Oh I like the Ojatai, seems sweet! Just need to find a Minamo somewhere. I'm still very partial to visions. It might just be right to go thought scour, I'm sure it's just my personal experience and being results oriented with the scour that makes me hesitant. For now I'll try out changing the anticipate with the scours and see how they do before fully committing. Thanks for the suggestions.
Took this deck to a 3-1 at FNM last week. Beat UR Twin, Burn, Naya aggro and lost to Death and Taxes. Each game felt either free win or super super close. Not sure I like that but some games were super exciting especially vs the Naya player. One thing I really like about this version is it isn't super GY dependent but you can't not board in GY hate against it. It makes it very hard for opponents. Had a couple games where they brought in RIP/relic and got spanked by Geist.
Overall the deck performed pretty well. I really liked Jace. Since I run so many legends Shizo, Death's Storehouse was er mah gerd good. Eiganjo on the other hand was meh. Probably going to add another Shizo. Geist without Shizo felt weak most of the time but he was easy enough to board out in the naya match. Had a game with him where all I needed to do was survive and just ended up being a grey ogre but that was all I needed. I will tweak some of the numbers though once I figure out more the weaker matches like Tron, although it isn't a huge player in my meta. Anticipate was fine but not great, I can see exchanging that for more removal or Thought Scour. Not really happy with the SB but it was fine for what I faced. Once I get some more games in with it I will know for sure.
very unsure of Iona. I lost game 2 to burn with an Iona on the table...It just feels wrong not including her though.
Just out of curiosity, when would you board in the extra 2 Lilis? Of the maindeck cards, she seemed the most "expendable." OR, is she just a house vs control alongside the other discard spells or something?
Liliana is for control matchups and things like Bogle. She is expendable but she allows us to discard also which needs to happen sometimes. There have been plenty of times I have a creature in my hand and no way to cast it or get rid of it. She is great for even just doing that to allow for unburial to happen.
A quick update for my list: I changed a couple of things now -1 Remand, -1 Gifts Ungiven, +2 Spell Pierce. So far I really like it. I can also see removing the counters and splashing green again for Abrupt Decay and Maelstrom Pulse or Golgari Charm. I have also had a lot of success with Crime // Punishment. The manabase certainly takes a hit but I've not had a problem with a 4th color previously, except for Blood Moon.
That PolyMorph-Gifts hybrid seems hilarious, but a bit gimmicky. Especially since it lacks a larger portion of removal than I'd like.
Lack of removal sucks. I have been debating going back with a green splash to get back Abrupt but sometimes removal doesn't make a difference. I have 5 or so counters in that spot now as having a Polymorph resolve is better than killing a creature almost every single time. I have had turn 3/4 Emrakul fairly often. It certainly isn't consistent but as the game goes on, it doesn't ever get any worse unless your 3 creatures have all been exiled. Most decks just can't stop an Emrakul at any point in the game.
Remand has been decent but still unsure on it. I love having a way to beat GY hate. Polymorph can be such a blowout I just wish there were mana accelerators that weren't creatures in the 1 drop slot. I will be testing this deck at a tourney this coming week.
It totally depends on what the situation is. Most often I gifts for a fatty and Unburial rites as soon as possible. Aggro or creature decks I go for Elesh Norn. For control or close to mono color decks I get Iona. Sometimes I gifts for value cards if neither fatty is particularly useful. Example: crime, loam, lingering, snapcaster. Usually it's just loam/crime but sometimes picking 4 just value town. Other times I find myself needing removal. I try to run 4 1'ofs for removal. Usually I get path, pulse, abrupt, and if preboard, Liliana. If post board, it's detention sphere/golgari charm or whatever other removal I board in. In extreme cases you can do 3 lands and loam or 2 lands, loam and crime. There are some utility lands like ghost/tec edge, Urborg and especially gavony township that are necessary to find given how some grindy or control matches go. Try not to choose 4 cards unless you absolutely need to or are playing cards that synergize or play well from the GY like Snapcaster, loam, crime, etc.
Depending on the matchup, unburial rites can just win but it usually doesn't. To my knowledge there is nothing that just "wins". Discard and especially removal are key for early turns. If you don't have disruption you will just lose. However, depending on how you build the deck, just going aggro with tokens or Goyf can do it. You shouldn't ever have to rely on gifts as it is easily disrupted.
There are a lot of depends sadly but there are a few general rules you can follow.
It isn't cute at all, I win a lot of my games with tokens. It depends on the meta of course but going a token route has good merits. Doesn't help in fast combo but grindy decks and aggro decks. I run 4 colors and not heavy in the souls but it is very effective. Running zealous persecution can be a total blowout. Bitterblossom also pumps Tarmogoyf twice so adding an engineered explosives main means he can be absolutely huge with every card type present in the deck. I wouldn't want to cut green though. Goyf is too good and being able to run Thrun and Gavony Township along with the tokens can be really strong.
match 1 UWR Control (1-1) 0-0-1
This was 2 really long games. The first game I should have won but I was too afraid of counters and missed a couple of very obvious plays. I Unburial Rites too late and forgot a lingering souls in my GY. I passed causing me to take a Celestial Colonnade hit unnecessarily which ultimately killed me.
Game 2 I got an early crime/loam package going and beat down hard with Bitterblossom and Lingering Souls backed by a Gavony Township. Was a long game but I managed to take it when we went into turns. This match was very difficult and extremely grindy. It feels winnable though even if the odds may be slightly against me.
Match 2 Infect (2-0) 1-0-1
I knew what this player was playing which allowed be to mull to six to find an early removal. I was rewarded at 6 cards. I won roll so I led with Heirarch. I was then able to turn 2 Maelstrom Pulse his infect guy and land a turn 4 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite. He scooped.
Game 2 was closer. I kept a hand with mostly removal. led a turn 2 abrupt decay Spellskite. I ended up at 9 poison when I stabilized. From there Bitterblossom and Tarmogoyf took it home for me. Overall this Match felt super easy but maybe I just got lucky.
match 3 monoblack devotion (2-0) 2-0-1
I also knew what the guy was playing from observing the room. Luckily for me I kept a resilient hand he he spent a lot of turns making me discard. Tarmogoyf and removal on key creatures allowed me to win pretty easily.
game 2 was much the same as game 1 but I was able to do land some early threats and used his discard to my advantage mainly through his Liliana allowing me to dump Iona into my yard. A lucky topdeck Path to Exile on his Phyrexian Obliterator and a Detention Sphere on his Liliana allowed my dual Bitterblossoms to let me win. I just had all the answers this match. Creature matchups in general are pretty easy for this deck. I haven't been able to test against zoo yet though.
Random thoughts. Knight was extremely underwhelming. This I could attribute to only having 2 but when I cast her she wasn't that impressive. I'm thinking of removing them for either Kitchen Finks, Brimaz, King of Oreskos, Snapcaster or Vendilion Clique or some mix, maybe just some more removal/discard. My meta has shifted to more control decks as of late but the new bannings haven't really impacted it much outside of what I was playing (I've been playing this deck for a while now though). I really loved Bitterblossom, it did a lot of good work for me. some lifegain I think is necessary either through Finks or something like Timely Reinforcements. Wurmcoil Engine I never saw except once and was never able to cast it. I think I may try Griselbrand in it's place but I'm kinda torn on that, but it seems better.
What creatures are you buffing? Just the 4 Tarmo? I like Tarmo defensively, but having it+Noble to play offense it a deck that isn't well suited for speed seems counterproductive.
Well to each his own. This deck needs to attack in order to win however, and Hierarch changes the clock by a solid turn both through exalted and through ramp. Seems good to me. I can fully support removing that for more removal or something as well.
Mana hasn't been an issue unless its some sort of mana screw. The only times I've really been hurt by color fixing is if someone is destroying them or hindering my fetches, etc. Hierarch produces every other color I need and buffs my creatures which has been huge. the times I Haven't been able to cast Lili I've had other things to cast or just powering out an early gifts more than makes up for not having the B.
match 1 GW Bogle (1-0, 2W)
Game 1 I had a strong opener with some discard and Liliana. between discard and Liliana I was able to lock him out of creatures. One point he had one suited up but a topdeck abrupt decay took out his key enchantment and my Goyf was able to kill it when he attacked.
Game 2 was fairly similar with but he mulled to 6 and kept a strange hand. Some ramp and souls helped chump till I was able to cast fracturing gust. A gifts next turn into Elesh wrapped it up very quickly.
match 2 B/g Devotion control (2-0, 4W)
This match can usually go either way depending on who goes first and disruption in the opening hand. Turn one Deathrite from me and discard from him making me discard some irrelevant. I topdecked a Liliana and just tore apart his hand. He did drop a Phyrexian Obliterator but I thankfully had the Path to Exile. No gifts this game but Tarmogoyf plus Hierarch ended it in a few turns.
game 2 my opponent punted so hard giving me the win. Basically the first few turns was just battling over deathrites, removal and discard. I land a Goyf (4/5) and he has a deathrite and an Obliterator. I play Detention Sphere on his Phyrexian Obliterator and attack. He Abrupt Decays the Sphere and blocks with the Obliterator. Now here also kills his deathrite to grow the goyf thinking that I would have to sacrifice more permanents. by doing that he made it a 5/6 anf forgot the Obliterator would die and I just sacrificed my lands and rode him to a questionable victory.
Match 3 U/R Storm (3-0, 6W 1L)
Game 1 this game didn't go well. I had a decent opener but he just had all the answers and Stormed early killing me with ease.
Game 2 went well more in my favor. A couple mana dudes and some early discard kept him off comboing me. I topdecked a decay to kill his Pyromancer Ascension allowing me to survive a critical turn so I could gifts into Iona. Was close though.
Game 3 went much like game 2 except I had all the answers to his things before they could get out of hand. Turn 5 Iona on red prevented him from playing anything. I worried about him getting bounced but thankfully he didn't draw a cryptic or something like it.
Match 4 R/W Soul sisters/Norin the Wary (3-0-1, split for first)
Game 1 was a fun game but I was unable to stop Norin the Wary from gaining him too much life and too strong of dudes. I lost fairly quickly as I didn't see much removal or gifts.
game 2 was the exact opposite. Early ramp into a turn 3 gifts/turn 4 Elesh Norn cleared everything then a Path to Exile on an Ajani's Pridemate took me to victory. I really feel this is an easy matchup overall and was highly favored if a 3rd game were to take place.
I love playing this deck. There are so many lines of play and that is really great. Gifts adds so many options even after the first reanimation happens. Loam+crime wasn't very useful but freed slots for SB which was fine. I was very happy with Tarmogoyf and Noble Hierarch. I need to work on my SB a lot though. My meta is mostly very grindy decks and aggro based (merfolk, affinity, bogle). Sometimes combo and things like tron come through so having the right slots for everything has been difficult. The deck is fairly GY dependent which can be really rough some game 2s. Also, a timely Blood moon is just game. Both those worry me, maybe more Abrupt Decays or Golgari Charm.
I wrote a little about the demon. He is only occasionally a liability. Sacrificing guys is not always a bad thing. As long as you use your tokens sparingly, he will stick around. He also guarantees a morbid tragic slip. If he ever is a liability just sac him to himself. He already killed a guy in the process and more than likely hit them as well. He is bad vs lingering souls decks unless you can mutilate them away. he almost always survives through that. As a 2 of you usually don't see him until late anyways. You shouldn't just throw him out there either unless you know he will win the game right there.
Aggro is always tough depending on their draw. There's 3 slip for turn 1 and 7 turn 2 removal plays and 3 sign on turn 2 if they are slow. A total of 13 turn 2 plays.
Messenger is a resilient threat that can win a game without attacking in this deck. Backed by removal to mitigate his downside, which is only relevant in aggro match ups, seems like a good threat to me.
It is certainly tough to beat a revelation style deck pre-board as a lot of the removal is pretty bad. However, keeping their side clean these guys provide a very fast clock. My meta doesn't have a lot of revelation decks. There are a lot of good options post board though. Between Liliana, sin collector, duress, rest in peace, blind obedience, lingering souls, obzedat and the angels blinking guys to get around azorius charm, you have more than a fighting chance to win.
I have been brewing this deck for a while with a friend and I feel it has game. It differs from GB control with a better top end. It also allows more interaction and tricks than many other control decks out there.
Creatures: The best card in the deck is hands down Restoration Angel and I dare say the format. It blinks every creature minus the Baron. This combined with Orzhov Charm allows for kills without even attacking which can really come in handy in stalled states. Shadowborn Demon is a house in this kind of deck. With all the Lingering Souls tokens, messengers and Sorin, there are plenty of fodder to keep him out. He also makes sure to turn on Tragic Slip every turn. Blinking him during blockers leads to some serious blowouts. Mutavault can help in a pinch as well. There aren't many creatures but they all do a lot of heavy lifting with some lifelink will counteract the Sign in Blood and Charm as removal.
Spells: Removal sweet doesn't need much reasoning. Most of it is diversified to allow for every kind of threat. Hitting a Mutilate for 2-3 on turn 4 is very consistent. Orzhov Charm runs double duty as early, non-conditional removal and a way to return creatures during combat or end of turn. The worst match up is probably hexproof but sideboard or main can changed to include Celestial Flare if needed. Lingering Souls shines the best in this deck being both a wincon and support for cards like the demon.
Lands: Mutavault is a really good edition after board wipes and the amount of control. Vault of the Archangel provides some life gain and makes attacking into tokens extremely difficult. Messenger can't immediately block and some of your spells are self damaging so all the life gain is needed. I believe some guild gates could be added to support cards like Celestial Flare. Overall the mana is pretty solid.
Sideboard is still a work in progress. Without knowing a meta this seems like a good start. It may need to be more tuned to fight more controlling style decks.
@redirus91: I probably could remove a disciple for a tusk. He has been awesome for me though. There have been a few times that he has been a dead card but not often and I want to see him at least 1 time per game. I play silverhearts and he has been known to get me 5-10 cards and life fairly commonly. I just think of him as a revelations, which is usually enough to warrant the loss of my creatures.
Most heavy aggro/RDW type decks are tough. I need a solid start absolutely. Post sideboard its way more manageable. It's usually a race but disciple and essence harvest help a lot. In those match ups Desecration demon is pretty bad but is usually useful enough with restoration and disciple. I don't ever feel like it's an unwinnable match up but those matches are tough. I do like twin, I've been meaning to get him in there somehow. I also love, silklash for the sideboard
1 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
4 Geist of Saint Traft
1 Vendilion Clique
2 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
1 Iona, Shield of Emeria
2 Snapcaster Mage
Spells - 25
1 Slaughter Pact
1 Detention Sphere
1 Damnation
3 Path to Exile
4 Serum Visions
2 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Thoughtseize
2 Anticipate
2 Liliana of the Veil
2 Lingering Souls
4 Gifts Ungiven
1 Unburial Rites
1 Celestial Colonnade
2 Creeping Tar Pit
1 Vault of the Archangel
1 Eiganjo Castle
1 Shizo, Death's Storehouse
1 Godless Shrine
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Watery Grave
2 Swamp
2 Island
2 Plains
3 Flooded Strand
3 Marsh Flats
3 Polluted Delta
1 Engineered Explosives
2 Negate
2 Rest in Peace
2 Spellskite
2 Stony Silence
4 Leyline of Sanctity
1 Batterskull
1 Grave Titan
Overall the deck performed pretty well. I really liked Jace. Since I run so many legends Shizo, Death's Storehouse was er mah gerd good. Eiganjo on the other hand was meh. Probably going to add another Shizo. Geist without Shizo felt weak most of the time but he was easy enough to board out in the naya match. Had a game with him where all I needed to do was survive and just ended up being a grey ogre but that was all I needed. I will tweak some of the numbers though once I figure out more the weaker matches like Tron, although it isn't a huge player in my meta. Anticipate was fine but not great, I can see exchanging that for more removal or Thought Scour. Not really happy with the SB but it was fine for what I faced. Once I get some more games in with it I will know for sure.
very unsure of Iona. I lost game 2 to burn with an Iona on the table...It just feels wrong not including her though.
Liliana is for control matchups and things like Bogle. She is expendable but she allows us to discard also which needs to happen sometimes. There have been plenty of times I have a creature in my hand and no way to cast it or get rid of it. She is great for even just doing that to allow for unburial to happen.
A quick update for my list: I changed a couple of things now -1 Remand, -1 Gifts Ungiven, +2 Spell Pierce. So far I really like it. I can also see removing the counters and splashing green again for Abrupt Decay and Maelstrom Pulse or Golgari Charm. I have also had a lot of success with Crime // Punishment. The manabase certainly takes a hit but I've not had a problem with a 4th color previously, except for Blood Moon.
Lack of removal sucks. I have been debating going back with a green splash to get back Abrupt but sometimes removal doesn't make a difference. I have 5 or so counters in that spot now as having a Polymorph resolve is better than killing a creature almost every single time. I have had turn 3/4 Emrakul fairly often. It certainly isn't consistent but as the game goes on, it doesn't ever get any worse unless your 3 creatures have all been exiled. Most decks just can't stop an Emrakul at any point in the game.
1 Iona, Shield of Emeria
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
1 Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
Spells 34
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Thoughtseize
3 Path to Exile
4 Bitterblossom
3 Lingering Souls
1 Unburial Rites
3 Gifts Ungiven
3 Polymorph
1 Proteus Staff
2 Liliana of the Veil
3 Talisman of Dominance
4 Remand
1 Godless Shrine
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Watery Grave
3 Marsh Flats
3 Misty Rainforest
4 Darkslick Shores
2 Tectonic Edge
2 Island
2 Swamp
1 Plains
2 Creeping Tar Pit
2 Liliana of the Veil
2 Spellskite
2 Stony Silence
1 Aven Mindcensor
1 Detention Sphere
1 Zealous Persecution
1 Fulminator Mage
2 Damnation
3 Negate
Remand has been decent but still unsure on it. I love having a way to beat GY hate. Polymorph can be such a blowout I just wish there were mana accelerators that weren't creatures in the 1 drop slot. I will be testing this deck at a tourney this coming week.
Depending on the matchup, unburial rites can just win but it usually doesn't. To my knowledge there is nothing that just "wins". Discard and especially removal are key for early turns. If you don't have disruption you will just lose. However, depending on how you build the deck, just going aggro with tokens or Goyf can do it. You shouldn't ever have to rely on gifts as it is easily disrupted.
There are a lot of depends sadly but there are a few general rules you can follow.
4 Noble Hierarch
1 Snapcaster Mage
4 Tarmogoyf
2 Knight of the Reliquary
1 Iona, Shield of Emeria
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
Spells 25
2 Inquisition of Kozilek
1 Raven's Crime
2 Thoughtseize
3 Path to Exile
3 Abrupt Decay
3 Bitterblossom
1 Life from the Loam
2 Lingering Souls
1 Maelstrom Pulse
1 Unburial Rites
4 Gifts Ungiven
2 Liliana of the Veil
1 Breeding Pool
1 Godless Shrine
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Temple Garden
1 Watery Grave
3 Marsh Flats
3 Verdant Catacombs
2 Misty Rainforest
1 Island
1 Swamp
1 Forest
1 Plains
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Horizon Canopy
1 Gavony Township
1 Bojuka Bog
1 Creeping Tar Pit
1 Liliana of the Veil
1 Thrun, the Last Troll
2 Spellskite
2 Stony Silence
1 Aven Mindcensor
1 Detention Sphere
1 Fulminator Mage
2 Damnation
3 Negate
1 Wurmcoil Engine
match 1 UWR Control (1-1) 0-0-1
This was 2 really long games. The first game I should have won but I was too afraid of counters and missed a couple of very obvious plays. I Unburial Rites too late and forgot a lingering souls in my GY. I passed causing me to take a Celestial Colonnade hit unnecessarily which ultimately killed me.
Game 2 I got an early crime/loam package going and beat down hard with Bitterblossom and Lingering Souls backed by a Gavony Township. Was a long game but I managed to take it when we went into turns. This match was very difficult and extremely grindy. It feels winnable though even if the odds may be slightly against me.
Match 2 Infect (2-0) 1-0-1
I knew what this player was playing which allowed be to mull to six to find an early removal. I was rewarded at 6 cards. I won roll so I led with Heirarch. I was then able to turn 2 Maelstrom Pulse his infect guy and land a turn 4 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite. He scooped.
Game 2 was closer. I kept a hand with mostly removal. led a turn 2 abrupt decay Spellskite. I ended up at 9 poison when I stabilized. From there Bitterblossom and Tarmogoyf took it home for me. Overall this Match felt super easy but maybe I just got lucky.
match 3 monoblack devotion (2-0) 2-0-1
I also knew what the guy was playing from observing the room. Luckily for me I kept a resilient hand he he spent a lot of turns making me discard. Tarmogoyf and removal on key creatures allowed me to win pretty easily.
game 2 was much the same as game 1 but I was able to do land some early threats and used his discard to my advantage mainly through his Liliana allowing me to dump Iona into my yard. A lucky topdeck Path to Exile on his Phyrexian Obliterator and a Detention Sphere on his Liliana allowed my dual Bitterblossoms to let me win. I just had all the answers this match. Creature matchups in general are pretty easy for this deck. I haven't been able to test against zoo yet though.
Random thoughts. Knight was extremely underwhelming. This I could attribute to only having 2 but when I cast her she wasn't that impressive. I'm thinking of removing them for either Kitchen Finks, Brimaz, King of Oreskos, Snapcaster or Vendilion Clique or some mix, maybe just some more removal/discard. My meta has shifted to more control decks as of late but the new bannings haven't really impacted it much outside of what I was playing (I've been playing this deck for a while now though). I really loved Bitterblossom, it did a lot of good work for me. some lifegain I think is necessary either through Finks or something like Timely Reinforcements. Wurmcoil Engine I never saw except once and was never able to cast it. I think I may try Griselbrand in it's place but I'm kinda torn on that, but it seems better.
Well to each his own. This deck needs to attack in order to win however, and Hierarch changes the clock by a solid turn both through exalted and through ramp. Seems good to me. I can fully support removing that for more removal or something as well.
4 Deathrite Shaman
3 Noble Hierarch
1 Snapcaster Mage
4 Tarmogoyf
1 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
Spells 24
2 Inquisition of Kozilek
1 Raven's Crime
2 Thoughtseize
3 Path to Exile
2 Abrupt Decay
1 Life from the Loam
3 Lingering Souls
1 Maelstrom Pulse
1 Unburial Rites
4 Gifts Ungiven
4 Liliana of the Veil
1 Breeding Pool
1 Godless Shrine
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Temple Garden
1 Watery Grave
3 Marsh Flats
3 Verdant Catacombs
2 Misty Rainforest
1 Island
1 Swamp
1 Forest
1 Plains
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Horizon Canopy
1 Gavony Township
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Creeping Tar Pit
1 Rest in Peace
1 Fracturing Gust
2 Spellskite
2 Stony Silence
1 Aven Mindcensor
1 Detention Sphere
1 Fulminator Mage
2 Damnation
3 Leyline of Sanctity
1 Iona, Shield of Emeria
I split for first on Monday at my local store.
match 1 GW Bogle (1-0, 2W)
Game 1 I had a strong opener with some discard and Liliana. between discard and Liliana I was able to lock him out of creatures. One point he had one suited up but a topdeck abrupt decay took out his key enchantment and my Goyf was able to kill it when he attacked.
Game 2 was fairly similar with but he mulled to 6 and kept a strange hand. Some ramp and souls helped chump till I was able to cast fracturing gust. A gifts next turn into Elesh wrapped it up very quickly.
match 2 B/g Devotion control (2-0, 4W)
This match can usually go either way depending on who goes first and disruption in the opening hand. Turn one Deathrite from me and discard from him making me discard some irrelevant. I topdecked a Liliana and just tore apart his hand. He did drop a Phyrexian Obliterator but I thankfully had the Path to Exile. No gifts this game but Tarmogoyf plus Hierarch ended it in a few turns.
game 2 my opponent punted so hard giving me the win. Basically the first few turns was just battling over deathrites, removal and discard. I land a Goyf (4/5) and he has a deathrite and an Obliterator. I play Detention Sphere on his Phyrexian Obliterator and attack. He Abrupt Decays the Sphere and blocks with the Obliterator. Now here also kills his deathrite to grow the goyf thinking that I would have to sacrifice more permanents. by doing that he made it a 5/6 anf forgot the Obliterator would die and I just sacrificed my lands and rode him to a questionable victory.
Match 3 U/R Storm (3-0, 6W 1L)
Game 1 this game didn't go well. I had a decent opener but he just had all the answers and Stormed early killing me with ease.
Game 2 went well more in my favor. A couple mana dudes and some early discard kept him off comboing me. I topdecked a decay to kill his Pyromancer Ascension allowing me to survive a critical turn so I could gifts into Iona. Was close though.
Game 3 went much like game 2 except I had all the answers to his things before they could get out of hand. Turn 5 Iona on red prevented him from playing anything. I worried about him getting bounced but thankfully he didn't draw a cryptic or something like it.
Match 4 R/W Soul sisters/Norin the Wary (3-0-1, split for first)
Game 1 was a fun game but I was unable to stop Norin the Wary from gaining him too much life and too strong of dudes. I lost fairly quickly as I didn't see much removal or gifts.
game 2 was the exact opposite. Early ramp into a turn 3 gifts/turn 4 Elesh Norn cleared everything then a Path to Exile on an Ajani's Pridemate took me to victory. I really feel this is an easy matchup overall and was highly favored if a 3rd game were to take place.
I love playing this deck. There are so many lines of play and that is really great. Gifts adds so many options even after the first reanimation happens. Loam+crime wasn't very useful but freed slots for SB which was fine. I was very happy with Tarmogoyf and Noble Hierarch. I need to work on my SB a lot though. My meta is mostly very grindy decks and aggro based (merfolk, affinity, bogle). Sometimes combo and things like tron come through so having the right slots for everything has been difficult. The deck is fairly GY dependent which can be really rough some game 2s. Also, a timely Blood moon is just game. Both those worry me, maybe more Abrupt Decays or Golgari Charm.
It is certainly tough to beat a revelation style deck pre-board as a lot of the removal is pretty bad. However, keeping their side clean these guys provide a very fast clock. My meta doesn't have a lot of revelation decks. There are a lot of good options post board though. Between Liliana, sin collector, duress, rest in peace, blind obedience, lingering souls, obzedat and the angels blinking guys to get around azorius charm, you have more than a fighting chance to win.
4 Geralf's Messenger
4 Restoration Angel
2 Shadowborn Demon
1 Lifebane Zombie
1 Blood Baron of Vizkopa
1 Obzedat, Ghost Council
Instant/Sorceries
3 Tragic Slip
2 Doom Blade
3 Orzhov Charm
3 Sign in Blood
1 Ultimate Price
1 Victim of Night
4 Lingering Souls
4 Mutilate
1 Liliana of the Veil
2 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
Lands
4 Godless Shrine
4 Isolated Chapel
2 Mutavault
1 Vault of the Archangel
1 Plains
12 Swamp
3 Duress
1 Smite
2 Blind Obedience
2 Ratchet Bomb
3 Rest in Peace
1 Lifebane Zombie
2 Sin Collector
1 Sever the Bloodline
Creatures: The best card in the deck is hands down Restoration Angel and I dare say the format. It blinks every creature minus the Baron. This combined with Orzhov Charm allows for kills without even attacking which can really come in handy in stalled states. Shadowborn Demon is a house in this kind of deck. With all the Lingering Souls tokens, messengers and Sorin, there are plenty of fodder to keep him out. He also makes sure to turn on Tragic Slip every turn. Blinking him during blockers leads to some serious blowouts. Mutavault can help in a pinch as well. There aren't many creatures but they all do a lot of heavy lifting with some lifelink will counteract the Sign in Blood and Charm as removal.
Spells: Removal sweet doesn't need much reasoning. Most of it is diversified to allow for every kind of threat. Hitting a Mutilate for 2-3 on turn 4 is very consistent. Orzhov Charm runs double duty as early, non-conditional removal and a way to return creatures during combat or end of turn. The worst match up is probably hexproof but sideboard or main can changed to include Celestial Flare if needed. Lingering Souls shines the best in this deck being both a wincon and support for cards like the demon.
Lands: Mutavault is a really good edition after board wipes and the amount of control. Vault of the Archangel provides some life gain and makes attacking into tokens extremely difficult. Messenger can't immediately block and some of your spells are self damaging so all the life gain is needed. I believe some guild gates could be added to support cards like Celestial Flare. Overall the mana is pretty solid.
Sideboard is still a work in progress. Without knowing a meta this seems like a good start. It may need to be more tuned to fight more controlling style decks.
Most heavy aggro/RDW type decks are tough. I need a solid start absolutely. Post sideboard its way more manageable. It's usually a race but disciple and essence harvest help a lot. In those match ups Desecration demon is pretty bad but is usually useful enough with restoration and disciple. I don't ever feel like it's an unwinnable match up but those matches are tough. I do like twin, I've been meaning to get him in there somehow. I also love, silklash for the sideboard