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Magic: the GAFering |OT2|

Grakl

Member
In Kibler's SCG article today (sadly premium) he talks about why you should always use basic lands of the same art in case of Thoughtseize type effects (and other stuff that reveals your hand). I'd never even considered that before.

What does having all the same art do?
 

ultron87

Member
So if you reveal your hand and there's a Mountain, and then on the next turn you draw and play a Mountain with different art your opponent knows that one of the cards left in your hand is still a Mountain. If all your Mountains are the same art you don't give away this info.
 

Grakl

Member
So if you reveal your hand and there's a Mountain, and then on the next turn you draw and play a Mountain with different art your opponent knows that one of the cards left in your hand is still a Mountain. If all your Mountains are the same art you don't give away this info.

Oh, makes sense.
 
So if you reveal your hand and there's a Mountain, and then on the next turn you draw and play a Mountain with different art your opponent knows that one of the cards left in your hand is still a Mountain. If all your Mountains are the same art you don't give away this info.

ok, this makes sense now

but couldn't this also work in reverse?

EX: oppponent looks at your hand and sees a basic land. you brainstorm after the reveal and put back, and shuffle the land away

but then you draw another basic, same type and play it

your opponent would think you still have it in your hand, no?

granted, this isn't 100% but it would still suggest it
 
so what was his explanation?

wouldn't that help your opponent out more?


So if you reveal your hand and there's a Mountain, and then on the next turn you draw and play a Mountain with different art your opponent knows that one of the cards left in your hand is still a Mountain. If all your Mountains are the same art you don't give away this info.

Correct, it's also a good idea in to have all your cards be of one type from the same set. Type being don't run 3 regular and 1 foil of a card. And set being obvious, though it only really applies in eternal formats.
 

An-Det

Member
In Kibler's SCG article today (sadly premium) he talks about why you should always use basic lands of the same art in case of Thoughtseize type effects (and other stuff that reveals your hand). I'd never even considered that before.

Admittedly with the 3-color decks I usually play there often aren't enough basics for it to matter.

I really appreciated that article, that kind of point is something we dont see often in articles. I saw his tweet last week and laughed since I've been doing it for ages, but it's definitely not initially intuitive.
 

joelseph

Member
2013 Holiday mat looking fine. Some of the guys were salty to get a yugioh themed MTG mat.=)

SXZzfyJ.jpg
 

bigkrev

Member
So if you reveal your hand and there's a Mountain, and then on the next turn you draw and play a Mountain with different art your opponent knows that one of the cards left in your hand is still a Mountain. If all your Mountains are the same art you don't give away this info.

Correct, it's also a good idea in to have all your cards be of one type from the same set. Type being don't run 3 regular and 1 foil of a card. And set being obvious, though it only really applies in eternal formats.

Yep, this is probably the best piece of little advice I would give to anyone. If you don't want to be super anal about it, make sure all of your lands are from the same set- I tend to use all Urza Saga or ChK Mountains, for example. Each block has a distinctive look- A RTR land looks alot different from a M14 land.

And while it's not mentioned, the same thing with foils also applies to signed cards. If 1 of the 4 copies of a card in your deck are signed, it's pretty easy to tell what your doing! Be careful with some online stores in regard to this- some of them will count signed cards as SP. I ordered my last Mox Opal from channelfireball last month, and chose to save 5 bucks and get SP, because in the past I have found them sticklers for quality, often calling something mint SP. I got back a gem mint signed card- not exactly what I wanted!

The last thing I would mention is that if your are very familiar with your sideboard and your sideboarding plans, start by shuffling your sideboard into your deck, and then remove the 15 cards. Your opponent won't know how many cards you side in. This helps alot even when you don't have anything to side in against someone- put the idea in their head you have a plan to stop them!
 

An-Det

Member
We're doing the 2-year Anniversary draft for my friend's Power Cube (the crazy cube with Beta Power 9 I've mentioned before) this Sunday and my friend just posted some of the prizes for it. Figured I'd share since these are awesome.

 

MjFrancis

Member
The effort used to make a set logo on each card seals the deal. If they could alter the flavor text on Propaganda and artist credits you'd have me fooled that Valve had a hand in this.
 
Just fyi, walgreens has their inventory of magic as buy one get one free. Also, booster battle packs are on clearance and ringing up for $6. I was able to get 4 battle packs and two boosters of gatecrash for less than $16.
 
Just fyi, walgreens has their inventory of magic as buy one get one free. Also, booster battle packs are on clearance and ringing up for $6. I was able to get 4 battle packs and two boosters of gatecrash for less than $16.

I went by my local Walgreens and they had no mention of the sale, and really only had two packs of M14 hanging up anyway. Meh.


We're doing the 2-year Anniversary draft for my friend's Power Cube (the crazy cube with Beta Power 9 I've mentioned before) this Sunday and my friend just posted some of the prizes for it. Figured I'd share since these are awesome.

That flavor is amazing. Love it. Fits right with the cards.
 

Karakand

Member
In Kibler's SCG article today (sadly premium) he talks about why you should always use basic lands of the same art in case of Thoughtseize type effects (and other stuff that reveals your hand). I'd never even considered that before.

Admittedly with the 3-color decks I usually play there often aren't enough basics for it to matter.

Gotta rep your favorite John Avon art, broheim.
#TeamRobAlexander
 

MjFrancis

Member
Just fyi, walgreens has their inventory of magic as buy one get one free. Also, booster battle packs are on clearance and ringing up for $6. I was able to get 4 battle packs and two boosters of gatecrash for less than $16.
I bought 40 packs of Theros boosters for $86 after tax. I don't even know what I'm going to do with them, I just knew it would be stupid not to buy them at that price.
 

Grecco

Member
Just fyi, walgreens has their inventory of magic as buy one get one free. Also, booster battle packs are on clearance and ringing up for $6. I was able to get 4 battle packs and two boosters of gatecrash for less than $16.



wait what?


also I still don't understand the lands thing
 

ultron87

Member
also I still don't understand the lands thing

I have one card in hand. You Thoughtseize me and I reveal an Island with Art A.

On my turn I draw a card, shuffle them around a bit and play a Island with Art B. What is the one card I have left?

Now imagine the same situation if I draw, shuffle them around and play an Island with Art A.

It isn't the biggest advantage ever and you can be plenty successful in the game without ever worrying about it, but if you want every little advantage it is something going to think about.
 

kirblar

Member
For the same reason your cards should all have the same art- but people figure that one out for themselves pretty quickly, just to make it easier on themselves.
 

Grecco

Member
I have one card in hand. You Thoughtseize me and I reveal an Island with Art A.

On my turn I draw a card, shuffle them around a bit and play a Island with Art B. What is the one card I have left?

Now imagine the same situation if I draw, shuffle them around and play an Island with Art A.

It isn't the biggest advantage ever and you can be plenty successful in the game without ever worrying about it, but if you want every little advantage it is something going to think about.

I understand now makes sense thanks
 
I have one card in hand. You Thoughtseize me and I reveal an Island with Art A.

On my turn I draw a card, shuffle them around a bit and play a Island with Art B. What is the one card I have left?

Now imagine the same situation if I draw, shuffle them around and play an Island with Art A.

It isn't the biggest advantage ever and you can be plenty successful in the game without ever worrying about it, but if you want every little advantage it is something going to think about.

Why wouldn't you just play the one you already had in your hand?
 

Haly

One day I realized that sadness is just another word for not enough coffee.
Milling is always relevant.

As a trap strat.
 

Karakand

Member
Why wouldn't you just play the one you already had in your hand?

Well, eventually you'll have to play the one with the different art. In an aggro v. control game the control player would love to know your second or third draw wasn't a threat or a piece of soft control.

At the level of play most players will stay in this isn't really a bfd, this was a SCG premium article.
 
I can't remember his name, the designer that left Wizards so he could go back to competition...

I saw an interview with him where Ashiok was being criticized as a "bad card". He basically ended up saying, trust me, if it's a bad card and it's really cheap, buy all of them up. This gave me the thought that Wizards is planning on putting out cards that really support what that Planeswalker does.
 
Well, eventually you'll have to play the one with the different art. In an aggro v. control game the control player would love to know your second or third draw wasn't a threat or a piece of soft control.

At the level of play most players will stay in this isn't really a bfd, this was a SCG premium article.

Ok that makes a bit more sense.
 

kirblar

Member
I can't remember his name, the designer that left Wizards so he could go back to competition...

I saw an interview with him where Ashiok was being criticized as a "bad card". He basically ended up saying, trust me, if it's a bad card and it's really cheap, buy all of them up. This gave me the thought that Wizards is planning on putting out cards that really support what that Planeswalker does.
Oh, Zac? He's the one we're sure wasn't fired, lol. He went to some school start-up.
 
I'm excited now, I beat a bunch of players prepping typical decks for SCG tomorrow. I didn't lose the first set against anybody. I didn't enter FNM because I had thought my deck was weak and the rest of my sideboard hasn't arrived, but I really think milling is serious.

I can't remember his name, the designer that left Wizards so he could go back to competition...

I saw an interview with him where Ashiok was being criticized as a "bad card". He basically ended up saying, trust me, if it's a bad card and it's really cheap, buy all of them up. This gave me the thought that Wizards is planning on putting out cards that really support what that Planeswalker does.

It's so good. I beat a mono red player prepping for SCG open with no permanents but Ashioks.

I don't think it's super strong, but my deck can definitely fight what's going on right now.
 
One of the interesting things about the Modern Masters format (and one of the things that makes it so good) is that there truly is no dominant archetype. Even the nuts version of a given archetype has a glaring weakness, generally to a common.

So, for example, if you do what I just did and draft a BW Rebels deck, with 6 (!!!) searchers and multiple Trappers, Avian Changelings, and Bound in Silences, plus some other sweet stuff like a Redcap and a couple of Scullers, you still have a glaring weakness. Specifically, as I just learned, you can never beat a deck that takes advantage of this card.

Image.ashx


(Especially when he also has Scion of Oona both games - ugh).

Even though it was incredibly frustrating to get crushed by that faeries deck, it really did make me appreciate just how well designed the set is. And it's not like the nuts Fae deck has no weaknesses either; a well-built green fatties deck or Domain deck is perfectly capable of stomping all over it. And so on and so on.

(And I just checked; I've been doing terribly over the past couple of weeks and my limited rating is in the toilet - it's actually dipped below 1700 for the first time in a very long time. Ugh. I was never amazing; it had been hovering around 1730-50, but I've been on quite the losing streak lately.)

EDIT: #$@@#$!!!@#$! And then I lose to Thundercloud Shaman two games in a row. Holy shit - Modern Masters hates me this week! This was what I drafted:

QBVuchK.png


It's not the best Rebels deck I've ever seen (there are no real bombs to speak of, and the imps are kinda meh). But it's certainly better than the 0-4 showing it gave me.
 
Anyone going to SCG Open Oakland tomorrow?

Also a question for anyone familiar with SCG opens, are there any card vendors other than SCG at the opens? For example I went to a GP a while back and although it was hosted by ChannelFireball there were 7 or 8 other card shops there.
 

kirblar

Member
Anyone going to SCG Open Oakland tomorrow?

Also a question for anyone familiar with SCG opens, are there any card vendors other than SCG at the opens? For example I went to a GP a while back and although it was hosted by ChannelFireball there were 7 or 8 other card shops there.
SCG is just SCG because...it's run by SCG. :p GPs have comparison shopping.


GB- Dimir Charm out of the board maybe?
 
GB- Dimir Charm out of the board maybe?
I tried running Dimir Charm for a while, and it just wasn't doing enough in any matchup. The first and third abilities weren't relevant and I'd rather use Pharika's Cure for the second.

When I was running it with white I had Azorius Charm, which was way more helpful. Whit also gave me Supreme Verdict that filled a major weakness, but the deck wound up becoming control instead of midrange, which isn't very much fun for me.
 

Lucario

Member
It's not the best Rebels deck I've ever seen (there are no real bombs to speak of, and the imps are kinda meh). But it's certainly better than the 0-4 showing it gave me.

great rebel deck, and sucks about the thundercloud shaman (I know I've had 'guaranteed' 3-0s that got rekt by that card), but is there any reason you aren't playing that blinding beam? Card is good.

Also, don't worry about your rating. I was beyond terrible at theros and fell ~150 points when it came out, but climbed back up just fine. It's a game of variance, you'll eventually end up where you should be. If a 1750 is average for you, you're still good and shouldn't worry too much about it. Hell, most streamers I see have a score in the mid 1700s when they look at their profile.
 
great rebel deck, and sucks about the thundercloud shaman (I know I've had 'guaranteed' 3-0s that got rekt by that card), but is there any reason you aren't playing that blinding beam? Card is good.

Also, don't worry about your rating. I was beyond terrible at theros and fell ~150 points when it came out, but climbed back up just fine. It's a game of variance, you'll eventually end up where you should be. If a 1750 is average for you, you're still good and shouldn't worry too much about it. Hell, most streamers I see have a score in the mid 1700s when they look at their profile.

I sat there staring at Test of Faith and Blinding Beam for a good minute; I really didn't think I had room to run both, so I had to make a call on one over the other. I had to decide if I thought that saving something with Test of Faith (and possibly making it into a real win condition) was better than an instant speed Sleep that only really hits 2 creatures (theoretically more if you back it up with Rathi Trapper for more mana).

In the end, my concern was I would run into too many situations where I drew Blinding Beam and all I could do was fog them for a couple of turns and peck with a couple of changelings. I want my Blinding Beams to have the ability to win the game, not just delay the end. I felt it would be too dead too often without a real punch behind it, while Test of Faith was cheaper and could be used to not only save a creature but possibly turn it into a win condition at the same time.

Maybe it wasn't correct, but at least I did have an actual reason for it :)
 

Wynnebeck

Banned
Sigh. Went 1-3-1 last night with my Esper deck I've been fiddling around with. Since I only have one Shockland (Hallowed Fountain) and the rest Guildgates and basic lands, I really get stuck behind turns waiting to have mana to do stuff. Any online stores selling shocks and scrys for cheap? My local shop is charging $10-11.50 per card and that shit adds up quick especially with the amount of lands this deck is supposed to run.
 
So someone put together a website that calculates the expected value of currently running queues on Magic Online.

http://www.magicev.com/

It lets you take a look at how your win percentage affects which queues you should (or shouldn't) be joining, as well as including (or excluding) the value of opening the packs.

Apparently, if you care about value, M14 is the set you should be drafting right now, not Theros. And it's a reminder about how good the value of constructed daily events is; it's the only event with positive EV if you're winning at 50%.
 
Zorro's Theros Sealed Pool of the Day!

TaMxoXQ.png


I don't think it's the most exciting sealed pool; but then again, when I see a sealed pool, I usually only see one or maybe two builds (splashes and specific card choices notwithstanding). I was able to take this pool to a 2-1 finish in an 8-man Swiss Sealed; I'm curious to see if what I built is anything close to what you guys would have built.

For reference, you can click here to see how I built it
 

Grecco

Member
I went to a walgreens and they were pretty much sold out of magic cards except one single Theros pack


which had a steam augry as the rare easily the worst rare in theros
 

Hex

Banned
I went to a walgreens and they were pretty much sold out of magic cards except one single Theros pack


which had a steam augry as the rare easily the worst rare in theros

I got Walmart to price match yesterday, was like pulling teeth but it worked.
 

An-Det

Member
We did a pair of cube drafts today with the Power Cube. In the first one I drafted a RUG thingy with Jace TMS, Black Lotus, Ancestral Recall, 2 Moxen, Natural Order->Craterhoof, Inferno Titan, and various other things to round it out. Ended up winning 3-0 and won the Myr Battlesphere and tokens that I really wanted. We then did another one and I went for UW Control, with Jace TMS, Elspeth Tirel, Jace, Memory Adept, Ancestral Recall and Visions, 2 moxen, Wrath and Supreme Verdict, FoW, Cryptic, Counterspell, O Ring, Celestial Colonnade, and Venser plus other stuff. I haven't played a true control deck in a while but this was a lot of fun to play. I went 2-1 with it, losing the third round to not drawing enough lands against the reanimator deck, since almost all of my cards are answers against it.
 
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