I've been led to believe that as soon as a set in a new block becomes legal (Khans in this case) the block that was released two years ago (RTR) rotates out and isnt standard legal anymore.
Today, my local card shop is running an FNM where M14, RTR, THS, M15, and KTK are legal. They thibk that today is the last day RTR is standard legal even though Khans is legal now.
Personally I feel as if Azorius Charm isn't as strong as it used to be, I find myself either cycling it or wishing it were some removal spell such as Warleader's Helix or even Izzet Charm. Not only does Helix give us extra reach with the 4 damage and 4 life, its something we can use to hit opposing planeswalkers with, something we have trouble doing if we don't have one of our D Spheres.
So in short, drop Azorius Charm, bring in more burn. I'd say 2 Warleader's Helix and 2 Izzet Charm/Mizzium Mortars/Lightning Strike, its really a meta call.
[quote from="Phoenix vX" url="http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/standard-type-2/competitive/proven-standard/uw-x-control/507433-primer-uwr-control?comment=453"] This is the deck I ran tonight, went 5-0 (2-1, 2-1, 2-0, 2-0, 2-1)
Round 1 vs. G/U Ramp
A budget deck with some cool interactions such as Kiora's Follower with a land enchanted with Market Festival and the other ramp card from Gatecrash. He only beat me one of the games due to a 9/9 Mistcutter Hydra right out of the gates, didn't see it in the previous game so I wasn't really expecting it. 2-1.
Round 2 vs. R/W Heroics
Yet ANOTHER budget deck, this one creative as well. He got a turn 4 18 damage onto me with some double strike and +1/+1 counter shennanigans, it came from nowhere. Other 2 games though I'd remove a creature as soon as I saw it to not even risk that kind of blowout. 2-1.
Round 3 vs. Jund Midrange
Game 1 he mulled to 5, never really came back from it. He played 2 scavenging ooze and I Detention Sphere'd them and just rode Elspeth to victory. Game 2 he mulled to 6, my Frostburn Weirds kept his Scavenging Ooze and Courser of Kruphix at bay. Once he landed his Reaper of the Wilds I had a Keranos, God of Storms out with a Frostburn Weird, Jace, Architect of Thought and a Detention Sphere out so I was able to block safely for a few turns. He Rakdos' Return me for 4 and caused me to top deck, late in the game he ripped a Stormbreath Dragon and was able to Monstrous is that turn, hitting me for an additional 4, only reason why I won was because I had activated Jace, Architect of Thought +1 the turn before and I had game next turn. 2-0.
Round 4 vs. Mono Green Aggro
Got paired down this game, Frostburn Werird did work, his biggest creature was Boon Satyr and Brushstrider. After landing Elspeth, Sun's Champion he couldn't do anything and it would prove to be a matter of time. Won both games with Elspeth
I liked how the deck played out overall, Keranos, God of Storms is amazing. Never regretted playing him over something else, Mistcutter Hydra still gives me problems, especially since all of my creatures except my soldier tokens are blue. Perhaps I'll bump the Reprisal count in the sideboard to 3 or even 4.
From the American control deck topic, so i don't know too much about the Bant variant but, why aren't you guys playing Last Breath or Azorius Charm? Mutavault is still a thing, or does Kiora solve that problem?
After some further thinking as well as consideration of a few inputs, I've put together a slightly different mainboard, and included a sideboard also, as well as with my reasoning for each card.
Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius - Last season I ran this as a 1 of mainboard and it did wonders. Now its even better as it can turn on a Keranos, God of Storms almost on its own. It then requires instant attention as we can sit back and ride the Izzet Dragon to victory. Would side in against G/R to block their pesky Stormbreath Dragon and possibly against Control once they side out all of their Verdicts and specific creature removal.
Deicide - Make mono blue cry even more, but I also see it as a quick and reliable way to get rid of opposing Detention Sphere's and annoying cards such as Whip of Erebos, doesn't only have to be used against the Gods.
Not exactly sure on the sideboard yet, most likely things such as Anger of The Gods, Deicide, Banishing Light, Stormbreath Dragon, stuff such as that. Any tips would be extremely helpful.
I'm running alot of 2-of's at the moment as I want to see which spells I favor more, or perhaps maybe this is a perfectly fine way to run it. I'm not sure yet. Thoughts? I've personally asked myself about Inspiration and Prognostic Sphinx
Great read Kamahl, took me a while but it was well worth it.
Something I'm wondering though, is why doesnt this deck play Heliod? The deck lacks a 4 drop and Heliod could be it, granting creatures such as Boros Reckoner and Blood Baron vigilance seems amazing, not to mention that Reckoner, Chained to the Rocks, and Heliod himself animate him as a creature.
Not to mention that he's another mana-sink, with Rakdos' Return being the only one we have.
It's losing Primal Hunter (2GGG), which usually drew the deck 3-5 cards (Resto, Loxodon, or Thragtusk) but its getting this new Garruk that always has the possibility of drawing 5 cards.
Plus its easier on the colors, double green instead of triple?
Today, my local card shop is running an FNM where M14, RTR, THS, M15, and KTK are legal. They thibk that today is the last day RTR is standard legal even though Khans is legal now.
That's wrong isn't it?
Personally I feel as if Azorius Charm isn't as strong as it used to be, I find myself either cycling it or wishing it were some removal spell such as Warleader's Helix or even Izzet Charm. Not only does Helix give us extra reach with the 4 damage and 4 life, its something we can use to hit opposing planeswalkers with, something we have trouble doing if we don't have one of our D Spheres.
So in short, drop Azorius Charm, bring in more burn. I'd say 2 Warleader's Helix and 2 Izzet Charm/Mizzium Mortars/Lightning Strike, its really a meta call.
4 Frostburn Weird
2 Keranos, God of Storms
PLANESWALKERS
4 Jace, Architect of Thought
2 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
ENCHANTMENTS
4 Detention Sphere
SPELLS
3 Dissolve
3 Azorius Charm
3 Sphinx's Revelation
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Warleader's Helix
4 Supreme Verdict
1 Thassa, God of the Sea
3 Sacred Foundry
4 Steam Vents
4 Hallowed Fountain
4 Temple of Triumph
3 Temple of Enlightenment
1 Temple of Epiphany
2 Izzet Guildgate
3 Island
2 Plains
4 Stormbreath Dragon
2 Counterflux
2 Dispel
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
2 Warleader's Helix
2 Banishing Light
2 Reprisal
Wasn't able to get the exact 75, the changes I had to make were as follows:
-1 Temple of Enlightenment
+1 Hallowed Fountain
-3 Temple of Epiphany
+1 Steam Vents
+2 Izzet Guildgate
-1 Sphinx's Revelation
+1 Thassa, God of the Sea
Sideboard:
-2 Deicide
-1 Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius
+2 Warleader's Helix
+1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
As for the games themselves:
Round 1 vs. G/U Ramp
A budget deck with some cool interactions such as Kiora's Follower with a land enchanted with Market Festival and the other ramp card from Gatecrash. He only beat me one of the games due to a 9/9 Mistcutter Hydra right out of the gates, didn't see it in the previous game so I wasn't really expecting it. 2-1.
Round 2 vs. R/W Heroics
Yet ANOTHER budget deck, this one creative as well. He got a turn 4 18 damage onto me with some double strike and +1/+1 counter shennanigans, it came from nowhere. Other 2 games though I'd remove a creature as soon as I saw it to not even risk that kind of blowout. 2-1.
Round 3 vs. Jund Midrange
Game 1 he mulled to 5, never really came back from it. He played 2 scavenging ooze and I Detention Sphere'd them and just rode Elspeth to victory. Game 2 he mulled to 6, my Frostburn Weirds kept his Scavenging Ooze and Courser of Kruphix at bay. Once he landed his Reaper of the Wilds I had a Keranos, God of Storms out with a Frostburn Weird, Jace, Architect of Thought and a Detention Sphere out so I was able to block safely for a few turns. He Rakdos' Return me for 4 and caused me to top deck, late in the game he ripped a Stormbreath Dragon and was able to Monstrous is that turn, hitting me for an additional 4, only reason why I won was because I had activated Jace, Architect of Thought +1 the turn before and I had game next turn. 2-0.
Round 4 vs. Mono Green Aggro
Got paired down this game, Frostburn Werird did work, his biggest creature was Boon Satyr and Brushstrider. After landing Elspeth, Sun's Champion he couldn't do anything and it would prove to be a matter of time. Won both games with Elspeth
2-0
Round 5 vs. Black w/ Red splash devotion
This guy was playing an interesting variant of mono black, from what I saw the red was for Dreadbore and Mogis, God of Slaughter and man was that God doing work against me. Bile Blight the soldier tokens and then Dreadbore my Elspeth, Sun's Champion. My gameplan was to make sure he couldn't abuse Grey Merchant of Asphodel so I would Detention Sphere Whip of Erebos on sight. His Spiteful Returned would do some work on me, but he also played Master of the Feast, to which as soon as it was his turn I would either Azorius Charm or Reprisal it. I wish I had my Deicide to make the MU easier, but I was still able to win it in the end.
2-1
Overall: 10-3
My pulls from my prize packs were pretty mediocre, the best being a Deicide, meanwhile the BR guy pulled Keranos, God of Storms and Jund pulled Pharika, God of Affliction.
I liked how the deck played out overall, Keranos, God of Storms is amazing. Never regretted playing him over something else, Mistcutter Hydra still gives me problems, especially since all of my creatures except my soldier tokens are blue. Perhaps I'll bump the Reprisal count in the sideboard to 3 or even 4.
Interesting deck though nonetheless, you get like $7 in value from the young pyromancers alone.
As for no temple of epiphany, i cant really say i expected it. Maybe a Steam Vents? But not the temple.
Also Anger hits everything in the deck except Aetherling. Hour of Need would've been a really cool card for this deck, but now im just nit-picking.
4 Frostburn Weird
2 Keranos, God of Storms
PLANESWALKERS
4 Jace, Architect of Thought
2 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
ENCHANTMENTS
4 Detention Sphere
SPELLS
3 Dissolve
3 Azorius Charm
4 Sphinx's Revelation
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Warleader's Helix
4 Supreme Verdict
3 Sacred Foundry
3 Steam Vents
3 Hallowed Fountain
4 Temple of Triumph
4 Temple of Enlightenment
4 Temple of Epiphany
3 Island
2 Plains
4 Stormbreath Dragon
2 Counterflux
2 Dispel
1 Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius
2 Deicide
2 Banishing Light
2 Reprisal
Stormbreath Dragon - If this UWr plays anything like last seasons (INN-RTR) UWr, then our worst MU is the control mirror, more specifically the Esper MU. Drop Supreme Verdicts for Stormbreath Dragon and we get presence on the board that demands an answer, most likely having to be a Hero's Downfall as Banishing Light and Detention Sphere don't hit it.
Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius - Last season I ran this as a 1 of mainboard and it did wonders. Now its even better as it can turn on a Keranos, God of Storms almost on its own. It then requires instant attention as we can sit back and ride the Izzet Dragon to victory. Would side in against G/R to block their pesky Stormbreath Dragon and possibly against Control once they side out all of their Verdicts and specific creature removal.
Counterflux - No counter wars for us. Expensive but is the ultimate safety when trying to resolve Jace, Architect of Thought, Elspeth, Sun's Champion, Detention Sphere, or hell even Keranos, God of Storms if it'd turn on his devotion. Could also counter their key spells as well, which is the preferred way to use this spell. No scry 1 and its a bit tougher the cast, but man is it worth it.
Dispel - Protect all of your spells by using it 1 turn later, you won't be happy if your Sphinx's Revelation gets countered.
Reprisal - Instant speed removal to get those off the wall creatures we'd have difficulty hitting such as Obzedat, Ghost Council and Mistcutter Hydra. I prefer this over Turn // Burn because it costs less to hit the same targets, and the split card can't hit Mistcutter Hydra
Deicide - Make mono blue cry even more, but I also see it as a quick and reliable way to get rid of opposing Detention Sphere's and annoying cards such as Whip of Erebos, doesn't only have to be used against the Gods.
Banishing Light - Serves the same purpose as Deicide in the control match-up except it can also get rid of opposing Jace, Architect of Thought and Elspeth, Sun's Champion without having to get rid of our own. Could also side in against green decks if you think Mistcutter Hydra will really give you that many problems.
4 Frostburn Weird
2 Keranos, God of Storms
PLANESWALKERS
4 Jace, Architect of Thought
2 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
ENCHANTMENTS
4 Detention Sphere
SPELLS
4 Dissolve
3 Azorius Charm
4 Sphinx's Revelation
3 Mizzium Mortars
2 Warleader's Helix
4 Supreme Verdict
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Steam Vents
4 Hallowed Fountain
3 Temple of Triumph
3 Temple of Enlightenment
3 Temple of Epiphany
2 Island
1 Plains
Not exactly sure on the sideboard yet, most likely things such as Anger of The Gods, Deicide, Banishing Light, Stormbreath Dragon, stuff such as that. Any tips would be extremely helpful.
To me the 2 mana creature could either be Frostburn Weird, Nyx-Fleece Ram, or even Sigiled Starfish
3 Frostburn Weird
1 Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius
1 Ætherling
Instants/Sorceries (24)
4 Anger of the Gods
2 Opportunity
2 Steam Augury
2 Turn//Burn
2 Magma Jet
2 Voyage's End
2 Lightning Strike
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Essence Scatter
2 Syncopate
2 Dissolve
3 Jace, Architect of Thought
2 Ral Zarek
2 Pithing Needle
1 Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius
2 Negate
2 Dispel
2 Counterflux
2 Cyclonic Rift
2 Haunted Plate Mail
2 Jace, Memory Adept
I'm running alot of 2-of's at the moment as I want to see which spells I favor more, or perhaps maybe this is a perfectly fine way to run it. I'm not sure yet. Thoughts? I've personally asked myself about Inspiration and Prognostic Sphinx
Something I'm wondering though, is why doesnt this deck play Heliod? The deck lacks a 4 drop and Heliod could be it, granting creatures such as Boros Reckoner and Blood Baron vigilance seems amazing, not to mention that Reckoner, Chained to the Rocks, and Heliod himself animate him as a creature.
Not to mention that he's another mana-sink, with Rakdos' Return being the only one we have.
It's losing Primal Hunter (2GGG), which usually drew the deck 3-5 cards (Resto, Loxodon, or Thragtusk) but its getting this new Garruk that always has the possibility of drawing 5 cards.
Plus its easier on the colors, double green instead of triple?