Now that I've had some time to play with it, I can tell you that Mission Briefing is bananas in this deck because of how much more consistent it makes the deck on the whole. Smoothes out your draws, finds lands in a pinch, enables terminus and the most important thing is it lets you make informed decisions before flashing back Removal or Counter-Magic which makes it infinitely easier to setup a Planeswalker. So many times I start off looking to flashback a reactive spell (countermagic or removal) and ended up finding a proactive or more efficient answer to the problem instead (like a Jace-Bounce, Tef-Tuck or a sweeper instead of a spot removal) which then let's me flashback something more proactive like an Opt or Cryptic Bounce (and no, the UUUUU1 cost hasn't been an issue, but to be fair I cut the 5th Colorless in anticipation, now just on 4 Field, no GQ).
I started testing with 1 Brief 1 Snap, went to 2 Brief 1 Snap, 2 Brief 2 Snap, 3 Brief 1 snap, and now I'm on 3 Brief 0 Snap and I don't see myself getting off this setup in the foreseeable future. Sometimes you have to cast a dry-brief, just like sometimes you have to cast a dry-snap and I can say that Surveil 2 is better more often than a 2/1 when you need to cast it dry. The reason is pretty simple; if you need to cast it dry you are in desperation mode, either you need land or you need an answer and only one of those 2 upsides (Surveil vs 2/1) can help you get to the card you need faster.
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7
ktkenshinx posted a message on The State of Modern Thread (B&R 20/08/2018)Posted in: Modern ArchivesQuote from gkourou »
1) If one of the main reasons Splinter Twin got banned is the double PT FRF top 8, which merely came from a perfect limited record, then it should have never been banned. I would much rather prefer them sharing stats from MODO and showing it's dominance(if there was one).
This feels as disgusting as it did back then.
I agree that it's problematic, but I also acknowledge it's where Wizards comes from which is why I encourage us to keep looking at GP/PT T8s as the primary predictor of B&R decisions. MTGO is clearly the secondary predictor (and may even be the primary), but our knowledge of the true MTGO metagame is never going to align with Wizards' so it's tough to generate predictions based on that. Hopefully Wizards moves past this T8-centric notion of Modern. Until they do, however, we'll just keep acknowledging T8s as such an important barometer of format health in Wizards' eyes, and an important indicator of pending bans.
2) Saying UW Control is not a Tier 1 deck, because it had a great Day 2 presence, a great T32 presence, but a poor T8 presence(even if one was into the top 8, on tiebreakers alone), is really off. I heard holydiva and Hoogland saying this exact same thing, both for #GPSP and #GPPrague. It's just wrong.
UW is a great deck, and instead of us talking at how bad it's T8 conversion rates was, we should be talking about how great it's Day 2 to T32 conversion rate was.
I totally agree with this. I enjoy Hoogland and h0ly as streamers and content creators. I watch their channels when they are up and I have the time. But both of them fall into a similar trap of deliberately leaning towards some strong, polarizing, controversial opinions in public. I don't know the extent to which these views are to generate views, create a certain persona, or just express personal beliefs. I do know that a Twitch soundbite does not qualify as real analysis. I also know that both users, particularly Hoogland, do not react well to challenges in their channels. This can lead to an echo chamber effect among their followers, which gets compounded when those users parrot the soundbite on Reddit and other platforms.
If we really want to assess true deck performance instead of generating memes, soundbites, and views, we need to go beyond the T8. The best way to do this is through T32 analysis coupled with standings and #s of Byes. This gives us the most accurate sense of true deck performance over the event. For instance, at GP Prague, there are only three players in the entire T16 who have 1 or 0 byes. These players are Haram (5th - Bant Spirits - 1 Bye), Seegelken (10th - UW Control - 1 Bye), and the super impressive Leszek (11th - Mardu - 0 Byes). Rather than talking about how a 0 Bye player got 39 points with Mardu at a 2k player GP, missing T8 on breakers alone, we see people talking about how Thoughtseize and midrange decks are bad. Same with the UW Control narrative. This kind of surface level analysis is lazy and does not describe true deck performance. It's unfortunate that Hoogland and h0ly, along with other Modern personalities, don't use their platforms to intentionally push back against this superficial, clippable analysis, which means players and posters have to do it themselves. Hopefully we can rise about that in this thread. -
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FoodChainGoblins posted a message on The State of Modern Thread (B&R 20/08/2018)https://www.channelfireball.com/articles/ur-twin-vs-modern-gbx/Posted in: Modern Archives
"It's no surprise when I say Jund is Twin's worst matchup." Pascal Maynard in the first paragraph under Jund.
I came with an article this time. I'm sorry. I don't buy the 50/50 matchup here. Mana is a big part of the game. Twin's "I win" cards cost at least 4 mana. Jund's "I win" cards cost 2. Jund can win with 3 mana in this matchup, although it is tougher than with 4-5. Twin cannot win and has never won when stuck on 3 mana in this matchup. Discard can be pretty good in Twin, especially when backed up by a clock (Hmph, Goyf!), a constant discard source in Liliana (which admittedly could just die to Snap/Bolt, but otherwise is a terror), and removal like Abrupt Decay. I can say absolutely and unequivocally that Jund is not 50/50 for Twin. I mean, if it is for you, your Jund players are serious trash and I don't think the deck is particularly tough to play. I can imagine a Jund player looking at a Twin player's hand, seeing the combo, not taking it, and then tapping out on turn 3 on purpose. Yes, that type of Jund player has a 50/50 matchup with Twin. Nobody else does.
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Mtgthewary posted a message on The State of Modern Thread (B&R 02/07/2018)This statement makes no sensePosted in: Modern Archives -
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SweetSupremacy posted a message on Least Favorite Decks to Play Against?Tron, easily. It invalidates strategies and pushes you into fast linear aggro or fast combo if you want to beat it. If you want to play other kinds of decks like midrange or control, you find that land destruction often isn't fast enough and that there isn't a powerful hate card ala keeping Affinity honest.Posted in: Modern
For a big mana deck, it breaks some traditional rules for ramp decks. Ramp decks used to suffer from having to draw Rampant Growth when you needed threats. Tron gets the best selection spell in Modern in Ancient Stirrings to avoid this. Even counter magic doesn't save you now that Ulamog is taking your lands away better than you can theirs.
It's too consistent, the threats it powers out are too powerful for that level of consistency and it limits the decks you can play successfully. So annoying. -
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DTG posted a message on Least Favorite Decks to Play Against?Tron. No deck in Modern bothers me more than Tron. When they natural Tron it feels like were playing decks meant for different formats.Posted in: Modern
Holy ***** do I hate that deck. -
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CthuluHoops posted a message on Least Favorite Decks to Play Against?My absolute least favorite is Tron. I'm a control player at heart, which means I don't stand much of a chance against Tron. I tend to try and keep a broken combo deck on me for when I go into a Tron infested/unknown meta so that I don't just lose games where my opponent windmill slams threat after threat after having 7 mana on turn 3.Posted in: Modern
After Tron comes Burn which I just find to be boring. Its a redundant pile of spells/creatures (and a whole separate discussion on consistency) that just go to the face as fast as possible. Not exactly my idea of a fun game of Magic but hey, to each his own. I know some people don't enjoy playing against control/broken combo decks.
I'd honestly rather play against Storm, Lantern, Dredge, and Infect in an FNM than ever run into Tron/Burn. -
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idSurge posted a message on Least Favorite Decks to Play Against?Tron for sure. Just seems idiotic to me that you can hit 3 land drops and put out something that invalidates multiple decks.Posted in: Modern
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Gmiller6 posted a message on Whispers of Emrakul - Delerium hymn to TourachPosted in: The Rumor MillQuote from Havrekjex »
How?Quote from AnImAr_ »My friend gets Delirium Turn 2 consistently in standard.
This
Vessel of nascency and paramnesia can do it turn 3 at fastest if you are lucky, but turn 2? I call BS - To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
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I didn't have the chance to win a game with Barrage the Boulders yet but I have seen how much better Leyline of the Void is compared to Ravenous Trap so I will definitely keep playing with those for now, Jund with Bloodbraid Elf is being played a lot and I believe it is a favorable matchup although sometimes tricky, Squee, Goblin Nabob is a great chumpblocker here and a sacrifice for Liliana of the Veil if you only have another creature, it is very good for grindy pairings.
1
4 Flameblade Adept
4 Insolent Neonate
3 Grim Lavamancer
4 Noose Constrictor
4 Flamewake Phoenix
2 Squee, Goblin Nabob
4 Vengevine
4 Hollow One
2 Hooting Mandrills
4 Street Wraith
4 Faithless Looting
4 Goblin Lore
Lands
1 Forest
3 Mountain
3 Stomping Ground
2 Copperline Gorge
4 Wooded Foothills
4 Bloodstained Mire
2 Ravenous Trap
2 Dismember
3 Ancient Grudge
2 Destructive Revelry
2 Heroic Intervention
2 Blood Moon
2 Gnaw to the Bone
I managed to finish day 1 with a 6-2 record, day 2 didn't go very well as I made a parcial of 3-4 so in the end my total record was 9-6.
Day 1
R1 - Win vs Bye
R2 - Win vs UW Control - Favorable matchup, usually you pressure them a lot, they Supreme Verdict on turn 4, then you cast 2 creatures and finish them off with Vengevine but if the game goes too long they might be able to control the board so try to pressure them
R3 - Win vs Abzan - Although my opponent played all hate on turns 1 (Nihil Spellbomb) and 2 (Scavenging Ooze) of game 1 I got a really overpowered opener and kill her on turn 3, I think this matchup is favorable but not by a great margin
R4 - Lost vs Burn - I had to mulligan both games and in game 2 I tried to cast Gnaw to the Bone but my opponent had Skullcrack ready to prevent it and then drew another burn spell to finish me off
R5 - Win vs Tron - This should be a good matchup unless they go T3 Wurmcoil Engine T4 Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger, openers with Flameblade Adept are great agains't these slow decks without spot removal
R6 - Win vs UR pyromancer - In game 1 I crushed him so fast that I didn't see more than an island, Serum visions and Field of Ruin so I put him on UW, I won game 2 and got asked why I had sided Destructive Revelry and Heroic Intervention agains't him after getting my Vengevine removed with Surgical Extraction, that was fun
R7 - Lost to Dredge - I lost game 1, game 2 opponent starts with double Leyline and is crushed by my Flameblade Adept and my Hollow One, game 3 he starts with Leyline again and I had Ravenous Trap ready to fight but something unexpected happens as my opponent sided in Thoughtseize so he is able to remove it before going off and I feel bad for not playing Leyline of the Void
R8 - Win vs Titanshift - This match went smooth, he didn't get to defend too much from my T4 kills
Day 2
R9 - Lost to Living End - My opponent played a great G2 and was able to kill me without even casting Living End, G3 I had my Noose Constrictor ready to discard if he casts Living End but he had 2 Faerie Macabre to crush my plan removing my large creatures before resolution
R10 - Win vs Mardu Pyromancer - the only matchup where I don't use my sideboard, I think this is our best pairing so far
R11 - Lost to U-Tron - I think this is a good matchup, G3 after putting him below 0 life (he had Platinum Angel) I couldn't find any Artifact destruction in half my library, I was about to kill his angel when he attacked without realizing Noose Constrictor had reach and I had 3 cards in hand but he was lucky to have Snapcaster Mage to flashback Repeal and save his angel after I pumped it two times.
R12 - Lost to vizier Company - I didn't find Grim Lavamancer in G1 and he comboed me on T3, G2 I had Grim Lavamancer but he starts off with Leyline of the Void, ouch. I put some pressure on him but manages to go over the top with Chord of Calling and some scrys from Viscera Seer
R13 - Win vs UW Control - This round was crazy, I won game 1 easily and crushed even more easily (T3)on G2, after that he showed me he kept a pretty good hand including a Supreme Verdict that he never got to cast (I went T1 Flameblade Adept, T2 Noose Constrictor, discard 2 Vengevine and Flamewake Phoenix to cast Hollow One for free and hit for 12, he had to cast a Snapcaster to chumpblock
R14 - Lost vs Abzan - I didn't get any explosive starts and it was very disputed game, G3 I was using my Squee, Goblin Nabob to chump block his Tarmogoyf every turn while my Flamewake Phoenix kept hitting him for 2 each turn but he topdecked 2 consecutive Fatal Push that allowed him to hit me twice and kill me 1 turn before I had lethal (now I realize I didn't even check if he triggered Revolt, probably one of those shouldn't have resolved and I should have won that game unless he had 2 fetches ready for it but I can't remember that)
R15 - Win vs Mardu Pyromancer - As the previous time, the pairing is quite favorable and I were able to win game 1 and then pull off a very good start in G2 like I didn on R13 vs UW control, my opponent was really nice and we both had a lot of fun playing which is always a great way to finish a GP
I know my deck is not the typical build but I wanted something that can do the more insane starts while still be grindy when the game goes long, I think my sideboard needed some changes and now that I run Squee, Goblin Nabob, I feel like Lightning Axe should be in the sideboard instead of Dismember, I also miss a way to kill opposing 1 toughness creatures or make my creatures unblockable agains't stall boards like the ones you get vs Eldrazi or Humans so I want to give Barrage the Boulders a shot as it fills both roles, here is the list I would submit if there were a tournament today (without taking into account Bloodbraid Elf and Jace, the Mind Sculptor unbannings):
4 Flameblade Adept
4 Insolent Neonate
3 Grim Lavamancer
4 Noose Constrictor
4 Flamewake Phoenix
2 Squee, Goblin Nabob
4 Vengevine
4 Hollow One
2 Hooting Mandrills
4 Street Wraith
4 Faithless Looting
4 Goblin Lore
Lands
1 Forest
3 Mountain
3 Stomping Ground
2 Copperline Gorge
4 Wooded Foothills
4 Bloodstained Mire
4 Leyline of the Void
2 Lightning Axe
3 Ancient Grudge
2 Destructive Revelry
2 Blood Moon
1 Gnaw to the Bone
1 Barrage the Boulders
With Bloodbraid Elf now available I might try her but I am unsure as a cost 4 in this deck is not likely the best option, maybe I could run just 1 copy, it should enable Vengevine most of the times since I only play 8 noncreature spells in my main
1
1
4 Flameblade Adept
4 Insolent Neonate
3 Grim Lavamancer
4 Noose Constrictor
2 Flamewake Phoenix
4 Vengevine
4 Hollow One
2 Hooting Mandrills
4 Street Wraith
4 Faithless Looting
4 Goblin Lore
2 Fiery Temper
2 Become Immense
Lands
1 Forest
3 Mountain
3 Stomping Ground
2 Copperline Gorge
4 Wooded Foothills
4 Bloodstained Mire
2 Ravenous Trap
2 Dismember
3 Ancient Grudge
2 Destructive Revelry
2 Heroic Intervention
2 Blood Moon
2 Gnaw to the Bone
I liked Noose Constrictor a lot and it allowed some crazy plays such as Turn 1 Flameblade Adept Turn 2 Noose Constrictor, attack for 1, opponent casts Chalice of the Void for X=1, Turn 3 discard 2 Flamewake Phoenix with Noose Constrictor, pay RR to bring them back and attack for 11
These were the pairings I faced:
R1 - UR Storm 2-0 (G1 My opponent tried to combo on turn 3 but I was able to kill his Goblin Electromancer with Fiery Temper in response to his ritual so he was unable to finish me, G2 he gets caught by Ravenous Trap)
R2 - UW Control with Sword of the Meek + Thopter Foundry Combo 2-0 (Easy matchup if you are able to put some early pressure)
R3 - Mardu aggro (the list with so many trophies from competitive leagues) 2-0 (G1 is grindy and I am able to take it, G2 I am able to go 2x Hollow One + 1 Vengevine on T1 so he conceded on T2)
R4 - Vizier Combo 2-1 (Very grindy matchup, I was lucky to have a Grim Lavamancer in my openers and control the board to finish G3 with a Become Immense
R5 - Eldrazi Tron 2-0 (Not very difficult matchup, I did the Noose Constrictor + 2 Flamewake Phoenix play in this round)
R6 - UR Kiki Moon ID (A friend and we ensured top by ID and went to have lunch)
R7 - UR Storm ID (Another friend, I could play without risk but he would be out if I win, so we ID)
I managed to top8 in 2nd position and play first every round since I didn't get to play against the player in 1st position in the top8
QF - Eldrazi Tron 2-1 (Easy round, I was greedy on G2 and kept a no-lander with 2 Street Wraith on the draw but couldn't find the land, G3 got a decent hand and the opponent was unable to do much about it)
SF - UR-Kiki Moon 2-0 (My friend from R6, we already discussed the matchup while having lunch and agreed that it was a good matchup for me so I was glad to perform as expected)
F - Eldrazi Tron 2-1 (The same guy from R5, he wins game 1 with 2 quick Reality Smasher and I feel under pressure but G2 and G3 the deck delivers and I end up winning with Flameblade Adept + Noose Constrictor discarding my hand for lethal damage.
1
4 Etherium Sculptor
4 Chief Engineer
4 Walking Ballista
4 Grand Architect
4 Master of Etherium
4 Lodestone Golem
4 Smuggler's Copter
4 Blinkmoth Nexus
1 Cavern of Souls
1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds
15 Island
1 Pili-Pala
1 Wurmcoil Engine
2 Throne of the God-Pharaoh
2 Judge's Familiar
1 Academy Ruins
1 Ceremonious Rejection
2 Quicksilver Fountain
2 Trinket Mage
2 Hurkyl's Recall
2 Pithing Needle
1 Basilisk Collar
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Relic of Progenitus
1 Thorn of Amethyst
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Chalice of the Void
I never missed the Signal Pest and was happy to combo one game on turn 4 with Pili-Pala, Grand Architect and Walking Ballista.
I know Engineered Explosives seems weird in the sideboard when playing only one color but its purpose is take away Death's Shadow and auras, it's also useful agains't elves.
I didn't have the chance to get value from Academy Ruins but I can see it being a game-winner in top-deck wars where you can recycle Walking Ballista.