How do you feel about 2 kotr // 1 grave titan // 1 iona? I think im just a little all in with the gifts package at this point, but it isnt actually a rare occasion that we can hard cast grave titan. just my 2 c.
Played the Butakov list card for card with the exception of removing 1 KoTR for a Iona for my FNM. I have to say, the gifts package is the perfect way to go over the top. I ended up going 3-1-0 ID for promo but we still played it out. (Last round was against little kid abzan)
First Round (Affinity)
Game 1: He vomits his hand and follows up with a Steel Overseer and my turn 4 Elesh Norn wasnt fast enough as he already had +1/+1 counters on his guys. Double Cranial Plating seals the deal.
Game 2: I keep a hand of 2 Siege Rhino, 1 Birds of Paradise, 1 Stony Silence, 1 Godless Shrine, Swamp, and Ghost quarter. (SNAP KEEP)
I rip a Overgrown Tomb on my draw step and I pretty much curve out and gifts into an Elesh Norn with double Rhino.
Game 3: He mulls to 5 and Tarmogoyf Beats with abrupt decay back up.
1-0
Round 2 (UR Splinter twin)
Game 1: I get an early goyf for the beats, he fetched, Serum Visions, taking my goyf out of bolt range. I eventually get a second tarmogoyf out to put it tons of pressure, he has little choice (I think) and tries to combo off twice of which I have 2 Abrupt Decays and 1 Path to Exile in hand.
Sideboard: -3 KoTR (This will be a recurring theme) -1 BoP, -2 Liliana, -1 Ghost Quarter, // +2 Slaughter Pacts, + 2 Negate, +2 Siege Rhino, +1 Tectonic Edge
I figured the game would get grindier so i thought a tec edge would help keeping off 5-6 land.
Game 2: Forgot what my hand was but it was a nice curve with tarmo // siege // into gifts. I gifts on curve and just leave unburial rights and Iona in the graveyard for a while. I attempted to grind him out with lingering souls and creatures. Knowing I had grinded him out of cards in his hand, i reanimated Iona naming blue, he was still playing cards like obstinate baloth and batterskull, but a hard cast Elesh norn sealed the deal.
2-0
Round 3 (UWR Control)
Game 1: I was thinking he was blue moon because he opened with Island Island, so i Fetched my junk basics with a birds of paradise in play. I keep it for a turn then he electrolyze me and the birds so i had no choice but to show him what I was doing, i gifted for Iona and Unburial rights, though like last round, i was super afraid of remand. We exchange resources up to a point where i have 7 lands in play, I sand bag the last land in my hand hoping he'd tap out for a counterspell. I swing in, no blocks, follow up with a siege rhino, which he cryptic commands. He's tapped out, i play my 8th land and play and reanimate Iona naming blue. (There's an argument for naming white but he had already used 3 Path to Exiles) and the game end from there.
Sideboard: -3 KoTR, -2 Abrupt Decay, -1 Ghost Quarter // +1 Slaughter pact, +2 Rhino, +2 Negate, +1 Tectonic Edge
I wanted to grind him out and keep him off his colors. I still think the gifts package is still very good.
Game 2: He keeps a 2 lander, I keep a nice curve with 2 gifts and siege rhino, I elected to curve out to siege rhino which he remands 3 times. Im so behind he has double snap caster to Valorous stance / Path my rhinos and tarmogoyfs and Geist of Saint Traft is a beating.
Game 3:I mull to 6, (last hand was 6 lands and an unburial rights) I keep a hand of 4 lands on of them a Gavony, negate and a Hierarch (SNAP KEEP)
Play fetch, crack play hierarch, fetch crack, fetch, crack, i drew gas, lingering souls, goyfs, i eventually draw my iona. I draw gifts and immediately cast it after his taps out for vendillion clique targeting himself. I get the loam package of Loam, Raven's Crime, and a tec edge. He makes me keep Raven's Crime. We exchange resources, mostly him remanding my goyfs and a lili.I'm not sure what happened but when he passed the turn back, I dredge loam for the tec edge. Play the tec edge, and destroy his 4th land, he floats all the mana and cryptic tap/bounce one of my guys. I Raven's crime myself discarding iona and reanimate iona naming white and the game closes out from there.
Last round (Little Kid Abzan)
We ID'd and he gave me the promo. We play around a bit with little sideboarding done. This match up just magnified a little more how terrible KoTR is. Their stuff is just bigger and Wilt leaf liege can be a beating.
One of the changes I'd make is changing the 3rd KoTR for a Grave Titan. It can be hard casted with all the mana dorks we have and I think the guys we get from it help chump and get pumped by Gavony. Might bump the Gavony to 2 taking out the Ghost Quarter. There are many times I thought tec edge from the board would be better. Iona was a house given the match ups except affinity.
Elesh norn was great. She can be hardcaster, and just locks most creature decks out of the game. Sure she's clunky and awkward in some match ups. But that's why I had the Iona package as well. and Drawing elesh norn with your dorks is completely fine.
I think having some amount of sweepers against the Jacob Wilson list is needed. Im thinking DoJ, Damnation, Wrath of god. It does give up sideboard slots but I think the Jacob Wilson list is something that will be popular moving forward. We side into a pseudo control/grind deck after board. Anyway, sorry for the long post. I'd like to hear your guys feedback on possible KOTR replacements.
I love stoneforge mystic, is there a possible configuration of a good SFM/Batterskull + entreat list? I know it may sound kind of greedy but the "best" configuration of SFM i saw was BBD's List in which he top 16'd with. What have your guys experiences have been with SFM/Batterskull without Entreat? Is it really just for a specific meta or am i just undervalue-ing batterskull over Entreat?
How do people who have played zoo for a while now think about big zoo? Knight/Hierarch/Smiters? I think in a heavy meta of Pod, little zoo just doesnt cut it when their kitchen finks trades with your whole deck.
I would like to know our best chances against scapeshift? Is it just Fulmis and thoughtseize effects? They board in obstinate baloth for lili most of the time. Also, the r/g tron match up is so miserable, do we just lose to wurmcoil? How does everyone feel about the white splash against the match up? You get path, ajani, etc. given we don't have deathrite shaman anymore, is this color combination just not viable anymore?
I don't have a lot of experience with fanatic of Xenagos but I'll just say what every Rx player will say, needs more Chandra's Phoenix. I love Gore-house chainwalker, and it will usually take the spot of firefist striker, let me know how it goes, I'm kind of on the fence about it as well. On one hand, Firefirst striker allows you to race G/R post big fattie drop but gore-house chainwalker is really cool with combat tricks. It's really a hard choice for me. I'm actually thinking about flesh//blood over lightning strike in the G/R shell. (something janky like ash zealot, rubblebelt/ghorclan + blood to the face.)
I wouldn't take out the Rubblebelts, they are just such a blowout against g/r monsters. I recommend either taking out 1 fanatic if you have 3, and 1 one drop if you want to put more magma jets.
As you can see, I changed the sideboard to match the local meta game a bit with a full play set of SB and 4 Skull cracks, I really found peak eruption very clunky. (Just from my experience, ymmv.) And I was on the draw game 1 in like 70% of my matches iirc.
Disclaimer, I'm going off the top of my head, I had such a huge migraine when the tournament was over so I will try to remember as best I can!:)
First Match White Weenies.
Game 1: I was on the play. Turn 1 FDS, turn 2 Ash zealot, (I probably won most of my matches where I opened this way.) He dropped skyjecks and Soldiers of the Pantheon, All easily killable with Rubblebelt Ownage. Cleaned this one up pretty fast with burn taking up remaining lifepoints, I still had a huge board presence of 2/2s and 2/1s.
Sideboard: I didn't have much experience with Ratchet bomb, so I surmised that I'll only bring it in when I'm on the play. So in goes 4 Searing blood out goes 2 Fanatic, 2 Madcap skills. ( I did this because he could probably chump it to death, but I'm still unsure of this choice.)
Game 2: He starts turn 1 with 1 one drop, turn 2, 2 one drops (one of them imposing sovereign), Skyjeck, then Brimaz, I kept a slow hand, and banishing priest snatching the Boros Reckoner ended me. Did not draw my searing bloods.
Game 3: Off to the races, Turn 1 Cackler, Turn 2 Ash Zealot. Searing blood is such a HUGE HUGE blow out. As long as he was tapped out, I searing blooded as long as I had a target, He had a Spear of Heliod so if he just got 2 Creatures ahead I would lose. 2 Chandra's Pheonix and double rubblebelt ended the game. I seriously have to be more aggressive with my bloodrushes, I keep saving them because I'm afraid of a threat I cant handle.
1-0
Match 2 MBC
Game 1: I was on the draw, He had a super slow start with no hand disruption. Cackler, FDS, Zealot, and BTE. I just kept putting down a rainbow of creatures to make sure bile blight was a 1 for 1 at best. Underworld connections help me close out this game. He couldn't draw enough removal, everything was a 1 for 1 and with a recurring CP, it was too much.
Sideboard: So this is actually the first time I went against a straight up MBC. I boarded out 2 Fanatics, because there's no way I'll have enough devotion due to his removal, and 4 reckoners (Insanely bad) In with 4 Searing Bloods (Pack rat and LBZ killer) 2 Acts of Treason (Which I never saw)
Game 2: I mull to 6. I actually had a very very good opening, FDS, ash zealot, phoenix. (Again I was not liberal with my rubblebelt maakas, I was just scared.) Again searing blood helping me get there. He boarded in LBZ's for some reason. When I get him down to 4, He Grey Merchants for 4 (Underworld and gary) followed by another one, the game was out of reach. Drown in sorrow wrecked me, and I could not come back.
Game 3: Me on the play, FDS, Cackler, Pheonix opening. I had 2 Rubblebelts and I used them Immediately getting him down to 5 or 6, He was at 4 mana it didn't matter because I had 2 LS's in my hand.
2-0
Match 3 Jund Monsters:
This was actually the match up I feared the most, with their removal package, monsters and Golgari Charm. I was in for a bad time.
Game 1: I was on the draw. He kept a slow hand, with me dropping a FDS (Dear lord this card just rocks) He drops a Caryatid, I threated to kill it with pump, he blocks, which I pump, He shocks himself like 2 times over the course of the match, I guess he really needed the mana. He dropped a courser, I went BTE BTE BTE, madcap skills dumping my hand. He couldnt come back from that.
Sideboard: I believed he was going to board in faster threats. (Mainly scavenging ooze) I board out 2 fanatics (removal will make it useless) 3 Madcap skills (again removal) 1 Cackler. IN with 4 Searing blood, 2 Acts of Treason.
Game 2: I kept a slow hand, like no plays till turn 3 hand. Dropped a double boros reckoner over the course of the game, which he just removed, I just plain started too slow and got run over by double reaper and Polukranos.
Game 3: I mull to 6. It was off to the races again and the infamous double rubblebelt on one guy. got him down to 6 at one point, where I already had the burn in hand. I also had to note, there was one game where he dropped polukranos, and he blocked my ash zealot, and I responed with 2 searing bloods. Seriously this card is insane.
Match 4 Esper Control:
This was really my first time at the top tables so I was really nervous. Was fighting some people who've been on the PT.
Game 1: I was on the draw. This guy had a detention sphere for everything. I was so stupid to be killing 2 jace's with my guys and burn, when I could have just went everything at his face, I ended up doing like 12 damage over the course of 2 Jaces. UGH. 1 elixir activation did it for me.
Sideboard: I was really confused with the sideboarding, maybe because of the lack of experience with the deck. Anyway, out with 4 reckoners, 2 fanatics, 1 mountain, 1 Madcap skills( Should I take out madcap skills? I'm really confused.) In with 4 Skullcracks, 2 Hammer, 2 Searing Blood ( Dont hate me, this might've been dump but I was expecting soldier of the pantheon. Again, lack of experience)
Game 2: Got my all star opening again. Skull cracked his elixir, he verdicts 1 dude, detentions 1 dude, I only dropped 1 duder at a time. I have a Chandra's pheonix in play due to burn. It got to a point in the game, he supreme verdicts my chandra's pheonix, and decides to Ult with jace. He grabs my BTE, to sphinx rev for 2. Which I skullcrack again, then I searing blood BTE + LS for lethal. I guess he was afraid of a haster, and + he wanted to sphinx's rev.
Game 3: I didn't know time had flown by and it was my first match series that went to time. He boards in all his removal which he promptly draws everything. Oh yeah, Blind Obedience is such beating. He extorts every azorious charm, last breath, and doom blade. I was so desperate I was casting my rubblebelts. Anyway, got him to 7, dropped a blood baron and that was game.
3-1
Match 5 Boros Aggro:
Game 1: I was on the draw. He out races me, despite my ash zealot and FDS opening, but that's all i saw and brave the elements is a huge blowout.. he had a Spirit of the labyrinth main deck, ( that guy hits so hard ) I tried my best to block, I was down to 4, he closed it out with boros charm.
Sideboard: I was kind of looking forward to this match up, but brave the elements and boros charm indestructibility had me worried. 2 Fanatics out, (I was not playing the long game with this guy.) 3 Madcap skills, (He can chump me, and banisher priest will be a 2 for 1 again) and 1 Mountain (My curve was lower.) In with 4 Searing bloods (DUH!) 2 Ratchet bombs (I brought this in because I needed to learn how to use this thing)
Game 2: I have kept a hand with Cackler, zealot, mtn, mtn, 3 Searing bloods against a white weenie that tapped out everytime. Game ended quick.
Game 3: We were off to the races. I made sure I killed his things with more than 3 toughness with LS. He had the brave the elements against searing blood. ( I was afraid of that.) There was a misplay he made when we were both at 6 after he attacks and he left 2 1 to cast blockers, I tick up ratchet bomb and they went boom, now it was an opening for my ash zealot and I had a blood rusher and a phoenix in hand, ready for lethal.
4-1
Match 6 Jund Monsters
Disclaimer, I don't know what happened in this game, maybe it was because I kept such slow hands.
Game 1: I was on the draw, no play till turn 2, I try to get him down with with ash zealots and a BTE. But Reaper of the wilds + double courser made him stabilize. I did not have enough tricks and I get 2 for 1'd twice with Madcap skills.(I'm starting to not like this card)
Sideboard: 2 Fanatics out. (Removal) 3 Mad cap skills (2 for 1 is really bad for a deck that wants to make the most out of it's cards) 1 Mountain. (Lowered curve) in with 4 Searing bloods (IDK why but it served me well in the last round against jund) 2 Acts of Treason. (
Game 2: I kept a slow hand again, dunno what came over me that round, I was somehow thinking he was G/R, maybe I was just tired. No play till turn 3, he was able to get double reapers and it was just out of reach. He killed my double reckoners before he even swung in.
4-2
So I took a step outside and just sucked in the fresh air and went into the next round.
Match 7 UW Control:
Game 1: I was on the play. Great opening with cackler, then ash zealot, then BTE + a pheonix. ( Seriously opening where you do 4 damage turn 2 is just bonkers and usually mean a high chance of winning, unless of course you kept that opening and 5 lands.) Never over extend. I saw mad cap skills shine here, doing a solid 7 damage before being 2 for 1'd.
Sideboard: Out with 2 Fanatics (Seriously, this card did 4 damage max.) Out with 4 Reckoners (Insanely bad) 4 Skullcracks 2 hammer in.
Game 2: Opening of FDS, then zealot, then a BTE + hammer. He supreme verdicts, I slam with pheonix. Get him down to 6. He attempts to sphinx's rev I respond with double lightning strike.
Match 8 Mono Blue:
I was actually surprised the deck was doing good, he was the only 1 i saw that ran the deck despite the large amount of participants. Now this was my first "big" event, I was nervous as hell and all I wanted to do was place and be happy with like top 32. I talked with my friend, I didn't know how tie breaks were so he explained my options to me. He said to play it out. But I just wanted to place. When we got to the tables, I asked my opponent if he wanted to ID so that we can get top 32. He disagreed because he just said it was bad value. I can respect that, so we play it out.
Game 1: I was on the play. I aggressively trade 1 for 1 with anything he drops. rubblebelting my stuff so he loses his frostburn weird. magma jetting tidebinders, came to a point he just ran out of gas despite Thassa scrys.
Sideboard: I actually felt confident about this match up. I took out 4 reckoners (I felt domestication was going to happen and him getting one of my reckoners would just make me lose the game 100%) 2 Fanatics ( this game was not going to be long ) In with 4 Searing blood (Because it's damn good) and 2 skullcracks. (Because no one expects the skullcrack when they block with their master of waves.)
Game 2: I mull to 6. He has a great start with raptor, familiar, tidebinder my stuff, i kill it, he tidebinders again, drops a thassa, rapotors in play go bonkers. I died.
Game 3: I was on the play. I had a hand of 2 searing bloods, and I had my award winning FDS/Cackler then ash zealot start. He kept a slow hand with a turn 2 play which I searing blood. Burn his stuff (namely 2 nightveils). BTE + Phoenix. He master of waves for 3. I searing blood one elemental, and a rubblebelted phoenix wins me the game.
6-2
I finished 14th in the standing got the points, the mat, and a little bit of cash.:D I think a UW took the whole thing. But there was so many UW/UWx I think it accounted for 65% of the players and like 4 burn players.
Woah, that was long.
Things I learned: Madcap is either really great or really bad. There were times where I wished I drew a skullcrack instead of a madcap skill with an empty board. It ends up doing your dude +3 damage before your opponent gets rid of it. I'm still unsure though, it's potential is insane though against an opponent with a removal light hand, but nowadays, even G/R monsters is splashing black for doomblades and people will always chump block it to death, especially in the aggro match up where life totals are a premium. I'll probably only keep it on the play only. Rubblebelt maaka is insane, suffers the madcap skill dillema, but a 4 to cast for a 3/3 is ok, but usually means you're already losing the game. Searing blood was the all star. I might main deck it from now on. Fanatic of mogis, hmmm I probably never gave it a chance since I ALWAYS took it out. I'm still unsure about it, and maybe if it was the flame wreathed phoenix I'll keep it in for the control match ups. Magma jet is HUGE, scrying 2 lands away is a life saver for me, I might bump it up to 4 while removing a reckoner.
Anyway that's my report guys! Hope it all still make sense despite everything being somewhat of a blur to me. Def learned a lot and thanks noninfidel for the list! I liked it because of it's match up against hexproof, where you need to man fight their stuff where as r/w burn just crumbles to hexproof.
Hey Noninfidel, I took your mono red list (-1 fanatic +1 rubblebelt) Went 6-2 and top 16'd the TCGplayer tourney at the Channel Fireball Center in Santa Clara. I'll write up a report as soon as my head stops hurting. Solid list!
Hex proof arch types don't care about it and chained to the rocks is enough for G/R to board in unravel the aether. The only place I see it very good is the MonoB and MonoU MU.
Edit: I'm not in love with firefist striker, and this would be the first cut when I change things, probably to the 22nd land and 2 fanatic of mogis, but I'm going to give firefist another week or so, it creates blowouts when it's good, it's a -terrible- creature when it's bad...
Suggestions for that slot?
edit2: Gruul Charm is a -massive- beating against Mono-Blue Devotion, if that pops up in your meta or if you play MODO, this card is NUTS against them, often a 3-for-1, and it steals back anything stolen with domestication, which is huge. It also comes in as a 2-of against RG Monsters, GW Aggro and other aggro decks as the unblockable clause acts just like a seismic stomp for a lethal swing.
interesting set up, I've taken your first version of the deck, card for card. I went 3-1 at my FNM, and that lost was to UW control. I'm not sure what the sideboard plan was again. But I boarded out all the reckoners, all the fanatics, for 3 Skull crack, 2 Hammer of Purphoros, and 2 Flames of the firebrand, not sure if that was the correct SB plan.
Now about you're green red version of it, I'm loving ghor-clan rampager, I'm wondering what the mizziums are for, given, I really like hammer in the control match up.
First Round (Affinity)
Game 1: He vomits his hand and follows up with a Steel Overseer and my turn 4 Elesh Norn wasnt fast enough as he already had +1/+1 counters on his guys. Double Cranial Plating seals the deal.
Sideboard: -3 Liliana -3 KoTR // +2 Stony Silence, +2 Creeping Corrosion, +2 Siege Rhino
Game 2: I keep a hand of 2 Siege Rhino, 1 Birds of Paradise, 1 Stony Silence, 1 Godless Shrine, Swamp, and Ghost quarter. (SNAP KEEP)
I rip a Overgrown Tomb on my draw step and I pretty much curve out and gifts into an Elesh Norn with double Rhino.
Game 3: He mulls to 5 and Tarmogoyf Beats with abrupt decay back up.
1-0
Round 2 (UR Splinter twin)
Game 1: I get an early goyf for the beats, he fetched, Serum Visions, taking my goyf out of bolt range. I eventually get a second tarmogoyf out to put it tons of pressure, he has little choice (I think) and tries to combo off twice of which I have 2 Abrupt Decays and 1 Path to Exile in hand.
Sideboard: -3 KoTR (This will be a recurring theme) -1 BoP, -2 Liliana, -1 Ghost Quarter, // +2 Slaughter Pacts, + 2 Negate, +2 Siege Rhino, +1 Tectonic Edge
I figured the game would get grindier so i thought a tec edge would help keeping off 5-6 land.
Game 2: Forgot what my hand was but it was a nice curve with tarmo // siege // into gifts. I gifts on curve and just leave unburial rights and Iona in the graveyard for a while. I attempted to grind him out with lingering souls and creatures. Knowing I had grinded him out of cards in his hand, i reanimated Iona naming blue, he was still playing cards like obstinate baloth and batterskull, but a hard cast Elesh norn sealed the deal.
2-0
Round 3 (UWR Control)
Game 1: I was thinking he was blue moon because he opened with Island Island, so i Fetched my junk basics with a birds of paradise in play. I keep it for a turn then he electrolyze me and the birds so i had no choice but to show him what I was doing, i gifted for Iona and Unburial rights, though like last round, i was super afraid of remand. We exchange resources up to a point where i have 7 lands in play, I sand bag the last land in my hand hoping he'd tap out for a counterspell. I swing in, no blocks, follow up with a siege rhino, which he cryptic commands. He's tapped out, i play my 8th land and play and reanimate Iona naming blue. (There's an argument for naming white but he had already used 3 Path to Exiles) and the game end from there.
Sideboard: -3 KoTR, -2 Abrupt Decay, -1 Ghost Quarter // +1 Slaughter pact, +2 Rhino, +2 Negate, +1 Tectonic Edge
I wanted to grind him out and keep him off his colors. I still think the gifts package is still very good.
Game 2: He keeps a 2 lander, I keep a nice curve with 2 gifts and siege rhino, I elected to curve out to siege rhino which he remands 3 times. Im so behind he has double snap caster to Valorous stance / Path my rhinos and tarmogoyfs and Geist of Saint Traft is a beating.
Game 3:I mull to 6, (last hand was 6 lands and an unburial rights) I keep a hand of 4 lands on of them a Gavony, negate and a Hierarch (SNAP KEEP)
Play fetch, crack play hierarch, fetch crack, fetch, crack, i drew gas, lingering souls, goyfs, i eventually draw my iona. I draw gifts and immediately cast it after his taps out for vendillion clique targeting himself. I get the loam package of Loam, Raven's Crime, and a tec edge. He makes me keep Raven's Crime. We exchange resources, mostly him remanding my goyfs and a lili.I'm not sure what happened but when he passed the turn back, I dredge loam for the tec edge. Play the tec edge, and destroy his 4th land, he floats all the mana and cryptic tap/bounce one of my guys. I Raven's crime myself discarding iona and reanimate iona naming white and the game closes out from there.
Last round (Little Kid Abzan)
We ID'd and he gave me the promo. We play around a bit with little sideboarding done. This match up just magnified a little more how terrible KoTR is. Their stuff is just bigger and Wilt leaf liege can be a beating.
One of the changes I'd make is changing the 3rd KoTR for a Grave Titan. It can be hard casted with all the mana dorks we have and I think the guys we get from it help chump and get pumped by Gavony. Might bump the Gavony to 2 taking out the Ghost Quarter. There are many times I thought tec edge from the board would be better. Iona was a house given the match ups except affinity.
Elesh norn was great. She can be hardcaster, and just locks most creature decks out of the game. Sure she's clunky and awkward in some match ups. But that's why I had the Iona package as well. and Drawing elesh norn with your dorks is completely fine.
I think having some amount of sweepers against the Jacob Wilson list is needed. Im thinking DoJ, Damnation, Wrath of god. It does give up sideboard slots but I think the Jacob Wilson list is something that will be popular moving forward. We side into a pseudo control/grind deck after board. Anyway, sorry for the long post. I'd like to hear your guys feedback on possible KOTR replacements.
So here's the list I ran at the TCGPlayer 5k
List:
3 Rakdos Cackler
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Ash Zealot
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Chandra's Phoenix
2 Fanatic of Mogis
4 Rubblebelt Maaka
3 Magma Jet
3 Madcap Skills
3 Act of Treason
2 Ratchet Bomb
4 Skullcrack
2 Hammer of Purphoros
As you can see, I changed the sideboard to match the local meta game a bit with a full play set of SB and 4 Skull cracks, I really found peak eruption very clunky. (Just from my experience, ymmv.) And I was on the draw game 1 in like 70% of my matches iirc.
Disclaimer, I'm going off the top of my head, I had such a huge migraine when the tournament was over so I will try to remember as best I can!:)
First Match White Weenies.
Game 1: I was on the play. Turn 1 FDS, turn 2 Ash zealot, (I probably won most of my matches where I opened this way.) He dropped skyjecks and Soldiers of the Pantheon, All easily killable with Rubblebelt Ownage. Cleaned this one up pretty fast with burn taking up remaining lifepoints, I still had a huge board presence of 2/2s and 2/1s.
Sideboard: I didn't have much experience with Ratchet bomb, so I surmised that I'll only bring it in when I'm on the play. So in goes 4 Searing blood out goes 2 Fanatic, 2 Madcap skills. ( I did this because he could probably chump it to death, but I'm still unsure of this choice.)
Game 2: He starts turn 1 with 1 one drop, turn 2, 2 one drops (one of them imposing sovereign), Skyjeck, then Brimaz, I kept a slow hand, and banishing priest snatching the Boros Reckoner ended me. Did not draw my searing bloods.
Game 3: Off to the races, Turn 1 Cackler, Turn 2 Ash Zealot. Searing blood is such a HUGE HUGE blow out. As long as he was tapped out, I searing blooded as long as I had a target, He had a Spear of Heliod so if he just got 2 Creatures ahead I would lose. 2 Chandra's Pheonix and double rubblebelt ended the game. I seriously have to be more aggressive with my bloodrushes, I keep saving them because I'm afraid of a threat I cant handle.
1-0
Match 2 MBC
Game 1: I was on the draw, He had a super slow start with no hand disruption. Cackler, FDS, Zealot, and BTE. I just kept putting down a rainbow of creatures to make sure bile blight was a 1 for 1 at best. Underworld connections help me close out this game. He couldn't draw enough removal, everything was a 1 for 1 and with a recurring CP, it was too much.
Sideboard: So this is actually the first time I went against a straight up MBC. I boarded out 2 Fanatics, because there's no way I'll have enough devotion due to his removal, and 4 reckoners (Insanely bad) In with 4 Searing Bloods (Pack rat and LBZ killer) 2 Acts of Treason (Which I never saw)
Game 2: I mull to 6. I actually had a very very good opening, FDS, ash zealot, phoenix. (Again I was not liberal with my rubblebelt maakas, I was just scared.) Again searing blood helping me get there. He boarded in LBZ's for some reason. When I get him down to 4, He Grey Merchants for 4 (Underworld and gary) followed by another one, the game was out of reach. Drown in sorrow wrecked me, and I could not come back.
Game 3: Me on the play, FDS, Cackler, Pheonix opening. I had 2 Rubblebelts and I used them Immediately getting him down to 5 or 6, He was at 4 mana it didn't matter because I had 2 LS's in my hand.
2-0
Match 3 Jund Monsters:
This was actually the match up I feared the most, with their removal package, monsters and Golgari Charm. I was in for a bad time.
Game 1: I was on the draw. He kept a slow hand, with me dropping a FDS (Dear lord this card just rocks) He drops a Caryatid, I threated to kill it with pump, he blocks, which I pump, He shocks himself like 2 times over the course of the match, I guess he really needed the mana. He dropped a courser, I went BTE BTE BTE, madcap skills dumping my hand. He couldnt come back from that.
Sideboard: I believed he was going to board in faster threats. (Mainly scavenging ooze) I board out 2 fanatics (removal will make it useless) 3 Madcap skills (again removal) 1 Cackler. IN with 4 Searing blood, 2 Acts of Treason.
Game 2: I kept a slow hand, like no plays till turn 3 hand. Dropped a double boros reckoner over the course of the game, which he just removed, I just plain started too slow and got run over by double reaper and Polukranos.
Game 3: I mull to 6. It was off to the races again and the infamous double rubblebelt on one guy. got him down to 6 at one point, where I already had the burn in hand. I also had to note, there was one game where he dropped polukranos, and he blocked my ash zealot, and I responed with 2 searing bloods. Seriously this card is insane.
Match 4 Esper Control:
This was really my first time at the top tables so I was really nervous. Was fighting some people who've been on the PT.
Game 1: I was on the draw. This guy had a detention sphere for everything. I was so stupid to be killing 2 jace's with my guys and burn, when I could have just went everything at his face, I ended up doing like 12 damage over the course of 2 Jaces. UGH. 1 elixir activation did it for me.
Sideboard: I was really confused with the sideboarding, maybe because of the lack of experience with the deck. Anyway, out with 4 reckoners, 2 fanatics, 1 mountain, 1 Madcap skills( Should I take out madcap skills? I'm really confused.) In with 4 Skullcracks, 2 Hammer, 2 Searing Blood ( Dont hate me, this might've been dump but I was expecting soldier of the pantheon. Again, lack of experience)
Game 2: Got my all star opening again. Skull cracked his elixir, he verdicts 1 dude, detentions 1 dude, I only dropped 1 duder at a time. I have a Chandra's pheonix in play due to burn. It got to a point in the game, he supreme verdicts my chandra's pheonix, and decides to Ult with jace. He grabs my BTE, to sphinx rev for 2. Which I skullcrack again, then I searing blood BTE + LS for lethal. I guess he was afraid of a haster, and + he wanted to sphinx's rev.
Game 3: I didn't know time had flown by and it was my first match series that went to time. He boards in all his removal which he promptly draws everything. Oh yeah, Blind Obedience is such beating. He extorts every azorious charm, last breath, and doom blade. I was so desperate I was casting my rubblebelts. Anyway, got him to 7, dropped a blood baron and that was game.
3-1
Match 5 Boros Aggro:
Game 1: I was on the draw. He out races me, despite my ash zealot and FDS opening, but that's all i saw and brave the elements is a huge blowout.. he had a Spirit of the labyrinth main deck, ( that guy hits so hard ) I tried my best to block, I was down to 4, he closed it out with boros charm.
Sideboard: I was kind of looking forward to this match up, but brave the elements and boros charm indestructibility had me worried. 2 Fanatics out, (I was not playing the long game with this guy.) 3 Madcap skills, (He can chump me, and banisher priest will be a 2 for 1 again) and 1 Mountain (My curve was lower.) In with 4 Searing bloods (DUH!) 2 Ratchet bombs (I brought this in because I needed to learn how to use this thing)
Game 2: I have kept a hand with Cackler, zealot, mtn, mtn, 3 Searing bloods against a white weenie that tapped out everytime. Game ended quick.
Game 3: We were off to the races. I made sure I killed his things with more than 3 toughness with LS. He had the brave the elements against searing blood. ( I was afraid of that.) There was a misplay he made when we were both at 6 after he attacks and he left 2 1 to cast blockers, I tick up ratchet bomb and they went boom, now it was an opening for my ash zealot and I had a blood rusher and a phoenix in hand, ready for lethal.
4-1
Match 6 Jund Monsters
Disclaimer, I don't know what happened in this game, maybe it was because I kept such slow hands.
Game 1: I was on the draw, no play till turn 2, I try to get him down with with ash zealots and a BTE. But Reaper of the wilds + double courser made him stabilize. I did not have enough tricks and I get 2 for 1'd twice with Madcap skills.(I'm starting to not like this card)
Sideboard: 2 Fanatics out. (Removal) 3 Mad cap skills (2 for 1 is really bad for a deck that wants to make the most out of it's cards) 1 Mountain. (Lowered curve) in with 4 Searing bloods (IDK why but it served me well in the last round against jund) 2 Acts of Treason. (
Game 2: I kept a slow hand again, dunno what came over me that round, I was somehow thinking he was G/R, maybe I was just tired. No play till turn 3, he was able to get double reapers and it was just out of reach. He killed my double reckoners before he even swung in.
4-2
So I took a step outside and just sucked in the fresh air and went into the next round.
Match 7 UW Control:
Game 1: I was on the play. Great opening with cackler, then ash zealot, then BTE + a pheonix. ( Seriously opening where you do 4 damage turn 2 is just bonkers and usually mean a high chance of winning, unless of course you kept that opening and 5 lands.) Never over extend. I saw mad cap skills shine here, doing a solid 7 damage before being 2 for 1'd.
Sideboard: Out with 2 Fanatics (Seriously, this card did 4 damage max.) Out with 4 Reckoners (Insanely bad) 4 Skullcracks 2 hammer in.
Game 2: Opening of FDS, then zealot, then a BTE + hammer. He supreme verdicts, I slam with pheonix. Get him down to 6. He attempts to sphinx's rev I respond with double lightning strike.
Match 8 Mono Blue:
I was actually surprised the deck was doing good, he was the only 1 i saw that ran the deck despite the large amount of participants. Now this was my first "big" event, I was nervous as hell and all I wanted to do was place and be happy with like top 32. I talked with my friend, I didn't know how tie breaks were so he explained my options to me. He said to play it out. But I just wanted to place. When we got to the tables, I asked my opponent if he wanted to ID so that we can get top 32. He disagreed because he just said it was bad value. I can respect that, so we play it out.
Game 1: I was on the play. I aggressively trade 1 for 1 with anything he drops. rubblebelting my stuff so he loses his frostburn weird. magma jetting tidebinders, came to a point he just ran out of gas despite Thassa scrys.
Sideboard: I actually felt confident about this match up. I took out 4 reckoners (I felt domestication was going to happen and him getting one of my reckoners would just make me lose the game 100%) 2 Fanatics ( this game was not going to be long ) In with 4 Searing blood (Because it's damn good) and 2 skullcracks. (Because no one expects the skullcrack when they block with their master of waves.)
Game 2: I mull to 6. He has a great start with raptor, familiar, tidebinder my stuff, i kill it, he tidebinders again, drops a thassa, rapotors in play go bonkers. I died.
Game 3: I was on the play. I had a hand of 2 searing bloods, and I had my award winning FDS/Cackler then ash zealot start. He kept a slow hand with a turn 2 play which I searing blood. Burn his stuff (namely 2 nightveils). BTE + Phoenix. He master of waves for 3. I searing blood one elemental, and a rubblebelted phoenix wins me the game.
6-2
I finished 14th in the standing got the points, the mat, and a little bit of cash.:D I think a UW took the whole thing. But there was so many UW/UWx I think it accounted for 65% of the players and like 4 burn players.
Woah, that was long.
Things I learned: Madcap is either really great or really bad. There were times where I wished I drew a skullcrack instead of a madcap skill with an empty board. It ends up doing your dude +3 damage before your opponent gets rid of it. I'm still unsure though, it's potential is insane though against an opponent with a removal light hand, but nowadays, even G/R monsters is splashing black for doomblades and people will always chump block it to death, especially in the aggro match up where life totals are a premium. I'll probably only keep it on the play only. Rubblebelt maaka is insane, suffers the madcap skill dillema, but a 4 to cast for a 3/3 is ok, but usually means you're already losing the game. Searing blood was the all star. I might main deck it from now on. Fanatic of mogis, hmmm I probably never gave it a chance since I ALWAYS took it out. I'm still unsure about it, and maybe if it was the flame wreathed phoenix I'll keep it in for the control match ups. Magma jet is HUGE, scrying 2 lands away is a life saver for me, I might bump it up to 4 while removing a reckoner.
Anyway that's my report guys! Hope it all still make sense despite everything being somewhat of a blur to me.
Hex proof arch types don't care about it and chained to the rocks is enough for G/R to board in unravel the aether. The only place I see it very good is the MonoB and MonoU MU.
interesting set up, I've taken your first version of the deck, card for card. I went 3-1 at my FNM, and that lost was to UW control. I'm not sure what the sideboard plan was again. But I boarded out all the reckoners, all the fanatics, for 3 Skull crack, 2 Hammer of Purphoros, and 2 Flames of the firebrand, not sure if that was the correct SB plan.
Now about you're green red version of it, I'm loving ghor-clan rampager, I'm wondering what the mizziums are for, given, I really like hammer in the control match up.