[Podcast] Everyday Eternal #5 - Therapy Session

[nedleeds]

Many decks run both (as a b/w deck might), obviously if you are running hot and want to gain tempo through durdly midrange flexslots in the metagame you'd run out your point discard first (IoK, Dooress, TS) then crush face with a Therapy on your second turn.

[Koby]

I wouldn't have minded hearing why Cabal Therapy should be included in a deck versus say Duress or Thoughtseize. I thought it was interesting that in several of the scenarios you covered, having a Duress would've been better in your opening hand versus Therapy.

Many decks run both (as a b/w deck might), obviously if you are running hot and want to gain tempo through durdly midrange flexslots in the metagame you'd run out your point discard first (IoK, Dooress, TS) then crush face with a Therapy on your second turn.

I tend to agree with Sean; the question is not whether what to replace with Cabal Therapy but usually how to compliment it. There doesn't need much justification (that's French for Vindicate to astute listeners of this podcast) to run Cabal Therapy in decks that play fair and have ways to flashback. Being able to get two shots with one card is damn good. Format knowledge helps to make it hit your opponents cards. Lastly, being able to target yourself to remove cards from you hand (Storm, Reanimator) is a very underrated ability of the card compared to Duress. From the budget angle, Therapy is easier to find and afford than Thoughtseize while providing a very close analog.

[sdematt]

I agree.

If you're using Cabal Therapy in a combo sense, that's cool. But if you're the deck just running discard, Therapy helps compliment your hand disruption strategy.

I'm running Lingering Souls at the moment, so running Cabal Therapy is really, really good since you don't have to sacrifice any relevant creatures to strip hands. It's been very good.

-Matt

[HammafistRoob]

I tend to agree with Sean; the question is not whether what to replace with Cabal Therapy but usually how to compliment it. There doesn't need much justification (that's French for Vindicate to astute listeners of this podcast) to run Cabal Therapy in decks that play fair and have ways to flashback. Being able to get two shots with one card is damn good. Format knowledge helps to make it hit your opponents cards. Lastly, being able to target yourself to remove cards from you hand (Storm, Reanimator) is a very underrated ability of the card compared to Duress. From the budget angle, Therapy is easier to find and afford than Thoughtseize while providing a very close analog.

^ This. Cabal therapy also just steals games about as often as something like a Stifle/Waste package. Getting a 3for1 for one black mana, even at sorcery speed, is arguably stronger than even Ancestral Recall. Since you're guaranteed to hit 3 things you want versus drawing three random cards.

Just the other day I was playing GWb Maverick against ANT. He wins the roll, plays Ponder turn one, Probe + kills me turn two after I wasted him. Ouch. I side in my 4th Thalia, 2nd Teeg, and 4 Thoughtseize. I open a clear keeper with Savannah, Catacombs, GSZ, Seize, Thalia x2, KotR. I thoughtseize turn one and see Delta, Therapy x2, LED x2, Brainstorm, Ponder. After tanking for a bit I nab Ponder, hoping his Brainstorm whiffs on a shuffle effect. He proceeds to Therapy on Thalia turn one, I draw a blank and pass praying to live one more turn. But I don't, he Brainstorms into the actual nuts and kills me turn 2. I'm pretty sure ~90% of storm pilots are smart enough to make this play, there's really nothing else to name here when you don't know their hand but you know they pack 4 Thalia in the 75.

Back in the day (2008maybe), I messed around with a weird ass UB Tide Variant. The only MD black spells were 3 Duress, 4 Therapy and I also had 4 Peek and 4 FoW. It was actually kinda brutalizing and extremely fun. With the discard slowing them down, I would easily have 5 lands most times I would combo. Anyways, now that Gitaxian Probe exists, Therapy has finally gotten the attention it deserves. Is there even a deck that wouldn't play 4 Probe when playing 4 Therapy(other than Dredge& Zombardment, the decks that focus more on the Flashback of Cabal)? It would probably be wrong.

(Yes I like commas)

I'm running Lingering Souls at the moment, so running Cabal Therapy is really, really good since you don't have to sacrifice any relevant creatures to strip hands. It's been very good.

-Matt

No doubt. I assume your talking about The Rock, where you also have a plethora of small utility guys like Bob and DRS. Oftentimes in such decks, you don't mind saccing a Bob after he did his job and your lifetotal starts to dwindle. Or if you have to get rid of a card you know they're holding, sac that Deathrite after he accelerated you for a bit. I hate watching people play these decks and never flashing therapy back when they should because they are afraid to sac amazing creatures. It's like wtf hello? Wake up? Half your deck is amazing creatures, you'll get more.

[monovfox]

>be me

>hear "this could replace Kiln Fiend in the nivmagus deck"

>attempt to write angry comment on why Kiln Fiend is the best card ever

>End up writing green text

[thefringthing]

Could we get some more Skype sound effects going off constantly in the next show? That was my favourite part.

Good show, though. This is the first episode I've listened to. Audio quality is a little rough, but good job avoiding dead air and fine discussion.

[sdematt]

Could we get some more Skype sound effects going off constantly in the next show? That was my favourite part.

Good show, though. This is the first episode I've listened to. Audio quality is a little rough, but good job avoiding dead air and fine discussion.

It's because Koby was using his phone at a Starbuck's to call in. Not as good as a headset and mic. We're just having logistical issues at the moment.

You should listen to the rest of our episodes.

-Matt

[saspook]

This was a good episode. It was interesting to see just how cautious some of the commentators are compared to the others. Maximizing "hitting something in their hand", vs "naming something that matters" is situationally depended, but people tend to skew one way or the other.

[thefringthing]

I take back what I said previously. The best part is how you need to turn one blind Therapy Show and Tell every time no matter what.

[Koby]

I take back what I said previously. The best part is how you need to turn one blind Therapy Show and Tell every time no matter what.

I mean, have you seen the deck we're playing - it's the definition of "fair".

[Mon,Goblin Chief]

Finally got to listen to this one, good work, interesting to listen to and good enough quality to take with me on the subway (yay!).

One thing I found striking in the discussion against Storm (well, Delta->Island, Probe, Ponder I think it was) is that you thought a Storm player would probably have kept open Brainstorm if he'd seen the Therapy. I likely wouldn't do that unless I had an Infernal to hide on top of my library (LED obviously goes straight into play unless you're holding ADecay) because if you're calling Brainstorm with your Therapy, the actual important cards - the fast mana - is perfectly safe. Even more so as I believe a lot of players would reason exactly like you did and not call Brainstorm anyway.
In addition, I think it's correct to always assume they're on Storm. If they're on OmniTell instead, they almost definitely can't kill you on their turn given how the deck looks so you'll be able to Therapy them for real afterwards anyway.

Also, thanks for plugging my work! Much appreciated! :)