Dies to Removal

BlakLanner

The two Esper opponents I had were quite beatable. I thoroughly dismantled my first in a fake feature match and the second nearly fell to me even on multiple mulligans.

BlakLanner

I did not play against a single red aggro deck today at the Open. 3 Abzan, 2 Jeskai Tokens, 2 Esper, 1 Sultai Reanimator and 1 Temur Aggro.

BlakLanner

Based on card availability (stupid USPS) and a slight epiphany I had, I have updated the previously posted list. I think this is what I will sleeve up tomorrow.

BlakLanner

Translation: I am looking for solutions to problems that don't exist. Sideboard edited.

BlakLanner

Purge is something I am trying as an alternative to Glare that also hits annoying things like Rakshasa Deathdealer. I lose the ability to hit Elspeth and Sorin, but gain instant speed. The cards I would need for RG or Esper are on loan. The real trick is trying to figure out how much Abzan Aggro I w...

BlakLanner

Two options for Cleveland: Creatures 1 Dragonlord Ojutai 3 Goblin Rabblemaster 4 Mantis Rider 3 Seeker of the Way 3 Soulfire Grand Master 4 Thunderbreak Regent Spells 1 Dig Through Time 2 Draconic Roar 2 Lightning Strike 4 Stoke the Flames 2 Treasure Cruise 3 Valorous Stance 4 Wild Slash Lands 2 Bat...

BlakLanner

Not keen on Thunderbreak? How does this fare against the other decks?

BlakLanner

If not for the confidence, I would suggest Esper Dragons to fight a green meta. The deck seems almost tailor made to fight it.

BlakLanner

This is what I will likely play at Cleveland: Creatures 1 Dragonlord Ojutai 4 Goblin Rabblemaster 4 Mantis Rider 4 Soulfire Grand Master 4 Thunderbreak Regent Spells 2 Anticipate 2 Draconic Roar 2 Lightning Strike 4 Stoke the Flames 2 Treasure Cruise 3 Valorous Stance 4 Wild Slash Lands 2 Battlefiel...

BlakLanner

BlakLanner that was an impressive post. Depression/low self worth, not doing well at mtg, and even a cardboard crack reference. What a true dtr post.

Don't give me all the credit, LD posted the comic.

BlakLanner

You may wish to look into medical marijuana, iirc New York has laws regarding that, although I dunno the specifics, if you are adverse to smoking it, Vaporizers/Edibles both are options (and are much more effective, although they take a bit longer to feel the effects), Brother had a slipped disk (i...

BlakLanner

Jesus! Do you lift? Not trying to fuck with you, it helps stabilize my mood far better than tilt-inducing Magic games. I joined a gym about two months ago. While my physical strength has gone up, it has not helped my mood at all. On top of that, it actually hurts to go now since I have what I think...

BlakLanner

My failures over the last few months have shattered what little sense of self worth I had. Dude. Really? REALLY? Yes, really. It was the only positive thing left in my life. I have only worked 12 months in the last 36. I get laid off so often that I don't bother keeping anything personal at my work...

BlakLanner

We are in the same boat, LD. Unless I day 2 the Cleveland Open and therefore get my invite to the Invitational, that will be my last tournament for a long while. My failures over the last few months have shattered what little sense of self worth I had. I will likely offload a lot of my stuff there a...

BlakLanner

Must be nice. In my bid for my third straight win, my deck said no yet again. I can never seem to draw a reasonable number of lands. It was either 2 or 9 all day.

BlakLanner

They are essential right now.

To expand on this: Lavaman is one of our best tools to help us fight Infect and Affinity, two of the more popular decks in the format. It gives us a chance to control their board and hold up damage without using cards that need to eventually go to their face.

BlakLanner

There is no way that I would ever cut Anger. This is in addition to that.

BlakLanner

How so? It stops their tokens, Berzerker, and Denizen unless they have Command. I only need it to slow him down, not brick wall him completely.

BlakLanner

We can go back and forth about this until the day I finally die but this is not the place. On a more productive note, I think I am going to cut the Brimaz for a second Grand Master and fourth Seeker. This will let me remove the skew towards white in my color base. For the sideboard, I will cut the S...

BlakLanner

I can't tolerate emotional decisions in others or myself.

I used to be like you. Then things fell apart. You would start to get emotional too if everything you did ended up in failure. It tends to make one more desperate and willing to take crazy risks. Not just referring to Magic, btw.

BlakLanner

23 lands is not variance. You need 25. I was repeatedly flooding horribly at 24 as it was. Even on 23 I only stalled out twice when I didn't mull to 5. I flooded out about as often as I stalled. At FNM the night before I never stalled but flooded in 4 out of 9 games. With 6 scries and 3 Anticipates...

BlakLanner

How the fuck do you beat down the Variance Demon without cheating? I have been having so many problems with it in the last few tournaments. It seems like I only see either 1-2 lands or 8-10 and can't draw a 20-outer with three attempts. Standard States Report (29th) here . Modern States Report (33rd...

BlakLanner

Tournament Report - SCG States NY - Standard (29th) Creatures 2 Brimaz, King of Oreskos 1 Dragonlord Ojutai 4 Mantis Rider 3 Seeker of the Way 1 Soulfire Grand Master 1 Stormbreath Dragon 4 Thunderbreak Regent Spells 3 Anticipate 1 Dig Through Time 2 Draconic Roar 2 Lightning Strike 4 Stoke the Flam...

BlakLanner

Tournament Report - SCG States NY - Standard (33rd) Creatures 4 Eidolon of the Great Revel 4 Goblin Guide 2 Grim Lavamancer 4 Monastery Swiftspear Spells 3 Atarka's Command 4 Boros Charm 4 Lava Spike 4 Lightning Bolt 4 Rift Bolt 4 Searing Blaze 1 Shard Volley 3 Skullcrack Lands 4 Arid Mesa 4 Mountai...

BlakLanner

I would expect Abzan, Esper, Mono Red, GR, Tokens, and Sidisi Whip to be the big players.

BlakLanner

This is my next version for testing. It has shown some promise so far. Creatures 2 Brimaz, King of Oreskos 1 Dragonlord Ojutai 4 Mantis Rider 3 Seeker of the Way 1 Soulfire Grand Master 1 Stormbreath Dragon 4 Thunderbreak Regent Spells 3 Anticipate 1 Dig Through Time 2 Draconic Roar 2 Lightning Stri...

BlakLanner

Went 6-3 on day 1 only to finish the Open at 8-7. Tournament report is here.

BlakLanner

Tournament Report - SCG Open Syracuse Creatures (16) 2 Brimaz, King of Oreskos 1 Dragonlord Ojutai 4 Mantis Rider 3 Seeker of the Way 1 Soulfire Grand Master 1 Stormbreath Dragon 4 Thunderbreak Regent Spells (21) 2 Anticipate 1 Chandra, Pyromaster 2 Draconic Roar 1 Jeskai Charm 2 Lightning Strike 4 ...

BlakLanner

Also, anyone prepping for SCG States next week? Im thinking of hitting MD.

I will be at NY states next week.

BlakLanner

I will give it some more thought before printing my list. I may be having selective memory about flood vs screw. I know that I am on the lighter side. I have gotten those 2/3 land Cruises before but Cruise > Dig for me because I cannot reliably get double blue. I already need double white and double...

BlakLanner

I think the big call for Haven is to recover dragons from your graveyard late in the game on top of providing mana. I understand your concern about 23 lands very well. I just seem to flood out so much more on 24+. I really want 23.5 lands but don't know how to put half of a card into a deck legally....

BlakLanner

I don't think Draconic Roar is better than lightning strike. And I don't think you want more than 3 lightning strike. Id probably cut the Ojutai for on the main for another SBD. I'm not sure Chandra is better than outpost Seige or another spell when you are not try playing rabble. Unless you expect...

BlakLanner

It can be, especially if they have Vial. Since I don't play Vial in Slivers, it gives me an instant speed way to add creatures or blow out my opponent in combat if I flip one or two of my 8 lords.

BlakLanner

I hate these weeks between set release and MODO release. So hard to test properly (player skill on Cockatrice has been abysmal). For the Open this weekend, do I run: Spells 1 Chandra, Pyromaster 2 Draconic Roar 2 Jeskai Charm 2 Lightning Strike 4 Stoke the Flames 3 Treasure Cruise 3 Valorous Stance ...

BlakLanner

I hate these weeks prior to MODO release. I have no idea if I want to run my default list of the one with the two Anticpates for the Open this weekend.

BlakLanner

I was experimenting with it in my Sliver deck as well as an alternative to Chord. Kinda sick.

BlakLanner

Thinking of shaving the Chandra and one Slash from my list above to get 2 Anticipate. I don't want to lose the engine Chandra provides but this might make the deck run a little smoother.

Edit: Changed my mind. -1 Jeskai Charm (even though I really like having 2), -1 Wild Slash, +2 Anticipate.

BlakLanner

I am almost positive that one Dragonlord will replace a Stormbreath in my deck. The hexproof is quite valuable if I need to use him as a blocker.

BlakLanner

Next edition of the deck after looking at the Invi and Open results: Spells 1 Chandra, Pyromaster 2 Draconic Roar 2 Jeskai Charm 2 Lightning Strike 4 Stoke the Flames 3 Treasure Cruise 3 Valorous Stance 4 Wild Slash Creatures 2 Brimaz, King of Oreskos 1 Dragonlord Ojutai 4 Mantis Rider 3 Seeker of t...

BlakLanner

I must echo the sentiments of Khaos and Valdarith on this one. It is very easy to fall into the trap of adding creatures for Command. This dilutes our primary strategy. Command is good enough to play without creatures as it is extra Skullcracks or perhaps even ramp at times for us to deploy multiple...

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