Puschkin

110 Decks, 2,320 Comments, 1,024 Reputation

That's the thing, if I have Iron Maiden and add draw-7-effects, I'll be warping the deck into something else. The Chimera will play econd fiddle and at some point it will be superflous.
HIve Mind, well, I like the general idea and would do this in 1-on-1 situations, but in multiplayer there'd be way too many targets. Actually it would be super-chaotic in Pentagram, since players can give each other the Chimera prior to resolving their copy of a spell. Okay, it sounds super funny now, it won't improve the deck but it will be hilarious :)

So the equipment idea works like suspected, moving Darksteel Plate to main deck (cards in sideboard are cards I consider adding - we don't use sidesboards).

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Posted 15 January 2017 at 09:01 in reply to #594269 on Perplexing the crowd

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Nyxborn, Helvault only works on creatures anyway. Lord Cinder, I don't plan to exchange control of creatures because the opponent would get them back via Saurian anyway. The Gilded Drake is just a backup plan to get back the Chimera when I don't have a Saurian (in that case I need a non-spell and Gilded Drake being a creature means I could get it back later if I draw Saurian). Also note that if Helvault gets destroyed, creatures exiled with it will go back to the OWNERS control, meaning, if I exile creatures with it that I stole, they'll get it back.

However, I *could* use Helvault in a pinch on Gilded Drakes and Chimeras that defected ... but then I would also need a way to get rid of it so I get those creatures back in play? Probably something like Tinker to get the next Vault.

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Posted 15 January 2017 at 09:01 in reply to #594271 on Perplexing the crowd

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Homeward Path!!! Didn't know that card, great pick!

But I don't understand your reasoning about Maralen. Preventing carddraw = casting spells? Maralen forces somebody to do something, yes, but don't forget, they all get to tutor for a card instead. Somebody WILL have a solution for Maralen and/or Perplexing Chimera that I cannot steal - a simple Wrath of God for example.

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Posted 15 January 2017 at 01:54 in reply to #594275 on Perplexing the crowd

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Sky Swallower would work. But it's also risky (someone kills the Saurian in response and I am done). Even if it works it's just an 8/8 flyer (I hate to say it but these days that isn't much in multiplayer). Spawnbroker and Yasova, however, don't work since the opponent will get his stuff back. I could exile/sacrifice it with something like Claws of Gix, however, if I'd going to go that road, I wouldn't need Brooding Saurian or exchange type of cards, I'd just grab everything with Reins of Power and sac the stuff. It would be a different deck and it would be annoying and not original.
But please, let this not discourage you, I appreciate any suggestions like yours, it always makes me think, reconsider and reevaluate!

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Posted 14 January 2017 at 23:47 in reply to #594271 on Perplexing the crowd

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Omen Machine sounds okay, but it's also a bit dangerous because essentially I give everyone access to extra cards. I thought of something like Elkin Lair, but hoped there would be one in green/blue.

About protecting it - would equipments work? As I understand it right, if I equip the Chimera with, say, Lightning Greaves, and my opponent gets control of it, the Greaves are still on it, right? And I still control the Greaves, so he cannot re-equip it, right? If so, I'll probably go with Darksteel Plate.

EDIT:
Maybe I could also use something like Iron Maiden to encourage them to play stuff? But Iron Maiden would make them think I play with Prosperity, Timetwister or the like ... thus making it look more dangerous than it actually is.

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Posted 14 January 2017 at 23:39 in reply to #594269 on Perplexing the crowd

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Welcome LordCinder!

Traffic is on an all-time low. Unfortunately combo is my least favourite play style. But if you like you could have a look at one of the few combo decks I made:
http://www.mtgvault.com/puschkin/decks/maralen-lockdown/
http://www.mtgvault.com/puschkin/decks/reaplacement-killers/
http://www.mtgvault.com/puschkin/decks/blast-from-the-past-30/

But those are decks I consider finished. If you like to tinker a bit instead, here is one of my projects I am currently working on, it's not published yet:
http://www.mtgvault.com/puschkin/decks/perplexing-the-crowd/
Still in brainstorming phase. I would be glad if you had some ideas to supplement the main combos. It's a casual deck for multiplayer, though.

If you want deck reviews in return, drop a link.

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Posted 14 January 2017 at 21:50 in reply to #594219 on MTGVault: The Gathering

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Well, Virulent Wound should stay, it kind of IS removal if you have Crumbling Ashes.

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Posted 13 January 2017 at 23:02 in reply to #594163 on Phyrexian Compleation

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I am still thinking the Tainted Strike is useless most of the time.

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Posted 13 January 2017 at 13:58 in reply to #594163 on Phyrexian Compleation

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These days there are easier and more efficient ways to untap lands, there is no need to run guys like Voaging Satyr and good old Ley Druid when you could have Seedborn Muse or Garruk Wildspeaker for example. I understand that you want as many druids as possible for your Archdruid, but that's like trying to play two different decks at once.
See, 7 druids is quite a lot and most of your guys are meek 1/1s. Being able to untap a land may accelerate you and bring out more fat once you have Spawning Grounds online but until then? I just fear that both halves of the deck will get stuck midgame with not enough mana to cast Spawning Grounds and nit enough druids to activate the Archdruid and then you are forced to block with them or a random Pyroclasm or similar kills off all your hippies and that's it!

Druids to consider:
- Nantuko Vigiliante: Again, I'd feel naked without any artifact/enchantment removal. This is removal on a druid-shaped stick.
- Axebane Guardian: is actually a druid! Provides mana and can block weenies without dying.
- Mul Daya Channelers: Either beef or mana, both variants are great for 3 mana and it's a druid!
- Elder Druid: would give you more utility options like tapping opposing creatures so they can't attack (but can still be used to untap Spawning Grounds)
- Kamahl, Fist of Krosa: Surprisingly he is also a druid. He would give you an alternate path to victory with his built-in Overrun, turning your grandpas into a formidable force.
- Yavimaya Elder: Gets you more lands and if you have the mana you also draw a card. A good chump blocker!
- Ondu Giant: Ramps mana and gives you a body you can actually block with.

So, if you replace some of your guys with some of these, you might go up the mana curve a bit but this deck can afford it. Meanwhile you get lots of utility and some guys that can protect you, having impact to the game before either of your two victory conditions can hit play.

Again, some of those basic lands should be lands with special abilities like Wasteland, Yavimaya Hollow or Pendelhaven.

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Posted 05 January 2017 at 22:33 as a comment on Druid Grounds

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Kulrath Knight: Why do you care if MTGVault classifies the deck as red!? Strangest reason ever to not play a card that would be useful for the deck :)

Tainted Strike: To give creatures you steal infect? By that time you should have won already. I mean, for that to happen you would need to 1) give an opposing creature -1/-1 counters, 2) have Necroskitter in play and 3) kill that creature. And THEN you need Tainted Strike to give it also Infect? If that plan worked, doesn't that mean you have enough of that at that point? And until then it sits in your hand, useless.

Nevinyrral's Disk is helpful if you are facing any threats that isn't creature based, that's what I was aiming for. You have all the tools in the world to get creatures under control but a single enchantment or artifact can ruin your day. Again, this is probably something about your meta, if you face simple creature decks all day you'd probably be fine, but even those could run things you'll be helpless against.

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Posted 05 January 2017 at 21:56 in reply to #593929 on Phyrexian Compleation

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I'd remove Armory in favor of Ring of Thune, yes. That summarization is roughly what I would do. Spellkite is horribly expensive, though, still 20€ despite the reprint, did you take that into account?

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Posted 05 January 2017 at 13:28 in reply to #593836 on Metal Mettle

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Ah, it's refreshing to see an infect deck with a twist instead of just going face with pump!
Also, and this is something you can't know - I was a core member of Phyrexia(.com) for so many years and consider myself phyrexian, with completion as the highest goal^^ May the Ineffeble bless this deck with the worst plagues and curses he has :)

This deck is already well rounded out.

* The main thing I would change: This deck is SCREAMING for Kulrath Knight! But what to cut in order to make room?
- Whispering Specter (is weak and Kulrath Knight flies, too)
- Tainted Strike (see below)

* What's Tainted Strike for? All your critters already have infect/wither! ;)

* I expected Contagion Clasp to be in here somewhere. But I also like to see someone utilizing Glistening Oil, so I won't complain^^

* Your entire deck is about dominating creatures. I'd feel naked without a reset button like Nevinyrral's Disk.

* Some of the Swamps could be non-basics with useful abilities, for example Bojuka Bog.

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Posted 05 January 2017 at 12:15 as a comment on Phyrexian Compleation

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Sure, if you read this "deck", the offer is still online :)

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Posted 05 January 2017 at 11:50 in reply to #593922 on Puschkin, please help me!

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Maybe if this was for 1-on-1, but this is for multiplayer. In MP guys like Nettle Sentinel are outclassed way too fast. Even then I would probably add Wild Nacatl instead. And multiplayer means no sideboard ;)

Thanks for the suggestion, though. Always happy to get any response. BTW, as I wrote above, I only gave this deck the "VaultHelp" tag to see if users are able to use it properly, so gratz :D I currently don't need help on decks, but of course feel free to browse them anyway. I just love to discuss decks, cards and strategies.

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Posted 05 January 2017 at 11:48 in reply to #593924 on Alpha Strike Males

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Instant board wipes generally don't target and are therefore able to outmaneuver Glaring Spotlight.

Anyway, the entire deck is basing on Breath of Fury, so I won't replace it with another card that grants multiple attacks. I also don't have enough room to add more of those cards on top of Fury. And IF I had room, it would be Aggrevated Assault, not World at War, since I can play it in advance and then use it multiple times during the crucial turn.

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Posted 05 January 2017 at 09:53 in reply to #593913 on Endless waves

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Hm, yeah, Mystic is banned in Modern. Didn't know that, but also didn't check for format anyway :P

If you don't plan on casting Swerve regularily you could as well run Shunt. It does the same, can still be cast with the Sunforger but you can also cast it regularily.

The equip cost of Ghostfire Blade does matter when you don't have that Paladin in play and since Puresteel Paladin is your key creature you can expect your opponent to kill it with highest priority. It's a gamble - your decision.

I like Lone Rider, too, and didn't say anything against it. I just pointed out that he is the only way to flip those Heirlooms, hence, you maybe shouldn't run 4 copies of Heirloom since it's only good when flipped. I would run 4 Riders, 2 Heirlooms and 2 Steelshaper's Gift instead - that way you have the same chance to get a Heirloom if you have an active Rider, but if you have no Rider the Gifts could fetch you something that is fitting better, including a Flayer Husk in the case you have no creature left.

Maybe you are playing against opponents all day that don't run much removal and that's why you prefer those risky calls where you assume to have certain key cards in play all the time but even with lesser opponents you won't always draw what you want.

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Posted 05 January 2017 at 09:45 in reply to #593836 on Metal Mettle

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* It's not worth the trouble splashing a colour for a single card like this. Perfect replacement sould be Spellskite, but I guess you don't own one and are on a kind of budget. I would use Lightning Greaves/Swiftfoot Boots instead.

* With that gone I don't see the need for Paradise Mantle. I would add more Lightning Helix instead to help trigger those Lone Riders.

* Armory of Ioras => Ring of Thune

* Ghostfire Blade? You don't have a single colourless critter. Viridian Longbow isn't that good either. Check out:
- Darksteel Axe
- Golem-Skin Gauntlets

* Stoneforge Mystic is probably out of your budget. Armory Automaton?

* I wouldn't add *four* Negelcted Heirloom since the Lone Rider is the only way to trigger it. Maybe replace one or two of them for Open the Armory/Steelshaper's Gift.

* Midnight Haunting? I understand you want more creatures, 17 is a bit low (you have more equipments than creatures 0_o ), but why this? Consider the following replacements:
- Bygone Bishop (beefier and adds carddraw)
- Aerial Responder (bigger and so many abilities for the same mana)
- Flickerwisp (also flies, his blink-effect an draw you extra cards with Puresteel Paladin)
- Skyhunter Cub

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Posted 02 January 2017 at 17:01 as a comment on Metal Mettle

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When I need a search engine I'll use this one:
http://magiccards.info/

Zero features that make it pretty but the best filter options I've seen so far (open advanced search and you'll know what I mean - you can even search for stuff like "old card face").
Also, check out "syntax help", many tricks hidden there which you'll need especially for card text search.

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Posted 31 December 2016 at 13:41 in reply to #593790 on Obscure Card Challenge (OCC)

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Depends on so many things, can't give a catch-all answer. But here is a general thing I do, even though I fear it won't help you:
I do own playsets of each Revised dualland. But I also have about 30 decks at the same time. So, what I do is spreading those duallands among those decks and fetching them with cheap fetchies like the uncommon ones from Mirage. For example I'll put a single Taiga, Plateau and Savannah in a green-red-white deck and add some Grasslands and Mountain Valleys.

Also, I try to trade for cheap copies of cards like Darksteel Ingot and Soldevi Simulacrum which can be used in about any deck. And if you are running green, you have dozens of great choices like Harrow.

Or did you mean "engines" literally? Land Tax + Scroll Rack is one of the nastiest engines ever. Crucible of the Worlds plus any fetchland is very efficient. Thawing Glaciers + Horn of Greed is ... well ... greedy. But those are combos that get out of hand fast and thus will make you enemies and draw removal. So I am usually looking for less brutal and therefore less threatening engines because in the long run (which is what multiplayer is all about) I'll get more out of it because it usually survives longer. Something like Knight of the Reliquary + Drownyard Temple - slow but steady and it also gives you an evergrowing beatstick.

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Posted 31 December 2016 at 11:33 in reply to #593790 on Obscure Card Challenge (OCC)

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Well, it's a bit late, I fear the project failed. I'll give it a last try in january. Welcome until then anyway.

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Posted 28 December 2016 at 22:26 in reply to #593709 on MTGVault: The Gathering

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