Because I don't need to have Spell Pierce in my hand with mana open to be able to use it. I can just draw into it and pay less mana to use it more effectively to help myself win the game.
spell pierce slowly disappeared from 90% of SBs because it forces you to stay open and so it slows you down a lot. plus, it does not always work. thoughtseize is a proactive hate which solves even uncountable hate (es, decay) and lets you have additional informations (opponent's hand) early in the game. it also works against the 90% of the decks and lets you gain plenty of time against combo decks if you discard a combo piece.
+3 Thoughtseize
+2 Spellskite
+1 Relic of Progenitus
So the only card I never used all day was Illness in the Ranks, and I feel it's not all that needed against Twin.
And the reason I would go back to Thoughtcast is that Shrapnel didn't feel as game breaking as it has in other metas, and I'm always changing my list to get a different feel for different cards.
I will keep you updated on my list as I do testing for other events and GP Boston.
I got a question regarding Ancient Grudge. Is it really necessary to run 2 of those alongside 2 Nature's Claim? I know it helps with the mirror, but does it really do anything else? Also, what happened to Spell Pierce? I thought it was one of our strongest sideboard tech alongside Thoughtseize.
Ancient Grudge is for the Mirror, Tron, and random decks that may show up like 8 Rack.
Nature's Claim mainly for Twin, White decks for Stoney Silence. It's just a good catch all removal spell for the mirror as well.
I removed Spell Pierce because I didn't think I would run into much Creeping Corrosion/Shatterstorm in this tournament. I was right, I never played a deck that had those 2 cards in their 75.
+3 Thoughtseize
+2 Spellskite
+1 Relic of Progenitus
So the only card I never used all day was Illness in the Ranks, and I feel it's not all that needed against Twin.
And the reason I would go back to Thoughtcast is that Shrapnel didn't feel as game breaking as it has in other metas, and I'm always changing my list to get a different feel for different cards.
I will keep you updated on my list as I do testing for other events and GP Boston.
Round 1 - Melira Pod
My opponent showed up late so lost game 1 and couldn't SB for our only game, pretty easy win.
Round 2 - Mono Black Infect
I got stuck with 1 mana source for the entirety of game 1, so I died to some crusaders. Won games 2 and 3 by being able to cast spells.
Round 3 - Bant Pod
This was an interesting brew, looked like he was more on value than any combo. Lost game 1, aggro'd game 2 and Torpor Orb was clutch in game 3.
Round 4 - Affinity
I don't know if I've ever lost a mirror match in a tournament, this one was no different. Game 1 I won with no lands. Game 2 I took my opponent off of mana and he was never able to recover.
Round 5 - UWR Twin
Won game 1, lost game 2 and lost a very close game 3. My opponents deck was extremely soft to Etched Champion, as he had no sweepers or counter spells, just never saw them.
Round 6 - Burn
I was faster in games 1 and 3. This is the only match I did not side out Shrapnel Blast.
Round 7 - Mono Green Stompy
This deck looked fun, but I was able to win the match in 7 minutes. He said his only loses all day were to Affinity, which makes sense after playing him. His best interaction was to Vines of the Vastwood one of my dudes in response to a Cranial Equip. Much better in against Twin (which I saw earlier that day) then against Affinity.
Top 8 - Jund
Mulligan to an awkward hand, get IoK, lose to removal. Mulligan to an awkward hand, get IoK, lose to removal.
Pretty disheartening end to the day, but making Top 8 means I qualify for the invitational, which is nice.
Things I would change about the next for my next Modern tourney, prob remove the Shrapnel for Thoughtcast and take the Illness in the Ranks out of the SB for a 3rd Etched Champion. I would also consider removing the Dismember and another card (not sure which one) for a pair of Dispatch. Something I will be testing.
Thought cast is awesome against jund much better than shrapnel blast because it can draw you into your good cars while you are behind. If jund is ahead most of the time they will be at a higher life total
No, it draws cards. There is no guarantee it draws you into anything relevant.
The odds are in your favor, but please don't use blanket statements that are false, k.
As someone who's played this deck quite a bit, I can tell you straight up Shrapnel Blast is a viable option. I have more testing with this deck then anyone here, and I can say that with confidence.
Thoughtcast is a viable card choice, I have played both. Do not dismiss a card just because you don't have the required testing time with it. If your preference is Thoughtcast, fine, but there are MANY situations in which Shrapnel Blast is just straight up better.
And the only match-up where Thoughtcast is better through my testing is UWR.
It has been a while, but we took first at a large event, Earthquake Finale Emila. I like the SB. Can anyone find any articles on it or Alessandro Tradii?
Um, well I can't say I'd recommend the build.
No Steeloverseer?
61 cards?
I also don't really like running 4 Thoughtseize in the SB, as at that point I would just MD them. I woould much rather run the the other top 8 build from that tournament.
Awesome Dyne! How did you feel about your deck before entering the GP? And, what were your thoughts afterwords? What happened during the Jund match up?
Well, I've always preferred the Red version. I played a version with Thoughtcast last week at our SOMS series tournament. Made top 16, but hated my SB. I much preferred this SB.
I felt fine after the Jund match-up, as he drew EXTREMELY well against me. His plays, in order, were:
His fist creature hit play turn 11, at which point I basically had nothing left. He ended up losing to Affinity in the semis as you can't draw that kind of hand every game against us.
It saves me a mana in the mirror match and against Tron.
Ancient Grudge is for the Mirror, Tron, and random decks that may show up like 8 Rack.
Nature's Claim mainly for Twin, White decks for Stoney Silence. It's just a good catch all removal spell for the mirror as well.
I removed Spell Pierce because I didn't think I would run into much Creeping Corrosion/Shatterstorm in this tournament. I was right, I never played a deck that had those 2 cards in their 75.
Nothing
Round 2:
-3 Shrapnel Blast
+1 Dismember
+2 Spellskite
Round 3:
-3 Shrapnel Blast
-1 Memnite
-1 Steel Overseer
+1 Dismember
+2 Nature's Claim
+1 Torpor Orb
+1 Grafdigger's Cage
Round 4:
-3 Shrapnel Blast
-2 Etched Champion
-1 Arcbound Ravager
+2 Ancient Grudge
+2 Nature's Claim
+2 Spellskite
Round 5:
-3 Shrapnel Blast
-3 Steel Overseer
-1 Master of Etherium
+3 Thoughtseize
+2 Nature's Claim
+2 Spellskite
Round 6:
-3 Steel Overseer
+2 Spellskite
+1 Relic of Progenitus
Round 7:
-3 Memnite
+1 Whipflare
+2 Spellskite
Top 8:
-3 Shrapnel Blast
-3 Memnite
+3 Thoughtseize
+2 Spellskite
+1 Relic of Progenitus
So the only card I never used all day was Illness in the Ranks, and I feel it's not all that needed against Twin.
And the reason I would go back to Thoughtcast is that Shrapnel didn't feel as game breaking as it has in other metas, and I'm always changing my list to get a different feel for different cards.
I will keep you updated on my list as I do testing for other events and GP Boston.
Here's my list:
4 Inkmoth Nexus
4 Blinkmoth Nexus
3 Glimmervoid
1 Mountain
4 Ornithopter
3 Memnite
4 Signal Pest
4 Vault Skirge
4 Arcbound Ravager
3 Steel Overseer
2 Master of Etherium
2 Etched Champion
3 Shrapnel Blast
4 Mox Opal
3 Springleaf Drum
4 Cranial Plating
3 Thoughtseize
2 Spellskite
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Nature's Claim
1 Illness in the Ranks
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Relic of Progenitus
1 Whipflare
1 Dismember
1 Torpor Orb
Round 1 - Melira Pod
My opponent showed up late so lost game 1 and couldn't SB for our only game, pretty easy win.
Round 2 - Mono Black Infect
I got stuck with 1 mana source for the entirety of game 1, so I died to some crusaders. Won games 2 and 3 by being able to cast spells.
Round 3 - Bant Pod
This was an interesting brew, looked like he was more on value than any combo. Lost game 1, aggro'd game 2 and Torpor Orb was clutch in game 3.
Round 4 - Affinity
I don't know if I've ever lost a mirror match in a tournament, this one was no different. Game 1 I won with no lands. Game 2 I took my opponent off of mana and he was never able to recover.
Round 5 - UWR Twin
Won game 1, lost game 2 and lost a very close game 3. My opponents deck was extremely soft to Etched Champion, as he had no sweepers or counter spells, just never saw them.
Round 6 - Burn
I was faster in games 1 and 3. This is the only match I did not side out Shrapnel Blast.
Round 7 - Mono Green Stompy
This deck looked fun, but I was able to win the match in 7 minutes. He said his only loses all day were to Affinity, which makes sense after playing him. His best interaction was to Vines of the Vastwood one of my dudes in response to a Cranial Equip. Much better in against Twin (which I saw earlier that day) then against Affinity.
Top 8 - Jund
Mulligan to an awkward hand, get IoK, lose to removal. Mulligan to an awkward hand, get IoK, lose to removal.
Pretty disheartening end to the day, but making Top 8 means I qualify for the invitational, which is nice.
Things I would change about the next for my next Modern tourney, prob remove the Shrapnel for Thoughtcast and take the Illness in the Ranks out of the SB for a 3rd Etched Champion. I would also consider removing the Dismember and another card (not sure which one) for a pair of Dispatch. Something I will be testing.
No, it draws cards. There is no guarantee it draws you into anything relevant.
The odds are in your favor, but please don't use blanket statements that are false, k.
It's not a bad card, especially bcz IOK doesn't hit it.
However I've found that most of the time I've cast Thoughtcast against a Jund opponent, if it were Shrapnel Blast, I would just won the game instead.
Thoughtcast is a viable card choice, I have played both. Do not dismiss a card just because you don't have the required testing time with it. If your preference is Thoughtcast, fine, but there are MANY situations in which Shrapnel Blast is just straight up better.
And the only match-up where Thoughtcast is better through my testing is UWR.
Um, well I can't say I'd recommend the build.
No Steeloverseer?
61 cards?
I also don't really like running 4 Thoughtseize in the SB, as at that point I would just MD them. I woould much rather run the the other top 8 build from that tournament.
Well, I've always preferred the Red version. I played a version with Thoughtcast last week at our SOMS series tournament. Made top 16, but hated my SB. I much preferred this SB.
I felt fine after the Jund match-up, as he drew EXTREMELY well against me. His plays, in order, were:
Bolt
Abrupt Decay
Terminate
Ancient Grudge, Flashback
Terminate
Bolt
Abrupt Decay
Jund Charm
Rakdos Charm
His fist creature hit play turn 11, at which point I basically had nothing left. He ended up losing to Affinity in the semis as you can't draw that kind of hand every game against us.
4 Blinkmoth Nexus
4 Darksteel Citadel
3 Glimmervoid
1 Mountain
4 Ornithopter
3 Memnite
4 Signal Pest
4 Vault Skirge
4 Arcbound Ravager
3 Steel Overseer
2 Etched Champion
2 Master of Etherium
4 Mox Opal
3 Springleaf Drum
4 Galvanic Blast
3 Shrapnel Blast
2 Thoughtseize
2 Nature's Claim
2 Spell Pierce
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Spellskite
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Relic of Progenitus
1 Illness in the Ranks
1 Dismember
1 Torpor Orb
Round 1 - Goryo's Vengeance - 2-1
Round 2 - Affinity - 2-1
Round 3 - BG Rock - 2-0
Round 4 - Jund - 1-2
Round 5 - Merfolk - 2-0
Round 6 - Merfolk - 2-0
Quarters - Hate Bears - 2-1
Semis - Affinity - 2-0
Finals - Affinity - 2-1
What other 1 toughness creatures are you worried about?
Personally.
MD
-1 Champion
-1 Galvanic
+1 Master
+1 Thoughtcast
SB
-2 Whipflare
+1 Champion
+1 Dismember