[DTB] Blade Control

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AEnesidem

Yeah, i had my fun with bant but in the end esperblade is the better deck IMO. Discard and lingering souls create a lot of flexibility and make this deck extremely adaptable. I also believe these tools make this the better jace deck. It has the same 50-50 mu's as bant but without the horrid elves and maverick matchup. Not only that but also flavorwise this deck corresponds to me more. I like it so much that i'm foiling it out. I've never been a fan of creatures an playing mor than 14 creatures and starting to cut blue is just impossible for me :p.

What do you guys think about the "deathblade" deck. I tested it on cockatrice yesterday and it wxa indeed a strong deck although i disliked the way the deck played. Sometimes you just open with thoughtseze->bob->geist and you win, but sometimes you draw dew multiple geists, DRS and discard spells in the late game and you can't do a,nything to your opponent who dominates the field.

---

I've tried getting DRS working in Esper for awhile, my biggest issue is you have to cut lands in order to play DRS and vs Jund you'll get yourself into DRS wars where they leave their DRS untapped in order to counter your acceleration and then Hymn to Tourach, Wasteland and Sinkhole your manabase away. You also run into the issue of making your sweepers bad value, you destroy more of your own creatures with Supreme Verdict and Perish is no longer asymetrical either.

You pretty much lose your removal options and take the beat down roll, altho' I prefer Clique way more to Geist.

Heya everyone, I went 6/3 yesterday at the DC Open, and ended up at 38th place. These are the decks I faced!

• Round 1: Reanimator - Win: 2/0
• Round 2: Junk - Loss 0/2
• Round 3: OmniTell w/ Black Splash - Win: 2/0
• Round 4: U/W Miracles - Loss: 0/2
• Round 5: U/W Miracles - Win: 2/0
• Round 6: Dream Halls OmniTell - Win: 2/1
• Round 7: SnT w/ Lock Pieces - Win: 2/0
• Round 8: Tin Fins - Loss: 0/2
• Round 9: Tin Fins - Win: 2/1

I'll go over the matches in a sec, first though, here's the list:

Creatures
4 Stoneforge Mystic
4 Snapcaster Mage
3 Lingering Souls

Removal
4 Swords to Plowshares
1 Engineered Explosives

Discard
2 Thoughtseize
2 Inquisition of Kozilek
1 Cabal Therapy

Counterspells
3 Force of Will
2 Spell Snare
1 Counterspell

Cantrips
4 Brainstorm
1 Intuition

Other
3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1 Batterskull
1 Umezawa's Jitte

Sideboard
1 Engineered Explosives
2 Path to Exile
3 Supreme Verdict
1 Vindicate
1 Disenchant
2 Cabal Therapy
3 Surgical Extraction
3 Flusterstorm
1 Force of Will

So my MVPs were the discard spells, both main deck and sideboard. I faced a lot of combo (6 out of 9 matches), and every time I was able to do serious damage to their hands.

Least valuable card would have been Academy Ruins. I only saw it a few times, and every time I Brainstormed it away. I never needed it. Even in the one match where my opponent Thoughtseized away my Batterskull I didn't need it to win. I'd be tempted to replace it with something else. I'm on the fence though, it's either Wasteland, Karakas, or Marsh Flats.

Round 1: Reanimator Win: 2/0
So this guy was a bit inexperienced. I'll just say that in game 1 he was at 9 life, and managed to get a Griselbrand into play. I Swords to Plowshare it, and he says, "Ok, it's dead". We'll leave it there :(

Round 2: Junk Loss: 0/2
This game was nuts. I just couldn't draw the answers I needed at the right time. Between his numerous threats and equipment, I just couldn't find enough cards to answer him. This match was against Jeff Kieper who ended up at 5th place. His deck list is here.

Round 3: OmniTell with Black Splash 2/1
This guy was running a pretty standard OmniTell build with a black splash for Thoughtseize. The match-ups were fun, and I think this was probably my favorite set of turns throughout the tournament. I had a Batterskull and Stoneforge Mystic applying pressure, when he managed to get an Emrakul, the Aeons Torn down. Unfortunatley he was down to 5 life, and I had 7 lands. So if he attacked he was dead to my swing-back. A turn or two later I top-decked a Snapcaster Mage. There wasn't much in my graveyard other than a Brainstorm so at the end of his turn I cast it and took the extra card from the storm (that was unimportant). What that gave me was enough pressure that I could attack with the Batterskull and the Snapcaster Mage. He was forced to block the Batterskull, and I just flashed it back in with Stoneforge Mystic at the end of his turn. He was down to 3, and I attacked with all three critters for the win. Always fun to watch a 15/15 do nothing :)

Round 4: U/W Miracles 0/2 Loss
This game was painful. My opponent seemed relatively new to the deck, and was having difficulty with Sensei's Divining Top. In some cases he would spin the top three times a turn just to remember what he had put on top. I was kind, and we agreed that he needed to speed up, but even so game 1 ended with 10 minutes left in the round. I would have scooped, but he didn't apply any kind of pressure to me until the VERY end. Game 2 was a joke. We went back and forth and neither of us could get the upper hand. He was still taking a very long time to make decisions, I finally got a Jace, the Mind Sculptor down. He top-decks one of his own to kill mine.... I was a bit frustrated, and I just scooped because we were already less than a minute from time in the round. I honestly think I'm too nice. I should have called a judge on this one - anyone out there know what happens if you call a judge for slow play more than once in a game?

Round 5: U/W Miracles Win: 2/0
This guy was awesome, and I complained to him about the previous player topping before I even knew what he was on. I felt a bit bad when game one he plays Sensei's Divining Top! I apologized, and he assured me he wouldn't do his slowly! I don't remember much about the games except that they were quite intense with me pulling ahead only at the very end of each.

Round 6: Dream Halls Omni-Tell Win: 2/0
These games were fun, and I probably should have lost game one. He powered out an Omniscience early on while I had a Batterskull. He didn't have anything left in hand, but I would be dead to just about anything at that point. I got lucky, and he drew enough lands right in a row to let Batterskull win the game. Game two I decimated his hand early on with T1 Thoughtseize, T2 Cabal Therapy, T3 Snapcaster Mage into Thoughtseize and flashback Cabal Therapy. He didn't get anywhere after that.

Round 7: SnT w/ Lock Pieces Win: 2/0
Most miserable match of the day. No idea how my opponent got up to 3/2, but he did it somehow! His deck was a basic R/U SnT with Trinisphere, Chalice of the Void, and Blood Moon main deck. I was completely confused when he played a Show and Tell and then the next turn played a Trinisphere. Game one I played around sphere, and he was never able to resolve a win con. Game two he got stuck on one Mountain after I Wastelanded his Volcanic Island (because he missed a land drop). I won quickly with a Batterskull.

Round 8: Tin Fins Loss: 0/2
I knew this deck existed before yesterday, but I honestly didn't prepare for it, and I had to sit and read his cards when I first cast a Thoughtseize. The deck is very resilient, and I sideboarded a bit wrong game 2. He killed me with attacks both games, not bothering to Tendrils of Agony me.

Round 9: Tin Fins Win: 2/1
Last round, and the first time I faced someone I knew, and of course we were playing for money :(. Game 1 I got trounced. Game two my sideboard shined and I responded to his first reanimate spell with Surgical Extraction on Griselbrand. We ripped each others hands apart, and I got lucky with a top deck Force of Will. He couldn't draw into business quickly enough and Batterskull won. Game 3 was really fun. I started with a mull to 6 of Polluted Delta, Thoughtseize, Snapcaster Mage, Spell Snare, and Surgical Extraction and Force of Will. I extracted Griselbrand early on, and from there started to beatdown with my Snapcaster Mage which I cast with no targets since he had no hand and I had drawn another one. A few turns later I cast a Thoughtseize which forced him to try and go off again. He started with Pull from Eternity which I let resolve, knowing I had Snapcaster Mage for Surgical Extraction again. Still in response to my discard spell, he attempted to animate the Griselbrand. I put extraction on the stack, and he added Entomb. Luckily I had drawn a Flusterstorm, and I cast this with three copies on each of his relevant spells. The stack resolved, and he had nothing left in his hand for me to discard. From there my 2 Snapcaster Mages ended it.

Overall I think I did well, in fact it was the first time I won money at an SCG event! Only $50, but got my entry fee back!

The MD changes I would make to the deck are:

• Take out Academy Ruins for something else. I talked about this above.
• Switch the MD Cabal Therapy to an Inquisition of Kozilek. It might be just me, but I really hate seeing therapy turn one on the play of game one. It makes me want to mulligan. I'd much prefer that I have a targeted discard spell. The obvious reason for the therapy is that it had advantages with our creatures. I'm not sure if it's worth it though.

As the sideboard goes I only have one change: Remove one Supreme Verdict, and probably replace it with a Perish. The only game I think I could have won (that I didn't) was the Junk match. I did have both verdicts in the deck, but I feel that Perish would have done the job better at one less mana. All the other matches I used Supreme Verdict I only put one in - so this shouldn't be a problem.

Upcoming tournament, my deck and gameplan:

ESPER STONEBLADE:
CREATURES: [8]
1 Vendilion Clique
4 Stoneforge Mystic
3 Snapcaster Mage


INSTANTS [14]
4 Brainstorm
3 Force of Will
4 Swords to Plowshares
1 Counterspell
2 Spell Snare


PLANESWALKERS [3]
3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor


ARTIFACTS [4]
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Batterskull
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Engineered Explosives


SORCERIES [9]
2 Thoughtseize
1 Vindicate
2 Inquisition of Kozilek
3 Lingering Souls
1 Supreme Verdict


LAND [22]
2 Island
1 Plains
1 Swamp
3 Tundra
3 Underground Sea
1 Scrubland
4 Flooded Strand
3 Polluted Delta
2 Marsh Flats
1 Karakas
1 Academy Ruins


SIDEBOARD [15]
2 Humility
1 Supreme Verdict
1 Force of Will
1 Flusterstorm
1 Disenchant
2 Surgical Extraction
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
3 Geist of Saint Traft
1 Nihil Spellbomb
2 Spell Pierce



SIDEBOARDING GUIDE:


****AGGRO****


+++++++++++++++++++++++
Goblins:
OUT:
3x Force of Will

IN:
2x Humility
1x Supreme Verdict

+++++++++++++++++++++++
RUG:
OUT:
3x Force of Will
1x Vindicate

IN:
2x Spell Pierce
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
1x Supreme Verdict

+++++++++++++++++++++++
Maverick:
OUT:
3x Force of Will
1x Spell Snare

IN:
2x Humility
1x Supreme Verdict
1x Sword of Feast and Famine

+++++++++++++++++++++++
JUNK, Loam, ETC:
Out:
OUT:
3x Force of Will
1x Spell Snare

IN:
2x Humility
1x Supreme Verdict
1x Sword of Feast and Famine

Potentially bring in Surgical Extraction (Life from the Loam, etc)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Stoneblade (all varients)
OUT:
3x Force of Will

IN:
3x Geist of Saint Traft

+++++++++++++++++++++++
Merfolk:
OUT:
3x Force of Will

IN:
2x Humility
1x Supreme Verdict

+++++++++++++++++++++++
Affinity:
OUT:
1x Jace, the Mind Sculptor
3x Force of Will

IN:
1x Supreme Verdict
2x Spell Pierce
1x Disenchant

+++++++++++++++++++++++
Mono-Red (RDW):
OUT:
1x Supreme Verdict
1x Vindicate
1x Jace, the Mind Sculptor
3x Lingering Souls

IN:
1x Force of Will
2x Spell Pierce
3x Geist of Saint Traft

+++++++++++++++++++++++
U/R Delver:
OUT:
1x Supreme Verdict
1x Vindicate
3x Force of Will

IN:
2x Spell Pierce
3x Geist of Saint Traft

+++++++++++++++++++++++
Jund
OUT:
3x Force of Will

IN:
2x Humility
1x Sword of Feast and Famine


****COMBO****

+++++++++++++++++++++++
Reanimator:
OUT:
3x Lingering Souls
1x Engineered Explosives
1x Umezawa's Jitte

IN:
1x Nihil Spellbomb
2x Surgical Extraction
2x Spell Pierce

Bring in Humility if you expect them to play Show and Tell
++++++++++++++++++++++
Tin-Fins
OUT:
3x Lingering Souls
1x Engineered Explosives
1x Umezawa's Jitte

IN:
2x Surgical Extraction
2x Spell Pierce
1x Flusterstorm

Bring in Humility if you expect them to play Show and Tell
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Show and Tell:
OUT:
1x Engineered Explosives
1x Umezawa's Jitte
4x Swords to Plowshares
1x Vindicate

IN:
2x Spell Pierce
2x Humility
1x Force of Will
1x Flusterstorm
1x Sword of Feast and Famine

Be prepared for Omniscience. Disenchant is relevant.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Sneak and Show
OUT:
1x Engineered Explosives
1x Umezawa's Jitte
4x Swords to Plowshares

IN:
2x Spell Pierce
2x Humility
1x Force of Will
1x Disenchant

+++++++++++++++++++++++
Dredge:
OUT:
3x Lingering Souls

IN:
1x Nihil Spellbomb
2x Surgical Extraction

+++++++++++++++++++++++
ANT/Fetchland Tendrils/Belcher decks:
OUT:
4x Swords to Plowshares
1x Vindicate
1x Umezawa's Jitte
1x Supreme Verdict
2x Stoneforge Mystic
1x Batterskull


IN:
1x Force of Will
2x Spell Pierce
1x Flusterstorm
2x Surgical Extraction
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
3x Geist of Saint Traft

Dark Confidant exists, be prepared.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
High Tide
4x Swords to Plowshares
1x Vindicate
1x Umezawa's Jitte
1x Supreme Verdict
2x Stoneforge Mystic
1x Batterskull

IN:
1x Force of Will
2x Spell Pierce
1x Flusterstorm
2x Surgical Extraction
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
3x Geist of Saint Traft

+++++++++++++++++++++++
Turbo Eldrazi (YOU ARE PROBABLY FUCKED)
OUT:
4x Swords to Plowshares
1x Umezawa's Jitte
2x Spell Snare
1x Supreme Verdict

IN:
2 Humility
1 Force of Will
2 Surgical Extraction
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
2 Spell Pierce

+++++++++++++++++++++++
Elves:
OUT:
3x Force of Will

IN:
1x Supreme Verdict
2x Humility

+++++++++++++++++++++++
MUD
OUT:
1x Umezawa's Jitte
2x Spell Snare

IN:
2x Humility
1x Disenchant

Brings in Spell Pierce if you are on the play (to deal with Chalice, Trin, etc)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Enchantress
OUT:
1x Umezawa's Jitte
4x Swords to Plowshares

IN:
2x Spell Pierce
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
1x Disenchant
1x Force of Will


****CONTROL*****

+++++++++++++++++++++++
Nic-Fit
OUT:
2x Spell Snare
1x Engineered Explosives
4x Swords to Plowshares

IN:
2x Humility
1x Supreme Verdict
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
2x Spell Pierce
1x Nihil Spellbomb

+++++++++++++++++++++++
BUG Control:
OUT:
3x Force of Will
1x Supreme Verdict

IN:
3x Geist of Saint Traft
1x Sword of Feast and Famine

+++++++++++++++++++++++
U/W Miracles:
OUT:
1x Umezawa's Jitte
4x Swords to Plowshares

IN:
3x Geist of Saint Traft
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
1x Disenchant

Prepare for Venser, Shaper Savant. Potentially leave in Swords to Plowshares.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
U/B Tezzeret
OUT:
1x Umezawa's Jitte
2x Spell Snare

IN:
1x Disenchant
2x Spell Pierce


EDIT: Updated with revised strategies, etc.

A few questions for you mini1337. I've been considering swapping my 4th snapcaster for a clique. How are you liking it? Do you lose any versatility? Does it create a good clock?

Why the top? Is it that much better than the singleton ponder?

Is 22 land enough? I'm running 23, and I occasionally flounder without enough mana.

Quote:

---

ANT/Fetchland Tendrils/Belcher decks:
OUT:
4x Swords to Plowshares (think about Dark Confidant)
1x Engineered Explosives
1x Umezawa's Jitte
1x Supreme Verdict
2x Stoneforge Mystic
1x Batterskull


IN:
1x Force of Will
2x Spell Pierce
1x Flusterstorm
2x Surgical Extraction
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
3x Geist of Saint Traft

---

I don't understand why you side out batterskull against storm. I still think batterskull is the best equipment to sneak in against storm. It's the best clock, allows you to keep mana open and actually gains you life so they need 2 extra storm for each time batterskull connects. I'd say that is very effective.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pherion

A few questions for you mini1337. I've been considering swapping my 4th snapcaster for a clique. How are you liking it? Do you lose any versatility? Does it create a good clock?

Why the top? Is it that much better than the singleton ponder?

Is 22 land enough? I'm running 23, and I occasionally flounder without enough mana.

---

I've been happy with the miser Clique. He's certainly relevant from time to time, and does what the 4th Snapcaster would do ("discard/pseudo *counter*"). The fact that he is a faster clock and messes up Miracles is just a bonus.

The Top is a personal preference. I understand that it's a 2 mana investment everytime you use it like Ponder, but with the high amount of fetchlands, and the potential for it to benefit me in a grindy situation is well worth it. Personal preference, but I've been very happy with it.

Lastely, 22 land is sometimes tight, but I'm comfortable with it. Sometimes it doesn't work out, but the majority of the time it does. I think if I went to 23 land again, it would be a 10th fetchland (brainstorm and top).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AEnesidem

I don't understand why you side out batterskull against storm. I still think batterskull is the best equipment to sneak in against storm. It's the best clock, allows you to keep mana open and actually gains you life so they need 2 extra storm for each time batterskull connects. I'd say that is very effective.

---

Sure, but I haven't played many games where it would be difficult for the Tendrils player to storm 2-8 more times. It's few and fair between that they Tendril for "exactsies" unless they are going off on Turn 1 or 2, where the Batterskull is irrelevant. I understand where you are coming from and it certainly has its applications, but I've found a faster clock in the form of Geist/SoFF works out better.

Questions and thoughts for mini1337s :

What do you think about the 2 snares in your maindeck? I wanted to test them out, but I am not sure if they are better then pierce there.

Next thing up, I think the nic fit sideboard is wrong (at least, it's not how I do it). What I do looks more like this :

http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/s...l=1#post704554

Also, I think I can help a bit with 12 post. I happen to play against it something like 2 hours each week (long story short, me and one of my commander buddy happen to be roughly 2 hours early each commander night on tuesdays, and he only ever has his 12 post on him). I played mostly with u/w against him, but the same theory applies to esper. First, swords to plowshares isn't actually that good against them, simply because if prime time ever gets in the field, you are dead. He won't kill you, but the two lands he will fetch will. Aside from that, emrakul can't be sworded, and if ulamog makes it to the field, you are probably dead in the near future anyways. Giving him 11 lifes will only make your life more difficult after he kills your clock. Next up, candelabra and crop rotation are easy counter targets, along with Show and tell and top.

So yeah, usually, if you want to win game one, you need discard, snapcaster mage, vindicate for his lands, clique (and let me be realist here, you need like at least 2 to even have a chance). Also Remember, again, that if titan resolves, you are dead. Period. Play accordingly.

Looking at your sideboard, This is what I would do :
+ 2 Humility
+ 1 Force of Will
+ 2 Surgical Extraction
+ 1 Sword of Feast and Famine
+ 2 Spell Pierce (Find them better than snare in this matchup, because at least in the early game, you can counter a random crop rotation, or a top, or even a show and tell. Against the mono green version, they usually counter green sun looking for sakura or prime time).


- 4 Swords to Plowshares
- 1 Umezawa's Jitte
- 2 spell snare (only really counters chalice of the void, but does nothing against his other spells, if you are playing against the ug version. Keep them against the mono green version)
- 1 Supreme Verdict

I also take out batterkull and a mystic and explosives to bring in geist, and be on the geist + sword plan. However, I am reluctant to do so here because of the nonbo with humility (that I don't play anymore). If you feel like it, yo can also do so, but I don't know if the nonbo is worth it. Also, humility only really slows them down, but doesn't straight up win against them (they have ulamog, repeal, sometimes grip). when humility is up, you really need a clock (like a lot of souls beating), or it will just be useless, and you will die anyways.

Finally, why do you keep force against u/r delver? I feel like I take them out first. Am i doing something wrong here?

Nic Fit? Aggro? What is this, bizarro land? Newsflash: Not running blue doesn't automatically make you an aggro deck. I mean, the deck plays cards like:

SDT
Deed
Therapy
Sakura-Tribe Elder
Wood Elves
Eternal Witness
Thragtusk
Volrath's Stronghold
Burning Wish for sweepers, Tsunami, Scapeshift...
Avenger of Zendikar

That, to me, screams control. Really, really, really brutal grinding board control.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mini1337s

Love thoughts, comments, suggestions.

---

Do you have any thoughts on value cards like 1xIntuition and 1xTrinket Mage in your deck?

Why would you ever side out Explosives vs Belcher and TES?

@AEnesidem
Thanks will have to try that cockatrice server. I'll have to try Geist. Not sure what to take out of my board for 2 Geist and would have to revise my boarding plans.

Deathblade looks interesting but it is going the aggressive route looking to slam a turn 2 Geist, turn 3 Jace. Losing maindeck counter magic is a big difference. Don't like the only 2 Dark Confidant. I would run 3-4 Dark Confidant. Yes they aren't good in multiples but you still want to draw one and they do get hit by removal.

@mike1987
RUG is pretty annoying if they have Stifle. You have to fetch when they tap down or if you have counter back up or can use discard to make sure they don't have Stifle. Fetch for basics to play around Wasteland. You have to watch out for Stifle on Stoneforge trigger and Engineered Explosives. The mana denial wasteland/stifle decks are the harder match ups other then 12 post.

@KobeBryan
Esperblade has decent match ups against most decks and you can tweak it to improve certain match ups at the expensive of others. 12 post and Wasteland/Stifle/Counters mana denial decks are probably the worst match ups. Unless you can get a fast enough clock out there 12 post just gets tons of mana and plays Emrakul and there isn't much you can do about it without Wasteland unless you are sideboading Humility. Wasteland Stifle Decks can be difficult to beat if you can't cast your spells.

@Matunos
Maindeck Spell Pierces helps the combo match up some. Rest in Peace is pretty good against Aggro Loam. 12 post is just plain miserable.

@Pherion
Thank you for the report. Congrats on finishing in the money. How have Spell Snares been working for you?

I disagree with removing Academy Ruins because recuring Engineered Explosives is very strong vs many decks. Also getting your destroyed equipment back is very nice.

I don't really like Cabal Therapy myself as its only really good with another discard spell and if you can use the flash back but you tend to board out Lingering Souls vs combo.

Top is better then Ponder in the long game where you crack multiple fetchlands and get to see more cards using it. Top is also amazing if you run Dark Confidant. I been running 22 land and its been ok except against mana denial decks.

@mini1337s
Vs Rug, If they have Stifle you probably want Spell Pierce or Fluster Storm to be able to stop them from Stifling your fetches early. 4-6 mana for Humility (don't want to run into Daze or Spell Pierce unless you know the way is clear with discard) can be difficult to reach fighting against Stifle and Wasteland. Supreme Verdict you can just cast at 4 cause they can't counter it. Rest in Peace is pretty good here since it nerfs Goyf, Goose and Lavamancer.

VS ANT/Belcher, I would keep in Explosives since it takes are of the Goblins plan. I would also keep in Stoneforge mystic and the Batterskull and remove Linger Souls instead. Batterskull can gain some life to make it harder for them to Tendrils you out and Lingering Souls is too slow + doesn't do much vs 10+ Goblins.

Vs Mud Spell Pierce can hit Challice or Resistors if your on the play.

ThediscoPower has a good plan vs 12 post. I think 12 post is the worst match up. Krosan Grip gets rid of Humility. Vindicating their land + snapcastering it can buy you enough time sometimes. Discard + Jace fateseal has gotten there but this match up is pretty miserable.

@Final Fortune
I don't really like Intuition since I run 2 Lingering Souls 1 Elspeth instead of 3 Lingering Souls and it opens you up to getting hit by Surgical Extraction. Trinket Mage might be worth it as a 1 of if you run Sensei's Divining Top and 1-2 Engineered Explosives.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ThediscoPower

Questions and thoughts for mini1337s :

What do you think about the 2 snares in your maindeck? I wanted to test them out, but I am not sure if they are better then pierce there.

Next thing up, I think the nic fit sideboard is wrong (at least, it's not how I do it). What I do looks more like this :

http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/s...l=1#post704554

Also, I think I can help a bit with 12 post. I happen to play against it something like 2 hours each week (long story short, me and one of my commander buddy happen to be roughly 2 hours early each commander night on tuesdays, and he only ever has his 12 post on him). I played mostly with u/w against him, but the same theory applies to esper. First, swords to plowshares isn't actually that good against them, simply because if prime time ever gets in the field, you are dead. He won't kill you, but the two lands he will fetch will. Aside from that, emrakul can't be sworded, and if ulamog makes it to the field, you are probably dead in the near future anyways. Giving him 11 lifes will only make your life more difficult after he kills your clock. Next up, candelabra and crop rotation are easy counter targets, along with Show and tell and top.

So yeah, usually, if you want to win game one, you need discard, snapcaster mage, vindicate for his lands, clique (and let me be realist here, you need like at least 2 to even have a chance). Also Remember, again, that if titan resolves, you are dead. Period. Play accordingly.

Looking at your sideboard, This is what I would do :
+ 2 Humility
+ 1 Force of Will
+ 2 Surgical Extraction
+ 1 Sword of Feast and Famine
+ 2 Spell Pierce (Find them better than snare in this matchup, because at least in the early game, you can counter a random crop rotation, or a top, or even a show and tell. Against the mono green version, they usually counter green sun looking for sakura or prime time).


- 4 Swords to Plowshares
- 1 Umezawa's Jitte
- 2 spell snare (only really counters chalice of the void, but does nothing against his other spells, if you are playing against the ug version. Keep them against the mono green version)
- 1 Supreme Verdict

I also take out batterkull and a mystic and explosives to bring in geist, and be on the geist + sword plan. However, I am reluctant to do so here because of the nonbo with humility (that I don't play anymore). If you feel like it, yo can also do so, but I don't know if the nonbo is worth it. Also, humility only really slows them down, but doesn't straight up win against them (they have ulamog, repeal, sometimes grip). when humility is up, you really need a clock (like a lot of souls beating), or it will just be useless, and you will die anyways.

Finally, why do you keep force against u/r delver? I feel like I take them out first. Am i doing something wrong here?

---

My experience with Cloudpost has been limited, but always one-sided :P. Looking at your assessment though, I think your plan is correct, and I'm changing my plan to yours. As for Humility, it's mostly coming in to deal with Primeval Titan triggers.
As for U/R Delver, I keep Force in to deal with Price of Progress and Fireblast. I'm not sure if it's correct, but it's worked in the past. I am going to look at reworking my plan though.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zombie

Nic Fit? Aggro? What is this, bizarro land?

---

You are totally right. I slammed this together in an hour and a half at work, and just went "dudes, derp, in with the aggro plan." Moved to control.

As for both comments on my Nic-Fit sideboarding plan, I completely understand leaving Force in. Humility seems really relevant in this matchup though, and it forces them to find Maelstrom or Vindicate to deal with it. Would something like this work better?
Nic-Fit:
OUT:
2x Spell Snare (Doesn't hit much)
1x Umezawa's Jitte
1x Engineered Explosives? (Doesn't seem relevant)
2-3x Swords to Plowshares? (Seems fairly irrelevant when I'm bringing in Humility and m

IN:
2x Humility
1x Supreme Verdict
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
2x Spell Pierce

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lans89

Why would you ever side out Explosives vs Belcher and TES?

---

Because I'm a donkey. Completely blanked on this one, brought it back in. Trimmed Vindicate from the main.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Final Fortune

Do you have any thoughts on value cards like 1xIntuition and 1xTrinket Mage in your deck?

---

I ran Intuition for a long time, but there are too many Surgical Extractions being played locally. Relevant from time to time, not a bad card to run.
As for Trinket Mage, I'd just rather run Vendilion Clique. Fetches up Engineered Explosives and Top in the main, Spellbomb in the side. Hasn't been relevant for me.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kirika

@mini1337s
Vs Rug, If they have Stifle you probably want Spell Pierce or Fluster Storm to be able to stop them from Stifling your fetches early. 4-6 mana for Humility (don't want to run into Daze or Spell Pierce unless you know the way is clear with discard) can be difficult to reach fighting against Stifle and Wasteland. Supreme Verdict you can just cast at 4 cause they can't counter it. Rest in Peace is pretty good here since it nerfs Goyf, Goose and Lavamancer.

VS ANT/Belcher, I would keep in Explosives since it takes are of the Goblins plan. I would also keep in Stoneforge mystic and the Batterskull and remove Linger Souls instead. Batterskull can gain some life to make it harder for them to Tendrils you out and Lingering Souls is too slow + doesn't do much vs 10+ Goblins.

Vs Mud Spell Pierce can hit Challice or Resistors if your on the play.

ThediscoPower has a good plan vs 12 post. I think 12 post is the worst match up. Krosan Grip gets rid of Humility. Vindicating their land + snapcastering it can buy you enough time sometimes. Discard + Jace fateseal has gotten there but this match up is pretty miserable.

---

@ RUG comment: Humilities trimmed. I've had success in the past with it as it trumps Goyf, Delver, and Goose, but you are right, it's way too slow.

RUG:
OUT:
3x Force of Will
1x Vindicate (too slow)

IN:
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
2x Spell Pierce
1x Supreme Verdict

@ANT/Belcher: Agreed and changed.

@MUD: True, noted on my siding list.

@12Post: Agreed, Discopower knows what's up. Changed my strategy to his, removed "YOU ARE FUCKED" revised to "YOU ARE PROBABLY FUCKED" :)



I appreciate everyone's comments!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kirika

@Final Fortune
I don't really like Intuition since I run 2 Lingering Souls 1 Elspeth instead of 3 Lingering Souls and it opens you up to getting hit by Surgical Extraction. Trinket Mage might be worth it as a 1 of if you run Sensei's Divining Top and 1-2 Engineered Explosives.

---

I think it has added value depending on your SB, I've been experimenting with Meekstone for the RUG matchup for example and it seems legit. Also you can split your graveyard hate between 3 Surgical Extraction and 1 Grafdigger's Cage (etc) and play a sort of prison game post board.

Edit: You can also run a Seat of the Synod or Darksteel Citadel in your manabase for Trinket Mage

I don't think 2 Lingering Souls and Surgical Extraction are legit arguments against Intuition, if you want full value from Intuition with 2 Lingering Souls you can play 1 Cabal Therapy MD and you usually SB out Intuition vs any deck you think that plays Surgical Extraction.

They're definitely tempo sinks tho'.

One question I like to have in my sideboard Zealot persecution vs Maverick, elves, lingering souls, etc... but would you sideboard in Zealot Persecution vs Threshold ?

I always have enough space to side in Zealous Persecution vs RUG.. Killed 2 Mongoose's for me today so I'm satisfied ^^!~

@Everyone: Where can I find any resent tournament report from SCG top 8/top 16 Uwb Blade pilots? Someone with a nice link maybe =)?

I do board persecution in against them if i have the space. I recently replaced my persecution with a perish though because i thought persecution was underwhelming. It's good in the mirror though but in any other scenarioi prefer perish.

Lately i came across Bernie Wen's list which i liked in testing till now. His sideboard has an interesting element though: restoration angel. Has anyone tested this card? He seems better than geist is some scenario's. You can flash him in against combo meaning you won't have to tap out on your turn. Against rug it's a roadblock for all their creatures. In grindy matchups it can reactivate snapcaster or SFM and fly over. Against miracles it can kill planeswalkers and save other creatures from removal although geist is probably better in this MU.
Second thing that crossed my mind is: has anyone considered Bob n the board instead of geist or angel? Bob is a clock against combo and draws us additional counters, it' CA in the grindy matchups and shatters the mirror.

Anyone who has some experience with these?

@mini1337s
Rest in Peace nerfs Goyf and makes Geese 1/1. Delver is still a problem.

@Final Fortune
I find Rest in Peace more relevant then Meekstone in the RUG match up. Making Goyf a useless 0/1 and Goose + Lavamancer 1/1 is pretty good. It does nerf your Snapcaster Mages and lingering souls but I usually board out 1 Snapcaster if I bring in Rest in Peace. Rest in Peace is also an answer to Punishing Fire at least as long as they don't have Abrupt Decay. Extraction and Crypt effects can be played around.

I have run 1-2 Trinket Mage in the past to find Top to take less Bob damage but I like V. Clique better in that slot especially with trend being more combo lately.

I find it hard to find space for Intuition and cutting Forces to 3 and lingering souls to 2 didn't help its utility any.

@Kiwi
Zealous Persecution is not the most effective card vs RUG but if you have the space bring it in. Its good early but Delvers flip pretty quickly and they usually get threshold with in a few turns so Zealous loses its effectiveness as the game goes on. Zealous Persecution might be worth it against R/U Delver as they run Grim Lavamancer but Darkblast is better here as it kills Delvers before they flip and Grim Lavamancer.

@AEnesuden
I run both Zealous Persecution and Perish in the board but I don't run Geists have to figure out what to cut for Geist.

Current board is
1 Disenchant (Equipment, Choke)
1 Darkblast (elves, R/U Delver, other decks with Bob.)
1 Duress (control/combo)
2 Flusterstorm (control/combo)
1 Force of Will (combo)
1 Perish (Green decks)
3 Rest in Peace (Graveyard hate)
1 Supreme Verdict (creatures)
1 Sword of Feast and Famine (green decks, control)
1 Sword of Fire and Ice (control, merfolk)
1 Vendilion Clique (control/combo)
1 Zealous Persecution (elves, death+taxes, mirror)

Thinking cut the Clique and something else for 2 Geists but not sure what.

Restoration Angel might be worth trying but I think the big issue with Restoration Angel is it costs 4. Versus Combo I rather have a Vendillion Clique so I get to see their hand and disrupt them as well as start swinging a full turn sooner. Versus RUG I'd be afraid of running into Daze so that makes it cost 5 mana unless you know the coast is clear. Not the easiest to get to 4-5 mana when getting hit by Stifle and Wasteland. Rebuying Snapcaster would require 5 mana. 6 if your playing around Daze. Don't like having more 4 casting cost cards in my deck that aren't named Jace the Mindsculptor because they aren't good to draw off Bob.

I have been running Bob main deck for years since before Stoneforge Mystic was printed and I was running Dark Confidant Jotun Grunt and Serra Avenger with Jittes. Bob is good versus anything but fast aggro. Bob just got better over the years with Stoneforge + Batterskull and Cavern of Souls. The only issue I have with Bob Stoneblade is your blue count for Force of Will is a little low.

Ended up taking 3rd place out of 57 people! Played Zoo (Rd 1 and Top 8), UWR aggro, UW Miracles, High Tide, UWr Miracles, RUG, and MUD (lost in T4).
List and sideboarding guide is here: http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/s...l=1#post710966

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mini1337s

Ended up taking 3rd place out of 57 people! Played Zoo (Rd 1 and Top 8), UWR aggro, UW Miracles, High Tide, UWr Miracles, RUG, and MUD (lost in T4).
List and sideboarding guide is here: http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/s...l=1#post710966

---

Seems like you evaded all the combo! Congrats on the result!

What's up with everyone cutting U-seas and spell pierces at SCGKC. Spell pierce main seems better than ever now since combo is at a high and RUG will be coming back.