I know it's been covered alot. It's hard to predict how well a topic is going to be covered, when i made this article nothing was up yet. Hopefully it's still useful to someone.
If anyone can message me in game that knows how to use the promo art instead of the one that I had to use, let me know. I know someone did the promo art, but i couldn't figure out how.
I probably should have mentioned why Razerunners wasn't worth mentioning. I've never drafted it before but I've played against it a couple times, and in a base-red deck with a low curve, Goblin Razerunners is an excellent pick.
In this deck, though, I'm so mana hungry that I can't imagine wanting to sac lands to it very early, making it a less-than-appealing 3/4 for 2RR most of the time (and don't underestimate the difference between 3R and 2RR in Alara 3c+). It could be a way to get those final few points in over a couple of turns, but it's certainly not worth taking over Path to Exile just for that potential.
Thanks for the kind words and encouragement. I'll continue to write full-length walkthroughs as I can, and give Pure a heads up when I can't, as they are looking to maintain a regular weekly column schedule right now. I'm a little surprised that nobody is in favor of Draft + 2-3 top games each week over Draft + 4-9 games every two weeks, though, but the people have spoken. Maybe I will make 84 my default to make my drafts 2-4 games sometimes. Swiss is a six-game minimum!
I have been looking for a way to make a good spirits tribal deck though I don't play Tribal format. I like running tribes in Extended just because of the fun factor. The spirit tribal deck seems to fit that bill. I don't own 4 of any of those cards except Elder Mastery and the lands of course but they seem pretty cheap. Thanks for the article. And if I didn't say it before, nice hat!
...regarding this deck and other fast decks like it running Borderposts over Terramorphic Expanse. Let's say it's your opening turn and you've got a borderpost and another one drop creature. for speedy decks like this, is it better to set up your board w/ the creature in order to attack next turn or to delay the creature drop and set up your mana position w/ the borderpost? I'm just getting back into the game and little things like this are hard to figure out after being away for so long.
My gut is telling me to drop the border post since delaying a turn one 1/1 creature isn't that big of a deal.
Thanks for the Pauper Decks and the website in general, it's one of the main reasons why i'm getting back into the game online after being away since Odyssey Block.
I agree here, removing Anathemancer was a mistake. He added depth to the format and made people actually think about what cards they played and why. Without him, everyone can run the exact same auto-pilot manabase and not have to think at all. There is also no longer any incentive to not go for 4 or 5 colors, meaning that all K-scope decks are just different variations on the "good stuff" theme.
I'd say you do what you think is best but it seems from the feedback (and my own personal opinion) that people would rather see you maintain your current style and length and forgo a weekly article to give us the same high quality you are giving now. I am not an expert drafter by any means but I feel like I can follow along and really understand what is going on. I have a different perspective on what constitutes best picks at a given moment but rarely have I felt you did poorly and your 4-0 record with ACR seems to bear out that you know better than I. (I think I am 3-5 or so... the 5s being 2-1s or 1-2s all swiss.) As I have said before, I really think that copying the Bobby Fisher method of teaching is really working for you so I am glad you are keeping that. "Godot Teaches Magic (Drafting)" could be your new column name. :) The main thing is to keep it accessible to those of us who do not consider ourselves good or competent. Anyway thanks for the article.
I was so going to do a balance article in august you jerk, lol.
I can't wait for this set to come out, much like you balance has me titilated. I think that the first deck i would drop it into would be the new Planeswalker control deck which as u mentioned uses suspends and gasp p walkers. It may end up killing its own lands and hand but being able to wipe 3-4 guys and keep your walkers sounds sexy. Also it has crucible.It could also singelhandily revive Trinket Stalker. Otherwise i would have to build around it.
If this set has at least one good print thats restrictable Ie Sol ring, or fast bond, and then goblin lacky and something else thats not restricable ie oath and vise i will probably buy 4 of these and sell off the 3x restricted cards. After all i can always sell the foil versions of cards and buy non foil later when and if they are printed again.
You brought up Aggro/Assault Loam. This is the right idea, but when Balance is legal, you'll be looking a completely different setup. Some of the Black cards will probably be cut for more controlling versions.
-2 Terminate
-4 Chalice of the Void
-1 Taiga
-1 Volrath's Stronghold
-1 Pernicious Deed
-1 Countryside Crusher
+1 Plateau
+1 Savannah
+1 Balance
+2 Knight of the Reliquary
+2 Solitary Confinement
+3 Swords to Plowshares
Testing will reveal the right mix, but that's the general idea anyway. Balance will be REDONKULOUS in Loam however. I'm looking forward to breaking it. The UW shell takes better advantage of it IMO, especially with the option of Ancestral Visions.
"Dont like running sphere unless I really have to..."
Seriously?
The only time I MIGHT not run the Sphere is if I had an agressive deck, and I probably dont run one in an aggressive 2-color deck. Sphere goes in every single other deck. It signle handedly allows you to keep hands such as one mana type x2 + a bunch of multi-colored guys and 5-drops.
Mabye if you are the lucky player that never gets mana screwed then I wouldnt run it. However, Im not so I 100% of the time want that card in my deck.
You say that he uses turn 2 and 3 on it...and thats a concern, but if that had been a Rupture Spire instead I think he could have lost at least one of those games and may have had to mulligan one of those hands.
Sure, Goblin Razerunners *can be* a first pick if you are in red. But Path to Exile is definitely a first pick if you are in white. And as in most cases, quality removal > quality creature.
Nice article.
However, I'm very sad they killed anathemancer, it was the only reason that kept people from ridicolous 4 colour decks, and it was a way to keep the meta healthy and force people to actually try new routes and new ways to get decent mana. Now they've simply made a format for "rich" dumb players, and nothing more.
Monored wasn't really doing well in tournaments though, so there was really no need to change it. These decks also have to play many suboptimal choices because if the limited amount of hybrid cards from which they could choose. I personally don't think it goes against the format, but this just shows how the "spirit of the format" can mean many different things to different people. Now if mono colored decks were winning all of the tournaments and filling the T8s then that would indicate that something might be wrong, but as it stood there really wasn't any problem like that.
Great article as always. Do whatever you have to do to keep them coming. I'd rather read one a fortnight or even one a month than have you burn out and quit writing them. Top quality stuff.
Great article! I've drafted two decks around Where Ancient's Tread, one was a 3-0, the other I lost to an aggressive GW deck in the second round.
One question: Isn't Goblin Razerunners worth even a mention? I was under the impression that guy was a first pick if you are in red. I understand the Path to Exile over it, especially when your deck is going to have so many huge guys to finish the game anyways, but I thought it was closer than you made it seem. What do you think?
Keep up the good work!
They were asking how many games were conducted post SB and so I quoted the last sentence before the deck list which stated that all the games were played without SB since they were solitaire. Data collection becomes less useful and harder to obtain once you bring SBing into view since each data set is only useful in a single matchup since you side a differently against MBC than you do against Slivers etc.
You really are a great writer for Drafts! You and Draftbetter have helped my game quite a bit. I would prefer an every other week article with the same depth. Maybe you cant do it. Whatever, keep up the good work, and I hope I dont play against you! Im intimidated!
thanks whiffy. I was planning on doing the math anyway, figured I would give everyone else my results.
I know it's been covered alot. It's hard to predict how well a topic is going to be covered, when i made this article nothing was up yet. Hopefully it's still useful to someone.
If anyone can message me in game that knows how to use the promo art instead of the one that I had to use, let me know. I know someone did the promo art, but i couldn't figure out how.
I probably should have mentioned why Razerunners wasn't worth mentioning. I've never drafted it before but I've played against it a couple times, and in a base-red deck with a low curve, Goblin Razerunners is an excellent pick.
In this deck, though, I'm so mana hungry that I can't imagine wanting to sac lands to it very early, making it a less-than-appealing 3/4 for 2RR most of the time (and don't underestimate the difference between 3R and 2RR in Alara 3c+). It could be a way to get those final few points in over a couple of turns, but it's certainly not worth taking over Path to Exile just for that potential.
Thanks for the kind words and encouragement. I'll continue to write full-length walkthroughs as I can, and give Pure a heads up when I can't, as they are looking to maintain a regular weekly column schedule right now. I'm a little surprised that nobody is in favor of Draft + 2-3 top games each week over Draft + 4-9 games every two weeks, though, but the people have spoken. Maybe I will make 84 my default to make my drafts 2-4 games sometimes. Swiss is a six-game minimum!
I have been looking for a way to make a good spirits tribal deck though I don't play Tribal format. I like running tribes in Extended just because of the fun factor. The spirit tribal deck seems to fit that bill. I don't own 4 of any of those cards except Elder Mastery and the lands of course but they seem pretty cheap. Thanks for the article. And if I didn't say it before, nice hat!
...regarding this deck and other fast decks like it running Borderposts over Terramorphic Expanse. Let's say it's your opening turn and you've got a borderpost and another one drop creature. for speedy decks like this, is it better to set up your board w/ the creature in order to attack next turn or to delay the creature drop and set up your mana position w/ the borderpost? I'm just getting back into the game and little things like this are hard to figure out after being away for so long.
My gut is telling me to drop the border post since delaying a turn one 1/1 creature isn't that big of a deal.
Thanks for the Pauper Decks and the website in general, it's one of the main reasons why i'm getting back into the game online after being away since Odyssey Block.
I agree here, removing Anathemancer was a mistake. He added depth to the format and made people actually think about what cards they played and why. Without him, everyone can run the exact same auto-pilot manabase and not have to think at all. There is also no longer any incentive to not go for 4 or 5 colors, meaning that all K-scope decks are just different variations on the "good stuff" theme.
A very good article about the program, for sure! Thanks for this!
Yeah. They've said they're doing something for it at some point. Which is about as vague as we've come to expect from them. :)
Once we hear about it I'll be sure to let everyone know. :)
I'd say you do what you think is best but it seems from the feedback (and my own personal opinion) that people would rather see you maintain your current style and length and forgo a weekly article to give us the same high quality you are giving now. I am not an expert drafter by any means but I feel like I can follow along and really understand what is going on. I have a different perspective on what constitutes best picks at a given moment but rarely have I felt you did poorly and your 4-0 record with ACR seems to bear out that you know better than I. (I think I am 3-5 or so... the 5s being 2-1s or 1-2s all swiss.) As I have said before, I really think that copying the Bobby Fisher method of teaching is really working for you so I am glad you are keeping that. "Godot Teaches Magic (Drafting)" could be your new column name. :) The main thing is to keep it accessible to those of us who do not consider ourselves good or competent. Anyway thanks for the article.
This is probably the 4th or 5th artcle on the subject but arguably the easyest to understand and I appreciate all that math you did.
I was so going to do a balance article in august you jerk, lol.
I can't wait for this set to come out, much like you balance has me titilated. I think that the first deck i would drop it into would be the new Planeswalker control deck which as u mentioned uses suspends and gasp p walkers. It may end up killing its own lands and hand but being able to wipe 3-4 guys and keep your walkers sounds sexy. Also it has crucible.It could also singelhandily revive Trinket Stalker. Otherwise i would have to build around it.
If this set has at least one good print thats restrictable Ie Sol ring, or fast bond, and then goblin lacky and something else thats not restricable ie oath and vise i will probably buy 4 of these and sell off the 3x restricted cards. After all i can always sell the foil versions of cards and buy non foil later when and if they are printed again.
You brought up Aggro/Assault Loam. This is the right idea, but when Balance is legal, you'll be looking a completely different setup. Some of the Black cards will probably be cut for more controlling versions.
-2 Terminate
-4 Chalice of the Void
-1 Taiga
-1 Volrath's Stronghold
-1 Pernicious Deed
-1 Countryside Crusher
+1 Plateau
+1 Savannah
+1 Balance
+2 Knight of the Reliquary
+2 Solitary Confinement
+3 Swords to Plowshares
Testing will reveal the right mix, but that's the general idea anyway. Balance will be REDONKULOUS in Loam however. I'm looking forward to breaking it. The UW shell takes better advantage of it IMO, especially with the option of Ancestral Visions.
ok, lots of people not getting the really good stuff.
now i heard hammy say something before about rewards for previous spending on mtgo before this program, thats what i want to know.
"Dont like running sphere unless I really have to..."
Seriously?
The only time I MIGHT not run the Sphere is if I had an agressive deck, and I probably dont run one in an aggressive 2-color deck. Sphere goes in every single other deck. It signle handedly allows you to keep hands such as one mana type x2 + a bunch of multi-colored guys and 5-drops.
Mabye if you are the lucky player that never gets mana screwed then I wouldnt run it. However, Im not so I 100% of the time want that card in my deck.
You say that he uses turn 2 and 3 on it...and thats a concern, but if that had been a Rupture Spire instead I think he could have lost at least one of those games and may have had to mulligan one of those hands.
-M
Sure, Goblin Razerunners *can be* a first pick if you are in red. But Path to Exile is definitely a first pick if you are in white. And as in most cases, quality removal > quality creature.
Nice article.
However, I'm very sad they killed anathemancer, it was the only reason that kept people from ridicolous 4 colour decks, and it was a way to keep the meta healthy and force people to actually try new routes and new ways to get decent mana. Now they've simply made a format for "rich" dumb players, and nothing more.
Monored wasn't really doing well in tournaments though, so there was really no need to change it. These decks also have to play many suboptimal choices because if the limited amount of hybrid cards from which they could choose. I personally don't think it goes against the format, but this just shows how the "spirit of the format" can mean many different things to different people. Now if mono colored decks were winning all of the tournaments and filling the T8s then that would indicate that something might be wrong, but as it stood there really wasn't any problem like that.
Agree with those above... Your articles are the best Magic articles on any site, not just Pure!
Keep the same level of detail.
I'd even be ok with less frequent than 2 weeks, if it meant getting the same level of quality and detailled plays! :-)
Great article as always. Do whatever you have to do to keep them coming. I'd rather read one a fortnight or even one a month than have you burn out and quit writing them. Top quality stuff.
Great article! I've drafted two decks around Where Ancient's Tread, one was a 3-0, the other I lost to an aggressive GW deck in the second round.
One question: Isn't Goblin Razerunners worth even a mention? I was under the impression that guy was a first pick if you are in red. I understand the Path to Exile over it, especially when your deck is going to have so many huge guys to finish the game anyways, but I thought it was closer than you made it seem. What do you think?
Keep up the good work!
They were asking how many games were conducted post SB and so I quoted the last sentence before the deck list which stated that all the games were played without SB since they were solitaire. Data collection becomes less useful and harder to obtain once you bring SBing into view since each data set is only useful in a single matchup since you side a differently against MBC than you do against Slivers etc.
... if you ever managed to lose a match! ;-)
But rather than that, I agree with the above - lower the frequency if you have to, but don't sacrifice the quality. :-)
These articles are sexcellent.
You really are a great writer for Drafts! You and Draftbetter have helped my game quite a bit. I would prefer an every other week article with the same depth. Maybe you cant do it. Whatever, keep up the good work, and I hope I dont play against you! Im intimidated!