Bug Fish

[the_lord_shaper]

   For S2D's Mana Darin tourney I decided to play bug fish. A few days before this I played a B/U fish deck that only used creatures that drew cards. It was nice but against other aggro decks my only game plan was Tinker. So I wanted to play something that has a good match up versus just about everything, including the randoms that were bond to show up.

Creatures: 14
4 Dark Confidant
3 Tarmogoyf
3 Dimir Cutpurse
3 Trygon Predator
1 Inkwell Leviathan

Instants: 12
4 FOW
3 Daze
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Vamp. Tutor
1 Brainstorm
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 A-Call

Socery: 9
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Regrowth
1 Life form the loam
2 Duress
2 Thoughtseize
1 Tinker
1 TimeWalk

Artifacts: 8
4 Null Rod
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet

Lands: 17
3 Polluted Delta
2 Flooded Strand
3 Tropical Island
3 Underground Sea
4 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine
1 Cephalid Coliseum

Sideboard: 15
1 Dark Blast
1 Engineered Plague
2 Doom Blade
1 Tarmogoyf
4 Yixlid Jailer
2 Tormod's Crypt
4 Krosan Grip

   There were four rounds before the cut to top eight. I played Tezz three times in a row. I won the first one with 2-1, next 2-0, then 2-0. I split into the top eight to go eat, but sadly all the restaurants were closed in the mall. All the games I played were actually really easy to win, mainly due to null rod and life plus wastelands. I did find that I never needed tinker once, in the first three rounds. Even if I drew it it would have been just win more.
  
   Now the only deck I didn't want to play was Schonkreuz's RWG beatz deck, and of course I play it first round of top eight. Game won I need null rod so badly and never got it, nor did I ever get a tutor effect. She beat me down pretty quickly. Now game two was looking better in my favor, I had counters, dark confidants, and Tinker. But Dark Confidant flipped Inkwell on his first flip, insuring that I lose this game and the whole round plus the tourney. So close, if only I played anyone else, but still overall the deck was fantastic. Life was so good when paired with either null rod and Trygon. Also Coliseum was a great addition, that filtered out the extra confidants, null rods, and dead moxen.
  
   I need to think of a better way to beat the GW? beatz decks with BUG. Tinker is just far too risky to run effectively. Here's a updated version of the list.

Creatures: 14
4 Dark Confidant
4 Tarmogoyf
3 Dimir Cutpurse
3 Trygon Predator


Instants: 12
4 FOW
3 Daze
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Vamp. Tutor
1 Brainstorm
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 A-Call
1 Dark Blast

Socery: 9
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Regrowth
1 Life form the loam
2 Duress
2 Thoughtseize
1 TimeWalk

Artifacts: 8
4 Null Rod
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet

Lands: 17
3 Polluted Delta
2 Flooded Strand
3 Tropical Island
3 Underground Sea
4 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine
1 Cephalid Coliseum

Sideboard: 15
1 Diabolic Edict
1 Engineered Plague
3 Doom Blade
1 Tarmogoyf
4 Yixlid Jailer
2 Tormod's Crypt
4 Krosan Grip

   It could still use some more work. I haven't thought of a good way of dealing with aggro, outside of using lost of kill spells. Jittes, threads, and sower are all ineffectually against that deck. Jittes and threads can be destroyed too easily, and the same goes for Sower. I've found that Doom Blade kills just about everything expect confidants, which I have Dark Blast for. Maybe a another beefy creature is wants needed. But would not be too hard on the decks mana base to play and still be effectually. I'll have to ponder on this for a while..

[silvernail]

You are already running life from the loam, perhaps treetop village or mishra's factory might be good to use vs GW ? Path and Swords will be an issue, but it's just a thought. You could try something janky like  Moment's Peace to time walk their attack and swing, you've also got Vedalken Shackles (has the pridemage problem, but you shouldn't rule out artifacts / enchantments completely). Aside from that you could try global sweepers like Infest, Pernicious Deed, Engineered Explosives, various protection from, or shroud creatures, or fit in counterbalance + top perhaps.

[the_lord_shaper]

Thanks fro mentioning Deed, I forgot about that card..mmm  Also on the swords/path note, she didn't use any. She had blots and tariffs. but the removal wasn't the problem here. It's the fact that other non blue based aggro runs well over 20 creatures, while BUG can hope to run maybe 14. It's a simple threat density issue here.

[Miaou]

I was recently testing Bitterblossom against aggro decks, and have been pleased with the results. It wasn't in BUG fish, so take that with a grain of salt.
I like the fact that it can stall until you find what you need, it is hard to handle, and can finish the game in the air if there is a ground stand off.

Good luck testing

[the_lord_shaper]

Bitter Blossom's not a bad idea but that combined with Confidant, is equation for a massive amount of life loss.

[the_lord_shaper]

    After more tourney play here's an updated list.

Creatures: 13
4 Dark Confidant
4 Tarmogoyf
2 Vendenilion clique
3 Trygon Predator

Instants: 13
4 FOW
4 Daze
1 Vamp. Tutor
1 Brainstorm
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 A-Call
1 Dark Blast

Socery: 7
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Life form the loam
4 Duress
1 TimeWalk

Artifacts: 8
4 Null Rod
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet

Enchantment: 2
2 Mirri's Guile

Lands: 17
3 Polluted Delta
2 Flooded Strand
3 Tropical Island
3 Underground Sea
4 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine
1 Cephalid Coliseum

    The big change is the swap out of Cutpurses for Cliques. Cliques have been performing well in place of Cutpurse. Cutpurse is a good creature, but he's good versus decks that BUG is already good against. Clique is more versatile, plus with either creature I found myself holding back from playing them to keep a Force of Will active. At least with Clique, if the force wasn't needed, I could just play it at the end of turn.

    The other major change was the inclusion of Mirri's Guile. It's a old forgotten enchantment from Tempest. Most of you reading probably have no idea what it even does. Mirri's Guile lets you look at the top three cards of your deck, each of your upkeeps, for one green mana. What this means is that you can now control confidants life loose. Even without Confidants in play, playing it turn one is really awesome; It simply helps get the cards you want sooner and it can let you thin out you mana base a bit.  One more neat aspect of Guile is that if you have a dredge card in your graveyard, you can trigger Guile to see if you really want to dredge or not. I know none of this seems that important, but it adds up to making BUG more consist and more resilient to hate. It also pumps Tarmogoyf too.
    

[honestabe]

   After more tourney play here's an updated list.

Creatures: 13
4 Dark Confidant
4 Tarmogoyf
2 Vendenilion clique
3 Trygon Predator

Instants: 13
4 FOW
4 Daze
1 Vamp. Tutor
1 Brainstorm
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 A-Call
1 Dark Blast

Socery: 7
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Life form the loam
4 Duress
1 TimeWalk

Artifacts: 8
4 Null Rod
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet

Enchantment: 2
2 Mirri's Guile

Lands: 17
3 Polluted Delta
2 Flooded Strand
3 Tropical Island
3 Underground Sea
4 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine
1 Cephalid Coliseum

    The big change is the swap out of Cutpurses for Cliques. Cliques have been performing well in place of Cutpurse. Cutpurse is a good creature, but he's good versus decks that BUG is already good against. Clique is more versatile, plus with either creature I found myself holding back from playing them to keep a Force of Will active. At least with Clique, if the force wasn't needed, I could just play it at the end of turn.

    The other major change was the inclusion of Mirri's Guile. It's a old forgotten enchantment from Tempest. Most of you reading probably have no idea what it even does. Mirri's Guile lets you look at the top three cards of your deck, each of your upkeeps, for one green mana. What this means is that you can now control confidants life loose. Even without Confidants in play, playing it turn one is really awesome; It simply helps get the cards you want sooner and it can let you thin out you mana base a bit.  One more neat aspect of Guile is that if you have a dredge card in your graveyard, you can trigger Guile to see if you really want to dredge or not. I know none of this seems that important, but it adds up to making BUG more consist and more resilient to hate. It also pumps Tarmogoyf too.
    

Its i like clique a lot here.  I'm glad you made the swtch

[the_lord_shaper]

Its i like clique a lot here.  I'm glad you made the swtch
[/quote]

   Thanks, I like the switch myself.

[M.Solymossy]

So you are running subpar enchantments now instead of good cards?   Lets break this down:

What this means is that you can now control confidants life loss.

Add up the average Converted CC of the deck.   The life loss if you're playing this deck correctly will only matter in one out of like, twenty games.    

Even without Confidants in play, playing it turn one is really awesome; It simply helps get the cards you want sooner and it can let you thin out you mana base a bit.

The mana base is very fragile no matter what you do because of how this deck plays.   That said, please, play miri's guile every turn 1.   If you're just playing that and passing turn, I will have an erection.  No Dark Confidant, Tarmogoyf, Null Rod, or Duress on turn 1?    Insane.

One more neat aspect of Guile is that if you have a dredge card in your graveyard, you can trigger Guile to see if you really want to dredge or not. I know none of this seems that important, but it adds up to making BUG more consist and more resilient to hate.

This is irrel.

It also pumps Tarmogoyf too.

So does Garruk.  Lets get it in there.

Also, as a side note.

Cephilid Coliseum

[Twaun007]

Soly, your vintage expertize astounds me. I only wish I could be as good as you, but I am just a little minnow in a sea of Vintage Sharks and your like Megalodon.

@ the_lord_Sharpie marker

With Clique and Trigun in your main you should bring in Umezawa's Jitte from your board. You should have no trouble controlling the game with that on one of your fliers.

[JudasKilled]

lmao i agree with mr solmosy 100% and life from the loam?
CRAP

[M.Solymossy]

lmao i agree with mr solmosy 100% and life from the loam?
CRAP

Life from the Loam is actually 100% fine. 

[JudasKilled]

now ive seen worse cards but how often in a fish match up is it going to go long? not 2 much you either blow them out and curve well or you get fucked...maybe in the mirror but even then subpar.....in bugfish id sy its bad...in gwu its decent

[the_lord_shaper]

now ive seen worse cards but how often in a fish match up is it going to go long? not 2 much you either blow them out and curve well or you get fucked...maybe in the mirror but even then subpar.....in bugfish id sy its bad...in gwu its decent

   Life from the Loam has been one of the best performing cards in my deck, with the execption of Null Rod. Many decks in our local meta are branching into 4 and 5 color Tezz builds, which makes Loam a very powerful tool to have. Null Rod plus wasting each turn, has won me the most games right now.

So you are running subpar enchantments now instead of good cards?   Lets break this down:

What this means is that you can now control confidants life loss.

Add up the average Converted CC of the deck.   The life loss if you're playing this deck correctly will only matter in one out of like, twenty games.   

    Well, over the past two month of playing wiht BUG, Dark Confidants life loss has matter 1 out of every 2 games. The card advantage has been great versus most decks, but storm is on the rise and so are aggro decks. Confidant has been the sole reason why I have lost many times and won as well. Just about every single game Confidant reveals a Force or Will, and I'm not joking about this. It has become rare that Force doesn't get revealed. Now after playing a tourney with Guile has made me like that card even more. Confidants total damge rarely exceeds 4 life points with Guile out. Thats a big difference when he was averaging 8 to 10 life points lost a game.

[honestabe]

Smother in the board seems like a good way to screw with the aggro decks

[the_lord_shaper]

Smother in the board seems like a good way to screw with the aggro decks

   Smother's good, but I've been finding that Doom Blade is better overall. Plus, other fsh decks are not the problem here, it's the GWx-beatz decks. those decks run 20 or more creatures, while BUG can get away with 13 or 14 at most. I have found, that as odd as this will sound, that Damnation has been the best card versus the beatz decks.

[honestabe]

maybe you'd want to run Sphinx over Inkwell. 

Or just cut tinker for some creature removal

[the_lord_shaper]

maybe you'd want to run Sphinx over Inkwell. 

Or just cut tinker for some creature removal

   I did, scroll down a bit more and you'll find an updated deck list.

[honestabe]

maybe you'd want to run Sphinx over Inkwell. 

Or just cut tinker for some creature removal

   I did, scroll down a bit more and you'll find an updated deck list.

Damn, I'm good.


Anyway, I know "The Future" played a VERY similar for his reutrn to magic.  I remember him cutting life from the loam for a darkblast, but you already have one.  I think he ran poder though, so maybe try cutting life from the loam for that?......

[JudasKilled]

Loam seems good against stax and maybe for waste repeating, but I just dont like any card thats not amasing no matter what within the confines of our strategy.

From my tourney experiances you either disrupt and beat and win or you dont.  If you wanna loam mana denial I guess that seems ok but your not running stax I just dont see the point. If you wanna really go the mana denial route then you may as well go 4 nulls, waste+strip , 4 stifles, and loam.  Then yer running a heavy mana denial deck not a moderate one.

So i guess either MD stifle and go denial or dont.  At least IMO

[honestabe]

Loam seems good against stax and maybe for waste repeating, but I just dont like any card thats not amasing no matter what within the confines of our strategy.

From my tourney experiances you either disrupt and beat and win or you dont.  If you wanna loam mana denial I guess that seems ok but your not running stax I just dont see the point. If you wanna really go the mana denial route then you may as well go 4 nulls, waste+strip , 4 stifles, and loam.  Then yer running a heavy mana denial deck not a moderate one.

So i guess either MD stifle and go denial or dont.  At least IMO

Excellent point.

I feel that life form the loam can be a VERY good sb card vs stax to get your land back, as well as vs oath, to repeat waste and strip effects in order to nuke the forbidden orchards

[ErkBek]

Creatures: 13
4 Dark Confidant
4 Tarmogoyf
2 Vendenilion clique
3 Trygon Predator

Instants: 13
4 FOW
4 Daze
1 Vamp. Tutor
1 Brainstorm
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 A-Call
1 Dark Blast

Socery: 7
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Life form the loam
4 Duress
1 TimeWalk

Artifacts: 8
4 Null Rod
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet

Enchantment: 2
2 Mirri's Guile

Lands: 17
3 Polluted Delta
2 Flooded Strand
3 Tropical Island
3 Underground Sea
4 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine
1 Cephalid Coliseum

Couple things.

17 blue cards is real low. You need more.

@ Life Loss: It seems kinda odd to play Cephalid Coliseum if life is an issue. I get it combos with Loam, but it just doesn't seem worth it.

Mystical Tutor and Merchant Scroll are both very good for maintaining your life total. By playing more tutors, you get more solutions to resolved threats. You also get the insane life preserving play of Mystical Tutor for Brainstorm.

[JudasKilled]

thats more then enough blue cards 90% of the time

[the_lord_shaper]

Couple things.

17 blue cards is real low. You need more.

@ Life Loss: It seems kinda odd to play Cephalid Coliseum if life is an issue. I get it combos with Loam, but it just doesn't seem worth it.

Mystical Tutor and Merchant Scroll are both very good for maintaining your life total. By playing more tutors, you get more solutions to resolved threats. You also get the insane life preserving play of Mystical Tutor for Brainstorm.

    I have never had a problem with not being able to play Forces. That's honestly way this deck runs Clique, they are Force fodder if need be, and if you didn't Force anything on your opponents turn then just flash them into play. After I added Guile, life loss is no longer a problem, plus Coliseum by itself is great in the mid to late game where your hand gets filled with dead moxen, extra Confidants, and extra Null Rods. And I would never cut Life from the Loam, it has single handedly won me games, and if you play it with a Null Rod out, it's basicly "good game" from there.