[Deck] GW/x Maverick

[Morte]

Thanks for the clarification. I thought that, entering the battlefield at the same time, oppo’s creature was a legal target. Why exactly it doesn’t work?

[Esper3k]

Thanks for the clarification. I thought that, entering the battlefield at the same time, oppo’s creature was a legal target. Why exactly it doesn’t work?

First, the Metamorph's ability doesn't target (which is why it can copy Progenitus).

The Metamorph's ability (and copy effects like that in general) can only copy things that are on the battlefield before the Metamorph enters the battlefield. Because with Show & Tell, both objects enter the battlefield simultaneously, Emrakul won't meet that condition to be copied.

[Morte]

Clear, post fixed.

What do you think about the plan of not playing Batterskull at all, and instead playing a package of Jitte and two different swords? With a good number of flyers, such as 3 Mindcensors, 2 Rangers and maybe a BoP? There would be a great versatility in terms of choosing the best protection and the most useful form of CA, at the cost of dropping the most "broken" combo with SFM...

[Philipp2293]

Let me tell you that I've dropped Batterskull, cause for me it has been mediocre at best. I think a big part of the problem is it's high equip cost. He is not so relevant for us in comparison to UWx Control, which need the body to protect Jace and the lifegain to stabilize. I pretty much always tutored for something else.

Jitte and SoLaS is standard for me, for the third sword I think I have to go back to SoFaI, pro: Jace, Clique, Snapcaster and Lavamancer sounds very hot currently.

[GoblinZ]

I donnot like Batterskull either, I think it is only good against zoo, but now zoo tends to disappear...

[majikal]

I haven't been liking equipment in general the last few weeks. I'm currently running a blue splash, dropping SFM and equips for Jace and Daze. So far it has been incredible, winning me a top8 slot at the last SCG Open.

[Cruser]

I haven't been liking equipment in general the last few weeks. I'm currently running a blue splash, dropping SFM and equips for Jace and Daze. So far it has been incredible, winning me a top8 slot at the last SCG Open.

Would like too see this list I just cant see how that will work.

[Fatal]

Exactly the same as Aggro Bant is working with GSZ, I tested this version and its strong, It can also be called NoFoW similar version was played by Rynkiewicz on one of the SCG. Also daze can be replaced by stifles so more similar to New Horizons. Those version has better MU with Combo but, worst with Merfolks, the choose is yours :).

[slaydo]

http://sales.starcitygames.com//deck...p?DeckID=41202

like the deck, however the creature count is really low imho. In maverick I play 27 creatures including dryad arbor. Adding blue not only destroys 1 key trait of this deck: being able to effectively withstand wasteland abuse by the opp but also can cause inconsistency imho. I played bant aggro before moving into maverick and the 1 thing I am happy about is it being very consistent. Playing more fetch makes it more susceptible to stifle shenanigans and opponent's mindcensors(when playing in the mirror obv.)

I agree with the equipment package not being effective. Late game however, batterskull can be totally awesomenuts to draw. in the early game yes it sux when SFM gets plowed/bolted/insert removal XYZ. However in the long run it will pay dividends because you have a threat to break a stall.

for reference here is my list. It's not a fancy "kill you now" deck, it grinds and that is fine with me. It has sooooo many answers to different kinds of threats I keep going back to it after trying something new. What do you think on my deck?

2 Aven Mindcensor
1 Birds of Paradise
1 Eternal Witness
1 Gaddock Teeg
4 Knight of the Reliquary
2 Mirran Crusader
3 Mother of Runes
3 Noble Hierarch
2 Qasali Pridemage
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Scryb Ranger
3 Stoneforge Mystic
1 Tarmogoyf
1 Thrun, the Last Troll
4 Green Sun's Zenith
1 Batterskull
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Dryad Arbor
2 Forest
1 Gaea's Cradle
2 Horizon Canopy
1 Karakas
1 Maze of Ith
4 Swords to Plowshares
2 Plains
3 Savannah
2 Verdant Catacombs
3 Wasteland
4 Windswept Heath
2 Sylvan Library
SB: 2 Ethersworn Canonist
SB: 2 Enlightened Tutor
SB: 2 Path to Exile
SB: 1 Choke
SB: 1 Bojuka Bog
SB: 1 Thorn of Amethyst
SB: 1 Serenity
SB: 1 Sword of Light and Shadow
SB: 1 Life from the Loam
SB: 2 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
SB: 1 Circle of Protection: Red

[Esper3k]

Batterskull has been fairly underwhelming for me as well. It's usually the second equipment I'll get since when they kill your Mystic, you can at least fairly easily still cast Jitte / Swords.

However, I still think it is needed for the option of turning your SFM into a threatening attacker.

[Asthereal]

I moved Batterskull to the sideboard again too.
It was bad for me, sticking in my hand way too often.
I just died before I could use it.
The main problem is that this deck cannot protect SFM effectively.

My question of the day is:
How badly do we need Aven Mindcensor?

Is seems bad against about 70% of my meta, but it seems good against my least favorite matchups. Do I invest three spots in a card that is good against 30% of the meta, but my toughest 30%, and bad against my good matchups, despite that being about 70% of the meta?

[Koby]

I would advocate for a 2nd Scavenging Ooze. It's highly relevant in many metagame, stops Snapcaster Mage and Reanimator together, and shrinks opposing Goyfs. I think that any list that still runs Tarmogoyf should consider whether they actually need it. In metagames with Zoo, it's warranted. In other metagames, not so much.

[Morte]

My question of the day is:
How badly do we need Aven Mindcensor?

Is seems bad against about 70% of my meta, but it seems good against my least favorite matchups. Do I invest three spots in a card that is good against 30% of the meta, but my toughest 30%, and bad against my good matchups, despite that being about 70% of the meta?

Could you explain your %? Mindcensor is brutal card advantage agaist everything with fetchlands, i.e. everything but Merfolks. I'd say it's side effect is very useful agaist 90% of the format. Plus, it's one of our few creatures with evasion, very relevant to profit our SoXaY.
About the number, I'm playing it as a 2of atm.

I would advocate for a 2nd Scavenging Ooze. It's highly relevant in many metagame, stops Snapcaster Mage and Reanimator together, and shrinks opposing Goyfs. I think that any list that still runs Tarmogoyf should consider whether they actually need it. In metagames with Zoo, it's warranted. In other metagames, not so much.

I came to similar conclusions, but am not sure about if and what to cut. (But, tbh, Ooze doesn't totally stop Reanimator, now they always play Show and Tell).

[Fatal]

Goyf is still the biggest body in 2cmc slot, I don't see this deck has problems with any tempo deck or reanimator. About Avens - some ppl don't like then bacuse their effect on game isn't visible unless your oppnent tell that :]

[Maëlig]

I would advocate for a 2nd Scavenging Ooze. It's highly relevant in many metagame, stops Snapcaster Mage and Reanimator together, and shrinks opposing Goyfs. I think that any list that still runs Tarmogoyf should consider whether they actually need it. In metagames with Zoo, it's warranted. In other metagames, not so much.

I have to agree with that. Cut whatever random shit you're using to fill your last slots (witness, thrun and the like are all pretty meh imo), and put a 2nd ooze. It's just that good. I probably won't go up to a 3rd though, since it's useless to have multiples on the board simultaneously.

[Asthereal]

Explaining my %s on the Mindcensor argument:
- When you play it, your opponent normally already has two lands out. If they know you carry Mindcensors (and GW usually does) they fetch turn 1 and play normal lands afterwards. Stopping fetch is a bonus imo, no realistic threat.
- Mindcensor is good, and needed versus: Natural Order, Zeniths for big ass beasts, Stoneforges, Infernal Tutors, and maybe that blue instant tutor I cannot remember the name of right now. Entomb is already played when you get the Mindcensor out usually.
- I always play at least two main deck Elspeths for evasion and just plain awesomeness.

So: how big a part of my meta is NO RUG, Storm Combo, Stoneblade or Mirror? Not that much. I expect a lot of Tempo Thresh, Zoo, Merfolk, a Goblins revival, Snapcaster Mages with random support and so on. I expect the meta in GP Amsterdam to be 30% NO RUG, Storm, Stoneblade and Maverick, and 70% other. Seems a realistic estimation. And Stoneblade and the mirror are definitely winnable without Mindcensors (Elspeth ftw!).

[Morte]

Explaining my %s on the Mindcensor argument:
- When you play it, your opponent normally already has two lands out. If they know you carry Mindcensors (and GW usually does) they fetch turn 1 and play normal lands afterwards.

Ok, but in my experience, even if they play card selection in any form - Brainstorm, Top, Sylvan Library…, it’s not a choice of theirs to play just “normal lands afterwards”. They’ll still draw some fetchland, because, even if they manipulate their draw to get a non-fetch land, unless they don’t shuffle their library afterwards (and again, waste a card to Mindcensor) all those fetchlands are going to cumulate on the top of their deck, worsening their card selection.

Add your Wastelands if they have few lands in play, and a frequent scenario where they don’t have card selection tools right after you played your censor, and you get the point.

[Fl0do]

Regarding Aven Mindcensor: Shutting down tutors can win you the match and also Flash can be important, against Planeswalkers for example. Flashing in a EOT Aven Mindcensor helped me beating an active Jace or an active Liliana several times.

And a timely Aven Mindcensor will always give you an advantage against almost every deck you will face.

[allek]

I've played this deck since february and I'm taking it to Amsterdam this weekend. In our local weekly tournaments (~15-20 players), Merfolks have been the deck winning the most last month. Generally, Merfolks is a fine matchup for our deck where we can just play dudes and match their aggro plan. Also, Scryb Ranger is superb. For Sideboard, I take out Aven Mindcensor and Teeg and add some removal and Chokes.

Recently however, I'm 0-3 in games against Merfolks, mainly because the player playing the deck is VERY good and because Dismember is an awesome addition to that deck. Post-board, the matchup is worse because Submerge is a beating.

Has anybody any thought on how to improve this matchup? Sideboarding suggestions?
I play neither Batterskull nor Path to Exile and think they would have little impact in this match anyway.

[BlackStarDeceiver]

Try Summoning Trap instead of Choke, i've been a fan since i first tried, just take a look at it.