U/G Tempo

[rikimaru75]

Hey everyone,

Recently I"ve been working on a U/G Tempo deck for the current T2 Format (August 2008).

Here's my decklist.  Any critiques or comments is greatly appreciated.

// Land
        6 Forest
        9 Island
        2 Desert
        1 Pendelhaven
        2 Flooded Grove
        3 Yavimaya Coast
// Creatures
        4 Tarmogoyf
        4 Slippery Bogle
        4 Cold-Eyed Selkie
        2 Murkfiend Liege
// Instants
        2 Naturalize
        3 Snakeform
        4 Rune Snag
        2 Psionic Blast
        4 Cryptic Command
// Sorceries
        4 Ponder
// Other
        4 Favor of the Overbeing
// Sideboard
SB:  2 Hurricane
SB:  2 Pithing Needle
SB:  2 Raking Canopy
SB:  4 Flashfreeze
SB:  3 Unsummon
SB:  2 Boomerang

The best synergy comes from the slippery boggles and cold-eyed selkies w/favor of the overbeing.  My worst matchup seems to be against Merfolk as playing against them in various FNMs, so I think my sideboard could use a tweak.  I question the need for Murkfiend Liege as it seems to be a good 'win more' card, but I cannot think of a good replacement at the moment.  Any help is most appreciated.

[AuronVII]

What's you're biggest problem against merfolk? Lord of Atlantis or do they just get out too many creatures for you to deal with?

[rikimaru75]

The lack of mass removal seems to be my biggest problem along with Lord of Atlantis and the whole Islandwalk ability.

[AuronVII]

Probably not much you can do there unless you want to splash in read for firespouts and such, or white for other mass removal. You could also try and replace some islands with more non-basics.

[rikimaru75]

I've considered running a 3rd Desert and removing an additional Island from the Land-base to help against a weenie vs. weenie matchup.

However, I am more interested in your thought of running firespout.  How do you think the land base would change?  Would I run Vivid Lands?  What cards would I cut?  How about an Oona's Grace somewhere in there to cycle my lands?  Or is that more of a dead draw by the time I get it since the deck tries to win early to mid-game?

Another thoughts on Murkfiend Liege?  Still haven't heard any opinions whether it's a 'win more' card, dead space, or a possible replacement (for firespout removal?).

[AuronVII]

I've considered running a 3rd Desert and removing an additional Island from the Land-base to help against a weenie vs. weenie matchup.

However, I am more interested in your thought of running firespout.  How do you think the land base would change?  Would I run Vivid Lands?  What cards would I cut?  How about an Oona's Grace somewhere in there to cycle my lands?  Or is that more of a dead draw by the time I get it since the deck tries to win early to mid-game?

Another thoughts on Murkfiend Liege?  Still haven't heard any opinions whether it's a 'win more' card, dead space, or a possible replacement (for firespout removal?).

I don't dislike Murkfiend, the problem with it is like the other lieges in eventide (besides creakwood) its too pricey unless you're running mana accelerators like Llanowar elves. Its ability is great though as aside from pumping your creatures, it lets you attack and then have them ready to block.

If you want firespout in the deck you're going to have to run vivid lands, reflecting pools, and some of the colorfixing lands from eventide/shadowmoor. You could even cut the majority of green only lands in your deck since you only need green for goyf and naturlize.

Maybe a manabase like this:

4 reflecting pool
4 blue vivid land (forget the name)
4 flooded grove
4 cascade bluffs
4 yavimaya coast
3 desert

That way cryptic will pretty much always be online (unless you draw all those deserts), you have plenty of sources for green for goyf and naturlize, and just enough red for when you need to firespout.

I know that's a pricey mana-base to collect, but I think it'd work very well for you.

Also maybe move naturlize to the sideboard and replace it with a tribal counter spell like sages dousing or faerie trickery to have a tribal spell to power the goyf?

[rikimaru75]

How about dropping the 6 Forests and 1 Island from my original design for:

4 Gemstone Mine
2 Cascade Bluffs
1 Desert

I feel a little paranoid working with all non-basics.

The problem I am thinking is that firespout does seem to kill both selkie and boggle unless they're enchant or murkfiended.

As for possible replacements for Murkfiend Liege, I am thinking about:

Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
Cloudthresher

[rikimaru75]

After running this deck again at my most recent Friday Night Magic, I am left to consider reconsidering my boggle/selkie count.  What do you think of the breakdown of creatures?  My main argument for running naturalizes maindeck is because I usually see a lot of enchantments in most of the decks I encounter ranging from Oblivion Ring to Bitterblossom.  Doran seemed a bit popular, but Snakeform definitely is the winning from that category.

As for sideboard updates, I plan to give my Boomerangs the boot.  This would make easy room for the Naturalizes to go into sideboard, but I would like thoughts on the matter first.  Any thoughts would be appreciated.

As for replacements for murkfiend liege/boggle/selkie, I've considered running Overbeing of Myth and/or Groundling Pouncer.

[Matt]

Shorecrasher Mimic seems like an ideal tempo card, what with being a 5-power 2-drop. You ARE running 17 other triggering cards for it already!

[rikimaru75]

Shorecrasher Mimic seems like an ideal tempo card, what with being a 5-power 2-drop. You ARE running 17 other triggering cards for it already!

Thanks for that insight.  My biggest worry was with flying creatures and all, so that's why I was thinking of running Groundling Pouncer over the mimic.  I was kinda interested in its Giant Spider Transformation ability.  With the update, I am running 16 triggers.

Here's my revised decklist.

Lands (23):
3 Yavimaya Coast
2 Flooded Grove
1 Pendlehaven
3 Desert
4 Forest
10 Island

Creatures (13):
4 Cold-Eyed Selkie
3 Shorecrasher Mimic?/Groundling Pouncer?
4 Tarmogoyf
2 Murkfiend Liege

Instants (16):
4 Rune Snag
4 Cryptic Command
3 Snakeform
2 Psionic Blast
1 Oona's Grace
2 Naturalize

Sorceries (4):
4 Ponder

Other (4):
4 Favor of the Overbeing

Sideboard:
2 Pithing Needle
2 Hurricane
2 Raking Canopy
2 Primal Command
4 Flashfreeze
3 Unsummon

I removed the Boomerangs for Primal Commands as an extra bounce and a creature search primarily.  It has helped me at times for the life though.  Any further suggestions would be real helpful.

[AuronVII]

Looks pretty sweet in its current form, how is it running for you?

[rikimaru75]

So far, I've run it against my friend's R/B Kulrath control deck with the Groundling Pouncer variant.  I managed to pull out a victory after a really close match.  I am still testing it out with the Mimics, but I really think it comes down to personal preference.

[bloodandcorpses]

I've been thinking about a similar deck, although I don't own Goyfs.
Have you considered Mystic Snake?

[rikimaru75]

Looks pretty sweet in its current form, how is it running for you?

Well, I ran it at FNM yesterday and yielded rather meager results.  Here were my matchups.
Also, I ended up changing the sideboard before playing:
3 Flashfreeze
1 Hurricane
2 Raking Canopy
2 Counterbore
2 Pithing Needle
2 Primal Command
3 Unsummon

Swiss rounds:

Match 1: vs. Mannaquin/Quickened Toast?

Game 1: I start out pretty strong with my small creatures until I get Firespouted but ultimately get stalled on 3 lands.  This ultimately costs me the game in which I cannot recover.

Sideboard: +3 Unsummon, +2 Primal Command
                -2 Psionic Blast, -1 Selkie, -1 Ponder, -1 Favor of the Overbeing

Game 2: The person gets stalled out on 3 lands, and I overrun him with Shorecrasher Mimic for the win.
Game 3: I get stalled on 2 lands and never get online until it's far too late.

Honestly, this match just wasn't a clear display of its abilities. 0-1

Match 2: vs. U/W Control

Game 1: This game starts out really well as Cold-Eyed Selkie's Islandwalk ability really helps out; however, I draw no Favors to Power him up, and the power of Mistmeadow Witch + Riftwing Cloudskate/Venser ultimately slows me down, establishing control to win.

Sideboard: +2 Counterbore, +1 Hurricane, +2 Unsummon, -2 Psionic Blast, -1 Oona's Grace, -2 Naturalize

Game 2: I start out extremely strong with Shorecrasher Mimic on turn 2 and proceed to lay the beats with hybrid card after hybrid card for a quick win.
Game 3: I have to mulligan to 5 cards and have a good start with a beefed up 4/5 Tarmogoyf in play.  However, with no hands, Mistmeadow Witch comes down and proceeds to combo off with Cloudskate and Venser to victory.

My failure to realize how powerful Mistmeadow Witch caused me to sideboard incorrectly.  Pithing Needle would have really helped me out here. 0-2

Match 3: vs. Beginner Elves

This guy was new to competitive magic.  In fact, this was his first time in the store, so I went a little easy on him.

Game 1: His hoard of elves kept coming and coming, and with his Essence Wardens, he was gaining a lot of life.   However, with beefed up tarmogoyfs, they met wave after wave of elvish assault, and with the help of Snakeform, Psionic Blast, and Murkfiend liege, the Tarmogoyfs held their own counterattack for the win.

Sideboard: None (Went easy on the guy.)

Game 2: Shorecrasher Mimic + Favor of the Overbeing = game.

Of all the times for my deck to work, it had to be when I'm already out of contention for Top 8 (only 4 rounds of swiss at the store).  Ah well. 1-2

Match 4: vs. Mono-Red

This match was just plain terrible.

Game 1: I try to get online, but all of my creatures get burned to the ground.  Loosing the die roll and meeting a first turn Magus of the Scroll locked me down.

Sideboard: +3 Flashfreeze, +1 Primal Command, +2 Pithing Needle, -4 Rune Snag, -2 Naturalize

Game 2: I meet similar results, but this time, instead of a Magus of the Scroll, I meet a Figure of Destiny that ultimately sends him the distance.

This matchup was just sour.  I didn't know what to do against this wave after wave of burn, especially for my weak creatures.  Makes me wish I used Slippery Boggle again. 1-3.


So, the results weren't all that great.  Clearly, Mono-Red is the worst of my matchups because of the weakness of all my creatures to that quick burn.  Surprisingly, my Naturalizes aren't seeing as much use as I expected because Faerie dominance is not too prevalent anymore.  I will admit that the Mimics are much better than the Groundling Pouncers, but perhaps I should run more triggers for it.  Perhaps instead of running 4 Ponder, make it 3 Ponder and 1 Oona's Grace, so I can pitch that land for Goyf, or perhaps I should consider running Spitting Image to deal with legendary threats like Teferi.  Perhaps I should remove the 2 Naturalizes maindeck for a 4th Snakeform and the Spitting Image?  I am probably going to change my sideboard to the following:

3 Unsummon
4 Flashfreeze
3 Pithing Needle
2 Primal Command
2 Raking Canopy
1 Hurricane

Think the deck can be saved?  Think I just had really crappy matchups or just bad draws?

[rikimaru75]

I've been thinking about a similar deck, although I don't own Goyfs.
Have you considered Mystic Snake?

At first, I considered running Mystic Snake, but Cryptic Command should be your 4 mana hard counter.  My original deck design was to run Mystic Snake + Famliiar's Ruse to abuse Mystic Snake's hard counter ability for a 2nd time; however, getting that much mana in a game makes it more control heavy as opposed to more Tempo-aggro.  Furthermore, with threats like Demigod of Revenge running around in standard, Mystic Snake seems to lose its edge in my opinion. 

Although you don't own Tarmogoyf, I have been reconsidering my deck design to remove Tarmogoyf anyway.  Here is what I've come up with.

4 Slippery Bogle
4 Shorecrasher Mimic
4 Cold-Eyed Selkie

With that said, I've considered revamping more of my cards to by more Mimic-friendly.  Here is what I have come up with in its latest iteration.

Lands (23):
3 Yavimaya Coast
2 Flooded Grove
3 Desert
10 Island
4 Forest
1 Pendlehaven

Creatures (12):
4 Slippery Bogle
4 Shorecrasher Mimic
4 Cold-Eyed Selkie

Instants (17):
1 Oona's Grace
2 Telling Time
4 Rune Snag
4 Cryptic Command
4 Snakeform
2 Naturalize

Sorceries (4):
4 Ponder

Other (4):
4 Favor of the Overbeing

Sideboard (15):
3 Pithing Needle
1 Hurricane
2 Raking Canopy
4 Flashfreeze
3 Unsummon
2 Primal Command

In this configuration 1/3rd of the deck abuses Shorecrasher Mimic's transformation ability.  Furthermore, the deck's mana curve run heavily on ramps high on 2 and 3, leaving Cryptic Command and Primal Command as the highest costing cards.  Murkfiend Liege seemed to be more of a 'win more' card, so I cut it out along with the psionic blasts for the 4th Snakeform and 2 Telling Time for more library manipulation.  Without the beefing of the Murkfiend Liege, the deck is even more vulnerable to Mono-red burn, but hopefully, you can depend on Slippery Bogle to come through for you.  I have my doubts about leaving Tamogoyf out, but any thoughts on leaving it in is most appreciated.
What do you think of this configuration?

[rikimaru75]

I got a lot of comments about my revamped version of this deck for Type 2 at the FNM this past weekend.  Here's the current decklist.

Lands (23):
3 Bant Panorama
9 Island
3 Forest
4 Flooded Grove
4 Yavimaya Coast

Sorceries (5):
1 Spitting Image
4 Ponder

Instants (16):
4 Cancel
4 Cryptic Command
3 Telling Time
1 Oona's Grace
4 Snakeform

Creatures (12):
3 Jhessian Infiltrator
3 Shorecrasher Mimic
3 Cold-Eyed Selkie
3 Sturdy Hatchling

Other (4):
4 Favor of the Overbeing

Sideboard (15):
2 Twincast
2 Pithing Needle
2 Raking Canopy
1 Hurricane
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Naturalize
2 Evacuation
2 Primal Command

Gameplay for this deck is pretty solid.  Favor of the Overbeing meshes well with any of your creatures and definitely helps beefs your guys if your stuck in 2 lands.  A 4/4 Unblockable, Flying, Vigilance Jhessian infiltrator to the face for only 1UG(U/G) is quite brutal, or the 3/3 selkie islandwalk/ancestral recall swing, etc. etc.  Another huge star play in the deck is Twincast.  Definitely very good for those vs. control matchups.  It acts as your UU counterspell from days of old (or in this case UU Cryptic Command) or if going on the offensive, twincasting Cruel Ultimatum (ouch) and then countering the original with a cancel or what not.

It went 2-2 this weekend.  The only popular standard deck that I ran into though was a Toast variant, but it really give it a run for its money.  Toast won 2-0, but I could tell the toast player was definitely frustrated at times.  We played a 3rd game in which I won just for fun (post board).  The problem I seem to have is against hordes decks mostly (like Kithkin and exalted.dec).  Spitting Image is definitely a card people didn't expect when Cloudthreshers would be duplicated or Sowers of Temptation.

[Matt]

The deck looks neat but I really have to wonder at the 3-of shaving. Seems like you would want to be as consistent as possible.

[rikimaru75]

I can see your point with the deck.  I will try 4 Mimics, 4 Infiltrators, 2 Selkie, and 2 Hatchinlings.

However, after running it in a recent tournament, it really seems to need some type of boards wiper.  Evacuation is nice, but it just doesn't seem to do the job.  I have been planning on splashing red for firespout and swerve or perhaps white for wrath of god and hindering light.

Any thoughts?