Top on legacy burn

Legacy forum

Posted on March 3, 2016, 9:30 p.m. by jethstriker

I know I may be late for this, but I recently saw a certain burn build in the internet that includes a single Sensei's Divining Top on maindeck (and one that even won a tournament). Further reading in this subject informed me that the purpose of the pilot in the top's inclusion is for the control & midrange matchup, as the top improves your chances of drawing into more burn, and fetchlands shuffles away unneeded lands.

I ask you guys if any of you has tried and has experience in this burn build and if it is good in a general burn, the one that is not just expecting a control & midrange matchup? I know what they say that if it doesn't deal damage, it doesn't belong in burn but, I can see the appeal of digging for that finishing Price of Progress or Fireblast.

If you want to sink your mana into something in burn that significantly increases your effective threat density, you can use Grim Lavamancer. Top is so bad in matchups that aren't... Miracles, I guess, that it's not generally worth playing unless your meta is ALL miracles, in my opinion.

March 3, 2016 9:59 p.m.

EndStepTop says... #3

Top is great as a singleton in burn. It clears up your late game better than most cards.

March 3, 2016 11:21 p.m.

If it's Andrew Croy's list, I know him! He's at Realms Games in Elkhart, IN. In any case, he told me he used a singleton Top in his Burn list to make his late game draws potent, often winning by drawing a spell to win. I'd like to test with it...

March 4, 2016 12:18 a.m.

jethstriker says... #5

aeonstoremyliver

I think the one I saw was from an Australian tourney. Anyway may I ask if your friend is using the top in anticipation of control matchups, or is using it in general? I guess what I'm trying to ask is if the top is just a meta call?

March 4, 2016 12:40 a.m.

He's using it in general, with Exquisite Firecraft in the side for Miracles and other control decks.

March 4, 2016 8:21 a.m.

sylvannos says... #7

I'm inclined to agree with NotSoLuckyLydia...Grim Lavamancer or even Cursed Scroll are probably much stronger cards to play in Burn over Sensei's Divining Top.

The problem with Sensei's Divining Top is you could just get locked out from the top of your library if you spin and see something like 2 Mountains and burn spell that doesn't kill them. Having an unblockable, repeatable source of damage in such a situation would straight-up kill them.

March 7, 2016 7:09 p.m.

mmdw34 says... #8

Watched burn on cam for SCG play top, it ended up saving the game for him it is perfectly fine as a 1 of

March 16, 2016 11:58 p.m.

This discussion has been closed