MTG Salvation

Sure, I was planning on it, just didnt have time yesterday.

Sideboarding is a bit trickier with this build. Before, at least for me, it was easy. Card draw usually bit the dust first, then perhaps Wild defiance, etc...

Keep in mind I only played one tournament with this build, so take my ideas with a grain of salt.

Vs the grixis builds, most of the MB stays unchanged. I bring in a Temple Garden for a Breeding pool, and then I swap out a BI, and a combo of two other pump spells, for 3 path to exiles (for skite, and other threats).

Vs Rug delver, it was pretty much the same. I try and mix spell pierce (maybe a 1 of) in the MB as well after game 1. It come sin handy with all the counter spells they have.

Vs Affinity, I actually bring in Elf in exchange for IS. With 4 apostle's blessings, its enough to get through for lethal, or at least take down their little guys. Plus Affinity usually does not tax their own life, they gain it, so IS is less effective.

Those were the only decks I played.

I figure vs combo decks like Ad nauseam, Storm, etc... Elf is always going to come back in after game 1, regardless of how I won (or lost) game 1. The clock is faster, and the removal is at a minimum. Just make sure to prep for enemy skites or other enchantment shenanigans.

So I took my IS list to a modern tourney today:




I went 3-0 and ID'ed into top 8. I finished 3rd.

I have to say, Im really liking this list. I played all the matchups we hate:

2-1: Grixis Delver

2-1: RUG Delver

2-0: Affinity

2-1: R/G/B/U Delver/Goyf/Tasigur

Apart from Affinity, the other games were pretty grindy, but apart from some costly misplays on my part, the deck performed stellar. Its harder to play, so it will require more calculations. Overall, I liked. IS is just a nightmare for most decks, and it does its job well. Spellskite now becomes less relevant and apostle's blessing fills its spot instead.

Like I said, the deck is not as easy as pumping and swinging, but it is fun, and it can win!

Im actually seriously considering trying this out this week. Just to see what happens if I make IS MB.



Elf in the sideboard is more matchups like combo decks, where removal is slightly lighter, and I need a slightly faster clock. Considering the meta is full of jund, grixis, etc... a hexproof, normal damage MB wincon is not necessarily a bad idea. And at its core, its still an infect deck.

Thoughts?

Mutagenic growth is free pump that allows you to finish off the game a turn or two earlier (several in hand). I am always happy to have it in hand. And If Im running 16 pumps MD, then I usually have another pump to use as well. And yes, it stops pyroclasm. I once stopped two consecutive clams with two growths. For me, its a 3-4 of.

I still think the UG build (w/ splash of white) is enough to win the types of matchups we have.

My current MB has 3 skites, 3 blessings, 2 defiances. It worked a lot better at GP Montreal in a burn, delver, twin, grixis heavy meta. Though it still needs some tweaking.

We can all dream. lol Time will tell.

How about a G for +4/+4 and protection for a color until end of turn?

Woops, got my blocks mixed up. You're right.

I would.

Its normal that not every deck gets a new toy to play with with every new expansion. Especially combo decks.

That being said, In the next expansion Return to Zendikar, I suspect they will be bringing the infect mechanic back. So we might get interesting spells, then.

I agree, I kill with regular damage a lot more often now that I am using Invisible Stalker as a SB tech. If I were to leave Paths and go to Blue removal, Id much prefer vapor snag over unsummon.
Not to mention I can't see myself wasting a bounce spell on my own creature to avoid removal. Im holding back a kill for at least 2 turns at that point. And thats usually enough for me to get killed. Id much rather save mana for protection when attacking, and cast vapor snag at my opponent's EOT.

Im not completely sold on unsommon, only because its still allows the opponent to re-cast the turn after. So if you dont kill him before then, its coming back. I suppose if you wait for the right time to strike, then its not as bad. I may try it out.

At this point Im up to MB 3 spellskite and 3 apostle's blessing. No distortion strikes in the 75.
At the recent Montreal GP, all 3 days, I saw heavy grixis, american control, twin, burn, play. I also have 2 MB Wild Defiance.

If youre going t run stalker in Sb , Id recommend wild defiance as well. I have won with IS without WD, but it would speed things up.

I was hesitant of Serum Visions before. I like it very much now.

And I never I said I will put IS in my MB. I just said, based on my experience with it so far, Id love it there

I dont plan on dividing damage any time soon as a MB plan.