Countdown to Grand Prix: Columbus! Previously, Kevin claimed that “aggro-board control is the new aggro-control.” This week he steps up to try to prove it with aggressive strategies built around very powerful cards. As a bonus he talks about how to choose a deck for the Grand Prix and Grand Prix trials.
Tiago went to Grand Prix: Massachusetts without a Two-Headed Giant win to his name (at the GP level, at least). Pairing with the mighty Shuhei Nakamura, surely this diabolical run was about to change? Well, they got their win… but how did they do in the tournament as a whole? Tiago takes us through the highs, the lows, and the crazy good times.
It’s finally happening, folks… Raph has all the technical know-how in place, and he’s ready to draft with the Great Magical Unwashed! I myself will be putting my name down to be Raph’s wingman in the coming weeks, so be sure to sign up early. Today’s draft sees the Hall of Famer take a fellow named Rapcat by the hand and walk him through the creeks and canyons of an ornery 8-4 draft, producing an interesting deck and questioning each pick along the way. For details of how to join the fun, read on!
After placing 8th at Grand Prix: Amsterdam, Jeroen Remie and Victor van der Broek had nothing to prove. Their knowledge of the format is unquestionable, and their appearance at Pro Tour: San Diego is a given. Of course, when a pair of flights is up for grabs, then winning a PTQ is always welcome… so that’s what Jeroen and Victor did! Today’s Ask The Drama brings us their hints and tips for the 2HG format, and a little rundown of the Top 10 shows on television.
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 TTP 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!
Last week’s Mock Block tournament proved to be a great success, and another is in the pipeline soon. Today, Josh takes us through some of the observations made when playing the format, and sets out a blueprint for success. If your Block deck of choice can’t tick the checkboxes here, it’s back to the drawing board!
I had an impulse, an urge, an inspiration. I wanted to build around a card, and the first thing in my head was “Well, may as well take land out of the deck editor filter, since I couldn’t really build a deck around a land.”
Or could I?
After last week’s foray into Time Spiral Block Constructed, it’s time for me to wend my weary way back to the Standard streets. As usual, Magic Online has been awash with Premier Events, and I’ve trawled the Top 8 replays in order to bring you what’s winning and what’s losing. As we’ve nine Top 8s to work through today, I won’t waste your time with any more pointless introduction.
Jamie is in a contemplative mood this week. In the midst of this, he brings us a plethora of Standard and Extended decks for our perusal. Yes, there are Green cards here… but they are not alone. In his ongoing quest to place himself prominently on the Magical Map, his decks offer promise for anyone looking to try something a little different…
During Constructed tournament downtimes, such as the current Two-Headed Giant Limited PTQ season, Richard has traditionally retreated to the seclusion of Magic Online for his sixty-card fix. This time, however, he has a mission — to become a better Deck Designer. While he is pleased with his ability to tweak decks, building them from the ground up is currently beyond him. Join him on his journey toward rectifying this deficiency in his game, and see if he can create a deck that breaks Standard wide open!
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 TTP 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!
Chris takes two copies of the Ritual of Rebirth preconstructed deck, and smashes them together in an attempt to fuse a competitive casual deck from the resultant debris. However, this time he’s up against it. Where oh where is the precious removal? Can a deck survive on creatures alone? Or did Chris cave and supply some creature-kill of his very own? Read on to find out!
It’s official — Wild Pair and Slivers are the Block Constructed Soup du Jour. The world and his mate, it seems, are on the lookout for the perfect way to pair these two strategies. We’ve heard from Nick Eisel, from Patrick Chapin, from Evan Erwin… Now it’s Mark Young’s turn. Still wondering how to get the most from this six-mana game-altering enchantment? Maybe Mark has the strategies for you!
Are today’s Extended decks as good as those of years past? To find out, 32 of the best of the best — including five decks from this past season — are fighting it out in a single elimination tournament. It’s a battle of monsters — and banned cards: Time Spiral, Memory Jar, Survival of the Fittest, Necropotence, Dark Ritual, Entomb, Tolarian Academy, Demonic Consultation and Replenish are all in play. Can Duress, Force of Will and Wasteland really beat PT: Tinker brokenness? Let’s find out.
Ferrett opens a very strong card pool in this week’s Sealed Deck exercise… But he has second doubts not about the cards themselves, but the way he sorts them. How should a Sealed Deck writer sort his card pool in order to show what he really thinks of each of the cards? He’s got some ideas, but he needs your help!
