[Deck] GW/x Maverick

[Fatal]

I think I would cut that Tundra for additional Tropical Island, don't having Forest on start is very bad move in this deck when u want put mana acc on start.

[SuperProxy]

if your running jace just be done with it and play NO FOW bant lol and that makes it a different thread

[TossUsToLions]

So i've been testing Sword of Feast and Famine (along with Jitte and Batterskull). When actually playing SFM, though, I find myself only searching for Jitte or Batterskull, never the SoFF. What matchups is it better than the other two equipment in? Jitte is so good against tribal, and Batterskull is just ridiculous against everything. I understand that SoFF allows us to play multiple threats on a single turn, but I just feel that the other two equipment are almost always needed more.

Also, why is SoFF so much better than SoFI? SoFI gives us card advantage, which is needed in the games that we don't have Library out.

[Koby]

I've been testing out SoFF lately too, just to see why everyone is tooting that horn. I haven't found it all too useful, except against mid-range mirrors, where I need the extra mana to continue overcommitting and forcing them to discard.

Against attrition decks, I'd rather have the SoFI or SoLS to provide real cards in hand, but in the mid-range mirrors, the discard is generally more useful, along with extra mana.

The colors it protects from also play a big role - and are not seen too much, whereas and are nearly everywhere - hence why I think that SoFF has more value in the current metagame.

[Eatatjoes]

The sword of feast and famine is good in a metagame with alot of green. I play in a metagame, where people dont even know about this deck, and the metagame doesnt call for it, so i play a sword of fire and ice in its place. My metagame also isnt good for aven mindscensor. Here is my list

3x noble hierarch
1x birds of paradise (for hivemind, flyer that can rock equipment)
4x mother of runes
1x quirion ranger
1x scryb ranger
3x qasali pridemage
4x stoneforge
1x eternal witness
4x knight of the reliquary
1x terravore
1x thrun

4x green sun zenith
4x swords to plowshares
2x sylvan library
1x elspeth knight errant
1x jitte
1x batterskull
1x sword of fire and ice

4x savannah
3x horizon canopy
6x green fetch
3x wasteland
1x maze of ith
1x karakas
2x forest
1x plains
1x dryad arbor

Man is thrun a beast! He was single handedly trumping maze of iths and jaces all day. He really is sick. And to all the people cutting maze, DONT! That card nullifies opponents equipment, until you draw a qasali, or so that you can save qasali's for other problematic permanents. It shuts down batterskull, and it being colorless is very relevant. Shutting down etched champion, creatures with protection (via mom) and it stops opponents from racing.

[sdematt]

Played my list yesterday in a tournament. My deck crapped out on me when I drew 8 lands in a row, in 4 different games. I'm only playing 22 lands, but I guess that's the breaks. I'm also playing Vengevines, and they were super all day.

-Matt

[Tacosnape]

FWIW, I've stopped playing Sword of X and Y's in this deck. They're just not worth it unless you're packing Mirran Crusader.

The more I test the deck, the more I've come to two conclusions:

1. Between Mother of Runes and/or Mental Misstep, it's not hard to protect Stoneforge Mystic.
2. The deck can get to 5 mana.

As such, I'm now packing a Jitte and 2 Batterskulls, and have absolutely no regrets for it. Second Batterskull is an absolute house.

[Hopo]

FWIW, I've stopped playing Sword of X and Y's in this deck. They're just not worth it unless you're packing Mirran Crusader.

Obviously, it depends completely on the decklist and is in no way to be generalized like that. I've yet to find a better universal sword than Fire and Ice. I wouldn't even play Batterskull in every list as it gives only little benefit to builds which already beat merfolk or zoo without problems. Other swords can be excellent in certain matchups, but SoFI usually dominates in every one of them. And usually fetching Jitte is the right choice anyway so the secondary equipments are to be fine tuned against whatever you expect to be facing.

Mirran Crusader makes any equipment crazy. Only Jitte, SoFaI and conditionally SoWaP can drop opponent from 20 to 0 in two attacks, though.

[Tacosnape]

Obviously, it depends completely on the decklist and is in no way to be generalized like that. I've yet to find a better universal sword than Fire and Ice. I wouldn't even play Batterskull in every list as it gives only little benefit to builds which already beat merfolk or zoo without problems. Other swords can be excellent in certain matchups, but SoFI usually dominates in every one of them. And usually fetching Jitte is the right choice anyway so the secondary equipments are to be fine tuned against whatever you expect to be facing.

Mirran Crusader makes any equipment crazy. Only Jitte, SoFaI and conditionally SoWaP can drop opponent from 20 to 0 in two attacks, though.

I disagree. I think you can completely generalize it. Here's why, in a sword-by-sword bulletin:

1. Sword of Light and Shadow. It's unplayable. Gaining 3 life is weak compared to all the other lifegaining abilities, and you aren't going to have creatures in your yard often enough to make that ability better than the ones the other Swords have.

2. Sword of Body and Mind. It's unplayable. Seriously, people. Making a wolf is neat. Milling ten isn't what this deck cares about at all.

3. Sword of War and Peace. It's unplayable without Mirran Crusader. Crusader becomes close to invincible with it on (Blue has a lot less removal than White), but otherwise, no.

On to the better ones I'd actually consider playing:

4. Sword of Feast and Famine. Ridiculous synergy with Knight of the Reliquary due to the Maze trick, two relevant but not incredible abilities, protection from green guys, protection from random Doom Blades and Smothers, and protection from Germ tokens. If I were going to run a Sword of X and Y, this would be my choice for Maverick.

5. Sword of Fire and Ice. Generically, in a vacuum, the strongest of the five Swords, though SoFF synergizes a little better with the deck. Also a pretty solid choice.

However, they also have to be compared to Batterskull, who to me is just flying high right now.

[Philipp2293]

Care to share your list?

[Tao]

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[Tao]

You need at least one Sword maindeck without any doubt. Just playing Jitte and Batterskull is wrong because they are no sufficient aggressive weapons against control deck in many situations. There are decks that just don't care about taking 4 lifelinked damage twice but taking 4 twice and you drawing two is a different story.
SoBaM is not unplayable. It has the best protection of all Swords (Goyf, KotR, Jace TMS, Merfolk) and one nice effect. The effect is very synergetic because it lets you attack while creating a blocker to win races which works out surprisingly often. SoFaI is the best aggressive Sword. I played a while without it but there were enough situations where I missed it so I added it back in. It punishes opponents for not being too slow with their solution more than any other Equipment.
SoLaS is a bad maindeck card because it would be dead too often but an excellent SB choice for the mirror and against Control/Hymn decks.

[Koby]

You need at least one Sword maindeck without any doubt. Just playing Jitte and Batterskull is wrong because they are no sufficient aggressive weapons against control deck in many situations.
SoBaM is not unplayable. It has the best protection of all Swords (Goyf, KotR, Jace TMS, Merfolk) and one nice effect. The effect is very synergetic because it lets you attack while creating a blocker to win races which works out surprisingly often. SoFaI is the best aggressive Sword. I played a while without it but there were enough situations where I missed it so I added it back in. It punishes opponents for not being too slow with their solution more than any other Equipment.
SoLaS is a bad maindeck card because it would be dead too often but an excellent SB choice for the mirror and against Control/Hymn decks.

I agree to these points, and to playing at least 1 maindeck Sword. IMO, SoFI is the best sword maindeck because it guarantees +1 card in hand and provides a slightly faster clock. I would not play SoFF if you already run Mirran Crusader, as those are redundant. SoBM, I agree with Tacosnape, has no place in this deck. Making a Wolf is pretty weak, and milling 10 can often backfire in the case of opposing KotR/Goyf. WHile SoFI does not provide overall protection unlike SoFF or SoBM, it gives you better triggered abilities that matter more in a tight race.

[John Cox]

I disagree, I see the swords as "win-more". The "deal damage to your opponent part to get any use out of the sword" is what I dislike. I know the random colour protection helps, but I don't think there's a best pairing in this or any format. I would rather fill my deck up with cards that advanced my board position and got me to the point where a sword of X + Y would get though. I think that board position is what we want, and I think Jitte is best at that. Batterskull increases threat density, stalls, and does what a sword would if mom is on line.

[TossUsToLions]

But the "deal damage to opponent" part of the swords are what make them not win-more. The "random" color protection allows a creature, that would otherwise not be able to get through, deal damage to the opponent. Abilities like untapping all your lands, gaining life, drawing cards, dealing damage to opponents' creatures, etc. are definitely not win-more. These abilities can all help us come from behind and give us the time that we need to stabilize. They also allow us to just flat-out win games.

[Fatal]

Ok Guys you wrote a lot of text about Equips (mostly SoFF, SoFI, SoLS, SoBM, Jitte, Batterskull) i take that all and analyze compared to meta.

Btw I won an other tournament with this list:


//Main

4 Noble Hierarch
3 Stoneforge Mystic
1 Umezawa's Jitte
4 Knight of the Reliquary
4 Green Sun's Zenith
1 Scryb Ranger
3 Qasali Pridemage
4 Swords to Plowshares
1 Eternal Witness
1 Scavenging Ooze
2 Aven Mindcensor
1 Rafiq of the Many
1 Batterskull
1 Sword of Light and Shadow
2 Tarmogoyf
1 Terravore
3 Mental Misstep
4 Wasteland
4 Windswept Heath
2 Horizon Canopy
4 Savannah
2 Forest
1 Plains
1 Dryad Arbor
2 Misty Rainforest
1 Karakas
1 Tropical Island
1 Maze of Ith

//SB(15):
1 Ethersworn Canonist
1 Enlightened Tutor
2 Choke
1 Tormod's Crypt
1 Krosan Grip
2 Wing Shards
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Bojuka Bog
2 Life from the Loam
1 Serenity
1 Gaddock Teeg
1 Sword of Fire and Ice


Also advice to keeping data, write if you know meta under each list - meta is very important while building such a toolbox deck as Maverick.

Meta:
3 NoFoW Aggro Bant
NO Bant
Affinity
G/R Aggro
U/b Merfolks
2 Maverick
1-land Belcher
TES
small ZOO
G/r/b Aggro Loam
Reanimator
JUNK

Later i will write short report from that 15men event.

[Tao]

congratulations: please say how the discussable choices performed: Maze of Ith, SoLaS (compared to SoBaM and SofaI)

[TossUsToLions]

Congrats, Fatal. I also would like to hear your answers to Tao's questions, and also how was not playing with Moms? Did you often miss a first turn drop?

Also, how did the Scavenging Ooze work, especially with the two Goyfs?

[Fatal]

Short report:

Round 1 - Reanimator (2-1)

First game vs my team-player this MU wasn't favorable

First game I mull to 5 (still unkeepable hand with mana screw) quick lost - I died to Leviathan which was first dude dogding my Maze of Ith, which was reason to keep hand (one-lander).
Side in:
2 Choke
1 Tormod's Crypt
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Bojuka Bog
2 Wing Shards

Side out:
2 Qasali Pridemage
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Rafiq of the Many
1 Stoneforge Mystic
1 Tarmogoyf
1 Terravore

Two next games GY hate with Ooze/KotR was enough but my mate haven't great hands, also Missteps/Aven Mindcensors helps a lot.

Round 2 Aggro Bant (2 - 0)

This MU was similar to Mirror MU difference was that he doesn't have Stoneforge Package in this slots he use Cantrips/Draw Engine. Both games Wastelands with Missteps was the MVP on early game, then Terravore ended it fast.

Unfortunately I doesn't wrote SB plan from this MU, but for sure i sided in Life from the Loam and removal (wing shards) which was enough plan to win second game without any problems. He uses stifles and probably think that he can protect from this plan - he was wrong.

Round 3 Affinity (2 - 0)

Game one was tide - but after fetching jitte I survive first wave which was last, after fetching Scryb Ranger I could take off all board (blow up Master of Etherium with pridemage) - Maze of Ith was MVP in this MU.

Side in: Serenity, 2 Wing shards, Krosan Grip, E.Tutor
Side out: Sword of Light and Shadow, Scavenging Ooze, 3 Mental Misstep

Again Jitte + Rafiq make the match.

Round 4 Aggro Bant - met in final (1 - 2)

This MU was really unlucky opponent was really good, I lose the roll, then he misstep my GSZ for 0. After Fetching Batterskull he Clique me in resp to use Mystic - game was his.

Missing again SB in notes - from my memory i sided Chokes for sure

Second game I landed quite fast Choke, cantripped from Clique, then waste his last use-able land. After 5 turns I didn't get any answer to Clique which was on Exalted - I died - really unlucky - he was at 2.

Round 5 - Maverick Mirror (2 - 0)

Really though MU - first game was one of the most excited from this tournament. He win the roll and started from Dryad from GSZ which I sworded instantly. Then he put SoLS which wreck me a little - doesn't have GSZ/Qasali, I put my own Mystic and fetch for the same Sword. then we both put KotR and Swing. He made mistake and use KotR to put his Sword to play and equip for swinging (both have wastelands) Then I chump block on dryad arbor and recurring it from SoLS which won me this really hard situation (KotR was smalled before from MD Bojuka Bog fetched by opponent).

Also missing notes about SB :( but i side in Wing Shards and Bojuka in place of Maze.

Game 2 was porn draw from my side - my opponent doesn't do anything -2 x MM, 2 x Sword, 2 x KotR..

Round 6 Semi-Finals Junk (2-1)

Game 1

As always Junk loses to late game without confidant which was my main aim to take off. He missing him from start and lose fast. He tried to be aggressive with 2 Tarmogoyfs but Batterskull+Ooze make the job.

Again missing SB notes - i was really busy making trade deals and have a little time (I'm also TO and judging those small tournaments)

Game 2

Opponent mull to 6 and wasn't happy so after keeping greedy hand I made mistake with wasteland and loses to mana screw after opponent 2 wastelands.. Elspeth make fast clock with Deed backup.

Game 3

My opponent was real Rock player he boarded tons of removal and forgot about win con. After 3 StP, 3 GftT, 2 Perishes finally my Mindcensor started to attack - few turns later opponent drew KotR and didn't find Maze in 4 cards..

Finals - Bant Aggro (2-1)

First game was fast my opponent loses to greedy hand punished by wastelands and missteping Stifles.

Missing notes - I sided Wing Shards, Bojuka Bog - didn't side Chokes which I show in Swiss

Game two was really porn draw from my opponent in one round he submerge my KotR, put Bojuka Bog from hand (after blocking lethal) and Swording last blocker. Couldn't rebuild after this.

Last game was epic - My opponent plays around not existing Choke, I keep hand with Wing Shards and approach with Scryb Ranger, After 6-7 rounds I was losing board position (Bojuka + Ooze small down my KotRs and Qasali Pridemage blow up SoLS and Jitte), I waited to StP/Censor to take off both attackers to win next turn - Scryb Beat down opponent to low life. Then he attack with everything and tried same trick as in game two - Submerge to fetching KotR - then he get untapping from Scryb Ranger fetch land then Wing Shards - was really epic almost all board take off - he scoop not waiting for more.

Few words about card chooses:
Aven Mindcensor - great card again actual meta full of Stoneforges/GSZ/fetchlands/Entombs/Combos/KotR and flying. Blocking Toolboxes Qasali Pridemage really hurts. I would probably cut 2nd Goyf for 3rd Aven.

SoLS - u can call me heretic but I cutted to side SoFI for this equip - it was MVP in 80% of matches. Recurring best threads is worth - but little note here - beware Scavenging Ooze. Protection from 80% of removal is worth this. SoBM is awful in KotR mirror - I would rather use SoFF which isn't such good in late game.

Maze of Ith - Having this land on opening hand is blank mostly, its blank vs hard Jace Control, but its MVP vs Affinity and Equips - never drop it in blind meta.

[Tacosnape]

Anybody got any thoughts on the new M12 card, Primordial Hydra?

Doubling the counters on him every turn seems amazing, especially in a deck that packs Mother of Runes. And the fact that he gets trample basically means you can play him as a 3-drop as a 1/1, and in five turns he's going to be a 32/32 trampler. If you ramp up to four before playing him, he'll get that size in four turns, and if you can manage 5 mana, he'll be 24/24 trample in three.