In the build-up for Grand Prix: Montreal, Craig “The Professor” Jones supped from the same well as Dan Paskins — if the cards weren’t Red, then they weren’t good enough. This illuminating article traces the evolution of the Red deck in Time Spiral Block Constructed, and touches on some of the more strategic decisions you need to make when piloting the fire to the final table.
The goal of this article (and the following one tomorrow) is to provide you with a thorough analysis of the Dredge archetype as it exists in today’s Standard. This articles will start off by discussing some of the general cards used in the dredge decks, followed by a thorough matchup analysis tomorrow. I will also present an overview on how to design your own Dredge deck based on the strengths of each card in each matchup. This way, you will be able to build a Dredge deck LEGO-Style, and reap some benefit from my extensive playtesting, to put you a step ahead of the average Joe playing Dredge.
You all know the drill by now… Rich Hoaen, Canada’s finest and grumpiest draft export, takes us by the hand and drags us through the rollercoaster ride of an 8-4 TPF Draft on Magic Online. From pick 1 to pick 45, Rich shares them all, and his final deck and draft performance are analysed in the article, the forums, and beyond. Come join in the fun!
At Grand Prix: Columbus, the world and his wife were gunning for Flash. Now that particular bugbear has been banished from the format, the search is on for the next defining Legacy deck. Today, Patrick “The Innovator” Chapin brings us the deck that he claims is the strongest, most resilient Legacy deck in the format today.
Tim Aten, that far-too unfamiliar firebrand, presents us with an in-depth look at a single game from an 8-4 TPF draft. While Rich delivers a daily dose of Draft delight, Tim’s tactic takes is through two troublesome games play by play, and fills our heads with high-level in-game strategy. Seriously, as I was reading this I felt my brain expand. Welcome back, Mr Aten… you’ve been missed.
One of The Ferrett’s old pals showed up in Cleveland last week, and they got together at La Casa McJuddMetz to crack open some packs and critique each other’s plays. What did The Ferrett learn about Time Spiral Sealed this week when facing down not one, but two buddies in the Pit Of Death?
Legacy is home to a surprising number of decks that can kill on the first turn, with Belcher at the forefront in speed and reliability. In contrast, U/W/B Fish has all the tools it needs to shut down combo decks like Belcher and contain their secondary attempts. See how tactics change when the most important decisions happen before either player has a turn!
Hello everybody, and welcome to another edition of The Magic Show. This week we’re taking a look at the upcoming Tenth Edition, my thoughts on the Invitational, my deck choice for the StarCityGames PTQ this weekend, and we cover a very special debacle that occurred at Indianapolis Regionals.
Sean follows on from his excellent web article last week with a practical theory that attempts to break down the Time Spiral Block metagame. Wiffle balls, mattresses, and footprints in the sand… Sean also brings us three solid-looking decks that incorporate the format’s favorite two-drop — Tarmogoyf, the Little Lhurgoyf That Could.
You all know the drill by now… Rich Hoaen, Canada’s finest and grumpiest draft export, takes us by the hand and drags us through the rollercoaster ride of an 8-4 TPF Draft on Magic Online. From pick 1 to pick 45, Rich shares them all, and his final deck and draft performance are analysed in the article, the forums, and beyond. Come join in the fun!
In perfect time for the PTQ season, and Grand Prix: Montreal, Tiago Chan uses his first Friday slot to showcase a spicy little Reanimator deck that pushes all the right buttons. Swinging with turn 4 Akromas seems quite the value, as does burning the aggro armies into bite-sized little chunks. If you’re after something slightly off the beaten path, then Tiago has the sventy-five cards for you!
This week’s Flores Friday sees Mike answer his critics with a detailed explanation of his recent Vectors argument. By fighting a Magical battle on the expected front, a player puts himself in the unenviable position to be outclassed come games 2 and 3. However, with a little canny repositioning, the numbers can be dragged back into the winning column. If you’re serious about improving your chances at your next Constructed tournament, you can’t afford to miss this.
Happy Thursday to you all! Welcome back to the next installment in the updated Building Your First Five series. This is the fourth entry in the series. The previous series took five articles to get the final decklist finished, and then there were several articles on the restricted list, showing how to upgrade a deck, and then an article on miscellany. I intend this series to go to five articles, like the original.
I didn’t go to Regionals this year. I intended to play. I wanted to play. I built the deck. I even had it sleeved in the first new sleeves I’ve bought in a year, those new, shiny, black, “official” Magic: The Gathering sleeves with yellow lettering. Sweet, huh? So, what’s a poor boy to do when he’s all dressed for Regionals with no place to go? He makes it up! What follows is the story of how I would have won Regionals… had I attended.
Some people have told me that Mono-Red is actually terrible now that Future Sight has entered the format. I have to admit, much like in Standard, there is a strong case to be made for adding Forests and Tarmogoyfs to fight alongside the Gargadons. Or maybe adding Blue cards and Bridge From Below, and running the Bridge-Reanimator deck. Or maybe throwing the Red cards in the trash and trading for Korlash, Heir to Blackblade before it’s too late.
