Random Magic Discussion Thread

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ein
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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by ein » Sun Jul 05, 2020 7:37 pm

I've just re-installed Arena thanks to the actual Mac version (I got sick of dealing with wine every time the thing updated). Anyway, I'm trying Ikoria bot drafts and I'm not sure how to build this one. It's either a mutate stuff+regular old BW deck or some kind of cycling deck. Is the "cycling deck" (basically cycling cards and the Tacticians) better than what I have? I couldn't figure out what to shift for it.
Screen Shot 2020-07-05 at 3.33.46 PM.png
Screen Shot 2020-07-05 at 3.33.46 PM.png (1.38 MiB) Viewed 770 times
The other cards I have are:

2 Solid Footing
2 Snare Tactician
1 Spontaneous Flight
1 Coordinated Charge
1 Imposing Vantasaur

1 Hampering Snare
1 Keep Safe
1 Convolute
1 Phase Dolphin
1 Shark Typhoon (did not come to me until late in the BW plan)
1 Winged Pteron

1 Serrated Scorpion
1 Corpse Churn
1 Unexpected Fangs
1 Suffocating Fumes
1 Dark Bargain

(1 green chaff card)

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ein
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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by ein » Sun Jul 05, 2020 7:38 pm

Probably too many humans for the mutates though, which might be my problem.

EDIT: of which there's only one, so uh, I've removed it for the Vantasaur

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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by seathesee » Sun Jul 05, 2020 7:53 pm

Khaos wrote: Sun Jul 05, 2020 6:57 pm i think tryanodon is very good. and i would have considered that 5 drop unicorn over dreadmaw number 3. but definately over one of your one drops

also not sure about the fountain
i like tyrnodon too, and i frequently had a 4 power creature during my matches. its probably better over the course of a bunch of games than speaker.

the fountain was part of the speaker package, and i felt it was necessary to double up on all the combo pieces in order to play him. it definitely goes out if speaker goes out.
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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by seathesee » Sun Jul 05, 2020 7:54 pm

bushmeat poacher is such a stupid good card in that format.
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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by Khaos » Sun Jul 05, 2020 8:00 pm

oh yeah i forgot the speaker fountain thing duh

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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by seathesee » Sun Jul 05, 2020 8:19 pm

just drafted this. i figured id get input before playing.

Image

seems pretty strong to me. the decision im waffling on is [frost breath v. 3rd enforcer v. legion's judgment]. frost breath feels the best to me for the tempo game plan. enforvers ability is probably triggeering in this deck, and the deck is thirsty for creatures (3x rousing read & glorious anthem). judgment seems like the worst of the options, but i am light on hard removal.
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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by drk » Sun Jul 05, 2020 9:28 pm

I agree with Khaos, I think Drowsing Tyranodon is one of green's best commons.

EDIT: damn new pages

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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by drk » Sun Jul 05, 2020 9:35 pm

ein wrote:I've just re-installed Arena thanks to the actual Mac version (I got sick of dealing with wine every time the thing updated). Anyway, I'm trying Ikoria bot drafts and I'm not sure how to build this one. It's either a mutate stuff+regular old BW deck or some kind of cycling deck. Is the "cycling deck" (basically cycling cards and the Tacticians) better than what I have? I couldn't figure out what to shift for it.
Screen Shot 2020-07-05 at 3.33.46 PM.png
The other cards I have are:

2 Solid Footing
2 Snare Tactician
1 Spontaneous Flight
1 Coordinated Charge
1 Imposing Vantasaur

1 Hampering Snare
1 Keep Safe
1 Convolute
1 Phase Dolphin
1 Shark Typhoon (did not come to me until late in the BW plan)
1 Winged Pteron

1 Serrated Scorpion
1 Corpse Churn
1 Unexpected Fangs
1 Suffocating Fumes
1 Dark Bargain

(1 green chaff card)
I don't think you have enough cyclers to make both Tacticians in, but I don't mind playing 1 here because it's a) human and therefore a fine body in here and b) and it has a big target on it, though incorrectly in this case. I dunno what to cut though.

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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by drk » Sun Jul 05, 2020 9:43 pm

seathesee wrote:just drafted this. i figured id get input before playing.

Image

seems pretty strong to me. the decision im waffling on is [frost breath v. 3rd enforcer v. legion's judgment]. frost breath feels the best to me for the tempo game plan. enforvers ability is probably triggeering in this deck, and the deck is thirsty for creatures (3x rousing read & glorious anthem). judgment seems like the worst of the options, but i am light on hard removal.
This looks awesome. For curve reasons, I would want to cut down a Gagglemaster for a Gale Swooper, which is a terrific follow-up to Makeshift Battalion or a Daybreak Charger.

Maybe Glidemaster isn't the best, here. Everything already flies or is about to start a Rousing Read.

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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by seathesee » Sun Jul 05, 2020 9:56 pm

welp that was an 0-2 drop. mana problems and black decks that were able to trade up and pull card advantage on me. pretty bummed about that outcome.
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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by Khaos » Sun Jul 05, 2020 11:49 pm

that deck seemed pretty good to me. i would not be cutting gagglemasters, those are the best cards in the deck

the frost breath seems correct to me. the enforcers have been pretty bad in my experience though. having a flyer around is a big ask

4 chargers might be a bit much but maybe you just go all in on them and play the last read

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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by Rylinks » Sun Jul 05, 2020 11:50 pm

it's not like 2/3s for 3 are totally embarrassing but my sense is that if you have fliers, tappers are less valuable, because you usually can attack with your fliers anyway

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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by Khaos » Sun Jul 05, 2020 11:54 pm

also the swooper seems better than the tide skimmer

i havent played with skimmer but snapping drake that domes them for 3 when it etb seems strong, where as tide skimmer seems a bit win more

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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by Khaos » Mon Jul 06, 2020 3:58 am

i jsut got to live the dream with shipwreck dowser and infinite sublime epiphanies

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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by Khaos » Mon Jul 06, 2020 5:22 am

ein wrote: Sun Jul 05, 2020 7:37 pm I've just re-installed Arena thanks to the actual Mac version (I got sick of dealing with wine every time the thing updated). Anyway, I'm trying Ikoria bot drafts and I'm not sure how to build this one. It's either a mutate stuff+regular old BW deck or some kind of cycling deck. Is the "cycling deck" (basically cycling cards and the Tacticians) better than what I have? I couldn't figure out what to shift for it.

Screen Shot 2020-07-05 at 3.33.46 PM.png

The other cards I have are:

2 Solid Footing
2 Snare Tactician
1 Spontaneous Flight
1 Coordinated Charge
1 Imposing Vantasaur

1 Hampering Snare
1 Keep Safe
1 Convolute
1 Phase Dolphin
1 Shark Typhoon (did not come to me until late in the BW plan)
1 Winged Pteron

1 Serrated Scorpion
1 Corpse Churn
1 Unexpected Fangs
1 Suffocating Fumes
1 Dark Bargain

(1 green chaff card)
i don't really know what to do with this deck. you have so much removal, i dont know that mutual destruction is worth it.

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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by Khaos » Mon Jul 06, 2020 5:23 am

i think i built this right, but i feel a bit weird putting the swift responses in the sb

Image

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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by Ashenai » Mon Jul 06, 2020 9:36 am

Is Warded Battlements really worth it? It seems playable but bad. I'd definitely go -Battlements +Swift Response, I get that you're attacking but Swift Response is a great counter to flyers, which this deck is a little soft against.

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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by Ashenai » Mon Jul 06, 2020 9:37 am

Or maybe -Secure the Scene +Swift Response

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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by Khaos » Mon Jul 06, 2020 1:36 pm

its been surprisingly good, and work well with pegasus, lifelinkers, siege striker, hallowblade, and a bunch of bears. but i will probably side it out against blue decks for swift response

but i dont have a lot of flyers so maybe it's not good enough

i havent played with too much secure the scene but unconditional removal seems good? especially when it can get capture spheres or planeswalkers or what have you

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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by Ashenai » Mon Jul 06, 2020 1:41 pm

You're beatdown, giving them a free chump blocker is bad. Five mana sorcery unconditional removal is already only okay, and this one has a big drawback.

I think one is fine to play because panic button, but multiples in a non-control deck seem real bad.

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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by Ashenai » Mon Jul 06, 2020 1:44 pm

Like yeah in theory it takes down ~anything~. In practice it takes down a 5-drop. So you trade even on mana and cards and then they have an extra 1/1.

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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by Khaos » Mon Jul 06, 2020 1:48 pm

that seems valuable in this kind of deck though. if i had more removal that worked on the offense i might take them out

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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by Ashenai » Mon Jul 06, 2020 1:52 pm

Hunter's Edge is very good! Also, in this type of deck Titanic Growth and Feat of Resistance are the removal spells you want.

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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by Ashenai » Mon Jul 06, 2020 1:53 pm

I would also maindeck Rambo Mutt over Secure the Scene. My two-for-ones should be in my favor, not my opponent's!

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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by Khaos » Mon Jul 06, 2020 2:32 pm

and that's the tea.. how about the mutt over the sage? i don't really like him but i figured he might actually be okay since this deck can sometimes activate him

in 17 drafts ive never seen anyone cast titanic growth, for whatever reason

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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by Ashenai » Mon Jul 06, 2020 3:28 pm

I like sage, he's a 4-power guy for your Tyrannodons and a Reach guy against flyers. I think he's better than he looks. Activating him doesn't seem to matter much imo.

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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by drk » Mon Jul 06, 2020 4:02 pm

I hate Secure the Scene so much. Removal that takes your entire turn but doesn't get rid of a blocker is just bad. And if you're not getting rid of a blocker, then Swift Response seems mostly better. I'd also like to get a Mutt or an Anointed Choisterer in the 40. Warded Battlements seems fine for this deck, I like it with more Pegasi usually.

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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by drk » Mon Jul 06, 2020 4:03 pm

I also badly want to jam the Shrine combo in here. It sucks that the green one is so bad, if they were black/white I'd actually try harder to convince you.

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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by drk » Mon Jul 06, 2020 4:04 pm

Actually the green one is ok with Anointed Choisterer. No, not really, it's just bad, you need the black one to do anything.

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Re: Random Magic Discussion Thread

Post by Khaos » Mon Jul 06, 2020 4:06 pm

ok, i think i cut one secure the scene for the second pegasus. i don't really want to play swift response in the main because i expect to be the beatdown more often than not (as ashe said)

pegasus carries counters well, and works with the battlements

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