Hello everyone. This is my first try on an article (be gentle!) I would like to start off by saying how awesome this app is and everyone who is on this forum. Now for the good stuff. In this article, I will be opening one random pack each week and discussing the contents of that pack and uses for each card.
Our first pack is an M13 Booster
First card is {Ranger's Path}
I happen to have mixed views on this card. Good for a dual deck with green and you need more than one forest. Bad because of its 4 CMC. Two rampant growths and you get the same cost but can choose what lands. It just seems limited to me.
-Possible deck uses: Landfall, Dungrove, Hydra
{Rummaging Goblin}
FINALLY! We are finally starting to see a time in which red has draw abilities. The revolution started in the Innistrad block but it seems to be growing more and more. I love this card. Not only is it a goblin, but it is a drawing goblin! Sure you have to discard, but I love that part about it. The roulette game you play. Or! Better yet. Splash blue and you can fix your draws. And put things in the graveyard that you might want there. Especially with {snap caster Mage} out there. Only problem that I see with this card is that you have to tap the goblin so it's no repeatable. But overall, still good card.
Possible decks: Goblin (duh!), Madness, Graveyard
{Index}
SEE ABOVE. haha. Index is the big brother of {ponder} but not as talented. You fix your next 5 draws, but don't draw a card with it. Still makes for a great fixer. With delver still rampant, everyone has another way to fix delver flipping.
Possible decks: Delver, Counter, Draw
{Reckless Brute}
For 3CMC, 3/1 hasting berserker. I'll take it! Even if it's just a one shot, it creates an early game mismatch for weenie users. Only downside is that you better have another creature out to block for you.
Possible decks: Fling, RDW, Haster
{Zombie Goliath}
I actually have nothing good to say about this card. 5 CMC for a 4/3 zombie ... With NO ABILITIES! Why is this card reprinted again. Sorry for everyone who likes this card or sees a use, but he is too costly and there are thousands of other good uses for 5 mana.
Possible decks: Zombie, Swamp
{Yeva's Forcemage}
I like this card alot. Especially when he's paired up with is master {Yeva, Nature's Herald}. For 3 CMC, a 2/2 {mutanigenic growth} is pretty good. I will definately be constructing a flash green deck and this guy will be in it. Plus, the flavor text gives away that he's from Ravinica, which might mean more cards like him in the future.
Possible decks: Flash Green, Dungrove
{Crippling Blight}
Another black Weakening. But could be potentially used in standard. Either used for a weenie removal or slapping it on a potential blocker to force the hand of an opponent. Best part is that it only cost {B}. Very stackable as well. Add in a BSZ or {wring flesh} to make this a great crippling combo.
Possible decks: Swamp, Black control, Removal
{War Falcon}
Though limited, this card is very good. A 2/1 flyer for {W}. Only downside is you need a soldier or knight for it to go on the offensive. Great thing is that there are bird soldiers and flying knight creatures, which expands the uses for this card in possible decks. Worst case scenario, it's a flying blocker for 1 mana. That seems pretty good to me.
Possible decks: Soldier, Knight, Flyers
{Krenko's Command}
Dragon fodder resurgence!! Basically the same exact card. With the goblins rise back to power, this is a great feeder card for creatures like {Krenko, Mob Boss} ( who would have thought that these two were connected. What are the odds!). Anyway, definately good in any red, splashed or full.
Possible Decks: Goblins, RDW
{Knight of Infamy}
Exalted is an interested choice for black. There are not that many buffs for black but the introduction of exalted makes black that much stronger. Black does not overrun. It slowly widdles away and removes stuff in its path. A 2/1 knight for 2CmC is what we call a widdler. Add in the exalted and Pro white, makes for a pretty formidable attacker.
Possible decks: BW exalted, Swamp,
Lone Creature
{Augur of Bolas}
Pay 2 mana, find your mana leak or counter spell. Seems like a great trade off to me. Best part is that I like the after effects of him. He's a 1/3 blocker after that. Perfect way to set up your control. It creates a swing in that players direction automatically.
Possible decks: Counter, Merfolk, Control
{Jace's Phantasm}
Talk about OP with mill. {Mind Sculpt} and {Sands of delirium} were created for just such a purpose. To create a leviathan for 1 mana. How crazy is that. And with Ravincia coming back and a possible {Glimpse the unthinkable} reprint, this card is going to be outstanding. And it FLYS!
Possible decks: Mill, Graveyard
Rare: {Staff of Nin}
For 6 mana, there are much better things to play. But if you can get this out early, I like its effects. Every turn, an extra draw and a pinger? I like those abilities. But it's playability is very low. Sort of a junk rare. The challenge is to find the correct way to use it.
Possible decks: Artifact, Draw
Extra card. Foil {Aven Squire}
One of my favorite cards. Flying exalted is a great advantage. For 2 CMC, you can't go wrong. Good in any white deck. When this card came out in Conflux, I put at least one in each of my white decks.
Great article man!
Very nice, I like it!
Quote{Zombie Goliath}
I actually have nothing good to say about this card. 5 CMC for a 4/3 zombie ... With NO ABILITIES! Why is this card reprinted again. Sorry for everyone who likes this card or sees a use, but he is too costly and there are thousands of other good uses for 5 mana.
Possible decks:Zombie, Swamp
Just like {Phyrexian Hulk} and {Vastwood Gorger}. Hate those cards
Rangers path says 2 FOREST cards, not 2 basic forests. Fetch a couple dual with double land type like {temple garden}..any better?
I think any card that does double what another card for double the cost is half as useful. The reason is that decks need to be fine-tuned to where you get exactly what you need, and usually you only want 1 land early for a low cost( {Farseek}, anyone?); not something that does double yet is so high in cmc that you really have better things to do late game abd you probably already have your mana base going.
I really liked that man! Can't wait to see more!!
Quote from: Coffee Vampire on July 24, 2012, 12:37:40 PM
I think any card that does double what another card for double the cost is half as useful. The reason is that decks need to be fine-tuned to where you get exactly what you need, and usually you only want 1 land early for a low cost( {Farseek}, anyone?); not something that does double yet is so high in cmc that you really have better things to do late game abd you probably already have your mana base going.
{far seek} t2, {rangers path} t3..t4 {insert fatty here}
Really like the article hope to see more and I loved the idea.
Thanks everyone. All the cards I post I wouldn't use but I'm thinking that with the randomness of packs that it could be fun to analyze uses for each card and not just the ones we want. I will definately do this again. Also, I have no problem with people debating my view points. Like I said, it's just intended uses. Not that I would actually use the cards. 😝 except for zombie Goliath. I can't believe that on my first article, I pull one of those. -_-
Can you try to critique from a limited point of view?
Limited as in...? The type or perspective?
Quote from: darkarts981 on July 24, 2012, 12:00:18 PM
Very nice, I like it!
God damn it each time i see your avatar i just want to get to work on an Orzhov deck!
Quote from: Quackmaster5 on July 24, 2012, 02:55:24 PM
Limited as in...? The type or perspective?
Limited magic, like sealed or draft.
I'll probably get an article up today as an example if I have time.
Quote from: Prophylaxis on July 24, 2012, 03:09:05 PM
Quote from: Quackmaster5 on July 24, 2012, 02:55:24 PM
Limited as in...? The type or perspective?
Limited magic, like sealed or draft.
I'll probably get an article up today as an example if I have time.
That's an idea. But as I am a casual player and I won't just be doing M13, It might be hard to. I'm going to pick a random pack per week. Whatever I can get my hands on. Who knows? Walmart has those odyssey packs in those promo things, I might do that next week. 😉
Quote from: AgrusKos on July 24, 2012, 12:07:48 PM
{Zombie Goliath}
I actually have nothing good to say about this card. 5 CMC for a 4/3 zombie ... With NO ABILITIES! Why is this card reprinted again. Sorry for everyone who likes this card or sees a use, but he is too costly and there are thousands of other good uses for 5 mana.
Possible decks:Zombie, Swamp
Just like {Phyrexian Hulk} and {Vastwood Gorger}. Hate those cards
[/quote]
Green decks with {Muraganda Petroglyphs} are nice for vanilla creatures.