Topazwarrior
11-03-2013, 01:28 AM
Been working a new build of Shardless for awhile now, and I've been pretty happy with the results (finished 10th at Legacy Champs today). I cut Hymns completely, which freed up the mana base enough to run basics (seriously, who else is sick of losing to blood moon?), and allowed me to run Scavenging Ooze in the board for RUG Delver and graveyard decks. In addition to freeing up the mana base, cutting hymn to run the full 4 Thoughtseize main makes you more mana efficient, gives you information on their hand, and guarantees you will take the card you want. The loss of card advantage is more than compensated by the rest of the deck. Here's the list I ran today:
Main deck:
Creatures:
4x Deathrite Shaman
4x Tarmogoyf
3x Baleful Strix
4x Shardless Agent
Sorceries:
4x Ancestral Vision
4x Thoughtseize
1x Maelstrom Pulse
Instants:
4x Brainstorm
4x Abrupt Decay
3x Force of Will
Planeswalkers:
3x Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Lands:
4x Verdant Catacomb
4x Misty Rainforest
1x Polluted Delta
3x Tropical Island
2x Underground Sea
2x Bayou
1x Island
1x Swamp
1x Forest
1x Wasteland
2x Creeping Tar Pit
Sideboard;
2x Flusterstorm
2x Disfigure
2x Nihil Spellbomb
2x Scavenging Ooze
1x Baleful Strix
2x Golgari Charm
1x Umezawa's Jitte
1x Toxic Deluge
1x Dismember
1x Force of Will
Some notes about the list:
The list should probably have more Polluted Deltas, but I only own one so that's how I ran it :)
The third Tropical Island is to help support Scavenging Ooze in the board. The third Underground Sea isn't necessary without Hymn or Liliana.
I cut down to 1 Wasteland because whenever I would open with one in my opening (before and after cutting hymn), it seriously disrupted my development. I like having one to dig into for problem lands, but rarely want to see more.
The Toxic Deluge was very underwhelming (as is noted in rounds 5 and 9). For the time being will be replaced by a 3rd Golgari Charm
As for the rounds:
Round 1 - Esper Stoneblade 2-0: Standard fare against Stoneblade; they don't do anything relevant and we draw a bunch of cards and overwhelm them.
Round 2 - Reanimator 2-0: I thoughtseize him turn 1 and see and hand with double exhume, entomb, Iona, and lands, taking entomb. A few turns later I have double Deathrite in play when he rips a Show and Tell (was not expecting that main deck). I'm able to Brainstorm into a Force (and Thoughtseize, perhaps I should have Brainstormed main phase?), and counter his S&T. Next turn I Thoughtseize his Iona, nom it with Deathrite, and he scoops next turn. Game 2 he gets an early Griselbrand off a Reanimate while Deathrite is sick, putting him to 10 life. I'm able to resolve Jace (thankfully he didn't have force), and bounce Griselbrand. A few turns of sculpting later and he scoops
Round 3 - Sneak and Show 2-1: He's able to take game one after using sneak attack to put in a Griselbrand and Emrakul (after I already survived 1 Emrakul attack earlier thanks to Strix). Game 2 we both mulligan and I lead with Deathrite turn 1. He goes for a turn 1 blood moon off of City of Traitors and Petal, which I force. Next turn I Thoughtseize him and see he has double ponder and Emrakul. I take Emrakul, and the next 8 turns follow with me drawing lands and reactive spells (Golgari Charm, Pulse, etc.) while he bricks on lands. By the time he finds lands I'm able to find a Goyf and kill him. Game 3 starts off with both of us developing a board, with him cantripping and me getting Deathrite, Strix and Goyf in play. He goes for Sneak Attack on turn 3, which I successfully force. Next turn I Thoughtseize him and see Griselbrand, Sneak Attack, REB, and Brainstorm. I take Griselbrand, to cut him off drawing Show and Tell + cast REB as an out. He bricks on creatures and I kill him.
Round 4 - Bant 1-1-1. I do the normal progression of killing his important threats and drawing cards before resolving Jace, at which point he scoops. Game 2 I fetch basics to play around Life from the Loam, which he ends up having. Downside is I get stuck on Island and Swamp and draw all green cards. I never find a green source before I die. At this point there are 12 minutes left, as my opponent is playing quite slow. Game 3 we trade creatures and removal spells until I stick a Jace and some threats. Batterskull keeps him alive long enough to force the draw when I have him dead on board next turn.
Round 5 - Merfolk w/ True Name Nemesis 1-2: Paired against a buddy that I playtest with weekly (you can read his report here (http://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/1pskpp/i_just_got_back_from_the_legacy_championship_in/)). Game 1 I keep a hand on the play of 4 land, Deathrite, Brainstorm, Ancestral Vision (sketchy keep that leans on Brainstorm). I lead on Deathrite, and am able to sculpt my hand while he has a slow start. I'm able to draw enough removal to keep him off lords (while ambushing mutavaults mid combat), and eventually goyfs kill him. Games 2 and 3 I didn't play around submerge well and got punished. Perfect example was Game 3, I keep a hand with 2 Deathrite, Goyf, Toxic Deluge and lands, planning on sticking a goyf, wrathing him with Deluge, and then bashing with goyf. Well he gets 2 lords out, I attack with goyf, and fetch before damage to get a land in the yard. Obviously get wrecked by Submerge and have to deluge my deathrites away with his lords ~_~. Needless to say I died a swift death.
Round 6 - Esper Stoneblade 2-0: Same as round 1, except I got ambushed by a Notion Thief in response to a Jace brainstorm. Still managegd to win that game, but it was a nail biter
Round 7 - Rug Delver 2-0: Game 1 he starts off slow with a goose, giving me time to play around stifle and daze (and wasteland with basics ^_^). Eventually I stick a couple goyfs and a deathrite, decay his goyfs, and then ride a jace to victory. Game 2 is very similar, except he draw 2 Ancient Grudge, which I eat with deathrite before sticking a Jitte.
Round 8 - Jund Nic Fit Scapeshift 2-0: Game 1 I attack deathrite into Veteran Explorer on turn 2. He suspects something fishy, but blocks. I get 2 lands (yay basics!) and play a deathrite. He shreds my hand (decay and force) with another explorer and therapy, and then burning wishes for pyroclasm to wrath me. I'm able to chain Strix and Agents into Visions before landing a Jace to lock it up. Game 2 follows in a similar fashion, except I find and sit on a Force, which I use to counter a lethal Scapeshift
Round 9 - Rug Delver 2-1: Again playing against a buddy from my LGS. We trade creatures a bunch Game 1, and I luck sack into all 4 of my goyfs and a strix, before landing a jace to take over. Game 2 he does his tempo garbage and kills me before I get going. The board had developed to his flipped delver and 2x goyf (4/5), and me on 10 life. I had double decay, goyf, and toxic deluge in hand. With 5 lands in play, I was dead to double bolt if I deluge or double decay. I end up choosing to deluge for 5, and die to double bolt :/. Game 3 I once again draw 3 goyf and 3 strix, which makes playing around daze and wasteland tough. His clock is slow though, and I am able to stabilize with 2 strix and 3 goyf on the board. Jitte resolves, and he scoops.
End result - 7-1-1 in matches, 16-5-1 in games (Bad breakers put me in 10th)
Best play of the day: Eating at Reading Terminal Market
Punt of the day: Running Toxic Deluge
Interested to hear what you guys think of the build, as well as any feedback on what could be done with it!
Main deck:
Creatures:
4x Deathrite Shaman
4x Tarmogoyf
3x Baleful Strix
4x Shardless Agent
Sorceries:
4x Ancestral Vision
4x Thoughtseize
1x Maelstrom Pulse
Instants:
4x Brainstorm
4x Abrupt Decay
3x Force of Will
Planeswalkers:
3x Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Lands:
4x Verdant Catacomb
4x Misty Rainforest
1x Polluted Delta
3x Tropical Island
2x Underground Sea
2x Bayou
1x Island
1x Swamp
1x Forest
1x Wasteland
2x Creeping Tar Pit
Sideboard;
2x Flusterstorm
2x Disfigure
2x Nihil Spellbomb
2x Scavenging Ooze
1x Baleful Strix
2x Golgari Charm
1x Umezawa's Jitte
1x Toxic Deluge
1x Dismember
1x Force of Will
Some notes about the list:
The list should probably have more Polluted Deltas, but I only own one so that's how I ran it :)
The third Tropical Island is to help support Scavenging Ooze in the board. The third Underground Sea isn't necessary without Hymn or Liliana.
I cut down to 1 Wasteland because whenever I would open with one in my opening (before and after cutting hymn), it seriously disrupted my development. I like having one to dig into for problem lands, but rarely want to see more.
The Toxic Deluge was very underwhelming (as is noted in rounds 5 and 9). For the time being will be replaced by a 3rd Golgari Charm
As for the rounds:
Round 1 - Esper Stoneblade 2-0: Standard fare against Stoneblade; they don't do anything relevant and we draw a bunch of cards and overwhelm them.
Round 2 - Reanimator 2-0: I thoughtseize him turn 1 and see and hand with double exhume, entomb, Iona, and lands, taking entomb. A few turns later I have double Deathrite in play when he rips a Show and Tell (was not expecting that main deck). I'm able to Brainstorm into a Force (and Thoughtseize, perhaps I should have Brainstormed main phase?), and counter his S&T. Next turn I Thoughtseize his Iona, nom it with Deathrite, and he scoops next turn. Game 2 he gets an early Griselbrand off a Reanimate while Deathrite is sick, putting him to 10 life. I'm able to resolve Jace (thankfully he didn't have force), and bounce Griselbrand. A few turns of sculpting later and he scoops
Round 3 - Sneak and Show 2-1: He's able to take game one after using sneak attack to put in a Griselbrand and Emrakul (after I already survived 1 Emrakul attack earlier thanks to Strix). Game 2 we both mulligan and I lead with Deathrite turn 1. He goes for a turn 1 blood moon off of City of Traitors and Petal, which I force. Next turn I Thoughtseize him and see he has double ponder and Emrakul. I take Emrakul, and the next 8 turns follow with me drawing lands and reactive spells (Golgari Charm, Pulse, etc.) while he bricks on lands. By the time he finds lands I'm able to find a Goyf and kill him. Game 3 starts off with both of us developing a board, with him cantripping and me getting Deathrite, Strix and Goyf in play. He goes for Sneak Attack on turn 3, which I successfully force. Next turn I Thoughtseize him and see Griselbrand, Sneak Attack, REB, and Brainstorm. I take Griselbrand, to cut him off drawing Show and Tell + cast REB as an out. He bricks on creatures and I kill him.
Round 4 - Bant 1-1-1. I do the normal progression of killing his important threats and drawing cards before resolving Jace, at which point he scoops. Game 2 I fetch basics to play around Life from the Loam, which he ends up having. Downside is I get stuck on Island and Swamp and draw all green cards. I never find a green source before I die. At this point there are 12 minutes left, as my opponent is playing quite slow. Game 3 we trade creatures and removal spells until I stick a Jace and some threats. Batterskull keeps him alive long enough to force the draw when I have him dead on board next turn.
Round 5 - Merfolk w/ True Name Nemesis 1-2: Paired against a buddy that I playtest with weekly (you can read his report here (http://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/1pskpp/i_just_got_back_from_the_legacy_championship_in/)). Game 1 I keep a hand on the play of 4 land, Deathrite, Brainstorm, Ancestral Vision (sketchy keep that leans on Brainstorm). I lead on Deathrite, and am able to sculpt my hand while he has a slow start. I'm able to draw enough removal to keep him off lords (while ambushing mutavaults mid combat), and eventually goyfs kill him. Games 2 and 3 I didn't play around submerge well and got punished. Perfect example was Game 3, I keep a hand with 2 Deathrite, Goyf, Toxic Deluge and lands, planning on sticking a goyf, wrathing him with Deluge, and then bashing with goyf. Well he gets 2 lords out, I attack with goyf, and fetch before damage to get a land in the yard. Obviously get wrecked by Submerge and have to deluge my deathrites away with his lords ~_~. Needless to say I died a swift death.
Round 6 - Esper Stoneblade 2-0: Same as round 1, except I got ambushed by a Notion Thief in response to a Jace brainstorm. Still managegd to win that game, but it was a nail biter
Round 7 - Rug Delver 2-0: Game 1 he starts off slow with a goose, giving me time to play around stifle and daze (and wasteland with basics ^_^). Eventually I stick a couple goyfs and a deathrite, decay his goyfs, and then ride a jace to victory. Game 2 is very similar, except he draw 2 Ancient Grudge, which I eat with deathrite before sticking a Jitte.
Round 8 - Jund Nic Fit Scapeshift 2-0: Game 1 I attack deathrite into Veteran Explorer on turn 2. He suspects something fishy, but blocks. I get 2 lands (yay basics!) and play a deathrite. He shreds my hand (decay and force) with another explorer and therapy, and then burning wishes for pyroclasm to wrath me. I'm able to chain Strix and Agents into Visions before landing a Jace to lock it up. Game 2 follows in a similar fashion, except I find and sit on a Force, which I use to counter a lethal Scapeshift
Round 9 - Rug Delver 2-1: Again playing against a buddy from my LGS. We trade creatures a bunch Game 1, and I luck sack into all 4 of my goyfs and a strix, before landing a jace to take over. Game 2 he does his tempo garbage and kills me before I get going. The board had developed to his flipped delver and 2x goyf (4/5), and me on 10 life. I had double decay, goyf, and toxic deluge in hand. With 5 lands in play, I was dead to double bolt if I deluge or double decay. I end up choosing to deluge for 5, and die to double bolt :/. Game 3 I once again draw 3 goyf and 3 strix, which makes playing around daze and wasteland tough. His clock is slow though, and I am able to stabilize with 2 strix and 3 goyf on the board. Jitte resolves, and he scoops.
End result - 7-1-1 in matches, 16-5-1 in games (Bad breakers put me in 10th)
Best play of the day: Eating at Reading Terminal Market
Punt of the day: Running Toxic Deluge
Interested to hear what you guys think of the build, as well as any feedback on what could be done with it!