Deckstats Forum
English-language Forums => General Magic => Topic started by: falconblade123 on April 01, 2016, 12:04:55 am
-
I fell out of the SOI spoiler loop for a while and just hopped back in, and there's a lot that I missed. Now, with the prerelease happening tomorrow at midnight, I've started thinking of a few deck possibilities. The only problem is I just got caught up with the spoilers today, and I'm still out of the loop a bit.
Could any experienced prerealesers or drafters help me out? I'm not the best with limited formats, so I'd like someone who's been following the spoilers and knows how to wreck the limited format to help me come up with an easy to pilot, yet powerful prerelease deck archetype for SOI.
Thanks guys! Peace out...
-
So you're asking for someone's cliff notes? To varied to be practically delivered.
Tribes will be a thing. Most decks will play at least two colors, though monoblack may be a thing. Expect at least one opponent to play a dramatically different deck sometime in the round.
-
If you're going to a prerelease, you'll just need to make the most coherent deck you can out of the packs you get so the best advice is to do your homework on the cards and the different themes and NOT go into it with any completely prebuilt decks in your head because there's a 99.99999999999999999999999% chance you're not going to get all the cards for a certain deck.
Tribes will be a thing, so will madness. Past that just try to recognize the cards that have synergy and go from there.
-
Everything is going to depend on what you get for cards. Just an example, you wouldn't be able
to run a warewolf theme including arlinn whilst only getting 2 other werewolf cards. Or run 10 madness cards whilst only getting 2 other cards that help you discard. That's why there is about an hour for you to analyize what you have and getting the best potential out of the cards you opened. Only tip I know is to not over think it.
-
One other thing I thought of...
Removal is always worth including even if it means splashing a second (or sometimes even third) color. Once you're done building you should have time to goldfish a game or two to see how your deck plays.
-
Removal and evasion (flying unblockable...) are key.
-
Thanks for the help. So it sounds like Tribal and Madness will be the most widely used. I've been studying spoilers and it seems that both of those archetypes are going to be pretty strong, and the cards that enable them should plentiful. If I get the right pool I'm hoping to run a RB Madness deck, possibly using Vampires.
You guys are right though, it all comes down to the card pool. I just wanted some suggestions as to what might be strongest in SOI limited.
Thanks!
-
The thing about tribal strength is that every group has its own strengths and weak spots. Question is what are you looking for as far as "Strength" goes? The tribes you'll want to look out for are most likely going to be: Demons/Devils, Vampires, Zombies, Werewolves, Humans, Spirits and Angels. If you come across any of those card groups in mass then you may want to go with that kind of deck build. Run 2-3 colors just to be safe and even if the tribes do not splash well add cards who's effects have a positive effect on how you use the deck.
-
Try to practice before you get there.
A key point in limited formats it's to know what the other play as soon as possible
and adapt your plays accordingly. For example if you know your opponents will Investigate in order not to play spells
and transform his creature, keep some mana open for an instant during his turn.
Also don't forget (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Forget) to modify your deck between the games.
For example, if your opponent plays a lot of flyers, you can include cards like Gloomwidow (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Gloomwidow) which is bad in the other case...
Watch your curve, don't forget (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Forget) to add some bigger dudes even if they seem bad. Build your deck with a plan: control? aggro?
Sometimes you get a spoiler, but it doesn't determine your colours, you can splash for it!
Your deck must be coherent!
-
Removal and evasion (flying unblockable...) are key.
This. And remember that stuff that you'd never play in one of your other tourney decks can be huge in limited formats. Everyone only has six rares/mythics to work with (although there is something about double-faced cards showing up in common slots no matter their rarity.)
See: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/shadows-over-innistrad-prerelease-primer
for some helpful hints and there are some other worthwhile links at the bottom. One of the other MTG sites has a set of review articles about the cards for each color in the context of limited. MTGGOldfish I think.
-
I would have to agree with G. Moto. I have noticed in the past and especially here recently, how important the theme of your card effects are. I thought I had some good, solid decks but the Synergy was way off. Definitely want to make sure your abilities compliment each other because if they don't you may be caught dead (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Dead) in the water when it comes match time.
-
Indeed, U/R prowess means nothing if all the cards you have are high drops and force you to discard. Or if you WANT to play a bolster deck and all you get is zombies and life drain. Look at what you get, make your mana curve among all of your cards, see what effects are going to help your creatures and how the spells you have can counter or hinder (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Hinder) your opponent. There are a lot of graveyard shenanigans and exile (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Exile) going on due to madness so it may be in your best interest to plan accordingly.
-
I have found success of building a basic deck core, and then sorting out several variants. Your available card pool is every card that came in the prerelease pack.
-
Also, your sideboard is every other card you get at the prerelease that isn't in your main deck.
-
Also make sure you pack snacks, my pre-release event doesn't end till like 6am so I'm in it for the long haul :)
-
The last pre-release I went to lasted until 6 as well. Hopefully it will be over around 4 this time. I have to work tomorrow @ 9 am. lol
-
I hope it lasts long, I don't get to go to fnm tournaments like i want to so this will be my chance to up my national rank with the planeswalker points i get. Also i work 2pm so it won't be too bad.
-
I'm skipping midnight and doing the nooner and 5pm tommorow. Last midnight release (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Release) I was dead (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Dead) tired and unfocused by 5 am
-
IT's all a test of your mental will. Also bring snacks, it helps.
-
Pre-release went pretty well for me last night. I finished Top 5 (out of 40) which I have never done before. I also managed to pull a Jace, Unraveler of Secrets (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Jace%2C+Unraveler+of+Secrets) from one of my packs I got for wins. That was great but I really wanted to get Sorin, Grim Nemesis (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Sorin%2C+Grim+Nemesis). Luckily a buddy of mine did pull it and was willing to trade. So it was my first top 5 finish and my first Planeswalker pull. I am fixing to work and I am dead (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Dead) tired but it was totally worth it! lol
-
Sweet pull. I want a Jace, Unraveler of Secrets (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Jace%2C+Unraveler+of+Secrets) so badly.
-
I didn't get any money cards per se, but I did pull a few cards I wanted to plug into my EDH decks.
-
My pull was sad. Only Red and Green were playable, with Arlinn Kord (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Arlinn+Kord) for the bomb.
-
At least you GOT a planeswalker man. I pulled probably 10 of each tribal themed cards (vampire, werewolf, spirit, etc.). I had to make a 5-color Human/Spirit deck since I couldn't build any "cohesive deck". it did however get me a win though. I may have lost two out of the three rounds but the 1st round I played I won 2-0. I felt pretty good about that win.
-
I like the tip packlet they give you, definately a good starting point. In It was
Include some creatures at every cost from 2 to 6. This will make it more likely that you have a creature to cast every turn.
Try not to play 3 or 4 creatures of a given cost.
Don't play play more than 1 or 2 creatures that cost 1 mana.
Try to include as many creatures as possible with evasion abilities like flying, trample, and menace.
Look for noncreature spells that destroy your opponent's creatures, make your own creature larger, deal damage (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Deal+Damage) to
creatures or player, or some combination of these.
-
At least you GOT a planeswalker man. I pulled probably 10 of each tribal themed cards (vampire, werewolf, spirit, etc.). I had to make a 5-color Human/Spirit deck since I couldn't build any "cohesive deck". it did however get me a win though. I may have lost two out of the three rounds but the 1st round I played I won 2-0. I felt pretty good about that win.
Don't get me wrong mate; I'm happy about Arlin. I just take some joy in fielding multiple decks in the same match; really messes with the opponents head.
-
The joy of sideboarding ;).
-
At least you GOT a planeswalker man. I pulled probably 10 of each tribal themed cards (vampire, werewolf, spirit, etc.). I had to make a 5-color Human/Spirit deck since I couldn't build any "cohesive deck". it did however get me a win though. I may have lost two out of the three rounds but the 1st round I played I won 2-0. I felt pretty good about that win.
Don't get me wrong mate; I'm happy about Arlin. I just take some joy in fielding multiple decks in the same match; really messes with the opponents head.
I've done this before, in fact more times than not at pre-releases. This time though I really only had the one deck I could make.
-
I gotcha guys. Also with all the trading that I did I can now build;
1) U/B Zombies,
2) B/R Vampires,
3) B/G Woodland horrors,
4) R/G Werewolves,
5) Bant Humans
6) Esper Spirits,
7) Grixis Ashmouth
The only ones that I have fully constructed right now are the Esper, Grixis and the B/G decks that I just put together. When I get a chance I'll upload them for public viewing.
-
Played a guy on Sunday and every rare/mythic he pulled was red or white. He had two Nahirhi, two Avacyn, that 2/2 first strike with some delirium (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Delirium) thing for 2 Red the usual raft of weenie white flyers, got the white removal spell, some other nasty 2/1 with a ping ability red critter that pinged you every turn when Delirium (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Delirium) kicked in, Fiery Temper (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Fiery+Temper).
It felt like taking pauper standard to a legacy tourney.
-
@Frimmel, That creature you're talking about is called gibbering fiend (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Gibbering+Fiend), I just put that in my Grixis deck.
-
1st deck I had was blue/black, midrange with 2 sleep paralysis (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Sleep+Paralysis) and 2 throttles. Along with Jace, just the wind (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Just+the+Wind), compelling deterrance, my 2 beasts of morkrut necropod (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Morkrut+Necropod), 2 crow of dark tidings (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Crow+of+Dark+Tidings) and the delirium (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Delirium) buddy of kindly stranger (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Kindly+Stranger). Then the wonderful witch that flips.
-
It's funny but most of the cards I was initially looking for I didn't get a hold of until after I left the tournament. Guess I had to try new things before getting what I wanted.
-
I went to the event again a second time the next day. It started at 6:30 though. This time my pull was rough (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Rough). I managed to get some decent control type casrds so I figured I would try and run a white/blue control deck. It didn't work to well for me. The deck build was solid, but the control decks just don't seem to work for me. After losing my first 2 rounds. (there were much fewer people this time) before my final match, I sideboarded an entirely new deck. I went Gruul aggro this time and I went 2-0 that round. It seems like the aggro style seems to fit me well. I have managed to put a pretty solid deck together both times I used this theme. I am going to explore (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Explore) and see if Aggro fits me the best.
-
That is what my friend told me when I first started playing. Is pick a color then find a style that fits how you play. I love combat tricks, and mainly like midrange aggro creatures. So if you are noticing that aggro fits your playstyle, then use it as your strength while you work on your weaknesses.
Now my 2nd tourney I had and didn't use thing in ice (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Ice) or relentless dead (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Relentless+Dead). I went red/green, 4 flip cards, delirium (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Delirium), and equipment. LOL and 1 removal card, clip wings (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Clip+Wings). I went 3-1 with it though. 2nd match was my favorite and goes into the favorite moment. I get matched against mr shady character who normally beats me in draft. Got my A game going for him this time, I win 1st game mainly with the use of Inexorable Blob (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Inexorable+Blob), having delirium (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Delirium) and had the enchantment on it Equestrian Skill (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Equestrian+Skill). Swinging every turn.
He blamed his lose cause he had to mulligan to 5. Not that there was a possibility of being out played.
Game 2 was a grind, I know it's getting close to time and I'm not going for a draw. He has 13 life and I am at 3 life and my play.
Knowing I can I only block 1 of his 3 creatures with sulk I will be dead (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Dead) after my turn. So I swing with everything. He has 3 creatures to block with and one is a 7/7 and can make it an 8/8 by pumping it. I swing with the 4 creatures I have which was Ember-Eye Wolf (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Ember-Eye+Wolf),
that's equipped with Shard of Broken Glass (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Shard+of+Broken+Glass), Haunted Cloak (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Haunted+Cloak), and True-Faith Censer (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=True-Faith+Censer). I also have a Sanguinary Mage (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Sanguinary+Mage) with a counter on him, Pack Guardian (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Pack+Guardian), and a flipped Ancient of the Equinox (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Ancient+of+the+Equinox). 11 untapped land to possibly pump up Ember-Eye Wolf (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Ember-Eye+Wolf). While in my hand
I hold a Gibbering Fiend (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Gibbering+Fiend). Now without doing any math I think "when the smoke (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Smoke) clears I want to play my Gibbering Fiend (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Gibbering+Fiend) ".
So I do pump the wolf for +8 and leave 3 mana untapped. Smoke (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Smoke) clears and bingo! He is down to 2 life and now he thinks he is safe. 2nd Main phase I play Gibbering Fiend (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Gibbering+Fiend) and say "GAME OVER!". He says " no it's only one", I say " look again I have delirium (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Delirium)" while pointing at the card. Another player watching picks up the card and confirms I am right.
He goes off on this tyrant " I lost to robert! I lost to robert!". Now if I did the math, I would have pumped and swung for the win.
But doing that the other way was definately a much better feeling. Besides it made me 2-0 after that. Lost my next match to 1 of the best players in our store.
-
This Thursday one of my local stores is having a SOI draft. Most likely the pro player frequents my store will be there. It would be an awesome feeling if I get a chance to play him.
-
It seems like every time I think I am doing good one time, I do terrible the next. There is this one guy, who is oddly enough named Robert, who is one of the guys everybody goes to to for deck structure advice. Every time I get matched up with him, he sweeps me 2-0. Good thing is he doesn't brag or say stuff like "That was a stupid move". He is like "good job. However, if you want to have a little more luck then you should try putting this in there and remove these 2 or 3. It will flow better that way." With him and G. Moto, i will be world touring in no time! Totally Just Kidding.
-
Well I appreciate the kudos but its not too far off, remember you can do whatever you set your sights on. Also I am planning on doing some tutoring services as far as TCG card games go so that might actually work out in my favor later this summer.
-
It seems like every time I think I am doing good one time, I do terrible the next. There is this one guy, who is oddly enough named Robert, who is one of the guys everybody goes to to for deck structure advice. Every time I get matched up with him, he sweeps me 2-0. Good thing is he doesn't brag or say stuff like "That was a stupid move". He is like "good job. However, if you want to have a little more luck then you should try putting this in there and remove these 2 or 3. It will flow better that way." With him and G. Moto, i will be world touring in no time! Totally Just Kidding.
Oddly enough we have a player like this named Ryan. Very good player and if you show him a deck, he will give you very good constructive criticism. He isn't cocky, cynical, shady ect.. will explain to a new player in particular he is playing some tricks that player he has in thier deck and how to utilize it.
As for me, I help when I can. I don't say alot before or after matches besides the normal good game.
Beginning I normally say " You should beat me" or " I am running junk". I want others to win, especially the younger players. It's a good feeling to win. I enjoy just playing, winning to me is just a bonus. I also love learning,
and this game I am always learning. The 16th and 23rd of this month I will go learn some more. Both dates are PTQ's and will cost me 75 dollars for those lessons. Both will be sealed draft which I realize is one of my strenghts.
I don't do well in standard so I haven't tried modern cause of it. So why not stick with what I am good at.
My other strenght is I see combos not the big game changers but the small 2 card ones. Hence those who
draft and play me know I love combat tricks. Nothing say surprise! then a simple (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Simple) combo of brute strength (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Brute+Strength) or gideon's reproach (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Gideon%27s+Reproach). Or a recent simple (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Simple) one, they flipped their creature and gave it flying. I just played clip wings (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Clip+Wings), bonus because I don't have a flyer and easily chumped blocked his ground creature.
-
I know one thing for sure. Since I have joined this site and thanks LARGELY in part to my boy G. Moto, lol. I have learned alot and in the short amount of time I have been a part of this site, My playing and building ability has increased IMMENSELY.
-
Sounds like this website should be getting a lot more publicity. It's a good tool to teach new players how to construct decks and interact with various players around the world. Anyone can research (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Research) but you learn so much when other people offer their experiences and wisdom. Makes playing the game that much more satisfying.
-
I have told all of my buddies at work that I play Magic with about this site. Whether or not they choose to come and sign up is a different animal altogether lol
-
Very true. Actually, that just gave me an idea. I'm going to create a new thread in a little bit....
-
Glad I was able to aid in this brainchild lol
-
@Frimmel, That creature you're talking about is called gibbering fiend (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Gibbering+Fiend), I just put that in my Grixis deck.
That's him.
Someone mentioned the Accursed Witch (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Accursed+Witch) who was a bright spot amongst my pulls.
-
I pulled two of her. I'm putting her in my Grixis deck, it makes the control and burn aspect of the deck that much more powerful when you add life gain/loss to the mix.
-
I have a friend that is working very hard on a werewolf deck. He just gave me 10$ for a promo foil of altered ego (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Altered+Ego), a regular Howlpack Resurgence (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Howlpack+Resurgence) and a regular Breakneck Rider (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Breakneck+Rider)/ Neck Breaker (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Neck+Breaker). Good deal for me or bad?
-
Pretty good deal atm. It's about $8 worth of cards based on MTGStocks right now.
-
Very good. An enchantment that can be creature buffs AND at instant speed is great. The extra bodies would serve (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Serve) the deck well and are also able to buff creatures going into combat so you'll have a pretty aggro Werewolf deck. I recommend getting ulrich's kindred (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Ulrich%27s+Kindred) so your werewolf of choice will have some better protection going into combat.
-
Wolves and Werewolves got a couple of okay removal cards didn't they? Midnight Hunt or Moonlight Hunt (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Moonlight+Hunt) I think and there is a sorcery one isn't there?
-
Also rabid bite (http://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?lng=en&card=Rabid+Bite) would be good depending on how you play it. Also if you play the werewolves without focusing on flipping them then your deck will be stronger because you won't feel like you're stalling as much (since most people do not want to play spells on their turns to make them flip).