[Deck] GW/x Maverick

[Fade]

@Koby.
I agree with your assessment there completely, but can we run angels grace in a diverse metagame? Hive mind has one great advantage in that it isn't played a lot, so we rarely devote our sb slots to dealing with it. My playtest partner happens to play hivemind, so I am blessed to see it every weekend, but then I never pack anything for it for a major cause I figure I am going with one of maybe five hm players that will be there. If we could make a 25 card board I think we could make every game 2 50/50:) but in the inevitable compromise it seems like we get to choose ahead of time which combo decks will get us. At least we beat the rest of the field and if we run into our prepared for combo mu we can get a win out of it. I think that with Thalia we are at 50/50 with burn, maybe even 52/48 in our favor. I think U/R Delver is rough for us and that has been left out of the discussion so far, or maybe that's just my misfortune, but I have been smashed by U/R Delver almost every time I play it. Other than that the deck really does reward tight play, we can steal a lot of wins just through preparation. The deck really rewards format knowledge and we rarely lose to scrubby decks.

I don't even know if it's worth worrying about Hive Mind. The deck shouldn't even be running around with all the RUG Tempo/Canadian Thresh decks. They have stifle, spell Pierce, and Daze to stop/null the Hive mind triggers and it seems like a poor deck choice currently.

[Fatal]

Testing Lightning Greaves - surprisely good card..

[Avatar of Light]

Testing Lightning Greaves - surprisely good card..

Is it in addition to, or in place of, the other pieces of equipment (which one)? How has it affected the interactions with Mom/Ranger/equipping other equipment?

[maktus]

hi guys, what are you using against nic fit? in my environment there are several of these decks ...

[Fade]

hi guys, what are you using against nic fit? in my environment there are several of these decks ...

My friend has been playing the G/B version of Nic Fit and I have never really felt threatened by it. They need to resolve a deed and have a grave titan/hermit after it in order to win. Yes, sometimes they do get there with removal but most of the time they don't have those lines of plays. I find the games go into top deck mode really quick and unless Nic Fit has a top then Maverick has way better top decks to pull ahead.

Here is some advice. Always fetch up your duals against them. It makes it so that you will gain some value off of the first Explorer and possibly the second. Most of Nic Fit's lists don't run wasteland as they have a high basic count so no need to worry about getting wastelanded out of the game. Hold a KOTR or bomb in you hand once they have 4 mana if you have a commanding board (No need to run them into a deed). Elspeth is almost always game over as the only thing they have is a 2 of pulse to get rid of her.

Nic Fit players always say that they have a great matchup against Maverick but personally I don't see it. We clog up the board faster than them and gain advantage faster. By the time they deed, I have already taken a chunk out of their life and I follow their deed up with a GSZ or KOTR to finish them off.

[defector]

@Fade

I think Show and Tell combo decks are pretty well positioned right now. RUG decks aren't as prevalent as they once were, and it looks like Show and Tell decks are on the rise. The more prepared you are the better off you are. The more popular G/w Mav decks become the more incentive there is to run a show and tell deck. SnT lists have a bad mu with RUG, G/w has a good one, the wheel continues to turn.

[maktus]

My friend has been playing the G/B version of Nic Fit and I have never really felt threatened by it. They need to resolve a deed and have a grave titan/hermit after it in order to win. Yes, sometimes they do get there with removal but most of the time they don't have those lines of plays. I find the games go into top deck mode really quick and unless Nic Fit has a top then Maverick has way better top decks to pull ahead.

Here is some advice. Always fetch up your duals against them. It makes it so that you will gain some value off of the first Explorer and possibly the second. Most of Nic Fit's lists don't run wasteland as they have a high basic count so no need to worry about getting wastelanded out of the game. Hold a KOTR or bomb in you hand once they have 4 mana if you have a commanding board (No need to run them into a deed). Elspeth is almost always game over as the only thing they have is a 2 of pulse to get rid of her.

Nic Fit players always say that they have a great matchup against Maverick but personally I don't see it. We clog up the board faster than them and gain advantage faster. By the time they deed, I have already taken a chunk out of their life and I follow their deed up with a GSZ or KOTR to finish them off.

I was thinking of using in sb 3x Armageddon and 2x life from the loam. The problem is that it would take many slots.

[Fatal]

vs Nic Fit best weapon which works well also in other MU:
-Elspeth, Knight-Errant - they don't have reach

Other tools:
Cataclysm - devastating if you not running planswalkers

Ok I'm after tests with Lightning Greaves here is report of undiscovered Maverick builds:

I used it in little tweaked build with Fauna Shamans, here is the list which I used:

1 Lightning Greaves
1 Umezawa's Jitte
2 Stoneforge Mystic
3 Fauna Shaman
4 Noble Hierarch
1 Scryb Ranger
4 Mother of Runes
4 Knight of the Reliquary
4 Green Sun's Zenith
1 Loyal Retainers
4 Swords to Plowshares
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
1 Dryad Arbor
2 Forest
1 Plains
4 Savannah
1 Horizon Canopy
1 Gaea's Cradle
4 Windswept Heath
3 Misty Rainforest
4 Wasteland
1 Karakas
2 Qasali Pridemage
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
1 Scavenging Ooze
2 Aven Mindcensor
SB: 2 Gut Shot
SB: 1 Gaddock Teeg
SB: 1 Ethersworn Canonist
SB: 2 Mindbreak Trap
SB: 1 Choke
SB: 1 Leyline of Sanctity
SB: 1 Surgical Extraction
SB: 1 Tormod's Crypt
SB: 1 Bojuka Bog
SB: 1 Iona, Shield of Emeria
SB: 1 Linvala, Keeper of Silence
SB: 2 Thrun, the Last Troll

Good sides of the build:
Lightning Greaves are absolute house against heavy removal decks, it also gives great boost to almost all your creatures - Shroud and Haste, both are very very important.

Some scenerio's:
Hasted Mom is much more dangerous same for hasted KotR - killing from top is what everybody like, Walkers aren't scary for G/W build anymore you just play creature them tapout for attack.. It protects from bounce etc..
Opoonent always need open mana with spot removal removal while greaves are on table, it also protects your fatty (Iona/Elesh) from Karakas, giving Fauna Shaman haste is also nice.
Recurring Fattie like Iona/Elesh is best way to deal with Nic Fit or any Deed deck - let him try blow up deed for 7-9 :].
Thalia - Aven Mindcensor is very good disrupting Duet, specially with protecton.
Hierarchs with Greaves cost 0.
Fetching Cradle with KotR is really easy with Greaves - you don't need to wait a turn. If you want to give protection to be unblocked just reequip Greaves to mom if he try to use removal in resp - just mom.. so its not a problem.


Some tricks:
Fauna Shaman and no creature in hand, only scryb Ranger - fetch a dryad use Scryb Ranger to bounce, Dryad without passing priority use Fauna Shaman from Dryad, them Scryb Ability resolve, untap Shaman use it again put Retrainer into play gg.

Build isn't ended I would suggest:
+1 Ooze - still don't know in which slot.

Some thoughts why not vengevines - GY hate is verywhere you can't goes in this plan - any green deck has Ooze 4/3 haste for 2GG isnt too good compared to KotRs or Moms - Lightning Greaves is the Key.

Why choosing Elesh instead of Iona in MD - Elesh even with Karakas/Removal on table brings CA if played well - it's and edge in mirror and also turn one clock with all of your board - it kills all creatures in UW/UW/b (maybe except batterskull - but who cares) even if opponent took her out quick - his board will be cleaned. Iona is focused on combo mostly. I know its slow - but better have options then doesn't.. Actually its a best creature which you can get. Also Elesh is one which you can play normally 7 mana with creadle isnt too hard to reach - its only 2 more then batterskull so..

Also thinking about more SFM package which can be very good with Greaves - 4 mana investment for 1/2 and 4/4 Lifelinker with haste isn't bad - probably better than Vengevines and its good also alone.

Fauna Shaman's gives more tutoring which doesn't ended on Green creatures - so you can fetch Linvala for example or Stoneforge.

Build is open cards considering:
E.Witness - I miss her
more SFM package - like SoLS/Batterskull
Quirion Ranger - yes sometimes it could be useful.

[Fade]

@Fade

I think Show and Tell combo decks are pretty well positioned right now. RUG decks aren't as prevalent as they once were, and it looks like Show and Tell decks are on the rise. The more prepared you are the better off you are. The more popular G/w Mav decks become the more incentive there is to run a show and tell deck. SnT lists have a bad mu with RUG, G/w has a good one, the wheel continues to turn.

I have to disagree with you on the amount of RUG decks in the meta. Looking at GP:Indy it was in the top 3 decks played and from what I can tell from the SCG: Inv coverage, it still looks like a big contender. The reason we are seeing an increase in the amount of SnT decks could possibly be due to UW switching to Esper. Esper only plays between 4-6 counterspells and IOK doesn't remove the Hive Mind or Progenitus/Emrakul.

I was thinking of using in sb 3x Armageddon and 2x life from the loam. The problem is that it would take many slots.

That is way too many slots. Plus we run 21-23 lands which isn't a whole lot. In order to support Armageddon we would need to sandbag lands and have nobles on the field, which won't survive long against a deed. I think it's too risky of a strategy that might not even work where the matchup isn't even that bad at all.

[Arcadia]

I would be really appreciated if anyone gave me an advice of how to beat merfolks coz I'm getting a bit frustrated.

Vial starts are the dangerous. If they don't have it, you can even try to outrun them. Also, if you know you are against merfolks, don't keep slow hands. Mother of runes slows them a lot, quiron ranger the same, and knight of the reliquary simply cannot be beaten. Jitte in general is quite good...I don't know, if they have the perfect hand you cannot beat them, but it's hard to have vials + lords + fow + dismember. Save STP for reejerey or coralhelm if you can.

I don't know, in general I would try to stabilize, and then beat. Also, try to fetch basics first turns, you want to develop the manabase.

[Philipp2293]

In my opinion if Martell's Esper build really becomes the standard build for Blade Control, the MD Maze may become mandatory. A wave of flyers coupled with Jitte are a serious issue.

[Lejay]

That and the 4 SFM MD with an additional jitte SB for SFM decks.

[Koby]

Or start playing more than 2 Pridemage. Honestly.

[Lejay]

I agree 3 Qasali pridemage is the good number.

[TheKingslayer]

Three has always been the right number.

[RJM]

Three has always been the right number.

SB space is admittedly tight, but I always feel better with 2x Krosan Grip in there and not just Pride Mages.

[maktus]

vs Nic Fit best weapon which works well also in other MU:
-Elspeth, Knight-Errant - they don't have reach

Other tools:
Cataclysm - devastating if you not running planswalkers

Ok I'm after tests with Lightning Greaves here is report of undiscovered Maverick builds:

I used it in little tweaked build with Fauna Shamans, here is the list which I used:

1 Lightning Greaves
1 Umezawa's Jitte
2 Stoneforge Mystic
3 Fauna Shaman
4 Noble Hierarch
1 Scryb Ranger
4 Mother of Runes
4 Knight of the Reliquary
4 Green Sun's Zenith
1 Loyal Retainers
4 Swords to Plowshares
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
1 Dryad Arbor
2 Forest
1 Plains
4 Savannah
1 Horizon Canopy
1 Gaea's Cradle
4 Windswept Heath
3 Misty Rainforest
4 Wasteland
1 Karakas
2 Qasali Pridemage
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
1 Scavenging Ooze
2 Aven Mindcensor
SB: 2 Gut Shot
SB: 1 Gaddock Teeg
SB: 1 Ethersworn Canonist
SB: 2 Mindbreak Trap
SB: 1 Choke
SB: 1 Leyline of Sanctity
SB: 1 Surgical Extraction
SB: 1 Tormod's Crypt
SB: 1 Bojuka Bog
SB: 1 Iona, Shield of Emeria
SB: 1 Linvala, Keeper of Silence
SB: 2 Thrun, the Last Troll

Good sides of the build:
Lightning Greaves are absolute house against heavy removal decks, it also gives great boost to almost all your creatures - Shroud and Haste, both are very very important.

Some scenerio's:
Hasted Mom is much more dangerous same for hasted KotR - killing from top is what everybody like, Walkers aren't scary for G/W build anymore you just play creature them tapout for attack.. It protects from bounce etc..
Opoonent always need open mana with spot removal removal while greaves are on table, it also protects your fatty (Iona/Elesh) from Karakas, giving Fauna Shaman haste is also nice.
Recurring Fattie like Iona/Elesh is best way to deal with Nic Fit or any Deed deck - let him try blow up deed for 7-9 :].
Thalia - Aven Mindcensor is very good disrupting Duet, specially with protecton.
Hierarchs with Greaves cost 0.
Fetching Cradle with KotR is really easy with Greaves - you don't need to wait a turn. If you want to give protection to be unblocked just reequip Greaves to mom if he try to use removal in resp - just mom.. so its not a problem.


Some tricks:
Fauna Shaman and no creature in hand, only scryb Ranger - fetch a dryad use Scryb Ranger to bounce, Dryad without passing priority use Fauna Shaman from Dryad, them Scryb Ability resolve, untap Shaman use it again put Retrainer into play gg.

Build isn't ended I would suggest:
+1 Ooze - still don't know in which slot.

Some thoughts why not vengevines - GY hate is verywhere you can't goes in this plan - any green deck has Ooze 4/3 haste for 2GG isnt too good compared to KotRs or Moms - Lightning Greaves is the Key.

Why choosing Elesh instead of Iona in MD - Elesh even with Karakas/Removal on table brings CA if played well - it's and edge in mirror and also turn one clock with all of your board - it kills all creatures in UW/UW/b (maybe except batterskull - but who cares) even if opponent took her out quick - his board will be cleaned. Iona is focused on combo mostly. I know its slow - but better have options then doesn't.. Actually its a best creature which you can get. Also Elesh is one which you can play normally 7 mana with creadle isnt too hard to reach - its only 2 more then batterskull so..

Also thinking about more SFM package which can be very good with Greaves - 4 mana investment for 1/2 and 4/4 Lifelinker with haste isn't bad - probably better than Vengevines and its good also alone.

Fauna Shaman's gives more tutoring which doesn't ended on Green creatures - so you can fetch Linvala for example or Stoneforge.

Build is open cards considering:
E.Witness - I miss her
more SFM package - like SoLS/Batterskull
Quirion Ranger - yes sometimes it could be useful.

Against Nic Fit I thought some cards:
1x Dauntless Escort in sb, or
3x Martial Coup in sb, or
1x Extra eslpeth in sb.

What do you think of these options more viable?

PS: great idea to use Lightning Greaves.

[Fade]

Against Nic Fit I thought some cards:
1x Dauntless Escort in sb, or
3x Martial Coup in sb, or
1x Extra eslpeth in sb.

What do you think of these options more viable?

PS: great idea to use Lightning Greaves.

Takes up the least amount of space, can be used in other matchups as well, and they literally can't get rid of it unless they have the pulse. Dauntless Escort is interesting but they can always just get another deed.

[Koby]

Top 8 from SCG: Balitimore Open:

G/W Maverick
High Tide
G/W Maverick
Sneak and Show
G/W Maverick
G/W Maverick
Fauna Maverick
G/W Maverick

Time to find a new deck :P

[majikal]

Top 8 from SCG: Balitimore Open:

G/W Maverick
High Tide
G/W Maverick
Sneak and Show
G/W Maverick
G/W Maverick
Fauna Maverick
G/W Maverick

Time to find a new deck :P

I wouldn't put too much stock in this. The invitational was still going on.