Triple A

Unknown Argy

SCORE: 117 | 225 COMMENTS | 23379 VIEWS | IN 79 FOLDERS


Deck almost physically complete —Oct. 9, 2015

I'm waiting for one Drana, Liberator of Malakir and two Dragonmaster Outcast (c'mon, how much like Sarkhan does that card look and sound?) and then my deck will be ready to venture into its first FNM.

Well, it's more like WNM as the group I like to play in meets on Wednesday.

I'm excited to see how it goes, and what tweaks I will need to make.

Thanks everyone who has given me feedback.

suicidalbunny says... #1

if you play this at FNM note that rules state sideboards are limited to 15 cards (easy fix is to make them all 3-ofs). Other than that i really like the deck though i think it needs Lantern Scout somewhere. Maybe in place of those two Chasm Guides? or maybe drop one chasm guide and citadel siege? I havent playtested it so if lifes not a problem in match-ups id say this is pretty spot on. Also an interesting idea you might consider is fetch lands with Retreat to Emeria Instant speed Rally trigger on your opponents turn can really catch them off guard but that my be more for the Abzan build. Also Angelic Captain seems like it could be really strong in thing with the board presence you've got. Also Something you might consider is cutting 1 or 2 land since you got pretty loose curve and 2x Sword of the Animist. Some ideas to play around with

October 6, 2015 2:05 a.m.

Argy says... #2

Yeah suicidalbunny the Sideboard is still a WIP. I have an idea of the 15 cards I want to use for my first FNM and then I will change things after I see how my local meta is.

Life is actually not a problem with the combo of Kalastria Healer and Drana's Emissary and the other 3 drops give me more value than Lantern Scout in testing.

I had Retreat to Emeria in an earlier version of this deck but I have found that Citadel Siege gives me MUCH better value. I don't have any 5 drops because they slowed everything down too much in playtesting, which counts out Angelic Captain.

I'll have a test with cutting some land and putting in Zulaport Cutthroat to see how that plays. Thanks for all the helpful feedback.

October 6, 2015 5:39 a.m.

alex105008 says... #3

Just wondering, what decks are in your meta?

October 6, 2015 8:13 a.m.

Argy says... #4

No idea, mate.

If I did I'd know how to finalise my Sideboard.

Still waiting for the cards to arrive for this deck before I can actually play it IRL.

October 6, 2015 8:23 a.m.

Phelgming says... #5

I think Gideon, Ally of Zendikar should be in instead of Citadel Siege. Citadel Siege does nothing when it enters the field and I'd argue doesn't offer enough value fast enough for its cost. Gideon, on the other hand, can buff your entire army immediately, trigger Rally repeatedly, and act as a difficult threat to remove. He's also not stuck to one mode once he's hit the battlefield.

I think Drana's Emissary is outclassed by Lantern Scout. Unlike the Emissary, the Scout starts putting work in as soon as it hits the battlefield. I don't know how valuable the Emissary's evasion is for the deck, but incremental draining probably isn't going to push you over or keep you alive. Making your whole team gain you life, though, is probably going to at least pull you through (also the extra point in power could be very useful).

I get why you want to run Sword of the Animist, but I think it's way too weak/slow especially considering how fast this deck needs to be. I'd replace it with just about anything (probably another Valorous Stance) since this neither a ramp deck nor a Landfall deck.

Dragonmaster Outcast is cute, but it's effectively a 6 or 7-drop that does nothing the turn it comes in, is below curve the turn after, and is easily removable at any time. I'd take out both copies for something else.

I don't think you need four copies of Chasm Guide. I don't know how many you should run, but I don't think it does enough as a 4-drop to have that many copies.

Tainted Remedy should NOT be a 3-of in the side board. At most there should be 2 copies. It just doesn't do enough as a contingency plan against enough of the meta decks to be worth it. It's also worth noting that the effects of multiple copies do not stack so drawing any past the first would be really bad. I also believe March from the Tomb shouldn't be a 3-of since it's pretty expensive and drawing the second and third copy typically won't be as good as just drawing the first (that said, I don't know which decks you plan to sideboard it in against).

I think Munda, Ambush Leader really wants to be in this deck. He hits the field running and sifts through your top deck to keep the fuel coming.

October 6, 2015 5:47 p.m.

Argy says... #7

I've tested everything you said and written about it in earlier comments.

Everything you suggested works on paper, but not in reality.

My build works in reality. It is more than the sum of its parts.

Read Citadel Siege carefully. If played first main phase it buffs the turn it comes out.

October 6, 2015 6:09 p.m.

Phelgming says... #8

What kind of decks have you tested against and how many times? I've also tested your deck (I'm sure not as much as you have, but I have done it) and these are my thoughts based on what I've seen.

Note that I didn't say the "turn Citadel Siege comes out." I said when it hits the battlefield. Dromoka's Command is a very present threat. Playing it during your first main also keeps you from adapting for changes throughout the rest of your turn. Gideon, on the other hand, does something immediately.

If you could elaborate on why you're against my other suggestions, I'd appreciate it. Swapping Gideon, Ally of Zendikar for Citadel Siege may have been my biggest suggestion, but it was by no means my only one.

October 6, 2015 6:10 p.m.

Argy says... #9

In earlier comments before this last update I've written extensively about why I don't run with your suggestions.

October 6, 2015 6:14 p.m. Edited.

Dude. Alesha, Who Smiles at Death would be so good in this deck. Paired up with things like Altar's Reap and Bone Splinters, sacking your 1-drops early and triggering Rally on later turns. Even as is, it gets back nearly every one of your creatures.

October 6, 2015 6:27 p.m.

Phelgming says... #11

I had already read the comments before making mine.

For one you never compared Gideon to Siege and I felt it a relevant thing to bring up (especially since Gideon can do what appears to be your main reason for including Siege which is to pump your team up). You also did not compare Lantern Scout and Drana's Emissary anywhere. You did not address the downsides of Dragonmaster Outcast nor Sword of the Animist (except for it being Legendary being brought up once) and the matter of the number of copies of Tainted Remedy in your sideboard was never discussed.

Finally, Munda, Ambush Leader only appears once in the comments and no explanation is given as to why he was taken out of the deck. If anything, I think he should be in the deck instead of Sword of the Animist since ramping isn't really needed here, Munda does a better job of keeping your draws good, and Munda can keep himself from falling victim to the Legendary rule.

Please elaborate on your thoughts. If you do not wish to, that's fine, but I'm only trying to help and gain some perspective. I assure you I don't mean to rude or condescending or anything like that.

October 6, 2015 6:28 p.m.

suicidalbunny says... #12

Dude. he said he liked Sword + Dragonmaster. so what if its slow. its a win con. He likes it. Lantern Scout i suggested and he said it's too slow which is understandable. Munda i wouldnt even run because 1. hes legendary and you dont want too many legends in any deck unless thats your main thing and 2. he makes it so you wont draw any bombs, only creatures. and its another 4 drop slowing you down even more. he's got 3 different creatures gaining him life he doesnt need lantern scout. especially since they all drain life directly from your opponent. this is good. you're acting like he has to run everything by you. if you're further confused id suggest taking the comment tutorial once more. its right down there. right below the comment box. review the commenting etiquette part. this is a community and should stay friendly

October 7, 2015 12:18 a.m.

Argy says... #13

I love you, suicidalbunny. You get what this deck is trying to do.

One of the reasons I don't wish to address all the concerns raised is the time it would take me to do so, for no benefit to me.

imnotafelontrustme your suggestions are for a style of deck that would be completely different from this one. Thanks for the ideas but I'm gonna pass on them.

I might use them for my friend's deck, though.

PS. I may not be male.

October 7, 2015 6:22 a.m.

Phelgming says... #14

How am I doing anything inappropriate or in bad etiquette? I'm not saying MY way is the best; I'm saying I want to hear the reasoning as to why my opinions are, quite frankly, just being tossed aside.

I've offered nothing but constructive criticism, asked for reasoning, and state that I'm not trying to be rude and in turn I'm being met with rudeness. How do you think I feel? I want to hear about how this deck works and why my opinions aren't being considered and I'm just being shut down for what I see as no good reason. All I want to do is help.

At any rate, addressing concerns DOES help you. It makes you think about possibilities, makes you see different card interactions, and opens up your deck to be the best it can be. That's the thing about logical discourse, seeing things from multiple angles and making a choice between each option is a great way to make not just the deck in question but all your decks just that much better. Attacking the problem from just one direction and refusing criticism is going to limit your options.

Trust me, writing it out and/or talking about it helps and that's all I want to do.

Heck, if your reason is because this is a pet project and this how you specifically want to do the deck, that's fine. I'm making suggestions with the perspective that you want to make a deck that's competitively viable. If that's not your main concern, let me know. If it is and my opinions don't work, tell me why. Don't just knock me aside like me and my opinions don't matter.

October 7, 2015 11:27 a.m.

Argy says... #15

Phelgming when you start writing posts that long it's time to just let it go.

October 7, 2015 11:33 a.m.

Phelgming says... #16

I write/talk a lot. It's what I do. Writing too much isn't really a thing for me.

Why don't you want to talk about it?

October 7, 2015 11:37 a.m.

Argy says... #17

I've said why.

This conversation is EXACTLY the reason I didn't wish to engage with you.

I could tell you were one of those people who can't just make suggestions then leave it up to the deck builder to evaluate them.

This conversation will end up with someone mentioning Nazis. There, I did it, so now you win the topic and it is over.

October 7, 2015 11:42 a.m.

Phelgming says... #18

You don't win conversations. You just share them with people. I'm not trying to win anything.

Anyway, you want this conversation to end and that's fine. As far as I can tell this will be my last comment here unless something specifically draws me back in.

That said, will you at least tell me whether or not you even considered or thought about my suggestions/opinions?

Regardless of your answer to that question (assuming it's anything as relatively simple as a yes or no), I won't comment again. I just want to know.

October 7, 2015 11:46 a.m. Edited.

Argy says... #19

Yes I did.

I thought about them and, as I think I said, I had already playtested them in earlier builds.

October 7, 2015 11:51 a.m.

Blacksagres says... #20

Please let us know how did it go with your games. I am very interested in building something around Drana/Allies.

October 8, 2015 8:33 a.m.

Argy says... #21

Will do.

Next Wednesday will be its first play as I had to make some Sideboard changes, then wait for cards I ordered.

October 8, 2015 12:16 p.m.

Braltoh says... #22

What do you think about adding an Angelic Captain to this deck?

October 8, 2015 7:36 p.m.