[DTB] Blade Control

Good to see the deck in the DTB section :)

Here is my current list

4 Flooded Strand
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Arid Mesa
3 Island
2 Plains
3 Tundra
3 Volcanic Island

4 Stoneforge Mystic
2 True-Name Nemesis
2 Snapcaster Mage
1 Vendilion clique

1 Batterskull
1 Umezawa's Jitte

4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
3 Dig Through Time

4 force of will
2 Spell Pierce
1 Pyroblast
1 Counterspell

1 Council’s Judgment
4 Swords to Plowshares
2 Ligthning Bolt
2 Jace the Mind Sculptor

SB :
3 Meddling Mage
2 Containement Priest
2 Flusterstorm
1 Pyroblast
1 Red Elemental Blast
2 Blood Moon
1 Sword of Fire/ice
1 Supreme Verdict
1 Wear/Tear
1 Engineered Explosives

My biggest problem with this deck is deciding whether these lists want counterbalance or not. Any thoughts on the matter?

From my phone. I do my best, dammit!

I really wanted to play CounterTop in this deck and I've tried it both in the sb and in the main, and I think the (lets call it) Ponder version is better.

Top gives a lot of incremental advantage in the long run, but the deck can be clunky and I feel keeping a sketchy hand with Ponder is better than with Top, specially cards like TNN and SFM wants us to tap out early-ish. Not having Ponder also make DTT worst since we can't fill our graveyard as fast. Needless to say, Ponder is miles better when you need something right now, and a Top without a fetchland is often useless. So, IMO having a Top alone is worst than Ponder.

Having Counterbalance alone is atrocious while also putting a strain on the mana base, which I think is one of the best things about the deck (a wasteland proof mana base that can play Blood Moon).

Having both is pretty good of course, but it's somewhat slow to get online and most decks expect to face it from Miracles so have ways to deal with it. Another thing I like about my list at least is that it's basically cantrips, removal, counters and threats that all work well together but also can stand on their own. Having Cb + Top means that that's no longer true and I'd rather avoid that from a more philosophical point of view.

Another thing I started thinking when I was testing it was why would you play this deck with CounterTop instead of just playing miracles? And I couldn't really find a good enough reason. It's not like TNN and SFM make Miracle's bad matchups better, or at least I don't think that's the case.

I'm pretty excited that Stoneblade is in the DTB section! My biggest area for concern with this deck is the miracles matchup as well as the BUG delver matchup. I'd say every other popular matchup is around 50:50. I ran esper for quite some time and miracles always had the edge on me unless I could draw Lingering Souls or TNN. BUG with stifle has always been rough for me especially in postboard games being able to SB into a grind fest. Anyone have any experience with a pure UW or UWr list with postive matchups against these archetypes?

I think it may be a little hasty in presuming this thread is all about a red splash, when in fact red should probably be completely ignored. There are already two UWr decks in the DTB section. Miracles is the premier control build and UWr Delver remains the go-to tempo control varient. What do you think a build like this will accomplish that one of those two doesn't already? Nothing. I would argue that this thread should remain red-free until such time that it can accomplish more or completely replace one of the other UWr builds. I'm playing a pure UW list. I beat BUG with E. Tutors, a RIP, and 2x B2B, 2x Clique (+1 in the main), and 2x Flusterstorm out of the board. Countertop makes the mirror and the Miracles match-up a little better and can just dominate the Delver matchup. It also makes the Blood Moon/B2B plan more successful in general.

From my phone. I do my best, dammit!

I'm a die hard supporter of the counterbalance package in the maindeck. In pretty much every matchup outside of death and taxes and BGx midrange, countertop can just end the game. It does push the deck more into the control spectrum of things, but that's where this deck was usually trying to go anyways--except now it has a much more consistency once you do hit the end game. In the bug matchup, countertop forces them to either decay the counterbalance or the sfm leaving one of them in play. Either one is capable of running away with the game. I've found this brute force approach helpful versus most abrupt decay decks (except Jund, which is a terrible matchup for my UWr list--souls really turns it into a 50-50 or better matchup though).

I dont think this thread is about or not about the red splash.
I think this is about UW(r) no delver, no terminus, yes stoneforge mystic control decks.

The red splash is really about play style and not about what defines this deck.

That being said, I'm really happy to see this deck here. I'm moving from UWR delver tempo to this type of deck. I like control better than tempo.

Believe what you want, you've been in this thread what, 5 seconds? This thread consistently goes to the red splash discussion often, or worse, argues black v. red.

From my phone. I do my best, dammit!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Secretly.A.Bee

Believe what you want, you've been in this thread what, 5 seconds? This thread consistently goes to the red splash discussion often, or worse, argues black v. red.

From my phone. I do my best, dammit!

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I don't understand why that shouldn't happen here. Sure there is an esperblade thread, but this is just a generic "blade control" thread. It's natural to discuss the merits and demerits of the two most common splashes.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Secretly.A.Bee

I think it may be a little hasty in presuming this thread is all about a red splash, when in fact red should probably be completely ignored. There are already two UWr decks in the DTB section. Miracles is the premier control build and UWr Delver remains the go-to tempo control varient. What do you think a build like this will accomplish that one of those two doesn't already? Nothing. I would argue that this thread should remain red-free until such time that it can accomplish more or completely replace one of the other UWr builds. I'm playing a pure UW list. I beat BUG with E. Tutors, a RIP, and 2x B2B, 2x Clique (+1 in the main), and 2x Flusterstorm out of the board. Countertop makes the mirror and the Miracles match-up a little better and can just dominate the Delver matchup. It also makes the Blood Moon/B2B plan more successful in general.

From my phone. I do my best, dammit!

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What lists have been putting results on this last months? UW Ones? Esper ones? If you check tcdecks almost all of them are splashing red, and i can totally understand why.

Dig Through Time is the card that made this deck good again, and allows it to fight against Shardless Bug and Miracles (this decks are quite huge in Europe) on the same level.

And you know what is good to fight against Dig Through Time, Counterbalances, Jaces and Ancestral Visions? Pyroblast? Red elemental blast?

At the same time it allows you to play Blood Moon, that helps a lot against BUG decks and weird matchups like lands, and if you play in a fair meta you can play Lightning Bolt.

I'm totally fine with people not splashing red but no need to be so fussy about it :smile:

Counterbalance is also a nice option in this deck, i have nothing against it, but the list i have posted is the one that has been giving me the best results and that i will most probably play at GP Kyoto.

And i do believe that this deck took UWR Delver place in the DTB section.

I'm very happy to see this thread in the DTB.

I'm moving from Patriot to Blade Control after the ban of Treasure Cruise and the stability of Blade's manabase are great in the present meta.

In this time i take familiarity with the concept of Control-Creatures based deck and I play a UW pure version, with 7/8 basic lands, Academy Ruins and Engineered Explosives because the meta are full of MUD, and I can destroy up to 2 Chalice of Void without problems, before the Academy is Wasted.

I've seen lists online running Spell Snare instead of Pierce in the Main Board. I imagine they make several of your Fair matchups better since it deals with a lot of the powerful creature cards on other decks(Goyf, Snap, Eidolon, Pyromancer, opposing Stoneforges, etc.), and a couple decent non-creature spells like Hymn, Price, and Counterbalance; but I imagine that having access to both Bolt and Swords already makes fair matchups decent, and there's not enough non-creature spells around that I'd prefer to have an edge against, even so I'd rather use Pierce over Snare if that was the case. Thoughts?

Have you guys been thinking about running Myth Realized in this deck? Seems like a good option, it gets better just by playing the game, something to throw extra mana into and not a terrible late game topdeck

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hrothgar

In this time i take familiarity with the concept of Control-Creatures based deck and I play a UW pure version, with 7/8 basic lands, Academy Ruins and Engineered Explosives because the meta are full of MUD, and I can destroy up to 2 Chalice of Void without problems, before the Academy is Wasted.

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Explosives in a 2-color deck is pretty ambitious.

Yeah, if it's chalice giving you fits, Ratchet Bomb is better here as its capable of doing a lot of work against the whole of MUD.

From my phone. I do my best, dammit!

So yesterday I just Top2'ed the Eternal Clash Legacy Event with 72 participants in North Germany, Flensburg.

I've been playing Jeskai Blade since Khans of Tarkir with 4 Treasure Cruise and Young Pyromancer but after the bannings I changed the slots to 1 Jace, the Mindsculptor and 3 Dig Through Times (Bonkers card).

Here is the List I've been playing yesterday:

Lands (20)
1 Plains
1 Plateau
2 Island
3 Tundra
3 Volcanic Island
3 Arid Mesa
3 Scalding Tarn
4 Flooded Strand

Creatures (9)
2 Snapcaster Mage
3 True-Name Nemesis
4 Stoneforge Mystic

Spells (31)
3 Dig Through Time
4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
1 Counterspell
2 Spell Pierce
4 Force of Will
4 Swords to Plowshares
4 Lightning Bolt
1 Council’s Judgment
1 Supreme Verdict
1 Jace, the Mindsculptor
1 Umezawas Jitte
1 Batterskull

Sideboard (15):
1 Relic of Progenitus
1 Pithing Needle
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Pyroblast
1 Red-Elemental Blast
1 Spell Snare
1 Sudden Demise
1 Wear//Tear
1 Surgical Extraction
1 Bloodmoon
1 Vendilion Clique
2 Flusterstorm
2 Containment Priest

Although I was very frustrated the day before at FridayNightMagic I started the event day
in a very confident, well rested mood. I bought 5 Bananas and 6 Apples and a pack of cereal bars and bread to get me through the day.
I was curious how the people react to my new black bordered sleeves called Bordifies, that me and two of my friends have engineered in the last few months.
(Read more: http://Bordifies.com, http://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/

In the past I lost a lot games against Loam.dec, Maverick, BUG Control and BUG Tempo so I asked my friend
Dennis, who Top2'ed the last Eternal Clash to borrow me his Bloodmoon. Althougt I only play 3 basics, the card seems legit in the Matchups
where I really need some permanent solution which either wins me the game or gets me there.

Round 1: Niels featuring Affinity 2:0
He told me he hasn't played a long time and this was his first tournament since 2007.
I kept both games a good hand including Stoneforge, Force for his Plating and Ponder into Supreme Verdict game 2 for his
Etched Champion and Jitte gets the job done.

Round 2: Philip featuring UR OmniSneak (Top4) 2:1
I knew Philip since I started playing at Flensburg's local store and I knew what sort of deck he was piloting.
Game 1 he has the Combo-Overload and trumps me with Sneak-Attack into Grisslebrand + Emrakul.
Game 2 I sideboarded: 2 Flusterstorm, 1 Pyroblast, 1 Red-Elemental Blast, 1 Vendilion Clique, 1 Wear // Tear (they often play Defense Grid and it also kills Omni/Sneak in mid-combo), Pithing Needle (mostly Sneak, sometimes Grisslebrand), 2 Containment Priest (only hoses the Creature part of Show and Tell) and 1 Surgical Extraction since I was expecting Intuition and Dig Through Time.
I can't remember exactly both games but one turn he tries to resolve SnT which gets Flusterstormed by me and which gets Flusterstormed
by him, unlike him I was able to pay for the storm copies. Strange. Vendilion Clique and Containment Priest (why does it have flash, IDK) got there.

Round 3: Momme featuring Imperial Painter (Top1) 1:1 ID
Momme is a good friend and we talked for a while as we set down at Table 6.
At that time I didn't expect to see him in the finals again.
I told him I hate playing against friends and propably kicking out one which occured 5 out of 7 games in the last Clash.
After short discussion we ID'ed to get both into Top8 (which ended up that way :D). Nevertheless we played this round seriously.
THIS round and the final was one of the best magic I've ever played. Seems like the deck Painter is leading to a lot of strange and
uncommon decisions and plays. All three games included several Planeswalkers KOTH vs Jace, 4 Swords/4 Lightning Bolts on each Scarecrow,
Red-Elemental Blasts on Ensnaring Bridges, and operating with 3 Lightning Bolts under Bloodmoon.
I lost Game 1, won Game 2 with Jace against Bridge and Game 3 took way too long. We end up in turns and he was attacking me for one each turn and milling me with grindstone as I was trying to Fate-Seal my Jace to the win. I end up on 1 life as he plays Chandra, Pyromaster (yes, chandra the red JTMS!) to Ping me the last damage just before the last turn.
1:1 ID but he'd have one that game (maybe)

Round 4: Jesper (Danish) featuring Elves 1:2
This round was very unfortunate for me. I've seen him playing
elves on another table next to me, so the cat was out of the bag.
Game 1 He mulliganed to 5 and I mulliganed down to FOUR cards on the draw.
I kept a hand with: 1 Tundra, 1 Swords to Plowshares, 1 Stoneforge, 1 Force of Will - SNAP KEEP
Jesper starts with Forest- Quirion Ranger. I draw a Volcanic Island and plow his Ranger right away since he was on a mull to 5, too.
He passed the turn which was great for me. (afterwards he said he would be able to glimpse-kill me with that hand if the ranger had sticked)
I drew a Ponder for the Turn (enabling Force) and played Stoneforge into Jitte, countering Glimpse in the next few turns and Jitte
getting the win for me.
Game 2 he had the combo and hoofed me to 1. I had one window to find Supreme Verdict and failed.
Game 3 I mulliganed down to 4 cards again (ffs, no lands). Easy game for him.

I was frustrated. I had no chance with mulligans against this sort of combo and did my very best in game 2. Momme won his game so he was
in a good position.

Round 5: Infect (Danish) 2:0
I forgot his name and can't remember many details but he wasn't new to the tournament scene and very confidant with his playstyle.
As far as I remember both games involved Jitte and Swords to Plowshares and Lightning Bolts on his Creatures after Combat. He
was very aware of not running into removal after pumping and I was very aware of Vines of the Vastwood. In this Match up it's really important
to be patient and not to tap out. I bluffed a spot removal for two turns which lead to enabling stoneforge the following turn.
Game 1 was a long grind.
Game 2 was very short as he didn't found his Natures Claim for my Jitte.

Round 6: Felix Munch featuring Lands 2:1
I knew Felix from the last Eternal Clash as he was one of the danish players traveling to Flensburg.
Last time he played a very sweet foil japanese 4-color Lands deck with Tolaria West, Ancient Ruins and Engineered Explosives
and I was sure he is playing it this time.
Game 1: On Turn 1 I played a ponder to find some fetchies or basics followed by turn 2 Stoneforge.
He gets loam+wasteland, punishing fire+grove online and kills my stoneforge. I played a turn 4 Brainstorm mainphase with an uncracked fetch in play to find some action
which shows Tundra, Tundra, Volcanic. I immediatly say "Shuffle" and he was like: WHAT, WAIT, WHY? But I already shufflled them into the library. I'm still unsure why I resolved the Brainstorm like a Ponder. We both called the Headjudge. After very long discussion about the situation, the error I made and how to continue, the judge said:
I shuffle my library and proceed with the Brainstorm. The judge left and I asked Felix: "May I resolve my brainstorm now?" and he was like "No, dude?! Why would you?"
a guy next to me immediatly called the judge back to the table because the situation was still unclear. I asked the judge how to proceed and he said exactly what I thougt.
Resolve a second Brainstorm. Felix and I thought that's a real advantage and he spoke to his second Judge to find the right ruling. I said to my opponent that we both
play very slow decks and I conceeded game 1, because with a second draw I'd be out of Top8. After we continue with sideboarding the judge came back to the table and explained it is a game loss, because the situation can't be fixed. That sounds reasonable. I apologized and we started sideboarding. I brought in:
1 Bloodmoon (Hell, YEAH), 1 Relic of Progenitus and 1 Surgical and 1 Vendilion Clique to fight Life from the Loam.
Game 2: I kept a hand including 3 Fetchlands and a Bloodmoon. He said: "That's a really good Card"
Game 3 included Relic of Progenitus, Jace The Mindsculptor, Stoneforge, Batterskull and True-Name Nemesis and four lands on my board
and Maze of Ith, Urborg and some other lands on his board. I attack him a few times, since True-Name can't be mazed
but I haven't found my fifth land to equip nemesis. He played Enigneered Explosives for 3, but didn't blow it up as he was still aware of the bloodmoon
in my deck. In the meanwhile I tick up my Jace as fast as possible, fate-sealing myself to get rid of three extra nonbasic lands. He blew up the explosives
leaving me unable to attack due to his maze. My only goal to win this was my Jace on 11 Counters. He played his ancient ruins and put his Engineered Explosives on top.
So there was this situation: I could Fateseal him and put the EE on the bottom, but if he had a cycle land I'd loose on the spot or I could Spell Pierce it buying me an extra turn.
I brainstormed with Jace finding Dig Through Time and passed the turn. He plays EE for 4 having 2 mana open. I pierced- he pays. I DTT EOT to find me either Councils Judgment or Wear//Tear or Ponder/Brainstorm. I found Council's Judgment and True-Name Nemesis, incase my Jace dies. I fatesealed him and casted Council's Judgment in my Mainphase. He conceded.

Round 7: Finn featuring MonoOmni 2:0
After the scores were updated Finn and I knew we had to play against each other.
He's a friend of Momme and I know him from Danish Legacy Masters in Kopenhagen last year.
Game 1: He tried to Show&Tell me on Turn 2 with City but my Pierce was able to stop him this turn.
Later he tried to SnT again which gets forced by me. Stoneforge + Batterskull is a decent clock.
It was very important to win Game 1 because I'm not that well prepared for this combo matchup
Game 2: I had permission overload again, like in most other combo matchups and my Red Elemental + Pyroblasts,
Flusterstorm, Pierce and Clique gets the job done.


Top8 Torge featuring ANT 2:1
Game 1: I mulliganed to 5 and he Gitaxian Probe'd my Hand on Turn 2 with 2 Lands and 2 Stoneforges. With zero permission In my hand he starts thinking and is
deep in the tank. After 3 minutes I ask him in a kind manner to speed up his pace because it was already very late in the evening. He said he plays that deck for the first
time in this configuration and it is his second tournament in a long time. He then cast double ritual, LED, Petal, Infernal Tutor, Past in Flames, Rinse - Repeat and Tendrills me.
I asked him "WTF? How did it take you so long? That's the basic combo route of this deck." He replied it was already late and he was nervous. I'm okay and borded in:
2 Flusterstorm, 1 REB, 1 Pyroblast, 1 Vendilion Clique, 1 Surgical, 1 Spell Snare, 1 Relic of Progenitus, 1 Grafdiggers Cage
Game 2 and 3 I have a lot of permission and I countered his Xantid Swarms with Force of Will to ensure they are still alive.
One important sequence was Turn 4 in Game 2 where he Duress'ed me and I had 5 cards in graveyard two blue mana open and flusterstorm, spell pierce, dig through time and brainstorm in hand. I thought about hiding flusterstorm and pierce with brainstorm but if he had the combo I'd be dead, so I showed him my hand without any response.
He counted my graveyard and wasn't happy. He had to take the Dig Through Time because I'd be able to dig in the EOT if he chose anything else. Later in the game he wasn't able to get through my permission.

Top4 Max featuring Team America 2:0
I tested this Matchup for a very long while now with two friends in Kiel and it seems like the Tasigur build is a lot more trouble than the
Dark Confidant build. Liliana is a must answer threat against us and Sylvan Library will grind us out if unchecked.
So I played against Max, one of the organizers of Eternal-Clash and old friend from the local store.
Game 1 He won the die roll and started with Turn 2 Dark Confidant which meet my Lightning Bolt immediatly, not playing around Daze because I had a second one in my hand
and a turn two Stoneforge Mystic on my side. After a lot of removal spells and no Liliana I win with True Name and Batterskull.
Game 2 I boarded in Bloodmoon, Relic, Wear//Tear for Null Rod and Sylvan Library, Spell Snare for Hymn, Library and Tarmogoyf sometimes and Pithing Needle for Liliana.
He started again with Turn 2 Confidant which met a Bolt again. (If this card would have been a Tasigur later in the game I'd be in a lot of troubles both games)
I ponder and find a blood moon and 2 fetchlands. Unfortunatly he wastelands me on his turn three but I find my third land and try to resolve the Moon
while he was having Black and Green mana open and Decay in hand. I wasn't sure if he anticipated my Moon or didn't have anything else to play at that time.
After getting Swords to Plowshares and Dig Through Time Hymned and the second Dig Through Time Forced I resolve Stoneforge fetching and playing and Batterskull.
Later True-Name resolves and he has two Tarmogoyfs unable to attack. He tried to Golgari Charm my Creature but I had Spell Pierce in hand and he was tapped out.
A few turns later I was very sure he had a liliana in hand, unable to cast efficiently. I had a snapcaster in hand and tried to trap him by attacking with my Nemesis and Batterskull in his Goyfs. He said "This must be a combo trick - but I'll take it" and blocks with one Goyf to kill my Germ. EOT he plays Abrupt Decay on my Stoneforge leaving me with only Nemesis. He played Liliana in his Turn with a big smile and I responded with flashing in Snapcaster.
He had to uptick liliana and I discarded Brainstorm having Council's Judgment in Hand as safety button. With already five lands in play I equipped Nemesis with Batterskull and killed
Liliana going up to 38 Lifes. Later I attacked him from 21 to 14 to 7 to 0.

Finals Momme featuring Imperial Painter 0:2
We split prices but decided to play it out for the honour.
It's funny that we actually meet again in the finals after ID'ing in Round 3.
This was again one of my best magic games in a while, we both had a lot of fun that day battling against each other.
Game 1 he Mooned me out of the Game.
Game 2 I have an answer to all of his Painters but he lays an Ensnaring Bridge. I find Jace in my Dig Through Time
and start Fatesealing him, as he played all of his cards to ensure the Bridge will be enough. After a very long grind he checked
if he can mill me faster with his two Grindstones in play, than my Jace. He quickly calculated and started milling the best he could.
Later I had to Brainstorm to ensure that two different colors were on top while still having counters and fateseals to prevent REB for my Jace.
In the end I Jace ultimated him but his Grindstone was one card faster.

I won: 1 Tundra (revised), 1 Bloodmoon (TheDark, now I don't have to buy one for myself) and we split 1 Badlands (FBB, DE) in cash.

Thanks everyone involved in this sweet tournament. Make sure to read all the stories on http://eternal-clash.com
If you are interested in the colored perfect size sleeves I played you can check out:
http://Bordifies.com

~screallix

P.S: Sorry for the long post, I don't even have a potato for you :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Secretly.A.Bee

Yeah, if it's chalice giving you fits, Ratchet Bomb is better here as its capable of doing a lot of work against the whole of MUD.

From my phone. I do my best, dammit!

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Yes but Chalice @2 destroy this plan.
The first Chalice enter the battlefield @1 and the 2nd @2.
I play the Engineered at converted mana cost =0

Anyway i try the Ratchet this Week and post my impressions.
Thank you for advice man!

:)

Sorry guys to leave you hanging , I have a separate thread dedicated to red splash. But here is a breakdown of what went down when I took down legacy in Syracuse for the Premier IQ. I been a little broke lately so sunday was the first time in a while I could play.

http://sales.starcitygames.com//deck...p?DeckID=82342

Creatures (9)
3 Snapcaster Mage
3 Stoneforge Mystic
3 Vendilion Clique
Spells (30)
4 Brainstorm
4 Force of Will
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Terminus
3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
3 Sensei's Divining Top
2 Counterspell
2 Spell Pierce
2 Ponder
1 Batterskull
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
Lands (21)
4 Island
4 Flooded Strand
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Arid Mesa
2 Tundra
1 Mountain
1 Plains
1 Plateau
1 Volcanic Island
1 Karakas
Sideboard (15)
3 Flusterstorm
3 Red Elemental Blast
2 Engineered Explosives
2 Enlightened Tutor
1 Ethersworn Canonist
1 Rest in Peace
1 Mindbreak Trap
1 Pyroclasm
1 Supreme Verdict

(No dig through times XP. Jace/snapcaster is enough card advantage to play draw-go)

Round 1: Evan on Miracles 2-1

Win the coin flip , I get a batterskull and get to 32 life. I lose to a resolved entreat the angels on 4 eating at my 32 life in two turns. Game two I get snap caster beats for a while then stoneforge batterskull backup. It was close, but I win game three on turns by flipping top to counter a terminus on my attack when he was a mana shy from paying for it.

Round 2 bryan: bug delver 2-1

I smash game one with batterksull online against a flipped delver. Game two I lose to a play mistake of having double tarn without cracking them in response to a pithing needle so I scoop when my top deck tundra gets wastelanded. Game three I kept a shaky hand that I can get potentially waste landed out of the game but has a playable stoenforge. Myopponent draws too many cards off ponder and gets a loss on turn 3
:-/

Round 3: Quin onDredge/(with lands)2-0
Game one I use snapcaster bolt trick to hold off ichrid attacks while getting rid of bridges without creating tokens. first snap caster bolt trick exiles 2 bridges, the third in late game grabs another. I stabilize and he eventually decks. Game two, I keep a hand with engineered explosives and rest in peace. It was over in quick.... I cast engineered explosives to avoid a potential cabal therapy's down the road, He plays nature's claim on it. I cast rest in peace and proceed to the win phase with jace two turns later.

Round 4:Joey delver
I win game one I get witled down to one life facing a flipped delver and a unflipped delver with only snap caster on the ground. It was close and it came down to me casting a vendilion clique to trade with a flipped delver and then me getting lucky with brainstorm to hit a non-fetch land to get me to my 5th mana to cast sword of fire and ice on a snapcaster to handle an unflipped delver. If my opponent had better luck flipping delver I would have lost. Game two I get to draw a bit of jace but he finally gets a tarmogofy through with abrupt decay back up to get me, game 3 we went to turns and drew

Round 5 : Ted McCulskie on shardless bug 0-2
I just got smashed 0-2. its a bad matchup. Shardless agent hitting visions , thought seize and hymns all day long. even saw a tasigur


Round 6:tim miracle (edit: found my scored board) 2-1

Game one I am facing a naked counterbalance (no top) and I cast an end of Tim's turn vendilin clique to see if the coast is clear for jace. I resolve my Jace. I fateseal. He untaps and council judgement my jace. I cast jace number 2 and fate seal him out of the game. Game two he resolve an early vendilion clique and gets me before I can answer it. Game three I get a batterskull down and it gets council judgement after a single attack but I get snapcaster online with sword of fire and ice for a nice 6 a turn effect.

Round 7:chris on maverick 2-0

I got the play. On game one, I terminus on my turn 3, a scavenging ooze ,mother of runes, and dryad arbor and then jace him out. Game 2 I get there as well but I almost messed up a ponder by almost drawing a terminus. I put 3 cards back and then realized I didn't draw (terminus is on top). Called a judge, but I couldn't undo the order, but I was allowed to shuffle and get out of it. The ponder wasn’t great but it beat having a miracle stuck in hand

Top 8: I get in on the 8th seat

Round: Elliot Wolchesky on miracles 8
I lose game one to miracles. But games 2 and 3 I get under it and win keeping counterbalance and jace off the table. I even used Engineered explosives to handle an entreat the angels resolution

Round 9: Drew Brantner on miracles
I lose game one to miracles. But game in game two I keep a shaky hand with force of will x2,ponder and spell pierce, stoneforge mystic and 2 non blue lands and go for the early stoneforge and get there. Game 3 I get under it and win keeping counterbalance and jace off the table

Round 10: Wilkin Chau on dead guy ale 2-0
I have to keep dark confidant off the board as quick as I can games one and two. I swept up lingering soul tokens and dark confidants up with terminus. I even had a sweet batterskull facing lingering souls tokens that pyroclasm quickly mopped up game two.

games miracles my sideboard strategy was to board out lightning bolt x4 and terminus x4 for flusterstorm (helps win counter wars significantly and was very relevant) x 3, engineered explosives x2 (good for counterbalance and angel tokens) and red elemental blast x3 (helps take care of dig through time, jace, and counterbalance and is snapcasterable)

I sideboard against bug by bringing in Engineered explosives x2 supreme verdict x1, and pyroclasm x1


If red splash wants to be discussed more freely I have a separate thread.
http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/s...U-W-R-control))

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lordofthestringz

What lists have been putting results on this last months? UW Ones? Esper ones? If you check tcdecks almost all of them are splashing red, and i can totally understand why.

Dig Through Time is the card that made this deck good again, and allows it to fight against Shardless Bug and Miracles (this decks are quite huge in Europe) on the same level.

And you know what is good to fight against Dig Through Time, Counterbalances, Jaces and Ancestral Visions? Pyroblast? Red elemental blast?

At the same time it allows you to play Blood Moon, that helps a lot against BUG decks and weird matchups like lands, and if you play in a fair meta you can play Lightning Bolt.

I'm totally fine with people not splashing red but no need to be so fussy about it [emoji2]

Counterbalance is also a nice option in this deck, i have nothing against it, but the list i have posted is the one that has been giving me the best results and that i will most probably play at GP Kyoto.

And i do believe that this deck took UWR Delver place in the DTB section.

---

I'm not saying that red is a bad splash, I'm saying it's hard to progress any other build for all the people suggesting red. I don't think red is the best, I think it's the easiest build to play. REBs are blue spells with a red cc. Blood Moon is okay for specific matchups, but it's not necessarily any better than B2B. Lightning Bolt is junk as far as removal goes, but when you play TNN, obviously it's a faster clock on your opponent since you won't need to waste said removal on bockers. I think that may have the most to do with why it's winning. That and not many legacy grinders are playing other builds, as most players straight-up net-deck. This leads me to my previous statement. I am wanting to discuss UW builds here, but when red constantly is shoved at me, I can't work on my build, and then I get people like you who don't get this concept and continue to push red further from this misguided standpoint. But don't worry. I gave up and went to BUG. It's not like Stoneblade is making it big. They'll fall back down next month and UWr Delver will slide back up.

From my phone. I do my best, dammit!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Secretly.A.Bee

Blood Moon is okay for specific matchups, but it's not necessarily any better than B2B.

---

Blood Moon is a lotter better than B2B, them having mountains is a lot better than them having Lotus Petals.
Maybe I'm wrong, I'd like to hear your reasons. It also has performed better than "okay" for me.

So have you ever played b2b, or is this just something that you believe? I own both and I'm not saying Blood Moon is bad, I just don't think it's worth the splash. That puts blood moon in a 3 color deck and honestly, other than lands (where b2b is honestly just as good) and Bug (where b2b is only situationally worse), I don't think it makes a difference to the point of splashing a 3rd color. I'd rather make spells like Spell Pierce better and relevant longer/again, whereas Blood Moon can make it worse (no blue to play it, still allows them to pay 2). Furthermore, B2B shuts off Dryad Arbor but blog moon just makes it a 1/1 mountain creature. There's more, but I'm on my phone and I'm tired from work. More on this tomorrow (I'm off), but I'd like to point out that Joe Bernal plays B2B in Esper to much success.

From my phone. I do my best, dammit!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Secretly.A.Bee

So have you ever played b2b, or is this just something that you believe? I own both and I'm not saying Blood Moon is bad, I just don't think it's worth the splash. That puts blood moon in a 3 color deck and honestly, other than lands (where b2b is honestly just as good) and Bug (where b2b is only situationally worse), I don't think it makes a difference to the point of splashing a 3rd color. I'd rather make spells like Spell Pierce better and relevant longer/again, whereas Blood Moon can make it worse (no blue to play it, still allows them to pay 2). Furthermore, B2B shuts off Dryad Arbor but blog moon just makes it a 1/1 mountain creature. There's more, but I'm on my phone and I'm tired from work. More on this tomorrow (I'm off), but I'd like to point out that Joe Bernal plays B2B in Esper to much success.

From my phone. I do my best, dammit!

---

I've done testing with blood moon. I took it out on the way to Syracuse(no regrets). I have played enough turbodrazi matchups where I just never find it. It does help against lands but I can win with out it. I has tested magus of the moon and that seemed sweet here and there and I preferred him in the main as a 2 of when I tried it out. I am sure blood moon can help against bug here and there, but I feel like I leave myself vulnerable to what they already have on the field. I just don't want to fight a goyf/tasigur/flipped delver and draw a moon over removal. It is typically the card I sideboarded in the least when it was in my sideboard. (which sucks because I like it because mine is shiney) I think back to basic attacks on a similar angle and one of my buddy tested it a lot and wasn't too impressed with b2b.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Secretly.A.Bee

So have you ever played b2b, or is this just something that you believe? ... I'd like to point out that Joe Bernal plays B2B in Esper to much success.

---

I've actually played with it quite a bit after seeing it in the maindeck of a Joe Bernal list quite some time ago. I still prefer Blood Moon. Looking forward to the rest.

Cheers.

Is Esper still viable or is the red splash simply better? I'm looking into the possibility to create an Esper Stoneblade deck since I own most cards for that manabase and it would save me some money. Also could someone provide me with a more recent Esper list?

we play no Mountains so blue fetches are all ehat you need. If Volcanic are too expensive you can use the 2 life lands.. normally they have the very same effect of the dual land

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Secretly.A.Bee

I'm not saying that red is a bad splash, I'm saying it's hard to progress any other build for all the people suggesting red. I don't think red is the best, I think it's the easiest build to play. REBs are blue spells with a red cc. Blood Moon is okay for specific matchups, but it's not necessarily any better than B2B. Lightning Bolt is junk as far as removal goes, but when you play TNN, obviously it's a faster clock on your opponent since you won't need to waste said removal on bockers. I think that may have the most to do with why it's winning. That and not many legacy grinders are playing other builds, as most players straight-up net-deck. This leads me to my previous statement. I am wanting to discuss UW builds here, but when red constantly is shoved at me, I can't work on my build, and then I get people like you who don't get this concept and continue to push red further from this misguided standpoint. But don't worry. I gave up and went to BUG. It's not like Stoneblade is making it big. They'll fall back down next month and UWr Delver will slide back up.

From my phone. I do my best, dammit!

---

Straight UW has one good performance in the last year. And if you don't want to talk about Stoneblade then you can stop posting, no one's forcing you to.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Poron

we play no Mountains so blue fetches are all that you need. If Volcanic are too expensive you can use the 2 life lands.. normally they have the very same effect of the dual land

---

I play a basic mountain. I do it to allow lightning bolt to stay in against wasteland decks that runs creatures.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by redesign1991

Is Esper still viable or is the red splash simply better? I'm looking into the possibility to create an Esper Stoneblade deck since I own most cards for that manabase and it would save me some money. Also could someone provide me with a more recent Esper list?

---

I think Esper, is REALLY REALLY good. That being said, I prefer Red Splash personally. As for which is better, I believe depends completely on the pilot of the deck. I am very familiar with my red splash list because it has been my primary deck for a few years now. This is very dual land light list but is kind of a rouge deck (3 blue duals, 1 non blue) and runs terminus and sensei diving top. Which ever deck you are more familiar with is probably the better deck for you as you will be able to recognize more outs in bad situations, as well as identify better lines of play through any given game and matchup.

some recent lists off star city in the past 30days (I think its actually all stone blade lists off starcity in the past 30 days)
Red splash 1st place Syracuse 5K Premier IQ
http://sales.starcitygames.com//deck...p?DeckID=82342

Esper Death Blade 5K Premier IQ Richmond's 26th Place
http://sales.starcitygames.com//deck...p?DeckID=82031

Richmond 11th Place invitational blue white
http://sales.starcitygames.com//deck...p?DeckID=81895

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HSCK

Straight UW has one good performance in the last year. And if you don't want to talk about Stoneblade then you can stop posting, no one's forcing you to.

---

Someone put their mommy pants on.

From my phone. I do my best, dammit!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by redesign1991

Is Esper still viable or is the red splash simply better? I'm looking into the possibility to create an Esper Stoneblade deck since I own most cards for that manabase and it would save me some money. Also could someone provide me with a more recent Esper list?

---

Hi.
If we talk about main deck the red splash is better versus a creature based meta. You have the Lightning Bolt as your secondary removal. Esper brings discard instead to the main deck and some value creatures like Lingering Souls and Tasigur. I would say that this list is better versus a control/combo meta.


Sideboards are also different of course. The red splash offers red blasts and cards as blood moon and keranos where esper offers more discard, zealous persecution and sweepers like perish/toxic deluge.

It all comes down to what kind of game you want to play and what creatures you fancy. If you face alot of storm/reanimator/mirakles I would go with esper. If you are up against alot of dnt/shardless/blade I would play jeskai.

In this thread theres a huge swing of people playing with Lightning Bolt. I believe that depends on two things, first of all some of the players derive from patriot-lists and they grew tired of Delver and the second half is that it is easier to recover from a mistake with a Lightning Bolt list than the esper list.

I have tried both and I would say theres a huge difference in both playstyle and how the games pan out. I am going to GP Lille and have decided that esper is better than jeskai at the moment. The question remains though; should I play Monastery Mentor or not =)

No wonder we got bumped down to Established decks again, this thread is more silent than my grandmothers grave.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by useL

Hi.
If we talk about main deck the red splash is better versus a creature based meta. You have the Lightning Bolt as your secondary removal. Esper brings discard instead to the main deck and some value creatures like Lingering Souls and Tasigur. I would say that this list is better versus a control/combo meta.


Sideboards are also different of course. The red splash offers red blasts and cards as blood moon and keranos where esper offers more discard, zealous persecution and sweepers like perish/toxic deluge.

It all comes down to what kind of game you want to play and what creatures you fancy. If you face alot of storm/reanimator/mirakles I would go with esper. If you are up against alot of dnt/shardless/blade I would play jeskai.

In this thread theres a huge swing of people playing with Lightning Bolt. I believe that depends on two things, first of all some of the players derive from patriot-lists and they grew tired of Delver and the second half is that it is easier to recover from a mistake with a Lightning Bolt list than the esper list.

I have tried both and I would say theres a huge difference in both playstyle and how the games pan out. I am going to GP Lille and have decided that esper is better than jeskai at the moment. The question remains though; should I play Monastery Mentor or not =)

---

Thanks for pointing it out like this!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by useL

Hi.
If we talk about main deck the red splash is better versus a creature based meta. You have the Lightning Bolt as your secondary removal. Esper brings discard instead to the main deck and some value creatures like Lingering Souls and Tasigur. I would say that this list is better versus a control/combo meta.

Sideboards are also different of course. The red splash offers red blasts and cards as blood moon and keranos where esper offers more discard, zealous persecution and sweepers like perish/toxic deluge.

It all comes down to what kind of game you want to play and what creatures you fancy. If you face alot of storm/reanimator/mirakles I would go with esper. If you are up against alot of dnt/shardless/blade I would play jeskai.

---

The discard effects are great vs every deck imho.
An example: i try the esper version vs MUD and work very good.
For a creatures based meta, some cards like Toxic deluge and Liliana help us.

Anyway a play the UWR version because have double power imho:
Blast effects give a great control vs counter, jace, and tempo deck...
Bolt are good vs creatures like Deathrite, Confidant, some elves.
I have access to cards like Pyroclasm and Blood Moon...very strong in some situations.
I like Wear/Tear.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by useL

In this thread theres a huge swing of people playing with Lightning Bolt. I believe that depends on two things, first of all some of the players derive from patriot-lists and they grew tired of Delver and the second half is that it is easier to recover from a mistake with a Lightning Bolt list than the esper list.

---

I quote this.
My firts deck is Miracle but my 2nd was Patriot...now i change into UWR Blade control.
This deck are more solid than Patriot and give some defense option that I like.

I miss my Wasteland...
About Wasteland and tempo i have see a good list in the Kyoto GP:

Creatures [10]
2 Snapcaster Mage
2 True-Name Nemesis
2 Vendilion Clique
4 Stoneforge Mystic

Instants [23]
1 Mana Leak
1 Red Elemental Blast
2 Dig Through Time
3 Swords to Plowshares
4 Brainstorm
4 Force of Will
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Stifle

Sorceries [2]
2 Ponder

Planeswalkers [1]
1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor

Artifacts [2]
1 Batterskull
1 Umezawa's Jitte

Lands [22]
1 Arid Mesa
1 Celestial Colonnade
1 Karakas
1 Plains
1 Plateau
2 Island
2 Tundra
2 Volcanic Island
3 Scalding Tarn
4 Flooded Strand
4 Wasteland

Some ideas?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by useL

I have tried both and I would say theres a huge difference in both playstyle and how the games pan out. I am going to GP Lille and have decided that esper is better than jeskai at the moment. The question remains though; should I play Monastery Mentor or not =)

---

Yes, are 2 different approach.
Maybe the Esper version are more solid but in this time imho UWR version are guile in this meta.

;)

I don't like Monastery Mentor in this deck.
In the Esper version I like Confidant, You have try it?

Hrothgar:

1) The list with wasteland in it I heard was a metacall due to everyone playing Boseiju in their omnitell lists. It seems reasonable though after I had this discussion with my friend I came to the conclusion that if you play Jace TMS it might be contraproductive to play wasteland. On turn three, waste for tempo or save for jace? It also brings a rocky manabase.

2) I have tried some Dark Confidant but am not sure if its the right card in MD. Drawing extra cards are nice but the creature itself applies very little pressure against most decks. Maybe it is a better sideboard card than my venser/notion-thief duo that I run at the moment?

3) What is so wrong with Mentor? I have seen that miracles nowadays have them in their sideboard instead of the mystic package they used to have. He is a really fine threat on an empty board. He can quite fast deal 6-8 damage with his minions. I am merely considering him instead of one Lingering Souls in my deck. I like to diversify threats and right now I run 4 Stoneforge, 2 Snapcasters, 1 TNN, 3 Lingering, 1 Clique and 2 JTMS as wincons.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by useL

1) The list with wasteland in it I heard was a metacall due to everyone playing Boseiju in their omnitell lists. It seems reasonable though after I had this discussion with my friend I came to the conclusion that if you play Jace TMS it might be contraproductive to play wasteland. On turn three, waste for tempo or save for jace? It also brings a rocky manabase.

---

This is right.
If I play a classic Stoneblade, i like my solid manabase and I have not conflict Jace vs Waste.
I have seen different list (normally UW) that who play some copies of Wasteland and Mishra, but the lands count go to 24.

Specifically, the list that I have post, have a good tempo concept, with 4x Waste and 4x Stifle.
An experiment? Yes, but with VERY good results.

Players at the start: 1945 - final result: 5 position

http://tcdecks.net/deck.php?id=16756&iddeck=125533

I want to try the list in consideration of this.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by useL

2) I have tried some Dark Confidant but am not sure if its the right card in MD. Drawing extra cards are nice but the creature itself applies very little pressure against most decks. Maybe it is a better sideboard card than my venser/notion-thief duo that I run at the moment?

---

The meaning of this 3 cards are totally different imho.
Maybe this are meta choise.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by useL

3) What is so wrong with Mentor? I have seen that miracles nowadays have them in their sideboard instead of the mystic package they used to have. He is a really fine threat on an empty board. He can quite fast deal 6-8 damage with his minions. I am merely considering him instead of one Lingering Souls in my deck. I like to diversify threats and right now I run 4 Stoneforge, 2 Snapcasters, 1 TNN, 3 Lingering, 1 Clique and 2 JTMS as wincons.

---

If Your idea is replace the Lingering souls with the Monastery Mentor I'm fully in accord with you, I don't like Lingering if I don't play a 3rd equipment.

I work in viewpoint UWR and i don't find the slots for the Mentor.
Forgot about the Miracle lists with Mentor, this deck work too different.

I think Esper is pretty good positioned aswell now. The fact that u have discard and potential hatebears to complement counters is nice vs the Omnitell (and other combo)decks. And Esper never had troubles playing against Delver decks either..
SFM can go in favor of Monastery Mentor/Tasigur. I feel like it isnt needed anymore and Mentor gives the deck another angle and fast way to gain control of the board if left unchecked.

I am considering a EsperBlade chat on facebook. If you are interested and are not completely new to the archetype then please send me a notice (private message) here on thesource and we can make something happen. Easier to chat about small things there than writing posts here in some cases.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by redesign1991

Is Esper still viable or is the red splash simply better? I'm looking into the possibility to create an Esper Stoneblade deck since I own most cards for that manabase and it would save me some money. Also could someone provide me with a more recent Esper list?

---

Here is the Esper version I have been running. (Granted this is sort of a hybrid between Blade and u/w/b standstill style deck) It's not very far off from the R splash though.... I have chosen a more agro/temp style of Esper(which is like the young pyromancer version of Jeskai Stoneblade; instead of the snap caster/Jace control/tempo style. Young Pyromancer R splash can run Pyromancer, digs, probes, lightning bolts, and pyro blasts. In those slots I run Bitter Blossom, StandStill, Spell Stutter Sprite, (more) Ponder/spell pierce, and STP.

Because of the tempo style and the complimentary fact of Standstill I run Mutavaults (helps with beats and can help with Fae Count for Sprites) instead of Wasteland or additional colored mana sources, and I run 1 of Tar Pit for beats as well.

Likewise in the board the R splash gives them pyroblast and Lavamancer and I use the B splash for access to Zealous Persecution. I have thought about testing Myth Realized in the deck but have yet to try it.

Here is the decklist I'm currently on:

Lands (23)
1 Creeping Tar Pit
4 Flooded Strand
1 Island
1 Karakas
4 Mutavault
1 Plains
4 Polluted Delta
1 Scrubland
3 Tundra
3 Underground Sea

Creatures (10)

3 Spellstutter Sprite
4 Stoneforge Mystic
3 True-Name Nemesis


Other Spells (27)
1 Batterskull
4 Bitterblossom
4 Brainstorm
4 Force of Will
3 Ponder
3 Spell Pierce
3 Standstill
4 Swords to Plowshares
1 Umezawa's Jitte

The sideboard is configured heavily for anti combo, because in local meta there is a lot of it running around and not nearly as many fair decks...

Sideboard (15)
2 Containment Priest
2 Ethersworn Canonist
3 Flusterstorm
3 Rest in Peace
1 Vendilion Clique
2 Zealous Persecution
2 Supreme Verdict

Quote:

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Originally Posted by redesign1991

Is Esper still viable or is the red splash simply better? I'm looking into the possibility to create an Esper Stoneblade deck since I own most cards for that manabase and it would save me some money. Also could someone provide me with a more recent Esper list?

---

Here is the Esper version I have been running. (Granted this is sort of a hybrid between Blade and u/w/b standstill style deck) It's not very far off from the R splash though.... I have chosen a more agro/temp style of Esper(which is like the young pyromancer version of Jeskai Stoneblade; instead of the snap caster/Jace control/tempo style. Young Pyromancer R splash can run Pyromancer, digs, probes, lightning bolts, and pyro blasts. In those slots I run Bitter Blossom, StandStill, Spell Stutter Sprite, (more) Ponder/spell pierce, and STP.

Because of the tempo style and the complimentary fact of Standstill I run Mutavaults (helps with beats and can help with Fae Count for Sprites) instead of Wasteland or additional colored mana sources, and I run 1 of Tar Pit for beats as well.

Likewise in the board the R splash gives them pyroblast and Lavamancer and I use the B splash for access to Zealous Persecution. I have thought about testing Myth Realized in the deck but have yet to try it.

Here is the decklist I'm currently on:

Lands (23)
1 Creeping Tar Pit
4 Flooded Strand
1 Island
1 Karakas
4 Mutavault
1 Plains
4 Polluted Delta
1 Scrubland
3 Tundra
3 Underground Sea

Creatures (10)

3 Spellstutter Sprite
4 Stoneforge Mystic
3 True-Name Nemesis


Other Spells (27)
1 Batterskull
4 Bitterblossom
4 Brainstorm
4 Force of Will
3 Ponder
3 Spell Pierce
3 Standstill
4 Swords to Plowshares
1 Umezawa's Jitte

The sideboard is configured heavily for anti combo, because in local meta there is a lot of it running around and not nearly as many fair decks...

Sideboard (15)
2 Containment Priest
2 Ethersworn Canonist
3 Flusterstorm
3 Rest in Peace
1 Vendilion Clique
2 Zealous Persecution
2 Supreme Verdict

This Jeskai blade control list finish 7th at Cliveland's open:


Creatures (10)

2 Snapcaster Mage
4 Stoneforge Mystic
2 True-Name Nemesis
2 Vendilion Clique

Planeswalkers (2)

2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor

Lands (22)

2 Island
1 Plains
4 Arid Mesa
4 Flooded Strand
4 Scalding Tarn
4 Tundra
2 Volcanic Island
1 Karakas

Spells (26)

1 Batterskull
4 Brainstorm
2 Counterspell
3 Dig Through Time
4 Force of Will
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Spell Pierce
3 Swords to Plowshares
1 Umezawa's Jitte
2 Council's Judgment

Sideboard
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
1 Baneslayer Angel
2 Containment Priest
2 Blood Moon
2 Flusterstorm
2 Pyroblast
3 Surgical Extraction
1 Pyroclasm
1 Supreme Verdict


Very good performance in a top 16 with 10 different archetypes.


Noteworthy MD:

- 4 Tundra
- 3 DTT
- 2 Council's Judgment

Noteworthy SB:

- 1 SoFaF
- 1 Baneslayer
- 3 Surgical

Imho this is a solid list and the only cards i don't like are the 2x spell pierce, 'cause the deck have not control on opponent's lands. I play 2x Spell Snare and they work very good.

In sideboard i love 2x Containment Priest and 2x Blood Moon.
1 Pyroclasm and 1 Supreme Verdict give more control vs creatures.

The only problem of this list is, imho, the absence of Ponder.

Hey Hrothgar, that was me :cool:

My overall strategy with the deck is: do 1 for 1 trades early, Brainstorm, and set up a Dig through Time. Dig for the correct threats and then switch to being proactive.

Let me comment on my deck choices:

4 Tundra/2 Volc: I prefer to fetch Volcanics Just In Time when you're going to cast something. I don't like to leave them around waiting to get Wastelanded, instead baiting them to waste my white sources. Also with so many double white cards, naturally drawing a nonwhite source sucks. The only thing you potentially lose out on here is Bolt-Snap-Bolt plays.

1 Plains: I used to run 2 so I could play double white cards under Blood Moon, but I cut a Plains for the 12th Fetch when I added a second Clique (cutting the forth StP).

0 Ponder: Ponder is an excellent turn 1 play, and an excellent late game play, but it is bad on turns 2-5 which is where most of Legacy happens. This deck is mana-hungry and I just think it is so important to pass with as much mana available as possible unless you are playing a threat.

2 Spell Pierce: A concession to shenanigans like Chalice, Trinisphere, Grim Monolith, and Liliana. It might be the worst card in the 60 but it can save your ass sometimes.

3 Dig: This card is essential. It is the lifeblood of control archetypes these days. I don't know whether it's correct to run 3 or 4, but I've lost games to having multiples in my hand before.

2 Council's Judgment: A concession to Miracles, D&T, TNN, planeswalkers, and MUD. Yes, MUD is a real deck. Some advocate a 1:1 split - you could trade it for a Pyroblast in the main if you have a lot of blue decks in the meta. I brought in Pyroblast less than 50% of the time last weekend.

1 Feast and Famine: I see no reason not to play this card, it's good in all of the matchups that Jitte is not, you don't want to run just 1 equipment, and there are some matchups where you want all 3 equipment.

1 Baneslayer: This is one of the haymaker cards against BUG Delver, along with Blood Moon. Abrupt Decay decks usually have no out to Baneslayer aside from Liliana or Toxic Deluge. Also an extra threat in grindy matchups.

2 Blood Moon: This is the only card (besides not yet owning Underground Seas) keeping me from playing Esper control lists. It's so good, it's an auto win against BUG if they tap out, RUG if they can't find a Forest for Grip, and UWR Delver has no answer to it. Great against Post and MUD, but not an auto-win. In retrospect I should have brought it in against Infect (my only loss in Swiss).

1 Supreme Verdict: This card does so much work. Pyroclasm is risky but has its upsides in some matchups.

3 Surgical: Your graveyard hate is dicey because you are playing Dig and Snapcaster. Rest in Peace and Grafdiggers are very awkward. I still haven't won against Dredge with the Surgical+Priest combo in 3 matches, it's kind of a punt. Surgical also does work against Punishing Fire and Loam decks.

My local meta (KidForce Collectibles in Berea, OH) has a very interesting meta because there's always 12 Post, MUD, and some sort of Lands deck. So I was used to playing against those cards and being prepared for them.

Results

Legacy Plus event on Saturday: 3-0-1. Drew against Rw Painter, wins against BUG Delver, UWR Delver (the 10th place finisher on Sunday), and D&T.

Legacy IQ: Beat Jund and MUD, lost to Infect, Beat BUG Delver (Danny Jessup), Jund again, Storm, and MUD again. Only won that match because he missed his Coercive Portal trigger. Drew with MUD in round 8. Yes, I somehow found 3 out of the 4 MUD players in the room.

Top 8 vs Miracles

I win G1 after beating him down to 7 or 6. He goes down to 3 off of Fetches and Forces, and I find the Lightning Bolt.

G2: I brought in 2 Surgicals (my friends and I later agreed this was a mistake). I have a Clique, F&F, and Batterskull in play, and Baneslayer in hand (he's at 9). He casts Terminus off Top on my turn with no cards left in hand. I Surgical the Terminus forcing him to shuffle away his Top. He topdecks Top for his turn anyways! I play Baneslayer, he finds Council's Judgement. I replay Batterskull, he finds Snapcaster flashing back Council's.

G3 he gets an early Clique to strip my hand and beat me down easily.

My only 2 losses throughout the weekend were to players from my LGS. We have a tough crowd on Tuesdays there!