This was the last big tournament’s meta. Perhaps Firecraft isn’t such a bad idea looking at the control percentage. The other matchups are already just fine also without Palm, don’t need Palm to win vs this list.
Jund 18%
Burn 8%
Affinity 5%
Grixis Control 4%
UW Control 4%
Tron 3%
Ponza 3%
Storm 3%
DS 3%
What are your thoughts on Deflecting Palm? I’ve been having it in my side for months, boarding it in against Abzan/GDS/EldraziTron to hope to hit Goyf/Rhino/DS/Angler/TKS/Smasher. It usually ends up sitting in my hand doing nothing with me wishing I just had another burn spell or something I can just play rather than wait and do nothing. I can’t even remember when it actually did something.
Now I’m in doubt. Our current meta for the tournaments hosted in our store go all ways, from Tron to Jund, Jeskai, Dredge, Elves, Abzan, Burn, Affinity, Merfolk, Hatebears just literally every deck in the tier list.
I’ve been thinking about Kari Zev’s Expertise, but that’s too narrow and sorcery speed. Could be a lethal swing + free cast. Anger of the Gods I could see as a sweeper against ‘all’ creature decks. Or is Exquisite Firecraft the better way to go? In short; doubts!
My current main is:
4 Guide/Swiftspear/Eidolon
1 Lavaman
4 Spike/Rift/Bolt/Helix/Boros/Skullcrack/Blaze
19 land (RWg)
My side:
4 Revelry
2 Path/Relic of Progenitus/Palm/Searing Blood/Rampaging Ferocidon
1 Shattering Spree
Do you see anything I could swap Palm for? What would it be? Or would you suggest keeping it in for the potential? Don’t want to play Firewalker, also too narrow. Going nuts over this..
In short, regarding Bomat Courier, I think you'll just have to test it to see how it works out for you. More importantly, what are you going to cut for it? In my opinion you can only choose from bad choices and even more terrible choices to cut from the main deck, as every creature and every spell is more damage output than a single Bomat Courier.
Hopefully you can redraw a part of your hand when you sac Bomat Courier, but you will have to test how often you can sac it, how many cards you will draw, what you will toss away, number of times you won't sac it when it dies because everything in your hand is simply better than the unknown exiled cards, etc..
Yes I can see potential, but to make a choice in what to cut and what you gain from it is very hard for me.
Is there anyone here perhaps with experience in using Bomat Courier in Burn and what it has done for you, positive and negative?
Round 1 vs. rg breach. I got my bogle big and it was fast. I then drew spirit link and I was literally out of range for lethal at 5 mana for him and lethal next turn. In the next game, he summoners pact and breached Titan, but I had path to exile and was able to cast gaddock teeg with spider umbra to shut down Chandra, torch. 2-0.
Round 2 vs. Kiki chord. Luckily I'm on the play and have a lot of pressure. Path clears the way and I have lethal. In the next game, I made a mistake and he chorded for spellskite. I draw path and get it, but he comboes with angel and Kiki. In the final game I go all in on kor spiritdancer and it kills him on turn 4 or close to it. 2-1.
Round 3 vs. gb tron. I have all the pressure to his mull to 4. He gets 2 tron pieces right away, but doesn't find ugin or the 3rd tron piece. In the next game I'm crunching in, but draw gaddock teeg to put an umbra on it and I'm now safe. He scoops after I top deck ethereal armor. He had Nature's Claim, but it would have been tough for him to win from there. 2-0.
Round 4 vs. gb belcher. Paired down so no ID. The other 2 3-0s ID and root against me, lol. Both games are pretty easy as I suit up my dude and goldfish him. Had leyline for charbelcher and discard. Drew my 3rd land first and umbraed my spiritdancer. Got there soon afterward. 2-0.
2 4-0's in a row, good job! Do you have a link to your decklist perhaps?
What made you move from your usual Naya list to the current Boros list? When we talked in this forum about Naya and Boros you were favoring Naya over Boros because of AC among other things if I remember correctly.
I’m playing FNM tomorrow and was putting together your list while reading the forum, and just cams across this post and now it makes me doubt
Funny how you can name Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle with Gideon's Intervention. Sure Valakut is not a spell, but the part that says preventing the damage that it will do should be enough to win that matchup. Their only other threat at that point is Titan which well, is a Path magnet.
@poll, keep all hands except for the last to try and mull to something that targets creatures.
Every hand despite just having one land have a guide and 2 1cmc spells to get recurring damage and the ability to play something turn 2 and even turn 3 if you fail to find the second land.
Thanks for your response (and all following discussions) on the matter of AC vs SC. It's clear to me now.
Another question to you if you don't mind. I'm checking your list again, seeing you play just 1 Inspiring Vantage. Shouldn't it be more (or none), e.g. would the singleton in the deck not just take away the consistency of the land base of the deck?
Also, I don't like playing Grim Lavamancer myself, too often it feels like a do-nothing card. I might be wrong here, but perhaps I haven't been able to use its full potential thusfar. I've been wondering about a 4/4 split between Inspiring Vantage and Copperline Gorge for the Naya list so you have almost all required colors free of pain in the early stages of the game. Why I mentioned Lavaman is with the fastlands you'll have a little less graveyard filling. Would it be an option to play 8 fastlands, 2 basic Mountains, 1 shock of each duo, and the rest of them fetches in your Naya list?
Elconquistador, I’m checking your list and comparing it with my own which is basically RWg where I play 1 Stomping Ground and Skullcracks where you play Atarka’s.
I’m doubting whether I should follow your list, the only thing that concerns me is Atarka’s. While it’s a very powerful card, don’t we need more creatures to benefit from the 2 usual modes? Also, where with Skullcrack I feel you play more in response to your opponent, Atarka’s is often more straight forward and will be cast during your own combat phase to pump your team. This to me feels like because you are probably going tapped out there, you give your opponent a turn where they can do whatever they want as you can’t play anything. Now I know Atarka’s gives a ton of pressure especially combined with a Swiftspear. I’m just curious as to how you see this.
Shouldn't you play 4 Blackcleave Cliffs main to prevent you from all the fetch/shock damage, like Inspiring Vantage does in RW(g)? Should save you from some damage to yourself. Or do you purposely run more fetches to keep Gonti's Machinations going?
@Jim_prov looked at that list...a bit odd. Main thing stuck out was the 4x cavern while still running 4x sculler. Considering eldrazi are logical creature type to name that doesn't help from mana standpoint as many are colorless, going to assume he really wanted to wreck control.
How right you are about 4 Caverns being odd as you'll only want to call Edlrazi; naming Eldrazi with 1 Caverns is usually enough. The possible second Caverns (or even the first you play depending on your hand and draws) could be naming Zombie to fix Sculler's colors for the remaining lands in hand. I can see potential, but I agree it seems off.
I'm focussing on cheap creatures and getting a lot of counters on them. Herald of Secret Streams will eventually allow me to go for a massive unblocked attack to finish the game. I've done some goldfishing games and it's incredible how fast it can go. Especially with Rishkar, Peema Renegade adding up on the counters and ramping you to emptying your hand as well. Verdurous Gearhulk to assist in the counters plan and being big on it's own. Unsummon to have the tempo plan and get rid of (big) Longtusk Cub or Scarab God.
I'm replacing 1 more Forest with Hashep Oasis.
I think Vineshaper Mystic is not good being a 1/3 for 3. It also comes with the downside that you'll almost always want to play it when you have atleast 2 other Merfolk. It makes you keep it in hand where you rather want to play stuff and keep your aggro plan going.
I also think Jade Guardian is overcosted and the 4 slot doesn't really have room for it.
I'm currently playing a 3/3 split mainboard between Shrine of Burning Rage and Eidolon of the Great Revel. It feels super solid. Against decks like Eldrazitron I bring in a 4th Shrine, Shattering Spree and Drev, and take out the Eidolons. Against control I may take out Eidolon but that depends on the list, against delver it will go out (Tasigur/Angler), against UWR it will stay in but will also add the 4th Shrine (they can't get it off the table after it lands). Against mirror/storm/coco decks I bring in the 4th Eidolon and take out Shrines. It feels incredibly tight.
I still feel like people underestimate the power of Shrine. Lots of times when my opponent plays a turn 1 discard spell, they leave Shrine in, only to see it tick up to 6+ counters in 3 turns and presenting lethal.
If you want I can post my complete list later. My list right now is the best and solid performing list I've played thusfar. I've played Burn before, also in a Small Zoo variant (Taylor/GG/Nacatl/Goyf/Eidolon), and the last 6 months on RWg burn, but right now I feel I can take on any deck and hardly have any difficult matchups except Abzan actually.
Jund 18%
Burn 8%
Affinity 5%
Grixis Control 4%
UW Control 4%
Tron 3%
Ponza 3%
Storm 3%
DS 3%
Now I’m in doubt. Our current meta for the tournaments hosted in our store go all ways, from Tron to Jund, Jeskai, Dredge, Elves, Abzan, Burn, Affinity, Merfolk, Hatebears just literally every deck in the tier list.
I’ve been thinking about Kari Zev’s Expertise, but that’s too narrow and sorcery speed. Could be a lethal swing + free cast. Anger of the Gods I could see as a sweeper against ‘all’ creature decks. Or is Exquisite Firecraft the better way to go? In short; doubts!
My current main is:
4 Guide/Swiftspear/Eidolon
1 Lavaman
4 Spike/Rift/Bolt/Helix/Boros/Skullcrack/Blaze
19 land (RWg)
My side:
4 Revelry
2 Path/Relic of Progenitus/Palm/Searing Blood/Rampaging Ferocidon
1 Shattering Spree
Do you see anything I could swap Palm for? What would it be? Or would you suggest keeping it in for the potential? Don’t want to play Firewalker, also too narrow. Going nuts over this..
Cheers guys
Hopefully you can redraw a part of your hand when you sac Bomat Courier, but you will have to test how often you can sac it, how many cards you will draw, what you will toss away, number of times you won't sac it when it dies because everything in your hand is simply better than the unknown exiled cards, etc..
Yes I can see potential, but to make a choice in what to cut and what you gain from it is very hard for me.
Is there anyone here perhaps with experience in using Bomat Courier in Burn and what it has done for you, positive and negative?
Cheers
2 4-0's in a row, good job! Do you have a link to your decklist perhaps?
What made you move from your usual Naya list to the current Boros list? When we talked in this forum about Naya and Boros you were favoring Naya over Boros because of AC among other things if I remember correctly.
I’m playing FNM tomorrow and was putting together your list while reading the forum, and just cams across this post and now it makes me doubt
Cheers
When playing the Blight Herder variant of the deck, shouldn't a 1-off Vault of the Archangel be included?
Oh BTW, RideTheIguana, do you have a SB guide to your list?
Every hand despite just having one land have a guide and 2 1cmc spells to get recurring damage and the ability to play something turn 2 and even turn 3 if you fail to find the second land.
Seem really reasonable hands to me
Thanks for your response (and all following discussions) on the matter of AC vs SC. It's clear to me now.
Another question to you if you don't mind. I'm checking your list again, seeing you play just 1 Inspiring Vantage. Shouldn't it be more (or none), e.g. would the singleton in the deck not just take away the consistency of the land base of the deck?
Also, I don't like playing Grim Lavamancer myself, too often it feels like a do-nothing card. I might be wrong here, but perhaps I haven't been able to use its full potential thusfar. I've been wondering about a 4/4 split between Inspiring Vantage and Copperline Gorge for the Naya list so you have almost all required colors free of pain in the early stages of the game. Why I mentioned Lavaman is with the fastlands you'll have a little less graveyard filling. Would it be an option to play 8 fastlands, 2 basic Mountains, 1 shock of each duo, and the rest of them fetches in your Naya list?
Thanks,
DC
I’m doubting whether I should follow your list, the only thing that concerns me is Atarka’s. While it’s a very powerful card, don’t we need more creatures to benefit from the 2 usual modes? Also, where with Skullcrack I feel you play more in response to your opponent, Atarka’s is often more straight forward and will be cast during your own combat phase to pump your team. This to me feels like because you are probably going tapped out there, you give your opponent a turn where they can do whatever they want as you can’t play anything. Now I know Atarka’s gives a ton of pressure especially combined with a Swiftspear. I’m just curious as to how you see this.
Thanks
DC
Shouldn't you play 4 Blackcleave Cliffs main to prevent you from all the fetch/shock damage, like Inspiring Vantage does in RW(g)? Should save you from some damage to yourself. Or do you purposely run more fetches to keep Gonti's Machinations going?
Thanks,
DC
How right you are about 4 Caverns being odd as you'll only want to call Edlrazi; naming Eldrazi with 1 Caverns is usually enough. The possible second Caverns (or even the first you play depending on your hand and draws) could be naming Zombie to fix Sculler's colors for the remaining lands in hand. I can see potential, but I agree it seems off.
I'm going to play this list tomorrow night at our Standard Showdown event.
4x Kumena's Speaker
3x Deeproot Champion
4x River Sneak
4x Merfolk Branchwalker
4x Metallic Mimic
2x Rishkar, Peema Renegade
2x Kopala, Warden of Waves
3x Herald of Secret Streams
2x Verdurous Gearhulk
4x Blossoming Defense
3x Unsummon
4x River Heralds' Boon
Land (21)
4x Botanical Sanctum
1x Hashep Oasis
4x Unclaimed Territory
6x Forest
6x Island
I'm focussing on cheap creatures and getting a lot of counters on them. Herald of Secret Streams will eventually allow me to go for a massive unblocked attack to finish the game. I've done some goldfishing games and it's incredible how fast it can go. Especially with Rishkar, Peema Renegade adding up on the counters and ramping you to emptying your hand as well.
Verdurous Gearhulk to assist in the counters plan and being big on it's own.
Unsummon to have the tempo plan and get rid of (big) Longtusk Cub or Scarab God.
I'm replacing 1 more Forest with Hashep Oasis.
The sideboard is still a work in progress but will contain 3-4 Heroic Intervention to protect the board from Fumigate/Bontu's Last Reckoning, a few counterspells like Negate/Essence Scatter and some other cards.
I think Vineshaper Mystic is not good being a 1/3 for 3. It also comes with the downside that you'll almost always want to play it when you have atleast 2 other Merfolk. It makes you keep it in hand where you rather want to play stuff and keep your aggro plan going.
I also think Jade Guardian is overcosted and the 4 slot doesn't really have room for it.
Cheers
This is my current complete list:
3 Eidolon of the Great Revel
4 Goblin Guide
4 Monastery Swiftspear
Sorcery - 8
4 Lava Spike
4 Rift Bolt
Instant - 18
4 Boros Charm
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Searing Blaze
2 Skullcrack
3 Shrine of Burning Rage
Land - 20
4 Arid Mesa
4 Bloodstained Mire
3 Wooded Foothills
4 Inspiring Vantage
2 Sacred Foundry
1 Stomping Ground
2 Mountain
3 Destructive Revelry
3 Path to Exile
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Searing Blood
2 Skullcrack
1 Shrine of Burning Rage
1 Eidolon of the Great Revel
1 Shattering Spree
My sideboard currently is this:
3 Destructive Revelry
3 Path to Exile
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Searing Blood
2 Skullcrack
1 Shrine of Burning Rage
1 Eidolon of the Great Revel
1 Shattering Spree
I still feel like people underestimate the power of Shrine. Lots of times when my opponent plays a turn 1 discard spell, they leave Shrine in, only to see it tick up to 6+ counters in 3 turns and presenting lethal.
If you want I can post my complete list later. My list right now is the best and solid performing list I've played thusfar. I've played Burn before, also in a Small Zoo variant (Taylor/GG/Nacatl/Goyf/Eidolon), and the last 6 months on RWg burn, but right now I feel I can take on any deck and hardly have any difficult matchups except Abzan actually.