This article is called How Many Copies and Why. I hope you enjoy it.
Four Of's...
People put four copies of a card into their deck because it will never be a dead draw, and will always help. Another reason could be that it is the card that the deck is built around.
An example of a four of and the deck it is included in is:
{Snapcaster Mage}:
This card is really only used in control. It doesn't have many other decks it's good in. Its converted mana cost (CMC) is {1}{U}, and it is a 2/1 with flash. While it's decent as a creature, its ability is what makes it as good as it is. The ability to instantly flashback something in your graveyard is so over powered. Say they attack with their {Thragtusk}. You can do things like {Searing Spear} it, flash your snappy, then flashback your {Searing Spear} on the beast token Thragtusk gives you. There, your problem is solved. Or you could even use it to flashback that {Dissipate} in your graveyard and counter that pesky Thundermaw Hellkite. Again, problem solved.
Three Of's...
People decide to put a card in as a three of for a couple of reasons. One is that it has a CMC that isn't too high, but they may not always get enough mana to cast it. The other reason is it will be amazing at a certain part of the game, but won't always be helpful. An example of a three of and decks it is in is:
{Thragtusk}:
Big surprise I'm doing this, huh? Everybody knows what it is, unless you have been living under a rock since M13. Well the decks this card is included in are things like control, midrange, or aggro. You name it and chances are it's in there. Having a {4}{G}mana cost makes it easily splashable also.
Okay, so in the off chance you HAVE been living under a rock since M13, Thragtusk has been dominating, and it is also a valid four of. You get a 5/3 that gains you five life when it enters the battlefield. But that's not all. You also get a 3/3 when it dies that will definitely make your opponents think twice about killing it.
Two Ofs...
You may decide to put a card in as a two of because of its CMC, or maybe because it will only help half of the time. There isn't too many more reasons it will be a two of. An example of a two of is:
{Sin Collector}:
For two of's I have decided to do one of my favorite cards: {Sin Collector}. This is an amazing card, as a great amount of our current staples for decks are instants/sorceries. Take {Sphinx's Revelation} for example. At the very least you are paying three mana {1}{B}{W} for a 2/1 body that lets you sneak a peek at your opponent's hand. Sin Collector belongs in almost every deck that uses its colors, and its not hard to see why. From my experiences there is also at least another one in the sideboard.
And finally...
One Of's...
There are a few reasons something could be a one of in a deck, such as the CMC could be extreme and you will almost never get it out, or it will almost never help, or you could even just be trying that particular card out. An example of a one of is:
{Biomass Mutation}:
I know what you are thinking, but give me a second to explain. {Biomass Mutation} can make a great finisher for decks like tokens. I will give you this scenario. You have four 1/1 Spirit tokens and your opponent is at 12 life. They tap out, thinking you won't have any way of getting lethal next turn. They will not be expecting it when you make your spirits 3/3's and swing for the win because nobody runs this little bomb. An example of a deck that {Biomass Mutation} is included in is, well, my token deck😂. Its mana cost isn't high either, so you don't have to be super careful about leaving enough mana open to do it.
This was a refined and edited version of my first article. I hope you enjoy it so I am able to write more for you in the future.
Until next time,
That_Guy
P.S
Before this starts an uproar of people saying I stole this article, the account that uploaded it originally was me. This is a new account.
Written by: That_Guy
Edited by: Mikefrompluto and Silent1236
Thanks a lot to my editors! :)
This articles heading will be made bold in just a sec!
Ok its all good and ready...
I really like your point of views on the copies, although I may disagree on 1 which is sin collector. I would actually put 3 of them suckers in mb. Just because they will get rid of kill spells, board wipes, and a lot of crazy good cards. 1 in sb if your facing super control. But all in all awesome work!! +1
Edit: well +1 when I can give one lol
Quote from: All-Mana Mania on July 09, 2013, 12:19:51 AM
I really like your point of views on the copies, although I may disagree on 1 which is sin collector. I would actually put 3 of them suckers in mb. Just because they will get rid of kill spells, board wipes, and a lot of crazy good cards. 1 in sb if your facing super control. But all in all awesome work!! +1
Edit: well +1 when I can give one lol
Lol thanks
Very helpful for my deck, clear, and informative! +1! When I can! Excellent job, good sir.