Gainsay

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Legality

Format Legality
1v1 Commander Legal
Archenemy Legal
Arena Legal
Block Constructed Legal
Canadian Highlander Legal
Casual Legal
Commander / EDH Legal
Commander: Rule 0 Legal
Custom Legal
Duel Commander Legal
Gladiator Legal
Highlander Legal
Historic Legal
Legacy Legal
Leviathan Legal
Limited Legal
Modern Legal
Oathbreaker Legal
Pioneer Legal
Planechase Legal
Premodern Legal
Quest Magic Legal
Tiny Leaders Legal
Vanguard Legal
Vintage Legal

Gainsay

Instant

Counter target blue spell.

Tzefick on Two Life-Draining Spells

4 years ago

griffstickIt would push burn too far?? In what format? I checked RDW in Modern on MTGtop8.com - which is a mash of straight burn and aggro prowess/burn. In 2019, the average use of Lightning Helix is 1.4x in RDW. Those who use it, use 4x. The only good reason to use Lightning Helix over more efficient burn like even Skewer the Critics (which is 2.2x on average over the same decks) is the ability to off-set the clock in a mirror-match or against other aggro. These types of decks run Eidolon of the Great Revel just to squeeze in some more damage on everyone and they don't care, as long as the opponent is hurt worse.

I think we already established that Lightning Helix and Lightning Bolt are too good for Standard, so I would never expect this type of card to be printed in Standard. So we're at least talking Modern, and I just don't see that this should make burn better against anything other than... burn. If Lightning Helix was as good a card as you seem to think for burn, I'm confused why they are so low on average on the pro scene.

The suggested card would definitely be a strict upgrade on Lightning Helix, but on average it would be Lightning Helix 5-8. I think you overestimate the healing to have value outside mirror matches. It would be similar to saying a cheap blue counterspell, that can only target spells that would counter a spell you control, would make control stronger. I would actually argue that it would make them weaker against anything but the mirror match. Gainsay was printed in OG Theros block and I cannot find it appearing in Standard nor Modern at the time.

Bateserade on +1/+1 Simic Victory

5 years ago

Big Update: Added in some cards that I already had. Took out some cards I felt didn't contribute enough to the +1/+1 counters, or I had cards which did what the card did, but better. Also adding in both Nissa and Champion of Rhonas may allow me to cheat out some of my more expensive spells, saving mana for adapting those already on the field.

Out

In

jordybear2002 on I would like to see you try...

6 years ago

Ok so 1. Creatures. Get rid of the following: Isperia, Supreme Judge, Ludevic's Test Subject  Flip, and Loyal Sentry. Replace with, Wall of Omens, Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, and that's all I can think of creatures. 2. Lands. Find dual lands like Azorius Chancery and get rid of Urza. 3. Get rid of Gainsay and replace with Counterspell. I want to win by making me protection and while doing so building an army. If think there are better ways to win please let me know. I put Thalia in there just to avoid fatal push and to get some more leverage.

Caerwyn on I would like to see you try...

6 years ago

Gainsay only targets blue spells, and while blue is super common in legacy, the limitation is still fairly significant. Counterspell can target anything, regardless of colour. In two colours, it is not particularly hard to manage keeping two blue mana available--you just need the right lands.

jordybear2002 on I would like to see you try...

6 years ago

Hey cdkime!!! 1. You are not being rude telling me that my deck will not win. I am new to the deck building world and this is a process of learning so I will take what ever constructive critisizm I can get and use that. FYI you and I are already on the same page with the whole entering tapped lands. I hate them because they delay my game play and give my opponents a extra advantage. Question. If I am running a multi colored deck why not just keep Gainsay because it costs a colorless this way I can spend at ever mana I want and still have a free blue. But if you think that counter spell is better I will replace it : ). In my next comment I will go over card replacements and make sure you and I are on the same page.

Caerwyn on I would like to see you try...

6 years ago

First, and I mean this nicely, you are not going to win using this deck in Legacy. Legacy is ultra-fast, and you're in a bit of a jam if you do not have a turn-one victory or turn-zero disruption (i.e. Force of Will). If you intend to use this deck casually, you should be fine, but I would be doing a disservice if I did not warn you of the dangers of your chosen format.

Moving on to deckbuilding advice, the Tron lands do little for you. You have a lot of cards requiring one or more coloured mana, and very few outlets for large amounts of colourless mana. Cut all the tron lands and run some lands that produce both Blue and White (Glacial Fortress, Hallowed Fountain, Adarkar Wastes, Flooded Strand). Note, many new deckbuilders want to purchase less expensive lands that enter the battlefield tapped (Azorius Guildgate). Do not fall into this trap! Your manabase is the most important part of your deck, and lands that enter tapped will lose you games.

Isperia, Supreme Judge is extremely substandard in 60 card constructed formats. By the time you can cast him, you should already have sufficient defenses with your Ghostly Prisons and Propagandas that you're not being attacked. As such, he's a bit superfluous. Yes, he provides a large body, but you can find better win conditions.

I am not really a fan of Ludevic's Test Subject  Flip as a win condition either--too much investment, and too susceptible to removal. Spending 3 turns building it up, and then having it get hit with Fatal Push would be most disappointing.

Gainsay is fairly bad, even in Legacy where everyone plays blue. If you are going to stick with legacy, Counterspell is your friend.

Path to Exile is a bit pricey, but it is probably the best removal spell in the game.

Loyal Sentry is quite mediocre. Consider Wall of Omens instead. It's a solid blocker that replaces itself in your hand.

You should add some cantrips (one-mana blue draw spells) like Brainstorm and Gitaxian Probe (which you generally will want to pay 2 life to use).

How do you want to win?

Hardhitta7 on

7 years ago

Sweet, thanks for all the suggestions man! I'm just trying to go prepared, it will by first time playing anything but kitchen table so I'm kinda nervous. But excited as well!

I plan on getting Thing in the Ice  Flip when I have the money. Such a badass card! Same for Gitaxian Probe. What do you think of running Peek until I can get the probe? I really like Dissolve, defiantly an upgrade! Thanks!

Tormod's Crypt looks like it could be super useful, and I like Flashfreeze and Gainsay, I'll defiantly pick some up.

What would you recommend taking out to fit Delver of Secrets  Flip? One of the higher cost creatures?

And Happy New Years to you too bro! I appreciate you helping me get ready for my Modern event. Do you think I should play this deck or my Vampires?

Snap157 on

7 years ago

Cool! Automatic +1, this is neat

To keep with the common theme of transforming your creatures with spells, I would replace Goliath Sphinx with Thing in the Ice  Flip. To trigger your other instant/sorcery creatures, I would replace Glimmer of Genius with a cheaper Gitaxian Probe or maybe Serum Visions. Cancel can be replaced with Dissolve, Void Shatter or Dissipate just for more versatility.

Seems like Delver of Secrets  Flip would fit right in here.

So for sideboard, you want to think about the types of decks you could be playing and build against them. Flashfreeze is great agaisnt red or green, and Elixir of Immortality and/or Laboratory Maniac are both good against Mill. Tormod's Crypt shuts down graveyard focused decks, and Gainsay is nice if you come accross another mono blue. Annul is also a possibility for artifact decks. Hope this helps!

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