I think I like finks. I forgot I had 3 sitting in my binder, so I don't have any issue throwing them in the sideboard. Batterskull and baloth are just too slow. I've been killed multiple times before I get to take my 4th turn.
Yeha, they were working out well for me against rdw and gruul aggro in testing. The other option I've considered is infest, but it can interact negatively with our board.
Gonna try this list at FNM tomorrow, but a couple questions first:
How vital is remand? I have them, just not sure if I want to tear them out of my tron deck atm (as someone might be using it tomorrow). I was thinking instead of upping the count of Mana Leak and Familiar's Ruse.
Also, I had a couple other ideas, not sure if anyone has tried them yet or not.
Selesnya Charm- Seems like it could do good work here. Maybe in place of oust?
Blade Splicer- Getting it back via either Lark or Sun Titan seems good, may give the option to put more of a beatdown on opponent. Doesn't seem 'too cute,' but I could be wrong there.
Made 1 change in the SB, bringing in a singleton Blood Baron (all I had on hand). It was an awesome card for me when I brought it in, and I will be going up to 2 of them for sure.
Matches:
R1: G/B Varolz (1-1, 0-0-1 overall)
This deck gave me problems with all the undying creatures he had. I ended up dying to a young wolf in game 1. Game 2, I resolved a blood baron, and he stared at it for about 5 minutes (part of the reason we went to time), since he had no way to get rid of it. Game 3, we didn't bother with, because we were at turns when game 2 closed out.
R2: G/W Tokens (2-0, 1-0-1 overall)
This match was pretty straightforward. He could not deal with my mainboard sweepers, and I was never close to losing.
R3: American Control (1-1-1, 1-0-2 overall)
Got paired up against a good player that is normally at the top of the standings most nights. Game 1, I had 2 early counters on his Geists, and a crypt incursion mid game for 18 life put it to far out of range for him. Game 2, he was able to win out with burn. Game 3 ended up going to turns. He got close, but I was able to stabilize, and given more turns probably win.
R4: Naya Midrange (2-0, 2-0-2 overall)
Game 1, on the play, I ended up hitting a D-Sphere on his 3 Avacyn's pilgrim's on the board. He was unable to recover. Game 2, I played a Blood Baron (he boarded out his mortars), followed 2 turns later by an AoS clearing his board, followed after that by an Obzedat. It ended quickly.
Overall, still happy with the deck. If I could have closed out one of the 2 games I drew, I probably would have wound up second place. Oh well, still a fun night.
So after some testing on modo, I took this deck to an fnm to see how it would go.
It was a small turnout, so 3 rounds and cut to top4.
Ended up going 1-2, but could have done better.
Round 1, Melira pod, 1-2, 0-1 overall
Won game 1 with a mindslaver lock, using his spellskite to kill him. Game 2, I kept a questionable hand and paid for it, getting redcapped with Melira and viscera seer in play and no responses. Game3, had to mull to 4, with only one land drawn each time. Oh well.
Round 2, knights, 2-0, 1-1 overall
Platinum angel won me game 1, as I rode it into a mindslaver lock. Game 2, oblivion stone into 2 wurm coils put him out quickly.
Round 3: splinter twin combo, 0-2, 1-2 overall
Really hadn't played against this matchup online, so I made some misplays that cost me. Game 1, I played a sundering Titan instead of a mindslaver, trying to bait a counter. Didn't work, and I got beat the next turn. Game 2, he echoing truthed my torpor orb to win.
Not the result I had hoped for, but I expect to improve with more play.
or do you want to sit back, have a beer, counter some spells, draw some cards, sit back some more, tap 10 mana at some point and win. Or sometimes we can just tron out and bash turn 3 and be the super aggressive deck.
this, btw, is what made it so easy for me to commit to playing this deck for modern.
That was actually me you played against! I wasn't trying to take advantage of you or anything, I was genuinely unaware that asking for targets implied the spells resolution...I've always just named targets for like spells (like snapcaster) as I cast them, thinking it was common practice. I'm not new to magic, but I'm definitely still shaky on some of the minor rules/details like this. Haha, to be honest when you started debating my counter I was worried you were just trying to sneak your way through a bad situation! Glad to hear it was just a misunderstanding on both our parts and no one was trying to be a cheat. Next time I think the best approach would be to let your opponent know you don't have to state target until resolution, because I feel like in most cases a small detail such as that would likely just be a case of ignorance rather than malevolence. Congrats on the series/evening =).
Anyways, back to Esper control: I'm currently testing a version of the deck similar to Andy Sipka's (heavy walkers). My trouble/concern so far has been with hyper-aggro decks as well as VoR. What are thoughts on moving Terminus maindeck either in addition to Verdict or doing a 3/1 verdict to terminus split?
Hey, small world lol. Will you be back to that store for the next standard event, or sticking closer to home?
As for the hyper aggro troubles for walker heavy decks, they are very relevant to the non walker heavy decks as well. I ran a lot before with just 4 Verdict main, plus a cyclonic rift, but found it wasn't enough. Before I put Detention Sphere in the deck, I also ran a Planar Cleansing main (similar to the stark build).
Now, I run 4 Verdict, 2 Terminus and a cyclonic rift mainboard as sweepers. These do a lot of work against a lot of decks, save for control decks that are light on creatures (mirror, grixis, uwr). While it may make for poor game 1 matchups vs. those decks, they become easier cuts for sideboard cards that give us better advantages in games 2 and 3.
Personally, I think the walker versions can do a lot of heavy lifting. I've just had some bad experiences with Lingering Souls (the walker protection card of choice), and really decided to go all in for the milling option.
I second this. Besides a UW one running Emrakul and both times being unbeatable thourgh that I don't see many way's how to lose against them. I guess Gift-Rites if you tap out (which is stupid^^) or don't have any permission...
Yeah, tapping out is what killed me in g1 (lead to a gifts, terastodon, rites blowout), and I got boseiju'd on game 2 (into Iona instead).
As for that tournament you intend to play in this weekend, would a combination of Torpor Orb and Pithing Needle be enough to stop Soul Sisters?
Basing this on the list I made on MTGO, and Pithing Needle really helped when I named Martyr of Sands. Torpor orb would essentially shut down the rest of their relevant life gain (just a thought).
Also, has anyone considered Fabricate somewhere in the 75?
While we have treasure mages in the 75 to search for our bombs, being able to tutor for the lesser costing hate we board in, as well as oblivion stone, it could be relevant.
Here is what I'm working on:
4x Deathrite Shaman
4x Scavenging Ooze
4x Nighthowler
2x Reaper of the Wilds
2x Erebos, God of the Dark
4x Desecration Demon
Instants (8)
4x Grisly Salvage
1x Abrupt Decay
1x Putrefy
2x Hero's Downfall
4x Thoughtseize
1x Gaze of Granite
1x Jarad's Orders
Enchantments (2)
2x Whip of Erebos
Lands (24)
4x Overgrown Tomb
2x Golgari Guildgate
3x Mutavault
8x Swamp
7x Forest
2x Deadbridge Chant
3x Varolz, the Scar-Striped
3x Lotleth Troll
1x Abrupt Decay
1x Putrefy
3x Duress
2x Lifebane Zombie
Have yet to test it, I think I want to find room for a Grim Return or 2.
Yeha, they were working out well for me against rdw and gruul aggro in testing. The other option I've considered is infest, but it can interact negatively with our board.
How vital is remand? I have them, just not sure if I want to tear them out of my tron deck atm (as someone might be using it tomorrow). I was thinking instead of upping the count of Mana Leak and Familiar's Ruse.
Also, I had a couple other ideas, not sure if anyone has tried them yet or not.
Selesnya Charm- Seems like it could do good work here. Maybe in place of oust?
Blade Splicer- Getting it back via either Lark or Sun Titan seems good, may give the option to put more of a beatdown on opponent. Doesn't seem 'too cute,' but I could be wrong there.
Made 1 change in the SB, bringing in a singleton Blood Baron (all I had on hand). It was an awesome card for me when I brought it in, and I will be going up to 2 of them for sure.
Matches:
R1: G/B Varolz (1-1, 0-0-1 overall)
This deck gave me problems with all the undying creatures he had. I ended up dying to a young wolf in game 1. Game 2, I resolved a blood baron, and he stared at it for about 5 minutes (part of the reason we went to time), since he had no way to get rid of it. Game 3, we didn't bother with, because we were at turns when game 2 closed out.
R2: G/W Tokens (2-0, 1-0-1 overall)
This match was pretty straightforward. He could not deal with my mainboard sweepers, and I was never close to losing.
R3: American Control (1-1-1, 1-0-2 overall)
Got paired up against a good player that is normally at the top of the standings most nights. Game 1, I had 2 early counters on his Geists, and a crypt incursion mid game for 18 life put it to far out of range for him. Game 2, he was able to win out with burn. Game 3 ended up going to turns. He got close, but I was able to stabilize, and given more turns probably win.
R4: Naya Midrange (2-0, 2-0-2 overall)
Game 1, on the play, I ended up hitting a D-Sphere on his 3 Avacyn's pilgrim's on the board. He was unable to recover. Game 2, I played a Blood Baron (he boarded out his mortars), followed 2 turns later by an AoS clearing his board, followed after that by an Obzedat. It ended quickly.
Overall, still happy with the deck. If I could have closed out one of the 2 games I drew, I probably would have wound up second place. Oh well, still a fun night.
It was a small turnout, so 3 rounds and cut to top4.
Ended up going 1-2, but could have done better.
Round 1, Melira pod, 1-2, 0-1 overall
Won game 1 with a mindslaver lock, using his spellskite to kill him. Game 2, I kept a questionable hand and paid for it, getting redcapped with Melira and viscera seer in play and no responses. Game3, had to mull to 4, with only one land drawn each time. Oh well.
Round 2, knights, 2-0, 1-1 overall
Platinum angel won me game 1, as I rode it into a mindslaver lock. Game 2, oblivion stone into 2 wurm coils put him out quickly.
Round 3: splinter twin combo, 0-2, 1-2 overall
Really hadn't played against this matchup online, so I made some misplays that cost me. Game 1, I played a sundering Titan instead of a mindslaver, trying to bait a counter. Didn't work, and I got beat the next turn. Game 2, he echoing truthed my torpor orb to win.
Not the result I had hoped for, but I expect to improve with more play.
this, btw, is what made it so easy for me to commit to playing this deck for modern.
Hey, small world lol. Will you be back to that store for the next standard event, or sticking closer to home?
As for the hyper aggro troubles for walker heavy decks, they are very relevant to the non walker heavy decks as well. I ran a lot before with just 4 Verdict main, plus a cyclonic rift, but found it wasn't enough. Before I put Detention Sphere in the deck, I also ran a Planar Cleansing main (similar to the stark build).
Now, I run 4 Verdict, 2 Terminus and a cyclonic rift mainboard as sweepers. These do a lot of work against a lot of decks, save for control decks that are light on creatures (mirror, grixis, uwr). While it may make for poor game 1 matchups vs. those decks, they become easier cuts for sideboard cards that give us better advantages in games 2 and 3.
Personally, I think the walker versions can do a lot of heavy lifting. I've just had some bad experiences with Lingering Souls (the walker protection card of choice), and really decided to go all in for the milling option.
Yeah, tapping out is what killed me in g1 (lead to a gifts, terastodon, rites blowout), and I got boseiju'd on game 2 (into Iona instead).
How/what is an effective way to deal with their gifts package?
As for that tournament you intend to play in this weekend, would a combination of Torpor Orb and Pithing Needle be enough to stop Soul Sisters?
Basing this on the list I made on MTGO, and Pithing Needle really helped when I named Martyr of Sands. Torpor orb would essentially shut down the rest of their relevant life gain (just a thought).
Also, has anyone considered Fabricate somewhere in the 75?
While we have treasure mages in the 75 to search for our bombs, being able to tutor for the lesser costing hate we board in, as well as oblivion stone, it could be relevant.