MTG Salvation

I am worried that the card quality in MM is going to be a huge let down. Wizards' vision of what modern should be is very different from what we see on the tournament scene. We all know that wizards is turning magic into a creature-based game and de-emphasizing spells such as counters, card filtering, and hand disruption because they think beginners aren't capable of understanding or don't like such interactions.

The first cards they spoil are a creature and an iconic land that doesn't see tournament play which seem to follow this line of thinking. With the comments that MM is a limited test (I am paraphrasing but they have said something along those lines) I am worried we are going to see things like creature enchantments and cards that are never played at tournaments in rare slots because it's what wizards wants new modern players exposed to.

We almost have to think about what cards in modern does wizards like? I doubt Cryptic Command, Thoughtseize, Dark Confidant, or Kiki-Jiki will be reprinted. Plainswalkers - YES. Swords - YES. Noble Hierarch, Vendilion Clique, & Damnation - Maybe.

Has anyone tried running Tarmogoyfs? I know the intent is to curve out and put a 3 drop down on turn 2, but it doesn't always happen that way and it seems some goyfs would be solid.. better than Dryad Militant which is an awful topdeck?

Below is the deck that won GP Bilbao. There is a lot of talk that this is going to be the most prominent deck post bannings. Interestingly, like Jund, it doesn't seem to have any clear cut weaknesses.

Thoughts on potential sideboard cards?

Now that Jund and Storm are nerfed because of the bannings, it leaves Mill a lot stronger because it naturally wins against Pod, Valukut, and Twin. The lists you guys are posting do not include Mesmeric Orb which is a mistake - test with the card and you will see it mills more than any other card.

I always run 4 visions, you just have to know when you want to cantrip instead of wait.

I hear there is a new list where Kibler is now running 2 Sword of Light and Shadow, but could not find it online. I'd imagine that's what the primer should use - anyone know where to find it?

Marlon Egolf at Draft Magic has reviewed the blue commons as well: http://www.draftmagic.com/2013/01/23/gatecrash-set-review-blue/

Frilled Oculus is very strong - I've played with it in practice games twice and it was awesome both games. It seems like a 3/5 for 2 mana a turn is very solid in this format.

For limited it would be great to see these stats for only commons and uncommons.

I thought I'd start a thread for some Simic love. I chose Simic as my guild before the spoiler was complete mainly because I like blue/green (although more in a water meets nature way rather than the evolution theme in this set).

On the other hand I'm a very frequent limited player in the Austin tournament scene so I'm happy it is being considered a solid choice post spoiler. A channel fireball pro describes it as the #2 guild here.

My plan at prerelease is to play UGR. The idea is to hopefully fill the early slots with evolve creatures such as Cloudfin Raptor and Shambleshark followed by larger creatures in G/R. I already played a practice game where I had a Shambleshark up to 5/4 using this approach.

To go solely simic would require a stellar pool as we don't have much removal. Perhaps if we get 2 simic charms and some key cards like Aetherize then it would be possible. I suppose you could splash Dimir for removal, but I think the synergy is not as strong as a Gruul splash.

Please share your thoughts on Simic! What are the sleeper cards in our guild (like goblin electromancers for Izzet)? How do we plan to beat the more popular Orzhov guild?

Are any bloodrush creatures unplayable? They all look playable to me including Skinbrand Goblin and Scab-Clan Charger. I have also wondered about a deck that is all creatures with bloodrush as the mechanic to get them through. In sealed it's unlikely to be possible, but in draft it would be.

Does this exclude rares and mythics?

You can consult notes or your phone, but if your shop has only 30 minutes for deck construction I think you'll find little time to read outside sources - everything that is needed is on the cards already.

I've attended prereleases for years and recommend setting the rares/mythics aside and and then sorting the rest by color. In the case of this set you can sort the gold cards by guild.

There are generally two factors when choosing a color - (1) what high power cards or "bombs" are in the color and (2) how many "playable" cards are in the color. Sometimes you just can't play a color no matter how great some of the cards are because there aren't enough cards to support it.

Finally, you want to start laying out your potential deck in a mana curve. That is creatures with 1 cost together, 2 CMC together, and so on. Spells typically are not included in the mana curve. A good curve peaks at 3. If this is a new concept google can provide articles on how to do it. I usually repeat this process with a couple different color combinations to see different potential decks from my pool and eventually pick the deck I'm comfortable with.

Anyhow those are the type of activities you should be focused on during your 30 minutes of deck construction. If you aren't familiar with a card you are better off reading it on the spot than trying to look it up online... there just won't be a great deal of time.

I am planning on playing Simic+Gruul. So it's not my main guild, but I've been practicing with heavy Gruul sealed decks using octgn.

One thing we can do to prepare is look at the bloodrush cards and gauge whether they are typically better as a creature or better to be saved as a pump spell. As an example, Scorchwalker is almost always going to be better as a pump spell that lava axes an opponent for 3 mana. On the other hand, unless your opponent is at a very low life total a Ghor-Clan Rampager is far more powerful as a 4 drop creature with trample.

Quote from S1yDevi1

Just make sure to remember Bloodrush when you're holding Dimir Charm and Killing Glare. Using these cards upon declaration of attack step instead of waiting for guys to turn sideways will probably decide a few matches at the prerelease. I kind of like this sort of condition built into the set design. It makes for a unique limited environment.

Awesome observation I had not thought of. Thanks.

If you are playing dimir/orzhov I think this card is playable as another wall which can also trigger extort repeatedly. It seems in that color combination the prevailing strategy will be the drum up the ground and then attack with evasion creatures.