My thoughts about Phantasmal Image
* More flex spots after Steel of the Godheads if you don't have rooms for more sideboard cards.
* Good against Bant Eldrazi (Copying Thought Knot, Drowner, Smasher etc)
* Copying decent blockers is fine too (Vault Skirge, etc.)
* Copying a Drogskol Captain is really sweet, But the sweetest moment (for me) is when you hit a Phantasmal Image using Coco and Copied a Spell Queller or Mausoleum Wanderer.
* Sometimes a dead card, but it's flexible. In my opinion, better than other spirits (tried Nebelgast[3cmc],Anafenza[bad with hierarch,doesnt fly],Bygone Bishop[only for grindy matchups])
* For me the 2nd worst card after Steel of the Godhead in the mainboard. If Wizards printed a good Spirit, Phantasmal is out.
===============================
(More Tweakings)
What are your thoughts on these cards?
* 1-of Moorland Haunt (Can lose you some games, but can give you more win)
* Runed Halo (protection from valakut, amalgams, lightning storm etc)
* Worship (4cmc is too slow thou)
* Meddling Mage, Reflector Mage, Clique (Not spirit but has potential)
* Dispel,Negate,Ceremonious Rejection,Spell Pierce (Counterspells in sb)
* Splashing Black in Bant for Lingering (Caleb tried it at his stream)
Okay, so its not just me on the Image being the next week link to cut.
Tweaks:
I like the idea of Moorland Haunt. 3 CMC to snap in a Spirit and trigger a Wonderer into a Spell Pierce? Okay! I dig. Is it better then Township which can do the same on 5 CMC? Idk...
Runed Halo sounds like a cute idea? I'm going to look into more scenarios where I might want that.
I feel like out of those 3 Reflector Mage has the best shot, but what makes him better than another Path for 1 CMC? 3 CMC Sorcery speed can make or break a game at times.
Dispel and Negate is where I'm holding in agreement to right now. Like I said in my earlier post, I really wish I had more disruption and I think that's the key but that from my personal experience.
It does look like we have disruption in our crazed little Cursecatcher and Spellqueller, but its also so obvious for our opponent to play around. Any player will play their valued card around Cursecather so hes more like a tax. And a smart player will bait into Spellqueller. Spellqueller also doesn't hit some key cards like Ad Nauseam for example. Having that 1 cmc up for Spell Pierce can really protect you. I'm going to give it a while w/ some kind of split w/ 3 counter magic MD because there have been some games where I looked at my Paths or Steel or even Spellqueller, and rally wish it was a counter to pull me through that one extra turn.
Sadly it doesn't leave much room for flex but here is what I'm thinking:
I think that Kira, Great Glass-Spinner and Nebelgast Herald are underplayed in this deck and can help in quite a few matchups against aggro and heavy-removal decks.
What do you think about this take on the deck ?
I'm not quite sure how to go with the manabase.
Sorry for the late update but work got in the way.
As for the Rattlechains/Selfless-scenario the determining factor is what land your opponent has in play. If it is an uncracked fetchland that can fetch red mana, keep the Rattlechains up. If it is a comes in to play tapped land (like Celestial Colonnade or Raging Ravine) play the Selfless Spirit. The reasoning here is that your opponent if very unlikely to play a removal spell in their own main phase, therefor you want to deny them the possibility to play a removal spell at the end of your Turn 2.
Here is the rest of my work in progress side board guide! Again, let me know if anything looks weird or wrong - I'll correct it and we can make it better together!
VS Dredge
In:
2x Rest in Peace
2x Path to Exile
2x Kami of False Hope
Out on the draw:
2x Phantasmal Image
3x Geist of St Traft
1x Rattlechains
Out on the play:
2x Phantasmal Image
2x Rattlechains
2x Geist of St Traft
Dredge is the second of our favourable Tier 1 matchups (still tough though). If Dredge can put 12+ power on the board on turn 2 on the play, we probably die but so does almost any deck in the format.
However, we have a lot of good things going. Mausoleum Wanderer should be used to aggressively counter Cathartic Reunion/Faithless Looting in the early game while Spell Queller can be used for the flashbacked Looting and the Life from the Loam.
We have the possibility to go wide, presenting a myriad of blockers with the help of Collected Company. We also have built in protection from Conflagrate with our Drogskol Captains and Selfless Spirits. The 2/1 Spirits are kind of a liability in this game (since both Darkblast and Conflagrate kill them, as well as the 1/1 Narcomoebas) and that’s the reason for cutting 1-2 Rattlechains (and keeping the Selfless Spirits in).
The Kamis are exactly what we want here since it usually boils down to a race. Steel of the Godhead can help us swing through board states with several Narcomoeabas, and help us stabilize. Phantasmal is obviously lack luster.
Since we play white we can also run Rest in Peace. If you feel like this is a frequent matchup in your meta go up to 3 RiP. I have yet to lose against this deck in a competitive/semi-competitive environment.
Additional notes: Never mulligan for RiP or keep sketchy hands just because they have a RiP. The card is NOT strong enough on its own and must be played in conjunction with disruption and a clock.
VS Abzan
In:
2x Rest in Peace
1x Path to Exile
Out:
2x Steel of the Godhead
1x Phantasmal Image
Again, my sideboard is not built to combat this but we do have a better matchup against this compared to Jund. This mostly boils down to the lack of Lightning Bolt. Path to Exile ramps us and gives us the opportunity to go toe to toe with them on card quality in the initial turns of the game.
Lingering Souls and Tarmogoyf are the cards we want to reduce in power with Rest in Peace (and to some extent Murderous Cut).
Thankfully they usually don’t play Dark Confidant so we can usually save our Path’s for high priority targets later in the game.
Additional Notes: In games 2 and 3 they usually bring in more Collective Brutality. It can snatch Collected Company which is usually game over, so try to save Wanderers and/or Quellers to able to combat this.
2x Steel of the Godhead
2x Phantasmal Image
1x Mausoleum Wanderer
Game over. This is a terrible match up and if they don’t stumble you usually lose. Again, the Wanderers can’t counter anything important but dropping a T1 Wanderer and then keep on dropping spirits is one of our only outs.
If this deck becomes a more popular contender, Negates and/or Unified Wills in the sideboard is the way to go.
Additional Notes: Remember that you can block a Wurmcoil Engine with a Selfless Spirit and then before damage, sacrifice the Spirit. This way you deny them the life gain and maybe, just maybe, you can kill them on the following turn.
Also, Worldbreaker has reach. God damnit.
VS Titan Breach (or RG Valakut)
In:
2x Spellskite
2x Blessed Alliance
1x Path to Exile
Out:
2x Steel of the Godhead
1x Rattlechains
2x Phantasmal Image
Right now, the most popular version of this deck does not play the Through the breach/ Emrakul package. If they do, keep Phantasmal Image in.
This matchup can go our way if we manage to Wanderer / Queller important spells. Spell Queller is the perfect card for countering Scapeshift and you have enough creatures to race. However, sometimes they just have it and you die.
Swingy matchup.
VS Jeskai Control
In:
2x Spellskite
0-2X Rest in Peace
Out:
2x Phantasmal Image
0-2x Steel of the Godhead
Just like this is a good matchup for Merfolk it’s a good match up for us, but we must be very disciplined and pace our plays. Never deploy more threats than necessary and use Rattlechains and Collected Company to be able to play almost all our spells at the end of your opponents turn.
Geist if an excellent threat against them but don’t just attack with it into two open mana, this usually means Snapcaster and block. Use this knowledge to force them to keep the mana open, essentially time walking themselves every time they don’t play it. Sooner or later you will draw a Drogskol Captain or a Spell Queller.
Remember to never counter “small” spells with Spell Queller if they still have mana up. Only play the Queller if you are certain that you will lose the game if you don’t or if they are tapped out / have no cards in hand; this way you can hopefully protect it when you get to untap.
Additional notes: You can Spell Queller the uncounterable Supreme Verdict since it says exile. Selfless Spirit is usually MVP in these games and only sacrifice it if you opponent is about to wipe you board (with 2+ removal spells or a sweeper). You want it to stay alive for as long as possible.
I see that the Phantasmal Image is always coming out of the main, it has not been effective? Seems to be very disposable
The 2x Phantasmal Image and the 2x Steel of the Godhead are basically filler and could be replaced with almost anything (I do however think that it should be creatures and/or cards that help with the Burn match up).
I have played Midnight Haunting, Bygone Bishop, Tamiyo, Field Researcher, Nebelgast Herald, Kira, Great-Glass Spinner, additional Path's, Rhox War Monk, Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit and others I can't even remember. However, in the current meta, I think these are the best cards for the slots in order to win game 1 (on the play) as fast as possible and to have 2 main deck cards against Burn.
If there was a better 2 mana spirit I would play it. If the meta shifts back to a more controlling one (with the new sweeper for 2BB that might happen, sick card) we have plenty of really good cards to fill the slots with.
Kira, Great-Glass Spinner seems to be a great card to have on the deck, it can protect noble or birds, I'm testing a copy of mirror entity to increase creature power and protect birds or even attack with them.
In my town has many merfolk and affinity, what do you advise to use on the side?
Replaced Godheads with the 4th Path to Exile and 23rd land.
Any thoughts on my sideboard?
Thank you!
What do you think of Soil Shaper as a decent replacement for Phantasmal Image? Both 2 cmc, But Soil Spirit is a spirit, produces a 3/3 blocker for aggro, decent card.
Saw this yesterday, https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/520916#paper Someone placed 2nd using Bant Spirits, I notice that he's playing a 2-2 split Nebelgast Herald. Thoughts? Tried Nebelegast and it's really powerful against aggro decks, the tapping can easily win you some games. Gonna replace my Phantasmals for it
Good morning, so after fnm last night I was able to play test my bant spirits agaist burn the true test. Wow super happy most games. Just crush most games.
Against burn i ended up playing Blessed Alliance, the sacrifice mode is very good, as well as the life gain, if you make it to the two modes, that are four mana so likely to be on turn 3, then you probably turn the corner and race them. The untap mode may also be relevant. I've come to use it over the 3/1 gain 3 and the kami, it's just too good.
Normally i take out 2 remands that i've been playing but are not that good in tis meta, excepting big mana or combo decks.
If you're mostly like the same list as Caleb, I will board in 2 Blessed Alliance, 1 Rhox War Monk & 1 Spellskite replacing 2 Phantasmal Image (Since burn has many spot removals) & 2 Geist of Saint Traft (Since racing in Game 2 against Burn is not your goal here). If you're still looking for space, you can remove 1 selfless spirit or 1 GoST
Good morning, so after fnm last night I was able to play test my bant spirits agaist burn the true test. Wow super happy most games. Just crush most games.
I played Caleb's list at the RPTQ in Nashville. Unfortunately I had to mulligan and keep some sketch hands in my first two matches. So after an 0-2 start I was out of contention for top 8. My friends were still in so I stuck it out. Ended up winning my last 5 matches to make top 16. The deck does have its share of awkward draws, but if it gets moving, it can really punish your opponent quickly.
I lost my first two rounds to Jund and an Abzan Evolution brew. Then I beat Infect, Jeskai Control, Through the Breach twice, and a traditional Abzan list.
Abzan gave me some major trouble as Lingering Souls can be a really problem. Should EE come in against decks that play Lingering Souls?
I really had fun playing the deck. It can have issues if it gets behind or if my hand got mauled by discard spells like it did against Jund. I think I am going to continue playing the deck for now because it is super fun to play.
Round 1, game 1, I mulled two one 1 land hands that had no one drops in game 1. I then got stuck on 2 lands after he killed my Hierarch. Game 2 I mulled a hand that had all three drops. I then flooded out.
Round 2, I mulled to six both times, I think it was lack of lands (zero game 1, one game 2). Both games my opponent had enough hand disruption to take my key cards as I drew more lands than spells.
The rest of the day I did take some mulligans, but did not have major mana issues. 22 lands and 4 mana dorks seems sketchy, but over the course of the tournament, I felt that I lost more games to flood than to screw.
Adaptive Automaton is strictly worse than Captain, is probably worse than Spell Queller, and dies to any artifact hate your opponent may have. I don't think the deck can afford to add anymore 3 drops.
* More flex spots after Steel of the Godheads if you don't have rooms for more sideboard cards.
* Good against Bant Eldrazi (Copying Thought Knot, Drowner, Smasher etc)
* Copying decent blockers is fine too (Vault Skirge, etc.)
* Copying a Drogskol Captain is really sweet, But the sweetest moment (for me) is when you hit a Phantasmal Image using Coco and Copied a Spell Queller or Mausoleum Wanderer.
* Sometimes a dead card, but it's flexible. In my opinion, better than other spirits (tried Nebelgast[3cmc],Anafenza[bad with hierarch,doesnt fly],Bygone Bishop[only for grindy matchups])
* For me the 2nd worst card after Steel of the Godhead in the mainboard. If Wizards printed a good Spirit, Phantasmal is out.
===============================
(More Tweakings)
What are your thoughts on these cards?
* 1-of Moorland Haunt (Can lose you some games, but can give you more win)
* Runed Halo (protection from valakut, amalgams, lightning storm etc)
* Worship (4cmc is too slow thou)
* Meddling Mage, Reflector Mage, Clique (Not spirit but has potential)
* Dispel,Negate,Ceremonious Rejection,Spell Pierce (Counterspells in sb)
* Splashing Black in Bant for Lingering (Caleb tried it at his stream)
Tweaks:
I like the idea of Moorland Haunt. 3 CMC to snap in a Spirit and trigger a Wonderer into a Spell Pierce? Okay! I dig. Is it better then Township which can do the same on 5 CMC? Idk...
Runed Halo sounds like a cute idea? I'm going to look into more scenarios where I might want that.
I feel like out of those 3 Reflector Mage has the best shot, but what makes him better than another Path for 1 CMC? 3 CMC Sorcery speed can make or break a game at times.
Dispel and Negate is where I'm holding in agreement to right now. Like I said in my earlier post, I really wish I had more disruption and I think that's the key but that from my personal experience.
It does look like we have disruption in our crazed little Cursecatcher and Spellqueller, but its also so obvious for our opponent to play around. Any player will play their valued card around Cursecather so hes more like a tax. And a smart player will bait into Spellqueller. Spellqueller also doesn't hit some key cards like Ad Nauseam for example. Having that 1 cmc up for Spell Pierce can really protect you. I'm going to give it a while w/ some kind of split w/ 3 counter magic MD because there have been some games where I looked at my Paths or Steel or even Spellqueller, and rally wish it was a counter to pull me through that one extra turn.
Sadly it doesn't leave much room for flex but here is what I'm thinking:
4 Noble
4 Wanderer
4 Rattle Chains (maybe cut one for flex?)
4 Selfless
4 Spellqueller
4 Captain
3 Geist
4 CoCo
3 Path
3 Counter Split
1 flex?
22 land
This provides 27 hits for CoCo which is plenty. I really wish we had a bomb shell like Merfolk has Master of Waves.
An those playing Favorable WInds... yea... not liking that at all.
What do you think about this take on the deck ?
I'm not quite sure how to go with the manabase.
4x Birds of Paradise
4x Mausoleum Wanderer
4x Rattlechains
4x Selfless Spirit
4x Spell Queller
4x Drogskol Captain
3x Nebelgast Herald
1x Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
Instant (8)
4x Collected Company
4x Path to Exile
Enchantment (2)
2x Favorable Winds
4x Flooded Strand
4x Windswept Heath
2x Hallowed Fountain
1x Breeding Pool
1x Temple Garden
2x Botanical Sanctum
2x Razorverge Thicket
2x Seachrome Coast
1x Forest
1x Island
1x Plains
1 Gavony Township
1x Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
3x Meddling Mage
1x Eidolon of Rhetoric
2x Blessed Alliance
2x Azorius Herald
2x Qasali Pridemage
2x Rest in Peace
2x Stony Silence
My List:
4x Birds of Paradise
4x Mausoleum Wanderer
4x Rattlechains
4x Selfless Spirit
4x Spell Queller
4x Drogskol Captain
2x Geist of Saint Traft
1x Mirror Entity
2x Phantasmal Image
Instant (8)
4x Collected Company
3x Path to Exile
Enchantment (2)
2x Favorable Winds
Land (22)
4x Flooded Strand
4x Windswept Heath
1x Misty Rainforest
1x Hallowed Fountain
2x Breeding Pool
1x Temple Garden
2x Botanical Sanctum
1x Razorverge Thicket
1x Forest
1x Island
1x Plains
1x Gavony Township
1x Moorland Haunt
1x Cavern of Souls
1x Path to Exile
1x Blessed Alliance
1x Rhox War Monk
2x Qasali Pridemage
2x Rest in Peace
3x Stony Silence
1x Spellskite
2x Kataki, War's Wage
2x Engineered Explosives
* Love the sideboard guide, thanks job_amundsen! 5/5! Waiting for the next batch
I see that the Phantasmal Image is always coming out of the main, it has not been effective? Seems to be very disposable
Kira, Great-Glass Spinner seems to be a great card to have on the deck, it can protect noble or birds, I'm testing a copy of mirror entity to increase creature power and protect birds or even attack with them.
In my town has many merfolk and affinity, what do you advise to use on the side?
Replaced Godheads with the 4th Path to Exile and 23rd land.
Any thoughts on my sideboard?
Thank you!
What do you think of Soil Shaper as a decent replacement for Phantasmal Image? Both 2 cmc, But Soil Spirit is a spirit, produces a 3/3 blocker for aggro, decent card.
Saw this yesterday, https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/520916#paper Someone placed 2nd using Bant Spirits, I notice that he's playing a 2-2 split Nebelgast Herald. Thoughts? Tried Nebelegast and it's really powerful against aggro decks, the tapping can easily win you some games. Gonna replace my Phantasmals for it
Question
What is my best side board options agaist burn.
What do I add and take out?
Thanks
Normally i take out 2 remands that i've been playing but are not that good in tis meta, excepting big mana or combo decks.
maybe kor firewalker?
I lost my first two rounds to Jund and an Abzan Evolution brew. Then I beat Infect, Jeskai Control, Through the Breach twice, and a traditional Abzan list.
Abzan gave me some major trouble as Lingering Souls can be a really problem. Should EE come in against decks that play Lingering Souls?
I really had fun playing the deck. It can have issues if it gets behind or if my hand got mauled by discard spells like it did against Jund. I think I am going to continue playing the deck for now because it is super fun to play.
@Saydee180 -- my plan for burn was:
+1 Spellskite
+2 Qasali Pridemage
+2 Blessed Alliance
+1 Rhox War Monk
-2 Phantasmal Image
-1 Geist of Saint Traft
-3 Selfless Spirit
Edit: looked over my list again, changed what I was going to take out.
Just Curious:
*Is lacking lands the reason of your mulligans?
*If not, What is the reason for your mulligans?
Round 2, I mulled to six both times, I think it was lack of lands (zero game 1, one game 2). Both games my opponent had enough hand disruption to take my key cards as I drew more lands than spells.
The rest of the day I did take some mulligans, but did not have major mana issues. 22 lands and 4 mana dorks seems sketchy, but over the course of the tournament, I felt that I lost more games to flood than to screw.