Who here plays standard? Who here played standard when Scars of Mirrodin had just come out? If you do, you probably remember a tier-2 deck that people called K-Red or Kuldotha Red. The deck was ridiculously explosive and usually won on turn three to four (which was crazy fast in standard at the time). It plays similar to some red affinity lists now. The idea of the deck would be to puke out as many creatures as possible using both Goblins and creatures like Memnite, then use some anthem effects such as Goblin Bushwhacker and Signal Pest to make maximum use of these many creatures. It also played many 0-mana artifacts and Kuldotha Rebirth, the deck's namesake, as a way to make more creatures.
Recently I developed a Modern deck that was very similar to this. Amongst my play group, it's known as Affinity Rebirthed or AR due to the fact that it seems like a re-creation of the current red Affinity lists and again, it's named after Kuldotha Rebirth. I don't think it's really Affinity though, so I didn't post it there.
Card choices:
Meat: Goblin Guide: Not bad. He's pretty good just as an aggressor, but he doesn't contribute to any synergies and isn't particularly explosive. The fact that he allows your opponent to see their top card in a format where fetchlands exist is also mildly relevant. I'd say he's a "meh" card in this deck. Play whatever number you feel is right.
Goblin Bushwhacker: Ridiculously good. Slamming him down turn two or even turn three feels great. I'd rarely cast him unkicked, but he's a powerhouse. I wouldn't ever consider playing less than four of him.
Atog: He has the potential to be very good. He has the potential to be absolutely horrible. Imagine the following: it's turn three, and you have six artifacts out plus an Atog. You swing in, and your opponent blocks all your creatures besides the Atog. You sacrifice two of your artifacts. "Take five?" (cue Dave Brubeck) you say to your opponent, who smirks and casts Path to Exile. Ouch. Still, I'd play some, as you often have mana-artifacts that are pretty useless after turn two on the field.
Memnite: Very good on turn 1. Not so good after that. I'd argue he's necessary as a four-of. Casting Rebirth on T1 feels good.
Ornithopther: Also pretty good. I'd recommend 3-4. It flies, which is relevant when you've got Signal Pests or a Cranial Plating. It also eats Rebirth turn one for fun.
Signal Pest: It's ridic. Makes the deck run. Four-of.
Vault Skirge: Pretty good. Very good against other aggro decks, especially if you find a way to boost its power (again, Signal Pest and Cranial Plating).
Artifacts: Springleaf Drum: I absolutely love this card. Often there's a turn you don't want to be attacking with one of your creatures anyway, or you can't. This card enables you to run so few "traditional" mana sources. At the same time, I feel sick seeing more than one per game. I'd play 2-3.
Cranial Plating: It's a ridiculously good card. I mean. It's just ridic. You'll usually have some sort of evasion going on what with Ornithopter, Signal Pest, and Vault Skirge all possibly in your list, so it almost always connects. I'd play no less than four.
Chimeric Mass: This card is funny. I often cast it at X=0 either for Rebirth or to get Metalcraft on my Opal on turn one. I often also topdeck it if for some reason I get to more mana and can make it a 3/3 or bigger, which is relevant if my opponent plays things like Pyroclasm or other sorcery-speed wipes. Still, I wouldn't play more than two.
Genesis Chamber: I find this card is very good the turn you play it and the turn afterwards, but actually hurts you after that. The fact that it's two mana means that often if you dump your hand on turn 1 you won't get too many triggers off of it. Still, it works great with Atog as you always have fodder. It also helps the deck be more resilient to board-wipes. It's ridic with Cranial Plating. Board out against aggro, keep in against control.
Ichor Wellspring: It's not /horrible/ if you run Shrapnel Blast and Atog. You usually get both cards out it, so that's good. I find it works depending on the list - try testing it in your own build.
Galvanic and Shrapnel Blast: Both are very good. I find my game usually is slowed on turn 3ish either by my opponent's deck or by my own blowout (sacrifices to Atog, Bushwhacker was already played, etc.). Playing burn gives you the Reach you need, and these are just soo good. They also hit key creatures like Kiki-Jiki or Infect's/Affinity's big hitter if need be.
Lightning Bolt: Also good, but to a lesser extent. I'd almost always rather have the Galvanic Blast. I think running 4 Blasts and some Bolts is too much though. Could be useful.
Fetchlands: Nope. See here for more info. Also, not playing fetches helps our aggro matchups.
Mox Opal: Truly insane. Almost always I get the metalcraft active. Play 3 to 4, especially with the new legendary rule.
Darksteel Citadel: Helps with getting Opal online and other things like Cranial Plating, Atog, etc.. I'd play 2 because I don't want to be colorscrewed, especially with things like Bushwhacker in the deck.
Traps (cards that look good but aren't):
Frogmite: Looks good, huh? A 2/2 for 0, just like Affinity plays. WRONG. This deck isn't explosive enough for Frogmite, and Frogmite isn't explosive enough for this deck. By this I mean you can't consistently cast Frogmite for 0, and a 2/2 for 1 isn't actually that good in this sort of build.
Etched Champion: No, no, no! 3 mana? Absolutely disgusting. Similarly any other card with CMC > 2.
Arcbound Ravager: Try as I might, I simply am unable to explain why this card doesn't make it in. I've tested it. I've tried everything. She's just not good in this deck. I don't understand why. If you don't believe me, test it yourself.
Inkmoth Nexus and Blinkmoth Nexus: Don't get me wrong, these are both very good cards. They don't fit in this deck. However, the fact that they essentially cost two mana to use to attack hurts. The colorless mana hurts too. I suppose the flying is nice but we have enough of that. No thank you.
I'm the friend stopyourself (the OP) was talking about and we are building this deck. Wasn't aware we could discuss spoilers yet; thanks for drawing that to my attention. Taking into consideration the above...
Sophomore in High School here. Not sure if that's relevant, but someone once told me to always start any personal conversation here with my age or grade, so here it is. Point being, I'm a single guy, and I have a friend - let's call her Kate. She's my lab partner in a Chemistry class we have together, and during that class, she and I flirt. We (lightly) take turns kicking each other (I think this is called "footsie," but I'm not sure) and other flirtatious actions. Making sex jokes... the whole shebang.
Now, there are a couple things wrong with this, from my perspective at least. For starters, she has a boyfriend. Now, I don't know the guy very well, as he transferred away from our school last year. I get a strong feeling he's not too fond of me, simply because I'm a male friend of Kate's. This perceived animosity has gone on longer than whatever it is between me and Kate. Furthermore, I am in no shape, way, or form ready for a relationship with Kate, even if she were single. I'm emotionally low, and I there's this other chick, but she and I... eh, I'm getting off topic. Point is, in a hypothetical world where Kate's single, I still don't think she and I should be together.
A couple weeks ago, she and I were doing some Chem homework at my place. After we finished, we decided to watch a show I had on my TV. During the show, she propped up her legs so that they were crossing mine. Not really sitting on my lap per se, but something similar. My hands were on her legs the rest of the show. That's as... I don't know what the word is. I was going to say intimate, but that doesn't sound right at all. That's as "close" as we've gotten to doing anything that would be outright cheating.
I've known Kate since... god, I dunno, must be eleven years now. That's a bridge I don't really want to burn. Hell, I don't even want to stop the flirting, really. I mean, I enjoy it - who doesn't? I don't really know what's going through her mind. I know she's cheated before, but not on this guy. I know she really likes him as a friend on top of their romantic relationship. I know I don't want to be a tool and a thief. I should note I'm someone who values honesty very highly, and I subscribe to a variation of Brad Banton's Radical Honesty, which I guess isn't really represented here. I guess I'm coming to you guys for advice on what you think she's thinking, and what I should do. Thanks for reading.
Atog (from Mirrodin) -> Goblin Bushwhacker -> Kuldotha Rebirth -> Memnite -> Mox Opal
Thanks a bunch.
Who here plays standard? Who here played standard when Scars of Mirrodin had just come out? If you do, you probably remember a tier-2 deck that people called K-Red or Kuldotha Red. The deck was ridiculously explosive and usually won on turn three to four (which was crazy fast in standard at the time). It plays similar to some red affinity lists now. The idea of the deck would be to puke out as many creatures as possible using both Goblins and creatures like Memnite, then use some anthem effects such as Goblin Bushwhacker and Signal Pest to make maximum use of these many creatures. It also played many 0-mana artifacts and Kuldotha Rebirth, the deck's namesake, as a way to make more creatures.
Recently I developed a Modern deck that was very similar to this. Amongst my play group, it's known as Affinity Rebirthed or AR due to the fact that it seems like a re-creation of the current red Affinity lists and again, it's named after Kuldotha Rebirth. I don't think it's really Affinity though, so I didn't post it there.
Card choices:
Meat:
Goblin Guide: Not bad. He's pretty good just as an aggressor, but he doesn't contribute to any synergies and isn't particularly explosive. The fact that he allows your opponent to see their top card in a format where fetchlands exist is also mildly relevant. I'd say he's a "meh" card in this deck. Play whatever number you feel is right.
Goblin Bushwhacker: Ridiculously good. Slamming him down turn two or even turn three feels great. I'd rarely cast him unkicked, but he's a powerhouse. I wouldn't ever consider playing less than four of him.
Atog: He has the potential to be very good. He has the potential to be absolutely horrible. Imagine the following: it's turn three, and you have six artifacts out plus an Atog. You swing in, and your opponent blocks all your creatures besides the Atog. You sacrifice two of your artifacts. "Take five?" (cue Dave Brubeck) you say to your opponent, who smirks and casts Path to Exile. Ouch. Still, I'd play some, as you often have mana-artifacts that are pretty useless after turn two on the field.
Memnite: Very good on turn 1. Not so good after that. I'd argue he's necessary as a four-of. Casting Rebirth on T1 feels good.
Ornithopther: Also pretty good. I'd recommend 3-4. It flies, which is relevant when you've got Signal Pests or a Cranial Plating. It also eats Rebirth turn one for fun.
Signal Pest: It's ridic. Makes the deck run. Four-of.
Vault Skirge: Pretty good. Very good against other aggro decks, especially if you find a way to boost its power (again, Signal Pest and Cranial Plating).
Artifacts:
Springleaf Drum: I absolutely love this card. Often there's a turn you don't want to be attacking with one of your creatures anyway, or you can't. This card enables you to run so few "traditional" mana sources. At the same time, I feel sick seeing more than one per game. I'd play 2-3.
Cranial Plating: It's a ridiculously good card. I mean. It's just ridic. You'll usually have some sort of evasion going on what with Ornithopter, Signal Pest, and Vault Skirge all possibly in your list, so it almost always connects. I'd play no less than four.
Chimeric Mass: This card is funny. I often cast it at X=0 either for Rebirth or to get Metalcraft on my Opal on turn one. I often also topdeck it if for some reason I get to more mana and can make it a 3/3 or bigger, which is relevant if my opponent plays things like Pyroclasm or other sorcery-speed wipes. Still, I wouldn't play more than two.
Genesis Chamber: I find this card is very good the turn you play it and the turn afterwards, but actually hurts you after that. The fact that it's two mana means that often if you dump your hand on turn 1 you won't get too many triggers off of it. Still, it works great with Atog as you always have fodder. It also helps the deck be more resilient to board-wipes. It's ridic with Cranial Plating. Board out against aggro, keep in against control.
Ichor Wellspring: It's not /horrible/ if you run Shrapnel Blast and Atog. You usually get both cards out it, so that's good. I find it works depending on the list - try testing it in your own build.
Spells:
Kuldotha Rebirth: 4-of. Duh.
Galvanic and Shrapnel Blast: Both are very good. I find my game usually is slowed on turn 3ish either by my opponent's deck or by my own blowout (sacrifices to Atog, Bushwhacker was already played, etc.). Playing burn gives you the Reach you need, and these are just soo good. They also hit key creatures like Kiki-Jiki or Infect's/Affinity's big hitter if need be.
Lightning Bolt: Also good, but to a lesser extent. I'd almost always rather have the Galvanic Blast. I think running 4 Blasts and some Bolts is too much though. Could be useful.
Mana Producers:
Mountain: Well no ****.
Fetchlands: Nope. See here for more info. Also, not playing fetches helps our aggro matchups.
Mox Opal: Truly insane. Almost always I get the metalcraft active. Play 3 to 4, especially with the new legendary rule.
Darksteel Citadel: Helps with getting Opal online and other things like Cranial Plating, Atog, etc.. I'd play 2 because I don't want to be colorscrewed, especially with things like Bushwhacker in the deck.
Traps (cards that look good but aren't):
Frogmite: Looks good, huh? A 2/2 for 0, just like Affinity plays. WRONG. This deck isn't explosive enough for Frogmite, and Frogmite isn't explosive enough for this deck. By this I mean you can't consistently cast Frogmite for 0, and a 2/2 for 1 isn't actually that good in this sort of build.
Etched Champion: No, no, no! 3 mana? Absolutely disgusting. Similarly any other card with CMC > 2.
Arcbound Ravager: Try as I might, I simply am unable to explain why this card doesn't make it in. I've tested it. I've tried everything. She's just not good in this deck. I don't understand why. If you don't believe me, test it yourself.
Inkmoth Nexus and Blinkmoth Nexus: Don't get me wrong, these are both very good cards. They don't fit in this deck. However, the fact that they essentially cost two mana to use to attack hurts. The colorless mana hurts too. I suppose the flying is nice but we have enough of that. No thank you.
Sample lists:
Here's my list
2 Darksteel Citadel
3 Mox Opal
4 Memnite
4 Signal Pest
4 Goblin Bushwhacker
4 Goblin Guide
2 Vault Skirge
4 Ornithopter
3 Atog
4 Cranial Plating
4 Kuldotha Rebirth
3 Galvanic Blast
1 Chimeric Mass
3 Shrapnel Blast
To Be Added: Matchup analysis, sideboarding options, weaknesses
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=505940
I'm the friend stopyourself (the OP) was talking about and we are building this deck. Wasn't aware we could discuss spoilers yet; thanks for drawing that to my attention. Taking into consideration the above...
4x Stomping Ground
3x Sacred Foundry
3x Temple Garden
5x Forest
2x Mountain
3x Plains
3x Kessig Wolf Run
3x Arbor Elf
3x Avacyn's Pilgrim
3x Huntmaster of the Fells
4x Restoration Angel
4x Thragtusk
3x Acidic Slime
2x Armada Wurm
2x Centaur Healer
4x Cloudshift
2x Searing Spear
3x Farseek
///Enchant: 4
4x Legion’s Initiative
We haven't begun working on a SB yet due to the meta change coming up.
Sophomore in High School here. Not sure if that's relevant, but someone once told me to always start any personal conversation here with my age or grade, so here it is. Point being, I'm a single guy, and I have a friend - let's call her Kate. She's my lab partner in a Chemistry class we have together, and during that class, she and I flirt. We (lightly) take turns kicking each other (I think this is called "footsie," but I'm not sure) and other flirtatious actions. Making sex jokes... the whole shebang.
Now, there are a couple things wrong with this, from my perspective at least. For starters, she has a boyfriend. Now, I don't know the guy very well, as he transferred away from our school last year. I get a strong feeling he's not too fond of me, simply because I'm a male friend of Kate's. This perceived animosity has gone on longer than whatever it is between me and Kate. Furthermore, I am in no shape, way, or form ready for a relationship with Kate, even if she were single. I'm emotionally low, and I there's this other chick, but she and I... eh, I'm getting off topic. Point is, in a hypothetical world where Kate's single, I still don't think she and I should be together.
A couple weeks ago, she and I were doing some Chem homework at my place. After we finished, we decided to watch a show I had on my TV. During the show, she propped up her legs so that they were crossing mine. Not really sitting on my lap per se, but something similar. My hands were on her legs the rest of the show. That's as... I don't know what the word is. I was going to say intimate, but that doesn't sound right at all. That's as "close" as we've gotten to doing anything that would be outright cheating.
I've known Kate since... god, I dunno, must be eleven years now. That's a bridge I don't really want to burn. Hell, I don't even want to stop the flirting, really. I mean, I enjoy it - who doesn't? I don't really know what's going through her mind. I know she's cheated before, but not on this guy. I know she really likes him as a friend on top of their romantic relationship. I know I don't want to be a tool and a thief. I should note I'm someone who values honesty very highly, and I subscribe to a variation of Brad Banton's Radical Honesty, which I guess isn't really represented here. I guess I'm coming to you guys for advice on what you think she's thinking, and what I should do. Thanks for reading.
I feel like that's a thing, but not for this deck. Could work in a similar one though.
2 Blackcleave Cliffs
4 Scalding Tarn
4 Steam Vents
3 Watery Grave
4 Blood Crypt
4 Darkslick Shores
1 Island
4 Vengevine
2 Gravecrawler
4 Magus of the Bazaar
4 Hedron Crab
4 Stinkweed Imp
2 Bloodghast
2 Fatestitcher
4 Golgari Thug
4 Faithless Looting
2 Thought Scour
2 Darkblast
4 Glimpse the Unthinkable
Very untested, very preliminary, but that's what I have. What could I fix?