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This week in Magic: Playing with fire pt. 2
Thursday, July 3rd, 2014
This person should probably get their paper-cut checked out. It looks pretty bad!
Last week we talked about the burn package for Mono Red Burn. This week I’ll be talking about the creature package and side board options. Here’s a quick reminder of what I was running as a creature package:
This past weekend, there was a Grand Prix Trial held at the Abington store. At that tournament I actually ran a slightly different creature package after having practiced with the deck some more. The changes I made were replacing the Hellspark Elemental completely and I put in two more Goblin Guides and two more Eidolons. So now I was playing with this:
4 Goblin Guide
4 Eidolon of the Great Revel
4 Spark Elemental
I have been really enjoying the Eidolons a lot. If my opponent can’t deal with it right away it can be really annoying as it hits a lot of spells. This includes, but isn’t limited to, Serum Visions, Remand, Tarmogoyf, Delver of Secrets, Dark Confidant, and so much more. Even if they can deal with it, they’re going to take two damage as the popular removal spells are Disfigure, Smother, Lightning Bolt, Electrolyze, etc. There are definitely a lot of pros to playing this card.
One slight downside is that I am not immune to its effects as I can also take two damage for any spell I play that costs less than three mana. However, I’m not worried about my life count as much as my opponent is when he knows I’m threatening him or her with numerous burn spells at the ready.
I guess the question is how do I feel about the new creature line-up? When I played at the GPT, part of me did miss the Hellspark Elemental. With the Eidolon I get a 2/2 for two mana, and it doesn’t usually stick around. With the Hellspark, I got a 3/1 hasty creature that usually got in for three damage. The reason being is that it dies at the end of the turn. Therefore, wasting a kill spell on it is almost meaningless.
You really want to get in there and drop your opponent’s life total down to zero as fast as you can. If you remember, last week, I preached about how we were going for maximum damage output. Well, Eidolon doesn’t fit that game plan. It’s something you’d want if you were shooting for a long-game scenario – something that we’re not aiming for. We want to go for the short-game, and so it’s time to go back to four Hellspark Elementals and take out the Eidolons completely. Everything else can stay the same. In fact, going up to four Goblin Guides is where we should have been from the beginning.
Side board options
Now let’s take a look at the side board. As a quick reminder, here is what I was running:
3 Combust
This did not change at all for the GPT last weekend. Still, let’s break things down and talk about why I’m running them.
First of all, Combust is a card that I have to run. Granted it doesn’t hit our opponent directly, but it does solve a lot of problems for Red mages. One of the biggest targets is Deceiver Exarch. Sitting at 1/4, this creature has a big butt, and is out of reach for all of our burn spells. Instead of having to use two burn spells, we can cast Combust, and that’s not even the best part: it can’t be countered. Other targets for Combust include Archangel of Thune, Restoration Angel, and anything else that’s blue or white and really annoying.
I originally thought that Molten Rain was one of those cards just for Tron decks. However, Modern has plenty of three colored decks where mana is a sensitive issue – RUG Twin, some versions of Pod, and Jund to name a few. In some of my play test sessions, destroying a land only set my opponent back a turn, but sometimes that’s all you need. Did I also mention that it also deals two damage as long as that land is a non-basic land.
Relic of Progenitus is in there for Snapcaster decks, decks that centralize themselves around Tarmogoyf, and can be a cute trick against Pod decks. It’s a pretty situational card, that’s why you only need two.
There have been plenty of discussions for the next card and the slot it represents. Affinity is one of the most popular decks in the Modern format right now. However, you need to remember not everyone is playing Affinity and that Modern is a very diverse format. So, you need a card that can match up well against Affinity, but can also help you out against single, problem artifacts – the biggest problem child, of course, being Spellskite.
In the very first list I was running, I had Smash to Smithereens in my side. This was a solid card. It was an instant speed, artifact removal spell, and it did three damage to my opponent. What a great 2-for-1. Unfortunately, in the match-up against Affinity, I couldn’t handle the amount of pressure they put on you in the first few turns. I watched as some of my friends emptied their hands on their first turn at the GPT.
With Shattering Spree, I feel like I have a better handle on things. It may not solve all of my problems, but it will definitely solve some of them. It’s ability to Replicate itself is a big deal. Now I can feel comfortable bringing in this card against decks with only a few artifacts or Affinity. I lose ability to deal three damage and I lose the speed, but being able to hit multiple artifacts is huge for me.
Searing Blood has been doing a lot for me these past few weeks. It’s been doing so much, I’ve had considerations bringing it into the main roster and, even, replacing Searing Blaze with it. Now, before you jump on my case, hear me out.
First of all, it’s in the sideboard as added creature removal. I bring it in against Affinity, Zoo, Pod, and even Delver. It played a pretty clutch role for me in my first round of the GPT. In game three, my opponent played a turn one Birds of Paradise. I didn’t even hesitate and cast a Searing Blood on it. I ended up winning that game and the match. Afterwards, he told me that if I hadn’t destroyed the Birds, he would have been able to play an earlier Birthing Pod against me, and probably would have won the game.
Now, I know what you’re saying, “You could have done that with Searing Blaze as well.” I know that, but here’s why I want to play it in the main board. I don’t play any fetch lands. This is important because triggering the landfall ability on Searing Blaze becomes much harder to do. In a deck that only runs 20 lands, it’s a little tough. Not to mention, I can only Blaze on my turn.
Last, but not least, is Anger of the Gods. I’m actually still debating with myself if I want to keep this or run Volcanic Fallout. Fallout is really tempting because it can’t be countered. So it would stack up well against decks like Faeries and Merfolk – both of which I have encountered. Either way, both spells would do well against Affinity as well. Maybe the extra point of damage matters, but that’s if they manage to drop their Master of Etherium. Another reason to run Anger over Fallout is that it exiles creatures if they were to die. So, against Pod decks, where Kitchen Finks is a thing, it could be very useful to remove the creature instead of letting it hit the graveyard and come back.
Well, that’s it for this week as I destroy my word count once again. I hope you’ll come back next week as I look to conclude my discussion on Mono Red Burn for Modern. The GP is coming up at the end of the month and this is really helping me clear my mind about things.
I would appreciate any feedback you may have or criticism about the deck. So sound off below in the comment section.
About the author
Simeon is now the Community Manager for Battleground Games & Hobbies. If you have any questions or inquiries, then you can reach him at Sims@battlegroundgames.com. He is also an avid gamer who loves to play board games and video games. He graduated college with a degree in Political Science, and now serves the public by writing about games. You can check that out here. Don’t forget to “like” him on Facebook as well. It’ll update you on all of his newest content. Best of all, you can follow Simeon on Twitter (@SimeonCortezano) for some real time hilarity. Thanks for reading!
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Tags: Grand Prix Worcester 2014, Magic the Gathering, MTG, Simeon Cortezano, Wizards of the Coast
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This week in Magic: Playing with Fire
Thursday, June 26th, 2014
First there was Tom Ross taking down the SCG Invitational with his Boss Sligh deck. Then this past weekend, both the Standard and Legacy Opens by StarCityGames were taken down by Red decks. One was a Mono Red Aggro deck and the other was a Mono Red Burn deck. I guess it’s safe to say that Red is a thing now.
With that in mind, I’m going to talk about Mono Red Burn in Modern. Keep in mind, I want to stay one color because for consistency. If we start introducing another color, then we have to start thinking about Shock Lands and Fetches. I’m trying to Bolt you, not the other way around.
Before we delve into things, let’s take a look at what I’ve been running for a while now:
Main board:
20 Mountain
Side board:
3 Combust
Goal of the deck
What exactly are we trying to do with this deck? Well, it’s simple. Have you ever seen “Rocky Balboa,” you know, the last movie he did that came out in 2006? Well in that movie there is a great training montage (just like all the other movies before it). During that montage they address the fact that Rocky has gotten older and suffers from things like arthritis; the fact is that he’s just not his younger self anymore. So, his trainer comes up with a strategy to compensate for what he has lost.
“So what we’ll be calling on is good ol’ blunt, force trauma. Horse power. Heavy-duty, cast iron, pile driving punches that will have to hurt so much they’ll rattle his ancestors. Every time you hit him with a shot, it’s got to feel like he’s kissing the express train. Yeah. Let’s start building some hurting bombs.”
Cue the music.
This is one of the best lines in the movie. When I saw it, and heard that line, I wanted to work out right then and there. Unfortunately, the tub of popcorn and the soda I was drinking were in my way.
I’m not trying to say that Mono Red Burn is like an old man, but it does have its weaknesses. The key here is to explode. This theme is going to help what determines what spells we should and should not play.
Another way to look at things is to check out some solid reading called “The Philosophy of Fire,” by Mike Flores. Just do a quick search for it online. You can’t miss it.
The Burn
We want to apply maximum damage for as little as possible. Lightning Bolt is the best burn spell and is a great example to base everything off of. It deals three damage for one mana. It hardly gets better than that. The next best thing may be Shard Volley. This is another spell that can deal three damage for one mana, but it comes with a catch; you need to sacrifice a land as an additional cost. That means, whether it resolves or not, you’re still losing a land.
Lava Spike is a great contender as to “next best burn spell.” It’s another 3-for-1 spell, but we lose out in speed here. Still, as a sorcery, this is typically one of the best openers for this deck. Similarly, Rift Bolt does the same thing. There is a slight delay if, but rarely do you ever cast it for three mana.
Now we move onto the spells that cost more than one mana. Searing Blaze is an interesting card, but it definitely has value in it. It’s very conditional, and it doesn’t always hit for three damage. In fact, by itself, it does one damage for two mana. Plus, you need to have a creature in play on your opponent’s side. So why is this in the deck? When you do hit the landfall trigger, which is not that hard, the card becomes completely worth it. At instant speed, you can, potentially, hit your opponent for three damage and kill one of their creatures for two mana.
How do we perceive Searing Blaze, though? It’s a 2-for-1 for starters. What else though? We need to analyze the other spells fit into the two slot:
Arc Trail – Needs another player to target.
Boros Charm – It forces us to play another color. However, because it deals 4 damage, many people have felt that’s enough of a case to play the spell. Keep it in mind, it only deals damage to a player.
Incinerate – Three damage for two mana makes it a contender, but there are better spells for the slot.
Lash Out – Another possibility, but conditional upon the clash.
Lightning Helix – The ability to gain life and, essentially, cause a six point life swing is very nice. However, again, you need to introduce another color into the mix.
Lightning Strike – See Incinerate.
Magma Jet – In the other versions of the deck that was touched upon at the beginning of the article, Magma Jet has made the cut. The ability to scry two cards and manipulate the deck so you draw into burn is very convincing. We’re looking for more here. If I’m scrying in search of burn, I’ve already lost.
As you can see, there are options, but we’re Mono Red. Searing Blaze just beats out the competition by a hair. There is another spell in the two slot. That card is Skullcrack. This is very similar to Lightning Strike and Incinerate. However, there is an important part of the card that causes it to make the cut, and that’s the fact that it stops players from gaining life and damage cannot be prevented that turn.
Granted, some decks only play one, but Spinx’s Revelation is in Modern. There is also Kitchen Finks. Modern can be a fast format, and there is little room for mistakes. Any kind of life gain is such a set-back that its best to not take any chances. Did you know that Pod decks can gain infinite life? Yes, and I learned that the hard way over the weekend. Thank goodness I had a Skullcrack in hand to stop the shenanigans.
Finally, our last spot is for Flames of the Bloodhand. This is the most expensive burn spell in the deck, but it’s also our only spell that does four damage. It hits like an express train and stops life-gain and, once again, stops damage prevention.
That’s it for this week as I go well over my word count. Next week, we’ll pick things up and go over the creature package, the side board, and any changes I may want to make heading into Grand Prix Worcester.
About the author
Simeon is now the Community Manager for Battleground Games & Hobbies. He is also an avid gamer who loves to play board games and video games. He graduated college with a degree in Political Science, and now serves the public by writing about games. You can check that out here. Don’t forget to “like” him on Facebook as well. It’ll update you on all of his newest content. Best of all, you can follow Simeon on Twitter (@SimeonCortezano) for some real time hilarity. Thanks for reading!
Donate to the Extra-Life fundraiser!
Join the Battleground Games & Hobbies community forums!
Please don’t forget to check us out on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @battleground_gh!
Tags: Magic the Gathering, Modern, MTG, Simeon Cortezano, Wizards of the Coast
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Modern Love by Ken Briscoe
Friday, June 20th, 2014
Josh (left) battles Ken (right). This was when there used to be regional tournaments. Remember those?
Hi all, welcome to my first article here on Battleground Games & Hobbies. At this point, I don’t know how often I’ll be writing, or even if Simeon will want to keep putting my articles up! However, when I do write, it’s going to be mainly about Eternal formats – that is, Modern and Legacy. There may be a little Vintage every now and then as I begin to learn that format, but as I don’t get a chance to play it but a couple times a year, that certainly won’t be a focus of mine in this series.
So with that, let’s go!
Today’s article is going to be about my recent love affair with the Modern format. When it was first announced a couple years ago, right after the death of Extended, I viewed Modern as “Legacy Light.” I was just starting to become invested in Legacy cards and following the format, and I felt as if I didn’t have time for another format. So I ignored Modern for a while to focus on playing what I do consider to be the best format of all, Legacy. But as I’ve come to realize recently, Modern is no slouch. It’s a deeply rich format with its own identity.
Very Modern. So Deck. Much Archetype.
In the last year, Modern has gone through an insane popularity boost. With the wildly successful Modern Masters and the huge Grand Prix Richmond leading the way, not to mention the current PTQ season, players all over the world have taken up Modern. Now with all these events, as the metagame changes and Wizards gets more and more data on what’s too good (or the opposite), the format is as healthy as ever. There’s no one boogieman-best-deck that everyone is either playing or trying to beat.
You could play any one of maybe 30 different decks and not be laughed out of the room. The format is that wide open. For starters, in no particular order:
| UR Pyromancer Ascension StormUR Splinter TwinRUG Tarmo-TwinJund“Big” Zoo “Small” Zoo Boggles Robots UW Control UWR Control UWR Kiki/Twin Mono Red Burn Melira Pod Mono-Black Devotion Restore Balance | Kiki PodAngel PodTribal Flames ZooGW HatebearsGR Tron Mono-Blue Tron UW Tron Mono-Green Tron BW Tokens Scapeshift Infect Dredgevine GB “Rock” Eggs/KCI Living End |
I’m sure I missed a handful of decks too!
Granted, some of these decks are simply better than others, but if you were to head to a large event it wouldn’t be unheard of to play nine rounds against seven or eight different decks. If I had to pick the top five decks with which to run through a large tournament, I’d probably say it’s these five, more or less in this order:
1) UR Splinter-Twin
2) Angel Pod
3) Robots
4) UR Pyromancer Ascension Storm
5) UWR Control
My Own Personal Modern
In March, I got to compete in Grand Prix Richmond. In seven rounds (thanks to two byes), I played against six different decks. My day two experience was less than stellar, quickly losing three in a row – to a Melira Pod deck, a Kiki-Pod deck, and a Jund deck. More importantly, out of the 10 rounds I played at that tournament, I played against seven different decks! The format is wide open, and I think that’s absolutely fantastic. You can pick out almost any card from your trade binder and build a deck with it.
In fact, that’s almost what I did last weekend for a Grand Prix Trial at the Plainville location for GP Boston/Worcester. I have been playing UWR midrange/aggro-control for a while, but wanted to mix it up with Jund for this event. However, at the last minute, I stumbled across this Jund-like list. When I reached into the old Modern binder, on almost every page, there was a card I could use for this deck. Here’s what I sleeved up:
| 4 Dark Confidant2 Scavenging Ooze
| 1 Forest1 Island1 Swamp2 Breeding Pool3 Darkslick Shores |
I went 3-1-1 in the swiss, cracking the Top 8. The only blemishes were a draw with UR Splinter Twin in round 1 (he also made Top 8) and a loss to Mono Red Burn in round 3. Then a quick loss to Robots in the Top 8.
I’m not claiming this deck is great. It’s mediocre at best. The reason I even typed out the list is to show some of the playable (if not fantastic) cards that you might not think of.
- Disfigure – Who knew? That card was absolutely amazing for me all day.
- Spell Snare – Seems a little niche, but I played it to great effect in both UWR in the past and in this deck. It counters a lot of problem cards – with Cranial Plating being the primary reason for running it.
- Bitterblossom – Since coming off the Banned List, it hasn’t really found a home. It was OK for me in this deck, but I think I know why it hasn’t really found a home in Modern – it’s slow. But it was definitely worth a try.
- Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver – OK, this one was no all-star for me, but there are worse cards to run, I’m sure. And it was an interesting experiment in peoples’ reactions to it.
Wrapping up
If nothing else, take away from this article my three favorite things about Modern:
1) Even “unplayable” cards or decks can be playable, and even good, in the right spot. Did you know that both Shadow of Doubt and Twisted Image see Modern play? Those cards are awful by most standards, but in certain situations, they really shine in Modern.
2) There’s a ton of playable decks in Modern, so if you don’t have a certain set of cards, there’s always other decks to play that will fit your play style. That is, you don’t need a set of Tarmogoyfs to play Modern. The barrier for entry is actually quite low if you’ve been playing Standard for a couple years. Maybe you won’t be able to play your first choice deck, but you can find something similar, no doubt.
3) Every tournament, every round, and every game, you learn something. Unless you’ve played the <Deck A> vs. <Deck B> matchup a million times, nothing is old hat. Maybe you’re seeing a deck for the first time. Maybe you finally realize why a certain card is played. Maybe you see a new use for a card (casting Remand your own spell in response to a Cryptic Command, perhaps). There’s just so much information available that every time you play Modern, you find out something new.
If you haven’t tried out Modern yet, or even if you have and love it as much as I do, come give it a shot. There’s another Grand Prix Trial for GP Boston/Worcester on 6/29 – this time at the Abington location. I like Modern so much I turned down the chance to judge the event so I could play! In addition, Abington hosts weekly Modern tournaments on Tuesday nights and every third Friday of the month is a Modern tournament. In Plainville, they have Modern tournaments every FNM. So you have plenty of chances to not just play Modern, but to play against a wide variety of decks each and every week!
Until next time, thanks for reading.
Ken
About the author
Ken Briscoe is a local competitor of the Abington store and lover of all things “Magic: The Gathering.” He began playing “Magic” during Revised, and quit for about 6 years. He then picked things right back up at Mirrodin block. For real work, Ken is an IT Consultant. He is also a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan. He attended Syracuse University and Bridgewater State. but not at the same time. His latest accomplishments include beating Paul Calder last week in fantasy baseball.
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Tags: guest author, ken briscoe, Magic the Gathering, modern format, MTG, Wizards of the Coast
Posted in Blog, Card Games, Featured Author, Featured Post, Magic: The Gathering, Popular Posts | 3 Comments »
This week in gaming: An open casting call, GPTs, Weiss, and M15
Thursday, June 19th, 2014
Calling all writers
If you’ve been reading my blog posts, articles, whatever you want to call them for a while now, then you may have noticed that they are centered around “Magic: The Gathering.” Now there is a perfectly good explanation for this. The main reason being is that is my area of gaming expertise.
I don’t think there is anything wrong with this, but it makes things a little boring if you’re not into “Magic.” That’s where you come in. Consider this an open casting call for writers of all backgrounds. One of the goals I am trying to accomplish is to help get different content on the site. That’s where you come in.
Is there something related to gaming that your very passionate about?Is there an awesome Dungeons and Dragons sessions you want to tell people about? Do you have experience in table top wargaming like Warmachine or Warhammer 40K? Are you really good at painting miniatures or scenery? Something that would be great is content with tips and tricks for beginner miniature players.
Don’t worry, I’m always open to others writing about “Magic.” Having multiple perspectives is a great thing to have. It really helps to diversify the writing on the website. So, if you’re interested in giving writing a shot, then let me know. Pitch me your ideas at Simeon.Cortezano@hotmail.com. Please include your name and keep your pitch to around 200 words.
If you’re idea sounds good, we’ll contact you and move from there. These writing opportunities are strictly voluntary. That should be the last thing on your mind, though. The idea is to have fun and help spread your knowledge.
Modern at this Friday’s FNM
This Friday will be the third Friday of the month. You know what that means. Modern will be offered at this Friday’s FNM in addition to Standard and Draft.
This would be a great time to try out any ideas you may have for the Modern season that’s now in session. In case you missed it, Battleground Games & Hobbies hosted a Grand Prix Trial on June 14. Several of the Top 8 competetors included some of the usual players from the Abington store: Ken Briscoe, James Costello, and Chris Alexander. Also in the Top 8 was Devin Malko who plays at the Plainville store. The eventual winner was Nicholas Blake who also plays at the Plainville store.
The deck lists for the entire Top 8 can be found by clicking on this link.
If you missed out on the GPT on June 14, then don’t worry. There will be another GPT hosted at the Abington store. That GPT will be held on June 29. The format is Modern and the winner will also receive a box of Modern Masters in addition to the 2-round byes. This should be a big turnout. Everyone will be gunning for that box of Modern Masters. This could be your chance to open a foil Tarmogoyf!
Do you play Weiss Schwarz?
If you play Weiss Schwarz, rumor has it that the store will be getting some visitors from out of town looking for some pick-up games. So if you’re tired of the usual competition and are looking for some new action and new opponents, this is your opportunity to do so.
The usual time for Weiss Schwarz actions is 2:00 PM on Saturday. Be there or be a four-sided object.
M15 prerelease dates have been set
Can you believe it’s time for another “Magic: The Gathering” set to be released out into the wild? The Magic 2015 core set prerelease has been scheduled for both the Abington and Plainville stores.
All of the information you need to know can be read here, but if you’re too lazy to click on the link then keep reading.
The prerelease packs will once again make their presence known. It is important to know that if you’d like to be guaranteed a specific color of your choice you’ll need to preregister for the event you want to participate in.
Regarding preregistration, there were some issues with the Journey Into Nyx prerelease where some people couldn’t get the color they wanted to when they showed up to the store. Unfortunately, the colors they wanted had all been spoken for through the preregistration process. If you don’t want to be denied a color, please, I urge you to preregister ahead of time so you don’t miss out on the color you want.
Oh yeah, I was talking about the prerelease. The event will be held the weekend of July 12-13. Here is a quick rundown of what’s happening:
Format: Sealed Deck*
Date: July 12th Friday night / Saturday morning
Time: 12:00am (midnight)
Entrance Fee: $25.00 per person
This event will run 4 rounds.
Format: Sealed Deck*
Date: July 12th Saturday afternoon
Time: 12:00pm
Entrance Fee: $25.00 per person
This event will run 4 rounds.
Format: Sealed Deck*
Date: July 12th Saturday night
Time: 6:00pm
Entrance Fee: $25.00 per person
This event will run 4 rounds.
Format: Two-Headed Giant Sealed Deck**
Date: July 13th Sunday afternoon
Time: 12:00pm in PLAINVILLE, 6:00pm in ABINGTON
Entrance Fee: $20.00 per person
This event will run 4 rounds.
Format: Sealed Deck*
Date: July 13th Sunday night
Time: 6:00pm in PLAINVILLE, 12:00pm in ABINGTON
Entrance Fee: $25.00 per person
This event will run 4 rounds.
*Sealed Deck: Each player receives one Core Set 2015 Prerelease Pack corresponding to the color of their choice.
**Two-Headed Giant Sealed Deck: Each TEAM will receive 2 Core Set 2015 Prerelease Packs with which to build two 40 card decks.
Here is also a breakdown of what you’ll get when you enter the prerelease:
Each Player will receive one Core Set 2015 Prerelease Pack that contains:
5 Core Set 2015 booster packs
1 Seeded booster pack*
1 Premium promo card
1 Activity card
1 Spindown life counter
1 Welcome Letter
For this event, players may use the promo card included with the Prerelease Pack in their tournament deck.
*Contains cards from the Core Set that are or have synergy with the color you chose.
Well that’s it for now. I hope you enjoyed this week’s version of “This week in gaming.” If you liked what you read then help us out by spreading the word. Hit the social media buttons down below and tell all your friends about this article and the store!
About the author
Simeon is now the Community Manager for Battleground Games & Hobbies. He is also an avid gamer who loves to play board games and video games. He graduated college with a degree in Political Science, and now serves the public by writing about games. You can check that out here. Don’t forget to “like” him on Facebook as well. It’ll update you on all of his newest content. Best of all, you can follow Simeon on Twitter (@SimeonCortezano) for some real time hilarity. Thanks for reading!
Donate to the Extra-Life fundraiser!
Join the Battleground Games & Hobbies community forums!
Please don’t forget to check us out on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @battleground_gh!
Tags: Dungeons and Dragons, magic thew gathering, MTG, Simeon Cortezano, Warhammer 40K, Weiss Schwarz
Posted in Blog, Card Games, Dungeons & Dragons, Events, Featured Post, Games Workshop, Magic: The Gathering, Miniature Games, Pathfinder, Popular Posts, Role-Playing Games, Warhammer 40K, Weis Schwartz | 2 Comments »
This week in Magic: Pick a deck, and stick with it
Thursday, June 12th, 2014
This past weekend, I tried my luck at the SCG Open Series in Providence. The format: Standard. How did I do? I did terrible. However, like all my failures, I learned a lot, and maybe you can learn from them as well.
Lesson one: Pick a deck
Pick a deck and learn it. Days leading up to the event, I had decided to play Mono-Black with a splash of Green for SCG Providence. However, also, leading up to the day of the tournament, I couldn’t make up my mind and stick with a deck. I was able to play test a few decks to “run the gauntlet.” While playing those decks, they seemed more and more appealing to play. Sadly, I didn’t realize I was headed for a rabbit hole I would never find myself climbing out of in time.
Some of the other decks I played around with included RW Burn, and a form of GB Constellation. I would eventually end up on Esper Control. It’s a deck I, technically, have been playing since the beginning of the Theros block. The early incarnations of the deck even helped me get second place at the Massachusetts TCG States tournament last fall. So, by default it was a deck I had the most experience with.
Unfortunately this decision had come a little too late, as it was made the night before the event. This was the one thing that I wanted to avoid the most, and it still happened. I guess I was doomed all the way through.
Lesson two: Play something you’re most comfortable with
I’ve had equal success with all the decks I previously mentioned. I’ve also had equal amounts of failure with them as well. However, I don’t think playing Esper Control was a terrible decision. Out of all the decks, it may have been the one I was most comfortable with. Well, it was probably a toss-up between that deck and RW Burn.
I’m not a very strong Pack Rat player, and thus why Mono-Black would have been a bad choice for me. I know I put on the early work, but I’m sure I would have been worse off with that deck. In retrospect, I think I should have gone with RW Burn. I know I talked about having the most experience with Esper, though. So, which is more important? Comfort level or experience level. I think they go hand-in-hand. Given the situation though, Esper is a much more complicated deck. At least, it’s more complicated than RW Burn.
Final verdict: it should have been RW Burn from the very beginning. I’ve always had a knack for that deck ever since I started playing it. However, I got discouraged after one poor FNM performance. I gave up too easily, and that’s my fault. I can’t remember if I’ve mentioned it in the blogs, but I know I’ve probably said it to other people. I wanted to play it at the Boxborough 5K a couple of months ago, and I joked about making an audible to it the night before SCG Providence. Next time I have a gut feeling, maybe I should go with it, especially if it comes to playing RW Burn.
I’ve been having the same inclination in modern as well. I’ve been wanting to play Mono Red Burn. However, I’m worried about how it will do in the later rounds. I guess I’ll never know until I take it to a tournament and run with it.
Looking back at SCG Providence
If the results of last week could speak, they would say that the state of the Standard format is very alive and healthy. Remember the days of Caw Blade? Out of the Top 8 decks, only two were the same. In the end, Ross Merriam and his Mono-Blue Devotion deck took the top prize.
Some people say that Mono-Blue was well positioned to win, but who even remembered that this was a deck? I didn’t. In fact, it wasn’t even part of the “gauntlet” I had put together in my failed play testing sessions.
For those of you who are interested, Ross has written a wonderful primer on the deck based on his run at this past SCG Open. In the article he wonderfully states, “Sometimes, you just have to accept your limitations and play to your strengths.” Here he’s referring to the fact that a lot of his success has come from only playing “cheap blue creatures and mana elves.”
I remember looking at the results and thinking to myself how great of an example Ross is to the lessons I wrote about above. Now, I don’t know what his play testing was like or his preparations were heading in the SCG Open in Providence. Just from the first two paragraphs he wrote in his article, it’s obvious he went with a deck he knows best and not a deck he thought would be the best out there. “I tried playing Sphinx’s Revelation once in Theros Standard and turned a 4-0 performance in Legacy into a 4-4 day 1 at the Indianapolis Invitational and a pile of frustration.”
A small announcement
If you know me personally, you’d know that I’m pretty much glued to Twitter and Facebook, and all other sorts of social media. Well, since I’m always online, I figured I’d do Battleground Games a solid and offer some of my social media services. For whatever reason, they were crazy enough to accept my offer. So, I guess this is my little formal announcement letting you all know that I’ll be taking on the role of “Community Manager.”
What does this mean? Aside from “word-of-mouth,” social media is a huge means of communication. So, if you’re not on Facebook or Twitter, or anything else, you may want to consider getting on board. One of the things I’m hoping to improve upon is getting the word out about in-store events. For example, did you know that this Saturday, June 14th, there is a Grand Prix Trial for GP Worcester/Boston? It’ll be held at the Plainville location. It’ll be a Modern format event, and the top prize will be a two-round bye at GP Worcester/Boston in July. Other prizes will include store credit based on attendance. For more information make sure to click here.
See? That wasn’t too bad right? I’m going to try my best to make sure that people know what’s going on at both stores. I’m not talking just about “Magic: The Gathering” either (although, forgive me if you see a focus there). I’m going to do my best to get the word out about Warhammer 40K, Warmachine, DnD, Weiss Schwarz, Board Game Night, etc.
Hopefully I’ll eventually become a centralized point where you can ask me something and I can get you an answer. That way you’re not chasing numerous people down to get a single question answered. So, if you haven’t already, make sure you follow Battleground Games & Hobbies on Twitter (@Battleground_GH) and on Facebook (click here for a link to their page).
That’s it for now. Let me know what you think of this post, of my new role, or what’s on your mind. If you want, you can also follow me on Twitter @SimeonCortezano. Make sure you say hello!
About the author
Simeon is now the Community Manager for Battleground Games & Hobbies. He is also an avid gamer who loves to play board games and video games. He graduated college with a degree in Political Science, and now serves the public by writing about games. You can check that out here. Don’t forget to “like” him on Facebook as well. It’ll update you on all of his newest content. Best of all, you can follow Simeon on Twitter (@SimeonCortezano) for some real time hilarity. Thanks for reading!
Donate to the Extra-Life fundraiser!
Join the Battleground Games & Hobbies community forums!
Please don’t forget to check us out on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @battleground_gh!
Tags: Magic the Gathering, MTG, Simeon Cortezano, Wizards of the Coast
Posted in Blog, Card Games, Dungeons & Dragons, Events, Featured Author, Featured Post, Magic: The Gathering, Miniature Games, Popular Posts, Role-Playing Games, Warhammer 40K, Weis Schwartz | 1 Comment »
This week in magic: Brace Yourself, Modern is coming!
Thursday, June 5th, 2014
Welcome to another “This Week in Magic.” What do you folks think of that title? I have to admit, I borrowed it from one of my favorite shows growing up, “This Week in Baseball” or “TWIB” as some people know it. Not a baseball fan? Okay, moving on.
This week I present a fun little deck you and your buddies can try out at this Friday’s FNM. Now, those of you at Battleground Games & Hobbies may have seen it played already, but in case you weren’t there, here’s the decklist:
Main board:
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Sylvan Caryatid
4 Courser of Kruphix
4 Jace, Architect of Thought
4 Peregrination
4 Riddle of Lightning
4 Blast of Genius
4 Worldspine Wurm
4 Enter the Infinite
4 Temple of Epiphany
2 Temple of Abandon
4 Temple of Mystery
4 Breeding Pool
2 Stomping Sround
4 Forest
2 Mountain
2 Island
Side board:
4 Mizzium Mortars
2 Prognostic Sphinx
1 Opportunity
2 Negate
2 Gainsay
2 Unravel the Aether
2 Agoraphobia
This is a list that Tomoharu Saito posted on his Twitter page when Journey Into Nyx came out. This is a really fun deck to play and the look on your opponent will not disappoint you. The trick is knowing when to pull the trigger for Riddle of Lightning. There are definitely going to be a few occasions when you swing and miss with that card. However, when you hit, you hit hard. The best card in the deck is Blast of Genius. What you really want to do is draw into another Blast of Genius. There is going to be a great chance that you’ll already have one of your big spells in your hand to discard. So drawing into multiple Blasts is the best thing that could happen to you.
One suggestion I have for this list is to try Dictate of Karametra in place of Peregrination. Dictate costs one extra, but you should be okay considering you’re running a little bit of ramp in the Caryatids. Speaking of which, the Caryatids and Course will be your best friends because they’ll be your only line of defense from the onslaught of early and aggressive decks. Luckily they have big butts and this should carry you until you can go off.
It should be important to note that this deck plays more like a combo deck than anything. Try to hold out as long as you can in casting your burn spells until you know you can kill your opponent in one swing. The side board is just a suggestion. So change it up however you feel. Otherwise, good luck and have fun!
Modern is coming!
Actually, it’s been here for a while already. However, now that June is here we can really talk about Modern. Speaking of which, did you know that Battleground Games & Hobbies in Abington and Plainville are hosting GPTs for GP Worcester? The first one will be held on Saturday, June 14, in Plainville. The second one will be held Sunday, June 29, in Abington. Of course the format for both events will be Modern, and entrance into both will be $25 for each event.
The trial in Abington will also feature a box of Modern Masters to first place in addition to the byes for GP Worcester. The times of the event are different though. For more information click here.
Are you still wondering what to play for Modern? It can be a little expensive to get into Modern. Currently you can try your hands on the new Event Deck that was recently released. Battleground Games does have them in stock. The new event deck features a decent introduction to B/W Tokens. The thing to remember about this deck is that it’s a stepping stone into Modern. So, please, don’t expect to win a major tournament with it. However, with the right tweaks and tools, you could be well on your way.
If that’s not your cup of tea, though, you can always try your hand at a more “budget” oriented deck. Something you could try is good ol’ mono red burn. Here’s the list:
Main board:
20 Mountain
4 Goblin Guide
4 Hellspark Elemental
4 Spark Elemental
4 Flames of the Blood Hand
4 Lava Spike
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Rift Bolt
4 Searing Blaze
4 Shard Volley
4 Skullcrack
Side board:
3 Combust
2 Molten Rain
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Satyr Firedancer
3 Searing Blood
3 Smash to Smithereens
It’s simple and straight to the point. In Modern, thanks to fetch lands and shock lands, sometimes you’ll find your opponent starting at 17 or even 14 life. That means with a few well placed burn spells, you could be on your way winning game after game, and so on.
Modern can be a very skill intensive format, so don’t go in thinking all you have to do is tap your lands and play stuff to win. Look both ways before you cross the street. Practice and get to know your deck. Those are the keys to success.
Besides the Goblin Guides, this is a very affordable deck. The Guides can go anywhere between $10-$12. You just have to keep your eye out for the right deal. I know for a fact the online store (at the time of this writing) has some in stock. However, don’t wait too long to pull the trigger, because they’ll go fast now that the season is underway.
If you really want to try your luck, you can always play the Standard R/W Boros Burn deck and play that in Modern. It might be a little bit slower, but it could be just as effective. Give it a shot!
For more information on GP Worcester, then click here. GP Worcester will be held from July 25-27 at the DCU Convention Center in Worcester, Mass.
Extra Life
Hey everyone! Just letting you know that May was a pretty successful month in getting closer to my goal of $1000 for Extra Life. June is here and it’s time to step up even more. I fell a little short of my month goal, but no worries. It’s time to hit it out of the ballpark for this month. For June, I’ve set a target of $400! That means I’m looking to raise just $200. You can donate anywhere from $5 to $500. If I hit that goal of $400, I’m going to pick two random people who donated. One lucky winner will get a copy of “Takenoko” and the other will get a copy of “Rampage!” How cool is that? And all this goes towards a great charity and cause, the Children’s Miracle Network and, in particular, the Boston Children’s Hospital.
So what are you waiting for? Click on the Extra Life banner below and donate today, please. Thanks! (Oh, and tell all your friends and family members about it)
About the author
Simeon is an avid gamer who loves to play board games and video games. He graduated college with a degree in Political Science, and now serves the public by writing about games. You can check that out here. Don’t forget to “like” him on Facebook as well. It’ll update you on all of his newest content. Best of all, you can follow Simeon on Twitter (@SimeonCortezano) for some real time hilarity. Thanks for reading!
Donate to the Extra-Life fundraiser!
Join the Battleground Games & Hobbies community forums!
Please don’t forget to check us out on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @battleground_gh!
Tags: FNM, Magic the Gathering, Modern, MTG, Simeon Cortezano, Standard, Wizards of the Coast
Posted in Blog, Card Games, Events, Featured Author, Featured Post, Magic: The Gathering, Popular Posts | 4 Comments »
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