[Deck] Team Italia

[from Cairo]

Guys - Could anyone explain me why you arent playing Deadguy Ale? Its like only Grim Lavamancer and sometimes Bolt to add + a more instable manabase...

Grim, Lightning Bolt and REB/Pyroblast. It's the same cards UW Stoneblade sometimes splash Red for. The first 2 provide some reach and buff the agro matches while not being blanks against non-creature based strategies and the blasts buff the control match. This list tends to get a bit more utility/versatility out of it's cards.

Though to be fair I think the printing of Liliana of the Veil helped Deadguy considerably in versatility department, giving it an extra set of edict effects or a way to continue to apply hand pressure. The deck still kind of lacks a supplemental good 1cc Black creature to curve out with in my opinion.

I'm using Basilisk Collar in modern, because I don't have Jitte available. The synergy with Grim Lavamancer is pretty good, and it can be a singleton in your sideboard. The low cost makes it easy to tutor and play the same turn, without needing to rely on the cheaty effect of Mystic.

I ran Collar with Mental Misstep when it was legal in this deck. The combo with Grim came online a few times, it's good, but a 1/1 is just so easy to nuke and Collar otherwise doesn't add a whole lot to one's clock. I think it's passable with Mirran Crusader since you get a Doublestrike Deathtoucher, but generally speaking I think I want my equipment to do more, even if it costs more.

I think the Tops + Bobs is what makes your deck so damn good. It's a powerful engine that can really make your early-mid game really solid.

Totally agree, a few people have said to drop Top, but I think 2x is really solid especially with 10+ fetches and Stoneforge Mystic. One can really keep pressure up with this card in the list. I haven't seen anyone argue against Bob.

So, from other TI players, if you had 3 Lightning Bolts, Swords to Plowshares, and Hymn to Tourachs, which one would you rather run 4 of?

I hope I'm not being a troll here (I only play TI in modern) but I wouldn't 4-up on Hymn...the double black is somewhat problematic depending on your mix of cards in your hand. I would probably go with 4 Lightning Bolts. They are good at any stage in the game and improve your reach slightly. Given Bob and Tops, 3 Swords should be ok (considering the 4-shot of Vindicate and the high density of disruption/tempo denial options).

@Kich867: With 9 slots to fill between Hymn, Swords and Bolts - I'd max Hymn. It's the only one that provides card advantage and it's at it's best when you see in your opening 7-9 cards. Early double Black shouldn't be much of an issue. I generally grab Badlands and Scrubland as my first 2 duals anyway. Given 9 slots I would run 4 Hymn to Torach, 3 Lightning Bolt, 2 Swords to Plowshares. The Bolts and Swords gives 5 slots to answer turn 1 guys - Nacatl, Delver, Lackey, and early must kills SFM, Bob, etc. Midgame you have 4 Vindicate and 2 Swords to Plowshares to deal with Knight of the Reliquary or Merfolk lords, what have you.

Last thought, and Mr. Troll Safety will go away: Is there a reason (beyond Grim Lavamancer) that 2x Tombstalker isn't used in Team Italia?

Dark Confidant and as you mention Grim both don't play well with Tombstalker. I think the Equipment plan is a more resilient win condition as we don't have much to protect Tombstalker from topdecked removal. Tombstalker also doesn't offer any utility to the deck, it's really just a clock, where most of the guys and spells this deck has apply some disruption or card advantage and on a controlled board with a piece of equipment can seal the game just as well.