I think wisp has lost quite a bit of it's allure for flickering creatures since displacer has come out. The only creature on my board that I'd flicker these days is my eternal witness.
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Your success in playing dnt/hatebears is determined largely by your ability to read and prepare for the meta that you will be playing in. Furthermore, it has an absolutely brutal learning curve. Expect to lose; a lot.
Great primer catmix. posted similar in last primer right before the switch; but until next set drops online I have been experimenting and decided to try out wall of resurgence, not in lieu of blade splicer but with it. I see what others are saying about many times there being better targets to flicker and not doing it on your Splicer. Many times this is correct based on opposing decks etc... but there does come a time when you want to turn the corner and up the clock, when to make this move is where experience comes in, and why experience with the deck is crucial. So far I am liking this build, but is far from perfect. Since there are 8 beater slots 4 Splicer 4 wall, I maxed out taxers and flicker effects. And used spellskite for protection. I was only able to get one match in my league before leaving for work and beat jeskai tempo. List posted below for reference.
I have noticed that there is a lot of lists (MonoW mostly) that do have a very little ETB effects. Typically near four. Like 4 TKS or 2 Finks + 3 Splicers. Yet, all of these have the full set of Flickerwisps. If this kind of inertia of thinking? Do we really need wisps, while playing not so many ETB guys? If there any cards that may be more userful in a build like that?
If you are targeting your own stuff with flickerwisp then you are not playing correctly 99% of the time. Wisp is for messing with your opponent 1st, and being cast normally to mess with your opponent second, and being vialed in to save your stuff third, and being cast normally to target your stuff fourth.
I think wisp has lost quite a bit of it's allure for flickering creatures since displacer has come out. The only creature on my board that I'd flicker these days is my eternal witness.
I have to disagree with your 99% theory glitter. Many tone I use wisp top black removal in current meta. Yes flickering oneness lands creatures, enchantments, ensnaring bridge is great many times but blanking removal while adding to your board presence is great, also when opponent taps out,during their second main flickering a splicer etc is many times enough to force through lethal. I do ashe that wisp is better than angel and displacer, and if displacer and wisp stick together is usually game.
With this talk of Wisp, why are people still running blade splicer? It's a three mana creature that doesn't really help against most of the meta game right now. Its a shame since it can't really block Goyf/anglerfish/Tasigur/Eldrazi by itself, also against those decks you need something to stop them, wisping splicer calls for blow outs like mentioned above, however wisping their attacker will always cut off an attack if it hits the battlefield.
Now I know I'm biased, I think I probably will be with this card. Even in Monowhite.
In my opinion, Blade splicer still has performed well in the mono w list. First strike and two bodies is still relevant, and the value in grindy games was ok. My list have resto (maybe help splicer) and my gameplan is stop they creatures in the ground while my flyers atack. First strike its very relevant sometimes, a nightmare for Nacatl, Etched champion, Goblin guide, Kitchen finks, etc.
Sorry for my bad english
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Modern: Jeskai control / Jeskai Geist
Death and taxes / UW control
However I'm Very interested in testing the new Thalia. I can't decide if i just keep running this list and just swap the 2 Wall of Resurgence's for the new thalia or if I try something similar to this
Both lists seem decent, if you're comfortable with the bw variant Already I suggest stocking to that for a large tournament until you get the comfort with the gw version. Both lists although death and taxes play out very differently. I find 1 planeswalker to be good two may be awkward, and I would prefer 23rd land in the bw version mauve iin lieu of 1 sculler.
With this talk of Wisp, why are people still running blade splicer? It's a three mana creature that doesn't really help against most of the meta game right now. Its a shame since it can't really block Goyf/anglerfish/Tasigur/Eldrazi by itself, also against those decks you need something to stop them, wisping splicer calls for blow outs like mentioned above, however wisping their attacker will always cut off an attack if it hits the battlefield.
Now I know I'm biased, I think I probably will be with this card. Even in Monowhite.
I still think Finks is a better road block these days (not including wall), since its Health and 2 bodies which are relevent. However I agree with the plan.
You have to play blade splicer, so when you run into the mirror match you have the better 3 drop
Regarding flickerwisp, i usually save it for a trick IF i have a vial. If i don't and need to start applying pressure/get value, i use it on my own stuff. I think the green lists have better target for etb, like oath of nissa and eternal witness, those are worthy of a flicker. But yeah the best use of wisp is vial tricks, saving stuff, screwing an opposing play, etc.
By the way nice primer, we have a cozy new home for discussions!
Played B/W Eldrazi and Taxes to an unimpressive 1-2 finish tonight. Still tweaking some of the numbers. Most importantly there was a few times I managed to win because I identified the correct line of play, but there was one match that was basically lost due to misplay.
First game I kept a decent hand with Path, Sculler, Vial, and a few lands including a Ghost Quarter. Opponent lead with an Expedition Map and a Tron piece, meaning my hand was borderline at best. I lead with a land and vial. Turn two I hit a Tron piece with GQ. We go back and forth a bit. His deck has maindeck Wurmcoil and some beefier Eldrazi so my removal goes live. At one point I mess up my sequencing. Had I pathed a Spellskite first I could have cast Strangler eating a token. Live and learn. Ulamog hits the board. When he swings I exile the top twenty but don't hit Reality Smasher meaning I've got one top deck left to steal it. I blank and concede.
Looking back I don't have great Tron hate. I like Stony Silence better than Kataki so going forward I am going to flip the 2/1 split.
Game two I hit vial then Thalia. On my turn three I swipe a card with Sculler. I keep up the pressure and win.
Game three seems close, until i get blown out by Ugin which triggers a search for Ully.
Round 2 Eldrazi Tron
This one was weird. It's pretty much all colorless. I take over at 2 life by Flickerwisping an Endless One. A draw stepped vialed in TKS takes his potential blocker and he concedes.
I side in extra removal but not much else.
Game 2 is super slow with my opponent chaining Matter Reshapers. Ulamog and Ugin finally land and decimate my board and I lose.
Game 3 I hit Thalia, Suller and Strangler for early beats. We hit a board stall, but Lingering Soul gives me the juice I need to win.
Round 3 B/R Minotaurs
Apparently this is a thing. My opponent kept a weak hand after mulling over mulliganing, and leads Tormod's Crypt(?), Swamp, Swamp. He topdecks a turn three mountain for Bloodmoon. I led off with a Swamp so I wasn't completely screwed, but I played a turn 3 Eldrazi Temple instead of GQ. Looking back the correct play was GQ, because Temple, Temple couldn't cast anything that Quarter, Temple couldn't and I could have quartered for a Plains. This play cost me the game. He starts dropping Minotaurs and I start Strangling them away. Mogis hits and now I'm on a clock. Vial shows up and I know I have to tick it to three to flick the Moon to cast my triple path to exile. It ends up being too late as he plays really bad Minotaurs that get really good together quickly through buffs.
Game 2 I bring in removal, Purge and Anguished. I have to play around Bloodmoon so I am slowed down. I naturally draw 2 plains and a swamp and start to get aggressive, but he is churning out Minotaurs left and right. We're both top decking, but his are a lot better as I'm just churning lands.
I'm still getting used to tournament play again so I know it's an uphill road. I like the core of the deck, but ithe still needs tuning. I liked the maindeck Reality Smasher though and think Souls may be moved to the side for now.
I disagree with the opinions on Flickering own creatures. While You playing elDnT it's quite right to flicker either one of your Scullers or TKSs. Moreower, It's pretty nice to flicker your own Splicer or Wall Of Ressurgence in a grindy MU when you need pressure.
I play DnT a lot, and my expirience says that I flicker my own permanents way more often that enemies. I know about how vital can be to flicker a tron piece or a Bridge. But major part of my games is about creating pressure/disruption and killing agressively.
I've recently posted my 6-2 finish at the Saturday Power Modern at GP São Paulo in the old thread. I've got a lot of comments and questions about sideboarding and gameplan, but no response from the community. Is it too rude to post it again here? I'm unfamiliar with magic forums do's and don'ts.
Thanks for the quick response, guys! Let's give it another go:
I'm currently playing a BW Eldrazi & Taxes deck (decklist below) and decided to bring it to GP São Paulo during the weekend. Here's a quick report of my 6-2 standing (10th place!) in the Saturday Power Modern tournament at the GP:
Infect: 2-0
Seriously easy matchup, although to be fair the opponent wasn't in a great beat. I controlled his hand and creatures on game 1. Game 2 forward 2 Thoughtseizes and 2 Zealous Persecutions bring additional removal and control. Out goes Reality Smashers, my single copy of Sorin, Solemn Visitor and another not-so-obvious choice, probably 1 Leonin Arbiter or an Æther Vial. What would you guys suggest? I guess in retrospect it could also be a land as my curve goes significantly lower.
Nahiri Boros Control: 2-1
Talking about bad matchups and good luck. It was a very odd list with Blood Moons, Chalice of the Voids and super friends helping Nahiri, the Harbinger mainboard. What was specially odd in my opponent's build was the lack of spells to cast until turn 4, except for the removals targeting my creatures and occasional board wipes, also mainboarded. He takes game 1 as I can't outpace a combination of Elspeth, Sun's Champion, Gideon Jura and Nahiri herself. Post sideboard I went for all 3 copies of Thoughtseizes and Reality Smashers, taking out my almost useless, save for the processor lock, Wasteland Stranglers. Game 2 Eldrazi Temples got my Thought-Knot Seers out of my hand by turn 2, as I've managed to discard 3 (yes, 3) Blood Moons before he could cast them due to his missing land drops. Other interesting plays throughout the match were flickering Chalice of the Void to reset its counters to 0, Nahiri, the Harbinger to reset her counters, as well as flickering Gideon Jura to attack at will his Nahiri and his life total (thanks, primer!). The combination of flicker effects and smashers secured the match.
Affinity: 2-1
I was able to Flickerwisp away game 1, as I reseted counters generated by the Steel Overseer and presented a profitable blocker 3 times, eventually drawing Wasteland Stranglers and Eldrazi Displacer. Sideboarding in 3 Stony Silences and 2 Zealous Persecutions as it potentially wipes my opponent's board. Now, what to sideboard out is way more tricky. Out goes Smashers and Sorin, although he's not particularly bad in this matchup if I ever get there. Probably sided out a single Vial and an Arbiter. Mirroring my Infect matchup, it could simply be land + anything. Game 2 was really close as he races me before I take full control. Game 3 I ended up drawing a combination of the Eldrazi Displacer, Flickerwisp and Wasteland Strangler lock for the late game and started with a combination of Tidehollow Sculler, Leonin Arbiter and Ghost Quarter early game, effectively controlling my opponent's hand and his coloured lands to avoid Blood Moons. Drawing Stony Silence by turn 3 was the beginning of the end as I secured the match.
Boros Burn: 1-2
Turns out stabilizing 3 Goblin Guides by turn 2 on the draw is a tough thing to do. Not much I could have done on game 1, except drawing Thalia, Guardian of Thraben or keeping a hand with her in the first place. Sideboarded in 2 copies of Leyline of Sanctity and 2 copies of Auriok Champion. Sideboarding out the Smashers was a no-brainer, but Sorin was still very interesting. Took out an Arbiter and a single Vial as I expected some for of enchantment/artifact removal. Game 2 I had a Champion and some form of hand control. It was enough for my opponent to scoop. Game 3 I kept a good hand under normal circumstances that wasn't enough without the hate. I should mulligan more aggressively in this matchup. I believe this loss also cost me the top 8, as my opponent proceeded on losing 3 consecutive games and dropping out of the tournament. Can't do much about that.
Infect: 2-0
Very similar match to the first one. Same strategy, same results. It's either a very tough matchup for them or I got super lucky in both matches.
Eldrazi Bant: 2-0
The trick here was getting out Scullers ASAP to steal my opponent's Thought-Knot Seer before he could cast it on his turn 2. He could path my Sculler on the following turn, but opted not to. I proceeded on playing my Though-Knot Seer and he chooses to path it in response. His exiled creature gets processed to kill a mana dork on my following turn and it gets really hard for him from there. I have no real sideboard plan against this deck. I just swapped the mainboard Sorin for an additional Smasher. Game 2 was grindy, and it felt like fighting for a stable Displacer was the key to the game on both sides. The Flickerwisp + Displacer + Strangler lock was wonderful late game, effectively processing 2 TKSs and killing a Smasher with double -3/-3 effects. It is very important not to blink the opponent's Drowner of Hope. If the opponent sees attacks with this bad boy, block it and blink your creature instead.
Grixis Delver: 2-1
Another tough combination to race is double Delver on turn 2 with a blind flip on the following turn. The big villain of this matchup, though, is Kolaghan's Command, as it easily 2-1 us. I sided in 2 Rest in Peace and 2 Zealous Persecutions, as it is decent vs Delver and Snappy. I could also side in Leyline but couldn't see enough bad cards to fit it in. Thoughtseize is also a very strong contender to side in. As you can imagine, sideboarding was chaotic to say the least. Game 2 my opponent mulligans to 5, draws amazingly and fights hard, but ended up losing. Game 3 his early Tasigur, the Golden Fang was fierce, but not very good against multiple TKSs and Flickerwisp effects. His counterspell package was out of place. Spell Pierce and Spell Snare were cute Darksteel Relics vs my hand of TKSs and 3 CMC creatures.
Jund: 0-2
I was in 5th place by the last round. I just wanted to ID soo bad and secure a top 8. My opponent, 7th place, disagreed. I was nervous, sideboarded wrong, kept poor hands and flooded out. On both games I ended up on topdeck jund mode very quickly and drew mostly lands. This is definitely a matchup I need to study more. Not necessarily to understand the opposing deck as I know how it plays out, but to understand my role and sequencing in the matchup. Sideboarding is tricky, as the only thing I'm sure of is boarding in Rest in Peaces, Leyline of Sanctity and my 3rd Smasher. Still, I'm very happy with the deck and the overall result, especially because this was my first GP and second time playing the deck in a competitive environment (the first one was a FNMish modern event on the night before, does it count?). Most importantly, it was also very challenging and fun.
I hope this poorly written report is useful to someone. Feel free to make comments and ask questions. Any help is much appreciated. Here is the decklist for reference:
I'm really big on spell queller. I think it's difinitely wirth mentioning that the UW version has access to meddling mage Playing meddle on the exiled card allows you to blink queller with resto for little to no risk. I have been mono white, but I think this is a card worth splashing for, especially since it stops supreme verdict.
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4 leonin arbiter
4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
1 spellskite
4 flickerwisp
4 blade splicer
4 wall of resurgence
2 aven mindcensor
2 eldrazi displacer
3 restoration angel
4 aether vial
4 path to exile
1 elspeth, knight-errant
Lands 23
4 ghost quarter
3 tectonic edge
3 mutavault
4 flagstones of trouser
1 Horizon Canopy
8 plains
2 burrenton forge-tender
1 grafdigger's cage
2 stony silence
2 rest in peace
2 celestial purge
3 leyline of sanctity
3 ghostly prison
WDeath and TaxesW
RWGBurnGWR
If you are targeting your own stuff with flickerwisp then you are not playing correctly 99% of the time. Wisp is for messing with your opponent 1st, and being cast normally to mess with your opponent second, and being vialed in to save your stuff third, and being cast normally to target your stuff fourth.
Wisp is better than displacer.
WDeath and TaxesW
RWGBurnGWR
In my opinion, Blade splicer still has performed well in the mono w list. First strike and two bodies is still relevant, and the value in grindy games was ok. My list have resto (maybe help splicer) and my gameplan is stop they creatures in the ground while my flyers atack. First strike its very relevant sometimes, a nightmare for Nacatl, Etched champion, Goblin guide, Kitchen finks, etc.
Sorry for my bad english
Death and taxes / UW control
3 x Plains
2 x Swamp
2 x Shambling Vent
4 x Caves of Koilos
4 x Ghost Quarter
3 x Godless Shrine
4 x Eldrazi Temple
3 x Eldrazi Displacer
2 x Reality Smasher
4 x Flickerwisp
4 x Leonin Arbiter
3 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4 x Thought-Knot Seer
4 x Tidehollow Sculler
2 x Wall of Resurgence
4 x Wasteland Strangler
4 x AEther Vial
4 x Path to Exile
2 x Anguished Unmaking
2 x Burrenton Forge-Tender
1 x Kataki, War's Wage
1 x Kor Firewalker
1 x Reality Smasher
2 x Rest in Peace
2 x Stony Silence
2 x Timely Reinforcements
2 x Zealous Persecution
However I'm Very interested in testing the new Thalia. I can't decide if i just keep running this list and just swap the 2 Wall of Resurgence's for the new thalia or if I try something similar to this
1x Eiganjo Castle
1x Flagstones of Trokair
1x Forest
1x Gavony Township
4x Ghost Quarter
2x Mutavault
3x Plains
4x Razorverge Thicket
2x Stirring Wildwood
1x Tectonic Edge
3x Temple Garden
4x Flickerwisp
4x Leonin Arbiter
4x Noble Hierarch
2x Qasali Pridemage
2x Restoration Angel
2x Scavenging Ooze
1x Spellskite
3x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3x Thalia, Heretic Cathar
4x AEther Vial
2x Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
Has anyone tested thalia in either style list yet??
All opinions welcome.
Thanks
WDeath and TaxesW
RWGBurnGWR
You have to play blade splicer, so when you run into the mirror match you have the better 3 drop
By the way nice primer, we have a cozy new home for discussions!
4 Godless Shrine
4 Eldrazi Temple
4 Ghost Quarter
1 Vault of the Archangel
2 Shambling Vent
3 Plains
1 Swamp
4 Leonin Arbiter
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4 Tidehollow Sculler
4 Wasteland Strangler
3 Eldrazi Displace
4 Flickerwisp
4 Thought-Knot Seer
1 Reality Smasher
4 Æther Vial
4 Path to Exile
2 Lingering Souls
2 Orzhov Pontiff
2 Sunscour
1 Celestial Purge
1 Rest in Peace
2 Kataki, War's Wage
1 Stony Silence
1 Anguished Unmasking
2 Spellskite
1 Linvala, Keeper of Silence
Here's a short recap.
Round 1 G/R Tron
First game I kept a decent hand with Path, Sculler, Vial, and a few lands including a Ghost Quarter. Opponent lead with an Expedition Map and a Tron piece, meaning my hand was borderline at best. I lead with a land and vial. Turn two I hit a Tron piece with GQ. We go back and forth a bit. His deck has maindeck Wurmcoil and some beefier Eldrazi so my removal goes live. At one point I mess up my sequencing. Had I pathed a Spellskite first I could have cast Strangler eating a token. Live and learn. Ulamog hits the board. When he swings I exile the top twenty but don't hit Reality Smasher meaning I've got one top deck left to steal it. I blank and concede.
Looking back I don't have great Tron hate. I like Stony Silence better than Kataki so going forward I am going to flip the 2/1 split.
Game two I hit vial then Thalia. On my turn three I swipe a card with Sculler. I keep up the pressure and win.
Game three seems close, until i get blown out by Ugin which triggers a search for Ully.
Round 2 Eldrazi Tron
This one was weird. It's pretty much all colorless. I take over at 2 life by Flickerwisping an Endless One. A draw stepped vialed in TKS takes his potential blocker and he concedes.
I side in extra removal but not much else.
Game 2 is super slow with my opponent chaining Matter Reshapers. Ulamog and Ugin finally land and decimate my board and I lose.
Game 3 I hit Thalia, Suller and Strangler for early beats. We hit a board stall, but Lingering Soul gives me the juice I need to win.
Round 3 B/R Minotaurs
Apparently this is a thing. My opponent kept a weak hand after mulling over mulliganing, and leads Tormod's Crypt(?), Swamp, Swamp. He topdecks a turn three mountain for Bloodmoon. I led off with a Swamp so I wasn't completely screwed, but I played a turn 3 Eldrazi Temple instead of GQ. Looking back the correct play was GQ, because Temple, Temple couldn't cast anything that Quarter, Temple couldn't and I could have quartered for a Plains. This play cost me the game. He starts dropping Minotaurs and I start Strangling them away. Mogis hits and now I'm on a clock. Vial shows up and I know I have to tick it to three to flick the Moon to cast my triple path to exile. It ends up being too late as he plays really bad Minotaurs that get really good together quickly through buffs.
Game 2 I bring in removal, Purge and Anguished. I have to play around Bloodmoon so I am slowed down. I naturally draw 2 plains and a swamp and start to get aggressive, but he is churning out Minotaurs left and right. We're both top decking, but his are a lot better as I'm just churning lands.
I'm still getting used to tournament play again so I know it's an uphill road. I like the core of the deck, but ithe still needs tuning. I liked the maindeck Reality Smasher though and think Souls may be moved to the side for now.
I play DnT a lot, and my expirience says that I flicker my own permanents way more often that enemies. I know about how vital can be to flicker a tron piece or a Bridge. But major part of my games is about creating pressure/disruption and killing agressively.
M.b. It's because of my own playstyle.
DnT! I'm a power-load
DnT! Watch me Explode
I've recently posted my 6-2 finish at the Saturday Power Modern at GP São Paulo in the old thread. I've got a lot of comments and questions about sideboarding and gameplan, but no response from the community. Is it too rude to post it again here? I'm unfamiliar with magic forums do's and don'ts.
Thank you very much for your patience.
BUR Grixis Death's Shadow/Control BUR & WBC Eldrazi & Taxes WBC
EDH:
UG Edric, Spymaster of Goodstuff UG
DnT! I'm a power-load
DnT! Watch me Explode
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers:
WWModern Death And Taxes (w/ Militia Bugler) (JUL '19)
GWModern Maverick (JUL '19)
WBCatmix on Twitch!
WWCatmix on Youtube
I'm currently playing a BW Eldrazi & Taxes deck (decklist below) and decided to bring it to GP São Paulo during the weekend. Here's a quick report of my 6-2 standing (10th place!) in the Saturday Power Modern tournament at the GP:
Infect: 2-0
Seriously easy matchup, although to be fair the opponent wasn't in a great beat. I controlled his hand and creatures on game 1. Game 2 forward 2 Thoughtseizes and 2 Zealous Persecutions bring additional removal and control. Out goes Reality Smashers, my single copy of Sorin, Solemn Visitor and another not-so-obvious choice, probably 1 Leonin Arbiter or an Æther Vial. What would you guys suggest? I guess in retrospect it could also be a land as my curve goes significantly lower.
Nahiri Boros Control: 2-1
Talking about bad matchups and good luck. It was a very odd list with Blood Moons, Chalice of the Voids and super friends helping Nahiri, the Harbinger mainboard. What was specially odd in my opponent's build was the lack of spells to cast until turn 4, except for the removals targeting my creatures and occasional board wipes, also mainboarded. He takes game 1 as I can't outpace a combination of Elspeth, Sun's Champion, Gideon Jura and Nahiri herself. Post sideboard I went for all 3 copies of Thoughtseizes and Reality Smashers, taking out my almost useless, save for the processor lock, Wasteland Stranglers. Game 2 Eldrazi Temples got my Thought-Knot Seers out of my hand by turn 2, as I've managed to discard 3 (yes, 3) Blood Moons before he could cast them due to his missing land drops. Other interesting plays throughout the match were flickering Chalice of the Void to reset its counters to 0, Nahiri, the Harbinger to reset her counters, as well as flickering Gideon Jura to attack at will his Nahiri and his life total (thanks, primer!). The combination of flicker effects and smashers secured the match.
Affinity: 2-1
I was able to Flickerwisp away game 1, as I reseted counters generated by the Steel Overseer and presented a profitable blocker 3 times, eventually drawing Wasteland Stranglers and Eldrazi Displacer. Sideboarding in 3 Stony Silences and 2 Zealous Persecutions as it potentially wipes my opponent's board. Now, what to sideboard out is way more tricky. Out goes Smashers and Sorin, although he's not particularly bad in this matchup if I ever get there. Probably sided out a single Vial and an Arbiter. Mirroring my Infect matchup, it could simply be land + anything. Game 2 was really close as he races me before I take full control. Game 3 I ended up drawing a combination of the Eldrazi Displacer, Flickerwisp and Wasteland Strangler lock for the late game and started with a combination of Tidehollow Sculler, Leonin Arbiter and Ghost Quarter early game, effectively controlling my opponent's hand and his coloured lands to avoid Blood Moons. Drawing Stony Silence by turn 3 was the beginning of the end as I secured the match.
Boros Burn: 1-2
Turns out stabilizing 3 Goblin Guides by turn 2 on the draw is a tough thing to do. Not much I could have done on game 1, except drawing Thalia, Guardian of Thraben or keeping a hand with her in the first place. Sideboarded in 2 copies of Leyline of Sanctity and 2 copies of Auriok Champion. Sideboarding out the Smashers was a no-brainer, but Sorin was still very interesting. Took out an Arbiter and a single Vial as I expected some for of enchantment/artifact removal. Game 2 I had a Champion and some form of hand control. It was enough for my opponent to scoop. Game 3 I kept a good hand under normal circumstances that wasn't enough without the hate. I should mulligan more aggressively in this matchup. I believe this loss also cost me the top 8, as my opponent proceeded on losing 3 consecutive games and dropping out of the tournament. Can't do much about that.
Infect: 2-0
Very similar match to the first one. Same strategy, same results. It's either a very tough matchup for them or I got super lucky in both matches.
Eldrazi Bant: 2-0
The trick here was getting out Scullers ASAP to steal my opponent's Thought-Knot Seer before he could cast it on his turn 2. He could path my Sculler on the following turn, but opted not to. I proceeded on playing my Though-Knot Seer and he chooses to path it in response. His exiled creature gets processed to kill a mana dork on my following turn and it gets really hard for him from there. I have no real sideboard plan against this deck. I just swapped the mainboard Sorin for an additional Smasher. Game 2 was grindy, and it felt like fighting for a stable Displacer was the key to the game on both sides. The Flickerwisp + Displacer + Strangler lock was wonderful late game, effectively processing 2 TKSs and killing a Smasher with double -3/-3 effects. It is very important not to blink the opponent's Drowner of Hope. If the opponent sees attacks with this bad boy, block it and blink your creature instead.
Grixis Delver: 2-1
Another tough combination to race is double Delver on turn 2 with a blind flip on the following turn. The big villain of this matchup, though, is Kolaghan's Command, as it easily 2-1 us. I sided in 2 Rest in Peace and 2 Zealous Persecutions, as it is decent vs Delver and Snappy. I could also side in Leyline but couldn't see enough bad cards to fit it in. Thoughtseize is also a very strong contender to side in. As you can imagine, sideboarding was chaotic to say the least. Game 2 my opponent mulligans to 5, draws amazingly and fights hard, but ended up losing. Game 3 his early Tasigur, the Golden Fang was fierce, but not very good against multiple TKSs and Flickerwisp effects. His counterspell package was out of place. Spell Pierce and Spell Snare were cute Darksteel Relics vs my hand of TKSs and 3 CMC creatures.
Jund: 0-2
I was in 5th place by the last round. I just wanted to ID soo bad and secure a top 8. My opponent, 7th place, disagreed. I was nervous, sideboarded wrong, kept poor hands and flooded out. On both games I ended up on topdeck jund mode very quickly and drew mostly lands. This is definitely a matchup I need to study more. Not necessarily to understand the opposing deck as I know how it plays out, but to understand my role and sequencing in the matchup. Sideboarding is tricky, as the only thing I'm sure of is boarding in Rest in Peaces, Leyline of Sanctity and my 3rd Smasher. Still, I'm very happy with the deck and the overall result, especially because this was my first GP and second time playing the deck in a competitive environment (the first one was a FNMish modern event on the night before, does it count?). Most importantly, it was also very challenging and fun.
I hope this poorly written report is useful to someone. Feel free to make comments and ask questions. Any help is much appreciated. Here is the decklist for reference:
4 Godless Shrine
4 Caves of Koilos
4 Eldrazi Temple
4 Ghost Quarter
2 Shambling Vent
1 Fetid Heath
3 Plains
2 Swamp
Creatures (28)
4 Tidehollow Sculler
4 Leonin Arbiter
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4 Flickerwisp
4 Wasteland Strangler
3 Eldrazi Displacer
4 Thought-Knot Seer
2 Reality Smasher
4 Aether Vial
4 Path to Exile
1 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
1 Reality Smasher
3 Thoughtseize
2 Auriok Champion
2 Leyline of Sanctity
2 Rest in Peace
2 Zealous Persecution
3 Stony Silence
BUR Grixis Death's Shadow/Control BUR & WBC Eldrazi & Taxes WBC
EDH:
UG Edric, Spymaster of Goodstuff UG
2 SB Leylines and 1 Sorin in MB seems quite strange for me. Did You have some real profit from that catds?
Except this two options, whole list seems quite solid, so I dont know what to comment here.
DnT! I'm a power-load
DnT! Watch me Explode
Whether these are any good in DnT or deserve their own shell is up to debate.