Syncopate or Negate?
Deck Help forum
Posted on Dec. 1, 2013, 12:21 a.m. by Bluejayninja
I need some input on if i should put two Negate or two Syncopate in a deck I made recently.
DRAW ALL THE CARDS is the deck.
BerzerkFury365 says... #3
I'd reconsider both, but Negate is usually the safer option. Negate will safely say no to a non creature spell, as opposed to Syncopate, once the opponent has enough mana to play around with, Syncopate loses it's usability, especially if you're opponent doesn't use counter spells anyway.
December 1, 2013 10:21 a.m.
If I understand your deck correctly, the time when you're going to be casting your counters is in the early game, because in the late game you're going to be dropping your 5 and 6 cost finishers. So, I'd go with Negate over Syncopate, because you're not going to have a lot of spare mana to pay in an X cost spell.
Mana Leak would be even better though. Costs the same as Negate, but can also target creatures.
December 1, 2013 10:37 a.m.
Ultimaodin says... #5
Mana Leak for certain. missed the casual part. Syncopate is honestly one of my favourite counters but then again I only really like counter spells that let me counter all spells. Situational spells frustrate me personally. Against a control deck yeah, they're bound to play non-creatures anyway.
December 1, 2013 10:41 a.m.
Bluejayninja says... #6
Actually I think I'll stick with Syncopate because when I use Time Reversal , it gives them back any spell that I cancel with Negate or Mana Leak .
December 1, 2013 3:39 p.m.
Didgeridooda says... #7
Run 4 Dissipate . Also run 4 of the cards you want to use. A deck is much more effective with 4 of each instead of 2 of each. Also 4 counters is a little low, at least add 2 different ones at 4 each. There is better draw then Think Twice , I would rather have another Ponder , and a counter.
December 1, 2013 4:07 p.m.
Didgeridooda says... #8
Forbid
would be nice in here if you are only running a few counters. Considering you will have tons of cards to discard for the buyback.
December 1, 2013 4:08 p.m.
Bluejayninja says... #9
I think I'll still run 1 Syncopate as kind of a back-up. I think I might try taking out Think Twice and add a fourth Ponder and 1 more Dissipate .
So overall:-1x Syncopate -2x Think Twice +1x Ponder +2x Dissipate
December 1, 2013 10:44 p.m.
Didgeridooda says... #10
What advantage could Syncopate have over Dissipate ? At the cheapest, it will cost the same to cast. Personally I would run 4 Dissipate , and 4Forbid . Instead of Forbid you could run 4 Syncopate there too. You should be running more then 4 counters. Just 4 does not give you enough to depend on in a game. You really need 8 or 12 if you want to have them consistently.
December 2, 2013 1:06 a.m.
Bluejayninja says... #12
Also remember that when I play a Time Reversal it shuffles there graveyard into there library too so any spell you counter with Forbid will be potentially played again.
December 2, 2013 1:54 a.m.
Didgeridooda says... #13
I understand that. Which is why I thought you would want use the other 2 counters. One problem I see is you have no early game. How many turns do your games normally last? What kind of decks do your friends play?
December 2, 2013 2:08 a.m.
Bluejayninja says... #14
Well I don't really need to many early game counters right now. Syncopate is my main early game counter (More through turn 1-3ish), and Wall of Omens is my main early game blocker.
My friends mostly run later game decks too (except for the occasional artifact deck have an average cmc of less then 1).
December 2, 2013 2:16 a.m.
Didgeridooda says... #15
I ask because if you are playing some pretty competitive stuff, you will need to get faster. It seems like your group plays decks that your deck could match up well with though. So try out those changes, and see how it goes. The best way to work a deck is to play it. If something just does not help as much as you thought, then you should try something different.
Why the clones though? Good cards, but you need your specific guys instead of copies of your opponents guys. I would bench them and make the 2 that you like more in to 4s. Or pick one of them, and run 4, and the clones.
If you do need to beef up the early game let me know, and I can try to help.
December 2, 2013 2:30 a.m.
Bluejayninja says... #16
The Clone s are there to copy Psychosis Crawler and Consecrated Sphinx , but I'm thinking of dropping two and adding another cancel (probably a Syncopate ) and another Spirit Mantle . Btw do you think I should switch out Spirit Mantle for Aqueous Form ?
I will probably read your response when I wake up tomorrow by the way.
December 2, 2013 2:41 a.m.
Didgeridooda says... #17
You do not really want to attack with this deck. That makes both of these less important. Only running 2 of the Psychosis Crawler
, and Consecrated Sphinx
makes it difficult to draw one, let alone one of each. You will not have anything to clone if they are not out.
December 2, 2013 2:46 a.m.
Bluejayninja says... #18
I see your point but the deck is a deck based on drawing cards so I can get them pretty easily. But late game ( when I have a huge Psychosis Crawler or a Consecrated Sphinx ) I can use Spirit Mantle or Aqueous Form to attack if I'm having trouble getting a Consecrated Sphinx , Psychosis Crawler or Time Reversal in my hand.
Ultimaodin says... #2
Syncopate always. It counters any spell unless said player pays X. Negate doesn't target creatures which can make a massive difference.
December 1, 2013 10:12 a.m.