LET'S MAKE PSYCHIC FROG AND ELDRAZI PAY! Pre-sideboarded UW Control (Legacy MTG)

[@CheeseWedge056]

Phil went to the beach to get inspiration on how best to get the salt water from scam players tears.

[@MackNJacishopper]

Its so funny to pre-board against eldrazi only to get totally stomped by eldrazi.

[@AaronRotenberg]

Stonecoil Sepent walling Psychic Frog is friggin hilarious. Edit: M5G1 was absolutely one of the Magic games of all time.

[@killka123]

at 45:00 you fetched with the vista which shuffled away the vexing baubble :/

[@tychan1985]

@1:02:20 None of the spells that would be revealed by Mind's Desire were going to resolve through Bauble. I think the opponent probably didn't realize this but you conceded before they could show if they actually had a way to get past that.

[@ThrabenUniversity]

Right, but the copies of Mind's Desire would. Meaning that Mind's Desire -> Mind's Desire -> Brainfreeze was just a kill.

[@tychan1985]

@ThrabenUniversity the spells cast off mind's desire would all get countered, since it specifically says without paying cost. They would need to hit either another desire and/or brain freeze, which wasn't exactly deterministic, but I understand where you're coming from. Many versions also opt to keep Brain Freeze in the wish board, which meant 0 outs.

[@alexanderneimeth4538]

I believe what Phil was saying was the opponent could cast all the non minds desire cards to build storm count, cast minds desire, either chain into more minds desire’s (because while the original copy would get countered, the copies made off of the storm ability wouldn’t), or eventually a brain freeze, and since only the first brain freeze would be countered and all the copies made off of storm would be allowed to resolve, it would be more than enough to mill him out in full.

[@tychan1985]

@@alexanderneimeth4538 Yeah, I think that's true. I just know most conventional builds are not running Brain Freeze main which would be important to know for this corner case.

[@VincentDrake]

@@alexanderneimeth4538 now I get it! Thanks!

[@Stellar_Lake_sys]

game one was one of the most legacy feeling games you've shown in a while, this was a fun league

[@billybobjoesnow1717]

I just had a funny deck idea if you want to mess around with it. sneak attack sovereigns of lost alara into play, attack, and attach colossification for 25 damage in the air

[@ThrabenUniversity]

If you want to make it happen: www.thrabenuniversity.com/donationdecklists/

[@Fyrefrye]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but Sovereigns doesn't fly and colossification doesn't give trample, so this combo gets chump blocked by literally anything. It would let you put the aura on a different and evasive creature, but now your combo potentially requires a third card and is therefore much less consistent.

[@billybobjoesnow1717]

@@Fyrefrye oh rip to not having flying. although I will say there are a bunch of 1 or 2 mana unblockable creatures that could easily be played as a colossification target, although obviously would be slightly less consistent

[@kithkindeck]

The ice pack comment hits hard. I swear ti god, I turned 30 and my body said ''Nope. I'm done dealing with your bullshit. Have back pain for sleeping weird.''

[@ThrabenUniversity]

Yeah, it's been a few days at this point and I'm still sore XD

[@graefx]

I really love decks or meta experiments like this. My friends and I have always referred to it as "hate fucking" when youre just so fed up with the meta you either embrace the bomb and play meta (and thats never gone well for me) or you do something like this thats so focused, you might not be having any fun, but you're gonna make sure someone else isnt going to either.

[@janmelantu7490]

If Force is bad against the two biggest decks taking up most of the meta share, I think it’s totally reasonable to not be maindecking it.

[@balbadorf989]

Is wrath of the skies worth considering or is it too narrow currently and just an overreaction to decks like match one?

[@ThrabenUniversity]

I think that's a very solid card. It's format-defining in Modern!

[@stealthreapper1583]

In round 4 game 1 why did you concede to the mind's desire with a vexing bauble out? They couldn't cast any of the exiled cards unless I missed something right?

[@zombiemage1451]

they wouldn't resolve, but they're still castable, and any copies created by storm triggers would resolve as they aren't cast. so, build an even higher storm count, get another desire whose copies still resolve, and keep going until they get a brain freeze that's still lethal. bauble slows down storm decks, but it doesn't lock them out on its own.

[@stealthreapper1583]

@@zombiemage1451 ahh I see, for some reason I forgot that brain freeze was the win con for high tide, makes sense now thanks

[@dorded.1650]

Storm count is obvious but they had 5 cards in Hand that were the only way to get to brainfreeze. Storm count was 13 anyway. I get the time aspect, but there was no other reason to condede. Once they show they have cunning wish or the wish fairy for brainfreeze, then it's time to concede.

[@RyTECHification]

@@zombiemage1451 I think there was also a rip out it makes it harder, they cast 3 tides and 4 turnabouts on the combo turn with a time spiral. But ya they probably can get enough storm count somehow

[@nate1004]

@@dorded.1650agreed. Many (if not most) legacy high tide decks don’t play brain freeze main. So they need to show they have a way to remove bauble or get brain freeze around it before it’s reasonable to concede.

[@ary31415]

1:01:10 I'm inclined to agree that opponent should likely win with 5 cards in hand, I don't think you should scoop to mind's desire since vexing bauble counters all those spells right

[@ThrabenUniversity]

The future storm copies of Mind's Desire are going to resolve, likely resulting in my opponent getting a Brain Freeze, which would kill me.

[@tonydeveyra4611]

1:01:22 doesn't the vexing bauble on field counter all those spells that would be cast from exile without paying their mana cost via mind's desire?

[@ThrabenUniversity]

Yes, but I will still lose to them! Storm copies will eventually do me in.

[@tonydeveyra4611]

@@ThrabenUniversity storm copies of Brain Freeze, yes, but it's entirely possible that Brain Freeze wasn't in his main deck and his build is designed to get it with cunning wish. In which case the only way he can kill you is if Jace, Wielder of Mysteries or cunning wish is one of the last five cards in his hand. I think you should have made him desire the entire deck to prove it, otherwise he fizzles to the vexing bauble

[@ArenaceousWave]

@@tonydeveyra4611 Current deck lists will often play Consign to Memory over Flusterstorm main specifically to answer Bauble. You flip your deck with Desire, find an answer somewhere to remove bauble, cast it, consign the trigger to free all other spells. You can also cast multiple instants off of Desire and then use replicate on consign to counter all triggers. It is pretty neat.

[@Andre-fm1zy]

dont play back to basics play Ruination 😎😎😎

[@lightworker2956]

But then you're three-color. Which means that either you play nonbasics that you then blow up with your own Ruination, or you regularly get color-screwed. Remember that Sowing Mycrospawn puts additional pressure on manabases.

[@Andre-fm1zy]

@@lightworker2956 look at fenrusclouds list from today. Jeskai control with 2 duals 3 basics and 1mystic. works well and has been for years

[@IcePhoenixMusician]

45:56 prismatic search

[@graefx]

I was yelling at screen the minute he did that

[@Andre-fm1zy]

add 1 mountain & 1 vulcanic+1mystic sanctuary. -4vexing bauble -1moat. Maybe some predicts and Humility instead of moat?

[@ThrabenUniversity]

I would not like to add additional non-basic lands in my Back to Basics deck.

[@Andre-fm1zy]

@@ThrabenUniversity ferusclouds videos of jeskai control show 2 duals, 3 different basics and mystic sanctuary work well for years

[@And_Fel-wq7yl]

Against high tide, game 1, you had bauble and he used mind's desire. All his spells would be countered.

[@ThrabenUniversity]

Right, but the copies of Mind's Desire would. Meaning that Mind's Desire -> Mind's Desire -> Brainfreeze was just a kill.

[@DankAudioStash24]

Does Modo not show the game score anywhere during a match? Or the match score during a league? Like somewhere small where you could see it all the time.

[@androkguz]

Guys, in Simic colors (food chain) what's a good sideboard against aggro stuff? I'm playing paper and proxies. Have 4 slots in the sideboard for it, but can't figure out what goes there that would save me from human aggro, delve or infect.

[@AlCapone-uo9mi]

Wheres the blanket!?!?

[@AutumnReel4444]

I love this. Hilarious. Reminds me a bit of Penny Dreadful, where the format is so warped that you simply preboard against the broken shit to have a chance. Let's gooo

[@CPrs3394]

Love to see decks like this. Few decks are unbeatable, it’s just a question of how far you have to twist you deck building to beat them. I would be playing 4 deafening silence side give how lopsided the main deck is

[@Eisenwulf666]

Let's go, bullying the meta like sigma players. Come with sideboard already in deck, win against the most popular decks, don't elaborate.

[@moobang]

24:00 - if you are planning to path anyways, you could have path'd your own dude to get a shuffle.

[@ThrabenUniversity]

Sure, but this is a Marit Lage matchup where Path is an INCREDIBLE card. I'm not sure if the shuffle now is worth that.

[@moobang]

@@ThrabenUniversity absolutely reasonable, thank you for responding to my comment.

[@mrskittles6486]

This deck reminds me of the esper control list i played when hogaak was destroying modern. A bunch of sb cards in the main because the meta is fucked. Lol this deck is cool

[@invitedmonster8]

(M1G1) marit lage flys so im not taking a currently castable moat so i instead die to constructs? sorry that didnt make sense you have 3 more exile effects for when they produce a lage in a couple turns... i think you were dead either way after they got the extra diamonds.. but was an odd thought.. thank you for your continued content you and bryan are my only updates to the active legacy meta atm.. My sideboard. deck is BW so then you gain discard for the things you didn't prepare for.

[@derekcline950]

I love the Bloomburrow StP flavor text

[@chronopolize_jp]

I love crazy anti-meta decks

[@johnruhd5917]

I went for an anti-control deck and nobody expects their Saga to be Vindicated

[@brushwagg7735]

Did you rent those moats? Not to be rude but you kinda seem like you might just have a couple copies of moat.

[@ThrabenUniversity]

I own almost no cards on MTGO.

[@lightworker2956]

I love the experimentation.

[@jphorn1223]

am i missing something or was the minds desire dead in game 1 round 4 because of the vexing bauble?

[@ThrabenUniversity]

Right, but the copies of Mind's Desire would. Meaning that Mind's Desire -> Mind's Desire -> Brainfreeze was just a kill.

game 1 opp had no fetch lol

[@vaentkhing579]

yes, i love the meta hate

[@timkahlmeyer1571]

not lon into the video but doesn t make shark typhoon much more sense then the Angels?

[@ThrabenUniversity]

Well, one of those things loses to a single removal spell, and one of them doesn't... If you're not giving your opponents targets for their removal, it will sit in hand until it disrupts your win conditions.

[@7218234]

I believe that the deck would be improved with 4x enlightened tutor for some of the duplicate pieces of artifacts/enchantments like moat. Could also have a 1x Greater Auramancy then to protect the combo

[@ThrabenUniversity]

Enlightened Tutor has been pretty much power crept out of Legacy. It just doesn't make sense to tutor to the top of the library given how fast games are.

[@lightworker2956]

Enlightened Tutor is card disadvantage. And sure, if you combo-kill them that's fine, but if you tutor Helm and then run into a FoW or Daze that's not actually a great exchange (because Tutor is -1 card). And the decks without FoW (eg Eldrazi) are probably fast enough that you don't have time to Helm-kill them (remember they have Wasteland / Sowing Mycrospawn). I do agree with you that it seems that this deck can sometimes just do a bunch of 1-for-1 trades and then roll over and die. I just don't think Enlightened Tutor is the answer for that. Maybe one more Lorien Revealed. Or one more Moat / Helm so that you draw them naturally.

[@andrewwang7699]

At abour 24:00, would it have been possible to path your creature to shuffle for brainstorm?

[@Lenarian]

Hey this looks kind of like the magic I used to know. It may be prison, but I'll take what I can get lmao.

[@minionpeter]

Phil, where is the blanky? Nice vedio btw!

[@ITelefonmanI]

I'm surprised there's Moat over Humility. I know they deal with slighty different creature threats, but I feel that Humility is better because it also disables the EtB effects of so many creatures like Grief. Heck, I probalby would play 2 Humility + 1 Moat and try to win with the Helm combo like I tried in 2007(?).

[@ThrabenUniversity]

The on-cast triggers of the newer Eldrazi have really decreased the power of Humility, tbh.

[@ITelefonmanI]

@@ThrabenUniversity No argument there - but Moat doesn't deal with those either :) Maybe it's just nostalgia for me, I have a lot of memories of Humility being incredibly powerfull.

[@lightworker2956]

In slow, creatureless control decks like this, the 1/1s from Humility can actually just beat you to death. You don't really want to cast Humility, and then six turns later be forced to Swords to Plowshares a 1/1 because you're on four life. And you can't rely on just combo-killing them because most decks have their own form of disruption. I think if you wanted to build Humility Control, you could, but that deck would play Staff of the Storyteller + Timeless dragon + shark typhoon + Hall of Heliod's Generosity + possibly Standstill. That way, the 1/1s that the enemy has after Humility actually don't matter because you have a bunch of 1/1 tokens too to trade.

[@MinstrelSauce]

40:52 oh noooooo

[@JamesKisau]

GGs Phil

[@TheQueerLeaf99]

Nice

[@VincentDrake]

In Round 4 Game 1, the opponent stormed off Mind's Desire and you conceded, but wouldn't Vexing Bauble completely brick the Mind's Desire copies?

[@ThrabenUniversity]

It doesn't stop the copies, which means that my opponent hitting a second copy of Mind's Desire will almost certainly allow copies of Brainfreeze to kill me given the storm count.

[@VincentDrake]

@@ThrabenUniversity Huh. I feel thick. I guess VBauble doesn't stop the storm instances because they are "copies" that are never "cast"... and then the MDesire copies resolve, allowing opponent to "play the card without paying its mana cost"... so the distinction between "played" and "cast" is what prevents the VBauble from interacting with the cards the opponent gets to play when the MDesire copies resolve???

[@VincentDrake]

"play" vs "cast" doesn't seem to be the explanation: '601.1a Some effects still refer to “playing” a card. “Playing a card” means playing that card as a land or casting that card as a spell, whichever is appropriate.' Each MDesire copy would resolve, granting the opponent the opportunity to "play" the exiled cards "without paying its mana cost" until the end of turn. When the oponent *does* play the card, non-land cards would still be "cast" by the opponent per 601.1a *and* the opponent would not have paid mana for the spell... so this *should* trigger Vexing Bauble's first ability, "Whenever a player casts a spell, if no mana was spent to cast it, counter that spell." Any rules lawyers have a different reading?

[@VincentDrake]

A smarter fellow than myself explains very early in later comments.

[@lilacpilot3437]

1:02:50

[@allan43621]

Excited to see how this goes!

[@wayanc1880]

Where ponder

[@wayanc1880]

Found it

[@chadoftoons]

What i learnt from this entire video is that the stonecoil serpent is just straight up a good counter at the moment to frog. The card was only so marginally useful before but now that there is a specific multi-color worrywort in a format it is amazing at its job. Maybe having the deck pre-sideboard only this artifact is enough? Playing it for 1 is still enough to warrant using bowmaster on it and at 2 it matches the frog. I am unsure what shell would favor throwing in 3 serpents in but its not really that big of a deal if its slighty sub-optimal.

[@lh4383]

Loved this deck. The games were way more interesting as with streamlined meta decks:D but I’m a control/stax player in hearth, and that felt like denying enemy‘s capability to play magic

[@MetaKnight23]

Why do you play path over sword? And also brainstorming away path over sword? (Game 1) you gave your oponent more mana then needed

[@ThrabenUniversity]

Well, there is a relatively fundamental difference between the two cards that likely made the difference ;) Leave timestamps for future questions if you want a specific reply about a particular spot.

[@MetaKnight23]

The timestamp is 8:05 . The Brainstorm moment is debatable and might make sense.

[@yordlereaper6280]

I'm surprised you didn't use path to exile on your guy to search for a basic to shuffle your library :)

[@ThrabenUniversity]

Sure, but this is a Marit Lage matchup where Path is an INCREDIBLE card. I'm not sure if the shuffle now is worth that.

[@yordlereaper6280]

@@ThrabenUniversity you had 2 in hand at the time, but I see the issue with using it there

[@davecharette588]

thanks for all the content!

[@christianaguanno3834]

Why not shark typhoon?

[@ThrabenUniversity]

It loses to a single removal spell. I'm not giving my opponents targets for their removal, so they will almost certainly answer that if it is my win condition.

[@lightworker2956]

@@ThrabenUniversity "[Shark Typhoon] loses to a single removal spell" -- Only if you're a coward and cycle it. (Kidding, I agree with you.)

[@TheAngelRaven]

That Round 4 was absolutely dirty.

[@spencertorene]

THIS is the experimental shit I come here for.

[@VivBrodock]

he used RIP helm when Leyline helm is right there :(

[@Gonzakoable]

It's less of a strain on the manabase. he's playing a lot of 1 for 1s so having to mull down for em hurts this deck more

[@deskbot000]

you lost to the stuff you built around beating, and you beat the off-meta decks you were expecting to be bad against...

[@claytonleal7947]

please wotc. this is why you need to ban appropriately or maybe not be so bad at designing balanced cards in the first place... in fact stop making made for eternal sets... theyve only warped every format youve put them in since you started doing it

[@joshdavis3743]

I think Phil got a haircut, looking like he going to join the Marines.