The closed beta just wiped, so now we're in open beta. I played closed and had some pretty decent decks and plenty of fun janky stuff. For some reason they felt much more generous during the closed beta. As a FTP player I was able to make a lot. Starting over from the wipe with nothing, and seeing the "new player" experience. I can't imagine anyone putting up with FTP in this game and sticking around. The starting decks are such garbage, just the crappiest commons and most useless sorceries you wouldnt even pick in a draft, and you're up against all the dorks who dump $300 in a beta game on open beta day 1, that I see no conceivable reason for anyone to play this FTP. It's just game after game of getting spanked by people playing Turbo Fog and decks like this. Luckily you can still get paired with other FTP players using the crappy free decks, so you can get some incremental progress toward your quests, but once those players finally plop down cash, grind enough, or leave, new players are not even going to get that luxury. I've played each day since open beta and still cant make a deck of my own or even afford a draft yet. It's a pretty awful experience. 2/10.
The closed beta just wiped, so now we're in open beta. I played closed and had some pretty decent decks and plenty of fun janky stuff. For some reason they felt much more generous during the closed beta. As a FTP player I was able to make a lot. Starting over from the wipe with nothing, and seeing the "new player" experience. I can't imagine anyone putting up with FTP in this game and sticking around. The starting decks are such garbage, just the crappiest commons and most useless sorceries you wouldnt even pick in a draft, and you're up against all the dorks who dump $300 in a beta game on open beta day 1, that I see no conceivable reason for anyone to play this FTP. It's just game after game of getting spanked by people playing Turbo Fog and decks like this. Luckily you can still get paired with other FTP players using the crappy free decks, so you can get some incremental progress toward your quests, but once those players finally plop down cash, grind enough, or leave, new players are not even going to get that luxury. I've played each day since open beta and still cant make a deck of my own or even afford a draft yet. It's a pretty awful experience. 2/10.
Out of curiousity, what deck were you stuck with?
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
There's a mono deck for each color to start. (red dragon, black zombie, white weenies, blue artifact, and green creature. The black one is the only halfway decent one, but I've also had ok success with blue.) Each day there's been a quest to unlock a new duo color deck. The first day I got a W/G deck based on creature enchantments and it is, how you say, not good. Today I just got a R/B deck that actually looks somewhat viable, so I guess this will be the one I run until I can grind out enough cards on my own. (unfortunately my current quest is play White or Green spells so I'm stuck with the W/G one until I clear that.) I can post decklists if you like. So far though economy stinks and new player experience a massive grind.
There's a mono deck for each color to start. (red dragon, black zombie, white weenies, blue artifact, and green creature. The black one is the only halfway decent one, but I've also had ok success with blue.) Each day there's been a quest to unlock a new duo color deck. The first day I got a W/G deck based on creature enchantments and it is, how you say, not good. Today I just got a R/B deck that actually looks somewhat viable, so I guess this will be the one I run until I can grind out enough cards on my own. (unfortunately my current quest is play White or Green spells so I'm stuck with the W/G one until I clear that.) I can post decklists if you like. So far though economy stinks and new player experience a massive grind.
I don't know, I haven't really had any problems so far. Granted, I guess technically I "spent money" on MTG:A because I got a code for a free Sealed event because I went to a physical Prerelease, but other than that I've been playing it entirely F2P and I haven't really had any problems feeling like I couldn't compete. I've got a sweet Abzan tokens deck partially put together and I've been having a blast playing it, so much so that I've literally run out of quests to complete for the day. The premade decks that you can earn as quest rewards are actually really good to strip for pieces. Easy way to get 4-ofs of good commons/uncommons like Llanowar Elves and Lightning Strike.
And as you play you'll unlock a bunch of two-color decks which are likewise great for stripping down. The B/W deck may not be great, but it's got a lot of useful bits in it.
And as you play you'll unlock a bunch of two-color decks which are likewise great for stripping down. The B/W deck may not be great, but it's got a lot of useful bits in it.
I don't think I've gotten a B/W one yet. I got a B/G one that had a Tendershoot Dyrad though, which was nice because that card is pretty darn good. I also got a Carnage Tyrant at some point, but I don't remember where it came from. So I'm not really seeing what the Original Poster was. I've actually had a pretty easy time building toward a solid deck, compared to trying to put together a paper deck.
I was involved in the Closed Beta so I got the 3 planeswalkers. I also redeemed the code for a free Sealed event on Arena which grants 9 packs guaranteed. I want to mention these things as they are advantages that I may have over a brand new player that didn't do either one (though, there are some places to get free or cheap redemption codes for the sealed event).
Otherwise, I have been playing Arena as a completely F2P player. I have played through the daily challenges 3 out of the last 4 days to acquire gold. I have completed the weekly challenges for the 3 packs. I have been playing mostly the free Singleton event since it gives free cards for wins and also contributes to the challenges. I have two different accounts on which to play just so I can do something different in each one as well as play for the daily/weekly challenges.
So far, I have been able to put together a pretty decent UW deck with Teferi, Resplendent Angel, Leonin Warleader, Zetalpa, Cleansing Nova, Shalai, Serra's Guardian, Settle the Wreckage and a bunch of other cards to go along with these. The deck is not super powerful, but it is not weak either. I have gotten 4 wins in the Singleton event a bunch of times (I got the Settle and Warleader as prizes in 2 of those instances).
In my other account, I have a UR deck that has been working pretty well. Ral Zarek, Sulfur Falls, Lathliss, Burning Sun's Avatar, Mission Briefing and a bunch of good commons and uncommons have allowed me to build a competitive Singleton deck. Again, I have gotten 4 wins with this in events as well (not as many as the UW deck though) and I have been able to get the free cards that the event allows.
I feel that that the game certainly rewards anyone spending money on the game more so than the F2P players but that is the nature of a game like this. I don't think F2P players or new players are out in the cold and so far it has actually been a pretty fun experience even though I have had to rebuild my decks/collection since the wipe. The game is structured where this is a relatively slow process, but it is not impossible. I have also only spent I think 5 or 6 wildcards between both account (3 were for Ravenous Chupacabra for a BG deck I was trying and one was for another copy of Teferi; I think I got one or two other cards as well). I still have a bunch of wildcards I can use to make these decks better if I wanted.
As others have mentioned, getting the free decks gives good cards for the collection. I am pretty sure that is where the Sulfur Falls and Resplendent Angel came from. I know that is where a Vraska's Contempt came from. Those decks are very useful to fill out some of the commons and uncommons for decks as well as supplying a good rare/mythic or two.
I know that is where a Vraska's Contempt came from.
NANI?!?
I ended up spending 3 wildcards on Vraska's Contempts because the first day or so I ran into a bunch of people playing multiple Rekindling Phoenix and that card is a beating. I really hope I get the deck that comes with a Contempt so I can finish the playset!
Total I think I've only used 7 wildcards: the 3 Contempts plus a playset of Merfolk Branchwalkers. How often do you all use your wildcards? I have 2 mythic wildcards saved up somehow (I suspect they were carried over from the beta but I can't remember) and I'm trying to decide if I should cash them in or wait a bit to see if I open something that gives me some direction.
I know that is where a Vraska's Contempt came from.
NANI?!?
I ended up spending 3 wildcards on Vraska's Contempts because the first day or so I ran into a bunch of people playing multiple Rekindling Phoenix and that card is a beating. I really hope I get the deck that comes with a Contempt so I can finish the playset!
It looks like it came from the Eternal Thirst (WB) deck. That deck also had Leonin Warleader and Resplendent Angel along with a couple decent vampire rares like Champion of Dusk and Sanctum Seeker.
Total I think I've only used 7 wildcards: the 3 Contempts plus a playset of Merfolk Branchwalkers. How often do you all use your wildcards? I have 2 mythic wildcards saved up somehow (I suspect they were carried over from the beta but I can't remember) and I'm trying to decide if I should cash them in or wait a bit to see if I open something that gives me some direction.
I am pretty sure every account starts with 8, 4, 2, and 1 (Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Mythic) wildcards since both my accounts had them and one was never actually used for the Closed Beta; I just created it to see if I could but I never used it since I knew it would be wiped.
Since I have been playing mostly Singleton, I haven't found the need to use wildcards. The ones I used were for cards in the Standard decks I am trying but I haven't done much more with them since I am having fun with the Singleton event. Once that is gone, I might look more into what I really want to do.
The main issue for me right now is that I have no idea what I want to play. In the closed beta, I was playing UW control, but I lost a couple cards and haven't done a lot of research into whether I want to try something new. I don't want to spend my wild cards on cards for a deck and then find it isn't working as well as I thought. So, I am kind of biding my time for now.
I've stayed away from arena mostly because even though I sort of want to play it, I know I'm just going to fall behind on the rat race and eventually just constantly lose to people with more time. I prefer the paper game 100% and would rather play the game once a month or so when I want than to play it every day trying to earn achievements.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
It's great if you want to pay cash. If you want to be F2P, then there's a LOT of variance, and if you're unlucky, you're going to be miserable. New sets every 3 months means that even as F2P, unless you're amazingly good, you're gong to fall behind and always be playing sub-par lists against the people who spent the money and have the wildcards and collections to build any deck day 1.
Working exactly like all the Beta players told them it would work: great for people who spend money, hostile to F2P players. Who would have guessed that?
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Cards are game pieces, and should be treated as such, easily replaceable.
Cards are not money, investments, or a retirement fund, and should never have been treated as such.
Wizards made a mistake caving to speculators once, and we still pay for that mistake 2 decades later.
"Entitled:" the entire ad hominem fallacy condensed into a single word. It doesn't strengthen your argument to attack motivations, it just makes you look like you don't understand the argument.
It's great if you want to pay cash. If you want to be F2P, then there's a LOT of variance, and if you're unlucky, you're going to be miserable. New sets every 3 months means that even as F2P, unless you're amazingly good, you're gong to fall behind and always be playing sub-par lists against the people who spent the money and have the wildcards and collections to build any deck day 1.
Working exactly like all the Beta players told them it would work: great for people who spend money, hostile to F2P players. Who would have guessed that?
Okay... but how is that different than playing paper Magic? Arena fills a good niche for me. I've been playing less and less paper Magic as it becomes more and more expensive, despite the fact I actively enjoy playing the game. Being able to jam a few games a day in less than 30 minutes is fantastic for me, even if all I'm doing is playing draft chaff. The fact that I can earn rewards at all to get free cards is simply icing on the cake for me. Not to mention I think people are overselling how difficult it is to make a solid-if-unspectacular deck in Arena is.
Look, I'll admit I was initially quite skeptical of Arena. I've had a beta code basically since they launched the closed beta but I only actually played for about a week before the wipe. I thought it was a shoddy Hearthstone knock-off. But since trying it I've basically 180'd. To anyone who is curious, I'd say give it a try. It's free. Also there are some promo codes floating around from the Prerelease for free stuff. The code "PlayRavnica" (no quotes) can be used by anyone for some free GRN packs. There are also individualized codes on the back of tokens from the Prerelease kits that allow for a free Sealed event, but unfortunately I already gave away my extras. If some kind soul would be willing to give you an extra code, you could even get a leg up on starting.
As someone who came in expecting to hate Arena, I can say that it's very much grown on me. I can 100% understand where OP is coming from though, wanting to stay completely F2P means you have to grind up a ton of coins through dailies to be able to get into any other event, and it's going to be a huge slog. But you don't have to whale and spend a ton to get ahead. I was willing to buy the $5 welcome pack (Remember MTGO cost $10 and jut gave you 10 tix) and the 5 packs and 2500 gems gives you so many options for putting together a workable constructed deck, or doing drafts or sealed to building a collection that way. Using wildcards judiciously (I probably won't use any rare or MRare Wildcards until I know exactly the deck I want to build) also helps you get a leg up.
Honestly once I run the starting gems to 0 I'll have to have a long thought about if I want to put any more money into it - the answer will probably be no, but that $5 is likely going to be worth several weeks of playing, and to me it's worth it.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Top 16 - 2012 Indiana State Championships Currently Playing: GBStandard - Golgari Safari MidrangeBG RBWModern - Mardu PyromancerWBR RLegacy - Good Old Fashioned BurnR
Honestly once I run the starting gems to 0 I'll have to have a long thought about if I want to put any more money into it - the answer will probably be no, but that $5 is likely going to be worth several weeks of playing, and to me it's worth it.
More like "if the starting gems run out". The code from the physical Prerelease that allowed for a free Sealed event on Arena has now paid for 3 Sealed events and counting. It is surprisingly easy to mostly break even with the winnings, and I don't even consider myself to be a particularly good player. Slightly above average at best. And any time you fall a little short of breaking even, all the Coins you've been earning by playing the events will probably allow you to enter one of the Coin buy-in events that also pay out in Gems to help make up the deficit. So I am legitimately confused as to why some people are complaining about the economy.
I was involved in the Closed Beta so I got the 3 planeswalkers. I also redeemed the code for a free Sealed event on Arena which grants 9 packs guaranteed. I want to mention these things as they are advantages that I may have over a brand new player that didn't do either one (though, there are some places to get free or cheap redemption codes for the sealed event).
9 free packs is a lot though. That's 9,000 coins. I've done all my quests since wipe and am currently at 4,225 coins (bought one pack, so would be 5,225). So about halfway to what you got for free. I don't have a lot to strip from with the free decks neither. I mean, they're "fine" but since each deck represents a different color, I can play the R/B deck they gave me, or I can kinda mix it up with the mono red deck? It's not a huge pool of cards to play with. I mean, all in all it's all just "fine." But not enough to compete with the guys who dropped money already and have 4 copies of all the mythics they want. I have 3 to 4 pages for each color if I flip through my collection. Starting closed beta I was able to construct decks, and right now I feel like I can't construct anything and am forced to grind with their decks, and that's not very fun. I just feel like the F2P experience took a big nose dive between the two betas, and it wasn't winning any awards before. Not too mention, once the meta establishes itself and you're back to facing only tier 1 meta decks, as a F2P player, it's going to get worse.
I'm not exactly sure what the problem is. I'm a f2p player on there (I pay enough for MTGO...looking at this game as like a try before you buy) and before the wipe I had a pretty decent grixis energy build rolling, and after the wipe I've got a pretty sweet UR spells list. I don't win every game but I definitely don't lose 'em all. Do your dailies every day. Most of them just require you to play, they don't even require that you win. If you keep losing, figure out why you're losing. The people I have played don't feel like they have dropped any more money than I have. I haven't really chalked up any of my losses as someone "dumping 300" either. I've opened what, 5 packs from gold? The rest that I've opened are from quests and I've opened quite a few.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Used to be on here as Draconek, since the Twitch takeover...who knows...
MTGO: Draconek
Standard: URW Control UB Control
Modern: BRG Living End GR Aggro GW Value
Legacy:
Currently not playing
I am having to grind like everyone else since I am doing F2P. The biggest issue I am seeing is the amount of concessions (maybe rage quits) as there is no incentive to really battle a lost cause. I mean I will take the free win sure, but so many of my matches are over pretty quick that it's actually refreshing win or lose to finish a long match.
That said, I missed pre-release and won't put a cent into this game at this point. I like jamming a few quick matches when I am bored, but paper magic is where it is at and playing with the cards I actually own.
The starter decks for the most part are pretty average and I think people need to temper their expectations. Like many games these days, F2P is never as competitive as P2W, that is just the business model that everyone seems to employ
I usually don't have a problem with the concessions (I should clarify this means I'm okay with them most of the time, not that they amost never happen) because once it's clear you're in a position you can't win, it saves both players time to have the loser scoop so they each can get to more games. And it's not like you can try and just timerscam someone that much because of the nature of the timekeeping system they use. (It seems a LOT more combo friendly even if it's not loop friendly, although I'm not sure it's possible to make it loop-friendly.)
The intro decks aren't really that great, and the fact that you can only get 5 of them on any one account is another drawback. But honestly with a bit of judicial WC use and some patience you should be able to build a pretty good (if not tier 1) standard deck with very little investment - though I feel you will need to make SOME investment. F2P is noble and all but you also have to realize that putting a list together is going to be a very big grind and not everyone will be up for it, and very few people will even care.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Top 16 - 2012 Indiana State Championships Currently Playing: GBStandard - Golgari Safari MidrangeBG RBWModern - Mardu PyromancerWBR RLegacy - Good Old Fashioned BurnR
Just build towards one main deck and go from there.
You can grind everything out for free, but as always - and like in
other games like HS too - you can drop a few bucks and save some time.
Nothing horrible, nothing to shout about, nothing to be ashamed of.
It will still be only a fraction of what MTGO or "real" magic costs.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Out of curiousity, what deck were you stuck with?
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
There's a mono deck for each color to start. (red dragon, black zombie, white weenies, blue artifact, and green creature. The black one is the only halfway decent one, but I've also had ok success with blue.) Each day there's been a quest to unlock a new duo color deck. The first day I got a W/G deck based on creature enchantments and it is, how you say, not good. Today I just got a R/B deck that actually looks somewhat viable, so I guess this will be the one I run until I can grind out enough cards on my own. (unfortunately my current quest is play White or Green spells so I'm stuck with the W/G one until I clear that.) I can post decklists if you like. So far though economy stinks and new player experience a massive grind.
Otherwise, I have been playing Arena as a completely F2P player. I have played through the daily challenges 3 out of the last 4 days to acquire gold. I have completed the weekly challenges for the 3 packs. I have been playing mostly the free Singleton event since it gives free cards for wins and also contributes to the challenges. I have two different accounts on which to play just so I can do something different in each one as well as play for the daily/weekly challenges.
So far, I have been able to put together a pretty decent UW deck with Teferi, Resplendent Angel, Leonin Warleader, Zetalpa, Cleansing Nova, Shalai, Serra's Guardian, Settle the Wreckage and a bunch of other cards to go along with these. The deck is not super powerful, but it is not weak either. I have gotten 4 wins in the Singleton event a bunch of times (I got the Settle and Warleader as prizes in 2 of those instances).
In my other account, I have a UR deck that has been working pretty well. Ral Zarek, Sulfur Falls, Lathliss, Burning Sun's Avatar, Mission Briefing and a bunch of good commons and uncommons have allowed me to build a competitive Singleton deck. Again, I have gotten 4 wins with this in events as well (not as many as the UW deck though) and I have been able to get the free cards that the event allows.
I feel that that the game certainly rewards anyone spending money on the game more so than the F2P players but that is the nature of a game like this. I don't think F2P players or new players are out in the cold and so far it has actually been a pretty fun experience even though I have had to rebuild my decks/collection since the wipe. The game is structured where this is a relatively slow process, but it is not impossible. I have also only spent I think 5 or 6 wildcards between both account (3 were for Ravenous Chupacabra for a BG deck I was trying and one was for another copy of Teferi; I think I got one or two other cards as well). I still have a bunch of wildcards I can use to make these decks better if I wanted.
As others have mentioned, getting the free decks gives good cards for the collection. I am pretty sure that is where the Sulfur Falls and Resplendent Angel came from. I know that is where a Vraska's Contempt came from. Those decks are very useful to fill out some of the commons and uncommons for decks as well as supplying a good rare/mythic or two.
I ended up spending 3 wildcards on Vraska's Contempts because the first day or so I ran into a bunch of people playing multiple Rekindling Phoenix and that card is a beating. I really hope I get the deck that comes with a Contempt so I can finish the playset!
Total I think I've only used 7 wildcards: the 3 Contempts plus a playset of Merfolk Branchwalkers. How often do you all use your wildcards? I have 2 mythic wildcards saved up somehow (I suspect they were carried over from the beta but I can't remember) and I'm trying to decide if I should cash them in or wait a bit to see if I open something that gives me some direction.
I am pretty sure every account starts with 8, 4, 2, and 1 (Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Mythic) wildcards since both my accounts had them and one was never actually used for the Closed Beta; I just created it to see if I could but I never used it since I knew it would be wiped.
Since I have been playing mostly Singleton, I haven't found the need to use wildcards. The ones I used were for cards in the Standard decks I am trying but I haven't done much more with them since I am having fun with the Singleton event. Once that is gone, I might look more into what I really want to do.
The main issue for me right now is that I have no idea what I want to play. In the closed beta, I was playing UW control, but I lost a couple cards and haven't done a lot of research into whether I want to try something new. I don't want to spend my wild cards on cards for a deck and then find it isn't working as well as I thought. So, I am kind of biding my time for now.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Spirits
Working exactly like all the Beta players told them it would work: great for people who spend money, hostile to F2P players. Who would have guessed that?
Cards are not money, investments, or a retirement fund, and should never have been treated as such.
Wizards made a mistake caving to speculators once, and we still pay for that mistake 2 decades later.
"Entitled:" the entire ad hominem fallacy condensed into a single word. It doesn't strengthen your argument to attack motivations, it just makes you look like you don't understand the argument.
Look, I'll admit I was initially quite skeptical of Arena. I've had a beta code basically since they launched the closed beta but I only actually played for about a week before the wipe. I thought it was a shoddy Hearthstone knock-off. But since trying it I've basically 180'd. To anyone who is curious, I'd say give it a try. It's free. Also there are some promo codes floating around from the Prerelease for free stuff. The code "PlayRavnica" (no quotes) can be used by anyone for some free GRN packs. There are also individualized codes on the back of tokens from the Prerelease kits that allow for a free Sealed event, but unfortunately I already gave away my extras. If some kind soul would be willing to give you an extra code, you could even get a leg up on starting.
I think people are being too hard on Arena.
Honestly once I run the starting gems to 0 I'll have to have a long thought about if I want to put any more money into it - the answer will probably be no, but that $5 is likely going to be worth several weeks of playing, and to me it's worth it.
Currently Playing:
GBStandard - Golgari Safari MidrangeBG
RBWModern - Mardu PyromancerWBR
RLegacy - Good Old Fashioned BurnR
Clan Contest 3 Mafia - Mafia Co-MVP
9 free packs is a lot though. That's 9,000 coins. I've done all my quests since wipe and am currently at 4,225 coins (bought one pack, so would be 5,225). So about halfway to what you got for free. I don't have a lot to strip from with the free decks neither. I mean, they're "fine" but since each deck represents a different color, I can play the R/B deck they gave me, or I can kinda mix it up with the mono red deck? It's not a huge pool of cards to play with. I mean, all in all it's all just "fine." But not enough to compete with the guys who dropped money already and have 4 copies of all the mythics they want. I have 3 to 4 pages for each color if I flip through my collection. Starting closed beta I was able to construct decks, and right now I feel like I can't construct anything and am forced to grind with their decks, and that's not very fun. I just feel like the F2P experience took a big nose dive between the two betas, and it wasn't winning any awards before. Not too mention, once the meta establishes itself and you're back to facing only tier 1 meta decks, as a F2P player, it's going to get worse.
MTGO: Draconek
Standard:
URW Control
UB Control
Modern:
BRG Living End
GR Aggro
GW Value
Legacy:
Currently not playing
That said, I missed pre-release and won't put a cent into this game at this point. I like jamming a few quick matches when I am bored, but paper magic is where it is at and playing with the cards I actually own.
The starter decks for the most part are pretty average and I think people need to temper their expectations. Like many games these days, F2P is never as competitive as P2W, that is just the business model that everyone seems to employ
The intro decks aren't really that great, and the fact that you can only get 5 of them on any one account is another drawback. But honestly with a bit of judicial WC use and some patience you should be able to build a pretty good (if not tier 1) standard deck with very little investment - though I feel you will need to make SOME investment. F2P is noble and all but you also have to realize that putting a list together is going to be a very big grind and not everyone will be up for it, and very few people will even care.
Currently Playing:
GBStandard - Golgari Safari MidrangeBG
RBWModern - Mardu PyromancerWBR
RLegacy - Good Old Fashioned BurnR
Clan Contest 3 Mafia - Mafia Co-MVP
You can grind everything out for free, but as always - and like in
other games like HS too - you can drop a few bucks and save some time.
Nothing horrible, nothing to shout about, nothing to be ashamed of.
It will still be only a fraction of what MTGO or "real" magic costs.