Delver decks specifically lean on ways to interact with the opponents spells on the stack, rather than what's on the board. You may say, "Teferi is tough to beat", but isn't everything that has impact on the board that we can't bounce/bolt tough to beat? Liliana of the Veil, Teferi, Hero of Dominaria, Thoughtknot Seer, Primeval Titan, Arcbound Ravager, Search for Azcanta are all cards that fall under this category if they slip through our slew of countermagic.
It's a fundamental issue of our deck, if we can't counter it or bolt it before it does something, our deck suddenly sucks and falls behind.
That's particularly true. And that's why I'm pleading for somenthing like counterspell (or at least memory lapse) in horizon. Keep finger crossed.
Glad to see someone else is playing this deck! Nice result. Congratulations!
I think we definetly need 18 lands. I think the room for it should be made cutting a draw spell. For keeping the number of ins/Sor high enough I think you should cut an obsession. By the way you made me change the 2 opts I was running with the enchantment and I'm pretty happy even if 24 may be too few inst/sorc. I'll see.
I'm pretty happy with this sideboard configuration. Since you don't play Shoals, I'd cut needle for another counter of your choice.
About the 5th path. The only similar card I can think of is Celestial Purge even if it costs 2.
Sorry I keep posting spoilers, but I'm actually pretty interested in this one.
We already want to cast a bunch of noncreature spells anyways, and turning the tokens into goyfs/Hooting Mandrills seems really good. I think this is very playable.
I agree. Loved her at first sight. I think she's quite strong here! (She could be even stronger in phoenix though...)
Dovin too might be useful as a sideboard tool...
@Ob and Mike: good job!
I'd play the first Opt over the third sleight. It's nice having some instant speed cantrip.
@rghapro: it makes sense he only does 1 damage. He would be OP otherwise.
I didn't see her. She's strange. Her minus ability can be useless sometimes: don't we need about 20+ creature to use it profitably (if someone is better than me with statistical analysis is welcome)?
Her static and plus can help against various decks though (Control and aggro with flyers). Since she costs only 3 can be worth.
Ral can be interesting. If he really does 3 damage when you cast or copy a spell he will be great. Even at 1 can he be ok. +2 scry 1is ok. —2 copy instant sorcery is good.
My assumption is that it is not a card we load up on in the main board. I'm thinking 1 in the main and 2 in the side. We still have our early counters but they fold at some point. Counter spell can be subbed in as a better catch all as needed.
I'd play it as a 4 of main. It would be the answer to bigger creatures and to spells played later in the game. Between it and shoal we'd have 8 hard counters. I'd try to complete the permissions suite with a couple of snares or pierces. That's (and a better cantrip) is what we need imho. The line would be vents, pool, island. I can't see any problem with that.
All of this in vacuum without knowing other cards obviously. It may be very different though.
If we got only lapse it would be the same, but I may stay on Countercats.
If we got both I'd probably split them but I don't know.
Just my two cents.
I'm sorry man, that's rough. In my experience, we usually have a hard time against the go-wide creature decks. You could also try playing something like Firespout in the side?
I agree. Usually go wide strategy end up being a sideboard battle: you see mass removal -> you win; you don't -> try again.
(By the way for anybody interested here I uploaded some video of countercats. It's not pure temur and it's only XMage, but since the contents about delver decks are pretty inexistent nowadays I tell you anyway. Feel free to PM me if you want to comment)
For anybody interested in some video contents about this deck I uploaded here some videos I recorded for myself (since XMage doesn't have the replay feature or I can't find it).
Feel free to PM me for anything related.
About Hurkyl's: it targets player so be careful to play around witchbane orb. I think a good card for that match-up is echoing truth. It can be useful even against more things and in more match-ups. I'd play it even main deck due to its versatility (and I'm actually trying it in countercats and liking it a lot).
EDIT: I'd keep obsession too against midrange. Just play it wisely.
That's particularly true. And that's why I'm pleading for somenthing like counterspell (or at least memory lapse) in horizon. Keep finger crossed.
I think we definetly need 18 lands. I think the room for it should be made cutting a draw spell. For keeping the number of ins/Sor high enough I think you should cut an obsession. By the way you made me change the 2 opts I was running with the enchantment and I'm pretty happy even if 24 may be too few inst/sorc. I'll see.
4 Wild Nacatl
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Tarmogoyf
3 Hooting Mandrills
1 Snapcaster Mage
Draws
2 Curious Obsession
2 Thought Scour
4 Serum Visions
1 Sleight of Hand
1 Chart a Course
Interactions
3 Disrupting Shoal
2 Spell Pierce
2 Mana Leak
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Path to Exile
1 Echoing Truth
4 Misty Rainforest
3 Scalding Tarn
2 Flooded Strand
1 Stomping Ground
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Steam Vents
1 Temple Garden
1 Island
1 Breeding Pool
1 Forest
2 Wooded Foothills
2 Damping Sphere
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Pithing Needle
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Hazoret the Fervent
2 Huntmaster of the Fells
1 Ancient Grudge
1 Negate
2 Surgical Extraction
1 Destructive Revelry
2 Pyroclasm
I'm pretty happy with this sideboard configuration. Since you don't play Shoals, I'd cut needle for another counter of your choice.
About the 5th path. The only similar card I can think of is Celestial Purge even if it costs 2.
I agree. Loved her at first sight. I think she's quite strong here! (She could be even stronger in phoenix though...)
Dovin too might be useful as a sideboard tool...
It doesn't work with cascade though since cascade exiles it before casting it.
I'd play the first Opt over the third sleight. It's nice having some instant speed cantrip.
@rghapro: it makes sense he only does 1 damage. He would be OP otherwise.
EDIT:
I didn't see her. She's strange. Her minus ability can be useless sometimes: don't we need about 20+ creature to use it profitably (if someone is better than me with statistical analysis is welcome)?
Her static and plus can help against various decks though (Control and aggro with flyers). Since she costs only 3 can be worth.
Keep doing nothing on an empty board though. It feels like a win more in our deck. I prefer Domri right now.
I'd play it as a 4 of main. It would be the answer to bigger creatures and to spells played later in the game. Between it and shoal we'd have 8 hard counters. I'd try to complete the permissions suite with a couple of snares or pierces. That's (and a better cantrip) is what we need imho. The line would be vents, pool, island. I can't see any problem with that.
All of this in vacuum without knowing other cards obviously. It may be very different though.
If we got only lapse it would be the same, but I may stay on Countercats.
If we got both I'd probably split them but I don't know.
Just my two cents.
I agree. Usually go wide strategy end up being a sideboard battle: you see mass removal -> you win; you don't -> try again.
(By the way for anybody interested here I uploaded some video of countercats. It's not pure temur and it's only XMage, but since the contents about delver decks are pretty inexistent nowadays I tell you anyway. Feel free to PM me if you want to comment)
Feel free to PM me for anything related.
EDIT: I'd keep obsession too against midrange. Just play it wisely.