[Deck] Mono Blue (BBS) in Legacy

[Cavius The Great]

Quicksands were put in instead of Wastelands because it helped us kill certain aggro creatures and gave us another way of removal. Sure we could have blown up non-basic lands, but wouldnt you rather blow up creatures that are killing you?

you need to have atleast a few ways to deal with manlands. That's the main reason Wastelands were run in the first place. Back to Basics helps, but as a suggestion, I'd recommend running atleast 1 Dust Bowl.

[Maximus04]

Manlands arent a problem if you can get the B2B online. Quicksands are more viable choice because it can kill a variety of aggro creatures that give BBS problems.

Would you rather run Wastelands and kill of NonBasic or would you rather run quicksand and kill of Lackey, Piledriver, Warchief, Werebear, Meddling Mage, and almost any aggro creature from Angel Stompy. With B2B in the Mainboard manlands do not become a problem. Though I understand different metas require different solutions.

Chalice sounds good in theory but in practice it doesnt work. The deck itself gives answers to one casting cost creatures/spells first game. It also is hard to chalice when you do not know what the deck is running. Though if you can anticipate your meta VERY well and know which decks you will see. Then yes, i can understand a MB chalice but if you are just putting them in the MB just because it seems like a good idea then dont. You need reason behind your MB logic.

SIDENOTE
If your meta doesnt run nobasics, then Chalice would be an excellent addition instead of two BTB. Just playtest and anticpate, you will know what to expect.

[Doks]

Hello for the first time! =)

After I've lost during Germany's Dülmen with my U/r Landstill to 3 Vial Goblindecks even with that 6 BEB/Hydroblast and 2 Pyroclasm SB i searched for a deck with similar possibilities but a much stronger MU against Combo/Control.
I guess I've find it in the here discussed BBS.

My actual list looks like that:

// Lands
2 [ON] Flooded Strand
11 [B] Island (1)
3 [ON] Polluted Delta
3 [TE] Wasteland

// Creatures
2 [US] Morphling

// Spells
4 [AL] Force of Will
4 [MM] Brainstorm
3 [MR] Thirst for Knowledge
4 [B] Counterspell
4 [UD] Powder Keg
3 [MR] Chrome Mox
3 [SH] Mana Leak
3 [NE] Daze
3 [IN] Fact or Fiction
3 [FD] Vedalken Shackles
2 [FD] Crucible of Worlds
3 [GP] Repeal

A few thoughts after i read through this thread:

1. One user introduced to Chrome Mox:

From the beginning on i put it into every single version "my" weird pile evolved.
Imho BBS needs to be fast and Chrome Mox is the solution:
1st Turn Powder Keg/Leak/Cspell or Repeal targeting Lackey are just wonderful.
In addtion, think about 2nd Turn Shackles/Crucible (<- a few comments later) ;)
Furthermore, the Moxen make two cards playable:

-Daze:
Normally, returning a land in a control deck in the early game is nearly deadly :/
But Daze does things you otherwise had to use a FoW for:
Forcing through that 2nd Round Powder Keg against NQG's Counterspell for just returning an Island is nice - even an early Shackles may be protected that way as well.
On the otherhand, the ordinary functions:
Mental pressure the opponent playing around Daze und the surprise because I don't know just one of my opponents on MWS expecting that card =D
And with the Moxen returning a land does not hurt so much because next turn you can still counter with your 2 CC Countermagic.

-Thirst for Knowledge:

The Deck needs Draw, yes.
Many versions use Ophidian and FoF as "real" draw (Brainstorm -> CQ), but in my experience Ophidian was just taken out by Bolts/StoP/whatever or it did not come throug enemy's blockers in the Control/Aggro MU.
In the Combo MU Ophidian may be better - but TfK even provides draw with CQ and very important: it plunges later Moxen/Shackles/Kegs/Crucibles.


Any longer, some more general thoughts on this deck:

-Ophidian:

Yeah, nice draw - if it comes throug or you are not forced to block :/
As i pointed out above, in my experience (you may have some better for sure) it does not work as good as in the Type 1 format.
But what i hate most is, that you mostly have to tap out.
In my games i really didn't want to wait until Turn 4/5 (with Mox or without) to drop one 'cause i needed cards just right then.
And that's the advantage TfK provides - I am able to wait until eot and then i get that cards and don't have to wait three attacks.

-Accumulated Knowledge/Intuition - Drawengine:

Why is this not used so often?
I just saw it in very little decks - and don't know why.
Before i have added FoF to the deck, i played it and it was just awesome.
The problem is that it uses 5-6 Slots (depending on number auf Intuitions) and with just 3 FoFs I could just add more Counters.
If I was able to find something to cut, i would like to introduce it again.

Repeal:

- In U/r Landstill this card has proven to be worth playing it:

Our nice Powder Keg has an enemy - Pithing Needle =(
The same with our Finisher Morphling.
And "my" Wastelands with the crucible.
Or the Shackles - all very valid targets for that nasty tool.
With CC1 it often comes down too early -> We need a way to handle it in the mid-late game.
With its cantrip, it even doesn't cause disadvantage and there are even other nice targets:
Bouncing Vial before the 4th counter is added (uncounterable Ringleaders hurt very hard :/) or Werebear to have them forced their critter a second time through is just a good play.

Now, the crucible ;):

B2B is for non-basic hate.
Crucible with Wastelands too, but there is a difference:

In MU where B2B or the Wastelock are nearly gamewinning (-> Landstill/NQG) the opponent can handle the B2B basics easier than Crucible for one reason:
We have a very late coming kill so the opponent has more time to collect Countermagic and the rescuing Disenchant/Naturalize to escape that danger.
With B2B, he justs collects Lands and lets them untapped and waits for the best point to start that counterwar around that B2B.
But if you had the Crucible/Waste-Lock online, you set pressure:
Wasting the already dropped nonbasics shortens the time they have to react.
An in addition, discarding Crucible for TfK is CA =)


And one last thing:

I have seen plenty of Countercompilations even with Foil/Spell snare/Stifle/Disrupting Shoal and i guess there may be one that is not discoverd enough yet - any experiences from your side?



So far, just feel free to answer, it seems this deck can become one of my ne favorites ;)


Greetz,

Doks

[Benie Bederios]

Hello,

It doesn't look like a completly weird pile, but I have some questionmarks.

I would play a counterbase of
4x Force of Will
4x Counterspell
3x Mana Leak

I never had the need for Daze. Sure it is nice on turn 1 and 2, but after that it's rather weak. In testing I pitched them more to Mox and Thirst for Knowledge more often.

At the drawdepartment you are missing Impulse. This card is great in the deck. It digs deep for 2 mana. I find Ophidian a great card. It's a blocker with a big ass. Control players can't keep up with it, and it protects morphling from Diabolic Edict.

Where is Chalice? You only play 4 1 CC cards and Chrome Mox. This card can come down turn 1 and wreck alot of decks. I should test it, it is really good. It stops Needles too.

For your permanent control. I find 4 Kegs to much. I'm playing 3 and I'm thinking to cut one. If you go for Crucible( what I wouldn't do) you maybe want to make space for Quicksand. It is really nice with Crucible.

I found repeal not needed. the changes are small they reslove 3 Needles.

BB

[Doks]

Damn - you're right, I completely forgot about CotV ^^"
With that arguments I would really like to press it in.

I guess I have to rethink my pile.

The full number of Kegs is because I hate that damn Mongoose and the needle - AND its synergy with TfK.
The big advantage is, that you have oblique no dead cards - just plunge the lategame daze/second B2B/Mox in it.

But at one point you convinced me finally:

I will replace my Crucibles with B2B und Wastelands with Quicksands.

Furthermore, if I cut Daze/Repeal/Kegs then i would like to use Accu/Intu Drawengine again - is this a viable replacement?


So far,

Doks

[Peter_Rotten]

Please continue all MUC/BBS discussion in our new cleaned up thread.