Comments on: Dime a Dozen #40: Finish Him!

By: Crypt Rats

Crypt Rats — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 06:19:12 +0000

My favorite control finisher is Spire Golem. If necessary, it can be dropped on turn 4 with counter spell backup (4islands) and defend against a great many pauper creatures. At 2 power, it is a high enough Rate because once MUC stabilizes and out draws an opponent, 10 turns is plenty of time to finish. My version runs Serrated Arrows with Capsize buyback to control the creatures. It also runs one Tanglebloom for life gain; you can avoid getting burned out and do not need to counter burn spells unless it’s lethal and you need time to Tanglebloom.

By: ramela

ramela — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 10:01:03 +0000

Blastoderm is certainly the best overall when it comes to midrange beef, due to it’s resilency. But due to Fading, you really want to start attacking with it immideately and with backup since it can’t go the distance alone. This is why I’ve explored a wide range of additional midrange creatures. You can never just sit back on a Blastoderm, so you have to play a “tap out with threats” brand of control with it or just go aggro.

Other than that, my current outlook is that you propably don’t want ramp. Mana dorks are non-cards against most aggro decks and skipping your second turn to ramp into a turn three 4 drop doesn’t seem worth it against. many decks in comparison to just curving into the 4 drops with removal or guys.

By: Jason Moore

Jason Moore — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 18:32:37 +0000

Meant to say possible*

By: Jason Moore

Jason Moore — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 18:29:24 +0000

Ramela – I’m interested in brewing control decks with Blastoderm, though I’m not sure the other cards are strong options. Maybe Tusker? Thanks for the comment!

vandergus – It’s certainly posdible that I overvalue a high rate, but thev”slow” finishers you mentioned have not garnered any lasting success as Pauper control finishers IMO. Thunder and Capsize see play in big mana strategies moreso than pure control, but you’re right that I should have mentioned them. Hopefully you’ll enjoy some of my other content more down the line. Great ideas!

By: vandergus

vandergus — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 15:38:03 +0000

I expected a lot more from this article. One of the main characteristics that goes unmentioned is resiliency. It’s why Guardian of the Guildpact is even considered as a finisher since everything else about it is mediocre. It’s what makes Twisted Abomination good as well as Morphling. It also leads the conversation to more unique finishers like Sprout Swarm and Curse of the Bloody Tome. Neither of those have a high rate (which I think you overrate here), but both are very resilient and have inevitability. And how about one-shot finishers like Rolling Thunder. Psuedo-finishers like Capsize. Maybe some discussion about the value of diversifying you’re win conditions to beat different decks. A lot of ground left uncovered here.

By: ramela

ramela — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 11:24:14 +0000

I feel you could have mentioned couple more examples of Green beef that have strings attached:

Endangered Armodon (Doesn’t play with weenies)
Blastoderm (Temporary, so it can’t finish an opponent alone, but is immune to removal)
Imperosaur (Can only be ramped into with Explore/Rampant Growth effects)
Krosan Tusker (Expensive, but can be cycled for card advantage)

All of these pass the Flame Slash test and most the first 3 cost only 2GG

By: g

Sun, 02 Mar 2014 16:38:15 +0000

ates – try playing affinity/fling. The matchup is slightly in affinity’s favor. You can land an early threat pretty easy, and then they have to respond, which allows you to fling them to death. Or you just get those affinity hands where you vomit out 3 4/4s on turn 4. Mono U can’t counter all the spells affinity plays in a turn.