[Deck] DeathBlade

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Originally Posted by somethingdotdotdot

I've been playing around with a heavier green splash since wastelands are on the decline and I have to say that my 4c list has been fairly resilient so far. Its been holding its own mana-wise versus both dnt and stifle bug delver--probably the 2 heaviest resource denial decks out there. However, I've basically cut all of the non-color producing lands as well as the planeswalkers to increase my aggression.

This is my current list, I'm currently debating between meddling mage #3/thoughtseize #3/jtms #1 in the board. I mostly want something to better my combo matchup (especially snt) and I've currently trying out the 3rd meddling mage to get more threats postboard.

Creatures (15)
4 Deathrite Shaman
4 Stoneforge Mystic
4 Tarmogoyf
3 True-Name Nemesis

1 Batterskull
1 Umezawa's Jitte
4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
4 Force of Will
4 Swords to Plowshares
3 Abrupt Decay
3 Treasure Cruise

3 Polluted Delta
4 Flooded Strand
4 Misty Rainforest
2 Underground Sea
2 Tropical Island
2 Tundra
1 Bayou
1 Savannah
1 Scrubland
1 Karakas

SB: 2 Thoughtseize (potentially swap to 2x vendilion cliques since 2 discard spells are really not consistent enough)
SB: 1 Blue Elemental Blast
SB: 2 Containment Priest
SB: 1 Flusterstorm/Blue Elemental Blast #2 (Undecided about this slot as well; the deck really wants hard counters to blood moon+pop)
SB: 3 Meddling Mage (potentially -1 mm, +1 thoughtseize)
SB: 2 Pithing Needle
SB: 2 Engineered Explosives
SB: 1 Spell Pierce
SB: 1 Sword of Feast and Famine

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Hi,

I also like the g splash but adding Tarmogoyf and cutting things like TS, SP is way to weak against decks like Miracles, Elves, S&T, ANT, Burn etc.
With this configuration your fair decks MU like UR Delver, UWR, TA, DnT etc gets better because of your high creature count and bigger removal package but it`s to linear for my taste.

Having completley no acces to Wasteland is also a point which I dont like because even if more people play with basics, Wasteland will never be a dead card because you can respond to PoP with it for example or can shut off things like Port, Caven, Cradle or Sol lands...If you want to up your pressure I think Delver or Clique would be a bit better for this deck even if they`re not bolt proof.

But well if it works out for you (maybe in a fair heacy meta), then go for it...

Greetings

I've mostly built decks where the md is heavily skewed for the fair matchups because those are the ones that you usually see anyways (espeically in this tc metagame). Versus an unknown opponent I'm not really going to mulligan or go for the hands that are heavily favored vs combo anyways. Thoughtseize has also been getting worse the past couple of months as its potency versus miracles and anything red is rather low and decreases significantly as the turns go on. Same with spell pierce. I have also never been a fan of wasteland in this archetype--it just feels far too greedy. The number of games that the 2x of wasteland wins me never really made up for the number of games where the colorlessness lost me. Furthermore, most tc decks have been cutting wastelands to increase their early game velocity--I feel like deathblade should do the same.

Postboard, I bring in a bunch of combo hate--about 10-13 pieces depending on the combo. This approach has worked well for me in the past as g2-3 you're able to know exactly what you're trying to do/stop them from doing and mulligan choices become much easier. Sure, there are games you lose to variance but thats the nature of the game, especially versus combo.

Edit: The main reason I added goyf was to have a basically red-proof creature for 1G. This has been extremely relevant in all of my matchups as its both REB proof (unlike tnn) and bolt proof (takes 2 burn spells to kill). It basically comes down and stops red decks from attacking which saves me enough life by the mid-late game to take over.

What does everyone think of Derrick Sheets take on Deathblade?

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Originally Posted by HSCK

What does everyone think of Derrick Sheets take on Deathblade?

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Link?

http://sales.starcitygames.com//deck...p?DeckID=77668

Whoa, derrick's deck is really cool.

I like the looks of it, heavier countermagic and more big threats to take advantage of DRS and force Delver decks into a more defensive position. Definitely testing it when I can.

So......how's that new list going so far?

Hey guys, this may seem like an odd question, but whats the situation on Dark Confidant VS Treasure Cruise? Also, if running Cruise, why not play dark blast?

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Originally Posted by NathanS2k

So......how's that new list going so far?

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Haven't had a chance to test it yet due to the holidays.

I ran Sheets Deathblade list at StarCity's Columbus OH Legacy IQ. I ended up going 2-4 with both wins against UR and URW delver and the losses being against TES, OmniShow, Lands Combo, and Burn before dropping. This was my first event back in almost 2 years so admittedly I lost the OmniShow match because I had no idea what it was or what it did game one... Until I lossed. TES I could play against but just couldn't beat the Tendrils count even with 3x flusterstorm in the board and Lands Combo I made a few misplays but didn't see see enough fire power early enough to be. Burn was kind of the same thing where I couldn't get to enough counter magic to survive long enough to get Jitte or batterskull online and gaining life back!

If Derrick designed the deck to beat UR delver and the fair decks in the meta I think it is defiantly capable of doing so. It seems to be very powerful in playtesting against miracles, delver, and elves. However against the unfair/combo decks like Omni and Sneak/show, TES, and lands combo it seems to be under powered from a counterspell stand point and although waste-landing the TES player was awesome early on, he saw a LED and a lotus petal and powered through a meddling mage on Burning wish without a lot of difficulty.

I enjoyed the deck and think it would be worth a go especially in a small field. If you decide to try it if I had to redo things again I would pack a lot more combo hate and probably remove either the baneslayer or Elspeth from the side (in my opinion the bane slayer).

Hello all,

I am new to this deck and have been testing the following list:

Spells

4 Swords to Plowshares
4 Force of Will
4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
1 Batterskull
1 Umezewa's Jitte
2 Dig Through Time
3 Spell Pierce
1 Toxic Deluge
1 Engineered Explosives
2 Abrupt Decay
1 Vindicate

Creatures

4 Deathrite Shaman
4 Stoneforge Mystic
4 True Name Nemesis

Land

3 Tundra
3 Underground Sea
4 Polluted Delta
4 Misty Rainforest
2 Flooded Strand
2 Wasteland
1 Bayou
1 Tropical Island

Sideboard

4 Thoughtseize
2 Containment Priest
2 Meddling Mage
2 Zealous Persecution
2 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Toxic Deluge


Some observations from testing:
1. I love Dig Through Time over Treasure Cruise. I tested lists with one or the other, as well as both. I like that DTT is an instant and it can help find an answer late in the game or after I SB. TC often was getting pitched to FoW or sticking around in my hand while I waited for my GY to fill up. I prefer quality over quantity

2. Toxic Deluge is a very underrated card. This got me out of many jams. The difference between a 3 cmc TD and a 4 cmc Surpreme Verdict cannot be overstated. The fact that SV can't be countered doesn't matter much because the decks I need TD against like elves and D&T, aren't running counters.

3. I have been running Vindicate but just got my Council's Judgment in the mail. With my manabase I have an easier time casting Vindicate (Tundra + Underground Sea + anything else) as opposed to the 1WW of CJ. Also, Vindicate hits lands. Wouldn't CJ also nuke one of my own permanents? I am aware, CJ hits TNN and Emrakrul. Any other arguments in favor of CJ?

4. I don't see Engineered Explosives in a lot of other lists. I'm still in the process of testing but I have liked it against UR delver and Miracles. It's great for removing tokens. Still, it's possible I'd cut it for something else. I hasn't ever been a dead draw for me though.

5. I'm not running Flusterstorm in my SB. This is an expensive card (monetarily) and I'm already running 4 TS, 3 SP, 4 FoW, and 2 MM against combo. Would Flusterstorm be overkill?

6. No Thoughtseize maindeck. I have been very happy with this choice, so far. In the current meta, TS just sucks against so many decks. Delver and burn would probably thank me for doing 2 damage to myself and filling up their graveyard. Hence why it's in the SB.

This deck has been a lot of fun to play. I hope to pilot it in a small tournament February 16th after I get some more reps in and refine my list a bit.

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Originally Posted by Holiday

Wouldn't CJ also nuke one of my own permanents?

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CJ only hits permanents you don't control.

So this deck seems a lot better with the ban list updates. What do you guys see builds of deathblade looking like with access to DTT and no Cruise?

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Originally Posted by Dat_Gentleman

So this deck seems a lot better with the ban list updates. What do you guys see builds of deathblade looking like with access to DTT and no Cruise?

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Hi,
I had really good turney & testing results with this list, the TC ban is not interesting for me because I played 3 DTT over TC anyway.

4 Stoneforge Mystic
4 Deathrite Shaman
4 True-Name Nemesis

4 Force of Will
3 Spell Pierce
3 Thoughtseize

4 Brainstorm
3 Ponder
3 Dig Through Time

4 Swords to Plowshares
2 Abrupt Decay

1 Batterskull
1 Umezawa's Jitte

3 Tundra
3 Underground Sea
1 Tropical Island
1 Scrubland
4 Polluted Delta
4 Flooded Strand
2 Marsh Flats
2 Wasteland

Sideboard :
2 Meddling Mage
2 Containment Priest
2 Vendilion Clique
2 Disenchant
2 Zealous Persecution
2 Grafdiggers Cage
2 Pithing Needle
1 Sword of Fire & Ice

Greetings

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dat_Gentleman

So this deck seems a lot better with the ban list updates. What do you guys see builds of deathblade looking like with access to DTT and no Cruise?

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I think the Meta will slow down quite a bit and become more grindier with shardless, miracles and rug delver all making a "comeback". This means that the deck probably wants to play some planeswalkers (maybe 2 lilis, one jace?/ Jace in the Board) and more lands (maybe 22?). I think this will mean that the deck isn't as focused on cruising/digging. So no more Ponders, or maybe just one and 2 digs, maybe 3...
This is of course just speculation, we will have to test different lists and wait to see how the meta shapes up.

What do you think? :)

Out of curiosity, now that there isn't a ton of forked bolts running around does dark confidant have a place in this deck? And if so, what would you cut for him.

I thought about playing no planeswalkers and adding a playset of goyf for a higher threat density.
Does this deck have a good matchup against all the fair decks? For example like D&T, MUD, UBR Delver, BUG Delver, elves and reanimator?

Call me nuts but I think Jeskai Sage is a better choice than bob or goyf. In this deck sage is more aggressive and I believe you will get more value off sage than you will with bob. Sage is better than goyf in a deck wanting 2-3 DTT. Also, with equipment, TNN is the better choice.

From my phone. I do my best, dammit!

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Originally Posted by Deckerator

I thought about playing no planeswalkers and adding a playset of goyf for a higher threat density.
Does this deck have a good matchup against all the fair decks? For example like D&T, MUD, UBR Delver, BUG Delver, elves and reanimator?

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I think that those are the matchups where the planeswalkers really shine. In my opinion there is no need for more threats (specially goyf...).

This is my current list post Treasure Cruise ban:

1 Creeping Tar Pit
4 Flooded Strand
2 Marsh Flats
4 Polluted Delta
1 Scrubland
1 Tropical Island
3 Tundra
3 Underground Sea
2 Wasteland
1 Island
1 Plains

4 Deathrite Shaman
4 Stoneforge Mystic
3 True-name Nemesis
1 Vendilion Clique

1 Batterskull
4 Brainstorm
3 Force of Will
2 Spell Pierce
4 Swords to Plowshares
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Council's Judgment
1 Ponder
3 Thoughtseize

2 Dig Through Time

1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
2 Liliana of the Veil

sideboard
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
3 Meddling Mage
2 Containement Priest
1 Force of Will
2 Zealous Persecution
1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1 Supreme Verdict
1 Flusterstorm
1 Disenchant
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Vendilion Clique

This weekend i have finished 6th in a 45 person tournament, i played against:

Omnishow - 2-1
Pox - 2-0
Sneak/Show - 2-1
Omnishow (Lejay!) - 1-2
BURG tempo - 2-0
Miracles - 1-2

I think that my list is ok against fair decks pre side, and post side quite ok against combo, but i struggle a lot against Miracles and Shardless bug.

I want to test Abrupt decay on the sideboard, does someone have an opinion on those? I also think i will cut the Council's Judgment and go up to 4 FOW's maindeck.