Yeah.... I don't want to talk about it.... It was bad.... My only win was against little 10-year old Corey.... But despite completely scrubbing out, it's not to say it was a complete waste of time. I did do some awesome trades that got me an Elspeth, which I will be adding to the UW Superfriends list (Elspeth -2, Venser +2 on Elspeth, think about it). In that same trade, I also got a Goblin Guide, which was also very helpful.
But back to me losing. I played almost the same list that I posted here, but I couldn't get any Inquisition of Kozeliks, so I had to settle for Mind Rot instead. I definitely think that was the wrong card to replace it with, because having counterspells would have been more useful. I'm not going to go round by round, because I will just whine about losing to this, losing to that, and losing in general. If you care, here is my TL;DR round by round:
Round 1: UR Counter-Burn
0-2
0-1
Round 2: MG Elves
2-1
1-1
Round 3: RUG
0-2
1-2
Round 4: UW Control
0-2
1-3
Round 5: RUG
1-2
1-4
So I didn't do much winning. However, after talking to Nick after he beat me (Round 4 UW Control) he suggested I cut my Plague Stingers for more control cards as hacing Skittles almost garuntees me a win anyways. I realized he was right. Maybe my problem is that the deck was focused enough. As Flores put it best, misassignment of role = game loss. I was always trying to be the beatdown turns 2-4 and the control for the rest of the game. The problem with that is if I want to be aggro, I need to do things like tap out for t2 Plague Stinger, which lets them resolve their Jace or something. Late game, I would need a solid spell and I would draw a Stinger which would do nothing for me. Basically, having more control cards and a 3rd Skittles is what I should go for next. Nick also suggested using Contagion Clasp as it could kill a Lotus Cobra or something and proliferate them to death later. If I do that, I think it will take up some board space though. If I am doing a ton of proliferating, I think I may throw in a single Lux Cannon for kicks. The card is amazing, it's just not fast enough on it's own, so the proliferate engines help it become epic again.
I will not give up on poison (and it's only going to get better as more infect cards are released), and soon ALL WILL BE ONE!
Until next time, stay classy!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Zen and the Art of Trading
"I AM TRYING TO SKREW YOU OVER!!"
If someone were to yell this at you when you were in the middle of a trade, would you keep trading with him? While he didn't exactly yell this at me, he might as well have. Here was the situation:
I am trading with this guy at my store who I really don't like, nor have I ever liked, but I try to be as nice as I can to everyone, because there's no reason to get everyone to hate you. I wasn't even on planning with trading with him, but he started asking me incessently if I wanted Fauna Shaman. I didn't, because I have 0 Fauna and 0 Vengivine, but after getting asked a dozen times I decided to look at his binder for anything. He explained to me how there are 2 sections: the one i nthe front is his normal trade binder, but in the back is his "pack to set of Jace TMS" section. He naturally wanted me to look at the back section, and amidst all the commons and uncommons from his pack sat a Fauna Shaman. Despite all of his pushing, I really didn't want the Fauna Shaman. He pushed and insisted, so I decided that I could probably just move it to another person later for something I want. We valued Shaman at 8, and I set up $8 worth of cards and he seemed like he wanted all the ones I pulled out. Then this conversation happened:
Me: "Okay, so that's good?"
Him: "Can you put something more in, like $2 more?"
Me: "You said Fauna is at 8 and these cards are at 8, so were even"
Him: "Yeah, but I don't want to break even I need to make a profit off of every trade or I can't get to Jaces"
I immediatly took my cards back and stopped trying to be a nice guy to him by making a fair trade for something I didn't even want.
Trading is an art, not a science. If it were a science, then you would lay the cards down, add up value, if they are even you trade and everyone is happy. However, that isn't the case. People can be emotionally attached to cards, people may be prospecting cards, people may value cards different from their "real" value, people can be convinced that they aren't worth what they "really" are.
If it were a science, how could I have pulled this trade off? I went +4 due to some dramatic misevaluations despite us thinking we were even.
So how can we get better at trading?
The most important thing when it comes to trading is to actually know how much your cards are worth! 2 days ago I traded for a Show and Tell which the valued at 10. I know this card is worth 20 because I have been searching for it online. I gladly moved in on the trade and wound up giving Molten-Tail Masticore for Iona, Shield of Emeria and Show and Tell. This is wonderful, and doesn't happen too often. In case you're wondering, here's what they are really worth (according to average prices on TCGplayer.com)
Iona: 5.94
Masticore: 14.62
Show and Tell: 18.84
So I went +10.16 on this trade, simply because of a misvaluing of Show and Tell.
Now, you can be a walking encyclopedia for card prices, but that only means you won't get skrewed over, and you know when the other guy mis-values the cards. Is that going to make you get better at trading? Not really. You see, there's more to trading than matching values. How can you expect to gain value on trades if you match prices exactly every time? The only way to do that is if you're an epic prospector and can grab hundreds of cards like Frost Titan before they double and a half in value.
That guy I mentioned earlier knows every price cold, but no one ever wants to trade with him. Why? To put it in simple man's terms, he's an asshole. If you read my story again, you should note how he contantly asked and insisted that I trade for Fauna Shaman, even though he knew I didn't want it. As John Medina has said, "I'm don't know finances, but I do know people." Being amiable with everyone is almost as important as knowing your prices in terms of making profitable trades. People are going to be much less likely to trade their beloved first planeswalker (ex Garruk Wildspeaker) if you're being impersonal and all business. They will naturally think they are getting skrewed over even if you offer something like Goblin Guide (which makes him go +2).
Quick Aside
{
Goblin Guide will almost never go down in value as it will be constantly played in Zoo and Mono-Red Legacy decks, so it's a very safe investment
}
Where does being nice in trading really shine? When you trade with the same people over and over again. TNT Gaming typically has 20-25 people at each FNM, so after a couple weeks you get to know everyone there, and very quickly you have tried to trade with everyone. If you're a jerk to everyone at the store, shockingly soon you won't be trading anymore. However, if you make some nice trades with people (even occasionally taking a buck or 2 loss), you can gain people's trust and ensure many more and potentially larger trades.
Compare this to a big event, where you're bouncing from person to person and you won't see the same people twice. Now you have only a few seconds to get this other guy to warm up to trading with you. If he thinks you're some jerk who is just trying to get as much money as he can as possible quick, he may be more restrictive with what he trades (nothing more than $20 worth). However, if he thinks your nice, all of a sudden his Titans and Koths are for trade. I found at the SCG Open that traders make little pods of people all around. I would see people in groups of 6-7 passing binders in a circle. It was in pods like these that being the cool nice guy really makes everyone feel better about trading with you.
When it comes to trading, leave your ego behind.
So to sum that all up, the 2 most important things is to know all the prices and to be a nice guy. That's what you always need to know when smoothing out the trade, but what do you do when looking at their beinder?
I always have a short list of cards in mind that I would like to trade for. Right now, that includes Garruk Wildspeaker, Goblin Guide, and GW Dual Lands (just got 4 more today!). What's the point of asking to trade with someone if you don't even know what you want to get out of it?
So I have mentioned a couple times how there is a different atmosphere when it comes to trading at huge events compared to trading at your store. At the huge events cards will be flying into and out of your binder faster than you could have guessed possible! One suggestion I have is to not get attached to a card unless it is an absolutely necessary card to have. For example, at the SCG Open I traded for tons of different cards and some cards like Thoughtseize, Lux Cannon, and Ratchet Bomb I moved to the back of the binder that I wasn't trading from because I had immediate uses for them all (Thoughtseize for Reanimator and the 2 explosive artifacts for a proliferate control deck that died, but I will probably ressurect with Beseiged). Lim-Dul's Vault is a card I have praised in this blog, but at the open I wasn't sure how good it actually was. I did leave with one by the end of the day, but it wasn't the first that came through my hands. I had traded for one, traded it away, and then traded for another one over the course of the day (I traded for the Vault at 5 and moved it at 6 =D). Some other cards I didn't leave with, but had over the course of the day included a bunch of Unhinged lands (mainly swamps). These were moving at 2 all day, and I found them to be a fantastic way to smooth out trades. Basically, if you don't absolutely need the card, don't get attached to it, and be willing to have it move out.
And that brings me to one little piece of inner rage. It's called a TRADE BINDER for a reason! I was trying to trade with a guy at my store last week and the first 3 cards I named that I was interested in he said were all not for trade. If it's not for trade, why is it there? I read on CF one of their financial guys recommended having 2 binders: One that you offer to everyone that has everything under $10, and another that is slightly smaller that has all your big cards valued at $10 or more. While I currently don't do that, I think I may soon (maybe I should get a phyrexian binder that is likely to get released with beseiged...).
Anyways, I think I should stop now. If I keep on going, I'm going to start rambling (if I haven't already =X). So that is all for now, until next time stay classy! All Will Be One!
If someone were to yell this at you when you were in the middle of a trade, would you keep trading with him? While he didn't exactly yell this at me, he might as well have. Here was the situation:
I am trading with this guy at my store who I really don't like, nor have I ever liked, but I try to be as nice as I can to everyone, because there's no reason to get everyone to hate you. I wasn't even on planning with trading with him, but he started asking me incessently if I wanted Fauna Shaman. I didn't, because I have 0 Fauna and 0 Vengivine, but after getting asked a dozen times I decided to look at his binder for anything. He explained to me how there are 2 sections: the one i nthe front is his normal trade binder, but in the back is his "pack to set of Jace TMS" section. He naturally wanted me to look at the back section, and amidst all the commons and uncommons from his pack sat a Fauna Shaman. Despite all of his pushing, I really didn't want the Fauna Shaman. He pushed and insisted, so I decided that I could probably just move it to another person later for something I want. We valued Shaman at 8, and I set up $8 worth of cards and he seemed like he wanted all the ones I pulled out. Then this conversation happened:
Me: "Okay, so that's good?"
Him: "Can you put something more in, like $2 more?"
Me: "You said Fauna is at 8 and these cards are at 8, so were even"
Him: "Yeah, but I don't want to break even I need to make a profit off of every trade or I can't get to Jaces"
I immediatly took my cards back and stopped trying to be a nice guy to him by making a fair trade for something I didn't even want.
Trading is an art, not a science. If it were a science, then you would lay the cards down, add up value, if they are even you trade and everyone is happy. However, that isn't the case. People can be emotionally attached to cards, people may be prospecting cards, people may value cards different from their "real" value, people can be convinced that they aren't worth what they "really" are.
If it were a science, how could I have pulled this trade off? I went +4 due to some dramatic misevaluations despite us thinking we were even.
So how can we get better at trading?
The most important thing when it comes to trading is to actually know how much your cards are worth! 2 days ago I traded for a Show and Tell which the valued at 10. I know this card is worth 20 because I have been searching for it online. I gladly moved in on the trade and wound up giving Molten-Tail Masticore for Iona, Shield of Emeria and Show and Tell. This is wonderful, and doesn't happen too often. In case you're wondering, here's what they are really worth (according to average prices on TCGplayer.com)
Iona: 5.94
Masticore: 14.62
Show and Tell: 18.84
So I went +10.16 on this trade, simply because of a misvaluing of Show and Tell.
Now, you can be a walking encyclopedia for card prices, but that only means you won't get skrewed over, and you know when the other guy mis-values the cards. Is that going to make you get better at trading? Not really. You see, there's more to trading than matching values. How can you expect to gain value on trades if you match prices exactly every time? The only way to do that is if you're an epic prospector and can grab hundreds of cards like Frost Titan before they double and a half in value.
That guy I mentioned earlier knows every price cold, but no one ever wants to trade with him. Why? To put it in simple man's terms, he's an asshole. If you read my story again, you should note how he contantly asked and insisted that I trade for Fauna Shaman, even though he knew I didn't want it. As John Medina has said, "I'm don't know finances, but I do know people." Being amiable with everyone is almost as important as knowing your prices in terms of making profitable trades. People are going to be much less likely to trade their beloved first planeswalker (ex Garruk Wildspeaker) if you're being impersonal and all business. They will naturally think they are getting skrewed over even if you offer something like Goblin Guide (which makes him go +2).
Quick Aside
{
Goblin Guide will almost never go down in value as it will be constantly played in Zoo and Mono-Red Legacy decks, so it's a very safe investment
}
Where does being nice in trading really shine? When you trade with the same people over and over again. TNT Gaming typically has 20-25 people at each FNM, so after a couple weeks you get to know everyone there, and very quickly you have tried to trade with everyone. If you're a jerk to everyone at the store, shockingly soon you won't be trading anymore. However, if you make some nice trades with people (even occasionally taking a buck or 2 loss), you can gain people's trust and ensure many more and potentially larger trades.
Compare this to a big event, where you're bouncing from person to person and you won't see the same people twice. Now you have only a few seconds to get this other guy to warm up to trading with you. If he thinks you're some jerk who is just trying to get as much money as he can as possible quick, he may be more restrictive with what he trades (nothing more than $20 worth). However, if he thinks your nice, all of a sudden his Titans and Koths are for trade. I found at the SCG Open that traders make little pods of people all around. I would see people in groups of 6-7 passing binders in a circle. It was in pods like these that being the cool nice guy really makes everyone feel better about trading with you.
When it comes to trading, leave your ego behind.
So to sum that all up, the 2 most important things is to know all the prices and to be a nice guy. That's what you always need to know when smoothing out the trade, but what do you do when looking at their beinder?
I always have a short list of cards in mind that I would like to trade for. Right now, that includes Garruk Wildspeaker, Goblin Guide, and GW Dual Lands (just got 4 more today!). What's the point of asking to trade with someone if you don't even know what you want to get out of it?
So I have mentioned a couple times how there is a different atmosphere when it comes to trading at huge events compared to trading at your store. At the huge events cards will be flying into and out of your binder faster than you could have guessed possible! One suggestion I have is to not get attached to a card unless it is an absolutely necessary card to have. For example, at the SCG Open I traded for tons of different cards and some cards like Thoughtseize, Lux Cannon, and Ratchet Bomb I moved to the back of the binder that I wasn't trading from because I had immediate uses for them all (Thoughtseize for Reanimator and the 2 explosive artifacts for a proliferate control deck that died, but I will probably ressurect with Beseiged). Lim-Dul's Vault is a card I have praised in this blog, but at the open I wasn't sure how good it actually was. I did leave with one by the end of the day, but it wasn't the first that came through my hands. I had traded for one, traded it away, and then traded for another one over the course of the day (I traded for the Vault at 5 and moved it at 6 =D). Some other cards I didn't leave with, but had over the course of the day included a bunch of Unhinged lands (mainly swamps). These were moving at 2 all day, and I found them to be a fantastic way to smooth out trades. Basically, if you don't absolutely need the card, don't get attached to it, and be willing to have it move out.
And that brings me to one little piece of inner rage. It's called a TRADE BINDER for a reason! I was trying to trade with a guy at my store last week and the first 3 cards I named that I was interested in he said were all not for trade. If it's not for trade, why is it there? I read on CF one of their financial guys recommended having 2 binders: One that you offer to everyone that has everything under $10, and another that is slightly smaller that has all your big cards valued at $10 or more. While I currently don't do that, I think I may soon (maybe I should get a phyrexian binder that is likely to get released with beseiged...).
Anyways, I think I should stop now. If I keep on going, I'm going to start rambling (if I haven't already =X). So that is all for now, until next time stay classy! All Will Be One!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
A Parent's Guide to having Smarter Children
You know why Magic isn't the world's most widely known game (that probably goes to monopoly)? It's because it requires a lot of thinking and information being transferred. Think about it, most people don't want to waste time doing anything. In fact, if I haven't grabbed your attention by now, there is a chance you would simply go to a new page. That was just 4 scentences (this being the 5th)! Here are some phrases you probably hear often without even thinking about it:
TL;DR (too long, didn't read)
Scanning the headlines
Sound byte
Newsflash
Tweet
Status update
All of those terms are common today. Why did I include those last 2? You really can't transfer much information with a 420 charecter restriction. Basically, we live in a world where we want information passed in as small as a form as possible. This creates problems as we lose the supporting details that can really make a situation make more sense or a story more realistic. We lose the chance to empathise and to get to know our story's heroes.
In magic an INSANE amount of information is passed each second by each card that is played. How each card is played. The time it took for each card to get played. And so on and so forth. On the board, the scene can be incredibly complex. Cards like Honor of the Pure in a GW deck can get confusing as your soldier tokens get buffs, but your elves don't. Maybe you are using a die rolled to "3" to represent a 3/3 Beast token made by your Garruk. Is it tapped or not? You can't actually tell, you just have to remember. Now you want to attack, but you play Overwhelming Stampede first. Now everything printed on your cards is a complete lie... (never mind if you had a Duress effect early in the game, so you have their hand memorized in the back of your head) But even before you go into interactive combat. Every single card in play has unique effects and abilities, even your land! No wonder even pros who have been playing the game for 15 years still make mistakes and miss triggers!
I firmly believe that Magic is one of the true reasons why I am such a calculating person, because by being acustomed to analizing rediculous amounts of information constantly, I can work more like a computer.
To demonstrate what I mean by the amount of information you have to process in magic compared to modern communications, I played a game vs Mark via txting. We were both at our own homes, and we only communicated via txt message. I was playing Valakut Ramp, and he was playing BUG. We both had sideboarded, as if it were game 2, and because it was a game 2, we had Mark go first, because Valakut should win G1. Here is our conversation (M = Mark, R = Ryan, which is me):
M - Island pass, kept my opening 7
R - Raging ravine pass
M - forest. cobra. island, forest in play tapped.
R - Mountain, overgrown battlement. all tapped out
M - misty rainforest. trigger landfall, add blue. use the floating blue mana to cast preordain. 2 cards to the bottom. then draw. pass turn. island,
M - forest, misty, and cobra all untapped
R - Casting cultivate
M - respond with mana leak.
M - tapping island and forest.
R - Spell is countered. Terramorphic expanse. pass
M - battlement is tapped, correct? if so attack with cobra for 2.
R - Yes, battlment is tapped. I go to 18
M - play creeping tar pit. pass turn. leaving island, forest, misty up.
R - EOT use terramorphic for mountain
M - yeap.
R - Terramorph, go. Battlement, 2 mountain, raging ravine, terramorphic all untapped
M - play a forest. landfall trigger. add black. use the floating black and a forest cast doomblade targeting the battlement.
R - You suck. Resolves
M - haha. attack with cobra for 2. pass turn. island, forest, misty, and tar pit open. i will assume you fetch for either a forest or a mountain witht the
M - expanse so just tell me which one.
R - Fetch for mountain. Cards in hand? I have 6 after draw for turn
M - 3
R - Ok, forest, pass. leaving 3 mountain, forest, raging ravine up
M - draw. cast preordain tapping island.
R - K
M - sac mistyrain forst. 19. fetch an island. trigger landfall. add blue. play a misty. trigger landfall add blue. Use the 2 floating blue and 2 forest plus
M - tarpit to cast frost titan.targeting raving ravine and attcking with cobra for 2. assuming titan resolves.
M - misty untapped.
M - 2 cards in hand.
R - Titan resolves. I take 2 go to 14
M - pass.
R - Valakut, pass. 3 mountain, forest, untapped
M - draw. declare attackers: attack with frost and cobra. trigger frost. targeting raging ravine.
R - Ok, just frosty attacking?
R - Never mind that... I take 8 go to 6
M - no its frost and cobra attacking with 2xforest, 2xisland, tar pit, misty up.
R - ok, cool
R - My turn?
M - pass.
M - yes.
M - 3 cards in hand.
R - Forest, prime time
M - cast mind break trap. tapping 2 islands and 2 forests.
R - I concede
So I broke the txts up by the turns that they happened. This very long set of txts (about 25 from Mark and 23 from Me) was only 7 turns worth! Imagine had we done a control mirror that takes 15 turns with every turn rechecking yor opponent's mana, cards in hand, et all? I unfortunately have to cut this short because it's past midnight and I have the pleasure of working full time during everyone else's school vacation, but you know where I was going with this all...
So until next time, stay classy!
By the way, check out this sweet card! This is the hidden card that will be the Mirran Pre-release card. Battle cry is a cool ability that I think will spawn a spawn deck (see what I did there?) that will have a ton of tokens crying for bloodlust. Also, this guy is comperable to Grave Titan in terms of game ending clock.
T4 - play Hero of Bladehorn
T5 - attack for 7 (13)
T6 - attack 11 (2)
T7 - attack for 15 (ded)
T6 - play Grave Titan
T7 - attack for 10 (10)
T8 - attack for 14 (ded)
Think about it...
peace out!
TL;DR (too long, didn't read)
Scanning the headlines
Sound byte
Newsflash
Tweet
Status update
All of those terms are common today. Why did I include those last 2? You really can't transfer much information with a 420 charecter restriction. Basically, we live in a world where we want information passed in as small as a form as possible. This creates problems as we lose the supporting details that can really make a situation make more sense or a story more realistic. We lose the chance to empathise and to get to know our story's heroes.
In magic an INSANE amount of information is passed each second by each card that is played. How each card is played. The time it took for each card to get played. And so on and so forth. On the board, the scene can be incredibly complex. Cards like Honor of the Pure in a GW deck can get confusing as your soldier tokens get buffs, but your elves don't. Maybe you are using a die rolled to "3" to represent a 3/3 Beast token made by your Garruk. Is it tapped or not? You can't actually tell, you just have to remember. Now you want to attack, but you play Overwhelming Stampede first. Now everything printed on your cards is a complete lie... (never mind if you had a Duress effect early in the game, so you have their hand memorized in the back of your head) But even before you go into interactive combat. Every single card in play has unique effects and abilities, even your land! No wonder even pros who have been playing the game for 15 years still make mistakes and miss triggers!
I firmly believe that Magic is one of the true reasons why I am such a calculating person, because by being acustomed to analizing rediculous amounts of information constantly, I can work more like a computer.
To demonstrate what I mean by the amount of information you have to process in magic compared to modern communications, I played a game vs Mark via txting. We were both at our own homes, and we only communicated via txt message. I was playing Valakut Ramp, and he was playing BUG. We both had sideboarded, as if it were game 2, and because it was a game 2, we had Mark go first, because Valakut should win G1. Here is our conversation (M = Mark, R = Ryan, which is me):
M - Island pass, kept my opening 7
R - Raging ravine pass
M - forest. cobra. island, forest in play tapped.
R - Mountain, overgrown battlement. all tapped out
M - misty rainforest. trigger landfall, add blue. use the floating blue mana to cast preordain. 2 cards to the bottom. then draw. pass turn. island,
M - forest, misty, and cobra all untapped
R - Casting cultivate
M - respond with mana leak.
M - tapping island and forest.
R - Spell is countered. Terramorphic expanse. pass
M - battlement is tapped, correct? if so attack with cobra for 2.
R - Yes, battlment is tapped. I go to 18
M - play creeping tar pit. pass turn. leaving island, forest, misty up.
R - EOT use terramorphic for mountain
M - yeap.
R - Terramorph, go. Battlement, 2 mountain, raging ravine, terramorphic all untapped
M - play a forest. landfall trigger. add black. use the floating black and a forest cast doomblade targeting the battlement.
R - You suck. Resolves
M - haha. attack with cobra for 2. pass turn. island, forest, misty, and tar pit open. i will assume you fetch for either a forest or a mountain witht the
M - expanse so just tell me which one.
R - Fetch for mountain. Cards in hand? I have 6 after draw for turn
M - 3
R - Ok, forest, pass. leaving 3 mountain, forest, raging ravine up
M - draw. cast preordain tapping island.
R - K
M - sac mistyrain forst. 19. fetch an island. trigger landfall. add blue. play a misty. trigger landfall add blue. Use the 2 floating blue and 2 forest plus
M - tarpit to cast frost titan.targeting raving ravine and attcking with cobra for 2. assuming titan resolves.
M - misty untapped.
M - 2 cards in hand.
R - Titan resolves. I take 2 go to 14
M - pass.
R - Valakut, pass. 3 mountain, forest, untapped
M - draw. declare attackers: attack with frost and cobra. trigger frost. targeting raging ravine.
R - Ok, just frosty attacking?
R - Never mind that... I take 8 go to 6
M - no its frost and cobra attacking with 2xforest, 2xisland, tar pit, misty up.
R - ok, cool
R - My turn?
M - pass.
M - yes.
M - 3 cards in hand.
R - Forest, prime time
M - cast mind break trap. tapping 2 islands and 2 forests.
R - I concede
So I broke the txts up by the turns that they happened. This very long set of txts (about 25 from Mark and 23 from Me) was only 7 turns worth! Imagine had we done a control mirror that takes 15 turns with every turn rechecking yor opponent's mana, cards in hand, et all? I unfortunately have to cut this short because it's past midnight and I have the pleasure of working full time during everyone else's school vacation, but you know where I was going with this all...
So until next time, stay classy!
By the way, check out this sweet card! This is the hidden card that will be the Mirran Pre-release card. Battle cry is a cool ability that I think will spawn a spawn deck (see what I did there?) that will have a ton of tokens crying for bloodlust. Also, this guy is comperable to Grave Titan in terms of game ending clock.
T4 - play Hero of Bladehorn
T5 - attack for 7 (13)
T6 - attack 11 (2)
T7 - attack for 15 (ded)
T6 - play Grave Titan
T7 - attack for 10 (10)
T8 - attack for 14 (ded)
Think about it...
peace out!
Sunday, December 26, 2010
This is my Dominion
Merry Christmas everybody! I hope you all had a superfantastic Christmas, I know I did! I am not one for gifts, so going into Christmas, everyone in my family was asking for my list (which I never had written) and this is what I came up with:
A card game that I can't remember the name of (but will update you on when I get my fb message back from paul)
Amazon gift cards (so I can deal hunt on CDs)
Anything unusual that I can show off EX: Super Mario slippers (yeah, this is broad, but you should know me by now)
To say the least, I probably had less of an idea of what I wanted than those who were getting me gifts. Eventually I did hear back from Paul, who told me that the game in question was Dominion.
I have only played 4 games so far (and won 3 of them =D), but I can already tell that this is a game I want to play a lot more of. Not only is this game fun to play, but it also stretches your mind and makes you get creative. But why am I talking about Dominion in a Magic blog? Well you don't need to play Magic to get better at Magic! As Paul said when he introduced Mark and I to this game, "this is basically a deckbuilding game". In fact, as one blog, The Mad Hatter's Gift Guide, said:
"This is a deck building game where everyone starts with the same hand and each round you buy new cards to add to your deck from a collective pool of available cards. Think of it as almost reverse Magic: The Gathering mixed with a little monopoly as the goal is to accrue as many land points as possible."
Basically, the game starts with each player having a deck of 10 cards consisting of 7 Copper and 3 Estates. Coppers provide 1 "dollar" each that you can use to buy more cards to add to your deck. Estates are worth 1 Victory Point at the end of the game, but over the course of the game they do absoutely nothing. You can buy Action cards which can do things like make you draw extra cards a turn or make your opponent discard cards or put Curse Cards in their deck that are worth -1 Victory Point and do nothing. You can also buy Silver and Gold, which are worth 2 and 3 "dollars" (I don't know what they really call it...) each, and Duchy and Province which are worth 3 and 6 Victory Points each.
Obviously the best way to win is to buy as many Provinces as possible because they are worth 6 Victory Points and only use up 1 card slot, compared to Estates which are worth 1 Victory Point for that same 1 card slot. But how do we get there? This is where we play the game, get creative, and gain some insight that we can bring back to Magic.
In Patrick Chapin's book "Next Level Magic", he takes time to talk about the 4 Perspectives:
Top-Down: Examining what is good/bad depending on what IS there
Bottom-Up: Examining what is good/bad depending on what IS NOT there
Front-Back: Exploring how we want to start and how we use that as a foundation
Back-Front: Determining how we want to finish and how we get there
Now here is what makes Dominion such an awesome game: there are 25 action cards in the set, but each game you play you randomly select 10 of them, and only use those. That means each time you play theres a different card pool to choose from. There are 11,861,676,288,000 possible card pools.
Because there are over 11.5 TRILLION possible card combinations, trying to learn the strategy for a hundreth of a percent is complete suicide. This is where practicing the 4 Perspectives comes in. Front-Back and Back-Front is generally the same as you want to keep your deck as short as possible (because more cards = less liklihood of drawing the cards you want/need) and you want higher quality cards (theres no mana to have to mess with). So this game really stresses Top-Down and Bottom-Up thinking.
I obviously can't go into card-by-card detail because everyone except for Mark and Paul will be completely lost reading this, I can share on some of the games of I have played where I capitilized on recognizing what was and was ont good.
The second game I ever played (of 4) I was with Paul and Mark and our 10 card pool had 4 or 5 attack cards which created a negative effect for all of your opponents. The 3 of us were immediatly drawn to these, especially one called Witch, which makes you draw 2 cards AND gives all your opponents a -1 Curse card. Pretty soon, attack cards were getting thrown during everyone's turn. I noticed there was a card no one had touched yet called Moat, which can make you draw 2 cards, but can also be revealed if in your hand to prevent someone's attack card from hurting you. I bought as many as I could (I think I had 6 or 7 by the end of the game) and pretty soon I was able to dodge almost every attack card coming from Mark and Paul. I wound up winning that game by 1 point and Mark had over a dozen Curse cards in his deck.
Another game I played, there was a combination of multiple things going on. First, there were 2 cards that let you Trash your cards (completely remove from your deck, as opposed to discarding, because your discard pile will eventually gett shuffled back into your deck) to get better ones, and there were also 3 really good draw cards, 2 of which allowed you play more cards each turn. At one point Pat (my opponent this time, it was a 1 vs 1) chained 7 draw cards into eachother. So while you start with 5 cards in your hand each turn, he had 10 in hand by the time he was done. Lastly, there was only one attack card, which was frankly not too powerful (Spy) so there wasn't much disruption coming from your opponents. Because of these factors, I was able to keep a relatively thin deck (40 by the time the game ended) and I ran very few cash sources as I could very consistantly draw into them and I didn't have to bulk up my deck too much. In Dominion, you discard your hand at the end of each turn and draw 5 new cards. With 40 cards in my deck, it should take 8 turns to burn through the entire deck, but thanks to all the card draw, I was able to turn it over every 6 turns. Pat had a slightly larger deck, so it took him about 8 turns to turn his deck over, and in turn I was able to hit my bombs more frequently, and I won because of that.
Magic is such an awesome game because of the way it stretches your brain and makes you think in ways that you normally wouldn't in everyday life. If you are looking for a different game that can still bring some stuff back to your Magic game, then I highly recommend playing Dominion! There are a couple expansions out, so if you manage to burn through the 11.5+ trillion combinations of game setups, you can add a couple dozen more actions cards and make endless combinations even... endlesser... yeah.
Anyways, that is all for now, until next time, stay classy!
A card game that I can't remember the name of (but will update you on when I get my fb message back from paul)
Amazon gift cards (so I can deal hunt on CDs)
Anything unusual that I can show off EX: Super Mario slippers (yeah, this is broad, but you should know me by now)
To say the least, I probably had less of an idea of what I wanted than those who were getting me gifts. Eventually I did hear back from Paul, who told me that the game in question was Dominion.
I have only played 4 games so far (and won 3 of them =D), but I can already tell that this is a game I want to play a lot more of. Not only is this game fun to play, but it also stretches your mind and makes you get creative. But why am I talking about Dominion in a Magic blog? Well you don't need to play Magic to get better at Magic! As Paul said when he introduced Mark and I to this game, "this is basically a deckbuilding game". In fact, as one blog, The Mad Hatter's Gift Guide, said:
"This is a deck building game where everyone starts with the same hand and each round you buy new cards to add to your deck from a collective pool of available cards. Think of it as almost reverse Magic: The Gathering mixed with a little monopoly as the goal is to accrue as many land points as possible."
Basically, the game starts with each player having a deck of 10 cards consisting of 7 Copper and 3 Estates. Coppers provide 1 "dollar" each that you can use to buy more cards to add to your deck. Estates are worth 1 Victory Point at the end of the game, but over the course of the game they do absoutely nothing. You can buy Action cards which can do things like make you draw extra cards a turn or make your opponent discard cards or put Curse Cards in their deck that are worth -1 Victory Point and do nothing. You can also buy Silver and Gold, which are worth 2 and 3 "dollars" (I don't know what they really call it...) each, and Duchy and Province which are worth 3 and 6 Victory Points each.
Obviously the best way to win is to buy as many Provinces as possible because they are worth 6 Victory Points and only use up 1 card slot, compared to Estates which are worth 1 Victory Point for that same 1 card slot. But how do we get there? This is where we play the game, get creative, and gain some insight that we can bring back to Magic.
In Patrick Chapin's book "Next Level Magic", he takes time to talk about the 4 Perspectives:
Top-Down: Examining what is good/bad depending on what IS there
Bottom-Up: Examining what is good/bad depending on what IS NOT there
Front-Back: Exploring how we want to start and how we use that as a foundation
Back-Front: Determining how we want to finish and how we get there
Now here is what makes Dominion such an awesome game: there are 25 action cards in the set, but each game you play you randomly select 10 of them, and only use those. That means each time you play theres a different card pool to choose from. There are 11,861,676,288,000 possible card pools.
Because there are over 11.5 TRILLION possible card combinations, trying to learn the strategy for a hundreth of a percent is complete suicide. This is where practicing the 4 Perspectives comes in. Front-Back and Back-Front is generally the same as you want to keep your deck as short as possible (because more cards = less liklihood of drawing the cards you want/need) and you want higher quality cards (theres no mana to have to mess with). So this game really stresses Top-Down and Bottom-Up thinking.
I obviously can't go into card-by-card detail because everyone except for Mark and Paul will be completely lost reading this, I can share on some of the games of I have played where I capitilized on recognizing what was and was ont good.
The second game I ever played (of 4) I was with Paul and Mark and our 10 card pool had 4 or 5 attack cards which created a negative effect for all of your opponents. The 3 of us were immediatly drawn to these, especially one called Witch, which makes you draw 2 cards AND gives all your opponents a -1 Curse card. Pretty soon, attack cards were getting thrown during everyone's turn. I noticed there was a card no one had touched yet called Moat, which can make you draw 2 cards, but can also be revealed if in your hand to prevent someone's attack card from hurting you. I bought as many as I could (I think I had 6 or 7 by the end of the game) and pretty soon I was able to dodge almost every attack card coming from Mark and Paul. I wound up winning that game by 1 point and Mark had over a dozen Curse cards in his deck.
Another game I played, there was a combination of multiple things going on. First, there were 2 cards that let you Trash your cards (completely remove from your deck, as opposed to discarding, because your discard pile will eventually gett shuffled back into your deck) to get better ones, and there were also 3 really good draw cards, 2 of which allowed you play more cards each turn. At one point Pat (my opponent this time, it was a 1 vs 1) chained 7 draw cards into eachother. So while you start with 5 cards in your hand each turn, he had 10 in hand by the time he was done. Lastly, there was only one attack card, which was frankly not too powerful (Spy) so there wasn't much disruption coming from your opponents. Because of these factors, I was able to keep a relatively thin deck (40 by the time the game ended) and I ran very few cash sources as I could very consistantly draw into them and I didn't have to bulk up my deck too much. In Dominion, you discard your hand at the end of each turn and draw 5 new cards. With 40 cards in my deck, it should take 8 turns to burn through the entire deck, but thanks to all the card draw, I was able to turn it over every 6 turns. Pat had a slightly larger deck, so it took him about 8 turns to turn his deck over, and in turn I was able to hit my bombs more frequently, and I won because of that.
Magic is such an awesome game because of the way it stretches your brain and makes you think in ways that you normally wouldn't in everyday life. If you are looking for a different game that can still bring some stuff back to your Magic game, then I highly recommend playing Dominion! There are a couple expansions out, so if you manage to burn through the 11.5+ trillion combinations of game setups, you can add a couple dozen more actions cards and make endless combinations even... endlesser... yeah.
Anyways, that is all for now, until next time, stay classy!
Friday, December 24, 2010
Mirroden Beseiged Spoilers!!
While you may not realize it, Mirroden Beseiged is getting released in 6 weeks! That means we start getting official spoilers coming from the mothership in just 3 weeks from now! So far I have seen 6 cards, and the name for another card along with a really cool keyword (although I don't know what it does). Time to cut the chat and see the cards!
First we have the Peace and Pierce Strider that were part of Scars of Mirroden Game Day promos for those who were affiliated. The fact that you only needed 10 cards to be affiliated proved how bad of a constructed set Scars is, and the badness of the Striders really gave no incentive to even play an affiliated deck. But that's old news.
While it is technically now old news, I never brought up the Crusaders that were spoiled during Worlds. Check these bad boys out!
As expected, we are seeing spoilers in pairs (I immediatly thought of White Knight - Black Knight when I saw these), but at least these 2 are awesome! Despite my natural Phyrexian affiliation, I still think the Phyrexian Crusader is more powerful than the Mirran one, and will definitely see constructed play. Why? The 3 colors with the best removal is White, Red, and Black. This guy has pro White and Red, which makes him impervious to those 2, and he is Black, which means that Doom Blade is inefective. Also, first strike and wither is always a great combo =D. Also, every infect deck will probably be running this guy if they are playing back. By the way, equip this guy with a Sword of Body and Mind as soon as you get the chance for epic pwning.
Even though the Phyrexian one is better, the Mirran one is pretty good too. I think it's funny how this has double strike, probably just so it can be the same 5-turn clock the Phyrexian one is. Protection from black is good to save it from Doom Blade, but protection from green is basically just evasion. This card is the buy-a-box promo card for Beseiged, so you don't need to preorder him if you want one and are getting a box anyways.
Recently, the Pre-Release and Release cards were leaked, and here is what we have to work with:
The 2 cards up top are the Pre-Release (remember you get different promos depending on your affiliation) and the bottom image is for the release.
Unfortunately we can't see the Mirran promo (although the keyword "Battle Cry" sounds cool), and the release promo is a bulk rare, so I have the Phyrexian Mythic to talk about. The first thing I noticed about this card is that it's multi-colored. I love multi-colored cards, and I'm sad that there are only 4 multi-colored cards in standard right now, which are all Mythics (Novablast Wurm, Wrexial the Risen Deep, Sarkhan the Mad, Venser the Sojouner). Obviously this is a Mythic too, but now there are more multi-colored cards! The next thing I noticed was its name (notice how I read these cards?), which shoots strait back to original Mirroden block. Glissa Sunseeker was the protagonist in the Mirroden story who journeyed to the center of Mirroden's Core, battled Memnarch, and ultimately allowed the green sun to break free. Apparently since then, she has been tainted by the Phyrexians. An important bit of info about this card is that it DOES NOT have infect. It's just a first strike deathtoucher that provides nice card advantage.
Oh, JUST a first strike deathtoucher?
Yeah, I should build that up more... This is the first time that a card has ever been printed with First Strike and Deathtouch unconditially together. The only other 3 cards that could have both are Cairn Wanderer, Nirkana Cutthroat, and Pestilant Kathari, which required certain cards in your graveyard, 3 level counters, and a mana investment respectively. Not only does Glissa have both deathtouch and first strike unconditionally, but she is also less expensive than all the aformentioned cards. Glissa costs 3. Cairn Wanderer costs 4, Cutthroat costs 3 + 3 level counters at 3 mana each = 12, and Kathari costs 3 + 3 to gain first strike for a total of 6. I expect Glissa to be making splashes in this new Standard as she is incredibly powerful for her mana, and she gives you major card advantage.
So that is all for now, until next time, stay classy!
First we have the Peace and Pierce Strider that were part of Scars of Mirroden Game Day promos for those who were affiliated. The fact that you only needed 10 cards to be affiliated proved how bad of a constructed set Scars is, and the badness of the Striders really gave no incentive to even play an affiliated deck. But that's old news.
While it is technically now old news, I never brought up the Crusaders that were spoiled during Worlds. Check these bad boys out!
As expected, we are seeing spoilers in pairs (I immediatly thought of White Knight - Black Knight when I saw these), but at least these 2 are awesome! Despite my natural Phyrexian affiliation, I still think the Phyrexian Crusader is more powerful than the Mirran one, and will definitely see constructed play. Why? The 3 colors with the best removal is White, Red, and Black. This guy has pro White and Red, which makes him impervious to those 2, and he is Black, which means that Doom Blade is inefective. Also, first strike and wither is always a great combo =D. Also, every infect deck will probably be running this guy if they are playing back. By the way, equip this guy with a Sword of Body and Mind as soon as you get the chance for epic pwning.
Even though the Phyrexian one is better, the Mirran one is pretty good too. I think it's funny how this has double strike, probably just so it can be the same 5-turn clock the Phyrexian one is. Protection from black is good to save it from Doom Blade, but protection from green is basically just evasion. This card is the buy-a-box promo card for Beseiged, so you don't need to preorder him if you want one and are getting a box anyways.
Recently, the Pre-Release and Release cards were leaked, and here is what we have to work with:
The 2 cards up top are the Pre-Release (remember you get different promos depending on your affiliation) and the bottom image is for the release.
Unfortunately we can't see the Mirran promo (although the keyword "Battle Cry" sounds cool), and the release promo is a bulk rare, so I have the Phyrexian Mythic to talk about. The first thing I noticed about this card is that it's multi-colored. I love multi-colored cards, and I'm sad that there are only 4 multi-colored cards in standard right now, which are all Mythics (Novablast Wurm, Wrexial the Risen Deep, Sarkhan the Mad, Venser the Sojouner). Obviously this is a Mythic too, but now there are more multi-colored cards! The next thing I noticed was its name (notice how I read these cards?), which shoots strait back to original Mirroden block. Glissa Sunseeker was the protagonist in the Mirroden story who journeyed to the center of Mirroden's Core, battled Memnarch, and ultimately allowed the green sun to break free. Apparently since then, she has been tainted by the Phyrexians. An important bit of info about this card is that it DOES NOT have infect. It's just a first strike deathtoucher that provides nice card advantage.
Oh, JUST a first strike deathtoucher?
Yeah, I should build that up more... This is the first time that a card has ever been printed with First Strike and Deathtouch unconditially together. The only other 3 cards that could have both are Cairn Wanderer, Nirkana Cutthroat, and Pestilant Kathari, which required certain cards in your graveyard, 3 level counters, and a mana investment respectively. Not only does Glissa have both deathtouch and first strike unconditionally, but she is also less expensive than all the aformentioned cards. Glissa costs 3. Cairn Wanderer costs 4, Cutthroat costs 3 + 3 level counters at 3 mana each = 12, and Kathari costs 3 + 3 to gain first strike for a total of 6. I expect Glissa to be making splashes in this new Standard as she is incredibly powerful for her mana, and she gives you major card advantage.
So that is all for now, until next time, stay classy!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
TNT FNM *3-2*
This past Friday, I (shockingly) playing in the FNM, and this week I decided to run my UW Superfriends deck. I ran the same list as here, but I cut the 2 Wall of Omens for a Gideon Jura and Condemn. I hadn't playtested the deck too much, so I didn't really know what to do with it, but that's what FNM is for! Play decks in a semi-casual environment, and get used to them. If I can build it, I will be playing UB Poison next time.
Round 1: GW Lifegain
As I was registering for the FNM, I saw someone filling out their slip to get a DCI number. She looked about 12 years old. Lo and Behold; that's who I am against round 1. We kept our opening hands, and she layed own a Leyline of Vitality, so I had no idea what I was getting into. As it turns out, it was a lifegain deck that didn't run Felidar Sovereign (she said it's on her christmas list). Game 1, I stuck Jace TMS and wound up -12ing with life totals at 8-50. Round 2, she got a turn 2 Ajani's Mantra, so my life total changes for her take up 3/4 of a page while my life total changed 5 times all game. She got as far as 47 life before I cleared the board and won with a pair of Colonnaides.
2-0
1-0
Round 2: BR Vampires
Game 1 I got a turn 4 Day of Judgement after sending his Bloodghast on a Journey to nowhere, so I blew him out. Game 2 I was hit so fast that I had almost no hope from the start, so I was bown out. But game 3 was an amazing game! He played a turn 2 Jinxed Idol, and immediatly sacrificed a creature to it. This is where things get interesting. After 2 turns I draw Squadran Hawk and am able to send it back his way. When Jinxed Idol is out, Day of Judgement is almost a completely dead card as it instantly gives me the Jinxed Idol. In fact, as long as he has the Idol, all my removal is dead. So onw I am in a terrible position, but am slowly getting his life down every way I possibly can. Keep in mind I have no ways to deal with Jinxed Idol in my 75. Eventually it was 7-10, I had the Idol, and we both had 1 creature (I think my Hawk vs his Lacerator). I animated my Colonnaide and bashed for 5 bringing it to 5-5. End of turn I sacrificed Hawk to Idol, he sacrificed Lacerator, and I sacrificed Colonnaide (I had no others) and Jace +2 to leave Doom Blade on top. He draws Blade, which is blank. I draw, and send a land to the bottom (he had 2 bloodghast in the bin). He draws a creature, plays it, and sacs it to Idol. I draw and it's 3-3. I draw Squack, play it, and pass, pitchign another land to his bottom. When he attacks, I block, sac to Idol, then he sacs to Idol, so I am stuck with it. I played another Hawk that my first had fetched, sac it to Idol and pass, now it's 1-1. Unfortunately anything he draws is live, so I lost to Jinxed Idol. I had no idea how to play against this card because I had never stared it down before, and I honestly think it's a great choice for aggro players to punish Control decks (especially with Bloodghast!!)
1-2
1-1
Round 3: UB Control
I played against Mark, further proving that it's impossible for Mark and I to NOT play eachother when we are at the same FNM. We were both 1-1, so whoever loses is out of prize contention, and drawing eliminates us both. Game 1 I was able to neutralize his threats and close the game out with Gideon and Hawks. Game 2 I completely messed up when I forgot to play my 4th land before playing Jace Beleran so I could have a Spell Pierce backup (he had 3 lands, so unless he Spell Pierced Jace, I would have been able to effectively counter back). But as it was, I forgot to play my land first, lost my Jace advantage, he took complete control from there and his life total never dropped below 20. Game 3 I don't have any notes on, and our life totals drop down to 14-23 in Mark's favor, and I did wind up losing so I think I got Grave Titaned? I don't remember....
1-2
1-2
Round 4: G-Wave Elves
Pairings were listed an I was set to play against the guy who Mark had beat round 1, and on my way over I happened to pass by Mark who quickly said to me "UW Proliferate Lux Cannon". Thanks for the tip! We sat down, played 3 turns, and it was announced that there was a re-pairing, so that free information wouldn't get cashed in on. Instead, I was paired against Charlotte, who I play against all the time. She always plays Mono-Green elves with Genesis Wave and 1 Eldrazi Monument (but were working together a trade so she can get a 2nd one from me). Day of Judgement was a champ as I was able to hold her back on mana by removing her Mana Elves, which in turn stopped the G-Wave. Despite that advantage, I won both games by using Jace's -12 ability, which was a little strange.
2-0
2-2
Round 5: MW Lifegain Fog
I was playing a deck that plays lots of Defenders, Perimeter Captain, Fog Effects, and Luminarch Ascension. Game 1 he got up to 27 life before I cleared the board and started bashing for 10 a turn with Colonnaide and Gideon. Game 2 started in a peculiar fashion when my t2 Squad Hawk attacking on t3 got hit with a Condemn... I gladly gained a life, and got it right back with another Squad Hawk. That game ended in the same fashion with him scooping after facing down my 2 turn clock, despite having Luminarch Ascension in play on t4.
2-0
3-2
In the days following the event, I have played with the deck alot, and today I cut the 4 Squadran Hawks from the deck and replaced them with 2x Spreading Seas (great against Control Man Lands, Valakut, and decent against aggro) Condemn, and Journey to Nowhere. I found that drawing more removal is more important than little 1/1s that aren't as insane as they are made out to be. I don't think I will have them in the board either as having a stream of creatures is nice against aggro, but I would rather Wall of Omens, and attacking their early Jace is less important, because Jace won't come down until turn 5 or 6 unless you tap out for counter backup. I have found that change to be effective. While this does give Venser less targets, I have found that +2ing to untap a land is plenty effective as people recognize how scary Venser's Ultimate is anyways. He is another Jace when Sea Gate or Spreadign Seas is inplay, and he makes your Day of Judgements better. I played a bunch of games against BUG control and found myself constantly winning, but I do need to diversify my testing.
Anyways, I need to wake up early for work in the morning, so I am signing off for now. Until next time, stay classy!
Round 1: GW Lifegain
As I was registering for the FNM, I saw someone filling out their slip to get a DCI number. She looked about 12 years old. Lo and Behold; that's who I am against round 1. We kept our opening hands, and she layed own a Leyline of Vitality, so I had no idea what I was getting into. As it turns out, it was a lifegain deck that didn't run Felidar Sovereign (she said it's on her christmas list). Game 1, I stuck Jace TMS and wound up -12ing with life totals at 8-50. Round 2, she got a turn 2 Ajani's Mantra, so my life total changes for her take up 3/4 of a page while my life total changed 5 times all game. She got as far as 47 life before I cleared the board and won with a pair of Colonnaides.
2-0
1-0
Round 2: BR Vampires
Game 1 I got a turn 4 Day of Judgement after sending his Bloodghast on a Journey to nowhere, so I blew him out. Game 2 I was hit so fast that I had almost no hope from the start, so I was bown out. But game 3 was an amazing game! He played a turn 2 Jinxed Idol, and immediatly sacrificed a creature to it. This is where things get interesting. After 2 turns I draw Squadran Hawk and am able to send it back his way. When Jinxed Idol is out, Day of Judgement is almost a completely dead card as it instantly gives me the Jinxed Idol. In fact, as long as he has the Idol, all my removal is dead. So onw I am in a terrible position, but am slowly getting his life down every way I possibly can. Keep in mind I have no ways to deal with Jinxed Idol in my 75. Eventually it was 7-10, I had the Idol, and we both had 1 creature (I think my Hawk vs his Lacerator). I animated my Colonnaide and bashed for 5 bringing it to 5-5. End of turn I sacrificed Hawk to Idol, he sacrificed Lacerator, and I sacrificed Colonnaide (I had no others) and Jace +2 to leave Doom Blade on top. He draws Blade, which is blank. I draw, and send a land to the bottom (he had 2 bloodghast in the bin). He draws a creature, plays it, and sacs it to Idol. I draw and it's 3-3. I draw Squack, play it, and pass, pitchign another land to his bottom. When he attacks, I block, sac to Idol, then he sacs to Idol, so I am stuck with it. I played another Hawk that my first had fetched, sac it to Idol and pass, now it's 1-1. Unfortunately anything he draws is live, so I lost to Jinxed Idol. I had no idea how to play against this card because I had never stared it down before, and I honestly think it's a great choice for aggro players to punish Control decks (especially with Bloodghast!!)
1-2
1-1
Round 3: UB Control
I played against Mark, further proving that it's impossible for Mark and I to NOT play eachother when we are at the same FNM. We were both 1-1, so whoever loses is out of prize contention, and drawing eliminates us both. Game 1 I was able to neutralize his threats and close the game out with Gideon and Hawks. Game 2 I completely messed up when I forgot to play my 4th land before playing Jace Beleran so I could have a Spell Pierce backup (he had 3 lands, so unless he Spell Pierced Jace, I would have been able to effectively counter back). But as it was, I forgot to play my land first, lost my Jace advantage, he took complete control from there and his life total never dropped below 20. Game 3 I don't have any notes on, and our life totals drop down to 14-23 in Mark's favor, and I did wind up losing so I think I got Grave Titaned? I don't remember....
1-2
1-2
Round 4: G-Wave Elves
Pairings were listed an I was set to play against the guy who Mark had beat round 1, and on my way over I happened to pass by Mark who quickly said to me "UW Proliferate Lux Cannon". Thanks for the tip! We sat down, played 3 turns, and it was announced that there was a re-pairing, so that free information wouldn't get cashed in on. Instead, I was paired against Charlotte, who I play against all the time. She always plays Mono-Green elves with Genesis Wave and 1 Eldrazi Monument (but were working together a trade so she can get a 2nd one from me). Day of Judgement was a champ as I was able to hold her back on mana by removing her Mana Elves, which in turn stopped the G-Wave. Despite that advantage, I won both games by using Jace's -12 ability, which was a little strange.
2-0
2-2
Round 5: MW Lifegain Fog
I was playing a deck that plays lots of Defenders, Perimeter Captain, Fog Effects, and Luminarch Ascension. Game 1 he got up to 27 life before I cleared the board and started bashing for 10 a turn with Colonnaide and Gideon. Game 2 started in a peculiar fashion when my t2 Squad Hawk attacking on t3 got hit with a Condemn... I gladly gained a life, and got it right back with another Squad Hawk. That game ended in the same fashion with him scooping after facing down my 2 turn clock, despite having Luminarch Ascension in play on t4.
2-0
3-2
In the days following the event, I have played with the deck alot, and today I cut the 4 Squadran Hawks from the deck and replaced them with 2x Spreading Seas (great against Control Man Lands, Valakut, and decent against aggro) Condemn, and Journey to Nowhere. I found that drawing more removal is more important than little 1/1s that aren't as insane as they are made out to be. I don't think I will have them in the board either as having a stream of creatures is nice against aggro, but I would rather Wall of Omens, and attacking their early Jace is less important, because Jace won't come down until turn 5 or 6 unless you tap out for counter backup. I have found that change to be effective. While this does give Venser less targets, I have found that +2ing to untap a land is plenty effective as people recognize how scary Venser's Ultimate is anyways. He is another Jace when Sea Gate or Spreadign Seas is inplay, and he makes your Day of Judgements better. I played a bunch of games against BUG control and found myself constantly winning, but I do need to diversify my testing.
Anyways, I need to wake up early for work in the morning, so I am signing off for now. Until next time, stay classy!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
TNT Legacy *3-0 1st place*
Hello everyone! This past Sunday I went to TNT Gaming and I ended my weekend on the same high note that it started, by coming in first place in the Constructed Event. I ran my only Legacy deck, Reanimator, which I have been running since Duel Decks: Phyrexia vs The Coalition was released. When I first made the deck, it ran 3x Living Death, 4x Ridge Rannet, 4x Jungle Weaver, and 2x Yoked Plowbeast and the deck played like the Extended Living End deck. However, I slowly moved it card by card into the single reanimation target type which runs Reanimate and Exhume. Here is the list I ran for the evening:
3x Sea Gate Oracle
1x Inkwell Leviathan
1x Blazing Archon
1x Sphinx of the Steel Wind
1x Iona, Shield of Emeria
1x Terastadon
1x Emperyial Archangel
2x Buried Alive
4x Entomb
4x Reanimate
3x Exhume
3x Daze
4x Force of Will
3x Thoughtseize
4x Brainstorm
4x Personal Tutor
1x Lim-Dul's Vault
1x Nature's Claim
4x Misty Rainforest
4x Verdant Catacombs
4x Underground Sea
3x Watery Grave
1x Bayou
2x Tropical Island
Sideboard:
2x Damnation
2x Trinket Mage
2x Tormod's Crypt
2x Nature's Claim
1x Pithing Needle
1x Into the Roil
1x Consuming Vapors
2x Calcite Snapper
2x Sadistic Sacrament
I remember what I cut for the Blazing Archon, but it wasn't a card I had until just before the event started. A guy had come in who had never been there before. He saw me just sitting around, so we startd trading. I traded a Luminarch Ascension and 3x Tectonic Edge for Blazing Archon and Stirring Wildwood. I knew Archon was important for the deck for the Zoo matchup, but I had never thought about getting him until I saw it.
Unfortunately for the purpose of this article, this deck ends games fast, so I can't talk much about each game.
Round 1: Dredge
This round came and went very fast, so I couldn't even pull out my notebook to write anything down. I remembered from my last time playing Dredge is that they can make an army of Zombies to kill you, but that's it. I Entombed for Archon, then used Lim Dul's Vault to grab a Reanimate. Grabbed an Archon and went to town. Game 2 I had Archon in hand so instead I went for a turn 2 Inwell Leviathan. He couldn't combo in time to stop the 7/11 and we had enough time to watch everyone else play.
Round 2: Tooth & Nail
Fetch land, Entomb, Fetch land, Personal Tutor --> Reanimate, Turn 3 Iona cutting off green (mono-green deck). GG. Post board, she landed a turn 1 Brittle Effigy which I forgot about and got wrecked by when I confidantly landed a turn 2 Iona. It only got in for 1 hit before getting exiled, and I couldn't get another creature out before losing to Emrakul and Ulamog. For game 3 I opted for Inkwell Leviathan because it was safe from getting Brittled.
Round 3: Mono Blue Draw-Go
This was a mono-blue deck that was one of the World Championships Decks. I did a 30-second search through the decks and I couldn't find the one he referenced. It was the Randy Beuller list, but I couldn't find any Randy Beuller decks. I can't remember which creature I used but I imagine it was Inkwell Leviathan so it couldn't get bounced. Game 2 I never even reanimated. I cast Sadistic Sacrament, he Canceled, I Dazed, he Forced, I Forced, He stared at his hand for a minute, I moved Force and Sphinx to the front of my hand, he resigned. As it turned out, he didn't have anything but lands and a Force in his hand, so he had nothing to pitch to the Force. He said that he figured I would remove his Jaces from his deck, and leave him with no win conditions, so he just cut the chase and resigned.
I enjoyed playing reanimator again after 6 weeks of just getting cards to unproxy it. The day after, I was back at toys and found Akroma, Angel of Wrath in a binder, so I snagged it and cut a Sea Gate Oracle for it.
As it stands right now, the deck has 7 targets:
Akroma, Angel of Wrath - Black and red decks
Inkwell Leviathan - Safe pick when I don't know what I need
Sphinx of the Steel Wind - I'm not sure what this is for. I have never reanimated it, and it is just Force fodder
Iona, Shield of Emeria - This is the best one, because it can turn off the other deck, all mono-color decks
Blazing Archon - Zoo, any time the opponent has a creature presence
Terastadon - When you need to get rid of some things... (Ensnaring Bridge)
Emperial Archangel - Defensive, safe creature
I think I need to cut a creature, so next time through, there will be no Sphinx of the Steel Wind. I remember LSV running a single Show and Tell, just incase the creature he desparately needs is in his hand. I like that, and it's a sorcery, so I can tutor for it with Personal Tutor. So how good is this deck? I think this deck is amazing, and is simply unbeatable if you get land, Entomb, Reanimate, Force + target in hand. The loss of Mystical Tutor only makes the deck no longer perfectly consistant. I replaced it with Personal Tutor, and also I will cut those last 2 Sea Gate Oracles for Lim-Dul's Vault. That card has always been a champ for me. You pay 2 mana, 2 or 3 life, and you get any card from your deck on top of your library. That means we have 7 tutors. That's consistant!
Random sidenote: I think I am also cutting Nature's Claim for Krosan Grip. Gripping Tormod's Crypt is too important.
I highly recommend this deck and once I finnish un-proxying it. That means I need:
4x Krosan Grip
1x Damnation
3x Entomb
1x Show and Tell
2x Lim-Dul's Vault
2x Tropical Island
1x Bayou
3x Underground Sea
1x Exhume
I recently noticed how it seems more than just Mark, Paul, Defo, and Palace read this blog (a comment from a man with a lot of Sol in Canada on one of my past posts helped me notice that <--- by the way I really appreciate your comments). If you are into online trading, send me an E-mail: Lackie_xc_06@yahoo.com.
Until next time, stay classy!
3x Sea Gate Oracle
1x Inkwell Leviathan
1x Blazing Archon
1x Sphinx of the Steel Wind
1x Iona, Shield of Emeria
1x Terastadon
1x Emperyial Archangel
2x Buried Alive
4x Entomb
4x Reanimate
3x Exhume
3x Daze
4x Force of Will
3x Thoughtseize
4x Brainstorm
4x Personal Tutor
1x Lim-Dul's Vault
1x Nature's Claim
4x Misty Rainforest
4x Verdant Catacombs
4x Underground Sea
3x Watery Grave
1x Bayou
2x Tropical Island
Sideboard:
2x Damnation
2x Trinket Mage
2x Tormod's Crypt
2x Nature's Claim
1x Pithing Needle
1x Into the Roil
1x Consuming Vapors
2x Calcite Snapper
2x Sadistic Sacrament
I remember what I cut for the Blazing Archon, but it wasn't a card I had until just before the event started. A guy had come in who had never been there before. He saw me just sitting around, so we startd trading. I traded a Luminarch Ascension and 3x Tectonic Edge for Blazing Archon and Stirring Wildwood. I knew Archon was important for the deck for the Zoo matchup, but I had never thought about getting him until I saw it.
Unfortunately for the purpose of this article, this deck ends games fast, so I can't talk much about each game.
Round 1: Dredge
This round came and went very fast, so I couldn't even pull out my notebook to write anything down. I remembered from my last time playing Dredge is that they can make an army of Zombies to kill you, but that's it. I Entombed for Archon, then used Lim Dul's Vault to grab a Reanimate. Grabbed an Archon and went to town. Game 2 I had Archon in hand so instead I went for a turn 2 Inwell Leviathan. He couldn't combo in time to stop the 7/11 and we had enough time to watch everyone else play.
Round 2: Tooth & Nail
Fetch land, Entomb, Fetch land, Personal Tutor --> Reanimate, Turn 3 Iona cutting off green (mono-green deck). GG. Post board, she landed a turn 1 Brittle Effigy which I forgot about and got wrecked by when I confidantly landed a turn 2 Iona. It only got in for 1 hit before getting exiled, and I couldn't get another creature out before losing to Emrakul and Ulamog. For game 3 I opted for Inkwell Leviathan because it was safe from getting Brittled.
Round 3: Mono Blue Draw-Go
This was a mono-blue deck that was one of the World Championships Decks. I did a 30-second search through the decks and I couldn't find the one he referenced. It was the Randy Beuller list, but I couldn't find any Randy Beuller decks. I can't remember which creature I used but I imagine it was Inkwell Leviathan so it couldn't get bounced. Game 2 I never even reanimated. I cast Sadistic Sacrament, he Canceled, I Dazed, he Forced, I Forced, He stared at his hand for a minute, I moved Force and Sphinx to the front of my hand, he resigned. As it turned out, he didn't have anything but lands and a Force in his hand, so he had nothing to pitch to the Force. He said that he figured I would remove his Jaces from his deck, and leave him with no win conditions, so he just cut the chase and resigned.
I enjoyed playing reanimator again after 6 weeks of just getting cards to unproxy it. The day after, I was back at toys and found Akroma, Angel of Wrath in a binder, so I snagged it and cut a Sea Gate Oracle for it.
As it stands right now, the deck has 7 targets:
Akroma, Angel of Wrath - Black and red decks
Inkwell Leviathan - Safe pick when I don't know what I need
Sphinx of the Steel Wind - I'm not sure what this is for. I have never reanimated it, and it is just Force fodder
Iona, Shield of Emeria - This is the best one, because it can turn off the other deck, all mono-color decks
Blazing Archon - Zoo, any time the opponent has a creature presence
Terastadon - When you need to get rid of some things... (Ensnaring Bridge)
Emperial Archangel - Defensive, safe creature
I think I need to cut a creature, so next time through, there will be no Sphinx of the Steel Wind. I remember LSV running a single Show and Tell, just incase the creature he desparately needs is in his hand. I like that, and it's a sorcery, so I can tutor for it with Personal Tutor. So how good is this deck? I think this deck is amazing, and is simply unbeatable if you get land, Entomb, Reanimate, Force + target in hand. The loss of Mystical Tutor only makes the deck no longer perfectly consistant. I replaced it with Personal Tutor, and also I will cut those last 2 Sea Gate Oracles for Lim-Dul's Vault. That card has always been a champ for me. You pay 2 mana, 2 or 3 life, and you get any card from your deck on top of your library. That means we have 7 tutors. That's consistant!
Random sidenote: I think I am also cutting Nature's Claim for Krosan Grip. Gripping Tormod's Crypt is too important.
I highly recommend this deck and once I finnish un-proxying it. That means I need:
4x Krosan Grip
1x Damnation
3x Entomb
1x Show and Tell
2x Lim-Dul's Vault
2x Tropical Island
1x Bayou
3x Underground Sea
1x Exhume
I recently noticed how it seems more than just Mark, Paul, Defo, and Palace read this blog (a comment from a man with a lot of Sol in Canada on one of my past posts helped me notice that <--- by the way I really appreciate your comments). If you are into online trading, send me an E-mail: Lackie_xc_06@yahoo.com.
Until next time, stay classy!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Guillaume and Poison and Allies, Oh My!
Hello there everyone! The dust has settled, the war has ended, and Guillaume Matignon is your 2010 world champion! In a duel of the Guillaumes UB mirror, Matignon pulled out on top! While I am dissapointed that PV didn't win, or even go to the finals, we now have something epic to look forward to: a single match between Guillaume Matignon and Brad Nelson in PT Paris to decide who will be our 2010 POY. I don't know how it will be worked into the tournament schedule, but this is going to be an epic high profile game! This is the very first time in Pro Tour history that there has been a tie for Play of the Year, so I know these guys are going to be testing like crazy for the next 3 months.
I was wrong about PV winning the whole thing, but I was right on all my other picks, from the top 4 to having Wafo-Tapa lose in the finals. But enough about worlds, let's talk about Phyrexia!
I recently posted up a UB Poison list, but I realized I made many terrible mistakes in the deck. First, I was in UW mindset when I put in Necropede and Ichorclaw Myr in. I'm playing black! Plague Stinger is a much better 2 drop infect creature than Necropede because it doesn't get pwnd by Wall of Omens. Also, I found that when I was playing MG Infect that having a plant token from Khalni Garden could slow you down enough to prevent you from ever hitting your opponent. For that reason, I realized I wanted to play Ichor Rats to ensure I could have something to Proliferate later in the game. Now that I am running no artifact creatures, and very few artifacts in general, Grand Architect becomes a lot worse. This frees up space to have the deck run a bit more like UB Control with Inquisition of Kozelik and Duress. Also, I figured since we're playing Black and Infect, let's get the biggest baddest Infect creature ever printed so far: Skittles, the Impossible to Spell Right Dragon. This guy is so cool, he can chomp on your opponent from out of nowhere by going hasty on turn 6 or later.
So the list has barely changed, but it is dramatically better:
2x Contagion Engine
2x Inexorable Tide
3x Jace TMS
3x Jace Beleran
4x Ichor Rats
4x Plague Stinger
1x Skittles
4x Preordain
4x Mana Leak
2x Consume the Meek
1x Memoricide
3x Doom Blade
3x Inquisition of Kozelik
4x Drowned Catacomb
4x Darkslick Shore
4x Creeping Tar Pit
4x Swamp
4x Tectonic Edge
2x Island
1x Scalding Tarn
1x Verdant Catacombs
I am torn whether I want to play this deck or my UW Venser deck that the next FNM, because that is the major way I can even test my decks these days. If I can get some testing in between then and now, I will definitely write about it. Another deck I have mentioned that I would get to from time to time, but haven't actually gotten to yet is a GW Allies deck I have been thinking about. This is actually another contender for deck I should play at FNM alongside UW and UB. Maybe i just hate red.... Here's the list:
4x Oran-Rief Survivalist
4x Kazandu Blademaster
4x Hada Freeblade
3x Kabira Evangel
4x Talus Paladin
4x Harabaz Druid
2x Turntimber Ranger
4x Genesis Wave
3x Eldrazi Monument
3x Journey to Nowhere
1x Mimic Vat
4x Sunpetal Grove
4x Razorverge Thicket
4x Stirring Wildwood
4x Tectonic Edge
3x Forest
3x Plains
1x Marsh Flats
1x Verdant Catacombs
This list is very straightforward and the deck should be really easy to play: drop allies and bash. Eventaully get Harabaz Druid or 2 into play, create an obscene amount of mana, Genesis Wave for 10, instantly kill your opponent with an army of 13/13 Lifelinking Protection from WUBRG Flying Indestructable guys that you paid 1 or 2 mana for. Hello Tarmogoyf on crack! I'm going to make the bold statement that Hada Freeblade on turn 1 from your opponent can be more painful than Goblin Guide. If you play one other ally, Hada Freeblade is bigger than Goblin Guide and it keeps getting bigger. The only thing that can stop this deck is an on-curve Day of Judgement or Consume the Meek (which doesn't hit Talus Paladin and Turntimber Ranger). And here's the best part: this deck is an insanely budget friendly! The expensive cards: 2 fetchlands, 3 Monument aren't necessary, but they just make it all sweeter. You can replace the fecthlands for appropriate basics, and as for the Monuments, you can go +1 on Kabira Evangel and +2 on just about anything you want, like spot removal from Condemn or protection like Withstand Death.
Genesis Wave makes ally decks infinetly better. Consider this: splashing blue for Halimar Excavator. Now let's see what happens when you Genesis Wave for 10 (25/60 cards are creatures, or 42%, so we will hit 4 allies):
With 4 allies already in play (1 Excavator): mill 26
With 5 allies already in play (1 Excavator): mill 30
With 4 allies already in play (2 Excavator): mill 52!
With 5 allies already in play (2 excavator): mill 60!
How about this? What if we had 4 Ondu Cleric and 4 Felidar Sovereign? Using the same numbers, we would gain the same amount of life as cards we would mill, but then you would gain more life off of attacking when everything is huge and has Lifelink from Talus Paladin. Genesis wave, go from 10 life to 50 or more? Ok! Another card that can be considered for every Ally deck is Mimic Vat. No tribe can abuse Mimic Vat more than allies, and if you go for a WB Bala Ged Theif deck, you can lock your opponent out by Mimic Vatting Thief into play and stealing the card they draw every turn at the end of their Draw Step. There's a reason Disrupting Scepter can only be used on your turn. Also, Lilliana's Specter under the Vat gets it done too.
That's all for today! I am off to go play these decks I just listed and then play some Legacy Reanimator. Until next time, stay classy! (and crush the hivemind)
I was wrong about PV winning the whole thing, but I was right on all my other picks, from the top 4 to having Wafo-Tapa lose in the finals. But enough about worlds, let's talk about Phyrexia!
I recently posted up a UB Poison list, but I realized I made many terrible mistakes in the deck. First, I was in UW mindset when I put in Necropede and Ichorclaw Myr in. I'm playing black! Plague Stinger is a much better 2 drop infect creature than Necropede because it doesn't get pwnd by Wall of Omens. Also, I found that when I was playing MG Infect that having a plant token from Khalni Garden could slow you down enough to prevent you from ever hitting your opponent. For that reason, I realized I wanted to play Ichor Rats to ensure I could have something to Proliferate later in the game. Now that I am running no artifact creatures, and very few artifacts in general, Grand Architect becomes a lot worse. This frees up space to have the deck run a bit more like UB Control with Inquisition of Kozelik and Duress. Also, I figured since we're playing Black and Infect, let's get the biggest baddest Infect creature ever printed so far: Skittles, the Impossible to Spell Right Dragon. This guy is so cool, he can chomp on your opponent from out of nowhere by going hasty on turn 6 or later.
So the list has barely changed, but it is dramatically better:
2x Contagion Engine
2x Inexorable Tide
3x Jace TMS
3x Jace Beleran
4x Ichor Rats
4x Plague Stinger
1x Skittles
4x Preordain
4x Mana Leak
2x Consume the Meek
1x Memoricide
3x Doom Blade
3x Inquisition of Kozelik
4x Drowned Catacomb
4x Darkslick Shore
4x Creeping Tar Pit
4x Swamp
4x Tectonic Edge
2x Island
1x Scalding Tarn
1x Verdant Catacombs
I am torn whether I want to play this deck or my UW Venser deck that the next FNM, because that is the major way I can even test my decks these days. If I can get some testing in between then and now, I will definitely write about it. Another deck I have mentioned that I would get to from time to time, but haven't actually gotten to yet is a GW Allies deck I have been thinking about. This is actually another contender for deck I should play at FNM alongside UW and UB. Maybe i just hate red.... Here's the list:
4x Oran-Rief Survivalist
4x Kazandu Blademaster
4x Hada Freeblade
3x Kabira Evangel
4x Talus Paladin
4x Harabaz Druid
2x Turntimber Ranger
4x Genesis Wave
3x Eldrazi Monument
3x Journey to Nowhere
1x Mimic Vat
4x Sunpetal Grove
4x Razorverge Thicket
4x Stirring Wildwood
4x Tectonic Edge
3x Forest
3x Plains
1x Marsh Flats
1x Verdant Catacombs
This list is very straightforward and the deck should be really easy to play: drop allies and bash. Eventaully get Harabaz Druid or 2 into play, create an obscene amount of mana, Genesis Wave for 10, instantly kill your opponent with an army of 13/13 Lifelinking Protection from WUBRG Flying Indestructable guys that you paid 1 or 2 mana for. Hello Tarmogoyf on crack! I'm going to make the bold statement that Hada Freeblade on turn 1 from your opponent can be more painful than Goblin Guide. If you play one other ally, Hada Freeblade is bigger than Goblin Guide and it keeps getting bigger. The only thing that can stop this deck is an on-curve Day of Judgement or Consume the Meek (which doesn't hit Talus Paladin and Turntimber Ranger). And here's the best part: this deck is an insanely budget friendly! The expensive cards: 2 fetchlands, 3 Monument aren't necessary, but they just make it all sweeter. You can replace the fecthlands for appropriate basics, and as for the Monuments, you can go +1 on Kabira Evangel and +2 on just about anything you want, like spot removal from Condemn or protection like Withstand Death.
Genesis Wave makes ally decks infinetly better. Consider this: splashing blue for Halimar Excavator. Now let's see what happens when you Genesis Wave for 10 (25/60 cards are creatures, or 42%, so we will hit 4 allies):
With 4 allies already in play (1 Excavator): mill 26
With 5 allies already in play (1 Excavator): mill 30
With 4 allies already in play (2 Excavator): mill 52!
With 5 allies already in play (2 excavator): mill 60!
How about this? What if we had 4 Ondu Cleric and 4 Felidar Sovereign? Using the same numbers, we would gain the same amount of life as cards we would mill, but then you would gain more life off of attacking when everything is huge and has Lifelink from Talus Paladin. Genesis wave, go from 10 life to 50 or more? Ok! Another card that can be considered for every Ally deck is Mimic Vat. No tribe can abuse Mimic Vat more than allies, and if you go for a WB Bala Ged Theif deck, you can lock your opponent out by Mimic Vatting Thief into play and stealing the card they draw every turn at the end of their Draw Step. There's a reason Disrupting Scepter can only be used on your turn. Also, Lilliana's Specter under the Vat gets it done too.
That's all for today! I am off to go play these decks I just listed and then play some Legacy Reanimator. Until next time, stay classy! (and crush the hivemind)
Caucasion Superfriends!
Hello everyone. As I am writing this, I am quite sad. I am watching the Magic Worlds Top 8 live, and PV just lost 0-3 =(. Mark texted me 2.5 hours ago saying, "Hey are you watching the worlds broadcas?" and then there was no turning back. I was sitting watching pro magic (with no sound, so I just put my iPod on) and texting mark about the games and decks im thinking about. One of the cards that came up was Venser.
I recently got 2 Vensers on ebay for 40% of what it should have cost me, but I haven't had any time to work with them. People have been talkign about going +2 on Wall of Omens, but there are so many other great targets. Wall of Omens, Sea Gate Oracle, and Spreading Seas will all draw you cards, and Spreading Seas can get "upgraded" like going from being on a Forest to getting on a Valakut or Eye of Ugin. Also, a Journey to Nowhere can get upgraded as well working its way from Wall to Titan. Mark texted me, "But Jace is so much better because it draws you more cards and wins by itself". I responded saying "What if I had both in play and was ticking them both up? Whch do you attack?" His response was that of pure genious; "I wouldn't. I would scoop". So that is my quest, to make insane lockouts like that happen. Since we are playing UW, our friend Gideon can goin for the party as well. Gideon is nuts because he can protect both of your other Planeswalkers, and then if necessary kill other creatures and your opponent.
I mentioned Brian Kibler had a deck tech where he unveiled a deck that had almost no win conditions. Here is every way it would win:
Squadran Hawk
Gideon Jura
Celestial Connelaide
Jace the Mind Sculptor
That's it.
Wow, talk about going all control! I am going to change the list a little bit, so my version is going to look a little something like:
4x Squadran Hawk
2x Wall of Omens
4x Sea Gate Oracle
4x Jace TMS
2x Jace Beleran
2x Venser, the Sojouner
2x Gideon Jura
3x Day of Judgement
2x Journey to Nowhere
3x Everflowing Chalice
2x Mana Leak
2x Spell Pierce
2x Stoic Rebuttal
1x Deprive
4x Celestial Connelaide
4x Glacial Fortress
4x Seachrome Coast
3x Tectonic Edge
1x Mystifying Maze
1x Scalding Tarn
1x Arid Mesa
4x Island
3x Plains
Sideboard
4x Spreading Seas
3x Condemn
1x Day of Judgement
2x Negate
2x Flashfreeze
3x Celestial Purge
One thing I think about this deck is that it seems to have a ton of card draw, but not much to do with all these extra cards. I think this will difinitely be a monster of a control deck and will play very slow. However, Squadran Hawk does everything for you. It provides a stream of creatures for aggro and it attacks other Jaces and early planeswalkers. Also, It can make your big Jace brainstorms better. To make Jace's 0 better, you want to be able to shuffle away the cards you put on top. That's what the fetch lands are for. However, If you Brainstorm, you can then cast Hawk, search your library for 0 other Hawks (up to 3 includes 0) and then shuffle up.
I honestly think this will be an interesting card to play, and Mark and I have been talking about an epic control on control battle of attrition where we order food and take a break an hour into game 1 for that food and to take Advil/Tylonal that we are required to bring.
It's 2:30 am, and the Slovac Republic just beat Australia for the Team Title. I'm going to bed. Until next time, stay classy.
I recently got 2 Vensers on ebay for 40% of what it should have cost me, but I haven't had any time to work with them. People have been talkign about going +2 on Wall of Omens, but there are so many other great targets. Wall of Omens, Sea Gate Oracle, and Spreading Seas will all draw you cards, and Spreading Seas can get "upgraded" like going from being on a Forest to getting on a Valakut or Eye of Ugin. Also, a Journey to Nowhere can get upgraded as well working its way from Wall to Titan. Mark texted me, "But Jace is so much better because it draws you more cards and wins by itself". I responded saying "What if I had both in play and was ticking them both up? Whch do you attack?" His response was that of pure genious; "I wouldn't. I would scoop". So that is my quest, to make insane lockouts like that happen. Since we are playing UW, our friend Gideon can goin for the party as well. Gideon is nuts because he can protect both of your other Planeswalkers, and then if necessary kill other creatures and your opponent.
I mentioned Brian Kibler had a deck tech where he unveiled a deck that had almost no win conditions. Here is every way it would win:
Squadran Hawk
Gideon Jura
Celestial Connelaide
Jace the Mind Sculptor
That's it.
Wow, talk about going all control! I am going to change the list a little bit, so my version is going to look a little something like:
4x Squadran Hawk
2x Wall of Omens
4x Sea Gate Oracle
4x Jace TMS
2x Jace Beleran
2x Venser, the Sojouner
2x Gideon Jura
3x Day of Judgement
2x Journey to Nowhere
3x Everflowing Chalice
2x Mana Leak
2x Spell Pierce
2x Stoic Rebuttal
1x Deprive
4x Celestial Connelaide
4x Glacial Fortress
4x Seachrome Coast
3x Tectonic Edge
1x Mystifying Maze
1x Scalding Tarn
1x Arid Mesa
4x Island
3x Plains
Sideboard
4x Spreading Seas
3x Condemn
1x Day of Judgement
2x Negate
2x Flashfreeze
3x Celestial Purge
One thing I think about this deck is that it seems to have a ton of card draw, but not much to do with all these extra cards. I think this will difinitely be a monster of a control deck and will play very slow. However, Squadran Hawk does everything for you. It provides a stream of creatures for aggro and it attacks other Jaces and early planeswalkers. Also, It can make your big Jace brainstorms better. To make Jace's 0 better, you want to be able to shuffle away the cards you put on top. That's what the fetch lands are for. However, If you Brainstorm, you can then cast Hawk, search your library for 0 other Hawks (up to 3 includes 0) and then shuffle up.
I honestly think this will be an interesting card to play, and Mark and I have been talking about an epic control on control battle of attrition where we order food and take a break an hour into game 1 for that food and to take Advil/Tylonal that we are required to bring.
It's 2:30 am, and the Slovac Republic just beat Australia for the Team Title. I'm going to bed. Until next time, stay classy.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Oh, What a Wonderful World!
In case you live under a rock, the Magic World Championships have been going on for the past 3 days in Chiba, Japan and all that is left is the Top 8, which starts at 8:45 tonight EST. My pick from the start, PV, is seeded 1st, and if he makes it to the final table he will be the Player of the Year. To say the least, the Magic World Championships is an epic event. I don't know the complete details on how it works, but here is what I do know:
Day 1: 6 rounds of Standard
Day 2: 6 rounds of Draft (2 8-man drafts)
Day 3: 6 rounds of Extended
Day 4: 6 rounds of Legacy, cut to Top 8 (standard)
Talk about a greuling 1/2 of a week! I am honestly really glad they have this system, because it means to be a world champion, you actually have to be good at every format. Getting 5 losses straight out prevents you from getting into the top 8. That's 5 losses across the entire tournament! So while it is possible to top at after starting 3-3 (Brad Nelson) you pretty much have to go 18-0 from there.
One of my favorite parts of any Pro Tour is the Deck Techs that come out over the course of the event. This is when the Pros get to talk about their sick new brews across all the formats. In Standard, there wasn't a whole lot simply because the format has settled reasonably well, but Brian Kibler's Caw-Go deck was definitely one that got people's attention at TNT Gaming at last night's FNM (and one guy copied the entiree 75 cards and played it to 4-1). The other 3 deck techs released were GR Valakut, which there isn't much room for variation at all, MG Elves, which also was fairly straightforward, and UG Genesis Wave. UG Genesis Wave was a very cool deck. Basically the deck mana ramped into a Genesis wave for 6 or more, and would then drop a smattering of green and blue Titans and Planeswalkers to lock opponents out of the game.
Extended is the format, however, where Deck Techs were all innovative. The deck techs were of:
Ooze and Oz - Conley Wood's BG Necrotic Ooze combo deck
Steel Artifact - Esper artifact creature deck that used Tempered Steel, Steel Overseer, Master of Etherium to make guys like Ornithopter and Memnite menacing
Polymorph - UB Polymorph has much more control than Simic, and makes tokens with Bitterblossom which can also get tons of damage in while you wait for the Polymorph
Faeries - Very straightforward Faeries deck
I think Steel Artifact was a really cool deck, and definitely one that you should keep your eyes on going forwards. As Scars block unfolds, we will get more and more cool artifacts and pro-artifact cards which could really pump up the deck. In each deck tech, the person mentioned played against Jund, but there was no actual deck tech for Jund, which dissapointed me as it is the deck Mark and I wrote some letter to eachother about (and my next letter should be up tomorrow). I still think Jund is a Viable deck, but UB Polymorph is awesome, so that's something to seriously consider.
But going back to the top 8. This is unfortunately going to be a dry top 8... unless you love counter wars that is. Here's the top 8 and what everyone is playing:
1st PV - UB Control
2nd Love Janse - MG Eldrazi Ramp
3rd Guillaume Wafo-Tapa - UB Control
4th Guillaume Matignon - UB Control
5th Eric Froehlich - BR Vampires (with 4x Demon of Death's Gate!)
6th Lukas Jaklovsky - UB Control
7th Christofer Wolf - UB Control
8th Jonathan Randal - UW Control
One quick note: None of the UB players are playing any Frost Titans in the main or board, but they all have about 3 Sea Gate Oracle and 3 Grave Titan for creatures
So we have 5 UB Control decks, a UW Control deck, MG Eldrazi Ramp, and BR Vampires. Yeah, it's going to be a long finals! After having played UB, I can tell you that the deck wins by reacting, so it's going to be all wars of attrition. In the top 8, there is no time limit on the rounds, so rounds could go for 2 hours. What is interesting to note is the lack of so many great decks like Valakut and RUG. I know that's very misrepresenting because gettign into top 8 requires you to excel at all formats, but if that MG Eldrazi Ramp deck were Valakut, it would simply walk casually into 1st. MG Eldrazi Ramp has a tougher time against Control, but let's do this fantasy league style:
Round 1:
PV (1) vs Jonathan Randal (8) - UW is better against an aggro loaded field, which is why it dominated so much when Jund and Mythic were huge because Day of Judgement is so efficient. However, the Meta has shifted and Control is way better now. Black gives some great deck and hand control cards which puts it over the top in the control matchup. Duress can snag counterspells on turn 1 and Memoricide can strip Janathan's only creature, Baneslayer, from the deck and leave him with almost no outs. I think PV will win and advance.
Guillaume Matignon (4) vs Eric Froehlich (5) - This is going to be a great Control vs Aggro matchup, but I think once again UB will prevail. Looking at their decklists, Guillaume has 2 Consume the Meek in the maindeck and only 2 Doom Blades maindeck. This means there are 2 dead cards, and 2 cards that completely wipe out Vampires cold in the main. As I have said before, game 1 is critical in a best of 3, and I think it could come down to that. Post board, the Control deck has no more blades, but instead has Disfigure, Ratchet Bomb, and maybe even the 1 Sorin Markov. As for Vampires, I think think they have to get insanely aggressive, and I think this is where Demon of Death's Gate will shine. Turn 2 Demon can end the game immediatly. Consider: T1 Pulse Tracker, T2 attack, play 2 1 mana guys (Viscera Seer, Vampire Lacerator) sac all for Demon. T3, get them down to 9, T4 they are dead. The only out UB has is to counter the Demon or to get Jace TMS in play and bounce Demon. Guillaume doesn't play Chalice so there is no T3 Jace. I think that is the only way Vampires can win, but since that won't happen 2 games straight, UB wins 2-1.
Love Janse (2) vs Christofer Wolf (7) - This is MG Eldrazi Ramp vs UB Control, and I think UB may have the edge, but this is actually quite even. I think game 1 could very possibly go to Eldrazi. Love has a Terastadon in the Main, which is a champ against Control because it can hit play and blow up a Jace at 9. Also, having 2 Ulamog in the Main is another way to deal with a Jace at critical mass because you can't counter the Vindicate effect. Wolf plays 3 Ratchet Bomb main, which I feel doesn't really do much against MG Eldrazi. For the sideboard, I think MG Eldrazi could cut Treespeaker for Oracle, because it's very easy to get time walked when you Treespeaker gets hit with Disfigure in response to the level up, while Oracle produces plently of mana by itself. Depending on his style, I think Wolf could bring in almost all his counterspells (3 Flashfreeze, 2 Mindbreak, 1 Negate of 3) to try and prevent Eldrazi from getting ahead. This is a close call, but I am going to say MG Eldrazi because I don't want a top 4 of all UB Control
Guillaume Wafo-Tapa (3) vs Lukas Jaklovsky (6) - UB Control mirror. Really boring stuff. Incredibly similar lists with all the differances in the details. Honestly, It's a coin flip. Guillaume is awesome though, so I am going to go for him.
So here is my predicted top 4:
PV
Guillaume Matignon
Love Janse
Guillaume Wafo-Tapa
Here's something you need to know: There are only 3 players left who can possibly be player of the Year: Brad Nelson, PV, and Guillaume Matignon. Here's how it works out:
If PV makes it to the finals, he will be the Player of the year. If Guillaume Matignon WINS the world championships, he will be TIED for player of the year with Brad. If neither of these happens (Guillaume beats PV, loses in finals) Brad Nelson is POY. So who gets Player of the Year in a tie? At the next Pro Tour, Brad and Guillaume would have a single standard match to decide who wins it all! Talk about an epic game if it turns out that way! But back to the top 4:
It's basically all control, and I am expecting a PV vs Guillaume Wafo-Tapa UB Control mirror for the finals. Keep in mind the finals are 5 rounds, not 3, so this could be simply a test of endurance. Both of these guys are quiet and reserved, so if you want to watch the finals, be prepared for an epic war of patience, and yes I think PV is your 2010 POY.
On a completely irrelivant note, I have been telling myself I would give credit where credit is due for one of the greatest Magic referances I have ever heard. November 27th I went to see Harry Potter 7 with a bunch of people including Defo. In one scene, Hermoine is setting up dozens of protective Enchantments to prevent the hunters who want to capture Harry and Hermione (Ron was a bum and ran away) from finding them. As she was finishing her long string of spells. Defo turned to me and said somethingto the degree of, "Okay, you set up all those enchantments and I will play my Back to Nature". It was truly a thing of beauty. =D
So that is all for now, until next time, check out the deck techs on the mothership, they're awesome! And stay classy.
Day 1: 6 rounds of Standard
Day 2: 6 rounds of Draft (2 8-man drafts)
Day 3: 6 rounds of Extended
Day 4: 6 rounds of Legacy, cut to Top 8 (standard)
Talk about a greuling 1/2 of a week! I am honestly really glad they have this system, because it means to be a world champion, you actually have to be good at every format. Getting 5 losses straight out prevents you from getting into the top 8. That's 5 losses across the entire tournament! So while it is possible to top at after starting 3-3 (Brad Nelson) you pretty much have to go 18-0 from there.
One of my favorite parts of any Pro Tour is the Deck Techs that come out over the course of the event. This is when the Pros get to talk about their sick new brews across all the formats. In Standard, there wasn't a whole lot simply because the format has settled reasonably well, but Brian Kibler's Caw-Go deck was definitely one that got people's attention at TNT Gaming at last night's FNM (and one guy copied the entiree 75 cards and played it to 4-1). The other 3 deck techs released were GR Valakut, which there isn't much room for variation at all, MG Elves, which also was fairly straightforward, and UG Genesis Wave. UG Genesis Wave was a very cool deck. Basically the deck mana ramped into a Genesis wave for 6 or more, and would then drop a smattering of green and blue Titans and Planeswalkers to lock opponents out of the game.
Extended is the format, however, where Deck Techs were all innovative. The deck techs were of:
Ooze and Oz - Conley Wood's BG Necrotic Ooze combo deck
Steel Artifact - Esper artifact creature deck that used Tempered Steel, Steel Overseer, Master of Etherium to make guys like Ornithopter and Memnite menacing
Polymorph - UB Polymorph has much more control than Simic, and makes tokens with Bitterblossom which can also get tons of damage in while you wait for the Polymorph
Faeries - Very straightforward Faeries deck
I think Steel Artifact was a really cool deck, and definitely one that you should keep your eyes on going forwards. As Scars block unfolds, we will get more and more cool artifacts and pro-artifact cards which could really pump up the deck. In each deck tech, the person mentioned played against Jund, but there was no actual deck tech for Jund, which dissapointed me as it is the deck Mark and I wrote some letter to eachother about (and my next letter should be up tomorrow). I still think Jund is a Viable deck, but UB Polymorph is awesome, so that's something to seriously consider.
But going back to the top 8. This is unfortunately going to be a dry top 8... unless you love counter wars that is. Here's the top 8 and what everyone is playing:
1st PV - UB Control
2nd Love Janse - MG Eldrazi Ramp
3rd Guillaume Wafo-Tapa - UB Control
4th Guillaume Matignon - UB Control
5th Eric Froehlich - BR Vampires (with 4x Demon of Death's Gate!)
6th Lukas Jaklovsky - UB Control
7th Christofer Wolf - UB Control
8th Jonathan Randal - UW Control
One quick note: None of the UB players are playing any Frost Titans in the main or board, but they all have about 3 Sea Gate Oracle and 3 Grave Titan for creatures
So we have 5 UB Control decks, a UW Control deck, MG Eldrazi Ramp, and BR Vampires. Yeah, it's going to be a long finals! After having played UB, I can tell you that the deck wins by reacting, so it's going to be all wars of attrition. In the top 8, there is no time limit on the rounds, so rounds could go for 2 hours. What is interesting to note is the lack of so many great decks like Valakut and RUG. I know that's very misrepresenting because gettign into top 8 requires you to excel at all formats, but if that MG Eldrazi Ramp deck were Valakut, it would simply walk casually into 1st. MG Eldrazi Ramp has a tougher time against Control, but let's do this fantasy league style:
Round 1:
PV (1) vs Jonathan Randal (8) - UW is better against an aggro loaded field, which is why it dominated so much when Jund and Mythic were huge because Day of Judgement is so efficient. However, the Meta has shifted and Control is way better now. Black gives some great deck and hand control cards which puts it over the top in the control matchup. Duress can snag counterspells on turn 1 and Memoricide can strip Janathan's only creature, Baneslayer, from the deck and leave him with almost no outs. I think PV will win and advance.
Guillaume Matignon (4) vs Eric Froehlich (5) - This is going to be a great Control vs Aggro matchup, but I think once again UB will prevail. Looking at their decklists, Guillaume has 2 Consume the Meek in the maindeck and only 2 Doom Blades maindeck. This means there are 2 dead cards, and 2 cards that completely wipe out Vampires cold in the main. As I have said before, game 1 is critical in a best of 3, and I think it could come down to that. Post board, the Control deck has no more blades, but instead has Disfigure, Ratchet Bomb, and maybe even the 1 Sorin Markov. As for Vampires, I think think they have to get insanely aggressive, and I think this is where Demon of Death's Gate will shine. Turn 2 Demon can end the game immediatly. Consider: T1 Pulse Tracker, T2 attack, play 2 1 mana guys (Viscera Seer, Vampire Lacerator) sac all for Demon. T3, get them down to 9, T4 they are dead. The only out UB has is to counter the Demon or to get Jace TMS in play and bounce Demon. Guillaume doesn't play Chalice so there is no T3 Jace. I think that is the only way Vampires can win, but since that won't happen 2 games straight, UB wins 2-1.
Love Janse (2) vs Christofer Wolf (7) - This is MG Eldrazi Ramp vs UB Control, and I think UB may have the edge, but this is actually quite even. I think game 1 could very possibly go to Eldrazi. Love has a Terastadon in the Main, which is a champ against Control because it can hit play and blow up a Jace at 9. Also, having 2 Ulamog in the Main is another way to deal with a Jace at critical mass because you can't counter the Vindicate effect. Wolf plays 3 Ratchet Bomb main, which I feel doesn't really do much against MG Eldrazi. For the sideboard, I think MG Eldrazi could cut Treespeaker for Oracle, because it's very easy to get time walked when you Treespeaker gets hit with Disfigure in response to the level up, while Oracle produces plently of mana by itself. Depending on his style, I think Wolf could bring in almost all his counterspells (3 Flashfreeze, 2 Mindbreak, 1 Negate of 3) to try and prevent Eldrazi from getting ahead. This is a close call, but I am going to say MG Eldrazi because I don't want a top 4 of all UB Control
Guillaume Wafo-Tapa (3) vs Lukas Jaklovsky (6) - UB Control mirror. Really boring stuff. Incredibly similar lists with all the differances in the details. Honestly, It's a coin flip. Guillaume is awesome though, so I am going to go for him.
So here is my predicted top 4:
PV
Guillaume Matignon
Love Janse
Guillaume Wafo-Tapa
Here's something you need to know: There are only 3 players left who can possibly be player of the Year: Brad Nelson, PV, and Guillaume Matignon. Here's how it works out:
If PV makes it to the finals, he will be the Player of the year. If Guillaume Matignon WINS the world championships, he will be TIED for player of the year with Brad. If neither of these happens (Guillaume beats PV, loses in finals) Brad Nelson is POY. So who gets Player of the Year in a tie? At the next Pro Tour, Brad and Guillaume would have a single standard match to decide who wins it all! Talk about an epic game if it turns out that way! But back to the top 4:
It's basically all control, and I am expecting a PV vs Guillaume Wafo-Tapa UB Control mirror for the finals. Keep in mind the finals are 5 rounds, not 3, so this could be simply a test of endurance. Both of these guys are quiet and reserved, so if you want to watch the finals, be prepared for an epic war of patience, and yes I think PV is your 2010 POY.
On a completely irrelivant note, I have been telling myself I would give credit where credit is due for one of the greatest Magic referances I have ever heard. November 27th I went to see Harry Potter 7 with a bunch of people including Defo. In one scene, Hermoine is setting up dozens of protective Enchantments to prevent the hunters who want to capture Harry and Hermione (Ron was a bum and ran away) from finding them. As she was finishing her long string of spells. Defo turned to me and said somethingto the degree of, "Okay, you set up all those enchantments and I will play my Back to Nature". It was truly a thing of beauty. =D
So that is all for now, until next time, check out the deck techs on the mothership, they're awesome! And stay classy.
TNT FNM 12/10/10 *5-0 1st Place*
WOW! WOW! That's is all I can really say about the FNM tonight! I never honestly thought I could come in first place at an FNM, but I finally did it! It's been almost 2 months since my last FNM, and what a way to return to the scene! Ranting.... Rambling..... Excitedness.... Decklist:
4x Primeval Titan
1x Inferno Titan
1x Avenger of Zendikar
1x Gaea's Revenge
2x Oracle of Mul Daya
3x Overgrown Battlement
4x Explore
4x Summoning Trap
2x Khalni Heart Expedition
4x Cultivate
2x Pyroclasm
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
2x Raging Ravine
4x Terramorphic Expanse
12x Mountain
6x Forest
Sideboard:
1x Gaea's Revenge
1x Avenger of Zendikar
1x Pyroclasm
3x Refraction Trap
3x Naturalize
2x Act of Treason
1x Kozelik, the Butcher of Truth
2x Acidic Slime
1x Comet Storm
The big problem with playing Valakut, is that there isn't a ton of room for innovation. I tried to give myself as many options as possible by doing things like my split of a pair of Avenger of Zendikar and Gaea's Revenge between the main and board. I actually found this to be incredibly helpful. Having Either can be game breaking during game 1, but depending on the deck, one can be better than the other, so I just make the switch. I used to have Avenger main and Revenge in the Board, but if you know they have a counterspell, Avenger just stinks compared to Gaea's Revenge. Some other cards I want to point out are Ricochet Trap and Pyroclasm. Ricochet Trap is a card all too often forgotten about, and is really powerful! I think it was printed solely for red decks to have resiliance against control decks, and that's honestly all it is there for. Between Summoning Trap and Ricochet Trap, control becomes all too easy post board. Now Pyroclasm is a card that's an obvious include, but I did some Gerry T stuff and moved 2 to the maindeck. While I never cast it Game 1, it's my only out against aggro decks, and having it in a clutch moment could be all it takes to relieve pressure and let my mountains take over the game. Winning game 1 really does mean a lot, because the loser is under serious pressure for games 2 and 3. So here's the game-by-game:
Round 1: UW Quest
I have read on article from time to time about a UW Quest for the Holy Relic deck, but that's the extent of my knowledge about the deck: that it exists. I guess you could Trinket Mage into Memnite for 2 counters on Quest? I have no idea what to expect. Maybe Mike's was not well put together, but it played very slow for a Quest deck. He told me after that he didn't have any Trinket Mages in the deck, and the Blue was only there for Mana Leak, Unsummon, and Into the Roil. Game 1 was pretty easy, as I had 2 Primeval Titans in play together, and the game just ended almost immediatly.
Game 2 was tough. I Naturalized his Quest turn 2, so he wasn't able to get Argentum Armor, but he was able to get a Stonforge Mystic --> Sword of Body and Mind. In case you didn't realize, one hit from this sword can be devastating for Valakut. I am a steadfast beleiver that mill is not a valid strategy, but Valakut has really only 1 win condition: Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle (that's why it's named after the card). Having 2 get milled is simply backbreaking as it severly weakens my long game. I wound up losing after haveing 2 Prime Time and 3 Valakuts milled.
Game 3 was another scary game. He got a Sword into play, but I bolted in response to his first equip, so I bought myself another turn. That turn didn't do anything though, so he was able to equip and attack, and he milled nothing relavent. I was able to untap, Prime Time, and get there by killing his equipped guy with mountains, stabalize, then kill him in 2 hits.
Round 2: Mono Black Vampires
This round I was against one of the young (10?) kids who come for FNMs named Alex. He wound up shocking everyone by beating Jimmy (one of the best players at the store) round 1, and his vampire deck was completely budget, but suprisingly good. It wasn't the combo Bloodghast build, but just a weenie stocked build with a smattering of removal.Game 1 I went down to 6 life before I could stabalize and come back with my Valakut triggers.
Game 2 was tricky too. My life total on my paper reads:20 19 16 9 2 1 while his life total reads 20 22 24 26. He had stuck an early Child of Night and attacked with it and its platoon for 7 a turn. I had Comet Stormed all but a Viscera Seer and then played Prime Time, but he had Doom Blade an just kept on going.
Game 3 I was brought to 8 life before I could stabalize and come back in the typical fashion.
Round 3: UB Control
I played against Jared this round... sigh... But at least it was my second best matchup possible (UW is best because they don't have Memoricide) so our 2 games ended blindingly fast. I'm pretty sure many people were on Game 1 after I told Evan I was 2-0
Round 4: UB Persecutor Control
I was against Biasetti this round, a player who I really respect. I remembered seeing him play his deck earlier,so I knew what it was, but I had mixed him up initially with Peter's RUG deck, so I was really confused when he muttered about how bad this matchup was. He never played a persecutor or a Jace TMS during both games, and I did feel bad after he tilted halfway through game 2, but in the end I got out 2-0.
Round 5: UW Proliferate Control
Going into this round, I was tlaking to Brendan who was 3-0-1 and was playing me for first place. He wanted to draw so we could both get prize, but I wanted to play so I could say I really won an FNM. We wound up playing 1 game, and after I completely decimated him, he just scooped for the round. After talking to him, I decided to give him a bit of the pool I won as a way to avoid getting the d-bag label stuck on me for the next 2 months.
All in all, I had an incredibly fun time, and I really do recommend playing this deck if you have the pieces. It's a great deck when you want to win and avoid thinking because you basically play solitaire and play around counterspells. Some changes I would make to the deck are these:
-Replace Naturalize for Nature's Claim and Act of Treason for Mark of Mutiny. The reason I didn't going into this event is simply because I didn't have them and didn't think to buy them when I got to the store.
-Cut Comet Storm and Kozelik for either Ratchet Bomb or Nihil Spellbomb. Ratchet Bomb helps against everything, although it really shines against Aggro when it can blow stuff up almost immediatly, but having Nihil Spellbomb is very important against Vengivine decks. I guess it's really just a MetaGame call whether or not you play Spellbomb. Because you don't have Trinket Mage, I think having 2 is important.
-In the mana base, I would cut 1 Terramorphic Expanse for another Mountain simply because more often than not you fetch for Mountains and having more Mountains means having more Valakut triggers
That's all for me tonight, I hope you have a wonderous time, and next week I am looking to play something no one is expecting. Maybe I should whip out a Level Up deck or GW Allies... Anyways, until next time, stay classy!
4x Primeval Titan
1x Inferno Titan
1x Avenger of Zendikar
1x Gaea's Revenge
2x Oracle of Mul Daya
3x Overgrown Battlement
4x Explore
4x Summoning Trap
2x Khalni Heart Expedition
4x Cultivate
2x Pyroclasm
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
2x Raging Ravine
4x Terramorphic Expanse
12x Mountain
6x Forest
Sideboard:
1x Gaea's Revenge
1x Avenger of Zendikar
1x Pyroclasm
3x Refraction Trap
3x Naturalize
2x Act of Treason
1x Kozelik, the Butcher of Truth
2x Acidic Slime
1x Comet Storm
The big problem with playing Valakut, is that there isn't a ton of room for innovation. I tried to give myself as many options as possible by doing things like my split of a pair of Avenger of Zendikar and Gaea's Revenge between the main and board. I actually found this to be incredibly helpful. Having Either can be game breaking during game 1, but depending on the deck, one can be better than the other, so I just make the switch. I used to have Avenger main and Revenge in the Board, but if you know they have a counterspell, Avenger just stinks compared to Gaea's Revenge. Some other cards I want to point out are Ricochet Trap and Pyroclasm. Ricochet Trap is a card all too often forgotten about, and is really powerful! I think it was printed solely for red decks to have resiliance against control decks, and that's honestly all it is there for. Between Summoning Trap and Ricochet Trap, control becomes all too easy post board. Now Pyroclasm is a card that's an obvious include, but I did some Gerry T stuff and moved 2 to the maindeck. While I never cast it Game 1, it's my only out against aggro decks, and having it in a clutch moment could be all it takes to relieve pressure and let my mountains take over the game. Winning game 1 really does mean a lot, because the loser is under serious pressure for games 2 and 3. So here's the game-by-game:
Round 1: UW Quest
I have read on article from time to time about a UW Quest for the Holy Relic deck, but that's the extent of my knowledge about the deck: that it exists. I guess you could Trinket Mage into Memnite for 2 counters on Quest? I have no idea what to expect. Maybe Mike's was not well put together, but it played very slow for a Quest deck. He told me after that he didn't have any Trinket Mages in the deck, and the Blue was only there for Mana Leak, Unsummon, and Into the Roil. Game 1 was pretty easy, as I had 2 Primeval Titans in play together, and the game just ended almost immediatly.
Game 2 was tough. I Naturalized his Quest turn 2, so he wasn't able to get Argentum Armor, but he was able to get a Stonforge Mystic --> Sword of Body and Mind. In case you didn't realize, one hit from this sword can be devastating for Valakut. I am a steadfast beleiver that mill is not a valid strategy, but Valakut has really only 1 win condition: Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle (that's why it's named after the card). Having 2 get milled is simply backbreaking as it severly weakens my long game. I wound up losing after haveing 2 Prime Time and 3 Valakuts milled.
Game 3 was another scary game. He got a Sword into play, but I bolted in response to his first equip, so I bought myself another turn. That turn didn't do anything though, so he was able to equip and attack, and he milled nothing relavent. I was able to untap, Prime Time, and get there by killing his equipped guy with mountains, stabalize, then kill him in 2 hits.
Round 2: Mono Black Vampires
This round I was against one of the young (10?) kids who come for FNMs named Alex. He wound up shocking everyone by beating Jimmy (one of the best players at the store) round 1, and his vampire deck was completely budget, but suprisingly good. It wasn't the combo Bloodghast build, but just a weenie stocked build with a smattering of removal.Game 1 I went down to 6 life before I could stabalize and come back with my Valakut triggers.
Game 2 was tricky too. My life total on my paper reads:
Game 3 I was brought to 8 life before I could stabalize and come back in the typical fashion.
Round 3: UB Control
I played against Jared this round... sigh... But at least it was my second best matchup possible (UW is best because they don't have Memoricide) so our 2 games ended blindingly fast. I'm pretty sure many people were on Game 1 after I told Evan I was 2-0
Round 4: UB Persecutor Control
I was against Biasetti this round, a player who I really respect. I remembered seeing him play his deck earlier,so I knew what it was, but I had mixed him up initially with Peter's RUG deck, so I was really confused when he muttered about how bad this matchup was. He never played a persecutor or a Jace TMS during both games, and I did feel bad after he tilted halfway through game 2, but in the end I got out 2-0.
Round 5: UW Proliferate Control
Going into this round, I was tlaking to Brendan who was 3-0-1 and was playing me for first place. He wanted to draw so we could both get prize, but I wanted to play so I could say I really won an FNM. We wound up playing 1 game, and after I completely decimated him, he just scooped for the round. After talking to him, I decided to give him a bit of the pool I won as a way to avoid getting the d-bag label stuck on me for the next 2 months.
All in all, I had an incredibly fun time, and I really do recommend playing this deck if you have the pieces. It's a great deck when you want to win and avoid thinking because you basically play solitaire and play around counterspells. Some changes I would make to the deck are these:
-Replace Naturalize for Nature's Claim and Act of Treason for Mark of Mutiny. The reason I didn't going into this event is simply because I didn't have them and didn't think to buy them when I got to the store.
-Cut Comet Storm and Kozelik for either Ratchet Bomb or Nihil Spellbomb. Ratchet Bomb helps against everything, although it really shines against Aggro when it can blow stuff up almost immediatly, but having Nihil Spellbomb is very important against Vengivine decks. I guess it's really just a MetaGame call whether or not you play Spellbomb. Because you don't have Trinket Mage, I think having 2 is important.
-In the mana base, I would cut 1 Terramorphic Expanse for another Mountain simply because more often than not you fetch for Mountains and having more Mountains means having more Valakut triggers
That's all for me tonight, I hope you have a wonderous time, and next week I am looking to play something no one is expecting. Maybe I should whip out a Level Up deck or GW Allies... Anyways, until next time, stay classy!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Rise of the Phyrexians
So today on the Mothership, a really interesting announcement was made in the arcana. If you didn't see it, here it is. Basically, they announced there are 2 potential results to the Phyrexia/Mirran battle, but they just aren't going to tell us yet. I think this is a really cool idea, because the names of the sets are supposed to be iconic to the flavor. Look at a couple random blocks:
Zendikar - Name of the new plane
Worldwake - The world is waking up and attacking. What's going on?
Rise of the Eldrazi - This is straightforward... the Eldrazi have risen... and pwnage begins
Shards of Alara - Name of plane (Alara) and explains how it's broken
Conflux - Name of Nicol Bolas's combining of the Shards
Alara Reborn - Alara is one all over again
Ravnica - Name of new plane
Guildpact - The 10 guild's pact of peace
Dissension - The Guildpact has broken and they are at war
If they had announced what the name was of the 3rd set, it would have made the flavor quite boring for the next couple months. It's like when a friend tells you how a movie goes just befoe you walk into the theater to see it, it's boring. Now, there is a rumor that the name of the 3rd set will be decided by which faction gets more supporters at the Mirroden Beseiged prerelease, but I doubt it. I think the set had already been named, and in fact it is probably already getting printed right now, but at a minimal rate. So which do I think it will be?
New Phyrexia
Phyrexia is the ultimate villian in Magic's history. While I didn't play back in those days, I have heard and read enough to have a basic understanding of how things went. Bascially Phyrexia ravaged Dominaria for about 6 or 7 blocks in a row before being defeated by the Weatherlight crew. They have 50 cards with Phyrexia in it's name, basically, they are a complete staple in Magic's history. By having them lose, they miss out on a HUGE opportunity for flavor developments in the future. Phyrexia could grow on Mirroden and then ravage other planes in the future. Eldrazi vs Phyrexia? That would be sick
So, here's my "UW" Phyrexia deck. I actually went UB because I realized White didn't offer enough that Black had in terms of deck disruption and creature removal.
2x Contagion Engine
2x Inexorable Tide
3x Jace TMS
3x Jace Beleran
4x Grand Architect
4x Necropede
4x Ichorclaw Myr
4x Preordain
4x Mana Leak
2x Consume the Meek
1x Memoricide
3x Doom Blade
4x Drowned Catacomb
4x Darkslick Shore
4x Creeping Tar Pit
1x Swamp
1x Mystifying Maze
3x Tectonic Edge
5x Island
2x Scalding Tarn
It's 11:30 at nigh and I have to wake up extra early tomorrow, but let me know what you will think! I will give some thoughts on this deck next time, as well as some potential edits. Let me just put this out there: I really wish I could get away with running 80 cards in a deck instead of 60!
Until next time, stay classy!
Zendikar - Name of the new plane
Worldwake - The world is waking up and attacking. What's going on?
Rise of the Eldrazi - This is straightforward... the Eldrazi have risen... and pwnage begins
Shards of Alara - Name of plane (Alara) and explains how it's broken
Conflux - Name of Nicol Bolas's combining of the Shards
Alara Reborn - Alara is one all over again
Ravnica - Name of new plane
Guildpact - The 10 guild's pact of peace
Dissension - The Guildpact has broken and they are at war
If they had announced what the name was of the 3rd set, it would have made the flavor quite boring for the next couple months. It's like when a friend tells you how a movie goes just befoe you walk into the theater to see it, it's boring. Now, there is a rumor that the name of the 3rd set will be decided by which faction gets more supporters at the Mirroden Beseiged prerelease, but I doubt it. I think the set had already been named, and in fact it is probably already getting printed right now, but at a minimal rate. So which do I think it will be?
New Phyrexia
Phyrexia is the ultimate villian in Magic's history. While I didn't play back in those days, I have heard and read enough to have a basic understanding of how things went. Bascially Phyrexia ravaged Dominaria for about 6 or 7 blocks in a row before being defeated by the Weatherlight crew. They have 50 cards with Phyrexia in it's name, basically, they are a complete staple in Magic's history. By having them lose, they miss out on a HUGE opportunity for flavor developments in the future. Phyrexia could grow on Mirroden and then ravage other planes in the future. Eldrazi vs Phyrexia? That would be sick
So, here's my "UW" Phyrexia deck. I actually went UB because I realized White didn't offer enough that Black had in terms of deck disruption and creature removal.
2x Contagion Engine
2x Inexorable Tide
3x Jace TMS
3x Jace Beleran
4x Grand Architect
4x Necropede
4x Ichorclaw Myr
4x Preordain
4x Mana Leak
2x Consume the Meek
1x Memoricide
3x Doom Blade
4x Drowned Catacomb
4x Darkslick Shore
4x Creeping Tar Pit
1x Swamp
1x Mystifying Maze
3x Tectonic Edge
5x Island
2x Scalding Tarn
It's 11:30 at nigh and I have to wake up extra early tomorrow, but let me know what you will think! I will give some thoughts on this deck next time, as well as some potential edits. Let me just put this out there: I really wish I could get away with running 80 cards in a deck instead of 60!
Until next time, stay classy!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Greek Onslaught
I have been thinking in the back of my mind for some time about making a really cool Mass Polymorph deck, but I never could think of what to have it do. A couple months ago, before Scars was released, Wizards posted this deck on their daily decklist. It was really interesting, and the combination of Stormtide Leviathan, Iona, and Emrakul is devastating. But I do wonder if it is completely consistant. There are only 12 cards in the deck that even make tokens (Khalni Garden, Elspeth, Martial Coup). However, sticking to my roots, I wanted to build a UG polymorph deck.
At the same time, I was thinking about how to make a sick Beastmaster Ascension deck, like the one that Zvi made for the Zendikar Block Pro Tour.
Then it hit me....
Why not combine them!?!?!
Here's the list:
4x Nest Invader
4x Kozelik's Predator
1x Iona, Shield of Emeria
1x Stormtide Leviathan
1x Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
4x Mass Polymorph
4x Growth Spasm
4x Preordain
4x See Beyond
4x Awakening Zone
3x Beastmaster Ascension
3x Jace Beleran
4x Misty Rainforest
1x Terramorphic Expanse
4x Khalni Garden
3x Halimar Depths
4x Forest
4x Island
3x Tectonic Edge
Sideboard:
4x Overgrown Battlement (Aggro)
3x Frost Titan (Control)
4x Mana Leak (Everything)
1x Jace Beleran (Control)
3x Hornet Sting?
So here is how this deck works: Early game you want to get something like Nest Invader or Awakening Zone down to start getting a smattering of spawn in play. Meanwhile, you want to use cards like Jace Beleran, See Beyond, and Preordain to grab your 2 essential pieces (Ascension and Polymorph). Then get your Mass Polymorph off and go to town!
Now I haven't actually played this deck, and I haven't even actually built it yet, but here are some random notes about the deck rummaging through my head
-You have 11 creatures in the deck, with 3 of them being prime targets. Keep a mental note of how many creatures there are left in your deck as you get closer to going off.
-Beastmaster Ascension isn't very necessary. It can be fun to talk about how you just attacked your opponent for 85, but they only have 20 life, and you have Emrakul
-Frost Titan doubled and a half in price because Control became so popular and Frost Titan puts you way ahead against control because they run so few threats and Frost Titan stops 1 from doing anything.
-Mana Leak should come in against almost everything, but the reason it's not in the main is because if a deck doesn't see any game 1, they might not see it coming games 2 and 3 and a well timed counterspell can change games dramatically
-Jace Wars need to be won. Period.
-This deck lacks removal, which is devastating. That's why Hornet Sting is there. I was thinking that it would help against Lotus Cobra in RUG or Viscera Seer in Vampires, but as a 1 damage shot, it doesn't do a whole lot...
So that's what I was thinking about today, but I still have some UW Phyrexia and GW Allies to get to. Until next time, stay classy!
At the same time, I was thinking about how to make a sick Beastmaster Ascension deck, like the one that Zvi made for the Zendikar Block Pro Tour.
Then it hit me....
Why not combine them!?!?!
Here's the list:
4x Nest Invader
4x Kozelik's Predator
1x Iona, Shield of Emeria
1x Stormtide Leviathan
1x Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
4x Mass Polymorph
4x Growth Spasm
4x Preordain
4x See Beyond
4x Awakening Zone
3x Beastmaster Ascension
3x Jace Beleran
4x Misty Rainforest
1x Terramorphic Expanse
4x Khalni Garden
3x Halimar Depths
4x Forest
4x Island
3x Tectonic Edge
Sideboard:
4x Overgrown Battlement (Aggro)
3x Frost Titan (Control)
4x Mana Leak (Everything)
1x Jace Beleran (Control)
3x Hornet Sting?
So here is how this deck works: Early game you want to get something like Nest Invader or Awakening Zone down to start getting a smattering of spawn in play. Meanwhile, you want to use cards like Jace Beleran, See Beyond, and Preordain to grab your 2 essential pieces (Ascension and Polymorph). Then get your Mass Polymorph off and go to town!
Now I haven't actually played this deck, and I haven't even actually built it yet, but here are some random notes about the deck rummaging through my head
-You have 11 creatures in the deck, with 3 of them being prime targets. Keep a mental note of how many creatures there are left in your deck as you get closer to going off.
-Beastmaster Ascension isn't very necessary. It can be fun to talk about how you just attacked your opponent for 85, but they only have 20 life, and you have Emrakul
-Frost Titan doubled and a half in price because Control became so popular and Frost Titan puts you way ahead against control because they run so few threats and Frost Titan stops 1 from doing anything.
-Mana Leak should come in against almost everything, but the reason it's not in the main is because if a deck doesn't see any game 1, they might not see it coming games 2 and 3 and a well timed counterspell can change games dramatically
-Jace Wars need to be won. Period.
-This deck lacks removal, which is devastating. That's why Hornet Sting is there. I was thinking that it would help against Lotus Cobra in RUG or Viscera Seer in Vampires, but as a 1 damage shot, it doesn't do a whole lot...
So that's what I was thinking about today, but I still have some UW Phyrexia and GW Allies to get to. Until next time, stay classy!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
December 2010 Secondary Market Update
Hello all! After posting basically one article a week last month, I hope to get back up to speed with 15-20 posts a month from here on out. If you're wondering what the heck that last post was (Dear Mark, Mimic Jund Will Devour All), it is a new sub-series Mark and I are doing. Whenever we get together, we always talk about new ways to attack the format and creative ideas to grow upon. Usually we talk about standard, because it ebbs and flows the fastest, but we will talk about legacy and extended too (Vintage is dumb...). Mark recently traded for a full set of Maelstrum Pulses, so Jund was the natural list to emerge from it. Mark will be posting responses on his blog, and you can see his response here.
But now to some raw numbers. It's now been 2 months since Scars was released, and so Standard is firming up and so are the prices:
Scars of Mirroden
Koth of the Hammer 29.99 -5.85
Venser, the Sojounor 18.99 -2.48
Elspeth Tirel 14.99 -5.45
Molten Tail Masticore 14.99 -4.47
Mox Opal 13.99 -5.79
Wurmcoil Engine 10.99 -4.00
Skithryx, the Blight Dragon 8.99 -2.98
Sword of Body and Mind 8.99 -0.99
Lux Cannon 3.49 -2.50
Indominable Archangel 2.99 -0.93
Platinum Emporion 1.99 -0-
Mindslaver 1.49 -0.99
Geth, Lord of the Vault 1.49 -0.18
Liege of the Tangle 1.49 -0-
Quicksilver Gargantuan 0.49 -0.15
As I predicted last month, Elspeth has gone down to 15, with Venser close behind, and Koth sits 15 above them. And yes, Mox Opal continues to drop. Where do I think this will all go? I think the prices are mainly settled for now, and if anything Koth will go down as low as 25, and Venser could potentially stay at 16 if a deck finds a home for him. I think Elspeth will continue to drop though, maybe down to 10 or 11 next month. I must say it's suprising to see 2/3 of the cards go down by at least 2.
Magic 2011
Primeval Titan 36.99 -8.00
Frost Titan 19.99 +1.06
Grave Titan 14.99 +2.26
Baneslayer Angel 13.99 -2.98
Inferno Titan 8.99 +2.05
Jace Beleran 6.99 +0.53
Garruk Wildspeaker 6.99 -0-
Sun Titan 5.99 -0.85
Ajani Goldmane **No English Data, Foreign Cards going at ~5**
Gaea's Revenge 4.99 +1.03
Lilliana Vess 3.49 -0.45
Platinum Angel 1.99 -0-
Chandra Nalaar 1.99 -0-
Time Reversal **No Non-Foil Data, Foil going at 5.99**
Demon of Death's Gate 1.49 +0.47
The 2 cards I want to point out here is the rise of Grave Titan and Inferno Titan. The Meta is constantly shifting, and now decks like Vampires is getting bigger, which is conveniently cards like Grave Titan and Inferno Titan are much better. The Titans completely define the format right now, so always keep them in mind and which one is the best against every deck you see. It's well defined now that Sun Titan is the worst of the cycle (which conveniently mimics how white is the least played color too), and even Sun Titan decks don't run more than 2 of him. Prime Time may go up another 2, but that's it I expect.
Rise of the Eldrazi
Vengivine 35.99 -0.99
Gideon Jura 29.99 -1.00
Kargan Dragonlord 13.99 -1.97
All Is Dust 13.49 -0.49
Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre 9.99 -0-
Kozelik, the Butcher of Truth 7.99 -1.45
Emrakul, the Aeons Torn 7.99 -0.95
Linvala, Keeper of Silence 5.99 -1.97
Sarkhan the Mad 5.99 -0.50
Transcendant Master 3.49 -0.49
Lighthouse Chronologist 3.49 -0-
Khalni Hydra 3.49 -0-
Nirkana Revenant 2.99 -0.91
Hellcarver Demon .99 +0.32
Cast Through Time .99 +0.41
Right as Vengivine sees more play it goes down? I can only guess the liklihood of Survival getting banned in Legacy is what's keeping Vengivine's price in check. Everything else is a minor change.
Worldwake
Jace, the Mind Sculptor 93.99 +4.01
Abyssal Persecutor 14.99 -0-
Avenger of Zendikar 10.99 -0-
Eye of Ugin 3.49 -4.50
Dragonmaster Outcast 3.49 -0.49
Omnath, Locus of Mana 3.49 +0.15
Admonition Angel 2.49 +0.35
Comet Storm 1.99 -0.99
Wrexial, the Risen Deep .99 -0-
Novablast Wurm .99 -0-
And this is why it's not smart to buy Worldwake packs. If you don't get Jace, you don't your money's worth. Stoneforge is down to 8 from 10, and it's the 4th most valuable card in the set. Eye of Ugin dropped in price by 56% which is rough for anyone who recently invested in some (although you only really need 1), and Jace will always continue to climb in price.
Zendikar
Lotus Cobra 17.99 +1.05
Eldrazi Monument 16.99 -0.97
Sorin Markov 8.99 -0.45
Nissa Revane 8.49 -1.29
Iona, Shield of Emeria 5.49 -0.45
Chandra Ablaze 3.49 +0.21
Felidar Sovereign 2.99 -0.47
Ob Nixilis, the Fallen 2.49 -0.49
Warren Instigator 2.49 -0.43
Mindbreak Trap 2.49 +0.55
Rampaging Baloths 1.99 -0-
Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet 1.49 -0.19
Obsidian Fireheart .99 +0.21
Lorothos, the Tidemaker .49 -0.47
Eternity Vessel .49 -0.20
These prices have been set for a while now, so there isn't much to say. I'm interested to see how the 4 cards at the top of the list hold value, even though only Lotus Cobra is the only one in a top-tier deck.
That's all for today, but in the near future I have soom cool ideas that may or may not include Genesis Wave + allies and another deck that is UW and wins with poison counters. Until next time, stay classy
But now to some raw numbers. It's now been 2 months since Scars was released, and so Standard is firming up and so are the prices:
Scars of Mirroden
Koth of the Hammer 29.99 -5.85
Venser, the Sojounor 18.99 -2.48
Elspeth Tirel 14.99 -5.45
Molten Tail Masticore 14.99 -4.47
Mox Opal 13.99 -5.79
Wurmcoil Engine 10.99 -4.00
Skithryx, the Blight Dragon 8.99 -2.98
Sword of Body and Mind 8.99 -0.99
Lux Cannon 3.49 -2.50
Indominable Archangel 2.99 -0.93
Platinum Emporion 1.99 -0-
Mindslaver 1.49 -0.99
Geth, Lord of the Vault 1.49 -0.18
Liege of the Tangle 1.49 -0-
Quicksilver Gargantuan 0.49 -0.15
As I predicted last month, Elspeth has gone down to 15, with Venser close behind, and Koth sits 15 above them. And yes, Mox Opal continues to drop. Where do I think this will all go? I think the prices are mainly settled for now, and if anything Koth will go down as low as 25, and Venser could potentially stay at 16 if a deck finds a home for him. I think Elspeth will continue to drop though, maybe down to 10 or 11 next month. I must say it's suprising to see 2/3 of the cards go down by at least 2.
Magic 2011
Primeval Titan 36.99 -8.00
Frost Titan 19.99 +1.06
Grave Titan 14.99 +2.26
Baneslayer Angel 13.99 -2.98
Inferno Titan 8.99 +2.05
Jace Beleran 6.99 +0.53
Garruk Wildspeaker 6.99 -0-
Sun Titan 5.99 -0.85
Ajani Goldmane **No English Data, Foreign Cards going at ~5**
Gaea's Revenge 4.99 +1.03
Lilliana Vess 3.49 -0.45
Platinum Angel 1.99 -0-
Chandra Nalaar 1.99 -0-
Time Reversal **No Non-Foil Data, Foil going at 5.99**
Demon of Death's Gate 1.49 +0.47
The 2 cards I want to point out here is the rise of Grave Titan and Inferno Titan. The Meta is constantly shifting, and now decks like Vampires is getting bigger, which is conveniently cards like Grave Titan and Inferno Titan are much better. The Titans completely define the format right now, so always keep them in mind and which one is the best against every deck you see. It's well defined now that Sun Titan is the worst of the cycle (which conveniently mimics how white is the least played color too), and even Sun Titan decks don't run more than 2 of him. Prime Time may go up another 2, but that's it I expect.
Rise of the Eldrazi
Vengivine 35.99 -0.99
Gideon Jura 29.99 -1.00
Kargan Dragonlord 13.99 -1.97
All Is Dust 13.49 -0.49
Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre 9.99 -0-
Kozelik, the Butcher of Truth 7.99 -1.45
Emrakul, the Aeons Torn 7.99 -0.95
Linvala, Keeper of Silence 5.99 -1.97
Sarkhan the Mad 5.99 -0.50
Transcendant Master 3.49 -0.49
Lighthouse Chronologist 3.49 -0-
Khalni Hydra 3.49 -0-
Nirkana Revenant 2.99 -0.91
Hellcarver Demon .99 +0.32
Cast Through Time .99 +0.41
Right as Vengivine sees more play it goes down? I can only guess the liklihood of Survival getting banned in Legacy is what's keeping Vengivine's price in check. Everything else is a minor change.
Worldwake
Jace, the Mind Sculptor 93.99 +4.01
Abyssal Persecutor 14.99 -0-
Avenger of Zendikar 10.99 -0-
Eye of Ugin 3.49 -4.50
Dragonmaster Outcast 3.49 -0.49
Omnath, Locus of Mana 3.49 +0.15
Admonition Angel 2.49 +0.35
Comet Storm 1.99 -0.99
Wrexial, the Risen Deep .99 -0-
Novablast Wurm .99 -0-
And this is why it's not smart to buy Worldwake packs. If you don't get Jace, you don't your money's worth. Stoneforge is down to 8 from 10, and it's the 4th most valuable card in the set. Eye of Ugin dropped in price by 56% which is rough for anyone who recently invested in some (although you only really need 1), and Jace will always continue to climb in price.
Zendikar
Lotus Cobra 17.99 +1.05
Eldrazi Monument 16.99 -0.97
Sorin Markov 8.99 -0.45
Nissa Revane 8.49 -1.29
Iona, Shield of Emeria 5.49 -0.45
Chandra Ablaze 3.49 +0.21
Felidar Sovereign 2.99 -0.47
Ob Nixilis, the Fallen 2.49 -0.49
Warren Instigator 2.49 -0.43
Mindbreak Trap 2.49 +0.55
Rampaging Baloths 1.99 -0-
Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet 1.49 -0.19
Obsidian Fireheart .99 +0.21
Lorothos, the Tidemaker .49 -0.47
Eternity Vessel .49 -0.20
These prices have been set for a while now, so there isn't much to say. I'm interested to see how the 4 cards at the top of the list hold value, even though only Lotus Cobra is the only one in a top-tier deck.
That's all for today, but in the near future I have soom cool ideas that may or may not include Genesis Wave + allies and another deck that is UW and wins with poison counters. Until next time, stay classy
Friday, December 3, 2010
Dear Mark, Mimic Jund will Devour All!
Dear Mark,
We were texting earlier today about Extended and what a viable deck would be, and while I mentioned I really like Mimic Vat Jund, let me explain a little more. First, I feel like it's really important to be a beatdown/rock deck right now simply because there's no meta established, which makes control weird. I found this article on BlackBorder.com which gives a very minimal amount of insight to the format. I think it's really weird though that Treehouse wasn't mentioned considering how well it did and how little it loses relative to the last Pro Tour.
But enough with the other decks, let's talk about Jund! By Jund I really mean BGR, considering the Devour mechanic is bad. In Jund of old, here were the cards that defined the deck:
BLOODBRAID ELF
Maelstrum Pulse
Bituminous Blast
Blightning
Sprouting Thrynax
Putrid Leech
Terminate
All of these cards except for Sprouting Thrynax are contenders for the deck, although based on where i am going to go with this deck, I think Blightning is actually going to be the first cut. This new form of Jund will still have those old cards, but with great tools that stretch to all ends of the Extended sets. What works well with Mimic Vat? You mentioned Fulminator Mage, and I must agree, that card is nuts! The mana fixing is SO good that there's no reason to NOT play a multi-colored deck. Fulminator Mage + Mimic Vat is pretty much good game unless they get a Naturalize or a Shatter. But by the time they get that, you may have already Stone Rained them twice, and theres no coming back from that disadvantage. Some other cards that would be wonderful to have under a Vat are:
Vampire Hexmage
Skinrender
Cloudthresher
Mournwhelk
Shriekmaw
Siege-Gang Commander
These are all pretty good choices, and I would also like to add that having any legendary creature (your opponents, as you probably shouldn't play any - it doesn't work well with cascade) under a vat is devastating. I mentioned to you before, but I will say it again, if you want to crush Treehouse, just get a Doran under your Mimic Vat, then they will be left with a bunch of walls.
Here is a list I thought up:
4x Bloodbraid Elf
4x Putrid Leech
4x Fulminator Mage
3x Shriekmaw
1x Vampire Hexmage
1x Mournwhelk
2x Skinrender
2x Grave Titan
3x Bituminous Blast
4x Maelstrom Pulse
3x Terminate
4x Mimic Vat
25x Lands
It's 1am so im not going to get into the mana right now, but what I would start with is 2 Reflecting Pools, 4 Savage Lands, Raging Ravines, and Shadowmoore/Eventide Lands.
We were also talking about sime sideboard stuff, and I an obvious one is Volcanic Fallout and Great Stable Stag for Faeries, and Volcanic Fallout can be used for other token/low toughness decks. The only danger with it is that many of your creatures have low toughness, so be sure to have a couple Vats on hand. Treehouse should be a very easy matchup, but Scapeshift may be interesting. In that matchup, you just need to race and hope to get your Fulminator-Vat combo going to slow them down.
This deck should do well against other creature decks because there's 15 creature removal spells. Also, another thing of note is that there is 7 cascade spells. There is almost nothing that you wouldn't want to cascade into except maybe Terminate on an empty board.
Overall I think this would be an awesome deck to work with for any upcoming Extended events. I look forward to hearing your response.
Sincerely,
Ryan
We were texting earlier today about Extended and what a viable deck would be, and while I mentioned I really like Mimic Vat Jund, let me explain a little more. First, I feel like it's really important to be a beatdown/rock deck right now simply because there's no meta established, which makes control weird. I found this article on BlackBorder.com which gives a very minimal amount of insight to the format. I think it's really weird though that Treehouse wasn't mentioned considering how well it did and how little it loses relative to the last Pro Tour.
But enough with the other decks, let's talk about Jund! By Jund I really mean BGR, considering the Devour mechanic is bad. In Jund of old, here were the cards that defined the deck:
BLOODBRAID ELF
Maelstrum Pulse
Bituminous Blast
Blightning
Sprouting Thrynax
Putrid Leech
Terminate
All of these cards except for Sprouting Thrynax are contenders for the deck, although based on where i am going to go with this deck, I think Blightning is actually going to be the first cut. This new form of Jund will still have those old cards, but with great tools that stretch to all ends of the Extended sets. What works well with Mimic Vat? You mentioned Fulminator Mage, and I must agree, that card is nuts! The mana fixing is SO good that there's no reason to NOT play a multi-colored deck. Fulminator Mage + Mimic Vat is pretty much good game unless they get a Naturalize or a Shatter. But by the time they get that, you may have already Stone Rained them twice, and theres no coming back from that disadvantage. Some other cards that would be wonderful to have under a Vat are:
Vampire Hexmage
Skinrender
Cloudthresher
Mournwhelk
Shriekmaw
Siege-Gang Commander
These are all pretty good choices, and I would also like to add that having any legendary creature (your opponents, as you probably shouldn't play any - it doesn't work well with cascade) under a vat is devastating. I mentioned to you before, but I will say it again, if you want to crush Treehouse, just get a Doran under your Mimic Vat, then they will be left with a bunch of walls.
Here is a list I thought up:
4x Bloodbraid Elf
4x Putrid Leech
4x Fulminator Mage
3x Shriekmaw
1x Vampire Hexmage
1x Mournwhelk
2x Skinrender
2x Grave Titan
3x Bituminous Blast
4x Maelstrom Pulse
3x Terminate
4x Mimic Vat
25x Lands
It's 1am so im not going to get into the mana right now, but what I would start with is 2 Reflecting Pools, 4 Savage Lands, Raging Ravines, and Shadowmoore/Eventide Lands.
We were also talking about sime sideboard stuff, and I an obvious one is Volcanic Fallout and Great Stable Stag for Faeries, and Volcanic Fallout can be used for other token/low toughness decks. The only danger with it is that many of your creatures have low toughness, so be sure to have a couple Vats on hand. Treehouse should be a very easy matchup, but Scapeshift may be interesting. In that matchup, you just need to race and hope to get your Fulminator-Vat combo going to slow them down.
This deck should do well against other creature decks because there's 15 creature removal spells. Also, another thing of note is that there is 7 cascade spells. There is almost nothing that you wouldn't want to cascade into except maybe Terminate on an empty board.
Overall I think this would be an awesome deck to work with for any upcoming Extended events. I look forward to hearing your response.
Sincerely,
Ryan
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Beyond the Cards
Hello hello! In case you haven't noticed, I haven't been posting much, and there's a pretty straitforward reason for it: I haven't been playing much magic recently. So how have I been connected to Magic at all for the past few weeks? Well, we just need to look a little beyond the cards.
One thing that is so great about magic, that in turn makes it hard to play when all your Magic friends are everywhere else in the world is how there's a communtiy. All the guys I would normally play with are off to college, and I wouldn't say anyone at TnT Gaming would be a close friend of mine. So where else to turn to but facebook?! I don't know how I play magic on facebook, but it's the best way I could segway into this next part... For fun, I decided to friend a bunch of Magic Pros on Facebook, and to my suprise, I actually have been accepted from time to time.
Pros who friended me:
Conley Woods
Patrick Chapin
LSV
David Ochoa
TSG
I have actually found these guy's profiles awesome. Yeah, I'm a bit of a facebook stalker, but I wouldn't be surprised if these guys had 2 facebooks: one for personal use (hidden from searches) and one for fans, like the ones I found. Often, their walls are filled with Magic commentary and random things like "Just had a sick SOM draft and won the 8-4". Other times you see this:
Isn't the internet wonderful? I couldn't stop laughing when I read this thread, which is why whenever I read an article anywhere, I always take the time to peruse what people have commented, there's always something really interesting there (except on Conley Wood's first deck doctor. 95% of the comments read "Dude, Eye of Ugin fetches for Wurmcoil Engine").
Another thing I like to think about is the flavor of Magic as a whole. While I have minimal knowledge of Magic flavor, it's enough to suit my demand. I was texting Mark the other day while pumping gas, and we were talking about how Garruk and Lilliana are the only 2 of the Lorwyn planeswalkers to not get reprinted. Based on the webcomics, and the Duel Decks, Garruk and Lilliana should be together, with Lilliana being printed in the first set and Garruk in the second. The Planeswalker Duel Decks are Jace vs Chandra, Garruk vs Lilliana, and Elspeth vs Tezzeret in that order. Jace and Chandra appeared in Zendikar block together with Chandra getting worse and Jace becoming insanely good. This year, we have Elspeth printed in Scars of Mirroden worse than her original version, and I suspect Tezzeret will be in Mirroden Beseiged (and Karn will be in the 3rd set). This makes me think that Garruk and Lilliana will get some new abilities come next block.
As of right now, there have been 19 Planeswalker cards printed. However, there are only 14 Actual Planeswalkers. Ajani, Chandra, Elspeth, Jace, and Sarkhan all have been brought back in later sets. Technically Venser is a new card, but he did appear on a card before, it was just before Planeswalkers were printed. So what of the other 8? Garruk should be coming back with Lilliana, so that leaves us 6 Planeswalkers. But wait, Nicol Bolas has been a character since he was first printed. In Shards block, he caused the Conflux that reunited Alara and caused war, then on Zendikar, he made Sarkhan go Mad by making him defend the Eye of Ugin. And now, he is using Tezzeret as a pawn for some reason on Mirroden. Also, I am going to remove Koth right now from this chain of thought, because his story is just emerging and developing.
So after all that, we have 3 Planeswalkers to think about: Gideon, Nissa, Sorin. These 3 haven't been reprinted yet, and I have no idea where they could go from here. Interestingly, they're all from Zendikar, and they all fought against the Eldrazi. Is that it? Case closed? I don't think so. Planeswalkers are like Magic's superheros. They don't just appear once, never to be thought of again. I am willing to bet that all 3 of these guys will come back in the next 2 years for more planeswalker and bad guy pwning.
But there's more to flavor than just Planeswalkers. I like to think from time to time about the flavor of decks as a whole from any format. Obviously Tribal decks have a straitforward flavor: you pissed us off, now face our wrath! Mess with that little fish, and get smacked by a legion of Merfolk. Or get overrun by Goblins. Or get assaulted by Elves. Or get your mind messed up by Faeries. Or get pimp slapped by Treefolk? I just refer to Lord of the Rings when it comes to Doran decks. Basically tribal decks all spawn from Llorwyn (hey, it worked!). Let's take a look at the current standard Meta:
Vampires: Tribal deck, just a lot creepier
Ramp: Talk about flavor! I can imagine Primeval Titan exploding up from underground flipping stuff over. If it's Valakut, then fire starts raining and everything dies. If it's Eldrazi, then Primeval Titan is soon followed by Ulamog and Emrakul and they go on a rampage together everywhere.
Mono-Red: Most are heaviest of Goblins, but they feel like a single beserk Fiend or Dude-on-Dragon running around with the occasional shot of thunder and lightning. With Koth on board though, it looks a lot more chaotic with rocks flying around and many more explosions
Quest: This is a tricky one to envision, maybe because I just spend the last 60 or so words talking about burning and blowing everything up. Kor Duelist is flavorful, and I can see Fauna Shaman, Vengivine, and Squadran Hawks, but having the Gods lay upon you this epic suit of Armor just doesn't make sense when you get there by playing 0/2 dudes. It just doesn't feel like an Ornithopter should be able to find a Holy Relic.
Control: This is probably the hardest to envision, until you have a planeswalker in play, especially Jace TMS. Then I can imagine them literally sculpting your mind and messing with everything you have. What does a counterspell look like? In most arts its a planeswalker with a spell melting at their fingertips, but that just doesn't work in my mind.
Pyromancer Ascension: This one looks col in my head. Maybe just because I like thinking of red Magic with all the explosions and craziness. Pyromancer's Ascension only makes everything nuttier!
RUG: This makes so sense at all. Seriously. What the heck does this deck do? Yay, it works mechanically, but it's boring to think about.
That's all the big decks I can think of for now in Standard. I think I hit all of them... Regardless, it's getting late and I do still work full time. One last thing before I go, I read this article on SCG today that reminded me of this website alot. I think you enjoy it as well.
One Legacy note before I go. I just ordered a playset of Personal Tutors online. Almost no websites have it, because it's from Portal, which was a minimally printed set, so I wound up getting 2 each from AdventuresOn.com and Hot Sauce Games cleaning out 1 and dropping the other to just 1. They were only $15 a piece, which is amazing. This time last month they were $30 a piece, but then Survival became nuts. I'm guessing Survival will get some bannings tomorrow, so Personal Tutor should go back up in price. It's from Portal, where even bad rares can sell for $5 - $10 a piece. Also, this is exactly what my Reanimator deck needs! Before, you could use Mystical Tutor to grab Entomb, but we can get Buried Alive. Sure it costs more, but it can be tutored for. Also, Personal Tutor can grab Reanimate or Exhume, so we can still effectively get our creatures back from death. The only thing that's really bad that we lose is fetching up a counterspell, but regardless, it's good.
Anyways, that's all for now, until next time let the art come to life! And stay classy
One thing that is so great about magic, that in turn makes it hard to play when all your Magic friends are everywhere else in the world is how there's a communtiy. All the guys I would normally play with are off to college, and I wouldn't say anyone at TnT Gaming would be a close friend of mine. So where else to turn to but facebook?! I don't know how I play magic on facebook, but it's the best way I could segway into this next part... For fun, I decided to friend a bunch of Magic Pros on Facebook, and to my suprise, I actually have been accepted from time to time.
Pros who friended me:
Conley Woods
Patrick Chapin
LSV
David Ochoa
TSG
I have actually found these guy's profiles awesome. Yeah, I'm a bit of a facebook stalker, but I wouldn't be surprised if these guys had 2 facebooks: one for personal use (hidden from searches) and one for fans, like the ones I found. Often, their walls are filled with Magic commentary and random things like "Just had a sick SOM draft and won the 8-4". Other times you see this:
Isn't the internet wonderful? I couldn't stop laughing when I read this thread, which is why whenever I read an article anywhere, I always take the time to peruse what people have commented, there's always something really interesting there (except on Conley Wood's first deck doctor. 95% of the comments read "Dude, Eye of Ugin fetches for Wurmcoil Engine").
Another thing I like to think about is the flavor of Magic as a whole. While I have minimal knowledge of Magic flavor, it's enough to suit my demand. I was texting Mark the other day while pumping gas, and we were talking about how Garruk and Lilliana are the only 2 of the Lorwyn planeswalkers to not get reprinted. Based on the webcomics, and the Duel Decks, Garruk and Lilliana should be together, with Lilliana being printed in the first set and Garruk in the second. The Planeswalker Duel Decks are Jace vs Chandra, Garruk vs Lilliana, and Elspeth vs Tezzeret in that order. Jace and Chandra appeared in Zendikar block together with Chandra getting worse and Jace becoming insanely good. This year, we have Elspeth printed in Scars of Mirroden worse than her original version, and I suspect Tezzeret will be in Mirroden Beseiged (and Karn will be in the 3rd set). This makes me think that Garruk and Lilliana will get some new abilities come next block.
As of right now, there have been 19 Planeswalker cards printed. However, there are only 14 Actual Planeswalkers. Ajani, Chandra, Elspeth, Jace, and Sarkhan all have been brought back in later sets. Technically Venser is a new card, but he did appear on a card before, it was just before Planeswalkers were printed. So what of the other 8? Garruk should be coming back with Lilliana, so that leaves us 6 Planeswalkers. But wait, Nicol Bolas has been a character since he was first printed. In Shards block, he caused the Conflux that reunited Alara and caused war, then on Zendikar, he made Sarkhan go Mad by making him defend the Eye of Ugin. And now, he is using Tezzeret as a pawn for some reason on Mirroden. Also, I am going to remove Koth right now from this chain of thought, because his story is just emerging and developing.
So after all that, we have 3 Planeswalkers to think about: Gideon, Nissa, Sorin. These 3 haven't been reprinted yet, and I have no idea where they could go from here. Interestingly, they're all from Zendikar, and they all fought against the Eldrazi. Is that it? Case closed? I don't think so. Planeswalkers are like Magic's superheros. They don't just appear once, never to be thought of again. I am willing to bet that all 3 of these guys will come back in the next 2 years for more planeswalker and bad guy pwning.
But there's more to flavor than just Planeswalkers. I like to think from time to time about the flavor of decks as a whole from any format. Obviously Tribal decks have a straitforward flavor: you pissed us off, now face our wrath! Mess with that little fish, and get smacked by a legion of Merfolk. Or get overrun by Goblins. Or get assaulted by Elves. Or get your mind messed up by Faeries. Or get pimp slapped by Treefolk? I just refer to Lord of the Rings when it comes to Doran decks. Basically tribal decks all spawn from Llorwyn (hey, it worked!). Let's take a look at the current standard Meta:
Vampires: Tribal deck, just a lot creepier
Ramp: Talk about flavor! I can imagine Primeval Titan exploding up from underground flipping stuff over. If it's Valakut, then fire starts raining and everything dies. If it's Eldrazi, then Primeval Titan is soon followed by Ulamog and Emrakul and they go on a rampage together everywhere.
Mono-Red: Most are heaviest of Goblins, but they feel like a single beserk Fiend or Dude-on-Dragon running around with the occasional shot of thunder and lightning. With Koth on board though, it looks a lot more chaotic with rocks flying around and many more explosions
Quest: This is a tricky one to envision, maybe because I just spend the last 60 or so words talking about burning and blowing everything up. Kor Duelist is flavorful, and I can see Fauna Shaman, Vengivine, and Squadran Hawks, but having the Gods lay upon you this epic suit of Armor just doesn't make sense when you get there by playing 0/2 dudes. It just doesn't feel like an Ornithopter should be able to find a Holy Relic.
Control: This is probably the hardest to envision, until you have a planeswalker in play, especially Jace TMS. Then I can imagine them literally sculpting your mind and messing with everything you have. What does a counterspell look like? In most arts its a planeswalker with a spell melting at their fingertips, but that just doesn't work in my mind.
Pyromancer Ascension: This one looks col in my head. Maybe just because I like thinking of red Magic with all the explosions and craziness. Pyromancer's Ascension only makes everything nuttier!
RUG: This makes so sense at all. Seriously. What the heck does this deck do? Yay, it works mechanically, but it's boring to think about.
That's all the big decks I can think of for now in Standard. I think I hit all of them... Regardless, it's getting late and I do still work full time. One last thing before I go, I read this article on SCG today that reminded me of this website alot. I think you enjoy it as well.
One Legacy note before I go. I just ordered a playset of Personal Tutors online. Almost no websites have it, because it's from Portal, which was a minimally printed set, so I wound up getting 2 each from AdventuresOn.com and Hot Sauce Games cleaning out 1 and dropping the other to just 1. They were only $15 a piece, which is amazing. This time last month they were $30 a piece, but then Survival became nuts. I'm guessing Survival will get some bannings tomorrow, so Personal Tutor should go back up in price. It's from Portal, where even bad rares can sell for $5 - $10 a piece. Also, this is exactly what my Reanimator deck needs! Before, you could use Mystical Tutor to grab Entomb, but we can get Buried Alive. Sure it costs more, but it can be tutored for. Also, Personal Tutor can grab Reanimate or Exhume, so we can still effectively get our creatures back from death. The only thing that's really bad that we lose is fetching up a counterspell, but regardless, it's good.
Anyways, that's all for now, until next time let the art come to life! And stay classy
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