Idk, personally, I've never played a match and thought to myself "boy, I could win this if I was running bolts" so I fail to see the appeal. And making zoo easier seems misleading with the extra self hurt a fetch/shock setup has, on top of sieze and blossom. I'm a firm believer I'm the UB shell having enough tools to handle most situations....and I'd rather just have a bad zoo matchup and not get cute for no real reason.
So I was at the CFB 5k yesterday...had a decent start, then gave away a game I had won and sorta tilted from there, dropped at 2-4. That said....if I could do it all again, I'd definitely play UB Fae still.
I played against uwr control(2-1) kikpod(1-2, but I lost this solely due to g3 hitting double mutavault, swamp, double river of tears...with two cryptics in hand, lethal on board, but not enough blue to stop kiki/restore from killing. Easily coulda went either way, and I'm not upset about the loss at all. First time playing against this deck too) storm(2-1, easy, lost one game cause he just was on the play g2 and had the t3 grapeshot. Nothing ya can do about it) then I played affinity and I missed an attack for lethal cause I totally just didn't see a blinkmoth nexus. Easily could have pushed lethal through anyways, just punted hard and went 0-2. Should have won g1, lost g2 then had a draw(g1 was a 30+ minute game) I also was stuck on 3 lands g1 for a long time.
After this I was a little tilted, and had to play against 8rack. Veery close games all around, but I had to answer ensnaring bridge. Went 1-2, had really good games, lost g3 with lethal on board cause I didn't hit one of 4 outs in three draws to bounce a bridge and swing for lethal. Not a bad match if you can answer the bridge, just play it as a race.
This put me out of top32 contention(payout to t32) so figured I'd play till I lost just for extra practice(not enough modern events out this way IMO) and got paired against bogles. My game plan against bogles is get lucky and hope they defeat themselves lol. Lost 1-2 cause a bogle with 6 enchants, one giving life link, is pretty hard to deal with lol. So dropped and went home...
Overall, I had a lot of fun. My deck only hiccuped once or twice really, and that's easily due to variance more than anything. I have a few minor changes I'd like to test out(messing with mana base a little, cut one of my swords for a jace beleran) but overall I'm happy with it, just need more seat time behind the wheel.
My list is mostly the same as what I posted last time(tapped out link) except the sideboard slightly changed.
okay, let's move on before this turns into a full blown tantrum like last time. agree to disagree, 'cause we are no longer having a discussion, but starting an argument. let's keep the thread productive and stop with the personal attacks.
I appreciate that as I only come here looking for upgrades and report my findings if valid to the thread. Watery Grave is indeed an undervalued land here. I found this deck to a suicide run anyway and new versions look no different. Landing a sword of light and shadow is the best for pulling ahead, but 3 life can be insignificant. Have you tried Go for the Throat over Smother? Like it a little better, but the artifact battle might be a problem. I just found people playing bigger creatures to be more plentiful. Just my meta I guess.
actually in my last post, my list just upped to 2 gftt, 2 smother, 1 tragic slip, 1 agony warp as my removal suite. gftt i went with almost solely for the interaction(or lack thereof, i suppose) with spellskite. i expect to see twin and pod, which both run it, so i want ways to get around that.game 1 against robots is already pretty bad anyways, so having the dead cards isn't as big as it sounds, you'll just side them out for g2/3 there, for relevant hate. and it's a pretty small portion of the meta, and with tron not really popular atm, wurmcoils won't be as big of a problem if they show up and resolve. and i agree, the games I win with this deck are when I'm making sure, while still playing control, i'm being proactive in winning the game(ie, i'd rather use 1 faerie token to chump block, then 2 to trade for a creature, 'cause this let's me still attack with the other token and keep progressing towards endgame) the more I took the reigns, i guess, the more I could dictate the play of the game. rarely do I find myself wanting to play defense.
nope, no problems here. I rarely have issue with my watery graves, if i do, it's probably 'cause i'm losing that game anyways. the consistency is all I care about, and watery grave is consistently what I need from it.
I disagree, personally, though I can counter your argument the same way. what happens when you have a threat on board, say a v clique, and turn 4 your hand is secluded glen, cryptic, cryptic. That glen just punished you far more than 2 life for a w. Grave. I just prefer the versatility of KNOWING the mana is there if I need it, over having another potential cipt land(we already run darkslick shores and tar pits, that's a lot of cipt. As I said, its my preference, and I doubt I'd run a playset of glens over graves for that reason. Maybe I'll try a split eventually...but I want consistency, and watery grave is as consistent as anything beyond a underground sea. I'm open to discussion still, BTW, but I'd you end your statements with "your doing it wrong. GET IT" I'll just not listen anymore.
I actually prefer the watery graves, personally, never had it be an issue. And its always untapped if I need it, without worrying about having one of the 15 faeries in hand. Just a personal preference.
I prefer spell Pierce for the cryptic and battles, as well as on the draw being able to counter a scary t2 noncreaturw threat. Its not there to be a hard counter like negate. Its there for mana efficiency in the control/twin matches. I don't need MORE 2 mana counters in the sideboard, the main deck has plenty already. Plus, pierce works better with the lone snapcaster. Fringe, sure, but relevant. I have countersqualls and negates...the extra mana required makes it worse I the matches its really needed I think
Edit. I do intend on picking up secluded glens and trying them out as well....I just prefer the flexibility of not relying on other cards to get my untapped land When I need it. The only time its harsh is the t1 watery grave into tsieze
This is what I'll be running this Sunday at CFB 5k in Santa Clara. I'm pretty happy with the list, I am expecting twin, storm, zoo and uwr(both variants). Should probably expect pod as well, actually tempted to swap the phyrexian crusaders from the side for 2x hibernation for thay match in particular, and should still be useful against zoo. I'll try and take notes as much as I can at the event and do a full write up afterwards. Gonna get some testing in against naya zoo today or tomorrow to be as practiced as possible for it.
Any thoughts or suggestions? I won't be doing any drastic changes, but any minor tips or thoughts are appreciated.
If anyone's down to deal with a cockatrice noob...I'd like to dive into it for play testing purposes...I'm just really horrible at it and would need help figuring out the little things. But I'd love to try of anyone patient is gonna be around later this afternoon lol
Faeries is an aggro-control deck. This isn't neither control nor mid-range, but a different style. Our cards are versatile: with discard, you may attack your opponent's answers to our threats or their own threats; counterspells work the same way; Snapcaster Mage range of use goes from recycling a Cryptic Command late game, to being an aggressive beater early, or provide some defense against aggressive decks by recycling cheap removal and chump-blocking; cards like Mistbind Clique or Vendilion Clique can be casted on the typical upkeep and draw step against proactive decks that work at sorcery speed to disrupt their game, or whenever your opponent can't respond to them (which also includes your own main phases) against reactive decks that work at instant speed. Even there is a right moment to land Bitterblossom onto the battlefield that varies depending on many circumstances (your life totals, your opponent being able to cast more powerful threats you need to answer or even bluff you can answer...). Our game plan depends on the opponent's one, but some guidelines about the basic plan against the top decks could be written and added to the primer.
In my particular case, I think my weak point with Faeries is Pod decks. Many players have claimed in this topic that the match-up is even, but I find it awful, so probably I'm playing my cards wrong. Let's put a simple example. Imagine a hand on the draw consisting of Bitterblossom, Dismember, Spell Snare, Thoughtseize, Creeping Tar Pit, Mutavault and Darkslick Shores. Our opponent leads with land, mana dork and passes the turn, and our draw for that turn is some unplayable cmc=4 card. How would you face this game?
I'd probably lead with darkslick, thoughtsieze. Check for the t2 pod. Disrupts their game plan the best...and gives you the information on just whatbtheirbplan is. I'd hesitate to dismember the dork asap....but that's prolly a good call as well.
I run 4 cryptic, 4 sss, 4 leak. I'm tempted to cut a leak or two for snaps tho, just for the utility. I may test it of I get a chance before CFB modern 5k...I was on 2 tar pits, but I jumped to 3 just to increase consistency of seeing it. Its just such a good manland.
I'm a huge swords advocate. It just seems we are polarized on WHICH sword. So better to move on and let it be personal choice until the future when maybe there is a clear answer. I never once said no swords
I think, for the sanity of this thread, we should drop the sword discussion until the meta stabilizes more. Keep the thread from degenerating away from useful input and too easily will turn from discussion to argument.
Any game that is going to go long....batterskull is a safe board in. If you can sneakbit in...or force it to resolve, its such a huge game changer. Look at the tempo twin lists, they run 2 in the board and whenever its not combo city time, they come in and do work
so batterskull/2skite/pierce in and what out?
Hmmmm sword, familiars ruse, and maybe inquisitions? Not sure on the last two....but that's my guess
I played against uwr control(2-1) kikpod(1-2, but I lost this solely due to g3 hitting double mutavault, swamp, double river of tears...with two cryptics in hand, lethal on board, but not enough blue to stop kiki/restore from killing. Easily coulda went either way, and I'm not upset about the loss at all. First time playing against this deck too) storm(2-1, easy, lost one game cause he just was on the play g2 and had the t3 grapeshot. Nothing ya can do about it) then I played affinity and I missed an attack for lethal cause I totally just didn't see a blinkmoth nexus. Easily could have pushed lethal through anyways, just punted hard and went 0-2. Should have won g1, lost g2 then had a draw(g1 was a 30+ minute game) I also was stuck on 3 lands g1 for a long time.
After this I was a little tilted, and had to play against 8rack. Veery close games all around, but I had to answer ensnaring bridge. Went 1-2, had really good games, lost g3 with lethal on board cause I didn't hit one of 4 outs in three draws to bounce a bridge and swing for lethal. Not a bad match if you can answer the bridge, just play it as a race.
This put me out of top32 contention(payout to t32) so figured I'd play till I lost just for extra practice(not enough modern events out this way IMO) and got paired against bogles. My game plan against bogles is get lucky and hope they defeat themselves lol. Lost 1-2 cause a bogle with 6 enchants, one giving life link, is pretty hard to deal with lol. So dropped and went home...
Overall, I had a lot of fun. My deck only hiccuped once or twice really, and that's easily due to variance more than anything. I have a few minor changes I'd like to test out(messing with mana base a little, cut one of my swords for a jace beleran) but overall I'm happy with it, just need more seat time behind the wheel.
My list is mostly the same as what I posted last time(tapped out link) except the sideboard slightly changed.
actually in my last post, my list just upped to 2 gftt, 2 smother, 1 tragic slip, 1 agony warp as my removal suite. gftt i went with almost solely for the interaction(or lack thereof, i suppose) with spellskite. i expect to see twin and pod, which both run it, so i want ways to get around that.game 1 against robots is already pretty bad anyways, so having the dead cards isn't as big as it sounds, you'll just side them out for g2/3 there, for relevant hate. and it's a pretty small portion of the meta, and with tron not really popular atm, wurmcoils won't be as big of a problem if they show up and resolve. and i agree, the games I win with this deck are when I'm making sure, while still playing control, i'm being proactive in winning the game(ie, i'd rather use 1 faerie token to chump block, then 2 to trade for a creature, 'cause this let's me still attack with the other token and keep progressing towards endgame) the more I took the reigns, i guess, the more I could dictate the play of the game. rarely do I find myself wanting to play defense.
I prefer spell Pierce for the cryptic and battles, as well as on the draw being able to counter a scary t2 noncreaturw threat. Its not there to be a hard counter like negate. Its there for mana efficiency in the control/twin matches. I don't need MORE 2 mana counters in the sideboard, the main deck has plenty already. Plus, pierce works better with the lone snapcaster. Fringe, sure, but relevant. I have countersqualls and negates...the extra mana required makes it worse I the matches its really needed I think
Edit. I do intend on picking up secluded glens and trying them out as well....I just prefer the flexibility of not relying on other cards to get my untapped land When I need it. The only time its harsh is the t1 watery grave into tsieze
This is what I'll be running this Sunday at CFB 5k in Santa Clara. I'm pretty happy with the list, I am expecting twin, storm, zoo and uwr(both variants). Should probably expect pod as well, actually tempted to swap the phyrexian crusaders from the side for 2x hibernation for thay match in particular, and should still be useful against zoo. I'll try and take notes as much as I can at the event and do a full write up afterwards. Gonna get some testing in against naya zoo today or tomorrow to be as practiced as possible for it.
Any thoughts or suggestions? I won't be doing any drastic changes, but any minor tips or thoughts are appreciated.
I'd probably lead with darkslick, thoughtsieze. Check for the t2 pod. Disrupts their game plan the best...and gives you the information on just whatbtheirbplan is. I'd hesitate to dismember the dork asap....but that's prolly a good call as well.
Hmmmm sword, familiars ruse, and maybe inquisitions? Not sure on the last two....but that's my guess