Meh, I can technically get Chants, but I wasn't looking to drop $60 for a playset right now; just wanted to use a cheap alternative until I can unload $60 comfortably. If they're that necessary, then I guess I'll just wait to play TES until I get the Chants.
Out of curiosity... do you guys see any other TES players in your area... or even storm combo? The only Storm Combo decks that isn't Belcher I've seen since middle of last year was B.C.'s SI and a Fetchland Tendrils at Hadley. I'm based out of Eastern MA, but haven't been to RI/Wareham yet. I'm wondering how many players of this are actually out there...
In my Area I was the only player too until I started selling TES because the meta has changed to 50% Chalice Aggro 40% Counterbalance. But actually nobody outa here is playin a deck like tes.
Actually yes, there is another player in our meta, he doesn't come on Wednesdays, but he's around on Fridays.
He plays 3 decks, Death and Taxes, Dragon Stompy, and TES
A great D&T and DStompy player, be needs some with TES.
Only because he really hasn't practiced with it.
Our meta has a lot of blue, and it gets tough.
Plus, all the G/B Rock/Eva variants are enough to give combo migraines with their 3x maindeck extirpates and such.
Do you think replacing pyroblasts with bound/determined is a good idea ? I'm really having trouble, because il just lose so many games when i combo off and discard pyroblast, and my tutor gets countered ...
My meta is really, really blue heavy (along with some discard), and i see no counterbalance (it doesn't see to much play here in France).
Also, to answer Dilettante : I saw a kobolds combo player three months ago, but that's the only one I can remember. I don't think I have seen any in my meta since summer 2007.
I want to play bound/Determined. Except it sucks with Dark Confidant and costs UG. Maybe I'll try it. Altough, to me it seems
abeyance would be better.
EDit: If you don't play to play Chant, play Swarm. Blast is an awful MD slot.
Yeah, I think I'll run Swarm (even if it sucks compared to Chant). $1.49 per Swarm is easier to deal with than $19.99 per Chant.
What about Bound/Determined as a cheap alternative to that Chant slot? Determined shuts down Counterbalance, which Abeyance, Chant, and Swarm cannot.
EDIT: To support Bound/Determined, would +4 ESG, -4 SSG work? Rite of Flame, Petals, and other mana sources would still cover the R needed for Burning Wish, Shattering Spree, etc., but ESG would make Determined easier to cast.
Last edited by Arsenal; 04-01-2008 at 05:14 PM.
I haven't played Confidant in TES for a while, but I know where you're coming from on that one.Originally Posted by Bryant C.
Abeyance IS good, and I was thinking of trying that, too.
But I love how Bound/Determined overrides Chalice and occasionally Counterbalance.
Anymore, my SB might change to 4x Pyroblast 2x Krosan Grip again, but I really think Bound/Determined is good.
My meta has had a shift to include black and artifacts lately, so the 2 REBs have had to come out in place of other things.
I might give ol' Abeyance a shot again, because I still have some Japanese ones.
Also of course because 1W is easier than UG. We'll see, we'll see :D
No. Determined would be SB at best and SSG is just better. EtW, Rite of Flame, Burning Wish, and Shattering Spree need the red. It shouldn't be that difficult to get UG.
I do like it a lot and wonder how I never thought of it when I tried it in Solidarity. It is another awesome answer to CB. What would a SB look like? A lot of hate for counters.
4 Determined
4 Pyroblast
1 Shattering Spree
1 Tranquility
1 Igg
1 Tendrils
1 EtW
1 Diminishing Returns
1 Infernal Contract
That may be too much because I would still want to add a Thoughtseize, more Shattering Sprees, etc, but it looks strong.
@Arsenal:
Run SSG... Don't forget that it's a counter-Daze, though it doesn't count as a spell. You don't have anything else that avoids the stack like that. It also *really* helps for correcting your mana to go off on the RoF route.
If you have the whole rest of the list, the only swap you'd need to make is Chant for Swarm... but I'd save up your trade stock and slide the Chants in over time... or wait till the Extended rollover, though I do not expect them to dip (note I said dip instead of drop) any more than to $12 or so.
ESG does the exact same thing... except produce red which is a must have.
Don't run SSG and don't run krosan grip. They aren't worth it.
Off topic, but I just noticed the name change.
Abeyance just seems bad. Its like Chant, but worse because of the 2cc and doesn't stop the big issue here. Counterbalance is what pwns the deck and Determined can stop that if it resolves. I really want to try it, but Abeyance just seems bad.
Meh, this whole discussion really started by me being poor. I'm really liking Determined in that Chant slot, since I can't afford Chants atm. I think I'll play those instead of Swarm and see how it goes. Until I get the Chants needed, I'll use Determined, Swarm, Abeyance (in that order).
Does Bound/Determined have cc +2 to circumvent Counterbalance when it's on the stack? I don't see Bound/Determined's advantages over Abeyance/Xantid Swarm/Pryo Blast other wise.
Yeah ESG is never a good choice for deck that so loves its red mana.
Also, never forget that with SSG you are making Pyroblast the closest thing to FoW as it can be.
Hell, one time the Ichorid player was on the play and went LED-Breakthrough and started to dredge and I almost had to physically stop him.
Haha, remove SSG ... PYROBLAST o____0 lol good times
If Determined resolves then an active counterbalance doesn't matter. If a Xantid Swarm attacks or a Chant resolves, Counterbalance can still be very active. If Abeyance resolves, Counterbalance itself is still active and countering whatever is equal to the top card. It comes down like this: if Determined resolves, Counterbalance is completely worthless. This means they need a counter in hand or a spell with CMC = 2 in their top 3. If Determined didn't resolve, Chant/Abeyance/Swarm/Pyroblast aren't resolving either. Pyroblast is the only thing that's similar in stopping CB, but it makes Top slightly more relevant.
BZK! - Storm Boards
Been there, tried that, still casting Doomsday.
Drawing my deck for 0 mana since 2013.
Right, but I doubt Bound/Determined is a better answer to Counterbalance than a Blast countering Counterbalance or putting Sensei's Divining Top on top of the deck. Bound/Determined is better in LED vs counter scenarios, but if the objective is to SB disruption that addresses Counterbalance, then it's a moot point. On average, Balance/Top is going to hit a 2cc card, so why SB it over Blast?
Like I was saying, it is also really good against Chalice. No one sees it coming.
Goblins lays out the chalice for 0 and suddenly it isn't buying them time because you just play Determined and lay your crap to go off.
Also, don't underestimate its power to be imprinted. Having a Chrome Mox that can make blue AND black is better than you think.
That's not as narrow as it looks, trust me.
Why choose one or the other... when you might be better off having both in your SB so that the option is there? Counterbalance is a card thrown off by imbalances. Why not do so with your solutions for it?
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