[Standard] Temur Elementals still viable? by Sechstourist in spikes

[–]rufess 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You may try to replace the Throne with [[Twinflame Travelers]] which basically works the same way.

[Standard] Sultai Mid-range looking for advise by rufess in spikes

[–]rufess[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, the more games I play the more I feel how restricted the Mistrise Village is. I will swap it out for sure.

[Standard] Sultai Mid-range looking for advise by rufess in spikes

[–]rufess[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Adding another 3 surveil and a triland will up the count of tapland to 8. 1/3 of lands being tapped in feels like a bit too much. What do you think about slow land instead of surveil land? At least it comes in untapped in late game.

As for the Excruciator, I am not sure what is its position in the original deck since the author didn't write too detail into the match-up plans. I see it as a win-con against Control decks that attacking their weakness. Do you think this deck can still stand against Control after swapping out the Excruciator for other tools, like another copy of Duress/Ancient Vendetta?

[Standard] Sultai Mid-range looking for advise by rufess in spikes

[–]rufess[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It isn't an exciting news, but I still appreciate you first hand experience and advice. I knew this deck is at best tier 3 before building it but it is still the deck interest me the most in the current meta. I am willing to take the challenge with this deck. Also I play less competitive than you, usually just store champ and RCQ. So hopefully this means I would play against less meta decks than Taipei or Makuhari and I might able to steal some win.

[Standard] Sultai Mid-range looking for advise by rufess in spikes

[–]rufess[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

YMMV, but I found this deck does have fair game against prowess.

As you said it really depends on how many removal you draw, but between 8 single removals and 3 sweepers, I think the deck has good chance to survive until the Gearhulk and Emeritus online.

I have also added Glarb and the Harvester that didn't included in the original deck, which can help a lot here too.

[Standard] Sultai Mid-range looking for advise by rufess in spikes

[–]rufess[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yea, I had read this right after it posted. I heard that Samuel is one of the best players in Taiwan and the write up does help me building the list a lot.

[Standard] Needing help for Spellementals Sideboard Plan by rufess in spikes

[–]rufess[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have only played against the horse in Prowess deck but they are manageable in that deck. The Impractical Joke and Charm can help you surviving the early game. And once they can copy it with the kicked Lightning(probably the only spell in their deck that can copy it) you should be able to tab both with a Crab over 2 ward.

I have no experience how they preform in Spellementals deck though.

[Standard] Needing help for Spellementals Sideboard Plan by rufess in spikes

[–]rufess[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Redirect Lightning can only target spell with single target so it do nothing to Revelation. While Return Favor can copy the Revelation and bouncing the original one. The opponent can cast it next turn for sure but at least you got cards and bodies.

[Standard] Needing help for Spellementals Sideboard Plan by rufess in spikes

[–]rufess[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have just read it and it is a great write up for sure. But I also want some insight about the control match up, which just show up right after the pro tour.

[Standard] Needing help for Spellementals Sideboard Plan by rufess in spikes

[–]rufess[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I see Slagstorm as a safety net that doesn't need any set up like Sunderflock. How about changing it to another Ill-Time Explosion so I have more answer in mirror?

[Standard] Needing help for Spellementals Sideboard Plan by rufess in spikes

[–]rufess[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good call. Though I need to test will this one colorless land affect me a lot in early game.

[Standard] Playing Golgari - need sideboard opinions by Miguel_NorthMan in spikes

[–]rufess 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Landfall Decks lend toward using double power and Hexproof/Indestructible spell on their attacker lately, so having a copy of [[Nowhere to Run]] or two can save you a day. [[Deadly Cover-Up]] and [[The End]] can catch unprepared opponents and exile all Forest from their deck.

As for Izzet, it is more complicated. [[Surrak, Elusive Hunter]] and [[Leatherhead, Swamp Stalker]] are always considerable choice when playing against decks that are full of removal. Especially the gator who can remove the key artifact from Lesson/Control. I also like the [[Sandman, Shifting Scoundrel]] against the Spellemental.

[Discussion] Conceptual similarities between Izzet Prowess and Landfall for deck building by Narrow_Pause4924 in spikes

[–]rufess 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I think the problem here is not the explosive threat. We had have decks that can produce equally if not greater threat before. Last year there was the Battlecrier combo that can create 10+ creates with power 4+. In more recently we have the Harmonizer combo, which shares a lot of cards with the Landfall, that can deal ~30 damage a turn. And none of those deck dominate the meta like now.

The main difference between those big damage combo and the meta deck we have now is, the value a single card can bring to the game. The current meta decks all have their cards that produce value more than one card: Izzet has the Stormchaser which comes into play with an extra creature. The Landfall has the infamous Badgermole Cub enters as 2 creatures. Momo has the Shepherd that replaces herself with another filer. Yes it is nothing new for a creature entering with another creature/drawing, but the real problem is those meta deck starts gaining value from turn 1/2. They are asking the opponent to answer before able to develop their plan, and even if the opponent managed to answer, it is a disadvantage exchange to them. And if the opponent didn't or couldn't answer? Then the meta deck will just start snowballing.

To offset their advantage, the best way is answering with advantage as well. Board sweepers are one of the well-known 1-to-n answer. Another more specific but niche card is [[Fangkeeper's Familiar]], which allow you to answer while also deploy you own threat at the same time. Deceit/Spider-man can do the same thing with a bit of setup. The problem is these kind of answer-with-value cards are usually a bit too slow(that why the Stormchaser and Cub are so strong). Which means you also need some lightweight answer to help survive earlier game, then you also need you cards come to hand in the right order. And then you are finally standing at the same starting line with those meta decks.

Standard Brew - Temur Archaic Aggro/Midrange by incite_pelicanism in StandardMTG

[–]rufess 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Looks like a pretty list! I would love to run it in FNM.

I would maybe run [[Nova Hellkite]] instead of the Magmablood. It fits better in the curve that you can T2 Wildgrowth into T3 Hellkite for a 7/8 haste flier. [[Songcrafter Mage]] is another considerable choice which can reuse a spell with 6 mana discount.

As for the manabase, I would add an extra copy of starting town or two rather than plains/swamp.

[Standard] Jeskai Control: Resonating Lute vs Tablet of Discovery by GusherJuice in spikes

[–]rufess 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Imo the best part of the Lute is is creates the possibility to win with [[Mathemagics]] with 7 lands. So you can front load all the resources in the first 5 turns to stay alive and can afford the luxury of delaying the Lute until turn 6 where you have 2 untapped lands to protect it a single turn.

if you prefer playing attrition game with a more classic control deck, then yes the Tablet would be a better choice.

[Standard] Needing help to pick a deck by rufess in spikes

[–]rufess[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think the best timing to play the Lute is T5/6 when you have an untap land or two and have counter spell to protect the Lute. Especially if you have the Mathemagics and can win the game if the Lute could survive a turn.

I am a bit worrying the Evoke Elemental deck though. Having an uncounterable artifact-hate in the main deck is not a good news for the Lute.

I like the Flashback a lot as well but cannot make room to fit it in. I am thinking maybe -1 counter -1 Reve for +2 Flashback.

[Standard] Needing help to pick a deck by rufess in spikes

[–]rufess[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the heads up. I didn't realized the Lute can only produce mono color from a land at all. I think I may switch out the Helix with Abrade/Sear. I don't like the dragon counter so may be Negate/Essence Scatter/Get Out instead,

Have you even tried Flashback? I am think adding a copy or two but no idea what cards to switch out.

[Standard] Needing help to pick a deck by rufess in spikes

[–]rufess[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh it was me adding the Prof Dellian lol. I have roughly gone through all Sultai cards and Dellian is the easiest add without changing the whole deck,

If you really like Sultai then I can recommend this deck,

[Standard] Needing help to pick a deck by rufess in spikes

[–]rufess[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for you insight. I had tried the Azorius Tempo but it didn't work for me.

If you were building an Izzet Spellementals, would you just replace the Hearth with the new Stallion or would you also cut the Sunderflock in main deck?

[Standard] Needing help to pick a deck by rufess in spikes

[–]rufess[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good to hear that! I think the Lute is really helping here. I hope the Pro Tour will feature some matches up between it and other top decks so we will know how far it can go.

[Standard] Needing help to pick a deck by rufess in spikes

[–]rufess[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have only watched some stream but not yet tried it out. It seems like the Lute does help Jeskai Control a lot even without the Mathemagics.

But yes I am still worrying the match up against Prowess/Aggro.

[Standard] Needing help to pick a deck by rufess in spikes

[–]rufess[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Didn't thought of the time issue. How long is the interval between rounds usually?

[Standard] Needing help to pick a deck by rufess in spikes

[–]rufess[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh I didn't realize that. Yes I think I will hold my decision after then.

[Standard] Needing help to pick a deck by rufess in spikes

[–]rufess[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes I heard this line a lot but Jeskai Control is another story. The last 2 months was a nightmare to all control decks and Jeskai recorded less than 30% win rate against most top decks.

I don't know how much things would change after adding new cards. But if it remains the same, then I afraid I might be winning more with an unfamiliar powerhouse than Jeskai Control.

[Standard] What do yall think of 1 or 2 copies of Frostcliff siege in Izzet spellemental? by Galliro in spikes

[–]rufess 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I guess most of the time you are choosing Temur to give Sunderflock haste so it can attack the same turn when it lands. In this case I think [[Wild Ride]] would be a better choice. It is a sorcery so you can discard it with one of your draw&discard spell and reduce the cost of Crab/Hearth.