Good stuff - Lots of top quality diverse content. I hope when we get Masques block online you will be ready to grind the queues, make the videos and train your followers!
I think you should really add the legacy stuff in here because without a failing extended format and classic has only a small group of followers, legacy is something i love draft and constructed of the old cards. the only complaint i had was very hard to hear you the volume of your voice was very low but great job as usual. oh and i was wondering what i have to do to join the clan??
Spells (28)
4 Preordain
4 Mana Leak
4 Doom Blade
4 Inquisition of Kozilek
4 Spreading Seas
2 Despise
1 Volition Reins
1 Deprive
1 Go for the Throat
3 Jace Beleren
1 Liliana Vess
SB (15)
2 Flashfreeze
2 Disfigure
2 Spell Pierce
3 Memoricide
2 Black Sun's Zenith
1 Go for the Throat
3 Vampire Nighthawk
Sphinx isn't a bad idea and actually my friend is using it in UW.
This deck absolutely wrecks Valakut and I'm not even sure the Flashfreezes are needed against it. I lowered my count down to 2 just to have for boros which will probably make a comeback.
Maybe we can chat more in game about your decklist because UB was what I played at SCG Indy and what I've been playing at FNMs for quite some time.
I really wish I could view your vids at work, stupid firewalls!
Funny you mention the Legacy vids, I have actually done some in the past and just submitted an article containing vids of a Daily event. Hopefully the article will be posted this week.
you should at least try white zenith before dismissing it. Your deck intends on ramping up anyways, white suns is an autowin late game (instant speed at end of opp turn, your turn attack), and early game can provide some key surprise blockers. Also works nicely with elesh norn. Very flexible and very strong card.
I like your draft videos. I actually wish there were a Legacy vid person here, so I actually like the switch up. Standard, on the other hand, is pretty much done ad nauseam.
Exclusion Ritual is useful against many things; Consecrated Sphinx, planeswalkers, Kuldotha Phoenix... it shuts them all down. And the best thing is that you play one Ritual and it gets rid of ALL copies of the card it exiles.
Karn is only useful in this deck against slow Control decks, because of his discard ability mainly.
I started building this deck and testing it some time before the GP and the screenshot from my older article is a proof of that. So this deck is not based on somebody else's deck but it is completely my own creation. It is of course good to know that pro players build similar decks. It shows me that I'm on the right track.
To be honest, I never tried White Sun's Zenith. It just doesn't fit into my strategy. I can see it being useful against UB Control but I just have other options against that deck in my sideboard.
Here is the hit or miss on planeswalkers..., and you hinted on this, 4 mana casting cost or less. All of the planeswalkers that have seen any sustained play have been 4 or less in their cc. New Jace is not going to make the curve. However I do like the synergy with the new pharaoh. With that said I feel the new Tezz would be the more realistic way to go with a black and blue mana base. However, in a grind deck, having renewable creature kill is a nice little feature. Great insight to that combination of cards.
Lastly, I am surprised to not hear any mention of Primordial Hydra. With Green Sun Zenith, I could see this card along with Skinshifter seeing play in decks that tap into the green mana bases. This card screams of Scoot Mob flavor with the ability to grow on turn 3.
This seems like a suuuuuper lifegain based version of the mono-white deck that Marijn Lybaert was playing at the GP ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzg8WiKqSdA ) Along those lines, no love for White Sun's Zenith?
I noticed that he's also playing exclusion ritual. I don't really see personally when you'd prefer that to Karn, but I've never played the deck. Any hints?!
As for Classic as a format, I still need to build up a collection to be able to game (here's hoping for an opened FoW in the next MED gold queue). Anyway, I have wasted a lot of tix trying to get good at limited formats and JUST got to the point where I am winning some...just some though (go me!).
Anyway, this deck reminds me of All-In-Red builds that were decent in extended unless your opponent had Path to Exile.
I wonder how you feel about modifying this deck slightly to something more Valakut-oreinted. Keep the Goyfs and your hate, but Magus/Blood Moon/Prismatic Omen seems ridiculous Valakut. I don't know if Primeval Titan is worth it, but I heard land tutors were broken. Since Moon effects are good in the format, should be a simple port...What do you think?
Again, I love your vids and would love to game sometime (I only have a Legacy Affinity deck, but I can pilot it pretty proficiently). My SN is apaulogy (a stretch, I know). cheers. kthxbai.
Yeah, but Ghost Quarter is miles ahead better than basics if you can't afford Wasteland. That was my point. Magus as a 4 of in a deck with no draw is no reason not to add vital mana disruption, particularly when two of the top decks (Shops and Dredge) don't play any basics. I agree it's bad synergy, though, and not ideal.
Edit: Word verification for posting/editing is getting old >_<
Whilst I agree to some degree... The deck does have many answers to the impact cards of the format with claims, grudges etc that it can easily neutuer the opponent game winning plan. As we saw in the replays a couple of 2/2 are all you need to beat for the win. The sample set of one match versus each deck is way to small to draw anything conclusive and I think George would admit that his luck with the mulligans and die were above average. Ever way it is great to see innovation in the format and it just goes to show that theory is not always the best analysis as many of us had written off this type of deck for the format.
My foils boil down to manabase:- Dual Lands and Fetch Lands and then card on the Vintage Restricted List since cards like Time Vault, Mana Vault, Mana Crypt show up in multiple decks.
I think you should check some other cards for Overextended (and Modern) - for Overextended I think it would be nice to have some of the IPA staples such as Chant and Deed, as those are not legal in Modern so they represent mostly overextended. Also I suggest watching cards like Vendilion Clique and Vesuva as they are good cards in both formats which I believe are going up (mostly due to Overextended I believe).
Finally it would be nice to get deck prices for these formats as well (I suggest 12-post as you can evaluate a version legal in both formats). I know neither is sanctioned but it really looks like one of them will be eventually (I favour Overextended) and I believe covering these formats a bit more would make the State of the Program articles better.
I'm pretty sure that's how it works (i.e. it doesn't).
Good stuff - Lots of top quality diverse content. I hope when we get Masques block online you will be ready to grind the queues, make the videos and train your followers!
I think you should really add the legacy stuff in here because without a failing extended format and classic has only a small group of followers, legacy is something i love draft and constructed of the old cards. the only complaint i had was very hard to hear you the volume of your voice was very low but great job as usual. oh and i was wondering what i have to do to join the clan??
^ Gideon Jura never saw sustained play?
That said, mill doesn't have close to the support it needs to be a deck so I agree with you it will be little more than a casual/edh card.
Also I'm not sure how Primordial Hydra works with GSZ? Would it not just enter the battlefield with 0 counters on it and die?
Dear Mr. Hick,
I've played tons of UB control at the local FNM shop and I plan on playing a ton more now that Cawblade was banned.
Here is the decklist I've been tinkering with for paper.
Lands (26)
4 Creeping Tar Pit
4 Darkslick Shores
4 Tectonic Edge
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Verdant Catacomb
4 Drowned Catacomb
4 Island
4 Swamp
Creatures (6)
3 Grave Titan
3 Wurmcoil Engine
Spells (28)
4 Preordain
4 Mana Leak
4 Doom Blade
4 Inquisition of Kozilek
4 Spreading Seas
2 Despise
1 Volition Reins
1 Deprive
1 Go for the Throat
3 Jace Beleren
1 Liliana Vess
SB (15)
2 Flashfreeze
2 Disfigure
2 Spell Pierce
3 Memoricide
2 Black Sun's Zenith
1 Go for the Throat
3 Vampire Nighthawk
Sphinx isn't a bad idea and actually my friend is using it in UW.
This deck absolutely wrecks Valakut and I'm not even sure the Flashfreezes are needed against it. I lowered my count down to 2 just to have for boros which will probably make a comeback.
Maybe we can chat more in game about your decklist because UB was what I played at SCG Indy and what I've been playing at FNMs for quite some time.
I really wish I could view your vids at work, stupid firewalls!
Funny you mention the Legacy vids, I have actually done some in the past and just submitted an article containing vids of a Daily event. Hopefully the article will be posted this week.
Try consecrated sphinx in your U/B deck, it is really good with Jace Beleren and of course, protects itself.
I cant hear your voice!
but that might be some errors on my part...
you should at least try white zenith before dismissing it. Your deck intends on ramping up anyways, white suns is an autowin late game (instant speed at end of opp turn, your turn attack), and early game can provide some key surprise blockers. Also works nicely with elesh norn. Very flexible and very strong card.
I like your draft videos. I actually wish there were a Legacy vid person here, so I actually like the switch up. Standard, on the other hand, is pretty much done ad nauseam.
My opinion, do with it what you like...
Exclusion Ritual is useful against many things; Consecrated Sphinx, planeswalkers, Kuldotha Phoenix... it shuts them all down. And the best thing is that you play one Ritual and it gets rid of ALL copies of the card it exiles.
Karn is only useful in this deck against slow Control decks, because of his discard ability mainly.
I started building this deck and testing it some time before the GP and the screenshot from my older article is a proof of that. So this deck is not based on somebody else's deck but it is completely my own creation. It is of course good to know that pro players build similar decks. It shows me that I'm on the right track.
To be honest, I never tried White Sun's Zenith. It just doesn't fit into my strategy. I can see it being useful against UB Control but I just have other options against that deck in my sideboard.
Thanks for the comment.
LE
Here is the hit or miss on planeswalkers..., and you hinted on this, 4 mana casting cost or less. All of the planeswalkers that have seen any sustained play have been 4 or less in their cc. New Jace is not going to make the curve. However I do like the synergy with the new pharaoh. With that said I feel the new Tezz would be the more realistic way to go with a black and blue mana base. However, in a grind deck, having renewable creature kill is a nice little feature. Great insight to that combination of cards.
Lastly, I am surprised to not hear any mention of Primordial Hydra. With Green Sun Zenith, I could see this card along with Skinshifter seeing play in decks that tap into the green mana bases. This card screams of Scoot Mob flavor with the ability to grow on turn 3.
As always, great article.
Thanks
about those or tectonic edge...although that seems too slow. Thanks
I realize Moon effects shut off Valakut...nvm
My favorite part during the drafting was when you described how you would side this card in against mana screwed opponents.
This seems like a suuuuuper lifegain based version of the mono-white deck that Marijn Lybaert was playing at the GP ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzg8WiKqSdA ) Along those lines, no love for White Sun's Zenith?
I noticed that he's also playing exclusion ritual. I don't really see personally when you'd prefer that to Karn, but I've never played the deck. Any hints?!
I love your vids whiffy. Keep it up.
As for Classic as a format, I still need to build up a collection to be able to game (here's hoping for an opened FoW in the next MED gold queue). Anyway, I have wasted a lot of tix trying to get good at limited formats and JUST got to the point where I am winning some...just some though (go me!).
Anyway, this deck reminds me of All-In-Red builds that were decent in extended unless your opponent had Path to Exile.
I wonder how you feel about modifying this deck slightly to something more Valakut-oreinted. Keep the Goyfs and your hate, but Magus/Blood Moon/Prismatic Omen seems ridiculous Valakut. I don't know if Primeval Titan is worth it, but I heard land tutors were broken. Since Moon effects are good in the format, should be a simple port...What do you think?
Again, I love your vids and would love to game sometime (I only have a Legacy Affinity deck, but I can pilot it pretty proficiently). My SN is apaulogy (a stretch, I know). cheers. kthxbai.
Yeah, but Ghost Quarter is miles ahead better than basics if you can't afford Wasteland. That was my point. Magus as a 4 of in a deck with no draw is no reason not to add vital mana disruption, particularly when two of the top decks (Shops and Dredge) don't play any basics. I agree it's bad synergy, though, and not ideal.
Edit: Word verification for posting/editing is getting old >_<
Had it not been you Hammer and all those sexy foils It wouldn't have been nearly as good footage:)
Had it not been you Hammer and all those sexy foils It wouldn't have been as good :)
Whilst I agree to some degree... The deck does have many answers to the impact cards of the format with claims, grudges etc that it can easily neutuer the opponent game winning plan. As we saw in the replays a couple of 2/2 are all you need to beat for the win. The sample set of one match versus each deck is way to small to draw anything conclusive and I think George would admit that his luck with the mulligans and die were above average. Ever way it is great to see innovation in the format and it just goes to show that theory is not always the best analysis as many of us had written off this type of deck for the format.
Hey Montolio where's the love for da Hammer ;-)
My foils boil down to manabase:- Dual Lands and Fetch Lands and then card on the Vintage Restricted List since cards like Time Vault, Mana Vault, Mana Crypt show up in multiple decks.
Hi Pete,
I think you should check some other cards for Overextended (and Modern) - for Overextended I think it would be nice to have some of the IPA staples such as Chant and Deed, as those are not legal in Modern so they represent mostly overextended. Also I suggest watching cards like Vendilion Clique and Vesuva as they are good cards in both formats which I believe are going up (mostly due to Overextended I believe).
Finally it would be nice to get deck prices for these formats as well (I suggest 12-post as you can evaluate a version legal in both formats). I know neither is sanctioned but it really looks like one of them will be eventually (I favour Overextended) and I believe covering these formats a bit more would make the State of the Program articles better.
Thanks for the nice articles!
Ivo.