Why is there an absence of Thrun, the Last Troll in G/B/x Sideboards?
Modern forum
Posted on Feb. 16, 2015, 7:19 p.m. by Andrirox
The title says it all. I was wondering why people are not running Thrun in their sideboards for the control matchup anymore. Is it just because control is not well positioned in the current meta-game and people do not anticipate playing a control deck? If there are any G/B/x players out there: Are you running him in your sideboard? If so/not why?
bijschjdbcd says... #3
I'd imagine because Control isn't particularly popular at the moment, That and their sideboard probably has matchups in mind which are actually bad.
February 16, 2015 7:22 p.m.
filledelanuit says... #4
The main reason is that control doesn't really exist today in modern.
@bijschjdbcd control tends to be a pretty bad matchup for BGx.
February 16, 2015 7:49 p.m.
bijschjdbcd says... #5
Really?!?!
I have never felt that matchup was favourable, They maindeck Lingering Souls and discard.
How is it a bad Matchup?!
February 16, 2015 7:56 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #6
Because you out-attrition them. Sphinx's Revelation and Snapcaster Mage alongside burn for their Lilianas is hard to beat. You can generally kill stuff faster than they can attack with stuff.
February 16, 2015 7:58 p.m.
bijschjdbcd says... #7
I'm not saying its unwinnable, But its hardly a horrible matchup.
My perspective as a Control player, They have so many angles they attack you from and so many must answer threats.
February 16, 2015 8:03 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #8
Right, I suppose my reasoning doesn't suddenly apply to all of your past experiences. :)
In the time I've played the deck, I've only lost when they chain 2 discard spells into Liliana and a big creature. Even then, you can topdeck wraths and burn spells for their Liliana.
Otherwise, I often get them down to no cards and nothing in play. It's hella fun.
February 16, 2015 8:06 p.m.
filledelanuit says... #9
Both Esper and UWR control are both bad matchups for BGx. Burn, revelation and snappy can really easily out attrition them from UWR and Esper runs too many sweeper and too much spot removal to be able to stick a creature even with Lingering Souls. Lilly is the only real way to win the matchup and even she get get countered most games by a savvy opponent.
February 16, 2015 8:13 p.m.
bijschjdbcd says... #10
It's completely dependent on play/draw and the particular draw of the deck. While that is true for all games of magic cards in the matchup tend to bounce of each other.
Them resolving a Lily is horrible for you, Assuming you need to burn it out that takes 2 cards, add the the one from the Lily + makes it a 3 for 1.
Topdecking a Rev late game is gas.
Think Twice is an all star.
February 16, 2015 8:13 p.m.
bijschjdbcd says... #11
A savvy opponent can't stop discard stripping your mana leak for the Lily.
February 16, 2015 8:15 p.m.
bijschjdbcd says... #12
Esper isn't even a top tier archetype.
But I can see them being favored in the match up more so than UWR.
February 16, 2015 8:17 p.m.
aeonstoremyliver says... #13
Esper control is fringe at best, Esper Gifts a better chance. That being said, devoting one slot to Thrun in the SB would be a good idea. He's a house regardless.
February 16, 2015 8:30 p.m.
ChiefWannaHacka says... #14
Thrun, the Last Troll was an auto include as a one of in the side after Shaun McClaren had won the PT with UWR. He's also not so bad in the tempo match ups like Twin. The problem with that is that prior to this most recent PT, both UWR and Twin had fallen in popularity. Then Khans hit, and GBx fell off in popularity as it couldn't keep up with TC. You might find a resurgence in the "one of" in the side if twin begins to rise in the percentage of the Meta along with GBx's resurgence.
February 16, 2015 11:14 p.m.
even when control exists as tier 1-1.5 GB rock playing hand disruption and using Lili otv is already heavily favored
February 17, 2015 12:08 a.m.
JexInfinite says... #16
lordoftheshadows It's not that control is bad. Control is never really bad. It's just that nobody took it to the pro-tour because it was a new meta. You can't take a control deck blindly to a PT. You need to be prepared for every deck, and you can't do that without knowing what other people are playing.
Abzan players should know this, and thus not include Thrun until Control decides how it wants to handle everything.
EmblemMan says... #2
Not many people are playing control...thats all
February 16, 2015 7:22 p.m.