Dies to Removal

I agree with LP.

Happy 4th to you guys. Enjoy your surveillance state.

Sorry, the skill level at GPs is not that high. For various reasons Mono Red continues to be underrepresented at live major events (my guess is because it rarely has pro endorsement) but it was the best deck on MODO which is the toughest competitive environment outside the PTs.

I would argue that RDW is over-represented online because it's the best budget option.

If the modo players are that much better than the paper players (this includes you Z, since you are my favorite grinder) why don't they just show up to GPs and take the $10,000?

I don't think you give the paper players (many of which also play on modo) enough credit.

Also starting to get used to everyone disagreeing with me on everything lol.

Man, Sasky is just always spot on, love that guy.

Moderate homo I guess.

@ Johnny, speaking for me it's a combination of time and travel; there is only 1 standard constructed GP a year I can go to (and I have 2 top 16s in 4 attempts). That's the most I can do I'm afraid! MJ has discussed this a lot on stream, but for a top grinder, it's better value to grind all day for a whole weekend then to pay for travel, accommodation and entry fees (and maybe a deck as well); sure, the upside of an event is higher, but the EV is lower overall.

Sorry, the skill level at GPs is not that high. For various reasons Mono Red continues to be underrepresented at live major events (my guess is because it rarely has pro endorsement) but it was the best deck on MODO which is the toughest competitive environment outside the PTs.

I would argue that RDW is over-represented online because it's the best budget option.

If the modo players are that much better than the paper players (this includes you Z, since you are my favorite grinder) why don't they just show up to GPs and take the $10,000?

I don't think you give
the paper players (many of which also play on modo) enough credit.

Also starting to get used to everyone disagreeing with me on everything lol.

It's usually better to be with people that disagree with you a lot if they're non-idiots because that means they have a different perspective and you're generally going to learn more/faster then otherwise. Never be the smartest person in the room.

Barrage of Expendables , R
Enchantment Uncommon
{R}, Sacrifice a creature: Barrage of Expendables deals 1 damage to target creature or player.

"Goblin generals don't distinguish between troops and ammunition."

Also, Thoughtsieze will not be reprinted. It's Tenacious Dead.

Welp, no more thoughtseize guys.

Welp, no more thoughtseize guys.

At least it's not taste of blood.

Junk rites is the easiest tier 1 deck to play while at the same time having enough intracacies to teach her the most things possible about magic while still having the deck be simple enough for her to win with if she wants to go to FNM with you or something.

WHAT

WHAT IS THIS BLASPHEME

Do you know the foresight, planning, and high level-math involved between choosing to unburial rites a Thragtusk vs. Resto Angel with a Thragtusk already on the field?

And what if your opponent is some scrub playing red and has a filthy ASH zealot out and your rites is in the GY? Now you have to do MORE math from MORE triggers.

And don't get me started on grisly salvage choices. You have to choose from FIVE DIFFERENT CARDS

FIVE

CHOOSE
n
show me another deck that has to choose between lines like that.

And my god

When you get Angel of Serenity in play...


DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY FUCKIN TARGETS THERE COULD BE FOR HER

HWO DARE YOU INSULT MY PET DECK

Also RIP rootbound crags.

Mutavault MonoR here we come? They also said Theros will have dual land cycle, so we'll see.

My mind's pretty overwhelmed with the directions aggro decks can go now...

Do we go the burning Earth chandra's phoenix route?

Mono red mutavaults with pyreheart and hellriders?

R/g can't block won't block with goblin shortcutter, firefist striker, madcap skills?

I SUBMIT TO YOU ZEMAN

AND AWAIT YOUR GUIDANCE INTO THE DARK CORRIDORS OF THE ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES.

Alive-ish. Verry d-runk.

Happy 4th err'body!

The fuck you been?

Theros is probably going to give us allied duals.

Also I like Barrage of Expendables when it was called Goblin Bombardment.

http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/attachme ... 1372996891

Mutavault just got competition for best land in the set.

As good or better then tectonic edge you say? This card is probably a mistake and I forsee it being more powerful then wizards expects, but I'm excited about it. Mutavaults the choice for red mages, but in a more midrange list, that's only dual or mono-colored and wants to grind you out of resources Jund style, this card is amazing.

So, I've got to run to the office after trying to desperately put together a random wannabe FNM-level modern goblin deck, but it does seem like I'm missing lots of pieces.
Obviously I discovered half a hour ago that today's FNM was modern, so I'm rushing thrhough my cards but I'm missing lots of things, I'm posting my list as soon as I get to the office and hope to have some feedback

http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/attachme ... 1372996891

Mutavault just got competition for best land in the set.

As good or better then tectonic edge you say? This card is probably a mistake and I forsee it being more powerful then wizards expects, but I'm excited about it. Mutavaults the choice for red mages, but in a more midrange list, that's only dual or mono-colored and wants to grind you out of resources Jund style, this card is amazing.

That card sucks.

I mean acidic slime already exists at 5 mana and as is abusive as it is it hasnt been too rampant?

So, I've got to run to the office after trying to desperately put together a random wannabe FNM-level modern goblin deck, but it does seem like I'm missing lots of pieces.
Obviously I discovered half a hour ago that today's FNM was modern, so I'm rushing thrhough my cards but I'm missing lots of things, I'm posting my list as soon as I get to the office and hope to have some feedback

[deck]
Creatures
4 Goblin Guide
4 Foundry Street Denizen
4 Legion Loyalist
4 Goblin Chieftain
4 Goblin War Marshall
2 Goblin Wardriver
2 Goblin Bushwhacker
2 Goblin King

Spells
4 Goblin Grenade
4 Krenko's Command
2 Shared Animosity
2 Dynacharge

Lands
22 Mountain
n
Sideboard
3 Smelt
2 Krenko, Mob boss
1 Siege-Gang Commander
1 Rift Bolt
4 Lava Spike
2 Desperate Ritual
2 Shard Volley
[/deck]

Does it make sense?
I don't like all those 2-ofs, but atm I don't have any better.
Also, the sideboard is just random for the moment.

http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/attachme ... 1372996891

Mutavault just got competition for best land in the set.

As good or better then tectonic edge you say? This card is probably a mistake and I forsee it being more powerful then wizards expects, but I'm excited about it. Mutavaults the choice for red mages, but in a more midrange list, that's only dual or mono-colored and wants to grind you out of resources Jund style, this card is amazing.

That card sucks.

You actually said the same thing about domri and
we all saw how that turned out.

While five mana is a lot, the fact that this destroys a land without taking a spell slot in your deck is huge. Very playable.

So, I've got to run to the office after trying to desperately put together a random wannabe FNM-level modern goblin deck, but it does seem like I'm missing lots of pieces.
Obviously I discovered half a hour ago that today's FNM was modern, so I'm rushing thrhough my cards but I'm missing lots of things, I'm posting my list as soon as I get to the office and hope to have some feedback

[deck]
Creatures
4 Goblin Guide
4 Foundry Street Denizen
4 Legion Loyalist
4 Goblin Chieftain
4 Goblin War
Marshall
2 Goblin Wardriver
2 Goblin Bushwhacker
2 Goblin King

Spells
4 Goblin Grenade
4 Krenko's Command
2 Shared Animosity
2 Dynacharge

Lands
22 Mountain

Sideboard
3 Smelt
2 Krenko, Mob boss
1 Siege-Gang Commander
1 Rift Bolt
4 Lava Spike
2 Desperate Ritual
2 Shard Volley
[/deck]

Does it make sense?
I don't like all those 2-ofs, but atm I don't have any better.
Also, the sideboard is just random for the moment.

Looks decent enough for a first try at FNM. That being said, I haven't tried a Goblin deck in Modern, so what do I know. Agree about the sideboard, it's a mess. Lava Spike, instead of Bolt (ok, I get the splice thing with Desp. Ritual, but still)? Smash to Smitereens instead of Smelt? Maybe a sweeper spell like Volcanic Fallout?

Well, I actually LACK Bolts, I've just thrown random cards in, in order to get to 15
Also, Desperate Rituals make no sense, as probably do Krenko.

I hope to get my hands on something better (i.e.: Bolts, Smash to Smithereens, a couple of Blood Moons maybe?), but my hands are pretty tied at the moment

First of all, to many lands. second of all, not enough one drops. You want generally at least 16 1 drops in goblin agro. I'd start off by cutting goblin king for the third and fourth bushwaker. Then I'd cut two mountains for 1 more of dynacharge and shared animosity each.

For your board, I don't play modern enough to know exactly what you need to side against, but I'd run with a baseling of having affinity, pod, and UWR hate. Cards like shattering spree, combust, grafdiggers cage, torpor orb, and blood moon come to mind.

Well, in that case, just go for it. The maindeck looks ok to me.

Edit: Ok, I agree with LP about the land amount. And yeah, Bushwhackers instead of Kings, that's good advice as well. But with only 20 lands, the Siege-Gang Commander is probably unplayable, and possibly even Krenko, Mob Boss.

The kings were in as Chieftain #5 and #6, but I understand where this is going.
I guess I'll try to get my hands on the 2 Bushwhackers and the Shared Animosity (the other Dynacharge should be -with a lot of sisters- in my living room, somewhere).

Thanks guys

No problem.

I like this small section in the latest Friday Nights http://youtu.be/GG80UXnD5ho?t=6m2s

Barrage of Expendables looks like a legitimately good card. Yay.

And it's spoilt at the same time as the recurring skeleton.

I think barrage is going to be one of the more competitive Johnny cards printed in a while.

I'm more interested in having new ways to abuse Grave Pact in EDH. I might even have to go so far as getting a RWB general instead of Teysa, Orzhov Scion.

Alex, try Tariel, Reckoner of Souls.


Forgot how much I hate July 4th. I tried going to sleep at 9 pm. Too bad the natives were restless last night; motherfuckers were lighting mortars like clockwork every 5 minutes until midnight. By the time my alarm went off at 245, I think I logged about an hour and a half of actual sleep.

Card seems good, but what the actual fuck at the art?

Certainly a card I would play, but almost certainly one that would have to be altered.

I could also play Progenitus, Child of Alara, or Horde of Notions I guess. I like decks that can play cards like Yore-Tiller Nephilim, Grave Pact, etc...


....going deep.

http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/attachme ... 1372996891

Mutavault just got competition for best land in the set.

As good or better then tectonic edge you say? This card is probably a mistake and I forsee it being more powerful then wizards expects, but I'm excited about it. Mutavaults the choice for red mages, but in a more midrange list, that's only dual or mono-colored and wants to
grind you out of resources Jund style, this card is amazing.

That card sucks.

You actually said the same thing about domri and we all saw how that turned out.

While five mana is a lot, the fact that this destroys a land without taking a spell slot in your deck is huge. Very playable.

It is particularly powerful with untap effects in the format, though I'd prefer to play it in a mono-colored deck (no Thoughtseize...sad face ). It's going to be a more powerful card after rotation as well, given the following comment from Sam Stoddard's article about mana bases and their future:

"While we have no intention of going back to an era where players are unable to cast their spells, we are leaving an era of Standard where mana fixing was overly abundant, and most importantly incredibly easy. The opportunity
cost was almost zero, but that was done intentionally to support the Return to Ravnica block. There was so little downside in the speed or consistency in your deck in moving from a two- to a three-color deck for the last year, and that will change when Standard rotates in the fall. Again, I believe the lands we have in place for Theros block are wonderful, but they do not offer the same level of ease and power with three-color mana bases as the shockland/M10-dual-land combination. "

http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/attachme ... 1372996891

Mutavault just got competition for best land in the set.

As good or better then tectonic edge you say? This card is probably a mistake and I forsee it being more powerful then wizards expects, but I'm excited about it. Mutavaults the choice for red mages, but in a more midrange list, that's only dual or mono-colored and wants to
grind you out of resources Jund style, this card is amazing.

That card sucks.

You actually said the same thing about domri and we all saw how that turned out.

While five mana is a lot, the fact that this destroys a land without taking a spell slot in your deck is huge. Very playable.

But is it better than Ghost Quarter? The answer is no.

planeswalkers are probably a bit harder to evaluate than land destruction, but who knows maybe it will fit in the metagame.

5 Mana for the 1-time effect (that you can't blink or unburial rites or w/e ala slime) seems expensive but who knows what standard will look like.

I know I'd be happy as well if control tapped out to kill my mutavault like that ;D

Card seems good, but what the actual fuck at the art?

Certainly a card I would play, but almost certainly one that would have to be altered.

What's wrong with the art? I always found it pretty awesome.

I need to build a sideboard for my Gruul deck. Anybody want to help? I'm dead set on this version:

[deck]
Beaters (32)
4 Stromkirk Noble
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Lightning Mauler
4 Flinthoof Boar
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Ghor-Clan Rampager
4 Hellrider

Burn (8)
4 Pillar of Flame
4 Searing Spear

Lands a make her dance (20)
10 Mountonia
4 Stomping Ground
4 Rootbound Crag
2 Temple Garden

Sideboard (???)
4 Skullcrack
3-4 Mizzium Mortars
2 Electrickery[/deck]

I keep debating whether I want 21 land/3 Hellrider or the 20/4, but I think my OCD wins this round. The deck needs to aggressively mulligan anyway to I don't think 1 land will make much of a difference. Besides, I want to make sure I can put a smile on that face when I win so I really do need to draw that Hellrider. If I have to wait for the land, so be it, but at least I'll have the bomb to drop.

Lightning Mauler is nuts in
Gruul. Why are so many people taking him out? I think it's a mistake.

I don't think I want Madcap Skillz in the main, even though I've seen a lot of list running 3-4 recently. With my luck, I'd be getting 2-1'd all damn day.

No matter what, I'm sticking with 4x Pillar and 4x Spear. That is just a given.

Sideboard options:

VS: To be or not to be? I mean, I really think if I'm up against the mirror match or another Mountain based deck, I really think Mortars is just the business. If I'm taking out creatures for VS AND Mortars, I think I I'd be losing some threat density, as well as opening up myself for some 2-1 action. Me no likey.

Skullcrack: I've dissed this card in the past, but I think I actually want 4 so I can straight swap out against Sphinx Rev decks and other pesky life gain shenanigans.

Traitorous Blood: Has anybody been having any luck with this? I think it may swing things in Gruul's favor in the Reanimator match if it goes long.

Electrickery: With so many
Lingering Souls about, I'm starting to like this card.

Domri: He's cool. He's good against Azo Charm decks. He's nutty when you can send a Reckoner into a pit fight. But is he worth it?

Blasphemous Act: Kills Lingering Souls and has the almighty combo-kill potential with a Reckoner on the field. Yay or neigh?

Thunderbolt: I hear swinging into a Restoration Angel (or Olivia) with one of these in hand can be pretty good.

Kessig Wolf Run: Could a 1-of be any good just in case?


When testing the deck for GP Miami, I never bothered with a sideboard since I wanted to get a good feel for the differences between this deck and KDW. Now I wish I'd spent more time on sideboard options. I haven't played an FNM in about 3 weeks so I don't really know what my meta has shaped up into. I know that there are a few R/x Aggro decks, a Reanimator list or two, a few UWr piles, Junk Aristocrats, and a Grixis build lurking about. With that in mind, anybody want to help a brother out and throw a few
suggestions my way?

I'm looking at you, LP and Fate!

(And yeah, I could've posted this in the proper forum, but I don't ever follow the rules. Not even my own.)



Edit:

Hell, this looks interesting. It was in the Top 8 in Miami. I don't agree with some of the cards, but it does pack in Thunderlips from the board.

[deck]

Creatures (28)
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Flinthoof Boar
4 Ghor-Clan Rampager
4 Hellrider
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Stromkirk Noble

Spells (10)
3 Madcap Skills
3 Pillar of Flame
4 Searing Spear

Lands (22)
12 Mountain
4 Rootbound Crag
4 Stomping Ground
2 Temple Garden

Sideboard
2 Blasphemous Act
1 Domri Rade
4 Mizzium Mortars
3 Skullcrack
2 Thundermaw Hellkite
3 Volcanic Strength[/deck]

Well here's the progression of the deck meta wise so you get some feel for it:

Started with BTE+Ash Zealot n Rancors. Made draws awkward, and a too heavy dependence on green. Zealot was dropped, LM was in.

Then our Gruul smash friend in Charlotte got 1st with NO LM, just firefist strikers. The deck was slowed down to ensure it got by any defenses.

Then between Voice of Resurgence and lingering souls, strikers were just too fragile.

Enter: No 2/1 creatures, madcap skills to replace strikers and give pseudo haste and speed.

I personally don't like running 10-12 spells (between spear, pillar, and madcap) so I reccomend 2/3. If you're going the spear pillar route, all the power to you.

So the list looks solid. LM is the nuts especially if this UWr thing catches on.

SB:

Blasphemous Act: I say nay. I've tried it out and I've seen it played, and its embarassing to wipe your own board in an all-in deck. The
combo with Reckoner is nice, but not consistent enough to be relied on.

VS: You gotta geto ver a fear of being 2-1d in this deck if it means getting damage through. VS is nuts against the mirror, where there are no cards to deal with a suited up Boar or Reckoner. Against other decks it is at least a 2/2 with haste that gets past their shit.

Especially with 4-color rites running around. You have to use it responsibly, but its a powerful card.

instead of Domri for Azo charm match-ups, we're trying out Ranger's guile. You should check out the thread, you seriously only have to read like the last two pages and I've talked about SB exclusively lately.

Well here's the progression of the deck meta wise so you get some feel for it:

Started with BTE+Ash Zealot n Rancors. Made draws awkward, and a too heavy dependence on green. Zealot was dropped, LM was in.

Then our Gruul smash friend in Charlotte got 1st with NO LM, just firefist strikers. The deck was slowed down to ensure it got by any defenses.

Then between Voice of Resurgence and lingering souls, strikers were just too fragile.

Enter: No 2/1 creatures, madcap skills to replace strikers and give pseudo haste and speed.

I personally don't like running 10-12 spells (between spear, pillar, and madcap) so I reccomend 2/3. If you're going the spear pillar route, all the power to you.

So the list looks solid. LM is the nuts especially if this UWr
thing catches on.

SB:

Blasphemous Act: I say nay. I've tried it out and I've seen it played, and its embarassing to wipe your own board in an all-in deck. The combo with Reckoner is nice, but not consistent enough to be relied on.

VS: You gotta geto ver a fear of being 2-1d in this deck if it means getting damage through. VS is nuts against the mirror, where there are no cards to deal with a suited up Boar or Reckoner. Against other decks it is at least a 2/2 with haste that gets past their shit.

Especially with 4-color rites running around. You have to use it responsibly, but its a powerful card.

instead of Domri for Azo charm match-ups, we're trying out Ranger's guile. You should check out the thread, you seriously only have to read like the last two pages and I've talked about SB exclusively lately.

What are you taking out to add in VS? Creatures?

I'll begin delving into the thread now...

Went to fnm with this list:

[deck]Creatures:24
4 Kird Ape
4 Loam Lion
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Flinthoof Boar
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Ghor-Clan Rampager

Spells:16
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Pillar of Flame
4 Boros Charm
4 Lightning Helix

Lands:20
4 Arid Mesa
1 Forest
1 Mountain
1 Plains
1 Sacred Foundry
3 Scalding Tarn
4 Stomping Ground
2 Temple Garden
3 Verdant Catacombs

Sideboard:15
2 Engineered Explosives
1 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Path to Exile
2 Deglamer
2 Spellskite
2 Stony Silence
2 Torpor Orb
2 Molten Rain[/deck]

Went 2-1, beating through the breach combo and r/g tron. Lost to esper control packing 4x spreading seas.

irrelevant creatures.

Cacklers are pretty bad in the mirror because they cant block and they cant swing into reckoners or boars, so I take them out.

Against Jund I'd take out pillars, but I'd also try some number of ranger's guile nad not the full boat of VS usually. But when they run out of removal and go into topdeck mode, a 6/6 rampager or a 5/5 hellrider unblockable is no joke for those last points of damage.

Also against 4color-Junk rites I take out Pillars



Boarding with R/g is hard because if youre taking out something (besides pillars imo) you are always going to make your deck "less threat dense." The skill lies in finding out whats the LEAST relevant or scary threat.

The GP Miami list is pretty solid except for the madcap skills. With 22 land and pillars, even Ari Lax said it was pretty incorrect to have madcap with that few dudes to put them on.

You could -3 madcap, +1 Pillar +2 LM (
he's good to craft a game plan around, but he is probably the weakest dude ni the list) and go to town because thundermaws will still always be good. I'd still take out Blasphemous Acts for Guile in this list, but it might work better in his list if he boards in hellkites in some matches and just tries to reset the board and go to town with hellkites.

planeswalkers are probably a bit harder to evaluate than land destruction, but who knows maybe it will fit in the metagame.

5 Mana for the 1-time effect (that you can't blink or unburial rites or w/e ala slime) seems expensive but who knows what standard will look like.

I know I'd be happy as well if control tapped out to kill my mutavault like that ;D

Yeah, I don't know why they didn't just reprint Tectonic Edge.