-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
Magic: The Gathering |OT|
- Thread starter The Technomancer
- Start date
- Status
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
Huh...not sure how I feel about Undying. Did Persist really need to be made better?
I suspect it won't show up very much on constructed playable cards.
Apparently yes!
Gravecrawler > all other cards spoiled tonight. GET IN MAH CUBE! Geist is pretty solid too.
Fits in line with WOTC's all-upside mechanics swing lately (Shroud > Hexproof, etc.)
Kitchen Finks, Murderous Redcap and Glen Elendra Archmage are the only persist cards with lasting constructed applications IMO (the first especially) but they all had pretty huge impacts. There only needs to be a few cards for the mechanic to be a constructed hit.
Fits in line with WOTC's all-upside mechanics swing lately (Shroud > Hexproof, etc.)
Kitchen Finks, Murderous Redcap and Glen Elendra Archmage are the only persist cards with lasting constructed applications IMO (the first especially) but they all had pretty huge impacts. There only needs to be a few cards for the mechanic to be a constructed hit.
narcosis219
Member
Yeah jezuz, 1 drop that is useful for the whole game.
Strangleroot Geist, so nice, right up my alley play style wise.
Zombie Apocalypse is probably unplayable but an awesome card nonetheless. Could see it in a zombie EDH deck.
It will be interesting to see if anyone can make fateful hour a playable mechanic.
And that Mondronen Shaman should be awesome in limited.
Zombie Apocalypse is probably unplayable but an awesome card nonetheless. Could see it in a zombie EDH deck.
It will be interesting to see if anyone can make fateful hour a playable mechanic.
And that Mondronen Shaman should be awesome in limited.
ChiTownBuffalo
Either I made up lies about the Boston Bomber or I fell for someone else's crap. Either way, I have absolutely no credibility and you should never pay any attention to anything I say, no matter what the context. Perm me if I claim to be an insider
OK MTG-Gaf.
I learned how to play yesterday. And it was fun as fuck.
If anyone in Chicago wants to play, I am down. And my friends and I will now be hosting something called "Magic and Food: The Gathering."
Basically lots of food and Magic.
Damn you Magic. Another nerd-ass hobby to spend money on.
I want to build a blue desk.
I learned how to play yesterday. And it was fun as fuck.
If anyone in Chicago wants to play, I am down. And my friends and I will now be hosting something called "Magic and Food: The Gathering."
Basically lots of food and Magic.
Damn you Magic. Another nerd-ass hobby to spend money on.
I want to build a blue desk.
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
I've already got some ideas for a black-white deck that uses life payment early on to get past the threshold and holds onto some instant speed drain/gain just in case.
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
Yeah, that one's also really odd. Fortunately its way too bad for constructed play, but I've played plenty of EDH games where that thing could get extremely nasty (except having it out paints a huge target on your face)
EDIT: And now that I've said that some guy will come up with a competitive deck using that and other cheap life gain to activate it on like...turn three.
ChiTownBuffalo
Either I made up lies about the Boston Bomber or I fell for someone else's crap. Either way, I have absolutely no credibility and you should never pay any attention to anything I say, no matter what the context. Perm me if I claim to be an insider
Dear Magic-GAF,
Are there any guides you would recommend for deck building?
Thank you
Are there any guides you would recommend for deck building?
Thank you
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
In what sense? I recommend the three columns on DailyMTG.com, Building on a Budget (doing more with less), From the Lab (wacky deck ideas) and Top Decks (analysis of the current tournament scene)
I know other people like some of StarCityGames stuff as well, but I don't read them so I really can't comment
Boogalogist
Member
What kind of decks are you talking about here? We have Standard, Extended, Modern, Legacy, Vintage, EDH/Commander.
ChiTownBuffalo
Either I made up lies about the Boston Bomber or I fell for someone else's crap. Either way, I have absolutely no credibility and you should never pay any attention to anything I say, no matter what the context. Perm me if I claim to be an insider
Just balance I suppose.
Yesterday, I was just putting in 20 mana cards, then a random balance of creatures, enhancements and artifacts. I had a white deck, and it seems like the only thing that I really had going for me were flying creatures.
Uh...what kind of decks. I am now totally confused at that list you just presented. Standard? 60 card deck with the 15 card sidetable?
Those names denote the various formats that are currently officially supported by Wizards of the Coast. Each format has its own list of playable cards and banned cards. Standard is the most recent two blocks (each block is 2 or 3 sets total) and the latest Core set (4th to 7th Editions, Magic 2010/2011/2012). For example, the current Standard legal sets include Innistrad block, Scars of Mirrodin block and Magic 2012.
If you want to join a regular playgroup or play in official tournaments, you will have to build different decks for each format. Most people just play Standard, since it's the most accessible (doesn't rely on old out of print cards).
You can read more about it here: http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Resources.aspx?x=mtg/tcg/resources/formats-sanctioned#constructed
As for land count, the rule of thumb is 24, higher if you're playing something like Control where you absolutely need to hit all your land drops, lower if you're playing cheap aggro decks like White Weenie or Goblins. 20 is generally far to low for all but the most aggressively curved decks. Generally, you can remove a land for each alternate mana source (Rampant Growth, Llanowar Elves or Birds of Paradise, etc) you have.
If you want to join a regular playgroup or play in official tournaments, you will have to build different decks for each format. Most people just play Standard, since it's the most accessible (doesn't rely on old out of print cards).
You can read more about it here: http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Resources.aspx?x=mtg/tcg/resources/formats-sanctioned#constructed
As for land count, the rule of thumb is 24, higher if you're playing something like Control where you absolutely need to hit all your land drops, lower if you're playing cheap aggro decks like White Weenie or Goblins. 20 is generally far to low for all but the most aggressively curved decks. Generally, you can remove a land for each alternate mana source (Rampant Growth, Llanowar Elves or Birds of Paradise, etc) you have.
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
Also, when you said a "random balance" of creatures, enchantments, and artifacts, what did you mean? You're definitely going to want to look for synergy between cards, abilities that go well together or advance towards your desired win strategy.
ChiTownBuffalo
Either I made up lies about the Boston Bomber or I fell for someone else's crap. Either way, I have absolutely no credibility and you should never pay any attention to anything I say, no matter what the context. Perm me if I claim to be an insider
OK. See, I've just rappeled a little down in the rabbit hole. I ordered a box of Core Cards. In which, I will be checking my chute and hurling off the edge.
Something tells me I need to pony up for dinner for my Magic playing friends and bombard them with questions.
Something tells me I need to pony up for dinner for my Magic playing friends and bombard them with questions.
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
Okay, a box of core is good move. You're going to get a lot of staple abilities that you need, and core sets tend to be the most "generic", so the strategies you get for each color are going to be the most universal (White Weenie, Blue Control, Black Fuck-You, Red Burn, Green Ramp)
Off the top of my head, some quick tips ;
1. With your group of friend, it'll be Vintage probably, which means all cards allowed save a few restricted/bans, but those are $$$ so don't even worry and build what you want.
2. When constructing a deck, always, always bring it to 60 cards. The higher the cards number, the less chance you draw what you actually need. It's better to have a deck dedicated to making one strategy work than making a bulky deck who could do multiple things in theory.
3. Land count can and will differ from deck types to deck types. Generally, aggro decks use fewer lands than Control decks, who can use up to 27 lands in some I've seen.
4. If you desire a blue deck, just know that they're always on the Control Spectrum of things. You might want to reconsider if you desire a more aggresive style of play.
5. You do not absolutely need rares or mythics to make a deadly deck, consider that. My friend runs an all-angel deck that cost him at least 220 $ to this day, and I'm fairly certain I could win 9/10 with a deck made out of 20 $ that would be efficient all-around and not just specifically vs angel deck.
Event decks are a good start. I think you mentioned wanting to build a blue deck? The illusion event deck already comes with solid cards to do well and by replacing some of the cards, you will have a deck that's already tourny competitive.
The mono-white event deck is also nice. It comes with two Mirran Crusaders, Honor of the Pure, Champion of Parish, and some Oblivion Rings which are already worth the purchase.
The mono-white event deck is also nice. It comes with two Mirran Crusaders, Honor of the Pure, Champion of Parish, and some Oblivion Rings which are already worth the purchase.
ChiTownBuffalo
Either I made up lies about the Boston Bomber or I fell for someone else's crap. Either way, I have absolutely no credibility and you should never pay any attention to anything I say, no matter what the context. Perm me if I claim to be an insider
You bastards are costing me more money. in a good way.
Thanks for the tips.
Thanks for the tips.
Another key concept of deck building is the mana curve.
Simply put, your curve is the answer to questions like "What am I going to do on tunr 1? Or 2? Or 3?" and "How likely will I get the card I need on those turns?".
Most curves take the shape of pyramids where the x axis is the casting cost (CC) and the y axis is the amount of each of those cards your deck has.
Of course, the curve varies wildly with the type of deck. Curves that would be unthinkable with one strategy may be perfectly viable and even optimal with another.
Simply put, your curve is the answer to questions like "What am I going to do on tunr 1? Or 2? Or 3?" and "How likely will I get the card I need on those turns?".
Most curves take the shape of pyramids where the x axis is the casting cost (CC) and the y axis is the amount of each of those cards your deck has.
Of course, the curve varies wildly with the type of deck. Curves that would be unthinkable with one strategy may be perfectly viable and even optimal with another.
I love the new spoils so far.
The Geist is amazing, Gravecrawler is amazinger, and Increasing Confusion is just broken.
I just hate spoiler time because there are so many jaded asshats who come in with their "everything sucks" bullshit and stink up everything.
New stuff is alot of fun, and I can not wait for the next wave tonight.
I've got to wonder if there's going to be any solid damage prevention or life gain coming down the pipe with that ability.
Tree of Redemption also removes some of the risk, as a fall back.
Many ways to get rid of Volley though to be honest, not that I am a fan of running around at five life.
Memoricide says you have no volleys.
Surgical Extraction says that you may hit one.
Witchbane Orb is rather underrated also
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
Gravecrawler seems like its going to break extremely easily. There has to be an engine there.
Grim-Grin
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
Also, I didn't really notice at first, but Ravenous Demon is pretty fucked up thematically. They've said that they've shied away from doing specifically that before.
The Duels of the Planeswalkers game is a nice way to ease back into it.
narcosis219
Member
Won't it be fun to discover a whole bunch of new mechanics?
You don't need to know all the new mechanics, just the relevant ones in whatever format you're playing.
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
Wow, they are really going all out with Sorin. I mean, I think he's awesome, so I'm cool with that.
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
I've done Two Headed Giant Sealed several times and really had a blast, more then the regular Sealed. Just my two cents
The flavor in Innistrad, how well they convey these ideas using solid intuitive mechanics, is just amazing.
My advice:
Have fun.
Stay on top of spoilers up until Pre Release day so you know what you can possibly be up against and also get a good idea of what might work well together.
Have fun.
Flyers and removal have been key for me in limited.
Have fun.
Stay with two colors or less.
Have fun.
ChiTownBuffalo
Either I made up lies about the Boston Bomber or I fell for someone else's crap. Either way, I have absolutely no credibility and you should never pay any attention to anything I say, no matter what the context. Perm me if I claim to be an insider
I am having fun playing with friends.
Boogalogist
Member
The box looks nice......Is it me, or does Sorin don't look very black? He looks like a BW Planeswalker or something.
- Status