Torrential Gearhulk in standard?
Standard forum
Posted on Nov. 27, 2016, 1:27 p.m. by Blood_Veteran
Hey guys, I have been fiddling with Torrential Gearhulk ever since the pro tour Kaladesh finals between Shoota and Carlos and was wondering on your opinions. Do you think Torrential Gearhulk is viable right now and if so in what shells and colours?
Saying its viable because the pros use it is not really true. PT decks are used to meta game against other decks at the PT and as you can see most of the decks at the PT do not see much play outside of it if you look at GPs and SCG opens. Although yes this card is primarily for control decks because its just a big finisher that hits only instants and most instants are card advantage or removal spells. That being said I dont think control right now is where you want to be because its a little inconsistent and not as redundant as some of the popular decks right now. Removal spells are also kind of at their worst right now because of Selfless Spirit and most decks going wide as a gameplan. Primarily you want blue and red because red gives you the best removal spells and I think black as a third color is probably best because in white some of your removal are things like Stasis Snare and that just doesnt work with the gearhulk. You can definitely do well with control decks you just need to make sure you have some sort of board wipe and to manage your removal spells and resources appropriately.
November 27, 2016 4:34 p.m.
Selfless Spirit is easily dealt with.
You just kill it, so they have to waste it.
November 27, 2016 4:45 p.m.
Blood_Veteran says... #5
Ah fair comments. So Grixis is probably one of the best 3-colour combinations right now. I do honestly feel like it's that or Jeskai. Love cards like Radiant Flames as a psuedo board wipe and Glimmer of Genius, it's the best draw machine right now IMO. Follow up question then; how do you feel about Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet in a Torrential Gearhulk deck?
November 27, 2016 5:34 p.m.
Yeah but a good player will not play selfless spirit as a bear they will play it when it is most advantageous and if you are using your other removal spells to stay alive who knows how many you will have to waste to make them waste their selfless spirit. Glimmer of genius is not actually the best card draw spell its just the best with gearhulk Painful Truths is the best card draw spell and you can play kalitas if you want I dont think it is particularly bad or good with gearhulk but I would not run more than 2 and probably not even 2.
November 27, 2016 5:47 p.m.
pumpkinwavy says... #7
Torrential Gearhulk is probably the best gearhulk. It is completely insane. Now I know this isn't for standard, but have you ever targeted Dig Through Time with it? Or Kolaghan's Command getting back another gearhulk? Best feeling in the world.
That said, I would avoid playing control in standard right now, so no, don't play Torrential Gearhulk.
November 27, 2016 7:43 p.m.
Blood_Veteran says... #8
xD those Torrential Gearhulk flashbacks sure look fun :) What are you guys running in standard and why then? It seems like control isn't viable because either they don't have all the answers or they can't answer what's being played because it's so strong :(
November 28, 2016 8:17 a.m.
pumpkinwavy says... #9
Blood_Veteran Andrew Jessup wrote a nice standard primer on gatheringmagic.com. Most competitive decks are one of those he lists, he's just missing Prized Amalgam decks. I'm playing u/w flash, but I'm getting pretty bored of it and standard in general. I'm getting into modern and my lgs is pushing frontier, so I'll just be playing those formats instead.
November 28, 2016 6:06 p.m.
Blood_Veteran says... #10
pumpkinwavy that is indeed an awesome write up. I must say though all those decks are quite expensive :( We'll see if they hold water after Aether Revolt as well, only time will tell but I definitely want to get back into FNM with something I enjoy!
November 28, 2016 6:32 p.m.
It is viable. I use it in my Metallurgic Summonings deck. I typically hold off on using it for a good counter or draw spell in my deck. This typically means that an idea play for would be 2 3/3 artifact constructs on field, flash in gearhulk play either Void Shatter, Summary Dismissal, or Glimmer of Genius to get either another 3/3 or 4/4 and be able to swing for 14 or 15.
Argy says... #2
It's great in a Control shell, obviously.
Of course it's viable, or the pros wouldn't use it.
I'm not sure of its application beyond Control. It's ability just lends itself to that.
It might be of use in an Artifact heavy deck, if you wanted to play it earlier with Foundry Inspector or pump it with Chief of the Foundry.
November 27, 2016 3:21 p.m.