[Deck] GW/x Maverick

[mooN_MTG]

@ BrazenSix -
I would suggest to add blue for Daze, Mental Misstep, Brainstorm, and Vendilion Clique. As apocryphal as that sounds in this thread, Bant has a much better matchup against those matchups you are concerned about than strictly GW alone. You still get to run most of the same cards.

Moreover, those matchup you listed don't require an equipment package to beat, so that can be downgraded to taking up only 4 slots (2 SFM, Jitte, Jitte/Batterskull) giving you more room for cards that will perform better against control and combo. In your list, I would run 1 more Pridemage too.

Looks like the deck win the Grand Prix Providence!

[Koby]

Looks like the deck win the Grand Prix Providence!

Probably a good chance as to why it won. Maverick shines in metagames dominated by aggro and aggro control. It doesn't do so well in metagames filled with Combo and dedicated Control (think Jaces + FoW). Against the latter decks, interacting on the Stack is more important than having control over combat (via equipment). Against Combo, the equipment just slows you down, and against control you have a difficult time maintaining creatures to equip. Against both these matchups, Vendilion Clique provides a huge tempo gain in both having Flash, and the opportunity to mess with your opponent's hand.

Against such metagames that include NO RUG, Hive Mind, and Stoneblade - you're better off playing Bant varieties than Maverick.

[Mr.Dieth]

But honestly .. That isn't maverick anymore.. If you go so deep into blue, then you'r playing Bant.. And if you want to adjust maverick to look more bantish for your meta.. You'r just picking the wrong deck..

[BrazenSix]

Yeah, it was never totally my intention to want to splash heavy into Blue and then you're right... it ceases being Maverick and goes towards the realm of Bant. I was just wondering if there was a way to tweak our toolbox to give it a better outcome against the matchups previously mentioned. I'm wondering if a more vial oriented deck would be better suited in tackling it. I mean, Bant gives you the ability to fight the counter war but you can play around them with the vials. The problem I found this, if that there's about a 95% chance that anything you do end up hard casting is going to get countered (mainly StP). Vial builds with no GSZ just seemed way to inconsistant. :(

[Koby]

Yeah, it was never totally my intention to want to splash heavy into Blue and then you're right... it ceases being Maverick and goes towards the realm of Bant. I was just wondering if there was a way to tweak our toolbox to give it a better outcome against the matchups previously mentioned. I'm wondering if a more vial oriented deck would be better suited in tackling it. I mean, Bant gives you the ability to fight the counter war but you can play around them with the vials. The problem I found this, if that there's about a 95% chance that anything you do end up hard casting is going to get countered (mainly StP). Vial builds with no GSZ just seemed way to inconsistant. :(

I am aware that Bant is not Maverick. I explained that Maverick is not the best choice for the metagame you described you are preparing for. AEther Vial won't help against such a metagame either.

[Tearnov]

So I won my local Legacy tournament yesterday. The field wasn't as big due to people going to Gen Con. It only went to 3 rounds.
My Deck:

//Lands
4x Savannah
4x Windswept Heath
3x Wasteland
3x Horizon Canopy
1x Plains
1x Forest
1x Gaea's Cradle
1x Treetop Village
1x Maze of Ith
1x Dryad Arbor
1x Karakas

//Creatures
4x Knight of the Reliquary
4x Stoneforge Mystic
4x Qasali Pridemage
4x Noble Hierarch
3x Mother of Runes
2x Eternal Witness
2x Scryb Ranger
1x Terravore
1x Thrun, the Last Troll
1x Scavenging Ooze
1x Rhox War Monk

//Spells
4x Green Sun's Zenith
4x Swords to Plowshares
1x Sword of Light and Shadow
1x Sword of Fire and Ice
1x Batterskull
1x Umezawa's Jitte

//Sideboard
3x Gaddock Teeg
3x Enlightened Tutor
3x Krosan Grip
2x Phyrexian Revoker
1x Tormod's Crypt
1x Wheel of Sun and Moon
1x Ethersworn Canonist
1x Bojuka Bog


My results:
2-1 vs Jacestill

2-1 vs Tezzeret Affinity

2-0 vs Food Chain Elves

Went 3-0 in matches and won.
2nd place was a Team America deck, not sure what came in third.

[Philipp2293]

Maindeck looks really good. Were that many equipments the right call though?

On another note, I need some input on the SB:

So far I have settled on:

3 Krosan Grip
3 Path to Exile
3 Tormods Crypt
1 Bojuka Bog
2 Gaddock Teeg
1 Tower of the Magistrate

Which leaves me with 2 open slots. In meta there are currently lots of dredge and affinity decks, with merfolk and goblins also being quite popular. Combo is underplayed, as well a Zoo (strange enough), and there are only some control decks (mostly blade control variants). Any suggestions?

[Tearnov]

Maindeck looks really good. Were that many equipments the right call though?

On another note, I need some input on the SB:

So far I have settled on:

3 Krosan Grip
3 Path to Exile
3 Tormods Crypt
1 Bojuka Bog
2 Gaddock Teeg
1 Tower of the Magistrate

Which leaves me with 2 open slots. In meta there are currently lots of dredge and affinity decks, with merfolk and goblins also being quite popular. Combo is underplayed, as well a Zoo (strange enough), and there are only some control decks (mostly blade control variants). Any suggestions?

Really, I only used the SoLS and Jitte.
SoFI/Batterskull were situational and not the "go to" equipment.
I've been debating removing SoFI but I'm not sure what to replace it with, as it can be a nice card draw against control.

As for your side board, Wheel of Sun and Moon is great vs dredge.
Vexing Shusher wouldn't be bad if your concern is counters.
Nature's Claim could work against affinity, or if you want to, and don't run it already, Tarmogoyf wouldn't be bad vs dredge.
Posting your Maindeck wouldn't be a bad idea

[Philipp2293]

// Lands
4 [R] Savannah
3 [TE] Wasteland
3 [FUT] Horizon Canopy
2 [SHM] Forest (4)
1 [PT] Plains (1)
1 [FUT] Dryad Arbor
1 [LG] Karakas
1 [US] Gaea's Cradle
4 [ON] Windswept Heath
2 [ON] Wooded Foothills

// Creatures
1 [FD] Eternal Witness
3 [FUT] Aven Mindcensor
4 [WWK] Stoneforge Mystic
2 [TSP] Scryb Ranger
4 [UL] Mother of Runes
1 [COM] Scavenging Ooze
4 [CFX] Knight of the Reliquary
3 [ARB] Qasali Pridemage
4 [CFX] Noble Hierarch
1 Terravore

What I currently run. Also, I think I have Dredge and Affinity covered just fine between MD and SB hate.

Shusher is an interesting idea, but not sure how long he would survive. I thought maybe 2 Sylvan Libraries or 2Phyrexian Revokers, thoughts on that?

[Koby]

Sylvan Library is a good choice against control, it gives you something to do with all the extra life gain from your eqiupment, and you're able to hide threats until you absolutely need to cast them (such as against Hymn/Discard and Clique)

You could also consider Choke to punish U/x control and Merfolk alike.

[Philipp2293]

Thanks for your input, I appreciate that.

I recently cut Choke from my SB cause I never was too satisfied with it, and control is retreating ATM in my meta.

For my next tournament, I might test the 2 libraries and report back.

Anybody running Mental Missteps MD or SB wants to share their current experiences?

[TossUsToLions]

Hey everyone, I finally settled on a list that i like after testing for over a month.


3x Savannah
4x Windswept Heath
2x Verdant Catacombs
1x Arid Mesa
3x Wasteland
2x Horizon Canopy
1x Plains
2x Forest
1x Gaea's Cradle
1x Dryad Arbor
1x Karakas

4x Knight of the Reliquary
3x Stoneforge Mystic
3x Qasali Pridemage
4x Noble Hierarch
4x Mother of Runes
2x Mirran Crusader
1x Birds of Paradise
1x Eternal Witness
1x Scryb Ranger
1x Terravore
1x Thrun, the Last Troll
1x Scavenging Ooze

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


Mother of Runes is awesome. I don't really understand why people are cutting them for Missteps. There are creatures in the deck that if they stick around, you win the game. Mom helps to do this, and, along with GSZ and Hierarchs, basically ensures some turn 1 action on our side.

Scavenging Ooze is really good, especially at the the 2-drop slot. I've won many games with just an Ooze out, facing 2-3 Goyfs. The life gain is nothing to laugh at, either.

Mirran Crusader has been much better than Mindscensor, even against NO Rug. Protection from Goyf/Germ token is just an awesome ability. Also, doublestrike with equipment is usually gg, no matter what equipment it is. Its protection is a little redundant with SoFF, but whatever.

SoFF is aactually performing very well. The colors are very good (goyfs/germ tokens/knights/etc.) and the abilities are much better than I initially thought. The untapping the lands allows us much more freedom with equipping and such, and playing two bombs on a turn is awesome. I've only also tried SoBM, and SoFF is muc better. Haven't gotten around to trying SoFI/SoLS yet because I love SoFF too much right now.

Sylvan Library is phenomenal, period. The extra draw/card selection is amazing, and helps us dig to find the removal or Choke or KGrip that we need. With a Cradle out, it allows us to draw multiple bombs and cast them both on one turn.

Terravore is good in the Knight mirrors, but I'm not sure if I'm sold on him yet. I side him out a lot.

[Ajsmirnov]

Agreed on Mother of runes and Scavenging Ooze. Fantastic ones. But in my current list I managed to play both, Mother and Mental Misstep. Its more blue splashed then a regular lists. Brainstorms help me a lot in late games, and do all other things Brainstorms usually do
And also I love Sower of Temptation in SB.

4 Windswept Heath
2 Misty Rainforest
1 Horizon Canopy
3 Savannah
2 Tropical Island
2 Tundra
1 Dryad Arbor
1 Maze of Ith
1 Tower of the Magistrate
4 Wasteland
1 Karakas

3 Noble Hierarch
1 Birds of Paradise
4 Knight of the Reliquary
3 Aven Mindcensor
2 Stoneforge Mystic
2 Trygon Predator
1 Qasali Pridemage
3 Mother of Runes
1 Scavenging Ooze
4 Swords to Plowshares
3 Mental Misstep
2 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
2 Sylvan Library
3 Brainstorms
2 Green Sun's Zenith
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
1 Sword of Light and Shadow
1 Umezawas Jitte

Tower of the Magistrate - used to be Gaea's Cradle, I test Tower.
Scavenging Ooze - BTW I cut Terravore to play this.
Sword of Light and Shadow - should be Butterskull, but I don't have it. Before I used it to return Qasali, now with Predators there is no need.

My greatest problems are with decks that can return their Wastelands(Loam, Crucible). I have 0 basic lands. But there aren't many of those decks now.

[Fatal]

@Ajsmirnov

Not running Scryb Ranger is mistake in my eyes, it helps fight vs opposite wastelands, great working with Mom/KotR/hierarch/bop and gives equipped dudes pseudo-vigilance. I would find place in one trygon predator. Also why only 2 GSZ its bomb.

Ok, I have for all of you nice tech:

Card vs controls using Ancestral Visions - Riftsweeper - great card under GSZ with CMC 2. It stops suspended cards.

[Ajsmirnov]

Yes, we used this in Time Spiral block constructed )

[_erbs_]

Hey everyone, I finally settled on a list that i like after testing for over a month.


3x Savannah
4x Windswept Heath
2x Verdant Catacombs
1x Arid Mesa
3x Wasteland
2x Horizon Canopy
1x Plains
2x Forest
1x Gaea's Cradle
1x Dryad Arbor
1x Karakas

4x Knight of the Reliquary
3x Stoneforge Mystic
3x Qasali Pridemage
4x Noble Hierarch
4x Mother of Runes
2x Mirran Crusader
1x Birds of Paradise
1x Eternal Witness
1x Scryb Ranger
1x Terravore
1x Thrun, the Last Troll
1x Scavenging Ooze

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


Mother of Runes is awesome. I don't really understand why people are cutting them for Missteps. There are creatures in the deck that if they stick around, you win the game. Mom helps to do this, and, along with GSZ and Hierarchs, basically ensures some turn 1 action on our side.

Scavenging Ooze is really good, especially at the the 2-drop slot. I've won many games with just an Ooze out, facing 2-3 Goyfs. The life gain is nothing to laugh at, either.

Mirran Crusader has been much better than Mindscensor, even against NO Rug. Protection from Goyf/Germ token is just an awesome ability. Also, doublestrike with equipment is usually gg, no matter what equipment it is. Its protection is a little redundant with SoFF, but whatever.

SoFF is aactually performing very well. The colors are very good (goyfs/germ tokens/knights/etc.) and the abilities are much better than I initially thought. The untapping the lands allows us much more freedom with equipping and such, and playing two bombs on a turn is awesome. I've only also tried SoBM, and SoFF is muc better. Haven't gotten around to trying SoFI/SoLS yet because I love SoFF too much right now.

Sylvan Library is phenomenal, period. The extra draw/card selection is amazing, and helps us dig to find the removal or Choke or KGrip that we need. With a Cradle out, it allows us to draw multiple bombs and cast them both on one turn.

Terravore is good in the Knight mirrors, but I'm not sure if I'm sold on him yet. I side him out a lot.

Hello,
Your deck is almost identical to my original build. For reference here is it.

Lands [21]
1 dryad arbor
1 karakas
1 gaes cradle
2 plains
2 forest
4 wasteland
4 savannah
4 windswept heath
1 misty rainforest
1 flooded strand

Creatures [23]
3 noble hiearch
1 birds of paradise
3 mother of runes
2 scryb ranger
3 stoneforge mystic
3 qasali pridemage
2 tarmogoyf
3 mirran cursader
3 knight of the reliquary

Spells [16]
2 elspeth, knight errant
4 swords to plowshares
2 oblivion ring
2 sylvan library
3 gsz
1 jitte
1 batterskull
1 sofi

Was wondering don't you feel abit short on removals ? I used to have e.witness but later on i felt mirran provided a bigger use over witness. I wanted to remove the oblivion ring in my main but i don't know what to fit in those slots. As for thrun, i prefer elspeth over thurn, i know it can be gsz'd and is a bad dude when he is carrying jitte, but i felt elspeth is much useful.

Isn't 4 mother of runes too much ? What's your SB list by the way ?

[TossUsToLions]

Was wondering don't you feel abit short on removals ? I used to have e.witness but later on i felt mirran provided a bigger use over witness. I wanted to remove the oblivion ring in my main but i don't know what to fit in those slots. As for thrun, i prefer elspeth over thurn, i know it can be gsz'd and is a bad dude when he is carrying jitte, but i felt elspeth is much useful.

Isn't 4 mother of runes too much ? What's your SB list by the way ?

I don't feel short on removal because I have Paths in the board and Ooze to deal with Goyfs. There aren't really too many creatures that I am afraid of, except for Proggy (which is why I am thinking of replacing the Terravore with a Mr. Teeg). Witness is a necessity in the deck, I think. I never side her out. She is just too good. A tutorable creature that recurs equipment or removal is just too good to pass up. Elspeth is good, but Thrun literally wins games on his own. If you naturally draw it against Stoneblade, you pretty much win the game. it is also good against other decks, like RUG and Zoo.

4 Moms does not feel like too much at all. I don't think I've lost a game yet when I've gotten multiple out onto the battlefield. Also, you want to see her every single game, except against combo where you can side her out.

Right now my SB looks like:
1x Teeg (Will become Elsepth if I put Teeg in the board)
1x Loaming Shaman (Good in Knight mirrors and gy dependent decks)
2x Krosan Grip (Batterskull what? I kinda want another one)
3x Choke (blowout against control decks)
3x Dueling Grounds (Amazing against Folk, Gobbos, Affinity, etc.)
2x Path to Exile (I bring this in against almost everything)
1x Tormod's Crypt
1x Bojuka Bog
1x Ravenous Trap (I like varying my grave hate)

I would love to fit in two more Thruns in the board as that card is just a blowout against Stoneblade

@Fatal, Riftsweeper seems really cool against Visions, but may be a bit narrow. Have you tested it yet? Let us know the results if you have.

@ruckus, Dawnstrider actually seems like a reasonable card to play in the board as a one-of. Along with Teeg, it gives us some flexibility in fighting Proggy. And testing with it at all?

[Koby]

@ruckus, Dawnstrider actually seems like a reasonable card to play in the board as a one-of. Along with Teeg, it gives us some flexibility in fighting Proggy. And testing with it at all?

It's amazing against Merfolk and Dredge; unfortunately my metagame is infested with combo decks so I haven't had a need to play it just yet. It's a tier 3 SB card for me at this point. Keep in mind that it may be a better replacement for Dueling Ground because of the synergy with GSZ.

[Philipp2293]

Wow, Dawnstrider is a nice suggestions, I will try that for sure :)

[Ajsmirnov]

@Fatal.
thx you. I tested Scryb Ranger more and found place for it. It is really a great card.