[Deck] Survival

[aznepyon7]

I run two Rectors in my GBW Survival, which has always worked out perfectly as my enchantment line up is:

4 Survival of the Fittest
2 Deed
1 Recurring Nightmare
1 Moat

Also, I don't see how anyone could be running GBW Survival without Vials, the deck is very mana hungry. I run 4 in my build, and wouldn't have it any other way.

Mind if you post your decklist? I can't find slots to really take anything out. I already took macabre out and that annoys me quite a bit.

[Kesta]

I'm not convinced of Vial in rock survival if you play Pernicious deed.

Here my last build:

// Lands
1 Scrubland
3 Bayou
1 Plains
1 Swamp
4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Windswept Heath
2 Savannah
5 Forest

// Creatures
1 Qasali Pridemage
1 Wickerbough Elder
1 Shriekmaw
1 Loxodon Hierarch
1 Faerie Macabre
1 Genesis
3 Birds of Paradise
1 Loyal Retainers
1 Academy Rector
4 Tarmogoyf
2 Eternal Witness
1 Kitchen Finks
1 Squee, Goblin Nabob
1 Iona, Shield of Emeria

// Spells
4 Survival of the Fittest
2 Sensei's Divining Top
4 Swords to Plowshares
3 Thoughtseize
3 Cabal Therapy
1 Recurring Nightmare
2 Pernicious Deed

// Sideboard
1 Spore Frog
2 Gaddock Teeg
1 Ethersworn Canonist
3 Krosan Grip
2 Choke
3 Engineered Plague
1 Moat
1 Faerie Macabre
1 Loaming Shaman

Feel free to comment or ask if you have question about the card choice.

cheers

[aznepyon7]

I'm not convinced of Vial in rock survival if you play Pernicious deed.

Here my last build:

// Lands
1 Scrubland
3 Bayou
1 Plains
1 Swamp
4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Windswept Heath
2 Savannah
5 Forest

// Creatures
1 Qasali Pridemage
1 Wickerbough Elder
1 Shriekmaw
1 Loxodon Hierarch
1 Faerie Macabre
1 Genesis
3 Birds of Paradise
1 Loyal Retainers
1 Academy Rector
4 Tarmogoyf
2 Eternal Witness
1 Kitchen Finks
1 Squee, Goblin Nabob
1 Iona, Shield of Emeria

// Spells
4 Survival of the Fittest
2 Sensei's Divining Top
4 Swords to Plowshares
3 Thoughtseize
3 Cabal Therapy
1 Recurring Nightmare
2 Pernicious Deed

// Sideboard
1 Spore Frog
2 Gaddock Teeg
1 Ethersworn Canonist
3 Krosan Grip
2 Choke
3 Engineered Plague
1 Moat
1 Faerie Macabre
1 Loaming Shaman

Feel free to comment or ask if you have question about the card choice.

cheers

How did the Veteran Explorer go? It was excellent against Zoo. I love the quick Deed activation and the rector. BTW why Hierarch over a second finks? I usually run at least 3 finks.

What decks do you use the Spore Frog against?

[Kesta]

Veteran explorer: i use it when i have to face a lot of land disturption (canathresh,pox,gob,merfolk) but those day theres much more combo and aggro-controle deck where explorer doesnt shine.
Hierarch: survive to a deed at 3, gives you 4 life, is better against CBdeck and is a better beater (like wickerbough elder over 2nd qasali)
Spore frog is a must against merfolk, NO, reanimator, ichorid, .... 4 mana with genesis in graveyard is usually win.

Last tournament i remove it from my 75 coz i saw only 2 merfolk deck, no reanimator or ichorid and 1 NOrock: 1st round merfolk, G1 i stabilize but he topdeck 3 lord at 3 mana with vial at 3 and i miss a frog to lock. G2 I mull to 5 and see nothing relevant. 2nd Round the 2nd merfolk ;) G1 good start i see he plays white i drop iona after a therapy seeing no StP but 3lords in hand i name blue....he topdeck StP...next G2 stabillize but miss frog to lock he overrun me. round 3 MonoB win 2-0, round 4 CBdeck win 2-0, round 5 elves win 2-0... -> 30 ppl and 2 merfolk i have to face both the 2 first round... damned

[Conelead]

I've found Birds of Paradise to be absolutely amazing, to the point where I want a 5th copy of it (probably Noble Hierarch). The T1 Bird into Survival play is just so strong. This is my current list:

1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
3 Swamp
6 Forest
1 Plains
1 Windswept Heath
1 Marsh Flats
4 Verdant Catacomb
2 Bayou
1 Taiga
1 Savannah
1 Scrubland

3 Tarmogoyf
1 Anger
1 Academy Rector
2 Kitchen Finks
1 Genesis
1 Squee, Goblin Nabob
1 Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
2 Eternal Witness
4 Birds of Paradise
1 Shriekmaw
1 Fleshbag Marauder
1 Harmonic Sliver
1 Spore Frog
1 Loaming Shaman
1 Faerie Macabre

2 Thoughtseize
3 Cabal Therapy
4 Survival of the Fittest
1 Recurring Nightmare
1 Pernicious Deed
3 Swords to Plowshares
2 Living Wish

Sideboard:
1 Marsh Flats
1 Academy Rector
1 Kitchen Finks/Loxodon Hierarch
1 Eternal Witness
1 Shriekmaw
1 Thoughtseize
1 Cabal Therapy
1 Faerie Macabre
1 Ethersworn Cannonist
3 Krosan Grip
1 Acidic Slime
1 Vexing Shusher
1 Priest of Gix

I'm considering cutting the Wishes from the maindeck (although they've been decent), for the 4th Swords and a 3rd Thoughtseize or 2nd Deed. That would allow me to run Gaddock Teeg in the sideboard also. The wishes were originally there as an attempt to integrate the Hexmage/Depths combo into the deck. That proved to be too cute, although I did like what Wish allowed me to do, so they're still there currently.

[1mpulse]

Mind if you post your decklist? I can't find slots to really take anything out. I already took macabre out and that annoys me quite a bit.

Yeah, sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, some how I missed your post.

1mpulse's GBW Survival:

4x Birds of Paradise
3x Wall of Blossoms
1x Gaddock Teeg
1x Qasali Pridemage
1x Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
1x Squee, Goblin Nabob
1x Big Game Hunter
1x Bone Shredder
2x Eternal Witness
2x Kitchen Finks
2x Academy Rector
1x Spike Weaver
1x Reveillark
1x Shriekmaw
1x Genesis
1x Yosei, the Morning Star

4x Survival of the Fittest
2x Pernicious Deed
1x Recurring Nightmare
1x Moat

4x AEther Vial

4x Cabal Therapy

4x Bayou
4x Savannah
3x Forest
1x Plains
1x Swamp
4x Verdant Catacombs
3x Windswept Heath


2x Choke
1x Ethersworn Canonist
3x Faerie Macabre
2x Fleshbag Marauder
2x Gaddock Teeg
1x Kitchen Finks
2x Krosan Grip
2x Qasali Pridemage

This is what I played at SCG Indy, coming in 20th. My only match loss all day was to Chris Woltereck in round 9. I actually beat the exact same Land deck, card for card the in round 8, the only differnce being... I lost the dice roll. :(

I really wish I could fit a Faerie Macabre in the main, but, there is just no space. =/

Spore Frog is horrible. Spike Weaver is way better, in almost every way.

[Muela]

@1mpulse Can you buy enough time to recover vs Zoo with that list? How do you do against combo?

[Black Mass]

@ 1mpulse

Why do you play a Boneshredder over a second Shriekmaw or a Fleshbag Marauder? I can't imagine paying the echo cost nor believe that flying matters.

[Waikiki]

I think since it blocks it buys you time.

Also I dont see any sword to plowshares :( Also no love for loyal iona combo?

I will test the deck out tho.

[1mpulse]

@1mpulse Can you buy enough time to recover vs Zoo with that list? How do you do against combo?

I have a fantastic game against any kind of aggro deck. Wall of Blossoms is a MVP in any aggro matchup.

Combo is what it is, and there isn't too much more you can do to improve the matchup. Storm Combo can't stop you from Survivaling Teeg, just make sure to leave your Vial at 2. Reanimator is decent matchup, post board, you have more than enough answers.

@ 1mpulse

Why do you play a Boneshredder over a second Shriekmaw or a Fleshbag Marauder? I can't imagine paying the echo cost nor believe that flying matters.

Because Bone Shredder does three things; It kills a creautre, It blocks a creature, can't stress how valuable that is, and Echo is actually a postive thing, sacing itself so you can bring it back again to gain board position. It also serves as a Reveillark target, something neither Shriekmaw nor Fleashbag can accomplish.

I think since it blocks it buys you time.

Also I dont see any sword to plowshares :( Also no love for loyal iona combo?

I will test the deck out tho.

Nope, no Swords, I'd rather have removal in the form of creatures. Vial gets you through Iona. It's also funny to see players name White with Iona only to get it Shriekmawed.

Also, I have never accepted the fact that Loyal Retainers + Iona > Recurring Nightmare.

Both Retainers and Iona are useless without each other. However, Recurring Nightmare is never useless, and has countless interactions with most of the creature cards in the deck.

On another note, I actually just finished foiling the entire deck out (minus foil Vials, which I as looking quite avidly for).

[TheD4edalus]

1mpulse isn't exactly telling the truth.

For one, he has lost to aggro loam quite a few times... <3

Two, he actually hasn't come -that- close to foiling out the deck, technically...technically, he doesn't own those Survivals. ;)


Anyways. Done trolling, considering this is my first post on these forums period, I might as well add to the conversation.

Bone Shredder does indeed do a fantastic jorb.

And he is right about Retainers/Iona compared to Recurring Nightmare. Adding in the Retainers/Iona package would be too cute, and unneeded. Recurring Nightmare is sick, and quite abusable.

[1mpulse]

1mpulse isn't exactly telling the truth.

For one, he has lost to aggro loam quite a few times... <3

Two, he actually hasn't come -that- close to foiling out the deck, technically...technically, he doesn't own those Survivals. ;)


Anyways. Done trolling, considering this is my first post on these forums period, I might as well add to the conversation.

Bone Shredder does indeed do a fantastic jorb.

And he is right about Retainers/Iona compared to Recurring Nightmare. Adding in the Retainers/Iona package would be too cute, and unneeded. Recurring Nightmare is sick, and quite abusable.

=o

1: I was refering to aggro as Merfolk and Zoo. Although I haven't lost to Aggro Loam since I went 3 Faerie Macabre in the side.

2: I don't see anyone else playing with Foil Survivals. :)

3: GTFOMI Troll. =p

[Conelead]

Is it possible to run a list like yours without Moat? Or is that card too crucial against aggro decks? I currently like my list but would like more creatures. I have found Swords to be basically the only thing that allows me to beat Zoo, but maybe Moat gives you the long game so you can afford to play to preserve your life total in the short game by doing things like chump blocking.

[1mpulse]

Is it possible to run a list like yours without Moat? Or is that card too crucial against aggro decks? I currently like my list but would like more creatures. I have found Swords to be basically the only thing that allows me to beat Zoo, but maybe Moat gives you the long game so you can afford to play to preserve your life total in the short game by doing things like chump blocking.

I'm sure it could be accomplished.

Somethings that could replace that Moat slot:

Kitchen Finks: Most or many lists I see run 3. If you did this with my list, you'd get any extra sideboard slot. This guy is a soild choice.

Wall of Blossoms: You really only need 3, but WoB is just so good against aggro, that if you expect to see all day, 4 WoB is easily justified.

Bone Shredder: Easily the best form of creature removal Black splash Survival can offer. His 1/1 Flying body chump blocks all day, while clearing the feild of threats.

I'd say any of those guys would keep those aggro decks at bay, which you seemed to be concerened about.

For me, Moat was a plan B if I can't get board control quick enough against aggro decks. Incidentally, I had both the Goblin player and one of the Merfolk players who top 8'ed scoop when I got Moat and Spike Weaver on the board at the same time.

Of all the decks I'm concerned about, aggro decks like Merfolk, Zoo, and Goblins haven't concerned me. It's been Reanimator that haunts me, even though the matchup isn't that bad.

[Conelead]

I ran reanimator up against a tweaked version of the deck I posted earlier. It basically couldn't win. It felt like nothing the reanimator player did was relevant, as I have like 4 lines of defenses against Reanimator.

1st line - Thoughtsieze/Cabal Therapy
2nd line - Faerie Macabre/Loaming Shaman
3rd line - Big Game Hunter/Shriekmaw/Fleshbag Marauder
4th line - Spike Weaver

I had to use the 4th line once, but I lost only one game (out of about twenty) to reanimator last night, and that was on a mull to 4.

[1mpulse]

I can agree with that assment. The matchup isn't bad at all, I'm just afraid of them going off turn 2, although we're still in the game even if that does happen. AEther Vial does a lot here as well, letting you get whatever color has been turned off.

The '4 lines of defense' is exactly what I do against Reanimator.

[Combo Winter]

I really like playing 7 moon effects main deck as they sure up your worst matchups. Also i feel that top has to be a four of in a deck like survival which has so much free mana and shuffle effects. The deck just beats down with moon effects and survival as back up doesnt do anything that crazy besides vengvine+goyf rush. I try to balance the need to be a sick deck both pre and post survival and i think that the fact that your most broken opening turn 2 moon doesn't even involve dropping survival is really nice. Cards I'm considering including orcish settlers, caldera hellion,witness, and spite bellows. The only thing i can think about cutting is the dupes at the moment so suggestions are welcome.

4 majus of the moon
1 rofelos
3 vengvine
4 goyf
1 baloth
1 genisis
4 birds
4 noble hirarch
1 qurion ranger
1 squee
1 duplicant
1 wikerbough elder
1 anger

3 moon
4 survival
4 top
2 jitte

8 fetch
1 mountain
3 tiaga
8 forest

side
1 faire macabre
4 crypt
4 thorn
2 jitte
3 krosan grip
1 ingot chewer

[Waikiki]

Thats an pretty interesting build which id like to take a closer look at (when I got the time)

[Muela]

@Combo Winter I like that kind of builds. However, whenever I have played similar lists (mainly without vengevines, 4xnoble and only 2 SDT) I have problems to deal with some creatures... and I even had ghitu slinger, 2xFtK, 1 spitehollows and caldera hellion in SB (never got time to cast when needed). The point is, how do you deal with dark confidants, MM or even goblins, melforks and faeries/tombstalkers? is jitte+top enough? what do you think about a 1-of goblin sharpshooter?

I will give it a try beacuse I feel that so much accel and low drops can get really speedy ^^

@1mpulse. Since I have never thought well about blowing my own BoP and Survival, here's newbie question about pernicious deed: do you play around it yourself or just play a "common" survival game and use pernicious as a tool to get out of sticky (gobs or merfolks for instance) games?

[1mpulse]

@1mpulse. Since I have never thought well about blowing my own BoP and Survival, here's newbie question about pernicious deed: do you play around it yourself or just play a "common" survival game and use pernicious as a tool to get out of sticky (gobs or merfolks for instance) games?

I weigh the consequence of playing and blowing Deed.

For example;

Is this going to stall my opponent and buy much needed time/How many turns will it take him to bouce back?
Does he run Stifle?
Do I have Genesis in the grave, a Eternal Witness, or a Recurring Nightmare?
Has my opponent overextended/How many cards are in the opponents hand?
Have I Survival'ed enough to win with what I have?

Of course, in the exterme situations when your going to die in the next turn, or proceeding turn, Deed sometimes is the only answer.


Now, a question for Survival players who run Sensei's Divining Top: Why?

I never even considered running Sensei's Divining Top. I'm asking 'Why?', you might say, 'Why not?';

Survival decks tend to be rather mana hungry, and Top seems to be just another mana sink that is unneeded.