Grelwing

164 Decks, 13 Comments, 1 Reputation

You might consider adding a 1-of Desolate Lighthouse. It will allow you to turn mana-flooding or "useless" cards into late-game threats, which can be absolutely invaluable.

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Posted 12 August 2016 at 07:17 as a comment on RU Modern Aggro/Control Value

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Thanks for the suggestions! :)

I'm building this deck on a "tight budget" so anything to make it more consistent is a good thing in my opinion.

Personally, I feel like Scryb Ranger is the ideal 2-drop with Yisan, since it chains amazingly well with Sakura-Tribe Scout. There may be a place for it in the deck anyway -- only testing will tell.

I debated between Hornet Queen and Avenger of Zendikar. I chose Avenger because it has potential for even more tokens. Hornet Queen is capped at 4. AoZ then Yisan into Craterhoof Behemoth is absolutely unstoppable.

Soul of New Phyrexia seems like a very strong piece of tech. I'll strongly consider finding a slot for it.

Panglacial Wurm is definitely powerful, but with Yeva, Nature's Herald I already have "instant speed" creatures. Not to say he would never fit in the deck -- I just have no idea what I'd cut for it.

Primal Surge is amazing. I can't believe I didn't think of that!



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Posted 05 May 2016 at 05:12 in reply to #581608 on Yisan, The Wanderer Bard

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No problem at all! Glad I could help!

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Posted 17 April 2016 at 02:50 in reply to #580087 on (Budget) Modern Elves

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Abzan Company is a matchup I know very well :) It's the deck I've been playing for the last 3 months or so!

With Abzan Company the best way for you to deal with the combo, is to use Scavenging Ooze to eat the Kitchen Finks/Redcap out of their graveyard in response to the persist trigger. Alternatively, you can kill the creature they are using to keep the Persist creature alive (Anafenza/Melira) in response to the Finks/Redcap's Persist trigger. Any graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Nihil Spellbomb, Relic of Progenitus, Leyline of the Void) are all very good against the combo as well, since the creature will be exiled before it can come back.

The way the combo works is:
Finks is sacrificed to Vicera Seer. Kitchen Finks then dies like a normal creature, enters the graveyard and then the game checks to see if he has high enough toughness to re-enter the battlefield with a Persist counter. The Persist then goes on the stack (giving you a chance to respond with Scooze) and then Kitchen Finks comes back. With Melira on the battlefield, the Persist Counter is unable to be added to Kitchen Finks and it stays a 3/2. With Anafenza on the battlefield, it enters the battlefield as a 2/1 and Anafenza's Bolster Trigger goes on the stack (giving you a chance to respond). The bolster trigger then resolves pumping the 2/1 Finks back to a 3/2. Then the life gain trigger from Kitchen Finks applies giving the player 2 additional life.

Without the ability to combo, the Company player will then have to rely on his value creatures to try and pull the win, pumping his team with Gavony Township. With Elves, you are much better prepared to deal with this and thanks to Elvish Archdruid + Ezuri, Renegade Leader you can quickly swing through what resistance Company is able to present.

The cards you'll need to watch out for will be spot removal such as Abrupt Decay and Path to Exile (aimed at your Lords/Scavenging Ooze), and Orzhov Pontiff who is essentially a board-wipe against elves if played early enough -- which can slow you down tremendously. Eidolon of Rhetoric is another card that may be boarded in against you, limiting you (and the Company player) to 1 card per turn. Not good for Elves, which is trying to dump it's hand as quickly as possible. Additionally Phyrexian Revoker is another card that I've seen in Company sideboards, and is capable of preventing Ezuri's abilities from being activated -- making it that much harder to swing for lethal damage. Keep in mind any of these creatures can be brought out, at any time, at instant speed thanks to Chord of Calling and Collected Company.

All in all, it comes down to a race.

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Kiki Chord is, in my opinion an easier matchup. While they have access to Lighning Bolt and other forms removal that elves don't do well against, the clock you are against is much slower. The earliest Kiki Chord can combo is turn 4, by which time you can (and should) have already pumped out enough elves to swing in for lethal (or at least extreme damage) with Ezuri. Just be aware that Restoration Angel can be flashed in at any point (including in response to damage), potentially giving them enough creatures to Chord of Calling into Kiki-Jiki immediately -- if not just on their next turn.

In games 2/3 watch out for Engineered Explosives and Anger of the Gods as well as additional removal in the form of Lightning Helix.

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Posted 15 April 2016 at 22:55 in reply to #580087 on (Budget) Modern Elves

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I haven't taken it to an FNM, but I have done quite a bit of testing on Cockatrice. It is less explosive without Collected Company, but the deck still does a fantastic job at going wide -- and swinging in for the kill.

Did you have any questions about specific matchups?

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Posted 15 April 2016 at 22:06 in reply to #580087 on (Budget) Modern Elves

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The evasion of Devouring Swarm is what led me to that decision. Bloodthrone Vampire is an undeniable powerhouse though. I've had one individual suggest that I put in Rancor to give trample to whichever creature becomes massive.

I considered putting in Rendclaw Trowis, but ultimately didn't feel like it was needed. Perhaps I've gotten lucky, but between my dig effects and Wirewood Herald I've been able to find my persist creature rather readily. It's still possible that it will find a slot before everything is said and done.

I like Red, because of Impact Tremors and Hissing Iguanar but I like white as protection for the combo, over extra "all-in" win conditions. White however may be cut entirely to focus on controlling the board with black until the combo can go off.

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Posted 09 March 2016 at 23:08 in reply to #577375 on (Pauper) Abzan "Company"

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I play the full Abzan Company deck in modern. This was mainly just geared towards a *very* budget version of this deck. The Evolving Wilds aren't a terrible idea, but I don't think stretching the manabase out to 3 colors makes sense in this cheap a deck.

If you wanted to brew up something with green, I'd wager you can find a balance between this and the next more expensive version of this deck that I've made. http://www.mtgvault.com/grelwing/decks/budget-abzan-company/

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Posted 24 January 2016 at 11:09 in reply to #573120 on (Budget) Persist Combo

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Good thoughts for sure. I'll take a look and possibly make some changes :)

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Posted 05 January 2016 at 08:40 in reply to #571825 on (Budget) GW "Twin"

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I am actually considering cutting the Archangel/Feeder combo altogether. While it is nice having an alternate win-condition, it feels like it's watering down the other combos and taking up slots for cards that I could otherwise take advantage of.

My sideboard is still very much a work in progress, and it will be hard to work out something solid until I get more testing in for my specific meta. I feel like Tidehollow Sculler may have a place, as well as a couple of Stony Silence to hit Tron and Affinity.

I did end up cutting out the Crumble to dust though. Putting in a playset of Fulminator Mage is more likely to benefit me in the long run.

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Posted 13 December 2015 at 05:51 in reply to #569924 on Abzan Company

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Leyline of Sanctity is going to be an easier way of countering it, without losing mono-white.

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Posted 15 August 2015 at 20:40 in reply to #559046 on Mono White Soldiers

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Nope, in fact I've considered dropping the soldiers entirely and just going mono-white control. We'll see.

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Posted 15 August 2015 at 20:39 in reply to #559042 on Mono White Soldiers

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