Mtg Deck Tech: U/B Pirates in Ixalan Standard!

UB Pirates is here! This deck went through more testing and more rewrites than just about any deck I've ever done for this channel, so I hope you'll give it a try (and trust some of the more...controversial decisions). Let's get some booty!
View this decklist: bit.ly/UB_Pirates
Check out the Favorable Winds version: bit.ly/UB_Winds
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[@PlayMTG]

Confirmed: Dev works harder on decks when it's about booty.

[@Crusnikneo]

I ain't mad at him

[@bdrakePBDA]

Sex spam reported.

[@ashenwuss1651]

Dev and The Mana Source upload a UB Pirate standard deck-tech around the same time. The more, the merrier. Thanks, Dev

[@MemoryLaneWizard]

Dev did it better though =3

[@finks1]

Dev inadvertently showed why Wedge’s deck isn’t that good compared to his.

[@suhr12]

Really appreciate the honesty, and you not just including all the cards people are super hyped about and glueing it together into one big click bait!

[@lorddiddlywinkle8429]

🎵I've got a jar of dirt! I've got a jar of dirt! And guess what's inside it🎵

[@doublebladed1266]

Kethael Wildhardt pirates?

[@curtisrush9978]

It ain't a heart, lol

[@xuetheviewer3897]

A combination of my 2 favorite colors, and my 2 favorite archetypes. Thanks Dev.

[@xileets]

I am working on a treasure-focused pirate influenced deck (not a pirate specific deck however) they are tempting to use that 3rd color, and it can sidetrack you a bit, so thank you for taking the time you did. I feel that pirates in this set offer many interesting avenues to be used in other deck techs, so hopefully players will find uses for cards that you didn't use.

[@brittneyabyss6598]

NerdNinja Ryu.

[@ThePhantomphan11]

Wow that opening monologue was perfect, I wouldn't want it any other way!

[@kapittsalt]

"Monologue" is exactly why I love your work my fella. Frickin value. Value. Keep on, keep being you. Flank that shiz on a dime... /salute

[@SBMTG]

Thanks Keith! Man you've been watching for a long time. I appreciate you brotha!

[@kapittsalt]

Well that and the cats and t-shirts and the intro tunes and just being a solid mfr...

[@swedething87]

A good monologue makes things very enjoyable and can capture new audiences. It's good practice.Side note, at a couple points I thought you may have been just saying the same thing over and over about Ramunap Red and Carnage Tyrant because you didn't know what else to say then immediately after that thought popped in my head it triggered me to look from a different perspective and realized you were just driving home the point that matchups against those are just really bad for UB Pirates and wanted the viewers to know that and be aware of it.Kudos and great work as always.

[@loganschwartz4790]

i mean if you're trying to make a deck that wins you have to consider the meta, and understand the strategy of the deck you're playing against. the fact that you state why you include certain cards is great man

[@BONKBOY7]

Definitely need that favorable winds deck tech. I really loved your explanation for the cards you didn't include. Keep up the great content that you produce!

[@NoOne-ki3bm]

I don't play MTG no more, but I really enjoy your vids.. makes me very tempting to get back in it.

[@EvilLuisito]

If Carnage Tyrant is such a problem for the deck, why not have some copies of Harsh Scrutiny in the sideboard? I like it more than Doomfall in this list.

[@Yurikan]

Finally someone else who sideboarded the Ruin Raiders and plays Deadeye Tracker Main deck! I've been trying a lot of different things as well with pirates and had a much easier time working out dinosaurs. I'm still a big fan of my energy splash for Aether Hub as an untapped colored mana source, but there were a few issues due to options for generating energy eating up good slots. Also, this is one of those decks where there are just 2 ofs and 3 ofs all over the darn place.

[@lockecole3726]

Carnage Tyrant always resolves?! Time to dust off Glorious End baby!

[@jamaigar]

YAAAAAAAAAAAS

[@nomukun1138]

Oh man, I don't even care if I can't topdeck the win next turn if I get to do that.

[@SunniestAutumn]

Locke Cole Super secret sideboard tech.

[@Metawrecker]

Please give me the game in your next end step 🙏🏻🏆

[@lockecole3726]

Jason, that's why I have Trials Gideon on the field, and a disallow in my hand. I've also Glorious ended my own Glorious End and won with the extra turn. It's possible.

[@piboy6228]

Dev how do you test the formats, do you use proxies or xmage or similar?

[@SBMTG]

Both

[@rrrof711]

nice deck! I love the deadeye trackers! I got lucky and got a pre-release copy and a regular copy in one of my sealed boxes!!! Seems solid but I really thought you would throw some discard in there somewhere. The playset of Fatal Push really does push the budget of the deck overboard considering the lands and some of these cards may go up in value after release and the first big tournament. I am building grixis discard pirates but I think it will be more for fun than anything. I am using a few of the cards you suggested in your monoblack discard deck a while back like the Torment of Scarabs and Unburdens (unburden is awesome but not in the main board).

[@gagegriffin8631]

Dev, When playing this deck, how often should you just be curving out pirates? Or is it better to just play the one and 2 drops to hold up for removal and counterspells. Also how well does only having 4 counterspells work? I've grown to love control decks and they play many more answers than 4 counterspell and a couple of removal spells.

[@davidsands3194]

Great deck list. Was just working on my own ub tempo pirates list when I saw this. Awesome to see some love for unsummon! What do you think about just a splash of red for adm. Beckett brass. Is it just win more?

[@dirtpickingusa8786]

Dev, I'm curious about your grading system. How do you determine the number rating for each category? Is it subjective, or do you have some sort of calculation based on how it performs? Inquiring minds want to know!

[@MrTacticalApproach]

I don't play Standard anymore and I remember building a BW Tragic Arrogance deck you made and it wrecked face during that time. lol Big ups to you for helping out players to be competitive and such.

[@HANKYpanky-sw6fk]

Tempo decks♥️♥️♥️. I can't wait to tweak this deck to my liking. Thank you for a amazing starting point.

[@radi534]

I did a Grixis Booty Pirates ( Tresure making dorks and then playing mechanized production and deadeye plunderers as main win cons ). Put in a copy of Vraska, 4x chart the course, 4x opt and it did pretty well.

[@flagstone9182]

How about a favorable winds deck tech?

[@Hayezy.k]

ya, that sounded super cool

[@finks1]

Do eeeet!

[@HANKYpanky-sw6fk]

Logan Abraham I think he has the deck list in his description.

[@Citizen_J]

Was right in the middle of making a pirates deck. Good timing Dev

[@drewlongbrakevibes]

Hey Dev! I do understand the price total is being kept in mind but, if you already have a playset of Metallic Mimic would you then include some number of Skyship Plunderers?

[@Saylin021]

Finally unsummon gets some love, thanks

[@jguitar151]

to anyone perusing the comments, ive been playing a list fairly similar to this and I have to say fell flagship is worth a two-of inclusion. the main win conditions in this deck are 1.steal something major with hostage taker 2. go insane with fathom fleet captain 3. chip away with 1 damage dudes for ten turns and counter and remove everything they have. the majority of the time the third option is what ends up happening and the anthem from the flagship halves the clock. I very rarely crew the ship unless its completely free to do. obviously you don't want more than one in your hand at any given time but on turn four or five its always been a welcome top deck. my deck never ran unsummon but my recommendation is taking those out and at least testing with the flagship for yourself

[@eravar2831]

Planning to build Pirates I’m excited

[@ridin_low193]

Eravar The Slayer me too till I saw how much hostage taker is 😢

[@Hero-er9oj]

Sad about the lack of merfolk support in Ixalan.

[@AustinSawler]

Hero well they couldn't push them too push bc they have a lot of support in modern compared to the other tribes.

[@Hero-er9oj]

Austin Sawler yeah I know I just hoped they could do some more especially since they added green. Hopefully they get more support in rivals w/o making the modern deck too strong. I'd love to have a competitive standard version.

[@isaacpatterson7657]

wait for Rivals

[@Hero-er9oj]

Isaac Patterson yeah I think I'll invest in them once they drop in price a little more and hope rivals makes them viable

[@67silverhazey]

won my pre release with it... paired the simic with red did me well

[@WhosAlx]

Did you play test with deadeye plunderers much? I'm thinking of doing ub pirate artifacts and I was wondering what you thought of it if you had played that type of deck

[@saniwada]

Your build is awesome. Could I get your thoughts on my build of this deck: Creatures (17) 3 Deadeye Tracker 4 Siren Stormtamer 3 Daring Saboteur 3 Fathom Fleet Captain 4 Kitesail Freebooter Planeswalkers (4) 4 Jace, Cunning Castaway Spells(21) 4 Fatal Push 3 Opt 4 Essence Scatter 2 Negate 4 Walk the Plank 4 Lookout's Dispersal Lands (18) 4 Drowned Catacomb 3 fetid Pools 6 island 5 Swamp I know 4 coppies of jace looks obssesive but at my fnm id be surprised if the fist 2 I draw into arent instantly exiled, counterd, or destroyed. Its a preety controll heavy meta...

[@KevinsH0use]

Damn, Dev, you have to add information about your introsongs in the description. I know we heard that song already, but i could never find it.

[@calebj5852]

Loved the tech! I'm definitely going to be running some form of this deck in the coming months :D

[@corewhatever7161]

More than Delirium!!?? My favorite video of yours by the way.

[@Flippyfloppy007]

Hey Dev! Out of curiosity, roughly how many games do you play on each iteration of your decks to get a decent sense of how it plays against the meta? Seems like a crazy amount of work you do: To test the deck you'd need to play enough games to control for random variation in your draws and for the various others decks in the current meta, and that's for every iteration! Must take you ages

[@sankaman24]

Great video! I started playing magic about 2 monthes ago and I got mostly ixalan cards, but I've been high-rolling luck and dropped 2 scarab gods in a few packs. I was wondering if there's any gameplay change that should be added to this deck for it to include my 2 scarab gods permanently. Like more draw or more counters...

[@scottmwyman]

love the opening music......I just realized I play tempo decks..thanks D

[@adamkruschwitz7692]

Nice deck! I was kind of skeptical that jayce would see play. Do you think there's any deck where he has a home?

[@michaedove3562]

Do you have an updated version for Rivals of Ixalan? Seems like Dire Fleet Poisoner and Warkite Marauder would make the deck better at pushing through damage.

[@erickillough6476]

100% think we need to be in the air for aggressive decks or unblockable. The ground is going to be full of hydra, dino, and death touch. It is sure to be interesting. I like your take on the new Bob. If red fades he could maybe then see main board action. Great deck teck

[@fitnerd8957]

Thank you for actually putting time and effort into your deck techs, instead of just cranking out sloppy content

[@alleertmen3]

Tanner Sawka no and wtf wtf is no one talking about him

[@fitnerd8957]

Didn't mean it like that. I just meant that really appreciate the play testing that goes into the card selection, instead of, (like he mentioned), including a card just because it was popular. I love his deck techs for aspect.

[@carpenter4joe]

Consider Siren's Ruse if you are short on other cards, it can blink one of your defenders, or team up with the Hostage Takers to grab a Glory Bringer on their turn.

[@VioStarclad]

Love the opening. When do we get the full versions of these tracks?

[@arthurobst82]

I've been playing grixis pirates and it's been really reliable. I've had almost no mana issues, except for every once in a when I don't have an untapped land turn one. Not sure what issues you were running into. As long as you only run red to splash the pirates I think the consistency barely goes down.

[@ackerizzle]

ok but where can i find that intro music?

[@kanebenjamin497]

T E M P O!!!! In my build, splashing green for Vraska. Mainly as a 'leader' l for the pirates, lol. But I think she makes a strong case! Builds bodies AND is essentially a removal spell. Blooming Marsh and Botannical Sanctum come in handy, I'm actually playing four Deadeye Tracker because of his late game usability. Explore can be soooo damn good, and also allows mana usage at the end of an opponents turn if I have some left over. I'm also running 4 copies of opt as a way to keep pirates in my hand- also 2 march of the drowned for that same reason. I WAS running 4 of duress until I realized that the freebooter is essentially a 1/2 duress. Taking that out for the pirate counter spell that I forgot existed. (I feel shame) I'm also playing Siren's Ruse, and I'd love to hear your opinion on this card. Dodge removal OR block/blink, and also draw a card! I was a HUGE fan of essence flux in spirits, and this card has been treating me the same. However Instead of 1/1 counters, I get cards (but it's a 2 drop.. booo). Would love to hear your thoughts on Siren's Ruse though. To finish it off I'm actually playing a 2 of of River's Rebuke. It was an answer to Carnage Tyrant and has won me so many games in playtest. 6 mana is STEEP, but with all the card draw going on (Ruse, Opt, Tracker exploring) it's a very common occurrence that I get there. For Vraska too! Talking about Carnage Tyrant - Lay Bare the Heart is another answer- Could that fit in here? Or the Amonkhet spells that bounce target spell? Something to consider I think. Sorry for the rambling. I'm stoked on this deck and its many, many, many possibilities. Loved your deck tech here. Excited to see more pirate variations in the weeks to come.

[@kyletaylor1832]

Awesome U/B. But why did you decide against Rakdos?

[@p0g031]

Hey Dev. I've been looking through the potential of a Naya tokens deck. The core being regisaur alpha, huatli and anointed procession, and maybe a 1 of thundering spineback. Maybe look into it and see if it has potential. Love your deck techs btw!

[@Arghore]

While i know you build 'Favorable Winds' as a pirates deck, because Pirates was likely voted for on Patreon, but seeing the list (and your mention of it being really good) i do wonder if there isn't simply a more powerful 'Favorable Winds' deck in standard. If so, maybe do a build around? Seeing this is a tempo deck and playing something turn one is so important as well as the end-closing monologue on meta and playstyle, i am somewhat amazed you didn't play 3x Duress in the main (or maybe in the current meta 'harsh scrutiny' is better). Probably cut 2 walk the plank and 1 counter (maybe even those 3x black pirate one drop if you fancy removal more). Duress is basically a disruption spell, that is an answer to various problem cards for this deck and the strategy, as well as giving the information you will need to maneuver the ship through the coral reef (suck a bit you can only take spells, but in that sense it's great against control, and it helps to protect our pirates from removal) so a bit amazed it wasn't even in the 75 (guess doomfall does a great impression though). Lastly, this didn't at all feel like a pirates deck, it obviously missed one copy of a ship, at least one though possibly as many canons as possible, also clearly pirates need some cutlasses and not to forget one copy of a treasure map !

[@Seldonlair]

I felt the same way. I have a Dimir pirate deck that runs flying/super tempo/control. It's all ETBs and bounce and trigger and draw and "Put that back in your hand, Timmy." Harsh Scrutiny is a playset, Kitesail Freebooter is a playset, and the sideboard has another playset of Duress ready to jump in to join its brothers. I think people are a little tunnel visioned by the tribal aspects of Ixalan when it comes to pirates and are missing the huge control strategy that black currently offers. HS/Duress/KFreeB/Sorcerous Spyglass/Doomfall - all of these cards offer real-time information on your opponent's hand and let you make the best play possible during your turn (and usually remove a threat). And all of them except the Spyglass are black (and honestly, the Spyglass isn't worth running right now. Later, when the meta settles down it'll do some work.) With that amount of hand-removal you don't really need too many counterspells - because they'll either waste their own to stop your own HS/Duress or you'll pluck out the counterspells or other dangerous threats and leave up your own to stop something else from coming down.

[@durangilestalio]

so i'm thinking about building this but my main thought is that i feel like the cycle lands just don't cut it. would running 3 of chart a course be that much worse? i feel like that pulls harder for the deck . what do you think?

[@Vininn126]

Eyy Let's plunder this video for some sick tech

[@mattbutler7922]

Thanks for the honesty!

[@thevarianthuman5669]

I would totally love to see Dev take on a simic merfolk 1/1counters deck. I'm working on my own list but would like to see how he would build it.

[@webrebg]

Nice deck tech. Really like your videos! Sweet shirt btw! Would love to know where you got it.

[@cjcrabapple1834]

Can we finally see a grixis control???

[@bcmaledragon]

I've been thinking about playing ESPER GEARHULK during the upcoming Standard Meta and even made the deck list over this past week.....Curious as to your thoughts about it having potential in the meta.

[@DrkWhiteWolf]

Hey Dev, I've been thinking about making a Favorable Winds Pirate deck. If you're not going to make a video for the list, can you give us a link to your list idea please.

[@PhazonOmega]

Deadeye Tracker: Doesn't it have to exile the cards in order to also explore, since it's a part of the effect? Or, since it's a part of the effect and not the cost, can it explore without exiling?

[@superbot2367]

*ARE YOU READY KIDS???* Aye, aye, Captain! *I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!* Aye, aye, Captain! *OHHHHHHHHHHH!!!*

[@Yurikan]

Dev, will we get to see the flying list you were working on later? I'm interested in seeing what direction that went. =)

[@DuncanEllis]

thanks for puncturing the Jace bubble.

[@seasons50]

What do y'all think of playing Hope of Ghirapur instead of Blight Keeper in the Favorable Winds version?

[@7hardy8]

Awesome deck tech! Any chance at a Merfolk or Vampire tech?

[@socalsalas2983]

Great energy dude! Loved your video

[@kanebenjamin497]

THANK YOU. Deadeye Tracker is my BOY!!!!

[@jacem4925]

Could you PLEASE release a video of the favorable winds as a budget deck tech?

[@M3taPhy5ical]

Props to the unsummon, good thinking Dev!

[@abednego707]

Is there a form of pirate control? Or at least a blue black version that runs treasures/artifacts and the new 5 drop u/b 3/3 pirate? Seems like a solid control card. First 4 turns fill your board with treasures or artifacts and drop a 5/5 or 6/6 on turn 5? Just wondering cuz it was an amazing card in prerelease.

[@ELauti]

Havnt seen one on yt but i build one on my own which i really like. Because even though its ub i can play becket brass by using the treasures

[@Da40kOrks]

So you going to do a video on the Winds version? I like the idea of a $25 deck.

[@SleevelessMTG]

no opt?

[@catostongue9584]

where do I find these sick beats and flows Dev drops in the intro?

[@mudgee92]

Isn't Deadeye tracker almost never going to be activatable on Turn 2? You need targets to exile.

[@greghicks83]

So are we just not gonna talk about how you got Bebop and Rocksteady recreating the cover from Outkast's Stankonia? I need that shirt.

[@Ryokamen]

Mettalic mimic? I understand its budget, but it seems like a pretty good 2 drop

[@zaxadillo5225]

Ixalan trailer as an ad? Feels good

[@bdrakePBDA]

Hooray! Hostage Taker is back down to about $4. I can finish building this deck now!

[@ianhuff4288]

I love it! Any thoughts on Panharmicon and Pirates?

[@naejin]

The UB flyer pirates is what I was thinking.

[@JWL216]

Plunderer works great if you play metalic mimic. I need to test it though.

[@edroux]

Any chance you'll show us the Favorable Winds version later?

[@alessandroverrecchia5763]

Very nice list! My only question : could M Mimic swap one of the 2 drops?

[@SBMTG]

It could, but I feel like you'd lose a lot of tempo. Mimic is almost like skipping your 2nd turn to generate long-game advantage, which is the literal opposite of tempo. It's unquestionably good, I just think it belongs in a different archetype

[@alessandroverrecchia5763]

Strictly Better MtG You're right! i was looking at it like a tribal deck...

[@adamgrotto8163]

Alessandro Verrecchia oh man! Me too. I was like "Helloooooooo! Metallic mimic!" Now I feel like a scrub. Lol my apologies for questioning you, Dev.

[@alessandroverrecchia5763]

Spankin' Fred same :/

[@sirbiff10]

If you can't get a playset of fatal push. What card can you put in its place?

[@s7121n9s]

UB Pirates or UG Merfolk? Looking for honest opinions for future deck

[@blondiwithstyle]

Didn't see anything about Warkite Marauder? One of the best pirate aggro cards imo.

[@johnjahnke9448]

Any ideas for merfolk in standard , seemed stronger at prerelease then they originally looked.

[@Tuemtuci]

Can you see if a vampire deck is viable I think it could be a 30$ budget and 60$ competive. Thanks.

[@kilptavari8358]

Quick question: Are his prices the sum of the price of all the cards in the playset, or only the price of a single copy of a card.

[@kilptavari8358]

NVM found out

[@carter9449]

So when I was working on my own version this deck I thought consign // oblivion would have been nice over unsummon, being able to bounce god-pharoh's gift and walkers, but DON'T. I lost to taking 7 off ruin raider because of the cmc

[@roachsrealm3889]

I need to know the name of the song played at the intro, it sounds bomb!

[@jasonfitzgerald5656]

i thoroughly appreciate the meta game notes. i don't make it out to the lgs to play often, so when i do i get my ass kicked at standard showdown.

[@amormundi98]

Dev got update on this with RIX? Dire Fleet Poisoner, man. How u feel about it?

[@amormundi98]

Not to mention Warkite Marauder. A serious contender vs Storm Fleet Aerialist?

[@getoffyourbassandletsfish7651]

Thanx for another good deck. Thanx for including prices

[@s1siskov959]

here it comes! its going to be nice to watch with my breakfast. :)

[@treasureberry7154]

It looks like a certain black sweeper is going to be great if you can get it past a freebooter, especially to gain back some advantage.

[@L0j1k]

Hey though, Storm Fleet Aerialist is a workhorse!

[@physicsman90]

Have you thought of making a deck based off of Vraska?

[@L0j1k]

Yo note to people: If you *really* want to play Grixis pirates, you can mana fix and ramp hardcore with the treasure mechanic. The big thing with pirates is treasure tokens. That will actually let you get cards like Angrath's Marauders out on turn four or five. If you really want Grixis, you can do it. Other cards to look at for Grixis: Treasure Map (transforming artifact/land) and the explore mechanic.

[@Rangersly]

I want to see that Favorable Winds version, PLease?

[@Dovahninja]

Would love to see a G/B explore deck!

[@TheStalk]

Is there any chance Simic Merfolk can be a thing?