Zombies and Invisibile Stalker

[Thomas David Baker]

Zombies gives Delver ("the best deck") fits.  And it is no longer putting up much in the way of results.  What is crushing it so badly?

Also, someone please explain to me why Invisible Stalker is good in Delver lists running 2 Runechanter's Pike and no other equipment.

Yes, I am trying to get into Standard just before a new set and yes I am still terrible.  I'm thinking mostly of June and assuming that Avacyn Restored isn't going to "change everything" tooooo much.

[Simon O'Keeffe]

I don't really know anything about standard, but I'm guessing Zombies loses to lots of other decks?

As to Invisible Stalker, maybe these Delver decks have loads of Swords in the sideboard?

I've certainly seen 4x Stalker + 4x Geist + 4x Sword of War & Peace as powerful Delver lists.

[Dan Barrett]

Does Zombies really crush Delver that bad, or is that just one of those things people say, like "mono-red beats fairies"? I know in general the deck performed badly at the WMCQ, DLS did some analysis of it

[Louis Mackie]

Snapcaster + Celestial Purge makes postboard games a little easier on Delver.

[Thomas David Baker]

I only played 16 games vs Zombies.  8 with Delver and 8 with RG Aggro.  I know I'm terrible but I can't see how either of those is not a favorable matchup for Zombies.  Also everyone's favorite big rinse, Sword of War and Peace, is stone terrible against you.  One Feast and Famine out of the board doesn't really compensate.  Celestial Purge is very good after boarding.

I can't play Delver mirrors against people that are better than me and I can't play things with unfavorable Delver matchups because that's even worse.  So currently I'm on the Zombie plan.  I still need to play Delver more and work out why Stalker is main deck when Sword of War and Peace is not.

[Daniel Royde]

Whose list?

Thomas David Baker said:

I only played 16 games vs Zombies.  8 with Delver and 8 with RG Aggro.  I know I'm terrible but I can't see how either of those is not a favorable matchup for Zombies.  Also everyone's favorite big rinse, Sword of War and Peace, is stone terrible against you.  One Feast and Famine out of the board doesn't really compensate.  Celestial Purge is very good after boarding.

I can't play Delver mirrors against people that are better than me and I can't play things with unfavorable Delver matchups because that's even worse.  So currently I'm on the Zombie plan.  I still need to play Delver more and work out why Stalker is main deck when Sword of War and Peace is not.

[Thomas David Baker]

Zombies: http://mtgpulse.com/event/7149#97823

R/G Aggro: http://mtgpulse.com/event/7132#97669

Delver: http://mtgpulse.com/event/7132#97674

[Daniel Royde]

Just pike is enough with stalker.
It does seem to be a slightly strange list.

[Joe Saxton]

i tested blue black zombies a bit and it really loses out to certain sideboard cards.  batterskull and timely reinforcements both expose your seriously weak late game and people actually started playing red sun's zenith maindeck in some lists as it makes your gravecrawlers and messengers look very unexciting.

[Dimitrios Paleocrassas]

I think the problem with the newer variant of Zombie decks is that they are using too much targeted removal (in particular the B/R variant) which is pretty useless against hexproof creatures. Sacrficial effects from Liliana and Geth's verdict should be enough to keep the Delver deck in check as long as they are not swarming you with spirits from Lingering Souls (which again can be kept in check by sideboarding ratchet bombs and/or spellbombs) or vapor snagging their hexproof creatures. Delver of Secrets is easy to keep under control if you are using 3 pods and 3 fume spitters in the MD for the early game.

I have had a very good run with the B/R zombie deck until last weekend where my deck just decided to mana flood/mana screw  me all day and decided to drop after the 4th round (the worst I have ever experienced with real cardboard and tilted me big time). The decks that give Zombies a headache are Junk Planeswalkers, any deck using Wurm Coil Engines whether in a R/G ramp or control deck.

Favourable matchups for Zombies is Delver and Humans I have found. I find the deck very competitive and not to be underestimated.

I suppose people have different experiences with the deck.

Cheers