Q and A! Pre-Article Shenanigans.
Standard forum
Posted on April 30, 2014, 10:49 a.m. by Cableguy
Hello everyone. I have an article pretty much ready to go and hope to have it up sometime tomorrow. However prior to me posting articles I will hold a Q and A session. You can use this time to ask me all sorts of questions and I will answer. Questions I find particularly interesting might be added to the article. So, lets get started :D and yes, you can request me to check decks.
the5ervant says... #3
Have MUD and MBD fallen out of favor since Theros? If so, can they still be viable? If not, what archetypes have replaced them?
April 30, 2014 10:57 a.m.
I still think MUD and MBD will be around as they both got better cards and none of their previous cards got nerfed at all. Deicide will hurt MUD but MBD is still incredibly strong.
That being said I think the format will speed up with multiple decks able to win by turn 4-5. They will still be heavily favored until deck innovators come up with the new latest and greatest deck of the format.
April 30, 2014 11:47 a.m.
Black now has a lot of good cards for aggro, including Gnarled Scarhide and Master of the Feast .
Do you predict the meta to start seeing Black Aggro?
Here is an example of my view of this... (but it's lacking non-creature spells, and I suck at designing aggro)
Devotion to Blaggro Playtest
Standard*
SCORE: 0 | 0 COMMENTS | 67 VIEWSI think this style of build can allow for side boarding into a more traditional MBD (Pack Rat , Underworld Connections ) or into stronger aggro if needed.
April 30, 2014 12:10 p.m.
How are variations of White Weenie aggro fitting into the current meta? Have some problems with the strategy been fixed or addressed in JOU? Currently I run an American Aggro list but how do you think it can hold up in the new Magic?
White Weenie Avenger Playtest
Standard*
SCORE: 2 | 1 COMMENTS | 506 VIEWSApril 30, 2014 12:31 p.m.
harrydemon117 says... #7
Here's something I've been pondering and maybe you can weigh in on it as well:
With the release of Mana Confluence
, do you think more multi-colored decks (3+) will surface now that there is better mana fixing?
We already have Sylvan Caryatid
to replace the Farseek
of old, on top of Chromatic Lantern
as a start, and this just seems to add more to it.
Thoughts?
April 30, 2014 12:52 p.m.
@Harry: You are missing a few people always forget. Darksteel Ingot , Deathrite Shaman , Mana Bloom , Manaweft Sliver , Opaline Unicorn , Springleaf Drum , and other ones that make you pay a mana to convert. We have all these and yet we dont use it because 4 colors is unreliable right now even with mana confluence.
What would make 4 colors viable again is if the rumors of the Onslaught fetch lands in M15 are true. That way you can Windswept Heath into Godless Shrine , etc.
April 30, 2014 1:03 p.m.
Rhinowarrior says... #9
Can white black enchantment aggro be competetive? Under Where? Under World! i know its a dumb title
April 30, 2014 1:25 p.m.
Hey there Cableguy! I was extremely impressed by your first article, and can't wait for future installments.
My questions is what are your thoughts on flash? In particular bant flash. I personally have been playing Out of the Blue | Bant Flash on cockatrice. I would love to hear your thoughts on the deck, but also on the archetype in general. Does a flash deck have what it take to be competitive. One thing to note is part of its strength would be that it is a rouge deck, meaning no strong sideboard plan against it.
April 30, 2014 4:04 p.m.
@Rhino: I think aggro with Atheos is the best build around him. I think your deck would do fine at like an FNM but on a highly competitive scene it will have some troubles.
@Franky: Thanks! You sound alright for a red sox fan (Yankees here). Anyways to your question. I dont feel like flash is all that relevant because generally its not really that much different. The only difference is you impact the board later and usually are a turn behind and if you start on the draw it can become more of a problem. I think bant is a great color combo especially with turbo fog (see Patrick Chapins new turbo fog deck at Star city games website under premium section).
April 30, 2014 4:13 p.m.
Rhinowarrior says... #12
Haha redsox all the way! I dont plan on going that competetive so FNM is just fine with me:)
April 30, 2014 4:15 p.m.
Yuck, the Yankees...... Cudos the the captain, and the rivalry though. May it never end.
I deffinetly feel where your coming from, but I think Flash is more then just playing things EOT. It shapes the game in a different way. It forces your oppoenents to play around cards that aren't even there yet. It also obviously allows for more flexebity (AKA counter magic, or creature). I think it attacks the meta in an interesting way. I totally respect your points though!
I would talk more smack about the Yankees but uh then I look at the standing. All I'm gonna say is cough cough world series champions. WOW sorry got a little congested there. What I was going to say is good luck.
April 30, 2014 4:23 p.m.
What standard netdeck is best positioned in the current metagame?
April 30, 2014 4:24 p.m.
harrydemon117 says... #15
@Cableguy:
MaRo has already stated that the fetchlands will NEVER exist in standard along with the Ravnica/RTR shocklands as it would make multicolored too good.
The items you listed all work well at generating the mana, but are subject to various removal (especially the creatures). With Mana Confluence
, it is a LAND that can generate any color mana at the cost of 1 life. Artifact removal isn't so prevalent, so things like Darksteel Ingot
could work along with Chromatic Lantern
. The lantern also turns Mana Confluence
into a non damaging version of itself.
I agree it's not as easy to do now that Farseek and the M10 duals aren't in the format, but it would be nice to see one emerge.
On another note, what are your thoughts on the new Constellation ability and using Mana Bloom to ramp? It bounces back for reuse if need be to retrigger constellation, and allows you to use mana on EACH turn and not just one turn
April 30, 2014 4:28 p.m.
@Franky: 27 vs 8. You have a ways to go to catch up :P
@Matsi: As is? or Going in? The first two weeks of a new meta people usually are still playing the old stuff while we figure out where the format will change to. I feel strongly about Naya and its variants like Naya Blitz. Todd Anderson's version is particularly strong in all match ups. I dont want to talk too much on this because it will be in my article.
@Harry: MaRo hasn't said a definite no but he fells like it could be more complex for a core set. So no definitive answer there. The set after though if not in M15 will have them from all the discussion lately.
I think constellation has some great cards like Eidolon of Blossoms , Skybind , Strength from the Fallen (possibly in dredge), and Underworld Coinsmith . Whether or not they will see play will be up to top tier innovators.
I like Mana Bloom but I haven't tested it a lot. I might need to get on top of that. It is basically all ramp cards in one, an Everflowing Chalice of whatever colors you want.
April 30, 2014 5:22 p.m.
I meant going in. And two more:
What will be the breakout STD deck utilizing a JOU card?
What will be the breakout deck of PTJOU?
April 30, 2014 5:25 p.m.
@Matsi: I think its a little too early to say. Anything that has the possibility to win by turn 4-5 and yet have a decent enough late game to hold its own. Possible deck techs like heroic weenies and such will see a lot more play and be very good. Naya hexproof got a two drop hexy which they needed. Black aggro got a boost with Brain Maggot Master of the Feast and scarhide. If I was playing in Cincinnati this weekend I would probably swing toward naya but I also enjoy the deck and am used to it.
April 30, 2014 5:58 p.m.
Do you think W/U Heroic can be competitive in standard? I'm currently running a W/U heroic and it has done very well vs my local meta. It does have some trouble with Control and MBD, so any sideboard suggestions would be great!!
Also check my deck :P its the only one on my page -TY .... Looking forward to the read.
April 30, 2014 8:01 p.m.
harrydemon117 says... #20
@Cableguy:
Yeah it comes down on turn two but then you lose the mana once it depletes itself. The only use I can see for it to be ANYWHERE in standard is with the Constellation ability as you can cast it for 0, have it come back to your hand on your next turn, and do it again.
Probably better would be to do it for x=1 so you have any color mana available on your opponent's turn, then just remove the counter on their end step so you can do it again.
Lol it would be funny to use it in an actual combo deck that kills someone with it :)
May 1, 2014 8:16 a.m.
The best way to use Mana Bloom would be to also ensure that you have a number of permanents (presumably Enchantments to go with Constellation), that use a few mana to activate.
This gives you a reason to charge the Mana Bloom , while still giving you mana fixing, and Constellation every turn.
Personally, I'm just not sure if there are enough good Constellation cards to make it worth while.
May 1, 2014 9:43 a.m.
Mana Bloom is a ramp card. For 1G you get Rampant Growth like ramp, 2G you get another ramp card which name I forgot but you get the idea.
May 1, 2014 10:01 a.m.
harrydemon117 says... #23
Eidolon of Blossoms and Underworld Coinsmith were the only two I've REALLY liked thus far, and the coinsmith requires mana to drain your opponent
The "ramping" could also be used to cast bestow thus triggering Constellation anyway...such as Boon Satyr
Schuesseled says... #2
Alright. CHECK MY DECK!
Revel In The Power Of A Jund Blitzkrieg copy
It's a Jund blitz deck (lots of small aggro stuff) I'm tired of this slow boring format, what do you think of the deck and it's chances?
April 30, 2014 10:52 a.m.