I wonder if there's anything we take from this UWR list in the PT finals.
Threads of Disloyalty? But for real, we get to see, I think, why people prefer UWR instead of grixis control. Path to exile and Sideboard options were key to winning this PT and is what we are the weakest. I don't think we have a worse main build, maybe lacking lightning helix but I don't think it is that important. So overall we need, I think to adjust the sideboard and see what is the best way to fit in the hole of path to exile.
What this deck is really missing is a good planeswalker like Ajani Vengeant. Still, Grixis seems like it should be doing better than it is.
I've worked Cruel Control on a budget, too. The main card that you really really want is Cryptic Command. If you can't afford it, try counterflux, probably dumping the tribute to hungers. Counterflux is cheap, a hard counter, and it has a similar CMC, so you can get accustomed to it in your mana curve. I think the single nicol bolas is hilarious (I've hard casted a singleton Nicy-B in a game, and won pretty hard), but for consistency, he should probably be a 3rd Cruel Ultimatum. I like ramping with artifacts, and I use 2 coalition relic rather than gilded lotus. At first, I didn't like rune-scarred, then I thought about it; he costs 7 (like ultimatum), and he let's you pull up anything (like maybe an ultimatum), so for a budget deck, sure, slap down that rune-scarred demon.
Why play Runescarred Demon over another Ultimatum?
Keep in mind I'm referring to Robzilla's budget list. So based on my recommendations, if he drops Bolas-walker for another cruel ultimatum, he'll have 3 ultimatums. That's really all you need. What the Rune-scarred should actually be is another snap caster, a vendillion clique, or maybe a batterskull as a finisher. Since those options are pretty budget unfriendly, I don't see any reason to not go for the lolz and play the demon.
There always is Grave Titan as a more budget finisher option.
I've worked Cruel Control on a budget, too. The main card that you really really want is Cryptic Command. If you can't afford it, try counterflux, probably dumping the tribute to hungers. Counterflux is cheap, a hard counter, and it has a similar CMC, so you can get accustomed to it in your mana curve. I think the single nicol bolas is hilarious (I've hard casted a singleton Nicy-B in a game, and won pretty hard), but for consistency, he should probably be a 3rd Cruel Ultimatum. I like ramping with artifacts, and I use 2 coalition relic rather than gilded lotus. At first, I didn't like rune-scarred, then I thought about it; he costs 7 (like ultimatum), and he let's you pull up anything (like maybe an ultimatum), so for a budget deck, sure, slap down that rune-scarred demon.
Why play Runescarred Demon over another Ultimatum?
I've seen Smother listed in some decks and just don't understand why. Terminate is the same cmc and hits all creatures.
What's a good way to handle liliana? Is there more than just hoping for the counter?
IoK, Dreadbore, Hero's Downfall.
Illness in the Ranks is an option against Bitter Blossom, or Curse of Death's Hold. Higher cmc, but it hits all creatures. BB is 2cmc too, so Spell Snare is the best option to prevent it from even hitting the board. Most decks will be running 3 or 4 BB too, so Echoing Truth is an option.
My guess about Smother is that it's easier to cast it early in a deck that is mostly blue. It might allow you to fetch a basic island to cast it against aggro when it matters.
Against Liliana, discard and Hero's Downfall seems like the way to go. I'm not a big fan of the sorcery speed of dreadbore however.
Illness in the Ranks shuts down BB and your opponent still loses life.. it seems like a pretty narrow card. My guess is that it's only worth a spot in the sideboard if token decks are dominating because I can see situations where Fae doesn't need BB to win.
Illness in the Ranks isn't narrow, it also makes it impossible for Splinter Twin to combo.
I've seen Smother listed in some decks and just don't understand why. Terminate is the same cmc and hits all creatures.
What's a good way to handle liliana? Is there more than just hoping for the counter?
IoK, Dreadbore, Hero's Downfall.
Illness in the Ranks is an option against Bitter Blossom, or Curse of Death's Hold. Higher cmc, but it hits all creatures. BB is 2cmc too, so Spell Snare is the best option to prevent it from even hitting the board. Most decks will be running 3 or 4 BB too, so Echoing Truth is an option.
Yes, it is. I've had that "pleasure" twice, but remember that Merfolk is designed to thrive against blue-based decks. It's pretty much the only match-up where I would love to have access to Supreme Verdict.
The good news is that Merfolk isn't a very popular archetype.
It actually is. Right before Dailies were cancelled on MTGO, it was winning more than Scapeshift and WUR Control and as much as RG Tron.
So, what are people's thoughts on my idea of running Isochron Scepter. With Thoughtseize and Inquisition of Kozilek, we can get rid of Abrupt Decay, and even if they draw another one soon we probably will have gotten some card advantage from it.
I hope you realize Thoughtseize and Inquisiton don't stop them from drawing Abrupt Decay? Unless you plan on Surgical Extract/Extirpate/Slaughter Games naming Abrupt Decay, you can't rely on a Scepter lock.
Who said anything about locking them out? Most of the time they won't have 2 Abrupt Decays in their hand, and they will almost never draw a second one before you can use the Scepter twice. Even if it gets destroyed, it will still be worth it if you Remanded your opponent's spells twice or Terminated 2 of their creatures.
How do we stop them from drawing Abrupt Decay/Maelstrom Pulse?
Maelstrom Pulse isn't a problem, assuming you have something like Remand on the scepter, you just counter it. With Abrupt Decay, just use Thoughtseize and Inquisition of Kozilek.
Will this deck finally be tier 2 after Theros comes out? It finally has good card draw with Steam Augury. The only other things that it loses from switching to black instead of white are Path to Exile (which can be replaced by Terminate), Wrath of God and Supreme Verdict (which can be replaced by Damnation and Infest), and the planeswalkers (Liliana of the Veil could be played instead). This deck has a better finisher spell (Cruel Ultimatum is far better than Sphinx's Revelation), has access to targeted discard, can use sacrifice effects, and has better manlands. The deck seems like it will finally be competitive. Thoughts?
What this deck is really missing is a good planeswalker like Ajani Vengeant. Still, Grixis seems like it should be doing better than it is.
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
It doesn't do anything against Zoo.
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
There always is Grave Titan as a more budget finisher option.
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
Why play Runescarred Demon over another Ultimatum?
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
Illness in the Ranks isn't narrow, it also makes it impossible for Splinter Twin to combo.
Night of Souls' Betrayal is better than Curse of Death's Hold.
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
I'm pretty sure Onslaught fetchland reprints would help as well.
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
It actually is. Right before Dailies were cancelled on MTGO, it was winning more than Scapeshift and WUR Control and as much as RG Tron.
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
Who said anything about locking them out? Most of the time they won't have 2 Abrupt Decays in their hand, and they will almost never draw a second one before you can use the Scepter twice. Even if it gets destroyed, it will still be worth it if you Remanded your opponent's spells twice or Terminated 2 of their creatures.
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
Maelstrom Pulse isn't a problem, assuming you have something like Remand on the scepter, you just counter it. With Abrupt Decay, just use Thoughtseize and Inquisition of Kozilek.
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
It works well enough in WUR control, so I assumed that it would work well here.
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.