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AzureKn1ght

Date Joined: Dec 1, 2008

Posts: 178

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Blue-Red Seismic Swans

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"Some say the world will end in fire, some say in ice. From what I've tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if the world should perish twice, I think I know enough of hate, to say that for destruction, ice is also great, and would suffice."
-- Robert Frost

Introduction[/CENTER]

This thread is an updated version of the original thread found here. I'm currently in the process of updating and modifying, basically giving it a complete facelift. As I am very busy, this process may take awhile, please bear with it.

What is U/R Seismic Swans?
Its a deck idea that was created to try and beat most of the top standard decks around. (Ok, mainly Faeries and 5CC)
A variant of the original U/R CounterBurn Deck, Seismic Swans is an incredibly complex control deck that seeks to win all of its games by burying its opponent in card advantage. Yes, it wins many games by simply out-drawing its opponent.

Origin
The original idea came about from the U/R CounterBurn strategy of Countering and Burning away threats to completely cripple the opponents' deck, while winning with various finishers. It later evolved when some people played a list on Magic Online exploiting the Seismic Swans Combo, to much success. This build then became the most popular and highly played. The deck's success rippled through the Japanese community, and a number of the players from that country played the deck in Pro Tour Kyoto. Shuhei Nakamura, a player of respected caliber piloted in Kyoto to a Top 32 finish.

So how does it work?
The basic premise is simple: spend the first few turns countering spells and sweeping the board when necessary. As you amass mana, you can play Swans of Bryn Argoll and begin drawing an insane number of cards. Every time you play a sweeper spell, you will not only clear the air for your 4/3 flier to beat in, but also draw two cards (or more). The play style is mainly "Draw-Go" since counters and most burn are instants. Basically you do whatever you can to stall your opponent until you win using the combo or aggro them to death with Swans and/or other creatures (including man-lands) OR a combination of the above. Fun Right?!

Detailed Descriptions on How to Play Show

Method of Playing
This section describes in great detail how to pilot the deck to victory, as well as the many play mistake committed by players. Piloting skills are very crucial if you want to win with this deck. And this section has been requested by many members in the previous thread.

I meant to do a more detailed one, but that will take time. Meanwhile, you can read this little paragraph, courtesy or our good friend sisomic. ^_^

sisomic wrote:
...

U/R is a bad match-up for every deck except Fae. (BB is really good.) But even that match-up is only like 45-55 at its worse.

ADVICE TO ALL: If you are going to play this deck; LEARN IT, PRACTICE IT, LOVE IT. If you do not have every card and quantity memorized in the deck and can't recite them forward, backward, and alphabetically, you have not practiced enough with this deck. It is way too complicated to just "pick up" or "throw together" like I keep seeing some of you say. I know that a lot of people want to try this out because it has actually seen some competitive play, but its not like the other tourney decks. Keep this in mind when you are playing this deck. If you lose, don't say, "This deck is bad against ." Instead say, "What did I do wrong, what can I do differently next time, and where do I need to improve at?" Mistakes in this deck are so hard to prevent because many of them go unnoticed. Recognize your mistakes and learn from them.

...
Detailed Match Info & Explanation from Pro-Tour Kyoto:
http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/A … tkyo9 x /fm1
[2 x Guys Playing a Mirror Swans Match]

Currently in the Works!
Please check back soon.

Card Choices

Creatures

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Mogg Fanatic : Possible 1 x drop. Stalls some early aggro abit. Burn on a stick.

Figure of Destiny : Drop it early and it can win games on it's own. Doesn't seem too popular in this deck, due to its heavy demand of Red Mana.

Vendilion Clique : Hey! Its a 3 x /1 flier with flash. I like to use it as a surprise blocker, mess with his hand and trade with his attacker. Can alternatively be used as a win-con if it sticks long enough.

Plumeveil : I've found that Plumeveil is one of the most effective ways of dealing with the aggro decks of the format. And it is very hard to get past it, short of a Flame Javelin or Path to Exile . The flash makes it a very fun combat trick too. It can buy you enough time to set up your win. It's simply an essential card.

Glen Elendra Archmage : Possible Sideboard option, especially against 5 x CC. It can help you go toe-to-toe with Cruel Ultimatum and also to win you counter wars.

Oona, Queen of the Fae : Some decks use this as an alternate win-con. Very resilient to removal as she is terror-proof and smiles at agony warp and flame javelin.

Nucklavee : Quite useful sometimes. Can recur Cryptic Command + Pyroclasm or something. Plus he is a beater.

Swans of Bryn Argoll : The centerpiece of this deck, it is immune to any form of red-based removal (though opponents will often point burn at it to refill their hand - watch out for this). Incinerate it to draw 3 x +[Seismic]+[Assault]+[c]+[,]+[it]+[also]+[spells]+[Cycling]+[Discard]+[a]+[land]+[Draw]+[2]+[cards]+[All]+[that,]+[plus]+[it]+[flies]+[and]+[beats]+[for]+[4]" class="linkedCardName" target="_blank">cards, Pyroclasm and draw 2 cards. When combined with [c]Seismic Assault , it also spells Cycling(Discard a land: Draw 2 cards). All that, plus it flies and beats for 4? Seismic Assault , it also spells Cycling(Discard a land: Draw 2 cards). All that, plus it flies and beats for 4?&type=card">

Other Spells

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Cryptic Command : I don't particularly feel as though this card needs an introduction these days, does it? Arguably the best counterspell in standard. Auto 4 x -of.

Cancel : The new nerfed version of Counterspell . Not very popular in this deck though.

Broken Ambitions : Really amazing early game, but still usable in late game. Lets you scry 1 x +[Cruel]+[Ultimatum]+[c]+[countered]+[because]+[you]+[couldn]+[t]+[pay]+[1]+[more]+[mana]" class="linkedCardName" target="_blank">, plus gives a chance to "mill" away possible threats. Best used when they tap out for something big. Imagine how demoralizing it is to have your [c]Cruel Ultimatum countered because you couldn't pay 1 more mana. Cruel Ultimatum countered because you couldn't pay 1 more mana.&type=card">

Remove Soul : Selective counter magic. But I usually prefer to run more Negate because it covers so much more (Instants, Sorcery, Artifact, Enchantments & Planeswalkers!). Plus, you have burn if there is a need to get rid of a creature.

Negate : Selective counter magic. Great card depending on your meta. Owns 5 x CC decks. Cryptic Command, Broken Ambitions, Negate, and Remove Soul is simply the best counterspell suite any deck can have in this format.

Flashfreeze : Very cost efficient counter. Awesome in current meta. Definitely possible for Sideboard.

Jace Beleren : Some decks run 4 x of this guy! Four seems like a lot, sure, but this deck treats Jace a bit differently than any deck before it. In Swans, this guy is expendable. You can run him out against decks that you know can kill him within two turns, and you don't have to think twice about it. If he draws you two cards, he's done his job. Of course, you want more out of him than that, but often times you'll just work with what you have.

Chandra Nalaar : Just thought I should mention her since Jace is here. Can't really find a place for her. Maybe as a 1 x -of?

Goblin Assault : Quite powerful against decks with few creatures (which you will counter or burn anyways). All you need to do is to drop one or more Goblin Assault and it will endlessly apply pressure without costing you any mana investment. Have you seen how crazy it is with 2 x -3 Goblin Assaults in play? With the insane CA this deck generates, it is highly possible.

Pyroclasm : Very cheap global removal. Only problem is Burrenton Forge-Tender .

Volcanic Fallout : An instant Pyroclasm that can't be countered. Considering that the average Swans list plays seven or more sweepers, it stands to reason that Swans should have a pretty impressive match-up with creature-based decks and even Faeries.

Incinerate : Part burn spell, part removal spell, part draw spell. In the first few turns it will serve as a removal spell for Figure of Destiny and Knight of Meadowgrain , while later on it will be Ancestral Recall or the last 3 x points to your opponent's dome. A must have.

Puncture Blast : Cost 1 x +[Kitchen]+[finks]+[Finks]+[c]+[and]+[friends]+[My]+[favorite]+[part]+[of]+[it]+[is]+[that]+[it]+[mutes]+[c]+[Rhox]+[War]+[Monk]+[c]" class="linkedCardName" target="_blank">more than incinerate, but still useful against [c=Kitchen finks]Finks and friends. My favorite part of it is that it mutes Rhox War Monk . Finks and friends. My favorite part of it is that it mutes Rhox War Monk .&type=card">

Lash Out : Really like this card, but since it can't target the player directly(by chance), it is slightly less useful here. Not as good decks with lesser creatures.

Flame Javelin : Arguably the best burn spell in standard, however RRR may be abit hard to generate in a dual color deck. You could play it for 2 x RR but thats not really efficient. I kinda prefer Puncture Blast for the wither.

Shock / Tarfire : Cheap burn, but may not be so useful since alot of creatures have more than 2 x toughness these days. And we already have Seismic Assault . Seismic Assault .&type=card">

Firespout : Better than pyroclasm? Problem is we don't have green mana.

Seismic Assault : In all my testing, one thing became pretty clear over time - the games in which I resolved this card were the ones I had almost no shot of losing. Whether it is used to clear blockers for Swans of Bryn Argoll or your manlands, to draw cards, or to burn the opponent, this card simply makes the deck tick. You won't ever need more than two (as any beyond the first are useless), but with two you can be sure to draw it every game.

Tidings : Though questionable at first, this card is simply remarkable here. It digs for your win conditions if you don't have them yet, and later it digs for lands to fuel Seismic Assault. It also combines with the other draw spells in the deck to create a card advantage machine that simply is unmatched in Standard. No more than two are necessary, but I feel like any less than two is just wrong.

Relic of Progenitus : Sideboard material. Works wonders against Reveillark and Demigod decks.

Dragon's Claw : Possible SB material against RDW?

Lands

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Island & Mountain : Obviously.

Faerie Conclave : One of the best Man-Lands around due to built in evasion.

Ghitu Encampment : Another possible man-land. First Strike makes it serve as a good blocker too.

Cascade Bluffs : Mana fixer. Filter land for your colors. 4 x -of.

Shivan Reef : Pain land. Don't let it kill you though.

Mutavault : Just another man-land. These cards are your win conditions in the event that Swans of Bryn Argoll and Seismic Assault don't pan out.

Crumbling Necropolis : Just another land to fix your colors. Interacts well with Reflecting Pool.

Vivid Creek : You can include a few of these if you are going to splash black, or to enable SB Black cards.

Reflecting Pool : I don't see any non mono-colored deck that doesn't run 4 x of these.

DECKLISTS

Proof of Concept

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Proof of Concept
I just thought that I should include the very first deck list which I worked with. The idea that started it all. This decklist is not fantastic, no Swans either, but it works (kinda), and it is definitely budget friendly.

U/R CounterBurn v1 x .0
U/R Control
By:AzureKn1 x ght]

Lands
4 x Cascade Bluffs Cascade Bluffs &type=card">
6 x Island Island &type=card">
6 x Mountain Mountain &type=card">
2 x Faerie Conclave Faerie Conclave &type=card">
4 x Shivan Reef Shivan Reef &type=card">

Creatures
3 x +[Dominus]+[of]+[Fealty]+[c]" class="linkedCardName" target="_blank">[c]Dominus of Fealty Dominus of Fealty &type=card">
3 x Vendilion Clique Vendilion Clique &type=card">

Spells
4 x Goblin Assault Goblin Assault &type=card">
4 x Cancel Cancel &type=card">
4 x +[Dream]+[Fracture]+[c]" class="linkedCardName" target="_blank">[c]Dream Fracture Dream Fracture &type=card">
4 x Pyroclasm Pyroclasm &type=card">
4 x Incinerate Incinerate &type=card">
4 x Puncture Blast Puncture Blast &type=card">
3 x Broken Ambitions Broken Ambitions &type=card">
3 x Negate Negate &type=card">
2 x Jace Beleren Jace Beleren &type=card">

Sideboard

3 x Remove Soul Remove Soul &type=card">
4 x Relic of Progenitus Relic of Progenitus &type=card">
4 x Flashfreeze Flashfreeze &type=card">
4 x Dragon's Claw Dragon's Claw &type=card">

If for some reason, you want to see more of the old builds as well as those contributed by other users, you can find the old thread here: http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1119540

My Decklists Show

Decklists Created by Me. Or Decklists which I am currently testing.

U/R Seismic Swans
By: AzureKn1ght

Lands
1 x *Ghitu Encampment

4 x *Crumbling Necropolis

Creatures
3 x *Plumeveil

3 x *Swans of Bryn Argoll

2 x *Razormane Masticore

(Testing the Masticores MD. Hopefully it will work well with Swans)

Other Spells
3 x *Broken Ambitions

3 x *Volcanic Fallout

Sideboard

2 x *Banefire

3 x *Glen Elendra Archmage

2 x *Sower of Temptation

1 x *Volcanic Fallout

UBR Grixis Control
By: AzureKn1ght

With the success of the Swans control deck, I decided that it might be worth to add black to the deck, and form a Grixis control deck. Many of the deck's main features are derived from the Seismic Swans deck. Although this deck is not exactly a Seismic Swans deck (no swans at all!), this deck uses generally the same strategy, playing heavy countrol and card advantage engines. The only difference here is that the win-con has been changed to Demigod which when played in multiples, can be quite devastating.

-Land-
4 x Crumbling Necropolis

-Creatures-
4 x Demigod of Revenge

3 x Plumeveil

2 x Wydwen, the Biting Gale

-Other Spells-
4 x Broken Ambitions

Sideboard

3 x Pithing Needle

3 x Terror

3 x Infest

2 x Guttural Response

2 x Negate

1 x Banefire

1 x Plumeveil

Tournament Decklists Show

Found another successful decklist that made Top 8? Send me the link! I'll update it here.

2009 Regionals

Parth Modi
Standard - 3rd Place, Chicago, IL Regionals

4 x *Cascade Bluffs

4 x *Fire-Lit Thicket

4 x *Ghitu Encampment

42 x lands

4 x *Swans of Bryn Argoll

8 x creatures

2 x *Ad Nauseam

4 x *Bituminous Blast

4 x *Seismic Assault

10 x other spells

Sideboard

1 x *Ad Nauseam

2 x *Ajani Vengeant

2 x *Aura of Silence

1 x *Maelstrom Pulse

4 x *Qasali Pridemage

3 x *Vexing Shusher

2 x *Volcanic Fallout

15 x sideboard cards

This decklist is not your standard U/R build, it doesn't play any control or CA spells. Instead, he chose to take advantage of the cascade mechanic, and Ad Nauseam, to quickly get out all the combo pieces. Then end the game by burning the opponent to death. This is an interesting build, really worth considering. This could be the direction where the Swans deck is heading.

Pro Tour-Kyoto Decklists

AzureKn1ght wrote:
Among the players who decided to run the swans build, one of them in particular deserves special mention. And that is Shuhei Nakamura. If you don't know who he is, you might have been living under a rock. He is one helluva good player. Probably one of the best players around.

Shuhei Nakamura U/R Swans:

Shuhei Nakamura - U/R Swans
Pro Tour-Kyoto, Standard

Main Deck

60 x cards

4 x *Cascade Bluffs
4 x *Crumbling Necropolis
1 x *Ghitu Encampment
5 x *Island
1 x *Mountain
3 x *Mutavault
4 x *Reflecting Pool
4 x *Shivan Reef
26 x lands

3 x *Plumeveil
3 x *Swans of Bryn Argoll
6 x creatures

3 x *Broken Ambitions
4 x *Cryptic Command
2 x *Incinerate
4 x *Jace Beleren
2 x *Negate
4 x *Pyroclasm
2 x *Remove Soul
2 x *Seismic Assault
2 x *Tidings
3 x *Volcanic Fallout
28 x other spells

Sideboard

2 x *Banefire
2 x *Glen Elendra Archmage
4 x *Goblin Assault
1 x *Incendiary Command
1 x *Negate
1 x *Pithing Needle
1 x *Plumeveil
2 x *Swerve
1 x *Volcanic Fallout
15 x sideboard cards

Taken From: http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/A … 9/topslist

Magic Online Decklists Show

Magic Online Premier Event Top 8 Decklists

YYsapporo - 1st Place
Standard Event #192780 on 02/12/2009

Main Deck

60 x cards

4 x *Cascade Bluffs

4 x *Crumbling Necropolis

2 x *Ghitu Encampment

27 x lands

1 x *Oona, Queen of the Fae

4 x *Swans of Bryn Argoll

5 x creatures

3 x *Broken Ambitions

Sideboard

3 x *Flashfreeze

3 x *Guttural Response

3 x *Sower of Temptation

2 x *Swerve

4 x *Vithian Stinger

15 x sideboard cards

Taken from: http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/e … /mol192780

I guess this is the most successful build by far, I'm just puzzled by the single Pithing Needle?

Of course, there are a few others that made top 8 as well. I decided to specially mention this because he made it to 1st place! Congratz YYsapporo! He has been constantly playing U/R CounterBurn on Magic Online and his Seismic Swans build has seen much success lately. If you check the link, you'll realize that he had beaten many 5 color control builds to the top spot this proves our superiority. I really wish he could post some of his experiences and match up details here so that we can further develop the deck.

Good Luck in your future matches YYsapporo! Keep up the good work! :D

Ysapporo - 4th Place
Standard Event #176871 on 01/29/2009

60 x cards

4 x *Cascade Bluffs

4 x *Crumbling Necropolis

2 x *Ghitu Encampment

27 x lands

1 x *Oona, Queen of the Fae

4 x *Swans of Bryn Argoll

1 x *Vendilion Clique

6 x creatures

3 x *Broken Ambitions

Sideboard

3 x *Flashfreeze

3 x *Guttural Response

1 x *Pithing Needle

4 x *Sower of Temptation

4 x *Vithian Stinger

15 x sideboard cards

Taken from: http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/e … /mol176871

Bard_Taliesin - 4th Place
Standard Event #168796 on 01/28/2009

60 x cards

4 x *Cascade Bluffs

4 x *Crumbling Necropolis

27 x lands

1 x *Oona, Queen of the Fae

4 x *Swans of Bryn Argoll

5 x creatures

3 x *Broken Ambitions

Sideboard

3 x *Flashfreeze

3 x *Guttural Response

1 x *Oona, Queen of the Fae

4 x *Sower of Temptation

4 x *Vithian Stinger

15 x sideboard cards

Taken From: http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/e … /mol168796

YYsapporo - 2nd Place
Standard Event #168796 on 01/28/2009

60 x cards

4 x *Cascade Bluffs

4 x *Crumbling Necropolis

2 x *Ghitu Encampment

27 x lands

1 x *Oona, Queen of the Fae

4 x *Swans of Bryn Argoll

3 x *Vendilion Clique

8 x creatures

3 x *Broken Ambitions

Sideboard

3 x *Flashfreeze

3 x *Guttural Response

1 x *Pithing Needle

4 x *Sower of Temptation

4 x *Vithian Stinger

15 x sideboard cards

Taken from: http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/e … /mol168796

YYsapporo - 2nd Place
Standard 24-18-12-12-6-6-6-6 Event #154403 on 01/11/2009

Lands
4 x *Cascade Bluffs

4 x *Crumbling Necropolis

27 x lands

Creatures
1 x *Oona, Queen of the Fae

4 x *Swans of Bryn Argoll

5 x creatures

Spells
3 x *Broken Ambitions

Sideboard

3 x *Guttural Response

1 x *Jace Beleren

1 x *Oona, Queen of the Fae

4 x *Sower of Temptation

2 x *Swerve

4 x *Vithian Stinger

15 x sideboard cards

Taken from: http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/e … /mol154403

YYsapporo - 3rd Place
Standard Event #154405 on 01/12/2009
[/SIZE]

Lands
4 x *Cascade Bluffs

4 x *Crumbling Necropolis

27 x lands

Creatures
1 x *Oona, Queen of the Fae

4 x *Swans of Bryn Argoll

5 x creatures

Spells
3 x *Broken Ambitions

Sideboard

3 x *Flashfreeze

3 x *Guttural Response

1 x *Oona, Queen of the Fae

4 x *Sower of Temptation

4 x *Vithian Stinger

15 x sideboard cards

Taken from: http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/e … /mol154405

YYsapporo tweaked his original list abit, deciding on a 3rd Jace and cutting the 2nd Tidings ( a good choice imo ), he also changed his SB, adding Flashfreeze in place of Swerve allowing him to have answers to more threats. I really like his decklists. YYsapporo whoever you are, your input on this forum would be greatly appreciated!

duotianshi203 - 8th Place
Standard Event #160682 on 01/18/2009

Lands
4 x *Cascade Bluffs

4 x *Crumbling Necropolis

27 x lands

Creatures
1 x *Oona, Queen of the Fae

4 x *Swans of Bryn Argoll

5 x creatures

Spells
3 x *Broken Ambitions

Sideboard

3 x *Guttural Response

1 x *Jace Beleren

1 x *Oona, Queen of the Fae

4 x *Sower of Temptation

2 x *Swerve

4 x *Vithian Stinger

15 x sideboard cards

Taken from: http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/e … /mol160682

Notice that this guy decided to run the exact same list as the one YYsapporo used on 01/11/2009. Maybe this build is more popular or more successful?

Other Builds Show

Decent Decklists submitted by other users.

Seismic Swans - By Veji

3 x Plumeveil

Plumeveil

&type=card">
3 x Swans of Bryn Argoll

Swans of Bryn Argoll

&type=card">
-------------------------
6 x Creatures

4 x Cryptic Command

Cryptic Command

&type=card">
3 x Broken Ambitions

Broken Ambitions

&type=card">
2 x Remove Soul

Remove Soul

&type=card">
2 x Negate

Negate

&type=card">
----------------------
11 x Counterspells

4 x Pyroclasm

Pyroclasm

&type=card">
2 x +[Magma]+[Spray]+[c]" class="linkedCardName" target="_blank">[c]Magma Spray

Magma Spray

&type=card">
2 x Incinerate

Incinerate

&type=card">
2 x Seismic Assault

Seismic Assault

&type=card">
1 x Volcanic Fallout

Volcanic Fallout

&type=card">
---------------------
11 x Burn

3 x Jace Beleren

Jace Beleren

&type=card">
2 x Tidings

Tidings

&type=card">
-----------------
5 x Draw

4 x Crumbling Necropolis

Crumbling Necropolis

&type=card">
4 x Shivan Reef

Shivan Reef

&type=card">
4 x Cascade Bluffs

Cascade Bluffs

&type=card">
4 x Reflecting Pool

Reflecting Pool

&type=card">
4 x Mutavault

Mutavault

&type=card">
2 x Ghitu Encampment

Ghitu Encampment

&type=card">
4 x Island

Island

&type=card">
1 x Mountain

Mountain

&type=card">
-------------------------
27 x Land

Sideboard

2 x Volcanic Fallout

Volcanic Fallout

&type=card">
2 x +[Guttural]+[Response]+[c]" class="linkedCardName" target="_blank">[c]Guttural Response

Guttural Response

&type=card">
2 x +[Swerve]+[c]" class="linkedCardName" target="_blank">[c]Swerve

Swerve

&type=card">
2 x Vendilion Clique

Vendilion Clique

&type=card">
2 x +[Sower]+[of]+[Temptation]+[c]" class="linkedCardName" target="_blank">[c]Sower of Temptation

Sower of Temptation

&type=card">
2 x Glen Elendra Archmage

Glen Elendra Archmage

&type=card">
1 x +[Banefire]+[c]" class="linkedCardName" target="_blank">[c]Banefire

Banefire

&type=card">
1 x +[Pithing]+[Needle]+[c]" class="linkedCardName" target="_blank">[c]Pithing Needle

Pithing Needle

&type=card">
1 x +[Ingot]+[Chewer]+[c]" class="linkedCardName" target="_blank">[c]Ingot Chewer

Ingot Chewer

&type=card">
---------------------------
15 x Sideboard Cards

Contribute Your Decklists!

MATCH UPS

Match Ups Show

Please note that the statistical numbers are only rough estimates derived from my playtesting, and the actual game match up can vary due to many factors. However, this can be use as a rough guide on how to play against the different decks.

Faeries - 60/40
While I can't say how entirely accurate it is to say that this match-up is always going to be 60/40 in the favor of Swans, that was the way it appeared to be after a good deal of testing. The Faerie player can usually win the average game as long as he gets a strong hand and a turn two Bitterblossom, but there are so many hands with Swans that just beat Faeries that it is truly a wonder why no one played this deck sooner. Volcanic Fallout as well as Pyroclasm help to keep the Fae player's board empty most of the time, and Plumeveil holds off any trouble-makers. Once again, resolving a Seismic Assault makes it almost impossible for them to beat you.

RW Lark (aka Boat Brew) - 65/35
RW Lark is generally the deck you want to play against when piloting Swans. With no way to make its men bigger than x/2, you're going to always get the most out of your sweepers. Your counterspells make up for what Pyroclasm and company won't kill. Post SB, Pithing Needle

really shuts down Figure of Destiny

, Siege-Gang Commander

, Windbrisk Heights

, and Ajani Vengeant

. A pretty easy match-up overall, which is good considering the popularity of RW.

B/W Tokens - 55/45
This match-up is mostly in your favor (and thus might actually be higher than 55/45), but the success that Swans has against B/W is directly related to whether or not the Tokens player resolves a Glorious Anthem effect or not. Just like against Boat Brew, your sweepers will be able to clear the opponent's board while also gaining you card advantage. The plan of countering threats and periodically clearing the board works fine 90% of the time, but sometimes they will sneak a second Glorious Anthem into play and then you find your sweepers to be nearly useless. If the B/W player can make his tokens bigger than x/2, you've probably lost. Seismic Assault can help to bail you out of this situation by giving you more ammunition to pick off the stragglers, but generally it means game over. If they have Thoughtseize

, expect a slight improvement in their deck performance against Swans. The good news is that Swans is innately resilient to Head Games, since they likely won't want to fill your hand with lands. It's still bad for you since they will give you the least useful cards at any given time, but it's a far cry from what happens to a Five Color player.

Five Color Control - 50/50 (possibly more)
In this match-up, you want to be as aggressive as you can whilst also out-drawing them. It's difficult to strike a proper balance for this, but the ideal way to do it is to drop a Goblin Assault and allow it to act as a pseudo-Bitterblossom that will endlessly apply pressure without costing you any mana investment. Glen Elendra Archmage

can help you go toe-to-toe with Cruel Ultimatum

and also to win you counter wars. The match-up with Five Color is generally even. You may draw more cards than they will, but the card quality overall in their deck is better. If you can stick a Seismic Assault, you should usually win. They might have Runed Halo

, though, so be sure to hold a Cryptic Command back when you have enough lands for lethal.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Match Up Details from previous thread.

Faeries:
Quite a favourable match up. You have Negate, Broken Ambitions and a whole suite of counterspells for their Bitterblossom

. If they do pull it off later in the game, you play a Goblin Assault to pressure them (they can trade with me forever, but lose a life a turn). You could have some Guttural Response

SB to beat the counter war. In this matchup, use V. Clique to take mistbind, or remove soul it.
Aim all burn spells at them until BB bleeds them to death? If all else fails, pyroclasm them when the numbers are up. All of their control against creatures is virtually useless as you have so few creatures. Demigods will wreck them too

Builds that splash a little green mana base can SB Naturalize or something?

Demigod/Red Deck Wins:
This match up relies on the draw quite a bit. If you can set up with your control early enough, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem, follow up with pyroclasm/firespout for their smaller creatures. If they pull out several Demigod of revenge in Game 1, theres really nothing you can do.
You definitely wanna Side in Faerie Macabre

/ Relic of Progenitus

and Flashfreeze

.

Theleetnoob wrote:
Hi, I've done 6-0 to my FNM Today and wanted to hear your thoughts about my list. I find it pretty fun to play, consistent and have enough win-cons to switch for control to aggro in the space of 1 turn. Heres my list and my MU

Game 1 : Elf Ball - Vithian Stinger out of the board kills this decks 2-0
Game 2 : Red Deck Wins - 2-0
Game 3 : Naya Agro - 2-0
Game 4 : Goblin Warriors - 2-0
Game 5 : Blightning Red - 2-1
Game 6 : Jund Ramp - 2-0

Kithkin/White Weenie:
This match up could prove to be problematic. The important factor in this matchup is the early game. If you allow them to get a few early hits in, it’s not hard for them to surprise you with a Mirrorweave or Ajani Goldmane to take you down. Spectral Procession will be a thorn in your side to deal with. Pyroclasm combined with other burn spells can go a long way in this matchup. Also, Vendilion Clique can flash in when they attack, it can trade and get rid of their Cloudgoat or something. Post-board, they get forge-tenders, but we have options, too. Everlasting Torment neuters them, and Magma Spray seems good to hit a T1 figure.

5 Color Control:
This matchup is typically favourable, all of their control against creatures is virtually useless as you have so few. Puncture Blast away their Finks. Just make sure you have your counters up for their Cruel Ultimatum. Post SB Fulminator Mage or Memory Plunder will prove useful. Resolve a Jace and the Card Advantage should overwhelm them. They typically die to your planeswalkers... So have your Jace and Chandra stick around.

Reveillark Control:
This match up should be fairly easy for you. You just need to keep your counters up for any of their threats. Revaillark should never resolve and neither should Makeshift Mannequin. Shriekmaw does nothing to you. Demigod should more or less win you the game. Same as against RDW, you definitely wanna Side in Faerie Macabre / Relic of Progenitus .

Lemme know how your testing goes. I'd really like to hear it, and update the match ups here.

CREDITS

Credits Show

To Hodoku for the awesome dividers
To neruka for coming up with the banner
To WotC and the respective artist for the artwork.
To Chris Jobin from http://mtgsalvation.com/996-thirst-for- … birds.html for a very informative article.
To All of you who have contributed your ideas and Decklists

THANKS!

Well, thats all for U/R Swans. I really hope people can take it to some competitive tournaments, or just have fun with the deck. I would really appreciate if anyone could give me some opinion or suggestions on this deck. Send me your versions! I'll really like to see it, and we can all critique. [s]Also, I'm looking for a really good banner. I hope any of you who are more artistic can help me out.

Note: I'm quite busy these days, so I may take awhile to reply, but any comments and suggestions are most welcomed.

THANKS! :D[/FONT]

VeJi

Date Joined: Aug 29, 2008

Posts: 4,560

Good luck at Regionals fellow Swans players!!!

AzureKn1ght

Date Joined: Dec 1, 2008

Posts: 178

Detailed Metagame Breakdown

Here is all the match ups for the different Archetypes in Standard. (At least the most common ones) Note that this list was taken from Pro-Tour Kyoto, and may be subject to change, nothing is set in stone afterall. I'd just decided to put it up here to help everyone in their deck building, particularly the construction of a suitable SB for the current meta-game.

I hope this goes a long way to helping everyone with their deck building! :D

AzureKn1ght

Date Joined: Dec 1, 2008

Posts: 178

Detailed Swans Match Up Statistics
(Taken From Pro-Tour Kyoto)

Here are the match up statistics for U/R Swans. Please note that this table is constructed using data from Pro-Tour Kyoto alone. Therefore, this table may not be very accurate. As you can see, the number of matches is relatively small, and this can make the data less accurate.

I hope this table can help you better understand how this deck fairs against the respective match ups, as well as to aid you in constructing your deck as well as preparing a SB that will even out tougher match ups. Good Luck!

Raamthunder

Date Joined: Jan 20, 2009

Posts: 487

you spelled archtype wrong?

AzureKn1ght

Date Joined: Dec 1, 2008

Posts: 178

Raamthunder wrote:
you spelled archtype wrong?

EDIT, EDIT:

sisomic wrote:
Its archetype, with an "r". :D

FIXED

sisomic

Date Joined: Oct 11, 2005

Posts: 2,137

AzureKn1ght wrote:
Um.. I don't think so... If I'm not wrong, its spelled Achetype. With the 'E'.

???

I'll do some Googling to see.

Its archetype, with an "r". :D

drakeavril

Date Joined: Oct 22, 2008

Posts: 14

Here's the deck I won an FNM with 5-0
took on fae, 2x5cc, a kithkin, and a boat brew

Creatures: 7

4 swans of bryn argoll

3 plumeveil

Counterspell: 16
3 negate

Other spells: 12
1 swerve

(helps against counter wars)
1 volcanic fallout

2 seismic assault

4 jace beleren

4 pyroclasm

Land: 25
4 crumbling necropolis

sideboard: 15
3 swerve

2 relic of progenitus

I think the hardest deck to play against was RDW, I dedicated a lot of sideboard to RDW. Cancel is actually VERY good, late game hard counters are always a plus. I out controlled a 5cc deck twice through sheer counters once sideboard hits (think up to 22)

Raamthunder

Date Joined: Jan 20, 2009

Posts: 487

Against Rdw the Wall of reverence is a great choice

neruka

Date Joined: Dec 10, 2008

Posts: 3,395

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Here's something. Use it if you like.

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