Comments on: Sealed Deck Practice With Zendikar #2 http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-2/ Fri, 11 May 2012 19:29:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Dee http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1111 Dee Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:08:38 +0000 http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-2/#comment-1111 Yeah, I would only play crab if I had the dedicated mill strategy. For example, I drafted multiple crabs, defensive cards, and many ways to trigger land fall (fetchlands, Harrow, etc.). But that strategy seems very rare. Yeah, I would only play crab if I had the dedicated mill strategy. For example, I drafted multiple crabs, defensive cards, and many ways to trigger land fall (fetchlands, Harrow, etc.). But that strategy seems very rare.

]]> By: Ryan http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1110 Ryan Sun, 06 Dec 2009 14:21:31 +0000 http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-2/#comment-1110 Nah, looking at the card pool... I think G/U is by and far the obvious choice.... though the whole combo thing with the Basilisk makes me a bit nervous. I like how synergistic it is, but you are leaving yourself open to bounce or creature destruction....BUT having said that... if you can can resolve the combo your opponent is pretty much screwed. And I also agree with your analysis about crab... the only time I've seen the whole combo work is if the person managed to pull 3-4 crabs with a lot of land fetch. This is assuming of course that one of their opponents just doesn't kill it outright. Great practice, thanks for this. Nah, looking at the card pool… I think G/U is by and far the obvious choice…. though the whole combo thing with the Basilisk makes me a bit nervous. I like how synergistic it is, but you are leaving yourself open to bounce or creature destruction….BUT having said that… if you can can resolve the combo your opponent is pretty much screwed.

And I also agree with your analysis about crab… the only time I’ve seen the whole combo work is if the person managed to pull 3-4 crabs with a lot of land fetch. This is assuming of course that one of their opponents just doesn’t kill it outright.

Great practice, thanks for this.

]]> By: Dee http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1086 Dee Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:23:15 +0000 http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-2/#comment-1086 Crab seems pretty bad. Scholar can attack, block, and trade and the looting ability is solid to help you find your best cards. Crab, on the other hand, just sits there doing nothing. Sure, you can mill your opponent but that's a very unlikely scenario. And sometimes your milling allows them to draw their bomb earlier. Crab seems pretty bad. Scholar can attack, block, and trade and the looting ability is solid to help you find your best cards.

Crab, on the other hand, just sits there doing nothing. Sure, you can mill your opponent but that’s a very unlikely scenario. And sometimes your milling allows them to draw their bomb earlier.

]]> By: bloodynosewizard http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1081 bloodynosewizard Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:48:38 +0000 http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-2/#comment-1081 I would pull the scholar for hedron crab. The scholar is basically a 2/1 chump blocker and the hedron crab can chump block if needed. This deck could easily stalemate and hedron crab first turn is a bomb and is playable late game. With frontier guide you could end the game in 7 turns. I would pull the scholar for hedron crab. The scholar is basically a 2/1 chump blocker and the hedron crab can chump block if needed. This deck could easily stalemate and hedron crab first turn is a bomb and is playable late game.

With frontier guide you could end the game in 7 turns.

]]> By: Dee http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-2/comment-page-1/#comment-990 Dee Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:13:47 +0000 http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-2/#comment-990 Martin, Thanks for trying out the exercise. I think Nissa is much better than Joraga Bard because you get a really good defense with the unkillable Chosen. (Well, almost unkillable. Journey to Nowhere can take it out.) Also, the life gain can matter sometimes. I did some goldfishing with the deck and Savage Silhouette turned out to be ok, but I could see playing Scholar over it. I think the key is to think of it as a five mana spell so you have regeneration mana open. Actually, looking back, I think I would play 18 land and cut Savage Silhouette or Scholar. The curve is kinda high and we do have some landfall abilities. A couple notes about Scholar. I wouldn't want to loot away Gomazoa and Predatory Urge. We don't have much removal so I would save those cards. That's why I would go to 18 land. Also, Scholar has been pretty mediocre for me since this is a format where lands matter a lot. Therefore, you often don't want to loot because you want to keep your spells and lands. And in my reading, many pros have mentioned this as well and some have even said Scholar is the worst looter in a limited format. It's still playable of course, but definitely not as good as looters in the past. Martin,

Thanks for trying out the exercise.

I think Nissa is much better than Joraga Bard because you get a really good defense with the unkillable Chosen. (Well, almost unkillable. Journey to Nowhere can take it out.) Also, the life gain can matter sometimes.

I did some goldfishing with the deck and Savage Silhouette turned out to be ok, but I could see playing Scholar over it. I think the key is to think of it as a five mana spell so you have regeneration mana open.

Actually, looking back, I think I would play 18 land and cut Savage Silhouette or Scholar. The curve is kinda high and we do have some landfall abilities.

A couple notes about Scholar. I wouldn’t want to loot away Gomazoa and Predatory Urge. We don’t have much removal so I would save those cards. That’s why I would go to 18 land.

Also, Scholar has been pretty mediocre for me since this is a format where lands matter a lot. Therefore, you often don’t want to loot because you want to keep your spells and lands.

And in my reading, many pros have mentioned this as well and some have even said Scholar is the worst looter in a limited format. It’s still playable of course, but definitely not as good as looters in the past.

]]> By: Martin http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-2/comment-page-1/#comment-989 Martin Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:21:04 +0000 http://magicgameplan.com/blog/sealed-deck-practice-with-zendikar-2/#comment-989 Hi there, first, thanks for doing this! Makes for good practice. This is what I build before looking at your deck: Creatures (16) 1 Nissas Chosen 1 Welkin Tern 1 Grazing Gladehart 1 Umara Raptor 2 Gomazoa 2 Turntimber Basilisk 2 Reckless Scholar 1 Windrider Eel 1 Mold Shambler 1 Joraga Bard 1 Baloth Cage Trap 1 Sky Ruin Drake 1 Vastwood Gorger 1 Shoal Serpent Spells (6) 1 Primal Bellow 1 Gigantiform 1 Vines of Vastwood 1 Predatory Urge 1 Paralyzing Grasp 1 Trusty Machete Lands (18) 4 Soaring Seacliff 4 Island 9 Forest I did not notice the synergy Turntimber Basilisk/Savage Silhouette, what is your experience with the Silhouette? I'm unsure. Maybe I'd include it on second thought. I don't like the Nissa here (I don't this it will do much besides tutoring up the Chosen), but I do like the Joraga Bard. I think this deck can use some more early defense. Also, I definitly like both Scholars in this deck. I will be very happy if I draw it early so I can hit my land drops more regularly. Also, this deck has a number of rather situational cards (Gomazoa, Predatory urge) that are great sometimes buth that I'll trade in happily for another card in certain situations. Best of luck in the PTQs, Martin martinDOTluedeckeATgmail Hi there,

first, thanks for doing this! Makes for good practice.

This is what I build before looking at your deck:

Creatures (16)
1 Nissas Chosen
1 Welkin Tern
1 Grazing Gladehart
1 Umara Raptor
2 Gomazoa
2 Turntimber Basilisk
2 Reckless Scholar
1 Windrider Eel
1 Mold Shambler
1 Joraga Bard
1 Baloth Cage Trap
1 Sky Ruin Drake
1 Vastwood Gorger
1 Shoal Serpent

Spells (6)
1 Primal Bellow
1 Gigantiform
1 Vines of Vastwood
1 Predatory Urge
1 Paralyzing Grasp
1 Trusty Machete

Lands (18)
4 Soaring Seacliff
4 Island
9 Forest

I did not notice the synergy Turntimber Basilisk/Savage Silhouette, what is your experience with the Silhouette? I’m unsure. Maybe I’d include it on second thought.

I don’t like the Nissa here (I don’t this it will do much besides tutoring up the Chosen), but I do like the Joraga Bard. I think this deck can use some more early defense.

Also, I definitly like both Scholars in this deck. I will be very happy if I draw it early so I can hit my land drops more regularly. Also, this deck has a number of rather situational cards (Gomazoa, Predatory urge) that are great sometimes buth that I’ll trade in happily for another card in certain situations.

Best of luck in the PTQs,

Martin
martinDOTluedeckeATgmail

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