Round 1 - Grixis Land Destruction (2-1)
He was able to slow me down enough with land destruction to make it interesting in games 1 and 2, with it coming down to sub-5 life for both of us in each of those games. Game 3 was a blowout, in comparison, with me ending the game with 19 life, losing only 1 to my own Smallpox. The only problem I ran into was getting a rack effect on line quickly enough to deal damage. Both games 1 and 2 I didn't draw into one until quite a few turns in, once I did, he went down quickly.
Side In: Collective Brutality
Side Out: Dismember
Round 2 - Blue Control/Combo Variant (2-0)
Not even a little concerning. He complained the remainder of the tournament about needing to assemble 2 pieces for his deck to work and that 8-rack made it impossible to do that. He scooped at 10 life in game 2.
No sideboard changes.
Round 3 - Merfolk (2-0)
This was a match up I was dreading. I always feel as though hyper-aggro decks like Merfolk, Elves, and Affinity are the biggest weakness of the deck. The first game he got me down to 1 life. Game 2 I was able to clear the battlefield with 3 rack effects in play and a Mutavault ready to swing in, so I was able to deal lethal with him at 11 and me at 6.
Side In: 2x Bontu's Last Reckoning; 1x Fatal Push; 2x Ratchet Bomb
Side Out: 4x Raven's Crime; 1x Dismember
Round 4 - R/W Burn (2-0)
Burn is another deck I'm not particularly fond of playing against because it comes down to who can top deck better. Fortunately, in both games, I was able to. Game 1 he flooded lands and didn't draw into enough burn spells to finish me. Game 2 he didn't draw into lands and I kept him at 1 land the entire game.
Side In: 2x Death's Shadow; Collective Brutality; 2 x Grafdigger's Cage (I wasn't sure which variant of burn he was running)
Side Out: 4x Raven's Crime; 1x Dismember
Round 5 - Grixis Death's Shadow
Draw into the Top 8 - did not play
Top 8 -
Round 1 - Merfolk (2-0)
Same Merfolk deck I played in Round 3. He played far too defensively and didn't attempt to win the race by being hyper aggressive. These games were a lot more one-sided in my favor.
Round 2 - Merfolk (0-2)
This Merfolk player admitted to having a friend that he frequently plays against that mains an 8-rack deck. He utilized a hyper-aggro strategy and was able to top-deck into very fruitful Master of Waves in both games, dealing over 14 of lethal early in game 2.
The biggest revelation from playing in the PPTQ was how to deal with Merfolk and aggro decks.
- I do think taking the play is the way to go in these match ups. I did not do that in my Top 8 and paid for it.
- I think 3x Bontu's Last Reckoning in the sideboard is the correct number.
- I will be removing Funeral Charm from the deck. As much fun as I've had with the card in the past, I've found that in the key situations where I want removal, it doesn't do the trick. Either it's ineffective because the -1 isn't enough or the singular, un-targeted discard is mediocre, considering the other options. In its place I'll be running 2x Collective Brutality. The modes are just a bit better and I found them more effective across the board. The added C of cost was not an issue, that I can recall. I had plenty of lands or other "dead" cards to discard for the Escalate cost if I wanted, based on where I was playing CB at in the game. I'll also add in a 2nd Dismember. A resolved Master of Waves made it apparent how important it is to get that card out of the game immediately and a Push won't always have a Revolt trigger to get that done.
- I have also played around with the previously mentioned Ensnaring Bridge / Bontu's Last Reckoning combination, in place of Fatal Push, Dismember, and Funeral Charm. I did not like it whatsoever. Far too costly in many situations. Bridge was easily removed or useless because of cards in hand. On and on we go.
Unrelated to Aggro:
- Delirium Skeins never came out because I wasn't matched up against any decks where it was needed. I have play tested it though and it was very useful. The only reason I have 1 SB is because that's the only copy I had the day of the tournament.
Thank you for the report and congratulations on your run.
I think that Merfolk is more dangerous for non Ensnaring Bridge variants (and in a different category of Elves and Robots), because a board wipe against them is not enough; they can easily draw 2 lords with a Mutavault in play and go to town. Their only answer to bridge is Echoing Truth or Hurkyl's Recall.
Are those 3 Grafdigger's Cage in sb because of fear of dredge or what? I think we have good matchups against Storm and Company decks.
You mentioned you want to add another Dismember. Why not adding 4 fetches and going the full Fatal Push playset mb?
Do you think that 23 lands is the correct number, despite playing 4 Raven's Crime and 4 Smallpox?
Is it actually possible to have a viable budget version of this deck? I see in the first post of this thread thnkr's budget list, but is there one that is more updated? I especially see a lot of talk about aether grid, and i cant imagine its that expensive that it wouldnt be included in a budget deck.
It is possible, but which cards you're looking for replacements?
Hey! Long time follower, first time poster. I've loved this deck for a long time but have only recently been able to fully build it and as such find myself in the early awkward stage of trying to find the correct groove. As far my local meta, it seems healthy and diverse but Burn and Vizier combo come to mind as as being more common.
Unless you're very happy with Necrogen Mists, you could swap it for a Collective Brutality and find some room in the sideboard for at least one more. That's probably the best card to help out in both Burn and Vizier matchups, but it's never a dead card otherwise.
I got this deck on MTGO, haven't gotten the LotV yet, but even playing a "Budget" version without her I am doing pretty good in the Tournament Practice Lobby. Had 2 players quit the entire match after I dropped 4 Discard spells on them in Game 1. Actually got to play out a match against BW Tokens and BG Midrange. Smoked both of them with continuous disruption and either Mutavault beat down or stringing them up on the Rack. This deck has always seemed to suffer from the lack of a one-mana universal removal spell and Fatal Push answered the call. Haven't played much too top tier, one of the players who quit the whole match was playing Jeskai Control and didn't like when I made him discard his Snappy. I will try to record and post some matches later.
Do you mind sharing you list?
Have you ever played the deck on paper? It's 10x funnier.
Please, share some matches. I'm always down to watch 8rack.
Have been playing the mono-black version of the deck frequently over the last 5 months and wanted to share where my list is currently at after all my play-testing. Hoping to get some feedback from others who still play a non-smallpox, bridge version of the deck (was playing both smallpox and bridge for a while, but felt smallpox was hurting me as much as my opponent in terms of trying to get to 3 mana for bridge and Liliana).
Special mention goes to Bitterblossom which I feel has really upped the power level in my deck and provides an awesome alternate win-con that synergizes amazingly with bridge.
Speed is a huge factor here. It is very hard to get to 11 mana with Lantern, and that will take tons of time to dig to your lands (or recur them with Shredder if you have milled too many!). Then you have to explain what you are doing to your opponent, and against a savvy opponent will probably have to take all the actions because they will not allow you to shortcut.
For what it's worth, you can just declare a loop (or maybe it's not technically a loop idk) but your opponent is bound to accept that you are doing the same action every turn - I usually just shortcut to updating the life totals on my lifepad and saying go
Your opponent must agree to your declaration of a loop. They have the option of saying "No, play it out please, I want to see you take the actions".
I play two Bontu's in the side and its great, 2 Ratchet Bomb as well help out a ton.
I have recently started running 4 Dark Confidants in my side as my creature package. I am unsure what all matches I want them in. I definetly want them in when I board out a few racks so against artifact removal/chalice/leyline decks but are any of you using them elsewhere? For example do they come in for Burn? Tron? I think I want them in these matches but I am unsure and would love to hear others opinions about when to play this card. Current List for reference.
Bob may be good against Tron, Affinity, UW, Lantern, Merfolk, Company decks. I'm guessing because they play fewer removal spells compared to Abzan, Jund and Grixis (whatever strategy).
Hi all! Long time follower, but I just created an account to join the Lantern team!
I'm tweaking my list, and I have a flex spot that I don't know how to fill.
Here is the list, I'll explain some choices below:
* I am used to self-milling very aggressively to help filling the graveyard for a potential Academy Ruins, or a top deck Crucible of Worlds that could then be super effective. Following this direction, I prefer having a 4th Ghoulcaller's Bell rather than the Pyxis of Pandemonium.
* The choice of not having a Pyxis implies I must have an alternate win contition in case of things such as an Emrakul, the Aeons Torn. This is the reason of the Pyrite Spellbomb, in addition to be a great card against things like Noble Hierarch.
* I haven't been convinced by the Phyrexian Metamorph, which in my opinion is mostly a bad Welding Jar. Since my main strategy is often to self-mill to improve my draws, I am thinking of replacing it with a single Lens of Clarity. This is something I would love your opinion about!
Hey.
If you like to self-mill aggessively, Noxious Revival may be an option for your flex spot. How is this strategy going on so far?
I got wrecked by eldrazi twice at FNM. What's a good sb against it when running BW
Hey calkno! My local meta is full of eldrazi, so i know how you feel -_-. I started mainbording 2 fatal push (used to run 4) and 2 go for the throat alongside 1 dismember. as for sideboard, i have fulminator mages and bontu's last reckoning. I havent lost that matchup since. i hope this helps!
Thank you for the report and congratulations on your run.
I think that Merfolk is more dangerous for non Ensnaring Bridge variants (and in a different category of Elves and Robots), because a board wipe against them is not enough; they can easily draw 2 lords with a Mutavault in play and go to town. Their only answer to bridge is Echoing Truth or Hurkyl's Recall.
Are those 3 Grafdigger's Cage in sb because of fear of dredge or what? I think we have good matchups against Storm and Company decks.
You mentioned you want to add another Dismember. Why not adding 4 fetches and going the full Fatal Push playset mb?
Do you think that 23 lands is the correct number, despite playing 4 Raven's Crime and 4 Smallpox?
It is possible, but which cards you're looking for replacements?
I watched the replay on Twitch. Fun matches, as always, specially match 2 game 2. lol
Welcome. o/
Unless you're very happy with Necrogen Mists, you could swap it for a Collective Brutality and find some room in the sideboard for at least one more. That's probably the best card to help out in both Burn and Vizier matchups, but it's never a dead card otherwise.
Do you mind sharing you list?
Have you ever played the deck on paper? It's 10x funnier.
Please, share some matches. I'm always down to watch 8rack.
I think you can cut a swamp. 24 lands looks too much if you aren't running Smallpox.
can't you explain to the judge?
Self-proclaimed best Lantern player in the world.
Havefun.
I'll try 2 Gurmag Angler sideboard (or Tombstalker :shrug:). Not sure why Nyxathid is not played anymore.
How good is Fatal Push in the mono black list?
Bob may be good against Tron, Affinity, UW, Lantern, Merfolk, Company decks. I'm guessing because they play fewer removal spells compared to Abzan, Jund and Grixis (whatever strategy).
Hey.
If you like to self-mill aggessively, Noxious Revival may be an option for your flex spot. How is this strategy going on so far?
By not playing Pyxis of Pandemonium, haven't you ever had problems with Ancient Grudge and targets for Snapcaster Mage, most notably Kolaghan's Command?
Good to know!