Great report as always, Patrick.
Vs Knight: Punishing Fire first, THEN drop Bojuka Bog for the guaranteed kill with two damage already on.
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- Sockosensei
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Mar 5, 2014
Sockosensei posted a message on Spreading a Plague #5: Legacy Pox vs. High TideThanks for posting these, Patrick.Posted in: gigapatrick Blog
You questioned your own Liliana play (which got Pierced), but I think it was the correct play there. You can't allow High Tide two more undisrupted turns just to play through Peirce. Not to mention you'd seen the opponent's hand turns earlier and there was no guarantee Pierce was in hand.
A small play I'd like to touch on is the first Smallpox, where I believe you sacked Urborg instead of Swamp. This is potentially significant since keeping the Urborg would have allowed you to play Manlands and begin the offensive a turn earlier, or turn topdecked Wastelands into black mana. I've never known High Tide to run Wasteland or black spells so there'd be no danger in keeping Urborg. -
Jan 22, 2014
Sockosensei posted a message on Legacy Pox Special Edition: SCG Columbus and MTGO Daily (#15)Keep your chin up, my friend.Posted in: gigapatrick Blog
I've run into the double skull issue enough that I'm actually considering dropping my trademark 4 Hymn in favor of 1-mana discard, as Shawn often recommends.
Have another look at Unkn0wn's mono-black list:
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showpost.php?p=11176653&postcount=2768
It is not conceptually far from your list. It has eaten me alive both times I've faced it (I was on Goblins).
The double Tabernacle combined with concentrated LD are what put it over the top, in my mind. Rishadan Port over Mutavault because of the Nether Void focus. Of course the investment in a second Tabernacle is a tough call... (Test it on MTGO first, since they're cheaper.)
On a separate note, give Top more testing. I don't think Crucible is what you want to cut. Just the opposite, because with Top you're [i]much[/] more likely to find your Crucible-Wasteland lock. It's also like adding win conditions to the deck since you can recur Mishra's Factory. I'd test cutting a Scroll instead since it's dead or mediocre early, and you should be able to dig for one. -
Jan 3, 2014
Sockosensei posted a message on Legacy Pox #14: Epic LootKeep your chin up, buddy.Posted in: gigapatrick Blog
What you said about hand evaluation is really true, and reminds me of a similar tournament I had about 9 months ago. Make it a key area to work on and you'll see immediate improvement.
Also you should consider Toxic Deluge in the main. It's really strong right now and gives you a path to stabilization after falling behind. -
Dec 10, 2013
Sockosensei posted a message on Legacy Pox #13: Epic LootThanks as always.Posted in: gigapatrick Blog
You're correct about the Emrakul-Tabernacle play, but if it's a casual event I would have done as you did.
I'm getting copies of Toxic Deluge to test -- we need such 2- or 3-for1 hits, especially to bring us back when we've fallen behind. This is all the more important without library manipulation (which I still feel should be in the deck) since there will be stretches like you experienced where you draw a string of unneeded crap.
One concern about your list is that all of the wincons 'die' to Pithing Needle, and you have no answers to it main or side. That only leaves Lodestone Golem, who you may or may not be bringing in for the matchup. -
Oct 8, 2013
Sockosensei posted a message on Legacy Pox #11: SCG ClevelandGreat report. You're quite honest in assessing your misplays, which I'm sure will lead you to better Poxing.Posted in: gigapatrick Blog
One that didn't get mentioned is the keep R2G1 vs Aggro Elves. I can't see keeping that against any unknown opponent.
I'd like to hear more thoughts on Nether Void vs The Abyss. You boarded in the Abyss in almost every match.
Lastly, great work on finishing in the money at a major event. I hope to do the same one day with 8-Pox
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Jun 5, 2013
Sockosensei posted a message on Local Legacy Pox: Episode 15Nice work, my friend.Posted in: Local Legacy Pox
I'm looking forward to hearing how this build plays vs Esper Stoneblade, RUG, BUG, and other recurring villains. -
Mar 21, 2013
Sockosensei posted a message on Local Legacy Pox: Episode 9Posted in: Local Legacy PoxQuote from TheJGitsI was considering enlightened tutor, and am still considering trying to add helm/RIP or Leyline combo as a sideboard option. Might be neat to play with as an alt win con.
Very very nice, when you consider that RIP is good on its own and not just as a combo piece. -
Mar 21, 2013
Sockosensei posted a message on Local Legacy Pox: Episode 9Posted in: Local Legacy PoxQuote from TheJGitsMy first attempt at the deck's manabase involved 1 Flagstones, 4 Fetches, and 4 scrublands, and I was running into a lot of situations where I was really needing the W for a vindicate or ghostly prison. I also want the deck to be able to hardcast leyline and humility games 2 and 3 if necessary. The mana in the list isn't perfect yet, but I generally don't have trouble getting BB. Dark ritual is also another good source of BB. I'm considering cutting the Nether Spirit again and adding in a Swamp or another SDT. I'm undecided at the moment on that though. Flagstones can be a cuttable card too, as the only situations where it's really awesome is turn 2 with an urborg and a smallpox, which seems a little narrow. It's also quite good when you're at 5 mana with a nethervoid on board, and want to smallpox, and still be able to cast your 2 cmc spells, or get to 6 lands. I don't think i'll be cutting it yet, but will consider if I start to have mana base issues.
Ahh, see I was focusing just on the main deck. You need WW for Humility on top of what I was considering...
I won't push. If it's working for you, great.
I kinda feel bad for nether spirit. He's not invited to any of the creature parties, and now I'm cutting him from hanging out with all the spells. The life of a loner I guess.
Nether Spirit, much as I love it, feels like a weak link here because you can't Tutor, Entomb it or Dredge it. You're just not going to get it when you need it as a one of.
Speaking of Tutors though, Enlightened Tutor grabs your Nether Void, Crucible, Cursed Scroll, SDT, Humility, ...., ....
Just saying;) -
Mar 21, 2013
Sockosensei posted a message on Local Legacy Pox: Episode 9A continuation of my comment above,Posted in: Local Legacy Pox
Maybe something like this
Land baseMagic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards 4 Wasteland
4 Mishra's Factory
3 Scrubland
4 Marsh Flats
1 Verdant Catacomb
3 Swamp
1 Plains
1 The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale
4 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
You lose some of the value lands (sacking Flagstones to Smallpox is one of my all-time favorite F-you plays:tongue:) to add more black sources. That brings you from lands producing/fetching 12 black and 10 white, to 15 black & 9 white.
Perhaps you'd consider counting Tabernacle as a spell and add a 25th mana-producing land.
Just my thoughts. Good on you for trying different things and not giving up easily. I look forward to the write-ups each week. -
Mar 20, 2013
Sockosensei posted a message on Local Legacy Pox: Episode 9I tested your build after your post last week and meant to reply but I don't think I ever did.Posted in: Local Legacy Pox
I really like the spells you've included--choices and numbers of each. This feels like one promising route for Pox.
However, I had a lot, I mean A LOT of trouble getting the colored mana I needed consistently with the mana base as constructed.
Reading your report, I only noticed you mention that in one game. Could you talk more about it, i.e., how often you had to mulligan for colored mana and such? - To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
How many decks are you bringing the Spheres in against? ANT, Reanimator,...
I've always found myself questioning Sphere in the past and am considering Thalia and Revoker for those slots, since they are relevant in more matchups while also starting the clock vs combo.
I'd suggest adding 1 Crucible as you're on 4 Ghost Quarter, of course for the waste-all-mana-sources plan but also for land recursion at a different CMC vs Sanctum Prelate.
Daryl Ayers' match against Joe Lossett really demonstrated the power of maindeck Boseiju. With so many Miracles decks out there now I think it's a strong inclusion.
Consider also how Cavern in your opener affects your decision to keep/mull, and affects your early turn decision tree. Being able to guarantee that Mom/Thalia/Prelate/Containment Priest resolve when you need them to is extremely powerful against not only Miracles, but Delver, Chalice, i.e. a real chunk of the mets. It also forces the opponent to sidebosrd differently.
I've been running 2 Caverns in a more human-heavy build and the benefits have outweighed issues casting Serra Avenger so far. 3 Caverns seems possible depending on build and the number of WW sideboard cards.
If the new Thalia finds a home as a 2-3 of, would that warrant upping the Karakas count to four?
I've been playing a maindeck like this:
4 Mox Diamond
4 Exploration
3 Crop Rotation
2 Gamble
3 Intuition
3 Life from the Loam
1 Crucible of Worlds
3 Engineered Explosives
4 Punishing Fire
4 Wasteland
4 Rishadan Port
3 Thespian's Stage
1 Dark Depths
4 Grove of the Burnwillows
2 Taiga
2 Tropical Island
1 Forest
3 Windswept Heath
2 Tranquil Thicket
1 The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale
2 Tolaria West
3 Maze of Ith
1 Academy Ruins
1 Bojuka Bog
This build is good at establishing Grove-Punishing Fire, EE-Academy Ruins, Loam-Waste, Loam-Thicket, etc. with the tradeoff being fewer one-ofs like Karakas, Ghost Quarter, and Glacial Chasm.
The sideboard begins with your choice of Grip/Decay(+Bayou), Spheres, and Chalices. I've had success with Bob in the past but wonder if Thought-Knot Seer, Tireless Tracker, or Thalia/Canonist wouldn't be better at the moment.
How's the MTG scene in Tokyo? I play in Nagoya.
re: Worldly Counsel -- I've been running a split with Anticipate in the 4c BTL build with white. It consistently looks at three cards or more. As someone else commented, it's rarely your turn 2 play.
Out of curiosity, why isn't Gigadrowse discussed more as a sideboard option? It's been an excellent 1-of when I've drawn it and I keep catching myself thinking, "If I rip Gigadrowse, I win." Considering a second copy.
Could you post your updated list and sideboard?
I've still only had the chance to test three matchups with BW Taxes: Mana-Rock Eldrazi, RUG Delver, and Shardless Pox. To be honest, none of them have been pretty. A decision that came up frequently in the latter two was whether to expose a Scrubland in the early game. Despite trying to protect them where possible, I frequently had issues getting WW for Serra Avenger or Flickerwisp because of opposing Wastelands, Stifles, Smallpoxes, and Sinkholes. I hope to get the chance to test against other decks.
As an aside, whereas Burntgerbil favors silver artifacts, I've gone the opposite route with all-brown for my Karn deck. I've proxied cards in the old border as needed. (Yes, I own the real cards.) Any suggestions on what style I should use for the Wastes?
I prefer Mwonvuli Acid-Moss to Hunting Wilds since the LD is relevant against multiple decks in game 1. Still, that's another slot that I could see becoming cheap removal, if needed.
I've hard-cast Verdict multiple times. It's been uncastable in hand twice. I've also had it in hand waiting and combo-killed the opponent instead. I'm still considering the slimmer BTL build with Lightning Bolts; I just need more time to test it.
Have people tested Chalice of the Void out of the sideboard?
How have the changes affected your match ups so far, vs Sneak and Show and Miracles in particular? My main concern is the lack of MD Revokers.
Incredible showing in those side events! Thank you for the report.
I noticed that you cut Zuran Orb from the board. How did that work out?
@Everyone
How necessary is Glacial Chasm right now?
Of course there are games that it flat out wins. How many does it lose by being a dead draw? I can't count the number of times I've seen it early in a game and thought, "If only that were any other card..."
I've gone back to 2x Tranquil Thicket. Having gone without any copies for so long, I really notice the consistency it adds in combination with the tutors (I'm still on the Gamble-Intuition-Crop list below). The second copy is big as I frequently draw or dredge into it early on. The additional green sources occasionally make a crucial difference.
EDIT: Added list
4x Rishadan Port
4x Wasteland
1x Ghost Quarter
1x Forest
2x Taiga
2x Tropical Island
1x Bayou
3x Green Fetch
3x Grove of the Burnwillows
3x Maze of Ith
2x Thespian's Stage
1x Dark Depths
1x Academy Ruins
1x Tolaria West
1x Bojuka Bog
2x Tranquil Thicket
1x Karakas
1x The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale
3x Crop Rotation
3x Intuition
2x Gamble
4x Mox Diamond
4x Exploration
3x Life from the Loam
1x Crucible of Worlds
3x Punishing Fire
3x Engineered Explosives
Flex Slot (1)
1x Smokestack or Glacial Chasm
2x Abrupt Decay
2x Krosan Grip
3x Dark Confidant
4x Sphere of Resistance
2x Chalice of the Void
2x Meta Slots
Here's the visual spoiler.