[Primer/Deck] Nic Fit

[Echelon]

Chalices are annoying. Make sure you can handle them, I've constructed my list in such a way that I'm pretty resilient to Chalice. If you don't do that, you probably want to add a few more Abrupt Decays.

Or Qasali Pridemage. Chump & dump FTW.

I've never had that much trouble with CotV. Just play around it and wreck it when you find an opportunity to, you've got plenty of ways to.

[Brael]

Or Qasali Pridemage. Chump & dump FTW.

I've never had that much trouble with CotV. Just play around it and wreck it when you find an opportunity to, you've got plenty of ways to.

I'm not saying I have trouble with it, my list is built to beat it. The average list though on the draw gets wrecked by Chalice on one. One way or another you need a consistent way to beat it in deck construction.

[tadskosh]

Tested Saskia at TNL this week in Junk Fit with one stomping ground. There were two games where she was relevant and one where she secured the win. Makes blocks very awkward for opponents with a Rhino in play. Thoughts?

[Brael]

Tested Saskia at TNL this week in Junk Fit with one stomping ground. There were two games where she was relevant and one where she secured the win. Makes blocks very awkward for opponents with a Rhino in play. Thoughts?

Not much discussion over her. I like her a lot, but no one else has said anything since she was spoiled really, most just wanted to discuss Atraxa. Saskia does everything I'm looking for in a creature, but I'm not yet convinced the red is worth it.

What else are you using the red for?

My build has been moving closer and closer to Maverick over time. I've spent the last few days toying with manabases that allow Wasteland actually, but every time I build one I come to the conclusion that Wasteland is just the exact opposite of what I want to be doing which is using a lot of mana per turn. Something I could see is splashing red for Saskia+Punishing Fire. I have a manabase that could support that, but the two kind of seem at opposite ends in terms of strategy. Saskia is more for aggro while Punishing Fire is for grinding.

[MrIggins]

Made top 8 of a local, 55 player event playing the following 76:

4x Veteran Explorer
2x Deathrite Shaman
1x Sakura-Tribe Elder
1x Eternal Witness
2x Fierce Empath
1x Reclamation Sage
1x Meren of Clan Nel Toth
1x Sidisi, Undead Vizier
1x Thragtusk
1x Inferno Titan
1x Primeval Titan
1x Woodland Bellower
1x Emrakul, the Aeons Torn

4x Cabal Therapy
4x Green Sun’s Zenith
4x Sneak Attack
3x Pernicious Deed
2x Abrupt Decay
3x Sensei’s Divining Top
1x Sylvan Library

Lands
3x Verdant Catacombs
4x Wooded Foothills
1x Phyrexian Tower
1x Volrath’s Stronghold
1x Badlands
3x Bayou
2x Taiga
2x Forest
2x Mountain
2x Swamp

SIDEBOARD
2x Carpet of Flowers
1x Gaze of Granite
1x Nissa, Vital Force
1x Maelstrom Pulse
2x Slaughter Games
2x Surgical Extraction
2x Thoughtseize
2x Shriekmaw
2x Pyroclasm

Tried out the 2nd Fierce Empath as the 61st card for the first time today, not sure if needed, it came up once but was also bad a couple times. Probably going back to the same maindeck minus that card. Maindeck feels extremely solid. Meren never came up at all. I don't want to cut the card but if I need maindeck slots that's another one I'm looking at in future. Thragtusk felt underwhelming but was fine, as it usually is.

Sideboard Shriekmaws were for Eldrazi which I expected a lot of given that it's a local event with a low entry fee, saw none, might have been one in the entire room. Probably trim those for an answer to Marit Lage, have not decided what yet (I don't like To the Slaughter).

Matchups were Miracles (2-0 win), BG Loam Pox (2-0 win), Death and Taxes (2-0 win), Omni+Sneak (1-2 loss, extremely close sideboarded games), 4-color loam (2-1 win), ID into top 8, lose hard to UW Stoneblade with an Aven Mindcensor and multiple TNN in two games.

Very very happy with this deck, extremely fun, feels very powerful, and has a powerful proactive game to play against unfair decks in the sideboarded games. Previous versions of Nic Fit I've played overloaded on hate out of the board and never presented a threat of winning. This deck does not have that problem because you also have an unfair game plan to play towards. Highly recommend. Not playing Grove+Fires because I don't own groves, but didn't feel like I ought to have had them at any point either.

[Echelon]

@Iggins: Congrats!

@Brael: Clear out your inbox, dammit!

[Ricardio]

http://imgur.com/a/NVZr4
I should have just went to sleep.

[rubblekill]

http://imgur.com/a/NVZr4
I should have just went to sleep.

I'm not sure about those wastelands, but this seems awesome! Have you tested it already?
I'll add you on modo later
Ps, you really don't want to lose against gy decks eh?

[Ricardio]

I'm not sure about those wastelands, but this seems awesome! Have you tested it already?
I'll add you on modo later
Ps, you really don't want to lose against gy decks eh?

Not tested. Just guesstimated. Probably should have a master of the hunt over third biomancer

Sb looks like a car accident.

Just played it against red stacks and wouldn't you know it, jtms is good.

Wastelands and Liam are whatever. Not sure. No leo bc he's still 50+ tix

[Ulysse95]

Not tested. Just guesstimated. Probably should have a master of the hunt over third biomancer

Sb looks like a car accident.

Just played it against red stacks and wouldn't you know it, jtms is good.

Wastelands and Liam are whatever. Not sure. No leo bc he's still 50+ tix

Yeah, Leo would be great here.

You could also tried Reyhan, Last of the Abzan (new DC). But I definitely would see a Nissa, Vital force here.

I would cut at least one swallower..

[pettdan]

Tried out the 2nd Fierce Empath as the 61st card for the first time today, not sure if needed, it came up once but was also bad a couple times. Probably going back to the same maindeck minus that card. Maindeck feels extremely solid. Meren never came up at all. I don't want to cut the card but if I need maindeck slots that's another one I'm looking at in future. Thragtusk felt underwhelming but was fine, as it usually is.

Sideboard Shriekmaws were for Eldrazi which I expected a lot of given that it's a local event with a low entry fee, saw none, might have been one in the entire room. Probably trim those for an answer to Marit Lage, have not decided what yet (I don't like To the Slaughter).

Matchups were Miracles (2-0 win), BG Loam Pox (2-0 win), Death and Taxes (2-0 win), Omni+Sneak (1-2 loss, extremely close sideboarded games), 4-color loam (2-1 win), ID into top 8, lose hard to UW Stoneblade with an Aven Mindcensor and multiple TNN in two games.

Very very happy with this deck, extremely fun, feels very powerful, and has a powerful proactive game to play against unfair decks in the sideboarded games. Previous versions of Nic Fit I've played overloaded on hate out of the board and never presented a threat of winning. This deck does not have that problem because you also have an unfair game plan to play towards. Highly recommend. Not playing Grove+Fires because I don't own groves, but didn't feel like I ought to have had them at any point either.

I've also been trying out Sneak Fit recently, going 2-2, 2-2 and 2-1-1 I think. Still I agree with your comments that it's a powerful deck, it can both grind out and combo relativly quickly. A lot of losses have been due to a combination of bad luck and lucky opponents just barely losing 1-2 - drawing 4 Sneak Attacks in a row, drawing 4 Veterans in a row and not being able to set them off when I really needed them, losing due to time after having Slaughter Games'd 90% of opponent's win conditions, the opponent on Food Chain topdecking a Diabolic Edict for my sneaked Emrakul, drawing 4 do-nothings in a topdeck battle vs burn (of course Emrakul was on top when I died ;). Anyway, great job Arianrhod, this time you've really outdone yourself!

MrIggins, Shriekmaw has very good synergy with Meren but I must say I like the idea of Blood Moon in the deck, I currently have two in the board. They work great with the Nic Fit mana base, they work great with Sneak Attack as demonstrated by Sneak and Show and they are a major obstacle for both Eldrazi (needing colorless mana to resolve their spells) and the Marit Lage decks. And opponents are likely to fetch for duals due to the Veterans. Something to at least consider.

[MrIggins]

Blood Moon in the board is actually super interesting. I may try that out. I was previously a Scapewish player so the card just was not on my radar for nic fit sideboard. I like it.

[volrathxp]

I've also been trying out Sneak Fit recently, going 2-2, 2-2 and 2-1-1 I think. Still I agree with your comments that it's a powerful deck, it can both grind out and combo relativly quickly. A lot of losses have been due to a combination of bad luck and lucky opponents just barely losing 1-2 - drawing 4 Sneak Attacks in a row, drawing 4 Veterans in a row and not being able to set them off when I really needed them, losing due to time after having Slaughter Games'd 90% of opponent's win conditions, the opponent on Food Chain topdecking a Diabolic Edict for my sneaked Emrakul, drawing 4 do-nothings in a topdeck battle vs burn (of course Emrakul was on top when I died ;). Anyway, great job Arianrhod, this time you've really outdone yourself!

MrIggins, Shriekmaw has very good synergy with Meren but I must say I like the idea of Blood Moon in the deck, I currently have two in the board. They work great with the Nic Fit mana base, they work great with Sneak Attack as demonstrated by Sneak and Show and they are a major obstacle for both Eldrazi (needing colorless mana to resolve their spells) and the Marit Lage decks. And opponents are likely to fetch for duals due to the Veterans. Something to at least consider.

I've considered Blood Moon too for dealing with decks like Turbo Depths.

@Iggins, congrats on the finish. All my testing with Grove has been solid. With D&T around, the PFire engine is solid, and hapowdoven its worth to me. If you don't own Groves though, I think the deck can operate fine.

I agree though that the deck definitely feels proactive and powerful, and is a real gas to play.

[Navsi]

I took the Atraxa list. Currently 2-0, beat Grixis and Maverick. Atraxa on board when the game ends in 3 of 4 wins (the other was Tamiyo + Thragtusk + Jitte).

[Arianrhod]

I definitely don't think that Groves/PFire are necessary for the deck, but I do like having access to that engine. While it does improve the deck, I think it only does so by perhaps 5-7%: not really enough to be super concerned about investing into, especially since there are other ways to yield the same benefit. I do feel like you're a little light on removal, though -- without the Pfires, you probably need at least a 3rd Decay.

[volrathxp]

I definitely don't think that Groves/PFire are necessary for the deck, but I do like having access to that engine. While it does improve the deck, I think it only does so by perhaps 5-7%: not really enough to be super concerned about investing into, especially since there are other ways to yield the same benefit. I do feel like you're a little light on removal, though -- without the Pfires, you probably need at least a 3rd Decay.

PFire felt great all through the Classic. It gives you another way of closing games out which is why it's so good. If your opponent is within PFire range, and they don't have a counterspell then it's as good as bolt. And even then better, because you can recur it easily.

It's definitely not necessary to be playable, but it is quite good.

[Navsi]

Ended up going 3-1-1, got into top 4, lost to Burning Reanimator.

1. Grixis Delver - walked all over him. Atraxa got Jittes and generally caused problems. It's not a good match up for him at the best of times, and Stoneforge, Strix and Walkers just make it worse.
2. Shardless - got rushed down one game by double goyf, pulse for Nissa, removal for Sorin blockers and Force for Thragtusk. Other games I ruined him with higher impact cards.
3. Maverick - also went pretty well. Tamiyo shut down Thalias till I found removal. Jitte did dumb things again.
4. Storm - one game he punted away (tried to tendrils for exact damage, I gained 2 life with Deathrite) but lost the round anyway.
5. ID into top 4.

Top 4 - Burning Reanimator
Game 1 was very close, almost won - he has a 50/50 Gamble discard to avoid getting run over by a Tireless Tracker with a SOFI and he made it, but I almost got there anyway off Deathrite. Game 2 I had tons of interaction. Game 3 I kept 5 lands, Swords, Brainstorm, removed his turn 2 Griselbrand, but he made Sire of Insanity off his draw-14 and I lost anyway. Probably shouldn't have kept.

Deck seems strong - didn't have fixing issues - I think it wants more combo hate though, it's already great against fair decks. Tempted to shove in Teeg, even though he shuts down the walkers.

[J.Black]

Tempted to shove in Teeg, even though he shuts down the walkers.

You seemed to do ok without the walkers, and you have plenty of ways to win without them... could you tweak your sideboard so you can board them out and board in a combo hate package?

[Ricardio]

Yeah, Leo would be great here.

You could also tried Reyhan, Last of the Abzan (new DC). But I definitely would see a Nissa, Vital force here.

I would cut at least one swallower..

When his price settles, he gets included. Haha

Reyhan seems bad.

Swallower just seems overly amazing. Albeit 7 CMc lol

[Brael]

http://imgur.com/a/NVZr4
I should have just went to sleep.

This has inspired me to think about BUG in a new way. I know the topic of BUG always gets brought up. What if we're looking at it all wrong by trying to include the obvious value with Baleful Strix? What if the land value decks are where BUG shines?

Random list off the top of my head

Land 22
4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Polluted Delta
2 Bayou
1 Tropical Island
1 Underground Sea
4 Forest
1 Swamp
1 Island
1 Dryad Arbor
1 Volrath's Stronghold
1 Blighted Fen
1 Mishra's Factory

Creatures 18
4 Veteran Explorer
3 Coiling Oracle
2 Sylvan Advocate
1 Azusa, Lost but Seeking
1 Eternal Witness
1 Nissa, Vastwood Seer
2 Tireless Tracker
1 Leovald, Emissary of Trest
1 Oracle of Mul Daya
1 Rashmi, Eternities Crafter
1 The Gitrog Monster

Artifact 4
4 Sensei's Divining Top

Spells 13
4 Cabal Therapy
4 Green Sun's Zenith
3 Abrupt Decay
2 Reality Shift

Planeswalker 2
2 Nissa, Vital Force

Enchantment 2
2 Pernicious Deed