_todd_.html
2x Aether Hub
3x Botanical Sanctum
3x Canopy Vista
4x Evolving Wilds
2x Forest
1x Island
2x Lumbering Falls
4x Plains
3x Port Town
1x Prairie Stream
4x Archangel Avacyn
4x Reflector Mage
4x Selfless Spirit
4x Servant of the Conduit
4x Spell Queller
2x Verdurous Gearhulk
Instant (9)
3x Blessed Alliance
3x Blossoming Defense
3x Unsubstantiate
Planeswalker (4)
4x Tamiyo, Field Researcher
2x Ceremonious Rejection
2x Declaration in Stone
2x Fumigate
2x Ishkanah, Grafwidow
3x Natural State
2x Negate
2x Stasis Snare
2x Aether Hub
3x Botanical Sanctum
4x Evolving Wilds
3x Forest
3x Fortified Village
1x Island
2x Lumbering Falls
4x Plains
3x Prairie Stream
Creature (23)
3x Archangel Avacyn
3x Gisela, the Broken Blade
4x Reflector Mage
2x Selfless Spirit
4x Servant of the Conduit
4x Sylvan Advocate
3x Verdurous Gearhulk
2x Blessed Alliance
3x Blossoming Defense
3x Skywhaler's Shot
Planeswalker (4)
4x Tamiyo, Field Researcher
1x Appetite for the Unnatural
3x Ceremonious Rejection
2x Declaration in Stone
1x Descend upon the Sinful
3x Fragmentize
1x Linvala, the Preserver
2x Negate
2x Summary Dismissal
Round 1 2-0 U/G Energy This was against a young man just there for the Con and he didn't really have much going on with his U/G Energy deck.
Round 2 2-1 Abzan Good Stuff Game 1 I Mull to 5 and still get there with amazing top decks, Game 2 I stumble and can't find a 4th land to help. Game 3 he stumbles and I draw the Nuts to bull rush.
Round 3 2-1 Mardu Reanimator Game 1 goes long as I get Tamiyo Ultimate and unload Advocate, Spirit and 2 Gearhulks and feel good, He drops a Cataclysmic and ultimate's his Sorin for 18 dudes, I couldn't draw a Dec in Stone. Game 3 I get some really good Tamiyo action and am able to push past his Hulks effectively.
Round 4 0-2 R/W Race Cars This deck. This has become my hardest matchup yet am still trying to figure out how to push it back to at least a 50/50 matchup as of now I have yet to win a match against it. I believe I may have over side-boarded a little too much, 12 cards. I was able to keep him at bay a little game 2 but just too much coming each turn to stem the tide.
Round 5 2-0 Mardu Reanimator again. This time I just get all the goods and he just can't get traction. This is turning into a really good matchup for this deck.
End of Swiss I am in 1st place going into Top 4.
Top 4 Round 1 2-0 B/G Delirium This is against my friend who I travel and test with and I basically helped build his deck. Game 1 I blow him out with Double Blessed Alliance after he gets a fast start with a Flayer and a Demon. Game 2 I get Tamiyo out and lock him down and Avacyn saves the day when he tries to remove my 5/6 Advocate with a Noxious.
Finals 1-2 R/w Race Cars At this point I was pretty sure I was not going to be able to go to Milwaukee as I am trying to go to the SCG Inv in ATL the weekend before, so I concede him the byes and we play it out anyway just for funsies. Game 1 he stumbles on Red mana and I am able to get there, next 2 same as our Swiss match, I just get rolled.
So now I need to figure out how to shore up the Race cars Match. Overall I am really pleased with this current build. Tamiyo, Field Researcher right now is the real deal. She stalls your opponent out enough to allow you to get ahead or gain parody. Drawing cards has been amazing, even targeting my opponents creatures is somewhat of a pseudo control mechanic. I did Ultimate her 2 times and it felt good both time although I did lose the match after as I overextended a bit much.
Round 1 R/G Energy 0-2 and didn't play a game of magic the match as I proceeded to flood both gameshaving 8 lands in play 4 in hand and an elvoving in the yard, started with 3. Of note, Hydra's hexproof was rough.
Round 2 R/W Humans 2-1 This match is rough but easier post board. Game 1 goes kinda long even after he gets a fast start as I get some stabilization with a pair of Tamiyo's b2b but he has answer's to my limited threat pkg I get and eventually overwhelm's me. Game 2 he gets stuck on 1 land and have a slower hand and allow him a chance to start getting back in before I can overpower with a Gearhulk and Tamiyo to get the needed removals. Game 3 goes to Turns as I get the board mucked up enough with lives at 8-7 2 of 3 blockers get Pia'd and I flash an Avacyn in, tapped due to Thalia, but can block and keep blocker goe to 2 he still ha 2 blockers back, I top a Tamiyo. Tamiyo, Field Researcher is the real deal in this style of deck.
Round 3 2-1 Jeskai Flash Clsssic match up, Green dudes vs. Blue spells. game 1 I get a pretty fast start with a couple Advocates and a Gearhulk. Game 2 he gets the goods in the way of 3 straight Fumigate's and is able to close it with some spirit's. Game 3 I stumble turns 3 and 4 and can't get back in.
Really was happy with most of the deck and seeing a few changes going forward, depending on what happens at the PT.
I will definitely be dropping Bruna, too cute. Going up to a 3rd and possibly a 4th Gisela. She is a removal magnet and boss when she sticks.
Going back to 25 lands and am still not sure if I want to include a pair of Falls or not, leaning towards yes.
Debating on a 3/3 split on Avacyn and Gearhulks, both are really good.
Skywhaler's shot needs to be in the 75 somewhere as a 2 or 3 of, instant speed removals are important right now I believe.
2x Archangel Avacyn
1x Bruna, the Fading Light
2x Gisela, the Broken Blade
3x Reflector Mage
3x Selfless Spirit
4x Servant of the Conduit
4x Sylvan Advocate
3x Verdurous Gearhulk
Sorcery (3)
3x Declaration in Stone
Land (26)
4x Aether Hub
4x Botanical Sanctum
2x Canopy Vista
4x Evolving Wilds
3x Forest
1x Island
6x Plains
2x Prairie Stream
3x Blessed Alliance
2x Blossoming Defense
Planeswalker (4)
4x Tamiyo, Field Researcher
3x Appetite for the Unnatural
2x Ceremonious Rejection
2x Fumigate
3x Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
1x Linvala, the Preserver
2x Pulse of Murasa
2x Summary Dismissal
3x Aether Hub
2x Botanical Sanctum
4x Canopy Vista
4x Evolving Wilds
2x Forest
2x Fortified Village
2x Island
4x Plains
2x Prairie Stream
Enchantment (2)
2x Always Watching
Creature (19)
2x Archangel Avacyn
1x Bruna, the Fading Light
2x Gisela, the Broken Blade
3x Selfless Spirit
4x Servant of the Conduit
4x Sylvan Advocate
3x Verdurous Gearhulk
3x Blessed Alliance
2x Blossoming Defense
Artifact (3)
3x Stitcher's Graft
Planeswalker (6)
4x Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
2x Tamiyo, Field Researcher
3x Appetite for the Unnatural
3x Declaration in Stone
1x Linvala, the Preserver
2x Nissa, Vital Force
2x Pulse of Murasa
2x Stasis Snare
2x Summary Dismissal
3x Aether Hub
4x Canopy Vista
3x Concealed Courtyard
4x Forest
4x Fortified Village
5x Plains
2x Westvale Abbey
Sorcery (1)
1x Sylvan Scrying
Planeswalker (4)
4x Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
3x Archangel Avacyn
3x Gisela, the Broken Blade
3x Selfless Spirit
4x Servant of the Conduit
4x Sylvan Advocate
3x Verdurous Gearhulk
Instant (7)
2x Anguished Unmaking
3x Blessed Alliance
2x Blossoming Defense
3x Stitcher's Graft
3x Appetite for the Unnatural
3x Declaration in Stone
2x Fumigate
2x Plummet
2x Pulse of Murasa
1x Sorin, Grim Nemesis
2x Stasis Snare
Round 1 I get paired against my friend (the store owner) I know he has some funky 4 Color Allies deck that is predicated on mill and discard but have never seen it in action. Game 1 goes as expected I get early fatties as he tries to set up his mill and discard engine and I just overwhelm him with Smasher's and Endbringer. Game 2 I start good but he gets one of his pump up the Jam's Allies with a Lightning Greaves SMH. He proceeds to get his self pumping Allies outa control and I get no answers. Game 3 Double Ratchet Bomb's and a pair Smasher's into Endbringer seals it quickly. One thing to note, after game 1 I found out he has Zero basics so I was playing with de facto Wasteland for the next 2 games, which was highly relevant.
Round 2 I get the guy who doesn't play Modern and thought it was Standard but wanted to play so into the fray he jumped with his Standard U/W Control. Game 1 goes long as I pull the Flood and draw nothing relevant allowing him to set up a little control, but a T3 Chalice on 2 slowed him down whilst I durdled and finally got enough going to punch through. Game 2 I finaly get to live the dream and get a free Caverns "Woo Hoo", T1 Reshaper into T2 Thought-Knot, T3 Smasher.... Too fast to high power level in the end.
Round 3 I finally get a "real" opponent U/G Infect. I'm on the draw, live the dream again open with a Caverns, T1 Chalice on 1 proceed to watch sad face but not too sad as he was able to a Hierarch out on his first turn and tried to get enough into his GY for a Become but I had a Contortion waiting. Game 2 Lived the dream AGAIN! but it was on a mull to 6 which made it even that much better. T1 I go Map, T2 Chalice, T3-6 Flod a little he has a little intereaction actually as we both get Spellskites in play and then comes the play of the night, nay I say play of the Month. So he got me off the Chalice and is looking to threaten but I have gotten a few answers and all he has left is a Skite and me with my own Skite, I top the Emrakul, the Promised End and try and see if she sticks and it does. I start to take his turn and he has like 3 pumps, a Negate and I think a Noble. I start to go about burning out his pump spells and realize I am at 20 still and he is only at 4 and *DING* light bulb comes on. Target his Skite, redirect to my Skite, redirect to his Skite, Rinse repeat, you loose. Another way to win with Emrakul!
Unfortunately with 9 ppl we ended the night there and due to losing the 1 game Round 1 i got 2nd, .But, I was able to parlay my credit into my 3rd Gisela, the Broken Blade for my standard experiment.
All in all really impressed with Gemstone Caverns, although I almost got caught in the trap of keeping a relatively bad hand just because I had a Cavern on the draw. Looking forward to trying out SSG's when I can get my hands on them.