The "Other" Salt City Magic

Yesterday I was playing the "google myself" game (yes, I realize how vain that is), and I decided to see if this blog pops up on Google for "Salt City Magic."  Little did I know, the page already exists for a group of dedicated performance magicians in the Syracuse area.  Holy shit, man.  This page is awesome.  Check them out:  www.saltcitymagic.com

It almost makes me want to change the name of the blog, so I don't compete with them.  Almost.

Chicago on the Horizon

With my trip to Boston for Extreme Beer Fest behind me, I can now spend a bit more time focusing on the upcoming GP in Chicago.  My deck of choice for this event is TES (with Ad Nauseam and Mystical Tutor), because in all honesty, I hate the format right now, and it makes my matches over quickly - whether I win or lose.  I'm not happy with my game 1 percentages against decks like Team America, which pack basically every card I don't want to see, all in the same deck, but I think games 2 and 3 become slightly more favorable for me, as I gain additional protection from their counters.  I've been considering making a few changes to the list, which I'm sure Bryant will consider blasphemous - for example, I've been debating the inclusion of Dark Confidant into the main, as it provides additional pressure, as well as reach, should it go unanswered.

The most problematic thing I've seen from testing is certainly manabase disruption.  It's diffucult enough to establish a manabase with only 10 lands (and realistically, only 8 you ever want to see - 4 of which go away), if you're facing Wastelands and Sinkholes on top of that, then it's even more difficult to establish yourself.  I don't think there's a simple solution, but hey, that's combo vs. blue.

My strategy has basically been to go all in game 1, no matter what.  If I can win in the first two turns, I go for it.  The odds have to be better that way than in biding my time.  As the blue decks in the format run 8 cantrips or more, the more time they are given, the more hate they accumulate.  I feel like the odds of "do you have the Force of Will?" only get worse as the game progresses.  So, game 1 (assuming an unknown opponent) you have to either get info through Duress, or run into a wall.  Should you be facing a non-blue opponent, it pays off.

On that note, I truly hope people pick up Survival based Progenitus/Natural Order decks.  While they kick the shit out of blue decks, based largely on Legacy's lack of answers to Big Progs, they've got next to no game vs. combo.  This looks good as the tournament advances.  In my eyes, I'll be facing Counterbalance three times in the projected 9 round event.  Maybe that's optimistic, but its my guess.  If I can snake one of those matches, then I can still lose two and make day two.  I just need to beat all the non-blue I see, which is why I'm playing TES, right?

Anyway, that's where my testing is at this week.  I'll keep you guys updated as it progresses.

Argus Kos, Wojek Veteran

Well I think that it is about time I made my presence known here on this silly little blog. To take a break from competitive Magic, everyone convinced me to build an EDH deck. I was a little skeptical of this obscure format, but after playing a few games with Nightmare and his roommate, I quickly was hooked and started formulating ideas for competitive decks. After some hours in the Gatherer database, the little Timmy in me really wanted to swing with dudes after being subjected to queer combo decks like Nightmare's and Bryant Cook's. I have worked very hard on this deck, and the synergy the deck has is borderline amazing. The deck has a Soldier theme, with some Giants playing backup. I am always looking for better ideas for this deck, but at the same time I feel that the list is getting very tight, and each card so far has proven its worth. I was even having trouble finding room for the new EDH gem, Path to Exile. Here is what I'm working with now:

General:

Agrus Kos, Wojek Veteran


Non-creature spells:

Chrome Mox
Lotus Petal
Mana Crypt
Condemn
Swords to Plowshares*
Mana Vault
Sol Ring*
Path to Exile
Enlightened Tutor
Lightning Helix
Disenchant
Umezawa's Jitte
Boros Signet
Incinerate
Shared Triumph
Rise of the Hobgoblins*
Quietus Spike
Orim's Thunder
Sunforger*
Fervor*
Goblin Trenches
Darksteel Ingot
Oblivion Ring
Mobilization
Shared Animosity
Aura of Silence
Scourge of the Nobilis
Elspeth, Knight Errant*
Ajani Goldmane
Ajani Vengeant
Chandra Nalaar
Gilded Lotus
Spectral Procession
Razia's Purification
Austere Command
Decree of Justice


Dudes:

Figure of Destiny
Silver Knight
Boros Guildmage*
Ethersworn Cannonist
Boros Swiftblade
Knight of Meadowgrain
Knight of the White Orchid
Goblin Legionnaire
Battlegate Mimic
Skyknight Legionnaire
Stonecloaker
Duergar Hedge-Mage
Taurean Mauler
Field Marshal*
Mirror Entity*
Hearthfire Hobgoblin*
Flametongue Kavu
Brion Stoutarm
Spitemare*
Knight-Captain of Eos
Giant Harbinger
Nobilis of War*
Reveillark
Cloudgoat Ranger*
Furystoke Giant
Siege-Gang Commander
Balefire Liege
Jareth, Leonine Titan
Crovax, Ascendant Hero
Bull Cerodon
Eternal Dragon
Razia, Boros Archangel (Soon to be Akroma, Angel of Wrath when I get a foil one)


Lands:

9 Plains
6 Mountain
Ancient Tomb
Rustic Clachan*
Flooded Strand*
Bloodstained Mire*
Windswept Heath*
Flagstones of Trokair*
Rugged Prairie*
Forgotten Cave*
Windbrisk Heights*
Sacred Foundry*
Eiganjo Castle*
Plateau
Naya Panorama
Boros Garrison
Battlefield Forge
Ancient Amphitheater


*= Foils I need as of the time of this post. So if you got em, hook a brother up.


That is pretty much it. It might look a little rough around the edges on paper, but, trust, it's competitive. Been described as "one of the best and most fair EDH decks" in the Syracuse area. Let me know what you think!

Changes to EDH

Apparently, Pat "The Innovator" Chapin posted an EDH list that was strikingly similar, yet shittier, than mine.  I'm kinda bummed that he'd rip off a list from mine and make it worse, but it falls in line with a long history of pros "improving" things that they have no idea about.

Stick to your fortes, pros.  We don't really need any more Chrome Moxen in Solidarity.  Or should I say "Reset High Tide?"

Anyway, I've made a few changes to my list.  Here's what I've got:

- Prosperity

- Mind Spring

- Brain Freeze

- Island

+ Fatestitcher

+ Glen Elendra Archmage

+ Master Transmuter

+ Reliquary Tower

And here's why - Prosperity and Mind Spring both fall into the category of cards I'm always dissapointed to see.  They both require too much mana investment to play, although Mind Spring is generally the better card.  Prosperity is always going to give my opponents more cards than me, and it's generally a bad idea to do so.  It's also a poor win condition, since I usually draw many more cards in the span of the game than my opponents (or Mana Severance), which means the best it can do is end the game in a draw.  As for Brain Freeze, it's biggest purpose in the deck lately has been to pitch to Force or imprint on Chrome Mox.  It imprinted so often, it became a running joke in my playgroup - "Chrome Mox?" "Sure.  Imprint Brain Freeze?" "Sigh.  Yeah..."

The cards I've replaced them with have been begging to be in the deck for some time.  The Archmage counters two spells and draws two cards.  It's quite an efficient package, and I've been meaning to get one in the deck, but waited to find a foil one first - what can I say?  The Fatestitcher has one job: untap Tolarian Academy.  He's nice to pitch to cards like Thirst or Frantic Search, since he's not really overwhelming as a 4 drop, but he's great as a one mana uncounterable untapper.  The Transmuter is the real gem of this round of changes, however.  As soon as it was spoiled, I knew Wizards meant her for this deck.  It almost makes me want to run Sundering Titan, to just go bonkers with the LD.  Almost.  Instead, I'll procede to make a bunch of mana, or I'll be playing Jar for one mana, or any number of other rediculous plays that you could make.  I'm toying with the idea of running Thousand Year Elixer to make her "Hastey," but I think its probably overkill.  Note that Voltaic Key has the same effect, if you can wait a turn to activate her.  We'll see how often she survives the turn to be active.  It does add a third non-Wizard creature to the deck, but I think with the addition of the extra two Wizards, it balances out.  The final card, Reliquary Tower, is there as a cute trick.  I'm not sure how good it will ever be, but it doesn't really hurt my mana, and it's a fun card.

On another note, I'd like to apologize for the lack of updates.  I've been extremely ill for the last week or so, to the point of missing my SCG writing gig as well, and I know everyone else is busy.  I'll try to keep up a bit to let you know how things progress as GP Chicago nears, and I'll probably be updating during that weekend, as well.  Keep your browsers tuned in!