Feb 3, 2012
This is the kind of deck where half of anyone interested in it will be ultra confused about card selection, or just completely disagree for one reason or another. I don’t blame you. This deck took a ton of effort to come up with the right numbers. It’s something I struggled with quite a bit, and there’s still a good chance these numbers will change depending on this weekends events. However this is what I’d run for the weekend at your FNM or SCG event.
First off I’d like to thank a ton of people for their efforts in testing this and providing input. @chosler88 @tmaltez @bradhayzeus and many others.
This deck needs to be looked at like a combo deck with control elements. However the control elements differ in that we generally need to control the board, not what hits the board. This is because our end game (creatures) all double up as removal spells that trump anything our opponent is doing. We are literally using the best creatures in standard – and using them in masses. So the omission of Mana Leak took some time to figure out, but the meta is creature heavy and Whipflare as well as Ratchet Bomb did a lot more work. Leaving out Mana Leak also helped the mana base out quite a bit because we only need red mana the first 2 turns. Oblivion Ring is a catch all removal that is necessary to answer planeswalkers. And it works very well because we are actually wanting to dump it in our graveyard from time to time. Ratchet Bomb also answers problem permanents and interacts extremely well late game with Sun Titan.
Originally I had another combo card in Shattered Perception, however after constantly asking myself if Forbidden Alchemy was better during games when I saw it, I determined Alchemy was better about 90% of the time. A 2 of Sphere of the Suns may seem odd too, but it’s really considered additional land in here, so I look at it like that as opposed to spells. The mana fixing really helps the mana smooth out as well. On top of that Faithless Looting is a card that is VERY good at finding specific cards we need. 1 of’s work very well in this deck.
The sideboard is fairly solid now. Sideboarding cards out is the number one toughest aspect to this deck. Geist’s inclusion is for putting pressure on control decks, and Secrets of the Dead is another must answer for control. Additional board sweepers help improve an already good matchup vs Delver and Humans. And Nihil Spellbomb interacts positively with Sun Titan and is still the best graveyard hate, especially because replacing itself is important since Looting puts us down a card.
The finishers are the last item I’d like to touch on. I’ve been all over the place with the finishers, from Sheoldred to Drogskol Reaver and back. The finishers have to either end the game or be hard to kill or force your opponents to answer immediately. We have so many of them that you can often chain fatty turn after turn. Frost Titan seems awkward in a meta expected to have token decks. But, we have plenty of token answers and Frost Titan is still a very good card! I promise. It answers flyers, it’s hard to kill, it’s very aggressive and is another random permanent answer to couple with Oblivion Ring. Elesh Norn speaks for itself and Sun Titan does too (the best finisher in fact). The Wurmcoil helps and vs. red/black decks and as I mentioned earlier the deck is good at finding various 1 of cards; you often have plenty of choices on what to cast or what to try to dig for.
Myself and others have put in a ton of work on this deck and it’s ready for primetime, so let me know how you do with it!! Good luck!
Faithless
| Creatures (11) 3 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite 1 Wurmcoil Engine 2 Frost Titan 3 Sun Titan 2 Phantasmal Image Spells (24) 4 Faithless Looting 4 Unburial Rites 3 Forbidden Alchemy 4 Galvanic Blast 3 Slagstorm 4 Desperate ravings 2 Oblivion Ring Land (25) 4 Evolving Wilds 8 Mountain 1 Swamp 4 Sulfur Falls 2 Plains 2 Island 4 Clifftop Retreat | Sideboard (15) 4 Mental Misstep 1 Revoke Existence 3 Nihil Spellbomb 2 Geist of Saint Traft 2 Ratchet Bomb 3 Secrets of the Dead |
Have you considered a heartless summoning transformational sideboard? I've had some luck with it due to the prevalence of GY hate in my local meta. It might stretch the colors a little thin but the additional angle has been worth it so far.
Loving this deck idea! I was thinking of a something similar, but you beat me to it. Is the Whipflare just flat out better than Day of Judgement, due to the mana cost?
Whipflare over day because you can't let the board get too aggressive early on. Also double white is a little tough on the mana in this deck. Also on turn 4 we are often Elesh Norning which generally has the same effect.
In what matchup do you want Secrets of the Dead? Is that just extra value against control?
What was the reasoning of dropping the two of Sphere of the Suns? I understand trying to fit more spot removal and changing your sweepers from Whipflare to Slagstorm?, but is the loss of the mana fixing and acceleration relevant? I feel as if the Spheres added to the nut draws of the deck or just simply allows us to hardcast Unburial Rites for value. Thoughts?
You tried Flayer of the Hatebound? It's been quite a good addition. It's easy to hard cast as well and can win the game without having to attack.
hey i have been working on a list, i like this deck a lot, i have found with testing, that the early game is a race, i used lingering souls instead of galcanic blast and cut one elesh
here is my list
2 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
1 Wurmcoil Engine
2 Frost Titan
3 Sun Titan
2 Phantasmal Image
4 Faithless Looting
4 Unburial Rites
3 Forbidden Alchemy
3 Slagstorm
4 Desperate Ravings
2 Oblivion Ring
3 Evolving Wilds
7 Mountain
2 Swamp
4 Sulfur Falls
2 Plains
2 Island
3 Clifftop Retreat
1 Massacre Wurm
2 Isolated Chapel
4 Lingering Souls
SB: 4 Mental Misstep
SB: 1 Revoke Existence
SB: 3 Nihil Spellbomb
SB: 2 Geist of Saint Traft
SB: 2 Ratchet Bomb
SB: 3 Secrets of the Dead
so almost the same hahaha
wait my new list is another wurm coil instead of the massacre wurm
Yo Smi77y Love this deck...Been owning on Cockatrice...
Seeking some tweaks though...I think this deck has potential but how do you beat Artifacts or Enchantments??
Also you going to have any updates for this deck?? I think that Crush might be worth using and maybe some Sphere of the suns.
Forgot to add SB options..
+3 Celestial Purge
Are the Mental Missteps for Delver and Grafdiggers cage? What happens when they stick Grafdigger do you just lose?
How do you beat Dissipate?
Also could you possibly post a sideboard help guide...I never know how to sideboard against certain matchups...
Pretty awesome list. Thanks!