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Various Magic the Gathering Decks from my blog Magic the Gathering Adventures
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Magic The Gathering Adventures Blog Posts Volume 2
1
Deckbuilding Posts
October 13, 2012 to September 29, 2013 (M14)
2015
Magic The Gathering Adventures Blog Posts Volume 2
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Magic The Gathering Adventures Blog Posts Volume 2
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Contents Selesnya Online Deck (October 13, 2012)..................................................................................................... 4
Grixis Balanced in ISD+RTR Standard (October 14, 2012) .......................................................................... 11
ISD+RTR monoblack Rat Deck in depth (November 4, 2012) ..................................................................... 19
Played the Online Holiday Cube, Pulled a Black Lotus, did not get to Play It! (December 23, 2012) ......... 39
Optimized Rat Deck Online (December 23, 2012) ...................................................................................... 47
Sphere of Safety Mono-white Online Deck (January 14, 2013) .................................................................. 68
Rough Bant Deck in Preparation for Gatecrash (January 20, 2013) ........................................................... 82
Rough Orzhov Deck in Preparation for Gatecrash ...................................................................................... 83
Rough Artifact-only Deck in Preparation for Gatecrash (January 20, 2013)............................................... 85
Rough Gruul Deck in Preparation for Gatecrash (January 20, 2013) .......................................................... 87
Izzet Deck in Preparation for Gatecrash (January 24, 2013)....................................................................... 89
Jund Deck in Preparation for Gatecrash (January 24, 2013) ...................................................................... 91
Azorious Deck in Preparation for Gatecrash (January 24, 2013) ................................................................ 93
Dimir Deck in Preparation for Gatecrash (January 24, 2013) ..................................................................... 95
Boros Deck in Preparation for Gatecrash (January 27, 2013) ..................................................................... 97
Naya Deck in Preparation for Gatecrash (January 27, 2013) ...................................................................... 99
Esper Deck in Preparation for Gatecrash (January 29, 2013) ................................................................... 106
Rats Deck Gatecrash Update (February 15, 2013) .................................................................................... 108
Master of Cruelties DGM Build Around (May 17, 2013) ........................................................................... 110
Pack Rat is back for DGM: Meet Blood Scrivener (May 23, 2013) ............................................................ 125
A Jund (Black Red Green) build-around to Vraska (June 1, 2013) ............................................................ 128
Vraska Golgari and Jund Casual Builds Optimized (June 2, 2013) ............................................................ 135
Nivix Cyclops Build Around Online (June 22, 2013) .................................................................................. 143
Ral Zarek is a fun Planeswalker (July 4, 2013)........................................................................................... 148
In Depth of Ral Zarek Fun Online Deck (July 4, 2013) ............................................................................... 152
Fun Aristocrats Build (Profit/Loss Build-Around) (July 11, 2013) ............................................................. 159
Lifegain deck online (Alive and Well split card build-around) (July 14, 2013) .......................................... 169
M14 Deck: Lifegain Voracious Wurm Casual Build-around (July 31, 2013) .............................................. 173
M14 Deck: Zoo Beatdown Mono-green (July 31, 2013) ........................................................................... 178
RTR Block Monowhite Deck (September 27, 2013) .................................................................................. 182
[Modern] Mono Green Lots of Creatures (September 29, 2013) ............................................................. 190
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Selesnya Online Deck (October 13, 2012) Because I can't just buy whichever card I want, my paper selesnya deck will be missing some of the ideal
cards, and my online selesnya deck will be missing a different subset of the ideal cards. I am not yet
ready to fork out a bunch of money for the Restoration Angels and the Thragtusks.
Here is the deck derived from the cards I pulled in this morning's prerelease, a few cards I bought from
the bots-especially the two Sigardas to match my two paper copies; and cards I have either pulled or
bought from the bots from the ISD Block and Magic 2013.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WosrEIFkaCI/UHmYnnwTKjI/AAAAAAAAUsw/aBfb-ALnJDU/s1600/01-selesnya-1.jpghttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CG4Ch5ydIZc/UHmYotXeufI/AAAAAAAAUs4/dOiYlP0riJA/s1600/01-selesnya-2.jpg
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http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lAEgzF96jeg/UHmYnyJCBjI/AAAAAAAAUs0/0UGvmIu3duc/s1600/01-selesnya-3.jpg
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October 29, 2012 update after buying Izzet and Rakdos intro packs.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HpTvd-p9Rlk/UI5t11YLeDI/AAAAAAAAVdQ/blWDlcSkqDA/s1600/selesnya-1.jpg
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http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FAtB_izvzOs/UI5t2vVpzCI/AAAAAAAAVdY/YaGoWwuie-0/s1600/selesnya-2.jpghttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DUtYVNXr8Wk/UI5t2xB75_I/AAAAAAAAVdg/VB7sfrzeAjM/s1600/selesnya-3.jpg
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Here is the November 3, 2012 version after paying the bots a quick visit and buying three more packs
(ISD, DKA, AVR)-notice my newly pulled Champion of the Parish.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4PYDRCBHrQ/UI5tnrRckPI/AAAAAAAAVZ8/PlqVmJhSlyY/s1600/selesnya-4.jpghttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V6MeVkaWav8/UJVBVGhopLI/AAAAAAAAVwE/cOaPFwn35rU/s1600/01-selesnya-1.jpg
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http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6POZoRGfrHw/UJVBVjpDYaI/AAAAAAAAVwM/gWlvWWh5dxM/s1600/01-selesnya-2.jpghttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/-biGHYfwFpPc/UJVBVwKtttI/AAAAAAAAVwU/XcvOyqkJkzA/s1600/01-selesnya-3.jpg
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http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n39mkjM26-Y/UJVBWcsSubI/AAAAAAAAVwc/T5CVNPVASxk/s1600/01-selesnya-4.jpg
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Grixis Balanced in ISD+RTR Standard (October 14, 2012) After some fine-tuning and giving money to the bots for a few additional cards, here is the optimized
deck. Its not tournament quality but it does keep me in play in tournament practice. I can add better
cards later but I don't want to spend more money on this deck.
In summary, having a balanced number of red, blue, and black cards makes for a very smooth-playing
deck. I could have better cards for each of the three lineups, but this lineup is good enough for now.
I took out one of the M13 Jaces and sent my dear Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker to the sideboard. I added a
one-drop in red (Goblin Arsonist) and its accompanying enchantment-aura. I also rebalanced the mana
pool with more Dragonskull Summit and two of Sulfur Falls.
The Golgari Zoombie deck is one of the ones to beat....I am getting slaughtered by these. This deck as
well as the Selesnya deck are playing Rancor to win. The Restoration Angel/Thragtusk Selesnya decks
are strong too.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9byywa9zjwQ/UHqZtrXOqLI/AAAAAAAAU-Q/GMA1xKgm_BM/s1600/02-grixis-blue-black-v2-1.jpg
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http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z_YfnXMgZuo/UHqZuEEhrCI/AAAAAAAAU-Y/Ym6sg_waxNA/s1600/02-grixis-blue-black-v2-2.jpghttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iGzDJp5toow/UHqZtbbWebI/AAAAAAAAU-I/qqfFxo2aYZo/s1600/02-grixis-blue-black-v2-3.jpg
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October 29, 2012 update.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zyOb-um30XU/UI5tr9HFTCI/AAAAAAAAVbE/1xS0DhJpjd0/s1600/grixis-1.jpghttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eiHal7pVNLo/UI5tsSl8ZwI/AAAAAAAAVbM/J5xTYWowEB8/s1600/grixis-2.jpg
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http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E_oq8Ctc11k/UI5tswXEJlI/AAAAAAAAVbU/MYgOwmgLMX8/s1600/grixis-3.jpg
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http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yd3kIqNjGhM/UI5tozga1cI/AAAAAAAAVaU/awiMHGZA4hA/s1600/grixis-4.jpg
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Here is the November 3, 2012 update.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m2m8YP_i5j8/UJVBXevFppI/AAAAAAAAVws/FQfRINoPVGw/s1600/02-grixis-1.jpg
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http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UZtWiT980PM/UJVBXwLUqeI/AAAAAAAAVw0/xp5DPCb7SWc/s1600/02-grixis-2.jpghttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9GKgYWMKvww/UJVBYZNSQbI/AAAAAAAAVw8/Y13BmQwj5mY/s1600/02-grixis-3.jpg
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http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2N2NOGZ-iqQ/UJVBYmQSpBI/AAAAAAAAVxE/wKTOtkfjYrM/s1600/02-grixis-4.jpghttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dyOk2Hi_OOQ/UJVBZPOz8DI/AAAAAAAAVxM/3iAstN-bY0E/s1600/02-grixis-5.jpg
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ISD+RTR monoblack Rat Deck in depth (November 4, 2012) This deck has done really well in tournament practice: it loses late in the game. By now almost any deck
that is not a Restoration Angel/Thragtusk/Loxodon deck, or is not some type of a Geist of Saint Traft
deck, or is not a Red Deck Wins (RDW) deck just does not have a chance to win. This is the nature of
tournament play: a few decks take over, and all other decks run for cover! Still, I have had lots of fun
playing this deck: my $15 deck against their $200 deck.
Here is the deck.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CLyXP5tAEk0/UJZBCiRhl7I/AAAAAAAAV30/_bUHieQzu70/s1600/rats-1-1.jpg
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http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JBRsjqJwT8I/UJZBDG-0zvI/AAAAAAAAV38/AFn6LY9PMeA/s1600/rats-1-2.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KEmAoCjEQR4/UJZBDl8DIqI/AAAAAAAAV4E/llXl7W--4-k/s1600/rats-1-3.jpg
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Mana Curve:
Test hands:
Mulligan for previous hand.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NpJyuhGb9Bw/UJZBZUdTDJI/AAAAAAAAV8k/9zMrvkpuWhQ/s1600/rats-1-mana.jpghttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R2ARdpoCEO8/UJZBQ5t7OjI/AAAAAAAAV60/isP6u1xv9JM/s1600/rats-1-hand-1.jpghttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T-lRxqf4yv0/UJZBTF-tJQI/AAAAAAAAV7U/L-nK1R6KMEg/s1600/rats-1-hand-1-m.jpg
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A new hand.
Mulligan for previous hand.
Here are many more test hands without mulligans.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U8Y93Z4CFSQ/UJZBT8I0E9I/AAAAAAAAV7c/C1mBzs6UDHg/s1600/rats-1-hand-2.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qA0e5TXoeDg/UJZBUbPW-yI/AAAAAAAAV7k/3-uJDmr4jlE/s1600/rats-1-hand-2-m.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VqXdEXmZu9M/UJZBU1rPxaI/AAAAAAAAV7s/q_uWpxbmO4E/s1600/rats-1-hand-3.jpg
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http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_tCZR9HNP0U/UJZBVQsmQZI/AAAAAAAAV70/_xekMRT35bk/s1600/rats-1-hand-4.jpghttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yB8KXk5Co4o/UJZBWeedHXI/AAAAAAAAV78/7628ZdzQpb4/s1600/rats-1-hand-5.jpghttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rrj5Rk7Onx4/UJZBW-ytp-I/AAAAAAAAV8E/0YSpkM2uvH8/s1600/rats-1-hand-6.jpg
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http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5tnHDdlycMw/UJZBXtcgvwI/AAAAAAAAV8M/zD6pGCDkXis/s1600/rats-1-hand-7.jpghttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/-glKVwSh1XTU/UJZBYSbDclI/AAAAAAAAV8U/1jkHEtFFhA0/s1600/rats-1-hand-8.jpghttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kmze09P_32I/UJZBYefd3kI/AAAAAAAAV8c/I4dFDRh7luU/s1600/rats-1-hand-9.jpg
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http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-504UEPxlqfw/UJZBRYrpqQI/AAAAAAAAV68/pMnKfqgSHNk/s1600/rats-1-hand-10.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rmU6YwAV0r0/UJZBR7ZhS1I/AAAAAAAAV7E/E-2_lSerNB8/s1600/rats-1-hand-11.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nGq5WTo79ZM/UJZBSjL_fNI/AAAAAAAAV7M/Mn5SuN9bG0E/s1600/rats-1-hand-12.jpg
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Here are my starting hands from many games I played yesterday.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wjTRAa3ts8M/UJZBEaBtZUI/AAAAAAAAV4M/zxTesRRCnaU/s1600/rats-1-game-10-1.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nqcj_9HWE8w/UJZBFHzqPxI/AAAAAAAAV4U/mVavhtjRXOg/s1600/rats-1-game-1-1.jpghttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OTrZT_VDQJw/UJZBGKmPNKI/AAAAAAAAV4c/OulbudBSXFw/s1600/rats-1-game-11-1.jpghttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AUttNZK6yk4/UJZBIXX_viI/AAAAAAAAV48/J1ZAD91Q_qo/s1600/rats-1-game-12-1.jpg
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http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-soKRJ5q7I3g/UJZBJrpxMMI/AAAAAAAAV5U/fJPhRwqeohU/s1600/rats-1-game-3-1.jpghttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PLUUqQyfL-0/UJZBLoKIwYI/AAAAAAAAV5s/wjv06FMj-f8/s1600/rats-1-game-5-1.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-23f6ERPWlT8/UJZBMvYvToI/AAAAAAAAV58/fGL6Gq-xv3Q/s1600/rats-1-game-6-1.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RvVDZI1r3lQ/UJZBNaVdQ2I/AAAAAAAAV6E/HatEmIdW7kc/s1600/rats-1-game-7-1.jpg
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This deck has sufficient mana. I can only play four Pack Rats. I am maximizing all rats in ISD+RTR already.
The same applies for Dissentomb. Graftdigger's Cage is not doing anything for me in this deck and
between Murder and Tragic Slip, I need to pick Tragic Slip because of how aggressive this deck needs to
be to get the rats on the board. Appetite for Brains has served me well with the fatties. The Lilianas
(planeswalker and shade) are essential. Same is true for Underworld Connections. What I am missing is a
game finisher (a bomb).
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-si5DkQgt9FM/UJZBPfdI6wI/AAAAAAAAV6k/Lv5PKiu2LuU/s1600/rats-1-game-8-1.jpghttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kX9A74hXCj8/UJZBQCvAEXI/AAAAAAAAV6s/7udYcFIey_8/s1600/rats-1-game-9-1.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/--iaYe4TV7iQ/UJZLACMKUxI/AAAAAAAAV84/c3iGlVMif1M/s1600/average.jpg
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This deck is all about getting Pack Rat to reproduce and to get high P/T by having many rats on the
board. Everything else in this deck is a build-around Pack Rat. Here are examples of the cards in action.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oGz37xd1FnQ/UJZBLDG9OYI/AAAAAAAAV5k/mcAxmebWmDE/s1600/rats-1-game-4-2.jpghttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6MkdxCYJvoU/UJZA87kcIZI/AAAAAAAAV2s/ETvbsur5Wx8/s1600/rats-1-game-4-3.jpg
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http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kjc2mdGa1PY/UJZA9b_lvPI/AAAAAAAAV20/BdnbMk0tQJk/s1600/rats-1-game-5-2.jpghttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5odQ7ESFs7o/UJZBAtQu_WI/AAAAAAAAV3c/as8Ts-Z_77M/s1600/rats-1-game-8-4.jpghttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O0Wj0wejjw0/UJZBGhYEB8I/AAAAAAAAV4k/oxu_wt3Rgy4/s1600/rats-1-game-11-2.jpg
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http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wm5P4EPQPBI/UJZBHg3N_bI/AAAAAAAAV40/jHTeo2qxJ0s/s1600/rats-1-game-1-2.jpghttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o-qt1Xkab2E/UJZBMPD7YeI/AAAAAAAAV50/8IFtTvSkjFM/s1600/rats-1-game-5-3.jpg
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http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EOYgvhyqO-M/UJZA9zVKjrI/AAAAAAAAV28/zsD9DZ1bI1o/s1600/rats-1-game-5-4.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lLYUsTwP47U/UJZA-wkZKHI/AAAAAAAAV3M/FbvYmZNRrGI/s1600/rats-1-game-8-2.jpg
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And here are some of the threats I have encountered (and lost to!!!).
Detention Sphere can take out my Underworld Connections.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-icJ7VdJ2GYw/UJZBG0F5KfI/AAAAAAAAV4s/w_us7RaqjCw/s1600/rats-1-game-11-3.jpghttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6MFjPagUe8Y/UJZBB6tUErI/AAAAAAAAV3s/-JK8_3EIvtc/s1600/rats-1-game-11-4.jpg
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The aggro Selesnya decks pack one hell of a punch.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9WhnOcbXpsQ/UJZBBKO31AI/AAAAAAAAV3k/bhd8CZqRl6M/s1600/rats-1-game-9-2.jpg
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Angel of Serenity can capture three rats in one go!!!
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M3-XiAEwBBE/UJZBJHrFpsI/AAAAAAAAV5M/H-TCIDStSBc/s1600/rats-1-game-2-2-angel-of-serenity.jpg
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And the cards in the current Red Deck Wins are quick and powerful, with efficient removal too!
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V-tO9OIzrZo/UJZBN2jQ5TI/AAAAAAAAV6M/PYMRY0xLH7o/s1600/rats-1-game-7-2.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uyLkgoS1aus/UJZBOSYXLFI/AAAAAAAAV6U/vEN8dNBd0z4/s1600/rats-1-game-7-3.jpg
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And here is the final version of the deck after additional play in tournament practice. It now has more
life gain and a bomb. I took out Grafdigger's Cage only to come across a deck that needed it, and so it is
back in for good.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hxg-RBcKhiA/UJZBO20FQXI/AAAAAAAAV6c/E6nnVXCcwIQ/s1600/rats-1-game-7-4.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8b7cN6_isf0/UJeV1Bm1kOI/AAAAAAAAV9Q/XcBW1xHS9U4/s1600/rats-2.jpg
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http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iKuMJO-3s_s/UJeV1DDFGTI/AAAAAAAAV9I/VzhvhvK-HrY/s1600/rats-2-2.jpghttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Utu4Rbi81Hg/UJeV1IX7FRI/AAAAAAAAV9M/fVw45_nlVsI/s1600/rats-2-3.jpg
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Played the Online Holiday Cube, Pulled a Black Lotus, did not get to Play
It! (December 23, 2012) The title says it all. During the first game I got to play many cards I have never played with. I can improve
a lot as a player! I at least got to see how some of the power cards from the older sets work.
I played a Thalia, Guardian of Thraben for an early lead.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-paGJvJ6s2Vw/UNd_0nbqvOI/AAAAAAAAYTk/TwKLnUF8mqQ/s1600/1-cube-01.jpg
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My opponent killed it.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H4s0R5fLPxE/UNd_1PHeuaI/AAAAAAAAYTs/_TQ46un4Yhg/s1600/1-cube-02.jpg
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And then reanimated it from my graveyard under their control.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4j1ufxTLV7I/UNd_ydxYCMI/AAAAAAAAYS8/gNat_iAQ7gg/s1600/1-cube-03.jpg
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They played Shriekmaw.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_noaaQOvO4/UNd_yxomh1I/AAAAAAAAYTI/cmm35gUvByc/s1600/1-cube-04.jpg
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I played Mesmeric Fiend, capturing a Liliana Vess, but I used the card to defend and my opponent
regained control of Liliana Vess! That was a big mistake.
My opponent used Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni to gain control of a creature from my graveyard.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kSDzZjJUqmY/UNd_1hsd6EI/AAAAAAAAYT0/3UqAWdNw2TY/s1600/1-cube-05.jpghttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ulFLfjLECRU/UNd_zKyYFGI/AAAAAAAAYTQ/-yHrVy136aY/s1600/1-cube-06.jpg
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I was able to play Bloodghast with Haste.
Here is when Liliana Vess returned to my opponent's hand. By that time it was game over anyways.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lk7YMOyD38U/UNd_zhJDRtI/AAAAAAAAYTU/LmnXkZTSdps/s1600/1-cube-07.jpghttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V4HvHnKhGcs/UNd_0sPo8KI/AAAAAAAAYTc/UCcM-LmxMTw/s1600/1-cube-08.jpg
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http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QkGQX_jIHe8/UNd_2H7XhxI/AAAAAAAAYUA/KEl1vB3WAx8/s1600/1-cube-10.jpg
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For the second time I played, I also got eliminated during the first game. I pulled a Black Lotus but did
not get to play it. I played a Black Red deck against an opponent who chose the same colors as I did and
was a much better player. I took screen shots of all but three cards. First row last on the right, there it is,
a Black Lotus.... fleeting.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D4xXmLp2Cqw/UNd_2kdtUBI/AAAAAAAAYUI/Jr9R2PALsW4/s1600/2-cube-01.jpghttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PdYFOPMVoz4/UNd_2zKmnrI/AAAAAAAAYUM/sNaUF0b-4CM/s1600/2-cube-02.jpg
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Optimized Rat Deck Online (December 23, 2012) I added play sets of Rancor,Transguild Promenade and Evolving Wilds. Because I can now splash for any
color, I also added a play set of Bump in the Night.
Here is a 1 win/2 loss match online. My opponent's deck is the very best (and, of course, extremely
expensive) Bant (white, blue, green) deck possible.
Game 1 (lost). I gained a slight lead with the rats, but once a couple of Jace, Architect of Thought cards
showed up, it was GG (good game).
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MONfiJETjWg/UGgga-k_UII/AAAAAAAATX8/sZPWjlj9jP0/s1600/RTR-prerelease-cards-08-4.jpghttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/-spi7t7b9niA/UNd_t5N5OWI/AAAAAAAAYRo/aPpJ3HmAca0/s1600/game1-01.jpg
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http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-orfDFLuWbY0/UNd_udzx3mI/AAAAAAAAYR0/taQB1Vwns2w/s1600/game1-02.jpg
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I got one of my Underworld Connections to help me draw.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8g0SJTDPtmE/UNd_n3XpaWI/AAAAAAAAYPo/EYzBqdo1izU/s1600/game1-03.jpg
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But Jace's second ability enabled my opponent to draw more and draw from a much better deck. Blue
has long been the winning color in Magic, going back to the very first set, Alpha.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rhCW9VD0EHM/UNd_utNCaDI/AAAAAAAAYR4/-k7RWWz_7vY/s1600/game1-04.jpghttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xbyI31ePmFg/UNd_olUWjXI/AAAAAAAAYP4/pXVnTdp9Dok/s1600/game1-05.jpg
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Here is the early game transcript.
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And then comes Angel of Serenity to seal the deal by capturing my one remaining rat.
By this time, even though I had two Underworld Connections ready to draw for me, my life count was
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too low to use them effectively. This is where the Elixir of Immortality play set I added would have come
in handy.
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I won the second game. The stars were aligned for my rats in this game.
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My opponent dropped a solid 1/5 defensive creature, but I copied my Pack Rats fast enough to get them
pumped strong.
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I lost the third game, a Thragtusk and Planeswalker affair.
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I was able to boost my life count well with Elixirs.
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But Thragtusk just kept on coming.
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Two Thragtusks against my deck running out of creatures was too much, even after I played a Curse of
Death's Hold to slow them down -1/-1. I only slowed down my loss at this point. This is one of the big
failings of the Pack Rat deck: you have to pull them at the right time, and if you don't, you lose.
Here are two Detention Sphere with two of my cards, and a Jace. This deck is packing some serious heat
(my opponent's, that is).
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And to add insult to injury my opponent drew a Tamiyo and a core set Garruk! Please!
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The good news is that I was able to win one game against this amazing deck. I think this Pack Rat deck is
one of the best budget decks in the current format. Of course, tournament decks are NEVER budget
decks in Magic. Budget:Lose::Money:Win.
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Sphere of Safety Mono-white Online Deck (January 14, 2013) I am all out of money until Gatecrash comes out. I am playing in preparation for it in various mono-
colored decks and also pre-Gatecrash dual color decks. Here is a mono-white build-around of the three
Sphere of Safety cards I currently have online. This card is the "Pack Rat" of white right now. It is just
plain broken, and at uncommon! All you need to do is have many enchantments and you make it
prohibitively expensive mana-wise for your opponent to attack. I was on the taking end of this card in
tournament practice a few times while playing with that other broken card (Pack Rat) when I got
completely locked out by this card.
My white cards are OK, but I have not asked the bots for much help in white, except for the play set of
Oblivion Ring, a must-have and very affordable staple for pretty much any deck running white. Here is
the deck. It is definitely a casual deck.
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In the early set up I have the advantage, especially with lifelink.
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My opponent wiped me with a Supreme Verdict, built their mana base with two of Ranger's Path, and
pumped their hand with Sphinx's Revelation.
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Here is my first Sphere of Safety.
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Here is my second Sphere of Safety.
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My opponent has 14 cards in their hand from which to choose from thanks to Sphinx's Revelation.
Here comes Thragtusk: The Gathering and I enchant it.
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My opponent has been able to play most of their deck to the board: impressive! (7 in hand, 11 in library,
15 in graveyard).
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Here is my third Sphere of Safety.
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Here my opponent plays Diabolic Revelation, a super-tutor from Magic 2013, a Farseek, and a Supreme
Verdict.
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And then Griselbrand makes an appearance: lifelink, flying, 8 for a 6/6, no maximum hand ability and my
opponent pumps it using Kessig Wolf's Run with counters and Trample.....I am done, its gg (good game,
or game over) from here on.
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Cyclone Rift deals the deal by putting my nonland permanents back in my hand with its overload ability.
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16 turns, there you have it!
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Rough Bant Deck in Preparation for Gatecrash (January 20, 2013) This deck is for casual play. Don't even try to play it against the tournament-quality decks! Well.... not so
fast, it does survive many turns in online tournament practice. If I get to drop several enchantments
including Sphere of Safety, I can last many turns.
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Rough Orzhov Deck in Preparation for Gatecrash This deck is very unfinished. In casual play it is a bomb, but in tournament play it is a consistent loser.
The deck is trying multiple strategies but does not have a finisher in any of them:
1. Play lots of enchantments leading to Sphere of Safety.
2. Cause lots of discard to play Shrieking Affliction.
3. Pack Rat (need I say more!!!).
Its a rough start all right. If I try to improve on any of these three strategies the other two become
unworkable.
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Rough Artifact-only Deck in Preparation for Gatecrash (January 20, 2013) Incredibly enough, this deck sort of works.... surprising! I only have a playable one-drop artifact creature
and a two-drop Defender artifact creature. If a few more one drop and two drop artifact creatures are
issued in the next three sets this deck could actually work. Right now it is nothing more than a casual
experiment.
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Rough Gruul Deck in Preparation for Gatecrash (January 20, 2013) I love this deck in 'standard just for fun.'
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Izzet Deck in Preparation for Gatecrash (January 24, 2013) This deck is all about one-drop enchantments, Invisible Stalker and Guttersnipe.
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\
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Jund Deck in Preparation for Gatecrash (January 24, 2013) I put in one-drop enchantments for red, green, and black, and tried to use mana feeders in green. The
mana base for this casual deck is seriously lacking.
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Azorious Deck in Preparation for Gatecrash (January 24, 2013) I am missing most of the Azorious bombs. This is a most casual of casual builds.
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Dimir Deck in Preparation for Gatecrash (January 24, 2013) I am not excited about Cipher, the Dimir ability in Gatecrash, and maybe it is because I do not yet
understand this new mechanic. This deck is another casual build with an emphasis on milling.
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Boros Deck in Preparation for Gatecrash (January 27, 2013) This casual deck is not nearly as downright terrible as my previous attempt at White Red. Gisela is very
heavy and I hard-cast it seldom, but when I do....boy, it rocks.
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Naya Deck in Preparation for Gatecrash (January 27, 2013) I am really getting into casual Naya. I hope I pull some nice Boros cards for Gatecrash to fine tune this
casual deck.
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Here is a game I just played. My opponent used Garruk's Packleader to almost win.
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Here I drop my first Sphere of Safety.
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I capture Garruk's Packleader with my first Oblivion Ring.
My opponent drops their first of two of Moldgraf Monstrosity, 8/8 fatty.
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I hit hard with a loaded up Ethereal Armor on Timberland Ranger, taking out one Moldgraf
Monstrosity.
I O-ring the second Moldgraf Monstrosity.
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My opponent gains some end-of-game life with Redeemer's enter and gain life ability.
I hit with a 12/8 Timberland Ranger!
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Esper Deck in Preparation for Gatecrash (January 29, 2013) This is the last of my casual decks just before Gatecrash arrives. It is most casual...
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Rats Deck Gatecrash Update (February 15, 2013) It will take me some time to update all of my decks with Gatecrash cards. I am always balancing my
limited budget with the demands of each deck. Here is the rat deck with a new rat from Gatecrash and
the new rat lord (Ogre Slumlord).
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Master of Cruelties DGM Build Around (May 17, 2013) I bought four packs of DGM online, and in my very first pack I pulled a Master of Cruelties.
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I spent $5 to build a Rakdos deck with as many as I could afford, but then I realized that it wasn't as
expensive as I thought. I forked out $5 more and I had a play set! Here is the screen shot for the first $5
buy.
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I first tried a Rakdos deck, but my poor Master kept getting killed.....sigh.
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I added a few blue cards for testing, thus turning the Rakdos deck into a Grixis deck. The key addition is
Artful Dodge.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X-VQL5MpD6U/UZazXRhvqCI/AAAAAAAAaHg/D0MMZyqZqpk/s1600/grxis-blue.jpg
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But this deck was way too unreliable. Out went the miracles and in came Curse of the Pierced Heart,
which is able to deal the coup de grace 1 life after Master of Cruelties does his "now you have one life
left" thing.
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Here is the Master at play.....this is such an awesome Magic card.
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Pack Rat is back for DGM: Meet Blood Scrivener (May 23, 2013) I bought a play set of Blood Scrivener and an additional Mutilate for a mono-black build (always my
favorite deck).
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It does not fit any specific post, yet in one of my many failed builds for junk rares I got to play a full
playset of Rackdos Cackler.
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A Jund (Black Red Green) build-around to Vraska (June 1, 2013) I bought two Vraskas and a few Golgari cards from the bots. I added other cards to taste and built a Jund
deck. It is a fun deck.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VjOU2AtC90Q/UapOfv1ZuoI/AAAAAAAAaf8/QqAQD21D4ds/s1600/vraska-1.jpg
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I also (incidentally) completed my play sets of the DGM split cards.
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Here is the deck.
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Here is me playing one of the Vraskas.
Here I use the -3 ability to kill off one of my opponent's creatures.
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And here is Vraska wiping out a 13/13 Consuming Aberration (sweeeet!).
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Vraska Golgari and Jund Casual Builds Optimized (June 2, 2013) I finally got to play her ultimate....that was a lot of fun. I forked out money to the bots to complete my
play set of Woodland Cemetery, but have none of Overgrown Tomb (yet!!).
Here is the Golgari build.
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Here is the Jund build. I used the McLands from the core set.
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Here is Vraska's ultimate with an earlier version of the Golgari build.
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Nivix Cyclops Build Around Online (June 22, 2013) This is definitely a casual build since the card in question has Defender and can only attack when you
play an instant or a sorcery. The upside though, is that you can play more than one instant or sorcery to
pump Nivix Cyclops. Do it...its a lot of fun.
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I also turned the Izzet deck into a Grixis deck and played my favorite Johnny card these days: Master of
Cruelties. Definitely not a tournament deck, but very much a fun deck.
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Ral Zarek is a fun Planeswalker (July 4, 2013) Someone posted on one of the forums asking how a play set of Ral Zarek could be built-around.
Responses were negative to the effect of 'what do you plan to do with one, let alone a play set?' I
thought it a good challenge and got me one from the bots. I went to Gatherer to find suggestions on
how to play him, and Goblins seemed to make sense. I tried that and it didn't work. Krenko and the
other Goblins are too slow against Evolve Simic and Battalion Boros combos. The Goblin Izzet build
evolved to Grixis but there the deck still wasn't working.
Then I turned it into White Blue Red with 4 of Frostburn Weird, 4 of Firemane Avenger, my lone
Hellrider, my lone Vexing Devil, and lone Hound of Griselbrand. With these powerful creatures I could
get Battalion to work. I also added my two Silverblade Paladins to use Soulbond. This deck is a lot of fun.
Zarek's + ability isn't that great, but his -2 is just plain awesome.
As I get close to redemption I am planning to use every useful card I have in some build. This deck is one
of those builds.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GnizJAVtJcA/UdUieuNnOOI/AAAAAAAAa3U/z0pDbjztE2g/s600/zarektestdeck-1.jpg
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In Depth of Ral Zarek Fun Online Deck (July 4, 2013) This deck has several really great cards that I have on my way to redemption. Here is the mana curve.
Here are seven sample beginning hands. This first hand requires a mulligan.
This second hand is a great start. Turn 1 play a plains and Boros Recruit. Turn 2 play Clifftop Retreat and
Boros Charm.
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Too much mana here: mulligan
Turn 1 play plains. Turn 2 play Glacial Fortress....slow start but not quite a mulligan.
Mana flood and two miracles: mulligan.
Close call: enough mana to play out the hand but from Turn 2 onwards.
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Good hand: Plains and Boros Recruit on Turn 1.
Here is a first game against a more casual blue black deck. I got battalion to go off multiple times for the
win.
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Here is the second game of the match, which I also won, but with much more work for the win.
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Here my opponent plays a heartless summoning (his second!). I kept drawing and dropping with
Mercurial Chemister and the Ravenous Rats had nothing to get me to discard because I could empty my
hand easily.
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The occassional +1/+1 from Ajani can be a big help!
Fun Aristocrats Build (Profit/Loss Build-Around) (July 11, 2013) I played against an Aristocrats deck and got hit hard with a sweet combo. I decided to build the combo,
and while at it, to get the Sorin I need for redemption. I have also been planning to build a deck with
each play set of the split cards, and here is the first one. I got lucky and played against an RDW deck,
which I think is one of the hardest decks to beat in casual play.
The combo creates a bunch of 1/1 tokens with Lingering Souls and then sacrifices them with Cartel
Aristocrat, each time triggering 1 plus life to you and 1 minus life to your opponent with Blood Artist.
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My build is a variant, because I want to play my lone Ajani and also boost the tokens with Intangible
Virtue, which is not what competitive Aristocrats decks run.
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I lost the first game because I started with my removal in my sideboard (Tragic Slip and Tribute to
Hunger). In the second game I came back from the brink. Tragic Slip to Stromkirk Aristocrat is a first turn
must. Then swing for Tribute to Hunger and drop tokens as walls.
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From 3 life I swung back for the win with tokens and more tokens.
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In the third game of the match I had to deal with two Boros Reckoner, and was able to play Ajani and
Sorin.
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Here I get rid of one of the Boros Reckoner with Tribute to Hunger.
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I lost Sorin, but with Ajani, I could pump creatures as they landed. I lost the first game, but won the
match.
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Lifegain deck online (Alive and Well split card build-around) (July 14,
2013) Here is a fun build-around with ones and twos of playables. I got a Thragtusk for the M13 redemption
but did not add it to this deck.
Here is the deck.
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M14 Deck: Lifegain Voracious Wurm Casual Build-around (July 31, 2013) I am very much out of money until Theros comes out. The decks in this interim period will all be casual!
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I played against a slivers deck in Just for Fun and did well, but this deck is way too much of a combo deck
to do well in tournaments. The cards have to line up too much to get enough life to boost Voracious
Wurm and then give it hexproof with Alpha Authority. If you pull off the combo, you almost cannot
lose.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F_xfQNsL7b0/Ufjk6bKi6JI/AAAAAAAAbYs/yfC7nEUaG88/s1600/lifegain-5.jpg
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http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lLcZFf9UGH8/Ufjk6lUmFAI/AAAAAAAAbYw/ZjPp060uPvI/s1600/lifegain-6.jpg
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Here is a fully built Wurm.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FI3-uRNIpME/Ufjk61H9TWI/AAAAAAAAbY4/OkScnmCMd9c/s1600/lifegain-7.jpg
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M14 Deck: Zoo Beatdown Mono-green (July 31, 2013) I am very much out of money until Theros comes out. The decks in this interim period will all be casual!
This deck is a lot of fun in Just for Fun. I played against the money version of it, for which I have some
screenshots here. This deck should really be called Green Deck Wins because you just throw 40
creatures at your opponent and overwhelm with them. Even if your opponent has removal, your next
draw has a 2 in 3 chance of being a creature! I love this concept.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5UlC1lheUEk/Ufjk7R2t_kI/AAAAAAAAbZE/9Gnl9BIOhcQ/s1600/zoo-1.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZT2aVKVigEw/Ufjk7616lVI/AAAAAAAAbZI/vCynQ9ncmiQ/s1600/zoo-2.jpg
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http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3WjcetoH2Q4/Ufjk13YHnuI/AAAAAAAAbXY/HZnVLlDEiGk/s1600/zoo-3.jpg
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The money version has Kalonian Hydra, Scanvenging Ooze and Domri Rade. Needless to say, I got
crushed. The Ooze feeds on creatures in the graveyard and the Hydra doubles every turn....
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gcIdtNmxiD8/Ufjk8Of9aJI/AAAAAAAAbZQ/MFWvXKz-Ci0/s1600/zoo-4.jpg
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I also played against a Nivix Cyclops deck in Just for Fun and was able to do the 'overwhelm' thing.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f0QfsTeSUGo/Ufjk8sThQXI/AAAAAAAAbZY/aBaSsaVwLHc/s1600/zoo-5.jpg
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RTR Block Monowhite Deck (September 27, 2013) This deck works well out of the gate. I even beat a much more expensive deck with it.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ru4axBOJqCw/UkYYb_wVreI/AAAAAAAAdXI/KdlSiHhrBhM/s1600/01-monowhite-1.jpg
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http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rvDE08rnwWU/UkYYcN0G4II/AAAAAAAAdXQ/VZKnR3QBhjo/s1600/01-monowhite-2.jpg
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Keening Apparition is perfect in an enchantment-heavy metagame.
And Renounce the Guilds can take care of Boros Reckoner.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wc_2wQTW-5c/UkYYc1mH6xI/AAAAAAAAdYA/e_UERB5lMJI/s1600/01-monowhite-game-1.jpg
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http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kt2NrceaHng/UkYYciISIGI/AAAAAAAAdXc/T_9ag5yxOBU/s1600/01-monowhite-game-2.jpg
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Chandra took out some of my creatures, but eventually I took care of it.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-azjzoozGZmU/UkYYdTHfTdI/AAAAAAAAdXs/F-M8jPwql7k/s1600/01-monowhite-game-3.jpg
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http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GZ_iFMwpHys/UkYYdhvpMtI/AAAAAAAAdXw/WRiPFCOPhyc/s1600/01-monowhite-game-4.jpg
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Here I take out a second Legion's Initiative.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pYG0bdGYOh8/UkYYePRviHI/AAAAAAAAdX4/2koixiMbF64/s1600/01-monowhite-game-5.jpg
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Its pretty much GG after that.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UBNeiXj5Diw/UkYYevfkoeI/AAAAAAAAdX8/mnUlGzcLzHc/s1600/01-monowhite-game-6.jpg
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[Modern] Mono Green Lots of Creatures (September 29, 2013) I have used this deck with a lot of success in Standard, and now in Modern it is also really effective. I
even almost beat a RDW Modern deck. (The ultimate test for any deck is to beat an RDW deck!!!).
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pUVct-OtHfU/UkiKrlG3zOI/AAAAAAAAdYs/W_Oy_tCiWrk/s1600/01-monogreen-1.jpg
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http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jbQMK8F7wj0/UkiKsNaaZAI/AAAAAAAAdYw/aQeryElD1CE/s1600/01-monogreen-2.jpghttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C-OwLR0Vqew/UkiKsfmr3sI/AAAAAAAAdY8/IcHXa5eqF_w/s1600/01-monogreen-3.jpg
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Here is a match in Just for Fun that I won. My opponent used Aurelia and Eldrazi Conscription.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SCKFdkiyq8g/UkiKswfkXFI/AAAAAAAAdZE/ZnFKw3MVr8Q/s1600/01-monogreen-3-game-1-1.jpg
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http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5iI8y2o06ns/UkiKtLLXESI/AAAAAAAAdZM/XYi-AJ26mtg/s1600/01-monogreen-3-game-1-2.jpg
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http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GHkgIJFY_pM/UkiKtdoXlhI/AAAAAAAAdZU/QB58wHRK_SE/s1600/01-monogreen-3-game-1-3.jpg
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With Quicksilver Amulet I was able to play Elderscale Wurm, a 15/15 that dies to become three 5/5
tokens with Trample!!! So awesome!!!
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FAtLY7bwojo/UkiKt-13aMI/AAAAAAAAdZc/3BGBygmP9iE/s1600/01-monogreen-3-game-1-4.jpghttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AIShpFbwzQM/UkiKuMA5SGI/AAAAAAAAdZg/4vtVNPu2Uq4/s1600/01-monogreen-3-game-1-5.jpg
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Here is an example of why this deck is so awesome: a 19/19 soulbonded Wurm with trample!!!
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X--2qBAR6Kg/UHmwx8TaXeI/AAAAAAAAU0A/Vi_PtCCWOBw/s1600/selesnya-packs-06-2.jpghttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ASAmXRjffwc/UkqWW3T1qdI/AAAAAAAAdag/k2lwQJ6398A/s1600/fattyfest-1.jpg
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And this will be my first "historical deck" or one I buy the paper cards for and keep as a deck for the
future based on my digital performance.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ACUY1TAsJc/UklJbpdZWLI/AAAAAAAAdaQ/oq4M1dwPKDg/s1600/buydeck-monogreen.jpg
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nd here is the more-optimized online version. I am not planning to get more cards online for this deck,
at least for now.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ox90nlc8Zh0/UlcfoUiDjAI/AAAAAAAAdtY/4EsEa3oaZFc/s1600/fatties-final-1.jpghttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w3W3p3T-QA4/Ulcfotz_RQI/AAAAAAAAdtk/wWJcUSYOSSE/s1600/fatties-final-2.jpg
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http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6qaKXMs3drI/UlcfpHsN-PI/AAAAAAAAdto/vmj2X0pRiQQ/s1600/fatties-final-3.jpg
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