...I'm having trouble finding a vaguely reasonable replacement anywhere. Assembling SCG/TCG events, PTQs, GPs, prereleases, etc. all in one calendar must clearly not be impossible to replicate, am I missing a good site?
There are a couple points in this theory's corner; perhaps this is going to be how they continue to emphasize the sequel aspect of this block, along with a reprint of Cranial Extraction and the new, traitorous incarnation of Glissa as prominent promos.
Also interesting is that Extirpate and Cranial Extraction both left the Extended format last rotation. Perhaps Wizards has appreciated those effects at those costs in that format and decided to ensure that they weren't gone from it long.
This is certainly nowhere near definitive information, but no such thing is so far widely available. All there is for it is to present possible rationales, no matter if they seem likely coincidental or not.
I've found that every deck I draft wants to make early creatures and then make them larger. Blowing up blockers with a removal spell is less good than attacking with a 4/4 on turn three. Five mana creatures also always seem to be things that I'd prefer to never need.
I think the format is just about random aggression, honestly, for good or ill. That's not to say I dislike either of the cards you picked, nor that I fault you for taking them.
I love the versatility and reach of Burst Lightning, and the chilling effect that the angel has on your opponent's ability to compete is very welcome. It's just... too slow, I think, to be better than the stomping power of the Gear.
This format is strange, and I might just be drafting it wrong, but that is the impression that I get.
It's interesting to see the polarization that that particular card brings to groups of Magicians. I take it over most things, whereas, for example, Martin Juza picked an Ox over it 7th in what looked like it was shaping up to be a very aggressive W/R aggro deck in the day two draft of PT Austin.
The thing that immediately intrigued me was passing the two Adventuring Gears. I have found that that card is generally the best common, and I would certainly have picked it first and second. Why did you not/what do you think of the card?
You welcomed the second-pick Machete -- I think Gear is frequently a more desirable card in this format.
I think that the two most commonly identified paths here (seemingly; I didn't carefully count) are the correct ones.
Picking Covenant and going Esper (or perhaps Grixis) is a good thing to do, provided you don't like Naya. Covenant is powerful, and it does send good signals. However:
P1P1: Naya Charm --- I think that Naya Charm is one of the best cards in the set, and fixes the problems that G/W aggro has (i.e. it adds infinite reach). I think it is leagues better than the other Naya cards here. I don't mind playing G/W at all, so I go with the card that I think is the most powerful in the pack.
P1P2: Oblivion Ring --- Nacatl is great, and what the deck wants... but I still don't think it's quite the pick over Oblivion Ring here. Oblivion Ring provides another commodity that the deck craves: good, efficient removal. That is harder to come by than efficient early creatures, even if Nacatl is one of the very best possible of such things. Nothing else deserves any consideration, really, after the first pick.
P1P3: Sigiled Paladin --- This card is fantastic when castable, and well worth the slight "risk" of not being castable on turn two all the time. We can, hopefully, bias our future picks slightly and remain in this archetype to make that a non-issue. Nothing else here provides any real competition for it in power level, plus it fits with our previous picks.
Hey Jasper, I didn't know you posted here. I've seen you at basically every PTQ I've been to (usually at the Top 8).
What're your thoughts on this deck post M10? I really like the deck, and your list specifically, but I'm wondering how it does without Treetop Village. How has 26 lands been working out?
Oh, and you going to be at the Madison 1K the week before Nat's?
Hi. Yeah, I don't really post here much at all, just sometimes, mostly in the Limited forum (the simulated drafts are interesting).
Treetop is insane, but I think the deck will certainly be good without it. 26 lands seemed fine when wanting to get up to Bituminous Blast mana ASAP. The deck likes mana. I don't know how M10 will change the deck's viability, but I assume it will still be great.
I will almost certainly be at the 1k, yes. I don't know what I'll be playing, however.
Hey Jasper - I didn't know you even posted here. I'm Chris Jobin. We've met at numerous PTQs, and usually sit near each other at the player meetings.
Anyway, I think your list is pretty solid. I was honestly shocked to not see any Bituminous Blasts in your original list, so I'm glad to see at least a few in your PTQ list. How was only playing three MD Maelstrom Pulses?
Hi, Chris.
Bituminous Blast is great, especially with the metagame shifting so much towards Jund mirrors.
3 Pulse seemed correct on the day. I don't know, there really isn't anything I wanted to change from that list, it played out very well.
This seems like a nearly perfect list, although I assume you mean Savage Lands and not Jungle Shrine.
Hi, I'm Jasper. That list is the untuned one; the one that I PTQ'd with day two (losing in the last round to miss top 8) is much better. I think that this is the best deck in the format, though the format is done, for me, at least. M2010 changes a lot of stuff about the format, so this deck will have to be remade. If you are looking for something to play this weekend, this is it:
The main problem with Esper decks is the mana base, usually. We will miss this Panorama sorely if we pass it up here. Windwright Mage is a fine card, but it will come around much later, and it's very difficult to cast. The Panorama also allows us to keep our options open by making the Tower Gargoyle an easy splash into, say, a Grixis deck. This Mage is very incorrect.
-and-
Menagerie of Megrims
There are a couple points in this theory's corner; perhaps this is going to be how they continue to emphasize the sequel aspect of this block, along with a reprint of Cranial Extraction and the new, traitorous incarnation of Glissa as prominent promos.
Also interesting is that Extirpate and Cranial Extraction both left the Extended format last rotation. Perhaps Wizards has appreciated those effects at those costs in that format and decided to ensure that they weren't gone from it long.
This is certainly nowhere near definitive information, but no such thing is so far widely available. All there is for it is to present possible rationales, no matter if they seem likely coincidental or not.
I think the format is just about random aggression, honestly, for good or ill. That's not to say I dislike either of the cards you picked, nor that I fault you for taking them.
I love the versatility and reach of Burst Lightning, and the chilling effect that the angel has on your opponent's ability to compete is very welcome. It's just... too slow, I think, to be better than the stomping power of the Gear.
This format is strange, and I might just be drafting it wrong, but that is the impression that I get.
It's interesting to see the polarization that that particular card brings to groups of Magicians. I take it over most things, whereas, for example, Martin Juza picked an Ox over it 7th in what looked like it was shaping up to be a very aggressive W/R aggro deck in the day two draft of PT Austin.
You welcomed the second-pick Machete -- I think Gear is frequently a more desirable card in this format.
Picking Covenant and going Esper (or perhaps Grixis) is a good thing to do, provided you don't like Naya. Covenant is powerful, and it does send good signals. However:
P1P1: Naya Charm --- I think that Naya Charm is one of the best cards in the set, and fixes the problems that G/W aggro has (i.e. it adds infinite reach). I think it is leagues better than the other Naya cards here. I don't mind playing G/W at all, so I go with the card that I think is the most powerful in the pack.
P1P2: Oblivion Ring --- Nacatl is great, and what the deck wants... but I still don't think it's quite the pick over Oblivion Ring here. Oblivion Ring provides another commodity that the deck craves: good, efficient removal. That is harder to come by than efficient early creatures, even if Nacatl is one of the very best possible of such things. Nothing else deserves any consideration, really, after the first pick.
P1P3: Sigiled Paladin --- This card is fantastic when castable, and well worth the slight "risk" of not being castable on turn two all the time. We can, hopefully, bias our future picks slightly and remain in this archetype to make that a non-issue. Nothing else here provides any real competition for it in power level, plus it fits with our previous picks.
Hi. Yeah, I don't really post here much at all, just sometimes, mostly in the Limited forum (the simulated drafts are interesting).
Treetop is insane, but I think the deck will certainly be good without it. 26 lands seemed fine when wanting to get up to Bituminous Blast mana ASAP. The deck likes mana. I don't know how M10 will change the deck's viability, but I assume it will still be great.
I will almost certainly be at the 1k, yes. I don't know what I'll be playing, however.
Hi, Chris.
Bituminous Blast is great, especially with the metagame shifting so much towards Jund mirrors.
3 Pulse seemed correct on the day. I don't know, there really isn't anything I wanted to change from that list, it played out very well.
Hi, I'm Jasper. That list is the untuned one; the one that I PTQ'd with day two (losing in the last round to miss top 8) is much better. I think that this is the best deck in the format, though the format is done, for me, at least. M2010 changes a lot of stuff about the format, so this deck will have to be remade. If you are looking for something to play this weekend, this is it:
2 Chameleon Colossus
4 Boggart Ram-Gang
4 Putrid Leech
4 Bloodbraid Elf
4 Anathemancer
4 Wren's Run Vanquisher
Spells
4 Nameless Inversion
3 Jund Charm
2 Bituminous Blast
3 Maelstrom Pulse
1 Swamp
1 Mountain
1 Forest
3 Karplusan Forest
4 Twilight Mire
4 Auntie's Hovel
4 Gilt-Leaf Palace
4 Savage Lands
4 Treetop Village
1 Maelstrom Pulse
1 Jund Charm
2 Chameleon Colossus
4 Thoughtseize
3 Thought Hemorrhage
3 Snakeform
1 Bituminous Blast
Both of these cards are in Tenth Edition.
Yep.