If I'm playing Burn or Monored Aggro, I want any 4-drop to immediately impact the board (read: damage or haste). Think Stoke the Flames or Fanatic of Mogis. Even Thunderbreak Regent doesn't cut it in an Aggro deck. The only thing this card does the turn it comes down is make me discard my hand. It'll dig for finishers, sure, but I'd rather it just do 4+ damage itself that turn.
On top of that, if I'm playing it in another deck, like Big Red and/or midrange, I don't usually want to discard my hand. I think a 4/4 flyer for 4 CMC is powerful and will see play (Stormbreath, Sarkhan, Thunderbreak and Avaricious make a fun family), but that drawback greatly limits its effectiveness. I don't like this card as red's defining mythic.
I also fall on the Temur side of things... Tried out the RUG Chord deck last week at FNM and had a lot of fun. Here's my (spur-of-the-moment) update of that list:
Notes:
The original deck ran Young Pyromancer, which was nice for Stoke and Purphoros but didn't seem to play out well. With rotation, I decided to push this list to ramp and go bigger (rather than wider).
Stormbreath over Sarkhan because I'm looking to Chord for creatures.
I've never played in Standard with fetchlands... I know I want to play them, but am inexperienced with designing mana bases around them. With this list, I leaned on painlands over temples because I don't want too many lands entering tapped.
As I look to improve at Standard, I've been building up my card collection to include all of (what I call) Standard's staples. I define these as cards that, at some point in the rotation, can reasonably be expected to see play. (The idea being, by picking up these cards now, I'll be able to build whatever deck I want when I want.)
I'll be listing the cards alphabetically, with the number I'll want for my collection in parentheses. (Unless I feel strongly otherwise, I generally assume I only need three-of legends and planeswalkers.)
Archetype of Agression (4) Archetype of Courage (4) Archetype of Endurance (2)
Bile Blight (4)
Brimaz, King of Oreskos (4) Chromanticore (4)
Courser of Kruphix (4)
Divination (4)
Drown in Sorrow (4)
Eidolon of Countless Battles (4)
Ephara, God of the Polis (3) Ephara's Enlightenment (4)
Fanatic of Xenagos (4)
Fated Conflagration (4)
Fated Infatuation (4) Fated Intervention (4)
Fated Retribution (3)
Flame-Wreathed Phoenix (4) Flitterstep Eidolon (4) Ghostblade Eidolon (4)
Hero of Iroas (4) Hero of Leina Tower (4) Hunter's Prowess (4) Karametra, God of Harvests (3)
Kiora, the Crashing Wave (4)
Kiora's Follower (4)
Mogis, God of Slaughter (4)
Nullify (4) Nyxborn Rollicker (4) Nyxborn Shieldmate (4)
Oracle of Bones (4) Ornitharch (4) Pain Seer (4) Phenax, God of Deception (3) Pheres-Band Tromper (4) Reap What Is Sown (4)
Revoke Existence (4)
Satyr Firedancer (4)
Searing Blood (4)
Spirit of the Labyrinth (4) Spiteful Returned (4) Springleaf Drum (4)
Temple of Enlightenment (4)
Temple of Malice (4)
Temple of Plenty (4)
Thassa's Rebuff (4) Vanguard of Brimaz (4)
Whelming Wave (4)
Xenagos, God of Revels (4)
I encourage and ask you all to criticize and correct this list as you see fit. I tend to be much more all-inclusive and speculative as to which cards might see play, and I have italicized my more questionable inclusions. I only ask that you be helpful (i.e., offer specific cards to add/take off the list, explain your reasons, etc.) in your comments. Thanks!
I don't think anyone's really intimating that this is a Tier 1 deck. It is cool though, to be able to defend aggression early game, then mill your opponent out with your defenders late game. I think the major weaknesses are vulnerability to Supreme Verdict and over-reliance on Phenax.
I went 4-1 on Monday with a pure White Weenie deck, but am moving to the Boros land base to pick up the extra benefits of Boros Charm.
I'm going with a mostly standard MB list, but playing a singleton Path of Bravery instead of one of the Spears. Using Path avoids some of the lengendary concerns, gives a possible second anthem, and Path's lifegain, when relevant, is very relevant. I've got a second Path in the SB for match-ups (control, heavy pro-white) where the Spear's ability doesn't add much. This also tilts me towards Fiendslayers over Reckoners in the SB.
I'm suspicious about Skullcrack in the SB. I get the concerns about Sphinx's, Gray Merchants, and Whips, but I'd rather race the Sphinx's and Merchants and Wear/Tear the Whips.
As I look to become a better player of Standard, I've been building up my card collection to include all of (what I call) Standard's staples. These are cards that, at some point in the rotation, can reasonably be expected to see play. (The idea being, by picking up these cards now, I'll be able to build whatever deck I want when I want.)
I'll be listing the cards alphabetically, with the number I'll want for my collection in parentheses. (Unless I see otherwise, I'll generally assume I only need three of legends/planeswalkers.)
I encourage and ask you all to criticize and correct this list as you see fit. I tend to be more all-inclusive and speculative as to which cards might see play. I only ask that you be helpful (i.e., offer specific cards to add/take off the list, explain your reasons, etc.).
I don't include commons and uncommons in my list, as they're much more simple to pick up. You're welcome to comment on how essential Magma Jet will be to standard for the next two years, and I'd love for someone to add their own list of common/uncommon staples. Just understand I'm not including them intentionally.
Thanks, all. Especially Fett2, Skyrian, mandelbrot! I think your lists/evaluations are extremely useful.
Just to be clear, my numbers were quantity of cards wanted, not a ranking. (I generally don't want/need playsets of legends.) I'm more generous than most, so getting your corrections are why I posted my list.
I skipped Scavenging Ooze and Chandra's Phoenix because I was typing off a list of cards I don't presently have. (I cracked some at prerelease.) My mistake!
I can see taking off Wall of Frost. I don't have experience w/Spell Burst, but if it stinks, that's what I'm feeling out.
Sanguine Bond is included because I've seen it with Vizkopa Guildmage in some of the WB lifegain decks. I can see removing it as well.
I don't mind paying $4 (or less, when we're talking about uncommons) to round out playsets of "fringe cards" that occasionally see play. The point of this list is to form a stable of staples, not to only get the 5-10 cards that will see heavy play.
For the last few sets, I've put together lists of "Standard Staples"- cards that will (likely) see play sometime before they rotate out. It's definitely started to impact my ability to assemble and play the top decks and improved my Magic experience and performance.
Here's my initial list of M14 Standard Staples (and the quantity I want):
Ajani, Caller of the Pride - 3
Archangel of Thune - 4
Banisher Priest - 4
Brave the Elements - 4
Chandra, Pyromaster - 4
Clone - 4
Devout Invocation - 4
Domestication - 4
Doom Blade - 4
Elite Arcanist - 4
Enlarge - 4
Fiendslayer Paladin - 4
Flames of the Firebrand - 4
Garruk, Caller of Beasts - 3
Glimpse the Future - 4
Grim Return - 4
Imposing Sovereign - 4
Jace, Memory Adept - 3
Kalonian Hydra - 4
Kalonian Tusker - 4
Lifebane Zombie - 4
Mindsparker - 4
Mutavault - 4
Ogre Battledriver - 4
Ratchet Bomb - 4
Sanguine Bond - 4
Spell Blast - 4
Wall of Frost - 4
Warden of Evos Isle - 4
Witchstalker - 4
Xathrid Necromancer - 4
Young Pyromancer - 4
As you can see, my initial list is quite extensive. I didn't expand it to include commons because I draft a bit and buy a box each set, which should get me playsets of all commons.
Which Dragon's Maze cards will you want a playset of?
My (inclusive) nominations:
Advent of the Wurm
Aetherling
Beck//Call
Blood Baron of Vizkopa
Blood Scrivener
Council of the Absolute
Deadbridge Chant
Flesh//Blood
Gaze of Granite
Legion's Initiative
Master of Cruelties
Notion Thief
Obzedat's Aid
Plasm Capture
Progenitor Mimic
Putrefy
Pyrewild Shaman
Ral Zarek
Render Silent
Renounce the Guilds
Ruric Thar, the Unbowed
Savageborn Hydra
Sire of Insanity
Skylasher
Tajic, Blade of the Legion
Varolz, the Scar-Striped
Voice of Resurgence
Warleader's Helix
Anything off the list that should be included? Anything on it that won't be used in Constructed lists?
If I'm playing Burn or Monored Aggro, I want any 4-drop to immediately impact the board (read: damage or haste). Think Stoke the Flames or Fanatic of Mogis. Even Thunderbreak Regent doesn't cut it in an Aggro deck. The only thing this card does the turn it comes down is make me discard my hand. It'll dig for finishers, sure, but I'd rather it just do 4+ damage itself that turn.
On top of that, if I'm playing it in another deck, like Big Red and/or midrange, I don't usually want to discard my hand. I think a 4/4 flyer for 4 CMC is powerful and will see play (Stormbreath, Sarkhan, Thunderbreak and Avaricious make a fun family), but that drawback greatly limits its effectiveness. I don't like this card as red's defining mythic.
I also noticed this... Is there a reason these cards haven't been added to the spoiler?
4 Goblin Rabblemaster
1 Keranos, God of Storms
2 Courser of Kruphix
2 Savage Knuckleblade
2 Polukranos, World Eater
1 Purphoros, God of the Forge
4 Sylvan Caryatid
2 Stormbreath Dragon
1 Soul of Shandalar
1 Elvish Mystic
Planeswalkers (3)
1 Chandra, Pyromaster
2 Xenagos, the Reveler
Lands (24)
4 Forest
4 Frontier Bivouac
2 Mountain
3 Shivan Reef
2 Temple of Abandon
1 Temple of Epiphany
1 Temple of Mystery
4 Wooded Foothills
3 Yavimaya Coast
4 Chord of Calling
2 Magma Spray
4 Lightning Strike
3 Stoke the Flames
2 Temur Ascendancy
2 Hornet Nest
4 Nylea's Disciple
2 Reclamation Sage
2 Magma Spray
2 Negate
2 Setessan Tactics
1 Master of Waves
Notes:
The original deck ran Young Pyromancer, which was nice for Stoke and Purphoros but didn't seem to play out well. With rotation, I decided to push this list to ramp and go bigger (rather than wider).
Stormbreath over Sarkhan because I'm looking to Chord for creatures.
I've never played in Standard with fetchlands... I know I want to play them, but am inexperienced with designing mana bases around them. With this list, I leaned on painlands over temples because I don't want too many lands entering tapped.
(Also, just noticed that Wildfire Cerberus is misspelled in the text listings...)
I'll be listing the cards alphabetically, with the number I'll want for my collection in parentheses. (Unless I feel strongly otherwise, I generally assume I only need three-of legends and planeswalkers.)
Archetype of Agression (4)
Archetype of Courage (4)
Archetype of Endurance (2)
Bile Blight (4)
Brimaz, King of Oreskos (4)
Chromanticore (4)
Courser of Kruphix (4)
Divination (4)
Drown in Sorrow (4)
Eidolon of Countless Battles (4)
Ephara, God of the Polis (3)
Ephara's Enlightenment (4)
Fanatic of Xenagos (4)
Fated Conflagration (4)
Fated Infatuation (4)
Fated Intervention (4)
Fated Retribution (3)
Flame-Wreathed Phoenix (4)
Flitterstep Eidolon (4)
Ghostblade Eidolon (4)
Hero of Iroas (4)
Hero of Leina Tower (4)
Hunter's Prowess (4)
Karametra, God of Harvests (3)
Kiora, the Crashing Wave (4)
Kiora's Follower (4)
Mogis, God of Slaughter (4)
Nullify (4)
Nyxborn Rollicker (4)
Nyxborn Shieldmate (4)
Oracle of Bones (4)
Ornitharch (4)
Pain Seer (4)
Phenax, God of Deception (3)
Pheres-Band Tromper (4)
Reap What Is Sown (4)
Revoke Existence (4)
Satyr Firedancer (4)
Searing Blood (4)
Spirit of the Labyrinth (4)
Spiteful Returned (4)
Springleaf Drum (4)
Temple of Enlightenment (4)
Temple of Malice (4)
Temple of Plenty (4)
Thassa's Rebuff (4)
Vanguard of Brimaz (4)
Whelming Wave (4)
Xenagos, God of Revels (4)
I encourage and ask you all to criticize and correct this list as you see fit. I tend to be much more all-inclusive and speculative as to which cards might see play, and I have italicized my more questionable inclusions. I only ask that you be helpful (i.e., offer specific cards to add/take off the list, explain your reasons, etc.) in your comments. Thanks!
I'm curious why you're supporting a Defender deck with removal. Why not counters/scry, like they did on the mothership? (http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/rc/283)
Also, Axebane Guardian over Kiora's Follower. You should only be milling on their end step or to finish the game anyway.
I'm going with a mostly standard MB list, but playing a singleton Path of Bravery instead of one of the Spears. Using Path avoids some of the lengendary concerns, gives a possible second anthem, and Path's lifegain, when relevant, is very relevant. I've got a second Path in the SB for match-ups (control, heavy pro-white) where the Spear's ability doesn't add much. This also tilts me towards Fiendslayers over Reckoners in the SB.
I'm suspicious about Skullcrack in the SB. I get the concerns about Sphinx's, Gray Merchants, and Whips, but I'd rather race the Sphinx's and Merchants and Wear/Tear the Whips.
I'll be listing the cards alphabetically, with the number I'll want for my collection in parentheses. (Unless I see otherwise, I'll generally assume I only need three of legends/planeswalkers.)
Abhorrent Overlord (4)
Anger of the Gods (4)
Arbor Colossus (4)
Ashen Rider (4)
Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver (3)
Bident of Thassa (3)
Boon Satyr (4)
Bow of Nylea (3)
Chained to the Rock (4)
Colossus of Akros (4)
Curse of the Swine (4)
Daxos of Meletis (3)
Elspeth, Sun's Champion (4)
Ember Swallower (4)
Erebos, God of the Dead (3)
Firedrinker Satyr (4)
Fleecemane Lion (4)
Hammer of Purphoros (3)
Heliod, God of the Sun (3)
Hero's Downfall (4)
Master of Waves (4)
Mistcutter Hydra (4)
Nighthowler (4)
Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx (3)
Nylea, God of the Hunt (3)
Polis Crusher (4)
Polukranos, World Eater (4)
Prognostic Sphinx (4)
Prophet of Kruphix (4)
Purphoros, God of the Forge (3)
Reaper of the Wilds (4)
Reverent Hunter (4)
Soldier of the Pantheon (4)
Spear of Heliod (3)
Steam Augury (4)
Stormbreath Dragon (4)
Sylvan Caryatid (4)
Temple of Abandon (4)
Temple of Deceit (4)
Temple of Mystery (4)
Temple of Silence (4)
Temple of Triumph (4)
Thassa, God of the Sea (3)
Thoughtseize (4)
Tymaret, the Murder King (3)
Underworld Cerberus (4)
Whip of Erebos (3)
Xenagos, the Reveler (3)
I encourage and ask you all to criticize and correct this list as you see fit. I tend to be more all-inclusive and speculative as to which cards might see play. I only ask that you be helpful (i.e., offer specific cards to add/take off the list, explain your reasons, etc.).
I don't include commons and uncommons in my list, as they're much more simple to pick up. You're welcome to comment on how essential Magma Jet will be to standard for the next two years, and I'd love for someone to add their own list of common/uncommon staples. Just understand I'm not including them intentionally.
Just to be clear, my numbers were quantity of cards wanted, not a ranking. (I generally don't want/need playsets of legends.) I'm more generous than most, so getting your corrections are why I posted my list.
I can see taking off Wall of Frost. I don't have experience w/Spell Burst, but if it stinks, that's what I'm feeling out.
Sanguine Bond is included because I've seen it with Vizkopa Guildmage in some of the WB lifegain decks. I can see removing it as well.
I don't mind paying $4 (or less, when we're talking about uncommons) to round out playsets of "fringe cards" that occasionally see play. The point of this list is to form a stable of staples, not to only get the 5-10 cards that will see heavy play.
Here's my initial list of M14 Standard Staples (and the quantity I want):
Ajani, Caller of the Pride - 3
Archangel of Thune - 4
Banisher Priest - 4
Brave the Elements - 4
Chandra, Pyromaster - 4
Clone - 4
Devout Invocation - 4
Domestication - 4
Doom Blade - 4
Elite Arcanist - 4
Enlarge - 4
Fiendslayer Paladin - 4
Flames of the Firebrand - 4
Garruk, Caller of Beasts - 3
Glimpse the Future - 4
Grim Return - 4
Imposing Sovereign - 4
Jace, Memory Adept - 3
Kalonian Hydra - 4
Kalonian Tusker - 4
Lifebane Zombie - 4
Mindsparker - 4
Mutavault - 4
Ogre Battledriver - 4
Ratchet Bomb - 4
Sanguine Bond - 4
Spell Blast - 4
Wall of Frost - 4
Warden of Evos Isle - 4
Witchstalker - 4
Xathrid Necromancer - 4
Young Pyromancer - 4
As you can see, my initial list is quite extensive. I didn't expand it to include commons because I draft a bit and buy a box each set, which should get me playsets of all commons.
Any additions? Any cards I'm silly to include?
My (inclusive) nominations:
Advent of the Wurm
Aetherling
Beck//Call
Blood Baron of Vizkopa
Blood Scrivener
Council of the Absolute
Deadbridge Chant
Flesh//Blood
Gaze of Granite
Legion's Initiative
Master of Cruelties
Notion Thief
Obzedat's Aid
Plasm Capture
Progenitor Mimic
Putrefy
Pyrewild Shaman
Ral Zarek
Render Silent
Renounce the Guilds
Ruric Thar, the Unbowed
Savageborn Hydra
Sire of Insanity
Skylasher
Tajic, Blade of the Legion
Varolz, the Scar-Striped
Voice of Resurgence
Warleader's Helix
Anything off the list that should be included? Anything on it that won't be used in Constructed lists?
Hopefully that'll give me some cards both for my collection and my trade binder!