By Betão [Monarchs], 01/27/21
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Deck Tech Cascade Wall Pauper - 2021
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Galvanic Alchemist
in the sideboard, you need to be prepared just not to leave aUlamog's Crusher
or aValakut Invoker
on the table. For this, by running removals likeCast Down
(1-2 Copies) and counterspells likeProhibit
(1-2 Copies) orExclude
(1-2 Copies) you can prepare for that none of these permanents stay / come into play. In general, they are removals forUlamog's Crusher
and counters forValakut Inkover
. Other than that, just stick to the plan of trying to fit theStonehorn Dignitary
/Moment's Peace
loop to avoid the damage from the Cascade creatures In Game 2, if he comes back with the sideboard combo (which is likely), the plan is almost the same.Cast Down
+Exclude
/Prohibit
must be prepared, but now targetingAxebane Guardian
, the moment theGalvanic Alchemist
targetsSoulbound
with removals or countering [Galvanic Alchemist] itself. In the case whereFreed from the Real
is used, the solution is direct removal on theAxebane Guardian
itself, preventing these creatures from pairing with the soulbound, or theAxebane Guardian
being enchanted withFreed from the Real
, the combo fails. There is still the possibility that he will go off withOrochi Leafcaller
andOvergrown Battlement
, but the plan is the same, just targetingOvergrown Battlement
instead ofAxebane Guardian
."Stonehorn Dignitary
effect in a preventive way. AUlamog’s Crusher
hitting with haste is not a pretty thing to see across the table in turn four. Against a Stompy, Fractius, Mono W Heroic, you can easily use your life as a resource. It is possible to take a few strikes, get 4 or 2 life, but losing permanents in the early game is not something that Tron can easily recover. And assuming you get a god hand, closed Tron on 3, managed to keep the Stonehorn + Mnemonic Wall lock from your turn 4, you still need to worry about theValakut Invoker
or combo in the sideboard.Ad
Lead The Stampede
,Winding Way
andVivien’s Grizzly
. You can have recursion withPulse of Murasa
andReaping The Graves
. And did I mention thatUlamog’s Crusher
is hitting the table on turn 4? Desperate. Truly desperate. So far I admit that I have no answers for this match. Increase the number ofCast Down
? AddExclude
to try to stopUlamog’s Crusher
or Invoker? Place one or twoSwirling Sandstorm
on the sideboard, a non-tutable card withMystical Teachings
, and hope that the Impulses find it and that you have Threshold before the Walls go off? There are many questions and few answers. Currently, my strategy for this match is the same that many Bully players use against Tron: Admit that they have already lost and move on. "Stonehorn Dignitary
andGhostly Flicker
, to prevent the attack, in Cascade's case, is that key point. PassingFiery Cannonade
fast is important But game 1 is bad and you need to hope for some kind of manascrews or misplays. In game 2 it is going upCast Down
,Abrade
andHydroblast
to Tuktuk,Pyroblast
toFreed From the Real
. That's what I always say to many people, Pauper's best deck is Tron, because he focuses on surviving, and if he survives, he'll win the game. Against Walls, you will always need to survive, and lock fast because of the Cascades andUlamog's Crusher
If you can get Cannonade,Mnemonic Wall
and Cannonade again, you can clean the board"Exclude
, despite being a sideboard card, because I think it is very strong against most Pauper decks: Tron, decks that use monarchs, decks that useSpellstutter Sprite
andAugur of Bolas
, Mono Black, decks that useUlamog's Crusher
, and can often block the Walls combo. Even against the Cascade version, I like it, although it’s not a good one In response to cascade, these are not the strong walls versus tron cards. In the sideboard, I like 2Swirling Sandstorm
: it is not a good card for Tron, as it is difficult to have 7 cards in the graveyard, but playing 1 or 2Forbidden Alchemy
for main can be used. I like it because Pauper has a lot of strong cards against the Walls, but few cards that can beat him on his own, andSwirling Sandstorm
is one of them. "Axebane Guardian
andOvergrowth Battlement
early in the game and then kills the opponent in the middle of the game. Walls is similar to the elves and they are tough Match Ups, as they are faster than Tron and can kill without depending on the combat phase withViridian Longbow
andHarsh Sustenance
for the Elves deck, Valakut Invoker for Walls). I have no main answer to the infinite mana combo other than a singlePyroblast
: I don't think it's worth dedicating 2 or more slots to this Match Up, at least for game 1. Against the infinite combo, I I really appreciateCrop Rotation
because in instant speedBojuka Bog
is the best answer forReaping the Graves
, which is one of the most important cards in the classic combo. on MTGO, I decided to move a pair ofStonehorn Dignitary
from the sideboard to the main deck: it's the best fog magic and with Stonehorn you don't need any removal to killUlamog's Crusher
, the biggest and probably the only problem in Cascade's game plan.Ad
Rolling Thunder
: I will try to start a Tron fast and kill all of his mana-generating Walls (or at leastAxebane Guardian
andSaruli Caretaker
). Against classic Walls and Walls cascade, my sideboard plan differs only from the amount ofMoment's Peace
I want to play. I always keep 2 or 3stonehorn dignitary
due to Ulamog. On my sideboard I like to have 2 or more removals to handle Ux Faerie and any green based combo deck, like elves and Walls.Abrade
is the best option, worse thanCast Down
, but in color with my game plan (go fast and cast a Rolling Thunder). I also play a second copy ofRolling Thunder
on the sideboard, instead ofDinrova Horror
. It is intended for medium-sized decks (Boros monarch, MBC, etc.), Walls combo and if I don't have much time to win in game 2 or 3. The game plan for cascade is really easy compared to the combo of infinite mana, building the fog lock is a tranquil part compared to dealing with the tempo advantage that the Walls combo has when the combo is done. I recently started bringingBlue elemental blast
against Walls because they playValalut Invoker
instead ofBloodrite invoker
(at least the Cascade version). "Valakut invoker
is a non-tutorable maindeck card, so let's be lucky and try not to get it before we get into full control of the game. So the key card for the main deck I think isStonehorn Dignitary
. Post-sideboard things get very complicated if the Walls decks also feature the combo. On our side, we put all the dignitaries we have and all possible removals (Dinrova Horror
,Cast Down
, etc.) We also put 1Hydroblast
forValakut Invoker
and if we don't have a maindeck yet, 1x ofPyroblast
to stop generating infinite mana. Here too you have to be very lucky and try to close Tron as soon as possible playing arboundTuktuk Rubblefort
+Ulamog's Crusher
. Post sideboard I would say that the key card and the most versatile is thecast down
: it removes the creatures that generate infinite mana, kills the crusher and also killsVivien's Grizzly
which would make him draw the entire deck.Ad
Swirling Sandstorm
. Going in a more logical and less risky way, and assuming thatCast Down
when it was printed common, some lists had several copies in the main, this removal is very efficient, it kills all the creatures on Pauper's decks except obviously Auras. It is fast, it can be locked and break the plans of the Walls, but it would be better to build with them on the main deck, and maybe four copies. The question is asked, in which slots? Another option that appeared many years ago, before Pauper's sideboard was further developed, are the Circles of Protection, here would be neededCircle of Protection: Red
andCircle of Protection: Black
, for the finishers of the deck. Now for a card that would change the figure of the deck. Different, risky, efficient effect in what you propose to do. The creatures on Walls decks are the biggest problem, so creating a Soft-lock with this card can prevent these creatures from being put into play. Perhaps two or three slots on the sideboard during a test are not lost. This card would need to enter early, and lock fast so as not to make a creature in any turn. Keeping counterspells to help control the start would be part of that strategy.