[Deck]BUx Reanimator

[Stryfo]

@theMonster:

-Hapless researcher is better in a more explosive list than ponder, since it doesn't take up an entire turn to not combo like ponder.

-Archetype is almost never the first entomb target, it should almost always be griselbrand, unless you are in a matchup where elesh or iona ends the game.

[PirateKing]

I like the utility of Researcher, but I wonder if it's as effective as Ponder in a more explosive shell.

If by explosive shell you mean a build with Lotus Petals to power out a T1 Entomb & Reanimate, I don't see how Ponder assists in that at all. Your turn 1 Ponder does nothing to aid in your combo, only helps you set up a stronger turn 2 combo, which is the opposite of explosive. You're sacrificing that speed for a safer combo turn. If anything, Hapless Researcher leans you towards a more explosive build, maximizing your 1 mana discard outlets, increasing the chances of having Land + Lotus Petal + Reanimate + Entomb -or- Creature&Careful Study -or- Creature&Hapless Researcher. Land + Lotus Petal + Reanimate + Creature + Ponder is a fine hand to keep for sure, but you're not doing anything explosive, that's for sure.

[Deckerator]

I want to test Xantid Swarm in the sb against the control decks. Has anyone already done some testing with it?

[owerbart]

Hi. In case some of you are still wondering, Teferi's Realm DOES NOT interact with Animate Dead. The card (and the ruling) clearly state that what you phase are GLOBAL ENCHANTMENTS, or "Non-Aura" enchantments, as the ruling states.

[Fox]

Hi. In case some of you are still wondering, Teferi's Realm DOES NOT interact with Animate Dead. The card (and the ruling) clearly state that what you phase are GLOBAL ENCHANTMENTS, or "Non-Aura" enchantments, as the ruling states.

More to the point, the phasing mechanic and all of its relevant cards are deliberately unable to phase-out local enchantments [auras] directly (if we can assume they have not been animated into creatures), to include Licid and Bestow mechanics. It is important to note that Theros-block "enchantment creatures" are global enchantments. Remember that Realm costs which will move emphasis from Verdant Catacombs to Misty Rainforest in secondary fetch slot.
Realm is also the only Enchant World that gets better with multiples; while you will only get one upkeep with double triggers before SBAs kill the one phasing back in, you still have that one turn to knock out creatures [priest] and artifacts [cage].

[TheHeff]

Hi all, I've been playing a lot of Shardless over the last 2 years or so and have been getting a little bored with it and wanted to pick up a combo deck to play for awhile. Tried ANT, but it was too much about sculpting the "perfect hand." Trying to stay in these colors though, and it seems like reanimator has a very strong combo matchup. I've done some goldfishing with the deck and it seems strong, but how is it positioned currently? It seems like the eldrazi matchup should be good, as long as you can deal with a Chalice on 1. The white splash version with MD containment priest seems terribad, but doesn't seem that popular. Would you recommend it for someone looking for a change of pace but still looking to be competitive in the "new" meta?

[Cpt-Qc]

Hi all, I've been playing a lot of Shardless over the last 2 years or so and have been getting a little bored with it and wanted to pick up a combo deck to play for awhile. Tried ANT, but it was too much about sculpting the "perfect hand." Trying to stay in these colors though, and it seems like reanimator has a very strong combo matchup. I've done some goldfishing with the deck and it seems strong, but how is it positioned currently? It seems like the eldrazi matchup should be good, as long as you can deal with a Chalice on 1. The white splash version with MD containment priest seems terribad, but doesn't seem that popular. Would you recommend it for someone looking for a change of pace but still looking to be competitive in the "new" meta?

The meta is highly subjective, at my store there is now 2 MUD players, 2 Eldrazi players, 3 dredge players and 1 manaless dredge player. Add to this the rogue decks and goblins and the like, my meta is pretty weird right now :P

[owerbart]

Hi all, I've been playing a lot of Shardless over the last 2 years or so and have been getting a little bored with it and wanted to pick up a combo deck to play for awhile. Tried ANT, but it was too much about sculpting the "perfect hand." Trying to stay in these colors though, and it seems like reanimator has a very strong combo matchup. I've done some goldfishing with the deck and it seems strong, but how is it positioned currently? It seems like the eldrazi matchup should be good, as long as you can deal with a Chalice on 1. The white splash version with MD containment priest seems terribad, but doesn't seem that popular. Would you recommend it for someone looking for a change of pace but still looking to be competitive in the "new" meta?

I haven't got that many problems with Eldrazi. Chalice in 1 you can beat it just by discarding to handsize and then exhuming/animate dead. post board Serenity and Teferi's Realm have made serious work for me. I also play 4 Show and Tells (2 main 2 side) to battle RIP. If eldrazi is big in your meta, have a copy of Blazing Archon or Stormtide leviathan in your sideboard for a GG.

MD Containment Priest I've never seen, but I guess that's the only spell you really need to counter. G1 if they are colorless I go for Elesh Norn to buy time and then Grizz. If White, I go for Grave Titan

[TheHeff]

@owerbart: Do you happen to have a list handy? I'm particularly interested in SBs and Serenity/Teferi's sound amazing.

Here's the list I'm thinking about running, looking for any comments or suggestions you all might have:

2x Verdant Catacombs
2x Misty Rainforest
4x Polluted Delta
1x Swamp
1x Island
1x Bayou
1x Tropical Island
3x Underground Sea

4x Lotus Petal
4x Ponder
4x Brainstorm
4x Force of Will
3x Daze
2x Thoughtseize
4x Careful Study
4x Entomb
4x Reanimate
4x Exhume
1x Animate Dead

4x Griselbrand
1x Iona
1x Elesh Norm
1x Tidespout Tyrant

Sideboard:
3x Abrupt Decay
1x Echoing Truth
2x Duress
1x Flusterstorm
2x Massacre
3x Pithing Needle
2x Show and Tell
1x Inkwell Leviathan

I'm taking this into a pretty unknown meta, but most likely it's a pretty healthy mix. Also, is MD grave titan that good? I can see it being great against Lili decks, but with Shardless cutting down to 2 (in some cases 1) MD and BUG delver going to 1 or 0, is it still so relevant? It seems much less powerful than Griselbrand when you end up with it as your only creature in hand and need to discard it to careful study. Iona on black has to be a better option, yes?

[Secretly.A.Bee]

No, Grave Titan is your fastest threat in the form of a 2-turn clock. It's also the only threat that can ever really be hardcast. Deathtouch is also quite good, and if they do end up being able to deal with him you still have the tokens for finishing off the opponent or chump block to buy time to regroup. I dislike that you are playing daze with a Bayou, that feels incorrect.

[PirateKing]

Grave Titan also fills the role of non-Legendary creature. Seems like lots of random Karakas running around these days, and so game 1 having a target for Entomb is nice. Really the only other option is Inkwell Leviathan, and that's the more narrower option in my opinion, hence MD Titan and SB Inkwell.

[David L Byer]

Hey guys,
How do you feel about playing 1 Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur as a 4th Griselbrand to play around Extirpate effects?

[chewemy]

Hi guys,

I'm putting back together Reanimator for a tournament, what's the consensus on the side ?

Decay or show and tell + bounce spell ?

Thx :)

[Secretly.A.Bee]

Decay all the way. SnT is clumsy.

[Cpt-Qc]

Decay all the way. SnT is clumsy.

I kinda disagree. SnT is slower and requires a creature in hand, but you never want to put a creature in the yard unless you are sure to get it back anyway.

It just forces you to play safer, smarter. When I didn't have SnT in my 75, I used to pitch creatures way too fast, and sometimes they got taken care of before I could reanimate.
Now not only am I more careful, It bypasses all main deck hate (like Deathrite, Ooze or Abrupt Decay on Animate Dead).

I couldn't say if decay is stronger G2-3 but for game 1 SnT is way better.

[Fox]

SnT quite importantly keeps you on color (UB core) allowing you to reach a wasteland-immune 2mana base, pitches to force, and all but requires opponents to aim a counterspell at it (which basically qualifies it as a counterspell vs a non-proactive blue deck). Abrupt Decay, while a strong card upon resolution, has glaring weaknesses before you even cast it both on the mana-base side of things and inability to advance your ability to win. Decay is the kind of card you want out of your hand the moment you draw it; if it's not helping you win then and there, its being drawn is the main reason you're losing. Decay makes a very strong case for maximizing post-board hand correction effects and flip-jace in the deck, turning the preferred casting zone of this sideboard card to 'from the graveyard,' a post-board strategy that has foreseeable issues.

[Cpt-Qc]

SnT quite importantly keeps you on color (UB core) allowing you to reach a wasteland-immune 2mana base, pitches to force, and all but requires opponents to aim a counterspell at it (which basically qualifies it as a counterspell vs a non-proactive blue deck). Abrupt Decay, while a strong card upon resolution, has glaring weaknesses before you even cast it both on the mana-base side of things and inability to advance your ability to win. Decay is the kind of card you want out of your hand the moment you draw it; if it's not helping you win then and there, its being drawn is the main reason you're losing. Decay makes a very strong case for maximizing post-board hand correction effects and flip-jace in the deck, turning the preferred casting zone of this sideboard card to 'from the graveyard,' a post-board strategy that has foreseeable issues.

As he said, I can comfortably fetch 2-3 basics and win without being scared of wasteland in game 1 (I run 3). UBG requires 2 basics AT MOST, sometimes none.
When I get wastelanded, it's usually because I want to prevent my opponent from a land drop (aka you have the board advantage or need more time to setup).

[Secretly.A.Bee]

Sure, I understand why song people like it, but SnT has been clunky for me in testing. It can be dead if no creature in hand, you don't get to pick what you drop in, I just think it's worse.

[Fox]

Sure, I understand why song people like it, but SnT has been clunky for me in testing. It can be dead if no creature in hand, you don't get to pick what you drop in, I just think it's worse.

Just remember, you don't actually need to be able to put anything into play with SnT, and it doesn't change the fact that (without info on your hand) the opponent still needs to counter it, if they can.

[Secretly.A.Bee]

What? Do you know how terrible that play is if they just let it happen or don't actually have a counter? Seems terrible. You must explain further.