hmm for some reason i now prefer insolent neonate vs shriekhorn. i'm doing great with it enabling good combos with it
I'm on the fence as well when it comes to Insolent Neonate vs. Shriekhorn. Insolent Neonate can do damage when need be, they both are 1 drops which is the biggest plus to them, and can effect they both do can be done instant speed. Shriekhorn has longer value because it can potentially add more cards in the graveyard when need be. Insolent Neonate is another creature and doesn't add the artifact typing for Tarmogoyf to get bigger when facing against Rock decks. Another downside for Insolent Neonate is that potentially fodder for Scavenging Ooze to eat and get bigger. It is honestly in my opinion an meta call when it comes to running one over the other, there is really no big difference between the two.
I've seen it being used sometimes but it doesn't seem that impressive for me to add to the traditional affinity build. The only really new 4 drop addition to the deck that I think fits really nicely to our deck is Hazoret the Fervent, mainly because it is a new potential win con for us and can generally attack once she hits the field, due to us almost always being empty handed by turn 4.
You're gonna wanna cut those courtyards for gemstone mines as soon as you possibly can. It's the best rainbow land available. Not being able to cantrip on turn 1 is so bad for our deck. We play temples so we can frequently take turns 2-3 off to just gain more selection and cantrip.
They're there for right now until I can get ahold of some Gemstone Mine. I'd figure they're good substitutes for the time being. I have also dropped Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir and switched it out for Spellskite, seems to be better for protection of targeted removal if need be.
I'm not 100% sure if I want to keep Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir in the sideboard, still a work in progress. I might take it out and replace it with a discard spell along with taking out Grafdigger's Cage. Izzet Phoenix is just too rampant now along with Dredge, having that on the board early really makes it hard for my opponent to go off while I'm trying to go off. I'll try it a bit and see how it goes.
Hello fellow rackers
As the primer says, 8rack is an highly customizable shell. So I went ahead and wanted to build a creature heavier version... This is the list I play-tested in a recent FNM:
There were 20 opponents in the FNM and I ended up losing in the semi-finals.
The star was Smuggler's Copter to get more value out of "enter the battlefield" rats such as Burglar Rat or Rotting Rats.
The only addition in the list above from the deck I used at the FNM is Chittering Rats. I found that depite all the discard rats, some opponents kept lands in hand to wreck the main plan. I thought that Chittering Rats could be a way out (unless they fetch), while comboing with the other rats and copter. Although Wrench Mind could also work...
I lost in semi-finals against Burn, which was just too good at top-decking... Do you think I should consider Funeral Charm as an instant speed discard? It also gives swampwalk to the pumped up Pack Rat. Alternatively, Aether Vial could instant cast rats in this setup to discard in the draw phase or crew copters. Another play I see with the vial is cycling with copter and vialing a rat in before the damage phase to pump a pack rat... Or vial a Pack Rat in and double it for just 3 mana
I'm open to any suggestion. This is not meant to be a budget deck, just a creature/tribal rat twist on 8Rack.
Cheers
This looks really spicy as a 8Rack build being a creature heavy synergy. I like the idea, definitely gets around Leyline of Sanctity which at times hurts 8Rack but being heavily reliant on the creature package can hurt. Looks a lot more like Rat Tribal with 8Rack synergy. Nonetheless, I like it!
We've been testing Benthic Biomancer, and I must say that I'm impressed. I was initially skeptical, but it's nice to have a 1-drop to curve out with again, and the loot has been pretty darn good (turning a topdecked Vial or a late land into a live draw never gets old). It's also freed my curve up to test bigger counterspells like Mana Leak, which has also been impressive. This is the list I've been jamming of late. It's preliminary, but I feel good about it.
Benthic Biomancer looks quite interesting, pretty good 1 drop that can loot. I may try it out one of these days.
Glad that Faithless Looting is safe, and not being mentioned in the article.. it's not even in WoTC radar for possible banning. ^___^
I was pretty scarred honestly that Faithless Looting was on the radar due to Dredge going quite well lately and the new spice that is Izzet Phoenix. Thankfully, Dredge may continue on!
I am a bit surprised myself that instead of neutering the deck by getting of small components to make the deck run smoothly, they killed the deck completely.
Match 1 vs Bant Spirits (2-0)
Typically the opponent plays Burn, so he may not be used to some of the lines in the deck. Big turn on game 2 involved him making an mediocre block and getting blown out by a Darkblast that wiped his board. I sided out 1 Shriekhorn, 1 Cathartic Reunion, 1 Creeping Chill, and 1 Bloodghast for 3 Lightning Axe and 3 Thoughtseize in an effort to preemtively hit Rest in Peace and have solid removal for his threats.
Match 2 vs Saheeli Combo (1-2)
Reasons Twin needs to stay banned in my opinion...game 1 I didn't know what my opponent was on. I've never played him before tonight, but figured it was some sort of combo deck as he played Opt, Serum Visions, and Sleight of Hand before my engine took him down. Game 2 he landed a turn 3 Saheeli Rai and I looked saddly at the Conflagrate I didn't discard the previous turn that could have answered her and failed to find anything relevent before he landed the combo. Game 3 I reboarded answers to the combo, then was promptly Surgical Extractioned into his combo. I relooked at my board plan for future matches and think the proper thing to do is bring in all the Thoughtseize, Lightning Axe, and Assassin's Trophy you can and board out Creeping Chill as disrupting the combo is all you really need to win, I think; didn't see many answer cards in any of the games on his side of the table thought he mentioned he did have a Rest in Peace in his board.
Match 3 vs. Tron (0-2)
I was Turn 3 Tron'd both games and just scooped. It is worth noting here that I drew my single Steam Vents while looking at 4 black cards in my hand, including Assassin's Trophy. This is the second time Steam Vents has been terrible when I needed a black source and I don't know if it outweighs the times I've needed to tutor up a blue source. I think I'll add my two Gemstone Mines back into the deck.
Other notes, I ran 20 lands tonight instead of the typical 19. I only mulliganed one time due to insufficiant mana. Most of the time I mulled because I didn't have any looting effects to get started with. I've noticed alot of other players on camra at various levels struggling with land if they fail to have 2 in the opening hand. I didn't have any issues hitting my land drops tonight, which was quite nice. I think bumping the land count back to 20 is correct and finding a cut elsewhere. Additionally, I ran 12 Dredge cards in the main, including 2 Darkblast, and had two occasions where the chain broke. Overall, I think I'll keep my count the way it is for now and see how it works next time.
Hope this helps! I'd love to hear what others think about regarding Saheeli Combo and if that match is really just bad as most other combo matches are. Until next time, Happy Gaming!
Saheeli Combo is an interesting matchup to say the least. I've never faced it with my Dredge deck. I'd just imagine at that point, the best thing possible keep Conflagrate extremely close and make them really work for their combo. Aside from that, It's honestly a race to who can their engine set up faster than the other. Assassin's Trophy, Abrupt Decay, Lightning Axe, and Thoughtseize is the the best answers.
Not sure now I feel about the heavy white splash for Infect in sideboard. Yes, Geist of Saint Traft is amazing but having 4 in sideboard is a bit much heavily relying on the white mana from Noble Hierarch and the one Temple Garden is super greedy. Infect is a lot more synergistic for just being green blue.
In the frenzy builds I could see going shrapnel blasts over steel overseer, it’s not an artifact but 5 off the top after combat or during blockers is probably enough reach once you’re in frenzy mode
Experimental Frenzy is an interesting spice but I don't think it is really something that the deck works well with. Shrapnel Blast does not cut the overall value that Steel Overseer has. Another thing about Experimental Frenzy is that it is a 4 drop. On turn four, you should either be winning or close to death. The best 4 drop for Affinity if my personal opinion is Hazoret the Fervent. By then your hand should be empty and swinging an indestructible 5/4 with haste is really strong.
i'm playing Dredge on and off in 2018, right now slamming creeping chill to prepare for GP Liverpool
Do you feel the change does neuter the consistency of the deck?
Creeping Chill is beyond amazing, exactly what the deck needed. I don't think that deck has been neutered but it is a state of flux. Guilds of Ravnica is still pretty new and all decks are still figuring out how to incorporate the changes to established lists in decks. I am as well still figuring out exactly how to figure out the optimal mainboard and sideboard for the shifting meta.
I've thought about adding Thraben Inspector for being a 1 drop with added value. I've also told that adding Smuggler's Copter to the deck will be helpful but I'm unsure. What about Dryad Militant, Judge's Familiar as well? Sideboard so far is the most difficult for constructing. Any recommendations will be much appreciated!
I'm on the fence as well when it comes to Insolent Neonate vs. Shriekhorn. Insolent Neonate can do damage when need be, they both are 1 drops which is the biggest plus to them, and can effect they both do can be done instant speed. Shriekhorn has longer value because it can potentially add more cards in the graveyard when need be. Insolent Neonate is another creature and doesn't add the artifact typing for Tarmogoyf to get bigger when facing against Rock decks. Another downside for Insolent Neonate is that potentially fodder for Scavenging Ooze to eat and get bigger. It is honestly in my opinion an meta call when it comes to running one over the other, there is really no big difference between the two.
I've seen it being used sometimes but it doesn't seem that impressive for me to add to the traditional affinity build. The only really new 4 drop addition to the deck that I think fits really nicely to our deck is Hazoret the Fervent, mainly because it is a new potential win con for us and can generally attack once she hits the field, due to us almost always being empty handed by turn 4.
They're there for right now until I can get ahold of some Gemstone Mine. I'd figure they're good substitutes for the time being. I have also dropped Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir and switched it out for Spellskite, seems to be better for protection of targeted removal if need be.
4x Lotus Bloom
4x Pentad Prism
Creatures (5):
1x Laboratory Maniac
4x Simian Spirit Guide
Enchantments (3):
3x Phyrexian Unlife
Instant (15):
4x Ad Nauseam
4x Angel's Grace
1x Lightning Storm
3x Pact of Negation
3x Spoils of the Vault
3x City of Brass
3x Concealed Courtyard
3x Darkslick Shores
1x Island
2x Plains
3x Seachrome Coast
4x Temple of Deceit
2x Temple of Enlightenment
Sorceries (8):
4x Serum Visions
4x Sleight of Hand
2x Bontu's Last Reckoning
1x Echoing Truth
1x Grafdigger's Cage
2x Hurkyl's Recall
4x Leyline of Sanctity
1x Pact of Negation
1x Painful Truths
1x Patrician's Scorn
1x Slaughter Pact
1x Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
I'm not 100% sure if I want to keep Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir in the sideboard, still a work in progress. I might take it out and replace it with a discard spell along with taking out Grafdigger's Cage. Izzet Phoenix is just too rampant now along with Dredge, having that on the board early really makes it hard for my opponent to go off while I'm trying to go off. I'll try it a bit and see how it goes.
This looks really spicy as a 8Rack build being a creature heavy synergy. I like the idea, definitely gets around Leyline of Sanctity which at times hurts 8Rack but being heavily reliant on the creature package can hurt. Looks a lot more like Rat Tribal with 8Rack synergy. Nonetheless, I like it!
Benthic Biomancer looks quite interesting, pretty good 1 drop that can loot. I may try it out one of these days.
I was pretty scarred honestly that Faithless Looting was on the radar due to Dredge going quite well lately and the new spice that is Izzet Phoenix. Thankfully, Dredge may continue on!
Saheeli Combo is an interesting matchup to say the least. I've never faced it with my Dredge deck. I'd just imagine at that point, the best thing possible keep Conflagrate extremely close and make them really work for their combo. Aside from that, It's honestly a race to who can their engine set up faster than the other. Assassin's Trophy, Abrupt Decay, Lightning Axe, and Thoughtseize is the the best answers.
Experimental Frenzy is an interesting spice but I don't think it is really something that the deck works well with. Shrapnel Blast does not cut the overall value that Steel Overseer has. Another thing about Experimental Frenzy is that it is a 4 drop. On turn four, you should either be winning or close to death. The best 4 drop for Affinity if my personal opinion is Hazoret the Fervent. By then your hand should be empty and swinging an indestructible 5/4 with haste is really strong.
Creeping Chill is beyond amazing, exactly what the deck needed. I don't think that deck has been neutered but it is a state of flux. Guilds of Ravnica is still pretty new and all decks are still figuring out how to incorporate the changes to established lists in decks. I am as well still figuring out exactly how to figure out the optimal mainboard and sideboard for the shifting meta.
4x Aether Vial
Creatures (30):
4x Blade Splicer
2x Eldrazi Displacer
4x Flickerwisp
4x Leonin Arbiter
3x Mirran Crusader
2x Phyrexian Revoker
4x Restoration Angel
1x Selfless Spirit
4x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
2x Thalia, Heretic Cathar
4x Path to Exile
Lands (22):
2x Field of Ruin
4x Ghost Quarter
2x Horizon Canopy
8x Plains
2x Shefet Dunes
4x Tectonic Edge
1x Damping Sphere
2x Eidolon of Rhetoric
1x Elspeth, Knight-Errant
1x Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
2x Kataki, War's Wage
1x Kor Firewalker
2x Rest in Peace
1x Settle the Wreckage
2x Stony Silence
2x Wrath of God
I've thought about adding Thraben Inspector for being a 1 drop with added value. I've also told that adding Smuggler's Copter to the deck will be helpful but I'm unsure. What about Dryad Militant, Judge's Familiar as well? Sideboard so far is the most difficult for constructing. Any recommendations will be much appreciated!