What does Temur Delver have that Grixis doesn't?
Modern forum
Posted on May 31, 2015, 8:52 a.m. by pleasiodmakerblooloo
The title is pretty self explanatory. Ever since Temur Delver deck took down that tournament, I've been wondering what does it actually have that Grixis doesn't? It just seems to swap Tasigur, the Golden Fang for Tarmogoyf and Gurmag Angler for Hooting Mandrills. Does it play a different style due to these differences, is it worth losing strong removal for simply different creatures. Is Tarmogoyf really that good? Why would a person play Temur over Grixis?
canterlotguardian says... #3
"Is Tarmogoyf really that good?"
No. It's way too overhyped.
May 31, 2015 11:24 a.m.
Yes tarmogoyf is that good.
It's easier to cast most of the time than any of those delve spells (you dont have to have a full graveyard) and most of the time will be at least as big as Tasigur, but often bigger.
Because it doesnt rely on the graveyard you can use 4 copies with ease without having to worry about screwing around with cheap spells etc. You can cast multiple in one turn without any effort, AND if they do remove it it's likely the removal spell will cost the same amount of mana or more than goyf itself - it's a fantastic tempo piece. Also goyf cares less than delve spells about graveyard exile. Delve spells become uncastable, goyf just gets smaller.
It's legit the best creature in modern, hands down. Edit: you have to play him to sort of realise this though.
Also green is better for sideboarding than black.
May 31, 2015 12:09 p.m. Edited.
ChairmanMeows says... #5
Green and White tend to have the best sideboarding and Grixis has access to neither of these.
June 1, 2015 2:29 a.m.
canterlotguardian says... #6
"You have to play him to sort of realise this though."
That's exactly like my aunt telling me, "You can't criticize other people's bad driving if you're not a driver yourself." Um, just because I don't have my driver's license (when it was suspended from a DUI), doesn't mean I can't recognize when other people can't drive worth a shit. Same with 'Goyf. Just because I don't use it, doesn't mean I can't recognize that it's way too overhyped.
June 1, 2015 2:27 p.m.
Goyf is the most efficiently creature in modern. Maybe even in magic. I'm willing to allow people the benefit of the doubt in missing the significance of this if they haven't played with him because its a subtle advantage not that's obtusely obvious, but if you reject this notion then I'll move to my latter explanation for you missing this - you don't understand high level modern. Your analogy doesn't quite follow because bad driving is an overtly obvious characteristic. Tempo advantage in a card game isn't.
A 2 mana creature that threatens 4/5+ mana creatures, that costs the same as most removal or counterspells, and that progressively gets bigger as that game goes on is stupidly good. The fact that he costs the same or less than most removal or counterspells isn't something that most people immediately realise is gamebreaking. But it is.
He's not $180 because he's "overhyped". He's $180 because he's a mandatory 4-of in almost every green deck in every eternal format and modern as well. He's not liked because it's 'cool' to like him; he's liked because he is literally that good.
bijschjdbcd says... #2
Metagaming, I can see Temur being better for Ancient Grudge and Destructive Revelry sideboard aswell as Scavenging Ooze.
May 31, 2015 9 a.m.