Dies to Removal

Because I test the format 2-3 nights a week with a pro team so I have a reasonably experienced opinion on how the cards function in practice, instead of in theory.

Not gonna lie, my opinion of small market countries in magic is fairly low.

Australia has maybe 2/3 pro players I've heard of and none of them play anymore.

Not that I think they're bad, but they're likely not much better then people I FNM with from time to time(Good players in there first 0-5 PTs).

I just want Preordain in the format. Is that too much to ask?

It's my favourite card so I'd like it back too, but I would agree with their assessment that it's too strong in the format, given their preference for banning enablers rather than the actual problems. I don't agree with that aporoach, but if that's the chosen method a Preordain ban is justified.

I never thought modern was a "good" format until now.

I think it's a set or two from being stupid again(likely an unbanning come the next modern PT which will likely be either something that does nothing relevant like bitterblossom[nacatl would have been super relevant if they didn't print anger] or somethin potentially unhealthy like unbanning bloodbraid and jace which would be AWESOME).

Not gonna lie, my opinion of small market countries in magic is fairly low.

Australia has maybe 2/3 pro players I've heard of and none of them play anymore.

Not that I think they're bad, but they're likely not much better then people I FNM with from time to time(Good players in there first 0-5 PTs).

You're from Cali which outside of Japan is the strongest magic scene in the world. Look how hard it was for Sam Pardee or Jacob Wilson to break out, then look look at their relative success now. So your opinion is probably pretty skewed - ie: outside of upper tier mtgo players you probably have the toughest schedule of competition possible.

Talking from experience, ie: having played against a lot of name us pros, there are some
pros that are very good, some that are not. Some if the SnS guys are better than average pros so their data is valuable.

I'm not denying the skewed prespective. It's basically the same thing as the amerian bias when it comes to hall of fame voting; which EVERY brazillian will tell you about.

It didn't really take long for Wilson to break out though. It's more of a fact that he's 17

I also recently found out that I have 1 degree of separation with Smedster so I may or may not try to network with him next time I see him at an event if we run into each other at the WMCQ in August.

I DO really want to go to Japan one day and play in some tournies there to test the waters. I know that they're obviously good, I'm just curious as to how they play as I've heard a bunch of different stuff.

I've heard several different pro players say they feel advantaged vs. non HoF caliber Japanese players purely by virtue of there playstyle. Knowing how they all play fighting games such as SF, MvC, etc. I could see there being truth to this. Having said that, this was some 5+ years ago and this thing called modo exists so that may not be true now.

KEITH, GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS.

I'm playing in a big modern tournament next weekend... I have bump + burn, bw tokens and kiki control built. Unknown meta, but my guess is it will be skewed toward control. I'm least comfortable with control. Thoughts on what I should play?

If you believe coverage you'd have a very skewed opinion of who is good and who isn't. The pro tour cifka won is one of the worst examples.

Cifka is a multiple major European event champion and a chess grand master but according to the coverage? Rank unknown.

Depending on the Tokens build, I'd always say it's a fine choice in an unknown meta.

It's basically BW jund.

I like straight RW burn a lot right now.

I've been falling magic for 10ish years and read almost ever article so I'm pretty jacked in.

It's also a reason why shadiness aside, I have a massive hard-on for Saito as one of the best players of all time.

Edit: In modern? Looooooooooooose

I just copied wescoe's list because I don't get to play much modern.

His deck is both insanely powerful and insanely greedy. That's the most ambitious manabase I've ever seen.

I think if you run a reasonable manabase the deck is very good.

Pack Rat plus Liliana lets you run a much more aggressive discard suite which makes so many matchups a joke; a being be tokens gives you multiple cards that affinity can't beat too.

Bump burn is also not horrible against control. Especially the Lingering Souls version.

japan sucks

Without Deathrite I'm extremely unconvinced that RB is better than RW.

RW Splash Bump

japan sucks

My world view is shattered.

I don't think bump is powerful enough to splash for without Deathrite. That's my opinion; but three colours in a 19-20 land deck isn't ideal IMO.

There's a lingering souls bump in the night deck? Wow

Like to repeat that manabase is GREEDY.

If Memory serves correct, it runs:

vault of the archangel

Tec Edge

ghost quarter(?)

mutavault

and other stuff I think.

I want to say it ran only 18 colors of mana of which 2-4 where temples of silence which makes for lots of slow and awkward hands.

On burn: I don't think either deck is good. Black has a better manabase with blackcleave cliffs(I don't think having the text mountain matters?) and bump costing one and having flashback is sweet while boros charm being an instant is awesome and white generally leads to a better, though less aggressive sideboard.

japan is just a radioactive korea with cheating mtg pros

http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?ID=11864

Vomit.

how is mtg formed

how mana get pragnent

There's a lingering souls bump in the night deck? Wow

It just splashes Godless Shrines, yeah.

I think I'd just run 4 Mutavault and an archangel with 19 coloured sources. I don't think this is the sort if deck that wants to play LD.

I DO really want to go to Japan one day and play in some tournies there to test the waters. I know that they're obviously good, I'm just curious as to how they play as I've heard a bunch of different stuff.

I've heard several different pro players say they feel advantaged vs. non HoF caliber Japanese players purely by virtue of there playstyle. Knowing how they all play fighting games such as SF, MvC, etc. I could see there being truth to this. Having said that, this was some 5+ years ago and this thing called modo exists so that may not be true now.

KEITH, GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS.

My experience in Japan, was that it was much tougher than here or England (I used to play at the Games Club in London, where there PTQ players gather).
Basically, there are no casuals in Japan. They all take it very seriously, most play on MODO and there are more PT calibre players than either of the other countries I have played in. One thing I did notice was that Japanese players are less confined to a pre-set meta-game and are more likely to brew, making it harder to focus your decks and meta. Most have played a variety of other card games and pick up magic after they've grown up a little and are looking for something more challenging. The major difference is cultural. If you're an otaku (roughly translates to enthusiast or nerd) it means you are obsessed with your hobby. There are plenty of Magic Otaku who focus all their energy outside of work on Magic and put in the time to become very good at it. They don't have girlfriends, wives, children etc. or other interests. They just grind until they are really good. Most magic players in Japan are like that. Gambling is mostly outlawed too, so all the people who would be poker players end up doing magic.
There is also no stigma there around being a nerd or frequenting card shops. It's kind of the perfect storm to have a very competitive scene.

japan is just a radioactive korea with cheating mtg pros

And my imagination.

Madding is such a wannabe FOS member.

Here are the lists I'm considering:



[deck]BW Tokens[/deck]

[deck] Dega Bump n Burn[/deck]

[deck] Kiki-Control[/deck]

All your lists are oooooold

so old they are still wearing pooka shell necklaces

I know, I barely get to play magic thanks to my new job and modern only happens once a month here.

@LP- Is burn (either variant) or the rdw a better call for someone who will only grind for a month before the ptqs.

I feel like I have to atleast do the ptqs cause why not.

I played Affinity without a sideboard and can say with 100% certainty that unless you're playing against Storm the sideboard in that deck does basically nothing.

Alex, you traveling to TN or GA for any ptqs?