Let's Discuss: Magic the Gathering

[Dark Silver]

So, after nearly a decade of being out of it....I decided I want to try to get back into Magic the Gathering. As some of you may be aware, I used to play MtG back during the Urza Block, and gave it up soon after, and started playing YGO.

Well, I haven't played YGO in a few years now, and have lost all form of interest in the game (still have that huge ass collection though...), and since I'm interested in fiddling with Standard (Type 2) Format, it gives me a chance to start off on a level playing field with everyone else - aside from the experience end of it.

So, Basically, I'm interested in discussing the current sets, some of the better cards in it, and suggestions on deck building. I'm personally, intending to build either a straight Black, or a Black/Blue deck (Utilizing some Drowned Catacombs from M11 to help with the mixed land issue).

For intents and purposes, for cards and sets, consider me a MtG newb once more....

So yes...MtG...what's up with that?

[rhoenix]

I last played a couple years ago now, and sold all my cards when I quit.

When I first played in high school, my thing was red/blue, since there was a long, long list of awful and terrible things you could do to someone with those two working in concert - my favorite at the time was "lol, that card's blue - and now that blue card is destroyed" among other tricks.

When I last played, they were putting out some dual-land stuff, and I once again gravitated to red/blue - which was even nastier with the new cards, though I only had one or two friends to play with at the time.

[LadyTevar]

Shit, I've not played since I got married 6yrs ago. All my cards are pre-7th Edition. I'd be interested in hearing about the new sets, but I really can't say anything.

[SirNitram]

Shit, I've not played since I got married 6yrs ago. All my cards are pre-7th Edition. I'd be interested in hearing about the new sets, but I really can't say anything.

Lies and chicanery. We got you some extra slivers.

[rhoenix]

Lies and chicanery. We got you some extra slivers.

And people seriously wondered why I played red/blue.

[B4UTRUST]

I haven't played since the Rath cycle. But I use to play constantly back in middle and high school. I played all sorts of decks. Green weenie overrun decks, Red/black denial decks, rainbow sliver decks for infinite slivers, green/black and green/white weenie death decks, artifact/blue denial decks...

But I haven't played in years and really have no interest in the game anymore...

[LadyTevar]

Lies and chicanery. We got you some extra slivers.

And people seriously wondered why I played red/blue.

I played red/blue, straight blue, blue/white, red/green, green/blue, and a red/black LandDestruction.

The tri-colors are my sliver deck, my feline deck, and my dragon deck.

[frigidmagi]

I haven't played since the 90s. When I did I rolled with red/green.

[rhoenix]

I played red/blue, straight blue, blue/white, red/green, green/blue, and a red/black LandDestruction.

The tri-colors are my silver deck, my feline deck, and my dragon deck.

Some dude's sliver deck is why I perfected my red/blue deck in the way I did.

Damn slivers. Viciously multiplicative little bastards.

[LadyTevar]

What was always fun was when two sliver decks went head-to-head. We got some fuckin' ridiculously buffed Slivers out of that fight.

[B4UTRUST]

See, that's why I loved infinite sliver decks ;). Infinite slivers with infinite attack and defense. With flying, rampage, first strike, no summoning sickness, etc...

[Hotfoot]

I played Magic a lot, but I was young and didn't get that far into it. I recall playing a lot of red and white, but I didn't get serious into a card game until the Battletech CCG, which was really awesome. I had a rocking Davion deck that kicked a huge amount of ass.

[General Havoc]

I was never very good, but back in ye olde days, I played a pretty mean Red/Black burn deck. I called it the "shot locker" deck, as it relied on using Bosium Strips, Forks, Mimicries and other such devices to permit me to double, triple, and quadruple cast assorted direct damage and other burn/kill/maim effects.

[LadyTevar]

Just to give you boys some idea -- 98% of my cards are from 1993-1999. Very few cards are post 2000.

Bosium Strips, Forks, Mimicries and other such devices

I remember Forks. I have them. Mimicries and Bosium Strips I don't recall.

[Dark Silver]

Well, at the moment, I'm strongly considering a Black/Blue deck, utilizing a few new cards...amongst them:

Grave Titan (x2)
4 colorless 2 black
Creature - Giant

Deathtouch
Whenever Grave Titan enters the battlefield or attacks, put two 2/2 black Zombie creature tokens onto the battlefield.
Death in form and function

and

Phylactery Lich x4 (seen in above link) in order to make a nice progressive army....

Thinking of a couple:
Jace, the Mind Sculptor to help round out the Blue end....

Of course the deck is going to have to be Artifact Heavy in order to properly use the Liches....but there's some rather lovely artifacts that I can use for it...

[Destructionator XV]

I still play sometimes, but haven't actually gotten any new cards since forever. I still play decks that are 99% revised third edition.

Fireballs win.

[rhoenix]

That's what I forgot - much of my newer cards were of the Izzet stuff, I forget what set it was from. I do remember some of the few creatures I had in it were Gelectrodes and Wee Dragonauts - and people I played against hated them both. So, so much.

Why, you ask? Alright, simple example.

A Gelectrode is a 0/1, with the ability to tap to do 1 point direct damage. Here's the added caveat - they untap whenever their owner plays a sorcery or instant.

A Wee Dragonaut is a 1/3 flying, which gains +2/+0 with every instant or sorcery played during a given turn.

The best example I can give is how I wiped out someone in one turn, when I managed to get three Gelectrodes out over the previous three turns, and one Dragonaut. So, my turn again, fifth round - my opponent had a weenie green/white deck, and had already begun to rush me - I was down to 8 life, and their life was by now almost in the 30's.

I open up by hitting my opponent with all three Gelectrodes (3 damage). I cast a Lightning Bolt for 3 more damage, which untaps all three Gelectrodes, each of which tap for a total of 3 more points. (9 total)

I cast a Fork on the Lightning Bolt (3 points), which untaps the Gelectrodes again, which immediately tap for 3 more points. (15 total)

I cast a 3 point Fireball at my opponent, which untaps the Gelectrodes one more time, which re-tap to cause 3 damage to his only flying creature. (21 total)

The Dragonauts by this time are now a 7/3 flying. I cast a Leap of Flame (instant) to give them +1/+0 and First Strike, making them now a 10/3 flying. MY opponent had no flying creatures to block.

gg.

Man I loved that deck - I'm getting all nostalgic about it.

[Something Awesome]

Well, at the moment, I'm strongly considering a Black/Blue deck, utilizing a few new cards...amongst them:

Grave Titan (x2)
4 colorless 2 black
Creature - Giant

Deathtouch
Whenever Grave Titan enters the battlefield or attacks, put two 2/2 black Zombie creature tokens onto the battlefield.
Death in form and function

and

Phylactery Lich x4 (seen in above link) in order to make a nice progressive army....

Thinking of a couple:
Jace, the Mind Sculptor to help round out the Blue end....

Of course the deck is going to have to be Artifact Heavy in order to properly use the Liches....but there's some rather lovely artifacts that I can use for it...

Jeez, that sounds like an expensive deck The liches, with that triple black mana cost, means you're going to have to be pretty heavy black to play them early; it'll be tough to play a lich third turn and Jace fourth. I guess it depends on how aggressive you want it to be. Though if you go with lots of artifacts, the colors of your mana base won't matter as much.

Mistvein Borderpost is handy for both mana-fixing and having an artifact for your liches, and Sword of Vengeance is a lovely piece of equipment to consider.