Why does the Pope kiss the ground when he gets off his plane?
You would too if you had to fly Alitalia.
Did you hear about the starting pitcher who was arrested for urinating in public?
It was his first relief appearance.
Why do Wake Forest cheerleaders have bibs as part of their uniforms?
To absorb the tobacco spit.
Why did Clemson University choose orange as its team color?
So they could play football on Saturday, go hunting on Sunday, and pick up garbage the rest of the week.
Dartmouth: Where men are men and sheep are nervous.
A hamburger and a hot dog walk into a bar. The bartender says, "Sorry, we don't serve food here."
A man is driving on a rural road when he sees a sign outside a farmhouse that says "Free talking dog". Sure enough, there's a golden retriever sitting in the lawn. The man pulls over and walks up to the dog.
"So, you talk?" says the man.
"Yes, I do," says the dog.
"Why don't you tell me a little bit about yourself?"
"Well, at the age of 2 i discovered I could talk and understand human speech. The CIA got wind of this and they hired me to go to the Middle East and spy on terrorist cells. They figured there was no way they'd suspect a dog would know what they were saying. In my time there I helped break up several would-be attacks that were ten times bigger than 9/11. I was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, I retired, got married, had a couple of pups... and here I am today."
"That's amazing!" says the man. He runs up to the farmer and asks, "This dog's life story is amazing, and you're just giving him away?"
The farmer says, "He's a liar, he didn't do any of that."
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Some poems rhyme
But this one doesn't
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Cocaine is white
Marijuana is green
Just curious to see who's going and what they're playing. I might go; if I do I'm playing Living End.. But I also need to find a room to split. D'oh. Anyone else in that predicament?
Mods, if this belongs in the events forum, my bad.
First draft of a deck that can win turn 4 or 5 if it wants to. Servitor is there as backup to Ornithopter for Grinding Station. I'm sure I'm missing a few things, but let me know.
At least one variant of this deck on DeckCheck has Door of Destinies main. Could we make room for that?
EDIT: Notes on playing this deck
1) Someone said earlier in this thread that Flamekin Harbinger is a Vampiric Tutor. It's more than that. It's a Tutor that chumps this guy, this guy, and this guy, among others. Do not attack with him unless you know you have an open door. Plus, chumping with him makes him accessible to Horde of Notions and Reveillark for mid-to-late-game gas.
2) Turn 1 Harbinger/Turn 2 Accelerator/Turn 3 Horde is frequent and a groaner, but if you don't get it, it's not the end of the world. Sometimes a Shriekmaw, Mulldrifter, or Fulminator Mage is just as good. I can tell you that from playtesting experience, if you're on the play against tokens, Fulminator Mage could be better on turn 3 than Horde.
3) With the resurgence of Faeries, Incandescent Soulstoke could be a candidate for this deck's MVP. If they have mana for a counterspell up, they will cry when you Soulstoke in your Cloudthresher and go for 8 to the face.
I think I'm going back to what I first said was my final build, with one tweak. I'm putting Thorn of Amethyst in place of the 1-of Cloudthresher, Shriekmaw, and Mournwhelk.
Quick question, are you sure that thorn of amythest work against cascade? I'm pretty sure it jsut ups the mana cost. Since cascade dodges mana cost payments, would this slow cascade at all?
I have confirmation from a level 3 judge (if you want a name, it's Eric Shukan) that Thorn gets around Cascade. You have to pay 1 for a Cascaded noncreature.
I chose not to use mulldrifters because they slowed me down. 2 Card draw is nothing to scoff at, but there were times when I drew that and just played down other more relevant threats to the opponent. I found that going a bit more aggro went a whole lot better than the drifters.
Also, I believe I've never had a problem casting Makeshift Mannequin. In fact, it was probably one of my most useful cards in the deck.
You're certainly not doing it wrong. Welcome to MTGS.
I think your deck epitomizes what we should come to understand about this archetype: it is highly flexible and can adapt to any metagame. However, Mulldrifter should be an auto four-of simply because of the card draw. I hate decks that run out of gas quickly, and Mulldrifter will keep your tank full.
I like the idea of Thorn of Amethyst and I'll need to try it - but it seems better as sideboard , since there are very few decks in standard it helps against.
I disagree. Something about stalling Tokens, 5CC, Faeries, AND Cascade Swans (just to start) seems pretty appetizing. It makes the Swans matchup even more tasty, because if they tap out for a Cascade spell and flip Seismic Assault, they won't have the 1 to play it.
So here's how I would revise my list: MAIN -2 Incandescent Soulstoke, +2 Thorn of Amethyst SIDE -1 Cloudthresher, -1 Mournwhelk, +1 Incandescent Soulstoke, +1 Thorn of Amethyst
As far as a name for this deck goes, I like Tom Lehrer's Greatest Hits, based on his song "The Elements" (the periodic table sung to Gilbert & Sullivan's "Major-General's Song"). I think this is my final build for the PTQ:
Keep in mind that Mannequin very well may be the most difficult card to cast in this deck. Cutting it could make the mana smoother. Stairc, let me know how the deck works with 3 Tenders and Braiders as opposed to 4.
I've been hearing about this deck. I like it, but I still think you should run Worship, Gilded Light, and/or Orim's Chant maindeck. TEPS is still Top 8-ing.
You would too if you had to fly Alitalia.
Did you hear about the starting pitcher who was arrested for urinating in public?
It was his first relief appearance.
Why do Wake Forest cheerleaders have bibs as part of their uniforms?
To absorb the tobacco spit.
Why did Clemson University choose orange as its team color?
So they could play football on Saturday, go hunting on Sunday, and pick up garbage the rest of the week.
Dartmouth: Where men are men and sheep are nervous.
A hamburger and a hot dog walk into a bar. The bartender says, "Sorry, we don't serve food here."
A man is driving on a rural road when he sees a sign outside a farmhouse that says "Free talking dog". Sure enough, there's a golden retriever sitting in the lawn. The man pulls over and walks up to the dog.
"So, you talk?" says the man.
"Yes, I do," says the dog.
"Why don't you tell me a little bit about yourself?"
"Well, at the age of 2 i discovered I could talk and understand human speech. The CIA got wind of this and they hired me to go to the Middle East and spy on terrorist cells. They figured there was no way they'd suspect a dog would know what they were saying. In my time there I helped break up several would-be attacks that were ten times bigger than 9/11. I was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, I retired, got married, had a couple of pups... and here I am today."
"That's amazing!" says the man. He runs up to the farmer and asks, "This dog's life story is amazing, and you're just giving him away?"
The farmer says, "He's a liar, he didn't do any of that."
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Some poems rhyme
But this one doesn't
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Cocaine is white
Marijuana is green
How many Magic players does it take to change a light bulb?
One to change it and one to tell him how he could have done it two turns earlier.
One to change it and the rest to complain about the change.
One to change it and one to call a judge for clarification.
One to change it and five to complain about the light bulb second market.
Mods, if this belongs in the events forum, my bad.
4 Stinkweed Imp
1 Akroma, Angel of Wrath
1 Flame-Kin Zealot
1 Anathemancer
4 Narcomoeba
2 Fatestitcher
4 Burning Inquiry
4 Tome Scour
4 Glimpse the Unthinkable
4 Ideas Unbound
2 Chrome Mox
4 Bridge from Below
3 Dread Return
2 Darkblast
4 Watery Grave
4 Steam Vents
4 Island
4 Pact of Negation
4 Leyline of the Void
4 Pithing Needle
3 TBD
The TBD should be something akin to Chain of Vapor... Repeal?
3 Myr Servitor
3 Trinket Mage
4 Enduring Renewal
4 Remand
4 Reshape
4 Ponder
3 Condescend
3 Pact of Negation
4 Grinding Station
3 Chrome Mox
4 Ancient Den
4 Hallowed Fountain
9 Island
3 Disenchant
3 Path to Exile
3 Runed Halo
4 Wrath of God
2 Celestial Purge
First draft of a deck that can win turn 4 or 5 if it wants to. Servitor is there as backup to Ornithopter for Grinding Station. I'm sure I'm missing a few things, but let me know.
EDIT: Notes on playing this deck
1) Someone said earlier in this thread that Flamekin Harbinger is a Vampiric Tutor. It's more than that. It's a Tutor that chumps this guy, this guy, and this guy, among others. Do not attack with him unless you know you have an open door. Plus, chumping with him makes him accessible to Horde of Notions and Reveillark for mid-to-late-game gas.
2) Turn 1 Harbinger/Turn 2 Accelerator/Turn 3 Horde is frequent and a groaner, but if you don't get it, it's not the end of the world. Sometimes a Shriekmaw, Mulldrifter, or Fulminator Mage is just as good. I can tell you that from playtesting experience, if you're on the play against tokens, Fulminator Mage could be better on turn 3 than Horde.
3) With the resurgence of Faeries, Incandescent Soulstoke could be a candidate for this deck's MVP. If they have mana for a counterspell up, they will cry when you Soulstoke in your Cloudthresher and go for 8 to the face.
4 Primal Beyond
4 Reflecting Pool
3 Exotic Orchard
3 Ancient Ziggurat
4 Mountain
2 Plains
2 Swamp
2 Forest
Creatures
4 Flamekin Harbinger
4 Smokebraider
4 Bloom Tender
4 Horde of Notions
4 Incandescent Soulstoke
4 Mulldrifter
2 Mournwhelk
2 Shriekmaw
2 Cloudthresher
3 Fulminator Mage
2 Reveillark
1 Crib Swap
3 Thorn of Amethyst
3 Everlasting Torment
2 Ingot Chewer
2 Faultgrinder
2 Wispmare
3 Eyes of the Wisent
I have confirmation from a level 3 judge (if you want a name, it's Eric Shukan) that Thorn gets around Cascade. You have to pay 1 for a Cascaded noncreature.
You're certainly not doing it wrong. Welcome to MTGS.
I think your deck epitomizes what we should come to understand about this archetype: it is highly flexible and can adapt to any metagame. However, Mulldrifter should be an auto four-of simply because of the card draw. I hate decks that run out of gas quickly, and Mulldrifter will keep your tank full.
4 Reflecting Pool
3 Exotic Orchard
3 Ancient Ziggurat
4 Mountain
2 Plains
2 Forest
2 Swamp
4 Flamekin Harbinger
4 Smokebraider
4 Bloom Tender
4 Mulldrifter
4 Horde of Notions
2 Fulminator Mage
2 Incandescent Soulstoke
2 Reveillark
2 Mournwhelk
2 Cloudthresher
2 Shriekmaw
1 Crib Swap
1 Incandescent Soulstoke
1 Shriekmaw
1 Cloudthresher
1 Mournwhelk
2 Faultgrinder
2 Wispmare
2 Ingot Chewer
2 Eyes of the Wisent
3 Everlasting Torment
Here's my sideboard plan against the major archetypes:
Against Faeries
+1 Cloudthresher, +2 Wispmare, +1 Incandescent Soulstoke, +1 Mournwhelk, + 2 Eyes of the Wisent; -2 Shriekmaw, -2 Reveillark, -2 Fulminator Mage, -1 Thorn of Amethyst
Against 5CC
+2 Faultgrinder, +1 Mournwhelk, +1 Incandescent Soulstoke; -2 Shriekmaw, -2 Cloudthresher
Against Tokens
+1 Cloudthresher, +1 Shriekmaw, +2 Faultgrinder, +2 Wispmare, -2 Incandescent Soulstoke, -2 Mournwhelk
Against Swans
+1 Shriekmaw, +1 Mournwhelk, +2 Faultgrinder, +3 Everlasting Torment; -2 Cloudthresher, -2 Reveillark, -2 Incandescent Soulstoke, -1 Thorn of Amethyst
I disagree. Something about stalling Tokens, 5CC, Faeries, AND Cascade Swans (just to start) seems pretty appetizing. It makes the Swans matchup even more tasty, because if they tap out for a Cascade spell and flip Seismic Assault, they won't have the 1 to play it.
So here's how I would revise my list:
MAIN -2 Incandescent Soulstoke, +2 Thorn of Amethyst
SIDE -1 Cloudthresher, -1 Mournwhelk, +1 Incandescent Soulstoke, +1 Thorn of Amethyst
4 Primal Beyond
4 Reflecting Pool
3 Exotic Orchard
3 Ancient Ziggurat
4 Mountain
2 Plains
2 Swamp
2 Forest
Creatures
4 Flamekin Harbinger
4 Smokebraider
4 Bloom Tender
4 Horde of Notions
4 Incandescent Soulstoke
4 Mulldrifter
2 Mournwhelk
2 Shriekmaw
2 Cloudthresher
3 Fulminator Mage
2 Reveillark
1 Crib Swap
1 Shriekmaw
1 Cloudthresher
1 Mournwhelk
3 Everlasting Torment
2 Ingot Chewer
2 Faultgrinder
2 Wispmare
3 Eyes of the Wisent
Verdict?