I find that playing precons with new players is a great way to keep the power level the same and introduce the game's mechanics and interactions. I play with newer players and will often play the weaker deck so that it is harder to manufacture a comeback or win, while they get to, generall, timmy their way into a board state. The mono green and mono white precons are quite user friendly IMO.
I feel like because of its clunky cost, you need to be able to capitalize on both it's artifact and land-searching properties to be making the best use out of it.
I run it in my Mono-Red decks because that deck recycles artifacts and has Valakut, so it'll be harder to find a time when Burnished Hart is just durdling as an "inferior" artifact-ramp choice. There's a lot more motivation to pay 3 when it deals damage on top of ramping and more incentive to play it when it's useful both ways in later-game (as either burn or fuel to bring back stronger artifacts).
Likewise, I don't run it in my Alesha deck because that deck is tight on the mana curve that I can't afford the luxury of 3, even if it does net more lands, because that deck in particular wants to maximize its mana for "now" rather than for "later", so by the time I reach the point I can afford the extra mana, I probably didn't need more ramp anyway, which makes the Hart pretty much just a 2/2 in the deck.
Well put, I was going to say "Play it with Feldon" but then I realized his activation cost and saw it was moot lol. I do run it with the Welder in my Feldon build, for the above mentioned synergy.
I forgot about Ezuri's Predation, seems like you're heading in a token based direction. That card is cheap too, may be a good idea to get a playset because it seems hard to reprint.
I can't speak highly enough for Second Harvest, now mentioned a third time (the card is like a buck in-store, less online). I think that Paradox Engine might be a nice investment, potentially for untap tricks with the general.
Non-green decks use it ubiquitously. Decks that can cheap the cost out (making the CMC cheaper or free eg. Marchesa and Meren, among others) make it easily abuseable. I like playing cards out of the graveyard, so that the initial CMC doesn't factor in as much.
A friend of mine plays Marchesa and has this as a mainstay or 'safe bet' when ramping early game.
Metallic Mimic can work in tandem with the Automoton, lol works well to synergize with Thrax. I was looking at the AR cards, there are some gems in the set.
Second ability is a mana ability so it is replaced by cont's effect so the mana becomes a single B. Is that how it works?
I know that effects like Crypt Ghast, Vorinclex and the like are triggers from those cards and not lands themselves, so the mana is not affected. Is that how that works?
I'm also a tad bit unsure of Nekusar. As good as he is you have to rely on your opponents having a Consecrated Sphinx in play or other major draw effects that make him a viable threat. IMO he's meta specific, and if I were playing him I wouldn't rely on others to draw more. At times he can be a Lose 2: draw 2 for your opponents which doesn't mean a lot in EDH. He could be another potential cut for you moving forward.
True true man, utility lands need answers that B definitely doesn't have, my rationale was that Ghost Quarter & Stripper Mine were to fill that role. As long as there is a way to get it when you need it, then it has a place. Sidisi (still counts as a zombie) can be helpful, possibly in for Diabolic Tutor (only one mana more, and has deathtouch). You run reanimation effects so it should get multi-use out of it. Lol, it also gives Thrax a counter when you exploit, just noticed that.
I think I'm going to add Westvale Abbey to my Gisa deck, it just seems really good with an abundance of tokens.
Helldozer: as much as I love the ability I always found, even in a Mono BBB deck, was hard to pay the pips for. Especially in a tri-colour deck (Even though you run Urborg) it may be hard to get that triple B, when you could be tempoing with other stuff.
Yeah man, Amulet has value, no doubt, as long as it's an informed decision to keep in, it makes sense to me. I was trying to build a Grixis deck before I forgot to finish it with Thrax or Sedris at the helm. I like the idea of graveyard abuse but, I build far too much and most decks only last a month or two before I move on. I'm still brewing Sedris tho.
Also those Grave Pact effects help make Thrax a bigger threat as well.
Has Relentless Dead come to your attention? It can be great late game with a high level of zombies in the yard. And Dawn of the Dead, I think may be better in the long run to Exhume. That is, unless Exhume does lots of work for you, Dawn paired with an ETB effect/leaving play & a sac outlet, can have cheesy value after board clears.
So I've only chaos drafted a couple of times and I was looking for ideas on the next CD that i partake in. last time I picked a Shards of Alara, Eventide, and Zendikar (mainly because I like those sets).
What are some of the packs you'd pick? I'd love to hear about cool synergy/mechanics, preference, and/or experiences you've had while chaos drafting.
Great couple of articles, probably my favourite set lore-wise, because it was the first standard set that I played in. Also three colour pairings allow for a great variety, in story and in gameplay. Thanks for posting this stuff.
Well put, I was going to say "Play it with Feldon" but then I realized his activation cost and saw it was moot lol. I do run it with the Welder in my Feldon build, for the above mentioned synergy.
Rings of Brighthearth works, but it may threaten that budget implemented.
Shamanic Revelation/Collective Unconscious (also mentioned earlier) are great budget options for draw.
Pathbreaker Ibex, Wild Beastmaster, and Cultivator of Blades all paired Beastmaster Ascension can be effective.
A friend of mine plays Marchesa and has this as a mainstay or 'safe bet' when ramping early game.
Lake of the Dead's second ability with Contamination in play:
Second ability is a mana ability so it is replaced by cont's effect so the mana becomes a single B. Is that how it works?
I know that effects like Crypt Ghast, Vorinclex and the like are triggers from those cards and not lands themselves, so the mana is not affected. Is that how that works?
Thanks again MTGS.
I think I'm going to add Westvale Abbey to my Gisa deck, it just seems really good with an abundance of tokens.
Also those Grave Pact effects help make Thrax a bigger threat as well.
Has Relentless Dead come to your attention? It can be great late game with a high level of zombies in the yard. And Dawn of the Dead, I think may be better in the long run to Exhume. That is, unless Exhume does lots of work for you, Dawn paired with an ETB effect/leaving play & a sac outlet, can have cheesy value after board clears.
So I've only chaos drafted a couple of times and I was looking for ideas on the next CD that i partake in. last time I picked a Shards of Alara, Eventide, and Zendikar (mainly because I like those sets).
What are some of the packs you'd pick? I'd love to hear about cool synergy/mechanics, preference, and/or experiences you've had while chaos drafting.
Thanks!