MTG Salvation

I've decided to take a more burn-ish approach as it seems to make the deck somewhat faster.



I really like the flow of this deck and the consistency too.

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Seems super solid also 6 fingers. o.O

SCG IQ Results!



Game Rundown!
We had 36 total players and did 6-round swiss into top 8 cut.

Round 1: WIN vs U/R Alchemist
I had a god hand both draws and defeated him within 5 turns each time and he didn't have a chance to do anything. Overall I feel like we have a feast/famine matchup with this as it is really draw dependent. We can steamroll early but will lose late game.

Round 2: LOSS vs G/B Delirium
This was a depressing loss. It was a great back and forth game with me taking an easy Game 1, him taking a close Game 2, and then Game 3 I had him at 1 life when he stabilized. I couldn't have played any differently and had no mistakes; I just lost the tempo and the game by a topdeck.

Round 3: WIN vs G/B Delirium
Another Delirium matchup but this one wasn't even a contest, my opponent had mana difficulties and I just pushed through for 2 easy wins.

Round 4: WIN vs Bant CoCo
This was a scary game, where my opponent should have won due to some stupid good Collected Company plays, but I got lucky by him choosing to play Tamiyo, Field Researcher to tap my creatures when he could have animated his land for a win. Luckily I had an Essence Flux which allowed me to blink my Rattler to give hex to my Queller, and allowed me to take the win. I think we have a solid matchup vs company but they have the ability to outrace us hard.

Round 5: DRAW
My opponent for Round 5 was the guy who accompanied me to the event so instead of risking knocking each other out, we decided to take the DRAW which would give both of us the chance for Top 8 if we won our next round.

Round 6: DRAW vs U/G Crush
This matchup is not as familiar to me, so I made some mistakes in play and the game ended up going on longer than necessary due to me reading her cards, her deck naturally being slow etc. I took game 1 barely, but then game 2 lasted a long time. In my exhaustion I was under the impression we were in Game 3 and I knew that draw wouldn't get me nor my opponent into Top 8, so I started playing really fast with only a few minutes left on the round clock, but unfortunately that was a bad decision for me, as by doing that it allowed my opponent to come back to beat me as I expected. However if I had realized that we were only in Game 2, I would have simply played at a normal pace and wouldve taken the 1-0-1 win. It's unfortunate, but it was my stupidity. I think we have a strong matchup vs Crush because counter spells are so powerful against them. They can stall out a lot, which can run us out of gas, but overall I think we can beat this.

With that I placed 10th and just missed Top 8. I need to do some more tuning, but I feel this deck is definitely Tier 2, but still has some really strong matchups.


Card Feedback!
Overperformers:
Essence Flux was amazingly good so many times in this event. Although I had tuned it down to 2, I may end up upping it to 3 again just due to the amount of interactions and plays this gives us.

Imprisoned in the Moon performed extremely well also. I think it is still sideboard tech as there are many matchups where it isn't needed, but overall I was really pleased. I managed to remove some big threats and the ramping aspect was never relevant. I stand by this card being undervalued.

Invasive Surgery may be next to impossible to hit it's Delirium effect but I like this over Dispel personally as the matchups I sided it in against, it was quite relevant.

Negate is just such a powerful card right now. I'm tempted to move up to 2 main just due to every single deck being so reliant upon some type of non-creature spell, whether it be CoCo, Crush, Planeswalkers, or just removal.

Underperformers:
Selfless Spirit was disappointing as usual. I tuned it to 3 for a reason and a last minute change to 4 wasn't the best call. It isn't inherently bad but it just isn't that good in this deck that I want it every hand and in multiples. I'll be fine moving back to 3 on this one.

Notable Mentions:
Nebelgast Herald was a bit awkward for some reason. I think it related to my matchups and that I didn't face any creatures strategies, but it just wasn't as relevant as in testing. I may be tempted to move this guy to 2 if the meta keeps shifting towards these less creature-centric decks.

Archangel Avacyn was rarely relevant. I think I need to move her to 3, as I just didn't draw her nor get the chance to really use her effectively. I'm honestly not sure if the deck ultimately needs her, but I plan to still continue to use her as I think she offers a lot.

Clash of Wills was a little disappointing but not greatly so. I'm planning to start testing some Spell Shrivel but I'm not sure of the numbers yet and I do still feel that Clash is a strong card in this deck overall.

Thunderclap Wyvern is a card that I want to give another chance to. Always Watching performed exceptionally well, but the Vigilance was never a significant factor. I'm thinking that Wyvern may be a better choice as it continues to pressure with its body also, but this will need to be tested.

As always, any feedback is appreciated! I came just short of my goal again today, but I think I'll do something significant with this deck soon!

I don't think that was intentional on WoTC part but that is kind of bad timing.

so wait if you put this on a vehicle is it like permenantly crewed untill destoryed?

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Quote from Tucker_Fleabane »

I have to disagree about ongoing investigation, I think epiphany at least fits into the spirits theme as an instant meaning you can use it say on opponents end step. Ongoing you have to play at main phase or 2nd main phase using mana and leaving yourself open for a turn. Ongoing is better card advantage but I think the sacrifice in mana and timing to make it work just throws your whole game off. Thalia doesn't fit in spirits and personally I don't think reflector mage does either it means using mana on turn 3 that could be used for counters.

Since you're never going to use epiphany in the early game, the fact that it's an instant doesn't push it to an absolute better choice than O. investigation. Simply because you're never going to use your open mana on it before turn 7-8 at least. Otherwise, you get 1-2 cards out of a 4 mana spell. Two mana isn't much to ask. It leaves enough mana on turn 4 for rattlechains or negate. Plus, what would you plan on flashing on turn two anyway?

If you don't have a creature in play, their most likely play is a creature of their own, which you don't mind much since you can tap it if you need to with nebelgast. So a turn two O. Investigation is not a high risk play at all. I mean, your best case scenario is countering a transgress the mind with clash of wills. There's no unsolvable two mana creature that absolutely must not hit the battlefield against spirits. So trading an ongoing investigation turn 2 for a sylvan advoctae play for your opponent is a good deal. Especially if you already had mosoleum Wanderer turn 1. They get a threat, you get X extra cards to deal with it and more. I'll take that trade. Every time.

Also, once again, keep in mind that a lot of decks, BW control for example, play with land bases that have a lot of their lands come into play tapped, which gives you a free window.

Can't wait to play Battle of Wits in limited

I don't know... I can see myself playing this in some stonewall control draft deck...that went horribly wrong...