Third time comes the harm

Hi all, and welcome back here after a while. The last time I talked to you (and some time before that), I was writing about my Nacatl Sundial deck, better known as Intihuatana. After writing that, the deck went through a lot of changes and I’m still not where I want to be. I changed the deck around so much that I can’t even call it Intihuatana!

Intihuatana

As if the title isn’t vague enough, how about this one:

what do crabs and cobra’s have in common with cats and clocks?

Learning from a little red Llurgoyf

Today marks the first day I’m really scrabbling for a subject to write about. Not having played a game of Magic of about three weeks hasn’t helped matters, either – most of the times, inspiration comes from playing with the cards. The last time I touched cards was when goldfishing with my Walking Dead Flare-deck from last week. Then I remembered that I wrote several times about a deck I built a while ago, but never gave the deck the attention it deserved. My most aggressive deck in recent years (I kid you not) was something I don’t have to hide. As a matter of fact, I’m sharing it with you here today!

The triple Chandra

So last week I kinda teased you all with three different Chandra the Firebrand-decks for my friend Rick, as a part of his birthday present. This could only mean one thing for today: three different Chandra decks (I would build if it were up to me)! I even get to tease you throughout the article about what the birthday boy thought of them! Woohoow!

Green’s ugly creatures and contraptions

Last week I thought I left you with a deck that needed some serious attention. Little did I know the deck was actually just a few steps away from what turned out to be a list close to my ideal. This week I can proudly talk of the deck in it’s current shape, which is exactly where I want it to be. Sounds good? Then read on! Also, we have slugs that spit and pods that birth. In short, no reason to stop reading. (Or three.)

Kill your idols… or Goblins

After last week’s comic was done, I just couldn’t stop goldfishing the deck. After not having played the deck for ages, you remember the deck but forget about the little intricacies you built into it. So I knew what the deck was trying to do, I just didn’t really remember how. Many cards I drew gave me an aha-erlebnis (you could call it déjà-vu, but I like the German term) of when I was putting it all together. The other positive aspect is that you have an unspoiled view of the deck and are much more capable to detect malfunctioning then when it was your precious project. Also, two years worth of new sets are bound to have something in store.Here’s a good piece of advice for ya: if you want to do some deckbuilding but haven’t an idea or resources, just grab an old deck and see if there’s anything in there you don’t like. You’d be amazed how easy it is to detect flaws in decks you haven’t laid a hand on in some time. For me, this happened last week with Wort. After I was done writing (and shooting, and editing, and pasting) the comic from last week, I couldn’t stop playing the deck. I got back in the mindset of the deck, which is of the utmost importance when playing a combo deck. You can’t just play a combo deck; you need to get familiar with the deck, and what rules it has.

An idea Wort redoing

For Rick

Alternate title: how to find joy in the things that restrict you (and how restriction isn’t limiting at all)

For years now, Rick is my best friend. We met through a mutual Magic-playing friend who we both knew independently. While he faded away from Magic, Rick stuck around in my local playing ground, and therefore in my circle of friends. He’s been there ever since. He can be a bit stubborn at times, however. That is why I’m dedicating this next deck to him. And just by those words, he will know enough. For those that don’t know (which is everyone but him and me), I give you four words: Peasant Squirrel Nest abuse.

The loneliness of a combo deck player

Hi all and welcome back here. Today will be a more out-there column than what you’re used to from me by now, but I hope you’ll like it regardless. The topic today is my combo deck called Druidstorm. It is based on pumping Devoted Druids, thereby generating mana. You draw cards with Recycle, for pump spells and other cheap spells, and end the game with Banefire. There’s also a Living Wish-toolbox for finding engine pieces, fuel for the engine, or additional finishers. This deck isn’t top of the class, but fun to play with regardless. That’s what I’m gonna show you, but not in a boring play-by-play wall of text. No sirrie – I made a comic.