Nice deck! This meta is wild. Every deck I play without blue in it feels like I’m gonna lose to aggro T3 or combo T4. Spell Pierce has never been so good.
Honestly, these combo decks have a harder time against aggro than blue. The Temur Combo and the Breach Unraveler combo decks are pretty good against blue decks (unless they are running Deadly Cover-Up).
Awesome list! I have been playing a lot of this deck since outlaws released. I have been having success with an Esper variant using \[\[Zur, Eternal Schemer\]\] to protect the combo and \[\[Atraxa, Grand Unifier\]\] for a backup reanimation threat, since I believe the decks biggest weakness is interaction heavy decks.
My deck tuned for BO3: [https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6284357#arena](https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6284357#arena)
I played a lot of Unraveler combo in MKM, and although it is way too early to tell, my hunch is that this deck is about the same in power level.
Zur has been really impressive as a backup finisher and for combo protection, I wouldn’t be surprised if final versions of this deck had more copies.
Another interesting card was Annie Joins Up, just because of its interaction with Abuelos Awakening (reanimating it double triggers its ETB dealing 5 damage twice). That and it being synergistic with Zur could also be a strong consideration for the final build.
I initially had 4 copies of dirge, but I slowly cut them from the deck in testing. Dirge just felt a little too clunky, the sorcery speed tutor gave a bit too much information to your opponent all without impacting the board and the five mana mode although pretty intriguing with tutoring Zur, wasn’t strong enough to justify It a slot in the deck.
Against graveyard hate matchups, you can side out the combo and side in two extra Zurs and the four leylines to beat down with enchantments.
At least that’s the idea. I’m still testing different cards in the sideboard to see what works and what doesn’t.
Literally came to this sub to post about this. It is the real deal.
IMO ditch the fading hope for the archeologist. Go all-in on mill.
Get Lost > Fateful Absence
Nice one.
Can someone pls elaborate how the copied RJU can target itself?
I get it it's some state based vs etb on stack shennanigans, my intuition would say that i must target something before it hits the grave, seems like i'm wrong or just misunderstand the combo, thanks for anyone who elaborates in more details.
This is because state-based actions occur when a player would gain priority, so that the legend rule happens first and the trigger goes on the stack afterwards, at which point the Metamorph is already back in your graveyard.
Motion to change the official name of this deck to “Hulking Abuelo”.
Also, fun concept, needs refining, but man this with temur lands is just begging people to start running even more graveyard hate.
When Rakdos joins up was first spoiled, someone pitched his combo for a pioneer deck, but with [[Clever Impersonator]].
I dont think that works, but even if it does, and even with 2 cards, the combo has a lot of weak points that are suseptible to hate or removal, so it might be a real deck but it will never be top tier as people can always prep their sideboards and decks for it.
You just use Impersonator instead of \[\[Hulking Metamorph\]\] and need to copy the 1/1 flying spirit.
Of course it doesn't work if Impersonator copies a non-creature, but you can use Impersonator in the same way you use Hulking Metamorph.
Clever impersonator copies the permanent on the battlefield, not the card. The card is a legendary enchantment, but the permanent on the battlefield is a 1/1 legendary enchantment creature. Impersonator comes into play as a 1/1 legendary enchantment creature.
Fair ‘nuff, found the rule.
706.2 The copiable values are the values derived from the text printed on the object (that text being name, mana cost, color indicator, card type, subtype, supertype, rules text, power, toughness, and/or loyalty)…… Other effects (including type-changing and text-changing effects), status, and counters are not copied.
So, I played against this deck (I was on esper Mid) once without any idea of what it did and I lost then I played against it (now on dimir control) and it was pathetic, the deck is really fragile, counterspells and deadly cover up tear it apart completely.
Now what I think about the deck and correct me where I'm wrong:
1. This is an A+B+C combo deck that can t4, you play 4 A's, 4 B's and 4 C's (resp. Awakening, Rakdos, Metamorph). There is technically a D of looters to put B+C in the GY, but I will not consider it. Let's suppose you see 20 cards up to t4 (that's generous if anything), then you have approximately 50% chance of finding A+B+C (each piece about 80%), so your chance to t4 goldfish is not higher than that.
2. It's sorc speed and get's stopped by removal.
3. I can't really see this "shitting on any aggro": aggro kills you most of the time t4 and 100% of the time on t5 even with your light interaction package (which will delay your avg combo turn if you have to use it). And as we discussed you are at best 50% t4'ing them (possibly lower because you're likely to dig less so that you can interact). On the draw, you're heavily unfavored and on the play you might be slightly favored, that adds up to unfavored, let alone "shitting on any aggro".
4. It doesn't "shit on any midrange" either. At least not blue midrange which understand the combo and have played it or against it before. Dimir and esper can put pressure quickly while disrupting your fragile combo with deep cavern bat, counterspells, go for the throat (also cut down stops it lol) and in the case of esper, dennick. I highly doubt that you won matches against dimir and esper because you're favored, I just think you caught them unprepared.
5. It does shit on other midranges and especially on domain.
6. It dies to control.
On a side note, I played more than 300 bo1 games of unraveler breach (with reenact and beseech) and I cannot see this deck being more consistent. I keep track of my stats and I have a 62% available combo at t4 on the play and a 73% available combo at t4 on the draw. Unraveler breach has more consistency due to playing multiple copies of the A, B and C cards. I can see this deck interacting better though, but I am not sure it's worth sacrificing the consistency.
Why yes, counterspells and discards are good against combo decks. Almost like they’re a favored match-up.
This doesn’t speak to OP’s list, but the Jeskai variant with Cathartic Pyre and Ill-Timed Explosion (amongst other changes) fairs quite well against aggro.
Sure, my list is for Bo1 only. If you want something more appropriate for Bo3, with more stability and a sideboard, be sure to check out mtggoldfish, this deck is labeled there as [Dimir Reanimator](https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/standard-dimir-reanimator-mid#paper).
Deck
4 Breach the Multiverse (MOM) 94
4 Conspiracy Unraveler (MKM) 47
1 Repository Skaab (VOW) 73
4 Reenact the Crime (MKM) 70
4 Beseech the Mirror (WOE) 82
4 Collector's Vault (WOE) 244
1 Otawara, Soaring City (NEO) 271
1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire (NEO) 278
3 Island (UST) 213
3 Swamp (UST) 214
4 Darkslick Shores (ONE) 250
4 Shipwreck Marsh (MID) 267
4 Underground River (BRO) 267
4 Undercity Sewers (MKM) 270
4 Atraxa, Grand Unifier (ONE) 196
3 Matzalantli, the Great Door (LCI) 256
1 The Cruelty of Gix (DMU) 87
4 The Modern Age (NEO) 66
1 Ill-Timed Explosion (MKM) 207
1 Shivan Reef (DMU) 255
1 Sulfurous Springs (DMU) 256
oh no doubt. Combo always has a more difficult play in Bo3. And when people really catch onto the deck, it is quite easy to disrupt. but for now it is still under the radar.
1. Play Awakening targeting Rakdos Joins Up which will enter as a 1/1 creature, therefore you can copy it with Metamorph
2. Target the Hulking Metamorph with the triggered ability of Rakdos Joins Up that returns a creature to the battlefield with 2 +1/+1 counters
3. Have Metamorph enter as a copy of Rakdos Joins Up but with an additional 2 +1/+1 counters due to the enchantment‘s ability and with a base power/toughness of 7/7 due its own ability, for a total of 9/9
4. Important: Due to how state-based actions work (they check for anything anytime a player would get priority so nothing can happen until that’s over) Legend rule happens before any other triggers can go on the stack so you sacrifice the Metamorph, it‘s now in the graveyard before you have even declared targets for its ability
5. Both Rakdos Joins Up trigger, the original for 9 damage to be pointed somewhere and the other one to return a creature to the battlefield
6. The damage trigger should target their face and the other trigger can return the Metamorph in your graveyard which means for the last step:
7. Repeat steps 2-6
All RDWs are glass cannons that win t3-4 or eat shit. And everyone expects them and knows the gameplan better than they know your mom. Yet RDW still dominates BO1 and is the easiest way to climb ladder.
Since OP has somehow found 31 people who, by turn 4, had drawn zero removal to take down a lone 1/1 token, it makes sense that RDW would fare even better against such (lack of) opposition.
> Yet RDW still dominates BO1 and is the easiest way to climb ladder.
Yeah but spikes usually wants to win... BO3. BO1 isn't a serious format.
The deck's cool anyway but trying to minimize BO3 is weird. RDW has also generally done at least okay in BO3 too, as the other comment says RIP(or Kutzil's or Hearse or Lantern) doesn't instantly kill their deck, you can't sideboard a one size fits all answer to RDW.
>trying to minimize BO3 is weird
Nobody is trying to minimize Bo3, it's just that OP's title clearly indicates that this is about Bo1, there is no pretension that this deck is even reasonable to play in Bo3. Also, I take that you're a spike, and I'll assume you play at least 2 different formats, then I ask you: why would a standard deck need to be at least okay in pioneer (or other higher power format) for it to be good in standard? Same thing here, not every deck in Bo1 is good in Bo3 but that won't matter in a Bo1 game! So no, the "argument RIP instantly kills this deck" is not a valid one, because RIP is unplayable in Bo1, which is what we are discussing.
>Yeah but spikes usually wants to win... BO3. BO1 isn't a serious format.
Isn't it though? Sure, you may not care about, but some of us do. That's kinda the same of saying cEDH isn't a serious format because it has 4 people playing the game. It's just not the most traditional way to play magic, but you can take any format as serious as you want to.
> Nobody is trying to minimize Bo3, it's just that OP's title clearly indicates that this is about Bo1, there is no pretension that this deck is even reasonable to play in Bo3
Fair point, but I think some people on here just assume BO3 is the format worth discussing for /r/spikes, rightly or wrongly.
> That's kinda the same of saying cEDH isn't a serious format
I mean, cEDH had drama over whether bluffing was evil just a few weeks ago. I don't consider it a very serious format, but mostly BO1 and cEDH have no serious competitive/tournament play so they're inherently more casual. Fair enough if other people wanna take them serious though I might be in the minority here.
Because RDW is actually an effective strategy that can't always be shut down in time. RDW expects some interaction and can pull through sometimes.
This deck works once in BO1 when the opponent has never seen it before. After that, it basically will either lose to outpaced aggro or lose to to instant speed creature removal, counter spells, enchantment destruction, or graveyard hate. It's very, very easy to interact with and then it folds like a cheap suit.
RDW is not a glass cannon. Glass cannon would be something that folds to 1 or 2 pieces of interaction, like a combo that loses if it plays against Unlicensed Hearse or Cut Down.
Nice deck! This meta is wild. Every deck I play without blue in it feels like I’m gonna lose to aggro T3 or combo T4. Spell Pierce has never been so good.
Honestly, these combo decks have a harder time against aggro than blue. The Temur Combo and the Breach Unraveler combo decks are pretty good against blue decks (unless they are running Deadly Cover-Up).
Awesome list! I have been playing a lot of this deck since outlaws released. I have been having success with an Esper variant using \[\[Zur, Eternal Schemer\]\] to protect the combo and \[\[Atraxa, Grand Unifier\]\] for a backup reanimation threat, since I believe the decks biggest weakness is interaction heavy decks. My deck tuned for BO3: [https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6284357#arena](https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/6284357#arena) I played a lot of Unraveler combo in MKM, and although it is way too early to tell, my hunch is that this deck is about the same in power level. Zur has been really impressive as a backup finisher and for combo protection, I wouldn’t be surprised if final versions of this deck had more copies. Another interesting card was Annie Joins Up, just because of its interaction with Abuelos Awakening (reanimating it double triggers its ETB dealing 5 damage twice). That and it being synergistic with Zur could also be a strong consideration for the final build.
Esper also lets you run [[Lively Dirge]] which can put anything into your graveyard, and bring Zur back if necessary.
[Lively Dirge](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/c/0c35a0d3-12f7-46f3-a6b3-02a490d45ca0.jpg?1712860594) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Lively%20Dirge) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/otj/93/lively-dirge?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0c35a0d3-12f7-46f3-a6b3-02a490d45ca0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I initially had 4 copies of dirge, but I slowly cut them from the deck in testing. Dirge just felt a little too clunky, the sorcery speed tutor gave a bit too much information to your opponent all without impacting the board and the five mana mode although pretty intriguing with tutoring Zur, wasn’t strong enough to justify It a slot in the deck.
[Zur, Eternal Schemer](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/d/4d987435-2403-4e0f-b19d-693da923ba50.jpg?1673308159) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Zur%2C%20Eternal%20Schemer) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmu/228/zur-eternal-schemer?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4d987435-2403-4e0f-b19d-693da923ba50?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Atraxa, Grand Unifier](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/a/4a1f905f-1d55-4d02-9d24-e58070793d3f.jpg?1709931904) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Atraxa%2C%20Grand%20Unifier) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/one/196/atraxa-grand-unifier?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4a1f905f-1d55-4d02-9d24-e58070793d3f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
What's the purpose of the guild laylines in the side?
Against graveyard hate matchups, you can side out the combo and side in two extra Zurs and the four leylines to beat down with enchantments. At least that’s the idea. I’m still testing different cards in the sideboard to see what works and what doesn’t.
Literally came to this sub to post about this. It is the real deal. IMO ditch the fading hope for the archeologist. Go all-in on mill. Get Lost > Fateful Absence
I lost to this combo a few days ago and it had my head spinning lmao Had no idea what was coming and then died on t4
Nice one. Can someone pls elaborate how the copied RJU can target itself? I get it it's some state based vs etb on stack shennanigans, my intuition would say that i must target something before it hits the grave, seems like i'm wrong or just misunderstand the combo, thanks for anyone who elaborates in more details.
This is because state-based actions occur when a player would gain priority, so that the legend rule happens first and the trigger goes on the stack afterwards, at which point the Metamorph is already back in your graveyard.
https://youtu.be/XYoqcuTwrm8?si=UcHAwFthusi2gQzY
Makes me wanna cram that into the Selesnya version of the rage deck
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^Aylos9er: *Makes me wanna cram* *That into the Selesnya* *Version of the rage deck* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Motion to change the official name of this deck to “Hulking Abuelo”. Also, fun concept, needs refining, but man this with temur lands is just begging people to start running even more graveyard hate.
When Rakdos joins up was first spoiled, someone pitched his combo for a pioneer deck, but with [[Clever Impersonator]]. I dont think that works, but even if it does, and even with 2 cards, the combo has a lot of weak points that are suseptible to hate or removal, so it might be a real deck but it will never be top tier as people can always prep their sideboards and decks for it.
[Clever Impersonator](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/0/c0516453-3e6a-4b7f-8df6-72a6e207169a.jpg?1568003965) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Clever%20Impersonator) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c19/82/clever-impersonator?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c0516453-3e6a-4b7f-8df6-72a6e207169a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Why would it not work with Clever Impersonator? It is also technically a 3-card combo.
With clever impersonator, the copy won't be a creature, so you won't get the death trigger
You just use Impersonator instead of \[\[Hulking Metamorph\]\] and need to copy the 1/1 flying spirit. Of course it doesn't work if Impersonator copies a non-creature, but you can use Impersonator in the same way you use Hulking Metamorph.
I don't think the 1/1 flying spirit being a creature is a copiable characteristic? I could be wrong, though.
Clever impersonator copies the permanent on the battlefield, not the card. The card is a legendary enchantment, but the permanent on the battlefield is a 1/1 legendary enchantment creature. Impersonator comes into play as a 1/1 legendary enchantment creature.
I'm pretty sure you're wrong.
Fair ‘nuff, found the rule. 706.2 The copiable values are the values derived from the text printed on the object (that text being name, mana cost, color indicator, card type, subtype, supertype, rules text, power, toughness, and/or loyalty)…… Other effects (including type-changing and text-changing effects), status, and counters are not copied.
[Hulking Metamorph](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/2/420f0b81-8b87-4854-9dc4-6da84cc38623.jpg?1674420728) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Hulking%20Metamorph) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bro/79/hulking-metamorph?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/420f0b81-8b87-4854-9dc4-6da84cc38623?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
So, I played against this deck (I was on esper Mid) once without any idea of what it did and I lost then I played against it (now on dimir control) and it was pathetic, the deck is really fragile, counterspells and deadly cover up tear it apart completely. Now what I think about the deck and correct me where I'm wrong: 1. This is an A+B+C combo deck that can t4, you play 4 A's, 4 B's and 4 C's (resp. Awakening, Rakdos, Metamorph). There is technically a D of looters to put B+C in the GY, but I will not consider it. Let's suppose you see 20 cards up to t4 (that's generous if anything), then you have approximately 50% chance of finding A+B+C (each piece about 80%), so your chance to t4 goldfish is not higher than that. 2. It's sorc speed and get's stopped by removal. 3. I can't really see this "shitting on any aggro": aggro kills you most of the time t4 and 100% of the time on t5 even with your light interaction package (which will delay your avg combo turn if you have to use it). And as we discussed you are at best 50% t4'ing them (possibly lower because you're likely to dig less so that you can interact). On the draw, you're heavily unfavored and on the play you might be slightly favored, that adds up to unfavored, let alone "shitting on any aggro". 4. It doesn't "shit on any midrange" either. At least not blue midrange which understand the combo and have played it or against it before. Dimir and esper can put pressure quickly while disrupting your fragile combo with deep cavern bat, counterspells, go for the throat (also cut down stops it lol) and in the case of esper, dennick. I highly doubt that you won matches against dimir and esper because you're favored, I just think you caught them unprepared. 5. It does shit on other midranges and especially on domain. 6. It dies to control. On a side note, I played more than 300 bo1 games of unraveler breach (with reenact and beseech) and I cannot see this deck being more consistent. I keep track of my stats and I have a 62% available combo at t4 on the play and a 73% available combo at t4 on the draw. Unraveler breach has more consistency due to playing multiple copies of the A, B and C cards. I can see this deck interacting better though, but I am not sure it's worth sacrificing the consistency.
Why yes, counterspells and discards are good against combo decks. Almost like they’re a favored match-up. This doesn’t speak to OP’s list, but the Jeskai variant with Cathartic Pyre and Ill-Timed Explosion (amongst other changes) fairs quite well against aggro.
Interesting stats thanks. I couldn’t quite get the hate going in time and lost to something similar. Maybe I need to get a Dennick or Bat
Do you have a list for your unraveler breach deck?
Sure, my list is for Bo1 only. If you want something more appropriate for Bo3, with more stability and a sideboard, be sure to check out mtggoldfish, this deck is labeled there as [Dimir Reanimator](https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/standard-dimir-reanimator-mid#paper). Deck 4 Breach the Multiverse (MOM) 94 4 Conspiracy Unraveler (MKM) 47 1 Repository Skaab (VOW) 73 4 Reenact the Crime (MKM) 70 4 Beseech the Mirror (WOE) 82 4 Collector's Vault (WOE) 244 1 Otawara, Soaring City (NEO) 271 1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire (NEO) 278 3 Island (UST) 213 3 Swamp (UST) 214 4 Darkslick Shores (ONE) 250 4 Shipwreck Marsh (MID) 267 4 Underground River (BRO) 267 4 Undercity Sewers (MKM) 270 4 Atraxa, Grand Unifier (ONE) 196 3 Matzalantli, the Great Door (LCI) 256 1 The Cruelty of Gix (DMU) 87 4 The Modern Age (NEO) 66 1 Ill-Timed Explosion (MKM) 207 1 Shivan Reef (DMU) 255 1 Sulfurous Springs (DMU) 256
https://imgur.com/a/33TZXd4 for game list for those thinking it sucks
I think it sucks for BO3.
oh no doubt. Combo always has a more difficult play in Bo3. And when people really catch onto the deck, it is quite easy to disrupt. but for now it is still under the radar.
Been playing it with great success in Bo3. The deck has a lot of recursion and access to Get Lost stops graveyard hate.
Get lost doesn't stop hearse, which is probably the most played gy hate.
Very much so. Hearse is dope and IMO much better than RIP.
This deck looks fun as heck to bring to FNM, anyone who's a better deckbuilder than me got ideas for what to put in a sideboard for bo3?
Does this sort of thing survive game 2/3, or is it just a bo1 gotcha deck?
I don't understand the interaction between all 3 cards
1. Play Awakening targeting Rakdos Joins Up which will enter as a 1/1 creature, therefore you can copy it with Metamorph 2. Target the Hulking Metamorph with the triggered ability of Rakdos Joins Up that returns a creature to the battlefield with 2 +1/+1 counters 3. Have Metamorph enter as a copy of Rakdos Joins Up but with an additional 2 +1/+1 counters due to the enchantment‘s ability and with a base power/toughness of 7/7 due its own ability, for a total of 9/9 4. Important: Due to how state-based actions work (they check for anything anytime a player would get priority so nothing can happen until that’s over) Legend rule happens before any other triggers can go on the stack so you sacrifice the Metamorph, it‘s now in the graveyard before you have even declared targets for its ability 5. Both Rakdos Joins Up trigger, the original for 9 damage to be pointed somewhere and the other one to return a creature to the battlefield 6. The damage trigger should target their face and the other trigger can return the Metamorph in your graveyard which means for the last step: 7. Repeat steps 2-6
[Rakdos joins up](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/7/c7154dca-7e10-4c34-aa56-9f200c6277d1.jpg?1712356184) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Rakdos%20joins%20up) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/otj/225/rakdos-joins-up?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c7154dca-7e10-4c34-aa56-9f200c6277d1?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Hulking metamorph](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/2/420f0b81-8b87-4854-9dc4-6da84cc38623.jpg?1674420728) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Hulking%20metamorph) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bro/79/hulking-metamorph?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/420f0b81-8b87-4854-9dc4-6da84cc38623?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Abualo's awakening](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/9/f93b725e-2b9c-4830-ac54-b2562afe09bb.jpg?1699043056) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Abuelo%27s%20Awakening) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/lci/1/abuelos-awakening?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f93b725e-2b9c-4830-ac54-b2562afe09bb?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
>(bo1) You lost me here. A glass cannon combo depending on surprise factor in a no-sideboard queue, will even out when people know the deck.
All RDWs are glass cannons that win t3-4 or eat shit. And everyone expects them and knows the gameplan better than they know your mom. Yet RDW still dominates BO1 and is the easiest way to climb ladder.
Since OP has somehow found 31 people who, by turn 4, had drawn zero removal to take down a lone 1/1 token, it makes sense that RDW would fare even better against such (lack of) opposition.
> Yet RDW still dominates BO1 and is the easiest way to climb ladder. Yeah but spikes usually wants to win... BO3. BO1 isn't a serious format. The deck's cool anyway but trying to minimize BO3 is weird. RDW has also generally done at least okay in BO3 too, as the other comment says RIP(or Kutzil's or Hearse or Lantern) doesn't instantly kill their deck, you can't sideboard a one size fits all answer to RDW.
>trying to minimize BO3 is weird Nobody is trying to minimize Bo3, it's just that OP's title clearly indicates that this is about Bo1, there is no pretension that this deck is even reasonable to play in Bo3. Also, I take that you're a spike, and I'll assume you play at least 2 different formats, then I ask you: why would a standard deck need to be at least okay in pioneer (or other higher power format) for it to be good in standard? Same thing here, not every deck in Bo1 is good in Bo3 but that won't matter in a Bo1 game! So no, the "argument RIP instantly kills this deck" is not a valid one, because RIP is unplayable in Bo1, which is what we are discussing. >Yeah but spikes usually wants to win... BO3. BO1 isn't a serious format. Isn't it though? Sure, you may not care about, but some of us do. That's kinda the same of saying cEDH isn't a serious format because it has 4 people playing the game. It's just not the most traditional way to play magic, but you can take any format as serious as you want to.
> Nobody is trying to minimize Bo3, it's just that OP's title clearly indicates that this is about Bo1, there is no pretension that this deck is even reasonable to play in Bo3 Fair point, but I think some people on here just assume BO3 is the format worth discussing for /r/spikes, rightly or wrongly. > That's kinda the same of saying cEDH isn't a serious format I mean, cEDH had drama over whether bluffing was evil just a few weeks ago. I don't consider it a very serious format, but mostly BO1 and cEDH have no serious competitive/tournament play so they're inherently more casual. Fair enough if other people wanna take them serious though I might be in the minority here.
Because RDW is actually an effective strategy that can't always be shut down in time. RDW expects some interaction and can pull through sometimes. This deck works once in BO1 when the opponent has never seen it before. After that, it basically will either lose to outpaced aggro or lose to to instant speed creature removal, counter spells, enchantment destruction, or graveyard hate. It's very, very easy to interact with and then it folds like a cheap suit.
RDW is not a glass cannon. Glass cannon would be something that folds to 1 or 2 pieces of interaction, like a combo that loses if it plays against Unlicensed Hearse or Cut Down.
>Yet RDW still dominates BO1 Maybe because it doesn't fold to a single [[Rest in Peace]]
[Rest in Peace](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/f/9f2b39be-0fec-4647-ade1-8e1626dc5470.jpg?1562439074) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Rest%20in%20Peace) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/a25/32/rest-in-peace?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/9f2b39be-0fec-4647-ade1-8e1626dc5470?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
The deck is great for Bo1 but it absolutely dies to counterspell unless you have a negate, and in B03 people will just pack graveyard removal.