[Deck] Jund

[largebrandon]

Moderator's note: Check out page 3 for the currently-in-the-works Jund primer!

I've thrown together a JUND list, and have been testing on MTGO all week with decent results. The list is heavily influenced by the modern list, but is still equally as strong. Deathrite shaman is probably the MVP of the deck, and is very powerful, so i'm actually happy to cascade into it

JUND

4 Bloodbraid Elf
4 Dark Confidant
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Deathrite Shaman
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Kitchen Finks
1 Eternal Witness

2 Thoughtseize
2 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Hymn to Tourach

3 Lilliana of the Veil
3 Abrupt Decay
1 Maelstrom Pulse
4 Lightning Bolt
1 Sylvan Library

8 Fetches
2 Badlands
2 Bayou
2 Taiga
1 Lavaclaw Reaches (or a manland of your choice)
3 Wasteland
1 Volrath's Stronghold
1 Swamp
1 Forest
1 Mountain

SB options:
Forked Bolt
Jitte
Thoughtseize
Inquisition
Maelstrom Pulse
Thrunn, the last troll
Choke
pyroclasm
pyroblast/REB
Ancient Grudge
Life from the Loam
Grafdigger's cage
Kitchen Finks

[Greenpoe]

Looks like you forgot GSZ because there's 1 Witness/1 Finks. I would go -1 Library, -1 Pulse, +2 Hymn. Hymn is just too good for an deck that wants to win in the early game like Jund, thus Hymn should be a 4-of, and Waste as well.

[largebrandon]

GSZ has no synergy with BBE, so it seems like it'd be pointless.

[Cellar Door]

Congrats on your showing at SCGSTL.

After playing in a large event, what are your thoughts on the deck? Is it a strong contender? What match ups did you feel strong in? Weak in? Are there any immediate changes you would make to the deck?

I've been playing Jund in Modern for some time now and seeing your results in Legacy makes me want to port it over, so I would be very curious to hear your thoughts on it now.

[mini1337s]

I've thrown together a JUND list, and have been testing on MTGO all week with decent results. The list is heavily influenced by the modern list, but is still equally as strong. Deathrite shaman is probably the MVP of the deck, and is very powerful, so i'm actually happy to cascade into it

JUND

4 Bloodbraid Elf
4 Dark Confidant
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Deathrite Shaman
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Kitchen Finks
1 Eternal Witness

2 Thoughtseize
2 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Hymn to Tourach

3 Lilliana of the Veil
3 Abrupt Decay
1 Maelstrom Pulse
4 Lightning Bolt
1 Sylvan Library

8 Fetches
2 Badlands
2 Bayou
2 Taiga
1 Lavaclaw Reaches (or a manland of your choice)
3 Wasteland
1 Volrath's Stronghold
1 Swamp
1 Forest
1 Mountain

SB options:
Forked Bolt
Jitte
Thoughtseize
Inquisition
Maelstrom Pulse
Thrunn, the last troll
Choke
pyroclasm
pyroblast/REB
Ancient Grudge
Life from the Loam
Grafdigger's cage
Kitchen Finks

I feel like this deck wants to abuse Kitchen Finks and Cabal Therapy in the maindeck. Do you need the pin-pointed discard? Mitigating some of the lifeloss from Bob and Sylvan seems clutch (with Finks), and recurrable discard seems powerful.

[Kich867]

I'd really like this deck to become a thing. I'm a huge proponent of Jund and I believe that Deathrite Shaman and Abrupt Decay push this archetype into viability for sure. Jund now has the most flexible answers to all permanents (I mean, what is Abrupt Decay if not a 2 mana "Counter target permanent spell with casting cost 3 or less"?) and can attack non permanents heavily while in-hand.

I have a few issues with your list, some of them are kind of tough decisions. Bloodbraid Elf and Dark Confidant could be painful. However, Bloodbraid elf in the proper list has virtually no downside beside costing a bit, and Deathrite Shaman helps with that (I'd almost recommend running a 1-of bird similar to Maverick to really ensure that turn 1 flexible accelerant). I like the Modern focus of aiming for a lot of two-for-one's (Bloodbraid, Pulse, Liliana over time, hymn) and disruptive angles (Deathrite Shaman for instance), but there are some choices I would do away with.

Finks and E-Witness push your curve up needlessly, these cards aren't doing a ton for you that Deathrite Shaman doesn't do or Bob doesn't do etc. They're poor beaters as well. I am also not a huge fan of Sylvan Library here, though maybe a 1-of is fine. a 3/1 split of Sensei's Top and Sylvan is probably fine, you want to minimize your bob damage.

I'm actually really torn on the inclusion of Liliana. On one hand, she's annoying to play against and can, occasionally, just lock a game down for good. But the card disadvantage of her +1 feels too harsh in a deck that has no means of replenishing cards outside of Bob. You'll be topdecking very quickly, and I feel the main focus of Jund is that every card in the deck is a powerhouse, you don't want to discard anything because everything is so good. You don't want to discard removal because it's flexible, bolts because it can close the gap, any of your creatures because they're all good, land because you need to hit your 4 drop, maybe discard late game but then you might as well just cast it and choose for them.

I'm up in the air on her, but I'm not sure I want her in my list.

I think the finks, witness, volrath's stronghold, can all go. They're very cutesy and unreliable, poor top decks. In a deck where you're looking at a lot of double blacks, R/G's, you're going to want fetches or duals hitting your hand, not volrath's. I also feel, somewhat, that Thoughtseize is a poor choice. It's flexibility is always great, but the lifeloss on top of fetches and Bob's--I never feel like running Thoughtseize / Bob / Fetches together is a good idea, you're killing yourself too quickly. Deathrite won't counteract -all- of that, especially not with the 3 and 4 drops occasionally hitting you in the dome.

The manland can probably go as well, maybe this guy did a ton of work for you, but he seems very bad. However, I will test the one-of manland and see how it goes. I just hesitate to be a turn behind in a deck like this that really wants to go something like: Disruption/Acceleration/Card quality turn 1 > Beater / Bob / Kill enormous threat turn 2 > Bloodbraid into face destruction turn 3.

[Bryant Cook]

Cook’s Kitchen – NELC (11/03/2012): JUND

[Tinefol]

http://mymagic.ru/services/decklists...12-legacy.html

Built that list for local tournaments (it went 4-0, 3-1 and 4-0). Seems to work fine, though sideboard needs some tuning against combo. Pfires are absolutely awesome in grindy matches, just run them. Synergistic with Liliana as well.

[largebrandon]

Just as an update, I ended up 24th place with a 5-2-1 record.

Here's the decklist i ended up with: http://sales.starcitygames.com//deck...p?DeckID=50519

The only regret I have is playing the 3 maindeck wastelands. They should either be duals, basics, manlands or a combination of the 3.

[Apollo]

Ya wastelands are a stretch when your trying to curve out on BBElf. I've been testing the deck and its a fun one. I didnt see any tops in your list I'd def like to include some. I think the Witness should go too, and I'd prob run a max of two Lilly. I really wouldn't mind running 1 more Ooze, when you BBelf into that guy or just plain cast him he just turns out to be awesome and with no GSZ I really want better chances of getting him

[Kich867]

Ya wastelands are a stretch when your trying to curve out on BBElf. I've been testing the deck and its a fun one. I didnt see any tops in your list I'd def like to include some. I think the Witness should go too, and I'd prob run a max of two Lilly. I really wouldn't mind running 1 more Ooze, when you BBelf into that guy or just plain cast him he just turns out to be awesome and with no GSZ I really want better chances of getting him

I think Jund was well described by an SCG commentator recently, it was in reference to standard but it applies to legacy as well: "Jund is a deck that wants to play one card a turn and hope their card is better than your card." In legacy this is a little bit easier to accomplish. Jund's goals first and foremost should be playing the most powerful cards it can at each casting cost in each of it's colors.

I honestly don't believe Sensei's Divining Top fits into this gameplan. It permanently sets you a turn behind of your curve--control decks and grindy decks don't really care about this, they plan on going the long game anyways. Jund wants to be curving out hard or even accelerating that curve. I mean you really just have to go down the list of 1 drops the deck is running and ask which you'd rather play on turn one. I would much rather play a Deathrite Shaman or a Thoughtseize / Inquisition on turn 1 than Top in this sort of deck. Bryant Cook makes a good point in his article, top doesn't fit in decks that intend to use all of it's mana each turn.

[Mr. Safety]

Wastelands aren't a stretch when you're using Deathrite Shaman...effortless synergy to get you to 4 mana in time to matter for BBE, even when shooting off a Wasteland.

Life from the Loam, at least x1, is pretty good at giving you a mana advantage as well.

[capitacom]

I've been testing this deck, and I've really been liking it. Wastelands are unnecessary, but I think treetop village is very good in here. Other option is using groves and playing fires in the sideboard. If you want more than 16 creatures I think scavenging ooze is the best card for the slot.

I haven't really liked top as it is slow and you generally don't have much manes leftover. I also think the deck needs at least two pulses in the main / side to deal with cards like humility, moat, jace and elspeth.

[Kich867]

Been testing this deck lately, Cooks list minus wastelands. I might run two just to deal with maze/chasm. So far im loving it. Liliana has been better than expected. Every hand feels like the nuts with this deck.. Wastes definitely aren't necessary and top really doesn't have a place here, that's for damn sure. I've been really loving asking myself: do I want to drop bob and goyf this turn or roll the dice on bbe? Jitte performs insanely well and rounds out the decks ability to withstand its own fetches/bobs/thoughtseizes with 8 cards that gain us life.

[Vilhis]

Caled Durwald has some ideas for Lagecy Jund in his latest article.

Destructive Flow is definitely something to consider.

[toor]

My friend played our Modern jund deck in the legacy side event at GP Chicago. He went 5-1.

Was thinking about cutting BBE for GSZ. Local tournament for 3 shops so I am inclined to brew:

2 Badlands
1 Bayou
3 Grove of the Burnwillow
2 Twilight Mire
2 Treetop Village
9 Fetches
1 Swamp
1 Forest
1 Dryad Arbor

4 GSZ
1 E Witness
1 Huntmaster of the Fells
3 Goyf
4 Deathrite Shaman
1 Scavenging Ooze
4 Dark Confidant

1 Chrome mox
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Sylvan Library
6 Thoughtseize/IoK
2 Hymn
2 Abrupt Decay
1 Pulse
3 Liliana
3 Punishing Fire

SB:
1 Teeg
1 Jitte
3/4 REB
1 Decay
1 Dread of Night/Virtue's Ruin

The rest is up in the air (Second Ooze, grudge, choke, bb, deeds, thrun). Any thoughts? Is BBE cuttable? I play the deck in modern a lot and it comes out against most combo matchups, so I figured it might be a reasonable cut in legacy (where the format is less grindy by nature).

[Hapless Researcher]

I think Jund was well described by an SCG commentator recently, it was in reference to standard but it applies to legacy as well: "Jund is a deck that wants to play one card a turn and hope their card is better than your card."

This is basically true. Let's look at our options:

Xcmc:
Engineered Explosives
Chalice of the Void
Green Sun's Zenith

1cmc:
Thoughtseize/Inquisition of Kosilek
Deathrite Shaman
Lightning Bolt
Ghastly Demise
Darkblast
Chain Lightning
REB
Dread of Night
Extirpate/Surgical Extraction
Sylvan Safekeeper

2cmc:
Tarmogoyf
Dark Confidant
Scavenging Ooze
Bitterblossom
Sylvan Library
Abrupt Decay
Boom/Bust
Rough/Tumble
Hymn to Tourach
Terminate
Umezawa's Jitte
Viridian Zealot
Life from the Loam
Ancient Grudge

3cmc:
Liliana of the Veil
Kitchen Finks
Eternal Witness
Pernicious Deed
Maelstrom Pulse
Sword of Metagame and Value
Virtue's Ruin/Nature's Ruin
Krosan Grip

4cmc:
Damnation
BBE
Huntmaster of the Fells (?)
Mindbreak Trap

Utility Lands:
Lavaclaw Reaches
Raging Ravine
Treetop Village
Volrath's Stronghold
Wasteland

The good thing about BBE is that he makes Jace decks worse. We need to figure out a more satisfactory plan against combo though.

This is just a quick list, so feel free to mention any cards that might have been overlooked.

[Barook]

Caled Durwald has some ideas for Lagecy Jund in his latest article.

Destructive Flow is definitely something to consider.

I'm a huge fan of Destructive Flow and this list seems pretty cool.

But why Chrome Mox? That seems quite counterproductive. BoP does basically the same thing (unless you want a T1 Bob which takes an extra turn to counter the card disadvantage or a T1 Goyf - both are nonsense), could be fed to Therapy if you run it and it can carry Swords.

[Admiral_Arzar]

Chrome Mox (and BOP honestly) are REALLY BAD ideas in a deck with BBE. Cascading into either of those cards is basically the worst thing ever (cascading into BOP lost me games in STANDARD, much less a fast format like Legacy). Deathrite Shaman is a mediocre cascade as well, but at least it does things other than tap for mana.

[Hapless Researcher]

Chrome Mox (and BOP honestly) are REALLY BAD ideas in a deck with BBE. Cascading into either of those cards is basically the worst thing ever (cascading into BOP lost me games in STANDARD, much less a fast format like Legacy). Deathrite Shaman is a mediocre cascade as well, but at least it does things other than tap for mana.

3 Deathrite Shaman
4 Dark Confidant
4 Tarmogoyf
1 Scavenging Ooze
2 Eternal Witness
4 Bloodbraid Elf
1 Sylvan Library
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Abrupt Decay
3 Hymn to Tourach
2 Thoughtseize
2 Umezawa's Jitte
2 Maelstrom Pulse
2 Liliana of the Veil
1 Volrath's Stronghold
4 Bayou
3 Badlands
1 Taiga
4 Verdant Catacombs
3 Bloodstained Mire
1 Wooded Foothills
1 Forest
1 Swamp
1 Mountain
3 Wasteland
SB: 2 Rough // Tumble
SB: 1 Pernicious Deed
SB: 3 Red Elemental Blast
SB: 2 Dread of Night
SB: 2 Choke
SB: 2 Extirpate
SB: 2 Viridian Zealot
SB: 1 Life from the Loam

I've been running this list in testing, and it has a lot of game vs combo. I chose the suboptimal Zealot in the board because it combines well with the Stronghold to produce added utility. I considered man lands, but I just don't think they're strong enough to hand with the threats in this format. I don't feel like turning one of my opponent's Knights into a Stone Rain.