I have to be honest.....my side boad strategies are the weakest pat of my game. I should of at least put my thoughts about sideboarding up....Future artcicles I will.
Koth red really should not splash for any colors. Just dilutes the effectiveness of koth's abilities. I have seen ariations that dont run tumble magnets but rather run liquimetals main...Those are cool but can be situational. Late in the game the liquimetal can be a dead card...where as the tumble magnet is good in most situations.
As for Venser in the architect deck....my question to you is: what are you blinking out? I think Mono U is awesome the way it is. and the W just gets greedy. Next set, Blue gets some better cards.
I have other thoughts but have to get the baby right now. Message me in game
You are correct...I should of made the blue list with the twisted image. I was just looking at the recent dailies and tried to come up with a consensus deck.
26 lands is improtant...even with 12 mana accelerators. This deck is greedy. It wants to pack a lot of 6 and seven drops. It alkso wants to have ounter mana up, achitect mana up (change artifacts to blue creatrues), and if argent sphinx is out (blink mana up). You just want to make sure you hit your land drops every turn.
I agree. Playing competitive Standard has taught me that absolute tight play skill is extremely important because games are often decided by luck. The more powerful the cards are, the more draw dependent games tend to be, and mulligan decisions are tough. Games often come down to being able to deal just enough damage to close the game before dying, or falling just 1-2 points short. A lot of games come down to top decks, so maximizing those odds becomes key to winning. All of this competitive stress would be a lot more fun if Magic were less expensive!!
Yeah nice walkthrough. Some interesting picks. Arc Trail over Steel Hellkite, which is probably correct, but still interesting. Too bad Mox Opal had to come in the same pack as Skinrender. But I still think that was the correct pick, even in an 8-4.
Juts curious, what bots are you buying from that you can get the venser control for under 55 tix? 3 elspeth and 3 venser alone cost 60 tix on mtgotraders.com
Yesterday I put 30ish tickets onto my MTGO account with the intention of buying a playset of polluted deltas and brainstorms, but instead I decided to pick up a SOM block deck (Architect Blue). I dived straight in and totally misunderstood the deck. Your brief primer has shown be where I was going wrong and I look forward to preventing my mistakes next time I play.
I wouldn't say block is for people new to the constructed scene (I know this is not what you said), however to clarify, it is convenient in SOM since the format is fairly easy to understand and friendly to pick up.
I'm definitely more skilled in piloting Koth-red style decks (I have been since I started the game all those years ago) but I like to broaden my horizons. I've never played a competitive midrange deck and this seems like the right time to start.
I would be interested in a meta analysis post-MBS if you wouldn't mind posting your thoughts in about 3 months time, and I would encourage the idea if you wanted to write an article about it.
Nice article. Block seems depressing in that if Red just had a Lightning Bolt, they wouldn't pack it in to a silly 3-toughness creature =/
I mean, come on Wizards, if you're going to make creatures better, at least give Red some Lash Out, Searing Blaze, Incinerate type removal, especially in a large set!!
Isn't Twisted Image supposed to be in that Architect Blue build? You talk about it in the comment section, yet I don't see it in the actual decklist. EDIT: Maybe there's something wrong in the land count? Are they really needed 26 lands in a deck with 12 mana accelerators?
Good Job gimlicolby, This is a good intro to Scars block and shows the main strategies of the three major decktypes quite well. I've played two of these decktypes with moderate success, but right now my most difficult problem is sideboarding. IE, knowing which cards to take out in match-ups. If there is one more thing I'd like to see on this topic, it's sideboarding strategies for the main decktypes.
I've also been experimenting with splashing white in the Architect deck for Venser and Revoke Existence in the sideboard. Do you have any thoughts on that, or other slight variations on the main 3 decks?
I have to agree, sideboards in Commander would be redundant. With 100 cards to choose from, if you need to fetch silver bullets, there are already tons of tutors in the format. Why give the degenerate combo players a place to hide their combo pieces from hate?
Cool draft walkthrough. I tried drafting something along the same lines once, but it was much more half baked than this and didn't serve me very well. I think the problem is that you have to start playing cards like Oxxida daredevil, which is pretty bad, and blister grub, which I think is probably worse than dross hopper.
March was decent and is a great introduction to tactical rpgs if for no other reason than the wonderful beginning. However it does not stand up to the depth or breadth of it's descendant. Never played Arc The Lad.
Just by looking at it, this is how i would have built it:
power 9
mana vault
sol ring
black vise (restricted back then i think, ivory tower too)
ivory tower
4 swords to plowshares
4 mana drain
4 serra angel
1 recall
1 kismet
2 wog
2 disenchant
3 stasis
2 icy manipulator
2 winter orb
1 regrowth
2 armageddon
1 boomerang
18 lands
i played against decks like these back in the day and they were some of the most boring games ever played, might not be quick enough to win a match in todays tourney time limits. Stasis is mtg hell
I am not going to bother making a sb, thats meta dependant, and there was no meta back then.
For alot of peple (myself included), budget is the biggest issue when building a deck. I am rarely going to buy cards, and therefore I build with what I have. Using placeholders that cantrip is a decent option. Prophetic prism being an excellent choice for multicolor decks with weak manabase. There is a lot of cheap creatures in those colors that draw a card or two when they come into play, coiling oracle, elvish visionary, mulldrifter, sea gate oracle.
Hey westane and others.Westane, i noticed you mentioned ogre tactics as one of your favorites.Before Ogre Tactics there was: Ogre Battle:March of the black queen,originally played on SNES.I am sure you and others have heard of it before, but if not I highly recommend it, my favorite all time.On a side note they are releasing Arc the LAd games on PSN.Real old school there.
And yes, i think i will stay away from MTGT.. would rather play MTGO.
I know this is shorter than usual. I'd like to write excellent, deep articles like gwyned did in his Standard Pauper Tech series (I encourage all of you to read them AND watch his awesome videos), but I really haven't got enough time to do something like that. I'll try to write as much as I can every week, even though I know I'm just "filling in" for better writers.
It's just that I love the current Standard Pauper too much not to give this a try. :)
Hey loved the article, I personally play mono U architect when I play but I never play the glimmerposts. In a deck where being able to hit your whole artifact team on a single turn with Grand Architects blue ability you don't want extraneous colored mana. I've seen maybe 1 game changed due to the 1-3 life post gains, Ive been in a few games where someone was short colored mana to make an alpha strike lethal.
Whereas a few members have left negative responses on here, I have received a greater number of people looking forward to the series, and I have intentions of going ahead with it.
@ Greyes
I consider your comment to be constructive, so I'll reply as I appreciate the feedback, though I don't agree with all of it
"I'm actually really looking forward to this series.
I would suggest you dress up the presentation though. Try and be as professional as possible!
Changing your picture would probably go a long way to helping your cause. Leave the booze in the fridge, the fish in the lake, and the trash-talking on the playground. Nobody here gives a shit how much you've won, or how good you think you are. We just want to know how to maximize our investment in this game - which is the direction your series should definitely go. Think content and quality above everything else.
90% of the articles on this site are a giant waste of time to read, so if you're going to write a series don't let it end up like another one of these "bloody jokes" ."
I won't be changing my profile picture as this is not the New England Medical Journal. There are pictures of people around here with random army commanders, cats on their head, and even yours is an animation. This has nothing to do with anything.
As for the casual commentary, where I will try to keep some of it distinct to me, I'll keep the stuff better left in clan chat in clan chat - the Dscott remark for instance.
Frankly, with the series about going infinite, the amount of stuff I've won has a lot to do with the subject content, though won't be aluded to often in the future. I don't think limited advice from a 14XX or a beginner would be warranted, so some background is required.
There were three MTGO'ers in particular who have msg'd me on MTGO that are very excited about the series and who I feel I can help a great deal based on their line of questioning. Trust me, it's not the "country hillbillies" of this site/world that I'll be writing for. If he wants further discourse, he can message me on MTGO, or better yet, join a ZZW queue.
Regardless Greyes, you presented your critique well and I've listened to it.
I think Jace's price is indeed actually related to Extended season, when it comes to extended jace doesn't compete well with cryptic command and jace is not a blue staple. I figure most people focusing on extended sold off all or some of their jaces for the duration of the season to pay for the other cards for their decks.
That sounds very good. I will definitely write that article for you!
When I wrote his there were many human selling venser for 9 (27 for 3) and Elspeth for 8 (24 for 3). The rest of the deck is real cheap.
I have to be honest.....my side boad strategies are the weakest pat of my game. I should of at least put my thoughts about sideboarding up....Future artcicles I will.
Koth red really should not splash for any colors. Just dilutes the effectiveness of koth's abilities. I have seen ariations that dont run tumble magnets but rather run liquimetals main...Those are cool but can be situational. Late in the game the liquimetal can be a dead card...where as the tumble magnet is good in most situations.
As for Venser in the architect deck....my question to you is: what are you blinking out? I think Mono U is awesome the way it is. and the W just gets greedy. Next set, Blue gets some better cards.
I have other thoughts but have to get the baby right now. Message me in game
You are correct...I should of made the blue list with the twisted image. I was just looking at the recent dailies and tried to come up with a consensus deck.
26 lands is improtant...even with 12 mana accelerators. This deck is greedy. It wants to pack a lot of 6 and seven drops. It alkso wants to have ounter mana up, achitect mana up (change artifacts to blue creatrues), and if argent sphinx is out (blink mana up). You just want to make sure you hit your land drops every turn.
I agree. Playing competitive Standard has taught me that absolute tight play skill is extremely important because games are often decided by luck. The more powerful the cards are, the more draw dependent games tend to be, and mulligan decisions are tough. Games often come down to being able to deal just enough damage to close the game before dying, or falling just 1-2 points short. A lot of games come down to top decks, so maximizing those odds becomes key to winning. All of this competitive stress would be a lot more fun if Magic were less expensive!!
Yeah nice walkthrough. Some interesting picks. Arc Trail over Steel Hellkite, which is probably correct, but still interesting. Too bad Mox Opal had to come in the same pack as Skinrender. But I still think that was the correct pick, even in an 8-4.
Good read, thanks man!
Juts curious, what bots are you buying from that you can get the venser control for under 55 tix? 3 elspeth and 3 venser alone cost 60 tix on mtgotraders.com
Yesterday I put 30ish tickets onto my MTGO account with the intention of buying a playset of polluted deltas and brainstorms, but instead I decided to pick up a SOM block deck (Architect Blue). I dived straight in and totally misunderstood the deck. Your brief primer has shown be where I was going wrong and I look forward to preventing my mistakes next time I play.
I wouldn't say block is for people new to the constructed scene (I know this is not what you said), however to clarify, it is convenient in SOM since the format is fairly easy to understand and friendly to pick up.
I'm definitely more skilled in piloting Koth-red style decks (I have been since I started the game all those years ago) but I like to broaden my horizons. I've never played a competitive midrange deck and this seems like the right time to start.
I would be interested in a meta analysis post-MBS if you wouldn't mind posting your thoughts in about 3 months time, and I would encourage the idea if you wanted to write an article about it.
Nice article. Block seems depressing in that if Red just had a Lightning Bolt, they wouldn't pack it in to a silly 3-toughness creature =/
I mean, come on Wizards, if you're going to make creatures better, at least give Red some Lash Out, Searing Blaze, Incinerate type removal, especially in a large set!!
Isn't Twisted Image supposed to be in that Architect Blue build? You talk about it in the comment section, yet I don't see it in the actual decklist. EDIT: Maybe there's something wrong in the land count? Are they really needed 26 lands in a deck with 12 mana accelerators?
Good Job gimlicolby, This is a good intro to Scars block and shows the main strategies of the three major decktypes quite well. I've played two of these decktypes with moderate success, but right now my most difficult problem is sideboarding. IE, knowing which cards to take out in match-ups. If there is one more thing I'd like to see on this topic, it's sideboarding strategies for the main decktypes.
I've also been experimenting with splashing white in the Architect deck for Venser and Revoke Existence in the sideboard. Do you have any thoughts on that, or other slight variations on the main 3 decks?
I have to agree, sideboards in Commander would be redundant. With 100 cards to choose from, if you need to fetch silver bullets, there are already tons of tutors in the format. Why give the degenerate combo players a place to hide their combo pieces from hate?
Cool draft walkthrough. I tried drafting something along the same lines once, but it was much more half baked than this and didn't serve me very well. I think the problem is that you have to start playing cards like Oxxida daredevil, which is pretty bad, and blister grub, which I think is probably worse than dross hopper.
March was decent and is a great introduction to tactical rpgs if for no other reason than the wonderful beginning. However it does not stand up to the depth or breadth of it's descendant. Never played Arc The Lad.
sb for commander seems like a horrible idea. commander is degenerate enough without giving people even more ways to combo off.
zak dolans championship deck is here : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic:_The_Gathering_World_Championship#199...
Just by looking at it, this is how i would have built it:
power 9
mana vault
sol ring
black vise (restricted back then i think, ivory tower too)
ivory tower
4 swords to plowshares
4 mana drain
4 serra angel
1 recall
1 kismet
2 wog
2 disenchant
3 stasis
2 icy manipulator
2 winter orb
1 regrowth
2 armageddon
1 boomerang
18 lands
i played against decks like these back in the day and they were some of the most boring games ever played, might not be quick enough to win a match in todays tourney time limits. Stasis is mtg hell
I am not going to bother making a sb, thats meta dependant, and there was no meta back then.
For alot of peple (myself included), budget is the biggest issue when building a deck. I am rarely going to buy cards, and therefore I build with what I have. Using placeholders that cantrip is a decent option. Prophetic prism being an excellent choice for multicolor decks with weak manabase. There is a lot of cheap creatures in those colors that draw a card or two when they come into play, coiling oracle, elvish visionary, mulldrifter, sea gate oracle.
Hey westane and others.Westane, i noticed you mentioned ogre tactics as one of your favorites.Before Ogre Tactics there was: Ogre Battle:March of the black queen,originally played on SNES.I am sure you and others have heard of it before, but if not I highly recommend it, my favorite all time.On a side note they are releasing Arc the LAd games on PSN.Real old school there.
And yes, i think i will stay away from MTGT.. would rather play MTGO.
Hey JX, I really need to talk to you about a thing. Let me know how to reach you; you should have my mail address. :)
I know this is shorter than usual. I'd like to write excellent, deep articles like gwyned did in his Standard Pauper Tech series (I encourage all of you to read them AND watch his awesome videos), but I really haven't got enough time to do something like that. I'll try to write as much as I can every week, even though I know I'm just "filling in" for better writers.
It's just that I love the current Standard Pauper too much not to give this a try. :)
Hey loved the article, I personally play mono U architect when I play but I never play the glimmerposts. In a deck where being able to hit your whole artifact team on a single turn with Grand Architects blue ability you don't want extraneous colored mana. I've seen maybe 1 game changed due to the 1-3 life post gains, Ive been in a few games where someone was short colored mana to make an alpha strike lethal.
Whereas a few members have left negative responses on here, I have received a greater number of people looking forward to the series, and I have intentions of going ahead with it.
@ Greyes
I consider your comment to be constructive, so I'll reply as I appreciate the feedback, though I don't agree with all of it
"I'm actually really looking forward to this series.
I would suggest you dress up the presentation though. Try and be as professional as possible!
Changing your picture would probably go a long way to helping your cause. Leave the booze in the fridge, the fish in the lake, and the trash-talking on the playground. Nobody here gives a shit how much you've won, or how good you think you are. We just want to know how to maximize our investment in this game - which is the direction your series should definitely go. Think content and quality above everything else.
90% of the articles on this site are a giant waste of time to read, so if you're going to write a series don't let it end up like another one of these "bloody jokes" ."
I won't be changing my profile picture as this is not the New England Medical Journal. There are pictures of people around here with random army commanders, cats on their head, and even yours is an animation. This has nothing to do with anything.
As for the casual commentary, where I will try to keep some of it distinct to me, I'll keep the stuff better left in clan chat in clan chat - the Dscott remark for instance.
Frankly, with the series about going infinite, the amount of stuff I've won has a lot to do with the subject content, though won't be aluded to often in the future. I don't think limited advice from a 14XX or a beginner would be warranted, so some background is required.
There were three MTGO'ers in particular who have msg'd me on MTGO that are very excited about the series and who I feel I can help a great deal based on their line of questioning. Trust me, it's not the "country hillbillies" of this site/world that I'll be writing for. If he wants further discourse, he can message me on MTGO, or better yet, join a ZZW queue.
Regardless Greyes, you presented your critique well and I've listened to it.
I'm hoping to have part 1 out this week.
I'm giving him a chance, I ask that you all can do that same.
I think Jace's price is indeed actually related to Extended season, when it comes to extended jace doesn't compete well with cryptic command and jace is not a blue staple. I figure most people focusing on extended sold off all or some of their jaces for the duration of the season to pay for the other cards for their decks.
Anyways loved the cast, keep it up!
Magic by America?
Or...I could write one :)