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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
Speaking of thinking outside of the box:
I've been trying a BW-list for a bit since it can use Pontiff to fix some bad match-ups like Elves and the mirror. Also tried Kambal but didn't like it.
Before this I played and Eldrazi splash (for Thought-Knot and Displacer) and a red splash for things like Daredevil.
Missing the Thought-Knots for peeking and removing cards, I've had a look at Tidehollow Sculler and Kitesail Freebooter. The last one being easy to cast since it's a human and only has a single mana-symbol. It also flies wich is great for carrying equipment.
Anywho, working on the following list, what do you think about it?
Mana-stuff:
7 Plains
4 Scrubland
2 Karakas
2 Cavern of Souls
4 Wasteland
4 Rishadan Port
Can't do without:
4 AEther Vial
4 Mother of Runes
4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4 Swords to Plowshares
SFM-pack:
1 Umezawa’s Jitte
1 Batterskull
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
4 Stoneforge Mystic
Utility-stuff:
2 Recruiter of the Guard
1 Sanctum Prelate (great card, dropped 1 to SB to try Freebooter)
1 Remorseful Cleric (love this card when testing 2 main deck, no room for it when testing Freebooter)
1 Palace Jailer
4 Kitesail Freebooter
1 Orzhov Pontiff
3 Flickerwisp (never liked to have 4)
1 Isolate (I like to have a fifth removal spell next to STP)
// sideboard
1 Sanctum Prelate
2 Phyrexian Revoker (already moved to 2 main and 1 side. testing Freebooter should be ok moving this to side completely)
1 Rest in Peace
1 Mirran Crusader
1 Ethersworn Canonist
1 Declaration in Stone
1 Faerie Macabre
1 Grafdigger’s Cage|
1 Cataclysm
1 Orzhov Pontiff
1 Plaguecrafter
2 Damping Sphere
1 Act of Authority
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Draggo
I think it is worth trying. I like Kitesail myself.
Changes:
+1 Cavern of Souls
Mix 2 Scrublands and 3 Plains with 5 fetches.
-1 Remorseful Cleric, +1 Mirran Crusader main. Being able to be aggressive is more important right now and being able to attacked through B creatures and nonsense like Strix is very important.
I would be very tempted to replace Isolate and Prelate for 2 Bob. Bob is always a must-consider if you go WB.
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
Quote:
Originally Posted by
iatee
DnT is really good against tier 2 decks right now and pretty bad against tier 1 decks, which means it's gonna crush locals and do fine in leagues, but it's gonna struggle at larger competitive events.
Eldrazi, SNT and Death's Shadow from DTB are good matchups? Storm as always is a cointoss.
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
Eldrazi is definitely not a good matchup, at best it's even. The deck going bigger and playing Walking Ballista hasn't helped. (The saving grace is that Eldrazi players tend to be...Eldrazi players.) SnT in its current Omni-happy incarnation is also, at best even. Death's Shadow is pretty good, but sometimes you're just gonna get Dread of Nighted. In all cases you have decks where the core of the deck might form a good matchup, but the builds have adjusted to be better vs DnT.
But really the decks to beat criteria is kinda nonsense - Miracles and Grixis Control are the real tier 1 at the moment and are gonna be the decks you need to beat on day 2 of a real event, and DnT is unfavored vs both of them. I'm not saying any of these matches are impossible, I play and beat these guys all the time. But I'm not particularly excited to find out I'm playing vs. any of them, nor Storm.
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
Agree with everything iatee just said. Totally encapsulates my feelings on DNT
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Finn
Spirit guide mana is best against combo. It’s pretty bleh against Daze, honestly. Pitching it to counter Daze does not actually happen. Thalia gets played turn 1 instead. In fact, anything that gets Thalia on turn 1 or Big Thalia in turn 2 deserves serious consideration. (Mox, Petal)
Are you playing Big Thalia right now? Ever since I switched from Maverick I have missed her.
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
Quote:
Originally Posted by
lavafrogg
Are you playing Big Thalia right now? Ever since I switched from Maverick I have missed her.
No. :(
As much as she slows down most opponents, she is ghastly bad in the mirror, and not much better against Miracles. She is in my "reserve stack" though. You know the one.
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Finn
No. :(
As much as she slows down most opponents, she is ghastly bad in the mirror, and not much better against Miracles. She is in my "reserve stack" though. You know the one.
I played her hardcore in Maverick where you can turn 2 her consistently but haven’t found other uses other than the early bomb. The first strike is surprisingly relevant and I wish I could fit her in and player her a turn earlier.
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
Good local player here is running this in his 60, don't know his sideboard. I have a love-hate relationship with Familiar, but he is hedging on slowing down mana and countering spells to make it harder for Grixis and UW Miracles to get their plan going.
Lands 23
10 Plains
3 Karakas
2 Cavern of Souls
4 Wasteland
4 Rishadan Port
Non-Creature Spells 11
4 AEther Vial
4 Swords to Plowshares
1 Umezawa’s Jitte
1 Batterskull
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
Creatures 26
4 Mother of Runes
4 Judge's Familiar
4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4 Stoneforge Mystic
2 Recruiter of the Guard
1 Phyrexian Revoker
3 Flickerwisp
2 Mirran Crusader
2 Thalia, Heretic Cathar
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
Quote:
Originally Posted by
redtwister
Good local player here is running this in his 60, don't know his sideboard. I have a love-hate relationship with Familiar, but he is hedging on slowing down mana and countering spells to make it harder for Grixis and UW Miracles to get their plan going.
Lands 23
10 Plains
3 Karakas
2 Cavern of Souls
4 Wasteland
4 Rishadan Port
Non-Creature Spells 11
4 AEther Vial
4 Swords to Plowshares
1 Umezawa’s Jitte
1 Batterskull
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
Creatures 26
4 Mother of Runes
4 Judge's Familiar
4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4 Stoneforge Mystic
2 Recruiter of the Guard
1 Phyrexian Revoker
3 Flickerwisp
2 Mirran Crusader
2 Thalia, Heretic Cathar
I have had success out grinding the Miracles/Grixis matchups, anyone else beating Grixis?
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
My Wednesday stream falls on Halloween! To celebrate, I'll be doing a giveaway at the end of round 5. The winner will get to add a deck of their choice to the queue! If you've been looking for a chance to get me to play a specific D&T build, this is a great opportunity. Tune in at 7:00 PM EST to see some D&T gameplay. https://twitch.tv/deathandtaxesftw
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
Hi "D&T" player's, this is my tournament report yesterday (42 Player's):
T1 Miracle (1-2) 0-1
G1: I leave, the opponent play island and I already understand that this will be a difficult match for me; I see no threats and thanks to his mentors and other prowless he closes games early
G2: I hold a strong hand, and after having removed a mentor and all his pairs with surgical I'm preparing to win with the creatures equippated every time with sowap
G3: he has a strong hand he this time, I try to stay in the game but when he palys first jace tms and then teferi I understand that I can not get out of it anymore
T2 Lands (2-0) 1-1
G1: the opponent starts with taiga, I understand the deck, he begins to grind the lands with life from the loam but some of my perfect wasteland and some of his mistakes make me win the first race game
G2: I can play surgical on life from the loam and at that point the game is downhill, after several rounds opponent manages to create 20/20 and attacks but my flickerwisp protected by mother is bigger and I win the turn after
T3 Painter (2-0) 2-1
G1: I leave, opponent plays grindstone, I quickly decide the strategy to use, I hold it with port until it plays painter but it is tapped out, in my turn with 4 lands and thalia got exile painter and I am going to victory
G2: part him (he mulligates a 6), the game ends soon, vial and ports allow me to play reoker who calls grindstone and then a prelate to 1, I have removals in hand, opponent a few life grants conceding not seeing anything that could save him
T4 BR Reanimator (2-1) 3-1
G1: I leave, I know that deck plays the oppo because he is a friend of "game"; unfortunately for me, however, shows me chancellor and delay of a turn my plans and this will be decisive, in turn 3 supports too many cretures
and I can only grant
G2: I leave, this time playing very well I can avoid making him reanimate some beast by supporting a RIP after 2 grains were brought into his graveyard, trying to recover by splitting the spell with assassin's trophy and with cabal on me but I answer with priest in response that makes me lose all hope to my opponent
G3: he starts (he mulligates to 5), even in this round I can play RIP of a second after he puts 2 cards in the graveyard (one was a beast), I put the board on and I'm going to win
T5 BUG Control (0-2) 3-2
G1: G1: he starts playing sea subterranean, I understand that it is a control, after several turns in which my creatures swept me away I have only mirran and he gurmag and 2 snapcaster, comes a flickerwisp but being 4 life points is sacrificed for block a snapcaster; then shoot SOFAI but being him at 14 and I at 2 I can not be lethal while being able to equipe sword with mirran
G2: epic; I come to 44 life points thanks to batterskull saved by several strix (1 of which replayed through unhearth) but unfortunately I can never scratch his liliana TLH that is preparing to make the emblem with the opponent that it was 5 life points; from there to the next 5-6 rounds I do not see any more creatures and I die from zombies
T6: GRIXIS CONTROL (0-2) 3-3
G1: I leave, but after two lands I understand that it is another control this time grixis. In this match virtually removes everything and kills me with strix and gurmag
G2: I leave, he control me and then plays engineered plague (calls knight) for my last bulwark or mirran; the result does not change a few bolt and push placed well lead me to defeat; I made several mistakes myself too
LIST:
Creatures [23]
1 Palace Jailer
1 Sanctum Prelate
2 Recruiter of the Guard
3 Mirran Crusader
4 Flickerwisp
4 Mother of Runes
4 Stoneforge Mystic
4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
Instants [4]
4 Swords to Plowshares
Artifacts [7]
1 Batterskull
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Umezawa's Jitte
4 Aether Vial
Lands [23]
3 Karakas
4 Rishadan Port
4 Wasteland
6 Plains
6 Snow-covered Plains
SIDEBOARD
2 Surgical Extraction
1 Sanctum Prelate
2 Council's Judgment
2 Ethersworn Canonist
2 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
1 Containment Priest
2 Rest in Peace
2 Path to Exile
1 Sword of War and Peace
CONCLUSION:
TOP 8: 2 GRIXIS CONTROL, 1 ELVESH, 1 UR DELVER, 1 MIRACLE (opponent of my first turn), BUG CONTROL (opponent of my fifth turn), BURN AND MONO-RED STORM
At this moment there are many controls in my part as can be seen from the top 8. Surely I'll have to change some main card (4 mirran ??) and something in side (2 cataclysm ??)
I wait for you to give advice.
Also I ask with the current list as I should have sideboarding vs. MONO-RED STORM (put and cut cards) and prelate to what number should I call?
Thank you
At the next report
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AT87
Hi "D&T" player's, this is my tournament report yesterday (42 Player's):
T1 Miracle (1-2) 0-1
G1: I leave, the opponent play island and I already understand that this will be a difficult match for me; I see no threats and thanks to his mentors and other prowless he closes games early
G2: I hold a strong hand, and after having removed a mentor and all his pairs with surgical I'm preparing to win with the creatures equippated every time with sowap
G3: he has a strong hand he this time, I try to stay in the game but when he palys first jace tms and then teferi I understand that I can not get out of it anymore
T2 Lands (2-0) 1-1
G1: the opponent starts with taiga, I understand the deck, he begins to grind the lands with life from the loam but some of my perfect wasteland and some of his mistakes make me win the first race game
G2: I can play surgical on life from the loam and at that point the game is downhill, after several rounds opponent manages to create 20/20 and attacks but my flickerwisp protected by mother is bigger and I win the turn after
T3 Painter (2-0) 2-1
G1: I leave, opponent plays grindstone, I quickly decide the strategy to use, I hold it with port until it plays painter but it is tapped out, in my turn with 4 lands and thalia got exile painter and I am going to victory
G2: part him (he mulligates a 6), the game ends soon, vial and ports allow me to play reoker who calls grindstone and then a prelate to 1, I have removals in hand, opponent a few life grants conceding not seeing anything that could save him
T4 BR Reanimator (2-1) 3-1
G1: I leave, I know that deck plays the oppo because he is a friend of "game"; unfortunately for me, however, shows me chancellor and delay of a turn my plans and this will be decisive, in turn 3 supports too many cretures
and I can only grant
G2: I leave, this time playing very well I can avoid making him reanimate some beast by supporting a RIP after 2 grains were brought into his graveyard, trying to recover by splitting the spell with assassin's trophy and with cabal on me but I answer with priest in response that makes me lose all hope to my opponent
G3: he starts (he mulligates to 5), even in this round I can play RIP of a second after he puts 2 cards in the graveyard (one was a beast), I put the board on and I'm going to win
T5 BUG Control (0-2) 3-2
G1: G1: he starts playing sea subterranean, I understand that it is a control, after several turns in which my creatures swept me away I have only mirran and he gurmag and 2 snapcaster, comes a flickerwisp but being 4 life points is sacrificed for block a snapcaster; then shoot SOFAI but being him at 14 and I at 2 I can not be lethal while being able to equipe sword with mirran
G2: epic; I come to 44 life points thanks to batterskull saved by several strix (1 of which replayed through unhearth) but unfortunately I can never scratch his liliana TLH that is preparing to make the emblem with the opponent that it was 5 life points; from there to the next 5-6 rounds I do not see any more creatures and I die from zombies
T6: GRIXIS CONTROL (0-2) 3-3
G1: I leave, but after two lands I understand that it is another control this time grixis. In this match virtually removes everything and kills me with strix and gurmag
G2: I leave, he control me and then plays engineered plague (calls knight) for my last bulwark or mirran; the result does not change a few bolt and push placed well lead me to defeat; I made several mistakes myself too
LIST:
Creatures [23]
1 Palace Jailer
1 Sanctum Prelate
2 Recruiter of the Guard
3 Mirran Crusader
4 Flickerwisp
4 Mother of Runes
4 Stoneforge Mystic
4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
Instants [4]
4 Swords to Plowshares
Artifacts [7]
1 Batterskull
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Umezawa's Jitte
4 Aether Vial
Lands [23]
3 Karakas
4 Rishadan Port
4 Wasteland
6 Plains
6 Snow-covered Plains
SIDEBOARD
2 Surgical Extraction
1 Sanctum Prelate
2 Council's Judgment
2 Ethersworn Canonist
2 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
1 Containment Priest
2 Rest in Peace
2 Path to Exile
1 Sword of War and Peace
CONCLUSION:
TOP 8: 2 GRIXIS CONTROL, 1 ELVESH, 1 UR DELVER, 1 MIRACLE (opponent of my first turn), BUG CONTROL (opponent of my fifth turn), BURN AND MONO-RED STORM
At this moment there are many controls in my part as can be seen from the top 8. Surely I'll have to change some main card (4 mirran ??) and something in side (2 cataclysm ??)
I wait for you to give advice.
Also I ask with the current list as I should have sideboarding vs. MONO-RED STORM (put and cut cards) and prelate to what number should I call?
Thank you
At the next report
Do you know who won the tournament? Against Ruby Storm, you want Sanctum Prelate, Rest in Peace, Surgical Extraction, Ethersworn Canonist, and Judgment.
Swords is dead in the matchup so that's the first card to go. Palace Jailer is way too slow and Crusaders don't do anything. Flickerwisps are also pretty slow so you can shave one. You want the Judgment's so you can exile their cost reducers (Ruby Medallion and Helm). Sanctum Prelate typically goes on 2 for this reason; she hits their 2 mana artifacts and Burning Wish and a couple of rituals. RIP, Surgical, and Canonist are all pretty self explanatory.
Also, with Revoker you normally want to name Simian Spirit Guide. SSG gets around Thalia and your opponent can still cast Lotus Petal for storm count so hitting Guide is better.
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
Quote:
Originally Posted by
NeckBird
Do you know who won the tournament? Against Ruby Storm, you want Sanctum Prelate, Rest in Peace, Surgical Extraction, Ethersworn Canonist, and Judgment.
Swords is dead in the matchup so that's the first card to go. Palace Jailer is way too slow and Crusaders don't do anything. Flickerwisps are also pretty slow so you can shave one. You want the Judgment's so you can exile their cost reducers (Ruby Medallion and Helm). Sanctum Prelate typically goes on 2 for this reason; she hits their 2 mana artifacts and Burning Wish and a couple of rituals. RIP, Surgical, and Canonist are all pretty self explanatory.
Also, with Revoker you normally want to name Simian Spirit Guide. SSG gets around Thalia and your opponent can still cast Lotus Petal for storm count so hitting Guide is better.
unfortunately no. Since me and my friends were eliminated we only look at the first round of the top 8.
If I had to predict I would say miracle in my opinion the player was very strong
For prelate to 2 cuts also abrade (I think he played them in this event) and grapeshot but also 3 is not bad and cuts act on impulse, bonus round, seething song.
So I do not really know
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
Just registered DnT for an 8 round legacy league and plan on taking it to SCG Vegas for the Trios event.... very excited and happy with my list
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
For NeckBird
ur delver won the tournament
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
First round is against Grixis Control with 2 Dread of Night 2 Marsh Casualties and a second Liliana in the board.
Yuck....
Update! 2-1 over Grixis Control
Game 1: 4 moms on the board
Game 2: got wrecked... removal into planeswalkers
Game 3: Thalia + equipment +Gideon + RiP
Moral of the story: draw your sideboard cards kids.
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
Today's article is another generic article, this time focusing on improving your experience and results at events. http://www.thrabenuniversity.com/?p=2139
I'll also have a guest tournament reports from EW up later this week at some point.
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
Great article. Thanks for your input Phil, I appreciate your work for the community.
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
Hey team
Where is everyone on mainboard Walking Ballista?
I have been playing it for a few weeks and it is, imho, absolutely nuts.
Is anyone else testing?
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
Quote:
Originally Posted by
lavafrogg
Hey team
Where is everyone on mainboard Walking Ballista?
I have been playing it for a few weeks and it is, imho, absolutely nuts.
Is anyone else testing?
It was excellent a month or so back, before the current control/combo meta evolved. Right now, it's still a decent Recruiter target in the 75 which can break some matches wide open.
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
It took me a little while to get this edited, but here's my guest tournament report with David Lance (Staticgripped) from EW. http://www.thrabenuniversity.com/?p=2169
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Medea_
Good and solid Decklist and easy to read report. Maybe the Sideboard decisions in the matches would have been interesting. Thank you for the content!
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Re: [Deck] Death and Taxes
27 player tournament, I went 3-2.
List:
Lands(23):
4 Plains
4 Flooded Strand
1 Windswept Heath
3 Karakas
2 Scrubland
4 Wasteland
3 Rishadan Port
2 Cavern of Souls
Creatures(27):
3 Mother of Runes
1 Judge's Familiar
4 Thalia
4 Stoneforge Mystic
2 Phyrexian Revoker
1 Spirit of the Labyrinth
1 Remorseful Cleric
1 Serra Avenger
3 Flickerwisp
2 Recruiter of the Guard
2 Mirran Crusader
1 Orzhov Pontiff
1 Sanctum Prelate
1 Walking Ballista
Other(11):
4 Swords to Plowshares
4 Aether Vial
1 Batterskull
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Umezawa's Jitte
Sideboard(15):
2 Council's Judgment
1 Path to Exile
1 Enlightened Tutor
1 Bitterblossom
1 Rest in Peace
1 Oblivion Ring
1 Chalice of the Void
1 Pithing Needle
1 Leonin Relic-Warder
1 Sanctum Prelate
1 Orzhov Pontiff
1 Palace Jailer
1 Plaguecrafter
1 Ethersworn Canonist
I wanted to use Enlightened Tutor to cut down somewhat on the very niche slots, i.e. RIP and canonist. In exchange, you get to pack a few utility artifact/enchantments on top of your utility creatures for recruiter. There's no Gideon or Cataclysm, because I wanted to keep the curve down with only 23 lands. Also, when splashing with fetchlands and caverns, Cataclysm becomes a much more awkward card to play. There isn't a lot of grave hate, because I've kind of given up on the match-ups where it is absolutely critical (i.e. reanimator and dredge). I want to play less specific answers for such an open meta. Plus, cleric in the main is a very good mitigating tool for this loss of functionality, while itself a multifunctional creature with evasion and a built-in chump jitte-carrier mode.
R1: Lands 2-0
Game 1, he has Exploration and punishing grove after a mull to 6, but no loam. I am tight on mana, but I had a turn 1 vial. I also have a Remorseful Cleric, which I keep back as long as I can for maximal value. He kills off a few creatures with fire until I waste grove. He assembles the depths combo with crop rotation in my turn, but I still have a plow. After this, he's spent a lot of resources (with still no loam). I go on the aggressive, resulting in him playing another crop rotation for tabernacle and maze. This forces me to sac my cleric and invalidates my sword of fire and ice, but I still have a skull left who races me to victory as port and waste keep his maze (+ staged copy) down.
Game 2, he is very short on green mana with only a grove and his turn 1 gamble backfired a bit as he lost a tracker. I have vial and swiftly land a thalia, rest in peace and sword of fire and ice, forcing him to crop rotate for karakas and grip my sword rather than my rip or vial to stay alive. My board widens and, with no real card advantage engine, his drop of honey comes way too late.
Siding:
-4 STP
-1 Jitte
-1 Thalia
-1 Spirit ot Labyrinth
-1 Pontiff
-1 Ballista
+1 Path
+1 RIP
+1 Enlightened Tutor
+1 Chalice
+1 Needle
+1 Prelate
+1 Plaguecrafter
+1 Jailer
+1 LRW
In retrospect, Bitterblossom might also have been good. But I still worry about its castability, in particular against a deck with so much mana denial. There's also something to say for Council's Judgment here, because it deals with Marit Lage, Tracker, Drop of Honey and problem enchantments. But it's very important in this match-up to keep your creature count high enough as well.
R2: Dredge 2-1
Game 1, I am on the draw. I have a hand and he has a dredge hand = turn 2 scoop.
Game 2 and 3 he mulls and fails to find dredgers in time. He did manage to blind therapy my prelate. Judge's Familiar keeps him from capitalizing on bridges at any point game 2 and Canonist kept the therapy train in check game 3.
Siding:
-1 SFM
-1 SOFI
-1 Mirran
-1 Avenger
-1 Pontiff
+1 RIP
+1 Tutor
+1 Plaguecrafter
+1 Canonist
+1 Path to Exile
My sideboard is very low on grave hate. I have given up on (BR) reanimator, but decks like dredge and lands are much more beatable with proper grave hate. Problem is that those slots of grave hate tend to be so narrow.
R3: Enchantress 0-2
Game 1, I mull to a poor hand which has the potential for mana denial (port + waste) on the play. Unfortunately, he mulls to a six full of land as well and I'm way too slow.
Game 2, I have a mediocre hand which can sequence thalia into recruiter and has a wisp. This is, once again, too slow. Using Estrid's Invocation, he can simultaneously slow down my clock as well as pump up his manabase. He also finds two Ixalan's Binding (with the ridiculous card advantage that is Invocation + Eidolon of Blossoms) to take care of my prelate and thalia. I was manascrewed myself, having fetched for basics rather than duals because I knew he was playing back to basics. This made it impossible for me later to use pontiff to deal with enchantress, and possibly his eidolon as well if he had taken the bait. Eventually, he find Doomwake Giant + Invocation and Serra's Sanctum to instantly wipe my board.
+1 Tutor
+1 LRW
+1 Canonist
+2 Council
+1 Prelate
+1 Pontiff
+1 Chalice
+1 O-ring
-4 STP
-1 SFM
-1 Jitte
-1 Familiar
-1 Ballista
-1 Revoker
Cataclysm would have been good, more hatebears too, maybe. But above all, the deck just felt too slow to deal with this archetype.
R4: Goblins 1-2
Game 1, he is on the play. Hence, his vial is a turn faster and he curves it into cratermaker for my vial. I revoker his vial afterwards, so he is colorscrewed while I am just manascrewed. Unfortunately, he finds a mountain while I don't find a land at all and it all avalanches very quickly from there.
Game 2, I curve vial + port into mom into flying cleric into jitte into recruiter for wisp to protect jitte and, without vial or lackey, he can't keep up.
Game 3, we both have vial again. I cast needle in my turn 3 and activate vial in response, dropping an avenger and needling vial. I had jitte in hand and, while he had double port, I hoped to force him to make a play to gain some board substance, allowing me to connect with jitte. Unfortunately, he pyrokinesis's my avenger away and has hardcast chainwhirler for my follow-up creature. After that he lands siege-gang, which I sort of address for a turn with pontiff. As a result, knowing that he has a ringleader he matron'd for last turn, I am forced to wisp my needle onto siege-gang, allowing him to vial in ringleader, which finds a matron for trashmaster and that is that.
+1 Tutor
+1 LRW
+1 Path
+1 Pontiff
+1 Needle
+1 O-ring
-4 Thalia
-1 Spirit
-1 Prelate
Honestly, with all the goodstuff they've gotten recently, this match-up feels really, really bad. Trashmaster was bearable. Cratermaker is just ridiculous.
R5: Eldrazi 2-0
Game 1, he mulls to six and starts with thorn. I start with waste (tomb), then curve into stoneforge for skull. He drops a chalice, a 3/3 endless one and dismembers my germ. I waste again (temple), then wisp skull as I find my third land and he scoops.
Game 2, he mulls to five, starts with eye for mimic and then a wastes for matter reshaper. I take the mimic damage and path the reshaper, making him ragequit.
+1 Tutor
+1 Path
+1 LRW
+2 Council
+1 O-ring
+1 Jailer
+1 Plaguecrafter
+1 Needle
+1 Bitterblossom
-4 Thalia
-3 Mother
-1 Familiar
-1 Spirit
-1 Prelate
A meta of three poor to bad match-ups and two neutral ones. Doesn't feel like a very good time to be playing this deck and I didn't even encounter grixis control.
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Re: [Deck] Death and Taxes
Hey folks, if you enjoy my Legacy content, would you do me a favor and subscribe to me on Youtube (it's free). I can monetize my Youtube account if I get about 300 more followers. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5m...Q7UPUYEZ7qMagg
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Re: [Deck] Death and Taxes
I sadly went 1-3 with the deck in the Las Vegas SCG event, we did not stay for the Legacy Classic Day 2.
Went like this:
BU Shadow: L 2-1
BU Shadow: W 2-0
Mirror: L 2-1
Sneak and Show: L 2-1
Super disappointing as all of these matchups should be winnable. Poor draws on my part and lots of drawn sideboard cards by my opponents.
First Shadow player had multiple massacres and multiple dread of nights in the board... and I saw them both.
We all had fun though, convention center was great and Vegas was boss as always.
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Re: [Deck] Death and Taxes
Didn't drop a game the 5 matches I played at SCG vegas. Unfortunately we didn't do great as a team, including one assisted punt by me. Either way deck felt good, even if it was probably a bad deck for the weekend
Round 1 2-0 U Wizards (he top 8'd)
Round 2 2-0 Mono black sinkholes and discard
Round 3 2-0 DnT
Round 4 1-0 UW Rip Helm blade
Round 5 2-0 Grixis Control.
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Re: [Deck] Death and Taxes
U Wizards ?? I want the list !!
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Re: [Deck] Death and Taxes
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ataraxy
U Wizards ?? I want the list !!
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1475539#paper
here you go if you didnt found it yourself already
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Re: [Deck] Death and Taxes
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Elpresidente
Didn't drop a game the 5 matches I played at SCG vegas. Unfortunately we didn't do great as a team, including one assisted punt by me. Either way deck felt good, even if it was probably a bad deck for the weekend
Round 1 2-0 U Wizards (he top 8'd)
Round 2 2-0 Mono black sinkholes and discard
Round 3 2-0 DnT
Round 4 1-0 UW Rip Helm blade
Round 5 2-0 Grixis Control.
Did you post your Decklist anywhere? Would be interesting.
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GP Shizuoka
This morning, I awoke in Tokyo and will take the train to Shizuoka for the Legacy Grand Prix. One year ago, I looked at the GP schedule and decided that I would use this tournament as a motivator to travel here, which I have wanted to do for many years. In February, I built D&T on MTGO to help practice and also traveled to GP Seattle this past April. I am not wealthy, I work 50 hours a week, full time at a grocery store and part time on the internet. I don't have a family yet, so I am taking this time for myself. Besides the main event, there is also a constructed fanatic package, so I plan to play in quite a few matches. My only goal is to play all 8 rounds in day one and not leave early. My deck is WW and I brought a huge maybe-board. I'll likely be playing 10 Plains with a Cavern/Canopy split. The most uncommon cards in my SB are Devout Lightcaster for Liliana and 1 Grafdigger's Cage instead of 2 RIP because I expect to see more Dredge than Lands. This post is to say THANK YOU to all of the ideas and insight that are shared here, and to share my experience in return.
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Re: GP Shizuoka
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JitteJitte
This morning, I awoke in Tokyo and will take the train to Shizuoka for the Legacy Grand Prix. One year ago, I looked at the GP schedule and decided that I would use this tournament as a motivator to travel here, which I have wanted to do for many years. In February, I built D&T on MTGO to help practice and also traveled to GP Seattle this past April. I am not wealthy, I work 50 hours a week, full time at a grocery store and part time on the internet. I don't have a family yet, so I am taking this time for myself. Besides the main event, there is also a constructed fanatic package, so I plan to play in quite a few matches. My only goal is to play all 8 rounds in day one and not leave early. My deck is WW and I brought a huge maybe-board. I'll likely be playing 10 Plains with a Cavern/Canopy split. The most uncommon cards in my SB are Devout Lightcaster for Liliana and 1 Grafdigger's Cage instead of 2 RIP because I expect to see more Dredge than Lands. This post is to say THANK YOU to all of the ideas and insight that are shared here, and to share my experience in return.
Good Luck and even more important have fun! Go play some Vials on turn 1!
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Re: GP Shizuoka
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Tyres
Good Luck and even more important have fun! Go play some Vials on turn 1!
GP Shizuoka Tournament Report
Decklist:
4 Aether Vial
4 Swords to Plowshares
4 Mother of Runes
4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4 Stoneforge Mystic
4 Flickerwisp
2 Phyrexian Revoker
2 Mirran Crusader
2 Recruiter of the Guard
1 Remorseful Cleric
1 Sanctum Prelate
1 Mangara of Corondor
1 Walking Ballista
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Batterskull
10 Plains
4 Wasteland
4 Rishadan Port
3 Karakas
2 Cavern of Souls
---
1 Path to Exile
1 Pithing Needle
1 Surgical Extraction
2 Rest in Peace
2 Containment Priest
1 Ethersworn Canonist
1 Leonin Relic Warder
2 Brightling
2 Council's Judgment
1 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
1 Karn, Scion of Urza
On a lark, I woke up and decided to play Mangara for the first time all year. I wanted a maindeck answer for back to basics. I took out the Jailer, which often winds up feeling like a liability to me, and the spots where it's safe to play it are fewer than the spots when I'm forced to use my resources. Perhaps I just need to learn more about the format.
As the tournament was starting, my nerves were racing and I prayed for grace and compassion. I am in a country that I've never been to surrounded by people who speak a language I only know very little of. Luckily, most of my opponents also knew very little English, so we were equals in that respect. My experience with Japanese players is that they are courteous and focus on the game. Not having the ability to communicate outside of game actions was actually a benefit, in my opinion. Many American players I've come across attempt to intimidate and distract, so keeping to the beauty of the game was very enjoyable.
R1: 2-1 The Antiquities War. I've never played against this deck, so I called a judge multiple times for oracle text. That's normal for Legacy anyway, so while it was a little embarrassing, the judges helped very much. G1 he set up mana advantage, and I scooped for time. G2 Thalia + Wasteland did the trick. G3 Flickerwisp killed a Glimmervoid and I was able to stay ahead.
1-0
R2: 2-1 Reanimator. My nerves were still pretty crazy and I was missing Vial triggers. G1 I had a T1 Karakas which was eventually exiled by an Ashen Rider. He set up multiple colors of blockers that Mom couldn't get through. G2 Mom + Flickerwisp held off Griselbrand and Crusader took it home. G3 I got lucky and drew both RIP. The first was in time to exile Tidespout Tyrant and was met with Wear/Tear. The second stuck around the whole game. I seriously punted and Pithing Needled on Lotus Petal. Luckily it never mattered and the Flickerwisp that finished the game reset it to Griselbrand before the end.
2-0
R3: 1-1-1 Goblins. Mangara is slow and this match reminded me of that. Another 10 minutes and Brightling would have brought this one in my favor, but the round was timed and so into the draw bracket we go.
2-0-1
R4: 1-2 Miracles. At the beginning of the round, we were stopped and my opponent was switched. There had been a mix up on the results slip, so we were given a time extension. G1 I had a Prelate and named 6. He followed up with Humility and Jace, ugh. I was close to fighting through, but Mentor took over. G3 my opp missed using his Jace on a turn. I got so excited that I quickly untapped and drew, missing more Vial triggers. I drew Brightling and was not patient, staring down a Jace. He had a Counterspell and I never caught up on resources. D&T has different operating speeds for different matchups, and Miracles has been one of the most difficult for me to figure out. I think it's quite medium.
2-1-1
At this point, to make day 2, I must win the remaining 4 rounds.
R5: 2-0 UB Delver. Mangara patiently waited as Insectile Aberration swung at me. I killed the bug and SOFI closed the game. Wasteland is awesome, and sometimes it does incredibly heavy lifting. I'm sure my opponent has a family, but I put Sword of Fire and Ice and Mirran Crusader in my deck for a reason. This one was a slaughter.
3-1-1
R6: 2-1 Grixis Control. This one was a grind, as it always is. K Command took out my Revoker in G1, and there was too much pressure to withstand. Remorseful Cleric is not a great card, but its good enough most of the time. It's a Snapcaster Sniffer. I was able to survive more K Commands and tax. G3 Crusader picked up SOFI again and shot two birds out of the sky. Nerves settling down.
4-1-1
R7: 2-1 BUG Control. Another Strix deck. G3 T1 Vial into Wasteland was all she wrote. T2 I played Mom + Vialed Mom and started beating down. I smelled weakness and he didn't have anything. Vialed SFM and cast Jitte. Vialed Crusader, runaway train.
5-1-1
R8: 0-2 Dragon Stompy. Lost the die roll. G1 T1 Legion Warboss into T2 Legion Warboss. G2 T1 Goblin Rabblemaster. Thalia + Mom ate it to Sulfur Elemental. Chandra Pyromaster ended the tournament for me.
5-2-1
Takeaways:
-Walking Ballista is great. This is according to the groans of my opponents as I played it.
-Karn is good. It draws cards and makes threats.
-Mangara is slow and I think the format has moved on.
-If you set realistic goals, you can reach them.
-
Re: GP Shizuoka
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JitteJitte
GP Shizuoka Tournament Report
Decklist:
4 Aether Vial
4 Swords to Plowshares
4 Mother of Runes
4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4 Stoneforge Mystic
4 Flickerwisp
2 Phyrexian Revoker
2 Mirran Crusader
2 Recruiter of the Guard
1 Remorseful Cleric
1 Sanctum Prelate
1 Mangara of Corondor
1 Walking Ballista
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Batterskull
10 Plains
4 Wasteland
4 Rishadan Port
3 Karakas
2 Cavern of Souls
---
1 Path to Exile
1 Pithing Needle
1 Surgical Extraction
2 Rest in Peace
2 Containment Priest
1 Ethersworn Canonist
1 Leonin Relic Warder
2 Brightling
2 Council's Judgment
1 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
1 Karn, Scion of Urza
On a lark, I woke up and decided to play Mangara for the first time all year. I wanted a maindeck answer for back to basics. I took out the Jailer, which often winds up feeling like a liability to me, and the spots where it's safe to play it are fewer than the spots when I'm forced to use my resources. Perhaps I just need to learn more about the format.
As the tournament was starting, my nerves were racing and I prayed for grace and compassion. I am in a country that I've never been to surrounded by people who speak a language I only know very little of. Luckily, most of my opponents also knew very little English, so we were equals in that respect. My experience with Japanese players is that they are courteous and focus on the game. Not having the ability to communicate outside of game actions was actually a benefit, in my opinion. Many American players I've come across attempt to intimidate and distract, so keeping to the beauty of the game was very enjoyable.
R1: 2-1 The Antiquities War. I've never played against this deck, so I called a judge multiple times for oracle text. That's normal for Legacy anyway, so while it was a little embarrassing, the judges helped very much. G1 he set up mana advantage, and I scooped for time. G2 Thalia + Wasteland did the trick. G3 Flickerwisp killed a Glimmervoid and I was able to stay ahead.
1-0
R2: 2-1 Reanimator. My nerves were still pretty crazy and I was missing Vial triggers. G1 I had a T1 Karakas which was eventually exiled by an Ashen Rider. He set up multiple colors of blockers that Mom couldn't get through. G2 Mom + Flickerwisp held off Griselbrand and Crusader took it home. G3 I got lucky and drew both RIP. The first was in time to exile Tidespout Tyrant and was met with Wear/Tear. The second stuck around the whole game. I seriously punted and Pithing Needled on Lotus Petal. Luckily it never mattered and the Flickerwisp that finished the game reset it to Griselbrand before the end.
2-0
R3: 1-1-1 Goblins. Mangara is slow and this match reminded me of that. Another 10 minutes and Brightling would have brought this one in my favor, but the round was timed and so into the draw bracket we go.
2-0-1
R4: 1-2 Miracles. At the beginning of the round, we were stopped and my opponent was switched. There had been a mix up on the results slip, so we were given a time extension. G1 I had a Prelate and named 6. He followed up with Humility and Jace, ugh. I was close to fighting through, but Mentor took over. G3 my opp missed using his Jace on a turn. I got so excited that I quickly untapped and drew, missing more Vial triggers. I drew Brightling and was not patient, staring down a Jace. He had a Counterspell and I never caught up on resources. D&T has different operating speeds for different matchups, and Miracles has been one of the most difficult for me to figure out. I think it's quite medium.
2-1-1
At this point, to make day 2, I must win the remaining 4 rounds.
R5: 2-0 UB Delver. Mangara patiently waited as Insectile Aberration swung at me. I killed the bug and SOFI closed the game. Wasteland is awesome, and sometimes it does incredibly heavy lifting. I'm sure my opponent has a family, but I put Sword of Fire and Ice and Mirran Crusader in my deck for a reason. This one was a slaughter.
3-1-1
R6: 2-1 Grixis Control. This one was a grind, as it always is. K Command took out my Revoker in G1, and there was too much pressure to withstand. Remorseful Cleric is not a great card, but its good enough most of the time. It's a Snapcaster Sniffer. I was able to survive more K Commands and tax. G3 Crusader picked up SOFI again and shot two birds out of the sky. Nerves settling down.
4-1-1
R7: 2-1 BUG Control. Another Strix deck. G3 T1 Vial into Wasteland was all she wrote. T2 I played Mom + Vialed Mom and started beating down. I smelled weakness and he didn't have anything. Vialed SFM and cast Jitte. Vialed Crusader, runaway train.
5-1-1
R8: 0-2 Dragon Stompy. Lost the die roll. G1 T1 Legion Warboss into T2 Legion Warboss. G2 T1 Goblin Rabblemaster. Thalia + Mom ate it to Sulfur Elemental. Chandra Pyromaster ended the tournament for me.
5-2-1
Takeaways:
-Walking Ballista is great. This is according to the groans of my opponents as I played it.
-Karn is good. It draws cards and makes threats.
-Mangara is slow and I think the format has moved on.
-If you set realistic goals, you can reach them.
Interesting on the choice of karn in the sb. Able to give more details on which matchup was t good for you?
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Re: GP Shizuoka
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Enesta
Interesting on the choice of karn in the sb. Able to give more details on which matchup was t good for you?
I like Karn against control and slow, fair matchups. Many D&T decks play ~2 non-creature four mana spells. The ones I see most often are Gideon, Ally of Zendikar and Cataclysm. Elspeth, Knight Errant is another choice. I like Karn because he has a high loyalty and draws cards, which is difficult with white mana. I recently played a long game 2 vs. Grixis Control. Karn consumed my opp resources for many turns before eventually being killed. Gideon was then drawn and closed the game. I imagine the same would have been true in reverse order. In my experience, Legacy games tend to be fought over very narrow axis. Having the ability to add an additional axis for the opp to deal with can be the difference between a win and loss.
p.s. The day after the main event, I played in a 168 player comp REL Legacy side event. Somehow I got 3rd place ;) I know the best Legacy players were busy with Day 2 of the GP, but it still felt nice to do well.
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
You guys seen Lavinia?
http://www.magicspoiler.com/mtg-spoi...rius-renegade/
Terminus and Force of Will hoser. As well as storm combo. Eldrazi <-- nope. Elves, maybe? What else?
Is it enough to warrant bastardizing DnT for blue? What else would go in such a deck?
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
Does Blue help us beat Grixis Control? Because if not, the splash is probably not worth it.
Blue humans that may be relevant vs Grixis Control:
Azure Mage/Mystic Archaeologist: card draw
Invisible Stalker: Hexproof + evasive equipment carrier
Meddling Mage: Hate
New Prahv Guildmage: Evasion + creature or PW hate
Tetsuko Umezawa: Evasion
Warkite Marauder: Evasion
Daxos of Meletis: Evasion + semi card draw
Exclusion Mage/Mistblade Shinobi/Reflector Mage/etc: Bounce is great vs Angler and bad vs Strix and Snapcaster
Sea Gate Oracle: filter + draw
Slippery Scoundrel: Hexproof + unblockable
Basically they all suck against Grixis except Meddling Mage and MAYBE Azure Mage.
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
The card feels similar to Prelate to me in that it's very good against Storm and Miracles, but a blank against fair creature decks. Considerably worse than Prelate vs Delver, Lands, Loam. It's a two drop in theory, but to hit UW reliably on turn 2 you really need to warp the manabase.
You can already turn DnT into hatebear.dec if you want to beat the spells decks, the issue is that that deck is terrible in fair mirrors. I could see it being decent in Legacy Humans (which kinda is hatebear.dec anyway) but the same issues are still there.
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mirrislegend
Does Blue help us beat Grixis Control? Because if not, the splash is probably not worth it.
Probably not. The card for that matchup is Sanctum Prelate, I think. But a card with such a broadly powerful effect that reins in the power of decks that are traditionally strong against D+T simply can not be ignored. It may be that experience indicates that those other matchups are much improved to the point that the deck can be pruned of some of the other cards that were good against those matchups, but less so than Lavinia.
But the bar for including a second color is extremely high. And there are so many cards pulling D+T to every other color. To my thinking, this is the strongest pull to blue ever - because there has never been anything on this power level. But it is entirely possible, and even likely that it just means that now every color (and not every color except blue) has a strong pull to entice players to want to splash. Why is this card any different? Gaddock Teeg has been around for ages.
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Re: [DTB] Death and Taxes
I just had the weirdest brewing idea. I need some feedback on it.
First, for context, I've been brewing a black splash for a while. Benefits of Dark Confidant, Kitesail Freebooter, and Orzhov Pontiff are well known. They improve most matchups by a large degree, at the cost of some stability. Despite the card advantage of Dark Confidant, Grixis Control still easily grinds us out. Given the large meta share of Grixis Control, its hard to justify the splash if we don't gain effective tools against them.
My recent eureka moment: Athreos
Sure its not perfect (doesn't play nice with Recruiter, hard to make it stand up). But 2 in the sideboard to come in against removal heavy decks (like Grixis, not Miracles) seems like an easy way to counter-grind. In such matchups, you're already the beatdown deck (in the sense of "Who's the Beatdown) so every time they pay life to Athreos, you profit to a degree. Since Athreos is usually not a creature, he dodges everything Grixis can throw at him. Should Athreos stand up, you can block Angler for profit or attack into Strix (also squares up with Eldrazi and Goyfs).
Thoughts?
