Round 1 vs. Zoo. This guy has played this deck ever since I've known him, so for him to do well in this meta with a deck that shouldn't is no surprise. Anyway, on to the games. In the first game, I keep a hand with Lightning Bolt, Sweltering Suns, ramp, and lands, knowing it would be good against him. I nearly don't draw anything, but get a Scapeshift 2 turns before lethal. In the next game, it is somewhat similar, but he has a 6/6 Knight of the Reliquary that he follows to my Sweltering Suns. It swings me down and a turn before lethal, he played Blood Moon. Now I need to draw Reclamation Sage AND Scapeshift in a single turn. Impossible. In the last game, I fail to Bolt a Noble Hierarch, hoping that I could Bolt the next creature. He drops Loxodon Smiter and goes to town. He gets too many creatures and I can't find Sweltering Suns to go with my Lightning Bolt to wipe his board. I end up playing out the Reclamation Sage that I had been saving and the Sakura Tribe-Elder to save me from lethal. But he adds a Sigarda, Host of Herons to his board and I don't find Scapeshift. 1-2.
Round 2 vs. Br Rack. He makes me discard a bunch of cards. Then he drops the Rack and Shrieking Affliction. I can't get past 5 land from turn 3 and lose with double Prime Time, one of which got discarded. In the next game, he does turn 1 Inquisition of Kozilek, then Wrench Mind. I get Ancient Grudge in the graveyard and Obstinate Baloth in play. He makes me discard and I lose the Scapeshift. He does Surgical Extraction on it. He does Liliana of the Veil for my Baloth when he's low. He also does a Slaughter Games on my double Prime Time after I drew 1 and a Valakut when I already had 1 in hand. I end up killing him with Valakut triggers before the Rack into Shrieking Affliction could get me. In the 3rd game, he makes me discard a few cards, then drops the Rack and Shrieking Affliction. I get low on life, but am lucky enough to topdeck a Search for Tomorrow to do it and the Scapeshift that was in my hand from last turn. 2-1.
Round 3 vs. Burn. In the first game, I stumble a bit and draw Prismatic Omen on the turn before lethal, putting Valakut into play and the Omen. I set up for Scapeshift next turn. He does Boros Charm into 4th land, double Lightning Helix. In the next game, I get a turn 4 Obstinate Baloth and end up racing his Eidolon of the Great Revel. I get him low, then Farseek since his 1 card in hand can't beat me when added to the Eidolon trigger. I do 7 damage while he's at 6. In the final game, I got Prismatic Omen and ramp into Prime Time to put him to 6. Then I play a Mountain for lethal. Prismatic Omen was a savior since he had Boros Charm on top to go with the Searing Blaze for lethal the next turn. 2-1.
Round 4 vs. Titan Shift. I race him with Scapeshift on turn 5. In the next game, he gets Prime Time on turn 4. I am hoping to draw a land to do my own, but miss and he crushes me. In the final game, he gets Prime Time before me, but my Prime Time makes Valakut triggers to kill his. He does a few Valakut triggers over the next 2 turns and Lightning Bolt, but I survive at 4 life and kill him with my Prime Time. 2-1.
Finally remembered to get the last 2 Hour of Promise, so I will start testing the play set. 😀
Legacy - Sneak Show, BR Reanimator, Miracles, UW Stoneblade
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/ Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander - Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build) (dead format for me)
I hate to sound rude, but did you read the card? The whole point is that it is ramp when you are only on 4 and some dudes to act as a wincon when you are late game. The lands it animates stay creatures forever. The only time I've seen it cast was by BtL Shift when scapeshift had eaten a surgical extraction and it won them the game.
I swear I thought I saw some lists with it on the old Primer, has anyone tried it out?
Sorry for the double post, but I thought y'all might be interested in this article. It's by the same guy who did the report on Jund Titanshift. This one is a general write up about RG Titanshift for a pretty darn good article series that NerdRage Gaming in Chicago is doing as a Primer on Modern as a format and most of the relevant Modern decks. I highly suggest checking out the other articles as well.
Hey all, looking for some match up advice - specifically against U/W control. My meta has a ton of U/W control players in it now; what's the best way to approach this match up/sideboard? I'm having quite a difficult time against the stock U/W control list - link for reference https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/705176#paper
I'm running this version of titanshift: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/710218#paper - of note, I've cut 1 bolt + 1 explore for 2 hour of promise, and am running 1 thrun in the side instead of 1 shatterstorm.
There was quite a bit of discussion on beating UW control pretty recently in the last few pages. I would check that out. If you still have specific questions after that though, feel free to ask them.
Thrun is a great start. If they don't counter your summoners pact, get Thrun.
For all those asking about how to deal with control, I have a ruric thar in my board as a 1 of and whenever I've landed him against control/storm I've never lost. By far my favorite card in my sb. Could just be my meta, ymmv.
A short summation of what I can tell of the current three popular variants of RG Titanshift:
1) Traditional Khalni Heart Expedition Titanshift. This is the oldest build which, with the explosiveness of expedition, leads to very consistent turn 4 scapeshift kills. A lot of redundancy at the cost of interaction - nevertheless most lists do run 4 bolts, 2 angers. I do think it is well placed at the moment as there are few meta decks which interact with expedition before you crack it on three counters and start going to face. With BG/x declining, there are less and less abrupt decays to ruin your day.
2) Prismatic Omen Titanshift. This build allows for 6 land scapeshift for guaranteed lethal damage. With an omen out, your engineered explosives, hour of promise, Titans, fetchlands are also much enhanced. A downside I've encountered when goldfishing the deck is getting stuck on 5 lands sometimes and unable to land the Titan(s) I had in hand - if the omen was an actual ramp spell I could've cast them already. All in all I haven't played too much with the omen lists so input and thoughts on it would be awesome. The recently successful decks are either omen or chandra decks.
3) Chandra Titanshift. Chandra has proven versatile for me across a decent number of games. Coming down on turn 3 and +1 to 5 loyalty makes it reasonably difficult to kill her immediately unless there's a Gurmag Angler around or your opponent has already assembled some board presence. The following turn you have guaranteed access to 6 mana to land the Titan, which almost always brings you to lethal scapeshift range the turn after next. She can also come down and flame slash a creature, albeit missing Tasigur, Angler, Smasher, Goyf (sometimes) which is a real liability. In long games, her first ability lets you churn through a deck and grind (although I've had the unpleasant experience of using the ability on 5 mana - flipping and wasting a Titan; and on 6 lands, flipping and wasting a Scapeshift; and when I am running short of lands, flipping and wasting lands). Comparing the Expedition lists to Chandra lists, I would say that expedition facilitates T4 scapeshift while Chandra facilitates T4 Titan while providing some interaction as well.
Having tried all three variants, I still can't make up my mind on which is the best.
Lost in top 8 of a PPTQ against Dredge (didnt draw a single Relic or Anger in G3). During swiss beated Lantern (he got GL by tardiness), Counter Company, Mirror, UWr then i drew the next 2. Was playing almost the same decklist as mRichi.
I will have revenge tomorrow, hope to finally win (lost other t8 and finals)
A short summation of what I can tell of the current three popular variants of RG Titanshift:
1) Traditional Khalni Heart Expedition Titanshift. This is the oldest build which, with the explosiveness of expedition, leads to very consistent turn 4 scapeshift kills. A lot of redundancy at the cost of interaction - nevertheless most lists do run 4 bolts, 2 angers. I do think it is well placed at the moment as there are few meta decks which interact with expedition before you crack it on three counters and start going to face. With BG/x declining, there are less and less abrupt decays to ruin your day.
2) Prismatic Omen Titanshift. This build allows for 6 land scapeshift for guaranteed lethal damage. With an omen out, your engineered explosives, hour of promise, Titans, fetchlands are also much enhanced. A downside I've encountered when goldfishing the deck is getting stuck on 5 lands sometimes and unable to land the Titan(s) I had in hand - if the omen was an actual ramp spell I could've cast them already. All in all I haven't played too much with the omen lists so input and thoughts on it would be awesome. The recently successful decks are either omen or chandra decks.
3) Chandra Titanshift. Chandra has proven versatile for me across a decent number of games. Coming down on turn 3 and +1 to 5 loyalty makes it reasonably difficult to kill her immediately unless there's a Gurmag Angler around or your opponent has already assembled some board presence. The following turn you have guaranteed access to 6 mana to land the Titan, which almost always brings you to lethal scapeshift range the turn after next. She can also come down and flame slash a creature, albeit missing Tasigur, Angler, Smasher, Goyf (sometimes) which is a real liability. In long games, her first ability lets you churn through a deck and grind (although I've had the unpleasant experience of using the ability on 5 mana - flipping and wasting a Titan; and on 6 lands, flipping and wasting a Scapeshift; and when I am running short of lands, flipping and wasting lands). Comparing the Expedition lists to Chandra lists, I would say that expedition facilitates T4 scapeshift while Chandra facilitates T4 Titan while providing some interaction as well.
Having tried all three variants, I still can't make up my mind on which is the best.
I have not tried the Chandra build due to not having Chandra's. So, I will not discuss it very much. My only opinion on her it that I just don't love flame slash in this meta so I don't think she's as good as she could be.
I personally prefer the prismatic Omen build. I have more experience with KHE, but as time progressed I liked it less and less. It is best on turn two and gets significantly worse every subsequent turn leading into it being an awful topdeck in the late game. Omen is best on turn 3 or 4. Basically, the turn before you win, or the turn you cast a scapeshift in some scenarios. But, it does not get as bad as quickly as KHE in the late game. It immediately makes all of your draws that aren't another Omen into legitimate threats when you have a valakut in play. And it makes Titan so much better. Even if Titan gets removed immediately, his first trigger will do 12 damage at least and make any land or ramp spell into a double bolt as well.
All that being said, KHE is solid. And if Omen isn't in your budget, KHE is still excellent and is by no means strictly worse.
Chandra is not just flame slash : At the very least Chandra is a damage sponge while you get the combo ready. All her modes are relevant to the deck. Her mana ability can bring down a Primeval Titan on turn 4, which should almost always lead to a win. Her exile ability can get your opponent into lethal Scapeshift range and put them on a clock. Her third mode can clear problem creatures. And if the opponent doesn't handle her quickly, her emblem should end the game.
PS : There is also the Pia & Kiran Titanshift version : decklist
It's complicated to choose a version now, There are so many choices possible^^
I totally understand that she does more than just cast a few flame slashes, but the fact that flame slash is not great right now means that she has less utility right now than she could if the meta shifted away from shadow decks. And, since I don't have experience with playing the card, I didn't want to talk about anything else in regards to her in this deck aside from mentioning that her flame slash ability could be better in a different meta
Also, while this may seem pedantic, I'm not sure that changing 2-3 cards in flex slots makes it a different version of the deck.
I played five rounds today (ended up 2-3 ) and as sad as it makes me it's time for me to remove the Chandras from the deck, I sided her out every time. I think I'll try swapping them for either Relics, Hour of Promise or Pia+Kiran.
It's a Pia & Kiran version ! (Edit : The list is not complete on the web site ... just 45 cards MD but i'm pretty sure the forget cards is : 4 Sakura-Tribe Elder, 3 Explore, 3 Farseek, 4 Search for Tomorrow and 1 Prismatic Omen exactily like this version : http://mtgtop8.com/event?e=16302&d=300666&f=MO (same sideboard))
Lost in semis og a 44 players PPTQ against Affinity with almost the same list as mRichi but with a slightly change in sb.
Won against Lantern R1, mirror R2. Lost to Affinity R3, won R4 against Living End and R5 against Mono blue tron (he made a huge mistake, played Thought Knot Seer and took a Primeval when my hand got Baloth, Ancient Grudge, 2 fetch and Prismatic while y got 2 Valakuts and 5 lands in play), and tied R6.
Top 8 played against Abzan (won easily) and lost to the same Affinity player.
I feel im close, but can take a pptq, lost twice in Top 8 and in a final :/
Lost in the top 4 of a 24 person PPTQ. I chose this PPTQ over another because it would have fewer players on the same day. Saw 2 Burn players, so I took out 2 Engineered Explosives and put in 2 Kitchen Finks in my SB. Ended up not facing those 2, but 2 other guys I didn't know well (actually had seen one of the guys before, but didn't notice him at the beginning and 1 of the guys I knew switched to GDS).
Round 1 vs. GB Midrange. I remember playing against this guy at the last (Modern) RPTQ that I attended. He was on Lantern at the time and I wasn't looking forward to facing it again. However, he wasn't on it. The first game was going fine for me. I had a solid hand, discarded something to IoK, and then Dark Confidant on turn 2. But didn't see much else other than a Tarmogoyf, which I kept low with my turn 1 Relic of Progenitus. He ended up getting a Liliana of the Veil when I had only Scapeshift and land, which he knew, in hand. I sacrificed my Relic of Progenitus to discard that card instead. I needed to ramp into Scapeshift, but just draw another land. I discard that to Liliana, but find Sakura Tribe-Elder to sacrifice into Scapeshift for lethal. In the next game, he got an early Goyf after a discard and then raced with it, adding a 2nd Goyf to have 2 lethal attackers next turn. I need to draw a land to Scapeshift again and I find it. Pretty lucky. 2-0.
Round 2 vs. Burn. In the first game, he puts a bunch of pressure, but I have some removal for his creatures. I am at a turn where I can Prime Time, leaving up Mountain to bluff Lightning Bolt or play Scapeshift, but if he has Lightning Helix, he lives at 1. I am at 6, so I go for the win since with 2 cards in hand and if one is Helix, he literally draws any Bolt to kill me. He has Helix and kills me next turn with Skullcrack. The next game is odd. I resolve the life gain trigger on a Kitchen Finks. I don't for the next one or the Persist. I attack him since I can fetch a land to kill his Goblin Guide with my Prismatic Omen in play. He ends up doing Deflecting Palm in response and Atarka's Command to put me to 4 life with 1 card in his hand. I cast Obstinate Baloth, but he top decks another Boros Charm and has 4 mana to double Boros Charm me. 0-2.
Round 3 vs. Storm. He mulls to 6. I have a quick hand and he can't find the Baral or Electromancer. In the next game, I mull to 6. I have a turn 1 Relic of Progenitus. He does a Gifts Ungiven at EoT. I respond to his cast Past in Flames by exiling his graveyard, but he responds by putting 3 Rituals in there and doing Grapeshot into Past in Flames flashback, Grapeshot for lethal. In the last game, he mulls to 5. He does a Ritual into turn 2 Blood Moon, but I have a basic Forest already. I think hard and decide to play Nature's Claim when he's tapped out because I don't want to lose to Dispel or something else odd. I end up having a choice after ramping quickly to Hour of Promise or Prime Time. Prime Time taps me out, but is guaranteed lethal, but I can't bluff Bolt. I do it and prepare to meet my fate. He tries on his turn for Manamorphose after a Gifts with Baral in play, but fails to find a Ritual to go off. Whew! 2-1.
Round 4 vs. Grixis Shadow. In the first game, his pressure is a bit slow. He has to Fatal Push 2 of my creatures. I end up casting Scapeshift when he had 3 cards in hand still, but he didn't have Stubborn Denial with his Gurmag Angler in play. I had drawn 3 dead lands in a row, but luckily because I had only fetches in hand, I had (1 over) barely enough Mountains in my deck. In the next game, my hand is stacked with gas, but my mana development is slow. I make a mistake of not blocking in case he has Temur Battle Rage and he has a fetch and that to kill me while at lethal next turn. In the last game, I had turn 1 Relic of Progenitus and it stops him from casting 2 Gurmag Angler that he shows me at the end of the game with 2 Stubborn Denial too. He also drew 2 Surgical Extraction, which hurt him and he lost to Chameleon Colossus and a Tireless Tracker (although I could have just pumped the Colossus at that point). Really poor draws from him. I've never had a GDS opponent draw that poorly. 2-1.
Round 5 vs. Burn. We ID since we are guaranteed to top 8. 0-0-3.
Top 8 vs. Burn. This is the same guy from Round 2. I am 4th and he is 5th, so I choose to play. The first game is really weird. I keep with Bolt, Scapeshift, Wood Elves, and 4 land. I play Mountain. He plays Goblin Guide and attacks a land to my hand while I Bolt the GG. His hand is painfully slow and to put a long story short, I drew nothing but land, ramped once with the Wood Elves, and cast a turn 6 Scapeshift for game. This time a Lightning Helix would have just put him to 18, so I did 18. He said I was dead next turn but he probably should have mulled. In the next game, I Sweltering Suns 2 Eidolon of the Great Revel, but he has not much gas. I find Prismatic Omen for the win a few turns later to go with some Kitchen Finks. 2-0.
Top 4 vs. Titanshift mirror. Pia and Kiran list. My Prismatic Omens and Hour of Promise should be good here. Mull to 6 since the 7 doesn't beat him, especially on the play. Keep a mildly better 6, but he gets Prime Time and I can't find one. I Valakut trigger + Bolt, but he has another and we're on to game 2. He mulls to 5 and I have the turn 5 kill in the next one + more. In the last one, I mull to 6 because that hand doesn't beat him. He gets a Prime Time first and I play my own and Bolt his, but on his next turn, he has Search for Tomorrow, land, and Farseek to kill me with his last 3 cards. REALLY hoping to draw Prismatic Omen in this match, but it didn't happen. 1-2.
I finish 4-2-1, losing in the top 4. I was pretty disappointed, but I'm not sure if mulliganing to better hands will get me there or not.
Legacy - Sneak Show, BR Reanimator, Miracles, UW Stoneblade
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/ Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander - Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build) (dead format for me)
I will soon. I just came back home from the tournament 65 mi. away and then drove with my wife another 55 mi. to buy her new car, so I'm eating now. I will definitely update it before the end of tonight.
Most of it was just dumb luck though.
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Legacy - Sneak Show, BR Reanimator, Miracles, UW Stoneblade
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/ Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander - Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build) (dead format for me)
Against Storm, do you kill Electromancer or Batak if they have both? Baral is more powerful, but the legendary rule could strand extras in hand. I think it may still be right to kill it though. I'm not sure. Thoughts?
Against Storm, do you kill Electromancer or Batak if they have both? Baral is more powerful, but the legendary rule could strand extras in hand. I think it may still be right to kill it though. I'm not sure. Thoughts?
They are essentially the same against us, so you go for the Baral to potentially strand copies in their hand. If we had 2/2 or 2/1 creatures, there might be some argument to killing Baral first, but we are not that type of deck. Those kinds of creatures are always kill on sight. I even leave in Sweltering Suns to mainly kill those dudes and as a backup plan to Empty the Warrens.
The (different from Goblin Electromancer) ability on Baral is honestly not that big a deal, considering they run 3 Remand at most. The player I played against played at my LGS and I know him very well (we have traveled to GPs and shared a room before). He knows Storm. He actually cut the Remands for more dig. Good Storm players don't need to play multiple dudes unless it's on their turn and they're going off.
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Legacy - Sneak Show, BR Reanimator, Miracles, UW Stoneblade
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/ Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander - Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build) (dead format for me)
I'm not saying it's likely or good. I was trying to spur conversation on it and hopefully hear from someone who has tried it. And the way your post described the card made it seem like you didn't actually know what the card did or were misrepresenting it. And it may not happen often, but I have seen it happen and it one that player the game.
Round 1 vs. Zoo. This guy has played this deck ever since I've known him, so for him to do well in this meta with a deck that shouldn't is no surprise. Anyway, on to the games. In the first game, I keep a hand with Lightning Bolt, Sweltering Suns, ramp, and lands, knowing it would be good against him. I nearly don't draw anything, but get a Scapeshift 2 turns before lethal. In the next game, it is somewhat similar, but he has a 6/6 Knight of the Reliquary that he follows to my Sweltering Suns. It swings me down and a turn before lethal, he played Blood Moon. Now I need to draw Reclamation Sage AND Scapeshift in a single turn. Impossible. In the last game, I fail to Bolt a Noble Hierarch, hoping that I could Bolt the next creature. He drops Loxodon Smiter and goes to town. He gets too many creatures and I can't find Sweltering Suns to go with my Lightning Bolt to wipe his board. I end up playing out the Reclamation Sage that I had been saving and the Sakura Tribe-Elder to save me from lethal. But he adds a Sigarda, Host of Herons to his board and I don't find Scapeshift. 1-2.
Round 2 vs. Br Rack. He makes me discard a bunch of cards. Then he drops the Rack and Shrieking Affliction. I can't get past 5 land from turn 3 and lose with double Prime Time, one of which got discarded. In the next game, he does turn 1 Inquisition of Kozilek, then Wrench Mind. I get Ancient Grudge in the graveyard and Obstinate Baloth in play. He makes me discard and I lose the Scapeshift. He does Surgical Extraction on it. He does Liliana of the Veil for my Baloth when he's low. He also does a Slaughter Games on my double Prime Time after I drew 1 and a Valakut when I already had 1 in hand. I end up killing him with Valakut triggers before the Rack into Shrieking Affliction could get me. In the 3rd game, he makes me discard a few cards, then drops the Rack and Shrieking Affliction. I get low on life, but am lucky enough to topdeck a Search for Tomorrow to do it and the Scapeshift that was in my hand from last turn. 2-1.
Round 3 vs. Burn. In the first game, I stumble a bit and draw Prismatic Omen on the turn before lethal, putting Valakut into play and the Omen. I set up for Scapeshift next turn. He does Boros Charm into 4th land, double Lightning Helix. In the next game, I get a turn 4 Obstinate Baloth and end up racing his Eidolon of the Great Revel. I get him low, then Farseek since his 1 card in hand can't beat me when added to the Eidolon trigger. I do 7 damage while he's at 6. In the final game, I got Prismatic Omen and ramp into Prime Time to put him to 6. Then I play a Mountain for lethal. Prismatic Omen was a savior since he had Boros Charm on top to go with the Searing Blaze for lethal the next turn. 2-1.
Round 4 vs. Titan Shift. I race him with Scapeshift on turn 5. In the next game, he gets Prime Time on turn 4. I am hoping to draw a land to do my own, but miss and he crushes me. In the final game, he gets Prime Time before me, but my Prime Time makes Valakut triggers to kill his. He does a few Valakut triggers over the next 2 turns and Lightning Bolt, but I survive at 4 life and kill him with my Prime Time. 2-1.
Finally remembered to get the last 2 Hour of Promise, so I will start testing the play set. 😀
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/
Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander -
Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build)(dead format for me)I swear I thought I saw some lists with it on the old Primer, has anyone tried it out?
Marath, Will of the Wild Tokens!! / Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund Dragons! / Muzzio, Visionary Architect / Brago, King Eternal / Daretti, Scrap Savant / Narset, Enlightened Master / Alesha, Who Smiles at Death / Bruna, Light of Alabaster / Marchesa, the Black Rose / Iroas, God of Victory / Freyalise, Llanowar's Fury / Omnath, Locus of rage / Titania, Protector of Argoth / Kozilek, the Great Distortion
Modern
Elves / Titanshift / Merfolk
Marath, Will of the Wild Tokens!! / Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund Dragons! / Muzzio, Visionary Architect / Brago, King Eternal / Daretti, Scrap Savant / Narset, Enlightened Master / Alesha, Who Smiles at Death / Bruna, Light of Alabaster / Marchesa, the Black Rose / Iroas, God of Victory / Freyalise, Llanowar's Fury / Omnath, Locus of rage / Titania, Protector of Argoth / Kozilek, the Great Distortion
Modern
Elves / Titanshift / Merfolk
I'm running this version of titanshift: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/710218#paper - of note, I've cut 1 bolt + 1 explore for 2 hour of promise, and am running 1 thrun in the side instead of 1 shatterstorm.
Any help is appreciated - thanks!
Thrun is a great start. If they don't counter your summoners pact, get Thrun.
Marath, Will of the Wild Tokens!! / Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund Dragons! / Muzzio, Visionary Architect / Brago, King Eternal / Daretti, Scrap Savant / Narset, Enlightened Master / Alesha, Who Smiles at Death / Bruna, Light of Alabaster / Marchesa, the Black Rose / Iroas, God of Victory / Freyalise, Llanowar's Fury / Omnath, Locus of rage / Titania, Protector of Argoth / Kozilek, the Great Distortion
Modern
Elves / Titanshift / Merfolk
1) Traditional Khalni Heart Expedition Titanshift. This is the oldest build which, with the explosiveness of expedition, leads to very consistent turn 4 scapeshift kills. A lot of redundancy at the cost of interaction - nevertheless most lists do run 4 bolts, 2 angers. I do think it is well placed at the moment as there are few meta decks which interact with expedition before you crack it on three counters and start going to face. With BG/x declining, there are less and less abrupt decays to ruin your day.
2) Prismatic Omen Titanshift. This build allows for 6 land scapeshift for guaranteed lethal damage. With an omen out, your engineered explosives, hour of promise, Titans, fetchlands are also much enhanced. A downside I've encountered when goldfishing the deck is getting stuck on 5 lands sometimes and unable to land the Titan(s) I had in hand - if the omen was an actual ramp spell I could've cast them already. All in all I haven't played too much with the omen lists so input and thoughts on it would be awesome. The recently successful decks are either omen or chandra decks.
3) Chandra Titanshift. Chandra has proven versatile for me across a decent number of games. Coming down on turn 3 and +1 to 5 loyalty makes it reasonably difficult to kill her immediately unless there's a Gurmag Angler around or your opponent has already assembled some board presence. The following turn you have guaranteed access to 6 mana to land the Titan, which almost always brings you to lethal scapeshift range the turn after next. She can also come down and flame slash a creature, albeit missing Tasigur, Angler, Smasher, Goyf (sometimes) which is a real liability. In long games, her first ability lets you churn through a deck and grind (although I've had the unpleasant experience of using the ability on 5 mana - flipping and wasting a Titan; and on 6 lands, flipping and wasting a Scapeshift; and when I am running short of lands, flipping and wasting lands). Comparing the Expedition lists to Chandra lists, I would say that expedition facilitates T4 scapeshift while Chandra facilitates T4 Titan while providing some interaction as well.
Having tried all three variants, I still can't make up my mind on which is the best.
I will have revenge tomorrow, hope to finally win (lost other t8 and finals)
I have not tried the Chandra build due to not having Chandra's. So, I will not discuss it very much. My only opinion on her it that I just don't love flame slash in this meta so I don't think she's as good as she could be.
I personally prefer the prismatic Omen build. I have more experience with KHE, but as time progressed I liked it less and less. It is best on turn two and gets significantly worse every subsequent turn leading into it being an awful topdeck in the late game. Omen is best on turn 3 or 4. Basically, the turn before you win, or the turn you cast a scapeshift in some scenarios. But, it does not get as bad as quickly as KHE in the late game. It immediately makes all of your draws that aren't another Omen into legitimate threats when you have a valakut in play. And it makes Titan so much better. Even if Titan gets removed immediately, his first trigger will do 12 damage at least and make any land or ramp spell into a double bolt as well.
All that being said, KHE is solid. And if Omen isn't in your budget, KHE is still excellent and is by no means strictly worse.
Marath, Will of the Wild Tokens!! / Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund Dragons! / Muzzio, Visionary Architect / Brago, King Eternal / Daretti, Scrap Savant / Narset, Enlightened Master / Alesha, Who Smiles at Death / Bruna, Light of Alabaster / Marchesa, the Black Rose / Iroas, God of Victory / Freyalise, Llanowar's Fury / Omnath, Locus of rage / Titania, Protector of Argoth / Kozilek, the Great Distortion
Modern
Elves / Titanshift / Merfolk
PS : There is also the Pia & Kiran Titanshift version : decklist
It's complicated to choose a version now, There are so many choices possible^^
RG Titan Scapeshift GR
UBWAd Nauseam WBU
CEldrazi TronC
Also, while this may seem pedantic, I'm not sure that changing 2-3 cards in flex slots makes it a different version of the deck.
Marath, Will of the Wild Tokens!! / Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund Dragons! / Muzzio, Visionary Architect / Brago, King Eternal / Daretti, Scrap Savant / Narset, Enlightened Master / Alesha, Who Smiles at Death / Bruna, Light of Alabaster / Marchesa, the Black Rose / Iroas, God of Victory / Freyalise, Llanowar's Fury / Omnath, Locus of rage / Titania, Protector of Argoth / Kozilek, the Great Distortion
Modern
Elves / Titanshift / Merfolk
deck list :
It's a Pia & Kiran version ! (Edit : The list is not complete on the web site ... just 45 cards MD but i'm pretty sure the forget cards is : 4 Sakura-Tribe Elder, 3 Explore, 3 Farseek, 4 Search for Tomorrow and 1 Prismatic Omen exactily like this version : http://mtgtop8.com/event?e=16302&d=300666&f=MO (same sideboard))
3 Cinder Glade
1 Sheltered Thicket
4 Stomping Ground
2 Forest
6 Mountain
2 Bloodstained Mire
1 Windswept Heath
4 Wooded Foothills
4 Valakut, the molten Pinnacle
2 Lightning Bolt
2 Roast
2 Sweltering Suns
2 Summoner's Pact
2 Pia and Kiran Nalaar
4 Scapeshift
4 Primeval Titan
4 Obstinate Baloth
2 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Relic of Progenitus
3 Nature's Claim
1 Anger of the Gods
2 Thragtusk
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Reclamation Sage
+ Another one in the top 8 (PHILIPP BECKER) : deck list :
3 Cinder Glade
3 Stomping Ground
3 Forest
7 Mountain
1 Misty Rainforest
2 Windswept Heath
4 Wooded Foothills
4 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
2 Sweltering Suns
2 Summoner's Pact
4 Scapeshift
4 Primeval Titan
4 Sakura-Tribe Elder
2 Wood Elves
4 Search for Tomorrow
3 Farseek
2 Explore
2 Hour of Promise
2 Engineered Explosives
1 Relic of Progenitus
1 Prismatic Omen
3 Obstinate Baloth
2 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Relic of Progenitus
2 Nature's Claim
1 Anger of the Gods
2 Thragtusk
2 Ancient Grudge
1 Chameleon Colossus
1 Acidic Slime
RG Titan Scapeshift GR
UBWAd Nauseam WBU
CEldrazi TronC
Won against Lantern R1, mirror R2. Lost to Affinity R3, won R4 against Living End and R5 against Mono blue tron (he made a huge mistake, played Thought Knot Seer and took a Primeval when my hand got Baloth, Ancient Grudge, 2 fetch and Prismatic while y got 2 Valakuts and 5 lands in play), and tied R6.
Top 8 played against Abzan (won easily) and lost to the same Affinity player.
I feel im close, but can take a pptq, lost twice in Top 8 and in a final :/
Round 1 vs. GB Midrange. I remember playing against this guy at the last (Modern) RPTQ that I attended. He was on Lantern at the time and I wasn't looking forward to facing it again. However, he wasn't on it. The first game was going fine for me. I had a solid hand, discarded something to IoK, and then Dark Confidant on turn 2. But didn't see much else other than a Tarmogoyf, which I kept low with my turn 1 Relic of Progenitus. He ended up getting a Liliana of the Veil when I had only Scapeshift and land, which he knew, in hand. I sacrificed my Relic of Progenitus to discard that card instead. I needed to ramp into Scapeshift, but just draw another land. I discard that to Liliana, but find Sakura Tribe-Elder to sacrifice into Scapeshift for lethal. In the next game, he got an early Goyf after a discard and then raced with it, adding a 2nd Goyf to have 2 lethal attackers next turn. I need to draw a land to Scapeshift again and I find it. Pretty lucky. 2-0.
Round 2 vs. Burn. In the first game, he puts a bunch of pressure, but I have some removal for his creatures. I am at a turn where I can Prime Time, leaving up Mountain to bluff Lightning Bolt or play Scapeshift, but if he has Lightning Helix, he lives at 1. I am at 6, so I go for the win since with 2 cards in hand and if one is Helix, he literally draws any Bolt to kill me. He has Helix and kills me next turn with Skullcrack. The next game is odd. I resolve the life gain trigger on a Kitchen Finks. I don't for the next one or the Persist. I attack him since I can fetch a land to kill his Goblin Guide with my Prismatic Omen in play. He ends up doing Deflecting Palm in response and Atarka's Command to put me to 4 life with 1 card in his hand. I cast Obstinate Baloth, but he top decks another Boros Charm and has 4 mana to double Boros Charm me. 0-2.
Round 3 vs. Storm. He mulls to 6. I have a quick hand and he can't find the Baral or Electromancer. In the next game, I mull to 6. I have a turn 1 Relic of Progenitus. He does a Gifts Ungiven at EoT. I respond to his cast Past in Flames by exiling his graveyard, but he responds by putting 3 Rituals in there and doing Grapeshot into Past in Flames flashback, Grapeshot for lethal. In the last game, he mulls to 5. He does a Ritual into turn 2 Blood Moon, but I have a basic Forest already. I think hard and decide to play Nature's Claim when he's tapped out because I don't want to lose to Dispel or something else odd. I end up having a choice after ramping quickly to Hour of Promise or Prime Time. Prime Time taps me out, but is guaranteed lethal, but I can't bluff Bolt. I do it and prepare to meet my fate. He tries on his turn for Manamorphose after a Gifts with Baral in play, but fails to find a Ritual to go off. Whew! 2-1.
Round 4 vs. Grixis Shadow. In the first game, his pressure is a bit slow. He has to Fatal Push 2 of my creatures. I end up casting Scapeshift when he had 3 cards in hand still, but he didn't have Stubborn Denial with his Gurmag Angler in play. I had drawn 3 dead lands in a row, but luckily because I had only fetches in hand, I had (1 over) barely enough Mountains in my deck. In the next game, my hand is stacked with gas, but my mana development is slow. I make a mistake of not blocking in case he has Temur Battle Rage and he has a fetch and that to kill me while at lethal next turn. In the last game, I had turn 1 Relic of Progenitus and it stops him from casting 2 Gurmag Angler that he shows me at the end of the game with 2 Stubborn Denial too. He also drew 2 Surgical Extraction, which hurt him and he lost to Chameleon Colossus and a Tireless Tracker (although I could have just pumped the Colossus at that point). Really poor draws from him. I've never had a GDS opponent draw that poorly. 2-1.
Round 5 vs. Burn. We ID since we are guaranteed to top 8. 0-0-3.
Top 8 vs. Burn. This is the same guy from Round 2. I am 4th and he is 5th, so I choose to play. The first game is really weird. I keep with Bolt, Scapeshift, Wood Elves, and 4 land. I play Mountain. He plays Goblin Guide and attacks a land to my hand while I Bolt the GG. His hand is painfully slow and to put a long story short, I drew nothing but land, ramped once with the Wood Elves, and cast a turn 6 Scapeshift for game. This time a Lightning Helix would have just put him to 18, so I did 18. He said I was dead next turn but he probably should have mulled. In the next game, I Sweltering Suns 2 Eidolon of the Great Revel, but he has not much gas. I find Prismatic Omen for the win a few turns later to go with some Kitchen Finks. 2-0.
Top 4 vs. Titanshift mirror. Pia and Kiran list. My Prismatic Omens and Hour of Promise should be good here. Mull to 6 since the 7 doesn't beat him, especially on the play. Keep a mildly better 6, but he gets Prime Time and I can't find one. I Valakut trigger + Bolt, but he has another and we're on to game 2. He mulls to 5 and I have the turn 5 kill in the next one + more. In the last one, I mull to 6 because that hand doesn't beat him. He gets a Prime Time first and I play my own and Bolt his, but on his next turn, he has Search for Tomorrow, land, and Farseek to kill me with his last 3 cards. REALLY hoping to draw Prismatic Omen in this match, but it didn't happen. 1-2.
I finish 4-2-1, losing in the top 4. I was pretty disappointed, but I'm not sure if mulliganing to better hands will get me there or not.
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/
Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander -
Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build)(dead format for me)Mind sharing how the games against Burn and Storm went? I always feel unfavoured against those decks, and it's backed up by my losses.
Most of it was just dumb luck though.
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/
Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander -
Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build)(dead format for me)Marath, Will of the Wild Tokens!! / Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund Dragons! / Muzzio, Visionary Architect / Brago, King Eternal / Daretti, Scrap Savant / Narset, Enlightened Master / Alesha, Who Smiles at Death / Bruna, Light of Alabaster / Marchesa, the Black Rose / Iroas, God of Victory / Freyalise, Llanowar's Fury / Omnath, Locus of rage / Titania, Protector of Argoth / Kozilek, the Great Distortion
Modern
Elves / Titanshift / Merfolk
They are essentially the same against us, so you go for the Baral to potentially strand copies in their hand. If we had 2/2 or 2/1 creatures, there might be some argument to killing Baral first, but we are not that type of deck. Those kinds of creatures are always kill on sight. I even leave in Sweltering Suns to mainly kill those dudes and as a backup plan to Empty the Warrens.
The (different from Goblin Electromancer) ability on Baral is honestly not that big a deal, considering they run 3 Remand at most. The player I played against played at my LGS and I know him very well (we have traveled to GPs and shared a room before). He knows Storm. He actually cut the Remands for more dig. Good Storm players don't need to play multiple dudes unless it's on their turn and they're going off.
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/
Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander -
Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build)(dead format for me)Marath, Will of the Wild Tokens!! / Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund Dragons! / Muzzio, Visionary Architect / Brago, King Eternal / Daretti, Scrap Savant / Narset, Enlightened Master / Alesha, Who Smiles at Death / Bruna, Light of Alabaster / Marchesa, the Black Rose / Iroas, God of Victory / Freyalise, Llanowar's Fury / Omnath, Locus of rage / Titania, Protector of Argoth / Kozilek, the Great Distortion
Modern
Elves / Titanshift / Merfolk