So I haven't played Magic in years and I'm dying to play, but I don't a know a thing about the metagame or current sets. Innistrad just came out when my local game store closed and I stopped playing. But is it at all feasible to make a deck for 200-300$ that won't get trampled on at FNM? If possible I'd like to try building something without tons of cards that are rotating soon, I'm not trying to win the night as much as I just want to play a deck that could maybe go 2-2 as I work on making it better.
Do they still make the FNM ready precons or something like that?
Welcome! Come on in, the Standard meta is in a place where a huge variety of decks can win. There are precons, but there is a strong argument to be made for buying singles. Mtggoldfish has a listing of the meta decks here. Budget decks are below the most popular standard decks, but your budget gives you a wide range.
In between the standard and budget decks, there is a link to more standard decks. I recommend you follow that link and pick the deck whose style fits yours most closely. Do look at Boros Feather and Selesnya Tokens, which are not terribly affected by rotation, fit your budget and are quite capable of meeting your performance needs. Tokens, in particular, is poised to be better when Goblin Chainwhirler rotates. I have been enjoying Feather quite a bit myself lately.
With Core 2020 out a week before MagicFest/GP denver, I'm having trouble on what type of deck I should play. Should I play Gruul aggro, Gruul walkers, or Jund Walkers? Can anyone help me with deciding?
If we believe this analysis, Esper and Mono-R are level 0 right now. According to this article by Tobi Heinke, Gruul does pretty well against them. Your choices are in the same general area, which suggests to me that it fits your style. Predicting the meta across several weeks and a new set release is a fool's errand, of course.
In your shoes, I would start testing with Gruul and develop an understanding of which cards match up well against the current meta. Then monitor the Arena meta after the new set is released to see what the latest trends are to tune your deck just before the tournament.
Nice work! I like Vindicator and have tried to make it work in Boros Mentor builds. I also like to encourage experimentation.
But ...
Chainwhirler is a card that burn runs. And having a big butt to allow Reckless Rage on something other than Feather seems like a decent sized deal. Three toughness 2-drops with upside aren't that common, but you could pre-board with the Tocatli Honor Guards or try Burning Prophet.
You may also not be noticing the matchups where Vanguard is good. For my education, if you try starting Vanguard in the the sideboard in a burn-heavy meta, are there non-burn matchups where you would bring them in?
Yeah! I have gotten some reps in with Boros Feather and it has been surprisingly good. I am also excited about the slightest things: Temple of Triumph and Brought Back. Without a 1 drop, replacing guildgates with scrylands seems good. Having an answer to Kaya's Wrath also seems interesting.
Article on taking Boros Feather to the top 8 of Magicfest KC here.
I finally built my Boros version based on Brian's and took it to Monday Night magic. Unfortunately, the event did not fire. I did practice a little against Mono-R. I did okay playing my creatures a turn late, but if they have too much removal, it's bleak.
Much as I appreciate the post, were it Standard, I would move it to the Mono-R thread. But at 50 cards, it isn't Standard and I need to move it. I will make some suggestions, nonetheless.
Heroic Reinforcements is a powerful uncommon. How can we abuse it with a budget deck that will fulfill quests and maybe even steal a few wins? Here's my unrefined shot:
Morfolk is one of the better starter decks. Can we improve it with some lucky draft cards and select uncommons (Merfolk Mistbinder, Deeproot Waters, Silvergill Adept)? For nonbudget comparison, we can consider the Merfolk deck Raph Levy took 8-2 in Standard at Mythic Championship 1.
Here is an export from Arena. If anybody tries importing this, please let me know how it works:
I find a particular pleasure to a Bo1 game/match. It is over quickly and feels more refreshing than the more intense struggle of Bo3. I am also cheap and like working with what I am given.
Further, Wizards essentially pays us with in-game currency to play. We get 250 gold for our first win every day and 100 gold for the next three. Every day we get a reasonably achievable quest that pays us 500 to 750 gold. We get three packs a week for having 15 wins. Ranking up to Gold level just requires winning over 1/3 of the time.
How do we farm the system effectively if we want to avoid investing cash? There are at least two paths, depending on whether you prefer limited or constructed. I prefer limited, but I run dry on drafts and want to farm the rewards, so I have built some bad decks that have allowed me to fulfill quests and rank up to Gold level when my bad drafting has me out of other resources.
Budget decks on Arena can start with cards from the starter decks and can be measured by the cost in various wildcards. My own stipulation is that I can use rares that I have opened or drafted, but I don't spend rare or mythic wildcards. I will list mine in subsequent posts. Unfortunately, I haven't kept statistics for these decks, but I can start if there's interest.
Please offer your budget decks as examples or for discussion in this thread. I have provided Merfolk, Zombies and Boros Aggro, but I think there are others, including Mono-R, Mono-B and Orzhov Vampires. I am also sure there are better versions of the decks I have provided.
The AsianAvenger did a reasonably comprehensive review of the Bo1 meta a few weeks ago. While the decks may not have been perfect and are now somewhat dated, I think these lists are useful to start with or target.
I apologize for misunderstanding that your deck was for Bo3. I'll move it back to Budget.
I like the synergies you are working with with between card draw and proliferation. I am concerned that your game plan may be scattered. Tapping out T3 and T4 seems awkward when you may want to hold up counterspells. Further, with so many tap out elements, I fear you won't have controlling elements when you need them.
So what am I saying? I would say that you might be better off focusing on a simpler game plan.
I could see a control deck that tries to use Jace and a smaller number of Projections and/or Pteramanders as finishers. This deck would use instant speed card draw and really try to avoid tapping out.
I could see a aggressive proliferate deck that tapped out for early threats and protected them. I then find myself wanting to abuse Merfolk Skydiver and merfolk generally, so that looks like quite a different deck with an obviously different manabase.
The other really powerful card I want to abuse is Curious Obsession, but I don't know that you want to recreate Mono-U Tempo.
As it stands, you have some powerful cards, but I fear your deck will be inconsistent, winning when your opponents stumble in their own game plans.
With limited resources, I find it difficult to recommend an investment. Bo1 supposedly rewards linear decks like Mono-R, Mono-W and Control. The deck I think of as having a chance against both in Bo1 is Gruul. Here is the Sally's thread, but there is more discussion on Reddit here.
To be clear, this is not a recommendation as much as a suggestion for your consideration.
Since this is about Arena Bo1, I'll move it there.
I assume you know that Bo1 is considered hostile to midrange because there are usually dead cards that are improved post-board.
The changes seem decent, cutting back on the Commands and Tamiyo, maindecking Brontodon, cutting back on Druids and adding a Vraska.
Just spitballing here. If Mono-R is still bad, I could see getting rid of the last Paradise Druid, cutting back on Threeferi or Tamiyo and maybe adding a Seekers' Squire or a Trostani.
My biggest problem on limited play with the archetype is that some builds just seem to loop Command without doing much else. I've found myself adding action for loop pieces. What's the best action card against Mono-R? Is Chupacabra good? Moment of Craving? Despark? Assassin's Trophy?
Sorry 'bout not having more definitive suggestions, but maybe these ideas will stimulate your thinking. I'd enjoy hearing how it goes for you.
In between the standard and budget decks, there is a link to more standard decks. I recommend you follow that link and pick the deck whose style fits yours most closely. Do look at Boros Feather and Selesnya Tokens, which are not terribly affected by rotation, fit your budget and are quite capable of meeting your performance needs. Tokens, in particular, is poised to be better when Goblin Chainwhirler rotates. I have been enjoying Feather quite a bit myself lately.
In your shoes, I would start testing with Gruul and develop an understanding of which cards match up well against the current meta. Then monitor the Arena meta after the new set is released to see what the latest trends are to tune your deck just before the tournament.
Hoping this helps!
But ...
Chainwhirler is a card that burn runs. And having a big butt to allow Reckless Rage on something other than Feather seems like a decent sized deal. Three toughness 2-drops with upside aren't that common, but you could pre-board with the Tocatli Honor Guards or try Burning Prophet.
You may also not be noticing the matchups where Vanguard is good. For my education, if you try starting Vanguard in the the sideboard in a burn-heavy meta, are there non-burn matchups where you would bring them in?
I finally built my Boros version based on Brian's and took it to Monday Night magic. Unfortunately, the event did not fire. I did practice a little against Mono-R. I did okay playing my creatures a turn late, but if they have too much removal, it's bleak.
Much as I appreciate the post, were it Standard, I would move it to the Mono-R thread. But at 50 cards, it isn't Standard and I need to move it. I will make some suggestions, nonetheless.
To cut to 50 cards:
-2 Mountain
-1 Experimental Frenzy
-2 Shock
-2 Fanatical Firebrand
-2 Wizard's Lightning
-1 Runaway Steamkin
-1 Viashino Pyromancer
Sideboarding Legion Warboss? I would need to see the whole sideboard. Here is an article that may help.
Rekindling Phoenix seems more like a sideboard card than Frenzy, but you have a specialized meta and it could be better for you in the main.
I hope this helps!
This does have some extra rares and mythics, but I can help find substitutes for anyone that is interested.
Here is an export from Arena. If anybody tries importing this, please let me know how it works:
While I have drafted a lot of Ravnica Allegiance, giving me Benthic Biomancers and Breeding Pools, there are decent substitutes. Please ask.
Further, Wizards essentially pays us with in-game currency to play. We get 250 gold for our first win every day and 100 gold for the next three. Every day we get a reasonably achievable quest that pays us 500 to 750 gold. We get three packs a week for having 15 wins. Ranking up to Gold level just requires winning over 1/3 of the time.
How do we farm the system effectively if we want to avoid investing cash? There are at least two paths, depending on whether you prefer limited or constructed. I prefer limited, but I run dry on drafts and want to farm the rewards, so I have built some bad decks that have allowed me to fulfill quests and rank up to Gold level when my bad drafting has me out of other resources.
Budget decks on Arena can start with cards from the starter decks and can be measured by the cost in various wildcards. My own stipulation is that I can use rares that I have opened or drafted, but I don't spend rare or mythic wildcards. I will list mine in subsequent posts. Unfortunately, I haven't kept statistics for these decks, but I can start if there's interest.
Please offer your budget decks as examples or for discussion in this thread. I have provided Merfolk, Zombies and Boros Aggro, but I think there are others, including Mono-R, Mono-B and Orzhov Vampires. I am also sure there are better versions of the decks I have provided.
I like the synergies you are working with with between card draw and proliferation. I am concerned that your game plan may be scattered. Tapping out T3 and T4 seems awkward when you may want to hold up counterspells. Further, with so many tap out elements, I fear you won't have controlling elements when you need them.
So what am I saying? I would say that you might be better off focusing on a simpler game plan.
I could see a control deck that tries to use Jace and a smaller number of Projections and/or Pteramanders as finishers. This deck would use instant speed card draw and really try to avoid tapping out.
I could see a aggressive proliferate deck that tapped out for early threats and protected them. I then find myself wanting to abuse Merfolk Skydiver and merfolk generally, so that looks like quite a different deck with an obviously different manabase.
The other really powerful card I want to abuse is Curious Obsession, but I don't know that you want to recreate Mono-U Tempo.
As it stands, you have some powerful cards, but I fear your deck will be inconsistent, winning when your opponents stumble in their own game plans.
With limited resources, I find it difficult to recommend an investment. Bo1 supposedly rewards linear decks like Mono-R, Mono-W and Control. The deck I think of as having a chance against both in Bo1 is Gruul. Here is the Sally's thread, but there is more discussion on Reddit here.
To be clear, this is not a recommendation as much as a suggestion for your consideration.
Since this is about Arena Bo1, I'll move it there.
The changes seem decent, cutting back on the Commands and Tamiyo, maindecking Brontodon, cutting back on Druids and adding a Vraska.
Just spitballing here. If Mono-R is still bad, I could see getting rid of the last Paradise Druid, cutting back on Threeferi or Tamiyo and maybe adding a Seekers' Squire or a Trostani.
My biggest problem on limited play with the archetype is that some builds just seem to loop Command without doing much else. I've found myself adding action for loop pieces. What's the best action card against Mono-R? Is Chupacabra good? Moment of Craving? Despark? Assassin's Trophy?
Sorry 'bout not having more definitive suggestions, but maybe these ideas will stimulate your thinking. I'd enjoy hearing how it goes for you.