I'm in love with this list <3, especially the Negate over Disdainful Stroke in the main.
I normally run a 4-2 split of Hero's Downfall/Sultai Charm, but I think I'll try 3-3 now.
Great deck! :D
February 19, 2015 7:25 p.m.
Hey Kingzerker thanks for the comment!
I'm taking it to FNM tomorrow, I'll post the results soon after!
I've played U/B in the past and while I was winning a lot I did not have fun with it. Once I was playing against a friend and for fun I sidedecked all my threats in my MB so I was running 3 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver 2 Prognostic Sphinx, 2 Pearl Lake Ancient. That day I realised I enjoyed playing control, but that I enjoyed playing threats too. Sultai is just that in my opinion, and while being ''funnier'' it's still highly competitive!
People are used to sideboarding against U/B and im betting on the fact that they will sidedeck the same way against Sultai!
February 19, 2015 7:32 p.m.
@ tclaw12
Thanks for the love haha! I read Fabiano's update thoroughly including the comments. He answers 1 out of 10 of them and one that caught my attention is someone that argued that running Negate MB instead of Disdainful Stroke was better. Fabiano's answer was ''you might be right on this...'' I mean... what creatures do we really want to counter with Disdainful Stroke? Counter spells are used against cards that force us to two for 1, the only creature of that sort I can think of is Wingmate Roc, still then Crux of Fate or Thoughtseize can still deal with it. Negate just feels like more utility to me, it still counters planeswalkers, it counters other counters, Abzan Charm, Hero's Downfall, all burn.
Unless you're playing against another ''superfriend'' build, 3 Hero's Downfall should do the job. The 4th one in the sideboard is to make sure U/Bs Ugin, the Spirit Dragon does not stay on the board too long. Sultai Charm is such a good card, it adapts to all matchups and situations! Mostly, running 3 raises the probability of making strong anti enchantment plays
February 19, 2015 7:49 p.m.
I just tested this deck out, 4 games and two were the abzan aggro variants. How do you stop their fleece lions when you don't have a thoughtseize in hand to deal with them?
February 20, 2015 5:52 p.m.
Hello Magic45!
There's 4 Bile Blight, 3 Hero's Downfall, 2 Murderous Cut 1 Silence the Believers and 3 Crux of Fate to deal with the lion early on, but I guess that's is not really your question... If at any point the opponent has a Fleecemane Lion that can go monstrous, you must NOT tappout EVER. By doing so he cannot make it monstrous without risking losing him to removal on the stack (if you need further explanation on how this works just ask). If you couldn't do anything and he his indeed monstrous, the only thing that can save you game 1 is Ugin, the Spirit Dragon... However, game 2 there's Tasigur, the Golden Fang, Silumgar, the Drifting Death and Rakshasa Deathdealer that can block it effectively. I've played 3 best of 3 yesterday against a friend that plays abzan aggro and surprisingly I won the 3 of them!
I'm posting my FNM results right now stay tuned!
February 22, 2015 11:08 a.m.
I actually really want to try this out with my local meta. too bad i have like 0% of the cards. I play abzan, so that certainly doesn't help
February 22, 2015 7:19 p.m.
Kingzerker says... #10
Sounds like the deck really performed the way you wanted it to. Losing to aggro is the risk this deck faces G1 in order to play so well against midrange. That being said, how did your matchup against aggro feel after sideboarding? Do you think you could've won the match if your board included more Drown in Sorrow or had a few copies of Negate?
Thanks for the write-up! :)
February 22, 2015 7:22 p.m.
@ ceji3 yeah well the deck is kind of on the expensive side... My evolution was U/B control --->Sidisi Whip---->Sultai control so it was not too bad.
@ Kingzerker The deck already runs Negate mainboard! As to Drown in Sorrow, I only ran 1 sideboard last friday and I did not see it the 4 games I played with it! Since I now run Silence the Believers maindeck that opened a spot for an additional DIS. And yes, I think I could've won the match since both Mardu Aggro and Jeskai Aggro have the same Seeker of the Way into Goblin Rabblemaster opening! I haven't seen Feed the Clan on games I brought it in too...
Seriously the star of the sideboard is Tasigur!
February 22, 2015 11:34 p.m.
hey again. thanks for the suggestions, yes I do know how to remove if they monstrosity it. what are your thoughts on Nullify ? the meta is heavy monsters so I thought of working in that card. also, there was a study on dig through time and running 3 is good enough. I'll try to find the article. the chances with 3 is great and drawing into 2 most of the time is a dead card. thoughts? it would free up to use another Downfall or bring in Dissolve?
February 22, 2015 11:39 p.m.
The problem with both Nullify and Dissolve is that they're dual . Since we're playing 3 colors having the dual can be a real problem. Also, the mana base is way slower than U/B so counter spells are going to be extremely hard to pull off on time. I don't think going counter spell is the route to go with Sultai... The deck has 18 removal cards, I don't see how creatures are a problem? Planeswalkers are a problem when you don't have counter spells, and Nullify does not counter planeswalkers!
I'm interested in reading your articles on Dig Through Time. Did they analyse it in a vaccum, in U/B or in Sultai? Cause in this deck it's soooo good with Satyr Wayfinder and I would never ever go to 3 maindeck. By the way, when Tasigur, the Golden Fang and Necropolis Fiend come in game 2 I take out 1 Dig Through Time.
February 23, 2015 12:35 a.m.
ahh ok, that makes sense now. all good points... really looking forward to test this out at my local shop (channel fireball). very tough competition. I'll let you know the results, please keep this going and update with changes if you figure out breakthroughs :)
February 23, 2015 12:40 a.m.
Hey EssTea, will you let me know how Silence the Believers does? I have yet to see an Ashcloud Phoenix at my LGS, but if they start popping up, I'd like to be ready for them.
I was also wondering what you think about my SB -
1x Liliana Vess
Our Mainboards are almost identical so it would be nice to get some feedback. I have a PPTQ on March 7th, and I would like to be as prepared as possible.
Thanks! :D
February 23, 2015 10:15 p.m.
Also, what are your thoughts on Jack Fogle's Sultai list from GP Memphis - Link. It seems pretty strait forward except he cut -1x Murderous Cut for 1x Treasure Cruise. In the SB, it seems he cut Feed the Clan for Pharika's Cure.
February 24, 2015 1:38 a.m.
@ tclaw12
Silence the Believers is also good against the annoying Rakshasa Deathdealer. If you plan on going to a pptq I think STB is a good one of. If ever you're in need of one for the phoenixes or rakshasa you can Dig Through Time to find it (and you know how fast this deck can DTT!). My personal experience with STB is that it is awesome in conjunction with dig through time late game for the strive.
My first impression of your sideboard is : why sidedeck planeswalkers into planeswalkers? If I get your reasoning you seem to be switching them to have better planeswalkers against control right? While being better, I think you're spending slots uselessly... U/B will be siding in all his counter spells after seeing this build, landing planeswalkers gets really hard... And anyways, while kiora and ashiok ain't optimal, they still need to answer them eventually (plus they're easier to get under the radar) I think Fabiano's choice of including creatures is the best one because they're both good against aggro and control. Anyways, please tell me your reasoning behind this!
Also, why no Pharika's Cure? Against boros burn it's awesome since all their creatures are 2 toughness. They won't always play 2-3 creatures. Gaining two life and interacting earlier than drown in sorrow is a good reason to put 1 or 2 in my opinion!
February 24, 2015 7:27 p.m.
I think i'll give Silence the Believers a shot, you make some great points there.
I think you are probably right about the planeswalkers as well. I really like Nissa, Worldwaker versus Ugin, the Spirit Dragon in the control mirror, but it might be too narrow. That being said I think I will keep Liliana Vess for now.
I was using a 3rd Drown in Sorrow over Pharika's Cure but I think I will try 1-2 Pharika's Cure.
What do you think about this?
1x Liliana Vess
February 24, 2015 7:57 p.m.
@tclaw12
Looks good to me! I like Liliana Vess against control, particuliarly in this deck.
Play liliana, -1 to get another planeswalker. Liliana is like a scapegoat, eating downfall for the team!
Ohh and about Jack Fogle's build. The extra Treasure Cruise needs to be seen like a 5th Dig Through Time. Seriously, I think what makes this deck strong is the Dig Through Time + Satyr Wayfinder thing. I've cast dig as early as turn 4 with the deck, so the same could be said about Treasure Cruise... Now the question we must ask ourselves is can we spare a removal spell? What are your thoughts on this? I like the extra Treasure Cruise but I also like the 2x Murderous Cut!
February 24, 2015 10:10 p.m.
Haha I was thinking the same thing! Both cards are super good in this deck, and I can see myself going either way. I think I'll try the Treasure Cruise this FNM and see how it goes. Anything that persuade's you to go one way or the other?
February 24, 2015 10:45 p.m.
I was also considering Jace's Ingenuity. Fabiano ran that sorcery speed draw-x spell, but I think I would be more comfortable with an Instant. It would also let us keep 2x Murderous Cut. Thoughts?
February 25, 2015 2:08 a.m.
@tclaw12
I think the problem with Treasure Cruise is the sideboarding in of Tasigur, the Golden Fang. Might have some delve issues game 2.
I think Jace's Ingenuity is a card that could work, I like it better than Interpret the Signs! I think my deck could be better with one more draw card spell.
Anyways, I managed to finish 3-0 at my last FNM! I figured Necropolis Fiend cost way too much and I'm gonna try Reaper of the Wilds. Fabiano said that Polukranos, World Eater was sometimes hard to cast because of the turn 4. I think the reaper can do the work, plus my opponents are starting to know that I have creatures game 2, so the hexproof might come in handy! What are your thoughts?
@ Magic45 you might want to have a read on my update too!
Peace!
March 1, 2015 1:17 p.m.
Actually... I think I'm gonna try Interpret the Signs for next FNM!
March 1, 2015 1:30 p.m.
Redhookdave says... #25
I love this list and have been running it since I saw Gerard running it in Washington. I run Negate main as well, but took out Murderous Cut and Interpret the Signs for them. Love countering thoughsieze, burn, and removal all day!
I am trying out Torrent Elemental where you have reaper. It hasn't come up yet, but I think it will be impossible to get rid of once it hits the board. I really wanted to jam Sagu Mauler in here, but i think the Rakshasa Deathdealers are better.
seriosly awesome, i just wish we could close out games faster sometimes!!!
Kingzerker says... #1
Really like your list! Also I definitely agree that Sultai is a much funner color combination to run instead of just plain U/B. Would love to hear about your results with this deck in the future :)
February 19, 2015 7:16 p.m.