[DTB] Blade Control

Thanks for the feedback everyone! Looks like I'll be main boarding my 2 Verdicts to complete the total 60. Now I only need to consider making a sideboard for the deck. As for the sideboard, I have a single copy of Enlightened Tutor. So let's say here's more or less a sideboard:

1 E. tutor
1 RiP
1 Back to Basics
1 E. Canonist
1 Detention Sphere
2 Meddling Mage

As for other sideboard options: 2 additional RiP or 2 Surgical Extraction? Should I put in something like Swan Song? Is it worth side boarding something like the sword of the meek / thopther combo? Hydro blast and or Blue E Blast?

I have one Mishra Factory, I could purchase some more. Moorland Haunt is very cheap. Just wondering how good they are with all those wastelands out there.

I guess I should have 2-3 Disenchant as well.

Again, thanks for the insight!

I have a bigger problem with 10 Islands than I do with Moorland Haunt. If they waste it, you got lucky. I'd play 2 more RIP but I prefer a grafdiggers cage over a 3rd RIP. I don't think Surgical is good enough without playing discard. I don't know why you should need BEB/Hydroblast. If you can't afford flusterstorm then yes, Songs are great. Also, since Cliques are not in the cards, so to speak, I'd go to 3 meddling mage. 1 disenchant is fine. If you want another, I'd go with unexpectedly absent or the new Council's Judgment, or Oblivion Ring before Disenchant #2.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

So I guess something like:

1 E Tutor
1 E Canonist
1 D Sphere
1 B2B
1 PtE
3 RiP or 2 RiP 1 Cage
2 M Mage
1 Disenchant
3 Swan Song
1 Sword of Fire and Ice

Will save up for Flusterstorm. One or 2 copies?

I like 2-3 depending, but 2 is sufficient. If you need the 3rd, song is just as reliable.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

Alright, I think I've sorted it out pretty much:


1 Pithing Needle
1 Enlighted Tutor
1 Relic of Progenitus
1 Path to Exile
1 Ethersworn Canonist
1 Disenchant
2 Meddling Mage
2 Rest in Peace
1 Detention Sphere
2 Swan Song
2 Flusterstorm


I might wait a bit with purchasing Flusterstorm at the moment (budget), so I'm thinking to play 1 B2B and 1 additional Swan Song in the side for now. No Engineered Explosives... Is it a must? And what to cut out for it?

As for some additional questions about the main board, I'm thinking about cutting 1 Spell Snare in order to run an additional Spell Pierce. But still tinkering on about that choice since 2 is a relevant number.

How many copies of Moorland Haunt should I run ? Just a singleton?

Should I opt for Mishra's Factory and Moorland Haunt, is the B2B in the side still viable?

Hey guys, I'm in need of some advice:

I have most of the cards for a UW version, but I'm lacking those True-Name Nemesis. Is it possible to play the deck without them?

I thought of some replacements (bear with me):

• Elspeth, Knight-Errant: can block, attack with evasion, and is hard to kill (this would somewhat mimic Esper Blade's Lingering Souls).
• Invisible Stalker: unblockable, and hard to kill (sort of "half TNN". I could run more removal to compensate its lack of blocking capabilities and I would play a Sword of Fire and Ice to make up for its low power).

Or maybe I shouldn't try to replace them, and make the deck less focused on winning by equipping a TNN?

Thanks in advance.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pechunato

Hey guys, I'm in need of some advice:

I have most of the cards for a UW version, but I'm lacking those True-Name Nemesis. Is it possible to play the deck without them?

I thought of some replacements (bear with me):

• Elspeth, Knight-Errant: can block, attack with evasion, and is hard to kill (this would somewhat mimic Esper Blade's Lingering Souls).
• Invisible Stalker: unblockable, and hard to kill (sort of "half TNN". I could run more removal to compensate its lack of blocking capabilities and I would play a Sword of Fire and Ice to make up for its low power).

Or maybe I shouldn't try to replace them, and make the deck less focused on winning by equipping a TNN?

Thanks in advance.

---

A small black splash will allow you to play lingering souls. These are imo still perfectly fine equipment carriers (look up some Joe Bernal list from past scg opens)

I actually like his most recent one the best. It has a super small splash of black, including a set of Thoughtseize in the side for the more relevant matches. I think he still uses a couple TNN but until you get them, Lingering Souls is by far the best plan. Also, elspeth is good. Play one, she's also very good with factory.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

@crush, @Secretly.A.Bee: thanks!

I forgot to mention that I don't have access to any Underground Sea, that's why I was looking for cards in white or blue. Maybe something like Vendilion Clique?

Sweet. You have cliques? That's a nice choice. Do you have Karakas? I haven't enjoyed Venser in Blade lists. Too clunky with better options available. How many do you have? Clique can often enable really powerful +2 Jace activations, get you fresh cards and getting rid of dead discard spells later in the game.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

Nope, I don't have any Karakas. Anyways, this would be a first draft (that looks like a somewhat budget version):

//9
2 Snapcaster Mage
4 Stoneforge Mystic
3 Vendilion Clique

//4
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
2 Elspeth, Knight-Errant

//2
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Batterskull

//9
3 Spell Pierce
2 Counterspell
4 Force of Will

//6
4 Swords to Plowshares
2 Supreme Verdict

//6
4 Brainstorm
2 Ponder

//24
4 Flooded Strand
3 Scalding Tarn
1 Arid Mesa
1 Glacial Fortress
4 Tundra
2 Plains
4 Island
1 Academy Ruins
4 Mishra's Factory

Unfortunately, no extra Jaces or Snapcasters.

Another option available to me would be a Red splash for:

• Lightning Bolt (not really needed I guess)
• Blood Moon (nice to have)
• Pyroblast (very useful)
• Engineered Explosives (catch-all answer, good against True-Name Nemesis and Liliana of the Veil)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by redesign1991

Alright, I think I've sorted it out pretty much:


1 Pithing Needle
1 Enlighted Tutor
1 Relic of Progenitus
1 Path to Exile
1 Ethersworn Canonist
1 Disenchant
2 Meddling Mage
2 Rest in Peace
1 Detention Sphere
2 Swan Song
2 Flusterstorm


I might wait a bit with purchasing Flusterstorm at the moment (budget), so I'm thinking to play 1 B2B and 1 additional Swan Song in the side for now. No Engineered Explosives... Is it a must? And what to cut out for it?

As for some additional questions about the main board, I'm thinking about cutting 1 Spell Snare in order to run an additional Spell Pierce. But still tinkering on about that choice since 2 is a relevant number.

How many copies of Moorland Haunt should I run ? Just a singleton?

Should I opt for Mishra's Factory and Moorland Haunt, is the B2B in the side still viable?

---

1 Moorland Haunt and 3-4 mishra's factory.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Played in a small 10 man tourney today, with a Top 4 cut. Took 2nd place, losing to my Jund teammate in the finals. Will come back to post/edit more when my brain unwinds...

So me and two of my teammates (Jund and Dredge) headed up to The Mana Vault in Fond du Lac, WI for a Legacy tourney this past Saturday. The shop and owners are very nice, with the Facebook event page indicating we’d hit 20-25 players. Unfortunately, people must’ve gotten cold feet because we fired with 10 players; that meant 4 rounds of Swiss and a cut to Top 4.

Here’s the 75 I registered:

Main

1 Vendilion Clique
3 Snapcaster Mage
3 True-Name Nemesis
4 Stoneforge Mystic

1 Batterskull
1 Umezawa’s Jitte
1 Sword of Fire and Ice

3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor

2 Supreme Verdict

1 Counterspell
2 Spell Pierce
2 Spell Snare
4 Force of Will
4 Brainstorm
4 Swords to Plowshares

1 Moorland Haunt
1 Karakas
2 Plains
2 Windswept Heath
3 Misty Rainforest
3 Island
4 Tundra
4 Flooded Strand
4 Mishra’s Factory

Side

1 Sword of Feast and Famine
1 Humility
2 Disenchant
3 Rest in Peace
1 Detention Sphere
3 Meddling Mage
1 Vendilion Clique
1 Flusterstorm
2 Swan Song

Round 1: Red Deck Wins

Game 1: I’m on the draw and mull to 6 and see Spell Pierce, TNN, lands. I keep. He lays Mountain, swings with Goblin Guide. I see another Spell Pierce. He lays the red Eidolon. He then drops Hellspark Elemental and Goblin Guide #2 while I’m holding onto 2x Spell Pierce… I die shortly thereafter.

Sideboarding: -2 Supreme Verdict, -2 Jace, +1 Flusterstorm, +1 Vendilion Clique, +2 Disenchant (hits red Eidolon and I’m anticipating Sulfuric Vortex)

Game 2: I open with lots of creatures, but no countermagic. I hesitate, but elect to keep as I hope to just drop dude after dude and SFM -> Batterskull ftw. This plan almost worked out as I eventually have an unsick SFM in play with Batterskull in hand, but the rest of my hand is dead. He is hellbent and I’m at 3 life. He draws and topdecks Rift Bolt, which he’s able to hardcast. Had he drawn any creature or a land, I win there. Alas, I lose unceremoniously to Red Deck Wins. Bleh.

0-1 Matches, 0-2 Games

Round 2: The Rack (Mono Black Discard)

Game 1: He’s on the play and blows his wad with Ritual into multiple discard effects. We both are low on cards at that point, but I draw into gas whereas he bricks and draws into nothing. He resolves a Shrieking Affliction, but it’s too late as I have a TNN and Jace on board. I put him on The Rack deck that is occasionally played in Modern, but ported to Legacy… this is my penance for losing round 1.

Sideboarding: -2 Supreme Verdict, -2 Force of Will, +1 Flusterstorm, +2 Disenchant, +1 Vendilion Clique

Game 2: He opens with Duress and grabs something irrelevant. He then proceeds to draw into all of his lands for the rest of the game. I win easily. This unfortunately wasn’t a game of Magic due to variance, but I felt very confident that I would’ve won regardless.

1-1 Matches, 2-2 Games

Round 3: Deathblade

Game 1: I’m on the play and know what he’s on as I did some scouting earlier. I keep a very creature heavy hand to hopefully power through whatever. I eventually have a board of Snapcaster, SFM, Jitte, TNN x 2. He has a board of TNN, SFM, Batterskull. There is a pivotal point in the game where he has an opportunity to equip his TNN with Batterskull and put his life total up to where it would’ve bought him an extra turn or two, but he does not see the play. I draw into a 2nd SFM, get Batterskull out, equip my TNN with Batterskull, then swing for lethal due to Jitte counters + Batterskull on my TNN. This game was fairly dumb as it revolved around TNN and little else.

Sideboarding: -4 Force of Will, -+1 Vendilion Clique, +1 Sword of Feast and Famine, +2 Disenchant

Game 2: My opponent seems to open with a creature heavy hand as he plays out DRS, DRS #2, TNN in his first three turns. I then cast Supreme Verdict into his two open mana (presumably Counterspell); he never recovers and I win easily with Clique equipped with SoFaF and eventually SoFaI.

2-1 Matches, 4-2 Games

Round 4: Belcher

Game 1: He’s on the play, but I know what he’s on thanks to my Dredge teammate giving me the scoop. I open with Force of Will, Supreme Verdict, SoFaI, Batterskull, 3 lands. I keep as this gives me Force on the draw, even though the rest of my hand is garbage. He has the combo and I end up Forcing his Charbelcher. My first draw? SFM. Thank you Jesus. I cast SFM, grab Jitte, flash in Batterskull a turn later, then go to town. He scoops.

Sideboarding: -4 Swords to Plowshares, -3 TNN, +1 Flusterstorm, +2 Swan Song, +3 Meddling Mage, +1 Vendilion Clique

Game 2: I open with the absolute nuts; Force, Mage, Swan Song, Brainstorm, Snapcaster, Island, Tundra. He mulls to 6 and simply passes his turn without casting a spell; this leads me to believe his hand is full of rituals, but just needs to draw into one enabler to go off. I drop an Island, pass. He draws, passes again. I drop Tundra, resolve Mage naming “Empty the Warrens”. He frowns, draws, discards an Empty the Warrens. Next turn he G Probes me and see my loaded hand, he immediately concedes as he cannot fight through multiple counterspells.

3-1 Matches, 6-2 Games. I make Top 4 as do my other 2 teammates, so it’s us and my r1 Red Deck Wins opponent in the Top 4. We split, so all of us walk away with $56 cash or $69 store credit.

Top 4: Red Deck Wins

Game 1: I open with a good mix of countermagic, lands, and a SFM. I cast SFM turn 2 (grab Batterskull), to which he tries to Bolt. I end up Forcing his Bolt, just hoping he doesn’t have another creature-kill spell… he does not. I SFM -> Batterskull and easily win from there. I was fairly lucky that he didn’t have another kill spell for my SFM.

Sideboarding: -2 Supreme Verdict, -2 Jace, +1 Flusterstorm, +1 Vendlion Clique, +2 Disenchant

Game 2: His deck does what it is designed to do and he gets me down to 2 life, but he’s down to 1 land (courtesy of Fireblast) and no cards. I have just cast a SFM and grabbed Batterskull. He draws into nothing for the next two turns while I flash in Batterskull and win from there. He shows me his hand afterwards; two Pyroblast. Yuck.

4-1 Matches, 8-2 Games. Onto the Finals vs. my Jund teammate (he beat our Dredge teammate in the other Top 4 match)

Finals: Jund

Game 1: I elect to keep an ultra loose hand as nothing is really on the line and my opponent is my buddy. My opener is 6 lands, 1 Brainstorm. I figure this Brainstorm will either be the best thing ever, or lose me the game on the spot. I draw a land, Brainstorm, and draw into three more lands. I put two lands back, fetch next turn and proceed to lose very quickly.

Sideboarding: -4 Force of Will, -2 Snapcaster, +2 Rest in Peace, +1 Sword of Fire and Ice, +1 Vendilion Clique, +1 Detention Sphere, +1 Disenchant

Game 2: I put up a decent fight with removal for his Dark Confidant, Snapcaster -> StP for his DRS, but eventually I run out of gas while he gets his Punishing Fire/Grove engine online. I do not find TNN + Equipment and proceed to die a slow, painful death.

4-2 Matches, 8-4 Games.

Overall, it was a fun tournament despite the small size and some tier 2.5 decks. All the players were friendly and wanted to learn more about Legacy. The Mana Vault is definitely a great venue and they will start holding Legacy tourneys every other month.

Does anyone have the decklist of Thomas Strong's UW Stoneblade from the starcity games invitational?

Went 3-0 at our weekly, beating Deathblade (2-0), Jund NicFit (2-1) and MonoU CounterTop (2-0). Despite my initial excitement, Council's Judgment has not yet found a home in my 75 and I don't think it will at this point. The only maindeck slots that could possibly be Council's Judgment is currently occupied by Supreme Verdict, which definitely has been pulling it's weight recently. As a sideboard card, it seems less impressive and lower impact than something like Detention Sphere or Humility.

Nice job. Was the DeathBlade build playing TNN or Lingering Souls? Maybe you meta has no reason to play CJ, but mine would benefit from it. I just haven't had the opportunity to pick some up.

I went 3-0 at a weekly tournament beating deathblade 2-0, shardless bug 2-0, and team america 2-1. I used a straight uw list with mishra's and judgements instead of ruins, moorland, and the red splash.

The two copies of judgement i played were crucial in dealing with bskull and nemesis. I am not sure about the amount of copies that should be played but i definitely like the card.


Sent from my GT-S5830D using Tapatalk 2

Sweet. I feel bug to be difficult, shardless can often feel nigh unwinnable so to 2-0 it, I'm wondering if you play different from myself, and if you have details about the match. Same on Team America.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Secretly.A.Bee

Sweet. I feel bug to be difficult, shardless can often feel nigh unwinnable so to 2-0 it, I'm wondering if you play different from myself, and if you have details about the match. Same on Team America.

---

They are both difficult decks to play against and we rarely get a second chance during a match. Against BUG, Batterskull and Nemesis are cards they have lots of difficulty dealing with so play accordingly. I side out 4 FoW, 3 Pierce, and 2 Snap for 2 Meddling Mages (naming AV and/or Decay), 2 RiP, 2 Cliques, 1 Path, 1 Verdict, 1 Envelop. I don't like Pierce in that MU because BUG tends to flood out and any of the cards Pierce counters early are as effective later as well in a control mirror (TS, Hymn, Lily, Jace, AV). Bite the Hymns and don't feel pressured by their card advantage (Strix and AV) as it often means very little in the long run.

Against TA I side out 3 Jace, 1 FoW, and 2 Snaps for 2 RiP, 2 Cliques, 1 Path, and 1 Verdict. I focus on countering Hymn and Lily first as they are their primary hosers against us and then I try to deal with the threats. If you can manage that then the game is likely yours.

I played the following list:


4 Stoneforge Mystic
4 True-Name Nemesis
2 Snapcaster Mage

4 Swords to Plowshares
4 Brainstorm
4 Force of Will
3 Spell Pierce
2 Counterspell

2 Council's Judgment
2 Supreme Verdict

1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Batterskull

3 jace, the Mind Sculptor

4 Mishra's Factory
1 Karakas
1 Windswept Heath
4 Flooded Strand
4 Polluted Delta
4 Tundra
4 Island
2 Plains

Sideboard
2 Meddling Mage
2 Vendilion Clique
2 Flusterstorm
1 Envelop
1 Path to Exile
1 Disenchant
1 Supreme Verdict
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
1 Pithing Needle
1 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Rest in Peace


The more I play this deck, the more I want to benefit from a 3rd color. Splashing for 1-2 cards and a few more SB options only requires 1-2 less Tundras/Islands. I would personally really like Sylvan Library instead of Jace as I find Jace to be very clunky in lots of matchups. Costing 2UU is much more prohibitive than 1G even for a UW control deck when cards like Daze, Pierce, Nemesis, Thalia and Delver are all over the format. I find Library better at digging us out of compromising positions and about as good as Jace at helping us take over a game.

Life from the Loam is another beautiful card that I miss greatly as I have so often combined it with Brainstorm and Jace to gain insurmountable card advantage. I think splitting Mishras' and Wastelands wouldn't be a bad idea either regardless of LftL simply because manlands are usually relevant later in a game and having multiples has little benefits compared to the diversity of disruption that a Wasteland provides.