Budget Decks Part 3: Blue Control August 18, 2009
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The most powerful budget decks should be legal in legacy (Type 1.5), which is a tournament type that allows all cards from normal Magic sets except the most over-powered cards, such as the power 9. The most powerful color in magic is Blue, and it isn’t that hard to make a very powerful blue deck without spending a whole lot of money. A mono blue control deck will be a great way to make all of your friends very frustrated because it won’t let them do anything. (more…)
Budget Decks Part 2: Legacy (Type 1.5) Red Burn August 10, 2009
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Legacy (Type 1.5) is a tournament type that allows all cards from normal Magic sets except the most over-powered cards, such as the power 9. The best way to make the most powerful deck possible is to make a Legacy deck because it allows cards from every normal Magic set ever made. The best way to make the least expensive deck is to make a Legacy deck because older cards tend to be worth less. People only want the newest cards because the most popular tournaments only allows us to use cards from the newest sets. If you want to make a budget red deck for standard (type 2) tournaments, go here. (more…)
Budget Decks: Standard (Type 2) Red Burn July 17, 2009
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I have already suggested in my Magic the Gathering FAQ that a red burn deck is the best deck to make with a limited budget. Here is an uptated list of the best cards I suggest for a budget red deck: (more…)
Magic 2010 Review Part 3: Top 14 New Cards for Standard July 14, 2009
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Update (7-17-2009): Added Honor the Pure and dual lands to the list
The point of this review is to take a look at the best new cards in Magic 2010 for Standard (that we don’t already have in Standard). For example, we already have Ajani Goldmane and Birds of Paradise, so they aren’t worth mentioning. Essence Scatter also doesn’t count because it’s the same thing as Remove Soul. However, the card could be a reprint that we simply haven’t seen for a while. (more…)
Why Aggro Decks Are Terrible June 23, 2009
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I have made great creature-based aggro (aggressive) decks for years, but it has become increasingly more difficult to make a good aggro deck. You’d think Lorwyn would have been the ultimate savior of aggro with the huge power creep for creatures, but Wizards has simply not realized something: They can make creatures with almost unlimited power, and it won’t make a difference. The problem isn’t that creatures aren’t good enough. The problem is that anti-control is nonexistent. (more…)
Drafting Alara Reborn Part 2: Naya May 23, 2009
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The cards you want for your Naya deck when playing in Alara Reborn. You might want to read about Alara Reborn’s bombs, first picks, and second picks. This article discusses Reborn’s mentionable cards for Naya when drafting SCA (Shards/Conflux/Reborn). (more…)
Shards of Alara Block Constructed Part 11: Naya February 21, 2009
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I decided before that a 5 power themed Naya deck wasn’t the best idea and I continue to hold that belief. Conflux did make some 5 power themed cards, but these cards are still too risky in constructed. Instead, Naya’s strength is its overly powerful cards, such as Wild Nacatl and Wooly Thoctar. Conflux’s greatest additions to Naya are actually not for Naya decks: Noble Hierarch and Path to Exile. Cliffrunner Behemoth is the only Conflux card that can be impressive and was made specifically for Naya decks. Here is my current idea for a Naya deck: (more…)
Shards of Alara Block Constructed Part 10: Devour February 20, 2009
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Conflux has almost nothing worth mentioning with devour. Jund (red-black-green) did get Scarland Thrinax and Bloodhall Ooze but I’m not sure if they are good enough for a Devour deck. However, since unearth is so great in a devour deck, there are some new cards worth putting in a Jund deck. In particular, Hellspark Elemental and Shambling Remains. Here is my current idea for a devour deck: (more…)
Shards of Alara Block Constructed Part 9: Unearth February 19, 2009
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Conflux has given Unearth decks a huge boost with Hellspark Elemental and Shambling Remains. Additionally, Ravenous Rats, Grixis Slavedriver, and Extractor demon could also be useful. Here is my current idea for an Unearth deck: (more…)
Shards of Alara Block Constructed Part 8: Esper February 18, 2009
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Conflux has given Esper very little other than Court Homunculus, but it is a great addition considering that Esper was a little on the slow side. Here is my current idea for an esper deck: (more…)
Shards of Alara Block Constructed Part 7: Exalted February 17, 2009
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Now that Conflux has arrived, Exalted (Bant) decks will be different. In particular, Path to Exile and Noble Hierarch should be included. Right now Bant is a fairly competitive deck in Standard (type 2) using Wilt-Leaf Liege and Kitchen Finks. These are the most important cards that can’t be included for Shards of Alara Block. Here is my current idea for a bant deck: (more…)
My Red Deck Went Undefeated February 17, 2009
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On February 14th I played in a cash prize tournament at Superstars and I won $200. There were six rounds and I won the first four. Then I just had to wait to play in the top 8, so I had two “intentional draws.” Then I won the first match of the top 8, and the top four players all split the prizes at the end. I technically won the tournament due to tiebreakers, but I didn’t play it out. (more…)
Shards of Alara Block Constructed Part 6: 5 Color February 16, 2009
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This week is Block Constructed week. Each day I will present a new idea for a Shards of Alara block constructed deck.
Now that Conflux has come out, the time has come to figure out what the best with the help of Conflux, it is pretty safe to say that 5 color might be one of the best decks. In particular, I think 5 color control will be a good idea: Play lots of removal (Bant charm, Path to Exile, and Volcanic Fallout) and some finishers: Banefire, Martial Coup, Broodmate Dragon, and Cruel Ultimatum. Here is the deck list that I came up with: (more…)
Conflux Review Part 2: Top 10 Cards January 27, 2009
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Although Shards of Alara had very few cards that could be used for either standard or extended, Conflux has at least 10 that might be good enough: (more…)
Shards of Alara Critique January 9, 2009
Posted by James in : all, random, theory, reviews, constructed, shards of alara block, limited, draft, sealed, design , add a commentWhether you are playing in a Shards of Alara Sealed tournament, Draft tournament, or block constructed tournament, there are some serious unprecedented problems that we face. (more…)
Shards of Alara Block Constructed Part 5: Naya October 4, 2008
Posted by James in : all, reviews, strategy, tips, constructed, shards of alara block , 4commentsThis is an older article and has been replaced by a newer one found here.
Naya (green-white-red) is probably my favorite color combination, but the mono green cards in Shards aren’t very good. (more…)
Shards of Alara Block Constructed Part 4: Jund October 3, 2008
Posted by James in : all, reviews, strategy, tips, constructed, shards of alara block, sealed , 8commentsThis article is old and has been replaced by a newer one found here.
Today I will reveal my idea for a Jund deck (red-black-green). (more…)
Shards of Alara Block Constructed Part 3: Grixis October 2, 2008
Posted by James in : all, reviews, strategy, tips, constructed, shards of alara block , 5commentsThis is an older article and it has been replaced by a newer one found here.
Grixis (black-red-blue) offers us some of the best removal and is the closest Shards deck to being a control deck. (more…)
Shards of Alara Block Constructed Part 2: Esper October 1, 2008
Posted by James in : all, reviews, strategy, tips, constructed, shards of alara block , 3commentsThis is an older article and it has been replaced by a newer one found here.
Today I am introducing my idea for an Esper deck (blue-white-black). (more…)
Shards of Alara Block Constructed Part 1: Bant September 30, 2008
Posted by James in : all, reviews, strategy, tips, constructed, shards of alara block , 3commentsThis is an older article that has been replaced by a newer one found here.