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By: Godot, Ryan Spain
Nov 19 2009 1:54pm
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Welcome! Let's jump right into the draft. Last week, I left you with this pack one, pick one of an 84 triple-Zendikar draft.

Pack 1 pick 1:

  My Pick:

Clearly, the pick here is between Emeria Angel and Trusty Machete, and everyone in the comments narrowed it down to those two pretty quickly. If white is flowing and I draft a solid deck, the angel will be more valuable to me than the machete. If I take the angel but then have to bail on white or I force it with marginal results, the machete will have been the better pick. Of course, I don’t have the luxury of knowing how the rest of the draft is going to go, so I have to go with my best estimation of Expected Value in this spot.

I've discussed EV in the past, but for the new and/or forgetful, it is a gambling term used to describe how much a bet (or in poker, a decision), will win or lose you in the long run. Good poker players are always looking to maximize their return by finding the play with the best EV, and the same goes for good Magic players, whether or not they label it as EV. Imagine you play out this draft a million times in a million parallel universes, half on the machete pick and half on the angel pick. Other than the contents of this one pack and the fact that it’s an 84, everything else about each of those drafts is random.

At some point, the combined results of those drafts would become statistically significant, and by a million times it would be conclusive. For any given player, you could come up with a “correct” answer to this pick simply looking at how many packs per draft that player won when picking the machete, and how many that player won when picking the angel.

Honestly, my gut says the machete has better EV, here. You know you are putting your neighbor into white, which is useful info, and the machete is going to be fantastic in any deck you end up with. You can read the upcoming signals, move into the open colors, and on average in those million drafts, you are going to have a better deck with the machete, even though the most powerful decks in the million-draft sample are going to be the ones where you took the angel.

Yeah, but I took the angel! OK, so it’s not 100% about prize-pack EV. In arguable spots like this where I am trying to decide which card is more awesome, I lean rare to gain experience with cards I don’t see as often. Since I’m not actually going to play this draft a million times (that sounds like a Sartre/Garfield collaboration on a redesign of hell), I want to test-drive the obviously great rare while I have the chance. There’s also an undeniable fun factor (despite being a Spike, fun is why I play this game), and while the pick with the better EV is debatable, the angel definitely has superior EF.


  Pack 1 pick 2:

  My Pick:
 
Taking the angel pick one doesn’t just suggest heavy white. To me it specifically suggests white-red, white-blue, or monowhite. White-black and white-green are not particularly synergistic combinations. Both black and white have important common 1-drops, and critical commons and uncommons in the two and three slot that have double color requirements. The result is that black-white decks either conflict heavily on early mana, or they don’t run some of the best commons and uncommons, neither of which is good.

image No, we can’t all just get along…

OK, Devout Lightcaster is rare, but it fits so perfectly across from the Gatekeeper of Malakir. If you made a starting hand that used two of those white cards, two of those black cards, and three basic lands, the result is going to be extremely awkward no matter what.

I don’t like green-white because green doesn’t bring strong evasion or removal to the mix, not to mention that green is the weakest color in ZZZ draft (green decks can win ZZZ drafts, mind you, it’s just an uphill battle).

So, by taking Emeria Angel, I’m looking to go white-red, white-blue, or monowhite. If my future picks don’t support one of those directions, I’m either setting myself up for a clumsy white-black or white-green deck, or I’m acknowledging that I may be abandoning my first pick. Given that, Geyser Glider is an acceptable pick here, but I pass on it. The glider has been falling in my rankings. Red is frequently overdrafted, and in white-red decks, I like the red to be more of a splash anyway. If the glider were a Bladetusk Boar, a Plated Geopede, or strong red removal instead, I’d take it. Instead I decide to forgo an average red card for a color-intensive card that represents a huge swing against one of the format’s toughest matchups. It doesn’t hurt that it also cuts relevant white from the pack completely.


  Pack 1 pick 3:

  My Pick:

Here’s the Bladetusk Boar that I would have taken over the Devout Lightcaster last pick, but I’m now that much more committed to white, and I decide to keep cutting it here for the excellent Kor Hookmaster. Roil Elemental is a flashy but high-variance card. with a heavy land count or land recursion tricks it can be game-winning, but it’s very fragile, requires a heavy blue commitment, and doesn’t start pulling its weight until you’ve made your seventh land drop. I just couldn’t take a triple-blue card right on the heels of a triple-white card, especially with a fine white card in the pack.


  Pack 1 pick 4:

  My Pick:
 
I never would have even considered Kraken Hatchling over Gomazoa in the early days of Zendikar sealed, but at this point, if I’m not drafting an aggro black, red, or black-red deck myself, I am highly conscious of taking cards that can hold those decks off, because I’m going to have to face and beat one or two on the way to most finals. The hatchling doesn’t stop Bladetusk Boars or Surrakar Marauders, but it does stop Vampire Lacerators and Plated Geopedes, and it stops them quickly. Gomazoa doesn’t come online until T3 against lacerators and T4 against geopedes, although it does stop flyers, and will ultimately remove a creature from the board entirely.

The Ondu Cleric is looking pretty good to me now, and I think I should have taken it. I can stick to my white guns and set up possible ally shenanigans down the road, and a couple clerics and some other allies can do as much to combat red-black aggression as an early kraken can.


  Pack 1 pick 5:

  My Pick:

Thwarting aggro while being aggro is a great plan for blue. There are a few signals in this pack. Both the Welkin Tern and the Bladetusk Boar suggest red and blue are open to my right, and the complete lack of relevant black in the last couple picks suggests that black is not. If I’d known two Bladetusk Boars were coming, I’d have just gone white-red, but I really like white blue also, so I’m happy to take blue’s version of the evasive, race-winning two-drop.


  Pack 1 pick 6:

  My Pick:
 
I didn’t think much of this guy at first because he’s so terrible in combat, but again, he can certainly be part of a white-blue quasi-ally strategy in which you are gaining life to outrace your opponent while making larger and larger Umara Raptors and, if you are lucky, Kazandu Blademasters. Wish I had that other one.


  Pack 1 pick 7:

  My Pick:

Not great, especially given my desire for a 10/7 or 10/8 mana split in my W-x decks, but it’s the pick here over the “fixed” Healing Salve.


  Pack 1 pick 8:

  My Pick:

Five mana is a lot, but so is five toughness, and I’m never unhappy to have a Sky Ruin Drake in my white-blue decks.


  Pack 1 pick 9:

  My Pick:

Map over wings in a battle between cards I hope not to play.


  Pack 1 pick 10:

  My Pick:

A solid spot to take Reckless Scholar.

Remaining Pack-one picks:

   

  Pack 2 pick 1:

  My Pick:

The Kor Aeronaut caught my eye first, and fetchlands are always a tempting raredraft—even the lowly Misty Rainforest—but I’m not passing a second Trusty Machete.


  Pack 2 pick 2:

  My Pick:

Here’s a rare I’ve been wanting to try in draft. It’s slow to the table and seems susceptible to gang-blocks that reduce it to a six-mana 2:1 with some life gain, but it still feels like a card that can turn a game around if it comes down after the removal is all in the graveyard. Brave the Elements, Trusty Machete, and any bounce I can pick up to mess with gang blocks all make Felidar Sovereign much better.

Note that the pack-one cutting of black is working out for my neighbor, who is getting two Hideous Ends right off the bat in pack two.


  Pack 2 pick 3:

  My Pick:

More good stuff for black heads downstream while I take my only playable in the pack. Kor Cartographer can actually accelerate me into a turn-five Felidar Sovereign, which is nice.


  Pack 2 pick 4:

  My Pick:

This was a tough pick, something I never would have said during my early Zendikar drafts. “Fight aggro with aggro” is a very reasonable approach and I’ll take as many Steppe Lynxes as I can get, but the Shepherd of the Lost is a potent five drop, and is particularly nuts wielding a machete. So is the lynx, or anything, really…but five power of flying, first-striking vigilance is almost impossible to stop with creatures other than Gomazoa. I’m curious where you guys fall on this one: is anyone taking the lynx over the shepherd, here? How close is it for you?


  Pack 2 pick 5:

  My Pick:

It’s looking like cutting white is paying some dividends with this easy pick. I’d like a Whiplash Trap at some point, though.


  Pack 2 pick 6:

  My Pick:

After the disaster draft I walked through my last two articles, I’m paranoid about playables, but I think I could have just hated the archer, here, which can wreak havoc on UW decks even with only a couple other allies.


  Pack 2 pick 7:

  My Pick:

I’m surprised to see a Spire Barrage given the good red I passed in pack one, and happy to see another chance at a Steppe Lynx. It’s certainly a candidate for my card with the highest rise in value since my initial estimations of Zendikar limited. Initially I was concerned about how bad they were in the late game, but that was before I understood that “late game” frequently means turn five in Zendikar.


  Pack 2 pick 8:

  My Pick:

Nice with a machete, but unlikely to see play at this point.

Remaining pack-two picks (not including full-frame land grabs)

   

  Pack 3 pick 1:

  My Pick:

A welcome first pick and fine as the only ally in my deck. Mana-for-mana, it wields a machete better than anything this side of Vampire Nighthawk, and being able to race and defend at the same time is just crazy good in Zendikar. Too bad I haven’t seen any Umara Raptors yet, which I will now take over all but the bombiest of spells the rest of the way.


  Pack 3 pick 2:

  My Pick:

Another 2/2 for , so, basically interchangeable with the blademaster, right? OK, Maybe not. Man, the white-red deck I turned down is looking pretty hot right about now…


  Pack 3 pick 3:

  My Pick:

A silly, bad pick. Ondu Cleric is only going to see play if I pick up another couple allies, but the upside of that potentiality is quite high, whereas the Ior Ruin Expedition has no upside—it is mediocre card drawing with downsides. Oh look! Inferno Trap!

The hardest part about not being in red or black is having to pass all these cards that are likely to end up beating you.


  Pack 3 pick 4:

  My Pick:

Another solid way to win the race against red, while passing another solid way for red to win the race against me.


  Pack 3 pick 5:

  My Pick:

A classic, “can I just take the rest of this pack and call it good?” scenario: I want the Welkin Tern, the Blazing Torch, the Whiplash Trap, and most of all, the Kor Skyfisher, but I have to settle for my top choice, which narrowly edged out the colorless removal. Double skyfisher is great, though, and I’d rather just race than remove with this pick. T1 machete, T2 skyfisher bouncing machete, T3 recast and equip machete, swing with 4/4 flyer. Seems good!

(This just in: Zendikar, it turns out, is fast.)


  Pack 3 pick 6:

  My Pick:

I don’t see running two Brave the Elements, so I cut the potent burn spell that makes monored decks extremely tough to beat.


  Pack 3 pick 7:

  My Pick:

It’s Kraken Hatchling vs. Gomazoa redux, but this time with a third player. I’m pushing my top end with this pick, but I like that the Sky Ruin Drake can play either defense or offense, depending on need.


  Pack 3 pick 8:

  My Pick:

I want that Stonework Puma so badly. It trades with all the key intimidate creatures and buffs the blademaster, but I couldn’t quite pull the trigger on it over the notorious eel. If I’d pulled even one Umara Raptor between P3P1 and here, that would push me into puma over eel, as my air force is already looking pretty good.


  Pack 3 pick 9:

  My Pick:

We’ll see if I run two, but given the Emeria Angel and the Felidar Sovereign to dig for, I know I’ll be running at least one.


  Pack 3 pick 10:

  My Pick:

Stripping red of additional racing tools.


  Pack 3 pick 11:

  My Pick:

I already have a Narrow Escape, no Journey to Nowheres, and a solid playable count, so I again hate on red a bit.

The rest of pack three:

 

This draft converter created by Benjamin Peebles-Mundy. Visit the draft converter today!

The Deck

imageI wavered on 17 vs. 18 land for a bit before deciding that with two Kor Skyfishers, two Reckless Scholars and only two landfall creatures, I could get away with 17. Whether or not to run Kabira Crossroads was another conundrum for me. I ultimately left it out for fear of the tap clause causing me tempo hiccups that outweighed the benefits of two extra life, but this feels incorrect now, particularly with the potential for recursion with the skyfishers.

If I could remake this deck, I would play Kabira Crossroads over the Ior Ruin Expedition. The expedition is pretty disappointing, and the Reckless Scholars are going to be my virtual card advantage, and can toss extra lands if 18 proves more than I need.

I’ve ended up with a so-so white-blue deck that has some notable holes for the archetype. It’s lacking Journey to Nowhere, Umara Raptors, and bounce, but the creature base is basically solid. Al you readers who would have gone red early in pack one, you probably would have been rewarded with a better deck than I ended up with. If you take Bladetusk Boar over Kor Hookmaster P1P3, though, who knows how that changes what white comes later?

So as I head in to review my games, I am keeping these “what ifs” in mind:

Again, the results of these “what ifs” over the course of a single draft will hardly be conclusive or statistically significant, but building up the dossier on decisions that you wrestled with is a good general practice.

The results, however, will have to wait. MTGO replays be willing, I’ll cover the game walkthroughs in my next article, and we’ll see if this deck had enough going for it to overcome the holes. It may be a longer-than-usual wait, too, as I will be taking next week off for the Thanksgiving holiday, and potentially the week after that as well, as I’ll have a very full plate waiting for me at work after I clean my plate over Thanksgiving.

Thanks for reading, and apologies in advance if I should leave you waiting for Godot… 


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23 Comments

stuff by ElwoodPDowd (not verified) at Thu, 11/19/2009 - 15:06
ElwoodPDowd's picture

You are correct, Ior expedition is not very good.

In 8-4s I also see that everyone knows that aggro r/b is the elephant in the room, thus that 'nut' isn't achieved very often, so I rarely need a kraken hatchling (though the player passing to you probably has gotten something pretty crazy). I would have taken the cleric, but would not have been happy about it (which would have lead me to take the cartographer in the next pack to stay tight; then finally - pack 7 - having a real decision; the magma rift or anti-black SB taters? I take the tatters, but swing in the U direction with Sky Ruin Drake next pick, take the wings over the map, and the scholar. [which would have left me more likely to try mono white, or a different, smaller splash later)

With your build, I also would have ruled out the tapped land for curve reasons with 17 land (which I believe is the correct amount). I would have dropped the Ior expedition, the Kraken, and the Cancel for the Ox and the Lightcaster(I know that is 3 for 2). I might have tried an 11th plains with only 6 islands (with the expedition map as card 40?). Obviously my preferences are not yours so my choice of a likely 40th card from your pool - if I chose the non 11/6 + map route - give me a headache. I think I'd be better off adding an 18th land (the tap land) instead of the deulist or the cleric. Yes. 12/6 with 6 one-U-mana-blue cards.

No, wait, thats dumb. The scholars help a lot. 11/7. Whew! That actually made me sweat. But I wouldn't feel good about my chances vs the guy on my right if he isn't awful. And I'd be happy to make the finals with this even if I didn't win.

Great as always. Looking forward to the match analysis.

Your draft questions by Quagmire (not verified) at Thu, 11/19/2009 - 15:06
Quagmire's picture

I definitely think you made the right play with the shepard of the lost over a steppe lynx, because like I said in your last week's post, I've never really been a fan of the lynx in drafts as they are useless on your opponents turn where the sheppard is just a great all round creature on both yours and his turn. The Ior ruin Expedition and the Kabira are both marginal at best in my opinion and I would avoid playing either but I would probably run the kabira for life gain as the format is fast. I would pick the Gomozoa as well because it can slow a bomb creature your opponent may have and i have found it decently useful. The one change I would make to the deck that you made was I would have played the devout lightcaster instead of the cliff threader because so much black is played (not to say red isn't) but the added ability to remove a black permanent is key. The casting cost is heavy but your main colour is white already and come mid game you will likely have three white available.

A few weeks ago Id have run by Metalman (not verified) at Thu, 11/19/2009 - 15:34
Metalman's picture

A few weeks ago Id have run with the Lynx. However, now that people have experience with the set they are running their Shieldmates, Kraken Hatchlings, and as many x3's as possible. That slightly reduces my opinion of Steppe Lynx. I'll definately still draft them but I'll make a card-vs-Lynx decision based on how my deck deals with those type of defensive cards. If I've got a few Kor Cartographer / Kor Outfitter / Cliff Treaders then Id go with the Shepard for sure. If I'm lacking early game critters then Id lean towards the Lynx.

Im not a big fan of taking the Lightcaster pick 2. Just seems like WWW is tough and will make you take bad white cards over getting into the best second color in the next few picks. Problem is that the rest of the cards are pretty MEH...so I prob go with the rare I guess. Id be tempted by that Gul Draz Vamp also. WB works fine if you stick to single colored cards like Hookmaster, Kor Skyfisher, Steppe Lynx and the black cards like Gul Draz Vamp, Disfigure, Vamp Lacerator. If you branch into Kor Outfitters for your white cards then the deck will be cluncky and, I would agree, quite bad.

Nice analysis as always though. Really enjoy reading your walkthroughs.

-M

Oh, and I probably become the by Metalman (not verified) at Thu, 11/19/2009 - 15:38
Metalman's picture

Oh, and I probably become the biggest rare-draft hoar in this draft and take the Roil Elemental pick 3, Misty Rainforest pick one pack 2, and the Oracle pick one pack 3. Just that you can sell the Rainforest for a pack so its like winning a round anyway and you probably run it for landfall tricks so its not a pure raredraft. With the rainforest then I could almost justify running a Oracle splash. Hehe.

-M

My rare-drafting tendancies by ArchGenius at Thu, 11/19/2009 - 15:48
ArchGenius's picture

My rare-drafting tendancies vary depending on whether I'm drafting Swiss or 84. If this was a swiss draft I would have taken the rainforest as well. However this was an 84, hedging my bets with a rainforest doesn't make a lot of sense, when 6 players walk away with no prizes. In 84 I wouldn't rare draft unless what I'm picking is close to a free draft.

I think this draft went by Anonymous (not verified) at Thu, 11/19/2009 - 16:26
Anonymous's picture

I think this draft went horribly wrong

Very insightful, thanks! I, by Godot at Fri, 11/20/2009 - 14:55
Godot's picture

Very insightful, thanks! I, too, love to share constructive criticism on drafts in an effort to establish what could have been done differently, and I will take your comments to heart.

Rares by moerutora (not verified) at Thu, 11/19/2009 - 19:47
moerutora's picture

If the rare was worth 5+ tix then I would take it. Unfortunately, Misty Rainforest doesnt come close to that.
Taking the Shepherd was the better and correct choice. I probably would not have played the expedition but instead play the Lightcaster =) It cost me a match as it removed my Halo Hunter =(

Let me preface my comments by elambert24 at Fri, 11/20/2009 - 00:02
elambert24's picture

Let me preface my comments with the fact that I really love white in ZZZ. I have had a great deal of success with it.

P1P3: Hookmaster > Bladetusk imo and the clear pick here. Keep in mind that I tend to draft the aggro type decks and the Hookmasters/Shortcutters are absolutely nuts in aggro archetypes

P1P4: Cleric for me. Not an exciting pick but as you mentioned has much more potential to interact with the type of deck you are likely to draft.

P1P9: Nimbus Wings. They provide a great mid-game 'out' when your aggros run into formidable blockers. I've had great success putting the wings on Lynx/Blademaster/Threader/etc. on turns 3-5 to get that extra and often lethal damage through. I just think you completely underestimate this card.

P2P4: I personally would have taken the Lynx over the Shepherd. You already have a Sky Drake and the Sovereign in the 5+ CC slot. I don't like having more than 2-3 cards in my deck at that slot.

P3P3: Cleric is a much better pick than the Expedition here but I also give the Narrow Escape a look since you are prob not going to run multiple Clerics and because of it's versatility: Lifegain, ability to return creatures with CIP abilities (sanctifiers, allies for the blademaster, hookmasters), the interaction with Journey to Nowhere (if you were lucky enough to pick one up) and the ability to get your creature out of a Paralyzing Grasp

P3P6: Nimubs Wings. See above.

Let me preface my comments by elambert24 at Fri, 11/20/2009 - 00:11
elambert24's picture

Sorry, double post. Was getting a server error but obviously the post made it through

Shepherd over Lynx is pretty by Jotram at Fri, 11/20/2009 - 02:53
Jotram's picture

Shepherd over Lynx is pretty easy I think. Shepherd stymies a ground attack, stops all nonrare flyers except a huge raptor or landfall'd Geyser Glider, and also plays offense as a 3 power flyer. It might not come down til turn 5, but it makes a huge impact on the board, and importantly for this format, a huge impact on races. If you were drafting a more aggressive deck, the Lynx could be a better pick, but you'd rather play hatchling on turn 1 with the amount of flyers you have.

As for the Misty Rainforest, I'd probably yank it seeing as it's worth a third of a draft. You can't sell it for 5 now, but rainforest will be useful in extnded til it rotates. You'll either be able to sell it for 5+ come extended season, or pay 5+ for one in the near future. I don't think Machete increases your odds significantly enough to be worth it (not that it's not a great card). Similarly, I'd support taking Angel first pick for the sake of expanding your collection. Raredrafting doesn't make sense in a major event, but in a regular queue it's frequently in your long-term magic interests to do it.

I think pick 2devout by Anonymous (not verified) at Fri, 11/20/2009 - 07:01
Anonymous's picture

I think pick 2devout lightcaster is right.

You want to play your 1st pick "bomb"(angel IS good) so cutting the only viable white card is the proper move IMO...Geyser(not a fan) gemblade(green) and scholar only viable picks ..none match the cut white IMO

the packs seemed weak OR by Anonymous (not verified) at Fri, 11/20/2009 - 07:06
Anonymous's picture

the packs seemed weak OR players were playing 3 colors...i don think this on you at all GODOT.rough

Interesting draft, this one. by BoogieElAceitoso at Fri, 11/20/2009 - 11:33
BoogieElAceitoso's picture

Interesting draft, this one. I'd have to tell you that the lack of any kind of removal would have me panicking in the end, I'd be praying for a Paralyzing grasp at the very least. I would have taken the Gomazoa over the second Sky Ruin P3-P7 for that very same reason: at least it's a temporary solution for dangerous critters like Nighthawks and Woodcrashers, and it's 3 toughness stops Lynxes and the smaller vampires as well, although it's not that good against Geopedes.
About deck building, I would probably go heavier white, maindeck Crossroads taking out the blue expedition, and also maindeck Lightcaster instead of one of the Drakes.
Let's see how the games went (hopefully more than just one round this time, :).

Alot of people havent by Metalman (not verified) at Fri, 11/20/2009 - 12:37
Metalman's picture

Alot of people havent realized how good the Drakes are. Yes, they cost 5. However, theres only one commonly seen removal card in the set that get through this guy as a 1:1. Hideous End. Also, he blocks guys that are 2x's with Adventuring Gear or Trusty Machete on em...Which you run into a lot. He also blocks a sizeable chunk of first pick guys like Living Tsunami.

I may be biased since Ive won so many games with him recently...so take it for what its worth.

-M

Thanks for the comments, by Godot at Fri, 11/20/2009 - 15:01
Godot's picture

Thanks for the comments, all.

RE: Maindeck Lightcaster: I couldn't pull that trigger given that I had a solid creature base without it. A Gray Ogre for WWW is pretty awful, and I hate taking that risk when I have other serviceable creatures to run instead.

It's an interesting question though because it is so fantastic against black. How many black decks can I expect to face if I intend to make the finals? Surely one, maybe two. How much of an edge do I gain against black with a game-one lightcaster, and how much of an adge do I lose against non-black with a game-one lightcaster instead of my worst maindeck creature? Hey Shaterri, do some math on this one or something, would ya?

RE: Sky Ruin Drake: agree with Metalman, it's really a solid creature. Blue is in a weird position in Zendikar. It has some aggressive, evasive guys, but it can't keep up with red and black without doing some blocking at some point. A turn-five drake can block basically anything without intimidate then join back in on offense when the blue mage switches from control to aggro.

RE: raredrafting: Given my vocal endorsement of the Swiss format for its status as the slowest bleed of Magic Online limited, I certainly have no problem with raredrafting. WIthout my columnist hat on, I'm always trying to make the pick that produces the most return, be that via matches won or secondary market. I play 84s looking for column material, though, and I will raredraft less when I may be doing a walkthrough.

RE: Nimbus Wings: I acknowledge that Nimbus Wings, Goblin War Paint, Savage Silhouette, and Vampire's Bite all have more value in Zendikar than they would in slower formats. (See the comments in my article on the Zendikar prerelease where I defend my decision to run Goblin War Paint.) All-in approaches that exchange (or risk) card disadvantage for extra damage are going to be more viable in a fast environment, where it's less about who has ground out some extra cards and more about who can deal 20 the fastest.

That being said, I didn't like Nimbus Wings for the deck because in white-blue, I expect most of my key attackers to already have flying, and the ones that don't to have 2 power, which really reduces it's potential impact given the 2:1 risks. I can see running it in white-red where launching a Shatterskull Giant or Ruinous Minotaur can be worth 5+ damage.

bah just tell us the results by Anonymous (not verified) at Fri, 11/20/2009 - 20:57
Anonymous's picture

This person had nothing of value to say, so I edited it.

I have something of value to go with though, here is a recipe for a delish bar

* 1 teaspoon unsalted butter, softened
* 1 1/2 pounds semisweet chocolate, chopped
* 1 1/2 cups toasted macadamia, pistachio, or cashew nuts, or 1 1/2 cups dried cherries
* 12 ounces white chocolate, chopped

Directions

Lightly butter a 10 by 12-inch baking sheet or casserole dish and set aside.

In the top of a double boiler, or in a metal bowl set over a pot of boiling water, melt the semisweet chocolate, stirring occasionally with a rubber spatula. Add the nuts (or cherries) and stir well. Pour the chocolate into the buttered dish, smoothing the top with a rubber spatula.

Melt the white chocolate in the top of a double-boiler, stirring occasionally. Spoon melted white chocolate on top of melted semisweet chocolate, then run a knife back and forth to create a random marbled effect.

When chocolate is cooled and has hardened, cut or break into pieces of desired size.

Enjoy!

Posted edited by JXC

Sounds delicious! I'll have by Godot at Sat, 11/21/2009 - 03:44
Godot's picture

Sounds delicious! I'll have to make a batch for the holidays.

Roflmao...pure evil Josh. If by Paul Leicht at Sat, 11/21/2009 - 13:07
Paul Leicht's picture

Roflmao...pure evil Josh. If I was able to eat sweets that could kill me.

that was full of epic win, by ShardFenix at Sat, 11/21/2009 - 13:27
ShardFenix's picture

that was full of epic win, best post edit in the history of pure!!

Ummmm by Anonymous (not verified) at Sat, 11/21/2009 - 22:58
Anonymous's picture

Did you really give a recipe for...

1. melting chocolate
2. incorporating ANYTHING into it
3. letting it regain it's solidity

???

Just checking :)

yeah by JXClaytor at Sun, 11/22/2009 - 02:28
JXClaytor's picture

to be fair though, I just copy pasted it from the food networks site.

Shepherd vs Lynx by Sam (not verified) at Mon, 12/14/2009 - 21:15
Sam's picture

The pick for a U/W deck is easily Shepherd. If you were in R/W, it would be a lot closer and may push lynx over the top depending on your curve.