"He's a lot like me, that masterless little kami . . . unimpressed by grandeur and never at a loss for a trick."
Quote from Deck Description »
Multiplayer Group Hug Deck
Our chubby little friend here aims to spread joy and love over the planes of Dominaria and beyond. He bleeds blue, through and through. And what does blue love?
UUDRAWING CARDS!UU
He aims to give everyone all the answers they could ever want. Draw many cards, my child. Never want or wish for land or home. Gather your minions and friends. Acquire your treasures and lay them for all to marvel upon.
Most of the cards are pretty straight forward, their interactions obvious. There are a few cards worth mentioning that I love. These are what make EDH the wonderful format it has become. The mundane or odd become stellar when given the opportunity.
Quote from Metagame »
My Good Friends
I generally play with a group of three other guys. Two of them I have been playing with for ~2 years, and the other is new to our circle (as well as the game). It is a casual group, though we play to win. We combo out on occasion, build ridiculous board states only to lose the game two turns later, and occasionally we are too wasted to remember to draw. We drink, we smoke, and we call each other names alluding to our inferior genetics and/or obscure sexual preferences. Typical guy's night out, kitchen-table shenanigans.
Player "X": This is me. Played when I was in elementary school, and just picked up the game again two years ago. I am a Johnny, through and through. My "Good U/C" boxes are full of interesting cards, as well as time-tested staples. I read on other people's strategies before building decks, and will occasionally order 30+ cards because I've never played a specific archetype before. I love to combo out, or create vast armies of tokens. I play G in almost every deck. I favor pillow forts over control, and I favor utility over strength. I don't win all my games, but it's usually splashy when I do. Player X: Johnny, BUGW, Combo/Token.
Player "N": Long-time player, occasional standard FNM or Modern tourney. He's our Spike. He plays blue and/or black in every deck. Grixis is no stranger to our table. He has the largest, and most impressive collection at the table, and his decks show this He is my arch-nemesis, and has been for a while. We take most opportunities to stop the other in their tracks, regardless if they're the biggest threat at the time. He favors hard removal, well-timed sweepers, and counter-spells. Player N: Spike, UBRG, Removal/Counters.
Player "J": My former roommate, started playing about three months after I did. With a gracious donation of THOUSANDS of cards from a co-worker, we began cobbling together causal 60-cards deck to bring to our regular gathering. When Player N started playing EDH, so did we. He favors large creatures, splashy spells, and tends not to remove threats until they affect him directly. His favorite deck is Mayael, and he continuously looks for ways to improve it. He relies on packs for his staples, rarely making the trip to our LGS or ordering singles. Player J: Timmy/Johnny, RGWU, Fatties/High CMC.
Player "A": Brand-new player. No experience in constructed, started playing EDH with us a couple months ago using C13 pre-cons and donated staples. His card pool is narrow, new, and inexpensive. He is slowly learning the ropes, and we coach him as best we can. He gets to "redo" or "rethink" when needed. Prefers large effects and keeps to himself when playing. We try not to kick his teeth in too hard, unless absolutely necessary. Currently playing Jaleva and Derevi. Player A: Ultra-Timmy, WUBRG, "It looked good."
UHis Graceful Players:
Descendant of Soramaro: Literally stack the deck in your favor. Why TOP for three, when you can do it for 20 instead?
Laboratory Maniac: Simply the all-star of the show. The fact of the matter is, you will eventually draw out, and probably sooner than later. Why not win the game instead of lose? Seems like an easy decision to me.
Horn of Plenty: It's Rhystic Study for all! You should not ask "You going to pay for that?", but instead ask "Am I going to pay for that?" The answer is a resounding Yes!
Sunstone: One tiny island is a small price to pay for your life. This little gem can save your hide in a pinch, and help you hold off the hoard until your answer surfaces.
Crystal Shard: Quite possibly my favorite, and most troublesome bauble. With enough use, this card becomes instant vapor the moment it graces the battlefield. Amuse your friends, and infuriate your enemies!
UHis Splendid Spells
Unifying Theory: Much akin to Horn of Plenty, everyone benefits from their own machinations. Everyone loves to cantrip off every spell.
Energy Field: You'd be surprised how long you can go without casting a spell when you need to.
Arcane Denial: You can't really be mad. You got two cards.
Time Spiral: Nothing like wheeling for free, and getting your yard back. Feels nice. Feels good.
Long-Term Plans: With as many cards as you'll be drawing per turn, this is an amazingly good card. Perhaps one of the best blue tutors next to Mystical.
Group Hug — Jan. 12, 2014
I felt the deck needed a little more love, so I threw in some old standbys from my Phelddagrif days.
Drop:
-1 Minds Aglow: Nobody ever contributes, so I just spend my own mana. I might as well just use Prosperity or Scy Scribing ... oh wait, I already am.
-1 Aeon Chronicler: In practice, it just seems like a small effect for the investment. Oh well, bigger and better things.
-1 Feldon's Cane: I already have Elixir of Immortality , and this will be replaced with a similar effect.
-1 Rhystic Study: Already have Horn of Plenty and Unifying Theory that affect everyone. Plus, it's just obnoxious.
-1 Ratchet Bomb: Nobody is playing tokens in my meta, Slow to build up to where I want, not fast enough to clear threats. If I pop it for 0 or 1, I lose all my rocks. Dead draw.
Add:
+1 Show and Tell: So much fun. I'm sure I'll come to regret this the moment it loses me the game, but whatever. This is Group Hug!
+1 Spectral Searchlight: I needed another rock, and the ability to play politics with mana is great.
+1 Braids, Conjurer Adept: Fun fun fun, and synergy like 'whoah' with Crystal Shard or Capsize .
+1 Mnemonic Nexus: This is just Feldon's Cane for EVERYONE. That's what I'm about.
+1 Noble Benefactor: Also a lot of fun. Speeds up the end game for everyone. The shifty looks people get after this card resolves, as they secretly rathole their answer and glare at their opponents. A tutor that doesn't make you reveal? COME ON!
UU Tsukuyomi, Kami of the Moon UU
U His Graceful Players:
Descendant of Soramaro: Literally stack the deck in your favor. Why TOP for three, when you can do it for 20 instead?
Jace's Archivist: Windfall on a body. Mix him with Psychosis Crawler for a crippling blow, or with Thought Reflection for double the fun.
Psychosis Crawler: This guy ends the game when Blue Sun's Zenith, Skyscribing, or Prosperity go off. Even a well-timed Flux will bring ruin to your opponents.
Laboratory Maniac: Simply the all-star of the show. The fact of the matter is, you will eventually draw out, and probably sooner than later. Why not win the game instead of lose? Seems like an easy decision to me.
Braids, Conjurer Adept: Our lady of love, no Group Hug would be complete without her. Wonderful (greedy) interaction with Crystal Shard or Capsize.
Noble Benefactor: A tutor that you don't have to reveal? And everyone gets to do it? This is an election-year-scandal of a political play.
Spellskite: What a disruptive little pest you are. Simply encouragable.
Font of Mythos: I absolutely adore when this hits the battlefield. Tsukuyomi loves his friends to net at least three cards per draw step.
Spectral Searchlight: Mana rocks are good. Political mana rocks are better.
Horn of Plenty: It's Rhystic Study for all! You should not ask "You going to pay for that?", but instead ask "Am I going to pay for that?" The answer is a resounding Yes!
Sunstone: One tiny island is a small price to pay for your life. This little gem can save your hide in a pinch, and help you hold off the hoard until your answer surfaces.
Crystal Shard: Quite possibly my favorite, and most troublesome bauble. With enough use, this card becomes instant vapor the moment it graces the battlefield. Amuse your friends, and infuriate your enemies!
Unifying Theory: Much akin to Horn of Plenty, everyone benefits from their own machinations. Everyone loves to cantrip off every spell.
Energy Field: You'd be surprised how long you can go without casting a spell when you need to.
Arcane Denial: You can't really be mad. You got two cards.
Time Spiral: Nothing like wheeling for free, and getting your yard back. Feels nice. Feels good.
Long-Term Plans: With as many cards as you'll be drawing per turn, this is an amazingly good card. Perhaps one of the best blue tutors next to Mystical.
Cavern of Souls: More like "Cavern of Wizards." This is wonderful for getting Braids, Conjurer Adept, Descendant of Soramaro, Jace's Archivist, and especially Laboratory Maniac into play uninhibited. And if not, I can always do something with colorless mana.
Glacial Chasm: Just leave me alone. I'm not hurting anyone!
Forbidden Orchard: Nothing says, "be your best friend!" like free creatures. Politics are important.
Halls of Mist: This card is simply pales in comparison to the likes of Glacial Chasm, Mystifying Maze and Maze of Ith, but it's a solid pillow in my fort, and I don't hurt for lack of mana. Most of the time, this either saves me from an aggro swing or I pitch/sac it to Glacial Chasm or Mox Diamond.
Scrying Sheets: There's no ramp like snow ramp! Also, knowing your top-deck is a pretty sweet bonus.
1x Braids, Conjurer Adept
1x Consecrated Sphinx
1x Descendant of Soramaro
1x Jace's Archivist
1x Laboratory Maniac
1x Mnemonic Wall
1x Noble Benefactor
1x Phyrexian Metamorph
1x Psychosis Crawler
1x Spellskite
1x Steel Hellkite
1x Treasure Mage
1x Trinket Mage
Artifact (26)
1x Basalt Monolith
1x Caged Sun
1x Crawlspace
1x Crystal Shard
1x Darksteel Forge
1x Elixir of Immortality
1x Expedition Map
1x Extraplanar Lens
1x Font of Mythos
1x Horn of Plenty
1x Howling Mine
1x Journeyer's Kite
1x Library of Leng
1x Lightning Greaves
1x Mana Vault
1x Mox Diamond
1x Mox Opal
1x Nevinyrral's Disk
1x Scroll Rack
1x Sol Ring
1x Spectral Searchlight
1x Sunstone
1x Temple Bell
1x Thran Dynamo
1x Venser's Journal
1x Witchbane Orb
1x Diplomatic Immunity
1x Energy Field
1x Leyline of Anticipation
1x Propaganda
1x Thought Reflection
1x Unifying Theory
Sorcery (10)
1x Argivian Restoration
1x Flux
1x Merchant Scroll
1x Prosperity
1x Shape Anew
1x Show and Tell
1x Skyscribing
1x Time Spiral
1x Tunnel Vision
1x Wash Out
Instant (9)
1x Arcane Denial
1x Blue Sun's Zenith
1x Capsize
1x Evacuation
1x Forbid
1x Hinder
1x Long-Term Plans
1x Mnemonic Nexus
1x Spell Crumple
Planeswalker (1)
1x Jace Beleren
1x Cavern of Souls
1x Esper Panorama
1x Forbidden Orchard
1x Glacial Chasm
1x Halls of Mist
1x Ice Floe
1x Mikokoro, Center of the Sea
1x Mystifying Maze
1x Oboro, Palace in the Clouds
1x Reliquary Tower
1x Sand Silos
1x Scrying Sheets
20x Snow-Covered Island
1x Temple of the False God
1x Thespian's Stage
U Maybeboard
1x Horn of Greed
1x Magosi, The Waterveil
1x Minamo, School at Water's Edge
1x Tolaria West (In Another Deck)
1x Kira, Great Glass Spinner (In Another Deck)
1x Cryptic Command
1x Fold into AETher
U Changelog
I felt the deck needed a little more love, so I threw in some old standbys from my Phelddagrif days.
Drop:
-1 Minds Aglow: Nobody ever contributes, so I just spend my own mana. I might as well just use Prosperity or Scy Scribing ... oh wait, I already am.
-1 Aeon Chronicler: In practice, it just seems like a small effect for the investment. Oh well, bigger and better things.
-1 Feldon's Cane: I already have Elixir of Immortality , and this will be replaced with a similar effect.
-1 Rhystic Study: Already have Horn of Plenty and Unifying Theory that affect everyone. Plus, it's just obnoxious.
-1 Ratchet Bomb: Nobody is playing tokens in my meta, Slow to build up to where I want, not fast enough to clear threats. If I pop it for 0 or 1, I lose all my rocks. Dead draw.
Add:
+1 Show and Tell: So much fun. I'm sure I'll come to regret this the moment it loses me the game, but whatever. This is Group Hug!
+1 Spectral Searchlight: I needed another rock, and the ability to play politics with mana is great.
+1 Braids, Conjurer Adept: Fun fun fun, and synergy like 'whoah' with Crystal Shard or Capsize .
+1 Mnemonic Nexus: This is just Feldon's Cane for EVERYONE. That's what I'm about.
+1 Noble Benefactor: Also a lot of fun. Speeds up the end game for everyone. The shifty looks people get after this card resolves, as they secretly rathole their answer and glare at their opponents. A tutor that doesn't make you reveal? COME ON!
EDH: Active
G Ezuri's Elf Stompy! [Lowland Tribal] G
W Holier Than Thou [Eesha's Enchantments] W
WB Spiritus Sancti [Teysa Spirit Tokens] BW
RG Timmy, the Unbowed [Ruric Thar Fatties] GR
WUG Barney & Friends [Phelddagrif Group Hug] GUW
EDH: Retired
RW (b)EATS by Jor [Metalcraft Voltron] WR
RG Raidmother's Assault [Wort Goblin Tribal] GR
RG General Worts [Raidmother Token Storm] GR
WU Phantom Spaceman! [Grand Arbiter Taxation] UW
EDH: Active
G Ezuri's Elf Stompy! [Lowland Tribal] G
W Holier Than Thou [Eesha's Enchantments] W
WB Spiritus Sancti [Teysa Spirit Tokens] BW
RG Timmy, the Unbowed [Ruric Thar Fatties] GR
WUG Barney & Friends [Phelddagrif Group Hug] GUW
EDH: Retired
RW (b)EATS by Jor [Metalcraft Voltron] WR
RG Raidmother's Assault [Wort Goblin Tribal] GR
RG General Worts [Raidmother Token Storm] GR
WU Phantom Spaceman! [Grand Arbiter Taxation] UW