NotSoLuckyLydia says... #2
If you don't want to cut Primeval Titan , I'd still recommend at least some number of Wurmcoil Engine , because it still provides a powerful plan against aggro.
April 16, 2014 6:03 p.m.
megawurmple says... #3
NotSoLuckyLydia I'd have to disagree with you on a few counts. Firstly, far from being the weak link in the deck, Primeval Titan is actually one of, if not the strongest fatty in the deck. The ability isn't used to ramp into more fatties, but instead to fetch utility lands, namely Kessig Wolf Run , then the extra mana gained from all your lands can be pumped into that instead. It also has the added benefit of actually thinning your deck properly unlike fetch lands. However, I would agree that Wurmcoil Engine is very good if you are willing to splash some cash. Secondly, I disagree with the inclusion of Burning-Tree Shaman . Not only does it not fit with the theme of the deck (play massive stuff and beat face), but it also has the potential to harm you as much as your opponent if not more in a few match ups given the inclusion of Garruk Wildspeaker , Thrun, the Last Troll , Savageborn Hydra and crucially Kessig Wolf Run . Lastly, splashing for sideboard cards is never a good idea. You end up over complicating your mana base for a few cards that you may not actually use, and there are normally some answers in your colour combination anyway. For example, against combo and control, Ruric Thar, the Unbowed is more effective than Thalia, Guardian of Thraben .
April 16, 2014 6:33 p.m.
NotSoLuckyLydia says... #4
I didn't mean splashing soley for sideboard cards. Like it was mentioned earlier, Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite is one of the sweetest fatties in modern. (After Griselbrand and Emrakul, but those are a bit harder to play.)
Burning-Tree Shaman is for a few very specific decks, primarily Twin and Pod, which are hard matchups for this deck. (I've now playtested both of those) You usually won't play more than one or two activated abilities in a given turn, except with Savageborn Hydra , and taking damage against those decks isn't a huge deal, especially against pod. He's definitely not gonna be in the maindeck, though.
Ruric Thar, the Unbowed would be sweet, actually, I forgot he existed. (I don't play RG or standard very often.)
Primeval Titan is sweet, far better against pod and twin than the other decks I had played it against. I just personally don't like it in a lot of matchups.
I'd consider adding a few more copies of Fire-Lit Thicket , as it makes some really awkward hands very good. (two mountain one Wolfrun gets WAY better with a thicket instead) It also more reliably allows you to play double dorks on turn two.
I also think that more Torpor Orb are definitely needed, though. Pod and Twin are REALLY hard to beat without B, W, or U in the main, or a super fast plan. This deck isn't quite fast enough to beat most of the major combo builds, instead seeming to rely on its resilience against control and aggro to garner wins. If you find out that combo isn't very prevalent at your competitions, this deck may simply dominate.
April 16, 2014 6:50 p.m.
Hallowed_Titan says... #5
WOW!! Thanks TitansFTW and NotSoLuckyLydia! I love these kinds of comments! Unfortunately I have no cash to spend on any big cards-looking at you Wurmcoil Engine .
Lydia- I don't want to splash white as I'd become to much like Run, Fat Boy, Run! and I'd rather not do that to titan. I also feel 2 colors is best for me.
I feel the main board is as good as I can make it without spending more money. Homwever, what do you two ( TitansFTW, NotSoLuckyLydia ) think I need in my sideboard? I've not yet gotten to my LGS's modern Wednesdays due to my work schedule and pregnant wife. All the tech I could think to add, I have. I do have Grafdigger's Cage x2, Ruric Thar, the Unbowed x3, and another Pithing Needle .
April 16, 2014 7:36 p.m.
megawurmple says... #6
A list of cards I think you could have in the sideboard:
Grafdigger's Cage
Ruric Thar, the Unbowed
Thrun, the Last Troll
Sowing Salt
Ancient Grudge
Torpor Orb
Pithing Needle
Relic of Progenitus
I'd basically go with whatever combination of those is best suited to your meta.
April 16, 2014 9:07 p.m.
Hallowed_Titan says... #7
As much as I love my 2 singleton 'walkers, should I cut them for additional tech?
April 16, 2014 9:26 p.m.
NotSoLuckyLydia says... #8
With any sideboard card you're debating, think what you'd sideboard it in against. With Domri Rade , he's particularly good against control. What is Sarkhan good against? Is he good enough that he'd replace something else in your deck?
Also, you may want to consider playing (Or at least testing) Garruk, Primal Hunter , because CARDS ARE FUN!
April 16, 2014 11:49 p.m.
Hallowed_Titan says... #9
Sound advice. I need to get more of him to try out.
April 17, 2014 6:22 a.m.
NotSoLuckyLydia says... #10
You can always playtest on cockatrice or untap.in!
April 17, 2014 4:39 p.m.
Hallowed_Titan says... #11
True. I used to be on untap all the time until the update changed the menus. I hate it now. Im actively seeking out more Fire-Lit Thicket to improve my manabase. I have 1 primal hunter in my edh, but would like more.
April 17, 2014 5:33 p.m.
Hallowed_Titan says... #12
Alright then folks, should I keep the 1 of Lightning Bolt in my side or chuck it for another piece of tech?
April 20, 2014 11:42 a.m.
Hallowed_Titan says... #14
But why? Is beast not good enough? Its quite useful but id like to hear your thoughts.
April 20, 2014 2:43 p.m.
megawurmple says... #15
Lightning Bolt is so much more efficient. Most creatures in Modern can be killed by a bolt, so it often works just as well as Beast Within . On top of that, it only costs 1 mana, so you can play a Titan or other 6-drop on turn 3 and still have mana open for bolt, whereas Beast Within has a more restrictive cost. Beast Within also leaves your opponent with a beast token to chump block or beat down with. Finally, and crucially, if your opponent is at 3 or less life (or doesn't have any creatures), Lightning Bolt can simply be thrown at your opponent's face for damage. Bolt is cheaper and more versatile.
April 20, 2014 4:29 p.m.
InconspicuousPotato says... #19
Wow it's been a while since I've commented and it looks great! I still don't like the odd 1 of walkers though. My policy with Domri Rade is 4 or 0. Utopia Sprawl or Arbor Elf also seems better than Elvish Mystic . Some card draw like Harmonize or Garruk, Primal Hunter also seems nice too. Overall I'm really liking how this is turning out.
May 3, 2014 11:47 p.m.
Hallowed_Titan says... #20
I understand the Domri thing. It's probably just because I haven't played competitive yet is why I have 2 1 of walkers. I'm not sure how Arbor Elf is better with my manabase the way it is?
I def want to try out Garruk, Primal Hunter thought! Only have 1 ATM but it is in my EDH.
May 4, 2014 9:07 a.m.
InconspicuousPotato says... #21
I guess Arbor Elf isn't that much better other than it can untap your 1 of Stomping Ground .
May 4, 2014 12:42 p.m.
Hallowed_Titan says... #22
Thanks for the support and suggestions. They certainly help.
May 4, 2014 1 p.m.
AlphaAuthority says... #23
Glaring Spotlight or something with deathtouch :-)
May 13, 2014 7:41 p.m.
Hallowed_Titan says... #24
Wurmcoil Engine is a real need for this deck : ) Thanks : ) In the meantime I do have 2-3 spotlights.
NotSoLuckyLydia says... #1
So far, my playtesting has been against Walking the Pools, Riddle Me This, and Let's scoop to lightning bolt!. The main problems I noticed are that first, Primeval Titan seems a little weak in this deck. While it is a big 6/6 tramply monster, it's ability is fairly weak because 6 is generally where your curve tops out unless you draw a hydra. Wurmcoil Engine would likely be a good slot, as it has abilities that are more useful against both aggro (lifelink) and control (Death trigger.).
In the first game, this deck seems weak against combo decks. I would consider dedicating more sideboard slots for against those decks. Torpor Orb is a good start, but it is really only the start. Without blue, black, or white, your combo matchups suffer greatly in all three games, because you lack it counters of blue, the discard of black, and the incredibly powerful sideboard that white offers.
Since you do need to improve on these matchups, you may want to look to some more obscure cards. Burning-Tree Shaman is a blowout against both Pod and Twin, while leaving you untouched. An added bonus, it takes TWO lightning bolts for twin to remove it!
Dismember is a one mana removal for the wealth of creature based combo decks that populate the format. Against combo decks, the life loss really doesn't matter.
In some matchups, particularly UWR or Jund, Blood Moon is a powerful tool, as both of those decks have very sketchy mana bases. It also acts as the biggest powerhous you could ask for against Tron decks.
I would recommend you splash white, however, because this would give you access to enormously powerful sideboard cards, including Thalia, Guardian of Thraben , Rule of Law , and Stony Silence . I will continue playtesting this deck once I've sent in some job applications, because it is quite a neat deck!
April 16, 2014 5:41 p.m.