Originally Posted by
TheoryCraft
Thanks for sharing the podcast/YouTube link. Always fun to see some Maverick love and that Tom is still around. When it went out in fashion - after its dominance in, what, circa 2010-2012 - I picked up the deck and fielded in it a bunch of local tourneys and IQ's. I had a few small Top 8's to my name with the deck. Seems like by 2014 people were surprised the deck still existed, and that they were further surprised that the deck would beat some of the newer, sexier decks entering the scene (e.g., Team America, Miracles, etc.) Honestly if it weren't for Miracles - and to a lesser extent, Elves - I think the deck would be perfectly fine and arguably one of the decks to beat in the format. Be that as it may, I have a few deck-evolving questions for everyone - this with respect to the GWb version:
* I've always run a 4:1 DRS:Noble split - that was the tried and true way Tom ran it, as did I. However, I've considered going 3:2 or even 2:3 (i.e. more Nobles) than DRS because of the necessity of hitting a T2 3-drop like THC. Also, it doesn't weaken KotR as much as DRS eating your own lands. What are people's experiences in terms of their current DRS:Noble split?
* Are people liking 0, 1, or 2 Sylvan Library mainboard? I used to run 2 mainboard but I've scaled it back due to the speed and explosiveness of Eldrazi.
* How many T,GoT are people fielding these days? It seems like 3 or 4 was the mainstay. I've always run 4 but I am considering backing off to 3. Yes/no?
* Thoughts on the new Thalia, Heretic Cathar? From reading the DnT forums people seem pretty high on her. I think she could be an excellent addition to the deck and with a big first strike body and exalted triggers from Nobles and Qasali could dish out serious punishment.
As an aside, has anyone given serious consideration to running stock GW again? A while back the deck evolved into the Punishing version (GWr) and Abzan version (GWb) to fight off fair and unfair decks, respectively. However, with the new Thalia, if she is the real deal, she could be a consistent answer to both fair and unfair decks without needing a 3rd color. This would allow better mana consistency (only 2 colors) and also allow us to play some of our old fun lands and tech cards, particularly Maze of Ith and Dueling Ground in the SB. Thoughts?