Dies to Removal

Yeah,I really like how it lines up against Twin and Abzan especially; I used to side out Delver against those decks, so now I am somewhat pre-sideboarded for them, which is very advantageous.

Been crushing with this, YMMV

[deck]
Creatures
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Young Pyromancer

Planeswalkers
2 Jace, Architect of Thought

Spells
2 Anticipate
1 Cryptic Command
1 Dispel
2 Electrolyze
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Logic Knot
4 Remand
2 Roast
4 Serum Visions
3 Spell Snare

Lands
1 Desolate Lighthouse
5 Island
1 Mountain
4 Polluted Delta
4 Scalding Tarn
3 Steam Vents
2 Sulfur Falls

SB (WIP)
1 Batterskull
1 Keranos, God of Storms
2 Blood Moon
2 Rending Volley
2 Roast
1 Dispel
2 Negate
1 Shatterstorm
1 Disdainful Stroke
2 Sower of Temptation
[/deck]

No.

Something like:

12 creatures
20 land

4 Abrupt Decay
1 Dark Blast
1 Dimir Charm
1 Doom Blade
1 Golgari Charm
1 Sultai Charm
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Thoughtseize
4 Mana Leak
4 Serum Visions
4 Treasure Cruise
2 Thoughtscour

The Snapcaster version is I my good if you're very experienced with Modern as the deck succeeds on fails on difficult evaluative scenarios - without a lot if exoerience you can't value your cards properly.

Funny, I was talking about this yesterday with DXI-Edge. I came up with Ooze plus Clique (20 land). Dark Blast and a small amount of discard are good too; I looked at Dimir Charm and Sultai Charm also.

Losing bolt is a big loss, and you're weaker to Burn also.

It's an idea worth exploring IMHO.

I think I fetches the Mountain three times over the weekend and it was definitely a losing play to not be able to fetch it once (which would've lost me the match). It might be more important than I realised.

It probably costs you 1-1.5% against the field. It's great to fetch for a mountain but most games don't come down to a race.

Zem, how would you rate the caliber of players you are playing against? Your W:L ratio is insane.

My core test group are PT players (I'm the least accomplished player in the group). Melbourne has the strongest mtg scene in the country; but obviously player skill varies greatly. I'd describe more than half of my matches over the weekend as "challenging".

I think I'm a high 60s to very low 70s winrate player, but I've often got the best deck at any given tournament over the last few years. My focus during the last thereto four months has been on improving my mechanical play to match my deck building and it's showing results!

What rwaspy said - you want to aggressively trade resources early so to preserve your life total; their cards lose value as games go long, whereas your cards gain in value - but you can oly make that happen if your life is high enough to convert time into resources.

I get the benefits of burst lightning, but I was wondering why you would prefer BL over forked bolt in the current meta?

Our metas are likely not the same. Play what is best in your own.

Better celebrate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Imixg3jrJS8

I've been reading this Thread for several months now, even before Khans. I really appreciate the work of Zem and the other guys here. Im playing Delver since march and the input from here has helped me much more than any other forum. Kudos.

So I was wondering why Zem is playing Burst Lightning over Forked Bolt.

Won a 1K at 8-1, yawn.

If you're expecting a lot of Burn play some Dragon Claws! My sideboard probably wont suit your meta.

I'm so baffled by it I really don't know what to say.

3-0 Zoo in the semi-final; split final with a SNS teammate.

Going to try and record modern league finals; will also do a write up if another event this weekend. After that off to worlds!

It's certainly not necessary. I've been experimenting with SB plans that involve siding out Delvers; inspired by Menendian from the vsl, threads works well in that strategy.

Like we've collectively discussed, sideboards should reflect your meta; I don't think mine is exemplary of anything.

Jund and UWR are the two most popular decks here. I'd say each is still 10% of our meta.

And yeah zero games dropped, zero fucks given.

Won a modern event today
2-0 vs Cruel Control
2-0 vs TarmoTwin
2-0 vs Melira Pod
2-0 vs Merfolk
2-0 vs Affinity
2-0 vs UWR Control

SB was:
1 Batterskull
2 Blood Moon
2 Combust
2 Dispel
1 Electrickery
3 Magma Spray
1 Negate
1 Shatterstorm
2 Threads of Disloyalty

Play nice kids

/ old man Zem

Grixis Charm would be gas too.

I mean "better removal suite" and Disfigure are just non-starter arguments mate.

Dark Blast, Doom Blade and Dimir Charm are gas though.

Disfigure, Bloodghast and Bloodsoaked Champions are not good reasons to be in black.

It's also not about writing out Alistair of which archetype has more positive attributes, because that assumes that they're equally weighted, which they're not; Lightning Bolt is the best spell in the format and Pyromancer might be the best creature; no card on black is close to the power lever of either. That's not to say that there isn't reason to consider black, but it's not for some crappy creatures.

Is Shatterstorm too slow? I'm strongly considering abandoning SB blood moon already so would be in the market for alternatives anyway.

I firmly believe Dig plus Snapcaster is just stronger; I'm of the opinion this will be like Pyromancer / Eidolon in standard last format.

Maybe but I think we will end up splitting tbh.

Won my quarterfinal. Top 4 is now 3 Delver (me and two friends on the same deck) and 1 Burn.

Batterskull went back in my SB for Darkblast.

Too expensive (but yes, sweet).

Engineered Explosives is good too.

good point. For some reason I only ever think of ee if I'm in 3+ colours.

It is much better there, to be fair.

Why so many Magma Spray?

What raspy said; it's also great vs Merfolk and Hatebears.

Engineered Explosives is good too.

My SB is currently

1 Batterskull
2 Blood Moon
1 Combust
2 Dispel
3 Dragon's Claw
1 Electrickery
3 Magma Spray
1 Negate
1 Shatterstorm

It's not very good :'(

Yeah; Electrickery is basically the only way to catch up against an active-Pyro; so might be worth it just for that purpose.

Yeah I was thinking it might be a good 1-of in the board for said matchups (in the electrickery spot).

And 5-1 in league (82%).