Magic: The Gathering

[Taskmage]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

Yeah, one of 'em even ran two Nevermore in the sideboard.

[Malacite]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

Well, if you're super paranoid of Geist there's always nevermore

And yeah, Paladin is basically a giant bullseye. Why I would possibly consider using Knight of Glory instead since he's Exalted & Pro Black.

[Taskmage]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

Fair point. Possibly the reasoning behind running 4 Geists was the expectation of seeing them a lot on the opponent's side of the board. At one point during the match coverage, one of the commentators quipped that Geist was the only removal spell in both decks. Silverblade is extremely powerful if it sticks, but also vulnerable to almost every damn removal spell in the format, so they probably ran 3 just to reduce their exposure to that weakness.

I'd bet the reasoning behind not using Cathedral, removal, and some of the stronger but slightly more expensive creatures is simply that it reduces the potential for explosive starts. Ideally against a midrange like Jund, you'd want them to be dead before they play anything worth removing, and once they start dropping crap like Huntsmaster and Thragtusk pretty much any removal becomes inadequate. With control decks the biggest threat to look out for is Geists and against that you're already packing just about the only removal spell that works on those guys—your own Geists.

Speaking strictly about the competitive metagame here, of course. What works among friends is another matter entirely.

[Malacite]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

Similar to a deck I ran as well :O

Only I wouldn't use 4 Geists, that's kinda overkill... and +2/+2 and flying is nice, but as long as you're bitching auras, I'd rather use Curiosity & throw in either some detention spheres or O-Rings for removal (and to buff Ethereal Armor). Comboing Abundant Growth & Cathedral of War ain't bad either (or just the growth to fix mana & cantrip if you don't draw all the right colors).

Latchseeker isn't a terrible little guy either, 3/1 unblockable for 3 (or Lyev Skynight). I like that strategy with the paladin, just seems weird to only run 3 and not over (as opposed to 4 legendaries... I know Geist is good but still). I just feel like Curiosity is a nice little way of beefing up Ethereal Armor + it nets you card advantage - however giving evasion to the Paladin has its merits too.


EDIT: Here's my enchantment aggro - by no means perfect but I like it; (Also I made it quite some time ago and haven't reviewed it in a bit)


Creatures:

• Bruna, Light of Alabaster
• Champion of Lambholt x2
• Crosstown Courier x2
• Elvish Visionary x4
• Geist of Saint Taft x2
• Invisibile Stalker x4
• Silverblade Paladin x2
• Wild Beastmaster x3

Enchantments:

• Adbundant Growth x4
• Curiosity x4
• Ethereal Armor x4
• Rancor x4

Land:

• Breeding Pool x4
• Evolving Wilds x4
• Forest x2
• Hallowed Fountain x4
• Plains x2
• Temple Garden x4

Planeswalkers:

• Ajani, Caller of the Pride

Sorceries:

• Farseek x3

So yeah definitely room for improvement, was kind of a spur of the moment type thing back when I first made it. I wanted to include as many cantrips as possible (because using auras is risky) and cheap critters with weak bodies but powerful effects.

[Taskmage]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

Grand Prix Atlantic City saw two Standard Bant Aura decks dueling for the top spot. I find that to be pretty awesome not only because an aura-based strategy dominating in a competitive metagame is totally out of left field, but also because the lists look like meaner, sleeker versions of decks a few of us have been playing casually.

John Stern's Bant Auras (First Place)

4 Hallowed Fountain
4 Temple Garden
4 Hinterland Harbor
3 Cavern of Souls
2 Sunpetal Grove
1 Glacial Fortress
4 Forest
1 Island

4 Avacyn's Pilgrim
4 Invisible Stalker
4 Geist of Saint Traft
3 Silverblade Paladin
4 Abundant Growth

4 Ethereal Armor
4 Rancor
4 Spectral Flight
4 Selesnya Charm
2 Increasing Savagery

Sideboard:
2 Feeling of Dread
2 Loxodon Smiter
3 Nearheath Pilgrim
1 Rootborn Defenses
1 Negate
2 Nevermore
1 Angelic Overseer
3 Rest in Peace

Josh Utter-Leyton's Bant Auras (Second Place)

2 Cavern of Souls
4 Hallowed Fountain
4 Temple Garden
4 Hinterland Harbor
2 Sunpetal Grove
1 Glacial Fortress
4 Forest
1 Island

4 Avacyn's Pilgrim
4 Invisible Stalker
2 Fencing Ace
4 Geist of Saint Traft
4 Silverblade Paladin

4 Abundant Growth
4 Ethereal Armor
4 Rancor
4 Spectral Flight
2 Increasing Savagery
2 Curiosity

Sideboard:
3 Rest in Peace
2 Feeling of Dread
2 Dispel
4 Strangleroot Geist
2 Wolfir Avenger
2 Garruk Relentless

Both decks work by pumping double strikers and/or Invisible Stalkers up with cards like Rancor, Ethereal Armor, and Spectral Flight, which can be crazy fast. I mean check this out: turn 1 Avacyn's Pilgrim, turn 2 Silverblade Paladin, turn 3 drop any two of the above auras or an Increasing Savagery on the paladin and swing for 12-14 with trample, possibly even in the air. Win on turn 4 if your opponent can't answer immediately. If you're expecting to play into removal, you just slow it down a turn or two and drop those auras on a hexproof Invisible Stalker or Geist of Saint Traft. Smart, powerful, and looks like fun to play. Love it.

[Malacite]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

SUPER HAPPY FUN TIME!!!

^ ~ ^ friend came over today, unborked my PC. I even managed to find where my original deck files were so all my decks are back (WHEW!)


Still installing/fixing some things but otherwise my PC is mostly running normal again. If anyone wants to play tonight lemme know. And yeah, Boros getting some love finally - not just the charm, but Aurelia's Fury is crazy too - WTF Instant Speed X damage spell o_O!?

[Firewind]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

Same here, going to meet friends but I probably won't be out all night anyway. Best bet as always is to simply send me a Skype message if I'm on.

[Yygdrasil]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

[ATTACH=CONFIG]25137[/ATTACH]

All of my want.

holy crap.

- - - Updated - - -

I might be available to play tonight. Maybe. It depends.

[Firewind]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

Holy Crap. Imagine dropping that plus Wrath of God, plus a second Boros Charm for Double Strike.

Mezlo: I might be available tomorrow evening GMT (so early afternoon for you I think). But with no D&D on tomorrow I have been making plans so I probably won't be available until then anyway. Best bet would be to just send me a Skype message if you see me on. Sunday is no go really since it is a Raid Night on SWTOR and everyone in the raid roster likes to meet up for Roleplay after.

[Mezlo]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

I still want to play... anyone playing tonight or this weekend?

[Taskmage]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

Wow.

[Malacite]

Re: Magic: The Gathering



All of my want.

[Firewind]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

Well in pretty much all multiplayer formats (Except maybe 2HG), the game doesn't get doing until about 4-5 turns in so it is actually not a bad place to test out slower decks too. it's why I also see little value in 1/1's without any notable abilities and one drops that are 1/1's. They die fast and it is a slot in the deck that could have gotten you towards your endgame strategy.

It is why the fast aggro players tend to take each other out with the "winner" being picked off a turn or two later. Multiplayer Magic should be thought of as more a Marathon and not a Sprint.

[Yellow Mage]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

As I recall, cid and I often end up killing each other.

[Firewind]

Re: Magic: The Gathering

To be fair YM, you are the one that plays the faster decks in Multiplayer so you do sometimes beat Cid and myself to "fastest person to get a huge target on their head".

Which is probably why TM ends up winning a lot due to Cid's "Bomberman Principle".