I think the match is atrocious no matter what version of Jeskai you're on. Tron is actually a better match for Jeskai than EldraziTron, but all of that is my opinion.
This is true. Your outs in the matchup are either in the form of wraths in pure control, or burn and tempo in the queller version. Neither is great. UW control has better game against EldraziTron and Tron than we do but Jeskai has more even matchups against the field as a whole.
How do people feel about Ceremonius Rejection? Is it worth running in the Stony Silence slots? As I see it Stony is a much better hoser but Ceremonius has the chance to hit Eldrazi tron a bit.
After testing, Archangel Avacyn was pretty bad. I felt myself wanting a Resto Angel in almost every situation that I drew Avacyn.
I do have another card that actually exceeded my expectations though - Glory-Bound Initiate. When I first saw this card pop up it was in the Top 8 of GP Kobe in a UWb midrange, and my first though was "this has to be a typo." This card looks atrocious for modern at first glance. However, I think it actually has legs in a Jeskai Flash list. It has great synergy with Resto Angel and Slayers' Stronghold. I've been testing it out in a list similar to Kyle Boggemes' Jeskai Flash list in place of Blade Splicer. Here's the list I'm trying:
What I've liked about Glory-Bound Initiate so far is that is serves as a cheap intermediate between Geist and Blade Splicer. It is good against aggressive decks but it also provides a decent clock. Geist is better against blue decks and Blade Splicer is better against GBx, but those matches are closer to 50/50 to start with. The nicest part by far is that it doesn't require any build-around for it to operate and survive most combat. Resto and Slayer's Stronghold are just nice stand-alone synergy. At it's worst, it eats a piece of removal that would have gone to a Spell Queller. I've been pleasantly surprised by it so far. I could maybe even see myself going up to 4, but I like where my spell suite is at right now.
You might be right about that, but that thread seems very hostile compared to this one. I haven't seen anyone yet bring up the 4x list there but there has been some discussion here on it. Most pilots of the deck have labeled it Jeskai midrange but I can take the discussion elsewhere if need be.
T-hulk is a good suggestion. It might be a better creature to help protect Quellers through flashing back Cryptics.
I've felt that the deck needs 2 more threats to be a bit more proactive, and Avacyn seems like it would be a good fit. Protects Spell Quellers, wraths, and doesn't require you to tap out. The only downside I can see is that it would be a liability if you had a Spell Queller on the board with an exiled spell and Avacyn somehow flips with it still alive.
I've watched Jeff Hoogland's stream with the 4x list, and he opts for 10 threats as well moving 2x Vendillion Cliques to the mainboard. That also seems ok, but I don't like that all 10 threats can be pushed/bolted.
I'm seeing a lot of lists dropping Sulfur Falls for Spirebluff Canal. How have people liked this change? I'm sort of skeptical of making this swap, since I'm running the 4x list with Cryptics.
If you're coming from playing aggro decks, any 4 drop will probably feel too slow, but we're looking to close out the game a few turns later than any fast deck would. Like @JulsSkogs said, the aggro matchups are very favored. Resto is the best 4 drop possible against aggro, since it serves as a removal spell or an end-of-turn beater. By switching over from the delver version of the deck, you'll lose a few win percentage points off of the control/combo match-up, but you'll gain those points against aggro and midrange.
I played Jeskai Delver before I played this deck, and I think you'll find that the midrange build is much more balanced. You can still out-tempo your opponent with Geist + counter magic, but your long game is much better with access to Colonnade.
My experience with Spell Queller has been great so far, but he needs to be backed up with only hard counters in the deck. No remands, just mana leak, negate, logic knot, or cryptic commands.
Yeah Shizo, Death's Storehouse would be great; I will fit one into the mana base.
Can you be more specific about the matchups you're referring to? I don't feel as though my aggro matchups have gotten worse. Fatal Push is great and I would like to make space somewhere for a fourth.
A couple years ago, I ran an Elspeth, Knight Errant in the deck and it was incredible. Has anyone else been playing with one?
He's probably more referring to the combo and tron match-ups, where you want to present a fast clock. I'd much rather be playing Bolt over Fatal Push against Ad Nauseum, Valakut, and Tron. I would rather have Thoughtsieze over Mana Leak in those match-ups, but that improvement doesn't outweigh having access to bolt. Thoughtsieze is awful verses aggro. I'd much rather access to have Lightning Helix. Again midrange, I would still want access to Bolt over Fatal Push just to ping walkers and to turn the corner quickly.
Fatal Push is a great card, but switching over to UWb from UWr for builds of this deck doesn't seem to make any sense. We want the reach that red provides and we already have access to Path. Red sideboard cards are much better in general. The only real improvement that I can see from playing black is Shizo, Death's Storehouse... UWb decks are probably better off going the straight control route.
I've played with Elspeth, and she can be amazing at times, but is generally a win-more card. The four drops of choice for this deck are Restoration Angel and Cryptic. They are much more versatile for the same mana cost, and instant speed.
Finally 5-0d a competitive league w/Jeskai Geist. I've 4-1d many & 5-0d the friendly/old leagues but none in the competitive. Glad to break the streak! #TeamGeist
Congrats!! That is awesome to hear. Did you record the league? I'd love to see those games.
Your list looks like it's evolved a bit since you last put out content. How are you liking the 3 Ancestral Visions in the sideboard? The singleton Remand looks out of place, would it be better as a second Negate?
I based it off of the Geist list that was in the Top 16 of the last SCG Open in Milwaukee. The biggest improvement to that list was adding in the 2 maindeck Negates. Resto also adds a lot of flexibility to the deck in protecting Geist, grinding with Snaps, or blinking an unused Queller. The sideboard will probably undergo some change after the meta shifts. If Valakut is more popular, Runed Halo will probably be a 2 of over Crumble and something else.
That makes sense that your version would be strong against midrange. Ancestral is Jeskai's strongest card in that matchup. Resto and Cryptic are also good against BGx, but not better than Ancestral. All versions of UWr should be strong against fast decks.
Now seems like a great time to be jamming Geist. With the bannings + the printing of Fatal Push, I expect the format to slow down a bit. BG Tron will be played a lot more, which Geist is great against. I've personally been enjoying a 4/3 split of Geist and Queller. They compliment each other well and are good in opposite matchups. People seem quick to judge that Geist is bad in any fast matchup, but he is always strong when on the play against any deck.
Nice job! Your list looks well rounded. 22 lands seems like the right call for no four drops, especially with 4 ancestral. I personally have really been enjoying 2 Negates maindeck. I think they are super strong alongside Queller. I never leave home without Cryptic Command, but I think it is best played alongside Geist.
Now that dredge has been taken down a peg, we should expect to see midrange decks doing better.
In hindsight, if I am not playing geist (and x3 restoration angels instead) I should be playing 25 lands.
With that in mind... this is the new version of the deck I am testing (with geist)
Your list looks really solid, but weak to lingering souls. Maybe trim down a Blessed Alliance or Verdict in the side to fit in either a Izzet Staticaster or Engineered Explosives? I like how you've cut the Snares completely for more Remands and Leaks. I'm tempted to do it myself, but afraid to take the leap.
I want to put a resilient threat in the sideboard for the GBx MU, but haven't settled on one yet. What are people's preferences these days on Keranos, Sphinxs Rev, or Elsepth?
Out of those 3, I would definitely recommend Elspeth, Sun's Champion. The card is generally excellent against GBx. The worst case scenario is they untap and dreadbore or maelstrom pulse after you've genereated 3 soldiers. You can make an argument for Keranos now that Nahiri, the Harbinger is seeing less play, but Elspeth still has an more immediate impact.
Depending on how far behind you are, Keranos can be better given that they can't Pulse it away. I've won some games against Jund where they were firmly in the driver's seat simply because of the card advantage from Keranos. But both threats have their merits.
Another resilient CA generator to consider is Thassa, God of the Sea. Her effect is very similar to Keranos... Thassa can help fix your draws early, and can help to give consistent damage that can cut through lingering souls. Not to mention, there will be that 1 in 100 game where she can become a creature. The biggest downside I can see is that she can get hit by inquisition. Has anyone tried her out?
This is true. Your outs in the matchup are either in the form of wraths in pure control, or burn and tempo in the queller version. Neither is great. UW control has better game against EldraziTron and Tron than we do but Jeskai has more even matchups against the field as a whole.
After testing, Archangel Avacyn was pretty bad. I felt myself wanting a Resto Angel in almost every situation that I drew Avacyn.
I do have another card that actually exceeded my expectations though - Glory-Bound Initiate. When I first saw this card pop up it was in the Top 8 of GP Kobe in a UWb midrange, and my first though was "this has to be a typo." This card looks atrocious for modern at first glance. However, I think it actually has legs in a Jeskai Flash list. It has great synergy with Resto Angel and Slayers' Stronghold. I've been testing it out in a list similar to Kyle Boggemes' Jeskai Flash list in place of Blade Splicer. Here's the list I'm trying:
4x Snapcaster Mage
4x Spell Queller
3x Restoration Angel
4x Lightning Bolt
2x Lightning Helix
1x Electrolyze
4x Path to Exile
2x Cryptic Command
2x Logic Knot
1x Negate
2x Spell Snare
4x Serum Visions
1x Arid Mesa
3x Celestial Colonnade
1x Sacred Foundry
3x Scalding Tarn
2x Steam Vents
1x Sulfur Falls
4x Flooded Strand
1x Glacial Fortress
2x Hallowed Fountain
2x Island
1x Mountain
1x Plains
2x Dispel
2x Dusk / Dawn
1x Elspeth, Sun's Champion
1x Engineered Explosives
1x Izzet Staticaster
1x Negate
2x Relic of Progenitus
2x Runed Halo
1x Spell Pierce
1x Stony Silence
1x Vendilion Clique
What I've liked about Glory-Bound Initiate so far is that is serves as a cheap intermediate between Geist and Blade Splicer. It is good against aggressive decks but it also provides a decent clock. Geist is better against blue decks and Blade Splicer is better against GBx, but those matches are closer to 50/50 to start with. The nicest part by far is that it doesn't require any build-around for it to operate and survive most combat. Resto and Slayer's Stronghold are just nice stand-alone synergy. At it's worst, it eats a piece of removal that would have gone to a Spell Queller. I've been pleasantly surprised by it so far. I could maybe even see myself going up to 4, but I like where my spell suite is at right now.
T-hulk is a good suggestion. It might be a better creature to help protect Quellers through flashing back Cryptics.
I've felt that the deck needs 2 more threats to be a bit more proactive, and Avacyn seems like it would be a good fit. Protects Spell Quellers, wraths, and doesn't require you to tap out. The only downside I can see is that it would be a liability if you had a Spell Queller on the board with an exiled spell and Avacyn somehow flips with it still alive.
I've watched Jeff Hoogland's stream with the 4x list, and he opts for 10 threats as well moving 2x Vendillion Cliques to the mainboard. That also seems ok, but I don't like that all 10 threats can be pushed/bolted.
I played Jeskai Delver before I played this deck, and I think you'll find that the midrange build is much more balanced. You can still out-tempo your opponent with Geist + counter magic, but your long game is much better with access to Colonnade.
My experience with Spell Queller has been great so far, but he needs to be backed up with only hard counters in the deck. No remands, just mana leak, negate, logic knot, or cryptic commands.
He's probably more referring to the combo and tron match-ups, where you want to present a fast clock. I'd much rather be playing Bolt over Fatal Push against Ad Nauseum, Valakut, and Tron. I would rather have Thoughtsieze over Mana Leak in those match-ups, but that improvement doesn't outweigh having access to bolt. Thoughtsieze is awful verses aggro. I'd much rather access to have Lightning Helix. Again midrange, I would still want access to Bolt over Fatal Push just to ping walkers and to turn the corner quickly.
Fatal Push is a great card, but switching over to UWb from UWr for builds of this deck doesn't seem to make any sense. We want the reach that red provides and we already have access to Path. Red sideboard cards are much better in general. The only real improvement that I can see from playing black is Shizo, Death's Storehouse... UWb decks are probably better off going the straight control route.
I've played with Elspeth, and she can be amazing at times, but is generally a win-more card. The four drops of choice for this deck are Restoration Angel and Cryptic. They are much more versatile for the same mana cost, and instant speed.
Congrats!! That is awesome to hear. Did you record the league? I'd love to see those games.
Your list looks like it's evolved a bit since you last put out content. How are you liking the 3 Ancestral Visions in the sideboard? The singleton Remand looks out of place, would it be better as a second Negate?
4x Snapcaster Mage
3x Spell Queller
2x Restoration Angel
1x Vendilion Clique
4x Lightning Bolt
3x Lightning Helix
4x Path to Exile
2x Mana Leak
2x Negate
2x Cryptic Command
2x Spell Snare
3x Serum Visions
3x Scalding Tarn
1x Arid Mesa
2x Steam Vents
1x Sulfur Falls
1x Sacred Foundry
2x Hallowed Fountain
3x Celestial Colonnade
2x Ghost Quarter
3x Island
1x Plains
1x Mountain
1x Anger of the Gods
1x Blessed Alliance
1x Celestial Purge
1x Crumble to Dust
2x Dispel
1x Engineered Explosives
1x Izzet Staticaster
1x Keranos, God of Storms
2x Relic of Progenitus
2x Stony Silence
1x Supreme Verdict
1x Wear / Tear
I based it off of the Geist list that was in the Top 16 of the last SCG Open in Milwaukee. The biggest improvement to that list was adding in the 2 maindeck Negates. Resto also adds a lot of flexibility to the deck in protecting Geist, grinding with Snaps, or blinking an unused Queller. The sideboard will probably undergo some change after the meta shifts. If Valakut is more popular, Runed Halo will probably be a 2 of over Crumble and something else.
Now seems like a great time to be jamming Geist. With the bannings + the printing of Fatal Push, I expect the format to slow down a bit. BG Tron will be played a lot more, which Geist is great against. I've personally been enjoying a 4/3 split of Geist and Queller. They compliment each other well and are good in opposite matchups. People seem quick to judge that Geist is bad in any fast matchup, but he is always strong when on the play against any deck.
Now that dredge has been taken down a peg, we should expect to see midrange decks doing better.
Your list looks really solid, but weak to lingering souls. Maybe trim down a Blessed Alliance or Verdict in the side to fit in either a Izzet Staticaster or Engineered Explosives? I like how you've cut the Snares completely for more Remands and Leaks. I'm tempted to do it myself, but afraid to take the leap.
Another resilient CA generator to consider is Thassa, God of the Sea. Her effect is very similar to Keranos... Thassa can help fix your draws early, and can help to give consistent damage that can cut through lingering souls. Not to mention, there will be that 1 in 100 game where she can become a creature. The biggest downside I can see is that she can get hit by inquisition. Has anyone tried her out?