Magic: The Gathering

[Nama]

So theres a cross promotion for Team Fortress2 and Duel of the planeswalkers2012. You get 2 hats in TF2 Venser's helm for Medic and Chandra's goggles for Scout. Steam promo card is Frost Titan which is arguably the worst of the 3(Grave-360 , Inferno-PS3) but hay free hats!

Edit: now with pictures!

Spoiler: show

http://tf2g.com/img/hats/painted/med..._none_3846.jpg
http://tf2g.com/img/hats/painted/sco..._none_3844.jpg

[Qalbert]

gotta love it

[Tomiko]

If I were to buy a box/boosters online, where would you guys recommend?

For current sets, most places will likely be about the same. I'd just go with one that has the best service or has whatever else you're looking for to save on shipping.

For older sets, eBay is probably the best.

http://www.starcitygames.com/ has shipped fairly quickly/arrived in good condition so far, only ordered a couple times though. Was using mtgchicago based on a friend's recommendation but it took them two weeks to ship my preordered NPH booster box, and I had to call multiple times to get them to actually put it in the mail, with them never so much as saying "sorry for the inconvenience".

SCG has always been top notch for service. Their prices are higher than some other places, but you'll get exactly what you order and in good shipping time.

I would avoid MTGChicago like the plague. I've heard nothing but bad things about them:

http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/s...11-MTG-Chicago

They were supposed to be a dealer at a local regional event, but got turned away (from my understanding) after the TO found out about his reputation.

[miokomioko]

Obviously, this is a casual deck idea as I often got pretty wrecked when I test it online against some Top-8 style decks, but it's really fun to play when it succeeds and it got a lot of "lol, oh man" responses when the combos manage to come together just right (even if a little convoluted) and do a shitload of damage in one fell swoop. Anyways, it's a white/black deck revolving around Sanguine Bond. About half of the people I play it against go "I've been meaning to try out a deck like that, it looks really fun, you should check out [insertcardhere]."

Yeah, yeah, I am well aware that having a white and black deck based entirely a 5-mana black enchantment is pretty shaky by definition... and I'm trying to figure out how to make it a bit more stable and somehow accelerate how fast I can get Sanguine Bond out on the table and protect it without being forced to splash in some Blue just to blink/counter. (I don't like playing blue...)

I don't have the exact decklist I was using because I don't have MTG:O installed right now, but it was admittedly not very solid to begin with. There's a lot of obvious cards to consider to enhance and compound the damage done by Sanguine Bond, which can be surprisingly devastating if it catches someone off guard with instants like Angel's Mercy followed by using Tainted Sigil, but I could use some suggestions regarding using black and/or white to get a 5-mana enchantment on the board and help keep it there without getting reamed for 5 turns. I feel like there might be something in the recent block that might speed things up since spending life is pretty easy with this deck.


Some fun cards I found to have pretty good synergy with the deck idea:

Angel's Mercy* (big damage instant-speed)
Tainted Sigil* (bounce-damage and/or double up)
Divinity of Pride*
Purity* (buys me time)
Soul Warden* (screws with token generators)
Suture Priest* (ditto)
War Report
Child of Night*
Nip Gwyllion
Serra Ascendant
Vampire's Bite*
Vampire Nighthawk*
Cave of Koilos*
Fetid Heath*
Godless Shrine
Vivid Marsh*
Vivid Meadow*
Children of Korlis
Gerrard's Verdict
Souls of the Faultless
Mourning Thrull
Bloodchiefe Ascension*
Death Greeter*
Boon Reflection* (fuckin' lol)
Needlebite Trap*
Plunge into Darkness
Cradle of Vitality* (combos with below)
Wall of Reverence* (I have had this get ridiculous)
Shadowfeed*
Suffer the Past
Feudkiller's Verdict (unexpected big damage)
Ajani Goldmane* (takes the heat off me for a bit)
Ghost-Lit Redeemer
Goldenglow Moth*
Heroes Remembered (puts the pressure on)
Intervention Pact
Sunspring Expedition*
Blah blah blah every other big life-gain card in the world and other black/white hybrids.
(* denotes more likely inclusions that have worked well in the past to some extent)

Obviously, not all of these would be included, but I have probably tried out most of them. It just desperately needs some more focus... more threat removal (Unmake) and more defense aside from raw life-gain.

Also, fuck you, Qasali Pridemage.

[scrockstar]

If I were to buy a box/boosters online, where would you guys recommend?

Don't buy from star city games, there are better places to buy boxes / boosters / singles online.

Best place online to buy Boxes and single boosters: http://www.miniaturemarket.com

They usually have current booster boxes a couple bucks cheaper than star city and boosters / fat packs for $2.75 and $28 each.

The thing that sets them apart from everyone else is that they offer free shipping on orders over $75 which makes them the cheapest place to buy boxes.
Also because they don't sell singles they also don't "chart" booster boxes for mythics and money rares and then sell the unwanted single boosters. I've pulled a couple good mythics from single boosters before.

[Tomiko]

Obviously, this is a casual deck idea as I often got pretty wrecked when I test it online against some Top-8 style decks, but it's really fun to play when it succeeds and it got a lot of "lol, oh man" responses when the combos manage to come together just right (even if a little convoluted) and do a shitload of damage in one fell swoop. Anyways, it's a white/black deck revolving around Sanguine Bond. About half of the people I play it against go "I've been meaning to try out a deck like that, it looks really fun, you should check out [insertcardhere]."

Yeah, yeah, I am well aware that having a white and black deck based entirely a 5-mana black enchantment is pretty shaky by definition... and I'm trying to figure out how to make it a bit more stable and somehow accelerate how fast I can get Sanguine Bond out on the table and protect it without being forced to splash in some Blue just to blink/counter. (I don't like playing blue...)

I don't have the exact decklist I was using because I don't have MTG:O installed right now, but it was admittedly not very solid to begin with. There's a lot of obvious cards to consider to enhance and compound the damage done by Sanguine Bond, which can be surprisingly devastating if it catches someone off guard with instants like Angel's Mercy followed by using Tainted Sigil, but I could use some suggestions regarding using black and/or white to get a 5-mana enchantment on the board and help keep it there without getting reamed for 5 turns. I feel like there might be something in the recent block that might speed things up since spending life is pretty easy with this deck.

The best mana accel that fits your theme would be Pristine Talisman from New Phyrexia.

Good creatures:
-Exalted Angel - Play as a Morph turn 3, flip it turn 4 and start gaining life while putting your opponent on a clock.

-Baneslayer Angel - Another clock with Lifegain for the Bond.

-Felidar Sovereign - Just outright win if you get to 40+ life and take your next turn.

Combo:
Since you're already running Soul Warden & Suture Priest, you might as well throw the infinite life combo in there as well:

Leonin Relic-Warder + Phyrexian Metamorph

With Warden/Priest and Relic-Warder in play you cast Metamorph (paying the 2 life for the Blue). Metamorph copies Relic-Warder and exiles itself, it then returns itself to play copying Relic-Warder again. Repeat as much as you want, then have it copy another creature/artifact to end the cycle after you gain however much life you want (or if they disrupt the combo).

Regarding Qasali Pridemage:
You could use Replenish or Open the Vaults to return destroyed Enchantments (and artifacts with Open the Vaults).

Greater Auramancy and Privileged Position can be used to protect your Enchantments.

Staying Alive:
Not sure what's giving you trouble in the first few turns, so not really sure what to suggest for that. If its burn though, just run Worship and anything Pro: Red lol

[Qalbert]

does that relicwarder thing for sure work? because it sounds a bit sketchy, like if I tried it I know my friend would call BS. if theres an official ruling or anything on it that I could show him would help, because I would be all over that combo.

[Tricen]

Just read the cards. It's a legitimate combo. The Metamorph retains it's artifact characteristic, so it can exile itself since it is copying relic-warder. When it exiles itself, it's leaves play ability will trigger and bring it back into play and you just keep copying the relic warder over and over again with a suture priest or a soul warden out and you have combo.

[Qalbert]

that's nasty

[Tricen]

It's not really viable to be honest. It's a cool FNM deck, but it just loses to any spot removal and you are pretty much boned. You could try soulsisters with that as a backup win condition I guess.

[Qalbert]

yeah, but it's deifnitely one of those "looks fun, gotta try it on some friends" kind of setups

[Tricen]

Oh yeah of course

[Nama]

Moar M12 spoilers~ from http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/index.php
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/attac...1&d=1307431075
Rough translations
Black Mythic:
"Blood King of Vasgoth" - 3BB
Creature - Vampire Warrior
Bloodthirst 3
Flying
Other Vampire creatures you control gain Bloodthirst 3.
3/3

Green Rare:
Garruk's "Legion" - 5GG
Creature - Beast
Trample
Play with the top card of your library revealed.
You may play the top card of you library if it's a creature card.
7/7

Red Uncommon:
"Bloodstorm" Berserker - 1R
Creature - Human Berserker
Bloodthirst 2
Can't be blocked unless by two or more creatures.
1/1

[Tomiko]

The Vampire guy will definitely see play, especially since he's not Legendary. Glad to see he's the Prerelease card. Something to keep in mind:

702.51c If an object has multiple instances of bloodthirst, each applies separately.

So 2 of these out and Vampire you control have Bloodthirst 6. That'll get out of hand fast. Day of Judgment (likely being reprinted) will definitely be seeing more play than it is now.

I'm loving the new Commander cards. Tariel and Mana-Charged Dragon look pretty good for it. I'll probably get the W/B/R deck first because of them.

[oldoldman]

A 5 mana 6/6 isn't good enough. MAYBE when Jace rotates, but all the Vampires rotate with him.

[Bebopaloo]

The Vampire guy will definitely see play, especially since he's not Legendary. Glad to see he's the Prerelease card. Something to keep in mind:

702.51c If an object has multiple instances of bloodthirst, each applies separately.

So 2 of these out and Vampire you control have Bloodthirst 6. That'll get out of hand fast. Day of Judgment (likely being reprinted) will definitely be seeing more play than it is now.

I'm loving the new Commander cards. Tariel and Mana-Charged Dragon look pretty good for it. I'll probably get the W/B/R deck first because of them.

Is there a card list for each of the new commander decks out or just spoilers thus far?

[miokomioko]

Just the spoilers, they only started spoiling yesterday (I think). There's some nice sounding cards, but they definitely have some very multiplayer-focused mechanics (Join Forces) which would probably never see any other format.

It's very flavorful so far, which I'm into. The Mimeoplasm is pretty interesting to me, even though I'm really not into three-color... let alone "wedge" style.

[Tomiko]

Yeah, just spoilers so far.

A 5 mana 6/6 isn't good enough. MAYBE when Jace rotates, but all the Vampires rotate with him.

Well, it does have flying which makes a difference. But all the other Vampires will still be legal for a couple months which is what will make this quite good. Plus if Innistrad does have more Vampires as speculated, this will likely be the next Nocturnus.

Essentially this has to be dealt with or else every Vampire played after becomes a much bigger threat because of the Bloodthirst.

[Nama]

Midrange aggro is basically non resistant in standard atm mostly thanks to Jace test but also turn3 batterskulls and turn4 exarch wins. So a 5 mana vamp lord that doesn't really affect the board the turn its dropped won't cut it. Current vamp decks curve out at 3 mana unless they kicking a burst lightning. Not saying hes bad I think hes pretty cool and want to run him but if your playing against caw-blade you rather topdeck a gatekeeper then this. He won't really have a place in vamp decks till standard is Jace, stoneforge, splinter twin and valakut free. Given commander decks are almost out alot of peoples opinions on standard are "play EDH till Sept."

Looking ahead Vamps will have a hard time staying competative since most it staple cards are also rotating but September's standard will be much more viable for midrange aggro and I think Bloodking will be a key card in vamps then. Its also not outside realm of possibility that some common little vamps like Vampire Lacerator and pulse tracker get reprinted in M12 tho Bloodthirty vamps are obviously the focus of this set. Even a small chance Highborn could be reprinted but more wishful thinking plus she wouldn't be as good without her pals bloodghast and visera seer who 100% are gone on rotation.

[oldoldman]

Yeah, just spoilers so far.



Well, it does have flying which makes a difference. But all the other Vampires will still be legal for a couple months which is what will make this quite good. Plus if Innistrad does have more Vampires as speculated, this will likely be the next Nocturnus.

Essentially this has to be dealt with or else every Vampire played after becomes a much bigger threat because of the Bloodthirst.

Every vampire you play after this, as long as you're in a position to deal damage which means you're probably overextending anyways. Nocturnus was good because it made all of your vampires ludicrous and could come out of nowhere for the alpha strike, people will see this coming from a mile away. Also Go for the Throat is a card now.