Kataki or Volcanic Fallout against affinity?

Modern forum

Posted on Feb. 16, 2015, 10:14 p.m. by InnerFlame

I think I know the answer to this one since I haven't seen many decks run Kataki, War's Wage, but....should I run Volcanic Fallout or kataki war's mage in my burn deck to counter affinity? There's also some spell that I can cast and replicate to kill a number of artifacts...if anyone knows the name of that card and suggestions on if I should run it instead as well, I'd appreciate it.

My burn deck is boros main, and mardu sideboard.

dan8080 says... #2

Maybe I'm dumb but why not Shatterstorm?

February 16, 2015 10:16 p.m.

InnerFlame says... #3

4 mana is a lot for burn, dan8080. All burn really wants and uauslly has time for is 3 lands on the field.

February 16, 2015 10:18 p.m.

Osang says... #4

Shatterstorm and Stony Silence are much better options.

February 16, 2015 10:19 p.m.

kmcree says... #5

You're thinking Shattering Spree. I definitely wouldn't run Kataki. If you're just worried about Affinity, either Pyroclasm or Anger of the Gods could be good. Stony Silence is also very strong against Affinity. Something like Vandalblast might be another option, although its pretty costly.

February 16, 2015 10:20 p.m.

GlistenerAgent says... #6

As the burn deck, Destructive Revelry is your best card.

February 16, 2015 10:21 p.m.

InnerFlame says... #7

I dont ruin green and don't have any desire to GlistenerAgent

February 16, 2015 10:22 p.m.

It's more of a splash really. And it is your best card as you're not wasting a slot to run it.

February 16, 2015 10:25 p.m.

GlistenerAgent says... #9

In that case, Wear / Tear because Leyline.

February 16, 2015 10:25 p.m.

Dekordius says... #10

February 16, 2015 10:25 p.m.

@ Dekord

Only if he still wants to insta-lose to leyline.

February 16, 2015 10:26 p.m.

notamardybum says... #12

pyroclasm

February 16, 2015 10:29 p.m.

InnerFlame says... #13

I already run 4 Wear / Tear and it doesn't do enough, GlistenerAgent. I like the idea of Pyroclasm, kmcree

February 16, 2015 10:31 p.m.

Your matchup against Affinity is a literal race. Burn doesn't exactly go tempo without blue. Your best option is still just straight up trying to get them to 0 first. The problem with dropping a clasm is they'll still probably move everything with modular triggers from a ravager and smoke you anyway. It also doesn't hit Inkmoth Nexus or remove Cranial Plating.

Want to really fuck with Affinity. Chalice of the Void on 0.

February 16, 2015 10:38 p.m.

Osang says... #15

I hate Chalice of the Void on 0. It's a nightmare, shuts down fast mana and the chumpers/Springleaf Drum candidates.

I agree with racing, though. There's really nothing in Affinity's sideboard against burn, if that makes you feel any better. It's a little risky playing Leyline of Sanctity in the deck because of the thin colored mana base for Affinity.

February 16, 2015 10:55 p.m.

rorofat says... #16

Splashing green is your most effective bet. If not, Stony Silence screws with them the most. As far as board wipes go, the decline of delver has made Anger of the Gods better than Volcanic Fallout. The upside to fallout is if you cast it with a Monastery Swiftspear out, the swiftspear will live through it.

February 16, 2015 10:56 p.m.

InnerFlame says... #17

Stony Silence shuts down Steel Overseer, Cranial Plating, and Arcbound Ravager...anything else? I don't see a Chalice of the Void at 0 shutting them down. It seems like there is a nice spread between 0 to 3. But I could be wrong since I;ve never used it, can you explain it more fluffybunnypants and Osang?

I'm liking Pyroclasm and Volcanic Fallout. Pyroclasm because it only cost 2 mana and Volcanic Fallout because it is instant speed and deals 2 damage to the opponent as well. Anger of the Gods does 3 damage, but it seems like without Steel Overseer or Arcbound Ravager, all I really need to do is 1 or 2. And then I'm kind of being drawn to Shattering Spree because of the option of what to blow up...but then again I may get more for the mana out of the previous two for less mana, and it is also only sorcery.

I use to run 4 color and hated it. The deck just runs a lot smother with only 3 mana types in it as I'm not always having to relay on fetching a Sacred Foundry because I just drew a Stomping Ground instead. I took out the green as I found black to be more powerful, at least in my local meta. I'll try the four color splash of green and black for you guys, but it has failed me in the past.

February 17, 2015 12:18 a.m.

Osang says... #18

It basically kills off Mox Opal, one of the main colored mana sources that Affinity uses. It also eliminates the possibility of running out Memnites and Ornithopters. It's so devastating, as it technically eliminates two thirds of the colored mana the deck produces; Springleaf Drum is mostly there to be tapped alongside these 0-drop creatures early for fast mana. It's what gives Affinity its speed.

Imagine this scenario:

Playing the Chalice on 0 on your T1 shuts down their fast mana, leaving the Affinity player with only a Springleaf Drum play on T1. Leaves them with a bunch of countered 0 drops while stranding them with uncastable 2 drops until they topdeck something relevant, namely a land. That small stumble gives you all the time in the world against Affinity.

February 17, 2015 12:33 a.m.

InnerFlame says... #19

Osang: ahhhhh! I see, I see. Yeah I can definitely see how that can be good against affinity. Their land base is not strong with them. Is it relevant against other deck? I totally get that you don't want to wall one deck harder than any others so I am looking for cards that will be viable against all decks. It's making me really want to play green for the revelry.

February 17, 2015 12:38 a.m.

Osang says... #20

It used to be more relevant because of the 1-drop heavy Delver lists pre-Treasure Cruise ban. It really doesn't have much use nowadays other than to hose Affinity's early game and probably the occasional aggro brews and Soul Sisters/Martyr.

February 17, 2015 12:50 a.m.

TheFanatic says... #21

I would argue that Chalice of the Void is also great against Infect if you set it to 1. However, that's not something you want in a burn sideboard.

February 17, 2015 1:37 a.m.

JexInfinite says... #22

Chalice on 1 hits other burn pretty damn well, and also hoses fast decks like Zoo.

February 17, 2015 2:56 a.m.

Umm... Chalice affects you too.

February 17, 2015 9:33 a.m.

Also, Affinity is one of those hard matchups. I don't think you want to sideboard 7+ cards against them like you plan to, because then you will (guaranteed) have trouble actually winning the game against them. They topdeck action a whole lot better than you do when both of you trade resources early on.

February 17, 2015 9:38 a.m.

InnerFlame says... #25

GlistenerAgent: I'm siding in 6 against them. 4 Destructive Revelry and 2 Volcanic Fallout. The sideboard right now is in a lot of flux and will likely change.

February 17, 2015 10:50 a.m.

Six is fine. I wouldn't play any more.

February 17, 2015 10:52 a.m.

InnerFlame says... #27

Yeah I'm not GlistenerAgent. We're you referring to the Wear / Tears that I have in the sideboard? If so, those are for quick removal of Leyline of Sanctity in other decks.

February 17, 2015 11:06 a.m.

vishnarg says... #28

Anger of the Gods is the best early game Red board wipe after pyroclasm. One of those two is your best choice, after stony silence

February 17, 2015 1:14 p.m.

This discussion has been closed