I thought the Liger was an urban myth and doesn't actually exist???
Wizards knows that the next Modern pro tour will be dominated by Zoo, banning GSZ won't change that. they wouldn't dare ban Goyf because it's the format all star and people would just rage quit anyway. Something needs to go or this format will just dwindle and die like new extended, Knight maybe? Its the combination of KoR and Goyf that makes zoo so strong, one or the other and most decks can handle the threat but both is too much. I play a lot of Merfolk (or did preban with all the combo and post decks that were usually a straight 2-0) and I can deal with goyf with path and threads but its the knight that comes out late game that just eats my face.
My suggestion to the list at present would be to take off Jace & Visions and put on Knight of the Reliquary.
Unless we are talking about Pauper, Prey Upon is unplayable. Not only is it a blank when you have no board presence, but you can get blown out by removal in response to it. There is no reason to play cheap removal if you are going to use it after you cast your 4 or 6 drops, and you will rarely need removal in these instances.
I think Geist Honored Monk and Mayor of Avabruck are the two most likely cards to see widespread play that aren't being heavily talked about. Poor man's Cloudgoat Ranger and Bitterblossom might be good enough.
My problem with the Mayor in a Mentor deck is that he busts the Mentors card draw ability, which is the only reason the Mentor is there in the first place. My "first draft" Block Constructed deck puts Daybreak Ranger in that slot (along with some Clifftop Retreats in the manabase) to give the deck a bit of defense against spirits and other fliers. I'm not sure why you included Angel of Flight Alabaster since there are no other spirits in your deck. I honestly don't know what to think about Giest Honored Monk until I see her in play.
Also, what is your take on Ambush Viper as instant speed ground removal for G or GW decks?
Traveler's Amulet (such as Mycosynth Wellspring as well) doesn't prevent you for drawing a forest when you need a black mana source for sealing the deal with the Obliterator, which is what I would try to avoid.
And we just lost Prophetic Prism too.
Sphere of of the Suns is viable.
That's true - especially for Wurmcoil (life gain + deathtouch + I don't care if your titan will kill my wurm). In Obliterator's case, that would be very sweet but I don't know if the standard manabase will allow a green splash in what would need to be a nearly monoblack deck. We'll only have 4 Innistrad dual for that. Terramorphic + forest doesn't seem a good plan when you want to hit 4 black mana on turn 4.
That Ligers are real animals. They are a product of human-intervened crossbreeding. They have a Lion male mate with a female Tiger. The product is something that is ~40% bigger than a full grown male lion that can only run half the distance before getting worn out. They apparently can't survive in the wild and are bred for their skills in Magic.
Maybe this is a small discovery, but I am not a zoologist.
I have done quite a bit of post-ban testing and I can assure you that control is *viable*. Tier 1? Maybe not. But I have been pretty successful with a grixis cruel ultimatum deck that has the Burnwillow + Punishing Fire Engine (which got a lot better) and also a Ub Teachings deck that is actually resembling more of an aggro control deck thank anything, but I run Cryptics and Vendilion Cliques in both and nary a Goyf. Mana Leak is still a go to, but Rune Snag is perfectly acceptable, as well as Spell Snare and Spell Pierce (card is good in this format).
Merfolk can't beat Zoo. Merfolk is the only deck that runs Vial (beside the Death and Taxes deck). Merfolk is better in a field of combo, just like in legacy. Both decks lose to a resolved Wrath-effect.
The format is going to be fine after these bans. I still think that it is hyperbolic. I think Vision and Jace could come off at the very least, possibly more.
You know how they say "look to block constructed to predict the future of a rotating Standard". Well, maybe they don't say THAT verbatim, but you get the drift....
I think R/G Werewolves only need a couple more support cards in the next block sets to be a serious contender. Mayor of Avabruck transformed is ridiculous.
I really hope I get one of him in my limited pool.
Nice article and a good starting point for the block format.
And in the very same sentence, I say "...I want to first examine the possible aggro strategies in Innistrad Block". Then in the closing paragraph; "Next time, I'm going to be looking at some control strategies for Block Constructed..."
So you mentioned dissipate and think twice in the beginning and then never posted a control deck with them as the "answer" to the aggro decks you posted as potential adversaries.
Also, I just noticed this - I'm not sure why my spoiler text on the front page was cut off, as I definitely put a complete sentence in there when I submitted it. Sorry about that though!
Full Moon's Rise is probably pretty bad. I'd rather play creatures than it, and regenerating all your wolves isn't that necessary when the only mass removal spells are Sever the Bloodline (which exiles) and Divine Reckoning (which isn't that great when you just choose to save Howlpack Alpha or Terror of Kruin Pass). The trample isn't that relevant when the wolves just kill everything anyway; Kessig Wolf Run does much of the same thing without being a spell slot.
I considered Olivia Voldaren, but she's just too slow. I'd rather play Bloodline Keeper, flip it, and actually just threaten to kill them that or the following turn. Olivia can be good in more sideboarded games (because they are slower) so I'd probably put her in the sideboard, but I wouldn't maindeck her until I know more about the format.
For sideboards, I don't really know what the format is going to be, so I can't really put together a real sideboard. I'll give it a shot for next time, though.
And yes, Angel of Flight Alabaster should be Angelic Overseer. Sorry about that.
You don't even mention Olivia Voldaren for vampires and Full Moon's Rise for werevolves. Also, you could add sideboards. Angel of Flight Alabaster should be Angelic Overseer I guess.
I imagine the loss of Sea Gate Oracle, Caw, and Kor Skyfisher will start some new brewing as the meta won't have them to lean on.
I don't think average cost includes lands so you take less than 3 dmg per 2 turns. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I thought the Liger was an urban myth and doesn't actually exist???
Wizards knows that the next Modern pro tour will be dominated by Zoo, banning GSZ won't change that. they wouldn't dare ban Goyf because it's the format all star and people would just rage quit anyway. Something needs to go or this format will just dwindle and die like new extended, Knight maybe? Its the combination of KoR and Goyf that makes zoo so strong, one or the other and most decks can handle the threat but both is too much. I play a lot of Merfolk (or did preban with all the combo and post decks that were usually a straight 2-0) and I can deal with goyf with path and threads but its the knight that comes out late game that just eats my face.
My suggestion to the list at present would be to take off Jace & Visions and put on Knight of the Reliquary.
Great article as always. Amazing job!
Turns out that the missing deck was a 4 Color Control version.
Here are the updated graphs:
Just a little more shifted towards control.
The performance standings are quite different though, with 4CC going down from 1st place to 3rd place while BW Midrange confirms its awesome run.
Black presence is increased as Doom Blade and Gravedigger are tied for the 3rd most used card in the Top8.
And this is really all for this week. ;)
See ya! :)
What to keep an eye out on when you sit down to play your first game of Innistrad limited.
I see this line at the top of the article.
(Note - Since PureMTGO hasn't yet updated for Innistrad cards, please use a visual spoiler when browsing this page to reference cards)
Unless we are talking about Pauper, Prey Upon is unplayable. Not only is it a blank when you have no board presence, but you can get blown out by removal in response to it. There is no reason to play cheap removal if you are going to use it after you cast your 4 or 6 drops, and you will rarely need removal in these instances.
I think Geist Honored Monk and Mayor of Avabruck are the two most likely cards to see widespread play that aren't being heavily talked about. Poor man's Cloudgoat Ranger and Bitterblossom might be good enough.
My problem with the Mayor in a Mentor deck is that he busts the Mentors card draw ability, which is the only reason the Mentor is there in the first place. My "first draft" Block Constructed deck puts Daybreak Ranger in that slot (along with some Clifftop Retreats in the manabase) to give the deck a bit of defense against spirits and other fliers. I'm not sure why you included Angel of Flight Alabaster since there are no other spirits in your deck. I honestly don't know what to think about Giest Honored Monk until I see her in play.
Also, what is your take on Ambush Viper as instant speed ground removal for G or GW decks?
As soon as Innistrad is out.
Birthing pod.
Traveler's Amulet (such as Mycosynth Wellspring as well) doesn't prevent you for drawing a forest when you need a black mana source for sealing the deal with the Obliterator, which is what I would try to avoid.
And we just lost Prophetic Prism too.
Sphere of of the Suns is viable.
Good article.
Do they put block constructed queues and DE's up on mtgo as soon as Inn is out or will they wait until drak asc?
There's also Sphere of Suns and Traveler's Amulet.
That's true - especially for Wurmcoil (life gain + deathtouch + I don't care if your titan will kill my wurm). In Obliterator's case, that would be very sweet but I don't know if the standard manabase will allow a green splash in what would need to be a nearly monoblack deck. We'll only have 4 Innistrad dual for that. Terramorphic + forest doesn't seem a good plan when you want to hit 4 black mana on turn 4.
Such a tease!
That Ligers are real animals. They are a product of human-intervened crossbreeding. They have a Lion male mate with a female Tiger. The product is something that is ~40% bigger than a full grown male lion that can only run half the distance before getting worn out. They apparently can't survive in the wild and are bred for their skills in Magic.
Maybe this is a small discovery, but I am not a zoologist.
I have done quite a bit of post-ban testing and I can assure you that control is *viable*. Tier 1? Maybe not. But I have been pretty successful with a grixis cruel ultimatum deck that has the Burnwillow + Punishing Fire Engine (which got a lot better) and also a Ub Teachings deck that is actually resembling more of an aggro control deck thank anything, but I run Cryptics and Vendilion Cliques in both and nary a Goyf. Mana Leak is still a go to, but Rune Snag is perfectly acceptable, as well as Spell Snare and Spell Pierce (card is good in this format).
Merfolk can't beat Zoo. Merfolk is the only deck that runs Vial (beside the Death and Taxes deck). Merfolk is better in a field of combo, just like in legacy. Both decks lose to a resolved Wrath-effect.
The format is going to be fine after these bans. I still think that it is hyperbolic. I think Vision and Jace could come off at the very least, possibly more.
You know how they say "look to block constructed to predict the future of a rotating Standard". Well, maybe they don't say THAT verbatim, but you get the drift....
I think R/G Werewolves only need a couple more support cards in the next block sets to be a serious contender. Mayor of Avabruck transformed is ridiculous.
I really hope I get one of him in my limited pool.
Nice article and a good starting point for the block format.
And in the very same sentence, I say "...I want to first examine the possible aggro strategies in Innistrad Block". Then in the closing paragraph; "Next time, I'm going to be looking at some control strategies for Block Constructed..."
So you mentioned dissipate and think twice in the beginning and then never posted a control deck with them as the "answer" to the aggro decks you posted as potential adversaries.
Also, I just noticed this - I'm not sure why my spoiler text on the front page was cut off, as I definitely put a complete sentence in there when I submitted it. Sorry about that though!
You're reading my mind! I made a Splinterfright deck yesterday I really like; I'm going to share it in the next article.
Full Moon's Rise is probably pretty bad. I'd rather play creatures than it, and regenerating all your wolves isn't that necessary when the only mass removal spells are Sever the Bloodline (which exiles) and Divine Reckoning (which isn't that great when you just choose to save Howlpack Alpha or Terror of Kruin Pass). The trample isn't that relevant when the wolves just kill everything anyway; Kessig Wolf Run does much of the same thing without being a spell slot.
I considered Olivia Voldaren, but she's just too slow. I'd rather play Bloodline Keeper, flip it, and actually just threaten to kill them that or the following turn. Olivia can be good in more sideboarded games (because they are slower) so I'd probably put her in the sideboard, but I wouldn't maindeck her until I know more about the format.
For sideboards, I don't really know what the format is going to be, so I can't really put together a real sideboard. I'll give it a shot for next time, though.
And yes, Angel of Flight Alabaster should be Angelic Overseer. Sorry about that.
You don't even mention Olivia Voldaren for vampires and Full Moon's Rise for werevolves. Also, you could add sideboards. Angel of Flight Alabaster should be Angelic Overseer I guess.