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Can The Last Avatar help our B01 Standard Orzhov Cleric Deck?

/ Jerome / Leave a comment

The record pace at which WOTC releases sets means that we are constantly in preview season. Doing so has eroded the excitement for new sets, especially when you combine this with the proliferation of Universes Beyond sets. Where am I going with this, you ask? Well, previews for Magic’s latest set, The Last Avatar, pretty much went unnoticed here. To the point where none of us here even went to the Pre-Release. We also skipped the usual box purchase.

Having said that, I still took a look to see how I might use the cards in Arena for my decks B01 Standard Orzhov Cleric deck. After the disappointment that Spider-Man was, both as a source of new cleric cards and as a set in general, any clerics in the new set would be a win. Well, there are three new clerics, two of which can be played in Standard and one in Eternal formats.

Let’s take a look. We’re immediately down to only one candidate given that Loyal Fire Sage is not legal in Standard and Fire Sages is a Red card – not exactly a good fit for an Orzhov deck.

We’re down to a simple question: Is there room in my B01 Standard Orzhov Cleric deck for Compassionate Healer?

Here is the current version of my deck:

  • 3 Murder (J25) 467
  • 4 Essence Channeler (BLB) 12
  • 2 Grand Abolisher (BIG) 2
  • 2 Authority of the Consuls (FDN) 137
  • 4 Preacher of the Schism (LCI) 113
  • 3 Rosa, Resolute White Mage (FIN) 555
  • 3 Starscape Cleric (BLB) 116
  • 2 Minwu, White Mage (FIN) 26
  • 3 Aerith Gainsborough (FIN) 4
  • 3 Sheltered by Ghosts (DSK) 30
  • 2 Get Lost (LCI) 14
  • 2 Bitter Triumph (LCI) 91
  • 3 Elegy Acolyte (EOE) 97
  • 2 Cavern of Souls (LCI) 269
  • 2 Fabled Passage (ELD) 244
  • 9 Plains (THB) 250
  • 3 Scoured Barrens (IKO) 254
  • 7 Swamp (THB) 252
  • 1 Valgavoth’s Lair (DSK) 271

Sideboard

  • 1 Sanguine Evangelist (LCI) 34
  • 1 Zoraline, Cosmos Caller (BLB) 242
  • 1 Pest Control (BIG) 22
  • 1 The Witch’s Vanity (WOE) 119
  • 1 Moonrise Cleric (BLB) 226
  • 1 Krumar Initiate (TDM) 84
  • 1 Roaming Throne (LCI) 258
  • 1 Virtue of Persistence (WOE) 115

The simple answer is, yes, there is. I’m going to replace the Starscape Clerics with this card. I’ll lose the flying capability but build lifegain with a scry as a bonus. If things don’t pan out, I can always fall back to Starscape Cleric later.

So, here is the updated version of my deck:

  • 3 Murder (J25) 467
  • 4 Essence Channeler (BLB) 12
  • 2 Grand Abolisher (BIG) 2
  • 2 Authority of the Consuls (FDN) 137
  • 4 Preacher of the Schism (LCI) 113
  • 3 Rosa, Resolute White Mage (FIN) 555
  • 3 Compassionate Healer (TLA) 13
  • 3 Starscape Cleric (BLB) 116
  • 2 Minwu, White Mage (FIN) 26
  • 3 Aerith Gainsborough (FIN) 4
  • 3 Sheltered by Ghosts (DSK) 30
  • 2 Get Lost (LCI) 14
  • 2 Bitter Triumph (LCI) 91
  • 3 Elegy Acolyte (EOE) 97
  • 2 Cavern of Souls (LCI) 269
  • 2 Fabled Passage (ELD) 244
  • 9 Plains (THB) 250
  • 3 Scoured Barrens (IKO) 254
  • 7 Swamp (THB) 252
  • 1 Valgavoth’s Lair (DSK) 271

Looking at Instant and Sorcery spells, nothing really leaped out but I might try one of these below to see if they prove useful. If not, it will be back to the deck above. More to come on how these cards work out.

Let’s hope that Lorwyn Eclipsed brings with it more Clerics as this deck continues to suffer since rotation. But I won’t hold my breath – The original Lorwyn set only had three clerics.

Spider-Man shows no love for B01 Standard Orzhov Cleric Decks

/ Jerome / Leave a comment

If I needed evidence that the gaming gods sometimes listen, it came through pretty loud and clear with the full reveal of the Marvel’s Spider-Man set for Magic: The Gathering. Remember how I complained that sets were coming out too fast? Well, they have not slowed down any but I will definitely be able to catch my breath when it comes to my B01 Standard Orzhov Cleric deck. Why, you ask. Simply because there are no Clerics at all in the new set. Absolutely none. Nary a one. Zilch.

A quick aside: You may have noticed that posts on this site have slowed down. I can confirm that this is the case because I’ve started playing Dungeons & Dragons and have foolishly agreed to recap each session. It’s taking me longer to do these than I had anticipated. With that, back to our normal programming.

When Edge of Eternities came out (and rotation hit), I landed on the following deck to resume the Standard journey.

Sunstar Chaplain
Rosa, Resolute White Mage

Deck

  • 3 Murder (J25) 467
  • 2 Bitter Triumph (LXI) 91
  • 2 Sanguine Savior (MKM) 230
  • 4 Essence Channeler (BLB) 12
  • 2 Grand Abolisher (BIG) 2
  • 2 Authority of the Consuls (FDN) 137
  • 3 Preacher of the Schism (LCI) 113
  • 3 Rosa, Resolute White Mage (FIN) 555
  • 3 Starscape Cleric (BLB) 116
  • 2 Minwu, White Mage (FIN) 26
  • 3 Aerith Gainsborough (FIN) 4
  • 2 Sheltered by Ghosts (DSK) 30
  • 3 Sunstar Chaplain (EOE) 40
  • 2 Get Lost (LCI) 14
  • 8 Plains (THB) 250
  • 6 Swamp (THB) 252
  • 1 Susur Secundi, Void Altar (EOE) 259
  • 1 Adagia, Windswept Bastion (EOE) 250
  • 3 Scoured Barrens (IKO) 254
  • 1 Valgavoth’s Lair (DSK) 271
  • 2 Cavern of Souls (LCI) 269
  • 2 Fabled Passage (ELD) 244

Sideboard

  • 1 Pest Control (BIG) 22
  • 1 The Witch’s Vanity (WOE) 119
  • 1 Starscape Cleric (BLB) 116
  • 1 Krumar Initiate (TDM) 84
  • 1 Sanguine Evangelist (LCI) 34
  • 1 Zoraline, Cosmos Caller (BLB) 242
  • 1 Virtue of Persistence (WOE) 115
  • 1 Moonrise Cleric (BLB) 226
  • 1 Roaming Throne (LCI) 258

Since then, the deck has evolved into the following after some small tweaks, primarily around removal. As for the creatures, Sunstar Chaplain has worked better than I thought but the real star after rotation continues to be Preacher of the Schism and Rosa, Resolute White Mage.

Deck

  • 3 Murder (J25) 467
  • 2 Bitter Triumph (LCI) 91
  • 4 Essence Channeler (BLB) 12
  • 2 Grand Abolisher (BIG) 2
  • 2 Authority of the Consuls (FDN) 137
  • 4 Preacher of the Schism (LCI) 113
  • 3 Rosa, Resolute White Mage (FIN) 555
  • 3 Starscape Cleric (BLB) 116
  • 3 Minwu, White Mage (FIN) 26
  • 3 Aerith Gainsborough (FIN) 4
  • 2 Sheltered by Ghosts (DSK) 30
  • 3 Sunstar Chaplain (EOE) 40
  • 2 Get Lost (LCI) 14
  • 2 Cavern of Souls (LCI) 269
  • 2 Fabled Passage (ELD) 244
  • 9 Plains (THB) 250
  • 7 Swamp (THB) 252
  • 3 Scoured Barrens (IKO) 254
  • 1 Valgavoth’s Lair (DSK) 271

Sideboard

  • 1 Sanguine Evangelist (LCI) 34
  • 1 Zoraline, Cosmos Caller (BLB) 242
  • 1 Pest Control (BIG) 22
  • 1 The Witch’s Vanity (WOE) 119
  • 1 Moonrise Cleric (BLB) 226
  • 1 Krumar Initiate (TDM) 84
  • 1 Roaming Throne (LCI) 258
  • 1 Virtue of Persistence (WOE) 115

Looking through what else the Spider-Man (aka Through the Omenpath) set offers, I’ve not seen anything yet that makes me want to make further alterations to the deck. I did consider the following:

  • The Soul Stone (The Terminus of Return) – Harnessing it is just too expensive!
  • Spectacular Tactics – Perhaps instead of Get Lost?
  • Clandestine Work – Card draw is never a bad thing but what do I give up for it?
  • Villainous Wrath – I like it until the last sentence: “Then destroy all creatures.” That does not help my creature focused deck.

In the end, I don’t think that there is much that I can do except experiment a bit with these cards and perhaps go back to older sets to see how I can improve the deck a bit but it looks like consistent wins are going to be a while away still.

With Avatar up next, we’ll have to see if there are real improvements to be found. I’m not familiar with the lore so not sure that there are any clerics but I will be disappointed if we have two sets in a row without any.

Navigating Card Rotation: B01 Standard Orzhov Clerics After Edge of Eternities

/ Jerome / Leave a comment

Is it me or are new sets coming out faster? I just finished enhancing my B01 Standard Orzhov Cleric Deck with the Universes Beyond: Final Fantasy set cards (granted I was late doing so) and here we are with Edge of Eternities just having come around the corner. Previews and pre-releases have wrapped up so it’s time to take a look at new improvements are possible with the new cards.

With Edge of Eternities also comes rotation. With a number of sets dropping out of Standard, I will lose a number of key cards. The question will be what can we rebuild and how will it affect the effectiveness of the deck. It already was not a Tier 1 deck by a long stretch and I expect that rotation will have a significant impact.

Here is the deck that I’ve been playing in recent days. The cards in red will no longer be valid as of August 1st (or July 29th on Arena). 20 cards in the main deck alone! I don’t have a good feeling about this!

Deck
2 Go for the Throat (BRO) 102
3 Evolved Sleeper (DMU) 93
8 Plains (THB) 250
6 Swamp (THB) 252
3 Shadow-Rite Priest (DMU) 106
1 The Fair Basilica (ONE) 252
3 Scoured Barrens (IKO) 254
1 The Dross Pits (ONE) 251
1 Valgavoth’s Lair (DSK) 271
2 Loran’s Escape (BRO) 14
3 Essence Channeler (BLB) 12
3 Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim (DMU) 198
3 Phyrexian Missionary (DMU) 27
2 Authority of the Consuls (FDN) 137
3 Preacher of the Schism (LCI) 113
2 Cavern of Souls (LCI) 269
3 Rosa, Resolute White Mage (FIN) 555
2 Cut Down (DMU) 89
2 Fabled Passage (ELD) 244
2 Minwu, White Mage (FIN) 26
3 Aerith Gainsborough (FIN) 4
2 Sheltered by Ghosts (DSK) 30

Sideboard
1 Grand Abolisher (BIG) 2
1 Skrelv, Defector Mite (ONE) 33
1 Pest Control (BIG) 22
1 Lay Down Arms (BRO) 11
1 The Witch’s Vanity (WOE) 119
1 Starscape Cleric (BLB) 116
1 Krumar Initiate (TDM) 84
1 Sanguine Evangelist (LCI) 34
1 Zoraline, Cosmos Caller (BLB) 242
1 Leyline Binding (DMU) 24
1 Liliana of the Veil (DMU) 97
1 Virtue of Persistence (WOE) 115
1 Moonrise Cleric (BLB) 226
1 Roaming Throne (LCI) 258
1 Anointed Peacekeeper (DMU) 2

Three cards in particular will be tough to replace: Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim, Phyrexian Missionary and Shadow-Rite Priest.

Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim

But before we all declare that all is doom and gloom, let’s see what space-faring Clerics we have in Edge of Eternities. There are six in total and five of those could work in our Orzhov deck. That’s not a bad start.

The first, Alpharael, Dreaming Acolyte, will simply not work because of its Dimir colours. Moving right along.

Alpharael, Stonechosen, could be a pretty potent card but would require more emphasis in the deck on the new Warp mechanic. It is not a cheap card though, costing Colorless 3 pipBlack pipBlack pip. Looking at the other clerics in the set, none use the mechanic so the only way this would trigger is if a nonland permanent left the battlefield this turn. While possible, I think that this may not trigger often enough to be very effective. But with the deck being so depleted, maybe I will try it and see.

Elegy Acolyte might be a better fit. It is cheaper by a one pip and better fits into the current lifelink focus of the deck. In this case, Void provides an additional 2/2 colorless Robot artifact creature token that could then become the nonland permanents needed to trigger Void effects. Maybe I’ll start with this one in the deck and see how it performs. If it does, I could then try out Alpharael, Stonechosen as well. Then again, there are a few cards I had set aside that I might put into the deck first.

I might add a few copies of Lightless Evangel into the deck if only because it is relatively cheap and can help buff up other clerics around it. But the current deck is not built around sacrificing so there may be little value there. I’ll hold off for now and maybe revisit later.

I’ll start with a few copies of Sunstar Chaplain, to help with the depleted ranks of my deck. Buffing cards up is never a bad thing and the additional ability to tap a target artifact or creature by removing a +1/+1 counter could be an interesting strategy. It is a better fit than the previous cards.

The last new Cleric is Umbral Collar Zealot. It is a cheap creature that plays well with a sacrifice strategy. I’m not sure that this something meant for the deck but I may again not have much of a choice. Sacrificing another creature or artifact to surveil does not sound does not sound particularly appealing. Let’s start instead with some older Clerics and again revisit as needed.

Removal has been updated with a few Murder and Get Lost cards. I don’t have much in terms of combat tricks for now but will see if adjustments are needed.

Lastly, I’ve replaced two lands with the new Planet Lands. Not sure how they will really function in the deck but what have I got to lose at this point?

Deck

  • 3 Murder (J25) 467
  • 2 Bitter Triumph (LXI) 91
  • 2 Sanguine Savior (MKM) 230
  • 4 Essence Channeler (BLB) 12
  • 2 Grand Abolisher (BIG) 2
  • 2 Authority of the Consuls (FDN) 137
  • 3 Preacher of the Schism (LCI) 113
  • 3 Rosa, Resolute White Mage (FIN) 555
  • 3 Starscape Cleric (BLB) 116
  • 2 Minwu, White Mage (FIN) 26
  • 3 Aerith Gainsborough (FIN) 4
  • 2 Sheltered by Ghosts (DSK) 30
  • 3 Sunstar Chaplain (EOE) 40
  • 2 Get Lost (LCI) 14
  • 8 Plains (THB) 250
  • 6 Swamp (THB) 252
  • 1 Susur Secundi, Void Altar (EOE) 259
  • 1 Adagia, Windswept Bastion (EOE) 250
  • 3 Scoured Barrens (IKO) 254
  • 1 Valgavoth’s Lair (DSK) 271
  • 2 Cavern of Souls (LCI) 269
  • 2 Fabled Passage (ELD) 244

Sideboard

  • 1 Pest Control (BIG) 22
  • 1 The Witch’s Vanity (WOE) 119
  • 1 Starscape Cleric (BLB) 116
  • 1 Krumar Initiate (TDM) 84
  • 1 Sanguine Evangelist (LCI) 34
  • 1 Zoraline, Cosmos Caller (BLB) 242
  • 1 Virtue of Persistence (WOE) 115
  • 1 Moonrise Cleric (BLB) 226
  • 1 Roaming Throne (LCI) 258

More to come on the sideboard once I’ve had a chance to take this first version of the new deck out for a spin and I start to make adjustments.

Enhancing a B01 Standard Orzhov Cleric Deck with Final Fantasy

/ Jerome / Leave a comment

Magic’s latest set, Final Fantasy, has now been out for three weeks. As with every other Standard set, let’s take a look and see what new cards I may be able to add to my typal Standard B01 Orzhov Cleric deck in a bid to finally transform it into a first tier deck. The first Universes Beyond set to be Standard legal brings six new Clerics to the table.

As always, a number of them can be immediately skipped over as they don’t fit into the Orzhov colours. That does not mean that they don’t have potential. Yuna, Hope of Spira, in particular, could fit nicely into a Selesnya enchantments deck.

Back to our deck, we have three Clerics that could fit into the deck. Let’s take a closer look at these.

Aerith Gainsborough certainly could be a good fit. Lifelink helps power some of the other Clerics in the deck. Any tokens it gains can be saved when she dies if I have a legendary creature on the board. Without any protection, I have a feeling that Aerith is simply too vulnerable. And the limited number of legendary creatures means that I may not be able to save those counters to make it worthwhile. I may swap out two Annex Sentries to see how she would fare in its place.

Aerith Gainsborough
Rosa, Resolute White Mage
Minwu, White Mage

Rosa, Resolute White Mage, is another card that seems decent at first glance Giving creatures a +1/+1 counter and lifelink until end of turn fits well into the deck. At a cost of Colorless 3 pipWhite pip, I’m not sure I want to cut Roaming Throne for this card. Then again, it might be time for some experimentation. Let’s try it!

Finally, here is a card that I have been excited about since I first saw it. Minwu, White Mage, is definitely going into the deck so that I can see if she is as good as she seems to be. Right out of the gate, she comes with vigilance and lifelink. So far, so good but whenever I gain life, she allows me to put a +1/+1 counter on each Cleric I control. That could end some games. The only downside is her cost. At Colorless 3 pipWhite pipWhite pip, this is not a cheap card to cast.

Final Fantasy comes with another goodie for Clerics. There are two equipment spells that can turn any creature into a Cleric. While only one fits an Orzhov deck, this is definitely an interesting development. Both White Mage’s Staff and Sage’s Nouliths turn creatures into Clerics while they are equipped. The job select mechanic means that both enter already attached to a Hero Cleric and both have nice upside when they attack.

My first instinct is to not include White Mage’s Staff simply because so many of the other Clerics already have lifelink. But again, this may need to be validated in the lab of gameplay first.

One other change I made to the deck was to remove Fell in favour of Exorcise. Both work at Sorcery speed but the latter gives me more options to target.

Krumar Initiate

One last change: I cut the Krumar Initiates in favour of Authority of the Consuls. It should slow my opponent down a bit and give my Clerics deck a bit more time for the pieces to fall into place and hopefully take control of the game.

Here is the latest version of my Standard B01 Orzhov Cleric deck:

Deck

  • 2 Go for the Throat (BRO) 102
  • 3 Evolved Sleeper (DMU) 93
  • 3 Shadow-Rite Priest (DMU) 106
  • 2 Loran’s Escape (BRO) 14
  • 3 Essence Channeler (BLB) 12
  • 3 Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim (DMU) 198
  • 3 Phyrexian Missionary (DMU) 27
  • 2 Authority of the Consuls (FDN) 137
  • 3 Preacher of the Schism (LCI) 113
  • 2 Rosa, Resolute White Mage (FIN) 555
  • 2 Cut Down (DMU) 89
  • 2 Minwu, White Mage (FIN) 26
  • 2 Anointed Peacekeeper (DMU) 2
  • 2 Exorcise (DSK) 8
  • 2 Aerith Gainsborough (FIN) 4
  • 2 Cavern of Souls (LCI) 269
  • 1 The Dross Pits (ONE) 251
  • 1 Fabled Passage (ELD) 244
  • 1 The Fair Basilica (ONE) 252
  • 8 Plains (THB) 250
  • 3 Scoured Barrens (IKO) 254
  • 6 Swamp (THB) 252
  • 2 Valgavoth’s Lair (DSK) 271

Sideboard (or cards I may want to bring back into the deck later)

  • 1 Grand Abolisher (BIG) 2
  • 1 Skrelv, Defector Mite (ONE) 33
  • 1 Pest Control (BIG) 22
  • 1 Lay Down Arms (BRO) 11
  • 1 The Witch’s Vanity (WOE) 119
  • 1 Starscape Cleric (BLB) 116
  • 1 Krumar Initiate (TDM) 84
  • 1 Sanguine Evangelist (LCI) 34
  • 1 Zoraline, Cosmos Caller (BLB) 242
  • 1 Leyline Binding (DMU) 24
  • 1 Liliana of the Veil (DMU) 97
  • 1 Virtue of Persistence (WOE) 115
  • 1 Moonrise Cleric (BLB) 226
  • 2 Roaming Throne (LCI) 258

What’s better than pulling a Chrome Mox?

/ Jerome / Leave a comment

Today’s question: What’s better than pulling a Chrome Mox from the new Aetherdrift set?

There are definitely a few answers but my immediate thought when I pulled one was the following: I wish I had pulled this from an actual pack rather than on Magic Arena.

Chrome Mox

The art on the new Special Guest version is pretty sharp but what makes the card desirable is that it is pretty potent (like the other Moxes). It lets you exile another card from your hand as it comes in, giving you an extra mana of the same colour as the card you just exiled. Take a look at EDHRec and you can see that there a few interesting combos to work with.

Given it is not legal in Standard and Explorer and is banned in Modern (and Historic that I typically don’t play), I think its use on Arena will be rather limited – one more reason I wish I had pulled a physical copy as I would look to add to one of my Commander decks.

Anyways, I’ll see what I can do with this, perhaps in Brawl. If/when I do, I’ll post the deck…

Standard Lethal Combo in mono-Black

/ Jerome / Leave a comment

Since the mechanic Crime was introduced in Outlaws of Thunder Junction, I have off and on been playing a mono-black deck in Standard B01. I used the launch of the following sets, Bloomburrow, Duskmourn and Foundations, to see if I could improve on the deck as it is not, despite being fun to play, a Tier 1 deck by any stretch of the imagination.

Since its inception, I have tweaked the deck only a little bit. Among the recent additions are Fell and Bandits’ Talent. The first is a decent creature removal spell and the second fits nicely into the theme of the deck. Another key addition is Unstoppable Slasher from Duskmourn, a card that many decks have a hard time removing permanently.

Fell
Bandit's Talent
Unstoppable Slasher

With Foundations, I again went back to see if there was something I could again add to the deck. While nothing leaped out, I did decide to pair up Unstoppable Slasher with Bloodletter of Aclazotz. I will not claim credit for this impressive combo but will definitely vouch for its effectiveness after feeling its effects first hand.

Why is this combo so powerful? When Unstoppable Slasher deals combat damage to your opponent, they lose half of their life, rounded up. Then, Bloodletter of Aclazotz does its thing and doubles that damage. Between the two of them, that’s fatal damage! Granted it does require that both cards be on the battlefield and that Unstoppable Slasher deal player damage, but it’s not hard to line this up.

Other core pieces like Tinybones, the Pickpocket, Deep-Cavern Bat and Hopeless Nightmare remain in the deck. I’ve also started looking at sideboard additions to see if I can move this deck up to B03.

Tinybones, the Pickpocket
Hopeless Nightmare

Here is my latest mono-Black B01 Standard ‘Crime Does Pay’ deck:

Deck

  • 1 The Dross Pits (ONE) 251
  • 16 Swamp (MH3) 315
  • 2 Tinybones Joins Up (OTJ) 108
  • 2 Tinybones, the Pickpocket (OTJ) 109
  • 1 Mirrex (ONE) 254
  • 4 Deep-Cavern Bat (LCI) 102
  • 2 Demolition Field (BRO) 260
  • 2 Vadmir, New Blood (OTJ) 113
  • 2 Kaervek, the Punisher (OTJ) 92
  • 3 Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor (BRO) 95
  • 2 Aclazotz, Deepest Betrayal (LCI) 88
  • 3 Sheoldred, the Apocalypse (DMU) 107
  • 2 Sheoldred’s Edict (ONE) 108
  • 2 Fell (BLB) 95
  • 3 Bitter Triumph (LCI) 91
  • 2 Skullcap Snail (LCI) 119
  • 3 Hopeless Nightmare (WOE) 95
  • 1 Hidden Necropolis (LCI) 275
  • 2 Bandit’s Talent (BLB) 83
  • 1 Vein Ripper (MKM) 110
  • 2 Unstoppable Slasher (DSK) 119
  • 2 Hostile Investigator (BIG) 10

Sideboard

  • 2 Gix’s Command (BRO) 97
  • 2 Liliana of the Veil (DMU) 97
  • 2 Gisa, the Hellraiser (OTJ) 89
  • 2 Duress (STA) 29
  • 2 Ruthless Negotiation (BLB) 108
  • 2 Callous Sell-Sword (WOE) 221
  • 2 Go for the Throat (BRO) 102
  • 1 Virtue of Persistence (WOE) 115

MTG Arena: Best Golden Pack ever?

/ Jerome / Leave a comment

With Bloomburrow season having started on MTG Arena, it was time yesterday to buy some of the new packs with the gold I have been accumulating in the last few weeks.

I basically start saving my gold about a month before a new set so that I can more quickly build up a collection of cards from the new set. Doing so in Arena also allows me to earn points towards Golden Packs.

Wizards introduced these digital-only packs back in late 2022. Each comes with six cards, all of which will be rare or mythic from a current Standard-legal set. At least one will be mythic. The remaining five all have an independent chance of being mythic as well (1 in 8 odds).

Below is is the one that I cracked open yesterday:

MTG Arena Golden Pack - Sealed - Bloomburrow season

Six mythics! I’ve never seen that before. At best, I have had three. You can imagine that I sat up when I saw this. But which eight would they be?

Here is what I ended with once all those cards had been flipped face up:

MTG Arena Golden Pack - Open - Bloomburrow season

I am going to see if I can build a Standard Izzet deck. The two Otter Wizards are likely to go into it. I am curious to see how both cards perform. Stormsplitter could prove quite powerful especially paired with Bria, Riptide Rogue as any token created would then also have Prowess. Kitsa could be fun as well but I’ll need to find a way to pump up her power to be able to use her second ability.

Anyways, all this to say that it’s always nice to crack open a pack with six Mythics!

This finally happened!

/ Jerome / Leave a comment

So this finally happened:

I’ve been playing MTG:Arena pretty much since the early days of the beta. As a F2P player, gems are not easy to accumulate but I’ll typically use them for drafts once I’ve accumulated enough. Unfortunately, I’m not a very strong draft player so this normally ends up as a losing proposition (albeit a fun one). I more rarely treat myself to sealed events but decided to do so earlier this week in honour of the new The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-Earth set.

My pool was far better than what I drew at the Pre-Release for the set. I pulled two green Mythics, Radagast the Brown and Last March of the Ents and I immediately knew that I would be playing some kind of Green deck. Throw in Elrond, Lord of Rivendell, Rangers of Ithilien, and The Shire and it was an easy decision to go Simic.

I started playing Monday night. One win, two wins and then three wins without a loss. I was on a run but it was getting late. “One more,” I told myself and this last game also turned into a win. Another “One more”‘” despite knowing that I might have a hard time waking up the next day, turned into a fifth win in a row. While one or two games might have easily gone the other way, this deck just seemed to have answers for everything, particularly thanks to two copies each of Bewitching Leechcraft and Hithlain Knots. Never underestimate the power of removal, I say despite knowing that I will ignore my own advice despite seeing its efficacy in action the next time I’m building a deck under a time limit.

Reason prevailed finally and I called it a night at 5-0. This was already a run I was pretty happy with. I went to bed, hoping that whatever good luck I’d had would prevail for the remainder of my run.

The next night, I resumed. After a small scare where I inadvertently picked a different game and suddenly wondered where my Simic cards had gone. Game 6 picked up where I had left off with an easy win. The next game did not go the same way and I recorded my first loss. Undeterred, I started my next game and my deck once again delivered and I reached the 7 win milestone! I’m pretty sure that this is the first time I have managed this feat. In case I later forget, this post will serve as a reminder!

The one thing I regret is not saving the deck list. I thought it would automatically get saved but it does not appear so. Aside from the cards mentioned above, other strong performers were Chance-Met Elves and Gift of Strands. Two mechanics, Scry and the ring temptation, gave the deck the consistency needed across the games.

I find that Sealed goes one of two ways for me. Either I know immediately what I’m going to build, like in this case (it can still end up being bad though), or I end up second guessing myself and generally end up with something that just does not gel together.

Arena B01 Standard Boros Burn

/ Jerome / Leave a comment

After a less than stellar start to the new Arena season with my WB Clerics deck, I switched my Boros Angels deck. That just led another painful loss run (0-6) and never seemed to have answers to the decks I faced. It was time for something different. I switched to the Boros Burn deck that had just emerged as new top contender after watching CovertGoBlue play with it.

Here is the deck that I have been playing with since:

  • 6 Plains (SNC) 263
  • 6 Mountain (SNC) 269
  • 4 Luminarch Aspirant (ZNR) 24
  • 4 Roil Eruption (ZNR) 155
  • 4 Needleverge Pathway (ZNR) 263
  • 2 Den of the Bugbear (AFR) 254
  • 4 Brutal Cathar (MID) 7
  • 3 Bloodthirsty Adversary (MID) 129
  • 4 Play with Fire (MID) 154
  • 2 Angelfire Ignition (MID) 209
  • 4 Sunrise Cavalier (MID) 244
  • 4 Hopeful Initiate (VOW) 20
  • 3 Sundown Pass (VOW) 266
  • 4 Kumano Faces Kakkazan (NEO) 152
  • 4 Thundering Raiju (NEO) 166
  • 1 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire (NEO) 268
  • 1 Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance (NEO) 276

It has proven to be quite potent. The mana curve works very well and I often find myself with either a Hopeful Initiate or Kumano Faces Kakkazan to lead off. And if I don’t have those, a Play with Fire often shows up instead allowing me to immediately inflict some damage and not lose momentum.

And who would have predicted that Sunrise Cavalier would be such an awesome card in the deck? Certainly not I. The four-mana Thundering Raiju brings a lot versatility a bit later on, inflicting damage to the face and pumping other creatures up at the same time.

As of now, the deck is at 25-11, moving me through Gold quite quickly after the painful start experienced with the other decks. We’ll see how it fares in Platinum but early signs are promising. At this point, I’m not really thinking of any tweaks but we’ll see how things evolve in the coming days.

Arena BO1 WG Reconfigured Enchantments aka Selesnya Enchantments

/ Jerome / Leave a comment

After a couple of weeks of Arena BO1, my Orzhov Cleric deck has done relatively well and helped me climb to the Platinum tier. With a 59% win ratio, it has performed better than I expected in the new Standard but that could change as I push upwards on the ladder. I will say that Blade of the Oni has proven to be quite the card in the deck. Attached to a Voice of the Blessed or anything with a few counters on it, it becomes quite the threat.

I haven’t played as much with my Giants deck but the Lizard Blades that replaced Giant’s Grasp have also proven to be as nice an addition to the deck as I had hoped. In BO3, I may still use Giant’s Grasp first and then switch out to the Lizard Blades for the following match-ups where it makes sense to speed up the deck.

Much as I expected, I have begun to explore some other deck options. Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty is proving to be a fun block. I’m enjoying the Reconfigure mechanic and the sagas are proving to be quite fun as well.

First up is the first version of the deck which I called Reconfigured Enchantments. As I look at the deck list now, I will admit I’m not sure how I thought this was a Reconfigure deck. Counters, perhaps, but definitely not Reconfigure.

  • 3 Blossoming Sands (NEO) 265
  • 4 Jukai Naturalist (NEO) 225
  • 5 Plains (NEO) 284
  • 6 Forest (NEO) 292
  • 3 Jukai Preserver (NEO) 195
  • 2 Tales of Master Seshiro (NEO) 210
  • 2 Jugan Defends the Temple (NEO) 194
  • 2 Light the Way (NEO) 24
  • 4 Spirited Companion (NEO) 38
  • 2 Weaver of Harmony (NEO) 213
  • 2 Boseiju, Who Endures (NEO) 266
  • 2 Vastwood Fortification (ZNR) 216
  • 4 Branchloft Pathway (ZNR) 258
  • 2 Overgrown Farmland (MID) 265
  • 2 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire (NEO) 268
  • 2 Rabid Bite (ZNR) 199
  • 2 Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider (KHM) 199
  • 2 Homestead Courage (MID) 24
  • 1 The Wandering Emperor (NEO) 42
  • 3 Generous Visitor (NEO) 185
  • 2 Touch the Spirit Realm (NEO) 40
  • 3 Borrowed Time (MID) 6

The deck did not perform well but Jukai Naturalist and The Wandering Emperor certainly proved to be strong cards worth building around. In the meantime and as I suspect many have also discovered, Selesnya Enchantments has quickly become a thing on Arena. This deck quickly evolved in this direction while retaining more sagas than most other decks of this type.

Here is the deck as it stands tonight with two Wedding Announcements replacing Tales of Master Seshiro, a saga I liked but proved too slow for this deck.

  • 4 Jukai Naturalist (NEO) 225
  • 2 Jukai Preserver (NEO) 195
  • 2 Wedding Announcement (VOW) 45
  • 3 Jugan Defends the Temple (NEO) 194
  • 4 Spirited Companion (NEO) 38
  • 2 Weaver of Harmony (NEO) 213
  • 3 Michiko’s Reign of Truth (NEO) 29
  • 3 Kami of Transience (NEO) 197
  • 1 The Wandering Emperor (NEO) 42
  • 4 Generous Visitor (NEO) 185
  • 2 Touch the Spirit Realm (NEO) 40
  • 3 Borrowed Time (MID) 6
  • 2 Ranger Class (AFR) 202
  • 2 Rune of Might (KHM) 191
  • 3 Blossoming Sands (NEO) 265
  • 2 Boseiju, Who Endures (NEO) 266
  • 4 Branchloft Pathway (ZNR) 258
  • 2 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire (NEO) 268
  • 2 Overgrown Farmland (MID) 265
  • 4 Plains (NEO) 284
  • 6 Forest (NEO) 292

With 17 games in the books, the deck has a less than stellar 9-12 record. Many losses were racked up with the earlier versions and recent adjustments have begun to improve that ratio.