Not so Exalted Apoptosis -please help!
Standard
SCORE: 4 | 19 COMMENTS | 985 VIEWS
Results of first MNM —Jan. 14, 2013
Well, just before I had to leave to go play I saw that the 4x Silverblade Paladin had arrived in the mail, so I quickly did +4 Silverblade Paladin -2 War Falcon -1Precinct Captain -1 Ajani, Caller of the Pride. I didn't have much time to think about the changes and learned some valuable lessons.
Round 1: 2-0 victory against a B/R/G deck that had Liliana of the Dark Realms, Mutilate, and Vampire Nighthawk. He took a mulligan in each of the two games, and I beat him pretty soundly. I'm not sure what his deck was designed to do. Guy was experienced, I think he mainly got bad draws.
Round 2: 1-1-1 draw against a G/W deck that had lots of mana ramp (Arbor Elf, Avacyn's Pilgrim and Farseek) to get out Dreg Mangler, Thragtusk, Wolfir Silverheart, with Rancor and Oblivion Ring). Game 1 he had me at 14 life from two hits from a Dreg Mangler before I put Rancor on it and used Selesnya Charm to exile it. Then he managed to get out 2x Wolfir Silverheart that were soulbonded with each other. I had a Loxodon Smiter with Rancor and 1x exalted from either a Cathedral of War or Aven Squire I was able to come over the top with it thanks to Ajani, Caller of the Pride -3 plus a Giant Growth for a one shot 20 point kill (I don't think he got the Thragtusk out game one). My second game I should have taken a mulligan when I drew only two Temple Garden in my opening hand. Also I made some stupid mistakes and I got pounded pretty good. We were out of time and had to take a draw for the 3rd game (I think he would have had me).
Round 3: got beat soundly 0-2 against a G/W deck with lots of mana ramp from Avacyn's Pilgrim, Arbor Elf, and Borderland Ranger. Had Garruk Relentless Flip, Restoration Angel, which he used to make Thragtusk nastier. Heavy on the creatures. I definitely didn't get enough mana in the 2nd game.
Summary: 3-3 on the night against 3 experienced players. Not bad for my first outing in 15 years and a lot of fun. However, this deck needs serious reworking. Not enough land, not enough mana ramp, not enough creatures. Someone here suggested removing the Giant Growth and I think they were right: too many instants. These used to be such a staple back in the day, what you would now call "combat tricks". I'm considering where to make the changes... opinions more than welcome!
MattyGaddy says... #2
would you consider mainboarding card:Faith's Shield? it is effective as protection and can be used to make a creature unblockable. I would considering putting those in and maybe taking out a [giant growth] or two and a Selesnya Charm or the Oblivion Ring . despite those being great cards the oblivion rings slow your aggro down. i think with the deck youre running they are side board cards once you hsve recognized a threat there deck poses to your strategy.
January 8, 2013 4:20 p.m.
MattyGaddy says... #3
After testing your deck a few times and having played friends with similar decks i think you could you another land or two.
January 8, 2013 4:52 p.m.
take out Staff of Nin , way to slow for an aggro deck, Giant Growth is also not good enough, i would replace both with Silverblade Paladin and a land. i would also remove the Precinct Captain s for 2 more card:Avacyn's Pilgrim.
January 8, 2013 6:03 p.m.
Thanks MattyGaddy and theonyc for the advice, it's got my head spinning in different directions, but I like it. Unfortunately, I don't have any Silverblade Paladin and I doubt I'll be able to get them before this baby goes out for a test drive -but I like the thought and can see how it would make the deck more aggressive. I'll keep an eye out on eBay, but in the meantime I need to make due.
Added a Cathedral of War (maybe add another?), and dumped the 2x Staff of Nin -in hindsight definitely too slow! In play testing, the earliest I ever got it out was turn 8. Definitely no good.
theonyc in the absence of Silverblade Paladin , I added another Ajani, Caller of the Pride for the double strike. Why no on the Giant Growth ? On the Fencing Ace or with Ajani, Caller of the Pride -2 double strike seems pretty awesome to me. Would you think that Titanic Growth could be a better alternative? I know the latter is usually thought to be inferior, but given that in most of my deck has a pretty low mana cost, maybe Titanic Growth with the double strike would be worthwhile? I can't tell just looking at it and have no play experience to compare the two.
MattyGaddy, I forgot that protection makes creatures unblockable so I moved 2x Oblivion Ring to sideboard, replaced with 2x card:Faith's Shield, which makes the deck a little more aggressive. I tried to squeeze more in but don't see what I'd want to give up going into a match to get them in the mainboard.
What are people's thoughts on Serra Avenger ? I love this card but can't seem to squeeze it in. In fact I moved it out of my sideboard all together in favor of cards that could deal with potential problems (not very happy about that, had them in there to potentially replace Aven Squire if I came up against a deck good at quickly popping 1 toughness creatures.
January 8, 2013 11:30 p.m.
There's something about this deck I still don't like and I can't quite place my finger on it.
Maybe remove the 2x card:Avacyn's Pilgrim for 2x Serra Avenger ? Do I really need the extra mana? Having the two additional flyers might be more useful... or do I go the other way and add 2x card:Avacyn's Pilgrim and another Cathedral of War at the expense of say... 3xGiant Growth so I am almost guaranteed to get either a turn 2 Loxodon Smiter , Fencing Ace + Rancor , or similar... What to do... what to do... maybe go to bed and see what other people think!
Thanks for looking ;-)
January 9, 2013 midnight
Have you tried it with War Falcon 's? They are a great one drop and they do a lot better than the pilgrims. Sure they allow for a possible Smiter on T2 but having a 2/1 flyer swinging for 3 on T2 is a bit better. I main an exalted deck and the where it really excels is the early game, if you are able to swarm the field with a bunch of guys with exalted and then swing over any ground creatures it really sets the tone of the game. Getting your opponent to be thinking about defense more than offence is the best thing.
January 10, 2013 5:27 p.m.
Thanks hijump that's a great point. A 2/1 Savannah Lions used to be a no brainer, so why not a 2/1 flyer? How many do you play in your deck? If 4 what woe you suggest I take out?
January 11, 2013 8:31 p.m.
Between 2-3 depending on the deck. I would just play 2 with this deck at first. Though I feel that a 3rd one would do well, just for consistency issues. Though tbh I am not sure what to take out for it, I bet you will prolly know what feels like is holding you back more.
January 12, 2013 4:51 p.m.
I know hes expensive but you should maybe look into Thragtusk as a turn 5 drop and heal, hes one of the scariest cards out there right now. Other than that, good luck!!
January 13, 2013 11:19 p.m.
Thanks Chrisbox don't have any to put in there, but I'll keep Thragtusk in mind. He is nasty, no doubt.
January 13, 2013 11:22 p.m.
Fleetfiend says... #14
If I were you, I would take out your War Falcon s for another Aven Squire and another.. something else. xD
This is up to personal preference, but Rootborn Defenses may be better than card:Faith's Shield.
I also feel like Fencing Ace needs some kind of evasion if you want to use him as your spearhead.
treevore says... #1
though Fungal Sprouting is a good exalted multi trigger for sublime, its a dead card other wise. not all that good. i would -3 those for the left over Loxodon Smiter u have and +2 Precinct Captain s.. aggro needs atleast 23-28 creatures in my oponion. otherwise this is a solid deck for a 15 yr break. welcome back bro :)
January 7, 2013 10:46 p.m.