2020-01-28 Dice Dojo with Sultai Reclamation 3-1

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

2019-12-15 & 2019-12-17 Dice Dojo with Sultai Reclamation combined 6-0

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.

2019-09-17 Dice Dojo with Sultai Snow Reclamation 2-2

Round 1 vs Isaac S on Abzan Druid (0-2, 0-1)

Misplayed horribly game 1, decided not to Logic Knot Vizier for some reason

Game 2 kept a weak hand i.e. without Fatal Push and got combod on turn 4. After this match I woke up for real.

Round 2 vs Alex H on Grixis Whirza (2-0, 1-1)

Game 1 I was the beatdown. He didn't find the combo until towards the end, so I pressured his life total, Remanded Urza a few times, USZ for 7 and gg

Game 2 he had quite some stuff going. A turn 1 Grafdigger's Cage, assembling Goblin Engineer + Sword + Thopter in the midgame. Then I dropped a Reclamation, held up Cryptics, used extra mana to Teachings for Fracturing Gust and Surgical off the flashback, wiped his board and smashed in with Gearhulk.

Round 3 vs Adam R on UW Spirits/Flash (0-2, 1-2)

Imo an extremely unfavorable matchup.

Game 1 I Teachings upped a  Consume the Meek, but then he drew double Selfless Spirit and had triple Spell Queller wtfff

Game 2 more of the same. Selfless Spirit and Spell Quellers to invalidate my strategy by forcing me to be reactive to 2 damage clocks.

Round 4 vs Eli on Eldrazi Tron (1-2, 2-2)

Game 1 I got attacked by an Expedition Map what (Karn, TGC)

Game 2 Dropped to 5, blocked his lone Thought-Knot Seer threat with my Torrrential Gearhulk to stabilize. Then pressured with Gearhulk + Tar Pit, Remanded an All is Dust, then next turn he forced my hand with Chalice on 4 into my shown Summary Dismissal into a successful All is Dust. However, I'd put him to 4 on the previous attack and Tar Pit cleaned up over two turns.

Game 3... He dropped a bunch of threats, Ice-Fang Coatls held back for a bit but Eldrazi Trons has access to next-level counters with Walking Ballista and Endbringer. I misplayed by playing out my sixth land, then casting Surgical Extraction for real mana to exile Reality Smashers when I could have flashed back Mystical Teachings. Game was tight and I think my misplay potentially cost me this game/match. I was very far behind - no Tron but he resolved multiple creatures using Cavern of Souls. Plus, he had a Blast Zone on 2 to negate the effects of my Coatls.

2019-09-15 Dice Dojo with Sultai Snow Reclamation 3-0

Decklist: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2226390

Round 1 vs Daniel J on Abzan Druid (2-1, 1-0)The trick to this matchup is not "Bolting" the Bird, but rather the Devoted Druids. Vizier of Remedies is a better target, but pilots know this so they tend to play it last. He was a bit new to the deck - tried to Chord without triple G once.

Game 1 I got combod out, game 2 was a close life points race, and game 3 he Chorded for 1 with Kitchen Finks and Vizier out, telegraphing a Viscera Seer. Being a Blue Sun's Zenith deck, I allowed it to resolve - a more experienced Druid combo player would recognize that the infinite life combo isn't good enough, and also that Chording for extra X is a good bluff tactic.

Round 2 vs Nick L on UW Stoneblade (2-0, 2-0)

Game 1 he had an anemic start, and I my card advantage beat his.

Game 2 I was the aggressor, bumping him all the way down to 6 before he SFMd a Batterskull. He stabilized to 14 off a couple attacks, but then I found a Torrential Gearhulk, drew a bunch of cards, took some turns and the rest of his life.

Round 3 vs Matthew F on RW Burn (2-0. 3-0)

Game 1 He had a Goblin Guide and some early creatures, but I cast Pulse of Murasa twice then ended the game with some attackers while holding up double Remand at a comfortable 6 life.

Game 2 He had a lot slower of a start, as did I. He held up an obvious Skullcrack, careful of my lifegain. I dropped to 5 from steady pressure, gained 4 from Life Goes On to 9, then stabilized there. He had nothing versus my counterspells, so I took a half-turn to Teachings for Weather the Storm. Weather the Storm was cast in response to a Bolt, which met his longheld Skullcrack that then received a Spell Snare I too had been sitting on.

Round 4 vs ??? ID

Thoughts:

• Ran pretty hot
• I don't know about my sideboard - it feels like I have such a different package for every deck... I should write up a sideboard guide. Would be a decent exercise

2019-09-10 Dice Dojo with Sultai Snow Reclamation 2-2

Decklist: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2226390

Introduction:

• New store just a couple blocks from my apartment
• I seem to have misplaced a Breeding Pool, and have been playing a 3rd Hinterland Harbor instead
• I finally switched my basics to snow basics (T_T my poor Unglued basics) and am trying out Ice-Fang Coatls to combat those creature based decks

Round 1 vs Tony HG on GDS (1-2, 0-1)

Game 1 I just lost to an unanswered Angler. I took Devour Flesh out of the maindeck, but maybe I should put it back?

Game 2 he had nothing going on and I managed to clear him out through combat damage.

Game 3 quick start, deployed Gurmag Angler and Death's Shadow

In this matchup, I think I need to mulligan for hands that are simultaneously resilient to discard and able to compete with what GDS is doing. Maybe another Veil of Summer in the side?

Round 2 vs Patrick C on UB standard reanimator with draft rares (2-0, 1-1)

Poor guy is just starting modern, playing a UB standard draft rares reanimator deck. To be honest, he never stood a chance. I had a slow start game 1 but then found some Reclamations into draw spells. A few turns later, triple Reclamation let me USZ him for 60.

In between games, we make conversation and he shows me a sideboard Thought Distortion. I make a face. Fortunately he never finds it, and I clean him up with a USZ for 9, then beats with my little dudes.

Round 3 vs Vincent R on Jund (0-2, 1-2)

Another guy just starting in modern! Oh wait, he just went turn 1 Verdant Catacombs into turn 2 Wrenn and Six. Honestly, I'm not that scared of his cards. Yes Scavenging Ooze is annoying, Wrenn and Six generates crazy value, and Tarmogoyf/Liliana of the Veil are decent, but the card I'm most scared of is Bloodbraid Elf. It's a friggin' two-for-one that makes my counterspells look silly (esp. Remand)

Game 2 iirc I get stuck on UB mana with G spells in hand, after mulling to 6.

Round 4 vs Kurt D on mono R aggro (2-1, 2-2)

Pretty chill match. Guy lets me do my thing, drawing cards, floating turns, the whole she-bang. Game 1 I verbally bait him into playing out a Flame of Keld off a Light Up the Stage, then clear it with my on-board Blast Zone + Reclamation. I survive, USZ for 26 to draw my deck, take some turns, then make him USZ for 42 cards.

Game 2 I don't have enough going on (i.e. no Fatal Pushes), get run over.

Game 3 is a blowout. I keep his board empty, counter his spells, and he concedes to a Blast Zone killing a 1-drop + Life Goes On.

Thoughts:

• I love Fact or Fiction. I didn't mention it above because I don't have a clear memory of the exact plays, but it's just so much card advantage.
• You know what goes great with Fact or Fiction? Torrential Gearhulk to see 5 more cards! 10 mana over two turns, and I get to see 10 cards hnnngh
• Mana is a bit sketchy, my overall curve might be a bit high. I should probably adjust my manabase, but I'm really considering a Snow build if I can buy 2 Prismatic Vistas
• Sideboard... I don't know about the second Spell Snare, or even the Ice-Fang Coatls. They haven't been stellar performers for me, and it seems like there's a decent amount of U and B at this store, so Veil of Summer sounds really good.

2019-07-11 Iron Buffalo with Sultai Teachings 2-2

Decklist: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/2025213#paper

Introduction:

• So I'm not going to be posting every event I go to any more, just the ones I feel like. Sorry!
• Played suboptimally for sure, but I want to focus on my sideboarding decisions this time & possible options/changes
• This is not a high quality post

Round 1 vs Ken on Eldrazi Tron (1-2, 0-1)
Drew poorly, mostly. Thought-Knot Seer was a pain.
Out: 1 Fatal Push, 2 Remand?
In: 1 Ceremonious Rejection, 1 Hero's Downfall, 1 Summary Dismissal
Eldrazi Tron is basically a midrange deck with stompy threats. Remand is good if I can dodge Cavern, but I feel like the two counterspells I boarded in fill the role better. Hurkyl's Recall would be a niche choice for the Karn + Lattice combo, but it's really a gotcha interaction that only works once in the match. However, for the other artifact matchups I feel that Fracturing Gust is already great, as well as Consume the Meek versus the artifact creature decks.
It's possible I should be taking out Blast Zone in this matchup.

Round 2 vs Adam on Neoform (2-0, 1-1)
Game 1 he plays two Waterlogged Groves, then a Yavimaya Coast. My mind is blank, but then he casts an Allosaurus Rider and tries to Eldritch Evolution it. I come back to my senses, manage to tap my two lands for a Remand, and he concedes.
Out: 1 Fatal Push, 1 Surgical Extraction
In: 1 Dispel, 1 Shadow of Doubt
Game 2 is slow. He hits me with a Wild Cantor for about 12 damage because I don't feel pressured & let it live, instead holding up multiple counterspells. I'm sitting on three Cryptics, so after a while I start bouncing his lands end of turn. Eventually I drop Torrential Gearhulk and smash.

Round 3 vs Bill on Jund Shadow/Dreadhorde Arcanist (2-1, 2-1)
I asked a friend what he was playing, then promptly forgot. I then kept a hand with a bunch of 4 drops and lost.
Out: 3 Remand, 1 Torrential Gearhulk
In: 1 Consume the Meek, 2 Fatal Push, 1 Weather the Storm
Games 2 & 3 I keep sturdier hands, draw a bunch of cards, and take over the game through sheer card advantage. Devour Flesh is great in this matchup, and is why I don't replace it with Liliana's Triumph or Diabolic Edict.

Round 4 vs Andrew on 4C Zoo (0-2, 2-2)
Some misplays, got run over. BBE is the bane of this deck's existence.
Out: 1 Opt?, 3 Remand, 1 Surgical Extraction
In: 1 Consume the Meek, 2 Fatal Push, 1 Life Goes On, 1 Weather the Storm

Thoughts:

• General: Played pretty sloppy, kept some loose hands. I think I need more practice with the London mulligan.
• Possible changes: Hurkyl's Recall? Maybe cut Weather The Storm for being too cute? Maybe I should be on the snow plan with Ice-Fang Coatls.

2019-06-05 Dark Forest with Sultai Teachings 2-1

Decklist: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1980187#paper

Introduction:

• I've been a bit remiss about recent reports, but suffice it to say that I've 1-3'd and 2-2'd several events with Sultai and a little bit of Mardu Pyro
• So Spring // Mind was a bust
• I've added maindeck Surgical mostly for Phoenix, but haven't seen it much lately.
• Gearhulk as 4th Snapcaster

Round 1 vs Christian on UW Control (2-0, 1-0)

Christian's deck features all the new toys from the recent sets: Narset, 3-feri, Dovin's Veto.

Game 1 I countered all his threats, then USZ'd repeatedly until my deck was all Nexus & USZ, effectively threatening to deck him. Pulse of Murasa & Snap-Pulse was pretty crucial to accumulating enough mana. In total, I cast USZ 4 times for 7, 9, 11, then 9 again to empty my deck.

Game 2 he mulls to 5, but has quite a few Dovin's Veto to win counter wars vs my embarrassing Dispel. I USZ 'dfor 8, Surgical'd Path, then won with a Snapcaster + Gearhulk beats.

Round 2 vs Mike K on not-KCI (2-0, 2-0)

I've played Mike & his deck before, though he previously had access to KCI. There are very clear targets to counter/remove from his deck, so it was a fairly straightforward match. The combo involves Semblance Anvil, Alhammaret's Archive, and Aetherflux Reservoir, alongside a suite of Tron lands, Buried Ruin, and 2 mana cantripping artifacts.

Game 1 he had a Buried Ruin-heavy hand, allowing him to rebuy artifacts a few times. No Reclamation/USZ/Nexus shenanigans, so I just hit him a few times with a Snapcaster for pressure. Teachings for Surgical in response to Buried Ruin on Reservoir led to a relatively early concession.

Game 2 was much the same of the first - non of the shenanigans, turn 1 Spell Snare as a stumbling block. Went draw-go for several turns, and I was holding on to a pile of Cryptics/Remands/Snapcasters that eventually led to double Snapcaster beats with double counter backup. He tried to stall me out with an Elsewhere Flask into Echoing Truth lol.

I appreciate the deck, because it's an interesting proto-brew of the KCI archetype. Admittedly, it lacks the same enablers, payoffs, and resiliency, but it's certainly a combo deck that has the trademark unfairness of modern (oh hey, mana reduction is broken who'd have thought).

Round 3 vs Brendan F on Humans (1-2, 2-1)

Game 1 I managed to chain Cryptics into Gearhulk-Cryptics into just enough swing-Gearhulk-Teachings-Teachings-Nexus-repeat to win.

Game 2 he had the SB cards: an early Sin Collector, Knight of Autumn vs a Reclamation I didn't play with Cryptic backup.

Game 3 I misplay. He has a huge board, and I'm able to stabilize with a Pulse (protecting myself from Vial'd Mantis Riders) and Cryptics. However, Surgical on Thalia reveals that he has a Selfless Spirit, protecting him from my Consume the Meek in hand. I misplay, by using Gearhulk to flashback Cryptic tap-draw when I should have been bouncing Gearhulk to stall. I need a third black source to Push Spirit + Consume on his turn, but then it turns out he topdecked a Phantasmal Image and I can't answer with two lands + CtM in hand.

• Sultai with Growth Spiral on 2 is a very different deck than Sultai without.
• Maybe don't need maindeck Surgical, but it's nice & the opportunity cost is low.
• Among the store owner & players present, I guess I'm known as the brews guy lol. I hope I can find & play more fringe but competitive decks since they're a ton of fun.
• Got foil Mystical Teachings! Not ideal since the deck is part foils & part non-foil, so there's the concern of marked cards.