Comments on: Sealed Deck Practice With Zendikar #1 http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-1/ Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:48:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: artdz http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1305 artdz Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:00:48 +0000 http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-1/#comment-1305 What I came up with was similiar. I felt like the journey splash wasn't worth it. Creatures (12) 4 Crypt Ripper 1 Giant Scorpian 1 Vampire Hexmage 1 Gamazoa 1 Reckless Scholar 1 Sea Gate Loremaster 1 Sky Ruin Drake 2 Welkin Tern Spells (11) 2 Hideous End 1 Into the Roil 1 Ior Ruin Expedition 1 Summoners Bane 1 Whiplash trap 2 Expedition Map 1 Trusty Machete 2 Soul Stair Expedition Lands (17) 9 Swamp 1 Piranha Marsh 6 Island 1 Soaring Seacliff What I came up with was similiar. I felt like the journey splash wasn’t worth it.

Creatures (12)
4 Crypt Ripper
1 Giant Scorpian
1 Vampire Hexmage
1 Gamazoa
1 Reckless Scholar
1 Sea Gate Loremaster
1 Sky Ruin Drake
2 Welkin Tern

Spells (11)
2 Hideous End
1 Into the Roil
1 Ior Ruin Expedition
1 Summoners Bane
1 Whiplash trap
2 Expedition Map
1 Trusty Machete
2 Soul Stair Expedition

Lands (17)
9 Swamp
1 Piranha Marsh
6 Island
1 Soaring Seacliff

]]> By: bloodynosewizard http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1082 bloodynosewizard Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:19:52 +0000 http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-1/#comment-1082 horrible sealed. no bombs whatsoever. I was thinking a W/U/G but the mana was to awkward. horrible sealed. no bombs whatsoever. I was thinking a W/U/G but the mana was to awkward.

]]> By: Laminate http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1017 Laminate Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:47:25 +0000 http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-1/#comment-1017 I dont think green anything is viable with this pool. The main problem is that Nissa's Chosen is GG and Crypt Ripper is BB. It would be hard to consistently play the card on turn 2 and any later in the game its just worse than the cards you have access to with Blue. Lifegain isn't that big of a deal in this game as it was in other formats (kitchen finks) I think the question is what green offers to the table that blue doesn't? Blue has good two drops, blue has good late game creatures, blue has good utility spells. Green has "good" two drops. Vastwood gorger will just get chumped all day. I think its safe to say that U/B is the optimal build. I dont think green anything is viable with this pool. The main problem is that Nissa’s Chosen is GG and Crypt Ripper is BB. It would be hard to consistently play the card on turn 2 and any later in the game its just worse than the cards you have access to with Blue. Lifegain isn’t that big of a deal in this game as it was in other formats (kitchen finks)

I think the question is what green offers to the table that blue doesn’t? Blue has good two drops, blue has good late game creatures, blue has good utility spells. Green has “good” two drops. Vastwood gorger will just get chumped all day. I think its safe to say that U/B is the optimal build.

]]> By: LALA http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1014 LALA Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:47:41 +0000 http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-1/#comment-1014 Black (8) # 4 Crypt Ripper # 1 Giant Scorpion # 2 Hideous End # 1 Vampire Hexmage Green (11) # 2 Grazing Gladehart # 1 Joraga Bard # 1 Nissas Chosen # 2 Oran-Rief Survivalist # 1 Savage Silhouette # 2 Tajuru Archer # 1 Turntimber Basilisk # 1 Vastwood Gorger Artifacts (3) # 1 Stonework Puma # 1 Trusty Machete # 1 Adventuring Gear Lands (18) # 1 Oran-Rief, the Vastwood # 1 Piranha Marsh # 8 Forest # 8 Swamps Black (8)

# 4 Crypt Ripper
# 1 Giant Scorpion
# 2 Hideous End
# 1 Vampire Hexmage

Green (11)

# 2 Grazing Gladehart
# 1 Joraga Bard
# 1 Nissas Chosen
# 2 Oran-Rief Survivalist
# 1 Savage Silhouette
# 2 Tajuru Archer
# 1 Turntimber Basilisk
# 1 Vastwood Gorger

Artifacts (3)

# 1 Stonework Puma
# 1 Trusty Machete
# 1 Adventuring Gear

Lands (18)

# 1 Oran-Rief, the Vastwood
# 1 Piranha Marsh

# 8 Forest
# 8 Swamps

]]> By: Shane http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-1/comment-page-1/#comment-978 Shane Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:59:50 +0000 http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-1/#comment-978 Thanks for the post. Actually just recently did a seal draft with my buddies and the idea of splashing another color came in a great deal. I have always been reluctant to splash some colors for one or two removal cards. However, thanks to the OP idea of splashing the journey to no where, i ended up going 6-1 in our 4 man seal draft. Granted, a Ob Nixilis, the Fallen really just shuts people down. Good picks and deck build. As stated from other posts, some of the cards you mentioned in white are better than you think IMO. Good drafting and thanks for the post. Thanks for the post. Actually just recently did a seal draft with my buddies and the idea of splashing another color came in a great deal. I have always been reluctant to splash some colors for one or two removal cards. However, thanks to the OP idea of splashing the journey to no where, i ended up going 6-1 in our 4 man seal draft. Granted, a Ob Nixilis, the Fallen really just shuts people down. Good picks and deck build.

As stated from other posts, some of the cards you mentioned in white are better than you think IMO.

Good drafting and thanks for the post.

]]> By: Dee http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-1/comment-page-1/#comment-955 Dee Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:16:43 +0000 http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-1/#comment-955 I disagree with green over black. Removal is always good in limited and you've got 2 Hideous End, which is one of the best removal spells in the format. Also, Crypt Ripper is very good. Soul Stair Expedition is the best card advantage spell at common. And Giant Scorpion acts as removal much more often than Tajuru Archer. Tajuru Archer, Joraga Bard, and Stonework Puma are unplayable most of the time especially since you only have 7 allies. Sure, you can hit a flyer with Tajuru Archer but what if they don't play flyers or they don't draw their flyers. Or their flyer is too big for you to kill like the 2/5 Sky Ruin Drake or the 3/3 white flyer with first strike and vigilance. I'd rather have 2 Hideous End. The black card is much, much more reliable. I disagree with green over black. Removal is always good in limited and you’ve got 2 Hideous End, which is one of the best removal spells in the format.

Also, Crypt Ripper is very good. Soul Stair Expedition is the best card advantage spell at common. And Giant Scorpion acts as removal much more often than Tajuru Archer.

Tajuru Archer, Joraga Bard, and Stonework Puma are unplayable most of the time especially since you only have 7 allies. Sure, you can hit a flyer with Tajuru Archer but what if they don’t play flyers or they don’t draw their flyers. Or their flyer is too big for you to kill like the 2/5 Sky Ruin Drake or the 3/3 white flyer with first strike and vigilance. I’d rather have 2 Hideous End. The black card is much, much more reliable.

]]> By: Shrout http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-1/comment-page-1/#comment-954 Shrout Tue, 06 Oct 2009 03:14:21 +0000 http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-1/#comment-954 man, this pool is so synergistic, could basically play like a good draft deck, and you missed the boat completely on it. your two deepest colors are green and blue, and I appreciate the concern that they are removal free colors, you could have exploited certain combinations to great effect to simulate removal. the key would have been to combine the tajuru archers (irritatingly bad on their own but you shouldn't count them out just as welkintern-killers who give you a 3/3 survivalist) with caller of gales and soaring seacliffs to pick off groundpounders and combine with your other allies. Here's what my build would have been: 2x oran-rief survivalist 2x tajuru archer 1x joraga bard 2x grazing gladeheart 1x turntimber basilisk 1x vastwood gorger 1x caller of gales 2x welkin tern 1x into the roil 1x whiplash trap 1x sky ruin drake 1x sea gate loremaster 1x reckless scholar 1x gomazoa 1x stonework puma 1x expedition map 1x trusty machete 1x journey to nowhere 1x kor skyfisher 2 plains 8 forest soaring seacliff 6 island man, this pool is so synergistic, could basically play like a good draft deck, and you missed the boat completely on it. your two deepest colors are green and blue, and I appreciate the concern that they are removal free colors, you could have exploited certain combinations to great effect to simulate removal. the key would have been to combine the tajuru archers (irritatingly bad on their own but you shouldn’t count them out just as welkintern-killers who give you a 3/3 survivalist) with caller of gales and soaring seacliffs to pick off groundpounders and combine with your other allies. Here’s what my build would have been:

2x oran-rief survivalist
2x tajuru archer
1x joraga bard
2x grazing gladeheart
1x turntimber basilisk
1x vastwood gorger
1x caller of gales
2x welkin tern
1x into the roil
1x whiplash trap
1x sky ruin drake
1x sea gate loremaster
1x reckless scholar
1x gomazoa
1x stonework puma
1x expedition map
1x trusty machete
1x journey to nowhere
1x kor skyfisher

2 plains
8 forest
soaring seacliff
6 island

]]> By: Dee http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-1/comment-page-1/#comment-940 Dee Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:10:50 +0000 http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-1/#comment-940 @bluesky I still like blue because it has some of the important things you want in a sealed deck, evasion and removal. Plus, blue has card advantage. Green has good cheap guys but they are easily stopped by something like a 1/4 or a fatty. @Sean Splashing for Steppe Lynx seems pretty bad. It's only good in aggressive decks and our deck is pretty controlling. Plus, Lynx is not very good mid or late game and you can't count on splash cards being played early on a regularly basis. And splashing another white card (Skyfisher) is just asking to be color screwed with only 2 white mana sources. 17-18 land should still be a good baseline even with landfall since many of the landfall decks will have ways to get land like Harrow or Explorer's Scope. Also, even with 17, you'll often flood mid or late game. @bluesky

I still like blue because it has some of the important things you want in a sealed deck, evasion and removal. Plus, blue has card advantage.

Green has good cheap guys but they are easily stopped by something like a 1/4 or a fatty.

@Sean

Splashing for Steppe Lynx seems pretty bad. It’s only good in aggressive decks and our deck is pretty controlling. Plus, Lynx is not very good mid or late game and you can’t count on splash cards being played early on a regularly basis.

And splashing another white card (Skyfisher) is just asking to be color screwed with only 2 white mana sources.

17-18 land should still be a good baseline even with landfall since many of the landfall decks will have ways to get land like Harrow or Explorer’s Scope. Also, even with 17, you’ll often flood mid or late game.

]]> By: Sean http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-1/comment-page-1/#comment-933 Sean Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:40:33 +0000 http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-1/#comment-933 I think you're undervaluing Steppe Lynx. In drafts he will be amazing. In sealed he is still pretty solid. The skyfisher is also a really solid common. White's best cards are journey, lynx and skyfisher. Also, in my opinion, running 17 lands is not predetermined in this format. With all the landfall stuff top-decking a land can be a win-con, especially with creatures like Roil Elemental. Top-decking lands, and then holding on to them to landfall with mid and late game are good strategy. I make this observation because you started deck-building looking for 23 cards, and especially after seeing a weak pool like this. I think I would have still gone with 17, and added +1 steppe lynx -1 machete equipment, and -1 soul stair +1 skyfisher. Other than that, I think you did a great job. I think your reasoning for not including the carnage alter very good--I'd only run it if I had something like cobra trap AND if I had 17+ creatures. I think you’re undervaluing Steppe Lynx. In drafts he will be amazing. In sealed he is still pretty solid. The skyfisher is also a really solid common. White’s best cards are journey, lynx and skyfisher.

Also, in my opinion, running 17 lands is not predetermined in this format. With all the landfall stuff top-decking a land can be a win-con, especially with creatures like Roil Elemental. Top-decking lands, and then holding on to them to landfall with mid and late game are good strategy. I make this observation because you started deck-building looking for 23 cards, and especially after seeing a weak pool like this. I think I would have still gone with 17, and added +1 steppe lynx -1 machete equipment, and -1 soul stair +1 skyfisher.

Other than that, I think you did a great job. I think your reasoning for not including the carnage alter very good–I’d only run it if I had something like cobra trap AND if I had 17+ creatures.

]]> By: bluesky http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-1/comment-page-1/#comment-932 bluesky Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:34:08 +0000 http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-1/#comment-932 I think you have overlooked green. The green is really good with the grazing gladeharts (card is better than it looks), nissas chosen, ohran rief survivalist,vastwood gorger and the savage silhouette. I would combine it with the black. I think you have overlooked green. The green is really good with the grazing gladeharts (card is better than it looks), nissas chosen, ohran rief survivalist,vastwood gorger and the savage silhouette. I would combine it with the black.

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