Made top 4 of an IQ today. Beat infect, protean hulk combo, uwr geist, affinity. Lost to affinity and lost a match I could have drew for top 8, but opponent wanted to play. Made top 8, beat UR twin in top 8 and lost to grixis twin in top 4. Def punted game 2 :/
Sorin was an all star today. odd how it works out sometimes.
Sorin has been, in the past, not bad. Windmilling against merfolk, the mirror, and off the top against grixis delver opponents has been game winning. After a few weeks with him I thought "hm, this guy isn't bad". I even went to time in round 1 because of an opposing Sorin, so I'll definitely say in the right match ups, he's great.
However, he's another (slow) four drop that does pretty much nothing if you don't have a board presence. Against the various control/remand decks he's just asking to be time walked.
The question is: what to replace him with? Is another ooze, finks #1, a courser, or even the 25th land better? I think it all depends on how you want to tune the deck.
I'm hesitant to mess with the list given it's been really good. Maybe I just need to be siding him out more against those match ups. I'm definitely still learning the deck, so it's likely that as opposed to him "not being good".
Played in a 34 person "mega" FNM on Friday. Went 4-1-1 to make top 8, won top 8 match and top 4 decided to split at 1:30AM for 31 packs each.
Played Doran junk (went to time... Round ONE), Beat UG Tron, UW Tron, UWR Control, and Esper mentor all 2-0. Lost to a RG devotion (primal command/witness/Titan) deck in 2 not-very-close games. Beat a second UWR Control player in the top 8 match 2-1
Can post a full report with my list later if people are interested.
In a nut shell: choke is insane, sorin, solemn visitor not so much.
Right. Poor phrasing on my part. Didn't mean "tap out" literally, but rarely found a time where I wanted to spend 5 mana on my turn. Possibly error on my part by playing too carefully.
Played this deck at FNM on Friday. I found keranos to be pretty clunky as you rarely want to tap out to cast him. I often boarded him out games 2 and 3 and I think id rather have a resto angel to flash in on end step.
This is sort of my point. I've had conversations with some people who claim Liliana of the Veil is the nuts, yet we don't see her often. Likewise, pack rat has made a splash in legacy and in several placing modern decks. What are thoughts about these? Darkblast has been mentioned and I think it merits conversation, given it can be recurred when needed.
To me, these conversations are productive, given the archetype is on the fringe. Talking about splashing white and side boarding a gifts package are not. No offense, but just my 0.02.
One thing I'm curious about: I've seen some lists with cantrips/think twice/shadow of doubt. I wonder if twisted image could fit. Isn't the primary reason for one mana removal killing dorks? If so, it does just that can always cycle if need be. I just wonder if it has a purpose here.
To be fair....almsot everything you pointed out has been discussed over the past few weeks.
Liliana - A lot of people like her, but we don't have a lot of utility on things that can be discarded from our deck for value (ie. Lingering Souls). Also her costing 3 and being a sorcery speed card is also a detriment for some people
Pack Rat - I can personally tell you how insane this creature is. The only deck I have run into that can deal with this card is BGx through a singleton Maelstrom Pulse, that I just ended up countering anyway. Pack Rat makes our Mutavaults gain even more value (as if they didn't have enough already) and turns every dead draw into a threat. Playing Pack Rat properly in this deck can be a little weird however. It's a delicate balance of going as all in as you can on turns where your opponents are tapped out (against Control) or just waiting until the opportune moment on your opponents turn (literally everything else). Since no one is running removal with split second (if Sudden Shock was suddenly in every red deck, pack rat would be unplayable) you just have an endless stream of vermin.
Darkblast - It is nice that it is recurable, however I really don't like it. Only being -1/-1 instead of -2/-2 is very relevant, and voiding one of your draws just to get back something that honestly does very little seems the exact opposite of impactful
As I said before, these cards have been talked about. I've been on this thread for only a month and already I've seen a LOT of comments about the above cards over the last 10 pages of the thread. We've talked very little about Gifts, which is why its being discussed now (my 2 cents, now we have a total of 4....how much longer until we can afford a gum ball?)
I think the deck does need some form of card draw, I am just not sure what the right card is. I've tried Blue Sun's Zenith, and am currently testing Tamiyo. I might over the next few weeks try putting some Shadow of Doubt into my list and see how they work (2 mana for a cantrip and stone rain seems pretty good, not to mention their use against Pod)
Yea- I get all of this. Again, my point was that now that the lists are performing, we have some results to discuss the merits of each list. Either way, no point in arguing.
I sort of like the idea of shadow of doubt - particularly because it helps against pod, and works well with ghost quarters. I've seen a Liliana of the Veil list running think twice, too.
This is sort of my point. I've had conversations with some people who claim Liliana of the Veil is the nuts, yet we don't see her often. Likewise, pack rat has made a splash in legacy and in several placing modern decks. What are thoughts about these? Darkblast has been mentioned and I think it merits conversation, given it can be recurred when needed.
To me, these conversations are productive, given the archetype is on the fringe. Talking about splashing white and side boarding a gifts package are not. No offense, but just my 0.02.
One thing I'm curious about: I've seen some lists with cantrips/think twice/shadow of doubt. I wonder if twisted image could fit. Isn't the primary reason for one mana removal killing dorks? If so, it does just that can always cycle if need be. I just wonder if it has a purpose here.
I love that it's currently still a modern PTQ season, UB fae lists are starting to see success across the country in various iterations (Lili/sword/scion/pack rats), and yet somehow this thread has derailed into a conversation about a white splash with a gifts package.
I get "breaking the mold" or attempting to be "innovative" but seriously, the ub strategy is working. Let's keep at it.
I've been playing this deck for a good bit now, and have had a good bit of success. As much as I want to try something different, I keep coming back to it.
At least this will open up GB/x diversity (jund gets BBE and Rhino looks much better when cast on turn 3)
Not sure what the best alternative is, but I may try the ultra pro mattes if they'll fit the kmc perfect fit sleeves inside.
Sorin was an all star today. odd how it works out sometimes.
However, he's another (slow) four drop that does pretty much nothing if you don't have a board presence. Against the various control/remand decks he's just asking to be time walked.
The question is: what to replace him with? Is another ooze, finks #1, a courser, or even the 25th land better? I think it all depends on how you want to tune the deck.
I'm hesitant to mess with the list given it's been really good. Maybe I just need to be siding him out more against those match ups. I'm definitely still learning the deck, so it's likely that as opposed to him "not being good".
Played Doran junk (went to time... Round ONE), Beat UG Tron, UW Tron, UWR Control, and Esper mentor all 2-0. Lost to a RG devotion (primal command/witness/Titan) deck in 2 not-very-close games. Beat a second UWR Control player in the top 8 match 2-1
Can post a full report with my list later if people are interested.
In a nut shell: choke is insane, sorin, solemn visitor not so much.
Yea- I get all of this. Again, my point was that now that the lists are performing, we have some results to discuss the merits of each list. Either way, no point in arguing.
I sort of like the idea of shadow of doubt - particularly because it helps against pod, and works well with ghost quarters. I've seen a Liliana of the Veil list running think twice, too.
Also - Twisted Image? Yes? No?
To me, these conversations are productive, given the archetype is on the fringe. Talking about splashing white and side boarding a gifts package are not. No offense, but just my 0.02.
One thing I'm curious about: I've seen some lists with cantrips/think twice/shadow of doubt. I wonder if twisted image could fit. Isn't the primary reason for one mana removal killing dorks? If so, it does just that can always cycle if need be. I just wonder if it has a purpose here.
I get "breaking the mold" or attempting to be "innovative" but seriously, the ub strategy is working. Let's keep at it.
Not sure if serious.
http://articles.deckfactory.com/ur-fae-in-modern-post-tcgplayer-50k/
I've been playing this deck for a good bit now, and have had a good bit of success. As much as I want to try something different, I keep coming back to it.