I got from your deck description that Damnation is important, that's why :)Possible replacements for Cradle:- Wasteland (important in my meta, don't know about yours)- Yavimaya Hollow- fetchies/basic ForestBut a combination of those since the first two don't generate G either.This deck of mine is still in brainstorming phase:http://www.mtgvault.com/puschkin/decks/peaceful-assault/And this one is finished and about to be assembled for our next Magic night, maybe I missed something (still don't own Brago, though)http://www.mtgvault.com/puschkin/decks/pick-wisely/
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Well, that's because it has become increasingly difficult to define "casual", "fun" and so on. Especially when we are talking of "multiplayer" which can be anything between Pentagram and free-for-alls. Depending on the game mode, card availability and mindset of your environment decks could differ vastly, too. For example, in free-for-all, aggressive all-out-attack decks like these don't fare the best (or only once) but it would be a good call in something like two-headed giant.But, aside from that, casual typically means "style and creativity is more important than winning". While this certainly isn't fast for tournament Legacy, that's not the point I was trying to make. I tried to explain that, when you run Cradles, Priests and Genesis Waves in 4s, then it doesn't matter much what you put into play with that. It's a Genesis Wave deck then. Anyway, I knew it would be a tough call, but essentially I don't know what to suggest in this case, the CradleWave is too distracting, optimizing the deck would mean kicking out the archers (if you wave big enough, there are creatures you could wave into that end the game right there).Hunt the Hunter is only one of over a dozen of cards that let your creatures fight. I picked that as an example because all your creatures are green (so the limitation is ok for you) but also gives +2/+2. Setessan Tactics is an instant, Pit Fight would also work. You could even use Arena. Also, while the Charm is flexible, remember that it needs both Doyen and Jagged-Scar Archers in play. All "fight" cards work fine just with Doyan.
Another Cradle deck? lol. * Why Overwhelming Stampede instead of a regular Overrun? The former might have potential to do more damage but usually that +3/+3 from Overrun is sufficient. Overrun, however, will always give at least +3/+3. If your bigger dudes get killed and all that's left are mana dorks and tokens, then Overwhelming Stampede is more like an Underwhelming Duckwalk. * Again, no enchantment/artifact removal despite the fact that Viridian Zealot provides that within your tribe (so creature count won't get lower).* Also again: A risky manabase. You said this is for multiplayer. It's commonplace in multiplayer that someone casts a boardsweeper every few turns. A single Wrath of God will screw you royally since all your mana dorks including those Dryad Arbors will die AND the Cradles will all of a sudden produce zilch mana. Vice versa, early removal might also break your neck. I don't think running just 8 regular Forests is a good idea.* At a certain point, Doubling Season becomes just a "win more" card. I think 2 of them are enough for this.* Wouldn't Sword of Body and Mind fit better than Fire & Ice? Because it produces tokens, that is. Fire & Ice is usually the better one.* You are running expensive cards like Cradle and Swords. Do you also own Noble Hierarchs (replacing BoPs) and Natural Order?
Hm, tribal decks don't grant much room for improvements. Here are my thoughts:* Gaea's Cradle might not be the best choice here since it needs creatures in the first place to get going. You run a total of 8 creatures that cost 1 or 2 mana. This is a risky move, especially considering Twilight Mire is in the mix, too, which doesn't produce coloured mana unless you have a regular green mana source. You should be alright 4 out of 5 games against goldfishs but if the opponent pays attention, early removal spells can seriously cripple you. * Are 2 Damnations enough to justify the troubles of messing with the mana base like that? If Damnation is such an important card for your gameplan, then you should go to 4 copies.* Again, neither enchantment nor artifact removal even though there is one available withing your tribe: Wickerbough Elder.* Sylvan Library (Mirri's Guile) would help both with Leaf-Crowned Elder (putting creatures on top) and Oracle of Mul Daya (putting lands on top) and thus make this deck much more consistent, especially since it is pretty good just on it's own and can help to find those Elders and Oracles in the first place. With Sylvan Library, don't be shy to pay for those extra cards when there is a Collar in sight.
Hm, I don't know. Archers done right? I can hardly see the archers because of the Cradles, Priests of Titania and Genesis Waves. See, this is basically a Genesis Wave deck now. And if you've got enough Cradle&Priest-mana rolling for a big Wave, then it doesn't really matter what you Wave into play. Do you think anybody will say "ah, nice synergy between Doyen and Jagged Scar Archers"? No, they just have been elfballed except you didn't use the mana to finish them right off and instead opted to put half your deck into play and are now fishing for compliments because what you put into play is casual. But your means of playing the casual part isn't casual. If I was your opponent I would have preferred a silly combo to end the game right away so we can start over. So, if that was my deck I would go back to casual and cut the offenders to single copies or remove them altogether. The fact thar you think you need Elixir of Vitality to have enough cards for Genesis Wave is a hint that you are focussing on Wave way too hard. But this is supposed to be an archer deck. In casual, that sometimes means you have to build inferior decks on purpose because the parts that make it superior are so dominant that they hijack the deck.Here is what I would do: * Pixie Queen is a reuseable way to give your opponen't creatures flying (while stayin mono-green ... splashing blue would make things way easier)* Doyen + Jagged Scar Archers + a way to give opposing creatures flying is still kind of cumbersome. You could as well add cards that allow your creatures to "fight": Cards like Hunt the Hunter would be a great alternative (or addition to) those Evolution Charms. Setessan Tactics would be especially powerful and even work well with the current mana production. Ulvenwald Tracker would provide a reuseable way to let your archers fight.* When you have Nissa Revane, you should add at least one Nissa's Chosen to have more options.* With Genesis Wave gone you need some card drawing. Sylvan Messenger would be a good option.* The deck currently runs zero artifact and enchantment removal. I don't know about your environment but in mine, this would be suicide. The elven way to solve this would be Viridian Zealot.
(we are operating under Type I rules, so you can basically suggest anything)Ah, yes, the red Bringer, I like that!Bazaar Trader, however ... first, I am not so sure if it actually works - if I steal something with Slave of Bolas and then user the Trader on it, I still have to sacrifice it at EOT, right? But it would work with the Bringer. Secondly: If I steal something permanently, I might lose the ability to Oath myself. And the trader is a creature by himself. Hm, this is very tricky.Braids/Magus is risky and not always working as intended because they require me to also have a stealer in place. And again, they are creatures. I don't want to neither oath into one (could be a better creature) nor to stay around and raise my creature count without directly impacting the game. That's why I settled on Helm of Possession for now to get rid of creatures.Same is true for all the other creatures you mentioned as sac outlets.Yes, I probably need ways to stack my library. I already added the one Brainstorm I am allowed to add. Other possible picks would be Scroll Rack and Crystal Ball.
I cam eto the same conclusion as you regarding Fling - it's the weakest spot of the deck but I won't cut it entirely since flinging the Orgg might be necessary to save my ass (when I am at one life and someone bolts me, I can fling the Orgg in response to get my life back). However, those Angel's Grace might not be worth adding a ful playset of. I guess a mix of these three is the best.
Well, the Mogg Maniac is a good distractor. I play exclusively multiplayer (pentagram, 2vs2, french emperor) and the Maniac discourages players attacking me. Sure, I could add tutors and/or card draw instead but then the deck would become even more comboriffic. I usually play in a group of regulars that know each other for 15+ years. We know each other's decks after a while. Decks that run too straight get picked on first. It's a political thing.About removal/direct damage: I would like to add Orim's Thunder but what to cut to make room for it?
Hm, yes, Terastodon seems interesting for this deck! But I might have to have something to stack my deck then so it doesn't pop up randomly when I don't need it.EDIT:Forget that, Terastodon's effect is a MAY effect, so he is perfectly good even without library stacking :)Dread Return and Unburl Rights are perfectly viable solutions, I just don't want to go the reanimation route because once I go there, the deck would end up as regular animation ... or maybe not. For now I'll put them in the sideboard and consider adding them after first gaming day in case I have to soup this up. Thx!
I really, really enjoy your way of thinking and expressing your analysis and choice of cards, so I am very interested in further cooperation and will happily comment/advice on all of your decks whenever I can find the time. You could do the same - just pick a random deck of mine and comment if you have the time. Over time we'll be able to cover everything. Usually I write in the description if a deck needs help (and almost always state WHAT kind of help). Despite, since we have similar styles and philosophy of deck building I am sure each other's decks are interesting enough just to read, bouncing off ideas here and there. But a deck I am somewhat stuck with would be this:http://www.mtgvault.com/puschkin/decks/oath-of-thieves/Back to this:It is still hard to believe for me that the mana base actually works. Not only because of the coloured mana requirements, Gush and domain, also because you are running off only 18 mana producing lands and no other mana producers (no Sol Ring for example) even though the deck isn't the fastest. Most spells cost 3-4 mana and the cheaper ones are the card draw and instants that you need to keep open additional mana for. You *could* get away with that if you player in an environment that is a bit slower and where nobody runs Strip Mines, Wastelands and things like Vindicate that have the option to go for lands. In my environment it is way too risky to run mana bases that tight - because if you have *just* the mana in play that you need, smart opponents will happily blast a land of yours and leave you there helpless. Over the years I have learned to always put in 2-4 more mana sources than I mathematically need but since I also want to avoid being manaflooded those extra mana sources should be something that has an additional use (like those Wastelands) or can replace itself (cycling lands, Mind Stone etc.).About Stuffy Doll: If this deck explicitly wants to be creatureless for the heck of it, then that's very fine with me :) It's actually my exptertise: To tweak decks within their themes without warping it into something different.BTW, here is a deck of mine with Blasphemous Act with a very different approach that might get some lolz from you:http://www.mtgvault.com/puschkin/decks/occ-selfawareness-trip/
I highly doubt this will ever work out with a manabase like that ... for starters, Cryptic Command has three blue in the casting cost and Gush requires you to bounce two Islands but the deck has a total of only 12 blue producing lands of which only 8 are islands and 2 of them need an island in play first (Vesuva). You are okay for the most parts if you draw an Orchard but you are relying way too much on it. If you draw a single Orchard and it gets destroyed, you are fucked. The Vesuvas should be fetchlands but even then ...... I guess you did try to have 5 colours for Colective Restraint, right? But that's so much trouble just to maximize this one card. Especially since there is a proper alternative: Sphere of Safety. There also is no reason to run 2 Ghostly Prison when Propaganda isn't maxed out yet, eliminating white. And as much as I love Syphon Mind in multiplayer, I don't consider it worth splashing black just for this card. Instead I would run green mana filters that help you getting the lands you need and/or accelerate.But if you insist on keeping domain and white, may I suggest Sterling Grove? It's either a protector of or tutor for enchantments. Alternative for Ancestral Vision: Mystic Remora. It fits well with your "taxing" theme and encourages your opponents to play creatures.Stuffy Doll is an alternate win to Repercussion when you go B Act (although you'd need either two dolls or two acts).
Of course, I do. But that's nothing new for me, I do that for 10 or so years now (selling the Type relevant spoilers that I boosted as long as they are hot and then picking them up again for cheap 2 years later), but trading online turbo-boosts that. Meeting somewhere face-to-face with a trade binder is a very rare occasion. Typically when you meet and want to trade it is always "let's play first" and several hours later it's "nah, I am too tired, let's trade next time".
So we do actually think the same. I was just to illustrate that when wizards supplies needs (as in what players demand to be able to play certain formats) then they are also maximizing their profits :)
Lightning Bolt should be Fire/Ice in this.Mind over Matter should also find a place here.But the main problem I see is this: You rely on the Psychic Venoms which are Enchant Lands. This is Vintage and the addition of Power suggests you are playing in a powered environment. In such an environment, your opponents will most likely run exclusively non-basic lands. This means you'll have to put Psychic Venom on a non-basic. Another card virtually any Vintage runs as a playset: Wasteland. So, you always risk that your opponent just wastes his own land to get rid of the land you enchant. That's in addition to Strip Mine (a card virtually any Vintage deck runs) plus some other means some decks run (Balance or Vindicate for instance). Which is especially problematic since you have to put more than one Venom on the same land to make your deck work.I don't have a solution for this other than running Stifle, Trickbind, Interdict or Squelch mainbord which is probably not a great solution because these cards will sit unused in your hand many games.
Not in this case - maximizing profits and supplying needs is actually the same in MTG. As can be seen currently with Commander, Conspiracy and especially From the Vault reprinting expensive (=needed) cards all over the place, generating TONs of profit! Wizards is in the lucky position to literally print money and when any collector complains about it's collection being devalued Wizards can always pull the "We are just making format X more accessible" card which is a thought-terminating cliche. I started selling cards online about a year ago because Wizards is reprinting so much and constantly devalueing my collection. They finally focussed on the secondary market (which they claimed will never influence their policy regarding reprints, may arse) and not for good in the long run (imho). So I am now selling those cards that cross certain value and that I don't care much about. I don't do so because I want to make profit, I do so because I fear I lose money when they get reprinted.See, I invested a lot into my collection and was only able to do so because, for at least 15 or so years, I could be sure that the collection would not decease in value. So, if I was in need of cash, I could always sell some cards and be fine. But now, everything is up for grabs! 10 Years ago the only way cards could get reprinted was the basic set and some rare exceptions. And since the basic set was part of the Type II card pool, they were quit limited in what they could reprint. But now, with things like From the Vault that don't have any format attached to it, they can basically reprint whatever they want without ruining any format. That's why they can safely reprint Maze of Ith, Hymn to Tourach etc. without any repercussion. Commander, at least, is it's own format, so they wouldn't reprint something like Sneak Attack in Commander, but on the other hand it has powerhouses like Sol Ring. Basically put, sans very few cards they can reprint any card they want. And they will.On a sidenote, Vintage is always associated with the P9, which is a bit outdated. Timetwister for example is rarely played and doesn't really belong to the club anymore, while other cards like Mana Drain, Force of Will, Bazaar of Bagdhad or Mishra's Workshop are much more crucial for the format but also incredibly pricy and hard to obtain. And there are cards like Chains of Mephistopheles or Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale that are on par with some pieces of P9 money wise even though the reason for that escapes me a bit.
Nah, I am fine since I don't care for tournament play anymore anyway (regardless of format). And my casual group is using Type I rules, so I am fine.
Well, I was talking of "paper Magic". Playing Magic online somehow defeats all of it's purposes. I am collecting cards since 1994 and want to use them in games with opponents I can see into the eyes and drink a beer with.
Which is exactly why it dies. Wizards has zero reasons to support this format, only reasons to bury it for good. Because it doesn't require you to get new cards. They can't even make money out of reprinting Vintage cards because they are on the reserve list and generally way too broken for anything. Legacy does fine but Vintage? Maybe if someone would run proper tourneys where a certain number of proxies is allowed. Until then the only time I play and see others play with Moxes is the kitchen table.
Well, Vintage is dead here where I live and if there is some action going that I don't know of, the metagame would be inbred. I really doubt there is a global metagame for Vintage.
There is another funny combo with Oath that could be used as an alternate win option from the sideboard: Krosan Reclamation! It's a trick I learned from the old "Trinity" Keeper decks that had a transformational sideboard. In game 2 you put your Griselbrands into the sideboard and add the Reclamation. Now, when you activate your Oath, you'll put your entire deck into the graveyard. However, this includes the Reclamation which can be cast via flashback. Whatever you shuffle into your library with it will be the card you draw next, so it acts like a tutor. Which basically means you win when you activate Oath because you can Wish into a Will with your entire library in the grave. Provided you have the mana for that, of course. I don't know if something like that is viable anymore but it can catch people by surprise, especially when they sideboard StP, PtE and simimilar against your Griselbrands that aren't there anymore.
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