Simon Says #36: Boom/Bust Jund (Modern 2-Mans and Daily Event)

Due to popular demand, I take a break from Limited this episode to bring you some matches with a new Jund build courtesy of Willy Edel. This variant of the popular Modern deck plays the split card Boom/Bust to delay some of the fast combo decks of the format. Thanks to cascade, it is even possible to blow up all lands with a single Bloodbraid Elf. Join me for some matches with Boom/Bust Jund!








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  1. Well im going explain why i hate this videos.Im testing so hard moderm,so i try to check if my favorite page had some new video of moderm, and that i found is this kind of … couse i just play 1 video 3,10 min to know that im not going to learn ANYTHING about 1 guy that missplay on 3,10 minutes of play. On round 1 of DE is Amazing im so sorry for you guy but is disgusting found videos on this web that is REALLY NICE of this level.You shouldnt be here.

    And Respect for all.And so sorry if someone dont like this post but is the truth.

  2. Loling so hard at Manuel’s post. I will simply say that I enjoyed this, as well as your draft videos, and hope to see you supplement your limited series with additional constructed videos.

  3. Well, what the hell are you talking about? 1. this guy won a pro tour and his skill is unquestinable 2. the alleged misplay isnt a misplay and he explains why it would be bad to make the alternative play 3. its exagerrated to claim perfect play – everbody makes mistakes and there is a great leraning success because of mistakes too

    sorry for my bad english im not a native speaker

  4. After reviewing game 1 of round 1 of the DE, I could have played both Boom and Tarmogoyf in the same turn thanks to the Marsh Flats that my opponent sacrificed. I missed that, which was clearly an oversight. I always try to play to the best of my abilities, but these were my first games with the deck and I had to adjust to recording constructed content for the first time. How that justifies a response like comment #1 is beyond me.
    I know that there are a lot of people appreciating the work I do for MTGO Academy and Magic content in general — and I’m very thankful for that. If that means reading some insulting and unreasonable comments from time to time, so be it.

  5. Manuel you are so right, it is “disgusting” and impossible for us to learn anything about playing a Jund deck from Simon. I mean, the guy won a Pro-Tour, playing a Jund deck, but so what, eh? I’m sure you’re a better player than him anyway so yeah, nothing for you to learn here.

    /sarcasm

  6. Well, obs he is a great player, win 1 PT make him… Sure, at the same level of Nakamura or L.C.V. SURE.On the other hand im not trying to make a claim replay just call him to make videos where he play at 100%.it seems like a “Hey i have to record this sith come on”.And was a total missplay.No matter now is just couse he made like 20 on all videos and he can be more profesional recording it.

    No more replays here.Just put an effort when you record something for others.

  7. Hey Simon, thank you for that big amount of content, 7 video’s, pretty sweet.

    The deck you played against in round 3, is a deck very similar to one played by nakamura and kibbler in a modern GP, think it was charleston.

    It is basically completely geared towards beating Jund, so it is not so surprising you incurred your loss against it.

  8. Def loving the deck, though the whole Boom/Bust sort of seems to do basically nothing in the majority of the matches. Perhaps it is better relegated to the sb as it wasn’t played in the vast majority of your games, and this is across a good many opposing deck archetypes.

  9. Also, don’t let the poorly phrased rantings of someone with an aqua snowflake for an avatar get to you, Simon. I found your play to be quite informative. As a contributor, I understand that sometimes it is hard to play optimally while you explain everything you do for the viewers.

  10. I’m sorry Manuel, making 100% mistake free videos is impossible. Can you point to a video were there is not even a questionable line of play at all? I don’t think so. Calling out someone for making one or two small mistakes and telling them to never post non-perfect videos is childish. If you can’t find the value in these videos then I am sorry, but you will never get better, which is what you clearly want to do. You can learn from his mistakes, which is probably better than seeing someone play flawlessly which never comes across a situation that you will inevitably encounter yourself.

  11. Simon, thanks for the videos and the effort you put into your games.

    To Manuel Vega: I am astonished how many gamers comment on videos with: “Saw error x, stopped watching…”.
    Unfortunately this mindset often leads to a lack of self observation and analysis of someone’s own games as well, and ultimately to a stagnation of playing strength and development.
    There is not a single player in the world that doesn’t make errors – what makes the difference is how you handle them. See what Garry Kasparov, by many considered the greatest chess player of all time, has to add to our discussion

    http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/kasparov-making-mistakes-in-chess

  12. Well put, Marin. It is quite shameful for people to react this way, not understanding the hours and hours of time and consideration it takes to make good content. I am not a guy who spends a lot of time watching vids, despite making them, but sat down and watched this entire contribution, enjoying it thoroughly. Simon has some great insights, and while there were times I disagreed with plays of his, he made sure to back up those decisions with his own play style–another huge factor. Some people may have ran those Boom/Busts out each time, as soon as possible, even to a detriment, and others may not. And probably both sets of those people could be successful in their plays.

    And, remember, Manuel, if you think you can do better, you should try; I say this in earnest. It is always easier to criticize than create. Maybe you have something the world has yet to see. If so, get a screen capture program and get to work, son.

  13. Excellent content as usual, and loved the bonus 2-mans as well.

    This might just be small sample size, but it seems like the Boom/Bust did not do anything. In the early turns you prioritize discard and acceleration. In the late game, Busting does not seem like a valid strategy when you rarely get to 6 mana; if you do, it requires being ahead enough on the board while simultaneously drawing that much mana and have Boom/Bust clogging your hand.

    I have long been a fan of the card, it just doesn’t seem to be quite competitive enough, at least in this deck. My two cents. Thanks for the great videos and the top notch commentary.

  14. Yeah, that mistake was quite hard – but it happens. (And sometimes it is nice to remember that really good players can make mistakes, too ;) )

    Other questionable things I saw was the turn with Shaman and Blood Crypt in play. You played a fetchland and casted Inquisition using the Shaman and used the Blood Crypt later to Bolt a creature the opponend played that turn. I don’t quite get it why you haven’t used the Crypt for Inquisition and keeping the Shaman for the Bolt (and if you don’t need it you could have used another abilite of the Shaman with the fetchland if needed).

    And another thing to add: If playing against Affinity I think a card with the line “destroy target artifact” for BR should be considered boarding ;) [Rakdos Charm]

  15. Interesting. The innovation in the list, boom//bust, never really got to shine. It does seem to require a large amount of set up (red source, fetch land and a favourable position) and seems to be only good in a few specific match ups, which, to be fair, you did not face.

    The deck seems to be worse then stock (spirit) jund to me. Against non-combo decks, you lose some game as a confidant is a better topdeck/cascade target then a cobra and the boom//busts don’t really do much for the late game either. I suppose the cobra’s allow you to be more explosive, but that requires quite the godhand. Against combo decks you still do not seem to be favored, even with the boom\\bust addition.

    The deck just seems to have gone too far from it’s strengths: cheap and powerfull threats some of which can regenerate card advantage, removal and just enough discards to fight unfair things.

    Your commentary and play were as always outstanding.

  16. Hey there, great commentary and really liked the quality of editing and the amount of content. Keep up the great work!

  17. Watched the whole thing from start to finish and it made me want to play modern so badly. Thanks for some great videos. Dismissing 3 hours of content after watching 3 minutes and stating that you’re not gonna learn anything is… well, maybe enough has been said about this :)

    Keep it up, would love to see more constructed videos from you, especially while we’re waiting for GTC to come out.

  18. Well this is just to Simon, dont want to speak with anyone here.

    Im so sorry if i put something that you take like an insult to yourself, wasnt my intension.I just try to put on you some pressure when you record something for others.On the other hand,wasnt a good post and im so sorry, anyways i will try to speak with you about it on the next PT if you are there.

    And everyone here knows that you are a great player me either,i looked all RTR sealed videos you made, and i learned A LOT but till 25 days, or more your videos comes down on level.
    Anyways i will try to speak with you on private about it, and once again SO SORRY if i wrote something that you didnt like.

    0 post more for me.Just a reflexion for others. If the roles changes and Simon is looking at your replays, how many errors he is going to considerate to close the replay?

    Sorry at all.

  19. I was also surprised about the misplays, but that is only because your content is of such high quality usually.

    Keep it up and better luck next time.

  20. I was really interested to see the boom/bust jund version. I’m not sure what matchups it is really going to shine in, most of the combo decks aren’t particularly color or land intensive. And the control decks have counters to help them deal with either half. I thought having an LD component in the Jund ‘mirror’ was supposed to be part of its strength, but its hard to disagree with your assessment of it in that particular mirror.

    Maybe you are busy recording another constructed vid with your thoughts on changes, but if not: the portion I was really looking forward to were your thoughts on the build’s strengths and weaknesses, in Particular the Cobra/Boom/Bust package.

    Anyway, I love your limited series, but I also love these change of pace pieces. Thanks for putting the effort into assembling the deck for us.