[Primer] Elves!

[Lord_of_Rivendell]

Thanks for the Realm Razer recommendation. It worked like a charm as, in the end, I faced BOTH of the land decks. It created a nice speed bump.

[Julian23]

Won the Big Legacy Sideevent at GP Barcelona this weekend.

This is not a glitch in the matrix. I did the same at GP Paris two weeks ago.

List was my standard list but since I actually forgot Ruric That at home (I keep him in a special case because he's just to furious to be kept with the other cards over time) I went -1 Taiga +1 Pendelhaven. Sideboard had 1 Choke, 1 Null Rod and 2 Needles along with 6 Discard spells.

R1: MUC with Blood Moon, Meloku, Curfew - 2:0
R2: Death and Taxes, 2-0
R3: Esperblade - 1:2
R4: Miracles - 2:1
R5: Uw Imperial Painter - 2:1
R6: Merfolk - 2:1 (after receiving a game loss for being late)
R7: ID

1/4: Miracles - 2:1
1/2: Miracles - 2:0

Split the finals with TA and bought a FBB Taiga and 3 Forces for the store credit. Also + about 20 boosters.

Over #BoMParis #GPParis and #GPBarcelona, I'm actually 7-0-1 against Miracles over my last 8 matches against them. #IAmIndestructible!

[Lans89]

Won the Big Legacy Sideevent at GP Barcelona this weekend.

This is not a glitch in the matrix. I did the same at GP Paris two weeks ago.

List was my standard list but since I actually forgot Ruric That at home (I keep him in a special case because he's just to furious to be kept with the other cards over time) I went -1 Taiga +1 Pendelhaven. Sideboard had 1 Choke, 1 Null Rod and 2 Needles along with 6 Discard spells.

R1: MUC with Blood Moon, Meloku, Curfew - 2:0
R2: Death and Taxes, 2-0
R3: Esperblade - 1:2
R4: Miracles - 2:1
R5: Uw Imperial Painter - 2:1
R6: Merfolk - 2:1 (after receiving a game loss for being late)
R7: ID

1/4: Miracles - 2:1
1/2: Miracles - 2:0

Split the finals with TA and bought a FBB Taiga and 3 Forces for the store credit. Also + about 20 boosters.

Over #BoMParis #GPParis and #GPBarcelona, I'm actually 7-0-1 against Miracles over my last 8 matches against them. #IAmIndestructible!

Congratz :D! (What prize did you win?) Edit: Nice payout!

Your record vs Miracles is amazing! I just can't believe how all those Miracles players can have such a hard time vs Elves :p! The Needles and Decays obviously work.. And you should not throw all your creatures into Terminus, but still... They have Plow, Snapcaster Plow, Terminus, CB, counters and often even Clique, Supreme Verdict, Grafdigger's Cage and/or Canonist! When I play Miracles, boarding becomes even hard because of all the good cards (you don't want to cut too many wincons or you will end up in a draw or something).

[Shagstaman]

I failed to adopt the needle/null rod tech and got punished big time for it this weekend, with one of my only two losses coming from a turn 1 top turn 3 terminus every game... a single needle or null rod woulda won me that match putting me in top 8 of scg atlanta. lol best believe ima find room in my sb after that.

btw elves 2 stronk.

[dte]

Won the Big Legacy Sideevent at GP Barcelona this weekend.
I'm actually 7-0-1 against Miracles over my last 8 matches against them. #IAmIndestructible!

Congratulations!
I'm really impressed by your records vs miracles, maybe even more than by your systematic performances!
Maybe Elves piloted by Julian is one of the strongest decks :)

My last meeting vs Miracle (vs Einherjer) went all wrong, even after turn 2 null rod (wich ended up by blocking 2 EE + top), and pushed me out of day 2 at GP Paris (2 other losses against Belcher which had 2 T1 and vs omnishow).

But to me it does not seems as bad luck against miracle, my personal records against this deck are really awful. I will very much like a detailed report of your quarter and semifinals, and as much tips as you have (even if they seems obvious, it seems that I'm really missing something in this MU).

Did choke helped in these two Miracles encounters? Did they side in disenchant (Einherjer did)?

[Water_Wizard]

This is not a glitch in the matrix. I did the same at GP Paris two weeks ago.

Over #BoMParis #GPParis and #GPBarcelona, I'm actually 7-0-1 against Miracles over my last 8 matches against them. #IAmIndestructible!

Your record vs Miracles is amazing! I just can't believe how all those Miracles players can have such a hard time vs Elves :p! The Needles and Decays obviously work.. And you should not throw all your creatures into Terminus, but still... They have Plow, Snapcaster Plow, Terminus, CB, counters and often even Clique, Supreme Verdict, Grafdigger's Cage and/or Canonist! When I play Miracles, boarding becomes even hard because of all the good cards (you don't want to cut too many wincons or you will end up in a draw or something).

Congratulations!
I'm really impressed by your records vs miracles, maybe even more than by your systematic performances!
Maybe Elves piloted by Julian is one of the strongest decks :)

My last meeting vs Miracle (vs Einherjer) went all wrong, even after turn 2 null rod (wich ended up by blocking 2 EE + top), and pushed me out of day 2 at GP Paris (2 other losses against Belcher which had 2 T1 and vs omnishow).

But to me it does not seems as bad luck against miracle, my personal records against this deck are really awful. I will very much like a detailed report of your quarter and semifinals, and as much tips as you have (even if they seems obvious, it seems that I'm really missing something in this MU).

Did choke helped in these two Miracles encounters? Did they side in disenchant (Einherjer did)?

Julian,
I was wondering if you had any updated advice from this quote from the second post. Clearly, somethings have changed. Tell us about your new experience.

""Ach! Hans, run! It's a miracle!"

This is Shiva, destroyer of worlds. Our matchup against Shiva is awesomely bad, and I advise staying away from it at all costs. Seriously, game 1 against Miracles is a really tough one. I've spent dozens of test games trying to find a practical way of actually grinding out Miracles in game 1—yes, I'm that crazy. In the end, the best advice I can give you is trying to close out the game as soon as possible. Because you don't have the tools to efficiently fight neither Counterbalance nor Top, your best bet is to put them on the spot for having Terminus as soon as possible. Remember, that when bad odds are still the best odds you can get, it's the absolutely right play to go for it. Way to often do I see people complaining about somebody making a perceivably "bad play"—like playing right into Terminus—without actually understanding that odds of winning the game on the spot at 30% is still better than your regular game 1 percentage against Miracles of about 20% if you try to grind it out.

After sideboarding things become way easier. Which doesn't mean that you're not still the underdog. I like siding in the Progenitus package, as unlike your other Natural Order options Progenitus can only be handled by Terminus, which means that your other NOs will stay live. I also used to side out both Craterhoofs here, but once you manage to shut down Sensei's Divining Top with Pithing Needle, the Hoof kill actually becomes semi-viable again and requires them to have a Brainstorm into Terminus to stop it. The rest should be pretty much self-explanatory. If Thoughtseize them on turn 1, always aim for their Sensei's Divining Top unless there's an incredibly convining other card you want to take.

In case you're running Gaddock Teeg, here's a trick for you; if your opponent Swords to Plowshares your Gaddock Teeg during a crucial moment (e.g. a lethal attack), you can Abrupt Decay his Top in response. This leaves him with the decision to either save his Top and be unable to cast his Terminus or lose his Top and risk losing the game right away."

[Julian23]

After returning from Barcelona, I immediately took a flight to Berlin, where I have been busy over the last couple of days. Sorry for not responding to all of your requests by now.

I'm currently working on an article for http://mtgmadness.com to cover all of the above. Feel free to take this opportunity and shoot me any questions that I will discuss in detail then. Thanks guys

[cachipus]

Hi Julian!

What side its better? With Swan song and the tropical or with Mindbreak and Cabal therapy?

My side:
3 Abrupt Decay
3 Swan Song
1 Natural Order
1 Progenitus
1 Worldspine Wurm
4 Thoughtseize
2 Phiting needle

The main its like yours but with 60 the tropical island and 17 Lands, i dont have de 4th Gaeas cradle.

Thanks

[dte]

Hi everybody,

Julian, I am looking forward to read your article. Thanks in advance!

[andrebonotto]

After returning from Barcelona, I immediately took a flight to Berlin, where I have been busy over the last couple of days. Sorry for not responding to all of your requests by now.

I'm currently working on an article for http://mtgmadness.com to cover all of the above. Feel free to take this opportunity and shoot me any questions that I will discuss in detail then. Thanks guys

Hey Julian,

Congrats on your recent performances! They're quite inspiring!

Now, regarding the questions for the article...

I realize I do not make the most efficient and strategical use of my Deathrite Shamans, specially when I'm facing an opposing DRS deck.

I was wondering if you could include this matter on your article - i.e., besides the obvious cases (e.g., one is about to lose if he does not gain 2 life with DRS; or if one activate DRS now he drains the last 2 life from his opponent and win), when do you think it's "right" to prefer using DRS for life gaining; when it's "right" to prefer using it for life draining; and when it's "right" to just let it stand on the field to threaten countering your opponent's DRS activation ?

EDIT: I realize there's plenty of contextual data that interferes on this matter so, if you could give some general tips and then illustrate them with particular game situations, that would be great.

Best wishes,

- André

[D@N]

So after a long testing session wed against a more then competent miracles player I actually dont know how anyone wins this m/u. Sure u can squeak out a win here or there but you can still see plenty of your sideboard cards and still either lose to moat or terminus'. Im playing the standard 61 with this in the board.

3 therapy
3 decay
2 thoughtseize
2 needles
1 null rod
1 n/o
1 progenitus
2 swan song

I have since changed my mind on swan song, its nice to have a surprise counter for storm but thats if they dont discard it first and against miracles all they do is either flip their top and counter or get a 2/2 over moat. I thinking of changing the songs to one teeg and a harmonic sliver to deal with everything besides humility. Being cast of drs or rangers isnt to hard and tutorable with gsz or order. Im going to seattle next weekend and needed some advice on what to change. Im expecting alot of delver since last event he had a big showing and that was just before tnn.

[Julian23]

Hey guys, thanks for th questions. I'll try to work everything into an article but please give it some time. I just rally arrived home today after travelling Europe for th last 2 weeks.

@cachipus, D@N: As I said, I myself moved away from Swan Song some time ago. Because of the recent rise of Miracles, I also dropped two of the Mindbreak Traps and added 1 Null Rod and 1 Choke instead and I couldn't be happier with it. Especially Null Rod has become really handy although I usually don't side it in against SFM-based decks. Denying mana against Storm is a nice, but blanking the One-with-Nothing-part of LED is also important.

Overall, despite my stellar record against Miracles over the last big events, I still consider it by far the worst matchup; so don't feel bad about losing it, it's really ugly. As I said before, especially in game1 it's really important to put them on the spot ASAP unless you have very good reasons not to; I had one of those in the 1/4 finals at Barcelona where my opponent very clearly represented Counterspell on turn2.

/Edit: Here's the treasures I collected for #1 in the #GPParis and #GPBarca sideevents

[dte]

Hi Julian,

I do not think there is any emergency, but I would like to thank you for your efforts.

I'm particularly interested by your boarding plans, like if you board in Thoughtseize OTD against miracles and in which MUs you enter choke (after seeing a second place at GP with 2 REB MD, it seems generic blue hate could be quite useful, but I'm afraid of oversideboarding).

Greetings

[D@N]

I never see any of my one ofs in the board unless i can tutor for them. Id like to see some peoples boards and reasons for slots and experiences with them.

[andrebonotto]

I never see any of my one ofs in the board unless i can tutor for them (...)

Me neither. Unless...

[Lord_of_Rivendell]

. . . ain't that the truth. I can't believe how many times I've drawn Progenitus as a 1 of. Sadly, it's happened so frequently that I've actually hard cast it twice. Admittedly, I do take some (clearly unwarranted) joy when my opponent makes me discard it; but after drawing it, you have to take what joys you can.

[th3 w1z4rd]

Me neither. Unless...

This, times infinity. EVERY TIME.

[Shagstaman]

legendary hydras love the hand. It's a warm, comfortable place where they know they can't be summoned from (usually).

glad to know I'm not the only one...

[LeoCop 90]

The Progenitus in hand problem is why i currently run a worldspine wurm main deck. My meta has very little combo so ruric thar main isn't needed, but playing progenitus main is risky because i don't want to have him in hand too often. Worldspine is castable with only 11 green mana XD
He is bad against swords to plowshares, but i experienced that opponents will often throw their swords to the first elves/insects they see to slow you down, then die to an unexpected 15/15 wurm :)

[danyul]

That's interesting.

I also often draw Progenitus when I board him in. And it's frustrating.

Leo - Did you previously run a Prog main? Only to replace it with the Wurm? It seems like that's the case from your post. I believe most people run the Prog in the side. Since the Prog is mostly brought in for fair matchups, or matchups in which removal is an issue, is it reasonable to replace Progenitus entirely with Worldspine Wurm? If they serve the same purpose, and one is easily castable where the other is not, then replacing Prog with the Wurm seems like an easy choice.

The only issue is Swords to Plowshares. But gaining 15 life is usually fine by me. Maybe that's not a huge issue at all. Also, the Wurm seems much better against Show and Tell decks.

Thoughts?