Picks for the next few months (keeps updating)

No articles for a long time, I 've caught a cold, a fever and a running nose this week.

1. Ajani, Steadfast

Doing playtests on MTGO, I can figure out the standard is not as slow as we expected before. Uncontrolled Burn, Red Aggro decks can chop opponent's life down to zero in 4-5 turns. I think seeking a better way of life gaining is a task of the first priority in this standard. That led me into browsing the whole standard card pool for life gaining cards and I found Ajani Steadfast as a card for Abzan, Naya and GW Decks. When Ajani targets Brimaz, Siege Rhino, Fleecemane Lion or Wingmate Roc, any of these creatures can boost you 4 or more life. That trades for an opponent's Stoke the Flames or Jeskai Charm. Besides, Ajani's 5 loyalty stands one attack from a Mantis Rider or 4 goblin tokens. As it's still low (4 -5 tix), it's a safe timing to collect it slowly.

2. Jace, the Living Gulidpact

The game designers tried to remove blue based controls from standard and they succeed, of course. But they can bring it back at anytime. At 4-5 tix price range, I recommend my readers to buy some Jace and hold for half a year.

3. Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker, Sorin, Solemn Visitor, Xenagos the Reveler, Nissa, Worldwaker, etc.

If Jeskai Temp dominates the meta for a longer period, MTG designers may reprint Leyline of Sanctity or do some stricter measures. If that happens, all higher cost Planeswalkers will turn active again. We can start collecting them from now til the day.

4. Dig Through Time

For one week, every time I lost to decks using this card. I believe blue based control will come back soon after rotation of THS. But it's not as popular as Thoughtseize or Snapcaster Mage, so 6 tix is quite high for it today. I will start to pile it up when its around 2-3, maybe it can down to 1 tix if lucky, then I 'll buy more.

Comments

[Standard][RNA] Gruul Decks

Against Control - the kind of control doesn't seem very strong in the current meta nor the new meta, we got several cards, all Gruul. Cindervines pressures an opponent's spells casting, directly shut down Izzet Phoenix. Its enchantment removal effect neutralizes Conclave Tribunal type cards. Rhythm of the Wild makes both conterspells and sorcery speed removals effortless. Gruul Spellbreaker provides a more solid way against Settle the Wreckage. So, control is totally ruled off in a meta full of Gruuls, if the meta IS full of Gruul. Let's look at the decks a Gruul facing: 1. Aristocrats A wall of Indestructible, Lifelink and Deathtouch, how do your Nullhide Ferox pass through it? Even with a Carnage Tyrant, the best it can do is just a few damages recovered easily, then it dies to a blocking Pontiff. 2. Mono Red After casting Rhythm followed by a Gruul Spellbreaker, it eats a Lava Coil the next turn, your life downs to a horribly low level, thanks to...

What is Magic Origins about?

If I am right, Magic Origins is a collection of "redesigned" old cards in MTG history. Evidence so far supports the prediction. We have: Dark Petition reminiscing Demonic Tutor, Day's Undoing replacing Timetwister, Honored Hierarch taking after Noble Hierarch. I believe more cards from Power Nine and old sets will appear in Standard but with lowered power level. Let's make some wild guess before the spoiler's out: 1. All ten Shock lands return ( Dual lands ) update: painlands, not shocklands 2. There are remakes for Armageddon, Nevinyrral's Disk and Wrath of God update: they remade Cataclysm. 3. Moxes will appear with 1 mana cost and "enter the battlefield tapped" 4. Something close to Force of Will is in the set

GWx Starfield of Nyx Deck

People say Magic Origins is a down-graded set. To me, It feels more like Ice Age then Khans in the variety of card functions and types. Of course, Ice Age was a fun deck, weakness never harms the entertaining level of cards. Starfield of Nyx is an interesting one. It goes perfectly into enchantment decks evolved during late Theros Standard. Win conditions: 1. Bring Chromanticore into play from grave. 2. Attack with animated enchatments for winning. 3. Bring Whip of Erebos into play and reanimate Hornet Queen. 4. Bring Sigil of the Empty Throne into play 5. Assault Formation + high toughness creatures Removals: End Hostility Banishing Light Doomwake Giant Defense: Nyx-Fleece Ram Courser of Kruphix Card Advantages: Ephara, God of the Polis Commune with the Gods Satyr Wayfinder Eidolon of Blossoms Gather the Pack Combos: Starfield of Nyx + everything / Font of Vigor Ephara, God...

LotusRing

Search This Blog