Electrostatic Pummeler in AER Standard?
Standard forum
Posted on Jan. 30, 2017, 1:08 p.m. by clayperce
I ran Electrostatic Pummeler all last season (in both Gruul and Temur colors) and absolutely loved it. But with copies of Fatal Push, Shock, and Walking Ballista all over the place in Aether Revolt, I figured it was time to shelve Pummeler and move on to something else. But then I noticed a handful of lists which have actually proven to be competitive:
- Andrew Jessup's deck: Top 16 at SCG Richmond Standard Classic (1/29/2017)
- ADQ's deck: 5-0 in MTGO Competitive Standard Constructed League (1/28/2017)
- Talisker's deck: 5-0 in MTGO Competitive Standard Constructed League (1/27/2017)
What do y'all think? Does the little robot actually have a shot in this meta? Thanks!
I believe the amount of removal out there is very high. they had to push them very high to make the playing field level. but ultimately those cards combos where so broken that they had to just banned them from play. there is now removal that is just to good. and after a couple sets it will balance back out.
the ways around the new new removal
walking ballista I have found is not that good against pump. they can't pump fast enough to keep up with Electrostatic Pummeler. cheap fast pumps will beat out ballista any day. they would have to keep up with you on the ramp to cover the speed.
fatal push can't get it. its out of the range of the card. because its a three drop.
shock is good. but they need to get it right when it hits on turn three. if it hits after turn three and lets say it hits on turn four you could still pump to beat it. there really isnt a reason to not play a card. you just need to think about the meta. understand the most popular decks and be ready for them on friday. other then that everyone is thinking the same thing you are asking is this not playable? well its up to you if it is.
January 30, 2017 10:59 p.m.
Ballista absolutely destroys pummeler decks, usually entirely on its own. With a snake turn 2, your turn 3 ballista handles any pummeler, simply by denying the decks energy. If you attack the pummeler on the turn its dropped, they either have to sac energy/use blossoming defense on a non-attacking turn, which leaves you open to kill pummeler with literally anything (including of course a revolted fatal push). Ballista's shot ability is just too much, you can always ping in response to their activation, in response to blossoming defense, etc etc...
Ryjo says... #2
If counters remains a thing, Walking Ballista will remain widespread throughout the format. Even if it doesn't, the Ballista has a lot of value and will find a home somewhere. Fatal Push and Shock (and to a lesser extent Fragmentize) represent cheap and easy ways to either eliminate the Pummeler or force you to activate it to prevent you from losing it. The Pummeler also dies to all the sweepers in the format, even Radiant Flames on Converge 1. Your ability to protect the Pummeler is limited to pump spells and/or hexproof/indestructible granting spells, but relying on having those plus the Pummeler might prove to be too problematic. I don't know if there is enough that can be done to protect the Pummeler to allow it to be major part of a deck.
January 30, 2017 2:59 p.m.