Omnitell is the decks worst matchup. I've won games where I managed to stick a turn 1 chalice or trinisphere and rode simian spirit guides to victory. That or go all in on a turn 1 blightsteel and hope they don't have force.
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Omnitell is the decks worst matchup. I've won games where I managed to stick a turn 1 chalice or trinisphere and rode simian spirit guides to victory. That or go all in on a turn 1 blightsteel and hope they don't have force.
Hey guys, I'm friends with Davis and I've been playing this deck for a couple months at my local Legacy events. I finally took it to an Open this weekend at St. Louis and went 7-2, placing 20th. I had a lot of fun and wrote about my run here: http://www.reddit.com/r/spikes/comme...with_mono_red/
I like this list a lot. Tons of fun, and glad I got to crush so many nerds at an Open with it!
After sometime away flirting with fair decks, I brushed off the deck and took it to a local tourney. I've tried to add in some Blood Moons by reducing the land count to 19 and dropping a Wurm.
Main
4 Ancient Tomb
3 City of Traitors
2 Sandstone Needle
4 Mountain
2 Wooded Foothills
2 Bloodstained Mire
1 Arid Mesa
1 Scalding Tarn
4 Simian Spirit Guide
3 Worldspine Wurm
4 Emrakul the Aeons Torn
3 Griselbrand
2 Inferno Titan
4 Sneak Attack
4 Through the Breach
3 Trinisphere
2 Blood Moon
4 Seething Song
2 Lotus Petal
3 Magma Jet
3 Sensei's Divining Top
Sideboard
3 Pyroblast
1 Trinisphere
2 Defense Grid
3 Pyroclasm
3 Smash to Smithereens
2 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Stronghold Gambit
I think 20people turned up and we had 5 rounds with a cut to top 8.
Round 1 - Jund
Game 1 - Win the die roll and drop a fetch then passed. Opp fetched a bayou and played a Deathrite Shaman. At this point I thought either BUG or Jund and was confident to go off T2 which I proceeded to do. Tomb into Seething Song, Sneak Attack with Emrakul. Opp scooped in response.
Game 2 - Opening hand had Tomb, Song, Petal, Sneak Attack, Emrakul, plus 2 others. A great hand as long as opponent didn't have discard or a Needle. On his T1 my opponent didn't do anything to disrupt me so I proceed to drop the Emrakul with a scoop in response.
No side boarding for this round as I didn't have enough information to act on, and trying to out guess his sideboard could hurt me more than help.
Round 2 - Dredge
Game 1 - I can't remember the opening hand, but my Opp didn't hit anything threatening when dredging for the first two turns and I was able to drop a T3 Trini. This got followed up with a T4 Sneaked in Emrakul. Top found me a Griselbrand then on turn 6.
No sideboard notes but I assume I would have brought in the Pyroclasm and Grafdigger Cages, most likely for the Inferno Titans and Magma Jets.
Game 2 - He had an early Iona in the graveyard, which led me to drop a Sneak Attack on T3 off a Tomb and two Mountains. I had the option to drop a Trini but I figured that if he has a land in hand and hits a Dread Return the game would be over (the narcomebas came out to play last turn). Turns out the Sneak Attack was the right play, because he hit the Dread and out came Iona naming red. Despite the Emrakul in hand swinging for lethal next turn, he had enough zombies to counter swing for lethal (3 Bridges in the graveyard).
Game 3 - Kept a hand that gives me a T2 Sneaked in Worldspine Wurm. After a very long drawn out T2 for Opp where he dredges half his deck to find a solution, he scoops to my deadly tokens.
Round 3 - Thespian Stage Lands
Game 1 - He wins the die roll and assembles the combo at the end of my second turn.
Sideboard - Out: 3 Magma Jet and 1 inferno Titan. In: 1 Stronghold Gambit and 3 Smash to Smithereens.
Game 2 - On the play kept a hand of 1 Mountain, Petal, Stronghold Gambit, Worldspine Wurm, Blood Moon and two others. Figured if I drew into a Sol land this would be a strong two/three turns. Turn 1 dropped the Wurm to the sound of laughter once everyone had read the Gambit. Only got one swing in before a Maze of Ith landed on the board and I never saw another land.
I can't complain with how that match went, experience shows that this match-up is all about who can get their big critter out first and make it connect. The Gambit was an all-in play with that hand and I knew the risk when I made the decision to not mull.
Round 4 - Shardless Bug
Game 1 - I can't help but smile when I see the combination of Deathrite Shaman and Ancestral Visions. Whilst no deck can ever truly have a 100% match-up this is the closest one for my version of Big Red pre-board. I went on to prove this during my second turn where off a Sneaked in Griselbrand I draw into the Emrakul.
Sideboard - Out: 1 Worldspine Wurm, 1 Trini, 1 Sneak Attack, 1 Seething Song. In: 2 Pyroclasm, 2 Smash to Smithereens.
Game 2 - After a turn one Top and then a second turn Trinisphere from me slowing down his deck and preventing cascade shenanigans we play draw go for a few more turns. He plays a Jace, leaving only two lands untapped. Seeing my chance I Sneak in a Worldspine Wurm and kill hid Jace. In his turn he uses Golgari Charm to kill Sneak Attack. Tries to play an drops an Ancestral Visions off the cascade from Shardless Agent, which got stopped by a cough and pointing at the Trini on the board. Top in my upkeep shows me a Sneak Attack and an Emrakul, gg.
At this point I am 2nd in the standings and get to ID into the Top 8.
Round 5 - RW Goblins - ID
I used to hate seeing this deck across from me when I used to Stax and Stompy builds. These days it just fun. Went 2-1 in the games we played. The game I lost was due to him locking me out of my Ancient Tomb with Rishadan Port and having a Vial which was spitting out all the right Goblins.
Quarter finals - UWR Miracles
Game 1 - I knew what my opponent was playing in advance and kept a hand with two Through the Breaches and mana acceleration. My plan was to build my mana and then power through at least one Breach by doing at least one with Splice. We do draw-go for a few turns whist my Opp drops Top and Counterbalance, to my Top. He plays a Jace and taps out the Karakas he found the previous turn. See my chance to learn what he has in hand I play Seething Song, which he responds to but playing Brainstorm. The Song is countered by the Counterbalance trigger. At which point I only have enough mana for one Breach with two spare for a Spell Pierce. Knowing that I a safe from Terminus this turn I decide to risk the Force of Will and go for an Emrakul off the first Breach. The Breach sticks and goodbye board except for two Tundras. He plays another Counterbalance to which I drop the second Breach and smash with a Griselbrand.
Sideboard - Out: 2 Blood Moon, 1 Lotus Petal, 1 Seething Song, 1 Magma Jet, 1 Wurm and 1 Griselbrand. In: 2 Smash to Smithreens, 3 Pyroblast, and 2 Defense Grids.
Game 2 - Turn two Sneaked in an Emrakul which puts my Opp to four life after he had fetched to Brainstorm. This is good when I see the Song and two Magma Jets in hand. Next turn I draw a Trini, so slight change to plan. I play song and shoot for two and scry seeing nothing good. Then play the Trini to guarantee the third turn kill with the second Jet.
Semi finals - Deathblade
I don't have a good record against Esper and Deathblade decks.
Game 1 - Both of my Sneak Attacks are Forced, it happens on occasion. I quickly die to Shaman wielding a SoFI.
Sideboard - Out: 2 Lotus Petal, 1 Worldspine Wurm, 2 Inferno Titan, 1 Top, and 1 Seething Song. In: 2 Smash to Smithereens, 2 Pyroblast, 2 Pyroclasm, and 1 Trini.
Game 2 - I lose a Through the Breach from my opening hand to Thougtseize and then my Opp Surgical Extracts my Scalding Tarn in response to me playing a Trini. Next turn I Sneak in an Emrakul for lethal and game 3.
Game 3 - An early Top and Trini, doesn't help me find the right pieces before a Liliana goes ultimate and I die to Batterskull and Creeping Tar Pit.
Thoughts - This deck is still viable and I don't see why it's not an established deck. The move back to 19 lands doesn't feel wrong, I think that is down to the fact that I dropped a Mountain rather a Sol land. Didn't see enough of the Blood Moons to say if they were worthwhile, but there was at least situations in the matches that a Blood Moon would have been must counter otherwise good game. May look to change out the Inferno Titans for a Worldspine Wurm and a third Blood Moon or 2 Ashen Riders for utility.
Hey guys,
I recently started playing this deck after seeing that a friend had built Caleb Durward's list. You can see the list below.
7 Mountain
4 Sandstone Needle
4 Ancient Tomb
3 City of Traitors
3 Lotus Petal
4 Simian Spirit Guide
4 Seething Song
4 Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
4 Griselbrand
3 Inferno Titan
3 Blightsteel Colossus
4 Through the Breach
4 Sneak Attack
4 Chalice of the Void
1 Pyromancy
2 Blood Moon
2 Crystal Ball
Sideboard
2 Stronghold Gambit
1 Blood Moon
1 Pyromancy
2 Volcanic Fallout (only change, preference for me)
4 Trinisphere
2 Defense Grid
3 Red Elemental Blast
Playing this deck locally has been a blast, and I can't wait to take it to a big tournament. Below is a report for my last local tourney.
Round 1 - Nic Fit
Game 1, turn 1... blightsteel. "Are you serious?" Pretty sure he still thought I was playing RWU Delver. Game two I chalice and start digging for the card I need. He has fetched and done some other things, and starts attacking me with goyf. I think he had me down to around 10 life and I finally get a dude and it's emrakul. I swing and wipe his board. Next turn I hard cast a titan to do the remaining 3 damage.
Round 2 - Esper Deathblade
Game 1 I play a chalice that he counters. Pass turn and he plays a fetch to pass back. I seething song into sneak attack and play grisel, drawing cards to fill my hand back up. He has no counters. I pitch a spirit guide and play emrakul and swing. After this game he questioned his decision to counter the chalice, which is why I love the card. Game two he has wasteslands and counter spells and I just cant get stabilized. He ends up punching me in the face with stonefroge and feast and famine, which eats away at my hand. We go to game 3. I get out a turn one blood moon and he scoops. I'm not sure why he didn't mull to counter spells. Wear tear also helped him in game 2.
Round 3 - Combo Elves
This was rough for my opponent. Game 1 he mulls down to five and is forced to keep a hand with one land. He plays cradle and passes. I turn 1 blood moon. He passes the turn back to me, and I through the breach blightsteel to kill him. Game 2 was a little better for him, and he came out swinging. By the time it was my turn 2, he had out a few of his dorks and was probably getting close to casting natural order. On my turn two I had out sandstone needle and ancient tomb. I cast sneak attack and pitch a spirit guide to wipe his board and do some damage. The next turn I sneak attack in a titan to finish him off.
What was interesting about this matchup is that I normally think his deck is positioned well against Sneak and Show. So, after seeing our game 1 I think he thought I was maybe playing Show and Tell as well.
Round 4 - Miracles
We were the only 3-0's, so we drew. Played for fun and took it in 3. Game 1 and 3 my deck was too quick for his counterbalance to get setup, and he was often using his counters on chalice or bloodmoon. I don't remember the game well enough to know how I won, but I can tell he won when he had 3 counterspells in hand.
This deck has been difficult for me to sb. If they don't run a lot of basics, I want to get in the extra blood moon. If they run a decent amount, I'll swap out moons for trinispheres. I also find myself sbing out crystal ball more than anything, as it's a luxury in the first game and I'd rather have hate for whatever they're playing. I guess long story short, I often know what I need to put in against any given deck... but taking stuff out is much more difficult. I want to still have a fair amount of gas to be able to have a turn 1 or 2 kill, and I feel like once I start taking out pieces for hate it will slow the deck down. Any input on how you have used your sb would be most helpful to me. I wasn't planning on doing a write up, so in the future I'll try to take notes and have a little more information.
I tested this deck today, it is really fun to play.
Why do you play crystal ball instead of more business spells? Crystal ball is too weak imo after some testing, I finally replace all of them with 2 pyromancy and it works well for me.
Just watched your playtest yersterday.Quote:
Originally Posted by GoblinZ
Crystal ball is an obivious subpar card. When you cast moon as 3CC spell, opponent would often face "FoW or die" immediately.
But when you cast crystal ball...opponent player just...read the ruletexts, let it resolve, and keep playing.
I've been playing this deck for some time now and run 3 Moons/4 chalice main...and exactly how you have experienced the hate cards is spot on- either they counter or lose...unless they have a grip of counters. SBing is a delicate business with this deck, rarely to a cut more than 4 cards per match...but unless its ANT/TES (which chalice on O, 1 and or 2 is still pretty good)...the main hate cards are largely good enough for most MU..although pithing needle and pyroclasm are very good against D/T... other than that, I'll SB REB and Pyroblast (2 ea in the board)....Quote:
Originally Posted by vital signs
Other changes I made to the MB is 2 batter skulls (cutting 2 titans), as hitting 5 mana is easy, 6 mana is tougher and having another hard to remove threat that can win has been very utility, when you don't draw the nuts..(I have died to snap caster beats too many times After whipping the board with Emrakul and dealing them 15)...this has helped. Also Worldspine wurm (I run 2 of....I only run 1 blight steel currently)is a pretty good 99% of the time...sure they could Swords it (I have only had that happen once...gaining the life to dig for more beats helped win the game) ...Also G.Probe is great...I tried crystal ball and thought it was trash(the effect is cool and all, but not quick or good enough IMO.) I also tried Pyromancy with no real luck (I have 1 in the board, but never have brought it in...and wouldn't run it main myself. just my 2cents....
Generator Servant , anyone ?
Could be interesting. Nice burst of ramp to cast other stuff, but it's probably best when casting Inferno Titan on Turn 2. Not much use for it otherwise.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kid
It costs 1R, cannot be used the turn it comes into play due to summoning sickness, can be killed and doesn't ramp: why play this over a grim monolith? Only for the haste part?
EDIT: I'm not suggesting to play grim monolith obviously, only that the Generator Servant seems strictly worse than a card that already didn't make the cut.
Doesnt ramp? Yes it does. In my opinion it might be better than Seething Song. Seething Song, you need 3 mana to get +2 and leaves you open to a Daze/Spellpierce/Fluster.Quote:
Originally Posted by kingtk3
With the servant, yes you lose maybe 1 turn but you're just open to a Daze. You can give +2 colorless mana for a Sneak / Breach. If you have enough mana = Titan with haste.
It could as well be a beater for 1 or 2 turn.
It could save you 1 turn against a Jitte / Batterskull by sacrificing the dude.
I don't know, seems pretty good to me...
That turn you'll have to wait will costs you games, not to count that if you have a single Red source you cannot cast titan without seething song.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kid
Moreover the servant make opposing bolts/punishing fires/ecc live since they now disrupt yuor gameplan.
The best answer that this deck can present to a batterskull or jitte is to kill 'em before they do, not chump blocking.
Sorry, I don't mean to be harsh but I fail to see the props on this card.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kingtk3
Aye aye, I see your point.
you might be right. I don't know. Seemed good on the paper... :)
No need to apologize here, no worries ;)
Coercive Portal
4CC seems expensive? But interesting tho..Quote:
Originally Posted by hdeck12
Congrats to Terry Vanderwall! The best performance I have seen for this deck, that's for certain.
Congrats to Terry for getting 9th at the SGC Open in Syracuse.
http://sales.starcitygames.com//deck...p?DeckID=71441
Is there any videos of this deck? I'm curious how the Pyromancies faired in the main and the need for 4 Tormod's Crypt in the Board.
Hi,this Terry ;)-The pyromancy in the main are solid. two seems the right number. No one expects if and it turn dead games into winners. Bad against aggressive decks but amazing against miracles and blades. The decks biggest problem is it can mulligan severely. The pyromancy helps making those draws better by giving you "lightning bolt" from all your 3CM spells.----The crypts are flex slots-Dredge can get under your hate cards and can some times steal games and it has a cmc of not 1 which i try to avoid with this deck.-Hope this helps bro and happy brewing.
Congrats for your finish!Quote:
Originally Posted by tvguy12!!
How did the deck perform with only 9 fatties? Have you never find yourself flooding on mana and not finding a piece?
Since all your fatties are single use, aside the wurm, you need to find at least two: wouldn't be better to play more wurms?
I found that the additional hate cards improved my match-ups more than having extra fat. The pyormancys also allowed me to mitigate this problem some. I could see an argument for one more inferno titan or other fatty. As for mana flooding the deck can mulligan hard and cost you. I've lost way more games to rough mulligans than my opponents dealing with my hate cards. In my play testing I have also found that cutting to many acceleration pieces hurts consistency to much. I like to think of the deck as a combo deck that just so happens to main deck lots of sideboard cards. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by kingtk3