There were two guys running Mono green decks with Temur Sabertooth and Whisperwood Elemetal. They a bit rough still but once they got going it was basically draw a for card G1 or get a 2/2 dude at the end of every one of your turns .
That Abzan one that comes with Ainok Bond kin and the Abzan Falconer seems a little unfair you've got 3 outlast creatures two of them 'lords' that's a good start to your deck.
I wouldn't call Reach 'hard' removal. It only works on multi-colored creatures (witch I fell will probably be in the minority). Still bad removal is still removal in limited
The Dragon was tempting but I think the Strike Leader is the pick. There is also the possibility that Reach of Shadows wheels and you can get it second pick. Hopefully you'll cut B and get decent stuff coming back pack 2
I will say that at least the "Zendikar is the next set!!!!" is more interesting then the "next set will include the 6th color purple!!" that seemed to proceed every set for a long time
Unless you mean by selling those at cost, they are increasing sales elsewhere?
Yes, I am saying that by selling some cards at or near cost, a store owner may increase sales of other items (or business).
Think of the TCG player optimizer. If one store has all the items a particular customer wants, then the optimization is likely to direct the buyer to that store (rather than directing them to pay shipping to multiple stores).
If a LGS has lots of cards available, some customers are more likely to go there. I have definitely made my choice about where to play FNM based upon which store had a couple of cards I wanted to purchase. So, having inventory meant that I paid an entry fee. When someone goes to a store to play FNM, they might also buy food, or sleeves, or dice, etc.
So anyway, a store may get value from cards even if they are not selling them at a big markup.
I can attest to this. My local game store seems fairly large (FNMs regularly run 50-80 people) but i swear every time I try and buy a card from them they are out or only have 1 and I don't think I've ever been able to pick up any uncommon that is playable. Most of the time I don't even try anymore and just buy a playset online. I might only spend 20-30 a month on singles in a given month but I cant be the only one who goes there that has that same issue.
The general thought that I have seen is all the Dragons Fate will be Rare and then in the next set will be more Dragons @ Mythic. Something to do with the story line and Dragons coming back. (I don't really follow the storyline but I have seen a few people speculate this).
I don't know if I can see this being a thing. So far, we don't have any reliable way (as far as I know) in Standard to guarantee you have that Hydra on top of your deck when you manifest. If you're going to make a deck around this strategy you need a way to pull it off reliably, something like a Worldly Tutor reprint, which I'm sure we're not getting.
Courser of Kruphix would let you know it was on top (on color even!). It won't help you get Hydra there but it will let you know when it is.
Are there any modern/ non-Standard decks that use Omnath, Locus of Mana. He (her/it?) plus Frontier Siege would be a nice janky combo.
I agree that Monastery Siege is probably the best and Palace Siege. Sure you get to 'keep' the creature but the whip's Life link is a huge part of why it is so good plus the 4 vs 5 Mana obviously. Maybe if there is some kind of a sac outlet you could abuse
How are Garruk and Erebos working for you? I used to run Garruk but most of the time it was blow up a planeswalker, he dies. For 7 mana seemed underwhelming, most of the time I would have rather had an Elspeth.
Wanted to say thanks for collecting this info.
They are about as safe an investment as stocks are. :/
My bad, thanks.
Reading is tech!
I can attest to this. My local game store seems fairly large (FNMs regularly run 50-80 people) but i swear every time I try and buy a card from them they are out or only have 1 and I don't think I've ever been able to pick up any uncommon that is playable. Most of the time I don't even try anymore and just buy a playset online. I might only spend 20-30 a month on singles in a given month but I cant be the only one who goes there that has that same issue.
If you are going to go outside of Standard
Vines of Vastwood + Distortion Strike + Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest + 2 mana for double striking = 20.
You could run Mutagenic Growth if you didn't want to splash for green. Basically an Infect shell.
Courser of Kruphix would let you know it was on top (on color even!). It won't help you get Hydra there but it will let you know when it is.
I agree that Monastery Siege is probably the best and Palace Siege. Sure you get to 'keep' the creature but the whip's Life link is a huge part of why it is so good plus the 4 vs 5 Mana obviously. Maybe if there is some kind of a sac outlet you could abuse
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yagmoth
1x Mana Confluence
1x Temple of Plenty
1x Plains
2x Forest
2x Temple of Silence
3x Temple of Plenty
3x Windswept Heath
3x Llanowar Wastes
3x Caves of Koilos
4x Sandsteppe Citadel
Planeswalker (6)
1x Ajani, Mentor of Heroes
2x Elspeth, Sun's Champion
3x Sorin, Solemn Visitor
1x Brimaz, King of Oreskos
2x Reaper of the Wilds
4x Courser of Kruphix
4x Siege Rhino
4x Sylvan Caryatid
Artifact (2)
1x Whip of Erebos
Instant (9)
1x Utter End
1x Muderous Cut
1x Bile Blight
4x Abzan Charm
4x Hero's Downfall
Sorcery (3)
3x Thoughtseize
1x Herald of Torment
1x Spear of Heliod
1x Erase
1x Suspension Filed
1x Soul of Innnistrad
1x Thoughtseize
1x Duneblast
1x Whip of Erebos
2x Arbor Colossus
2x Utter End
3x Drown in Sorrow
There is some trade but most people don't bring uncommons for trade (even stuff like stoke and Swiftspear)