Today I went to one of the stores that I went to last week. They had had only 7, but I was curious about how much of that was due to the holiday weekend and some confusing publicity. Today that had 14. Each time about half of participants that had not been regular standard participants. I brought a friend that had never played standard competitively before. We both thought it was fun, and it seemed like a qualified success.
As I consider this promotion, I wonder whether is is somewhat greedy and self-defeating to be promoting Saturday events. Would it be better to let stores add the packs to the prize pools of their regular tournaments? The store I went to has Saturday evening Modern tournaments, so they scheduled the tournament for 1PM. Very few stores have Standard tournaments on Saturday. This promotion seems unlikely to establish a regular Saturday tournament, so the store will probably just go back to the previous schedule after the promotion ends. If the store could use the promotion to build attendance at the regular Monday Standard tournaments, it seems like that would do more for standard than a short series of oddball tournaments.
I disagree this setup opened my lgs to have more standard Saturday events, as most people couldn't make a weekday tournament. They sometimes barely get four during the week, but have consistently been getting 8+.I have been two, went 2-2 and 4-0, everyone gets a pack and the winner gets a second pack and sc is distributed(depending on how many players) I really hope this continues. For the record my packs have pulled me 3 hits shambling Vent,insidious will foil, and full art plains.
I think my shop is a minority, but nonetheless a big success. Now Wizards give us back the rewards program!
Aethertorch Renegade seems like a pretty fun brew with Panharmonicon and energy? I'm trying to build a list, but it's hard to figure out supporting colors, green seems like a fit but black/blue can also do a lot.
I'm thinking a skysoverin or two would fit right in. It comes in and hits a PW for 6 with a PH and if I had a RM/familar laying around they can crew up. ANother card I'm looking at is Woodland Wonderer, one PH makes it a 10/10 vigilance, trample machine for 4 mana seems fun. Also GOnti got one in draft and feel he can just be backbreaking.
How so? Wanderer ability is a ETB trigger. What am I missing?
Compare Woodland Wanderer's ability to cards like Clone or Phyrexian Revoker. Clone enters the battlefield as the other creature. If it were a triggered ability, Clone would be a 0/0 with the ability on the stack and die due to state-based actions. Revoker is another great example. Let's say it comes into the battlefield and you name Sinister Concoction. If it were a triggered ETB ability, it would go on the stack. Then your opponent could activate Sinister Concoction in response and kill the Revoker. But that's not how Revoker works. The named card cannot activate an ability as soon as Revoker ETBs, because it happens concurrent with it entering the battlefield. There's no trigger, no ability that goes on the stack. Woodland Wanderer is the same way. He ETBs with the counters, as opposed to waiting for a triggered ability to resolve. This can be directly compared to a card like Angel of Invention, whose Fabricate mechanic is a triggered ability that allows you to put counters on it. It ETBs as a 2/1, the triggered ability goes on the stack, and once resolved (assuming you chose counters), it becomes a 4/3. Panharmonicon will cause this to trigger an additional time.
While Wanderer doesn't get the bonus, Bristling Hydra does! A trampler that gets double hexproof options is a great adjunct to Verdurous Gearhulk.
Yeah I was thinking Hydra would be good for control matches, or that Sphinx of the Final Ward? I think I might try them out in the sb for standard showdown next week.
I'm thinking a skysoverin or two would fit right in. It comes in and hits a PW for 6 with a PH and if I had a RM/familar laying around they can crew up. ANother card I'm looking at is Woodland Wonderer, one PH makes it a 10/10 vigilance, trample machine for 4 mana seems fun. Also GOnti got one in draft and feel he can just be backbreaking.
How so? Wanderer ability is a ETB trigger. What am I missing?
True Mage/Familiar do not crew by themselves, but when playing a control deck I think it can help the deck close faster. It's more/less just for killing a PW, and Blue Gearhulk won't be able to flash in to stop it.
not trying to sound like a jerk or anything, but colorless is indeed NOT a color. so prism, settlement, servant, etc can't make colorless mana. however one of the cards you mentioned, aether hub can. that's because it has T: add C and pay 1 E T: add any color
Holdout Settlement can create colorless mana, it has two abilities, one to create colorless and the tap ability.
I've tried Olive's original deck list but I made a mistake in thinking I would be playing a lot of control decks, so instead of Harnessed Lightning, I had fury visions which didn't do anything but sit in the sb. I lost once to R/W Vehicles, Always Watching was brutal it made there key piece hanweir battlements to big to kill, until I could get a gearhulk, and never hit one, or stomper cards that could have really helped me turn the corner. Game two I turned the corner, but couldn't get to Chandra and she ult'd. Funny enough if he took one more turn, I prob live enough to kill him, with that in mind I'm thinking a skysoverin or two would fit right in. It comes in and hits a PW for 6 with a PH and if I had a RM/familar laying around they can crew up. ANother card I'm looking at is Woodland Wonderer, one PH makes it a 10/10 vigilance, trample machine for 4 mana seems fun. Also GOnti got one in draft and feel he can just be backbreaking.
I think your analysis is spot on, go with TKS. Consistent, and only increases in value as the game goes on.
Another card for consideration is harsh scrutiny.
The only thing about tks is his weakness to spell queller, which is kind of a big deal in that match so I'm not sure I really want him to be correct though.
I did consider scrutiny but it doesn't get their actual counters.
maybe get TKS out a turn earlier with Eldritch Evolution and sacing mana bear?
This is great on the play if you draw a dork, but if they Queller EE, it's effectively a 3 for 1 since you don't get EE back without sacing something else. It's worth testing but my suspicion is it's too narrow.
I think your analysis is spot on, go with TKS. Consistent, and only increases in value as the game goes on.
Another card for consideration is harsh scrutiny.
The only thing about tks is his weakness to spell queller, which is kind of a big deal in that match so I'm not sure I really want him to be correct though.
I did consider scrutiny but it doesn't get their actual counters.
maybe get TKS out a turn earlier with Eldritch Evolution and sacing mana bear?
This is great on the play if you draw a dork, but if they Queller EE, it's effectively a 3 for 1 since you don't get EE back without sacing something else. It's worth testing but my suspicion is it's too narrow.
I think evolution is very good for this deck, but you're right that this matchup it could lead to huge swings. Maybe running more Noxious gearhulks to zap quellers and get your stuff back?
I think your analysis is spot on, go with TKS. Consistent, and only increases in value as the game goes on.
Another card for consideration is harsh scrutiny.
The only thing about tks is his weakness to spell queller, which is kind of a big deal in that match so I'm not sure I really want him to be correct though.
I did consider scrutiny but it doesn't get their actual counters.
maybe get TKS out a turn earlier with Eldritch Evolution and sacing mana bear?
I've been running Vamps and Madness for over a season, and have been straight killing it this season compared to last, thanks to Unlicensed disintegration, smugglar's copter(who knew? lol), Skysovereign. These cards are pure syngery for Vamps/Maddness.
My philosophy: Stay low on the curve and explode early with haste and if they have answers, exile that crap.
Opinions:
Drop Alms, gain three/drain 3 isn't fast enough.
Furyblade is bad, Sure one or two times you get to slap someone for 4 on t3 and toss a card to deal 3 more, but she dies to galvanic, and there's a lot of creatures running around with first strike, I found Stormkirk Condemned to be a much better choice, but I do run a lot more creatures then you.
I never liked neonate, but i decided to cut him before the new season(no copter). I like Cryptbreaker and gorger more, as Crpyt is a madness outlet/zombie maker and Gorger makes all your vamps have madness.
Stormkirk Condemned- Is an all-star if you are looking to run a lot of creatures;
Heir- I love her but she's my weakest card at this point, she just flat out dies and I rather have scrapheap. I have one in the SB if I play someone I want to jsut overrun with creatures.
Incorrigible youths- Brutal. Stromkirk makes him a 5/4 btw....4/3 with haste for 3 is for me. If the opp doesn't have an answer usually game over.
Oliva is the Queen of Madness Creatures coming in with a 1/1 and haste, all to just pitch a card and prob burn something? Yeah okay. Bring back a scrapheap making it a 4/3 haste and a VAMPIRE so it can be pumped by stromkirk? thank youuuuuu WIZARDS.
Drana can be underwhelming or amazing no inbetweens, she has to survive a turn, which 7/10 times she won't.(unless you got Oliva out, then it's just a beautiful combo)
Flywheel vehicle is amazing, it just flys in and smashes someone for 5 on t4. Oh you want to block it next turn? Okay great! Disintend mindbender it is!
Skysovereign Is mah baby, it can just win games with any dumbo you got on the board. Scrapheap being the best dumbo for this.
Scrapheap is king of Madness, as the opposition doesn't want to kill it, but then it crews the star destroyer(Skysovereign) and they feel really bad for not killing it, oh and it can come back at any time to be thrown in front of whatever ground creature you want. BUT if you are not running a lot of creatures (like 20 or up) he can just be sitting in your GY. Is it a he? maybe I should say it? Can he be a king then? Well whatever Oliva and it are beautiful together.
Key to the city is the card Vamps needed, discard/pay 2 for card draw late(turn 5+) makes sure mid-range can't breathe and can allow us to keep a slower hand. That said I would drop one from the MB.
Mana- I run 22 as well more swap as I have more BB, and has been consistent.
My local meta has a lot of Mid-range/control so I have the following in the MB but you might just want them in SB.
Transgress the mind...IT would be a shame if I took your: Aether reservoir/Aetherworks/Gearhulks/boardwipe/Planeswalker etc. I See you have 2 in SB, I would go to 3 or even 4, depending on the meta.
Distended Mindbender: It would be a shame id I took your:^ and a removal or lower creature and leave me with a 5/5. I would also love to sure this on a artifact so I have a big body that doesn't need something to be tapped to let it hit.
I honestly never even considered collective defiance, I mean 5 mana and that thing rips, but I rather have Skysovereign for 5.
Bloodhall priest: 4/4 for 3 (madness), that can ping if don't have a hand is perfectly fine with me. It's a shame it doesn't say tap Bloodhall priest ping 2 damage, her and skysovereign would be swwwweeeet.
Ruinous path is solid, but the PWs that people play can be killed by are other removal/creatures.(did I mention the star destroyer can ping a PW for 3 on entry/attacking)
Lighting Axe: I love to hate you, there's times I'm so happy to have one, but most the time i rather just use a different outlet for maddness.
Some things I'm considering:
4x Aether Hubs (because honestly what deck doesn't use them these days.lol)
Thought Knot Seer: Lemme go ahead and take that thing in your hand?
Reality Smasher: a 5/5 for 5 haste seems good for my deck, oh if they try and remove it they gotta discard yes please. I can see this card smashing a lot of peoples reality....lol
Anyways good luck on to you sir, and Praise be Lord of Riots!
I disagree this setup opened my lgs to have more standard Saturday events, as most people couldn't make a weekday tournament. They sometimes barely get four during the week, but have consistently been getting 8+.I have been two, went 2-2 and 4-0, everyone gets a pack and the winner gets a second pack and sc is distributed(depending on how many players) I really hope this continues. For the record my packs have pulled me 3 hits shambling Vent,insidious will foil, and full art plains.
I think my shop is a minority, but nonetheless a big success. Now Wizards give us back the rewards program!
Aethertorch Renegade seems like a pretty fun brew with Panharmonicon and energy? I'm trying to build a list, but it's hard to figure out supporting colors, green seems like a fit but black/blue can also do a lot.
Maybe other vehicles in this set will have different ways to crew?
Yeah I was thinking Hydra would be good for control matches, or that Sphinx of the Final Ward? I think I might try them out in the sb for standard showdown next week.
How so? Wanderer ability is a ETB trigger. What am I missing?
True Mage/Familiar do not crew by themselves, but when playing a control deck I think it can help the deck close faster. It's more/less just for killing a PW, and Blue Gearhulk won't be able to flash in to stop it.
Holdout Settlement can create colorless mana, it has two abilities, one to create colorless and the tap ability.
I've tried Olive's original deck list but I made a mistake in thinking I would be playing a lot of control decks, so instead of Harnessed Lightning, I had fury visions which didn't do anything but sit in the sb. I lost once to R/W Vehicles, Always Watching was brutal it made there key piece hanweir battlements to big to kill, until I could get a gearhulk, and never hit one, or stomper cards that could have really helped me turn the corner. Game two I turned the corner, but couldn't get to Chandra and she ult'd. Funny enough if he took one more turn, I prob live enough to kill him, with that in mind I'm thinking a skysoverin or two would fit right in. It comes in and hits a PW for 6 with a PH and if I had a RM/familar laying around they can crew up. ANother card I'm looking at is Woodland Wonderer, one PH makes it a 10/10 vigilance, trample machine for 4 mana seems fun. Also GOnti got one in draft and feel he can just be backbreaking.
I think evolution is very good for this deck, but you're right that this matchup it could lead to huge swings. Maybe running more Noxious gearhulks to zap quellers and get your stuff back?
maybe get TKS out a turn earlier with Eldritch Evolution and sacing mana bear?
Another card for consideration is harsh scrutiny.
My philosophy: Stay low on the curve and explode early with haste and if they have answers, exile that crap.
Opinions:
Drop Alms, gain three/drain 3 isn't fast enough.
Furyblade is bad, Sure one or two times you get to slap someone for 4 on t3 and toss a card to deal 3 more, but she dies to galvanic, and there's a lot of creatures running around with first strike, I found Stormkirk Condemned to be a much better choice, but I do run a lot more creatures then you.
I never liked neonate, but i decided to cut him before the new season(no copter). I like Cryptbreaker and gorger more, as Crpyt is a madness outlet/zombie maker and Gorger makes all your vamps have madness.
Stormkirk Condemned- Is an all-star if you are looking to run a lot of creatures;
Heir- I love her but she's my weakest card at this point, she just flat out dies and I rather have scrapheap. I have one in the SB if I play someone I want to jsut overrun with creatures.
Incorrigible youths- Brutal. Stromkirk makes him a 5/4 btw....4/3 with haste for 3 is for me. If the opp doesn't have an answer usually game over.
Oliva is the Queen of Madness Creatures coming in with a 1/1 and haste, all to just pitch a card and prob burn something? Yeah okay. Bring back a scrapheap making it a 4/3 haste and a VAMPIRE so it can be pumped by stromkirk? thank youuuuuu WIZARDS.
Drana can be underwhelming or amazing no inbetweens, she has to survive a turn, which 7/10 times she won't.(unless you got Oliva out, then it's just a beautiful combo)
Flywheel vehicle is amazing, it just flys in and smashes someone for 5 on t4. Oh you want to block it next turn? Okay great! Disintend mindbender it is!
Skysovereign Is mah baby, it can just win games with any dumbo you got on the board. Scrapheap being the best dumbo for this.
Scrapheap is king of Madness, as the opposition doesn't want to kill it, but then it crews the star destroyer(Skysovereign) and they feel really bad for not killing it, oh and it can come back at any time to be thrown in front of whatever ground creature you want. BUT if you are not running a lot of creatures (like 20 or up) he can just be sitting in your GY. Is it a he? maybe I should say it? Can he be a king then? Well whatever Oliva and it are beautiful together.
Key to the city is the card Vamps needed, discard/pay 2 for card draw late(turn 5+) makes sure mid-range can't breathe and can allow us to keep a slower hand. That said I would drop one from the MB.
Mana- I run 22 as well more swap as I have more BB, and has been consistent.
My local meta has a lot of Mid-range/control so I have the following in the MB but you might just want them in SB.
Transgress the mind...IT would be a shame if I took your: Aether reservoir/Aetherworks/Gearhulks/boardwipe/Planeswalker etc. I See you have 2 in SB, I would go to 3 or even 4, depending on the meta.
Distended Mindbender: It would be a shame id I took your:^ and a removal or lower creature and leave me with a 5/5. I would also love to sure this on a artifact so I have a big body that doesn't need something to be tapped to let it hit.
I honestly never even considered collective defiance, I mean 5 mana and that thing rips, but I rather have Skysovereign for 5.
Bloodhall priest: 4/4 for 3 (madness), that can ping if don't have a hand is perfectly fine with me. It's a shame it doesn't say tap Bloodhall priest ping 2 damage, her and skysovereign would be swwwweeeet.
Ruinous path is solid, but the PWs that people play can be killed by are other removal/creatures.(did I mention the star destroyer can ping a PW for 3 on entry/attacking)
Lighting Axe: I love to hate you, there's times I'm so happy to have one, but most the time i rather just use a different outlet for maddness.
Some things I'm considering:
4x Aether Hubs (because honestly what deck doesn't use them these days.lol)
Thought Knot Seer: Lemme go ahead and take that thing in your hand?
Reality Smasher: a 5/5 for 5 haste seems good for my deck, oh if they try and remove it they gotta discard yes please. I can see this card smashing a lot of peoples reality....lol
Anyways good luck on to you sir, and Praise be Lord of Riots!
Archangel avycn?
Blessed alliance?
I thought of a hatebears deck, I wish hermit of the natterknolls was black/white that card and kambal would be fun.