While I’ve devoted most of my free time to testing for Pro Tour: Kobe, I had the opportunity this past weekend to play some Constructed against Mike Flores. I took Mike’s U/G Beatdown deck and took it for a spin against U/G/W Solar Flare. Mike predicted it would be 7-3 in my favor – but I’ll tell you how it really played out, how to play the deck, and what kind of a matchup you can expect.
Now that no one’s talking about Prismatic much, I figured it was time to give the format a shot. I’d dabbled in Prismatic before, and found myself really frustrated. Initial forays into Prismatic Magic were stymied quickly by the presence of opposing power, and the gulf between the haves and the have-nots. So let’s run down a quick check for the impediments for the casual Prismatic player…
Back in the day, we used White Out to fuel Stormbind. Then we used Squee, Goblin Nabob. But what oh what can we use to fuel Stormbind for fun decks everywhere? Bennie has an answer!
I present to you, dear reader, five U/x control decks, and I ask you to consider them and perhaps comment on them in the forums. I know that they’re not all Tier 1, but each of them has a different intent and focuses on a different area of Blue-style control. Take a look, see what you think, and get to work controlling your games!
This upcoming weekend is the last weekend before the most of the major State Championships, and I have heard of several places that will be running unsanctioned post-Time Spiral Standard tournaments as a State Championships “warm-up”… So talking about what I have seen developing in recent weeks seems like an interesting way to have a good jam session talking about Standard and riffing on what overarching trends are developing. That said, let’s introduce you to an unlikely candidate for “The most influential land in Standard…”
Jeron sizes up the darkest color in all of Magic, chock-full of removal and… Well, what else does it have? Jeroen talks about the viability of Black in Limited and discovers that his Word spellchecker actually recognizes “Phthisis”!
[Time Spiral Limited Review, Part I: White] – [Time Spiral Limited Review, Part II: Blue]
[Time Spiral Limited Review, Part III: Red] – [Time Spiral Limited Review, Part IV: Green]
Today, we have more Standard decks from the mouth of Joe Black himself! The last time he wrote, he took a look at some decks that were popular archetypes back in the day that got a boost thanks to Time Spiral. This time around, he looks at three decks that are completely new and utilize some of the cooler mechanics from Time Spiral.
Richard continues his comprehensive series detailing the construction of the perfect manabase. Today’s offering is a travel through history… by looking at successful manabases from decks past, Richard gives us some excellent tips with which we can improve our own building technique.
Jeroen has a secret… He loves swinging with men. Big men, small men… He loves them all. Today, he faces off against the King of the Kitchen Table, Abe Sargent. Will the Pro Tour veteran prevail?
Abe has bravely stepped to the plate… the King of Casual up against a Pro Tour Winner? Can he win this one? With the deck he’s chosen to pilot, he has more than a fighting chance…
Being a Magic antediluvian has some advantages beyond gray hairs and worrying about Alzheimer’s. I’ve actually enthusiastically shuffled up some of these cards the first time around and can give you some ideas that you may find helpful. I won’t bother with the newer cards, since I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that Akroma and Call of the Herd are awesome. So, on with the Purple traipse through time…
Jeroen turns his attention to the color of massive beef: Green. As usual, Jeroen gives us a full common pick-order, a breakdown of the uncommons and rares, and as an extra-special bonus he goes over the best gold cards!
[Time Spiral Limited Review, Part I: White] – [Time Spiral Limited Review, Part II: Blue] – [Time Spiral Limited Review, Part III: Red]
Mike Flores does not create his decks in a vacuum; he tests his decks with the help of his friends at Neutral Ground and Top8Magic, and they do not always agree with the mighty Mike! So rather than just giving you his opinion on Champs, Mike interviews his teammates to ask them what they think the best deck for States is going to be. (And as an extra-special bonus, Mike Flores interviews… Mike Flores!)
Blisterguy takes a break from examining the online metagame to bring us some of the possible runners and riders for the Champs tournaments that loom on the horizon. He also brings us his deck of choice for the coming fight… if he doesn’t change his mind at the eleventh hour.
Evan continues his excellent series of video articles. This edition sees Mr Erwin wax lyrical over his pet Rakdos deck, and provide a list for the ever-popular Zoo archetype.
