Can someone explain step by step the proper way to download and install updated card databases using MTG Workstation? I always struggle with the commands and what to name sets, etc. Thanks.
Ok, I think that the only reason why that anyone is giving anything thought to Head games is because it is Gerry T's baby card of the month. I have tested Head games in both B/G elves and B/W tokens and I find the card has done nothing for me. Everytime that I resolve that spell I feel that I can give them a lousy hand however I have just increased their chances of drawing into their good stuff.
I would much rather mind Shatter for 3 and have them discard 3 cards with which they may not be able to use again. If I Head games they don't even discard a card, they simply shuffle the cards from their hands into their library and then they have a chance of drawing them again. Same thing with agonizing memories ... you choose their best two cards and put them on top of their library ... what does that accomplish. Unless you are within one turn of winning and only need one turn of disruption then fine but chances are on 4th turn you are still going to need a few more turns which means that they can then draw those cards again.
Yes they maybe drawing the same two cards again however again I would rather Mind Shatter for 2 and have them discard cards. If Head games and Agonizing Memories are serious considerations then I'm going back to 2 Liliana Vess in my board. Discard every turn and then you have a different option to tutor or put every creature into play under your control.
I'm not sold on Head Games and I am no longer including Head Games in my list of potential side board cards. In my opinion the card is bad and Mind Shatter may not get every card in their hand but it could get enough to turn the tide and is in my sideboard.
As for the enchantment removal debate I think that Naturalize is better then Wickerborough Elder because of the instant speed. I like the big body of the Elder but he is too slow.
The nice thing about agonizing is it denies them 2 draws... and if you have better board position this is extremely effective in gaining an early advantage with:
turn one - llanowar/ thoughtseize
turn two - civic/vanquisher/bramblewood, etc.
turn three - agonizing memories + maybe another creature
I agree about head games, it's really not that great, only a surprise sb card... disruption isn't just discard, i really think agonizing memories could make a difference in some games/match-ups, maybe not a MD card...
A few very under-rated rock-type spells are missing from many decklists on this thread. Agonizing Memories and Head Games can have a serious impact vs mid-tempo and control decks. Anyone test the warrior synergy? Maybe toss in a few Obsidian Battle-Axe? I dunno, here's just an Idea:
If you're not into the warriors synergy you can swap out the Paragons from bitterblossom I guess. Just kinda hate that card right now. Has become a staple in soo many standard decks.....
Would Horobi, Death's Wail have any effect against elves! combo pieces? I know it's a 4cc, and definitely not as effective as Leyline, but it comes in handy against faeries too. Just a thought.
I've been tossing around this deck on MWS now for a couple days with HUGE success. It's pretty annoying for everyone involved because it just stalls and stalls, but it does win eventually most of the time. It's a mix of LD and Bounce. Has some fun creatures to keep it going. SB needs work, not really sure what the metagame is since Elves became beastly. Slithermuse is moooooney, usually allows me to draw 5 or 6. Turn one eye of nowhere/boomerang is fun too. Other options are fuminator mage, maybe Blood Moon in SB. I'm not sure, maybe more card drawing or counters, but the LD spells/ Bounce are just the right number as of now. Probably some man-lands would give me more outs in late game. The specter could be fun, but its vulnerable. Shivan Wumpus is great even if they sac a land to bounce it. What do people think??
Like the above poster said, if you combo off you can't lose that turn, so why not thorw in a playset of Summoner's Pact? You say you have problems getting the Swan in hand, so that adds another 4 cards that can become it (may want to run it over the Muddle the Mixture).
Summoner's only searches for green creatures. Swans not green. Good idea though. There's no real tutor for it besides black, which i'd rather not splash for.
I dunno about the dragonauts, haven't really played with them much, but I think they could use a try. I do find sometimes turns 2 and 3 im stalling with no plays often. But I sometimes use the 3 drop for a transmute into Chain.
I've been testing decks surrounding the Swans of Bryn Argoll and Chain of Plasma combo and find that it is surprisingly successful against most decks in the format, including other combo decks. The deck has some serious speed. For those who aren't aware of this combo, you get out Swans and the cast Chain of Plasma Targeting it, which you draw three for, discard one, and repeat until you draw into your kill (my case its Lightning Storm). It's hard though to win without the Swans in your opening hand, but the Chain at least has some fetchers. The sweetest thing is most people don't know what's coming and try and waste their counters on the chain or swans, and then get hit later with a lighting storm of 20, followed by pact of negation. Suggestions would be appreciated, I think some of the counter choices could be tweaked, but the main staples are a must, and muddle is a nice fetch. I've tried the deck with more acceleration, and it helps, but against control decks i'd rather have the added counters. What cha think?
Swan Burgandy?
The nice thing about agonizing is it denies them 2 draws... and if you have better board position this is extremely effective in gaining an early advantage with:
turn one - llanowar/ thoughtseize
turn two - civic/vanquisher/bramblewood, etc.
turn three - agonizing memories + maybe another creature
I agree about head games, it's really not that great, only a surprise sb card... disruption isn't just discard, i really think agonizing memories could make a difference in some games/match-ups, maybe not a MD card...
Creatures
4x Llanowar Elves
4x Wren’s Run Vanquisher
4x Bramblewood Paragon
3x Civic Wayfarer
3x Chameleon Colossus
Spells:
4x Thoughtseize
3x Agonizing Memories
3x Nameless Inversion
3x Profane Command
3x Garruk Wildspeaker
Lands:
4x Gilt-Leaf Palace
4x Llanowar Wastes
4x Twilight Mire
4x Forest
3x Swamp
3x Treetop Village
2x Mutavault
Sideboard:
3x Raking Canopy
3x Infest
2x Mind Shatter
1x Head Games
2x Primal Command
3x Stillmoon Cavalier
If you're not into the warriors synergy you can swap out the Paragons from bitterblossom I guess. Just kinda hate that card right now. Has become a staple in soo many standard decks.....
Lands
3 [TSP] Mountain
4 [TSP] Island
4 [EVE] Cascade Bluffs
4 [GP] Steam Vents
4 [ON] Polluted Delta
4 [10E] Shivan Reef
Creatures
4 [PLC] Shivan Wumpus
4 [MOR] Slithermuse
3 [MOR] Countryside Crusher
Spells
3 [BOK] Crack the Earth
3 [PLC] Boom/Bust
4 [CHK] Eye of Nowhere
4 [MR] Molten Rain
4 [9E] Stone Rain
4 [5E] Boomerang
4 [MR] Chrome Mox
Sideboard
SB: 3 [RAV] Stoneshaker Shaman
SB: 4 [DS] Echoing Truth
Summoner's only searches for green creatures. Swans not green. Good idea though. There's no real tutor for it besides black, which i'd rather not splash for.
I dunno about the dragonauts, haven't really played with them much, but I think they could use a try. I do find sometimes turns 2 and 3 im stalling with no plays often. But I sometimes use the 3 drop for a transmute into Chain.
Any more input???
Swan Burgandy?
// Lands
4 [EVE] Cascade Bluffs
4 [10E] Shivan Reef
4 [GP] Steam Vents
2 [FUT] Tolaria West
6 [10E] Island
4 [ON] Polluted Delta
// Creatures
4 [SHM] Swans of Bryn Argoll
3 [PLC] Simian Spirit Guide
// Spells
4 [ON] Chain of Plasma
2 [CS] Lightning Storm
4 [RAV] Muddle the Mixture
4 [FUT] Pact of Negation
4 [LRW] Ponder
4 [RAV] Remand
4 [CHK] Desperate Ritual
3 [MR] Chrome Mox
// Sideboard
SB: 3 [10E] Hurkyl's Recall
SB: 4 [SC] Stifle
SB: 4 [DIS] Spell Snare
SB: 4 [10E] Pithing Needle