Hello, long time player, new member here.
I run a more aggro version of this deck, with two mirran crusaders maindeck (and SoFI instead of SoFF, because the latter is a bit redundant with the knight). So far, the results have been mixed. Have you guys tried out this creature in your builds?
In order to understand your build the proper way itd be pretty helpful if youd post your list - is 4 Snapcaster 4 Stoneforge 4-5 Faires already alot of creatures? Or do you play Mother of Runes? Geist of Saint Traft? Give us information :)
4 Stoneforge, 3 Snapcaster, 2 Crusaders, 1 Geist (I'm looking to trade into a second, I'll have it soon), 1 Batterskull, 1 Jitte, 1 SoFI 1 Elspeth, 2 Jace, no factories on account of small black splash for the sideboard (engineered plague and perish)Originally Posted by Philipp802
I also play with 2 Path to Exile next to the standard 4 stp, and I have a playset of Ethersworn Canonist in the side (lots of stormcombo in the meta).
A doublestriking knight with equipment is just mean, and I found it holds the ground against a whole lot of decks, but it is never a stellar card. It's often good, but seldom great.
8 to the face (or a lot more, if you're using Jitte[*]), plus whatever effects you get from the equipment, doesn't suck. But it seems like the downside of Crusader versus Geist would be that Crusader doesn't have protection from StP or, until equipped with SoFI, bolts. He can stand down an opposing Batterskull though.
In your experience with him, what keeps him from being stellar?
[*] If my calculation is correct, a Jitte-equipped Crusader could do 24 damage in two swings (starting from an uncharged Jitte).
(Not that it matters much, but you can do 28, if you use both of the first sets of charges on the 2nd turn and the 3rd set between rounds of combat damage, you get in for 2+2+10+14)
Hmm, I think I'm missing something.
Mirran equipped with a Jitte with no counters on the first turn of swings, swings for 2 during the first strike phase. 2 Jitte counters pumps him to 6/6, so you get 8 damage on the first turn of swings.
On the second turn of swings, he smacks for 6 during the first strike phase, then the 2 counters pumps him to 10/10, so you get 16 damage on the second turn of swings.
8 + 16 = 24
How did you calculate 28?
Don't pump on the first turn - that might not be the best play, but gets the highest sum.
t1: Swing in for 2 (2 counters), then 2 more without pumping (4 counters).
t2: Pump +8/+8 (0 counters), swing in for 10 (2 counters), pump another +4/+4 between first strike and normal damage (0 counters), swing in for 14.
2+2+10+14=28
I didn't play for quite a while during (I think) M10 rules changes though, so I *believe* there is still priority between first strike damage and normal damage, but could be wrong (though you both assume that).
You are correct.
Can't believe I missed that. Thanks.
matunos: He doesn't swing games out of nothing (but I'm not sure that's a fair and realistic expectation for a three mana beater). Swords to Plowshares and not being pitchable to FoW are the two main disadvantages to the card, compared to Geist. Its main advantage is that it rapes elves (an often seen part of the metagame here) and Tarmogoyf with a broomstick, and can hold off Knight of the Reliquary.
Mirran Crusader is most certainly a brick house with a sword attached; I like him with the SoF&I as he is hitting for 4+4, and doing 2+2 damage where ever I need to place it, and is Pro GBUR, and gives me 2 cards to work with as well. But lets face it, if you get a Mirran to stick and get a sword attached; then it is pretty well GG in two turns of less anyway.
I have considered swapping him for the 2x Vendilion Click in my deck but the issue of color still gives me reservations.
PS, StoP is an issue for almost any creature, so I don't consider that a real factor.
It's a factor if your alternative is Geist.
Hi everyone,
I've been having lots of trouble in the past beating Maverick and Death & Taxes with blade control. My most recent try to improve those matchups without giving up to much in the others involves Humility with Enlightened Tutor.
I've been cutting down the creatures to the bare minimum of 4 Stoneforge Mystics and 4 Snapcaster Mage while playing 1-2 Enlightened Tutor, a Humility and a Engineered Explosives in the main.
So far, I'm very happy with this configuration, as turn 2 mystic into turn 3 batterskull + tutor into turn 4 humility is one of the few ways to completely dominated the Maverick matchup. Additionally, the Enlightened Tutors gives you the opportunity to run a silver bullet sideboard.
Has anyone else tested Humility/Enlightened Tutor in blade control and/or has any thoughts on this?
The problem with Geist vs Crusader is that if you don't have an equipment and the other guy's board isn't empty, a Crusader can still charge in more often than not. Just about every viable creature in the format except SFM, Goblin Lackey and Grim Lavamancer can take a Geist down in combat.
I'm with you on this, enlightened tutor is great in those difficult MU, and in general. I play cursed totem instead of humility though, and in the SB. It's almost as good against maverick, while it still gives you the full advantage of your SFM (except for cheating batterskull into play) and snapcasters.
If you want additional MD targets, crucible, oblivion ring and shackles are good too. My current silver bullets in the SB are cage, canonist and ensnaring bridge, what are yours?
Mirran Crusader is pretty awesome... against BUG.
Against everything else he literally eats every commonly played 1cc removal. Neat :\
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Agreed. He's best suited in a deck who can protect him good. And by that I mean CounterTop or Mother of Runes.
Geist is a better option for Stoneblade, imo.
Let your Dredge 6 be: Narco, Narco, Narco, Bridge, Bridge, Dread Return
I still think Clique is better than Geist. Both are horrible on defense, and Geist is only better on offense on a clean board or with an equipment attached, whereas Clique has flying and a relevant disruptive ability.
I'm playing Tormod's Crypt (Academy Ruins in the main), Canonist, Energy Flux and Seal of Cleansing in the board.
Are there any enlightened-tutorable bullets against control decks? (Stoneblade, BUG Landstill)?
I agree, I'm not sure why you want a hyper aggressive creature in a control deck. Also, the deck is already light on disruption as it is. No point weakening the pre board combo MU to have a slight improvement VS control (which is debatable because clique is arguably equal to Geist in the control mirror).
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