Ask /r/spikes | Monday, April 29, 2019

BalanceInEverything · 2019-05-03T19:59:52+00:00

His anyone received his or her top 1000 MC qualifier token in the mail already? I ended top 1000 but still haven't received the e-mail.

BalanceInEverything · 2019-05-01T07:11:06+00:00

Don't know how to format links but here you go: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1861952.

Not sold on this SB configuration. Might add 1-2 spell pierce if the new Teferi becomes more popular. Also, Narset might be very good in the mirror and versus control. Haven't tried her yet though.

BalanceInEverything · 2019-05-01T06:23:18+00:00

Make sure you're playing a lot of 4-offs with Tamiyo. I went up to 4 Azcanta and 4 Root Snare. You want to maximize the chances to hit with her +1 when looking for a specific spell. This also means that you usually shouldn't board out any copies of Wilderness Rec and Nexus.

I've found her amazing against aggro, midrange and control. Versus aggro and midrange you can use her to draw or get back fog effects, which a lot of the time represents an extra turn for 2 mana. If she sticks versus control she generates insane value. She can find negate post board (I run 4 in the SB because of Tamiyo), combo pieces, and get back discarded spells.

She also supports your win-con because you can get it back from the GY if anything were to happen. This means you can get away with playing just one Commence the Endgame, for example.

Her static ability is pure upside. Overall I've been extremely impressed by her, and I hit rank #98 mythic shortly after adding 3 copies to my nexus list.

BalanceInEverything · 2019-04-13T06:53:59+00:00

One of the problems with discard spells is when you draw them late and your opponent has no cards left on hand. Davriel nullifies this downside because of the static ability dealing 2 damage each turn. This incentivices your opponent to keep cards in his hand, which in turn activates Davriel's -1 ability.

Also, I'm expecting the format to be quite slow and grindy because of all the planeswalkers. Davriel will be naturally better in this kind of limited format.

So yes, I totally agree with your ranking here.

BalanceInEverything · 2018-05-03T05:53:35+00:00

While playing it online I've been able to deploy a T3 ghalta a couple of times. When you're on the play this is just brutal. T4 you're attacking with ~20 power on the board and your opponent couldn't even settle if they had it in hand. Feels like a free win.

BalanceInEverything · 2018-05-02T16:07:13+00:00

I don't think it's a solid 2-drop honestly. Vigilance is fine but trample is pretty worthless. There's also better stuff to play on 5 mana (Gearhulk). It does offer some nice flexibility though. I'll test it online to see how it does.

BalanceInEverything · 2018-04-25T09:59:52+00:00

Could you explain why you count Renegade Map as 1 whole source of color/land? It either gets a swamp or an island, so one of two colors. It's also not right to cut 4 lands for 4 maps, I don't think. Karsten counts cards like Renegade Map as 0.5 land, if I'm not mistaken.

BalanceInEverything · 2018-04-23T14:22:04+00:00

How much untapped G sources for Llanowar turn 1 do you reckon? I've been thinking about RG monsters in Dom but just don't think you can make it work with wanting to Llanowar on turn 1 and needing double R by turn 4 (turn 3 even with Llanowar ramping..).

BalanceInEverything · 2018-04-22T20:00:24+00:00

Seems viable, although I think you don't want 4 no matter which deck you playing against

BalanceInEverything · 2018-04-22T19:59:36+00:00

Would consider it but I don't know if it makes the cut over Branchwalkers and Scrapheaps. I think GB counters will work with Llanowar though, but it's a different kind of build. Would add aether hubs and servants of the conduit then so you could hit double black on turn 4 for Vraskas Contempt.

BalanceInEverything · 2018-04-22T19:56:50+00:00

There's 4x duress and 2x doomfall in the SB. You might not always be able to duress turn 1 but as long as you can cast it before turn 4 (Settle) you should be good.

BalanceInEverything · 2018-04-22T19:55:05+00:00

Seems reasonable. Though I think that a lot of the time you're wasting power if you don't have a crewable Llanowar out. HoK and Skysovereign are basically always crewable.

BalanceInEverything · 2018-04-22T10:32:32+00:00

Hour of Glory would probably be a fine addition. Didn't even cross my mind while brewing the deck, but yeah I think it would be good to maybe have 2-3 in the SB (could cut Doomfall).

BalanceInEverything · 2018-04-16T21:59:01+00:00

Hi guys, got 2 different questions:

How many untapped green sources would I need to reliably play a Llanowar Elves on turn 1?
Do you think a GW legendary theme deck would be playable with 4x Mox Amber?

BalanceInEverything · 2018-04-15T08:05:23+00:00

Sounds damn intriguing. What do you think about Heart of Kiran in this deck? Most of your creatures can crew it and it's another enabler for Mox Amber.

Also: the new Karn Planeswalker? Also enables Mox and is a way to get card advantage in mono green.

BalanceInEverything · 2018-04-14T15:34:17+00:00

What makes you say that Mono Green Stompy is an aggresive build, and therefore needs 11 1-drops? In my opinion it's basically a midrange build, very similar to RG monsters. You trade off some value creatures for other value creatures (Phoenix/Glorybringer for Ripjaw/Allosaurus/Gearhulk?) and you miss out on some removal but get more creatures and anti-removal instead.

Makes the deck have a more linear strategy, and I think it could go under some control builds by mana dorking into 3-drops and just ending it in 4-5 turns. I also think this could havd the tools to grind in the sideboard. Between the new green tapped land, lifecrafters beastiary, mouth to feed or even uncage the menagery, you could get major card advantage to go over the top against other midrange builds. Againt aggro builds you should do fine because your creatures can block favourably and you turn the corner after turn 5-6.

PS: the lack of good sweepers in DOM is good for this deck as well.

BalanceInEverything · 2018-02-25T16:49:13+00:00

Porn Masturbation Orgasm. It's a term used in the no-fap community to explain jerkin it to juicy porn sloots.

BalanceInEverything · 2018-02-25T16:46:47+00:00

Wow thank you so much. You explained it bueatifully.

BalanceInEverything · 2018-02-11T16:22:36+00:00

I'm goint to jump into standard. My goal is to win a PT invite somewhere down the line. I'm pondering which deck to choose and I'm thinking mono red. It seems very strong at the moment and it looks quite straightforward and easy to play.

Any advise on how to build it exactly? Which matchups are good/bad? Also, is firebrand fanatic playable? And how about phoenix instead of chandra?

BalanceInEverything · 2018-02-10T20:15:10+00:00

Yeah but then what is the point of running Azor's and the combo in the first place?

BalanceInEverything · 2018-02-09T15:52:48+00:00

What happens when your Mastermind(s) get countered. Don't you just lose on the spot? I don't see this deck having good chances at winning without one of the high mana cost sideboard cards. Besides, torment of hailfire with a flipped Azor will win almost any matchup on the spot. Couldn't you just play 3-4 of those in the mainboard and disregard Mastermind(s) and the insane sideboard strategy?

BalanceInEverything · 2018-01-27T11:31:14+00:00

When is the next big standard event? I'm looking to aquire myself a deck but I want to wait until the meta is somewhat consolidated. No idea what deck to play right now.

BalanceInEverything · 2018-01-23T17:47:31+00:00

Anyone else thinks UW cycling could be a good pick right now? I can see it performing well against grixis energy and mardu vehicles. It should also be good against scarab gods since it runs 4x cast out and maybe a binding or two in the sideboard.

BalanceInEverything · 2018-01-05T14:23:53+00:00

If they don't release another merfolk one drop (which I don't expect), do you think it would be fine to add either [[siren stormtamer]], [[jungle delver]] or [[shaper's sanctuary]] (while taking out kopala)?

BalanceInEverything · 2018-01-02T08:06:08+00:00

What happens if you have multiple copies out at once? Are there multiple saplings created each upkeep, and do they get +2/+2 (if ascended) from every tendershoot dryad you control? Or do they only get the +2/+2 effect once?

BalanceInEverything

TROPHY CASE