Last weekend was exciting. An unexpected guest writer, an Ask Ken with a new format, a new MD5 article. Wow… I’m sorry, where are my manners? I’m your host, Ken Krouner. I have my hand in more and more around Star City Games. First regular column, then a daily column, now I am leading a discussion forum as well. Soon they will be changing the name to Star City Kartin’ Kens. Then my victory will be complete.
Today’s questions come to us from DJ Kirby. DJ writes:
Hey Ken, 2 questions for you today.
1) How much card draw is enough? For sixty-card decks, how much should be card draw (assuming it’s available)? Is there a formula/general rule, or is the only real way to know extensive testing?
2) In your opinion, which Protection for a Color is best? I prefer Pro. Blue myself, as people over in my area tend to like Capsize and Ray of Command far too much.
Thanks for your time!
Well DJ, I don’t think you’ll be happy with me since my answer to both questions is,”it depends.” I will do you the courtesy of not leaving it at that.
Your first question depends on two things. The type of deck it is and the format. Beatdown decks usually use no card drawing unless it is a card like Fire / Ice, Skullclamp, or Thoughtcast. Your card drawing in beatdown decks has to be incredibly efficient, incredibly powerful, or incredibly versatile to make it in. Control decks have a few cards that have powerful effects so you want more card drawing. And Combo decks want to get all their pieces as soon as possible so it plays the most amount of card drawing.
When examining the format you have to look at what card drawing is available. The best card drawing card in Mirrodin Block now that Skullclamp is banned is Night’s Whisper. Serum Visions isn’t even technically card drawing; it’s card selection. The use of card drawing in a deck goes down when the card drawing is bad.
As for your second question, it is entirely metagame dependent. From what you describe, it sounds like you want Pro Blue. When Psychatog was a big deck, Pro Blue and Pro Black were the best. Throughout history, Pro Red has typically been the best. Mono-Red decks have appeared in nearly every metagame and one of the best ways of combating those deck is with Protection from Red creatures.
The source on close calls,
KK
Well it is time for me to come out pleading for questions again. It isn’t that I don’t have any, but I am looking for more interesting ones. Give me something saucy to work with, I promise I won’t let you down. G’night Everybody!