@ Hoodoo: Just to give some perspective, once I added the Truefit sleeves to one of my EDH decks, I can now fit that deck and two other regularly sleeved EDH decks in a standard 350-card box. And there's not a ton of room for the cards to move either!
For me, that works perfectly though--that way, I can keep those foils as straight as possible.
I only have one deck that is double sleeved, but it is an EDH deck that is almost completely foiled out. I think it helps a great deal to reduce the curling that would naturally occur with such a deck, and the Truefit sleeves worked very well with the standard Japanese Ultra Pros that I use for all of my EDH decks.
I'd have to recommend the Truefit sleeves if you are running a good number of foils--just make sure you will want to have the deck together for awhile, because taking the cards back out of those sleeves is not something that can easily be done in five minutes
From just a casual standpoint, I have never enjoyed drafting another block so much as I did Ravnica block.
There were so many possibilities for limited decks that when my friends and I drafted, I don't think the same type of deck won more than once. In a limited or sealed environment, you could always try something new with a moderate degree of success while having to prepare to face something unexpected too.
We ran somewhere around fifteen or twenty different drafts of RAV/GPT/DIS, and it was the most widely enjoyed by everyone in my playgroup.
I used to base my trade binder strictly on dollar value, only to find that a number of trades would occasionally reach an impasse on one side or the other because I happened to not have a few key uncommons that would have sealed the deal.
As such, I try to ensure that my trade binder now features about 85-90% rares and mythics, but I also have sections of playable or sought after uncommons and commons. You never know when something a more experienced player overlooks will be a boon to someone who hasn't played the game for as long. I have found it makes trading much easier, and I'd recommend that to anyone (taking into account one's local Magic scene to determine usefulness, of course).
My advice to you would be to seek out some of the easy-to-read literature that Wizards has been releasing recently. For example, you receive a how-to-play insert with helpful tips inside any Fat Pack that you would purchase.
Also if you have a local game store you can visit, there is a chance that the owner might have a rulebook to give you. (I base my previous statement entirely on the fact that my local owner had a stack of free rulebooks about a month ago that he said came from Wizards, and he was giving them away free to new players).
I absolutely agree with the previous poster that the easiest way to learn the game is just to play more; however, there are some things you can brush up on to make the experience a little easier for both you and anyone trying to help you.
For example, if you were to learn and understand the parts of the turn, that would make any further explanation of actions (and when you want to take them) so much more clear. I hope this helps you, and enjoy the game!
There are so many ways you could go with this, as there are a ton of angel creatures in the game. I'll tell you what a couple of my favorites are that might be in your price range.
First would be Exalted Angel. For me, this is just a classic angel that has actually gone down somewhat in price ($6 in some online stores), and it's tough to beat for its effectiveness.
The second suggestion I have would be Luminarch Ascension. For anywhere from $2-3 each, it gives you a great answer for following up a Day of Judgment, or can really play into your favor if you use combat damage negating effects such as Safe Passage, or even other cards such as Silence. Just a thought.
EDIT: I thought of a couple more recent angels that are affordable and fun to play. Emeria Angel is one that can get you some creature advantage as soon as she hits the board (cast her and THEN play your land for the turn), and she can help you overwhelm your opponent quickly. Another option, albeit at a higher mana cost, would be Deathless Angel. She can make herself or your other creatures very hard to deal with if you have mana with which to play around.
As I have mentioned, there are a number of angels for you to choose from, both budget and otherwise. I hope this helped a little, and have fun with the deck!
When auras are being brought into play through means such as Genesis Wave or Mitotic Manipulation, you have the opportunity at that time to select a target for them. Unfortunately, a creature with shroud would be considered an illegal target for an aura, and you would be forced to do one of three things.
1) Enchant other creatures you control without shroud
2) Enchant your opponent's creatures without shroud (probably not the best idea), or
3) Target your Deft Duelist, in which case the auras would fizzle and be placed in your graveyard
Hope this helps!
EDIT: I apparently didn't understand the difference myself, so it's a good thing someone else chimed in.
It's tough to say with any fat packs from Zendikar forward, though. I have had so much duplication in those, and that can be very good or very bad. For example, I once pulled two Chandra Nalaar and two Platinum Angel out of the same M11 fat pack. The more relevant example was a WWK fat pack purchased at a Wal-Mart in which I pulled two JTMS and two Stirring Wildwood. Sometimes those retail packages can provide recurring rares that work in your favor.
I should also note that I just love opening packs, and I think the thrill of cracking the eight alone would be worth it. My .02, and good luck if you do open it!
Another card you might enjoy using in this deck would be Patriarch's Bidding from Onslaught. It works wonders in every EDH deck in which I've had a chance to use it. Nothing like a recurring swarm of rats to ruin an opponent's day.
If you were certain to go after one of the three boxes in your poll, I would agree with Crimson and say get M11. I have never opened a box of that set and gotten fewer than three of the Titans, and it gives you the best potential trade bait along with a better chance of making your money back than would the other two boxes.
I have not dealt directly with their website before, but I have purchased many cards through the ABUGames store on eBay. I was looking to foil out an EDH Demon deck, so I was purchasing some fairly pricey cards from them. I was just hoping not to get burned, but everything I got arrived in fantastic, NM condition, and I had them in under a week's time. I would have to recommend them based on that experience.
I think foils are my favorite way of pimping out decks, although that could just be because I have so many more of those than I do of the other options (signed cards, alterations, etc).
When it comes to running playsets of cards, I have used multiple strategies depending on the deck and the card's options (i.e. sets in which it was printed, varying artwork, and so on). For example, I prefer to have one of each of the four Hymn to Tourach pictures in my discard deck. However, back when I played All-In Red in extended, I preferred all four of my Demigod of Revenge cards to be the Shadowmoor foil version, as opposed to mixing and matching.
I love to see other people's altered cards though, especially if they are done right. Makes me wish I had some artistic talent...
For me, that works perfectly though--that way, I can keep those foils as straight as possible.
I'd have to recommend the Truefit sleeves if you are running a good number of foils--just make sure you will want to have the deck together for awhile, because taking the cards back out of those sleeves is not something that can easily be done in five minutes
There were so many possibilities for limited decks that when my friends and I drafted, I don't think the same type of deck won more than once. In a limited or sealed environment, you could always try something new with a moderate degree of success while having to prepare to face something unexpected too.
We ran somewhere around fifteen or twenty different drafts of RAV/GPT/DIS, and it was the most widely enjoyed by everyone in my playgroup.
As such, I try to ensure that my trade binder now features about 85-90% rares and mythics, but I also have sections of playable or sought after uncommons and commons. You never know when something a more experienced player overlooks will be a boon to someone who hasn't played the game for as long. I have found it makes trading much easier, and I'd recommend that to anyone (taking into account one's local Magic scene to determine usefulness, of course).
Also if you have a local game store you can visit, there is a chance that the owner might have a rulebook to give you. (I base my previous statement entirely on the fact that my local owner had a stack of free rulebooks about a month ago that he said came from Wizards, and he was giving them away free to new players).
I absolutely agree with the previous poster that the easiest way to learn the game is just to play more; however, there are some things you can brush up on to make the experience a little easier for both you and anyone trying to help you.
For example, if you were to learn and understand the parts of the turn, that would make any further explanation of actions (and when you want to take them) so much more clear. I hope this helps you, and enjoy the game!
First would be Exalted Angel. For me, this is just a classic angel that has actually gone down somewhat in price ($6 in some online stores), and it's tough to beat for its effectiveness.
The second suggestion I have would be Luminarch Ascension. For anywhere from $2-3 each, it gives you a great answer for following up a Day of Judgment, or can really play into your favor if you use combat damage negating effects such as Safe Passage, or even other cards such as Silence. Just a thought.
EDIT: I thought of a couple more recent angels that are affordable and fun to play. Emeria Angel is one that can get you some creature advantage as soon as she hits the board (cast her and THEN play your land for the turn), and she can help you overwhelm your opponent quickly. Another option, albeit at a higher mana cost, would be Deathless Angel. She can make herself or your other creatures very hard to deal with if you have mana with which to play around.
As I have mentioned, there are a number of angels for you to choose from, both budget and otherwise. I hope this helped a little, and have fun with the deck!
1) Enchant other creatures you control without shroud
2) Enchant your opponent's creatures without shroud (probably not the best idea), or
3) Target your Deft Duelist, in which case the auras would fizzle and be placed in your graveyard
Hope this helps!
EDIT: I apparently didn't understand the difference myself, so it's a good thing someone else chimed in.
I should also note that I just love opening packs, and I think the thrill of cracking the eight alone would be worth it. My .02, and good luck if you do open it!
When it comes to running playsets of cards, I have used multiple strategies depending on the deck and the card's options (i.e. sets in which it was printed, varying artwork, and so on). For example, I prefer to have one of each of the four Hymn to Tourach pictures in my discard deck. However, back when I played All-In Red in extended, I preferred all four of my Demigod of Revenge cards to be the Shadowmoor foil version, as opposed to mixing and matching.
I love to see other people's altered cards though, especially if they are done right. Makes me wish I had some artistic talent...