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Should I Pay Out to Build A Deck (For Standard)?
I've finally sat down and asked myself if I want to take the time and money to make a perfect deck. I've seen some pretty epic cards from the Shadows over Innistrad set, as well as some others. I get wiped by aggro every time I play, and I want to make 2 decks: A Red/Blue mill and counter deck (to keep my opponents from getting out their creatures and wrecking me) and a Black/White life gain deck (can't kill me if I keep gaining life). Should I go through with it, and if so, which deck should I work on? Also, do you think I should build for Modern instead? I have some sick but outta date cards that would work perfect, as well as some I could buy for little to nothing.
Update: Before it's asked, I'm a casual. I save up allowance to participate, and often play with decks that aren't necessarily the best, but it's what I have, and I'm good. I just have 90 dollars (plus 30) just lying around and some of these new cards look well worth the purchase. But then again, I could save one more month and buy something else... I won't be telling you what it is because I don't think it's something everyone wants to know. I might say it if too many ask though.
Update: Before it's asked, I'm a casual. I save up allowance to participate, and often play with decks that aren't necessarily the best, but it's what I have, and I'm good. I just have 90 dollars (plus 30) just lying around and some of these new cards look well worth the purchase. But then again, I could save one more month and buy something else... I won't be telling you what it is because I don't think it's something everyone wants to know. I might say it if too many ask though.
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Comments
Mill isn't a very competitive strategy in general, though it does have its charm - Defensive line with a lot of 0/4s and 0/5s can work out, but I don't think mill is really the way to go right now, seeing as it has fairly little support for it in both 1 and 2 drops and except for *Startled Awake* there isn't really any great bombs like Mind Grind or Mind Funeral in standard right now =/
Mill in modern with Hedron crab, Mind Funeral + Consuming Aberration with Remand and a general UB control suite can be very potent, since Tome Scour, Memory Sluice (Quite possible to pull of the conspire requirement as well if you play Hedron crab and Mindshrieker + various 0/X walls.
Modern also has Glimpse the Unthinkable, which more or less makes or breaks mill. There's also access to Thought Scour, while it's weak in the mill department, it does give essential draw.
If you're tired of getting wrecked by aggro, Thing in the Ice could definitely be the way to go, though that isn't going to be inexpensive seeing as Thing is quickly growing in popularity and prize ^^
Well of course :P
Startled Awake is an interesting card because, frankly, it's too slow for conventional mill - What it can do, however, is play as an inevitability finisher for a UX control deck - Play the slow game. Basically, play it as an alternative wincon in a regular control deck. It's ridiculously hard to get rid of, though Declaration In Stone would currently pose a considerable threat.
I am definitely building a Startled Awake deck, but it won't be a dedicated mill deck ^^
The new Jace looks tasty for standard
If you want some good anti-aggro cards, Ghostly Prisons are amazing but expensive. Wrath of God is probably the cheapest 4cmc reliable board wipe. If you're running blue, Mana Leaks are cheap and a very good way of slowing an opponent down. Remands are arguably better if you have the money. Also the red 'wipes' like Anger of the Gods and Volcanic Fallout are pretty cheap and very useful.
As for healing, there's some good options out there. Healing in and of itself is pretty useless so you will want to find cards that benefit from it. Ajani Pridemates are now classic for decks with regular healing. Felidar Soverign gives you a win condition (and are dirt cheap). Nyx-Fleece Rams are great blockers, provide nice trickle healing and actually don't have defender so you can attack with them if you buff them. The 3cmc Ajani, Caller of the Pride also does a great job supporting your creatures and slowing aggro.
From the black side, Blood Artists are a bit more expensive than they should be but provide a ton of value. Zulaport Cutthroat are their less useful cousins (who will get cheaper when they leave standard). If you're really on a budget, Drana's Emissary serves a similar purpose and is an ally. You can't really talk about black healing without Vampire Nighthawk though. They are one of the most valuable and versatile creatures in the game. 2/3 lifelink, deathtouch, flying. Lots of healing, scary blocker, has avoidance and for only 3cmc. They aren't even that expensive because they have been rereleased so many times. Finally, the old standby Sanguine Bond is always scary in a deck that heals.
I have the same problem with modern. I like testing and playing with all kinds of jank but when you want to win, you really need to shell out for the expensive cards and combos. Tron affinity may be one of the cheaper (read: sub-$200) decks that is top competitive. Delver and anything with blue will break the bank with all the Snapcasters, Jaces, Cryptic Commands and the like. GB Infect isn't toooooooooooo expensive though the best infect creatures are pretty high up there. Atarka Red is also not too bad and has a lot of early game power and can unleash the painful combo pretty early.
Apart from that, you can emulate some older decks that are still good. Caw Blade is still not terrible without Stoneforge Mystic. Blue faerie control can be infuriating to play against. Some of the T2 decks aren't that bad but most are just as expensive.
Here is my current deck list. You basically get the Curse of the Cabal suspended and then destroy or exile everything they play until it eats away their lands. Sorin and Elspeth are the main win conditions. There is a lot of room for changes and improvement too.
Avacyn's Judgment: I deal with a lot of overrun situations at the place I go to. Also, other cards can combo into it's madness cost, such as Forgotten Creation's upkeep ability.
Fevered Visions: While it may add fuel to the fire of aggro players, it can also add fuel to mine by giving me my essentials quicker, and it can act as a double wincon: Damage from too many cards, or draining a deck twice as quickly. Could be taken out and put into the sideboard if I'm up against decks that have more to gain from it than I do.
Fleeting Memories: Get my cards quicker and mill an opponent? Win! Only problem could be having to add cards that aren't necessarily good just for clues.
Geistblast: I almost fainted when I realized the potential this card had with some of the cards I want in this deck, and it's modern interactions (though they don't concern me) are hellishly frightening. My combo? Startled Awake into this for a 26 card mill for seven mana. There goes half your library. Plus, with that much mana, this is probably a late game thing, giving this combo the potential to end the game unless the opponent has a counterspell.
Harness the Storm: Good. I'll just put 2 Startled Awakes in my deck, I guess. This one's questionable, though, due to the fact that you still have to pay the mana cost.
Insolent Neonate: I'll take four of these and a side of fries, please! These'll give me every chance to cast Avacyn's Judgment for its madness cost, and I can even chump block in the process!
Jace, Unraveler of Secrets: Resistance is futile once I get his ultimate. The only problem? I have to keep him alive against an aggro deck, which can be a little troublesome. Don't want my money to be wasted for a card I can't take full advantage.
Jacee's Scrutiny: Anti-aggro and card draw are two things I can use. Plus I know I have at least one!
Just the Wind: Two things I like: Getting rid of cards, and creating mana sinks. This can do both, delaying my troubles until I have the assets I need.
Lighting Axe: Um... ow.
Manic Scribe: WRITE, WOMAN! Nice blocker, and annoying mill is annoying.
Pore Over the Pages: I need this for every blue deck I own.
Press for Answers: TALK, BEAST! One way to slow the enemy offensive.
Startled Awake/Persistent Nightmare: You know this card? Yeah. It's that one card that annoys the ever living hell out of everyone.
Thing in the Ice/Awoken Horror: An alternate wincon if I can't mill an opponent out.
Tormenting Voice: Bye bye useless cards! Oh, what's this? A madness combo?
More will likely come, but just to save space, that's it for now.
Tormenting Voice is great (especially for madness/delirium and draft) and has been released in a few sets now so they are pretty much free.
Lightning Axe is a must in drafts. Even if you're not red, it may be worth taking just so an opponent doesn't get it. There is very little removal in SOI draft so it is really, really powerful.
Thing in the Ice is surprisingly good in draft, not just constructed. In SOI draft you end up taking a lot more non-creature cards than normal (around 10-12) and you tend to draw a lot more so flipping it is actually possible.
Avoid Fevered Visions at all costs. The other day I took it over a land as the 4th to last card in a draft passed to me. It is not just unhelpful, it is actively detrimental to you in most cases.
The best four card combo I've had while playing Sultai is probably Gitrog Monster, Tireless Tracker, Erdwal Illuminator and Ongoing Investigation. Tireless Tracker alone is amazing. If you can investigate twice with it out, it will be big enough to block most things in the set. That being said, RB madness seems to be better than UG investigate or sultai.