[Primer] BRx Griselbrand Reanimator

[Luklinda]

People misunderstanding my post.

First, Sire of Insanity is beatable with topdeck Dismember. Any creature that beats Dismember is *probably* enough against Delver.

Second, we're looking for a sideboard plan that beats delver outside of the normal reanimation plan. The reanimation plan already wins instantly, but is easily disruptable by Deathrite Shaman, tons of counters, or Surgical Extraction.

Example sideboard plans:

1) 4 Pack Rat / Goblin Rabblemaster / Young Pyromancer or other single-creature-based threat

2) 4 Bitterblossom

3) Gurmag Angler / Tasigur delve creatures

4) simple 3-4 Collective Brutality approach

past in flames will give you inevitability, synergize with GY plan and 1 DRS can't beat a whole yard of spells, especially with rituals in there.

It's a bit risky and cold to leyline, but it's certainly a very clever out against decks with slower clocks and/or limited GY removal.

Also style points sine UB would need to rely on IGGY to duplicate the effect.

[timmorri]

Grixis delver gets wrecked by elesh norn. Post board is rough, but one thing I've noticed is what they are boarding out. Pyromancer, bolt, the 3/1 merfolk. They drop creature count. Also without bolt, the removal for smaller creatures doesn't exist. Is lavamancer an option to help but time then? Protection against a mass surgical. I think we refill our hand better correct?

[xix]

Is it worth try to play Blood Moon without Simian Spirit Guide? I'm trying to squeeze 2/3 Moons in the sideboard, but I also want to play Unmask main (so I don't have space for SSG)

Can look at a list like Todd Anderson ran I think... 4 SSG 4 Unmask 0 CB/0 TS, with 2 CB in sideboard.

Back on track, the card you want is Sphinx of the Steel Wind against grixis delver as they have marginal ways to deal with it (flipped delver block + dismember). And the lifelink makes for easy secondary reanimation/second target.

I Like this card for delvers as well, it is one of the things I wish I could fit in my Sideboard.

It is great to see how lively this thread is and I feel pretty happy to notice how much traction the deck gained this year.


Imho I see no reason to play Archetype of Endurance. Like, really none. I consider the card to be overkill and so do not see a reason to include it in my 75.
On the other hand, I could make a case for Ashen Rider which is probably our best answer to Show n Tell decks or to hate like Leyline (when playing with Stronghold Gambit or S.Attack). I think the list who toped 8 in Chiba was a clear example pointing at the fact that the card IS useful, maybe given a certain meta that is (because as much as I like the Rider, playing 2 seems a tad heavy still).

Point 1: Traction makes people side vs it more, boo :)
Point 2: I have been debating cutting archetype as well, it is very good, but I kind of feel like if I am reanimating GB and reanimating something else, sire/anything might be just as good for that turn. I had originally, ran Iona maindeck, and archtype forced the inkwell cut/Iona move to sideboard, and I cut down to 1 Sire. (I also run tidespout main)

Titans: I think just like the Sphinx of the Steel Wind, Grave Titan is better in certain metas, I don't think infernal is good enough even in this build. That being said, I like Grave Titan more than Sphinx even vs delver I think, being able to cast grave titan seems like something that could actually happen, just like we can cast Sire, Sphinx just can't be.


Chiba: Show and Tell is extremely popular over there, ashen rider was the concession to the overwhelming number of the decks (and I agree) / I am off Stronghold Gambit, Storm has been hated out decently enough, and too many people play creatures for me to like it, I prefer Sneak Attack


If I end up cutting archtype, then I am going to add inkwell leviathan back to the 75, and for GP Louisville, I am debating adding 1 ashen rider to the sideboard, as it is good vs the uptick of show and tell I am expecting, and has other use vs other matchups.


I am going to be cutting 2 Collective Brutality/2 Thoughtseize from Maindeck, and going back to the 4 unmask/4 SSG plan. (might cut 1 Animate dead and leave 1 Brutality in Main, the card is good)


Here is my current Sideboard:
3 sneak
2 bloodmoon
2 Faerie Macabre
1 Elesh Norn
1 Iona -- Also considering moving this to maindeck in the archtype spot, as it can grab free wins as well. Maybe better than the Grave Titan/Inkwell
1 Blazing Archon
2 Pithing Needle -- 1 of these might get cut if I change MD archtype into maindeck grave titan, and that would force inkwell or archtype to be in this slot
2 red elemental blast -- going to become 2 Collective Brutality when I make the change to 4 unmask again
+
1 Flex spot - Normally Massacre/Surgical/Ashen Rider in this order. For GP Louisville, right now I am flopping between Ashen Rider and Massacre

[Jeff]

Can look at a list like Todd Anderson ran I think... 4 SSG 4 Unmask 0 CB/0 TS, with 2 CB in sideboard.

I don't see SSGs in Todd's list from SCG Baltimore, did he play it again somewhere else with SSGs?

How are people liking Blood Moon out of the board? Over a small sample size, about 30 matches, my worst matchups seem to be BUG/Grixis Delver decks and Eldrazi, both of which Blood Moon is very good against if you can get it down early enough. I'm currently playing a 4 Unmask 0 SSG version of the deck, though, and that means that using Ancient Tomb out of the board to ramp into Blood Moon (and Show and Tell, presumably) is going to be a tough sell, since it'd leave you at two red sources and 0 black sources in play. Is the effect good enough against those decks to be worth screwing with the mana and adding spirit guides somehow? Or is it just a value card.

[elFinFas]

So i made a 20 players "invitacional" Event whit the deck.
This was My list

1-mountain
2-swamp
3-badlands
1-bayou
4-bloodstained mire
2-polluted delta
4-lotus petal
4-dark ritual
4-entomb
4-exhume
4-faithless looting
4-reanimate
4-thoughtseize
4-animate dead
4-unmask
4-griselbrand
4-chancellor of the annex
2-sire of insanity
1-tidespout tyrant

Sideboard
1-blazing archon
3-collective brutality
1-elesh norn
1-iona
2-pithing needle
3-abrupt decay
2-reverent silence
2-surgical extraction

The results
Miracles 2-1
12 post 2-0
4color loam 1-2
Death and taxes 2-0
Goblins 2-0
Infect 2-1

And i lost in the final against Bant tnn 1-2

the deck felt very strong in the first game but not so mutch after sideboard.
I didn't like the green splash!

[PhyrexianLibrarian]

the deck felt very strong in the first game but not so mutch after sideboard.
I didn't like the green splash!

The green vs. white vs. blue vs. none splash decision feels like a metagame call. What kind of hate did you see people bringing in against you during the tournament?

[nonja]

I am playing this deck for a while, so I have tried different lists, different sideboard strategy etc.
Won a local event (5 rounds, top4) with this list:

4x Exhume 
4x Faithless Looting 
4x Reanimate 
4x Thoughtseize 
4x Unmask
3x Badlands
1x Bayou 
4x Bloodstained Mire 
4x Polluted Delta
2x Swamp 
4x Chancellor of the Annex 
1x Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite 
3x Griselbrand 
1x Sire Of Insanity 
1x Tidespout Tyrant 
4x Dark Ritual
4x Entomb 
4x Animate Dead 
4x Lotus Petal 

SIDEBOARD
3x Abrupt Decay 
1x Archetype of Endurance 
2x Collective Brutality 
1x Iona, Shield of Emeria 
1x Pithing Needle 
2x Reverent Silence 
3x Stronghold Gambit 
1x Sire of Insanity 
1x Blazing Archon 

Thoughts on MD:
I think too much discussion here is about creatures; it's not the problem: usually it is bigger problem to put in onto battlefield; increasing stability and resistance to before-SB hate is essential point. Because of this reason I really like Unmasks and Chancellors, as they really give you time for setup. Currently I don't see much choice here - maybe in the future, if some good cards will be printed they could be added.
The only thing I consider to change in MD is -2 Thoughtseize +2 Collective Brutality (My meta has way too many DRS).
Regarding muls - usually you want to have these elements: mana, disruption, reanimation spell, entomb OR fatty + discard outlet. If you're missing 2 of the pieces my advice is to mull that hand (especially if this 6 or 7 card hand).
Personally I do not like Tyrant MD, but it is necessary evil :(

SB:
Blood Moon - didn't like it. Yes, it cripples some decks, but it's much better to resolve a fatty to seal a deal
Sneak Attack - didn't like it. There's not so much creatures that is suitable for this effect + it's really costy, so if you don't draw into dark rituals it's slow.
Additional Creatures - depends on meta. Boarded Iona only once during last tournament.
Stronghold Gambit - funny little card, meta call.
I did face these GY hate cards: DRS, Grafdigger's Cage, Nihil Spellbomb, Leyline of the Void, Surgical Extraction, Scavenging Ooze.

[xix]

I don't see SSGs in Todd's list from SCG Baltimore, did he play it again somewhere else with SSGs?

How are people liking Blood Moon out of the board? Over a small sample size, about 30 matches, my worst matchups seem to be BUG/Grixis Delver decks and Eldrazi, both of which Blood Moon is very good against if you can get it down early enough. I'm currently playing a 4 Unmask 0 SSG version of the deck, though, and that means that using Ancient Tomb out of the board to ramp into Blood Moon (and Show and Tell, presumably) is going to be a tough sell, since it'd leave you at two red sources and 0 black sources in play. Is the effect good enough against those decks to be worth screwing with the mana and adding spirit guides somehow? Or is it just a value card.

I think if your doing the 2 U.Sea/show and tell + Tomb sideboard, I don't think I would be on blood moon (this was Todd Andersons list)
If your on a list closer to DNSolver's original posting sans SSG, then that green sideboard plan is better vs trying to board into ancient tomb and blood moon,

Sorry I was thinking of Ken'ichirou Omori @ Chiba, into a higher SnT field... He ran:
Creature [15]
4 Chancellor of the Annex
4 Griselbrand
4 Simian Spirit Guide
2 Sire of Insanity
1 Tidespout Tyrant
Spell [32]
4 Animate Dead
4 Dark Ritual
4 Entomb
4 Exhume
4 Faithless Looting
4 Lotus Petal
4 Reanimate
4 Unmask
Land [13]
4 Badlands
1 Blackcleave Cliffs
4 Bloodstained Mire
2 Polluted Delta
2 Swamp
SIDEBOARD [15]
2 Ashen Rider
1 Blazing Archon
2 Collective Brutality
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
2 Faerie Macabre
1 Iona, Shield of Emeria
1 Massacre
4 Sneak Attack
1 Snuff Out

The green vs. white vs. blue vs. none splash decision feels like a metagame call. What kind of hate did you see people bringing in against you during the tournament?

Agree

[tarmogoat]

People misunderstanding my post.

First, Sire of Insanity is beatable with topdeck Dismember. Any creature that beats Dismember is *probably* enough against Delver.

Second, we're looking for a sideboard plan that beats delver outside of the normal reanimation plan. The reanimation plan already wins instantly, but is easily disruptable by Deathrite Shaman, tons of counters, or Surgical Extraction.

Example sideboard plans:

1) 4 Pack Rat / Goblin Rabblemaster / Young Pyromancer or other single-creature-based threat

2) 4 Bitterblossom

3) Gurmag Angler / Tasigur delve creatures

4) simple 3-4 Collective Brutality approach

I think BB + CB should do if you don't want to go with another reanimation target or Sneak Attack/S&T as your plan against Grixis.

But then I have to ask, what happened to the Burning Wish sideboard plan you were using? Is it too slow to go fetch a Buried Alive? Is it not enough? I've seen you made some 5-0s with that plan so I'm wondering what happened that you want to switch to something else. Is it not that good in paper?

[elFinFas]

The green vs. white vs. blue vs. none splash decision feels like a metagame call. What kind of hate did you see people bringing in against you during the tournament?

People used a lot of surgical extraction!then grafdigers cage ,RIP ,containment priest and the 4c loam player had leylines!

The deck felt realy week after sideboarding!

[elFinFas]

.

[tarmogoat]

People used a lot of surgical extraction!then grafdigers cage ,RIP ,containment priest and the 4c loam player had leylines!

The deck felt realy week after sideboarding!

You could potentially use discard to fight Surgical (although in many cases won't be effective), all other hatecards can be beaten with Nature's Claim, if you're on green splash, Wear // Tear if you're on white, Chain of Vapor/Void Snare/Echoing Truth if you're on blue. If you have no splash, you can fight them with Chaos Warp, Engineered Explosives (misses on Leyline), Ratchet Bomb (too slow vs Leyline maybe) or outright not relying on GY, with Sneak Attack and Stronghold Gambit/Through the Breach. I would't recommend TtB, though, and Gambit is not useful against some number of decks, if you're splashing blue you can also ignore GY with Show and Tell.

[Jeff]

Two sample hands I had today, wondering peoples thoughts on them. Both were T1, blind, on the play.

Hand 1:

Exhume
Exhume
Reanimate
Entomb
Unmask
Faithless Looting
Polluted Delta

I want to spend my mana on turn 1 entombing, then cast either Exhume or Reanimate turn 2 based on whether I draw a second land. That's obvious, I think. The question I had is when to play the Unmask. T1 helps ensure Entomb will resolve, but lets the player know before their first turn what they're playing against (when Polluted Delta | Go doesn't do that), so they can ponder for a Force instead of playing a delver or top or whatever.

You have backups of both the enabler and the reanimation spell, but your backup enabler (looting) isn't guaranteed to work, while your primary one (entomb) is. I ended up casting the Unmask on t1 to ensure the Entomb resolved.

-----------

Hand 2:

Swamp
Badlands
Lotus Petal
Lotus Petal
Entomb
Reanimate
Unmask

If you wait a turn and draw a black card, you can cast unmask and protect the combo, or you can just say "fuck it, you probably don't have force" and go for it. I'm of the opinion that if you want to be a patient combo player waiting for the right turn to combo off, you're playing the wrong version of reanimator, so I just went for it.

Thoughts on either/both hands?

[Dice_Box]

Due to some mistakes in the classification of this deck of TC, I missed that it was a DTB. Thanks to maraxusofkelds pointing out my missing this, you guys have now been upgraded to DTB for the month. So enjoy killing my Lands deck more for the month, you Horrible horrible people.

Oh and that's the third fastest rise to DTB. Congrats.

[Quentin Coldman]

Two sample hands I had today, wondering peoples thoughts on them. Both were T1, blind, on the play.

Hand 1:

Exhume
Exhume
Reanimate
Entomb
Unmask
Faithless Looting
Polluted Delta

I want to spend my mana on turn 1 entombing, then cast either Exhume or Reanimate turn 2 based on whether I draw a second land. That's obvious, I think. The question I had is when to play the Unmask. T1 helps ensure Entomb will resolve, but lets the player know before their first turn what they're playing against (when Polluted Delta | Go doesn't do that), so they can ponder for a Force instead of playing a delver or top or whatever.

You have backups of both the enabler and the reanimation spell, but your backup enabler (looting) isn't guaranteed to work, while your primary one (entomb) is. I ended up casting the Unmask on t1 to ensure the Entomb resolved.

-----------

Hand 2:

Swamp
Badlands
Lotus Petal
Lotus Petal
Entomb
Reanimate
Unmask

If you wait a turn and draw a black card, you can cast unmask and protect the combo, or you can just say "fuck it, you probably don't have force" and go for it. I'm of the opinion that if you want to be a patient combo player waiting for the right turn to combo off, you're playing the wrong version of reanimator, so I just went for it.

Thoughts on either/both hands?

Hand 1: Unmask pitch Exhume would be my first play of the game. Smart players know that they should force Entomb. After Unmask u can Entomb safely and have a good chance for T2 Reanimation. If you play Entomb before Unmask and he counters it you still can loot for a creature, but if you don't find one you probably loose.

Hand 2: I would go for Turn 1 Reanimation, the deck is all in so u have to play greedy.

[Ricardio]

Due to some mistakes in the classification of this deck of TC, I missed that it was a DTB. Thanks to maraxusofkelds pointing out my missing this, you guys have now been upgraded to DTB for the month. So enjoy killing my Lands deck more for the month, you Horrible horrible people.

Oh and that's the third fastest rise to DTB. Congrats.

What are first and second?

[Quentin Coldman]

What are first and second?

Probably Eldrazi and Miracle.

[Griselpuff]

Eldrazi sure, but Miracles was around a while before people played reasonable lists.

[Claymore]

Jund skyrocketed to DTB when people tried playing it in Legacy during its Modern heyday - DRS, BBE, etc.

Edit: Not sure about Eldrazi, but Jund went straight from New and Development to DTB after 6 pages of its thread's inception.

[Zooligan]

So much for staying off the radar...