September 3, 2014 by carteblanchehobbies

Tinyleader: a cool alternative

A lot of Magic: the Gathering players usually have a commander deck or two handy to play in between draft games or Standard night at their local gaming stores. The big nuisance with Commander decks is that the games tend to drag on for a while especially in a multiplayer setting. This is where the Tiny leader format comes in.

Rules

Decks are constructed with 50 cards, each card must not contain mana symbols not present in their Commander’s Colour Identity (ref. Rule 3, http://mtgcommander.net/rules.php) and every card should have a converted mana cost of 3 or less.

Tiny Leaders is presented to be a one on one format, with a best of three match, and 10 card sideboards. Sideboarding is done in between games. Your deck must remain 50 cards, and your commander may not change between games.

You can also read up further details in the format’s development here

It’s supposed to be a more interactive format in which players would need to play more responsive cards and somewhat more aggressively. No more losing to that random Omniscience that some random jerk just plopped into play. There’s also no ultimate control answer, as you’ve guessed it: Counterbalance is on the banned list. What’s more un-fun knowing that all your stuff is going to get countered via Counterbalance/ Sensei’s Divining Top in a format where your converted mana costs don’t go over 3 (no counting X in the casting costs of course).

Another little advantage is only needing 50 sleeves for your deck. Then there’s the whole ease of shuffling a 50-card deck versus a 100-card Commander deck. Tutors aren’t exactly that great, or at least not as awesome (since it severely cuts down on your actual business cards vs. the deck thinning they provide in Commander). While I do not personally own a Tiny Leader deck, I would encourage everyone to give the format a shot at least. It’s how a format like EDH/Commander came to be in the first place.

Here’s a nice ‘Tiny Leader’ you can get started with

The Khans of Tarkir expansion has already had a few ‘wedge’ commanders at 3-mana, so there’s more indirect support for those of you wanting to go into 3-color decks. There’s also quite a few lists that people have posted here.

September 2, 2014 by carteblanchehobbies

Tezzerator?

tezzerator old schoo

A few years back, when I started playing extended… Ok, make that many years back! There was a deck named ‘Tezzerator’ and it was full of artifact control cards to put a stranglehold on the game before eventually winning with Tezzeret, the Seeker’s -5 ability:

Artifacts assemble!

Getting to that point in the game is not going to be easy, but we’ve got just a bit of card draw, some tutoring and a few counters to get there. It’s a little list from a year ago that somewhat performed well online, but it might not be up to snuff for the current Modern metagame. After all, in extended, Tezz’s +1 ability could actually generate mana (artifact lands were not banned at that point). Nowadays, we need a Darksteel Citadel and a Mox Opal to do that kind of thing. Still, his +1 is not just for show…

Tezzerator

Modern Format

Creatures: 9
3 Spellskite
4 Trinket Mage
2 Vendilion Clique

Instants: 9
2 Cryptic Command
3 Spell Snare
4 Thirst for Knowledge

Sorceries: 2
2 Serum Visions

Planeswalkers: 3
3 Tezzeret, the Seeker

Artifacts: 13
2 Chalice of the Void
2 Engineered Explosives
1 Ensnaring Bridge
1 Grafdigger’s Cage
1 Mox Opal
1 Pithing Needle
1 Pyrite Spellbomb

1 Relic of Progenitus
1 Torpor Orb
2 Vedalken Shackles
Lands: 24
2 Academy Ruins
1 Breeding Pool
1 Darksteel Citadel
1 Forest
8 Island
4 Misty Rainforest
3 Scalding Tarn
2 Steam Vents
2 Tectonic Edge
Sideboard:

1 Spellskite
1 Vendilion Clique
4 Firespout
2 Echoing Truth
2 Counterflux
3 Blood Moon
1 Back to Nature
1 Trinisphere

The deck is very light on actual threats, so you can’t really go around spamming your artifacts and draw spells. Tezzeret is pretty awesome because he can almost instantly protect himself the turn he comes into play, thanks to this little toy:

Oldie but a goodie

He then stays at 1 loyalty and begins to ramp his way back up ever so slowly. Another thing that’s pretty neat is that you can still get to put artifacts in play with his ability through your own Chalice of the Void. So you can cast say, a Pithing Needle and have it get countered. You then put the Pithing Needle back on top of your deck with Academy Ruins. Lastly, go ahead and -1 Tezzeret, the Seeker to put the Pithing Needle into play from your deck. Tada! It’s magic!

The problem card nowaydays is Abrupt Decay. It can’t really be dealt with in this deck other than spamming Spellskites (also just an awesome card). You can ‘Negate’ one Abrupt Decay per Spellskite, so keep spamming. Also, don’t hesitate to put your Spellskites back on top of your deck with Academy Ruins. You can never have enough out if you need to protect your Ensnaring Bridge. Obviously, you could always just put the Bridge back on top as well. Both cards are also very effective at fighting the Pestermite/Splinter Twin combo, though not 100% fool-roof. You can always lose your Spellskites to Flame Slash or have your Ensnaring Bridge bounced via Cryptic Command. It’s funny actually, because that’s something you end up doing in order to win right before Tezzeret’s ultimate: Cryptic Command to tap their team and bounce Ensnaring Bridge. You then are free to attack past their tapped would-be blockers.

C’est bon!

One thing I really don’t like is the Relic of Progenitus. I believe that a Tormod’s Crypt or Nihil Spellbomb (maybe adding a Watery Grave instead of one of the other duals in the main deck). You can at least recur the Spellbomb and Crypt, but not the Relic. Usually a Relic of Progenitus activation is sometimes enough, but not always. Against a deck like Living End it might not do the job early on and they can always respond to it late game with a Violent Outburst Cascade (into the deck’s namesake : Living End). Unfortunately, even the other graveyard hate card is not efficient in dealing with them. Grafdigger’s Cage does nothing against Living End, since their creatures are exiled before they are put into play. Torpor Orb does a wee bit, but nothing great. Chalice of the Void at 0, however, is pretty darn good. At that point they will need to draw a Beast Within to deal with the Chalice, or just regular cast all their guys.

I haven’t played the deck much to really analyze any of the common match-ups and I feel that it’s always good to let people figure things out on their own. The deck is maybe on some people’s deck-building radar, but probably not a real contender at the moment. Still, the fun is always about trying a bunch of decks out and seeing what fits your play style more or seeing if you can tweak some failed experiments and turn them into success stories. Maybe with he new/old fetchlands becoming Modern-legal, the deck will have new life breathed into it. While I don’t really mind Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas much… I do prefer the original.

tezz older art Speaking of original…

August 22, 2014 by carteblanchehobbies

FNM Promo for November 2014

Eww! Gross!

Here’s another Standard FNM card. Looks like Wizards of the Coast is sticking more to newer cards instead of random Modern inserts in between. That’s probably a good thing, since it might entice a few of your draft players to eventually pick up a Standard deck for the new format. Brain Maggot is pretty much at home in some kind of Constellation deck or even just good old Mono-black (despite it losing infinite cards).

Remember that one of the only ways to get it is to go play at your local game store’s Friday Night Magic Event!

At a Magic: the Gathering store near you!

4 FNM cards are distributed – 2 to the first 2 players in the standings and 2 at random. So remember to stick around until the very end to get a chance to grab a promo even if you didn’t perform that well. You never know…

August 11, 2014 by carteblanchehobbies

POP! Wave 2 Magic: the Gathering Planeswalkers

After a rather successful wave of planeswalker toys, POP! has decided to make a second wave of vinyl figures. The expected release date is October 2014.

elspeth pop kiora pop

gideon pop srakhan pop

nicol bolas pop tezz pop

I just can’t wait!

My only gripe here is that it seems they screwed up on the skin colors of Gideon and Tezzeret. I’m pretty sure Tezzeret is supposed to be a dark-skinned planeswalker from most of the card art involving him, then again I could be wrong. What will Wave 3 look like? Are we going to get a sweet Tibalt figurine? Or variations on the ones already made. Sarkhan the Mad? I can only hope.

sarkhan the mad Khans of Tarkir is not too far off either

August 11, 2014 by carteblanchehobbies

Groot Naya

groot naya

Here’s another deck that I found quite interesting coming off the Pro Tour. It features the big guy in the article banner ‘Groot’ of Guardians of the Galaxy fame or as he is known in the Magic: the Gahtering Universe : Scion of Vitu-Ghazi (guess he had to change his name once he got to Ravnica). He does a few neat things here – making:

1) a second 1/1 bird token

2) a Voice of Resurgence token

3) a 2/2 Selesnya Charm knight token

4) a 2/2 Satyr token from the deck’s main planeswalker – Xenagos

5) a 1/1 Cat Soldier Token from Elspeth’s buddy Brimaz

Groot Naya

Standard Format

Creatures: 26

3 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
4 Elvish Mystic
1 Phyrexian Revoker
3 Polukranos, World Eater
2 Purphoros, God of the Forge
4 Scion of Vitu-Ghazi
4 Sylvan Caryatid
1 Skylasher
4 Voice of Resurgence

Instants: 5

2 Chord of Calling
3 Selesnya Charm

Enchantments: 2

2 Banishing Light

Planeswalkers: 3
3 Xenagos, the Reveler

Lands: 24

4 Battlefield Forge
3 Forest
4 Mana Confluence
1 Plains
4 Stomping Ground
4 Temple Garden
4 Temple of Plenty

Sideboard

2 Ajani Steadfast
1 Ajani, Mentor of Heroes
2 Archangel of Thune
1 Chord of Calling
1 Reclamation Sage
3 Skylasher
3 Setesan Tactics
1 Spirit of the Labyrinth
1 Xenagos, the Reveler

The list looks pretty good in the maindeck, but I have to question the sideboard choices. Skylasher over Mistcutter Hydra? Then again, I am not the one that performed well with it, am I? Still, I would really try to fit in things like Advent of the Wurm or something like Elspeth, Sun’s Champion in the sideboard.

Hammer Time!

Contrary to a few decks running Purphoros, God of the Forge this deck doesn’t ever get him to become a creature (much like my Commander deck, but that’s because I don’t want people messing with him). Scion coming into play gives you 6 free damage with Purphoros in play (same as Elspeth, but for one less mana). It’s not exactly a fair comparison either, because Elspeth is clearly the better card. Sorry Groot!

The deck seems to play long-forgotten cards of Standard past. Voice of Resurgence? Isn’t that a Modern card? Brimaz? Didn’t his hype die down? It feels somewhat refreshing to me because the last Naya deck I played was that Aurelia Spiritbinder combo deck. The addition of Chord of Calling in Standard gives us many many nice possibilities here, like Chording for a Spirit of the Labyrinth post-board. Reclamation Sage makes a small appearance too, giving us a reason to flash our recently ‘won’ copies in a Standard deck.

Reclaim some beatdown!

If you’re going to be playing in the upcoming WMCQ later this month, then give this deck a serious try in your testing gauntlet. You might be pleasantly surprised, or at the very least want to play it more often in your local FNM events. It’s got a few silver bullets, more planeswalkers after sideboard and overall fun stuff. To quote a wise being: “We are Groot!”

groot

August 9, 2014 by carteblanchehobbies

Heroic Boros

heroic boros

Here’s a cute little deck that has quite a few synergies you can try at your next FNM event or M15 Game Day.

Boros ‘Heroic’ Token Aggro

Standard Format

Creatures: 23

4 Akroan Crusader
4 Boros Elite
4 Dryad Militant
3 Favored Hoplite
4 Legion Loyalist
4 Soldier of the Pantheon

Instants: 8

4 Dynacharge
4 Raise the Alarm

Sorceries: 4

4 Launch the Fleet

Artifacts: 4

4 Obelisk of Urd
1 Spear of Heliod

Lands: 20

4 Battlefield Forge
4 Mana Confluence
1 Mountain
3 Mutavault
4 Plains
4 Sacred Foundry

Sideboard

3 Boros Charm
4 Electrickery
3 Gods Willing
3 Keening Apparition
2 Phyrexian Revoker

The deck is rather affordable for something that managed to get 18 points or more during the Pro Tour. The mana base is easily the expensive part, but I wouldn’t recommend going on the cheap with Guildgates or Evolving Wilds. You need to hit your land drops untapped on each an every turn, potentially capping at 4 lands and no more. The 20 lands is probably the least I have seen in current Standard decks, but it’s rather warranted since most of the deck costs one.

I especially like the tokens concept plus Obelisk of Urd Convoke. Sure, maybe you lose a turn but you’ll more than make up for it on the next swing. Chosen creature type? Hmm…. it’s pretty obvious

soldiers Yeah, unfortunately she’s not in M15 for some Preememinent Captain abuse

July 31, 2014 by carteblanchehobbies

RUG Slivers

rug slivers

We recently had our little influx of new slivers come into the Standard fold in Magic 2015. While they are all pretty awesome, some are a little more synergetic with others. The 3 standouts are: Sliver Hivelord, Diffusion Sliver and Venom Sliver. I had been joking for most of the RTR/Theros Standard format that I wanted to build a RUG Slivers deck because I adored the interaction between Thorncaster Sliver and Bow of Nylea. Now this is much more possible with Venom Sliver. You can even the deathtouch goodness when you’re playing defense with Striking Sliver.

The reason for not going all out 5 color or Naya are rather obvious. Black was the most superfulous color before, only providing Lifelink (something a deck that is mostly going to be the aggro doesn’t really want/need). The latest addition it provided in Leeching Sliver just seemed worse than Thorncaster Sliver (yes, yes it cost less mana).

RUG Slivers

Standard Format

Creatures: 32

3 Blur Sliver
4 Diffusion Sliver
4 Galerider Sliver
4 Manaweft Sliver
4 Predatory Sliver
1 Sliver Hivelord
4 Striking Sliver
4 Thorncaster Sliver
4 Venom Sliver

Instants: 3

3 Chord of Calling

Artifacts: 1

1 Obelisk of Urd

Lands: 24

4 Breeding Pool
4 Mana Confluence
4 Mutavault
4 Sliver Hive
4 Steam Vents
4 Stomping Ground

Sideboard
1 Back to Nature
1 Chord of Calling
2 Domri Rade
2 Flames of the Firebrand
2 Negate
1 Pithing Needle
1 Purphoros, God of the Forge
2 Reclamation Sage
2 Syphon Sliver
1 Sliver Hivelord

The White contingent of Slivers seems so deep at first, but upon closer examination is not that mana-efficient and doesn’t really give you good overall value. Bonescythe Sliver is all awesome and stuff when you’re laying down the early beats before your opponent can react, but he’s oftentimes a glorified Striking Sliver (especially when deathtouch is involved). Constricting Sliver is all “OMG! I want infinite!” until you realize that 6 mana is way to much for what is essentially a Banisher Priest. Also, how many slivers would you be holding back at that point so you can use them to exile their stuff? We aren’t exactly drawing a bunch here.

Sentinel Sliver is ok-costed, but aside from allowing us to attack and also use mana when Manaweft Sliver is in play … Meh!

Steelform Sliver is just not what we want to be paying mana for, nor wasting a slot in our decks. 4 Predatory Sliver is A) cheaper and B) overall better.

Then there’s Sliver Construct …

I can’t believe I almost forgot about it

Another reason for giving Slivers a try is that the mana is as perfect for it as it’s going to get. With 8 Standard legal sets and all the Return to Ravnica duals in circulation, it’s hard to argue. We even have 2 ‘rainbow lands’ at our disposal: Mana Confluence and Sliver Hive. Everything we are casting in this deck is a Sliver (save 4 cards in the main deck). Because of this detail, we can even hard cast a Sliver Hivelord without even the aid of Manaweft Sliver or tutoring it up with Chord of Calling.

Welcome back!

Ah yes! the glue that holds the deck together. It does exactly what this deck needs when it needs it.

Need some first strike to get your deathtouch slivers killing larger attackers? Done

Want to clear the way by deathtouch pinging would-be blockers out of the way? Done

Need to protect one of your slivers from targeted removal, sort of ? Done

Hell, do you need to do something about that ‘lucky’ Supreme Verdict your opponent just topdecked? Done

The thing that makes Chord of Calling so good in this deck isn’t that we are infinite comboing our opponents like the Kiki-Pod Modern decks. It’s that it instantly affects ALL our other slivers and doubles as a trick up our sleeve. I’ve often found myself just ‘Chording’ for a Galerider Sliver to get my team of slivers through enemy lines in order to win the game.

Quite the efficient flyer

The sideboard is very much catered to just more Chord of Calling targets as well as a few cards that can sometimes shore up weaknesses, such as all our stuff getting repeatedly Banishing Light‘ed and Detention Sphere‘d. Syphon Sliver even makes a small appearance in there, just in case you end up needing that extra little life cushion.

Another thing about the sideboard is that we really have to assume that we’ll mostly have 1 color at any time, so no random off-color spells or spells that cost 2 of the same color unless they are Slivers (Chord of Calling for similar reasons). No Boros Charms, Detention Spheres, Banishing Lights, etc. We pretty much have some Negates to protect our horde from mass removal (Supreme Verdict notwithstanding). The sideboard will probably flesh out more as the metagame becomes clearer later on.

Really a shame I can’t play this awesome looking promo sliver guy

July 26, 2014 by carteblanchehobbies

San Diego Comic Con MTG Previews

Here we have some Commander and Duel deck goodies:

Looks like one of the guys from Kahns of Tarkir preview art

One of Magic’s oldest planeswalkers

Fall COMMANDER SET – releasing November 7th, 2014

Gisa from Innistrad block, whom we knew only via flavor text

The new hologram makes all these cars look so darn sexy, eh?

Brother Of Runes

Collectible Card Game News and Articles

Tinyleader: a cool alternative

Tezzerator?

Tezzerator

FNM Promo for November 2014

POP! Wave 2 Magic: the Gathering Planeswalkers

Groot Naya

Groot Naya

Heroic Boros

Boros ‘Heroic’ Token Aggro

RUG Slivers

RUG Slivers

San Diego Comic Con MTG Previews

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Groot Naya

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