[deck] Block Party: U/G Madness

[Byron]

My local gaming store is holding a "Block Party" tourney on Saturday, November 11th. For those of you who don't know what that is, it means you can play any deck from any block constructed set (as long as you don't play the banned cards.) My current front runner is U/G Madness from the Odyssey/Torment/Judgement block. The way you play this deck is to put out a second turn clock in either Wild Mongrel or Aquamoeba then follow it up with by discarding other creatures to madness or flashing back cards (which Quiet Speculation helps out with.) Wonder let's all your guys fly over opposing blockers for the kill (or even allows you to block their flying creatures in the case of Skies or Waters.)

U/G Madness

lands
12 Island
12 Forest

Creatures
4 Aquamoeba
4 Arrogant Wurm
4 Basking Rootwalla
4 Wild Mongrel
3 Wonder

Instants
4 Circular Logic

Sorceries
4 Careful Study
3 Quiet Speculation
2 Deep Analysis
4 Roar of the Wurm

Sideboard: taken from Peter Guevin's deck
http://sales.starcitygames.com/deckdatabase/displaydeck.php?DeckID=7806
3 Callous Oppressor
1 Ravenous Baloth
4 Stupefying Touch
1 Krosan Reclamatio
2 Ray Of Revelation
1 Deep Analysis
3 Turbulent Dreams

Not sure if I should maindeck a single Ray of Revelation main for Parallaw Wave/Rising Waters, other potential devestationing enchantments but what to cut for it?

Here's an explanation of my card choices:

Forests/Islands: Kind of a no brainer but i'm wondering if I should be running 13 Island/11 Forest instead of 12/12.

Aquamoeba/Wild Mongre/Careful Study: Madness/flashback outlet.

Arrogant Wurm/Basking Rootwalla: Still suprises attackers an an "flash" blocker.

Wonder: Gives all your guys flying, both to fly over their troops and to block their fliers as well w/your bigger creatures.

Circular Logic: The only countermagic cheap enough to make the cut (in block constructed.)

Quiet Speculation: Searches for Roar of the Wurm and Deep Analysis.

Deep Analysis: in case you are stuck on 2-3 lands.

Roar of the Wurm: The big fatty of the deck.

Sideboard card choices:

Callous Oppressor: Steals all but the most essential creatures.

Ravenous Baloth: For Burn.

Stupefying Touch: Great for the mirror or Nantuko Shade, or any other creature that has an annoying ability. And it's even a cantrip!

Krosan Reclamation: Quiet Specualtion target, but for what I dunno. Maybe opposing Deep Analysis/Roar of the Wurm?)

Ray Of Revelation: Enchantment destruction.

Deep Analysis: Another copy of a maindeck card

Turbulent Dreams Great way to return Wurms... out of the game!

Any help between now and Nov.11 would be appreciated thanks!

[Norm4eva]

I'm trying to remember if there were any UG Filter lands in OdBC, but I think there was not.  Otherwise the manabase should probably favor Islands.
Anyway, both Callous Oppressor and Ravenous Baloth are Onslaught and not viable (unless it's Type 2 Party, in which case you're looking at the wrong Type 2 )

[Byron]

You're right on both accounts. Last night I switched from 12 islands/12 forests to 13 islands/11 forests. The only problem I see with this is the number 13 as I can be superstitous at times. Also the sideboard does in fact contain non Odyssey block cards even though the maindeck is purely Odyssey block (I didn't catch that.) Heres the new SB:

4 Stupeyfing Touch
3 Ray of Relevation
3 Turbelent Dreams
1 Krosan Reclamation
4 Standstill

This sideboard is basically the same as the last one only there's another Ray of Relevation and 4 Standstill. The only problem I have with Standstill is deciding what do you cut for it (probably 3 Quiet Speculation and 1 Wonder), what match-ups do you cut it for and is it worth it?

[Nazdakka]

In OBC a lot of Madness decks ran a singleton Tarnished Citadel to make the manabase less bad.

In your shoes, though, I'd be sorely tempted by the OBC monoblack deck. It competed with Madness for the whole of the OBC season, and it has a far more stable manabase.

[Byron]

In OBC a lot of Madness decks ran a singleton Tarnished Citadel to make the manabase less bad.

In your shoes, though, I'd be sorely tempted by the OBC monoblack deck. It competed with Madness for the whole of the OBC season, and it has a far more stable manabase.

Citadel is a great suggestion. I'm thinking of running 2. As far as monoblack goes, U/G appealed to me b/c it's the only block deck that i'm aware of (other than Deadguy Red) to be successful in both block constructed and legacy. OBC Monoblack would fall over and die to Rebels and Waters I think.

[LordHomerCat]

As far as monoblack goes, U/G appealed to me b/c it's the only block deck that i'm aware of (other than Deadguy Red) to be successful in both block constructed and legacy.

Goblins Much?  I think they are pretty good in Legacy, altho in OLS you lose Matron and Ringleader (and are likely best off running Goblin Bidding).  You might also look at Invasion Domain Control, it has some pretty powerful effects of its own.

[rmn]

Gomar!

[Godder]

Gomar!

No-Mar!

'Tog was quite good in OdBC, as far as I recall. However, UG Madness should be absolutely fine in any BYO Block tournaments.

[Anusien]

What about Onslaught UW or Ice Age Necro?  You get Ritual, Consult, Soul Burn, Lake of the Dead, Necropotence, two sets of pump knights, Soul Spike, etc.

[herbig]

How about that artifact deck that used to be all the rage?

Actually, I'd come up with something unique from Ice Age block.  Necropotence is still hot, plus you get Coldsnap.

[LordHomerCat]

All the affinity stuff is Banned in Mirrodin Block.

[herbig]

Oh snap, well that block sucks then.  Play Pox.

[SonataOfTheCathedral]

I'd play CoK Black Hand probably, Umezawa's Jitte is a good enough reason why you should.

[Nazdakka]

I'd play CoK Black Hand probably, Umezawa's Jitte is a good enough reason why you should.

But that means you have to play a deck full of cards from Kami block. Sure, Jitte is awesome, but the rest of the deck is so mediocre in compirson to the sorts of things you could do in the other available blocks.

[parallax]

All the affinity stuff is Banned in Mirrodin Block.

It's sad, but Affinity Block Constructed Mirrodin Block Constructed has more banned cards than Academy Block Constructed Urza's Saga Block Constructed. Granted, six of them are lands, but still.

Oh, and by the way, the were banned over a year after Kamigawa came out.

[Toad]

When a format allows you to play 4 Necropotence, 4 Dark Ritual and 4 Demonic Consultation, no other decks are really viable.

[Byron]

When a format allows you to play 4 Necropotence, 4 Dark Ritual and 4 Demonic Consultation, no other decks are really viable.

I disagree, I mean have you actually tried to build an Necroppotence Ice Age block deck? The creatures absolutely suck! Here's my current list:

mana
10 Swamp
4 Sulfurous Springs
4 Tresserhorn Sinks
6 Mountain
4 Dark Ritual

the core
4 Necropotence
4 Demonic Consultation

creatures
4 Knight of Stromgald
4 Balduvian Hordes

creature removal
4 Contagion

land destruction
4 Icequake
4 Stone Rain
4 Icefall

other maindeck considerations/sidebaord options
Incinerate
Soul Burn
Anarchy
Pyroclasm
Dark Banishing
Dystopia
Stropmgald Cabal
Stench of Evil
Deathmark
Avalanche
Lava Burst

Can anyone else come up with a better Necro IBC deck? 'Cause i'm not too impressed by this one =(

[SpencerForHire]

I'm pretty sure Coldsnap gave you some good cards for Necro..

Phyrexian Ironfoot
Drift of the Dead
Rimescale Dragon*


*Pretty beefy and big.

Drift of the Dead and Skred seem pretty spectacular in IA block.  However I really wanna go BW with it because then I get swords and Grunt.  Both of which seem rather good.

[Matt]

Granted, six of them are lands, but still.

Three of the Saga block ones are lands...

[Toad]

I disagree, I mean have you actually tried to build an Necroppotence Ice Age block deck? The creatures absolutely suck!

Yeah, I worked on Ice Age Block Necropotence some while ago, and stopped when I realised how boring it was to get turn 2 Necropotence in almost all the games. Sure, the creatures are not really good, but when you draw 3 or more of them every turn, thats hardly a problem. I was mostly playing with pump Knights, Ice Age has Knight of Stromgald and Coldsnap Stromgald Crusader. As mentionned before, Phyrexian Ironfoot is very solid. You could also go for the discard theme with Abyssal Specter and Blizzard Specter. Splash Red for Incinerate and other goodies. The creature base is not very important here as long as the skeleton of the deck is respected.

For reference, Lauer was running 4 Order of the Ebon Hand, 4 Knight of Stromgald and 1 Ishan Shade as its creature base. Thats hardly impressive, but Necropotence makes that good.

        2 Bad River
        3 Gemstone Mine
        3 Lake of the Dead
        4 Badlands
        4 Scrubland
        8 Swamp
        1 Ihsan's Shade
        4 Knight of Stromgald
        4 Order of the Ebon Hand
        4 Necropotence
        2 Firestorm
        2 Incinerate
        3 Disenchant
        4 Demonic Consultation
        4 Lightning Bolt
        4 Drain Life
        4 Hymn to Tourach

SB:  2 Mind Warp
SB:  2 Circle of Protection: Black
SB:  3 Terror
SB:  3 Pyroblast
SB:  3 Honorable Passage
SB:  1 Firestorm
SB:  1 Disenchant

[parallax]

I always thought the red splash Necro was a metagame choice for beating anti-Necro decks, or possibly the mirror. Anyway, Badlands, Gemstone Mine, Firestorm and Lightning Bolt are not legal in Ice Age Block Constructed. The red splash might still be worth it for Skred, though.

[Byron]

Here is my revised Ice Age Block Necrodeck:

Necro 2.0

The Core
4 Necropotence
4 Demoninc Consultation

Black Creatures
4 Knight of Stromgald
4 Stromgald Crusader
4 Phyrexian Ironfoot

Black Removal
4 Contagion

Mana
10 Snow Covered Swamp
4 Sulfurous Springs
4 Tresserhorn Sinks
6 Snow Covered Mountain
4 Dark Ritual

Red Splash
4 Incinerate
4 Balduvian Horde

Sideboard Considerations
Skred
Icequake
Stone Rain
Icefall
Soul Burn
Anarchy
Pyroclasm
Dark Banishing
Dystopia
Stropmgald Cabal
Stench of Evil
Deathmark
Avalanche
Lava Burst

How do you think this compares to my classic Odyssey block U/G madness build?

U/G Madness 1.2

Mana
12 Island
10 Forsest
2 Tarnished Citadel

Creatures
4 Basing Rootwalla
4 Wild Mongrel
4 Aquamoeba
4 Arrogant Wurm
4 Roar of the Wurm
3 Wonder

Card Manipulation
3 Quiet Speculation
2 Deep Analysis
4 Careful Study

Counters
4 Circular Logic

Sideboard
4 Standstill
4 StupifyingTouch
3 Turbulent Dreams
3 Ray of Revelation
1 Krosan Reclamation

I'm not quite sold on the Standstills. What match up do you bring them in against?

[Anusien]

Why wouldn't you just build it thusly:

4 Necropotence
4 Demonic Consultation
4 Dark Ritual

4 Knight of Stromgald
4 Stromgald Crusader

4 Contagion
4 Soul Burn
4 Soul Spike
4 Hymn to Tourach

3 Lake of the Dead
4 Sulfurous Springs
4 Snow-Covered Mountain
13 Snow-Covered Swamp

Sideboard Options:
Skred
Phyrexian Ironfoot
Abyssal Specter
Dystopia
Cryoclasm
Everything else mentioned

Or what about this take on Necro from Magic-League?

3 Lake of the Dead
4 Demonic Consultation
4 Soul Spike
4 Dark Ritual
4 Knight of Stromgald
4 Stromgald Crusader
4 Rune Snag
4 Blizzard Specter
6 Island
13 Swamp
4 Force of Will
4 Necropotence


The reason you're understimating Necro is because I think you're building it wrong.  When you have the best draw engine ever printed, why are you dicking around with LD and bad creatures?  Why not just send huge drains to the face?

[GnomesofZurich]

Anusien: Hymn to Tourach probably isn't the best choice for the Ice Age-block Necro deck, as it comes from Fallen Empires.

[Matt]

Necro also probably benefited from Serrated Arrows leaving the format.

Frankly I like BYOB better than Block Party.

[Hi-Val]

If you're made of money, I don't think there's a better deck than Urza-block Accelerated Blue. Grim Monolith, Masticore, Morphling... Let's face it, Madness and pretty much everything else crumbles to "Treachery your dude, machinegun another with Masticore, bash for nine". I'd try something like this:

3 Masticore
3 Morphling
2 Annul
4 Power Sink
4 Grim Monolith
4 Miscalculation
3 Powder Keg
3 Stroke of Genius
4 Rewind
4 Treachery

2 Faerie Conclave
22 Island
2 Remote Isle/Blasted Landscape

A sample board from the time looked like:
4  Hibernation
4  Delusions of Mediocrity
2  Weatherseed Faeries
3  Thornwind Faeries
2  Arcane Laboratory

You can also run Scrying Glass and more Cores on the board if you feel like it. The Strokes can be Opportunities if you'd rather have those.

I'd run this deck in an instant if I could scratch up the cards for it. Necro decks are such a joke compared to this. Their absolute only hope is to Hymn your dudes out of your hand.