In my quest to try out different Modern decks I now take on Affinity, the great beast of the format.
This deck is so powerful that it feels broken ... until it doesn't. Sometimes it just defeats itself or can be stopped dead in its track by a card such as Stony Silence.
Main deck
4 Arcbound Ravager
4 Blinkmoth Nexus
4 Cranial Plating
4 Ornithopter
2 Etched Champion
4 Galvanic Blast
4 Inkmoth Nexus
4 Mox Opal
2 Memnite
1 Mountain
4 Signal Pest
4 Spire of Industry
4 Darksteel Citadel
4 Steel Overseer
4 Vault Skirge
4 Springleaf Drum
3 Master of Etherium
Sideboard
2 Etched Champion
2 Ancient Grudge
4 Leyline of the Void
2 Rule of Law
3 Whipflare
2 Thoughtseize
Initial video
Match against GB Midrange
Match against RG Ponza
More Let's try a deck articles:
Let's try a deck - RG Ponza: http://mtgolibrary.blogspot.se/2017/06/lets-try-deck-modern-rg-ponza.html
Let's try a deck - Living End. http://mtgolibrary.blogspot.se/2017/05/lets-try-deck-modern-living-end.html
Showing posts with label Affinity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Affinity. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Playing a Modern League with Naya Burn
I am still playing Naya Burn in Modern. The deck list is in my old article here: http://mtgolibrary.blogspot.se/2016/04/my-new-tier-1-modern-deck.html
I have not changed a single card. After 22-5 in practice I felt that the time had come to play my first constructed league on MTGO with the list.
For my first constructed match with my new deck I faced a BW Hate Bears deck. I did not even know that was a thing. I was fairly sure I would win the first duel but I also expected some heavy Burn hate in his sideboard.
In my second match I faced Affinity. This is a tough matchup as both decks are lightning fast. It is fairly hard to know when to play for the win or when to defend myself.
My sideboarding was: -4 Boros Charm, -4 Eidolon, +1 Smash to Smithereens, +4 Destructive Revelry, +1 Lightinng Helix, +1 Searing Blaze, + 1 Path to Exile
I will finish the league and report on the final result here.
Overall I feel I am quite inexperienced with the deck and don't know enough about the meta. Naya Burn still seems to be a solid choice, As of today it is 3.65% of the winning decks on MTGO.
And for all of you wondering, I will probably write a Modern Bible of Naya Burn eventually. I definitely want to get in 100 matches with the deck first and do some serious studying. Somebody already wrote an article named The Modern Burn Bible but it is nowhere near as comprehensive as my study on RG Tron last year which you can find here: http://mtgolibrary.blogspot.se/2015/02/the-modern-bible-of-rg-tron-part-1.html
I have not changed a single card. After 22-5 in practice I felt that the time had come to play my first constructed league on MTGO with the list.
For my first constructed match with my new deck I faced a BW Hate Bears deck. I did not even know that was a thing. I was fairly sure I would win the first duel but I also expected some heavy Burn hate in his sideboard.
In my second match I faced Affinity. This is a tough matchup as both decks are lightning fast. It is fairly hard to know when to play for the win or when to defend myself.
My sideboarding was: -4 Boros Charm, -4 Eidolon, +1 Smash to Smithereens, +4 Destructive Revelry, +1 Lightinng Helix, +1 Searing Blaze, + 1 Path to Exile
I will finish the league and report on the final result here.
Overall I feel I am quite inexperienced with the deck and don't know enough about the meta. Naya Burn still seems to be a solid choice, As of today it is 3.65% of the winning decks on MTGO.
And for all of you wondering, I will probably write a Modern Bible of Naya Burn eventually. I definitely want to get in 100 matches with the deck first and do some serious studying. Somebody already wrote an article named The Modern Burn Bible but it is nowhere near as comprehensive as my study on RG Tron last year which you can find here: http://mtgolibrary.blogspot.se/2015/02/the-modern-bible-of-rg-tron-part-1.html
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Modern Bible of RG Tron chapter 28 - RG Tron vs Affinity
This week we take on one of the most successful aggro decks in the Modern format but one thing is very different from most other aggro matchups. The strength of Affinity is one of the main reasons we maindeck Pyroclasms in the first place and this is an aggro deck that is seriously affected by all our countermeasures (almost).
Still, it is a very powerful deck that can easily kill us if we stumble.
Is this a bad matchup for RG Tron?
This is close to a 50/50 matchup for Tron. We have a very good chance of surviving the initial onslaught of Affinity and Pyroclasm is just devastating.
Things to consider when playing RG Tron vs Affinity
The matchup is not about you getting to Tron. It is about you surviving the initial charge of Robots. Don't think too hard about Tron. It is perfectly acceptable to keep a hand that can cast Pyroclasm.
Cranial Plating must not stay on the table. It is the #1 target for Nature's Claim, except perhaps their man-lands (see below)
Remember that Oblivion Stone does not hit man-lands. This means that their biggest threat is Inkmoth Nexus and its more normal cousin Blinkmoth Nexus.
Arcbound Ravager is a very powerful card on their side and avoids most of your main deck removal, surviving Pyroclasm and putting his counters on the man-lands.
Ghost Quarter truly shines in this matchup.
You only need the Wurmcoil Engines to win. They are - again - both your best defensive cards and your road to victory.
Useful and less useful sideboard cards
I have been very against fililng your sideboard with cards that are useful in only one matchup. That would leave me with Nature's Claim (on my own artifacts) and Wurmcoil Engine to gain life. If Affinity is heavy in your meta you can bring in more specific sideboard cards but I am reluctant to do that. Still, I will mention them here.
Ancient Grudge: Instant speed and double removal is very powerful. Can deal with man-lands.
Feed the clan Gaining five (or ten!) life is quite useful against Affinity too. TThe problem is that Affinity - if it gets rolling - has no problem dealing 30 or even 40 damage.
Firespout: Pyroclasm 5-8 would be very useful here.
Nature's Claim: Our catch-all answer comes in here as well and truly shines. We can destroy any one of their cards for 1 mana. That is super important and if you don't pack 4 Nature's Claim in your sideboard you are probably doing something wrong.
Pithing Needle: Many players recommend it for this matchup. I have no experience playing the card versus Affinity.
Shatterstorm/Vandalblast: It is tempting but these are generally considered too slow for this matchup. That goes for Creeping Corrosion as well.
Spellskite: Spellskite blocks some of their creatures and make Arcbound Ravager very hard to use efficiently. If someone actually uses an Arcbound Ravager it is pretty much game over but most Affinity players will not make this mistake.
Wurmcoil Engine: This is the way you win this match like so many others. The Coil has a lot of problems with the flyers but being able to hit for 6 and gain 6 is often enough.
Less useful main deck cards
Emrakul: The big girl does nothing in this matchup. She is just a dead draw. Take her out if you are still maindecking her.
Eye of Ugin: In theory you can chain Wurmcoil Engines with this card or even get a crucial Spellskite. I am reluctant to take it out but it is sloooow.
Karn Liberated: The threats are multiple and fast. Karn does not do enough in this matchup but he is still Karn. I can see sideboarding out one or two Karns if you need the space.
Oblivion Stone: Oblivion Stone fails to hit the man-lands but they still do kill most of Affinity's threats.
Relic of Progenitus: Relic does not do anything here.
Sundering Titan: This is not the matchup that Titan shines in. Sideboard him out.
Sylvan Scrying: This is the slowest of your engine cards. I would not fault you for taking out one or two to fit in more SB cards, but try to avoid it.
Ugin, the Spirit Dragon: If Karn is too slow, Ugin is ever worse. To the sideboard with him. This is one of his worst matchups.
Ulamog, the Infnite Gyre: You are better off if this is your maindeck Eldrazi but it is hard to keep him in after boarding. He is just too slow. The fact that he hits man-lands really helps in the first duel.
As you are not as focused on getting to your Tron this is one of the few matchups where you can consider taking out a single compy of Chromatic Sphere or Sylvan Scrying. Try to avoid it, though, if at all possible.
What do they bring in?
Artifact Destruction: We are vulnerable to this but I feel that it dillutes their deck too much and it does nothing to save them from Pyroclasm.
Blood Moon is something you will see but as you are already boarding the full playset of Nature's Claims means that you come well prepared for the Moon. Also your focus on finding your removal instead of finding Tron saves you here. Beware losing all your Green mana to the Blood Moon. Keep a sphere or a star around.
Molten Rain/Stone Rain: I think it is a mistake by the Affinity player to try to 1-for-1 your lands. This will dillute their deck. They should just go for the kill instead.
Thoughtseize: This will be useful as they can remove your removal. They only need one more turn to win. Possibly their strongest sideboard card against us.
Sample video
In this video I take on Affinity with one of my RG Tron builds.
Next week we take on the little blue men. Its RG Tron vs Merfolk!
For a full list of the chapters of The Modern Bible: http://mtgolibrary.blogspot.se/2015/02/the-modern-bible-o
Still, it is a very powerful deck that can easily kill us if we stumble.
Is this a bad matchup for RG Tron?
This is close to a 50/50 matchup for Tron. We have a very good chance of surviving the initial onslaught of Affinity and Pyroclasm is just devastating.
Things to consider when playing RG Tron vs Affinity
The matchup is not about you getting to Tron. It is about you surviving the initial charge of Robots. Don't think too hard about Tron. It is perfectly acceptable to keep a hand that can cast Pyroclasm.
Cranial Plating must not stay on the table. It is the #1 target for Nature's Claim, except perhaps their man-lands (see below)
Remember that Oblivion Stone does not hit man-lands. This means that their biggest threat is Inkmoth Nexus and its more normal cousin Blinkmoth Nexus.
Arcbound Ravager is a very powerful card on their side and avoids most of your main deck removal, surviving Pyroclasm and putting his counters on the man-lands.
Ghost Quarter truly shines in this matchup.
You only need the Wurmcoil Engines to win. They are - again - both your best defensive cards and your road to victory.
Useful and less useful sideboard cards
I have been very against fililng your sideboard with cards that are useful in only one matchup. That would leave me with Nature's Claim (on my own artifacts) and Wurmcoil Engine to gain life. If Affinity is heavy in your meta you can bring in more specific sideboard cards but I am reluctant to do that. Still, I will mention them here.
Ancient Grudge: Instant speed and double removal is very powerful. Can deal with man-lands.
Feed the clan Gaining five (or ten!) life is quite useful against Affinity too. TThe problem is that Affinity - if it gets rolling - has no problem dealing 30 or even 40 damage.
Firespout: Pyroclasm 5-8 would be very useful here.
Nature's Claim: Our catch-all answer comes in here as well and truly shines. We can destroy any one of their cards for 1 mana. That is super important and if you don't pack 4 Nature's Claim in your sideboard you are probably doing something wrong.
Pithing Needle: Many players recommend it for this matchup. I have no experience playing the card versus Affinity.
Shatterstorm/Vandalblast: It is tempting but these are generally considered too slow for this matchup. That goes for Creeping Corrosion as well.
Spellskite: Spellskite blocks some of their creatures and make Arcbound Ravager very hard to use efficiently. If someone actually uses an Arcbound Ravager it is pretty much game over but most Affinity players will not make this mistake.
Wurmcoil Engine: This is the way you win this match like so many others. The Coil has a lot of problems with the flyers but being able to hit for 6 and gain 6 is often enough.
Less useful main deck cards
Emrakul: The big girl does nothing in this matchup. She is just a dead draw. Take her out if you are still maindecking her.
Eye of Ugin: In theory you can chain Wurmcoil Engines with this card or even get a crucial Spellskite. I am reluctant to take it out but it is sloooow.
Karn Liberated: The threats are multiple and fast. Karn does not do enough in this matchup but he is still Karn. I can see sideboarding out one or two Karns if you need the space.
Oblivion Stone: Oblivion Stone fails to hit the man-lands but they still do kill most of Affinity's threats.
Relic of Progenitus: Relic does not do anything here.
Sundering Titan: This is not the matchup that Titan shines in. Sideboard him out.
Sylvan Scrying: This is the slowest of your engine cards. I would not fault you for taking out one or two to fit in more SB cards, but try to avoid it.
Ugin, the Spirit Dragon: If Karn is too slow, Ugin is ever worse. To the sideboard with him. This is one of his worst matchups.
Ulamog, the Infnite Gyre: You are better off if this is your maindeck Eldrazi but it is hard to keep him in after boarding. He is just too slow. The fact that he hits man-lands really helps in the first duel.
As you are not as focused on getting to your Tron this is one of the few matchups where you can consider taking out a single compy of Chromatic Sphere or Sylvan Scrying. Try to avoid it, though, if at all possible.
What do they bring in?
Artifact Destruction: We are vulnerable to this but I feel that it dillutes their deck too much and it does nothing to save them from Pyroclasm.
Blood Moon is something you will see but as you are already boarding the full playset of Nature's Claims means that you come well prepared for the Moon. Also your focus on finding your removal instead of finding Tron saves you here. Beware losing all your Green mana to the Blood Moon. Keep a sphere or a star around.
Molten Rain/Stone Rain: I think it is a mistake by the Affinity player to try to 1-for-1 your lands. This will dillute their deck. They should just go for the kill instead.
Thoughtseize: This will be useful as they can remove your removal. They only need one more turn to win. Possibly their strongest sideboard card against us.
Sample video
In this video I take on Affinity with one of my RG Tron builds.
Next week we take on the little blue men. Its RG Tron vs Merfolk!
For a full list of the chapters of The Modern Bible: http://mtgolibrary.blogspot.se/2015/02/the-modern-bible-o
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
The Top Decks of Pauper: Affinity
In this series we will walk you through the top decks of Pauper as played on Magic Online. Pauper is the Magic Online format where you are only allowed to play commons. These are the official rules: http://www.wizards.com/magic/tcg/resources.aspx?x=magic/rules/pauper
We will be using this tier page as the basis or our walkthrough: http://mtgostrat.com/pauper-tier-listing/
Today we will be discussing Affinity, a tier one deck that has recently undergone a major change.
Earlier installments in the series:
Delver: http://mtgolibrary.blogspot.se/2013/10/the-top-decks-of-pauper-delver.html
Stompy: http://mtgolibrary.blogspot.se/2013/10/the-top-decks-of-pauper-stompy.html
UB Trinket Control: http://mtgolibrary.blogspot.se/2013/10/the-top-decks-of-pauper-ub-trinket.html
DelverFiend: http://mtgolibrary.blogspot.se/2013/11/the-top-decks-of-pauper-delverfiend.html
The traditional Affinity deck
Special_Kyle explained this deck very well in this classic podcast:
http://www.mtgcast.com/mtgcast-podcast-shows/active-podcast-shows/pauper-cage-podcast/paupers-cage-9-affinity
2 Darksteel Citadel
2 Krark-Clan Shaman
4 Thoughtcast
4 Springleaf Drum
4 Myr Enforcer
4 Carapace Forger
2 Terrarion
2 Chromatic Star
4 Galvanic Blast
4 Vault of Whispers
2 Fling
4 Tree of Tales
2 Chromatic Star
4 Frogmite
4 Great Furnace
4 Atog
4 Disciple of the Vault
4 Seat of the Synod
Sideboard
2 Krark-Clan Shaman
4 Hydroblast
4 Pyroblast
2 Doom Blade
3 Ancient Grudge
The new Perilous Affinity deck
The printing of Perilous Research in Modern Masters and the banning of Temporal Fissure enabled Affinity to be a little slower but a lot more consistent.
I will let Chamois's 3-1 deck from the Daily on November 11 exemplify this idea:
4 Ancient Den
2 Darksteel Citadel
4 Great Furnace
4 Seat of the Synod
4 Tree of Tales
4 Atog
4 Carapace Forger
4 Frogmite
3 Myr Enforcer
4 Chromatic Star
2 Fling
4 Galvanic Blast
3 Ichor Wellspring
4 Perilous Research
4 Springleaf Drum
2 Terrarion
4 Thoughtcast
Sideboard
3 Ancient Grudge
3 Hydroblast
3 Krark-Clan Shaman
4 Pyroblast
2 Ray of Revelation
The idea
This is an aggro-combo deck. Either you overwhelm the enemy with 4/4s (work on all aggro decks) or you resolve Atog-Fling for the win (against midrange and Control decks). The recent inclusion of the Perilous Research - Ichor Wellspring engine allows you to outdraw the Control decks, making almost every non-aggro matchup better.
Financial implications of the deck
Since the Modern bannings of the artifact lands, nothing in the main deck is really expensive. If you cut the Hydroblasts and Pyroblasts in the sideboard, you can build this deck very cheaply ... but don't! You need your Hydros and Pyros.
For more detail about how to play the deck, listen to the podcast above. It is really the best audio walkthrough of any deck I have ever heard.
Learn more about Pauper
Here are some more relevant Pauper videos and articles
-----------------------------------------------
Competetive Pauper Cast - our podcast about winning Pauper tournaments: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/mtgostrat.com-cpc/id698010096
Jphsnakes reinvents Freed from the Real combo in the LOVE TRAIN deck: http://mtgostrat.com/2013/07/my-train-of-thought-decks-im-thinking-of-abusing/
Bava plays Po Dragons in a Pauper Daily. Deck list and tech here: http://mtgostrat.com/2013/05/pauper-brew-po-dragons-by-andrew-lakie/
A Pauper Chat with Deluxeicoff - Episode 2 (DelverFiend & Elves): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YX3F5UPtv0
More about the deck Illusory Tricks: http://mtgostrat.com/2013/05/pauper-brew-illusory-tricks-by-bava/
DelverFiend deck list and interview with Deluxeicoff here: http://puremtgo.com/articles/pauper-chat-deluxeicoff-episode-2-elves-and-delverfiend
A Pauper Chat with Deluxeicoff (hexproof)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C1-SXibr0Y
Every article about UB Trinket Control on mtgostrat.com:
http://mtgostrat.com/category/trinket-control/
The Pauper Gauntlet first season recently finished: http://puremtgo.com/articles/pauper-gauntlet
A Pauper Chat with Deluxeicoff - Epsiode 3 (BorosKitty & Grey Ghost)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb0i8vkwPAo
Pauper Walkthroughs Episode 9 - Delver with Cweaver
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxavc6y8sbg
Pauper Walkthroughs Episode 6 - UB Trinket Control
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuDh39fnifU
Pauper Walkthroughs Episode 5 - Stompy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwOntadLP6g
Contact Info:
YouTube: MagicGatheringStrat
Twitter: @MagicGathStrat
Web: mtgostrat.com
Facebook: facebook.com/MagicGatheringStrat
TwitchTV: twitchtv.com/MagicGatheringStrat
Deluxeicoff deck tech as it happens: facebook.com/deluxeicoff
We will be using this tier page as the basis or our walkthrough: http://mtgostrat.com/pauper-tier-listing/
Today we will be discussing Affinity, a tier one deck that has recently undergone a major change.
Earlier installments in the series:
Delver: http://mtgolibrary.blogspot.se/2013/10/the-top-decks-of-pauper-delver.html
Stompy: http://mtgolibrary.blogspot.se/2013/10/the-top-decks-of-pauper-stompy.html
UB Trinket Control: http://mtgolibrary.blogspot.se/2013/10/the-top-decks-of-pauper-ub-trinket.html
DelverFiend: http://mtgolibrary.blogspot.se/2013/11/the-top-decks-of-pauper-delverfiend.html
The traditional Affinity deck
Special_Kyle explained this deck very well in this classic podcast:
http://www.mtgcast.com/mtgcast-podcast-shows/active-podcast-shows/pauper-cage-podcast/paupers-cage-9-affinity
2 Darksteel Citadel
2 Krark-Clan Shaman
4 Thoughtcast
4 Springleaf Drum
4 Myr Enforcer
4 Carapace Forger
2 Terrarion
2 Chromatic Star
4 Galvanic Blast
4 Vault of Whispers
2 Fling
4 Tree of Tales
2 Chromatic Star
4 Frogmite
4 Great Furnace
4 Atog
4 Disciple of the Vault
4 Seat of the Synod
Sideboard
2 Krark-Clan Shaman
4 Hydroblast
4 Pyroblast
2 Doom Blade
3 Ancient Grudge
The new Perilous Affinity deck
The printing of Perilous Research in Modern Masters and the banning of Temporal Fissure enabled Affinity to be a little slower but a lot more consistent.
I will let Chamois's 3-1 deck from the Daily on November 11 exemplify this idea:
4 Ancient Den
2 Darksteel Citadel
4 Great Furnace
4 Seat of the Synod
4 Tree of Tales
4 Atog
4 Carapace Forger
4 Frogmite
3 Myr Enforcer
4 Chromatic Star
2 Fling
4 Galvanic Blast
3 Ichor Wellspring
4 Perilous Research
4 Springleaf Drum
2 Terrarion
4 Thoughtcast
Sideboard
3 Ancient Grudge
3 Hydroblast
3 Krark-Clan Shaman
4 Pyroblast
2 Ray of Revelation
The idea
This is an aggro-combo deck. Either you overwhelm the enemy with 4/4s (work on all aggro decks) or you resolve Atog-Fling for the win (against midrange and Control decks). The recent inclusion of the Perilous Research - Ichor Wellspring engine allows you to outdraw the Control decks, making almost every non-aggro matchup better.
Financial implications of the deck
Since the Modern bannings of the artifact lands, nothing in the main deck is really expensive. If you cut the Hydroblasts and Pyroblasts in the sideboard, you can build this deck very cheaply ... but don't! You need your Hydros and Pyros.
For more detail about how to play the deck, listen to the podcast above. It is really the best audio walkthrough of any deck I have ever heard.
Learn more about Pauper
Here are some more relevant Pauper videos and articles
-----------------------------------------------
Competetive Pauper Cast - our podcast about winning Pauper tournaments: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/mtgostrat.com-cpc/id698010096
Jphsnakes reinvents Freed from the Real combo in the LOVE TRAIN deck: http://mtgostrat.com/2013/07/my-train-of-thought-decks-im-thinking-of-abusing/
Bava plays Po Dragons in a Pauper Daily. Deck list and tech here: http://mtgostrat.com/2013/05/pauper-brew-po-dragons-by-andrew-lakie/
A Pauper Chat with Deluxeicoff - Episode 2 (DelverFiend & Elves): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YX3F5UPtv0
More about the deck Illusory Tricks: http://mtgostrat.com/2013/05/pauper-brew-illusory-tricks-by-bava/
DelverFiend deck list and interview with Deluxeicoff here: http://puremtgo.com/articles/pauper-chat-deluxeicoff-episode-2-elves-and-delverfiend
A Pauper Chat with Deluxeicoff (hexproof)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C1-SXibr0Y
Every article about UB Trinket Control on mtgostrat.com:
http://mtgostrat.com/category/trinket-control/
The Pauper Gauntlet first season recently finished: http://puremtgo.com/articles/pauper-gauntlet
A Pauper Chat with Deluxeicoff - Epsiode 3 (BorosKitty & Grey Ghost)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb0i8vkwPAo
Pauper Walkthroughs Episode 9 - Delver with Cweaver
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxavc6y8sbg
Pauper Walkthroughs Episode 6 - UB Trinket Control
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuDh39fnifU
Pauper Walkthroughs Episode 5 - Stompy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwOntadLP6g
Contact Info:
YouTube: MagicGatheringStrat
Twitter: @MagicGathStrat
Web: mtgostrat.com
Facebook: facebook.com/MagicGatheringStrat
TwitchTV: twitchtv.com/MagicGatheringStrat
Deluxeicoff deck tech as it happens: facebook.com/deluxeicoff
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