Kandjar, I took the time to test out your build against a few match-ups, and had a few comments. Maybe you can give your feedback on my experiences with your build.
1) Skirsdag High Priest can be good, but he generally only excels as a turn 2 play from my experience. As a 2-of, you rarely have him in your opening hand so his value seems lost (although 4 means you draw him as a dead late-game card more often... this is the reason I can't get myself to like him). Have you tried something like Phyrexian Obliterator in those last two slots?
2) For a deck that only runs 21-22 lands, and rarely goes into the late-game, Swords seem a bit high on the CMC ratio, especially since they are generally only played with five mana open. In my play-testing, I rarely drew it, and was only able to equip it once.
But Distress helps in a lot more than the Control match-up. For example, getting rid of U/W Humans' turn 3 Mirran Crusader can greatly increase your chances of winning the aggro race. Without Distress, you're stuck fishing for a Vapor Snag (if it's Game 2-3 and you SB it) or you're stuck attempting to clear the rest of their board for a Geth's Verdict... all the while they're beating you down for 4+ a turn.
I still don't like Highborn Ghoul, but I also don't believe that we have a better 2-drop. Plus, it can be the game-winner against decks not running Black. I tried out the Fume Spitter + High Priest combo, but it was just too inconsistent for me. It was recently mentioned in an SCG article that High Priest "must be in your 75," but I just can't see that being true.
Can someone explain to me why so many decks are running this over Ratchet Bomb? Bomb kills all Spirits + flipped Delver for 2, which leaves only Drogskol Captain and Dungeon Geists, which can be killed with your other removal. Ratchet Bomb also has the added bonus of being great against B/W Tokens, if that deck ever actually gains momentum.
Is it just because people are afraid of Esper Spirits landing two Captains?
You're thinking only about Frites. Also think about Wolf Run, where they have Green Sun's Zenith. If you remove a Huntmaster and/or a Primeval, they can no longer draw it nor search it out.
Just played a few matches against Mono-Red and kept losing 2-1. It's tough to race a Shrine, and post-board he had SoFaF. Maybe it's time to find some space in my SB for Steel Sabotage...
You're not just getting rid of "one" card though, you're getting rid of their full play-set! Just think about removing every Huntmaster or every Primeval in a WRR's deck, or every Elesh Norn in a Frites deck, or every Gravecrawler in the mirror.
Plus you get to see their hand (letting you know what you need to play around), and with Extraction you get to see their entire deck (letting you know how they side-boarded)!
I've been a strong advocate for Distress in this forum, and I stand by my claims. I have never been let down by the card. Getting rid of a huge threat from your opponent as early as turn 2 is just great, and like Kamikaze said, the synergy with Surgical Extraction is amazing as well!
1. Yes, I realize that I am only running eight Blue sources. So far in testing, I have not found this to be a problem. Vapor Snag and Phantasmal Image generally aren't played until a bit later in the game, and if I miss a Turn 3 Captain, well so be it. At least I'll never miss a Turn 3 Messenger.
2. On the fence about either keeping the two Altar's Reap, or dropping them for third copies of both Phantasmal Image and Mortarpod. Altar's Reap is a great card, I'm just not sure if it's better than the latter two.
3. Distress is an all-star. I know that it is more of a control-based card, but so far in my testing it has proved invaluable. Getting rid of a Planeswalker, Mirran Crusader, or other large threat as early as Turn 2 is just amazing. Combine that with Surgical Extraction from the Sideboard, and you have an almost game-winning combination.
4. Not completely sure on the Sideboard. I need opinions on this area.
Edit: Dropped the Altar's Reaps for the 'Pod and Image. Also added two more Blue sources and tightened up the Sideboard. Deck-list has been updated as such. Still have yet to lose a match on Cockatrice. Just 2-0'd W/u Humans. Mortarpod was the game-winner both times. Such a great card.
I would take out 1 Liliana, unless you really enjoy having the third copy. Could replace it for either another Island, putting you at 22 lands, or something else of your choosing.
How has running 3x Altar's Reap been working out for you? I've tested it as a 2-of, but I'm still skeptical about adding card draw to the deck.
2x Mortarpod
Creature [26]
4x Gravecrawler
4x Diregraf Ghoul
4x Porcelain Legionnaire
4x Geralf's Messenger
4x Diregraf Captain
4x Phantasmal Image
2x Phyrexian Obliterator
4x Geth's Verdict
4x Tragic Slip
Planeswalker [2]
2x Liliana of the Veil
Land [22]
4x Darkslick Shores
4x Drowned Catacomb
14x Swamp
2x Nihil Spellbomb
2x Ratchet Bomb
4x Vapor Snag
3x Corrosive Gale
4x Distress
Doesn't look like I will be going to SCG Dallas after all though. No one is trading Darkslick Shores, and I am NOT dropping $80 on a play-set.
Btw salmon, might I suggest -1 Highborn Ghoul, +1 Phantasmal Image in your deck-list?
1) Skirsdag High Priest can be good, but he generally only excels as a turn 2 play from my experience. As a 2-of, you rarely have him in your opening hand so his value seems lost (although 4 means you draw him as a dead late-game card more often... this is the reason I can't get myself to like him). Have you tried something like Phyrexian Obliterator in those last two slots?
2) For a deck that only runs 21-22 lands, and rarely goes into the late-game, Swords seem a bit high on the CMC ratio, especially since they are generally only played with five mana open. In my play-testing, I rarely drew it, and was only able to equip it once.
3) Is Fume Spitter really worth it when you're not running a full play-set of Skirsdag High Priest?
Looking forward to your responses! I'm attempting to finalize my own build before I head to SCG Open Dallas in 1 week!
2x Mortarpod
Creature [24]
4x Diregraf Captain
4x Diregraf Ghoul
4x Gravecrawler
4x Geralf's Messenger
4x Highborn Ghoul
4x Phantasmal Image
4x Geth's Verdict
4x Tragic Slip
Sorceries [4]
4x Distress
Land [22]
4x Darkslick Shores
4x Drowned Catacomb
14x Swamp
3x Corrosive Gale
2x Nihil Spellbomb
4x Porcelain Legionnaire
2x Ratchet Bomb
4x Vapor Snag
I still don't like Highborn Ghoul, but I also don't believe that we have a better 2-drop. Plus, it can be the game-winner against decks not running Black. I tried out the Fume Spitter + High Priest combo, but it was just too inconsistent for me. It was recently mentioned in an SCG article that High Priest "must be in your 75," but I just can't see that being true.
Is it just because people are afraid of Esper Spirits landing two Captains?
Plus you get to see their hand (letting you know what you need to play around), and with Extraction you get to see their entire deck (letting you know how they side-boarded)!
3x Mortarpod
Creature [19]
4x Diregraf Captain
4x Diregraf Ghoul
4x Gravecrawler
4x Geralf's Messenger
3x Phantasmal Image
Instant [12]
4x Geth's Verdict
4x Tragic Slip
4x Vapor Snag
4x Distress
Land [22]
4x Darkslick Shores
4x Drowned Catacomb
2x Island
12x Swamp
2x Negate
2x Nihil Spellbomb
4x Porcelain Legionnaire
3x Ratchet Bomb
4x Surgical Extraction
A few notes:
1. Yes, I realize that I am only running eight Blue sources. So far in testing, I have not found this to be a problem. Vapor Snag and Phantasmal Image generally aren't played until a bit later in the game, and if I miss a Turn 3 Captain, well so be it. At least I'll never miss a Turn 3 Messenger.2. On the fence about either keeping the two Altar's Reap, or dropping them for third copies of both Phantasmal Image and Mortarpod. Altar's Reap is a great card, I'm just not sure if it's better than the latter two.3. Distress is an all-star. I know that it is more of a control-based card, but so far in my testing it has proved invaluable. Getting rid of a Planeswalker, Mirran Crusader, or other large threat as early as Turn 2 is just amazing. Combine that with Surgical Extraction from the Sideboard, and you have an almost game-winning combination.
4. Not completely sure on the Sideboard. I need opinions on this area.
Edit: Dropped the Altar's Reaps for the 'Pod and Image. Also added two more Blue sources and tightened up the Sideboard. Deck-list has been updated as such. Still have yet to lose a match on Cockatrice. Just 2-0'd W/u Humans. Mortarpod was the game-winner both times. Such a great card.
I would take out 1 Liliana, unless you really enjoy having the third copy. Could replace it for either another Island, putting you at 22 lands, or something else of your choosing.
How has running 3x Altar's Reap been working out for you? I've tested it as a 2-of, but I'm still skeptical about adding card draw to the deck.