[Free Article] New Phyrexia in Vintage Dredge

[Meddling Mike]

http://www.starcitygames.com/magic/vintage/22161_New_Phyrexia_In_Vintage_Dredge.html

I wrote this article not long after the release of New Phyrexia to round out the coverage provided by Brassman and Brian Demars in their Eternal set reviews. I've had some time to test the decklist at the end. It definitely needs about 3-5 more dredge cards. If you're finding problems dealing with Wasteland/Strip Mine give Noxious Revival a try, I've found it to be surprisingly good.

[Lemnear]

The dredge list with FoW ist pretty strange ... only 8 dredgers, barely playable blue-count and the question if FoW is really better than Chalice of the void in a tempo-based deck. Moreover I feel you missed the maybe most important addition for Dredge in mirrors and Legacy ... Elesh Norn

[Joblin Velder]

What would you recommend cutting for the dredgers? Seems pretty tight as is.

[madmanmike25]

only 8 dredgers, barely playable blue-count and the question if FoW is really better than Chalice of the void in a tempo-based deck.

Actually there are 10 dredgers when you count Dakmor Salvage.  The blue count is 17 which surpasses 'barely' playable.  I also don't think there is a question as to whether Fow is better in a deck that can support it than Chalice.  Ever.  Fow seems like a great way to get rid of those in-hand Narco's that mock you.

Allow me to solve the issue of low dredgers;  Take out the cute trick that is Noxious Revival and put the Thugs back in.

I seriously question 1-of's in a deck with Serum Powder where quite often you will RFG (can i still say that?) your opening hand.  To be honest, if you are down to 1 FKZ and 1 Sphinx then they don't seem all that important.  Either get rid of them or go up on them imho.

When I read something like "Blue Dredge" I think about Breakthrough and Brainstorm.  Did you consider them too weak?

[Meddling Mike]

The dredge list with FoW ist pretty strange ... only 8 dredgers, barely playable blue-count and the question if FoW is really better than Chalice of the void in a tempo-based deck. Moreover I feel you missed the maybe most important addition for Dredge in mirrors and Legacy ... Elesh Norn

As I said in the opening post, the deck needs more dredge cards to be added. 10 dredgers is really tempting fate. I think you can often get away with around 14, ideally 15. I don't think I really understand the argument for CotV being better than FoW. Chalice is extremely lame on the draw, played at 1 or in multiples. I obviously like that it can severely hinder combos early mana production and possibly tinker, but the strength and flexibility of Force of Will is really exceptional. I probably should have given some more thought to Elesh Norn, but the article was clearly about just the vintage version of the deck. I suppose it could be a FKZ replacement in a field saturated by Dredge, but I guess I don't ever see that happening. As a sideboard card I think it would probably always take a back seat to more straight up graveyard hate. Against random aggro, I would probably dislike the fact that it removes my bridges Alot of the time when it comes into play and kills one of their guys.

Allow me to solve the issue of low dredgers;  Take out the cute trick that is Noxious Revival and put the Thugs back in.

I seriously question 1-of's in a deck with Serum Powder where quite often you will RFG (can i still say that?) your opening hand.  To be honest, if you are down to 1 FKZ and 1 Sphinx then they don't seem all that important.  Either get rid of them or go up on them imho.

When I read something like "Blue Dredge" I think about Breakthrough and Brainstorm.  Did you consider them too weak?

I actually did give some thought to both cards, but as Ian points out the list is really tight. What would you cut to add them?

What would you recommend cutting for the dredgers? Seems pretty tight as is.

Also working in Mike's suggestion, I think what you cut to add dredgers should probably be a function of your metagame. Noxious Revival is amazing when your bazaar gets hit by wasteland, mediocre otherwise. If you expect lots of Workshops and Dredge then FoW is not ideal.

[Gambit]

I went undefeated in a small tournament last weekend playing 4x Gitaxian probe. It took the spot of disruption in the list (leyline, chalice, or unmask). It was pretty good all day, similarly to those other cards, it's only good in your opener. I would compare it most to unmask, but instead of slowing your opponent down a half a turn it speeds you up a half a turn. A few times I tapped bazaar then used probe to see their hand and dredge grave troll into narco and cabal therapy which was pretty sweet on turn 1. It's definitely playable, but not sure correct.

[TheBrassMan]

Great to see your article up, Mike! hope to see many more!

[Smmenen]

Agreed.  Nice work.   

[Meddling Mike]

Thanks Steve and Andy, coming from you guys that means a lot.