It surely is a good card. But what would you replace with it?
My thoughts exactly. I have 1 in my sideboard for decks with legendaries, like geist, emrakul, etc, but I never know what to side out for it. Every card in the deck is so useful. I did, however, replace 2nd slaver with a second O stone in stead and a Treasure mage for a Fabricate. O stone rules!
In other news, wow, hate is getting intense online. I just faced a white weenie deck with Vial playing 4 Tec Edges AND 4 Ghost Quarters. G2 I had 6 lands destroyed. Crucible of Worlds may be a need.
I'm liking Culling Scales. In the right matchups (like this White Weenie deck) it just win games. More testing needed, though.
Death and Taxes has always played a lot of LD one ofntheir game plans is stick Arbiter and ghost quarter your lands, while taxing your spells via Thalia
The hate on MTGO is still about the same as before, the combo hate has gone up a lot however
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Modern:
Paper: WUR Waffle Control, RG and U Tron
MTGO: U Tron, BRG Living End, B Infect
Testing Modern on MTGO and helping to craft decks on a Budget I stream!
Death and Taxes has always played a lot of LD one ofntheir game plans is stick Arbiter and ghost quarter your lands, while taxing your spells via Thalia
The hate on MTGO is still about the same as before, the combo hate has gone up a lot however
Yeah, you're right (I always forget D&T is a thing). I still managed to win a game he got 2 Tec Edges, 2 Ghost Quarters, Thalia and 2 Leonin Arbiter (which is brutal with Ghost Quarter). Ratchet Bomb + Culling Scales + Repeal were key.
I've just gotten the rest of the cards I needed for the base deck and will have a chance to play it next week. Thank goodness that modern is now sanctioned for FNM.
I played Splinter Twin last time with about 2/3's of a good Splinter Twin deck. While I love that combo, I've wanted to play a Tron deck for a long time.
The meta is pretty undefined because there is only about 7 true modern decks with the rest being standard decks with a few tweaks from older cards.
4 Robots - Monoblue, Tempered Steel, Blue/Black Tezz, and one of the most common build
1 Burn
1 Jund - this one is about 2/3's of the Jund list because he doesn't have goyf, bob, or thoughtseize
1 monoblack infect
So I'm looking at my sideboard options...
Have any of you looked at or tried Venarian Glimmer? Is it too reactive, too mana intensive? I haven't tested it yet but it appeared to be useful - peak at the hand, discard and best: surprise - targetted discard in monoblue?!
Only recommended cause he can be fetch by treasure mage so that's a plus. I really like the card and with the amount of mana we have being able to steal stuff from your opponent at instant speed seems good to me.
Triple blue's pretty tough though, if your opponent's not playing artifacts.
I must say I've found Platinum Angel pretty underwhelming...I'm thinking of replacing it with Steel Hellkite. Any thoughts on why Hellkite hasn't seen more play?
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Current Modern decks BGW Junk / URB Grixis Shadow / RGB Lantern Control / WUBCBant Eldrazi
Current Legacy decks BUG Shardless BUG / UWR Predict Miracles / RUG Canadian Thresh / WRBG 4c Loam UB Reanimator
I must say I've found Platinum Angel pretty underwhelming...I'm thinking of replacing it with Steel Hellkite. Any thoughts on why Hellkite hasn't seen more play?
I feel the Hellkite's really slow. The common point of all the threats Tron decks run is that they have immediate impact (Wurmcoil has immediate impact because it gains life when it blocks). Even Platinum has immediate impact in that it buys you a turn against wincon of choice (which is why it is run; it buys you a turn vs combo).
I like Platinum; I feel a lot of times it can buy you that last crucial turn you need before setting up a Slaver/SlaverLock.
Platinum Angel is good vs combo and any deck that can't deal with it. A lot of people moved it to the SB though.
On Steel Hellkite, it's good. But I just prefer +1 Wurmcoil if you want another creature. Hellkite is removed easily, while Wurmcoil is more resilient.
I'll agree, the only time I really wanted a Platinum was in one of my matches at the PTQ last week, where I needed to slow down flyers. That's pretty much the only time where I really wanted it. Hellkite is alright, but I'd almost much rather that Platinum MD be either a Spellskite or another Wurmcoil.
Run Silent Arbiter instead of O-Stone as a singleton. O-stone is only good against midrange, it is too slow against aggro. Don't play a card just because its expansive.
Run ratchet bombs (I even maindeck one). Great against aggro, just wins games.
Steel Wall is better then Spellkite. Again, do not let the card price fool you. The turn one play is key against really aggressive and ever present decks like RG or even Zoo. So Spellkite wrecks infect and boggle... how many of those you face to justify just another 2-drop in a deck clogged with those (remand/mana leak, condescend for 1, amulets, ratchet bomb, repeal for 1, etc)?
Facing aggro is all about a nice curve:
1cc - steel wall/dismember
2cc - a counter/repeal/ratchet bomb
3cc - mage or accelerated simulacrum
4cc - silent arbiter
from here onwards you are winning the game.
Finally: people used to complain about the singleton spell burst: I'm considering running more. If it's better then remand against aggro (true counter against 1/2 drops), locks out midrange and shouldn't be undiserable against control, why would I not want a couple?
Edit: forgot something important... Myr Battlesphere is excellent. Just try it. You will fetch it many times.
M2: Sided in Ratchet Bombs, Dismembers and Spellskites for Mindslavers, Trading Post and Squelch. Ratchet Bomb and Spellskite held him long enough for Wurmcoil to plow through.
M3: He got there with Bushwackers, Chieftains and Guides. I drew Dismember too late, Repeal didn't really slow his haste guys.
Game 2 - Francis with Eggs
M1: He comboed out on turn 3-4 (can't remember) with Silence back up. I feel like an ass for making him play his combo out but I wanted to see how Eggs exactly worked.
M2: I sided in Chalice and Spell Pierces for Repeals, Trading Post, Oblivion Stone, and a singleton of something I can't remember. I had enough permission to slow him down for me to win. Mindslaver was also key in buying me a turn.
M3: He tried comboing out really early but fizzled. This gave me enough time to set up a win condition. Chalice at one was key. I know he had Truths so for added protection, I had Angel along with Chalice. The game actually went to time but he scooped to me. Really nice guy.
Game 3 - Stan with RG Tron:
M1: He assembled his Tron first but my permission was key. I resolved a Wurmcoil. He responded with Karn. I Squelched Karn, Mindslaver him next turn (Karn exiling himself) and Wurmcoil got there.
M2: Sided in Spell Pierce for Trading Post and a singleton of cards that I can't remember. I mulled to six into a hand without an island. Turn 3 Karn got me.
M3: I Pierced one of his "draw" spell, Squelch his Map. He only had two lands the whole game while my Wurmcoil plowed through.
Game 4 - Jason with mirror match
It's funny how before the tournament, we were play testing the mirror with no proper conclusion.
M1: Grindy match. He got the Slaver lock first before I did. I Squelched his Mindslaver to buy me a turn, topdecked Tec Edge but he also had Squelch for it.
I asked my buddy/ride if he already dropped (he was playing standard). He dropped and I just scooped to Jason. I think he went to price placing.
Run Silent Arbiter instead of O-Stone as a singleton. O-stone is only good against midrange, it is too slow against aggro. Don't play a card just because its expansive.
Run ratchet bombs (I even maindeck one). Great against aggro, just wins games.
I'm running 1 Ratchet Bomb MD too (took out 1 Treasure Mage), and it really helps a lot of times.
Silent Arbiter is definitely something to try. Theoretically it can be too slow to have real impact, but if you manage to Remand/Repeal something and then play this T3/T4, it can be good.
I'm also trying 1 Tolaria West and 1 Dreadship Reef MD. The Reef is awesome, but I still have no conclusions on Tolaria West. Versus aggro is just too slow, versus Control it's okay, but you already have a lot of time to find Tron pieces in these MUs.
(nameless one), I keep going back and forth on MD Squelch. It looks awesome a lot of times but also totally dead often.
My main issue with something like Arbiter is that when you need it most, you either don't see it because its a singleton, or all of their removal that's dead in hand now has a target. I'm not really sold on it.
I could definitely see the Ratchet Bombs main though.
My thoughts exactly. I have 1 in my sideboard for decks with legendaries, like geist, emrakul, etc, but I never know what to side out for it. Every card in the deck is so useful. I did, however, replace 2nd slaver with a second O stone in stead and a Treasure mage for a Fabricate. O stone rules!
Death and Taxes has always played a lot of LD one ofntheir game plans is stick Arbiter and ghost quarter your lands, while taxing your spells via Thalia
The hate on MTGO is still about the same as before, the combo hate has gone up a lot however
Paper: WUR Waffle Control, RG and U Tron
MTGO: U Tron, BRG Living End, B Infect
Testing Modern on MTGO and helping to craft decks on a Budget
I stream!
Hermit Druid Combo:
He saved my ass a few times, eating a forest against infect too good
Yeah, you're right (I always forget D&T is a thing). I still managed to win a game he got 2 Tec Edges, 2 Ghost Quarters, Thalia and 2 Leonin Arbiter (which is brutal with Ghost Quarter). Ratchet Bomb + Culling Scales + Repeal were key.
Good luck!
Paper: WUR Waffle Control, RG and U Tron
MTGO: U Tron, BRG Living End, B Infect
Testing Modern on MTGO and helping to craft decks on a Budget
I stream!
Hermit Druid Combo:
I've just gotten the rest of the cards I needed for the base deck and will have a chance to play it next week. Thank goodness that modern is now sanctioned for FNM.
I played Splinter Twin last time with about 2/3's of a good Splinter Twin deck. While I love that combo, I've wanted to play a Tron deck for a long time.
The meta is pretty undefined because there is only about 7 true modern decks with the rest being standard decks with a few tweaks from older cards.
4 Robots - Monoblue, Tempered Steel, Blue/Black Tezz, and one of the most common build
1 Burn
1 Jund - this one is about 2/3's of the Jund list because he doesn't have goyf, bob, or thoughtseize
1 monoblack infect
So I'm looking at my sideboard options...
Have any of you looked at or tried Venarian Glimmer? Is it too reactive, too mana intensive? I haven't tested it yet but it appeared to be useful - peak at the hand, discard and best: surprise - targetted discard in monoblue?!
3 Dismember
3 Pithing Needle
1 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Repeal
2 Ratchet Bomb
2 Hurkyll's Recall
3 Spreading Seas
This is what I'm currently considering... The Spreading Seas are for that Inkmoth Nexus in addition to the mb tectonic rift...
I would greatly appreciate suggestions for sideboard against different matches and what you think comes out of the mainboard...
Thanks all!
That said, I've not tested it in the current meta. My main concern is fast aggro decks, so I don't know if it's worth a SB slot.
Triple blue's pretty tough though, if your opponent's not playing artifacts.
GX Tron XG
UR Phoenix RU
GG Freyalise High Tide GG
UR Parun Counterspells RU
BB Yawgmoth Token Storm BB
WB Pestilence BW
BGW Junk / URB Grixis Shadow / RGB Lantern Control / WUBCBant Eldrazi
Current Legacy decks
BUG Shardless BUG / UWR Predict Miracles / RUG Canadian Thresh / WRBG 4c Loam
UB Reanimator
I feel the Hellkite's really slow. The common point of all the threats Tron decks run is that they have immediate impact (Wurmcoil has immediate impact because it gains life when it blocks). Even Platinum has immediate impact in that it buys you a turn against wincon of choice (which is why it is run; it buys you a turn vs combo).
I like Platinum; I feel a lot of times it can buy you that last crucial turn you need before setting up a Slaver/SlaverLock.
GX Tron XG
UR Phoenix RU
GG Freyalise High Tide GG
UR Parun Counterspells RU
BB Yawgmoth Token Storm BB
WB Pestilence BW
On Steel Hellkite, it's good. But I just prefer +1 Wurmcoil if you want another creature. Hellkite is removed easily, while Wurmcoil is more resilient.
Went 2-1 facing Goblins/Eggs/RG Tron before dropping. My round four opponent was also mono-blue Tron.
Will post more when I get home.
Key on my list:
-maindecked Squelch
-Trading Post
Thanks for spiderboy4 of High~Light_Studios for the kick ass avatar.
Thanks for DarkNightCavalier of HotPS for the exceptional signature.
Run Silent Arbiter instead of O-Stone as a singleton. O-stone is only good against midrange, it is too slow against aggro. Don't play a card just because its expansive.
Run ratchet bombs (I even maindeck one). Great against aggro, just wins games.
Steel Wall is better then Spellkite. Again, do not let the card price fool you. The turn one play is key against really aggressive and ever present decks like RG or even Zoo. So Spellkite wrecks infect and boggle... how many of those you face to justify just another 2-drop in a deck clogged with those (remand/mana leak, condescend for 1, amulets, ratchet bomb, repeal for 1, etc)?
Facing aggro is all about a nice curve:
1cc - steel wall/dismember
2cc - a counter/repeal/ratchet bomb
3cc - mage or accelerated simulacrum
4cc - silent arbiter
from here onwards you are winning the game.
Finally: people used to complain about the singleton spell burst: I'm considering running more. If it's better then remand against aggro (true counter against 1/2 drops), locks out midrange and shouldn't be undiserable against control, why would I not want a couple?
Edit: forgot something important... Myr Battlesphere is excellent. Just try it. You will fetch it many times.
First the list:
8 Island
1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds
1 Tectonic Edge
4 Urza's Mine
4 Urza's Power Plant
4 Urza's Tower
1 Platinum Angel
3 Solemn Simulacrum
1 Sundering Titan
4 Treasure Mage
2 Wurmcoil Engine
4 Expedition Map
2 Mindslaver
4 Squelch
3 Repeal
3 Talisman of Dominance
4 Thirst for Knowledge
2 Trading Post
1 Oblivion Stone
3 Dismember
2 Ratchet Bomb
3 Spellskite
3 Chalice of the Void
4 Spell Pierce
Game 1 - Brock with Goblins:
M1: He went with Goblin Guides, Marshals and Loyalists. He finished me off with burn.
M2: Sided in Ratchet Bombs, Dismembers and Spellskites for Mindslavers, Trading Post and Squelch. Ratchet Bomb and Spellskite held him long enough for Wurmcoil to plow through.
M3: He got there with Bushwackers, Chieftains and Guides. I drew Dismember too late, Repeal didn't really slow his haste guys.
Game 2 - Francis with Eggs
M1: He comboed out on turn 3-4 (can't remember) with Silence back up. I feel like an ass for making him play his combo out but I wanted to see how Eggs exactly worked.
M2: I sided in Chalice and Spell Pierces for Repeals, Trading Post, Oblivion Stone, and a singleton of something I can't remember. I had enough permission to slow him down for me to win. Mindslaver was also key in buying me a turn.
M3: He tried comboing out really early but fizzled. This gave me enough time to set up a win condition. Chalice at one was key. I know he had Truths so for added protection, I had Angel along with Chalice. The game actually went to time but he scooped to me. Really nice guy.
Game 3 - Stan with RG Tron:
M1: He assembled his Tron first but my permission was key. I resolved a Wurmcoil. He responded with Karn. I Squelched Karn, Mindslaver him next turn (Karn exiling himself) and Wurmcoil got there.
M2: Sided in Spell Pierce for Trading Post and a singleton of cards that I can't remember. I mulled to six into a hand without an island. Turn 3 Karn got me.
M3: I Pierced one of his "draw" spell, Squelch his Map. He only had two lands the whole game while my Wurmcoil plowed through.
Game 4 - Jason with mirror match
It's funny how before the tournament, we were play testing the mirror with no proper conclusion.
M1: Grindy match. He got the Slaver lock first before I did. I Squelched his Mindslaver to buy me a turn, topdecked Tec Edge but he also had Squelch for it.
I asked my buddy/ride if he already dropped (he was playing standard). He dropped and I just scooped to Jason. I think he went to price placing.
The meta was a lot of Tron
Thanks for spiderboy4 of High~Light_Studios for the kick ass avatar.
Thanks for DarkNightCavalier of HotPS for the exceptional signature.
I'm running 1 Ratchet Bomb MD too (took out 1 Treasure Mage), and it really helps a lot of times.
Silent Arbiter is definitely something to try. Theoretically it can be too slow to have real impact, but if you manage to Remand/Repeal something and then play this T3/T4, it can be good.
I'm also trying 1 Tolaria West and 1 Dreadship Reef MD. The Reef is awesome, but I still have no conclusions on Tolaria West. Versus aggro is just too slow, versus Control it's okay, but you already have a lot of time to find Tron pieces in these MUs.
(nameless one), I keep going back and forth on MD Squelch. It looks awesome a lot of times but also totally dead often.
I could definitely see the Ratchet Bombs main though.
Also, O-Stone is too slow against the decks you want them on. Ratchet Bomb on the other hand...
Thanks for spiderboy4 of High~Light_Studios for the kick ass avatar.
Thanks for DarkNightCavalier of HotPS for the exceptional signature.