I have one deck for each format I play. My main format is modern in which I play BW Tokens, my issue might be I've got too many cards for the deck than I can run because I've got the cards for like 2-3 entire sideboards. Not necessarily an issue though cause I've got the cards for any possible metagame.
3-1 last night at a weekly competitive event. Beat Skred, Grixis Shadow, and Collected Merfolk, lost to Burn. Was testing with 2 mainboard Start // Finish in place of a pair of Spectral. They'll need more testing but were extremely positive results this far and the utility makes up for the obvious downsides. They're terrible in an aggro shell though and don't begin to think otherwise because of the instant speed. I'm running an extremely controlling build and my updated list is in my signature.
I have also been trying the Start // Finish plan I couldn't agree more. After checking your deck, I can see it goes very much in line with mine. However, I have found (based on the results given by this guy and my own testing), that a couple blessed alliance main instead of two pushes are really good. Don't get me wrong, fatal push is insane, but I believe solves problems, which our deck is not so bad positioned against.
On top of that, I can see you run a full playset of BB. How do they work? I think 2-3 is the way to go but the collective brutalitys certainly help there. Also, a liliana of the veil or 2 seems compulsory for a style like that, I will be getting 2 ASAI have the money for her. Hove you missed a third spectral procession. I get the mana-base restrictions with the GQ (I have them myself) but the card is just nuts even for 4 mana.
Only have had the 2/2 Spectral/Start split for a few days so haven't really noticed if I miss the 3rd one. 4 BB is how I've run the deck for over a year and wouldn't change it, the consistency is entirely worth and it's easy enough to board a couple out. Blessed Alliance main just isn't great in my meta but I can see it being good in some cases. If I had the LotV I'd probably find room for them but at the moment I'm happy with my current list.
3-1 last night at a weekly competitive event. Beat Skred, Grixis Shadow, and Collected Merfolk, lost to Burn. Was testing with 2 mainboard Start // Finish in place of a pair of Spectral. They'll need more testing but were extremely positive results this far and the utility makes up for the obvious downsides. They're terrible in an aggro shell though and don't begin to think otherwise because of the instant speed. I'm running an extremely controlling build and my updated list is in my signature.
4-0 at FNM last night, beat Burn, Merfolk, Merfolk, and Lantern. I'd almost say we're slightly favored vs Merfolk since Fatal Push was added as I'm 17-12 vs it in the last ~4mo.
Idk what to say, I've never had problems with them, between some combination of discard, chump blocking, Sorin emblem, Runed Halo, Worship, and Engineered Explosives I've always managed to win the rounds.
I thought you wanted lifegain effects, so I'm a little taken aback that you're comparing Blessed Alliance to Runed Halo. One is maindeckable as a early removal that lets you have a winning chance against the fringe bogles match up (which is otherwise quite unwinnable), and can be a midrange heal-up before Sorin does the real work of pulling you back from a fiery grave. The other is a sideboard card that deals with troublesome stuff given the right info. They certainly have very different applications.
Runed Halo naming Reality Smasher etc can be great fun, but that's a sideboard card, and not lifegain. So I wasn't expecting you to put them side by side.
Bogles isn't actually that bad from what I've seen, I've faced it maybe 6x and have yet to lose a match. They're just too soft to disruption and chump blockers. The only cards we actually need to do anything about are Rancor and Spirit Mantle.
Last night I run into a pretty bad FNM. 1-3 and lost to Tron, Burn (again), and Merfolk.
These losses made me realize that maybe my 2/2 BB/RtA split is probably not bthe best thing for my meta. I going to be trying a 3/1 favouring RtA. There are not many control or grindy decks. Anything else I should consider BB for? It feels kind of bad reducing them to 1, should I just cut them all?
I'm actually running 3/1 split. I still run the Aurioks, even with only one bitterblossom, because the lifegain (with much less life loss) is useful, and it chump blocks Grixis decks all day. I definately think RtA is the faster producer, and it's nice to have instant speed blockers. But don't cut BB entirely - if we can get it to resolve, it's the best way to swing a grindier control matchup. Especially if Intangible is on the field. I currently think 3/1 is the best split. I've been debating dropping an Auriok for a second Blossom and running 3/2, but in the current meta, I doubt that's a good idea.
What I have found to work is a 3/2 split. I dont run the champions, though.
I'm running 4 Blossom, 0 RtA and am 15-11 vs Merfolk in the last few months. Burn I'm probably about the same if not better. Merfolk is actually like 50/50 since Fatal Push.
I'm finding that the Raise the Alarms have been grossly underwhelming for me. At best I will pop one late game if I absolutely need to block something big, but I rarely get more mileage than that. I never really feel the urgent need to play them. Also, I'm finding that I'm having mana problems a little too often. I realize I'm sitting at 22 lands so I think bumping myself up will hopefully fix it. I'm thinking of taking out the Raise the Alarms for a Fetid Heath and another Inquisition or Zealous.
Also very interested in adding a Liliana of the Veil somewhere. Maybe taking out a Timely for it? What do you guys think?
I disagree with GQ in the board. 2 GQ main in a list running 23-24 land with 2-3 colorless sources max doesn't hurt consistency much and saves sideboard slots for other cards. Additionally GQ is extremely helpful against Merfolk by answering Spreading Seas, in addition to the other more obvious matchups like Tron.
Is it too many basics or too few and what split should I be running with my associated costs?
Don't run more basics cause of Moon, just remember to fetch them after your first Black source. I run 3 Plains, 1 Swamp and have been locked by BM exactly once simply because I didn't have a basic/fetch yet that game. Fetch basics, don't forget you can Path a token EoT/Response to go find a basic.
4 mana is a lot in Modern, but it curves very well with Lingering Souls/Spectral Procession. I don't think I've ever seen it in a Tokens deck and I have no idea why. I use one in my Soul Sisters board and have been debating upping to two.
I run it in my board for BW Tokens, it's pretty common too so idk what lists you've seen.
2-2 tonight per normal, first night running with my rebuilt sideboard though. Definitely like it better but need to get used to it. Beat Merfolk and Burn, lost to Ad Nauseum, and lost literally on turns of game 3 to UW Control.
Perhaps there is such a fixation on these unbans because we have collectively completely lost faith in Wizards' ability to create new cards that aren't draft chaff, casual bombs, or stupidly pushed Standard creatures. Fatal Push is a step in the right direction, but based on comments they have made about recent cards (as well as general comments) I don't think anyone is expecting meaningful stack manipulation, cantrips, or counterspells in the next several years. I'm not really a fan of big dumb creatures smashing into each other. If I was, I would go play the game Wizards was trying to copy with the last few years of development: Hearthstone.
Modern shouldn't get a TON of cards every set. Just getting five to seven would be nice. I think Amonkhet has added a lot already and could someday add even more as the meta evolves.
That's a bit optimistic because none of those cards are what modern really needs and most of them aren't really playable/have superior alternatives. They're just a continuation of current design trends (empowering aggro/midrange by design and combo through error when something slips up) that have already shown themselves to be problematic in standard, by WotC's own admission.
Also, glaringly, the hypthetical "control" cards in your list downright suck (Pull from Tomorrow, Kefnet, Hieroglypic Illumination) by comparison with similar pre-modern era cards. Well not Kefnet because creatures used to be weak, but he is laughable compared to Rhonas, just proving my point.
I have to agree more or less, I also want to point out that there's a card missing from that list that is definitely modern playable if fringe simply because it has existing decks that can/will run it, Dusk // Dawn. Yes, it is a worse Wrath of God but at minimum Wx Hatebears and BW Tokens can both take advantage of it to different extents where it becomes an asymmetrical effect.
Can anyone tell me about the match against Bant Company? I'm about to face one in a Championship finals and I have no idea what's the win ratio, best cards to use (graff seems to shine)...
Thanks!
Depends heavily on the list, if it's Knight of the Reliquary you'll want Graveyard Removing hate, Grafdiggers is good for sure as well. Removal+Discard should do enough work alone. If it's Spirit we just beat them and that's that LOL.
My burn matchup has been worse than usual lately cause the local Burn player is running 2-3 Ensnaring Bridge out of the board. Not Fun!!! On another note, Dusk // Dawn has been very good so far, I'm still deciding what number to run in the board. Linvala has been good as well and now that she's not $40+ it's definitely worth it to try her out if you can.
Only have had the 2/2 Spectral/Start split for a few days so haven't really noticed if I miss the 3rd one. 4 BB is how I've run the deck for over a year and wouldn't change it, the consistency is entirely worth and it's easy enough to board a couple out. Blessed Alliance main just isn't great in my meta but I can see it being good in some cases. If I had the LotV I'd probably find room for them but at the moment I'm happy with my current list.
Bogles isn't actually that bad from what I've seen, I've faced it maybe 6x and have yet to lose a match. They're just too soft to disruption and chump blockers. The only cards we actually need to do anything about are Rancor and Spirit Mantle.
I'm running 4 Blossom, 0 RtA and am 15-11 vs Merfolk in the last few months. Burn I'm probably about the same if not better. Merfolk is actually like 50/50 since Fatal Push.
I disagree with GQ in the board. 2 GQ main in a list running 23-24 land with 2-3 colorless sources max doesn't hurt consistency much and saves sideboard slots for other cards. Additionally GQ is extremely helpful against Merfolk by answering Spreading Seas, in addition to the other more obvious matchups like Tron.
Don't run more basics cause of Moon, just remember to fetch them after your first Black source. I run 3 Plains, 1 Swamp and have been locked by BM exactly once simply because I didn't have a basic/fetch yet that game. Fetch basics, don't forget you can Path a token EoT/Response to go find a basic.
I run it in my board for BW Tokens, it's pretty common too so idk what lists you've seen.
I have to agree more or less, I also want to point out that there's a card missing from that list that is definitely modern playable if fringe simply because it has existing decks that can/will run it, Dusk // Dawn. Yes, it is a worse Wrath of God but at minimum Wx Hatebears and BW Tokens can both take advantage of it to different extents where it becomes an asymmetrical effect.
Depends heavily on the list, if it's Knight of the Reliquary you'll want Graveyard Removing hate, Grafdiggers is good for sure as well. Removal+Discard should do enough work alone. If it's Spirit we just beat them and that's that LOL.