I really like the idea of banning a couple things to make more decks viable. I have everything for every deck in pauper, but I haven’t played for quite some time and I stopped even scanning decklists because they are all the same: Delver, Boros Monarch, Tron. Stale to say the least.
I am a high school English teacher. I have not used Magic in the classroom for lessons, but we do have a Magic club that plays at the end of the day during homeroom. I wrote a piece in defense of Magic in a school setting that you can find here.
A lone Sin Collector was indeed what I brought in. The game I did win two weeks ago saw me roll him game 2 with a Champion/Lieutenant/Image draw with Aether Vial that got him Turn 3. Game 3 I had him on the ropes and hellbent. He topdecked a Titan to decimate my board and get back his Scapeshift from Freebooter for the win the following turn. The redundancy is definitely what gets you!
Maybe another Sin Collector is in order. And chalk it up as a bit of a rough match up.
Thank you all for your advice. I stuck with the standard mana base and had no problems Friday night, going 3-1. My one loss was again to Titan Shift. It seems like they always have a timely bolt or just get there a turn sooner than I do. In side boarding, I found that I don’t have much to bring in for them. What is the usual plan?
That’s kind of what I figured, I was just a little irritated by it but it should be a rarity. Here is a list from Jukelox7 that trimmed 2 Ancient Ziggurat and went 5-0. Not sure how I feel about using Gemstone Mine and Mana Confluence though. Wouldn’t Seachrome Coast or Razorverge Thicket be better?
Forgive me if this has been covered in the 85 pages of this post, but I am seeing lists that reduce the number of Ancient Ziggurats, presumably for sideboard options. I ran into a situation where I had to mulligan my game 3 hand with a Ziggurat, Aether Vial, and all 2-3 drops. I then went through 2 no-landers (I almost kept at 5 because I had Hierarchs and whatnot) but ended up going down to four. I still almost won against TitanShift but couldn't quite get there. Any other land in my opening 7 and I feel like I beat him, so I want to trim 1-2 Ziggurats simply so I can more reliably cast that Aether Vial on turn 1.
My first thought was to replace a Ziggurat with another Seachrome Coast, but think a Razorverge Thicket would be better if the goal is to be able to cast the 1 drops more consistently (Noble Hierarch).
So, I guess my question is this: Should I simply just chalk this up to variance and bad luck on the mulls, or is this a recurring issue with this deck? If it is an issue, how do you all deal with it? Or do the solutions weaken the deck enough that we just have to live with it?
I have played with Steam Kin in mono red and it is absolutely bonkers with Bedlam Reveler. I took a week off from playing the deck, but went 4-0 and 3-1 the previous two weeks. My one loss saw me churn through more than half the deck without really seeing anything in game three.
I am torn because I love the speed and explosiveness of mono red, but the consistency of Izzet is very tempting. Has anyone played both and willing to share thoughts?
I have been playing Runaway Red but have all but the Scalding Tarns for the Izzet version. Won FNM the first time I played and went 3-1 the second time after walking into mainboarded Nihil Spellbombs. Deck is pretty fun!
Anyone have an idea for the Izzet manabase without Scalding Tarns? Unfortunately they are not in the cards (thank you, thank you very much) during the holiday season. Maybe something like:
Round 1 I played UR Storm and lost game one even after 3 Thalia’s hit the board. I won games 2 and 3 thanks to Rest In Peace and Kor Firewalker, which is a beating against this deck. Thalia does some work, too.
Round 2 I played against a Grixis Pyromancer deck. Just overwhelmed him with guys and blew him out with Brave the Elements.
Round 3 I played Mardu Pyromancer. Game 1 I overwhelmed him with Champion, Thalia, Lieutenant, Field Marshal backed up with Brave the Elements. Game 2 I kept a greedy 1 Cavern hand and paid. Game 3 The deck played out like it does and put unrelenting pressure on for the win.
Round 4 I played UW Miracles. The deck did all the things we want it to do. Game 1 I overwhelmed him with Champion + Thalia. Game 2 he miracles a Terminus at 5 life and I had 2 Field Marshals out against the hexproof guy that lets him look at the top 3 cards and take one when it attacks along with a Teferi out. He cast a Vendilion Clique during my upkeep to take whatever card I drew and in response I cast Brave the Elements naming blue and he extended the hand.
Deck is fun! I would drop Ranger from board and add another Kor Firewalker. Also might drop a Ghost Quarter and add another Plains.
I took the following list to my local LGS for my first run piloting it after following the boards for awhile and becoming intrigued with all the play this deck has to offer:
Round 1: Fight!
UR Storm (2-1 games, 1-0 overall)
Game 1: He stumbles on lands and I beat him down value-wise without revealing the combo.
Game 2: I smugly drop Shalai thinking I had some time. However, He just went off and killed the Shalai before directing the rest of the damage at me with double Grapeshot.
Game 3: I have the nuts. I go turn 1 Forest, Birds of Paradise. He Serum Visions. Turn 2 I drop Lotus Cobra, drop and crack a fetch, play Saheeli Rai. He drops Baral. Turn three I drop a Felidar Guardian and win. He had a Remand but did not respect the combo.
Round 2: Fight!
Jund (1-1-1 games, 1-0-1 overall)
Game 1: I play the attrition war and got a lot of mileage out of copying a Voice of Resurgence with Kiki-Jiki. Unfortunately, I was low on life and could not profitably attack without leaving myself vulnerable. Game went on forever and my combo was not forthcoming, but I eventually see it and get the win as time expired.
Game 2: He plays fat and shreds my hand.
Game 3: He didn't think we should even start the game as we wouldn't have enough time. I said that I would really like to see what happens. I kept a reasonable hand with Saheeli Rai, Birds of Paradise, and Oath of Nissa X 2. It seemed like my best chance to get there, but I could not find the Felidar Guardian to seal the deal and we ended up drawing.
Note: My opponent played s.l.o.w. and I unfortunately got lulled into his style and let him do it.
Round 3: Fight!
Elves (2-1 match, 2-0-1 overall)
Game 1: I have a reasonable hand, but he absolutely splooges elves all over the board and empties his hand on turn three, swinging for roughly a billion on turn four thanks to Ezuri.
Game 2: Fiery Justice decimates all of his important elves, leaving me ample time to combo off at leisure.
Game 3: My favorite Fiery Justice play of the night. He turn one forest, heritage druid. Turn two he casts Dwynen's Elite and follows that up with two more Heritage Druids and another Elvish Mystic. He did not play a land, so I Fiery Justice all of his mana dudes for a 5-for-1 as he wistfully looked at the bomb in his hand that undoubtedly would have been bad times for me had he been able to untap. We usually win after a 5-for-1.
Thoughts
The deck is great fun, though I am unsure about Sun Titan. I am considering adding Tireless Trackers to the side. Any other thoughts about the deck?
By the way, I cracked a Karn and a History of Benalia. Good times!
Maybe another Sin Collector is in order. And chalk it up as a bit of a rough match up.
Again, thanks for the feedback!
1 Anafenza, the Foremost
4 Champion of the Parish
1 Kessig Malcontents
4 Kitesail Freebooter
4 Mantis Rider
4 Meddling Mage
4 Noble Hierarch
4 Phantasmal Image
4 Reflector Mage
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4 Thalia's Lieutenant
4 Aether Vial
Lands
2 Ancient Ziggurat
4 Cavern of Souls
1 Gemstone Mine
4 Horizon Canopy
1 Island
1 Mana Confluence
1 Plains
1 Seachrome Coast
4 Unclaimed Territory
4 Auriok Champion
3 Damping Sphere
2 Deputy of Detention
1 Dismember
1 Gaddock Teeg
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Kambal, Consul of Allocation
2 Knight of Autumn
My first thought was to replace a Ziggurat with another Seachrome Coast, but think a Razorverge Thicket would be better if the goal is to be able to cast the 1 drops more consistently (Noble Hierarch).
So, I guess my question is this: Should I simply just chalk this up to variance and bad luck on the mulls, or is this a recurring issue with this deck? If it is an issue, how do you all deal with it? Or do the solutions weaken the deck enough that we just have to live with it?
Note: I do not believe a ban is necessary, but a lot of talking heads seem to be pushing this. Notably, ones who have some other pet deck...
I am torn because I love the speed and explosiveness of mono red, but the consistency of Izzet is very tempting. Has anyone played both and willing to share thoughts?
By Mike Sigrist
I have been playing Runaway Red but have all but the Scalding Tarns for the Izzet version. Won FNM the first time I played and went 3-1 the second time after walking into mainboarded Nihil Spellbombs. Deck is pretty fun!
Anyone have an idea for the Izzet manabase without Scalding Tarns? Unfortunately they are not in the cards (thank you, thank you very much) during the holiday season. Maybe something like:
4 Champion of the Parish
4 Soldier of the Pantheon
3 Kytheon, Hero of Akros
3 Thraben Inspector
4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4 Thalia's Lieutenant
4 Field Marshal
4 Militia Bugler
2 Thalia, Heretic Cathar
4 Path to Exile
4 Brave the Elements
Enchantment
1 Honor of the Pure
Lands
9 Plains
2 Cavern of Souls
2 Ghost Quarter
1 Eiganjo Castle
3 Shefet Dunes
2 Mutavault
3 Rest In Peace
2 Kor Firewalker
2 Stony Silence
2 Tocatli Honor Guard
1 Ranger of Eos
3 Damping Sphere
2 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
Round 1 I played UR Storm and lost game one even after 3 Thalia’s hit the board. I won games 2 and 3 thanks to Rest In Peace and Kor Firewalker, which is a beating against this deck. Thalia does some work, too.
Round 2 I played against a Grixis Pyromancer deck. Just overwhelmed him with guys and blew him out with Brave the Elements.
Round 3 I played Mardu Pyromancer. Game 1 I overwhelmed him with Champion, Thalia, Lieutenant, Field Marshal backed up with Brave the Elements. Game 2 I kept a greedy 1 Cavern hand and paid. Game 3 The deck played out like it does and put unrelenting pressure on for the win.
Round 4 I played UW Miracles. The deck did all the things we want it to do. Game 1 I overwhelmed him with Champion + Thalia. Game 2 he miracles a Terminus at 5 life and I had 2 Field Marshals out against the hexproof guy that lets him look at the top 3 cards and take one when it attacks along with a Teferi out. He cast a Vendilion Clique during my upkeep to take whatever card I drew and in response I cast Brave the Elements naming blue and he extended the hand.
Deck is fun! I would drop Ranger from board and add another Kor Firewalker. Also might drop a Ghost Quarter and add another Plains.
4 Birds of Paradise
4 Lotus Cobra
4 Voice of Resurgence
4 Renegade Rallier
1 Eternal Witness
1 Reflector Mage
4 Felidar Guardian
1 Shalai, Voice of Plenty
1 Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
1 Thragtusk
1 Sun Titan
Planeswalkers
4 Saheeli Rai
4 Eldritch Evolution
Enchantments
4 Oath of Nissa
Lands
4 Windswept Heath
3 Wooded Foothills
3 Flooded Strand
1 Breeding Pool
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Sacred Foundry
2 Stomping Ground
2 Temple Garden
1 Horizon Canopy
2 Forest
2 Plains
3 Fiery Justice
1 Kataki, War's Wage
1 Eidolon of Rhetoric
1 Obstinate Baloth
1 Aegis of the Gods
1 Sigarda, Host of Herons
1 Courser of Kruphix
1 Reflector Mage
1 Acidic Slime
2 Reclamation Sage
2 Worship
The tournament was three rounds.
Round 1: Fight!
UR Storm (2-1 games, 1-0 overall)
Game 1: He stumbles on lands and I beat him down value-wise without revealing the combo.
Game 2: I smugly drop Shalai thinking I had some time. However, He just went off and killed the Shalai before directing the rest of the damage at me with double Grapeshot.
Game 3: I have the nuts. I go turn 1 Forest, Birds of Paradise. He Serum Visions. Turn 2 I drop Lotus Cobra, drop and crack a fetch, play Saheeli Rai. He drops Baral. Turn three I drop a Felidar Guardian and win. He had a Remand but did not respect the combo.
Round 2: Fight!
Jund (1-1-1 games, 1-0-1 overall)
Game 1: I play the attrition war and got a lot of mileage out of copying a Voice of Resurgence with Kiki-Jiki. Unfortunately, I was low on life and could not profitably attack without leaving myself vulnerable. Game went on forever and my combo was not forthcoming, but I eventually see it and get the win as time expired.
Game 2: He plays fat and shreds my hand.
Game 3: He didn't think we should even start the game as we wouldn't have enough time. I said that I would really like to see what happens. I kept a reasonable hand with Saheeli Rai, Birds of Paradise, and Oath of Nissa X 2. It seemed like my best chance to get there, but I could not find the Felidar Guardian to seal the deal and we ended up drawing.
Note: My opponent played s.l.o.w. and I unfortunately got lulled into his style and let him do it.
Round 3: Fight!
Elves (2-1 match, 2-0-1 overall)
Game 1: I have a reasonable hand, but he absolutely splooges elves all over the board and empties his hand on turn three, swinging for roughly a billion on turn four thanks to Ezuri.
Game 2: Fiery Justice decimates all of his important elves, leaving me ample time to combo off at leisure.
Game 3: My favorite Fiery Justice play of the night. He turn one forest, heritage druid. Turn two he casts Dwynen's Elite and follows that up with two more Heritage Druids and another Elvish Mystic. He did not play a land, so I Fiery Justice all of his mana dudes for a 5-for-1 as he wistfully looked at the bomb in his hand that undoubtedly would have been bad times for me had he been able to untap. We usually win after a 5-for-1.
Thoughts
The deck is great fun, though I am unsure about Sun Titan. I am considering adding Tireless Trackers to the side. Any other thoughts about the deck?
By the way, I cracked a Karn and a History of Benalia. Good times!