great article whiffy. I do agree with the poster about the exiled list a bit. firstly I believe Yawgmoth's will and bargain ARE on the reserved list (http://wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/arcana/149) so, unfortunately or otherwise, we will have to wait. I think those will be replaced by Maze of Ith and some other small impact card (such as zuran orb, key, ect), this just seems like the perfect time to print maze of ith. On a side note, I just really hope wizards doesn't print strip mine online. There are plenty of cards that seem perfectly balanced with strip mine, that would otherwise be restricted or fearsome with even a singleton in the deck (I'm primarily concerned about crucible obv). Controlling the craziness of some of the broken lands that exist in paper and will likely come online seems fine, but for goodness' sake leave the basics alone wotc! Other than that I think the list (and deck lists are great). I especially like the nod to Sower in the stompy list, as it seems strong against those decks where the next best thing (threads of disloyalty) struggles so mightily. Also I can say from having been rocked by it, the bant list is a beast.
I'm wondering what the fact that there will only be a certain amount of time for packs to be bought and opened will do to the pauper community. The commons that stick around in drafters accounts don't get sold off that often I am thinking at the moment because trading is a big hassle - so how are we going to get more commons injected into the system?
I'm a huge fan of this deck - it's exactly what I'm apt to play, an aggro deck with some reach and not too complex interactions. One of the major sticking points against teachings for me is the amazing amount of choices that you need to make with the deck. It may just be my style of play, but I am a big fan of decks where there are a minimum of choices in a turn. I don't want decks to play themselves or anything, but for me, increasing the complexity of the deck just increases the chance that I will make a play mistake that costs me the game.
"What are Nix Pax, you ask? A good question. Nix Pax are events where you pay in all tickets. The big news about this is what the first nix pax events are made for... Ravnica/Guildpact/Dissnention as part of the Customer Appreciation Events (more on these in a second). Yeah. An out of print set is technically being sold for $15."
They are queues that cost 15 tickets to join and the product is provided for you.
am i seeing this right? 2 tix and i get to draft tte? if this is the way it is expect a large influx of new players and a straight up drop in the single card prices on the whole block. man if its the way it is i cant wait for nix pax mvw.
i am liking goblins especially since you can just vomit guys onto the table. in a recent match i broke through a turn 3 plague on gobbos to still take the match. theya r that good.
I think that your FTV: Exiled list is probably a bit off.
1) Balance (we know this one)
2) Goblin Lackey (really good info that this will be there)
3) Channel
4) Black Vise
5) Skullclamp
6) Doomsday
7) Strip Mine
8) Regrowth
9) Burning Wish
10) Land Tax
11) Flash
12) Gifts Ungiven
13) Maze of Ith
14) Voltaic Key
15) Zuran Orb
I use this list because I think that they are going to take cards from the history of the game and not aim for just cards that were in Urza's block.
I do like Entomb in your list and I could also see Imperial Seal get reprinted since it is so rare in paper and really worth a lot more than it's power level.
Good article as usual Ham. I see people already pointed out that Weekly nix tix info was missing, I think it is important to know this when evaluating the "damage" that the constructed payout changes may do.
Thanks for the "plug" to the 99-tix challenge. I've pondered a bit about the format (Alphabet decks with Vowels) that the host is using for it and it should be interesting! I hope I'm able to play in this PRE, and I hope many people join up for the fun and rather nice prizes. Keep an eye out on the thread as the host will be adding specific info about it soon.
Just a comment about stompy deck : i tried to adapt Fred Chang's deck (http://www.deckcheck.net/deck.php?id=23972) which obtained good results recently. This deck is pretty close to stompy version you explained here. However, it uses more artifact to increase creature power with additional effects (he ran x3 Sword of L&S + x3 sword of F&I) . I tested his version and had good result in classic (only in TP which is however pretty different than a PE). Your list is really interesting because you put Esperzoa into (i really like this creature), but vs a strong defender, you have only jitte to up your creature power which could be risky vs team america for example.
Did you try the both versions ? What is your compared diagnostic Whiffy House Dr ?? :)
From WotC Mike -
"Each week we will offer these drafts (no event tickets required) on different product in order to make it easier to try and earn qualifier points for the season championships and to coincide with our Weekend Premier Events. The announced events will start after each week’s downtime and run until the next one begins.
We will offer 4-3-2-2, 8-4, and Swiss booster drafts for the product(s) selected each week.
Here is the schedule of upcoming Weekly Nix Tix events:
*Each week runs from after the downtime on the 1st day up until the next week’s downtime.
As always we reserve the right to make schedule changes as needed."
Essentially what will happen is each week will have nix tix drafts that use the product from the previous week's PE's, which gives the people who win the events something to do with their product, and/or a pool of players who are interested in the upcoming nix tix format to sell it to. Pretty awesome stuff!
Surely being able to use the looting ability on Grixis Battlemage does not justify playing Seaside Citadel when outside of the Battlemage it is strictly worse than a Forest?
I am from Spain and a regular of MTGO and have discovered this page a few days ago. Just say a great work is beeing done here, I really was missing a page only about MTGO. Thanks!
Liked the article. You were one of the people I'm blaming for getting me interested in Classic enough to try and build a deck. I picked goblins not because I thought it would be competative but because I've always had a soft sport for them and it looked like one of the cheapest ways to put together 60 cards so I could play. Looking forward to reading about your exploration of them.
Try not to make them too popular before I've picked up all the cards I need and the prices rocket!
I didn't see you mention the weekly nix tix queue rotation that they are implementing now. It should be interesting to see the effect of semi-regular drafting of older sets.
Well, the current lag problems are unrelated to the method of populating boosters. Now, large sealed events DO still hit the system hard, because you still need a large number of DB calls to assign all those DO to the correct owners. However, it is better than it would have been with the old method, since the DOs are at least already created.
The seeming "24/7" lag is caused because the lag builds up during the busy times as all those DB transactions get queued. For whatever reason, once requests get significantly backed-up, the system never seems to be able to catch up, even though it seems like it should during lower volume periods. This is why the lag can suddenly disappear because of a downtime.
It's not market research. It has nothing to do with anyone at WoTC (though they are free to use it), and it was entirely a coincidence I put it up the same day as the Exiled announcement
How "in" do you have to be to get that "in"-joke?
great article whiffy. I do agree with the poster about the exiled list a bit. firstly I believe Yawgmoth's will and bargain ARE on the reserved list (http://wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/arcana/149) so, unfortunately or otherwise, we will have to wait. I think those will be replaced by Maze of Ith and some other small impact card (such as zuran orb, key, ect), this just seems like the perfect time to print maze of ith. On a side note, I just really hope wizards doesn't print strip mine online. There are plenty of cards that seem perfectly balanced with strip mine, that would otherwise be restricted or fearsome with even a singleton in the deck (I'm primarily concerned about crucible obv). Controlling the craziness of some of the broken lands that exist in paper and will likely come online seems fine, but for goodness' sake leave the basics alone wotc! Other than that I think the list (and deck lists are great). I especially like the nod to Sower in the stompy list, as it seems strong against those decks where the next best thing (threads of disloyalty) struggles so mightily. Also I can say from having been rocked by it, the bant list is a beast.
this is still really good as i can now turn a pe top 8 in classic into any drafts i want.
"What are Nix Pax, you ask? A good question. Nix Pax are events where you pay in all tickets. The big news about this is what the first nix pax events are made for... Ravnica/Guildpact/Dissnention as part of the Customer Appreciation Events (more on these in a second). Yeah. An out of print set is technically being sold for $15."
They are queues that cost 15 tickets to join and the product is provided for you.
Your party must have been good last night, though. ;)
am i seeing this right? 2 tix and i get to draft tte? if this is the way it is expect a large influx of new players and a straight up drop in the single card prices on the whole block. man if its the way it is i cant wait for nix pax mvw.
i am liking goblins especially since you can just vomit guys onto the table. in a recent match i broke through a turn 3 plague on gobbos to still take the match. theya r that good.
i saw that list as well and while it looks really goof i have 0 swords of anything. if i had some swords i would deff try this list.
I think that your FTV: Exiled list is probably a bit off.
1) Balance (we know this one)
2) Goblin Lackey (really good info that this will be there)
3) Channel
4) Black Vise
5) Skullclamp
6) Doomsday
7) Strip Mine
8) Regrowth
9) Burning Wish
10) Land Tax
11) Flash
12) Gifts Ungiven
13) Maze of Ith
14) Voltaic Key
15) Zuran Orb
I use this list because I think that they are going to take cards from the history of the game and not aim for just cards that were in Urza's block.
I do like Entomb in your list and I could also see Imperial Seal get reprinted since it is so rare in paper and really worth a lot more than it's power level.
Good article as usual Ham. I see people already pointed out that Weekly nix tix info was missing, I think it is important to know this when evaluating the "damage" that the constructed payout changes may do.
Thanks for the "plug" to the 99-tix challenge. I've pondered a bit about the format (Alphabet decks with Vowels) that the host is using for it and it should be interesting! I hope I'm able to play in this PRE, and I hope many people join up for the fun and rather nice prizes. Keep an eye out on the thread as the host will be adding specific info about it soon.
Ivo.
Just a comment about stompy deck : i tried to adapt Fred Chang's deck (http://www.deckcheck.net/deck.php?id=23972) which obtained good results recently. This deck is pretty close to stompy version you explained here. However, it uses more artifact to increase creature power with additional effects (he ran x3 Sword of L&S + x3 sword of F&I) . I tested his version and had good result in classic (only in TP which is however pretty different than a PE). Your list is really interesting because you put Esperzoa into (i really like this creature), but vs a strong defender, you have only jitte to up your creature power which could be risky vs team america for example.
Did you try the both versions ? What is your compared diagnostic Whiffy House Dr ?? :)
Esperzoa, FTW! Hehe, this is another solid addition to the series; thanks for keeping us up to date with the Classic news.
Thorough, thanks for taking your time to do this week in, week out.
This has been a something that I feel is missing from the MTG Home page that I'd love to see done by WotC themselves. :) Until then, I'll be doing it!
Thanks again!
I realized that last night after submitting the article (once it's submitted the author's can't edit it). :(
The Weekly Nix Tix schedule is here:
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1166634
From WotC Mike -
"Each week we will offer these drafts (no event tickets required) on different product in order to make it easier to try and earn qualifier points for the season championships and to coincide with our Weekend Premier Events. The announced events will start after each week’s downtime and run until the next one begins.
We will offer 4-3-2-2, 8-4, and Swiss booster drafts for the product(s) selected each week.
Here is the schedule of upcoming Weekly Nix Tix events:
Product(s)...Week*
10E..........April 1 - 8
TPF..........April 8 - 15
RGD..........April 15 - 22
SHM-EVE...April 22 - 29
LRW-MOR..April 29 – May 6
TE-ST.......May 6 - 13
10E...........May 13 - 20
CBS..........May 20 - 27
SHM-EVE...May 27 – June 3
LRW-MOR...June 3 - 10
10E..........June 10 - 17
MD5..........June 17 - 24
SHM-EVE...June 24 – July 1
OLS..........July 1 - 8
LRW-MOR...July 8 - 15
OTJ..........July 15 - 22
10E..........July 22 - 29
*Each week runs from after the downtime on the 1st day up until the next week’s downtime.
As always we reserve the right to make schedule changes as needed."
Essentially what will happen is each week will have nix tix drafts that use the product from the previous week's PE's, which gives the people who win the events something to do with their product, and/or a pool of players who are interested in the upcoming nix tix format to sell it to. Pretty awesome stuff!
Surely being able to use the looting ability on Grixis Battlemage does not justify playing Seaside Citadel when outside of the Battlemage it is strictly worse than a Forest?
Hi,
I am from Spain and a regular of MTGO and have discovered this page a few days ago. Just say a great work is beeing done here, I really was missing a page only about MTGO. Thanks!
Liked the article. You were one of the people I'm blaming for getting me interested in Classic enough to try and build a deck. I picked goblins not because I thought it would be competative but because I've always had a soft sport for them and it looked like one of the cheapest ways to put together 60 cards so I could play. Looking forward to reading about your exploration of them.
Try not to make them too popular before I've picked up all the cards I need and the prices rocket!
I didn't see you mention the weekly nix tix queue rotation that they are implementing now. It should be interesting to see the effect of semi-regular drafting of older sets.
Well, the current lag problems are unrelated to the method of populating boosters. Now, large sealed events DO still hit the system hard, because you still need a large number of DB calls to assign all those DO to the correct owners. However, it is better than it would have been with the old method, since the DOs are at least already created.
The seeming "24/7" lag is caused because the lag builds up during the busy times as all those DB transactions get queued. For whatever reason, once requests get significantly backed-up, the system never seems to be able to catch up, even though it seems like it should during lower volume periods. This is why the lag can suddenly disappear because of a downtime.
The deck should be minus the sideboard cards, in other words, the maindeck has
-1 Stinger
-2 Cloak
-3 Lion
-4 Pyroblast
-3 grudge
-2 Ray
It's not market research. It has nothing to do with anyone at WoTC (though they are free to use it), and it was entirely a coincidence I put it up the same day as the Exiled announcement