As many of you know, we had an SCG IQ yesterday. We had a pretty average attendance with 44 people playing. After 6 rounds though we had our top-8. Our Top-8 Consisted of five mono-black variants, a RUG Monsters build, a 4-color walkers list and a mono-red Boss Sligh homebrew variant.
Our top-8 lists were as follows.
1st: Mono-red agro : Adam Johnson
2nd: B/W Midrange : Will Nabors
3rd: Mono-Black Devotion : Michael Bailey
4th: B/G Devotion :Bernie Wen
5th: Mono-Black Devotion : Lauren Nolan
6th: Mono-Black Devotion :Erik Rose
7th: 4-color Walkers : Michael Belfatto
8th: RUG Monsters : Nate Peters
Adam took his homebrew to victory with a 4-1-1 swiss record and had a nice showing in the top-8 as well working his way into the finals and piloting the deck to victory. Congrats Adam.
Don't forget we have another SCG IQ on Saturday August 30th as well as M15 Game Day August 9th and 10th.
-Logan M.
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Thursday, July 10, 2014
M15 Planeswalker Review
Hello everyone, as I am currently writing this I am actually on my summer vacation in Texas. I know some vacation spot right? Oh well, I'm not complaining. Now for what you guys really want to read, today I am going to spend some time dissecting each Planeswalker being released next weekend and the playability of each in the 4 major formats, Standard, Modern, Legacy, and EDH but focusing more on Standard. I will organize these Planeswalkers from least powerful to most powerful in my opinion. Beginning with Jace, the Living Guildpact.
Jace, the Living Guildpact
I am not sold on this card at all. I think anybody who says this card is playable is plain wrong. His +1 lets you look at the top 2 cards in your library. Okay starts off cool, right? WRONG! I have to put one in the graveyard after I'm done looking at them? That's just straight horrible. His -3 removes another nonland permanent to owner's hand. This ability is actually relevant in most situations and I actually think this is the only saving grace to this card especially in an extremely greedy metta that is Standard today. Now for his ultimate. The fact that it's a -8 makes it kinda tough to reach and I believe it'll be difficult to protect him to be able to use this ability. But the fact that the ability is a better Time Reversal causing only you to draw the seven new cards makes the ultimate his only saving grace. As far as playability in formats, I don't believe he will see much play in any Constructed Tournaments but I believe he might be playable in EDH because of how generally slow the format is and his 2UU mana cost.
Liliana Vess
I have Lili Vess being the next card because I think it will only truly see Standard play in a Mono-Black Waste Not list. Her +1 makes target player discard a card. Not a terrible ability with certain cards but certainly not a great +1 ability like others in the set. I think Mono-Black discard will be a fairly relevant decklist as long as M14 remains in Standard and maybe even after Khans of Tarkir releases based on the cards we might see this fall. But back to Lili, her -2 ability lets you search your library for a card and put it on top of your library. So it allow you to manipulate your draw to either draw into a threat or an answer depending on the current situation. The -8 ability is great, I'm going to steal all of your creatures from your graveyard and play them myself. The biggest draw back I see when it comes to playability of Lili is her 3BB Mana cost. Black doesn't have any way to ramp into her as early as they'd like but being a late to mid-game threat makes Liliana Vess a fairly decent Standard threat. With her being a reprint that doesn't currently see play in other constructed formats I don't think that will change.
Chandra, Pyromaster
Our favorite red Planeswalker is next on my list. Not simply because she is another reprint, but because this version of Chandra is actually relevant in many formats right now. Her +1 pings a creature, deals 1 damage to it's controller and that creature can't block. In my current Naya Monsters deck, that's pretty relevant to prevent somebody from blocking a Stormbreath Dragon or Polukranos, World Eater. This also gives you the ability to shoot your opponents mana-dorks when necessary. Her 0 ability is probably the most relevant in most decks that she sees play in. I've started seeing her pop up as a 1 or 2 of in many burn lists simply because of the power this ability has in the deck. It allows you to not only thin out your deck for more threats but also allows you to possibly hit land drops you may have missed or find that 1 answer you needed. Now to discuss her rarely used ultimate. At a -7 that makes the ability in a reasonable reach. But exiling the top 10 cards of your library and choosing an instant or sorcery and casting 3 copies of the card without paying it's mana cost is extremely relevant in a burn deck. You can deal maximum damage this way very easily. Say you exile a Warleader's Helix you can then deal 12 damage and gain 12 life at the same time. That's a 24 life swing that will more than likely win you the game. Plus the fact that she's only a 4 drop makes her very powerful.
Nissa, Worldwaker
This one was actually a tough decision between putting Nissa in this slot or Ajani Steadfast. I'll explain my choice in a second. First, let's analyze the card. First the obvious, she has two +1 abilities which makes people assume that she's going to be extremely powerful. I disagree as I'll explain. Her first +1 ability turns a land into a 4/4 Elemental with trample, but note, the wording on the card doesn't say "Until end of turn" anywhere in the text for that ability. The down side to this ability is that you have to play it very carefully because turning it into a creature makes your lands vulnerable to any removal spell. So pick your lands very carefully. Her second +1 ability isn't as powerful as everyone believes it to be. Untapping 4 Forests although can be relevant at times, green doesn't have much removal or instants even to cast on your opponents turn. Yes you can untap your shock lands but that usually isn't what you want. Her ultimate is powerful don't get me wrong. -7 search for basic lands and put them into play as 4/4 lands with trample, hope your opponent doesn't have a board wipe. That's all I need to ruin your plan. The biggest reason I put her third on my list and not second from the top is because of her casting cost and starting loyalty counters. She costs 3GG which although you can easily ramp into Nissa on turn 3, she only starts with 3 loyalty. Meaning you have to keep her alive for 4 turns before hoping to ultimate her. I see her being more of a stall tactic with her first two abilities with an ultimate being a nice thing that will happen every once in a while. Don't get me wrong though, she will be a singleton in the sideboard of my current Naya Monsters build.
Ajani Steadfast
I love this card. I really do. I will be the first to admit, I like anything that has to do with a large cat kicking butt with an axe. But that's just me. Anyways, Ajani's +1 ability giving target creature +1/+1, first strike, vigilance, and lifelink is almost over powered in my opinion. Okay it can't target my Stormbreath Dragon but I think I can manage. But the -2 ability will affect my Stormbreath Dragon because it doesn't target so, HAH! The -2 ability puts a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control without targeting and also puts an additional loyalty counter on each other Planeswalker you control. This is the ability most people are extremely excited about. This will give you the ability to ultimate a Kiora, the Crashing Wave the turn after you play it if you use the abilities correctly. The ultimate of this new Ajani is very powerful but has a drawback as well. It prevents ALL BUT 1 damage from EACH source. So if I'm swinging in with an 12 3/3's you will still take 12 damage as opposed to the 36 damage I swung with. Very strong ultimate for a very strong card but also a rather significant drawback by still letting some damage go through. Also Ajani costing only 3W makes the card not very color intensive and it also starts off with 4 loyalty so it has a very reachable ultimate and has ways of protecting itself.
Garruk, Apex Predator
Now for the card that everyone has fallen in love with instantly. Garruk, Apex Predator makes the top of my list with little to no surprise, it very easily protects itself, and is castable on turn 4. He is only the second Planeswalker with 4 loyalty abilities with Jace, the Mind Sculptor being the other. His first +1 ability destroying another Planeswalker is more powerful that people give it credit for. I personally would use this ability to protect me from a Planeswalker nearing it's ultimate or a Planeswalker that's just giving me a headache. His second +1 ability puts a 3/3 beast with deathtouch into play giving him all the protection he needs to survive and sustain his battlefield presence. -3 destroy target creature and gain life equal to it's toughness allows you to protect yourself from a big fatty that is threatening you and creates just an extra way to keep yourself in the game although with the presence of Skullcrack being in standard for the next 3 months makes me wonder just how relevant this ability will be in some matchups. Now I suggest you read and then re-read Garruk's ultimate. "Target opponent gains an emblem: 'Whenever a creature attacks you, it gets +5/+5 and gains trample until end of turn.'" You are giving your opponent the emblem so whenever your creature attacks them it then gets the +5/+5 bonus and gains trample. So the 3/3 beast you made earlier is now an 8/8 beast with trample and deathtouch. Has your opponent proceeded to the scoop phase yet?
This is my opinion and power rankings of the Planeswalkers coming out next Friday. Don't forget about pre-release this weekend and our release party next Friday as well. Good luck to everybody participating and please don't let Jake Valentine pull Garruk, foil Garruk out of the same pack.
Thanks for reading -Logan Mitchell (Twiggy)
Jace, the Living Guildpact
I am not sold on this card at all. I think anybody who says this card is playable is plain wrong. His +1 lets you look at the top 2 cards in your library. Okay starts off cool, right? WRONG! I have to put one in the graveyard after I'm done looking at them? That's just straight horrible. His -3 removes another nonland permanent to owner's hand. This ability is actually relevant in most situations and I actually think this is the only saving grace to this card especially in an extremely greedy metta that is Standard today. Now for his ultimate. The fact that it's a -8 makes it kinda tough to reach and I believe it'll be difficult to protect him to be able to use this ability. But the fact that the ability is a better Time Reversal causing only you to draw the seven new cards makes the ultimate his only saving grace. As far as playability in formats, I don't believe he will see much play in any Constructed Tournaments but I believe he might be playable in EDH because of how generally slow the format is and his 2UU mana cost.
Liliana Vess
I have Lili Vess being the next card because I think it will only truly see Standard play in a Mono-Black Waste Not list. Her +1 makes target player discard a card. Not a terrible ability with certain cards but certainly not a great +1 ability like others in the set. I think Mono-Black discard will be a fairly relevant decklist as long as M14 remains in Standard and maybe even after Khans of Tarkir releases based on the cards we might see this fall. But back to Lili, her -2 ability lets you search your library for a card and put it on top of your library. So it allow you to manipulate your draw to either draw into a threat or an answer depending on the current situation. The -8 ability is great, I'm going to steal all of your creatures from your graveyard and play them myself. The biggest draw back I see when it comes to playability of Lili is her 3BB Mana cost. Black doesn't have any way to ramp into her as early as they'd like but being a late to mid-game threat makes Liliana Vess a fairly decent Standard threat. With her being a reprint that doesn't currently see play in other constructed formats I don't think that will change.
Chandra, Pyromaster
Our favorite red Planeswalker is next on my list. Not simply because she is another reprint, but because this version of Chandra is actually relevant in many formats right now. Her +1 pings a creature, deals 1 damage to it's controller and that creature can't block. In my current Naya Monsters deck, that's pretty relevant to prevent somebody from blocking a Stormbreath Dragon or Polukranos, World Eater. This also gives you the ability to shoot your opponents mana-dorks when necessary. Her 0 ability is probably the most relevant in most decks that she sees play in. I've started seeing her pop up as a 1 or 2 of in many burn lists simply because of the power this ability has in the deck. It allows you to not only thin out your deck for more threats but also allows you to possibly hit land drops you may have missed or find that 1 answer you needed. Now to discuss her rarely used ultimate. At a -7 that makes the ability in a reasonable reach. But exiling the top 10 cards of your library and choosing an instant or sorcery and casting 3 copies of the card without paying it's mana cost is extremely relevant in a burn deck. You can deal maximum damage this way very easily. Say you exile a Warleader's Helix you can then deal 12 damage and gain 12 life at the same time. That's a 24 life swing that will more than likely win you the game. Plus the fact that she's only a 4 drop makes her very powerful.
Nissa, Worldwaker
This one was actually a tough decision between putting Nissa in this slot or Ajani Steadfast. I'll explain my choice in a second. First, let's analyze the card. First the obvious, she has two +1 abilities which makes people assume that she's going to be extremely powerful. I disagree as I'll explain. Her first +1 ability turns a land into a 4/4 Elemental with trample, but note, the wording on the card doesn't say "Until end of turn" anywhere in the text for that ability. The down side to this ability is that you have to play it very carefully because turning it into a creature makes your lands vulnerable to any removal spell. So pick your lands very carefully. Her second +1 ability isn't as powerful as everyone believes it to be. Untapping 4 Forests although can be relevant at times, green doesn't have much removal or instants even to cast on your opponents turn. Yes you can untap your shock lands but that usually isn't what you want. Her ultimate is powerful don't get me wrong. -7 search for basic lands and put them into play as 4/4 lands with trample, hope your opponent doesn't have a board wipe. That's all I need to ruin your plan. The biggest reason I put her third on my list and not second from the top is because of her casting cost and starting loyalty counters. She costs 3GG which although you can easily ramp into Nissa on turn 3, she only starts with 3 loyalty. Meaning you have to keep her alive for 4 turns before hoping to ultimate her. I see her being more of a stall tactic with her first two abilities with an ultimate being a nice thing that will happen every once in a while. Don't get me wrong though, she will be a singleton in the sideboard of my current Naya Monsters build.
Ajani Steadfast
I love this card. I really do. I will be the first to admit, I like anything that has to do with a large cat kicking butt with an axe. But that's just me. Anyways, Ajani's +1 ability giving target creature +1/+1, first strike, vigilance, and lifelink is almost over powered in my opinion. Okay it can't target my Stormbreath Dragon but I think I can manage. But the -2 ability will affect my Stormbreath Dragon because it doesn't target so, HAH! The -2 ability puts a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control without targeting and also puts an additional loyalty counter on each other Planeswalker you control. This is the ability most people are extremely excited about. This will give you the ability to ultimate a Kiora, the Crashing Wave the turn after you play it if you use the abilities correctly. The ultimate of this new Ajani is very powerful but has a drawback as well. It prevents ALL BUT 1 damage from EACH source. So if I'm swinging in with an 12 3/3's you will still take 12 damage as opposed to the 36 damage I swung with. Very strong ultimate for a very strong card but also a rather significant drawback by still letting some damage go through. Also Ajani costing only 3W makes the card not very color intensive and it also starts off with 4 loyalty so it has a very reachable ultimate and has ways of protecting itself.
Garruk, Apex Predator
Now for the card that everyone has fallen in love with instantly. Garruk, Apex Predator makes the top of my list with little to no surprise, it very easily protects itself, and is castable on turn 4. He is only the second Planeswalker with 4 loyalty abilities with Jace, the Mind Sculptor being the other. His first +1 ability destroying another Planeswalker is more powerful that people give it credit for. I personally would use this ability to protect me from a Planeswalker nearing it's ultimate or a Planeswalker that's just giving me a headache. His second +1 ability puts a 3/3 beast with deathtouch into play giving him all the protection he needs to survive and sustain his battlefield presence. -3 destroy target creature and gain life equal to it's toughness allows you to protect yourself from a big fatty that is threatening you and creates just an extra way to keep yourself in the game although with the presence of Skullcrack being in standard for the next 3 months makes me wonder just how relevant this ability will be in some matchups. Now I suggest you read and then re-read Garruk's ultimate. "Target opponent gains an emblem: 'Whenever a creature attacks you, it gets +5/+5 and gains trample until end of turn.'" You are giving your opponent the emblem so whenever your creature attacks them it then gets the +5/+5 bonus and gains trample. So the 3/3 beast you made earlier is now an 8/8 beast with trample and deathtouch. Has your opponent proceeded to the scoop phase yet?
This is my opinion and power rankings of the Planeswalkers coming out next Friday. Don't forget about pre-release this weekend and our release party next Friday as well. Good luck to everybody participating and please don't let Jake Valentine pull Garruk, foil Garruk out of the same pack.
Thanks for reading -Logan Mitchell (Twiggy)
Thursday, July 3, 2014
M15 Preview
Greetings, today I wanted to spend some time previewing what I feel is the most powerful coreset since M11. M15 brings us some extremely powerful cards most namely being one of the most feared planeswalkers; Garruk, Apex Predator. Today I'm going to analyze each color and what I believe to be the two strongest in the respective color so far. I know we still have 50 or so cards remaining to be spoiled but I wanted to give my opinion already since everybody has been asking me recently.
COLORLESS:
I feel like the choices people want me to make are the mythic rares but in my two favorite cards out of the colorless/artifact group would have to be Scuttling Doom Engine, and Phyrexian Revoker.
The Doom Engine not being able to be blocked by creatures with power less than 2 is extremely powerful if you're able to convoke into it. White weenies can't block it, R/W Burn can't block it, Mono-Blue, many decks will have a problem blocking it especially because it can't be chump blocked. And the fact that it deals 6 damage if you kill it is extremely powerful by itself. "I cast a Doom Engine, it resolves, you downfall it taking 6 damage." I'm perfectly fine with that interaction 100% of the time. For those of you who might not know how painful Pithing Needle is to play against in a Planeswalker heavy deck we now get to experience all of that fun by pairing it with a 2/1 body and putting it on Phyrexian Revoker. YAY!!! If you decide to run it mainboard it will shut down any Planeswalker you're playing against as well as Mutavault and the new fun control idea of Elixir of Immortality.
BLACK:
The color black and I have a love hate relationship as far as magic is concerned, it has provided me with much success and much heartbreak over the months. I don't think black is getting as strong as everyone hoped. To begin, I feel like the strongest card in the color black is clearly Ob Nixilis, Unshackled. 4/4 for 6 with flying and trample initially seems very underpowered until you read the rest of the card. Whenever a player searches their library they must sacrifice a creature and lose 10 life. So it's not damage and can't be prevented they straight up lose life. Whenever another creature dies., put a +1/+1 counter on him. I board wipe killing 5 creatures and now I have a 9/9 for 6 with flying and trample. Do you scoop yet? Although I don't believe the first ability will be relevant in Standard from the start, I think it will be very relevant in Modern and Legacy. Although the second ability will be most relevant in Standard. Overall I find this card very strong and I believe it will see play in all formats. My second favorite card is extremely similar to one of my least favorite cards to play against in Legacy. Surgical Extraction, I hate this card. Stain the Mind, the closest thing we can get to an Extraction without returning to New Phyrexia. This card is extremely good and the fact that it has convoke makes it even more powerful. I'm just casually going to get rid of the strongest card in your deck or the card I have absolutely zero answer to and exile it. Seems good.
BLUE:
In my opinion Blue actually seems pretty underwhelming in this coreset. We finally got a bad Jace in Jace, the Living Guildpact. More on that next week. But my two favorite cards in the color blue from M15 are Number 1, Chasm Skulker, and Chief Engineer. I am particularly a fan of Chasm Skulker because you clearly draw a card every turn, so I'm just going to make him a 2/2 then at the end of your turn I'm going to Rev for 8 and make him a 10/10. If you kill him now I get 9 little octopi babies with Islandwalk to ruin your day further. Chief Engineer is a fun little card giving all of your artifacts convoke making it possible to play your four Ornithopters and then convoke them to give you a turn three Scuttling Doom Engine. I also wholeheartedly believe that Jalira, Master Polymorpist is going to be a fantastic EDH card. Whether as a Mono-Blue Wizards general or even being played in the deck as an extra win condition.
GREEN:
This is probably the most exciting color in the new set. Just on the power of the reprints alone. Without naming probably one of the stronger reprints in the color I'm going to pick Kalonian Twingrove and Yisan, the Wanderer Bard. I like Twingrove in a Mono-Green devotion list. Not only is he most likely going to be a 6/6 for 6 but he basically clones himself and makes a second 6/6 for 6 and they both continue to grow as you continue to hit land drops. I feel the card is poised to be very strong after the set's release and possibly even stronger after we see what Khans brings us this fall. I really like Yisan, the Wanderer Bard in Commander because in a Mono-Green list she just searches every turn to protect herself. She's helps you ramp into big fatties late game and helps build a board presence early game.
RED:
Red is easily the worst color in the set. Apparently goblins are going to be a thing again? I don't know. I kinda like Goblin Rabblemaster as a Goblin lord in Legacy and possibly Modern as well. The fact that all Goblins must attack is kind of a negative in my eyes but the combat ability of putting dudes in play paired with the Cranial Plating like attacking ability makes the card great in my opinion. Sticking with the Goblin theme, Goblin Kaboomist looks like a lot of fun. Make a Land Mine and flip a coin Kaboomist dies. seems interesting. I might try to build a commander list with this type of fun ability in it. The Land Mine ability is pretty fun by dealing damage after your opponent has declared attackers.
WHITE:
White seems fun. I think? But really white actually seems pretty strong as a whole. I really like the new Avacyn, but I think Torpor Orb with a body is just strictly better. Avacyn, Guardian Angel despite what most people think is a pretty good card. A 5/4 for 5 seems bad normally. But give it flying, vigilance, and two very strong abilities makes the card valuable. The first ability is pretty good; preventing all damage dealt by a color to a creature is very strong when playing against a mono-colored deck especially if you have a bad match up against it. The second ability might be rather expensive but if you even represent the possibility to pay for the ability, it's enough to make some players not attack you. But on a side-note, it's Avacyn, I like Avacyn. Hushwing Gryff is extremely playable in modern and legacy. A card that shuts down Pod decks and has a body that flies? Can you say value? The only downside to this card is the fact that it is a measly 2/1 body for a 3 drop. But I really like the card and think it's extremely playable.
MULTI_COLORED:
As I'm writing this article on 7/3, there are a total of 2, yes TWO multi-colored cards that aren't pain lands. Sliver Hivelord has been called many things since it's been spoiled and I have not heard the word good used once. Although you can Chord for it, most people are complaining about it only being a 5/5. I applaud Wizards for attempting to make Slivers a thing again but making them all indestructible just seems weak to attach to a 5/5 body. Now for the card everybody and their mom has been talking about Garruk, Apex Predator. Garruk is very strong. I think Wizards learned the last time they printed a Planeswalker with 4 loyalty abilities that it costing 4 mana just would not work. So let's make it cost 7 instead. Although the amount of ramp in green for the next year is going to be a very large amount thanks to our favorite Elf and the even better Hexproof Plant Wall. It is very possible to cast Garruk on turn 4 at the earliest. His abilities are pretty ridiculous if you ask me. +1, kill a planeswalker. OUCH!!! That kinda creates a setback for planeswalker heavy decks. But even the other +1 ability is kind of wrecking. Create a 3/3 dude with deathtouch. Seems pretty good to me. Even his -3 ability of destroying a creature and gaining the life from it's toughness is extremely powerful against monsters decks and even is valuable against aggro decks. His ultimate at -7 might look bad but I challenge you to reread it. I'm giving you an emblem that says "Whenever my creature attacks you, it gets +5/+5 and trample." Turning my 3/3 Beast tokens in 8/8 with Trample and Deathtouch. His ultimate is incredibly strong and very easily achieved. I have officially become a believer of Garruk, Apex Predator.
Those are my favorite cards from this upcoming set, next week, we'll have the full spoiler and I'll elaborate on my least favorite cards from the set as well as the Planeswalkers I intentionally did not discuss today. Don't forget about PreRelease next weekend and FNM on Friday night. We might also have an exciting surprise for FNM as well.
COLORLESS:
I feel like the choices people want me to make are the mythic rares but in my two favorite cards out of the colorless/artifact group would have to be Scuttling Doom Engine, and Phyrexian Revoker.
The Doom Engine not being able to be blocked by creatures with power less than 2 is extremely powerful if you're able to convoke into it. White weenies can't block it, R/W Burn can't block it, Mono-Blue, many decks will have a problem blocking it especially because it can't be chump blocked. And the fact that it deals 6 damage if you kill it is extremely powerful by itself. "I cast a Doom Engine, it resolves, you downfall it taking 6 damage." I'm perfectly fine with that interaction 100% of the time. For those of you who might not know how painful Pithing Needle is to play against in a Planeswalker heavy deck we now get to experience all of that fun by pairing it with a 2/1 body and putting it on Phyrexian Revoker. YAY!!! If you decide to run it mainboard it will shut down any Planeswalker you're playing against as well as Mutavault and the new fun control idea of Elixir of Immortality.
BLACK:
The color black and I have a love hate relationship as far as magic is concerned, it has provided me with much success and much heartbreak over the months. I don't think black is getting as strong as everyone hoped. To begin, I feel like the strongest card in the color black is clearly Ob Nixilis, Unshackled. 4/4 for 6 with flying and trample initially seems very underpowered until you read the rest of the card. Whenever a player searches their library they must sacrifice a creature and lose 10 life. So it's not damage and can't be prevented they straight up lose life. Whenever another creature dies., put a +1/+1 counter on him. I board wipe killing 5 creatures and now I have a 9/9 for 6 with flying and trample. Do you scoop yet? Although I don't believe the first ability will be relevant in Standard from the start, I think it will be very relevant in Modern and Legacy. Although the second ability will be most relevant in Standard. Overall I find this card very strong and I believe it will see play in all formats. My second favorite card is extremely similar to one of my least favorite cards to play against in Legacy. Surgical Extraction, I hate this card. Stain the Mind, the closest thing we can get to an Extraction without returning to New Phyrexia. This card is extremely good and the fact that it has convoke makes it even more powerful. I'm just casually going to get rid of the strongest card in your deck or the card I have absolutely zero answer to and exile it. Seems good.
BLUE:
In my opinion Blue actually seems pretty underwhelming in this coreset. We finally got a bad Jace in Jace, the Living Guildpact. More on that next week. But my two favorite cards in the color blue from M15 are Number 1, Chasm Skulker, and Chief Engineer. I am particularly a fan of Chasm Skulker because you clearly draw a card every turn, so I'm just going to make him a 2/2 then at the end of your turn I'm going to Rev for 8 and make him a 10/10. If you kill him now I get 9 little octopi babies with Islandwalk to ruin your day further. Chief Engineer is a fun little card giving all of your artifacts convoke making it possible to play your four Ornithopters and then convoke them to give you a turn three Scuttling Doom Engine. I also wholeheartedly believe that Jalira, Master Polymorpist is going to be a fantastic EDH card. Whether as a Mono-Blue Wizards general or even being played in the deck as an extra win condition.
GREEN:
This is probably the most exciting color in the new set. Just on the power of the reprints alone. Without naming probably one of the stronger reprints in the color I'm going to pick Kalonian Twingrove and Yisan, the Wanderer Bard. I like Twingrove in a Mono-Green devotion list. Not only is he most likely going to be a 6/6 for 6 but he basically clones himself and makes a second 6/6 for 6 and they both continue to grow as you continue to hit land drops. I feel the card is poised to be very strong after the set's release and possibly even stronger after we see what Khans brings us this fall. I really like Yisan, the Wanderer Bard in Commander because in a Mono-Green list she just searches every turn to protect herself. She's helps you ramp into big fatties late game and helps build a board presence early game.
RED:
Red is easily the worst color in the set. Apparently goblins are going to be a thing again? I don't know. I kinda like Goblin Rabblemaster as a Goblin lord in Legacy and possibly Modern as well. The fact that all Goblins must attack is kind of a negative in my eyes but the combat ability of putting dudes in play paired with the Cranial Plating like attacking ability makes the card great in my opinion. Sticking with the Goblin theme, Goblin Kaboomist looks like a lot of fun. Make a Land Mine and flip a coin Kaboomist dies. seems interesting. I might try to build a commander list with this type of fun ability in it. The Land Mine ability is pretty fun by dealing damage after your opponent has declared attackers.
WHITE:
White seems fun. I think? But really white actually seems pretty strong as a whole. I really like the new Avacyn, but I think Torpor Orb with a body is just strictly better. Avacyn, Guardian Angel despite what most people think is a pretty good card. A 5/4 for 5 seems bad normally. But give it flying, vigilance, and two very strong abilities makes the card valuable. The first ability is pretty good; preventing all damage dealt by a color to a creature is very strong when playing against a mono-colored deck especially if you have a bad match up against it. The second ability might be rather expensive but if you even represent the possibility to pay for the ability, it's enough to make some players not attack you. But on a side-note, it's Avacyn, I like Avacyn. Hushwing Gryff is extremely playable in modern and legacy. A card that shuts down Pod decks and has a body that flies? Can you say value? The only downside to this card is the fact that it is a measly 2/1 body for a 3 drop. But I really like the card and think it's extremely playable.
MULTI_COLORED:
As I'm writing this article on 7/3, there are a total of 2, yes TWO multi-colored cards that aren't pain lands. Sliver Hivelord has been called many things since it's been spoiled and I have not heard the word good used once. Although you can Chord for it, most people are complaining about it only being a 5/5. I applaud Wizards for attempting to make Slivers a thing again but making them all indestructible just seems weak to attach to a 5/5 body. Now for the card everybody and their mom has been talking about Garruk, Apex Predator. Garruk is very strong. I think Wizards learned the last time they printed a Planeswalker with 4 loyalty abilities that it costing 4 mana just would not work. So let's make it cost 7 instead. Although the amount of ramp in green for the next year is going to be a very large amount thanks to our favorite Elf and the even better Hexproof Plant Wall. It is very possible to cast Garruk on turn 4 at the earliest. His abilities are pretty ridiculous if you ask me. +1, kill a planeswalker. OUCH!!! That kinda creates a setback for planeswalker heavy decks. But even the other +1 ability is kind of wrecking. Create a 3/3 dude with deathtouch. Seems pretty good to me. Even his -3 ability of destroying a creature and gaining the life from it's toughness is extremely powerful against monsters decks and even is valuable against aggro decks. His ultimate at -7 might look bad but I challenge you to reread it. I'm giving you an emblem that says "Whenever my creature attacks you, it gets +5/+5 and trample." Turning my 3/3 Beast tokens in 8/8 with Trample and Deathtouch. His ultimate is incredibly strong and very easily achieved. I have officially become a believer of Garruk, Apex Predator.
Those are my favorite cards from this upcoming set, next week, we'll have the full spoiler and I'll elaborate on my least favorite cards from the set as well as the Planeswalkers I intentionally did not discuss today. Don't forget about PreRelease next weekend and FNM on Friday night. We might also have an exciting surprise for FNM as well.
Sunday, June 22, 2014
SCG Open Trial Modern 6/21/14
StarCity Games Open Trial
Modern Format
As many of you know we held a Modern Open Series Trial Yesterday. We had a pretty good turn out with 23 competitors. After 5 grueling rounds and a Melira Pod infinite combo mirror-match, we cut to our Top-8. Our Top-8 Competitors included a couple Modern regulars as well as a couple new faces.
Our Top-8 opened up with our #1 Hunter Hersko-fugitt playing against local grinder #8 Mike Degaro. Hunter, playing R/W/U Kiki-Twin won a quick and decisive match 2-0 against Mike and his R/U/G Twin deck.
Across the bracket, #2 Chris Grady playing R/W/U Kiki-Twin as well found himself sitting across from #7 Rocky Harris playing G/W Bogle. After a relatively grinding match Chris couldn't find an answer to the tronned up Slippery Bogle staring across from him in Game 3. Rocky edged out a 2-1 victory.
Our quickest Top-8 Match of the night was between #3 Phillip Konkle playing Scapeshift and #6 Jason Tobias playing a very interesting Naya Control/midrange list featuring Judge Unworthy, yes, you read that right. Unfortunately for arguably the most interesting deck out of left field it could not answer a Scapeshift for 18 game 1, or a Scapeshift for 21 Game 3. Phillip pulled out the win 2-1
On the flip side, our longest match of the night was between #4 Mr. Lee Bower and store regular #5 Brandon Withrow. Lee was running an intriguing B/G Rock list featuring Batterskull, while Brandon ran a fun Melira-Pod list. After an extremely grindy match that took almost an hour and a half, Lee managed to edge out a 2-1 victory and move on to the semi-finals.
The Semi-Finals featured #1 Hunter VS. #3 Phillip and #4 Lee VS. #7 Rocky. Hunter played a very quick and controlly version of his deck to keep Phillip off his Scapeshift combo and won 2-0. In the other Semi-Final match, Lee landed a Liliana of the Veil in both games 1 and 2 and managed to keep Rocky off his big tronned creatures taking the match 2-0. Leading #1 Hunter and #4 Lee into the Finals.
In the Finals #4 Lee offered the split and #1 Hunter agreed taking home the victory and the Open Series voucher, as well as an Open Trial Playmat and a Snapcaster Mage. All players received an Open Trial Playmat and a month of free SCG Premium. Mike, Jason, Brandon, and Chris each received a Birthing Pod. While Phillip and Rocky each received a Spellskite. Lee walked away with a Liliana of the Veil.
Decklists:
First: Hunter Hersko-fugitt R/W/U Twin
Second: Lee Bower B/G Rock
Third: Phillip Konkle Scapeshift
Fourth: Rocky Harris G/W Bogle
Fifth: Chris Grady R/W/U Twin
Sixth: Brandon Withrow Melira-Pod
Seventh: Jason Tobias Naya Midrange
Eight: Mike Degaro RUG Twin
Modern Format
As many of you know we held a Modern Open Series Trial Yesterday. We had a pretty good turn out with 23 competitors. After 5 grueling rounds and a Melira Pod infinite combo mirror-match, we cut to our Top-8. Our Top-8 Competitors included a couple Modern regulars as well as a couple new faces.
Our Top-8 opened up with our #1 Hunter Hersko-fugitt playing against local grinder #8 Mike Degaro. Hunter, playing R/W/U Kiki-Twin won a quick and decisive match 2-0 against Mike and his R/U/G Twin deck.
Across the bracket, #2 Chris Grady playing R/W/U Kiki-Twin as well found himself sitting across from #7 Rocky Harris playing G/W Bogle. After a relatively grinding match Chris couldn't find an answer to the tronned up Slippery Bogle staring across from him in Game 3. Rocky edged out a 2-1 victory.
Our quickest Top-8 Match of the night was between #3 Phillip Konkle playing Scapeshift and #6 Jason Tobias playing a very interesting Naya Control/midrange list featuring Judge Unworthy, yes, you read that right. Unfortunately for arguably the most interesting deck out of left field it could not answer a Scapeshift for 18 game 1, or a Scapeshift for 21 Game 3. Phillip pulled out the win 2-1
On the flip side, our longest match of the night was between #4 Mr. Lee Bower and store regular #5 Brandon Withrow. Lee was running an intriguing B/G Rock list featuring Batterskull, while Brandon ran a fun Melira-Pod list. After an extremely grindy match that took almost an hour and a half, Lee managed to edge out a 2-1 victory and move on to the semi-finals.
The Semi-Finals featured #1 Hunter VS. #3 Phillip and #4 Lee VS. #7 Rocky. Hunter played a very quick and controlly version of his deck to keep Phillip off his Scapeshift combo and won 2-0. In the other Semi-Final match, Lee landed a Liliana of the Veil in both games 1 and 2 and managed to keep Rocky off his big tronned creatures taking the match 2-0. Leading #1 Hunter and #4 Lee into the Finals.
In the Finals #4 Lee offered the split and #1 Hunter agreed taking home the victory and the Open Series voucher, as well as an Open Trial Playmat and a Snapcaster Mage. All players received an Open Trial Playmat and a month of free SCG Premium. Mike, Jason, Brandon, and Chris each received a Birthing Pod. While Phillip and Rocky each received a Spellskite. Lee walked away with a Liliana of the Veil.
Decklists:
First: Hunter Hersko-fugitt R/W/U Twin
Second: Lee Bower B/G Rock
Third: Phillip Konkle Scapeshift
Fourth: Rocky Harris G/W Bogle
Fifth: Chris Grady R/W/U Twin
Sixth: Brandon Withrow Melira-Pod
Seventh: Jason Tobias Naya Midrange
Eight: Mike Degaro RUG Twin
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)