I'm just curious about what strategies were effective and what weren't at the prerelease. I went to the midnight prerelease at my local shop and was using black as my seeded. Ended up using black green and it worked out really well, my black pool was great. My big superstars were:
How did everyone else do and what were your big performers? I didn't get anything too exciting, though I did draw two Prophetic Flamespeaker's and Kruphix god in my reward packs so I can't complain.
I think I would prefer to rank them in tiers (because all of them can be +-a few spots depending on what kind of deck they're utilized in. So here they are (in no particular order inside the tiers):
I think in general that the mono-colored gods are better. Obviously they are easier to turn on, they have activated mana abilities, and they make Nykthos a much more reasonable play (which is maybe the most powerful card in the block). If there were TONS of multicolored cards in this block, then maybe I would be able to give more credit to the minor gods. But the only one that's really consistently activated in standard right now is Ephara. Most of the time when you use a minor god, you are forced to lean towards one color primarily, and in that scenario it's costing two more devotion than if you were to be using the mono-colored god.
Now that the full set has been spoiled, what is everyone's favorite common? I almost exclusively play limited so I'm very excited about the set (though I know there are gripes about constructed playability).
I'm personally very biased towards black and blue so I'd say some of my favorites at the moment are:
Bloodcrazed Hoplite: Gives you a chance to get a leg up in a heroic race. Plus I love the art and it's ability is so classic black.
Feast of Dreams: Instant speed and versatile removal. Counter heroic/bestow pretty well and can take care of a tricky Ordeal card or some other enchantment that's getting out of hand.
Hubris: Talk about versatility. You can protect your beefed up creature from removal (and loss of card advantage), or could use it late game to slow an opponent's momentum/get rid of a tricky blocker. I really like this card.
I would say considering the strength of the previous sets and the prerelease promos, white is probably the safest bet for a competitive deck at prerelease.
I am personally going black. I really like the commons/uncommons for black and I think it could probably pair well with any of the colors. I'm also a little biased because I've always been a big fan of the black mechanics in Magic. Cards like Bloodcrazed Hoplite just make me excited plus I'm still holding out hope for my on color rare being King Macar, the Gold-Cursed because he would be so fun in limited.
This is more just a general question because I've only been involved with magic for about 6 months now, but do you think it's possible that Wizards will just spoil the remaining cards tonight? I remember that the Monday before the prerelease of BNG we had every card spoiled so we could run some simulators and plan some strategies accordingly. I'm not sure if BNG just came out faster than usual but I believe JOU still has 70 or so cards to spoil. What do you guys think the chances are they just dump all the commons tonight? Have they done something like that before?
I personally will probably go blue. The promo isn't great but I really like a lot of the uncommons and rares so far. Increased chance of getting kruphix is always a plus and while I love blue, I haven't had the chance to use it a whole lot in Theros/BNG even though I think it's very strong. I don't get the chance to play mtg much so I'm really just playing to have a good time
If what was being suggested about god distribution is accurate, and I can't say either way, then Blue will be getting you Keranos (who is pretty good imo) and not Kruphix (which would be in green).
Oh whoops that's actually what I meant haha. I do like Kruphix a lot but would be much more excited to get Keranos!
If you want the best promo / limited combo white is for you. At the card store where I play white has won almost every week in draft/limited with BNG and Theros, and the white promo only helps. Unless the white commons and uncommons are garbage I would say white will be the strongest color.
Green and Black probably have the next best promos as playable bombs, with green having a slight edge in my opinion. Black has some pretty cool rares so far so a guaranteed on color rare in black is enticing.
I personally will probably go blue. The promo isn't great but I really like a lot of the uncommons and rares so far. Increased chance of getting kruphix is always a plus and while I love blue, I haven't had the chance to use it a whole lot in Theros/BNG even though I think it's very strong. I don't get the chance to play mtg much so I'm really just playing to have a good time
I think it's probably Pharika. I guess you shouldn't underestimate her low cost and body stacked on top of synergy with on color cards like Lotleth Troll. And the threat of spawning deathtouch blockers at instant speed will deter people with creature heavy decks from swinging with their big threats. But I think she was just a little disappointing flavor-wise and I think her ability is underwhelming compared to Atheros, Keranos, and Iroas.
Being realistic with myself, I just don't WANT it to be Kruphix, God of Horizons . Never have I wanted to build around a card like I have with Prophet of Kruphix, but her body just doesn't make her a strong enough threat. I was hoping JOU would bring out some synergistic cards with her and Kruphix appears to be one that could make the game get out of hand rather quickly. I wouldn't mind building a deck with them and trying it out at FNM, especially if Kruphix will be as cheap as people believe. The mana ramping ability is there for blue green and I really like cards like Urban Evolution.
But it's definitely between Kruphix and Pharika. The other three are on another tier IMO
I think people are under rating this card. Obviously incredible synergy with prophet of kruphix and sphinx's revelation (especially with no max hand size). On top of that, great with things like polukranos, and counter spells (syncopate anyone?).
Now is it ability hard to utilize to it's full potential in the current standard format? Sure. But people saying it's terrible and "the worst god in the set" are being overly dramatic out of slight disappointment.
I think white definitely has the best promo for limited. The lifelink and flying is great and stack that on top of heroic in white, which is already the best heroic color. I think white, red, and green are the best limited bombs as far as promos. I love blue and black though and I really like blue's commons and uncommons revealed so far. As of now, I think I'm leaning white, blue, or red!
Agent of the Fates
Master of the Feast
Grim Guardian
Gild
Thoughtrender Lamia
How did everyone else do and what were your big performers? I didn't get anything too exciting, though I did draw two Prophetic Flamespeaker's and Kruphix god in my reward packs so I can't complain.
T1:
Thassa, Erebos, Athreos, Xenagos, Iroas
T2:
Ephara, Keranos, Purphoros, Nylea, Heliod, Mogis
T3:
Karametra, Phenax, Kruphix, Pharika
I think in general that the mono-colored gods are better. Obviously they are easier to turn on, they have activated mana abilities, and they make Nykthos a much more reasonable play (which is maybe the most powerful card in the block). If there were TONS of multicolored cards in this block, then maybe I would be able to give more credit to the minor gods. But the only one that's really consistently activated in standard right now is Ephara. Most of the time when you use a minor god, you are forced to lean towards one color primarily, and in that scenario it's costing two more devotion than if you were to be using the mono-colored god.
I'm personally very biased towards black and blue so I'd say some of my favorites at the moment are:
Bloodcrazed Hoplite: Gives you a chance to get a leg up in a heroic race. Plus I love the art and it's ability is so classic black.
Feast of Dreams: Instant speed and versatile removal. Counter heroic/bestow pretty well and can take care of a tricky Ordeal card or some other enchantment that's getting out of hand.
Hubris: Talk about versatility. You can protect your beefed up creature from removal (and loss of card advantage), or could use it late game to slow an opponent's momentum/get rid of a tricky blocker. I really like this card.
I am personally going black. I really like the commons/uncommons for black and I think it could probably pair well with any of the colors. I'm also a little biased because I've always been a big fan of the black mechanics in Magic. Cards like Bloodcrazed Hoplite just make me excited
Oh whoops that's actually what I meant haha. I do like Kruphix a lot but would be much more excited to get Keranos!
Green and Black probably have the next best promos as playable bombs, with green having a slight edge in my opinion. Black has some pretty cool rares so far so a guaranteed on color rare in black is enticing.
I personally will probably go blue. The promo isn't great but I really like a lot of the uncommons and rares so far. Increased chance of getting kruphix is always a plus
Being realistic with myself, I just don't WANT it to be Kruphix, God of Horizons
But it's definitely between Kruphix and Pharika. The other three are on another tier IMO
Now is it ability hard to utilize to it's full potential in the current standard format? Sure. But people saying it's terrible and "the worst god in the set" are being overly dramatic out of slight disappointment.
Blue: Scourge of Fleets
Black: Doomwake Giant
Red: Spawn of Thraxes
Green: Heroes' Bane
I think white definitely has the best promo for limited. The lifelink and flying is great and stack that on top of heroic in white, which is already the best heroic color. I think white, red, and green are the best limited bombs as far as promos. I love blue and black though and I really like blue's commons and uncommons revealed so far. As of now, I think I'm leaning white, blue, or red!