Hulk

[David Hernandez]

@Jamino:
this deck has been evolving for a while now.  You need to read some of the other threads on this to see why Fact-or-Fiction came out.  Also, a single Gush is good (and some Hulk builds are using it) but both of those slots lost to D.A. because of its synergy with the rest of the deck.  Without 4 Gush and Fastbond, Gush loses a lot of power. That doesn't mean it sucks, but it's not as good as other stuff now (specifically D.A.).

here is one of the threads: http://www.themanadrain.com/cgi-bin....15;st=0

and here is the other: http://www.themanadrain.com/cgi-bin....;t=9067

Test the versions without Gush and FoF (but with 2 D.A.) and i think you'll be surprised at how well it runs.

Dave.

[Fever]

I think you may be underestimating FoF a bit. I would definetly include it if i could find the room, because of its power and the extreme synergy it has with Tog, AK, and DA. I think the deciding factor is really the speed of the current environment, where 4 mana seems like a lot. If the combo menace subsides then i think we may have to take a much closer look at FoF.

[Jamino]

I have been reading the other threads as well however I still think that FoF has as much synergy as D.A.
FoF is U3 Deep Anal. is the same but has flash back. A resolved FoF will have a MUCH bigger impact on the game then a resolved Deep Anal. The only reason i really see playing D.A. over FoF and Gush would probably be Control/Combo, and even not against all. If you think that D.A. really does make such a difference in SOME of those matchups dont you think instead of wasteing MD slots where the card will not be even close to optimal in half the matchups you should maybe Side it?
I think its much more a matter of opinion then it is of effeciency as the way I see its Game breaking effects VS. not so good draw and more Situational cards.
I am not critisizing anyone or any cards i am simply insinuating that I think its more a matter of playstyle and metagame.
     
           Jamino

[kirdape3]

Note: Deep Analysis is basically uncounterable, while FoF is obviously not.

[Fever]

I really think you need to playtest Tog with the Deep Anals to get an accurate idea of what we are talking about. Its not just about drawing cards. Its the fact that it guarantees you some sort of card advantage, whether they counter it or not. Its also about being able to Intuition for them, especially in the Tog mirror where you dont want to do the work for your opponent and have his AKs be much better than yours.

There are just a lot of small things that add up to DA being superior right now, you cant just look at the cards side by side and judge which is more effective in a particular deck, its about how all of it comes together.

[David Hernandez]

YES.  That's what i mean--the D.A.'s will get you as many as 8 cards (net = 6), they cant really be countered, and they're a fantastic target for the Intuition's (along with a Duress--this was discussed previously).

FoF won't have as much as much of an impact because it's not 'guaranteed'.

dave.

[MoreFling]

I'm just gonna use this thread to publicy apoligize for dissing it sometimes. I think Azhrei is pretty much talking to much, but I played it today at Duelmen, finishing 9th, going 5-2, and I did really well. The matches I lost either my opponents got lucky, or I just didn't.
I lost to budde trix by tom vd logt in 3 really silly games, and to heavily anti-tog Suicide, with maindeck null rods and chains of mephistopheles.
I beat the Bye, Hulk Mirror, Keeper, Mono-U Standstill and Venguer Masquee on the way.

//Rudy van Soest -- DCI # 81175436

//Hulksmash
4 Duress
4 Brainstorm
4 Force of Will
4 Mana Drain
4 Accumulated Knowledge
4 Psychatog
3 Cunning Wish
2 Deep Analysis
2 Intuition
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby
1 Library of Alexandria
1 Island
4 Flooded Strand
2 Polluted Delta
4 Underground Sea
2 Tropical Island
3 Volcanic Island
//Sideboard
3 Coffin Purger
3 Red Elemental Blast
2 Pernicious Deed
1 Gush
2 Artifact Mutation
1 Fire/Ice
1 Blue Elemental Blast
1 Naturalize
1 Berserk

What I'm gonna change is : Take out 1 Coffin Purge, and Replace it by Naturalize #2.
I'm pretty satisfied with the maindeck right now, so I'm not sure I'll change anything there. I'd really to work in a strip mine, but I'm not sure yet though.

To actually give meaning to my post, I'm pretty much sure this is the deck to beat, since it's really flexible. I'm so exited for Worlds right now, I can't wait \n\n

[Smmenen]

I think I should be the target of that apology, not darren.
btw, what was the top 8?

Steve

[MoreFling]

it's pretty much against everybody who took offense, which is mainly you anyway.

However, the T8 was:

1:Italian with Hulksmash
2:heavy metagamed Suicide with null rods + chains in the main. (my r2 opp.)
3:Dunno
4:Brenn Oosterbaan, with burning tendrils (I think)
5:Allesandro, with Stax
6:Maarten Bukkems, Venguer Masquee (LevelZero)
7:Tom vd Logt, Budde-Trix (GotRealLucky)
8:forgot his name, Tendrils
9:Me
10:dunno
11:Richard, Dragon (shock wave)

I totally missed it from there.
Pyro was 4-3 with Tendril-Academy, Ancestral was 4-2-1 with Stax, and Mon, Goblin Chief screwed up with Hulk going 3-3-1.

There were 91 players there, and as always, extremely high powered.