Community

Hi everyone,

So I learned something last FNM.

It's the end of the night, and I've had a good time testing out a new deck. I'm playing a game for fun against a tricky G/W token deck, and I'm pretty sure the game is lost. Just then, though, one of the more experienced players there wanders over and starts to give me advice over my shoulder. (we all know I'm there to learn, noone minds) Over five or ten minutes I go from "I've lost this game" to "Ye gods, I won and it wasn't even close."

I've known in my head all along that deck-building is only half the battle, but that put things into rather stark relief.

So I want to work on becoming a better pilot. I got some good advice on habits that night - play non-instant cards in your second main phase unless they will affect combat, always play instants during your opponent's turn if you have the chance. But I'm looking for more adjustments to make, and I'm not sure where to start.

So I'm throwing it open to the forums. Can any of you give me advice on the habits/mindsets of a good pilot?

I'm going to second everything Anubuss said, plus:

1. Be aware of what your opponent is playing - This extends to understanding how everything on the board interacts, as well as know what they could potentially have in hand. This is more relevant in games 2&3, unless you know the deck before hand. One of the biggest pitfalls I see a lot of new players fall into is that they don't really pay attention to something until it's bit them.

2. Never Overextend - This is probably the easiest to fix but the hardest to do. Before you commit anything to the board, ask yourself if it is neccessary. This is especially relevant if your opponent is playing any mass removal. Only commit to the board that which you need to maintain reasonable pressure on your opponent. Keeping creatures in your hand ensure that you have a board prescense post-wipe, or that you can respond to removal in combat with another creature in your second main phase.

3. Whatever you do, don't tilt - This is hard. really, really hard. Getting countered four turns in a row is frustrating. Having everything you play destroyed can make you angry. You have to learn that this is how the game goes. If you get beat by these strategies, consider it an indicator that you may need to adjust your deck or sideboard. I see so many people just flip out when their stuff gets countered, and it becomes very easy to keep them off their game. Likewise, remaining calm when someone expects you to tilt from counters/removal can be jarring to them. Magic is part Pyschological Warfare.

4. Use removal and counters wisely - its tempting to use your removal or counters as soon as you can, but that isn't always the right answer. Evaluate each threat wisely and ask yourself if it is worth one of your cards. Knowing what threats each card in your deck can handle goes a long way to efficient card use. As Anubuss said, also learn how to bait counters/removal from your opponent.

5. Don't be afraid to take damage - Another hard one to learn, since it goes against human nature. This goes hand in hand with using counters/removal wisely and knowing what's in your deck and your opponents deck. If you have lots of 3/3's, you can leave that 2/x alone, since you'll have a permanent blocker soon enough. There are no bonuses for a perfect.

6. Know your turn steps/phases - This is a big one. Know what steps/phases comprise a turn, what you can do during them, and how that affects gameplay. Good example: Many players don't know that having a first striker and a normal attacker creates an extra first-strike damage step, after which you can play instants/activate abilities. Double-strike does the same thing. 

7. Take your time - don't slow-play, but don't feel rushed. evaluate everything, even if its simple. understand how your opponent could react to what you do, and what you can do in response to that. Look at what mana they have, how many cards they have, what they are playing, and really understand the extent of your actions.

There are tons more things, I'm sure, but thats what I've got.

I did preface everything by saying piloting varies based on how your deck stacks up against the other players.  And I also secifically mentioned the early turns.

But all that boils down to there really isn't a list of tips you can follow and be a great pilot of a deck in every match up.  Magic is an interactive game (ideally).  There are some things, like over extending, that are good in some match ups and horrible ideas in others.  For every 1 piece of advice we could give, someone will be able to provided at least 1 situation where that advice is the last thing you should follow.

For example, you'd generally think you'd want to play a creature with haste before combat, so it can attack along side your others.  But I had a game where the other guy was playing Goblin Assault (old example, but it's what jumps to my mind), I really needed a blocker but all I had was Boggart Ram-Gang in hand, as he was going to getting a bunch of tokens, mostly from Bitterblosom s.  I HAD to block his guy he was going to sac his tokens to.  Combat came and went, and hen I cast Ram-Gang.  He couldn't attack, and thus I had my blocker.  He drew his card, and the offered his hand because he didn't have removal.  All I needed to do was chump the guy who was going to get big because when he next untapped, his Blossoms were going to kill him.

VRdragoon's first point is VERY important to remember.  As is the 3rd.

Don't assume your opponent is going to make the right play. Even the best players make mistakes. I've seen a lot of players lose games by playing aggressively when they shouldn't or playing too conservatively. People will lose games they should have easily won by bad playing.

Not every card has to be used for maximum value. There will be times when you should Supreme Verdict with one creature out on the field. There are times when you shouldn't play that bonfire of the damned that you miracled. You shouldn't always wait for landfall for Searing Blaze .   Angel of Serenity can be useful as a vanilla 5/6 flyer for 7 mana. Playing cards for minimal value can be better than holding on to a card for a later use. These situations might not be common, but they do occur.