Sealed Revealed 4: Ravnica/Guildpact Cardpool #4

I’ve been to three Pro Tour Qualifiers this season, hoping to win the invite to Prague. So far, no dice.

I’d like to tell you I don’t know why this is. I’d like to think I’m good enough — hell, I’ve been to six Pro Tours, so I can’t be that shabby at the Wonderful Game. Maybe it because of the location… Prague is no Honolulu, that’s for sure. While Hawaii conjures up images of sun, sand, and surf, the Czech Republic fills my brain with the words “Beetroot Soup.” Is my mind subconsciously jeopardizing my efforts, keeping my away?

Of course not. If that were the case, I’d’ve qualified for Hawaii. No such barriers there, I can assure you.

Maybe I’m not spending enough time thinking about Magic? Again, I doubt it. I’m thinking about Magic 24/7 these days. The game is in my blood.

Have my opponents improved? Are they being luckier? Not significantly. For every decent player, there’s a still a hundred scrubs. For every topdecked Lightning Helix, there’s still a hundred land.

I can’t put my finger on my failure thus far… I think I’m building well, and playing well.

All I can do it throw myself at the mercy of the court: you, the StarCityGames.com readers, and forum-goers. Maybe it’ll bear fruit. Hey, it worked for Michael Jackson. Maybe I’ll get lucky too.

I’ve one PTQ left, this coming Sunday. After that, there’s Grand Prix Cardiff at the end of the month.

Please help. I want to win something.

…

For the first PTQ of the season, I received the following pool. Of the three I’ve ran so far, it seemed the most complicated. Looking back, I know I misbuilt this one… what do you guys think?

As I’m tackling a tricky pool today, the white build-space will be truncated significantly. Don’t rush yourself, of course… take all the time you need.

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Okay, that’s yer lot.

What did you think of the pool? Strong? Weak? What are the standout colors and cards?

You like the Blue, don’t you… I thought as much. Me? I left it out, again.

In Sealed Revealed articles past, I’ve examined each card in detail, often with “hilarious” results. For this article, and maybe future Sealed Revealeds, I’d like to try something a little different. Instead of waxing lyrical over each and every Leyline and Magemark, I’ll break each color/guild into four card categories. They are:

Excellent Card
Playable Card
Fringe Card
Chaff Card

I’ll still be cracking the gas, but hopefully it’ll give us a better overview of the strengths and weaknesses inherent in each section. If you don’t like it — or if you prefer it to the old system — shout out in the forums.

So… onward to the White Bonanza. Remove your belts and shoelaces, and don’t drink from the toilet.

White

Excellent Cards: Harrier Griffin; Sandsower.

To begin, we’ve two excellent creatures. The Sandsower is a poor man’s Glare of Subdual, especially when coupled with token generators, and the Harrier Griffin, while a little expensive, can usually tap down the pertinent blocker before swinging in for three. Of the two, Sandsower is the stronger… he’s a decent blocker, and a stall-breaker in the long game.

Playable Cards: Veteran Armorer; Nightguard Patrol; Absolver Thrull.

Backing these up, we have three other playable blokes. What else can I say about Lemmy? Veteran Armorer is a legend. The best thing about him? Everyone forgets he’s there. I have won so many games on Magic Online due to people casting Douse in Gloom on a fresh-faced 2/3 Blind Hunter… Nightguard Patrol fills a spot in the mana curve, and is surprisingly durable. He’ll get in for more damage than you’d rightfully expect. Apparently, he has Vigilance… but just look at his face. He’s looks soooo pissed off. I bet, after three solid moths on the night shift, his Vigilance will wear pretty thin. Last but not least, the Cloudchaser Thrull himself: Absolver Thrull. His butt is large enough to count, and his ability is very relevant. If you get his ghost doing something funky, so much the better.

Fringe Cards: Withstand.

While I don’t like playing this card, it does have its uses. It can act as virtual countermagic for removal, and can goad opponents into an alpha-strike from which you can gain three and strike right back. Even so, I’d rather have a relevant piece of removal, or a decent guy in its place.

Chaff Cards: Dromad Purebred; Guardian’s Magemark.

The laughable Llama and the malnourished Magemark. Avoid.

Overview

White brings us some fresh options, if no real winged beef. Harrier Griffin and Sandsower are nice, as are some of the support guys, but are they enough to build upon? Without Faith’s Fetters, Devouring Light, or even Conclave Equenaut, I’m not so sure.

Selesnya

Excellent Cards: Pollenbright Wings; Selesnya Signet.

Okay, so we’ve a bona-fide bomb here: Pollenbright Wings. This is the single card I fear most when facing a Green/White Mage. Stick it on a fat-ass biker, it’ll roar to the finish line faster than a teenage boy at a lap-dancing club. As for the Signet… all mana-fixers should be considered excellent cards, and this accelerates too. Twiglets are a necessary evil, when taken in moderation.

Playable Cards: None.
Fringe Cards: None.
Chaff Cards: None.

Overview

That’s it? Two freakin’ cards? Pathetic. Still, the Wings are splashable if we’ve a Green or White commitment. What are the odds of that happening…? Slim. No-one plays Green/White/x in Sealed Deck these days.

I believe the term is “roffle.”

Boros

Excellent Cards: Skyknight Legionnaire; Thundersong Trumpeter; Boros Garrison.

The Legionnaire takes to the skies on turn 3, and draws removal faster than Rolf Harris. He’s excellent when coupled with Lemmy, the Veteran Armorer. Similarly, the Thundersong Trumpeter is excellent in the early game, “tapping down” pesky blockers with his lilting refrain. Turn 2 Trumpeter, turn 3 Legionnaire is strong in anyone’s playbook. Of course, the mana commitment to Boros can be intrusive: luckily, we’ve a Boros Garrison to help out here.

Playable Cards: Rally the Righteous.

This one vacillated between “playable” and “fringe” for me. In the right deck, especially one that abuses token generation, this card is more than fine. Sometimes, however, it’s as weak as a kitten. Again, if I’ve a playable guy, the Rally buys the farm.

Fringe Cards: None.
Chaff Cards: Searing Meditation.

Our last Boros goodie is, in fact, a baddie. Searing Meditation… lifegain in Limited? Maybe in a R/W/B Boros/Orzhov build, with double Agent of Masks and double Blind Hunter. Unfortunately, as this card does nothing on its own, it goes into my trade folder before it goes into a deck.

Overview

The Boros offers us more than the Selesnyans… but not much more. Without an overview of the Red cards, I think this will have to wait.

Oh, who am I kidding…? The Red in this pool is appalling. No Boros for us today!

Orzhov

Excellent Cards: Pillory of the Sleepless.

No Blind Hunters? *sigh*

Sure, we have the mighty fine Pillory of the Sleepless, able to shut down blockers and bleed someone to death at the same time. Given the choice, of course, we’d rather see a Faith’s Fetters… but what can a guy do? I won’t be “losing any sleep” over it. Ha!

Playable Cards: Agent of Masks; Mourning Thrull.

Both of these cards are bloody annoying. Tiny incremental lifegain is so very petty. The Agent of Masks is something I’m not too keen on playing, but the Thrull is a welcome addition. If there’s a Moldervine Cloak in your pool, this guy is superb. Then again, if there’s a Moldervine Cloak in your pool any guy’s superb.

Fringe Cards: None.
Chaff Cards: None.

Overview

Truth? Pretty weak. The Pillory is fine, and maybe worth splashing should the colors drop our way. Without Blind Hunter, preferably in multiples, Orzhov can seem mighty shallow.

Blue

Excellent Cards: Mark of Eviction; Peel from Reality; Vedalken Dismisser; Halcyon Glaze.

Ah, lovely. Mark, Neil, Fred and Hal. A fine combination of cards. Mark of Eviction has the capability of simply destroying an opponent. It is so tempo-rific. Beware using it against a Red mage, mind… I’ve been on the thick end of a few re-cast Galvanic Arcs before now, and that ain’t purty. The Peel from Reality is another great tempo spell, able to get double duty out of cards such as Ogre Savant, Steamcore Weird, or even Blind Hunter. Don’t get me started on the Chronarch abuse… it makes Gary Glitter look like Mother Teresa. Both Peel and Mark work well with the fantastic Vedalken Dismisser, who seems overcosted at first glance but can be an absolute house.

The only card that may seem a little gunshy is the Halcyon Glaze. It’s a Blue card, without being a Blue card. I like it, but it needs supplementary flying animals like Snapping Drake and Stratozeppelid to truly shine. An excellent card, but maybe best left to Romeo in certain cardpools.

Playable Cards: Torch Drake; Train of Thought; Infiltrator’s Magemark; Telling Time.

In a heavy Red build, the Torch Drake moves up from Playable to Excellent. In a non-Blue build, it moves down from Playable to Chaff. Similarly, Train of Thought increases in value with the density of your Islands. If only this were an instant… that’d be very cool. Of the Magemarks, the only playable one is the Infiltrator variety, as it grants some excellent removal and combos well with other Blue auras like Flight of Fancy. Finally, Telling Time is a great digging card-draw spell. While it doesn’t create strict card advantage, it aids card quality a great deal.

Fringe Cards: Induce Paranoia; Vedalken Plotter.

I like Induce Paranoia in Draft, when coupled with decent Dimir Mill cards… but in Sealed? Not so much. Definitely not in this pool, as there’s so little Milling support. As for Harry Plotter… I don’t care if he is a wizard, he’s hardly the Boy Who Lived. Sideboard stuff.

Chaff Cards: Dizzy Spell; Grayscaled Gharial; Vertigo Spawn.

The Dizzy Spell gives me vertigo, the Grayscaled Gharial makes me dizzy, and Vertigo Spawn make me feel tired, old, and gray. Shazam!

Overview

Why didn’t I play Blue? Looking at the cards in the grim light of day, it’s clear to see that the Blue offering is the strongest by far. I’m sure you’ll all clog those forums and tell me just how sh** I really am.

Dimir

Excellent Cards: Dimir Signet.

Yawn…

To be honest, what are the Excellent Dimir cards? Moroii? Erm… erm… Moroii? Sure, a Twiglet is nice, but there are so many to choose from nowadays.

Playable Cards: Circu, Dimir Lobotomist; Psychic Drain.

I’ve never run with Circu, but I’ve faced him a few times. He seems playable at best. His ability is situational, but can be annoying to face. Okay, his body ain’t bad for a four-mana guy… what do you folk think? Is he work forcing Blue and Black in a pool?

Psychic Drain, however, is on the fringe of being Excellent. It gains you life, and is a late-game Glimpse the Unthinkable. However, in this pool, with its lack of Milling cards, the Drain looks a little… well… drained.

Fringe Cards: None.
Chaff Cards: None.

Overview

Nothing to wet our knickers over. If we play Blue, then the Psychic Drain and Circu will probably make the team.

Izzet

Excellent Cards: Izzet Boilerworks.

One Karoo does not a cardpool make. For Izzet, we need Chronarchs, not Lands. Sure, we appreciate the Boilerworks, but it hardly plucks out play-hairs.

Playable Cards: Wee Dragonauts.

I’m not that keen, to be honest, but I can see their value. The thing is, their pump ability is largely irrelevant. Maybe I’m just lucky, but I’ve never been on the losing end of a Dragonaut-pumped block.

Fringe Cards: Leap of Flame.

A dirty combat trick, though it can be excellent when replicated.

Chaff Cards: Mizzium Transreliquat.

Hey Abe, got any trades?

Overview

Nothing here of any consequence.

Black

Excellent Cards: Douse in Gloom; Ostiary Thrull.

While we’ve no Last Gasp, we have its bastard cousin: Douse in Gloom. I love this little card, but I must admit I feel annoyed when my opponent plays guys with a toughness of three or greater. It’s a no-nonsense spell, and the lifegain can be a game-swinging revelation. Douse in Gloom: does exactly what it says on the tin. Ostiary Thrull, while costing four mana, is a tapper: and tappers win games. Whether he’s stopping the wobbly monsters connecting with your chin, or stamping on the spiders while your flies peck away, he’ll always have a home in any Black and White Limited deck.

Playable Cards: Daggerclaw Imp; Mausoleum Turnkey; Mortipede; Brainspoil.

I’m never disappointed with Daggerclaw Imp. Okay, so he doesn’t block… but he trades (or swings past) Silhana Starfletchers with consummate ease. Coupled with Lemmy, the Veteran Armorer? Golden. Mausoleum Turnkey is of a similar status: Gravediggers are always welcome, even if his ability is situational. If played right, you’ll always fetch the guy you desire. Mortipede can swing you into the Winner’s Circle, and Brainspoil stops you getting beaten down into the Loser’s Sewer.

Fringe Cards: Clinging Darkness; Netherborn Phalanx.

Maybe I’m hating on the Clinging Darkness a little much here… but if it killed stuff like Selesnya Evangel, I’d love it to pieces. In blocks past, all the little utility guys were x/1. Now, the main offenders are x/2, meaning the Darkness loses strength. Shame. As for Netherborn Phalanx… I see this guy as a fine finisher when facing the might of Selesnya, especially in a U/B aggro flyers deck. In this pool, however, he’s little more than an overcosted chump-stick.

Chaff Cards: Infectious Host; Shred Memory; Blood Funnel; Poisonbelly Ogre.

Infectious Host is appalling, Shed Memory is galling, Blood funnel is degrading, and Poisonbelly Ogre is… sh**.

Overview

As with the other colors thus far (disregarding Blue), we’ve some speckly shiners and some matt-black dullards. Black, however, provides us with our only real removal… so it looks like the Black Boys will take the title today.

Golgari

Excellent Cards: None.
Playable Cards: None.
Fringe Cards: Svogthos, the Restless Tomb.

We’re really scraping the barrel here. Svogthos is one of the weaker uncommon lands from Ravnica Block (the less said about Nivix, the better). With some mass removal, like Hour of Reckoning or Savage Twister, this guy increases in playability… most of the time, however, I’d rather see a basic land. Svogthos? Svog-toss.

Chaff Cards: Woodwraith Strangler

I hope someone strangles the guy who creates this piece of wood-pulp detritus. I’m sure someone out in forumland will love him, however. Me? I’d rather chew my leg off and beat myself unconscious with the wet end.

Overview

There’ nothing to say here. Nothing at all. Really. If I were you, I wouldn’t even bother finishing the paragraph. Seriously. I’m just typing drivel now. Honest! Look, there’s nothing else to read here. Go away! Move on to the Red cards! Please! Leave me alone! This paragraph is redundant. Aaaaand… sleep.

Red

Excellent Cards: None.
Playable Cards: Sell-Sword Brute.

No excellent Red cards? No Galvanic Arc, no Viashino Fangtail, no Cleansing Beam? Come to think of it… one playable Red card?! No Fiery Conclusion, no Indentured Oaf, no… ah, sod it.

Fringe Cards: Sparkmage Apprentice; Incite Hysteria; Viashino Slasher; Ghor-Clan Bloodscale; Rain of Embers.

Sparkmage apprentice is like Clinging Darkness. If Lurking Informant and Selesnya Evangel were 1/1 beasts, this card would be golden. As it is, Lil’ Sparky doesn’t pack enough punch to make the Playable Posse. I’ve ran him before, and will do so again, as he pisses with combat math and helps in times if removal famine. Incite Hysteria is a card |I’d like to avoid, but have been forced to play when roused. In a ground-stall, it’s pretty cool… except the world and his dog plays with a Rainbow Zoo these days. The Slasher and the Bloodscale are poor creatures: the Slasher in particular. The Bloodscale has some qualities… First Strike is nice… but like Grimsby, I’d rather not go there. Finally, the Rain to Embers is a fine sideboard card to trump the token touts, but little else.

Chaff Cards: Torpid Moloch.

Torpid Moloch? Rancid Bollock.

Overview

I love Red card, but this Red offering needs putting out of its misery. If Dan Paskins were dead, he’d be rolling in his grave. In fact, as he’s alive, he’s probably digging a grave right now, specifically for rolling in.

Gruul

Excellent Cards: Streetbreaker Wurm; Gruul Turf; Burning-Tree Shaman.

Ah, some cards to get excited about! The Streetbreaker Wurm is lovely, especially when accelerated out by Signets or Elves. He’s a little prone to removal, unlike Siege Wurm (who laughs at the Ribbons of Night), but he trades with almost anything in the park. Add a Pollenbright Wings for creamy goo-filled pant-goodness. As with all the Karoos, the Gruul Turf is more than playable. Of course, we already know this.

Finally, there’s the Burning-Tree Shaman, a cut-down price 3/4 for three mana. Thing is, although I’ve got him up here at Excellent… is he really that good in Limited? In playing him, I found him mediocre. Probably because he worked so well with my Sandsower, heh. Come to the forums and share your Shaman sausages.

Playable Cards: None.
Fringe Cards: Wild Cantor.

Some folk love this little spod. Me? I think he’s little more than ring-biscuits. Wow, you can accelerate into a turn two Burning-Tree Shaman! Woot! Then what? Frankly, I’d rather play another land. Am I wrong in this?

Chaff Cards: None.

Overview

The Shaman and the Streetbreaker are very nice, I feel. Enough to force Green and Red? Probably not… but maybe.

Green

Excellent Cards: Farseek; Elvish Skysweeper; Siege Wurm.

Mana acceleration is always welcome, especially when it adds a speck of color-fixing. Farseek is fantastic, if rather dull. Siege Wurm, on the other hand, is all flash-bang-wallop! A 5/5 that can hit play early with some godly Convoke action… what’s not to love? Finally in the Green School of Excellence, I include a lowly 1/1 elf… Elvish Skysweeper is usually nothing short of amazing. In fact, he’s probably the only reason to play Clinging Darkness these days. This guy shuts down a flying army fast, fast, fast! Don’t leave home without him.

Playable Cards: Gather Courage; Silhana Ledgewalker; Gruul Scrapper.

I like the Ledgewalker. As well as his ledge-walking ability, he brings untargetability and evasion to the table. Fine when holding a Sword of the Paruns, for example, or when Cloaked up ‘til Christmas. He also enables Bloodthirst, and that’s no bad thing. Gather Courage is our fine Giant Growth variant, and the convoke ability attacked makes for some spicy tapped-out pumps. Tricky, and finger-lickin’ good. Finally, there’s Gruul Scrapper. I’m not that enamored with this guy, I’ll admit. He’s too fragile. Having said that, he still swings for three, and trades with fellas above his weight.

Fringe Cards: Goliath Spider.

Fear him! Fear the GOLIATH Spider! Watch how he smashed all like flies beneath him! Do not get caught in his mighty web!

“Goliath Spider can block as though it had flying.” Yeah, right. As if a 7/6 will be on blocking detail.

Big, fat, wobbly monsters. If you’ve nothing better, then fill your boots.

Chaff Cards: Dryad’s Caress; Beastmaster’s Magemark.

Dryad’s Caress is an icy touch indeed, and Beastmaster’s Magemark is hardly a Rancor. Never in a month of Sundays.

Overview

Green has some nice dudes today, especially when coupled with Gruul. I don’t think it’s enough to eclipse the Blue goodness, though. At least, I don’t think that now. At my PTQ, I was Green Boy all the way.

Other Cards

Excellent Cards: None.
Playable Cards: Terrarion.

Smooths your mana, for a turn at least. Draws you a card. It’s all good.

Fringe Cards: None.
Chaff Cards: None.

Overview

An overview for one bloody card? That’s a bit previous!

…

So you wanna see my build? Really? Okay, if I must. Here it is, in all it’s non-Blue glory…

I was blinded by the wobbly monsters, you see. Green, for Wurms Streetbreaker and Siege. Red, for the Burning-Tree Messiah. Add a smidge of removal, and a couple of flyers, and Bob’s your auntie’s live-in lover.

At my PTQ, I piloted this pile to an astounding 2-3-1 result, being knocked out of contention by round 3.

I know I criminally underestimated the Blue here… but even with the Islands, is this pool good enough to make a Top 8? I doubt it.

Ah well, that’s me for another day. Join me next time, when I analyse my two remaining cardpools in one smashing uber-article! Then, my final PTQ… and who knows? Maybe a picture of a smiling Scouser clutching a Blue Envelope.

I used to live in denial, but that was a depressing place. Now, I live in hope. It’s nice here. My landlord isn’t so demanding.

Until next time…
Thanks for listening.

Craig Stevenson
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