I think maybe 2 Shelldock Isle but 3 is a little much with the amount of Blood moon being played. Oboro, Palace in the Clouds has great synergy with Hedron Crab and with it coming into play untapped is big also. Profane Momento does look like it should be in the sideboard but I urge you to give it a shot in the main some of those close match ups we have game one this makes it a lot easier for us definitely if it drops on turn one just about 95% of matches your opponent is playing some creatures. If they are not playing many creatures its a easy choice to side out. (but again will have to see how the main stage meta is looking come time) Breaking//Entering I feel having 8 2cmc mill spells are ideal to get the ball rolling definitely with playing Surgical Extraction its important to be able to put a good chunk into the graveyard. Visions from Beyond I played 4 for a while but 4 was to many some times id get flooded early and they were waste 3 feels good. Inquisistion of Kozilek VS Thoughtseize came down to one simple thing life lose is not good. Nihil Spellbomb and graftdiggers cage these 4 spots ive been trying to figure out for a while. Ravenous Trap not a big fan as its very conditional for its free cast, but one thing I do know is that with filling graveyards we need a way do prevent them from being used against us.
Esper builds makes the mana base very difficult and again with all the blood moon decks around + Ponza decks. White doesn't give us enough to really warrant it and isn't as consistent.
I think that UB is the strongest color bases for this deck.
Manic scribe helps get around Leyline sanctity while you look for a removal spell and is a good blocker for burn or other small creature decks. fraying sanity can end a game very quickly if you are falling behind and just in general. Yes Fraying sanity is sometimes the first thing sided out but I'm ok with that. I've tried Snapecaster Mage out a bit and it is too slow. I've also played 3 and 4 Surgical Extraction and it was way too much if anything a 3rd could be put into the sideboard for certain match ups. Extirpate is just a no I never have open mana to waste on it that's why Surgical is so much better. Ensnaring Bridge I'm torn between it is a great card but if you are relying on it to save you and it gets wiped your screwed that's why I went for Cryptic Icursion when you gain 20+ life its back breaking for your opponent + its also its great graveyard hate.
I've been following this Thread for quite sometime and tweeking this deck with all of the discussions on cards and I rarely lose online but I know I may not always be playing a skilled opponents but when I do it preforms very well and I'm quite happy with it so far
So I'm thinking of taking this to an upcoming GP i've been playing it a ton on xmage with a lot of success but I just want to know your guys thoughts and I'm still trying to figure out a side board though.
I've been trying both version just adding in into my esper build and trying out a traumatize build and what I found out is the traumatize build can be thrown off very easy with hate and discard and the deck feels a little unreliable at times were in our normal builds it's a bomb that can end things easily. Yes our turn 3 maybe underwhelming at tims but if you already have a crab and it orb in play you don't skip a beat.
Hey everyone I'm just starting to get into this deck i as my more competitive modern deck my other is Esper Mill but its more something i think is funny. Here is what i got so far.
1. Is Remand really a good option or is there something better for that spot
2. What is everyones thoughts on Hieroglyphic Illumination i like it better then Glimmer of Genius i think its ability to cycle for a U makes it a good early play instead of it eating up realty in our hands in the early game and late game it will still draw us 2. i,m thinking i may play a second.
3. Is Izzet Charm a good play main or should it be something else? the games I've played I've both loved and hated it.
Any other questions or comments would be very helpful as i would like this to be my go to modern deck so i'm really trying to refine this to make it super competitive thanks.
Round 1: GB Delieum 2-1
* I feel Favratable in this match up. His win was more gas then I had answers. My 2 Wins came off Liliana, the Last Hope Ult and a Sram's Expertise into Oath of Gideon Fallowed by a Gideon Ult
Round 2: Jeski Saheeli 2-1
* He was play a version that wasn't dedicated to the combo it was an agro version with it against this version i feel favorable with the lack of counter spells. His Win was a combo off i drew all walkers with no removal, My wins were with a Chandra ult + OB ult, and then on the back of my tokens again.
Round 3: BW Control 2-1
* It was a basic BW control nothing crazy again Favorable. His win was with hitting 3 Archangel Avacyn kept the tempo his way saving his creatures. My Wins were from Him getting stuck on Land and just over powered him with walkers.
Round 4: UR Saheeri 1-2
* This was a dedicated control version of the deck and i felt it being a 50/50. His wins were combos but the game 3 came to both of us in top deck and his came up first before my removal. My win was on my SB made me more aggressive and he was on his heal most of the game.
Stars of the night: Sram's Expertise: I didn't have a time i wasn't unhappy to see it and was always a strong swing in play weather it brought in Removal, oaths or Liliana Oath of Gideon & Oath of Liliana: Both were great protecting walkers all 4 of there modes are so good here.
Underperformers: Fatal Push: Was ok vs GB but a lot of the time they were dead might go down to 2 not sold on moving to side yet though. Quarantine Field: I always had a better option in hand and not being instant speed kinda hurts may cut or move to SB.
Over all i was really pleased how the deck ran i did have to mull a few times but maybe with a little more mana tweaking I can avoid that. I could use a little more direction in my Sb but I never played there before so didn't know what to expect. I decided to go creatureless so game 1 they would be holding most of all there removal and it would be just dead cards. Then in games 2-3 bring some in and they be safe if they were not seen the game before, and work a lot of the time. Even playing just a few creature against most decks the creature will die cuz they are holding so much that it is a waste of a play for us when we could be dropping more walkers or just holding up our own removal to protect our game plan.
Any Questions about any of my chooses feel free to ask I monitor his thread regularly. As i'm always looking for ways to improve and help others
Would you say Heart of Kiran has a place here as at least a 2 of? It seems like it will play well with Planeswalkers and it's an artifact for disintegration.
I have tried it but was not a fan again it eats removal that other wise is dead in there hand and I'm looking to ult my walkers they will end games faster then Heart of Kiran. Also if you look at Sram's Expertise they are artifact servos so the work with the Unlicensed Disintegration.
Round 1: GB Delieum 2-1
* I feel Favratable in this match up. His win was more gas then I had answers. My 2 Wins came off Liliana, the Last Hope Ult and a Sram's Expertise into Oath of Gideon Fallowed by a Gideon Ult
Round 2: Jeski Saheeli 2-1
* He was play a version that wasn't dedicated to the combo it was an agro version with it against this version i feel favorable with the lack of counter spells. His Win was a combo off i drew all walkers with no removal, My wins were with a Chandra ult + OB ult, and then on the back of my tokens again.
Round 3: BW Control 2-1
* It was a basic BW control nothing crazy again Favorable. His win was with hitting 3 Archangel Avacyn kept the tempo his way saving his creatures. My Wins were from Him getting stuck on Land and just over powered him with walkers.
Round 4: UR Saheeri 1-2
* This was a dedicated control version of the deck and i felt it being a 50/50. His wins were combos but the game 3 came to both of us in top deck and his came up first before my removal. My win was on my SB made me more aggressive and he was on his heal most of the game.
Stars of the night: Sram's Expertise: I didn't have a time i wasn't unhappy to see it and was always a strong swing in play weather it brought in Removal, oaths or Liliana Oath of Gideon & Oath of Liliana: Both were great protecting walkers all 4 of there modes are so good here.
Underperformers: Fatal Push: Was ok vs GB but a lot of the time they were dead might go down to 2 not sold on moving to side yet though. Quarantine Field: I always had a better option in hand and not being instant speed kinda hurts may cut or move to SB.
Over all i was really pleased how the deck ran i did have to mull a few times but maybe with a little more mana tweaking I can avoid that. I could use a little more direction in my Sb but I never played there before so didn't know what to expect. I decided to go creatureless so game 1 they would be holding most of all there removal and it would be just dead cards. Then in games 2-3 bring some in and they be safe if they were not seen the game before, and work a lot of the time. Even playing just a few creature against most decks the creature will die cuz they are holding so much that it is a waste of a play for us when we could be dropping more walkers or just holding up our own removal to protect our game plan.
Any Questions about any of my chooses feel free to ask I monitor his thread regularly. As i'm always looking for ways to improve and help others
I've been toying around with this list for a while trying to deal with copter and emrikal but with them now gone I feel superfriends really has a chance to shine. Here is mine current list:
With the Release of Oath of Gatewatch I felt that we might be able to see a new Esper build that would feature a lot of the new cards and really give our opponents a headache. Thought-Knot seer is just unbelievable in this deck he curves our really well on multiple games at FNM its been T1 Despise/Duress into T2 Transgress the Mind T3 Removal if I need to sense I've recked there hand into T4 Thought-Knot seer Its just bad news for your opponent. The next big thing is Reality Smasher he is just a beast a 5/5 with trample and haste and with his target ability just make it a pain to deal with. I went back and forth with him and dragonlord Ojutai But I felt that Reality Smashers Haste just puts on more pressure, But i'd love to hear others thoughts on this 5cmc slot. Bearer of Silence turned out to be way better then I thought as a 2/1 flyer but with the added sac a creature ability turned out to be great. Also Reflector Mage I knew was going to be a good card going into it but I turned out to be a great card some time felt like a time walk.
Some of the Difficulties I was having was card drawing late game with some of the more grinding games. On a few Games I hade difficulty hitting colorless by turn 4 that's cost me some games.
Didn't have any real play testing sense I was waiting for half the deck to come in the mail but I went 2-1-1 but it played well for its first go and i'm very happy with it now I just have to start tweaking it, and that's why I look to the fellow players for any suggestions questions comments.
Game 2: They started out Strong and I missed a couple mana drops that cost me.
Game 3: Was Back and forth with removal vs removal to were it came down ultimate Price a ally token to get in with lethal.
Round: 3 UW Awakening 1-1-1
Game 1: Was a little Grinding but I was able to exile there Key spells and kill there mana after animating and the reality smasher was to mush for them they could deal with all the card loss to get rid of him.
SB: In 2 Duress Out 2 Dispise
Game 2: I wasn't able to exile there board wipes that they kept recurring so it grinded out to me in top decking junk.
Game 3: we only had 2 minutes left so we called it.
I put this togeather for last weeks FNM and went 2-2 my losses were more me never really practicing with the deck but when Emeria Shepherd went uncontested it was game over from my opponents. My big problem was my early game most of the time.
Was really happy how this ran my side board did exactly what it was supposed to do. still playing around with a few spots in the main deck and side board but all and all it was strong. the only non win was completely my fault i had trouble drawing my Sphinx's Tutelage on game 2-3 and after looking over my deck some were missing they had fallen out and i didn't notice until after the round.
Found this list looking through SCG IQ results. I'm a bit skeptical of Stubborn Denial and the reduction to 2 Master of Waves, so if I were to try this deck, I would probably start by adding back 2 Master of Waves, replacing those Stubborn Denial. Thassa is very good too, so just 2 of those might be 1 or 2 light.
But anyway, a deck with 4 Deathmist and 2 Den Protector made Top 8 of this IQ. Still interested in feedback from people who have played Deathmist/Den Protector in this shell.
I haven't tryed Den protector in this list but i have been playing around with Deathmist Raptor. I stared with 4 in the main for awhile but my meta is slow control and speed monos. vs Control he is amazing just for the recurring fact vs faster decks he is to slow unless you get your 2 green but most of the time i find myself just holding on to him. I will say this with out him in my 75 i find some of my good matches a little harder. and i know he goes against devotion he is a 3 drop body that can remove a creature and is hittable with collected company.
i look at it like this with the Den protector we are playing a devotion style deck and the Den protector is reducing the amount of devotion in the deck making Master of Waves less and harder to get Thassa, God of the Sea on line. i can see his allure in a deck with counter magic flip him grab one out of the yard and boom but if you are playing more style devotion i just don't feel him right now.
You definitely need 4 Master of Waves he can turn a game around or finish one very quickly Thassa, God of the Sea i've tried 4 and it was just to much ive settled at 3 and that does just fine i see her almost every game and rarely get flooded with her.
i played a package with more counter spells but removed all but the 2 Disdainful Stroke sense we have 8 creatures that can counter.
Took an updated version of my deck to FNM and went 4-1 and placed 1st overall out of 22. It was an overall good night the deck ran well and even when it was sputtering it pulled them out.
Round 1. Esper Control 0-2
This is usually a good match for me but my deck was fighting me hard.
Game1: I kept a descent had but we was able to hit every card he need. easy win for him.
Game2:(sided in: 2 Deathmist Raptor, 2 Negate, 2 Hypnotic Siren / Sided out: 4 Master of Waves, 2 Keiora's Follower)
I kept a good hand 2 Frost walker, Stratus Dancer, Thassa, God of the Sea and lands. He was able to deal with the Frost walkers befor i could swing with them. we traded spells for a few turn before i got him taped out for thassa then we counted at the end of the game thassa had shipted 7 lands to the bottom but still drew me 7 more and i only had 3 left in the deck not on the bottom it was ruff.
Round 2 BW Warriors 2-1
Game1: he was just to fast for me to keep up i was just throwing bodies at him.
All in all i was very happy how the deck ran outside of Round 1. i originally had all 4 Deathmist Raptor in the main board but pulled 2 sense they felt a little slow at times, i feel that it was a good call seeing how my games played out. He helps a ton vs control with his recurring and anything with just big stuff. I also hadn't played any Hypnotic Siren in the deck at all but thought i would give a 2-2 split a shot and they worked out well even though most of the time it was a turn 1 trade blocker vs speed decks he did steal an Ojuti so i'm happy.
I only run 1 thassa but have 4 deathmist and the deathmist are amazing the ability to to come right back to play and have deathtouch just frustrates opponents.
Esper builds makes the mana base very difficult and again with all the blood moon decks around + Ponza decks. White doesn't give us enough to really warrant it and isn't as consistent.
I think that UB is the strongest color bases for this deck.
I've been following this Thread for quite sometime and tweeking this deck with all of the discussions on cards and I rarely lose online but I know I may not always be playing a skilled opponents but when I do it preforms very well and I'm quite happy with it so far
4 Archive Trap
4 Fatal Push
3 Visions from Beyond
2 Surgical Extraction
2 Cryptic Incursion
Sorcery
4 Glimps the Unspeakable
4 Breaking//Entering
Artifact
4 Mesmiric Orb
3 Profane Momento
Enchantment
3 Fraying Sanity
4 Hedron Crab
Lands
1 Dark Slickshores
3 Field of Ruin
3 Flooded Stands
4 Island
1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds
4 Poluted Delta
1 Shelldock isle
2 Swamp
4 Watery Grave
3 Inquisistion of Kozilek
2 graftdiggers cage
2 Nihil Spellbomb
4 Manic Scribe
2 Echoing Truth
1 Cryptic Icursion
1 Set Adrift
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Cryptic Command
4 Mana Leak
3 Remand
2 Izzet Charm
2 Spell Snare
1 Hieroglyphic Illumination
1 Electrolyze
4 Serum Vision
Creatures
4 Snapecaster Mage
3 Torrential Gearhulk
Enchantment
4 Blood Moon
Land
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Polluted Delta
2 Flooded Stand
2 Steam vent
2 Sulfur Falls
8 Island
3 Mountain
1 Academy Ruins
I have a few questions for you guys.
1. Is Remand really a good option or is there something better for that spot
2. What is everyones thoughts on Hieroglyphic Illumination i like it better then Glimmer of Genius i think its ability to cycle for a U makes it a good early play instead of it eating up realty in our hands in the early game and late game it will still draw us 2. i,m thinking i may play a second.
3. Is Izzet Charm a good play main or should it be something else? the games I've played I've both loved and hated it.
Any other questions or comments would be very helpful as i would like this to be my go to modern deck so i'm really trying to refine this to make it super competitive thanks.
I have tried it but was not a fan again it eats removal that other wise is dead in there hand and I'm looking to ult my walkers they will end games faster then Heart of Kiran. Also if you look at Sram's Expertise they are artifact servos so the work with the Unlicensed Disintegration.
4 Gideon, ally of zendikar
3 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
2 Liliana, the last hope
2 Ob Nixilis Reignited
2 Sorin, Grim Nemesis
Enchantments
2 Oath of Liliana
2 Oath of Gideon
2 Stasis Snare
1 Quarantine Field
Spells
3 Fatal Push
3 Unlicensed Disintegration
2 Grasp of Darkness
2 Anguished Unmaking
2 Fumigate
2 Sram's Expertise
1 Radiant Flames
3 Concealed Courtyard
2 Inspiring Vantage
2 Shambling Vent
2 Smoldering Marsh
2 Foreboding Ruins
1 Westvale Abby
1 Evolving wilds
5 Swamp
4 Mountain
2 Plains
2 Gonti, Lord of Luxury
2 Kalitas, traitor of Ghet
2 Kambal, Consul of Allocation
2 Authority of the Consuls
3 Transgress the mind
1 declaration in stone
1 Radiant Flames
1 Anguished Unmaking
1 Shock
Round 1: GB Delieum 2-1
* I feel Favratable in this match up. His win was more gas then I had answers. My 2 Wins came off Liliana, the Last Hope Ult and a Sram's Expertise into Oath of Gideon Fallowed by a Gideon Ult
Round 2: Jeski Saheeli 2-1
* He was play a version that wasn't dedicated to the combo it was an agro version with it against this version i feel favorable with the lack of counter spells. His Win was a combo off i drew all walkers with no removal, My wins were with a Chandra ult + OB ult, and then on the back of my tokens again.
Round 3: BW Control 2-1
* It was a basic BW control nothing crazy again Favorable. His win was with hitting 3 Archangel Avacyn kept the tempo his way saving his creatures. My Wins were from Him getting stuck on Land and just over powered him with walkers.
Round 4: UR Saheeri 1-2
* This was a dedicated control version of the deck and i felt it being a 50/50. His wins were combos but the game 3 came to both of us in top deck and his came up first before my removal. My win was on my SB made me more aggressive and he was on his heal most of the game.
Stars of the night:
Sram's Expertise: I didn't have a time i wasn't unhappy to see it and was always a strong swing in play weather it brought in Removal, oaths or Liliana
Oath of Gideon & Oath of Liliana: Both were great protecting walkers all 4 of there modes are so good here.
Underperformers:
Fatal Push: Was ok vs GB but a lot of the time they were dead might go down to 2 not sold on moving to side yet though.
Quarantine Field: I always had a better option in hand and not being instant speed kinda hurts may cut or move to SB.
Over all i was really pleased how the deck ran i did have to mull a few times but maybe with a little more mana tweaking I can avoid that. I could use a little more direction in my Sb but I never played there before so didn't know what to expect. I decided to go creatureless so game 1 they would be holding most of all there removal and it would be just dead cards. Then in games 2-3 bring some in and they be safe if they were not seen the game before, and work a lot of the time. Even playing just a few creature against most decks the creature will die cuz they are holding so much that it is a waste of a play for us when we could be dropping more walkers or just holding up our own removal to protect our game plan.
Any Questions about any of my chooses feel free to ask I monitor his thread regularly. As i'm always looking for ways to improve and help others
4 Gideon, ally of zendikar
3 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
2 Liliana, the last hope
2 Ob Nixilis Reignited
2 Sorin, Grim Nemesis
Enchantments
2 Oath of Liliana
2 Oath of Gideon
2 Stasis Snare
1 Quarantine Field
Spells
3 Fatal Push
3 Unlicensed Disintegration
2 Grasp of Darkness
2 Anguished Unmaking
2 Fumigate
2 Sram's Expertise
1 Radiant Flames
3 Concealed Courtyard
2 Inspiring Vantage
2 Shambling Vent
2 Smoldering Marsh
2 Foreboding Ruins
1 Westvale Abby
1 Evolving wilds
5 Swamp
4 Mountain
2 Plains
2 Gonti, Lord of Luxury
2 Kalitas, traitor of Ghet
2 Kambal, Consul of Allocation
2 Authority of the Consuls
4 Transgress the mind
1 declaration in stone
1 Radiant Flames
1 Anguished Unmaking
Some of the Difficulties I was having was card drawing late game with some of the more grinding games. On a few Games I hade difficulty hitting colorless by turn 4 that's cost me some games.
4 Thought-Knot Seer
4 Bearer of Silence
4 Reflector Mage
2 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
2 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
4 Stasis Snare
2 Despise
3 Transgress the Mind
2 Ultimate Price
2 Utter End
2 Painful Truths
3 Sunken Hollow
2 Prairie Steam
3 Caves of Koilos
3 Polluted Delta
2 Rogue's Passage
2 Wastes
2 Flooded Stand
1 Island
1 Swamp
1 Plains
2 Flaying Tendrals
2 Surge of Righteousness
2 Hallowed Moonlight
3 Dispel
2 Duress
2 Infinite Obliteration
1 Despise
1 Virulent Plague
Didn't have any real play testing sense I was waiting for half the deck to come in the mail but I went 2-1-1 but it played well for its first go and i'm very happy with it now I just have to start tweaking it, and that's why I look to the fellow players for any suggestions questions comments.
Round: 1 UR Prowless 2-0
Game 1: They started strong but with a few key removal they ran out of weapons and my creatures were just to big.
SB: in 2 Duress 3 Dispel 2 Surge of Righteousness Out: 2 Dispise 2 Painful Truth 2 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
Game 2: they got only 2 creatures the whole game so not to much of a fight.
Round: 2 Abzan Mid 2-1
Game 1: We went back and forth for a bit but Reality Smasher did his job in the end.
SB: In 2 Infinite Obliteration 1 Despise Out: 2 Painful Truth
Game 2: They started out Strong and I missed a couple mana drops that cost me.
Game 3: Was Back and forth with removal vs removal to were it came down ultimate Price a ally token to get in with lethal.
Round: 3 UW Awakening 1-1-1
Game 1: Was a little Grinding but I was able to exile there Key spells and kill there mana after animating and the reality smasher was to mush for them they could deal with all the card loss to get rid of him.
SB: In 2 Duress Out 2 Dispise
Game 2: I wasn't able to exile there board wipes that they kept recurring so it grinded out to me in top decking junk.
Game 3: we only had 2 minutes left so we called it.
Round 4: Abzan Agro 0-2
Game 1: Starts out strong T1 Despise T2 Transgress the Mind T4 Thought-Knot Seer then stalled out.
SB: In: 2 Surge of Righteousness Out: 2 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
Game 2: fell behind on the mana game and it cost me.
4 Emeria Shepherd
4 Siege Rhino
4 Oblivivion Sower
2 Anafenza, the Formost
4 FleshBag Marauder
2 Nissa, Vastwood Seer
Enchantments:
3 Retreat to Emeria
4 Stasis Snare
2 Silkwrap
4 See the Unwritten
2 Abzan Charm
Land:
4 Windswept Heath
4 Flooded Strand
4 Prairie Stream
4 Canopy Vista
3 Sunken Hollow
6 Plains
1 Forest
2 Duress
4 Surge of Righteousness
2 Dromoka's Command
3 Dispel
1 Mastery of the Unseen
1 Felidar Cub
2 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
1-2 Black Jeskai
2-0 Mono White
2-0 (can't remember)
1-2 Atarka Red
2 Jeskai Ascendancy
4 Radiant Flames
4 Fiery Impulse
4 Treasure Cruz
4 Tormenting Voice
4 Magmatic Insight
3 Send to Sleep
2 Languish
2 Horrably Awry
2 Utter End
3 Prairie Stream
3 Smoldering Marsh
4 Polluted Delta
1 Bloodstained Mire
6 Island
6 Mountain
2 Roast
3 Dispel
2 Negate
3 Encase in Ice
2 Infinite Obliteration
1 Rendering Volley
1 Orbs of Warding
1 Utter End
Was really happy how this ran my side board did exactly what it was supposed to do. still playing around with a few spots in the main deck and side board but all and all it was strong. the only non win was completely my fault i had trouble drawing my Sphinx's Tutelage on game 2-3 and after looking over my deck some were missing they had fallen out and i didn't notice until after the round.
2 Jeskai Ascendancy
4 Radiant Flames
4 Fiery Impulse
4 Treasure Cruz
4 Tormenting Voice
4 Magmatic Insight
3 Send to Sleep
2 Languish
2 Horrably Awry
2 Utter End
3 Prairie Stream
1 Smoldering Marsh
4 Polluted Delta
1 Bloodstained Mire
6 Island
6 Mountain
2 Roast
3 Dispel
2 Negate
3 Encase in Ice
2 Talent of the Telepath
1 Rendering Volley
1 Orbs of Warding
1 Utter End
I haven't tryed Den protector in this list but i have been playing around with Deathmist Raptor. I stared with 4 in the main for awhile but my meta is slow control and speed monos. vs Control he is amazing just for the recurring fact vs faster decks he is to slow unless you get your 2 green but most of the time i find myself just holding on to him. I will say this with out him in my 75 i find some of my good matches a little harder. and i know he goes against devotion he is a 3 drop body that can remove a creature and is hittable with collected company.
i look at it like this with the Den protector we are playing a devotion style deck and the Den protector is reducing the amount of devotion in the deck making Master of Waves less and harder to get Thassa, God of the Sea on line. i can see his allure in a deck with counter magic flip him grab one out of the yard and boom but if you are playing more style devotion i just don't feel him right now.
You definitely need 4 Master of Waves he can turn a game around or finish one very quickly
Thassa, God of the Sea i've tried 4 and it was just to much ive settled at 3 and that does just fine i see her almost every game and rarely get flooded with her.
i played a package with more counter spells but removed all but the 2 Disdainful Stroke sense we have 8 creatures that can counter.
2 Disdainful Stroke
4 Shorecrasher Elemental
2 Deathmist Raptor
4 Frost Walker
4 Silumgar Sorcerer
4 Stratus Dancer
4 Master of Waves
4 Kiora's Follower
3 Thassa, God of the Sea
2 Hypnotic Siren
3 Thornwood Falls
3 Yavimaya Coast
10 Island
3 Flooded Strand
4 Encase in Ice
2 Negate
2 Deathmist Raptor
2 Display of Dominance
2 Wall of Frost
2 Hypnotic Siren
3 Sidisi's Faithful
Took an updated version of my deck to FNM and went 4-1 and placed 1st overall out of 22. It was an overall good night the deck ran well and even when it was sputtering it pulled them out.
Round 1. Esper Control 0-2
This is usually a good match for me but my deck was fighting me hard.
Game1: I kept a descent had but we was able to hit every card he need. easy win for him.
Game2:(sided in: 2 Deathmist Raptor, 2 Negate, 2 Hypnotic Siren / Sided out: 4 Master of Waves, 2 Keiora's Follower)
I kept a good hand 2 Frost walker, Stratus Dancer, Thassa, God of the Sea and lands. He was able to deal with the Frost walkers befor i could swing with them. we traded spells for a few turn before i got him taped out for thassa then we counted at the end of the game thassa had shipted 7 lands to the bottom but still drew me 7 more and i only had 3 left in the deck not on the bottom it was ruff.
Round 2 BW Warriors 2-1
Game1: he was just to fast for me to keep up i was just throwing bodies at him.
Game2: (sided in: 2 Deathmist Raptors, 2 Wall of Frost, 3 Sidisi's Faithful / Sided out: 4 Frost Walker, 2 Disdainful Stroke, 1 Kiora's Follower)
Kept a good hand with 2 Sidisi's Faithful, Collected Company, Thassa, God of the Sea, Deathmist Raptor, and land. i was able to hold him back with the 2 Sidisi's Faithful long enough to play Thassa, God of the Sea then collected company into to 2 Shorecrasher Elemental with a top deck of Master of Waves That took it.
Game3:(Didn't side) mulled to 6 keeping another hand with 2 Sidisi's Faithful this one was quick it was Sidisi's Faithful, Sidisi's Faithful, Shorecrasher Elemental, Master of Waves, Master of Waves game.
Game3: Mono Black 2-1
Game1: we exchanged creatures till it came down to he needed a bestow to win or he lost and he top decked it game 1 him.
Game2: (sided in: 2 Deathmist Raptors, 2 Wall of Frost, 3 Sidisi's Faithful / Sided out: 4 Frost Walker, 2 Disdainful Stroke, 1 Kiora's Follower)
Game 2&3 played out the same stall with the 5 walls win with Master of Waves & a online Thassa, God of the Sea
Round 3 Esper Control 2-0
This match played much better then round 1
Game 1: i was able to keep the pressure on while not having to play my Silumgar Sorcerer except to hit his dragons game 1 me.
Game 2: (Sided in: 2 Deathmist Raptor, 2 Negate, 2 Hypnotic Siren / Sided out: 4 Master of Waves, 2 Keiora's Follower)
I drew into all my morph Creatures and played them all morphed to keep him guessing he killed 3 Deathmist Raptor and a Stratus Dancer thinking they were all Stratus Dancer then i un morphed 1 and went to town game2 me.
Round 5 Mono red 2-0
He was the only undefeated of the night at this point
Game1: I kept a hand of 2 lands and all 2 drops that paid off to stall him to get out Master of Waves and well yea thats game.
Game2: (Sided in 2 Hypnotic Siren, 3 Sidisi's Faithful, 4 Encase in Ice, / Sided out: 2 Deathmist Raptor, 4 Frost Walker 3 Kiora's Follower
this game played out like you would think stall with walls Encase in Ice the finish with master of waves and a lot of tokens.
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All in all i was very happy how the deck ran outside of Round 1. i originally had all 4 Deathmist Raptor in the main board but pulled 2 sense they felt a little slow at times, i feel that it was a good call seeing how my games played out. He helps a ton vs control with his recurring and anything with just big stuff. I also hadn't played any Hypnotic Siren in the deck at all but thought i would give a 2-2 split a shot and they worked out well even though most of the time it was a turn 1 trade blocker vs speed decks he did steal an Ojuti so i'm happy.