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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Based on all the fast replies (thanks again!) I came up with the following list that I will be testing when I my card orders have arrived. I really liked the Mimeoplasm as suggestion, so I'm going to test him instead of Sigarda. Had seen the card before but back then it was not interesting enough and now I had forgotten about it.
Mainboard:
4 Veteran Explorer
3 Deathrite Shaman
3 Baleful Strix
1 Eternal Witness
1 Kitchen Finks
1 True-Name Nemesis
1 Glen Elendra Archmage
1 Sower of Temptation
1 Murderous Redcap
1 Thragtusk
1 the Mimeoplasm
1 Consecrated Sphinx
3 Pernicious Deed
2 Abrupt Decay
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1 Liliana of the Veil
4 Brainstorm
4 Cabal Therapy
3 Birthing Pod
1 Green Sun's Zenith
21 Lands
Sideboard:
4 Force of Will
2 Swan Song
1 Negate
1 Glen Elendra Archmage
1 Thoughtseize
2 Surgical Extraction
1 Engineered Plague
1 Golgari Charm
1 Liliana of the Veil
1 Abrupt Decay
I also made sure to have some envelop, shriekmaw and acidic slime so I can shift around a bit with some card choices. Regarding True-Name Nemesis, I like the card so far. While it has no direct EtB effect, it is a rather diverse card. First of all, I wouldn't directly look it up with Pod, but it is just a very solid 3-drop on its own. Since I do not play Grave Titan (I prefer the Sphinx) the 3 damage actually matters for my deck. However, if you do Pod it, it is the most solid ground blocker and can pretty much function as a lightning bolt in your next turn, before continuing the Pod chain. While it might not kill creatures upon EtB, it can deal some damage to players/planeswalkers before podding it away. Since it pretty much cannot be killed, you are assured to be able to pod again. Finally, the card is blue and thus pitches to FoW. If I compare this list to wood elves, which would grant me another basic, I prefer the True-Name. I hope to have all the cards next Thursday so I can start playing this list!
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
UseLess
Based on all the fast replies (thanks again!) I came up with the following list that I will be testing when I my card orders have arrived. I really liked the Mimeoplasm as suggestion, so I'm going to test him instead of Sigarda. Had seen the card before but back then it was not interesting enough and now I had forgotten about it.
Mainboard:
4
Veteran Explorer3
Deathrite Shaman3
Baleful Strix1
Eternal Witness1
Kitchen Finks1
True-Name Nemesis1
Glen Elendra Archmage1
Sower of Temptation1
Murderous Redcap1
Thragtusk1
the Mimeoplasm1
Consecrated Sphinx3
Pernicious Deed2
Abrupt Decay2
Jace, the Mind Sculptor1
Liliana of the Veil4
Brainstorm4
Cabal Therapy3
Birthing Pod1
Green Sun's Zenith
21 Lands
Sideboard:
4
Force of Will2
Swan Song1
Negate1
Glen Elendra Archmage1
Thoughtseize2
Surgical Extraction1
Engineered Plague1
Golgari Charm1
Liliana of the Veil1
Abrupt Decay
I also made sure to have some envelop, shriekmaw and acidic slime so I can shift around a bit with some card choices. Regarding True-Name Nemesis, I like the card so far. While it has no direct EtB effect, it is a rather diverse card. First of all, I wouldn't directly look it up with Pod, but it is just a very solid 3-drop on its own. Since I do not play Grave Titan (I prefer the Sphinx) the 3 damage actually matters for my deck. However, if you do Pod it, it is the most solid ground blocker and can pretty much function as a lightning bolt in your next turn, before continuing the Pod chain. While it might not kill creatures upon EtB, it can deal some damage to players/planeswalkers before podding it away. Since it pretty much cannot be killed, you are assured to be able to pod again. Finally, the card is blue and thus pitches to FoW. If I compare this list to wood elves, which would grant me another basic, I prefer the True-Name. I hope to have all the cards next Thursday so I can start playing this list!
I'd strongly encourage playing a Scavenging Ooze in the maindeck. Just playing one will dramatically increase your game 1 percentage against stuff like dredge and reanimator. It's also just a great card to draw and play later in the game, or be able to pod into when you want something huge and only have a 1 drop. It also hoses punishing fire and can take a RUG player off threshold. It's just great overall.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
So I was thinking of playing Nic Fit again after abandoning it for a couple of years... Seems like there are quiet a lot of variations to choose between. Blue has also 'infested' this archetype :tongue: (and with some impressive results I might add :smile:) I don't own any expensive Blue cards (never have, maybe some day), and was thinking about Junk Pod. Do you guys have any advice? I saw some nice lists down the line, but really could use a crash-course to get up-to-speed.
Thank you in advance.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
I'm currently running punishing fit but want to try out BUG-Pod. This may be something of a noob question, but do some of you with more experience with this version have any guidelines on when you do/don't use the phyrexian mana mode on the pod (both for casting and activation)? I assume it's almost entirely situational, but I can imagine myself getting greedy (either for mana or life) and overdoing it one way or the other.
Thanks.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
benofzongo
I'm currently running punishing fit but want to try out BUG-Pod. This may be something of a noob question, but do some of you with more experience with this version have any guidelines on when you do/don't use the phyrexian mana mode on the pod (both for casting and activation)? I assume it's almost entirely situational, but I can imagine myself getting greedy (either for mana or life) and overdoing it one way or the other.
Thanks.
I find myself using phyrexian mana most of the time when it comes to playing and activating pod. In general, legacy is a format of big swings, so paying a few life points to get pod going earlier, or leave up mana to do something else (brainstorm, cabal therapy, activate deathrite, activate glen elendra, just to name a few possibilities) is usually worth it. There are of course situations where it's better to use mana, but you'll probably be able to figure those out pretty easily. In general, if you run up against a deck where paying extra life on pod is really bad, then the pod itself is probably not at its best either.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Hi people! Have you seen the legacy kikipod deck by Drew Levin in scg? I haven't seen it because i'm not a premium user, but if you are take a look, (and pass the list here :p)http://www.starcitygames.com/article...In-Legacy.html
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Thinking of sleeving up the deck for a change of pace, but I've got 3 questions:
1) How essential to the [BUG] deck is the 4 Strix?
As far as I can tell their purpose is to
- Come down early to block / eat removal (TRADE)
- Draw a card through the Pod chain (Value)
- Pitch to FOW post board (U count)
It seems to me like its something that could be trimmed down to 3 copies, or even cut completely, for a couple more green creatures + GSZ.
Admittedly, I haven't started testing the deck extensively yet, so I don't have the play experience to lend any insight; just trying to figure out if the card is sort of a default that people are just running or if its really a sleeper MVP that no one's really talking about.
2) @ 3-Drops: Why not 2 Finks instead of the Wood Elves? Finks is insane vs Delver variants, and like you said has huge value in the Pod chains as he replaces himself.
3) How good is Phantasmal Image really? Is it just a flex thing or is there some purpose he serves? Copying Titans or even Finks seems sweet but since the legend rule change I don't see it doing all that much outside of just being more value. I guess that's the point?
Thanks in advance! Grats on your success with the deck Svknoe
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
1) You are correct about the purpose of Baleful Strix. The deck often needs to slow the game down a bit, and Strix is phenomenal at blocking. It is also makes the Griselbrand match up a lot better. I think that it is an important card in the deck. I want it in most match ups. I don't like them that much against Deathblade and Storm, but that may be about it.
2) I have thought about the second Finks, but I have not tried it yet. My main concern is losing the flexibility that different creatures offer. I will be looking to try it. So far i have tried Wood Elves and Fleshbag Maurauder and I have been pleased with neither.
3) Phantasmal Image main purpose is flexibility. I generally don't run it out as soon as possible, but it rather fixes a lot a problems. There are a few situations that I have noted it being especially useful. Versus Miracles and combo it locks up the game completely as a second Glen Elendra Archmage. It copies Griselbrand, which often wins me the game. In a tight race, for instance versus Tombstalker or a couple of TNN, copying Finks and persisting into a Thragtusk generally gains enough life to win.
Thank you! Both me and GtF have been very successful with the same list.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
I would say Baleful Strix is indeed a sleeper MVP. It's so inconspicuously good that it doesn't get talked about much. It smooths out draws, keeps you from dying to a fast aggro start, functions geat with pod (and recurring nightmare). There are no green creatures I can think of (or any color for that matter) that can do what it does. Coiling Oracle seems like it's similar, but the fact that it trades with nothing while strix trades with everything makes it pretty different. I think cutting one might be ok, but I definitely wouldn't cut all of them.
For the 3 drop problem, I finally get around to trying out Deceiver Exarch. Running an MD Viridian Shaman is another option I did for a while and it was ok, though I could see it being awkward sometimes with strix and pod.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Thanks for the [quick] responses. I reckon I'm just going to put together the latest list you guys have and start testing it out and see how I feel. I can see Exarch being good; getting to Pod twice is no joke. Strix > Exarch > Thrun/Archmage... Spicy. It can also untap a land if you need, don't forget that. Is it strictly better than Pestermite here? 4 toughness is relevant.
I like your point about Image being a second Archmage; giving it persist is sweet, Finks/Thragtusk double feature is crazy haha.
I can also see having Exarch out, podding away a 1 drop, into Image (on Exarch) straight into a 4 drop. Cue maniacal laughter...
EDIT - having played Modern Melira Pod, would it be crazy to suggest trying out Chord of Calling? We generate so much mana w/ Explorer that it seems pretty castable, although GSZ does allow us to ramp more effectively in the early turns. Pretty sure the two would be competing for slots. Upside to Chord being we can get any colour creature instant speed.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Exarch seems a little weak to me, since its not a good card without Pod. I have never tried it though, so I may be wrong.
Chord of Calling seems a little but crazy. If you have enough creatures to cast it for something like x=4 or 5, I think that you have probably won the game already.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Svknoe
Exarch seems a little weak to me, since its not a good card without Pod. I have never tried it though, so I may be wrong.
Chord of Calling seems a little but crazy. If you have enough creatures to cast it for something like x=4 or 5, I think that you have probably won the game already.
Situationally it's an OK card vs Emrakul & Griselbrand in the sense that you can tap it down. It's much better with pod, but pretty good by itself.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Pestermite trades with Delver in a pinch, while we have enough ground walls.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Hello everyone,
I'm a modern player looking to get into legacy and Nic Fit (pronounced nice or nick?) was recommended to me as I'm primarily a Melira pod player: I have a few of the staples and enjoy the toolbox one-of aspect of the deck. I have always wanted to play with GSZ.
Legacy seems to have 100 archetypes with 100 iterations of each and the meta looks to be very broad and putting all of the possibilities in your mind when building your first deck seems a completely overwhelming task. I've got several questions but to start with:
1) BUG seems to be the go-to deck. Can a junk pod list get by? I don't expect to try for any GP top 8 but would like to be able to have a chance at local tournaments and hold my own in for-fun games. It seems that nic fit is a deck that should be very tunable to your meta.
2) I'm willing to buy in and get the expensive staples but I stick to a strict monthly budget. Would it make more sense to go for things like bayou first or go ahead and start grabbing things like Stoneforge + package, therapy, rector + package first and just use shocks in the meantime? Seeing the spikes in modern and some legacy cards I don't want to miss the boat on anything that's obvious to the community but I don't see due to being new to the format.
3) Everyone seems so in-the-know on these forums that a lot of base legacy and base meta info is taken for granted. I've read that the legacy meta is sort of cyclical where decks rise and fall in popularity and success depending on meta and preparedness. If this is accurate, where is nic fit on this spectrum? Can you even compare "nic fit" as an archetype to other decks that may not have so many variations?
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
What I meant to say in my last post is that I was going to try Exarch, not that I'd tried it already. It doesn't seem good enough to me but I figure I should give it a shot.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rackhamm
Hello everyone,
I'm a modern player looking to get into legacy and Nic Fit (pronounced nice or nick?) was recommended to me as I'm primarily a Melira pod player: I have a few of the staples and enjoy the toolbox one-of aspect of the deck. I have always wanted to play with GSZ.
Legacy seems to have 100 archetypes with 100 iterations of each and the meta looks to be very broad and putting all of the possibilities in your mind when building your first deck seems a completely overwhelming task. I've got several questions but to start with:
1) BUG seems to be the go-to deck. Can a junk pod list get by? I don't expect to try for any GP top 8 but would like to be able to have a chance at local tournaments and hold my own in for-fun games. It seems that nic fit is a deck that should be very tunable to your meta.
2) I'm willing to buy in and get the expensive staples but I stick to a strict monthly budget. Would it make more sense to go for things like bayou first or go ahead and start grabbing things like Stoneforge + package, therapy, rector + package first and just use shocks in the meantime? Seeing the spikes in modern and some legacy cards I don't want to miss the boat on anything that's obvious to the community but I don't see due to being new to the format.
3) Everyone seems so in-the-know on these forums that a lot of base legacy and base meta info is taken for granted. I've read that the legacy meta is sort of cyclical where decks rise and fall in popularity and success depending on meta and preparedness. If this is accurate, where is nic fit on this spectrum? Can you even compare "nic fit" as an archetype to other decks that may not have so many variations?
1) I think Junk pod is definitely fine. Some people on the thread have advocated for it, and also for various jund flavors of nic fit, with punishing fire, burning wish for scapeshift, or just general good value cards. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. I haven't tried the other versions in depth because I've been very happy with the BUG pod version, so I haven't really had a good reason to switch, but that doesn't mean other versions aren't good too.
2) Yeah I would say get the spells first and the lands last, since you can still play some games with shocklands, but if you don't have cabal therapy, for instance, the deck really won't function as it's supposed to.
3) I feel like the cycle in the legacy metagame is more due to the fact that a lot of people have one legacy deck and the scg circuit, for instance, travels around the country. So when it gets to an area where people have a lot of combo decks, it's a "combo" metagame. But the metagame is really determined by geography. In last week's Seattle open, a bunch of people played Aluren. Is that because Aluren is a great metagame choice? Maybe, or maybe it's because a bunch of people in Seattle have an Aluren deck they like to play. That's my impression of the cyclical legacy metagame.
That said, Nic Fit in general tends to beat up on fair decks like delver and stoneforge type brews and lose to fast combo decks. The idea is with veteran explorer, you're just playing threats that are bigger than what a traditional fair deck is set up to deal with. Big threats don't matter to combo decks though. The exception is you generally have a good game against graveyard-based combo because of deathrites and GSZ + Scavenging Ooze (assuming you play those cards which...you should) and anything trying to blood moon you because of all your basics. That's the general metagame position of Nic Fit.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rackhamm
I'm a modern player looking to get into legacy and Nic Fit (pronounced nice or nick?) was recommended to me as I'm primarily a Melira pod player: I have a few of the staples and enjoy the toolbox one-of aspect of the deck. I have always wanted to play with GSZ.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5nbZMnEX-M
The Untouchables - Nic Fit (1981)
Nic as in Nicotine. Not entirely sure how it gets its name, but, I'm one for good names.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Been following this thread for about 2 years now and want to share my current list. It's not very playtested and the only Legacy tournament i've played this year was the Legacy Side event @GP Gothenburg. I Went 3-1-1 loosing to ANT and drawing to Rock, randomly stomped 2 Esper decks and U/B Tezz. Anyway here is the list.
4 Veteran Explorer
4 Stoneforge Mystic
1 Sigarda, host of herons
1 Thragtusk
1 Eternal Witness
1 Scavenging Ooze
2 Liliana of the Veil
4 Swords to Plowshares
4 Cabal Therapy
3 Pernicious Deed
4 Green sun's Zenith
4 Sensei's Divining Top
3 Lingering Souls
1 Batterskull
1 Umezawa's Jitte
4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Windswept Heath
4 Bayou
1 Savannah
1 Scrubland
2 Forest
2 Plains
2 Swamp
1 Volrath's Stronghold
1 Phyrexian Tower
Also i've been trying out a Red version of the deck wich stomps all TNN decks and actually has a fair shot preboard vs Reanimator/SNT decks. Here's that list aswell.
4 Veteran Explorer
1 Sylvan Ranger
1 Scavenging ooze
2 Eternal Witness
1 Huntmaster of the Fells
1 Thragtusk
1 Broodmate Dragon
4 Cabal Therapy
1 Thoughtseize
1 Slaughter Games
1 Rakdos's Return
4 Innocent Blood
3 Abrupt Decay
4 Pernicious Deed
1 Ensnaring Bridge
4 Sensei's Divining Top
4 Green sun's Zenith
4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Wooded foothills
4 Bayou
1 Badlands
1 taiga
2 forest
2 swamp
1 mountain
1 Phyrexian Tower
1 Volrath's stronghold
1 Kessig Wolf Run
Innocent blood has really impressed me. It gets rid of Marit Large, it kills vet, it wrecks TNN, it can be really effective vs reanimator. And sometimes u even get to kill an Emrakul with it. HUGE Card.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
I agree that Innocent Blood is a very solid card. Also I cant ever say no to a deck running Broodmate Dragon. I havent played the deck in awhile, but I always found Huntmaster to be quite underwhelming... How has it fared for you? I know in the Scape variants it is great to buy time, but in mid range versions of the deck it never felt amazing.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Megadeus
I agree that Innocent Blood is a very solid card. Also I cant ever say no to a deck running Broodmate Dragon. I havent played the deck in awhile, but I always found Huntmaster to be quite underwhelming... How has it fared for you? I know in the Scape variants it is great to buy time, but in mid range versions of the deck it never felt amazing.
It's a very situational card, he can be very mediocre in some states of the game vs different matchups, he have won me a couple of games almost by himself though vs BUG wich has no real good answers to him. I Believe it's an autoinclude in all red lists of the deck as a one-off but as a one-off only.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
After reviewing the last few dozen pages of this thread Junk lists seem to be all over the place. I put together a quick list as a starting point for Junk Pod. For this particular list I would just need to get the equipments and dual lands.
Is SFM + package a solid choice in a junk pod list? Rector Fit looks pretty good too and some people have experimented with PW lists as well. All in all these various "packages" look pretty fun and interesting.
Other things like Voice, Redcaps, Pontiff are have been discussed here but not extensively. Mostly they are carry overs from modern pod. Was thinking voice is a good GSZ target and Pod fodder. Redcaps to hit things like delver or finish off after a chump block. Pontiff as my mainboard way to kill TNN as most people say they are everywhere. Marsh Flats over ONS fetches just because I have them.
I think probably will devote a good portion of the SB to things like thoughtseize, liliana/deed, and hate cards depending on local meta.
23 Creatures
4 Veteran Explorer
3 Deathrite Shaman
3 Stoneforge Mystic
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Voice of Resurgence
1 Gaddock Teeg
1 Eternal Witness
1 Kitchen Finks
1 Orzhov Pontiff
1 Thrun, the Last Troll
1 Restoration Angel
1 Murderous Redcaps
1 Sigarda, Host of Herons
1 Thragtusk
1 Acidic Slime
1 Shriekmaw
10 Spells
4 Cabal Therapy
4 Green Sun's Zenith
2 Abrupt Decay
5 Other Permanents
3 Birthing Pod
1 Batterskull
1 Umezawa's Jitte
21 Lands
4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Marsh Flats
2 Bayou
1 Scrubland
1 Savannah
3 Forest
2 Swamp
2 Plains
1 Phyrexian Tower
1 Volrath's Stronghold
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Played a BUG Pod list at a 1k today... And the second physical legacy event i've played with the deck, and third since... well. Survival was a thing.
2 Forest
2 Island
2 Swamp
2 Bayou
1 Underground Sea
1 Polluted Delta
2 Tropical Island
4 Misty Rainforest
3 Verdant Catacombs
1 Phyrexian Tower
4 Veteran Explorer
3 Deathrite Shaman
4 Baleful Strix
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Phantasmal Image
1 Eternal Witness
1 Kitchen Finks
1 Murderous Redcap
1 Glen Elendra Archmage
1 Thragtusk
1 Shriekmaw
1 Grave Titan
1 Recurring Nightmare
2 Abrupt Decay
4 Cabal Therapy
3 Birthing Pod
2 Pernicious Deed
3 Brainstorm
1 Sower of Temptation
1 Acidic Slime
1 Green Sun's Zenith
1 Varolz, the Scar-Striped
1 Pestermite
SB: 2 Thoughtseize
SB: 2 Arcane Laboratory
SB: 2 Mindbreak Trap
SB: 1 Umezawa's Jitte
SB: 1 Notion Thief
SB: 2 Golgari Charm
SB: 2 Swan Song
SB: 1 Pernicious Deed
SB: 1 Melira, Sylvok Outcast
SB: 1 Glen Elendra Archmage
I can say, the demands of the BUG list are just... tough. I've played a lot of Pod in the past, modern and standard... And this one is no different. Basically I feel that I have to jam an incredible amount of games and board states to further progress (and play vs a lot more stoneblade until I can smell that matchup from start to finish).
The one thing that I know well enough from my previous experience is how to play Cabal Therapy, and I played a lot of combo matches on the day, and the list seemed to play really well vs most of the combo decks. I'm actually pleasantly surprised how well it played without 4 Forces... without having to play 4 Forces. On the play I was usually able to resolve either a Cabal Therapy or Duress and buy enough time to land either another discard spell, Swan Song, or others. Sneak and Show couldn't resolve much on me all day (in 2 matches), ANT wasn't really able to get there either. Normally it was: Cabal Therapy T1, Cabal Therapy T2, Arcane Lab T3 or Glen Elendra... And that was it. Even saw a Doomsday list that couldn't resolve that much. Combo Elves wasn't that bad either after resolving deed t2 with Phyrexian Tower & Explorer (with 1 mana up) and a good golgari charm.
But I seemed to not be able to actually close out games vs the fair decks, which kind of blew my mind, because I felt on the construction of it, it should have of just ate up the fair decks better (hence my disillusion that I went 5-0 vs combo decks and 0-4 vs fair decks). Saw 3 different Stoneblades and 1 UR stifle-delver, U/B Tezzeret and Jund. The Jund matchup felt the best out of all of them, mostly because I felt that Birthing Pod just got so much value. But, I couldn't get enough creatures ever at one time to stick on the field between a bevy of Punishing Fires, Maelstrom Pulses and Liliana's... I was constantly reaching for cards that I could get to just stick on the board when I had a Pod...
But mostly, they all were very grindy, and very close, but felt that I just ran out of gas in each matchup when my opponent didn't. I didn't get a lot of good top decks either (HELLO ALL MY LAND). but can definitely tell where I was lacking in my play and familiarity of the deck (and a bit of the format, as I'm much more accomplished in modern than current legacy), but most of the time felt I was just one or two good draws away from closing out games. Too often I think I wasn't resolving Birthing Pod, just as a critique on my own play... and I think that was what I should have been doing more as I would have accumulated more value from my creatures. I didn't resolve a pod very much at all in many of my matches, and when I did, I usually won, and definitely didn't get top decks like Brad Nelson did in the Semi's of the Cleveland GP (those were nuts). Unlike the Modern lists, I think it's considerably more difficult to win games without an active pod, and that's something I've taken away...
Playing 20 lands with 4 DRS and 3 Veteran Explorers wasn't as shakey feeling as I thought it'd be. I played a single pestermite, and in combination with Varolz, the Scar-Striped was actually not a terrible play. Varolz actually did okay... I needed a sac outlet in one game where I had Murderous Redcap cloned with Phantasmal Image that I put in with Show and Tell, and I was able to copy his Emrakul and win off that on the crackback (by sacing Image to Varolz and copying Emrakul).
The stoneforge matchups were pretty interesting for me... TNN by itself never really bothered me (although one time I did try to get value on a 2 unflipped delver field with Golgari Charm and got there... but then he forced the second charm, and then he drops a second TNN) I was usually able to gain enough life to get there... and SFM wasn't terrifying either. I think I hit maybe 6-7 equipment off of them going SFM -> Equipment, and me going: Cabal Therapy ______ (equipment name). The problems were usually: they had a second equipment in hand, they had a second SFM in hand, they pathed my Explorer at every possible chance and me failing to come back from that. Maybe its that I ran Explorer out there too fast sometimes vs white... dunno.
Figuring it out, but just wanted to share my thoughts after playing it over the past few days.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Have we ever thought about Altar of Bone as another sac outlet for Vet/Rector? Seems interesting.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Shoreline
Innocent blood has really impressed me. It gets rid of Marit Large, it kills vet, it wrecks TNN, it can be really effective vs reanimator. And sometimes u even get to kill an Emrakul with it. HUGE Card.
Why not play Fleshbag Marauder then?
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Koby
Imo he's to clunky, 3 mana is alot in a format where Wasteland and Daze are staples in alot of the high tier decks. I would play him in the pod versions of the deck, but i dont have the cards for that.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jbone2016
Have we ever thought about Altar of Bone as another sac outlet for Vet/Rector? Seems interesting.
Why would u play Altar of Bone instead of Diabolic intent? Anyway i dont think either one of the cards are good enough.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Has anyone seen this yet?
http://www.tcdecks.net/deck.php?id=13164&iddeck=96585
The specific list could use some tuning but in goldfishing a little it seems like a strong shell.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Food chain nic fit :D
I put together a list for a shell like that in this thread a long time ago but no one paid any attention to it
I like the fact that it has pod in it
Unfortunately that means you can't fit in manipulate fate, but you can still exile you griffins with drs and ooze
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Shoreline
Imo he's to clunky, 3 mana is alot in a format where Wasteland and Daze are staples in alot of the high tier decks. I would play him in the pod versions of the deck, but i dont have the cards for that.
Abyssal Gatekeeper?
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jbone2016
Abyssal Gatekeeper?
The card got some potentiall but i think 4 Innocent bloods is enough edict effects, and if you feel like you need more i would go with Lilianas.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
I played my Junk Pod list last tuesday and did 3-1 losing against MUD.
4 Veteran Explorer
4 Deathrite Shaman
2 Stoneforge Mystic
1 Gaddock Teeg
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Kitchen Finks
1 Eternal Witness
1 Harmonic Sliver
1 Thrun, the Last Troll
1 Linvala, Keeper of Silence
2 Restoration Angel
1 Sigarda, Host of Herons
4 Birthing Pod
4 Green Sun's Zenith
1 Batterskull
1 Umezawa's Jitte
3 Abrupt Decay
2 Pernicious Deed
4 Cabal Therapy
1 Dryad Arbor
4 Windswept Heath
4 Verdant Catacombs
2 Bayou
1 Savannah
1 Scrubland
2 Forest
2 Plains
1 Swamp
1 Karakas
1 Phyrexian Tower
1 Volrath's Stronghold
SB [15]
4 Natural Order
1 Progenitus
1 Ruric Tar, the Unbowed
1 Craterhoof Behemoth
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Gaddock Teeg
1 Aven Mindscensor
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
The deck has shown very strong hands and no mana problems with 20 lands 4 drs and 4 gsz for dryad. I would feel more comfortable with 9 or 10 fetches for the full DRS set, but there's no more space I think. SFM is a beast against tempo and aggro decks. I had some strange feelings with thrun and sigarda in the same list, as they do almost the same thing. May Archangel of Thune can take sigarda's place?
I was really amaze with the SB and how well it worked. Trading 4 Pod almost every game for 4 Natural Order (against goblins, reanimator and show n tell) and get any card suit for the scenario. Against reanimator i fetchd for Ruric tar against Ashen Rider with Animate Dead and against Show n Tell. Progenitus was better against goblins (if I had more creatures, craterhoof would made my victory much quickier). People was playing sideboard against Pod, so all those cards were dead now
The second Ooze and the second Teeg helps me to hit them into the board more consistently against the matchs I need them.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
KntrellCL:
Been following this thread for a while, and I've been thinking of building a list similar to yours. I've been trying it out and it seems to me that Restoration Angel doesn't do that much. Has it been good enough for you to warrant two slots in the main? And is Deed better than Engineered Explosives in this deck?
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Im having troubles with decent 4 drops... I played phyrexian metamorph, wickerbough elder, murderous redcap and resto angel, being the last better. It requires just W, skips bolts decay and it is an excellent removal for delvers and other annoying creatures.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
What's the bare minimum basic lands do you feel like your deck can play?
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
I used to think it was 7... but then i realize that 5 (GGWWB) is the minimum to cast any card of my deck... if you can hit 5 lands you should win, hitting 5+ with veterans is a win more in my opinion. That number also let me to play more fetchs to feed my DRS
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Woohoo! Finally found a Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale, so now my rendition of BUG Fit is complete!
60 Main
4 Veteran Explorer
2 Deathrite Shaman
1 Scavenging Ooze
2 Eternal Witness
1 Thrun, the Last Troll
2 Thragtusk
1 Primeval Titan
2 Jace the Mind Sculptor
4 Brainstorm
2 Sensei's Divining Top
4 Green Sun's Zenith
1 Diabolic Intent
4 Cabal Therapy
4 Pernicious Deed
2 Maelstrom Pulse
2 Abrupt Decay
4 Misty Rainforest
4 Verdant Catacombs
2 Bayou
2 Tropical Island
3 Forest
2 Island
2 Swamp
2 Creeping Tar Pit
1 Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale
15 Side
3 Search for Tomorrow
3 Thoughtseize
3 Surgical Extraction
2 Pithing Needle
2 Phyrexian Revoker
2 Toxic Deluge
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
So, who is going to Milwaukee this weekend?
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jbone2016
So, who is going to Milwaukee this weekend?
You guys see that nic fit player lose to an illegal attack? Sam black "tricked" (more like cheated in my opinion) that nic fit player by attacking with a craterhoof and a summoning sick visionary.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Seemed like a cheat to me. Counting your men, your library and such over and over again then asking that question seems sketchy. A seasoned veteran like Sam should most definitely have known he had no men on board when the combo began.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
Alright, went 2-2 yesterday at a local Legacy tournament with I believe 10 to 12 people.
Current List (61/15):
4 Veteran Explorer
4 Deathrite Shaman
2 Eternal Witness
1 Thrun, the Last Troll
2 Thragtusk
1 Primeval Titan
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
4 Cabal Therapy
4 Pernicious Deed
2 Abrupt Decay
2 Maelstrom Pulse
4 Green Sun's Zenith
4 Brainstorm
2 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Diabolic Intent
4 Misty Rainforest
4 Verdant Catacombs
2 Bayou
2 Tropical Island
2 Creeping Tar Pit
1 Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale
3 Forest
2 Island
2 Swamp
////
3 Search for Tomorrow
4 Duress
1 Memoricide
1 Cranial Extraction
2 Trinket Mage
2 Engineered Explosives
2 Pithing Needle
Match 1: v T-- [Death and Taxes] - 0-2
This has to be one of the hardest matchups for me to grasp, as the combination of Mom, StP, and fliers galore makes using Veteran Explorers difficult to say the least. Not a whole lot to say here, mostly because I can't tell what to say about what I did wrong this matchup (well, other than forgetting to side in Trinket Mage and Pithing Needle for the various equipment and Moms: could have probably used that more than the Search for Tomorrow).
Match 2: v P-- [UR Delver] - 0-2
To be honest, I expected this to be a lot more like Canadian Delver or Patriot Delver: i.e. not so burn heavy. Game 1, manage to hit an early Tabernacle to slow him down while getting myself a few lands off of Goblin Guide. However, nothing (including resolved Jace 2.0 and DRS) could save me from the double Price of Progress followed by Chain Lightning for Lethal (Price dealt 4 damage each time to me). I side in Search for Tomorrow again, though in hindsight I could have probably gotten away with siding in Trinket Mage and Engineered Explosives since I didn't see any creatures that were not CMC=1. He gets me down to 9 or so with another Goblin Guide and proceeds to cast Chain Lightning twice and Lightning Bolt for lethal.
Match 3: v G-- [RG Budget-Standard] - 2-0
Not much to say here except that a resolved Jace 2.0 wrecks manascrewed and manaflooded decks pretty badly, especially those with limited library manipulation.
Match 4: v C-- [Pauper White] - 2-0
This was against my best friend who offered to give me a ride to the event, and I knew he was either gonna go Pauper White before the tournament started. He's not a bad player per se, but he does need to adopt one key element to his play: knowing when and when not to step on the gas (to be honest, I have the same problem, though being conservative with resources is usually better than being liberal with them). As it was, I Deed his board leaving him with spirit fingers Game 1, and in Game 2 I Therapy triple Squadron Hawk followed by another Deed. Again, library manipulation is a good thing.
Anyhow, things I could definitely do better include proper siding and manipulating triggers (advice from the UR Delver player: I had a Top in play G2 and could have used it against the Goblin Guide triggers). Wouldn't hurt if I could find a suitable replacement for Carpet of Flowers/Search for Tomorrow: honestly I thought that was gonna work out better than it did.
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Re: [Deck] Nic Fit (GBx Explorer Zenith Control)
So...yeah. 6-2-1 in Milwaukee. 36th.
Deck tonight. Report Later (just drove 6 hours home)
Spells
4 Vets
1 Gaddock Teeg
1 Sylvan Ranger
1 Spirit of the Labyrinth
1 Ooze
1 Eternal Witness
1 Thrun
3 Academy Rector
1 Thragtusk
1 Sigarada
1 Baneslayer
1 Sun Titan
4 Therapy
3 GSZ
1 Diabolic Intent
3 Living Wish
3 Deed
1 Recurring Nightmare
1 StP
2 Decay
Land
3 Windswept Heath
3 Verdnant Catacombs
3 Bayou
2 Savannah
1 Scrubland
3 Forest
2 Swamp
2 Plains
1 Karakas
1 Phyrexian Tower
1 Volrath's Stronghold
SB
2 Thoughtseize
1 Batterskull
2 Mindbreak Trap
2 Carpet of Flowers
1 Humility
1 Karakas
1 Bojuka Bog
1 Fleshbag Marauder
1 Phyrexian Revoker
1 Qasali Pridemage
1 Ethersworn Canonist
1 Ashen Rider