With this model, which I call '4D Deckbuilding,' I present a framework for analysis of a deck, in either constructed or limited.
First you must know your deck's win condition, that is, what is it actually trying to do? Is it trying to bring your opponent to 0 life as quickly as possible? To protect some fat with counter-magic and removal? Execute a combination of a few cards? Or is it some alternate win condition, like milling or poison?
Once you know this, you can begin analysing the deck into four temporal dimensions: Height, breadth, depth and duration.
HEIGHT
-Power level
How powerful are the cards in the deck? A taller deck will contain consistently powerful cards. Synergy is relevant.
BREADTH
-Tree
How wide is the decision tree or strategic breadth of the deck? Can it hit artifacts, enchantments or lands? Can it minimise your opponent's decision tree?
This is relevant to both the main deck and sideboard.
DEPTH
-Meta
Where does the deck sit in the sea of all the decks being played? That is, how well is the deck optimised for the metagame? A deep deck will have been tested and optimised for the field, a shallow deck may look good in a vacuum, but hasn't yet been proven to solve the current metagame.
DURATION
-Curve
-Tempo
Duration, or time, has two interpretations. First is the curve of the deck. How well does it play in the beginning, middle and end of the game? How does it curve out?
Secondly, how well does the deck gain a resource advantage? Is it drawing cards or 2-for-1ing your opponent? Does it disrupt your opponent's resources, like their hand or lands?
A good deck will have been optimised in all four dimensions.
Feel free to try thinking in this way about deckbuilding and test how helpful this model actually is in practice. I would also be interested in hearing comments and suggestions for improvement.
By Jonah Mann
With this model, which I call '4D Deckbuilding,' I present a framework for analysis of a deck, in either constructed or limited.
First you must know your deck's win condition, that is, what is it actually trying to do? Is it trying to bring your opponent to 0 life as quickly as possible? To protect some fat with counter-magic and removal? Execute a combination of a few cards? Or is it some alternate win condition, like milling or poison?
Once you know this, you can begin analysing the deck into four temporal dimensions: Height, breadth, depth and duration.
HEIGHT
-Power level
How powerful are the cards in the deck? A taller deck will contain consistently powerful cards. Synergy is relevant.
BREADTH
-Tree
How wide is the decision tree or strategic breadth of the deck? Can it hit artifacts, enchantments or lands? Can it minimise your opponent's decision tree?
This is relevant to both the main deck and sideboard.
DEPTH
-Meta
Where does the deck sit in the sea of all the decks being played? That is, how well is the deck optimised for the metagame? A deep deck will have been tested and optimised for the field, a shallow deck may look good in a vacuum, but hasn't yet been proven to solve the current metagame.
DURATION
-Curve
-Tempo
Duration, or time, has two interpretations. First is the curve of the deck. How well does it play in the beginning, middle and end of the game? How does it curve out?
Secondly, how well does the deck gain a resource advantage? Is it drawing cards or 2-for-1ing your opponent? Does it disrupt your opponent's resources, like their hand or lands?
A good deck will have been optimised in all four dimensions.
Feel free to try thinking in this way about deckbuilding and test how helpful this model actually is in practice. I would also be interested in hearing comments and suggestions for improvement.
Remember: All models are bad; some are useful.
Peace and have fun.
Got smashed by goblins (hence the pestilence), smashed slivers even without drawing a swamp both games.
2 Plague Stinger
1 Toxic Nim
4 Hunger of the Howlpack
1 Blight Mamba
4 Predator's Strike
4 Cystbearer
4 Rot Wolf
1 Tel-Jilad Fallen
3 Untamed Might
4 Consume Strength
1 Bonesplitter
4 Ichorclaw Myr
4 Corpse Cur
14 Forest
8 Swamp
2 Plague Stinger
4 Pestilence
1 Toxic Nim
3 Tel-Jilad Fallen
2 Bonesplitter
This list is not much more than 'OK.'
Maybe it could be improved.
4 Squadron Hawk
4 Soltari Visionary
4 Rogue Elephant
1 River Boa
1 Mire Boa
4 Soul's Attendant
1 Spore Frog
4 Soltari Foot Soldier
1 Gerrard's Command
1 Vitalize
1 Bonesplitter
1 Mana Tithe
1 Hallow
4 Manamorphose
8 Forest
12 Plains
3 Dust to Dust
3 River Boa
3 Mire Boa
3 Spore Frog
3 Hallow
4 Ninja of the Deep Hours
1 Agony Warp
1 Snap
1 Disfigure
1 Grasp of Darkness
1 Island
1 Doom Blade
1 Brainstorm
4 Mulldrifter
3 Mystical Teachings
8 Swamp
1 Oona's Grace
1 Rewind
1 Serrated Arrows
4 Glimmerpost
1 Deep Analysis
1 Snuff Out
1 Island
1 Pestilence
1 Gigadrowse
4 Cloudpost
1 Echoing Decay
4 Stinkweed Imp
4 Counterspell
8 Island
2 Duress
1 Mystical Teachings
1 Spellstutter Sprite
1 Serrated Arrows
1 Geth's Verdict
1 Dispel
2 Nihil Spellbomb
2 Pestilence
1 Hydroblast
1 Daze
1 Gush
1 Echoing Truth
4 gemhide sliver
4 shadow sliver
4 homing sliver
4 necrotic sliver
4 telekinetic sliver
4 pulmonic sliver
4 sliver legion
2 fury sliver
4 reflecting pool
4 city of brass
4 gemstone caverns
4 gemstone mine
4 tendo ice bridge
1 exotic orchard
1 forest
1 Island
1 Swamp
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Misty Rainforest
3 Verdant Catacombs
4 Ghost Quarter
2 Dakmor Salvage
4 Hedron Crab
4 Drowned Rusalka
4 Glimpse the Unthinkable
3 Ideas Unbound
4 Bloodghast
4 Stinkweed Imp
4 Bridge from Below
4 Dread Return
1 Bogardan Hellkite
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
1 Angel of Despair
1 Iona, Shield of Emeria
1 Ideas Unbound
4 Pithing Needle
2 Chalice of the Void
4 Darkblast
4 Relic of Progenitus
Bogardan Hellkite could be Phantasmagorian.
Also, food for thought: Rotting Rats.
I'm not sold on
Flame-Kin Zealot
Sphinx of Lost Truths
maybe
It That Betrays
Akroma, Angel of Wrath
Inkwell Leviathan
I do also think it needs more discard (I'll try it with more Ideas Unbound) and a swamp.
.
I lol'd