Challenge: Stepping Into the Arena
Challenges and Articles forum
Posted on Jan. 8, 2015, 3:03 p.m. by fluffybunnypants
I miss doinitwrong's events, so let's trying something new!
Challenge: Stepping Into the Arena
Format: Build Your Own Standard
Stepping Into the Arena will be a Build Your Own Standard event. Fluffy, whats that even mean? Build your own Standard means that you get to choose two expansion blocks and one core set to construct your deck from.
Each match will be a best of three. There will be a set number of swiss rounds that is dependent on participation and we will cut to either top eight or top four (also based on participation).
Please submit decklists by creating a deck on site with the words "Fluffy BYOS" in the title and tagging me (fluffybunnypants) in the comments as well as posting a link to it in this thread. Why so much visibility? Im really highly likely to miss it otherwise, I promise you. Submissions close Sunday 1/18 at midnight EST.
I will play out the matches with a friend of mine and post a brief summary of each match, hopefully with some form of enlightening (more likely amusing) commentary.
Banned sets: Alpha, Beta, Unlimited, Revised, Arabian Nights, Antiquities, the Dark, Fallen Empires, Homelands, Legends, Chronicles and all extraneous sets (Commander series, etc.).
If you build a successful ProsBloom deck, you will get extra props from me. I will play my own BYOS deck if we wind up with an odd number of people.
The winner currently gets bragging rights. If this turns into a real thing (meaning we get a lot of people who make decks), I will attempt to figure something out as a prize to the winner.
dragon_slayer says... #2
Yea, sorry about that Femme_Fatale and Dalektable...
January 14, 2015 6:32 a.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #3
Oh, there are at least two very obvious choices that no one has picked up yet.
January 14, 2015 8:15 a.m.
Dalektable says... #4
Twin Blade. I have no earthly idea how this is going to work.
Fluffy BYOS ~ Twin Blade Playtest
Casual
SCORE: 0 | 0 COMMENTS | 0 VIEWSJanuary 14, 2015 9:19 a.m.
can you make multiple decks per person? I might submit a second one...
January 14, 2015 9:25 a.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #6
@ Boza
Right now I'm keeping it to one deck per person.
January 14, 2015 10 a.m.
laughingman123 says... #7
Just an idea for future challenges you could choose the sets we have to use. Even do theme ones like both mirrodin sets or both ravnica sets. Just an idea.
January 14, 2015 10:05 a.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #8
I'm going to try to keep it eclectic. BYOS is just the starting format. I have some interesting ideas cooked up for further arena challenges.
January 14, 2015 10:51 a.m.
The Doctor says... #9
I don't get why people aren't just picking the most broken sets in the game.
January 14, 2015 1:18 p.m.
Femme_Fatale says... #10
I never play legacy or vintage so I have no idea what sets these are.
Wait.
Time for some research.
January 14, 2015 2:14 p.m.
As far as broken sets, two of us have picked Urza's Saga for Academy decks. I'd have to research more to know anything else beyond Randy Buehler's Gauntlet of Greatness or the Modern primer here on Tapped Out. Banning the earliest sets takes care of a lot of problem sets though.
January 14, 2015 2:49 p.m.
My knowledge of legacy and vintage is poor at best, so I gravitate towards the modern sets. Plus b/w tokens is my forte. That's why I didn't use any of the "broken" sets personally.
January 14, 2015 5:12 p.m.
fluffybunnypants: My deck.
Fluffy BYOS: Rise of the Walls Playtest
Modern
SCORE: 0 | 0 COMMENTS | 1 VIEWSJanuary 14, 2015 7:54 p.m.
GoldGhost012 says... #15
January 15, 2015 12:49 a.m.
You just aren't having any luck with this, are you femme.
January 15, 2015 8:24 a.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #18
There are still at least 3 archetypes that I consider Tier 1 in this format that are untouched.
January 15, 2015 8:34 a.m.
How many of those archetypes are on this list? Just out of curiosity. (and maybe suggestions for some last minute entries :P)
- ProsBloom as mentioned in the OP
- Jar/Megrim
- Illusions/Donate
- Psychatog/Upheaval
- Storm
January 15, 2015 10:50 a.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #20
@ Obake
UW Delver Counter TopIchorid DredgeSneak and ShowBUG VineUW ControlPainter StoneNatural Order
January 15, 2015 11:25 a.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #21
UW Delver
Counter Top
Ichorid Dredge
Sneak and Show
BUG Vine
UW Control
Painter Stone
Natural Order
That's much better, 'dem line breaks.
January 15, 2015 11:26 a.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #22
Actually, screw it, I'm joining in.
Stepping Into the Arena BYOS Playtest
Standard*
SCORE: 0 | 0 COMMENTS | 0 VIEWSJanuary 15, 2015 11:27 a.m.
INB4 Femme was building that too :P
I actually don't know most of the decks you listed, Fluffy. UW Control has been a thing for eons. I know the idea behind UR Delver, I assume UW Delver is like a more controlling version of that. Sneak and Show I'd assume is built around Sneak Attack and Show and Tell, though I haven't looked at how its built in modern days. I'd have to look up the rest of them because I have no idea what they are.
January 15, 2015 11:59 a.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #24
They're mostly just Legacy or old Standard archetypes that are altered to be viable in this format.
January 15, 2015 12:33 p.m.
I figured as much. I missed out on ~12 years of Magic history, though I'm slowing learning and filling in the gaps as I go.
January 15, 2015 1:15 p.m.
GoldGhost012 says... #26
Lolz, I really have no idea about any of the meta before Zen-Scars with the exception of Mirrodin Ravager Affinity. I was extremely lucky and thankful that most of Necro's cards are mainly from 2 sets.
January 15, 2015 1:19 p.m.
dragon_slayer says... #27
I tried making a Painter Stone deck but found that it didn't work. I must have needed a different core set...
January 15, 2015 5:47 p.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #29
Lorwyn/Tempest and literally any core set will net you enough to have a Painter Stone deck.
January 15, 2015 9:02 p.m.
dragon_slayer says... #30
True, but it didn't seem to be reliable enough, however I suppose there is definitely a way.
Counter top seems strong, but no miracles... :(
January 15, 2015 9:26 p.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #32
Hell, run 6th edition and get Vampiric Tutor, that should add some consistency.
January 16, 2015 9:07 a.m.
fluffybunnypants, so what are the top tier decks for this challenge, in your opinion? Who do you think is going to win?
January 16, 2015 10:32 a.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #34
@ xzzane
I think that Counter Top, Artifact Storm, Stoneblade, Delver, UW Control, Ichorid Dredge and Necropotence are all T1 in my opinion.
I think Counter Top and Necropotence each have a really good shot at running away with it.... but we don't have a Counter Top deck, so I'd call Storm or Necropotence as the winner right now.
January 16, 2015 11:28 a.m.
I have to agree on mind's desire (especially with the new art). Also, I am 100% impartial when I say that :)
January 16, 2015 1:10 p.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #37
This is your reminder that entrance to the challenge closes in just under 33 hours.
January 16, 2015 3:19 p.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #39
More like YOUR mom closes in under 33 hours... NERD. Amirite?
January 16, 2015 3:46 p.m.
The Doctor says... #40
I've got reservations for Fluffy's mom for the next 33 hours.
Sorry guys.
January 16, 2015 4:06 p.m.
gnarlicide says... #41
The Doctor, it appears that we have been double booked...
January 17, 2015 4:44 a.m.
nighthawk101 says... #43
So when are you guys planning on running the matches?
January 19, 2015 7:12 p.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #44
I've started the matches already but I've run out of having a lot of personal time for the a bit. I'm going to try to pick the matches back up this weekend and attempt to get through the rest of the first round of swiss.
January 21, 2015 6:53 p.m.
Damn...wish I had caught this sooner, any chance I can join the ping list for the next event? :p
January 22, 2015 8:31 p.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #49
Almost done writing up round one, but round two has been completed. The playing part is great fun. Writing it up is the tough part.
January 30, 2015 10:31 p.m.
gnarlicide says... #50
I cannot wait..
My nipples explode with anticipation.
GoldGhost012 says... #1
Oh hey look, Counterspell's legal. I think I know what I want to build!
January 14, 2015 12:40 a.m.