[Deck] GW/x Maverick

[Barook]

pretty sure that doesn't work against the merfolk guy. You can't target it with a source you control, if my understanding of protection is correct.

Looking at how all the option to get it out of the table seem janky at best, I think we try to race it and pray that we get there before they do, either mom + knight or with equipments.

Bruizar was talking about targeting your own Nemesis with Arena, which obviously works.

[Shawon]

Runed Halo and Teferi's Moat are additional (terrible) answers to The Nemesis.

[ThediscoPower]

Bruizar was talking about targeting your own Nemesis with Arena, which obviously works.

Ohh my bad i didn' t get that we were talking about our own nemesis.

[Fl0do]

I really like playing creature decks with a lot of on board tricks, so Maverick was my deck to play for the last two years (while switching and trying out a lot other decks in the meantime :D ). Though Maverick may not so well positioned in the current metagame as it was 1-2 years ago, but I'm always in for tweaking and trying different versions of the deck, because I (still) believe, that Maverick rewards the good and well prepared player.

My newest version features black, but first the list and then some words about it:

//Lands
4 Windswept Heath
2 Verdant Catacombs
2 Savannah
2 Bayou
1 Scrubland
4 Wasteland
2 Cavern of Souls
1 Karakas
1 Dryad Arbor
1 Forest
1 Plains
1 Gaea's Cradle
1 Horizon Canopy
//Creatures
1 Birds of Paradise
3 Deathrite Shaman
4 Mother of Runes
1 Sylvan Safekeeper
4 Knight of the Reliquary
1 Gaddock Teeg
3 Stoneforge Mystic
2 Scavenging Ooze
1 Scryb Ranger
1 Qasali Pridemage
//Other
4 Green Sun's Zenith
4 Swords to Plowshares
4 Abrupt Decay
1 Sylvan Library
1 Batterskull
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Umezawa's Jitte

//Sideboard
4 Thoughtseize
2 Surgical Extraction
2 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
2 Ethersworn Canonist
1 Gaddock Teeg
1 Golgari Charm
1 Zealous Persecution
2 Oblivion Ring

My main reason to play black is Abrupt Decay, because I'm a fan of this versatile, hard-to-stop removal spell. Also Deathrite Shaman is a strong addition to the deck, providing disruption, reach and acceleration in one card (Captn. Obv. ;) ).
Exalted is not that important, or better, not needed alongside 8 removal spells and 3 Stoneforge Mystics. Regarding these, I have to say, that I never was a fan of the Mystic in Maverick. Although it provides flexibilty and pressure, I mostly ran only 2 Umezawa's Jitte in the past.
My thoughts for playing now 3 of them were, that alongside 4 Mother of Runes and 1 Sylvan Safekeeper to protect the Mystic, I wanted a graveyard independent threat, because Knight of the Reliquary isn't the beatstick it used to be (but always involved in some sick turns tutoring up the lands you need). Unfortunately, I'm still not completely sold on having 3 Stoneforge Mystics, also Batterskull was a bit underwhelming in the games I played. I'm thinking of cutting 1 Mystic and the Batterskull to make some room for Planeswalkers, but I'm still not sure on that.
I also have to mention Scavenging Ooze, as this guy is just a beating at the moment, outplaying opposing Tarmogoyfs and Deathrite Shamans.

Due to having 8 removal spells in the maindeck, I'm fighting combo completely out of the sideboard, which is not the best plan, but I would say this is a sacrifice I'm willing to give for having a strong game one vs. a lot of decks.

Alongside 4 Thoughtseize I have 2 Ethersworn Canonist, 2 Thalia, 2 Surgical Extraction and 1 Gaddock Teeg + Oblivion Rings vs. S&T to fight the combo decks. Zealous Persecution and Golgari Charm are nice addition against Token fueled decks like Young Pyromancer.dec and Esper Blade, which are capable to overwhelm you pretty fast.

I'm testing the deck on Cockatrice at the moment (Woogerworks, Flodo) and the matchup vs. the different tempo decks is really good, you really have the removal to deal with their fast threats and afterwards you have the longer breath bevause of the threat density of your deck.
Combo is pretty difficult (always was), you have to draw the right half of your deck to beat that.
Vs. Shardless Bug I'm also having a hard time and I'm expecting the Jund matchup isn't easy either.
Never played this list vs. Miracles and I really want to test this matchup. Somehow I always ended up to tear up my opponents with Maverick, but this can't be very represantive for this matchup.

Greetings, Flodo

[litenkatt]

Sunyveil on feature match!

[ironclad8690]

Hey Guys!

What would be your ideal version of maverick (splashes, vials or GSZ, etc). vs 4c aggro loam?

He devastates my dreams every week, and I am running out of store credit at my LGS :P

I have tried Rest in peace, stony silence, and a couple other cards as tech but need some help.

[Koby]

Hey Guys!

What would be your ideal version of maverick (splashes, vials or GSZ, etc). vs 4c aggro loam?

He devastates my dreams every week, and I am running out of store credit at my LGS :P

I have tried Rest in peace, stony silence, and a couple other cards as tech but need some help.

Terravore, Absolute Law, Burrenton Forge-tender, Sacred Ground

Also, this just came to me: 1 mana answer to fight Elves:

Spore Frog. #trollol

[kingtk3]

Terravore, Absolute Law, Burrenton Forge-tender, Sacred Ground

Also, this just came to me: 1 mana answer to fight Elves:

Spore Frog. #trollol

Might as well play genesis too, for infinite f(r)og!

[Megadeus]

Hey Guys!

What would be your ideal version of maverick (splashes, vials or GSZ, etc). vs 4c aggro loam?

He devastates my dreams every week, and I am running out of store credit at my LGS :P

I have tried Rest in peace, stony silence, and a couple other cards as tech but need some help.

Active Mom is solid. Stone Forge Package is decent. RIP is a beating, but it does shrink your own knights so hopefully you have a way to beat down without KOTR. Well Timed RIP is very good though

[ironclad8690]

Terravore, Absolute Law, Burrenton Forge-tender, Sacred Ground

Also, this just came to me: 1 mana answer to fight Elves:

Spore Frog. #trollol

Thanks guys. I will totally try this and we will see who comes out on top. I think the enlightened tutor board is the way to go in this one with a couple of those tasty tricks.

Also, spore froging an elf player is my new magic goal for the year.

Edit: I also just realized that Revoker on Mox Diamond should be pretty sick

[ivanpei]

What ever happened to dark depths? I'm running 1 dark depths and 1 thespian stage just as an alternative win with knight. I've played the list to death and it wins a ton of games for me. Knight isn't the premier threat it used to be so I ran the combo to make sure knight = gg. Of course playing the combo means no maze and no splashes which I believe is a worthwhile sacrifice.

By running the midrange busting behemoth that is the dark depths combo, I get to cut down on other mid rangy cards like sfm. I'm running zero sfm but still keep in 2 jittes because it's just such an all star equipment. I've used the free slots for 2 Aven Minscensor for additional hate bears against combo and control.

Imo deathrite sometimes shrinks our own knights and abrupt decay is not that critical since we have gsz and pridemage. Increasing the instant and sorcery count is also a nonbo with thalia.

After testing:
Black splash Mav= flimsy manabase, decay sometimes Uncastable w/o deathrite. Too high dependence on deathrite, eats through your own lands at times. However pros are: good at busting counterbalance against miracles, post board discard always useful against combo and control.

Vial Mav= loses gsz, flexibility is gone. Thalia is now just boss because it doesn't mess with gsz anymore. Anything combo or control is just down the crapper as you lose gsz for silver bullets. Vial is however boss vs blue midrange and control. Dodges Counterspells and prevents overextending into sweepers. Can have some crazy starts. Would play in a blue midrange meta.

Dark depths Mav= has gsz, so same old dependable tutoring. Gsz is messy with thalia and teeg at times but careful play makes it tolerable. Solid manabase means dark depths and thespian stage can be fit in. 4 gsz also means 8 knights, making assembling the combo easier. Dark depths is a house, it dominates the midrange. However gets blowned out by stifle. Can be remedied by not being greedy against tempo and just sticking to creature plan. Dark depths just destroys Jund and bug midrange. They have no outs to a 20/20 indestructible even if they shrink your knight to nothing and eat up all the ooze food. Thus assumes you have weenies to sac for liliana which shouldn't be an issue.

[jonnnny]

What ever happened to dark depths? I'm running 1 dark depths and 1 thespian stage just as an alternative win with knight. I've played the list to death and it wins a ton of games for me. Knight isn't the premier threat it used to be so I ran the combo to make sure knight = gg. Of course playing the combo means no maze and no splashes which I believe is a worthwhile sacrifice.

I think my list is probably trying to do too much but I'm running the Dark Stage combo with a black splash (a really Dark Maverick build).

I opt for vial over GSZ because with weathered wayfarer, you want to operate on fewer lands than your opponent. Also, vialing in dryad arbor on zero always puts a smile on my face.

1 Bayou
1 Dark Depths
1 Dryad Arbor
2 Forest
1 Horizon Canopy
1 Karakas
1 Maze of Ith
1 Plains
2 Savannah
1 Scrubland
1 Thespian's Stage
4 Verdant Catacombs
3 Wasteland
4 Windswept Heath

4 Aether Vial
3 Birds of Paradise
3 Deathrite Shaman
3 Mother of Runes
1 Sylvan Safekeeper
2 Weathered Wayfarer
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Scryb Ranger
2 Stoneforge Mystic
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3 Knight of the Reliquary

2 Abrupt Decay
4 Swords to Plowshares
2 Duress

1 Batterskull
1 Umezawa's Jitte

[ivanpei]

That list looks super greedy but hey if you like Chapin-style do everything lists why not? Jack of all trades decks are good for pilots with superior play skill that can win their 50/50 matchups with tight play.

Also the 2 duress should be thoughtseize. I think the versatility is worth the pain. I would also play 2 jitte or a jitte and a sword over the batterskull/jitte split. Since you don't run 4 sfm, if you draw that batterskull, you will very likely be forced to hard cast it. I'd rather have jitte in that situation to plow through the field. Also since Mav has an endless stream of weenies, Batterskulls body is not critical.

[jonnnny]

That list looks super greedy but hey if you like Chapin-style do everything lists why not? Jack of all trades decks are good for pilots with superior play skill that can win their 50/50 matchups with tight play.

Also the 2 duress should be thoughtseize. I think the versatility is worth the pain. I would also play 2 jitte or a jitte and a sword over the batterskull/jitte split. Since you don't run 4 sfm, if you draw that batterskull, you will very likely be forced to hard cast it. I'd rather have jitte in that situation to plow through the field. Also since Mav has an endless stream of weenies, Batterskulls body is not critical.

I agree it's super greedy. I may move the abrupt decays to the sideboard. Deathrites are okay in the main I think since it can be cast with green. Perhaps I don't need 3 DRS+3 BoP when I'm running vials.

That's an excellent point about batterskull. I think I will opt for a jitte + SoFaI/SoFaF depending on meta.

I've found that I like duress better than thoughtseize in the matchups that need it, namely combo. What matchup would thoughtseize be better in specifically?

[Nihilis]

@ivanpei: actually when the Dark Depths trigger is stifled, the sacrifice part is also countered meaning it will stay in play with zero counters on it and will just trigger again.

[klaus]

@ivanpei: actually when the Dark Depths trigger is stifled, the sacrifice part is also countered meaning it will stay in play with zero counters on it and will just trigger again.

really? could you be more specific?

[sdematt]

@ivanpei: actually when the Dark Depths trigger is stifled, the sacrifice part is also countered meaning it will stay in play with zero counters on it and will just trigger again.

Yeah, but if you stifle after the legend rule part, and stifle the "put a token into play," you've already sacced your stage (which is now a Dark Depths) so then I think you come out okay.

-Matt

[Julian23]

[...] ...you've already sacced your stage (which is now a Dark Depths) [...]

...with zero counters on it. Since the sacrifice is part of the effect (which you just stifled), it will just trigger again immediately.

[sdematt]

Oh, I see. Damn :P

This is why I just prefer to kill the Knights before they untap

-Matt

[ironclad8690]

Very interesting, so what are the possible blowouts that can disrupt the Depths + Stage combo?