[Deck] The Rock

[Mr. Safety]

I guess I wasn't clear: I can deal with Omni-Tell just fine (with the suggestions you mentioned already in my sideboard.) The card killing me is Sneak Attack. I'd rather avoid 'bad' answers like Qasali Pridemage. Pithing Needle maybe?

Also, maybe you weren't directing your reply to me?

[sdematt]

The best way to actually deal with true Sneak and Show decks is Pithing Needle/Humility. They actually can't win through Humility unless they already have the one of two bounce pieces in hand, and Needle doesn't give them a chance to respond. These two cards hose them the fuck out, but Humility just MUCKS them.

Humility also serves double duty against Folk/Goblins/Elves because you have Lingering Souls, so it's VERY good. I'm not running it since I only see Omni in my metagame anymore, not sneak.

-Matt

[Claymore]

Ah, yeah, sorry, I had only seen your sideboard comments, not the question about Sneak Attack.

My aim is Teeg with the typical Knight -> Karakas mode. It's very hard to beat an active Sneak, but worth mentioning that Lingering Souls can flood the field and give you enough permanents to survive a single Annihilator Spaghetti Monster, and possibly allow a game ending swing with Knight. Good luck getting to that critical mass point though...

[Mr. Safety]

No worries, and I already have up to 4 Souls available (2 main, 2 side.) I think I'm going to go back to sideboarding Needles. I always get away from them somehow, and then I slowly come back to them and say to myself 'Oh yeah, those solve a SHIT-ton of problems.'

The real priority is for me to trade/buy a Karakas. *sigh* One of the few cards I've actually had trouble acquiring. EVERYBODY uses it, and now that Death and Taxes is a thing again they disappeared faster than a bag of Cheetos in Rosie O'Donnell's cupboard.

[sdematt]

If you need one, I've got one. I have 4, but you can only have one :P

-Matt

[JanoschEausH]

How do you guys SB against Jund (especially Punishing?). This matchup gives me headaches. I have the feeling, even OTP, i am always a step behind. My list is similiar to sdematt's. After playing with SFM for quite some time, i recently changed to GSZ to have more threat-density.

[sdematt]

In this matchup, you fight over DRS. If you're on the draw, you Swords Deathrite immediately. If you're on the play, jam Deathrite. If not, you need to accelerate.

In the boarded games, they likely board out Liliana (and if they don't, you just get MORE value). Lingering Souls jams the board while you can build up with Knights. Make sure you get Ooze on the table and have the ability to get him to a 3/3 or 4/4 before running it out. Use that to handle his Fires.

I board out hand disruption, whereas they don't since they have very little to bring in against you (their board is moreso against Combo/Jace). They may bring in more discard, but that's fine. Hand disruption is very bad in the long game, which these tend to be. They may bring in Plague to beta Souls, so bring in Golgari Charm as anti-hate and to regenerate your guys if you have to. You can usually survive the hand raping since your topdecks are just better. If they can't Deathrite your yard, Knight is something they cannot handle.

-Matt

[Mirrislegend]

I've gone back to a very average, middle of the road build. It's simple, straightforward, has game against everything, and is fairly easy to pilot. The maindeck is pretty much locked. 12 cards in the SB have proven themselves as worthwhile (although I'd love to have a 4th Zealous).

SB:
3 Zealous Persecution
3 Gaddock Teeg
3 Thalia
3 Surgical Extraction
3 ?

In the empty slot, I originally had Krosan Grips. However consider which matchups I will bring in KGrips for? The same matchups where Pulse is extremely important (my MD removal is only 4x StP and 3x Abrupt Decay).

I'd like some input on splitting up these last slots of 0-3 KGrip and 3-0 Maelstrom Pulse.

[sdematt]

Tomorrow there's a tournament that will likely have the following present:

Elves
Goblins
Merfolk
TES
ANT
Omni
Sneak Attack
Esper Stoneblade
BUg Landstill
Jund
RUG/BUG Delver
Deathblade

And this is the sideboard I would run if I ran this deck:

4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
2 Gaddock Teeg
2 Pernicious Deed
2 Golgari Charm
1 Sorin, LOI
1 Garruk Relentless
1 Sylvan Safekeeper
2 Nihil Spellbomb/Cabal Therapy

Heavy anti-combo slant and heavy anti-Esper/Jund/Deathblade.

-Matt

[Mr. Safety]

How do you guys SB against Jund (especially Punishing?). This matchup gives me headaches. I have the feeling, even OTP, i am always a step behind. My list is similiar to sdematt's. After playing with SFM for quite some time, i recently changed to GSZ to have more threat-density.

Deathrite their PFires and sideboard Surgical Extraction, I opt for a full set. Extraction is so flexible and useful, I've been really liking it.

Also @Matt: If I were planning against those decks, I'd want 2x Pithing Needle in my sideboard.

Current sideboard:

2x Ethersworn Canonist
2x Lingering Souls
1x Gaddock Teeg
1x Vindicate
1x Pernicious Deed
2x Pithing Needle
2x Zealous Persecution
4x Surgical Extraction


Alternatively, I would drop the ZP's, Vindicate, and 1x LSouls for 3x Natural Order and 1x Progenitus. I think against Jund/Stoneblade, it's pretty damn good. A two turn clock does a lot to negate their ability to grind games out.

[Mirrislegend]

Tomorrow there's a tournament that will likely have the following present:

Elves
Goblins
Merfolk
TES
ANT
Omni
Sneak Attack
Esper Stoneblade
BUg Landstill
Jund
RUG/BUG Delver
Deathblade

No Maverick by you? What about Miracles?

[sdematt]

*Forgot to include Maverick, Pox (could be up to 3/20), and Miracles*

I'm not running this deck tomorrow (someone wants to play it), but if I was, I'd run this, after much thought/talking/deliberation:

1 Life from the Loam
1 Sylvan Safekeeper
1 Cabal Therapy
1 Garruk Relentess (since I know there's no Punishing Jund, just regular)
1 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3 Gaddock Teeg
2 Golgari Charm
2 Pernicious Deed

I don't expect a ton of graveyard based decks, and if I do, then so be it. I expect more Combo, in all honesty.This board for that expected meta seems just fine.

Loam for the Tempo decks/grindy control matchups, nice with Safekeeper.
Safekeeper to extract value in creature matchups, and protects the hatebears.
Cabal Therapy as the extra discard slot.
Teeg against Dread Return, Jace, Verdict, EE, Batterskull, ETW, Tendrils, etc.
Golgari Charm for weenies, Rest in Peace, Humility, Moat, Verdict, extra creature value.
Thalia for Combo/control.
Deed for everything.
Garruk and Sorin for Control; Garruk since I know there will be no Punishing Fires and the tutoring is great, overrun is good with the tokens.
Sorin because he's awesome.


The best part is having a 13-card board for Miracles/RIP Helm. Cool deck, bro.

-Matt

[Megadeus]

Deathrite their PFires and sideboard Surgical Extraction, I opt for a full set. Extraction is so flexible and useful, I've been really liking it.

Also @Matt: If I were planning against those decks, I'd want 2x Pithing Needle in my sideboard.

Current sideboard:

2x Ethersworn Canonist
2x Lingering Souls
1x Gaddock Teeg
1x Vindicate
1x Pernicious Deed
2x Pithing Needle
2x Zealous Persecution
4x Surgical Extraction

Just make sure not to NO with no dudes on board. Progenitus doesnt have protection from liliana!

Alternatively, I would drop the ZP's, Vindicate, and 1x LSouls for 3x Natural Order and 1x Progenitus. I think against Jund/Stoneblade, it's pretty damn good. A two turn clock does a lot to negate their ability to grind games out.

[Mr. Safety]

Just make sure not to NO with no dudes on board. Progenitus doesnt have protection from liliana!

Agreed, I do have to be careful. I can PW-rule their liliana, but also realize that the Liliana factor is mitigated easily with Lingering Souls. It's possible I should make sure to have all 4 available, and 3 isn't enough. They block, protect from Liliana/Diabolic Edict, and can drag the game out long enough to make NO-Pro happen.

That was a cryptic response, you get kudos for that. I had to re-read my own quote because I didn't see a reply. Then I saw the minor change...bravo.

[Flopnuts72]

Deck: Junk
This is my first post on the source. I have been a lerker for about a year now and wanted to post the list I have been using to some success at the local store and on cockatrise.
Counts : 61 main / 15 sideboard

Creatures:17
1 Dryad Arbor
4 Deathrite Shaman
4 Dark Confidant
2 Scavenging Ooze
2 Stoneforge Mystic
4 Knight of the Reliquary

Spells:22
4 Cabal Therapy
3 Green Sun's Zenith
1 Sensei's Divining Top
4 Swords to Plowshares
3 Abrupt Decay
1 Sylvan Library
1 Umezawa's Jitte
4 Lingering Souls
1 Batterskull

Lands:22
2 Bayou
1 Bojuka Bog
1 Forest
1 Karakas
4 Marsh Flats
1 Maze of Ith
1 Plains
2 Savannah
2 Scrubland
1 Swamp
4 Verdant Catacombs
2 Wasteland

Sideboard:15
1 Tormod's Crypt
1 Tower of the Magistrate
3 Enlightened Tutor
1 Pithing Needle
1 Ethersworn Canonist
1 Gaddock Teeg
1 Choke
1 Engineered Plague
1 Oblivion Ring
1 Pernicious Deed
1 Humility
2 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad

Some points about the list...
I have the md bog because of dredge in my meta. I have also found it useful against rug/knight mirror/and random grave nuke. I like the fact it's uncounterable, can't be hit by targeted discard, and is tutorable.

[Flopnuts72]

Any seggestions and thoughts are greatly appreciated thanks in advance!! BTW this is the best thread on the source!! Keep beating people in the face with ROCK!!

[.Ix]

Deck: Junk
This is my first post on the source. I have been a lerker for about a year now and wanted to post the list I have been using to some success at the local store and on cockatrise.
Counts : 61 main / 15 sideboard

Creatures:17
1 Dryad Arbor
4 Deathrite Shaman
4 Dark Confidant
2 Scavenging Ooze
2 Stoneforge Mystic
4 Knight of the Reliquary

Spells:22
4 Cabal Therapy
3 Green Sun's Zenith
1 Sensei's Divining Top
4 Swords to Plowshares
3 Abrupt Decay
1 Sylvan Library
1 Umezawa's Jitte
4 Lingering Souls
1 Batterskull

Lands:22
2 Bayou
1 Bojuka Bog
1 Forest
1 Karakas
4 Marsh Flats
1 Maze of Ith
1 Plains
2 Savannah
2 Scrubland
1 Swamp
4 Verdant Catacombs
2 Wasteland

Sideboard:15
1 Tormod's Crypt
1 Tower of the Magistrate
3 Enlightened Tutor
1 Pithing Needle
1 Ethersworn Canonist
1 Gaddock Teeg
1 Choke
1 Engineered Plague
1 Oblivion Ring
1 Pernicious Deed
1 Humility
2 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad

Some points about the list...
I have the md bog because of dredge in my meta. I have also found it useful against rug/knight mirror/and random grave nuke. I like the fact it's uncounterable, can't be hit by targeted discard, and is tutorable.

This is almost exactly what I used to run. The only differences are -1 bog -1 top +2 wasteland, I think. It's very powerful, but extremely slow. I went to time and drew far too many times in tournaments. I've been experimenting with Garruk Wildspeaker recently, and in many cases it feels like a Natural Order without card disadvantage. It's definitely doing its job as a really good Overrun.

[syfilisx]

ROCK

Lands 21
4x Marsh Flats
4x Wasteland
3x Bayou
3x Verdant Catacomb
2x Scrubland
1x Savannah
1x Forest
1x Swamp
1x Karakas
1x Windswept Heath
1x Maze of Ith

Creatures 16
4x Deathrite Shaman
4x Dark Confidant
4x Knight of the Reliquary
2x Tarmogoyf
2x Stoneforge Mystic

Instants/Sorceries 18
4x Swords to Plowshare
4x Abrupt Decay
3x Lingering Souls
2x Thoughtseize
1x Maelstrom Pulse
2x Inquisition of Kozilek
1x Cabal Therapy

Planeswalkers 3
3x Liliana of the Veil

Artifacts 2
1x Batterskull
1x Umezawa's Jitte

Sideboard 15
3 Surgical Extractions
2 Duress
2 Oblivion Ring
2 Aethersworn Canonist
2 Engineered Plague
1 Gaddock Teeg
1 Diabolic Edict
1 Thalia, Guardin of Thraben
1 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad

This list made it to top4 at Porotour Legacy Trial today.

It beat
Oops all spells, where third game it win with nolander hand in his turn 1. Surgical like a boss.
Uw Miracles

Drew with RUG
ID with UWR Tempo (which he came to regret since...)
Top4, lost to manaless dredge 1-2, should he have not took ID, he would have played something else, which in top4, were all great matchups.

There were lot of draws in swiss, so it explains why people got in top8 with bit questionable 2-0-2

[Claymore]

Went 5-1-2 at SCG Nashville, beat Reanimator, Rug x2, Esper blade, Devastating Loam, drew against Dnt and Deathblade (eventual winner) and lost to Lingering Esper blade (top 8). Good for 18th place out of 201.

Ditched IoK for Liliana x2 so only 4 discard (2 TS, 2 Therapy), which was shaky but I dodged combo anyway. I had Tower of the Magistrate sideboard and it was a house in the XBlade matches I got it out. Also ran Cabal Pit in place of Bojuka Bog to do nasty things. These combined to bring me back against a board of Jace, Batterskull, SFM w/ Jitte, and 3 life. Also took down a Batterskull with Sword Feast Famine equipped...all in all the lands are very strong right now. Getting rid of a tap land in Bog has been very good to me too.

Edit:

After getting back in town today, here's the deck I took:

4 Dark Confidant
4 Deathrite Shaman
4 Knight of the Reliquary
3 Tarmogoyf
1 Gaddock Teeg

3 Lingering Souls
3 Green Sun's Zenith

2 Sylvan Library

2 Cabal Therapy
2 Thoughtseize
2 Liliana of the Veil

3 Abrupt Decay
3 Swords to Plowshares
2 Maelstrom Pulse

1 Dryad Arbor
1 Forest
1 Swamp
2 Bayou
2 Marsh Flats
2 Windswept Heath
1 Maze of Ith
2 Savannah
2 Scrubland
4 Verdant Catacombs
3 Wasteland
1 Karakas
1 Cabal Pit

SB: 2 Surgical Extraction
SB: 1 Chains of Mephistopheles
SB: 1 Enlightened Tutor
SB: 1 Gaddock Teeg
SB: 2 Golgari Charm
SB: 2 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
SB: 2 Ethersworn Canonist
SB: 1 Umezawa's Jitte
SB: 1 Nihil Spellbomb
SB: 1 Pernicious Deed
SB: 1 Tower of the Magistrate

I had to take several mulligans to 6 (only one to 5) and my match loss was partly due to being stuck on 2 lands for several turns in both games. I think I'll cut GSZ and either replace with a basic Plains or just leave as is and be at 22/23 functional lands and 60 cards.

[sdematt]

Played in the duals tournament Saturday and went 3-2, losing two close matches to Pox and tin Fins. The Pox player locked me out with double Ensnaring Bridge for about ten turns, then got Cursed Scroll online and burned me out while also having double Pithing Needle on Deathrite Shaman AND Ooze.

Tin Fins was just bad luck on my side, even though I had hate.

I really liked the list and the sideboard though, and beat OmniTell, a 5C Brew, and UWr Miracles. The third Teeg was a monster in the games where it mattered, holy hell. Sylvan Safekeeper is a beating as well.

-Matt