Could you tell me what happened with rankings recently? I am again at Bronze 4. I haven't played for last two weeks, so you have to contiously play or you drop in rank?
Not that it is that important for me, I mainly play unranked, but last time it took me two months just to get into silver 4...
Another question, is it possible to play more "flavored" game in Arena? For example only decks for specific Ravnica guild, or only Merfolk deck from Ixalan expansion.
I just don't get it when I see Dimir cards in Izzet deck, let alone non Ravnica cards in Gruul deck (Llanowar Elves or Carnage Tyrant)...
...you can block with the skeleton, THEN sacrifice it to the Harpy. The skeleton will die but the creature it is blocking won't do damage to you, as it is considered blocked.
Wow, I didn't know this. So the combat tricks can be even nastier...
I suppose that if I sacrifice it to the Harpy, it will also have the +1/+1 counter before, so it will damage the attacking creature more.
...
Tip: try to keep at least and 2 other mana open. When you chump block with the skeleton, sacrifice the skeleton to Harpy, then at the end of your opponents turn, before it's your turn, spend to put the skeleton back into play.
I don't understand. If I block with skeleton, it will be killed by attacking creature, or won't it?
And if I sacrifice it, the attacking creature will be free to deal damage.
And I already know I can return the skeleton to play on my opponent's turn, but again, I found it out the "hard way", from my opponents
My win ratio is 15-20% at best (with Izzet and Golgari planeswalker decks). With preconstructed decks it's worse. During weekend I played ca 15 games with WB Eternal Thirst and won only one of them.
But the problem will definitely be me, because yesterday I was really shocked when I played against BR deck. They used Act of Treason to steal my Niv-Mizzet, Parun, attack with it, and then they just destroyed it with Ravenous Harpy.
I played with the same BR deck several times before, used Act of Treason for stealing, and thought I was smart when I was repeatedly sacrificing Reassembling Skeleton into Ravenous Harpy, but I would never come up with something that nasty...
Thanks to all, apparently it really is quite competitive, I just thought in common play (not competitive constructed or ranked) there will be less pressure and more "noobs" like me.
About decks, well, I am using preconstructed decks, mainly WB vampires, RG beasts, I didn't change those much, except for some cards I cracked from packs (Elenda, the Dusk Rose for WB vampires or Hallar, the Firefletcher for RG beasts).
Yesterday I tried constructed with WB vampires. I even managed to win once, and as a reward a got Sarkhan, Fireblood - I will try to use him in the red preconstructed deck.
But mostly I am using the two planeswalker decks (and I plan to buy the Dovin and Domri ones too). I modified those a bit more (at least I have quite a luck when cracking packs) so there are the decklists:
The Izzet deck is definitely my favourite. The win I have with it last week was really epic. It was against Black green, the game was quite long, and at the end I win with four copies of Wee Dragonauts buffed by normal and jump-started Chemister's Insight, and subsequently drawn Shock and Risk Factor. It was worth the whole week waiting.
I'm long interested in Magic, but I've never really play, until two months ago, when I tried Arena.
The tutorial was quite useful, but right after that it started being terribly difficult. But finally I got all 10 two color decks so I can play with them and I am slowly upgrading them from boosters I buy.
I also bought real planeswalker decks (Ral's and Vraska's), and brought their decks into Arena, but even with them I am not able to win much. And I made some improvements - got rid of Fearless Halberdier, add more Wee Dragonauts, switch Precision Bolts for Lightning Strike and so on. I even have Izzet and Golgari dual lands from packs.
I am definitely not a great player, but as I am losing nearly every game I play, I am just hopeless now. Maybe I really am that terrible, but if it's the case I do not know where to begin to improve.
I tried draft several times, but I must admit I have no knowledge of drafting, so it was always 0 wins for me.
I then choose to play common games, not ranked, I think there are playing those who do not want to hoard gold or rank. But regardless of the deck, I am nearly always paired with an opponent who has answer for everything I have.
When I play white/black vampire deck, opponent has either the same, but faster, or they counter everything I have and then play Tempest Djinn or something which I am not able to get rid of easily.
When I tried red burn deck, opponent starts with Ajani's presence or something and after several turns they are at 40 life, or always use Conclave Tribunal for my Rekindling Phoenix.
When I tried some blue counters, they always have Carnage Tyrant (which I, sadly, still never drawn since when I am playing red green deck)
Last week I wasn't able to win any of the three bonus Ravnica packs - I win only four games during the whole week.
Also it boggles me that the opponent begin the game way more ofter than I. And this is not only an impression:
Monday - 12 games WB deck, 1 win, opponent starts 8 times.
Tuesday - 10 games mono U, 0 wins, opponent starts 7 times.
Wednesday - 11 games RG decks, 1 win, opponent starts 9 times.
Thursday - 12 games BR deck, 0 wins, opponent starts 7 times.
Friday - 10 games with Ral planeswalker deck, 1 win, opponent starts 8 times.
Saturday - 11 games with Vraska planeswalker deck, 1 win, opponent starts 7 times.
Of course every day there are games when I have terrible hand, and I am trying to learn how to mulligan, but the majority of games are just that I have quite good hand (at least I think), but opponent is just better.
Sorry for rant, I just do not know what to do now. But at least I am able to win daily rewards, because they are for playing, not winning
Could you tell me what happened with rankings recently? I am again at Bronze 4. I haven't played for last two weeks, so you have to contiously play or you drop in rank?
Not that it is that important for me, I mainly play unranked, but last time it took me two months just to get into silver 4...
Another question, is it possible to play more "flavored" game in Arena? For example only decks for specific Ravnica guild, or only Merfolk deck from Ixalan expansion.
I just don't get it when I see Dimir cards in Izzet deck, let alone non Ravnica cards in Gruul deck (Llanowar Elves or Carnage Tyrant)...
Wow, I didn't know this. So the combat tricks can be even nastier...
I suppose that if I sacrifice it to the Harpy, it will also have the +1/+1 counter before, so it will damage the attacking creature more.
I don't understand. If I block with skeleton, it will be killed by attacking creature, or won't it?
And if I sacrifice it, the attacking creature will be free to deal damage.
And I already know I can return the skeleton to play on my opponent's turn, but again, I found it out the "hard way", from my opponents
My win ratio is 15-20% at best (with Izzet and Golgari planeswalker decks). With preconstructed decks it's worse. During weekend I played ca 15 games with WB Eternal Thirst and won only one of them.
But the problem will definitely be me, because yesterday I was really shocked when I played against BR deck. They used Act of Treason to steal my Niv-Mizzet, Parun, attack with it, and then they just destroyed it with Ravenous Harpy.
I played with the same BR deck several times before, used Act of Treason for stealing, and thought I was smart when I was repeatedly sacrificing Reassembling Skeleton into Ravenous Harpy, but I would never come up with something that nasty...
About decks, well, I am using preconstructed decks, mainly WB vampires, RG beasts, I didn't change those much, except for some cards I cracked from packs (Elenda, the Dusk Rose for WB vampires or Hallar, the Firefletcher for RG beasts).
Yesterday I tried constructed with WB vampires. I even managed to win once, and as a reward a got Sarkhan, Fireblood
But mostly I am using the two planeswalker decks (and I plan to buy the Dovin and Domri ones too). I modified those a bit more (at least I have quite a luck when cracking packs) so there are the decklists:
1 Ral, Caller of Storms
1 Erratic Cyclops
2 Hellkite Whelp
2 Goblin Electromancer
3 Ral's Staticaster
4 Wee Dragonauts
2 Crackling Drake
1 Niv-Mizzet, Parun
2 Chemister's Insight
2 Command the Storm
2 Shock
2 Sonic Assault
1 Firemind's Research
1 Quasiduplicate
3 Risk Factor
4 Lightning Strike
2 Steam Vents
10 Mountain
9 Island
1 Vraska, Regal Gorgon
1 Vraska, Golgari Queen
1 Beast Whisperer
3 Kraul Raider
1 Lotleth Giant
2 Spinal Centipede
2 Ironshell Beetle
3 Attendant of Vraska
1 Rhizome Lurcher
1 Swarm Guildmage
3 Grappling Sundew
2 Vraska's Stoneglare
3 Dead Weight
3 Prey Upon
1 Vicious Rumors
2 Undercity Uprising
2 Assassin's Trophy
1 Status // Statue
4 Overgrown Tomb
8 Swamp
8 Forest
1 Guildmages' Forum
The Izzet deck is definitely my favourite. The win I have with it last week was really epic. It was against Black green, the game was quite long, and at the end I win with four copies of Wee Dragonauts buffed by normal and jump-started Chemister's Insight, and subsequently drawn Shock and Risk Factor. It was worth the whole week waiting.
I'm long interested in Magic, but I've never really play, until two months ago, when I tried Arena.
The tutorial was quite useful, but right after that it started being terribly difficult. But finally I got all 10 two color decks so I can play with them and I am slowly upgrading them from boosters I buy.
I also bought real planeswalker decks (Ral's and Vraska's), and brought their decks into Arena, but even with them I am not able to win much. And I made some improvements - got rid of Fearless Halberdier, add more Wee Dragonauts, switch Precision Bolts for Lightning Strike and so on. I even have Izzet and Golgari dual lands from packs.
I am definitely not a great player, but as I am losing nearly every game I play, I am just hopeless now. Maybe I really am that terrible, but if it's the case I do not know where to begin to improve.
I tried draft several times, but I must admit I have no knowledge of drafting, so it was always 0 wins for me.
I then choose to play common games, not ranked, I think there are playing those who do not want to hoard gold or rank. But regardless of the deck, I am nearly always paired with an opponent who has answer for everything I have.
When I play white/black vampire deck, opponent has either the same, but faster, or they counter everything I have and then play Tempest Djinn or something which I am not able to get rid of easily.
When I tried red burn deck, opponent starts with Ajani's presence or something and after several turns they are at 40 life, or always use Conclave Tribunal for my Rekindling Phoenix.
When I tried some blue counters, they always have Carnage Tyrant (which I, sadly, still never drawn since when I am playing red green deck)
Last week I wasn't able to win any of the three bonus Ravnica packs - I win only four games during the whole week.
Also it boggles me that the opponent begin the game way more ofter than I. And this is not only an impression:
Monday - 12 games WB deck, 1 win, opponent starts 8 times.
Tuesday - 10 games mono U, 0 wins, opponent starts 7 times.
Wednesday - 11 games RG decks, 1 win, opponent starts 9 times.
Thursday - 12 games BR deck, 0 wins, opponent starts 7 times.
Friday - 10 games with Ral planeswalker deck, 1 win, opponent starts 8 times.
Saturday - 11 games with Vraska planeswalker deck, 1 win, opponent starts 7 times.
Of course every day there are games when I have terrible hand, and I am trying to learn how to mulligan, but the majority of games are just that I have quite good hand (at least I think), but opponent is just better.
Sorry for rant, I just do not know what to do now. But at least I am able to win daily rewards, because they are for playing, not winning