Effects of Treasure Cruise on UR Delver
Modern forum
Posted on Oct. 30, 2014, 7:39 a.m. by capriom85
I have noticed a trend in UR Delver decks since the introduction of [[treasure cruise] to the Modern format.
First, no more Grim Lavamancer . Is this totally due to the fact that you want to use your graveyard for delving a draw 3 or does the use of monestary swiftspear as a red 1 drop come into play here as well? Not all builds have them, but all recent builds that I see cut the Lavamancers.
Second, I see a reduced number of Snapcaster Mage . Where there used to be 4 I now see only 2, maybe 3, and some builds cut him altogether. I know he is "necessary" for the deck to do what it wants to do, but he is still a great card. Is Treasure Cruise so powerful it has made Snappcaster obsolete in this deck because you'd prefer to draw 3 than be able to reuse a needed spell from your graveyard?
I kind of figured Swiftspears were just better. I'm still running Snapcaster at 3 as well. Also, how do you guys feel about Dig Through Time in here UR Delver? I run 1
October 30, 2014 8:03 a.m.
Dig through time is arguably better in delver for cases where you want to cast it in response to an opposing spell to then find a counterspell. You want dig to find specific things, you want cruise if you just want general cards.
October 30, 2014 8:33 a.m.
Remember snappy and cruise sort of don't play nice together so you have to balance it out there. You actually want to be quite careful with what you delve out of your graveyard - because often snappy can act as counterspell copies 5-8. With cruise and delving them away that's no longer possible. There's arguably more thinking involved now - which is no bad thing!
October 30, 2014 8:34 a.m.
I we one a more thought based strategic Delver deck if it means a more competitive Delver. It almost feels like it's more of an interactive build just because of Dig and Cruise
October 30, 2014 9:49 a.m.
Ohthenoises says... #8
I used to run 2x Runechanter's Pike along with my 2x snappys. Made the switch to Treasure Cruise and I'm loving it.
ChiefBell you like Dig Through Time more? I'm running a lot of 1x like VClique and Keranos. Dig or Cruise?
October 30, 2014 10:01 a.m.
This is an ongoing debate. If you're running a deck that has many 1-2 ofs that you want to draw at very specific times (maybe like a single copy of Negate or something) then you definitely want Dig. If you just generically want cards then you want Cruise.
Twin, for example, may prefer Dig because typically it has to only find one card such as Splinter Twin to just win the game.
October 30, 2014 10:56 a.m.
My Delver is super simplistic right now. It basically runs playsets of everything...some exceptions. But pretty much I expect to find what I need if I pop off a Treasure Cruise so I am not really worried about it. I probably will replace the Dig with another Cruise.
That said...Ohthenoises, how is Keranos working for you? I never even thought about running him in my Delver.
October 30, 2014 11:34 a.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #11
UR Delver should always be playing four Treasure Cruise and zero Dig Through Time . The deck is redundant enough that three cards will mostly be better than two out of seven. Casting it for only one mana is relevant when you are mana constrained.
October 30, 2014 2:48 p.m.
If you run playsets then sure. If you don't then its up to you.
Instant versus sorcery is another thing to consider.
October 30, 2014 3:01 p.m.
Instant d vs Sorcery speed is what make me run a copy of Dig Through Time . I see how the redundancy of the deck in question here allows for Cruise to be a little better usually.
Dalektable says... #2
No, it by no means made snappy obsolete. Instead they are used in part together, personally I still run three in my list. And you're right with Lavamancer, swiftspear is just a more efficient option.
October 30, 2014 7:52 a.m.