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9 months ago ::
Sep 24, 2012 - 5:14AM
#1
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A word on my metaI play in a meta which is largely dominated by either old legacy decks (Elves tribal for one) or by newer control decks. One player in particular plays a deck that is largely only counters and mind control. A note on the deck designThis deck was inspired by a random though of "it would be amusing to play two-headed giant with a giant tribal deck". As it happens, I think the deck is actually too slow for 2HG (curve begins at 4 (unless I get a Daredevil out early) and ends at 8). However, I figured it was perfect for my typically slow, control-heavy FFA multiplayer meta. What am I looking for?Critique for a start, as well as ideas for a sideboard. I think I need a bit of reach, perhaps some white removal for enchantments. I've already considered Paraselene  for the sideboard. Like I said, heavy control meta with mind control effects. Some board resets as well, although they tend to draw a lot of attention. Creatures (26)4 x Stinkdrinker Daredevil  2 x Boldwyr Heavyweights  2 x Brion Stoutarm  2 x Sunhome Enforcer  4 x Stonehewer Giant  2 x Wandering Graybeard  2 x Inferno Titan  2 x Sun Titan  4 x Sunrise Sovereign  2 x Bloodfire Colossus  Spells (6)3 x Crush Underfoot  3 x Giant's Ire  Equipment (3)1 x Argentum Armor  1 x Elbrus, the Binding Blade  1 x Tatsumasa, the Dragon's Fang  Lands (25)4 x Ancient Ampitheater  4 x Boros Garrison  4 x Clifftop Retreat  4 x Rugged Prairie  2 x Slayers' Stronghold  2 x Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion  3 x Plains  2 x Mountain  I've considered adding some thing like Swiftfoot Boots  for cards like Brion just to give them some longevity but adding equipment for just one card seems a bit excessive. Also, four copies of Stonehewer might also seem excessive but it's just about increasing my chances of getting him so I can fish up some equipment for fun. I considered Batterskull  as well and it may still make it into the deck.
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9 months ago ::
Sep 24, 2012 - 5:59PM
#2
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Date Joined:
Jul 17, 2003
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From experience, Giant's Ire is awful, despite being thematic. Aether Flash  and Powerstone Minefield  , however, make for decent earlier drops. Arbiter of Knollridge  can make for a surprise play in your favor. Borderland Behemoth  and Hamletback Goliath  are ridiculous fun in larger games. They also provide a great reason to run Boots or Lightning Greaves  . Desolation Giant  , Favor of the Mighty  , Jareth, Leonine Titan  , Oathsworn Giant  , and Thundercloud Shaman  all make for interesting choices. Cheers!
A shout out to Gaming Grounds in Kent, Ohio and Gamers N Geeks in Mobile, Alabama.
www.zombiehunters.org for all your preparation needs.
http://shtfschool.com/ - why prepping is useful, from one who has been there.
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9 months ago ::
Sep 25, 2012 - 12:05AM
#3
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As it happens, most of the creatures you list started out in the deck but were cut as I attempted to make the deck more consistent. However, I've been rethinking Sun Titan as his only purpose was to return Stinkdrinker Daredevil as they inevitably get killed off. -2 Sun Titan +2 Borderland Behemoth I appreciate the feedback on Giant's Ire . I'm not usually one to play something like that but I felt that the deck lacked reach. However, your suggestions more than deal with the real problem decks I face, so I can make another change there. -3 Giant's Ire +3 Aether Flash Finally, I'm going to break the 60 card limit to add a couple of smaller pieces of equipment. I'm not bothered if I pull something like Swiftfoot Boots as I can hard cast them. I'll make the edits when I get to work.
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9 months ago ::
Sep 25, 2012 - 4:53AM
#4
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Date Joined:
Jul 22, 2011
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One player in particular plays a deck that is largely only counters and mind control.
ALPHA STRIKE THAT BASTARD!!!! 
LOL, My other thought was Carpet of FLowers  , Autumn's Veil  , Xantid Swarm  etc. but they're wrong colours!!!
Unfortunately, Overmaster  doesn't prevent counter on creatures....
Carpet is a beautiful card for MP games, as you're almost always gonna have at least 1 island in play, making almost any card playable much earlier.
In my wifes' enchantment deck, she hardcasted Eldrazi Conscription  on turn three a few times thanks to Carpet's.
Any way - since all of your creatures have more than two toughness, I'd get rid of Giants' Ire & Crush Underfoot, and replace them with sweepers like Volcanic Fallout  & Pyroclasm  . They'll nail a lot of elves, and Volcanic gets around Counter, buying you time.
I know they're not Giant-theme, but the Giant one's are terrible for MP.
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9 months ago ::
Sep 25, 2012 - 12:39PM
#5
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Date Joined:
Dec 23, 2005
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I'm not a fan of the Boldwyr Heavyweights or the Wandering Graybeard . I would cut those for 4 Taurean Mauler  so you have some more to do early. Plus casting the Mauler for just R is pretty nice. If you group is fairly control heavy I don't know how much those cards will do for you. I also would consider cutting Elbris for another Brion Stoutarm or Bloodfire Colossus . They help keep keep pressure or work for a board wipe. You could also consider just cutting Sun Titan altogether. Right now it only returns one card. With only two titans, by the time you have one you no longer need the Stinkdrinker Daredevil s. Inferno Titan is probably better at 3 and then you could add one more Sunhome Enforcer . If you add the Taurean Mauler this is moot. Or you could add Oathsworn Giant s to protect your team more and help defend yourself. In my R/W Giant deck I have a couple Griffin Guide  s and Shiv's Embrace  to help my team deal with flyers, plus a flying Hamletback Goliath is awesome. I think that may serve your deck better than the equpiment. You can then get rid of the Stonehewer Giant and equipment. They look a bit out of place to me since you have so few equpiment. Plus giants don't really need a boost in power, without trample it isn't doing much. I know you have the Sunrise Sovereign but I still wouldn't go with the equipment route.
Face it, you're pretty much here as a meat shield.
If you are at York College and need a play group, PM me. We mostly do MP and casual.
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9 months ago ::
Sep 26, 2012 - 12:11AM
#6
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Date Joined:
Oct 10, 2007
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Yes, four Stonehewers with only three pieces of equipment to play with is balls. I understand that you're trying to increase the odds here, but what inevitably happens is that in the late game you'll be wanting to draw an answer to a threat, and you'll draw a Stonehewer with no more equipment to fetch instead (TL;DR: Too many Stonehewers = dead draws in the late game). Instead, you should be playing Giant Harbinger  . It's tutoring for almost every card in your deck. You might be thinking of this card as being a boring 3/4 for five mana - instead think of it as a red Vampiric Tutor  that gives you a 3/4 instead of taking your life. 
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9 months ago ::
Sep 26, 2012 - 5:19AM
#7
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Following suggestions, the deck now looks like this: Creatures (27)4 x Stinkdrinker Daredevil 4 x Taurean Mauler 3 x Brion Stoutarm 3 x Sunhome Enforcer 4 x Giant Harbinger 3 x Inferno Titan 4 x Sunrise Sovereign 2 x Bloodfire Colossus Spells (8)2 x Crush Underfoot 3 x Paraselene 3 x AEther Flash  Lands (25)4 x Ancient Amphitheater  4 x Rugged Prairie 3 x Boros Garrison 3 x Cavern of Souls  3 x Clifftop Retreat 3 x Mountain 2 x Slayers' Stronghold 2 x Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion 1 x Plains I've dropped a Crush and added three Paraselene to deal with the inevitable mind control effects. Most of the creature changes come as recommended here and seem to improve speed and consistency. A Boros Garrison & Clifftop Retreat have been dropped and the basics shuffled around to fit in 3 Cavern of Souls. This deals with the counter side of the control meta I have. I'm even thinking I could probably drop the single Plains and fit in either another Clifftop Retreat or one more Mountain. I still haven't really developed a sideboard but I think that can come after I've playtested the deck in the meta and I can see which problems I'm still having.
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9 months ago ::
Sep 26, 2012 - 7:55PM
#8
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Date Joined:
Dec 23, 2005
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This looks a lot more solid. My only issue right now is the anti-synergy of having the Paraselene and Aether Flash in the same deck, but this may end up being correct for your group. You may want to consider Thundercloud Shaman as a giant style replacement for Aether Flash. This can help you not wipe your own enchantments. Go play some games and let us know how it works.
Face it, you're pretty much here as a meat shield.
If you are at York College and need a play group, PM me. We mostly do MP and casual.
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9 months ago ::
Sep 28, 2012 - 12:51AM
#9
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I misread Thundercloud, I thought it was to a target non-Giant creature. Now this one is much more interesting! Almost like a Mutilate on legs.
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8 months ago ::
Sep 30, 2012 - 6:00AM
#10
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So I recreated the deck on MTGO and so far have gone 4-0 against an affinity deck, a cascade deck, a Tempered Steel deck and another that scooped about turn 4 so I'm not actually sure what he was playing.
Paraselene has ended the game on its own in the Classic format by wiping out two Tempered Steels and the cascade enabler. I'm pleased on how this is going in Classic 1v1 so I'll need to set aside time to check things out in MP.
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Proliferate w/ 
Elves)
