This thread is for the discussion of my latest article, MTGCast #141: Crazy for Conflux. We would be grateful if you would let us know what you think, but please keep your comments on topic.
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If you blame luck on all of your failures, you're never going to get better...
i would gladly buy cards at a local store. 2 small problems, the closest one is 60 miles in all 4 cardinal directions. i would also enjoy buying cards through the sponsors, but with a lack of sizable funds, and no credit card or credit card like effect, i am unable to do that as well. as for the 6 card booster packs, i have a mixed feeling about it. i don't think it is a bad idea, but i don't think it will be a good idea long term, just as i felt for mythic rares.
o, and i figured i would also add that i miss tom, he brings a little more of the "i play magic for fun, and am not a pro" view, which is kinda why i keep listening
Here is my Nicol Bolas deck. The aim is to get him out quickly and destroy everything in his path.
4 x Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker - preferrably in FOIL to show that you rule over everyone!
What you need more - what else can compare to his mightyness himself?
OK I guess you need some lands to cast him
4 x Reflecting Pool
2 x Vivid Marsh
2 x Vivid Meadow
2 x Vivid Creek
2 x Vivid Grove
2 x Exotic Orchard
4 x Graven Cairns
4 x Sunken Ruins
2 x Wooded bastion
What you want more? Maybe you are as greedy and powerful as the lord and master himself - I think not. We need destruction and lots of it.
4 x Wrath of God
4 x Unmake
4 x Vindicate
4 x Volcanic Fallout
We need to find him from the mediocrity of the library ...
2 x Diabolic Tutor
We need to see him quickly - how about a nice little combo before they die to his wrath ....
4 x Bloomtender
4 x Scuttlemutt
Finally we need to show his mental superiority, his cruelty and his majesty ......
3 x Thoughtseize
3 x No rest for the wicked
Please take care when allying with Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker else he may betray you at any turn and cause you to lose.
...Nic Bolas the planeswalker and the legend in the same deck. Throw in some Cruel Ultimatums, and the deck is oozing flavor. I'm usually a STD guy but I had to go EXT for this one. I was playing it, and it's not bad, a good casual deck.
Now, you may be thinking...how does he cast this stuff? The deck doesn't. You use Yet Another Aether Vortex do the work for you. Brainstorm and Top let you control what is out. Damnation and Tabernacle are for creature control. Progenitus is a nice hasty alternate win. Nicol Bolas is so Awesome in this deck he doesn't even need to be played! The deck survives through counter spells until it can go off.
EDIT: I forgot to mention when the combo of Vortex and Top is in play (and the PW in the top 3 cards of your library), Nicol Bolas essentally says 2: destroy target non-creature permanent and 2:gain control of target creature. This because when he leaves play and comes back into play he is a different object and you can use the ability again! You will not get to the ultimate this way, but you do not need to with that kind of power.
Well, you could always try Eureka to get him out cheap and fast. Also, with Eureka you would want to play mass removal in case things get out of hand like Pernicious Deed, Sundering Titan, and Damnation. Plus, when ever you drop Bolas from Eureka, you'll have plenty of targets to choose from. Not to mention Rings of Brighthearth , becuase that's just funny. Here's the deck idea:
With Nicol's second ability, you could use your opponents' creatures for Recurring Nightmare, Diabolic Intent, Phyrexian Tower, and/or Diamond Valley. Also, Sundering Titan (with plenty of sac engines to throw him in the graveyard) and Nicol's first ability for land disruption. Plus, plenty of tutors to search for key combo pieces. There should be 48 permanents in the deck b/c when you cast Eureka, you want to make sure your not just stuck with a bunch of instants/sorceries. With Eternal Witness and Reito Lantern for recursion. Finally, there should be plenty of mana fixing w/ fetch lands and bird/elves to make sure you shouldn't stall.
Well, you could always try to use Eureka to get him out cheap and fast. Also, with Eureka or Hypergenesis...
There is a functional difference between Hypergenesis and Eureka. If Hypergenesis could let you play Planeswalkers, it might actually be considered a good card. They obviously knew PW were coming so they made the wording change.
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I am looking for Date Stamped promos from Khans of Tarkir block so I can finish my set. Check my wants if you have any.
Currently offering 2 non-foil Kolighan's Command for a Date Stamped foil!
So I am a listener of the MTGcasts for some time now, since shadowmoor spoiler info. Thought I would throw in a deck idea for the sheer hilarity of...
Nicol TurBolas.dec A casual, and potentially multiplayer deck
My Goal is two fold: Make a deck that works consistantly, and have every card be connected to Nicol Bolas and his treacherous ways.
Key Card Interactions: The Goal of this deck is to consistantly play Bolas on turn 4 and make him one of very few permanents in play by turn 5 or 6. So we need mana acceleration...
Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker x 4 (The One and Only)
Mana Flare x 4 (The trickery of such a "friendly card")
Heartbeat of Spring x 2 (As In Bolas wants to crush this, see below)
Conflux x 2 (Bolas, other WUBRG card)
Manaflare (and its green cousin) allow us to untap on turn four and drop a land and drop Bolas, which is awesome. More importantly Bolas' first move can be to pop the mana flare in an almost Bolas style betrayal. Conflux plays a welcome guest appearance, as it tutors for bolas as well as that it can also drop on turn 5-6 with flare out
But Why blow up the flare when you can...
Obliterate x 2
Razia's Purification x 1 (A debate Bolas would relish: "Should I keep my Manaflare in play? Or maybe my Island? Decisions, decisions.")
When Bolas is the only permanent in play, besides Manaflare, (out of six if you go the purification route). Bolas can singlehandedly win the rest of the game. And Bolas, once he is on the field, likes being a hands on kinda guy.
Other various Conflux targets:
Pact of Negation x 1
Guttural Response x 1
Remand x 3
Punish Ignorance x 1
Commandeer x1
(All filed under Bolas's trickery and misdirection, with the occasional angry outburst of "no")
Its wonderful when Conflux grabs not only Bolas, but a handful of cards to make sure Bolas resolves. Remand gets a bump in number for tempotastic interactions.
Card Draw and Deck Manipulation: 8
Compulsive Research x 3 (Bolas's Quest to become immortal)
Telling Time x 4 (Something Bolas tends to be an expert of, and the flavor text connects well with bolas)
Worldly Council x 1 (A nod to the convergence of the shards)
Additional Deck Protection and Removal: 8
Voices from the Void x 2
Fiery Fall x 3
Traumatic Visions x 3
(Listed under Direct attacks from Bolas)
Lands 22:
Terramorphic Expanse x 4
Rupture Spire x 4
(Listed Under Bolas's action to merge Alara together)
Island x 4
Mountain x 3
Swamp x 3
Forest x 3
Plains x 1
Hopefully I did not fall that far from the mark. I am giving a nod to our abscent friend Tom, by keeping the chase rare count on the light side (This might even be MGTO classic legal. As a closing note, it was fun to goof off on a day off from classes and write up an awesome deck for a (Queue Spooky Sounds) Mystery Card.
My Standard legal deck aims to take the tempo out of their deck with unsummon spells and counters while amassing huge card flow for both players with lots of card drawing. Eventually using Iliana Vess to plop Nicol Bolas on top of my library and hide him away with Spinerock Knoll or Shelldock Island. With all the drawing going on it should not be long before a players has fewer than 20 cards in their library (especially if I hit with Jace's ultimate) and 7 damage should be easy enough with a Stomping Slabs or Sudden Impact (I can Vess for the Slabs too, sweetness). Iliana's ultimate also plays in well with all the cards that should be in my opponent's GY after their clean up steps. I also have included Colfenor's Plans so I don't go through my entire library, and the Plans have great synergy with all things Planeswalker.
o, and i figured i would also add that i miss tom, he brings a little more of the "i play magic for fun, and am not a pro" view, which is kinda why i keep listening
4 x Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker - preferrably in FOIL to show that you rule over everyone!
What you need more - what else can compare to his mightyness himself?
OK I guess you need some lands to cast him
4 x Reflecting Pool
2 x Vivid Marsh
2 x Vivid Meadow
2 x Vivid Creek
2 x Vivid Grove
2 x Exotic Orchard
4 x Graven Cairns
4 x Sunken Ruins
2 x Wooded bastion
What you want more? Maybe you are as greedy and powerful as the lord and master himself - I think not. We need destruction and lots of it.
4 x Wrath of God
4 x Unmake
4 x Vindicate
4 x Volcanic Fallout
We need to find him from the mediocrity of the library ...
2 x Diabolic Tutor
We need to see him quickly - how about a nice little combo before they die to his wrath ....
4 x Bloomtender
4 x Scuttlemutt
Finally we need to show his mental superiority, his cruelty and his majesty ......
3 x Thoughtseize
3 x No rest for the wicked
Please take care when allying with Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker else he may betray you at any turn and cause you to lose.
Gavin
2 Nicol Bolas
2 Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker
3 Cruel Ultimatum
2 Shriekmaw
4 Dusk Urchins
4 Thoughtseize
3 Pyroclasm
3 Damnation
4 Compulsive Research
3 Dimir Signet
3 Izzet Signet
3 Rakdos Signet
2 Swamp
2 Bloodstained Mire
2 Polluted Delta
3 Graven Cairns
3 Steam Vents
3 Watery Grave
3 Blood Crypt
3 Sunken Ruins
3 Cascade Bluffs
3x Yet Another Æther Vortex (Nicol works from the library!)
2x Nicol Bolas
2x Johnny, Combo Player
1x Progenitus
2x Leashling (more tricks with Vortex)
4x Sensei's Divining Top
4x Remand
4x Counterspell
2x Shriekmaw (enters play effects work with Vortex)
4x Brainstorm
2x Damnation
2x Man-o'-War
4x Volcanic Island
4x Badlands
4x Underground Sea
4x Mutavault
4x Cascade Bluffs
4x Steam Vents
4x Watery Grave
1x Island
1x Swamp
1x Mountain
1x The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale
4x Polluted Delta
4x Bloodstained Mire
Now, you may be thinking...how does he cast this stuff? The deck doesn't. You use Yet Another Aether Vortex do the work for you. Brainstorm and Top let you control what is out. Damnation and Tabernacle are for creature control. Progenitus is a nice hasty alternate win. Nicol Bolas is so Awesome in this deck he doesn't even need to be played! The deck survives through counter spells until it can go off.
EDIT: I forgot to mention when the combo of Vortex and Top is in play (and the PW in the top 3 cards of your library), Nicol Bolas essentally says 2: destroy target non-creature permanent and 2:gain control of target creature. This because when he leaves play and comes back into play he is a different object and you can use the ability again! You will not get to the ultimate this way, but you do not need to with that kind of power.
Currently offering 2 non-foil Kolighan's Command for a Date Stamped foil!
convert bulk into good cards? PucaTrade - https://pucatrade.com/invite/gift/21195
Ebay - decks/Promos/DVDs
Trade thread (constantly updated)
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/trading-post/details/337-pokerbob1s-casual-trading-emporium
1x Reito Latern
1x Rings of Brighthearth
Creature
4x Birds of Paradise
4x Llanowar Elves
2x Sundering Titan
3x Eternal Witness
4x Kokusho, the Evening Star
Enchantment
2x Pernicious Deed
3x Recurring Nightmare
1x Vampiric Tutor
1x Living Death
Planeswalker
4x Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker
Sorcery
4x Eureka
2x Damnation
1x Demonic Tutor
3x Diabolic Intent
Land
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1x Phyrexian Tower
1x Diamond Valley
3x Windswept Heath
4x Overgrown Tomb
4x Bayou
2x Bloodstained Mire
4x Twilight Mire
With Nicol's second ability, you could use your opponents' creatures for Recurring Nightmare, Diabolic Intent, Phyrexian Tower, and/or Diamond Valley. Also, Sundering Titan (with plenty of sac engines to throw him in the graveyard) and Nicol's first ability for land disruption. Plus, plenty of tutors to search for key combo pieces. There should be 48 permanents in the deck b/c when you cast Eureka, you want to make sure your not just stuck with a bunch of instants/sorceries. With Eternal Witness and Reito Lantern for recursion. Finally, there should be plenty of mana fixing w/ fetch lands and bird/elves to make sure you shouldn't stall.
The win condition is pretty obvisous, Kokusho, the Evening Star + Recurring Nightmare another Kokusho or Eureka w/ more than one copy of Kokusho in hand.
There is a functional difference between Hypergenesis and Eureka. If Hypergenesis could let you play Planeswalkers, it might actually be considered a good card. They obviously knew PW were coming so they made the wording change.
Currently offering 2 non-foil Kolighan's Command for a Date Stamped foil!
convert bulk into good cards? PucaTrade - https://pucatrade.com/invite/gift/21195
Ebay - decks/Promos/DVDs
Trade thread (constantly updated)
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/trading-post/details/337-pokerbob1s-casual-trading-emporium
Nicol TurBolas.dec A casual, and potentially multiplayer deck
My Goal is two fold: Make a deck that works consistantly, and have every card be connected to Nicol Bolas and his treacherous ways.
Key Card Interactions: The Goal of this deck is to consistantly play Bolas on turn 4 and make him one of very few permanents in play by turn 5 or 6. So we need mana acceleration...
Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker x 4 (The One and Only)
Mana Flare x 4 (The trickery of such a "friendly card")
Heartbeat of Spring x 2 (As In Bolas wants to crush this, see below)
Conflux x 2 (Bolas, other WUBRG card)
Manaflare (and its green cousin) allow us to untap on turn four and drop a land and drop Bolas, which is awesome. More importantly Bolas' first move can be to pop the mana flare in an almost Bolas style betrayal. Conflux plays a welcome guest appearance, as it tutors for bolas as well as that it can also drop on turn 5-6 with flare out
But Why blow up the flare when you can...
Obliterate x 2
Razia's Purification x 1 (A debate Bolas would relish: "Should I keep my Manaflare in play? Or maybe my Island? Decisions, decisions.")
When Bolas is the only permanent in play, besides Manaflare, (out of six if you go the purification route). Bolas can singlehandedly win the rest of the game. And Bolas, once he is on the field, likes being a hands on kinda guy.
Other various Conflux targets:
Pact of Negation x 1
Guttural Response x 1
Remand x 3
Punish Ignorance x 1
Commandeer x1
(All filed under Bolas's trickery and misdirection, with the occasional angry outburst of "no")
Its wonderful when Conflux grabs not only Bolas, but a handful of cards to make sure Bolas resolves. Remand gets a bump in number for tempotastic interactions.
Card Draw and Deck Manipulation: 8
Compulsive Research x 3 (Bolas's Quest to become immortal)
Telling Time x 4 (Something Bolas tends to be an expert of, and the flavor text connects well with bolas)
Worldly Council x 1 (A nod to the convergence of the shards)
Additional Deck Protection and Removal: 8
Voices from the Void x 2
Fiery Fall x 3
Traumatic Visions x 3
(Listed under Direct attacks from Bolas)
Lands 22:
Terramorphic Expanse x 4
Rupture Spire x 4
(Listed Under Bolas's action to merge Alara together)
Island x 4
Mountain x 3
Swamp x 3
Forest x 3
Plains x 1
Hopefully I did not fall that far from the mark. I am giving a nod to our abscent friend Tom, by keeping the chase rare count on the light side (This might even be MGTO classic legal. As a closing note, it was fun to goof off on a day off from classes and write up an awesome deck for a (Queue Spooky Sounds) Mystery Card.
Hopefully not the last post,
CBG85
3 Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker
2 Jace Beleren
3 Liliana Vess
Card Draw
4 Howling Mine
2 Font of Mythos
Control
4 Unsummon
4 Call to Heel
4 Dream Fracture
4 Stomping Slabs
4 Sudden Impact
Fun on a Bun
2 Colfenor's Plans
Land
3 Crumbling Necropolis
4 Reflecting Pool
4 Shivan Reef
2 Underground River
2 Sulfurous Springs
4 Cascade Bluffs
2 Sunken Ruins
2 Spinerock Knoll
2 Shelldock Isle