(no subject)
Before recapping the match I thought I would be more benefical to show my pool of cards and what deck Craig made. Explain what he was thinking, critique the deck, giving strengths and weaknesses, then changing it to what I would have done with his line of thinking and remake the deck, again giving strengths and weaknesses, compared to the previous version.
So without further ado here is my pool of cards form the evening tide sealed.
Card Pool
Black
3 - Smoldering Butcher
Blue
3 - Oona’s Grace
3 - Merrow Levitator
1 - Dream Fracture
1 - Dream Thief
1 - Wilderness Hypnotist
1 - Banishing Knack
Green
1 - Savage Conception
1 - Aerie Ouphes
1 - Duskdale Wurm
1 - Monstrify
1 - Wickerbough Elder
Red
1 - Stigma Lasher
1 - Thunderblust
1 - Cinder Pyromancer
1 - Hatchet Bully
White
2 - Ballynock Trapper
1 - Endure
1 - Layal Gyrfalcon
1 - Springjack Shepherd
1 - Cenn’s Enlistment
1 - Kithkin Spellduster
Black/White Hybrid
3 - Beckon Apparition
2 - Unmake
1 - Gwyllion Hedge-Mage
1 - Batwing Brume
1 - Bloodied Ghost
1 - Restless Apprition
1 - Nightsky Mimic
1 - Edge of Divinity
Black/Green Hybrid
3 - Gift of the Deity
2 - Rendclaw Trow
1 - Canker Abomination
1 - Quillspike
1 - Desecrator Hag
Blue/Green Hybrid
4 - Slippery Bogle
1 - Sturdy Hatcling
1 - Shorecrasher Mimic
1 - Favor of the Overbeing
Blue/Red Hybrid
3 - Stream Hopper
2 - Noggle Bandit
2 - Noggle Bridgebreaker
2 - Clout of the Dominus
Red/White Hybrid
1 - Nobilis of War
1 - Moonhold
1 - Fire at Will
1 - Double Cleave
1 - Duergar Assailant
Artifact
1 - Jawbone Skulkin
1 - Antler Skulkin
1 - Fang Skulkin
Land
1 - Rugged Praire
Craig’s Deck
Creatures
1 - Nobilis of War
1 - Thunderblust
1 - Stigma Lasher
4 - Slippery Bogle
3 - Steam Hopper
3 - Merrow Levitator
2 - Noggle Bandit
2 - Noggle Bredgebreaker
1 - Dream Thief
1 - Sturdy Hatchling
1 - Cinder Pyromancer
Spells
2 - Clout of the Dominus
1 - Dream Fracture
1 - Fire at Will
1 - Double Cleave
Land
8 - Islands
7 - Mountains
I see the theory behind the deck. With the three Merrow Levitators and all the early blue drops you should always be able to give the Levitator flying and attack. The Dream Thief has flying and the Stream Hoppers can gain it. Noggle Bandit + Clout of the Dominus is a five turn clock that is hard to deal with, espically with the large amount of chump blockers that exist. All the one drops also work well with the Nobilis of War, just sending a wave of 3/1s attacking. The Noggle Bridgebreaker adds some beef and the Thunderblust is a great finisher.
This theory has several issues. First Seven of your 15 creatures are 1/1s. One of your creatures is a 0/1. This mean 50% of your creatures can’t destroy a 2/2. Another Four of those creatures can only Trade with a 2/2 (Thunderblust Exclused). Most of your creatures without help can’t survive a 2/2. The help in this deck is very limited with only four spells the Double Cleave and Clout of Dominus are the only ones that can help a creature. You’ll most likely be using Fire at Will to help ‘trade’ your 1/1s with better creatures.
Secondly your key creatures to this style have no protection without The Clout of the Dominus; however, the Nobilis of War can’t take advantage of the Shroud the Clout provides, and the Merrow Levitator can’t give itself flying because it gains shroud. These are you bigger creatures and the larger ones that fall to Unmake and Puncture Blast, as well as most of the uncommon removal. Also you only have two Clouts and tow Noggle Bandits. The odds of having both in your hand by turn four is not great (I need to get my stats book back so I can back these statements up). And you want to cast it on turn four, so your opponent doesn’t kill him on turn three.
Besides the theory behind the deck, the mana curve isn’t even begin to be constructed at all. You have a few blue only cards, but besides the Dream Fracture they are all single blue casting cost. Looking at your red only they have larger casting costs. Stigma Lasher is two red, Thunderblust and Fire at Will have triple red, and Nobilis of War is five red.
So what would I change Craig’s deck. Like the following:
OUT go the 4 - Slippery Bogle, and 1 - Dream Fracture. I don’t need a sup par one drop that doesn’t untap my Pyromancer. I’m also removing the Dream Fracture so there will be no double blue casting cost in the deck.
IN: 1 - Banishing Knack. You have three Merrow Levitators that untap with blue spells. With this spell and a couple of cheap spells (Hoppers or Clouts) this can return the enemy field in a turn. If that doesn’t work simply bounce your opponments biggest creatre.
1 - Favor of the Overbeing. A good addition to the Clout. Give the Noggle Bridgebreakers flying, making them 5/4. Also if you get this on your Sturdy Hatchling you’re opponents done, with an 8/8 flying, vigilance untreatable at will creature.
1 - Duegar Assailant. Just to good a one drop not to have. He kills that annoying attacker or blocker that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to. He takes down a 2/2 by himself as well.
2 - Mountains - The mana base is poor in this deck, lets pump more in. I’d rather chance having to much mana and not playing a 1/1 then to little mana with Nobilis of War or Thunderblust in hand.
EXCHANGE 1 - Island for 1 - Mountain. You have lots of red high cost in the deck. Your blue, well important all of them require only one.
My version of Craig’s Deck:
Creatures
1 - Nobilis of War
1 - Thunderblust
1 - Stigma Lasher
1 - Duergar Assailant
3 - Steam Hopper
3 - Merrow Levitator
2 - Noggle Bandit
2 - Noggle Bredgebreaker
1 - Dream Thief
1 - Sturdy Hatchling
1 - Cinder Pyromancer
Spells
2 - Clout of the Dominus
1 - Banishing Knack
1 - Fire at Will
1 - Double Cleave
1 - Favor of the Overbeing
Land
7 - Islands
10 - Mountains
Strengths opposed to Craig
Mana: I have a better mana curve. You have a few high casting cost spells, but they will win you the game. I’m fairly certain my mana curve will be better then Craig’s for some time, as he is bad at math, and just learning the game.
Creature Removal: Duergar Assailant is a form of creature removal, espically good early game. Banishing Knack can either get rid of the big beast of with the Merrow Levitator clear the field.
Evasion: Favor of the Overbeing does give flying. This alone makes it worth playing. The +1/+1 (or +2/+2) is just gravy.
Weaknesses opposed to Craig.
Creatures: My deck does have three less creatures in it then Craig’s. Thought Craig’s creature are only 1/1s they can still chump block, or give an early start. You can screw up playing a Banishing Knack or Favor of the Overbeing the wrong creature. You can’t screw up a 1/1 that can’t be targeted by opponents abilities.
Less Blue Mana: I stated that the red is more important, but if you don’t draw a blue, you’re dead. I didn’t take out much blue land, but even the one can make the difference. A mulligan should be considered if you are playing first, have two blue spells in your hand and no blue mana.
So that’s what I’d do different with Craig’s deck. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll have a brief summary on how the matches when.
And then possibly what deck I built with this pool of cards.
So without further ado here is my pool of cards form the evening tide sealed.
Card Pool
Black
3 - Smoldering Butcher
Blue
3 - Oona’s Grace
3 - Merrow Levitator
1 - Dream Fracture
1 - Dream Thief
1 - Wilderness Hypnotist
1 - Banishing Knack
Green
1 - Savage Conception
1 - Aerie Ouphes
1 - Duskdale Wurm
1 - Monstrify
1 - Wickerbough Elder
Red
1 - Stigma Lasher
1 - Thunderblust
1 - Cinder Pyromancer
1 - Hatchet Bully
White
2 - Ballynock Trapper
1 - Endure
1 - Layal Gyrfalcon
1 - Springjack Shepherd
1 - Cenn’s Enlistment
1 - Kithkin Spellduster
Black/White Hybrid
3 - Beckon Apparition
2 - Unmake
1 - Gwyllion Hedge-Mage
1 - Batwing Brume
1 - Bloodied Ghost
1 - Restless Apprition
1 - Nightsky Mimic
1 - Edge of Divinity
Black/Green Hybrid
3 - Gift of the Deity
2 - Rendclaw Trow
1 - Canker Abomination
1 - Quillspike
1 - Desecrator Hag
Blue/Green Hybrid
4 - Slippery Bogle
1 - Sturdy Hatcling
1 - Shorecrasher Mimic
1 - Favor of the Overbeing
Blue/Red Hybrid
3 - Stream Hopper
2 - Noggle Bandit
2 - Noggle Bridgebreaker
2 - Clout of the Dominus
Red/White Hybrid
1 - Nobilis of War
1 - Moonhold
1 - Fire at Will
1 - Double Cleave
1 - Duergar Assailant
Artifact
1 - Jawbone Skulkin
1 - Antler Skulkin
1 - Fang Skulkin
Land
1 - Rugged Praire
Craig’s Deck
Creatures
1 - Nobilis of War
1 - Thunderblust
1 - Stigma Lasher
4 - Slippery Bogle
3 - Steam Hopper
3 - Merrow Levitator
2 - Noggle Bandit
2 - Noggle Bredgebreaker
1 - Dream Thief
1 - Sturdy Hatchling
1 - Cinder Pyromancer
Spells
2 - Clout of the Dominus
1 - Dream Fracture
1 - Fire at Will
1 - Double Cleave
Land
8 - Islands
7 - Mountains
I see the theory behind the deck. With the three Merrow Levitators and all the early blue drops you should always be able to give the Levitator flying and attack. The Dream Thief has flying and the Stream Hoppers can gain it. Noggle Bandit + Clout of the Dominus is a five turn clock that is hard to deal with, espically with the large amount of chump blockers that exist. All the one drops also work well with the Nobilis of War, just sending a wave of 3/1s attacking. The Noggle Bridgebreaker adds some beef and the Thunderblust is a great finisher.
This theory has several issues. First Seven of your 15 creatures are 1/1s. One of your creatures is a 0/1. This mean 50% of your creatures can’t destroy a 2/2. Another Four of those creatures can only Trade with a 2/2 (Thunderblust Exclused). Most of your creatures without help can’t survive a 2/2. The help in this deck is very limited with only four spells the Double Cleave and Clout of Dominus are the only ones that can help a creature. You’ll most likely be using Fire at Will to help ‘trade’ your 1/1s with better creatures.
Secondly your key creatures to this style have no protection without The Clout of the Dominus; however, the Nobilis of War can’t take advantage of the Shroud the Clout provides, and the Merrow Levitator can’t give itself flying because it gains shroud. These are you bigger creatures and the larger ones that fall to Unmake and Puncture Blast, as well as most of the uncommon removal. Also you only have two Clouts and tow Noggle Bandits. The odds of having both in your hand by turn four is not great (I need to get my stats book back so I can back these statements up). And you want to cast it on turn four, so your opponent doesn’t kill him on turn three.
Besides the theory behind the deck, the mana curve isn’t even begin to be constructed at all. You have a few blue only cards, but besides the Dream Fracture they are all single blue casting cost. Looking at your red only they have larger casting costs. Stigma Lasher is two red, Thunderblust and Fire at Will have triple red, and Nobilis of War is five red.
So what would I change Craig’s deck. Like the following:
OUT go the 4 - Slippery Bogle, and 1 - Dream Fracture. I don’t need a sup par one drop that doesn’t untap my Pyromancer. I’m also removing the Dream Fracture so there will be no double blue casting cost in the deck.
IN: 1 - Banishing Knack. You have three Merrow Levitators that untap with blue spells. With this spell and a couple of cheap spells (Hoppers or Clouts) this can return the enemy field in a turn. If that doesn’t work simply bounce your opponments biggest creatre.
1 - Favor of the Overbeing. A good addition to the Clout. Give the Noggle Bridgebreakers flying, making them 5/4. Also if you get this on your Sturdy Hatchling you’re opponents done, with an 8/8 flying, vigilance untreatable at will creature.
1 - Duegar Assailant. Just to good a one drop not to have. He kills that annoying attacker or blocker that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to. He takes down a 2/2 by himself as well.
2 - Mountains - The mana base is poor in this deck, lets pump more in. I’d rather chance having to much mana and not playing a 1/1 then to little mana with Nobilis of War or Thunderblust in hand.
EXCHANGE 1 - Island for 1 - Mountain. You have lots of red high cost in the deck. Your blue, well important all of them require only one.
My version of Craig’s Deck:
Creatures
1 - Nobilis of War
1 - Thunderblust
1 - Stigma Lasher
1 - Duergar Assailant
3 - Steam Hopper
3 - Merrow Levitator
2 - Noggle Bandit
2 - Noggle Bredgebreaker
1 - Dream Thief
1 - Sturdy Hatchling
1 - Cinder Pyromancer
Spells
2 - Clout of the Dominus
1 - Banishing Knack
1 - Fire at Will
1 - Double Cleave
1 - Favor of the Overbeing
Land
7 - Islands
10 - Mountains
Strengths opposed to Craig
Mana: I have a better mana curve. You have a few high casting cost spells, but they will win you the game. I’m fairly certain my mana curve will be better then Craig’s for some time, as he is bad at math, and just learning the game.
Creature Removal: Duergar Assailant is a form of creature removal, espically good early game. Banishing Knack can either get rid of the big beast of with the Merrow Levitator clear the field.
Evasion: Favor of the Overbeing does give flying. This alone makes it worth playing. The +1/+1 (or +2/+2) is just gravy.
Weaknesses opposed to Craig.
Creatures: My deck does have three less creatures in it then Craig’s. Thought Craig’s creature are only 1/1s they can still chump block, or give an early start. You can screw up playing a Banishing Knack or Favor of the Overbeing the wrong creature. You can’t screw up a 1/1 that can’t be targeted by opponents abilities.
Less Blue Mana: I stated that the red is more important, but if you don’t draw a blue, you’re dead. I didn’t take out much blue land, but even the one can make the difference. A mulligan should be considered if you are playing first, have two blue spells in your hand and no blue mana.
So that’s what I’d do different with Craig’s deck. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll have a brief summary on how the matches when.
And then possibly what deck I built with this pool of cards.