I don't see any prerelease recap threads, so I guess I'll start. I attended two events today, and while one event turned out a lot better than the other, I'd appreciate any feedback about either of my decks. Here's my first pool, with the deck and comments in the spoiler:
I went 2-2 with this BR deck: decently fast, a lot of good removal, but zero rares and lacking a good end-game. I was disappointed with how many of my rares were bad in limited. Deepala seems good, especially with four vehicles in my pool, and a bunch of other good white cards, but I didn't think white was quite deep enough to run (and I didn't want to try splashing a third colour with absolutely no fixing). Also unsure how good Authority of the Consuls is in limited. Blue didn't seem deep enough either. Green, on the other hand, had some incredibly solid creatures, but a lot of them were double coloured, and dropping either black or red would have meant dropping a lot of removal.
Still unsure about my final card selection in BR, and the stuff I left in my sideboard. Live Fast, Rush of Vitality, Mind Rot (?), Inventor's Goggles. Renegade Freighter instead of Aradara Express (Crew 4 is super steep, but once I got the train moving it was amazing). Deadlock Trap tempted me more than any of my other rares, as it does a half-decent Icy Manipulator impression, but I didn't generate much energy and I liked all my other non-creatures better. I had only thirteen creatures and kept feeling like I needed more.
And here's my pool (and deck and comments) for the second event:
This pool had a lot more insane bombs in it, and I went 4-0 with it. Aside from the obvious Chandra, the two Multiform Wonders were the MVPs, the lifelink snatching victory from the jaws of defeat when needed and otherwise flying a huge amount of damage in. Disappointed that I only got the one vehicle, but Ovalchase Dragster was nothing but good for me. I had it a few times where I'd play Thriving Grubs or Veteran Motorist on turn two, hit for three and then play Glint-Sleeve Artisan or Pia Nalaar on turn three, then play Ovalchase Dragster and hit for eleven on turn four.
My Skyswirl Harriers and Ruinous Gremlins sat on the sideboard but would have come out against flyer and artifact heavy decks, respectively.
I'm curious how many people would have gone UR with this pool. There are a lot of great blue cards there, but it would have made for a slower deck, and I owed many of my wins to speed.
And, to be honest, to bad mulligans on my opponents' part. I had two opponents whose decks also had insane value, but they couldn't seem to draw a decent hand above five for the life of them. I'm curious how this deck would have performed on even footing.
Any thoughts or criticisms? How about your own prerelease(s)? How did they go?
Pool #1: I would have gone BGr here. I know that red offers a lot of removal for you, but green offers a LOT more solid creatures and has a better late game. And looking at your setup, you definitely needed more creatures. You could still get away with black and green as the main colors, since you still have enough removal to work with. It's a bit counterintuitive, but I would push red aside and try this. Maybe if you see too many bombs from your opponent, you go back to the BR setup, but I believe that that the below build has more staying power:
Now you have more powerful late game options and can activate the vehicles more often (Renegade Freighter over Andara Express for sure), as well as some energy counter synergy. Authority of the Consuls is not good for you here: it only is good for hyper-aggressive decks, which you cannot pull off with your white.
Pool #2: Jeez is red loaded. Your RW deck is okay, but I might have gone RU to take advantage of Aethersquall Ancient and the Padeems. Thanks to your multiform wonders, you can easily get a TON of card advantage with them. The speed argument is valid though. My deck:
First pool I'd lean towards BR as well, for the amazing removal, but I would have played different vehicles. If the creature base in red was poor (seems shallow), then I'd go BG splashing red for Unlicensed Disintegration + 2 Welding Sparks.
From my Sealed experiences, Renegade Freighter was quite strong. Even if you're already crowded at 3cc, a creature that attacks for 5/4 trample on turn 4 is good threat. Crew 3 is also MUCH easier for you to reach than Crew 4. I think you want at least 13 creatures. Vehicles should not be seen quite as creatures since they require creatures in play. They're almost more like equipment. Inventor's Apprentice would be pretty decent here (2/3 for R) and I'd include it if you didn't already have enough 2s and 3s.
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2 Aviary Mechanic
1 Eddytrail Hawk
1 Pressure Point
1 Refurbish
1 Servo Exhibition
1 Tasseled Dromedary
2 Thriving Ibex
1 Aether Tradewinds
1 Curio Vendor
1 Experimental Aviator
1 Failed Inspection
1 Long-Finned Skywhale
1 Minister of Inquiries
1 Paradoxical Outcome
1 Revolutionary Rebuff
1 Select for Inspection
1 Tezzeret's Ambition
1 Thriving Turtle
1 Vedalken Blademaster
1 Dhund Operative
1 Diabolic Tutor
1 Die Young
1 Embraal Bruiser
1 Foundry Screecher
1 Lawless Broker
1 Live Fast
2 Maulfist Squad
1 Mind Rot
1 Rush of Vitality
1 Tidy Conclusion
1 Weaponcraft Enthusiast
1 Furious Reprisal
1 Giant Spectacle
1 Harnessed Lightning
1 Inventor's Apprentice
1 Spark of Creativity
1 Spireside Infiltrator
1 Spontaneous Artist
2 Terror of the Fairgrounds
1 Thriving Grubs
2 Welding Sparks
1 Cowl Prowler
1 Fairgrounds Trumpeter
1 Hunt the Weak
1 Larger Than Life
1 Ornamental Courage
1 Peema Outrider
2 Riparian Tiger
1 Servant of the Conduit
1 Thriving Rhino
1 Wild Wanderer
2 Wily Bandar
1 Depala, Pilot Exemplar
1 Empyreal Voyager
1 Restoration Gearsmith
1 Unlicensed Disintegration
1 Aetherflux Reservoir
1 Animation Module
1 Aradara Express
1 Ballista Charger
2 Cogworker's Puzzleknot
1 Consulate Skygate
1 Deadlock Trap
1 Eager Construct
1 Fabrication Module
1 Inventor's Goggles
1 Narnam Cobra
1 Renegade Freighter
1 Sky Skiff
2 Weldfast Monitor
1 Woodweaver's Puzzleknot
1 Die Young
1 Embraal Bruiser
1 Foundry Screecher
1 Lawless Broker
2 Maulfist Squad
1 Tidy Conclusion
1 Weaponcraft Enthusiast
1 Harnessed Lightning
1 Spontaneous Artist
1 Terror of the Fairgrounds
1 Thriving Grubs
2 Welding Sparks
1 Unlicensed Disintegration
1 Ballista Charger
1 Eager Construct
1 Sky Skiff
2 Weldfast Monitor
9 Swamp
8 Mountain
I went 2-2 with this BR deck: decently fast, a lot of good removal, but zero rares and lacking a good end-game. I was disappointed with how many of my rares were bad in limited. Deepala seems good, especially with four vehicles in my pool, and a bunch of other good white cards, but I didn't think white was quite deep enough to run (and I didn't want to try splashing a third colour with absolutely no fixing). Also unsure how good Authority of the Consuls is in limited. Blue didn't seem deep enough either. Green, on the other hand, had some incredibly solid creatures, but a lot of them were double coloured, and dropping either black or red would have meant dropping a lot of removal.
Still unsure about my final card selection in BR, and the stuff I left in my sideboard. Live Fast, Rush of Vitality, Mind Rot (?), Inventor's Goggles. Renegade Freighter instead of Aradara Express (Crew 4 is super steep, but once I got the train moving it was amazing). Deadlock Trap tempted me more than any of my other rares, as it does a half-decent Icy Manipulator impression, but I didn't generate much energy and I liked all my other non-creatures better. I had only thirteen creatures and kept feeling like I needed more.
And here's my pool (and deck and comments) for the second event:
1 Gearshift Ace
1 Glint-Sleeve Artisan
2 Herald of the Fair
1 Impeccable Timing
1 Ninth Bridge Patrol
1 Propeller Pioneer
1 Revoke Privileges
2 Skyswirl Harrier
1 Skywhaler's Shot
1 Tasseled Dromedary
1 Aether Theorist
1 Aethersquall Ancient
1 Ceremonious Rejection
1 Curio Vendor
1 Dramatic Reversal
1 Glint-Nest Crane
1 Long-Finned Skywhale
1 Malfunction
1 Nimble Innovator
2 Padeem, Consul of Innovation
1 Revolutionary Rebuff
1 Tezzeret's Ambition
2 Thriving Turtle
1 Vedalken Blademaster
2 Dhund Operative
1 Dukhara Scavenger
1 Fortuitous Find
1 Foundry Screecher
1 Make Obsolete
1 Prakhata Club Security
1 Rush of Vitality
2 Subtle Strike
1 Aetherborn Renegade
1 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
1 Fateful Showdown
1 Giant Spectacle
1 Harnessed Lightning
1 Hijack
1 Pia Nalaar
2 Ruinous Gremlin
1 Salivating Gremlins
1 Speedway Fanatic
1 Spireside Infiltrator
2 Thriving Grubs
1 Wayward Giant
1 Attune with Aether
1 Creeping Mold
1 Ghirapur Guide
1 Highspire Artisan
1 Hunt the Weak
1 Kujar Seedsculptor
1 Larger Than Life
1 Ornamental Courage
1 Sage of Shaila's Claim
1 Take Down
1 Veteran Motorist
1 Voltaic Brawler
1 Chief of the Foundry
1 Consolate Skygate
1 Dukhara Peafowl
1 Filigree Familiar
1 Glassblower's Puzzleknot
1 Inventor's Goggles
1 Metalspinner's Puzzleknot
2 Multiform Wonder
1 Narnam Cobra
1 Ovalchase Dragster
1 Perpetual Timepiece
1 Prakhata Pillar-Bug
2 Torch Gauntlet
1 Workshop Assistant
1 Gearshift Ace
1 Glint-Sleeve Artisan
1 Impeccable Timing
1 Propeller Pioneer
1 Revoke Privileges
1 Skywhaler's Shot
1 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
1 Fateful Showdown
1 Harnessed Lightning
1 Pia Nalaar
1 Speedway Fanatic
2 Thriving Grubs
1 Wayward Giant
1 Chief of the Foundry
1 Filigree Familiar
1 Inventor's Goggles
2 Multiform Wonder
1 Ovalchase Dragster
7 Plains
10 Mountain
This pool had a lot more insane bombs in it, and I went 4-0 with it. Aside from the obvious Chandra, the two Multiform Wonders were the MVPs, the lifelink snatching victory from the jaws of defeat when needed and otherwise flying a huge amount of damage in. Disappointed that I only got the one vehicle, but Ovalchase Dragster was nothing but good for me. I had it a few times where I'd play Thriving Grubs or Veteran Motorist on turn two, hit for three and then play Glint-Sleeve Artisan or Pia Nalaar on turn three, then play Ovalchase Dragster and hit for eleven on turn four.
My Skyswirl Harriers and Ruinous Gremlins sat on the sideboard but would have come out against flyer and artifact heavy decks, respectively.
I'm curious how many people would have gone UR with this pool. There are a lot of great blue cards there, but it would have made for a slower deck, and I owed many of my wins to speed.
And, to be honest, to bad mulligans on my opponents' part. I had two opponents whose decks also had insane value, but they couldn't seem to draw a decent hand above five for the life of them. I'm curious how this deck would have performed on even footing.
Any thoughts or criticisms? How about your own prerelease(s)? How did they go?
BRG Kresh Crush You - UB Wrexial Wrecks Y'all - WUBRG Taste the Rainbow Allies - URW Zedruu Claus - RGW - Wrath of Rith - WU Annoying Dar
GU Mighty Morphin Bluezuri - RWB Alesha, the Revolving Door - R Norin the W- - UR Arjun's Scrambled Eggs - WUB Zur the Cyclist - GW Cara Mia Karametra
UBR Kess's Eccentric Spell Slingers - B Endrek's Thrilling Thrulls - BGU Tasigur, Fly for a Sultai - GWU Tuvaasankin Veri Vapisee - U Can't Thop the Saignal
RW Feather's Heroes of the Storm - G Map of Titania - W Quipping Sram - BR
CharlieGreven Work - BG Old School Vhati - GUR Riku's Little FriendsWBG Abzan All-Stars - WB Kambal's Lifegain Soup - RG Ruric, Ogre Surgeon - B All Them Little Bones - RWB Megan, the Gold-Blooded - G Does This Look Infected?
UR Hellbent Storm - GWU George - RG You Can Be a Big Pig Too - RW Decent Decisions - UBR I Contain Myriads - W My Friend Flicka
WU Eagles on Pogo Sticks - UB Yes Thieves Can - WUB Election Fraud - RGW King of Pain - GU Feel the Earth Move
Retired: WUB Zur the Douchebag - GU Crazy Kraj - U Braids the Borrower - W Wham Bam Enchanting Sram - U Unesh's Flying Circus - WUBRG Oops All Lands
1 Dhund Operative
1 Embraal Bruiser
1 Servant of the Conduit
1 Foundry Screecher
1 Thriving Rhino
1 Lawless Broker
1 Weaponcraft Enthusiast
1 Fairgrounds Trumpeter
2 Maulfist Squad
1 Peema Outrider
1 Wild Wanderer
2 Riparian Tiger
1 Sky Skiff
1 Live Fast
1 Die Young
1 Tidy Conclusion
1 Ballista Charger
1 Unlicensed Disintegration
1 Renegade Freighter
8 Swamp
1 Mountain
Now you have more powerful late game options and can activate the vehicles more often (Renegade Freighter over Andara Express for sure), as well as some energy counter synergy. Authority of the Consuls is not good for you here: it only is good for hyper-aggressive decks, which you cannot pull off with your white.
Pool #2: Jeez is red loaded. Your RW deck is okay, but I might have gone RU to take advantage of Aethersquall Ancient and the Padeems. Thanks to your multiform wonders, you can easily get a TON of card advantage with them. The speed argument is valid though. My deck:
1 Thriving Turtle
1 Aether Theorist
1 Glint-Nest Crane
1 Aetherborn Renegade
1 Pia Nalaar
1 Filigree Familiar
1 Chief of the Foundry
1 Nimble Innovator
2 Padeem, Consul of Innovation
1 Long-Finned Skywhale
2 Multiform Wonder
1 Aethersquall Ancient
1 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
1 Fateful Showdown
1 Harnessed Lightning
1 Tezzeret's Ambition
1 Ovalchase Dragster
1 Inventor's Goggles
8 Mountain
2nd pool is trickier. The only color that's a write off is green. Black is kind of low on creatures. I guess I'd go red/white.
First pool I'd lean towards BR as well, for the amazing removal, but I would have played different vehicles. If the creature base in red was poor (seems shallow), then I'd go BG splashing red for Unlicensed Disintegration + 2 Welding Sparks.
1 Eager Construct
1 Dhund Operative
1 Embraal Bruiser
1 Thriving Grubs
2 Weldfast Monitor
1 Foundry Screecher
1 Lawless Broker
1 Weaponcraft Enthusiast
1 Spireside Infiltrator
1 Spontaneous Artist
2 Maulfist Squad
1 Sky Skiff
1 Renegade Freighter
1 Ballista Charger
//Spells: 7
1 Rush of Vitality
1 Harnessed Lightning
1 Unlicensed Disintegration
2 Welding Sparks
1 Furious Reprisal
1 Tidy Conclusion
9 Swamp
8 Mountain
From my Sealed experiences, Renegade Freighter was quite strong. Even if you're already crowded at 3cc, a creature that attacks for 5/4 trample on turn 4 is good threat. Crew 3 is also MUCH easier for you to reach than Crew 4. I think you want at least 13 creatures. Vehicles should not be seen quite as creatures since they require creatures in play. They're almost more like equipment. Inventor's Apprentice would be pretty decent here (2/3 for R) and I'd include it if you didn't already have enough 2s and 3s.