I've been playing the Hexdrinker/Dark Confidant list on moto for a bit. It's interesting. I've not played with bob before now and shifting gears from a more controlling Rock list has been an adjustment. I also haven't played for a bit so learning the new metagame as well. The Rock really just isn't what it used to be. Oh-well.
I was wondering though, if it isn't Tier 1 anymore, could it be focused more to prey on some portion of the field at the expense of another? There is so much graveyard shenanigans around. And I feel like even against aggro, the post board matchups still seem good. I'm wondering about just leaning into that and completely giving up on the big mana matchups. That should free up some board space. And I'd like to get some more MD graveyard interaction. Basically, what is scooze 5-6?
I was surprised at how often Hex Drinker just came down as a 4/4 pro instants. It's a pretty decent top deck and not a bad opener. Better than just playing out a ETB tapped land for sure.
But the right sort of card filtering, no? Oath of Nissa isn't the worst. I was playing a BG Eldrazi deck a while back and loaded up on Oaths and Ancient Stirrings. It was problematic because at the end of the day, we're not a xerox deck. We need to deploy threats, which means we would need something like Oath stapled onto a decent body, preferably at 2 mana. That's a tall order but the Horizons spoiler reads like a U wishlist so maybe there's hope.
I'm running her with the trackers, and they work so well together. The life gain has been good, especially since flipping her off bob hurts. What do you think the best number for her is. I'm currently only running one, but I'm thinking about running a second one in the side.
3 is too many main for sure. A 1/1 split would be fine a suspect assuming you've got the space. Basically, I suspect BG can lean just a tad towards either control or aggro. There just aren't really that many flex spots but the couple that are there basically reveal how quickly you're trying to close the game out vs how long you're willing to let it go.
Actually pretty good. Yes, she is sometimes a 4 CMC 1 for 1. Stupid Bloodbraid Elf. But if she sticks she does work. I typically drop her, minus and then just plus to cannibalize the manabase until something worthwhile hits the board. My top end are 4-drops so I could see how running her could impose a deck building constraint. The lifegain is surprisingly relevant against burn. She is stupid good alongside Tracker. I've used her ultimate a few times. Once I should have just kept the card draw engine going but a couple of times the opponent is out of cards with no board.
Boreal Druid is actually probably best in the mana dork spot. Discard seems hit or miss. It's so disappointing opening a hand with none in it. I'm not sure there's enough of a payoff for just ramping into a mid-rangy threat. "Kill the Bird" is still a thing. T2 TKS is mighty tempting though.
I've been testing Vraska but in a straight BG shell. I like her. She might not be good here though. I find I mostly just cannibalize the manabase. There's a difference doing that with 2-3 CMC topdecks and 4-5 CMC topdecks. Not sure what to cut other than Oath.
Someone on Discord put it best: "I want 1.5 Pulse." I've been running 2 but that's up in the air until I figure out how many Trophies and Fatal Pushes I wnat to run.
I have enjoyed her as a one of in my G/B rock list. Her plus ability works well with trackers. It could just be my desire to finally have a modern playable Vraska, but she seems good.
I've been running her in straight GB and been impressed. 1-2 is probably the right number. She is pretty bad in multiples. I've just used her +1 on excess lands and it has been fine. LotV into Vraska is great.
Maindeck or side?
I've actually been running 3 Main to try her out. That's too many but I wanted to make sure I actually see the card. Basically -2 Tasigar, -1 Removal from the more stock lists.
I have enjoyed her as a one of in my G/B rock list. Her plus ability works well with trackers. It could just be my desire to finally have a modern playable Vraska, but she seems good.
I've been running her in straight GB and been impressed. 1-2 is probably the right number. She is pretty bad in multiples. I've just used her +1 on excess lands and it has been fine. LotV into Vraska is great.
I'm not sure what you're asking? Are you asking how to sideboard? What cards to play if you want an edge? Or just how we feel about the matchup?
All of the above I suppose. I think GBx is definitely seeing an uptick so the mirror becomes more relevant. They go long, that's for sure, so the Discard seems less relevant but if you can get ahead, that seems to be key. It seems to be about landing a threat the can take over the game on it's own, or close out a game. The 5 CMC Nissa PW seems good here. Not really sure what can get through a 6/7 goyf though.
With this in minds the only card you lose with playing BG Rock instead of Abzan is Stony Silence which is admittedly very good card right now and the only reason I would consider playing Abzan over BG Rock.
Just run a singleton Godless Shrine for them out of the board?
Certainly not suggesting cutting Liliana. On Nixilis is prob the most direct comparison, which has seen fringe play as a 1 of, most notably Jeff Hoogland's 5-0 on Moto https://www.mtgtop8.com/search. 4 CMC is generally better than 5 CMC but yes, the more expensive PW definitely do both things better.
I think Pelt Collector could be a serious consideration for this deck depending on the build. With mine for instance, I can't poop out a bunch of dudes and make him huge very quickly but every one of our guys are huge. It's possible that it being a bad top deck is enough to not include it but I will test a couple. Things could go either way with it.
It seems like a lot of hoops for little payoff. Why is this any better than Grim Flayer for instance?
Doesn't seem good enough, it is basically a worse overcosted Maelstrom Pulse most of the time and the deck doesn't exactly fit the +2 ability really well with enough good sac' fodder.
I think you're being too hard on the card. Repeatable, Unconditional card advantage aka "+1: Draw a card," "Tap: Draw a card," or "At the beginning of your upkeep, draw a card" just doesn't exist at 4 CMC in Modern. There's what? Phyrexian Arena Avarice Amulet Bottled Cloister Kumena's Awakening
This deck should operate fine at 4-5 lands. Then, Vraska's +1 hitting lands is virtual CA. Much of Oath of Nissa's benefit is with the ETB effect. Certainly after a planeswalker has hit the board you've gotten all you can expect out of it, so it becomes another target for Vraska's +1. As far as her minus goes, there's more Modern playables at 3 CMC or less than there are at 4+ CMC. I guess it comes down to how much you expect out of her. At a single +1 activation, she becomes a 2 for 1 at the least and a 3 for 1 Virtual CA at best. Seems decent. Not saying she's a 4 of but 1 or 2 over the 75 seems reasonable.
EDIT: Regarding both Pelt Collector and Vraska (and of course Assassin's Trophy), I gotta say this is the most Standard has tempted me since Innistrad/RtR!
I was wondering though, if it isn't Tier 1 anymore, could it be focused more to prey on some portion of the field at the expense of another? There is so much graveyard shenanigans around. And I feel like even against aggro, the post board matchups still seem good. I'm wondering about just leaning into that and completely giving up on the big mana matchups. That should free up some board space. And I'd like to get some more MD graveyard interaction. Basically, what is scooze 5-6?
3 is too many main for sure. A 1/1 split would be fine a suspect assuming you've got the space. Basically, I suspect BG can lean just a tad towards either control or aggro. There just aren't really that many flex spots but the couple that are there basically reveal how quickly you're trying to close the game out vs how long you're willing to let it go.
Actually pretty good. Yes, she is sometimes a 4 CMC 1 for 1. Stupid Bloodbraid Elf. But if she sticks she does work. I typically drop her, minus and then just plus to cannibalize the manabase until something worthwhile hits the board. My top end are 4-drops so I could see how running her could impose a deck building constraint. The lifegain is surprisingly relevant against burn. She is stupid good alongside Tracker. I've used her ultimate a few times. Once I should have just kept the card draw engine going but a couple of times the opponent is out of cards with no board.
I've been testing Vraska but in a straight BG shell. I like her. She might not be good here though. I find I mostly just cannibalize the manabase. There's a difference doing that with 2-3 CMC topdecks and 4-5 CMC topdecks. Not sure what to cut other than Oath.
Someone on Discord put it best: "I want 1.5 Pulse." I've been running 2 but that's up in the air until I figure out how many Trophies and Fatal Pushes I wnat to run.
I've actually been running 3 Main to try her out. That's too many but I wanted to make sure I actually see the card. Basically -2 Tasigar, -1 Removal from the more stock lists.
I've been running her in straight GB and been impressed. 1-2 is probably the right number. She is pretty bad in multiples. I've just used her +1 on excess lands and it has been fine. LotV into Vraska is great.
All of the above I suppose. I think GBx is definitely seeing an uptick so the mirror becomes more relevant. They go long, that's for sure, so the Discard seems less relevant but if you can get ahead, that seems to be key. It seems to be about landing a threat the can take over the game on it's own, or close out a game. The 5 CMC Nissa PW seems good here. Not really sure what can get through a 6/7 goyf though.
Just run a singleton Godless Shrine for them out of the board?
It seems like a lot of hoops for little payoff. Why is this any better than Grim Flayer for instance?
I think you're being too hard on the card. Repeatable, Unconditional card advantage aka "+1: Draw a card," "Tap: Draw a card," or "At the beginning of your upkeep, draw a card" just doesn't exist at 4 CMC in Modern. There's what?
Phyrexian Arena
Avarice Amulet
Bottled Cloister
Kumena's Awakening
This deck should operate fine at 4-5 lands. Then, Vraska's +1 hitting lands is virtual CA. Much of Oath of Nissa's benefit is with the ETB effect. Certainly after a planeswalker has hit the board you've gotten all you can expect out of it, so it becomes another target for Vraska's +1. As far as her minus goes, there's more Modern playables at 3 CMC or less than there are at 4+ CMC. I guess it comes down to how much you expect out of her. At a single +1 activation, she becomes a 2 for 1 at the least and a 3 for 1 Virtual CA at best. Seems decent. Not saying she's a 4 of but 1 or 2 over the 75 seems reasonable.
EDIT: Regarding both Pelt Collector and Vraska (and of course Assassin's Trophy), I gotta say this is the most Standard has tempted me since Innistrad/RtR!
I'm a bit hesitant at moving all in on Assassin's Trophy MD. The land is for real. This is total gas for the Tron matchup.