Magic: The Gathering,GO TEAM MS!

[InflatablePie]

Seems fine to me. You're not hoping to spawn a ton of tokens, but a 2/1 for 2 that can be cast off BTE is fine, spawning 1/1s isn't terrible, and it happens to get extra value with Purphoros on the field. It's not max value like it would be in UR/UWR Burn, but 12 spells will do fine.

Speaking of deck help:

Spoiler: white weenie

Creatures (25):
4 Soldier of the Pantheon
4 Judge's Familiar
3 Imposing Sovereign
4 Precinct Captain
4 Banisher Priest
4 Fiendslayer Paladin
2 Heliod, God of the Sun

Spells (15):
4 Brave the Elements
2 Celestial Flare
2 Pacifism
4 Path of Bravery
1 Spear of Heliod
2 Ajani, Caller of the Pride

Land (20):
2 Mutavault
18 Plains

SB:
2 Frontline Medic
2 Pithing Needle
2 Ratchet Bomb
3 Keening Apparition
3 Renounce the Guilds
3 Rootborn Defenses

Planning on either building this around release, or some form of UB/UR control (want to use the RTR Jaces I invested in). Paladins are like $30 for the playset, sadly, so this deck'll take about $75 to build if it's right after release. I could possibly use Boros Reckoners in place temporarily, and Dryad Miltants over the Soldiers of the Pantheon, maybe space out my purchases and just try to run it on Game Day.

[InflatablePie]

I could maybe see going up to 21 lands for consistency (and being able to cast Burning Earth out of board) since it's a PTQ, over the one-of I suggested, but 23 seems like a lot for RDW that has three four-drops at the top of the curve. RG Sligh ran 20/21 and had 4 Hellrider+GCR (even with the latter being a pump spell, I've hardcasted him plenty of times).

It's also only two Mutavaults (because have fun trying to cast Reckoner with 4 of them), so I don't see why you'd go up that many lands.

I've gotten flooded a lot even on 20/21; this list does have Purphoros and Satyr to help but it's not much.

[InflatablePie]

might be interested in a Heliod if the commune wants something else...

now do I listen to chamber and pick white or stick with my U/B plan

[InflatablePie]

Went UR. Two Curse of the Swine and Anger of the Gods.

DID SOMEBODY ORDER BACON

[InflatablePie]

bacon.dec went 2-2

[edit] 17 blue card deck = fuck you mistcutter hydra.

opened nothing else of note. try again tomorrow I guess.

[InflatablePie]

went black, pulled a Thoughtseize + Hero's downfall, went 3-1 with Esper (white for Divine Verdict, Sentry of the Underworld, Gift of Immortality etc. and blue for 2x flying-bestow, griptide, horizon scholar, etc.). also, the artifact mana elk was amazingly useful.

only match I lost was to an insanely fast Boros deck. won game 1, lost game 2 on turn 3/4*, lost a close game 3. had him at 6, I was at ~4, he had four attackers and I had two blockers. d-verdict'd something with a red enchantment to drop him below devotion for his attacking Purphoros, went to one. lost to a topdecked creature. should have verdict'd the creature in question sooner but I got greedy. oh well.

got four packs, pulled nothing special (polish crusher, whip of erebos, nykthos, soldier of the pantheon). traded my spare anger of the gods for another soldier, pre-ordered two more for $7. also got some Firedrinker Satyrs for $1.50 per which I thought was pretty good, even if it ends up being bad it'll be hyped up and maybe I can trade them for some goodstuff. and now I have the choice between mono red or white for release day.

*I was on the draw.
T1 Land, Hoplite (1/2, Heroic = +1 counter & till-eot damage prevention)
T1 Land, go
T2 Land, Ordeal of Purphoros (bolt-on-a-stick). 2/3 Hoplite. Swing, trigger, 3/4 Hoplite [17-20]
T2 Land, go
T3 Land, Minotaur Firstblade-or-something (2/2, EOT +2/0 and haste). Swing, ordeal trigger (4/5 hoplite), bolt to face [14-20], take 8 [6-20]
T3 Land... ... ... scoop.

[InflatablePie]

white god actually seems like it'll be okay

I'd say Nylea or maybe Erebos is worse

[InflatablePie]

drafted tonight, pulled UG scryland pack 1, picked a Gray Merchant over it. forced black, ended up with 2 shipwreck singers, three merchants, some other decent stuff. snapped a Purphoros P2P1 (no good black in the pack thank god), and p3 passed nothing special. did take something (forget what) over a BW scryland sadly.

went 2-1, pulled a Daxos and Tyramet in prize packs. yay for meh commander rares I guess

also built white weenie for standard. don't care if it's not great, it'll be fine to kill a few rounds between standard (7pm) and draft (9-9:30pm) at my store. it's fun too, so

[InflatablePie]

what're you guys running? still gruul and rakdos? pm me if you don't want your secret tech getting out or whatever

[InflatablePie]

shea: not a huge fan of ember swallower personally.

no Purphoros? Awesome synergy with assemble and elspeth, and if you're running Reckoners/dargons/chandra/assemble he'll probably be a creature. I'd find space for one or two.

[InflatablePie]

>Mystic Genesis

ok Frank


I'm also assuming you're only using cards you own because there's no Voices (even in the SB).

don't remember what Predation does but I bet Plummet is better

needs glare of heresy in the board

that's about all I have time to add.

[InflatablePie]

eh. still think plummet works. and flashing in voice is funny

Azorious Charm pretty good if you can find room.

Saw a Bant Flash list running Horizon Chimera. It's somewhere on channelfireball's article section, compare and contrast for card ideas

[InflatablePie]

so I bought a set of Jace AoT at $8. he's at ~$24 tcg-low. Thassa I impulse-bought 3 at $10 last week, she's at about the same. traded one for a mutavault because she was 16 friday morning. if I sold them on tcgplayer for $20/ea I double my money. buylisting I can still at least get my money back plus a few bucks.

sometimes I actually invest well, other times I'm stuck with 30+ Ratchet Bombs. oh well.

[InflatablePie]

I saw the dumbest goddamn thing at my LGS last night.

Walked by in the middle of a match between a BUG Midrange deck I beat last week, and a UG deck.

Player 1 (BUG) had a Reaper of the Wilds. And a Progenitor Mimic copying it. And another Mimic copying the first one (so, it spawns two tokens). Player 1 is spawning three Reapers per turn (and I think had one token at the time I walked by, so he went Mimic, pass, [p2 turn], draw, mimic, pass).

Here's where I walked up.

Player 2 (UG) plays his own Mimic, copying the second Mimic of player 1. So he gets a Reaper that spawns three tokens per upkeep. He passes.

Player 1 spawns his tokens... then plays his third Progenitor Mimic, copying his opponent's, which is copying his, which is copying his, which is copying his Reaper, and will spawn 4 tokens for a grand total of seven tokens spawning per turn.


...

[InflatablePie]

3
If you choose to have Progenitor Mimic enter the battlefield as a copy of a creature, the triggered ability it gains will become part of its copiable values. For example, suppose Progenitor Mimic enters the battlefield as a copy of Runeclaw Bear, a 2/2 green Bear creature with mana cost {1}{G}. The resulting object is a 2/2 green Bear creature named Runeclaw Bear with mana cost {1}{G} and with “At the beginning of your upkeep, if this creature isn't a token, put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of this creature.” If another Progenitor Mimic enters the battlefield as a copy of that creature, it will be a Runeclaw Bear with two instances of the triggered ability.

If you see the judge again, inform and correct him (nicely of course).

[InflatablePie]

So the second LGS near me is much more casual than the one I've been going to. It's free entry, or $5 to double prizes, and top 8 gets a booster box divided up (or 5 packs/ea/$10 credit for split).

Sleeved up a deck called PyroRed, splashing white for Chained and Boros Charm, and went at it. http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/ths-pyroboros/

Round 1: UB Control, 2-0 (game 2 his Ashiok absorbed 10 points of damage. looking back, I maybe could have ignored it)
Round 2: Maze's End 2-1 (he gained 35 life total game 1, I lost. drew a Skullcrack games 2 and 3 to negate his Saruli Gatekeepers. so glad I decided on those.)
Round 3: Mono Red 2-0 (some AIR variant. he wasn't the best pilot of the deck, won fairly easily)
Round 4: Devotion Red 2-1 (this chick knew how to pilot a red deck. game 1 I didn't get a single point of damage in (BTE BTE FFS t2 hurts). game 2 I slowly stabilized but was at 3 for a few turns, which fucking scared the hell out of me since she hadn't played a Lightning Strike yet that game. game 3 she mulled to five and I slowly took the game)
Round 5: Junk Midrange 0-0-3 (saw this guy playing last match and decided to draw because I knew I couldn't win. we played the match anyway. lost game 1 to a giant Lotleth Troll, won game 2, lost game 3)
Round 6: WU Heroic 2-0 (looked like an event deck edit? offered to draw, he refused, I just kept him off his creatures with burn and won easily)

Cut to top 8, the Junk player drew with his last opponent putting me at the first seed, it was 12:30am though and we all ended up splitting. Which I like because at my other LGS people always want to play it out and I'm tired/biking home at 1-2am. Took 5 packs over $10 store credit, pulled nothing useful. But I have my Rampager promo*

Originally I was running a one-of Blind Obedience in the side, or a Wear/Tear, but I think I just want a third Mortars because it hits Blood Baron and is probably more useful for that than a one-of I'll never see.

Running this at Game Day there today. Here's hoping I win that awesome Elspeth playmat. If not I'm tempted to switch to a Purphoros playmat. BLOOD FOR THE

BLOOD

FORGE GOD

*hey Fate when I come up for the Reckoning you wanna trade my GCR promo for a Dimir Charm promo? >_>

[InflatablePie]

Fourteen player Game Day what

God I hope none of the other dozen are playing Junk or Blue Devotion... This will either be an easy win or I lose match one.

[InflatablePie]

I traded some Ratchet Bombs for a charm promo today >_> I could maybe use another one if I can grab a GCR promo next week as well.

also



PyroBoros gets there, aww yeah. (shame I only pulled two scrylands, Nylea, and meh stuff from the packs but AWESOME PLAYMAT GET)

[InflatablePie]

pyroboros too stronk, won my second fnm with it.

winning ten packs and pulling ashiok/thoughtseize*/erebos/reaper/two temples is also awesome.

*I was chatting with one of my opponents that I intentionally drew with, discussing if it was better to take $20 store credit or ten packs, and he said something like "you can at least pick what you win with store credit: 'Here's a Thoughtseize for top 8!' seems pretty good." hue.

also Fate I came in third so I didn't get the promo (didn't wanna play and lose to Junk last round) but I will totally trade my only Rampager promo for a Warleader's Helix promo (Jan.).

[InflatablePie]

I also suggest cutting down on the 1 and 2-ofs to get 4-ofs of the effects you want all the time, such as the 1 mortars, 1 hands of bidning, 1 purphoros (seems like your hand would mostly be empty by the time he comes down with no card draw effects)

This.

4 Akroan Crusader
4 Nivmagus Elemental
2 Legion Loyalist
4 Young Pyromancer
2 Firefist Striker (Shortcutter and Arena Athlete could also work, former is one-use and latter seems slow, this has better synergy with Crusader+Pyromancer)
3 Triton Fortune Hunter (Wavecrash Triton could also be okay)
-----
3 Coordinated Assault (Titan's Strength could also be okay, maybe consider some number of that over the enchantments since they don't synergize with Nivmagus/Pyro)
2 Dynacharge
3 Lightning Strike
4 Magma Jet
3 Hidden Strings
-----
3 Madcap Skills
1 Dragon Mantle
-----
20 Land

Something like this would be my choice.

[pedit] that, or casting bolt at opponent/creature, exiling, and boosting toughness if the Nivmagus is blocked.

[InflatablePie]

I completely punted last night's FNM.

Turns out that trying to Lightning Strike my opponent so that he doesn't Scooze my Chandra's Phoenix from the GY when he has >1 green mana up is a bad idea. Also forgetting to scry off Magma Jets, and in another match, keeping a one-lander (even if it was Foundry, Chained to the Rocks x3, Firefist, BTE, L-Strike on the draw).

I don't even know what I was thinking.

[InflatablePie]

against WW it was

okay

. if he dropped an Ajani I could have been in huge trouble.

missing my first few land drops sucked (also was not expecting Glare of Heresy...)

[InflatablePie]

Taking a slightly modified list to FNM tomorrow night.

Spoiler: PyroWhite

4x Firedrinker Satyr
4x Rakdos Cackler
4x Ash Zealot
3x Firefist Striker
3x Young Pyromancer
4x Chandra's Phoenix

3x Shock
4x Magma Jet
4x Lightning Strike
1x Flames of the Firebrand

2x Chained to the Rocks
2x Chandra, Pyromaster

12x Mountain
4x Sacred Foundry
4x Temple of Triumph
2x Mutavault

SB:
4x Boros Reckoner
2x Chained to the Rocks
2x Mizzium Mortars
2x Boros Charm
3x Skullcrack
1x Hammer of Purphoros
1x Flames of the Firebrand

Usual SB plans:
Aggro: -4 Satyr, -4 Cackler, +4 Reckoner, +2 Mortars, +2 Chained
Midrange: -4 Satyr, -3 Shock/1 Flames OR -4 Cackler, +4 Reckoner, +2 Mortars, +2 Chained
Control: -2 Chained, -3 Shock, -1 Flames, +2 Boros Charm, +3 Skullcrack, +1 Hammer
Mono-B/BW Midrange: -3 Shock, -4 Satyr, +3 Skullcrack, +2 Mortars, +2 Chained
Mono-U, White Weenie, x/1-creature Red, GR mana dorks etc.: -1 Shock, +1 Flames (in addition to Aggro boarding strat)

The original PyroWhite list ran 3 Chandra/23 Land/4 Young Pyro. I found that 1 Pyro per game was more than enough, also encountered more flood than usual and 0-ing Chandra into Chandra sucked. The updated list took out a Chandra/land/Pyro for Strikers and switched Zealots for BTE. I wasn't a fan of drawing BTE into nothing late, and really missed the first strike and haste. Notably the haste, as this deck liked to play tempo-y and haste helps with punching in damage when you need it. So I'm trying out a cross-breed between the two.

I think the SB's right. Currently I'm testing an extra Skullcrack and a second Flames in the SB but that slot is flexible.

What's everyone else taking to FNM, if they're going?

[InflatablePie]

Going to a GPT for GP Dallas on Saturday. Not going to the GP though. <_<

I'd probably add at least one more Decay or Charm to the board. Decay and Charm both hit D-Sphere which takes out your threats and boarded-in Pithing Needles (I'm guessing). Charm is probably the safer pick because it counters Verdict, although Decay is uncounterable. Maybe another Vraska, too? I like Vraska as a 2-of in a 75, but admittedly I don't know what you'd bring another one in against as I don't play monoB/Bg. I also feel another Devour Flesh couldn't hurt. Might be better than the second Vraska. The sac effect is relevant against anything Hexproof (there was a Naya Hex list recently that did well in the MOCS) and you can even sac your own stuff if you need to stay alive.

Pick 2/4 and add them over DRS. I don't see his usefulness here.

No Mutavault? You could probably afford to run 2-3.

Is 4 Pack Rat necessary? I could see taking out one or two for some more removal mainboard. I hear Reaper of the Wilds is great if you want to test her out. Could be okay as a one-of over a Pack Rat? But I kinda like more removal.

[InflatablePie]

eh, Golgari Charm is probably better than Illness. and two main is fine, most decks won't expect it. but I can see going down to 1.

I'd run Mutavault for access to blockers/extra attackers. Helps your control game, synergizes with Pack Rat. 2 should be fine, 3 might be pushing it since you don't wanna get stuck on having lots of colorless. But you only need ~21 black sources to cast Specter on curve. I'd go with 2 just in case.

Hero's Downfall might not be enough MB removal (even if Decay hits some stuff). I could see cutting a Rat for a killspell. Maybe sideboarding a Thoughtseize for one. Most of the monoB decks run 2x each of Devour/Doom Blade/U-Price. Maybe SB the Vraska+TS, cut a Rat, bring in one of each of those three from the board (12 SB), and SB another Devour? Then cut 2x DRS, and move a Golgari Charm from main to side (59 Main, 12 side). Add your choices of kill spell (Decay/DBlade/UPrice) and toss the rest in the side (I'd probably go with Decay main and Dblade side, leaves 2 flex slots). Try something like that.

Top decks in Standard off the top of my head you should expect:
White Aggro (usually WW splash red)
Red Aggro (either Foundry Street 16-land, Devotion Aggro, or other variants)
Mono-U Devotion/Aggro
Mono-B Devotion
GR Midrange/Devotion (sometimes mono-G)
Esper Control
UW Control
BW Midrange
GW Midrange (or Aggro, or Junk Midrange)
Boros Midrange (or mono-red Midrange)
Dega Midrange (or BR Midrange)

[InflatablePie]

also if there was a way to give up my two free byes if I won my GPT I totally would but I don't think there is

[InflatablePie]

I think taking out a Muta and one of each basic for 3x Gates is a decent starting point. I really like Mutavault.
I don't like 3x MB Duress. Make those Sin Collectors. Duress grabs Thoughtseize/Azo Charm/DBlades earlier against Control, but Sin Collector is a relevant body against Control and can be used to chump if necessary. Where Duress just whiffs against decks with few noncreature spells.
4x BBoV is interesting, but I can dig it. (b' ')b
I also don't like 3x Doom Blade, it's completely dead against Bx decks and mono-B/Bg is still popular. I suggest taking out one or two for another removal spell to minimize dead cards in the main.

-3 Duress // +3 Sin Collector
-1 Doom Blade // +1 Devour Flesh/Ultimate Price/Celestial Flare (if you move a Flare from the SB to MB, which I like, I'd probably throw a Duress or Sin Collector into the SB to replace it)

[InflatablePie]

While we're critiquing, someone help me with my deck again.

Spoiler: Rw Pyro

4x Firedrinker Satyr
4x Rakdos Cackler
4x Ash Zealot
3x Young Pyromancer
3x Firefist Striker
4x Chandra's Phoenix

2x Chained to the Rocks
2x Chandra, Pyromaster

3x Shock
4x Magma Jet
4x Lightning Strike
1x Flames of the Firebrand

4x Sacred Foundry
4x Temple of Triumph
2x Mutavault
12x Mountain

SB: 4x Boros Reckoner
SB: 2x Chained to the Rocks
SB: 2x Mizzium Mortars
SB: 3x Skullcrack
SB: 2x Boros Charm
SB: 1x Hammer of Purphoros
SB: 1x Flames of the Firebrand

Mainboard: I like having access to FFS, but I'm not a huge fan of BTE. I kind of want to drop one FFS for a Pyrewild Shaman (another 75 I've seen runs an extra land + Chandra + Pyrewild over 3x FFS). Dunno yet. I'm also tempted to get really greedy and go up to 3x Mutavault, but that only gives me 19 Sources for Reckoner out of the board... ew.

Sideboard: I'm tempted to side in a Rod of Ruin somewhere for monoU. There's also Last Breath, but I'm not sure how much better it is. Also considering a one-of Stormbreath Dragon, and 2x Fanatic of Mogis (for mono-U or any stalled-board-state matchup).

[InflatablePie]

Because then they drop a second Master and I proceed to bash my skull in with my dice.

[InflatablePie]

The RWb burn deck looks fun. I might take that to an FNM once my schedule stops being dicks (work Friday night, can't go to Wed. Standard tonight either). Not sure if I want to take that to my GPT only because I'm more familiar with my current deck. It's tempting, though.

I'd think more Chains & Last Breath are better than Rod, but okay.

I'm running 4x Chained in the 75. I'm mostly deciding between Rod and Last Breath.

LB takes care of a Master but they gain 4 life.
Rod takes care of multiple Masters

and

puts them on a clock after you wipe the board, but takes lots of mana and/or two turns.

I'm iffy about Rod only because I'm running 22 land and it seems like a ton of mana even on 23...

[InflatablePie]

I ran Boros Burn last night after all and made top 8 (4:2). Deck's fun as shit.

-1 Firedrinker Satyr
-1 Ash Zealot
-1 Skullcrack (to sideboard)
+1 Viashino Firstblade
+1 Mountain
+1 Toil & Trouble (from sideboard)
SB: -1 Peak Eruption // +1 ??? (currently testing Young Pyro and Ratchet Bomb, may try another Anger since my FNM store plays lots of aggro)

Casting Trouble for 7 is hilarious, btw. As well as Boros Charm double strike on a Spark Trooper.

[InflatablePie]

Sadly no. I didn't play against any blue control last night. I did play against some Esper today; GPT only had five people show up... ... event never fired. Played for fun and never had a Trouble in hand when he -2'd a Jace.

Resolving Trouble for seven twice in a best-of-five, or playing it right after they Rev'd on their turn, was fun.

And Charming a Trooper against mono-red was not only satisfying, over half the playing table (8 other players) looked over when I announced what I was doing.

[InflatablePie]

Planeswalker - Kiora (2UG)
Loyalty - 2
+1: prevent damage to and from target permanent opponent controls
-1: Explore
-5: Emblem, EoT spawn a 9/9 blue Kraken token

4-mana for a starting 2 loyalty seems bad (especially with Jace and Chandra at 5... this dies to bolt...), but maybe it's not as bad as I'm initially reading it? +1 does protect itself sorta, helps blank the Gods if they're online, but... I dunno, this seems like Ral Zarek levels of power. Which isn't much.

[InflatablePie]

Without other backup, it's still weak to stuff like Mutavault and Pack Rat. Also doesn't stop Aetherling or Obz. It seems okay, not amazing. Explore is fine if you're expecting removal I guess, I'm just not sure if it's that great at 4 mana. I suppose if you're running UG that can be turn 3 so maybe it's better than I initially thought.

2/3 loyalty just seems really low is all.

[edit] I know three-colors is hard on manabases, but someone's gonna build BUG Superfriends. 2-3 Ashiok, 3-4 Jace, 1-2 Kiora, 1-2 Vraska. Toss in Reaper, Prognostic Sphinx, Caryatids, an Aetherling, Hero's Downfall, and all the other good BG removal (Decay, Golg-Charm, etc.) plus whatever comes in the next set... I'm expecting a Frank Lepore article once BotG drops.

[InflatablePie]

And 10,999 regular pennies.

Plus shipping.

[InflatablePie]

Running RW Devo tonight for that sexy Helix promo. Might sell my Mutas to gather the other pieces (3 Nykthos, 2 Dragons is like $60ish), don't think they'll stay around $30+ for long anyway. Hope I won't need them after BotG but hey, maybe they'll go back down and I can buy them.

Anyone else see this jank on reddit? Bought the pieces for like $10 and I might dick around with it on Wednesdays.

[InflatablePie]

Bet you a pack they hit 15 or less when they rotate.

[InflatablePie]

Point is, I'm selling them for 20 because I can buy them back after rotation for that much or less, and get cards I'm playing for Standard now. And I'll trade those off next year.

They're going to drop after rotation, if not after BotG. What rare has stayed at 30-35? It's inflated because of Standard.

[InflatablePie]

Standard deflated it when it got reprinted. It also wasn't used as much in the summer, it's risen now because fucking no one drafted M14 and everyone needs it. That's why Chandra, when she got a lot of play at the beginning of the season, was $30. I remember, I bought in at $30.

Tons of Standard decks use Mutavault as a 2-4 of, usually 4. Mono U, Mono B, Mono R, BW Control, UW Control... I don't know

much

about Modern/Legacy, but I thought 'vaults most often uses were in Fish and one or two fringe decks (e.g. Woo's Ninja Delver uses like two). But there's a Standard PTQ season and the price has risen in January like all Standard rares.

What tons of (core set)

rares

that kept their price above $30-$35? Liliana is a

mythic

and that's the only one I can think of in recent memory. Snap hit like $15, think it might be climbing to 20 now but I haven't checked in a while.

And you admitted it'll drop at rotation then jump back after a year earlier. So... by that logic, it'll tank when rotation hits, because right now Standard is inflating the price, yeah?

p.s. the deck I bought with those Mutavaults won me first at FNM, with no match losses (5-0-1) and one game loss. Made ten packs off that ($20 store credit/value unknown). By using this deck to win standard events, I'm almost making the money back, especially considering I'm going to pick them up for the price I sold them at or less at rotation. If I'm wrong and the price doesn't tank, I'll be selling Stormbreaths and such next January-March (peak for Standard rares) and I'll recoup the costs then.

[InflatablePie]

we're also gonna have a smaller card pool after rotation this block (similar to SOM-INN) since THS block is large-small-small sets, compared to the double-large set blocks of INN and RTR. stormbreath should rise in price from it's $15ish now, in theory, even though THS block is being drafted all the way through. it obviously depends on the removal that's printed/reprinted but I imagine Stormbreath will be good in Block, and it

is

mythic. I imagine a $25ish price seems fair, don't think it'll hit Hellkite levels unless the card ends up being absolutely insane somehow (since Thundermaw was a core set mythic, thus less opened product).

I'm thinking they're gonna have to give us ways to remove troublesome 4+ toughness creatures, maybe even reprint some board wipes like DoJ/Damnation, because stuff like Prognostic Sphinx (whom people say isn't good solely because Aetherling exists atm) and Reaper of the Wilds exists, both of which can gain hexproof and have 5 toughness. I'm gonna be picking those two cards up cheap when I can just in case (should have a playset of Sphinx already).

[InflatablePie]

Got mine at $16 from a LGS and it's dropping to $14 low tcg.

also, I caved and opened the packs I got from FNM. temple garden, overgrown tomb and a few

decent

/bad rares (Counterflux, Worldspine Wurm, foil Mana Bloom). nothing else of note, but I'd say two shocks for my $5 entry seems good.

[InflatablePie]

If I'm opening about ten packs from my winnings, I usually end up making my money back. I'm aware typically the expected value of a booster is about $1-$1.50, usually no more than $1.75. I could sell them for like $2-$3 a pack (pay $20 to win 4 FNMs, sell a box worth for like $70, ??? profit) but I get more enjoyment out of cracking them since I don't buy packs and haven't been drafting much lately. Also I like having trade fodder.

Also, yep. Large-Small-Small this year, meaning THS is being opened in drafts until M15.

[InflatablePie]

My FNM store offers 2/pack credit. I suppose I can get credit, probably will to pay for prereleases, but the same store offers free entry as well: top 8 split gets 5 packs, double if you pay. Not sure how top 8 breaks down otherwise.

[InflatablePie]

Those are for FNM. I was saying I might get credit to cover prereleases.

[InflatablePie]

a) Waste Not art + costing 2cmc = awesome!
b) new card frame is weeiiiird.

Also, from MaRo:

While design was working on Theros, I started a weekly meeting where Ethan and Shawn, with a little guidance from me, were going to start working on "Huey" (2014's large October set). The idea was that we would work on something a year ahead of time. This would allow us the freedom to work on a project that wasn't time sensitive. If Ethan and Shawn failed, we would still have our normal design time, but if they succeeded we could use their work once Huey design began.

I decided to start by talking through with them where Huey stood. When I laid out the seven-year plan to Aaron several years before, I had sold Huey on a unique block structure. I explained to them what this block structure was and then I asked them to figure out a block where this structure made sense.

Large-Large-Large sets? Or 2 (or 4) sets?

[InflatablePie]

re: RW Control
-1 Heliod, -1 Purphoros, -1 Elspeth
+2 Hammer of Purphoros, +1 Spear of Heliod

4x Anger + 4x Chained fuck over your control matchup. Hammers help that a bit, and can also help against mana flood and deal with aggro by spawning 3/3s. I love Hammer in my RW Devo deck. I also like Spear in a control shell, mainly for the activated ability, not to mention it saves your Dragons from opposing Mortars. Ran into a Naya control-ish deck last week and Spear caused me a lot of problems.

Reasoning for the cuts: 3 Elspeth seems a bit much when you have a lot of threats+finishers (Dragon, Assemble, Elspeth, Chandra). Heliod seems to do the least in this deck, although situationally he'd be okay (I imagine Vigilance isn't terrible, and it does spawn tokens). Only other card I could think to cut would be a Purphoros. He's better than Heliod, but I like Chandra better (having 3 of her is fine, for card 'draw') in the 4-mana slot. Could also cut the singleton Helix, but I like that as a one-of as well. Could also cut a Chained/Anger if you're running into a lot of Control: Spear would be better usually, since it blanks Aetherling/Mutavaults.

I imagine the board has some combo of:
4x Boros Charm (control, mono-B over Dragons)
1x Assemble (mono-B)
1x Mortars (for Blood Baron)
1-2x Last Breath (for mono-U)
1-2x Wear/Tear (mostly for D-Sphere)
1-2x Glare of Heresy (mirror, WW, Wx control)
?x Hammer (if you don't want to run them main)
2x Helix (could be useful sometimes)
1-2x Burning Earth (if you run into a lot of Esper/Naya/Dega/Junk)
maybe 4x Firedrinker Satyr for control/mono-B matches where you need creatures? seen some RW Devo lists do that

[InflatablePie]

Fair points, Shanba.

Like I said though, Spear in this deck would mainly be to either stop midrange/aggro from attacking you unless they want to lose a guy, or to occasionally be useful as a +1 for Stormbreath to dodge Mortars (or to make Reckoner more threatening). I'd at least try out one over a Heliod.

Maybe run that Ratchet Bomb MB over Helix (switch the two)?

Flare is okay, I don't like Phoenix in this deck though.

Thoughts on Hammer? 1-2 Last Breath for the monoU match? [edit] You may have 4 Chained, and Anger kills everything non-Master, but I like running at least one extra silver-bullet in the SB. Mono U is more popular in my area depending on the week though.

[InflatablePie]

Wow, I actually like that maindeck. It does seem a little 4-drop crowded though. Unrelated, I'd also probably end up cutting Simic Charm to 2, either making room for another one-of finisher (Aetherling, Angel of Serenity, etc.) or a single Essence Scatter in the main if you're expecting aggro, or something. Spear might even be cute, as it blanks midrange

and Aetherling

while boosting your Elspeth tokens a bit.

You could probably drop an Unravel from the SB since I can't think of any deck where you want all three. Also, since you're playing White, I'll suggest Revoke Existence instead since it exiles (better in the control mirror where you don't want them to draw their DSphere again with their Revs).

Gainsay is nice to bring up to 3 for the control mirror plus any remnants of MonoU that'll be played, and I assume Archangel is for... the aggro matchup? I'd feel weird about running 4 still since it does cost 5 (turn 4 with a Caryatid). 3 seems okay. I'd be tempted to run one Unflinching Courage to make Caryatid impossible to deal with for red decks, but that might just be silly. Maybe throw that one-of Aetherling in the board instead. [edit] Last Breath might also be better against aggro.

Seems solid, and I'd definitely want to test out at least 70ish of that 75.

[InflatablePie]

3-1 at prerelease with UBw (W for Medomai and a Exorciate).

- 1BB 3/3 w/ Bestow-5, lose a life upkeep is okay. Doesn't attack through Giant Spider sadly.
- Perplexing Chimera is bad.
- Stratus Walk is bad when you have 8-9/13 fliers.
- Medomai wins games.
- I really liked the 5-mana 1/1 flier that's either +3 or Mind Control. Usually got the +3.
- Green (notably GW) was represented highly. Countering/instakilling the promo is fun, getting attacked by the smaller Staunch Hearted Warrior or 4-mana 3/3 Inspired centaur with dudes on it is not fun.

- Pulling a Hero's Downfall in your pool, and Pain Seer + Karametra + Kitty Cat Lord in prizes, probably means you make money back.

[InflatablePie]

If it's not reprinted in Jace Vs Vraska, I'm going deep on Abrupt Decay.

[InflatablePie]

GR Tron runs Relic of Progenitus, some decks will run Scooze, and there's tons of other stuff like Rest in Peace/Tormod's Crypt/Nihil Spellbomb to stop graveyard shenanigans.

GY Strategies in general will be a bit more popular for a bit, I bet.

Also I should play Modern. Still dunno what deck I want to run; GR Tron looks fun but is pricey, MonoU Tron seems okay, Ninja Bear Delver looks fun and gives me some blue staples if I move out of the deck, Birthing Pod is my favorite card but fetches are expensive... I saw an Esper Gifts list on CFB that looks kinda fun, and then there's this deck... *shrug*

[InflatablePie]

Wizards actually doesn't have a problem with reprinting Modern staples to help get people into the format. Hence Modern Masters, reprints of Mutavault, Scooze, Thoughtseize etc. It just has the side effect of

sometimes

dropping the price (didn't Goyf go up, for instance?).

@bv: Tempo > Combo > Aggro >> Control >> Midrange. Usually. I loved Pod decks when I first started, as well as decks that just go 'oops, I win' (so Combo is pretty fun for me). I do find that sequencing the right plays and knowing when to attack/defend (basically tempo) is more enjoyable for me because it's more skill-rewarding. I enjoy playing control occasionally, but I like aggro moreso.

This Standard I've played lots of RW Devotion and 'PyroRed' (Chandra, Young Pyromancer, Chandra's Phoenix; aggro-tempo). Last standard I played RG aggro for a bit. I would have played monoU Devotion had I gotten in on Masters before they spiked, because the synergies and the feel of the deck post-sideboards looked really fun.

[InflatablePie]

Gonna go play some FNM for the first time in BNG standard tomorrow (scheduling and bad biking weather means I haven't played Magic in like a month).

Spoiler: RB Aggro/Midrange

Land (25):
4 Rakdos Guildgate
4 Temple of Malice
4 Blood Crypt
8 Mountain
5 Swamp

Creatures (17):
4 Spike Jester
4 Chandra's Phoenix
3 Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch
2 Flame-Wreathed Phoenix
4 Stormbreath Dragon

Spells (18):
4 Lightning Strike
4 Magma Jet
3 Shock
3 Dreadbore
3 Hero's Downfall
1 Whip of Erebos

Sideboard (15):
3x Lifebane Zombie
3x Dark Betrayal
3x Doom Blade
4x Skullcrack
2x Mizzium Mortars

After running it through a few times on tappedout, I'm loving how this deck feels. Hasty and evasive threats that chunk for lots of damage and a nice removal suite with burn for reach. The mana works surprisingly well, although my draws seem to flood out more than I like. There's no completely dead cards against any one matchup, either.

Kind of want to fit in Bile Blight because I don't want to lose to Pack Rat, but I don't have much I can cut. Only card that doesn't completely fit is the Whip, and I guess I could cut a Shock. Someone's gonna yell at me to cut Vexing Phoenix, but I think the card's alright, especially with Exava. I at least want to try it out before completely dismissing the card. I'd also add in Mutavaults, but not only did I get rid of mine (still no regrets) but the manabase is kind of shaky if I include them, with all the RR+BB stuff.

Sideboard is pretty simple: Zombie is a good threat against non-black matchups with value in G or W matchups (could run it main with -1 Whip -1 Downfall -1 Shock but it's dead against monoB and I like 3 Downfall), DB for mono-B/BW, Doom Blade for mono-U and aggro and GR monsters, Skullcrack against control, Mortars for Blood Baron and such. Could drop a Skullcrack for a Slaughter Games or something but meh.

[InflatablePie]

I don't think it's too slow, being that the threats are hasty (helping recover after wraths) and do good chunks of damage. Whip is a card I'm trying as the one-of as I want to run the other 59, and actually isn't too bad in theory, as it allows me to recur strong threats after they die. It does feel a little odd, but I certainly don't want to run another Vexing Phoenix or Exava (due to sometimes lack of haste, and legendary, respectively).

I considered running 3 Thoughtseize main (cutting Whip, Shock, and something else), if anything. Other cards were good, but I'm trying to minimize completely-dead cards.

I'm opting not to play Cackler because:
- the deck runs 7-8 comes-in-tapped-lands due to the manabase being rocky without them
- it's a terrible topdeck usually

A few Shock could maybe go, followed by Jet, and I'll find out how useful two-damage burn is in the format tomorrow. But I don't like Mogis, its trigger takes too long to be relevant (plus relatively expensive) and I'd need 3+ creatures on board to make him active. Mortars main is a blank against UW Control game one minus Elspeth tokens, and since it makes up a good chunk of the meta apparently I want to try to minimize completely-dead cards to that deck (and any deck, really). Searing Blood can be dead as well, as it only can be cast if they have a creature.

I can't reliably cut anything for Return in the board, and I'm not a huge fan of it in this shell. It's better in a RB Devotion shell, where it can Return for 5 on turn 4/5 when they're tapped out from a Jace or something. Plus it can be countered. If anything I'd consider it over the Whip, but still. Can't cut Doom Blades because monoU, can't cut Betrayals because monoB, Lifebane Zombie is card advantage that's too useful to consider cutting (also helps answer Baron/Obz), and can't cut Mortars. I could maybe cut a Skullcrack, but again, I'd rather run a Slaughter Games.

I kind of want to cut a land, since my hands tend to flood a bit, but at the same time it's necessary I hit 4 or 5 to drop threats consistently. So bleh.

[InflatablePie]

nvm the Magic gods decided to make it rain on Friday night again, so I'm not biking to FNM.

I might just -2 Phoenix -1 Whip (since Whip feels awkward) and +3 Lifebane Zombie (-1 Mountain +1 Swamp). It's worst against mono-B but seeing their hand helps I guess. Otherwise I can just swap Whip for a single Herald of Torment because sending Spike Jesters and Exava into the sky seems good.

If I go through with the former, I have 3 SB slots open. Probably adding a Dark Betrayal and Ultimate Price, both for monoB and UPrice as a 7th killspell for Master of Waves. Maybe try Gild as the 15th card or something to help deal with gods, idk. (or probably another UPrice but idk)

[InflatablePie]

Was considering running three Thoughtseize, but I dunno. At this point, the Br side is what the list seems to be splashing for. I'll see if the Phoenixes are worthwhile, otherwise I can cut them to make the mana easier.

If I'm running two Return, I'm probably only drawing one. I dunno, it just doesn't seem that great to me. And I can see this list being bad against UW, but I'll do some testing and see what I can do to help that.

[InflatablePie]

I did a lot of goldfishing and drew Whip way more often than I was expecting.

I'll have more actual results/numbers if I stop being lazy and update Cockatrice.

[InflatablePie]

I like how WU gets dismissed as "not a real deck", but Maze's End doesn't.

I could also launch into a joke about "real" decks but I'm lazy.

[InflatablePie]

I like how WU gets dismissed as "not a real deck", but Maze's End doesn't.

I could also launch into a joke about "real" decks but I'm lazy.

Maze's End is a solidly tier 2 deck at the moment, imo. But if you're telling me the Battlewise Hoplite/Dauntless Onslaught deck is a real deck, well, lol. It was one of the decks I always end up playing round one of FNM and I feel terrible. It's like, last standard, I'd always play against the guy with the 'sick UB Zombie Mill' and I sigh, beat him, then move on. While feeling bad that the game was not fun for either of us.

Oh okay.

I thought you were either saying:
- Wu Aggro (WW plus blue for Ephara/DSphere etc.) was "not a real deck"; I actually like that deck even if it's a bit worse than Wb (Thoughtseize, Sin Collector etc). Again, I haven't seen much of BNG Standard, but I like the deck idea.
- Maze's End was like Tier 1.

Hell, GW Aggro is even below Tier 1 I think. Depends on the build, but I don't think I've seen it place at all in this standard.

[InflatablePie]

Was bored and decided to try some sealed on MTGO.

Spoiler: pool

Went 3-1, lost in the finals (to a user named "pie" no less) against RG stuff. Mulled to 5 game 1 and 6 game 2 and got stuck on mana. Oh well. 9 packs plus some of those cards kinda makes up for the 24 tix I spent to enter.

Not sure in the end if splashing Xenagos was worth it (and maybe splashing Fall and Revelry was greedy) but it was a fun deck. Fate Unraveler and Nessian Demolok are my two favorite cards now.

[InflatablePie]

I like Sip. :< I think maybe Fall of the Hammer and 2x Time to Feed with only 11 creatures, in retrospect, was a poor choice. In the last round I got stuck with a Hammer+TtF in my hand with no creatures out. Maybe drop one of those for a Presence (probably Fall to make mana easier) or even the Revelry since 2x Enchantment-destruction backfired in at least one game, and in that case may have been able to drop a Mountain for a Forest/Swamp and just splashed ~2 cards off an Amulet+Presence+Gild+1 Mountain.

Also I think the only useful thing Xenagos did was make 1-2 Satyrs and absorb some damage. Not terrible, no, but not that great. I probably could have dropped him for some meh cards (the Minotaur bear dude, maybe a Sable if I wanted to be more aggressive, Returned Centaur, Boon of Erebos etc.). I was also tempted to try the Warcaller as just a 5/3 haste dude, but I had enough 5-drops as-is.

[InflatablePie]

speaking of fun limited formats, trip-BNG is entertaining. played one with American Weenie/Loyal Pegasus.dec and that won me two packs. this one went p1p1 Searing Blood, p2 ??, p3 Tromokratis (?!), p4 Tromokratis (...).

opened a Kiora p2 so I'm UR Tromokratis feat. Kiora. I guess. and sitting here for 30m or so because someone dropped in a Swiss.

[InflatablePie]

MTGO's glitched out on me during drafting and made me get M1 match losses two 8-4s in a row. Both times I pulled a Master of Waves pack3-p1.

Coincidence? Probably.

[InflatablePie]

Yeah, they refunded me the first time, let me keep the MoW too.

[InflatablePie]

got refunded, sign on to MTGO. draft is laggy/autopicks (p1p1 marshmist titan p1p2 mountain. ...). game 3 slightly laggy (somehow, I won). and then after that MTGO crashed for everyone.

I guess I don't get to draft ever

[InflatablePie]

well, they have the same designers that they had on Innistrad (and Theros).

also, CONSPIRACY LOOKS AMAZING-FUN

[InflatablePie]

There's also DotP 2015, but people have claimed they dislike it for various reasons (more pay-to-win if you're doing multiplayer, UI is harder to navigate, card acquisition issues...). As a heads-up.

---

So I haven't played Magic since a bit after BotG came out (minus the JOU prerelease), but Khans looks interesting. Wedge set, interesting draft format (AAA // BAA // CCB), 8 promos per wedge for the prerelease... Not that excited about Morph though.

[InflatablePie]

probably getting allied 5 in Huey (Khans) and enemy 5 in Louie (third set). which also implies allied painland reprints for M16.

also, Courser of Kruphix - even better with fetchlands.

I can see Naya/Jund being a thing even with wedges being pushed. Courser & Caryatid will be played a ton in any green deck, with Courser you want to run a good chunk of fetchlands (since I doubt Ob Nixilis will be played THAT much).

RG is already a deck in Block with Courser, Caryatid, Stormbreath (possibly Sarkhan now), Xenagos. White gives Elspeth and Banishing Light, Black gives Thoughtseize and Hero's Downfall. Naya would be way easier on the mana since RG/GW fetches allow for t1 Mystic -> t2 Courser*, plus you get Elspeth which I think will still be good post-rotation; keep in mind Temur's mechanic is "stuff with 4+ power = things" and Temur is RG/GU, so even if a Jund version or Temur version of RGx midrange pops up, a Naya version could 'check' it. Although Sarkhan does dodge Elspeth and Stormbreath is pro-White, so I dunno. It all depends on what good tri-color/GU stuff is printed in Khans.

*I know Mana Confluence and painlands are a thing, but if you're running Gx Courser builds, you're probably wanting to go Jund/Abzan/Sultai for access to Black and Thoughtseize, combined with enough painland taps and that's a lot of life even with Courser, especially if Naya's manabase is taking considerably less damage

I'm actually super-excited for rotation. Shame I missed the boat on Xenagos when he was $5 though

[InflatablePie]

also:

new Sorin
2BW 4 loyalty
+1 - until

your next turn

, creatures you control have +1/0 and Lifelink
-2 - spawn a 2/2 black Vampire w/ flying
-6 - emblem w/ "beginning of each opponent's upkeep, they sac a creature"

second set name is "Fate Reforged"

and lore stuff:

apparently Ugin dies somewhere in Temur territory, Sorin's off looking for him because of the whole Eldrazi problem on Zendikar, Sorin finds his corpse, Ugin was killed by Bolas apparently, we know the block involves time travel... tl;dr Eldrazi?!

[InflatablePie]

probably getting allied 5 in Huey (Khans) and enemy 5 in Louie (third set). which also implies allied painland reprints for M16.

Back during M15 previews, they said that the mana fixing wasn't good enough for enemy-colored decks in Khans, so they printed the pains as a stop-gap measure for that. I sincerely doubt we'll be seeing allied pains OR enemy fetches. If anything, I'm kinda betting on enemy fastlands in Louie and maybe the allied checks one last time for M16(because it's the last core set!).

Block isn't pro-tour supported any more, but IIRC MaRo said they want to keep land cycles as full cycles for block constructed reasons. since the block is large-small-large, with Khans and Fate rotating out while leaving Louie (Dragons of Tarkir)/M16 once the new rotation kicks in, plus time travel flavor reasons in-block, plus the want for enemy fetch reprints, having all ten fetches in the block makes sense. then you add allied pains for super-standard + weird rotation reasons.

m16 release = all fetches, all pains
fall rotation (Khans/Fate/Dragons/M16/"Blood") = all fetches, allied pains (enemy fastlands in Blood for standard?)
spring rotation ("Tears" release) = Dragons/M16/"Blood"/"Sweat"/"Tears" = enemy fetches, allied pains (enemy fastlands in Blood = allied fastlands in Tears?)

enemy fastlands

would

be good for

bitcoin

Modern, and people are thinking non-fetch&shock lands (i.e. fastlands, manlands) and other staples are going to rise with the enemy fetches lowering barrier of entry, so having a plan to reprint fastlands if they spike combined with introducing the enemy pairs makes sense.

or

they disregard their 'reprint all of a land cycle' comment since Block isn't a pro tour format any more, reprint enemy fetches in MMA2 and use that for Landfall in MMA2 limited or something, idk.

[InflatablePie]

probably playing Mono-B Aggro for the first few weeks for consistency's sake, then I can netdeck whatever I have cards for.

4x Gnarled Scarhide
4x Bloodsoaked Hero [B - 2/1 - Can't block; if in GY and you attack w/ creature that turn, pay 1B to return to battlefield)
4x Pain Seer
4x Spiteful Returned
4x Herald of Torment
3x Mogis' Marauder
3x Grim Haruspex (2B - 3/2 - Morph (B) - whenever another nontoken creature you control dies, draw a card)

4x Thoughtseize
2x Boon of Erebos
2x Bile Blight
3x Hero's Downfall
1x Hall of Triumph

22x Swamp*

SB:
2x Despise
4x Master of the Feast
1x Whip of Erebos
1x Erebos, God of the Dead
3x Dark Betrayal
2x Brain Maggot
2x ??? [1 Boon/1 Marauder/1 Downfall/1 Hall/etc]

could do some tweaking, depends on what's left to spoil and what the new meta looks like, but that's my initial list

*may test 2+ scrylands out, even if I'm not playing a second color

[InflatablePie]

Jeskai (Blue, White, Red) - tempo shenanigans

Abzan (White, Black, Green) - control/midrange

Sultai (Blue, Black, Green) - graveyard shenanigans

Mardu (White, Black, Red) - aggro

Temur (Blue, Red, Green) - midrange/big dudes

[InflatablePie]

yeah, I'm not sure if it's good, but I goldfished the deck and drew my entire deck on turn 5 the first time, so that was fun. good thing the draw/discard is a 'may' trigger!

[InflatablePie]

I would personally go 6/6 for basics, but maybe that's wrong since Jeering/Shrapnel/etc are more lategame cards and Cheif/Ensoul are early-game. I'm terrible with manabases. Also depends on your board.

I feel like you can maybe cut a Ghostfire Blade and run 3/2 Lightning Strike/Magma Jet, but maybe the Scry is better since the deck is combo-y.

SB should probably include counterspells (Negate etc), maybe 2 Angers (even if they have the possibility to kill your own stuff), 1-2 Keranos for grindy matchups, one-of Chandra in the board can work maybe. I dunno. List looks fun though.

[InflatablePie]

RUG, BUG, Junk, American, Dega.

[InflatablePie]

Chamber - Marshall (LR) was interviewed by the LRR guys a few months back, and he mentioned that when he's casted for Wizards, they want him to not use slang, mention things that may not be obvious to newer players, ask easy questions to co-casters even if the answer is obvious etc. I'd link it but I'm at work on mobile

I know SCG isnt Wizards but still.

Pedit - yeah I vaguely remember the others, I just prefer slang and Dega didn't have a good one (except Borzhov but ew)

[InflatablePie]

Hey bv...

[InflatablePie]

My problem is I have thoughtseize downfall caryatid and courser but no Elspeths and I really don't want to acquire Elspeths.

There was an Esper control list in either a future league or maybe a tcgplayer event last weekend that only ran one Elspeth. 3 Ashiok, two ProgSphinx, the rest was spells. Don't have a link on-hand.

@reck:

4 Foundry Street Denizen
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Akroan Crusader
4 Satyr Hoplite
4 Dragon Mantle
4 Coordinated Assault
4 Hammerhand
4 Titan's Strength
4 Stoke the Flames
20 Mountain

Saito mono-red sligh list, could adjust if necessary. Most expensive card there is Stoke the Flames at $3-$4 (unless you want to pimp out your deck with Zen lands).

Could also try mono-B aggro without Thoughtseize? Not amazing and a little less budget, but do-able.

4 Tormented Hero
4 Bloodsoaked Champion ($4-$5/ea)
4 Gnarled Scarhide
4 Pain Seer (~$1)
4 Spiteful Returned
4 Mardu Skullhunter
4 Herald of Torment (~$1)
4 Mogis' Marauder
2 Despise
2 Bile Blight
2 Hero's Downfall ($8-$9) [can use Murderous Cut but beware of Pain Seer)
22 Swamp (maybe 20 with 2 black scrylands or lolRadiantFountain)

You can also price out the Robots list I posted a page or so back, but I think tcgplayer wanted like 30-45 for the cards I was missing (which was 90% M15 and KTK).

[InflatablePie]

also I bought a set of Rabblemasters on a whim at $2/ea before it spiked during m15, I kind of want to play with them but on the other hand locking in 500% profit seems good if I'm mostly just playing monoB aggro (local buylist is offering $12/rabble, highest buylist I can find online is 9-10/ea)

[edit]
Rabblemasters 12/ea (have 4)
Caryatid 10/ea (have 4)
Coursers 14/ea (have 4)
Ashiok 9/ea (have 2)
Downfalls 6/ea (have 1 extra)
Stormbreaths 10/ea (have 5)
Brimaz 18/ea (have 1)

I feel like these are all good sells if I'm not planning on playing Rabbles or green. Tempted to wait a week for the Pro Tour to see if Stormbreath spikes but I can see it falling/not spiking much since most people seem to prefer Sarkhan.

[InflatablePie]

Yeah, easiest $40 I ever made.

Going to Thurs night Magic with mono B aggro and 3 maindeck Boon of Erebos. Hope this goes well.

[InflatablePie]

Round one bye. I guess when you have 11 players (GP Orlando is this weekend, may be relevant) a free win is fine

[InflatablePie]

Not sure if I like Agent.

Running 11 one drops (THero sucks with Marauder), Pain Seer and Spiteful, Herald and Marauder, 3 tseize, 3 Boon, 4 Downfall, one Whip.

SB is 1 tseize, 2 Despise. 2 Dark Betrayal, 2 Bile Blight, 2 Pharikas Cure. Three Master of the Feast, two Hall of Triumph, one Whip.

Considering Empty the Pits if I drop whip, also considering Haruspex.

[InflatablePie]

Came in 3rd of 11.

R1 - bye
R2 - Naya Midrange, won 2-0 (topdeck Hornet Queen? np, topdeck Mogis' Marauder)
R3 - Abzan Midrange, lost 1-2 and was paired down (Sorin is a card )
R4 - Rabble Red, won 2-0

Apparently my LGS pays out $200 store cred to the top finishers no matter how many, so the top 4 split. Paid $5 for $50 in storecred. Woohoo.

Dark Betrayals and Hall didn't really leave my board all night. Whip got drawn once I think and I never got in a good spot to use it, so I dunno how to feel about it. Boon did some work though; double-Booning a Herald to kill a blocking Arbor Colossus before it could monstrous the next turn felt a little bad, but won me the game.

Masters also didn't leave my board - with Abzan running Murderous Cuts and Downfalls and Naya running Colossus/Hornet Queen/Banishing Light, I could only MAYBE see it being useful in the latter matchup.

We'll see how the deck does once people get back from the GP I guess. Probably going tomorrow because it should be the same turnout or less. Hopefully I can snag some more storecred and be tempted to get a box. $10 for a box seems good if I don't

need

the slightly overpriced singles.

[InflatablePie]

In Standard news, after going 2:2 at FNM I decided to trade my old cards (Rabbles etc.) for Abzan Reanimator. Going to WNM with the following list:

3x Elvish Mystic
4x Satyr Wayfinder
4x Sylvan Caryatid
4x Nyx Weaver
2x Whip of Erebos
4x Commune with the Gods

^Reanimation, GY fillers, and Dorks. Goldfished a lot of hands with 4 Elvish Mystic, and it can feel really bad as a 4th-of. I'm never super unhappy to see the Spider. It might be right to go back to 4/3 Mystic/Weaver, or run 3 Weaver and either another fatty or one-of finisher, but we'll see.

2x Necropolis Fiend
2x Hornet Queen
2x Ashen Rider
4x Siege Rhino

^Dudes. Fairly standard, I could see maybe adding another Hornet Queen main if I dropped a Spider, but I have an extra in the SB because more than 6 7+ CMC dudes seems bad against aggro.

4x Murderous Cut
1x See the Unwritten

^Filler. Murderous Cut pretty good removal, and See the Unwritten can win you the game in the right matchups. Even if I don't have a Rhino/N-Fiend/Rider on the field to trigger Ferocious, it can still potentially help in a topdeck "I need to draw SOMETHING" scenario. If it hits 3+ big dudes, I can Whip the third back later. I could see cutting it for another filler card (Empty the Pits, another Hornet Queen, etc.)

4x Temple of Malady
2x Temple of Plenty
4x Llanowar Wastes
4x Sandsteppe Citadel
3x Windswept Heath
2x Swamp
2x Forest
2x Plains
1x Urborg

^Manabase. I'm tempted to switch one Malady for a Temple of Silence because I feel this deck can have some problems hitting White (drawing all Malady/Wastes/etc), but I'm bad at manabases so I don't want to tamper with things yet. Luckily I have a Russian Malady (only temple they had left), which while it bugs me that they're not all the same, I can easily track when it would be better to have a Silence. Third Temple of Plenty could also be better for hitting green over black. Maybe even a fourth fetch, but I'm only running 4 basics I can fetch with Windswept, and sometimes I mill my Urborg and I feel bad.

Sideboard:
2x Bile Blight, 2x Drown in Sorrow, 1x Resolute Archangel - Aggro Package. Drown feels kinda bad with Mystics and Wayfinders, but I can use those to chump and save damage. I have inevitability anyway. Usually siding out N-Fiends, A-Riders, and the See the Unwritten. Angel can also come in versus Burn and mindrangey matchups where I need to reset my life total.

2x Reclamation Sage - for the mirror and decks also running Banishing Light and etc.
2x Banishing Light - it might be right to run another one or two of these (it's great to hit off Commune) but it feels bad when removed. There's a solid amount of enchantment hate out there (B-Light, RecSage, Erase, Back to Nature, etc.) and I don't want to get blown out.
2x Duneblast - testing this out. It seems great against BGx decks, either the mirror/Abzan Midrange/Sultai Delve. Hits value cards like Wingmate Roc and Hornet Queen, and I don't care if I sac a few guys if I can whip them back later. Easier to hit mana-wise than End Hostilities, and I think the +2 mana effect is worth it, since this comes in agaist grindy midrange games where I'll be at 7 mana easily.

Dunno what to fill my last 4 slots with though... Was thinking a Hornet Queen (for matchups where a horde of deathtouchers are good) and 3 Heros' Downfall. HDF is good against control/planeswalker decks - if I need to take out an Ashiok or Sarkhan, my only other option is attacking them or Banishing Light and more answers is good. I could also add more Banishing Lights but like I said earlier, I hate getting blown out. Utter End could maybe work, but since my mana is basically splashing W, exile is a negligible effect. Also HDF is better against Stormbreath. I did see a Naya Midrange, Mardu Control and a few token decks that ran Stormbreath, so this seems okay.

Another option if I'm expecting loads of Aggro is 2x Nylea's Disciple, but I feel like the Whips, Rhinos, and Bile Blights/Murderous Cuts can hold things off, and a Drown usually stabilizes pretty well. Plus I don't know what else to side out (2 of - 1x Wayfinder/1x Spider/1x Commune?) if I need to side in 7 cards. If I was going this route, my 15th would be either another Banishing Light or a single Empty the Pits, depending.

I could also just drop the Duneblasts if I wanted to, but I feel like it's worth testing them out at least.

[InflatablePie]

Went 2:3 at Standard. One win against Jeskai Tempo, one win against an unknown opponent who dropped.

Three losses against, respectively: GR Monsters, Naya Monsters, Temur Monsters. Match 1 got beat down with Fanatic of Xenagos into Stormbreath, Match 2 got turn 2 Fanatic'd, Turn 3 Fanatic'd. Both matches my Whip to stabilize got R-Sage'd post-board. Match 3 had me get beat down by Savage Knuckleblade game 1. Game 2 I started to stabilize with a hardcast Ashen Rider, only to lose to a Crater's Claw off the top.

I dunno if I sideboarded wrong, I think I mulliganed correctly... I dunno what happened, but goddamn getting beat down by variations of the same deck three times in one night is frustrating.

Duneblast did work pretty well when I got to play it, so that's good to know at least.

[InflatablePie]

If I didn't already have two playmats...

Trying the same deck with 4:3 Elvish Mystic: Nyx Weaver. I feel like the ramp is more helpful after all. Goldfished some post board hands with a new SB plan against GRx, we'll see how it does.

[InflatablePie]

Went 1-3 last night. Won against a silly Morph deck, even after wiping my own board with a Drown in Sorrow. Secret Plans OP.

Lost against Sultai control (wrecked by Ashiok and the reverse Genesis Wave, and Garruk postboard), Temur dudes (Savage Knuckleblade, man...) and Abzan Midrange.
Thinking of making some bigger changes, I'll post a list when I get home. Not looking forward to revamping the manabase

[InflatablePie]

Gonna spoiler all this, but if someone wants to skim it and check if my mana base is okay I'd love you foreer.

Spoiler: Standard rant/decklist

So I've learned a few things in the 8 or so matches I've played with Abzan Reanimator so far.

- The deck can be slooooow. Sure, some hands give me Caryatid into Rhino into Whip, but a lot of the time I'm instead going Mystic into Wayfinder into Nyx Weaver, while my opponent is dropping Knuckleblades and Rhinos.

- Far too much GY stuff in the main, especially with midrange being common at my store and Abzan Reanimator being more on everyone's radar than at the first event or so. Plus, after sideboarding, I end up cutting a lot of the GY stuff anyway.

- 4 Mystic or 4 Nyx Weaver is both too much. Mystic helped slightly more but it was never SUPER necessary, and Nyx Weaver does nothing against some decks. Six mana for a chump, maybe self-mill two, and Treasured Find is a bit pricey.

- 4 Murderous Cut is not enough MB removal. Aside from Murderous Cut, I don't have ways to deal with Knuckleblades or other big things in the midgame, and there were times I would need to remove stuff when I couldn't drop my own creatures the same turn. So I need better midgame.

- Mana is kinda iffy. I found that there were a few times I would get stuck with 6 mana and have Hornet Queen in hand unable to do anything. At least once I had all 4 GW basics in play and had a Windswept Heath. And 10 CitP-tapped lands is a LOT. Especially when the scry matters less if you're selfmilling so much.

- NecroFiend is not amazing. Yeah, it has evasion and 4/5 is a good stat distribution but a lot of the time I'd delve a ton of stuff away and it'd die or get bounced.

- Post-board, GY hate hurts and enchantment hate hurts worse. I've never sided in Banishing Light because I'm afraid of Revelry/Erase/Rec-Sage/etc, and that might be my own fault - usually only 2-3, maybe 4 enchantment hate cards come in and maybe overloading their targets is the best idea.

All that said, I've found that some more MB removal and a solid midgame threat might help me here.

Deck:

3x Elvish Mystic
4x Caryatid
4x Satyr Wayfinder

Running 3 Mystic, because as I said above, 4 can be too much. Also allows me to be slightly lenient on t1 Green mana-wise. Only slightly.

2x Nyx Weaver
3x Herald of Torment
4x Siege Rhino

Midgame stuff. I'm gonna test Herald of Torment, because a 3/3 flier seems a lot better than Courser (especially in a mill deck when the top card matters less), plus in theory the Bestow should be incredibly helpful. Suited-up Mystics and Wayfinders become traders rather than chumpers, and going Caryatid into Rhino into bestow Herald drop you to ten on turn 4 seems good. I still want to try out Nyx Weaver, it can be really really good sometimes. And worst-case I guess I can make it a 5/6 with Herald?

2x Hornet Queen
1x Soul of Innistrad
1x Ashen Rider

Lategame threats. I was going to run one NecroFiend over the third Herald, but I think I'd rather have the Herald in most situations. Soul is better than the other Necrofiend, as with less self-mill it's usually around the same cost-wise. Soul can also help out lategame when I'm stuck on mana and no way to recur all my dead dudes.

2x Commune - not amazing early, but helps when digging for solid creatures or finding that Whip
2x Bile Blight - more MB removal! Deals with Rabbles/Mantis Riders and other aggro dudes, Hornet Queen tokens, and seems generally okay.
2x Banishing Light - there's not a ton of MB enchantment hate and is just a catch-all for the mid/lategame.
4x Murderous Cut - still 4 of these. I'm fine with casting this for 3-4 if I have to, and sometimes I can go Wayfinder into Cut and feel awesome.
2x Whip - duh


4x Sandsteppe Citadel
4x Temple of Malady
4x Llanowar Wastes
3x Windswept Heath
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

16/24 lands. Self-explanatory.

3x Forest
3x Swamp
1x Plains
1x Caves of Koilos

The other 8. This gives me 7(10 counting fetches) untapped green turn 1/2, one Plains to fetch with Windswept if I need it, 9 untapped Black (okay for t1/2 TSeize post board, t2 Bile Blight main). Plus the 8 taplands. I was tempted to go with two Plains, but I don't need much White (only really need one by turn 4 and only 6-7 cards really need White), so a Caves seems good for both helping White (there

is

an Ashen Rider and Resolute Archangel in the 75) and also supporting Black to power out all the double-black. I'm also not sure if I should run two or three Swamp with Urborg. It's possible I want another Forest, but at the same time that seems like too much... This is the part I'm most unsure about. All I know is I wanted less CitP-tapped lands for sure.

SB:
3 Hero's Downfall - more removal
2 Reclamation Sage - enchantment removal
1 Resolute Archangel - good against midrange and aggro
2 Drown in Sorrow - aggro hedge
3 Thoughtseize - moving Blights and B-Lights main frees up room for TSeize, so why not
1 Hornet Queen - because in some matches she is amazing
1 Duneblast - I still believe in this card. Two is the wrong call because it feels bad alongside Hornet Queen. It's possible super-Garruk might be better in this slot, especially with Hornet Queen support.

I don't know for sure what I want in the last two SB slots.

1x Banishing Light
1x [NecroFiend or Soul of Innistrad]
1x [Hero's Downfall or Bile Blight]
2x Despise (probably not)
1x Thoughtseize
1-2x Utter End
1x Silence the Believers
1x Erebos
1x Empty the Pits (worse w/o as much selfmill)
1x Ashen Rider

Going with one Silence and one Erebos unless anyone has better suggestions. I really like Erebos against other Abzan decks, or decks where I want a good chunk of card draw, and with all the double-black permanents there's a solid chance I can make him active.

thanks in advance for anyone willing to lend a hand

[InflatablePie]

Dat Thoughtseize taking Stoke over Rabble

And letting a Rabble through the next turn

At least I'm pretty sure Ari is favored in the finals, woohoo

[InflatablePie]

"I pick Jeskai to win. All the highest seeds have won - it's number math!"

MATH IS HARD BITCHES

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I won't complain about Magic Online because others here probably have more experience with that.

Oman, if you have Steam I'll gladly buy you Duels of the Planeswalkers - I've heard 2015 is kind of iffy but it

is

the latest iteration, so it might be better to grab that. I have the shittiest laptop and like $100 in steam credit that I can't use effectively.

I'll be bringing some Magic stuff to the Commune for that February thing as well.

[InflatablePie]

Magic Card Generator

this is providing way more entertainment than it should

Spoiler: Clusterfuck

Enchantment - Aura (black)

Enchant permanent an opponent controls

4, Tap an untapped Rogue you control: target opponent gets 1 poison counter

Whenever enchanted permanent becomes tapped, put a doom counter on Clusterfuck. If Clusterfuck has X or more doom counters on it, where X is the number of creatures on the battlefield, flip it.

----------

Legendary Enchantment - Aura (black)

Enchant permanent an opponent controls

1, Tap an untapped Spirit you control: Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield

When Clusterfuck is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, you may pay 4. If you don't, target opponent may return a card from his or her graveyard to the battlefield

Tap an untapped Rogue you control: Clusterfuck deals 4 damage to each of two target players with 2 or more poison counters

Whenever enchanted permanent becomes untapped, up to two target black creatures get -4/-4 until end of turn

--Humanity kills even the bravest magic and proves better than even the scent – Foucault, the wonder

Converted mana cost: 6

Spoiler: Bullshit Charm

Sorcery - Arcane (red and black)
Choose one:
- You and target opponent each untap and gain control of up to X target creatures with haste the other controls until end of turn, where X is the number of poison counters an opponent has. They gain haste until end of turn;
- Up to three target creatures with power 3 get +1/-1 until end of turn;
- Target creature gains ''When ~this~ leaves the battlefield, target player may pay RR. If that player doesn't, ~this~ deals 3 damage to each of two target players. Creatures damaged this way can't be regenerated this turn'' until end of turn;
- All creatures get +3/+0 until end of turn. Regenerate all creatures with power 4 or less;
- You may return any number of creature cards from your graveyard to your hand.

Entwine X colourless mana, where X is the number of Warrior spells cast this turn

Spoiler: blue Tibalt

Eshese 2ore
Planeswalker - Eshese (blue, Loyalty 5)
+2: change the text of target red creature spell by replacing all instances of one coloured mana symbol with another. (This effect doesn't end at end of turn.)
-4: return two target lands to their owner's hand
-9: up to two target Wizards get -1/-0 until end of turn

Converted mana cost: 3

Spoiler: dat flavor

Reso Otheset
Planeswalker - Reso (green, Loyalty 3)
+2: destroy target creature with flying
-3: add G to your mana pool. Spend this mana only on nongreen spells.
-7: all creatures with total power and toughness 6 or less get +3/+4 (This effect doesn't end)
--His toes may catch even the bravest lawyer
– Aquolluamti, Lord of the Royal Forest, Novice Hermit of the Cult of the Enchanted Abyss

Converted mana cost: 5

and sometimes it just churns out silly shit like Ancestral Recall with Transmute 1, or Destroy all nonblack creatures for B, because WHY NOT.

and a surprising amount of regenerating and/or granting protection to lands...

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Sorcery (black)
Choose one: Destroy target nonblack creature; or return target creature from your graveyard to your hand
CMC: 3

^Seems really interesting, especially for limited.

I've also been rolling a lot of library-related cards. Tap an untapped library you control. Return target library to its owner's hand. Gain control of target nonlegendary library (da fuq) until end of turn, it gains haste (+ scry 4), etc.

Yeah, this is way too much fun.

[edit]
Instant (red)
gain control of target permanent until end of turn
Replicate X, where X is the number of permanents on the battlefield
Madness Y, where Y is the number of spells cast this turn

Converted mana cost: 1

[InflatablePie]

SHIT, WURMCOIL ENGINGE.

maybe i can finally start playing modern

if you're still planning on picking up Mono U Tron, pick up Remands if they don't get spoiled in C14. otherwise you may be waiting until MM2.

same goes for any other expensive-ish cards in that deck, but I don't remember the prices for mono U tron offhand, not that it was that pricey (think it was only ~$32 for 4 Remands + ~$40 for 2 Wurmcoils + ~$50 in the other stuff last I checked).

[InflatablePie]

Wurmcoil's probably going in the red deck unless they put him in all 5 for some reason

they could always print Cryptic/Snapcaster in the blue one though, that'd be cool

[InflatablePie]

also fuels Grim Lavamancer and can fetch Sacred Foundry/Steam Vents if the deck is splashing white/blue (Lightning Helix/lol Treasure Cruise)

also gonna suggest shoktroopa's various lists, he's the most popular monoU Tron player and I tested a few of his lists when I was considering buying monoU Tron myself. usually runs Solemn Simulacrums over multiple Treasure Mage, Talisman of Dominance, and a second Wurmcoil over Batterskull. adjust accordingly to your metagame obviously.

[InflatablePie]

re:shortcutting

you could also Bolt a planeswalker, and if your opponent has any response (like giving it pro-red or something) you could 'Bolt them' instead, since the shortcut is Bolt -> pass -> resolves -> redirect damage.

at least I think that's right.

[InflatablePie]

Birthing Pod is one of my favorite Magic cards. The first deck I ever bought was the DKA event deck with Birthing Pods, and one of my first 'competitive' decks was Mono-B Zombie Pod. I was considering slowly buying into Rhino Pod since all I really needed were enemy fetches, two Noble Hierarchs and some flagship one-ofs (Orzhov Pontiff etc.) as far as expensive cards went.

At least I didn't already buy them, but... this ban hurts.

Guess my options are EDH or building a cube with heavy Pod support.

[InflatablePie]

Leaving for the Commune tomorrow and bringing my Conspiracy cube.



my other options at my LGS were Weatherlight, RTR Block, M13/14 and Standard packs.

Using 4:2:1:1 rarity ratios and 3:2:1 for the draft matters cards, btw. With one extra Lore Seeker. Someone better pull one.

(I'd use 5:3:2:1 if I was expanding the cube, and 4:2:1 or 5:3:2 for draft matters, but there's also the issue of space since I'm flying with this thing)

[InflatablePie]

I figured it's a stronger core set, but still gives a 'simple' option.

I'll be sure to post pulls and maybe game writeups if the packs get drafted. Or maybe we can stream it :o

[InflatablePie]

4p Conspiracy, I'm at five, Reck at 9, Gammagooey at 12. Vent Sentinel with total four defenders on my side and a clogged board everywhere.

Gammagooey: "Double Stroke naming Brimstone Volley, cast it, aim both at Reck's face?"
Reck: "Split Decision. *copy mode happens* ... Split Decision? *counter*
Gamma: Ok. Cast Brimstone Volley, kill you and Pie?

[InflatablePie]

new rules for Pro Tour Origins

- if a player mulligans, they may Scry 1
- standarized layout for Feature Matches (and encouraged off-camera) - lands behind creatures, all cards facing you, etc.
- head judges can review recorded video to aid in judge calls

[InflatablePie]

103.4. Each player draws a number of cards equal to his or her starting hand size, which is normally seven. (Some effects can modify a player’s starting hand size.) A player who is dissatisfied with his or her initial hand may take a mulligan. First, the starting player declares whether or not he or she will take a mulligan. Then each other player in turn order does the same. Once each player has made a declaration, all players who decided to take mulligans do so at the same time. To take a mulligan, a player shuffles his or her hand back into his or her library, then draws a new hand of one fewer cards than he or she had before. If a player kept his or her hand of cards, those cards become the player’s opening hand, and that player may not take any further mulligans. This process is then repeated until no player takes a mulligan. (Note that if a player’s hand size reaches zero cards, that player must keep that hand.)

Then, beginning with the starting player and proceeding in turn order, any player whose opening hand has fewer cards than his or her starting hand size may scry 1.

This rule will make its debut at Pro Tour Magic Origins, which takes place July 31–August 2. This is the only tournament during which this rule will be in effect for now. After the Pro Tour, we will have more information regarding when this rule will be implemented everywhere else.

source

[InflatablePie]

new ulamog can be reanimated~

also I love this card from a mechanics standpoint:

[InflatablePie]

foil full art fetches and shocks confirmed in BfZ packs, playable in Limited and any format they're legal in



slightly more common than foil mythic in terms of rarity

also cycle of lands

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Second perk is that LRR's preview vid for that card was amazing.

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5-1'd the prerelease I went to with UB Midrange/Control-stuff. Had the uncommon UB dude (flash/flying/process->counterspell), Cancel-Awaken, solid removal suite with a Clutch of Currents, Bone Splinters, Demon's Grasp, Complete Disregard and Grip of Desolation, and just a generally not terrible pool.

Oh, and I also opened a promo-foil Drana and a regular Drana so.

My one loss was in round 3. Opponent had a Felidar Sovreign, the big landfall dragon, and the white board wipe as his bombs. Saw all three game 1, but overextended into the wrath game 2 since I had completely forgotten about it by that point, then topdecked lands. I was kicking myself all day for that (and that guy came in 1st)

I technically came in 5th, but that's because the TOs reversed the input of my last match by accident - I received 6 packs and the guy I beat in the last match got 2nd and 12 packs. I should have taken 2nd (maybe 3rd depending on tiebreakers), but at least the other guy gave me 6 of his packs and let the TOs know instead of just bailing or something, so yay.

Pulled an Omnath in my pool and nothing else too valuable... prizes had a GW tangoland, UW tangoland, Part the Waterveil, Akoum Firebird, the 2B rare Processor that gives -3/-3, faux-Baleful-Strix, and the rare white boardwipe. Lots of neat casual cards or constructed pushed rares (although I did get a Prism Array too so bleh) and a solid chunk of value.

The format seems very fun, although when most of your games go t2 Mist Intruder t3 Drana you develop kind of a bias.

[InflatablePie]

so after telling myself I wasn't going to dump money into a Standard deck, I realized it's really impractical for me to open up my work schedule to draft every Friday night despite loving the format (LGS does Thurs Night Standard (last week of the mo. is Modern) and Friday Night Drafts only). so I looked to the Event Deck for inspiration and built a thing, keeping in mind the good cards I had from the small bit of THS-KTK standard I played and my prerelease pulls (Windswept Heath, Siege Rhino, Drana, GW Tangoland) and spent $20 on tcgplayer for the commons/uncommons/sb cards/etc

Spoiler: Budget BGw Aristocrats

4x Blisterpod
3x Carrier Thrall
3x Sultai Emissary
4x Zulaport Cutthroat
4x Catacomb Sifter
2x Drana, Liberator of Malakir
2x Grim Haruspex
4x Siege Rhino
3x Smothering Abomination

3x Bone Splinters
1x Abzan Charm
2x Abzan Ascendancy
2x Evolutionary Leap

3x Windswept Heath
1x Evolving Wilds
4x Llanowar Wastes
1x Caves of Koilos
1x Canopy Vista
4x Sandsteppe Citadel
2x Jungle Hollow
4x Swamp
2x Forest
1x Plains

Sideboard:
2x Abzan Charm
1x Altar's Reap
2x Caustic Caterpillar
2x Duress
2x Transgress the Mind
4x Jaddi Offshoot
1x Retreat to Kazandu
1x Abzan Ascendancy

Playtest

pretty straightforward deck with lots of synergy. half the creatures spawn things on ETB or death, giving you the option to win via lots of Cutthroat triggers or go wide with Ascendancy/Drana.

Haruspex feels like the weakest card and if I upgrade the deck I can slowly bring in Hangarback Walkers for them. It used to be Nantuko Husk, but just the Bone Splinters/Leap/Abomination feels like enough of an outlet to me tbh.

Smothering Abomination feels really strong with a lot of "2 creatures for one card" cards, but in my limited goldfishing it can get kind of awkward after you've Leaped all your creatures into Rhinos and Drana

sb is just something I threw together. I really wanted at least 1 Feed the Clan with 7x 4-power creatures plus Ascendancy/Drana but my LGS doesn't have singles and I couldn't find two or less sellers on TCGplayer that I knew would probably get to me by Thursday (went w/ Card Rush and Happy Viking Games btw) and somehow both of them were out of stock soooooo

only thing I'm slightly iffy on is the manabase, because the deck is heavy black and unfetchable with Heaths... I realize the easiest answer is to jam 4 Bloodstained Mire/Polluted Delta/Wooded Foothills and a corresponding Tangoland (I don't honestly know if I need the 4th Heath with my mana requirements...) but I really don't have the $60+ for that right now. input on that would be appreciated. I want to toss in a Mortuary Mire but 7-8 CitP-tapped lands already makes things awkward. Or a Shambling Vent.

I feel like the deck won't actually be that amazing in practice than it looks in theory, honestly, but it's definitely playable and I feel like there's enough ways to just steal games at FNM (TNM) and it just feels really fun, especially for $20.

[InflatablePie]

I debated making a really long and vulgar writeup of a fake match between me and an opponent for the deck description, but it's too much work considering everyone here most likely knows the joke.

The Me in the universe where I did and everyone laughed feels so proud of himself, though.

[InflatablePie]

also the cutest interaction in this deck is Catacomb Sifter + Sultai Emissary (+ Grim Haruspex) unless there's something I haven't seen yet

Drana + Abzan Ascendancy can get out of hand

I need to remember that Smothering Abomination triggers on ANY sac, not just it's own.

"Abomination trigger, sac Sultai Emissary, stack triggers, scry for Catacomb Sifter, keep Haruspex on top, manifest, draw a card off Abomination, drain you for 1 off Cutthroat... and draw for turn! Okay, main phase... cast another Sifter, sac Eldrazi Scion, scry, draw, use that mana, cast a Siege Rhino..." #valuetown

[InflatablePie]

Who plays Modern? I'm tired of rotations but I don't want to jump into a format nobody plays.

funny you say that, I'm having proxy decks printed out on Monday because our LGS does (unsanctioned) monthly unlimited proxies Modern tourneys.

currently printing out:
TarmoTwin
Scapeshift
RG Tron (feat. Newlamog)
Jund (some weird list that placed very high at an SCG Open I think, without Bobs and with MB Bitterblossom/Pack Rat/2 Huntmasters)
Suicide Zoo
Living End

taking suggestions for ~4 more common decks to make a solid gauntlet of sorts. definitely need another control deck besides Scapeshift - leaning Esper. and probably should add Burn and/or Affinity (the latter, I'd be interested in testing Karsten's Days Undoing or Hangerback variants, so if anyone has experience with the deck...).

but yeah, trying to get Reck and Gamma to play/get into Modern so I'm giving Gamma the Jund deck (Huntmaster being his favorite card), Will RG Tron, and I'm playing either TarmoTwin or Scapeshift. other decks will be backups and/or used for testing. and I might get esurio to play Suicide Zoo (which looks hella fun).

or I can build modern cheerios

[InflatablePie]

Grixis Control, Merfolk, Affinity, and Burn are your missing gauntlet decks. You also need Amulet Bloom in there, probably in place of Suicide Zoo.

For Affinity, don't get fancy. The current version that runs 4 Galvanic Blasts is going to be the most efficient list. Don't tell yourself you're setting up a gauntlet, and then run mediocre versions of the decks in it. That just makes you get unrealistic expectations of your matchups. Same with Jund. Don't run some crazy Jund brew that happened to do well at one SCG IQ. Play the real version.

I'm proxying extras to slot in when I'm wanting to play something more standard or test against an actual gauntlet. No worries there.

Is Merfolk that common? I feel like I'd see more Bloom Titan (and Suicide Zoo is a deck I'm letting esu try out, not necessarily using it for testing). On the other hand it also seems like a difficult deck to pilot properly with a bunch of inexperienced players attempting to learn their own decks so idk

[InflatablePie]

hey I netdecked in THS-RTR Standard and played a pretty sweet PyroRed(White) deck

also is netdecking okay if I pick a really off-the-wall brew that almost no one's heard of, or is it only bad if I netdeck something that top8'd a major event

[InflatablePie]

I use mine as a starting point, goldfish or play against someone else a bit, then adjust accordingly.

It's like buying and upgrading an event deck, except more expensive and using better cards.

[InflatablePie]

guys

the more important point to argue is that Bulky Swords Dance MegaScizor is superior to CBandScizor.

[InflatablePie]

Unless you're playing VGC because you're better off running Kangaskhan as your mega but I digress

[InflatablePie]

Siveure I think you're in the wrong thread

[InflatablePie]

Also Heatran really isn't a problem if you're running Lando T which, let's face it, you are, so that's not a great incentive to run scarf scizor. There's much better Scarfers to run, although I'm drawing a blank on examples right now.

[InflatablePie]

Just gonna leave this here for anyone looking to try Standard on a budget. RB Eldrazi Aggro, with various upgrade paths depending on your budget/card pool.

(he also did an article on standard land destruction and it looks fun, shame I can't justify the cost even if I cut corners on the fetches/tangolands)

[InflatablePie]

So even though I wasn't planning on supporting MTGO after they ditched the old client, I remembered I had a THS Block Constructed deck that was worth like ~25 tickets and saw a really cool Standard deck I wanted to dick around with in my free time. And with my schedule lately, I haven't had time to play any Standard in-person. So I sold all of that off and built this deck with ~20ish tickets (probably closer to like 17-18, but I had to get the cards from a myriad of different bots).

Spoiler: list

Land (25)
3x Blighted Cataract
4x Evolving Wilds
4x Tranquil Cove
5x Island
9x Plains

Creature Removal (17)
1x Celestial Flare
2x Pacifism
4x Silkwrap
4x Stasis Snare
4x Planar Outburst
2x Citadel Siege

Card Draw (10)
3x Ugin's Insight
3x Monastery Siege
4x Sphinx's Tutelage

Permanent Removal (5)
3x Quarantine Field
2x Suppression Bonds

Other (3)
1x Starfield of Nyx
2x Negate

Sideboard:
4x Arashin Cleric
1x Dampening Pulse
2x Orbs of Warding
2x Cranial Archive
1x End Hostilities
1x Celestial Flare
2x Negate
2x Dispel

Source for the deck is here, although I made some changes:
-1 Pacifism / +1 Celestial Flare
-1 Ugin's Insight, -1 Dampening Pulse / +2 Monastery Siege
-1 Suppression Bonds / +1 Citadel Siege
-1 Blighted Cataract / +1 Plains
SB: -1 Dispel, -1 Dragonlord's Perogative / +1 Dampening Pulse, +1 Celestial Flare

As usual with every list I post, the SB probably needs tweaking.

The entire point of the deck is to grind out a win through Sphinx's Tutelage. Tons of spot removal, mostly enchantments (save Celestial Flare, which I'm trying one main/one side as I want two in the 75 for Lumbering Falls), some board wipes, and so on. Citadel Siege works great as a Pacifism you can move around, and Monastery Siege is a pretty good CA engine, working well with Tutelage and the one copy of Starfield. Starfield does turn on our opponent's removal as the deck runs zero creatures otherwise, but it also makes for a nasty engine with Monastery Siege and sometimes allows you to put your opponent dead to both damage and mill on your next turn. Finally, there's two Negate mainboard because the deck has a very hard time coming back from a resolved Ugin. Negate usually has a decent target (some Jeskai spells, Atarka Red pump spells, Bring to Light, and so on) but worst-case we can just pitch it to Monastery Siege if we don't think we need it.

Still fiddling around with the deck a bit, but it's a lot of fun so far and super cheap! I might consider trading towards it in paper, especially considering not much of this deck rotates out with the next rotation (save the Sieges, Tranquil Coves and a few SB cards). I mean obviously it may not be viable, but this isn't exactly a tier 1 deck anyway.

Obviously the mana base needs work but I don't have the ~50 tix for fetches and tangolands, but it's not too bad without them honestly.

[InflatablePie]

That's why there's two MB Negate

also yeah, thinking of cutting a Cranial Archive for a Stroke, since it's basically a 5th Negate against Control/Ugin/planeswalker decks.

[InflatablePie]

did a bfz swiss because I had play points???

went 1-2 with UR devoid because I punted g3m3 two ways. Other deck I lost to had Planar Outburst, Scatter the Winds, the blue sphinx landfall dude, ugins insight...

Meh, won a pack, draft was free nbd. Also picked up two Prairie Streams to fix my mana a bit for UW Marshmallows. Dropped two Evolving Wilds for them, think I might drop one of each basic if I pick up two more, dunno what the right way to slot those in with if I don't plan on acquiring fetches. Don't think I want 4 wilds though.

[InflatablePie]

Been tweaking my deck a bit.

Spoiler: stuff

Land (26) - 2x Blighted Cataract, 2x Evolving Wilds, 4x Prairie Stream, 4x Tranquil Cove, 6x Island, 8x Plains

Went down to 2 Blighted Cataract because drawing multiples early really really hurts. Shelled out ~5 tix for the other two Streams, probably not picking up Flooded Strands though. Maybe in paper I can use my Windswept Heaths or something. Also went up to 26 land, because I kept getting stuck on 3-4 Mana, even with Monastery Siege down, an uncomfortable amount of time.

Removal (21) - 3 Quarantine Field, 4 Planar Outburst, 2 Pacifism, 3 Silkwrap, 1 Celestial Flare, 4 Stasis Snare, 2 Suppression Bonds, 2 Citadel Siege
Card draw/Engines (9) - 4x Sphinx's Tutelage, 3x Monastery Siege, 2x Ugin's Insight
Protection etc (4) - 2x Negate, 1x Disdainful Stroke, 1x Starfield of Nyx

Took out a Silkwrap for one MB Disdainful Stroke, because I am tired of losing to Gx Ramp decks with Ugins and Ulamogs and it helps that game 1 slightly. Plus it has targets in most decks (Atarka Red's Become Immenses, control's PWs, various midrange stuff). I can see adjusting that back to 4 depending on meta.

Also took out an Ugin's Insight, as I don't usually

need

to draw more than one per game, and lots of games I don't have time to take a turn off until I completely lock down my opponent's creatures.

SB: 4x Arashin Cleric, 2x Orbs of Warding, 1x Dampening Pulse, 1x Celestial Flare, 1x End Hostilities, 2x Negate, 2x Disdainful Stroke, 2x Dispel

Dropped the Cranial Archives completely for more Strokes. Could see dropping an Arashin Cleric but not sure what I'd throw in (maybe the 4th Silkwrap?). Could also see running 3/1 Outburst/Hostilities main with a second Hostilities in the side, if I'm running into more decks with Awaken (Esper Control) or something like the RB/Grixis Eldrazi deck with Ghostfire Blades etc.

[InflatablePie]

Not too awful. I can hold my own against Jeskai and Aristocrats, can usually beat Esper Control, Atarka Red, GWx Megamorph and Abzan(+ Bring To Light 4c/5c), but have a hard time with Gx Ramp and Bant Tokens, especially the former.

Also TWoo got suspended from CFB (again?)

"I wrote down on my hand, "Do not talk about Hitler on stream," 'cuz I thought that would be a bad idea to do.

However...

" - Travis Woo
~15 min in - "If we say the Jews did absolutely nothing wrong, then the only conclusion is that there's a whole race of evil people that turned bloodthirsty for no reason."
53:25 "I don't necessarily need to be right on facts. ... It's really hard to determine what 'facts' are."
and then it devolves into conspiracy stuff involving propaganda and also something about asian stereotypes
(also that first deck he's playing against is UW Marshmallows, funny timing)

[InflatablePie]

Actually, gonna test out the 4th Silkwrap in place of the 3rd Disdainful Stroke, think 3 might be too many. I dunno. I'm not really sure if the extra slot to boost the Gx Ramp matchup a bit is worth it, because it's still really hard to fight through the inevitable 4 Ulamogs/4 Ugins with Sanctum backup so I'm tempted to just scoop to that deck tbh. I feel like Atarka Red/Abzan/etc matchups can get really close (like, winning at 1-3 life or losing one turn too late) and only having 3 in the 75 probably doesn't help my Jeskai matchup.

Contemplating going back to 3 Blighted Cataract now that I have 4 Tranquil Cove and 4 Prairie Stream (dropping an EWilds in that case) but man does getting those double-Cataract hands suck. Someone talk me out of it or something.

[e] immediately matched against G Ramp, fml
[e2] twice

[InflatablePie]

currently on a hot streak of 5 even breaks in Legendary Cube Swiss (2-3 wins, which nets me enough play points for another draft)

I know it's Swiss but people really need to stop passing me Maelstrom Wanderer, that card is nuts. in two of those 5 drafts I picked up a tutor (Worldly once and Vampiric once) which is also amazing combined with Wanderer.

4-5color with roughly four 6/7 drop bombs, 4ish Signets/Diamonds/etc, 3+ pieces of removal, at least 2-3 card draw spells and just taking fixing whenever there's nothing above C+ quality in the pack has been working out great for me.

only games I lost super hard in those ~14 involved Rofellos and Mana Reflections. One deck Genesis Waved for 13, the other got a turn 5 Emrakul. not much you can do there

[InflatablePie]

ended my winning streak on the sixth draft

so I sold my winning packs to do one last draft and drafted this:

Spoiler: stuff

(split card is a turn and burn)

Let's see if this works.
[edit] no

[InflatablePie]

oh vintage cube

so I drafted a mostly-mono-U-artifact deck (first few picks were something like Tinker, Top, Mind Twist, Blightsteel, ConsSphinx, Metamorph, Polluted Delta... Daze/Cryptic/Trinket Mage were pack 1 too I think).

went afk and got completely distracted, came back with ~5 seconds on my clock before I got kicked for inactive, kept a hand of 3 lands/Mox Diamond/Tinker on the draw, so t2 Blightsteel woo. Opponent showed me an Ancestral Recall on his turn then scooped. won on turn ~5 next game, and Mental Misstepped the Ancestral Recall. felt so good.

lost to mono-Red 1-2 - T2 Tinker game 1, got run over game 2, game 3 I had sided out Inkwell and other slow cards for early interaction, figuring if I just Tinker Blightsteel it's game. I managed to do that on turn 3, but my opponent played Goblin Welder, chumped Blightsteel with two dudes and went to 9 Infect, and then I got owned. whoooops.

still, out of 5 games I got a turn 2 or 3 Blightsteel four times. tinker is a fair and balanced card you guys

[InflatablePie]

good luck to all who're doing prerelease. I might go to one Sunday but I probably shouldn't budget-wise.

I hope that if anyone pulls any Hedron Alignment, you at least pull 4 and attempt to live the dream.

[InflatablePie]

I'm thinking the Twin ban was part showcasing Tron and Eldrazi at the PT (ehhhh) and, hopefully, part preemptive banning due to planned unbans or new cantrips or something that would've made Twin OP. Overcompensating for Rhino-Pod maybe? Better ban the deck before printing good cards instead of after?

I'm not saying those are GOOD explanations, but I like them better than Wizards claiming Twin was a problem currently. Shrug.

[InflatablePie]

Been considering trying Pauper on MTGO instead of "wasting" money on cube drafts. Looking for a deck that's about 20tix or less. Any fun suggestions? I know next to nothing avout Pauper. Currently leaning towards UB Teachings from the decks I've seen, or maybe messing with a Delver shell replacing Cloud of Faeries (is Phantasmal Bear good? Jeskai Sage over Spellstutter? I have no idea).

Bonus points if it has Pauper staples; I have next to nothing on MTGO.

[InflatablePie]

Been considering trying Pauper on MTGO instead of "wasting" money on cube drafts. Looking for a deck that's about 20tix or less. Any fun suggestions? I know next to nothing avout Pauper. Currently leaning towards UB Teachings from the decks I've seen, or maybe messing with a Delver shell replacing Cloud of Faeries (is Phantasmal Bear good? Jeskai Sage over Spellstutter? I have no idea).

Bonus points if it has Pauper staples; I have next to nothing on MTGO.

I'll never not recommend Kiln Fiend. Replace Gitaxian Probes with Gut Shot or Mutagenic Growth and you're at about 10 tix for the whole deck. http://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/357369#online

holy hell why are Probes so expensive online. 4+ tix a pop, ouch. I mean, Pauper is still relatively cheap and I know Probe is useful in multiple formats but compared to the rest of the deck...

I'll probably try this out, I have a soft spot for Kiln Fiend/Nivix Cyclops/etc. archetypes.

[edit] This is fun! Took the sample deck you linked (making the Probes Mutagenic Growths), dropped a Mutagenic for a MB Gut Shot, and traded one Gut Shot in the SB for an Annul.

Also played against a Burn deck, which seems fun too. Probably the second deck I'll look at if I get bored of this one.

[InflatablePie]

caved and got Probes on MTGO, they help the Fiend deck immensely (although I'm keeping one Growth in). also picked up Burn, and a few other cards for UR Fiend to mess around with.

pauper is a pretty fun format.

Spoiler: Fiend list

8x Island
5x Mountain
1x Swiftwater Cliffs
3x Terramorphic Expanse

4x Delver
4x Kiln Fiend
4x Nivix Cyclops

4x Ponder
4x Preordain
4x Gitaxian Probe
1x Impulse
3x Gush
1x Dispel

4x Lightning Bolt
1x Mutagenic Growth
3x Apostle's Blessing
2x Temur Battle Rage
1x Assault Strobe
2x Shadow Rift
1x Artful Dodge

SB:
3x Dispel
1x Aura Flux (might take this out, haven't run into enough matches where it's been useful)
3x Stormbound Geist
2x Mulldrifter
2x Flame Slash
2x Smash to Smithereens
1x Flaring Pain (haven't seen matchups where this is good either)
1x Electrickery

Spoiler: Burn list

16x Mountain
2x Forgotten Cave

4x Goblin Fireslinger
4x Keldon Marauders

4x Bolt
4x Lava Spike
4x Chain Lightning
4x Rift Bolt
3x Needle Drop
3x Searing Blaze
4x Incinerate
4x Curse of the Pierced Heart
4x Fireblast

SB:
2x Golden Urn
2x Martyr of Ashes (no idea when to side this in tbh)
1x Electrickery
3x Fireslinger
4x Smash to Smithereens
3x Molten Rain

Thinking of trading the Martyr of Ashes for another Fireslinger/Electrickery and a Relic of Progenitus but idk.

[InflatablePie]

My favorite pauper decks were always mono U and mono B control.

I feel like they were both pretty pricey for pauper standards though (~100 tix)

Mono B Control looks really fun.

Tempted to brew a Ninja Bear Delver shell. Something off the top of my head:
4x Delver
4x Phantasmal Bear
4x Ninja of the Deep Hours
4x Jeskai Sage
4x Ponder
4x Preordain
4x Brainstorm
4x Counterspell
2x Deprive
3x Snap
1x Bonesplitter
2x Gitaxian Probe
2x Gush
1x Piracy Charm
17x Island

My favorite deck is the Kuldotha deck. Back in 2012, I actually had a hand in the continued evolution of the deck- was the first person to add Guardian of the Guildpact to the deck(and win dailies). I feel like it's my little baby ever since.

If I didn't have a strict no- MTGO clause now, I'd probably start playing pauper again, especially since they banned the card they should have banned over Temporal Fissure. Seriously, I have the posts from 2012 on mtgs begging for WotC to ban Cloud of Faeries because it's 60% of the reason the top 2 decks were FissurePost and Mono U Delver.

Kuldotha looks real fun to play. And yeah, even having only been playing Pauper for a few days, I can say Cloud of Faeries + Spellstutter is so damn annoying.

Faced against some 4-color deck with all Snow lands, 4x Skred, and a ton of counters - Arcane Denial, Counterspell, Memory Lapse, Rewind... think the wincon was Sprout Swarm? Looked fun, despite the fact that I was playing Kiln Fiend and got pooped on.

[InflatablePie]

yeah, was just rattling off a bunch of cheap spells. run some terramorphic expanse/evolving wilds, it'll be fine >_>

-4 Brainstorm / +1 Snap +3 Memory Lapse?

could maybe even switch Probes for Vapor Snag or something, or run 1-2 Exclude.

also 2 (maybe 3?) Islands should be the blue cycling land.

[InflatablePie]

Daze is okay but I think I'd rather run MemLapse tbh. Aim of the deck is to get a dude down and protect it, and getting Time Walked just wrecks some decks, notably Burn (chittering rats can die in a fire) which seems to be common in League/2-mans. Plus Daze is $$$.

Spire Golem is fine too. I think I'd rather run Stormbound Geist maybe.

[InflatablePie]

Eh, maybe Spire Golem's better than I think it is. Makes Lonely Sandbar worse in a deck that curves out at ~3 though.

4x Delver
4x Phantasmal Bear
4x Ninja of the Deep Hours
4x Jeskai Sage
3x Spire Golem

4x Ponder
4x Preordain
4x Counterspell
2x Deprive
2x Memory Lapse
1x Exclude
4x Snap
1x Bonesplitter
2x Gush

17x Island

SB:
4x Dispel
4x Hydroblast
3x Stormbound Geist
[4 something. 2x Curse of Chains, 2x Mulldrifter?]

Maybe drop MemLapse for another Gush and a Vapor Snag? Maybe Phantasmal Bear isn't worth it? idk.

[InflatablePie]

got matched into a Burn mirror and my opponent led off with some related puns. we traded fire/temperature puns and jokes all match, discussed sideboards, asked him(her?) if you next level someone in the mirror by siding in Smash for Golden Urn*, etc., and now I have an MTGO friend.

and then the next match I slaughter my opponent, he says "ghey" and concedes the match after g1.

oh, magic online.

---

*
That brings up something interesting though. How often do you next level someone going into sideboarding (as per my example, siding in artifact removal if they commonly play artifacts in the board)? Have you ever gone two levels deep expecting your opponent to go only one level deep?

In my match, I personally didn't side Smashes in against possible Golden Urn, because it's not in every sideboard. I was tempted to side in one or two out of the four I carry, though.

(ps - The Ulamog Gambit is good reading, if I didn't link it here a while ago.)

[InflatablePie]

Thanks for the opinions Shanba.

I also want to brew some kind of Jund brew. Midrange or Delve/Dredge or something. Pauper has re-awakened my love for brewing decks.

[InflatablePie]

Whatever seems open starting with ~pick 3.

[InflatablePie]

I would have held the Misty personally, but Wastelands are certainly not a bad choice. Especially if you need them for a Legacy deck or something.

Grats, lucksack.

[InflatablePie]

the real question is, how would the eldrazi decks fair against twin

[InflatablePie]

I consider Burn more of a control deck so shrug. Putting it in its own archetype makes sense bc it also depends on format, your 75, etc.

[InflatablePie]

elves is stupid

[e] revenge!

[InflatablePie]

I'm dicking around with a Pulse of Murasa Sultai Delve deck in Pauper. Needs the entire sb worked on to stand a chance against aggressive decks, but I feel real bad when I get to recur Anglers for days against UB Teachings. They only have so many counterspells- combine it with Mnemonic Wall and...

But yes as a Burn and UR Blitz player I despise you. Actually picked up a second Flaring Pain for both SBs. Fuck CoP.

[InflatablePie]

So this is the list I'm fiddling around with currently. Still tweaking the manabase and sideboard.

The aim is to bash peoples' faces in with Mandrills and Anglers. Pulse recurs the threats and the cheap cantrips/removal provide enough fodder to at least stall until they can be hardcast in the more grindy matchups.

Agony Warps are decent removal, testing one Doom Blade because I want a maindeck answer to any giant threats (and I can Ponder/Brainstorm + Corpse Churn/Mental Note/Thought Scour it away versus like, MBC). Devour Flesh doubles as both a 4th Edict and a combo piece with Pulse if necessary (useful in getting Mnemonic Walls in the GY against creatures that I can't chump). Corpse Churn is okay, only running one because it's way better early-game. I like it more over a third Pulse because it's cheaper and provides Delve fuel, as much as I love Pulse. 2/1 split seems fine. Ghostly Flicker may just be cute, but I really like it. Works well with Wall, and can even just use it to block-flicker or counter removal.

As I said, SB needs work, mostly against aggressive decks (although I've added the Warps and DBlade to the main since my above post). Two Dispel/Negate/Duress mostly for Control, and it's possible I don't need that many since the Control matchups already have trouble dealing with the overwhelming recursion. Brindle Boar recursion is just game against Burn and similar decks, Disfigure for aggro decks, an extra Doom Blade if I need it, two Shrivel because the deck folds super-hard to Elves (and I guess Goblins) without it. And finally, trying a Marauder in the SB for Affinity. Might be too slow, though.

It can at least hold its own in most matchups, but I've only tested maybe two dozen games in the tourney practice room, so it still needs work.

Also, debating taking out one Ponder for another Mental Note. Speeds up the deck, and with Brainstorm I really don't

need

all four Ponder... but I'll do more testing before I drop 3.5 tix on another card that's basically only great in Angler Delver <_< Still like Ponder in the deck though, but I could even see going down to 2.

[InflatablePie]

more pauper stuff

still tweaking my Sultai Delve list, but it's possible I should just be playing Angler Delver at this point. seems to be doing alright against Tron, MBC is favored Game 1 imo but Wrench Mind hurts a lot. the last big deck apparently is Mono U Delver, which in theory should be alright with early removal (running 4 Chainer's and 2 Agony Warp for the moment), but if the deck takes off with a Ninja connect and constant countermagic, I'm pretty boned.

so I've been tweaking a UW Cawblade list (which I can post if anyone's interested), but I've also fallen in love with this deck:

4x Freed From The Real
4x Fertile Ground
3x Sheltered Aerie
4x Wind Zendikon
4x Lifespark Spellbomb

4x Drift of Phantasms
2x Valakut Invoker

4x Ponder
4x Preordain
4x Impulse
1x [Anticipate/Brainstorm/???]
4x Gigadrowse

8x Island, 2x Forest, 4x Thornwood Falls, 2x Simic Guildgate, 2x Simic Growth Chamber

SB:
4x Dispel
4x Fog
1x Spore Frog
4x Turn Aside
2x Relic of Progenitus

stolen from here

Combo works as such: get to five mana with a Spellbomb on the field or Zendikon in hand. Have a land that taps for UU via Fertile Ground/Sheltered Aerie. Then you need a Freed From The Real and a Drift of Phantasms or Valakut Invoker. One mana to pop the Spellbomb or cast Zendikon and animate the enchanted land. Enchant the creature-land with Freed From The Real. Use your last mana to untap the land. Tap the land for two, repeat. Get infinite mana, Transmute for and/or cast your Invoker, dome them for infinite.

Despite it being a four-card combo, it's surprisingly easy to get all of those cards, especially considering that Drift of Phantasms can fetch any combo piece minus the land animation spells (considering running a Crusher Zendikon over one Wind, but it doesn't seem super necessary considering the downside). Playsets of Impulse/Ponder/Preordain let you go through the deck quickly and Gigadrowse is a house against permission-based decks (and can be a Fog in a pinch). Only card I'm not sure about is the 60th - Brainstorm isn't great without Evolving Wilds, Anticipate digs for three but costs two mana which is a noticeable downside... maybe something like Gitaxian Probe for scouting, or Serum Visions as a sorta shitty 5th Preordain. Could just run one Train of Thought too but meh.

Sideboarding is easy. 4 Dispels against permission (cut [60th card] and some number of Zendikon/Preordain), Fogs n Frog against creature decks (cut Gigadrowses and [60th card]). The other 6 slots are up in the air, as the author of the article was running 3 Gigadrowse main/1 side and said he really only sided in those nine and the Gigadrowse (in this match it looks like he just threw some Plains in the board lol). Not sure if Relic is necessary, but Turn Aside seems good against sorcery-speed land destruction.

My only complaint is that this deck seems way easier to play in Paper than online. Sheltered Aerie is fine, but Fertile Ground is really annoying to go off with in MTGO's interface. It takes a few minutes if your opponent makes you play it out.

(note in case anyone picks up the deck for mtgo - at 20 life, you need 59 mana with Invoker in hand, 62 if transmuting. have fun clicking.)

[InflatablePie]

[InflatablePie]

PAUPERGOYF

HYPE

[InflatablePie]

I do like the spells that have discard costs to play. That's an addition I do enjoy. Problem is, as typical with Innistrad blocks, blue is weaker in this set, while black and white are much more powerful.

Innistrad: Blue is nerfed! Snapcaster is meh and you can easily block that 2/2 Geist! You need to run a million spells for Delver too so don't bother.
RTR: Blue is nerfed! Sphinx's Rev is just a worse Blue Sun Zenith!
Theros: Blue is nerfed! Master of Waves is trash, you lose the tokens and he dies to most removal!
Khans: Blue is nerfed! Dig is alright I guess but Treasure Cruise is too expensive!

Can't think of a good BFZ example to be fair but you get the idea.

[InflatablePie]

LoadingReadyRun is streaming a pre-prerelease tomorrow by the way, for anyone unaware. Noon Pacific/3pm Eastern.

Guest starring NumotTheNummy, Marshall Sutcliffe and two other people I don't know (Elantris and Jimmy Wong).

[InflatablePie]

"let me kill some time on a sealed deck simulator to get some sort of practice in for prerelease"

>pulls a Jace, Sorin, Always Watching, two foil rares

in reality, I'll probably pull at

least

three Drownyard Temple.

[InflatablePie]

Gamma and I did play a match on dr4ft+Cockatrice yesterday. Went GB with basically just two wincons, the 7/7 Menace sac-a-dude-or-land and the 6/6 Delirium-Trample guy. Having a Tamiyo's Journal helped, and as long as your opponent's deck isn't too aggressive (and it's sealed, so...) it seems really good.

Grotesque Mutation and Rabid Bite is a silly combo, and the green Vessel is really good at turning on Delirium.

[InflatablePie]

the value

THE VALUE

Deck (foil mountain = bonus value) and Pool. Only played one match so far.

[InflatablePie]

been tinkering with a BW Control/Kitty deck in Pauper after I found a cool list on reddit (and I've played against similar decks once or twice). has a ton of cool interactions.

List

- Mind Raker is surprisingly okay. yes, it dies to bolt. but the deck plays so many exile effects that you're almost always getting a discard out of your opponent. also, you can Journey/O-Ring something, Mind Raker the creature to the GY, then pick the enchantment up with a Skyfisher for free.
- Not sure how to feel about Vulturous Aven. 4th Read the Bones or another Angelic Purge might be better. Purge also makes Auramancer better, allowing you to sac Raked Journeys/O-Rings. [edit] yeah, dropped an Aven for a Purge.
- One MB Nihil Spellbomb as a free exile effect against most decks, but puts in work against decks like Teachings and Tron.
- I like Ruin Processor, but maybe I want something that works better in the midgame. Honestly, have only played about 10-15 games with the deck so far and haven't drawn/played it often enough to determine how good it is here.
- Still playing with the manabase. Lots of taplands is kind of awkward, might only want one Secluded Steppe.
- Also still tweaking SB. Mostly self-explanatory though. 'Worst' slots are probably MesFiend and the second Font. [edit] trying a 4th Castigate and a Vessel of Malignity over MesFiends.

[InflatablePie]

I'll respond when I get home but thanks for the input

more of yall need to play pauper

also iirc I'm testing 4th Castigate and a Diabolic Edict over the MesFiends.

[InflatablePie]

First off: Current List. Now on mtggoldfish instead of screenshot.

Also, this deck is stupid cheap, with over half the cost being in the two Crypt Rats (on paper, the two Chainer's Edict is just under half the cost). I highly recommend trying the deck out if you have the cards, but if you don't, you're not spending much.

That pauper list looks very sweet, but glacially slow. Are the bojuka bogs really necessary with all your other exile effects? I would try trimming those, if possible, but if not I would definitely drop down on orzhov basilica. Bouncelands play really awkwardly with other taplands, and a hand with basilica+tapland means you're spending your first three turns down a mana. That's painful.

Bojuka Bog and 2 Nihil Spellbombs allow you to completely run over graveyard-based decks, notably Tortured Existence and UB Teachings. The latter of which makes me really want two in the main, since I have a lot of dead/mediocre cards against them, especially game 1 and if they're full-on creatureless (SB plan is something like: -3 Dead Weight, -2 Journey // +1 Spellbomb, Erase, Font, Castigate).

I could maybe see going down to 1 bounceland. I was running 3 and that was way too many, but two seems to be the sweet spot here. I haven't found the slow manabase to be

too

much of an issue, but I could maybe see dropping one for a Plains or maybe an Orzhov Guildgate/Evolving Wilds. I do like that they allow me to re-use Kabira Crossroads/Radiant Fountain and Bojuka Bog without having to 'waste' a Skyfisher trigger (bouncing Thraben Inspector feels so goooood).

Against delver and green stompy the w/r boroskitty deck has 8 1 mana removal spells, and that's how it gets the tempo back to enable it to durdle with ichor wellsprings. Your deck has only 3 dead weights as 1 mana removal, 3 journeys at 2 mana and then the other 4 spells are 3 mana. That is definitely expensive. The lifegain I'm sure helps, and the removal suite looks good at dealing with big creatures - I wouldn't be surprised to hear you had a good affinity matchup - but I'd be worried about the random tiny dude flood the board decks just running you over while you fumble with taplands and struggle to reach 3 mana.

I need to test more against aggressive decks, but with the right draws, it's not too bad. The plan for game 1 is usually to aggressively trade/block, since Inspectors replace themselves, Missionaries lifegain helps a lot, and Skyfishers can block well. By the time turn 4-5 rolls around, if I'm not dead, a Mind Raker can pluck one of the last cards or two from their hand and I can begin to get back in the game. Provided I can stop the bleeding quickly, it's not too difficult to find the one Font of Return to refuel my hand.

And again, it could be variance, but I really haven't had a problem getting to three mana.

Have you considered a maindeck kor sanctifiers? It has applications in lots of matchups, and in the ones where it isn't great a 2/3 body is often surprisingly relevant.

I could consider it. O-Rings and Purges seem to work alright for now.

For the sideboard I'd work out which of shrivel or crypt rats was better and just play 4 of that. I suspect it is crypt rats.

I like Shrivel against x/1 decks (Elves, Goblins) because it only costs two mana. On turn 4-5, it's a lot easier to just Shrivel the board and play another card, than Crypt Rats. I usually only have ~2 black mana available that early, and playing Rats a turn too early against, say, Goblins, can just get it bolted. And I don't want to up the black mana count because I need white for t1-2 Thraben Inspector. I do like Rats in matchups where I want mass removal but Shrivel doesn't cut it. Or against decks where I have a million dead cards (so far, TurboFog is the only example I have).

Erase is a weird one. Is that for bogles? I think just more edicts is better in that matchup for a deck like this that wants to go long - a tempo-ey fast deck can get away with just picking off a key enchantment and win while the bogles deck tries to recover, but I think control really needs to get on top of everything the bogles player is doing. Like, erasing an ancestral mask is ok, but then you need to deal with the next ancestral mask or ethereal armour where a player playing a faster deck possibly doesn't. If the erase is for some other matchup then fair enough. Perhaps other kitty style decks with journeys and such are the targets? In which case, fair enough.

Yeah, the guy I got the decklist from said the matchup he's most worried about is Bogles (hence the CoP Green, two Chainer's Edict, and now a Diabolic Edict). It does come in against them, and Journey/O-Ring decks, but I also like it against UB Teachings as a 5th removal spell for Curse of the Bloody Tome.

I think mesmeric fiend might just be better as duress. Most of the decks you want that effect against are decks that pack a lot of removal anyway. I understand the synergy with your mind rakers, but I don't think that interaction is earning you enough to justify the slower, easier to answer alternative that is the mesmeric fiend.

The original deck had Cloudshifts, Angelic Renewal... as I said above, I dropped the Fiends. They were okay, there are just better cards.

I've considered a Duress in the 75, but I'm not sure if that should replace Castigate (exile so good) in the board, or if there's a subpar card I can cut it for. 4 Castigate and 4 Mind Raker is probably enough discard though?

Anyway, sweet deck and I'm glad thraben inspector is starting to see play as it is very much a sweet card.

I've fallen in love with Thraben Inspector. That and Castigate are my new favorite cards right now.

The card I'm most hesitant on in the main at the moment is Ruin Processor. It provides another process effect, and uncounterable 5 life is nice, but the few times I've drawn it, I've just had better things to do with my mana. I dunno, still needs more testing.

[InflatablePie]

also, not that it's going to come up practically ever, but Erasing my O-Ring/Journey with trigger on the stack is cute

[edit] oh, Bojuka Bog also does work against Tron, helping mitigate Haunted Fengraf

[InflatablePie]

i have no pauper scene in my area or i would

MTGO?

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Some UB Teachings run Accumulated Knowledge over Think Twice. Also Chainer's Edict.

Might try a few games with Sanctifiers over Processor. Also testing -1 Basilica, +1 Guildgate for a bit.

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Wondering if Relic of Progenitus is better than Nihil Spellbomb?

Pros: can cycle off white mana, only costs one mana instead of two for an exile effect for Mind Raker kinda (I almost never skip paying black mana unless I desperately need to crack it, especially when I just need a Raker target), double Relic post-board seems real good against gy decks, constant exiling instead of a one time effect

Con: anti-synergy with Font of Return and Auramancer

I'm thinking the pros outweigh the con since I can somewhat play around exiling my own important cards but idk.

[InflatablePie]

Yeah, I was also considering 1:1. I'll keep tinkering.

Appreciate all the help/someone to bounce ideas off of.

[InflatablePie]

Changed the list a bit. Dropped an ORing for the 4th Journey since I'm running the Sanctifiers and tweaked the manabase again.

I'm thinking of going down to 22 land since I've been flooding out in lots of my testing, and I'm not running Ruin Processor as a top end threat anymore. -1 land (Kabira Crossroads prob), -1 Read the Bones (drawing two early on is bleh), bring in the 4th Castigate from the board which frees up a sideboard slot? Not sure what else I'd want in the main though. 4th Lone Missionary seems decent.

I've noticed my Tron matchup is really hit or miss. Depending on the Tron flavor, I can sometimes out-grind them or at least make them spend 15+ minutes winning game 1 and just play against the clock game 2. But sometimes Haunted Fengraf just rolls me if I can't find a Relic, especially in Maul Splicer variants. Think I'd like a Choking Sands in the board just to guarantee I have enough ways to deal with it (besides GY exiling).

[InflatablePie]

Interesting question: should I bother siding in both CoPs against Tron, if I know their only wincons are Rolling Thunder and Fangren Marauder?

I don't want to over sideboard, but after playing the matchup a few times, I don't think there's another way for them to win if I resolve both. Their only other creatures are Sea Gate Oracle and Mulldrifter. The former isn't a problem ever, and the latter just gets blocked by Skyfishers all day. Ulamogs Crusher just gets Journey'd or O-Ringed.

Obviously this doesn't apply to Maul Splicer variants etc., just against "stock" Temur lists.

It's probably not correct but idk.

[InflatablePie]

Wondering if Relic of Progenitus is better than Nihil Spellbomb?

a) Relic exiling my GY was relevant in matchups where I wanted Fonts.
b) I forget that Nihil Spellbomb's second ability doesn't rely on the first. So with Angelic Purge, you get a sorc-speed cycling Utter End.

spellbombs are back in.

updated list, changed the manabase (Shanba was right), trying Seal of Cleansing over Erase to see if exile+1 mana is better or worse than recurring with the one-of Auramancer + extra removal for artifacts. also testing Phyrexian Rager and going down to 2 Read the Bones. also going down to 3 Mind Raker since two in the opener can suck, it's not amazing in every matchup (especially when it ends up being a Hill Giant) and with all the card draw it's not hard to find 2 regardless.

[InflatablePie]

played in a free pauper tourney on gatherling (Tuesdays, 8pm EST/12am GMT). won 2-1 against Goblins, lost 1-2 and 0-2 against Burn/Soul Sisters, and opponent dropped round 4.

only problem I really have with the deck now is that it floods out often. going down to 22 seems to mana screw me, though. considering if I want a one-of Raven's Crime/Cenn's Enlistment or something, but I'm not sure what the cut is... maybe 2 Castigate is correct even though I love the card and was running 4 for a while.

[edit] think I might cut the Font main. I like Font, and it only leaves me with Dead Weights/sac'd Journey/ORings for Auramancer targets, but it accomplishes a similar goal in a grindy matchup. plus it might stop opponents from siding in GY hate when they see the Auramancer combo g1 and I want the combo for g2 (which has happened a few times and made me sad).

[InflatablePie]

@shanba - Haven't updated the list yet but I've dropped the Auramancer, it just feels bad to sandbag it to get value. Not sure if I want to switch Dead Weights with Disfigures or run any splits. Dead Weight can be useful for neutering things like Kor Skyfisher/Spire Golem, but instant speed might be worth it? idk. Added the 4th Journey back in, so the 4 Dead Weights/4 Journeys should be enough to deal with fast strats.

Raven's Crime has also been disappointing me more than I expected. Maybe I'll add another Rager in to draw all the cards, might want to go down to 1 Read the Bones potentially.

[e] also, the deck doesn't really have issues with 'conflicting strategies' from my testing. working on streamlining though.

[InflatablePie]

EMA spoilers look sweet.

I want paper foils of Pyroblast and Hydroblast, that art is fuckin' sick.

[InflatablePie]

"hey guys whatever happened to Gisela and Bruna? we got Sigarda in SOI but-"

Spoiler: Eldritch Moon

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Donate is red and target opponent, not player, I believe.

New Natural Order is 1GG, sac a dude. Can grab any creature with CMC X, X being sac'd CMC plus 2. So Pod-like. Self exiles so you can't go Bird into this into Witness.

In Standard, Goblin Dark Dwellers, flashback into Atarka, seems dece.

Also new uncommon - 1B opponent discards at random, Delirium = discard 2.

[InflatablePie]

noice gj

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in case no one's watched it yet:

"Oh, 'my draws were bad'? 'My draws were bad' -

YOUR DECK IS BAD

. I've been in this game FIFTEEN YEARS." "What's your name?" "GET REKT, THAT'S MY NAME"

[InflatablePie]

I was considering getting back into Standard come Kaladesh with monoRed (as it's usually cheap) and then they had to go and spoil the new Chandra so I guess I'll just stick to Pauper if I start playing regularly again.

Spoiler: Chandra

Also this guy's pretty sweet:


Reminds me of Keldon Marauders. No guaranteed damage and 1 more mana for +1/+1, Haste, and the possibility to keep it in play longer seems fine.

[InflatablePie]

idk, she looks great to me as a 2 of, maybe 3 of. Chandra Pyromaster wasn't amazing in Standard either a few years back but she was good enough in the red shell I was running.

Cast her t4 and either plus to get a two drop down (vs control, maybe aggro mirror) or minus to kill a dude (vs aggro or midrange). If it survives a turn you can start drawing cards, or binning lands and shocking them.

I'm not great at card evaluation but I think this'll see a good chunk of play. Especially if control is strong but doesn't have a decent wrath at 4 mana.

[InflatablePie]

at least it's cool in multiplayer?

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the expeditions are beautiful. hoping for Caged Sun and Gilded Lotus for Aether Revolt.

also the basic land are pretty great, too.

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Swords are strong, but Sol Ring gets picked over Black Lotus in powered cubes fairly often. I think you have a better chance if your opponent untaps on turn 4 with a sword than untapping t2 with a Sol Ring. I mean you're probably still going to lose to either card, it's just a matter of how fast.

I'd put Mana Crypt above the Swords as well. Not sure about Mana Vault.

[InflatablePie]

drafted and played one round of a Legacy Cube league

y'all know what's better than going Grim Lavamancer into Abbot of Keral Keep into Ancient Tomb & Beetleback Chief into Hellrider into Goblin Bushwhacker game 1?

doing this game 2.

deck here

it really saddens me to not play Consecrated Sphinx but I think it's the right call

[edit] went 2-1, no repeats of match 1 unfortunately. also in hindsight, should have considered dropping the Mutavault. it only ended up attacking once in all 3 matches, and it messed with Ashenmoor Gorger once or twice (and was awkward w/ Koth)

[InflatablePie]

Opened promo Nissa and regular Nissa with some really good GW. Went 4-0 and won twelve packs.

In my last match, I killed my opponent's Chandra and played my regular Nissa. She died but I ended up winning. Game 2, I played turn 5 regular Nissa, make a dude and pass, turn 6 ult Nissa, land and draw, and play the foil Nissa I drew for turn.

My opponent almost got whiplash from the double take.

Only drew Nissa in 3/9 games. Drew the 3GW "+5/5 trample to one creature or +2/2 and vig to all" card most games and that card was insane for me. Then again, I had 6 two drop creatures (two Hawks, Sage of Shalias Claim, energy mana dork, two Trusted Companion), some good 3s (two Glint Smith Artisan, a Thriving Rhino, the guy with etb +1/1 to a creature) and two of the 3/3 trample fabricate dudes, so I definitely had the deck for it. I think LSV was kind of low on the card but I don't think I lost a single game after casting it.

[InflatablePie]

3-0'd a 6-2-2-2 League with RW Aggro. This format is fun.

[InflatablePie]

For the spells in the set that allow you to cast cards for free (i.e. ___'s Expertise), the 'free spell' half resolves before the Expertise card hits the 'yard. You can't Archaeomancer/Mnemonic Wall for free off of the Expertise spell, to get the same Expertise spell back. Well, immediately, anyway.

Also of note, the first part of the Expertise card resolves (e.g. Act of Treason for the red one), then you cast the 'free spell' from your hand,

then

triggered abilities that triggered if the first part of the Expertise spell had any targets. But if said target becomes illegal (e.g. in response, sac my creature) you don't get the free spell at all. (source)

Btw... you can use one of these Expertise cards to cast both halves of a Fuse card (Beck/Call, Breaking/Entering) for free, yeah?

[InflatablePie]

@Shea: 1x Crackdown Construct to combo with your 4x Wandering Fumarole? Could be another good wincon (especially if you also have a Saheeli Rai out)

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You can cast that for R since you can have X = 0 (unless a card gets errata'd like Marath). Obviously it would only build Storm count, though.

Gatherer:
* The value of X is limited by the number of artifacts that you can target. You can’t target the same artifact more than once.
* You can target an artifact with indestructible. It won’t be destroyed, and you’ll still create X Gremlin tokens.
* If an artifact becomes an illegal target for Release the Gremlins, it won’t change the number of tokens created. However, if every target artifact becomes an illegal target, Release the Gremlins is countered and no tokens are created.

[InflatablePie]

1) Mindslaver for your Academy Ruins
2) Unburial Rites, maybe with an Iona

if you're gonna go full "Highlander" (-Gifts) jank with -one- combo (Thopter/Sword)...

[InflatablePie]

mm17 has damnation and enemy fetches (and possibly Cavern of Souls due to number-crunching)

time to make room in my budget to actually draft a Masters set this year

[InflatablePie]

Green Leyline, Freed from the Real and BoP is a T2 kill, in theory

4 Birds of Paradise
4 Leyline of Abundance
4 Freed from the Real

4 Utopia Sprawl
4 Kiora's Follower
4 Noble Hierarch
3 Benefaction of Rhonas

4 Drift of Phantasms
2 Eternal Witness
1 Valakut Invoker
1 Sphinx's Tutelage
1 Chord of Calling
1 Emrakul, the Aeons Torn

23 Land idk

let's go

[InflatablePie]

got back into Arena a few weeks ago, currently jamming RDW (testing 3cmc Chandra and Burning Prophet, they've been pretty good) and whipped up this Dimir Control for Bo1 ladder cuz I was gettin tired of Mono-Red:

Spoiler: list

1 Lasav, the Multifarious
2 Thief of Sanity
2 Nightveil Predator
1 Hostage Taker
2 Doom Whisperer

1 Davriel, Rogue Shadowmage
1 Narset, Parter of Veils
1 Liliana, Dreadhorde General

4 Thought Erasure
2 Duress

2 Cast Down
2 Moment of Craving
1 Murder
1 Vraska's Contempt
1 Enter The God-Eternals

1 Cry of the Carnarium
1 Ritual of Soot

1 Negate
1 Disdainful Stroke
3 Sinister Sabotage

2 Discovery // Dispersal
2 Chemister's Insight

1 The Eldest Reborn

9 Island
6 Swamp
2 Dimir Guildgate
4 Dismal Backwater
2 Watery Grave
1 Drowned Catacomb

the deck could use work tbh (3rd Thief of Sanity, maybe a 2nd Enter the God-Eternals, ~2 Kefnet... lands...), but I'm down to 2 mythic WCs and 1 of the others and wanna save future ones til the meta settles so it's basically a pile of what I had in my collection

seems like a decent start but if anyone has suggestions lmk - so far Narset's been mediocre and I should probs craft a 2nd CotCarnarium over going 1/1 with Ritual of Soot. also a 2nd Vraska's Contempt but I have much higher priorities for rare WCs (ie lands, PWs) and they rotate this fall sooooo

[InflatablePie]

Spoiler: changes so far

-1 Ritual of Soot
-1 Murder
-2 Duress
-1 Disdainful Stroke
-1 Sinister Sabotage

-1 Davriel, Rogue Shadowmage
-1 Hostage Taker
-1 Lasav, the Multifarious

Murder and Disdainful Stroke didn't feel right in the deck, and Sinister Sabotage has been strangely lackluster. Two MB Duress is probably fine, but I opted for other cards instead. Which also makes Davriel less good. Dropped Lasav cuz cute but slow, and Hostage Taker I've never really cast and doesn't feel important. Ritual of Soot is probably okay but I decided to add another CotCarnarium over it.

+1 Cry of the Carnarium
+1 Blink of an Eye
+1 Negate
+2 Quench
+1 Noxious Grasp
+2 Tomebound Lich
+1 Watery Grave

single Blink of an Eye has been useful, same with the second Negate. Quench gives me more early-game pressure and has been useful (despite only running two) and there's enough targets for one maindeck Noxious Grasp. Tomebound Lich is interesting - don't know if it's what the deck wants to be doing but provides card selection and a 1/3 body is nice, and fits well in the curve especially since I haven't crafted more Thieves of Sanity yet. then another Watery Grave.

@pops: I legit forgot Disfigure was in M20, I'll make that change eventually. for now at least the 2 life is relevant sometimes.

in a two-color deck I've never had a problem casting Nightveil Predator, but I'll still fiddle with the manabase. following this article still allows me to drop an Island for a Swamp and still be alright for 1UU on 3, and so with 25 lands I've gone to 12 Duals (4 Gates/4 Dismal/3 Shock/1 Check), 7 Island, 6 Swamp.

nightveil's also done some serious work tbh - blocker against RDW they can't touch, pressures Planeswalkers, deathtouch is relevant against Gruul, flying against Mono-Blue... Doom Whisperer has been way worse (but instant speed Surveil 2 when it inevitably dies helps a little) but my deck feels light on lategame threats otherwise.

[InflatablePie]

yeah I'm not seein much RDW lately. unless I'm queueing with RDW in which case I see it constantly but also, bring it on. RDW mirror matches are my favorites, had some spicy tech for that matchup back in THS RTR days

I also need to play more Bo3 once I have a better collection going

anyway

may eventually pivot to Grixis/Bolas control given I pulled 4x Steam Vents back when I last played, and they're releasing new starter decks with shocks at some point for my 4th Grave. depends on pulls and if I can budget for gems next month (trying to stay mostly f2p) and if I care about losing value on 3-4 mythic WCs for Baby Bolas. at least it won't be bad in Historic...?

but most of the deck doesn't rotate and going Thought Erasure into Bedevil into Bolas into Bolas seems sweet.

also wanna jam 3cmc Chandra in Grixis, because you can run big Chandra and maybe Sarkhan for an alt wincon (for more red PWs for her first 0) flashing back Bedevil/Thought Erasure is sweet and did I mention her Ele-0 combos with Liliana Dreadhorde's passive?

[InflatablePie]

cut Murmuring Mystic (slow), Wee Dragonauts (I'd play the 1UR x/4 drake instead), Augur (you already have removal for aggressive decks), Radical Idea (haven't been impressed w it in UR but maybe it's okay)

go up to 4 Strikes, and for the other 6 cards add instants/sorceries - either draw or cheap permission (Opt, Negate, etc). Narset might be ok too.

[InflatablePie]

I'm pretty skeptical of that. The one thing even worse than Dies to Removal is Dies to Combat. Chandra dies to combat without getting an opportunity to generate at least 1 card worth of value, unlike Davriel, Narset, Tef3ri, and baby Vivien.
She guarantees a card of value if you play her as a 5 drop but then why not cast Nicol Bolas, Dragon God and have 5 loyalty instead of 2?

this is fair but also why not both

also yeah, I guess Grixis Superfriends plays maybe 3x 6drops between Dreadhorde Lili (2nd 0) and Chandra (loyalty 0) so maybe it's too cute but I wanna make it work

I'm really big on 3cmc Chandra, I think she's great

[InflatablePie]

Grixis Superfriends ... maybe it's too cute but I wanna make it work

you wanna know what's even cuter and something I just lost to

Jace Cunning Castaway -5 ability copied by Bolas, clones Bolas

Chandra 0, loyalty increases each Bolas by 1, other Bolas' copy the loyalty-0 and then keep -5ing for more clones til you get one (or more) at 8 that can ult

[InflatablePie]

figured I'd build Temur since I had the Cavaliers and

most

of the wildcards. with this, mono Red, Grixis, and Simic Flash, I'm all geared up for rotation resistant decks now.

[edit] pulled a 4th Nissa so swapped out the Tamiyo that was there previously. current upgrade path is either -1 P-Druid/-1 Cavalier of Gales or -2 Cloudkin Seer, then +1 Omnath +1 Krasis.

Spoiler: old post

probably could stand to go -2 Cloudkin Seer and -1 Tamiyo, +1 Omnath/Nissa/Krasis then

maybe

swap a Paradise Druid for a 4th Coil depending, but Seers cycle and have a few decent synergies and Tamiyo's Regrowth minus can be useful. the Cavalier of Gales over a third Thorns because again, wildcards, but it's done okay the few times I've seen it. could also drop Gales/4th P-Druid instead of -2 Seers. either way I need a 4th Nissa on my next rare WC, and an Omnath-maybe-Krasis on my next mythic.

sideboard seems fine, I'd say the 3rd Ceratops is a flex slot

maybe

but there's nothing I can think of as a must-include to replace it. maybe something for the aggro matchups (4th Coil, Fight With Fire, 3rd Flame Sweep)? the deck already kinda dunks on control with Veils Negates and a ton of can't-be-countered spells, and Feather/Vampires gave me minor issues when I ran into them on ladder

[InflatablePie]

yeah I was gonna save up but I figured all I was crafting were some Stomping Ground/Nissa/Omnath/Hydroid Krasis and I'd say the card that'd be most likely to

not

see play of that bunch is the 3x Omnath (depends on 3c manabases*), so it was probably fine. aside from 1-2 mythic WCs, I'm also gonna be saving up; figured I have a few weeks after Eldraine release too until the meta forms/draft strategies come out, so there's that

Cavalier of Gales does okay, there've been a few games where I've been stuck on 2x blue (but also haven't drawn it) but the manabase isn't actually too rough otherwise and 3x blue is fairly common. don't feel like crunching the numbers at the moment.

(*allied fastlands pls)

[InflatablePie]

also glad that someone else recognizes Temur as the most aesthetically pleasing shard

now gimme my Jund Shards of Alara Forest on Arena, Wizards; I need to color-coordinate my basics

[InflatablePie]

always been an Izzet mage with Golgari-splash-tendencies, but my moment was probably after jamming a ton of some MTG Online cube and usually grabbing the Maelstrom Wanderer

basically if the card says 'you may cast without paying', I'm in


[preview edit] Shards has great basics. with a few exceptions, I usually just go full-art in paper. then I think on MTGO I used various foil basics (this Kamigawa Mountain was one)

[InflatablePie]

I considered getting the Veronique Meignaud Mountains as regular versions (think they were printed in Planechase?) but to be honest they look weird

[InflatablePie]

Nissa/Omnath/Hydroid Krasis

I'd say the card that'd be most likely to not see play of that bunch is the 3x Omnath

does Omnath win you games on a mull to four in game three? didn't think so

[InflatablePie]

the real MVP is the new mulligan system tbh

5 land/Leafkin/Hydroid Krasis, mull (because basically-six-land is bad against control even w Krasis)
no land... mull
two UR lands and green cards... mull
that four, lava coil, fry, and some seventh card idr (Krasis or Omnath I think)

also yeah I'm starting to hate Cavalier of Gales all of a sudden, it's gonna be a third Cloudkin unless I can think of a fun miser card, for now

or I can play a 25th land but that seems questionable with 12x dorks

[InflatablePie]

not sure why Wishful Merfolk of all cards has catapulted my hype for this set into the stratosphere but here we are

also



>food token

[edit] aww they're just tap sac pay 2, to gain 3 life boooooo
[edit2] I guess artifact is relevant.