Maybe include this?
Emrakul although has protection from colored spells his triggers do not and they can be countered via Stifle effects (Extra Turn, Anihilator, GY Shuffle)
I just started playing around with Affinity this weekend and I'm really enjoying it so very pleased to see this thread.
As a newcomer to the archetype the one thing I would like more than anything is a bit more of a sideboard guide. Lots of matches I'm not really sure what to swap. More often than not its relatively clear what needs to be added but the more difficult part is what to remove.
Welcome to the party. I'm working on a sideboard/matchup guide to put on the primer.
About time Affinity got some primer-loving. Great primer, though I feel it could use some polishing. More in depth with the creatures and how to play affinity is important for new-comers to the format and the archetype in general. It's important to maximise your affinity-potential. This means always playing lands first, constantly consider the amount of artifacts you have in play, playing your "free" creatures first, never play an affinity card if you have a 1cc artifact in your hand that can reduce its cost, etc. These are important aspects of affinity, something that you can't deduce merely from looking at the cards themselves.
Some of the cards could do with some more in depth descriptions too. Although you mention the card in the description of Atog, you don't have a section for Fling
Lastly, I feel the need to point out the subgenres of Affinity. Are we playing the Certarch variant, some more metalcraft heavy builds, etc. A brief history of the evolution of the deck could also be good - from the glory days of unbanned cranial plating, to the introduction of metalcraft in Scars of Mirrodin, etc.
Affinity was one of my first decks and I would love to write parts of the Primer if you want me to.
Affinity is a deck which is a combination of both Aggro and Combo. You play many cheap 1 drop artifacts that in turn make the cost to play other cards cheaper. The deck uses these synergies to put creatures on the field and over run your opponent. The deck utilizes the artifact lands to increase the affinity for faster casting of creatures. Affinity generally is a 4/5 color deck because of this we use things like Springleaf Drum, Prophetic Prism, and Chromatic Star for mana fixing.
Why play Affinity?
You like multiple decision paths
You enjoy casting things for nearly free
You like having options of turning sideways while also comboing.
So, what exactly is in the Affinity deck?
Core:
Atog:Atog makes use of our artifacts as food to make him grow to epic proportions. He gains +2/+2 for each piece he eats. When there is an opening he can swing in for a huge amount and then be sacrificed withFling for the finisher.
Fling: Fling can be used most of the time as a 4+ damage removal as we fling our creatures at the opponent or at their creature. Swinging with a big Atog and then flinging him can be a 1 turn finisher.
Disciple of the Vaults: With a deck full of artifacts this creature can ping out an opponent and has great synergy with Atog. The more Disciples on the field the greater the carnage he can cause.
Myr EnforcerFrogmite: Affinity for artifacts makes casting these two virtually 0 mana most of the time.
Thoughtcast: Draw 2 for a U is amazing and adds fuel to our hands to keep the battle going.
Carapace Forger: Forger is a 4/4 for 2 in our deck. It provides early beats and is unmatched in most early games.
Galvanic Blast: Blast most likely is going to be 4 damage for R in our deck. Aside from turn 1 metalcraft will be active. Blast is our main removal spell while also being capable to do 4 to the head.
Springleaf Drum: One of our several mana fixers being that we typically will have a creature on the field to utilize it.
Chromatic Star: Mana fixer and cantrip in one. Has synergy with Disciple to dish out damage while drawing a card.
Prophetic Prism: Mana fixer and cantrip similar to sphere, but has no built in sacrifice mechanic and cost 2.
Terrarion: Mana fixing and cantrip. Synergy with Disciple similar to Chromatic Star except cost 2 and comes into play tapped.
Optionals:
Somber Hoverguard: Flipped delver is good right? We have our own we can include. A 3/2 flyer which will usually just cost us a U.
Porcelain Legionnaire: 3/1 first striker for 2/2life or 3 Artifact creature to up the number of artifacts for affinity.
Vedalken Certarch: A nice control option as the ability to tap down a land or a high mana producing creature during upkeep can be great.
Krark-Clan Shaman: Shaman has the ability to clear the way of blockers as most of the time his 1 damage does not affect most of our creatures.
Ardent Recruit: 3/3 for W. As long as we have metalcraft which should be always past turn 1.
Auriok Sunchaser: 3/3 flyer for 1W, assuming we're at metalcraft.
Rush of Knowledge: Can be used late game to refill our hands so we can finish off the opponent.
Sideboard:
Gorilla Shaman: Dropping this guy in the mirror is an instant game winner. You will be able to destroy every land they put into play for 1. Very deadly to play against.
Pyroblast: Blows up blue permanents and allows us to counter permission decks.
Electrickery: Very nice for elves type decks that flood the field with 1/1's
Raze: Destroys posts to help take away their mana. Very nice vs Karoo lands as well.
I've been tempted to put Demigod of Revenge in my Jundvine build. That PTQ list looks like what I was drawing up. Just having a solid curve to avoid the graveyard if no hate is drawn.
The reasoning behind no lightning mauler is because he is very susceptible to pyroclasm as most of the deck gets around it. Keldon marauders could be a card people use for personal preference.
Now if you replace GG with E1 you would get a Creature that hits for 5 on t2 whereas Guide nets you 6. You have to keep in mind Guide gives your opponent possible CA so I think it is pretty awesome. Not saying Guide is bad ofc. One of my favourite cards!
I'll throw him back in for today's daily and see how he works out. The upside of him turn one is nice for a turn 3 alpha strikes assuming we hit our BTE curve..
I think that is a bad choice because you are replacing an early game card with a mid to lategame one. Or am I wrong but t1 Shard Volley isn't really a play I'm going to make. I'd much rather have E1 who nets me 2-3 Damage t2 and even more the following turns and should trade 1 for 1.
It could be that I just wasn't drawing him in my openers enough. I typically was seeing Goblin Guide turn 1 into BTE/Kird Ape/Rancor or Berserker turn 2.
http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/eventcoverage/gpsd13/day1#7
Emrakul although has protection from colored spells his triggers do not and they can be countered via Stifle effects (Extra Turn, Anihilator, GY Shuffle)
Welcome to the party. I'm working on a sideboard/matchup guide to put on the primer.
Sure that'd be great to have more input.
What is Affinity?
Affinity is a deck which is a combination of both Aggro and Combo. You play many cheap 1 drop artifacts that in turn make the cost to play other cards cheaper. The deck uses these synergies to put creatures on the field and over run your opponent. The deck utilizes the artifact lands to increase the affinity for faster casting of creatures. Affinity generally is a 4/5 color deck because of this we use things like Springleaf Drum, Prophetic Prism, and Chromatic Star for mana fixing.
Why play Affinity?
So, what exactly is in the Affinity deck?
Core:
Atog:Atog makes use of our artifacts as food to make him grow to epic proportions. He gains +2/+2 for each piece he eats. When there is an opening he can swing in for a huge amount and then be sacrificed withFling for the finisher.
Fling: Fling can be used most of the time as a 4+ damage removal as we fling our creatures at the opponent or at their creature. Swinging with a big Atog and then flinging him can be a 1 turn finisher.
Disciple of the Vaults: With a deck full of artifacts this creature can ping out an opponent and has great synergy with Atog. The more Disciples on the field the greater the carnage he can cause.
Myr Enforcer Frogmite: Affinity for artifacts makes casting these two virtually 0 mana most of the time.
Thoughtcast: Draw 2 for a U is amazing and adds fuel to our hands to keep the battle going.
Carapace Forger: Forger is a 4/4 for 2 in our deck. It provides early beats and is unmatched in most early games.
Galvanic Blast: Blast most likely is going to be 4 damage for R in our deck. Aside from turn 1 metalcraft will be active. Blast is our main removal spell while also being capable to do 4 to the head.
Lands:
Great Furnace, Seat of the Synod, Tree of Tales, Vault of Whispers, Darksteel Citadel, Ancient Den : Some combination of these 6 lands will be used in most Affinity lists. The artifact subtype is what grants us the high artifact affinity early.
Non-Creature Artifacts:
Chromatic Star: Mana fixer and cantrip in one. Has synergy with Disciple to dish out damage while drawing a card.
Prophetic Prism: Mana fixer and cantrip similar to sphere, but has no built in sacrifice mechanic and cost 2.
Terrarion: Mana fixing and cantrip. Synergy with Disciple similar to Chromatic Star except cost 2 and comes into play tapped.
Optionals:
Porcelain Legionnaire: 3/1 first striker for 2/2life or 3 Artifact creature to up the number of artifacts for affinity.
Vedalken Certarch: A nice control option as the ability to tap down a land or a high mana producing creature during upkeep can be great.
Krark-Clan Shaman: Shaman has the ability to clear the way of blockers as most of the time his 1 damage does not affect most of our creatures.
Ardent Recruit: 3/3 for W. As long as we have metalcraft which should be always past turn 1.
Auriok Sunchaser: 3/3 flyer for 1W, assuming we're at metalcraft.
Rush of Knowledge: Can be used late game to refill our hands so we can finish off the opponent.
Sideboard:
Pyroblast: Blows up blue permanents and allows us to counter permission decks.
Electrickery: Very nice for elves type decks that flood the field with 1/1's
Raze: Destroys posts to help take away their mana. Very nice vs Karoo lands as well.
Ancient grudge: Reusable artifact removal
Electrostatic Bolt: Removal that is better vs Artifact creatures.
Scale of Chiss-Goria: Used as protection vs burn on our creatures can be used in the mirror to help chump effectively.
Please let me know of any grammar / spelling mistakes. Affinity needs a primer as it is one the top decks hopefully this can be that primer.
Sample Decklists:
4 Great Furnace
4 Seat of the Synod
4 Tree of Tales
4 Vault of Whispers
4 Atog
4 Carapace Forger
4 Disciple of the Vault
4 Frogmite
4 Myr Enforcer
2 Porcelain Legionnaire
4 Galvanic Blast
4 Chromatic Star
4 Prophetic Prism
4 Springleaf Drum
4 Thoughtcast
2 Ancient Grudge
1 Dispel
3 Duress
3 Electrickery
4 Krark-Clan Shaman
2 Raze
4 Great Furnace
4 Seat of the Synod
4 Tree of Tales
4 Vault of Whispers
4 Atog
4 Carapace Forger
4 Disciple of the Vault
4 Frogmite
1 Krark-Clan Shaman
4 Myr Enforcer
2 Somber Hoverguard
4 Galvanic Blast
4 Chromatic Star
2 Prophetic Prism
4 Springleaf Drum
4 Thoughtcast
1 Disrupt
2 Duress
2 Electrickery
3 Gorilla Shaman
3 Krark-Clan Shaman
4 Pyroblast
2 Darksteel Citadel
4 Great Furnace
4 Seat of the Synod
4 Tree of Tales
4 Atog
4 Auriok Sunchaser
3 Carapace Forger
4 Frogmite
4 Myr Enforcer
3 Somber Hoverguard
4 Chromatic Star
4 Prophetic Prism
2 Springleaf Drum
2 Terrarion
4 Thoughtcast
1 Dispel
1 Hydroblast
3 Krark-Clan Shaman
1 Negate
4 Pyroblast
2 Raze
2 Standard Bearer
1 Stone Rain
Matchups coming soon!
I'd like to have community input to put into the primer so feel free to write up anything and I'll include it!
I assume he sacs the seal as they cast sunrise and get the seal back, rinse and repeat?
Have you considered Goblin Lore, Burning Inquiry, Izzet charm, Ideas Unbound (more for next turn setup), or Wistful Thinking?
I'll throw him back in for today's daily and see how he works out. The upside of him turn one is nice for a turn 3 alpha strikes assuming we hit our BTE curve..
It could be that I just wasn't drawing him in my openers enough. I typically was seeing Goblin Guide turn 1 into BTE/Kird Ape/Rancor or Berserker turn 2.