We're one of the top three decks right now by numbers!!!
I really see Ponza as being well positioned, this will always be a deck that is more meta dependent than most, we are basically a Death and Taxes deck. We have our hatebears and meta specific hate.
One of the biggest shifts I feel had been the increase in ways to take advantage of Bloodbraid, where when she was first unbanned I didn't like the inclusion. It felt forced. The deck has now shifted to fit her as a core piece. The printing of Seasoned Pyromancer, Bonecrusher Giant, Wrenn and Six, and the Modernization of Pillage have brought consistency to our cascades.
Unfortunately with the pandemic I don't have much opportunity to play.
This seems like a very standard top list right now:
I haven't had any problems against Force of Negation. What card are they countering of yours? Moon isn't that critical to that match up and most of the time I'd be happy enough with the 2 for 1.
This deck has been bad in most metas for a while. But I think with recent shifts we'll see people returning here for updated versions.
One important note is that MadcapEmperion is impossible for most Hogaak decks to beat in the main and is also very good at slowing down most Phoenix variations. The decks it is bad against like Tron or Jund we already have a good match-up against.
I am strongly against Bloodbraid at least in current iterations of the deck. Even hitting the best 3 drops 50% of the time and other times hitting a dork. A 1 3/2 haste is very good, but its not a card our deck should be playing let. I think there are variations where it would shine, but the standard list isn't it. I think once the 3 drops start focusing around things like Rabblemaster is where it's inclusion becomes beneficial.
Below are two directions the deck has gone. Once more aggressive, the other going for the harder control into the combo win.
Excited to know the site will be sticking around, I'll look into doing the updating that I had put off. Several new sets and a few directions the deck has gone. Not many results though.
I've been off the deck at my LGS because of meta. The rebirth of Mardu Pyromancer and Jund, and the Tron that preys on them is good things for our deck so i foresee a positive shift for us.
I've accepted that the ramp package, 3-4 drop control, and late bombs are what make this deck Ponza.
Blood Moon is a card we mainboarded because it was good against at least 51% of the meta (and often way more). When I look at the meta right now, I can't bring myself to main it anymore.
I don't think lowering the curve is the solution for this deck. We're not an aggro deck and we don't have the resources to play a grindy midrange battle.
We're essentially a Prison-style deck that uses Stone Rain/Molten Rain/Blood Moon to stall our opponents out and crush them with big threats. As I mentioned in my previous post, BBE has a roughly 40% of hitting a dud card with 10 ramp cards vs. 18 or so non-ramp cards with 3 CMC or less (the actual percentage is going to fluctuate based on your list/what you've already drawn, obviously). I can't help but think that slot could be better filled by something else, even if we haven't figured out what it is yet.
I've actually been against BB Elf, a 3/2 Haste just doesn't add to what we want to do. It's very good, no question, but it doesn't progress our game plan.
I haven't posted much recently because I'm not really running Ponza. I cut the LD.
I've found that LD isn't where you want to be against many decks in modern and that Blood Moon had dropped below the 60% threshold of games where I want it in. Fundamentally changing the game plan with Goyfs might be the direction to go in, but I doubt it. We'd be like Jund except removing lands instead of relevant things.
In many matches I found myself wishing I could just draw another bomb. Boarding out Blood Moon for more creature density. So I built a deck around it.
Summoning Trap At instant speed is incredible against the Control and Creature Tempo matchups. It's Trap cost is incredible, but it's just a bonus, this car dis good enough on it's own once you have more creature density.
The Madcap plan's primary weakness is that it is easy to board against, with diversified threats this isn't a problem anymore. And it really is the turntwo dream.
Tron is a strong matchup. If they are used to playing against Ponza it is only a good matchup.
UWx normally is a good matchup that turns into a great matchup with sideboard (I've run Boil, Choke, and Thrun at times) A few card choices on their end can swing it closer to even such as: Spreading Seas and Wrath over Verdict.
They've basically promised that they will never print 3cmc LD ever again so no chance we'll see something even better.
Wheel helps our opponents get back in the game more than it helps us win. I get that you're looking for steam, but I don't think this is it.
I've been toying with the idea of 22 lands and 2 birds, with the intent to usually cut them for sideboard cards. Be faster when you don't know what's up and hit harder once you do. Haven't run it yet because I'm trying something new every week.
@Joban8: I wouldn't because we have no way of finding it a 1 of stands more chance of hurting us than helping. Besides I feel the control matchup is favorable anyway.
@Weakatchu: I haven't tried it but I've been thinking about the blue splash. I already run Mistys and if I ever go back to a 4 GDD list then I will for sure give it a full try. I'm not super optimistic about it, and think it will likely be ok, but not quite good enough in the end. I've been thinking about running my Blue Moon list based around this though. What other blue would be worth running in Ponza?
@KenCarson: I too came from LivingEnd for about the same reasons. I like a lot of the choices you made in building the deck. Trinisphere should not be underrated. I personally ended up cutting it a meta choice but it's waiting in the wings. One note about your deck is that most people here go up to 22 lands then they cut Birds.
Dragonlord Atarka immediately struck me as bad, and worse than Bogardan Hellkite instinctively. But cost 1 less and we don't need the flash. It's huge body is a plus as well. ETB damage is similar to Titan's plus the first attack. I don't love this list, but I might try the dragon.
Been away from Modern traveling with work. Should be able to make it to my LGS this week and play.
I like LenX's opinions on a lot of cards. Most creatures are traps that 'Aren't Bad' for us but also completely off track. Also As a fellow Manamorphose lover good to know that I shouldn't try it.
That's pretty close to how I'd board. I might leave the Titan in since that is the bomb that means the most against affinity. But my usual plan is also to lower curve, so I might do the same thing with that list.
Congrats on your FNM.
I haven't had the honor to play against infect, how is it?
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(Sideboarding is the only section I have still to do.)
I really see Ponza as being well positioned, this will always be a deck that is more meta dependent than most, we are basically a Death and Taxes deck. We have our hatebears and meta specific hate.
One of the biggest shifts I feel had been the increase in ways to take advantage of Bloodbraid, where when she was first unbanned I didn't like the inclusion. It felt forced. The deck has now shifted to fit her as a core piece. The printing of Seasoned Pyromancer, Bonecrusher Giant, Wrenn and Six, and the Modernization of Pillage have brought consistency to our cascades.
Unfortunately with the pandemic I don't have much opportunity to play.
This seems like a very standard top list right now:
4 Arbor Elf
4 Bloodbraid Elf
2 Bonecrusher Giant
3 Elder Gargaroth
3 Klothys, God of Destiny
3 Magus of the Moon
1 Questing Beast
1 Scavenging Ooze
4 Seasoned Pyromancer
INSTANTS and SORCERYS(7)
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Pillage
1 Blood Moon
2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
4 Utopia Sprawl
1 Wrenn and Six
LANDS (20)
6 Forest
1 Mountain
4 Stomping Ground
4 Wooded Foothills
5 Other Mixed Green Fetches
2 Anger of the Gods
1 Arasta of the Endless Web
2 Boil
2 Cindervines
2 Collector Ouphe
1 Flame Slash
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Obstinate Baloth
2 Relic of Progenitus
1 Weather the Storm
Things i'll discuss:
The differences between versions running just Pillage and versions also running Stone Rain
As new mainstays
Wrenn and Six
Seasoned Pyromancer
As great meta options
Klothys, God of Destiny
Magus of the Moon Current metas want the redundancy and Bloodbraiding into a body is good.
Questing Beast
A resurgence in a splash of White for
Stoneforge Mystic
and sideboard cards like
Rest in Peace
Knight of Autumn
Path to Exile
As well as an overhaul to sideboards in general
Optional inclusions
Once Upon a Time
Snow Lands
This deck has been bad in most metas for a while. But I think with recent shifts we'll see people returning here for updated versions.
One important note is that MadcapEmperion is impossible for most Hogaak decks to beat in the main and is also very good at slowing down most Phoenix variations. The decks it is bad against like Tron or Jund we already have a good match-up against.
I am strongly against Bloodbraid at least in current iterations of the deck. Even hitting the best 3 drops 50% of the time and other times hitting a dork. A 1 3/2 haste is very good, but its not a card our deck should be playing let. I think there are variations where it would shine, but the standard list isn't it. I think once the 3 drops start focusing around things like Rabblemaster is where it's inclusion becomes beneficial.
Below are two directions the deck has gone. Once more aggressive, the other going for the harder control into the combo win.
8 Forest
1 Kessig Wolf Run
1 Mountain
4 Stomping Ground
4 Windswept Heath
4 Wooded Foothills
CREATURES (15)
4 Arbor Elf
2 Birds of Paradise
1 Courser of Kruphix
2 Glorybringer
2 Inferno Titan
4 Tireless Tracker
2 Abrade
4 Blood Moon
1 Chandra, Flamecaller
2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
4 Karn, the Great Creator
1 Liquimetal Coating
4 Pillage
1 Trinisphere
4 Utopia Sprawl
3 Anger of the Gods
1 Batterskull
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Ensnaring Bridge
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Liquimetal Coating
1 Mycosynth Lattice
1 Relic of Progenitus
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Tormod's Crypt
1 Trinisphere
1 Walking Ballista
1 Wurmcoil Engine
8 Forest
3 Mountain
2 Stomping Ground
4 Windswept Heath
4 Wooded Foothills
CREATURES (24)
4 Arbor Elf
2 Birds of Paradise
4 Bloodbraid Elf
4 Goblin Rabblemaster
3 Hexdrinker
3 Inferno Titan
2 Stormbreath Dragon
2 Thundermaw Hellkite
4 Pillage
4 Stone Rain
3 Blood Moon
4 Utopia Sprawl
3 Anger of the Gods
2 Choke
3 Collector Ouphe
3 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Tormod's Crypt
3 Weather the Storm
I've been off the deck at my LGS because of meta. The rebirth of Mardu Pyromancer and Jund, and the Tron that preys on them is good things for our deck so i foresee a positive shift for us.
Blood Moon is a card we mainboarded because it was good against at least 51% of the meta (and often way more). When I look at the meta right now, I can't bring myself to main it anymore.
I've actually been against BB Elf, a 3/2 Haste just doesn't add to what we want to do. It's very good, no question, but it doesn't progress our game plan.
I haven't posted much recently because I'm not really running Ponza. I cut the LD.
I've found that LD isn't where you want to be against many decks in modern and that Blood Moon had dropped below the 60% threshold of games where I want it in. Fundamentally changing the game plan with Goyfs might be the direction to go in, but I doubt it. We'd be like Jund except removing lands instead of relevant things.
4x Arbor Elf
1x Dragonlord Atarka
4x Inferno Titan
2x Platinum Emperion
2x Ruric Thar, the Unbowed
3x Stormbreath Dragon
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Madcap Experiment
4x Summoning Trap
Enchantments & Planeswalkers(10)
2x Chandra, Torch of Defiance
4x Overgrowth
4x Utopia Sprawl
3x Cinder Glade
7x Forest
4x Mountain
2x Stomping Ground
2x Windswept Heath
4x Wooded Foothills
In many matches I found myself wishing I could just draw another bomb. Boarding out Blood Moon for more creature density. So I built a deck around it.
Summoning Trap At instant speed is incredible against the Control and Creature Tempo matchups. It's Trap cost is incredible, but it's just a bonus, this car dis good enough on it's own once you have more creature density.
The Madcap plan's primary weakness is that it is easy to board against, with diversified threats this isn't a problem anymore. And it really is the turn two dream.
UWx normally is a good matchup that turns into a great matchup with sideboard (I've run Boil, Choke, and Thrun at times) A few card choices on their end can swing it closer to even such as: Spreading Seas and Wrath over Verdict.
Any thoughts on what to say about Tireless Tracker, your personal inclusions, or other things you consider fundamental nowadays?
Wheel helps our opponents get back in the game more than it helps us win. I get that you're looking for steam, but I don't think this is it.
I've been toying with the idea of 22 lands and 2 birds, with the intent to usually cut them for sideboard cards. Be faster when you don't know what's up and hit harder once you do. Haven't run it yet because I'm trying something new every week.
@Weakatchu: I haven't tried it but I've been thinking about the blue splash. I already run Mistys and if I ever go back to a 4 GDD list then I will for sure give it a full try. I'm not super optimistic about it, and think it will likely be ok, but not quite good enough in the end. I've been thinking about running my Blue Moon list based around this though. What other blue would be worth running in Ponza?
@KenCarson: I too came from LivingEnd for about the same reasons. I like a lot of the choices you made in building the deck. Trinisphere should not be underrated. I personally ended up cutting it a meta choice but it's waiting in the wings. One note about your deck is that most people here go up to 22 lands then they cut Birds.
4x Arbor Elf
2x Birds of Paradise
1x Dragonlord Atarka
2x Goblin Dark-Dwellers
2x Inferno Titan
3x Stormbreath Dragon
1x Thrun, the Last Troll
Instants & Sorceries(13)
1x Beast Within
1x Lightning Bolt
2x Mizzium Mortars
4x Mwonvuli Acid-Moss
4x Stone Rain
1x Sweltering Suns
1x Chandra, Flamecaller
2x Chandra, Torch of Defiance
4x Blood Moon
4x Utopia Sprawl
Land (21)
1x Cinder Glade
9x Forest
4x Misty Rainforest
1x Mountain
2x Stomping Ground
4x Wooded Foothills
2x Anger of the Gods
1x Boil
1x Choke
2x Faerie Macabre
2x Fracturing Gust
3x Kitchen Finks
1x Relic of Progenitus
1x Thragtusk
2x Thrun, the Last Troll
Went 4-0
Bye 0-0
Skred Red 2-0
Griselbrand Reanimator 2-1
UW Control 2-0
Didn't see Dragonlord Atarka once so no further testing there. I really liked my mixed removal package.
8 Forest
1 Kessig Wolf Run
1 Mountain
3 Stomping Ground
4 Windswept Heath
4 Wooded Foothills
CREATURES
1 Acidic Slime
4 Arbor Elf
1 Birds of Paradise
1 Dragonlord Atarka
4 Huntmaster of the Fells
2 Inferno Titan
2 Stormbreath Dragon
1 Thragtusk
4 Tireless Tracker
1 Wurmcoil Engine
2 Crumble to Dust
4 Mwonvuli Acid-Moss
4 Stone Rain
OTHER SPELLS
4 Blood Moon
4 Utopia Sprawl
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Anger of the Gods
1 Dragonlord Atarka
1 Fracturing Gust
2 Hellkite Tyrant
3 Kitchen Finks
2 Primal Command
1 Thragtusk
1 Thrun, the Last Troll
Dragonlord Atarka immediately struck me as bad, and worse than Bogardan Hellkite instinctively. But cost 1 less and we don't need the flash. It's huge body is a plus as well. ETB damage is similar to Titan's plus the first attack. I don't love this list, but I might try the dragon.
Been away from Modern traveling with work. Should be able to make it to my LGS this week and play.
I like LenX's opinions on a lot of cards. Most creatures are traps that 'Aren't Bad' for us but also completely off track. Also As a fellow Manamorphose lover good to know that I shouldn't try it.
Congrats on your FNM.
I haven't had the honor to play against infect, how is it?