MTG Salvation

The following list went 3-1 in a daily recently.

8-cost that doesn't win the game on resolution?

Seems bad.

I would play Clique over Specter any day, just for the Flash ability.

Quote from ttplaya

I'm assuming you are talking about the 5 mana instant which I want no part of.....5 mana just because its an instant? Lol no thanks....in a teaching deck as a 1 of maybe....

He specifically stated it was a land. As a hint, it helps you play around Mana Leak.

Quote from Preacher

VS control...there is a secret weapon in all the cards in modern that says this game is mine other control player...its a land and its uncommon...it lets you make the first move

I'm not sure how good Boseiju, Who Shelters All is maindeck. I could see packing a singleton in the sideboard, but then you have to go find it, which is no easy task. Tolaria West could help here, if you maindeck it, I guess. Actually, Tolaria maindeck isn't terrible, since you can fetch any of the Pacts (notably Negation and Slaughter). You can also grab Evermind, but that requires a lot of Arcane spells going around, which probably isn't where you want to be.

EDIT: Disregard me, Boseiju is rare. I've looked through all the uncommon lands in Modern and can't find one that just wins the control mirror outside of the manlands.

I think if this deck exists, Grixis is the way to go. The Vivid mana base is just too slow to keep up. You might even drop the big dudes and play manlands, just playing removal and countermagic to keep the board clean so you can smash face.

Run Maelstrom Pulse sideboard. Repeal is sweet and maindeckable. Cryptic bounces them. Clique beatdown works, as well.

Quote from Skinnyrabbit

I agree with the above statements but im waiting for think twice from innistrad atm.

Because tapping out for Solemn on turn 4 is generally bad. You really want Cryptic mana up on that turn.

Quote from Skinnyrabbit

DaGarver's DeckMagic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards
Land [24]: 4x Dragonskull Summit 4x Drowned Catacombs 4x Scalding Tarn 4x Swamp 4x Island 4x Mountain	Creatures [14]: 4x Solemn Simulacrum 2x Consecrated Sphinx 4x Sedraxis Specter 2x Grave Titan 2x Wurmcoil Engine Spells [20]: 4x Doom Blade 4x Mana Leak 4x Jace's Ingenuity 4x Lightning Bolt 2x Pyroclasm 2x Cruel Ultimatum	Planeswalkers [2]: 2x Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker

I think the deck would work alright. Not sure if I want inferno titans or the sphinxs in there. Thoughts?
Maybe some serum visions instead of something else?

No, this deck will work far from alright. You are running way too much top end and way too few lands. You might be a control deck (which encourages strong top end), but you certainly don't need 6 6-drops, 2 7-drops, and 2 8-drops.

First thing to do is make cuts: Jace's Ingenuity, Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker, and Pyroclasm are all either bad or subpar. Up your land total to 26 and add some spells like Think Twice, Cryptic Command, etc.

This is not Extended, this is Modern. Treat it as such. You have more cards to pull from, so use them.

• You are running way too many fetchlands. Vivids are fine and fuel the consistency of Reflecting Pool. Use them.
• Your board wipes are inconsistent. If aggro is rampant in your meta, just run Firespout and be done with it. Save your spot for Goyf.
• Blightning is kinda bad in the 4+ color version. Sub those out for something else.
• Engineered Explosives but no Academy Ruins?

Give us a complete list and we can help you tune it.

I'm finding myself in a similar situation as of late. It seems to be difficult sometimes to close out the game entirely. Having them on a hard lock is fine, but I just can't seem to capitalize on it.

The more and more I play this deck, the more and more I miss a recurring source of card advantage. Hell, I'm half tempted to play Phyrexian Arena just to have extra cards.

Actually.... that's not a terrible sideboard card for the control mirror. Thoughts?

That was my point, Lightning Bolt is almost irrelevant now.

Quote from NeoBahamutXZero

• I have removed a spot remove to

DaGarver's DeckMagic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards
2 Lightning Bolt 2 Terminate 2 Path to Exile



However, I like to run 3 sweepers, but the Damnation in there is for having a near universal solution to threats


• As for Condescend, I feel like it is much like Mana Leak or Rune Snag, as it is good in early game (I almost always leave 2 mana open turn 2 to counter something). Also, I think the Scry 2 is more important now as we lost Preordain and Ponder to smooth out our draws.
• I see your point for Pact of Negation, it was there as an experiment, I have yet to draw/tutor for it. but I think it can come in handy in counter wars where the combo player is going off and you need that extra counter to win. Times like these can be the deciding factor or winning or losing. However I see your point in drawing it early is really bad, but thats why I only have 1 :D. Also, I put in 2 Mystical Teachings since Preordain got banned, so I could teachings out my pact and counter during emergencies (again, untested)

• Why would you run 2 Bolts? Run 4 or 0, that's basically all there is to it. It's only good early game and is a dead topdeck against a lot of decks. I've elected to just cut them completely in favor of Path and Terminate.
• Condescend isn't quite like Mana Leak or Rune Snag at any point. It's not as emphatic of a permission spell in the early game (what if they play a 1 drop on turn 2? etc), nor does it really matter late game. The Scry 2 is moot. I've found Think Twice to be enough in terms of digging power. If you're desperate for that kind of draw smoothing, run something like Sleight of Hand or Serum Visions.
• Argentum used to run Teachings in his deck. That was a really big point of contention for a good portion of this thread, you can go back and see the arguments for and against it. I won't start the flame war that it was back up, but I generally didn't see the point in running an Instant/Flash tutor when my trademark spell was Sorcery speed.