When building a deck, I first look at what decks are being played/most successful in the current format.
After this, I look into what type of strategies are common among those decks (aggressive, ramp, combo, control).
When the general strategies are identified, I look towards weaknesses that are common among those types of decks.
After the weaknesses are identified, I look into an archetype that can attack those weaknesses (if trying to combat Aggro: either a removal heavy deck or faster Aggro deck, vs Ramp: disruptive aggressive deck or fast aggressive deck, vs control: resilient aggressive deck).
Next, I look at what the most powerful spells are I could be casting against those types of strategies or even in general (Dojo/Primeval Titan/Hero of Bladehold/etc)
Finally, I look at what cards are weak in certain matchups, and build my sideboard with as many cards that are good vs that matchup (5 cards bad vs that matchup = approximately 5 cards good for it in sideboard).
I don't like the idea of it too much.
At my store, it is always the same four people who 3-0 the draft and get the money rares.
Theoretically, this should discourage every other player (specifically the ones who can rarely even break a 1-2 record) from wanting to draft anymore.
I doubt any of the players who 3-0 would mind packs/credit instead, as long as it makes up for not nearly getting guaranteed a snapcaster.
Also, before you claim I think this because I'm bad, both me and my brother whom I share a collection with are two of the people who consistently 3-0.
You should specify which version of the deck you are referring to (Intangible Virtue/Overrun). With the Intangible virtue version, UB Control seems to be extremely easy, so I am surprised to see so many votes for it. I do however know that the Overrun version can have trouble with it.
In my experiences GW Overrun or Gr Kessig (One with Slagstorm) are the two hardest matchups for the Intangible version.
Dojo as a 2 or 3 of maindeck is fine. If you have it in your hand doing nothing, it means you are winning the game anyways. And in games where you are losing, it is the best card in the deck.
The impact of priest seems way too minimal to be worth sideboarding. Life gain is irrelevant against most matchups, as well as the life loss. The goal of GW Tokens is to creates a demanding position, not slowly decrement your opponent's life total.
I always bring Shrine in against Control, but dislike it nearly everywhere else. In the aggro matchup it can be good, but only if you have Anthem effect ready to go. In the ramp matchup, the card is pretty miserable.
@ChrRome: The problem with running more mana dorks (Llanowar Elves) is that they don't provide the 2nd white needed for any of our creatures. So yes, you may have that 9th mana dork in the deck, but you still don't have a play on Turn 2 or 3 because you are a stuck on the single W and your hand is full of Crusaders, Heros, Monks, and Elspeths. Also, I like Mikaeus, but he is Legendary and I don't want my hand to be mucked up with him.
Again, it isn't about hitting 3 mana on Turn 2. This is obviously the ideal play, but if I am not going to be able to do it I want to be doing SOMETHING on Turn 2 instead of durdling around with land go.
But the problem with 2-drops is that they are very low impact. Very few games will be decided based on having a 2/1 on turn 2. Razorverge Thicket can still allow for a turn 2 Mirran Crusader, a 2/2 Mikaeus > 1/1 Mikaeus, and turn 3 Hero/Garruk is more powerful than a random 2 drop and a turn 4 Hero/Garruk.
Also, some people are recommending Skinshifter but he seems straight terrible in this deck. Turn 2 Skinshifter will likely not be used for a least a couple turns, quite possibly the whole game in some situations. A choice between turn 3 Crusader/Blade Splicer or just turning your 2 drop into a 4/4 is clearly to advance your board. On turn 4 the same situation applies with Garruk and Hero of Bladehold. On turn 5 even, Elspeth and Gavony Activation take priority over putting mana into your two-drop.
You guys know you can just run more mana dorks right?
Why not try 2 Llanowar Elves or something if hitting 3 mana on turn 2 is so crucial.
Also, how about another Mikaeus? She seems like the only 2 drop that does anything for this deck.
Against control you have Doomed Traveler, Midnight Haunting, Shrine, Elspeth, Mirran Crusader (in my build at least) which are all difficult for them to deal with.
For Infect, you have Shrine, Mirran Crusader, Midnight Haunting, Dojo, Dismember, O-Ring which makes the matchup fairly easy.
Moorland Humans is generally very easy because of Dojo, Shrine, Midnight Haunting, Ghost Quarters, Elspeth.
Overrun version is close, but Dojo, Early removal (Dismember, Gut Shot), O-Rings, Midnight Haunting, and Shrine make it easy to finish off if you get to the late game.
Wolf-Run Green isn't too difficult with Mirran Crusader, Hero of Bladehold, Midnight Haunting, early removal for their mana dorks.
RDW is easy because Timely Reinforcements + Anthem is very strong, Gut Shot to hit Stromkirk is good, and Hero of Bladehold is great against them.
Not sure how helpful this will be, but here is how I generally sideboard with my current list.
I want to make sure [# cards I bring in] = [# cards bad for that matchup]. This means I try not to just slightly upgrade cards that are still fine in the matchup. At the very least it makes the numbers look nice...
"JohnnyHotSauce" has a good list I've been playtesting that runs the anthems to good effect here.
Though the 3 md ghost quarters seem like a lot, there appears to be a ton of dungrove elder deck being played online. Main deck mirran crusaders is a smart decision as well.
I've been paying attention to his lists as well and they seem very well adjusted for the most part. I've moved to 2 main/2 sb Mirran Crusaders and they seem promising so far for UB and Wolf-Run. Overall I think his lists are a good starting point for the Anthem version of the deck.
I started at 25 but quickly realized that I could rarely get my fifth land when I needed it. I am now at 26 and it allows me to run 2 Ghost Quarters as well as the usual assortment of lands. Not sure if 26 is the right number, but am certain that 24 is too few.
After this, I look into what type of strategies are common among those decks (aggressive, ramp, combo, control).
When the general strategies are identified, I look towards weaknesses that are common among those types of decks.
After the weaknesses are identified, I look into an archetype that can attack those weaknesses (if trying to combat Aggro: either a removal heavy deck or faster Aggro deck, vs Ramp: disruptive aggressive deck or fast aggressive deck, vs control: resilient aggressive deck).
Next, I look at what the most powerful spells are I could be casting against those types of strategies or even in general (Dojo/Primeval Titan/Hero of Bladehold/etc)
Finally, I look at what cards are weak in certain matchups, and build my sideboard with as many cards that are good vs that matchup (5 cards bad vs that matchup = approximately 5 cards good for it in sideboard).
At my store, it is always the same four people who 3-0 the draft and get the money rares.
Theoretically, this should discourage every other player (specifically the ones who can rarely even break a 1-2 record) from wanting to draft anymore.
I doubt any of the players who 3-0 would mind packs/credit instead, as long as it makes up for not nearly getting guaranteed a snapcaster.
Also, before you claim I think this because I'm bad, both me and my brother whom I share a collection with are two of the people who consistently 3-0.
In my experiences GW Overrun or Gr Kessig (One with Slagstorm) are the two hardest matchups for the Intangible version.
But the problem with 2-drops is that they are very low impact. Very few games will be decided based on having a 2/1 on turn 2. Razorverge Thicket can still allow for a turn 2 Mirran Crusader, a 2/2 Mikaeus > 1/1 Mikaeus, and turn 3 Hero/Garruk is more powerful than a random 2 drop and a turn 4 Hero/Garruk.
Also, some people are recommending Skinshifter but he seems straight terrible in this deck. Turn 2 Skinshifter will likely not be used for a least a couple turns, quite possibly the whole game in some situations. A choice between turn 3 Crusader/Blade Splicer or just turning your 2 drop into a 4/4 is clearly to advance your board. On turn 4 the same situation applies with Garruk and Hero of Bladehold. On turn 5 even, Elspeth and Gavony Activation take priority over putting mana into your two-drop.
Why not try 2 Llanowar Elves or something if hitting 3 mana on turn 2 is so crucial.
Also, how about another Mikaeus? She seems like the only 2 drop that does anything for this deck.
Current list:
4 Razorverge Thicket
4 Sunpetal Grove
4 Gavony Township
2 Ghost Quarter
2 Forest
9 Plains
Creatures [11]
4 Doomed Traveler
4 Hero of Bladehold
3 Mirran Crusader
3 Elspeth Tirel
Spells [21]
3 Honor of the Pure
4 Intangible Virtue
4 Midnight Haunting
2 Day of Judgment
3 Oblivion Ring
1 Dismember
4 Shrine of Loyal Legions
1 Elspeth Tirel
1 Celestial Purge
2 Day of Judgment
1 Dismember
2 Gut Shot
2 Revoke Existence
4 Timely Reinforcements
1 Mirran Crusader
1 Gideon Jura
Against control you have Doomed Traveler, Midnight Haunting, Shrine, Elspeth, Mirran Crusader (in my build at least) which are all difficult for them to deal with.
For Infect, you have Shrine, Mirran Crusader, Midnight Haunting, Dojo, Dismember, O-Ring which makes the matchup fairly easy.
Moorland Humans is generally very easy because of Dojo, Shrine, Midnight Haunting, Ghost Quarters, Elspeth.
Overrun version is close, but Dojo, Early removal (Dismember, Gut Shot), O-Rings, Midnight Haunting, and Shrine make it easy to finish off if you get to the late game.
Wolf-Run Green isn't too difficult with Mirran Crusader, Hero of Bladehold, Midnight Haunting, early removal for their mana dorks.
RDW is easy because Timely Reinforcements + Anthem is very strong, Gut Shot to hit Stromkirk is good, and Hero of Bladehold is great against them.
Sometimes, being on the play is the difference between winning and losing.
If you are looking for 3 anti-artifact/enchantment spells I agree with this. With just 2 I would go with Naturalize however.
Mainly because they are very bad against RDW, Moorland Aggro, and GW Tokens. The maindeck is geared to be solid across the board.
I want to make sure [# cards I bring in] = [# cards bad for that matchup]. This means I try not to just slightly upgrade cards that are still fine in the matchup. At the very least it makes the numbers look nice...
4 Razorverge Thicket
4 Sunpetal Grove
4 Gavony Township
2 Ghost Quarter
3 Forest
9 Plains
Creatures [9]
3 Doomed Traveler
4 Hero of Bladehold
2 Mirran Crusader
4 Elspeth Tirel
Spells [21]
3 Honor of the Pure
4 Intangible Virtue
4 Midnight Haunting
1 Day of Judgment
1 Mortarpod
4 Oblivion Ring
4 Shrine of Loyal Legions
1 Beast Within
2 Dismember
2 Day of Judgment
2 Naturalize
3 Timely Reinforcements
2 Garruk Relentless
1 Gideon Jura
2 Mirran Crusader
RDW:
-2 Mirran Crusader
-4 Shrine of Loyal Legions
+3 Timely Reinforcements
+2 Day of Judgment
+1 Gideon Jura
UB Control
-4 Hero of Bladehold
-1 Day of Judgment
+2 Garruk Relentless
+2 Mirran Crusader
+1 Beast Within
Wolf-Run Ramp
-3 Doomed Traveler
+2 Mirran Crusader
+1 Beast Within
Dungrove Ramp
-3 Doomed Traveler
-4 Shrine of Loyal Legions
+2 Mirran Crusader
+1 Beast Within
+2 Day of Judgment
+2 Naturalize (for Sword of War and Peace)
GW Tokens
-2 Mirran Crusader
-3 Doomed Traveler
-1 Mortarpod
+2 Day of Judgment
+2 Naturalize
+1 Beast Within
+1 Gideon Jura
Moorland Aggro
-2 Mirran Crusader
-4 Shrine of Loyal Legions
-3 Doomed Traveler
-3 Honor of the Pure
-1 Mortarpod
+2 Day of Judgment
+1 Gideon Jura
+2 Dismember
+1 Beast Within
+3 Timely Reinforcements
+2 Garruk Relentless
+2 Naturalize
Infect
-3 Doomed Traveler
-4 Elspeth Tirel
-3 Honor of the Pure
+2 Dismember
+1 Beast Within
+2 Naturalize
+1 Gideon Jura
+2 Mirran Crusader
+2 Garruk Relentless
You basically need her to make your mana dorks into threats.
I've been paying attention to his lists as well and they seem very well adjusted for the most part. I've moved to 2 main/2 sb Mirran Crusaders and they seem promising so far for UB and Wolf-Run. Overall I think his lists are a good starting point for the Anthem version of the deck.