Mono Blue Tron for Boston
Hi Everybody,
This time I want to talk about the deck I played in GP Boston: Mono U Tron.
Probably you already know about the deck, it is not a tier 1 deck, and probably it is not so strong to make it a good choice for a tournament, but it is one of the most fun deck of the format.
The power of the deck is not low too, since it is not famous and it works properly as a control deck featuring a combo.
The deck was suggested by one of my friends, Marco Cammilluzzi, who won a PTQ this season with it.
Let’s start with his list:
Marco Camiluzzi – Mono U Tron – WINNER
The deck is quite strong against combo in general, thanks to the many disruption pieces, it should be hard for your opponent to get through them.
Then they must close the game before you start your own, just one activation of Mindslaver could be enough in many games.
Against control decks it’s powerful too, since you have much more mana then them so you can play your own threats AND Counterspells, at the same time.
Aggressive decks are quite difficult to beat, but it is not impossible.
I tested the deck a bit and then realize what it needed, this is the list that I played in Boston:
I removed 2 Solemn Simulacrum for a Batterskull and one Signet, and transformed a Talisman into a Signet too.
Fabricate into Batterskull could be really cool in some matches, against Burn it seems like the best game plan, since waiting one more turn for Wurmcoil Engine could be really dangerous against aggressive decks.
Dimir Signet could be worst in some particular scenario, but against aggressive decks saving 1 or 2 life could be really important.
In this way your Dismembers cost less life and if you have just Urza lands you dont risk getting too much damage.
Why not all Signets? Because sometimes you can draw an Expedition Map on turn two, or have a Spell Snare in hand post board, so you can play both cards if needed.
Let’s see how it works against the various decks:
Scapeshift:
This match is quite good for us, the game plan involves the tea-pot (Sundering Titan) or a Shampoo for your opponent (Mindslaver).
The best way to make it happen is waiting to get a lot of mana and then try it once the Tron is formed.
Keep the Counterspells for Scapeshift, I suggest to use them on Ramp cards only if you have many of them in your opening hand, but keep at least your Remands.
Sideboard: they will side cards to deal with your artifacts plus some Counterspells.
OUT: -2 Dismember -3 Repeal -1 Platinum Angel -1 Oblivion Stone -1 Batterskull
In : 1 Spell Pierce, 2 Negate, 3 Squelch, 2 Spell Snare
Splinter Twin UR:
This match is pretty good, the only plan you must be aware is the aggressive one, since it is the best against you.
The gameplan is pretty similar to the previous except that you have even more disruption.
Oblivion Stone can lock them down once Academy Ruins hits the ground.
OUT: -1 Solemn Simulacrum, -1 Platinum Angel, -1 Batterskull, -2 Talisman of Progress
IN: +2 Negate, + 1 Dismember, +1 Repeal +1 Oblivion Stone
Tarmo Twin:
This match is still good but not as much as the straight UR version.
Tarmogoyf ensures more pressure, and it is quite bad once the plan is assembling the Tron.
The sideboard plan is almost the same, except that you remove all the signets for 2 Spell Snare.
RG Tron:
It is quicker than us in assembling the Tron, but you have much more ways to interfere.
The two problems here are an early Karn Liberated or an Emrakul, the Aeons Torn if we are too slow.
Wurmcoil Engine isn’t actually a great threat against us.
OUT: -1 Platinum Angel, -3 Repeal, -2 Dismember -1 Sundering Titan
IN: +3 Squelch, +2 Negate, +1 Spell Pierce +1 Wurmcoil Engine.
Burn:
The main threat he or she, can play is Goblin Guide.
We haven’t many way to deal with creatures, and most of them are quite bad to handle an early threat like this.
If the Goblin Guide is not played the game is better, since you can get the Tempo you need thanks to Counterspells and play Batterskull to finish it.
OUT:-1 Oblivion Stone, -4 Remand[/card], -2 Mindslaver -1 Sundering Titan
IN: +2 Negate, +2 Spell Snare, +1 Spell Pierce, +1 Dismember, +1 Wurmcoil Engine, +1 Batterskull
Melira/Kiki Pod:
This match is really good for us.
The plan is once again: interfere with the combo and try to Shampoo them, gaining the tempo you need with Wurmcoil Engine or Batterskull.
OUT: -1 Solemn Simulacrum, -1 Mindslaver -1 Platinum Angel
IN: +1 Oblivion Stone, +1 Dismember +1 Repeal
Affinity:
This match is pretty bad for Mono U Tron.
We don’t really have good cards against him, even Oblivion Stone could not be enough if Arcbound Ravager and a Nexus are on the board.
OUT: -1 Sundering Titan, -4 Remand, -1 Mindslaver, -1 Solemn Simulacrum
IN: +2 Hurkyl’s Recall, +2 Spell Snare +1 Dismember +1 Repeal +1 Oblivion Stone
Junk
Junk is not that good, Tectonic Edge could grant the time he or she, needs to kill us.
Post board you must face Fulminator Mage too.
The main threat remains Liliana of the Veil.
OUT: 1 Dimir Signet, 2 Fabricate, 1 Sundering Titan, 1 Platinum Angel, 1 Solemn Simulacrum 1 Oblivion Stone, 1 Mindslaver
IN: 3 Squelch , 1 Dismember, 2 Spell Snare, 1 Batterskull, 1 Wurmcoil Engine.
Jund
Jund is easier than Junk.
The gameplan is almost the same but the side is a bit different.
OUT: 2 Fabricate, 1 Sundering Titan, 1 Platinum Angel, 1 Solemn Simulacrum, 1 Mindslaver
IN: 1 Dismember, 2 Spell Snare, 1 Batterskull, 1 Wurmcoil Engine, 1 Repeal
Those are the main plans in Modern, if you have some questions make them here!
Mono U Tron is a fun deck with a lot of potential, it is something different but still competitive.
I hope you can get some good time by playing this deck!
Samuele Estratti
