Picking a Deck Format
Deck Help forum
Posted on Feb. 7, 2014, 5:12 p.m. by TheBeautifulSin
This question will likely show just how much of a newbie I am, but I have only been playing MtG for about a month-- SO! So far I've only played casually with my husband and his friends who picked up playing on their deployment to Afghanistan. But I would be interested in playing with others at local card shops. If I make a modern legal deck-- is there casual modern play or is modern a tournament format? I'm curious due to the comments about making modern decks consistent and competitive. From what I can tell, ideal modern deck have very basic, limited structures?
Modern is a tournament format but it is the most accessible format after Standard.
It requires a much higher short term investment but in the long run it is the far cheaper alternative. However, modern may be a bit intimidating if you're a beginner.
Modern doesn't have any super crazy shenanigans like Legacy or Vintage, but you'll absolutely need to understand how the stack works, the rules on priority and who has it when, what happens when you change phases and what you can do during each phase, etc.
In my opinion Modern is the best format because you get to play with powerful cards, but rogue decks are not completely unheard of either. That's totally subjective on my part.
February 7, 2014 5:26 p.m.
I don't play much modern, but I can tell you that you can list you deck as "modern", but include "casual" as a hub, making it both. (You can't do this the other way around.)
February 7, 2014 5:26 p.m.
To answer your second question:
If you intent on playing them in Modern, list them as modern. It'll help people give useful feedback.
If you just play them casually, list them as casual.
February 7, 2014 5:27 p.m.
listen to flyguy, it's best to have them both listed, this way we can have the ability to know which cards to select and how to tune the deck. Forgive us if we push it towards modern tournament anyways, mostly because those decks are tuned to perfection and known winners. No one likes to lose, so even at the casual table it can get competitive.
February 7, 2014 5:31 p.m.
If you're playing casually then why not just use any cards you want?
February 7, 2014 6:37 p.m.
vampirelazarus says... #8
Also, if you say a deck is modern, but don't put casual or budget as a hub, you will get expensive recommendations, such as fetch lands and other tournament staples.
February 7, 2014 8:11 p.m.
TheBeautifulSin says... #9
flyguy & gufymike - Thank you! The suggestion about including casual as a hub is really good. Especially with the insight vampirelazarus included.
EvenDryke - Thank you for the insight into the modern format. =D
ChiefBell - I'm playing casually right now, but have my eye on playing modern so I would like to work toward that end. I would also be interested in standard, but my decks contain too many staples that are illegal for a standard deck. So for now, working with what I have, that's out. I don't really have the resources to go all in on a deck, so that's why I would like what I play casually to be modern legal as well, even if it's not the end all be all of competitive decks, it would at least let me dip my toes in the water and get a feel for things.
Even working with what I have, I can try and pick up the odd card here and there (so long as they're not overly expensive) so I'm willing to listen to suggestions of those who may know better cards than the ones I've seen in my limited exposure. Whether I'll be able to acquire them or not is another matter.
The two decks I'm running atm are:
Fire & Blood & Holy Fire - Holy Fire is is a 65 card deck that so far has worked really well, and even though a lot of the cards in it are single cards (so not the most reliable as far as continuity goes) the cards have good synergy, so things get boosted up one way or another. Fire & Blood also worked pretty well together, but the deck is overweight and needs to slim down. It was originally a 75 card deck, and is currently sitting at 82, and I would like to get it back down to 75 or lower. Since I'm just beginning my collection and I've only been playing casually for a month, I'm okay with the decks not being cookie cutter for their type or being the most competative-- but I do want to learn and improve so I am open to suggestions and insight from those more experienced and better versed in what cards are available. If that makes sense?
TheBeautifulSin says... #2
I am also wondering for the purpose of how to list my decks on Tapped Out, whether I should have my current decks listed as casual vs. modern.
February 7, 2014 5:19 p.m.