So I had an interesting draft last week. It ended in a 1-2 record, like so many of my drafts do, but I felt really lost during the draft. Maybe you all can help. Follow along and let me know how I screwed up please.
Event #: 1742268
Time: 11/5/2010 9:06:56 PM
Players:
kashiosu
Jonb86
--> bat_matt
Dark Circle
sadisteck
Shoo
murajin
alecs0
------ SOM ------
Pack 1 pick 1:
Seize the Initiative, Turn Aside, Abuna Acolyte, Wall of Tanglecord, Whitesun's Passage, Sylvok Lifestaff, Carapace Forger, Vedalken Certarch, Withstand Death, Neurok Replica, Myrsmith, Tumble Magnet, Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon, Liquimetal Coating
Ok, so...first pick easy. Tumble Magnet and Myrsmith are nice but no, I am not passing Skithiryx.
Pack 1 pick 2:
Necropede, Leaden Myr, Barrage Ogre, Tel-Jilad Fallen, Glint Hawk, Auriok Sunchaser, Galvanic Blast, Arrest, Neurok Replica, Rust Tick, Molder Beast, Saberclaw Golem, Swamp, Fume Spitter
Ok, so I am reaching a bit here for a midlevel infect card over Tel-Jilad because I didn't want to commit to GB infect so early. Galvanic Blast is nice and I like playing it but Necropede is solid removal too. Passing an Arrest for the same reason.
Pack 1 pick 3:
Ezuri's Archers, Assault Strobe. Blackcleave Goblin. Abuna Acolyte. Sunspear Shikari. Vulshok Replica, Echo Circlet, Turn to Slag, Flight Spellbomb, Soul Parry, Liquimetal Coating, Saberclaw Golem, Plains
Here again, I am still comfortable on the Black infect plan, splashing either green or red, depending what flows.
Pack 1 pick 4:
Untamed Might, Blade-Tribe Berserkers, Iron Myr, Turn Aside, Wall of Tanglecord, Twisted Image, Darksteel Myr, Vulshok Replica, Heavy Arbalest, Auriok Replica, Golden Urn, Swamp
And here is where we start going off the rails. Untamed Might is obviously a house in the infect deck, but at this point I've only seen the Tel-Jilad and the Blackcleave to make me think it might be open. I really don't want to blow a 4th pick on a common I will likely see three more times in this draft, so I take the Replica. I think you can make a good case that i should have taken the Heavy Arbalest here. It's certainly good in the infect deck and it's colorless removal. Thoughts?
Pack 1 pick 5:
Halt Order, Ghalma's Warden, Vault Skyward, Ferrovore, Bonds of Quicksilver, Soliton, Blunt the Assault, Loxodon Wayfarer, Snapsail Glider, Exsanguinate, Forest
I think this is the pack that convinced me I shouldn't go infect. What a pile. In the format, I take the artifact whenever I can, hence Snapsail.
Pack 1 pick 6:
Vector Asp, Kuldotha Rebirth, Ichorclaw Myr, Vault Skyward, Trinket Mage, Glimmerpost,Turn to Slag, Panic Spellbomb, Soul Parry, Plains
This pretty clearly should have been a Turn to Slag but I was still holding out hope, and Ichorclaw is fine if unspectacular at making combat math bad in a normal deck.
Pack 1 pick 7:
Vector Asp, Ezuri's Archers, Wing Puncture, Assault Strobe, Viridian Revel, Corrupted Harvester, Relic Putrescence, Horizon Spellbomb Island
Colorless fixing over ugliness.
Pack 1 pick 8:
Copper Myr, Blade-Tribe Berserkers, Iron Myr, Twisted Image, Darksteel Myr, Vulshok Replica, Auriok Replica, Swamp
I'm fine with this. Infect is fading as a dream.
Pack 1 pick 9:
Seize the Initiative, Turn Aside, Abuna Acolyte, Whitesun's Passage, Withstand Death, Liquimetal Coating, Plains
Apparently no one likes metalcraft at this table.
Pack 1 pick 10:
Glint Hawk, Auriok Sunchaser, Neurok Replica, Molder Beast, Saberclaw Golem, Swamp
Last five picks
Liquimetal Coating
Auriok Replica
Vault Skyward
Glimmerpost
Island
------ SOM ------
Pack 2 pick 1:
Vector Asp, Ezuri's Archers, Wing Puncture, Assault Strobe, Lumengrid Drake, Ferrovore, Thrummingbird, Silver Myr, Cystbearer, Precursor Golem, Lifesmith, Relic Putrescence, Horizon Spellbomb, Swamp, Ogre Geargrabber
Ok. If I am committed to the infect plan, I obviously take the Cystbearer, mediocre first pick though he is. I take the Precursor.
Pack 2 pick 2:
Glint Hawk Idol, Perilous Myr, Contagious Nim, Blight Mamba, Blade-Tribe Berserkers, Ichor Rats, Glint Hawk, Galvanic Blast, Flesh Allergy, Bleak Coven Vampires, Heavy Arbalest, Sylvok Replica, Island, Fume Spitter
This is where I started to become convinced my deck sucked. I am pretty sure the Blast is wrong but I really don't know what is right. If I can guarantee I will see a Throne of Geth or Contagion Clasp, I think the Ichor Rats is right. Blight Mamba and Fume Spitter are fine for the infect deck but I don't want to take them second pick. Same with Glint Hawk and its Idol. Help!
Pack 2 pick 3:
Neurok Invisimancer, Barrage Ogre, Vulshok Heartstoker, Infiltration Lens, Salvage Scout, Carapace Forger, Withstand Death, Bellowing Tanglewurm, Screeching Silcaw, Razorfield Thresher, Chrome Steed, Golden Urn, Swamp
I think I thought the infect deck was gone, having forgotten how awesome Bellowing Tanglewurm is in it. Chrome Steed is fine and I am suddenly on the path to monobrown.
Pack 2 pick 4:
Rusted Relic, Wing Puncture, Melt Terrain, Ichorclaw Myr, Tel-Jilad Fallen, Loxodon Wayfarer, Plague Stinger, Sunspear Shikari, Echo Circlet, Stoic Rebuttal, Saberclaw Golem, Island
And monobrown is why I ended up taking the 5/5 over the 3 solid infect cards in this pack. See, this is why I hate Magic. If I had taken that fourth pick Untamed Might in pack one, I'd be solidly infect right now, but because I "wanted to leave my options open" I am stuck thinking I should still be taking the "better card" rather than diving into an archetype that is obviously flowing.
Pack 2 pick 5:
Neurok Invisimancer, Oxidda Daredevil, Turn Aside, Golem Foundry, Thrummingbird, Lifesmith, Bleak Coven Vampires, Moriok Replica, Golden Urn, Swamp, Ogre Geargrabber
Or is it? See now I just don't know what the heck is going on. Maybe it's just an awful pack. I love the replica but yuck.
Pack 2 pick 6:
Glint Hawk Idol, Kuldotha Rebirth, Instill Infection, Furnace Celebration, Blunt the Assault, Flameborn Hellion, Relic Putrescence, Stoic Rebuttal, Forest, Fulgent Distraction
Monobrown it is.
Pack 2 pick 7:
Turn Aside, Tel-Jilad Defiance, Psychic Miasma, Whitesun's Passage, Withstand Death, Moriok Replica, Bellowing Tanglewurm, Scoria Elemental, Mountain
Do I take that wurm and try to run back to the infect deck at this point? I don't know.
Pack 2 pick 8:
Plated Seastrider, Trigon of Corruption, Salvage Scout, Sunspear Shikari, Withstand Death, Razorfield Thresher, Golden Urn, Plains
Colorless (if slow) removal seems fine right now.
Pack 2 pick 9:
Ezuri's Archers, Wing Puncture, Assault Strobe, Ferrovore, Lifesmith, Relic Putrescence, Swamp
So monobrown goes well with this guy I guess.
Pack 2 pick 10:
Contagious Nim, Blade-Tribe Berserkers, Flesh Allergy, Bleak Coven Vampires, Island, Fume Spitter
This was probably wrong. Either Blade-Tribe or Bleak Coven will usually be on, and one Galvanic Arc and a couple of Vulshok Replicas is not enough to pull me out of heavy black for my Skithiryx.
Last 5 picks:
Carapace Forger
Echo Circlet
Oxidda Daredevil
Blunt the Assault
Mountain
------ SOM ------
Pack 3 pick 1:
Glimmerpoint Stag, Kemba's Skyguard, Shape Anew, Kuldotha Rebirth, Carrion Call, Instill Infection, Gold Myr, Bonds of Quicksilver, Blunt the Assault, Clone Shell, Flight Spellbomb, Panic Spellbomb, Disperse, Mountain, Fulgent Distraction
Ok, so I probably should have taken Glimmerpoint as the strongest card in the pack or Carrion Call as the very late better infect card. I don't think Clone Shell is very good, although there are some very strong plays with it.
Pack 3 pick 2:
Glint Hawk Idol, Blight Mamba, Untamed Might, Blade-Tribe Berserkers, Ichor Rats, Seize the Initiative, Glint Hawk, Flesh Allergy, Accorder's Shield, Tainted Strike, Heavy Arbalest, Sylvok Replica, Island, Fume Spitter
Monobrown over infect just seems worse and worse the further I get into this draft. Ugh.
Pack 3 pick 3:
Glimmerpoint Stag, Kemba's Skyguard, Contagious Nim, Ezuri, Renegade Leader, Bloodshot Trainee, Golem's Heart, Soliton, Auriok Sunchaser, Flameborn Hellion, Vedalken Certarch (FOIL), Neurok Replica, Origin Spellbomb, Mountain
Now, I decide to go white? Ugh. In my defense, Contagious Nim is pretty filler-y
Pack 3 pick 4:
Melt Terrain, Halt Order (FOIL), Ichor Rats, Bloodshot Trainee, Vulshok Heartstoker, Steady Progress, Vedalken Certarch, Echo Circlet, Molder Beast, Nihil Spellbomb, Stoic Rebuttal, Island
This is getting a little creepy. I'm starting to have PTSD flashbacks. 4th pick Nihil Spellbomb? The horror.
Pack 3 pick 5:
Plated Seastrider, Neurok Invisimancer, Ghalma's Warden, Moriok Reaver, Alpha Tyrranax, Cystbearer, Sylvok Lifestaff, Origin Spellbomb, Trigon of Mending, Forest, Ogre Geargrabber
No comment.
Pack 3 pick 6:
Blight Mamba, Seize the Initiative, Ichorclaw Myr, Wall of Tanglecord, Throne of Geth, Whitesun's Passage, Withstand Death, Auriok Replica, Clone Shell, Island
No, seriously. No comment.
Pack 3 pick 7:
Ghalma's Warden, Seize the Initiative, Trigon of Infestation, Bonds of Quicksilver, Salvage Scout, Vulshok Replica, Accorder's Shield, Turn to Slag, Plains
Um. Removal is fine. Right? Right?!?
Pack 3 pick 8:
Copper Myr, Neurok Invisimancer, Ferrovore, Vulshok Heartstoker, Silver Myr, Glint Hawk, Semblance Anvil, Swamp
I don't know.
Pack 3 pick 9:
Shape Anew, Kuldotha Rebirth, Bonds of Quicksilver, Blunt the Assault, Disperse, Mountain, Fulgent Distraction
Pack 3 pick 10:
Blight Mamba, Untamed Might, Seize the Initiative, Flesh Allergy, Accorder's Shield, Island
Yes. I get it. I should have gone infect.
Last 5 picks
Auriok Sunchaser
Bloodshot Trainee
Trigon of Mending
Whitesun's Passage
Plains
The one thing I will say in my admittedly pathetic defense is that I never saw the cards that make me excited to play infect. No Tangle Anglers, no Corpse Cur, no Contagion Clasp. But yes, I should have gone infect, even if it would have been infect with little reach. Here's what ended up playing...
1 Trigon of Corruption
5 Swamp
1 Accorder's Shield
1 Wall of Tanglecord
1 Rusted Relic
2 Moriok Replica
2 Vulshok Replica
1 Necropede
2 Glint Hawk Idol
1 Glimmerpoint Stag
1 Horizon Spellbomb
1 Sylvok Lifestaff
1 Snapsail Glider
2 Glint Hawk
1 Blade-Tribe Berserkers
1 Precursor Golem
1 Liquimetal Coating
4 Mountain
1 Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon
8 Plains
1 Chrome Steed
1 Auriok Sunchaser
Sideboard
1 Disperse
1 Vault Skyward
1 Ichorclaw Myr
1 Bloodshot Trainee
1 Glimmerpost
1 Echo Circlet
1 Mountain
1 Oxidda Daredevil
1 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Turn to Slag
1 Island
1 Whitesun's Passage
1 Trigon of Mending
1 Plains
1 Liquimetal Coating
1 Blunt the Assault
1 Ferrovore
1 Galvanic Blast
1 Clone Shell
1 Blackcleave Goblin
1 Auriok Replica
1 Carapace Forger
I never saw the Skithiryx and interestingly, I went 1-2 (3-5) with it, so it's obviously not a horrendous pile. Arc and Turn to Slag came in post board each match because why the fuck were they out in the first place? Other than not playing infect, what did I do wrong?
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Signaling in a world of good picks
I think this article by Gavin Verhey really hits the nail on the head when it comes to our modern Magic draft. He basically says that sending signals in packs full of good picks is not nearly as important as picking the best card for your deck. This is something that I've struggled with in the current format and the uncommon print runs have been the source of endless bitching as well. I am going to post a couple of drafts that I captured on MTGO later tonight hopefully and we can talk about where I went wrong (or less likely, where I went right).
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Pirate Draft League update
Alright, alright, alright everybody. We've had two more drafts on the HMS One Eye and the latest standings are as follows...
Some reminders: points are awarded per event with 8 points for first down to 1 point for 8th. Events with more/fewer players are normalized to this scale (hence the weird totals for some people).
Finally, I still suck. Drafted a terrible red/green metalcraft deck this last time. Deservedly went 0-2. Maybe I need to get a hook to be more intimidating.
| Name | Record | Points/Event |
| Owen T. Jacob B. TooSarcastic Kurt K. Nate L. Tim N. Jonathan B. Brendan H. Matt F. Greg O. Ryan S. Alexis R. CBG Nick P. Ash O. John D. | 3-0 8-1 2-0 2-1 2-1 4-2 7-4 3-2 2-1 3-5 1-2 1-4 2-9 0-2 1-4 0-2 | 8.00 7.62 7.00 7.00 6.00 6.00 5.50 5.00 4.57 3.57 3.00 3.00 2.82 2.00 1.57 1.00 |
Some reminders: points are awarded per event with 8 points for first down to 1 point for 8th. Events with more/fewer players are normalized to this scale (hence the weird totals for some people).
Finally, I still suck. Drafted a terrible red/green metalcraft deck this last time. Deservedly went 0-2. Maybe I need to get a hook to be more intimidating.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Force Spikes and increasing Magic's popularity.
So if you haven't checked out Force Spikes, the new podcast by Milwaukee locals Jon and Greg, you really should. They are fun to listen to, regardless of whether or not you agree with them! Case in point, this last episode I had some things to say about their suggestions for how Wizards should continue to increase Magic's popularity. I put a post in the MTGcast forums explaining my... point of view, but for some reason it never made it past moderation. Hm. I didn't think it was TOO much of a flame. See for yourself below. But first listen to this week's ForceSpikes podcast to draw your own conclusion!
"I think that you may have been a bit off base with your suggestions for how Magic could expand its player base.
First of all, I believe that the biggest factor in Magic's recent growth has been the Xbox Duels of the Planeswalkers game. I feel like this was mentioned somewhere on the mothership, but I don't know where I read it, so I'll call it my opinion since I can't cite my source.
Second, I think this example is indicative of a weakness in your thinking; Magic grows most when CASUAL players are introduced from other CASUAL gaming media, not from other competitive avenues like Poker. You're thinking a little too much like Spikes. Please remember that most of Magic's profit will come from the massive number of less engaged, casual gamers, not the tiny percentage of players who participate in PTQ and higher level tourneys.
Take your collective musings on having a spokesperson from the Magic/Poker community. This seems like an awful idea. First, most Magic players (who recall are casual players) don't know ANYONE who plays Poker or Magic professionally. Wizards would have to convince them to care. Second, and much more of an issue, is that Wizards would have to find some sort of perfect human who is well spoken, photogenic, one of the best gamers alive (i.e. doesn't fall off the train the next year being a paid spokesperson) AND has a reputation squeaky clean enough to be on the payroll of a company owned by Hasbro. I'll guarantee you the last point ain't trivial. Making one or several people the public face of your product is a huge PR liability! Don't you think that Wizards has thought about this before? Even if a guy like maybe Kibler could fit all the criteria at THIS MOMENT, if over the next year his clandestine cake-sitting prostitute fetish, or one of a million far less humiliating "personal interests" comes to light, Hasbro takes it sleazy from every conservative alarmist looking to paint Magic as the next thing for parents to freak out about. It's way too much of a liability. This is fundamentally a kid's game, remember.
So I think that Wizards should keep doing what they're doing- make further inroads into another, far more popular gaming arena than pro Poker: video games. This was also a a medium that was considered geeky a few years ago, but now has mainstream appeal. Magic does well to align itself with such a massively popular, mainstream medium. When Wizards wants to address potential new players they can turn to public shills for hire like the Frag Dolls (for example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kQbZUGXad4), who are not employed per se by Wizards and who are still easy on the eyes. Then Wizards can promote it all on Facebook, another medium over which they can exert perfect control.
Sorry for the rant, but that part of the podcast really grated on me. Also, the second part of the show about tourney reports was great, and as is the case so often, things that are already great are much less exciting to write about!"
T
"I think that you may have been a bit off base with your suggestions for how Magic could expand its player base.
First of all, I believe that the biggest factor in Magic's recent growth has been the Xbox Duels of the Planeswalkers game. I feel like this was mentioned somewhere on the mothership, but I don't know where I read it, so I'll call it my opinion since I can't cite my source.
Second, I think this example is indicative of a weakness in your thinking; Magic grows most when CASUAL players are introduced from other CASUAL gaming media, not from other competitive avenues like Poker. You're thinking a little too much like Spikes. Please remember that most of Magic's profit will come from the massive number of less engaged, casual gamers, not the tiny percentage of players who participate in PTQ and higher level tourneys.
Take your collective musings on having a spokesperson from the Magic/Poker community. This seems like an awful idea. First, most Magic players (who recall are casual players) don't know ANYONE who plays Poker or Magic professionally. Wizards would have to convince them to care. Second, and much more of an issue, is that Wizards would have to find some sort of perfect human who is well spoken, photogenic, one of the best gamers alive (i.e. doesn't fall off the train the next year being a paid spokesperson) AND has a reputation squeaky clean enough to be on the payroll of a company owned by Hasbro. I'll guarantee you the last point ain't trivial. Making one or several people the public face of your product is a huge PR liability! Don't you think that Wizards has thought about this before? Even if a guy like maybe Kibler could fit all the criteria at THIS MOMENT, if over the next year his clandestine cake-sitting prostitute fetish, or one of a million far less humiliating "personal interests" comes to light, Hasbro takes it sleazy from every conservative alarmist looking to paint Magic as the next thing for parents to freak out about. It's way too much of a liability. This is fundamentally a kid's game, remember.
So I think that Wizards should keep doing what they're doing- make further inroads into another, far more popular gaming arena than pro Poker: video games. This was also a a medium that was considered geeky a few years ago, but now has mainstream appeal. Magic does well to align itself with such a massively popular, mainstream medium. When Wizards wants to address potential new players they can turn to public shills for hire like the Frag Dolls (for example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kQbZUGXad4), who are not employed per se by Wizards and who are still easy on the eyes. Then Wizards can promote it all on Facebook, another medium over which they can exert perfect control.
Sorry for the rant, but that part of the podcast really grated on me. Also, the second part of the show about tourney reports was great, and as is the case so often, things that are already great are much less exciting to write about!"
T
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Wait, what?
WoTC has declared it and it is so. Starting with Mirrodin Besieged, small sets will be drafted before large sets so starting in early February, you'll be drafting Besieged/Scars/Scars.
Honestly, I like this change a lot. It was always a bit random to have your deck 80% complete and then see what delightful goodies did or did not await you in pack three. The new set should have a much greater effect on the environment now. Plus, it should be easier to adjust to the new set, since packs two and three will be familiar to you. Overall, I'd say this is all to the good, though it throws yet another wrench in the philosophical perfection of Carroll Draft. Oh well, that ship really sailed a long time ago.
Honestly, I like this change a lot. It was always a bit random to have your deck 80% complete and then see what delightful goodies did or did not await you in pack three. The new set should have a much greater effect on the environment now. Plus, it should be easier to adjust to the new set, since packs two and three will be familiar to you. Overall, I'd say this is all to the good, though it throws yet another wrench in the philosophical perfection of Carroll Draft. Oh well, that ship really sailed a long time ago.
So, Scars colors?
Well, what colors would you like to be when playing Scars? Me, I 2-1'ed in another draft with a red deck so I think I am gonna say red. Turns out removal is still good and with solid interactions with the main theme of the set (artifacts), red is very strong. Black has great removal as always (hi, Skinrender and Carnifex Demon!), white has a nice weenie metalcraft deck, green has infect and elves (what up, Ezuri?) and blue is blue (although it seems less blue to me than usual...).
It's actually starting to get to the point where I'd like to force red, but it's easy to end up with a pile of Ferrovores and Goblin Gaveleers in that situation. Better to let it come to you. I think.
It's actually starting to get to the point where I'd like to force red, but it's easy to end up with a pile of Ferrovores and Goblin Gaveleers in that situation. Better to let it come to you. I think.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Agrees with Tabasco
In the case, the agreement would be synergy. I've drafted twice more since the last time we spoke and went 1-2 and 3-0, but both times, I managed to draft a synergistic and powerful deck. Finally. My first 3 drafts in the format netted only 2 match wins between them and I constantly felt like I was missing out during drafting. The key to the format appears to be getting in to the right strategy early on and sticking with it. I have yet to successfully see something "open" and be able to switch into it. There are too many holes to fill without focus. The nice thing about this is you will get some awesome gifts late if the table is likeminded in its focus.
On Thursday night, I drafted what I thought was a killer infect deck, but I lost 1-2 twice to solid midrange/tempo decks that were able to disrupt me just enough to win. I was pretty salty about losing (especially since I had seen the possibility of not being 2-7 in the format anymore) but that's the correct strategy for beating infect so yay.
Last night, I opened Ezuri, Renegade Leader pick one pack one and decided to value Ezuri's Archers and Carapace Forgers highly. I solidified green with Molder Beast and a Slice in Twain, and also grabbed a late Blade-Tribe Berserkers and a very late Turn to Slag. Incidentally, this would put me in conflict with TS who was trying to find colors and eventually played RW. I passed him some solid but unspectacular Black cards in pack one, but by the time he realized it was open, the player to his left was solidly in Black, squeezing him for removal from both ends. Highlights of packs 2 and 3 were double Arc Trail (including a 5th pick!), a Myr Propagator and a total gift Ezuri's Brigade. I filled it out with some mediocre equipment, two mana myrs and the best spellbomb
I went 6-0 with this deck and while there were a couple close calls, I felt pretty much in control, even after I mulled to 6 in games 5 and 6. It's a very powerful deck. Favorite play was four lands, U Myr and Sylvok Lifestaff in play, tap 3 to play Strider Harness, tap Forest to play Copperhorn Scout, tap the Myr to attach Strider Harness, attack for 2, untap the Myr, use the Myr attach the Lifestaff in second main. Close second was Turn 6 hasty 9/9 trampler (Ezuri's Brigade with Strider Harness and metalcraft) with the promise of more to come since Ezuri, Repeatable Overrun was on the table. Yay for winning a draft for once.
On Thursday night, I drafted what I thought was a killer infect deck, but I lost 1-2 twice to solid midrange/tempo decks that were able to disrupt me just enough to win. I was pretty salty about losing (especially since I had seen the possibility of not being 2-7 in the format anymore) but that's the correct strategy for beating infect so yay.
Last night, I opened Ezuri, Renegade Leader pick one pack one and decided to value Ezuri's Archers and Carapace Forgers highly. I solidified green with Molder Beast and a Slice in Twain, and also grabbed a late Blade-Tribe Berserkers and a very late Turn to Slag. Incidentally, this would put me in conflict with TS who was trying to find colors and eventually played RW. I passed him some solid but unspectacular Black cards in pack one, but by the time he realized it was open, the player to his left was solidly in Black, squeezing him for removal from both ends. Highlights of packs 2 and 3 were double Arc Trail (including a 5th pick!), a Myr Propagator and a total gift Ezuri's Brigade. I filled it out with some mediocre equipment, two mana myrs and the best spellbomb
| Creatures | Spells | Land |
| Blade-Tribe Berserkers Carapace Forger Copperhorn Scout Ezuri, Renegade Leader Ezuri's Archers Ezuri's Brigade Iron Myr 2 Molder Beast Myr Propagator Perilous Myr Silver Myr 2 Sylvok Replica | 2 Arc Trail Galvanic Blast Horizon Spellbomb Liquimetal Coating Slice in Twain Strider Harness Sylvok Lifestaff Tel-Jilad Defiance Turn to Slag | 10 Forest 6 Mountain |
I went 6-0 with this deck and while there were a couple close calls, I felt pretty much in control, even after I mulled to 6 in games 5 and 6. It's a very powerful deck. Favorite play was four lands, U Myr and Sylvok Lifestaff in play, tap 3 to play Strider Harness, tap Forest to play Copperhorn Scout, tap the Myr to attach Strider Harness, attack for 2, untap the Myr, use the Myr attach the Lifestaff in second main. Close second was Turn 6 hasty 9/9 trampler (Ezuri's Brigade with Strider Harness and metalcraft) with the promise of more to come since Ezuri, Repeatable Overrun was on the table. Yay for winning a draft for once.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
"Synergy" is the strongest draft archetype
This week I am back with a deck I went 3-0 with in a 6 man draft (I wish we had gotten 2 more) because my deck was streamlined and synergistic. First the list and then some interactions.
Sylvok Lifestaff
Kuldotha Rebirth
Galvanic Blast
Liquimetal Coating
2x Shatter
Revoke Existance
Myrsmith
2x Perilous Myr
Contagion Clasp
Arc Trail
2x Ferrovore
Furnace Celebration (foil)
Vulshok Replica
Arrest
Rust Tick
Chrome Steed (foil)
Oxxida Scrapmelter
Golem Artisan
Saberclaw Golem
Wurmcoil Engine
10 Mountain
7 Plains
There are a few things going on here that are awesome, Liquimetal Coating is by far the MVP of the deck, and every time it was in play I won. It really shone when it turned my 2 Shatters, Revoke Existance, and Scrapmelter into Vindicates as well as allowing me to lock down any permanent with Rust Tick. It also served as a way to turn lands into fodder for Ferrovore and the Kuldotha Rebirth. Speaking of Ferrovore, he is why synergy is important. In a vacuum he is just a grey orge with and ability to trade one of your permanents for 3 damage, but when you throw in Furnace Celebration and 2 mana you get a shock in as well, you start to build incremental advantage. If that artifact happens to be Perilous Myr, you turn 2R into 7 damage, 4 of which can be used as 2 shocks or even go straight to the face.
I was lucky enough to begin the draft with Wurmcoil Engine, and picked up early removal, of which this deck has 4 removal spells (not counting the shatter effects). The solid removal allowed me to survive long enough for some Golems to clean up. Luckily my first pack paid for the draft even if I hadn't won, and it is even sweeter that I did.
Sylvok Lifestaff
Kuldotha Rebirth
Galvanic Blast
Liquimetal Coating
2x Shatter
Revoke Existance
Myrsmith
2x Perilous Myr
Contagion Clasp
Arc Trail
2x Ferrovore
Furnace Celebration (foil)
Vulshok Replica
Arrest
Rust Tick
Chrome Steed (foil)
Oxxida Scrapmelter
Golem Artisan
Saberclaw Golem
Wurmcoil Engine
10 Mountain
7 Plains
There are a few things going on here that are awesome, Liquimetal Coating is by far the MVP of the deck, and every time it was in play I won. It really shone when it turned my 2 Shatters, Revoke Existance, and Scrapmelter into Vindicates as well as allowing me to lock down any permanent with Rust Tick. It also served as a way to turn lands into fodder for Ferrovore and the Kuldotha Rebirth. Speaking of Ferrovore, he is why synergy is important. In a vacuum he is just a grey orge with and ability to trade one of your permanents for 3 damage, but when you throw in Furnace Celebration and 2 mana you get a shock in as well, you start to build incremental advantage. If that artifact happens to be Perilous Myr, you turn 2R into 7 damage, 4 of which can be used as 2 shocks or even go straight to the face.
I was lucky enough to begin the draft with Wurmcoil Engine, and picked up early removal, of which this deck has 4 removal spells (not counting the shatter effects). The solid removal allowed me to survive long enough for some Golems to clean up. Luckily my first pack paid for the draft even if I hadn't won, and it is even sweeter that I did.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Mirrodin Besieged
Hey all, look. Shiny new Mirrodin Besieged previews. Not there. Scroll down. There. So, this is apparently part of WoTC's continuing attempts to make colors irrelevant, right? Because Hill Giants with a life loss/gain are totally colorless. Monobrown ftw!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Announcing the Pirate Draft League!
My enjoyment of Magic has combined with my selective OCD to make me want to keep track of the 8 mans at my apartment. Who benefits from this? I have no idea. Nonetheless, I have started keeping track of all the juicy statistics from the Scars drafts and will be posting about them occasionally, in addition to using them for a really awesome purpose. I hope to host some Team Rochester later in the year and these rankings will be used to seed the teams in the hopes of a little competitive balance for "the most skill-intensive format ever", as J-Bro keeps referring to it. The damages so far...
I have pseudo-anonymized the data so it doesn't show up on Google, but if there is an a/k/a you'd like associated with your data or you'd prefer to not be included in the public data, please let me know. I'm also going to look into a venue for larger than 8 mans, though it's difficult to find a place for evening play.
Edited to clarify: Points are not match points from the event, but event points awarded by me. 8 points for 1st right on down to 1 point for eighth. Just in case you were confused.
Finally, I got a match win last night and actually drafted a deck (U/W fliers) instead of a pile of shit, so I'm happy, despite my 1-5 in Scars draft so far.
| Name | Record | Points/Event |
| Jacob B TooSarcastic Kurt K Brendan H Tim N Jonathan B Alexis R Ryan S CBG Ash O Greg O | 6-0 2-0-1 2-1 3-2-1 2-1 3-3 1-4-1 1-2 1-5 1-2 0-2-1 | 8 7 7 5 5 4.5 3 3 2.5 2 2 |
Edited to clarify: Points are not match points from the event, but event points awarded by me. 8 points for 1st right on down to 1 point for eighth. Just in case you were confused.
Finally, I got a match win last night and actually drafted a deck (U/W fliers) instead of a pile of shit, so I'm happy, despite my 1-5 in Scars draft so far.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Tabasco's first Scars draft
Ok, so I finally get a chance to draft the set and upon opening my pack decide what strategy I want to employ. I opened on Geth, Lord of the Vault (must be nice). Yes! I am definitely in black, but do I still try for the poison deck or just play my bomb and pick other good cards? Geth is the kind of card that goes in an infect of a non-infect deck because his ability to stall the board is so good 5/5 walls that mill your opponent are fine especially since I get to take stuff in the process. My next few picks are solid artifacts and I start to develop a solid metalcraft strategy. I will post the list and then go over a few choices I had to make building the deck.
Memnite
Vedalken Certarch
Plated Seastrider
Disperse
Culling Dais
Leaden Myr
Perilous Myr
Trinket Mage
Snapsail Glider
Strider Harness
2 Tumble Magnet
Neurok Replica
Chrome Steed
Rusted Relic
2 Bonds of Quicksilver
Lumengrid Drake
Argent Sphinx (foil)
Golem Artisan
Geth, Lord of the Vault
Argentum Armor
Myr Battle Sphere (foil)
6 Swamp
11 Island
Sideboard (only on color cards):
Exsanguinate
Necrogen Scudder
Sky-Eel School
Stoic Rebuttal
Halt Order
2 Instill Infection
Quicksilver Gargantuan
Sylvok Lifestaff (these three
Flight Spellbomb are potential
Origin Spellbomb trinket mage targets)
Yes, that is 5 ridiculous rares I cut the Gargantuan because my high end was already high enough and he is the only one who doesn't quite win the game on his own (Geth, Battlesphere). I opened very well in this draft, P1P1 Geth, P2P1 foil Myr Battlesphere, P3P1 Argentum Armor, I also received the foil Argent Sphinx and Quicksilver Gargantuan P2P2 and P2P3 respectively. I also noticed that it was good I was U/B because all the late commons I was getting were still on color.
I initially chose to run the Bonds of Quicksilver over Instil Infections because they kept a creature tapped that I used tumble magnet on. I boarded the instills against infect deck though. My curve was pretty bad, so I ran things like plated strider to ensure I could get to the late game where (I assume) my bombs would dominate them. I would be interested in hearing what people would have built differently.
Round 1: I played Caleb and he has a pretty good infect deck with solid infecters like Ichor rats and some cystbearers. I end up losing to Contagion Engine + Trigon of Infection after he flooded (turn out those two permanents just win it when I had 1 poison counter from an Ichor rats) I had boarded in my counterspells and instills against him as well as swapped an island for a 7th swamp but it proved to be not enough.
Round 2: I play Garth with a mono-white deck that had some fog effects and solid flyers as well as Golem foundry, I end up winning it with bombs and had a board on turn 4 of one of our games consisting of Vedalken Certarch and 2 Tumble magnets.
Round 3: I play Will with a W/U metalcraft deck. His deck doesn't really have a strong central theme except he has a bunch of stuff that is good with Metalcraft and the same stuff that is bad without. He has a few cute interactions like Neurok Invisomancer + Trigon of rage as well as a few other evasive guys. He also has a Contagion Engine
I end up 2-1 which is good for 1 Pack (kinda lousy), but I lost round 1 and Caleb went 2-1 so he had better tie breaks. I open the Pack and it turns out to be a MOX OPAL!!! turns out it doesn't matter how many packs you get as long as you open a sweet mythic worth some money. I definitely learned that the draft format is not as quick as I thought it was (it doesn't quite rival that of Zendikar). Contagion Engine is stupid good, and slops to the guy who PASSED IT to Caleb. There are only a few cards I can accept being taken over CE and they are all mythic and have the card type planeswalker, maybe Mox Opal although it is worth less than the planeswalkers and doesn't win you the game like they do.
Memnite
Vedalken Certarch
Plated Seastrider
Disperse
Culling Dais
Leaden Myr
Perilous Myr
Trinket Mage
Snapsail Glider
Strider Harness
2 Tumble Magnet
Neurok Replica
Chrome Steed
Rusted Relic
2 Bonds of Quicksilver
Lumengrid Drake
Argent Sphinx (foil)
Golem Artisan
Geth, Lord of the Vault
Argentum Armor
Myr Battle Sphere (foil)
6 Swamp
11 Island
Sideboard (only on color cards):
Exsanguinate
Necrogen Scudder
Sky-Eel School
Stoic Rebuttal
Halt Order
2 Instill Infection
Quicksilver Gargantuan
Sylvok Lifestaff (these three
Flight Spellbomb are potential
Origin Spellbomb trinket mage targets)
Yes, that is 5 ridiculous rares I cut the Gargantuan because my high end was already high enough and he is the only one who doesn't quite win the game on his own (Geth, Battlesphere). I opened very well in this draft, P1P1 Geth, P2P1 foil Myr Battlesphere, P3P1 Argentum Armor, I also received the foil Argent Sphinx and Quicksilver Gargantuan P2P2 and P2P3 respectively. I also noticed that it was good I was U/B because all the late commons I was getting were still on color.
I initially chose to run the Bonds of Quicksilver over Instil Infections because they kept a creature tapped that I used tumble magnet on. I boarded the instills against infect deck though. My curve was pretty bad, so I ran things like plated strider to ensure I could get to the late game where (I assume) my bombs would dominate them. I would be interested in hearing what people would have built differently.
Round 1: I played Caleb and he has a pretty good infect deck with solid infecters like Ichor rats and some cystbearers. I end up losing to Contagion Engine + Trigon of Infection after he flooded (turn out those two permanents just win it when I had 1 poison counter from an Ichor rats) I had boarded in my counterspells and instills against him as well as swapped an island for a 7th swamp but it proved to be not enough.
Round 2: I play Garth with a mono-white deck that had some fog effects and solid flyers as well as Golem foundry, I end up winning it with bombs and had a board on turn 4 of one of our games consisting of Vedalken Certarch and 2 Tumble magnets.
Round 3: I play Will with a W/U metalcraft deck. His deck doesn't really have a strong central theme except he has a bunch of stuff that is good with Metalcraft and the same stuff that is bad without. He has a few cute interactions like Neurok Invisomancer + Trigon of rage as well as a few other evasive guys. He also has a Contagion Engine
I end up 2-1 which is good for 1 Pack (kinda lousy), but I lost round 1 and Caleb went 2-1 so he had better tie breaks. I open the Pack and it turns out to be a MOX OPAL!!! turns out it doesn't matter how many packs you get as long as you open a sweet mythic worth some money. I definitely learned that the draft format is not as quick as I thought it was (it doesn't quite rival that of Zendikar). Contagion Engine is stupid good, and slops to the guy who PASSED IT to Caleb. There are only a few cards I can accept being taken over CE and they are all mythic and have the card type planeswalker, maybe Mox Opal although it is worth less than the planeswalkers and doesn't win you the game like they do.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Scars Draft #1 - Birthday Draft
So I had seven of my closest Magic buddies (i.e. those who were able to check attending on Facebook) over last night for birthday brownies, school fundraisers and some Scars booster draft. How did it go? For me, not well, other than the fact that I had a lot of fun. I drafted poorly and the deck drew poorly, which is a recipe for 0-3. Recipe was a success. Obviously I have no control over how the deck drew, but where did I make the mistake in drafting? Read on, gentle walker of the Blind Eternities.
...Ok. I am going to admit something to you. I am going to reveal my first pick from the draft and I am going to take the abuse that comes with it. Just remember, I freely admit this was wrong, wrong, wrong. I fan the opening pack and first pickable cards include Spikeshot Elder, Oxidda Scrapmelter, Volition Reins and Myr Galvanizer. I took the Scrapmelter. This was a fucking stupid pick. In a vacuum, Spikeshot is better. Shipping it left indicates Red is wide open, something I don't want to do if I am taking Scrapmelter. Volition Reins is very strong and was the only Blue in the pack. Myr Galvanizer is strong and leaves my options open. Scrapmelter was wrong, wrong, wrong and it only got wronger. Ordinarily, I wouldn't focus on the first pick so much but this was so clearly where my draft went completely on tilt. Picks 2 and 3, I get 2 Turn to Slag and then Red completely dries up. No Red cards appear in the packs for at least six picks. Black is reasonably open and so I start going that way, but I'm not getting any equipment, mana myrs, infect cards or really anything I am excited to play. About the only playable thing the rest of pack one was a Necrogen Scudder around 6th or 7th.
So pack two starts and I open Carnifex Demon! Okay, here I am on the Black/Blue plan but without anything super solid. Of course, there is no Red coming from my left due to the horrible first pick, but I get a couple Bonds of Quicksilver and a couple reasonable Blue fliers. Still no good equipment (got a Strider Harness but that's it) and I am sad panda. Oh! I got a Volition Reins too.
Pack 3 and here we are, still no good stuff flowing and somewhere around 6th pick a Shatter is in the pack...gah...what? I should have picked it. Especially because the next pack had another. Somewhere in there was another Oxidda Scrapmelter too. My deck would have been so much better if I had taken these three cards and played a Black/Red deck with Carnifex, Scudder, and 2 each of Scrapmelter, Shatter and Turn to Slag, with random artifacts filling out the low end of the curve. As it was I ended up with a pile of anti synergy that failed me to the tune of 0-3 in matches, 1-6 in games. There's nothing to be learned from a recap of the matches because my fate was sealed when I took the Scrapmelter over Volition Reins pack 1, pick 1.
On the other hand, it was super fun to get to do my first non cube booster draft in over a year (yes, that's me being defensive) and I loved having people over, despite the cozy surroundings of the apartment. Thanks everybody for coming and watch my Facebook for an invite to a very special RGD draft in the next couple weeks (still trying to figure out the perfect night, can people do Mondays?).
...Ok. I am going to admit something to you. I am going to reveal my first pick from the draft and I am going to take the abuse that comes with it. Just remember, I freely admit this was wrong, wrong, wrong. I fan the opening pack and first pickable cards include Spikeshot Elder, Oxidda Scrapmelter, Volition Reins and Myr Galvanizer. I took the Scrapmelter. This was a fucking stupid pick. In a vacuum, Spikeshot is better. Shipping it left indicates Red is wide open, something I don't want to do if I am taking Scrapmelter. Volition Reins is very strong and was the only Blue in the pack. Myr Galvanizer is strong and leaves my options open. Scrapmelter was wrong, wrong, wrong and it only got wronger. Ordinarily, I wouldn't focus on the first pick so much but this was so clearly where my draft went completely on tilt. Picks 2 and 3, I get 2 Turn to Slag and then Red completely dries up. No Red cards appear in the packs for at least six picks. Black is reasonably open and so I start going that way, but I'm not getting any equipment, mana myrs, infect cards or really anything I am excited to play. About the only playable thing the rest of pack one was a Necrogen Scudder around 6th or 7th.
So pack two starts and I open Carnifex Demon! Okay, here I am on the Black/Blue plan but without anything super solid. Of course, there is no Red coming from my left due to the horrible first pick, but I get a couple Bonds of Quicksilver and a couple reasonable Blue fliers. Still no good equipment (got a Strider Harness but that's it) and I am sad panda. Oh! I got a Volition Reins too.
Pack 3 and here we are, still no good stuff flowing and somewhere around 6th pick a Shatter is in the pack...gah...what? I should have picked it. Especially because the next pack had another. Somewhere in there was another Oxidda Scrapmelter too. My deck would have been so much better if I had taken these three cards and played a Black/Red deck with Carnifex, Scudder, and 2 each of Scrapmelter, Shatter and Turn to Slag, with random artifacts filling out the low end of the curve. As it was I ended up with a pile of anti synergy that failed me to the tune of 0-3 in matches, 1-6 in games. There's nothing to be learned from a recap of the matches because my fate was sealed when I took the Scrapmelter over Volition Reins pack 1, pick 1.
On the other hand, it was super fun to get to do my first non cube booster draft in over a year (yes, that's me being defensive) and I loved having people over, despite the cozy surroundings of the apartment. Thanks everybody for coming and watch my Facebook for an invite to a very special RGD draft in the next couple weeks (still trying to figure out the perfect night, can people do Mondays?).
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Carroll Draft
Let's talk about the best draft format to come out of our play group, Carroll Draft. First, a reminder of the format, stolen from our own Draftstravaganza post...
So where is the format now? First, Shadowmoor managed to screw it up a little more and Rise of the Eldrazi (a large third set) makes decisions a little more difficult. The general consensus is also the Coldsnap includes far too many linear mechanics to play nice with the rest of the sets. Rise of the Eldrazi on the other hand, points a way to a solution to the two set block problem, though it is a little inelegant. We can stick a large set in for the 3rd set of Lorwyn and Shadowmoor blocks. I kind of like the idea of throwing Scars of Mirrodin in for one. The other can be a core set, older large set or Coldsnap, if you really feel you must. If I were hosting one right now this is what it would look like
I'll be the first to admit this is basically a Chaos draft without as much chaos, but what an enjoyable trip through time. The strategies are basically the same as Chaos, though of course you can plan a bit for things like Ravnica bouncelands, Mirrodin artifacts and Alara multicolor madness. The other nice way the format is evolving is that WoTC has been developing for draft a lot more in the late aughts than they were around the time of Invasion so the drafts get better as those sets age out. God help us, Nemesis was in the format the first time we did this and man, was that set ever terrible for Chaos drafting.
The other great thing about Carroll drafting is finding the packs. Usually you can get about 80% of them on one website, but shopping around for different sources and trying to get the best deal is a fun little treasure hunting challenge that increases anticipation for your draft. Try Carroll draft out today. Or next week. Whenever you can round up the packs. I guarantee you'll be turning potential drafters away.
The second format is Carroll draft. Carroll draft is a normal 8 man format which uses 24 different packs. The intention is to use the 24 most recent expert-level expansions, though the release of two-set blocks requires a little rejiggering (we are adding a pack of Coldsnap for this version). First everyone opens a big set (Lorwyn through Invasion). Drafting proceeds as normal. You will travel backwards in time as you go through the packs so if your first pack is Lorwyn, your second pick will be from Time Spiral, then Ravnica, and so on. The second pack you open will be from a second set (Morningtide through Planeshift). Again, you will travel back in time as drafting moves to the right. Finally, the third pack will be all 3rd sets, though Coldsnap will be in the mix due to Lorwyn being a 2 set block.
So where is the format now? First, Shadowmoor managed to screw it up a little more and Rise of the Eldrazi (a large third set) makes decisions a little more difficult. The general consensus is also the Coldsnap includes far too many linear mechanics to play nice with the rest of the sets. Rise of the Eldrazi on the other hand, points a way to a solution to the two set block problem, though it is a little inelegant. We can stick a large set in for the 3rd set of Lorwyn and Shadowmoor blocks. I kind of like the idea of throwing Scars of Mirrodin in for one. The other can be a core set, older large set or Coldsnap, if you really feel you must. If I were hosting one right now this is what it would look like
| Seat | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| 1 | Zendikar | Conflux | Scars of Mirrodin |
| 2 | Shards of Alara | Worldwake | X/M10/M11 |
| 2 | Shadowmoor | Darksteel | Future Sight |
| 4 | Lorwyn | Betrayers | Dissension |
| 5 | Time Spiral | Guildpact | Saviors |
| 6 | Ravnica | Planar Chaos | Fifth Dawn |
| 7 | Champions | Morningtide | Rise of the Eldrazi |
| 8 | Mirrodin | Eventide | Alara Reborn |
I'll be the first to admit this is basically a Chaos draft without as much chaos, but what an enjoyable trip through time. The strategies are basically the same as Chaos, though of course you can plan a bit for things like Ravnica bouncelands, Mirrodin artifacts and Alara multicolor madness. The other nice way the format is evolving is that WoTC has been developing for draft a lot more in the late aughts than they were around the time of Invasion so the drafts get better as those sets age out. God help us, Nemesis was in the format the first time we did this and man, was that set ever terrible for Chaos drafting.
The other great thing about Carroll drafting is finding the packs. Usually you can get about 80% of them on one website, but shopping around for different sources and trying to get the best deal is a fun little treasure hunting challenge that increases anticipation for your draft. Try Carroll draft out today. Or next week. Whenever you can round up the packs. I guarantee you'll be turning potential drafters away.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Cube Comparison Thread
Just a quick note for Cube drafters out there. In her weekly article Thea Steele mentioned a pretty cool resource- the MTG Salvation Cube Comparison Thread. Think of it as a meta analysis for Cube cards. Posts include a "Winners/Losers" analysis that tracks which cards are trending hot and which ones are losing value, tools to evaluate an "average" 360 or 720 card Cube (based on 100 Cube lists), and a card ranking based on the number of times all those Cubes included individual cards. There is an Cube list entered into the data by the name of "Fugitive Wizard," it is NOT ours.
I can see consulting some of this data when making cuts or adds to the Cube.
Do you think I should submit our list?
T
I can see consulting some of this data when making cuts or adds to the Cube.
Do you think I should submit our list?
T
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Cards I missed at the Prereleases
So I was talking to TS about the Prerelease and I realized very quickly that cards I had seen over and over were cards he had pretty much missed and vice versa. I figured I could take a look through the spoiler and find a few of these and talk about how awesome/awful they are. Oh, one quick note. Steve Sadin appears to be just as in love with Tel-Jilad Defiance as I am. So wooo!
First, TS mentioned some golem which I originally thought was Precursor Golem but was actually Golem Artisan. So, which would I rather in my sealed pool? Precursor is more of a put my opponent under pressure card, where Artisan kind of says, "Alpha strike for the win". I think infect decks would clearly rather the Artisan, but aggressive decks that want to kill with damage would prefer the Precursor. Certain cards (cantrips) are a serious blowout against Precursor, but it's such a deal that I think the chance is worth it.
Clone Shell - 5, Artifact Creature, Imprint — When Clone Shell enters the battlefield, look at the top four cards of your library, exile one face down, then put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
When Clone Shell is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, turn the exiled card face up. If it's a creature card, put it onto the battlefield under your control.
I like this, especially at uncommon. I wish is dug a little deeper than four cards. Even five would give you a significantly better chance of a hit. Another nice thing would be to let you get a land, but I suppose that's not flavorful.
Culling Dais - 2, Artifact,
Tap, Sacrifice a creature: Put a charge counter on Culling Dais.
1, Sacrifice Culling Dais: Draw a card for each charge counter on Culling Dais.
Here's a fun one that I wouldn't pay more for, but I think this is costed right and I like playing games with it. Especially because you can proliferate once you've got the first counter. I wish they had brought back Doubling Season for this environment, but I guess it might have been a little(lot) broken.
Strata Scythe - 3, Artifact-Equipment,
Imprint — When Strata Scythe enters the battlefield, search your library for a land card, exile it, then shuffle your library.
Equipped creature gets +1/+1 for each land on the battlefield with the same name as the exiled card.
Equip 3
I am trying to avoid rares, because one will run into them less, but this is one of the cards TS mentioned. This is obviously such a bomb. Even if you could only imprint a card from hand it would be good, but the flexibility to search makes it out of sight.
Tower of Calamities - 4, Artifact, 8, Tap: Tower of Calamities deals 12 damage to target creature.
Basically, it's an Aladdin's Ring for creatures and just about as playable. Maybe in a metalcraft deck with tons of mana Myrs? I don't know, even then, it just eats a Shatter...
Abuna Acolyte - 1W, Creature-Cat Cleric,
Tap: Prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt to target creature or player this turn.
Tap: Prevent the next 2 damage that would be dealt to target artifact creature this turn.
Now that's a Samite Healer with some guts.
Myrsmith - 1W, Creature-Human Artificer,
Whenever you cast an artifact spell, you may pay 1. If you do, put a 1/1 colorless Myr artifact creature token onto the battlefield. 2/1
Ok, this seems good because 2/1s for 2 are generally playable as are 1/1 artifact creatures for one. I'll fully confess that I could be wrong about this since x/1s are so vulnerable in the environment.
Twisted Image - U, Instant,
Switch target creature's power and toughness until end of turn.
Draw a card.
As a trick, I don't think power/toughness switching is awesome in the environment (except against white) but cantrips for 1 are pretty much always playable.
Fume Spitter - B, Creature-Horror,
Sacrifice Fume Spitter: Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature.
Festering Goblin holds a special place in my heart. This isn't quite as good, or at least, it wouldn't be without proliferate.
Barrage Ogre - 3RR, Creature-Ogre Warrior, Tap, Sacrifice an artifact: Barrage Ogre deals 2 damage to target creature or player.
I would play this if I was playing red, but it would pull me into red at 2RR. Which it isn't. Boo.
Acid Web Spider - 3GG, Creature-Spider,
Reach
When Acid Web Spider enters the battlefield, you may destroy target Equipment.
Yes, yes, yes. This is the kind of card I love. It's got all kinds of utility in the environment. It eats blue fliers. It eats infect guys. Also, props to creative for not naming this Acidweb Spider. They seem to love the "smash two words together" school of naming and this one is dead on.
Finally, Tangle Angler - 3G, Creature — Horror, Infect
Green: Target creature blocks Tangle Angler this turn if able.
I have nothing to say about this card other than that it appears to be the clear favorite card name amongst casual players. Tangle angler, tangle angler, tangle angler. It is fun to say.
First, TS mentioned some golem which I originally thought was Precursor Golem but was actually Golem Artisan. So, which would I rather in my sealed pool? Precursor is more of a put my opponent under pressure card, where Artisan kind of says, "Alpha strike for the win". I think infect decks would clearly rather the Artisan, but aggressive decks that want to kill with damage would prefer the Precursor. Certain cards (cantrips) are a serious blowout against Precursor, but it's such a deal that I think the chance is worth it.
Clone Shell - 5, Artifact Creature, Imprint — When Clone Shell enters the battlefield, look at the top four cards of your library, exile one face down, then put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
When Clone Shell is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, turn the exiled card face up. If it's a creature card, put it onto the battlefield under your control.
I like this, especially at uncommon. I wish is dug a little deeper than four cards. Even five would give you a significantly better chance of a hit. Another nice thing would be to let you get a land, but I suppose that's not flavorful.
Culling Dais - 2, Artifact,
Tap, Sacrifice a creature: Put a charge counter on Culling Dais.
1, Sacrifice Culling Dais: Draw a card for each charge counter on Culling Dais.
Here's a fun one that I wouldn't pay more for, but I think this is costed right and I like playing games with it. Especially because you can proliferate once you've got the first counter. I wish they had brought back Doubling Season for this environment, but I guess it might have been a little(lot) broken.
Strata Scythe - 3, Artifact-Equipment,
Imprint — When Strata Scythe enters the battlefield, search your library for a land card, exile it, then shuffle your library.
Equipped creature gets +1/+1 for each land on the battlefield with the same name as the exiled card.
Equip 3
I am trying to avoid rares, because one will run into them less, but this is one of the cards TS mentioned. This is obviously such a bomb. Even if you could only imprint a card from hand it would be good, but the flexibility to search makes it out of sight.
Tower of Calamities - 4, Artifact, 8, Tap: Tower of Calamities deals 12 damage to target creature.
Basically, it's an Aladdin's Ring for creatures and just about as playable. Maybe in a metalcraft deck with tons of mana Myrs? I don't know, even then, it just eats a Shatter...
Abuna Acolyte - 1W, Creature-Cat Cleric,
Tap: Prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt to target creature or player this turn.
Tap: Prevent the next 2 damage that would be dealt to target artifact creature this turn.
Now that's a Samite Healer with some guts.
Myrsmith - 1W, Creature-Human Artificer,
Whenever you cast an artifact spell, you may pay 1. If you do, put a 1/1 colorless Myr artifact creature token onto the battlefield. 2/1
Ok, this seems good because 2/1s for 2 are generally playable as are 1/1 artifact creatures for one. I'll fully confess that I could be wrong about this since x/1s are so vulnerable in the environment.
Twisted Image - U, Instant,
Switch target creature's power and toughness until end of turn.
Draw a card.
As a trick, I don't think power/toughness switching is awesome in the environment (except against white) but cantrips for 1 are pretty much always playable.
Fume Spitter - B, Creature-Horror,
Sacrifice Fume Spitter: Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature.
Festering Goblin holds a special place in my heart. This isn't quite as good, or at least, it wouldn't be without proliferate.
Barrage Ogre - 3RR, Creature-Ogre Warrior, Tap, Sacrifice an artifact: Barrage Ogre deals 2 damage to target creature or player.
I would play this if I was playing red, but it would pull me into red at 2RR. Which it isn't. Boo.
Acid Web Spider - 3GG, Creature-Spider,
Reach
When Acid Web Spider enters the battlefield, you may destroy target Equipment.
Yes, yes, yes. This is the kind of card I love. It's got all kinds of utility in the environment. It eats blue fliers. It eats infect guys. Also, props to creative for not naming this Acidweb Spider. They seem to love the "smash two words together" school of naming and this one is dead on.
Finally, Tangle Angler - 3G, Creature — Horror, Infect
Green: Target creature blocks Tangle Angler this turn if able.
I have nothing to say about this card other than that it appears to be the clear favorite card name amongst casual players. Tangle angler, tangle angler, tangle angler. It is fun to say.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Scars Prerelease #2 - The Revenge
I had so much fun at the Scars Prerelease that I decided to do another. I could only sleep for about 90 minutes on Saturday morning, so I just powered my way through an episode of the shakes and headed down to Milwaukee Magic for their noon 4 round prerelease. Here's what I opened...
This pool pissed me off pretty hard. Two BB bombs with almost no support? A bunch of interesting red cards with no Shatter or Arc Trail? 2 Goblin Gaveleer (or 2 Sunspear Shikari if you prefer) with nothing worth picking up? I tried to build this Red/Black, but ultimately realized I was being pulled toward infect, so I started substituting in infect support cards for "better" cards and ended up with an infect deck that pulls a hell of a late game (Geth, Carnifex). You'll note no Mana Myrs. I think infect is the one of the few (only?) archetypes in Scars sealed that really doesn't want the mana Myrs. Acceleration is pretty unimportant for these decks, metalcraft doesn't help either, and they are ineffective blockers in the mirror.
Blight Mamba - these were all over the tables at the other prerelease and I saw a few here as well. Regeneration flat sucks in the environment. They just die in the mirror. All that said, I think they are the edge of playability in the archetype.
Carapace Forger - This on the other hand is very solid. Don't forget it's an Elf if you open an Ezuri, but the most important thing is, it's a bear with an upside, not just a bear.
Copperhorn Scout - I played very aggressively with this, because even one turn of vigilant attacking can really put your opponent under pressure. Sure, they block him, but hey, that's a blocker they can't use on something else.
2 Cystbearer - This is the kind of card that pulls you into infect. A house in the mirror (if it seems like I am emphasizing the mirror, it's because you will play a ton of it), a 3 butt, double the clock, etc...
Ezuri's Archers - Spiders good
Molder Beast - Two in the pool, but I only played one. He tramples which is nice, but I already had a ton of late game and he doesn't fit naturally into the infect theme.
Tel-Jilad Defiance - Here's where I admit that for the last 6 years, I thought that was Tel-Jihad. RTFC. Also, this card is awesome, say it with me, "in the environment".
2 Untamed Might - These are finishers that have utility and having two meant I could burn one early for something minor.
Carnifex Demon - This card doesn't say win the game. Other than that...
Geth, Lord of the Vault - This card also doesn't say win the game. Still...
Instill Infection - This is so good. I will always play this if I am playing black. The moment I realized I could hit Precursor Golem, I definitely giggled. Ancestral Recall is good.
2 Corpse Cur - Speaking of cards that are good in the mirror. You can trade infect guys early, knowing this guy will show up to bail you out. You can sac guys to Throne of Geth, knowing this guy is around. Is awesome. Would play again.
Horizon Spellbomb
2 Necropede - This card is incredibly important in the mirror. 2-for-1s all over the place. Does nasty things with Throne of Geth and Corpse Cur, not to mention Carnifex Demon.
Rust Tick
Strider Harness - Pump equipment only in infect decks.
2 Throne of Geth - I've already discussed all the reasons this is awesome above. Except for metalcraft. That's awesome too. And counters for Trigon of Rage and Carnifex Demon and poison counters for your opponent. The B bombs were my all stars, but this is the utility player that allowed my all stars to shine. Kind of like Craig Counsell.
Trigon of Rage - Again, three counters with no color commitment is awesome.
11 Forest
5 Swamp
No Exsanguinate. That's not how this deck wins. I felt like I built a great deck for the mirror match, and what did I get round one? The mirror. Unfortunately, I lost but I am 90% certain it was a draw dependent loss. Also, my opponent played very well in never leaving me an opportunity to get in unblocked. Both games ended with the winning Untamed Might in hand with no way to get through. Maybe that so subpar Plague Stinger should have made it in.
Rounds 2 and 3 were against pretty goldfishy players and I won handily both times.
Round 4 had a very fun, tightly contested game 1, where I was able to equip Strider Harness for the final point of damage the turn before he was to kill me. Game 2 was notable for my opponent nearly coming back from a mull to 4 on the play with an early Precursor Golem, but then I played the Ancestral and it was game over on an Untamed Might poison kill. 3-1 was good for 4 packs.
I think the jury is still out on the infect deck archetype. It can win out of nowhere, which is always fun, but I am just not sure it's "good" enough. Infect is very easily disruptible and you better have some kind of fatty boom-boom to finish the job if your infect can't get there for one reason or another. It seemed like the best decks were playing planeswalkers. Big surprise there. Oh, and one other note, about Tainted Strike (B, Instant, Target creature gets +1/0 and gains infect until EOT). People were splashing this into powerful decks as a finisher. There are a lot of ways to deal 9 damage in a turn and B is a nice way to turn that into a game win. Spike will need to block for a while here.
Finally, if there are any new players reading this, stop playing Vigil for the Lost. Your opponent does a little dance inside his head every time he sees you play it.
| Cardpool | ||
| White | Blue | Black |
| Abuna Acolyte Arrest Auriok Sunchaser Fulgent Distraction Kemba, Kha Regent Seize the Initiative Soul Parry 2 Sunspear Shikari Vigil for the Lost | 2 Disperse Grand Architect Lumengrid Drake Neurok Invisimancer Plated Seastrider Screeching Silcaw Steady Progress Stoic Rebuttal Twisted Image | Carnifex Demon Corrupted Harvester Exsanguinate Geth, Lord of the Vault Instill Infection Plague Stinger |
| Red | Green | Artifact/Land |
| Assault Strobe Ferrovore 2 Furnace Celebration 2 Goblin Gaveleer Kuldotha Rebirth Ogre Geargrabber Oxidda Daredevil Scoria Elemental Tunnel Ignus Turn to Slag Vulshok Heartstoker | Alpha Tyrranax Blight Mamba Carapace Forger Copperhorn Scout 2 Cystbearer Ezuri's Archers 2 Molder Beast Tel-Jilad Defiance 2 Untamed Might Wing Puncture | 2 Bladed Pinions Chrome Steed 2 Corpse Cur Darksteel Myr Flight Spellbomb Glimmerpost Gold Myr Heavy Arbalest Horizon Spellbomb Ichorclaw Myr Iron Myr Liquimetal Coating Memnite Necrogen Censer 2 Necropede Nihil Spellbomb Panic Spellbomb Perilous Myr Rust Tick Silver Myr Snapsail Glider Strider Harness 2 Throne of Geth Tower of Calamities Trigon of Rage Vector Asp 2 Vulshok Replica |
This pool pissed me off pretty hard. Two BB bombs with almost no support? A bunch of interesting red cards with no Shatter or Arc Trail? 2 Goblin Gaveleer (or 2 Sunspear Shikari if you prefer) with nothing worth picking up? I tried to build this Red/Black, but ultimately realized I was being pulled toward infect, so I started substituting in infect support cards for "better" cards and ended up with an infect deck that pulls a hell of a late game (Geth, Carnifex). You'll note no Mana Myrs. I think infect is the one of the few (only?) archetypes in Scars sealed that really doesn't want the mana Myrs. Acceleration is pretty unimportant for these decks, metalcraft doesn't help either, and they are ineffective blockers in the mirror.
Blight Mamba - these were all over the tables at the other prerelease and I saw a few here as well. Regeneration flat sucks in the environment. They just die in the mirror. All that said, I think they are the edge of playability in the archetype.
Carapace Forger - This on the other hand is very solid. Don't forget it's an Elf if you open an Ezuri, but the most important thing is, it's a bear with an upside, not just a bear.
Copperhorn Scout - I played very aggressively with this, because even one turn of vigilant attacking can really put your opponent under pressure. Sure, they block him, but hey, that's a blocker they can't use on something else.
2 Cystbearer - This is the kind of card that pulls you into infect. A house in the mirror (if it seems like I am emphasizing the mirror, it's because you will play a ton of it), a 3 butt, double the clock, etc...
Ezuri's Archers - Spiders good
Molder Beast - Two in the pool, but I only played one. He tramples which is nice, but I already had a ton of late game and he doesn't fit naturally into the infect theme.
Tel-Jilad Defiance - Here's where I admit that for the last 6 years, I thought that was Tel-Jihad. RTFC. Also, this card is awesome, say it with me, "in the environment".
2 Untamed Might - These are finishers that have utility and having two meant I could burn one early for something minor.
Carnifex Demon - This card doesn't say win the game. Other than that...
Geth, Lord of the Vault - This card also doesn't say win the game. Still...
Instill Infection - This is so good. I will always play this if I am playing black. The moment I realized I could hit Precursor Golem, I definitely giggled. Ancestral Recall is good.
2 Corpse Cur - Speaking of cards that are good in the mirror. You can trade infect guys early, knowing this guy will show up to bail you out. You can sac guys to Throne of Geth, knowing this guy is around. Is awesome. Would play again.
Horizon Spellbomb
2 Necropede - This card is incredibly important in the mirror. 2-for-1s all over the place. Does nasty things with Throne of Geth and Corpse Cur, not to mention Carnifex Demon.
Rust Tick
Strider Harness - Pump equipment only in infect decks.
2 Throne of Geth - I've already discussed all the reasons this is awesome above. Except for metalcraft. That's awesome too. And counters for Trigon of Rage and Carnifex Demon and poison counters for your opponent. The B bombs were my all stars, but this is the utility player that allowed my all stars to shine. Kind of like Craig Counsell.
Trigon of Rage - Again, three counters with no color commitment is awesome.
11 Forest
5 Swamp
No Exsanguinate. That's not how this deck wins. I felt like I built a great deck for the mirror match, and what did I get round one? The mirror. Unfortunately, I lost but I am 90% certain it was a draw dependent loss. Also, my opponent played very well in never leaving me an opportunity to get in unblocked. Both games ended with the winning Untamed Might in hand with no way to get through. Maybe that so subpar Plague Stinger should have made it in.
Rounds 2 and 3 were against pretty goldfishy players and I won handily both times.
Round 4 had a very fun, tightly contested game 1, where I was able to equip Strider Harness for the final point of damage the turn before he was to kill me. Game 2 was notable for my opponent nearly coming back from a mull to 4 on the play with an early Precursor Golem, but then I played the Ancestral and it was game over on an Untamed Might poison kill. 3-1 was good for 4 packs.
I think the jury is still out on the infect deck archetype. It can win out of nowhere, which is always fun, but I am just not sure it's "good" enough. Infect is very easily disruptible and you better have some kind of fatty boom-boom to finish the job if your infect can't get there for one reason or another. It seemed like the best decks were playing planeswalkers. Big surprise there. Oh, and one other note, about Tainted Strike (B, Instant, Target creature gets +1/0 and gains infect until EOT). People were splashing this into powerful decks as a finisher. There are a lot of ways to deal 9 damage in a turn and B is a nice way to turn that into a game win. Spike will need to block for a while here.
Finally, if there are any new players reading this, stop playing Vigil for the Lost. Your opponent does a little dance inside his head every time he sees you play it.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Scars Pre-release, or how I punted with my above average pool
So the pool I opened for the Midnight Pre-release at Silver Spring Hobby was pretty solid. My black was the strongest with good removal and a bomb flyer, red had 2 shatters but not much else to mention, white had a very aggressive curve with 2 Glint Hawks a Glint hawk Idol as well as the stat-boosting enchantment Tempered Steel. I built the deck playing Black and Red to play my good removal and some shatters and ended up playing higher-costed mediocre red cards instead of my aggressive white curve. I was enthralled with infect but had infecters that were better in a draft deck than a sealed pool, but chose to play them anyway because infect excites me, and it was late. I also hadn't laid out the white cards because of time building constraint so I decided to run what I had. I started off 2-0 but then finished out 0-3 ending up with no prize and left to get home and sleep before working later that afternoon. The following evening I reevaluated my pool and found that had I played B/W I would have had much more synergy as well as a very aggressive deck.
The rares in my pool were: Tempered Steel, Genesis Wave, Liege of the Tangle, Carnifex Demon, Ratchet Bomb, and Nim Deathmantle.
Here is what I should have played:
2 Glint Hawk
Salvage Scout
Horizon Spellbomb
Ratchet Bomb
Nim Deathmantle
Leaden Myr
Iron Myr
Glint Hawk Idol
Contagion Clasp (foil)
Bladed Pinions
Auriok Edgewright
Auriok Sunchaser
Tempered Steel
Dispense Justice
2 Moriok Replica
Rusted Relic
Skin Render
Flesh Allergy
Trigon of Corruption
Glimmerpoint Stag
Bleak Coven Vampires
Carnifex Demon
16 Land
This version of the deck plays the aggressive metalcraft cards and the equipment card I didn't fit into my other deck. Glimmerpoint Stag, Salvage Scout, and the Glint hawks allow me to reuse or reset my Contagion Clasp, Ratchet Bomb, and Trigon of Corrupton. Stag has added synergy with Bleak Coven Vampires and Skinrender, as well as adding more counters to Carnifex Demon for more -1/-1 counter distribution. I think if I had played this build I could have been 4-1 since I doubt even this could have defeated Caleb's pool (Koth of the Hammer, Mox Opal, Argent Sphinx). Not only did he open ~$100 in cards, but he also went undefeated (giving me my first loss in round 3).
Overall I think it was a great night, had fun and learned many things about SOM limited. I also learned that the sealed format is defined by bombs. I lost to Koth, Sword of Body and Mind, Darksteel Juggernaut, and Putrefax). I also faced opponents who each had 1 of the 3 different planeswalkers in the set. CBG had Elspeth in R1, Caleb had Koth in R3, and Bagha had Venser in R4, luckily for me I didn't actually face Elspeth or Venser. Caleb found Koth all 3 games, including punishing my by playing it turn 3 off a myr game 1 for missing my second land drop (I kept a 1 lander with a myr and three other 2 drops in my hand).
Tabasco
The rares in my pool were: Tempered Steel, Genesis Wave, Liege of the Tangle, Carnifex Demon, Ratchet Bomb, and Nim Deathmantle.
Here is what I should have played:
2 Glint Hawk
Salvage Scout
Horizon Spellbomb
Ratchet Bomb
Nim Deathmantle
Leaden Myr
Iron Myr
Glint Hawk Idol
Contagion Clasp (foil)
Bladed Pinions
Auriok Edgewright
Auriok Sunchaser
Tempered Steel
Dispense Justice
2 Moriok Replica
Rusted Relic
Skin Render
Flesh Allergy
Trigon of Corruption
Glimmerpoint Stag
Bleak Coven Vampires
Carnifex Demon
16 Land
This version of the deck plays the aggressive metalcraft cards and the equipment card I didn't fit into my other deck. Glimmerpoint Stag, Salvage Scout, and the Glint hawks allow me to reuse or reset my Contagion Clasp, Ratchet Bomb, and Trigon of Corrupton. Stag has added synergy with Bleak Coven Vampires and Skinrender, as well as adding more counters to Carnifex Demon for more -1/-1 counter distribution. I think if I had played this build I could have been 4-1 since I doubt even this could have defeated Caleb's pool (Koth of the Hammer, Mox Opal, Argent Sphinx). Not only did he open ~$100 in cards, but he also went undefeated (giving me my first loss in round 3).
Overall I think it was a great night, had fun and learned many things about SOM limited. I also learned that the sealed format is defined by bombs. I lost to Koth, Sword of Body and Mind, Darksteel Juggernaut, and Putrefax). I also faced opponents who each had 1 of the 3 different planeswalkers in the set. CBG had Elspeth in R1, Caleb had Koth in R3, and Bagha had Venser in R4, luckily for me I didn't actually face Elspeth or Venser. Caleb found Koth all 3 games, including punishing my by playing it turn 3 off a myr game 1 for missing my second land drop (I kept a 1 lander with a myr and three other 2 drops in my hand).
Tabasco
Midnight Prerelease - Scars of Mirrodin
I went to the midnight prerelease at Silver Spring Hobby on Friday night. I've wanted to do a midnight prere for years and my birthday is next week so I decided to roll it. There were around 40 lucky souls who sat down around 12:30 (boo, hiss) to crack 6 packs of Scars of Mirrodin. The big news of the set is of course, poison, and it played an important role all night. First, let's crack the packs and we can talk about meaning later.
| Sealed Pool |
| White | Blue | Black |
| 2 Arrest | Bonds Of Quicksilver | Blistergrub |
| Auriok Edgewright | 2 Neurok Invisimancer | Contagious Nim |
| Elspeth Tirel! | Plated Seastrider | 2 Dross Hopper |
| 2 Ghalma's Warden | Riddlesmith | Grasp of Darkness |
| Glint Hawk | Scrapdiver Serpent | Moriok Reaver |
| Loxodon Wayfarer | Screeching Silclaw | Relic Putrescence |
| Salvage Scout | Sky-Eel School | Tainted Strike |
| Steady Progress | ||
| Stoic Rebuttal | ||
| Thrummingbird | ||
| Vedalken Certarch | ||
| Red | Green | Artifact/Land |
| Assault Strobe | Bellowing Tangleworm | 2 Argentum Armor |
| Bloodshot Trainee | Carapace Forger | 2 Chrome Steed |
| Ferrovore | Carrion Call | Contagion Engine |
| 2 Flameborn Hellion | Cystbearer | Copper Myr |
| 2 Furnace Celebration | Ezuri, Renegade Leader | Darksteel Axe |
| 3 Melt Terrain | 2 Ezuri's Archers | Darksteel Myr |
| Shatter | Lifesmith | Darksteel Sentinel |
| Turn to Slag | Molder Beast | 2 Echo Circlet |
| Tel-Jilad Defiance | 2 Glint Hawk Idol | |
| Withstand Death | Gold Myr | |
| Ichorclaw Myr | ||
| Liquimetal Coating | ||
| Neurok Replica | ||
| Nihil Spellbomb | ||
| Palladium Myr | ||
| Precursor Golem | ||
| Razorfield Thresher | ||
| Rust Tick | ||
| Saberclaw Golem | ||
| Soliton | ||
| Sylvok Replica | ||
| Trigon of Infestation | ||
| Trigon of Rage | ||
| Trigon of Thought | ||
| Tumble Magnet | ||
| Vector Asp | ||
| Wall of Tanglecord |
White is very solid, with double Arrest and "win the effing game" card Elspeth Tirel. Also notable is the white mana myr and the double glint Hawk Idol.
Blue is excellent as well. No bombs, but Bonds of Quicksilver, Riddlesmith, Sky-Eel School, Stoic Rebuttal (hard counters are good in sealed), Thrummingbird and Certarch are all cards I'd be glad to run.
Black is the first color I cut from consideration. No bombs, only one infect creature, little evasion or removal. Yech.
Red has the all star Shatter, a couple of hasty worms (sorry, hellions. Whatever, WOTC. I know a fucking worm when I see one.) and a Turn to Slag. It also has three too many Melt Terrains and is really creature light. No thank you.
Green is very solid. Good curve, good fat, a couple of decent tricks. This is another front runner. Again, little infect.
Artifacts. I don't know what to say in general about artifacts. Play good Equipment, mana Myrs and decently costed creatures. The one late add was Darksteel Sentinel. I thought he was too expensive at 6. I was wrong. He's a champ.
Ultimately, the lack of removal in Green kept me away despite the repeatable overrun on Ezuri and the nice curve. Blue was tempting until I realized I was going to be playing five rounds starting at 1 am and counting on myself to make optimal plays was not wise. Ultimately, the siren song of a pretty straightforward deck with a win now condition got me into White. I was actually going to go mono-W until I realized I could cut a few subpar artifacts in order to make room for Shatter (all-star) and Bloodshot Trainee (3 ways to activate and a 3-butt). I did leave the Wayfarer on the sidelines, but played everything else. Final list:
2 Arrest - Is this or Shatter better in the environment? Discuss.
Auriok Edgewright - It was surprisingly hard to get metalcraft going even with 14 artifacts. It might be better in draft, but I was unimpressed.
Elspeth Tirel
2 Ghalma's Warden - OTOH, these were solid. 4 butts were nice, even against infect dudes and there are tons of -1/-1 counters flying around.
Glint Hawk - I so wanted this to be better. Maybe with a Memnite...
Salvage Scout - This is a superhero in the environment.
Darksteel Axe
Tumble Magnet
Precursor Golem - You will occasionally get blown out, like when somebody hits one with a cantrip. Nonetheless, 9 power for 5 mana is...good.
2 Glint Hawk Idol - almost better than Glint Hawk. Carries equipment like a champ.
Copper Myr - I don't know if you play offcolor mana Myr in an infect deck, but I don't know if they ever hit the sideboard otherwise.
Darksteel Sentinel - See my note above. You probably think this is overcosted. It's not.
Rust Tick - never dead, and a Puppeteer you only have to pay for once is nice, even if it's somewhat limited in it's tricksiness.
Trigon of Rage - I only recharged this once. Three activations is plenty.
Horizon Spellbomb - House, though I obviously wouldn't have played it without the red splash
Gold Myr - etc.
Palladium Myr - also carries an axe and lures removal
Argentum Armor - I wish I hadn't opened two of these but an active one is basically game over, as it turns everything into an Eldrazi.
Contagion Engine - zomg, really.
12 Plains
4 Mountain
Round 1 I played against Tony, who was playing what appeared over the next day to be a pretty standard infect deck. A lot of little guys who give you poison counters, a few tricks, some removal. The games were reasonable but he was able to force through enough poison each time. I did end up mulliganing twice and that might have been the problem, but I think the bigger problem was I just didn't know how to deal with an infect deck yet, and he ran a bit more removal than is typical for those types of deck.
Round 2 I played against a very nice goldfish playing a defensive GW deck with no apparent win conditions. Once I was able to work my way through his Wall of Tanglewood and various lifegainers, I won handily.
Round 3 was a singularly unmemorable beatdown of an infect deck, played by someone who wasn't as good at deckbuilding as my first round opponent. He snuck a game 2 win against me but it wasn't enough. Contagion Engine just wins games. Nearly everyone at the top tables had one. It's basically a Plague Wind that gives you random positive effects like; add a counter to your Trigon and, give the other dude a poison counter. At this point, it was around 4:15 am and I had yet to see my Elspeth, except a brief appearance in a 7-card, no-land hand. That was about to change.
Round 4 I played against a solid red blue deck, with lots of red blue things, like hard counters, burn and Confiscate effects. Side note: if WoTC never prints another Confiscate, it'll be too soon. Being hit with your own guys is spectacularly unfun, especially when they didn't even have to die first. Game one, I finally saw Elspeth, which was convenient, since I was being beaten about the head and neck with one of my own guys. I won. Game 2 was epic central. We went back and forth for a while until I got Elspeth online and fired off her ultimate ability, leaving myself with an indestructible golem carrying an indestructible axe and a Soldier token and my opponent with one card in hand. Unfortunately for me, that card was an Arc Trail, killing off Elspeth and a token for a grand total of two mana. No problem though, because I still have five power on the table, 27 life and...he ripped a Volition Reins. Hey, no problem, I still have like 5 draw steps. Of course, I can't get my equipment back until I rip a creature, and my draws for the rest of the game were, and I remember this clearly, Plains, Plains, Plains, Plains, Plains. Nice win. Then I won game 3 with Elspeth. w00t. Planeswalkers are good.
Round 5 was the difference between one pack and six packs, so I needed to concentrate. Unfortunately, that apparently means I can't remember much other than that I won and that both Elspeth and Argentum Armor made an appearance. So, six packs, 4-1 and yay! Fliers with equipment and Planeswalkers are both valid ways to win in this environment. One sided Wrath of Gods are still good, Proliferate is good, poison is interesting and those decks defintely have an "oops, I win" characteristic, but they didn't seem to be unbalanced so yay WoTC. MaRo has stated many times that they wanted to avoid poison as "just another life total". I think there is something to that, but mostly, poison is just another life total, and as long as they don't push the power level too much, it's a lot of fun.
The prerelease was so fun I did it again at noon the next day, but this post is already long enough.
Back
So, after a long hiatus, CBG is back on the Magic horse. TooSarcastic invited me to a birthday Cube, then JBro invited me to a birthday mitotic draft and lo and behold, the effin Scars of Mirrodin prerelease was this weekend and the point is...I thought I was out, but they keep pulling me back in. One of the dudes in the playgroup has started a podcast (whose name i will pimp once he gets back to me) but I think there's a place for a more active blog. I'm going to rehash my two prerelease pools here and we can talk it out.
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