[DTW] Bant Survival

Just got back from a 51 player tournament and went 4-1-1 towards T8

GBw rock 2-0
ichorid 2-1
tempo thresh 0-2
GBw rock 1-1 Too bad time was up else he'd be dead
Landstill 2-1 1-1 draw but he scooped because I was going to win. Major respect for that
Natural order survival 2-0

T8
Merfolk 2-1
T4
Zoo 2-1
Finals split.

my list:
// Lands
1 [P3] Plains (3)
1 [P3] Forest (2)
4 [ON] Windswept Heath
4 [ON] Wooded Foothills
4 [A] Tropical Island
1 [A] Tundra
3 [A] Savannah

// Creatures
1 [MM] Squee, Goblin Nabob
1 [JU] Wonder
4 [FUT] Tarmogoyf
1 [ALA] Rafiq of the Many
2 [ARB] Qasali Pridemage
2 [ALA] Rhox War Monk
1 [DIS] Trygon Predator
4 [CFX] Noble Hierarch
1 [BOK] Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
3 [LRW] Spellstutter Sprite

// Spells
4 [EX] Survival of the Fittest
4 [CST] Brainstorm
4 [AL] Force of Will
4 [CST] Swords to Plowshares
3 [LRW] Ponder
3 [DIS] Spell Snare

// Sideboard
SB: 1 [ALA] Rhox War Monk
SB: 2 [BOK] Umezawa's Jitte
SB: 2 [TSP] Krosan Grip
SB: 2 [IA] Hydroblast
SB: 3 [LRW] Gaddock Teeg
SB: 2 [SOK] Pithing Needle
SB: 1 [LRW] Sower of Temptation
SB: 2 [MOR] Vendilion Clique

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Waikiki

Just got back from a 51 player tournament and went 4-1-1 towards T8

GBw rock 2-0
ichorid 2-1
tempo thresh 0-2
GBw rock 1-1 Too bad time was up else he'd be dead
Landstill 2-1 1-1 draw but he scooped because I was going to win. Major respect for that
Natural order survival 2-0

T8
Merfolk 2-1
T4
Zoo 2-1
Finals split.

my list:
// Lands
1 [P3] Plains (3)
1 [P3] Forest (2)
4 [ON] Windswept Heath
4 [ON] Wooded Foothills
4 [A] Tropical Island
1 [A] Tundra
3 [A] Savannah

// Creatures
1 [MM] Squee, Goblin Nabob
1 [JU] Wonder
4 [FUT] Tarmogoyf
1 [ALA] Rafiq of the Many
2 [ARB] Qasali Pridemage
2 [ALA] Rhox War Monk
1 [DIS] Trygon Predator
4 [CFX] Noble Hierarch
1 [BOK] Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
3 [LRW] Spellstutter Sprite

// Spells
4 [EX] Survival of the Fittest
4 [CST] Brainstorm
4 [AL] Force of Will
4 [CST] Swords to Plowshares
3 [LRW] Ponder
3 [DIS] Spell Snare

// Sideboard
SB: 1 [ALA] Rhox War Monk
SB: 2 [BOK] Umezawa's Jitte
SB: 2 [TSP] Krosan Grip
SB: 2 [IA] Hydroblast
SB: 3 [LRW] Gaddock Teeg
SB: 2 [SOK] Pithing Needle
SB: 1 [LRW] Sower of Temptation
SB: 2 [MOR] Vendilion Clique

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Awesome. It looks like 18 lands worked for you. I plan on trimming mine down as well.

I went 4-0 today. The most notable thing is that I sided out Sprites in all 4 matches. I might remove them completely and add Spell Snares or something. My meta is too random for it.

@ Waikiki
Was there anything in the list that you didn't like? Like I said in my last post, I sided out Sprites in all 4 matches. I know you cut them a little bit ago, but how did they do today?

Without them, I would run something like this...

4 Windswept Heath
3 Flooded Strand
1 Wooded Foothills
4 Tropical Island
2 Savannah
1 Tundra
2 Forest
1 Island
1 Plains

4 Brainstorm
4 Force of Will
3 Spell Snare
4 Swords to Plowshares
4 Survival of the Fittest

1 Squee
1 Wonder

4 Noblie Hierarch
2 Nimble Mongoose
4 Tarmogoyf
3 Rhox War Monk
2 Qasali Pridemage
2 Vendilion Clique
1 Trygon predator
1 Eternal Witness
1 Rafiq

SB
4 Path to Exile
1 Rhox War Monk
3 Krosan Grip
2 Meddling Mage
1 Gaddock Teeg
1 Genesis
3 Tormod's Crypt / Daze / Sower of Temptation / Gilded Drake / Gaddock Teeg / etc

Not sure...

I love sprites, I would only run 2, but I wouldn't cut them entirely.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by beastman

I love sprites, I would only run 2, but I wouldn't cut them entirely.

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True, they do protect you from removal well. It isn't that I don't like them, I just hate how inconsistent they are. However, they do pitch to Survival and Force so I'll probably leave them in.

Sprites where strong all day I never sided them out.

Kira wasn't all that good tho. She protected some but I didn't face that heavy removals.dec

Rafiq was the man of the day.
I do want to fit in another basic forest perhaps.


@Jak. Whats your opinion about those 2 gooses.

I do wonder how good the sb cliques are. They come in vs control and the tournament they always catched a removal spell before trigger resolving. so I think thats pretty good.

Goose is pretty good. It's just awesome in te aggro and control MUs. I have them in there since Oregon just doesn't have 2 more Hierarchs. I really like them and want to keep playing with them.

Rafiq was awesome for me also. I loved drawing him and feel like the deck needs to have 1, something I wouldn't have said a while back. If anything, he pulls the Sword out of the opponents hand.

I love Cliques. Like I want to go up to three because of how good they are. Even against aggro, flashing it in isn't horrible.

Maybe it was just a bad day for Sprites for me. I played against a RG LD deck first round and they suck when the opponents curve starts at 3. Then I played Goblins which they suck against. Next I played a heavy LD version of The Rock (minis Deed though) and they weren't that great. Finally I played a Survival Sneak Attack deck which they sucked against. I just don't know if they work in my meta right now.

I was pleased with how my deck faired against LD though. I usually roll over and die to Sinkhole, Vindicate, and Wasteland. Goose helped a a cheap threat that dodged all the removal.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jak.

Goose is pretty good.

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Wow! Exalted Double Striking Shroud 3/3 for just :g:! Sounds great!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by eq.firemind

Wow! Exalted Double Striking Shroud 3/3 for just :g:! Sounds great!

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Haha definitely. I won countless games with just Goose beating down, sometimes with the exalted bonus and other times just as a 1/1. It gives the deck more first turn plays (I haven't been running Ponder lately) and gives it a more aggro edge.

I basically think it shores up some rough MUs. For example, last week I was able to play through 3 Deeds by just making Mongoose a threat. Other creatures just aren't as good versus Swords to Plowshares, Vedalken Shackles, Vindicate, Path to Exile, Smother, etc.

It also comes down early to block Lackey or "Healing Salve" against a Nacatl and then later on block and kill the Nacatls, Piledrivers, etc.

tho kira makes all your creatures gooses I will certainly test them out im curious how they play for me. Altho I would not cut ponders for them since they provide thresh.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Waikiki

tho kira makes all your creatures gooses I will certainly test them out im curious how they play for me. Altho I would not cut ponders for them since they provide thresh.

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I thought that too. My first list with them ran 4 Brainstorm, 4 Ponder, and 3 Daze alongside the other non-creature spells in my latest list. It got to Threshold fast but you don't need Threshold fast. I have been liking my latest list since it runs tons of creatures (just take out the Spell Snares for 4 Sprites). With more creatures, you can still fill the graveyard fast enough (blocking etc). I think I got to Threshold on turn 6ish most of the time. (2 fetches, Brainstorm, Swords, 2 fallen dudes, and a Force or something).

I still like Ponders and they probably are better with Goose, but I like the deck as a whole with the 25-26 creature count.

ok my initial thought is -3 snare -1 kira +3 goose +1 ponder

I wil certainly test it!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Waikiki

ok my initial thought is -3 snare -1 kira +3 goose +1 ponder

I wil certainly test it!

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Instead of the Ponder, do you want to add Witness back in? You faced The Rock twice and Landstill and Witness is so good against Aggro-control and control. Its just some tutorable insurance that also is always a good thing to draw.

Also, I would definitely not go up to 8 cantrips. It gets just really clunky when all you are Brainstorming or Pondering into is more cantrips.

IMO, -3 Snare, -1 Kira, +3 Goose, +1 Witness

Also, @ everyone, I've been trying to keep the primer updated with tournament results, decklists, etc on all three of the Legacy sites (here, mtgsalvation, starcitygames) so if you see any tournament placings or reports on deckcheck, or any posts from sites, etc, just pm me here with the link so I can update it. Thanks!

I haven't ever had a moment where I'd think. damn i could use witness right now. Id rather put in back a blue card cause I dont want the blue count to go too low.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Waikiki

I haven't ever had a moment where I'd think. damn i could use witness right now. Id rather put in back a blue card cause I dont want the blue count to go too low.

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Just getting Witness in response to an EE, Deed, Pridemage, etc is what wins me the game most of the time. Randomly drawing it is also fantastic. Like today, just playing Witness to get back a Force to protect the win is amazing. I would run more if I could but I have been loving the 3 War Monks.

Edit- The blue count is good reasoning. Maybe the fourth Sprite or 3rd War Monk?

mass removal is always a bitch and witness does help there indeed. as a 1 off it seems not strong enough for me. I am thrilled on testing mongoose tho.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Waikiki

mass removal is always a bitch and witness does help there indeed. as a 1 off it seems not strong enough for me. I am thrilled on testing mongoose tho.

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Are you going to right a report? I think it would be cool for the primer to have a report section as well.

Edit - lol at me. 'are you going to right a report?' I was tired.

Did not take any notes but ill give it a shot.

<edit> here it is http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/s...321#post376321

So I've been working on the primer when I have nothing else to do and I added a Reports section. I have linked to a few posts from this thread (two of crz87's and one of elgoff's) and I linked to Waikiki's. I really want the Reports list and the Accomplishments list to grow. Hopefully you guys can post or PM me with results and reports so I can edit them in.

To add to the Reports list, I'll write a small one.

There were only 10 people and we played 4 rounds.

Round 1 - Carlos with RG Land destruction

Game 1 started off rough when I kept a weak hand. I had no action in the first few turns and was surprised when I got a land blown up on turn 3. Uh oh. I was able to land a Survival and keep drawing lands, but he also kept blowing them up. I'm stuck on two mana sources so the only thing I can really do is grab Noble Hierarch with Survival. Unfortunatley, he drops Dues of Calamity while I have a Noble Hierarch and Nimble Mongoose on the table. I lose pretty fast when I have to keep chumping and can't find a Swords.

Game 2 was much easier once I knew what I was up against. I sided in Path to Exiles for Sprites since they suck when your opponents curve starts at three. I end up overwhelming him with 3 Rhox War Monks and a Tarmogoyf, countering his turn 3 LD.

Game 3 was much of the same. I held back my fetches and was able to go beat down with a Nimble Mongoose. He ddidn't draw much and when he went for the desperate Dues, I had the Swords.


Round 2 - Chris (Volt) with Mono Red Goblins

Game 1 I get a ridiculous hand and continue my awesome skills of getting a Survival against him. Turn two Survival, turn 3 War Monk, turn 4 War Monk, turn 5 War Monk is beastly.

Game 2 I bring in 4 Paths and another Elephant. Again, T2 Survival followed by War Monk, then Tarmogoyf, scoop. Ridiculous hands are ridiculous.


Round 3 - Nick (Yawgmoth) playing BGW LD Rock-Suicide-ish

Game 1 I keep a pretty mediocre hand with 4 lands, Hierarch, Goose, and Brainstorm (I think). I knew what he was playing so I wanted to mana heavy hand. He Duresses me and takes the Brainstorm. I lead with the Hierarch and then Goose next turn. I just keep beating down with the Goose that is protected from his removal. He can't draw creatures and I win.

Game 2 I side in Paths taking out Sprites and much of the same happens. I go beat down with 2 Goose. Again, Nick can't draw creatures and I win. Pretty lame way to win. We went about 50-50 preboard in 4 games before hand. Bad draws.


Round 4 - Brandon with Survival Sneak Attack

Game 1 I was able to land a turn 2 Survival but it gets Oblivion Ringed the next turn. I get Mongoose out and start beating down. I Clique him and take the Sneak Attack in his hand, but it gets hit with Swords the same turn. Turn 4 another Goose joins the board. Brandon is able to land a Sneak Attack but it still missing out on green mana. He has to Sneak in Wall of Roots to play his Survival. Next turn, he does the same thing (Sneaks in Wall) and uses the green to pitch Witness to grab Colossus. I have the Swords and he goes back up to 20. Next turn I play Rafiq and beat for 4 with a Goose. I keep drawing into removal and counters and he doesn't get much.

Game 2 I bring in 2 Path and 3 Grips for 4 Sprites and a War Monk. I land a turn 2 Goyf, then get an Elephant down. I keep his bad enchantments off the table and just overwhelm him with counter back up after getting my Force back with Witness.

So I went 8-1 on the day and the deck was solid.