Hit the nail on the head. It's not that they have a high CMC (four is not that high), but rather higher than a vast majority of cards played currently in Classic PDC. Standard, from what I've seen, tends towards higher CMC cards.
Seems like Final Revels would have been the perfect complement to your spot removal. It should nasty up just about every other tribe except Treefolk or Giants, and you can clean up the survivors with Shriekmaw, Oblivion Ring, and such.
I think I would have built UBrw with this pool. Green has a couple solid cards, but not nearly enough depth to justify playing Vigor (smokebraider or not). Most of the good stuff in Red and White is splashable removal.
Cool deck ideas! I have a singleton tribal deck using spirits, but it isn't nearly as original as the ones you posted. Would like to see them in action as well.
If you wrote this two weeks ago, I must say you called the meta very well.
I'd love to see that merfolk aggro deck I've heard so much about. Care to post a prospective list in the forums? Or are you saving that tech for Thursday? ;)
It could be interesting to go over some game replays to show some ways in which the above decks work as well as flounder? Over all I liked the article. While I can guestimate how the deck will work by reading through a decklist I think you could have turned this into three articles by doing one deck, a walkthrough on how the deck can(should) be played and some sample games to show how the deck worked on the battle field.
I'm not sure why someone would use 'on', honestly. It seems like it wouldn't really do much good since I'd often remember my last trade, but would be hazier on the old ones...
Although I imagine that someone somewhere will have a use for it that makes sense for them.... proably. :)
Continuing along the same vein about Vampiric Link, what about (Spirit Loop)? With your concern about losing Auras, this wouldn't be so bad, continuing on the same idea, and you are already running white. I'm not sure what it could replace, but it may be something to consider.
Yes, I see your point about Vampiric Link. More often than not, though, I never flip the Liege myself. He dies face-down and goes to my opponent (usually before I would have enough mana to flip him), and my opponent ends up stuck with him for the rest of the game. The situation Endless Whispers creates is so volatile that auras don't tend to stick around long.
That said, I'm not against giving it another try. What would you suggest I cut to make room for Vampiric Link?
As for my next deck, I have an article in the queue where I look at some cards that I think will be more valuable/interesting with Lorwyn around (mostly cards from Coldsnap, the Time Spiral Block and 10th Edition). I'm going on vacation for a bit, but will probably tackle another deck or two when I return.
What might be interesting? My Homarid Spawning Pit deck? Another look at Lovisa Coldeyes and a red Warrior deck? An attempt to make my Mishra deck viable in Standard with the loss of the signets? Let me know what you think.
I think you missed half the point of vampiric link, though. It's not just good for preventing damage from your opponent's Liege, it allows you to beat down with your own Liege, since it essentially negates his drawback. So he either has to kill the 7/7 black flying trampling lifelinked monster (at which point he has to figure out how to deal with its drawback), or get beatdown by it. And if all else fails, it pacifies your opponents creatures while you search up the combo.
I might suggest running 3-4 Barbarian Rings in that list, just to give you that extra bit of reach (And they're harder to counter!) Just a thought though.
From talking to him later, I think it was counter-balance tog yes. His reaction was, "Nice deck." I said something to defend it, "It won right? No offense," and he complained it was a kinda janky deck that didn't have much of a chance against most Classic decks except for with a lucky draw, and wasn't very original. Honestly, I think he was a little contempual of the deck, and didn't play his tightest. You are correct though, those weren't the finest plays, and I'll try to give 10 match sets in the future, for a little more reference, and more varied look at deck's performances.
that quick kill walkthrough against a blue (tog?) deck is unfortunately a joke. Why would anyone burn 2 life with a shockland just to counterspell an incinerate? That's totally stupid. Also there's no reason why he didn't fetch for just an island to avoid another 2 life point hit during his 1st turn since he has another shockland in hand already.
Nameless Inversion is also being run in the Haakon decks... but those haven't put up much in the way of results, so I dunno if it's something to be concerned about.
Hit the nail on the head. It's not that they have a high CMC (four is not that high), but rather higher than a vast majority of cards played currently in Classic PDC. Standard, from what I've seen, tends towards higher CMC cards.
-Alex
Seems like Final Revels would have been the perfect complement to your spot removal. It should nasty up just about every other tribe except Treefolk or Giants, and you can clean up the survivors with Shriekmaw, Oblivion Ring, and such.
I think I would have built UBrw with this pool. Green has a couple solid cards, but not nearly enough depth to justify playing Vigor (smokebraider or not). Most of the good stuff in Red and White is splashable removal.
I'm missing the synergy between Paperfin Rascal and the flash flyers. Is it just that they have high CMCs?
If you're taking votes I always liked Homorid Spawning Pit or even the Desolation Giant deck mentioned
Cool deck ideas! I have a singleton tribal deck using spirits, but it isn't nearly as original as the ones you posted. Would like to see them in action as well.
Ooh, sweet idea. I'm struggling with what to cut, though.
If you wrote this two weeks ago, I must say you called the meta very well.
I'd love to see that merfolk aggro deck I've heard so much about. Care to post a prospective list in the forums? Or are you saving that tech for Thursday? ;)
Yes the queue was and to this day still very full. I went ahead and changed it, even though two weeks ago, Scatter made sense :)
It could be interesting to go over some game replays to show some ways in which the above decks work as well as flounder? Over all I liked the article. While I can guestimate how the deck will work by reading through a decklist I think you could have turned this into three articles by doing one deck, a walkthrough on how the deck can(should) be played and some sample games to show how the deck worked on the battle field.
Just my thoughts. Ignore with ease.
I'm not sure why someone would use 'on', honestly. It seems like it wouldn't really do much good since I'd often remember my last trade, but would be hazier on the old ones...
Although I imagine that someone somewhere will have a use for it that makes sense for them.... proably. :)
Hindsight is an odd word choice here. I wrote this article almost two weeks ago; I guess the queue was full.
-Alex
"In fact, many of the Standard stalwarts are already salivating at the thoughts of this card and Scatter the Seeds."
Don't you mean Sprout Swarm? Great article though. Its always good for the hindsight factor to see what other people think of the cards in a set.
Not sure i exactly follow the difference between 'On' and 'Many' - does 'On' just keep overwriting the same file, whereas 'Many' create one per trade?
If so - what's the point of 'On'?
Continuing along the same vein about Vampiric Link, what about (Spirit Loop)? With your concern about losing Auras, this wouldn't be so bad, continuing on the same idea, and you are already running white. I'm not sure what it could replace, but it may be something to consider.
Hey, thanks!
Yes, I see your point about Vampiric Link. More often than not, though, I never flip the Liege myself. He dies face-down and goes to my opponent (usually before I would have enough mana to flip him), and my opponent ends up stuck with him for the rest of the game. The situation Endless Whispers creates is so volatile that auras don't tend to stick around long.
That said, I'm not against giving it another try. What would you suggest I cut to make room for Vampiric Link?
As for my next deck, I have an article in the queue where I look at some cards that I think will be more valuable/interesting with Lorwyn around (mostly cards from Coldsnap, the Time Spiral Block and 10th Edition). I'm going on vacation for a bit, but will probably tackle another deck or two when I return.
What might be interesting? My Homarid Spawning Pit deck? Another look at Lovisa Coldeyes and a red Warrior deck? An attempt to make my Mishra deck viable in Standard with the loss of the signets? Let me know what you think.
I think you missed half the point of vampiric link, though. It's not just good for preventing damage from your opponent's Liege, it allows you to beat down with your own Liege, since it essentially negates his drawback. So he either has to kill the 7/7 black flying trampling lifelinked monster (at which point he has to figure out how to deal with its drawback), or get beatdown by it. And if all else fails, it pacifies your opponents creatures while you search up the combo.
So which deck's up next?
I might suggest running 3-4 Barbarian Rings in that list, just to give you that extra bit of reach (And they're harder to counter!) Just a thought though.
I just wanted to agree with the burn decks in classic. Brutal! I run:
4 Spark Elemental, 4 Raging Goblin, 4 Firebolt, 4 Lightning Bolt, 4 Shock, 4 Incinerate, 4 Lighting Serpent, 4 Ball Lightining, 4 Blistering Firecat, 4 Lava Spike, 1 Firecat Blitz. 21 Mountains.
The toughest decks to deal with are built around Counterspells. Not much trouble with others.
From talking to him later, I think it was counter-balance tog yes. His reaction was, "Nice deck." I said something to defend it, "It won right? No offense," and he complained it was a kinda janky deck that didn't have much of a chance against most Classic decks except for with a lucky draw, and wasn't very original. Honestly, I think he was a little contempual of the deck, and didn't play his tightest. You are correct though, those weren't the finest plays, and I'll try to give 10 match sets in the future, for a little more reference, and more varied look at deck's performances.
Bill Stark didn't invent that Stuffy deck, I did. I just don't have any readers. :)
that quick kill walkthrough against a blue (tog?) deck is unfortunately a joke. Why would anyone burn 2 life with a shockland just to counterspell an incinerate? That's totally stupid. Also there's no reason why he didn't fetch for just an island to avoid another 2 life point hit during his 1st turn since he has another shockland in hand already.
Nameless Inversion is also being run in the Haakon decks... but those haven't put up much in the way of results, so I dunno if it's something to be concerned about.
... it's a MAN baby!!!
/Austin Powers
peppersmoke might see play
Lol Hermione is a dude...