So I tried to give MTG up. I lasted about two years. But now I'm craving it so badly, and am about to pull the trigger on my return to this gargantuan of a game. As its been a couple of years, I would appreciate if some of you could help get up to date with what's happened... what the standard scene is like now, what crazy cards have shaken things up and if anything dramatic has happened to the game in the last couple of years that I should know about? Feel free to write a sentence, or multiple paragraphs - anything would be really appreciated!
Also: how much money do you think I should budget if I want to play semi-seriously? I bet the game has got even more expensive since I last left it.
EDIT: Also, what do you think is the best thing to do with my old cards? I've searched around and it appears cards like Snapcaster Mage still have at least some value. Should I put them on Ebay, keep them, or have them for trade perhaps?
Biggest change is to the legendary rule. The Legendary rule only applies to each seperate battlefield now, so we could each have the same planeswalker or legend on each of our fields at the same time.
As far as being competitive, you're going to need to expect to spend a couple hundred dollars for a good manabase and good deck. Abzan is an obvious starting point because it has no terrible matchups. The best budget deck would be Mono R Aggro, as the only expensive cards in it are Goblin Rabblemaster and Stoke the Flames.
Mono Red Aggro and UW Heroic are good options so is Mono Black Aggro but all three decks run a lot of Theros and M15 cards which will rotate soon. In the long run it would be cheaper to build a Khan based deck. The prices for khans have fallen and it's likely to start rising as cards get spoiled from the new set.
Cheers guys! Appreciate the advice so far. Curious change to the legendary rule, unsure whether I like it or not. In regards to Theros and that set rotating soon, is that true? Doesn't it rotate when the next block comes in, and we're only 1/3 of the way through this one?
Mono Red Aggro and UW Heroic are good options so is Mono Black Aggro but all three decks run a lot of Theros and M15 cards which will rotate soon. In the long run it would be cheaper to build a Khan based deck. The prices for khans have fallen and it's likely to start rising as cards get spoiled from the new set.
Theros and m15 are not rotating soon. They will be here for like 8 more months or more.
Standard is a giant Green midrange grind fest. Theros doesn't rotate for 10 months......if you try to build a khans only deck you'll do awful. U/W heroic is a solid budget deck that has been putting up consistent results.
Cards are a lot cheaper now. Compare staple cards like Hornet Queen, Whip of Erebos and Siege Rhino to staples last year like Thassa, Mutavault, Sphinc's Revelation, Domri Rade. But now we have 3 separate sets of dual lands and everyone is playing 3 color decks so land is a bit more expensive but nothing compared to playsets of mutavaults.
I wasn't saying to build a Khans block deck I was saying to build a khans based deck like Abzan or Mardu. I know Theros is going to be around a little while but I would'nt invest to much in Theros cards this late in the block. I would pick up the ones I needed for a my deck and leave the rest alone. Thoughtseize would be a good pickup it sees play in every format.
This new Theros/Khans Standard season is my first in nearly 15 years. I came back to the game right as M15 launched, but really held off making any big commitments until Khans launched. I have a handful of Theros block cards, but most of them are staples required for the standard decks or stuff that sees eternal play. Either way, I have a moderate amount of disposable income, and have been doing a decent job building decks using singles and splitting a booster box with a friend of mine. I would say that if you have the cash lying around and enjoy a certain deck style, there's nothing wrong with investing into a relatively expensive deck like an Abzan Whip or something. Those decks are just stupid value and win by playing the most value cards as quickly and as often as possible. For something a little more budget friendly U/W Heroic isn't too bad, neither is R/W Tokens. While the top tier decks are all green value grindfests, there is a lot of variety in the tier 2 decks. They may be cheaper to build, but they're also more complicated to play well. You can't just slam Siege Rhinos all day and win like Abzan does.
i'd say go u/w heroic...the entire deck is made up of commons/uncommons from the theros block...pretty cheap and, if you're thinking about theros rotating out, this shouldn't hurt much since you haven't shelled out that much. only thing expensive is flooded strand and then temple of enlightenment but that's just about it.
If you're looking for an inexpensive, yet effective deck for non-tourney play might I humbly suggest ESPER (U/B/W) Constellation Mill. Now, I have no idea if you'd ever even consider playing a Mill deck but know this; I've taken 3 of the last 6 FNM at my LGS playing it vs. the current meta's biggest decks.
ESPER Mill vs. Abzan Mid-Range:
Where other decks fear Abzan's fatty big-butts, we secretly chuckle in the knowledge that they'll either be stolen by Ashiok, milled by Jace, the Mind Sculptor, wiped by Extinguish all Hope and then their playset of said critter being stain the mind away'd. Have even less fear of the Seige Rhino life swing. Let you opponent gain a 1,000 life. It won't put cards back into their library.
ESPER Mill vs. Sultai Dredge
We've got to be a little more careful here so we don't add to their ability to dredge stuff back for cheap. Ashiok, Agent of Erebos and/or tormod's crypt give us all the help we'll need shutting down their GY. As an added bonus, giggle like a school girl as they help you mill them out.
Also: how much money do you think I should budget if I want to play semi-seriously? I bet the game has got even more expensive since I last left it.
EDIT: Also, what do you think is the best thing to do with my old cards? I've searched around and it appears cards like Snapcaster Mage still have at least some value. Should I put them on Ebay, keep them, or have them for trade perhaps?
Regards,
Dan.
As far as being competitive, you're going to need to expect to spend a couple hundred dollars for a good manabase and good deck. Abzan is an obvious starting point because it has no terrible matchups. The best budget deck would be Mono R Aggro, as the only expensive cards in it are Goblin Rabblemaster and Stoke the Flames.
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/modern/developing-competitive-modern/598381-kiki-chord-kiki-company
Bring to Niv
https://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/modern/deck-creation-modern/814060-bring-to-niv-the-golden-deck
Legacy - Lands
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/legacy-type-1-5/established-legacy/control/535484-primer-lands
Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles
Theros and m15 are not rotating soon. They will be here for like 8 more months or more.
GBURThe EPIC StormRUBG
Cards are a lot cheaper now. Compare staple cards like Hornet Queen, Whip of Erebos and Siege Rhino to staples last year like Thassa, Mutavault, Sphinc's Revelation, Domri Rade. But now we have 3 separate sets of dual lands and everyone is playing 3 color decks so land is a bit more expensive but nothing compared to playsets of mutavaults.
UR ....... WUBR ........... WB ............. RGW ........ UBR ....... WUB .... BGU
Spells / Blink & Combo / Token Grind / Dino Tribal / Draw Cards / Zombies / Reanimate
ESPER Mill vs. Abzan Mid-Range:
Where other decks fear Abzan's fatty big-butts, we secretly chuckle in the knowledge that they'll either be stolen by Ashiok, milled by Jace, the Mind Sculptor, wiped by Extinguish all Hope and then their playset of said critter being stain the mind away'd. Have even less fear of the Seige Rhino life swing. Let you opponent gain a 1,000 life. It won't put cards back into their library.
ESPER Mill vs. Sultai Dredge
We've got to be a little more careful here so we don't add to their ability to dredge stuff back for cheap. Ashiok, Agent of Erebos and/or tormod's crypt give us all the help we'll need shutting down their GY. As an added bonus, giggle like a school girl as they help you mill them out.
ESPER Mill vs. U/W Heroic
Aetherspouts, Whelming Wave, End hostilities and Extinguish all hope are your friends here. DO. NOT. LET. Aqueous Form RESOLVE. negate for hate.
ESPER Mill vs. Mardu Aggro
Nyx-Fleece Ram and Last Breath are handy.
ESPER Mill vs. Tokens
Doomwake Giant and drown in sorrow
I could go on but for the sake of time I'll just state that the deck matches up well aganist the current meta. Here's the deck I'm currently running.
Lands: 23
Creatures: 20
4x Thassa's Devourer
4x Nyx-Fleece Ram
3x Grim Guardian
2x Doomwake Giant
2x Riptide Chimera
2x Perplexing Chimera
3x Phenax, God of Deception
Spells/Support: 16
3x Hero's Downfall
4x Font of Fortunes
1x Aetherspouts
2x Extinguish all Hope
2x Ashiok
2x Jace, the Memory Adept
2x Negate
1x Thassa's Ire
Sideboard includes GY hate, spot removal and counters.