Big Red (Mono-R Sneak Attack)

[potatodavid]

Hope it's sarcasm, cause I can't see the use for her in this deck. I see her as too expensive, as a lot of other Red Planeswalkers. Red always gets the crappy PW's .

/Jacob

I am deadly serious about my love of this card. I shall be trying it singleton main with 2 in the board.

She is Pure utility and everything this deck wants/needs in a PW.

I was skeptical of her Her +1 I have now deemed it is a actually extremely useful. I don't know how many times I've got someone to 5 life or less with this deck only to fizzle because I don't draw a relevant threat. I'm 2 threats a turn with Chandra.

Her Draw is insane. Especially considering its +1 more card. Have a sneak out? hand full of lock pieces. yankee swap time! Card draw is a considerable weakness of this deck. This level draw can bring you out from behind in a hurry.

She's a pyroclasm or better on a stick. This hits monks and monk tokens, delvers, TNN, Revokers, I could go on and on. Arguing this gets countered very easily is fine to me, less problems for my ,sneak/breaches/Titans/Wurmcoils. This deck already doesn't have a problem getting 6 mana. I think she's all gravy and just what our deck needs certain MU's

Chandra seems very good, and I'm excited to test her out.

[PollePotDK]

@PotatoDavid: Maybe a 1-of, but need to see. A companion to Inferno Titan?. Let us know what you experience with her

Had some success a the local tournament this week, going 4-0 (10-2). 12 people attended - not the biggest tournament, but the quality of the matches a high, so no biggy. Modern has unfortunately taken a hit on the Legacy tournament. But that's life.

The Deck:

//Critters
4 Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
4 Worldspine Wurm
3 Inferno Titan
1 Magus of the Wheel

//Locks
4 Blood Moon
4 Chalice of the Void

//Fast Mana
4 Simian Spirit Guide
4 Lotus Petal
4 Seething Song

//Combo Pieces
4 Sneak Attack
4 Through the Breach

//Lands
4 Ancient Tomb
4 City of Traitors
4 Sandstone Needle
8 Mountain

SB: 4 Magus of the Moon
SB: 2 Magus of the Wheel
SB: 3 Pyroclasm
SB: 2 Pyromancy
SB: 4 Trinisphere

The rounds was:

R1: Dark Maverick
R1M1: I keep a strong hand on the draw where I only need some fast mana to combo off with Worldspine Wurm. I get it on turn 2 and Big Wurmy gets there and calls a Scoop on turn 2.
R1M2: Mediocre 6 card hand, with turn 3 Inferno Titan. Keeps due to Scry and its good. He starts with turn 1 Pithing Needle and turn 2 Gaddock Teeg. Did anyone say, "Lucky me for having the Titan" He drops on turn 3 and sents Teeg swimming. Two Knights lands shortly after, but two top decks (Through the Breach) sents Big Wurmy and Emmy in and seals the game.

R2: Food Chain
R2M1: Can't remeber the hand but, Big Wurmy lands on turn 3-4 and seals the game.
R2M2: Have turn 1 Blood Moon. My opp Thoughtseizes me and correctly take the Moon. I however top deck a Magus of the Moon and locks him out despite the Swamp on his side of the board.

R3: Miracles
R3M1: Turn 1 Chalice of the Void on 1 stalls him and turn 3 Sneak Attack win s the game
R3M2: Turn 1 CotV on the Draw, that gets Disenchanted and Double Force plus quick Jace gives my opp the win
R3M3: Turn 1 CotV on the Play (WHAT ARE THE ODDS!!) and turn 2 Inferno Titan and turn 3 Sneak Attack with Big Wurmy seals the game.

R4: Goblins
R4M1: Can't remember this one that good, but Big Wurmy wins me this one.
R4M2: Quick game, where I get run over with a slow hand and double Lackey from my opp. GG.
R4M3: Great game, with a mull to 5 for my opp and a mediocre hand for me on the Play. He ports me for some turn, but drop a turn 3-4 Pyromancy, that eventually shots him for 26 damage (Emmy and Big Wurmy - both times was a coin flip, but the match was never in danger).

Conclusion/Comments:
- Griselbrand: I took all the Griselbrands out in favour for Worldspine Wurm, which I usually just play as a 1 or 2 of. The reason: a Through the Breach Griselbrand just SUCKS. Worldspine Wurm is just good with Sneak and Through the Breach, with the 3 5/5 bodies it leaves behind - they saved my ass a couple of times. Whetheras Griselbrand only shine with Sneak Attack. This night I NEVER EVER missed Griselbrand. Plus Wurm deals more damage with Pyromancy (which I LOVE to SB in to trick my Opp's).
- Magus of the Wheel: Never cast him og Sneak in, but I never thought for myself he should have been another card, when he was in hand. Always just had other things to cast/do. I'll try him again though.

[potatodavid]

I was never all impressed by wheel magus. Like you said, he sat in my hand whenever I had him and I would rather just play something else. The 3 times I cast him, when I was testing him. He backfired hardcore on me allowing my opponent to draw all the cards.

I'm excited to try chandra, that's significantly more one sided.

[ZEROorDIE]

Congrats on the 4-0

Did you ever wish you had more castable threats? I.e. titan #4 or a couple wurmcoils? I think I may try out the non griselbrand set up next week.

[PollePotDK]

Congrats on the 4-0

Did you ever wish you had more castable threats? I.e. titan #4 or a couple wurmcoils? I think I may try out the non griselbrand set up next week.

Thanks

More castable threats - not really. But 1-2 Wurmcoil Engines could actually be a good idea, if Magus of the Wheel or Chandra turns out to backfire. Wurmcoil could buy a couple of turns to find some pieces to combo of. Maybe SB. It fits the curve like Chandra and Titan.

Do try the non Griselbrand build - I think you will like it. I never thought I would say that about Griselbrand but I dont miss him

[potatodavid]

I will not be cutting gris for a magus build. Griselbrand allows us to remain more consistent. Magus never being cast because you have better things to cast is a pretty good indicator that magus is GARBAGE.

[lost_ronin_soul]

My computer is broken so i am typing this from a ps vita. So I apoligize for typos in advance.
my list:
4 simian spirit
4 magus of the moon
4inferno titan
2 griselbrand
4emrakul,the aeons torn
2worldspine wurm
4seething song
4through the breach
4sneak attack
4chalice of the void
3lotus petal
4 ancient tomb
1cavern of souls
4city of traitors
9 mountain
3sandstone needle
sideboard:
3 cavern of souls
4defense grid
4pyroclasm
4trinisphere

The store is in New York state. Mythic games on 1/6/16.

I tried to give a match write up but posting on here with a touch screen is hard. The site gave me a log in error. bottom line ,2 hours of touch screen typing was lost. :(

short summary
i beat infect, grixis delver, death blade, imperial panter and a black vise deck. i lost to shardless bug and esper blade. i came 14th place and won 75 bucks (+50 person event? ). magus of the moon won 4 games by himself. Win record (+5,- 2). that is my report

[potatodavid]

M

short summary
i beat infect, grixis delver, death blade, imperial panter and a black vise deck. i lost to shardless bug and esper blade. i came 14th place and won 75 bucks (+50 person event? ). magus of the moon won 4 games by himself. Win record (+5,- 2). that is my report

you must have had the nuts against infect, That MU is usually pretty challenging. Well done!

[ZEROorDIE]

I will not be cutting gris for a magus build. Griselbrand allows us to remain more consistent. Magus never being cast because you have better things to cast is a pretty good indicator that magus is GARBAGE.

I'll definitely not be playing magus. I'm thinking a creature package of:
3 emrakul
3 worldspine
1 griselbrand
3inferno titan
2 wurmcoil

I have no interest in slogging through my opponents disruption just to refill their hand

[potatodavid]

Also... why caverns?

[lost_ronin_soul]

Also... why caverns?

The infect player killed me game. By turn 3. I had garbage. He killed me without seeing much. I sided out 1Emrakul 1 sneak attack (pithing needle defense) 2 Grislebrand (always one of my first cuts against blue decks) 4 song, 3 lotus petal . I sided in Trinisphere x4, 3 cavern, 4 pyro clasm . The idea is to slow them down so I can combo or titan them out

Game 2: turn one magus of the moon steals this game
Game 3trinisphere resolves with a simian to pay through daze. He wattles me down with a noble until I am low life, I eventually combo kill him when he taps out to refill the board after a pyroclasm.

------
i like cavern of souls since it replaces lotus petals when sideboarding. I think the deck needs to keep a high amount of mana sources when going post board. Cavern gives hate to wasteland decks by increasing mana, fights force of will when trying to sink a magus or a titan , it sticks around unlike petal but it doesn't produce red for the combo unless under a magus. It feels good to go against tempo decks like delver and infect with 24 lands post board. Also having a 4 caverns is nice against counterbalance

[caprino]

The infect player killed me game. By turn 3. I had garbage. He killed me without seeing much. I sided out 1Emrakul 1 sneak attack (pithing needle defense) 2 Grislebrand (always one of my first cuts against blue decks) 4 song, 3 lotus petal . I sided in Trinisphere x4, 3 cavern, 4 pyro clasm . The idea is to slow them down so I can combo or titan them out

Game 2: turn one magus of the moon steals this game
Game 3trinisphere resolves with a simian to pay through daze. He wattles me down with a noble until I am low life, I eventually combo kill him when he taps out to refill the board after a pyroclasm.

------
i like cavern of souls since it replaces lotus petals when sideboarding. I think the deck needs to keep a high amount of mana sources when going post board. Cavern gives hate to wasteland decks by increasing mana, fights force of will when trying to sink a magus or a titan , it sticks around unlike petal but it doesn't produce red for the combo unless under a magus. It feels good to go against tempo decks like delver and infect with 24 lands post board. Also having a 4 caverns is nice against counterbalance

hello can you give me the side out and side to do that against miracles, threshold, front, infect, bugs, mono white etc ... thanks

[lost_ronin_soul]

hello can you give me the side out and side to do that against miracles, threshold, front, infect, bugs, mono white etc ... thanks

Here is my sideboard theory.

Cavern of souls function is to provide permanent mana against blue decks that were on the mana base. It also makes inferno titan a strong win con and sometimes magus of the moon as well. Its hard to survive 2 counter spells when all you have for mana is 4 city 3 sandstone needle and 12-13 other lands with 4 apes post board. If a deck runs counter and wasteland it chokes the deck harder. I normally replace lotus petals with cavern of souls games 2 and 3 against blue decks. It is for all delver decks, miracles, and isn't bad against show and tell.

Pyroclasm is a good catch all that keeps you alive long enough to combo against small creature decks/hate bears. I want them for death and taxes,blade decks, elves, infect. I can bring a copy or two against storm if needed.

Trinisphere is good against ponder decks and combo decks, and other decks that contain some "free spells". I also consider it as my only hate for graveyard decks if I get unfortunately paired with them. I want them against grixis delver/ mentor-miracles/ omnitell(tip: never ever try to cast it)/dredge/reanimate/ infect .

Defense grid is good against most decks that run force of will. If they run black (discard spells ex specially cabal therapy) or free spells (daze/infect/gitaxian probe/omniscience)I rather run trinisphere. It is in the list primarily to try to discard force of will early or if you are lucky to resolve it, to cripple counter magic. Often replaces seething song

I reduce sneak attack by one sometimes for sideboard cards because I ether expect hate (like pithing needle/phyrexian revoker) so my sideboard cards are more valuable in the matchup then the risk of seeing dead sneak attack in multiples.I also cut combo creatures since I have less combo enablers . Grislebrand sees the first cuts since it is bad with breach compared to other fatties.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rug delver(threshold): +3 carven +4grid +2 trin -3 lotus petals -2 grislebrand -4 song

Grixis delver: +3carvern +3trinisper +4pyroclasm -3 lotus petals -1 sneak -2 GB -4 song

Death and taxes (mono white): +4pyroclasm +2 cavern ( -4 magus of the moon -2gb (karakas sucks)

Bug delver/shardless: + 3 cavern -3 lotus (magus shines in this matchup) -4song +4 trinisphere

xUW blade deck: +3 cavern -3 lotus +4 pyroclasm - 4 magus of the moon +4grid (helps resolve the pyroclasm for turn 2 stone forge)-4 song, -2 GB +2 trinisphere

Elves/goblins/affinity: +4 pyroclasm -4 magus

Infect: +3 cavern +3trinisphere +4 pyroclasm -3 petal -4song -1 sneak -2 GB (tip:magus is insane in this matchup)

Ponders Miracles (aka mentor versions): +3 cavern +4 trinisphere +2 pyroclasm (hate bears/clique) -2 GB -4 song -3 petal (look for ponder)

Entreat (traditional) miracles: +3 cavern +4 defense grid +2 trinisphere -2 GB -3 lotus -4 song (try play the 2/2 beats until/unless combos open up)

Dredge: -4 magus +4 trinisphere

Reanimator/storm/opps all spells: +4 trinisphere - 4 titan

Omnitell/show and tell: +4 trinisphere (never cast this or you will lose when they counter it) +3 cavern -4song - 3 petal

Lands...?: +3 cavern -3chalice ?? (Win quicker maybe? I don't know)

Burn: -4 magus + 4 trinispher

Merfolk: not sure ...+3cavern +4pyroclasm -3petal - 4 magus of the moon

Painter servant decks: +3 cavern +1 pyroclasm -4 magus(try to win quick is the best plan , or painter can grind out with painter+ blast effects)

Mud/other chalice decks: -4 chalice +3 cavern +1sphere/pyroclasm

Jund: +4 trinisphere +4 pyroclasm -4 magus -4 chalice (not sure)

P.s.
I have not clue what "front" decks are.
----------------
I am considering to drop GB's from the list for world spine wurm number 3 and 4. If I do this the sideboard plan is pretty much the same regardless (aka cut two worldspine wurms (#3 and #4) where I often cut two GB).

[potatodavid]

Went 2-1 last night. Lost to Tezzeret. Beat Elves and Omnitell. Tezz player was actually our very own "Hyze". I took him to 3 games but that MU seems like a coinflip. Counter Magic + Wasteland Lock is a thing. Not to mention they have about 3 ways to c-c-c-combo kill us and can run ensaring bridge to stop us from attacking.

Omnitell is super unfavorable preboard. I mean yeah we can drop an emmy off their S&T, which is only good if they also drop emrakul, if they drop Omniscience we are likely not going to do well. Post board I feel much better about this match-up. I'm siding in 3x Trinisphere, 2 Defense Grid and 3x Rabblemasters.

Elves is just a favorable matchup.

I am SUPER excited to finally get chandra in this deck and swap out coercive portal.

[caprino]

Here is my sideboard theory.

Cavern of souls function is to provide permanent mana against blue decks that were on the mana base. It also makes inferno titan a strong win con and sometimes magus of the moon as well. Its hard to survive 2 counter spells when all you have for mana is 4 city 3 sandstone needle and 12-13 other lands with 4 apes post board. If a deck runs counter and wasteland it chokes the deck harder. I normally replace lotus petals with cavern of souls games 2 and 3 against blue decks. It is for all delver decks, miracles, and isn't bad against show and tell.

Pyroclasm is a good catch all that keeps you alive long enough to combo against small creature decks/hate bears. I want them for death and taxes,blade decks, elves, infect. I can bring a copy or two against storm if needed.

Trinisphere is good against ponder decks and combo decks, and other decks that contain some "free spells". I also consider it as my only hate for graveyard decks if I get unfortunately paired with them. I want them against grixis delver/ mentor-miracles/ omnitell(tip: never ever try to cast it)/dredge/reanimate/ infect .

Defense grid is good against most decks that run force of will. If they run black (discard spells ex specially cabal therapy) or free spells (daze/infect/gitaxian probe/omniscience)I rather run trinisphere. It is in the list primarily to try to discard force of will early or if you are lucky to resolve it, to cripple counter magic. Often replaces seething song

I reduce sneak attack by one sometimes for sideboard cards because I ether expect hate (like pithing needle/phyrexian revoker) so my sideboard cards are more valuable in the matchup then the risk of seeing dead sneak attack in multiples.I also cut combo creatures since I have less combo enablers . Grislebrand sees the first cuts since it is bad with breach compared to other fatties.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rug delver(threshold): +3 carven +4grid +2 trin -3 lotus petals -2 grislebrand -4 song

Grixis delver: +3carvern +3trinisper +4pyroclasm -3 lotus petals -1 sneak -2 GB -4 song

Death and taxes (mono white): +4pyroclasm +2 cavern ( -4 magus of the moon -2gb (karakas sucks)

Bug delver/shardless: + 3 cavern -3 lotus (magus shines in this matchup) -4song +4 trinisphere

xUW blade deck: +3 cavern -3 lotus +4 pyroclasm - 4 magus of the moon +4grid (helps resolve the pyroclasm for turn 2 stone forge)-4 song, -2 GB +2 trinisphere

Elves/goblins/affinity: +4 pyroclasm -4 magus

Infect: +3 cavern +3trinisphere +4 pyroclasm -3 petal -4song -1 sneak -2 GB (tip:magus is insane in this matchup)

Ponders Miracles (aka mentor versions): +3 cavern +4 trinisphere +2 pyroclasm (hate bears/clique) -2 GB -4 song -3 petal (look for ponder)

Entreat (traditional) miracles: +3 cavern +4 defense grid +2 trinisphere -2 GB -3 lotus -4 song (try play the 2/2 beats until/unless combos open up)

Dredge: -4 magus +4 trinisphere

Reanimator/storm/opps all spells: +4 trinisphere - 4 titan

Omnitell/show and tell: +4 trinisphere (never cast this or you will lose when they counter it) +3 cavern -4song - 3 petal

Lands...?: +3 cavern -3chalice ?? (Win quicker maybe? I don't know)

Burn: -4 magus + 4 trinispher

Merfolk: not sure ...+3cavern +4pyroclasm -3petal - 4 magus of the moon

Painter servant decks: +3 cavern +1 pyroclasm -4 magus(try to win quick is the best plan , or painter can grind out with painter+ blast effects)

Mud/other chalice decks: -4 chalice +3 cavern +1sphere/pyroclasm

Jund: +4 trinisphere +4 pyroclasm -4 magus -4 chalice (not sure)

P.s.
I have not clue what "front" decks are.
----------------
I am considering to drop GB's from the list for world spine wurm number 3 and 4. If I do this the sideboard plan is pretty much the same regardless (aka cut two worldspine wurms (#3 and #4) where I often cut two GB).

Thanks.. Main deck you considering +2 spine wurm - 2 griselbrand?

[lost_ronin_soul]

Thanks.. Main deck you considering +2 spine wurm - 2 griselbrand?

Seems someone tried 4 worldspine wurm above and it worked out well. I like the idea and will be trying it out myself. I feel it makes through the breach stronger. It makes the deck slightly weaker to swords to plowshares (but I am still ok with receiving 15 life). Sneak attack becomes slightly worse (Grislebrand and sneak attack normally kill on the spot). I think making Through the Breach more of a one stop shop combo, even if spread over two turns makes 4 wurm worth testing for me. It also makes karakas less powerful against the deck. I plan to test it out at the next event I go to as well as test it with my playgroup (we have proxy meta decks ready to go).

Sidenote, if I run into ensnaring bridge decks my plan A is to try to combo them before bridge comes down. Plan B ,if I fail, is 2/2 creature beats. Plan C sneak attack inferno titan with emrakul to recycle them back into the deck. While plan C isn't pretty I wanted to state that incase people who want to play the deck run into this scenario they can know they're outs.

Another sidenote of useful sideboard options this deck has is null rod. It shines if storm, Tezz are in your area is null rod. Null rod and a moon is insane against storm (only out i can think of is empty the warrens). Null rod and chalice is another insane combo. Null rod helps slow down tezz, I beat it in a match at an SCG invitational with a resolved ensnaring bridge because rod prevented them form tempting their hands from the 2/2 beats. I do not run null rod in my list currently but if these decks make a resurgence they are fantastic.

[caprino]

Seems someone tried 4 worldspine wurm above and it worked out well. I like the idea and will be trying it out myself. I feel it makes through the breach stronger. It makes the deck slightly weaker to swords to plowshares (but I am still ok with receiving 15 life). Sneak attack becomes slightly worse (Grislebrand and sneak attack normally kill on the spot). I think making Through the Breach more of a one stop shop combo, even if spread over two turns makes 4 wurm worth testing for me. It also makes karakas less powerful against the deck. I plan to test it out at the next event I go to as well as test it with my playgroup (we have proxy meta decks ready to go).

Sidenote, if I run into ensnaring bridge decks my plan A is to try to combo them before bridge comes down. Plan B ,if I fail, is 2/2 creature beats. Plan C sneak attack inferno titan with emrakul to recycle them back into the deck. While plan C isn't pretty I wanted to state that incase people who want to play the deck run into this scenario they can know they're outs.

Another sidenote of useful sideboard options this deck has is null rod. It shines if storm, Tezz are in your area is null rod. Null rod and a moon is insane against storm (only out i can think of is empty the warrens). Null rod and chalice is another insane combo. Null rod helps slow down tezz, I beat it in a match at an SCG invitational with a resolved ensnaring bridge because rod prevented them form tempting their hands from the 2/2 beats. I do not run null rod in my list currently but if these decks make a resurgence they are fantastic.

February 6 will make a tournament .. I advise me Griselbrand 2 or 4 wurms?
the side like me the advice?

[Rocco111]

Hi there,

I am starting to playtest a bit BigRed and I was wondering about Blightsteel Colossus.
TBH I haven't read through all previous pages but what I retain is that outside Worldspine Wurm / Griselbrand / Emrakul, most players tend to favor maindecking Inferno Titans and Wurmcoil Engine over more 'instant kills', like the Colossus.
Over the few games I did with the Colossus I always found it to be pretty neat in giving us a one-shot option when things are otherwise locked.

Can anyone tell me whether they made similar experiences? or give me some more info as to why it isn't played at all?

Cheers

[potatodavid]

Hi there,

I am starting to playtest a bit BigRed and I was wondering about Blightsteel Colossus....Cheers

So lets say I have a blocker and you play a blightsteel. Okay, you need another one to finish me off. Worldspine just drops 15 damage then leaves 15 more the next turn. Way better. Emrakul wipes your opponents board usually to the point where they will auto concede. Griselbrand allows you to draw your whole deck and win in a humiliating fashion.

Its not a bad card its just not right for this deck. Hope this makes sense.

[PollePotDK]

Hi all,

Participated in a 78 man big Legacy Tournament in Flensburg, Germany last weekend and Top8'ed, but lost in the Quarter final to a friend of mine (Grixis Delver, but listed as UR Delver). Top 8 is here:

http://mtgpulse.com/event/23079#317547

My rounds were:

Enchantress - WIN (2-1) - was lucky that he decked himself in the first match, since he had a hardlock on me and he forgot to count the cards left in his deck before casting an enchantment again. Had to be quick in this match-up
Miracles - WIN (2-1)
Aggro Loam - LOSS (0-2)
BUG Delver - WIN (2-0)
UWR StoneBlade WIN (2-1)
Elves WIN (2-0)
MUD - ID

Quarter Final: Grixis Delver LOSS (0-2)

Deck was generel good and had fine hands all day, unfortunately my opening hands failed me, when it counted in the Quarter final.

Again, didn't miss Griselbrand all day.

Thinking about taking out the 4 Seething Songs for something that helps my draws, fx. Mind Stone or Crystal Ball - still up for testing, so don't know whether they are to cute have played Sensei's Divining Top before, but this conflicts with Chalice of the Void

/Jacob