The LiquidLegends Lounge - Page 1659

Got my worst Game Day performance since I started playing actual decks, 2-2 and barely 8th (draws messing with ranking).
First loss was RG getting under my counters with 2x Greenbelt Rampagers and I couldn't deal with 4 toughness before I died game 1, then drew 3 lands and 15 spells game 2.

Second loss was to New Perspectives combo, I couldn't churn through my deck because I stopped drawing lands for awhile after 6 and discarded a lot, and I didn't know his list by heart so when he tried to Traverse after I already dealt with a Sphinx, I used a Gearhulk in reaction, and when he cast Approach again I didn't have enough mana to pay for both his Censors.
We both sideboarded 9+ cards, but I won g2 off of turn 4 Gideon and so didn't see a thing.
Then game 3 he dropped a Drake Haven turn 3 and I only had Proscription to deal with it, while he sided in counters and I didn't find a Fumigate.

Magma Spray > Electrify, because creatures are small so it's more efficient if you're the beatdown, and comes down earlier to stabilise if you're the control. The exile close is minor to me if I'm aggro but that seems to be the main reason they like it over Electrify.

Splendid Agony > Final Reward: against aggro decks (especially RW) you can somewhat easily get a 2-for-1 out of it, or kill an Entangler and cripple a Gust Walker. Most of them plain dislike Agony, I only like Reward as a way to deal with bombs or heavy cartouche/tricks decks.

Bitterblade Warrior > Naga Vitalist: UG isn't as hard to get the cards for as UB or UR, but you still want your payoffs first, then to get the Vitalists... and I'm never running them if I had to switch colours toward aggro/midrange, while the bears are serviceable.
Hooded Brawler > quarry Hauler. 3/2 for 2 didn't impress me but it applies pressure so fast and wears a cartouche very well. Hauler looked like a big body + value but it'll usually trade down.

I'm starting to dislike Exemplar of Strength despite the upside because unless you cast it t2 on the play it requires additional work to be decent (non-G cartouches or Shed Weakness when it gets blocked), and it blocks terribly.

Cartouche of Ambition is critical against aggro and you want, need one if you're not BR beatdown (even then you can't go wrong with it for the mirror or other R-based decks).

Tah-Crop Skirmisher > Aven Initiate. You still want 1-2 Initiates probably for your wincons and air force, but the Skirmisher at least forces exert from the 2- and 3-drops, trades otherwise, and can be embalmed for cheap. I think I'd like it more than Dune Beetle or Ancient Crab.

You play multiples of Cartouche of Zeal and it's a common you could easily take before the wheel pack 2-3 if you're drafting a red-based aggro deck (RW, BR, RG). They believe it's the worst—it's the most situational one, but when it's good only the B one is better (in RG aggro your creatures are small enough that you often won't be able to fight without dying with the Cartouche of Strength).

When you end up aggro, you want 10+ creatures at CMC 2-3, and then a single Bloodlust Inciter becomes a very good card. You still only want one. I think only one person aside from me ever played it.

Anointer Priest sucks but I'll include it if I'm playing against a beatdown deck, just because it'll force exert and come back for cheap. Oketra's Monument is busted with it if you're aiming to stabilise.
Compulsory Rest reads "you lose your best blocker and I punch for more than 2 additional damage thanks to that so it's worth it. Any 2 mana you spend on the sacrifice ability is mana you don't use on removal or big bodies I can't just Magma Spray out of the way."

Pursue Glory is a card I'd play even without cycle just because by preventing you from blocking and with a ridiculously low cuve it's easy to go wide and finish you with it.