View Full Version : Beating Bazaar Dredge - tips?
I'm not specifically talking about individual cards that read: "exile graveyard", but rather the entire package of graveyard hate or other forms of attacking the Dredge deck.
Example, I've used this in my Grixis deck:
2 Grafdigger's Cage
3 Yixlid Jailer
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Darkblast
1 Pyroclasm
In this configuration, the Cages and Jailers are specifically to blank the graveyard, and the remaining three are to clean up the creatures, usually 2/2 Zombies. Darkblast allows me to gack my own Snapcaster, Bobs, or Welders to kill Bridges.
What are some other examples of attacking Bazaar Dredge with versatile answers?
What type of graveyard hate has synergy with popular Vintage archetypes?
mini1337s
07-15-2014, 02:26 PM
I know that you aren't looking for "exile" graveyard effects, but isn't Leyline of the Void one of your strongest available options? While it doesn't swing for 2 (Jailer) and dies to Nature's Claim, it's (potentially) faster and impossible to play around. I like that you can justify keeping in counters like Misstep and Pierce to protect it from Claim and in a pince is hardcastable. It also allows you to execute your own graveyard shenanigans.
I've been a longtime advocate of the miser's Strip Mine and Nihil Spellbomb as a one-of maindeck by default in Grixis for years now. I also like a sweeper in the main to unclog the board, these days probably Toxic Deluge, though Engineered Explosives is still a contender. Pithing Needle to tutor up is another "general" card that can work well against Dredge.
Last version of Grixis I have a list for (not especially recent) played the following (but never played against Dredge to test it out):
Main:
1 Strip Mine
1 Deathrite Shaman
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Pyroclasm
Side:
1 Echoing Truth
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Pithing Needle
1 Yixlid Jailer
From the perspective of the Dredge player, Leyline is the most effective/powerful in the abstract, but mono-culture of anti-dredge strategies makes beating the hate easier. Varied hate usually comes down later and isn't as consistent in effectiveness, but can't always be answered sufficiently with the typical Chain/Claim/Chewer/'mare and makes for more interesting/interactive games for both parties. I nearly always run Leyline in my Dredge lists.
The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale also causes headaches for Dredge (though not unbeatable) and potentially has other uses (probably not a card suited for Grixis however).
Despite being an unapologetic Grave-troll enthusiast with some actual experience under my belt (http://www.eternalcentral.com/the-void-in-vacaville-a-vintage-tournament-report-with-dredge/), the content in this post is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.
I like to diversify as much as I can, so I don't want all permanent based or all spell based hate, as it makes it harder for them to play around all the things you could have.
For example, I ran the following at the NYSE Open II a few weeks ago:
2 Yixlid Jailer
2 Ravenous Trap
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Tormod's Crypt
1 Pithing Needle
1 Engineered Explosives
Bottom up explanations on the choices, starting with EE. It is really there to fight Shops, but I like that it could be relevant vs Zombies. It also can do good work vs the various Fish decks.
The Pithing Needle also pulls double duty as Shop hate, naming Wasteland or Forgemaster, plus being a permanent to tap to Tangle Wire.
The Crypt could well be a Nihil Spellbomb, but I feel like the 0 cmc is more important than the cantrip.
Jailer is the preeminent hate, since it stops them from dredging all together, plus swings for 2.
Rav Trap is for the surprise factor, but if they aren't running Unmask, they only have the 4 Therapies.
Cage is the worst Dredge hate in my opinion, since it doesn't actually stop them from Dredging. It also hinders your own Tinker and Snapcasters. It's really there so I have a little something vs Oath, but I like that it has applications here too.
I ended up in 9th place and never played against Dredge, but I have used this configuration before with good results.
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