At 6:30, my alarm clock went off… a loud, abrasive, annoying buzz. There was a light haze over the City of Angels as the fog that had rolled in was slowly vanishing under the early morning sun. I brewed a cup of coffee, turned on the TV to catch the early news, looked out at the early morning traffic and thought…
I am so boned.
Okay, so this isn’t strictly a tournament report… actually, there’s hardly any Magic content at all. Even so, it’s a story that bears repeating. Do you think that Mark Herberholz is the only Magic player to appear on a major television game show? If so, think again…
Valkyrie
From Norse mythology, the valkyries (multiple pronunciations, but stick with val-KY-ree and you won’t be slapped by any Norwegians) were Odin’s handmaidens who would escort the souls of fallen warriors to Valhalla and wait upon them for eternity.
So, if I get killed in battle, I’ve got Lucy Lawless at my beck and call until the end of time? No wonder the Vikings were so ferocious in combat.
Dave continues his entertaining series examining the origins of various Magical card terms and names. Today’s dalliance through the dictionary deals with the letters O through S (and probably the number 8, in true Sesame Street fashion). Are you still struggling over the correct pronunciation of Phthisis? Mr Meddish has all the answers…
Day three and we’re only up to the H’s? I’ve got time to make up. If you’re late to class, I’m explaining the origin and usage of various uncommon words that have been used on Magic cards. Pay attention, there will be a quiz later.
Our magical mystery tour through the ancient and arcane is only beginning! Admit it, this is much more interesting than Sesame Street (but not The Electric Company — The Easy Reader rules, man). We’re just starting with the C’s now in explaining the origins of Magic card names, so it’s not too late to catch up!
Language is the paintbrush by which we express ourselves to the word, so why limit yourself to the basic spectrum when there’s a panoply of colors upon which to call? If you’re interested in learning what many of these words and phrases you’ve encountered on Magic cards mean, then please, read on. I’ve tried to throw in a funny joke or two. You never know, if you’re not careful, you just might learn something.
The release of Coldsnap means many things. It’s going to throw a monkey wrench into the works of Standard. It also means that I’m going to have to redo my set binders yet again. But what really got my thinking cap all a-twitter is that there can finally be an honest-to-goodness Ice Age Block tournaments without the three-Standard-worthy-cards abomination that was Homelands.
Dave presents us with not one, not two, not three… but four Standard decklists. Updating the stronger archetypes in the current Standard with new cards from Dissension, this article is a fine springboard from which to plan your respective Regional assaults.
While I was following the Honolulu coverage, I was immediately drawn to the presence of Dimir House Guard present in the large number of Orzhov-based control decks. These control decks were utilizing the Temporary Solution idea of having multiple maindeck tutor targets that were versatile against the field (Wrath, Fetters), as well as singletons or silver bullets. It was a brilliant strategy.
I’ve been rather surprised with the flexibility and diversity of the Ravnica guilds in Standard. Each with their own individual mechanic, you would think that would pigeonhole them into specific roles, e.g. beatdown, control, etc. Not so. Case in point: the Orzhov. You would think putting together an Orzhov deck would be as simple as black and white, but in reality, there’s several shades of gray.
Dave shows us the monkey with his take on a Standard Red/Green beatdown machine. He makes some interesting choices, and a few surprising omissions. Do you agree with his build? The forums are waiting…
I keep having success drafting Blue/Black decks online. I guess milling is not sexy enough compared to hasty fliers, Saproling generators or graveyard recursion. Anyway, here’s a draft article for the masses, for those of you keeping your winter nights warm with the magic of Ravnica draft.
Since States, White Weenie splashing Red has been relegated to Tier 1.5 status as the heavy hitters in the format — which are shaping up to be Flores Blue and multi-colored Gifts Ungiven decks, among many others in the wide-open metagame — have shown the ability to handle White Weenie, regardless of what color gets splashed into it. But its number of high finishes at Champs — if not overall wins — should be an indicator that a) the deck is good but b) people were ready for it. They adapted, so WW/r should adapt as well.
I’d fallen hard for the speedy beats of WW/r (henceforth referred to, more eloquently and appropriately, as "White Lightning") ever since I got a hold of the Ravnica spoiler, well ahead of Knut’s extolling. I had a pretty well tuned version for almost a month. Unfortunately, you know how it goes with the latest “best deck”… I had a very bad feeling that I was going to be walking into the lion’s den wearing T-bone underwear, but it was far too late for me to scrounge up another set of Ravnica lands.
