So I updated the primer and added Blood Moon (am still baffled how I forgot this card ) and Nahiri. If there is anything else that might have to be fixed, let me know.
One card I've been particularly pleased with in the SB is Rakdos Charm. It can double as extra Artifact hate if needed, but the GY hate + Go-Wide hate has been especially powerful for me. At my last FNM I ran into a Sword of the Mentor deck that swung wide for double-digit lethal. Couldn't sacrifice enough thopters and landed within Bolt range (which I conveniently also had!).
I've not played Hollow One since including it, but imagine it can be useful in there as well to either shut down Ghasts and Phoenixes or kill Hollow One.
Hey everyone. I don't play the deck, but I've been helping a friend who does. I make spreadsheets that help me (and others who play the same decks I do) use data to make deck adjustments. My friend asked me if I'd make one for this deck, which I did. I figured that you all might be interested in it, too, using it to enter in your own data and continuing to watch how individual cards perform. You can find the spreadsheet here. If you want editing access, just send me a PM with your email address and I can grant it (or you can make a copy and have your own personal one, if you want). I hope you find it useful! If anyone has any questions about what exactly the sheet is doing (calculating weight for sample size, calculating diminishing returns, etc.), just lemme know and I'll go through it.
Thanks for the great primer! I recently switched to this deck after playing Mardu Tokens for a long while, as I had most of the pieces already. I had a couple questions about some cards I used in that shell, basically wondering if they might work in Mardu Pyromancer as well. I only play paper and not very often, so I would appreciate the advice of some more practiced players.
My decklist, for reference. Since I play infrequently and at different stores, I would appreciate advice in the context of an unknown/generalized meta.
Sorin, Solemn Visitor
The lifegain is powerful, in addition to increasing the clock. Can make a token if necessary. Too win-more?
Shambling Vent
Additional white source, and I always liked having a creature land around. Is the manabase too tight to support a tap-land?
Vault of the Archangel
Lifegain is good, and the deathtouch is great in creature matchups. Does it dilute the manabase, can we afford a colorless land?
Side:
Path to Exile
I was thinking about how to deal with sticky creatures, especially Wurmcoil Engine. Can also hit creatures otherwise immune to our removal, e.g. Auriok Champion.
Kolaghan, the Storm's Fury
Finisher that pumps the team, can be made immune to sorcery-speed removal. Too win-more and/or mana intensive?
Misc:
Mana Tithe
A personal favorite fun-of, they never see it coming. If one were to play this, what would it take the place of?
For those wondering about budget manabases, I don't have BC Cliffs either and have been playing with fetches and shocks for quite some time (and without Arid Mesas as well ). It's not ideal, but it works really well (and I get to play the deck ). Here's my list, for anyone wondering.
On a completely unrelated note, what would you all think about a single Goblin Dark-Dwellers in the sideboard? It seems really good for grindy matches, and would be an awesome top deck to flash back something like Kolaghan's Command.
For those wondering about budget manabases, I don't have BC Cliffs either and have been playing with fetches and shocks for quite some time (and without Arid Mesas as well ). It's not ideal, but it works really well (and I get to play the deck ). Here's my list, for anyone wondering.
On a completely unrelated note, what would you all think about a single Goblin Dark-Dwellers in the sideboard? It seems really good for grindy matches, and would be an awesome top deck to flash back something like Kolaghan's Command.
I'm with you on the manabase. I've been running a similar base the last few weeks (I'm not buying BCCs... they're begging for a reprint the next time we're back in New Phyrexia and I can be patient) and have encountered very few issues. Are there times it screws you over? Of course. But at that point you're talking about percentage points and it's still more than good enough for say FNMs and low-moderate tournament activity IMO. It's most hurt my WR vs. Affinity from what I can see, but there's not much of that at my local meta.
On Dark Dwellers, I think it might be too high CMC to add much more value. For games that I get up to 5 lands in the BF, I've generally been able to stabilize and just need to ride the game out via YP and Reveler, the later of which generates better CA. Just my two cents.
I went 2-2 last night, lost to the same players I lost to at the IQ (Jund and Burn) and beat storm and affinity. Both losses I'd mostly stabilized but topdecks happen, I'm not too bent out of shape about it.
Also, one local had been playing Goblin Chainwhirler as a 1-of in the board because in his words, "F*** the mirror match". He's also running 3 lightning helix, with 0 Liliana mainboard (2 veil 1 last hope in the board) 0 manamorphose and 19 land (2 sacred foundry 1 plains to support it) I can't justify it, but it's interesting to think about.
Also I feel like I board out blood moon too often - I felt like I had to cut it against both burn (since i bring in all my white spells and can't cast them under BM) and Jund (molten rain answers their manlands and doesn't die to Maelstrom Pulse/Abrupt Decay.) What matchups should I be really thinking about cutting moon, and what matchups should I force myself to cut other things?
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Top 16 - 2012 Indiana State Championships Currently Playing: GBStandard - Golgari Safari MidrangeBG RBWModern - Mardu PyromancerWBR RLegacy - Good Old Fashioned BurnR
With Moon, I've also had alot of games where I sandbag it to get them to over commit, tap out, or get greedy with their mana base by only fetching duals. It becomes a pseudo timewalk if they have to spend their mainphase to deal with it, and even better if it sticks and becomes a prison.
Went 2-2 at my LGS this past FNM. A summary below:
M1: 2-1 vs. Grixis Shadow. Pretty standard match up. They had a nut hand g2 but was able to grind effectively otherwise.
M2 0-2 vs. Valakut. G1 was a blow out and I mulled down to 5. G2 i was able to get a solid lead with discard but no moon. Top decked scapeshift and won on the spot... Not much to be done.
M3: 0-2 vs. Humans. Good opening hands both games but lost gas. G2 a top decked militia bugler ended up being a big tempo pivot.
M4: 2-0 vs. Grixis Delver. Both matches were all out grind wars but I think we are better equipped. G2 was decided when I rakdos charmed to exile GY in response to a snapcaster cast.
I've noticed a lot more valakut decks popping up and am wracking my brain for how to improve this match up. A recent idea i had was to board in aven mindcensor. It can be really useful in a variety of settings based on previous experience piloting D&T and caps their land drop at 5 (assuming all 5 are mountains/valakut). What do you guys think?
I've noticed a lot more valakut decks popping up and am wracking my brain for how to improve this match up. A recent idea i had was to board in aven mindcensor. It can be really useful in a variety of settings based on previous experience piloting D&T and caps their land drop at 5 (assuming all 5 are mountains/valakut). What do you guys think?
Given the amount of searching in Modern in general, as well as some bad matchups like Tron and Valakut, it seems reasonable to test it out in the side. Were you thinking as a one-of? That way you still can leave SB room for LD and Surgical.
I was thinking of aven mindcensor as possibly a 2 off in the board. Another thought was magus of the moon for redundancy on a stick as I only run 2 moon main. Here's my sideboard as it currently stands:
The Extirpate was previously Lili TLH and Avens were Kambals. Both hadn't been used for the last few weeks. The advantage of both Aven and Magus is they can be bought back by KCommand and Moon cannot.
Creature based hate against scapeshift isn't optimal as they have 4 bolts and 4 sweltering suns/anger after sideboard against us. I'd try alpine moon - it's cheap (in both aspects), hates tron and valakut.
No need for Stony Silence here, I would cut it and play Engineered Explosives. Also would cut 1 LtLH and add the second EE.
I also think Leylines are probably not needed, I would go with a split of Spellbomb and Surgical, as surgical is also applicable vs Tron and vs Ad Naus.
I've not played Hollow One since including it, but imagine it can be useful in there as well to either shut down Ghasts and Phoenixes or kill Hollow One.
B/G Rock BG | Jund BGR | Mardu Pyromancer BRW | Ponza RG | Burn RW
I added BM/Nahiri just now and will add Helix as well.
Lantern Control
(with videos)
Uc Tron
Netdecking explained
Netdecking explained, Part 2
On speculators and counterfeits
On Interaction
Every single competitive deck in existence is designed to limit the opponent's ability to interact in a meaningful way.
Record number of exclamation points on SCG homepage: 71 (6 January, 2018)
"I don't want to believe, I want to know."
-Carl Sagan
My decklist, for reference. Since I play infrequently and at different stores, I would appreciate advice in the context of an unknown/generalized meta.
4 Young Pyromancer
2 Blood Moon
4 Faithless Looting
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Fatal Push
2 Kolaghan's Command
1 Terminate
1 Manamorphose
4 Inquisition of Kozilek
4 Lingering Souls
3 Thoughtseize
2 Collective Brutality
1 Dreadbore
1 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
4 Blackcleave Cliffs
4 Bloodstained Mire
2 Marsh Flats
2 Blood Crypt
2 Mountain
2 Swamp
1 Plains
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Shambling Vent
1 Vault of the Archangel
1 Crackling Doom
2 Engineered Explosives
2 Goblin Rabblemaster
1 Hazoret the Fervent
3 Molten Rain
1 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Path to Exile
2 Surgical Extraction
2 Wear // Tear
Main:
Sorin, Solemn Visitor
The lifegain is powerful, in addition to increasing the clock. Can make a token if necessary. Too win-more?
Shambling Vent
Additional white source, and I always liked having a creature land around. Is the manabase too tight to support a tap-land?
Vault of the Archangel
Lifegain is good, and the deathtouch is great in creature matchups. Does it dilute the manabase, can we afford a colorless land?
Side:
Path to Exile
I was thinking about how to deal with sticky creatures, especially Wurmcoil Engine. Can also hit creatures otherwise immune to our removal, e.g. Auriok Champion.
Kolaghan, the Storm's Fury
Finisher that pumps the team, can be made immune to sorcery-speed removal. Too win-more and/or mana intensive?
Misc:
Mana Tithe
A personal favorite fun-of, they never see it coming. If one were to play this, what would it take the place of?
3x Blood Crypt
4x Bloodstained Mire
1x Dragonskull Summit
3x Marsh Flats
2x Mountain
1x Plains
2x Sacred Foundry
2x Swamp
2x Wooded Foothills
Creature
4x Bedlam Reveler
4x Young Pyromancer
3x Collective Brutality
1x Dreadbore
4x Faithless Looting
4x Inquisition of Kozilek
4x Lingering Souls
3x Thoughtseize
Instant
2x Fatal Push
3x Kolaghan's Command
4x Lightning Bolt
2x Terminate
Enchantment
2x Blood Moon
1x Collective Brutality
1x Anger of the Gods
2x Engineered Explosives
2x Kambal, Consul of Allocation
1x Liliana, the Last Hope
3x Molten Rain
2x Surgical Extraction
2x Wear
1x Hazoret the Fervent
On a completely unrelated note, what would you all think about a single Goblin Dark-Dwellers in the sideboard? It seems really good for grindy matches, and would be an awesome top deck to flash back something like Kolaghan's Command.
Grixis Death's Shadow
RBW
Mardu Pyromancer
GBR
Gx Tron
I'm with you on the manabase. I've been running a similar base the last few weeks (I'm not buying BCCs... they're begging for a reprint the next time we're back in New Phyrexia and I can be patient) and have encountered very few issues. Are there times it screws you over? Of course. But at that point you're talking about percentage points and it's still more than good enough for say FNMs and low-moderate tournament activity IMO. It's most hurt my WR vs. Affinity from what I can see, but there's not much of that at my local meta.
On Dark Dwellers, I think it might be too high CMC to add much more value. For games that I get up to 5 lands in the BF, I've generally been able to stabilize and just need to ride the game out via YP and Reveler, the later of which generates better CA. Just my two cents.
B/G Rock BG | Jund BGR | Mardu Pyromancer BRW | Ponza RG | Burn RW
What is your sideboard plan against Tron in details - what do you side in and side out? What do you expect in your opener?
Also, one local had been playing Goblin Chainwhirler as a 1-of in the board because in his words, "F*** the mirror match". He's also running 3 lightning helix, with 0 Liliana mainboard (2 veil 1 last hope in the board) 0 manamorphose and 19 land (2 sacred foundry 1 plains to support it) I can't justify it, but it's interesting to think about.
Also I feel like I board out blood moon too often - I felt like I had to cut it against both burn (since i bring in all my white spells and can't cast them under BM) and Jund (molten rain answers their manlands and doesn't die to Maelstrom Pulse/Abrupt Decay.) What matchups should I be really thinking about cutting moon, and what matchups should I force myself to cut other things?
Currently Playing:
GBStandard - Golgari Safari MidrangeBG
RBWModern - Mardu PyromancerWBR
RLegacy - Good Old Fashioned BurnR
Clan Contest 3 Mafia - Mafia Co-MVP
B/G Rock BG | Jund BGR | Mardu Pyromancer BRW | Ponza RG | Burn RW
B/G Rock BG | Jund BGR | Mardu Pyromancer BRW | Ponza RG | Burn RW
Given the amount of searching in Modern in general, as well as some bad matchups like Tron and Valakut, it seems reasonable to test it out in the side. Were you thinking as a one-of? That way you still can leave SB room for LD and Surgical.
2 Nihil spellbomb
1 Extirpate (don't have surgicals)
3 molten rain
1 hazoret the fervent
1 rakdos charm
2 engineered explosives
2 wear // tear
1 collective brutality
2 aven mindcensor
The Extirpate was previously Lili TLH and Avens were Kambals. Both hadn't been used for the last few weeks. The advantage of both Aven and Magus is they can be bought back by KCommand and Moon cannot.
B/G Rock BG | Jund BGR | Mardu Pyromancer BRW | Ponza RG | Burn RW
02) Wilson Lourenço - Mardu
03) Marcelo Santana - Goryos
04) Franco Nacimento - Scapeshift
05) Marcos Resende - amulet titan
06) Luiz Guilherme - jeskai
07) Antonio Xavier - hollow one
08) Alexandre Rabelo - hollow one
09) Joao Magalhães - d&t
10) Ederson Rodrigues - moon
11) Bruno Souza
12) Raul Emery - burn
13) Rone - affinity
15) Diego Diniz - D&T
16) Daniel Rabelo BW Superfriends
18) Gustavo Garcia
19) Renato Malta - jeskai
20) Joao Paulo
21) Celso Pinto
22) Túlio Abud - affinity
23) P.O. - dredge
This is basycally my LGS in this meta Who is better Jund or Mardu Pyro? Other question in case Mardu 2 Blood and 1 LOTV or 3 blood moon?
Mardu Pyromancer
Grixis Shadow
Traverse Shadow
Jund
Abzan
The Rock
I go to Mardu
And I very happy to buy in this moment 2 The Darks Blood Moon!
Mardu Pyromancer
Grixis Shadow
Traverse Shadow
Jund
Abzan
The Rock
I also think Leylines are probably not needed, I would go with a split of Spellbomb and Surgical, as surgical is also applicable vs Tron and vs Ad Naus.
Also worth noting that it really hampers tron and is an easy switch for some of the dead removal in the deck.
Sure but the question was answered in context to the stated meta, where Stony is really not necessary.