The sideboard was mostly what I had on-hand/what I could borrow.
I had positive matchups most of the night, but my main issue was against BW tokens with their massive token production off of lingering souls. I still got a little lucky games 2 and 3 though and ended up going 2-1 against that deck.
I don't like Pike in decks without Geist. Once Geist and Pike are added it ends up being more like Haunted Humans than spirit delver, which focuses more on the tokens aspect than the tempo aspect.
Go with at least 3 Moorland Haunt. Consider ditching a couple of the doomed travelers for invisible stalkers. I'd probably ditch the travelers altogether in favor of 2 or 3 stalkers and at least 2 runechanter's pike. 3 would probably be better. You also need to run 4 vapor snags and 4 Gitaxian Probes. I'm not a fan of O-ring in this deck. I also don't really like the Honor of the Pures. Thought Scour is really good. Since you're running Drogskull Captain I think that Dungeon Geists would be pretty good here. Evolving wilds is the best budget mana fixer. Snapcaster is really really good. I seriously doubt he'll be reprinted and he's as cheap as he's going to get right now so even if he's kind of expensive I still consider him a good card if you're on a budget. If you decide that you can afford him then ditch a combination of stalkers, captiains and dungeon geists. I'm thinking something along these lines:
Spike cares more about the quantity of wins than the quality. For example, Spike plays ten games and wins nine of them. If Spike feels he should have won the tenth, he walks away unhappy.
i placed 4th at last weeks fnm and 7th tonight with this deck,the first time I lost 1 match to humans tonight I lost against a mageblade/delver and GR aggro.
Go with at least 3 Moorland Haunt. Consider ditching a couple of the doomed travelers for invisible stalkers. I'd probably ditch the travelers altogether in favor of 2 or 3 stalkers and at least 2 runechanter's pike. 3 would probably be better. You also need to run 4 vapor snags and 4 Gitaxian Probes. I'm not a fan of O-ring in this deck. I also don't really like the Honor of the Pures. Thought Scour is really good. Since you're running Drogskull Captain I think that Dungeon Geists would be pretty good here. Evolving wilds is the best budget mana fixer. Snapcaster is really really good. I seriously doubt he'll be reprinted and he's as cheap as he's going to get right now so even if he's kind of expensive I still consider him a good card if you're on a budget. If you decide that you can afford him then ditch a combination of stalkers, captiains and dungeon geists. I'm thinking something along these lines:
I feel like you don't understand the deck very much... many of these suggestions just aren't worth it and remove a lot of internal synergy with the deck. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the post, but a lot of these changes just changes this into a bad Pike Delver list instead of a solid Spirit Delver.
If I had more duals, I would add another Moorland Haunt in a heartbeat. However, the mana is already a little strained, so a 3rd might be pushing it.
Traveler + Honor is one of the best ways to lead a game. Traveler also helps to put pressure on a control player while not overextending. Honor is like an extra lord effect that is more difficult to remove. What this deck tries to do is to quickly put the opponent on something like a 4-turn clock with our cards, and Honor is a huge factor in that.
I agree Evolving Wilds is a solid card, but in here the tempo loss is too huge to run it. Vapor Snag is a good card, and I'll think about putting it back up to 4. I have the 4th in the board right now, so I'll test with the ratios on that.
Disclaimer: My lands and side are generally just based off of what I can borrow at the time. Sometimes my lands are 4 Glacial, sometimes I get the full 4 Seachrome, 3 Glacial, and sometimes I'm lucky to have 1 dual.
Anyway, these are the matchups I had. It might look like I'm making these results up, but it happened I swear haha:
2-0 vs GR Werewolves
2-0 vs Wolf-Run Ramp
2-0 vs UB Zombies
2-0 vs Esper Brew (ran Stonehorn, never saw Venser)
1-2 vs BW Tokens
I'm super happy about the results here. The Fiend Hunters and O-Rings helped out a bundle against the aggro decks, specifically Zombies.
BW Tokens is an abysmal match up for this deck, sadly. I only won game 2 (after a mull to 5 after 2 no-landers ) and he only got 1 land for a long time. Gonna definitely be siding more hate for that in the future.
Delver flips fairly consistently. I'm actually playing more spells now that I was in my initial list. Twenty i about how many lands I've been seeing in lists lately.
Went 3-1 at FNM today, placing 4th. Got $12 in credit, so I ended up getting a Phantasmal Image. Slowly working my way up!
I'll post an updated list tomorrow, but this is how the night played out:
2-1 vs Pike Delver (non-budget)
0-2 vs UB Zombies: Lost game 1 to drawing 7 land, lost game 2 to drawing 2 Moorland Haunt and 2 Islands :\
2-1 vs Wolf Run Ramp (same guy as last week)
2-0 vs UBHeartless Summoning
'grats on the 4th place finish sir. quick Q: are the 19 lands consistent enough? i'm thinking of upping it to 20 or 21. also thinking on changing honor of the pure to favorable winds, as it can also pump insectile aberration. wee bit changes, so as not to be branded a netdecker. hehe.
i'm saving up on glacial fortress as it will hit my wallet hard. lol. (can shimmering grotto take it's place? evolving wilds maybe?)
and, for those who don't know yet, this deck has a little trick in vapor snag and fiend hunter, so i'm not taking those hunters out just yet. =)
I like 19 land a lot right now. Seems to be the sweet spot. If you don't have any nonbasics/run Evolving (the best of the options you presented), I could see you upping up the land count.
While the Winds pumps flipped Delver, the Honor pumps Traveler. When I was thinking about this, I decided that Traveler was a more important card to pump. If you don't run Traveler, then I would go ahead and run Winds. With Traveler, Honor seems better.
Hunters and O-Rings really help against Zombie decks, too (which are popular over here). Taking way something like an Obliterator for even just a turn can be amazing for you.
Hey, I like this deck idea.. been playing around with illusions and this seems pretty close, but I like it more. I do happen to have a playset of snapcasters and phantasmal images, so could anyone recomend how to adjust the deck to fit those in? or would the deck work best without them? Thanks!
@bone_doc: Have you play tested with Divine Deflection yet? The idea comes from playing against GR aggro. We can ruin their tempo by wiping out their creatures with their own attack.
Nahadoth, you're looking at an old list! I have the most recent incarnation linked in the opening post
As for Winds vs Honor: Winds pumps Delver, while Honor pumps Traveler. Both pump the rest of the deck sans the Hunters.
Now, this is how I look at it: What needs the pump more? Ground Traveler or flip Delver? I decided Traveler would need it more, and am running with the Honor. Those Doomed Travelers stack up quickly, and a 2/2 can apply quite a lot of pressure considering there is a loss in value killing it.
I like the list, but I don't like having to run Honor of the Pure. At the same time, you are pumping pretty much everything without having to pay an equip cost, so that helps. Might have to consider something like this. Also good to see that the matchup against Wolf-Run is good, as mine seems to be pretty abysmal.
you might find this useful this is my current Delver Deck. Aka "Holy Avenger"
It started and is still on a budget (notice the lands) but I usually end up borrowing them from friends for FMN touneys
Some of your card choices seem a little sketchy, honestly.
Restoration Angel has synergy with very little. Same goes with Cackling Counterpart.
You run Champion, so I would cut the Hauntings for 1 more Gather and 2 more Mana Leak. Mass Appeal and Terminus could probably just become more Probes.
This is with no experience with your deck, so I might just be spouting nonsense.
I had positive matchups most of the night, but my main issue was against BW tokens with their massive token production off of lingering souls. I still got a little lucky games 2 and 3 though and ended up going 2-1 against that deck.
any idea with Runechanter's Pike being in this deck?
4 Delver of Secrets
3 Invisible Stalker
4 Drogskol Captain
2 Dungeon Geists
3 Runechanter's Pike
3 Thought Scour
4 Mana Leak
4 Midnight Haunting
4 Ponder
4 Vapor Snag
4 Gitaxian Probe
9 Island
1 Plains
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Evolving Wilds
3 Moorland Haunt
That pretty much sums it up...
I feel like you don't understand the deck very much... many of these suggestions just aren't worth it and remove a lot of internal synergy with the deck. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the post, but a lot of these changes just changes this into a bad Pike Delver list instead of a solid Spirit Delver.
If I had more duals, I would add another Moorland Haunt in a heartbeat. However, the mana is already a little strained, so a 3rd might be pushing it.
Traveler + Honor is one of the best ways to lead a game. Traveler also helps to put pressure on a control player while not overextending. Honor is like an extra lord effect that is more difficult to remove. What this deck tries to do is to quickly put the opponent on something like a 4-turn clock with our cards, and Honor is a huge factor in that.
I agree Evolving Wilds is a solid card, but in here the tempo loss is too huge to run it. Vapor Snag is a good card, and I'll think about putting it back up to 4. I have the 4th in the board right now, so I'll test with the ratios on that.
Right now trying to get snags/probe/haunts.
Already own a playset of Dungeon Geists.
Definitely try and get Haunts on eBay. I got both of mine in one auction for $0.99.
it's in page 2
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Doomed Traveler
4 Drogskol Captain
2 Fiend Hunter
Enchantments: 7
4 Honor of the Pure
3 Oblivion Ring
Spells: 20
4 Ponder
4 Vapor Snag
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Mana Leak
4 Midnight Haunting
7 Plains
6 Island
2 Moorland Haunt
2 Glacial Fortress
2 Seachrome Coast
3 Revoke Existence
2 Dungeon Geists
2 Urgent Exorcism
2 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
2 Mortarpod
1 Divine Offering
1 Oblivion Ring
1 Grafdiggers Cage
1 Day of Judgment
Disclaimer: My lands and side are generally just based off of what I can borrow at the time. Sometimes my lands are 4 Glacial, sometimes I get the full 4 Seachrome, 3 Glacial, and sometimes I'm lucky to have 1 dual.
Anyway, these are the matchups I had. It might look like I'm making these results up, but it happened I swear haha:
2-0 vs GR Werewolves
2-0 vs Wolf-Run Ramp
2-0 vs UB Zombies
2-0 vs Esper Brew (ran Stonehorn, never saw Venser)
1-2 vs BW Tokens
I'm super happy about the results here. The Fiend Hunters and O-Rings helped out a bundle against the aggro decks, specifically Zombies.
BW Tokens is an abysmal match up for this deck, sadly. I only won game 2 (after a mull to 5 after 2 no-landers ) and he only got 1 land for a long time. Gonna definitely be siding more hate for that in the future.
I'll post an updated list tomorrow, but this is how the night played out:
2-1 vs Pike Delver (non-budget)
0-2 vs UB Zombies: Lost game 1 to drawing 7 land, lost game 2 to drawing 2 Moorland Haunt and 2 Islands :\
2-1 vs Wolf Run Ramp (same guy as last week)
2-0 vs UB Heartless Summoning
i'm saving up on glacial fortress as it will hit my wallet hard. lol. (can shimmering grotto take it's place? evolving wilds maybe?)
and, for those who don't know yet, this deck has a little trick in vapor snag and fiend hunter, so i'm not taking those hunters out just yet. =)
While the Winds pumps flipped Delver, the Honor pumps Traveler. When I was thinking about this, I decided that Traveler was a more important card to pump. If you don't run Traveler, then I would go ahead and run Winds. With Traveler, Honor seems better.
Hunters and O-Rings really help against Zombie decks, too (which are popular over here). Taking way something like an Obliterator for even just a turn can be amazing for you.
A quick question if you don't mind, what kind of sideboard would you recommend going into a mostly unknown meta?
EDIT: Also, are you considering any additions from Avacyn Restored?
EDH
U Azami, Lady of Scrolls
GBGlissa, the Traitor
Modern
X Affinity
EDH
BUGTasigur, the Golden Fang (French 1v1)
Modern
RWG Burn
The only real staples of the side are these:
2 Dungeon Geists
2 Revoke Existence
2 Demystify
1 Oblivion Ring
1 Divine Offering
Wolf run seems to be popular, so I would maybe try some Flashfreeze as well. Celestial Purge is good against RDW and Zombies.
I used to run something vary close to this I think you should -1 Mana Leak +1Vapor Snag take out Honor of the Pure for Favorable Winds but shouldn't go over 3 maybe 4 enchantments also consider replacing Doomed Traveler and Fiend Hunter for Niblis of the Urn & Dungeon Geist and put more spells if you wanna run a Delver Deck you should be running 18-24 spells and I'd add 2 Evolving Wilds a few other spells you should consider are Faith's Shield, Terminus, Banishing Stroke, Vanishment, Feeling of Dread, Righteous Blow, Cloudshift & last but certainly not least Gut Shot
3rd at Wisconsin States 2012
Standard:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next Lvl ZombiesB//
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JUND Whedon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks to DNC @ Heroes of the Plane Studios for the Sig.
As for Winds vs Honor: Winds pumps Delver, while Honor pumps Traveler. Both pump the rest of the deck sans the Hunters.
Now, this is how I look at it: What needs the pump more? Ground Traveler or flip Delver? I decided Traveler would need it more, and am running with the Honor. Those Doomed Travelers stack up quickly, and a 2/2 can apply quite a lot of pressure considering there is a loss in value killing it.
Card reviews, web development tutorials, and more at: http://blog.wrightonlineworks.com
It started and is still on a budget (notice the lands) but I usually end up borrowing them from friends for FMN touneys
1 Phantasmal Image
1 Dungeon Geists
2 Snapcaster Mage
3 Restoration Angel
4 Champion of the Parish
4 Delver of Secrets
Spells:
1 Mass Appeal
2 Cackling Counterpart
4 Vapor Snag
4 Ponder
2 Mana Leak
1 Gitaxian Probe
3 Gather the Townsfolk
3 Midnight Haunting
2 Runechanter's Pike
1 Terminus
2 Glacial Fortress
2 Cavern of Souls
2 Evolving Wilds
2 Moorland Haunt
6 Plains
8 Island
3rd at Wisconsin States 2012
Standard:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next Lvl ZombiesB//
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JUND Whedon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks to DNC @ Heroes of the Plane Studios for the Sig.
Restoration Angel has synergy with very little. Same goes with Cackling Counterpart.
You run Champion, so I would cut the Hauntings for 1 more Gather and 2 more Mana Leak. Mass Appeal and Terminus could probably just become more Probes.
This is with no experience with your deck, so I might just be spouting nonsense.