I played 6 games in a row with the same guy yesterday with a deck with 4 pyroclasms, 4 volcanic fallout and 4 l-bolts, and won all 6 easily because he either got mana-screwed or mana flooded each game.
I've noticed that this guy has these problems a lot.
So after 6 games I suggested we trade decks and see what happens.
My first hand was forest, bop, mountain, borderpost, elvish piper, soul's fire, kalonian behemoth. Got the piper out on the 3rd turn, and he hadn't drawn a single one of the 12 cards in the deck that would have killed the piper, so at the end of turn 5 he was at 2. And I had just played a manabarbs.
Eight of those packs are from the Fat Pack and I decide to buy 4 more. It's generally not about finding the most efficient way of getting cards. I happen to like building (and updating) decks with the cards that I own. If I do want to get a few cards to complete a deck, I will go out and buy the singles. Generally I like seeing what I get and then either modifying existing decks with the new cards or buiding new decks.
One of the things I have discovered is that just opening packs may cause me to build decks with cards I would not normally seek out. In the past, I have ended up getting cards I don't like, but ended up making interesting decks with them just because I have them.
I play casual exclusively. None of my decks would really be good enough to have a chance at winning in any constructed tournament. Also, I like building decks with all of my cards rather than only with standard or even extended cards. I have cards dating back 15 years, so probably none of my decks would even be legal in Extended. I generally use the Vintage construction rules and have many cards banned even in Legacy.
Tournament play is something that I'm just not into. I have played in limited tournaments before, but I just felt that the tournament environment is just not that enjoyable to me.
This is pretty much how I play Magic as well. Baneslayer Angel almost obsoleting my unlimited Serra Angels was frustrating, until I realized that no one I play with is going to shell out $20 for a single card.
The rarity factor IS a limiting factor. There are no commons or uncommons I can't easily get. I will never shell out $120 for 4 cards. In fact any card I have that gets to about $20 I sell.
I think I like the Death Baron approach more. Gives the deck a bit more of a fallback plan than comboing out.
That said, I'm not sure about Blade of the Bloodchief here. In a situation where you have the thoctar but not the baron, the Blade is certainly not a bad topdeck. On the other hand, if you already have the baron and the thoctar it's a Win-More card (since a thoctar - and presumably its buddies, including the baron - ought to be able to kill easily on the turn you go off).
It could be worth testing out, though, since the blade has plenty of synergy with the Death Baron and there's at least one vampire that needs both red and black to work its magic that would LOVE having a Blade of the Bloodchief.
A couple Crypts of Agadeem with some early chump blocks would also go a long way towards being able to actually resolve said Vein Drinker and/or Thoctars. I'm sure there's a deck list at least worth taking to an FNM in one of these concepts.
The gorgon flail + thoktar is for non-zombie or budget decks. Flail + Blood cultist is pretty mean too. I've been facing zombie decks for 15 years. Kinda tired of them.
The Shikari + Greaves means they can't target your creatures, so that helps against targeted removal. Brave the elements can help against mass damage spells and targeted removal, and might allow you get get in those last few points of damage by casting on your turn. Test of Faith helps against big creatures AND makes yours hit harder. If you can find room, I like to put 1 or 2 Leonin Skyhunters in just for the evasion.
The gorgon flail is a nice card against shroud. Wall of Denial hates those snake ladies.
Bad cards aren't bad. They just shouldn't be that bad and should instead show some of that 20 years of card design knowledge by making it look good but is actually bad. Now that would be impressive to show what 20 years of card design experience can pull off, not Mindless Null.
This is completely missing the point.
There need to be cards that people who are new to the game look at and think, "This is a bad card." and be right. Especially if you're going to use a 9/9 that that is above the curve and has removal prevention in a destruction heavy environment as a counter example.
I'm pretty amazed that people are really this upset about it. It's Rust all over again, and I love that Rust exists.
I love how everyone is calling this a mistake and an accident and bad card design.
They knew how bad this card was when they printed it. Every person on the team knew. It wasn't unintentional.
They have to print bad cards. If they don't print bad cards, good cards lose some of their shine. It's also good for people learning the game. Yes, this is a bad card. There is no way around it. Yeah, their may be better cards. Yeah, you CAN use it. But there is no disputing that this is a TERRIBLE card. One of the worst. Who blocks?!? Really? For 3 mana you can get a 5/4 with no drawbacks. 3 mana for a 2/2 with a drawback is INSANE.
They intentionally print bad cards. They know they're bad. It's not bad design, it's good for the game.
Doubling Season won't abuse that card though am i right ? When you used the "extra turn" ability you have to bounce the land back to your hand.
Unless you can have something that lets you move counters around. Skip a turn to create a counter, move one of the two created off of it, tap & bounce it to get an extra turn, play it, then move the counter back to it, tap it & bounce it to get an extra turn.
Edit: You'd need something to untap it to get do this all the same turn.
606.2a. If an object has an activated or triggered ability printed on it that exiles one or more cards, and another ability printed on it that refers either to "the exiled cards" or to cards "exiled with [this object]," these abilities are linked. The second ability refers only to cards in the exile zone that were put there as a result of the first ability.
This rule does say that it only refers to cards in the exile zone, but you're parsing it differently than I think it was intended.
The first part of the rule talks about a link between the objects, and I think the second part is saying that when it says "exiled with [this object]" it is precluded from using a different card in the exile zone, not that the card has to actually be in the exiled zone.
If this is the only place that it says that it is only refering "to cards in the exiled zone..." then it needs to be stated more specifically, because that has context that changes what it means.
Here's how it can be negative (for someone like me, who never opens a pack).
The prices for booster boxes could go through the roof. Especially if there are a lot of people (with lots of dough) who collect older cards decide they want to have some fun and buy several cases.
Here's how it can be positive (for someone like me who never opens a pack).
Hopefully there will be tons of common/uncommon playsets on ebay because of all the people buying cases and cases with nothing to do with all the of the non-reserved cards.
At the very least it's a very interesting ploy that will make people talk about the game more.
I've noticed that this guy has these problems a lot.
So after 6 games I suggested we trade decks and see what happens.
My first hand was forest, bop, mountain, borderpost, elvish piper, soul's fire, kalonian behemoth. Got the piper out on the 3rd turn, and he hadn't drawn a single one of the 12 cards in the deck that would have killed the piper, so at the end of turn 5 he was at 2. And I had just played a manabarbs.
--Loved It Spikey
--Casual Spikey
This is pretty much how I play Magic as well. Baneslayer Angel almost obsoleting my unlimited Serra Angels was frustrating, until I realized that no one I play with is going to shell out $20 for a single card.
The rarity factor IS a limiting factor. There are no commons or uncommons I can't easily get. I will never shell out $120 for 4 cards. In fact any card I have that gets to about $20 I sell.
--Family Man Spikey
The gorgon flail + thoktar is for non-zombie or budget decks. Flail + Blood cultist is pretty mean too. I've been facing zombie decks for 15 years. Kinda tired of them.
--Budget Liker Spikey
--Themed Spikey
--Using That Now Spikey
4x Leonin Den-Guard
4x Auriok Steelshaper
2x Loxodon Punisher
3x Leonin Shikari
4x Auriok Glivemaster
3x Sword of Fire and Ice
4x Bonesplitter
2x Loxodon Warhammer
3x Lightning Greaves
1x Gorgon Flail
1x Wispersilk Cloak
4x Brave the Elements
4x Test of Faith
Of course, if you can get them, Umezawa's Jitte" target="blank">Umezawa's Jitte is crazy. You can replace the warhammers or swords for them. Sword of Fire and Ice is also crazy. If you can't get those, Trusty Machete will work.
The Shikari + Greaves means they can't target your creatures, so that helps against targeted removal. Brave the elements can help against mass damage spells and targeted removal, and might allow you get get in those last few points of damage by casting on your turn. Test of Faith helps against big creatures AND makes yours hit harder. If you can find room, I like to put 1 or 2 Leonin Skyhunters in just for the evasion.
The gorgon flail is a nice card against shroud. Wall of Denial hates those snake ladies.
--Leonin Spikey
This is completely missing the point.
There need to be cards that people who are new to the game look at and think, "This is a bad card." and be right. Especially if you're going to use a 9/9 that that is above the curve and has removal prevention in a destruction heavy environment as a counter example.
I'm pretty amazed that people are really this upset about it. It's Rust all over again, and I love that Rust exists.
--Wow'ed Spikey
They knew how bad this card was when they printed it. Every person on the team knew. It wasn't unintentional.
They have to print bad cards. If they don't print bad cards, good cards lose some of their shine. It's also good for people learning the game. Yes, this is a bad card. There is no way around it. Yeah, their may be better cards. Yeah, you CAN use it. But there is no disputing that this is a TERRIBLE card. One of the worst. Who blocks?!? Really? For 3 mana you can get a 5/4 with no drawbacks. 3 mana for a 2/2 with a drawback is INSANE.
They intentionally print bad cards. They know they're bad. It's not bad design, it's good for the game.
--Chimney Imp Spikey
If this is the case (prevented damage is the same as it not happening), I fail to how the reminder text for protection is wildly inaccurate.
--Confused Spikey
--Assuming Spikey
Unless you can have something that lets you move counters around. Skip a turn to create a counter, move one of the two created off of it, tap & bounce it to get an extra turn, play it, then move the counter back to it, tap it & bounce it to get an extra turn.
Edit: You'd need something to untap it to get do this all the same turn.
Edit 2: And I have found that card. Giant Fan More seriously: Leech Bonder" target="blank">Leech Bonder
--Tap & Bouncer Spikey
--
This rule does say that it only refers to cards in the exile zone, but you're parsing it differently than I think it was intended.
The first part of the rule talks about a link between the objects, and I think the second part is saying that when it says "exiled with [this object]" it is precluded from using a different card in the exile zone, not that the card has to actually be in the exiled zone.
If this is the only place that it says that it is only refering "to cards in the exiled zone..." then it needs to be stated more specifically, because that has context that changes what it means.
--Lurker Spikey
The prices for booster boxes could go through the roof. Especially if there are a lot of people (with lots of dough) who collect older cards decide they want to have some fun and buy several cases.
Here's how it can be positive (for someone like me who never opens a pack).
Hopefully there will be tons of common/uncommon playsets on ebay because of all the people buying cases and cases with nothing to do with all the of the non-reserved cards.
At the very least it's a very interesting ploy that will make people talk about the game more.
--Intrigued Spikey