Winning by a Fraction

[Zerin Karamoff]

This thread is for the discussion of my latest article, Winning by a Fraction. We would be grateful if you would let us know what you think, but please keep your comments on topic.

[jokalhaups]

I'm thinking an easy, inexpensive solution for mono black reanimation is to play 2-4 Claws of Gix. Always make sure you have an extra mana open when you play creatures or reanimate them, and you can make them use up a burn spell, gain a life, and make sure your creature goes in the graveyard no matter what (only spell you can't respond to is Sudden Shock and that's fine). It'll also help by giving you more life if they do come off quickly. Multiples are no worry because they can be sacrificed for a life. Plus, red usually has some for of artifact hate so having multiples can't be a bad thing (sure, you don't want two in your opening hand, but I think it's worth having at least three in the deck).

[SnoopDoggAtog]

Decent intro article for Magic. Only thing I thought was missing was a brief discussion of "scope" or versatility of choices. Sideboard cards tend to be very narrow, and knowing you will face a group of related but non-identical threats means you may do well to choose a card that costs 1 more but has a broader range of targets, e.g. shatter vs. Hull Breach. Just one example, maybe not the best, because it involves splashing another color, but you know what I mean.

[CaptShetz]

Originally Posted by SnoopDoggAtog

Decent intro article for Magic. Only thing I thought was missing was a brief discussion of "scope" or versatility of choices. Sideboard cards tend to be very narrow, and knowing you will face a group of related but non-identical threats means you may do well to choose a card that costs 1 more but has a broader range of targets, e.g. shatter vs. Hull Breach. Just one example, maybe not the best, because it involves splashing another color, but you know what I mean.

I think that falls under "defining the baseline" in the article... "what function do you want out of your cards?" And the color thing is pretty huge too...

I think its a pretty good article as far as providing information, but I got pretty bored half-way through.

[Joe Cross]

I have to agree on the bored halfway through thing, but it really is a great article about importance of a sideboard, even for casual games. Even though I hate the fact of casual sideboarding, because everyone seems to put in their raking canopy while im rolling with the fae.

[Deity of Destruction]

If you're rolling with fae in casual, you deserve a rake across the face.

Only joking, of course...

[MadMageQc]

I never really considered casual sideboarding, because when I play casual, it's multiplayer, where sideboards usually don't belong, and when I play in tournaments, sideboards are a given. However, after reading your article and thinking about it, I realize that sideboards can be a cool thing to add to casual dueling, as long as both players agree to use them beforehand, otherwise it's not very fair... It sure adds an interesting dimension to the game. How you make such casual sideboards will obviously greatly depend on who your regular opponent(s) are, what kind of decks they play, how many of them they have and how different from each other they are, demanding narrower or broader sideboards. I believe it can create a fun dynamic.

Little nitpick :

Ghitu Encampment will play great against Mono-Blue Control: they can't play a counterspell against your land, Repeal can't bounce it, and even with the buyback on Capsize, is a lot to keep pumping every other turn; against Green Stompy, though, your manland just ends up dying by being blocked by something much larger than it.

Part of what makes Ghitu Encampment so good in a red burn deck is precisely that it very often doesn't end up dying against larger creatures. That's because of the nice interaction between First Strike and instant speed burn, which allows you to kill a fatty blocking or blocked by the Encampment before normal combat damage goes on the stack. If your opponent doesn't know/expect this interaction, he or she may be in for a nasty surprise, and once they do, you can usually attack freely with your Encampment even you're only bluffing and don't actually have the burn spell in hand. I advocate playing the Encampment in every casual red burn deck that can afford a land that comes into play tapped.

[Joe Cross]

If you're rolling with fae in casual, you deserve a rake across the face.

Most truthful thing I have ever heard to date.

[Zerin Karamoff]

Originally Posted by SnoopDoggAtog

Decent intro article for Magic. Only thing I thought was missing was a brief discussion of "scope" or versatility of choices. Sideboard cards tend to be very narrow, and knowing you will face a group of related but non-identical threats means you may do well to choose a card that costs 1 more but has a broader range of targets, e.g. shatter vs. Hull Breach. Just one example, maybe not the best, because it involves splashing another color, but you know what I mean.

The scope was kept very straightforward for two easy reasons: it made writing the examples easier with fewer cards in consideration, and I am not, by any competitive measure, an expert at Magic. I would say that I'm versed well and I bring a lot of thought to my decks but that description holds for most players, IMHO.

I plan a follow up article that will go into deeper detail and touch upon more subtleties in card substitution.

Originally Posted by Joe Cross

I have to agree on the bored halfway through thing, but it really is a great article about importance of a sideboard, even for casual games. Even though I hate the fact of casual sideboarding, because everyone seems to put in their raking canopy while im rolling with the fae.

Originally Posted by Deity of Destruction

If you're rolling with fae in casual, you deserve a rake across the face.

While I only advocate those running Affinity to have a rake applied to their face (I'm joking. But seriously, drop affinity like the plague on Magic it is!), sideboarding goes both ways. With a Fae deck, bring in bound like Repeal, Recoil, Echoing Truth, or even Banishing Knack to get rid of the enchantment.

Consistently adapting your deck is crucial for continued success. As Yoda said best "Do, or do not. There is no try."

Originally Posted by MadMageQc

I never really considered casual sideboarding, because when I play casual, it's multiplayer, where sideboards usually don't belong, and when I play in tournaments, sideboards are a given. However, after reading your article and thinking about it, I realize that sideboards can be a cool thing to add to casual dueling, as long as both players agree to use them beforehand, otherwise it's not very fair... It sure adds an interesting dimension to the game. How you make such casual sideboards will obviously greatly depend on who your regular opponent(s) are, what kind of decks they play, how many of them they have and how different from each other they are, demanding narrower or broader sideboards. I believe it can create a fun dynamic.

I don't use sideboards to provide silver bullet hate against the local meta (though that's one viable and effective use), I use it to be able to transform m duel decks into multiplayer capable. Without having to build multiple decks and try to use the same great cards in both I simply switch my deck to an alternate mode, like a weird paper Transformer.

Originally Posted by MadMageQc

Little nitpick :

Part of what makes Ghitu Encampment so good in a red burn deck is precisely that it very often doesn't end up dying against larger creatures. That's because of the nice interaction between First Strike and instant speed burn, which allows you to kill a fatty blocking or blocked by the Encampment before normal combat damage goes on the stack. If your opponent doesn't know/expect this interaction, he or she may be in for a nasty surprise, and once they do, you can usually attack freely with your Encampment even you're only bluffing and don't actually have the burn spell in hand. I advocate playing the Encampment in every casual red burn deck that can afford a land that comes into play tapped.

And I agree, but in the case where I was evaluating against Green Stomp there were multiple combat tricks for Green as well. Giant Growth and Sudden Strength push little Elvish Warrior up out of the Ghitu Encampment+Shock or Lightning Bolt range you references. Most of the creatures in the Green deck have a toughness of 3 or greater.

In usual Magic, especially with the toughness anemic creatures with abilities that have been printed recently, Ghitu Encampment can go a lot farther. Like I said, every card is situational.

[jokalhaups]

MadMageQc reminded me of something I wanted to comment on:

Ghitu Encampment will play great against Mono-Blue Control: they can't play a counterspell against your land, Repeal can't bounce it, and even with the buyback on Capsize, is a lot to keep pumping every other turn; against Green Stompy, though, your manland just ends up dying by being blocked by something much larger than it.

Basically it's a nit pick, but it's every turn, not every other turn. If someone has a Ghitu Encampment activated and attacking, their opponent Capsizes it, the player who was attacking can replay the man land and attack the next turn. So it's every turn, not every other.
I was also wondering why you chose Air Elemental over Serra Sphinx in the mono blue deck.

Originally Posted by Zerin Karamoff

While I only advocate those running Affinity to have a rake applied to their face (I'm joking. But seriously, drop affinity like the plague on Magic it is!), sideboarding goes both ways. With a Fae deck, bring in bound like Repeal, Recoil, Echoing Truth, or even Banishing Knack to get rid of the enchantment.

Consistently adapting your deck is crucial for continued success. As Yoda said best "Do, or do not. There is no try."

I think that's why they run 4x Cryptic Command.

[Zerin Karamoff]

Originally Posted by jokalhaups

MadMageQc reminded me of something I wanted to comment on:

Basically it's a nit pick, but it's every turn, not every other turn. If someone has a Ghitu Encampment activated and attacking, their opponent Capsizes it, the player who was attacking can replay the man land and attack the next turn. So it's every turn, not every other.
I was also wondering why you chose Air Elemental over Serra Sphinx in the mono blue deck.

But when you're playing against a deck packed with that much control you will want to lay land every turn and stack your hand with cheap threats. Having enough mana available to play your entire hand was what I had in mind. It's a find line to walk on and it's completely my perspective: there's more than one way to beat control decks.

Originally Posted by jokalhaups

I think that's why they run 4x Cryptic Command.

Unless you're playing a cheap/casual Fae deck. I don't think every player out there packs a play set of blue wrath.

[Joe Cross]

While I only advocate those running Affinity to have a rake applied to their face (I'm joking. But seriously, drop affinity like the plague on Magic it is!), sideboarding goes both ways. With a Fae deck, bring in bound like Repeal, Recoil, Echoing Truth, or even Banishing Knack to get rid of the enchantment.

Actually, I usually use Hurkyls recall against affinity