I had tried out Oracle of Mul Daya before (In Cryptic Shift) and found that the effect wasn't worth tapping out for, and it turned on my opponents removal. Courser of Kruphix just seems like a worse version, as it doesn't actually ramp. That said, in Titan-Shift it may have more game, as if it eats removal, it helps Primeval stick, but I'm still far from convinced.
I hadn't thought about Inferno Titan, mostly because the decks that can rip out Scapeshift, are usually the decks that can answer a Titan right away, which is why I've avoided Primeval Titan. Still, I know I have some sitting in a binder, so I'll give it a go online this week and see if it's worth trying.
As for Swan Song, if it his Planeswalkers, I'd be all over it, but Spell Pierce can hit a turn 2 Liliana, or a Turn 3 Karn, which is crucial as I find a resolved walker is very bad for Cryptic Shift. Maybe Beast Within is worth a slot as a catch all card.
I had never played this matchup before, but I knew that Open the Vaults and Faiths Reward were the biggest threats.
Game one, I suspended a Search for Tomorrow, and had Remand and Cryptic in Hand for his important spells. He cantripped a bunch, but Remand on his Faith's Reward left him with a graveyard full of artifacts. He didn't do any damage to himself, so I had to go for the 8 land kill. Went off on turn 7, still holding Cryptic Command.
Game two, we both keep 7, and he drops down a Leyline of Sanctity. I keep a hand with some land ramp, Grudge, and Peer Through Depths. I Grudged his Etherium Scupltor, and he just kind of petered out. He did put a second Leyline down, but I drew into my Scapeshift, and then Peered into Echoing Truth which was all she wrote.
Round 2 vs B/W Tokens (Win 2-0)
Game 1: He thoughtseized me and took away a Scpeshift, but never got any pressure out on me. Pyroclasm wiped his Lingering Souls, and Telling Time drew me into Scapeshift #2.
SB: -2 Telling Time, +2 Echoing Truth
Game 2: He was more aggressive this time, with Double Lingering Souls and an Honor of the Pure, but Pyroclasm, Snapcaster Pyroclasm was good game.
Round 3: vs Jund (Win 2-0)
Game 1: They didn't keep any discard, and triple remand kept Gofy off the table long enough for a lethal Scapeshift. They did get stuck on 3 lands, so it wasn't a great win.
Game 2: They started off with Thoughtseize, then IoK taking away my Search for Tomorrow and Tribe-Elder. However they only ever dropped a Scavenging Ooze which ate a bolt, so I had time to recover, and Telling Time set up Scapeshift and my 7th land.
Turn 2 he Thoughtseized my Scapeshift, and then Extirpated it. I had a Baloth in hand, which got him down to 6, but Bob with a Sword of Light and Shadow and a Batterskull made that angle of victory impossible.
All and all, it was a good night, especially since it had been so long since I've played. I think the SB needs some work, Spell Pierce was a bit underwhelming (Though I faced 0 blue decks), and Baloth alone isn't enough of an alt win condition. Going to try it out again next week.
Well, in decks with blue mana, Drake is actually castable which seems a fairly big plus, and can be brought in in more matches than S&T. I'd also rather have a Griselbrand than a 10/10 vanilla, but realistically both should win the game against S&T.
I've been wanting to fit in Sensei's Divining Top but I'm not really sure what to cut. I'm also not thrilled with the SB. Wanting to find a spot for Engineered Explosives if possible. Also thinking of trying Toxic Deluge over Engineered Plague. Thoughts?
Sorry to be a nub here, I input the new cards file as instructed, but I still don't have any Dragon's Maze cards. I followed Leh's steps three times, but still the same result. Any ideas?
As for Swan Song, if it his Planeswalkers, I'd be all over it, but Spell Pierce can hit a turn 2 Liliana, or a Turn 3 Karn, which is crucial as I find a resolved walker is very bad for Cryptic Shift. Maybe Beast Within is worth a slot as a catch all card.
Anyway, I went in with this list, fairly blind to what decks were being played.
2 Snapcaster Mage
3 Lightning Bolt
4 Peer Through Depths
4 Remand
2 Telling Time
3 Cryptic Command
2 Farseek
2 Pyroclasm
4 Search for Tomorrow
1 Firespout
4 Scapeshift
4 Stomping Ground
4 Steam Vents
2 Forest
3 Island
3 Mountain
2 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
2 Spellskite
3 Obstinate Baloth
3 Spell Pierce
2 Echoing Truth
2 Shadow of Doubt
2 Ancient Grudge
1 Combust
Round 1 vs Tron Eggs (Win 2-0)
I had never played this matchup before, but I knew that Open the Vaults and Faiths Reward were the biggest threats.
Game one, I suspended a Search for Tomorrow, and had Remand and Cryptic in Hand for his important spells. He cantripped a bunch, but Remand on his Faith's Reward left him with a graveyard full of artifacts. He didn't do any damage to himself, so I had to go for the 8 land kill. Went off on turn 7, still holding Cryptic Command.
SB - 3 Lightning Bolt, -2 Pyroclasm, -1 Firespout
+3 Spell Pierce, +2 Echoing Truth, +1 Ancient Grudge
Game two, we both keep 7, and he drops down a Leyline of Sanctity. I keep a hand with some land ramp, Grudge, and Peer Through Depths. I Grudged his Etherium Scupltor, and he just kind of petered out. He did put a second Leyline down, but I drew into my Scapeshift, and then Peered into Echoing Truth which was all she wrote.
Round 2 vs B/W Tokens (Win 2-0)
Game 1: He thoughtseized me and took away a Scpeshift, but never got any pressure out on me. Pyroclasm wiped his Lingering Souls, and Telling Time drew me into Scapeshift #2.
SB: -2 Telling Time, +2 Echoing Truth
Game 2: He was more aggressive this time, with Double Lingering Souls and an Honor of the Pure, but Pyroclasm, Snapcaster Pyroclasm was good game.
Round 3: vs Jund (Win 2-0)
Game 1: They didn't keep any discard, and triple remand kept Gofy off the table long enough for a lethal Scapeshift. They did get stuck on 3 lands, so it wasn't a great win.
SB - 2 Pyroclasm, -1 Firespout, -1 Cryptic Command + 2 Shadow of Doubt + 2 Obstinate Baloth
Game 2: They started off with Thoughtseize, then IoK taking away my Search for Tomorrow and Tribe-Elder. However they only ever dropped a Scavenging Ooze which ate a bolt, so I had time to recover, and Telling Time set up Scapeshift and my 7th land.
Round 4: vs B/W Deck Ruiner (Mainboard Extirpates, Surgical Extractions) (Loss 1-2)
Game 1: He stalled on one mana, and I comboed out on turn 4. Not much to say.
SB - None, as I saw no cards.
Game 2: I played Sakura-Tribe Elder and sacced it. He Archive Trapped me, and hit both my Valakuts.
SB - 3 Cryptic Command, -2 Pyroclasm, - 1 Firespout, - 2 Telling Time +2 Shadow of Doubt, +3 Obstinate Baloth, + 3 Spell Pierce
Turn 2 he Thoughtseized my Scapeshift, and then Extirpated it. I had a Baloth in hand, which got him down to 6, but Bob with a Sword of Light and Shadow and a Batterskull made that angle of victory impossible.
All and all, it was a good night, especially since it had been so long since I've played. I think the SB needs some work, Spell Pierce was a bit underwhelming (Though I faced 0 blue decks), and Baloth alone isn't enough of an alt win condition. Going to try it out again next week.
See you all next month.
Edit: Added deck code.
Looking forward to this, thanks Koopa.
4 Dark Confidant
4 Stoneforge Mystic
2 Scavenging Ooze
3 Knight of the Reliquary
4 Swords to Plowshares
2 Abrupt Decay
3 Thoughtseize
2 Inquisition of Kozilek
3 Lingering Souls
1 Vindicate
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Batterskull
1 Manriki-Gusari
1 Pithing Needle
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
2 Engineered Plague
3 Extirpate
1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
4 Hymn to Tourach
1 Life from the Loam
I've been wanting to fit in Sensei's Divining Top but I'm not really sure what to cut. I'm also not thrilled with the SB. Wanting to find a spot for Engineered Explosives if possible. Also thinking of trying Toxic Deluge over Engineered Plague. Thoughts?
Edit b07 gets there 2-1. Good games and good luck.
Deck ID: jkcjnjre
Looking forward to this.
Thanks in advance.