[Deck] Aluren

[ThisIsNilla]

What do you guys think of Otaba's list? He has put up 2 5-0s recently with his 4C Explorer list, it seems really toolboxy and has a lot of answers for various matchups.

List: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetyp...g-45347#online

[Moneymakermich]

What do you guys think of Otaba's list? He has put up 2 5-0s recently with his 4C Explorer list, it seems really toolboxy and has a lot of answers for various matchups.

List: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetyp...g-45347#online

I've played quite some time which such a version of the deck. The issues why I've changed:
- against some decks, you help them much with veteran explorer
- the deck has to play cabal therapy and usually this is in the place of FOW. Cabal therapy is strong but I prefer to have FOW.
- Usually this build has no place for ponder, which I feel I need a lot

I liked to play this build a lot but I finally found it 'too fair'

PS: I played phyrexian tower in my build as additional sacrifice possibility and found it great... No idea why he didn' t play it. Maybe because the manabase is already complicated...

[GradStudent]

why Man-o-war instead of quickling and arctic merfolk?

[Vervandi]

Hello all. I've recently moved over to playing Aluren and I really enjoy the deck. I used to play a janky version of the deck when I was a teenager (with silly stuff like soul warden and horned kavu) and I still had the namesake card to slot into this up to date version of the deck. I've found decent success with the deck but I still make mistakes as often as not.

That being said, I am the worst when it comes to building a sideboard. I was wondering if I could share my list and my common matchups and maybe you guys could give me some advice on better sideboard cards? Here is my current list:

Creatures:21
4 Deathrite Shaman
4 Baleful Strix
4 Cavern Harpy
1 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
2 Leovold, Emissary of Trest
2 Parasitic Strix
4 Shardless Agent

Spells:19
4 Brainstorm
3 Ponder
3 Abrupt Decay
1 Sylvan Library
1 Liliana, the Last Hope
3 Aluren
4 Force of Will

Lands:20
2 Bayou
1 Forest
1 Island
4 Misty Rainforest
3 Polluted Delta
1 Swamp
2 Tropical Island
2 Underground Sea
4 Verdant Catacombs

Sideboard:15
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Faerie Macabre
1 Tormod's Crypt
2 Carpet of Flowers
1 Dread of Night
1 Flusterstorm
1 Thoughtseize
1 Bitterblossom
2 Golgari Charm
1 Tablet of the Guilds
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Maelstrom Pulse
1 Toxic Deluge

I commonly face r/b reanimator, burn, miracles, infect, red stompy, death and taxes, to a lesser extent I see Lands, Tezzerator and storm. Looking at my sideboard, I feel like it's a mess of one-ofs and it could be more focused. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[razvan]

why Man-o-war instead of quickling and arctic merfolk?

You can bounce an opponent's creature too. It can be relevant for Dark Depths or what not

[alkiorincognito]

Hey, I am still playing Aluren BUG/Shardless version, but not exclusively that deck :)

Liliana, Last Hope is just a powerful card that demands and answer.
Mini Jace appeared first in a Japanese list. It basically plays the role of Snapcaster, and is good for mana curve because 2cc.

I played 3 Aluren in the MTGO challenge yesterday and made top 8, but I am actually leaning towards playing a version with only 2 Aluren, 3 Harpy, and no other combo pieces - just max value.
Because in many cases against blue decks, casting Aluren, even if you can cast it, and even if you win if it resolves, is incorrect because of the tempo loss involved if it gets countered. This actually happened to me against Stryfo in the challenge, if anyone saw that on stream.
In chess, there is a saying: The threat is stronger than the execution. I think this holds very true for this deck - Aluren is an "ooops I win" threat that the opponent has to play around at all times.
I almost never want to see Aluren in my opening hand. Recruiter version is a different story of course.

I think this deck can be competitive in the current meta. I am not going to post a list, because it changes constantly, but if anyone is considering playing it in major tournament like a GP, let me know if you want me to help with that.

Hey all,

So I've played Aluren off and on for the past few years and I'm thinking I'll be wanting to take it to GP Seattle in a month or so. In this current meta/field that is (seemingly) led by grixis delver, what variations might you make in MB/SB for a big tourney like that?

Cheers!

[FFreak]

I played BUG and BUGw and I think Bug would be better not only relaying on the combo .
At the moment I try around something like cartesian . but I think I go control with 3 aluren , 3 harpy and 2 living wish.

[GradStudent]

You can bounce an opponent's creature too. It can be relevant for Dark Depths or what not

isnt it easier to disrupt with removal?

[FFreak]

PRO: Things like marit lage
CONTRA:

isnt it easier to disrupt with removal?

Yes it IS disrupt able. Quickling (doesnt target - so u search 2 recruiters and he can remove one u target the other)
Arctic merfolk ( kicker = cost , so he cant respond to it ! so arctic is best ^^)

And u always play 2 of those 3

[GradStudent]

PRO: Things like marit lage
CONTRA:



Yes it IS disrupt able. Quickling (doesnt target - so u search 2 recruiters and he can remove one u target the other)
Arctic merfolk ( kicker = cost , so he cant respond to it ! so arctic is best ^^)

And u always play 2 of those 3

ok i guess my question was why does otaba just play only 1 of the 3 , man-o-war

[TTX]

ok i guess my question was why does otaba just play only 1 of the 3 , man-o-war

In absence of his otaba's answer, I'd venture to guess that the corner case in which your opponent both has removal and knows when to disrupt the combo is outweighed by the increased inconsistency realized when drawing 1 or more of the these 4 creatures (Arctic Merfolk; Dream Stalker; Man-O'-War; Quickling) when they're not needed. My favorite is Quickling due to flash and flying, nullifying spot removal can be quite good. However, there are a few scenarios when Arctic Merfolk is superior to all due to it's kicker (all costs are paid simultaneously, so priority is not passed, [the bounced creature will be in your hand before Arctic Merfolk resolves]), however Arctic Merfolk is by far the worst of the 4 when not comboing off. Right now I'm playing 1 Quickling and 1 Man-O'-War main.

[dte]

Right now I'm playing 1 Quickling and 1 Man-O'-War main.

To my opinion that does not make sense: you use two slots for "bad" cards and are still soft to a single removal. For me you should play either 2 that do not target, either 1 man-o-war if you consider that it is the one with most utility (which is the case in my opinion).

[TTX]

To my opinion that does not make sense: you use two slots for "bad" cards and are still soft to a single removal. For me you should play either 2 that do not target, either 1 man-o-war if you consider that it is the one with most utility (which is the case in my opinion).

I don't understand what you've said.

Quickling does not target (it is the primary Recruiter search); Man-O'-War has more utility, yes, but perhaps it's not worth leaving the additional exploit open.

I have for a very long time played 1 Arctic Merfolk and 1 Quickling, but I'm giving Man-O'-War a chance. I'm not set on it yet.

You say my choices are bad then you affirm my choices by repeating my rationale. Are you suggesting I play either 2 that do not target, or 1 Man-O'-War? That does not seem like a fully formed idea. Clearly 1 Man-O'-War is worse, that was the point of this whole discussion.

[dte]

I don't understand what you've said.

Quickling does not target (it is the primary Recruiter search); Man-O'-War has more utility, yes, but perhaps it's not worth leaving the additional exploit open.

I have for a very long time played 1 Arctic Merfolk and 1 Quickling, but I'm giving Man-O'-War a chance. I'm not set on it yet.

You say my choices are bad then you affirm my choices by repeating my rationale. Are you suggesting I play either 2 that do not target, or 1 Man-O'-War? That does not seem like a fully formed idea. Clearly 1 Man-O'-War is worse, that was the point of this whole discussion.

Well, with one quickling + 1 man o war, you fizzle on a single removal, exactly the same as just 1 man o war. So you just wasted that quickling slot:
Rec>Rec>Rec>Quick>Rec>cavern harpy or man o war, response removal, fizzle.

So you have two rational options:
- removal proof, 2 among quickling/merfolk/dream stalker.
- slot economy, 1 man o war.

All other options are just not making sense.

[TTX]

Well, with one quickling + 1 man o war, you fizzle on a single removal, exactly the same as just 1 man o war. So you just wasted that quickling slot:
Rec>Rec>Rec>Quick>Rec>cavern harpy or man o war, response removal, fizzle.

So you have two rational options:
- removal proof, 2 among quickling/merfolk/dream stalker.
- slot economy, 1 man o war.

All other options are just not making sense.

Thank you. That does make sense. I vote for resilience over slot economy. 1 Arctic Merfolk and 1 Quickling it is then.

[diggyben]

I have been Testing out Cartesian's latest 5-0 Aluren list http://www.mtgtop8.com/event?e=18651&d=316290&f=LE. I feel like I'm always siding out the Jaces. I feel like I should maybe switch those out for thoughtseizes or some other value card. Am I missing something, it just never feels super good.

[Serch]

any thought about this list with Ancestral Vision?

http://tcdecks.net/deck.php?id=26976&iddeck=213608

[alkiorincognito]

I have been Testing out Cartesian's latest 5-0 Aluren list http://www.mtgtop8.com/event?e=18651&d=316290&f=LE. I feel like I'm always siding out the Jaces. I feel like I should maybe switch those out for thoughtseizes or some other value card. Am I missing something, it just never feels super good.

Talked to Cartesian a little bit about this... Essentially the reason that Jace is in there is to function as a quasi-snapcaster mage once he flips, which can get us tons of value, as well as some inevitability (flipped jace has to be answered by opponent's deck, or they'll just lose). It's also a great hit off of cascade at pretty much any point in the game, and it pitches to FoW. If you're running this exact 75, I'd be hesitant to cut it for a mainboard black card... makes FoW worse.

[diggyben]

Talked to Cartesian a little bit about this... Essentially the reason that Jace is in there is to function as a quasi-snapcaster mage once he flips, which can get us tons of value, as well as some inevitability (flipped jace has to be answered by opponent's deck, or they'll just lose). It's also a great hit off of cascade at pretty much any point in the game, and it pitches to FoW. If you're running this exact 75, I'd be hesitant to cut it for a mainboard black card... makes FoW worse.

I get it now. You get value from the initial dig, weather its trying to find a combo piece or an answer. You also get value when the game comes to a grind with the snap caster ability every turn. After a few more league games on mtgo I can see its is very good. Quick question any body every play true-name nemesis out of the sideboard.

[fapsik]

Hi from Prague again,


so I got my Imperial Recruiters and suited the Red Aluren. Yesterday, I played 4-round tournament at my LGS and finished 4:0. Actually I lost only one game.

1. round vs. Grixis Pyromancer (2:0) - Cabal Therapy and Sylvan Library took over the game, second game I won by damage, just swinging with Parasitic Strix which I have found with Recruiter.

2. round vs. UW Stoneblade (2:0) - quite easy matchup due to his poor manabase (many basics), which unabled him to cast multiple counterspells. TNN was too slow.

3. round vs. BUG Standstill (2:1) - each game I had Sylvan Library and it was a blast. One game I lost because of his great skills.

4. round vs. 12-Post (2:0) - pre-board a free win. Then he tried to Leyline of Sanctity me, but Reclamation Sage solved all of them mid-combo. But still, very good SB card which turned off my discard and Diabolic Edicts. Magus was the best.


Here is my deck list:


4 Deathrite Shaman
4 Baleful Strix
1 Cavern Harpy
1 Eternal Witness
1 Parasitic Strix
2 Shardless Agent
2 Leovold, Emissary of Trest
3 Abrupt Decay
2 Sylvan Library
4 Imperial Recruiter
2 Dream Stalker
4 Brainstorm
4 Cabal Therapy
2 Thoughtseize
4 Aluren

1 Bayou
2 Forest
1 Island
4 Misty Rainforest
2 Polluted Delta
1 Swamp
2 Tropical Island
1 Underground Sea
4 Verdant Catacombs
1 Taiga
1 Badlands


SB: 1 Toxic Deluge
SB: 1 Faerie Macabre
SB: 2 Diabolic Edict
SB: 2 Fatal Push
SB: 1 Leyline of the Void
SB: 1 Garruk Relentless
SB: 1 Reclamation Sage
SB: 1 Duress
SB: 1 Minister of Pain
SB: 1 Dire Fleet Daredevil
SB: 1 Magus of the Moon
SB: 2 Red Elemental Blast



I have to say, that the red switch was super. Both REB and Magus of the Moon. REB answers Jace and counter key spells (like Fact or Fiction in 12-Post matchup) and Magus helps with all the 3 or -color decks we have around. Dire Fleet Daredevil was a try, just oneof to be sweet. I did not have a chance to make him shine, but I felt it was ok to have him (especially against Czech Pile or other control style decks).

Shardless Agent are little bit awkward, mainly with REBs, but I feel them to be good in number of two. They can help you to overvaule your opponent sometimes and give you chance to grind some games. I would not cut them.


Generally I think the red version is better than white and since we have Imperial Recruiter reprint, I will give it a chance. Looking forward to some greater tournament.