You did at least discuss the meta, and a reasonably current take on it too. Still, you should have included some explanation of how to play the deck, the strategies and tactics and so forth, along with an account of at least one sample game you find to be representative.
Specific comments:
1) Doom Blade should be main, Befoul side. And you need to think about whether you really want Befoul in the side, or just straight LD for 1 less mana. If you're using it against Post or Storm, you need your LD to work early.
2) 4 Corrupts is too many. Many games won't last long enough to cast it.
3) If you're going to play Okiba-gang Shinobi, you should play more than 1.
4) Chittering Rats is probably the best card in the deck, why only 3?
5) Echoing Decay is probably a must-have SB card. You can't just rely on your rats.
Finally, if you're going to recount some history of Pauper, you might mention what it is. Either assume people know what it is, or don't. Now, if we could just get a combination of this article and that MG Post article from the other day...
Thanks for the feedback. I'll break down your points and reply to them.
"However, while not to fault the article, there are probably a lot of better ways to simply maximize your income than playing MTGO, and if you are playing MTGO then you are probably also playing to maximize the enjoyment of your free time, which is a whole different aspect."
Well yeah, I have a full time job and make money there etc, but that money isn't intended to be spent on MTG. The focus of this series is about going infinite, so you can maximize your free time and not have to pay to do so. If someone decides that they'd rather pay and have more fun, that is their perogative. This series is focusing on the people who wish to go infinite.
"For example, in a close call between a $2 rare and a powerful card, it may be better to take the powerful card not just because it may increase your chance of winning a pack, but because it is more fun to win than to lose."
This is where "picking your number" comes in. You pick your $$$ number, and stick by it. Also, this has the added bonus of letting you read what is underdrafted. This is more profitable in the long run than taking say a Tomb Hex. It's amazing how much a single card can get lost in a draft deck over the course of 7-9 games.
You can definitely go infinite via drafting and collection management alone, but you have to be disciplined in the formats you draft. I have taken 75 tickets (and I'll count the 50-60 tickets that I blew off when I first came back to MTGO as well) and turned it into a massive collection via this draft strategy since mid-November (with an assist from TSE drafting over the holidays). If you're drafting SoM and M11, it is a sure fire way to lose tickets, but if you stick to where the money is, you'll go nuts in no time.
I am a somewhat highly rated limited player (fluctuating between 1700-1850) who almost exclusively prefers the 4-3-3-2 drafts. I'm too impatient to play swiss, and I always end up double and triple queueing when I'm in swiss because the rounds often go to time. And even though I consider myself an above average drafter, and I can do the EV math, I feel like the negative of going on a bad 8-4 run outweighs the negative of the 4-3-3-2 EV.
Also, I think people are vastly overrating 8-4 players, and underrating swiss players. Because Wizards won't let us see our opponents ratings, I can't prove this, but I know some really good players that only play swiss, and I've beaten people in 8-4s and seen my rating only go up 1-5 points.
4-3-2-2 is likely the worst EV but the sets of Urza and Zendikar block more than make up for that (to the point that it isnt even remotely close to any other available format).
Just yesterday I opened Lotus Cobra, was passed stoneforger mystic and lavaclaw reaches. That's money.
Also, I was lucky enough to open pack 1 Sneak Attack, followed by pack 2 Foil Yawgmoth's Will (which was sold at the end of winning the draft for 46). That's better money. It happens if you keep yourself in the game.
My draft of the week will be featured in my next column, though I was so baffled that I didn't grab a screenshot.
The Best Formats for drafting on MTGO are 4-3-2-2. Urzas, Zendikar are only available in 4-3-2-2, so you have to deal with the prize support to get to the most lucrative cards.
Also, the scrubbiest players are in swiss queues. Yesterday, I decided to take a breather from the ZZW and Urza double queueing and play a swiss SoM for a change of pace. Pack 1, fifth pick galv blast. I won the draft in 6 games flat and it wasn't even remotely fun.
And, lastly, players who aren't good enough to play 8-4s, and join 8-4s because of the extra pack prize support generally go broke in record time, so 4-3-2-2 is a better option for them.
good article cept for one thing-advocating people to play 4322s. 4322s should not be played unless its the only way to draft that format. Under no circumstances should you play a 4322 if a swiss or 8-4 is available. Only the scrubbiest of noobs enter 4322s with other options available.
Unless of course you feel that giving qotc an extra pack for free is worth it.
I've been playing constructed events since I started playing online, and I just can't over the idea that if constructed is better than limited for going infinite, why bother drafting at all?
I was thinking on the same lines about Praetor's Counsel. You clearly need to comboing it with something. And you're right, it will be nuts in Commander's late games.
Only for Elf decks? Hell, no. Good green base? Well, yes. But you just need a deck which is using utility green creatures (Wall of Roots pretty much cast a Chord of Calling by itself - and in opponent's turn, which will always beat the Zenith). I used Chord of Calling in any type of quadri-/penta-colored decks, which very often need a green base anyway.
I agree that SOM block is a bit weaker than Zendikar and M11, and it probably is intentional. It still makes SOM block constructed interesting and fun.
In my opinion Mortarpod will probably see some constructed play. I'd even say it's better than Flayer Husk. For 2 mana you get a chump blocker and 1 point of damage to anything. In block this seems like a decent way to deal with Inkmoth Nexus while adding an artifact that is reusable with both Venser and Tezzeret.
And, I'm not sure if this works, but Mortarpod seems to be really good with deathtouch and Infect creatures. Stoneforge Mystic can fetch both Mortarpod and Basilisk Collar which is basically a fetchable substitute for the Cunning Sparkmage Combo.
I have been looking for a series like this one and really had my hopes up after reading your intro article last week. Man did you deliver on the goods or what! Looking forward to the next version as I am stoked about the new set and am itching to get some sealed going with the pre and release on MTGO!
But I will give credit when it is due. You did a great job bouncing back from the first two, and I give major kudos for not approaching the target audience with the "holier than thou" attitude.
I noticed the top sets you're proposing be drafted are only offered in 4-3-2-2, but isn't 4-3-2-2 the worst EV out of any draft format? Does the quality of the cards more than make up for that pack that wizards is stealing from us?
Nice article, looking forward to the next one. This kind of analysis will interest a lot of players. I have learned a ton by paying attention to what Hamtastic has to say about market prices on cards, timing of buys and sells, and this article is just as informative.
I thought sealed swiss might be worth a mention as a way to build a collection. With zero tix to enter, it is a nice way to play on the cheap.
This whole block (so far) seems a bit on the weak side, and I'm wondering if it's almost deliberate, IE, a "Power level reset" of some sorts... Conspiracy theories aside, what I can say is how amazing this set is for Commander so far XD.
See, now why couldnt this have been the first article. this one is really good, and the only reason i didnt give you a 5 is cause i think you need to target your audience better and drafting is a sure fire way to lose tickets over the long run.
you do show how to mitigate it best, but still. drafting does not equal infinity.
Very well done article on an important but difficult topic - how to maximize your winnings on MTGO.
The article was very focused on exactly what it set out to discuss - maximizing your $$ profits while playing MTGO. However, while not to fault the article, there are probably a lot of better ways to simply maximize your income than playing MTGO, and if you are playing MTGO then you are probably also playing to maximize the enjoyment of your free time, which is a whole different aspect. That said, there are parts of the goal of maximizing profit that run contrary to maximizing enjoyment. For example, in a close call between a $2 rare and a powerful card, it may be better to take the powerful card not just because it may increase your chance of winning a pack, but because it is more fun to win than to lose. Also, while UUL may be a good set to draft to maximize your $$, it is very slow to fire and if you don't have all day to wait for a draft, you may want to spend your time playing something else.
Finally, while ROE may not have the best payout, it was an awesome set to draft, and I'm sorry the author missed most of it. There were a number of very intereting archetypes, and the way the various cards worked made the set very fun to play.
Again, I appreciate that the article was focused on what it set out to describe. But one must remember that the big picture of playing MTGO includes a lot of factors other than making $$, and that it's important to maintain perspective. I can make enough money in a couple hours at work to buy a whole playset, so it can be a bit silly spending hours of drafting purely with the goal of squeeking out an extra dollar here and there.
Yikes, I forgot "cast" was an irregular verb! :embarassed: (Also, it has 76 different meanings according to dictionary.com. That's impressive!)
On a serious note: I'm very sorry if my articles are keeping any other article from being published. I (re)started writing because I thought there weren't enough pauper-related posts on Pure. Anyway, I'm confident that now that I'm on par with MPDC's schedule there will be more room. :)
go for the throat is an awesome card with a horrible flavor.that card is killing black creatures people, and the picture shows a vampire killing a defenseless woman. so poor. it should be either shwoing a vampire killing a phyrexian monstrosity or better wesley snipes (aka blade) killing a vampire. now, that would be cool.
Cool, thx for the reply. I'll likely draft some ZZW since I didn't play much of it when it was new.
Im kind of offended you didn't include affinity - it's a tier one deck for sure. My 2-Man results with it have been overwhelming.
You did at least discuss the meta, and a reasonably current take on it too. Still, you should have included some explanation of how to play the deck, the strategies and tactics and so forth, along with an account of at least one sample game you find to be representative.
Specific comments:
1) Doom Blade should be main, Befoul side. And you need to think about whether you really want Befoul in the side, or just straight LD for 1 less mana. If you're using it against Post or Storm, you need your LD to work early.
2) 4 Corrupts is too many. Many games won't last long enough to cast it.
3) If you're going to play Okiba-gang Shinobi, you should play more than 1.
4) Chittering Rats is probably the best card in the deck, why only 3?
5) Echoing Decay is probably a must-have SB card. You can't just rely on your rats.
Finally, if you're going to recount some history of Pauper, you might mention what it is. Either assume people know what it is, or don't. Now, if we could just get a combination of this article and that MG Post article from the other day...
Hey Unspeakable,
Thanks for the feedback. I'll break down your points and reply to them.
"However, while not to fault the article, there are probably a lot of better ways to simply maximize your income than playing MTGO, and if you are playing MTGO then you are probably also playing to maximize the enjoyment of your free time, which is a whole different aspect."
Well yeah, I have a full time job and make money there etc, but that money isn't intended to be spent on MTG. The focus of this series is about going infinite, so you can maximize your free time and not have to pay to do so. If someone decides that they'd rather pay and have more fun, that is their perogative. This series is focusing on the people who wish to go infinite.
"For example, in a close call between a $2 rare and a powerful card, it may be better to take the powerful card not just because it may increase your chance of winning a pack, but because it is more fun to win than to lose."
This is where "picking your number" comes in. You pick your $$$ number, and stick by it. Also, this has the added bonus of letting you read what is underdrafted. This is more profitable in the long run than taking say a Tomb Hex. It's amazing how much a single card can get lost in a draft deck over the course of 7-9 games.
Hey Whiffy,
You can definitely go infinite via drafting and collection management alone, but you have to be disciplined in the formats you draft. I have taken 75 tickets (and I'll count the 50-60 tickets that I blew off when I first came back to MTGO as well) and turned it into a massive collection via this draft strategy since mid-November (with an assist from TSE drafting over the holidays). If you're drafting SoM and M11, it is a sure fire way to lose tickets, but if you stick to where the money is, you'll go nuts in no time.
I am a somewhat highly rated limited player (fluctuating between 1700-1850) who almost exclusively prefers the 4-3-3-2 drafts. I'm too impatient to play swiss, and I always end up double and triple queueing when I'm in swiss because the rounds often go to time. And even though I consider myself an above average drafter, and I can do the EV math, I feel like the negative of going on a bad 8-4 run outweighs the negative of the 4-3-3-2 EV.
Also, I think people are vastly overrating 8-4 players, and underrating swiss players. Because Wizards won't let us see our opponents ratings, I can't prove this, but I know some really good players that only play swiss, and I've beaten people in 8-4s and seen my rating only go up 1-5 points.
4-3-2-2 is likely the worst EV but the sets of Urza and Zendikar block more than make up for that (to the point that it isnt even remotely close to any other available format).
Just yesterday I opened Lotus Cobra, was passed stoneforger mystic and lavaclaw reaches. That's money.
Also, I was lucky enough to open pack 1 Sneak Attack, followed by pack 2 Foil Yawgmoth's Will (which was sold at the end of winning the draft for 46). That's better money. It happens if you keep yourself in the game.
My draft of the week will be featured in my next column, though I was so baffled that I didn't grab a screenshot.
The Best Formats for drafting on MTGO are 4-3-2-2. Urzas, Zendikar are only available in 4-3-2-2, so you have to deal with the prize support to get to the most lucrative cards.
Also, the scrubbiest players are in swiss queues. Yesterday, I decided to take a breather from the ZZW and Urza double queueing and play a swiss SoM for a change of pace. Pack 1, fifth pick galv blast. I won the draft in 6 games flat and it wasn't even remotely fun.
And, lastly, players who aren't good enough to play 8-4s, and join 8-4s because of the extra pack prize support generally go broke in record time, so 4-3-2-2 is a better option for them.
Thanks to everyone for their feedback, I'll address individual comments via replies.
good article cept for one thing-advocating people to play 4322s. 4322s should not be played unless its the only way to draft that format. Under no circumstances should you play a 4322 if a swiss or 8-4 is available. Only the scrubbiest of noobs enter 4322s with other options available.
Unless of course you feel that giving qotc an extra pack for free is worth it.
I knew this would be good.
I've been playing constructed events since I started playing online, and I just can't over the idea that if constructed is better than limited for going infinite, why bother drafting at all?
I was thinking on the same lines about Praetor's Counsel. You clearly need to comboing it with something. And you're right, it will be nuts in Commander's late games.
Only for Elf decks? Hell, no. Good green base? Well, yes. But you just need a deck which is using utility green creatures (Wall of Roots pretty much cast a Chord of Calling by itself - and in opponent's turn, which will always beat the Zenith). I used Chord of Calling in any type of quadri-/penta-colored decks, which very often need a green base anyway.
I agree that SOM block is a bit weaker than Zendikar and M11, and it probably is intentional. It still makes SOM block constructed interesting and fun.
In my opinion Mortarpod will probably see some constructed play. I'd even say it's better than Flayer Husk. For 2 mana you get a chump blocker and 1 point of damage to anything. In block this seems like a decent way to deal with Inkmoth Nexus while adding an artifact that is reusable with both Venser and Tezzeret.
And, I'm not sure if this works, but Mortarpod seems to be really good with deathtouch and Infect creatures. Stoneforge Mystic can fetch both Mortarpod and Basilisk Collar which is basically a fetchable substitute for the Cunning Sparkmage Combo.
I have been looking for a series like this one and really had my hopes up after reading your intro article last week. Man did you deliver on the goods or what! Looking forward to the next version as I am stoked about the new set and am itching to get some sealed going with the pre and release on MTGO!
But I will give credit when it is due. You did a great job bouncing back from the first two, and I give major kudos for not approaching the target audience with the "holier than thou" attitude.
Kudos bud, great article.
Way to deliver on your promise.
I noticed the top sets you're proposing be drafted are only offered in 4-3-2-2, but isn't 4-3-2-2 the worst EV out of any draft format? Does the quality of the cards more than make up for that pack that wizards is stealing from us?
You dropped the ego and brought a really good article. Nice job and very informative! The best article of the week so far.
Nice article, looking forward to the next one. This kind of analysis will interest a lot of players. I have learned a ton by paying attention to what Hamtastic has to say about market prices on cards, timing of buys and sells, and this article is just as informative.
I thought sealed swiss might be worth a mention as a way to build a collection. With zero tix to enter, it is a nice way to play on the cheap.
This whole block (so far) seems a bit on the weak side, and I'm wondering if it's almost deliberate, IE, a "Power level reset" of some sorts... Conspiracy theories aside, what I can say is how amazing this set is for Commander so far XD.
See, now why couldnt this have been the first article. this one is really good, and the only reason i didnt give you a 5 is cause i think you need to target your audience better and drafting is a sure fire way to lose tickets over the long run.
you do show how to mitigate it best, but still. drafting does not equal infinity.
B T Dubs, this is whiffy penguin
Very well done article on an important but difficult topic - how to maximize your winnings on MTGO.
The article was very focused on exactly what it set out to discuss - maximizing your $$ profits while playing MTGO. However, while not to fault the article, there are probably a lot of better ways to simply maximize your income than playing MTGO, and if you are playing MTGO then you are probably also playing to maximize the enjoyment of your free time, which is a whole different aspect. That said, there are parts of the goal of maximizing profit that run contrary to maximizing enjoyment. For example, in a close call between a $2 rare and a powerful card, it may be better to take the powerful card not just because it may increase your chance of winning a pack, but because it is more fun to win than to lose. Also, while UUL may be a good set to draft to maximize your $$, it is very slow to fire and if you don't have all day to wait for a draft, you may want to spend your time playing something else.
Finally, while ROE may not have the best payout, it was an awesome set to draft, and I'm sorry the author missed most of it. There were a number of very intereting archetypes, and the way the various cards worked made the set very fun to play.
Again, I appreciate that the article was focused on what it set out to describe. But one must remember that the big picture of playing MTGO includes a lot of factors other than making $$, and that it's important to maintain perspective. I can make enough money in a couple hours at work to buy a whole playset, so it can be a bit silly spending hours of drafting purely with the goal of squeeking out an extra dollar here and there.
Yikes, I forgot "cast" was an irregular verb! :embarassed: (Also, it has 76 different meanings according to dictionary.com. That's impressive!)
On a serious note: I'm very sorry if my articles are keeping any other article from being published. I (re)started writing because I thought there weren't enough pauper-related posts on Pure. Anyway, I'm confident that now that I'm on par with MPDC's schedule there will be more room. :)
And for logging on more than 4x in a period. That is free by my definition.
go for the throat is an awesome card with a horrible flavor.that card is killing black creatures people, and the picture shows a vampire killing a defenseless woman. so poor. it should be either shwoing a vampire killing a phyrexian monstrosity or better wesley snipes (aka blade) killing a vampire. now, that would be cool.