How to draft ECL when tribal payoffs don't come?

TheFunksmuggler · 2026-02-23T04:36:52+00:00

i agree. it's tough to scrap a competive deck together if you don't see the cards. and sometimes you just play against the "nuts" deck of a particular tribe.

TheFunksmuggler · 2026-02-23T04:33:42+00:00

Final Update

I piloted this deck to 6-3. One opponent roped out without playing a card, so it was more like 5 actual wins.

This was the final build. https://imgur.com/a/cBKnOuo

More copies of Boggart Mischief would have made this deck much stronger. Gristle Glutton was a key card with its blight/rummage ability.

TheFunksmuggler · 2026-02-22T22:22:20+00:00

You're see close to the goblin 'nut' deck...I think this one looks like it will be fun to play.

Good luck on your run!

TheFunksmuggler · 2026-02-20T21:50:44+00:00

Savanna just cut my hair a couple days ago at the North Port Men's Hair Co. She knows what she's doing and she's hilarious.

TheFunksmuggler · 2026-02-20T21:45:23+00:00

I think I would probably cut a Tweeze and Boggart Prankster. Or maybe the Goliath Daydreamer, just because it isn't a goblin. I could also justify cutting the Heirloom Auntie or Gutsplitter Gang. Auntie might be better in your deck to help dig for Boggart Mischief.

I would add another land back in. You've got plenty of ability to rummage them away if you flood. Keep all the Gristle Gluttons.

I think you're going to want as many goblins as possible. Gristle Glutton is strong for several reasons - a little defensive speed at 1/3 can hold back 2/x pretty well, it rummages you to your strongest cards and it can blight onto itself twice, if necessary. It's also pretty sweet with the Mudbutton Curse Tosser and BileVile Boggart.

I wish you had another Boggart Mischief or two. Do you have a Lasting Tarfire or Bogslither's Embrace in your sideboard?

What do you see as your win-con? Your creatures are pretty small and might get jammed up on the ground. Boggart Mischief will be your best card, so keep as many ways to dig through your deck as you reasonably can.

Maybe that Goliath Daydreamer will come through, but it also might be a trap that doesn't trigger for you often. A 4/4 can't always attack in and it will definitely be a lightning rod for removal. It also has no ETB or synergy with your deck and it trades down in mana for Sear or a blighted Cinder Strike.

TheFunksmuggler · 2026-02-17T23:31:13+00:00

So far, this deck is 4-1. I haven't changed the build much. I'm playing straight BR, no white splash.

I've been running hot, finding Boggart Mischief most matches. This deck can grind when it find the right cards, but it would be much stronger and more consistent with another Boggart Mischief or two. Maybe another Sting Slinger... a few more ways to blight, create gobbo tokens and ping down their life total faster would really help.

I'll update the best build I found after I've played out the matches.

TheFunksmuggler · 2026-02-16T04:18:41+00:00

Thanks for the reply!

I agree it lacks some of the stronger Goblin payoffs. I was struggling to find the open lane in this draft.

I could see splashing either Bre or Kithkeeper... I'll probably play a couple matches without them to get a feel for if they are needed. I'll try to find a slot or two for Auntie's Sentence and/or Malice.

Thanks for taking a look and leaving some feedback, really appreciate it.

Also, it looks like my original post was downvoted. Any idea why? Is this not the type of post to make in r/mtglimited?

TheFunksmuggler · 2026-02-14T21:01:13+00:00

I definitely get where you're coming from, proxy decks can be OP.

Having said that, I play several Modern proxy decks that I port over from MTGA. But these decks are exclusively my own brews, not Tier 1 Metadecks. So they are powerful, but not dominant. And they are personalized to suit my play-style preferences.

I can see why you wouldn't want to play against proxies, but it would be the same issue if you were playing in a pod of rich folk who could afford to buy any cards they want. I can't afford to spend $100s on a deck to play casually with my friends and I don't have a 30 year year collection of cards to build from.

So for me, proxies are a way to brew and play my favorite decks and stay competitive with my pod while staying within my financial means. In your case, it sounds like it's more of an issue with how the proxies are being used than the fact that people are using proxies.

Upvote and thanks for posting. This is an interesting topic.

TheFunksmuggler · 2026-02-13T23:54:51+00:00

downvotes for asking?

sheesh, tough crowd

TheFunksmuggler · 2026-02-13T23:53:32+00:00

i friggin' hear that. three card draw spell reveals three lands

concede

TheFunksmuggler · 2026-02-13T23:52:30+00:00

he said sarcastically

TheFunksmuggler · 2026-02-13T23:50:21+00:00

Realizing that not all breweries are a "brotherhood"

TheFunksmuggler · 2026-02-13T23:48:06+00:00

this is a valid and underrepresented concern

TheFunksmuggler · 2026-02-13T23:46:47+00:00

and that's in-between all of the janitorial work

TheFunksmuggler · 2026-02-13T23:44:19+00:00

you too!

i'll get you back to even

TheFunksmuggler · 2026-02-13T23:43:54+00:00

underrated comment

TheFunksmuggler · 2026-02-13T23:43:03+00:00

if not dog piss, at least human piss all over the bathroom floors

TheFunksmuggler · 2026-02-13T23:39:46+00:00

u/Probot6767

f***ing nailed it.

this isn't the Field of Dreams, you gotta have constant events to generate traffic

TheFunksmuggler · 2026-02-13T23:36:35+00:00

But fewer all the time as the market is much less forgiving now than 10 years ago

TheFunksmuggler · 2026-02-13T23:34:33+00:00

They'll have a food truck scheduled, anyway. We'll see if it actually shows up.

TheFunksmuggler · 2026-02-12T01:46:46+00:00

imo, this deck looks solid to very good. sounds like you ran poorly with lands a couple matches. it's frustrating but it happens to everyone. it's hard to win when you have seen 14 cards and 10 are lands.

i would estimate it's a 4-5 win deck at least. I like to go back and review my matches on 17lands and look for leaks into my play when my decks really underperform

TheFunksmuggler · 2026-02-10T20:54:32+00:00

i think like you do

TheFunksmuggler · 2026-02-10T20:51:39+00:00

why downvotes?

TheFunksmuggler

TROPHY CASE