It doesn't matter whether Restoration decks are control or tempo, but whether strong or not.
In my opinion,its very flexibility is one of strength.
Baneslayer Angel is not uncommon,I agree.
At GP Columbus or GP Yokohama,many of those who use Restoration deck employed her.
P.S.
There are two main reasons why some people employ Baneslayer Angel.
First,she is really strong until she's killed by some spells.
There are little ways to kill her by combat.
She'll give you enough life to win and eliminate opponent's creatures.
Second,her cost is 5 mana.
This is equal to Swords' cost plus equip cost.
Some opponent (particularly,Jund and Affinity) decide to use Grudge in order to destroy our swords.
If we suspect our opponents have Grudge in their sideboard,we can use her instead of Sword.
Fortunately,she is enough strong as well as swords.
I have good news.
Some of you have already known this:Jon Finkel and Brian Kibler use Restoration deck at 2012 Magic Players Championship.
Their list is here.
I have good news.
Some of you have already known this:Jon Finkel and Brian Kibler use Restoration deck at 2012 Magic Players Championship.
Their list is here.
war and peace is anticipating the amount of restoration angels and maybe spirit tokens. i built taiwan's deck and played it yesterday, and i wished every time that i had a WaP instead of a FaF, if not mainboard, the sideboard.
the mana leaks make more sense than remands. since you want a legit counter against other tempo decks, rather than delay their things. the snares are clearly for other counter spells, they predicted the meta correctly.
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I speak in sarcasm because calling people ******* ******** is not allowed.
It's interesting, they chose to run less islands for better mana, but open themselves up to blood moon, which very few decks are playing in that tournament.
It's interesting, they chose to run less islands for better mana, but open themselves up to blood moon, which very few decks are playing in that tournament.
How many basic lands do you think is appropriate for Restoration decks?
When we face to Blood Moon we'll choke even if we run with 4 or 5 basic lands in our decks.
Of course we can avoid this misery by running with many basic lands,but it's confusing the order of things.
After Championships,at which Jon Finkel and Brian Kibler used their Restoration deck,many people to use this deck in MagicOnline or MagicWorkStation.
That is,we have to prepare for mirror match.
Do any of you have good idea about anti-Restoration card?
I have been playing this deck since pretty much day one once modern was announced and testing with caw blade before I settled on this. Also glad people are running mana leak over remand since its just better for this deck.
I know the sideboard looks odd but that is just because I tuned it to my local meta. Although I would highly suggest Engineered Explosives over annul in the affinity match up. I was able to lay one down for 0 on the draw and blew up three permanents on turn two which one me the game. I have also found that a singleton Elspeth to be stronger than banelayer due to the fact that it doesn't just die to removal and represents a constant threat.
As decks with counter spells get more popular, you're going to want to have some number of caverns. Cavern + turn 3 geist makes you a huge favorite in any mirror match.
As decks with counter spells get more popular, you're going to want to have some number of caverns. Cavern + turn 3 geist makes you a huge favorite in any mirror match.
I know turn 3 geist is great for mirror match,but I don't want any more colorless lands.
I'd like to use Tectonic Edge or Mutavault instead of Cavern.
Is mutavault that good in this deck? It only shines with equipment. You could probably cut one for a cavern. You can also cut a tech edge for another one, but that has noticeable consequences making you weaker to man lands and tron, but then it boosts your blue deck match up.
Also doesn't this deck need some sort of card filtering? You're probably going to keep most 2 land hands, so card filtering would help you hit all your early game land drops instead of just hoping to hit them off the top.
And cheap cantrips give you something to do with snapcaster early game. I was watching Andrew Cuneo stream this deck and he had a miser's gitaxian probe. He used it to make sure he could cast his Geist and used it to see if he should clique him or his opponent.
Is mutavault that good in this deck? It only shines with equipment. You could probably cut one for a cavern. You can also cut a tech edge for another one, but that has noticeable consequences making you weaker to man lands and tron, but then it boosts your blue deck match up.
Also doesn't this deck need some sort of card filtering? You're probably going to keep most 2 land hands, so card filtering would help you hit all your early game land drops instead of just hoping to hit them off the top.
And cheap cantrips give you something to do with snapcaster early game. I was watching Andrew Cuneo stream this deck and he had a miser's gitaxian probe. He used it to make sure he could cast his Geist and used it to see if he should clique him or his opponent.
I believe 4 Tectonic Edges are necessary in this deck.
Actually,however,I sometimes doubt necessity of Mutavault.
But in mirror match or Jund,the number of Manlands we have often decide victory or defeat,so I can't help using Mutavault.
If I have to use something instead of Mutavault,I'll use additional basic lands or Moorland Haunt, but at least I don't want to use Cavern.
Card filtering is not necessary for this deck,I think.
First of all,there is no space.
Additionally,in modern,there is no good filtering cards for Restoration control.
I don't think Serum Vision, Sleight of Hand or Gitaxian Prove will shine in this deck.
Finkel/Kibler list is pretty cool. Sadly I got rid of my swords of war and peace. I have all the other swords though. I might try Fire/Ice as it least cantrips. I know sword or war and peace is to beat through the mirror, and possibly as tech versus RDW?
I don't own any Kitchen Finks either, so Ill have to get at least two copies. I don't know if there is a replacement for them honestly. For now I was considering maindeck a single Baneslayer Angel in their slot. I dont know about the other Kitchen Fink slot.
Would a fourth Vendilion Clique or baby Jace be out of the question in the two slots for Kitchen Finks? Just looking for a three drop preferrably.
Finkel/Kibler list is pretty cool. Sadly I got rid of my swords of war and peace. I have all the other swords though. I might try Fire/Ice as it least cantrips. I know sword or war and peace is to beat through the mirror, and possibly as tech versus RDW?
I don't own any Kitchen Finks either, so Ill have to get at least two copies. I don't know if there is a replacement for them honestly. For now I was considering maindeck a single Baneslayer Angel in their slot. I dont know about the other Kitchen Fink slot.
Would a fourth Vendilion Clique or baby Jace be out of the question in the two slots for Kitchen Finks? Just looking for a three drop preferrably.
How about Spellstutter Sprite constitution?
At GP Yokohama,there are some people using Spellstutter Sprite instead of Kitchen Finks.
Fortunately,Sprite is relatively cheap.
Look at the list in this thread.Number #45.
I have messed with that synergy before in other builds, and I really like it.
Has anyone thought about Horizon Canopy? It can get you out of sticky situations at times. I have played it in several white based control decks and I love it.
Sometimes Ajani is great, he works as a good finisher and sometimes he put my Glen Elendra over the top. But I have to say that most of the time he was not easy to protect, because of the lack of creatures. I really pushed my creature count to the limit for a control deck, but I couldn't protect him well enough. I really want him to be in this deck, but for me control had a big throwback.
Yea, you might be right. When I used the synergy it was (is) in a UW Midrange control deck that ends up having more creatures on the battlefield.
What are your thoughts on the new Detention Sphere? I thought about adding 2 of them, but it might be too slow. It does however help out with Tokens and Affinity (among others).
I might also try 2 Supreme Verdict (RtR) in the sideboard instead of wraths. Saves the counterspells, and allows you to throw it on 4 mana instead of having to wait with the 5th.
Hmm,no doubt Detention Sphere is a great card,but we have no space for it,I think.
To begin with,I don't like enchantment or creature without flash.
As what do you regard this deck?
UW Restoration decks' good point is a number of instants and creatures with flash.We can cast attackers or instants during opponents' turn.
But if we use many non-instant cards,what's happening?
If you want to use many non-instant cards,it's okay.But it is not UW Restoration/Mid-range control.
It's a heavy UW Control.
By the way,I pay attention to two RtR cards.
One of them is Supreme Verdict,of course.
I'll try to use instead of Wrath of God in sideboard.
But it is not me that decide whether we'll use Supereme Verdict or not.
It's a next environment,that is the number of light counters and creatures with Regenerate.
Another one is Rest in Peace.We can use such a really incredible card!
Of course we have to think about our Snapcaster Mage or Kitchen Finks.
But it's great useful cards.It works as not only an anti-gravedecks card but also anti-Tarmogoyf,Grim Lavamancer, or opponent's Snappy.
IMO *** > Supreme Verdict. To me, regeneration is a lot more relevant than unaccountability. I've also found spellstutter to be really underwhelming unless you run the full set along with some mutavaults. You really really want to be able to hit 2s with it. You've also pushed the curve up quite a bit with 2x Glen Elendra and 2x Elspeth while cutting lands. Maybe that works with the additional remands, but by pushing the curve while cutting the early action and some lands it seems like it's just begging for mana trouble.
Those cards barely see any play. I was going to say blight mamba is a problem, but apparently none of the infect decks play that card, only pauper does.
Delver decks are a decent part of the meta game, and having an uncounterable wrath is very good against them.
We are rarely on a beatdown strategy, so Remand will just buy us turn after turn.
Really? How about Tron,Red Deck Wins,Storm,and Living End?
I think we have to choose beatdown or semi-beatdown strategy if we face these decks.
But why don't you use Kitchen Finks?
There are many aggro decks in this metagames,so you may need lifegain sources,I think.
Versus Jund or Red Deck Wins,it it Finks that decide whether we'll win or lose.
If you want to use Dismember, still more.
At most ONE Dismember with a non-Kitchen constitution can be adapted,in my opinion.
And I agree resum.
I don't know whether Spellstutter Sprite is good or not at all,but Sprite without Mutavault is not strong at least.
I think Restoration control have to be with 26 lands.25 may be good,but 24 is too little.
You have too many pumping parmanent,2Elspeth and 2 Swords,so you'd better to cut two of them.
How often do you feel the 4 life for dismember is too expensive? I haven't added them, as I thought it was too expensive. Like I'm only using 2 shocklands for the same reason. What are your thoughts behind Dismember?
Of course, losing 4 life to Dismember and getting rid of their creature is better than losing 4 life to their creature and still having it beating on your face..
Edit: Dropping the 2nd dismember and losing 8 life seems very painful.
I think always paying 4 life for Dismember is too expensive.
But I also think that only 4 Path to Exile is too little.
Unfortunately,there are little white active and light removals,so if we want to use the fifth removal,we have to choose Dismember.
In my opinion,2nd Dismember without Kitchen Finks isn't acceptable.
Of course if it doesn't matter our life,it's okay,e.g. Splinter Twin Decks.
However,Shocklands are another problem.
I seldom untap them paying 2 life except for casting for t1 Spell Snare or Spell Pierce,or putting up a bluff.
I always put and tap during my main step or fetch during the end step of opponent's turn.
If you want to use the Dismember to buy time, what about using a card like Condemn instead? It works sort of (far from actually but..) Swords to Plowshares, vs. aggressive creatures. I never see it played though so it's probably bad, but what do you think about it, instead of Dismember?
Edit:
About the shocklands, I also feel that if you sit with an opening hand with only 1 island source (Hallowed Fountain) and some other white/colorless sources, throwing that Hallowed Fountain for 2 life, waiting with a Snare or Pierce sort of seems pointless.. On the other hand, if you dont pay the 2 life, he will go through with a 1/2 drop no matter what. I find shock lands problematic, and I play 4 Seachrome Coast and 4 Islands and 4 Scalding Tarn to accomodate this.
Yeah,I have tried Condemn.
But my conclusion is that I'd like to use Dismember instead of Condemn.
Of course Condemn is a good card for aggro decks,but the problem is that it can't deal with Kiki-Angel,Twins or not attacking Bob or Tim.
About the shocklands, the probability of such matter is about 11.9%.
Expectation is no more than 0.238 life per match if we always pay 2 life and untap it.
It's not so big.
I think the shocklands help me enough even if consider paying 2 life.
P.S.
I regard Dismember as "Denka no Houtou(伝家の宝刀)".(English translation is "the family’s treasured sword".This means the last resort or the trump card,that is,really effective tool but we should use it at critical moment.)
We don't have to use indiscriminately,but if we use efficiently,it help us to win.
Why don't you use Annul?
We have to deal with Affinity first.
I think Disenchant is too heavy for Affinity.
Engineered Explosives is a great card for Tokens.
If you often face Tokens,it's okay.
But I don't think there are many tokens in Modern metagames.
I think you'd better use 3rd Wrath of God instead of them if you hate tokens.
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In my opinion,its very flexibility is one of strength.
Baneslayer Angel is not uncommon,I agree.
At GP Columbus or GP Yokohama,many of those who use Restoration deck employed her.
P.S.
There are two main reasons why some people employ Baneslayer Angel.
First,she is really strong until she's killed by some spells.
There are little ways to kill her by combat.
She'll give you enough life to win and eliminate opponent's creatures.
Second,her cost is 5 mana.
This is equal to Swords' cost plus equip cost.
Some opponent (particularly,Jund and Affinity) decide to use Grudge in order to destroy our swords.
If we suspect our opponents have Grudge in their sideboard,we can use her instead of Sword.
Fortunately,she is enough strong as well as swords.
Some of you have already known this:Jon Finkel and Brian Kibler use Restoration deck at 2012 Magic Players Championship.
Their list is here.
1 Arid Mesa
4 Celestial Colonnade
1 Eiganjo Castle
3 Hallowed Fountain
3 Island
2 Mutavault
1 Plains
3 Scalding Tarn
4 Seachrome Coast
4 Tectonic Edge
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26 lands
3 Geist of Saint Traft
2 Kitchen Finks
4 Restoration Angel
4 Snapcaster Mage
3 Vendilion Clique
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16 creatures
2 Cryptic Command
2 Dismember
3 Mana Leak
4 Path to Exile
1 Remand
4 Spell Snare
2 Sword of War and Peace
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 other spells
Sideboard
2 Annul
1 Baneslayer Angel
1 Disenchant
1 Kitchen Finks
2 Negate
1 Phantasmal Image
2 Stony Silence
2 Threads of Disloyalty
1 Vendilion Clique
2 Wrath of God
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15 sideboard cards
How do you guys think about this list?
I was surprised they used Sword of War and Peace, instead of Sword of Feast and Famine.
Here is a link to the video deck tech with Finkel and Kibler talking about their choices.
the mana leaks make more sense than remands. since you want a legit counter against other tempo decks, rather than delay their things. the snares are clearly for other counter spells, they predicted the meta correctly.
How many basic lands do you think is appropriate for Restoration decks?
When we face to Blood Moon we'll choke even if we run with 4 or 5 basic lands in our decks.
Of course we can avoid this misery by running with many basic lands,but it's confusing the order of things.
After Championships,at which Jon Finkel and Brian Kibler used their Restoration deck,many people to use this deck in MagicOnline or MagicWorkStation.
That is,we have to prepare for mirror match.
Do any of you have good idea about anti-Restoration card?
4 Tectonic Edge
4 Seachrome Coast
4 Celestial Colonnade
2 Mutavault
3 Hallowed Fountain
1 Eiganjo Castle
1 Arid Mesa
3 Scalding Tarn
1 Plains
3 Island
Creatures:
4 Snapcaster Mage
3 Geist of Saint Traft
3 Restoration Angel
3 Vendilion Clique
3 Kitchen Finks
4 Spell Snare
2 Deprive
4 Path to Exile
3 Mana Leak
2 Cryptic Command
1 Dismember
Artifacts:
2 Sword of Feast and Famine
2 Spell Pierce
2 Wrath of God
2 Annul
1 Disenchant
2 Baneslayer Angel
2 Stony Silence
2 Threads of Disloyalty
2 Rest in Peace
This is my latest deck.
After all,I decide not to run with Spellstutter Sprite and Shackles.
4x Restoration Angel
3x Geist of Saint Traft
2x Vendilion Clique
3x Kitchen Finks
4x Snapcaster Mage
Noncreature Spells - 18
4x Path to Exile
2x Dismember
3x Spell Snare
3x Mana leak
2x Deprive
2x Sword of Feast and Famine
2x Cryptic Command
3x Hallowed Fountain
3x Celestial Colonnade
4x Seachrome Coast
3x Scalding Tarn
2x Arid Mesa
2x Mutavault
3x Tectonic Edge
1x Eiganjo Castle
3x Island
2x Plains
1x Vendilion Clique
1x Kitchen Finks
2x Cloudshift
1x Elspeth, Knight-Errant
3x Engineered Explosives
3x Surgical Extraction
2x Spell Pierce
2x Negate
I know the sideboard looks odd but that is just because I tuned it to my local meta. Although I would highly suggest Engineered Explosives over annul in the affinity match up. I was able to lay one down for 0 on the draw and blew up three permanents on turn two which one me the game. I have also found that a singleton Elspeth to be stronger than banelayer due to the fact that it doesn't just die to removal and represents a constant threat.
I know turn 3 geist is great for mirror match,but I don't want any more colorless lands.
I'd like to use Tectonic Edge or Mutavault instead of Cavern.
Also doesn't this deck need some sort of card filtering? You're probably going to keep most 2 land hands, so card filtering would help you hit all your early game land drops instead of just hoping to hit them off the top.
And cheap cantrips give you something to do with snapcaster early game. I was watching Andrew Cuneo stream this deck and he had a miser's gitaxian probe. He used it to make sure he could cast his Geist and used it to see if he should clique him or his opponent.
I believe 4 Tectonic Edges are necessary in this deck.
Actually,however,I sometimes doubt necessity of Mutavault.
But in mirror match or Jund,the number of Manlands we have often decide victory or defeat,so I can't help using Mutavault.
If I have to use something instead of Mutavault,I'll use additional basic lands or Moorland Haunt, but at least I don't want to use Cavern.
Card filtering is not necessary for this deck,I think.
First of all,there is no space.
Additionally,in modern,there is no good filtering cards for Restoration control.
I don't think Serum Vision, Sleight of Hand or Gitaxian Prove will shine in this deck.
I don't own any Kitchen Finks either, so Ill have to get at least two copies. I don't know if there is a replacement for them honestly. For now I was considering maindeck a single Baneslayer Angel in their slot. I dont know about the other Kitchen Fink slot.
Would a fourth Vendilion Clique or baby Jace be out of the question in the two slots for Kitchen Finks? Just looking for a three drop preferrably.
How about Spellstutter Sprite constitution?
At GP Yokohama,there are some people using Spellstutter Sprite instead of Kitchen Finks.
Fortunately,Sprite is relatively cheap.
Look at the list in this thread.Number #45.
Has anyone thought about Horizon Canopy? It can get you out of sticky situations at times. I have played it in several white based control decks and I love it.
Reprint Opt for Modern!!
FREE DIG THOROUGH TIME!
PLAY MORE ROUGE DECKS!
Reprint Opt for Modern!!
FREE DIG THOROUGH TIME!
PLAY MORE ROUGE DECKS!
Hmm,no doubt Detention Sphere is a great card,but we have no space for it,I think.
To begin with,I don't like enchantment or creature without flash.
As what do you regard this deck?
UW Restoration decks' good point is a number of instants and creatures with flash.We can cast attackers or instants during opponents' turn.
But if we use many non-instant cards,what's happening?
If you want to use many non-instant cards,it's okay.But it is not UW Restoration/Mid-range control.
It's a heavy UW Control.
By the way,I pay attention to two RtR cards.
One of them is Supreme Verdict,of course.
I'll try to use instead of Wrath of God in sideboard.
But it is not me that decide whether we'll use Supereme Verdict or not.
It's a next environment,that is the number of light counters and creatures with Regenerate.
Another one is Rest in Peace.We can use such a really incredible card!
Of course we have to think about our Snapcaster Mage or Kitchen Finks.
But it's great useful cards.It works as not only an anti-gravedecks card but also anti-Tarmogoyf,Grim Lavamancer, or opponent's Snappy.
thrun, the last troll
Troll Ascetic
Ezuri, Renegade Leader
Those cards barely see any play. I was going to say blight mamba is a problem, but apparently none of the infect decks play that card, only pauper does.
Delver decks are a decent part of the meta game, and having an uncounterable wrath is very good against them.
Really? How about Tron,Red Deck Wins,Storm,and Living End?
I think we have to choose beatdown or semi-beatdown strategy if we face these decks.
But why don't you use Kitchen Finks?
There are many aggro decks in this metagames,so you may need lifegain sources,I think.
Versus Jund or Red Deck Wins,it it Finks that decide whether we'll win or lose.
If you want to use Dismember, still more.
At most ONE Dismember with a non-Kitchen constitution can be adapted,in my opinion.
And I agree resum.
I don't know whether Spellstutter Sprite is good or not at all,but Sprite without Mutavault is not strong at least.
I think Restoration control have to be with 26 lands.25 may be good,but 24 is too little.
You have too many pumping parmanent,2Elspeth and 2 Swords,so you'd better to cut two of them.
I think always paying 4 life for Dismember is too expensive.
But I also think that only 4 Path to Exile is too little.
Unfortunately,there are little white active and light removals,so if we want to use the fifth removal,we have to choose Dismember.
In my opinion,2nd Dismember without Kitchen Finks isn't acceptable.
Of course if it doesn't matter our life,it's okay,e.g. Splinter Twin Decks.
However,Shocklands are another problem.
I seldom untap them paying 2 life except for casting for t1 Spell Snare or Spell Pierce,or putting up a bluff.
I always put and tap during my main step or fetch during the end step of opponent's turn.
Yeah,I have tried Condemn.
But my conclusion is that I'd like to use Dismember instead of Condemn.
Of course Condemn is a good card for aggro decks,but the problem is that it can't deal with Kiki-Angel,Twins or not attacking Bob or Tim.
About the shocklands, the probability of such matter is about 11.9%.
Expectation is no more than 0.238 life per match if we always pay 2 life and untap it.
It's not so big.
I think the shocklands help me enough even if consider paying 2 life.
P.S.
I regard Dismember as "Denka no Houtou(伝家の宝刀)".(English translation is "the family’s treasured sword".This means the last resort or the trump card,that is,really effective tool but we should use it at critical moment.)
We don't have to use indiscriminately,but if we use efficiently,it help us to win.
...Combust?
I suppose you mean Condemn.
Why don't you use Annul?
We have to deal with Affinity first.
I think Disenchant is too heavy for Affinity.
Engineered Explosives is a great card for Tokens.
If you often face Tokens,it's okay.
But I don't think there are many tokens in Modern metagames.
I think you'd better use 3rd Wrath of God instead of them if you hate tokens.