Search found 177 matches

by Valdarith
Tue Sep 08, 2015 5:02 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

[Primer] UR Delver

Spell Snare is actually even better now than it was a year ago. Snapcaster Mage, Terminate, and two mana blue countermagic is seeing much more play now, and Spell Snare is one of the best cards you can have against blue decks. It's also much needed against Amulet and Grishoalbrand on the draw. Also, despite Affinity being a great matchup, they can steal games with an explosive turn one followed by a turn two Cranial Plating, and having Spell Snare for that case has nipped that plan on multiple occassions.
by Valdarith
Tue Sep 01, 2015 1:59 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

[Primer] UR Delver

They are big enough to take note of their results.
by Valdarith
Mon Aug 31, 2015 2:21 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

[Primer] UR Delver

Try to find a second Vampiric Link to replace the Dragon's Claw. Also, you won't miss Spellskite vs Burn because so many of them are bringing in Revelry blind against you. I've actually only been using Spellskite vs Affinity, Boggles, and Amulet.

Anything less than two maindeck Spell Snare is wrong. It's such a solid card right now and is amazing in the matchups where it's good (Grixis,, Affinity, Goyf decks, Storm, Burn).

Why are you having doubts about Delver? I happen to think Control is the best Grixis deck having played all variants, but Delver is still a strong deck.
by Valdarith
Sun Aug 02, 2015 1:09 am
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

[Primer] UR Delver

Yeah, at least 3 Dispel in the 75 and quite possibly all 4 depending on the expected meta. It's pivotal in blue matchups and vs Burn.
by Valdarith
Fri Jul 31, 2015 4:51 am
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

[Primer] UR Delver

Tested this today at the LGS vs Grixis Twin.

[deck]
Creatures (10)
4 snapcaster mage
1 vendilion clique
2 tasigur, the golden fang
3 gurmag angler

Spells (29)
4 serum visions
4 thought scour
4 lightning bolt
1 dispel
2 spell snare
1 shadow of doubt
4 terminate
2 mana leak
2 remand
2 kolaghan's command
1 electrolyze
2 cryptic command

Lands (21)
4 polluted delta
4 scalding tarn
2 watery grave
2 steam vents
2 sulfur falls
2 creeping tar pit
3 island
1 swamp
1 mountain

Sideboard (15)
2 dispel
1 engineered explosives
2 nihil spellbomb
1 negate
1 flashfreeze
1 spellskite
1 izzet staticaster
2 blood moon
3 anger of the gods
1 keranos, god of storms
[/deck]

I don't know where GerryT gets the idea that Twin is favored in this matchup because I feel like it's VERY hard to lose as the Grixis Control player. I do think the matchup is slightly more difficult if the Twin player is playing three IoK like Gerry is, so I think it's a combination of that and him being better than his opponents that has jaded his opinion.

General thoughts on my decklist:

1) LOVE the singleton Shadow of Doubt. It's a lot like Splinter Twin in that once people know you're running it, they go to ridiculous lengths to play around it, so it's good at times when you don't even have it. And when you get someone with it, you GET EM.

2) Vendilion Clique felt really good here. Hand information is always nice to have and it gives the deck another evasive threat. You can also get it back with Kolaghan's Command, but it's obviously nowhere as good as getting back Snapcaster Mage.

3) Two Cryptic Command felt like plenty. In fact I'd say any more than that vs Twin is a liability, but it's probably really nice to have three vs other fair nonblue decks.

4) I didn't test the sideboard, but I'm not sure of a couple of choices. Should I be running Leyline of the Void over Nihil Spellbomb? Leyline is nowhere near as good when you don't draw it, but it probably makes the mirror unlosable if it's in your opener. Spellbomb seems better vs unfair graveyard-based decks since you can draw into it though. Also, Fulminator Mage or Blood Moon? Obviously looping Fulminator with Kolaghan's Command is nutter butters, but, y'know, Blood Moon...

5) Should I be running three Kolaghan's Command or is that too greedy? If I ran a third I'd take out Electrolyze. I feel like the mirror in game one could come down to who resolves more Kolaghan's Command.

6) Similarly, it feels like Remand is a real mirror-breaker. Remanding a Tasigur is just the best thing ever, as is Remanding your own spell in response to Cryptic Command.
by Valdarith
Wed Jun 10, 2015 3:36 am
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

[Primer] UR Delver

You really can't. I got killed on turn two and turn three today consecutively through countermagic. The deck deserves a ban.
by Valdarith
Wed Jun 10, 2015 12:12 am
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

[Primer] UR Delver

Pretty much everyone agrees that Tron is a poor matchup for Delver.

Your build seems fine. I'm also going back down to three Pyromancer.

Vandalblast serves double duty against Affinity and Amulet. It's key against the latter since it's easy for them to get under counters on turn one or turn two when we're on the draw.
by Valdarith
Tue Jun 09, 2015 10:05 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

[Primer] UR Delver

I've been playing the deck on and off for the past couple of months, but it appears the meta has begun to shift toward strategies that Delver has difficulty with. Jund, Tron, and Amulet decks are all more prevalent now, and people are also experimenting with a more midrange Grixis list eschewing Delver that lines up particularly well against Delver of Secrets and Young Pyromancer. I believe this deck is now being pushed out as a result. If anyone intends to play this deck within the next month, I suggest wholesale changes that move the deck away from aggression and toward more goodstuff.
by Valdarith
Mon May 25, 2015 8:20 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

[Primer] UR Delver

Play four. Trust me.
by Valdarith
Fri May 22, 2015 5:41 am
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

[Primer] UR Delver

I've been doing more tuning of my list and have arrived at something I like after testing. I've been running this on MODO for the past couple of days and will be giving it a go at FNM tomorrow.

[deck]
Creatures (15)
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Young Pyromancer
3 Snapcaster Mage
2 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
2 Gurmag Angler

Spells (27)
4 Serum Visions
4 Thought Scour
3 Gitaxian Probe
3 Spell Snare
4 Lightning Bolt
1 Burst Lightning
2 Mana Leak
2 Deprive
2 Terminate
1 Kolaghan's Command
1 Murderous Cut

Lands (18)
4 Polluted Delta
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Steam Vents
2 Watery Grave
1 Sulfur Falls
1 Darkslick Shores
2 Island
1 Mountain
1 Swamp

Sideboard (15)
1 Engineered Explosives
2 Dispel
1 Spell Pierce
2 Rending Volley
1 Vandalblast
1 Negate
1 Flashfreeze
1 Rakdos Charm
1 Spellskite
3 Dragon's Claw
1 Izzet Staticaster
[/deck]

I really like this list. I don't miss Electrolyze too much. Lingering Souls isn't a big problem because I just flood the board with 1/1s of my own. Having access to all four Young Pyromancer definitely makes up for the absence of Electrolyze, so people that are going down to three Young Peezy should probably play 1-2 Electrolyze to compensate for this. That said, I've tried playing less than four and immediately went back to three. He's a lot like Delver in that he gives some free wins, except he's a bit more grindy. I also went up to three Spell Snare in the maindeck. It's solid against the field right now with the only real misses being against Amulet, Tron, and Infect (only hits Agent and Apostle's Blessing), and we could use all the help we can get against Burn where this card really shines. I would never go as crazy as Zem and play four, but I think three is right on the edge.

In the board, I swapped out Counterflux for Dispel. This makes the Burn matchup a bit better and gives me some cheap interaction against combo and blue matchups. I've found the one mana from Dispel to be much more impactful than the uncounterable on Counterflux.
by Valdarith
Sun May 10, 2015 2:11 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

[Primer] UR Delver

Your experiences align with mine pretty well. I've found myself continuing to go down on counters in the main. Spell Snare and Deprive are great but Mana Leak is the last card I want to topdeck after turn four. I may just cut Leak altogether and play a third Deprive. That leaves room for a third Spell Snare or a more proactive spell.

I've been running two Electrolyze and one Kolaghan's Command. My matchups so far haven't been good for Electrolyze and I've also noticed the 3 cmc being an issue. At least Command gets me back a Snapcaster or Tasigur. I'm actually considering Burst Lightning or Pillar of Flame instead.

I have yet to play Blood Moon and I feel advantaged in doing so because most other Delver players do, so when I go to postboard games my opponents play around the Blood Moon I don't even have.

I do side out Probe at times. Burn, the mirror, and any matchup where I board into a heavier counter suite will see me bring them out. I'm actually running only three in favor of running a higher impact spell.

Some people are cutting Young Peezy and I find this completely misguided. I've won games I would have easily lost by being able to go wide with Elemental tokens He is necessary to keep the deck aggressive and makes non-Delver hands so much better. I'm never sad to draw one. I have been trying 3 instead of 4 lately and I'm not sure which is correct. I think you want a 3/4 split of him and Snapcaster, but it's unclear to me which number belongs to which card.
by Valdarith
Fri Apr 24, 2015 10:40 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

I thought so too. If I flip all three on turn three I can't lose, and if I flip the first on turn two I feel like I'm still in a good situation against many decks. It didn't work out, but I don't think that means the keep was wrong.

I would never keep that hand on the draw though.
by Valdarith
Fri Apr 24, 2015 9:20 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

10/10, would flip again during the upkeep.
FWIW I had TERRIBLE luck flipping my Delvers today. I was probably around 25% on all my reveals.

Also, would you keep this hand on the play against an unknown opponent?

4 lands, 3 Delver of Secrets.

I decided to keep, drew two more lands, and never flipped my Delvers over five turns against mono green beats. Thankfully I still won that match.
by Valdarith
Fri Apr 24, 2015 7:19 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

Good job, Val! :thumbsup:
:hifive:
by Valdarith
Fri Apr 24, 2015 6:52 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

Either the second Gurmag Angler or the second Murderous Cut. I think 5 delve spells is about the max you can have, but if you want to test six I think Spell Pierce would be the best cut.
by Valdarith
Fri Apr 24, 2015 6:43 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

Aaaaaand I just 4-0d the daily.

2-0 vs Burn (!!!)
2-1 vs Mono Green Stompy (!!!)
2-1 vs Twin
2-1 vs Twin

Being able to win two of my worst matchups was great. Green Stompy was a very close game with me able to outrace two Dungrove Elders at 5/5 thanks to Gurmag Angler and Young Pyromancer + tokens.

Speaking of the zombie fish, he was worth his weight in gold today. The extra point of power matters A LOT more than I initially thought. I think the 2/2 split of him and Tasigur is correct.

I got to use Tasigur's ability once, but hit a Delver on the mill late in the game for daggers. I was ahead anyway though. The ability is still nice, and I like him being one mana cheaper as it makes casting him early more likely.

Kolaghan's Command was pretty nifty. I got to fire off the discard + shock your Pestermite mode vs Twin and I loved it. No other modes used yet.

4 Dragon's Claws vs burn was amazing. Drew one in my opener and topdecked the second on turn three. My opponent fought against it valiantly since he had me low early but he simply could not power through them. Gurmag Angler was an all-star in the matchup as well.

Basically, delve is overpowered and this deck is a lot better than it was back in the pre-Khans days. It has a ton of play to it and I love it.
by Valdarith
Fri Apr 24, 2015 2:27 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

[deck]
Creatures (14)
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Young Pyromancer
3 Snapcaster Mage
1 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
2 Gurmag Angler

Spells (28)
4 Serum Visions
4 Thought Scour
3 Gitaxian Probe
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Spell Snare
1 Spell Pierce
1 Deprive
3 Mana Leak
1 Terminate
2 Electrolyze
1 Kolaghan's Command
2 Murderous Cut

Lands (18)
4 Polluted Delta
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Steam Vents
2 Watery Grave
1 Sulfur Falls
3 Island
1 Mountain
1 Swamp

Sideboard (15)
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Vandalblast
2 Dispel
1 Spell Pierce
2 Rending Volley
1 Flashfreeze
1 Negate
1 Rakdos Charm
4 Dragon's Claw
1 Izzet Staticaster
[/deck]

Running this in today's daily. In paper I run 2x Tasigur, 2x Angler, and 1x Cut, plus a Counterflux in the board. I swapped the Counterflux for the fourth Dragon's Claw due to the popularity of burn online and how hilariously bad this deck is against it. Also note that there are 0 Remand in this deck. I'm interested to see how the deck runs without it.
by Valdarith
Mon Apr 13, 2015 12:18 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

The deck is slightly better than it was when it was UR pre-Cruise printing, which is to say it's firmly between tier 1 and 1.5.
by Valdarith
Fri Apr 10, 2015 12:35 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

Two reasons:

1) I'm running 2 Tasigur and 2 Angler, and 5 feels like the sweet spot for delve spells.

2) Terminate is a bit more friendly with Snapcaster Mage and can be more reliably cast on turn two.

As for Batterskull/Keranos, I considered the latter but I'm not certain it will be necessary since we're running a more powerful deck thanks to the black splash. UR Delver typically wanted one of these vs control but I feel like Tasigur and Angler may be good enough.

One thing I do want to try in my Snapcaster deck is Kologhan's Command.
by Valdarith
Thu Apr 09, 2015 9:18 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

[deck]
Creatures (15)
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Young Pyromancer
3 Snapcaster Mage
2 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
2 Gurmag Angler

Spells (27)
4 Serum Visions
4 Thought Scour
3 Gitaxian Probe
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Spell Snare
3 Remand
3 Mana Leak
2 Terminate
1 Electrolyze
1 Murderous Cut

Lands (18)
4 Polluted Delta
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Steam Vents
1 Watery Grave
1 Darkslick Shores
1 Sulfur Falls
3 Island
1 Mountain
1 Swamp

Sideboard (15)
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Darkblast
1 Vandalblast
1 Dispel
1 Spell Pierce
2 Rending Volley
1 Flashfreeze
1 Rakdos Charm
3 Dragon's Claw
1 Counterflux
1 Negate
1 Izzet Staticaster
[/deck]

This is where I'm going to begin.
by Valdarith
Thu Apr 09, 2015 2:49 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

Grixis Delver with 3x Tasigur and 3x YP seems to have established itself as the preferred Delver version. The deck is the fifth played archetype on MTGO right after Burn, and it's putting up decent results.

For my own part I'm gathering the last few pieces for the deck, and would welcome any discussions on it.
I personally feel like three Tasigur is one too many.

1) His activated ability will usually return low-impact spells. Sure, it is card advantage, but it's rather expensive.
2) He presents diminishing returns due to being legendary.
3) 4/5 can't attack through Siege Rhino.

I would prefer a 2/2 split on Tasigur and Gurmag Angler (yes, I understand it's easier to cast Tasigur on turn 2 than Angler). Might brew something up and post later as I've been interested in playing with those two cards.
by Valdarith
Thu Apr 09, 2015 2:43 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

I played Grixis Delver a bit, and absolutely hated Thought Scour'ing my shocklands. This is definitely exacerbated with a three colour manabase.
I don't understand.
by Valdarith
Tue Jan 20, 2015 1:39 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

No place for Trespass

The better question is if Tasigur finds a place in Modern
4/5 on turn two that isn't Goyf seems legit.
by Valdarith
Fri Nov 28, 2014 12:12 am
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

I think the idea is sound. It's something I'd be willing to try out with some small adjustments. I think Gut Shot is good but not 4-of good.
by Valdarith
Thu Nov 27, 2014 2:57 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

[deck]
4 monastery swiftspear
4 delver of secrets
4 young pyromancer
1 snapcaster mage

4 lightning bolt
2 forked bolt
4 serum visions
4 gitaxian probe
3 vapor snag
2 spell pierce
2 spell snare
4 remand
4 treasure cruise

4 scalding tarn
4 flooded strand
2 polluted delta
4 steam vents
3 island
1 mountain
[/deck]

If I were going the aggressive route I'd run something like this.
by Valdarith
Thu Nov 27, 2014 2:50 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

When you have Lava Spikes in the main of your UR Delver deck and Goblin Guides that nonbo with your Mana Leaks you end up just playing a bad Burn deck.
by Valdarith
Thu Nov 27, 2014 2:40 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

I think you'd be better off playing Burn.
by Valdarith
Thu Nov 20, 2014 5:02 am
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

I guess the 12 creatures are Goyf, Snappy, and Delver?

Needs Raven's Crime.
by Valdarith
Wed Nov 19, 2014 11:08 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

In an open meta, play what you're comfortable playing.
by Valdarith
Mon Nov 17, 2014 10:28 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

I'm differnet from you Plat... I have 4 of every fetchland, but only 1 tarn...which is why I'm curious how much replacing them with flooded strands or mesa/foothills etc would really hurt me
If you just want to get some practice in with the deck at FNM or even IQ-level events, go for it. I would not play in any event higher than that without Tarns though.
by Valdarith
Mon Nov 17, 2014 9:40 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

You absolutely need to be running at least 8 fetches.
by Valdarith
Mon Nov 17, 2014 5:56 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

It's not ABSOLUTELY necessary, but fetching basic Mountain is a thing I do often in matchups where my life total is a big factor. Not being able to do that will lose you a nonzero number of games, but the percentage is pretty small.
by Valdarith
Mon Nov 17, 2014 4:20 am
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

You keep some number of Remand in to counter Treasure Cruise.
by Valdarith
Sun Nov 16, 2014 4:31 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

Zem really values instant speed spells, perhaps to a fault. He can just bring Electrickery out from the board to compensate.
by Valdarith
Fri Nov 14, 2014 7:23 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

He needs 18 land if he's running three Electrolyze. I also disagree with 0 Remand. It's one of the best cards in the deck in a meta full of Treasure Cruise decks.
by Valdarith
Wed Nov 12, 2014 5:43 am
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

Changed my deck around a bit. I've only played a few matches since KTK became legal, and Modern is pretty much dead at the LGS I've been going to, but I'm about to start going to the LGS closer to me. They have a serious Modern following so I should fit right in. I've tuned my deck to take on an open meta, but I have a feeling Delver, Twin, and Tron are going to be popular based on the limited information I have available.

[deck]
Creatures (12)
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Young Pyromancer

Spells (30)
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Forked Bolt
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Serum Visions
2 Spell Pierce
2 Spell Snare
2 Vapor Snag
3 Mana Leak
4 Remand
3 Dig Through Time

Lands (18)
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Misty Rainforest
2 Flooded Strand
4 Steam Vents
1 Sulfur Falls
4 Island
1 Mountain

Sideboard (15)
1 Flame Slash
1 Electrickery
2 Magma Spray
2 Dispel
1 Shattering Blow
2 Combust
1 Negate
1 Electrolyze
3 Molten Rain
1 Shatterstorm
[/deck]
by Valdarith
Mon Nov 10, 2014 4:00 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

It's certainly not a favorable matchup and I think that's what he was trying to get across. "Counter the Coronet" is the default strategy, yes, but beyond counterspells the deck is difficult to interact with and it's those types of decks that Delver struggles with.
by Valdarith
Sun Nov 09, 2014 3:31 pm
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

Didn't even drop a game...
by Valdarith
Sat Nov 08, 2014 3:56 am
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

Darkblast, Terminate, Dimir Charm, and Rakdos Charm? Yes please.
by Valdarith
Sat Nov 08, 2014 3:54 am
Forum: Aggro
Topic: [Primer] UR Delver
Replies: 947
Views: 230720

Thank God Zem posted so I didn't have to.

Grixis Delver is a legit consideration. UB is not.

Return to “[Primer] UR Delver”