M13 *SPOILERS*

[BlackJester]

I just wouldn't play it because I don't want to have to shuffle a 200+ behemoth.  If I could use one of those automated shufflers, I'd be in like Flynn. 

I see what you did there

What did I do there?  Did I make a funny and not even know it?  Damn I'm good!   

[ChrisRodriguez]

I just wouldn't play it because I don't want to have to shuffle a 200+ behemoth.  If I could use one of those automated shufflers, I'd be in like Flynn. 

I see what you did there

What did I do there?  Did I make a funny and not even know it?  Damn I'm good!   

"In like Flynn" is a movie from the late '60's. Or it's "in like flint" but I think it's the first one.

[BlackJester]

Oh, yeah I've been using that expression for a while. (not since the 60's though.  )

[Dywolf]

Playset of m13 dual lands for 53$ a good deal? Don't have any and thinking about picking some up.

Where ? I want to buy some too lol

[Dudecore]

Yes. Jon Finkle going 3-0 in an Odessey Invitational is a marketing ploy. Because he played {Shadowmage infiltrator} the rest of the time, except that once.

[BlackJester]

Yes. Jon Finkle going 3-0 in an Odessey Invitational is a marketing ploy. Because he played {Shadowmage infiltrator} the rest of the time, except that once.

Hmmm...💆 this may take some looking into. So, you're proposing that JF swapped decks for the Invitational, his opponents all threw their games to give him the win, as a way to promote {Battle of Wits}?  That the Invitational was rigged, and Jon winning with BoW would help market the game?  Interesting... 😏

[Dudecore]

It's not so much they threw the games, but ultimately 1 such instance when he played a trash deck doesn't make it a good deck. He played a garbage deck for an invitational where players are promoted for using the latest wincons. I'm sure he had an infect deck too.

[BlackJester]

Im just saying it's doable. I guess if JF can win an invitational (we're not talking kitchen tables here, these are the best players at the time) with a piece of 💩 win con, well I guess thats a testament to the awesomeness of Finkle.

That was also just the first example I plucked from the intertoobz.

[Dudecore]

Pro players, till this very day, play cards that promote card advantage. Finkle played a garbage deck in Avacyn invitational too. They know, at the time, that the invitational decks are not going to be serious decks.
They're set constructed. We saw in Avacyn invitational that 90% of the decks were G/W decks consisting of {Avacyn's Pilgrim} that ramp into {Wolfir Silverheart}. Slight to minimal variants of the same deck.
I'd be willing to be that Finkle is 55% or lower at invitationals. It's not just him, they prove themselves at tournaments, which is how you make your name.

[Dudecore]

/I love Jon Finkle. He's MtG's version of Alex Rodriguez/< insert famous sports person>

the invitational decks always prove to be the opposite of meta decks. Delver proved dominance, Wolf Run Ramp filled into all the Open tournaments that Delver didn't win, and Zombie Control made some headlines. None of those decks were invitational.

[BlackJester]

The point I was trying to get to is that it is possible to win games with BoW, at least causally. I doubt it'll see any play at a serious level (although it'd be hilarious if it broke a top 8 somewhere), but that's not the audience for it. It was made for Johnny, and Spikes they come a'hatin'.

[Dudecore]

In an aside, does anyone else think Delver and Exalted will run meta going forward? A 3/2 by turn 2 will always be useful, and the passive benefits of Exalted are great. {Vapor Snag} will rotate, but {Unsummon} is confirmed, a viable amount of Delver flippers exist. The swords will rotate, and may (IMO) be replaced my cheap Exalted creatures.

[BlackJester]

Like EsperDelver? Or just {W}{U}?  That exalted land is gonna be BOSS son!

[Dudecore]

I think esper. White has slowly received better control, by nerfing blue. Black too. {Oblivion Ring} for {1}{W}. That exalted land is boss , I am not at all an MtG financial analyst, but I see that land transcending formats. I can see it defining the meta too. Or I could be completely wrong (I tend to run the gamut).

It will fill a lot of post-rotation holes on R/G midrange, Wolf Run Ramp, mono-green stomp and assorted other decks. It might even have a place in Legacy {reanimator} and merfolk

[BlackJester]

Is exalted good with 'folk?  I thought they were a swarm strat?  Like WW.