I was thinking about this when slapping a deck together yesterday. When deckbuiding my advice is: stop trying to win. You've got to have some pet magic cards or interactions you like that aren't very good. Whether its some janky creatures that has cool art, or the way to cards fit together that is corny but makes you happy. Find one or some of those, and support them with cards to make them shine. Don't just try to make a good deck that can carry your silly favorites, really make those wierd choices shine.
--A helpful question to ask yourself when cutting cards for building this way might be "Which of these cards is going to make for a more fun game of magic for an observer or for myself" not "Which cut will raise this decks win %". If the deck is fun to shuffle up and durdle around with, it might not bother you what the end result of the game is. You should play that game 100% still; but it's a lot more fun for everyone if your decks are the same level than if your pulling punches. I'd also recomend not worrying if you've janked your decks up to much, it sounds like you will have no problem bringing their power lvls up for the next session (or even next game) if you have no play.
I think the blue deck you mentioned is a perfect goofy thing to fit in. ANd hey, maybe your going to be one of the only people to ever win with the sleaper OP Homarid Spawning Bed.
When deckbuilding I used to pull out several hundred cards then cut around the theme I want. I play it for a while, get bored of them or they don't do what I want and I tear it down. Im not frustrated getting rid of them, I've just learned what I want to, and time to move on to something new. These days though I'm finding it easier to build the deck in cockatrice first, goldfish a little to come up with 100, then pull the cards out. Sometimes though I'll still just pull the core out in paper and start building it slowly still.
I usually buy singles when I need them so its easy for me to find what I want in my storage boxes, and not having the card I want is rarely an obstacle (and if it is, then storing it this way wouldn't change anything). The cards are unsleaved, the time saved is worth less to me then the increased storage. I also play with enough thematic or niche choices that the sleaves wouldn't be comprehensive anyways. When there are sets I have bought a booster box of, all the bulk chaff sits in seperate storage by color. If I had more of that, id put dividers in to seperate sets. My more played cards are in a seperate box that I tend to remember whats in it- but one could file all their cards by set too. Cockatrice would tell me the card set if I forget it.
AS to your last question: I really only buy the decks that have a bunch of cards I want.
Something that stood out when reading all of this is that you build decks for 1v1 a lot. When deckbuilding, maybe you need to practice more active awareness that for every turn you take, your opponents are taking ~3. Playing to out tempo ALL opponents like in 1v1 formats is hard. In my experience, having a lot of lines to just go for a win with some sort of protection or ability to reload is a lot easier.
Also, I think you would really like Grixis storm. It has the same fast mana, loads of cantriping, and dynamic lines that makes storm fun in vintage/legacy formats. It seems to be able to snag lines out of so many top deck ponders when other players have expended hate already. And best of all, it doesnt really need a commander so you can just shove some more draw in that slot.
You could also build decks that thrive on weaker board states. Include low CMC spot answers like counters and permanent removal. Your threats can be earlier game things and a little more draw to get to all these smaller CMC game plans. This will perform better against higher tier decks than a lot of newer player decks. Timmy board states can still overwhelm you but sneaky wierd angle threats can be answered.
Decks built this way can be a lot of fun to play because you always have stuff to do regardless if opponents power lvl.
With these token spell decks I find a little extra reach with my tokens via Haste enablers like anger or fervor can cause my decks to be more effective because my opponents do not get a chance to wrath before I swing.
Similarly Vicious Shadows in place of one of the bigger threat makers might be a bit more deadly. With the size of your tokens Warstorm surge might do similar.
you would think it would not set him back to much at all honestly as a blue storm shell can easily goldfish in the first 3-5 turns without even using a general. about the only drawback of a general that doesn't draw/get cards is when you get unlucky and don't get any hit cards your screwed but when you play a card draw general you can not get enough mana cards and get screwed so its kind of a wash. this list looks like it should be fishing turn 3-6 most games.
Yes it's very difficult when I'm playing against 3 other decks with tons of answers, I don't expect to win there but against 3 competitive decks 25 percent is still favorable and I feel like she has been doing better than that so far.
In 1 v 1 it's pretty much a joke since my mana acceleration and first few turns are often way more faster than opponents.
I was able to dominate voltron decks easily and win through a board of Trinisphere/Tangle wire/Winter orb with the right cards and in the same night I beat out Hokori, Teeg, Thalia on the board with well placed Capsizes and Cyc rifts. Since all your relevant spells are instants you can bounce threats end of turn to net experience counters and give yourself the advantage to go off and you can likely go off fairly easily here.
Why I asked those questions is that it seemed like maybe the general was being leaned on a little more then ideal because of some of the mentioned wins and win cons. Some of the choices seem amazing with her, but kind of slow without so I am curious how the deck preforms without her sticking.
Ive now had a chance to goldfish a little. I am having trouble reaching the speeds I would like to without casting mizzix which suggests to me initially that the deck might benefit from being even less reliant on the commander. It seems to me that the ramp she provides is just incredible even without building around her in the slightest. The deck might benefit from fewer high cmc spells and a few more 0 cmc rocks. Its entirely possible I am playing the cards wrong or trying to power through goldfishes too reckless though.
PS Doomblade:
Were those games the Card Kingdom Meta? Kudos on playing through the hate bears. Since before I joined these boards I have been playing (usually U[rx]) EDH storm decks. My meta keeps it a little more casual though, and I often tone back my decks or remake them to not win so fast. I think it would be fun to get my cards pushed around by that table a bit; and use the experience to refine some storm and prison ideas.
Billbisco, what I was trying to say earlier, and some other posters mentioned, is that there are two quite different schools of thought in black decks. I might be misguided here but this is my take on it:
THe first is a fast combo deck, pretty fragile, trys to win quick with broken draw and combos out with tendrils of agony or some sort of loop. The second is a more pox style deck that slows others down while it try's to tutor up its win usually via drain combos and grinding. Cards that work really well in one style might not be quite as good in the other. Making a list that includes cards for both of these decks might be misleading. Most of the overlap appears to be bonkers draw (quick low cmc one shot effects, and larger necro/ nauseam style), quick mana, and cheap discard to protect your plan.
I would only run fetches in a mono color EDH deck I I had a way to recur them to ensure I hit my land drops (I run a Crucible of Worlds package, so they fit right in).
Personally, I would remove Phyrexian Arena and replace it with Read the Bones. Arena is alright but it takes a whole turn cycle to even replace itself, whereas a one-shot effect can get you ahead of your opponent immediately.
By the way, take another look at Cabal Therapy. People often overlook it because it can miss, but it's essentially a Thoughtseize where you sac a creature rather than pay 2 life and it also functions as a one-off sac outlet, which can be really useful in B decks.
I have a playset of therapies collecting dust, I'll have to give one a try.
I leave Phyrexian Arena out of some of my black decks too.
I'm a big fan of faithless looting. Think it's worth trialing. It's minus one card but let's you dig to what you want. Early game that's pretty valuable. Post wheel when you have extra lands you don't want it's a cheap way to dig to 2 extra cards.
Yah THoughtcast should be based on how many rocks you run probably.
At this point, I just play with friends in dining rooms. I used to play some at Card Kingdom (ballard, not cafe mox) and get most my cards from there as it's five mins down the road. How about you?
I feel like future sight is a lot better here. Adding storm for 1 with top and another infinite with helm of awakening. Also helps with mystical tutor and pretty much gives us x extra cards a turn. I will defiantly be adding future sight in the near future
Just read through your thread. I think these should probably be your next trials if you haven't already, future sight and helm are great by themselves and will when you games together.
Edit: Whoops, your already doing that. Cards that look like they should be on the chopping block to me include Treasonous Ogre, Volcanic Visions, Glen Elendra - They all take so much mana. The only time I used Mizzix was goofing around with the precons, but the proliferate might prove to be un-needed. You shouldn't be relying on Mizzix, and he already zips up to 3-4 counters pretty quick, and is fragile. If you have to cast him a few times, it seems like it will be less benificial to cast him again.
I just noticed no Mana Vault, consider that and Grapeshot. Grapeshot flies under teeg, can clear the board or snipe choice targets for cheep, and potentially be a kill con.
Also, if you ever end up with enough artifacts to use Thirst For Knowledge, possibly add Thoughtcast to your trialboard as well.
--A helpful question to ask yourself when cutting cards for building this way might be "Which of these cards is going to make for a more fun game of magic for an observer or for myself" not "Which cut will raise this decks win %". If the deck is fun to shuffle up and durdle around with, it might not bother you what the end result of the game is. You should play that game 100% still; but it's a lot more fun for everyone if your decks are the same level than if your pulling punches. I'd also recomend not worrying if you've janked your decks up to much, it sounds like you will have no problem bringing their power lvls up for the next session (or even next game) if you have no play.
I think the blue deck you mentioned is a perfect goofy thing to fit in. ANd hey, maybe your going to be one of the only people to ever win with the sleaper OP Homarid Spawning Bed.
I usually buy singles when I need them so its easy for me to find what I want in my storage boxes, and not having the card I want is rarely an obstacle (and if it is, then storing it this way wouldn't change anything). The cards are unsleaved, the time saved is worth less to me then the increased storage. I also play with enough thematic or niche choices that the sleaves wouldn't be comprehensive anyways. When there are sets I have bought a booster box of, all the bulk chaff sits in seperate storage by color. If I had more of that, id put dividers in to seperate sets. My more played cards are in a seperate box that I tend to remember whats in it- but one could file all their cards by set too. Cockatrice would tell me the card set if I forget it.
AS to your last question: I really only buy the decks that have a bunch of cards I want.
Also, I think you would really like Grixis storm. It has the same fast mana, loads of cantriping, and dynamic lines that makes storm fun in vintage/legacy formats. It seems to be able to snag lines out of so many top deck ponders when other players have expended hate already. And best of all, it doesnt really need a commander so you can just shove some more draw in that slot.
Decks built this way can be a lot of fun to play because you always have stuff to do regardless if opponents power lvl.
Similarly Vicious Shadows in place of one of the bigger threat makers might be a bit more deadly. With the size of your tokens Warstorm surge might do similar.
Why I asked those questions is that it seemed like maybe the general was being leaned on a little more then ideal because of some of the mentioned wins and win cons. Some of the choices seem amazing with her, but kind of slow without so I am curious how the deck preforms without her sticking.
Ive now had a chance to goldfish a little. I am having trouble reaching the speeds I would like to without casting mizzix which suggests to me initially that the deck might benefit from being even less reliant on the commander. It seems to me that the ramp she provides is just incredible even without building around her in the slightest. The deck might benefit from fewer high cmc spells and a few more 0 cmc rocks. Its entirely possible I am playing the cards wrong or trying to power through goldfishes too reckless though.
PS Doomblade:
Were those games the Card Kingdom Meta? Kudos on playing through the hate bears. Since before I joined these boards I have been playing (usually U[rx]) EDH storm decks. My meta keeps it a little more casual though, and I often tone back my decks or remake them to not win so fast. I think it would be fun to get my cards pushed around by that table a bit; and use the experience to refine some storm and prison ideas.
Also, when are your kill turns? I'll prob just throw your version into trice tonight and check it out myself.
THe first is a fast combo deck, pretty fragile, trys to win quick with broken draw and combos out with tendrils of agony or some sort of loop. The second is a more pox style deck that slows others down while it try's to tutor up its win usually via drain combos and grinding. Cards that work really well in one style might not be quite as good in the other. Making a list that includes cards for both of these decks might be misleading. Most of the overlap appears to be bonkers draw (quick low cmc one shot effects, and larger necro/ nauseam style), quick mana, and cheap discard to protect your plan.
I have a playset of therapies collecting dust, I'll have to give one a try.
I leave Phyrexian Arena out of some of my black decks too.
I would have way different suggestions for some kind of Ad Nauseam list tehn a mono black control.
Duress and thoughtseize come pretty highly rated by me though, as does imp's mischief in mono black. I would also take out caged sun, gauntlet of power and lens, and put in jet medallion. Dark Confidant is pretty good.
What kind of deck are you making?
I'm a big fan of faithless looting. Think it's worth trialing. It's minus one card but let's you dig to what you want. Early game that's pretty valuable. Post wheel when you have extra lands you don't want it's a cheap way to dig to 2 extra cards.
At this point, I just play with friends in dining rooms. I used to play some at Card Kingdom (ballard, not cafe mox) and get most my cards from there as it's five mins down the road. How about you?
Just read through your thread. I think these should probably be your next trials if you haven't already, future sight and helm are great by themselves and will when you games together.
Edit: Whoops, your already doing that. Cards that look like they should be on the chopping block to me include Treasonous Ogre, Volcanic Visions, Glen Elendra - They all take so much mana. The only time I used Mizzix was goofing around with the precons, but the proliferate might prove to be un-needed. You shouldn't be relying on Mizzix, and he already zips up to 3-4 counters pretty quick, and is fragile. If you have to cast him a few times, it seems like it will be less benificial to cast him again.
I just noticed no Mana Vault, consider that and Grapeshot. Grapeshot flies under teeg, can clear the board or snipe choice targets for cheep, and potentially be a kill con.
Also, if you ever end up with enough artifacts to use Thirst For Knowledge, possibly add Thoughtcast to your trialboard as well.