Decklist: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2579407
Introduction:
- It's been a while. Went to GP Columbus. Forgot my modern deck. Played a bunch of Mystery Booster draft and had a blast.
- I got off Snow lands because 1) Ice-Fang Coatl didn't feel like it did enough and 2) I want to play Unglued basics again.
- Found out I've been milling incorrectly (need to mill 1 card at a time, in case Nexus gets revealed, then I have a chance of milling it again lolol)
- Adjusted sideboard to account better for Okos (Mystical Dispute) and potential Veil of Summers (Dispel). Abrupt Decay as always is a great card vs 3 mana PWs.
Round 1 vs Cobi R on GW Defender Wild Pair (2-0, 1-0)
Both games he had pretty slow starts (i.e. not doing anything until turn 3). Didn't have a lot of trouble with this deck. I never let a Wild Pair resolve, counterspelled Collected Company a few times, wiped the board with Consume the Meek, then smashed in for the win. Game 2 has a nice USZ for 18.
Round 2 vs Alex F-G on Grixis Death's Shadow (2-0, 2-0)
Game 1:
Another match with a slow start. I remember Alex playing Jund, but he leads on double Bloodstained Mire do nothing?? Turn 3 finally starts casting spells. Both games are pretty close, since Gurmag Angler is hard to answer once it hits the battlefield, I get to Assassin's Trophy twice & stabilize with Torrential Gearhulk (beats Angler in a fight AND can't be Stubbed!). I'm able to switch onto the beatdown since his life total is so low (and no DS on battlefield), and that's game 1 in the books.
Game 2 he doesn't have much in the way of life loss or the DS plan, but iirc I get to Remand Angler, then it sits on the battlefield for a few turns. He runs out The Royal Scions to accrue value, but I'm able to Abrupt Decay one turn before ulting, then I Nexus for a turn with his shields down, USZ for 17 (my entire deck at that point), and beats like this.
Round 3 vs Brendan O on 3/4C Whirza (2-0, 3-0)
Paired down, w/e
Game 1 he just doesn't have a lot going on. Emry rebuys Mishra's Bauble a few times, but I'm able to sit back, play lands, then Teachings for an Abrupt Decay & smash for the win.
Game 2 is way more of a game. He finds more payoffs, esp. Urza but he runs out of gas, while I Consume the Meek some Urza tokens and Fracturing Gust two of his four artifacts for good measure.
Round 4 vs ID (3-0-1)
Thoughts:
- I'm not sure where I'm vs Oko type decks. Need more reps.
- Round 2 was the closest of the night, by far, but he was relatively Stub-light & I was able to get past him with card advantage spells.
- Maindecks Consume the Meek still seems fine, I like my sideboard right now.
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Decklist: The same
Round 1 vs Tony T on Grixis Control (2-0, 1-0)
Both of our respective turn ones are Creeping Tar Pits, leading to a funny little staredown. I admire the cut of his jib - Creeping Tar Pits AND Unglued basics? A kindred spirit. He Thoughtseizes me turn 2, seeing 2 Remands and a Snapcaster Mage, then turn 3 plays a Narset into my other Remand. Turn 4 he leads with Thoughtseize, predicting a follow-up Narset, but this is fine. I have Wilderness Reclamation in hand which is nigh-impossible for Grixis to remove. He finds Nicol Bolas, Dragon-God off the Narset activation, but never plays it for the rest of the game. That turn I also fumble, casting a Remand from hand & not utilizing Snap + Remand, leaving another in hand. I try to get a little feisty with my Creeping Tar Pits, but definitely should have just held them back as mana sources. Doesn't matter, because my mana > his mana, and I'm able to go Teachings-FoF > Teachings-Gearhulk > FoF > Teachings-Nexus.
Game 2 is a bit of back and forth but eventually *he's* the one who gets feisty with Creeping Tar Pits, but I just Teachings for Assassin's Trophy & bounce the other with Cryptic Command.
Round 2 vs Alex F-G on GDS (2-0, 2-0)
Some slow starts from him, but he never has Stubborn Denials esp. in their Negate forms. FoF, Gearhulks clean it up.
Game 2 he again doesn't have much going on, and Devour Flesh on Gurmag Angler seals his action off. Basically, once I get efficient exchanges or card advantage spells off, I'm in the driver's seat (Remand on Angler, Cryptic Command on any relevant spell, Fact or Fiction, Snapcaster + anything)
Round 3 vs Jesse R on UR wizards (2-1, 3-0)
Game 1 She spins her wheels for a while, playing out Delvers and cantripping, but Push and Consume the Meek keep the board clear. I think they Deprived one of my spells on turn 4, when they should have countered my turn 3 EoT Pulse of Murasa.
Game 2 I get turn 3 Blood Moon'd without an answer in hand, and ded.
Game 3 I do a lot of action on her turn to play around those Force of Negations ex. Fatal Push on upkeep. My counterspells on their turn also play around FoN. I have an Abrupt Decay for the Blood Moon they eventually run out, then Gearhulk for the win (can't be countered by Force of Negation, basically immune to their removal!)
Round 4 vs ID on Deck (3-0-1)
Thoughts:
- Repeatedly, I find that Gearhulk is just better choice than a fourth Snapcaster Mage. It does basically all the same things (and better) except flashing back 1-2 CMC spells
- Key decision points of the night: round 1 game 1 Remanding t4 Thoughtseize + letting Narset resolve in order to jam Reclamation, round 3 game 3 playing around Blood Moons and Force of Negation
- I like the deck a lot, but need to identify its bad matchups & tune for those. I still have a lot of outsider advantage, ex. players not recognizing the value of Pulse of Murasa.
