We are in the final 2 weeks of Scars standard. These are the lists I have been able to find from MTGO that really exemplify diversity and ingenuity. Hopefully it can give some people that last hurrah before things change.
As mentioned by Gerry Thompson here there is a 4 color control deck on the rise.
dark_rose_67 (3-1)
Standard Daily #4340612 on 09/14/2012
As you can see there are small, evolutionary differences. Some number tweaks. And the manabase changes to accommodate them.
Hopefully as time goes by, people will contribute experiences and tweaks so that those looking to get into this style of deck can have a place to start.
Single Card Explanations:
Pacifism
Vs. - Thrun or Geist of Saint Traft
Pristine Talisman
Vs. - Moorland Haunt
Elesh Norn
Vs. - Inkmoth Nexus, as well as, most forms of aggro
Ghost Quarter
Vs. - Moorland Haunt/Inkmoth Nexus/Kessig Wolf's Run
Whipflare
Vs. - Delver decks (Direct response to inclusion of Invisible Stalker and near universal Geist of Saint Traft)
Slagtorm is harder on the manabase and Delver has no way to pump creatures besides equipment.
Michael Jacob played the same list with only one difference: -1 Traveler's Amulet, +1 Forbidden Alchemy. I believe that MJ had a feature match in the earlier rounds if you go and check the archives.
So why is the Pacifism better than any random snap-castable black removal?
Pacifism + Sun Titan = Stops Hexproof!
I've grinded a bunch on MTGO 2-mans with this deck lately, and the mana base is a thing of beauty. Desperate Ravings is as powerful as advertised with this much recursion and Inayaga's WRR is an incredibly good match-up.
On the flip side, the Wu humans match-up is not great (as they can grind you out in the long run with Moorland and HotP but still apply incredible pressure first 3-4 turns), and Bant Pod seems to be a disaster in the few matches I played against it.
I played around with this deck, and it is good. However, in my experience, the singletons and the manabase make it inconsistent. I know that correlation means little, but I believe the inconsistency is shown in the amount of 3-1 records you cited. Consistency issues do not wreak havoc in every game, but over the course of a tournament it shows. I just feel that it is a less consistent Grixis control deck.
The Sun Titan lists are more singleton Solar Flare. The ones without play more like Grixis. Another point that I would like to chime in on is the use of sideboard and the variations on 2-3 cards. You'll notice that the lone Incinerate and Talisman didn't last long before they became Ratchet Bomb and Pacifism.
On the other hand, I think this deck truly relies heavily on Sun Titan (the version that runs it). With only Sun and WSZ being the heavy hitters. I don't consider Norn a wincon, but rather a living Curse of Death's Hold.
The various 1-ofs overlap and support each other. The 3rd "Snappy" in the SB is only needed at certain times. The LTS (Test Subject) is mostly for Ramp... I think knowing your meta and tuning seems to be the theme of this particular standard season. See Illusions for a perfect example. Sometimes the best sideboard can carry a tournament, other times it can sink it. I think this is an evolving and changing machine that need to be tuned, probably every week or per meta.
If anyone has experience with sideboard strategies or "loadouts" vs. certain decks.. I'm rather unfamiliar with them, especially when people talk about taking out 2 Mana Leaks, etc.
FYI, Combust vs Mirran Crusader/Hero of Blade Hold in Humans/Moorland Aggro
Obviously it's not going to be the list that sets the world on fire, hence the Jin-G, but I enjoyed playing it. My FNM isn't the roughest meta by any sense, but it beat a Flare deck, 2 RDW with proliferate and a pile for the 4-0. I've got to see if it has any game against Wolf Run, since that's what everyone in my area is switching to. Last time that happened en masse there were bannings, but none of those cards are blue so I'm sure Wolf Run is fine ;p Side was just Spellskites, some more removal, C-Purge, Wurmcoil and DoJs.
What in your sideboard? And can we get more info on RDW, or was it Titans=Win?
If you're asking me, my board was 3 Flashfreeze, 3 Spellskite, 2 Celestial Purge, 1 Wurmcoil, 2 Memoricide, 1 DoJ, 1 Dismember, 1 Tribute to Hunger. Wasn't really sure what would be good so I just hedged against what I'm used to seeing.
Anyway, playing against RDW was the same as usual. Have to counter or O-ring Shrine of Burning Rage, remember that Snapcaster can't block Noble and that the Phoenix on Turn 3 or later has haste. Beyond that, outside of them using Volt Charge to put counters on the Shrine, Noble and the bloodthirst two drop, nothing particularly tricky.
The way I won by landing Wurmcoil in one game and Snapcastering C-Purge then getting to turn 6 in the other.
Played this list yesterday at my local FNM. Being that it's finals week in a college town, we had a less-than-average turn out - only being able to compose a 3 round standard after the 30 person draft.
Round 1 vs Grixis Control
Long games, with me winning in game one, then him taking game two in turns. He mentioned after that he would've scooped to me if the jerk-store manager wasn't watching the match.
Round 2 vs BR Vamps
Easy games, Day of Judgment wrecks his board - and an O-Ring for Bloodline Keeper keeps him from really gaining any harsh board position.
Round 3 vs Solar Flare
Long long games again, with us going back and forth between fields of Sun Titans. He'd Titan->Image->Image, and I'd respond with Day or an O-Ring on the Titan and some Gut Shots for the Images. He eventually got the game off a Grave Titan I couldn't catch a response to (Ravings->Ravings Flash'd back->Ponder finding Elesh Norn with only 6 mana left). Game two we came down to near time, and I opted to take some extra damage so that he could clean up the game before time. Prize Support in my store is stupid, and the shop doesn't have to give out prizes to 1-0-2 as we both would have been if I had tied up the match. He would have taken the game regardless.
Things I realized..
This deck plays slowly, it has a lot of thought involved between the Alchemys and Ponders. Then some time involved with Desperate Ravings.
I'd like to run a few more threats, I was considering a stable 3-drop (Blade Splicer, Geist of Saint Traft, or something).
Certainly enjoy the deck, gonna stick with it.. Like the looks of playing a White Sun Zenith and a Blue Sun as well. And Pristine Talisman, I had read a UW Control article talking about that and kind of disregarded it, but I've certainly come to see the uses.
EDIT: On a side note, Gerry Thompson just reported that he's 7-1 in the standard portion of SCG Charlotte playing 4cc. If I remember correctly he mentioned in an interview that the deck cut Snapcasters - so should be getting a decklist at some point to see how that looks.
Gerry T tweet'd that he was 7-2 and lost to a ramp deck. I can't find him in the top 32, unless it was a grinder or side event or something
I feel that you're looking at the Open standings instead of the Invitational standings. For round 11, he's at table three with 24 points against David Bauer, who has 25 points. Gerry took that match live.
List looks good, I just don't like how vulnerable the Sun Titan plan is to Surgical Extraction. Manabase is harsh enough as it is, but maybe a Nephalia Drownyard or something could help provide a secondary win-condition should the bombs be removed? Something not too invasive into the already thin decklist.
IMO that list is kind of ugly. It is more of a tapout deck than a control deck. I bet a good UB or UW control list would own it. That being said this is probably pretty good against illusions and UW humans.
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thank you to everyone for helping with lists, I updated the first post. And I am trying to explain singletons that may need it, or if they attach specific matchups. Obvious Nihil Spellbomb works against graveyard decks. But I think the Pacifism wasn't as clear if you just picked up the deck. AS far as Blue Sun vs White.. we'll see,
@knuckles29
I'm thinking that the innovation for Gerry Thompson's SCG Invitational deck was Pristine Talisman over blue sun's zenith. That being said, perhaps both can be listed in your opening thread?
Yesterday I built this and did some testing with my U/W control and Wolf run decks... This deck is fun and there are a lot of subtle plays that can make it more difficult for some people to play. I am by no means a pro but there are some awkward plays to make that work. The Wolf run matchup (Iyanaga's list) seems very favorable in my testing which was about 15 games or so. The control matchup is not as favorable. Cards I'm very impressed with have been ghost quarter's interaction with sun titan/image. I haven't tested the aggro matches so maybe I'm incorrect in feeling like ratchet bomb is subpar and a singleton DoJ seemed irrelevant every game as well. As far as the mana base goes it was pretty consistent. A few lands come in tapped the first couple of turns but it once again doesn't matter too much vs the decks I was testing against. I also think that an Elixer of Immortality is needed in the board. These games go a long time I can only imagine what could happen if the mill strategy gets going against this list. Just my two cents.
Angry Apples: The Pristine Talisman first came into my understanding of the list on 11/26/2011 when Michael Jacobs played it. HOWEVER (all caps to introduce dramatic pause)... the 3x and its main usage were an exclusive to Gerry T from SCG Charlotte. I don't think the testing vs. heavy Illusions/Moorland Haunt lists came up until now when the week before Illusions secured a great many positions so something had to be done. And if they countered the Talisman... well, it is lose-lose for them.
Now USZ as first a draw spell then later a kill spell.. I am unsure how I feel. It is interesting to say the least. AS is taking the Snapcaster out, which changes what you pitch to Alchemy, and discard to Ravings much more important. I have a feeling that just like the Arcane 5c of Kamigawa times, this deck needs to be very aware of its opponent and its own contents that can interact with it.
Either way, tweaking this deck is easy; so long as you know what you are removing for what you are gaining.
Not just -A +B +2C.... -A=worse against aggro, +B=better against Tempo, etc.
RAtchet Bomb works against Tokens, Tempo (Illusions), and anything that curves around 2cc. I won't cut it b/c I play atleast 1-2 Tempo/Illusion decks a week
I really like the Pristine Talismans. Particularly against aggro decks, it seemed like it gave Gerry just the extra bit of life he needed to stabilize.
To expand on this, Auras traditionally target when they are cast as spells. However, if an Aura is put directly on the battlefield, it must be attached to some object (a permanent or a player). When you return Pacifism with Sun Titan, you can choose any creature on the board to attach it to, including creatures with Shroud/Hexproof.
So I put this together with single maindeck difference and a similar sideboard but I was missing a few cards.
My maindeck was
-1 Pacifism (I feel like this whole idea is SO GIMMICKY and just seems BAD. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you play 2 maindeck images and one in the board anyway, so.. Pacifism deals with what, dungrove elder?)
+1 Druidic Satchel
I went 2-1, it was a small turn out tonight so hopefully I can get you a better report friday but this is how it went down.
Round One:
I'm playing against GW tokens, great. I've never played the deck before, just finished sleeving it up, had no idea what I was doing.
Game One:
I lose the die roll and keep what seemed like a decent hand, I gut shot a bird, mana leaked his crusader, o-ringed a hero, o-ringed an elspeth, o-ringed a 7/7 Geist-Honored Monk. He had resolved a Midnight Haunting, got tokens from elspeth, and then geist.
He just kept drawing gas and I didn't see a day or ratchet bomb, and he played a garruk and got there.
0-1
Game Two:
I keep a hand of Day of Judgment, Talisman, Sun Titan, Gut Shot, 3 land.
I gut shot his turn 1 birds, and then turn 3 ran out a talisman, turn 4 day of judgment picking off 2 guys, including mirran crusader, he casts Garruk, then turn 5 Sun Titan bringing back an image I had chucked earlier.
He O-Rings Sun Titan and then garruk eats the phantasmal image, and again, garruk gets there because he had put 4 or so beasts into play before I'm able to answer him. The tokens get there with the help of township.
0-2
Round Two
I'm playing against a Puresteel Paladin deck, I win the die roll.
Game One
Gut shots, Talismans, Day of Judgment, and Elesh Norn get there. Nuff' Said.
1-0
Game Two
First time having mana issues with the deck, although it was due to not drawing any more so than the ambitious mana base. Ancient Grudges slow him down but I just don't get to my 4th land to cast day of judgment, not to mention the elesh norn sitting in my hand.
1-1
Game Three
He gets stuck on two land and I run out elesh norn on turn 5 with the help of 2 pristine talismans. The turn after I cast Blue Sun to draw 5 cards and my opponent scoops, showing me 3 swords in his hand he couldn't cast. I had cast multiple ancient grudges that game though so I doubt it would have mattered.
2-1
Round Three
I win the die roll against UB heartless summoning utilizing 7 drops, it was a list I had shown him that did well in a SCG open not too long back.
Game One
My opponent mulligans to 6 and then keeps a one land hand. He didn't draw another one until turn 5.
1-0
Game Two
After a long, drawn out game of many mana leaks, dissipates, celestial purges, and o-rings on my part, I cast blue sun zenith for 24 on my opponent, then untap and cast it for 17 with mana leak backup (I knew his list, and knew he played a single dissipate)
2-0
Wrap Up
I think I'm in love with this deck, it's so much fun to play. The only card that I'm not too happy about is main deck gutshot, it wasn't really bad except for the 3rd game where it was a dead card, but it was only REALLY GOOD once, and there were many times where I had one or more gut shots in hand wishing they had been anything else.
Druidic Satchel was incredible games 2 and 3, and I love it in the main deck as a 1-of.
Blue Sun's Zenith is boss, even against the aggro decks.
My foil Desperate Ravings were pretty.
Shimmering Grotto works a lot better than I thought it would
PRISTINE TALISMAN IS INCREDIBLE. Won me many matches on its own. Turn 5 Elesh Norn is good, gaining 3 life per turn is also good.
As mentioned by Gerry Thompson here there is a 4 color control deck on the rise.
dark_rose_67 (3-1)
Standard Daily #4340612 on 09/14/2012
3 Darkslick Shores
4 Evolving Wilds
1 Forest
1 Ghost Quarter
2 Glacial Fortress
3 Island
1 Isolated Chapel
2 Plains
2 Razorverge Thicket
3 Seachrome Coast
2 Swamp
2 Augur of Bolas
1 Disciple of Bolas
2 Phantasmal Image
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Sun Titan
2 Thragtusk
3 Day of Judgment
2 Diabolic Revelation
2 Dismember
4 Divination
1 Druidic Satchel
1 Duress
1 Elixir of Immortality
1 Gilded Lotus
1 Go for the Throat
1 Karn Liberated
1 Naturalize
1 Nihil Spellbomb
4 Ponder
2 Pristine Talisman
1 Batterskull
2 Celestial Purge
1 Curse of Death's Hold
1 Dismember
1 Doom Blade
1 Duress
1 Gideon Jura
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Oblivion Ring
2 Phantasmal Image
1 Thragtusk
1 Timely Reinforcements
1 Wurmcoil Engine
sai199orz (4-0)
Standard Daily #4245703 on 08/26/2012
4 Darkslick Shores
4 Evolving Wilds
1 Forest
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Island
4 Isolated Chapel
2 Plains
4 Seachrome Coast
2 Swamp
1 Vault of the Archangel
3 Sun Titan
4 Thragtusk
3 Day of Judgment
2 Dismember
1 Doom Blade
3 Forbidden Alchemy
2 Gideon Jura
2 Go for the Throat
3 Lingering Souls
3 Oblivion Ring
4 Ponder
2 Bloodline Keeper
2 Celestial Purge
2 Curse of Death's Hold
3 Fog Bank
2 Jace, Memory Adept
2 Liliana of the Veil
2 Mimic Vat
quikidk (3-1)
Standard Daily #4245686 on 08/25/2012
3 Clifftop Retreat
4 Darkslick Shores
4 Evolving Wilds
2 Ghost Quarter
1 Island
1 Mountain
2 Plains
4 Seachrome Coast
1 Sulfur Falls
1 Swamp
2 Curse of Death's Hold
3 Doom Blade
3 Forbidden Alchemy
3 Lingering Souls
3 Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker
3 Oblivion Ring
2 Pillar of Flame
4 Ponder
4 Terminus
3 Whipflare
2 Celestial Purge
1 Doom Blade
3 Fume Spitter
1 Go for the Throat
2 Mana Leak
2 Memoricide
1 Oblivion Ring
2 Pillar of Flame
1 Whipflare
5C Battle
Featured by Mike Wisner on 2012-07-15 (Standard)
As written about in http://www.starcitygames.com/events/120715_stlouis.html
Maindeck:
2 Batterskull
4 Birthing Pod
1 Elixir of Immortality
2 Nihil Spellbomb
2 Ratchet Bomb
Artifact Creatures
2 Phyrexian Metamorph
4 Solemn Simulacrum
1 Wurmcoil Engine
Creatures
3 Acidic Slime
4 Avacyn's Pilgrim
4 Birds of Paradise
3 Blade Splicer
4 Borderland Ranger
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Merfolk Looter
4 Phantasmal Image
4 Primeval Titan
4 Restoration Angel
1 Silklash Spider
4 Snapcaster Mage
3 Sun Titan
2 Thragtusk
1 Trinket Mage
1 Viridian Corrupter
Enchantments
4 Battle of Wits
4 Oblivion Ring
Instants
4 Desperate Ravings
2 Doom Blade
4 Forbidden Alchemy
2 Go for the Throat
4 Mana Leak
4 Think Twice
2 Tragic Slip
2 Visions of Beyond
Legendary Creatures
2 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
1 Thrun, the Last Troll
Planeswalkers
1 Garruk, Primal Hunter
1 Karn Liberated
2 Venser, the Sojourner
2 Arc Trail
4 Blasphemous Act
4 Bonfire of the Damned
4 Caravan Vigil
4 Day of Judgment
1 Diabolic Revelation
3 Entreat the Angels
4 Faithless Looting
4 Farseek
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Green Sun's Zenith
3 Increasing Ambition
3 Pillar of Flame
4 Ponder
4 Rampant Growth
4 Sever the Bloodline
4 Terminus
4 Timely Reinforcements
4 Unburial Rites
Basic Lands
10 Forest
6 Island
3 Mountain
8 Plains
3 Swamp
Lands
4 Copperline Gorge
2 Drowned Catacomb
4 Evolving Wilds
1 Gavony Township
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Hinterland Harbor
1 Kessig Wolf Run
4 Razorverge Thicket
4 Rootbound Crag
4 Seachrome Coast
4 Shimmering Grotto
4 Sunpetal Grove
1 Vault of the Archangel
4 Woodland Cemetery
1 Door To Nothingness
1 Elixir of Immortality
1 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Hex Parasite
1 Silklash Spider
1 Trinket Mage
4 Ancient Grudge
3 Celestial Purge
2 Revoke Existence
Post-DKA Pre-AVR
Gerry T's suggested build:
2 Nihil Spellbomb
3 Ratchet Bomb
Creatures:
2 Phantasmal Image
3 Sun Titan
Enchantments:
3 Oblivion Ring
Instants:
1 Ancient Grudge
4 Desperate Ravings
3 Forbidden Alchemy
2 Mana Leak
1 Negate
2 Thought Scour
Legendary Creatures:
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
Sorceries:
1 Faithless Looting
2 Lingering Souls
1 Unburial Rites
3 Whipflare Basic Lands:
4 Island
1 Mountain
2 Plains
1 Swamp
1 Blackcleave Cliffs
1 Clifftop Retreat
1 Copperline Gorge
4 Evolving Wilds
3 Glacial Fortress
1 Seachrome Coast
3 Shimmering Grotto
4 Sulfur Falls
1 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Ratchet Bomb
1 Phantasmal Image
2 Ancient Grudge
3 Celestial Purge
2 Dissipate
2 Ray of Revelation
1 Devil's Play
2 Lingering Souls
Ali Aintrazi's Suggested Build:
3 Ratchet Bomb
Creatures
1 Grave Titan
1 Inferno Titan
2 Phantasmal Image
3 Sun Titan
Enchantments
1 Oblivion Ring
1 Pacifism
Instants
1 Ancient Grudge
3 Desperate Ravings
3 Forbidden Alchemy
3 Mana Leak
Legendary Creatures
2 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
Sorceries
4 Faithless Looting
3 Unburial Rites
3 Whipflare Basic Lands
4 Island
1 Mountain
2 Plains
1 Swamp
1 Blackcleave Cliffs
1 Clifftop Retreat
4 Evolving Wilds
4 Glacial Fortress
1 Seachrome Coast
3 Shimmering Grotto
4 Sulfur Falls
3 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Phantasmal Image
2 Ancient Grudge
3 Dissipate
3 Mental Misstep
3 Ray of Revelation
Most of the decklists and results I have found are from DarkestMage (Michael Jacob).
The Innovation section is what I felt was a standout for the list if noone else did it before.
For reference:
Gerry Thompson @Worlds
UWR Control
Innovation:Base List
1 Ghost Quarter
3 Glacial Fortress
3 Island
1 Moorland Haunt
1 Mountain
4 Plains
4 Seachrome Coast
4 Sulfur Falls
1 Shimmering Grotto
4 Snapcaster Mage
3 Blade Splicer
2 Frost Titan
1 Timely Reinforcements
1 Negate
1 White Sun’s Zenith
2 Traveler’s Amulet
1 Think Twice
3 Oblivion Ring
3 Mana Leak
4 Gut Shot
2 Gideon Jura
2 Dismember
4 Desperate Ravings
2 Timely Reinforcements
1 Negate
2 Celestial Purge
2 Dissipate
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
2 Phantasmal Image
2 Precursor Golem
1 Divine Offering
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
1 Sword of War and Peace
Varsuvius (3-1)
Standard Daily #3045353 on 11/18/2011
Innovation:Geist of Saint Traft
Devil's Play
1 Copperline Gorge
2 Ghost Quarter
2 Glacial Fortress
5 Island
4 Mountain
1 Plains
4 Seachrome Coast
2 Shimmering Grotto
4 Sulfur Falls
2 Geist of Saint Traft
2 Inferno Titan
3 Precursor Golem
4 Snapcaster Mage
1 Devil's Play
2 Dissipate
2 Forbidden Alchemy
3 Galvanic Blast
1 Gut Shot
4 Mana Leak
1 Negate
2 Oblivion Ring
2 Think Twice
1 Timely Reinforcements
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Flashfreeze
2 Gut Shot
1 Mimic Vat
1 Negate
2 Phantasmal Image
3 Surgical Extraction
2 Timely Reinforcements
Meteordrache (3-1)
Standard Daily #3076356 on 11/25/2011
Innovation:Geistflame
1 Ghost Quarter
3 Glacial Fortress
3 Island
1 Moorland Haunt
1 Mountain
4 Plains
4 Seachrome Coast
1 Shimmering Grotto
4 Sulfur Falls
3 Blade Splicer
2 Inferno Titan
4 Snapcaster Mage
2 Dismember
1 Geistflame
2 Gideon Jura
3 Gut Shot
3 Mana Leak
1 Negate
3 Oblivion Ring
3 Ponder
1 Think Twice
1 Timely Reinforcements
1 White Sun's Zenith
2 Celestial Purge
2 Dissipate
1 Divine Offering
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
1 Negate
2 Phantasmal Image
2 Precursor Golem
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
1 Sword of War and Peace
2 Timely Reinforcements
lewlaskin (6th Place)
Standard Premier #3076606 on 11/25/2011
1 Ghost Quarter
3 Glacial Fortress
3 Island
1 Moorland Haunt
1 Mountain
4 Plains
4 Seachrome Coast
1 Shimmering Grotto
4 Sulfur Falls
3 Blade Splicer
1 Frost Titan
1 Inferno Titan
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Desperate Ravings
2 Dismember
2 Gideon Jura
3 Gut Shot
3 Mana Leak
1 Negate
3 Oblivion Ring
2 Ponder
1 Think Twice
1 Timely Reinforcements
2 Traveler's Amulet
1 White Sun's Zenith
2 Celestial Purge
2 Dissipate
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
1 Negate
2 Phantasmal Image
2 Precursor Golem
1 Revoke Existence
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
1 Sword of War and Peace
2 Timely Reinforcements
Sardek (3-1)
Standard Daily #3076398 on 11/26/2011
1 Ghost Quarter
3 Glacial Fortress
3 Island
1 Moorland Haunt
1 Mountain
4 Plains
4 Seachrome Coast
1 Shimmering Grotto
4 Sulfur Falls
2 Blade Splicer
1 Frost Titan
1 Inferno Titan
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Desperate Ravings
2 Dismember
2 Gideon Jura
4 Gut Shot
3 Mana Leak
1 Negate
3 Oblivion Ring
2 Ponder
1 Think Twice
1 Timely Reinforcements
1 Traveler's Amulet
1 White Sun's Zenith
2 Celestial Purge
2 Dissipate
1 Divine Offering
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
1 Negate
2 Phantasmal Image
2 Precursor Golem
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
1 Sword of War and Peace
2 Timely Reinforcements
DarkestMage (3-1)
Standard Daily #3076398 on 11/26/2011
Innovation:Sun Titan
Pristine Talisman
Incinerate
Unburial Rites
Ratchet Bomb
Ludevic's Test Subject(SB)
Jace, Memory Adept(SB)
1 Copperline Gorge
1 Darkslick Shores
3 Glacial Fortress
4 Island
2 Mountain
2 Plains
4 Seachrome Coast
2 Shimmering Grotto
4 Sulfur Falls
1 Phantasmal Image
3 Snapcaster Mage
3 Sun Titan
4 Desperate Ravings
3 Forbidden Alchemy
4 Gut Shot
1 Incinerate
4 Mana Leak
3 Oblivion Ring
2 Ponder
1 Pristine Talisman
1 Ratchet Bomb
2 Traveler's Amulet
1 Unburial Rites
1 White Sun's Zenith
1 Ancient Grudge
2 Celestial Purge
2 Day of Judgment
1 Dissipate
2 Flashfreeze
1 Jace, Memory Adept
2 Ludevic's Test Subject
1 Negate
1 Phantasmal Image
2 Surgical Extraction
DarkestMage (3-1)
Standard Daily #3076434 on 11/27/2011
1 Copperline Gorge
1 Darkslick Shores
3 Glacial Fortress
3 Island
2 Mountain
2 Plains
4 Seachrome Coast
2 Shimmering Grotto
4 Sulfur Falls
1 Phantasmal Image
3 Snapcaster Mage
3 Sun Titan
4 Desperate Ravings
3 Forbidden Alchemy
4 Gut Shot
1 Incinerate
4 Mana Leak
3 Oblivion Ring
1 Ponder
1 Pristine Talisman
1 Ratchet Bomb
1 Think Twice
2 Traveler's Amulet
1 Unburial Rites
1 White Sun's Zenith
1 Ancient Grudge
2 Celestial Purge
2 Day of Judgment
1 Dissipate
2 Flashfreeze
1 Jace, Memory Adept
2 Ludevic's Test Subject
1 Negate
1 Phantasmal Image
2 Surgical Extraction
DarkestMage (4-0)
Standard Daily #3076534 on 11/29/2011
Innovation:Pacifism
2 Clifftop Retreat
1 Copperline Gorge
1 Ghost Quarter
2 Glacial Fortress
3 Island
2 Mountain
2 Plains
4 Seachrome Coast
2 Shimmering Grotto
4 Sulfur Falls
1 Swamp
1 Phantasmal Image
2 Snapcaster Mage
3 Sun Titan
4 Desperate Ravings
1 Dissipate
3 Forbidden Alchemy
4 Gut Shot
4 Mana Leak
3 Oblivion Ring
1 Pacifism
2 Ponder
1 Ratchet Bomb
1 Timely Reinforcements
2 Traveler's Amulet
1 Unburial Rites
1 White Sun's Zenith
1 Ancient Grudge
2 Celestial Purge
2 Day of Judgment
1 Dissipate
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
1 Flashfreeze
1 Jace, Memory Adept
2 Ludevic's Test Subject
1 Negate
1 Phantasmal Image
2 Surgical Extraction
DarkestMage (3-1)/(4-0) (I have 2 results on this day for this)
Standard Daily #3108064 on 12/01/2011
1 Copperline Gorge
1 Ghost Quarter
4 Glacial Fortress
5 Island
1 Mountain
2 Plains
1 Razorverge Thicket
3 Seachrome Coast
1 Shimmering Grotto
4 Sulfur Falls
1 Swamp
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
2 Phantasmal Image
2 Snapcaster Mage
3 Sun Titan
4 Desperate Ravings
1 Dissipate
3 Forbidden Alchemy
3 Gut Shot
4 Mana Leak
3 Oblivion Ring
1 Pacifism
3 Ponder
1 Ratchet Bomb
1 Timely Reinforcements
1 Traveler's Amulet
1 Unburial Rites
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Celestial Purge
1 Day of Judgment
1 Dissipate
1 Flashfreeze
1 Jace, Memory Adept
2 Ludevic's Test Subject
1 Negate
1 Snapcaster Mage
2 Surgical Extraction
1 Timely Reinforcements
meets (3-1)
Standard Daily #3108042 on 12/01/2011
Innovation:Chandra's Phoenix
Consecrated Sphinx
Wurmcoil Engine
Karn Liberated
Red Sun's Zenith
Shrine of Burning Rage(SB)
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Island
5 Mountain
2 Plains
2 Seachrome Coast
2 Shimmering Grotto
4 Sulfur Falls
4 Chandra's Phoenix
1 Consecrated Sphinx
1 Phantasmal Image
2 Snapcaster Mage
1 Wurmcoil Engine
3 Desperate Ravings
1 Disperse
1 Dissipate
3 Forbidden Alchemy
4 Geistflame
1 Karn Liberated
2 Mana Leak
3 Oblivion Ring
2 Red Sun's Zenith
1 Slagstorm
1 Timely Reinforcements
2 Ancient Grudge
1 Day of Judgment
2 Dissipate
1 Phantasmal Image
1 Revoke Existence
4 Shrine of Burning Rage
1 Slagstorm
1 Snapcaster Mage
1 Surgical Extraction
1 Timely Reinforcements
HungryHungryHomer (3-1)
Standard Daily #3108114 on 12/02/2011
3 Clifftop Retreat
1 Ghost Quarter
2 Glacial Fortress
3 Island
2 Mountain
2 Plains
4 Seachrome Coast
2 Shimmering Grotto
4 Sulfur Falls
1 Swamp
1 Phantasmal Image
2 Snapcaster Mage
3 Sun Titan
4 Desperate Ravings
1 Dissipate
3 Forbidden Alchemy
4 Gut Shot
4 Mana Leak
3 Oblivion Ring
1 Pacifism
2 Ponder
1 Ratchet Bomb
1 Timely Reinforcements
2 Traveler's Amulet
1 Unburial Rites
1 White Sun's Zenith
2 Celestial Purge
2 Day of Judgment
1 Dissipate
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
1 Flashfreeze
2 Ludevic's Test Subject
1 Negate
1 Phantasmal Image
2 Surgical Extraction
2 Timely Reinforcements
Gerry Thompson
19th at SCG St. Louis
1 Ghost Quarter
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Island
1 Mountain
2 Plains
4 Seachrome Coast
2 Shimmering Grotto
4 Sulfur Falls
1 Swamp
1 Clifftop Retreat
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
2 Phantasmal Image
2 Snapcaster Mage
3 Sun Titan
4 Desperate Ravings
1 Dissipate
3 Forbidden Alchemy
3 Gut Shot
4 Mana Leak
3 Oblivion Ring
1 Pacifism
2 Ponder
1 Ratchet Bomb
1 Timely Reinforcements
2 Traveler's Amulet
1 Unburial Rites
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Celestial Purge
1 Combust
2 Day of Judgment
1 Flashfreeze
1 Jace, Memory Adept
1 Ludevic's Test Subject
1 Negate
1 Snapcaster Mage
2 Surgical Extraction
1 Timely Reinforcements
Gerry Thompson
7th place
SCG Invitational in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States on 2011-12-18
Innovation:Blue Sun's Zenuth
2 Plains
1 Mountain
1 Swamp
1 Ghost Quarter
4 Sulfur Falls
3 Shimmering Grotto
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Seachrome Coast
1 Blackcleave Cliffs
2 Phantasmal Image
3 Sun Titan
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
1 Unburial Rites
4 Desperate Ravings
4 Forbidden Alchemy
3 Oblivion Ring
1 Pacifism
2 Ponder
1 Dissipate
1 Blue Sun's Zenith
1 Ratchet Bomb
4 Mana Leak
3 Gut Shot
1 Day of Judgment
1 Phantasmal Image
2 Timely Reinforcements
3 Celestial Purge
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Dissipate
1 Blue Sun's Zenith
2 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Ratchet Bomb
2 Ancient Grudge
1 Day of Judgment
Chris Higashi
SCG: LA on 1/15/12
102nd and 15 points
2 Mountain
2 Plains
1 Swamp
1 Blackcleave Cliffs
1 Ghost Quarter
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Seachrome Coast
3 Shimmering Grotto
4 Sulfur Falls
2 Phantasmal Image
3 Sun Titan
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
1 Pacifism
3 Pristine Talisman
1 Ratchet Bomb
1 Blue Sun's Zenith
4 Desperate Ravings
1 Dissipate
3 Forbidden Alchemy
3 Galvanic Blast
4 Mana Leak
2 Day of Judgment
2 Ponder
1 Unburial Rites
1 Phantasmal Image
1 Snapcaster Mage
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Celestial Purge
1 Dissipate
1 Negate
1 Venser, the Sojourner
2 Timely Reinforcements
4 Whipflare
Hopefully as time goes by, people will contribute experiences and tweaks so that those looking to get into this style of deck can have a place to start.
Single Card Explanations:
Pacifism
Vs. - Thrun or Geist of Saint Traft
Pristine Talisman
Vs. - Moorland Haunt
Elesh Norn
Vs. - Inkmoth Nexus, as well as, most forms of aggro
Ghost Quarter
Vs. - Moorland Haunt/Inkmoth Nexus/Kessig Wolf's Run
Whipflare
Vs. - Delver decks (Direct response to inclusion of Invisible Stalker and near universal Geist of Saint Traft)
Slagtorm is harder on the manabase and Delver has no way to pump creatures besides equipment.
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2 Phantasmal Image
2 Snapcaster Mage
3 Sun Titan
1 Day of Judgment
4 Desperate Ravings
1 Dissipate
3 Forbidden Alchemy
3 Gut Shot
4 Mana Leak
3 Oblivion Ring
1 Pacifism
2 Ponder
1 Ratchet Bomb
1 Timely Reinforcements
2 Traveler's Amulet
1 Unburial Rites
1 Copperline Gorge
1 Ghost Quarter
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Island
1 Mountain
2 Plains
4 Seachrome Coast
2 Shimmering Grotto
4 Sulfur Falls
1 Swamp
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Celestial Purge
1 Combust
2 Day of Judgment
1 Flashfreeze
1 Jace, Memory Adept
1 Ludevic's Test Subject
1 Negate
1 Snapcaster Mage
2 Surgical Extraction
1 Timely Reinforcements
Michael Jacob played the same list with only one difference: -1 Traveler's Amulet, +1 Forbidden Alchemy. I believe that MJ had a feature match in the earlier rounds if you go and check the archives.
EDIT: Found it. Top link in the player at http://www.starcitygames.com/events/20111204_stlouis.html
Pacifism + Sun Titan = Stops Hexproof!
I've grinded a bunch on MTGO 2-mans with this deck lately, and the mana base is a thing of beauty. Desperate Ravings is as powerful as advertised with this much recursion and Inayaga's WRR is an incredibly good match-up.
On the flip side, the Wu humans match-up is not great (as they can grind you out in the long run with Moorland and HotP but still apply incredible pressure first 3-4 turns), and Bant Pod seems to be a disaster in the few matches I played against it.
On the other hand, I think this deck truly relies heavily on Sun Titan (the version that runs it). With only Sun and WSZ being the heavy hitters. I don't consider Norn a wincon, but rather a living Curse of Death's Hold.
The various 1-ofs overlap and support each other. The 3rd "Snappy" in the SB is only needed at certain times. The LTS (Test Subject) is mostly for Ramp... I think knowing your meta and tuning seems to be the theme of this particular standard season. See Illusions for a perfect example. Sometimes the best sideboard can carry a tournament, other times it can sink it. I think this is an evolving and changing machine that need to be tuned, probably every week or per meta.
If anyone has experience with sideboard strategies or "loadouts" vs. certain decks.. I'm rather unfamiliar with them, especially when people talk about taking out 2 Mana Leaks, etc.
FYI, Combust vs Mirran Crusader/Hero of Blade Hold in Humans/Moorland Aggro
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4 Forbidden Alchemy
4 Mana Leak
3 Doom Blade
1 Go for the Throat
1 Tribute to Hunger
3 Unburial Rites
3 Liliana of the Veil
2 Sun Titan
2 Phantasmal Image
1 Consecrated Sphinx
1 Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
1 Grave Titan
3 Oblivion Ring
4 Swamp
2 Plains
4 Isolated Chapel
3 Drowned Catacombs
3 Darkslick Shores
2 Sulfur Falls
1 Glacial Fortress
1 Dragonskull Summit
Obviously it's not going to be the list that sets the world on fire, hence the Jin-G, but I enjoyed playing it. My FNM isn't the roughest meta by any sense, but it beat a Flare deck, 2 RDW with proliferate and a pile for the 4-0. I've got to see if it has any game against Wolf Run, since that's what everyone in my area is switching to. Last time that happened en masse there were bannings, but none of those cards are blue so I'm sure Wolf Run is fine ;p Side was just Spellskites, some more removal, C-Purge, Wurmcoil and DoJs.
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If you're asking me, my board was 3 Flashfreeze, 3 Spellskite, 2 Celestial Purge, 1 Wurmcoil, 2 Memoricide, 1 DoJ, 1 Dismember, 1 Tribute to Hunger. Wasn't really sure what would be good so I just hedged against what I'm used to seeing.
Anyway, playing against RDW was the same as usual. Have to counter or O-ring Shrine of Burning Rage, remember that Snapcaster can't block Noble and that the Phoenix on Turn 3 or later has haste. Beyond that, outside of them using Volt Charge to put counters on the Shrine, Noble and the bloodthirst two drop, nothing particularly tricky.
The way I won by landing Wurmcoil in one game and Snapcastering C-Purge then getting to turn 6 in the other.
2 Snapcaster Mage
3 Sun Titan
3 Ponder
3 Gut Shot
1 Pacifism
4 Mana Leak
3 Desperate Ravings
3 Forbidden Alchemy
1 Dissipate
1 Timely Reinforcements
3 Oblivion Ring
1 Sever the Bloodline
2 Day of Judgment
1 Unburial Rites
1 Ratchet Bomb
2 Plains
1 Mountain
1 Swamp
4 Island
1 Ghost Quarter
2 Shimmering Grotto
4 Glacial Fortress
3 Clifftop Retreat
3 Sulfur Falls
1 Blackcleave Cliffs
3 Seachrome Coast
1 Surgical Extraction
2 Negate
1 Flashfreeze
1 Revoke Existance
1 Celestial Purge
2 Ancient Grudge
3 Timely Reinforcements
1 Day of Judgment
1 Phantasmal Image
1 Snapcaster Mage
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
Deck played great, but I ended up 1-1-1
Round 1 vs Grixis Control
Long games, with me winning in game one, then him taking game two in turns. He mentioned after that he would've scooped to me if the jerk-store manager wasn't watching the match.
Round 2 vs BR Vamps
Easy games, Day of Judgment wrecks his board - and an O-Ring for Bloodline Keeper keeps him from really gaining any harsh board position.
Round 3 vs Solar Flare
Long long games again, with us going back and forth between fields of Sun Titans. He'd Titan->Image->Image, and I'd respond with Day or an O-Ring on the Titan and some Gut Shots for the Images. He eventually got the game off a Grave Titan I couldn't catch a response to (Ravings->Ravings Flash'd back->Ponder finding Elesh Norn with only 6 mana left). Game two we came down to near time, and I opted to take some extra damage so that he could clean up the game before time. Prize Support in my store is stupid, and the shop doesn't have to give out prizes to 1-0-2 as we both would have been if I had tied up the match. He would have taken the game regardless.
Things I realized..
This deck plays slowly, it has a lot of thought involved between the Alchemys and Ponders. Then some time involved with Desperate Ravings.
I'd like to run a few more threats, I was considering a stable 3-drop (Blade Splicer, Geist of Saint Traft, or something).
Certainly enjoy the deck, gonna stick with it.. Like the looks of playing a White Sun Zenith and a Blue Sun as well. And Pristine Talisman, I had read a UW Control article talking about that and kind of disregarded it, but I've certainly come to see the uses.
EDIT: On a side note, Gerry Thompson just reported that he's 7-1 in the standard portion of SCG Charlotte playing 4cc. If I remember correctly he mentioned in an interview that the deck cut Snapcasters - so should be getting a decklist at some point to see how that looks.
[Developing] 430+ Peasant Cube Thread --- [and on Cube Cobra]
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I feel that you're looking at the Open standings instead of the Invitational standings. For round 11, he's at table three with 24 points against David Bauer, who has 25 points. Gerry took that match live.
http://sales.starcitygames.com//deckdatabase/displaydeck.php?DeckID=42677
List looks good, I just don't like how vulnerable the Sun Titan plan is to Surgical Extraction. Manabase is harsh enough as it is, but maybe a Nephalia Drownyard or something could help provide a secondary win-condition should the bombs be removed? Something not too invasive into the already thin decklist.
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IMO that list is kind of ugly. It is more of a tapout deck than a control deck. I bet a good UB or UW control list would own it. That being said this is probably pretty good against illusions and UW humans.
Albert Einstein
Thomas Jefferson
2 Phantasmal Image
3 Sun Titan
1 Blue Sun's Zenith
1 Day of Judgment
4 Desperate Ravings
1 Dissipate
4 Forbidden Alchemy
3 Gut Shot
4 Mana Leak
3 Oblivion Ring
1 Pacifism
2 Ponder
3 Pristine Talisman
1 Ratchet Bomb
1 Unburial Rites
1 Ghost Quarter
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Island
1 Mountain
2 Plains
4 Seachrome Coast
3 Shimmering Grotto
4 Sulfur Falls
1 Swamp
2 Ancient Grudge
1 Blue Sun's Zenith
3 Celestial Purge
1 Day of Judgment
1 Dissipate
1 Ghost Quarter
2 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Phantasmal Image
1 Ratchet Bomb
2 Timely Reinforcements
I like the list and think it's hilarious that SCG named it "Solar Flare" on their decklist database.
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I'm thinking that the innovation for Gerry Thompson's SCG Invitational deck was Pristine Talisman over blue sun's zenith. That being said, perhaps both can be listed in your opening thread?
EDH:▼
(links to 3D generals)
Playing: Designing:
Retired:
Now USZ as first a draw spell then later a kill spell.. I am unsure how I feel. It is interesting to say the least. AS is taking the Snapcaster out, which changes what you pitch to Alchemy, and discard to Ravings much more important. I have a feeling that just like the Arcane 5c of Kamigawa times, this deck needs to be very aware of its opponent and its own contents that can interact with it.
Either way, tweaking this deck is easy; so long as you know what you are removing for what you are gaining.
Not just -A +B +2C.... -A=worse against aggro, +B=better against Tempo, etc.
RAtchet Bomb works against Tokens, Tempo (Illusions), and anything that curves around 2cc. I won't cut it b/c I play atleast 1-2 Tempo/Illusion decks a week
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To expand on this, Auras traditionally target when they are cast as spells. However, if an Aura is put directly on the battlefield, it must be attached to some object (a permanent or a player). When you return Pacifism with Sun Titan, you can choose any creature on the board to attach it to, including creatures with Shroud/Hexproof.
Legacy: UB(R/G) Storm UB(R/G)
Vintage: UBG Gush Storm UBG
My maindeck was
-1 Pacifism (I feel like this whole idea is SO GIMMICKY and just seems BAD. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you play 2 maindeck images and one in the board anyway, so.. Pacifism deals with what, dungrove elder?)
+1 Druidic Satchel
I went 2-1, it was a small turn out tonight so hopefully I can get you a better report friday but this is how it went down.
Round One:
I'm playing against GW tokens, great. I've never played the deck before, just finished sleeving it up, had no idea what I was doing.
Game One:
I lose the die roll and keep what seemed like a decent hand, I gut shot a bird, mana leaked his crusader, o-ringed a hero, o-ringed an elspeth, o-ringed a 7/7 Geist-Honored Monk. He had resolved a Midnight Haunting, got tokens from elspeth, and then geist.
He just kept drawing gas and I didn't see a day or ratchet bomb, and he played a garruk and got there.
0-1
Game Two:
I keep a hand of Day of Judgment, Talisman, Sun Titan, Gut Shot, 3 land.
I gut shot his turn 1 birds, and then turn 3 ran out a talisman, turn 4 day of judgment picking off 2 guys, including mirran crusader, he casts Garruk, then turn 5 Sun Titan bringing back an image I had chucked earlier.
He O-Rings Sun Titan and then garruk eats the phantasmal image, and again, garruk gets there because he had put 4 or so beasts into play before I'm able to answer him. The tokens get there with the help of township.
0-2
Round Two
I'm playing against a Puresteel Paladin deck, I win the die roll.
Game One
Gut shots, Talismans, Day of Judgment, and Elesh Norn get there. Nuff' Said.
1-0
Game Two
First time having mana issues with the deck, although it was due to not drawing any more so than the ambitious mana base. Ancient Grudges slow him down but I just don't get to my 4th land to cast day of judgment, not to mention the elesh norn sitting in my hand.
1-1
Game Three
He gets stuck on two land and I run out elesh norn on turn 5 with the help of 2 pristine talismans. The turn after I cast Blue Sun to draw 5 cards and my opponent scoops, showing me 3 swords in his hand he couldn't cast. I had cast multiple ancient grudges that game though so I doubt it would have mattered.
2-1
Round Three
I win the die roll against UB heartless summoning utilizing 7 drops, it was a list I had shown him that did well in a SCG open not too long back.
Game One
My opponent mulligans to 6 and then keeps a one land hand. He didn't draw another one until turn 5.
1-0
Game Two
After a long, drawn out game of many mana leaks, dissipates, celestial purges, and o-rings on my part, I cast blue sun zenith for 24 on my opponent, then untap and cast it for 17 with mana leak backup (I knew his list, and knew he played a single dissipate)
2-0
Wrap Up
I think I'm in love with this deck, it's so much fun to play. The only card that I'm not too happy about is main deck gutshot, it wasn't really bad except for the 3rd game where it was a dead card, but it was only REALLY GOOD once, and there were many times where I had one or more gut shots in hand wishing they had been anything else.
Druidic Satchel was incredible games 2 and 3, and I love it in the main deck as a 1-of.
Blue Sun's Zenith is boss, even against the aggro decks.
My foil Desperate Ravings were pretty.
Shimmering Grotto works a lot better than I thought it would
PRISTINE TALISMAN IS INCREDIBLE. Won me many matches on its own. Turn 5 Elesh Norn is good, gaining 3 life per turn is also good.
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