Has the time come?

So finally things wind down, going from 38 hours weeks to 15. Which isn't bad I guess since this term I have three classes again. So beneficially I just finished my first web design class, I have a good grasp on html and xhtml but could use a little more. For our final project we found a free ftp which is great so soon enough I'll buy my domain and use it for a portfolio and possibly a lil more. Spent the holiday home in Rockford handing out gifts, and visiting everyone it's cool to see some changes in a year but nothing horribly drastic. New year new cards clock is ticking daddy Jace, maybe play in standard can become affordable for a moment or two. Time for a break to re-coup after the holiday season in retail, I'll get back to anyone reading and try a lil harder, and who knows maybe make this page prettier.

Too Busy

To anyone who actually reads this,I haven't had a lot of time to really update I've been a little busy between retail work and school to do so. I also realize that there are a ton of games I'm missing out on due to lack of finance I really need to do something about that soon. I'm also doing some portfolio work since Westwood College Dupage campus is putting together a student sketchbook again for C2E2 and the exposure is worth it I could also use the practice as my deviant art will show improvement has been made. I've also been learning html and web design so blog changes coming soon. I still manage to play Magic: The Addiction and news flash Venser's Emblem stacks, I noticed by accident because I wasn't paying attention and then whoa wait..............I won that game is going on too long and you should be winning but this speeds it up a bit. Other news still on about games I'm working on being named president of the "Gamer's Club" for our campus and then on events to be held by the club. Speaking to the guys in Admissions who I'm fairly decent friends with we will now be working fairly close with Game Pazzo, which from the sounds of things may lead to bigger and way better things, and possibly Graham Crackers a local  comics and cards place is nearly asking to hold FNM at our school which would help them expand space, and gain some extra participants. Otherwise there is a toy line by the name of Monster High that I have become a little too interested in high school full of the children of famous monsters but no Alucard when they have a daughter of Dracula so next on my list of things to do is scrabble together a profile and put together some sketches to send to Mattel maybe they'll look at it maybe not heres hoping, I could use the exposure.

A decent week in magic

Exsanguinate Kills: 11            Mass Polymorph Scoops: 5



So for those that care I built System C.A.I., a Five Color Planeswalker deck meant to change from turn to turn. I know mentioned a Proliferate themed deck a while back that has been undergoing tweaks ever since now we arrive at the final stages. Tweaks were tough to remove things, and add in important pieces or more pieces that became important. Much like the five color predecessor the deck runs a ton of two-up and three-up.

Planeswalkers: 7

Lilliana Vess x2
Chandra Nalaar x2
Elspeth Tirel
Venser, the Sojourner
Jace Beleren


Creatures: 2

Triskelion x2


Spells: 29

Contagion Clasp x3
Contagion Engine
Inexorable Tide x2
Steady Progress x2
Lux Cannon x2
Chimeric Mass
Everflowing Chalice x4
Golem Foundry x3
Chimeric Mass
Lightning Bolt x2
Galvanic Blast x2
Revoke Existence x2
Exsanguinate x2
Mox Opal
Elixir of Immortality

Lands: 22
Mountain
Plains x2
Island x3
Swamp x3
Blackcleave Cliffs
Darkslick Shores x2
Drowned Catacomb
Dragonskull Summit
Glacial Fortress x2
Seachrome Coast x2
Glimmerpost x3

This deck seems almost schizophrenic at times not deciding on a definite path to victory, but having one none the less. What are those options? Well ultimately  a few are swing in with creatures, one being Chimeric Mass having made it into a fattie. Alternatively we make perpetual creatures off the Foundries, which can be amazingly hard to keep up with. Triskelion also turns into a decent fattie. Should we not get any of those there's always Exsanguinate to not only gain life, but cause players to lose life, and not target them. Exsanguinate is a real star here, with proliferate and Chalice we make it to insane amounts of mana fairly quickly it also doesn't target the players making any of the few player gains shroud outlets worthless against it; last it causes loss of life which is tougher to prevent since most cards look for damage. Whoa 10 Mythics that's a little excessive. I pulled most of those from boosters, hence one Mox Opal. Lux Cannon is a real Haymaker in this deck, the amount of proliferation leaves the cannons always having counters and usually firing every turn. Venser? Yes; Vess and Jace give me the cards I need for whatever, Chandra kills most threats, and Easily wipes away the opposing board of bodies Venser. Well Venser resets our friends to starting loyalty if needed. Well never the less deck works, now to play something else and give this a break I've overplayed it. Its beginning to gain a reputation that will soon leave me unable to play since no one wants to face me with it.


Update: -1 Elixir of Immortality +1 Emrakul of the Aeons Torn.

Kill Fiend

So someone may have told you, not me for sure, that Kiln Fiend has a turn three kill in Standard. How is that possible? Well Kiln Fiend gets +3/+0 until end of turn for each instant or sorcery you play, currently this works in R/U using Distortion strike for +1/+0 and unblockable plus his +3/+0 from himself. So then island, island, mountain, Kiln Fiend, Distortion Strike, Distortion Strike, Assault Strobe, and Kiln Fiend hits for an unblockable 12 Doublestrike by just turn three the second Distortion Strike can be any instant or sorcery. I like this flavor it is very delicious, but we need our own twist on this one. Looking at Magic's website, dorky as I am, I show qualities of R/U/B mages that shall be a new theme. So we shall splash in some Black.


Creatures: 4
Kiln Fiend x4

Spells: 36
Tainted Strike x4
Distortion Strike x4
Assault Strobe x4
Lightning Bolt x4
Arc Trail x4
Diabolic Tutor x4
Virulent Strike x4
Foursee x4
Disentomb x4

Land: 20
Mountain x6
Swamp x6
Island x6
Terramorphic Expanse x2

So Kiln Fiend is the only creature as such the win condition, but with four tutor and Disentomb we basically have 12 copies. We also have options the game ends on turn three or higher by either a huge swing, or poison from Tainted Strike. The deck is fragile but then what deck isn't; besides this one isn't intended to compete but to catch some cocky jerk off guard. Feel free though to alter it to compete.

Faith Fettered Dreams

The past ten months have been fairly great, at least by my standards; considering my job, and lack of financial backing to do much of anything that bar is fairly low. I'll level with ya this was never the intent I had for this, but I find myself without a place to go to say anything. Now I've never liked my job, well since the first week, life since then did nothing but stagnate. Being a teen it was OK I had money to pay for my car, and my phone (which I was forced into because of the car). I eventually got a girl twice, I am not a smooth talking machine nor confident. I graduated without trying, and got accepted to DeVry (quit laughing now) breezing through college life continued the downfall, I had a decent job was working toward a better job had a Fiancee merely steps away from being married and in a decent job. Karma from something must have caught the fuck up with me, she left me and crushed I switched to school online, and moved home. Some shit fell through with funding and the school dropped me. I had my job as a sales guy for the "R" Us corporation back (surprise, fuck you blog policy) which meant I couldn't afford rent my car or anything almost. Shit still went south, from there I end up on a couch for a couple months trying to get together money for a place to stay, and one I could afford; I was expecting to have to shakedown the roaches for rent. Luckily to a place I could afford, with a roommate a nice place. Then life did exactly as it did now, nothing. I couldn't stand it, the only reason to wake up in the morning was to go to work, after work there was nothing. No lustrous life of any sort, no person looking forward to my return, hell not even a pet (which would starve on my pay, I know I did). I turn around and go back to school, now at Westwood college. Half of life was great, I also reconnected with MTG. I've never been a drug user, if that statement doesn't say it then nothing will, I realize though mine are different; they come in a foil package nine or 15 at a time. I find my job to be holding me down, I've spent a day doing nothing at all and felt I've done more than in a four hour shift at work. I can't escape it either my school doesn't get in the way of work not beginning at 6pm, but the lack of real experience is stepping in the way of any real progress. I don't have many ambitions anymore, in fact I'll name three the only I want. I want to ship one title, be invited to states, or higher for magic, and place in regionals for YGO. I know the steps, getting there is the issue. After recapping the past quarter of my life here, I don't see any of these happening, hell my father who is alway so "proud" of me didn't even bother telling me he's getting remarried. I was hoping that typing all this would help, I might feel a little better. An hour and a distracted half later all I want to do is play cards to try and cheer myself up. I now find myself knowing why addicts do it, don't get me wrong I still criticize my "best friend" for his. Don't worry we'll be back to our regularly scheduled program tomorrow. After reading turn three Kiln Fiend, I'll use him to turn three infect.

Wha'ts red and green and goes 60mph?

A deck I don't have, ask CPA13 about 'Frog in a Blender'. What resides on the Naya shard, and is a pain to outrace? Naya Totem, the name needs work, is a deck I threw together a few months back when I was going to attend a local FNM since I had nothing else going on. 30 mins. later the deck performed fairly well despite being outside the original plan. The deck was based off an extended deck from Jacob Van Lunen using Kor Spiritdancer, the change was from Bant to Naya and from eight creatures to 12. A main reason for the change in shards was Uril, The Mist Stalker; but also the lack of need for the slight control of Spreading Seas or Mesa Enchantress. Looking through my auras I knew my curve would be off, and slightly high though like almost all of my decks of the time turn three was were it began to live. One of the secondary heavy hitters of the deck came as a surprise having not seen anything like this before Aura Gnarlid, now he quickly buffed as the only creature on board; then he waltzed by the opponents defenses with his high power giving pseudo unblockable. A little down the road came a couple tweaks the curve went up to six adding Sun Titan, and Bear Umbra. Now I was invited to FNM again between terms at school, and the deck needed tweaking to bring it to T2 losing eight cards. Two Naya Charms, Three Elvish Visionary, Two Path to Exile, and Uril, The Mist Stalker.

Creatures: 12
Sun Titan
Darksteel Sentinel
Copperhorn Scout
Blight Mamba x2
Kor Spiritdancer x3
Aura Gnarlid x4

Spells: 23
Mammoth Umbra x2
Bear Umbra x2
Hyena Umbra x2
Journey to Nowhere x2
Ascetism x2
True Conviction x2
Lightning Bolt x3
Boar Umbra x4
Canopy Cover x4

Lands: 25
Sunpetal Grove x3
Terramorphic Expanse x3
Mountain x5
Plains x7
Forest x7

Turn four, as deep as that is, be ready to be nailed for eleven even if the Spiritdancer doesn't stick earlier only being three-up; Gnarlid comes to me every game. There isn't much finesse to this deck as there is in Proliferate, Naya Totem is Spiketastic hit 'em hard hit 'em fast. Gnarlid is your best stick and best on turn three, followed on turn four with Hyena Umbra and or Boar Umbra. Since then I have considered adding a second  or even third Copperhorn which adds a fake Serra's Blessing. I've heard True Conviction is not good in T2, but the card isn't needed if the opponent is alive on turn six anyway it is time to speed this game up. Darksteel Sentinel  seems out of place, but fights trample also takes ahold of my deathtouch problem. Happy Hunting.

The game goes on.

Proliferate has been undergoing tweaks trying to find a balance currently sitting at a 50% win rate performing well only to fall apart in the following match. The deck is in need of draw spells, but could also use an increase in mana though I'm finding it tough to cut spots for extra mana. Adding in Sphinx-Bone Wand did great justice, but what else does it have now. I went two up on Chandra Nalaar added Jace Beleren, and Liliana Vess. Chandra Replaces Triskelion able to deal bigger amounts to creatures sooner, and gaining slowly off players. Jace allows three consecutive turns of an extra draw, unless we have a clasp on field in which Jace becomes draw every turn; should we get silly with the proliferate he may of may not mill twenty from an opponent. Liliana will allow a perpetual tutor should we murder enough creatures we can steal them from graves. Even better is trying to get ahold of the cards in Scars making this deck work, so what do we cut to add in Lox Cannon, I'll cross that bridge once I get there, but wtf 4 for an artifact to add charge counters to it then remove three and destroy a permanent; Bolas Planeswalker on a  stick. In other news new parts of The Darkness should be going up today, and making progress in finishing the games in my library I haven't yet polished to perfection. After thinking about the money I wasted on my tabletop collection I thought it might be time to use them spending so much of my brain already on MTG it seemed a great bit to use for a campaign in Mage: The Awakening so in work is a story of planewalkers whose spark ignites to save the multiverse from a great evil.

Grumble grumble grumble infect grumble

So I was expecting poison to be an issue, but getting poisoned twice in five minutes seriously? I've lost to some pretty annoying strategies, but they never made me wanna leap across a table. First Strike on deathtouch was bad enough. I'm still going to consider infect an asset in T2 for withering down things and fighting indestructibility so thursday, yes a day early, I manage to blow 110 picking up a full box of Scars. I got a bunch of things I was after, and a bunch I wasn't. I managed a Koth of the Hammer, he's a people person just ask Venser. So what did I build then?

Creatures: 9

Ichorclaw Myr x2
Steel Overseer x2
Triskelion x2
Ornithopter x3

Spells: 31

Contagion Engine
Inexorable Tide
Mox Opal
Comet Storm
Ratchet Bomb
Lightning Bolt x2
Galvanic Blast x2
Revoke Existance x2
Grasp of Darkness x2
Steady Progess x2
Rusted Relic x2
Exsanguinate x2
Elixir of Immortality x2
Contagion Clasp x3
Golem Foundry x3
Everflowing Chalice x4

Lands: 20

Serjiri Refuge
Blackcleave Cliffs
Seachrome Coast
Glimmerpost x3
Swamp x3
Plains x3
Island x4
Mountain x4


I really do like Proliferating the deck needs to four up on tide but i cam across an amazing solution while joking about, Sphinx-Bone Wand; one bolt later Bone Wand is dealing a ton of damage. After testing though Golem Foundry performed exceptionally well making perpetual creatures; it'd almost be worth running extra Precursor Golems to Might of the Masses a couple times or be a jerk and Tainted swipe them. After all who said that creatures need infect, or poison naturally. The deck does need draw though easily dumping a hand onto the field. All in the same though unless meeting a counter or milling easily reloads from the elixir for five life gained, and a full deck.

Scars Preview

Planeswalkers: 2

Venser, The Sojourner x2

Creatures: 11

Triskelion x2

Putrefax x4

Ichor Rats x2

Etched Champion x3

Spells: 24

Contagion Clasp x2

Contagion Engine x2

Everflowing Chalice x4

Elixir of Immortality x2

Ratchet Bomb x2

Steady Progress x2

Explore x3

Inexorable Tide x3

Grasp of Darkness x2

Comet Storm x2

Lands: 23

Mountain

Island

Plains

Forest

Swamp

Raging Ravine x2

Dragonskull Summit x2

Kabria Crossroads x4

Drowned Catacomb x2

Lavaclaw Reaches x2

Graypelt Refuge x3

Kazandu Refuge x3

Keep in mind this goes completely untested, but is about what I'd like to run for standard in Scars as of now. So what are we after with this deck? Proliferation plain, and simple. What are win conditions? Well poison sadly, Triskelion, Vensoring permanents to reload Triskelion or gain life. Last though we have Proliferating Chalices until we have insane mana for Comet Storm, or to Firebreathe Reaches for murdering butt rape. At the same time we have Elixir of Immortality to reload the deck should we need, and ratchet bomb to erase the field after setting a ton of counters on it, or if it gets targeted for destruction. Can't wait to be the dick at the table who poisons into a draw.

Stop, Proliferate, and Listen

Ice is back with a brand new invention.


Nothing like your ex-fiancée contacting you out of nowhere to idly chat about how she moved on in life after leaving you to go on and blah blah blah while all you did was move in with a relative and go to college again right? Well, fuck it lets talk trading cards, I spent a minute looking at what I had since I picked up two of the Tezzert v Elspeth (I love her name) decks and decided to try and explore Proliferate before Scars to grasp what I'm going to do. So I took my mainly colorless cards, and threw them together with a few colored counterparts. Master of Etherium, Arsenal Thresher, and Glassdust Hulk make up the only colored creatures in the whole thing. Now for a full look at the piece put together in legacy shame.


Planeswalkers: 2

Tezzeret, The Seeker x2


Creatures: 18

Glassdust Hulk
Arsenal Thresher x2
Triskelion x2
Master of Etherium x2
Steel Overseer x2
Arcbound Worker x2
Ornithopter x3
Myr Servitor x4

Spells: 20

Eldrazi Conscription

Cranial Plating

Jinxed Idol

Thirst for Knowledge x2

Contagion Clasp x2

Elixir of Immortality x2

Energy Chamber x2

Argivian Restoration x2

Courier's Capsule x3

Everflowing Chalice x4

Lands: 20

Island x7

Plains x6

Seat of the Synod x2

Darksteel Citadel x2

Stalking Stones

Serjiri Refuge

Dread Statuary

A little weak, but we look to spread the love with proliferate which goes over fairly well. I didn't plan for the long game so it happens to be missing an X spell, and can desperately use one. So we either dig for Clasp or Tezzeret then hope to have counters out on the field to start multiplying. So we look to throw counters on anything and everything or build an insane mana source putting extra charge counters on Everflowing Chalice with a splash of red it could Comet Storm for damn near infinite; or if you read my last post could for infinite. I feel bad for not updating often so as a treat I'm going to put together a second deck in perfect condition (most of System CAI is still proxy), and put it up here in a bit.

Hammertime 2: Electric Boogaloo

Ok so some of you may or may not have built a deck for Lurking Predators some time ago, lets now look back at decks using really massive creatures. Scars brings about some opportunity with Genesis Wave, XGG to look at the top X and put permanents with CMC X or less on the battlefield; just insane. Well I can think of two ways to utilize this card. We talked about Koth, and his kinda sorta Seething Song; now we break it. In any deck with Koth there is a super accelerant giving you 11 mana on turn 6, turn 4 drop a fourth mountain and place Koth on the field and use his +1 to untap a mountain it can either swing as a 4/4 or sit back and be a bolt bluff. Next turn we flop out a fifth mountain and use Koth for his -2 adding 5R to our pool and pool up 5R more from the Mountains which then becomes 5 counters on a Everflowing Chalice. Whoa 5 mana still to spend that turn is nice, but next turn 11 for w/e now lets say turns 2 and 3 you dropped Copper Myrs you happen to have GG ready to Genesis Wave for 12. What dig 12 cards deep and put any permanents cost 12 or lower into play? Not only all your land but any planeswalkers, creatures, auras, enchantments, or artifacts to name a few. That is just silly 12 not deep enough any lands you dropped should that have been a mana pocket let you dig deeper. Still not enough lets pick up the whole deck, and throw it on the field; how you ask? Well even more silliness, Scars gives us Myr Galvanizer other Myrs get +1/+1 and for 1T: Untap all other Myr not too bad for 3 CMC now with 2 other mana Myrs on the board lets say 2 more Copper Myr we throw on a Splinter Twin for Myr Galvanizer. For the followthrough we tap the Galvanizer to make a token then we tap the two Myrs for mana and then the second Galvanizer and 1 to untap everyone net 1 mana and repeat until satisfied you can then Genesis wave for everything you want, empty out your hand, and swing with unlimited myrs. Should you try to pull this off please let me know what shenanigans ensue.

Thank You, Thehelldragon

This comes courtesy of Thehelldragon of Hellfirecomms check them out at www.hellfirecomms.com

Apology.

Hello readers, I'd like to take a moment, and apologize for irregular updates. I don't lead an exciting life so it gets difficult to have topics of decent length; I also don't have a massive card pool to build a lot from. I did miss Thursday however, now Thursday felt like an off day almost none of the decks I had on hand wanted to work right I had recently restructured a Red Deck I've used since Mirrodin. Win conditions include War Elemental, and Megatog this deck will see a second revamp with SOM coming. Anyways I was facing an Izzet theme with Eye of The Storm on field, and then hit with Prophetic Bolt. He passed turn back, and saw a shitstorm go off; leading off with a Pyretic Ritual into Lightning Bolt followed by a second Lightning Bolt. In total he took 21 damage, and I was left to continue playing spells, and digging into my library that game was mine. Anyways I'm still debating what i want to do T2wise with Scars, I'm thinking maybe something GR with Metalcraft with a want to avoid Infect. I know Myrs is going to be a hit, but I might do that anyways. Also up to Part 26 of my commentary on The Darkness is up with Nine more well on their way; for a school project I'm working on a commercial for my two channels. I will also redo my dispute for putting back The Evil Dead since I am covered under the Fair Use clause. For those who don't subscribe check me out over at www.youtube.com/rilst

Hammer Time?

Sorry could help myself on that one. Mike Flores made a recent point about planeswalkers "Look at all the big planeswalkers ... The first one was Garruk Wildspeaker, adopted by the State Championships immediately after Lorwyn's release and a Pro Tour winner before season's end. Then there was the first truly format-dominating planeswalker, Ajani Goldmane—powerhouse in White-Black Tokens, excellent in all the Windbrisk Heights decks, from Green-White Tokens to White Weenie Kithkin. Ajani Vengeant. The bridge: awesome in control, awesome in creature decks aplenty against control. The clunky Lightning Helix against red decks, and the only Lightning Helix we have had in Standard. Yeah, yeah yeah ... Ajani Vengeant was red (but not really). If you look at the decks in which Ajani Vengeant was good, it was basically green and maybe blue.This year's darling planeswalkers, Jace, the Mind Sculptor and Elspeth, Knight-Errant; both allegedly the "best" planeswalker in Standard at one time or another according to different pundits / Premium deck designers. See a trend here? They all cost four. Even Nissa Revane—who surrounded herself with Nissa's Chosen, Leatherback Baloths, and Wolf tokens in the Eldrazi Green days (before blending back into the shadows)—costs four." Before reading this article I had never considered it, all the 'good' Planeswalkers cost four mana? Seems true, Jace Belern is probably the exception at his three. Now for Red comes around Koth, The Hammer now in Red Koth comes around being very toolboxy. On that turn a Mountain can come swinging as a 4/4; or Koth can hop to One Loyalty, and cast a second four cost Red card like a Cyclops Gladiator dealing something around eight damage the next turn. Flores also took the time to point out the acceleration allowing you on turn five to be able to drop an Inferno Titan without Green to accelerate. Koth also sits with a decent "Ultimate" Ability giving you an Emblem to be able to Comet Storm every turn. What is an Emblem, Emblems are nifty little things that give things you control nifty little abilities. So far only three cards deal with Emblems; Elspeth, Koth, and Venser nothing else can give, or effect Emblems. Where do they go, Emblems go into the "Command Zone" where Archenemy Schemes, Planchase Cards, Vanguards, and EDH Generals go. Thoughts of Koth toolboxing makes me happy, in a world that has long since crushed my dreams. I am currently breaking up the later half of The Darkness for YouTube upload, so new parts are sure to come soon enough.

Suddenly Thopters thousands of them.

I missed my chance to play yesterday since school's big days are Tuesday, and Thursday I blame my car for being a pile of fail, and AIDS. Anyways heres one I've been working on altering into something scarier; most people who keep up with the sport of magic know Thopter Combo, and that it got Sword of the Meek banned in Extended. Well here let's make it even worse.

Creatures: 0

Spells: 36
Thopter Foundry x4
Sword of the Meek x4
Muddle the Mixture x3
Ponder x2
Consult the Necrosages x2
Countersquall x2
Krark-Clan Ironworks x3
Faith's Fetters x3
Doom Blade x2
Repeal x3
Compulsive Research x2
Cancel x2
Negate x2
Repel the Darkness x2

Land: 24
Terramorphic Expanse x3
Plains x5
Swamp x8
Island x8

I would use more dual lands if I had them or Arcane Sanctums, but I don't. Anyways ideally on turn three we have Thopter Combo on the board which is basically game as is. Though the difference is we have the Ironworks dropped on turn four we have infinite life, and Thopter Tokens the next turn coming.
For those wondering how it works the breakdown goes something like this. Turn five pay two for a second Sword of the Meek, sacrfice one sword to Krark-Clan Ironworks adding 2 to your manapool; now sacrifice the second sword to the Thopter Foundry as per usual with the one of your two new mana when the Thopter Token hits the field both Sword of the Meek in your graveyard see this and come back equipped to the token, and Lather, Rinse, Repeat. It would be best to wait and do this in response to their attack because you can waste their creatures off, or on the end of their turn, and swing with the 1/1 tokens if they didn't scoop already. Seeing as Ravinca, and Mirrodin block are now new extended this deck is legal for its format. It is strange for me to be running nine hard counters but Muddle the Mixture is intended for Transmuting either Sword of the Meek or Thopter Foundry, or stopping opponent counters, build it and let me know how it works out for you.

To answer some questions from before, I play generally Tuesday, and Thursday weekly unless that changes next school term. Other than that whenever I'm with my friends, and we decide to play. Mass Polymorph has 31 spells, because I want to guarantee that I hit those creatures, and not something silly like an Eager Cadet I want to be the end game. As far as this deck being creatureless I was trying to move off of being creature heavy, this really helped I've seen a version with Tezzeret the Seeker, and more artifacts and artifact creatures that worked really well. People I play with usually get pissed when I play this so I don't often, and its usually because this deck tends to not lose it kinda turns on anal rape mode.

Busy days.

On vacation from [undisclosed retailer] and loving it, but working to catch up on schoolwork put off in order to unwind depression from a shitty job. That isn't why you're here though lets talk wrecking faces, Tuesday I finally put together Mass Polymorph with a stand-in proxy of Kozilek, the Butcher of Truth since the post system seems to want to hold him away from me. unimportant things aside the deck looks something like this.


Creatures: 3
Mad Rush Cyclops
Emrakul, The Aeons Torn <-- Pre-release promo
Kozilek, The Butchr of Truth


Spells: 31
Mass Polymorph x3
Explore x3
Cultivate x2
Growth Spasm x3
Spectral Precession x4
Bestial Menace x3
See Beyond x3
Ponder x2
Narcolepsy x2
Negate x2
Overrun x2
Leyline of Vitality
Leyline of Sanctity


Land: 26
Terramorphic Expanse x3
Evolving Wilds
Forest x6
Khlani Garden x2
Island x6
Halimar Depths
Plains x7




The deck goes off early as turn four unchecked, this is possible off two different acceleration patterns probably more. On my first time playing it I managed a 1v1 with someone dubbed Harry Potter because he shares my name, and it helps end confusion between us. I hit the ground running with Mass Polymorph, Bestial Menace, Plains, Khlani Garden, Cultivate, Explore, Leyline of Vitality. As planned turn four with nothing in my way Mass polymorph for three, and swinging for 30 with Annihilator 10. It could have been turn five I don't know that game wasn't more than three minutes long. So anyways Mad Rush seems out of place, but fits in I like to swing when they hit the field, and not wait for summoning sickness to wear-off. He also officially makes the deck five colors. Ideally it should Mass Poly for three, but nothing less than two on two I'm either swinging with an Eldrazi, or sitting behind two massive fatties waiting to destroy. Running two-up on Negate also seems strange, but it is mainly for the late game to counter counters; most responses where to run Dispel instead, but Negate also allows me to put a halt to non-creature spells looking to ruin myself or my plans. I was worried about defending myself, but as it seems there wasn't a whole lot of need for it in multiplayer situations I'm under the radar until I go off and 1v1 it gives false security; also it goes roughly the speed of light with that acceleration. Next on my list is a Living Death with the ability to finish off two players at once.

Long weekend.

Nothing went up over the weekend, but I blame visiting family for that one. Anyways Pro-tour Amsterdam just passed by showing a lot of interesting decks played by familiar names. Extended format all around the constructed part of the tournament saw a lot of combo decks. As a personal pick I like the UB Dredge from Ben Lundquist; with such silliness as a turn two Iona. Constructing Mass Polymorph is giving me a couple issues I have a few open slots, and no idea what to devote to them; I would like to not rely on the Polymorph to win, but don't have a great card pool for it. In my research of this issue I came across the plot of Hagra Diabolist or Halimar Excavator. Typical of allies they have 'Enters the battlefield' triggers, off the Mass Polymorph for four is an instant win causing a loss of 64 life, or milling 64 cards. Instead I saw the potential to gain more dirty looks at school, and slate up all eight of them for a Living Death, and erase two players in a group setting. The deck would function on legacy format, run Dimir colors, and look like it isn't doing anything until it kills. With nothing else interesting, check back tomorrow for a recap on kills, and plays.

Arabian nights...... like Arabian days?

Sorry I just wanted to remind you of the Aladdin TV show. Days with very few card games are very uninteresting days. Play of the day causing the death of Acidic Slime at his owner's hands; it was a three man free for all, and on turn four I cast Followed Footsteps on an Acidic Slime holding a Sword of Vengeance. As it got to his turn Acidic Slime came swinging for my unguarded face, and in order to not have me blowing up lands every turn he cast Harms Way to kill Acidic Slime dealing three to me. So I thought I would post the list for Sentai Samurai, keep in mind this deck is a year old and holds only one card from the ban list.

Creatures: 22

XX-Saber Fullhelmknight x2
Marauding Captain x2
The Six Samurai Zanji x3
The Six Samurai Irou x2
The Six Samurai Yaichi x3
The Six Samurai Kamon
Spirit of The Six Samurai x2
Grandmaster of the Six Samurai x3
Enishi, Shien's Chancellor
Great Shogun Shien x3

Spells: 16

Fissure x3
Six Samurai United
Lightning Vortex
The A. Forces
Heavy Storm
Gateway of the Six
Pot of Avarice
Reasoning
Mystical Space Typhoon
Reinforcement of the Army
Six Scrolls of the Samurai
The Warrior Returning Alive
Solidarity
Shien's Castle of Mist

Traps: 8

Solemn Judgement
Reckless Greed x2
Call of the Haunted
Negate Attack
Compulsory Evacuation Device
Bottomless Trap Hole x2

Extra Deck: 2

Goyo Guardian
Colossal Fighter

For Solidarity I tried to keep it straight Warriors for when they die, which they do, and with it out or in hand when placing on in my grave the rest of them hit for a lot more. They say Samurai are too slow for the metagame, but this can kill on the word go. Turn One Zanji, Grandmaster, Shogun attacks, Scrolls, Kill. It turns this result often and even without it the deck murders all kinds of other things. Also parts 23-25 have been posted of The Darkness on YouTube. Tomorrow I should be able to get together Mass Polymorph with a possible turn four kill on the perfect hand.

Am I late?

Not a lot of new things happened today so in sight of filler comes a decklist, this is one of my current Standard MTG decks until Scars in October I call is System C.A.I. (kudos to those who get the reference, bonus points to those who know what CAI stands for)

Spells: 31

Ajani Goldmane

Ajani Vengeant

Chandra Ablaze

Chandra Nalaar x2

Elspeth Knight Errant

Gideon Jura

Jace Beleren

Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker x2

Sorin Markov

Everflowing Chalice x2

Obelisk of Alara x2

Bant Charm x2

Naya Charm x2

Grixis Charm x2

Esper Charm x2

Vengeful Rebirth x2

Explore x2

Exploding Borders x2

Foresee x2

Creatures: 4

Birds of Paradise x3

Platinum Angel

Land: 25

Stirring Wildwood

Raging Ravine

Sunpetal Grove

Drowned Catacombs x2

Dragonskull Summit x2

Rootbound Crag

Glacial Fortress x2

Mountain x3

Forest x2

Island x3

Plains x3

Swamp x2

Terramorphic Expanse

Evolving Wilds

It runs a lot of different outlets for complete silliness, and murder possibly seeing Bolas early as turn five if my math is right. Regardless of the it has been a ton of fun to play; best in groups of three or more, but can stand in one on one. Earlier today was just such the case; I was staring down three opponents we deep in resting at turn eightish if not a little bit later. Across the board from me was Grave Pact, two Abyssal Gatekeeper plus some other junk. Mass Polymorph sitting to my right, and Five Color Cascade to my right I decided to Grixis Charm a Gatekeeper causing everybody to lose four creatures, which walked right into a Cancel from Mass Polymorph; with my open mana I had a ready Bant Charm, and was called a dick for not letting his crazy Polymorph go off. I eventually lost to a Divinity of Pride with a Mageslayer equipped, but we were all low on life by then. The whole point of the deck is to be ready for any situation which I has answers to pretty much everything that can happen in the game. Currently in work is a Grixis Color Leyline of the Void Pyromancer Acension Mill Deck, Multicolor Merfolk entitled Ariel's Revenge, which needs Lord of Atlantis, Merfolk Sovereign, and Merrow Reejerey; before it become bullshit and hurts people a lot.

That was when....

Hey looks who's back after a year, since the last post I moved south of Chicago, IL; started school, and continue to hate working for an unnamed store with red uniforms, and employees, and kids, and babies. Anyways now four terms deep into an Applied Associate's for Graphic Design, and before my BA in Game Design. The Darkness should get new episodes Wednesday September 1st, 2010 up to episode 26. I have since become reacquainted with Magic the Gathering, and can't help but spend my money on it running Over-Extended and Standard and Extended. Falling in with MTG I fell away from YGO and sold a few things I picked up and could have used. I still have Sentai Samurai, Tombkeeper's, and Fortune Ladies; which is still missing a Magician's Valkirya. Going to school for Design I've been spending time developing my "Critical Eye" as my first instructor called it so many times; as such I find myself being more skeptical of things than excited though it keeps me from blindly accepting things. Since picking Scott Pilgrim vs The World The Game last Thursday I've manage to beat it about 5 times, and am now maxing out Ramona the last character. I saw in a FAQ on gameFAQs that when the DVD comes out Knives Chau may be a DLC where I want to play as Knives I would much rather be Wallace Wells, who I believe to be the best character in the series. This franchise has really taken me by storm though, it manages to only get praise from me in all its forms. The Movies OST was pretty good, except for Beck, the game is great all the way through, the game OST is neo-retro awesome on a stick laced with cocaine, and sugar. Lastly the comic, I saw the movie first which got me hooked sadly, but the comic drew me further in whereas I don't blame the movie for being the way it is I see what they did. Certain scenes where changed to fit for time, and to not lose certain jokes they wanted to keep while keeping the same flavor and not having the characters stray too far; it did so in a fairly acceptable manner. Anyways I tend to write like I talk which could be seen as a giant text block so in honor of myself, I should have my own holiday printed on roman calendars, I will leave it in this fashion, I will get my decklists up soon, and try to make this the last thing I do close to everyday.