Whoa! I thought of this last week while looking at the promo tab. I figured it would work like old pauper games. If you see your opponent play an illegal card, just say so.
40 cards sounds like too few. Imagine Whiffy's last two decks but with more consistency? As we get more promos it'll degenerate for sure. BUT, 40 cards would make the format more accessible in the meantime. And and first it might not be degenerate.
I don't know how that blue deck is going to play Cryptic before the end of the match, but maybe this is a slow format? The blue deck still looks like the best one anyway.
I kept the deck STD legal using 2 Gargoyle Castles instead of Springjack, Mind Control for Tether, a Jace and Overbeing of Myth because I didn't have two Overbeings for Arcanis, Cancel for Hinder and tossed in 4 Cryptic Commands. The loss of Mind Stones does hurt but I saw nothing STD legal that would work as well.
I took it into the Casual room and hit quitters galore lol. Out of about 14 games I completed 3. A few quit before I even got going and the bulk quitting after either countering or guile or gather specimen hit the board and I had one guy hang the game on turn 8 until it auto conceeded.
The deck is still fun, just hard to get people to actually play you.
since artifacts CANNOT be played as lands with the Dakkon avatar.
Seems like you should be able to play colored artifacts just fine with Dakkon.
One quick note about Lightning Greaves: for some strange reason I don't fully understand, even when Zur has shroud you can still tutor an aura and put it onto him
Nothing strange about it. Auras only target when they are cast, so when you are putting them directly into play, you are simply moving them onto a valid creature, which doesn't target. You can also use this to Pacify your opponent's shrouded or troll-shrouded creatures.
I think the last deck is pretty bad - 9 equipments with 14 creatures is not a great ratio, the toolbox isn't particularly interesting, and, frankly, cards like Lightning Helix aren't toolbox cards. The other two decks are much more interesting, and I'm even half-tempted to build the Hibernation's End deck even though I don't like Vanguard much.
OK i'll be honest i really dont see the point of Springjack PAsture..it does not look like you used it at all so maybe Reliquary Tower from conflux would be better?
No Lightning Bolt and only 1 Helix? Id say Helix is probably the best of the bunch of toolbox cards you have and bolt is also darned good. Also It seems like your tool box is comprised of cards that you'd really want more than 1 of though the fact that its a tool box ensures it will be random (because of what you draw) and thus I guess more fun. Id also skip the Bonesplitter entirely in favor of more Greaves. It also seems like you could use something to put those instants back in your deck again to search out. That would make the combo much more robust.
I guess Kher Keep is for those times when you don't draw men but it seems like it could be any number of better token generators or man lands instead. Those are just my stray thoughts so pay them as little heed as you like.
Heya, I enjoy your writing style. Your deck seems like it would not be that much fun to play against assuming it draws ok. Not saying it isn't casual but I can imagine a player running into it with a relatively untuned new deck and thinking, "oh no! counters + thievery! How annoying." And I am not claiming you shouldn't play it in casual but I know some players just won't play you at all if they see a single counter. I guess they object to the unfairness of life too. I am surprised you had 5 uninterrupted games that didn't end immediately with a concession. Whenever I trot out the counters its like everyone gets wind of it and runs for the hills. Now that said congrats on going 5 for 5. Not too surprising running counterspells vs non aggro/non control (mostly middle game decks) really.
As for improvements? Well not sure it is but since you are running 6 mana cards already Draining Whelk is a beat-stick denial card. The only problem is you rarely want to use him on such little things as Path to Exile. On the other hand toss in a Crystal Shard or 3 and you get recursive countering. Combine that with Guile and you get a fairly hard lock assuming you have the mana. Of note for acceleration that is hard to get rid of with the typical number of artifact removal out there: Darksteel Ingot. Not only that but it lets you splash for yet another favorite counter of mine: Mystic Snake.
I've created a version of this deck that isa mix of the high priced and low priced cards and i have to thank you. this deck is truly the work of a mad genius. blowfly infestation along with a couple of scar tokens can wipe out a horde of little creatures and with necroskitter it is just pure evil. im loving it!
What about making it a 40 card deck maximum, with a 10 card sideboard maximum? In my opinion the smaller deck size will make it so that every card choice in your deck will be crucial. Just throwing that out there! Great idea!!!!
You know that those digital cards or "pictures on the internet" as you say, can be redeemed and turned into real cards don't you? So anytime I may decide to redeeem my "pictures on the internet" and apart from Mirage set, I get all my cards in paper.
I would like to add that I don't think everyone making these comments necessarily thinks you've done poorly in playing necessarily. I'm sure most people have had to attend to other things when an event is underway resulting in a lack of time to build a deck. The part where I think you failed is in not making mention of it in your article. You didn't address where you probably should have done something differently. Many readers are just as interested in reading about a successful queue as they are a failed one provided there is insight as to what went wrong and, going further, how to prevent it from happening in the future.
As already noted, Wall of Faith is infinitely better than Angel's Mercy. Also, given that your pool has Gargoyle Castle, Terramorphic Expanse, a seven and multiple fives, I'd gladly run the 18th land over Jump to try and eliminate mana issues.
In this case, though, I think you should've taken a longer look at the depth that white and blue offered you, and asked whether they were really your best choices -- as wonderful as Mind Control is, when you have to run two Unsummon and even consider Jump just to hit enough playables, it's time to ditch the blue. I'm stunned that you don't even mention the black in your writeup of this deck, given that it offers multiple fine removal spells (Assassinate, Tendrils, and frankly Deathmark is main-deckable in the sealed format), excellent card draw (*two* Sign in Blood!) and efficient guys. I think W/B -- or frankly even R/B -- would have been a much better build than the U/W you tried to force.
The notion of paying so much money for "digital cards". I would LOVE to play MTGO but there is NO WAY I could ever even pay a dollar for an online card that doesnt really exist. I love having my collection in front of me. I like being able to just flip through my binders of cards. I dont know if its just me but it literally seems like just giving money away to play online. When Shards came out I bought a box and me and about 12 other guys all opened the packs/boxes we got together. I pulled an Elspeth on my 4th pack. And it was just awesome to have it and hold and throw in a toploader and pass around for everyone to look at stuff. The only advantage I see to MTGO is availability for those who are far away from a shop or other players, and convenience of being able to play whenever you want. MTG Paper style takes all other categories. For me anyway. To each his own but I just absolutely cannot fathom paying $20, $30, or $40 for a PICTURE ON THE INTERNET of an actual card that exists in real life. I gues its kinda like paying for porn. Spend $50 on a hooker in real life or spend $20 on a video. Again, just my opinion but until MTGO is free, SUPER cheap, or can find some way to distinguish the cards you own in real life and let you also own them virtually(which I dont think will or could ever happen), I will continue playing MTG IN PERSON, IN REAL LIFE, WITH ACTUAL CARDS I CAN SEE AND TOUCH. And most importantly, with good friends. Thats what the game is TRULY all about. Thanks for listening to my rant.
BTW, I enjoyed BOTH articles. Keep up the fine work!
While neither is especially exciting, I actually like Baloth marginally more than Craw Wurm, esp. in Sealed. You're right to point out the 6v7 issue, but the single vs. double-green, while mostly moot by that point, is still worth calling out -- and the big issue is that 7 toughness is a *lot* more than 4 in this format. Both are negated by various controlly cards, but Craw Wurm also winds up biting it to a lot of random-dork blocks -- Centaur + Elvish Visionary, double-Spider, pumped Fiery Hellhound, that kind of thing -- whereas it takes a lot more to take down the Baloth. I've left him out of plenty of sealed decks, but he's surprisingly annoying to deal with and I've had plenty of games wincing when he's played against me. Just think of him as the Kranioceros of M10.
Wall of Faith stops almost every non evasive creature there is with little or no mana each turn...Angel's Mercy buys you one turn at most in most situations.
Don't get me wrong I really liked the article, the videos and all of the very hard work that you put into it. The comentary below the videos was very strong and you seemed to gain more confidence as the videos went on. Some of the commenting in the actual videos could have been stronger. I'm sure its hard so keep up the great work!
Thanks for the clarification on the triggers. Yes, the article was a bit sparse for a preview article, and it was a last-minute effort. I felt it was more important to even get up and article with "Here are the preview cards for MED 3 enjoy", than wait to have a meatier article and publish as everyone begins with Beta for the set.
Whiffy is putting up the finishing touches on his draft recap for the site now. I hope to have it posted in the morning!
Whoa! I thought of this last week while looking at the promo tab. I figured it would work like old pauper games. If you see your opponent play an illegal card, just say so.
40 cards sounds like too few. Imagine Whiffy's last two decks but with more consistency? As we get more promos it'll degenerate for sure. BUT, 40 cards would make the format more accessible in the meantime. And and first it might not be degenerate.
I don't know how that blue deck is going to play Cryptic before the end of the match, but maybe this is a slow format? The blue deck still looks like the best one anyway.
I kept the deck STD legal using 2 Gargoyle Castles instead of Springjack, Mind Control for Tether, a Jace and Overbeing of Myth because I didn't have two Overbeings for Arcanis, Cancel for Hinder and tossed in 4 Cryptic Commands. The loss of Mind Stones does hurt but I saw nothing STD legal that would work as well.
I took it into the Casual room and hit quitters galore lol. Out of about 14 games I completed 3. A few quit before I even got going and the bulk quitting after either countering or guile or gather specimen hit the board and I had one guy hang the game on turn 8 until it auto conceeded.
The deck is still fun, just hard to get people to actually play you.
RagMan
Seems like you should be able to play colored artifacts just fine with Dakkon.
Nothing strange about it. Auras only target when they are cast, so when you are putting them directly into play, you are simply moving them onto a valid creature, which doesn't target. You can also use this to Pacify your opponent's shrouded or troll-shrouded creatures.
I think the last deck is pretty bad - 9 equipments with 14 creatures is not a great ratio, the toolbox isn't particularly interesting, and, frankly, cards like Lightning Helix aren't toolbox cards. The other two decks are much more interesting, and I'm even half-tempted to build the Hibernation's End deck even though I don't like Vanguard much.
OK i'll be honest i really dont see the point of Springjack PAsture..it does not look like you used it at all so maybe Reliquary Tower from conflux would be better?
mold adder > gravedigger?
piper > armored ascension?
jump?
no thx.
No Lightning Bolt and only 1 Helix? Id say Helix is probably the best of the bunch of toolbox cards you have and bolt is also darned good. Also It seems like your tool box is comprised of cards that you'd really want more than 1 of though the fact that its a tool box ensures it will be random (because of what you draw) and thus I guess more fun. Id also skip the Bonesplitter entirely in favor of more Greaves. It also seems like you could use something to put those instants back in your deck again to search out. That would make the combo much more robust.
I guess Kher Keep is for those times when you don't draw men but it seems like it could be any number of better token generators or man lands instead. Those are just my stray thoughts so pay them as little heed as you like.
Heya, I enjoy your writing style. Your deck seems like it would not be that much fun to play against assuming it draws ok. Not saying it isn't casual but I can imagine a player running into it with a relatively untuned new deck and thinking, "oh no! counters + thievery! How annoying." And I am not claiming you shouldn't play it in casual but I know some players just won't play you at all if they see a single counter. I guess they object to the unfairness of life too. I am surprised you had 5 uninterrupted games that didn't end immediately with a concession. Whenever I trot out the counters its like everyone gets wind of it and runs for the hills. Now that said congrats on going 5 for 5. Not too surprising running counterspells vs non aggro/non control (mostly middle game decks) really.
As for improvements? Well not sure it is but since you are running 6 mana cards already Draining Whelk is a beat-stick denial card. The only problem is you rarely want to use him on such little things as Path to Exile. On the other hand toss in a Crystal Shard or 3 and you get recursive countering. Combine that with Guile and you get a fairly hard lock assuming you have the mana. Of note for acceleration that is hard to get rid of with the typical number of artifact removal out there: Darksteel Ingot. Not only that but it lets you splash for yet another favorite counter of mine: Mystic Snake.
Good luck with future games with this.
I've created a version of this deck that isa mix of the high priced and low priced cards and i have to thank you. this deck is truly the work of a mad genius. blowfly infestation along with a couple of scar tokens can wipe out a horde of little creatures and with necroskitter it is just pure evil. im loving it!
What about making it a 40 card deck maximum, with a 10 card sideboard maximum? In my opinion the smaller deck size will make it so that every card choice in your deck will be crucial. Just throwing that out there! Great idea!!!!
It was actually not bad. I think it had more "flavor" then regular magic at least P2 did.
The set is looking pretty good so far. Hopefully there are more surprises to come.
these sound like fun to play with, as long as you dont have comcast that issss
were can u get the blank magic cards ?
I really hope you can get that dude as an avatar from release event.
nvm i need to learn how to read.
how do you acidic slim a platinum angel????
Thank you for doing this, I enjoyed reading the commentary and hope you continue with reports. Great first go round!
You know that those digital cards or "pictures on the internet" as you say, can be redeemed and turned into real cards don't you? So anytime I may decide to redeeem my "pictures on the internet" and apart from Mirage set, I get all my cards in paper.
Just wanted to mention.
LE
I would like to add that I don't think everyone making these comments necessarily thinks you've done poorly in playing necessarily. I'm sure most people have had to attend to other things when an event is underway resulting in a lack of time to build a deck. The part where I think you failed is in not making mention of it in your article. You didn't address where you probably should have done something differently. Many readers are just as interested in reading about a successful queue as they are a failed one provided there is insight as to what went wrong and, going further, how to prevent it from happening in the future.
As already noted, Wall of Faith is infinitely better than Angel's Mercy. Also, given that your pool has Gargoyle Castle, Terramorphic Expanse, a seven and multiple fives, I'd gladly run the 18th land over Jump to try and eliminate mana issues.
In this case, though, I think you should've taken a longer look at the depth that white and blue offered you, and asked whether they were really your best choices -- as wonderful as Mind Control is, when you have to run two Unsummon and even consider Jump just to hit enough playables, it's time to ditch the blue. I'm stunned that you don't even mention the black in your writeup of this deck, given that it offers multiple fine removal spells (Assassinate, Tendrils, and frankly Deathmark is main-deckable in the sealed format), excellent card draw (*two* Sign in Blood!) and efficient guys. I think W/B -- or frankly even R/B -- would have been a much better build than the U/W you tried to force.
The notion of paying so much money for "digital cards". I would LOVE to play MTGO but there is NO WAY I could ever even pay a dollar for an online card that doesnt really exist. I love having my collection in front of me. I like being able to just flip through my binders of cards. I dont know if its just me but it literally seems like just giving money away to play online. When Shards came out I bought a box and me and about 12 other guys all opened the packs/boxes we got together. I pulled an Elspeth on my 4th pack. And it was just awesome to have it and hold and throw in a toploader and pass around for everyone to look at stuff. The only advantage I see to MTGO is availability for those who are far away from a shop or other players, and convenience of being able to play whenever you want. MTG Paper style takes all other categories. For me anyway. To each his own but I just absolutely cannot fathom paying $20, $30, or $40 for a PICTURE ON THE INTERNET of an actual card that exists in real life. I gues its kinda like paying for porn. Spend $50 on a hooker in real life or spend $20 on a video. Again, just my opinion but until MTGO is free, SUPER cheap, or can find some way to distinguish the cards you own in real life and let you also own them virtually(which I dont think will or could ever happen), I will continue playing MTG IN PERSON, IN REAL LIFE, WITH ACTUAL CARDS I CAN SEE AND TOUCH. And most importantly, with good friends. Thats what the game is TRULY all about. Thanks for listening to my rant.
BTW, I enjoyed BOTH articles. Keep up the fine work!
While neither is especially exciting, I actually like Baloth marginally more than Craw Wurm, esp. in Sealed. You're right to point out the 6v7 issue, but the single vs. double-green, while mostly moot by that point, is still worth calling out -- and the big issue is that 7 toughness is a *lot* more than 4 in this format. Both are negated by various controlly cards, but Craw Wurm also winds up biting it to a lot of random-dork blocks -- Centaur + Elvish Visionary, double-Spider, pumped Fiery Hellhound, that kind of thing -- whereas it takes a lot more to take down the Baloth. I've left him out of plenty of sealed decks, but he's surprisingly annoying to deal with and I've had plenty of games wincing when he's played against me. Just think of him as the Kranioceros of M10.
Wall of Faith stops almost every non evasive creature there is with little or no mana each turn...Angel's Mercy buys you one turn at most in most situations.
Don't get me wrong I really liked the article, the videos and all of the very hard work that you put into it. The comentary below the videos was very strong and you seemed to gain more confidence as the videos went on. Some of the commenting in the actual videos could have been stronger. I'm sure its hard so keep up the great work!
Thanks for the clarification on the triggers. Yes, the article was a bit sparse for a preview article, and it was a last-minute effort. I felt it was more important to even get up and article with "Here are the preview cards for MED 3 enjoy", than wait to have a meatier article and publish as everyone begins with Beta for the set.