I've yet to have a problem with combo. Loam stomps all over Melira-Pod and Kiki-Twin. I've only played against one Storm deck, but it really wasn't a problem. Storm needs most of it's pieces to work properly. Usually a turn 1 inquisition followed by a Raven's crime or two is enough to put a serious damper on their game-play.
What about Storm worries you? Yes, you will have games where they just get out of control. But that just means you need to mulligan more aggressively.
I run 3 Raven's crime and 2 Inquisition. I like the crime better because with loam, you strip their hand pretty damn quick. I wouldn't say it's a guaranteed win, but I think that this match-up is favorable to you.
I am in the process of completing my Mimeoplasm deck that focuses on abusing proliferate and killing people with poison counters. I have looked over gatherer a number of times looking for interesting targets to proliferate. Here's a list of cards currently in the deck:
What else should I add to the list? I'd prefer cards that are at least semi-playable. Thallids just aren't good enough, and I don't want to run cards just because they fit the theme. Any suggestions?
It makes no sense for them to show up in Ravnica, but they better show up again at some point.
Slivers are a unique creature type for Magic. In any other fantasy medium you can find goblins, elves, wizards, fae, or any of the many different creature types also found in magic. Slivers need to exist and they need to be relevant because they are one of the few things Magic can call it's own. While there are of course mixed opinions on them, they always evoke strong feelings. That's why they will return. Maybe not the next block, maybe not the one after it, but someday.
For those of us who are working with a budget, what suitible replacements are there for goyf? Do we just switch goyf's out for Countryside Crushers, or do we even go the Bloodbraid elf route? Perhaps the extra card off BBE could be a huge benefit. Most of the spells are playable off her, including seismic.
I realize that there is no "replacement" for goyf, but this deck looks like way too much fun to not try something else. The extra $400 is just a bit steep.
I just traded for the Bob's and Lilly's. It is just a bit impossible to find someone willing to trade a goyf, let alone 4.
Name: Stensia
Plane: Innistrad
Effect: Whenever a creature deals damage to a player, put a +1/+1 counter on that creature
Chaos : Gain control of target creature with a +1/+1 counter on it
Name: Sunholme, Fortress of the Legion
Plane: Ravnica
Effect: instants and sorceries you control have radiance.
Chaos : Deal 3 damage to target creature or player. Gain 3 life
In my area, I have single-handedly tried to keep it alive. Usually if I offer it, people will play, but mainly it's the EDH crowd that really digs it. I also run an after-school tabletop gaming club, and my students have really taken to planeschase.
I expect the popularity to rise again once Planeschase 2 comes out. At least for awhile anyway.
I think the problem is that you're playing competitive level decks in what is meant to be a casual format. When you have 3-4 tournament level decks, that team is going to win regardless. But beyond that, there are a number of factors that result in the Archenemy having a difficult time.
It really matters how quick the decks are. The archenemy shines when more relevant schemes are played. The longer the game goes, the more likely the archenemy is going to win.
The scheme deck itself is also really important. There are a number of schemes that quite frankly, aren't good enough. These include schemes like "The iron guardian stirs", I delight in your convulsions" and "Rotten ones lay siege." These just don't give the same level of power that some of the others do. Take out schemes like "I call on the Ancient Magics", "Approach my Molten Realm", and "A display of my dark Power" because they help the other team as well. Your focus should be disruption. A good scheme deck is 20 cards, utilizing the best schemes like "All in good Time", "Plots that span centuries", and "Tooth, Claw, and Nail."
The randomness is also a bit of an issue. Getting a first turn "Behold the Power of Destruction" or "My Crushing Masterstroke" will be a dead scheme. The games I've seen the Archenemy do really well is a 1st turn "Only Blood Ends your nightmares", "Look Skyward and Despair" or "Every Hope Shall Vanish."
I don't think that cards have become too powerful by any means. It's just a matter of what types of decks are being played against one another.
I for one am annoyed that they made a card that actually cares about graveyard order. In EDH I often have a bunch of triggers from my graveyard, and sometimes I rearrange so that I remember to use Genesis or Bloodghast etc. In almost all instances, the graveyard order doesn't matter, so no-one cares. But with awful cards like Cellar door, it means the order is fairly important.
It's too costly and your opponents get just as much use out of it as you will. This card is simply not worth running. You'd need to have a decent amount of mana before you could drop this and follow up with any sort of threat. I just don't believe in giving your opponents that much advantage.
Some decks just don't survive when a full set rotates. I for one, do not foresee Caw-Blade being a viable deck post-rotation. It's losing to many valuable components to stay together. And you know something, that's good. Standard needs to keep moving forward. Caw-blade had its time in the spotlight, it's time for new decks to emerge.
This isn't to say that we've seen the last of the swords. I think "blade" decks might find a home, however... can it really be caw-blade without the "Caw"?
What about Storm worries you? Yes, you will have games where they just get out of control. But that just means you need to mulligan more aggressively.
I run 3 Raven's crime and 2 Inquisition. I like the crime better because with loam, you strip their hand pretty damn quick. I wouldn't say it's a guaranteed win, but I think that this match-up is favorable to you.
Contagion Clasp
Contagion Engine
Fuel for the Cause
Inexorable Tide
Spread the Sickness
Planeswalkers
Liliana Vess
Tezzeret, the Seeker
Garruk Wildspeaker
Artifacts/Enchantments
Khalni Heart Expedition
Corrupted Conscience
Doubling Season
Copy Enchantment
Lands
Llanowar Reborn
Dreadship Reef
Inkmoth Nexus
Cretures
Tainted Strike
Ichor Rats
Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon
Draining Whelk
Blightsteel colossus
What else should I add to the list? I'd prefer cards that are at least semi-playable. Thallids just aren't good enough, and I don't want to run cards just because they fit the theme. Any suggestions?
Slivers are a unique creature type for Magic. In any other fantasy medium you can find goblins, elves, wizards, fae, or any of the many different creature types also found in magic. Slivers need to exist and they need to be relevant because they are one of the few things Magic can call it's own. While there are of course mixed opinions on them, they always evoke strong feelings. That's why they will return. Maybe not the next block, maybe not the one after it, but someday.
I realize that there is no "replacement" for goyf, but this deck looks like way too much fun to not try something else. The extra $400 is just a bit steep.
I just traded for the Bob's and Lilly's. It is just a bit impossible to find someone willing to trade a goyf, let alone 4.
Plane: Innistrad
Effect: Whenever a creature deals damage to a player, put a +1/+1 counter on that creature
Chaos : Gain control of target creature with a +1/+1 counter on it
Name: Sunholme, Fortress of the Legion
Plane: Ravnica
Effect: instants and sorceries you control have radiance.
Chaos : Deal 3 damage to target creature or player. Gain 3 life
I expect the popularity to rise again once Planeschase 2 comes out. At least for awhile anyway.
It really matters how quick the decks are. The archenemy shines when more relevant schemes are played. The longer the game goes, the more likely the archenemy is going to win.
The scheme deck itself is also really important. There are a number of schemes that quite frankly, aren't good enough. These include schemes like "The iron guardian stirs", I delight in your convulsions" and "Rotten ones lay siege." These just don't give the same level of power that some of the others do. Take out schemes like "I call on the Ancient Magics", "Approach my Molten Realm", and "A display of my dark Power" because they help the other team as well. Your focus should be disruption. A good scheme deck is 20 cards, utilizing the best schemes like "All in good Time", "Plots that span centuries", and "Tooth, Claw, and Nail."
The randomness is also a bit of an issue. Getting a first turn "Behold the Power of Destruction" or "My Crushing Masterstroke" will be a dead scheme. The games I've seen the Archenemy do really well is a 1st turn "Only Blood Ends your nightmares", "Look Skyward and Despair" or "Every Hope Shall Vanish."
I don't think that cards have become too powerful by any means. It's just a matter of what types of decks are being played against one another.
This is quite obnoxious.
Reassembling skeleton
bloodghast
All make this guy happy. He may not be the best general, but at least he is interesting.
This isn't to say that we've seen the last of the swords. I think "blade" decks might find a home, however... can it really be caw-blade without the "Caw"?
Capsize, Fanning the Flames, Mind Games, Reiterate, Shattering Pulse, Spell Burst, or even Whispers of the Muse seem good with two seedborn muses in play.