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Type One Basics: Testing and Preparation

We all do it, or at least should. We think about what decks we’ll have to face, how we will defeat them, and how to shore up any weaknesses we might have against certain matchups. JP Meyer recently likened Type One to the PTQ scene. What does this mean to those of us who want to be playing next week’s deck? It means we have to do the usual preparation: test matchups, shore up weaknesses, and evaluate the environment. In addition to this, we also have to create the next “deck to beat”. Today I’m going to explain how I helped create an entirely new archetype out of an old Type One staple and turn it into one of the most powerful decks in the environment.

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Drafting Zebras Part II

This half includes the final build of the deck and the results from playing out the draft.

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Sullivan Library: Making the Best Deck Better

Magic: the Gathering Champs logoFew writers on this site have discussed it recently because one fact about States has remained constant and obvious: Affinity is the best deck. However, since everyone knows this, Affinity players will have to fight through a wall of hate in order to reach the elimination rounds, a task that won’t be easy. Today, Adrian shares some ideas on how to modify the best deck in the field to better compete against hate, and applies them to what is certain to be the most popular deck at champs. If you plan to play or to beat Affinity this weekend, then you might want to take a look.

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Lessons from Grand Prix: Austin

I have to admit I had high hopes coming into this GP. Not only did I feel I had a virtual stranglehold on the draft format, but it would have been poetically great. You see, I only had one really good year in Magic. That year began with GP: Houston. I figured, what better place for a comeback than the state where it all began? What I failed to realize was that my skills aren’t what they once were, and there was a day of sealed before the draft. Regardless, there was a lot to be learned from my heartbreak that weekend, and hopefully the wisdom I gained will help the rest of you become better Limited players.

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Sealed Revealed: Card Pool Six

To celebrate reaching the halfway point of this outstanding series, Craig has created a little song to go along with his analysis of today’s card pool:
Are your matches fairly tame?
Want success in this fine game?
All you need for instant fame
Is Double Yamabushi’s Flame!

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Pucker Up, Buttercup – It’s Our Anniversary

John Matthew takes a look back at the year that was through his own eyes, analyzing his successes and failures as a writer, a Magic player, and an all-around swell guy. Here’s a brief excerpt to whet your appetite:

I have been writing for this here site here for exactly one year. Although I won the weekly article contest on my first try, I have swiftly broken the record for most-flamed Feature Writer.

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French Food for Thought – Champions Blue in Limited

Yann continues his Limited review, this time giving his opinion on Blue, the color that is probably the toughest to figure out in the entire set. Which card does he feel is the best Blue common, and exactly how highly does he rate the best Zubera in the set? You’ll have to read the article to find out, but there might be a few surprises for you along the way.

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Yawgmoth’s Whimsy #113: Altered States — Foretelling the Metagame

Magic: the Gathering Champs logoPeter kicks off States week by stretching his precognitive powers as far as they will go, and then delivers some helpful lessons for first-timers and veterans alike about what they should expect and be prepared for in the States metagame.

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Sealed Revealed: Card Pool Five.

Alright people, it’s time to check out the article series that has everyone talking. If you have any interest at all in improving your Limited game, or if you just like good writing, then Sealed Revealed is for you. Craig’s articles are well-written, delightfully funny, and the forums have been blowing up discussing them, so isn’t it about time you hop on board and see what all the fuss is about?

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Preparing for States: What would Dave Price and Jamie Wakefield Do?

Magic: the Gathering Champs logoDan is back to deliver you not just one, but two different decks, just in time for States. He starts off by channeling Jamie Wakefield to deliver you the best Green deck he could come up with for current Standard, and then tells you what deck he will be playing on Saturday. This article is an absolute must read, because even if you already know what you are playing this weekend, your opponents might not, and Dan’s decks have a habit of changing the metagame.

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The Case for MeanDeath Part III – Sideboarding and Matchup Analysis

In Part One, I made the case for MeanDeath as a serious contender in the format. In Part Two, I walked through some of the important considerations that will guide your gameplay. In this article, I wrap up the discussion with an explanation of various sideboard decisions, suggestions on how to sideboard, and a give run-through of the important matchups. I’ll conclude with some final considerations that will tighten up your game.

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The 2004 Championship Deck Challenge: Keys to the Kingdom

Ahh, Green Week!

I actually have an interesting build of Tooth and Nail that independently echoes some commentary that I’ve read from players like Antonino DeRosa and giant monsters expert Jeff Garza. For whatever reason, I elected to go a different direction for Green week and learned some surprising things along the way.

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Undersmerling in a Lester Crash: Champions of Kamigawa Blue for Limited

Fifty miserable, lousy Blue cards. This probably goes without saying by now, but this is an approximate pick order. More than anything, it’s meant to give you a jumping-off point on power levels and/or usefulness of the Blue cards in the set. Nonetheless, I’d appreciate seeing any disputes, minor or major, in the forums. It’s nice to have one of these lists out there for each color for posterity, and in a few months we can look back and see how foolish we were.

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The 2004 Championship Deck Challenge: Seeing Red (Lose)

Systems theory is great. The idea that something in a group affects everything is so elegant to me. For example, the butterfly effect on a weather group. Or the metagame. You know, like splash damage. Or in the case of Red decks, splash splash damage. You see, I predict there will be two effective decks at Champs this year: Affinity and Green decks. Affinity is the best, and Green is the obvious foil. Plus it seems everyone loves Sakura-Tribe Elder. So what does that mean for Red?

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Sealed Revealed: Card Pool Four

Another list, another barrage of decisions… we leap through hoops of fire, searching for the golden promise. But sometimes, the massed catalogue of intelligence is too much to bear. We drown in the cards, in the names and the system, floundering for something tangible. I’ve got one more pool for you to peruse this weekend, so follow me and then hop into the forums to chime in with your opinion on this successful experiment.

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