EDH Banned List Update

So Tinker got the axe, and Crucible comes back.  I've gotta say, I'm unimpressed by this change.  While I'm bummed to lose Tinker - and realistically, that hurts my Azami deck pretty bad - I think Crucible-Strip is retarded, and green decks that run it, LftL, and Fastbond are going to go apeshit.  It kinda makes me wish I hadn't given up on the Turboland deck, but no one was having fun playing with or against that deck anyway.

Do we realistically need to autoinclude Crucible now, as protection from FastbondStriplock?  It's unclear as of yet, and I may pose that we ban it in the local area to prevent that rediculousness from occuring.

On the other hand, now that I've put the samurai deck together, I think its funny that Tinker gets banned.  The card is straight unfair.  Like, even the most inoccuous play (Tinker-Gilded Lotus) puts you so damned far ahead on mana for turn 4 (or earlier) that it becomes tough to lose.  In a deck that features bombs like Oona (my roommate's General), it's far past borderline unfair, into the unfun territory.

So it is what it is.  It's a bomb to end all bombs, and I'm not really that broken up to see it go.

By the way, in the interest of continuing the unfair accelleration, I plan to replace tinker with Mishra's Workshop.

Sketch is complete

The Sisay Samurai deck came together pretty nicely, I must say.  I played a few games last night, both multiplayer and one-on-one, and it performed admirably.

It's not broken in the way Azami is, but it does get to do some fun stuff.  I especially liked combinations like Myojin of Cleansing Fire plus That Which Was Taken (putting a Divinity Counter on Sisay, of course); or Yomiji, Who Bars the Way plus Mindslaver.  I also happened to get out TWWT with Priviledged Position - that put a target on my head pretty quick.

As for the general herself, she's pretty strong.  I've been happy with making my first tutor target Gaea's Cradle, which has gone on to make some pretty broken plays.  In addition, I added Jitte, more as a way to deal with other ones.

Loyal Retainers has been one of the best cards in my deck, by the way.

The samurai theme is actually much better than I had originally anticipated, and between Sensei Golden-Tail and Mirror Entity, the bonuses just keep coming, even for guys who didn't know they could learn Bushido.

I'll throw the list up once I have a little more work put into it.  There are some slots I'm not convinced on, and there are a bunch of non-legendary cards I want to fit into the deck.  For a first pass, though, I'm excited!  Who knew you could make a fair deck that was fun to play?

Back to the Drawing Board

So the Turboland list didn't work out.  As it turns out, the idea was a cool one, but there are so many cards you need to assemble to get the engine running, that it's almost impossible to do while your opponents are stopping you - and if you don't get them together, your deck is a pile of garbage.  It's also another Solitaire deck - you aren't playing with your opponent as much as trying to get to the point where you play alone.  My friends are pretty bored with that type of deck - the "let me know when you win" kind.  Since I've already got the Azami deck for that, I figure its time to make one where I play dudes and attack.  So, my next attempt will be to make a W/G Samurai/Spirit deck featuring almost 60 Legendary Permanents, with Captain Sisay as my General.  We'll see how that goes.

By the way, I've been meaning to mention how I crank out so many decks without much effort.  If you use Magiccards.info to copy and paste card images into a 3x3 matrix in MSPaint, it's a pretty quick way to make accurate proxies.  For casual formats like EDH, it's worthwhile to do this before you buy cards.  You don't want to be sixty cards into a deck and find out it sucks.

In Extended news, Elves is retarded.  We were testing a GWR Slide deck, which should have had plenty of game against it, since it plays 1/1s, but Elves is so frigging good that we couldn't beat it anyway.  I'm pretty amazed at the resiliancy of the deck in the face of hate.  It can go from no board to winning in a single turn.  Impressive, to say the least.

New EDH deck in the works

Well, Chicago allowed me to finish pimping my EDH deck completely - minus a single Asian Voltaic Key.  Now its time to start a new one, hopefully a little less broken (but still fun).

I'm gonna play Vorosh, the Hunted as my general.

The deck is going to be TurboLand.  And I'm fucking stoked.

List to come when I feel like the kinks are worked out.

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!

Nightmare's Broken EDH deck

I've made reference to this deck in a few places on this here internets before, but I've never had the deck in front of me to put it up card for card.  Occasionally, I'll change a few things around with the list, but its been exactly what it is for some time now.  Here's the list, with a little discussion of cards in the deck to follow.  Remember, 100 card decks.

General:  Azami, Lady of Scrolls

Tidespout Tyrant

Etherium Sculptor

Filigree Sages

Cursecatcher

Magus of the Bazaar

Sigil Tracer

Trinket Mage

Magus of the Jar

Voidmage Prodigy

Patron Wizard

Hapless Researcher

Magus of the Future

Oboro Breezecaller

Stonybrook Banneret

Inspired Sprite

Merrow Levitator

Memnarch

Stroke of Genius

Time Spiral

Prosperity

Thirst for Knowledge

Ponder

Meditate

Gush

Braingeyser

Ideas Unbound

Frantic Search

Mind Spring

Timetwister

Brainstorm

Windfall

High Tide

Rewind

Merchant Scroll

Force of Will

Brain Freeze

Tinker

Repeal

Snapback

Long-Term Plans

Mana Severance

Tezzeret the Seeker

Snap

Mystical Tutor

Mana Drain

Turnabout

Mind's Desire

Future Sight

Pact of Negation

Mind Over Matter

Gauntlet of Power

Goblin Charbelcher

Candelabra of Tawnos

Voltaic Key

Sapphire Medallion

Cloud Key

Memory Jar

Sensei's Divining Top

Helm of Awakening

Mana Vault

Sol Ring

Mana Crypt

Chrome Mox

Mox Diamond

Lotus Petal

Grim Monolith

Gilded Lotus

Eye of Ramos

Coalition Relic

Chronatog Totem

Tolarian Academy

Polluted Delta

Flooded Strand

Tolaria West

Academy Ruins

Minamo, School at Water's Edge

Darksteel Citadel

Seat of the Synod

21 Island

And that's it, in all its glory.  I've added links to the cards in case you're unfamiliar with any of them - and let me say just how much of a pain in the ass that was - but hopefully you can see some of the reasons it's as broken as it is.

A note or two on some of the cards:

Merrow Levitator, Inspired Sprite - These are the Nettle Sentinels of the deck.  If you have Azami in play and either of these online, it's pretty difficult to lose.  They allow you to absolutely bury all of your opponents in card advantage.  They are by far the best Wizards in the deck.

Sigil Tracer - He's your number one win condition in multiplayer games, especially if your opponents have Gaea's Blessing in their decks.  He allows you to go infinite with Turnabout if you have enough mana and guys in play, and he lets you Fork (or Twincast, as it were) your Stroke of Genius or Braingeyser to kill multiple opponents at once.

There are two non-Wizard creatures in the deck.  Both are needed, as the Etherium Sculptor provides a third way for you to make the Sensei's Top/Future Sight/Helm of Awakening combo work.  Note that you have access to two Future Sights, as well.  The other creature, Tidespout Tyrant, allows you to go infinite in mana a countless number of ways.  With him active, you generally finish the game with infinite mana, your deck in your hand, and your opponents with no cards in play.  He's bonkers.

Memnarch + Filigree Sages + Tolarian Academy.  Think about it.

Azami has a unique, and unfair, interaction with Mind Over Matter.  If they're both in play, she taps to cycle cards, in effect.  Draw one, don't like it.  Pitch to untap Azami, draw another.  Repeat.

All in all, it's probably one of the two most unfair EDH decks I've seen played, with Bryant's UB Pitchlong-esque monstrosity being the only one in front of it.  I get about one game in with my opponents before they become frustrated and I have to break out a more "fair" deck.  Still, it's enjoyable to occasionally do some things the game really doesn't want you to do, so if you're in the mood, throw it together with your own play group and try it out.  Don't say I didn't warn you!

Another Staff Addition

Bryant Cook, most notably the player who's put in all the work making Tendrils of Agony viable in Legacy, has accepted the invitation to contribute here, and should be doing so quite soon.  I'm excited to add him to the staff, even if he only knows how to play combo.

I should be posting real Magic content soon, possibly tonight.  My first real post will be my decklists for the two Elder Dragon Highlander decks I've been building, with some insight into why they are what they are.  They're both a blast to play, so be sure to stay tuned!