Primer: Mardu Midrange

[dauntless268]

Interesting... Here's where I'm at (latest small changes still to be tested)

[deck= Dauntless' Mardu Tempo]
Creatures 14
4 Monastery Swiftspear
3 Seeker of the Way
4 Goblin Rabblemaster
3 Butcher of the Horde

Instants 15
3 Magma Jet
4 Lightning Strike
4 Crackling Doom
4 Stoke the Flames

Sorceries 5
3 Hordeling Outburst
2 Chained to the Rocks

Planeswalkers 2
2 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker

Lands 24
4 Nomad Outpost
4 Bloodstained Mire
1 Temple of Triumph
4 Battlefield Forge
4 Caves of Koilos
6 Mountain
1 Swamp

Sideboard 15
2 Erase
2 Hushwing Gryff
2 Magma Spray
3 Searing Blood
4 Eidolon of the Great Revel
2 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
[/deck]

[poppa_f]

Played in my LGS Standard last night. Went 3-1, beating Naya Midrange, Mardu Aggro and BG Enchantress, lost to Jeskai.

The Jeskai match was close, he won the opener, I sided in to control and won the second game (at one point he lightning striked 2 separate goblin tokens, as I'd sided out all my 2 toughness guys). Decider was close, but I stumbled on mana and he got me down quite low. I eventually managed to kill all his guys and get a triggered wingmate Roc down off a goblin token. I was on 8 life and he was on 17 life, but he cast dig through time in my end step and then drew in to enough burn for exacties

The other matches were all pretty straight-forward. All 3 fell for the bait-and-switch plan, I think it's less well-known in paper compared to MTGO, hoping it stays that way for the £10k Standard event coming up in two weeks. I noted a few people playing Ascendency combo and UW Heroic, so I think 3 Erase is definitely the way to go at the moment, at least as far as my local meta is concerned.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Didn't lose a single game at FNM and got a SoFI for my trouble.

Erase is actually very strong.

[Toblakai]

How are you all doing vs RG Devotion?

[Wrathberry]

Didn't lose a single game at FNM and got a SoFI for my trouble.

Erase is actually very strong.

how many erase do you play? 2 or 3?

[Lightning_Dolt]

2. Haven't played against RG devotion recently, but imagine you play against them the same way you play against other green midrange decks.

Might up erase to 3. Card was very good.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Second in my Saturday tournament. Split with first, so still pretty good.

Lost the finals (which were for fun due to split) vs Abzan with MD whip and Ajani, Mentor of Heros. Played tight, but manascrewed game 1 and he had the 3x Siege Rhinoceros hand game 2. Still gave him a run for his money.

[DXI-Edge]

Whats your list looking like Dolt?

[Lightning_Dolt]

Just changed Glare for Erase.

[eldub]

Dolt- have you played with Wingmate Roc much in this list? Currently testing him over SBD as it plays nicer with Elspeth. Trying to put my personal preferences aside (smashing dragons at peoples face) for an optimal config focusing on my post-board games. My game 2/3 win% feels like it can be improved.

[Lightning_Dolt]

I only played it a few times. It was really awkward when you couldn't trigger raid. I'm currently on a 2 SBD 2 Sarkan split.

[poppa_f]

I still think Wingmate Roc is the best option for that slot (over SBD and Phoenix).

You can normally trigger raid in game 1, as you have so many token makers (8 main deck). I'll normally side it out in game 2 if I flip to control mode, as you lose a lot of the raid enablers.

The lifegain can be relevant against Jeskai and it's good against 1-4-1 removal decks like Abzan (and it dodges Elspeth too in that match-up). It's better than SBD on defence too imo (two bodies vs one, means you can double block fatties or have 2 blockers against mono-red). It also trumps Sarkhan. I think the only match-ups I'd want SBD over it are mono-white and control, but no-one seems to be playing those at the moment.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Jeskai matchup is already highly favourable.

You are in the minority on Roc.

[eldub]

Even with my love for SBD, I'm moving into the Wingmate camp after going 4-0 last night and only dropping a single game all evening. The Roc was just very resilient and stable all night and made me a lot less worried about heros downfall or Elspeth.

Here's my current list for reference, leaning towards a slightly slower plan game 1 and hopefully the best cohesive 75 I can muster.

[deck] Mardu Roc[/deck]

[Christen]

I've been using Roc myself for the past couple of weeks and getting results. Yes, you get awkward situations where you can't trigger raid, but during those times you are mostly on the losing side anyway. SBD usually can't turn a losing game around while Roc usually does it. If your local meta is heavily into abzan, then SBD might be the better choice.

I tried 3 erase over 3 RtB last night but I can't say if it was too relevant. Maybe 2 Erase is just enough.

[Lightning_Dolt]

To quote Brad Nelson: "Wingmate Roc ended up underperforming. It was nice to have sometimes, but it never won me a game I wasn't already winning. It did become a very lackluster spell in some games that I almost always lost.Sarkan, the Dragonspeaker overperformed, however, making it the five drop the deck wants."

[Lightning_Dolt]

I have like an 85% win rate with this deck and I'm pretty sure the 15% was when I was first finalizing the list and when I was running Roc lol.

[eldub]

No harm in testing with it, I've been running 2-3 SBD since GP LA so we'll see how they perform over time. Appreciate the feedback as always.

[Lightning_Dolt]

No harm in testing, but I feel like this deck is very close to being a finished deck.

[Christen]

To quote Brad Nelson: "Wingmate Roc ended up underperforming. It was nice to have sometimes, but it never won me a game I wasn't already winning. It did become a very lackluster spell in some games that I almost always lost.Sarkan, the Dragonspeaker overperformed, however, making it the five drop the deck wants."

I believe it's also affected by the meta when he played. Contrary to his words, I won games that I wasn't winning. We should also be able to recognize a losing game, where Sarkhan wouldn't make a difference. In the end it all comes down to how you want to attack your local meta, and Roc performs better in mine.

[Self Medicated]

No harm in testing, but I feel like this deck is very close to being a finished deck.

I concur. In fact, I think it's already there. I can understand slight changes for local metas, but Nelson's list has been 4-0ing MTGO dailies for a while now.

[Lightning_Dolt]

To quote Brad Nelson: "Wingmate Roc ended up underperforming. It was nice to have sometimes, but it never won me a game I wasn't already winning. It did become a very lackluster spell in some games that I almost always lost.Sarkan, the Dragonspeaker overperformed, however, making it the five drop the deck wants."

I believe it's also affected by the meta when he played. Contrary to his words, I won games that I wasn't winning. We should also be able to recognize a losing game, where Sarkhan wouldn't make a difference. In the end it all comes down to how you want to attack your local meta, and Roc performs better in mine.

Example?

[Toblakai]

I'm going to go back to the earlier Rakdos plan of RBw, utilizing Tymaret.

[deck]RBw[/deck]

[Lightning_Dolt]

GL.

[Toblakai]

Thanks. Will report back Saturday.

[Lightning_Dolt]

75 I'm taking to GP: Ottawa this weekend:

[deck]
Creatures (14)
4 Butcher of the Horde
4 Goblin Rabblemaster
4 Seeker of the Way
2 Stormbreath Dragon

Planeswalkers (5)
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
2 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
2 Sorin, Solemn Visitor

Spells (16)
3 Chained to the Rocks
4 Crackling Doom
4 Hordeling Outburst
4 Lightning Strike
1 Murderous Cut

Lands (25)
3 Battlefield Forge
4 Bloodstained Mire
2 Caves of Koilos
6 Mountain
4 Nomad Outpost
1 Swamp
2 Temple of Silence
3 Temple of Triumph

Sideboard (15)
4 Anger of the Gods
2 Chandra, Pyromaster
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
2 End Hostilities
2 Erase
2 Read the Bones
1 Utter End
1 Harness By Force[/deck]

[eldub]

Solid list LD, have fun~

[LP, of the Fires]

Did you ever test Liliana LD?

And no, I'm not making suggestions for changing your deck. Lists looks solid down to the random ass harness by force.

[Wrathberry]

75 I'm taking to GP: Ottawa this weekend:

[deck]
Creatures (14)
4 Butcher of the Horde
4 Goblin Rabblemaster
4 Seeker of the Way
2 Stormbreath Dragon

Planeswalkers (5)
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
2 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
2 Sorin, Solemn Visitor

Spells (16)
3 Chained to the Rocks
4 Crackling Doom
4 Hordeling Outburst
4 Lightning Strike
1 Murderous Cut

Lands (25)
3 Battlefield Forge
4 Bloodstained Mire
2 Caves of Koilos
6 Mountain
4 Nomad Outpost
1 Swamp
2 Temple of Silence
3 Temple of Triumph

Sideboard (15)
4 Anger of the Gods
2 Chandra, Pyromaster
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
2 End Hostilities
2 Erase
2 Read the Bones
1 Utter End
1 Harness By Force[/deck]

Exactly the list i failed with at gp trial. Good luck, we need Reports!

[Lightning_Dolt]

Did you ever test Liliana LD?

And no, I'm not making suggestions for changing your deck. Lists looks solid down to the random ass harness by force.

I did. She was obscenely powerful, but completely win more in most situations.

[Lightning_Dolt]

75 I'm taking to GP: Ottawa this weekend:

[deck]
Creatures (14)
4 Butcher of the Horde
4 Goblin Rabblemaster
4 Seeker of the Way
2 Stormbreath Dragon

Planeswalkers (5)
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
2 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
2 Sorin, Solemn Visitor

Spells (16)
3 Chained to the Rocks
4 Crackling Doom
4 Hordeling Outburst
4 Lightning Strike
1 Murderous Cut

Lands (25)
3 Battlefield Forge
4 Bloodstained Mire
2 Caves of Koilos
6 Mountain
4 Nomad Outpost
1 Swamp
2 Temple of Silence
3 Temple of Triumph

Sideboard (15)
4 Anger of the Gods
2 Chandra, Pyromaster
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
2 End Hostilities
2 Erase
2 Read the Bones
1 Utter End
1 Harness By Force[/deck]

Exactly the list i failed with at gp trial. Good luck, we need Reports!

I will report where I can. If I make it there in time for the Saturday 5 round that will be worth writing about. If I end up just grinding win a boxes, might not.

I will write about the Super Sunday.

[Pedrobear]

Went with almost the same list with -2 Elspeth - 1 Read the bones / + 2 Rocs + 1 Utter End in our 10 players small event at LGS.

Made it to 2/2, quick report :

-Round 1 - Mono Red 2-0
Sorin and Seeker of the way did the job on both games. He also couldn't play around 4 Anger of the Gods

-Round 2 - Mirror 2-0
I out tempo'ed him on round 1 after going back and forth with Crackling Doom on both sides. On game 2, we both didn't switch to the control mode and only siding in Utter End for more removal, finally beat him because he kept a 2 landers with only a fetch and a pain land.

-Round 3 - Esper Control 0-2
Both games I did got beaten with 2 Despises into Bile Blight (he plays 4 of each) and then he countered everything to finish me with Elspeth. Almost no sideboard against Control also.
I should have waited to have more ressources and present him 2 threats per turn ? Or going full aggro and pray for a window to kill him ?

-Round 4 - Abzan 1-2
He couldn't find his 2nd white sources while I was rapidly swinging his life points with 2 SBD (and he only had Abzan charm for removal). Game 2 and 3 after sideboard are way easier for him, I saw Rhinos into Rhinos into Elspeth both games. Also Glare into my Chained to Rocks on Rhino was huge for him.

I feel like I'm not very good at sideboarding and the Control plan on Games 2 wasn't helping me. Maybe should I add some disrupt (Thoughtseize/Mardu Charm) for this matchups ?

[admin]

Hey Guys, finally had some time to update the primer in the frontpage, keep up with the good job

[Zooligan]

Could be that the post-board control mode ship has sailed. Maybe post-board extra aggro is the way to go? Might have to tweak the mana base a bit, but having swiftspear and bloodstained champ might not be bad. I think champ would love to hit for 4 or 6 points before feeding a butcher and then coming back for an encore.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Went 3-2 in the first event, losing to my friend playing Ascendancy R1 and mulls to 4/5 in Round 5 vs Abzan Aggro. Beat Jeskai x2, and Abzan mid.

Went 2-0-1 in my first win a box. Beat Jeskai and Abzan.

Lost in R1 of my second win a box to the worst Abzan deck I've ever seem after he boarded in deck sets of Collossus, Plummet and Hornet Queen.

Notable pulls so far:

2× Dig through time
Foil jeskai Ascendancy
Narset
Siege Rhino
2x Sorin
Flooded Strand
Bloodstained Mire
Foil Bloodstained Mire
Foil Arc Lightning
2x Swiftspear

[Toblakai]

My experiment was, overall, a flop. Keeping mana open for Tymaret and Bloodsoaked Champion was a bit too much of a hindrance, as these were competing with Butcher and the like. I think I will continue to stick strictly with midrange, and will be giving this list a spin: http://sales.starcitygames.com//deckdat ... ckID=76604

Not sure about Brimaz here, but the singleton Whip is interesting.

[Lightning_Dolt]

That looks like one of tge test decks we started with before we knew which cards were terrible (aka Brimaz).

[Pedrobear]

What about the BB spells ? (Bile, Downfall, Whip).
I'm not sure the manabase can support it efficiently.

[dauntless268]

Could be that the post-board control mode ship has sailed. Maybe post-board extra aggro is the way to go? Might have to tweak the mana base a bit, but having swiftspear and bloodstained champ might not be bad. I think champ would love to hit for 4 or 6 points before feeding a butcher and then coming back for an encore.

You have to decide for either Champion or Swiftspear if you don't want to completely wreck your manabase.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Scrubbed out of the Super Sunday. Wasn't pretty.