"Take note Monoblack fans…good card…also remember that when using Tendrils of Corruption, you STILL GAIN LIFE if any sort of bodyguard shenanigans take place."
Good card part is true, but the upper case part is false. The spell is countered when it has no legal targets, such as a creature with protection from black.
You can't pull that trick with the amulet and shock lands. The amulet trigger only happens if the permanent ETB tapped. A shockland you pay the life for comes in untapped, so the amulet won't trigger. You can however play it and not pay the life, then let the amulet untap it, making shocks effectively the same as revised duals. Also makes shards tri-lands absurdly good. Heck, it makes pretty much every etb tapped land absurdly good.
Yeah, in hindsight, it is quite easy to do the above. To speak honestly, I rarely draw the unicorn, so I think I was a bit hasty to use it...great point...funny, don't think I would have thought of that, so simple ;) The unicorn is such a 'safe' feeling when it sticks...I'll try out your idea next time if it presents itself!
I totally think WW is there...anything with swamps beats combo, and WW tends to beat anything with swamps...I've got a few more 'tricks' up my sleeve for this week :)
In your first match, why did you play the Unicorn? Had you left all three lands untapped you would have been able to cast Strands against Grapeshot or Light against the tokens.
BTW - I did mention I wrote the Top 8 wrong, as I was a round behind due to writing/hurriedly...
RE: TE - I found that against COMBO, using "CLOAK OF CONFUSION" was insane. 1/2 a tourach everyturn, which is easy due to the number of creatures your running. Agur of Skulls and this with duress are amazing...But Cloak lets you keep being aggressive - give it a try, you won't be dissapointed!
ahhh i see now. For some reason when i first read it i thought you had lost your match in the top8. I see now you made it to top 4....that makes a lot more sense now. Maybe i should quit reading tournaments report after checking emails first thing when i wake up
First - I agree with you. This does have too many auto-link cards that were misspelled, most at the end were I probably rushed a bit too much. I have done better with this in my previous articles, including adding in URLs for cards that would not auto-link. I doubt I will be perfect, but I will redouble my efforts to ensure the failed auto-links aren't as numerous in the future.
I actually use the spell checker in Word frequently to proof my article, but sometimes I miss a word. I however, do not copy/paste from Word because the formatting gets off (e.g. look at the font & size of excrutiating in the first line of the next to last paragraph).
Fresh eyes always help correct spelling and grammar mistakes that an original author misses.
Can't wait. I faced another TE deck, but the pilot was nowhere near your caliber. One of the best things about that deck is that there are no solo-color damage creatures...cop's won't work and P.strands is a bad idea too. It's like a rainbow attack ;)
Yep. Just like any cloak deck, a Standard Bearer would create issues. Between Into the Roil and counterspells, I should be able to manage. Standard Bearer doesn't show up in a ton of main decks from my experience (could be wrong, but I mostly see it in sideboards). So, if the Bearer became an issue in game 2 of a match I could add in the Echoing Truth for game 3 and work around the timing.
I do not believe this to be a tournament worthy deck yet, but it has some potential. The benefit of the draw/counterspells versus the inconsistency of the card draw is the real exploration for this Bant Cloak deck versus the normal green/white Cloak decks.
yeah, it is a bit annoying to have no removal, especially if you play against a list that has Amrou Scout. but I feel that the greater power and synergy of the deck allows you to get away with it. the games were extremely close, and i'll need to watch the replays a couple more times to figure how or if i could have won. shardfenix is right, you lost in the 2nd round of the top 8. hope we get paired up again in the next PE :)
This article is pretty good overall, but needs proofreading. Many card names are misspelled and therefore do not have links provided. Don't just submit a first draft and call it good. Polish your writing, it looks more professional. By the way, the word is spelled "eke" not "eek."
Yeah, those were close! I played that deck last week, and really wished I packed some removal SOMEWHERE...ghastly demise seemed perfect, as did Rancor...The latest decks have lost this, but in my playtesting it was the MVP. Additionally, knowing the list, I knew you were holding the gorgon, due to your entire deck being in the yard - I think you played wonderfully, had you been more aggressive - you'd of lost the mongrel sooner, that was a tightrope walking-match if ever there was one! I'm sure you'll get me next game :)
I had forgotten the Citadel was common - nice combo.
I knew Oblivion Ring could take out the enchantment, but at least that is a one-for-one exchange and not the two for one exchange of Unmake or Journey to Nowhere.
I will try the switch of adding an Island in place of a Plains.
I think I will also try out the Simic Growth Chamber, probably in place of a Sakura Tribe-Elder. That should help the blue mana and increase my mana for the Condescend.
ShardFenix - I'm not even going to pretend I know the math envolved at splitting the top 8...I wrote that report in real time between rounds (another reason the coverage gets more hurried with each round) - mistakenly thinking top 8 was a turn later than it was. Here's the official link if you like math:
That is pretty vague. The online metagame moves so quickly with this format knowing exactly when the data is from makes a difference. Just throwing a 1/4-1/14 or something in somewhere would help.
You missed the first combo I saw when the set spoiled: (Crusher Zendikon) + (Darksteel Citadel). It’s easy enough to shoehorn into a preexisting deck, especially a U/R deck with the (Trinket Mage) suite for fetching the Citadel. It dies to more removal than an indestructible creature should, but I doubt we’ll get a better three mana 4/2 indestructible creature in Pauper any time soon. Oh, and in a jam you can just play it on a regular land.
Don’t forget that while (Oblivion Ring) can’t target the land, it can always target the enchantment.
if i could suggest anything on your deck it would be to pull a plains out in favor of an island. if you count the roil as a UU spell, then the proper basic land distribution would be 9u, 8g, 5w. If you simply take out one of each basic for the panorama's you are left with
8 Island, 7 Forest, 4 Plains, 3 Bant Panorama
@IA: You beat me to the set review. Good for you! :) (Nice to see you back as well)
@Stealth: Commander games tend to run much longer then 'normal' constructed. Add to that the fact that you'll have two to three opponents and you really need to have spells and creatures which function on multiple levels or are are very efficient at what they do.
So when you're evaluating cards for Commander/EDH you need to think about getting the most possible value from them.
Something like Trinket Mage is a good example; it provides a body that can chump block or carry equipment, and it allows you to search up your SDT or another Cog (for me it's usually Expedition Map or Skullclamp). That's pretty good value for 2U. Also things like Ghostly Prison (deters your opponents from attacking you but isn't an active threat) or Siphon Mind (scales up in power the more opponents there are).
yeah, i'm the guy you beat in the top 8. very close games, maybe if i had been a little more aggressive i would've taken it, but well played on both sides :). i should have my own report of this tournament up soon.
"Take note Monoblack fans…good card…also remember that when using Tendrils of Corruption, you STILL GAIN LIFE if any sort of bodyguard shenanigans take place."
Good card part is true, but the upper case part is false. The spell is countered when it has no legal targets, such as a creature with protection from black.
You can't pull that trick with the amulet and shock lands. The amulet trigger only happens if the permanent ETB tapped. A shockland you pay the life for comes in untapped, so the amulet won't trigger. You can however play it and not pay the life, then let the amulet untap it, making shocks effectively the same as revised duals. Also makes shards tri-lands absurdly good. Heck, it makes pretty much every etb tapped land absurdly good.
Thanks! WW is always in it. It beats what beats combo...best lesson I've never quite learned is to play what you like.
Yeah, in hindsight, it is quite easy to do the above. To speak honestly, I rarely draw the unicorn, so I think I was a bit hasty to use it...great point...funny, don't think I would have thought of that, so simple ;) The unicorn is such a 'safe' feeling when it sticks...I'll try out your idea next time if it presents itself!
I totally think WW is there...anything with swamps beats combo, and WW tends to beat anything with swamps...I've got a few more 'tricks' up my sleeve for this week :)
In your first match, why did you play the Unicorn? Had you left all three lands untapped you would have been able to cast Strands against Grapeshot or Light against the tokens.
This was a fun article too read. You still think ww would do good in the next event?
BTW - I did mention I wrote the Top 8 wrong, as I was a round behind due to writing/hurriedly...
RE: TE - I found that against COMBO, using "CLOAK OF CONFUSION" was insane. 1/2 a tourach everyturn, which is easy due to the number of creatures your running. Agur of Skulls and this with duress are amazing...But Cloak lets you keep being aggressive - give it a try, you won't be dissapointed!
ahhh i see now. For some reason when i first read it i thought you had lost your match in the top8. I see now you made it to top 4....that makes a lot more sense now. Maybe i should quit reading tournaments report after checking emails first thing when i wake up
First - I agree with you. This does have too many auto-link cards that were misspelled, most at the end were I probably rushed a bit too much. I have done better with this in my previous articles, including adding in URLs for cards that would not auto-link. I doubt I will be perfect, but I will redouble my efforts to ensure the failed auto-links aren't as numerous in the future.
I actually use the spell checker in Word frequently to proof my article, but sometimes I miss a word. I however, do not copy/paste from Word because the formatting gets off (e.g. look at the font & size of excrutiating in the first line of the next to last paragraph).
Fresh eyes always help correct spelling and grammar mistakes that an original author misses.
Can't wait. I faced another TE deck, but the pilot was nowhere near your caliber. One of the best things about that deck is that there are no solo-color damage creatures...cop's won't work and P.strands is a bad idea too. It's like a rainbow attack ;)
Yep. Just like any cloak deck, a Standard Bearer would create issues. Between Into the Roil and counterspells, I should be able to manage. Standard Bearer doesn't show up in a ton of main decks from my experience (could be wrong, but I mostly see it in sideboards). So, if the Bearer became an issue in game 2 of a match I could add in the Echoing Truth for game 3 and work around the timing.
I do not believe this to be a tournament worthy deck yet, but it has some potential. The benefit of the draw/counterspells versus the inconsistency of the card draw is the real exploration for this Bant Cloak deck versus the normal green/white Cloak decks.
yeah, it is a bit annoying to have no removal, especially if you play against a list that has Amrou Scout. but I feel that the greater power and synergy of the deck allows you to get away with it. the games were extremely close, and i'll need to watch the replays a couple more times to figure how or if i could have won. shardfenix is right, you lost in the 2nd round of the top 8. hope we get paired up again in the next PE :)
Wouldn't all those enchantments HAVE to target a solo Standard Bearer?
Welcome to the Internet. I hope you enjoy your stay.
This article is pretty good overall, but needs proofreading. Many card names are misspelled and therefore do not have links provided. Don't just submit a first draft and call it good. Polish your writing, it looks more professional. By the way, the word is spelled "eke" not "eek."
Yeah, those were close! I played that deck last week, and really wished I packed some removal SOMEWHERE...ghastly demise seemed perfect, as did Rancor...The latest decks have lost this, but in my playtesting it was the MVP. Additionally, knowing the list, I knew you were holding the gorgon, due to your entire deck being in the yard - I think you played wonderfully, had you been more aggressive - you'd of lost the mongrel sooner, that was a tightrope walking-match if ever there was one! I'm sure you'll get me next game :)
I had forgotten the Citadel was common - nice combo.
I knew Oblivion Ring could take out the enchantment, but at least that is a one-for-one exchange and not the two for one exchange of Unmake or Journey to Nowhere.
I will try the switch of adding an Island in place of a Plains.
I think I will also try out the Simic Growth Chamber, probably in place of a Sakura Tribe-Elder. That should help the blue mana and increase my mana for the Condescend.
Thanks.
ShardFenix - I'm not even going to pretend I know the math envolved at splitting the top 8...I wrote that report in real time between rounds (another reason the coverage gets more hurried with each round) - mistakenly thinking top 8 was a turn later than it was. Here's the official link if you like math:
http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Digital/MagicOnlineTourn.aspx?x=mtg/digital...
That is pretty vague. The online metagame moves so quickly with this format knowing exactly when the data is from makes a difference. Just throwing a 1/4-1/14 or something in somewhere would help.
Great stuff otherwise.
You missed the first combo I saw when the set spoiled: (Crusher Zendikon) + (Darksteel Citadel). It’s easy enough to shoehorn into a preexisting deck, especially a U/R deck with the (Trinket Mage) suite for fetching the Citadel. It dies to more removal than an indestructible creature should, but I doubt we’ll get a better three mana 4/2 indestructible creature in Pauper any time soon. Oh, and in a jam you can just play it on a regular land.
Don’t forget that while (Oblivion Ring) can’t target the land, it can always target the enchantment.
if i could suggest anything on your deck it would be to pull a plains out in favor of an island. if you count the roil as a UU spell, then the proper basic land distribution would be 9u, 8g, 5w. If you simply take out one of each basic for the panorama's you are left with
8 Island, 7 Forest, 4 Plains, 3 Bant Panorama
just curious but if you lost in the top 8 wouldn't that make you 5th place, since there was still a top four?
@IA: You beat me to the set review. Good for you! :) (Nice to see you back as well)
@Stealth: Commander games tend to run much longer then 'normal' constructed. Add to that the fact that you'll have two to three opponents and you really need to have spells and creatures which function on multiple levels or are are very efficient at what they do.
So when you're evaluating cards for Commander/EDH you need to think about getting the most possible value from them.
Something like Trinket Mage is a good example; it provides a body that can chump block or carry equipment, and it allows you to search up your SDT or another Cog (for me it's usually Expedition Map or Skullclamp). That's pretty good value for 2U. Also things like Ghostly Prison (deters your opponents from attacking you but isn't an active threat) or Siphon Mind (scales up in power the more opponents there are).
yeah, i'm the guy you beat in the top 8. very close games, maybe if i had been a little more aggressive i would've taken it, but well played on both sides :). i should have my own report of this tournament up soon.