[Primer] Six Shades of Dressnought aka Vaka-Nought

[johncarvalho]

Good questions.

Narset is for midrange/control matchups like Beans. Narset shuts off their draw engine and is harder to answer, while they have a ton of answers for Hullbreacher. We are not really speed-running those matches, just trying to not get blown out by all their removal. Narset replaces itself so you always trade positively, which helps in that fight. Hullbreacher often just trades 1-for-1 with a 1-mana removal.

Powder Keg was great pre-MH3. Tough to evaluate it vs Wrath post-MH3. Powder Keg does the job well but misses enchantments. I like that Wrath is "X or less" instead of "equal to X". Wrath answers artifact lands, Urza's Saga, constructs, and cheap artifacts all at once. Deserves testing.

Ratchet Bomb hits more permanents but misses Artifact lands and Urza's Saga. Blue artifacts look to be strong post-MH3. But it's hard to predict the new meta.

Prismatic Ending is worse with 2 colors. The deck needs noncreature removal though. March of Otherworldly Light is underwhelming too. Maybe the slot is better as another Wrath of the Skies, Ratchet Bomb, Powder Keg, or Serenity. Needs testing.

I feel WW in Wrath makes it a harder choice then keg/bomb, not sure

[Captain Hammer]

I already posted my thoughts on Monoblue earlier. But Ive talked up Thrull since day one and do think that in the current meta, the white splash is worth it even for just Thrull alone.

As far UW goes…

The problem is not if it gets answered, but paying the mana.

Stifle + Nulldrifter = 4 lands
Dress Down + Nulldrfiter = 3 lands
Thrull + Nulldrifter = 3 lands

4 lands is not easy with 18 lands, Wasteland, Daze, etc.
Stifle is also the worst one with Dreadnought. Maybe Stifle should be 3 copies. See this Ark4n Challenge Top 8 list with 3 Stifle: https://www.mtgtop8.com/event?e=55839&d=615613&f=LE

This seems like a good starting point for UW

//Lands: 18
4 Wasteland
4 Flooded Strand
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Polluted Delta
1 Prismatic Vista
2 Tundra
1 Meticulous Archive
3 Island
1 Plains

//Threats: 10
4 Phyrexian Dreadnought
4 Nulldrifter
2 Murktide Regent

//Enablers: 10
3 Stifle
3 Doorkeeper Thrull
4 Dress Down

//Core UW Spells: 16
4 Force Will
4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
4 Swords to Plowshares


Total = 54 cards main

Those are the best threats and spells. Can't go lower than 18 lands or 10 enablers. Leaves room for 6 more.

Competing for those last 6 slots:
4 Daze
2 Brazen Borrower
2 Lorien Revealed
1 Stifle
1 Doorkeeper Thrull
1 Murktide Regent
1 Otawara, Soaring City
1 blue fetch/dual

4 Daze + 2 Borrower matches past discussion.
Maybe 3 Daze + 1 Borrower + 1 Otawara + 1 Thrull

For the sideboard this looks good
//Side: 15
2 Force of Negation
2 Prismatic Ending
2 Surgical Extraction
2 Unlicensed Hearse
2 Null Rod
1 Blue Elemental Blast
1 Hydroblast
1 Flusterstorm
1 Narset, Parter of Veils
1 Ugin's Binding


Unlicensed Hearse is proven strong in Dreadnought. You can Crew with evoke Nulldrifter, even if you don't keep the creature.

Ugin's Binding has potential with Nulldrifter in slower grindy matches.

This is a really excellent analysis of the optimal UW build post MH3. I think you are spot on regarding what to play.

I think Bant still has potential though. Uro drawing cards every swing is a big upgrade over Murktide.

For the Bant list I would play the same core as UW above except…

18 Lands

//Threats: 11
4 Phyrexian Dreadnought
4 Nulldrifter
3 Uro

//Enablers: 11
3-4 Doorkeeper Thrull
3-4 Stifle
4 Dress Down

//Core Spells: 20
4 Force Will
4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
4 Swords to Plowshares
2-3 Daze
1-2 Prismatic Ending

Prismatic Ending is our answer to a resolved Chalice. Daze is my pick for the remaining slots. Daze is really key to the early game and as an unexpected 2 of, its also going to be relevent mid to late game.

I am also excited to try Jeskai. It would be identical to above but playing Phlage, Titan of Fire's Fury in place of Uro. Trading the card draw for a resolved Lightning Bolt doesnt seem like a bad trade. But not being able to pitch Phlage to FoW is a bummer.

And as a big fan of Thoughtseize in this deck as a way to clear the path for Nought, I think Nulldrifter enables a very potent Esper list with Dreadnought, Nulldrifter, Murktide and possibly a few Death’s Shadow as the threatbase.

[johncarvalho]

I already posted my thoughts on Monoblue earlier. But Ive talked up Thrull since day one and do think that in the current meta, the white splash is worth it even for just Thrull alone.

As far UW goes…



This is a really excellent analysis of the optimal UW build post MH3. I think you are spot on regarding what to play.

I think Bant still has potential though. Uro drawing cards every swing is a big upgrade over Murktide.

For the Bant list I would play the same core as UW above except…

18 Lands

//Threats: 11
4 Phyrexian Dreadnought
4 Uro
3 Nulldrifter

//Enablers: 10-11
3 Stifle
3-4 Doorkeeper Thrull
4 Dress Down

//Core Spells: 20
4 Force Will
4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
4 Swords to Plowshares
2 Prismatic Ending
2 Daze
0-1 Lorien Revealed

Prismatic Ending is our answer to a resolved Chalice. Daze is my pick for the remaining slots. Daze is really key to the early game and as an unexpected 2 of, its also going to be relevent mid to late game.

I am also excited to try Jeskai. It would be identical to above but playing Phlage, Titan of Fire's Fury in place of Uro. Trading the card draw for a resolved Lightning Bolt doesnt seem like a bad trade. But not being able to pitch Phlage to FoW is a bummer.

And as a big fan of Thoughtseize in this deck as a way to clear the path for Nought, I think Nulldrifter enables a very potent Esper list with Dreadnought, Nulldrifter, Murktide and possibly a few Death’s Shadow as the threatbase.

jeskai enables fling

[babau]

why 4 uro and 3 nulldrifter?

1)uro is legendary

2) in round 3 better nulldrifter in to play

3) multiple uro in hand/graveyard is only for pitch

[johncarvalho]

Im thinking nulldrifter, dreadnought and st katherine are the creatures I would use, as you dont need your graveyard for them to work, and you can pack in stuff like rest in peace in the sb.

[babau]

Im thinking nulldrifter, dreadnought and st katherine are the creatures I would use, as you dont need your graveyard for them to work, and you can pack in stuff like rest in peace in the sb.

+1
Totally agree

someone tested ledger shredder ?

[Clark Kant]

Here is some early gameplay of Dressnought featuring Nulldrifter…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wAFGFh...VjaWJsZQ%3D%3D

[babau]

I'm not sure that with nulldrifther the regent slots are well spent.

[Captain Hammer]

I'm not sure that with nulldrifther the regent slots are well spent.

I think its worthwhile as a 1-3 of.

Boshnroll posted a fantastic video with UW Dressnought…

https://youtu.be/41AWAgAzOtc?si=ukuGjIrNhv96Gpi5

[babau]

Seeing BoshnRoll play is a privilege, it always gives the impression of having everything under control.

two considerations on the build the regent has never been decisive, the manabase is solid and we have the stifles to protect us from wasteland why not otawara in 1x?

[babau]

given that the main seems quite solid to me and only two or three cards vary based on personal preferences, we could start discussing side choices based on the meta.

[FTW]

given that the main seems quite solid to me and only two or three cards vary based on personal preferences, we could start discussing side choices based on the meta.

The maindeck is far from solved. There are many versions running around.

Esper Frog 1st place: https://www.mtgtop8.com/event?e=56947&d=624929&f=LE


//Creatures: 15
4 Phyrexian Dreadnought
4 Psychic Frog
3 Doorkeeper Thrull
3 Nulldrifter
1 Brazen Borrower

//Spells: 24
4 Force of Will
4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
4 Stifle
4 Swords to Plowshares
4 Daze

//Enchantments: 3
3 Dress Down

//Lands: 19
4 Flooded Strand
4 Polluted Delta
2 Underground Sea
1 Tundra
1 Scrubland
1 Meticulous Archive
1 Island
1 Plains
4 Wasteland


UW Thrull 1st place: https://www.mtgtop8.com/event?e=56922&d=624504&f=LE

//Creatures: 13
4 Phyrexian Dreadnought
4 Doorkeeper Thrull
4 Nulldrifter
1 Brazen Borrower

//Spells: 24
4 Force of Will
4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
4 Stifle
4 Swords to Plowshares
3 Daze
1 Lorien Revealed

//Enchantments: 4
4 Dress Down

//Lands: 19
4 Flooded Strand
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Prismatic Vista
2 Tundra
1 Meticulous Archive
3 Island
2 Plains
4 Wasteland



UW 15land brew 1st place: https://www.mtgtop8.com/event?e=56962&d=625041&f=LE


//Creatures: 11
4 Phyrexian Dreadnought
3 Doorkeeper Thrull
3 Nulldrifter
1 Triumph of Saint Katherine

//Spells: 29
4 Force of Will
4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
4 Stifle
4 Swords to Plowshares
3 Prismatic Ending
4 Daze
2 Wrath of the Skies

//Enchantments: 4
4 Dress Down

//Lands: 16
4 Flooded Strand
2 Tundra
2 Island
1 Plains
1 Karakas
1 Mystic Sanctuary
1 Sink into Stupor
4 Wasteland


(16 lands and so few "Island" seems too greedy, but I like the Wrath tech for the board)

[babau]

The most played list is uw.
the others are sporadic for now.
Like the one from boshnroll

[Captain Hammer]

Uro is much better than Psychic Frog.

Play this list…

https://youtu.be/41AWAgAzOtc?si=ukuGjIrNhv96Gpi5

But add 3 Uro and the 4th Thrull.

[FTW]

ThrabenU 4-1 with UW:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcj_IPKEGOw
4-0 / 8-0 in first 4 rounds, only losing Round 5 after horrible variance in land draws

This looks so much better since pivoting off Uro.


//Creatures: 13
4 Phyrexian Dreadnought
4 Doorkeeper Thrull
4 Nulldrifter
1 Brazen Borrower

//Spells: 24
4 Force of Will
4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
4 Stifle
4 Swords to Plowshares
4 Daze

//Enchantments: 4
4 Dress Down

//Lands: 19
4 Wasteland
4 Flooded Strand
2 Scalding Tarn
2 Misty Rainforest
3 Tundra
1 Meticulous Archive
2 Island
1 Plains

//Sideboard: 15
2 Harbinger of the Seas
2 Force of Negation
2 Wrath of the Skies
2 Prismatic Ending
1 Path to Exile
3 Surgical Extraction
1 Hydroblast
1 Deafening Silence
1 Grafdigger's Cage



Another 1st place list: https://www.mtgtop8.com/event?e=57397&d=628670&f=LE

[babau]

I play the same list but with
-1 thrull +1 brazen
-1 tundra+1 otawara

[FTW]

I play the same list but with
-1 thrull +1 brazen
-1 tundra+1 otawara

I like the extra bounce to answer Chalice @ 1 on the draw G1. Also Ensnaring Bridge.

What do you have in your SB? Harbinger and Wrath seem strong in the right matches.

[babau]

2 hydroblast
1 blue elemental blast
2 force of negation
2 surgical
2rest in peace
2 stony of silence
1 back to basic (like it more the harbinger)
1 containement priest (now is very strong possible +1)
2 prismatic

I'm keeping this but I'm practically not playing due to work.:-)


I'm very curious to try Tamiyo
with 4 brainstorms and 4 nulldrifthers, it seems easy enough to flip it.

tamiyo round 1, thrull opponed eot round 2 e nulldrifther turn 3 ......................

Another card that seems worth trying is deem inferior,

[babau]

https://www.mtgtop8.com/event?e=57887&d=632508&f=LE

curie--tamyio

[Captain Hammer]

https://www.mtgtop8.com/event?e=57887&d=632508&f=LE

curie--tamyio

Curie is cool tech but the deck has minimal room for flex slots. Its insane this listisnt playing Nulldrifter for instance.

Dressnought is having its moment though. It has the second best win record in the format and very few decks are prepared for it.