Decklist: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2663192
Introduction:
- Pretty regular at the store now, so near everyone knows what I'm gonna be on. One of these days I'll bust out something different to surprise 'em.
- Tron and control have been majorly underrepresented. Lot of midrange (mostly Jund), bits of combo, and a fair amount of aggro. Could try cutting Ceremonious Rejection and hope not to be punished hmmm.
Round 1 vs Piper T on 5C Niv (2-1, 1-0)
This is the fourth time we've played the matchup, so we know the score. Ways for me to lose: Wrenn & Six emblem/value, unanswered Teferi Time Raveler stalling me, resolved Niv-Mizzet Reborn/Bring to Light.
Game 1 He has the PW friends. I almost get got by an instant-speed BtL after I Trophy his TTR, but Logic Knot takes care of that. Later I bounce W&6 and let it resolve on the recast, and eventually concedes when I've gained significant card advantage. I always respect and appreciate an opponent who knows when the control deck has "won" even though their win-con isn't present yet.
Game 2 He mulls to 4, and starts off with a bit of a strange t1 sequence: fetch Snow-Covered Swamp into Astrolabe. It's explained on T2 with a Kroxa, and over the next many turns I slowly die to a 4/3 Knight of Autumn (and being relatively flooded).
Game 3 I'm able to counter almost everything relevant he goes for, which is where I want to be in the matchup.
Round 2 vs Rich T on GUw Titan (2-0, 2-0)
Game 1 He's on the play and starts out of the gate with multiple ramp spells and I'm unable to counter a t4ish Titan. However, I do have multiple Cryptic Commands and Snapcaster Mages to buy enough (actually a lot of) turns to assemble 2 Reclamations, Nexus, USZ for 10, then threaten USZ to deck myself & him. Feature from this game: casting Uro 3 times from hand in one turn with one already on the field.
Game 2 Rich doesn't have a lot of ramp going on, but a fair amount of reaction - two Beast Withins on my B-producing lands, and a Blast Zone for my Reclamation. I recognize that he's waiting on a Cavern of Souls, so while I'm waiting around I Teachings for Surgical on the sleeping Uro, checking out a hand of Pact, 3 Primeval Titans, and the 2nd Beast Within. He soon finds a Cavern to start casting Titans. The first one is taken care of by a naturally drawn Summary Dismissal, and the second one receives a pre-tutored Shadow of Doubt. Meanwhile, I've been beating with the Beast tokens and have assembled a mighty pile of lands incl. one Field of the Dead, then swing with my Beasts/Zombies for lethal through a 6/6 blocker by using the ol' 5UU extra combat step instant.
Round 3 vs Brian R on Jund (2-1, 3-0)
Game 1 He's got the Goyf beats and I lose
Game 2 In the midgame Brian runs a Raging Ravine into a known? Gearhulk, then attempts to 2nd main Lili -2. I go for Snap -> target Pulse, intending to sac Snap & Pulse it back EoT, and he concedes here having fetch/shock/pained/Thoughtseized to 7 life already.
Game 3 is a long grind with topdecks, but Field of the Dead gets there in the end. At 10 lands, I topdeck Teachings, hold it, then tutor-cast Fact or Fiction when he goes for a Liliana of the Veil.
Round 4 vs Zak K on Magus of the Moon Cheese (game score, match score)
The moon is made out of cheese! He's got Gemstone Caverns and SSGs for acceleation. On the beaters front, I see Copter, Bonecrusher Giant, and Eidolon of the Great Revels.
Game 1 I lose to a t2 Caverns-powered Magus and only having 1 basic Island.
Game 2 I fumble my first two lands, losing 2 life unnecessarily. I kill the first Magus, and he casts a second but that's not what I lose to. I lose to being stuck on three lands (2 are basic Forest & Island, and I have Manamorphose/Cryptic/Reclamation/Gearhulk/other stuff in hand. I can't do anything on three lands, so I lose to that oof
Thoughts:
- I've been utilizing Mystic Sanctuary for value throughout my matches, so that's pretty good. However, I think it pairs best with Archmage's Charm which I'm only running as a one-of because Archmage's Charm lets you dig deeper than a Cryptic. In those kind of scenarios, Cryptic is a jack of all trades master of none.
- Fact or Fiction & recasting it somehow tends to be the nails in the coffin for my matches. Maybe in the more stock builds they lean on USZ, but I've really shied away from middling USZs (pretty much any USZ for less than 7) and only tutor it when I'm setting up the win.
- Decklist changes: I like it right now. I've been impressed with the Archmage's Charm, mildly underwhelmed with Consume the Meek (but when it's good it's really good), and feel like I'm always trimming Opts.
- Field of the Dead is a great alt-win con, but it hurts that I tend to double up on shocklands, so maybe I should try a BFZ tangoland? Considering cutting basic Swamp... if I'm SBing Manamorphose it can go, but in aggro matchups where I want to save life... hm
