Feast and Famine

[KobeBryan]

Why is this sword the premier sword used in this meta?

Doesn't really offer protection and the triggers are lousy. Shouldn't people be using either Fire and Ice and Light and shadow instead?

[zeagle]

It depends on what deck you are talking about.

In Esper or UW Stoneblade, I think having the mana open on your opponent's turn is relevant. It gives you more options for countering spells, to use top, or to flash in Snapcaster Mage or Vendilion Clique.

I play white weenie and I use SoFaI. I don't need mana open like Esper or UW might, as I don't have counterspells and I can vial in creatures.

[Barook]

Why is this sword the premier sword used in this meta?

Doesn't really offer protection and the triggers are lousy. Shouldn't people be using either Fire and Ice and Light and shadow instead?
Actually, it does offer Pro green, which is pretty relevant against opposing green fat.

But since the printing of Abrupt Decay, it lost lots of its appeal imho.

[Megadeus]

Actually, it does offer Pro green, which is pretty relevant against opposing green fat.

But since the printing of Abrupt Decay, it lost lots of its appeal imho.

How does the printing of Abrupt Decay affect FaF any more than any other sword?

[Julian23]

Because division by zero is pointless. If you know what I mean. If you don't: FoF is by far the most played Sword in Legacy and "therefore" suffers the most from Abrupt Decay.

[nedleeds]

So every CMC 3 or less non-land permanent has suffered from the printing of Abrupt Decay? Awesome. Completely relevant to the what sword is best discussion. I mean if they are going to blast F&F they were going to blast just about any sword. If AD has your panties in a wad then at least F&F protects your man from it.

[Koby]

Because SoFF is $11, compared to SoFI at $24, and SoLS at $20.
Because netdeckers assume that any list posting results was optimal (hint, they aren't).*
Because evasion from Tarmogoyf is perceived to be highly important.
Because Stoneblade prefers to untap its lands to keep more countermagic open.

* Or only optimal for the given tournament.

[Jenni]

It really depends on the deck and the meta game which swords is best. In my Stasis deck I use Feast and Famine because I need the untap so I can keep playing spells under stasis.
Similarly the stoneblade decks want mana up on the opponents turn, so the untap is relevant.

All the swords have their merits, really. It's just a matter of which is most synergistic with your deck, & what colours you need to protect your creatures from most.

[JamieW89]

In addition to the previously mentioned points it also discards against combo, which makes it perhaps the strongest equipment in the matchups where Jitte/Batterskull won't do it.

[alderon666]

So every CMC 3 or less non-land permanent has suffered from the printing of Abrupt Decay? Awesome. Completely relevant to the what sword is best discussion. I mean if they are going to blast F&F they were going to blast just about any sword. If AD has your panties in a wad then at least F&F protects your man from it.

Knight of the Reliquary doesn't cost 2 extra mana to start doing something.

[Megadeus]

What does this even mean? This is about why Sword of Feast and Famine is the most played sword despite OP not thinking the abilities or protection are relevant. I feel like the abilities are very good in a mid range deck, which is what most Stonefore decks tend to be. And Pro Green is pretty relevant vs KOTR/Goyf being used as defenders a large portion of the time.

[nedleeds]

Knight of the Reliquary doesn't cost 2 extra mana to start doing something.

Ancestral Recall draws 3 cards for one blue mana.

[Koby]

Ancestral Recall draws 3 cards for one blue mana.

Contract from Below draws 7 cards for 1/3 of Dark Ritual. Just sayin' yo.

Unban Contract.

[KobeBryan]

What does this even mean? This is about why Sword of Feast and Famine is the most played sword despite OP not thinking the abilities or protection are relevant. I feel like the abilities are very good in a mid range deck, which is what most Stonefore decks tend to be. And Pro Green is pretty relevant vs KOTR/Goyf being used as defenders a large portion of the time.

I clearly did think of it.

In a stoneblade deck, the worst types of matchup are against goblin decks and other tribal decks, which SOFI will give you the bigger advantage.

As for protection, black removal is hardly ever used, if at all. I'd like to actually run into black removal in a game. As for green protection, the only cards I can think of is Knight and goyf, of which, goyf is primarily used in RUG, which SOFI would actually be better in. As for knight, a knight deck tends to run MOM, which makes white better at protection.

Sure, you get to untap for lands, but who really plays counters that cost more than 1 mana?

As for SOFF's discard ability, its not really going to hurt a combo player knowing that they get to choose to discard a card of their choice.

[Barook]

Why is this sword the premier sword used in this meta?
Actually, where's the data to support this claim?


How does the printing of Abrupt Decay affect FaF any more than any other sword?
BG decks didn't have access to proper instant speed removal to deal with it before - but now they do, making combat against green fat/Batterskull significantly less awesome when it gets ADed in response.

[KobeBryan]

Actually, where's the data to support this claim?


BG decks didn't have access to proper instant speed removal to deal with it before - but now they do, making combat against green fat/Batterskull significantly less awesome when it gets ADed in response.

go to TC decks, under bant aggro.

[Final Fortune]

I clearly did think of it.

In a stoneblade deck, the worst types of matchup are against goblin decks and other tribal decks, which SOFI will give you the bigger advantage.

As for protection, black removal is hardly ever used, if at all. I'd like to actually run into black removal in a game. As for green protection, the only cards I can think of is Knight and goyf, of which, goyf is primarily used in RUG, which SOFI would actually be better in. As for knight, a knight deck tends to run MOM, which makes white better at protection.

Sure, you get to untap for lands, but who really plays counters that cost more than 1 mana?

As for SOFF's discard ability, its not really going to hurt a combo player knowing that they get to choose to discard a card of their choice.

Why would you ever tutor for SOFI over Umezawa's Jitte vs Goblins and how do you figure SOFI is better vs RUG compared to either Sword of Feast or Famine or Sword of Mind and Body? Having protection from removal spells is definitely not the key consideration for a Sword, otherwise Sword of War and Peace would actually see play.

[KobeBryan]

Why would you ever tutor for SOFI over Umezawa's Jitte vs Goblins and how do you figure SOFI is better vs RUG compared to either Sword of Feast or Famine or Sword of Mind and Body? Having protection from removal spells is definitely not the key consideration for a Sword, otherwise Sword of War and Peace would actually see play.

Why are you bringing Jitte into this?

Of Course you get jitte against a tribal deck first. This is to discuss the other options, SOFF over SOXY

RUG may not be the best example, but SOFI is just as good against them than SOFF. In fact, game 2, you usually take out counters to beat them, so untapping lands is kinda pointless.

[Barook]

Why would you ever tutor for SOFI over Umezawa's Jitte vs Goblins and how do you figure SOFI is better vs RUG compared to either Sword of Feast or Famine or Sword of Mind and Body? Having protection from removal spells is definitely not the key consideration for a Sword, otherwise Sword of War and Peace would actually see play.
Sword of War and Peace doesn't really affect the board state. SoFF isn't that hot either, but free mana and sometimes the discard can be useful. A crappy Gerrard's Wisdom and Sudden Impact just suck as effects.

[Koby]

SoXY vs Lightning Bolt can be summed up as follows: it works; no matter which sword you use, it will protect from Bolt (+2/+2 is sufficient).

Each of the other swords provide a unique effect. Each deck using equipment doesn't necessarily all need the same effect.

I prefer SoFI and SoLS to SoFF in the decks I play. SoWP is unplayable in Legacy however.

[Megadeus]

I clearly did think of it.

In a stoneblade deck, the worst types of matchup are against goblin decks and other tribal decks, which SOFI will give you the bigger advantage.

As for protection, black removal is hardly ever used, if at all. I'd like to actually run into black removal in a game. As for green protection, the only cards I can think of is Knight and goyf, of which, goyf is primarily used in RUG, which SOFI would actually be better in. As for knight, a knight deck tends to run MOM, which makes white better at protection.

Sure, you get to untap for lands, but who really plays counters that cost more than 1 mana?

As for SOFF's discard ability, its not really going to hurt a combo player knowing that they get to choose to discard a card of their choice.While you are right, that is why you play Jitte in Stoneblade. You dont even want a sword for those types of MU's. That is like wondering why Stoneblade runs Swords to Plowshares over Path to Exile in the Belcher match up. It is a useless argument. Stoneblade has Sword of FaF if they have any sword because it gives you the ability to walk past green dudes, because those are the MU's where the swords abilities are actually relevant.

If you want a white protection sword for the Maverick Match up neither of your options are very good. The WaP is terrible, and LaS is hardly relevant. Also A lot of stoneblade decks tend to run sometimes 2 mana Counterspell, and hell it gives you the ability later on in the game to equip, untap and hardcast your force of will.

[xeraseth]

While you are right, that is why you play Jitte in Stoneblade. You dont even want a sword for those types of MU's. That is like wondering why Stoneblade runs Swords to Plowshares over Path to Exile in the Belcher match up. It is a useless argument. Stoneblade has Sword of FaF if they have any sword because it gives you the ability to walk past green dudes, because those are the MU's where the swords abilities are actually relevant.

If you want a white protection sword for the Maverick Match up neither of your options are very good. The WaP is terrible, and LaS is hardly relevant. Also A lot of stoneblade decks tend to run sometimes 2 mana Counterspell, and hell it gives you the ability later on in the game to equip, untap and hardcast your force of will.
This is correct. I run Jitte and Batterskull main with a SoFF in the board. Jitte does enough on its own against Folk and Goblins that SoFI isn't needed. SoFF is really good in the control and combo matchups, making the opponent discard while being able to keep up counterspell mana is really good.

[Final Fortune]

Why are you bringing Jitte into this?

Of Course you get jitte against a tribal deck first. This is to discuss the other options, SOFF over SOXY

RUG may not be the best example, but SOFI is just as good against them than SOFF. In fact, game 2, you usually take out counters to beat them, so untapping lands is kinda pointless.

Because Jitte and SOFI are redundant and after Batterskull, Umezawa's Jitte whatever sword you play should probably address aggro-control decks, hence every sword you see played has Pro Green.