[Deck] MUD (Metalworker)

[forestfold]

As a side note, no MUD decks made it to Day 2, which was a bit of a shock to me. I expected at least one or two, but no. Exactly zero did. Part of the issue is probably that Shardless BUG just absolutely tears our deck apart if we do not win quick enough. Also, we need to make our deck more reliant against Liliana. I think that's one of the biggest weak points in our deck right now.

I talked to two other MUD players on the Cloudpost version, I do not recall their names right now but one was playing next to me in round 9 (also 6-3) and another guy was walking by and saw us comparing sideboards, and also chipped in that he was 6-3 and playing MUD. So a few of us riding the cusp.
I also strongly considered Hangarback because it was a construct, and it gets value when you're facing non-StP decks, and when sacrificing it to Forgemasters. Which can then be sacrificed if not needed.

[L10]

I'm, unfortunately, not surprised, MUD isn't fancy in this meta. I think we need to come up with new approaches (as you're all doing already )
For myself, I'm still not sure what direction to go, but time will tell. The new deck needs to beat Shardless BUG, that's for sure.

Imitate. Assimilate. Innovate.

These are words by Clark Terry that I live by. I have spoken to a lot of Mudslingers this weekend, and many have played this deck for no more than eight months. In spite of this, many of them have solid 5-4, 6-3 records. So most of them are still in the imitation phase going into the assimilation phase. They all seem ecstatic about playing MUD, so I hope these newcomers will help brew new ideas coming out from the assimilation phase to innovation phase in time for the next GP. We already see much innovation coming out of Europe and Japan already.

All in all, I felt good about the day despite not making day 2. Deck was pretty solid, my mainboard was slightly off for my MU's and I really wish I had put a Contagion Engine in my sideboard, but I felt good about most of my plays and my mulligans (except for round 8, that was damn brutal). I would love to hear comments about my deck choices and the match-ups I played, especially if anyone has a better idea on how to approach them than what I appeared to be doing.
The majority of this report is from memory and based on the short notes I wrote after each round, so I may have some details mixed up, but for the most part it should be fairly accurate. I didn't get to staff-combo anyone, but BSC'ing a few people did lift my spirits a bit.
Cheers,
--Ross

Thanks for the very well written report, Ross! It was a great read.

I talked to two other MUD players on the Cloudpost version, I do not recall their names right now but one was playing next to me in round 9 (also 6-3) and another guy was walking by and saw us comparing sideboards, and also chipped in that he was 6-3 and playing MUD. So a few of us riding the cusp.
I also strongly considered Hangarback because it was a construct, and it gets value when you're facing non-StP decks, and when sacrificing it to Forgemasters. Which can then be sacrificed if not needed.

I also talked to a few with 6-3 records too. In fact, two of them had 6-2-1 records, and they drew playing against each other at Round 8. Brutal. At least we know two players who were on the cusp of 7-2, and about five other players with 6-3. So close, but not good enough. The good news is that for the next GP, 6-3 is good enough to make it on Day 2. :)

[darkgh0st]

Imitate. Assimilate. Innovate.

I've tried many variants of MUD to the point that I almost gave up on MUD as a whole. Then MUD-Post pulled me through the last strand. Now, new cards come with new deck possibilities. MGB or anybody else working on European MUD (Ulamog-style)? A first or second turn Coercive Portal is brutal in terms of advantage. This is done by the usual items (Monolith, Sol Lands) but with more chances with Voltaic Key and Basalt Monolith. And I can't believe it has to be Basalt Monolith, Worn Powerstone and Metalworker doesn't do it in terms of speed. Once I have a decent amount of the deck, I will take it out for a test run but with some tweaks. (Karakas isn't easily affordable for me.) My test list currently includes:

4 Chalice of the Void
4 Trinisphere
4 Grim Monolith
4 Basalt Monolith
4 Voltaic Key (may cut to 3)
4 Coercive Portal
2 Bottled Cloister (feels like Portal game 1 but to side out games 2 and 3)
2-3 Ulamog
X Wurmcoil
1 Batterskull (maybe)
I'm still trying to figure out the rest of the cards.

I'm also working on a Stax build with the same concept (try to get Stax out as early as possible).

Thanks to Ross as well for the report. I'm really hoping MUD can consistently get us 7-2 or better in the future, despite 6-3 making it next year.
On a side note, I'm hoping to find time for a medium sized tourney this weekend for more MUD discoveries.

[Runninonwater]

I'm, unfortunately, not surprised, MUD isn't fancy in this meta. I think we need to come up with new approaches (as you're all doing already )
For myself, I'm still not sure what direction to go, but time will tell. The new deck needs to beat Shardless BUG, that's for sure.

Im not that tuned into legacy yet and i don't know my meta but that looks like a steep hill to climb.
This is the only deck i have so i don't have the luxury to switch deck haha, but im used to the phrase:" The struggle is real".

[darkgh0st]

Im not that tuned into legacy yet and i don't know my meta but that looks like a steep hill to climb.
This is the only deck i have so i don't have the luxury to switch deck haha, but im used to the phrase:" The struggle is real".

What is the struggle with ShardlessBUG? The few times I've lost to it was because my deck turned on me and anything from them is a win. For the most part, the Shardless player where I play doesn't know what to do against me as Trinisphere and Lodestone slows him down a lot.

[Stuart]

What is the struggle with ShardlessBUG? The few times I've lost to it was because my deck turned on me and anything from them is a win. For the most part, the Shardless player where I play doesn't know what to do against me as Trinisphere and Lodestone slows him down a lot.

I'm wondering the same thing. I've only played Shardless once, but my sense was that our taxing effects are devastating to them. Traditional BUG seems way scarier to us.

[Runninonwater]

What is the struggle with ShardlessBUG? The few times I've lost to it was because my deck turned on me and anything from them is a win. For the most part, the Shardless player where I play doesn't know what to do against me as Trinisphere and Lodestone slows him down a lot.

I was referring mostly to the whole list, i haven't faced a BUG deck yet but i've heard they lose to Ugin.

[MGB]

Guys, the Legends version of MUD with Basalt Monoliths and Thran Dynamos has a much better matchup against BGx than the traditional version does.

Legends MUD has no real targets for creature removal in G1, and generally weathers Wasteland effects better due to the preponderance of mana accelerators in the deck.

Legends MUD also gets Ugin and its fatties out faster (unless Traditional MUD can get Forgemaster going earlier, but if Forgemaster dies to Lili or something, then it's slower).

[Wilkin]

Never had problems vs shardless bug. Sure, they have force and decay but usually not enough when I play them, they also don't have as many wastelands as other decks. Bug delver on the other hand is so annoying with daze and spell pierce and a full set of wastes. Legends mud does look interesting. I think I'm an ulamog or 2 short of the list.

Thinking of adding spellskites to my board as there's an uptick of infect in my meta. Hate playing against infect. Elves is annoying too but with miracles in big numbers they are kept in check.

[Airwave]

Im not that tuned into legacy yet and i don't know my meta but that looks like a steep hill to climb.
This is the only deck i have so i don't have the luxury to switch deck haha, but im used to the phrase:" The struggle is real".

Maybe you don't need the luxury. MUD can shift very easily to all types, aggro, control, combo. That's one of the things I like about it.

MUD, the shapeshifter

[L10]

Well, I scrubbed out of GP Seattle. I had 2 byes, then I promptly lost 2 rounds vs BUG, won a round vs merfolk, then lost a round vs deadguy ale, which put me at 3-3 which was reason enough to drop. I had very bad luck with draws and matchups, so I'm pretty disappointed.

I'm going to put MUD in the corner for a bit.

[Silverflame]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsAS9lp1W7g

Video didn't load so I searched it on youtube, now I'm starting to think MUD players have more in common than the age. I'd have to recommend this for flavorness too.

[darkgh0st]

I played some MUD yesterday. The Retreating Reliquary deck is solid and is getting a lot of attention. We both T3 kill each other all 3 games, but he won the die roll, so I ended up losing. I'm feeling like Ratchet Bomb/Powder Keg aren't up to speed anymore. I'm looking at switching to Dismembers, just a small tweak to help against a lot of matchups.

The most fun I had in a game was when esper mentors got 2 Mentors out and I had a Wurmcoil in boots out at 9 life, which stabilized me. He also had a Jace Vryn emblem. Long game got me milled down to 3 cards with Blightsteel shuffling a couple of times. My top card out of those 3 was Forgemaster, casted it under Cavern and an active Chalice at 1. Fetch for BSC and win.

[Ganfar]

Are there any MUD list playing Coercive Portal? It seems strong against bug matchup.

[MGB]

Are there any MUD list playing Coercive Portal? It seems strong against bug matchup.

The European Legends MUD list is built around 4 Coercive Portal stabilizing into late-game bombs. Check this list out:

http://tcdecks.net/deck.php?id=18619&iddeck=141089

[L10]

I got quite a few PMs in the lines of "good luck" or "stay strong", as if I am quitting Magic or giving up on MUD because I want to take a small break. Thanks for your concerns! I am actually taking the rest of the year off Magic, to do other stuff like swing dancing, video gaming (plan to play Smash 4 and Street Fighter V at Evo next year), and cycling training (I do about three to four centuries a year, and I want to beat all my times this year). I am also a programmer and build robots for a living, and I want to refine my craft over the winter break. Me taking a break away from Magic has nothing to do with Magic. I just have different goals. :)

http://evo.shoryuken.com/

Video didn't load so I searched it on youtube, now I'm starting to think MUD players have more in common than the age. I'd have to recommend this for flavorness too.

I like your style. ;)

Are there any MUD list playing Coercive Portal? It seems strong against bug matchup.

Coercive Portal is strong. I have two copies in my SB against the BUG and Miracles match up, as well as any match up that gets grindy in which having card advantage is key. I contemplate having them in my main, because I tend to try to win as quickly as possible on Game 1 for my build. Coercive Portal is very strong though, and I feel is a great contender to have two/three in the MD in PostMUD.

[darkgh0st]

@L10: hoping to see you here once in a while.


I've been making a wishlist to how I want my future deck to be, and hoping it will still be MUD. The wishlist includes:

- non-blue deck
- explosive
- still pretty consistent (which MUD fails to do sometimes)
- has a way not to run out of gas (Coercive Portal in MUD)

I will be off trying other MUD variations. And post my findinds here.

[Greiver]

First of all let me say thank you to everyone on this thread, it has helped me a good deal in building my first legacy deck. I played standard for quite a while, but got tired of cards cycling out and then being with a fraction of what I paid. I know I can sell/trade before they rotate but I like collecting. Thus I started playing modern about a year and a half ago before building MUD in the last few weeks. Here is my list, any comments or suggestions are welcome and appreciated!

Land: 24
2 wasteland
3 vesuva
3 cavern of souls
4 cloudpost
4 glimmer post
4 ancient tomb
4 city of traitors

Creatures: 19
4 metalworker
4 lodestone golem
4 kuldotha forgemaster
3 wurmcoil engine
1 blightsteel colossus
1 sundering titan
1 steel hellkite
1 platinum angel

Other artifacts: 17
4 grim monolith
4 chalice of the void
4 trinisphere
1 trading post
1 lightning greaves
1 staff of domination
1 staff of nin
1 spine of ish sah

Sideboard:
2 tormonds crypt
2 surgical extraction
2 ratchet bomb
1 pithing needle
3 phyrexian revoker
1 spine of ish sah
1 karn liberated
1 sundering titan

It's a pretty straight forward list, probably bland compared to some of spicy tech I'm seeing in here. I've been reading from this thread as much as I can but there is a ton of info and the thread itself is huge. Thx for any input!

[darkgh0st]

Hi Greiver,
Glad to have another MUD player.
What is your meta like?
List looks pretty stock, other than changing the Trading Post to Ugin.

[Stuart]

List looks great, Greiver! As Darkghost suggested, you should consider adding a couple Ugins - it's potentially the most powerful card in the deck.

Not sure what your local meta looks like, but personally, I'd vote for dropping the Surgicals from the board. They get more expensive thanks to Lodestone, and they're shut off by Chalice. Platinum Angel and Crucible of Worlds have both been sideboard all-stars for me, but again, it depends on your meta.