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Conflux Review: Black March 24, 2009

Posted by Norm in Casual, Conflux.
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My selected review of Conflux Black as found in the full Visual Spoiler.

I’ve got to say that I think black got the shaft in this release. I’ve gone over these cards a few times trying to pick my favorites and there is very little I’m excited about. Not to say that I think these cards are bad, I just feel uninspired by them.

Grixis Slavedriver
I really like the fact that you get an extra 2/2 creature with the slavedriver. I’m actually surprised there aren’t more cards with Unearth that give you extra creatures. That sort of ability would make unearth a lot stronger. You would have to wait for the payoff but still not bad. Six mana for a 4/4 is a little rough.

I could see a deck that wants to discard Grixis Slavedriver, Unearth and get the free guy. Kind of slow and awkward though.

Kederekt Parasite
Proabably the best, or one of, black creatures in Conflux. If for some reason your opponent has no way of eliminating Kederekt then you are as good as it is going to get the win. Actually this guy really supports Jace and other card drawing machines. How about Forced Fruition. This is a guy you can build around and really make it hurt.

I haven’t seen any serious tourny builds with this guys so leave a link in the comments if I’m missing something.

Nyxathid
While Nyxathid can die to draw, I feel he is especially strong in limited.  Where you (meaning your opponent) usually aren’t keeping a full hand and more than likely to be out of cards late game. What Nyxathid offers in “potential” threat is just as strong as the current size of the creature. Keeping cards in your opponent’s hand when they are afraid of the big guy.

I had to play around one recently and it was a little tricky. Waiting for the right moment to block or cast a spell so I wouldn’t get overrun by this guy. Looks like Kresh is even having trouble dealing with it.

Pestilent Kalthari
This bird isn’t amazing by any means but I do want to give him some attention because he can be used well. If you can keep your mana open, you maybe able to trick your opponent into not attack or blocking. This guy can be really efficient against an exalted deck. Getting in the one first strike damage with Deathtouch. For me he has bought me a few turns where my opponent is afraid to attack and loose the big guy.

Sedaxis Alchemist
First off I love the art on this guy. It is really creative and I love the mood and execution.  Bouncing a permanent can be really effective in draft or limited, slowing your opponent down a turn. He does have his drawbacks but I think it is a fun card.

Shards of Alara Black October 27, 2008

Posted by Norm in Casual, Shards of Alara.
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Part of my Shards of Alara exploration, here is my review of selected black cards, found on the full visual spoiler.

Ad Nauseam
If you haven’t yet read this flavor text take a second to do so now. I like Ad Nauseam because it gives the black player some interesting card advantage in a traditional way. Evan Erwin was lucky enough to receive this card to spoil before the set was out. He has some interesting thoughts on the card you can see here.

Ad Nauseam is really good and a great late game out of nowhere card advantage machine. Dropping this on your opponents turn gives you a huge advantage to make sure you will not draw a land or other irrelevant card. 

Death Baron
I’m kind of surprised that we are still seeing creatures that give +1/+1 to other creatures in this set but since Death Baron (and his counterparts) only give the bonus to limited creature types I suppose this isn’t as powerful as the liege cycle in Shadowmoor block.

Still +1/+1 and deathtouch is no small bonus. There are 10 Zombies and only 2 Skeleton creatures in Shards of Alara; 2 Zombies and 1 Skeleton in Lorwyn – Shadowmoor Block; and 12 Zombies and 1 Skeleton in Tenth Edition. So there isn’t a huge influx of these creatures around but I do expect to see more of these two types in the rest of this block. 

Infest
At first I didn’t think too much about Infest but on second look I decided that this is the black Firespout. While not as potent as 3 damage -2 to everything is still game over to most creatures. This card could potentially wipe out a Kithkin hoard or a swarm of Fairies fresh off the Bitterblossom. I’ve also seen some cool uses of infest with decks that need to send creatures to the graveyard for strategy. How fun would it be to play double infest and same turn bring everything back with Liliana Vess. 

While Infest isn’t as good as some of the on the spot removal i think this is a great card in limited and good enough in draft. Especially if you can get this in your hand and in play turn three. 

Scavenger Drake
I really like this cycle of creatures. While they are weak at first they have the ability to get big. So be careful if you are playing infest with this guy on the board, but if the drake is big enough to survive the -2 for the turn you might have a really big flier on your team. 

I had someone play this against me in draft and paired with the red drake you can really have a serious combination. I’d look for these guys if you are playing limited especially draft. In the long game they can really become the deal breaker.

Vein Drinker
If Skeletal Vampire had a kid sister she would be it. She is silently sucking the life out of little bats while becoming fatter than a dragon. That would take more turns that you want to pull off but a cool combo. I’ve always like this art ever since we first saw this art spoiled over the summer. 

Unfortunately she costs just a little too much and isn’t going to be an auto win. So she probably won’t see much constructed play, but she is awesome in limited and she is going to be a lot of fun in casual decks.

Here is this weeks poll:

Eventide Black/Green August 7, 2008

Posted by Norm in Casual, Eventide.
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Part of my Eventide exploration, here is my review of selected black/green hybrid cards, found on the full visual spoiler.

There are so many great cards in this group I can barely choose 5 to fit this post. I was also very excited about black/green before the prerelease so now that we can see the full set you can see where my attention has shifted.

Creakwood Liege
This is by far the best liege in Eventide. Dropping 3/3 guys every turn is a huge game changing situation. Of course this guy is really vulnerable to a lot of removal. I still think black green themed decks are great with these guys and one could always use the enchantments to pump this guy. 

Hag Hedge-Mage
I really like this card because it is a great mid game card. It gives card advantage as well as getting back a creature. Also look at that artwork wouldn’t you poop your pants if you had dream where that guy was walking out of a swamp at you. Ya you would.  

Noxious Hatchling
Three things I like about this card: art, name, and cycle. I really like these come into play guys that are small and get bigger. I think they are good for the casting cost as they can become a force. I’ve always like the word noxious; when I was in college I created a fake magazine called Noxious Opus so this kind of makes me reminisce. By now you know I love great artwork and this card is no slouch. 

Quillspike
I’m looking forward to adding this to my Blowfly Infestation deck. This guy gets big but is really really weak for three mana out of the gate.  

Sapling of Colfenor
Hello Treefolk. I’m thinking about running a 70 card treefolk deck, you know just for fun. I do wish that this guy was a little bigger like maybe a 3/5, especially, because, well no reason really he just should be bigger. He hits like a kithkin but stands tall like a Doran.

Eventide White/Black August 4, 2008

Posted by Norm in Casual.
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Part of my Eventide exploration, here is my review of selected white/black hybrid cards, found on the full visual spoiler.

Deathbringer Liege
We all know that the Liege cards in this block are killer. One fact that I don’t like is that the liege’s are more than four mana. But facts are facts and this liege is an ass kicker. OK seriously I’m into the white/black in Eventide. I’m not sure that this will be a sreious competitive deck in tourny play but it could sneak in a FNM win. Why, two factors. Life link, and speed.
Back to Deathbringer Liege you need to stack this ability in the right order to make a kill on the same spell. But B/W that I have played casually with the commons and uncommons is really fast (especially if you throw in some Ravnica cards for fun). 
 
Divinity of Pride
Divinity of Pride is no Demigod of Revenge, but this guy can hit hard bringing your life up quickly. I think the +4/+4 ability is more of a win more condition but if you drop an Edge of Divinity on this guy look out. He is also very playable and the casting cost is appropriate for this cycle. 
 
Evershrike
I really like this card because of his comeback into play effect. Not only does it come back into play with an aura, but as a 4/4 with whatever aura bonus. Evershrike cold die multiple times and be a surprise defender at instant speed. He could also work well with Reveillark but I’m not sure how that would happen exactly. I haven’t figured out a good situation to bring him back so he can be removed from the game but perhaps there is a combo there I’m not seeing. PS love the art on this guy.
 
Restless Apparition
I think this is a solid card with a big pump. Not much else to say other than Persist makes this guy even more dangerous. The three mana pump will drain your mana so it probably isn’t happening every turn but still a solid guy.
 
Stillmoon Cavalier 
Hello flying, hello first strike, hello headless horseman. One of the coolest B/W cards in this set. Very divers and very dangerous. He can’t be removed by white or black so red is going to be the biggest color threat once on the board. The protection from black and white is a bit of a double edge sword since you can’t give him an enchantment but this guy could peck away against a lot of decks out there. I don’t know about the art development but I wonder if the looming moon in the background is a metaphor for protection from Damnation and Wrath of God. 

Eventide Black July 24, 2008

Posted by Norm in Casual, Eventide.
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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.

Shadowmoor Black Red Hybrid May 10, 2008

Posted by Norm in Casual.
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Part of my Shadowmoor exploration, here is my review of selected black/red cards. Found on the full visual spoiler. 

Demigod of Revenge
Really strong card. Even without the return to play effect a 5/4 flying, haste is baller. I was playing with one of these guys at the release event and I won most games I had him on the table. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everlasting Torment
I really like this card because it says, “I know I’m going to win. I know my deck is going to beat you down extra hard.” I see this working really well with persist and other effects that bring guys back from your graveyard. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scar
I know we’ve all seen this but I think it is a good little trick for the right mana cost.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sootstoke Kindler
I know not a bomb but a good card if you are bringing out multiple creatures in a turn. I used this well with Ashenmoor Gouger at the release event. This guy can really speed things up especially since you can bring the Sootstoke Kindler and another creature into play on the same turn and give the other creature haste. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spiteful Visions
I’m looking for interesting ways to use this card. It has been said that he is the core of new draw engines. We’ll see.  

Shadowmoor Blue Black Hybrid May 8, 2008

Posted by Norm in Casual.
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Part of my Shadowmoor exploration, here is my review of selected blue/black cards. Found on the full visual spoiler. 

Ghastlord of Fugue
Ghastlord of Fugue is unblockable! So forget about it unless you can deal 4 damage, just know that you have a max of 5 turns before you are dead. Oh and while I’m smacking you upside the head for 4 I get to look at your hand and remove a card from the game. This guys is awesome. I don’t know how I didn’t rave about him before. Dare I say this guy is better than Demigod of Revenge. Not only do I dare but I would draft this first round over the demigod each time. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glen Elendra Liege
I really like blue black in this set and it is one of those things I can’t really explain. Do you choose whom you fall in love with? Well I also love guys who give +1/+1  to other creatures so this is a nice double dip. This also pumps above ghost face killer and Oona.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inkfathom Infiltrator
I really like the unblockables. I opened this guy at the release party and he was always a strong guy for me. In limited I think this is always going to be a strong card especially with the lower number of removal cards in the block. I think he also slips by because he isn’t that big of a threat and easy enough to deal with – the little annoying merfolk that could. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memory Plunder
While I don’t see this as being a bomb I do see this as extremely flexible. Especially in the right matchup. Maybe you need that right burn spell or an Extirpate. I think for blue this is a really solid card that can ride in a sideboard and turn the tables. I know I don’t need to say how cool that art work is but how could you not love that face. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wasp Lancer
One of the guys who taught me how to play good limited and draft magic always said, “A 2/2 flyer for 3 is a really strong pick.” Those words have stayed with me and helped me in many a draft choice. A 3/2 flyer for 3 is an even better pick.   

 

Shadowmoor Black May 3, 2008

Posted by Norm in Casual.
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Part of my Shadowmoor exploration, here is my review of selected black cards. Found on the full visual spoiler. 

First I need to say black in Shadowmoor has awesome artwork. There wasn’t one card that I thought was out of place. Cheers to the Magic Art Department on that one. 

Cinderhaze Wretch
This guy costs a lot but he has some good abilities. I don’t know the history of this card but it seems like a pre untap card. I would have really liked this guy back in Timespiral. Especially with all the madness. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corrocive Mentor
Killer art work. Wither is nice too. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hollowborn Barghest
I just really dig this card. I think it would be a fun card in multiplayer. It reads almost like an enchantment but hits harder than a dragon. If only there was a trample, flying or shadow effect for this guy.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Polluted Bonds
Make it hurt, make it hurt. I would only run two of these in a deck but if you could drop on turn 5 and 6 could be a serious game changing situation. Especially in multiplayer.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Puppeteer Clique
This is a great late game drop. Especially for black since you will probably be removing some major creatures from the game. A 3/2 flyer isn’t that great but getting something that could really put a hurt on your opponent is a great advantage.  

Black Control March 12, 2008

Posted by Norm in Casual, Standard.
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Last post I wrote about my G/B control. I played at the Thursday night Arena and got whooped.  The next night I played the Friday Night Magic event. Keeping the same core of the deck but working on making it more efficient. I recieved a suggesstion from one of the guys who I have a lot of respect for. He said to drop the green, I agreed. Most opening hands I held decent cards but the wrong mana. Removing Green also seemed like the right choice because it worked really slow in the deck and was meant to support the control aspect, but didn’t have the steam I needed.

Green was out.

So I switched to straight Black for the FNM event. My first problem that night is I didn’t get out of work until after six with FNM kicking off at seven. I rushed home and quickly looked for the cards I wanted to add and honestly I barely made it to the shop before they started and if it wasn’t for a computer fowl-up my deck wouldn’t have been ready in time. I basically added Festercreep and Moonglove Changeling. I wanted to add Shriekmaw but I forgot it is an uncommon and I was looking for it in my rare binder.  Anyway. I lost the first two games pretty badly. Muligins and slow starts couldn’t deal. My second game I played against a R/B aggro deck that only ran one or two creatures so my creature control was useless.

Game three I played a guy who was running Megrim and The Rack (as was I) but he had no win condition, except for some really hard to make combo. I thought he would be better than that. I won 2-0 but we played 4 games for fun and I easily beat him each time. Match four also came as an easy win. As I played against a guy who had a lot of creatures but no real serious attempt to win at FNM. So I was able to kill him off playing Damnation once and pulling Mortivore etc.

I really had a lot of fun playing this deck but it is no match for the good decks in standard constructed right now. It might be a really good deck to keep for big multiplayer events but one on one it is out.

The deck that won the FNM is AiP’s very own Turrel playing B/U faerie rouges. Basically U control. It was awesome to see some of my AiP guys tear it up at my local shop. They are definitely better magic players than me.

On a side note I feel bad because I’ve been too busy with things recently to attend a regular AiP club magic meeting. I think next week is out for me too. I’ll get back into it and make it up to them. Here is a link to the club site that I created. It doesn’t have much info but there really isn’t much to say anyway.  

Deck was dismantled March 7, 2008

Posted by Norm in Casual.
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So I have a green back deck that runs the rack, hypnotic specter and mortivore. The goal to get an my opponent to discard lots of cards and win via mortivore. Tonight I played at the Thursday night arena event. Which is basically a night of showing up and playing with no consequence.

The only time I won a game is when I played against @carmanavenue. I feel guilty about this because he is still learning how to play and while he has great potential, he just isn’t at this level yet.

Tonight, I got destroyed by goblins. Not that goblins are amazing but this deck at this time is way to slow. The mana costs are two high for two colors and I don’t have enough life gain to last in the long run. Basically I’m looking at black control period. This could work because no one is playing it and people might not expect it. I need a few more extripate to beat project x but otherwise I think I could beat any thing else that is out there in standard. We’ll see how I fare tomorrow.