Beating Junk Rites
Standard forum
Posted on March 29, 2013, 3:59 p.m. by harrydemon117
So the question I see posted all over the net right now is, "How do I beat Junk Rites"?
I'm interested in everyone's opinions on how their deck fares against this behemoth (pun intended - Craterhoof Behemoth ) and what "techs" you use against them.
I usually run G/B/W colors, so I usually use Purify the Grave mixed with Golgari Charm if up against the mana dorks / Lingering Souls version.
What are YOUR "tricks"?
harrydemon117 says... #4
I've thought about running Selesnya Charm s at least in the sideboard, but I'm having a hard time making room for it. So far, Junk Rites is the only deck I've had trouble with, and I'm looking to improve that matchup before going to a TCGPlayer $5k event in may.
What are your thoughts on Ground Seal ?
April 16, 2013 2:44 p.m.
Deathrite Shaman shuts them down completely and turns their deck into a bad version of Junk Midrange.
April 16, 2013 7:54 p.m.
DARK_r3ck0n1ng says... #6
most decks right now are maining graveyard hate as linger souls is in quite a few decks. ground seal has seen 2 of in a lot of main boards as it draws you a card spots souls and grave effs giving you a better game 1.
April 17, 2013 2:16 a.m.
detentionsphere says... #7
Well actually, Junk is pretty tough to beat since if you try to hate their GY they will just go over the top of you with Craterhoof or Angel loops. I think there are three main ways to beat it:
Be faster than them and kill them before they set up. This is best achieved by Naya Blitz or RG aggro
Hate their graveyard to slow them down, then beat them with Olivia Voldaren and other midrange creatures. This is best achieved by Jund with maindeck Ground Seal
Lose game 1, then sideboard into a Jace, Memory Adept /Rest in Peace plan. This is best achieved by Bant, Esper, or UWR
April 17, 2013 4:48 a.m.
No one's mentioned Tormod's Crypt for graveyard hate. As long as you time when you cast it and sacrifice it, it works well and it's free. At least that's been my experience. It's also nice if you're using Scavenge as it doesn't exile your graveyard a la Rest in Peace .
April 17, 2013 6:55 p.m.
KrazyCaley says... #9
Board in Grafdigger's Cage
and Dissipate
is my answer.
April 17, 2013 7:36 p.m.
Rest in Peace , Purify the Grave , and my own Angel of Serenity s, as well as Syncopate and Dissipate are all good answers.
April 17, 2013 7:46 p.m.
harrydemon117 says... #11
I agree that counterspells are great vs them, and Esper control has a favorable matchup against Junk Rites.
My opinion on Tormod's Crypt and Rest in Peace is that your opponent will see it already on board and can plan to move to a more mid range battle plan. Ground Seal at least lets me draw a card when it comes in to replace itself so it's not just a "dead card" to be played around.
I run Junk Midrange (non reanimator)) and I'm looking for a way to answer it without hindering myself.
I'm liking Purify the Grave as it is instant speed with flashback AND has versatility vs Snapcaster Mage decks.
I have 1 Deathrite Shaman in there now, but I think it will have bad synergy with Ground Seal
Here's my current deck list if ya'll would take a look and give me some feedback on the Junk Rites matchup: Wolf Run JUNK
April 19, 2013 1:22 p.m.
@harrydemon117: I play Junk Zombies myself. After getting four Deathrite Shaman , I haven't lost a single round to Reanimator at FNM. At worst, he eats a removal spell that your opponent would otherwise save for something more important. At best, he absolutely cripples their deck AND kills them AND helps you keep up with Thragtusk . I would run Deathrite Shaman over Ground Seal any day of the week.
April 19, 2013 6:34 p.m.
detentionsphere says... #13
As an Esper control player, I can say the matchup is not favorable at ALL, at least in Game 1, which is an almost auto-loss... sure we have Sphinx's Revelation and Supreme Verdict , but they have Craterhoof, Lingering Souls , Angel of Serenity , Restoration Angel , Thragtusk , Unburial Rites ... in short they either overpower and outvalue us, or combo-kill us with Craterhoof.
Games 2 and 3 are definitely better (Rest in Peace , Jace, more Dissipate ), but it's still about 60/40 for us or something like that. So with the horrible Game 1 matchup (trying to kill an opponent who runs Lingering Souls and Unburial Rites with Drownyards feels so bad...), the matchup is pretty bad. This is part of why Esper has been fading away lately.
April 19, 2013 10:55 p.m.
KrazyCaley says... #14
Oh, and Slaughter Games . But that's good against practically evertyhing.
April 20, 2013 12:10 a.m.
Grafdigger's Cage is probably the least effective answer to Junk Rites. Most recent Rites lists are main-boarding Acidic Slime for two reasons: it's really good against control, and it destroys the main-board Ground Seal s popping up nowadays.
Purify the Grave is probably the best graveyard hate against Junk Rites. As others said, your opponent can't see it coming or prepare for it or play around it, and you get another shot once you've used it the first time.
I think Junk Rites's popularity is what's making Fog Control extremely viable right now. Junk Rites tends to just rely on that huge one-turn Overwhelming Stampede with Craterhoof Behemoth , and Fog just says "naw, bro." A board-wipe the turn after that is more-or-less a victory.
April 23, 2013 1:49 a.m.
Also, Golgari Charm gets rid of the opponent's mana-dork/Spirit-token army.
Electrickery , too.
chrisstick says... #2
Rest in Peace , Purify the Grave . How I beat Junk Rites unusually is to counter the Unburial Rites with Dissipate , and Syncopate . I also counter Angel of Serenity sometimes. Purify the Grave is probably the best way to deal with rites graveyard wise because they don't see it coming and you remove the creature they are targeting before it gets revived. To deal with Craterhoof I use Azorius Charm and Selesnya Charm . Taking out dorks early game with a board wipe really slows them down also.
April 16, 2013 2:27 p.m.