This list is set up to fight well game 1 vs aggro decks and the midrange BG lists. I haven't played many 4 color Saheeli decks, but with all the removal and few counter magic, you are set!
Depending what you plan to face at your LGS or even PPTQ/RPTQ, you can change out spot removal for more counter magic. I just feel Disallow is a little, clunky currently vs this meta. Also considering taking out 1 shambling vent for another basic land.
Let me know any suggestions you have.
**PS** I will not run more than 1 Metallurgic Summonings, this is a 2nd wincon. I am not going to over commit to the card.
I shifted the Jim Davis list into an Esper Control list. White is 100% for Shamlbing Vents, Anguished Unmaking, and Quarantine Field. I also run 1 of Metallurgic Summonings. I have been going 4-0 at most my FNM/SNM. Placed few top 8 at PPTQ, did top 16 for RPTQ
Lands 26
3x Plains
3x Island
8x Swamp
2x Prairie Stream
4x Port Town
3x Sunken Hollow
3x Choked Estuary
White-9 ,Blue-15 ,Black-14
Sideboard 15
changeable bases on meta
2x Anguished Unmaking
2x Blessed Alliance
2x Fumigate
2x Disallow
1x Glimmer of Genius
2x Ruinous Path
2x Lost Legacy
2x Yahenni's Expertise
Maybeboard
2x Liliana, the Last Hope
2x Jace, Unraveler of Secrets
The key behind the mana base is Anticipate helps fuel into your next set of Lands in the early turns and in the late game it pulls answers from your deck for the in response to cards. People hate that haha. The reason Yahenni's Expertise is in the main instead of Fumigate is that it doesn't kill the token tha rg is made with summonings. I've been for a couple of weeks using 3 Gearhulks and 4 Summonings but decided 4 hulks and 3 summonings was best. Unmakings are the catch alls. Blessed alliance answers Gideon and hexproof creatures. With gearhulk. You can buyback all of your good against the field spells. Blessed alliance just happens to also gain us life that we lose from anguished unmaking while taking care of 3 issues. Sphinx of the Final Word, Gideon, Ally of Zendikar and Hexproof Hydra. These are the only issues I've ever encountered that I can't deal with in blue black very well. This is a reactive deck. But can go for 8 counters with the sideboard for more control. The reason I use Revolutionary Rebuff is because it's a great early answer to issue Creatures and planeswalkers. It doesn't answer vehicles or artifacts, but grasps/murders and anguished unmaking do that very well. Lands two through 5 need to be untapped for sure. So anticipates draw into the lands that need to help keep you untapped on their turn. The reason I use anguished unmaking is because it catches artifacts and enchantments. I could use cards like decommission and other catch alls, but this card also answers Creatures and planeswalkers and having something that takes care of everything is worth the life it takes to do so.
Why no Concealed Courtyard or Shambling Vent?
Almost the only reason I want to add white is for the Shambling Vent\
I do agree with the Revolutionary Rebuff. x4 Disallow is to clunky in the main VS all these aggro decks
Round 2: 2-1 vs B/G Delerium. Game 1 he played to many threats and killed me before I could stabilize. After sideboard game 2 and 3 went a lot better. Hit answers for all his creatures.
Sideboard:
-1 Glimmer of Genius
-2 Negate
+1 Noxious Gearhulk
+2 Horribly Awry
Round 3: 2-1 vs Esper Control. Metallurgic Summonings does amazing work vs control, Protect it vs removal. Game 1 he got planeswalkers out faster then I could get answers. Game 2 used MS to keep all his planeswalkers in check. Game 2 and 3 went a lot better
Sideboard:
-2 Fatal Push
-2 Grasp of Darkness
-2 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
+1 Ruinous Path
+1 To the Slaughter
+2 Negate
+2 Dispel
Could Argue here to take out another Push or Grasp for the 3rd Dispel.
I would love any constructive feedback on my sideboard plans vs all these decks. I was only person at this PPTQ that was running B/U control, never saw the four color copy cat deck. Transgress the Mind seems to be the first card I would remove, I would replace with Yahenni's ExpertiseSphinx of the Final Word is also a card that can be removed. You will never bring in vs Jeskai, mirror matches maybe or any type of Grixis control.
Depending which decks I play against, all depends if i remove the Fatal Push or Grasp of Darkness I keep a few in for man-lands.
I normally bring in counter magic VS control to protect my strong cards. I run dispel and negate in sideboard. Also bring in tireless tracker, world breaker, another copy of ulamog. Cast triggers can and will win you games.
Went 3-1 at my LGS for FNM this week. lost to a ganky deck round 1. B/W tokens, was very strange. Lost in 3, getting flooded is always not fun against an aggro deck
Emrakul was promptly removed as it was added. Feels really bad when you get a good opening hand with this card in it. dead card for 10+ turns
1
Creatures(6)
4 Torrential Gearhulk
2 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
Planeswalkers(2)
2 Liliana, the Last Hope
Enchantments(1)
1 Metallurgic Summonings
Sorceries(3)
2 Ruinous Path
1 Yahenni's Expertise
Instances(23)
2 Skywhaler's shot
2 Anguished Unmaking
4 Grasps of Darkness
4 Fatal Push
4 Glimmer of Genius
3 Anticipate
2 Disallow
2 Negate
3 Island
4 Swamp
1 Plains
4 Shamlbing Vent
2 Prairie Stream
2 Concealed Courtyard
2 Evolving Wilds
4 Sunken Hollow
4 Choked Estuary
1 Ob Nixilis Reignited
2 Horribly Awry
1 Disallow
1 Negate
1 Blighted Fen
1 Sphinx of the Final Word
1 Descend upon the Sinful
1 Quarantine Field
1 Confirm Suspicions
2 Flaying Tendrils
2 To the Slaughter
1 Ruinous Path
This list is set up to fight well game 1 vs aggro decks and the midrange BG lists. I haven't played many 4 color Saheeli decks, but with all the removal and few counter magic, you are set!
Depending what you plan to face at your LGS or even PPTQ/RPTQ, you can change out spot removal for more counter magic. I just feel Disallow is a little, clunky currently vs this meta. Also considering taking out 1 shambling vent for another basic land.
Let me know any suggestions you have.
**PS** I will not run more than 1 Metallurgic Summonings, this is a 2nd wincon. I am not going to over commit to the card.
2
1
Maelstrom Pulse
Fulminator Mage
Kitchen Finks
Couple of them fit the theme for sacrificing creatures.
1
Why no Concealed Courtyard or Shambling Vent?
Almost the only reason I want to add white is for the Shambling Vent\
I do agree with the Revolutionary Rebuff. x4 Disallow is to clunky in the main VS all these aggro decks
1
4 Torrential Gearhulk
2 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
Planeswalker(2)
1 Ob Nixilis Reignited
1 Jace, Unraveler of Secrets
Enchantment(2)
2 Metallurgic Summonings
Sorcery(2)
2 Ruinous Path
Instant(21)
4 Glimmer of Genius
2 Negate
4 Disallow
4 Grasp of Darkness
3 Fatal Push
1 Confirm Suspicions
3 Murder
4 Sunken Hollow
4 Choked Estuary
2 Submerged Boneyard
1 Blighted Fen
8 Island
8 Swamp
1 Sphinx of the Final Word
1 Noxious Gearhulk
1 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
2 Negate
2 Horrible Awry
3 Dispel
1 To the Slaughter
1 Fatal Push
1 Ruinous Path
2 Transgress the Mind
Inspired by Jim Davis himself and some testing, this is the list I took to this weeks FNM and PPTQ.
Here are the results and sideboard for each round.
FNM Results(4-0)
Round 1: 2-0 vs Jeskai Saheeli. B/U list does very good against this deck, game 1 and 2 were very easy. I stopped every threat he played.
Sideboard:
-2 Fatal Push
-2 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
-2 Grasp of Darkness
+2 Negate
+3 Dispel
+1 To the Slaughter
Round 2: 2-1 vs B/G Delerium. Game 1 he played to many threats and killed me before I could stabilize. After sideboard game 2 and 3 went a lot better. Hit answers for all his creatures.
Sideboard:
-1 Glimmer of Genius
-2 Negate
+1 Noxious Gearhulk
+2 Horribly Awry
Round 3: 2-1 vs Esper Control. Metallurgic Summonings does amazing work vs control, Protect it vs removal. Game 1 he got planeswalkers out faster then I could get answers. Game 2 used MS to keep all his planeswalkers in check. Game 2 and 3 went a lot better
Sideboard:
-2 Fatal Push
-2 Grasp of Darkness
-2 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
+1 Ruinous Path
+1 To the Slaughter
+2 Negate
+2 Dispel
Could Argue here to take out another Push or Grasp for the 3rd Dispel.
Round 4: 2-0 vs G/W Tokens. Game 1 I had one of the best hands and draws I could have. Stopped all his planeswalkers before the hit the board.
Sideboard:
-1 Glimmer of Genius
-1 Ob Nixilis Reignited
-2 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
+2 Negate
+1 To the Slaughter
+1 Ruinous Path
This sideboard plan needs improvement.
PPTQ 42 players. 4-1-1 Cut to top 8(Finished 6th place)
Round 1: 2-0 vs Jeskai Saheeli. B/U list does very good against this deck. Had no issues.
Sideboard:
-2 Fatal Push
-2 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
-2 Grasp of Darkness
+2 Negate
+3 Dispel
+1 To the Slaughter
Round 2: 2-0 vs Jeskai Saheeli. B/U list does very good against this deck. Again had no issues.
Sideboard:
-2 Fatal Push
-2 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
-2 Grasp of Darkness
+2 Negate
+3 Dispel
+1 To the Slaughter
Round 3: 1-2 vs Boros Human Equipment. Game 1 I put this player on a different deck, kept the wrong opening hand vs his deck lost quickly. Game 2 I hit Kalitas+removal and zombies.
Sideboard:
-1 Ob Nixilis Reignited
-1 Jace, Unraveler of Secrets
-1 Negate
-1 Disallow
+1 Fatal Push
+2 Horribly Awry
+1 Ruinous Path
This deck will force me to run Yahenni's Expertise.
Round 4: 2-1 vs Jeskai Saheeli. B/U list does very good against this deck. He got game 1 due to mana issues and no double blue for the Disallow to stop combo.
Sideboard:
-2 Fatal Push
-2 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
-2 Grasp of Darkness
+2 Negate
+3 Dispel
+1 To the Slaughter
Round 5: 2-0 vs B/W Control. Not knowing what deck he was playing, i didn't play untap land turn 2 and he played Liliana, the Last Hope turn 3. He was ready to ultimate and I dug until I hit my Ruinous Path. Game 2 I brought in more negates for his planeswalkers and won pretty easily.
Sideboard:
-2 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
-2 Fatal Push
-2 Grasp of Darkness
+1 Ruinous Path
+2 Negate
+1 To the Slaughter
+2 Transgress the Mind
Round 6: 0-0-3 Everyone top 8 in standings all drew to get into top 8.
Top 8 Round 1: 1-2 B/G Delerium. Game 1 he won quickly, I had no answers to any threats early, was not able to stabilize. Game 2 I hit 2 Metallurgic Summonings and chump blocked enough creatures until I had enough constructs on the board to start attacking back. Game 3 I hit terrible misplay and he won.
Sideboard:
-1 Glimmer of Genius
-2 Negate
-1 Ob Nixilis Reignited
-1 Jace, Unraveler of Secrets
+1 Noxious Gearhulk
+2 Horribly Awry
+1 Fatal Push
+1 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
I would love any constructive feedback on my sideboard plans vs all these decks. I was only person at this PPTQ that was running B/U control, never saw the four color copy cat deck. Transgress the Mind seems to be the first card I would remove, I would replace with Yahenni's Expertise Sphinx of the Final Word is also a card that can be removed. You will never bring in vs Jeskai, mirror matches maybe or any type of Grixis control.
Depending which decks I play against, all depends if i remove the Fatal Push or Grasp of Darkness I keep a few in for man-lands.
1
1
1 Stasis Snare
2 Blessed Alliance
2 Repel the Abominable
1 Ride Down
1 Savage Alliance
1 Skywhaler's Shot
May look into using few of them
1
Emrakul was promptly removed as it was added. Feels really bad when you get a good opening hand with this card in it. dead card for 10+ turns