For me the GBX decks have a bit of problems. Few good tutors means you have a hard time to cover all your bases. Discard spells vs combo, lifegain vs agro, land destruction vs tron, good creature to apply preasure, removal in general and preferably some sort of engine. Tierless Tracker and Liliana the Last Hope are good engine cards, but they only cover one base for the most part. We can discuss the semantics. But
could cover a lot of that. Good inevabilaty lategame, bar graveyeard hate. I also think it is really good with perhaps having Fulminator Mage maindeck. Seems like a good softlock like Dustbowl was in extended. Also good to just return 2 goyfs.
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I have dyslexia, no I am not going to spell check for you, yes you have to live with the horrors of it.
Seriously isn't this guy the bomb 4 drop card advantage engine that we have been looking for? Combos with souls wonderfully, grows oozes, lili's and the rest of the team if we run Township. He is bolt proof and the pro-humans is surprisingly relevant.
What do we think about 2 of him as a top end to bring back original abzan?
Seriously isn't this guy the bomb 4 drop card advantage engine that we have been looking for? Combos with souls wonderfully, grows oozes, lili's and the rest of the team if we run Township. He is bolt proof and the pro-humans is surprisingly relevant.
What do we think about 2 of him as a top end to bring back original abzan?
I think one would need a way to abuse the proliferate ability to consider this guy.
I very much like the new Yawgmoth as a card on it's own i must say.
I too have been eyeing spoilers for additions to Abzan and thusfar nothing much, but the now spoiled Kaya's Guile triggered me instantly. It has a little bit of Lili/Ooze/Souls/Finks all in one card.
Could this maybe replace one of our LotV's as a one shot removal piece with added flexibility stapled on, or should it be considered sideboard material at best?
I think that having lilis, Trackers, Oozes, Anafenza the Foremost and possible Township gives us enough value from the proliferate ability. The only which would get more out of proliferate is probably hardened scales.
Now on Kaya's Guile I do also think that is worth trying, the meta now is filled with heavy graveyard reliant strategies, such as Phoenix and Dredge, and strategies that put out single large threats, such as Tron and Valakut. And having instant speed ways to deal with those while also being good against aggro sounds like a cards that's worth running as a one of.
I have had some time to let my initial emotions on Kaya's Guile settle, and have come to the conclusion that this card is even better as i thought this morning. Half asleep, i totally missed the "choose two" line.
In my revaluation it's as close to or even better than jund's Kolaghan's Command for it's flexibility in the current meta. I'm very convinced this card will see modern play, fits one of my stronger modern decks, is pre-order worthy and i will try some number of them in my list.
I am very saddened to read the news on MTGSalvation. I have strong empathy for the site as it helped to get where I am today. Thanks, everyone for reading my primers and I hope we can continue our journey together on my website and discord server, where I still continue to post content frequently!
It has been quiet in the midrange sections of the forums lately. Knightfall does get some attention, but i feel Abzan is in a great position to grind out even the fastest graveyard decks. We can load up on-strat gave hate and have more in the sideboard. We have access to maindeck Scavenging Ooze, Kaya's Guile and even Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet. That's more that any other deck in the format if i'm not mistaken. We can only add to that from the side.
I also think that with the fast aggro currently dominating and able to operrate on a very slim manabase, the disadvantages of Path and Trophy ar neglible. Of this, i'm not quite sure. But it has happened to me before that i flood with zoo style decks with nothing else to do.
With this i must admit, modern has lost some interest since we (our playgroup) went allin on EDH and i havn't been to FNM voor over 8 months. Though if i would take my beloved Abzan deck to one now, i'd be trying to tune my traverse list to a more oldskool midrangey approach with added card draw to go trough our deck a little better.
Round 1 I easily 2-0 burn. Game 1 he put some early pressure on but I tutor for the basilisk collar off my stoneforge mystic, thinking he'd bolt the sfm. that way I could drop a goyf next turn and the collar. he let me keep the sfm but I still do that plan. I stabilize after that. Game 2 I just run over him
Round 2 I easily 2-0 a casual approach of the second sun control deck. I didn't even really get to see his plan game 1, game 2 he cast a first approach on 7 and puts himself at a comfy life total. His next turn he sacrifices an ipnu rivulet to get closer to the approach but never sees another land to cast again as lands were what he milled
Round 3 I lose to elves -02. I mull to 5 and get run over g1, g2 I wasn't able to stabilize in time
Round 4 I lose to scapeshift 1-2. game 1 he runs me over. game 2 he mulls to 5 and I don't see a green source but I win. G3 he wins off a combination of zombies from field of the dead and valakut damage as I was not able to apply enough pressure
the heaths are basically there because I don't have verdants. I put the basilisk collar in as I couldn't find any other equipment in time and there's a lot of burn in that store (which explains a bit of the sb as well]. I need some numbers of fulminator mage
I have a rather weird build of Abzan, but I beat big mana decks by running Knight of the Reliquary. Once I test more and get the list refined, I'll post it.
I have a rather weird build of Abzan, but I beat big mana decks by running Knight of the Reliquary. Once I test more and get the list refined, I'll post it.
I'm actually super interested in seeing that list. the list I posted previously is outdated, I've tuned mine to beat my largely aggro meta
Playtest vs Orhzov, 2-0.
I drew cards, played threats and removed blockers. Basically I imposed my gameplan while denying him his.
After game 2, he announced he was going to play commander and left in a hurry.
Round 1 vs Naya Burn, 2-0.
SB: +4 Spellskite, -4 Inquisition of Kozilek. Spellskite reduces damage off burn and his hand empties too fast for Inquisition of Kozilek.
I haven't seen my opponent in years and he apparently rebuilt his old deck just prior to this event.
After our match, I recommended Cindervines to him.
Round 2 vs Orhzov 2-0.
SB: none
Same playtest opponent. Same result.
This time he got really salty after our match. He announced he would play commander, found everyone else busy, then hurriedly left the venue.
Before game 1, he disclosed he's new to competitive magic. If I had to assume, I think he beats all his friends and expected the same here.
Also, I haven't researched at all so Izzet Prowess caught me off guard. I probably wouldn't have played him in a sanctioned event since I was 2-0 matches/4-0 games heading into round 3, while he was only 1-1 matches. I heard the pairings were randomized. Who knows? ¯\_()_/¯
The 3-0 winner ran Golgari Death's Shadow, which I can only assume is a budget build b/c he shouldn't be afraid of running too many shock lands. IDK what the runner up ran. I was third and my round 3 opponent finished fourth.
Playtest 2 vs Gtron, 0-1.
-He informed me I could’ve used Assassin’s Trophy on his nonbasic lands, doh! He racked up good karma later on for informing me.
Round 3 vs UGsnow, 2-0.
-SB: none.
-I was very surprised at how good his creatures were. They were all about 1 turn too slow, tempo wise, but I respected them.
For me the GBX decks have a bit of problems. Few good tutors means you have a hard time to cover all your bases. Discard spells vs combo, lifegain vs agro, land destruction vs tron, good creature to apply preasure, removal in general and preferably some sort of engine. Tierless Tracker and Liliana the Last Hope are good engine cards, but they only cover one base for the most part. We can discuss the semantics. But
And I believe that time has come because of http://www.magicspoiler.com/mtg-spoiler/yawgmoth-thran-physician/
Seriously isn't this guy the bomb 4 drop card advantage engine that we have been looking for? Combos with souls wonderfully, grows oozes, lili's and the rest of the team if we run Township. He is bolt proof and the pro-humans is surprisingly relevant.
What do we think about 2 of him as a top end to bring back original abzan?
Frenzy-Affinity-Ghost Quarter-Rock-Tokens- RGWPhyrexian Zoo- WVial KnightsStandard:
BW Knights(Rotated)Pioneer: RW Knights - BW Rally Zombies - UW Heroes
Commander:WUG
Jenara, Asura of War- WGSigarda, Host of HeronsCasualties of economicsLegacy: Good-night, sweet prince. Mono-R Burn
I too have been eyeing spoilers for additions to Abzan and thusfar nothing much, but the now spoiled Kaya's Guile triggered me instantly. It has a little bit of Lili/Ooze/Souls/Finks all in one card.
Could this maybe replace one of our LotV's as a one shot removal piece with added flexibility stapled on, or should it be considered sideboard material at best?
Modern: WUBRG Humans - GBW Traverse - GWU Knightfall - GRW Bushwhacker Zoo -
Now on Kaya's Guile I do also think that is worth trying, the meta now is filled with heavy graveyard reliant strategies, such as Phoenix and Dredge, and strategies that put out single large threats, such as Tron and Valakut. And having instant speed ways to deal with those while also being good against aggro sounds like a cards that's worth running as a one of.
In my revaluation it's as close to or even better than jund's Kolaghan's Command for it's flexibility in the current meta. I'm very convinced this card will see modern play, fits one of my stronger modern decks, is pre-order worthy and i will try some number of them in my list.
Modern: WUBRG Humans - GBW Traverse - GWU Knightfall - GRW Bushwhacker Zoo -
https://www.mtgsalvation.com/articles/49777-the-end-of-an-era
Cheers,
FlyingDelver
I also think that with the fast aggro currently dominating and able to operrate on a very slim manabase, the disadvantages of Path and Trophy ar neglible. Of this, i'm not quite sure. But it has happened to me before that i flood with zoo style decks with nothing else to do.
With this i must admit, modern has lost some interest since we (our playgroup) went allin on EDH and i havn't been to FNM voor over 8 months. Though if i would take my beloved Abzan deck to one now, i'd be trying to tune my traverse list to a more oldskool midrangey approach with added card draw to go trough our deck a little better.
2 Forest
2 Swamp
1 Plains
3 Nurturing Peatland
2 Overgrown Tomb
1 Godless Shrine
1 Temple Garden
4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Marsh Flats
1 Prismatic Vista
1 Hissing Quagmire
2 Treetop Village
Planeswalkers
3 Liliana of the Veil
1 Liliana, The Last Hope
4 Tarmogoyf
3 Dark Confidant
3 Scavenging Ooze
1 Yawgmoth, Thran Physician
1 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
Spells
3 Fatal Push
2 Path to Exile
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
3 Thoughtseize
3 Assassin's Trophy
3 Kaya's Guile
3 Lingering Souls
2 Nihil Spellbomb
2 Surgical Extraction
2 Stony Silence
2 Gaddock Teeg
2 Knight of Autumn
3 Fulminator Mage
1 Maelstrom Pulse
1 Damnation
What would everybody else be doing with the deck now that the new set is out?
Modern: WUBRG Humans - GBW Traverse - GWU Knightfall - GRW Bushwhacker Zoo -
I'm thinking of trying something with sfm in it now, I should be able to borrow the minimal parts I need for it
I'm still working on a list but will post when closer to something of a working list
Could this be the return of Siege Rhino? I would imagine he holds a sword (or skull) quite well..
Also in wondering what the best equip package is for Junk in modern? And how many SFM?
Draft My Cube!
A Spirit token is probably the best sword carrier.
What I've seen so far, is generally three - occasionally four - SFM with one sword and one Batterskull. Which sword is a point of contention.
Frenzy-Affinity-Ghost Quarter-Rock-Tokens- RGWPhyrexian Zoo- WVial KnightsStandard:
BW Knights(Rotated)Pioneer: RW Knights - BW Rally Zombies - UW Heroes
Commander:WUG
Jenara, Asura of War- WGSigarda, Host of HeronsCasualties of economicsLegacy: Good-night, sweet prince. Mono-R Burn
4x stoneforge mystic
4x tarmogoyf
3x scavenging ooze
2x grim flayer
planeswalkers
4x Liliana of the veil
artifacts
1x batterskull
1x basilisk collar
sorceries
4x lingering souls
4x inquisition of kozilek
2x thoughtseize
instants
2x fatal push
4x path to exile
2x assassin's trophy
4x windswept heath
4x marsh flats
2x godless shrine
2x overgrown tomb
1x temple garden
2x twilight mire
1x sunpetal grove
1x isolated chapel
1x silent clearing
2x forest
2x swamp
1x plains
3x leyline of the void
2x kitchen finks
1x kaya, orzhov usurper
2x collective brutality
2x kitchen finks
2x abrupt decay
1x surgical extraction
1x stony silence
1x flaying tendrils
1x celestial purge
1x revoke existence
Round 1 I easily 2-0 burn. Game 1 he put some early pressure on but I tutor for the basilisk collar off my stoneforge mystic, thinking he'd bolt the sfm. that way I could drop a goyf next turn and the collar. he let me keep the sfm but I still do that plan. I stabilize after that. Game 2 I just run over him
Round 2 I easily 2-0 a casual approach of the second sun control deck. I didn't even really get to see his plan game 1, game 2 he cast a first approach on 7 and puts himself at a comfy life total. His next turn he sacrifices an ipnu rivulet to get closer to the approach but never sees another land to cast again as lands were what he milled
Round 3 I lose to elves -02. I mull to 5 and get run over g1, g2 I wasn't able to stabilize in time
Round 4 I lose to scapeshift 1-2. game 1 he runs me over. game 2 he mulls to 5 and I don't see a green source but I win. G3 he wins off a combination of zombies from field of the dead and valakut damage as I was not able to apply enough pressure
the heaths are basically there because I don't have verdants. I put the basilisk collar in as I couldn't find any other equipment in time and there's a lot of burn in that store (which explains a bit of the sb as well]. I need some numbers of fulminator mage
rest of the numbers need a fair bit of work.
I'm actually super interested in seeing that list. the list I posted previously is outdated, I've tuned mine to beat my largely aggro meta
10 players, 3 rounds, 3rd place.
4 Birds of Paradise
4 Courser of Kruphix (4/4 w/Doran)
4 Dark Confidant
4 Doran, the Siege Tower
4 Siege Rhino
(16) Spells:
4 Abrupt Decay
4 Fatal Push
4 Inquisition of Kozilek
4 Liliana of the Veil
4 Blooming Marsh
4 Hissing Quagmire
4 Marsh Flats
4 Windswept Heath
2 Forest
2 Swamp
1 Godless Shrine
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Plains
1 Temple Garden
4 Spellskite (vs Boggles, -4 Fatal Push/vs Infect, -4 Inquisition of Kozilek. 4/4 w/Doran.)
4 Witch’s Vengeance (vs Tribal, -4 Inquisition of Kozilek)
3 Rest In Peace (vs Dredge, -3 Inquisition of Kozilek)
3 Stony Silence (vs Affinity, -3 Inquisition of Kozilek)
1 Path to Exile (4th RIP/Silence)
Notes: IMO Abzan (Doran, the Siege Tower/Siege Rhino) > Jund (Bloodbraid Elf/Lightning Bolt).
Playtest vs Orhzov, 2-0.
I drew cards, played threats and removed blockers. Basically I imposed my gameplan while denying him his.
After game 2, he announced he was going to play commander and left in a hurry.
Round 1 vs Naya Burn, 2-0.
SB: +4 Spellskite, -4 Inquisition of Kozilek.
Spellskite reduces damage off burn and his hand empties too fast for Inquisition of Kozilek.
I haven't seen my opponent in years and he apparently rebuilt his old deck just prior to this event.
After our match, I recommended Cindervines to him.
Round 2 vs Orhzov 2-0.
SB: none
Same playtest opponent. Same result.
This time he got really salty after our match. He announced he would play commander, found everyone else busy, then hurriedly left the venue.
Before game 1, he disclosed he's new to competitive magic. If I had to assume, I think he beats all his friends and expected the same here.
Round 3 vs Izzet Prowess, 1-2.
SB: +4 Spellskite, -4 Inquisition of Kozilek.
His hand empties too fast for Inquisition of Kozilek. Spellskite can redirect his burn and his Mutagenic Growths.
I lost games 2 and 3 b/c I had no removal for his Stormwing Entity. All my Fatal Pushes and Abrupt Decays looked rediculous in my hand.
Conclusion: Got too caught up in theme when I brewed this deck. Inquisition of Kozilek and Abrupt Decay only affect 3 mana or less cards. Fatal Push is only 4 mana or less. My lack of Assassin's Trophy didn't cost me until round 3. My round 3 opponent didn't even counter spell anything. I was too scared of ramping my opponents to run Assassin's Trophy. Going forward, I would +4 Assassin's Trophy, -4 Abrupt Decay.
Also, I haven't researched at all so Izzet Prowess caught me off guard. I probably wouldn't have played him in a sanctioned event since I was 2-0 matches/4-0 games heading into round 3, while he was only 1-1 matches. I heard the pairings were randomized. Who knows? ¯\_()_/¯
The 3-0 winner ran Golgari Death's Shadow, which I can only assume is a budget build b/c he shouldn't be afraid of running too many shock lands. IDK what the runner up ran. I was third and my round 3 opponent finished fourth.
limited - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vkfx2kA8gok&feature=emb_logo
limited - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3RYiZJFCK0
limited - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j18HlKybrm8&feature=emb_logo
standard - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiAEzfAgpbI
standard - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vNr_4ubfMg
standard - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJcwpxraL-g
modern - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8MyVNLVYNw
modern - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-M5ffoArnY
modern - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_yQEBOPi_w&feature=emb_logo
extended - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLpUB9zpyr4&feature=emb_logo
15 players, 3 rounds.
2-1 record, 8th place.
Decklist on moxfield.com
https://www.moxfield.com/decks/R7_X5CKJYkOY4lkeBKfIeg
Notes:
-Replaced the “mana cost package” (Abrupt Decay/Fatal Push/Inquisition of Kozilek) w/a “ramp package” (Assassin’s Trophy/Gaddock Teeg/Path to Exile.)
-Replaced Birds of Paradise/Courser of Kruphix/Hissing Quagmire with Ignoble Hierarch/Noble Hierarch/Obstinate Baloth.
Playtest vs URprowess (05/08/21 opponent), 1-0.
-Replacing my previous Abrupt Decay/Fatal Push w/today’s Assassin’s Trophy/Path to Exile gave him no outs to my removal (not even Stormwing Entity.)
Playtest 2 vs Gtron, 0-1.
-He informed me I could’ve used Assassin’s Trophy on his nonbasic lands, doh! He racked up good karma later on for informing me.
Round 1 vs RG Valakut, 2-1.
-SB: none.
-One game, I cast 2 Assassin’s Trophy on 2 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle and he Scapeshift me for 15 (2 life left.) He ran out of Mountain and I attack for lethal before he can top deck Lightning Bolt.
Round 2 vs Gtron (Playtest2 opponent), 1-2.
SB: +3 Stony Silence, -3 Obstinate Baloth.
-One game, he assembled Tron and cast Wurmcoil Engine. The following turn, he attacks w/Wurmcoil Engine so I Assassin’s Trophy his Urza's Tower during his attack step...
-(Most ppl play sorcery speed spells after attacking. If he casted a sorcery speed spell prior to attacks, I can Assassin’s Trophy that threat instead.)
-Turns out he was holding Sylvan Scrying, casts it and fetches another Urza’s Tower and casts another Wurmcoil Engine. Good game for a good guy.
Round 3 vs UGsnow, 2-0.
-SB: none.
-I was very surprised at how good his creatures were. They were all about 1 turn too slow, tempo wise, but I respected them.
Conclusion: My Abzan experiment is over.
limited - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vkfx2kA8gok&feature=emb_logo
limited - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3RYiZJFCK0
limited - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j18HlKybrm8&feature=emb_logo
standard - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiAEzfAgpbI
standard - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vNr_4ubfMg
standard - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJcwpxraL-g
modern - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8MyVNLVYNw
modern - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-M5ffoArnY
modern - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_yQEBOPi_w&feature=emb_logo
extended - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLpUB9zpyr4&feature=emb_logo