#jank squad

Focusing on the present for the time being, I decided to take a break from the job hunt this afternoon and tweak my current GU Dredge build after the brainstorming I did last week. Most of these changes are geared towards shoring up my (historically hilariously bad) aggro matchups, and more generally letting me be a little bit smarter with how I sideboard. Take a look:

Standard GU Dredge 60 cards 

2 Kraken Hatchling 2 Fog Bank  2 Boneyard Wurm 4 Screeching Skaab 2 Neurok Replica 2 Sylvok Replica 4 Armored Skaab 4 Splinterfright  2 Phyrexian Metamorph 4 Kessig Cagebreakers 3 Ghoultree //31 creatures

2 Dream Twist 4 Mulch 3 Gnaw to the Bone //9 spells

3 Evolving Wilds 2 Ghost Quarter 3 Hinterland Harbor 6 Forest 6 Island //20 lands 

SIDEBOARD 2 Kraken Hatchling 2 Fog Bank 2 Melira, Sylvok Outcast 2 Neurok Replica 2 Sylvok Replica 2 Phyrexian Metamorph 2 Sphinx of Uthuun 1 Memory’s Journey

Critical Mass

First things first: I finally bit the bullet and went down to 2 each for Boneyard Wurm and Dream Twist. This was mainly motivated by my desire to fit in some new toys (see below), however, an unintended bonus is that my creature count is now up to 31! This is pretty huge as it makes it much easier for me to hit lots of creatures when milling myself with Mulch or Armored Skaab. Since getting a critical mass of creatures in the yard is so important for Splinterfright and Cagebreakers, et al to do what they're supposed to, having a better than 50/50 chance for a given card to be a creature is rather significant.

2/2/2

I'm hoping that the new additions to the deck - particularly Kraken Hatchling and Neurok Replica - will help me slow down aggro decks long enough to get my engines going (and perhaps resolve a Gnaw to the Bone).

In theory, running so many 2-ofs lets me seed answers to certain matchups in the main, and gives me more freedom when sideboarding to pick and choose the best answers to a given match-up. Post-board, I could plausibly be running 4 Fog Bank, or 4 Neurok Replica, or 4 Phyrexian Metamorph. I feel like this will make me more flexible dealing with incoming threats effectively.

Melira and Uthuun

Two last 2-ofs in my sideboard that might confuse some people are Melira, Sylvok Outcast and Sphinx of Uthuun. Melira is there simply because my local metagame has seen some fairly successful infect decks. My matchups vs. infect tend to be fairly split, so hopefully Melira will give me an edge there.

Finally, while my control matchups tend to be pretty favorable to me, I have noticed that I'm not always sure what to board in against control decks. It's pretty obvious in a lot of matchups that I don't need Fog Bank or Gnaw to the Bone taking up slots, but what do I board in in their place? Sphinx of Uthuun may be clunky at seven mana, but in the long game I am sure to land it, and resolving one puts me so far ahead in tempo and card advantage that I may just win right there.

August 23 1-3

2-1 vs. Red/Artifact control (SB: -3 Fog Bank, +2 Phyrexian Metamorph, +1 Sylvok Replica) 1-2 vs. Naya Pod (SB: -4 Dream Twist, -2 Sylvok Replica, -1 Screeching Skaab, +4 Devastation Tide, +2 Phyrexian Metamorph, +1 Fog Bank) 1-2 vs. Green/White Humans (SB: -4 Dream Twist, -1 Screeching Skaab, +4 Devastation Tide, +1 Fog Bank) 0-2 vs. Blue/White Splicers (SB: -2 Sylvok Replica, -1 Dream Twist, +1 Fog Bank, +2 Phyrexian Metamorph)

This was a bad night for me, winning only my first match of the night against a janky big red build that relied on Steel Hellkites and Batterskulls to push through. Post-board, I was able to keep him at bay with Phyrexian Metamorphs and Sylvok Replicas to copy and destroy his threats.

The rest of the night was a repeat of my last report, losing to an endless stream of White/X aggro matches. (Yes, this last one was against Rebekah's splicer deck... remind me why I loaned her those Restoration Angels and Vensers again?)

I've known this for awhile, but this deck has a real problem with aggro. The reason is obvious, of course: I don't play any removal. This is a conscious choice based on the fact that most of the available removal in the format becomes worthless once in the graveyard, but a choice I am starting to question more and more. Sometimes (most times), Gnaw to the Bone and Fog Bank just aren't enough to keep me alive.

August 28 3-1

2-1 vs. Monogreen Infect (SB: -3 Gnaw to the Bone, +2 Phyrexian Metamorph, +1 Sylvok Replica) 0-2 vs. Esper planeswalkers (SB: -3 Gnaw to the Bone, -1 Dream Twist, +4 Devastation Tide) 2-0 vs. Omniscience control (SB: -4 Fog Bank, -3 Gnaw to the Bone, +1 Sylvok Replica, +1 Dream Twist, +2 Phyrexian Metamorph) 2-1 vs. Grixis planeswalkers (SB: -4 Fog Bank, -3 Gnaw to the Bone, +1 Sylvok Replica, +1 Dream Twist, +2 Phyrexian Metamorph)

This night, on the other hand, was very good for me. I didn't crack the top four, but in hindsight I think I probably just missed it: one of the guys I beat (and the one guy who beat me) placed.

This night's 3-1 record also helped to crystallize something I'm not sure I'd realized up until now: While my aggro matchups tend to be fairly bad, my control matchups are actually really good. This is a good sign, since the spoilers so far (to me at least) seem to signal a somewhat slower format coming post-rotation.

September 4 2-2

1-2 vs. Monogreen Aggro (SB: -2 Sylvok Replica, -2 Dream Twist, +2 Noxious Revival, +2 Phyrexian Metamorph) 1-2 vs. Naya Podless (SB: -3 Dream Twist, -2 Screeching Skaab, +4 Devastation Tide, +1 Sylvok Replica) 2-0 vs. Red/Artifact Control (SB: -4 Fog Bank, -1 Gnaw to the Bone, +2 Phyrexian Metamorph, +1 Sylvok Replica, +2 Sphinx of Uthuun) 2-0 vs. Murder Delver (SB: none)

This past Tuesday night started off rough but got a lot better, cruising to a 2-2 wash after losing both of my first two matchups. Once again, my wins were against control decks and my losses were against aggro.

To illustrate this point, here's how I did overall over these three nights:

1-5 vs. Aggro 5-1 vs. Control

Pretty telling data there. What these numbers say to me is twofold. First: that I don't really need to worry too much about my control matchups since I generally win them anyway. And second: that I really, really need to start figuring out some better answers for my aggro matchups, in the sideboard if nowhere else. Aggro very well might take a back seat post-Return to Ravnica, but it's certainly not going away.

Speaking of Return to Ravnica, I need to gush for a second about the absurd level of help I've getting for this deck from the spoilers so far. I mentally thanked the spoiler gods earlier this week when they previewed Grisly Salvage (or as I call it, "super-Mulch"), but that was before I got to see Lotleth Troll, Slitherhead, Dreg Mangler, Sluice Scorpion and yes, Vraska the Unseen and Abrupt Decay. I knew the return of the Golgari guild was going to give me enough good stuff to force into B/G/U, but I had no idea just how much good stuff was coming. And that's with less than a third of the set revealed!

Man, this fall is going to be my time. But I digress.

Looking to the short term, I don't want to wait until rotation to plug my aggro problem. I'm already running Fog Bank and Gnaw to the Bone; so what other anti-aggro cards in the format can I maybe start boarding in?

Here are some possibilities I've thought of so far. (Feel free to message me with suggestions!)

Kraken Hatchling <-- Strong early blocker Silent Departure <-- Works from the graveyard Prey Upon Ulvenwald Tracker Essence Scatter Void Stalker Beast Within Deceiver Exarch Neurok Replica <-- Temporary removal on a creature Dungeon Geists <-- Powerful tempo creature Mist Raven Tangle Angler

Obviously these are all pretty budget options, since I'm hoping to save most of my my money for Return to Ravnica. (Man, October is going to be an expensive month...) In any case, I'll let you know what I end up going with!

Standard Deck -- 60 Cards

4Blade Splicer 3Doomed Traveler 4Master Splicer 3Restoration Angel 4Vital Splicer 4Wing Splicer      22//Creatures

2Day of Judgement 3Intangible Virtue 1Moonsilver Spear 4 Divine Verdict  3Sleep 2Venser, the Sojourner      15//Spells

2 Evolving Wilds 3 Forest 2 Gavony Township 3 Glacial Fortress 3 Island 7 Plains 1 Shimmering Grotto 2 Sunpetal Grove      23//Land

Sideboard

4  Oblivion Ring 4 Fog 1 Island 4 Naturalize 1 Sleep 1 Titan Forge 

Yes. I actually created that thing called a sideboard. Trouble is, I keep forgetting I have one. Titan Forge, I can always bring out against slower control decks, but those are few and far between lately at our local shop. I also haven't seen much in the way of artifact decks. The trick is getting rid of those darn planeswalkers it seems, hence Oblivion Ring. 

Round 1, Game 1 I played against Mike. He had a decent deck, playing Red/White Humans. It included some soulbond abilities and fun first strikers. The first game, I was able to get out a Doomed Traveler and Blade Splicer turn 1 and turn 3. Along with Intangible Virtue. He just wasn't getting his critters out, nor his mana drops. I felt bad when I eventually had a Venser, the Sojourner, blinked a Splicer to get another golem and just swung out. That seems more bad luck on his part, and keeping a great hand on my end. 

Round 1, Game 2 I ended up being stuck on three mana, keeping a hand with a few other 4 drops and missing my lands. Mike got out Champion of the Parish x2 and dropped a few other humans. He also dropped Silverblade Paladin and Riot Ringleader which just buffed more of his humans. He swung out and I took the hit on my pitiful mana base.

Round 1, Game 3 This was was fun. We both had a relative challenge. I ended up mulliganing though. He still dropped his Champion of the Parish, dropped the Riot Ringleader again and a Fiend Hunter, exiling a Golem. I was perfectly fine with that. In response, I was able to Day of Judgement, destroying all critters, but in response to myself, I regenerated one of my golems with Vital Splicer. 

He was rushing to keep up by playing the Goldnight Commander and his Silverblade Paladin while I got both my Blade and Vital Splicers back.  Sleep came in as an extremely useful spell. No matter what you may or may not have on the table, all the creatures you have can tap and stay tapped. I think I underestimated that spell, but will not in the future. It is amazing against other aggro decks, and you basically get two free swings at someone, often killing them, despite the player maybe able to play a creature that has summoning sickness their next turn. Ultimately, This was a fun matchup and I would look forward to playing it again.

Round 2, Game 1 I played a fellow coworker of Jake's, Bryan, this round. I honestly am not sure how to beat this deck other than get my creatures out as fast as possible. This is the ridiculous planeswalker matchup, having Karn Liberated, Liliana of the Veil, and Tamiyo, the Moon Sage all in one deck. First game, I was left with 3 mana again while Bryan got out his Solemn Simulacrum for mana ramping. His Pristine Talisman did not help, gaining him life over the course of the game. Eventually, I had a few golems, 2 Master Splicers buffing them and a Restoration Angel out. He Black Sun Zenith'ed me a few times, got all the mana and got Griselbrand out. End Game 1.

Round 2, Game 2 Despite Bryan's Mulligan, he still pulled off all of his Planeswalkers, getting the three out in the game: Karn Liberated, Liliana of the Veil, and Tamiyo, the Moon Sage. Basically, he made me exile a card from hand over and over, discard a card from hand or have me sacrifice anything I actually had on the table. Or he would have me tap my permanents. Eventually he restarted the game, killing me with my own Golems. Not cool. At all. At one point he had a Ratchet Bomb and could tap it to kill all my golems as they were not mana based creatures. 

Jake wandered over at one point to watch our game. He got in right when the game restarted and asked "Why can't you win like a good player?" rather than do Karn's ultimate, using my own men against me. 

Round 3, Game 1 This matchup was against Devin. He was playing a Red/Green werewolf deck. first game, I had to mulligan. I ended up being mana screwed. Again. I had Venser, a Resto Angel, and a Vital Splicer in hand on 3 mana. Despite  Sleeping my enemy, he still won with Kruin Outlaw, Instigator gang, Huntmaster of the Fells and Daybreak ranger all on the board. 

Round 3, Game 2 I was able to prevail.  Blade Splicer hit the table as Wolfbitten Captive came out on his side. I was able to Restoration Angel, blinking the splicer.  Intangible Virtue buffed my golems, but also gave me blockers and attackers, while Wing Splicer gave flying. I was able to hold him off and fly over his creatures to him for the win. 

Round 3, Game 3 Very similar to the first round. I was stuck on 3 mana. He did similar plays, was faster, more aggressive, and lack of spells during my turn left me with terrifying werewolves not only nipping at my heels, but truly tearing me to shreds. I am thinking of putting in lower mana based creatures like Avacyn's Pilgrim. it isn't just an early blocker, but it would help with my mana until I hit that extra land. 

Round 4, Game 1 I actually ended up against Jake this round. He is definitely a worthy opponent, playing a Kessig Cagebreakers deck. Milling himself and gaining tons of life with Gnaw to the Bone does not a friendly deck make. I was lucky to get Intangible Virtue out early. Blade Splicer and Wing Splicer came next. I saw Divine Verdict do its work in this matchup, killing Ghoultree early on. I blinked my Splicer with a Resto Angel again and Flew in for the win. 

Round 4, Game 2 So despite Jake having three Fogbanks (Well... one of them being a Phyrexian Metamorph), I still got him. 3 Golems on the table with 2 Master Splicers and Intangible Virtue was beautiful. Not only did I eventually get a Venser to make everything unblockable, but I was able to Sleep the Fog banks to go in for the kill. 

Overall, the night seemed very lucky for my wins and very unfortunate for my losses. I kept getting mana screwed. The only time I had a somewhat keepable hand was when I had Doomed Traveler and Intangible Virtue starting out. 

Jake and I looked over my deck and we both realized that nearly all of my cards were 4 drops. No wonder I had issues getting a keepable hand. Planning on making some large alterations and seeing what happens at the next tournament. Will post details soon!