This deck is pretty simple. A bunch of efficient creatures that charge in and are pumped up by either Seething Anger or Blood Frenzy then Flinged for additional damage. Since the deck revolves around attacks that are sure to be suicidal I included Disturbed Burial and Gravedigger to keep your supply of attackers steady.
Sorry for the mess that I have made. :( Unfortunately I had yet another mistake by mistaking stun for being a stronghold card giving me 17 tempest cards. Here I go again attempting to create a version within the boundaries of the rules. Can someone from admin please delete my other posts. Thank you.
MTGO Handle: 3soteric
Swift Submission RW:
Creatures:
2x Mogg Fanatic R (Tempest)
3x Soltari Foot Soldier W (Tempest)
The concept behind my 'Swift Submission' deck entry is the creation of a fast paced red and white aggro deck that quickly overpowers an opponent. I believe this deck would be fun to play for novices and experienced players alike. The deck relies on a few key card interactions to overcome the opposition. Here are a few ideas of the type of play that would allow for the maximum benefit from the cards listed:
If the draw for this deck is good I would hope that with a bit of cunning a 5th of 6th turn victory is possible. Look forward to seeing other people's ideas and wish the other entries the best of luck!
Edit: This is my final deck listing. I had previously made a few errors in my listing that I would like to rectify (had a card name wrong, had inadvertently put 17 tempest cards in, and had misunderstood the maximum copy rule). If someone is able please delete my last two posts then please do so as I am crowding the screen now. :)
MTGO Handle: 3soteric
Swift Submission RW:
Creatures:
2x Mogg Fanatic R (Tempest)
3x Soltari Foot Soldier W (Tempest)
The concept behind my 'Swift Submission' deck entry is the creation of a fast paced red and white aggro deck that quickly overpowers an opponent. I believe this deck would be fun to play for novices and experienced players alike. The deck relies on a few key card interactions to overcome the opposition. Here are a few ideas of the type of play that would allow for the maximum benefit from the cards listed:
If the draw for this deck is good I would hope that with a bit of cunning a 5th of 6th turn victory is possible. Look forward to seeing other people's ideas and wish the other entries the best of luck!
Cheap, powerful creatures who generally can't block allow themselves to die off through attack, defense, or spells. Using spells like Crown of Flames, Giant Strength, Seething Anger, or Endless Screams, creatures can become very powerful for a quick attack or Fling. It becomes even better if Another creature has Sadistic Glee attached for the extra boost at the other creature's death.
The concept behind my 'Swift Submission' deck entry is the creation of a fast paced red and white aggro deck that quickly overpowers an opponent. I believe this deck would be fun to play for novices and experienced players alike. The deck relies on a few key card interactions to overcome the opposition. Here are a few ideas of the type of play that would allow for the maximum benefit from the cards listed:
If the draw for this deck is good I would hope that with a bit of cunning a 5th of 6th turn victory is possible. Look forward to seeing other people's ideas and wish the other entries the best of luck!
Last time, the contest ended about two months before the release date. That would put the Stronghold release around mid-May if it follows the same time-frame.
That's just a guess based on the timeline last time. It's possible that it will be faster this time, or possibly even slower, but that would be surprising.
Here is my current submission based on a very aggressive build which puts the pressure on early with efficient creatures, as well as controlling the board with plenty of removal. My 3 groups of cards that I was able to up the count to 3 copies rather than 2 copies are more beneficial than most I chose are Mogg Bombers has a serious aggressive body and if dealt with it rewards you with your opponent taking a Lightning Bolt to the head and can easily gain advantage off recursion with Gravedigger and Tortured Existence. Tortured Existence benefits your late game draws with upgrading the creatures you draw and putting potential threats on board, who likes to draw Duct Crawlers on Turn 10? The main finisher in the deck is Rolling Thunder and can deal with needed damage or if drawn out with a similar mirror match then it can be devastating for lethal damage. I believe this deck can be quite competitve as well as fun in many aspects regardless if the goal is to be aggressive.
Deck Name: Counterspiker (UG)
Description: This deck, based on the spike creatures introduced with Stronghold, seeks to sneak an evasive creature through an enemy's defenses. The spikes provide that the normally modest damage of such hard to block creatures turns from modest to deadly. Stronghold's premier counterspell, Mana Leak, along with some friends from Tempest, serve to protect your creatures while you evade through for the killing blow.
I'll have to agree that Deft Duelist would be good at holding the ground. The deck wouldn't become much better but maybe it would have been a bit better. The thing I don't like about Excommunicate is that if you're winning it's great but if you're losing or if the board is very even it doesn't do much.
Windwright Mage for a triple colored card does too little. On top of that it needs an artifact in the graveyard to have flying. Usually if you can't drop it turn 3. Maybe it's better than I think but it's just that the experience I have with it, it wasn't a good card.
Anyway I have 3 goals with these articles: help other people improve their game, get some mtgo stuff and also improve my own game. I want you to learn with me and I also want to learn from you so feel free to state your opinions and justify them. I may not agree but an healthy discussion is always good for both sides.
Good article whiff, in and of itself, but also in that it may just show some of the poeple that are put off by the $ connotation associated with classic, that a less expensive deck is indeed still viable.
and good comment bazaar, i liked the bit where i said i won our match :). don't happen very often lol
This deck tries to put on some early pressure with creatures that have good power to casting cost ratios. Then it tries to fling those creatures at the opponent's face. It has several little combos like pumping your power and flinging or raising your toughness and flowstoning. It has a lab rats just to give you some late game and also because it would be fun to use lab rats a bunch and then play Mob Justice. Brush with death gives you even more reach and late game. The Gravedigger disturbed burial/tortured existence is there to give you some card advantage.
The FIGHT:
2x Shock
1x Stun (Tempest)
2x Fling
2x Death Stroke
The End
2x Mob Justice
Life simple. Start with a shady character, plenty around the arena ring to be found. Feed a diet rich in rat and more rat. Mental conditioning: make him angry. Make him more angry. Send him into the ring. Use dirty tricks and fling at enemy.
Shady characters and their entourage are naturally slippery. But the coup de grace is building a Rat King. Start with rat, make him eat rat, more rat, more rat. Make Rat King angry, and win with big Rat King and little rat mob posse. That's rat justice.
Last week I had made comment on how hard and expensive I thought the Classic format is to compete in. This article clearly indicates that a non-FOW deck can win. I really like the different deck options that have been listed. This is seriously making me think about trying an event. Many of the cards in the more "budget" decks I already own. Who knows...maybe one day I'll have the budget to build Captain Canuck Long-Johns deck ;P. As for now...one of the more mono colored decks looks interesting.
Thank you Whiffy for this insightful article...it's inspiring me to make a few attempts at Classic.
I like the way WotC is handling it this time - deck creation before the name, so that they can have the coolest deck, and then select a suitable name. I also like the instructions and criteria are much more explicit this time around.
This deck is designed to exploit the graveyard filling ability of Mulch and Morgue Thrull, to rapidly get a number of "silver bullet" creatures into the graveyard, and then be able to "tutor" for what is needed using Tortured Existence. Gravediggers and Disturbed Burial helps get the creatures back. Rats of Rath ensures a steady stream of creatures are going to the graveyard to benefit Sadistic Glee, which can be put on one of the Shadow or Flying creatures.
I would but kinda busy these days...between kid and too many ventures. Just hate when people hate a format or a particular player for nonsense. Especially when its something the player had absolutly no control over, unless you have cracked the code and aranged to get a buy every tourney lol.
Parabola01- This article was meant for players with your previous mentatlity. I mean the whole thing smacks of getting around using up your whole paycheck, im really glad you enjoyed it and hope to see you out there come PE time.( also dont be discouraged if your first attempts are unsuccesful as the majority of continuos placing players have a strong grasp of the meta, just keep practising!)
Mr. Anon.- Thx for your input. Im surprised you even took the time to write that nonsence out.
Dragon- Will you be my body gaurd? lol.
Giraffe- Im glad that i could shed the illusion for you and sincerly hope to see you in the pe's.
Morbius- You are the reason I started writing articles about classic. Not only did you think enough of my content to try classic, but from speaking with you your now hooked.
Lours- Thx for the kind words and you are absolutly spot on with your analysis of playing the meta, also ive seen worse english from people who speak and write it as there native tounge.
BoB- Thx for the kind words and the tourny report. I would have liked to use it in the article but 1. felt it would take away from the main point and 2. I dont like to sample other peoples hard work in my writing. thx for posting it.
I can't say for sure if your article is the reason, but the price of Force of Wills spiked this weekend. I read your article on Friday and decided (like several others apparently) to pick up a playset of Forces before they got too high. I had one that I bought for 20 tickets for singleton, and I never intended on getting more, but reading your article inspired me to do so. Anyway, they were going for 60 for the last few weeks so I thought I could get my last 3 for that price, but I was sorely mistaken. I got my 2nd copy for 63 (lucky get in auction room) but I ended up having to pay SEVENTY EACH!!! for the final two. I'm glad I did though; the classified ads are filled with people trying to sell for 74-76, and I'm sure it will only get worse over time. Thanks for the tip; in our horrible economy, this is the safest investment I think I could make.
This is a black/green Big creature deck designed around killing smaller and inferior creatures either with giant creatures or black magic.
"Natural cruelty" is the deck name
Cards from stronghold
brush with death x2
cannibalize x 2
crossbow ambush x 1
Death stroke x 2
Endangered armodon x 3
Lowland basilisk x 2
Overgrowth x 2
provoke x 2
Serpent warrior x 2
skyshroud troopers x 2
Spined wurm x 2
--
22 cards
Tempest:
Dark ritual x 1
evincar's justice x 2
dark banishing x 1
canopy spider x 1
Rootbreaker wurm x 2
Skyshroud troll x 2
Rampant growth x 1
Broken Fall x 1
endless scream x 1
--
12 cards
This deck is pretty simple. A bunch of efficient creatures that charge in and are pumped up by either Seething Anger or Blood Frenzy then Flinged for additional damage. Since the deck revolves around attacks that are sure to be suicidal I included Disturbed Burial and Gravedigger to keep your supply of attackers steady.
Creatures
2x Dauthi Marauder (Tempest)
2x Dauthi Horror (Tempest)
2x Lightning Elemental (Tempest)
3x Craven Giant
1x Gravedigger (Tempest)
2x Mogg Flunkies
2x Flowstone Shambler
2x Serpent Warrior
2x Foul Imp
2x Dungeon Shade
2x Furnace Spirit
Spells
3x Fling
2x Rolling Thunder (Tempest)
2x Shock
2x Dark Banishment (Tempest)
3x Seething Anger
2x Disturbed Burial (Tempest)
2x Blood Frenzy (Tempest)
Lands
13x Mountains
10x Swamps
Sorry for the mess that I have made. :( Unfortunately I had yet another mistake by mistaking stun for being a stronghold card giving me 17 tempest cards. Here I go again attempting to create a version within the boundaries of the rules. Can someone from admin please delete my other posts. Thank you.
MTGO Handle: 3soteric
Swift Submission RW:
Creatures:
2x Mogg Fanatic R (Tempest)
3x Soltari Foot Soldier W (Tempest)
3x Mogg Flunkies 1R (Stronghold)
2x Soltari Trooper 1W (Tempest)
2x Youthful Knight 1W (Stronghold)
2x Skyshroud Falcon 1W (Stronghold)
1x Advance Scout 1W (Tempest)
1x Master Decoy 1W (Tempest)
2x Flowstone Shambler 2R (Stronghold)
2x Craven Giant 2R (Stronghold)
2x Venerable Monk 2W (Stronghold)
1x Soltari Lancer 2W (Tempest)
23 Creatures
Spells:
3x Shock R (Stronghold)
2x Seething Anger R (Stronghold)
1x Smite W (Stronghold)
1x Bandage W (Stronghold)
1x Giant Strength RR (Tempest)
2x Fling 1R (Stronghold)
1x Stun 1R (Tempest)
1x Blood Frenzy 1R (Tempest)
1x Mobb Justice 1R (Stronghold)
2x Pacifism 1W (Tempest)
15 Spells
Lands:
12 Plains
10 Mountain
22 Lands
Stronghold Cards: 23
Tempest Cards: 15
The concept behind my 'Swift Submission' deck entry is the creation of a fast paced red and white aggro deck that quickly overpowers an opponent. I believe this deck would be fun to play for novices and experienced players alike. The deck relies on a few key card interactions to overcome the opposition. Here are a few ideas of the type of play that would allow for the maximum benefit from the cards listed:
Creatures With Evasion (Soltari Foot Soldier, Soltari Trooper, Soltari Lancer, Skyshroud Falcon) + Attack Instant Pumps (Seething Anger, Blood Frenzy)
Creatures With First Strike (Advance Scout*, Youthful Knight) + Attack Instant Pumps
Creature Removal + Disruption (Shock, Pacifism, Smite, Stun, Master Decoy) + High Powered Attack Creatures Relative To Cost (Mogg Flunkies + Craven Giant + Flowstone Shambler)
Finishing Damage Cards (Shock, Mobb Justice, Blood Frenzy, Seething Anger)
If the draw for this deck is good I would hope that with a bit of cunning a 5th of 6th turn victory is possible. Look forward to seeing other people's ideas and wish the other entries the best of luck!
The deck has 15 spells now not 17 as listed. Boy do I wish there was an edit function. Why do these spam challenges have to be so hard! :)
I dont really like soul's fire at all unless im heavy Kederet or Strix. it seems like adead draw to me.
Edit: This is my final deck listing. I had previously made a few errors in my listing that I would like to rectify (had a card name wrong, had inadvertently put 17 tempest cards in, and had misunderstood the maximum copy rule). If someone is able please delete my last two posts then please do so as I am crowding the screen now. :)
MTGO Handle: 3soteric
Swift Submission RW:
Creatures:
2x Mogg Fanatic R (Tempest)
3x Soltari Foot Soldier W (Tempest)
3x Mogg Flunkies 1R (Stronghold)
2x Soltari Trooper 1W (Tempest)
2x Youthful Knight 1W (Stronghold)
2x Skyshroud Falcon 1W (Stronghold)
1x Advance Scout 1W (Tempest)
1x Master Decoy 1W (Tempest)
2x Flowstone Shambler 2R (Stronghold)
2x Craven Giant 2R (Stronghold)
2x Venerable Monk 2W (Stronghold)
1x Soltari Lancer 2W (Tempest)
23 Creatures
Spells:
2x Shock R (Stronghold)
2x Seething Anger R (Stronghold)
1x Smite W (Stronghold)
1x Giant Strength RR (Tempest)
2x Fling 1R (Stronghold)
2x Stun 1R (Stronghold)
1x Blood Frenzy 1R (Tempest)
1x Mobb Justice 1R (Stronghold)
3x Pacifism 1W (Tempest)
17 Spells
Lands:
12 Plains
10 Mountain
22 Lands
Stronghold Cards: 23
Tempest Cards: 15
The concept behind my 'Swift Submission' deck entry is the creation of a fast paced red and white aggro deck that quickly overpowers an opponent. I believe this deck would be fun to play for novices and experienced players alike. The deck relies on a few key card interactions to overcome the opposition. Here are a few ideas of the type of play that would allow for the maximum benefit from the cards listed:
Creatures With Evasion (Soltari Foot Soldier, Soltari Trooper, Soltari Lancer, Skyshroud Falcon) + Attack Instant Pumps (Seething Anger, Blood Frenzy)
Creatures With First Strike (Advance Scout*, Youthful Knight) + Attack Instant Pumps
Creature Removal + Disruption (Shock, Pacifism, Smite, Stun, Master Decoy) + High Powered Attack Creatures Relative To Cost (Mogg Flunkies + Craven Giant + Flowstone Shambler)
Finishing Damage Cards (Shock, Mobb Justice, Blood Frenzy, Seething Anger)
If the draw for this deck is good I would hope that with a bit of cunning a 5th of 6th turn victory is possible. Look forward to seeing other people's ideas and wish the other entries the best of luck!
email-gefelis@yahoo.com odo name - whiffy penguin
This is a U/W agro deck that relys on evasion critters and some counterspells and removals along the way.
CREATURES-21
3x Cloud Spirit
3x Spindrift Drake
2x Rootwater Hunter *
2x Youthful Knight
2x Venerable Monk
2x Wind Drake *
2x Manta Riders *
2x Hammerhead Shark
1x Dream Prowler
1x Spirit En-Kor
1x Tidal Warrior
Removal-4
2x Pacifism *
2x Smite
Stall Tactics-11
2x Counterspell *
2x Mana Leak
2x Powersink *
2x Tidal Surge
1x Capsize *
1x MindGames
1x Change of Heart
Draw-3
3x Sift
Lands-21
13x Island
8x Plains
*= Tempest 13 cards
MTGO name: astrajones
Long Distance RB
Cheap, powerful creatures who generally can't block allow themselves to die off through attack, defense, or spells. Using spells like Crown of Flames, Giant Strength, Seething Anger, or Endless Screams, creatures can become very powerful for a quick attack or Fling. It becomes even better if Another creature has Sadistic Glee attached for the extra boost at the other creature's death.
3x Craven Giant
3x Foul Imp
3x Furnace Spirit
2x Mogg Flunkies
2x Rabid Rats
2x Duct Crawler
2x Lightning Elemental (Tempest)
2x Flowstone Giant (Tempest)
3x Fling
3x Lab Rats
3x Seething Anger
2x Mob Justice
2x Cannibalize
2x Crown of Flames (Tempest)
2x Endless Scream (Tempest)
2x Giant Strength (Tempest)
2x Sadistic Glee (Tempest)
10x Mountain
10x Swamp
I misread the amount of copies of 3 we are allowed in the deck. I now realize that 3 copies of 3 are allowed instead of 2 and therefore,
I would rather there be:
3x Soltari Foot Soldier W
1x Soltari Lancer 2W
Should help get the Mogg Flunkies in action! :)
MTGO Handle: 3soteric
Swift Submission RW:
Creatures:
2x Mogg Fanatic R (Tempest)
2x Soltari Foot Soldier W (Tempest)
3x Mogg Flunkies 1R (Stronghold)
2x Soltari Trooper 1W (Tempest)
2x Youthful Knight 1W (Stronghold)
2x Skyshroud Falcon 1W (Stronghold)
1x Master Decoy 1W (Tempest)
2x Advance Scout 1W (Tempest)
2x Flowstone Shambler 2R (Stronghold)
2x Hill Giant 2R (Stronghold)
2x Soltari Lancer 2W (Tempest)
1x Venerable Monk 2W (Stronghold)
23 Creatures
Spells:
3x Shock R (Stronghold)
2x Seething Anger R (Stronghold)
1x Smite W (Stonghold)
2x Fling 1R (Stronghold)
2x Stun 1R (Stronghold)
2x Blood Frenzy (Stronghold)
1x Mobb Justice 1R (Stronghold)
2x Pacifism 1W (Tempest)
15 Spells
Lands:
12 Plains
10 Mountain
22 Lands
Stronghold Cards: 23
Tempest Cards: 15
The concept behind my 'Swift Submission' deck entry is the creation of a fast paced red and white aggro deck that quickly overpowers an opponent. I believe this deck would be fun to play for novices and experienced players alike. The deck relies on a few key card interactions to overcome the opposition. Here are a few ideas of the type of play that would allow for the maximum benefit from the cards listed:
Creatures With Evasion (Soltari Foot Soldier, Soltari Trooper, Soltari Lancer, Skyshroud Falcon) + Attack Instant Pumps (Seething Anger, Blood Frenzy)
Creatures With First Strike (Advance Scout*, Youthful Knight) + Attack Instant Pumps
Creature Removal + Disruption (Shock, Pacifism, Smite, Stun, Master Decoy) + High Powered Attack Creatures Relative To Cost (Mogg Flunkies + Hill Giant + Flowstone Shambler)
Finishing Damage Cards (Shock, Mobb Justice, Blood Frenzy, Seething Anger)
If the draw for this deck is good I would hope that with a bit of cunning a 5th of 6th turn victory is possible. Look forward to seeing other people's ideas and wish the other entries the best of luck!
Name: Yogev Ezra
MTGO Username: yogev_ezra
Deck: Common Control (U/B)
Tempest cards: 15
Spells (28)
--------------
Blue (16)
3 Mana Leak
2 Capsize (Tempest)
2 Counterspell (Tempest)
2 Mind Games
2 Power Sink (Tempest)
2 Sift
2 Dream Cache (Tempest)
1 Spell Blast (Tempest)
++++++++
Black (12)
3 Diabolic Edict (Tempest)
2 Brush with Death
2 Dark Banishing (Tempest)
2 Death Stroke
2 Lab Rats
1 Evincar's Justice (Tempest)
Creatures (7)
----------------
Blue (5)
2 Cloud Spirit
3 Dream Prowler
+++++++++
Black (2)
2 Foul Imp
Lands (25)
---------------
14 Island
11 Swamp
Last time, the contest ended about two months before the release date. That would put the Stronghold release around mid-May if it follows the same time-frame.
That's just a guess based on the timeline last time. It's possible that it will be faster this time, or possibly even slower, but that would be surprising.
Hi,
Here is my current submission based on a very aggressive build which puts the pressure on early with efficient creatures, as well as controlling the board with plenty of removal. My 3 groups of cards that I was able to up the count to 3 copies rather than 2 copies are more beneficial than most I chose are Mogg Bombers has a serious aggressive body and if dealt with it rewards you with your opponent taking a Lightning Bolt to the head and can easily gain advantage off recursion with Gravedigger and Tortured Existence. Tortured Existence benefits your late game draws with upgrading the creatures you draw and putting potential threats on board, who likes to draw Duct Crawlers on Turn 10? The main finisher in the deck is Rolling Thunder and can deal with needed damage or if drawn out with a similar mirror match then it can be devastating for lethal damage. I believe this deck can be quite competitve as well as fun in many aspects regardless if the goal is to be aggressive.
Land:
13x Mountains
10x Swamps
1cc:
3x Tortured Existence [ST]
2x Shock [ST]
2x Seething Anger [ST]
2x Duct Crawler [ST]
2cc:
2x Dauthi Horror [TE]
2x Fling [ST]
2x Kindle [TE]
2x Mogg Flunkies [ST]
3cc:
2x Dauthi Marauder [TE]
2x Flowstone Shambler [ST]
2x Serpent Warrior [ST]
2x Brush with Death [ST]
4cc:
3x Mogg Bombers [ST]
2x Lightning Blast [TE]
2x Evincar’s Justice [TE]
2x Gravedigger [TE]
Xcc:
3x Rolling Thunder [TE]
Magic Online Username: Exodus
Username: tumultuoustempus
Email: matthewbove@gmail.com
Deck Name: Counterspiker (UG)
Description: This deck, based on the spike creatures introduced with Stronghold, seeks to sneak an evasive creature through an enemy's defenses. The spikes provide that the normally modest damage of such hard to block creatures turns from modest to deadly. Stronghold's premier counterspell, Mana Leak, along with some friends from Tempest, serve to protect your creatures while you evade through for the killing blow.
Creatures: (19)
3x Spike Colony
3x Spike Worker
2x Spike Drone
2x Lowland Basilisk
2x Skyshroud Archers
2x Cloud Spirit
1x Dream Prowler
2x Thalakos Mistfolk (tempest)
1x Manta Riders (tempest)
1x Rootwater Hunter (tempest)
Spells: (17)
3x Mana Leak
2x Sift
1x Mind Games
1x Tidal Surge
2x Rampant Growth (tempest)
2x Counterspell (tempest)
2x Power Sink (tempest)
2x Dream Cache (tempest)
1x Capsize (tempest)
1x Elvish Fury (tempest)
Land: (24)
14x Island
10x Forest
Thank you for your consideration!
I'll have to agree that Deft Duelist would be good at holding the ground. The deck wouldn't become much better but maybe it would have been a bit better. The thing I don't like about Excommunicate is that if you're winning it's great but if you're losing or if the board is very even it doesn't do much.
Windwright Mage for a triple colored card does too little. On top of that it needs an artifact in the graveyard to have flying. Usually if you can't drop it turn 3. Maybe it's better than I think but it's just that the experience I have with it, it wasn't a good card.
Anyway I have 3 goals with these articles: help other people improve their game, get some mtgo stuff and also improve my own game. I want you to learn with me and I also want to learn from you so feel free to state your opinions and justify them. I may not agree but an healthy discussion is always good for both sides.
Good article whiff, in and of itself, but also in that it may just show some of the poeple that are put off by the $ connotation associated with classic, that a less expensive deck is indeed still viable.
and good comment bazaar, i liked the bit where i said i won our match :). don't happen very often lol
mtgo: FitzgeraldJD
Deck Name: Some Fling Wicked
This deck tries to put on some early pressure with creatures that have good power to casting cost ratios. Then it tries to fling those creatures at the opponent's face. It has several little combos like pumping your power and flinging or raising your toughness and flowstoning. It has a lab rats just to give you some late game and also because it would be fun to use lab rats a bunch and then play Mob Justice. Brush with death gives you even more reach and late game. The Gravedigger disturbed burial/tortured existence is there to give you some card advantage.
Creatures
2 Canyon Wildcat (Tempest)
3 Craven Giant
1 Flowstone Giant (Tempest)
3 Flowstone Shambler
1 Furnace Spirit
2 Gravedigger (Tempest)
2 Mogg Bombers
2 Mogg Conscripts (Tempest)
2 Mogg Flunkies
2 Rabid Rats
2 Serpent Warrior
Spells
1 Brush With Death
1 Disturbed Burial (Tempest)
1 Endless Scream (Tempest)
3 Fling
1 Lab Rats
1 Mob Justice
2 Rolling Thunder (Tempest)
1 Sadistic Glee (Tempest)
1 Seething Anger
1 Spinal Graft (Tempest)
1 Tortured Existence
Lands
14 Mountain
10 Swamp
13 tempest 60 cards.
Name: Yifei Zhang
Email: zhang17@fas.harvard.edu
MTGO Handle: KraveChocolate
Deck Name: "The Rat King of the Arena Ring"
Tempest: 13 cards
Stronghold: 25 cards
Lands: 22 cards
13 swamp, 9 mountains
------------------
Total: 60 cards
The diet:
3x Lab Rats
3x Cannibalize
2x Sadistic Glee (Tempest)
The conditioning:
3x Seething Anger
2x Spinal Graft (Tempest)
The entourage:
2x Mogg Fanatic (Tempest)
2x Mogg Flunkies
2x Rabid Rats
2x Duct Crawler
2x Foul Imp
The shady character:
2x Dauthi Marauder (Tempest)
2x Dauthi Horror (Tempest)
2x Dauthi Slayer (Tempest)
The FIGHT:
2x Shock
1x Stun (Tempest)
2x Fling
2x Death Stroke
The End
2x Mob Justice
Life simple. Start with a shady character, plenty around the arena ring to be found. Feed a diet rich in rat and more rat. Mental conditioning: make him angry. Make him more angry. Send him into the ring. Use dirty tricks and fling at enemy.
Shady characters and their entourage are naturally slippery. But the coup de grace is building a Rat King. Start with rat, make him eat rat, more rat, more rat. Make Rat King angry, and win with big Rat King and little rat mob posse. That's rat justice.
Last week I had made comment on how hard and expensive I thought the Classic format is to compete in. This article clearly indicates that a non-FOW deck can win. I really like the different deck options that have been listed. This is seriously making me think about trying an event. Many of the cards in the more "budget" decks I already own. Who knows...maybe one day I'll have the budget to build Captain Canuck Long-Johns deck ;P. As for now...one of the more mono colored decks looks interesting.
Thank you Whiffy for this insightful article...it's inspiring me to make a few attempts at Classic.
I like the way WotC is handling it this time - deck creation before the name, so that they can have the coolest deck, and then select a suitable name. I also like the instructions and criteria are much more explicit this time around.
Thanks WotC, and thanks Heath as well.
MTGO name: GnomesofZurich
Deck name: Disturbed Earth
This deck is designed to exploit the graveyard filling ability of Mulch and Morgue Thrull, to rapidly get a number of "silver bullet" creatures into the graveyard, and then be able to "tutor" for what is needed using Tortured Existence. Gravediggers and Disturbed Burial helps get the creatures back. Rats of Rath ensures a steady stream of creatures are going to the graveyard to benefit Sadistic Glee, which can be put on one of the Shadow or Flying creatures.
Creatures (21):
1 Dauthi Horror (TE)
1 Dauthi Marauder (TE)
1 Dungeon Shade
3 Gravedigger (TE)
1 Heartwood Dryad (TE)
2 Lowland Basilisk
2 Morgue Thrull
2 Rabid Rats
2 Rats of Rath (TE)
1 Rootbreaker Wurm (TE)
2 Skyshroud Archer
1 Skyshroud Troll (TE)
2 Spike Colony
Spells (15):
2 Death Stroke
1 Diabolic Edict (TE)
2 Disturbed Burial (TE)
1 Evincar's Justice (TE)
3 Mulch
2 Provoke
1 Sadistic Glee (TE)
3 Tortured Existence
Lands (24):
9 Forest
15 Swamp
60 cards, including 15 cards from Tempest, not including basic land.
Mr. Clator, do you happen to have any info on strongholds release?
I would but kinda busy these days...between kid and too many ventures. Just hate when people hate a format or a particular player for nonsense. Especially when its something the player had absolutly no control over, unless you have cracked the code and aranged to get a buy every tourney lol.
Parabola01- This article was meant for players with your previous mentatlity. I mean the whole thing smacks of getting around using up your whole paycheck, im really glad you enjoyed it and hope to see you out there come PE time.( also dont be discouraged if your first attempts are unsuccesful as the majority of continuos placing players have a strong grasp of the meta, just keep practising!)
Mr. Anon.- Thx for your input. Im surprised you even took the time to write that nonsence out.
Dragon- Will you be my body gaurd? lol.
Giraffe- Im glad that i could shed the illusion for you and sincerly hope to see you in the pe's.
Morbius- You are the reason I started writing articles about classic. Not only did you think enough of my content to try classic, but from speaking with you your now hooked.
Lours- Thx for the kind words and you are absolutly spot on with your analysis of playing the meta, also ive seen worse english from people who speak and write it as there native tounge.
BoB- Thx for the kind words and the tourny report. I would have liked to use it in the article but 1. felt it would take away from the main point and 2. I dont like to sample other peoples hard work in my writing. thx for posting it.
Pete - great article, as always.
I can't say for sure if your article is the reason, but the price of Force of Wills spiked this weekend. I read your article on Friday and decided (like several others apparently) to pick up a playset of Forces before they got too high. I had one that I bought for 20 tickets for singleton, and I never intended on getting more, but reading your article inspired me to do so. Anyway, they were going for 60 for the last few weeks so I thought I could get my last 3 for that price, but I was sorely mistaken. I got my 2nd copy for 63 (lucky get in auction room) but I ended up having to pay SEVENTY EACH!!! for the final two. I'm glad I did though; the classified ads are filled with people trying to sell for 74-76, and I'm sure it will only get worse over time. Thanks for the tip; in our horrible economy, this is the safest investment I think I could make.
MTGO name: adhuin
This is a black/green Big creature deck designed around killing smaller and inferior creatures either with giant creatures or black magic.
"Natural cruelty" is the deck name
Cards from stronghold
brush with death x2
cannibalize x 2
crossbow ambush x 1
Death stroke x 2
Endangered armodon x 3
Lowland basilisk x 2
Overgrowth x 2
provoke x 2
Serpent warrior x 2
skyshroud troopers x 2
Spined wurm x 2
--
22 cards
Tempest:
Dark ritual x 1
evincar's justice x 2
dark banishing x 1
canopy spider x 1
Rootbreaker wurm x 2
Skyshroud troll x 2
Rampant growth x 1
Broken Fall x 1
endless scream x 1
--
12 cards
15 forest
11 swamps
---
60 total cards