Hey, I still happen to be in Shanghai three years later. There are two parts of Shanghai split by the river - Pudong and Puxi. I've been living in Puxi (the more 'developed' half) so I know about the LGSs around here. There was a foreigner-friendly LGS named Cardmaster but it shut down and is currently relocating with no set reopening date. There are other LGSs, but they are less accommodating to foreigners. One I really like is called Toys Dream.
People keep in contact using the phone/PC app WeChat (the Chinese whatsapp/LINE/etc) - we have a few MTG groups used for discussing magic, meet-ups to play, etc. If you want, I can message you, send you my WeChat ID and invite you to the chat group and the event group.
I've been preparing for Grand Prix Kobe. I went day 2 at Grand Prix Guangzhou last year with a pretty stock list and bought in on modo. (I'll post my list later)
I like 1x Lavinia of the Tenth in the sb. Pro red is never too irrelevant as decks going RBx really just rely on terminate/push/kolaghan for removal and she ignores all of those. Against several non-interactive decks like Affinity she just locks them down for a while, and if you have displacer/worship in a couple of these matches you basically lock them out. She is a champ at disabling lots of midrange planeswalkers, too.
Hey guys any tips for playing UR Gifts Storm? I have a positive win rate but it's still frustrating losing to that pile of garbage.
I side in all counters and all GY hate and prioritize TKS'ing Past in Flames, Gifts. Any tips appreciated
grave hate for PIF (most important)
explosives/ratchet bomb for empty the warrens
worship to slow them down (though they may be able to tutor into echoing truth, so if it wont fit then dont side it in)
I think 18 is the sweet spot with 8 cantrips. I usually never have to mulligan more than once, though occasionally I will have the nightmare one land - sleight - sleight - t2 no land draw. I wouldn't be too greedy.
Well blue decks are getting hit in the head with a shovel thanks to the near-legacy tier discard suite of thoughtseize, inquisition, collective brutality, TKS...
Meanwhile, blue is stuck on Serum Visions and Mana Leak. People keep blaming ramp but GP Brisbane further shows that this isn't the problem. Abzan made it to T8 despite all the ramp. Jund got 10th. Another Abzan got 15th. These decks allegedly have bad ramp matchups, and yet did just fine. Meanwhile, blue couldn't get over 20 and gets another tournament run where it can't crack T16. Blue needs better tools.
while its true that we need a better counter spell, wizards has stated they think mana leak is busted in standard so im not optimistic there.
and as for unbans there isnt anything but twin that helps in this current meta imo
if AER proved anything it is that wizards can do a decent job at balancing for modern and standard at the same time
e.g. revolt mana leak
1U (maybe UU)
target counter spell unless it's owner pays (1-2)
revolt: if a permanent blah blah blah, counter that spell instead.
Well blue decks are getting hit in the head with a shovel thanks to the near-legacy tier discard suite of thoughtseize, inquisition, collective brutality, TKS...
Me, I'm curious why Vengeful Rebel sees zero play despite being easier to kill stuff with than Wasteland Strangler (and having the same mana cost and P/T).
Talking about the new vehicles I haven't seen Untethered Express played anywhere (even Standard) though it seems rather decent with good stats + evasion and minimal crew cost, it also grows in a similar manner to Raging Ravine.
Can it be of use in some midrange/control strategy (probably with tokens to crew it from Lingering Souls/Bitterblossom) ?
I'd say that being 4 cmc with a similar growth curve as Raging Ravine, needing to be Crewed, and not providing protection from anything (unlike Swords) makes midrange not so likely to play with it.
I am a huge fan of rebel but I believe the tidehollow sculler/strangler interaction is pretty insane.
I think Yahenni's Expertise and Sram's Expertise make the cut. Wiping the board or putting 3 tokens down are both playable by themselves at 3cmc, but throwing down another spell is what seals the deal in my opinion, and it's not a matter of if but when. The red expertise is a maybe being 3cmc but needing a target is a big downside.
I don't think disallow makes it in modern since card advantage is king and 3cmc is too slow, but it could be a viable sideboard card against fringe decks. UG is a very underplayed combination in modern.
Whir is instant speed which makes it better than Reshape in several cases (fetching lotus bloom at instant speed)
Trophy Mage makes the suite of powerful 3cmc tutorable. Crucible of Worlds, Ensnaring Bridge, Swords, etc. They still gotta deal with K command though which is warpingly powerful against artifacts
It sucks that probe was banned, but I've been still testing. I like using Open the Armory as a tool kit for fetching Abundant Growth, one-of Wind Zendikon and one-of the somewhat win-more aura Shimmering Wings that lets you net infinite +1s and loots at 2 dorks and infinite mana with 3 dorks. The next set also has a powered down Abundant Growth in Unbridled Growth
Also Blessed Alliance doesnt look bad so I'm testing a couple. It doesnt draw a card but it has 3 relevant modes - gain life against burn, sac a threat, and untap creatures which nets mana with ascendancy out never mind its kinda meh mid-combo
I'm wondering if a planeswalker-themed deck route is available. Here are some ideas:
Go Bant for Oath of Nissa - lets you ponder out combo pieces basically. Get to play Tamiyo (if you want), Ajani, Gideon, and all of the busted in-bant creatures in standard.
If I played a mardu aristocrats-esque deck I would certainly play Wrangle.
Felidar Guardian is hilarious. Not sure how I feel about generally weaker resto, but it doesn't have the non-angel clause. Infinite ETB triggers with a (non-phantasmal) clone?
edit: people already figured out a 2-card infinite combo in standard, rofl. saheeli rai + felidar guardian. might even be worth a go in modern since the felidar survives bolt [but not revolt'd push :'( ]
People keep in contact using the phone/PC app WeChat (the Chinese whatsapp/LINE/etc) - we have a few MTG groups used for discussing magic, meet-ups to play, etc. If you want, I can message you, send you my WeChat ID and invite you to the chat group and the event group.
Only cards I'm interested in:
Hollow One
Reason/Live
Nimble Obstructionist
Solemnity
I like 1x Lavinia of the Tenth in the sb. Pro red is never too irrelevant as decks going RBx really just rely on terminate/push/kolaghan for removal and she ignores all of those. Against several non-interactive decks like Affinity she just locks them down for a while, and if you have displacer/worship in a couple of these matches you basically lock them out. She is a champ at disabling lots of midrange planeswalkers, too.
grave hate for PIF (most important)
explosives/ratchet bomb for empty the warrens
worship to slow them down (though they may be able to tutor into echoing truth, so if it wont fit then dont side it in)
I think 18 is the sweet spot with 8 cantrips. I usually never have to mulligan more than once, though occasionally I will have the nightmare one land - sleight - sleight - t2 no land draw. I wouldn't be too greedy.
if AER proved anything it is that wizards can do a decent job at balancing for modern and standard at the same time
e.g. revolt mana leak
1U (maybe UU)
target counter spell unless it's owner pays (1-2)
revolt: if a permanent blah blah blah, counter that spell instead.
I am a huge fan of rebel but I believe the tidehollow sculler/strangler interaction is pretty insane.
I don't think disallow makes it in modern since card advantage is king and 3cmc is too slow, but it could be a viable sideboard card against fringe decks. UG is a very underplayed combination in modern.
Whir is instant speed which makes it better than Reshape in several cases (fetching lotus bloom at instant speed)
Collective Brutality is bonkers for shifting so much favor towards black decks against aggro.
Also Blessed Alliance doesnt look bad so I'm testing a couple. It doesnt draw a card but it has 3 relevant modes - gain life against burn, sac a threat, and untap creatures which nets mana with ascendancy outnever mind its kinda meh mid-comboGo Bant for Oath of Nissa - lets you ponder out combo pieces basically. Get to play Tamiyo (if you want), Ajani, Gideon, and all of the busted in-bant creatures in standard.
Jeskai - go planeswalker control with Gideon/Chandra/Dovin and Heart of Kiran and maybe Call The Gatewatch.
dispel is the way to go to protect saheeli from player-directed burn
Felidar Guardian is hilarious. Not sure how I feel about generally weaker resto, but it doesn't have the non-angel clause. Infinite ETB triggers with a (non-phantasmal) clone?
Restoration Specialist seems useful, but nothing off the top of my head.
edit: people already figured out a 2-card infinite combo in standard, rofl. saheeli rai + felidar guardian. might even be worth a go in modern since the felidar survives bolt [but not revolt'd push :'( ]