The Rock is performing well on the big stage. I will be testing this build this weekend at a local tournament. It looks like good and I am curious as to how the 3 surgical extraction's perform as graveyard hate.
An awesome primer. Many thanks. Love having a place where Rock enthusiests can get together and ask questions, debate, and improve. Rock, Jund, Abzan.., all part of the same family.
I would recommend both new and experienced to tune into Mtg Grim Flayer on Youtube and watch the matchups and play patterns. It is incredibly good content for the Modern Rock player.
I have been playing Modern for years now and I just built Jeskai Control in paper. As I built the deck I wondered why Anger of the Gods or Sweltering Suns was not played in the main or board. With so many Bant Spirits and Humans decks around, it does seem like a logical choice.
I sleeved the deck up the deck posted by XOPYC this morning and intend on playing it this Friday. I like the idea of land destruction/control that sets the standard build apart from the rest. I will be goldfishing it for the next few days... in the meantime, if you have any tips for playing the deck, please let me know. Thanks.
It appears to me that many of these deck lists are built believing that is the only deck running assassin's trophy. Running fewer lands, and fewer basics, may mean that when you meet someone whose deck has more you will lose. For instance, playing path, seige rhino, etc. and not having a basic plains will open yourself up to land destruction from your opponant. This is one reason why BG may have an advantage.
Slaughter Pact can be a good choice, especially with Dark Confident, but the no black creature clause can really be a set back (as is the no artifact creature that comes with Go for the Throat). What you expect to play will change those few slots. I would default to Path to Exile if uncertain.
Is anyone still playing GB? Played in a PPTQ today, lost to Titanshift in both swiss and quarters. I played 3/1 GQ/Tec edge split with just a single surgical in the SB. Might try 4 Tec edge and 2 Surgicals, though I suspect the matchup is just bad regardless.
Have you considered running Shadow of Doubt in the sideboard for that match-up? I think that the Tectonic Edge and Surgical Extraction are good as well. I have one in my side and have seen as many as 3 in recent Rock decklists.
Ghost Quarter or Tectonic Edge has been a decision I have struggled with for a while. I have concluded that Tectonic Edge is often the better choice because it does not give the opponent a land in return when I am down a land (similar to the discussions regarding Path to Exile). And though you are not able to act until the fourth land hits the field, generally that means that the opponent may able to deploy a single threat (Karn Liberated or Wurmcoil Engine) and that threat can usually be dealt with accordingly. In matches against decks like Titanshift and control decks, depriving them of that single land can make a big difference in how the game plays out.
With regard to creatures, I have started running two Tireless Tracker and two Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet in the main, and reduced Scavenging Ooze down to two in total. In reality, you will find that these cards are dead in some match-ups, including Scavenging Ooze, but the three combined often cover most of what I need to accomplish.
As far as the one or two slots for removal, I alternate between Go for the Throat and Slaughter Pact in the main. Maelstrom Pulse is really the catch all card that more than pulls its weight, which is why I always have two in the main and now run in the side.
https://www.mtgtop8.com/event?e=20722&d=336695&f=MO
The Rock is performing well on the big stage. I will be testing this build this weekend at a local tournament. It looks like good and I am curious as to how the 3 surgical extraction's perform as graveyard hate.
I would recommend both new and experienced to tune into Mtg Grim Flayer on Youtube and watch the matchups and play patterns. It is incredibly good content for the Modern Rock player.
Have you considered running Shadow of Doubt in the sideboard for that match-up? I think that the Tectonic Edge and Surgical Extraction are good as well. I have one in my side and have seen as many as 3 in recent Rock decklists.
With regard to creatures, I have started running two Tireless Tracker and two Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet in the main, and reduced Scavenging Ooze down to two in total. In reality, you will find that these cards are dead in some match-ups, including Scavenging Ooze, but the three combined often cover most of what I need to accomplish.
As far as the one or two slots for removal, I alternate between Go for the Throat and Slaughter Pact in the main. Maelstrom Pulse is really the catch all card that more than pulls its weight, which is why I always have two in the main and now run in the side.