Last week, I posted the Pyropox list, which I had seen a few times in various MTGO Daily events. I wasn't convinced it was completely optimal, so I took a few swings at fixing it up, and ran it a few times this week when I found the time. To be clear, I only was able to test against a few decks this week, and only online, so I will be extrapolating pretty considerably during my analysis of the following list:
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| When you can't find removal, and your opponent lands a really unexpected Phyrexian Crusader, this guy does get the job done. |
All in all, I had a great time playing the matches that I did, even if some of them did start to feel like chores toward the end. Ultimately, I think that's a potential problem with the archetype in general; games go long, you're dredging every turn, netting incredibly small amounts of advantage and trying to hold off threats from your opponent. It's hard and most players would be apt to miss triggers, forget to dredge, etc. I know I did!
On to the match reports!
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Match 1: RBW Midrange
Now, as a preface, I know Marshall has attempted to brew a few RBW lists in the past, and one of our group piloted their abomination at an FNM. It did quite well, but had some weak spots. I don't necessarily think the list my opponent played was much better, but specifically against me, he had a half decent match up.
Game 1:
Everything starts out normally, but I'm on the draw. He Thoughtseizes my first Pox and then next turn seizes my Seismic Assault, leaving me pretty open. He lands a Grim Lavamancer, but I top deck a Smallpox to get rid of it and stall him a bit. He pitches his Ajani to the Smallpox, and I'm excited. Eventually we get to a board state where he had a Phyrexian Crusader out, but can't attack with it because he'll die on the crack back. After a while I build enough of a force to take him down in one swing, which felt pretty great.
SB: Out with an Abrupt Decay, Raging Ravine, Lavaclaw Reaches, and the Lightning Bolts. I figure he doesn't have many creatures and is closer to some sort of a control deck at this point. I'm unfortunately wrong, but I bring in 2 Tectnonic Edges, Surgical Extraction, and my own Thoughtseizes.
Game 2:
We start off landing 2 drops. Him Dark Confidant; me Young Pyromancer. I follow mine up with another Young Pyromancer and he's got a Lingering Souls for me. I'm holding to Smallpox at this point and feel really bad about it. I eventually find enough to remove most of his board and start building advantage and eventually just get there with Tokens and Seismic Assault.
Following this match, I definitely conclude that the slower decks in the format, especially midrange decks, fold to us. Maybe that's wrong; I can see the decks with Tarmogoyf not being the best match up for us.
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Match 2: Kiki Pod
Game 1: So, I keep an incredibly sketchy hand blindly, but at the same time, 4 CMC 1 spells and one land doesn't seem like the worst idea. He leads with a Noble Hierarch, and I play my land and cast Flame Jab on it. I'm assuming Kibler Zoo right now, but it turns out he's on Kiki Pod, which I surmise a bit down the road when I cast Inquisition of Kozilek and see the Glen Elendra Archmage. It works out that I manage to strip his hand pretty well, but he top decks a Murderous Redcap with a Birthing Pod on board. I should have lost here, but my opponent misplayed and podded into Kiki-Jiki eventually instead of the Zealous Conscript for the immediate win. I wipe his field and then grind him out.SB: I take out two Faithless Lootings, the Inquistions, and the Decays. I bring in the Angers, Thoughtseizes, one Grudge, Slaughter Pact, and two Charms.
Game 2: I immediately charm the Pod he plays and then manage to land Seismic Assault very quickly. He can't really keep up with it and the match finishes quickly.
My combo match up is probably pretty good. I run enough discard, and any creature based combo can't really fight through a resolved Seismic Assault typically. It definitely feels like you can get rewarded pretty easily just by having Seismic Assault in your opening hand here.
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Match 3: UWR Burn Delver
Game 1: Definitely figure it's some sort of a brew when he leads with Arid Mesa, fetch for Steam Vents, play Serum Visions. He's likely not on Tw
SB: Board out Abrupt Decays, since I don't think he has permanents to remove.
Game 2: I get punished for boarding out removal, since he quickly plays his Delver and rides it to a finish by pairing it with some burn.
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Match 4: Ad Nasueam
Game 1: This one goes exactly how you expect. I keep an amazing hand, strip his hand dry, and then he dies to discard and tokens. Quick, easy, clean.
SB: Board out my Lightning Bolts and Flame Jabs, since this doesn't run creatures.
Game 2: An easy game, I make him get rid of his win condition on turn 2 by discard and then he can't find the Ad Nauseam at the same time he has enough mana to cast it and never has it in hand for long.
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In summary, most match ups are great! Aggro match ups put you in the dumps really quickly. Aggro seems to be a very weak point for Assault Loam, just because you run few threats and depend on a slow lock combo that doesn't always go off. When you miss your anti-aggro lock, you're dead pretty quickly. It's punishing, but that's how aggro operates.
Moving forward to next week, I would like to investigate Borborygmos as a win condition, in addition to Seismic Assault. I'm hoping it works out, but in the sideboard I'm playing some creatures and cards to attempt to fix the egregiously broken aggro match up. Let's see how this bad boy works.
Tune in sometime next Thursday for the next installment of Archetype of Imagination and I'll let you know how we ran. If you happen to take either list for a spin, please do let me know in the comments!
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