1: You: "I cast DSphere"
2: Opponent: "resolves"
3: Dsphere ETB ability triggers, and you must choose a target. At this point announce that you're holding priority.
4: You: "Before DSphere's ETB trigger resolves, I cast Disperse, targeting DSphere."
5: Opponent Does X, or nothing.
6: If opponent did nothing, Disperse resolves, putting DSphere back in your hand.
7: Stack continues, DSphere ETB trigger finally resolves and exiles the target you chose in step #3.
8: Exiled permanent has no permanent to go under, so it just stays in the exile zone until next game.
I could go for -1 Syncopate, and -1 Cyclonic Rift for +1 Selesnya Charm, and +1 Simic Charm. I'm not sure that's correct, though. I'm pretty happy with this list, and I think I'll run it the 14th and 15th.
Kiora is one of those cards that is good in Standard. Take away the cards that can surround her and the meta she's placed into, and then she's not very good.
I always tell people that Kiora is 4cmc, but she's actually a 5 drop. The reason behind this is you play her on T5, after you've cast Supreme Verdict on T4. This largely ensures her safety, which leads to a game winning emblem.
I think Simic Charm will really help, actually. The Walkers are a wincon, and protecting wincons is almost the same thing as winning. I like it. I sided out Azorius Charm in almost every single game anyway.
4-0 in matches last night at gameday, 8-1 in rounds. 2-1 against Dega mythic, 2-0 against G/W Tokens (Kiora was an absolute All-star in this matchup. Think if Jordan and LeBron had a kid.), 2-0 against G/R Monsters, 2-0 against U/W Elixer Control.
Archangel of Thune and Blind Obedience is a very real thing against G/R Monsters. He wasn't able to do much. I actually Sphinx's Rev'd for 1 just for the life gain triggers mid combat during his turn. Really messed him up.
I'm not sure I'd bring in Brimaz against G/R again, though. I took out 3 DSpheres for 3 Brimaz because of Destructive Revelry, and I'm not sure it was correct. However, Extort plus Archangel was so real it was almost scary. Selesnya charm -really- shined here as well. I really didn't care about Poluk at ALL with it in my hand. Saved all my counters for Stormbreath, and the game was pretty easy after that.
I don't think that the -1 land is worth another spell. Especially when this deck already has a pretty awful matchup towards other U/W decks. Consistency is key.
Fixed up my sideboard. I like it a lot more now. I think I'm ready to go pwn some n00bs at Gameday this weekend. I have a 13 card sideboard (maybe 14 if I want pithing) against U/W control haha.
I keep my Elixir in my sideboard, because I just love Aetherling. Maybe I should have them swap places, but I'm unsure yet. More testing is needed. I just find that Aetherling wins so many games against decks right now by himself.
That's the list that I'm going to be running with. It's possible that I want 1-2 more green sources, but I'll test that further this weekend.
Testing has been amazing for Selesnya Charm. I removed Last Breath for it. It deals with everything that Last Breath did (minus Nightveil Specter), and more. It also allowed me to swing for +4 damage on Aetherling one game, and score the win. It was amazing.
The sideboard is interesting. I'll go through my reasonings.
Blind Obedience is amazing against creature decks, extort is just icing on the cake.
Elixir of Immortality is for the mirror. I don't bring it in against anything but U/W/x control.
Fated Retribution gets brought in against G/R Monsters as an "omg save me" card, and against U/W/x for pretty much the same reason.
Gainsay is obvious. MonoU and the mirror.
Glare of Heresy is just an all around fantastic card. Especially with Brimaz and Thune getting more and more popular in sideboards. Also Elspeth and DSphere.
Jace is again for the mirror.
Negate gets brought in on the mirror, and against G/R Monsters. Countering Planeswalkers is just too good.
Pithing Needle is because of Pack Rat, and partly because my local meta has two dedicated Mazes End decks, and that deck is actually really good right now.
Revoke Existence will never leave my sideboard. It hits far too many things right now to not have it. Love this card.
edit: What is Archangel of Thune good against? I can't figure out when I should side it in. That's why I took it out of my sideboard...
That's my sideboard. I would personally take 2x Blind Obedience, for -2 Supreme Verdict. 2x Negate, for -2 Detention Sphere. This gives me 6 counters, and Blind Obedience is amazing against Chandra's Phoenix. The extort is just icing on the cake as well.
Another thing that blows out Burn is Elspeth tokens swinging with lifelink from Azorius Charm.
I've been feeling lately that Aetherling is kind of superfluous so I would probably leave it out. It has its merits, but I don't know. The only match it's really good in is the control matchups and even then it can be difficult to get down and still have mana to protect it. Not sure if it's worth the effort.
This is what I've settled on. I'd like to now fit at least one Dispel in the board, but I'm not sure what to drop, so I'll probably just leave it. I'm very happy with it now.
I will say that from playing in the open and having to face g/r and the rest of the field, last breath is better game 1 because of mutavault. you can always bring in a flare. which honestly isnt even that good against a g/r deck because they can just swing in with a mana dork.
but if they are swinging with mana dorks pre verdict, they are playing fair and not using all their mana, which is something I am comfortable with.
Flare is for first 2 to 4 turns before we verdict, as is last breath. After we verdict on 4 or 5, the better top deck for an empty board is flare in comparison. Maybe I'm wrong but I'll be alright taking 2 from a mutavault on turn 6 to 9 then I would be a dragon or a hasted creature from xenagod etc
Everything that you just said is correct, and it will stay correct if your meta allows it to stay correct.
Some metas are not flooded with G/R, which is where Last Breath would be the more reliable main deck. It all comes down to what your peers at your local store are playing. Are you the only one not playing G/R Monsters? Sure, main deck some Celestial Flares. Is the field more diverse? Just play Last Breath as it's safer, and side it out in favor of Celestial Flare G2/3 against G/R.
It's about reliability, not micro managing something that might not happen.
4x Hallowed Fountain
5x Island
2x Mutavault
4x Plains
1x Temple Garden
4x Temple of Enlightenment
3x Temple of Mystery
3x Temple of Plenty
4x Supreme Verdict
3x Elspeth, Sun's Champion
4x Jace, Architect of Thought
3x Kiora, the Crashing Wave
2x Azorius Charm
4x Dissolve
2x Last Breath
2x Selesnya Charm
4x Sphinx's Revelation
1x Syncopate
4x Detention Sphere
2x Blind Obedience
3x Brimaz, King of Oreskos
1x Dispel
1x Glare of Heresy
2x Negate
1x Pithing Needle
2x Revoke Existence
That's where I'm at now. I like it.
2: Opponent: "resolves"
3: Dsphere ETB ability triggers, and you must choose a target. At this point announce that you're holding priority.
4: You: "Before DSphere's ETB trigger resolves, I cast Disperse, targeting DSphere."
5: Opponent Does X, or nothing.
6: If opponent did nothing, Disperse resolves, putting DSphere back in your hand.
7: Stack continues, DSphere ETB trigger finally resolves and exiles the target you chose in step #3.
8: Exiled permanent has no permanent to go under, so it just stays in the exile zone until next game.
This means however that I need more dual lands, which means no Mutavaults.
4x Hallowed Fountain
4x Island
3x Plains
2x Temple Garden
4x Temple of Enlightenment
4x Temple of Mystery
4x Temple of Plenty
4x Supreme Verdict
1x Cyclonic Rift
4x Dissolve
2x Selesnya Charm
2x Simic Charm
4x Sphinx's Revelation
2x Syncopate
3x Elspeth, Sun's Champion
4x Jace, Architect of Thought
3x Kiora, the Crashing Wave
2x Blind Obedience
3x Brimaz, King of Oreskos
1x Dispel
1x Glare of Heresy
2x Negate
1x Pithing Needle
2x Revoke Existence
I could go for -1 Syncopate, and -1 Cyclonic Rift for +1 Selesnya Charm, and +1 Simic Charm. I'm not sure that's correct, though. I'm pretty happy with this list, and I think I'll run it the 14th and 15th.
I always tell people that Kiora is 4cmc, but she's actually a 5 drop. The reason behind this is you play her on T5, after you've cast Supreme Verdict on T4. This largely ensures her safety, which leads to a game winning emblem.
Kiora is awesome, especially in a control list.
So, something like this:
4x Hallowed Fountain
4x Island
2x Mutavault
3x Plains
1x Temple Garden
4x Temple of Enlightenment
4x Temple of Mystery
4x Temple of Plenty
4x Supreme Verdict
2x Azorius Charm
4x Dissolve
2x Selesnya Charm
2x Simic Charm
4x Sphinx's Revelation
1x Syncopate
3x Elspeth, Sun's Champion
4x Jace, Architect of Thought
3x Kiora, the Crashing Wave
4x Detention Sphere
2x Blind Obedience
3x Brimaz, King of Oreskos
1x Dispel
1x Glare of Heresy
2x Negate
1x Pithing Needle
2x Revoke Existence
I think Simic Charm will really help, actually. The Walkers are a wincon, and protecting wincons is almost the same thing as winning. I like it. I sided out Azorius Charm in almost every single game anyway.
4x Hallowed Fountain
5x Island
2x Mutavault
4x Plains
1x Temple Garden
4x Temple of Enlightenment
3x Temple of Mystery
3x Temple of Plenty
4x Supreme Verdict
4x Azorius Charm
4x Dissolve
2x Selesnya Charm
4x Sphinx's Revelation
1x Syncopate
3x Elspeth, Sun's Champion
4x Jace, Architect of Thought
3x Kiora, the Crashing Wave
4x Detention Sphere
2x Blind Obedience
3x Brimaz, King of Oreskos
1x Dispel
1x Glare of Heresy
2x Negate
1x Pithing Needle
2x Revoke Existence
4-0 in matches last night at gameday, 8-1 in rounds. 2-1 against Dega mythic, 2-0 against G/W Tokens (Kiora was an absolute All-star in this matchup. Think if Jordan and LeBron had a kid.), 2-0 against G/R Monsters, 2-0 against U/W Elixer Control.
Archangel of Thune and Blind Obedience is a very real thing against G/R Monsters. He wasn't able to do much. I actually Sphinx's Rev'd for 1 just for the life gain triggers mid combat during his turn. Really messed him up.
I'm not sure I'd bring in Brimaz against G/R again, though. I took out 3 DSpheres for 3 Brimaz because of Destructive Revelry, and I'm not sure it was correct. However, Extort plus Archangel was so real it was almost scary. Selesnya charm -really- shined here as well. I really didn't care about Poluk at ALL with it in my hand. Saved all my counters for Stormbreath, and the game was pretty easy after that.
4x Hallowed Fountain
5x Island
2x Mutavault
4x Plains
1x Temple Garden
4x Temple of Enlightenment
3x Temple of Mystery
3x Temple of Plenty
4x Azorius Charm
4x Dissolve
2x Selesnya Charm
4x Sphinx's Revelation
1x Syncopate
3x Elspeth, Sun's Champion
4x Jace, Architect of Thought
3x Kiora, the Crashing Wave
4x Archangel of Thune
1x Blind Obedience
3x Brimaz, King of Oreskos
1x Dispel
1x Glare of Heresy
2x Negate
1x Pithing Needle
2x Revoke Existence
Fixed up my sideboard. I like it a lot more now. I think I'm ready to go pwn some n00bs at Gameday this weekend. I have a 13 card sideboard (maybe 14 if I want pithing) against U/W control haha.
4x Hallowed Fountain
5x Island
2x Mutavault
4x Plains
1x Temple Garden
4x Temple of Enlightenment
3x Temple of Mystery
3x Temple of Plenty
4x Supreme Verdict
4x Azorius Charm
4x Dissolve
2x Selesnya Charm
4x Sphinx's Revelation
1x Syncopate
2x Elspeth, Sun's Champion
4x Jace, Architect of Thought
3x Kiora, the Crashing Wave
4x Detention Sphere
1x Elixir of Immortality
3x Brimaz, King of Oreskos
2x Gainsay
1x Glare of Heresy
2x Negate
1x Pithing Needle
2x Revoke Existence
Well I'll be trying a creature package this weekend. When do I side in Brimaz? Against aggressive decks as well? Is he any good against G/R Monsters?
4x Hallowed Fountain
5x Island
2x Mutavault
4x Plains
1x Temple Garden
4x Temple of Enlightenment
3x Temple of Mystery
3x Temple of Plenty
4x Azorius Charm
4x Dissolve
2x Selesnya Charm
4x Sphinx's Revelation
3x Elspeth, Sun's Champion
4x Jace, Architect of Thought
3x Kiora, the Crashing Wave
4x Detention Sphere
2x Blind Obedience
1x Elixir of Immortality
1x Fated Retribution
2x Gainsay
2x Glare of Heresy
1x Jace, Memory Adept
2x Negate
2x Pithing Needle
2x Revoke Existence
I keep my Elixir in my sideboard, because I just love Aetherling. Maybe I should have them swap places, but I'm unsure yet. More testing is needed. I just find that Aetherling wins so many games against decks right now by himself.
That's the list that I'm going to be running with. It's possible that I want 1-2 more green sources, but I'll test that further this weekend.
Testing has been amazing for Selesnya Charm. I removed Last Breath for it. It deals with everything that Last Breath did (minus Nightveil Specter), and more. It also allowed me to swing for +4 damage on Aetherling one game, and score the win. It was amazing.
The sideboard is interesting. I'll go through my reasonings.
Blind Obedience is amazing against creature decks, extort is just icing on the cake.
Elixir of Immortality is for the mirror. I don't bring it in against anything but U/W/x control.
Fated Retribution gets brought in against G/R Monsters as an "omg save me" card, and against U/W/x for pretty much the same reason.
Gainsay is obvious. MonoU and the mirror.
Glare of Heresy is just an all around fantastic card. Especially with Brimaz and Thune getting more and more popular in sideboards. Also Elspeth and DSphere.
Jace is again for the mirror.
Negate gets brought in on the mirror, and against G/R Monsters. Countering Planeswalkers is just too good.
Pithing Needle is because of Pack Rat, and partly because my local meta has two dedicated Mazes End decks, and that deck is actually really good right now.
Revoke Existence will never leave my sideboard. It hits far too many things right now to not have it. Love this card.
edit: What is Archangel of Thune good against? I can't figure out when I should side it in. That's why I took it out of my sideboard...
1x AEtherling
2x Blind Obedience
1x Fated Retribution
2x Gainsay
2x Glare of Heresy
1x Jace, Memory Adept
2x Negate
2x Pithing Needle
2x Revoke Existence
That's my sideboard. I would personally take 2x Blind Obedience, for -2 Supreme Verdict. 2x Negate, for -2 Detention Sphere. This gives me 6 counters, and Blind Obedience is amazing against Chandra's Phoenix. The extort is just icing on the cake as well.
Another thing that blows out Burn is Elspeth tokens swinging with lifelink from Azorius Charm.
4x Hallowed Fountain
5x Island
2x Mutavault
4x Plains
1x Temple Garden
4x Temple of Enlightenment
3x Temple of Mystery
3x Temple of Plenty
4x Supreme Verdict
4x Azorius Charm
4x Dissolve
2x Last Breath
4x Sphinx's Revelation
3x Elspeth, Sun's Champion
4x Jace, Architect of Thought
3x Kiora, the Crashing Wave
4x Detention Sphere
1x Elixir of Immortality
2x Blind Obedience
1x Fated Retribution
2x Gainsay
2x Glare of Heresy
1x Jace, Memory Adept
2x Negate
2x Pithing Needle
2x Revoke Existence
This is what I've settled on. I'd like to now fit at least one Dispel in the board, but I'm not sure what to drop, so I'll probably just leave it. I'm very happy with it now.
Everything that you just said is correct, and it will stay correct if your meta allows it to stay correct.
Some metas are not flooded with G/R, which is where Last Breath would be the more reliable main deck. It all comes down to what your peers at your local store are playing. Are you the only one not playing G/R Monsters? Sure, main deck some Celestial Flares. Is the field more diverse? Just play Last Breath as it's safer, and side it out in favor of Celestial Flare G2/3 against G/R.
It's about reliability, not micro managing something that might not happen.