It’s been a while since I last wrote. Since then, I still suck ass J, but it doesn’t bother me. I’ve reached the conclusion Magic is a game that cannot be won, but simply played. Sure, there are the Kai Budde’s out there that will always win, but for now, I’m playing because its fun, while being competitive at the same time. So, States is the next big tournament, maybe some GP’s or PT’s between now and then, but for now, I’m concentrating my efforts towards States. Now, I figure there will be a whole pool of people that are confused like me, and mise just play UG or MBC. I’m going the route of MBC. I’ve been testing quite a bit with my MBC against November UG madness, or what I think is a viable madness deck, but I haven’t looked to much into the sideboard issue, maybe someone can fill me in with some tech there. Here is the list I have been tampering with:
4x Nantuko Shade
4x Mutilate
4x Chainer’s Edict
4x Smother
4x Diabolic Tutor
4x Duress
3x Rancid Earth
3x Corrupt
2x Riptide Replicator
1x Mirari
1x Engineered Plague
Sideboard:
4x Braid’s Cabal Minion
4x Faceless Butcher
4x Mesmeric Fiend
2x Coffin Purge
1x Engineered Plague
Ok, that’s my list. Basically I just switched Soul Burn with the Replicators, and I switched Innocent Blood with Smother. As I tested against UG madness, I found it quite successful with Smother switched with the Innocent Blood. Also, If I had the room, I might even main deck a 2nd Engineered Plague if wizard.dec becomes a reality. If this is the case, I might go cry and weep in my room at the stupid people even trying such a pathetic idea. I don’t do statistics comparing my deck’s win percentage to another, but I found that it was really difficult for UG to manage a win the 1st game, and I found it further successful to not play the Echoes(primarily because I can’t find any for trade), because I found them siding out there lizards for the Bearscape, making my job of man handling them that much easier. If you can resolve a Mirari, before or after sideboard, they are going to have a very difficult time keeping creatures on the board. I also, thanks to my friend Mike, found a nifty trick was thinning out my deck using a Tutor and Mirari and then getting the card needed at hand and another Tutor. I have tested against RG with and without that pesky Firecat, and I did really well until they dropped Mr. Big Bad Phantom Centaur. You just got to play him out until you A) Draw Mutilate, or B) Draw Chainer’s Edict with an empty board; However, with Corrupt, his damage dealt to you has little to no effect on your life total. Speaking of Corrupt, I think it is a very good card in this deck. I tested against a UW control deck, not the best, but it was able to get the win through by copying the Corrupt with 12 lands down. Back to the decks featuring Green, I wonder how popular Compost will be in the boards, because it can be a problem, IF they get it down 2nd turn; However, If they get it down 2nd turn, that could give you fits because I think they can just out play you. Another addition to the deck that I love is Riptide Replicator. Much talk has been aimed toward Grinning Demon, but as a friend of mine told me: “Juzam needs to go to the rest home.” I think this is true. Early game he’s good, until your opponent pacifism’s him, drops an Aurafication, etc. That’s why I love late game Riptide Replicator. I was pumping out 10/10’s for 4 Mana. Sure, they don’t have evasion, but does Grinning Demon? Who’s going to win a race, a 6/6 that’s dealing 2 damage to you each turn, or a 10/10 every turn? I rest my case. The only way I have seen any decks take care of this card is by destroying it. Smother… the last new card I have put in the deck. I can’t really describe this one, besides one word: Godlike. They drop 2nd turn mongrel, no longer can they madness off there happy ass Basking Rootwalla to save him. No, when I played at the PTQ with my Mono Black deck, all I could think it needed was targeted removal. I really wish they had put this card out during the era of that bastard ass Psychatog. On the note of Psychatog, I haven’t play tested against any post rotation Psychatog decks, but I can only hope that Smother is the answer to all my problems. If anyone wants to play test with me with Tog on Apprentice, my AOL screen name is dweiss1485, so just let me know. Well, that’s my deck, and its what I plan on playing at States. I wish the best of luck to all my fellow magic players that will be there, and I will look forward to playing with many of you. So, Till my next article, CYA.
-Doug-