MTG Salvation

Excellent report, Rivfeder. I've noticed myself making similar choices with boarding (I board out Manabond frequently, as well as Chasm and Maze). How do you feel about the Abrupt Decays in the board? Are they worth having the one Bayou maindeck?

I didn't do those things because I'm an awful player who makes so many mistakes that it makes me sick.

Setting aside my maudlin attitude: I didn't do those things because I don't always think through my plays carefully enough. Trying to correct this weakness.

To The JGits,

I also agree about Pox. In this matchup, it should probably come out. I mean, Smallpox isn't even that stellar in this matchup unfortunately. We'll see how it goes against Elves in the future, but I think I'll take a lot of your advice into consideration.

To JGits,

On Pox: It is a conditional card. I will totally grant you that, but in my experience, when it is right to play it, it is absolutely right to play it, and its effects are devastating. Every time I think of cutting it, for say a fourth Innocent Blood or a second Crucible main, I remember how often I've won because of casting it.

On the Elves matchup: you know, I've been told before that I shouldn't side out discard in the Elves matchup, and after my experience yesterday in two Legacy 2-man events, I think I might agree. Against both Elves decks, I won the first games on the back of quick discard and Lily. I lost all four boarded matchups after dropping my discard. It was a major bummer.

Do you have advice on the Elves matchup? I think boarding in my four Plagues is a necessity, so what should I cut for them?

Quote from Sockosensei

Thanks as always.

You're correct about the Emrakul-Tabernacle play, but if it's a casual event I would have done as you did.

I'm getting copies of Toxic Deluge to test -- we need such 2- or 3-for1 hits, especially to bring us back when we've fallen behind. This is all the more important without library manipulation (which I still feel should be in the deck) since there will be stretches like you experienced where you draw a string of unneeded crap.

One concern about your list is that all of the wincons 'die' to Pithing Needle, and you have no answers to it main or side. That only leaves Lodestone Golem, who you may or may not be bringing in for the matchup.

On the problem of Pithing Needle: Having been consistently underwhelmed by the performance of both Ratchet Bomb and Powder Keg (Monoblack's only real answers to an on-board needle besides Nevinyrral's Disk, which is probably just too clunky at four mana to play), I've come to the conclusion that Pithing Needle is just something that Monoblack has to deal with in a roundabout way. I've been able to nab Needle on several occasions with Inquisition of Kozilek, and I often get to the point where I can ultimate a Lily to get rid of Needle. (Not much you can do about a Needle on Lily herself though.) In my judgment, Needle is rare enough that hate for it isn't worth packing. I mean, really, Sneak and Show doesn't have any business running Pithing Needle, since it is a control card that most control decks don't even run anymore. (The only time I really expect it is in the Miracles matchup. Otherwise, Phyrexian Revoker is way more prevalent.)

On library manipulation: where to put it in a Monoblack list? I've got one or two flex spots (the one maindeck Crucible and the one maindeck Pox), so I guess I could drop those for two Divining Tops or two of some other draw engine (Phyrexian Arena, Bottled Cloister), but I'm very skeptical. If you have any ideas about where to put library manipulation, I'd welcome them.

Quote from flakmonkey

Assuming elves played a creature turn 1 in game 2, why didnt you dark rit into pox? you get a land, a creature, and 2 cards in hand?

At the time, I guess I thought that Dark Ritualing into Pox would hurt me more than it would him, since I'd have been left with only two cards in hand after that and he still would have had four. Maybe that was the wrong call on my part; I'm not sure.

Now that Elves and Goblins are running more land than they used to (at least Elves definitely is), Small and big Poxes seem less effective against them. Maybe that was my thinking.

Quote from Sockosensei

Great report. You're quite honest in assessing your misplays, which I'm sure will lead you to better Poxing.

One that didn't get mentioned is the keep R2G1 vs Aggro Elves. I can't see keeping that against any unknown opponent.

I'd like to hear more thoughts on Nether Void vs The Abyss. You boarded in the Abyss in almost every match.

Lastly, great work on finishing in the money at a major event. I hope to do the same one day with 8-Pox

Yeah, you're probably right about that first keep against Aggro Elves--and I lost the game because of it.

Nether Void vs. The Abyss: When I'm against pretty much any creature-based aggro, The Abyss comes in and Nether Void comes out, unless it's Counterburn because that deck has the ability to burn you out of the game even without creatures. Since I didn't face too much combo that day (only Storm, Lands, and Dredge), I ended up boarding out Nether Void frequently, and two of the three combo decks I faced Nether Void isn't even good against.

Congratulations on getting married. I've been married four years now and I think it's pretty great.

Anyway, without looking at your previous episodes, I'd like to ask a question: Have you faced Miracles yet with both Mono-Black and with B/W Pox? If so, has Vindicate really made the matchup any better?

Additionally, any strategy advice for beating Miracles with Mono-Black? I figure dropping Pithining Needle, Chains, and getting LilyVoid online are your best bets--but am I overlooking anything?