Hi guys, I used to play UB (2 PLA build with 3 ashioks on side) when Khans came out and Esper (3 ashiok 2 sorin 3 elspeth build) for a few weeks but stopped playing after a month or so and skipped FRF altogether, I'm coming back for DTK and I decided to give a try to the list below:
My meta us mostly unknown (I'm aware of a couple midrange abzan decks and a heroic build from some friends) so I decided to go for a mixed assortment of removal/disruption/permission. I decided to cut Jace's Ingenuity altogether in favor of a full Anticipate suite, I've been reading the arguments pro/against this and after testing it a few times I can tell you a I didn't missed Jace's Ingenuity at all, Anticipate smooths out significantly your early land draws and is amazing as it allows to dig and use a T4 and up response.
2/2 Thoughtseize/Disdainful Stroke split is my flexible spot for most sideboard options, swapping for the other too or going out altogether depending on the match up.
Murderous Cut over Ultimate Price. Considering the amount of multicolor creatures being used right now, from rhinos to dragons, I feel that Murderous cut is a better alternative, specially since Anticipation helps consistently hitting early land drops and feeds delve. I left 2 spots for ultimate price on the sideboard specifically to deal with heroic and RDW.
Other spots are pretty much fixed removal/card advantage/permission that I don't consider necessary to change ATM. I'll post tomorrow's results to let you guys know how good/bad this turns out
I feel that 3 snapcasters is the magic number on this type of list, have you considered swap 1 snapcaster for 1 Obzedat, Ghost Council? this will stabilize you after a t4 removal and gives you access to an alternate win condition
I had the chance to test it against a bant auras list and ended 10-3, usually losing due misplays on my part or not drawing the removal/right land on time. I have to say I'm pretty impressed with the results. As for the changes I did, I felt that due my current meta, I needed another wincon and that is why I took out 1 revelation and 1 warped physique and included a singleton sorin and obzedat.
I will be testing the list further this Wednesday against a more diverse deck pool, and, I know is still early to say something definitive but these are my thoughts on some specific cards:
Warped Physique: I love how this card interacts with the deck, probably one of the best spot removal available a the moment by potentially been able to deal with a 6/6 creature for only 2 ub.
Crypt Incursion: Although I did have it in my hand a couple games, I never had the need to play it, however, I must say that I felt quite comfortable knowing that I could jump from 5 lives to 20 or more if I needed (provided at least a drownyard is online) and the advantage it provides against reanimator is undeniable.
Ætherling: Sorry guys, but I'm not sold to this card yet. Is it good? yes, it is very good and it will likely be a viable wincon once drownyards rotate. I agree it whort considering including one in SB for the control match up, but I still have my reserves in regards including it on the main board. Why? well, on hand there is the 6cmc issue as it seems to me to be quite restrictive, once you untap with this little one on the field, it gets nuts, granted, however, I still feel that Obzedat does a better job destabilizing us and for 1 less mana, ussually for me is t4-verdict to t5 obzedat/jace/sorin. Don't get me wrong, I already have my 4 Ætherling saved for when the time is right and I need them, but as for now, IMHO, Ætherling will do best in a Solar Flare shell that can cheat it in the battlefield 2 turns earlier.
As for sideboard, my meta is divided almost half and half between fast aggro (GR, WR, WRG) and reanimator, with the occasional control deck (esper/UWR) so I was considering the following 15:
Basic walkers package, I decided to take out lingering souls to add 2 Dimir Charm and 2 Orzhov Charm for more versatility and access to removal rather than stalling. Also, I used to run 2 Tamiyo, the Moon Sage but decided to take one out to make room to a singleton Obzedat, Ghost Council and so far I've been really happy with how it works.
On the bad side, I'm running 61 cards main and 25 lands. More often that I would want I find myself doing a mulligan or two for lack of lands in hand and I have the strong impression that this deck miss a lot think twice to consistently drop a land on t3 and t4, but I can't really decide what to take out to squeeze in the extra land and 2-3 think twice.
Sideboard is purely meta dependent and it has mostly tools to win the counter wars against mirror and control + the standard cemetery hate and blitz/aggro delayer with blind obedience/Rhox Faithmender
Everyone seems to be forgetting that Crypt Ghast exists. Not saying it makes Teysa standard viable, but it does make it more feasible to cast her at a more useful time than turn 7.
A card is bad when you need another card to make it good....
7CC? seriously? what the xxx where you thinking wizards?
I've never been more disappointed with a magic card and I feel just the same that most of you guys that have posted in this thread, the abilities are decent if not great under certain circumstances, but a 7cc makes it plain unplayable on every non-casual format.
Several interesting choices, running 23 lands, leaving augur out in favor of a full snapcasters set, no Jace AoT or MA (:o), Thought Scour instead or think twice or Forbidden alchemy and heavily loaded with counters....
I don't understand how you could have won...Rancor gives trample, unless I'm missing something.
- Plays both Lingering Souls flashback = puts in play 4 1/1 spirits
- Blocks Rancor'ed creature with 3 spirits and other 2/1 creature with the remaining spirit = board is cleared and remains at 2 lives..
It's a suggestion from Archie to use Tormod's over RiP because Reanimator has access to Abrupt Decay. They can't get rid of a Tormods provided you're smart about casting/using it. RiP they can get rid of and refill their GY. I haven't had the chance to test it out yet, this Friday will be my first opportunity to try it. I do like the idea of my answers being less interactive though. Anything that leaves my opponent with dead cards in hand is a good thing (this is my biggest complaint with the Guildmage right now, if he's a threat they can easily kill him with those otherwise dead Abrupt Decays that won't be sided out due to expecting RiP, maybe he's a game 3 play only)
Makes sense. It'll be interesting to side it in on the mirror too as a response to Psychic Spiral
5 Island
4 Temple of Deceit
4 Dismal Backwater
4 Polluted Delta
4 Swamp
3 Radiant Fountain
1 Evolving Wilds
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 CREATURES
1 Pearl Lake Ancient
27 INSTANTS and SORC.
4 Dig Through Time
4 Anticipate
4 Bile Blight
4 Dissolve
4 Hero's Downfall
2 Murderous Cut
1 Crux of Fate
2 Disdainful Stroke
2 Thoughtseize
3 Perilous Vault
2 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
1 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
1 Crux of Fate
3 Drown in Sorrow
2 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
1 Silumgar, the Drifting Death
2 Negate
2 Thoughtseize
2 Disdainful Stroke
2 Ultimate Price
My meta us mostly unknown (I'm aware of a couple midrange abzan decks and a heroic build from some friends) so I decided to go for a mixed assortment of removal/disruption/permission. I decided to cut Jace's Ingenuity altogether in favor of a full Anticipate suite, I've been reading the arguments pro/against this and after testing it a few times I can tell you a I didn't missed Jace's Ingenuity at all, Anticipate smooths out significantly your early land draws and is amazing as it allows to dig and use a T4 and up response.
2/2 Thoughtseize/Disdainful Stroke split is my flexible spot for most sideboard options, swapping for the other too or going out altogether depending on the match up.
Murderous Cut over Ultimate Price. Considering the amount of multicolor creatures being used right now, from rhinos to dragons, I feel that Murderous cut is a better alternative, specially since Anticipation helps consistently hitting early land drops and feeds delve. I left 2 spots for ultimate price on the sideboard specifically to deal with heroic and RDW.
3/1 Perilous Vault/Crux of fate split due the rise on dragon usage.
Other spots are pretty much fixed removal/card advantage/permission that I don't consider necessary to change ATM. I'll post tomorrow's results to let you guys know how good/bad this turns out
I feel that 3 snapcasters is the magic number on this type of list, have you considered swap 1 snapcaster for 1 Obzedat, Ghost Council? this will stabilize you after a t4 removal and gives you access to an alternate win condition
4x Drowned Catacomb
4x Glacial Fortress
3x Godless Shrine
4x Hallowed Fountain
1x Island
4x Isolated Chapel
3x Nephalia Drownyard
4x Watery Grave
4x Azorius Charm
1x Crypt Incursion
2x Dissipate
1x Far//Away
3x Sphinx's Revelation
1x Syncopate
4x Think Twice
3x Warped Physique
1x Merciless Eviction
4x Supreme Verdict
1x Terminus
Enchantment (2)
2x Detention Sphere
Planeswalker (2)
1x Jace, Memory Adept
1x Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
Creature (4)
3x Snapcaster Mage
1x Obzedat, Ghost Council
I had the chance to test it against a bant auras list and ended 10-3, usually losing due misplays on my part or not drawing the removal/right land on time. I have to say I'm pretty impressed with the results. As for the changes I did, I felt that due my current meta, I needed another wincon and that is why I took out 1 revelation and 1 warped physique and included a singleton sorin and obzedat.
I will be testing the list further this Wednesday against a more diverse deck pool, and, I know is still early to say something definitive but these are my thoughts on some specific cards:
Warped Physique: I love how this card interacts with the deck, probably one of the best spot removal available a the moment by potentially been able to deal with a 6/6 creature for only 2 ub.
Crypt Incursion: Although I did have it in my hand a couple games, I never had the need to play it, however, I must say that I felt quite comfortable knowing that I could jump from 5 lives to 20 or more if I needed (provided at least a drownyard is online) and the advantage it provides against reanimator is undeniable.
Ætherling: Sorry guys, but I'm not sold to this card yet. Is it good? yes, it is very good and it will likely be a viable wincon once drownyards rotate. I agree it whort considering including one in SB for the control match up, but I still have my reserves in regards including it on the main board. Why? well, on hand there is the 6cmc issue as it seems to me to be quite restrictive, once you untap with this little one on the field, it gets nuts, granted, however, I still feel that Obzedat does a better job destabilizing us and for 1 less mana, ussually for me is t4-verdict to t5 obzedat/jace/sorin. Don't get me wrong, I already have my 4 Ætherling saved for when the time is right and I need them, but as for now, IMHO, Ætherling will do best in a Solar Flare shell that can cheat it in the battlefield 2 turns earlier.
As for sideboard, my meta is divided almost half and half between fast aggro (GR, WR, WRG) and reanimator, with the occasional control deck (esper/UWR) so I was considering the following 15:
3x Appetite for brains
1x Purify the grave
1x Jace, Memory Adept
2x Terminus
3x Cancel
2x Devour flesh
2x Crypt Incursion
Any help with the sb will be highly appreciated
2 Augur of Bolas
2 Snapcaster Mage
1 Obzedat, Ghost Council
Planeswalkers
2 Jace, Architect of Thought
1 Jace, Memory Adept
2 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
1 Tamiyo, the Moon Sage
Enchantments
2 Detention Sphere
Instants
4 Azorius Charm
2 Dimir Charm
2 Dissipate
2 Orzhov charm
2 Forbidden Alchemy
3 Sphinx's Revelation
2 Syncopate
1 Devour flesh
4 Supreme Verdict
1 Terminus
Lands
1 Plains
1 Island
4 Drowned Catacomb
4 Glacial Fortress
2 Godless Shrine
4 Hallowed Fountain
3 Isolated Chapel
3 Nephalia Drownyard
3 Watery Grave
2 Witchbane Orb
2 Rhox Faithmender
3 Rest in Peace
3 Negate
1 Psychic Spiral
1 Obzedat, Ghost Council
2 Blind Obedience
2 Augur of Bolas
2 Snapcaster Mage
1 Obzedat, Ghost Council
Planeswalkers
2 Jace, Architect of Thought
1 Jace, Memory Adept
2 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
1 Tamiyo, the Moon Sage
Enchantments
2 Detention Sphere
Instants
4 Azorius Charm
2 Dimir Charm
2 Dissipate
2 Orzhov charm
2 Forbidden Alchemy
3 Sphinx's Revelation
2 Syncopate
1 Devour flesh
4 Supreme Verdict
1 Terminus
Lands
1 Plains
1 Island
4 Drowned Catacomb
4 Glacial Fortress
2 Godless Shrine
4 Hallowed Fountain
3 Isolated Chapel
3 Nephalia Drownyard
3 Watery Grave
2 Witchbane Orb
2 Rhox Faithmender
3 Rest in Peace
3 Negate
1 Psychic Spiral
1 Obzedat, Ghost Council
2 Blind Obedience
Basic walkers package, I decided to take out lingering souls to add 2 Dimir Charm and 2 Orzhov Charm for more versatility and access to removal rather than stalling. Also, I used to run 2 Tamiyo, the Moon Sage but decided to take one out to make room to a singleton Obzedat, Ghost Council and so far I've been really happy with how it works.
On the bad side, I'm running 61 cards main and 25 lands. More often that I would want I find myself doing a mulligan or two for lack of lands in hand and I have the strong impression that this deck miss a lot think twice to consistently drop a land on t3 and t4, but I can't really decide what to take out to squeeze in the extra land and 2-3 think twice.
Sideboard is purely meta dependent and it has mostly tools to win the counter wars against mirror and control + the standard cemetery hate and blitz/aggro delayer with blind obedience/Rhox Faithmender
A card is bad when you need another card to make it good....
7CC? seriously? what the xxx where you thinking wizards?
I've never been more disappointed with a magic card and I feel just the same that most of you guys that have posted in this thread, the abilities are decent if not great under certain circumstances, but a 7cc makes it plain unplayable on every non-casual format.
Brandon Bee -
1st Place at StarCityGames.com Invitational Qualifier on 2/3/2013Magic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards
4 Quirion Dryad
4 Snapcaster Mage
3 Geist of Saint Traft
3 Island
4 Breeding Pool
2 Cavern of Souls
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Hallowed Fountain
4 Hinterland Harbor
1 Sunpetal Grove
2 Rapid Hybridization
3 Simic Charm
3 Spell Rupture
1 Sphinx's Revelation
2 Think Twice
4 Thought Scour
3 Unsummon
3 Hands of Binding
2 Runechanter's Pike
2 Detention Sphere
2 Aetherize
2 Dispel
2 Dissipate
1 Rapid Hybridization
1 Redirect
1 Unsummon
1 Talrand, Sky Summoner
1 Hands of Binding
Standard – Winner, Irish WMCQ, DublinMagic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards
60 cards
23 lands
4 Drowned Catacomb
4 Glacial Fortress
3 Hallowed Fountain
1 Island
3 Isolated Chapel
2 Plains
1 Swamp
2 Vault of the Archangel
3 Watery Grave
6 creatures
2 Obzedat, Ghost Council
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Detention Sphere
3 Dissipate
4 Lingering Souls
2 Orzhov Charm
3 Sphinx's Revelation
3 Supreme Verdict
3 Syncopate
4 Thought Scour
3 Ultimate Price
2 planeswalkers
2 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
3 Appetite for Brains
2 Azorius Charm
2 Human Frailty
3 Purify the Grave
1 Supreme Verdict
4 Terminus
Several interesting choices, running 23 lands, leaving augur out in favor of a full snapcasters set, no Jace AoT or MA (:o), Thought Scour instead or think twice or Forbidden alchemy and heavily loaded with counters....
- Plays both Lingering Souls flashback = puts in play 4 1/1 spirits
- Blocks Rancor'ed creature with 3 spirits and other 2/1 creature with the remaining spirit = board is cleared and remains at 2 lives..
Standard Daily #5196390 on 03/24/2013Magic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards
60 cards
4 Drowned Catacomb
4 Glacial Fortress
3 Godless Shrine
3 Hallowed Fountain
4 Isolated Chapel
3 Nephalia Drownyard
1 Vault of the Archangel
4 Watery Grave
26 lands
1 Drogskol Reaver
1 Obzedat, Ghost Council
1 Snapcaster Mage
3 creatures
2 Detention Sphere
2 Jace, Architect of Thought
3 Liliana of the Veil
4 Lingering Souls
2 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
3 Sphinx's Revelation
4 Supreme Verdict
1 Tamiyo, the Moon Sage
2 Terminus
4 Think Twice
31 other spells
4 Gloom Surgeon
2 Jace, Memory Adept
3 Negate
2 Pithing Needle
2 Purify the Grave
2 Witchbane Orb
15 sideboard cards
Standard Daily #5196501 on 03/26/2013Magic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards
11 Forest
3 Golgari Guildgate
4 Overgrown Tomb
1 Swamp
4 Woodland Cemetery
23 lands
4 Arbor Elf
2 Deadbridge Goliath
2 Deathrite Shaman
4 Dreg Mangler
4 Lotleth Troll
4 Predator Ooze
4 Strangleroot Geist
2 Ulvenwald Tracker
26 creatures
1 Garruk Relentless
4 Rancor
2 Sever the Bloodline
2 Tragic Slip
11 other spells
3 Appetite for Brains
3 Duress
2 Golgari Charm
2 Ground Seal
1 Tragic Slip
3 Triumph of Ferocity
1 Ulvenwald Tracker
15 sideboard cards
A wise man you are. I go with a two AoT/one Memory Adept in main....
Makes sense. It'll be interesting to side it in on the mirror too as a response to Psychic Spiral