tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48367078084141463482024-03-05T09:34:04.217-05:00The Rusty MacheteSome noobs journey through the world of Magic:The Gathering for better or worse (mostly worse).Gandhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637374922570657386noreply@blogger.comBlogger189125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836707808414146348.post-56995027159056736472011-10-10T15:34:00.002-04:002011-10-11T14:04:46.331-04:00Kmaster TPF DraftI'm going to post this and see what happens. TPF NixPax is this week. It's a lot of fun but not very high EV. NixTix in two weeks. Here's a draft I did this morning, nothing ridiculously bomby, just a good example of what I like to draft in the format.<br />
Pack 1, Pick 1:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ghitu_Firebreathing.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ghitu_Firebreathing.jpg" title="Ghitu_Firebreathing" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Flowstone_Channeler.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Flowstone_Channeler.jpg" title="Flowstone_Channeler" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Basal_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Basal_Sliver.jpg" title="Basal_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Havenwood_Wurm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Havenwood_Wurm.jpg" title="Havenwood_Wurm" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Errant_Ephemeron.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Errant_Ephemeron.jpg" title="Errant_Ephemeron" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Drifter_il_Dal.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Drifter_il_Dal.jpg" title="Drifter_il_Dal" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Thunder_Totem.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Thunder_Totem.jpg" title="Thunder_Totem" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Sulfurous_Blast.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Sulfurous_Blast.jpg" title="Sulfurous_Blast" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ivory_Giant.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ivory_Giant.jpg" title="Ivory_Giant" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Assembly_Worker.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Assembly_Worker.jpg" title="Assembly_Worker" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Wurmcalling.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Wurmcalling.jpg" title="Wurmcalling" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Deathspore_Thallid.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Deathspore_Thallid.jpg" title="Deathspore_Thallid" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Herd_Gnarr.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Herd_Gnarr.jpg" title="Herd_Gnarr" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Sage_of_Epityr.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Sage_of_Epityr.jpg" title="Sage_of_Epityr" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Gaeas_Liege.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Gaeas_Liege.jpg" title="Gaeas_Liege" width="100" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Wurmcalling.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Wurmcalling.jpg" title="Wurmcalling" width="100" /></a><br />
<br />
As much as I love Deathspore Thallid, Wurmcalling is insane and I took it without hesitation. Ephemeron is also boss.<br />
<br />
Pack 1, Pick 2:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Foriysian_Interceptor.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Foriysian_Interceptor.jpg" title="Foriysian_Interceptor" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Basal_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Basal_Sliver.jpg" title="Basal_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Greenseeker.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Greenseeker.jpg" title="Greenseeker" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Mindstab.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Mindstab.jpg" title="Mindstab" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Nantuko_Shaman.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Nantuko_Shaman.jpg" title="Nantuko_Shaman" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ivory_Giant.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ivory_Giant.jpg" title="Ivory_Giant" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ancient_Grudge.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ancient_Grudge.jpg" title="Ancient_Grudge" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Griffin_Guide.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Griffin_Guide.jpg" title="Griffin_Guide" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Castle_Raptors.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Castle_Raptors.jpg" title="Castle_Raptors" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Assembly_Worker.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Assembly_Worker.jpg" title="Assembly_Worker" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Slipstream_Serpent.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Slipstream_Serpent.jpg" title="Slipstream_Serpent" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Grapeshot.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Grapeshot.jpg" title="Grapeshot" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Reiterate.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Reiterate.jpg" title="Reiterate" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Gemstone_Mine.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Gemstone_Mine.jpg" title="Gemstone_Mine" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Griffin_Guide.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Griffin_Guide.jpg" title="Griffin_Guide" width="100" /></a><br />
<br />
There's a good Grapeshot/Empty the Warrens deck that abuses Grinning Ignus from pack 3. However I almost always draft G/W/x in this format and Griffin Guide is very good.<br />
Pack 1, Pick 3:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ghitu_Firebreathing.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ghitu_Firebreathing.jpg" title="Ghitu_Firebreathing" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Flowstone_Channeler.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Flowstone_Channeler.jpg" title="Flowstone_Channeler" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Basal_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Basal_Sliver.jpg" title="Basal_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Havenwood_Wurm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Havenwood_Wurm.jpg" title="Havenwood_Wurm" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Dreadship_Reef.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Dreadship_Reef.jpg" title="Dreadship_Reef" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Errant_Ephemeron.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Errant_Ephemeron.jpg" title="Errant_Ephemeron" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Momentary_Blink.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Momentary_Blink.jpg" title="Momentary_Blink" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ivory_Giant.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ivory_Giant.jpg" title="Ivory_Giant" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Unyaro_Bees.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Unyaro_Bees.jpg" title="Unyaro_Bees" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Deathspore_Thallid.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Deathspore_Thallid.jpg" title="Deathspore_Thallid" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Sage_of_Epityr.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Sage_of_Epityr.jpg" title="Sage_of_Epityr" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Fools_Demise.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Fools_Demise.jpg" title="Fools_Demise" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Krosan_Cloudscraper.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Krosan_Cloudscraper.jpg" title="Krosan_Cloudscraper" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Deathspore_Thallid.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Deathspore_Thallid.jpg" title="Deathspore_Thallid" width="100" /></a><br />
<br />
Part 1 of plan assembled. Late Ephemeron is noted.<br />
Pack 1, Pick 4:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Gaze_of_Justice.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Gaze_of_Justice.jpg" title="Gaze_of_Justice" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Two_Headed_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Two_Headed_Sliver.jpg" title="Two_Headed_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Mindstab.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Mindstab.jpg" title="Mindstab" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Coral_Trickster.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Coral_Trickster.jpg" title="Coral_Trickster" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Curse_of_the_Cabal.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Curse_of_the_Cabal.jpg" title="Curse_of_the_Cabal" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Mystical_Teachings.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Mystical_Teachings.jpg" title="Mystical_Teachings" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/DAvenant_Healer.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/DAvenant_Healer.jpg" title="DAvenant_Healer" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Smallpox.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Smallpox.jpg" title="Smallpox" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Wormwood_Dryad.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Wormwood_Dryad.jpg" title="Wormwood_Dryad" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Coal_Stoker.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Coal_Stoker.jpg" title="Coal_Stoker" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Sangrophage.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Sangrophage.jpg" title="Sangrophage" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Funeral_Charm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Funeral_Charm.jpg" title="Funeral_Charm" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Mystical_Teachings.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Mystical_Teachings.jpg" title="Mystical_Teachings" width="100" /></a><br />
<br />
The set up continues.<br />
Pack 1, Pick 5:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Savage_Thallid.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Savage_Thallid.jpg" title="Savage_Thallid" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Urborg_Syphon_Mage.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Urborg_Syphon_Mage.jpg" title="Urborg_Syphon_Mage" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/aether_Web.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/aether_Web.jpg" title="aether_Web" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Gustcloak_Cavalier.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Gustcloak_Cavalier.jpg" title="Gustcloak_Cavalier" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Snapback.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Snapback.jpg" title="Snapback" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Zealot_il_Vec.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Zealot_il_Vec.jpg" title="Zealot_il_Vec" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Momentary_Blink.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Momentary_Blink.jpg" title="Momentary_Blink" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ancient_Grudge.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ancient_Grudge.jpg" title="Ancient_Grudge" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Cloudchaser_Kestrel.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Cloudchaser_Kestrel.jpg" title="Cloudchaser_Kestrel" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Screeching_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Screeching_Sliver.jpg" title="Screeching_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Feldons_Cane.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Feldons_Cane.jpg" title="Feldons_Cane" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Zealot_il_Vec.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Zealot_il_Vec.jpg" title="Zealot_il_Vec" width="100" /></a><br />
<br />
He's a pinger in a color combination that's a bit short on removal at times. Solid man.<br />
Pack 1, Pick 6:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Flowstone_Channeler.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Flowstone_Channeler.jpg" title="Flowstone_Channeler" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Blazing_Blade_Askari.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Blazing_Blade_Askari.jpg" title="Blazing_Blade_Askari" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Trespasser_il_Vec.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Trespasser_il_Vec.jpg" title="Trespasser_il_Vec" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Spinneret_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Spinneret_Sliver.jpg" title="Spinneret_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Brass_Gnat.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Brass_Gnat.jpg" title="Brass_Gnat" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Chromatic_Star.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Chromatic_Star.jpg" title="Chromatic_Star" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Skulking_Knight.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Skulking_Knight.jpg" title="Skulking_Knight" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Gemstone_Caverns.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Gemstone_Caverns.jpg" title="Gemstone_Caverns" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Watcher_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Watcher_Sliver.jpg" title="Watcher_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Haunting_Hymn.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Haunting_Hymn.jpg" title="Haunting_Hymn" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Watcher_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Watcher_Sliver.jpg" title="Watcher_Sliver" width="100" /></a><br />
<br />
Teachings into Hymn is good, but I don't want to commit to that just yet. Watcher > Spinneret in a sliver deck.<br />
Pack 1, Pick 7:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Two_Headed_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Two_Headed_Sliver.jpg" title="Two_Headed_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Clockspinning.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Clockspinning.jpg" title="Clockspinning" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ghostflame_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ghostflame_Sliver.jpg" title="Ghostflame_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Pendelhaven_Elder.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Pendelhaven_Elder.jpg" title="Pendelhaven_Elder" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Assembly_Worker.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Assembly_Worker.jpg" title="Assembly_Worker" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Errant_Doomsayers.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Errant_Doomsayers.jpg" title="Errant_Doomsayers" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Prismatic_Lens.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Prismatic_Lens.jpg" title="Prismatic_Lens" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Sidewinder_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Sidewinder_Sliver.jpg" title="Sidewinder_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Claws_of_Gix.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Claws_of_Gix.jpg" title="Claws_of_Gix" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Prismatic_Lens.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Prismatic_Lens.jpg" title="Prismatic_Lens" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 1, Pick 8:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Eternity_Snare.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Eternity_Snare.jpg" title="Eternity_Snare" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Chronosavant.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Chronosavant.jpg" title="Chronosavant" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Quilled_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Quilled_Sliver.jpg" title="Quilled_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Viashino_Bladescout.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Viashino_Bladescout.jpg" title="Viashino_Bladescout" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Mogg_War_Marshal.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Mogg_War_Marshal.jpg" title="Mogg_War_Marshal" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Mwonvuli_Acid_Moss.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Mwonvuli_Acid_Moss.jpg" title="Mwonvuli_Acid_Moss" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Skulking_Knight.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Skulking_Knight.jpg" title="Skulking_Knight" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Sidewinder_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Sidewinder_Sliver.jpg" title="Sidewinder_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Mwonvuli_Acid_Moss.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Mwonvuli_Acid_Moss.jpg" title="Mwonvuli_Acid_Moss" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 1, Pick 9:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ghitu_Firebreathing.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ghitu_Firebreathing.jpg" title="Ghitu_Firebreathing" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Basal_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Basal_Sliver.jpg" title="Basal_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Havenwood_Wurm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Havenwood_Wurm.jpg" title="Havenwood_Wurm" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Thunder_Totem.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Thunder_Totem.jpg" title="Thunder_Totem" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Assembly_Worker.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Assembly_Worker.jpg" title="Assembly_Worker" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Herd_Gnarr.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Herd_Gnarr.jpg" title="Herd_Gnarr" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Sage_of_Epityr.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Sage_of_Epityr.jpg" title="Sage_of_Epityr" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Herd_Gnarr.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Herd_Gnarr.jpg" title="Herd_Gnarr" width="100" /></a><br />
<br />
Very innocuous looking, very lethal.<br />
Pack 1, Pick 10:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Foriysian_Interceptor.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Foriysian_Interceptor.jpg" title="Foriysian_Interceptor" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Basal_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Basal_Sliver.jpg" title="Basal_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ivory_Giant.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ivory_Giant.jpg" title="Ivory_Giant" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ancient_Grudge.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ancient_Grudge.jpg" title="Ancient_Grudge" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Assembly_Worker.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Assembly_Worker.jpg" title="Assembly_Worker" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Slipstream_Serpent.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Slipstream_Serpent.jpg" title="Slipstream_Serpent" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ivory_Giant.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ivory_Giant.jpg" title="Ivory_Giant" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 1, Pick 11:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ghitu_Firebreathing.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ghitu_Firebreathing.jpg" title="Ghitu_Firebreathing" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Basal_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Basal_Sliver.jpg" title="Basal_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Havenwood_Wurm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Havenwood_Wurm.jpg" title="Havenwood_Wurm" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ivory_Giant.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Ivory_Giant.jpg" title="Ivory_Giant" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Sage_of_Epityr.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Sage_of_Epityr.jpg" title="Sage_of_Epityr" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Havenwood_Wurm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Havenwood_Wurm.jpg" title="Havenwood_Wurm" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 1, Pick 12:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Gaze_of_Justice.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Gaze_of_Justice.jpg" title="Gaze_of_Justice" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Smallpox.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Smallpox.jpg" title="Smallpox" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Wormwood_Dryad.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Wormwood_Dryad.jpg" title="Wormwood_Dryad" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Sangrophage.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Sangrophage.jpg" title="Sangrophage" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Wormwood_Dryad.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Wormwood_Dryad.jpg" title="Wormwood_Dryad" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 1, Pick 13:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/aether_Web.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/aether_Web.jpg" title="aether_Web" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Screeching_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Screeching_Sliver.jpg" title="Screeching_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Feldons_Cane.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Feldons_Cane.jpg" title="Feldons_Cane" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/aether_Web.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/aether_Web.jpg" title="aether_Web" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 1, Pick 14:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Brass_Gnat.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Brass_Gnat.jpg" title="Brass_Gnat" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Gemstone_Caverns.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Gemstone_Caverns.jpg" title="Gemstone_Caverns" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Gemstone_Caverns.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Gemstone_Caverns.jpg" title="Gemstone_Caverns" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 1, Pick 15:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Sidewinder_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Sidewinder_Sliver.jpg" title="Sidewinder_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Sidewinder_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/TSP/Sidewinder_Sliver.jpg" title="Sidewinder_Sliver" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 2, Pick 1:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Aven_Riftwatcher.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Aven_Riftwatcher.jpg" title="Aven_Riftwatcher" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Deadly_Grub.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Deadly_Grub.jpg" title="Deadly_Grub" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Bog_Serpent.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Bog_Serpent.jpg" title="Bog_Serpent" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Phantasmagorian.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Phantasmagorian.jpg" title="Phantasmagorian" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Merfolk_Thaumaturgist.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Merfolk_Thaumaturgist.jpg" title="Merfolk_Thaumaturgist" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Reality_Acid.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Reality_Acid.jpg" title="Reality_Acid" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Voidstone_Gargoyle.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Voidstone_Gargoyle.jpg" title="Voidstone_Gargoyle" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Spitting_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Spitting_Sliver.jpg" title="Spitting_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Shade_of_Trokair.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Shade_of_Trokair.jpg" title="Shade_of_Trokair" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Utopia_Vow.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Utopia_Vow.jpg" title="Utopia_Vow" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Kor_Dirge.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Kor_Dirge.jpg" title="Kor_Dirge" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Stingscourger.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Stingscourger.jpg" title="Stingscourger" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Skirk_Shaman.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Skirk_Shaman.jpg" title="Skirk_Shaman" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Saltfield_Recluse.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Saltfield_Recluse.jpg" title="Saltfield_Recluse" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Venarian_Glimmer.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Venarian_Glimmer.jpg" title="Venarian_Glimmer" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Voidstone_Gargoyle.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Voidstone_Gargoyle.jpg" title="Voidstone_Gargoyle" width="100" /></a><br />
<br />
Saltfield is very good, but Voidstone is a large flier that has a pretty relevant ability.<br />
Pack 2, Pick 2:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Revered_Dead.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Revered_Dead.jpg" title="Revered_Dead" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Citanul_Woodreaders.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Citanul_Woodreaders.jpg" title="Citanul_Woodreaders" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Faadiyah_Seer.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Faadiyah_Seer.jpg" title="Faadiyah_Seer" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Mire_Boa.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Mire_Boa.jpg" title="Mire_Boa" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Wistful_Thinking.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Wistful_Thinking.jpg" title="Wistful_Thinking" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Dawn_Charm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Dawn_Charm.jpg" title="Dawn_Charm" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Reality_Acid.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Reality_Acid.jpg" title="Reality_Acid" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Spitting_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Spitting_Sliver.jpg" title="Spitting_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Dismal_Failure.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Dismal_Failure.jpg" title="Dismal_Failure" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Rathi_Trapper.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Rathi_Trapper.jpg" title="Rathi_Trapper" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Tidewalker.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Tidewalker.jpg" title="Tidewalker" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Utopia_Vow.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Utopia_Vow.jpg" title="Utopia_Vow" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Pyrohemia.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Pyrohemia.jpg" title="Pyrohemia" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Dash_Hopes.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Dash_Hopes.jpg" title="Dash_Hopes" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Mire_Boa.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Mire_Boa.jpg" title="Mire_Boa" width="100" /></a><br />
<br />
Pyrohemia is tempting, but I'm sticking to the colors.<br />
<br />
Pack 2, Pick 3:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Bog_Serpent.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Bog_Serpent.jpg" title="Bog_Serpent" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Essence_Warden.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Essence_Warden.jpg" title="Essence_Warden" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Midnight_Charm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Midnight_Charm.jpg" title="Midnight_Charm" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Fury_Charm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Fury_Charm.jpg" title="Fury_Charm" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Evolution_Charm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Evolution_Charm.jpg" title="Evolution_Charm" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Braids_Conjurer_Adept.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Braids_Conjurer_Adept.jpg" title="Braids_Conjurer_Adept" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Sophic_Centaur.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Sophic_Centaur.jpg" title="Sophic_Centaur" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Blightspeaker.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Blightspeaker.jpg" title="Blightspeaker" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Sinew_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Sinew_Sliver.jpg" title="Sinew_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Shade_of_Trokair.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Shade_of_Trokair.jpg" title="Shade_of_Trokair" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Veiling_Oddity.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Veiling_Oddity.jpg" title="Veiling_Oddity" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Battering_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Battering_Sliver.jpg" title="Battering_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Shivan_Meteor.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Shivan_Meteor.jpg" title="Shivan_Meteor" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Essence_Warden.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Essence_Warden.jpg" title="Essence_Warden" width="100" /></a><br />
<br />
Quite important.<br />
<br />
Pack 2, Pick 4:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Cradle_to_Grave.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Cradle_to_Grave.jpg" title="Cradle_to_Grave" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Lavacore_Elemental.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Lavacore_Elemental.jpg" title="Lavacore_Elemental" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Citanul_Woodreaders.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Citanul_Woodreaders.jpg" title="Citanul_Woodreaders" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Vampiric_Link.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Vampiric_Link.jpg" title="Vampiric_Link" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Healing_Leaves.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Healing_Leaves.jpg" title="Healing_Leaves" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Malach_of_the_Dawn.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Malach_of_the_Dawn.jpg" title="Malach_of_the_Dawn" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Brain_Gorgers.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Brain_Gorgers.jpg" title="Brain_Gorgers" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Synchronous_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Synchronous_Sliver.jpg" title="Synchronous_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Reality_Acid.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Reality_Acid.jpg" title="Reality_Acid" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Ghost_Tactician.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Ghost_Tactician.jpg" title="Ghost_Tactician" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Skirk_Shaman.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Skirk_Shaman.jpg" title="Skirk_Shaman" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Heroes_Remembered.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Heroes_Remembered.jpg" title="Heroes_Remembered" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Malach_of_the_Dawn.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Malach_of_the_Dawn.jpg" title="Malach_of_the_Dawn" width="100" /></a><br />
<br />
A solid guy to lock down the sky.<br />
<br />
Pack 2, Pick 5:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Cradle_to_Grave.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Cradle_to_Grave.jpg" title="Cradle_to_Grave" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Vampiric_Link.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Vampiric_Link.jpg" title="Vampiric_Link" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Malach_of_the_Dawn.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Malach_of_the_Dawn.jpg" title="Malach_of_the_Dawn" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Erratic_Mutation.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Erratic_Mutation.jpg" title="Erratic_Mutation" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Pallid_Mycoderm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Pallid_Mycoderm.jpg" title="Pallid_Mycoderm" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Keldon_Marauders.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Keldon_Marauders.jpg" title="Keldon_Marauders" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Battering_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Battering_Sliver.jpg" title="Battering_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Dunerider_Outlaw.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Dunerider_Outlaw.jpg" title="Dunerider_Outlaw" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Seal_of_Primordium.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Seal_of_Primordium.jpg" title="Seal_of_Primordium" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Uktabi_Drake.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Uktabi_Drake.jpg" title="Uktabi_Drake" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Necrotic_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Necrotic_Sliver.jpg" title="Necrotic_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Pallid_Mycoderm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Pallid_Mycoderm.jpg" title="Pallid_Mycoderm" width="100" /></a><br />
<br />
There's a reason I take this guy over Malach of the Dawn.<br />
<br />
Pack 2, Pick 6:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Needlepeak_Spider.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Needlepeak_Spider.jpg" title="Needlepeak_Spider" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Citanul_Woodreaders.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Citanul_Woodreaders.jpg" title="Citanul_Woodreaders" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Faadiyah_Seer.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Faadiyah_Seer.jpg" title="Faadiyah_Seer" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Stonecloaker.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Stonecloaker.jpg" title="Stonecloaker" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Midnight_Charm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Midnight_Charm.jpg" title="Midnight_Charm" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Erratic_Mutation.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Erratic_Mutation.jpg" title="Erratic_Mutation" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Pallid_Mycoderm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Pallid_Mycoderm.jpg" title="Pallid_Mycoderm" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Darkheart_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Darkheart_Sliver.jpg" title="Darkheart_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Mesa_Enchantress.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Mesa_Enchantress.jpg" title="Mesa_Enchantress" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Firefright_Mage.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Firefright_Mage.jpg" title="Firefright_Mage" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Pallid_Mycoderm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Pallid_Mycoderm.jpg" title="Pallid_Mycoderm" width="100" /></a><br />
<br />
Have some faith.<br />
<br />
Pack 2, Pick 7:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Midnight_Charm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Midnight_Charm.jpg" title="Midnight_Charm" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Fury_Charm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Fury_Charm.jpg" title="Fury_Charm" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Piracy_Charm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Piracy_Charm.jpg" title="Piracy_Charm" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Simian_Spirit_Guide.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Simian_Spirit_Guide.jpg" title="Simian_Spirit_Guide" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Blightspeaker.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Blightspeaker.jpg" title="Blightspeaker" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Circle_of_Affliction.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Circle_of_Affliction.jpg" title="Circle_of_Affliction" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Veiling_Oddity.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Veiling_Oddity.jpg" title="Veiling_Oddity" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Battering_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Battering_Sliver.jpg" title="Battering_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Blood_Knight.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Blood_Knight.jpg" title="Blood_Knight" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Blightspeaker.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Blightspeaker.jpg" title="Blightspeaker" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 2, Pick 8:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Needlepeak_Spider.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Needlepeak_Spider.jpg" title="Needlepeak_Spider" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Gossamer_Phantasm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Gossamer_Phantasm.jpg" title="Gossamer_Phantasm" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Midnight_Charm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Midnight_Charm.jpg" title="Midnight_Charm" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Erratic_Mutation.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Erratic_Mutation.jpg" title="Erratic_Mutation" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Jodahs_Avenger.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Jodahs_Avenger.jpg" title="Jodahs_Avenger" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Pallid_Mycoderm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Pallid_Mycoderm.jpg" title="Pallid_Mycoderm" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Firefright_Mage.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Firefright_Mage.jpg" title="Firefright_Mage" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Uktabi_Drake.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Uktabi_Drake.jpg" title="Uktabi_Drake" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Pallid_Mycoderm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Pallid_Mycoderm.jpg" title="Pallid_Mycoderm" width="100" /></a><br />
<br />
Still with me?<br />
<br />
Pack 2, Pick 9:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Deadly_Grub.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Deadly_Grub.jpg" title="Deadly_Grub" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Bog_Serpent.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Bog_Serpent.jpg" title="Bog_Serpent" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Phantasmagorian.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Phantasmagorian.jpg" title="Phantasmagorian" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Merfolk_Thaumaturgist.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Merfolk_Thaumaturgist.jpg" title="Merfolk_Thaumaturgist" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Reality_Acid.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Reality_Acid.jpg" title="Reality_Acid" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Shade_of_Trokair.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Shade_of_Trokair.jpg" title="Shade_of_Trokair" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Venarian_Glimmer.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Venarian_Glimmer.jpg" title="Venarian_Glimmer" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Shade_of_Trokair.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Shade_of_Trokair.jpg" title="Shade_of_Trokair" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 2, Pick 10:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Faadiyah_Seer.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Faadiyah_Seer.jpg" title="Faadiyah_Seer" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Wistful_Thinking.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Wistful_Thinking.jpg" title="Wistful_Thinking" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Dawn_Charm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Dawn_Charm.jpg" title="Dawn_Charm" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Reality_Acid.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Reality_Acid.jpg" title="Reality_Acid" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Tidewalker.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Tidewalker.jpg" title="Tidewalker" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Dash_Hopes.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Dash_Hopes.jpg" title="Dash_Hopes" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Dawn_Charm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Dawn_Charm.jpg" title="Dawn_Charm" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 2, Pick 11:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Bog_Serpent.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Bog_Serpent.jpg" title="Bog_Serpent" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Midnight_Charm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Midnight_Charm.jpg" title="Midnight_Charm" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Sophic_Centaur.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Sophic_Centaur.jpg" title="Sophic_Centaur" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Veiling_Oddity.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Veiling_Oddity.jpg" title="Veiling_Oddity" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Battering_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Battering_Sliver.jpg" title="Battering_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Midnight_Charm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Midnight_Charm.jpg" title="Midnight_Charm" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 2, Pick 12:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Vampiric_Link.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Vampiric_Link.jpg" title="Vampiric_Link" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Healing_Leaves.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Healing_Leaves.jpg" title="Healing_Leaves" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Brain_Gorgers.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Brain_Gorgers.jpg" title="Brain_Gorgers" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Synchronous_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Synchronous_Sliver.jpg" title="Synchronous_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Healing_Leaves.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Healing_Leaves.jpg" title="Healing_Leaves" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 2, Pick 13:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Vampiric_Link.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Vampiric_Link.jpg" title="Vampiric_Link" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Battering_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Battering_Sliver.jpg" title="Battering_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Dunerider_Outlaw.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Dunerider_Outlaw.jpg" title="Dunerider_Outlaw" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Dunerider_Outlaw.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Dunerider_Outlaw.jpg" title="Dunerider_Outlaw" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 2, Pick 14:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Darkheart_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Darkheart_Sliver.jpg" title="Darkheart_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Mesa_Enchantress.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Mesa_Enchantress.jpg" title="Mesa_Enchantress" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Darkheart_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Darkheart_Sliver.jpg" title="Darkheart_Sliver" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 2, Pick 15:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Circle_of_Affliction.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Circle_of_Affliction.jpg" title="Circle_of_Affliction" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Circle_of_Affliction.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/PLC/Circle_of_Affliction.jpg" title="Circle_of_Affliction" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 3, Pick 1:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Logic_Knot.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Logic_Knot.jpg" title="Logic_Knot" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Cutthroat_il_Dal.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Cutthroat_il_Dal.jpg" title="Cutthroat_il_Dal" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Whip_Spine_Drake.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Whip_Spine_Drake.jpg" title="Whip_Spine_Drake" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Cloudseeder.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Cloudseeder.jpg" title="Cloudseeder" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Rift_Elemental.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Rift_Elemental.jpg" title="Rift_Elemental" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Foresee.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Foresee.jpg" title="Foresee" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Boldwyr_Intimidator.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Boldwyr_Intimidator.jpg" title="Boldwyr_Intimidator" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Henchfiend_of_Ukor.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Henchfiend_of_Ukor.jpg" title="Henchfiend_of_Ukor" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Fatal_Attraction.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Fatal_Attraction.jpg" title="Fatal_Attraction" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Yixlid_Jailer.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Yixlid_Jailer.jpg" title="Yixlid_Jailer" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Grave_Scrabbler.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Grave_Scrabbler.jpg" title="Grave_Scrabbler" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Quiet_Disrepair.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Quiet_Disrepair.jpg" title="Quiet_Disrepair" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Nessian_Courser.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Nessian_Courser.jpg" title="Nessian_Courser" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Whetwheel.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Whetwheel.jpg" title="Whetwheel" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Gift_of_Granite.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Gift_of_Granite.jpg" title="Gift_of_Granite" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Nessian_Courser.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Nessian_Courser.jpg" title="Nessian_Courser" width="100" /></a><br />
<br />
This pick could've been Foresee as we'll easily be able to splash it, but 3/3 is a very solid guy in this format.<br />
Pack 3, Pick 2:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Phosphorescent_Feast.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Phosphorescent_Feast.jpg" title="Phosphorescent_Feast" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Homing_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Homing_Sliver.jpg" title="Homing_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Lymph_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Lymph_Sliver.jpg" title="Lymph_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Cutthroat_il_Dal.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Cutthroat_il_Dal.jpg" title="Cutthroat_il_Dal" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Whip_Spine_Drake.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Whip_Spine_Drake.jpg" title="Whip_Spine_Drake" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Rift_Elemental.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Rift_Elemental.jpg" title="Rift_Elemental" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Foresee.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Foresee.jpg" title="Foresee" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Boldwyr_Intimidator.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Boldwyr_Intimidator.jpg" title="Boldwyr_Intimidator" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Henchfiend_of_Ukor.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Henchfiend_of_Ukor.jpg" title="Henchfiend_of_Ukor" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Grave_Scrabbler.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Grave_Scrabbler.jpg" title="Grave_Scrabbler" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Quiet_Disrepair.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Quiet_Disrepair.jpg" title="Quiet_Disrepair" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Spirit_en_Dal.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Spirit_en_Dal.jpg" title="Spirit_en_Dal" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Gift_of_Granite.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Gift_of_Granite.jpg" title="Gift_of_Granite" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Korlash_Heir_to_Blackblade.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Korlash_Heir_to_Blackblade.jpg" title="Korlash_Heir_to_Blackblade" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Foresee.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Foresee.jpg" title="Foresee" width="100" /></a><br />
<br />
This time there's nothing to compete with the Foresee.<br />
<br />
Pack 3, Pick 3:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Lost_Auramancers.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Lost_Auramancers.jpg" title="Lost_Auramancers" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Putrid_Cyclops.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Putrid_Cyclops.jpg" title="Putrid_Cyclops" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Bogardan_Lancer.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Bogardan_Lancer.jpg" title="Bogardan_Lancer" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Lumithread_Field.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Lumithread_Field.jpg" title="Lumithread_Field" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Augur_il_Vec.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Augur_il_Vec.jpg" title="Augur_il_Vec" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Emberwilde_Augur.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Emberwilde_Augur.jpg" title="Emberwilde_Augur" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Petrified_Plating.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Petrified_Plating.jpg" title="Petrified_Plating" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Deepcavern_Imp.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Deepcavern_Imp.jpg" title="Deepcavern_Imp" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Flowstone_Embrace.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Flowstone_Embrace.jpg" title="Flowstone_Embrace" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Nessian_Courser.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Nessian_Courser.jpg" title="Nessian_Courser" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Ramosian_Revivalist.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Ramosian_Revivalist.jpg" title="Ramosian_Revivalist" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Mesmeric_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Mesmeric_Sliver.jpg" title="Mesmeric_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Delay.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Delay.jpg" title="Delay" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Nessian_Courser.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Nessian_Courser.jpg" title="Nessian_Courser" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 3, Pick 4:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Festering_March.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Festering_March.jpg" title="Festering_March" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Mass_of_Ghouls.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Mass_of_Ghouls.jpg" title="Mass_of_Ghouls" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Grave_Peril.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Grave_Peril.jpg" title="Grave_Peril" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Bogardan_Lancer.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Bogardan_Lancer.jpg" title="Bogardan_Lancer" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Samite_Censer_Bearer.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Samite_Censer_Bearer.jpg" title="Samite_Censer_Bearer" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Wrap_in_Vigor.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Wrap_in_Vigor.jpg" title="Wrap_in_Vigor" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Daybreak_Coronet.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Daybreak_Coronet.jpg" title="Daybreak_Coronet" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Storm_Entity.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Storm_Entity.jpg" title="Storm_Entity" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Lucent_Liminid.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Lucent_Liminid.jpg" title="Lucent_Liminid" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Knight_of_Sursi.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Knight_of_Sursi.jpg" title="Knight_of_Sursi" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Grinning_Ignus.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Grinning_Ignus.jpg" title="Grinning_Ignus" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Delay.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Delay.jpg" title="Delay" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Knight_of_Sursi.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Knight_of_Sursi.jpg" title="Knight_of_Sursi" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 3, Pick 5:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Edge_of_Autumn.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Edge_of_Autumn.jpg" title="Edge_of_Autumn" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Leaden_Fists.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Leaden_Fists.jpg" title="Leaden_Fists" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Blind_Phantasm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Blind_Phantasm.jpg" title="Blind_Phantasm" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Lumithread_Field.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Lumithread_Field.jpg" title="Lumithread_Field" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/New_Benalia.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/New_Benalia.jpg" title="New_Benalia" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Lost_Hours.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Lost_Hours.jpg" title="Lost_Hours" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Petrified_Plating.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Petrified_Plating.jpg" title="Petrified_Plating" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Augur_of_Skulls.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Augur_of_Skulls.jpg" title="Augur_of_Skulls" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Grinning_Ignus.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Grinning_Ignus.jpg" title="Grinning_Ignus" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Emblem_of_the_Warmind.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Emblem_of_the_Warmind.jpg" title="Emblem_of_the_Warmind" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Shivan_Sand_Mage.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Shivan_Sand_Mage.jpg" title="Shivan_Sand_Mage" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Edge_of_Autumn.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Edge_of_Autumn.jpg" title="Edge_of_Autumn" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 3, Pick 6:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Blind_Phantasm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Blind_Phantasm.jpg" title="Blind_Phantasm" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Homing_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Homing_Sliver.jpg" title="Homing_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Lymph_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Lymph_Sliver.jpg" title="Lymph_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Cutthroat_il_Dal.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Cutthroat_il_Dal.jpg" title="Cutthroat_il_Dal" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Saltskitter.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Saltskitter.jpg" title="Saltskitter" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Char_Rumbler.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Char_Rumbler.jpg" title="Char_Rumbler" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Oblivion_Crown.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Oblivion_Crown.jpg" title="Oblivion_Crown" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Llanowar_Reborn.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Llanowar_Reborn.jpg" title="Llanowar_Reborn" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Sprout_Swarm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Sprout_Swarm.jpg" title="Sprout_Swarm" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Second_Wind.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Second_Wind.jpg" title="Second_Wind" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Sprout_Swarm.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Sprout_Swarm.jpg" title="Sprout_Swarm" width="100" /></a><br />
<br />
The plan comes together. Illiteracy still plagues Magic Online.<br />
Pack 3, Pick 7:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Mass_of_Ghouls.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Mass_of_Ghouls.jpg" title="Mass_of_Ghouls" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Vedalken_aethermage.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Vedalken_aethermage.jpg" title="Vedalken_aethermage" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Samite_Censer_Bearer.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Samite_Censer_Bearer.jpg" title="Samite_Censer_Bearer" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Virulent_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Virulent_Sliver.jpg" title="Virulent_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Llanowar_Augur.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Llanowar_Augur.jpg" title="Llanowar_Augur" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Augur_of_Skulls.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Augur_of_Skulls.jpg" title="Augur_of_Skulls" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Spellweaver_Volute.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Spellweaver_Volute.jpg" title="Spellweaver_Volute" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Skizzik_Surger.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Skizzik_Surger.jpg" title="Skizzik_Surger" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Dust_of_Moments.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Dust_of_Moments.jpg" title="Dust_of_Moments" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Virulent_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Virulent_Sliver.jpg" title="Virulent_Sliver" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 3, Pick 8:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Leaden_Fists.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Leaden_Fists.jpg" title="Leaden_Fists" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Wrap_in_Vigor.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Wrap_in_Vigor.jpg" title="Wrap_in_Vigor" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Lost_Hours.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Lost_Hours.jpg" title="Lost_Hours" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Witchs_Mist.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Witchs_Mist.jpg" title="Witchs_Mist" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Stronghold_Rats.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Stronghold_Rats.jpg" title="Stronghold_Rats" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Gift_of_Granite.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Gift_of_Granite.jpg" title="Gift_of_Granite" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Mesmeric_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Mesmeric_Sliver.jpg" title="Mesmeric_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Patricians_Scorn.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Patricians_Scorn.jpg" title="Patricians_Scorn" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Patricians_Scorn.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Patricians_Scorn.jpg" title="Patricians_Scorn" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 3, Pick 9:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Cutthroat_il_Dal.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Cutthroat_il_Dal.jpg" title="Cutthroat_il_Dal" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Cloudseeder.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Cloudseeder.jpg" title="Cloudseeder" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Rift_Elemental.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Rift_Elemental.jpg" title="Rift_Elemental" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Henchfiend_of_Ukor.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Henchfiend_of_Ukor.jpg" title="Henchfiend_of_Ukor" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Grave_Scrabbler.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Grave_Scrabbler.jpg" title="Grave_Scrabbler" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Whetwheel.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Whetwheel.jpg" title="Whetwheel" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Gift_of_Granite.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Gift_of_Granite.jpg" title="Gift_of_Granite" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Whetwheel.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Whetwheel.jpg" title="Whetwheel" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 3, Pick 10:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Phosphorescent_Feast.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Phosphorescent_Feast.jpg" title="Phosphorescent_Feast" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Homing_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Homing_Sliver.jpg" title="Homing_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Lymph_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Lymph_Sliver.jpg" title="Lymph_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Rift_Elemental.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Rift_Elemental.jpg" title="Rift_Elemental" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Boldwyr_Intimidator.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Boldwyr_Intimidator.jpg" title="Boldwyr_Intimidator" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Gift_of_Granite.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Gift_of_Granite.jpg" title="Gift_of_Granite" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Boldwyr_Intimidator.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Boldwyr_Intimidator.jpg" title="Boldwyr_Intimidator" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 3, Pick 11:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Putrid_Cyclops.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Putrid_Cyclops.jpg" title="Putrid_Cyclops" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Bogardan_Lancer.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Bogardan_Lancer.jpg" title="Bogardan_Lancer" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Lumithread_Field.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Lumithread_Field.jpg" title="Lumithread_Field" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Deepcavern_Imp.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Deepcavern_Imp.jpg" title="Deepcavern_Imp" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Mesmeric_Sliver.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Mesmeric_Sliver.jpg" title="Mesmeric_Sliver" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Deepcavern_Imp.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Deepcavern_Imp.jpg" title="Deepcavern_Imp" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 3, Pick 12:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Bogardan_Lancer.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Bogardan_Lancer.jpg" title="Bogardan_Lancer" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Samite_Censer_Bearer.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Samite_Censer_Bearer.jpg" title="Samite_Censer_Bearer" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Storm_Entity.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Storm_Entity.jpg" title="Storm_Entity" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Grinning_Ignus.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Grinning_Ignus.jpg" title="Grinning_Ignus" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Grinning_Ignus.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Grinning_Ignus.jpg" title="Grinning_Ignus" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 3, Pick 13:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/New_Benalia.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/New_Benalia.jpg" title="New_Benalia" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Lost_Hours.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Lost_Hours.jpg" title="Lost_Hours" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Emblem_of_the_Warmind.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Emblem_of_the_Warmind.jpg" title="Emblem_of_the_Warmind" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/New_Benalia.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/New_Benalia.jpg" title="New_Benalia" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 3, Pick 14:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Saltskitter.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Saltskitter.jpg" title="Saltskitter" width="100" /></a>
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Oblivion_Crown.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Oblivion_Crown.jpg" title="Oblivion_Crown" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Saltskitter.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Saltskitter.jpg" title="Saltskitter" width="100" /></a><br />
Pack 3, Pick 15:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Samite_Censer_Bearer.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Samite_Censer_Bearer.jpg" title="Samite_Censer_Bearer" width="100" /></a>
<br />
My Pick:<br />
<a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Samite_Censer_Bearer.jpg"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/FUT/Samite_Censer_Bearer.jpg" title="Samite_Censer_Bearer" width="100" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
The Deck:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKh-Iwur1F0OjQgUjnPX9H5pTmEoGiEL-k4WOYckqg_4FOwoXAYXAlAI1XEHK9GacHT9EM0FaRHQDhFNSHDzwmrTlwg2UGrvLG6wCEYZPy6UpSdZrXA-i18qiIXF5-KtlR-6Z6lx-laTK/s1600/tpfscreen.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKh-Iwur1F0OjQgUjnPX9H5pTmEoGiEL-k4WOYckqg_4FOwoXAYXAlAI1XEHK9GacHT9EM0FaRHQDhFNSHDzwmrTlwg2UGrvLG6wCEYZPy6UpSdZrXA-i18qiIXF5-KtlR-6Z6lx-laTK/s640/tpfscreen.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I chose to include Whetwheel as a Grey Ogre as my early game needed a bit of help. It can also sometimes kill your opponent on its own. The only maindeck Teachings target is Sprout Swarm, which is fine. Sideboard Aether Web, Havenwood Wurm, Dawn Charm, and Patrician's Scorn were all used to great effect throughout the draft.<br />
<br />
I lost one game to Triskelavus, otherwise all the games were fairly easy. Patrician's Scorn and Aether Web came in against' U/W evasion with Reality Acid combo and a Temporal Isolation. Havenwood Wurm came in against a R/B deck with Lightning Axe as its main removal. Dawn Charm came in against the finals opponent, who was monogreen with Gaea's Liege and Baru.<br />
<br />
I was able to use Voidstone Gargoyle to shut off my opponent's Malach of the Dawn as well as to name a suspended Nantuko Shaman in the finals. I was pretty happy with how the deck came together and Sprout Swarm didn't singlehandedly win any games. Mycoderm is criminally underrated, as is white in general.<br />
<br />
Hope you enjoyed checking out this draft, if you have the tix and time to spare, TPF is one of the most fun draft formats ever.<br />
<br />
Lessons Taught.<br />
KmasterKmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01739675186253390264noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836707808414146348.post-82514954238685645642011-05-31T16:02:00.000-04:002011-05-31T16:02:57.900-04:00Grand Prix: Providence results are in!And let me tell you; I'm excited.<br />
<br />
Forceless Bant winning the whole thing? Hive Mind? Stoneforge Mystic as four of the five (nonland) creatures in a deck?<br />
<br />
We're in business now. But the question that always arises after a Grand Prix: "Is the format healthy?"<br />
<a name='more'></a>I'm going to say that it is; let's take a look:<br />
<br />
Natural Order RUG - Aggro-Control-Combo<br />
Deedstill(UGB Landstill) - Control<br />
Forceless Bant - Aggro-Control<br />
Welder Painter - Combo<br />
Little Zoo - Aggro<br />
Merfolk - Aggro<br />
Mystic Landstill - Control<br />
Show/Hive Mind - Combo<br />
<br />
You can label Merfolk and Stoneforge Mystic Landstill as Aggro-Control, but I feel like that's kind of stretching the label.<br />
<br />
Control - Standstill proves to be the best draw engine in Legacy, yet again. Misstep seems to have pushed the deck over the edge, but I was surprised, but not overly so, to see the Stoneforge Mystic/Batterskull combo in the UW variant. The common problem found from playing the grinding control deck at long tournaments is just that; the games go long, and it ends up being difficult to manage the clock. Mystic/Batterskull lets you have an actual finisher that requires a low mana investment and can be played early, or protected easily.<br />
<br />
Aggro - The Zoo list is good. Play it; but don't be afraid to pay life off Sylvan Library. I watched the match between Forceless Bant and Zoo in the top 8 of the GP, and if he had paid 8 life right away to it, he probably would have won the second game. I kept saying, "Come on guy. Your opponent is playing Bant. Just pay the man."<br />
<br />
Also, Merfolk is a real deck. We already knew this one.<br />
<br />
Combo - I'm kind of surprised that Painter would make it, instead of dodging Misstep like Hive Mind does, it just overloads them with Red Blast.<br />
<br />
Mental Misstep has clearly had an effect on the format, as there were 0 cards with Storm in it; there was Storm in Chicago, Madrid, and Columbus (not the first time). This isn't the end of Storm; just harder to pilot through right now.<br />
<br />
Check them out. Go find the lists, and try them out. This format's awesome.<br />
<br />
-G<br />
<br />Gandhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637374922570657386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836707808414146348.post-23544359869290397382011-05-23T16:31:00.000-04:002011-05-23T16:31:19.185-04:00Horizons, New and OtherwiseThe Bazaar of Moxen results are up, and we have an old favorite in Canadian Threshold that made an appearance.<br />
<br />
World: hear me on this one. Stop playing Canadian Threshold. I'm not going to make the argument that it isn't very good - there's power in surprise, and there's an inherent frustration with playing against the deck; and if people are moving away from things like Zoo, things like Canadian Threshold get better.<br />
<br />
But Red isn't known to be a fantastic support color; why Nimble Mongoose, Tarmogoyf and Grim Lavamancer when there's Knight of the Reliquary and Terravore available?<br />
<br />
Also, the enemy of the deck (Swords to Plowshares) can be contained with our friend Mental Misstep.<br />
<br />
<div style="border: 1px solid white; float: left;">
<div style="background-color: #333333; border: 1px solid white;">
Misstep the Horizons | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
</div>
<div style="float: left; margin-left: 3px; width: 200px;">
<b>10 Creatures: </b>
<br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Tarmogoyf.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Tarmogoyf</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Knight_of_the_Reliquary.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Knight of the Reliquary</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Terravore.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Terravore</a><br />
<br />
<b>28 Spells: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mental_Misstep.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mental Misstep</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Force_of_Will.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Force of Will</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Brainstorm.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Brainstorm</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ponder.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Ponder</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Daze.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Daze</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Stifle.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Stifle</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Engineered_Explosives.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Engineered Explosives</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Swords_to_Plowshares.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Swords to Plowshares</a></div>
<div style="float: left; width: 200px;">
<b>22 Lands: </b>
<br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Tundra.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Tundra</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Tropical_Island.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Tropical Island</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Savannah.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Savannah</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Windswept_Heath.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Windswept Heath</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Misty_Rainforest.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Misty Rainforest</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Horizon_Canopy.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Horizon Canopy</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Wasteland.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Wasteland</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Forest.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Forest</a></div>
<div style="border-right: 1px solid white; float: left; width: 200px;">
<b>15 Sideboard: </b>
<br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Divert.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Divert</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Thrun_the_Last_Troll.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Thrun, the Last Troll</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Bojuka_Bog.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Bojuka Bog</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Karakas.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Karakas</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Krosan_Grip.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Krosan Grip</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Oblivion_Ring.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Oblivion Ring</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Engineered_Explosives.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Engineered Explosives</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Submerge.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Submerge</a></div>
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<a name='more'></a>Wait, why White instead of Black?<br />
<br />
An uncontested Knight of the Reliquary is just as good as an uncontested Dark Confidant.<br />
<br />
There. I said it.<br />
<br />
It's close though. Knight will usually end the game in 2 hits, though, usually a couple turns after she comes down. If you're feeding yourself additional cards with Horizon Canopy or adding to the Wasteland count, both of these push your advantage.<br />
<br />
But I'm not here to sing the merits of Knight of the Reliquary. I'm pretty sure people know that I like that one.<br />
<br />
The disruption package is tailor made to handle the problems that this format has to offer:<br />
<br />
Stifle is a hallmark of Tempo decks; knowing what and when to Stifle separates the good from the bad. Spells that tend to cost 3 and 4 give Tempo decks fits generally, so it Stone Rains early, and it stops important triggers later. It's fallen out of favor from more recent Team America decks - but they're playing Dark Confidant instead of Tombstalker; they don't end the game quickly.<br />
<br />
Why Daze over Spell Pierce? This is a deck that needs to tap out for a threat. Costing 3 mana is generally a dangerous proposition when things like Swords to Plowshares exists in the format, but tapping out is safer than ever with Mental Misstep, Daze and Force of Will.<br />
<br />
Which brings up Mental Misstep - New Horizons' weakness has been Swords to Plowshares and Path to Exile. You can play around all the other common removal spells in the format, but tapping out for a Knight of the Reliquary and then getting it Plowed before it untaps is a very real concern.<br />
<br />
Now, if people intend on playing Team America still, adaptation is important. I'm opting for Divert over Misdirection on Hymn to Tourachs, but we'll see how long that lasts, in a world of Mental Misstep.<br />
<br />
-G<br />
<br />Gandhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637374922570657386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836707808414146348.post-19996066165600151442011-05-16T17:16:00.000-04:002011-05-16T17:16:13.873-04:00Legacy Weapon - Of Paladins and PuresteelI only made a brief mention of Puresteel Paladin when I was talking about the set, but let's take another look at him. I've been asked about my building process, so I'm also going to go into that in this post.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=227504&type=card" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=227504&type=card" /></a></div>
<a name='more'></a>I may not play a lot of actual Magic these days, but I still think about it and write about it a lot.; I'm trying to get it to about 2 nights a week, which has been a good balance of life and Magic. Most of which I've written never sees the light of day, but that's okay.<br />
<br />
The initial questions about playing Puresteel Paladin shape the building process:<br />
1. How much of a buildaround me card do I want it to be? <br />
2. Is there a previous shell that this card fits into? How does it change how those decks work? <br />
3. Is this card best in a monocolored deck? Two colors? Three?<br />
4. Where does it fit into the curve? I mean, where does it <i>really</i> fit into the curve?<br />
5. Initial decklist. Battle and figure out what's good and bad about it.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Individual traits:</span><br />
<br />
<i>Whenever an equipment enters the battlefield under your control, you may draw a card.</i><br />
All equipment you play or Stoneforge Mystic into play now cantrip. This is the initial draw toward the card, but I think it's actually the weaker of the two abilities; which is one of the reasons why I'm attracted to the card. It just happens to be a very nice upside.<br />
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<i>Metalcraft - Equipment you control have equip 0 as long as you control three or more artifacts.</i><br />
I cannot stress enough that Magic is a game of resources. In a game against a not-Dredge opponent, each player starts off with the same constants; the same reasons why 'free' spells are powerful, and free effects are desirable. This has the downside of needing 3 artifacts in play, but will often lead to game states where you play Paladin, and suit up another creature with multiple equipment immediately; effectively granting plenty of free mana.<br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>WW in the casting cost.</i><br />
Big detriment. Hard to cast when trying to make a powerful manabase that does more than just cast spells. Stoneforge Mystic wouldn't have seen nearly the same amount of play with a stressful manacost like this one.<br />
<br />
<i>2/2</i><br />
Disappointing.<br />
<br />
<i>Human Knight</i><br />
I feel like mentioning this was a mistake<i>.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>There are three decks that immediately come to mind when considering this card:<br />
<br />
A more recent deck:<br />
<div style="border: 1px solid white; float: left;">
<div style="background-color: #333333; border: 1px solid white;">
David Payne's Death and Taxes | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
</div>
<div style="float: left; margin-left: 3px; width: 200px;">
<b>25 Creatures: </b>
<br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Jotun_Grunt.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Jotun Grunt</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Flickerwisp.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Flickerwisp</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Phyrexian_Revoker.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Phyrexian Revoker</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mangara_of_Corondor.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mangara of Corondor</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Serra_Avenger.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Serra Avenger</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mother_of_Runes.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mother of Runes</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Stoneforge_Mystic.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Stoneforge Mystic</a><br />
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<b>12 Spells: </b>
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1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Umezawas_Jitte.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Umezawa's Jitte</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sword_of_Light_and_Shadow.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sword of Light and Shadow</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Aether_Vial.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Aether Vial</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sword_of_Fire_and_Ice.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sword of Fire and Ice</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Oust.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Oust</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Swords_to_Plowshares.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Swords to Plowshares</a></div>
<div style="float: left; width: 200px;">
<b>23 Lands: </b>
<br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Karakas.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Karakas</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Rishadan_Port.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Rishadan Port</a><br />
11 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Plains.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Plains</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Wasteland.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Wasteland</a></div>
<div style="border-right: 1px solid white; float: left; width: 200px;">
<b>15 Sideboard: </b>
<br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ensnaring_Bridge.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Ensnaring Bridge</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Tormods_Crypt.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Tormod's Crypt</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Oblivion_Ring.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Oblivion Ring</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Enlightened_Tutor.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Enlightened Tutor</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Phyrexian_Revoker.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Phyrexian Revoker</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Oust.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Oust</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ethersworn_Canonist.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Ethersworn Canonist</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Relic_of_Progenitus.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Relic of Progenitus</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Wheel_of_Sun_and_Moon.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Wheel of Sun and Moon</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Serenity.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Serenity</a></div>
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An older list:<br />
<div style="border: 1px solid white; float: left;">
<div style="background-color: #333333; border: 1px solid white;">
Mike Antrim's GW Ladies | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
</div>
<div style="float: left; margin-left: 3px; width: 200px;">
<b>25 Creatures: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mother_of_Runes_.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mother of Runes </a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Tarmogoyf_.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Tarmogoyf </a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Serra_Avenger_.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Serra Avenger </a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Qasali_Pridemage_.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Qasali Pridemage </a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Stoneforge_Mystic_.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Stoneforge Mystic </a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Gaddock_Teeg_.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Gaddock Teeg </a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Knight_of_the_Reliquary_.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Knight of the Reliquary </a><br />
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<b>13 Spells: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Swords_To_Plowshares_.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Swords To Plowshares </a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sylvan_Library_.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sylvan Library </a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/AEther_Vial_.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">AEther Vial </a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Umezawas_Jitte_.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Umezawa's Jitte </a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sword_of_Light_And_Shadow_.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sword of Light And Shadow </a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sword_of_Fire_And_Ice_.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sword of Fire And Ice </a></div>
<div style="float: left; width: 200px;">
<b>22 Lands: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Savannah_.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Savannah </a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Horizon_Canopy_.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Horizon Canopy </a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Windswept_Heath_.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Windswept Heath </a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Wasteland_.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Wasteland </a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Plains_.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Plains </a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Karakas_.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Karakas </a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Treetop_Village_.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Treetop Village </a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Forest_.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Forest </a></div>
<div style="border-right: 1px solid white; float: left; width: 200px;">
<b>15 Sideboard: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ethersworn_Canonist.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Ethersworn Canonist</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Krosan_Grip.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Krosan Grip</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Condemn.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Condemn</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Cataclysm.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Cataclysm</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Pithing_Needle.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Pithing Needle</a></div>
</div>
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And an even older deck despite this deck making me actively want to vomit:<br />
<div style="border: 1px solid white; float: left;">
<div style="background-color: #333333; border: 1px solid white;">
UW Tempo | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
</div>
<div style="float: left; margin-left: 3px; width: 200px;">
<b>22 Creatures: </b>
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2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Vexing_Sphinx.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Vexing Sphinx</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Jotun_Grunt.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Jotun Grunt</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Weathered_Wayfarer.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Weathered Wayfarer</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Serra_Avenger.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Serra Avenger</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Fathom_Seer.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Fathom Seer</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mother_of_Runes.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mother of Runes</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Stoneforge_Mystic.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Stoneforge Mystic</a><br />
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<b>21 Spells: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Force_of_Will.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Force of Will</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Umezawas_Jitte.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Umezawa's Jitte</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Aether_Vial.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Aether Vial</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Brainstorm.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Brainstorm</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Daze.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Daze</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Swords_to_Plowshares.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Swords to Plowshares</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Spell_Pierce.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Spell Pierce</a></div>
<div style="float: left; width: 200px;">
<b>17 Lands: </b>
<br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Plains.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Plains</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Island.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Island</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Flooded_Strand.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Flooded Strand</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Wasteland.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Wasteland</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Tundra.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Tundra</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Marsh_Flats.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Marsh Flats</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Arid_Mesa.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Arid Mesa</a></div>
<div style="border-right: 1px solid white; float: left; width: 200px;">
<b>15 Sideboard: </b>
<br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Hibernation.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Hibernation</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Enlightened_Tutor.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Enlightened Tutor</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Submerge.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Submerge</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ethersworn_Canonist.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Ethersworn Canonist</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Relic_of_Progenitus.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Relic of Progenitus</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Pithing_Needle.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Pithing Needle</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Llawan_Cephalid_Empress.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Llawan, Cephalid Empress</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Powder_Keg.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Powder Keg</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Absolute_Law.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Absolute Law</a></div>
</div>
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It was pretty clear that there would be Stoneforge Mystic involved in our Paladin shenanigans, but I don't know the right number; I'm going to start off with 3, and see where it takes me.<br />
<br />
Considering all of these decks supported Serra Avenger, and I've
never seen Serra Avenger in a 3 color deck, I'm going to jump to the
conclusion that I don't want to be playing 3 colors. Even the monowhite
deck is basically supporting 2 colors; Rishadan Port + Wasteland for
land-light decks is basically a second color.<br />
<br />
However, I don't feel like any of the aforementioned decks can get Metalcraft to capitalize on the Paladin's metalcraft ability. When he <i>does</i> have metalcraft, he will be a boss, but when he doesn't... he's a 2/2 that sometimes draws a card; not exciting.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So how are we metalcrafting?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Utility artifacts - Sensei's Divining Top, Aether Vial; considerable options, Vial is definitely in, but Top doesn't fit as well into an aggressive shell.</span></span><br />
Equipment overload - Not a fan, even if it draws additional cards. The danger of drawing equipment without a creature is all too real.<br />
Artifact lands - This one is usually not what you want either, it unnecessarily opens you up to Wasteland.<br />
Lands that can also be artifacts - Mishra's Factory, Blinkmoth/Inkmoth Nexus; To me, this is very appealing option. It hurts that they don't help cast Paladin, but they can activate and immediately get equipped to attack.<br />
Artifact creatures - Phyrexian Revoker fits well in here, and so does Ethersworn Canonist.<br />
<br />
Now, I initially had Blue in this list for Brainstorm, Ponder, Daze, Spell Pierce, Mental Misstep and Standstill - but more and more blue cards kept getting cut for white cards; so I thought I might as well just make it monowhite; get to play more basics, and more punisher cards like Leonin Arbiter.<br />
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<div style="border: 1px solid white; float: left;">
<div style="background-color: #333333; border: 1px solid white;">
Puresteeling First | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
</div>
<div style="float: left; margin-left: 3px; width: 200px;">
<b>25 Creatures: </b>
<br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mother_of_Runes.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mother of Runes</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Puresteel_Paladin.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Puresteel Paladin</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Squadron_Hawk.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Squadron Hawk</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Leonin_Arbiter.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Leonin Arbiter</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ethersworn_Canonist.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Ethersworn Canonist</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Stoneforge_Mystic.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Stoneforge Mystic</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mirran_Crusader.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mirran Crusader</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Phyrexian_Revoker.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Phyrexian Revoker</a><br />
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<b>14 Spells: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Aether_Vial.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Aether Vial</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Swords_to_Plowshares.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Swords to Plowshares</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Oblivion_Ring.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Oblivion Ring</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sword_of_War_and_Peace.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sword of War and Peace</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sword_of_Fire_and_Ice.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sword of Fire and Ice</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sword_of_Feast_and_Famine.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sword of Feast and Famine</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Umezawas_Jitte.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Umezawa's Jitte</a></div>
<div style="float: left; width: 200px;">
<b>21 Lands: </b>
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11 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Plains.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Plains</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Wasteland.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Wasteland</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Rishadan_Port.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Rishadan Port</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mishras_Factory.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mishra's Factory</a></div>
<div style="border-right: 1px solid white; float: left; width: 200px;">
<b>15 Sideboard: </b>
<br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Thorn_of_Amethyst.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Thorn of Amethyst</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/True_Believer.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">True Believer</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Leonin_Relic_Warder.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Leonin Relic Warder</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Path_to_Exile.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Path to Exile</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Jotun_Grunt.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Jotun Grunt</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Batterskull.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Batterskull</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mortarpod.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mortarpod</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Leonin_Arbiter.jpg">Leonin Arbiter</a> </div>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some notes:</span><br />
Squadron Hawk instead of Serra Avenger - I just need a random dude with equipment, I'm probably wrong about this though.<br />
Equipment - Sword, Sword, Sword and Jitte. War and Peace is protection from Legacy removal, Fire and Ice can remove threats, and Feast and Famine is protection from most of Legacy's creatures. Also, there's a Jitte in there. That one's a good one. The exclusions: Light and Shadow, Body and Mind. Light and Shadow was used primarily for the protection from white, but War and Peace ends the game significantly faster. Body and Mind tends to fall by the wayside, because the effects just aren't enough.<br />
Arbiter combined with your own search effects - play around your own cards. Arbiter's a very powerful effect.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Curve considerations:</span><br />
This deck's curve blows. I really can't think of a nice to thing to say about it, but it's modeled after the curve of most Death and Taxes style decks; that is, the curve blows. But it's chock full of threats, and creatures that hold equipment to good end; that's worth something.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Time to battle:</span><br />
If I can assemble everything for this deck, I will be battling with it at a local Legacy tournament near you.<br />
<br />
-GGandhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637374922570657386noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836707808414146348.post-61161936361312905712011-05-13T16:25:00.001-04:002011-05-13T16:26:23.461-04:008 Standard decks to consider for the new formatWe both know why you guys are here. It's time for some decklists.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
The most obvious place to start is with Caw-Blade, so here's my most recent list updated for the new set<br />
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<div style="border: 1px solid white; float: left;">
<div style="background-color: #333333; border: 1px solid white;">
Caw | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
</div>
<div style="float: left; margin-left: 3px; width: 200px;">
<b>8 Creatures: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Stoneforge_Mystic.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Stoneforge Mystic</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Squadron_Hawks.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Squadron Hawks</a><br />
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<b>25 Spells: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Preordain.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Preordain</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Oust.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Oust</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mana_Leak.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mana Leak</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Spell_Pierce.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Spell Pierce</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Jace_the_Mind_Sculptor.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Jace the Mind Sculptor</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Gideon_Jura.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Gideon Jura</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Into_the_Roil.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Into the Roil</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sword_of_Feast_and_Famine.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sword of Feast and Famine</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sword_of_War_and_Peace.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sword of War and Peace</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Batterskull.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Batterskull</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mortarpod.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mortarpod</a></div>
<div style="float: left; width: 200px;">
<b>27 Lands: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Seachrome_Coast.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Seachrome Coast</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Glacial_Fortress.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Glacial Fortress</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Celestial_Colonnade.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Celestial Colonnade</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Tectonic_Edge.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Tectonic Edge</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Inkmoth_Nexus.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Inkmoth Nexus</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Marsh_Flats.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Marsh Flats</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Misty_Rainforest.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Misty Rainforest</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Plains.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Plains</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Island.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Island</a></div>
<div style="border-right: 1px solid white; float: left; width: 200px;">
<b>15 Sideboard: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Flashfreeze.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Flashfreeze</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Condemn.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Condemn</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Day_of_Judgement.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Day of Judgement</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Divine_Offering.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Divine Offering</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Jace_Beleren.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Jace Beleren</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Celestial_Purge.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Celestial Purge</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sun_Titan.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sun Titan</a></div>
</div>
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The obvious additions here are Batterskull and Sword of War and Peace, which are both absurdly powerful when searched up with a Stoneforge Mystic. The only other change to the maindeck is the addition of 2 extra Into the Roil, which serves as an answer to opposing Swords, as well as the Splinter Twin combo. While I can understand why people would suggest cutting Mortarpod from the deck, I'm pretty sure its wrong to do so, as the 'pod is too valuable to cut. <br />
The sideboard contains 2 Day of Judgement, as I've consistently been impressed with the card out of the board and wanted to add the 2nd one. Kor Firewalker was completely cut from the deck as I've not only found it to be unnecessary in beating red decks, but now mono-red decks have gained additional ways to kill Firewalkers. Even before New Phyrexia, I felt favored against mono-red even in games where I didn't draw a Firewalker, but now with Sword of War and Peace and Batterskull to tutor up things get even better for you.<br />
<br />
Right now, the only real reasons I can see for not wanting to play this deck are its lack of ways to deal with Sword of War and Peace or Deceiver Exarch/Splinter Twin. However, I don't really feel like either of these should really be a huge concern. First off, getting hit with a Sword may be a pretty big hit, but its not the end of the world. Having your own Sword of War and Peace is actually a perfect answer to theirs, since opposing swords pretty much negate each other's triggered abilities. The only real issue with the R/W sword is its ability to kill planeswalkers, since its pretty much impossible to keep a Jace in play if your opponent has multiple guys they can suit up, and of course it will lead to a lot more one sided games, but its far from the end of the world for Caw-Blade decks.<br />
The Splinter Twin Combo is more of an issue, since it immediately wins the game once assembled. However, I haven't actually seen a list for the deck that I've felt is really good enough to really be competitive across the board. The shell is simply a 2 card combo costing 7 mana total, and while there exist good draw spells to search for combo pieces there are no real tutors for either piece. Combining the Splinter Twin combo with some other strategy is a good way to up your consistency, but Pyromancer's Ascension is a fairly questionable option there, and various UR control decks have never looked good at all.<br />
Even Caw-Blade still has answers in the form of Counterspells and Into the Roil, plus Celestial Purge out of the Board, and until I'm proven otherwise I'm not going to panic about the existence of this new combo.<br />
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The main thing to keep in mind is that you need to play aggressively with this deck. Squeezing in a few extra hits with Hawks can often be the difference between winning and falling a few points short. Sometimes it is correct to ignore opposing planeswalkers and just go for the dome. Now that the deck has access to Sword of War and Peace, killing opponents quickly is even easier.<br />
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<br />
For those of you who want to, splashing another color in Caw-Blade is a reasonable option, and the clear choice there is black<br />
<br />
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<div style="border: 1px solid white; float: left;">
<div style="background-color: #333333; border: 1px solid white;">
Esper Caw | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
</div>
<div style="float: left; margin-left: 3px; width: 200px;">
<b>8 Creatures: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Squadron_Hawk.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Squadron Hawk</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Stoneforge_Mystic.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Stoneforge Mystic</a><br />
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<b>25 Spells: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Jace_the_Mind_Sculptor.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Jace the Mind Sculptor</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Jace_Beleren.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Jace Beleren</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Gideon_Jura.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Gideon Jura</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Preordain.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Preordain</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Inquisition_of_Kosilek.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Inquisition of Kosilek</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mana_Leak.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mana Leak</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sword_of_Feast_and_Famine.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sword of Feast and Famine</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sword_of_War_and_Peace.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sword of War and Peace</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Batterskull.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Batterskull</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Dismember.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Dismember</a></div>
<div style="float: left; width: 200px;">
<b>27 Lands: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Creeping_Tar_Pit.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Creeping Tar Pit</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Darkslick_Shores.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Darkslick Shores</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Seachrome_Coast.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Seachrome Coast</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Marsh_Flats.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Marsh Flats</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Glacial_Fortress.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Glacial Fortress</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Island.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Island</a><br />
5 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Plains.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Plains</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Swamp.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Swamp</a></div>
<div style="border-right: 1px solid white; float: left; width: 200px;">
<b>15 Sideboard: </b>
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1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Jace_Beleren.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Jace Beleren</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Despise.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Despise</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Flashfreeze.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Flashfreeze</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Day_of_Judgement.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Day of Judgement</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Into_the_Roil.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Into the Roil</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Disfigure.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Disfigure</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Celestial_Purge.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Celestial Purge</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Volition_Reins.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Volition Reins</a></div>
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For a while, the black splash was considered to be the best option for Caw-Blade. Eventually, however, people figured out that the changes to the mana base were not worth the slight increase in power that the deck gained from having access to better removal and discard spells. Now that Sword of War and Peace exists, the black removal spells get a lot better, meaning that its possible that this version is superior, but for now I'm somewhat skeptical. Creeping Tar Pit is very good, but you become extremely vulnerable to opposing Tectonic Edges since the majority of your blue sources are in the form of non-basics. <br />
As for the list itself, the only major standout is my choice of Dismember for the black removal spell instead of Doom Blade or Go for the Throat. At a cost of 1B + 2 life, Dismember kills things that Doom Blade or Go for the Throat cannot, and the fact that it can be cast for 1 mana puts it over the top in my mind. The fact that it cannot kill Titans may prove to be a hindrance if Inferno Titans start popping back up (which they shouldn't since they just lose to Sword of War and Peace), so for now I don't think that's enough of an issue to worry about.<br />
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While discussing Stoneforge Mystic decks, I'd like to mention one with little less Jace and a little more spice.<br />
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<div style="border: 1px solid white; float: left;">
<div style="background-color: #333333; border: 1px solid white;">
Puresteel Paladin.dec | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
</div>
<div style="float: left; margin-left: 3px; width: 200px;">
<b>20 Creatures: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Memnite.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Memnite</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Steppe_Lynx.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Steppe Lynx</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Stoneforge_Mystic.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Stoneforge Mystic</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Puresteel_Paladin.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Puresteel Paladin</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Squadron_Hawks.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Squadron Hawks</a><br />
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<b>16 Spells: </b>
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2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mortarpod.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mortarpod</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Adventuring_Gear.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Adventuring Gear</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sword_of_Feast_and_Famine.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sword of Feast and Famine</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sword_of_War_and_Peace.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sword of War and Peace</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sword_of_Body_and_Mind.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sword of Body and Mind</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Batterskull.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Batterskull</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Argentum_Armor.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Argentum Armor</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Hammer_of_Ruin.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Hammer of Ruin</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Dispatch.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Dispatch</a></div>
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<b>24 Lands: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Arid_Mesa.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Arid Mesa</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Marsh_Flats.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Marsh Flats</a><br />
12 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Plains.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Plains</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Inkmoth_Nexus.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Inkmoth Nexus</a></div>
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<b>15 Sideboard: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Brave_the_Elements.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Brave the Elements</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Celestial_Purge.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Celestial Purge</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Kor_Sanctifiers.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Kor Sanctifiers</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Divine_Offering.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Divine Offering</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Bonehoard.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Bonehoard</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Oust.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Oust</a></div>
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The obvious "build around me" card here is Puresteel Paladin, which from what I've seen is downright insane. This deck has a full 12 equipment, of which 7 cost 1 or 2 mana, allowing the Paladin to draw you plenty of extra cards very quickly. Given that you also draw when putting something in with Stoneforge Mystic, its pretty tough to run out of gas with this deck. The metalcraft on the Paladin and Dispatch can be activated fairly consistently, though I wouldn't say its guaranteed (part of the reason why Mox Opal is absent), and when it does happen things get wild pretty quickly. Mortarpod, Batterskull, and Argentum Armor all become absolutely insane when they can equip for free, and Dispatch becomes the best removal spell of all time.<br />
Hammer of Ruin is an excellent way to break the Stoneforge Mystic mirror, and its possible that additional copies can be boarded in place of some of the Divine Offering/Kor Sanctifiers.<br />
I also want to find a way to fit some number of Kemba, Kha Regent into the deck, if only because cats are awesome.<br />
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This is not a strategy I would quickly dismiss, as it is capable of some completely broken draws, and unlike the Quest for the Holy Relic decks this deck can actually do something without needing a specific card to function.<br />
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<br />
Next on our list is the funky new combo everyone's talking about.<br />
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<div style="border: 1px solid white; float: left;">
<div style="background-color: #333333; border: 1px solid white;">
Splinter Twin Combo | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
</div>
<div style="float: left; margin-left: 3px; width: 200px;">
<b>8 Creatures: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Deceiver_Exarch.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Deceiver Exarch</a><br />
4 Spellskite<br />
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<b>27 Spells: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Preordain.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Preordain</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Gitaxian_Probe.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Gitaxian Probe</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Jace_the_Mind_Sculptor.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Jace the Mind Sculptor</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Jace_Beleren.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Jace Beleren</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mana_Leak.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mana Leak</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Splinter_Twin.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Splinter Twin</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Lightning_Bolt.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Lightning Bolt</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Burst_Lightning.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Burst Lightning</a></div>
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<b>25 Lands: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Scalding_Tarn.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Scalding Tarn</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Evolving_Wilds.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Evolving Wilds</a><br />
7 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Island.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Island</a><br />
10 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mountain.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mountain</a></div>
<div style="border-right: 1px solid white; float: left; width: 200px;">
<b>15 Sideboard: </b><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Goblin_Guide.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Goblin Guide</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Burst_Lightning.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Burst Lightning</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Searing_Blaze.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Searing Blaze</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Staggershock.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Staggershock</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Koth_of_the_Hammer.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Koth of the Hammer</a></div>
</div>
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Honestly, as I stated above, I don't actually think this deck is very good. Admittedly, the combo is very powerful and will result in plenty of quick kills in the upcoming weeks, but I just don't feel like it can be assembled consistently enough to make a viable deck. <br />
This list is close to what I'd start with if you wanted to be all-in on the combo. Spellskite is surprisingly good at protecting the Exarch and can block reasonably well. Its possible that See Beyond or Sea Gate Oracle could have a place, cutting the Burst Lightnings or possibly some of the Spellskite, to provide additional draw power, but neither of those cards is particularly powerful and I don't think that this is a format where you can durdle around trying to find combo pieces while your opponent is actually doing things.<br />
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Adding black gives you some additional protection for the combo, as well as Liliana Vess as an actual way to tutor, and might be worth looking at. <br />
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<div style="border: 1px solid white; float: left;">
<div style="background-color: #333333; border: 1px solid white;">
Grixis Splinter | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
</div>
<div style="float: left; margin-left: 3px; width: 200px;">
<b>4 Creatures: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Deceiver_Exarch.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Deceiver Exarch</a><br />
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<b>30 Spells: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Inquisition_of_Kosilek.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Inquisition of Kosilek</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Doom_Blade.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Doom Blade</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Go_for_the_Throat.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Go for the Throat</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Liliana_Vess.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Liliana Vess</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Lightning_Bolt.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Lightning Bolt</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Splinter_Twin.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Splinter Twin</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Preordain.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Preordain</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Jace_the_Mind_Sculptor.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Jace the Mind Sculptor</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mana_Leak.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mana Leak</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Black_Suns_Zenith.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Black Sun's Zenith</a></div>
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<b>26 Lands: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Creeping_Tar_Pit.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Creeping Tar Pit</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Darkslick_Shores.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Darkslick Shores</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Scalding_Tarn.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Scalding Tarn</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Blackcleave_Cliffs.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Blackcleave Cliffs</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Lavaclaw_Reaches.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Lavaclaw Reaches</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Island.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Island</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mountain.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mountain</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Swamp.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Swamp</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Terremorphic_Expanse.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Terremorphic Expanse</a></div>
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<b>15 Sideboard: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Flashfreeze.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Flashfreeze</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Black_Suns_Zenith.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Black Sun's Zenith</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Pyroclasm.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Pyroclasm</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Despise.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Despise</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Duress.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Duress</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Doom_Blade.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Doom Blade</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Go_for_the_Throat.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Go for the Throat</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Grave_Titan.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Grave Titan</a></div>
</div>
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This deck plays much more like a UB control deck, with the added discard spells and a lot of removal. Here though, the question is whether the Exarch/Twin combo is actually a good enough win condition to be worth playing red. Is this 2 card combo really better than just playing a Grave Titan?<br />
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Speaking of which:<br />
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<div style="border: 1px solid white; float: left;">
<div style="background-color: #333333; border: 1px solid white;">
UB Control | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
</div>
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<b>3 Creatures: </b>
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3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Grave_Titan.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Grave Titan</a><br />
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<b>30 Spells: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Preordain.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Preordain</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Dispise.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Despise</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Inquisition_of_Kosilek.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Inquisition of Kosilek</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mana_Leak.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mana Leak</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Doom_Blade.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Doom Blade</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Go_for_the_Throat.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Go for the Throat</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Jace_the_Mind_Sculptor.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Jace the Mind Sculptor</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Jace_Beleren.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Jace Beleren</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Liliana_Vess.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Liliana Vess</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Into_the_Roil.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Into the Roil</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Black_Suns_Zenith.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Black Sun's Zenith</a></div>
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<b>27 Lands: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Creeping_Tar_Pit.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Creeping Tar Pit</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Darkslick_Shores.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Darkslick Shores</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Drowned_Catacombs.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Drowned Catacombs</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Tectonic_Edge.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Tectonic Edge</a><br />
5 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Swamp.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Swamp</a><br />
6 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Island.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Island</a></div>
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<b>15 Sideboard: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Disfigure.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Disfigure</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Inquisition_of_Kosilek.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Inquisition of Kosilek</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Negate.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Negate</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Flashfreeze.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Flashfreeze</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Jace_Beleren.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Jace Beleren</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Into_the_Roil.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Into the Roil</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Stoic_Rebuttal.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Stoic Rebuttal</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Volition_Reins.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Volition Reins</a></div>
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I find it very surprising that no one is really talking about this deck. Prior to the addition of Sword of Feast and Famine, this was the deck to beat in the format, and as a true control deck UB has the tools to deal with every one of the major threats in the format. Grave Titan is still one of the best creatures in the format at actually attacking for the win, since it can kill in 2 swings and brings along friends to kill a Jace if needed. The 8 planeswalkers in the maindeck may seem excessive, but both Jace Beleren and Liliana have looked good enough to me to be worth playing more than 1. More spot removal may be correct, since Black Sun's Zenith isn't really that great, but other than that I'm ok with the numbers in the maindeck.<br />
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Due to this deck's strengths vs. pretty much everything except UW Caw-Blade, its possible UB control can make a resurgence if Caw drops off in popularity.<br />
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And now for something completely different.<br />
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<div style="background-color: #333333; border: 1px solid white;">
Animals and Stuff | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
</div>
<div style="float: left; margin-left: 3px; width: 200px;">
<b>29 Creatures: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Birds_of_Paradise.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Birds of Paradise</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Stoneforge_Mystic.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Stoneforge Mystic</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Fauna_Shaman.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Fauna Shaman</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Lotus_Cobra.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Lotus Cobra</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Squadron_Hawk.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Squadron Hawk</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Vengevine.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Vengevine</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Chancellor_of_the_Tangle.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Chancellor of the Tangle</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sun_Titan.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sun Titan</a><br />
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<b>6 Spells: </b>
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3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Overwhelming_Stampede.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Overwhelming Stampede</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sword_of_Body_and_Mind.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sword of Body and Mind</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Batterskull.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Batterskull</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sword_of_War_and_Peace.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sword of War and Peace</a></div>
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<b>25 Lands: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Verdant_Catacombs.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Verdant Catacombs</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Misty_Rainforest.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Misty Rainforest</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Stirring_Wildwood.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Stirring Wildwood</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Razorverge_Thicket.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Razorverge Thicket</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sunpetal_Grove.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sunpetal Grove</a><br />
5 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Forest.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Forest</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Plains.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Plains</a></div>
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<b>15 Sideboard: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Oust.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Oust</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Gideon_Jura.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Gideon Jura</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Acidic_Slime.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Acidic Slime</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Spellskite.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Spellskite</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Overwhelming_Stampede.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Overwhelming Stampede</a></div>
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This deck, aka "all the best 2 drops", is set up to abuse the power of Chancellor of the Tangle allowing you to play a 2 drop on turn 1. Lotus Cobra, Fauna Shaman, and Stoneforge Mystic are already difficult enough to beat if they enter play on turn 2, and throwing them down a turn earlier is not even close to fair. From there, you can either be attacking with Sword-wielding guys on turn 3, bringing back Vengevines for the rest of the game, or simply casting a bunch of green and white monsters and bashing your opponent's face in. Overwhelming Stampede is pretty good at ending the game, and is fairly necessary in order to beat decks with Titans, and Gideon Jura out of the board is a pretty good answer to opposing Gideons (though its possible Beast Within is also acceptable for this purpose). Other than that the plan is pretty simple: Attack!<br />
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The close things out, we have an old favorite that gains quite a bit from the new set:<br />
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<div style="background-color: #333333; border: 1px solid white;">
BURN | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
</div>
<div style="float: left; margin-left: 3px; width: 200px;">
<b>12 Creatures: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Goblin_Guide.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Goblin Guide</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Plated_Geopede.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Plated Geopede</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ember_Hauler.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Ember Hauler</a><br />
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<b>24 Spells: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Lightning_Bolt.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Lightning Bolt</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Burst_Lightning.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Burst Lightning</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Searing_Blaze.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Searing Blaze</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Staggershock.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Staggershock</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Koth_of_the_Hammer.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Koth of the Hammer</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Shrine_of_Burning_Rage.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Shrine of Burning Rage</a></div>
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<b>24 Lands: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Scalding_Tarn.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Scalding Tarn</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Arid_Mesa.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Arid Mesa</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Teetering_Peaks.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Teetering Peaks</a><br />
12 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mountain.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mountain</a></div>
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<b>15 Sideboard: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Dismember.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Dismember</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mark_of_Mutiny.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mark of Mutiny</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Arc_Trail.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Arc Trail</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Manic_Vandal.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Manic Vandal</a></div>
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This deck has 8 ways to kill a Kor Firewalker between the maindeck and sideboard, and unlike Perilous Myr, they are actually cards that are acceptable at doing other things. Shrine of Burning Rage is actually one of the better burn spells in the deck, being able to present a fairly threatening clock even while being a sub-par late game topdeck. While the Shrine does cost 5 mana total to use, if it's doing an uncounterable 5+ damage to the face its probably worth it. Dismember comes in out of the board to kill pretty much anything except a Titan (which it can make a 1/1), and 4 life is a very small price to pay for that effect. Other than that, nothing much has changed, you still get to throw a bunch of burn spells at their dome and hope its enough. <br />
Batterskull and Sword of War and Peace are probably impossible to beat for mono-red if they get active, but this deck actually has enough removal to prevent anyone from untapping with a Stoneforge Mystic in play. Lastly, if enough UW players cut Mortarpod from their deck, Cunning Sparkmage may be a good addition to gun down Squadron Hawks, but the 0/1 is pretty vulnerable otherwise. <br />
The Goblin Guide test is still as difficult to pass as ever, and its still a reasonable choice if you want to burn some faces off.<br />
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I definitely hope that the new options from New Phyrexia lead to Standard becoming significantly more diverse, and there are certainly plenty of options to explore. In addition to the above lists, various Lotus Cobra ramp decks, Elf aggro decks, and even UG aggro decks have had small amounts of success previously, and are potentially right on the edge of becoming powerhouses within the new format.<br />
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There's always plenty of room to innovate in a new format, and now is as good a time as ever to break things wide open. There's only a couple days before the new cards become legal, and it's starting to get rather exciting.Matt McCulloughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01200532552008868377noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836707808414146348.post-72403697816733284452011-05-09T11:56:00.000-04:002011-05-09T11:56:02.576-04:00Legacy - Legacy decks are now 56 cards...We now start every deck with 4x Gitaxian Probe. Haven't you heard?<br />
<a name='more'></a>Okay, so I'm kidding about that one. However, when playing Legacy, you've got to take into consideration what kind of things happen when you play into and play around Mental Misstep.<br />
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You can't have your business get crushed by any opponent having any of the 8 free counterspells that the format offers now. We can now adapt:<br />
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<div style="background-color: #333333; border: 1px solid white;">
NPH Belcher | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
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<div style="float: left; margin-left: 3px; width: 200px;">
<b>13 Creatures: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Elvish_Spirit_Guide.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Elvish Spirit Guide</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Simian_Spirit_Guide.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Simian Spirit Guide</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Tinder_Wall.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Tinder Wall</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Xantid_Swarm.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Xantid Swarm</a><br />
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<b>46 Spells: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Chrome_Mox.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Chrome Mox</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Goblin_Charbelcher.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Goblin Charbelcher</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Lions_Eye_Diamond.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Lion's Eye Diamond</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Lotus_Petal.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Lotus Petal</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Desperate_Ritual.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Desperate Ritual</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Manamorphose.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Manamorphose</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Seething_Song.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Seething Song</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Burning_Wish.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Burning Wish</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Empty_the_Warrens.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Empty the Warrens</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Land_Grant.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Land Grant</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Rite_of_Flame.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Rite of Flame</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Gitaxian_Probe.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Gitaxian Probe</a></div>
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<b>1 Lands: </b>
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1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Taiga.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Taiga</a></div>
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<b>15 Sideboard: </b>
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1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Empty_the_Warrens.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Empty the Warrens</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Diminishing_Returns.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Diminishing Returns</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Infernal_Tutor.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Infernal Tutor</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Pyroclasm.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Pyroclasm</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Reverent_Silence.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Reverent Silence</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Shattering_Spree.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Shattering Spree</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Tendrils_of_Agony.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Tendrils of Agony</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Xantid_Swarm.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Xantid Swarm</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Green_Suns_Zenith.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Green Sun's Zenith</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ingot_Chewer.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Ingot Chewer</a></div>
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Things to note:<br />
I will not be offended if you think that I am wrong to put access to Zenith+Swarm in game 1. I am likely very wrong, since a lot of your power in game 1's comes from sheer speed. If you think this, go ahead and play the 4th Probe, or play a set of Pyretic Rituals instead of the Probes. However, Zenith + Swarm in the board is something I like a lot. Excess Zeniths turn 1G into RR + 1 Storm with Tinder Wall, or get you a Swarm.<br />
Speaking of Probes, think about this card in Belcher.<br />
<ol>
<li>Essentially, no cards have affected Belcher since Manamorphose came out. You can argue Pyretic Ritual, but really - that one is awful, which is why it has been cut from this list. When you can say that Desperate Ritual is an upgrade, you're doing something wrong with your card selection. Prior to that, Street Wraith was given considerations, because you had an <i>almost</i> critical mass of ritual effects and making your deck slightly smaller was beneficial enough for the 2 life paid. That said, Street Wraith made mulliganing harder; and the life loss sometimes wasn't negligible. However, Probe actually does add to Storm count.</li>
<li>What does this information get you? I've talked to a few people about this one, and it's actually better than first glance. Empty the Warrens for 10 goblins will get the job done sometimes, but not all the time. The actual Goblin Charbelcher will almost always get them, but it's weak to Force of Will. If you have perfect information and have more than 1 business spell in hand, as you often do, you can make the right choice. Then it cycles into another card. Not going to complain about that one.</li>
</ol>
Depending on how the metagame shapes up, I would definitely be willing to run this. Against multiple blue decks in a row, not a fan - but I feel like this will give you enough information and enough protection against Misstep to be a fine place in the metagame.<br />
<br />
-G<br />
<br /> <br />
<ol>
</ol>Gandhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637374922570657386noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836707808414146348.post-68368956391975002992011-05-08T11:08:00.000-04:002011-05-08T11:08:37.685-04:00Bringing Down the Hammer: When Should a Card be Banned?Given the recent dominance of Caw-Blade decks in Standard, many people have been calling for the banning of the more powerful cards in the deck, most notably Stoneforge Mystic and Jace. Certainly, when the top 8's of GP's contain 32 copies of a card, talking about banning that card is not unreasonable, and even though UW Caw-Blade has been the deck to beat since PT Paris people have still been struggling to find ways to beat it.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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Of course, this is not the only time in recent years people have wanted cards to be banned in Standard. Primeval Titan (or by association Valakut), Bloodbraid Elf, and Bitterblossom were all cards that were both a centerpiece of the best deck and rather un-fun to play against. However, Wizards declined to ban any of those cards, and I don't expect anything to be banned now.<br />
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For now, though, lets take a look at what actually leads to a card being worthy of a ban. In my mind, in order for a card to be banned it needs to be clear that the format would be better without that card than with it. I'll admit that's not very specific, so I'll list a few ways in which this can be true.<br />
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1. The card has to be significantly un-fun to play with and/or against.<br />
A recent example here is Sword of the Meek (+Thopter Foundry). The Sword is pretty much useless without Thopter Foundry, so nothing cool or interesting was happening there. Once the combo was assembled, though, all the Thopter player needed to do for the rest of the game was make as many tokens as possible, while gaining life at the same time. There was also no reason for the Thopter player to try to end the game quickly, since the longer the game dragged on the further they would get ahead. Games would often drag on for several turns after they were effectively over, and I'm pretty sure at that point neither play was actually having any fun.<br />
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2. The card has to be oppresively powerful to the point of making people give up on playing the format<br />
There's nothing wrong with having a best deck, but if people are completely incapable of beating the best deck, they have only 2 options: play the best deck, or stop playing until something changes. Still, people are always going to complain about something, which leads to the next point.<br />
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3. Removing the problem card can't lead to more problems.<br />
Sure, sometimes there is a clear best deck that is oppressing every other strategy, but what if the 2nd best deck is just as bad after the best deck gets banned? There have always been cards that, while certainly powerful, have kept even more problematic cards in check. Sometimes the solution is to simply ban more cards, such as when Survival of the Fittest was banned after the loss of Mystical Tutor made it too good, but there's still no guarantee that this will improve things, and banning cards means giving people less options for what they can do.<br />
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Still, there are drawbacks to banning cards which are fairly significant. While card prices aren't really as important for Wizards to consider bans, for people who own the card that is banned, watching it plummet in price is certainly a turn off. Also, as stated above, giving people less options for what they can play in a format isn't really something you want to be doing. Plus, there are probably people that actually enjoy playing with the card in question, and banning it will disappoint them. <br />
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Right now, I believe that Stoneforge Mystic fits all of the criteria for being banned. It certainly has proven to be powerful to the point of being dominant in Standard. Sure, there have often been times when decks have made up over 50% of the top 8 of a large event, including the 5 UB decks in the top 8 of Worlds last year, but when a deck is at least 50% of EVERY top 8, there's clearly a problem. As for whether or not the card is actually fun, I'll admit that the real problem is Sword of Feast and Famine, but since Stoneforge fetches that sword the majority of the time (at least until New Phyrexia comes out) this results in a 2 mana, instant speed Sword that can't even be countered. Even while playing the deck in multiple Get Your Game On events and Nats Qualifiers, almost every game where I played a turn 2 Stoneforge on the play was fairly unexciting.<br />
The final question is whether or not the format would actually be improved if Stoneforge was removed from it. Right now, Caw-Blade is the primary force keeping Primeval Titan in check, and I would guess that Valakut would likely be the best deck if Stoneforge were banned. Still, given enough time, I'm sure other decks would emerge to be successful, since UB control and aggresive red decks both have the tools needed to do so.<br />
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Therefore, I believe Stoneforge Mystic should indeed be banned in Standard, but as I stated already I find it unlikely that Wizards will actually elect to ban anything. In recent years, Bloodbraid Elf is the only other card that in my mind was worthy of being banned, and no card has actually been banned in Standard since Affinity was dominating the first Mirrodin Block.<br />
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We'll see if New Phyrexia has a significant change on the format, and the upcoming Star City Open next weekend should showcase any new decks that emerge. However, if Caw-Blade continues to take the majority of top 8 slots in every event, I wouldn't actually be surprised if something did get banned.<br />
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Come to think of it, it would be pretty funny if Magic's return to Mirrodin meant returning to a world where something needed to be banned in Standard.Matt McCulloughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01200532552008868377noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836707808414146348.post-56382599790549155572011-05-02T15:24:00.000-04:002011-05-02T15:24:39.291-04:00My Nationals Qualifier ExperienceFor several reasons I'm not going to write a detailed tournament report for the Nats Qualifiers, mostly due to the fact that the matches I played either were too 1 sided to really be relevant or too complicated to be described accurately. Instead, I will discuss the Caw-Blade list I used to win the local qualifier last Sunday, provide some stories from the weekend, and give my thoughts on the current Standard.<br />
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Caw | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
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<strong>9 Creatures: </strong>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Stoneforge_Mystic.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Stoneforge Mystic</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Squadron_Hawks.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Squadron Hawks</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sun_Titan.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sun Titan</a><br />
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<strong>24 Spells: </strong>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Preordain.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Preordain</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Oust.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Oust</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mana_Leak.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mana Leak</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Spell_Pierce.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Spell Pierce</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Jace_the_Mind_Sculptor.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Jace the Mind Sculptor</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Jace_Beleren.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Jace Beleren</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Gideon_Jura.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Gideon Jura</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Into_the_Roil.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Into the Roil</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sword_of_Feast_and_Famine.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sword of Feast and Famine</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mortarpod.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mortarpod</a></div>
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<strong>27 Lands: </strong>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Seachrome_Coast.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Seachrome Coast</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Glacial_Fortress.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Glacial Fortress</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Celestial_Colonnade.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Celestial Colonnade</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Tectonic_Edge.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Tectonic Edge</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Inkmoth_Nexus.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Inkmoth Nexus</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Marsh_Flats.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Marsh Flats</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Misty_Rainforest.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Misty Rainforest</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Plains.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Plains</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Island.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Island</a></div>
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<strong>15 Sideboard: </strong>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Flashfreeze.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Flashfreeze</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Kor_Firewalker.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Kor Firewalker</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Condemn.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Condemn</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Day_of_Judgement.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Day of Judgement</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Divine_Offering.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Divine Offering</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Jace_Beleren.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Jace Beleren</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Celestial_Purge.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Celestial Purge</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Twisted_Image.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Twisted Image</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sun_Titan.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sun Titan</a></div>
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A quick rundown of the notable aspects of my list:<br />
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2 Sword:<br />
While you usually don't have to worry about people interacting with the Sword in game 1's, a lot of people have adopted ways to beat equipped creatures, such as Tumble Magnet or various chump blockers. Getting the second sword lets you have 2 different guys they have to deal with, which is significantly better than 1. It also gives you insurance in case they somehow get rid of the first sword, and as an added benefit increases the chances to randomly just draw a sword alongside some hawks.<br />
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3 Oust in the maindeck:<br />
While condemn is significantly better in the mirror and vs. creatures you need to get rid of permanently, Oust is much better against creatures you otherwise have no good way to deal with, such as Overgrown Battlement or other mana creatures, and can remove a blocker to let you get in a sword hit. It also lets you control their draws, especially in combination with a Jace that can fateseal away the creature if needed.<br />
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4 Tectonic Edge, 2 Inkmoth Nexus:<br />
Against most other decks in the format, you are well positioned to get ahead early with your 2 drops and then pull further and further ahead as the game progresses. Having 6 lands that can further pressure your opponent is pretty huge, and I favor Tec Edge as the effect it has can be unfairly crippling at times, especially once you get them the 2nd or 3rd time. I also played against Primeval Titan decks 5 times over the weekend, and having 4 Tec Edge definitely helped there. I also believe Tec Edge is better in the mirror since you can keep your Mana Leak/Spell Pierces important while dealing with opposing man-lands.<br />
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2 Spell Pierce: While I can understand why Kai cut the card, it is quite good in the mirror since it allows you to stick game ending threats through their counters, and also allows you to curve out with 2 drops while still stopping Jace or Gideon. I would not recommend cutting Pierce, but I also wouldn't suggest playing more than 2, since it will sit dead in your hand later in the game (though Jace can let you get rid of dead copies later)<br />
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1 Sun Titan, 1 Jace Beleren in both the maindeck and sideboard: <br />
The 5th Jace maindeck (and 6th in the board), are awesome at winning fights against other Jace decks. A fair number of longer games can simply be decided by who draws more Jace, making Beleren pretty key. Sun Titan goes along with this, as bringing back a mini Jace can lock out their Jaces for as long as the Titan is in play, making it even more difficult to answer your 6/6. I played the second Sun Titan in the board where other people choose Volition Reins, as while they are both powerful, game winning cards in certain scenarios, I felt that the Titan would be better than Reins more often than not, and I was definitely correct in that regard. An argument can be made for Reins in that having access to one of each 6 mana bomb allows you to potentially find whichever one is going to be better, since a lot of games go long enough that you get to draw through the majority of your deck, but 100% of the time I drew a Titan when playing the deck I felt that it was better than Reins at that time.<br />
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0 Tumble Magnet anywhere: Yes, the magnet can answer Swords, Titans, man-lands, tap blockers, and more. Yes, it is free to activate. However, 3 uses isn't quite enough for this card to be worth it. In the games that go long, once the Magnet runs out it is a complete blank, and you're going to end up wishing you had something that actually killed the problem card instead of just stalled, and in scenarios where you win before the magnet runs out you were probably going to win anyway if the magnet was something else. Here, giving up a lot of power for the versatility of Tumbling isn't really worth it.<br />
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1 Day of Judgement in the board: While the card is bad against the majority of decks you can expect to play against, having access to 1 gives you an out to cards like Avenger of Zendikar, various creature heavy decks, and lets you win some games you have to other way to win. Only 1 is really needed since most of the time Gideon can accomplish the same thing only better, but sometimes you just need to get rid of everything. Kai played an Elspeth Tirel instead, which he claimed was very good, and that's something to possibly look into since it does a lot of the same things but can also just be a creature factory, but I would definitely recommend some sort of board sweeper in the deck.<br />
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Lastly, the Twisted Image was copied from Kai. It never did anything for me in any of the matches I brought it in, but there are times when it can be a blowout, and I still think its probably better than whatever else you would play in that slot (likely another removal spell such as the 4th Oust or 2nd Day of Judgement).<br />
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As for the actual tournaments, I top 4'd the Saturday qualifier in Flint, losing a mirror match in which my opponent had the actual nuts all 3 games (though I won one where I also had the nuts but was on the play). Even still, I misplayed slightly in game 3 which ended up costing me the match, and I was pretty certain that I could take down the event on Sunday with a little more sleep and a little more practice.<br />
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On Sunday, I started out with a loss to Valakut in which I got mana screwed game 1 and he ripped back to back Primeval Titans to kill me in game 2. While Valakut is a favorable matchup, I would definitely not ignore it as a deck, since it is still capable of just completely overpowering any other deck. I followed up with a draw vs. UW Venser control due to an extremely long game 2 that I probably should have conceded earlier to give me time to win game 3. As is, I was essentially 2 turns short of killing him in the final game, so I was sitting at 0-1-1 needing to win out and get lucky to top 8. Kai came very close to convincing me to drop and go bowling with him and some of his Lansing friends, and I am not going to deny that I was fairly tilted and had all but given up my hopes of qualifying.<br />
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Never give up, trust your instincts.<br />
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The words of Kurtis (aka Peppy Hare) repeated in my head. I knew that I had the right deck to win the event, and less than an hour before the tournament started I was feeling extremely confident. I didn't have much time between round 2 and 3 due to going to time, so I figured I may as well play out round 3, and keep going from there.<br />
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In round 3, I got paired against UB control. In game 1, he played some discard spells, but my opening hand had multiple 2 drops so I still got to pressure him. At one point, I stuck a Gideon after he tapped out to play Jace+counter my counter. On his next turn, he played duress and took a Jace, seeing that I had Into the Roil and nothing else of note in hand. He then played a Precursor Golem and promptly got blown out. I won easily from there and didn't really feel like dropping.<br />
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I lost 1 game in the rest of the event, making it in at 8th place (though there was a straight cut so at least my tiebreakers weren't an issue). In the top 8, I beat Valakut mostly due to awkward draws on his part. I had to wait a while for the semifinals to start due to a fairly intense match between Brian Chung and Kenta, knowing that I was in exactly the same scenario as Saturday. Once again, the top 4 was 4 Caw-Blade decks, and I would have to win 2 mirror matches to earn my qualification. <br />
Thankfully, the mirror match is remarkably skill intensive, and between the semis and the finals I won 3 games that I definitely felt like I shouldn't have. Game 1 of the semis was especially motivating for me, since I was on the play but my opponent had the complete nuts while I only had a mediocre draw. After a few crucial mistakes from my opponent combined with me using every Jace in my deck to dig for an answer, I took down game 1 while the other semifinal was in the middle of Game 3. In the finals, Kenta mulled to 5 in Game 1, and soon I was 1 game away from qualifying. Of course, I started on 5 cards in Game 2, but had a Squadron Hawk to buy me enough time to get into the late game planeswalker fight. Kenta was able to stick a Sun Titan, but I had one of my own, and we were both able to get back mini-Jaces, which traded for a turn (though he was ahead since he got to actually use his Jace while I didn't). Then, I slammed the second Sun Titan after the first one got condemned and was able to trade away everything but end up with a Jace in play, and from there I slowly creeped ahead before finally earning the concession. <br />
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Qualifying for Nats was a pretty awesome experience, especially after falling 1 match short at regionals. As Kai mentioned, our car both days was 100% to top 8, as well as taking 1st in both events. As for the standard format right now, I'll let the results speak for themselves.<br />
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Saturday: 33 Players in event, 10 Caw-Blade players. 4 Caw-Blade in top 8, 4 in top 4.<br />
Sunday: 10 Caw-Blade players in event (sorry, I don't know how many total people were there), 5 in top 8, 4 in top 4.<br />
Every Star City Games Open since GP Dallas has had a top 8 that has been over half Caw, and all of them as well as the GP were won by the UW menace. <br />
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These kinds of numbers exceed anything that was accomplished by Faeries or Jund at the height of their dominance (though the increased number of large tournaments, as well as the fact that a lot of top players purposely chose not to play Jund, is mostly the cause of this). <br />
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Thankfully, New Phyrexia is about to be released, which could theoretically shift things slightly, but I feel that the introduction of the new RW sword, as well as Batterskull, will only make the Stoneforge Mystic decks better, and Jace is still as powerful as ever. If you are planning on playing standard in the near future, I have a few suggestions for you.<br />
1. Play UW Caw. It is the best deck<br />
2. Get fairly comfortable playing the deck. It is certainly one of the more difficult decks to play in standard right now, and the mirror match is especially skill-intensive. Kenta for instance was playing in his first event with the deck, and by the end of the day was fairly tired and made a few crucial mistakes in game 2 that allowed me to win.<br />
3. Do something unexpected. There is a lot of room to make small changes to decks right now, and a lot of people are working hard to beat stock UW Caw. While I wouldn't recommend being Kurtis and trying to play some completely rogue deck, unexpected cards in your deck can lead to a lot of free wins when your opponent simply was not prepared to deal with something like the 2nd Sun Titan.<br />
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Lastly, I want to discuss briefly the topic of banning cards in standard. As this article is already fairly long, I will save the full explanation for later in the week, but for now I'll just mention that I believe Stoneforge Mystic should probably be banned (I find it unlikely that it will be, but it should). Removing Stoneforge from the current standard still allows for Jace control decks to be a reasonable part of the format, and opens up room for a lot of other decks to become viable options. For as long as I've been playing standard competitively, the only other card I've felt has been worthy of a ban is Bloodbraid Elf, and while Stoneforge may not be as un-fun as the elf, its complete dominance over the standard format has in my mind made it worth of being banned.<br />
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Until next time, keep grinding and remember: Never give up, trust your instincts.Matt McCulloughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01200532552008868377noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836707808414146348.post-19533357346077987152011-05-02T13:54:00.003-04:002011-05-03T08:22:56.181-04:00Nationals Qualifier Report Part 2After a loss in Top 8 due to misunderstanding the deck, I was ready to redeem myself at the Qualifier in Flint on 4/30. Kurtis, Matt, and I showed up and again the event was 33 players, which meant 6 rounds of swiss. Kurtis was no longer playing R/U tempo, and was instead playing U/G ramp. Matt was on a list very similar to mine.<br />
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I played nearly the same list, but cut Spell Pierce main for a second Beleren and a Baneslayer. We had seen a lot of red decks, so the Baneslayer was a concession to that. I swapped a Condemn and a Sword since we saw very few decks with maindeck ways to answer a Sword, and again there were aggro decks flooding the place.The Beleren in the board got replaced by an Elspeth to make the numbers work for sideboarding, and it was a really flexible card I could bring in against a lot of different archetypes.<br />
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I'm paired against monored Goblins in round 1. Goblin Guides and Bolts make very short work of me. Game 2 he has Guide again, but I stall with Condemn and some 1/2's. Gideon shows up, dies to a Bushwacker fueled alpha, though Guide trigger reveals a second Gideon. He is never able to kill the second, and I establish Gideon + Jace to lock him down. Game 3 I play 2 Firewalkers.<br />
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Two rounds, two red decks. Machine Red this time, with Koth, Kuldotha Phoenix, Inferno Titan, and maindeck Tumble Magnet plus Brittle Effigy. He takes game one with a Koth and multiple Phoenix while I can't defend quickly enough. I crush game 2 even though he has Ricochet Trap for my Volition Reins and a Perilous Myr against Firewalker. Game 3 goes to time and we draw. Should've called a judge to watch for slowplay, punted.<br />
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The rest of the swiss was relatively mundane, with some mirrors and a monoblack Vampires player who beat me. I drew pretty terribly and just flooded out and died. I end the swiss at 4-1-1 and am paired against Pyromancer's Ascension in the Top 8.<br />
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Yup, Pyromancer.<br />
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Anyways, I cruise to a quick victory game one as he literally draws only a bunch of filtering and some bolts. He never sees an Ascension and I kill him in two hits with Gideon and Colonnade. My opponent's pretty tilted by this point which is always nice. In game 2 I lead with Seachrome on one to bluff a Spell Pierce and he respects it. He doesn't go for Ascension until he has Pierce of his own, which gives my Flashfreeze value it would otherwise not have had. I land a Jace and fateseal him off his fourth land, and he shakes his head in frustration. I've found a Firewalker at this point and pay for the Leak. A slow clock begins after he kills my first Jace with his own, and the second starts Fatesealing again. I windmill a Celestial Purge on his Ascension sometime later and he is on life tilt. A second Firewalker joins in the fight, and multiple Foresees from him do nothing and he dies to 4 points a turn.<br />
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Next up: DJ Kastner. Only ringer remaining in the event. I win the die roll, but lose the game to mulling to 6 and running out of lands quickly. I eat some sword hits and actually have a chance still, but I mess up and fail to kill a Gideon by animating Inkmoth as well as Colonnade. Game 2 is a pretty quick affair where I bluff Leak on two, and he calls with a Hawk. I play Beleren and -1. He is DJ after all, and correctly attacks me instead of Beleren so I can't play Sculptor next turn. I +2 and play Hawk and Mortarpod next turn to defend my Jace from 2 Hawks. He unloads some more after attacking Jace. I have Gideon and the game is effectively over. Game 3 is a pretty back and forth affair, but I have the upper hand since he kept all Preordains and no actual cards that did anything. I land a Hawk and keep up Mana Leaks for a while. A second Hawk joins to start pestering his life total. He plays Beleren with 3 up, and I Leak. He pays and +2's. I play my own Beleren instead of Sun Titan since I had nothing to get back with it and I didn't want to lose to a Reins. His Mindsculptor next turn gets Leak'd since he didn't have a 7th land. He completes his turn with a Stoneforge Mystic. I play Sun Titan for Beleren, and pull ahead. He has the Titan under control with Tumble Magnet, and follows shortly with a Titan of his own. I land a Gideon, and due to the earlier Hawk attacks he is put under too much pressure and dies to Mortarpod activations.<br />
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The finals was a bit anticlimactic. My opponent did not have very strong draws in either game and he did not play optimally. I crushed game one with the nuts draw of Mystic, Hawk, Mindsculptor. Game 2 I kept Hawk, 3 Mindsculptor, and 3 lands. He had a Stoneforge Mystic but didn't follow up with Hawks. I was able to Condemn it before it did too much damage, and my Jaces traded with his until he had no more. I was able to win from there without too much effort.<br />
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The only good play I made on the day that I don't think a less experienced player would've made was play Sun Titan, get back Hawk, and not activate Beleren and let it stay at one counter. The reasoning was the Beleren staying in play stops my opponent from playing his own Jaces. However if I +2, he can Volition Reins the Titan, and I won't be able to play Mindsculptor to take my Titan back. The same logic applies to -1 Jace, Sun Titan, bring back Jace, -1 Jace, since that will also prevent me from playing Mindsculptor next turn.<br />
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I was very happy to have won the tournament, and also extremely tired. Playing Caw mirrors all day is a very draining experience. The best advice I can give to anyone who will be playing Standard in the near future is be prepared to face the U/W menace. And to anyone choosing to play with Caw, learn to mulligan. Hands without 2 drops are unkeepable on the draw in the mirror. Don't be fooled into thinking Preordain is good enough. If you miss, you will lose. Secondly, be more aggressive. Tap out, stop having the fear. I watched many players play scared this weekend, and often choose to just no play Hawks out even though their opponent couldn't do anything to punish them. You want to be the aggressor the in the mirror, since all your counters get better when you're using them to push your own spells through. Force your opponent to defend against your creatures, as this will let you force through planeswalkers more easily.<br />
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Kurtis, Matt, and I all Top 8'd this tournament. Kurtis, Matt and, Brian Chung Top 8'd Sunday, with Matt taking it down. Rusty was 100% to Top 8 and 100% to win, which was pretty sweet. Matt will be sharing his thoughts about the deck with you shortly, and possibly Brian Chung will write a feature article about his experience playing a 75 designed by me. Thanks for reading, and keep grinding.Kmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01739675186253390264noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836707808414146348.post-21320580787302140232011-05-02T12:41:00.001-04:002011-05-02T14:58:29.541-04:00Nationals Qualifier Report Part 1On 4/23 a 33 person Nationals Qualifier took place at Get Your Game On. A pretty stacked field of ringers battled for 6 swiss rounds. Connor Ullmann took down the event with U/W Cawblade, which composed half of the Top 8. This tournament was my first time playing Caw as well, so I'll walk through some of the matches and notable moments of the day. Enjoy!<br />
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<a name='more'></a>I brought a fairly stock build of the deck, with the only "tech" being 4 maindeck Inkmoth Nexus. List available <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/2011/04/daily-decks-cawblade.html">here</a>. The day started out with chatting with DJ Kastner about sideboard slots for Caw, which appeared to be the most common archetype. After some discussion of Day of Judgment's lackluster position in the metagame, I finished my sideboard with some spicy 1 of's, and DJ cut down to 1 Day in the sideboard. Cue foreshadowing.<br />
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Round 1 I am paired against Brian Chung's Other Friend. Note that on this occasion, Brian Chung and Brian Chung's Friend were both notably absent. I greeted Brian Chung's Other Friend and quickly found out he was playing B/R Vamps. Commonly regarded as a poor matchup for Caw, I narrowly escaped game 1 with timely Ousting of my own Hawks to stay above Highborn range. I board in Condemns, Jace Beleren, and the 1 Celestial Purge from the board for Spell Pierces and 2 Mana Leak. I play Beleren into Mindsculptor and distract his guys for a while. When he's down to 3 cards in hand after kicking multiple Gatekeepers, I Celestial Purge his Dark Tutelage and protect my life total with Gideon Jura. A few Inkmoth hits later he dies to poison.<br />
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Round 2 I play against Connor, and throw away game 1 by playing Gideon instead of Jace when I know he has multiple Jaces in hand, having been locked out the whole game by my earlier Jace. He plays Jace and has Condemn + Nexus block to blow me out and I am quickly overwhelmed. I win game 2 with a sick curve that ended with me casting Volition Reins on his Jace, but game 3 ends in a draw as we go to time. I was super far behind and would've conceded if it was a later round and the draw was as bad as a draw.<br />
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The next round I play against Todd Maddock and his U/B Control deck. He has mana problems both games, and I capitalize with Jace in the first and beat him down with Squires and 1/1 fliers game two. He dures<br />
hsed both Swords and took my only other gas in Jace, so team one powered dudes had to get the job done.<br />
From this round I learned how well Cawblade fights when it is crippled by disruption: not very. If Todd had hit lands in game 2 and been able to cast relevant spells I would've been dead.<br />
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At this time Matt had 1-2'd and Kurtis had already dropped at 0-2. Was on me to represent Rusty in the Top 8.<br />
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Round 4 I played Aryeh Perlman with Valakut. His deck failed to deliver a Lightning Bolt for my Mystic in either game before I could equip it, and the 3/4 quickly got there. I got to Twisted Image an Overgrown Battlement this round which was awesome, and I dealt the last point with Mortarpod after he declined to block Gideon with a Titan. CawBlade is very unfair sometimes.<br />
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Round 5 was another Valakut player. I apologize for not knowing his name, but I lost to him in Extended PTQ when he was on R/G Valakut and I was playing Blue Naya. Since then I've talked to him and his brother at several events and they're both pretty cool guys. This match was a little absurd as he had double Lotus Cobra and Battlement in game 1 and I just tapped out to cast Stoneforge and Hawks since Mana Leak was dead very quickly. He just never hit a Titan and I killed him with a Gideon and some Sworded guy. In game 2 I had enough Flashfreezes to last through the first few threats, then had Gideon and Volition Reins'd a Titan of his.<br />
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Round 6 was my favorite. I ID'd with another Valakut player and went to eat with J. Jesse Bennet. We discovered there was a guy on a podium ranting about repenting sins and how everyone is going to hell on the corner of State and North University. He proceeded to get massively trolled by some Michigan students who yelled louder about "girls kissing girls" and "yay for boobies". There was also a guy who for some reason had a spoon and trolled by declaring people should worship the holy spoon. It was max value all around.<br />
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I play Alex John in the first round of Top 8. The matches were very awkward. In the first he mulligans and I have double Mystic double Sword, and they're both equipped on turn 5. He didn't have the Precursor and was promptly dead. Game 2 he opened on Inquisition for Hawk, Duress Sword that I tutored up, Duress Deprive, leaving me with a 1/2 in play and a hand of Sun Titan and lands. I proceed to draw Hawk, land, Stoneforge, and Into the Roil and kill him with one powered guys.<br />
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In round 2 I split the first two games against the Valakut player I ID'd with. I get game one quickly, but game two he has one more threat than I have answers for and I die. In game 3 my opener is Misty, Colonnade, Preordain, Jace Beleren, Flashfreeze, some card I don't remember, Sun Titan. He mulls to 5. I lead with Colonnade on 1 so I can play Stoneforge if I rip it. I do, and slam it getting Sword. He plays Explore. On my turn 3 I miss land, and have the choice of Preordain to try and hit untapped land (3 Island 3 Plains 1 Marsh Flats 4 Inkmoth 2 Tec Edge 4 Seachrome Coast 4 Glacial Fortress) or just pass and get Sword into play. I don't plan on Flashfreezing anything since he has 4x Summoning Trap and it would be suicide to counter a lesser threat, and he didn't have the ability to cast Koth. I choose to go with Preordain, and see Colonnade and Volition Reins. I keep Colonnade, play it, and 1 him. He plays an Oracle of Mul Daya, gets a land, and reveals Precursor. I end up getting stuck on 4 lands so I can't play Beleren with Flashfreeze up, and the Precursor stares down my 3/4 Mystic. I spend Flashfreezes on 2 Primevals, and tap out for Mindsculptor when he was one card left in hand and the top of his library is an Overgrown Battlement. His last card is the third Primeval and I die quite quickly.<br />
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I'm pretty sure that the correct choice was to just flash in sword now that I've had more experience. It really doesn't matter if I miss my third land drop for a turn. Getting sword equipped is just that important. I can Preordain next turn after I hit him, and even better if I draw any land I can hit plus Preordain and leave up counter next turn. Congrats again to Connor Ullmann for being a master. He took down the tournament his first time playing Caw. I could only hope to get there the second time around.Kmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01739675186253390264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836707808414146348.post-25552697025871249232011-04-30T23:55:00.000-04:002011-05-02T14:58:48.081-04:00Rusty Draft Video SOM 8-4Check it out here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WizardKmaster#p/a/u/0/Kgiju0gy_nU">http://www.youtube.com/user/WizardKmaster#p/a/u/0/Kgiju0gy_nU</a>Kmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01739675186253390264noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836707808414146348.post-81432283465742350542011-04-27T08:52:00.003-04:002011-05-02T14:58:58.873-04:00April 27th - Nats Qualifier CawBladeIn today's installment of Daily Decks, I will show you the CawBlade deck I played at last Saturday's Nationals Qualifier at Get Your Game On. Tournament report will be coming soon.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Before Regionals I talked about Caw and why I believed it was the deck to play. Unfortunately some shenanigans regarding my phone prevented me from going, so it was time to step up my game a week later at the GYGO qualifier. I played the following list:<br />
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U/W CawBlade | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
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<b>9 Creatures: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Squadron_Hawk.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Squadron Hawk</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Stoneforge_Mystic.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Stoneforge Mystic</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Sun_Titan.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Sun Titan</a><br />
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<b>24 Spells: </b>
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3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Gideon_Jura.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Gideon Jura</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Into_the_Roil.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Into the Roil</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Jace_Beleren.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Jace Beleren</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Jace_the_Mind_Sculptor.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Jace, the Mind Sculptor</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Mana_Leak.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Mana Leak</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Mortarpod.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Mortarpod</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Oust.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Oust</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Preordain.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Preordain</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Spell_Pierce.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Spell Pierce</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Sword_of_Feast_and_Famine.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Sword of Feast and Famine</a></div>
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<b>27 Lands: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Celestial_Colonnade.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Celestial Colonnade</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Glacial_Fortress.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Glacial Fortress</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Inkmoth_Nexus.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Inkmoth Nexus</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Island.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Island</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Plains.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Plains</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Marsh_Flats.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Marsh Flats</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Misty_Rainforest.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Misty Rainforest</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Seachrome_Coast.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Seachrome Coast</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Tectonic_Edge.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Tectonic Edge</a></div>
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<b>15 Sideboard: </b>
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2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Condemn.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Condemn</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Deprive.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Deprive</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Divine_Offering.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Divine Offering</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Jace_Beleren.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Jace Beleren</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Flashfreeze.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Flashfreeze</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Kor_Firewalker.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Kor Firewalker</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Celestial_Purge.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Celestial Purge</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Volition_Reins.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Volition Reins</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Twisted_Image.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Twisted Image</a></div>
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I chose the 4 Inkmoth route instead of 4 Tec Edge as I didn't respect Valakut enough. Inkmoth is an excellent Sword holder, and just having one in play makes opposing Jaces fateseal instead of Brainstorm. I was happy with the majority of the list.<br />
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Into the Roil was fantastic. I used it to bounce an opposing Mystic and to time walk an Overgrown Battlement. I also played against Precursor Golems from Valakut, but failed to draw it when it would've been amazing.<br />
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The Celestial Purge was intended to answer Koth, but I brought it in against B/R Vampires to good effect.<br />
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Twisted Image killed Overgrown Battlement twice, and I brought it in against Golem decks as another value card when Oust would've been bad.<br />
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Spell Pierce I actually never cast, and will likely be replacing it with a more aggressive card like Emeria Angel, Hero of Bladehold, or Tumble Magnet.<br />
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The I lost three games on the day, and two of them I misplayed pretty heavily before bricking on many outs. The deck's power level was absurd, with many games just totally out of grasp for my opponents by turn 5. I highly recommend anyone playing in Qualifiers this weekend to play CawBlade.Kmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01739675186253390264noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836707808414146348.post-86718303059817944922011-04-25T00:01:00.011-04:002011-04-25T00:01:01.978-04:00April 25th - Post NPH Eva GreenEva Green is a deck that has fallen out of favor over time, but I think the existence of Mental Misstep will give people a reason to play Suicide Black with Green again.<br />
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<a name='more'></a> <br />
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<div style="background-color: #333333; border: 1px solid white;">
New Eva Green | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
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<b>17 Creatures: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Dark_Confidant.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Dark Confidant</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Gatekeeper_of_Malakir.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Gatekeeper of Malakir</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Tarmogoyf.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Tarmogoyf</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Hypnotic_Specter.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Hypnotic Specter</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Nantuko_Shade.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Nantuko Shade</a><br />
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<b>23 Spells: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Dark_Ritual.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Dark Ritual</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mental_Misstep.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mental Misstep</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Hymn_to_Tourach.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Hymn to Tourach</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Inquisition_of_Kozilek.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Inquisition of Kozilek</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ghastly_Demise.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Ghastly Demise</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Dismember.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Dismember</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Maelstrom_Pulse.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Maelstrom Pulse</a></div>
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<b>20 Lands: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Wasteland.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Wasteland</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Bayou.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Bayou</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Underground_Sea.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Underground Sea</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Verdant_Catacombs.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Verdant Catacombs</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Polluted_Delta.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Polluted Delta</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Swamp.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Swamp</a></div>
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<b>15 Sideboard: </b>
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2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Perish.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Perish</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Duress.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Duress</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Engineered_Plague.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Engineered Plague</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Pernicious_Deed.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Pernicious Deed</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Extirpate.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Extirpate</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Surgical_Extraction.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Surgical Extraction</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Krosan_Grip.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Krosan Grip</a></div>
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No, there's no Tombstalker. There's also no Snuff Out.<br />
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What does Mental Misstep do for this deck? It beats cards that murder the deck; Swords to Plowshares, Sensei's Divining Top and Brainstorm.<br />
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Why play this over Junk variants? Hypnotic Specter. While this guy isn't the end all of Legacy, the nut draw of Dark Ritualing this guy out early with Misstep backup is game breaking enough.<br />
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Additionally, all of the cards that you <i>need</i> to resolve don't cost 1 mana. Now if your opponents are playing Spell Snare... things are more awkward in a post-Misstep world.<br />
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Dismember is an interesting card for me - it hurts less off Dark Confidant and you can do partial payments, and it kills most all creatures. I think it's definitely good enough for the deck, even though it's not 100% free<br />
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The Surgical Extraction is in the board because I love 1-of's. No respect. <br />
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-G<br />
<br />Gandhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637374922570657386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836707808414146348.post-87914911862303616842011-04-25T00:01:00.010-04:002011-04-25T00:01:01.203-04:00NPH - Let's talk LegacyI've got to preface this entire review talking about Phyrexian mana in general; this is a game of resources. This brings me back to a Vince Lombardi speech of, "This is a football." When we're handling a new concept, it doesn't hurt to remember the basics of how and why we use certain cards in Legacy.<br />
<a name='more'></a>We handle with the best of the best. When we're looking for something to perform a particular task, we can find something that's very cheap to cast (Snuff Out, Spell Pierce, Daze, Force), there's a particular reason why we use the card (Krosan Grip has a high CMC and Split Second), overwhelmingly powerful (Tarmogoyf, Jace the Mind Sculptor, Elspeth Knight Errant), or interacts favorably with the anticipated metagame (Counterbalance, Chalice of the Void). So when we have a set full of reduced cost cards: it's a very exciting prospect.<br />
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So, I'm going to go ahead and go through just the Legacy viable cards that I can think of.<br />
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<b>White:</b><br />
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Blade Splicer, and all the additional Splicers - Not good enough. Doesn't do enough for what it is.<br />
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Chancellor of the Annex, and all additional Chancellors - This is Reanimator realm and it doesn't compare favorably with Iona. However, consider a forgotten deck that might actually be able to use the fact that you have an unknown number of fat creatures in your hand: Hypergenesis.<br />
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Dispatch - In decks that you'd be playing this card, you would have Metalcraft all the time. I haven't wanted to cast a Plow effect in Affinity yet, but I can see how it'd be attractive to some people.<br />
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Due Respect - A turn too slow for what we're trying to do. Randomly hoses fetchlands. Also, Jace enters the battlefield tapped, if you're into that.<br />
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Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite - Now THIS is a reanimation target. Single handedly slaying hordes of Goblins, keeping the Merfolk threat under control, making Elves unable to do anything - is this better than Blazing Archon? Situationally, sure. Goblins can't throw Siege-Gang Commander tokens at you, but Merfolk can still survive with multiple lords. Note, that if you put the second Elesh Norn into play, you get to check state based effects, and everything they have that is x/4 or less will go to the graveyard.<br />
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Marrow Shards - This is free. It doesn't do enough. Not quite Wing Shards here...<br />
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Norn's Annex - This isn't a Moat. Also, creatures are relatively big in Legacy, so if they can't pay White, then they can happily pay the life.<br />
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Phyrexian Unlife - Wouldn't you rather play Crumbling Sanctuary? Though, Crumbling Sanctuary doesn't beat Tendrils.<br />
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Puresteel Paladin - This guy is superb. I'm still trying to wrap my head around this guy. This implies a couple things for Legacy: Stoneforge Mystic, Sword of Blank and Blank, Umezawa's Jitte. He accentuates all of these, and he even makes the Batterskull, which will be talked about later, even better. Potential experimental decks soon to be coming.<br />
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<b>Blue:</b><br />
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Gitaxian Probe - The next time I need to cast Peek, I'll think about this one instead. Being sorcery speed isn't too bad, if it's coming down the same turn as Meddling Mage, or can see if it's safe to cast something. Odd that I'm saying that about Peek.<br />
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Jin-Gitaxis, Core Augur - Whoa this guy costs a lot of mana. If you thought Consecrated Sphinx was a good random Show and Tell target, think again. However, this doesn't actually do much in the way of ending the actual game - any Legacy creature worth its salt outclasses it. Your new hand can probably do something useful though.<br />
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Mental Misstep - Get a bunch of these. You'll use them. I could write an entire article on where and how they'll be useful, but I don't want to talk much about it here.<br />
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<b>Black:</b><br />
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Despise - Just play Thoughtseize, Duress or Inquisition.<br />
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Dismember - See, now this I like. It's not quite free, and it's not quite a full kill spell, but it's good enough to make a splash. It kills most Tarmogoyfs, Early Knights, Tombstalkers, Dark Confidants, and it doesn't hurt as much as Snuff Out when flipping off Dark Confidant and you can pay for some of the cost in life, or all of the cost relatively easily. I'd definitely pick up a set.<br />
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Geth's Verdict - Not going to replace Diabolic Edict except in a select few decks, but every little bit helps sometimes.<br />
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Phyrexian Obliterator - Swords to Plowshares is pretty prevalent in this format, but it has a very notable upside - it's a gigantic brickwall. Still, it costs 4 for just a creature.<br />
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Praetor's Grasp - Take that, Tendrils of Agony. Don't.<br />
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Surgical Extraction - If Mental Misstep catches on to being a very real card, this not having split second might actually become a liability. There are also only a few decks that really need to Duress/Thoughtseize on turn 1 and follow it up with an Extirpate effect. Still, though; free.<br />
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<b>Red:</b><br />
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Gut Shot - I thought this was safe to print at 2 damage, and it still wouldn't see play. You are disappoint.<br />
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Whipflare - Like most red cards, there's a very small number worth talking about. This one is a one sided Pyroclasm in Affinity - something that might be useful.<br />
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<b>Green:</b><br />
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Beast Within - We have better ways of killing planeswalkers.<br />
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Birthing Pod - There will likely be a deck that can abuse something as crazy as this. I'm not sure if you want to be playing that deck, but it has a repeatable powerful tutoring effect.<br />
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Glistener Elf - This is the card we needed for Legacy infect. Just random 1 drop that has infect, it's the one that leads to nut draws.<br />
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Mutagenic Growth - Not that impressive, but there is a 1/1 green creature with infect for 1 now. Turn 2 kills!<br />
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Noxious Revival - Skip this one, free Reclaim is still just a Reclaim.<br />
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<b>Artifacts:</b><br />
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Batterskull - You aren't going to pay 5 mana for this. This is the new card to go hand in hand with Stoneforge Mystic. Get at least 1 of these. <br />
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Darksteel Relic - This is probably the card I'm most excited for in the New Phyrexia. Meet the best new Legacy trolling tool: Turn 1 on the draw, you draw up to 8 cards, sigh, and ask if it's okay to go to your discard. Your opponent looks at you as if you've kept either a terrible hand, or he realizes that you're playing some explosive combo deck like Belcher. You discard Darksteel Relic.<br />
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Hex Parasite - The same tools exist in Legacy as it do Standard; you can Trinket Mage for this guy and eat Jaces.<br />
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Sword of War and Peace - I was having a discussion of what it would take for the Red and White sword to not see play in Legacy; because of its relevant protections. I came up with something like "Destroys itself and equipped creature." Get your hands on one of these for Stoneforge Mystic decks, equip it to beat most removal, and then profit! <br />
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Torpor Orb - I don't think this will make Dreadnought good enough, but keep it in mind.<br />
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Overall, I'm tentatively excited about the set. There's a handful of cards that are good enough to play with and Mental Misstep provides an interesting/awful new hurdle to all decks in Legacy. Instead of providing a buy/sell list, I'll let you come to your own conclusions - it's important to read about what other people think about cards, but it's also important to make your own judgment.<br />
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-GGandhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637374922570657386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836707808414146348.post-42978089070587995992011-04-21T12:22:00.000-04:002011-04-21T12:22:42.231-04:00New Phyrexia Spoilers *Part 2*Time to continue where we left off<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Act of Aggression 3{R/P}{R/P}<br />
Instant<br />
Gain control of target creature an opponent controls until end of turn.<br />
Untap that creature, it gains haste until end of turn.<br />
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Threaten/Act of Treason/Mark of Mutiny effects have seen constructed play at times, but its quite amazing how much better the effect is at instant speed. Being able to take a guy during your opponent's combat allows for potential blowouts and you can always just steal and attack with a Titan. 3 mana and 4 life is a pretty low cost, and in addition the being one of the more insane limited uncommons in the set this should be good enough to see some play in standard.<br />
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Priest of Urabrask 2R<br />
Creature<br />
When Priest of Urabrask enters the battlefield, add RRR to your mana pool<br />
2/1<br />
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It's been a long time since Priest of Gix, and I don't believe this will really see that much play, but it's still something to take notice of.<br />
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Ruthless Invasion 3{R/P}<br />
Sorcery<br />
Non-artifact creatures can't block this turn<br />
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This is mainly interesting because its basically colorless, and the effect can be very strong in certain matchups where the board tends to get cluttered with creatures quickly.<br />
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Urabrask the Hidden 3RR<br />
Legendary Creature<br />
Creatures you control have haste<br />
Creatures your opponents control enter the battlefield tapped<br />
4/4<br />
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5 mana is a lot for giving your dudes haste, since ideally you'll have already played out plenty of creatures by turn 5. Still, 5 mana for a 4/4 haste is solid in itself and its pretty tough to set up any kind of defense with this guy in play. <br />
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Whipflare 1R<br />
Sorcery<br />
Whipflare deals 2 damage to each non-artifact creature<br />
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Its pyroclasm, except it doesn't hit artifacts. I'll leave it up to you to figure out when you'd want this instead of pyroclasm.<br />
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Birthing Pod 3{G/P}<br />
Artifact<br />
1{G/P}, tap, sacrifice a creature: Search your library for a creature with converted mana cost exactly 1 more than the sacrificed creature and put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle. Activate this only whenever you could play a sorcery.<br />
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This is kinda slow if you're trying to ramp up to anything huge, and the life loss definitely adds up if you aren't actually playing green. With that said, turning Vengevines into Baneslayers, Baneslayer into Sun Titan, and Birds of Paradise into Fauna Shaman/Stoneforge Mystic are all nice ways to make this card worth it.<br />
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Fresh Meat 3G<br />
Instant<br />
Put a 3/3 Beast creature token into play for each creature put into your graveyard from the battlefield this turn.<br />
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Whether its a Wrath of God/Day of Judgement, creatures trading in combat, or some sort of sacrifice effect, creatures are going to hit the bin, and this card will lead to a large number of blowouts because of that. <br />
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Triumph of the Hordes 2GG<br />
Sorcery<br />
Until end of turn, creatures you control gain +1/+1, trample, and infect.<br />
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Infect Overrun means you only have to trample over for 10 for this card to be lethal, so if your creatures have a combined power of 10 more than your opponents, that's game. In addition, costing 4 is a lot better than costing 5 given that the kinds of decks that want this card usually have mana creatures, and costing 1 less mana means you can attack with 1 more creature. While is some decks Overwhelming Stampede is still preferred, in decks with mostly 1/1's I can see this being the preferred way to end games.<br />
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Batterskull 5<br />
Artifact- Equipment<br />
Living Weapon<br />
Equipped Creature gets +4/+4, Vigilance, and Lifelink<br />
3: Return Batterskull to its owner's hand<br />
Equip 5<br />
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In addition to being my pick for best Standard card in the set, this is also my pick for the card that could actually result in a banning in standard (of Stoneforge Mystic, not of Batterskull). While this card is completely fair without Mystic, tapping 2 to put this into play at instant speed is beyond insane. Searching this up on turn 2 pretty much completely dominates the game for the next few turns, and the germ token is almost guaranteed to attack at least once before something comes down that can compete with it. On top of that, if the germ token does die, you still have an equipment that can be moved around or even returned to your hand, because for some reason Wizards decided that they needed to add the ability to reuse this even with no other creatures in play. <br />
While I'm complaining about this card, did I mention it's a Mythic Rare? Seems about right, since a random 4/4 for 5 with some additional benefits definitely feels Mythic to me. <br />
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Hex Parasite 1<br />
Artifact Creature<br />
X{B/P}: Remove up to X counters from target permanent. For each counter removed this way, Hex Parasite gets +X/+0 until end of turn.<br />
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Jace and Tumble Magnet are the cards right now that this best deals with. Thankfully, this can be used immediately since it doesn't have to tap, meaning for 4 mana in any color you can kill a Jace on 3 counters, which helps to keep the Mind Sculpting in check. The fact that its a 1/1 means it won't stick around to completely shut down Planeswalker based strategies, but its a reasonable answer.<br />
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Lashwrithe 4<br />
Artifact- Equipment<br />
Living Weapon<br />
Equipped Creature gets +1/+1 for each swamp you control<br />
Equip {B/P}{B/P}<br />
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Heavy black decks haven't really been a contender for quite some time, but between this and the Obliterator they pick up some decent tools. I don't expect to be playing this card anytime soon but that doesn't mean it isn't good.<br />
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Mycosynth Wellspring 2<br />
Artifact<br />
When Mycosynth Wellspring enters the battlefield or is put into the graveyard from the battlefield, search your library for a basic land card, reveal it, and put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.<br />
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Ichor Wellspring got a new friend. This one is obviously better in the early game when you need to dig for lands, but is worse as a late game topdeck. Like Ichor Wellspring, its definitely playable with any way to get it into the yard, but has the additional benefit of being excellent 5 color mana fixing for multicolor decks.<br />
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Sword of War and Peace 3<br />
Artifact- Equipment<br />
Equipped creature gets +2/+2 and protection from white and red<br />
Whenever equipped creature deals combat damage to a player, Sword of War and Peace deals damage to that player equal to the number of cards in his or her hand, and you gain life equal to the number of cards in your hand.<br />
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So we end with the card people have been waiting for since Sword of Body and Mind first indicated that the cycle would be completed. Red and White are potentially the two best colors to grant protection from, especially in the current standard where the best removal spells and best creatures right now are in those colors. The triggered abilities of the sword may not be quite as good as those on Sword of Feast and Famine or Sword of Fire and Ice, but an addition ~5 point life swing each time you connect is pretty strong in racing scenarios and is not to be underestimated. I would definitely say that this will be the sword of choice in aggro decks, though I still believe it falls behind Batterskull as the top equipment in the set.<br />
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Overall, I'm extremely impressed by this set, both in the large number of cards that will have an impact in constructed an in the overall design of the set. Phyrexian mana is a pretty interesting mechanic, though I'm disappointed that the Infect mechanic wasn't taken as far as it could have been. Still, I'm definitely looking forward to the prerelease and can't wait to start playing with some of the new cards.<br />
<br />Matt McCulloughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01200532552008868377noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836707808414146348.post-24381791097680869862011-04-20T10:28:00.001-04:002011-05-02T14:59:38.108-04:00April 20th - Legacy LoamBrewsI've got the itch again.<br />
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No, not that one.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>If you've ever sat across from me in a Legacy match, there are certain truths you may know:<br />
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1. There's probably Tarmogoyf in the deck.<br />
2. There's a very high likelihood of there being Wasteland somewhere in the 75.<br />
3. If there are blue cards in it, be prepared for multiple misplays every game (I'm not very good with blue cards).<br />
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It's most fun when there's all 3. Fun for me, that is.<br />
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The question, more often, what variation is it? And why not include every other color?<br />
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<div style="border: 1px solid white; float: left;">
<div style="background-color: #333333; border: 1px solid white;">
Zenith Loam | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
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<b>16 Creatures: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Dark_Confidant.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Dark Confidant</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Knight_of_the_Reliquary.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Knight of the Reliquary</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Tarmogoyf.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Tarmogoyf</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Qasali_Pridemage.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Qasali Pridemage</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Granger_Guildmage.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Granger Guildmage</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Eternal_Witness.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Eternal Witness</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Glissa_the_Traitor.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Glissa, the Traitor</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Gaddock_Teeg.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Gaddock Teeg</a><br />
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<b>19 Spells: </b>
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3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Green_Suns_Zenith.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Green Sun's Zenith</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Senseis_Divining_Top.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sensei's Divining Top</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Engineered_Explosives.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Engineered Explosives</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Swords_to_Plowshares.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Swords to Plowshares</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Life_from_the_Loam.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Life from the Loam</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mox_Diamond.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mox Diamond</a></div>
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<b>25 Lands: </b>
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1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Forest.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Forest</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Plains.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Plains</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Savannah.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Savannah</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Bayou.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Bayou</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Plateau.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Plateau</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Scrubland.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Scrubland</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Taiga.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Taiga</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Windswept_Heath.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Windswept Heath</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Verdant_Catacombs.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Verdant Catacombs</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Stirring_Wildwood.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Stirring Wildwood</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Volraths_Stronghold.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Volrath's Stronghold</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Wasteland.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Wasteland</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ghost_Quarter.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Ghost Quarter</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Dryad_Arbor.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Dryad Arbor</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Tranquil_Thicket.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Tranquil Thicket</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Secluded_Steppe.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Secluded Steppe</a></div>
<div style="border-right: 1px solid white; float: left; width: 200px;">
<b>15 Sideboard: </b>
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15 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Gruesome_Encore.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Gruesome Encore</a></div>
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In an aggressive Loam variation, there are certain truths that I abide by when brewing:<br />
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1. This deck operates off of building a mana advantage, Green Sun lets you build it early if you don't have a Mox.<br />
2. You need to have at least two separate ways of generating card advantage, both not operating off of the same resource. Life from the Loam and Dark Confidant do this nicely.<br />
3. Don't rage when you unintentionally dredge Spell/Spell/Spell.<br />
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Why have I never seen Eternal Witness + Green Sun yet? I know that it's essentially just a 4cc 2/1 Regrowth, but the option of regrowing a Swords to Plowshares or an Engineered Explosives is too nice to pass up. Additionally, I'm going to try out the 1-of Glissa, the Traitor. It can brickwall pretty much every creature in the format, and has a very relevant ability for when it's fetched.<br />
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Probably one of the best interactions is 'bringing down the curve' with Green Sun to make Dark Confidant even better - and we didn't even need to make him better!<br />
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There will be a little tinkering of this deck between now and the weekly tournament, as 15 Gruesome Encores is not actually a legal sideboard, but there is a high likelihood that there will be Punishing Fire/Grove of the Burnwillows.<br />
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It's good. You just have to trust me.<br />
<br />Gandhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637374922570657386noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836707808414146348.post-86710342874866707762011-04-20T00:54:00.000-04:002011-04-20T00:54:35.557-04:00New Phyrexia Spoilers *Part 1*To make up for the lack of recent decks, I bring you a special treat today. Due to a leak that came out Tuesday the entire set of New Phyrexia is now known, and having looked through it, here's a list of the cards I'm most excited about.<div>
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<div>
*spoilers*</div>
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<a name='more'></a></div>
<div>
Lets begin with card #1 in the set, </div>
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Karn Liberated 7</div>
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+4: Target player exiles a card from his or her hand</div>
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-3: Exile target permanent</div>
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-14: Restart the game, leaving in exile all non-aura permanent cards exiled with Karn, then put the exiled cards onto the battlefield under your control.</div>
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6</div>
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<br /></div>
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This guy has a lot going for him. Right off the bat, he can come in and +4 going up to 10 loyalty, meaning he's even tougher to kill than Gideon. An additional +4 every turn makes him extremely difficult to kill. On the other hand, if your opponent isn't threatening to kill Karn, you can just start blowing up their permanents, which seems pretty good.</div>
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There are a few different ways to look at the ultimate. Firstly, having pretty much anything extra means you're very far ahead at the start of the new game. Of course, instants and sorceries do nothing to help you, and your opponent is probably not going to give you anything helpful when you +4 Karn. You can target yourself with the +4, which is probably a good idea if you plan on ultimating immediately, but not really a great long term strategy. I would recommend not trying to get greedy with the ultimate, since I would expect it to be fairly easy to win the game starting a few permanents ahead of your opponent.</div>
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I'd also like to take the time to mention how annoying this card is in a tournament setting. Based on the high cost of the card and the fact that it is both difficult to kill and something opponents will try to deal with, games are already going to go long if Karn is involved. Starting a new game just seems miserable and is not something I look forward to playing with or against in any format.</div>
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Moving on, we have:</div>
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Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite 5WW</div>
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Vigilance</div>
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Creatures you control get +2/+2</div>
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Creatures your opponents control get -2/-2</div>
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4/7</div>
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<br /></div>
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While this guy is pretty expensive, he's only 1 more than Crovax, which is a card I've been willing to play in multiple formats. -2/-2 is pretty strong, and shuts down a fair number of strategies. Given the current standard, I can't really see this guy fitting in anywhere, but its definitely a card that has potential.</div>
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Dispatch W</div>
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Instant</div>
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Tap target creature</div>
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Metalcraft: Exile that creature</div>
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Affinity, or really any deck that can guarantee metalcraft, can look into this</div>
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Norn's Annex 3{W/P}{W/P} (phyrexian white mana)</div>
<div>
Artifact</div>
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Creatures can't attack you or a planeswalker you control unless their controller pays {W/P} for each attacking creature.</div>
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<br /></div>
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First off, for those of you who are unaware, phyrexian mana means you can either pay that color of mana, or 2 life, and has been showcased on some pretty powerful cards.</div>
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Here, this card is actually a trick. It looks like Ghostly Prison, but in practice is quite different from that card. Since your opponent can just pay 2 life to attack, this card is most effective vs. weenie decks when you are yourself playing a deck capable of racing. </div>
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Phrexian Unlife 2W</div>
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You don't lose the game for having 0 or less life</div>
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As long as you have 0 or less life, all damage is dealt to you as if its source had infect</div>
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<br /></div>
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As 3 mana gain 10 or more life, this card has its purposes. Multiple copies don't do anything, but there are scenarios where that effect is ok.</div>
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What's truly interesting about the card is that life loss continues to be irrelevant. Ad Nauseum can allow you to draw your entire library, opposing win conditions that cause you to lose life can't kill you, and there are probably other cool things I'm not thinking of.</div>
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Puresteel Paladin WW</div>
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Whenever an equipment enters the battlefield under your control, you may draw a card</div>
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Metalcraft: Equipment you control have equip 0</div>
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This guy seems pretty bonkers. Standard and Extended have been impacted hugely by Stoneforge Mystic already, and more good equipment are coming out in New Phyrexia. In something like a WW Quest for the Holy Relic deck, this guy can both draw cards and let Argentum Armor be tossed around for free. This card will definitely see play and be quite powerful as long as Stoneforge is legal.</div>
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Gitaxian Probe {U/P}</div>
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Sorcery</div>
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Look at target player's hand</div>
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Draw a card</div>
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<br /></div>
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Sometimes, you just gotta know. If Sam Black can make an argument for playing Peek in standard, this card must be insane. It can also just cycle for 2 life, making it an only slightly worse Street Wraith (since its a sorcery and is can be countered, though only counterbalance or chalice of the void are worth countering this)</div>
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Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur 8UU</div>
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Legendary Creature</div>
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Flash</div>
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At the beginning of your End Step, draw 7 cards</div>
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Each opponent's hand size is reduced by 7</div>
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5/4</div>
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If there's a guy from Scars block worth cheating into play, its probably this guy. Assuming you put it into play on your turn, you're probably going to draw an extra 7 cards, and your opponents has to kill it on their turn or they lose their hand. I'd go far enough to consider this guy worth reanimating in legacy, since drawing 7 gives you a good shot at extra counterspells to protect this guy, and its a card that's completely impossible to ignore. While Iona is better at locking your opponent out of the game, this also has the benefit of drawing you cards to deal with anything your opponent may already have out. </div>
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At 10 mana this guy should never enter play under fair circumstances, but I'll be willing to look into pretty much any way to let me sneak him in.</div>
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Mental Misstep {U/P}</div>
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Instant</div>
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Counter target spell with converted mana cost 1</div>
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Much like Spell Snare, this card is powerful in that it lets you counter your opponent's spell even when your a turn behind. Again like Spell Snare, its very specific and requires a lot of 1 drop spells to be in decks in order for it to be worth packing.</div>
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Phyrexian Metamorph 3{U/P}</div>
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Artifact Creature</div>
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You may have Phyrexian Metamorph enter the battlefield as a copy of any artifact or creature, except its an artifact in addition to its other types.</div>
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0/0</div>
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Clone is good. Sculpting Steel is good. This can be either. I'm going to guess its good.</div>
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Dismember 1{B/P}{B/P}</div>
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Instant</div>
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Target creature gets -5/-5 until end of turn</div>
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1 colorless mana and 4 life is a small price to pay to kill almost any creature. Its annoying that this can't deal with titans, but nothing else should present a problem for this card.</div>
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Phyrexian Obliterator BBBB</div>
<div>
Creature</div>
<div>
Trample</div>
<div>
Whenever a source deals damage to Phyrexian Obliterator, that source's controlled sacrifices that many permanents.</div>
<div>
5/5</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Don't bolt this guy, or try to kill him with Valakut triggers, or block with your 8/8. Just don't.</div>
<div>
Realistically the mana cost is pretty prohibitive, and he can still be Jaced, or Ousted/Condemned, and he does in fact have a throat.</div>
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<div>
Surgical Extraction {B/P}</div>
<div>
Instant</div>
<div>
Choose target card in a graveyard other than a basic land. Search its owner's graveyard, hand, and library for any number of cards with the same name as that card and exile them. Then that player shuffles his or her library.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Possibly free extirpate, though without split second, which was definitely a significant part of the original extirpate. I would like to mention that these types of cards, including Memoricide and the like, are typically fairly overrated, since they aren't guaranteed to actually have any impact on the game. You can pull all the copies of a card out of someone's deck, but that only matters under a few circumstances:</div>
<div>
1. They have a copy of the card in their hand</div>
<div>
2. They need the card you removed in order to actually win</div>
<div>
3. In the case of Extirpate/Surgical Extraction, their trying to do something with the card in their graveyard.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In terms of graveyard strategies, this is good vs. reanimation spells and Vengevine, but other than that I can't see this card being worth it.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
That's it for part 1. Check back later in the week where I cover Red, Green, and Artifacts. Trust me when I say there are plenty more sweet cards to come!</div>
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<br /></div>Matt McCulloughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01200532552008868377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836707808414146348.post-88325689044243315752011-04-13T00:01:00.003-04:002011-04-13T17:28:57.846-04:00April 13th - Regionals Decks #1This past weekend a PTQ for Nagoya took place in Garden City. Basem Askoul made the finals with an innovative U/G Scapeshift deck, and we will bringing you his report shortly.<br />
<br />
For now, all eyes are on the prize, AKA Regionals this weekend. Today we'll take a look at the first of many standard decks that are viable options for the tournament.<br />
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<br />
<a name='more'></a>In what I'm sure will be a shock to no one, CawBlade is the best deck at the moment. The deck, in various color combinations, has dominated Standard in a way not even Faeries or Jund achieved. Every Top 8 of all major tournaments features multiple copies of the deck, and it has a very high conversion rate once the deck reaches Top 8.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I will personally be battling with U/W CawBlade this weekend. Three years ago I played Merfolk at Regionals when Faeries was the clear best deck. I lost twice to The Rock and once to Faeries. I'm not willing to make the same mistake again. So let's look at the most recent GP winning list courtesy of Wizards of the Coast.</div>
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<div style="background-color: #333333; border: 1px solid white;">
U/W CawBlade | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
</div>
<div style="float: left; margin-left: 3px; width: 200px;">
<strong>8 Creatures: </strong>
<br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Squadron_Hawk.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Squadron Hawk</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Stoneforge_Mystic.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Stoneforge Mystic</a><br />
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<strong>26 Spells: </strong>
<br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Condemn.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Condemn</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Day_of_Judgment.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Day of Judgment</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Gideon_Jura.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Gideon Jura</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Into_the_Roil.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Into the Roil</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Jace_the_Mind_Sculptor.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Jace, the Mind Sculptor</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Mana_Leak.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Mana Leak</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Mortarpod.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Mortarpod</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Preordain.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Preordain</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Spell_Pierce.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Spell Pierce</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Sword_of_Feast_and_Famine.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Sword of Feast and Famine</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Tumble_Magnet.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Tumble Magnet</a></div>
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<strong>26 Lands: </strong>
<br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Celestial_Colonnade.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Celestial Colonnade</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Glacial_Fortress.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Glacial Fortress</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Inkmoth_Nexus.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Inkmoth Nexus</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Island.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Island</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Plains.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Plains</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Scalding_Tarn.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Scalding Tarn</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Seachrome_Coast.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Seachrome Coast</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Tectonic_Edge.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Tectonic Edge</a></div>
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<strong>15 Sideboard: </strong>
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1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Baneslayer_Angel.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Baneslayer Angel</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Condemn.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Condemn</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Day_of_Judgment.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Day of Judgment</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Deprive.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Deprive</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Divine_Offering.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Divine Offering</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Flashfreeze.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Flashfreeze</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Journey_to_Nowhere.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Journey to Nowhere</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Sun_Titan.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Sun Titan</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Sword_of_Feast_and_Famine.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Sword of Feast and Famine</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Sylvok_Lifestaff.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Sylvok Lifestaff</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/_Volition_Reins.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)"> Volition Reins</a></div>
</div>
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This list incorporates some relatively new innovations for the archetype, and I will probably play something extremely close to it. Some key observations:<br />
<br />
1 Sword, 1 Mortarpod maindeck. The second Sword has been delegated to the sideboard, likely because there is little chance of facing maindeck artifact removal. Mortarpod gives the edge in the mirror as it is capable of shooting down Hawks, and in a pinch kills Lotus Cobras and Steppe Lynxes in other matchups.<br />
<br />
1 Inkmoth Nexus maindeck. This is the 5th colorless land, and the manabase is not strained too much by it. The inclusion of another manland is not to be underestimated, and it seems like it's relatively free value.<br />
<br />
1 Into the Roil maindeck. Precursor Golems and Swords alike don't want to see this card. Also solves Gideon for a turn when necessary.<br />
<br />
2 Reins in the board. I imagine this comes in for the mirror to steal their Titans and likely also against other Jace decks as a trump to walkers.<br />
<br />
2 Divine Offering in the board. I'm surprised this card is still there, given how much talk there has been about Offering not being that good in the mirror. I guess there's nothing better to solve the fast Sword issue? I'll look more into it.<br />
<br />
Possible tweaks:<br />
<br />
Maindeck Jace Beleren. This seems a key point to gain an edge in the mirror. It can preempt his big brother, and because it is not a common choice, the opponent can be caught with their shields down, as it were.<br />
<br />
Emeria Angel/Hero of Bladehold. Generating tokens is a good way to win the hawk war. However, neither of these creatures passes the Jace test too well. Emeria Angel is better in the mirror because the tokens fly, however Hero has its upside in the 4th point of toughness and the much faster clock it generates. Some testing needs to be done before these cards make it into the list.<br />
<br />
Maindeck Sun Titan. This is nothing new, but I do want to note that Sun Titan is better than Baneslayer as the maindeck fatty. Due to the dominance of CawBlade, it is likely the top tables will be flooded by the deck. Sun Titan is much less vulnerable to Gideon, and the ability to disrupt opposing manabases with Tectonic Edge is huge.<br />
<br />
Trusty Machete. Having a trusty companion when you go to a large tournament is always a good idea.<br />
<br />
As always, comments are welcome.<br />
<br />
Good luck!Kmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01739675186253390264noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836707808414146348.post-47418310496680864212011-04-12T17:38:00.000-04:002011-04-13T17:29:34.391-04:00April 12th - Caleb Durward's BantIt's pretty rare that I build and play something that someone else made for Legacy; I like my brews. But when a single person does enough testing and is articulate enough about it, you have to take notice:<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
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<div style="background-color: #333333; border: 1px solid white;">
Caleb Durward's Bantlanta | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
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<div style="float: left; margin-left: 3px; width: 200px;">
<b>19 Creatures: </b>
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2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Qasali_Pridemage.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Qasali Pridemage</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Knight_of_the_Reliquary.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Knight of the Reliquary</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Noble_Hierarch.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Noble Hierarch</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Tarmogoyf.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Tarmogoyf</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sower_of_Temptation.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sower of Temptation</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Stoneforge_Mystic.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Stoneforge Mystic</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Rhox_War_Monk.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Rhox War Monk</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Vendilion_Clique.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Vendilion Clique</a><br />
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<b>19 Spells: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Force_of_Will.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Force of Will</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Umezawas_Jitte.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Umezawas Jitte</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sword_of_Fire_and_Ice.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sword of Fire and Ice</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Brainstorm.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Brainstorm</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Green_Suns_Zenith.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Green Suns Zenith</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Swords_to_Plowshares.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Swords to Plowshares</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Jace_the_Mind_Sculptor.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Jace, the Mind Sculptor</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ponder.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Ponder</a></div>
<div style="float: left; width: 200px;">
<b>22 Lands: </b>
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1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Forest.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Forest</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Savannah.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Savannah</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Tropical_Island.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Tropical Island</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Tundra.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Tundra</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Plains.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Plains</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Dryad_Arbor.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Dryad Arbor</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Windswept_Heath.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Windswept Heath</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Karakas.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Karakas</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Wasteland.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Wasteland</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Island.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Island</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Misty_Rainforest.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Misty Rainforest</a></div>
<div style="border-right: 1px solid white; float: left; width: 200px;">
<b>15 Sideboard: </b>
<br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sower_of_Temptation.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sower of Temptation</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sword_of_Feast_and_Famine.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sword of Feast and Famine</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Gaddock_Teeg.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Gaddock Teeg</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Pithing_Needle.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Pithing Needle</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Spell_Pierce.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Spell Pierce</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Trygon_Predator.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Trygon Predator</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Submerge.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Submerge</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mirran_Crusader.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mirran Crusader</a></div>
</div>
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You can call it anything you like, but I'll keep calling it Bantlanta. This deck operates in somewhat of the same way that the Zenith Zoo from last week did: have a turn 1 accelerator, follow it with a 3 drop or a 2 drop with Wasteland, or get yourself a 4 drop on turn 3. This one plays significantly less removal than Zoo (to be fair, everyone plays less removal than Zoo), but it has several trumps.<br />
<br />
Stoneforge Mystic - Sword and Jitte are still awesome. Considering the mana boosts and the high creature count, this is very nice to see.<br />
<br />Vendilion Clique - Evasion for the equipment.<br />
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Sower of Temptation - Clear up some sideboard space, I board this in a lot. It's nice to see it in the main.<br />
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However, the most interesting card in the deck isn't even in the main: it's the Mirran Crusaders in the board. Yes, it has protection from the majority of the format's creatures. Yes, with Equipment it kills at the same speed as Progenitus. No, Progenitus can't block this guy.<br />
<br />
I might be modifying the list just a little bit before playing it though - me being a Legacy community contributor, I'm loaning out cards, and in return borrowing cards might not be able to find everything. That's life.<br />
<br />
-G<br />
<br />Gandhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637374922570657386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836707808414146348.post-61223065925159646522011-04-08T11:06:00.000-04:002011-04-13T17:29:34.392-04:00April 8th - Legacy UGB TempoThis was intended for yesterday, but we got offset a day.<br />
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Anyone following Starcity Eternal articles has probably seen the UGB list championed by Brian Demars. If you haven't - it's a Dark Confidant deck that has hand disruption, a lot of soft counters, and tempo spells. Recently, at an Invitational Qualifier, this deck popped up, asking the question "Is it safe to play Dreadnought again?"<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="border: 1px solid white; float: left;">
<div style="background-color: #333333; border: 1px solid white;">
Not Quite Team America | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
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<div style="float: left; margin-left: 3px; width: 200px;">
<b>13 Creatures: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Tarmogoyf.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Tarmogoyf</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Phyrexian_Dreadnought.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Phyrexian Dreadnought</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Vendilion_Clique.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Vendilion Clique</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Dark_Confidant.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Dark Confidant</a><br />
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<b>27 Spells: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Force_of_Will.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Force of Will</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Spell_Snare.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Spell Snare</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ponder.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Ponder</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Brainstorm.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Brainstorm</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Daze.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Daze</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ghastly_Demise.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Ghastly Demise</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Stifle.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Stifle</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Diabolic_Edict.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Diabolic Edict</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Spell_Pierce.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Spell Pierce</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Trickbind.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Trickbind</a></div>
<div style="float: left; width: 200px;">
<b>20 Lands: </b>
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1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Island.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Island</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Polluted_Delta.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Polluted Delta</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Wasteland.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Wasteland</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Tropical_Island.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Tropical Island</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Bayou.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Bayou</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Underground_Sea.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Underground Sea</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Misty_Rainforest.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Misty Rainforest</a></div>
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<b>15 Sideboard: </b>
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1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Maelstrom_Pulse.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Maelstrom Pulse</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Trygon_Predator.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Trygon Predator</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mind_Harness.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mind Harness</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Go_for_the_Throat.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Go for the Throat</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Phyrexian_Revoker.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Phyrexian Revoker</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Extirpate.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Extirpate</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Consuming_Vapors.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Consuming Vapors</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Krosan_Grip.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Krosan Grip</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Llawan_Cephalid_Empress.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Llawan, Cephalid Empress</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Blue_Elemental_Blast.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Blue Elemental Blast</a></div>
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My gut feeling says that it's actually safe; and I, in fact, might even encourage you to play one. But now you're thinking, "Why are you telling me to play a card that dies to Pridemage when people have even more access to Pridemage with Green Sun's Zenith?"<br />
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It's actually because of Green Sun's Zenith that I think it's safe to play again. Consider this:<br />
<br />
- Your opponents are running less actual copies of Qasali Pridemage. This lowers any incidental damage that may randomly pop up.<br />
- Green Sun Zenith to get Pridemage costs 3 mana. Under the duress of Stifles, Wastelands, and Spell Pierces; barring Noble Hierarch, this should actually be somewhat difficult for opponents.<br />
- You can Stifle Qasali Pridemage. Just a reminder.<br />
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So why this deck? Dark Confidant is awesome, Dreadnought provides the fast clock against combo decks that keep popping up, and Stifle is pretty neat if people are intending on casting bigger spells.<br />
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I hope to get a chance to test this one soon, since I like pretty much all the cards in it. Hats off to you James Higginbottem, here's a Force of Will deck that I'd actually want to play.<br />
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-G<br />Gandhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637374922570657386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836707808414146348.post-51479247328084568382011-04-07T15:27:00.001-04:002011-04-07T15:28:20.012-04:00April 7th - Japanese BantApologies to everyone who was expecting a Daily Deck yesterday, but schoolwork kept me too busy. To make up for it, I'm going to take a look at one of the more interesting competitive Extended decks just in time for the PTQ on the 9th.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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In Yuuya Watanabe's Channelfireball <a href="http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/feature-article-rounding-up-extended/">debut</a>, he examined the current state of Extended and provided some fairly stock lists of the best decks. As almost an afterthought, he also included a pretty wild list at the end of the article, that has apparently been tearing up Japanese tournaments. For lack of a better name, I've christened it Japanese Bant.<br />
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<div style="border: 1px solid white; float: left;">
<div style="background-color: #333333; border: 1px solid white;">
Japanese Bant | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
</div>
<div style="float: left; margin-left: 3px; width: 200px;">
<strong>22 Creatures: </strong>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Noble_Hierarch.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Noble Hierarch</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Squadron_Hawk.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Squadron Hawk</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Qasali_Pridemage.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Qasali Pridemage</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Stoneforge_Mystic.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Stoneforge Mystic</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mirran_Crusader.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mirran Crusader</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Bloodbraid_Elf.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Bloodbraid Elf</a><br />
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<strong>11 Spells: </strong>
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1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sword_of_Body_and_Mind.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sword of Body and Mind</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sword_of_Feast_and_Famine.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sword of Feast and Famine</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Cryptic_Command.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Cryptic Command</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Jace_the_Mind_Sculptor.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Jace, the Mind Sculptor</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Elspeth_Knight_Errant.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Elspeth, Knight-Errant</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ajani_Vengeant.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Ajani Vengeant</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Gideon_Jura.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Gideon Jura</a></div>
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<strong>26 Lands: </strong>
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1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Island.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Island</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Vivid_Meadow.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Vivid Meadow</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Vivid_Creek.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Vivid Creek</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Vivid_Grove.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Vivid Grove</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Reflecting_Pool.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Reflecting Pool</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Razorverge_Thicket.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Razorverge Thicket</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Copperline_Gorge.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Copperline Gorge</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mystic_Gate.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mystic Gate</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mutavault.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mutavault</a></div>
<div style="border-right: 1px solid white; float: left; width: 200px;">
<strong>15 Sideboard: </strong>
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2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Path_to_Exile.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Path to Exile</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Day_of_Judgment.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Day of Judgment</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Leyline_of_Sanctity.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Leyline of Sanctity</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mindlock_Orb.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mindlock Orb</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Elspeth_Knight_Errant.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Elspeth, Knight-Errant</a></div>
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Some quick thoughts:<br />
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The decklist posted on Channelfireball is 59 cards. Go ahead and look it up. What's the mystery card? I have no idea.<br />
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Mutavault in a deck that also runs Bloodbraid, Mirran Crusader, and Cryptic Command. As Yuuya mentioned, most people could not conceive of doing this. However, I will agree that Mutavault is incredibly good in an aggressive deck like this one.<br />
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Lots of vivids. This is both a reason for Noble Hierarch, as it catches you back up, and against Noble, since you will rarely be able to turn 1 it.<br />
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4 Squadron Hawks. This card sees almost no play in Extended, which is probably a huge oversight. The body is unimpressive, but the card advantage, flying, and sheer number of bodies it can generate is not to be underestimated. Hawks probably deserves to see more play than it does.<br />
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Superfriends. One of each good walker. I guess you never know which one you'll need, so might as well have one of each.<br />
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Sideboard 4 Mindlock Orb 4 Leyline. This is what we call being all in. Whoever is trying to Valakut this deck out has to come very prepared. Note that walkers can not be Valakut'd if you have Leyline out as you can only target players, then redirect, and Leyline gives you shroud.<br />
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I made a bant deck last night that didn't splash Bloodbraid or Mutavault but still attempted to cast Cryptic. Testing results were awful against Boros, and I would imagine even worse against monored. So for Detroit, I would not play this deck unless you are 1) Japanese or 2) named Basem. The deck seems very well positioned for bant mirrors, and is probably a nightmare for Faeries, though having zero Paths in the main is a bit suspect as it makes the deck incredibly soft to Mistbind Clique.<br />
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Good luck on Saturday regardless of the deck you choose, and remember: don't be a bitch!Kmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01739675186253390264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836707808414146348.post-13486723588990597482011-04-05T09:49:00.003-04:002011-04-05T23:03:15.869-04:00April 5th - Zenith ZooOn Tuesdays, I'm intending on telling people what I will be playing for weekly Legacy, and how I got to the deck. Here's another take on Zoo, if you're not sick of it already.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
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I've been enamored by Green Sun Zenith since it was spoiled - I just haven't gotten a good chance to mess around with it yet. There are just so many strengths and weaknesses to the card that must be addressed.<br />
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Strengths:<br />
<ul>
<li>Toolbox with Silver Bullets, lets you have outs and access to outs in Game 1's</li>
<li>No sacrificing on threat density for adding it, it'll always be a creature</li>
<li>Gets around Counterbalance</li>
<li>MORE TARMOGOYFS</li>
</ul>
Weaknesses:<br />
<ul>
<li>Costs 1 more for the creature as paying 2 for a Wild Nacatl is embarrassing <br />
</li>
<li>You need more mana sources to capitalize on it</li>
<li>Drawing Silver Bullets when you don't want them makes some hands awkward</li>
<li>Spell Pierce translates to a sad trombone</li>
<li>Doesn't fuel Grim Lavamancer</li>
<li>More Perish targets </li>
</ul>
Here's Kemper Pogue's Green Sun Zoo - but looking at his sideboard, it shows that he doesn't really know what he's doing with Zoo.<br />
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<div style="border: 1px solid white; float: left;">
<div style="background-color: #333333; border: 1px solid white;">
Green Sun Zoo - Kemper Pogue | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
</div>
<div style="float: left; margin-left: 3px; width: 200px;">
<b>22 Creatures: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Grim_Lavamancer.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Grim Lavamancer</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Knight_of_the_Reliquary.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Knight of the Reliquary</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Noble_Hierarch.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Noble Hierarch</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Qasali_Pridemage.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Qasali Pridemage</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Tarmogoyf.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Tarmogoyf</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Terravore.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Terravore</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Wild_Nacatl.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Wild Nacatl</a><br />
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<b>14 Spells: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Swords_to_Plowshares.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Swords to Plowshares</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Lightning_Bolt.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Lightning Bolt</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Green_Suns_Zenith.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Green Sun's Zenith</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sylvan_Library.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sylvan Library</a></div>
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<b>24 Lands: </b>
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3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Horizon_Canopy.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Horizon Canopy</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Plateau.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Plateau</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Savannah.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Savannah</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Taiga.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Taiga</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Windswept_Heath.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Windswept Heath</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Wooded_Foothills.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Wooded Foothills</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Wasteland.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Wasteland</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Dryad_Arbor.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Dryad Arbor</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Forest.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Forest</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mountain.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mountain</a></div>
<div style="border-right: 1px solid white; float: left; width: 200px;">
<b>15 Sideboard: </b>
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1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Tormods_Crypt.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Tormod's Crypt</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ethersworn_Canonist.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Ethersworn Canonist</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Qasali_Pridemage.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Qasali Pridemage</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Choke.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Choke</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ghostly_Prison.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Ghostly Prison</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Enlightened_Tutor.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Enlightened Tutor</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Krosan_Grip.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Krosan Grip</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Path_to_Exile.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Path to Exile</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Umezawas_Jitte.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Umezawa's Jitte</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Gaddock_Teeg.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Gaddock Teeg</a></div>
</div>
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Here's what I think should be happening:<br />
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<div style="border: 1px solid white; float: left;">
<div style="background-color: #333333; border: 1px solid white;">
Zenith Zoo | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
</div>
<div style="float: left; margin-left: 3px; width: 200px;">
<b>24 Creatures: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Wild_Nacatl.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Wild Nacatl</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Noble_Hierarch.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Noble Hierarch</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Tarmogoyf.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Tarmogoyf</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Knight_of_the_Reliquary.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Knight of the Reliquary</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Grim_Lavamancer.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Grim Lavamancer</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Qasali_Pridemage.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Qasali Pridemage</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Gaddock_Teeg.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Gaddock Teeg</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Loaming_Shaman.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Loaming Shaman</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Thrun_the_Last_Troll.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Thrun, the Last Troll</a><br />
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<b>16 Spells: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Swords_to_Plowshares.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Swords to Plowshares</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Lightning_Bolt.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Lightning Bolt</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Lightning_Helix.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Lightning Helix</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Green_Suns_Zenith.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Green Sun's Zenith</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sylvan_Library.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sylvan Library</a></div>
<div style="float: left; width: 200px;">
<b>22 Lands: </b>
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1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Plateau.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Plateau</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Savannah.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Savannah</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Taiga.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Taiga</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Windswept_Heath.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Windswept Heath</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Wooded_Foothills.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Wooded Foothills</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Wasteland.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Wasteland</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Dryad_Arbor.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Dryad Arbor</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Forest.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Forest</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mountain.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mountain</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Plains.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Plains</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Treetop_Village.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Treetop Village</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Horizon_Canopy.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Horizon Canopy</a></div>
<div style="border-right: 1px solid white; float: left; width: 200px;">
<b>15 Sideboard: </b>
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2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Kitchen_Finks.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Kitchen Finks</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Burning_Tree_Shaman.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Burning-Tree Shaman</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ranger_of_Eos.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Ranger of Eos</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Heartwood_Storyteller.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Heartwood Storyteller</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Granger_Guildmage.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Granger Guildmage</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Krosan_Grip.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Krosan Grip</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Oblivion_Ring.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Oblivion Ring</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sulfuric_Vortex.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sulfuric Vortex</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Bojuka_Bog.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Bojuka Bog</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Karakas.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Karakas</a></div>
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There are, of course, the 4-of's that I will not compromise on. I will admit that this deck doesn't look like a Zoo deck anymore - Noble Hierarchs, Swords to Plowshares, not a full set of Lightning Bolts; it hurts me, being a champion of other Zoo lists. However, consider the advantages:<br />
<ul>
<li>You have access to a couple game 1 bullets that solve significant Zoo problems: Gaddock Teeg for various flavors of combo decks, or Zoo killers like Engineered Explosives or Humility. I'm well aware that Gaddock Teeg alongside Green Sun Zenith is a non-bo; this isn't your concern. After you get Gaddock Teeg, you intend on winning the game because of him.</li>
<li>Loaming Shaman shuts down Academy Ruins, opposing Knight of the Reliquary and potential graveyard decks in game 1 while not being embarrassing.</li>
<li>4 Wasteland to press your mana advantage, and 8 ways (Hierarch and Zenith for Arbor) to get there.</li>
<li>Multiple Lightning Helixes to handle aggressive mirrors.</li>
<li>This makes better use out of my favorite man-land, the Treetop Village to get some exalted trample going to beat things like Elspeth, Knight Errant.</li>
</ul>
Looking to the sideboard, this is where you can put your more situational bullets.<br />
Kitchen Finks - Aggro mirror<br />
Burning-Tree Shaman - Sensei's Divining Top, Lands, Thopters (not first target for Thopters)<br />
Heartwood Storyteller - Locally, there is always some variety of creatureless control decks; this has to be answered in some fashion. Even if a Humility is dropped onto it, you still draw a card - and potentially an out.<br />
Granger Guildmage - Dark Confidant, Vendillion Clique, Peacekeeper, Grim Lavamancer; the list goes on. He's no Grim Lavamancer, but I really wanted to figure out some sort of maindeck slot for him - but he's kind of an embarrassing card choice if you're not playing against creatures. Interesting note - both abilities are relevant.<br />
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From the rest of the sideboard, there are <b>my</b> standard Zoo choices - some combination of Krosan Grips and Oblivion Rings, the Bojuka Bog and the Karakas, so that I can sideboard up additional lands, and they're Knight bullets. Add in the attrition package of Ranger of Eos, and control killer of Sulfuric Vortex, and you've got quite a bit of flexibility.<br />
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This is what I think Big Zoo should look like - there aren't a lot of actually big creatures you want to be attacking with, just Zenith for the right creature at the right time.<br />
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-GGandhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637374922570657386noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836707808414146348.post-72665097448880157132011-04-04T18:33:00.001-04:002011-04-04T18:37:05.341-04:00April 4th- Pauper StormWhat do Dark Ritual and Lotus Petal have in common?<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
Well, in addition to both being extremely broken mana producers, both are commons and are therefore legal in Pauper.<br />
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For those of you unfamiliar with the format, Pauper is a fairly popular format online with only commons being legal (and Cranial Plating being the only banned card). The allure of the format is that decks are relatively cheap to build without any expensive rares or mythics. While there are a few commons worth a couple dollars, competitive decks can be built for essentially nothing.<br />
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But don't let the fact that only commons are allowed cause you to think decks aren't powerful. The beatdown decks can regularly kill by turn 4 or 5, Cloudpost+Glimmerpost team up to produce insane amounts of mana, artifact lands+affinity is a perfectly acceptable strategy, and there's always storm.<br />
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While such hits as Mind's Desire, Tendrils of Agony, and Brain Freeze may not be options, Grapeshot, Empty the Warrens, and Temporal Fissure all exist as ways to effectively end the game given a high enough storm count. Temporal Fissure decks utilize cost reducing cards in conjunction with Cloud of Faeries, Snap, and Frantic Search to build up storm, then bounce all of your permanents each turn (thanks the Mnemonic Wall) while slowly killing you with 1/1's.<br />
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I find this approach to be more fun<br />
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Pauper Storm | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
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<strong>0 Creatures: </strong>
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<strong>47 Spells: </strong>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Dark_Ritual.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Dark Ritual</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Cabal_Ritual.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Cabal Ritual</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Rite_of_Flame.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Rite of Flame</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Lotus_Petal.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Lotus Petal</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Manamorphose.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Manamorphose</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Chromatic_Star.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Chromatic Star</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Chromatic_Sphere.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Chromatic Sphere</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sign_in_Blood.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sign in Blood</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ideas_Unbound.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Ideas Unbound</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Preordain.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Preordain</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Grapeshot.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Grapeshot</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Empty_the_Warrens.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Empty the Warrens</a></div>
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<strong>13 Lands: </strong>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ancient_Spring.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Ancient Spring</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sulfur_Vent.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sulfur Vent</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Geothermal_Crevice.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Geothermal Crevice</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Irrigation_Ditch.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Irrigation Ditch</a></div>
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<strong>15 Sideboard: </strong>
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1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Geothermal_Crevice.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Geothermal Crevice</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Irrigation_Ditch.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Irrigation Ditch</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Duress.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Duress</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Goblin_Bushwacker.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Goblin Bushwacker</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ponder.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Ponder</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Echoing_Decay.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Echoing Decay</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Flaring_Pain.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Flaring Pain</a></div>
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Here, Empty the Warrens making over 20 guys is the way most games are won. Few decks can survive the attack on the following turn, especially in game 1. It is possible to get up to 20 to kill with a Grapeshot, but more often 2 Grapeshots for 10 and 11 do the trick or even Grapeshot for 6, 7, and 8. If needed, Grapeshot can also clear out blockers for a smaller Empty the Warrens or dome your opponent for enough that Empty for 14-18 guys is enough.<br />
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The mana engine is fairly straightforward. You have 13 lands all of which make 2 mana (since you rarely play a non-chromatic, non-preordain) spell unless you're going off that turn. In addition you have 16 ritual effects including the Lotus Petals, meaning 1 or 2 lands is usually enough to do whatever you want.<br />
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Sign in Blood, Ideas Unbound, and Preordain exists as the draw spells in the deck. Preordain is the 1 cost cantrip of choice since you don't have a way to shuffle for Brainstorm or Ponder, and getting rid of excess lands is important. Careful Study is something I've considered, but I've simply found Preordain to be better. Lastly, the Chromatic Stars/Spheres and Manamorphose all draw you a card, which helps a lot.<br />
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The sideboard may seem strange, but its important to realize that you can't over sideboard with this deck. The most cards I can justify boarding in for any matchup is 7 which is for the mirror, and most matchups involve boarding in 4 to 5 cards. Bushwacker combos with Empty to allow a storm of 4+bushwacker to be lethal, and also beats any sorcery speed answer to the goblin tokens. Duress is there to nab a hate card or a counterspell. Ponder allows you to recover vs heavy discard and sometimes 1 can be brought in as the 5th preordain in matchups where mana and time are tight. Echoing Decay kills opposing goblin tokens in the mirror, and can also kill x/2 hate creatures such as Benevolent Unicorn or Martyr of Ashes.<br />
Flaring Pain is the most narrow card in the board, but the majority of white hate cards involve damage prevention and beat a single duress, so Flaring Pain is better there.<br />
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Most game 1's play out with you going off on around turn 3. Given a good hand, it is also completely reasonable to just cast an smaller Empty the Warrens on turn 1 or 2 and kill in 2-3 attacks since few decks will play out enough creatures to stabilize in time. Admittedly, you will fizzle around 10% of the time, but the other 80-90% expect to win fairly easily.<br />
Post-board, expect every deck to have a decent amount of hate. There are several routes to which people will try to disrupt you, but they always have to have the right kind of hate to beat your draw. They can attack your mana with Stone Rain effects (or Spreading Seas out of blue decks), attack your hand with discard, try to counter your spells, or lastly play a specific hate card to beat either Empty the Warrens or Grapeshot. <br />
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Lastly, a few tips if you want to play the deck<br />
1. Don't get greedy. If you're tight on mana, trying to dig for rituals just to build up storm isn't worth it unless you need to kill with grapeshot that turn. Sometimes you just have to accept you fell short and storm for a non-lethal amount hoping its enough.<br />
2. Sign in Blood can target them. It may not come up very often, but dealing 18 or 19, followed by Sign in Blood is perfectly reasonable.<br />
3. Don't try to go off unless you need to or your hand is very good. Your odds of killing them on the spot typically only go up with time, so you may as well wait to see an extra card if you aren't under significant pressure.<br />
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Even the mirror match is a blast, since crazy things can happen out of nowhere.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6ujE9-edWqB8x87gIPgEQ2kb4-UfpuL4rKgXoh7N7zGBKYPU1jtCRkrOlbHGwkdG8mPdYR_qdwhfHGaAyuQhwn0uTV70st2zlCvo0E_z8hdYYI2SUs1TtrNf_HaK1CeFsBr9tCc833bQ/s1600/storm+mirror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6ujE9-edWqB8x87gIPgEQ2kb4-UfpuL4rKgXoh7N7zGBKYPU1jtCRkrOlbHGwkdG8mPdYR_qdwhfHGaAyuQhwn0uTV70st2zlCvo0E_z8hdYYI2SUs1TtrNf_HaK1CeFsBr9tCc833bQ/s640/storm+mirror.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
In this match, my opponent cast an empty for more than lethal. I had 2 empties and a bushwacker in my hand, so I cast an empty for enough to survive his attack, and with all of his dudes tapped killed him on my next turn thanks to bushwacker.<br />
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If you're bored with other formats or may not be able to afford to play the decks you want, I'd highly encourage you to give Pauper a shot. Storm is definitely a blast to play and is highly competitive right now, so feel free to try it out online.Matt McCulloughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01200532552008868377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836707808414146348.post-25405103150920845332011-04-03T00:01:00.001-04:002011-04-03T00:01:01.663-04:00April 3rd - Legacy MUD PoisonHello everyone and welcome to my deck primer on Legacy MUD Poison.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
A brief introduction - My name is Stu Parnes, and I work at a gaming store in Ann Arbor, MI called “Get Your Game On”. I have been playing Magic the Gathering for a number of years now, and am currently a member of Team MeanDeck. I enjoy Booster Drafting, Legacy and Vintage, and most importantly designing new decks. The most recent deck I have been working on is an artifact only Legacy poison deck, which I would like to share with you.<br />
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<div style="background-color: #333333; border: 1px solid white;">
MUD Poison by Stu Parnes | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
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<b>12 Creatures: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ichorclaw_Myr.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Ichorclaw Myr</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Plague_Myr.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Plague Myr</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Necropede.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Necropede</a><br />
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<b>24 Spells: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Tangle_Wire.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Tangle Wire</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Chalice_of_the_Void.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Chalice of the Void</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Crucible_of_Worlds.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Crucible of Worlds</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mox_Diamond.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mox Diamond</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mox_Opal.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mox Opal</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Cranial_Plating.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Cranial Plating</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Umezawas_Jitte.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Umezawa's Jitte</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sword_of_Feast_and_Famine.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sword of Feast and Famine</a></div>
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<b>24 Lands: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Inkmoth_Nexus.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Inkmoth Nexus</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Blinkmoth_Nexus.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Blinkmoth Nexus</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Wasteland.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Wasteland</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Rishidan_Port.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Rishidan Port</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ancient_Tomb.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Ancient Tomb</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/City_of_Traitors.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">City of Traitors</a></div>
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<b>15 Sideboard: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Contagion_Clasp.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Contagion Clasp</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ensnaring_Bridge.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Ensnaring Bridge</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Phyrexian_Revoker.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Phyrexian Revoker</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Umezawas_Jitte.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Umezawa's Jitte</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Sphere_of_Resistance.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Sphere of Resistance</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Trinisphere.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Trinisphere</a></div>
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What this deck does – This deck incorporates two different strategies. First, you have Cranial Plating and other equipment that let you have a blazingly fast start, and second, you have many prison pieces that lock your opponent down, and make their deck not able to function correctly.<br />
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First we will discuss the aggressive side of the deck. You have 12 poison 2 drops, as well as 8 (yes EIGHT) manlands. Since you also have 8 lands that produce 2 mana each, and Mox Diamonds, it is very realistic to cast one of these creatures on turn 1. These creatures paired with your equipment make for a threat that must be answered immediately. Cranial plating is obviously insane with poison creatures, and will often kill your opponent in 2 swings. The fact that most of your deck is artifacts, and that you have 8 lands that can animate into artifacts is a huge boost for your creatures power with cranial plating. The other important equipment is Umezawa’s Jitte. This is a must for the tribal decks that have a lot of creatures such as Goblins, Merfolk, and Elves. I have yet to lose a game against one of these decks where I have attacked with a Jitte. The pump bonus also lets you kill your opponent much quicker then normal, remember you only have to do 10 damage to them! I play one Sword of Feast and Famine, because it gives protection from Tarmogoyf, and it lets you untap all your lands post combat. This is very important with Rishidan Port, and your manlands, so you can interact with your opponent on their turn.<br />
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The prison side of the deck includes cards such as Chalice of the Void, Tangle Wire, and Crucible of Worlds. These cards all interfere with your opponent’s ability to play their deck correctly. If you notice, there are no 1-mana cards in this deck, so a Chalice of the Void at 1 does not hurt you at all. It does lock out many format staples such as Swords to Plowshares, Brainstorm, and Dark Ritual for example. Tangle Wire buys you time, and can also be used to tap down an opposing blocker. Since you have many artifacts in play such as equipment and other prison pieces, you rarely have to tap a land or creature to your Tangle Wire. Crucible of Worlds is one of the best cards in the deck because it lets you replay your manlands if they get killed. It also lets you Wasteland lock your opponent, or mana boost with City of Traitors.<br />
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The lands in this deck are very important. Wasteland and Rishidan Port do an amazing job at disrupting your opponent’s mana. The goal is to cast something on turn 1, and then harass your opponent’s mana for the next few turns, putting them behind, while you are gaining board presence. Tangle Wire, Rishadan port, Wasteland, and Chalice of the Void, make casting spells very hard for many legacy decks. The fact that you have 8 manlands is also hugely important. Many decks cannot beat creatures they cannot counter, and sorcery speed removal cannot kill these guys. They are also great because Blinkmoth Nexus can pump Inkmoth Nexus to get in that extra point of poison damage. Again Crucible of Worlds is very important with this deck, because of the high quality of the lands you are getting back.<br />
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A brief discussion of match-ups.<br />
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Against Control - I have yet to lose a game to a Blue/White based control deck (out of about 25, and no I am not exaggerating this). Your mana disruption along side of uncounterable threats usually kills these decks quite easily. Crucible of worlds is the MVP in this match up. Sometimes I board in Phyrexian Revokers to stop cards like Thopter Foundry or Jace the Mind Sculptor, if it is necessary.<br />
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Against Combo – You are very fast if the other deck does not interact with you (you can kill on turn 2 with the nuts). You have mana disruption, and post board you have Trinisphere, Sphere of Resistance, and Phyrexian Revoker (to stop cards like Lion’ Eye Diamond). Chalice of the Void and Cranial Plating are the MVP’s in this Matchup.<br />
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Against Goblins – This is kind of a rougher match up because they can generate a lot of creatures to block you with. If they do not have a turn 1 Aether Vial you are in much better shape, because you can fight their mana to keep them off spells. After board you get another Jitte, and Contagion Clasp. Clasp is great for killing the weaker goblins, and can also scramble Aether Vial with its proliferate ability. The MVP’s in this match up are Umezawa’s Jitte, and Ichorclaw Myr (he becomes 3/3 if he is blocked, so it is very hard for them to fight this guy in combat).<br />
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Against Merfolk – This match up is pretty even. It is a big grinding battle to see who can get more into play. The good news is their guys will never have islandwalk. The bad news is if they get a few guys out, they become huge. You end up grinding them out most of the time, and using cards like Crucible of Worlds + Manlands to block with can generate enough time to kill them. A funny note, Cursecatcher has ZERO cards it can counter against you. Umezawa’s Jitte is obviously the MVP in this match up.<br />
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Zoo and Bant – These decks are the biggest problem for this deck. The fact that they have huge guys, removal, and main deck Qasali Pridemage can often do you in. If you get a good opener with a Chalice of the Void, you can slow them down drastically, sometimes enough to seal the game for you. Wastelands are the MVP against these decks because they play a lot of non-basics, and sometimes you can just harass their mana enough that they cannot cast spells.<br />
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Against Show and Tell – You have cards like Tangle Wire to keep them off mana, and Chalice of the Void for 1 stops all of their Brainstorm, Ponder, and Preordains. Because you are very fast, and they typically don’t have creatures in play, you can usually just kill them unhindered. I have had games where my opponent cast Show and Tell putting out an Emrakul the Aeons Torn, I put out Cranial Plating. On my turn I cast a Tangle Wire, tapping their 3 lands and their Eldrazi, and then killed them on my turn with my Cranial Plating and guy. Tangle wire is the MVP here, and out of the board you get Ensnaring Bridge, so they cannot attack you with their big guys!<br />
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Notes – Pro Player, Conley Woods played a version of this deck recently at the SCG open in L.A. He made some changes to my list, and I would like to briefly talk about those. He cut Rishadan Port completely out of the deck. This I think is a terrible mistake, as this card is amazing at interacting with your opponent’s mana. Because you are mono artifacts, you don’t need to worry about color screw, and the more lands that deny your opponent mana the better. I would never even consider cutting this card, EVER.<br />
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Conley added in Arcbound Ravager, which on the surface seems like a reasonable choice, but I personally have had a huge level of success with the deck as is, and don’t think I would include it. I prefer Sword of Feast and Famine because it is so good with Rishadan Port, but if you are cutting Rishadan Port then picking a different sword seems like a good choice. He swapped one Mox Diamond for one Mox Opal, again with the cutting of 4 lands, Mox Diamond loses a lot of power. Conley also cut one Umezawa’s Jitte for one Throne of Geth. I initially had this card in the deck, and did like it a lot, and if I ever moved into a more Smokestack version I would totally play Throne of Geth. I personally think the Jitte is too important to cut, because it is a way to interact with creature decks, and to clear out blockers for your guys.<br />
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Overall this deck is a lot of fun to play, and can be very explosive and catch your opponents off guard. I have played in a few local tournaments with this deck, splitting top 4, and top 8. The local tournaments here have very fierce competition, including many pro players, and are not your usual show up and win kind of local events.<br />
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If you like to play a deck that is a little different, give this one a try! Also we have a whole new set coming out called “New Phyrexia” that I am hoping will add a new card or two for this deck.<br />
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Thanks for reading, and please let me know if you have any questions, you can message me on Facebook, or email me at StuParnes@gmail.com<br />
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-StuGandhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637374922570657386noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4836707808414146348.post-50397752275128910802011-04-02T09:35:00.002-04:002011-04-02T18:05:34.787-04:00April 2nd - Standard Kibler's UB PoisonRemember, these aren't just decks that we've been playing; they're decks that spark some thought.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>I love metagame decks.<br />
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They're never the best deck and they're very far from being the most abstractly powerful deck in the room; but they shake up the metagame. If you remember Owling Mine, the deck that revolved around Ebony Owl Netsuke from Kamigawa-Ravnica Standard, you'll remember that it couldn't beat a Kird Ape, but if you were playing 4's 5's and 6's like most people actually were - the deck got the job done.<br />
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But now our metagame revolves around some Hawks:<br />
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Brian Kibler's UB Infect | <a href="http://rustymachete.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #999999;">The Rusty Machete</span></a>
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<b>10 Creatures: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Necropede.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Necropede</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Phyrexian_Crusader.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Phyrexian Crusader</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Skithiryx_the_Blight_Dragon.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon</a><br />
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<b>24 Spells: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Contagion_Clasp.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Contagion Clasp</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Tumble_Magnet.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Tumble Magnet</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Deprive.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Deprive</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Into_the_Roil.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Into the Roil</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mana_Leak.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Mana Leak</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Jace_Beleren.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Jace Beleren</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Inquisition_of_Kozilek.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Inquisition of Kozilek</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Preordain.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Preordain</a></div>
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<b>26 Lands: </b>
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4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Island.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Island</a><br />
6 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Swamp.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Swamp</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Creeping_Tar_Pit.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Creeping Tar Pit</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Darkslick_Shores.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Darkslick Shores</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Drowned_Catacomb.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Drowned Catacomb</a><br />
4 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Inkmoth_Nexus.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Inkmoth Nexus</a></div>
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<b>14 Sideboard: </b>
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3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Phyrexian_Vatmother.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Phyrexian Vatmother</a><br />
3 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Disfigure.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Disfigure</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Doom_Blade.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Doom Blade</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Flashfreeze.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Flashfreeze</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Go_for_the_Throat.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Go for the Throat</a><br />
1 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Jace_Beleren.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Jace Beleren</a><br />
2 <a class="highslide" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Duress.jpg" onclick="return hs.expand(this)">Duress</a></div>
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Phyrexian Crusader. Decks that have White and or Red for removal are basically cold to this guy. Jace Beleren preemptively kills your opponent's Jace, but you can kill opposing Jaces with your 8 manlands anyway.<br />
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Contagion Clasp? Tumble Magnet? If you had told me that these were top notch Standard cards when they came out, I'd say you were crazy. But holding off creatures with equipment, killing Plated Geopedes and Steppe Lynxes, buying just enough time to find a Phyrexian Crusader to get through teams of Hawks and Mystics - that's really appealing in this deck.<br />
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But that doesn't even encompass the best individual point of playing this deck. After your opponent takes the first point of poison in each game, clearly very far away from finishing them off; you inform them:<br />
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The first cut is the deepest.<br />
<br />Gandhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15637374922570657386noreply@blogger.com0