Dies to Removal

Patrick Sullivan mentioned Pyroclasm was better than Blaze right now

How is that possible?

Golbins and Maverick arn't too popular, in comparison to elves... and Delver decks not having a lot of targets

I don't understand your point. If goblins isn't popular, that's an argument against pyroclasm. If it's not going to kill at least two creatures without killing one of yours searing blaze is just better. Low creature counts in popular decks makes blaze more appealing to me as well, since you're less likely to get a 2/1 with clasm, but you will with blaze as long as they have one relevant target.

Also, I'd argue goblins is more popular than elves. We seem goblins top 8 very often. I can't remember the last time i saw an elf deck in a top8.

I am by no means saying I am right... I had Z ask PSully some questions for me(pertaining to the invitational), and that was his response.

If we're looking for a pyroclasm type effect, I wonder if earthquake would work.

The statement just doesn't make sense to me. I would like to know wyy he thinks so, because I'm definitely missing something.

If you have Goblin Guide and Rift Bolt in your opener, is it always correct to play the Guide first?

Always, no. Most of the time, yes. I would only cast the bolt first if you know the opponent wants to drop something you need to kill on T1.

God ensnaring bridge is so damn good... which matchups is it bad in Blak?

Also, I know most bolts never get boarded out... Is flame rift always cut first?

I wouldn't bother with Bridge against things like Stoneblade or Dredge. We can usually race them or need other hate anyway. I tend to board out Price faster than Flame Rift if I see my opponent grabbing basics. I also pull out Guide vs Lands. I only ever consider pulling Flame Rift if I think I will be in a very close race.

I have noticed that, I def need to start siding out Price. G2 and 3 my opponents end up fetching for basics instead.

Just remember that some decks like RUG and BUG delver have next to no basics. Price is gold in those matchups either as big damage or as a double Stone Rain as they Wasteland their own lands.

Hey Blak, would you mind posting a SB guide for the common matchups? I'm sloooowly starting to figure it out. But I really just side out random cards.

I kind of do it by gut feeling but I will see what I can come up with.

Basic question I have for ex: Is legacy storm just not really existent anymore? Which matchups do we side out Grim/Goblin Guide?

ANT is one of the more played decks in the format

http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/foru ... ks-to-Beat

Usually just use this, there is a thread there that explains why the decks are there.

I gotta disagree, ANT hasn't put up a results in over a month, except for one IQ. Unless you think ANT would be a deck piloted by "pros" who are playing in the Invitational.

Just saw ANT got 9th at the Open, Ok its on my radar... Looking at the top 16 decks, Pyroclasm seems much stronger than Blaze..

A lot of Legacy players only have one or two decks, so they stick with what they know. At an event like an Invitational, the big decks to be prepared for are Delver, Stoneblade, Sneak and Show, Elves, Dredge, Miracles and Storm/ANT.

As I was thinking about it, I cannot give a strict sideboard strategy since our main decks and sideboards can vary a good bit. I will, however, list our less impactful cards with each enemy listing to provide at least some guidance.

I gotta disagree, ANT hasn't put up a results in over a month, except for one IQ. Unless you think ANT would be a deck piloted by "pros" who are playing in the Invitational.

your gonna disagree with statistics and a deck that has been played by 'pros'

okay then.

Thanks a lot Blak, that would be very helpful and MUCH appreciated!



Would Mindbreaker TRap or Pyrostatic Pillar be better vs Storm?

Both are excellent. Pyrostatic is probably a bit better since it is less vulnerable to discard spells.

Edit: First set of sideboard suggestions in place. Will happily consider any further input given the permutations of our decks.

Just saw ANT got 9th at the Open, Ok its on my radar... Looking at the top 16 decks, Pyroclasm seems much stronger than Blaze..

Again, I have to ask how. Which decks do you hink you'll be getting a 2 for 1 witout killing one of your own guys? Where is the value in killing creatures you can likely ignore and not dealing and damage to your oponent (which is the point afterall)?

Help me understand.

Sometimes you just have to kill your own Guide. Clearing the board against an Elves, D&T, or BUG player can turn around a race you are behind in.

I don't care if I have to kill my own guide on t3 if he has already gotten in for 4 damage. If it means clearing a board of 5 elves, thats worth it.

Ok, I understand. Guide is expendable. It always has been, but it means you have to kill three of their guys if you're killing your own guide to get ahead on card advantage.

I'll repeat myself one last time. Which decks do you think you're getting more value out of a pyroclasm than a searing blaze?

Elves - sure. If elves is part of your meta, consider pyroclasm.

Death and Taxes - Has protection red (Mom and SoF+I) and Thalia. Not sure how much you're going to catch with a sweeper.

BUG - Has 12 creatures, 4 of which are Tarmogoyf. Pyroclasm isn't going to get a 2 for 1 often.

You literally only want it for elves, they are a turn faster and have so many redundant pieces, they will block guide for daze, especially if your on the draw against them (if they play Wirewood symbiote, Grim does exactly nothing), if they also turn 3 a ruric thar on the play, that maybe GG

That all being said, elves miracles mu is pretty bad so whether people will play it now I dunno (it crushes fair decks like no ones business though)

Saw this list that took 12th at the open on Orland in January.

[deck]

Creatures (8)

4 Goblin Guide
4 Grim Lavamancer

Lands (20)

9 Mountain
4 Arid Mesa
3 Bloodstained Mire
4 Scalding Tarn

Spells (32)

4 Sulfuric Vortex
4 Fireblast
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Price of Progress
4 Searing Blaze
4 Chain Lightning
4 Lava Spike
4 Rift Bolt

Sideboard
4 Ensnaring Bridge
4 Mindbreak Trap
3 Red Elemental Blast
4 Flame Rift
[/deck]

How much better is Flame Rift in the SB?

I think that was a meta call. If you know you will face a lot of creature decks, it might be better to "pre-board" in the Blazes and take out the Flame Rifts. In a more open meta, I wouldn't want to risk drawing blanks when we still have enough spells that can hit creatures to get through game 1.

Thats what I figured.

Do you think Red Elemental Blast is something we need to run at all?

I like having it to fight True-Name Nemesis, High Tide and sometimes Painter. I wouldn't call it anywhere near required though. I likely keep it in my sideboard out of habit more than anything.

Thanks again for all your help Blak! Hoping to have some positive results to display after the Invi.

I prefer to SB Searing Blaze, because I don't like potentially dead cards in the main deck.

Spent the morning chatting with the guy from the list above, he gave some really solid pointers.

He recommended running a
4th Sulfuric Vortex. He also said he would cut Flame Rift for 3 Searing Blaze - he liked them and they did the job well. It scares me to run a card that could possibly be dead, especially when I only have 4 rounds on Day 1.

SB he reccomended was:

3 Ensnaring Bridge
3 Mindbreak Trap
3 Smash to Smithereens
3 Pyroblast
XXX - depends on searing blaze or flame rift main/side or pyroclasm

[deck]
4 Grim Lavamancer
4 Goblin Guide

4 Lightning Bolt
4 Chain Lightning
4 Lava spike
4 Price of Progress
3 Flame Rift - Could be Searing Blaze?
4 Sulfuric Vortex
4 Fireblast
4 Rift Bolt

9 Mountains
12 Fetches
[/deck]

A buddy also mentioned he thinks 3 Smash to Smithereens is one too many, stating he believes there has been a shift towards bug delver instead of uwr or stoneblade decks

Based off more reports, blue is expected to be ~50-60% of the meta, so 4 Pyroblast it is.

[deck]
4 Grim Lavamancer
4 Goblin Guide

4 Lightning Bolt
4 Chain Lightning
4 Lava spike
4 Price of Progress
4 Flame Rift
3 Sulfuric Vortex
4 Fireblast
4 Rift Bolt

9 Mountains
12 Fetches

SB
3 Ensnaring Bridge
4 Pyroblast
3 Mindbreak Trap
2 Smash to Smithereens
3 Searing Blaze
[/deck]

How does this look?

edit: dumb question- Is there a diff in running Pyroblast vs Red Elemental Blast?