Help! New shop is apparently crawling with Delver!

Modern Deck Help forum

Posted on Oct. 15, 2016, 10:47 a.m. by TheDuggernaught

Hi community!

I went to a new shop last night which I am hoping to be frequenting only to find that it is full of Delver -- a deck that typically has a good match up vs my usual style of play. The deck I brought (that got crushed) is Sultai Control. It does very well against other midrange and control decks. I have even done well against affinity. But the counters that Delver packs combined with the aggro were just a bit much.

As such, I am asking you guys what could make this deck more Delver proof? Especially in the side.

I would also be open to suggestions to up the amount of draw power the deck has -- as I was top decking far more often than I would like.

EmblemMan says... #2

What kind of delver? A more aggressive UR delver or midrange grixis delver?

October 15, 2016 11:38 a.m.

Game 1 was Jeskai Delver -- fairly aggressive. Game 3 I was against Grixis Delver. I guess the Jeskai Delver wasn't terrible as it was much more concerned with doing damage that it was with keeping its threats alive with counter magic. But Grixis Delver pooped all over me. Abrupt Decay cant hit Tasigur, the Golden Fang :(

October 15, 2016 11:46 a.m.

car says... #4

disfigure and engineered explosives can kill delver fast and efficient

October 15, 2016 12:22 p.m.

DarkLaw says... #5

With the colors that you are in, your options are limited. I seriously advise going Grixis or maybe Jund and building your deck with Delver in mind. Otherwise, the only cards I can really suggest are Disfigure and more cheap, powerful removal/counters.

October 15, 2016 12:44 p.m.

square711 says... #6

First things first: drop Nissa, Vital Force and Sultai Charm. Sultai midrange is already slower than Abzan (and MUCH slower than Jund), you don't want to make it even slower.

If delver is that prevalent in your metagame, then you're better off building your entire deck to be delver-proof, not just a couple sideboard slots. Here's a few ideas:

  • Play more hand disruption and less Serum Visions. When you're on the draw against Delver, playing Visions T1 often means getting your ass kicked next turn (they play Delver, you fetch-shock for Visions, they flip Delver followed by Swiftspear + Bolt and you start your second turn at 9 life, just like that).

  • Cut some Cryptic Commands for cheaper counterspells like Spell Snare or Dispel (the latter is especially good against Delver). Frankly, Cryptic is pretty underwhelming in the current Modern meta, so you may want to just drop it altogether.

  • Bounce spells take care of Tasigur, the Golden Fang and slow down Delver of Secrets  Flip a great deal, so Vapor Snag may be worth considering.

  • Sure, Thragtusk is a powerhouse, but you should favor lower-CMC creatures since you're dealing with one of the fastest archetypes in Modern - Vendilion Clique, perhaps?

  • Play Spellskite in the main. Just do it.

As for card draw... Dark Confidant is your best choice if you drop the Thragtusks and Nissa as I advised. If not, Painful Truths fits the greedy Sultai manabase pretty well (it's sorcery speed, but hey, you're drawing 3 for 3). Read the Bones and Night's Whisper are other solid choices (with the same drawback, unfortunately). And Grixis can't do jack shit about Phyrexian Arena once it lands, so there's that too.

October 15, 2016 12:54 p.m.

Thanks for the suggestions so far! I am currently leaning towards Phyrexian Arena for draw power. I like Dark Confidant. But bob might make me need to cut Tasigur, the Golden Fang. Arena is also a another card type for goyf. With constant ping from area, would adding some Scavenging Ooze main board be good? Would certainly help my pre-board match up vs dredge if I were to ever come across that. I will also cut some Cryptic Commands (as much as I love the card) for some of those cheaper counters. I think I might want to to still keep 2 though.

Do you guys think Remand would fit this sort of shell? I have always thought of remand as more of a combo or tempo card. I have had some friends suggest it, but I am not sure how I feel about it in a mid range list.

October 15, 2016 2:39 p.m.

This discussion has been closed