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By: jake_antonetz, Jacob Antonetz
May 02 2011 8:22am
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About the Author: My goal with this video article (and hopefully many articles to follow), is to provide entertainment and information regarding competitive formats on MTGO. I make no claims to be a professional and/or an infallible magic player (at least not yet) and will welcome any and all constructive criticism on my play-style and plays. 

 

BUG is a powerful deck in this metagame, but I fear it is worse overall than cawblade. The deck aims to fight cawblade and the metagame with insane bursts of tempo on the backs of Lotus Cobra and Explore. This is similar to how RUG works, but this deck diverges from RUG mostly when it comes to Inquisition of Kozilek and Grave Titan. Inquisition can strip removal to protect cobra or take their important early drops ala Stoneforge mystic. Grave Titan is a more powerful finisher as well, in my opinion.

Of note: My laptop died last week and I bought a new one. It is considerably nicer, but I have had problems with using my old software on this computer. The recorder was glitching and the video quality and sound quality can be bad or nonexistant this week. Problems should be fixed by next week

Match 1 Game 1

Game 2

Game 3 - Lost Recording (I win handily)

Match 2 Game 1

Game 2

Match 3 Game 1

Game 2

Game 3

Match 4 Game 1

Game 2

Next Week Preview

Block Grixis 1

Block Grixis 2

Let me know if you are interested in seeing Grixis in Block next week.

As always, I welcome constructive criticism on the above video article; as well as input on what you want from my future video articles. Thank you for your time today!

@jakeantonetz twitter

7 Comments

Just wondering why BUG here by A_New_Hope at Tue, 05/03/2011 - 02:04
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Just wondering why BUG here is running 7 non-jace boom booms instead of the 9 Ive seen RUG plays, Liliana seems weak in a world of squad hawks as well, but maybe its sweet in certain matchups, just not seeing where. Seems like BUG could be very good, not sure where red beats blue in the RUG decks, lightning bolt is good of course, maybe just being able to pop jace for 1 mana is supreme game 1, dunno.

Threats by jake_antonetz at Tue, 05/03/2011 - 20:40
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The deck plays fewer threats because of the inquisition package. Without the lightning bolts the deck needs to play another source of removal and the go for the throats take up those slots. Lilliana is interesting in this format, I don't feel versed enough to make a verdict either way on her, she has been really strong at times and really weak as well.

Nice vids as always, it's a by PiDave at Wed, 05/04/2011 - 12:15
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Nice vids as always, it's a pity your pc melt down during the event. Do you take requests? If so, I'd like to see you piloting Bo King's UB Archive Trap Mill, it really seems a nice budget deck in the current meta. :-)

I love block Grixis. I've by RoninX at Wed, 05/04/2011 - 18:59
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I love block Grixis. I've been playing with it for a few weeks and think it is really strong - the best control deck in the format (but can be susceptible to WW). However, it is basically moot at this stage since the meta is going to be completely altered by NPH. If you do block vids next week make sure you give some solid context regarding how you think NPH is going to affect (infect? ;)) the format.

Thank you both by jake_antonetz at Wed, 05/04/2011 - 19:22
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@ Pi Dave - I do take requests, but I will need more than one request to do an archive trap deck atm :P (I played against it in my last daily and I have to say it didn't impress me)
@ Ronin X - Well block is really only played at pro tours ptqs and mtgo. Since it isn't ptq season and pro tour will have infinite new tech from pros, the current meta is actually very important since NPH will be released later on mtgo than in real life, probably after the pro tour where we will get our tech.

Are you sure about that? by RoninX at Thu, 05/05/2011 - 11:31
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Are you sure about that? Normally, yes, but given the, ah, unusual, circumstances surrounding NPH this *might* change. They've been conducting the beta tests for a couple of weeks now, when they don't usually start until after the live pre-release.

Hmmmn by jake_antonetz at Thu, 05/05/2011 - 14:44
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I hoped it would come out early, but someone told me the leak didn't change the time they would release it.