ok thanks for the replies and efforts guys! i think i know enough but feel free to post your tips and experiences! the more the better! thanks!!!:):):p:p;);):D
While you have the choice, in almost every conceiveable case in Contructed, it is correct to PLAY, not draw. Don't let the fact that you have a choice fool you. In Limited, people will choose to draw, but that is usually the only enviroment they do so.
Getting a DCI number is extremely quick and easy, takes 2-5 mins tops, so don't worry about going in the day before.
People seem to keep failing to understand that the reason this is 30 grand and not 15 or 20 is because all the top end cards are graded at pretty much 9.0 and above, which is extremely rare for Beta cards.
Some in this thread have mentioned picking it up just so they can play with it and such. if you want a playable set of Beta, get one, but don't spend twice as much as you could. This set is all about the collection value, because of his MINT these cards are, not because you "can play with them".'
That said, this is actually great value. You are getting all serious cards pre graded, from an extremely reputable site. If your a collector looking to actually buy a set of this grade, you could probably count 2-5 grand of it's worth just to assembling it alone, considering how difficult that process could actually be.
Know your rules, know about rolling to see who goes first, about play/draw, mulligans, bring dice, your deck, a sideboard. Make sure you have a deck that is legal in the format your playing, and have a DCI number, or show up early and get one.
It really depends on what you wish to acheive. Honestly, if you just play casually and locally with a few friends who just build ~60 card decks, buying that deck is a fine plan, so long as your aware that your deck is actually "legacy" legal.
If you have a play group that plays EDH, get an EDH deck, or suggest to your friends to all buy an EDH precon and go from there. Each of you can get a different one, and you can always alter them as you so choose slowly, through sites like TCG player or SCG and so on. EDH is by far the best Casual format.
If you want to play FNM's, get a standard legal deck, figure out what you want to play that is competitive and buy it.
In no case should you buy a box. Unless you plan to start buying a LOT of boxes or already have a real collection. It's very rare to get more than say, 2 of the same rare, if even doubles of the same rare. And most often you will only get 2-3 of a given uncommon. Because of this, it can be very hard to get playsets of certain cards by just buying one box, which can make for a very inconsistent deck that is only limited to one specific set.
I should also mention that even if you still want to buy a box, don't buy m12. The set isn't very good when it comes to value, and if your not playing Standard in your casual group, as it seems, there is no reason to go for m12 and not a better set.
Lastly, buying boxes is NEVER a good idea. You will never break even, and never get the cards you really need. It is ALWAYS financially smarter to just buy one specific deck. If you reallyy care about collections, buy playsets of uncommons/commons from specific sets, and maybe just the rares you want. This will save you a ton of money.
You will board in Dismember in pretty much every expected match-up anyway, so we just have it in the main. Having a way to break through walls(which subsequently can slow down Valakut), and having a -5/-5 effect can help you defeat Titans if your opponents get there. It also gives you maindeck outs to SpinterTwin combo that don't require you to 2-for-1 yourself, and can sometimes catch them game 1 when they aren't prepared for it.
Yep, that is exactly the change I thought you would make. Maindeck Dismember is absolutely crucial in the current Metagame. The only decks it's bad against for the most part is UB and the mirror game 1.
Chapin's list was definitly solid, and after some discussion with my playgroup we altered our lists.
Main points of disagreement: The split of Burst Lightning and Incinerate should probably be reversed.
Spikeshot shouldn't really be in the deck. He is essentially a 1/1 for 1, since the rationale of not including Staggershock because of the greed applies to the 3 mana activation of Spikeshot.
Sideboard variations.
I'm going to have to concur with you about Spikeshot. When your tying up your mana with Shrine and the Phoenix, you really aren't going to have many chances to use a Spikeshot. What would you suggest in it's place, and how have you and your playgroup altered your lists?
Patrick Chapin posted this list on StarCityGames.com.
Its a premium article only so I figured I would post the list and see how the discussion goes, but I am pre-ordering everything that I lack out of this list just to play it.
The ONLY card that makes thinking about Mono Black over UB is Lashwrithe. You can run Obliterator and Gatekeeper in a UB shell without issue. Infact, Conley was playing for a bit pre NPH a UB Percy deck that had zero islands, because he wanted to be more consistent with his Gatekeepers, and he was able to do so to good effect.
Thus if you think that Lashwrithe is a better CONTROL card than adding Preordain, Spell Peirce, Mana Leak, Jace and a Manlands, then one, I guess you could argue for MBC and two, your wrong.
Lashwrithe is a great card, but it is not for MBC. Maybe Mono Black Midrange. Except you can't play Midrange in a meta dominated by two combo decks (Valakut and Twin), so again, you are wrong.
While you have the choice, in almost every conceiveable case in Contructed, it is correct to PLAY, not draw. Don't let the fact that you have a choice fool you. In Limited, people will choose to draw, but that is usually the only enviroment they do so.
Getting a DCI number is extremely quick and easy, takes 2-5 mins tops, so don't worry about going in the day before.
Some in this thread have mentioned picking it up just so they can play with it and such. if you want a playable set of Beta, get one, but don't spend twice as much as you could. This set is all about the collection value, because of his MINT these cards are, not because you "can play with them".'
That said, this is actually great value. You are getting all serious cards pre graded, from an extremely reputable site. If your a collector looking to actually buy a set of this grade, you could probably count 2-5 grand of it's worth just to assembling it alone, considering how difficult that process could actually be.
Try things like Channelfireball, SCG, MTGFANATIC, MTGMINTCARD, and so on. Make sure you see what the shipping is as well and factor that in.
If you have a play group that plays EDH, get an EDH deck, or suggest to your friends to all buy an EDH precon and go from there. Each of you can get a different one, and you can always alter them as you so choose slowly, through sites like TCG player or SCG and so on. EDH is by far the best Casual format.
If you want to play FNM's, get a standard legal deck, figure out what you want to play that is competitive and buy it.
In no case should you buy a box. Unless you plan to start buying a LOT of boxes or already have a real collection. It's very rare to get more than say, 2 of the same rare, if even doubles of the same rare. And most often you will only get 2-3 of a given uncommon. Because of this, it can be very hard to get playsets of certain cards by just buying one box, which can make for a very inconsistent deck that is only limited to one specific set.
I should also mention that even if you still want to buy a box, don't buy m12. The set isn't very good when it comes to value, and if your not playing Standard in your casual group, as it seems, there is no reason to go for m12 and not a better set.
Lastly, buying boxes is NEVER a good idea. You will never break even, and never get the cards you really need. It is ALWAYS financially smarter to just buy one specific deck. If you reallyy care about collections, buy playsets of uncommons/commons from specific sets, and maybe just the rares you want. This will save you a ton of money.
Yep, that is exactly the change I thought you would make. Maindeck Dismember is absolutely crucial in the current Metagame. The only decks it's bad against for the most part is UB and the mirror game 1.
I'm going to have to concur with you about Spikeshot. When your tying up your mana with Shrine and the Phoenix, you really aren't going to have many chances to use a Spikeshot. What would you suggest in it's place, and how have you and your playgroup altered your lists?
It's because of how greedy the deck is with it's mana.
Pretty sure we need to see the sideboard here... Elsewise those BR duals are looking pretty much useless.
Thus if you think that Lashwrithe is a better CONTROL card than adding Preordain, Spell Peirce, Mana Leak, Jace and a Manlands, then one, I guess you could argue for MBC and two, your wrong.
Lashwrithe is a great card, but it is not for MBC. Maybe Mono Black Midrange. Except you can't play Midrange in a meta dominated by two combo decks (Valakut and Twin), so again, you are wrong.
Have a good day!