I just started playing and as the title says, this is my first attempt at making a standard deck. Any assistance you can give me will be much appreciated.
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Land (22)
2 {Evolving Wilds} -- mana fixing, slight deck thinning
4 {Rootbound Crag} -- necessary
9 {Forest} -- obvious
7 {Mountain} -- also obvious
Creatures (20)
4 {Arbor Elf} -- card I definitely want to play early to help with acceleration
2 {Strangleroot Geist} -- haste makes it good, undying makes it really good
4 {Elvish Visionary} -- card advantage as well as a cheap blocker
2 {Wolfir Avenger} -- included because I need something else at 3 mana, flash and regeneration are nice
2 {Primordial Hydra} -- can play it early and make my opponent deal with the threat, can be a game winner later after accelerating
2 {Wolfir Silverheart} -- I really like this card, 12 power for 5 mana seems like a great deal
2 {Vexing Devil} -- great one drop, either efficient burn or a really efficient creature
2 {Zealous Conscript} -- stealing target "permanent" makes this card great
Spells (16)
2 {Rancor} -- good buff, hard to get rid of, can put trample on something like a silverheart
2 {Ranger's Path} -- mana acceleration and deck thinning
2 {Increasing Savagery} -- fits well with my aggressive mentality, can work wonders with my hydra
4 {Searing Spear} -- mostly for control purposes
2 {Increasing Vengeance} -- I would love to copy {Ranger's Path}, {Increasing Savagery}, a big {Fling}, or even {Searing Spear}. Flashback on this is awesome
2 {Wrack with Madness} -- slight drawback if toughness is higher than power, but works on any size creature
2 {Fling} -- great to play in response to something like {Murder}, in combination with {Zealous Conscript}, or even as a game winner with {Primordial Hydra}, {Wolfir Silverheart}, or something I used {Increasing Savagery} on
Planeswalkers (2)
1 {Chandra, the Firebrand} -- I find it useful for doubling spells like searing spear, traitorous blood, or ranger's path, ultimate is my only form of mass removal
1 {Garruk, Primal Hunter} -- main purpose is for the card advantage I am lacking with out it
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I do not have a sideboard at this point since I haven't finalized the main deck.
I debated using {Borderland Ranger} but picked {Wolfir Avenger} over it.
I am not sure if {Goblin Arsonist} is useful enough to keep in the deck.
I think finding some sort of mass removal to take the place of {Thunderous Wrath} would be beneficial. (I am not willing to buy {Bonfire of the Damned}...)
I am unsure of which planeswalker is more beneficial to my deck, and whether or not I should include mutiple copies.
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Please keep card suggestions within the last block because I don't want to buy something just to have it rotate. As I said, I am a new player, so try to cut me some slack if I've made some terribly eggregious card decisions.
Nice first deck...I like how you give a reason for everything. My first attempt at a standard deck was just cards I thought were good so I threw them together. If it wasn't for helpful people on this app I would have actually bought that awful deck! ;D
As for suggestions, it seems like deadly recluse and the card that steals instants and sorcerys should be sideboarded. Deadly recluse totally destroys the concept of {Thundermaw Hellkite}. People just assume nobody runs spiders.
As for that other card, I dunno...seems weak to me. Whatever instants or sorceries your opponent has are made for your opponent's deck, and not yours. Truth is that your deck probably would jot benefit from another deck's spells. Maybe try something else like {Zealous Conscripts}. stealing any permanent is way better. For instance, once they their planeswalker ready to ultimate, just cast conscripts on your turn, ultimate, PROFIT, then give them a pw card to put in their graveyard! ;)
Oh btw I like that you have primal hunter in there...t4 play him. Then t5 play wolfir silverheart and draw 8 cards. Haha so awesome.
Thanks for the response. I totally forgot about zealos conscript. I actually have one from the intro deck I bought and he (I think it's a he) would be a great addition, as well as another one if I can find it.
I also see your point about mindclaw shaman being better in the sideboard. My friend has a black deck and tries to use {Army of the Damned} and I have stolen that for the win a few times. But there are probably too many decks where I would just end up with a weak 2/2 for 5 mana to justify it.
Wow that would be hallarious!!! Getting 13 2/2s for 5 mana..wow.
And it is a she. A she with weird teeth and a manly facial structure lol
Haha it was really funny the first time it happened. He put his hand down except for one card and then tried to slide it back into his deck without me noticing. I caught him though lol
Your going to be ramping with your green, so you 5 mana steal oppents spell isn't that bad, he should come out a turn or two early.
Hmm. I like silklash spider in the sideboard. As for the recluses, I liked them more for the deathtouch, with reach as an added bonus. I was worried I didn't have enough removal. Viridian emissary is nice, but it will rotate out fairly soon if I'm not mistaken. If you still think I could use something else at 2 mana would {Strangleroot Geist} be a good choice?
{Strangleroot Geist} is very good.
Also put {Daybreak Ranger} in your sideboard. He kills delvers and spirits and he can fight most creatures to kill them.
Especially when paired with {Wolfir Silverheart}
Really good job on the list I liked your reasons why for each card. And if you want a one drop red you try the data base and filter option for red one cmc standard cards.
{stonewright}, {somberwald vigilante}, {vexing devil}
I appreciate all the great suggestions I'm getting. I'm definitely adding a couple {Strangleroot Geist}'s in. I'll consider {Daybreak Ranger} when I get to the sideboard. As for the red one drop, I really like {Vexing Devil}. Early on he's just going to get sacrificed, but it's still really efficient burn. And later in the game he quite possibly could come down as a viable threat. The {Stonewright} is decent, but not as appealing to me, and {Somberwald Vigilante}'s art... I don't like it lol.
I think I would run {stromkirk noble}, or {vexing devil} in your 1 drop spot.
I have made a few changes to my original list.
I added 2 {Vexing Devil} in place of 2 {Goblin Arsonist}.
I added 2 {Strangleroot Geist} in place of 2 {Deadly Recluse}.
I added 2 {Fling} in place of 2 {Thunderous Wrath}.
I added 2 {Increasing Vengeance} in place of 2 {Traitorous Blood}.
I added 2 {Zealous Conscript} in place of 2 {Mindclaw Shaman}.
I still haven't come up with a sideboard, but so far I am thinking of including {Mindclaw Shaman} and {Silklash Spider}.
Keep the {Thunderous Wrath} over fling.
Quote from: Thorn on August 03, 2012, 03:54:54 PM
Keep the {Thunderous Wrath} over fling.
Hmm. Why do you think that {Thunderous Wrath} is better? I do like it, but I felt like it had some limitations. Miracling it is nice, but it will mostly be burn to the face unless they have a creature that is worth taking out. I felt like {Fling} was better because it could be played in response to {Murder} or the like, I could block and then fling the blocker, or I could use {Chandra, the Firebrand} or {Increasing Vengence} with it to fling a fattie for the win. I am wary about sacrificing a creature, but I thought it was more versatile than {Thunderous Wrath}.
Well personnaly I like {Pillar of Flame} over both ofthem since it hits:
{Gravecrawler}
{Geralf's Messenger}
Other {Strangleroot Geist}s
and it kills {Delver of Secrets}
Its a really powerful card.
Oo {pillar of flame} does seem like a really good choice too. I guess I'll just have to play a bit and see which one I find more useful. I do like the idea of main decking {fling} and then side boarding {pillar of flame} though.
Quote from: tsul25 on August 03, 2012, 04:27:17 PM
Oo {pillar of flame} does seem like a really good choice too. I guess I'll just have to play a bit and see which one I find more useful. I do like the idea of main decking {fling} and then side boarding {pillar of flame} though.
That does sound good
By the way I was just wondering how long you have been playing. You sound more exprenced then most that are just getting into standard for the first time.
I started playing after I got DotP in mid June. I just got really into it and started watching a lot of the pro tour finals on YouTube and reading forums and I've picked up a good amount. So far I've purchased an intro deck, a deck builders toolkit, and a few packs of m13, and now I'm working on improving the deck I made with the toolkit and the booster packs.
You have picked up a lot more a lot faster then some people that I know.
Sounds like I'm doing alright then lol. The first week I spent watching I literally had no idea what was going on though. It just seemed like two people were throwing lots of cards on the table and the announcers were saying all these weird names. Eventually I started recognizing things though, and I'd look up other cards I hadn't seen yet, and things sort of clicked. I still have to ask plenty of questions in the rules section though lol.
Well welcomto the best TCG in the world!
Quote from: Thorn on August 03, 2012, 07:50:26 PM
Well welcomto the best TCG in the world!
Thank you!
Still asking is the best way to learn. At DBMS if someone doesn't tell you ask for the judge. Or even if it doesn't seem right ask. It will help.
Quote from: smokin terry on August 03, 2012, 07:54:59 PM
Still asking is the best way to learn. At DBMS if someone doesn't tell you ask for the judge. Or even if it doesn't seem right ask. It will help.
My retarded auto correct put DBMS instead of fnm. For some reason.
Well, I haven't gone to a FNM yet. My standard deck won't be finished until I pick up a few cards this weekend, and even though I think I would enjoy drafting, I feel a little self-conscious about playing for the first time and doing something wrong and messing it up for other people.
I just did my first tourney and placed 3rd!
Just know your rules and hae fun!
Third place seems like a great result for your first tourney. What type of tourney was it and how many people were there?
Quote from: tsul25 on August 03, 2012, 10:42:03 PM
Well, I haven't gone to a FNM yet. My standard deck won't be finished until I pick up a few cards this weekend, and even though I think I would enjoy drafting, I feel a little self-conscious about playing for the first time and doing something wrong and messing it up for other people.
I just did my first draft tonight. Tied in second. Last round was stuck on two land the whole 3rd game. You have a pretty good reasoning for cards. So I'm sure you would do decent. And don't worry about play mistakes. You will learn from them.
I'm not worried about play mistakes, because making mistakes is how I'll improve. I'm more worried about not knowing proper draft etiquette, or taking too long to read all the cards, or something silly like that lol. And second place is good, especially if the only thing separating you from first was a land or two.
Quote from: tsul25 on August 04, 2012, 12:11:08 AM
I'm not worried about play mistakes, because making mistakes is how I'll improve. I'm more worried about not knowing proper draft etiquette, or taking too long to read all the cards, or something silly like that lol. And second place is good, especially if the only thing separating you from first was a land or two.
People will go over everything to help. Most people draft to have fun. Don't worry about how long it takes to read all the cards there was one guy tonight that had a couple stacks of cards waiting at one point. But if you don't feel ready then wait a while.
It's not timed? I forget which pro tour I was watching, but every time they got their cards some guy would tell them how long they had to look at them, and then he'd tell them to take a card and pass when the time was up.
Maybe at a big event but then agian it was in a pretty causal crowd. It was an old group that play months ago at our old lgs til it closed.
I might have to give it a try next Friday. I think there a few stores nearby. I know one does a rare redraft and is a little cheaper, but I'll probably go with the more expensive one that lets you keep your cards because I feel like it will be a little less competitive. Not like, in terms of gameplay, but in terms of mentality.
Ya and any sealed event will help you learn the cards in the set. But if you do then ask a little before hand what to expect.
You could probably place top eight with this deck depending o. What is played there