MTG Salvation

Quote from Creevy »

Match 4: EldraziTron (2-0)

Board in: 4x Wear//Tear, 3x Path to Exile
Board out: 4x Eidolon of the Great Revel, 3x Rift Bolt

Just wanted to say that you should NEVER board out Rift Bolt against E-Tron since it plays around Chalice.

Quote from Creevy »

Overall, I'm extremely happy with how Gonti's is performing for me. I know I boarded it out in two games, and I've learned that it's not good against combo decks. I did topdeck it for the loss against Infect, and that's a very real potentiality. As of right now, I'm accepting that it's a bad topdeck in the way our creatures are bad topdecks. A lot of the speed in which I won had to do with Gonti's, and I'm not just saying that because I'm reporting. A lot of my opening plays were Guide/Swifty, followed by Gonti and then crack a fetch for another burn spell, giving me an energy and pumping Swifty twice. If you're on the fence about this card, I personally recommend it's worth testing.

I've tested and posted some videos on Gonti early on (its in the early thread).

I didn't like it very much - its imo is even less consistence then Shrine.

Vs Death Shadow

We're not really concerned with Shadow itself since we're aiming to kill them through EoT + Untap thus Blaze is used mainly for the 4/5, 2/1 and 5/5 (usually through creature + Blaze or if its early blaze + burn).

Vs Mirror

I don't think Revel is bad on the draw either since like you said "Generally, the player who sticks creatures will win." and we only have so many targeted burn spells.

Quote from elconquistador1985 »

I am open to suggestions for things that I missed and things that I might have gotten wrong.

I feel kinda bad about suggesting this since its self-serving but maybe regular Modern burn Streamers or Youtubers like RedBaronMTG (on twitch) should get links.

Quote from elconquistador1985 »

There's a rough sideboard guide in the Matchups section, please let me know if anyone disagrees with it.

I like Searing Blaze against E-Tron for much the same reasons I assume you like Searing Blaze in the GDS MU. Its even better if your also on the Ensnaring Bridge plan.

I'm also strongly in favor of keeping Eidolon in the mirror since it provides pressure and must be removed.

Quote from UktabiApeSquad »

I've been thinking about tombstalker as anti eldrazi tron tech. Post board they should be going down dismember, karn and all is dust which leaves them cold to a tombstalker. It can brick wall reshapers and tks and flies right over everything for huge chunks of damage. The idea came from wanting a card to help fight chalice of the void that was still good when the e tron player doesn't draw chalice. It's probably too narrow and clunky and only applies to burn decks running black but I just wanted to throw it out there.

Why not just run Ensnaring Bridge? It hits all the creature MUs as well and is slightly harder to deal with.

I play online with 1850+ rating so I do understand wide metas (you can see it on my youtube channel).

I prefer 6x Anti-lifegain spells in the 75 and I HATE losing against taxes, pox and seas (even Ghost from E-Tron) which is why I don't play Atarka MD.

That said MUs like Titanshift & Ad Nauseam are common enough that I want Atarka as well so I have them in the side with the Lavamancer which people like in SB thrown into the MD (thus not really making a differences from the usual 4-2 split MD-SB).

Quote from IDoC »

Skullcrack is also useful against things like Burrenton Forge-Tender and Gideon of the Trials (and, much more infrequently, Runed Halo).

That being said, Command obviously has much more powerful and versatile upsides. I stubbornly held onto it for over a month after Boros became the norm, and only switched off of it after MTGO got flooded with land denial strategies and the mirror to the point where maindeck green was more of a liability than it was worth. I've been experimenting with both versions, and the difference between having Command and not having it hasn't usually felt all that significant to me in the current meta.

Yep - UW Control is a nightmare + Skullcrack getting around Deflecting Palm is great as well.

I also like how Skullcrack can help you bluff through protection creatures since it has won me many games in mirror and affinity.

If anyone is interested here is Seth Manfield's article on Modern tech: (link - the Shrine debate included).

I've play many games (few uploaded (300 or so which you can watch) since shadow became a thing and more so before it) and from my experience the aggro MUs can go well over T6 esp. if your targeting creatures.

In regards with Boros I may have overstated the word 'grind' but I find with Mardu and Naya burn requirement for 3c fetches in this current meta can reduce your turns for survival greatly - its gets even worse when you factor in land denial.

Mardu is undeniably faster then the other variants with its Bump in the Night acting like that chain lightning you mention.

EDIT: Just to clarify - when I say 'grind' what I mean is extend the game longer then the other greedy 3C variants, I don't mean trade card for card all day like rock.dec... I'll try and use a different word.

EDIT2: I really don't understand the burst lightning brew... anyhow Mardu has a lower cc then other burn decks while still retaining the powerful cards like Boros Charm - lower cc means less chance for being clogged with 2cc spells which increases the chance for dropping your hand and winning by T3-4 (esp. when you factor in opp. fetch + shock). Boros & Naya burn can do the same but the odds are lower since you need to make more land drops and not hit as many 2cc spells.

Ooooh thanks for this post!

E-Tron is my main consideration for switching from revel to shrine and I do like how shrine still triggers with chalice in play countering our other burns.

Firstly I would like to state I prefer Eidolon - mainly because it plays well with my gameplan against shadow.

Quote from Creevy »

Shrine all but fizzles against aggro decks (where Eidolon would shine outside of Affinity), and trying to go long against decks built for disruption plays right into what they want. I'll be honest, it feels like a no brainer.

Shrine is BETTER then Eidolon in the aggro MUs because we're in the control role.

- - -

If we ONLY care about reducing the opp. down into zero as quickly as possible then Mardu Burn would be the best burn deck (since it has the highest chances for goldfishes). I believe the rise of Boros burn shows that grinding out victories is a thing, we should hope for the best (T4 wins) but prepare for the worse (T5+ games due to discard, land denial, taxes, bad draws, counters, life-gain and critical creature kills).

Quote from magicdownunder »

I'm thinking about picking up Mono Blue Favorable Winds (mainly because I don't like the idea of playing so many */1 in a Goblin Chainwhirler Meta) can someone help convince to change my mind and run the throne version? I don't really understand the appeal of throne in this list mainly because you don't really have that many cards to help you tap down your own dorks.

EDIT: If we're racing all the time why not run Skyship Plunderer and Nimble Obstructionist more over Storm Fleet Aerialist.

Dreamcaller Siren abilities sound amazing.

I agree that you definitely have to be aware of Chainwhirler and Walking Ballista in today's standard. I've been happy with a throne build tweaked to remove most of the x/1 creatures:


I have personally had good success with this in competitive leagues. I haven't seen any of the Favorable Winds builds pop up in tournament results or competitive league results.

As for a more concrete list of reasons to prefer going with the Throne, I can offer a few:

• Glint-Nest Crane. This is the big one. When it hits it not only offers card advantage but also gives you one of the better cards in your deck. A creature that digs four cards deep looking for your anthem effect is quite nice. The 3 toughness comes in handy from time to time as well.
• Slither Blade. A one drop with two toughness that walks right past fliers.
• Zahid, Djinn of the Lamp. IMO he's a little too slow for standard right now. But on the other hand there are times when you really want a 5/6 flier for four mana. If you're going to play him then the throne build gets him down more consistently.
• Throne trickeration. With Favorable Winds you are stuck winning through the combat step. With the throne you can get damage through during a board stall with vehicle tapping shenanigans. You can also get people sometimes by dropping the throne post combat.

On the other hand, Favorable Winds stacks and sometimes lets you win in combat. I think a lot of it comes down to personal preference.

Obstructionist and Plunderer are casualties of the Chainwhirler epidemic.

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The secret for success in non-Open and non-GP Modern events:
Pick 2 decks that don't have the same weaknesses and then exclusively play those decks. Switch between them based on your local field or, for MTGO, based on whatever the pros/general community perceives to be widely played.

For GP and Open events, it's the same but it really helps to get Byes.

I'll also add that Magic is packed with players who think they are secretly GP champs and deserve to do better than their records at various events. You might be such a player! But we aren't ALL such players, so a huge majority of people who believe this are probably overestimating their skill at various aspects of this game.

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.

Skullcrack is also useful against things like Burrenton Forge-Tender and Gideon of the Trials (and, much more infrequently, Runed Halo).

That being said, Command obviously has much more powerful and versatile upsides. I stubbornly held onto it for over a month after Boros became the norm, and only switched off of it after MTGO got flooded with land denial strategies and the mirror to the point where maindeck green was more of a liability than it was worth. I've been experimenting with both versions, and the difference between having Command and not having it hasn't usually felt all that significant to me in the current meta.

To any new or old Burn player different opinions/views/deck/play style/cards/thoughts/etc are welcome here. Just because a card/version of Burn won or lost in a event does not mean you have to use it but you are free to discuss it without attacking, harassing, putting down and making another feel uncomfortable or having someone do this to you. Please block/report/ignore those who may be doing so.

Eidolon has been a Burn staple for a long time however, it did not become that on day 1 of its arrival. It earned like many cards its way through time and play testing. There was once those who hated and fought against using it. Now please dont read into or over analysis my words, Im not saying Shrine is/must be in your deck. Any new card or new way to play/use a card may go through different paths to get into a deck. Part of the fun Ive found in playing MTG is play testing. Does it always amount to success, no. Can it be frustrating at times, yes. But that can be with anything.



Magic Down Under, I have seem many of your videos and I havent agreed with all the moves/choices you make but I respect your experience, the decisions/views you have and especially the ability to put out content and deal with the scrutiny/arm chair judgements you may receive. Also as being a supportive and positive member on this forum to others even when you may not agree. I have learned from some of your good and not so good plays/choices. Thank you

Ladies and gentlemen!

Here is the log of the game against Eldrazi Tron…

Opening Hand
Rift Bolt, Shrine x2, Boros Charm, Arid Mesa, Vantage, Mountain

Turn 1
Opp: Eldrazi Temple.
Moi: draw Goblin Guide. Vantage, suspend Rift Bolt.

Turn 2
Opp: Urza’s Mine.
Moi: Rift Bolt face->countered by Warping Wail. Draw Boros Charm. Mountain, Shrine.

Turn 3
Opp: Urza’s Power Plant, TKS (steal Boros Charm).
Moi: draw Helix. Mesa, Guide.
Shrine: 2

Turn 4
Opp: Urza’s Tower, TKS attacks (I sack Mesa for a Mountain), block with Guide and Helix TKS (draw Helix), Relic into exile and draw, Endbringer.
Moi: draw Guide. Guide.
Shrine: 5
20-22

Turn 5

Opp: Endbringer draws a card, Ballista (4/4), I play Boros Charm.
Moi: draw Spike. Spike, Endbringer damages Guide, Ballista kills Guide (3/3), Helix opp.
Shrine: 9
10-25

From here you can see that the Shrine will finish the opp in turn 6 no matter what they do.