MTG Salvation

Just published an article "State of the Army: Affinity in 2019"



I talk briefly about some strategies and tactics that are useful to keep in mind for Traditional Affinity vs KCI, UR Phoenix, and Hardened Scales.

I also briefly touch on Experimental Frenzy, and arguments both for and against it.

Here's the link:

https://therobotarmy.home.blog/2019/01/14/state-of-the-army-affinity-in-2019/

Hey guys, long time lurker for this thread. Just popping in to say I've launched a blog for affinity content titled "The Robot Army", and I'd like some input from other people dedicated to the deck.

I'm also looking for co-authors for strategy pieces on the deck, so if anyone wants to submit articles over -- feel free to DM me!!

My New Years resolution was to take content creation more seriously, so this is the first step for me.

Here's my first blog post, a brief write-up of the 75 I just took to back-to-back $1k IQ Top 8s, and barely missed Regionals Top 8 with a 6-3 record, along with my thoughts on the list moving forward in preparation for SCGCOL Team Modern event this weekend:

https://therobotarmyhome.wordpress.com/2019/01/03/starcitygames-invitational-qualifier-top-8-12-29-2018

Affinity isn’t ban worthy because of a 4drop lol but the card is definitely good. I’ve been playing antiquities war in the same slot, it’s been actual gas every game it’s resolved. Similar to karn except it just kills them in 2 turns

Blood moon is more for greedy manabases than tron decks. Tron’s answers for artifacts also typically answer enchantments (nature’s claim, karn, o-stone).

Best plan for tron is go fast, ceremonious is obviously great but that isn’t a card we can bring in vs Jund decks so it’s a give and take. Tron is usually pretty swingy, either they answer your turn 3/4 kill or they die.

Mulliganing with affinity is tricky, because even a 7-card hand can be completely non-functioning. I keep most hands with a payoff and the mana to cast it in the blind. I’ve kept “2 nexi, 2 citadel, mox Champion” hands vs UWx decks before too, not explosive but grindy and hard to deal with

Woohoo Hoosiers!

Lol on related note: lantern can be brutal if they assemble bridge lock quickly, but otherwise not too shabby

Great way to look at it. You can bring in RiP if you have those in the board also, but don’t forget to bring out a ravager or two

Wise decision. Vs hollow one, you don’t board much — I bring the 3rd champion and a mountain out for 2 spellskite personally, but that’s just my hatred for ancient grudge

Hollow one has been a win for me every time, haven’t ever lost to the deck in a match. Their god draws are great, but avg vs avg we should win. Their flyers can’t pull blocker duty very well, and they usually don’t play push MB, which means we can go all-in on an Inkmoth and end the game pretty easily. Or just make a 4/4 or greater vault skirge. Or race with any creature + plating.

Xaricore:

I don’t recommend removing overseer vs tokens, he makes your entire deck beat theirs. Also if they play Lingering souls, signal Pest to 0 copies is my first cut — they get picked off too easily.

Quote from Xaricore »

Quote from kodieyost »

I personally believe that trying to pack 2-3 answers to a card that is a potential 1-3 of in our opponent’s deck, is a really bad proposition. Logically speaking, it makes very little sense to play a color-requiring card to answer their card that shuts off all but 4 of our colored sources.

You are right, it doesn’t make much sense to pack so much answers for a sideboard hate card. When my meta runs sooooooo much Affinity hate, it tends to irritate me in trying to answer it as well.

This is why I rarely play Affinity at my LGS anymore. People can hate us out very easily, so I just play durdle decks at FNM/TNM. Like tron or storm... the kind of decks I want people to prepare for at bigger events

I personally believe that trying to pack 2-3 answers to a card that is a potential 1-3 of in our opponent’s deck, is a really bad proposition. Logically speaking, it makes very little sense to play a color-requiring card to answer their card that shuts off all but 4 of our colored sources.

I don’t think the meta is *that* hostile. Clunky BBE/JTmS decks aren’t gonna get any points unless they’re genuinely well-built, at which point they’re still increasing their curves to accommodate those spells. (Read: they have fewer slots for interactive spells and more clunky hands).

My partner and I have tested a ton of the BBE Jund MU in the last few weeks, the inclusion of Bolt > Push for most of the lists makes our deck better than it used to be vs them. Their 4drop is better now (BBE is marginally better than Huntmaster/Kalitas) but they’re playing 4 now, so fewer interactive pieces. Color me excited for them to have higher CMCs to flip off their Bobs.

Master is generally worth more than 5 dmg if she sticks, but I see where you’re coming from. I’ve been meaning to test her but haven’t yet — been testing standard for a few weeks for the SCG event

Quote from Xaricore »

I’m definite adding a third mainboard Etched Champion and cutting a Memnite, once that hits the field, pretty much our best way to get in there for damage to our opponent or in this case now days, against a Jace, the Mind Sculptor. I do admit, it’ll be odd for cutting a turn one 0 drop for a 3 drop eventually.

I’ll tell you have it does tomorrow at my meta’s Modern Monday tournaments.

Ive been on 3 Champion/2master/2 memnite MB for a long time, it’s never felt wrong. Hazoret is interesting, curious to hear how he pans out. I’ll be testing with 1/1 split at TNM