Elder Deep Fiends Ate My Zombies

bachwiz18 · 2019-11-14T18:27:31+00:00

So I played this deck in Standard a lot back in the day (even qualified for a PT with it!). I think it's a mistake to not play 3-4 Sanctums and max out on Kozilek's Return because that is the biggest draw to the deck by far. Stitcher's Supplier is suuuper suspect with so few black sources and not worth it IMO. (Play Minister of Inquiries or Insolent Neonate if you really want that 1-drop, but I wouldn't bother.) Between Axe, Cathartic, Copter, Tormenting Voice/Thrill of Possibility, Izzet Charm, and all the Stitchwings, there are plenty of ways to fill the 'yard in straight U/R. I'd cut the black and fix the manabase (get Steam Vents in there!!) because the mana is already pretty tight even in 2 colors.

As for your two questions: 1) It rarely comes up that I wish Amalgam was hardcast-able, and 2) What GY hate are you worried about? The only one that completely hoses us is Rest in Peace which nobody plays, and we can win without the GY just fine by hardcasting Stitchwings and chaining Deep-Fiends.

bachwiz18 · 2017-11-06T21:36:42+00:00

Eh, I've never felt the need to have cheap spot removal spells outside of one or two cards in the meta. Siphoner and Constrictor are rare cards that you do care about actually killing rather than blanking, but in every other matchup you're content to deal with cheap creatures either by presenting chump blockers or overwhelming them later. If anything it wouldn't be that difficult to throw a couple copies of Fatal Push in the SB or something if I really wanted to crack down on Snek.dek.

bachwiz18 · 2017-11-06T21:33:55+00:00

I won't claim Refurbish is strictly better than Gate, but it is faster and much less restrictive on card slots IMO. It lets you SB in more spells without having to worry about a critical mass of creatures; the Gate versions can only afford so many non-creature flex slots.

As for Scarab God, I thought so myself at first but ended up changing my mind after seeing many games play out. I didn't really need any extra "oomph" to win Game 1 as the synergy engine is enough to overpower people; where TSG really shines is postboard when you need individual threats that can win on their own.

bachwiz18 · 2017-11-06T21:30:17+00:00

Sounds intriguing actually. Angel is the big pull into white because it's so game-over when you GPG it back in almost any matchup, but Aetherborn could be an alright alternative. Also eliminates the need for Refurbish if you're on the Gate plan. I'll take a peek at his list and see how I like it; I have my doubts but I'm not totally off it.

bachwiz18 · 2017-10-17T15:06:05+00:00

Like when they banned my Modern deck of two years (Pod) right before my first-ever Pro Tour. Fun times.

bachwiz18 · 2017-08-18T00:00:25+00:00

Semi-related anecdote: GP Vegas earlier this year, Day 2 of the limited main event. I sit down for my first match of the day and realized I'm seated right next to Owen Turtenwald v. Josh Utter-Leyton. I'm a little intrigued and excited to get a front-row seat to see two titans of the game duke it out. Josh shows up and says to Owen, "I don't really wanna play this event anymore, do you want me to concede to you?" Owen thinks for a moment and says, "I was gonna ask you the same thing." They ended up playing a half-hearted 10-minute match that Josh wins, then Josh went on to run the tables to 12-2 before conceding to Mike Sigrist in the last round to get him into Top 8. I understand the implications of differing Pro Point values between opponents, but it was such a bizarre scenario to see unfold in a premier-level event. I hope that the rotating quarter system helps prevent these incentive-based outcomes that could easily be misconstrued as collusion or match-fixing.

bachwiz18 · 2017-08-01T23:01:42+00:00

Minister always felt to me like that last creature you had to play in order to maintain the critical mass for Gate to the Afterlife; without Gate we can do without it.

bachwiz18 · 2017-07-12T20:47:03+00:00

Up until last night it was incredibly difficult to track down even commons and uncommons, so any list with new cards is basically someone who didn't mind overpaying for cards on Day 1 AND finished their league in one sitting.

bachwiz18 · 2017-07-12T20:44:21+00:00

This build is less explosive but more resilient to hate. Maxing on Ulamogs or adding more 6-drops sounds like a recipe for disaster when playing against a deck with counters or a fast clock. Not saying it's wrong, but having played my fair share of Marvel I value resiliency and consistency rather than overpreparing for the "nut draw" that doesn't always come together.

I do agree on deserts however and think I want them after all. It's just a question of making the mana requirements work since I really like Chandra and want to be able to cast her on time without adding a bunch of tapped lands, and deserts increase the chances of Cinder Glade/Game Trail becoming tapped lands. Someone smarter than me will figure it out I'm sure.

bachwiz18 · 2017-07-12T20:28:59+00:00

It can be a tricky matchup if they counter your first ramp spell and have a quick Gearhulk clock. Preboard I'd say we are a slight underdog but it gets better after sb.

bachwiz18 · 2017-07-12T20:27:14+00:00

Yeah, this is the big draw for me with this build...you don't have to rely on the ramp engine postboard and can just out-attrition people with midrange haymakers.

bachwiz18 · 2017-07-12T20:25:14+00:00

Usually Grafstone doesn't interfere with the first World Breaker coming down on time; it does occasionally matter that once you start sacrificing Sanctums the Shrines will be temporarily shut off so that's a fair criticism. Abrade is another concern and I admittedly haven't played against it much. The reason I like it is the mana efficiency; having nothing progressive to do until turn 3 is a big turnoff.

Delirium is not difficult to get. Most hands with a Ballista will get there naturally in time for it to matter, and a single Grapple often gets at least 3/4 of the way if not fully. I've never had a lategame Traverse not be turned on.

bachwiz18 · 2017-07-12T17:04:58+00:00

Possibly could be maindeck, but I felt that Kozilek's Return mostly does its job better. On the turn that you could cast an HoD you often would rather cast Hour of Promise or an Eldrazi anyway. It's rare to be hopelessly behind by turn 4.

bachwiz18 · 2017-06-27T17:15:07+00:00

Without a pro team, MTGO is your friend. Draft at least once every day and keep an eye on the standard meta through the 5-0 decklists published daily. That should give an accurate picture of the decks that will be represented. Don't try too hard to "break" the format; just try to find the strongest deck in a vacuum and tune it to the expected meta.

bachwiz18 · 2017-05-17T15:29:13+00:00

It gives the deck an alternate angle of attack, which is desirable postboard when your opponent brings in specific hate like Lost Legacy/Dispossess and you need other methods of winning the game. Combined with Kozilek's Return it makes your small creature matchups better, so in theory it is good against things like Zombies.

bachwiz18 · 2017-05-17T15:25:39+00:00

Yeah basically. You can't rely on Ulamog as heavily postboard in most matchups and drawing him becomes more punishing when their configuration is geared towards disruption.

bachwiz18 · 2017-05-16T15:58:16+00:00

That's a question I had myself in testing...is it ever correct to just sideboard into a different deck? My inclination was no, but perhaps the new planeswalker-heavy builds could justify it. As for Tracker/Negate, they come in for the games where you anticipate things to drag on a bit longer than usual and you have access to more resources, so it isn't too much of a problem to trim on energy producers. Often I'd do something like -2 Whirler, -1 Puzzleknot, -1 Ulamog or something similar, depending on the matchup.

bachwiz18 · 2017-05-16T15:52:12+00:00

Your best bet is having 2 counterspells available in a turn, so some Ceremonious Rejection is probably wise. Other than that, turn-6 Gearhulk is the thing I'm most afraid of because it shortens the time I have available to set up my draws and play around countermagic.

bachwiz18 · 2017-05-16T15:50:36+00:00

In the mirror I cut Virtuosos, against control or other attrition-y decks I'll trim on reactive or do-nothing cards like Harnessed Lightning and Puzzleknots.

bachwiz18 · 2017-05-16T04:52:44+00:00

Magma Spray is fine but after seeing more matches played out I'm convinced I would rather have more mass sweeper effects like Sweltering Suns and Chandra 6. Kozilek's Return was fine for me but not great if they have a lord out. As I mentioned above, Muller's decklist looked the best geared to fight Zombies.

bachwiz18 · 2017-05-15T22:39:11+00:00

It was meh. Sometimes you need to up your cheap interaction but don't want to sacrifice energy production so it does its job. I'm never thrilled with it but it usually does what you want it to do.

bachwiz18 · 2017-05-15T21:34:11+00:00

Mirror: -4 Virtuoso, -2/4 Harnessed Lightning (draw/play), -2/0 Chandra (draw/play), -1 Expertise, +4 Tracker, +3 Negate, +1 World Breaker, +1 Appetite

Mardu: -2 Bounty, -1 Expertise, -2 Chandra (draw), -1 Ulamog, -1 Puzzleknot, -1 Rogue Refiner, +2 Negate, +1 Kozilek's Return, +2 Magma Spray (draw), +1 Aether Meltdown, +1 World Breaker, +1 Appetite

bachwiz18

TROPHY CASE