decklists are up

5-8 decklists

I ran it today in my sideboard for an invitational where I was expecting to see a lot of shops matches. I had it once and it did exactly what I expected - drew it mid game, played it while I was slightly behind on the board and just flipped the board state completely. Unfortunately I missed 2 sacs to a ravager later that cost me the game. But if not for memory jar, I would have lost probably 2 turns later. Instead we went another good 8-9 turns.
I rather enjoyed having it in my side for the mirror. I dont believe I would want it against any other match up. This is also the first time in 2 years I've run shops so I'm hardly an experienced pilot.

Thepowernine's PO storm with no vault key is better versus the best deck online atm UR Xerox.

Tinker version is playable but better versus a different metagame.

Lavinia fits best (as in it is her natural home) in the 5C Human version that goes for control and value (Sensei Top/Dack). However this deck did not see a lot of play since I left the scene. The more aggro control Human decks have seen some play according to mtgo goldfish.

I don't think the classical aggro 5C Human decks would work very well right now. With this I am referring to the Mantis Rider lists without Force of Will.

I think the only 2 versions that can do really well is the tempo oriented list with Force of Will and Null Rod (you all know merfolk.dec and the Humans deck that became popular in modern). The problem is that the Bazaar oriented decks are more efficient in doing this. However, it also have to be noted that a Human deck with Caverns can beat any Bazaar.dec because of Lavinia (soon), Containment Priest and artifact removal. I guess this is a matter of taste. It really comes down to whether you want Cavern or Bazaar against the rest of the meta. Bazaar does get the job done faster and more brutally, but Lavinia might be powerful enough to create an argument.

Like I mentioned the TopDack (what I have been playing since 5 years) is also a strong option. This is the deck with broken plays. With the exception of some blue cards you are in fact a blue control ala grixis/mentor deck. You run full acceleration most of the time. But you run a unique 5C manabase with fetchlands to fuel Top and you benefit from Cavern to cast powerfull Human control cards like Kambal, Grand August 4, Monastery Mentor, Spellseeker, Containment Priest, Notion Thief, Snapcaster, JVP, Noble, Deathrites and so on. Usually you end up with approximately 15 creatures which you have chosen well to fit your play against the meta. Most of the times there are some non humans involved, like Shalai or Falkenrath. Shalai is a very interesting option to deny removal or an Oath activation. You can play with Tinker/TV/Key (key is good anyway because you run 2 or 3 tops) with a Blightsteel in SB. When running a Tinker I usually play Trinket Mage aswell and run 1 crypt main deck with also a Containment Priest main deck. This gives me game against Bazaar in game 1. You can also run Chalice with similar ideas. I mean, the options are endless honestly... And I believe that the biggest problem is occupying the slots with cards that have as much versatility as possible. And Lavinia is going to deliver. The slots that she will be sitting in, will be well spend.

@evouga The issue with Kambal is that while his drain effect is more powerful, the colors that he is in lack reach. I was literally running OG Kaya in a Kambal control list (metagamed against PO and Blue Cantrips) in part because I found the drain effect to be synergistic and won several games with Kambal holding back Pyromancer tokens while Kaya drained the opponent.

Cinderlash is a less powerful drain effect but it is a harder to remove permanent for most decks and in the same colors as Lightning Bolt. I honestly don't think the card is insane against PO, but against previous versions of Blue Cantrips, I've run Snapcaster + Fiery Confluence as a win condition. I think you are underestimating how drawn out those games can be and how the life loss from Phyrexian Mana, Force of Wills, and Fetchlands can add up.

I don't like the card against Shops, Eldrazi, or Survival, but it's not dead there. I think you forgot to mention that you can pick off Hollow Ones out of survival. But while you are listing reasons why you consider the card to be unplayable, to me it's mostly just what I would consider metagaming. I would only play this in a heavy blue metagame. Probably one with Oath as well.

Card evaluation and brewing is mostly about identifying decks in which a card's potential is maximized and a metagame in which a card a card's effect is desirable. That might not be none of the current decks or the current metagame. So it goes.

@john-cox Incidentally, I went to MTGGoldfish to look up Cryptic Serpent and a couple RUG delver lists played it as a 1 of. Kind of makes sense, as it preserves the graveyard for Nimble Mongoose and Tarmogoyf. Salamander Drake would likely be better due to evasion, but this is another potential shell for the card, and situation where one would look to Salamander Drake over cards like Gurmag Angler.

Good to know! I also pick the cheap stuff on modo.

If you are playing shops you have ravager, so I would still rather have wurmcoil because you can sac it for tokens in response to plow and is cheaper.

Here is the link to Matt Sperling and Eric Vergo discussing the RUG v Shops scenario

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QahWDsZBAE

Bump, Bump, Bump me up.

See you all Sunday!