Is Jund Burn actually a thing? I know "bad burn" exists and people have been using black in Burn for Bump for a decent time, and that it is viable. But does anyone ever run 3 colors without running White? I'd imagine Rakdos and Mardu burn are more common variants of Bad Burn.
I've been running Faeries in a mono-blue form, and was thinking of upgrading to the UB or UR builds, but a new brew came to mind. UW would be a typical mono-blue build, but rather than Vapor Snags and unsummoms, would run a playset of Path to Exile, enabling hard removal. Previously creatures had to be bounced and countered on the way back down. 2x Azorious Charm mainboard is a versatile card. It enables us to gain back the life we lose from slow starts or from our mana base, which is huge (faeries typically wins under 10 life, so splashing white eould hurt it) and it would also function as card draw, and bounce. The choice is important, and is part of what makes Cryptic Command powerful - choice and versatility. In the sideboard, 3x Ghostly Prison would allow the deck to survive against decks that vomit their hand faster than we can counter it. Decks like Elves, Goblins, Merfolk, and Affinity - which are bad matchups for mono-blue and UB builds. Does this seem viable?
Pretty new to Burn and going to my first big tournament in two weeks. Meta unknown. I would appreciate some advice regarding my sideboard (Mainboard is standard Boros list with 19 lands and 1 Lavamancer):
3 Destructive Revelry
2 Shattering Spree
3 Path to Exile
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Kor Firewalker
2 Deflecting Palm
1 Searing Blood
Not sure about the Firewalkers, and would appreciate Feedback in general.
Standard Boros with 19 lands and one Lavamancer imples 4x Searing Blaze and 4x Helix. I think the 1x Searing Blood isn't necessary when 4x Blaze are mainboard, and I'd drop that for a 3rd Firewalker to see it more consistently in the mirror (3x Firewalker isn't about the need to run 3, it is about the need to see it as soon as possible in a match that goes as quickly as the mirror burn.)
Coincidentally, swapping the Blood for a firewalker exactly matches my sideboard. I'd recommend dropping a Blaze from your main for a 2nd Lavamancer, as in alot of games, 4x Blaze can be bad, and makes sideboarding all of the copies out harder. You can also drop a Helix and go to 20 land, however 19 vs 20 is a big debate...
I'm currently running a 22 land, 14 control, 24 creature build. My 14 control cards are 4x Mana Leak, 4x Remand, 4x Vapor Snag, 2x Spell Snare. I have 2x Cryptic Command on order from TCGplayer, intended to replace the Spell Snare, however I have also seen Unsubstantiate and Spell Pierce run in the same slot. Which of these is best? I really like Cryptic, but I'm not sure if Spell Pierce is run over it becajse Cryptic is a slower card?
I'm stuck between Crack and Command. I've been running Skullcrack more. I like that it is less stressful on the mana base. It also allows me another (although conditional) answer to Firewalker in thr mirror, and against any aggresive decks, I value fetching a mountain over my third color. That being said, I would rather Command in the combo matchup, where my life total is irrelevant when a deck combos off, and the differencr between a win or loss is turn 3 or turn 4 kill. It is also good against control, especially getting around Leyline. My meta is pretty diverse, so I definately run into matches where I want Boros with Skullcrack, and others where I want Naya with Atarkas Command. I guess my question is...which will hurt me least when in a less than ideal matchup. I know I'll face matchups where both are adventageous, so looking at the ones where they aren't...which would put me at the greatest disadvantage?
Why not both ;).
I run 2x Skullcrack MD with 4x Atarkas in the SB for combo and other MUs where I don't care about my lifetotal.
Cramming either Skullcrack or Command into the side seems like it would eat up valuable sideboard slots. IMO, both of these are cards that should be main, or not at all. With the possible exception of running 4x on one in the main, and 2x of the other in side, in a tuned sideboard for a lifegain heavy meta.
The pros and cons of both are known, and I like both variants. I really do think it is a meta choice, but in a wide meta, not an easy choice...
I'm stuck between Crack and Command. I've been running Skullcrack more. I like that it is less stressful on the mana base. It also allows me another (although conditional) answer to Firewalker in thr mirror, and against any aggresive decks, I value fetching a mountain over my third color. That being said, I would rather Command in the combo matchup, where my life total is irrelevant when a deck combos off, and the differencr between a win or loss is turn 3 or turn 4 kill. It is also good against control, especially getting around Leyline. My meta is pretty diverse, so I definately run into matches where I want Boros with Skullcrack, and others where I want Naya with Atarkas Command. I guess my question is...which will hurt me least when in a less than ideal matchup. I know I'll face matchups where both are adventageous, so looking at the ones where they aren't...which would put me at the greatest disadvantage?
I always run 4x destructive revelry and never leave home without them. The difference between 2 and 3 damage isn't enough for me to switch back to smash unless I was mono red. The flexibility of destructive revelry to hit enchantments is just too good for me to live with out. Way I see it is that we only have 15 sideboard slots and I want every card in it to have as much utility as possible. If I'm considering Smash solely to hose artifacts I'd rather play Stony Silence if that was the case. My 2 cents.
Yep - though I'm slowly starting too believe 3x Drev + 2x Spree might be necessary for Chalice
That said I havn't seen as many E-Tron players lately since UW control has picked up (4x Seas, T.Edge &/or Ghost might have something to do with that).
I've been running 3x D. Rev and 2x Spree, and find that I don't miss the 4th enchantment hate. The ability to shut down chalice effectively more than makes up for losing a single Destructive Revelry. Plus, I feel like Leyline is easier to play around, if you can burn their board state and keep your creatures. Chalice is a hard lock if they get out 2, and you have no creatures.
Creatures
4x Faerie Miscreant
2x Quickling
1x Ninja of the Deep Hours
4x Spellstutter Sprite
4x Scion of Oona
3x Pestermite
2x Vendillion Clique
3x Mistbind Clique
Fairly typical 15 for the sideboard.
My toughest decision was putting in the Aether Vials and Ninja. I like Quickling being protection at any time, and the ability to be buffed by Scion, so didn't want to cut them completely, and went from 3 to 2 to fit in 1 Ninja. As far as Aether Vial, I dropped the land count to 21 from 22, and dropped a pestermite. While I like the ability, I feel a 2/1 for 3 isn't powerful, even in the sense of Faeries. I'm not sure I made the right cuts, as 2x Quickling seems low, along with 21 lands. I haven't been able to playtest the deck in this iteration yet, so I'd like some feedback from anyone more experienced with the deck
It's fine except that the Copperline Gorge should be a Mountain. Copperline Gorge has no place in Boros and should really only be played in Nacatl builds.
Yeah, I copied my older list and edited it, and forgot to change that. The correct lands are shown now. 3x Foundry instead of 2, no Gorge. I'm also gonna drop to 3 Helix and try 2 Lavamancers again tonight. Hopefully that doesn't backfire.
The meta in my LGS is heavily varied, but the constants (and have been since I've been playing in that store) are a couple Burn and Tron decks. I ocassionally run into a combo deck where I wish I was playing Naya and could run faster against, but also run into control and aggro. I'm looking for a balanced build, that while not great in any matchup, isn't bad in any, and doesn't take alot of life. I dropped down to 3 Blaze in the 75, all main. It makes me less likely to draw it against decks where it is dead, such as Tron, Deaths Shadow, and certain control/combo matchups. I run 4 Helix in the main, which is good against all aggro decks, and great in the mirror, and ay worst, a lightning strike, even when lifegain doesn't matter. I've tried 0 and 2 on lavamancer, and realize he's good enough in some matchups to justify him, but slow enough that you never want yo draw both in the wrong matchup, so I went to 1. The side is meant to be a toolbox, but also hit Chalice on 1 and 2, Kor Firewalker, and Leyline. Basically, I wanted to be ready for any hate brought in, while still being useful in non-specific matchups. This is the list I made under the "I don't know what I'm sitting across the table from, and it may jusy be a mirror" assumption. I've been debating Naya for more consistent Turn 3 against Combo, before they combo off, but doubt Naya is the best for a wide meta, and run into maybe 1 combo matchup every week. Is this a good list, when you don't know what you're up against?
I've been very satisfied with my Naya build. The link is in my signature.
I play 3 Mountains, 2 Foundry, 2 Stomping Ground, 1 Vantage, 11 fetches for 19 total lands. If I played 20, I'd add a Vantage or Gorge and move 1 Searing Blaze to the side. I don't think anyone here would be surprised that I prefer Naya because of how powerful AC can be.
I think you should always play 2 fetchable lands of each maindeck color so that you can weather 1 instance of land destruction and not be essentially locked out of a color unless you naturally draw a fastland. I think your Naya manabase is too heavy on fastlands. I also don't think you should play any Copperline Gorge in your Boros list, since the only time it would ever be better than a Mountain is if you've sided in DRev. You'd rather draw a Mountain as land #4 so that it's not ETBT.
I really doubt only one Stomping Ground would hurt the base. I know that it does make the deck more vunerable to land destruction, but at the same time, I'd imagine they'd go after the white lands before the green, when facing burn. Personally, if I was across the table, knowing my opponent has Boros Charm and Lightning Helix, and more white post-board, and only Command in the main, I think I'd bloe up a Foundry or Vantage before aiming for a Stomping Ground. That being said, if I built the Naya list and ran 2 Stomping, 1 Gorge instead of the way it was in my post, would that be better than Boros?
I'm currently running a Boros build with 5 fastlands, to minimize life loss from the mana base. I am debating running Atarka's Command in the mainboard. To do this, I would probably move my 4th Lightning Helix from the side to the main, to help negate some of the life loss. I'd put a third Firewalker in the side, which would give me a clean swap for the mirror (-4 Atarka's Command, -4 Eidolon, +3 Path, +3 Firewalker, +2 Deflecting Palm) and I'd remove a Lavamancer from the mainboard, and go down to 1. I like the explosiveness of Atarka's Command over Skullcrack, and the versatility. I am not a fan of the 3 color mana base, particulary if I don't have a fastland in hand, and need to fetch for both. I also like to abuse Lavamancer. So this is a tough call. My current Boros list, and what it would be if I went Naya, are posted below. Which list is better?
Quick question for everyone. I have exactly five slots in my sideboard for artifact hate, running Boros (no splash). Would you say it's better to play 4x Wear//Tear and 1x Shattering Spree, or 3x Wear//Tear and 2x Shattering Spree? If anyone is particularly skilled at math and has a way to objectively evaluate this, it would be much appreciated. As far as I can tell, it would be the difference between the chance that you don't see enchantment removal based on dropping a Wear//Tear, and the amount of time that destroying multiple artifacts or hitting a chalice on 2 matters.
I ran 3 and 2, and when splashing for D. Rev, kept those numbers. The worst artifact against us is Chalice on 2. It stops Wear//Tear and Revelry. We can bring in all 5 of our artifact hate, and all of it hits Chalice on 1. But we can save the 2 Shattering Spree for Chalice on 2, or, if need be and we don't draw our other hate, hit it on 1. A one of Shattering Spree is much wmharder to draw, and when we need it, we NEED it. It is also a bomb against Affinity. Of course, we lose some enchantment hate. But typically, we only need to blow up one Leyline. If they have multiples in the opening hand, it was bad luck, anyway.
Opinions on Skullcrack vs Atarkas Command? I really like the ability to +1/+1 my Swiftspears in addition to prowess, and get more value than a Lightning Strike against decks without lifegain. The ability to block a firewalker for lethal and be able to hit 2 white for our own firewalkers without worrying about green, along with the less painful mana base, is also good for the mirror. That being said, I don't like the pain from running a third color in the mainboard. I already have green mana for Destructive Revelry, and 10 fetches, and I strongly advocate Boros in aggressive matchups. But the Nocatal Naya builds that run green in the main for Atarkas Command also catch my eye.
For the PPTQ I plan on playing in Septeember, I'm leaning towards a really fast land heavy build. It will run 10 fetches insteas of 12, but 5 fast lands and 3 shocks. Boros, with Destrective Rev sideboard. It is heavier on fast lands, but lighter on fetches, which should be fine, because Eldrazi Tron and Deaths Shadow are somewhat common where I play, so I can drop Searing Blaze from 4 to 3. Would this be a proper mana base? If not, what should I change?
Coincidentally, swapping the Blood for a firewalker exactly matches my sideboard. I'd recommend dropping a Blaze from your main for a 2nd Lavamancer, as in alot of games, 4x Blaze can be bad, and makes sideboarding all of the copies out harder. You can also drop a Helix and go to 20 land, however 19 vs 20 is a big debate...
The pros and cons of both are known, and I like both variants. I really do think it is a meta choice, but in a wide meta, not an easy choice...
Lands (21)
3x Mutavault
2x Faerie Conclave
16x Islands
Artifacts (2)
2x Aether Vial
Spells (14)
4x Vapor Snag
4x Mana Leak
4x Remand
2x Spell Snare
Creatures
4x Faerie Miscreant
2x Quickling
1x Ninja of the Deep Hours
4x Spellstutter Sprite
4x Scion of Oona
3x Pestermite
2x Vendillion Clique
3x Mistbind Clique
Fairly typical 15 for the sideboard.
My toughest decision was putting in the Aether Vials and Ninja. I like Quickling being protection at any time, and the ability to be buffed by Scion, so didn't want to cut them completely, and went from 3 to 2 to fit in 1 Ninja. As far as Aether Vial, I dropped the land count to 21 from 22, and dropped a pestermite. While I like the ability, I feel a 2/1 for 3 isn't powerful, even in the sense of Faeries. I'm not sure I made the right cuts, as 2x Quickling seems low, along with 21 lands. I haven't been able to playtest the deck in this iteration yet, so I'd like some feedback from anyone more experienced with the deck
Land (20)
2x Arid Mesa
4x Bloodstained Mire
4x Inspiring Vantage
2x Mountain
3x Sacred Foundry
1x Stomping Ground
4x Wooded Foothills
Instant (19)
4x Boros Charm
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Lightning Helix
3x Searing Blaze
4x Skullcrack
Creature (13)
4x Eidolon of the Great Revel
4x Goblin Guide
1x Grim Lavamancer
4x Monastery Swiftspear
Sorcery (8)
4x Lava Spike
4x Rift Bolt
Sideboard (15)
2x Deflecting Palm
3x Destructive Revelry
3x Kor Firewalker
3x Path to Exile
2x Relic of Progenitus
2x Shattering Spree
Boros:
Land (20)
2x Arid Mesa
4x Bloodstained Mire
1x Copperline Gorge
4x Inspiring Vantage
2x Mountain
2x Sacred Foundry
1x Stomping Ground
4x Wooded Foothills
Instant (18)
4x Boros Charm
4x Lightning Bolt
3x Lightning Helix
3x Searing Blaze
4x Skullcrack
Creature (14)
4x Eidolon of the Great Revel
4x Goblin Guide
2x Grim Lavamancer
4x Monastery Swiftspear
Sorcery (8)
4x Lava Spike
4x Rift Bolt
Sideboard (15)
2x Deflecting Palm
3x Destructive Revelry
2x Kor Firewalker
1x Lightning Helix
3x Path to Exile
2x Relic of Progenitus
2x Shattering Spree
Naya:
Land (20)
2x Arid Mesa
4x Bloodstained Mire
2x Copperline Gorge
3x Inspiring Vantage
2x Mountain
2x Sacred Foundry
1x Stomping Ground
4x Wooded Foothills
Instant (18)
4x Boros Charm
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Lightning Helix
3x Searing Blaze
4x Atarka's Command
Creature (14)
4x Eidolon of the Great Revel
4x Goblin Guide
1x Grim Lavamancer
4x Monastery Swiftspear
Sorcery (8)
4x Lava Spike
4x Rift Bolt
Sideboard (15)
2x Deflecting Palm
3x Destructive Revelry
3x Kor Firewalker
3x Path to Exile
2x Relic of Progenitus
2x Shattering Spree
4 Bloodstained Mire
4 Wooded Foothills
2 Arid Mesa
2 Sacred Foundry
1 Stomping Ground
4 Inspiring Vantage
1 Copperline Gorge
2 Mountain
I usually don't see 5 fast lands in most builds, but they have been putting in work for me.