Dies to Removal

Cheers.

Overall I think SB decisions are best left to the individual player. Sometimes you have to make gut calls if you're playing against someone who plays less aggressively maybe you have the opportunity to push that angle despite the control role being better according to the "book" for that MU. You always run into that opponent or two at a larger event who has a mise or two SB card you see in game two, what does the "book" say for those situations or do you stick to the SB plan you brought with you. You could use Z's or MDU's or anyone else's exact SBing recommendations but if it doesn't fit your play style you're going to mess up and lose games with it. Maybe not in the first tournament or the second one but over time you will lose games and matches because of it.

As far as exact line ups for SB's I usually do not decide until I have to turn the decklist in, I've completed what scouting I
can, and I've cruised and recruised DTR here for any last minute tech. Then exact choices for a matchup it comes up to game 1 and experience what I'll switch out. Sometimes I'm right sometimes I'm not. Most of the "book" decisions -x +y are pretty self explanatory or you'll figure it out the more games you play. I do think having the forums to bounce decisions around makes everyone here better.

@Elricity Great videos there you posted over this last weekend sir. When you run off for a minute in a MU I assume you're beating a dog and/or kids.

Cheers.

I'll always have your back.

I think I'm having trouble mulliganing borderline hands. Would you guys keep Boros Guildgate, Mountain x3, Chained to Rocks, Boros Charm, Lightning Strike? Also what one landers would y'all keep?

The first instance is too matchup dependent; so in the dark that's a keep for me but I wouldn't fault someone for a mulligan.

For 1 landers is need to be on the draw with a scryland and a hand full of cheap spells.

Agreed in both. On the draw with a scry is the only one lander I consider.

I consider Z and the rest of you guys like my brothers.

And I mean that in the way that black people do, which is more meaningful that way.

Yes sorry. Forgot to mention these are game 1s with no knowledge of your opponent.

In the dark I would keep that hand. I agree with the above on one landers but would probably ship it back even with a scry on the draw with the initial 7 if you have no idea; but keep it if you're feeling froggy.

I can't emphasise enough how important the contents of the second hand, beyond the scryland, are. If you've got two helix for example it's an auto mull.

I'll keep hands with a Scryland, Magma Jet, and 5 Boros Charms and still lose.
But honestly I'll usually keep if it has a Scryland and Magma Jet.

Well yeah, no amount scry can save you from a game loss for GRV.

I'll a one-lander on the draw if it's something like scryland, and cheap high impact cards. we're talking magma jets, multiple YP or YP with shock, strikes, etc.

It can't be all boros charms and skullcracks as you'll need to be able to interact if you whiff for a draw step or two.

Some belated comments (which I would have posted earlier but I was busy nursing my ego after a horrible 2-2 DE and 2-3 MOCS limited performance).

@Elricity Great videos there you posted over this last weekend sir.

Agreed 100% I recommend visiting his youtube channel for great music and games (finally someone has taste... unlike the horrible dredge I've been using due too flame) you can find it here.

This is what I'm using right now and well, has been working for me so far, on modo:
[deck]Boros Burn[/deck]
Lots of mono blue devotion and esper control all of a sudden, or at least is what I've been facing for the last couple days. Not nearly as difficult to play as the Shouta's list, I guess that's why it has been doing good for me.

I like the idea behind the list and I've seen a list like this score well in a SCG event however I don't believe only running 2x [card]
Chained to the Rocks[/card] MD is correct in an devotion heavy meta (black or blue).

The only time dancer is better then chain is against removal light decks (which online happens too be very few) I'll recommend at least upping the chains into 3x maybe over 1x Shock or Young or dancer.

BTW for those who havn't seen it yet I've uploaded an extra short-comedy video on Monday:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7k6lm2Jy_0

If you have time please help me grow my newer channel via subs, comments and likes (your support earn us extra money which helps motivation)

@Elricity Great videos there you posted over this last weekend sir. When you run off for a minute in a MU I assume you're beating a dog and/or kids.

Thanks, doesn't look like I'm getting a chance to get on MTGO again until Thursday =\.

I still think I'm regularly making at least 1 mistake in just about every match looking back at my videos. Just sometimes that mistake costs me the match.

Glad people are enjoying the music. My most frequent pandora station is my video game game library. It's a guilty pleasure.

MDU, what songs did people complain about? They all seemed good to me.

Hey Z, how have you been sideboarding with the deck?

/s.

I haven't paid much attention to standard lately, been skipping FNM to get in Modern practice for the upcoming PTQs. Still have this and Boss Sligh sleeved though.

Hey Z, how have you been sideboarding with the deck?

This is a joke post right?

Is this guy serious? Lol

It's a joke guys

It has to be, right?

MDU, what songs did people complain about? They all seemed good to me.

I use too run lots off instrumental and classical pieces (non-vocal) (many of which are foreign) as a result I would get tons of "my ears are bleeding.comments" so I swapped back into hipsters/mainstream vocals songs which drastically reduced the hate mail (I also get some comments from the music artists which is always nice).

P.S. if more people get active with the Youtube Filming scene we can create a circle and try and promote the website further which would be nice .

MDU, just jam on some Slayer next time. I mean, when you burn someone's face off and attack them at warp speed with a flaming bird, doesn't Angel of Death just seem like the appropriate song?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6_zsJ8KPP0

@Khaospawn: I would except I'll get a red strike for using a licences track without permission (or youtube will mute the video depends on how pissed the author is).

@All: I sure this doesn't surprises you guys but the list I posted earlier:

If I was too play a standard MOCS tomorrow this is the list I'll run:

[deck=MDU's Rw Burn]Lands 23
8 Mountain
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Temple of Triumph
3 Mutavault
2 Boros Guildgate
1 Temple of Silence
1 Mana Confluence

Creatures 08
4 Young Pyromancer
4 Chandra's Phoenix

Enchantments and Removal 05
4 Chained to the Rocks
1 Mizzium Mortars

Burns 24
4 Magma Jet
4 Warleader's Helix
4 Shock
4 Skullcrack
4 Boros Charm
4 Lightning Strike

Sideboard 15
4 Toil // Trouble
3 Mizzium Mortars
2
Banishing Light
2 Chandra, Pyromaster
2 Assemble the Legion
1 Mutavault
1 Reprisal[/deck]

Why Assemble the legions? Its still the I-WIN button vs Bx Devo (which is the most common Bx Devo list)
Why 3 Mizzium Mortars? Its the most simple answer for Ux Devo and other aggro builds
Why 4th vaults? Good vs control and when you want too control

Has been doing really well online

P.S. After I hit 35 QP I'm gonna sell the Mana Confluence (I'll need to do it well in advance for M15)

MDU, what songs did people complain about? They all seemed good to me.

I use too run lots off instrumental and classical pieces (non-vocal) (many of which are foreign) as a result I would get tons of "my ears are bleeding.comments" so I swapped back into hipsters/mainstream vocals songs which drastically reduced the hate mail (I also get some comments from the music artists which is always nice).

P.S. if more people get active with the Youtube Filming scene we can create a circle and try and promote the website further which would be nice .

This is why I have stopped watching your videos

sorry, they are very informative but I can't stand that kind of music

I would love to hear some post-rock or something on your channel instead (I can heartily recommend the new Sleepmakeswaves but that would probably anger the cavemen that have been complaining to you so far...)

I always just streamed with Ellie Goulding, Lana Del Rey or stuff from the 90s. No complaints ever.

Nate Dogg Pandora. MDU, do it.

I always just streamed with Ellie Goulding, Lana Del Rey or stuff from the 90s. No complaints ever.

Ellie Goulding's first two records are perfect thanks to the heavy indie pop influences which make them enjoyable for a very broad audience, can't say I enjoy her newer stuff as much

The same goes for Lana Del Rey, even though it's more of a chamber pop influence there (critics did spit her out for a good reason: her lyrics are laughably bad)

You sure as hell can't please everyone, sadly

Unfortunately they are much more strict about music you upload on YouTube vs what music you play while streaming

It's true, I'm actually surprised my Black Mages tracks didn't get hit with it.

I should go ahead and add the DTR link to the introduction. I just assumed anyone seeing the youtube channel was from here. I'm not monetizing mine because I'm lazy.

Drum and Bass Radio on Pandora for streaming.

Wow what's with all the 10 white source mana bases lately. I want at least 11. 10 means you're not going to have a white source in your opening hand around a fourth of your games and you have a less than 50% chance of hitting one in your top 3.

My ideal mana base has 12 white sources, 12 mountains, 4 mutavaults, and 14 untapped red sources with as many scrylands as possible. That's not actually possible right now though.
12 white sources and 12 mountains gives you an 80% chance of seeing one in your opening 7 and a 50% of hitting it in your top 3 if you didn't see any which I am comfortable with.

With battlefield forge out I think my mana will be

7 Mountain
4 Mutavault
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Temple of Triumph
1 Temple of Silence
3 Battlefield Forge

Hitting 2 white sources is relevant but hitting two mountains isn't so 12 white 11 mountain.

With only 11 mountains how do you expect to have a mountain for Chained to the Rocks reliably? I prefer 13 mountains for Chained to the Rocks, but I could be persuaded into 12.

If I can't get away with 11 mountains, how the hell are people getting away with 10 white sources? And yes, CttR is the reason why I'm specifically trying to hit a certain number of mountains. And how many white sources are you running?

11 Mountains still gives a good chance (80%+) of having one in the opening hand or the top 3 cards after that, and that's only relevant in games where I have a CttR as well. So combined it will only be relevant in 1 in 20 games or so.

I run 13 Mountains and 11 White Sources; only 3 mutavault.

Manabase is:
[deck]
9 Mountain
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Temple of Triumph
3 Mutavault
1 Boros Guildgate
1 Temple of Silence
1 Mana Confluence
[/deck]

Idk how people get away with 10 white sources. It's criminal.

EDIT: Post m15 I'll probably go -1 Guildgate, -1 Confluence, +2 Forge

So where is your logic in worrying about having 13 mountains for CttR when you only have 11 white sources?
You need both for CttR and white sources are more important than the mountain land type to the rest of the deck.

I've always thought 11 white sources was enough, and I was just taken aback by the low mountain count. If it works for you go at it; I just thought I'd say something on the off-chance it was helpful.

When Battlefield Forge is playable, I'll probably try 12 white sources. Your post + a recent beating by 2x Master of Waves and no white source for Banishing Light makes it at least a consideration.
Right now I'm thinking basically what you have except -1 Mutavault, +1 Mountain (I know how you feel about the 4th vault tho).

My point is just that if we're worried about CttR, the white sources and mountains are equally important. If 11 white sources works for you then 11 mountains should also work right?

That's why my goal is 12 and 12 but I'd rather have a 4th Mutavault than a 12th mountain.

Interestingly enough, in the 17 matches I played this weekend (so around 40 games) I was mana screwed each way exactly once.
Lost 1 game to hitting white too late, lost 1 game to being short on red, and lost 1 game to not having a mountain early enough. Statistically speaking that falls within my expectations, but I have no way of knowing how many games the extra mutavault helped me with. It's one of my favorite cards in the deck though because having a threat is incredibly important in a lot of matchups.

Yeah your point makes sense. I think I'd just go 12 and 12 since I've always been on the drawing too many mutavaults end of the spectrum. Plus, I like the SB plans which involve boarding in more creatures/threats than removal (not saying you don't I just don't know what your board looks like), so having enough threats is usually something I can achieve post-board.

Or maybe I just remember all the games where I drew too many mutavaults because I got salty

Playing the shota maindeck with a slightly adjusted manabase and considering the following SB for paper magic (the only magic I play atm):

[deck]
2 Banishing Light
2 Assemble the Legion
2 Chandra, Pyromaster
3 Prophetic Flamespeaker
3 Mizzium Mortars
2 Wear // Tear
1 Flames of the Firebrand
[/deck]

The FotF is a flex slot, other considerations are Reprisal and Mutavault. FotF seems the most helpful against both Monoblue and Monoblack, however, idk if FotF doing cute things against Pack Rat and hitting Nightveil Specter while still going to face makes it worth boarding in. The alternative is giving me a small hedge against Monsters and a more powerful card against Monoblack in Reprisal, or giving me a little extra oomph against control with Mutavault.

Speaking of control, do people board Assemble the Legion in against UWx? I feel like it's a no since they have actual responses to
it and if we can't lean on it to win it's probably not worth playing.