[Deck] GW/x Maverick

[Humphrey]

Where did you get this weird oracle text?

http://gatherer.wizards.com/pages/ca...arallax%20Wave

It is working indeed.

[Draener]

Hmm, so it is. I got it off the card link, and I'm pretty sure at one point the card was erratad to that, but apparently it has been removed? Pretty Nifty interaction.

[TheInfamousBearAssassin]

The cardbox link does say that, weird. I would immediately be suspicious of anything that looks like power-level errata in general as they've mostly eliminated that.

[Koby]

Step 1 - Select upto 5 targets.
Step 2 - Remove counters targeting those creatures.
Step 3 - Retain priority, and respond by destroying Parallax Wave.

Which results in the following stack: (bottom to top)
PW#1-5, Destroy PW.

Resolve Last In, First Out:
Parallax Wave is destroyed, returning to play all creatures currently exiled.
Parallax Wave effect #1-5 resolve, exiling targeted creatures.

Using this method you can permanently exile creatures. If you have Witness, you can even get Parallax Wave back after all your shenanigans by resolving PW's exile on Witness, clearing the stack, then performing the above actions.

The card has had power level errata removed. We discussed this 2 years ago

[Artlee]

Like Mana Tithe is really good against people whose main plan against you is Wrath and Deed, especially in conjunction with Wasteland. Extirpate effects are good against Loam decks and Reanimator. In this they're no different than the answers you can actually tutor for like Ooze and Bojuka Bog.

Against Reanimator, which has gained popularity recently, a tutored Ooze or tutored Bog from KotR is simply too slow. If Reanimator keeps gaining popularity I could see a reason for siding some Surgical Extractions.

[TheInfamousBearAssassin]

Even then Surgical Extraction is going to be worse than Crypt if for no other reason than it gets hit by Mental Misstep. Literally the only reason to run Surgical Extraction is Loam decks.

[Hopo]

Literally the only reason to run Surgical Extraction is Loam decks.

Now that's hyperbole.
Surgical Extraction can be a fine choice as graveyard hate for being free and surprising. Free hate cards are usually great for letting you advance your board the way your deck is intended to do. Permanent grave hate, free or not, can and will be played around easier than instant ones.

Surgical Extraction enables potentially strong plays outside graveyard centric games also. First turn Wasteland + Surgical Extraction can stop opponent's mana development. Not saying that this is too common of a scenario, but the card sure has it's uses outside fighting Loam.

[Julian23]

Ok, switched over from Merfolk in preparation for GP Amsterdam since I came to believe that GW Maverick is the most well rounded and overall strongest deck in the metagame. Hope I'll be able to provide some input in the future. Right now I'm using the latest Hausmann/Kronberger built and been super satisfied with it although this deck is quite demanding regarding decision making. Funny enough, in my last Daily Event on MODO, my opponents in Round 1 AND 2 timed out in game2 because the gamestate was too complicated :D

Regarding grave hate, I don't advise to run Surgical Extraction. Not because it overall sucks but because it's applications are too limited to justify a sb slot. Stick with Crypt, Bog or even Ravenous Trap, if you really want a surprise spell. Most decks you wannt graveyard hate against will be combo decks running Mental Misstep.
From my experienxe, the best card against Reanimator is Karakas as most of their targets will either be Legendary (That Jin-Gitaxias guy or Iona) or die to removal, especially against Wing Shards.

[Koby]

Surgical Extraction enables potentially strong plays outside graveyard centric games also. First turn Wasteland + Surgical Extraction can stop opponent's mana development. Not saying that this is too common of a scenario, but the card sure has it's uses outside fighting Loam.

This is the danger of cool things. While it's impressive when it occurs, it doesn't answer any on-board threats, nor does it always achieve the result you wish to happen.

This deck isn't a dedicated LD deck, so such a play isn't even optimal for what you're trying to achieve with Maverick. Stick to what works and is consistent - Wastelanding to buy time, and bashing face with beaters.

@Julian23 - I saw your most recent MTGO list, and I have some questions for you. Considering that you are gearing up to play this deck at GP Amsterdam, are you not concerned that the list is vulnerable to combo? Especially considering that the MTGO metagame is 50% Stoneblade and 30% combo (Elves, Hive Mind, and ANT). Your sideboard is geared to address G/B/x mid-range rather than U/x combo. How did your sideboard perform in the last Daily? What would you change to address a more varied and wide open metagame such as a Grand Prix?

[Julian23]

You're right about my sb, it was more geared towards the local metagame. I recently changed my MODO sideboard to:

2x Ethersworn Canonist
2x Wing Shards
2x Path to Exile
2x Choke
1x Enlightened Tutor
1x Sword of Light and Shadow
1x Tormod's Crypt
1x Bojuka Bog
1x Thrun, the last Troll
1x Serenity
1x Manriki-Guzari (equipment that kills equipment)

Clearly, combo still remains our Achilles' heel. However, judging from my experience, I don't expect Combo to be as big in Amsterdam as it is on MODO. This + the fact that I'm expecting/hoping to win a GP Trial or at least have 1-2 Rating BYEs also lowers the chance of hitting a storm combo deck.

Regarding the non-storm combo matchups, Hive Mind is the biggest concern. Ethersworn Canonist is actually ok against them as they can't kill you the turn they drop Hive Mind which opens up GSZ->QPM to kill Hive Mind. Right now I consider adding a singleton Birds of Paradise to be able to pay for at least 1 Pact. Still, you will have to mulligan aggrssively for cards that actually do something in that matchup. If anyone of you is aware of a sb card that would actually "wreck" Hive Mind/Show and Tell, please bring it up. I'd love to try it.

In the DE you asked, my Mirran Crusaders where underperforming in the way that I hardly ever boarded them. They're ok against Team America but I don't expect that to be as big as in the SCG events.

I'm also trying -1 Mother of Runes +1 Scavenging Ooze in the main.

[Tao]

Like against Storm combo Thron of Amethyst is good vs. Hive Mind, too. It does double work because they have to pay 1 Extra for the Show and Tell and 1 Extra for the Pact so they can't Combo without 5 Mana on the table. Seven Mana for the hard cast.
Plus they have to pay one Extra for each of their other spells (Search, Tutor, Counter, Monolith) which is very good against their awkward Mana, especially if you support it with Wasteland.

Thorn is much better than any other combo hate. It is harder to get rid off than hate bears (Slaughter Pact, Massacre don't work). It is not only effective in their Combo turn but also the turns before while they are finding their cards. It is good vs. every Combo deck (except for Elves, ok) and not only against specific Combos.

[jnosrati]

Few words about ideas posted upper:

@Parallax Wave - I don't know how your test was, it's only good vs Aggro/Middle Aggro Mirror - cutting such a bombs like's KotRs and such useful creatures with much less cost like Qasali Pridemage (useful in mirrors/control/exalted etc) is wrong in my eyes. 4 Mana enchantments which temporary remove creatures from the game isn't best way imo. It can be on sb on Middle-Aggro etc, but one pridemage can just blow up this enchantment. It also blind card vs combo which is our weakness - so this slots should cover it not next dead card with 4cmc - please post test results vs mix meta with it.

@Second Dryad - its useful, but also brings impact on starting hand - hand with Dryad is good only if it is your 3-4th land on hand otherwise you are in dengerous with screw after any removal.

@Mana Tithe - Force Spike is good only once. This card can be overplayed so easy so it's not worth.

--------------------

Card which I tested on side and MD:

@Srugical Extraction - Very good card after tests, Free mana Extripate, which is mostly big surprise (no black at all, except Bojuka) won me a game vs Aggro Loam and makes easier MU vs dredge. It also was MVP vs Sneak/S&T/Hive Mind after he cast Intuition.

@Engineered Explosives - This should be looked when your going on blind meta - its tutorable answer vs masses of Toxes (EtW/Zombies from Bridges), and can be also used vs Aragothian Enchantress, also can be used as removal.

@Aven Mindcensor in number 3 MD - this dude is really good in 70% of MU. Blocking important things like SFM/GSZ/Fetches/Infernal Tutor/Merchant Scroll etc.., and Flash + Flying which is great with equips - great in Mirrors.

@One MD Birds of Paradise - slow down exalted triggers, but can save your ass vs Hive Mind Pacts.

I play zoo. could you please explain a bit about surgical vs intuition vs hive mind. I've never played the deck.

What's your zoo matchup like anyhow? would sb pyroclasm help?

[timmycolossus]

Hey Fatal I was curious... How is the match up analysis improved with mental misstep? I read your primer but it did not have mm as mvp in any of the MU's or mention how useful it is in each MU. Also stoneblade and no rug are common in my meta. What would you suggest I put in the MD or Sb to make the MU stronger?

[The Duck!!]

Hey Fatal I was curious... How is the match up analysis improved with mental misstep? I read your primer but it did not have mm as mvp in any of the MU's or mention how useful it is in each MU. Also stoneblade and no rug are common in my meta. What would you suggest I put in the MD or Sb to make the MU stronger?

If my meta is the same as yours, I'd play MD 3 aven mindcensor. It's just my opinion though.

[timmycolossus]

@The Duck: Thank you. Also would mirran crusader be just as good if not better (inyour opinion) Iyo

[Fatal]

Actually MM is a tempo card with similar function - anti-removal as mother of runes. It also helps in worst MU which is mostly combo.

Little analysis vs what MM is good:

-Dredge (slow them down)

-Reanimator

-Storm Combo (protect your hate-bears from removal/discard, also disrupt early kills in turn 1 - but not always), also countering cantrips specially brainstorms which can buy time.

-Spiral Tide - obv countering High Tide and so on.

-NO RUG, Mirror, Team America .. etc anti-removal/anti-discard/anti-stifle function which is present almost in any deck (StP, Ghastly demise, bounce via chain of vapors, lightning bolt) and provide tempo card countering noble hierarch/GSZ for 0 - also good in mirror.

-protect your early drops from opponents MM which is very important in this deck.

- countering Vial in merfolks and goblins

- countering lackey in goblins

-vs Junk - protect you from turn one discard and also vs metion upper StP.

-countering Sensei's Divining Top (junk/cb)

It easier wrote in which MU this card isn't good - Chalice decks, MUD, Stax, Aggro Loam with Chalices.

So why we don't run playset - because this card is good mostly on opening hand, and in middle-game, while cutting more creatures we don't get benefits from while don't having enough clock on table.

It's one of the worst draw playing on topdeck mode having empty table.

@RUG:

MM are very good here and also Aven Mindcensor - with MM you can counter their removal - also Lavamancer and Hierarch which is dengerous on start (don't forget that they have the same weapon vs you). Aven's stops Natural Order they don't run so many creatures so playing Aven in respond can be surprising and can win you the game. Gaddock Teeg also stops NO and also Submerge which is their mostly sb plan, Scryb Rangers are nice vs Cliques. Batterskull, Jitte and SoLS can outrace Progenitus mostly works on flyers, more over Wing Shards and Phyrexian Metamorph is good removal vs hydra.
Fatties (Goyfs/KotRs) is what you beat with - Lightning Bolt can kill only something with defense X<=3, look out for Ooze and lavamancer they can change graveyard state.

So MVP are: MM, Avens, Gaddock, Equips gaining life, Flyers, Fatties, Wing Shards, Phyrexian Metamorph - this MU isn't so bad depends on skill and drawn hand, its about 55% for us.

@Stone Blade - depends on build mostly I faced with Ancestral Visions.

This deck is similar to U/W control but with less removal and counters, and more creatures - Cliques/SFM.

The most important thing on start is to provide tempo vs this deck which, can protect them self too much. SFM are slow, can be killed, and also can be hated by Aven Mindcensors. Also Gaddock MD helps here (also after sideboard) - it stops - hardcasting Batterskull, Repeals, Jaces, WoG, Submerges. From my tests the best thing what u can do is to equip Scryb Ranger with SoLS - this dude with this Sword is gamebreaking for them, they can't do anything with him - protection from StP/Batterskull/Clique/Jace, can block without any problems Batterskull, fly over Mishras. Pridemages with tempo can also be useful.
Also MM can protect your mana drops (hierarch) from being killed, also its useful to resolve your own StP.

So MVP in this MU: Scryb Ranger, SoLS, Pridemages, Gaddock Teeg, Aven Mindcensors, StP, MM.

Every game I played against on tournament empty the hand (and mostly resolve) before visions, so having lethal after it resolve, then he just put jaces+stp and still have problems, just attack Jace (if not lethal yet) and recast bounced creature. After 2-3 jaces they're removal ends and couldn't do anything.
If your important equip died (SoLS) just bring it back from Witness.

[Elvtyrr]

I'm not sure if you guys would consider it but I've found that the best anti-reanimator card is faerie macabre. It's free, uncounterable, remains in hand until used, and hits up to two things. I personally like it far better than most of the other 'hidden information' pieces of grave hate. It will even buy you enough time to get there against most dredge decks, this requires very tight play though. All in all, it is IMO the most versatile piece of grave hate out there and is well worth the SB slots in any deck not running a tutor or wish board.

[Julian23]

Since some people asked via pm for it, my current incarnation which is mostly what Hausmsann and Kronberger are running right now. Major differences are 2nd Library over Elspeth and Maze instead of 2nd Basic Plains.


4 Savannah
4 Windswept Heath
2 Verdant Catacombs
1 Arid Mesa
2 Horizon Canopy
1 Maze of Ith
1 Karakas
2 Foresst
1 Plains
3 Wasteland
1 Dryad Arbor

4 Noble Hierarch
4 Knight of the Reliquary
3 Mother of Runes
3 Aven Mindcensor
3 Stoneforge Mystic
2 Qasali Pridemage
1 Quirion Ranger
1 Scryb Ranger
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Thrun, the last Troll
1 Gaddock Teeg
1 Eternal Witness

4 Swords to Plowshares
4 Green Sun's Zenith
2 Sylvan Library
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
1 Batterskull

SB:

2 Wing Shards
2 Path to Exile
2 Choke
1 Tormod's Crypt
1 Bojuka Bog
1 Thrun, the last Troll
1 Sword of Light and Shadow
1 Manriki Gusari

which leaves me with 4 sideboard slots which are currently occupied by 1 Ethersworn Canonist and 3 Angel's Grace. The later is mainly there to combat Hive Mind which is quite popular on MODO right now. The singleton Ethersworn Canonist however isn't really what I am looking for. Second Teeg might be better.

[timmycolossus]

Actually MM is a tempo card with similar function - anti-removal as mother of runes. It also helps in worst MU which is mostly combo.

Little analysis vs what MM is good:

-Dredge (slow them down)

-Reanimator

-Storm Combo (protect your hate-bears from removal/discard, also disrupt early kills in turn 1 - but not always), also countering cantrips specially brainstorms which can buy time.

-Spiral Tide - obv countering High Tide and so on.

-NO RUG, Mirror, Team America .. etc anti-removal/anti-discard/anti-stifle function which is present almost in any deck (StP, Ghastly demise, bounce via chain of vapors, lightning bolt) and provide tempo card countering noble hierarch/GSZ for 0 - also good in mirror.

-protect your early drops from opponents MM which is very important in this deck.

- countering Vial in merfolks and goblins

- countering lackey in goblins

-vs Junk - protect you from turn one discard and also vs metion upper StP.

-countering Sensei's Divining Top (junk/cb)

It easier wrote in which MU this card isn't good - Chalice decks, MUD, Stax, Aggro Loam with Chalices.

Thanks so much I will test it out. The big question now is mindcensor vs Mirran crusader for the stoneblade and rug MU. I think I am going to run with mindcensor bc of the MU he is good in.

[Julian23]

Aven Mindcensor is one of your major ways to combat combo, so keep 3 maindeck. Really, he's that good against almost any deck, even if it's just for turn 2 Mindcensor screwing up Fetchlands.