I can only stand in awe of someone who has your level of dedication. Times like this I realize I will never be a great player in any format because I just don't have that drive and dedication to any one format, colour, deck type, etc., and it's a quality I wish I had and admire in other people. Well done.
Also, your enthusiasm almost makes me want to play . . . "almost" because tournaments begin at 1 a.m. ;_;
Lastly, I don't think your conclusions about times you've played a block really indicates favourite. Urza's Destiny is hands down my favourite set because it was the one I began playing Magic in; yet that doesn't mean it's strong or that I would/could build a bunch of Urza's block inclusive decks. You don't strike me as a pet deck kind of guy, especially the way you keep changing up decks and brewing. You seem to have a bit of Spike in you that you really strive to break the format and win, win, win, which doesn't lend itself to pet decks/blocks. Obviously you choose the best decks/blocks for a particular event/deck, which doesn't necessarily indicate a favourite, but a best. Tarmogoyf is unanimously the best green aggro creature in Magic, but he's nowhere near my favourite.
I have to agree with this. Though I hate the players(not saying you are one) that insult others based on 'qualifiers' they put on the casual matches. Why does someone else car if JoeBobTopDecker wants to play against decks without LD? its not really anyone's business. If thats his personal definition of casual magic then fine. He labelled his game and should be respected in kind.
I also hate people that join my game and quit from a turn 2 Stone Rain or a turn one duress...my game had no rules, sorry youre sense of casual was offended in my game(not really i just think youre a tool for whining about it)
Fantastic article, I really love the format and you have some of the best deck ideas I've seen... when you mention helm/leyline/hex/depths I totally have a "duh" moment because how can you not see that? so fantastic and so meant to be, totally jealous haha
I'm also jealous of your testing techniques I have to do it the old fashioned way haha that being said anyone interested in a BYOS game or extensive testing can feel free to hit me up in game any time
oh and as the player running the RG eldrazi deck the biggest killer was those wardens, the crazy life gain off of my spawn tokens couldn't be stopped
This is America. "Reasonable adults" don't come to sensible agreements on things all the time. Look at our political system for example.
That is beside the point.
If you don't want to play the guy with the $1,000 deck there is an easy fix to that. Just put a disclaimer in your game description saying "No + $1,000 decks."
If you don't communicate what you do or do not want to play against, how can anyone know which deck to use against you? This notion that "X" cards are casual or "Y" strategies are socially unacceptable, just doesn't cut it with so many different opinions online, which is the point I've been trying to make here all along.
But it would have been a totally different draft, also you could drafted the foresee, the double ice cage and probably play the augury owl to support that Mind Control, Mind Control text says this "If you're losing, you tie the board, if you're winning you seal the deal" it would have been a lot better than to play duresses and demon's horn. Also nice for being your first article.
Edit: Also you will be playing juggernaut because it doesn't require to commit you to a color so It's better than assassinate.
I have a Phyrexian Altar/Caller of the Claw/Wall of Omen or Wall of Blossoms/Second Sunrise or Living Death/Eternal Witness deck....
As you can see, with appropriate mana base (which is actually any 3 land and 3 creatures in play (oh that is six, plus needing one of them to be the witness, and needing sunrise or death in hand....)...
Well, with the appropriate mana base it is 5 card combo. Winning with either a many times Sunrised Ember-Fist Zubera or with a multiply Sunrised Flame-Kin Zealot is lots of fun, and quite hard to do. Because people don't see altar or Caller very often, I even sometimes get people who don't quit.
I would say that deck is the definition of casual, there are so many variables that can be disrupted that it should't win. However, I still get quitters and people who cry.
Maybe that is because they have been 'abused' by cashed up nasty netdeckers, or because they are weaksauce. Either way the responsibility does not completely lie with the evil winning player.
+1 to the idea and the challenge to deckbuilders, in a 2hg environment this deck is going to go well - is why bond is at 5cmc, at less it would be sooo abusable.
Thanks for the reply. In my opinion it's a toss up there. Adept can be really great in the right deck, but it's hard to tell on p1p2 whether or not you can successfully draft that deck, and taking more control oriented cards like Ball really makes me wonder what you were thinking with your approach. Is this a tempo deck, or a control deck? Know what I mean? It's very hard to say at what pick it crossed that line, but I think you ended up with a much slower deck to be picking the Adept in p1p2. Cultivate is probably the safer pick, as it allows you to be alot more flexible in your approach throughout the rest of the draft. That being said, I don't blame you at all for being a little aggressive and trying to force the tempo archetype early, as it can be extremely good and has led me, and I'm sure many others, to many 3-0's, but I think that the tempo deck wants a few more squadron hawks and a few less crystal balls. :)
Even in Standard with Green you can have 10 Mana np on turn 5/6 - Genesis Wave looks like the best way to cheat in up to 10 - 15% of your library (if you play with a heavy no of perms), with 1 spell. Will still need to be tested to see just how good - but it could definitely broken/abused
The only thing I can take out for repel is evacuation or krosan krip, both of which I believe have been more open ended in the past. so with that in mind it would have to be almost only for dark depths possibly helping against afew other decks but most likely not as many as the other two help with. So if the metagame moves then it would be fine.
So if it's only for dark depths wipe away is probally better anyways because it can't be countered.
I never saw the helm/line combo but multi combo seems nice :).
I'm surprised you only had two fow's in there. Would have thrown my games off in the games that I won without trickbind.
True a kind of Hand shroud exists. I am moreso talking along the lines of a card which cannot be a legit target for bribery and your own spells. It would allow for a mechanic of insanely powerful creatures that CANNOT be cheated into play (as you cannot do anything other than hard cast them).
I haven't tested the deck too much against combo - though I do agree it is not 'tweaked' nor a 'serious contender' - it more-so highlighted the lack of power many had thru their damage win condition. If they had been using poison - I would have been long dead. I found with Sanguine I was often waiting till they tapped out to play it the next turn (ensuring even if later removed it had max effeect). It would allow me to get off usually a min 7 - 15 life and hence damage - which is a 14 - 30 life. I think in total 2 people have removed 1 x Sanguine. As most decks are trying to burn you to death - I found them often burnt out, top decking whilst I was just chilling increasing life turn after turn.
Truth is a deck like this is very susceptible to Extirpate, Bitter Ordeal, Poison and potentially Mill. Hopefully highlighting the need for people to look at how their deck wins/plans to win. Also what it can do when it isn't.... (e.g. clear board)
2. Asceticism - Protection for your army, plus another way to protect your commander. And regeneration for your creatures, or your allies if you're into the political game.
3. Mimic Vat - 3 for a creature every turn that goes away at EOT, so removal isn't as effective? And you can "upgrade" the imprinted creature? Plus, you can use your commander as the imprint (when it would otherwise go to the 'yard)! I can't wait to try this out.
Seydaneen, my prize was actually pride, prestige, recognition and self confidence but I think the correct answer to your question is that I won 15 tickets. Not bad actually considering these BYOS events are player run events that cost me nothing to enter.
To join these events, be in the Anything Goes Room Sundays at 12:30PM EST. That's when the registration starts. Be in the /join BYOS chatroom. The tournament then starts at 1:00PM EST. It's a swiss three rounds tournament and then it cuts to either Top-4 or Top-8 depending on the number of players.
Grats on the championship. As I said in game if you want me to test for you I can as long as I have cards needed (and you can lend me what is needed for the test duration if necessary.)I don't play the format normally so I won't be your competition (not that I would be anyway :p.)
I was really hoping to get into the top four again but sadly my deck failed me in my second match with very bad draws each round against a fast deck (Blippy's). I had no way of dropping cards into my graveyard to start the dredge engine.
It's a shame I was looking forward to playing your deck as we both have very fast win conditions it would have been an interesting match up. I also have no idea how it would have gone after side boarding.
Great article and its good to see that there will be a third season.
It's interesting that you play test against yourself I tend to run a few games in casual to get the feel of a deck and that's usually it.
That Birds of Paradise is very sexy. I'm not into BoPs or foils, but that is one heck of a nice card.
I'm looking forward to seeing how Standard shapes up in the next few weeks. Why oh why do we get SoM (and all other releases) so late!! ;_;
LOL, Only on MTGO can you get 4 Goblin Guides by turn 3. Go go shuffler!
I can only stand in awe of someone who has your level of dedication. Times like this I realize I will never be a great player in any format because I just don't have that drive and dedication to any one format, colour, deck type, etc., and it's a quality I wish I had and admire in other people. Well done.
Also, your enthusiasm almost makes me want to play . . . "almost" because tournaments begin at 1 a.m. ;_;
Lastly, I don't think your conclusions about times you've played a block really indicates favourite. Urza's Destiny is hands down my favourite set because it was the one I began playing Magic in; yet that doesn't mean it's strong or that I would/could build a bunch of Urza's block inclusive decks. You don't strike me as a pet deck kind of guy, especially the way you keep changing up decks and brewing. You seem to have a bit of Spike in you that you really strive to break the format and win, win, win, which doesn't lend itself to pet decks/blocks. Obviously you choose the best decks/blocks for a particular event/deck, which doesn't necessarily indicate a favourite, but a best. Tarmogoyf is unanimously the best green aggro creature in Magic, but he's nowhere near my favourite.
Sorry I forgot all about the deck list format - will do it for next time .*
I have to agree with this. Though I hate the players(not saying you are one) that insult others based on 'qualifiers' they put on the casual matches. Why does someone else car if JoeBobTopDecker wants to play against decks without LD? its not really anyone's business. If thats his personal definition of casual magic then fine. He labelled his game and should be respected in kind.
I also hate people that join my game and quit from a turn 2 Stone Rain or a turn one duress...my game had no rules, sorry youre sense of casual was offended in my game(not really i just think youre a tool for whining about it)
So both sides can do a lot to fix this problem.
Fantastic article, I really love the format and you have some of the best deck ideas I've seen... when you mention helm/leyline/hex/depths I totally have a "duh" moment because how can you not see that? so fantastic and so meant to be, totally jealous haha
I'm also jealous of your testing techniques I have to do it the old fashioned way haha that being said anyone interested in a BYOS game or extensive testing can feel free to hit me up in game any time
oh and as the player running the RG eldrazi deck the biggest killer was those wardens, the crazy life gain off of my spawn tokens couldn't be stopped
I feel that, decided last minute to run TarmoBlink, but it just didn't maintain the way it should have...
This is America. "Reasonable adults" don't come to sensible agreements on things all the time. Look at our political system for example.
That is beside the point.
If you don't want to play the guy with the $1,000 deck there is an easy fix to that. Just put a disclaimer in your game description saying "No + $1,000 decks."
If you don't communicate what you do or do not want to play against, how can anyone know which deck to use against you? This notion that "X" cards are casual or "Y" strategies are socially unacceptable, just doesn't cut it with so many different opinions online, which is the point I've been trying to make here all along.
All reguesses all valid and will be judged on the reguess.
But it would have been a totally different draft, also you could drafted the foresee, the double ice cage and probably play the augury owl to support that Mind Control, Mind Control text says this "If you're losing, you tie the board, if you're winning you seal the deal" it would have been a lot better than to play duresses and demon's horn. Also nice for being your first article.
Edit: Also you will be playing juggernaut because it doesn't require to commit you to a color so It's better than assassinate.
I hope my reguess counts since your worded it wrong
Necrotic ooze
Geth
Prototype portal.
In an elf mana ramp deck it's going to be awesome.
Also they gave us the complete spoiler early for either WW or M11
Nice first article. Here is the link for your next deck list to come up in the format that looks nice:
http://jamuraa.com/pure/deck_new.php
Shared understanding is good.
I have a Phyrexian Altar/Caller of the Claw/Wall of Omen or Wall of Blossoms/Second Sunrise or Living Death/Eternal Witness deck....
As you can see, with appropriate mana base (which is actually any 3 land and 3 creatures in play (oh that is six, plus needing one of them to be the witness, and needing sunrise or death in hand....)...
Well, with the appropriate mana base it is 5 card combo. Winning with either a many times Sunrised Ember-Fist Zubera or with a multiply Sunrised Flame-Kin Zealot is lots of fun, and quite hard to do. Because people don't see altar or Caller very often, I even sometimes get people who don't quit.
I would say that deck is the definition of casual, there are so many variables that can be disrupted that it should't win. However, I still get quitters and people who cry.
Maybe that is because they have been 'abused' by cashed up nasty netdeckers, or because they are weaksauce. Either way the responsibility does not completely lie with the evil winning player.
+1 to the idea and the challenge to deckbuilders, in a 2hg environment this deck is going to go well - is why bond is at 5cmc, at less it would be sooo abusable.
Fun deck, alt win con is always smexy.
Thanks for the reply. In my opinion it's a toss up there. Adept can be really great in the right deck, but it's hard to tell on p1p2 whether or not you can successfully draft that deck, and taking more control oriented cards like Ball really makes me wonder what you were thinking with your approach. Is this a tempo deck, or a control deck? Know what I mean? It's very hard to say at what pick it crossed that line, but I think you ended up with a much slower deck to be picking the Adept in p1p2. Cultivate is probably the safer pick, as it allows you to be alot more flexible in your approach throughout the rest of the draft. That being said, I don't blame you at all for being a little aggressive and trying to force the tempo archetype early, as it can be extremely good and has led me, and I'm sure many others, to many 3-0's, but I think that the tempo deck wants a few more squadron hawks and a few less crystal balls. :)
Even in Standard with Green you can have 10 Mana np on turn 5/6 - Genesis Wave looks like the best way to cheat in up to 10 - 15% of your library (if you play with a heavy no of perms), with 1 spell. Will still need to be tested to see just how good - but it could definitely broken/abused
Great Article!
The only thing I can take out for repel is evacuation or krosan krip, both of which I believe have been more open ended in the past. so with that in mind it would have to be almost only for dark depths possibly helping against afew other decks but most likely not as many as the other two help with. So if the metagame moves then it would be fine.
So if it's only for dark depths wipe away is probally better anyways because it can't be countered.
I never saw the helm/line combo but multi combo seems nice :).
I'm surprised you only had two fow's in there. Would have thrown my games off in the games that I won without trickbind.
This looks like one of the best decks in BYOS.
Thanks for your comment
True a kind of Hand shroud exists. I am moreso talking along the lines of a card which cannot be a legit target for bribery and your own spells. It would allow for a mechanic of insanely powerful creatures that CANNOT be cheated into play (as you cannot do anything other than hard cast them).
I haven't tested the deck too much against combo - though I do agree it is not 'tweaked' nor a 'serious contender' - it more-so highlighted the lack of power many had thru their damage win condition. If they had been using poison - I would have been long dead. I found with Sanguine I was often waiting till they tapped out to play it the next turn (ensuring even if later removed it had max effeect). It would allow me to get off usually a min 7 - 15 life and hence damage - which is a 14 - 30 life. I think in total 2 people have removed 1 x Sanguine. As most decks are trying to burn you to death - I found them often burnt out, top decking whilst I was just chilling increasing life turn after turn.
Truth is a deck like this is very susceptible to Extirpate, Bitter Ordeal, Poison and potentially Mill. Hopefully highlighting the need for people to look at how their deck wins/plans to win. Also what it can do when it isn't.... (e.g. clear board)
My guesses are:
1. Exsanguinate - Thanks for the life, everyone!
2. Asceticism - Protection for your army, plus another way to protect your commander. And regeneration for your creatures, or your allies if you're into the political game.
3. Mimic Vat - 3 for a creature every turn that goes away at EOT, so removal isn't as effective? And you can "upgrade" the imprinted creature? Plus, you can use your commander as the imprint (when it would otherwise go to the 'yard)! I can't wait to try this out.
Hi guys and thanks for the comments.
Seydaneen, my prize was actually pride, prestige, recognition and self confidence but I think the correct answer to your question is that I won 15 tickets. Not bad actually considering these BYOS events are player run events that cost me nothing to enter.
To join these events, be in the Anything Goes Room Sundays at 12:30PM EST. That's when the registration starts. Be in the /join BYOS chatroom. The tournament then starts at 1:00PM EST. It's a swiss three rounds tournament and then it cuts to either Top-4 or Top-8 depending on the number of players.
Thanks again for the comments.
LE
great article. 2 quetions
1. how does one join these tournaments?
2. what did you win as a prize? You know what they say:Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Yea, same here Paul. I got a playset as well.
Grats on the championship. As I said in game if you want me to test for you I can as long as I have cards needed (and you can lend me what is needed for the test duration if necessary.)I don't play the format normally so I won't be your competition (not that I would be anyway :p.)
I was really hoping to get into the top four again but sadly my deck failed me in my second match with very bad draws each round against a fast deck (Blippy's). I had no way of dropping cards into my graveyard to start the dredge engine.
It's a shame I was looking forward to playing your deck as we both have very fast win conditions it would have been an interesting match up. I also have no idea how it would have gone after side boarding.
Great article and its good to see that there will be a third season.
It's interesting that you play test against yourself I tend to run a few games in casual to get the feel of a deck and that's usually it.
Looks like it was my comment that sealed Extinction's fate. :/ Silly me for getting 4.