Author

About the Author
Andrew rediscovered his love for Magic when he saw Innistrad. Returning to the game after a long hiatus, he now spends his days streaming drafts (twitch.tv/thatsnotmylane), playing EDH, and practicing Standard.

Forced Fruition Reforged: Road to GP Vegas

On May 30, 2015, we’ll all be gathered magically at the Las Vegas Convention Center to play Modern Masters 2015. Until then, I’ll be spending my weekends playing Magic at local Preliminary Pro Tour Qualifiers (PPTQs) and Grand Prix Trials (GPTs) to reach the critical mass of Planeswalker Points needed for a round-one GP bye. Over this time, my skills as a Magic player will be sharpened through sheer volume of games and adequate event preparation. I’ll be tracking my progress here at Brainstorm Brewery and seek to impart some wisdom regarding competitive Magic and goal setting to you. Maintaining a rigorous Magic schedule alongside a full-time job and other “real life” obligations will be a challenge I plan to rise to.

The basic structure of my week is as follows:

Monday: Off night
Tuesday: Constructed Playtesting
Wednesday: Off night, Local 3k/5k Fun run (exercise is important!)
Thursday: Cube
Friday: FNM Draft
Saturday: PPTQ/GPT
Sunday: PPTQ/GPT

I’m toying with possibly streaming some nights, playing either Draft or Construted on MTGO. With playing Magic in person, planning in advance is necessary, so having access to the game online is a huge asset for just playing a high volume of matches.

Much to my chagrin, grinding out 1000 Planeswalker Points means playing in mostly Standard events. While I did love playing the Red-White Burn deck of last (Theros/Return to Ravnica) Standard, I haven’t yet found something as compelling for this iteration. As you’ll see below, I’ve sleeved up a Sultai list focused on playing big things, most noteably [card]Ugin, the Spirit Dragon[/card]. My deck is modeled after Ali Aintrazi’s deck from SCG Washington 2015 with some small changes. I opted to play a [card]Villainous Wealth[/card] instead of  [card]Worst Fears[/card], swapped the Ugin in the sideboard with the [card]Pearl Lake Ancient[/card], and traded [card]Treasure Cruise[/card] for [card]Ashiok[/card].

[deck title=Standard BUG Ramp]

[Land]

*2 Forest
*1 Island
*2 Llanowar Wastes
*4 Opulent Palace
*3 Polluted Delta
*2 Swamp
*4 Temple of Deceit
*4 Temple of Malady
*1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
*2 Yavimaya Coast

[/Land]

[Enchantments]

*3 Frontier Siege

[/Enchantments]

[Creatures]

*4 Courser of Kruphix
*2 Hornet Queen
*4 Sylvan Caryatid
*1 Tasigur, the Golden Fang

[/Creatures]

[Planeswalker]
*2 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
*1 Garruk, Apex Predator
*3 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
[/Planeswalker]

[Instants]

*3 Dig Through Time
*3 Hero’s Downfall
*2 Sultai Charm

[/Instants]

[Sorcery]
*3 Crux of Fate
*3 Thoughtseize
*1 Villainous Wealth
[/Sorcery]

[Sideboard]
*3 Bile Blight
*3 Disdainful Stroke
*2 Drown in Sorrow
*1 Kiora, the Crashing Wave
*1 Liliana Vess
*1 Murderous Cut
*1 Nissa, Worldwaker
*1 Pearl Lake Ancient
*1 Silence the Believers
*1 Silumgar, the Drifting Death
[/Sideboard]

[/deck]

These swaps bring me to this week’s topic: remembering to enjoy the game. Above, I mentioned enjoying the RW Burn deck from last Standard, a deck that I had no problem taking to a event in excess of six rounds and playing all day long. End of turn [card]Boros Charms[/card] and main-decked [card]Toil // Trouble[/card]s kept me entertained, win or lose. The deck might not have been “the best” for that week or even when I committed to building it, what mattered was that I kept coming back week after week. Setting out to acquire 1000 or more Planeswalker Points is a daunting task which is only made worse if the deck being piloted is a chore to play. My point of course is: play a deck you enjoy. Approaching an event where you’re pumped to play a deck will yield immensely better results than being forced to play the flavor of the month that you can’t stand.

Week of February 22nd

Last week I attended three events that earned me Planeswalker Points. A Friday Night Magic FRF/KTK Draft (+9), a Standard PPTQ  (+40), and a Chaos Draft at my local game shop (+1) gave me a total of 50 on the week. Overall for the weekend, I won four matches, lost six, and drew two. I had only one severe misplay, which unfortunately cost me a match.

I drafted a blue-red deck at FNM with a tiny splash into green for a couple bomb rares, [card]Sagu Mauler[/card] and a foil [card]Savage Knuckleblade[/card]. Other all-stars included a foil [card]Flamerush Rider[/card] and an [card]Outpost Siege[/card]. My rares were great and I had a decent amount of removal and tempo cards. The result was a deck that depended heavily on draws. I certainly would suggest going for a more consistent deck over one that’s relying on its bombs, but there’s no reason you can’t do both when given the opportunity. The result of the evening was a 2-0-1 finish, splitting the six prize packs and two promos between myself and my finals opponent. We played the games out for fun and he did beat me in three. It was a match I was very interested in playing, since my opponent had passed me a pack with Flamerush Rider and [card]Temur Battle Rage[/card], two cards I would be happy to pick first. It turned out he had chosen an [card]Alesha, Who Smiles at Death[/card], forcing us both heavily into red.

Six rounds of Standard on Saturday followed at the PPTQ. An overwhelming amount of people showed up with Dimir and Sultai Control decks. I had more than one opponent peg my deck as such until seeing a Courser or Frontier Siege. My big misplay of the week came in game three of round three versus a Sultai control deck. After tapping out for an X=5 [card]Villainous Wealth[/card] that whiffed spectacularly, I cast a top-decked [card]Dig Through Time[/card] in desperation. The three relevant choices were a [card]Hero’s Downfall[/card], [card]Garruk, Apex Predator[/card], and [card]Ugin, the Spirit Dragon[/card]. I hastily took Downfall and Ugin to deal with an opposing Garruk and his two beast tokens. Had I taken the two walkers and deployed them appropriately, the cleanup and damage from Ugin would have taken the game. The takeaway is to consider late game lines of play entirely, even if time is scarce. My record on day the was a disappointing 2-3-1.

heros downfall

I have nothing to say about the Chaos Draft other than I crafted a [card]Semblance Anvil[/card] Dragon/Artifact deck that failed to win a single game, but was insanely fun to pilot.

Next week I’ll be attending FNM as usual along with two GPTs in the area on Saturday and Sunday. They are both Standard, and I’ll be taking the same list I have above.

My journey has just begun and I hope you’ll come along with me—we can teach each other a thing or two. You can follow my progress here at Brainstorm Brewery or on Twitter at @thatsnotmylane for more frequent updates. Have any question, comments, or advice? Hit up the comments below!

Forced Fruition Episode 12: Tribal Cube Angels

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries?list=PLs4gxqbLAAD5bqyn6vroWK-yjZRSEO3J7&w=640&h=360]

Divine Favor

This week I’m pleased to welcome my good friend Jan (pronounced “Yawn,” he’s a dude) to the show to help take me through an MTGO Cube draft! As the title indicates, we wound up with most of the angel cards in the cube and played them to great success. This week I’m also introducing a new segment on the show, a “Beer of the Week” which I (and any of my guests) enjoy during the draft. We’ll talk about it right after deckbuilding moving forward. If anyone has had this week’s brew (Titan IPA from Great Divide Brewing), I’d love to hear what you think of it! Cheers!

Drafting Pack 1 and 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCAn6U9inUY&w=640&h=360]

Drafting Pack 3 and Deckbuilding

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5PYHktsz9A&w=640&h=360]

[deck title=Tribal Cube Angels]
[Creatures]
*1 Exalted Angel

*1 Wall of reverence

*1 Restoration Angel

*1 Blade Splicer

*1 Mulldrifter

*1 Glen Elendra Archmage

*1 Old Man of the Sea

[/Creatures]
[Spells]
*1 Decree of Justice

*1 Oust

*1 Upheaval

*1 Tidings

*1 Compulsive Research

*1 Impulse

*1 Preordain

*1 Wildfire

*1 Sphinx’s Revelation

*1 Prophetic Bolt

*1 Engineered Explosives

*1 Gilded Lotus

*1 Vedalken Shackles

*1 Coalition Relic

*1 Basalt Monolith

*1 Sphere of the Suns
[/Spells]
[Lands]
*1 Ancient Tomb

*1 Flooded Strand

*1 Mystic Gate

*1 Tundra

*1 Shivan Reef

*1 Sacred Foundry

*3 Plains

*8 Island
[/Lands]
[/Deck]

 

And Blue cards

There are white cards

Beer of the week

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU59Qp1fxlc&w=640&h=360]

Match 1 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YjQD8ZEGFU&w=640&h=360]

Match 1 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTpZDDWKaXg&w=640&h=360]

Match 2 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQK1bFC026E&w=640&h=360]

Match 2 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6pmfBLXbuI&w=640&h=360]

Match 3 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qINZR6IdvPw&w=640&h=360]

Match 3 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc1PG1b_1JQ&w=640&h=360]

Forced Fruition Episode 11: Stunted Jund

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries?list=PLs4gxqbLAAD5XqEP7eLdk_UliPFAkct5e&w=640&h=360]

Cube’s Back!

Everyone’s favorite online format, the MTGO cube, is back online! Making a blanket statement like that might not be entirely accurate, but you cannot deny that the variety of games and decks generated by the cube is unparalleled in the MTGO universe. This time around, I drafted a Jund deck featuring [card]Stunted Growth[/card] because I felt like the deck was a bit stunted itself. We missed a few of the classic Jund all-stars but still managed to come up with something that could throw around value black, green, and red cards. So off you go, on to another cubing adventure!

Drafting Pack 1 and 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI7ccWfCYF8&w=640&h=360]

Drafting Pack 3 and Deckbuilding

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AbTb3h9eiY&w=640&h=360]

[deck title=Stunted Jund]
[Creatures]
*1 Arbor Elf

*1 Fyndhorn Elves

*1 Keldon Marauders

*1 Mogg War Marshal

*1 Tarmogoyf

*1 Taurean Mauler

*1 Vampire Nighthawk

*1 Blastoderm

*1 Flametongue Kavu

*1 Polukranos, World Eater

*1 Skinrender

*1 Acidic Slime

*1 Grave Titan

*1 Avenger of Zendikar

*1 Greater Gargadon
[/Creatures]
[Spells]

*1 Lightning Bold

*1 Umezawa’s Jitte

*1 Maelstrom Pulse

*1 Domri Rade

*1 Garruk Wildspeaker

*1 Stunted Growth

*1 Chord of Calling
[/Spells]
[Lands]

*6 Forest

*4 Mountain

*1 Swamp

*1 Bloodstained Mire

*1 Graven Cairns

*1 Savannah

*1 Marsh Flasts

*1 twilight mire

*1 Woodland Cemetery
[/Lands]
[/Deck]

RBR

Black and Red and Green all over!

Match 1 Game 1 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB9yvYfXiM4&w=640&h=360]

Match 1 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBai-G34fgk&w=640&h=360]

Match 1 Game 3

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pHL2B-tkVk&w=640&h=360]

Match 2 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9Uv0SVjKOM&w=640&h=360]

Match 2 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezh7ir_Ou7U&w=640&h=360]

Match 2 Game 3

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXk7R8x2Piw&w=640&h=360]

Match 3 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6mI34g8ZiY&w=640&h=360]

Match 3 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMpshqfmBEE&w=640&h=360]

Author’s note: In my excitement of winning Match 3 Game 2 I forgot that we actually lost game 1, so you’ll have to forgive me for not playing out a 3rd game. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.

Forced Fruition Episode 10: Champion of Sacrifice

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries?list=PLs4gxqbLAAD4-lO00rI30RmbtPnYQow9e&w=640&h=360]

It’s Important to Remember Your Goals

And with this tenthth episode of Forced Fruition, I would like to think I stayed true to what I set out to do. My primary goal with this series is to learn by doing, and specifically trying things out and learning from mistakes. There are some unique and interesting rare and mythic cards from the Theros block and I was given the chance to play with an excellent combination of them this week. In fact, this is the second week in a row that I’ve managed to get a hold of some instant-speed reanimation! I can count on one hand the number of spells that are capable of reanimation at instant speed, and three of them are from this block. A rare effect indeed. I’ve also got a cameo from my buddy Grant, who drafted with us on episode four. This time, he was our opponent for in round one. I hope you enjoy this week’s episode as much as I enjoyed drafting and playing it. If you’re strapped for time, I implore you to at least watch Match 3, Game 1, where many dreams were lived.

Drafting Pack 1 and 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCHrHhvCy-Y&w=640&h=360]

Drafting Pack 3 and Deckbuilding

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRDb51HR90E&w=640&h=360]

[deck title=Champion of Sacrifice]
[Creatures]
*1 Draka Mystic
*1 Baleful Eidolon

*1 Sigiled Starfish

*1 Opaline Unicorn

*1 Blood-Toll Harpy

*1 Grim Guardian

*1 Servant of Tymaret

*2 War-Wing Siren

*1 Akroan Horse

*1 Aerie Worshippers

*1 Cloaked Siren

*1 Reaper of the Wilds

*1 Thassa’s Emissary

*1 Chapmion of Stray Souls

[/Creatures]
[Spells]
Retraction Helix

*1 Feast of Dreams

*2 Pharika’s Cure

*1 Asphyxiate

*1 Divination

*1 Countermand

*1 Dictate of Erebos
[/Spells]
[Lands]
*1 unknown Shores

*6 Island

*9 Swamp

*1 Forest
*1 Forest
[/Lands]
[/Deck]

Draft pool for episode 10

Draft pool for episode 10

Match 1 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fNZLOJnJpc&w=640&h=360]

Match 1 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiPcQMbiAws&w=640&h=360]

Match 2 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB53B6hUBtM&w=640&h=360]

Match 2 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y6heX4RwA0&w=640&h=360]

Match 3 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_yeh–SK-w&w=640&h=360]

Match 3 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyzjyd0bWeg&w=640&h=360]

Match 3 Game 3

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwRGBaMPDyI&w=640&h=360]

Forced Fruition Episode 9: Black Sheep Wall

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries?list=PLs4gxqbLAAD5QRnOIQU0HvsrL2NMVKfW7&w=640&h=360]

Food for Thought

If I were to describe this draft with one phrase: Staying Alive. Right from the get go, our strategy started to form, mostly due to a couple sheepish picks that wound up dictating the rest of our draft. Adding in the Journey pack to this format helps even out the different draft strategies that are available by toning down white-based aggro (read: fewer Ordeals and [card]Wingsteed Rider[/card]s) and giving some of the weaker colors more to work with. I’m pretty happy with where its at and am excited to bring you guys some great JBT drafts. So breathe deep and join me for some games of Magic: The Gathering.

Drafting Pack 1 and 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td7GdwZFATA&w=640&h=360]

Drafting Pack 3 and Deckbuilding

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fJbn4VM4CE&w=640&h=360]

[deck title= Black Sheep Wall]
[Creatures]

*1 Silent Sentinel

*1 Supply-Line Cranes

*2 Nyx-Fleece Ram

*1 Lagonna-Band Trailblazer

*1 Hopeful Eidolon

*1 Erebos’s Emissary

*2 Servant of Tymaret

*1 Grim Guardian

*1 Blood-Toll Harpy

*1 Baleful Eidolon

*2 Returned Reveler

*1 Burnished Hart
[/Creatures]
[Spells]

*1 Revoke Existence

*1 Oppressive Rays

*1 Ajani’s Presence

*1 Fated Return

*1 Lash of the Whip

*1 Viper’s Kiss

*1 Deserter’s Quarters

*1 Springleaf Drum
[/Spells]
[Land]

*8 Plains

*9 Swamp
[/Land]
[/deck]

Match 1 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2C1m-ivO2I&w=640&h=360]

Match 2 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXVfZkJvox8&w=640&h=360]

Match 2 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6-WIAp7-zs&w=640&h=360]

Match 3 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXqmkIn_NrE&w=640&h=360]

Match 3 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCz2su4iv2Y&w=640&h=480]

Match 3 Game 3

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z30VngKlFqs&w=640&h=480]

 

Game over, man!

Forced Fruition Episode 8: Grixis Cube Adventure

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries?list=PLs4gxqbLAAD4K0f7xZAy6wqfKdBxdhI_O&w=640&h=360]

Magic is Difficult

And I have a lot to learn. If you’ve been following the series, you’re aware of this fact. I won’t try to hide itthere it is, out in the open. My friend Cory is a much better Magic player than I, so I enlisted his help to run through another Cube draft while its available this go around. The result is what you see here.

Drafting Pack 1 and 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDRqbgWPy14&w=640&h=360]

Drafting Pack 3 and Deckbuilding

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2PkWaag0Kc&w=640&h=360]

[deck title= Cube Grixis Control]
[Creatures]

*1 Delver of Secrets

*1 Hypnotic Specter

*1 Vampire Nighthawk

*1 Wake Thrasher

*1 Bloodline Keeper

*1 Liliana’s Reaver

*1 Venser, Shaper Savant

*1 Thundermaw Hellkite

*1 Tombstalker
[/Creatures]
[Spells]

*1 Dreadbore

*1 Ultimate Price

*1 Sword of Fire and Ice

*1 Capsize

*1 Dissipate

*1 ThranDynamo

*1 Deep Analysis

*1 Fact or Fiction

*1 Gifts Ungiven

*1 Turnabout

*1 Chandra, the Firebrand

*1 Living Death

*1 Black Sun’s Zenith

*1 Bonfire of the Damned
[/Spells]
[Land]

*1 Dimir Aqueduct

*1 Sunken Ruins

*1 Sulfurous Springs

*1 Cascade Bluffs

*1 Shivan Reef

*1 Halimar Depths

*4 Island

*5 Swamp

*2 Mountain
[/Land]
[/deck]

Sometimes you don't draft correctly

Decklist from Forced Fruition Episode 8

Match 1 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GS0eOUy4gI&w=640&h=360]

Match 1 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_KlAcbblrM&w=640&h=360]

Match 2 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNmqSNd6RCM&w=640&h=360]

Match 2 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RdfsGAuPns&w=640&h=360]

Match 3 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRoSpfRKkak&w=640&h=360]

Match 3 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwcLDgleHNQ&w=640&h=360]

Forced Fruition Episode 7: Devotion to Cube

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries?list=PLs4gxqbLAAD6dLhiofdGdf4zkIBkn0lQv&w=640&h=360]

Intro

Cube drafting as a format is wonderful because you get to make all kinds of crazy things happen. You get to play with powerful cards that span the entirety of Magic and use them to crush your opponents mercilessly. This week on Forced Fruition, join me as I power through an un-powered cube with a blue devotion deck? Yup that’s right, we picked up the two cards that hinge on the devotion mechanic in blue and use them to great effect (you’ll see why in Matchtrust me its good). Along the way, we’ll also encounter one of the most complicated board states I’ve developed. I hope you enjoy watching this episode as much as I enjoyed recording it. Please let me know what you think in the comments section and enjoy the ride.

Drafting Packs 1 and 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX_L9CDA-pE&w=640&h=360]

Drafting Pack 3 and Deckbuilding

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-cGP_3rrgY&w=640&h=360]

[deck title= Devotion to Cube]
[Creatures]

*1 Venser, Shaper Savant

*1 Master of Waves

*1 Thassa, God of the sea

*1 Coralhelm Commander

*1 Snapcaster Mage

*1 Phantasmal Bear

*1 Cursecatcher

*1 Wolfir Silverheart

*1 Thrun, the Last Troll

*1 Sylvan Caryatid

*1 Llanowar Elves

*1 Edri, Spymaster of Trest

*1 Myr Battlesphere
[/Creatures]
[Spells]

*1 Future Sight

*1 Mana Leak

*1 Miscalculation

*1 Preordain

*1 Ancestral Vision

*1 Genesis Wave

*1 Primal Command

*1 Plow Under

*1 Sylvan Library

*1 Thran Dynamo
[/Spells]
[Land]

*1 Tropical Island

*1 Scalding Tarn

*8 Island

*7 Forest
[/Land]
[/deck]

Match 1 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7Qw0dleGrM&w=640&h=360]

Match 1 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLSJnBPbTGE&w=640&h=360]

Match 2 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHjRTuBLVIw&w=640&h=360]

Match 2 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTj79aF9_Dg&w=640&h=360]

Match 2 Game 3

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATVWYG2XxTE&w=640&h=360]

Match 3 Game 1 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpkYToyXSJ8&w=640&h=360]

Match 3 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m48NoYxfk9A&w=640&h=360]

Match 3 Game 3

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gA1e4qubok&w=640&h=360]

Forced Fruition Episode 6: BTT Draft R/W Heroic

They Might be Heroes

Hello and welcome to the sixth installment of Forced Fruition! This week, I’ve brought you another Born-Theros-Theros draft where I find myself with some exciting white and red cards to make up a typical red/white heroic archetype. We get to play with some powerful creatures like [card]Ornitharch[/card], [card]Anax and Cymede[/card], and even the elusive [card]Gift of Immortality[/card] (that’s not a creature for the record). You’ll have to forgive me for not including a nice succinct playlist in the write-up this time. YouTube is being difficult and not allowing me to edit said playlist to be properly sequenced. That said, I hope you’ll come along for the ride and check out my latest draft episode!

Drafting Packs 1 and 2

[youtube www.youtube.com/embed/YeWj5bOKcAw]

Drafting Packs 3 and Deckbuilding

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mjDxC5UrJ0&w=640&h=360]

[deck title= Red White Heroic]
[Creatures]

*1 Ornitharch

*1 Vanguard of Brimaz

*2 Cavalry Pegasus

*1 Spirit of the Labyrinth

*1 Setessan Battle Priest

*1 Purphoros’s Emissary

*1 Labyrinth Champion

*1 SpearPoint Oread

*1 Deathbellow Raider

*2 Impetuous Sunchaser

*1 Deathbellow Raider

*1 Anax and Cymede
[/Creatures]
[Spells]

*1 Gift of Immortality

*1 Battlewise Valor

*1 Gods Willing

*1 Pinnacle of Rage

*1 Bolt of Keranos

*1 Fearsome Temper

*1 Lightning Strike

*1 Titan’s Strength

*1 Dragon Mantle
[/Spells]
[Land]

*7 Plains

*9 Mountain

*1 Swamp
[/Land]
[/deck]

Match 1 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW-EkYFYm90&w=640&h=360]

Match 1 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0ajUfoSs2I&w=640&h=360]

Match 2 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k60NsnNq27E&w=640&h=360]

Match 2 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBZrXazFnys&w=640&h=360]

Match 3 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhS6BZNAFu4&w=640&h=360]

Match 3 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_OphCUkvSw&w=640&h=360]

Forced Fruition, Episode 5: Sealed PTQ Practice

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries?list=PLs4gxqbLAAD5WVijeszmqqm3j_YdC0BCI&w=640&h=360]

‘Tis the Season

It’s that time of year when we get to play Sealed PTQs. The format has its upsides and downsides and you’re certainly going to increase your odds of winning by practicing as much as possible. I like Sealed because it evens the playing field to a degree by emphasizing deckbuilding. I also dislike Sealed due to the high variance—you’re basically at the whims of the pack gods. That said, there is always a deck to be made and played, and the great players will make the best of what they’re given. So join me as I take on a Theros-Born Sealed eight-man.

Deckbuilding

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imqFnvZgelQ&w=640&h=360]

[deck title= PTQ Practice]

[Creatures]

*1 Prognostic Sphix

*1 Chorus of the Tides

*1 Nimbus Naiad

*1 Deepwater Hypnotist

*2 Meletis Astronomer

*1 Flitterstep Eidolon

*2 Shrike Harpy

*1 Returned Centaur

*1 Cavern Lampad

*1 Fleshmad Steed

*1 Nyxborn Eidolon

*1 Spiteful Returned

*1 Shipwreck Singer
[/Creatures]
[Spells]

*1 Sea God’s Revenge

*1 Whelming Wave

*1 Sudden Storm

*1 Crypsis

*1 Lash of the Whip

*1 Asphyxiate

*1 Read the Bones

*1 Grisly Transformation
[/Spells]
[Land]

*8 Island

*9 Swamp
[/Land]
[/deck]

Match 1 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl8ObtkQItk&w=640&h=360]

Match 1 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzL_aw0WZTM&w=640&h=360]

Match 2 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1lNlgLz2jo&w=640&h=360]

Match 2 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dqGIG67UpY&w=640&h=360]

Match 2 Game 3

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKjPcWvRvNE&w=640&h=360]

Match 3 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X064Rr3bcUw&w=640&h=360]

Match 3 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIzZUa35RIc&w=640&h=360]

Forced Fruition Episode 4: Jund…

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries?list=PLs4gxqbLAAD58tis9UZ-pZ7zJueXZtZuJ&w=640&h=360]

What is Red and Black and Green All Over?

This week I had the pleasure of entering a Born of the Gods-Theros-Theros draft with my good friend Grant. Together we worked our way through some exciting picks and equally exciting games. Having a second voice to help guide your thoughts is a great exercise and will often open your eyes to things you didn’t think were possible. Our stunning revelation was that throwing good red, green, and black cards in a deck usually works out okay (Jund is always a deck for a reason!). So join us as we walk you through our picks and plays!

Drafting Packs 1 and 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi7I4oeRoeY&w=640&h=360]

Drafting Pack 3 and Deckbuilding

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_KlWu2PRKo&w=640&h=360]

[deck title=Jund…]
[Creatures]
*1 Abhorrent Overlord

*2 Baleful Eidolon

*2 Borderland Minotaur

*2 Spearpoint Oread

*1 Centaur Battlemaster

*1 Setessan Oathsworn

*1 Nyxborn Wolf

*1 Leafcrown Dryad

*1 Satyr Hedonist

*1 Fanatic of Xenagos

*1 Underworld Cerberus

*1 Reaper of the Wilds
[/Creatures]
[Spells]

*1 Scourgemark

*1 Bolt of Keranos

*1 Lightning Strike

*1 Fall of the Hammer

*1 Magma Jet

*1 Dragon Mantle

*1 Lightning Strike

*1 Time to Feed
[/Spells]
[Lands]
*4 Swamp

*8 Mountain

*6 Forest
[/Lands]
[/Deck]

Match 1 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_3IRayDN50&w=640&h=360]

Match 1 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITfpt4drvvQ&w=640&h=360]

Match 2 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaH6xbIiMns&w=640&h=360]

Match 2 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSIdZIsz7jw&w=640&h=360]

Match 2 Game 3

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JCB8E4G41c&w=640&h=360]

Match 3 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuYCdjkJQbg&w=640&h=360]

Match 3 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EHuIqbhuDU&w=640&h=360]

Takeaway

While the execution here was not ideal, I want to point out that being flexible with the colors we were drafting helped shape this deck. Should we have picked up the [card]Pharika’s Mender[/card] in pack two? Probably, but there was no question in either of our minds that we were still perfectly capable of moving into black during pack three. I do think that the [card]Scourgemark[/card] and [card]Abhorrent Overlord[/card] were a bit much. Neither were cast and both were often scryed aggressively to the bottom. [card]Pheres-Band Raiders[/card] would have been much nicer.

I would also like to touch on the subject of mulligans in Limited. Constructed decks are often much more “mullable” because of the nature of their construction; cards are optimized to work together. Limited formats are not as resilient because you’re working with a smaller card pool. So where do we draw the line? Obviously, zero-, one-, six-, or seven-land hands should not be kept. But when is a two- or five-land hand okay? The first thing I consider is my line of play given what I am seeing. The top of your deck is a fickle mistress and not to be trusted. Being able to present some kind of threat to your opponent’s life total is something any hand you keep should be able to do. A grip full of removal might seem awesome, but you need to put up a fight yourself. I would advocate taking a mulligan for a hand that included perfect land but no real threat.

Hope you guys enjoyed this week’s episode. Let me know what you think in the comments and we’ll see you back again next week!

-Andrew

 

Forced Fruition Episode 3: Down the Drain

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries?list=PLs4gxqbLAAD7PPPlJC8S-6BJ3dFbse9yJ&w=640&h=360]

Today’s Lesson

The third installment of Forced Fruition takes us on a journey of discovery and trying to slow roll our way to victory. In this BNG-THS-THS draft, a theme of slowly draining our opponent quickly develops out of pack one. We employ some drafting strategy to fill out the rest of our deck in packs two and three. I’ll let you be the judge of how well it works in the matches, but either way, I’m very happy to be able to bring you this episode.

Drafting Packs 1 and 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDGz-LHn9vM&w=640&h=360]

 

Drafting Pack 3 and Deckbuilding

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0SUmuQ7vZI&w=640&h=360]

 

[deck title=Down the Drain]
[Creatures]

*2 Scholar of Athreos

*1 Observant Alseid

*1 Setessan Battle Priest

*1 Leonin Snarecaster

*1 Keepsake Gorgon

*1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel

*1 Erebos’s Emissary

*1 Cavern Lampad

*3 Servant of Tymaret

*1 Baleful Eidolon

*1 Felhide Brawler

*1 Tormented Hero

*1 Reaper of the Wilds

*1 Burnished Hart

[/Creatures]
[Spells]
*1 Excoriate

*1 Necrobite

*1 Claim of Erebos

*1 Viper’s Kiss

*1 Boon of Erebos
[/Spells]
[Lands]
*5 Plains
*9 Swamp

*3 Forest
[/Lands]
[/Deck]

 

Match 1 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kBWyMSbT8I&w=640&h=360]

Match 1 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7PXAb-JaWY&w=640&h=360]

Match 1 Game 3

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpOston_8ZE&w=640&h=360]

Match 2 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCzIlUSXDeQ&w=640&h=360]

Match 2 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ykhy7pPNIw&w=640&h=360]

Match 3 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWDlkVXT2QQ&w=640&h=360]

Match 3 Game 2 + Wrapup

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vmo_erG_rYs&w=640&h=360]

What Did We Learn?

Overall, the drain plan proved to be too slow versus some of the more aggressive decks (a.k.a. most good decks in any Draft format). Going all-in on [card]Servant of Tymaret[/card] and [card]Scholar of Athreos[/card] was a bit overkill. I still believe that Scholar is a fantastic card and any deck that’s running white should play it and just throw a swamp or two in the manabase for the eventuality of a stalled board. Other things I would have done differently include putting [card]Bronze Sable[/card] in my main deck over [card]Felhide Brawler[/card].

The [card]divine verdict[/card] (I’m going to chalk not putting that one in the maindeck due to a [card]memory lapse[/card]) on this archetype is: don’t go too hard or you’ll find yourself drowned in sorrow.

-Andrew

Forced Fruition Episode 2: Diggin’ Through the Yard

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries?list=PLs4gxqbLAAD4mWLoN5o-rqgMG1LCBJ2vE&w=640&h=360]

 

Hello and welcome back to Forced Fruition, the Magic show where we strive to better ourselves by identifying a theme and sticking to it! This time around I drafted a green-black graveyard deck in a BNG THS THS Swiss event. Some tough decisions were made during the draft portion and the games turned out pretty well. Enjoy the video and please feel free to leave feedback on my drafting, play, or presentation in the comments below. Enjoy!

 

Drafting Packs 1 and 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNpHk5Aw1G8&w=640&h=360]

Drafting Pack 3 and Deckbuilding

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NqQ4mY0ac4&w=640&h=360]

 

[Deck title= Diggin’ Through the Yard]

[Creatures]

*1 Sedge Scorpion

*1 Baleful Eidolon

*1 Leafcrown Dryad

*1 Nyxborn Eidolon

*1 Satyr Wayfinder

*1 Voyaging Satyr

*1 Swordwise Centaur

*2 Mogis’s Marauder

*1 Nighthowler

*1 Cavern Lampad

*1 Disciple of Phenax

*1 Forsaken Drifters

*1 Graverobber Spider

*1 Returned Centaur

*1 Shrike Harpy

[/Creatures]

[Spells]

*1 Pharika’s Cure

*1 Savage Surge

*1 Asphyxiate

*1 Time to Feed

*1 Hero’s Downfall

*1 Lash of the Whip

*1 Sip of Hemlock

[/Spells]

[Land]

*1 Temple of Silence

*8 Swamp

*8 Forest

[/Land]

[/Deck]

Match 1 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WT_vzTM9nw&w=640&h=360]

 

Match 1 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMJTarHmZXg&w=640&h=360]

 

Match 1 Game 3

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDnK61haEEw&w=640&h=360]

 

 

Match 2 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsA4cEffC_M&w=640&h=360]

 

Match 2 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5Of9k1exBc&w=640&h=360]

 

Match 2 Game 3

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jyC7AxNE6I&w=640&h=360]

 

 

Match 3 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xemmoW6iC-g&w=640&h=360]

 

Match 3 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abtZHDq7-aA&w=640&h=360]

 

Overall I was happy with the performance of this deck, though I do still wonder if things might have gone better had I taken the [card]Nemesis of Mortals[/card] instead of the [card]Hero’s Downfall[/card] in pack 3. Either way, the green-black graveyard deck in Theros Limited is certainly a contender, and if you can get the trifecta of [card]Nighthowler[/card], [card]Whip of Erebos[/card], and [card]Nemesis of Mortals[/card], along with the supporting cast to fill up your yard, you’ll be in business. Also, we didn’t see her, but [card]Pharika’s Mender[/card] also deserves a mention for the archetype as well.

 

See you next week!

-Andrew

Forced Fruition Episode 1: Protect the Planeswalker

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries?list=PLs4gxqbLAAD7RWuQVSbMIoO2K9SIqKV9q&w=640&h=360]

Welcome to Forced Fruition, the weekly show where we find ways to broaden our views on playing the game of Magic. Forced because we’re imposing some kind of rule or theme on our game, and Fruition because we’re going to learn something.

On this episode, we dive into a THS-THS-THS draft. Very quickly, I realized there was a ton of removal coming my way and in pack two, we opened [card]Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver[/card]. That solidified this week’s theme: “Protect the Planeswalker.” While we only got to cast her once over the course of this Swiss tourney, playing to keep opponents’ boards clear of anything that might threaten our blue/black mistress was effective.

 

Drafting Packs 1 and 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKNN3fpQjZI&w=640&h=360]

 

Drafting Pack 3 and Deckbuilding

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBuLj9iTOG0&w=640&h=360]

 

Decklist

[deck title= Protect the Planeswalker]
[Creatures]

*1 Keepsake Gorgon

*1 Disciple of Phenax

*1 Returned Phalanx

*1 Baleful Eidolon

*1 Stoneshock Giant

*1 Ember Swallower

*1 Borderland Minotaur

*1 Ill-Tempered Cyclops

*1 Fanatic of Mogis

*1 Spearpoint Oread

*1 Shipwreck Singer

*1 Burnished Hart

[/Creatures]
[Spells]

*1 Sip of Hemlock

*2 Lash of the Whip

*1 Pharika’s Cure

*2 Rage of Purphoros

*1 Magma Jet

*1 Lightning Strike

*1 Steam Augry

*1 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver

*1 Traveler’s Amulet

[/Spells]
[Land]

*2 Island

*8 Swamp

*7 Mountain
[/Land]
[/deck]

Match 1 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5C1RP5f0RQ&w=640&h=360]

 

Match 2 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_8NVzntSjs&w=640&h=360]

 

Match 2 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZfjlP7Kn9U&w=640&h=360]

 

Match 3 Game 1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPBh14PYgQ0&w=640&h=360]

 

Match 3 Game 2

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0QAWVwC2G8&w=640&h=360]