Can Erebos Be Dealt With?
Standard forum
Posted on Sept. 11, 2013, 7:38 p.m. by Spootyone
Obviously, there are ways around the Gods at this point. Exiling seems to be the best option, with things like Chained to the Rocks , Selesnya Charm and Detention Sphere being examples. That being said, the first two require the God be a creature, which a lot of good players will try to play around, and I'm sure i'm not the only one to think that a lot of the gods are best left in "enchantment-phase,"
On to the point. I currently plan on running a selesnya (G/W) semi-lifegain ramp deck using Archangel of Thune and Trostani, Selesnya's Voice as some of my biggest threats. When I saw Erebos, I cried a little inside. Not being able to gain life really shuts off a lot of my deck, and with Thoughtseize also being a thing I fear the worst for my deck.
My question is: Are there any good ways to deal with the gods (most importantly, Erebos) in G/W once rotation occurs? I understand Detention Sphere can handle things well, but I'm really really avoiding more than a 2-color deck. Suggestions? Thoughts?
Dunno about Erebos, but Heliod is a joke at this point. Glare of Heresy has that funny side effect.
September 11, 2013 7:55 p.m.
Ah okay thanks ljs54321. That something at least. At least if things get too bad I could take advantage of that.
I wonder if Theros will have anything similar but...well, cheaper.
September 11, 2013 8 p.m.
Well, I haven't looked at all the Spoilers for Theros, but, perhaps there will be something in there that will help with the Indestructible part. Maybe there will be something that will force the opponent to sacrifice a creature? Or, something that would force them into a 0 toughness without being damage.
I'm sure white (exile, pacify) and blue (countering) will be played heavily if others within their meta are playing the Gods.
September 11, 2013 8:08 p.m.
my bad Spootyone. i do believe Angelic Edict is the only card for now
September 11, 2013 8:09 p.m.
Thanks for the input Fataliny. So far, I see the biggest threat to be the Gods staying in enchantment form. There are some comments to be made about this:
This requires low devotion. In many ways this could be seen as limiting your own deck presence and, therefore, decreasing your chance for a win.
On the other hand, 2 and 3-color decks will still be a thing, most likely. These decks can much more easily get around a low devotion by focusing of permanents that dont have (for example) black in the casting cost.
IF The gods enter creature-mode, I'll be clinging onto my set of Selesnya Charm to smack them right in the face with a nice exiling. And likewise, tons of other cards in the format can take care of them in creature-mode. But it's the "what-ifs" of Erebos being lifegain hate that i'm so scared of haha.
September 11, 2013 8:14 p.m.
tempest No problem! I figured it was just a slip. I may just have to use Angelic Edict ...so sad xD
September 11, 2013 8:15 p.m.
"Spooty's Rage
2GW - instant
Exile target Erebos or any other thing standing in your way of angelic power. You must tell your opponent to 'suck it' as part of this card's casting cost.
'A God? All I see is a pile of stardust...'"
OH! perfect!
September 11, 2013 8:19 p.m.
Hey, don't forget Indestructible is a keyword now, look to the fuse cards :)
September 11, 2013 8:23 p.m.
atreyujames says... #14
it still has to be a creature for turn to work.
September 11, 2013 8:34 p.m.
IDK, things that affect enchantments can hit it even if it's in creature form because it has the enchantment type. I would think the ruling would work the other way around
September 11, 2013 8:41 p.m.
While that is true, the gods all have an ability which makes them not a creature if your devotion is less than 5, and therefore an illegal target of Turn&Burn.
Also, the OP said he wants to stay in Selesnya, so Turn / Burn isn't really an option.
September 11, 2013 8:47 p.m.
There is Celestial Flare and Selesnya Charm for when it's a creature, but besides that, not much. Us GW players can only hope.
September 11, 2013 9:17 p.m.
I'm of the opinion that there will be something in theros for G/W to deal with the gods, seeing as how limited the options are now. I don't feel like they would create these powerful god cards and then make it so you can't deal with them. If there was no way for G/W to deal with them then it would discourage the use of G/W, and I'm under the belief that they want the kinds of decks being used to be diversified. The game is just more fun when a variety of decks can be competitive. Having said all that, there still is no telling what is yet to be spoiled, so we could all be in for a surprise if there is nothing in theros itself to deal with these.
September 11, 2013 10:15 p.m.
@all thanks for the responses! Goody haha right? I've got both in there but...cmon theros...dont let me down...
September 11, 2013 11:33 p.m.
Maybe...maybe they'll reprint Oblivion Ring at the last second! :D And we'll all rejoice! And then I'll wake up!
September 11, 2013 11:45 p.m.
nah, watch, there'll be a more expensive functional reprint in similar vein as Lightning Strike, but more expensive than Oblivion Ring of course :D
September 11, 2013 11:51 p.m.
O-ring won't see a reprint, from where I'm standing. Chained to Rocks is WotC's response to your pleas.
September 11, 2013 11:53 p.m.
KnightsBattlecry001 says... #23
Swan Song, one of the new cards spoiled yesterday, can counter him when he's played. Other than that, there isn't a whole lot that can deal with him as of now besides Chained to the Rocks , Angelic Edict , and Detention Sphere .
September 12, 2013 12:14 a.m.
I don't think you're going to have to worry too much about him.
Among the god cards, Erebos just isn't that good. His activated ability is just a worse Greed , which is a card that never has seen any play, even back at the very beginning of Magic. It looks really, really bad compared to something simple like Sign in Blood , which also never saw wide play. The static ability, while it hoses your lifegain deck pretty hard, does exactly zero against most of the format.
Of course at the beginning people are going to be trying, as they do with every new format, to make a viable MBC deck. So you'll probably run into him a little. In this new Standard with all of its enchantments, I don't think that having Angelic Edict in the sideboard is a bad idea at all if you run a deck that has a lot of trouble with any of the gods.
Just as a sidenote, I saw the mention of Celestial Flare , but that's not a good solution. If Erebos is a creature, there are probably several other creatures in play along with him, and your Flare is unlikely to hit the card you want it to.
September 12, 2013 1:59 p.m.
Barandis thank you for the post! I think what you're saying has potential to be completely correct. In the position I'm in, I'm liable to over think the idea that someone would hate-build against me which is silly in a way.
I've already got sundering growth sideboard, but I also put in a single angelic edict on the off-chance that actually does happen.
As for the flare, I agree about its use on any god. I do already have it main board though as its a pretty useful combat trick that often makes an opposing doubleblock detrimental to them.
tempest says... #2
Naturalize
September 11, 2013 7:53 p.m.