Thanks for the response, patbou. Kytheon does seem pretty spicy as another 1 drop, might have to test that.
How effective are Gut Shot and Izzet Staticaster in practice though? Didn't someone say during commentary recently that the Humans mirror comes down to who draws more Thalia's Lieutenants? Gut Shot could still be useful, if you have it early, but Staticaster coming down on turn three at best seems pretty weak in the mirror, and probably too late against Affinity, Infect, and Elves. Granted, it's pretty good against Mardu, but I feel Auriok Champion and a fast clock is such a beating anyway, two extra slots dedicated to that match up might be pushing it.
Any sideboard guides floating around for the current Humans iterations? I've been playing the decks since Vegas steadily, and for the most part it all seems pretty intuitive, but I'd like to see what other folks are doing.
Izzet Staticaster has seemed downright terrible to me, and I'm curious on others thoughts. When are you bringing it in, and how effective has it been. Gut Shot is another card that has underperformed for me, and could be used to free up slots.
How often do you folks board out Aether Vile?
On another note, Gerry mentioned in a recent GAM podcast that he felt Meddling Mage has been underperforming a bit, as the meta has started to adapt by spreading its removal out, and he thought the deck was at its best when it was playing one drops. He mentioned possible cutting Meddling Mage for some amount of Experiment One as another early threat. While, it seems a bit crazy to me to cut Meddling Mage, it can definitely be a hot or cold card, I think he's right on the money about the 1 drops and the Experiment seems interesting.
My flex slots right now are Big Thalia, which has been a monster in the matchups where she is useful, but I'm curious if her place isn't better in the sideboard (after making some room by cutting the chaff) and using the flex slots for additional 1 drop threats.
So you want one card, auto-pilot, I win button against Tron, that they can't play around at all? Sounds like some fair and interactive Magic right there, folks.
^Yes exactly. Six copies of Damping Sphere in the top 32 of Vegas doesn’t show the failings of the hate, it shows that Tron was underestimated and dodged the hate.
The B exile colorless creature spell will take up my Tron sideboard slots in Mardu right away. Tron gets their mana sooner or later and drops their bomb regardless of the hate, so I want to address their threats directly
That 5-0 list above is actually Matt Nass piloting the deck, with Sam Pardee and Andrew Baeckstrom as side kicks. You can watch him rolfstomp two leagues 9-1 here: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/275696402
It's impressive stuff actually. I'm really tempted to buy into this deck after watching, probably after the ban announcement.
The Sparring Construct inclusion, if I remember correctly, was just for another 1 drop to help play on curve and turn on metalcraft
Yeah I think the Moltens are almost entirely for Tron in conjunction with Surgicals from tbe board, and splash damage against a few archetypes where you have mostly dead removal while keeping your instant/sorcery count up, like Valakut, Amulet, Jeskai, U/W control... I board in Molten Rain against Burn in place of Blood Moon.
If Push and CB are live they don’t usually come in
Marshall Arthurs said he would have cut his 1x Dreadbore for a Forked Bolt if he could run his tournament win back. Lowering the cost of your removal is really important in a field overrun by Thalia. As much as I respect Gerry, his list is way off the mark. Manamorphose, Terminate, and Dreadbore are all pretty abysmal against Thalia tax, and a nearly a nonbo with Bridge, when dumping your hand every turn is imperative. Going down to 19 lands also seems suspect when you are running 3x of Moon, K Command, Bridge, and Kambal.
Leyline and Bridge together also seems bad. The list is kind of all over the place.
I think Arthurs list was so effective because he really focused everything into a powerful control shell. The value you generate with Pyro and Reveler may be your win condition, but you are really just grinding your opponents out with cheap removal and soft locks in Bridge, Kambal, and Blood Moon
How effective are Gut Shot and Izzet Staticaster in practice though? Didn't someone say during commentary recently that the Humans mirror comes down to who draws more Thalia's Lieutenants? Gut Shot could still be useful, if you have it early, but Staticaster coming down on turn three at best seems pretty weak in the mirror, and probably too late against Affinity, Infect, and Elves. Granted, it's pretty good against Mardu, but I feel Auriok Champion and a fast clock is such a beating anyway, two extra slots dedicated to that match up might be pushing it.
Izzet Staticaster has seemed downright terrible to me, and I'm curious on others thoughts. When are you bringing it in, and how effective has it been. Gut Shot is another card that has underperformed for me, and could be used to free up slots.
How often do you folks board out Aether Vile?
On another note, Gerry mentioned in a recent GAM podcast that he felt Meddling Mage has been underperforming a bit, as the meta has started to adapt by spreading its removal out, and he thought the deck was at its best when it was playing one drops. He mentioned possible cutting Meddling Mage for some amount of Experiment One as another early threat. While, it seems a bit crazy to me to cut Meddling Mage, it can definitely be a hot or cold card, I think he's right on the money about the 1 drops and the Experiment seems interesting.
My flex slots right now are Big Thalia, which has been a monster in the matchups where she is useful, but I'm curious if her place isn't better in the sideboard (after making some room by cutting the chaff) and using the flex slots for additional 1 drop threats.
Nothing will be unbanned either, because there isn't a set coming out that Wizards can pack SFM into as a chase mythic
Modern GPs are about having a read on the meta and responding at the next level. People failed to tech against Tron
It's impressive stuff actually. I'm really tempted to buy into this deck after watching, probably after the ban announcement.
The Sparring Construct inclusion, if I remember correctly, was just for another 1 drop to help play on curve and turn on metalcraft
If Push and CB are live they don’t usually come in
7-1 or better Modern lists.
2x G Tron
Hollow One with Lingering Souls
2x Mardu Pyromancer
Infect
Jund
2x Jeskai
Leyline and Bridge together also seems bad. The list is kind of all over the place.
I think Arthurs list was so effective because he really focused everything into a powerful control shell. The value you generate with Pyro and Reveler may be your win condition, but you are really just grinding your opponents out with cheap removal and soft locks in Bridge, Kambal, and Blood Moon
Edit: I mean to say that if Punishing Fire were unbanned tomorrow it would be mostly binder fodder in this current Modern meta
Punishing Fire is a borderline binder card in Modern right now