Cast a Shadow
Modern
SCORE: 150 | 314 COMMENTS | 26164 VIEWS | IN 75 FOLDERS
Testing Virulent Plague —April 5, 2016
I am seeing what happens if I swap Virulent Plague for Planar Outburst.
I hav found that I rarely Sideboard Planar Outburst in, and I think Virulent Plague might be a better option against Tokens.
The only problem is Enchantment hate, which I get the feeling might be quite prevalent.
Apart from adjusting the Sideboard, no more changes now until this deck has been played in a tournament.
I'll wait to see how it plays before making any further tweaks.
Thanks to all of those who have offered feedback.
Earlier comments have been tucked under the Comments button above.
For reference, the following cards have already been considered:
Archangel of Tithes
Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim
Descend upon the Sinful
Eerie Interlude
Eldrazi Displacer
Epiphany at the Drownyard
Evolving Wilds
Flaying Tendrils
Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
Gravepurge
Hallowed Moonlight
Hangarback Walker
Infinite Obliteration
Knight of the White Orchid
Linvala, the Preserver
Mirrorpool
Necromantic Summons
Painful Truths
Pick the Brain
Read the Bones
Reave Soul
Ruinous Path
Sea Gate Wreckage
Secure the Wastes
Silkwrap
Sinister Concoction
Stasis Snare
Thought-Knot Seer
Ultimate Price
Visions of Brutality
Westvale Abbey
Flip
If you want to see why they weren't added, check the comments.
Sea Gate Wreckage I'm not really keen on.
As I've said before, I don't want to put too many land cards in that tap for <>.
I wouldn't put both Sea Gate Wreckage and Blighted Fen in, and I like what Blighted Fen does better.
March 31, 2016 2:40 a.m.
Argeaux,
I suspect it's obvious to you, but wanted to mention anyways: If an opponent leaves up after sideboarding, it's probably Display of Dominance.
March 31, 2016 7:19 a.m. Edited.
Wasn't obvious at all, clayperce.
Thanks for the heads up.
So I will need to look at board wipe if I see that happening.
Or just a silly spell I don't mind fizzling, that is annoying enough to force that play.
March 31, 2016 8:43 a.m.
AgentGreen says... #5
Just a heads up
I am going to make a strong effort in building your deck; asides from the SOI cards, I am missing one Languish; one Kalitis, 2 vents and two Grasps
Time is of the essence for me, you're going to run this to the mill; I'm going to run it through a PTQ (there's one at my LGS next Saturday; a day after rotation)
April 1, 2016 10:56 a.m.
Oh good Lord, I hope this does OK for you.
I haven't tested it live to make tweaks.
April 1, 2016 3:31 p.m.
AgentGreen says... #7
It's a standard event; and there's an FNM Standard next Friday
If it underwhelms at FNM I can pass on that one (there's a SCG tourney and another PTQ later; April is tournament circuit apparently)
But I'll let you know
April 1, 2016 4 p.m.
Silverpandaria says... #9
i think Thought-Knot Seer could fit really nice here, you already have the mana with caves and bligted fen. With it u get possible hand disruption on turn 1,2 and 4 completly ruining ur opponents plan. Id say -1 ob nixilix and 1 cheap removal and stick in 2-3 seers. I think it would be ace
April 1, 2016 4:18 p.m.
NotSquishedYet says... #10
Thought you'd like to know some testing results, Argeaux.
I played most of a game between this and my Bant deck with the changes I have made to it. I am not entirely sure of the changes, but I decided the game was practically over when your deck had a 5/6 Kalitas with 3 zombies, a Nixilis emblem, and Nixilis alive at one loyalty against a single 5/5. (Turn 15)
This has convinced me to definitely find room for Declaration in Stone, Suppression Bonds, and/or Eerie Interlude. If not for two Languishes by turn 6, I might have had a chance. I think I may try Sigarda, Heron's Grace and/or Altered Ego to combat this and other decks. While looking for those, I realized that I had forgotten Thalia's Lieutenant. That could be important...
I will keep testing, and inform you of the results here, at my deck, or in both places.
For those wondering what I am talking about, here is the deck I was using for reference:
A Hundred Hands, A Thousand Swords
Standard*
SCORE: 4 | 11 COMMENTS | 989 VIEWS | IN 1 FOLDER
April 2, 2016 1:07 a.m.
NotSquishedYet says... #11
I played a second round, and the outcome was nearly the opposite. (Then again, I did not sideboard for either deck.)
This time, I was more familiar with how to play against control using my deck. Funny enough, that is something I had never had a chance to test. Your draws were not great, but mine were not far above mediocre if at all. By not overextending onto the battlefield, I was able to dodge your best-timed Languish(es), and my creature count was too high for your other removal to hit enough. I do not know if there is really a way, but the deck seems to falter when met with a strange change in tempo.
I think you absolutely need Brain in a Jar, after playing your deck; I was capable of winning because of your sorcery speed board-wipes not being able to hit Lumbering Falls or creatures with flash, putting you turns behind. It would allow for 'cute' moves that will make people hate you because they are effective: instant speed discard, instant speed boardwipes, lowering mana costs, and rigging draws with spare mana. Those 'cute' tricks were what got the last little bit through for me, locking down a Shambling Vent so that your deck could not gain life to draw out the game and support Anguished Unmaking.
I will try to save screenshots of this game, if you would like insight. The final standing was 26 : 0 life totals, bouncing a last-turn Kalitas to your hand with Reflector Mage to hit for lethal, while you had the mana but not the life for AU. I am guessing that you may feel somewhat hurt at possible incompetence using your deck; honestly, I agree, but I am not sure how. I tried to calculate your best moves, and even cheated knowledge of my deck's hand to best time mass removal.
I will keep testing and see which way the matches usually go. I would not mind tips on your play-style. ;)
April 2, 2016 2:19 a.m.
I don't feel "hurt" at all. Magic is a game.
You can't do anything about bad draw, and our playtests give a good idea of potential weaknesses.
April 2, 2016 6:11 a.m.
ob nixilis is one of my better cards. No way am I taking any of those out.
You really need to read my Update, Silverpandaria.
April 2, 2016 6:13 a.m.
XxQuestionxX cheers for that.
Now that I've got 80 votes I can stop Deckcycling this thing! lol
April 3, 2016 noon
icefire033 says... #19
Argeaux I thought of your deck when I see pro players testing BW control post rotation and maindecking Dead Weight. Visionary. Lol
http://www.starcitygames.com/article/32688_Ross-VS-Majors-Naya-Planeswalkers-VS-BW-Control.html
April 4, 2016 9:52 a.m.
AgentGreen says... #20
So far I got a few pieces for this deck; with another 10 packs coming this week (for finishing top 8 at pre-release)
I also learned that 3 out of 4 Saturdays at my LGS are slotted in with MTG-releated events; so I cut out the PPTQ for the 9th, giving me two weeks to prepare for the SCG provincial event.
April 4, 2016 11:28 a.m.
icefire033 and AgentGreen you both know that I have almost no idea what you're talking about, right?
lol
April 4, 2016 12:54 p.m.
AgentGreen says... #22
Should've been more specific
I'm trying to build a deck like yours; and now I have extra time to pull it off; with free packs to help that cause
Argy says... #1
I have Ob Nixilis Reignited in the build.
Sorin, Grim Nemesis can also kill Reality Smasher without discard, using his second ability.
I actually get a lot of card draw happening in this deck with the first ability of both Ob Nixilis Reignited and Sorin, Grim Nemesis.
March 31, 2016 1:56 a.m.