Overall cost - 8 tix. Or 2 tix + 10 phantom tix, so 1 phantom tix is worth 0.6 tix.
I understand the math here but it's even worse than you're making it out to be since phantom tickets can't even be traded - at least the cards/packs you win in a draft can be traded for tix or other cards. Phantom tickets do nothing but enter phantom events and in terms of pure EV they're worthless since you still have to pay 2 tix to enter!
The reality of it is, none of this EV talk matters, MTGO players aren't stupid, when a format with incredibly low EV comes along like this, nobody plays it - remember their first go at replacing 4-pack sealed?
Entreat was strong, but it was only really strong when top-decked with about 7 lands out. The rat is good on the second turn. The angels also had the good taste of winning the next turn, while you either concede or spend a painful 5 turns vs. the rats.
I agree that Rat is better than Entreat but who are you playing against that you need five Angel tokens to win?
stealer of secrets and, especially, cobblebrute <3 traitourous instinct.
^^^ exactly how I use it in Izzet
since Izzet is mostly about punching through short-term damage a card that A) removes a blocker and B) gives you an extra attacker is good - the +2 power really does matter since it makes your opponent feel forced to block it, and it will generally ensure that he has no easy way to do so.
Such an incredible amount of whining in this thread. If players couldn't keep money rares in a draft, the incentive for let's say, "less experienced drafters" (people who don't spend their time on a Magic forum) goes way down. And here we have an OP complaining that fellow drafters didn't pass them cards that were worth $15-20, more than the cost of the draft itself. One of which was a Temple Garden. Which will make your deck what, 1% better? Maybe quitting Magic is the best option.
There are a lot of sweepers in this format - I wouldn't want to get screwed over by Slagstorm or a topdecked Terminus. I like the Dawntreader Elk and Solemn for the deck. I also really like Caravan Vigil, after you sac the Elk. Any good draw mechanisms we can use?
I'm not completely happy maindecking it but will gladly side it in if my opponent has one of the many backbreaking 4+ drops (Druids Familiar, Mist Raven, Seraph, Homicidial Secular, like 20 different bomb rares)
I'm surprised not to see Borderland Ranger in any of these discussions. I've probably first-picked him more than any card so far. A 2/2 body that fixes your mana and smoothes out your draws for 3 mana... and on top of it all, he's part of an extremely relevant tribe.
I've taken Ranger over Forcemage a few times and never regretted it; one draft I got 3 Geist Trappers in pack 1, so the Ranger was instrumental in helping me to 5 mana. Plus, many creatures in this format (or in Limited in general) are 2/2 or so, so he can trade w/ something after too. He's definitely the guy you want in your opening hand.
There are some fun decks you can build, like the UW Mill deck No one ever takes the Walls or Rotcrown Ghouls
If you can pick up 2 Stern Mentors, this is a really neat deck, especially w/ one shot effects like Dreadwaters. The two mill commons are both like 13th-14th pick cards.
The other day I kept an awful, awful 5 card hand and was gifted a dude who put Lightning Prowess on a Stonewright and then used it to kill his own Smuggler, AND the Stonewright itself, then later Bone Splintered his own creature. It reminded me of the old days of Shandalar when the computer players would randomly Giant Growth your creatures.
Hey, you know what? OP was right. Ghostbusters actually is really, really good. Outside of certain rare cards they're ridiculously tough to get around. I see them wheel a lot and they're amazing.
I understand the math here but it's even worse than you're making it out to be since phantom tickets can't even be traded - at least the cards/packs you win in a draft can be traded for tix or other cards. Phantom tickets do nothing but enter phantom events and in terms of pure EV they're worthless since you still have to pay 2 tix to enter!
The reality of it is, none of this EV talk matters, MTGO players aren't stupid, when a format with incredibly low EV comes along like this, nobody plays it - remember their first go at replacing 4-pack sealed?
I agree that Rat is better than Entreat but who are you playing against that you need five Angel tokens to win?
^^^ exactly how I use it in Izzet
since Izzet is mostly about punching through short-term damage a card that A) removes a blocker and B) gives you an extra attacker is good - the +2 power really does matter since it makes your opponent feel forced to block it, and it will generally ensure that he has no easy way to do so.
I've taken Ranger over Forcemage a few times and never regretted it; one draft I got 3 Geist Trappers in pack 1, so the Ranger was instrumental in helping me to 5 mana. Plus, many creatures in this format (or in Limited in general) are 2/2 or so, so he can trade w/ something after too. He's definitely the guy you want in your opening hand.
If you can pick up 2 Stern Mentors, this is a really neat deck, especially w/ one shot effects like Dreadwaters. The two mill commons are both like 13th-14th pick cards.
You just need lots and lots of Defangs