[Primer] UR Delver

[Valdarith]

Yeah I happened to visit the Delver thread on Sally last night for the first time in awhile and boy that place is just...wow.

I think you guys are onto something with Dig. Getting any spell + Snapcaster is just so powerful and not something I considered initially. I think for Swiftspear builds Cruise is the obvious winner, but I'm in the Snapcaster camp and prefer a deck that can easily switch roles. Seems the Sally people prefer a more autopilot deck, which is fine, but they completely disregard other configurations which is ignorant.

[Pedros]

As my current modern deck cant work because delver is everywhere (could beat old versions with outgrinding. Can do similar now that they have treasure cruise) I will have to settle on something different.

In different thread Zem pointed out it ist better to join best deck than trying to beat it. It is fair statement, as I dont really see delvers bad matchup (burn probably?).

I have one question:

Why most lists on MTGO run 2-4 Forked Bolts, where most decks here run 0-2?

[Purp]

Forked Bolt is one of the cards considered "meta defendant" and is pretty interchangeable. Electrolyze and Burst are the cards you take out to put in forked bolts if you need it.

[Valdarith]

MTGO is full of Delver decks where Forked Bolt is the better card. 1 vs 3 mana is huge in the mirror, whereas Electrolyze is better against Affinity and BW tokens.

[Calamity]

burn is this decks worst matchup that i'm aware of (though that chalice zoo list i've heard about look like it'd be pretty tough, thankfully it's not popular...yet) but it's far from unwinnable especially postboard. if you are expected burn in any capacity a couple dragon's claws go a long way

I haven't played vs. burn with a DTT/Tiago list yet but i suspect its burn matchup is better than the cruise/swiftspear version since you have more interaction as opposed to just trying to race them. Plus DTT lets you find your SB cards easier

[zemanjaski]

Who's your idol? I know you really only choose to give praise to those you feel truly have a gift for the game, so this is probably huge news.

I am assuming Michael Jacob?

+1. MJ is a good version of me, whereas I am terrible.

[zemanjaski]

Yeah I happened to visit the Delver thread on Sally last night for the first time in awhile and boy that place is just...wow.

I think you guys are onto something with Dig. Getting any spell + Snapcaster is just so powerful and not something I considered initially. I think for Swiftspear builds Cruise is the obvious winner, but I'm in the Snapcaster camp and prefer a deck that can easily switch roles. Seems the Sally people prefer a more autopilot deck, which is fine, but they completely disregard other configurations which is ignorant.

Cruise is a more powerful effect, insofar as "U: draw 3" is the most efficient spell in the history of the game. HOWEVER, in every game there comes a point where "random dumb spells" are better than efficient ones, simply because of their raw power (even if they're not efficient). DTT is SO HARD to evaluate ~ it CAN come online earlier than Cruise and while draw 3 should be more powerful in a deck with so many redundant effects, that you can grab a Snapcaster (at least another 2-for-1, but ALSO gives you access to your GY to find a specific card again) pushes it over the top.

I've also found myself casting it for 5-6 mana as games drag on against non-blue decks, so that I can preserve my GY; Cruise doesn't lend itself to this sort of play.

[zemanjaski]

Won a little event last night (1st place two fetches):

2-0 v UW Control
2-0 v Balance
2-1 v Hatebears
2-0 v Cruel Control

Sideboard was:

1 Batterskull
2 Blood Moon
1 Combust
3 Dragons Claw
2 Dispel
1 Electrickery
3 Magma Spray
1 Negate
1 Shatterstorm


I really want to try Jace, Arhictect of Thought

[Mr. Metronome]

AoT seems very strong in the mirror.

[zemanjaski]

Also vs Affinity and some other rando decks.

[Khaospawn]

How is it good against Affinity? I'm only asking because I'm aware that Cranial Plating and Ensoul gets around the 4 drop that stymies the robot offense.

[Sasky]

It wasn't even remotely good in uw control. Hurrr.

[zemanjaski]

Touché

[zemanjaski]

My name is zemanjaski and I like to play pet cards

[Sasky]

I played with my friend piloting a melira pod deck for 8 games tonight. I won the first two pre-board games, then won three post-board games, then lost the last three post-board games.

I know Pod is supposed to be an easy matchup, and I 100% agree. Still, I hope my playtesting may prove helpful for people who have not had the chance to face that matchup.

Some comments on the matchup:

- Spell Snare is theoretically good, but performed badly for me. I boarded in my 2nd spell snare and it was always stuck in hand.
- Boarding out mana leaks is a bad idea.
- Boarding in artifact hate: I think 1 piece is decent, probably smash to smithereens if you are running it. It's not to deal with pod but to deal with spellskite.
- They actually have a ton of ways to kill your guys. Abrupt Decay, Orzhov Pontiff, Murderous Redcap, and path to exile postboard all present problems.
- Getting a YP to stick and then countering and burning all their stuff is the easiest way to win, but you need to figure out a way to bait the pontiff and then kill it before resorting to this game plan.
- Batterskull is nuts, obviously.
- If in doubt, don't sideboard. Our mainboard plan is great vs their deck anyway.

Despite that last piece of advice, here's how I would sideboard in this matchup after learning from my mistakes:

-3 Remand -1 Spell Pierce + 2 Magma Spray + 1 Smash to Smithereens +1 Batterskull

Don't give in to temptation and board in too much stuff like I did. I boarded in stuff like combust, spell snare, and vandalblast, while trimming my counterspell suite. I think this is wrong. Maintaining a balance of permission, removal, and threats is important.

This is the list I used, for reference:

[deck]
Creatures:12
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Young Pyromancer

Spells:29
2 Burst Lightning
2 Forked Bolt
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Lightning Bolt
1 Pillar of Flame
4 Serum Visions
1 Spell Pierce
1 Spell Snare
2 Vapor Snag
2 Mana Leak
3 Remand
1 Electrolyze
2 Dig Through Time

Lands:19
1 Arid Mesa
4 Flooded Strand
4 Island
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Mountain
4 Scalding Tarn
3 Steam Vents
1 Sulfur Falls

Sideboard:15
1 Dispel
2 Magma Spray
1 Spell Snare
1 Vandalblast
2 Combust
2 Negate
1 Smash to Smithereens
2 Blood Moon
1 Counterflux
1 Izzet Staticaster
1 Batterskull
[/deck]

P.S. Throughout all the games I played between Saturday and today, I have never wanted a 3rd Dig Through Time, and sometimes lamented the 2nd copy. However, I am always glad to see one sometime during the game. I think 2 copies is the right number for this deck.

[DXI-Edge]

To each his own, but I always wanna see 1 and 3 allows that for me

[Nezeru]

I always want to see 2-3 treasure cruises with my list. I'm ready to start testing the Snapcaster dig version more, I suspect 3 is the correct number of Digs.

[zemanjaski]

3 has been very good for me ~ you end up casting them for 4+ a lot but it's totally fine. Went 4-0 again last night

I don't like Spell Snare against Pod at all ~ I only keep it in if I haven't got enough Magma Sprays.

[zemanjaski]

2-1 vs BG Rock
2-0 vs UWR Control
2-0 vs 8-Rack (!!)
2-1 vs Melira Pod

[zemanjaski]

I'm going to look at running Deprive over Mana Leak. Might be terrible.

[Valdarith]

I think it's fine. I'm wondering if the Swiftspear build should just be running Delay. Seems really good in such an aggressive strategy.

[Sasky]

Deprive is a perfectly fine magic card.

[zemanjaski]

Yeah I just fear it being bad on the draw; but as games go long it's super good.

[zemanjaski]

Depending where you play you could consider cutting Blood Moon now.

[Nezeru]

Good, I ran Molten Rain over it anyway

[Sasky]

I will always run blood moon so that I don't lose to stupid rogue decks like Bogles and AmuletTitan.

[Valdarith]

I think Molten Rain is fine against Bloom Titan, but it's obviously worse against Boggles. I'd be willing to run Molten Rain instead since it makes the Tron matchup more manageable.

[Valdarith]

MJ is talking about you on stream right now, James. He also butchered your handle (and openly admitted it, too ).

[zemanjaski]

Link!!!

[zemanjaski]

This is where I found out he thinks I'm a twat nd my heart shrinks half a size.

[Valdarith]

http://www.twitch.tv/darkest_mage

He basically just referenced you posting about UR Delver a lot on reddit, mentioned your opinion that your configuration was superior in the mirror vs Swiftspear (which he agreed with), then said that he felt like the Swiftspear version was slightly better against the field.

[zemanjaski]

Sweet. I heart MJ.

[zemanjaski]

All other info and insight appreciated. Rare Zem fanboy moment.

[Valdarith]

His deck

[deck]
creatures (12)
4 delver of secrets
4 monastery swiftspear
4 young pyromancer

spells (30)
4 gitaxian probe
4 serum vision
2 thought scour
1 burst lightning
1 pillar of flame
4 lightning bolt
2 vapor snag
2 mana leak
4 remand
2 electrolyze
4 treasure cruise

lands (18)
2 flooded strand
4 misty rainforest
4 scalding tarn
1 wooded foothills
3 steam vents
3 island
1 mountain

sideboard (15)
1 spell snare
1 vendillion lique
1 gut shot
1 pillar of flame
2 blood moon
3 spree
2 batterskull
4 dragon's claw
[/deck]

His comments:

1) Electrolyze has been terrible.
2) Doesn't like Remand or Mana Leak. Thinks they belong in a Snapcaster deck, not Swiftspear. Mentioned 1-2 Deprive in the 60.
3) Wants 1-2 Snapcaster Mage. Always wanting to draw one when casting Cruise or Visions.
4) Thinks his configuration is overall terrible, but he's likely being modest.

[zemanjaski]

Cheers. I hate the second Electrolyze too. He probably needs forked Bolt. Remand is OK but probably bad online and that means Leak is even worse.

I kinda agree on the Snapcaster POV - wanting to draw more snapcasters is why I switched to dig myself! Card is so strong.

[zemanjaski]

Dig Through Time into Snapcaster(s) is what I dream of.

[Sasky]

I usually dig 5 lands and 2 counterspells which makes me feel sad.

Also MJ is quite right about the snaptime version being weak vs darkblast. There's no way in hell for us to beat that card.

[zemanjaski]

You can definitely SB for it.

[Valdarith]

One more reason to look at Delay?

[Tyrael]

People at my LGS insist that U/R delver is not a viable deck in modern

I hope to prove them wrong soon