Miracle Control

[twndomn]

Has utility against all the decks with large numbers of x/1s. For example, Staticaster shines against Death and Taxes and its creature package of Thalia, Mother of Runes, etc.

Let me first address the con of Staticaster: it's vulnerable to blasts, which goblins and painter would have for sure.
the pros: very, very versatile, most miracle opponents will SB-out creature removals, this is how Staticaster could next-level them.

RUG delver -> sb out bolts -> Staticaster gets their delver
WUR delver/D&T -> sb out StP -> Staticaster gets their delver and dudes
Elves -> most elves except drs, but likely to get abrupt decayed
TES and Belcher -> goblin token
Goblin -> lackey, instigator...etc, but very likely to get blasted
Merfolk -> cursecatcher, adept...etc.

Bonus: gets Dark Confidant, baleful strix.

Sulfur Elemental is much much narrower.

[Gros]

Has utility against all the decks with large numbers of x/1s. For example, Staticaster shines against Death and Taxes and its creature package of Thalia, Mother of Runes, etc.

Cut staticaster and play Sulfur Elemental... trust me... you are not gonna regret this switch... it can pressure combo decks and shines in the mirror too also it totally destroys D&T and maverick x/1s without giving the opponent a moment to respond

[Adryan]

Cut staticaster and play Sulfur Elemental... trust me... you are not gonna regret this switch... it can pressure combo decks and shines in the mirror too also it totally destroys D&T and maverick x/1s without giving the opponent a moment to respond

A card that dies to Snapcaster Mage doesn't shine in the mirror.

[TheArchitect]

Let me first address the con of Staticaster: it's vulnerable to blasts, which goblins and painter would have for sure.
the pros: very, very versatile, most miracle opponents will SB-out creature removals, this is how Staticaster could next-level them.

RUG delver -> sb out bolts -> Staticaster gets their delver
WUR delver/D&T -> sb out StP -> Staticaster gets their delver and dudes
Elves -> most elves except drs, but likely to get abrupt decayed
TES and Belcher -> goblin token
Goblin -> lackey, instigator...etc, but very likely to get blasted
Merfolk -> cursecatcher, adept...etc.

Bonus: gets Dark Confidant, baleful strix.

Sulfur Elemental is much much narrower.

I run staticaster and would not bring it in against any delver decks.

I only bring it against Storm, Belcher, Maverick/deadguy, Elves, D&T, goblins, painter, and merfolk (although its really bad in the latter).

It is mostly in there for Death and taxes, but also still amazing against elves and storm. Against storm it doesnt hit just goblins, but probably more importantly it hits xantid swarm or bob while being pitchable to FoW and an instant. Sulfer elemental is far too narrow.

[JimmyC27]

He is indeed still playing SFM but not always. He wavers back and forth between lists depending on the event. He recently was playing Joe Lossett's list but decided to go back to SFM for this open. Why he still plays it I am not quite sure.

Cool. I'd be curious to see his list--I pilot an SFM version, too. Does Joe B. lurk these forums? :)

[zeus-online]

Cool. I'd be curious to see his list--I pilot an SFM version, too. Does Joe B. lurk these forums? :)

What is SFM? stone forge mystic ?

[YamiJoey]

I'm sorry why are we bringing Staticaster in against Storm? We board out Terminus. Staticaster is actively worse. Staticaster is worse than Sulfur Elemental, but also works against Elves, Goblins, Pyromancer-based Delver decks (usually good against Pyroman and they often run Lavamancer. It can also just jump in front of Goblin Guide if they're playing that kind of thing).

SFM is Stoneforge Mystic. I don't get why people run this. I like it in the E-Tutor builds, as it's a 5-drop you can pull with Enlightened tutor, and Stoneforge with Jace/Brainstorm is a raw CA engine, but that requires 3 Stoneforges to be reliable, optimally 4, and that's kind of awkward with this deck. Might work.

[twndomn]

I run staticaster and would not bring it in against any delver decks.

It is mostly in there for Death and taxes, but also still amazing against elves and storm. Against storm it doesnt hit just goblins, but probably more importantly it hits xantid swarm or bob while being pitchable to FoW and an instant. Sulfer elemental is far too narrow.

staticaster vs ANT

Sure, it would be great to have caster to shutdown Xantid or Dark Confidant. However, I feel there's inherent misleading danger in doing so. First, caster is a bit slow against turn 1 Xantid, you much rather StP. Let's say you do get to 3 Mana and your opponent has DC in play, you EoT-caster, it's very possible for ANT to respond by ritual-ad nauseam. Of course, ANT usually SB-in Abrupt Decay in this MU.

Oh, how about U/R Delver? Young Pyro build? Despite the possibility of being blasted, caster can shut down elemental tokens and YP, kill grim lavamancer and delver.

Overall, it should be the other way around, staticaster is just way too versatile, you wouldn't want to go back to Sulfur elemental once you run it.

[JimmyC27]

SFM is Stoneforge Mystic. I don't get why people run this. I like it in the E-Tutor builds, as it's a 5-drop you can pull with Enlightened tutor, and Stoneforge with Jace/Brainstorm is a raw CA engine, but that requires 3 Stoneforges to be reliable, optimally 4, and that's kind of awkward with this deck. Might work.

I play SFM because it's a cheap efficient threat. I board into Sword of Feast and Famine against combo decks. Between that and batterskull, it seems to work well. I'm always a little antsy to tap out with this deck, and SFM's cost allows me to leave mana up for responses.

[zeus-online]

In a tournament setting, the clock is an issue. This alone would suggest that a powerful early threat could be good.

[YamiJoey]

RE: Staticaster Vs Storm, I thought Xantid Swarm was a 0/2. It may not actually be terrible in that case. Still not sure I like it.

I still hate Stoneforge. Play faster and Entreat for more Angels at a time. I'd much rather just Entreat for X=2 early rather than ever play Stoneforge in the deck again. It was horrid and clunky.

[JimmyC27]

I still hate Stoneforge. Play faster and Entreat for more Angels at a time. I'd much rather just Entreat for X=2 early rather than ever play Stoneforge in the deck again. It was horrid and clunky.

That's fine -- it's just a personal preference with the deck. I'm not sure that Stoneforge allows you to close out a game any sooner than Entreat normally would, it just allows you to deploy a threat sooner in certain match ups. I still run Entreat.

[Malakai]

It's not that Miracles's inability to defeat Shardless BUG, it's Miracles in general doesn't want to prepare Shardless BUG specific SB. Sure, a resolved Blood Moon would most likely result a win for Miracles, but how many of them actually provocatively trying to do so? Similar argument can be made for Misdirection; it's a great card against BUG, but what about other match-ups?

Shardless BUG is a good matchup without narrow sideboard considerations. Try a different approach.

In a tournament setting, the clock is an issue. This alone would suggest that a powerful early threat could be good.

With a lot of practice, and being mindful of the clock from the first second of the match, you can ensure that you never go to time; entreat is a hell of a card.

[zeus-online]

With a lot of practice, and being mindful of the clock from the first second of the match, you can ensure that you never go to time; entreat is a hell of a card.

I am strongly considering a third entreat because i go to time almost every round :)

[Malakai]

I am strongly considering a third entreat because i go to time almost every round :)

Entreat isn't the problem. Most likely, the mechanics of your play is just too slow. For example, you're probably spending more seconds topping than is necessary. Time yourself goldfishing, and try to improve. Ask someone who you know that plays quickly if there's anything they notice you're doing slowly. In my experience, it's very rare for slow players to actually need the time they're using--most of it is wasted.

[YamiJoey]

There is the issue that has been touched on, too. Some people are just too scared to close the game out. You've not hit all the LD's you want, and you're floating an Entreat. You need to identify the correct opportunity to go for it. I often found myself just digging for more and more Lands, and would take an extra ten minutes to Entreat because I needed an extra four or five turns to have completely shut the door, when the Entreat would've just killed them in two turns.

[tescrin]

I am strongly considering a third entreat because i go to time almost every round :)

I'd agree with Malakai: you're probably topping too long or simply not used to the myriad instant speed shenanigans you have.

I've been running Junk lists of various sorts with Tops and it took a long to get used to seeing all of the options laid out, when I should use top-draw to pull an answer, or fighting to the last even when the game is already over.

Just getting used to your options and playing quickly can alleviate this. I will say however, that on occasion I get stuck searching for threats when the game is impossibly in my favor; and the games will drag long because I see nothing but discard/Lilys, etc..


To point out, I realize I'm talking different lists; but the point is that I used to go to time a lot; now I don't. Having a mildly less durdly deck (your third entreat) helps, but simply playing faster after Losing a G1 and having to Draw the match (or lose the match) when it's unnecessary is lame.

[zeus-online]

I'd agree with Malakai: you're probably topping too long or simply not used to the myriad instant speed shenanigans you have.

I've been running Junk lists of various sorts with Tops and it took a long to get used to seeing all of the options laid out, when I should use top-draw to pull an answer, or fighting to the last even when the game is already over.

Oh i definitely agree that i am probably taking too much time with the top, but that will be reduced with more practice i assume. However, more entreats should allow for quicker games thus decreasing the amount of time each round takes.

Also, i have sometimes been unable to close games where i have a huge lead, and entreat helps here too. Oh and a last note: All unfavorable match ups seems to depend on entreating :)

[klaus]

I am strongly considering a third entreat because i go to time almost every round :)

I suggest you put EtA #3 in your SB.

[autonom]

Why do some people play pyroclasm in the sideboard? Is it better than terminus in any MU or is it just a fifth Terminus?