Getting ready for the block PTQ July 31, 2008
Posted by Norm in Constructed, Organized Play.Tags: Block Constructed, Kithkin, Magic: The Gathering, PTQ
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Today I had a chance to think about block constructed. I’m getting ready to play in the PTQ comming up on August 23. I’ll be playing Kithkin Mirrorweave (link to the current cards I own in the deck, I’m working on the final build) and I’m really excited because this deck can pack a punch and I like the way it happens.
What has changed since the original build is Eventide. The addition of Figure of Destiny is baically a must. I’m not sure what I’m going to cut to add this creature but there are a few cards that I don’t think work very well over all. Militia’s Pride is one of them because I think it is a mana drain and only effective in the absolute right situation. I’ve had a few other suggestions to fill this slot (see below) so I’m looking for othe right fit. I know they are out there as I’ve seen some pretty good alterations.
I’m debating on running two or three Thistledown Liege main deck. Two seems like enough with one in the board for situations where I need the creature pump. I also had the suggestion to board Prison Term and main deck Light from Within. I think both of these options make sense. So I need to play test here and experiment.
Tonight I saw a brand new deck using Balefire Liege that brings the fire in a new way. I got spanked game one because I didn’t draw an Oblivion Ring. Game two I was able to out race his burn and creatures by removing the threats and taking the heat. Then next three games he got stuck on one or two lands and scooped within a few turns. Odd turn of events but he was frustated and needed to stop so I really didn’t get to see this deck in its full glory. I suspect that this deck could be a huge sleeper and be a surprise at the PTQ. The biggest weakness I see us against control and counter spells.
So I’ll be tweeking my Kithkin deck over the next couple of weeks. If you have any thoughts on the Kithkin deck please let me know.
Announcing Conflux July 30, 2008
Posted by Norm in Casual, Conflux, Shards of Alara.Tags: Announcement, Conflux, Magic: The Gathering, Shards of Alara
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Wizards of the Coast announced today the second set in Shards of Alara: Conflux. The official release date is February 6, 2009 with launch parties scheduled that same weekend. Official previews are scheduled to start on January 19.
As of now not much is officially known about the Shards of Alara block. Although from what rumors I’ve heard I think that each color is supposed to have it’s own feel or mini theme, hence the title shards. So the fragmented world is broken in Shards of Alara and perhaps it is supposed to come back together in Conflux. The definition of conflux via Free Online Dictionary.com is: a flowing together, or into each other, as rivers or their tributaries; a confluence. The slash through the logo says to me that there is a breaking in half so maybe the name is meant to mean the opposite of coming together.
UPDATE
Check out Lorwyn Unleashed for a further description into the most advanced spoilers regarding Shards of Alara.
Eventide Retrace July 30, 2008
Posted by Norm in Casual.Tags: Eventide, Magic: The Gathering, Retrace
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Clearly the best new mechanic in Eventide is Retrace. I really think that this is yet to be fully exploited and built around. I have a few ideas myself for this mechanic that involve Noggles, Retrace and Countryside Crusher (I just need to get my hands on three more crushers). This will be a fun deck I’ll probably make for casual play but I see it as mono red (maybe a bit of blue) and some serious creature land situations. Heck I may even throw in Dryad Arbor.
Seriously I think Retrace is a killer mechanic, because the more I learn about magic the more I understand that cards that can be used more than once = card advantage, and card advantage = power, and power = don’t mess with this. Most of the Retrace cards do something you would normally play anyway. So late game when you draw and extra land (or four) normally this would be a flood situation. Well not any more because now you have a combat trick or a way to deal that extra one or two damage to your opponent. I wouldn’t count on retrace being the a win condition every game, but I do consider it an excellent option for late game.
Currently there are 12 cards with Retrace:
Call the Skybreaker
Cenn’s Enlistment
Flame Jab
Glamerdye
Monstrify
Oona’s Grace
Raven’s Crime
Savage Conception
Spitting Image
Syphon Life
Waves of Aggression
Worm Harvest
The three I think are the most useable are Flame Jab, Glamerdye and Monstrify, because of their casting cost and effect. I also think that Waves of Aggression and Worm Harvest are pretty powerful, but they have high costs. Waves is better because it can be used as a surprise and a game ender. An untap and double attack phase is really quite serious and with Retrace you could potentially do this turn after turn.
What else is the general thinking around this mechanic. Did I miss something?
Eventide Green July 29, 2008
Posted by Norm in Casual, Eventide.Tags: Eventide, Green, Helix Pinnacle, Magic: The Gathering, Monstrify, Primalcrux, Regal Force, Wickerbough Elder
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Part of my Eventide exploration, here is my review of selected green cards, found on the full visual spoiler.
Green overall doesn’t appear as strong as the previous three sets. This may have to do with the major absence of elves. I think this thought mirrors what other people are saying about the set in general. I hate to think of any release as bad but this one is lacking the punches, and green this time around was tough to choose favorites.
Helix Pinnacle
So I doubt that this will win any games at a FNM, but I do think this will win in a multiplayer game where everyone is gaining ridiculous amounts of life (you know who you are). Of course my casual group does play with a lot of enchantment hate so if I’m going to use this as a relevant strategy I’ll have to have some protection. So fun card maybe could be relevant with Doubling Season.
Monstrify
Monstrify can make itself relevant because of Retrace. I think this is going to be a good card in limited and draft. I think retrace in limited formats is really good over all so we’ll see how it shakes out.
The next two cards I think are going to be fun cards in mono green casual decks with big green mana. Because they are fun cards with cool abilities but honestly the casting costs are so high only a Dramatic Entrance will otherwise make them playable.
Primalcrux
With above precursor sweet artwork that when this guy drops he’ll be a minimum 6/6 and ready to rip.
Regal Force
Now here is a big guy that does have a pretty cool reward when he comes into play. Basically we are combining Harmonize with a 5/5 dude (the dude would be 3 mana). So if we look at it from that perspective we are getting a lot of bang for the buck as you are most likely going to have a few other green guys around. The only problem is that you are probably not going to have enough mana to play any of those other spells on the same turn.
Wickerbough Elder
I think this is a strong card for a common. He can take Wither hits and keep it real. This is also a good outlet for enchantment control. I would consider this a solid mid pack pick in a draft.
Eventide Red July 28, 2008
Posted by Norm in Casual, Eventide.Tags: Eventide, Fiery Bombardment, Hateflayer, Magic: The Gathering, Puncture Blast, Stigma Lasher, Unwilling Recruit
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Part of my Eventide exploration, here is my review of selected red cards, found on the full visual spoiler.
Fiery Bombardment
I like this card for obvious reasons. It can deal damage to an opponent even if it becomes blocked or killed. Giving your creatures the ability to deal direct damage can be a game ending proposition, especially with all the removal around right now.
Hateflayer
What a creature. How is this senario: “I attack for 5, untap and you take 10.” or Get in for 5, next turn untap to put 5 -1/-1 counters on target creature and block another. Ya this guy can move, for a big guy.
I see him getting a slot in elemental decks as he can be played for less that 7. Also enchanting with Power of Fire could really spice things up even more.
Puncture Blast
Solid burn but I think Wither really helps this card go the distance. Basically as big as a Nameless Inversion but can leave the -1 counters.
Stigma Lasher
What can I say. Wither is the new Trample. In my casual group life gain decks are more rampant that goat tokens on a leash. I’m going to look forward to putting an end to 60+ life in one game.
Unwilling Recruit
I feel that this is an amazing card for only three red. Yes the casting cost can be hard to make but with all the mana fixing out there I don’t think it will be too much of a problem. As well as the ability to pump whatever creature you steal is pretty cool.
B/W Mimic July 27, 2008
Posted by Norm in Casual, Eventide.Tags: Black White, Edge of the Divinity, Eventide, Magic: The Gathering, MTG Vault, Nightsky Mimic, Voracious Hatchling
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Today we all got to enjoy the Eventide release parties. I was also celebrating one of my buddies’ birthdays so what better way than to take him to a release party. He actually finished one place ahead of me so I was happy for him. I didn’t do too well finishing with a 2-2-1 record, that is about as average as you can get. I was playing with black and green as my core mana base.
While the release was a good time what I really want to talk about is the glimpse I got into the power of Eventide B/W. There are three cards that really bring the power in this group: Nightsky Mimic, Edge of the Divinity and Voracious Hatchling. These spells are fast and vicious. A turn two Nightsky Mimic followed by turn three Edge of the Divinity and if you are luck you will have two on that turn. You are dealing 10 damage turn three. Assuming that the Mimic doesn’t get killed turn two or three I see a superfast super creature in action.
Today I was always able to get at least one hit at this size (when I have the cards) before the creature got killed. So tonight when I got home I built my first B/W Mimic deck. Here is a link to the deck list. I’m using this new deck list site MTG Vault.com. So far I like how simple it is there isn’t a lot of ads, etc.
I built the deck out of the Eventide cards I have and salvaged the rest of the deck from a black white Guildback deck I had hanging around. I’ve played a few games and it hits fast and hard. I was playing against elves that didn’t have defense against flying and really didn’t have any removal so it wasn’t real situation. I’m looking forward to see what this will do in the current block format.
Has anyone else seen any great power emerge in Eventide?
Revisiting Blowfly Infestation July 25, 2008
Posted by Norm in Casual.Tags: Blowfly Infestation, Building on a Budget, Flourishing Defenses, Magic: The Gathering
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I didn’t want to let this slip through the cracks as Eventide is released today. This week on Building on a Budget The Mimic wrote an article about Blowfly Infestation. I thought was a great article that exploited the card in a very different what than we had discussed before. The main combo is with Flourishing Defenses. I was so focused on making the deck mono black that I didn’t really consider blue or green as options.
Here are links to my other Blowfly Infestation posts:
Eventide Black July 24, 2008
Posted by Norm in Casual, Eventide.Tags: black, Eventide, Lingering Tormentor, Magic: The Gathering, Necroskitter, Raven's Crime, Soot Imp, Soul Snuffers
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Part of my Eventide exploration, here is my review of selected black cards, found on the full visual spoiler.
Necroskitter
I previewed this card when CopySix suggested it for a Blowfly infestation deck. I like the -1/-1 counter theme in this block. It really has an interesting control aspect that on the surface I didn’t give respect. Now on the back end of this block there are a lot of great cards to support this theme.
Raven’s Crime
Retrace is a great concept. I see this as having an impact especially late game. Raven’s Crime can prevent your opponent for getting ahead and it makes your late game land more relevant. This new ability also makes the idea of mana flood (late game) not such a bad situation.
Soot Imp
I think this is a great creature with great artwork. There are many nonblack spells that are being played in standard now a days, and imagine this card against a storm deck. Even if this guy never attacks then this card is going to be a big help in winning games.
Soul Snuffers
Again another big player in the -1/-1 counter realm. I’m honestly surprised this guy isn’t a rare. Great card.
Lingering Tormentor
I think this guy costs a lot to be a serious player but the two abilities give him an advantage. Above all I love the art, one of my favorite for black.
The Cube July 24, 2008
Posted by Norm in Casual, Draft.Tags: Draft, Magic: The Gathering, the cube
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I’ve been reading and hearing a lot about “The Cube” lately. While I haven’t participated in one, yet, this looks like a great fun format. If you are unfamiliar with the cube go to cubedrafting.com.
One exciting element to the cube is that anyone can make one. The size of your play group will dictate the size of your cube and you can add whatever cards you want for a cube draft.
I’ve been following The Fugitive Wizard as they have built and tested a few cube variations.
Eventide Blue July 23, 2008
Posted by Norm in Casual, Eventide.Tags: Banishing Knack, Dream Fracture, Glamerdye, Glen Elandra Archmage, Inundate
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Part of my Eventide exploration, here is my review of selected blue cards, found on the full visual spoiler.
Banishing Knack
I love the art work on this card. Thank little guy casting a spell against all odds really summarizes the game of magic to me. I like the art so much I’ll give you the link to artist Howard Lyon’s website.
I only wish that this card had retrace. I think it would be worth two mana then.
Dream Fracture
An eye for an eye?This is basically a Cancel that gives each player another card in hand. I don’t think this is a bad card since it will keep the game moving. You could counter one of your own spells drawing two cards… Again good art here (Ha, I only just noticed it is Howard again).
Glamerdye
In a color matters world this card has the potential to be a great tool. However I do see this as a more casual card than something in constructed. However it could be a nice little surprise in draft or limited.
Glen Elandra Archmage
Here is a very interesting creature. a 2/2 flyer with the ability to counter 2 noncreature spells. I for one haven’t been playing much of Faeries lately, so I don’t know if this is good enough for the competitive Fae decks. However I would like to put this in some casual decks for bit of good old fashioned control.
Inundate
And I said nonblue goes home. This might cost a lot but it beats creatures that cannot be destroyed as well as shroud.
