ICBM: Gob-Lines

[ICBMpodcaster]

Full Warning for violation of Rule 6, Prohibited Action (advertisement post) and Full Warning for violation of Rule 4, Lack of Content (spam).   -DA

Also, here's a direct link to the article in question.
-Jacob
ICBM Gob-lines

"ICBM member Elias Vaisberg surveyed the room of Day One at Waterbury, feeling dejected and frustrated. Flash and GAT were everywhere and obliterating every reasonable deck in the room. In many ways it was a flashback to Grand Prix Columbus, a format that was all about Fish and Flash. The only thing missing from this equation was the lack of goblins to roll over the fishes, and, as counter-intuitive as it seems, Flash."

[cursedDice]

Just wanted to drop in and say I was at Eudemonia last weekend, and while I didn't play Goblins or against it, I did see it pretty much rip through the meta-game favorites in NorCal (GAT, Flash, Bomberman, Stax mainly), and in the T8 I was paired against my teammate and the two Goblin decks there were matched up and in our bracket, so no matter what, either my teammate or I would face Goblins.  I was playing Bomberman and my teammate Stax.  Neither deck has a good matchup against Goblins.  I had just 2 cards in the Sideboard suitable for Goblins (StPx2).  We ended up deciding Stax had a better chance, so I conceded to my teammate.  He then lost to it.

Anyways, just wanted to add that I think this deck is for real in the current meta, I may even play in at the next Eudemonia.  Thanks for bringing Goblins back into people's minds.

Oh, and one more thing...what are good sideboard cards against Goblins that would work in Bomberman's side?  Does Swords do much? Pithing needle seems good (siege gang, vial, waste, & strip and its searchable) but I haven't had much time to test against Goblins.  Any ideas would be appreciated!

[Dante]

While we debate the user and link procedures, here's the content from the website in question

ICBM member Elias Vaisberg surveyed the room of Day One at Waterbury, feeling dejected and frustrated. Flash and GAT were everywhere and obliterating every reasonable deck in the room. In many ways it was a flashback to Grand Prix Columbus, a format that was all about Fish and Flash. The only thing missing from this equation was the lack of goblins to roll over the fishes, and, as counter-intuitive as it seems, Flash.

The first question players ask is "how can ICBM Gob-Lines stop Flash?"

Gob-Lines stops Flash with a simple three-tier defense illustrated below:

    * 4 Leyline of the Void maindeck to stall until Flash can find removal
    * Mogg Fanatic, Lackey, and an early Siege-Gang with tokens gum up the board for Flash, providing both too many blockers to push through as well as the ability to remove Heart Sliver, which means no haste for the hive. If the game goes long,  Gob-Lines will always have the advantage as it will put too many creatures on the board for the Flash player to push through with poison.
    * Postboard things get even better for Gob-Lines as they gain even more answers to the dreaded turn 1 kill, with 4 Pyrokinesis coming in against the slivers.


How does Gob-Lines attack GAT ?

       GAT is poorly equipped to fight Gob-Lines' onslaught of creaures.  To effectively attack Gob-Lines GAT only has two routes it can take, either leveraging the power of Yawgmoth's Will or the power of Fastbond and multiple Gushes.  Duress and Mana Drain are not the correct tools to fight Goblin Lackey and Aether Vial.

Gob-Lines attacks GAT on two fronts.  First, it has a strong mana denial component in the form of Wasteland, Strip Mine, and Rishadan Port, as well as the sideboarded Blood Moons.

The second method is simply rushing GAT and generating virtual card advantage by the enormous numbers of dead cards that GAT runs. Leyline of the Void also complicates matter as it forces GAT players to decide to either Wish for a way to remove the Leyline or stop the onslaught of goblins.

Post boarding Gob-Lines has the ability to board in both Blood Moon or Magus of the Moon, and the split-second nightmare that is Sudden Shock, which kills Togs and Dryads without even a chance to respond.


As resident Stax expert Jeremy Seroogy will testify, his plan against Gob-Lines is simply "pray I don't play it."  Stax doesn't have the tools to fight a hyper-aggressive deck that uses Lackey and Vials to dodge lock pieces like Chalice and Sphere of Resistance.  Stax is reduced to two cards: Balance and Triskelion, and postboard Stax may be facing 3-4 Shattering Sprees, making matters even worse.

So what decks can actually beat Gob-Lines?

Tendrils Combo such as PitchLong
Belcher
To some extent Oath of Druids, depending largely on their opening.

When legendary combo player Tommy Kolowith does poorly at Waterbury playing PitchLong it doesn't bode well for everyday players playing combo. As Waterbury demonstrated, if you want to play the fastest, most resistant combo deck, you need to be playing Flash, not Long.


This deck is in what us deck builders call OPEN BETA meaning that you can play it but it still has issues.

The deck did finish 2nd at Waterbury day two, and almost placed another ICBM member in the top 8 as well.

If you decided to play this deck, please report back with what worked and what you smashed.

Enjoy.



ICBM GOB-LINES

4 Leyline of the Void
4 Goblin Lackey
4 Aether Vial
3 Mogg Fanatic
4 Goblin Pile Driver
2 Stingscourger or 1 Stingscourger and 1 Gempalm Incinerator
3 Siege-Gang Commander
4 Goblin Matron
4 Goblin Warchief
4 Goblin Ringleader
1 Red Elemental Blast/Sudden Shock/ Blood Moon/ Random Goblin of your choice

1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mana Crypt
1 Lotus Petal
4 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine
2 Rishadan Port
2 Barbarian Ring
10 Mountains/Some Combination of Fetches and possibly a splash colour

Sideboard:
4 Sudden Shock
4 Pyrokinesis
3 Magus of the Moon/Blood Moon
1 Stingscourger
3 Pyrostatic Pillar/Shattering Spree (metagame dependent)