When I’m testing for a big tournament for Regionals, the modus operandi is usually to build a gauntlet, test, read, test, read, rebuild the gauntlet, settle on a deck, and, usually in my case, audible at the last second. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. This year, I thought, might be different. For, you see, I found the deck I wanted to play very, very early in the testing process.
With Regionals a week away, I have had zero time to playtest or innovate. I’m going to play at Regionals, basically, cold. I’m guessing I’m not the only one in that situation. I’ll talk about how I’m going to choose a deck, in the hopes that it might help others in the same boat.
Frankly, if you haven’t decided on a decklist by now, you probably shouldn’t attend a tournament this weekend. Most people have a pretty good idea about what they’re playing, or (as in my case) they have it narrowed down to a deck or three and they just need to choose. So instead of just ordering you to play Awesome Deck #1, #2, or #3, I offer you the lessons you really need to know for this Saturday…
Regionals is coming… and Chris is prepared. This year, he’s armed with a funky-looking deck courtesy of a close friend. It’s black, it disrupts, and it beats down. Who knows, maybe it’s the missing tech that you’re clamoring for. If you’re still undecided on your 75 of choice, maybe Chris has the answers.
Last week, Richard gave us his exciting Orzhova Suicide Squad decklist… and it proved strong enough to qualify one lucky fella for German Nationals! This week’s Road to Regionals sees Richard take the deck through its paces against the most important decks in the metagame, tweaking and collating as he goes. The deck is a contender, of that there’s no doubt. Will it be the one for you? Read Richard’s excellent article and find out!
The Road to Regionals series continues all this week, and Nick is on the case! Today he tackles the popular fringe strategy Mono Black Rack, and offers some advice for the decks you’re likely to face this weekend. A lot of Magic pundits advocate storming with the Dragons at Regionals: does the heavy discard available to the Black mage offer hope against the Four Hellkites of the Apocalypse?
Kyle Sanchez is back once more with his signature style of insanity and tech. Today he takes us through six different Standard decks, some old and some new, just in time for the Regionals carve-up this weekend. He also shares some of his favorite Future Sight cards, and reveals why he was less than pleased with the finale of Heroes…
With U.S Regionals a mere week away, Japanese Constructed specialist Naoki Shimizu offers his formidable insight into the Standard metagame. He takes a lingering look at the power cards from Future Sight, and sees what role, if any, the new cards will take in the popular decks in the format. This article is essential for those players looking to march to the Regionals Top 8 table.
Hello everybody, and welcome to another edition of the Magic Show. This week I’m going to be talking about my Standard deck that made Top 4 in the recent StarCityGames.com $1,000 Open.
Apparently, last week’s Magical Hack, Dredging Up The Past, was quite a popular read… apparently Bridge / Dredge strategies had somehow evaded the public eye. With a little bit of Standard play under our belt, I presented a deck apparently most people hadn’t seen. With a full weekend of sanctioned Standard play under our belts, we’ve got quite a bit more to look at… both StarCityGames.com $1000 Standard tournament, and the German Regional Qualifiers.
Craig “The Professor” Jones takes time from his busy Mad Scientist schedule to give his own personal view of the upcoming Regionals. He also looks at the Black offering from Future Sight, and throws up a few interesting decklists that may be the sixty-card piles strong enough to pilot you to Regionals success! Plus, for those with no Standard agenda, there’s a little Block tech to whet your whistle.
For Mike’s first Road to Regionals article this year, the 2006 Resident Genius takes the good fight to the 2007 Resident Genius, Mark Herberholz! Mike and Heezy slug it out in a ten-game set, Gruul versus NarcoDredge. Mike’s disdain for the dredge deck is well documented. After a quick ten versus Mark H, is the Price suddenly Right?
While Tiago has little knowledge of the current Standard metagame (those pesky pros needn’t play it as often as us commoners), it’s safe to say that his strategic knowledge is beyond reproach. Today’s Levelling Up is a timely reminder on how to avoid mistakes by identifying a game plan. With Regionals fast approaching, formulating clear objectives for any given scenario is a sure passport to increased success. Everyone needs a game plan… let Tiago help!
Imperiosaur doesn’t mandate single-color play, any more than Terramorphic Expanse demands five-color. People need to wean themselves off the Ravnica duals, because they not only won’t be around forever, but, god willing, we will never have cards this good again. God, I am sick of seeing three- and four-color control lists that reduce the color pie into this homogenous, $5,000 slush.
In all honesty, you could read all the strategy in the world, scour the corners of the earth for decklists, pore through statistic after tedious statistic in an effort to dissect the metagame, and none of it would help you qualify for Nationals more than this simple four-word sentence: Play Dragonstorm and stuff. (The “and stuff” is essential, for those not in the know.)
