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View Full Version : What would you tap out for at 4 mana? 5? 6?



hi-val
11-21-2011, 01:31 AM
I'm tinkering around with tap-out control decks, usually powered by STE and/or Coalition Relic. The idea is that you survive for a few early turns, then start dominating with all the new, awesome spells that have recently been printed. However, "bomb-ass control spell" didn't give me workable results in Gatherer, so I turn to the community.

If you are playing a deck that can reasonably pay any color requirements (think Cruel Ultimatum), what's worth tapping out for at the higher mana costs? Assuming a metagame of Affinity, Zoo and Twin, what do you want to be dropping? Extra points for Instants, since that's relevant against Twin. Here's my short list:

4:
Damnation/Wrath/etc
Consuming Vapors
Elspeth
Cryptic Command
Gifts Ungiven
Mystical Teachings (but only barely)
Snapcaster, snappin' something

5:
Batterskull
Plow Under (sometimes)
Mulldrifter
Shriekmaw

6:
Godo, fetching Batterskull
Wurmcoil Engine
Grave Titan

But from there, what else? Imagine that your first turns involve things like Smother, Mana Leak, etc and this is a play where you get value. You're looking to buy back a lot of that 1-for-1 stuff you were doing previously and pull ahead. The sort of thing 4cc would do in Standard. I'd love to read your feedback!

Amon Amarth
11-21-2011, 05:04 AM
Off the top of my head, Creeping Corrosion is pretty good against Affinity. Would be a decent SB card.

Also, wouldn't Damping Matrix be good against Twin?

264505
11-21-2011, 08:19 AM
I would say tapping 5 mana for a Gideon Jura is going to win you a lot of games in those 3 matchups.

Mr. Safety
11-21-2011, 09:53 AM
4-mana:

Vigor Mortis
Makeshift Mannequin
Endless Horizons
Spellbreaker Behemoth
Rumbling Slum
Chameleon Colossus
Past in Flames


5-mana:

Garruk, Primal Hunter
Bloodgift Demon
Dramatic Entrance
Kodama of the North Tree
Mulldrifter
Shriekmaw
Baneslayer Angel
Slave of Bolas
Phyrexian Hydra
Oversoul of Dusk
Demigod of Revenge
Godhead of Awe
Deus of Calamity
Deity of Scars
Evacuation
Time Warp


6-Mana:
Sorin Markov
Kokusho, the Evening Star
Yosei, the Morning Star
Keiga, the Tide Star
Sphinx of Jwar Isle
Ranger of Eos (plus the two 1-drops)
Primordial Hydra (at 4 counters to stay out of bolt range)

7-mana:
Avenger of Zendikar
Cruel Ultimatum
Brilliant Ultimatum

mojoiskewl
11-21-2011, 10:20 PM
6:
Deathcloud; x=3

hi-val
11-22-2011, 06:49 PM
I thought of another one for 5 - Etched Oracle. Much less risky than tapping out at 4 and a solid wincon. I just wish manabases were so good that I could consistently hit Sunburst.

Ahab
11-23-2011, 08:56 AM
Moat is pretty good against Zoo, Humility wrecks a lot of decks. If you're playing Coalition Relics and a few artifact bombs, the new Tezz could be worth looking into.

Sims
11-23-2011, 09:10 AM
Moat is pretty good against Zoo, Humility wrecks a lot of decks. If you're playing Coalition Relics and a few artifact bombs, the new Tezz could be worth looking into.

Wrong format, man. Though Magus of the Moat might be relatively legit to toss down, vunlnerable though... would hate to tap out for magus of the moat and have him pathed while you don't have countermagic up.

Ahab
11-23-2011, 09:20 AM
Wrong format, man. Though Magus of the Moat might be relatively legit to toss down, vunlnerable though... would hate to tap out for magus of the moat and have him pathed while you don't have countermagic up.

Oops, that's what happens when you just press 'What's New?'.
Anyway, White Sun's Zenith could be a Decree-of-Justice-esque finisher in hardcore control.

Shawn
11-24-2011, 03:10 AM
I've been playing it as a one-of in my UWb Teachings deck on MTGO. It's been fine so far, very good in the matchups where they overload on spot removal or have Tec Edges or Ghost Quarters for my manlands. It also gives you a way to end the game quickly rather than poking them to death with unblockable 3/2's, Snapcasters, and Finks/Nighthawks.

Mindslaver and Sundering Titan are others, but those aren't viable without Tron.

nodahero
03-03-2012, 11:52 AM
Hi-Vals list as created from the brainstorming here:
4 Coalition Relic
3 Mana Leak
2 Rise
Fall
2 Shriekmaw
2 Mulldrifter
3 Snapcaster Mage
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Gifts Ungiven
1 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Withered Wretch
1 Godo, Bandit Warlord
1 Batterskull
1 Life from the Loam
1 Doom Blade
1 Ravens Crime
1 Firespout
1 Vendilion Clique
1 Cruel Ultimatum
1 Maelstrom Pulse
1 Damnation
4 Verdant Catacombs
2 Sunken Ruins
2 Blood Crypt
3 Reflecting Pool
2 Flooded Grove
2 Watery Grave
1 Darkslick Shores
1 Urzas Factory
1 Dragonskull Summit
1 Breeding Pool
1 City of Brass
1 Graven Cairns
1 Twilight Mire
1 Rakdos Carnarium
1 Forest
1 Swamp
Sideboard
1 Obstinate Baloth
1 Vensers Journal
1 Negate
1 Flashfreeze
4 Tarmogoyf
1 Firespout
1 Natures Claim
1 Creeping Corrosion
1 Seal of Primordium
1 Slay
1 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Ancient Grudge

hi-val
03-07-2012, 01:48 PM
I liked that list a lot when I played it but so much of it is misbuilt! I want to go back over it and fix it :)

Anusien
03-07-2012, 02:45 PM
4-mana:

Past in Flames


Tapping out for Past in Flames is kind of embarrassing.

Mr. Safety
03-07-2012, 08:15 PM
Tapping out for Past in Flames is kind of embarrassing.

Agreed...I don't know what I was thinking!

emidln
03-07-2012, 09:08 PM
Tapping out for Past in Flames is kind of embarrassing.

Obviously you tap out for Past in Flames which triggers your Spellweaver Vollute on your Early Harvest to untap your lands...

Michael Keller
03-09-2012, 11:17 AM
I know for eight mana I would tap out for Divine Intervention.

Mr. Safety
03-09-2012, 04:09 PM
I know for eight mana I would tap out for Divine Intervention.

And then magically teleport yourself to a Legacy game where it can actually be played.

Terra
09-19-2012, 10:07 AM
Tnx for the answers and for the whole discussion.
Seems really helpful for me
as I'm only a beginner in the game))

ahg113
09-27-2012, 05:24 PM
+1 for Gifts Ungiven

also add to list:

Necrotic Ooze
Unburial Rites (flashbacked)

boneclub24
10-05-2012, 11:52 AM
I'd tap out for Hero of Bladehold (usually off of a Cavern).

HokusSchmokus
10-22-2012, 05:58 AM
Faith's Reward, apparently.

Megadeus
10-22-2012, 10:15 AM
Elspeth is pretty strong. Especially when you have been dominating by killing and countering their things.

DragoFireheart
10-22-2012, 12:05 PM
Elspeth is pretty strong. Especially when you have been dominating by killing and countering their things.

- Agreed. I think she's either the best or second best Planeswalker in Modern.