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Magic: The Gathering |OT|
- Thread starter The Technomancer
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Sblargh said:
Depends on how much you want to be involved in M:tG, there really is no replacing live events, but if you're like me and can't spend 6 hours at sum crummy mall then MTGO is fantastic. There is always stuff going on, Booster Drafts, Sealed Drafts, tournaments of all kinds... official, player-run... you can play to Marketplace if that's your thing.
The only bad thing about it is that the UI is so fucking atrocious. Otherwise its great.
Also, if you do it right, you don't have to sick too much money into it... I've spent 40 bucks on it but have participated in 3 sealed Drafts.
Shit, can't believe I forgot to check gaf for a mtg community 
I just started playing about a month ago. A friend invited me to go with him to friday night magic with him, his sister, and some friends. I was the only one who went who didn't play, but I went anyway because I'd played card games in the past and I was remotely interested in how the game works since it's been around since the medieval ages.
Long story short, I got bored while there and bought a starter deck and messed around on my own for a while, with my friend later I came up with - what I think - is a pretty fun deck. I actually already ordered this and I have it now, going to playtest it this friday at the FNM.
BUT - I figured I'd post it here and ask some questions, since gaf is generally quite knowledgeable and helpful <3
It's a mono red deck, my friend called it a 'burn' deck, but I don't particularly know what that means. The primary goal is to deal direct damage w/ instants&sorceries, and have a few creatures that synergize well with that.
4x Chandra's Phoenix
4x Charmbreaker Devils
4x Chandra, the Firebrand
4x Devil's Play
4x Shock
4x Incinerate
4x Brimstone Volley
4x Reverberate
4x Shrine of Burning Rage
24x Mountain
Any tips/suggestions/knowledge/wisdoms about the type of deck I have, how I should play it, etc? Any advice is welcome
thanks!
I just started playing about a month ago. A friend invited me to go with him to friday night magic with him, his sister, and some friends. I was the only one who went who didn't play, but I went anyway because I'd played card games in the past and I was remotely interested in how the game works since it's been around since the medieval ages.
Long story short, I got bored while there and bought a starter deck and messed around on my own for a while, with my friend later I came up with - what I think - is a pretty fun deck. I actually already ordered this and I have it now, going to playtest it this friday at the FNM.
BUT - I figured I'd post it here and ask some questions, since gaf is generally quite knowledgeable and helpful <3
It's a mono red deck, my friend called it a 'burn' deck, but I don't particularly know what that means. The primary goal is to deal direct damage w/ instants&sorceries, and have a few creatures that synergize well with that.
4x Chandra's Phoenix
4x Charmbreaker Devils
4x Chandra, the Firebrand
4x Devil's Play
4x Shock
4x Incinerate
4x Brimstone Volley
4x Reverberate
4x Shrine of Burning Rage
24x Mountain
Any tips/suggestions/knowledge/wisdoms about the type of deck I have, how I should play it, etc? Any advice is welcome
thanks!The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
28 of the cards in your deck are themed around setting things on fireAcullis said:
Haha well I didn't really think that it was that literal!
Also I did think of a few specific questions:
Can I reverberate or use chandra to copy the triggering of a shrine?
If I cast an instant or sorcery spell to deal damage, can I reverberate AND use chandra to copy it?
Does using chandra to copy a spell add an additional counter to shrine?
If I reverberate a shock, does the initial shock, the reverberate, and the copied shock each count as a spell to add a token to a shrine?
Also I did think of a few specific questions:
Can I reverberate or use chandra to copy the triggering of a shrine?
If I cast an instant or sorcery spell to deal damage, can I reverberate AND use chandra to copy it?
Does using chandra to copy a spell add an additional counter to shrine?
If I reverberate a shock, does the initial shock, the reverberate, and the copied shock each count as a spell to add a token to a shrine?
Keru_Shiri
Member
No, that is an ability of an artifact, and not a spell that can be copied.Acullis said:
Yes. You'll use Chandra's ability, the next spell you cast will be copied, then you can Reverberate either the spell, or the copy.
No, Shrine wants a spell to be cast, copying just creates a virtual spell that isn't technically cast.
As above, none of the copies will add counters, but the initial Shock, and the Reverberate will, since Reverberate is itself a red spell.
Hope this helps!
Try to avoid high costing cards, such as Charmbreaker Devils, so you can effectively deal 20 damage before you lose. Usually burn plays within a casting cost of 1 to 3, with the 3 casting cost cards only having about 4 in the deck and reducing lands to around 20 so the threat density is much higher. From the looks of it you are playing standard legal cards, so Grim Lavamancer would be a good choice to replace your Devils with. I would reduce the amount of Firebrands to 2 so you don't get them early game and in multiples. Burn is sometimes harder to pilot than some people realize, obviously not as hard as combo decks like TES or ANT, but nevertheless it takes some practice deciding when it's necessary to burn creatures rather than burning the face. I would take out reverberate also because it's not such a great card to topdeck when you need a burn spell to win the game. If you are playing casual and are allowed any cards then I'd recommend looking at MTGSalvation burn thread.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=241878
It may be much more in-depth than you want, but maybe not. If you want standard then here is the link to the Standard Burn thread rather than Legacy.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=361477
It has a similar premise but relies more on creatures than instants and sorceries for damage because of the lack of good burn spells in standard. Hope this helps.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=241878
It may be much more in-depth than you want, but maybe not. If you want standard then here is the link to the Standard Burn thread rather than Legacy.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=361477
It has a similar premise but relies more on creatures than instants and sorceries for damage because of the lack of good burn spells in standard. Hope this helps.
Keru_Shiri
Member
It is one of the best cards in Standard. If you're looking for ways to abuse it, look at Volt Charge. Also, kudos is right on the money. Cut back on your Chandras and Devils and try to pick up some Grim Lavamancers. Koth of the Hammer and Stromkirk Noble are also two very good cards, but both can be kinda pricey.Acullis said:
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
No, because the "exile two cards" is part of the cost of the effect. If you can't pay the cost, you can't do the effect.Acullis said:
Basically, if it comes before the colon then you have to be able to do it.
I'm going to participate on my first tournment today with that infect deck I showed earlier. Free subscription, worth some foil promotional card. Don't know how is the competition or anything, anyway, if it's all right, I might pass on MtG:O, because, as someone said, is the exact same thing. But from what I seem there, seems to be a niche thing. Few players that have been playing for years.
Keru_Shiri
Member
@Acullis: Yeah, you typically don't want more than 2, since he's not as useful early game with an empty graveyard. Late game, he's amazing reach.The_Technomancer said:
Also, my previous post should say Chandras instead of Chandra's. Which is to say, cut back on the number of planeswalkers. Keep the Phoenixes, they're awesome.
The_Technomancer said:
Ahh I see. Makes sense. I'll probably swap out the charmbreakers for him then. That kinda sucks, I guess, because the charmbreaker devils are what really initially excited me about abusing instants.
Maybe I'll make a different deck better suited to use them then, later on.
edit: Oh, if I should only get 2, then maybe I should drop 2 reverberates as well and get 4 volt charges. Reverberates are also cool, and would also make me sad to lose
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
Yeah, the Charmbreakers are better in Limited formats where deck construction is sub-optimal and the pace of the game tends to be a bit slower.
Tweaked it a bit:
2 Grim Lavamancer
2 Chandra, the Firebrand
4 Chandra's Phoenix
4 Devil's Play
4 Galvanic Blast
4 Shock
4 Arc Trail
4 Incinerate
4 Brimstone Volley
4 Volt Charge
4 Shrine of Burning Rage
20 Mountain
Is a bit slimmer and the mana average is almost exactly 2 with the removal of charmbreaker's and cutting 2 chandra's.
2 Grim Lavamancer
2 Chandra, the Firebrand
4 Chandra's Phoenix
4 Devil's Play
4 Galvanic Blast
4 Shock
4 Arc Trail
4 Incinerate
4 Brimstone Volley
4 Volt Charge
4 Shrine of Burning Rage
20 Mountain
Is a bit slimmer and the mana average is almost exactly 2 with the removal of charmbreaker's and cutting 2 chandra's.
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
You really seem to be diving into the game quickly. So you really enjoyed what you played with your friends?Acullis said:
The_Technomancer said:
Yeah haha, I've missed card games.
I've gone to three FNMs. The first one I just watched, picked up a starter deck (it was the blue/red innistrad one, mainly focused on flashbacks) and got really interested since the mechanics of the game were pretty slick.
The second one I participated in but got crushed
Playing mostly w/ starter deck cards and some others I picked up thru boosters/trading. It was 5 rounds (Bo3), swiss style tournament. I went 0-2, 0-2, 0-2, 1-2, and then I got a bye in the final round :l I'm not complaining since I got points or something, but it was pretty pathetic, haha. The third one I didn't do much better, but I've met a ton of nice people, and one or two jackasses. I haven't played a TCG since I was in middle school, so it's nice to get back into something like this, I forgot how much I enjoyed it.
I can't believe I'm 2-0 with this silly mill-aggro UB deck. I'm barely coming out ahead in my matches by milling key cards.
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
I forgot to activate Manor Gargoyle before declaring blockers.
;_;
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
I forgot to activate Manor Gargoyle before declaring blockers.
;_;
Acullis said:
The problem is you have 12- 3 casting cost cards and 2- 4 casting cost with only 20 lands. And you have devil's play which will cost, on average, 4 mana total to get 3 damage to a target. If you want this high of a curve you will need to increase your amount of mountains or else you will be mana screwed most games. If you take out 2 devil's play and substitute those for 2 more mountains then it will be much smoother. Plus devil's play isn't a card you want to see constantly but maybe once a game to help finish the opponent or a big creature off. Deck building is a lot about balance and making compromises, along with a lot of play testing to see if it's working efficiently as you had hoped. I usually line up my cards by casting cost and see how much of each I have to see if it curves nicely with my lowest casting costs being the most abundant. But decks don't always function like this, like combo, reanimator or control decks. I spend way more time deck-building and solitaring than actually playing against an opponent but I guess that's just how it goes.
Acullis: I was actually playing a red vs red match against my buddy last night lol. I went as similiar as possible to the guy that won some event against my buddy's goblin deck which hits pretty damn fast. Yeah, I'd say you're running too many spells and need more permanent presents to consistently deal dmg. Here's my deck off the top of my head.
x2 Stromkirk Noble (would like 2 more)
x4 Stormblood Berserker
x3 Grim Lavamancer
x3 Chandra's Phoenix
x3 Goblin Arsonist vs aggro, otherwise x3 Furnace Scamp
x1 Devil's Play (would like to replace it with a PW or Hero of Oxid Ridge)
x2 Kruin Outlaw (just cause I don't have better red cards atm)
x4 Incinerate
x4 Brimstone Volley
x4 Geistflame (pumps up Shrine nicely)
x2 Shocks
x1 Gutshot
x1 Past Flames (something like that, too high cost and will be replaced when I get something else)
x4 Shrine of Burning Rage
x22 Mountains
Obviously, there's room for improvements. I just don't feel like shelling more money for them yet. X] Some Arc Trails would've been great vs my buddies' spirit and goblin deck and I can definitely replace those high costing cards with Hero or a PW, but it's been working out pretty good for me so far. And yeah, Shrine wins games!
x2 Stromkirk Noble (would like 2 more)
x4 Stormblood Berserker
x3 Grim Lavamancer
x3 Chandra's Phoenix
x3 Goblin Arsonist vs aggro, otherwise x3 Furnace Scamp
x1 Devil's Play (would like to replace it with a PW or Hero of Oxid Ridge)
x2 Kruin Outlaw (just cause I don't have better red cards atm)
x4 Incinerate
x4 Brimstone Volley
x4 Geistflame (pumps up Shrine nicely)
x2 Shocks
x1 Gutshot
x1 Past Flames (something like that, too high cost and will be replaced when I get something else)
x4 Shrine of Burning Rage
x22 Mountains
Obviously, there's room for improvements. I just don't feel like shelling more money for them yet. X] Some Arc Trails would've been great vs my buddies' spirit and goblin deck and I can definitely replace those high costing cards with Hero or a PW, but it's been working out pretty good for me so far. And yeah, Shrine wins games!
y2dvd said:
Looks like a budget Red Deck Wins, such a fun deck. And yes shrine is absolutely ridiculous.
One comment - I prefer gutshot overall to Geistflame, simply because you can play the life cost instead of the red mana which still allows you to play say a turn 2 bloodthirsted Stormblood Berserker. RDW is all about speed and tempo. Geistflame has flashback, but its cost is a bit high and by the time I have that much mana, there are usually bigger threats I want to play (though my deck has Koth and Hero, which makes a difference.)
Well, Posted a thread in gaming hoping to drum up some players that may not play more than DotP otherwise to see if we can get players. Hopefully I'm not perma-juniored for it. :/
Earthstrike
Member
Finding out about cockatrice has shown me some light.
I've always wanted to get into magic (I used to play when my brothers were heavily into the game when it came out) but they warned me about it being quite an expensive hobby. I avoided it for the same reason I avoid smoking.
But now there's a free client, sweet. So how does all the arrangement work for this cockatrice thing?
I've always wanted to get into magic (I used to play when my brothers were heavily into the game when it came out) but they warned me about it being quite an expensive hobby. I avoided it for the same reason I avoid smoking.
But now there's a free client, sweet. So how does all the arrangement work for this cockatrice thing?
This is the final interation of my B/U Infect ultra-budget experimental extravaganza deck before FNM:
2x Corpse Cur
2x Plague Myr
3x Plague Stinger
2x Phyrexian Crusader
4x Phyrexian Vatmother
11x Island
13x Swamp
1x Fuel for the Cause
2x Go for the Throat
1x Spread the Sickness
1x Virulent Wound
3x Geth's Verdict
1x Cancel
4x Mana Leak
2x Negate
2x Doom Blade
2x Wring Flesh
4x Think Twice
2x Corpse Cur
2x Plague Myr
3x Plague Stinger
2x Phyrexian Crusader
4x Phyrexian Vatmother
11x Island
13x Swamp
1x Fuel for the Cause
2x Go for the Throat
1x Spread the Sickness
1x Virulent Wound
3x Geth's Verdict
1x Cancel
4x Mana Leak
2x Negate
2x Doom Blade
2x Wring Flesh
4x Think Twice
Earthstrike said:
Note: I think you should support the game and buy some decks and stuff. This is good for casual play, but I don't recommend this being the only thing you do for the game. Support Wizards by buying a booster one day!
You make an account at Cockatrice's website, then make an account if drafting at CCG, we do the drafts at CCG then open Cocktrice and copy-paste our choices (or load the .dec format) into Cockatrice when we start our games to save and then load in the program once we're on Cockatrice's server and in a game room/table.
Well, I'm more saying that Cockatrice doesn't make them money, so it doesn't evolve/further the game if more people start to use it. Hence, buy a booster randomly and collect or sell the cards off. At least give them some money for R&D and the like.
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