Need help getting from good to great
Modern Deck Help forum
Posted on Nov. 12, 2015, 1:49 a.m. by mathemagic314
I love playing Magic, but I don't really know anyone else who does (just one or two friends sparingly). I'm still pretty new to it too, only picked it up about a year ago, so my decks aren't anything to write home about. I'd love to play more to get better, but since I don't really know anyone to play, that leaves me to local tournaments. Since they have an entry fee though, I don't really feel like throwing my money out by entering in something I know I have no chance of winning (don't get me wrong, I still have fun when I lose, but not as much when it cost me $15 to get blown out). So that leaves me in the problem of trying to improve my decks to a reasonable level, without getting a chance to really test them. I have a few decks that I really like, but haven't really proven their worth in the few instances they were tested.
So long story short, I need help making my decent decks great decks so I can actually play the game lol. Any advice is appreciated.
Wizard_of_the_Broke says... #3
Find a gaming store that hosts Friday Night Magic or other beginner-level, smaller tournament events. Deck power and player ability levels vary greatly, so you'll probably win some games and have fun. You'll also likely encounter better players that are there for practice and fun - and you'll learn from talking to them and playing against them. FNM is basically designed to introduce players to competitive play, or to simply get more frequent games in for more experienced players.
November 12, 2015 2 a.m.
Kingofsouls says... #4
You can practive online. I personally use Untap.in. Primers are also good, as they explain what the deck archtype in question is, how it plays, and typical card options that those build use and why.
You can also play against yourself by printing out proxies and playing against them with your deck. It's a good form of research to see how the opposition plays and how to react/punish the foe. And it helps build skill level by well...playing the game. Try out Metadeck, it lets you print out a bunch of proxies on a single card so you have a bunch of decks in one so to speak.
Also check out the professor and his youtube channels: The Tolarian Community College (help videos) and the Tolarian Public Library (his streams)
November 12, 2015 2:04 a.m.
MADMatt7777 says... #5
One thing that i have found to be very helpful is after each competitive game or after you learn something new in a game, write it down in a game journal. mark down what your opponent was playing, things you did to help you win the game, things you learned, and things that you should know in the future.
November 12, 2015 2:13 a.m.
Screw great decks. Screw online. Go to FNM at some local card shop or even library or comic store. There is always that one guy who knows every card in magic ever printed and has plenty of advice for you. Playing online really sucks. Magic was never meant to be played online. Real people and politics are what it is all about!
On a side note, I have more fun investing in multiple fun bad decks and playing against people (mostly losing) then investing all my money into one really good deck. But I also get sick of decks very quickly, which I attribute to my hearthstone background. Anyway, I like to show off my gimmicks or crazy deck ideas. People always have fun around me too, wondering what I am up to. Why did he just play Grimoire of the Dead? What an aweful card. Nothing is even in the... OH GOD
November 12, 2015 2:39 a.m.
wait, what sort of non fnm, non limited format tournament are you playing that costs $15? If it is a draft remember that you're essentially just buying 3 packs of cards with a little more than a 4th pack to throw into a prize pool and they are probably some of the better events to join for a new player just because you build competitive play experience while also building a collection.
as for deckbuilding this deckbuilding article can help you out greatly, giving you all the fundamentals in deckbuilding for a fighting chance.
November 12, 2015 4:19 a.m.
Watch the top 8s for every single format that you can. Watch the legacy (uh..not sure if anybody does these anymore), watch the modern, and watch the standard. You can google twitch mtg and find the channel pretty quick and it usually says when the next event is coming up.
I can't each you how to play good magic (aside from maybe commander) but here's a bit of what I've picked up as far as what decks are out there and what the colors typically do in modern.
: Tron (GREAT!) or Red + Atarka's Command (Good)
: Burn/Discard stuff, not really that great without a third color.
: Pestermite/Deceiver Exarch + Splinter Twin (GREAT!)
: Tron (Good) or the Sun Titan deck (Good)
: Tokens. (Ok/Good? I've never played it or played against it so I am not sure. There is a token primer on the site somewhere.)
: Hatebears! (Good)
: Boros Burn. (ok? no experience here, just don't know what the hell else you would play in those colors as I've never seen anything else in those colors.)
: Life from the Loam/Lotleth Troll/Raven's Crime/Vengevine type decks are ok but I haven't heard anybody at my LGS talk about them doing well or showing up in awhile.
: You're best bet is probably Faeries, Merfolk, or just going old school hard control with discard + counterspells + Evasive threats.
: Infect or wierd combo colors.
: Jund. Nothing but the best 1-3 drops in the format for removal and creatures. Decent matchup versus nearly any deck mentioned here. Of course that's if you'r playing a traditional deck. Jund also has Life from the Loam
+
Seismic Assault
decks that are SUPER grindy. It also has decks that use Goryo's Vengeance
+
Griselbrand
to combo out super hard on turn 2, sometimes dealing lethal or else gaining tons of life to be well beyond mono burn range.
: You could play midrange with cards like Path to Exile, Siege Rhino and Tarmogoyf along with soem discard. Just like Jund, Abrupt Decay does a lot of work in this format.
: The Splinter Twin decks used to splash white. Still works but the purely ones can ruin you're entire game with Blood Moon. You can also go hard control with White Sun's Zenith but those games tend to take awhile and are riskier in my opinion.
: Oh look, another Splinter Twin color. This time you get Tarmogoyf.
: There aren't any combos in these colors, it's best damage creatures rely on a lot of other cards being in play or in hand. It's got removal but not a lot of card advantage. It falls short in every aspect to other color combinations. Somehow a deck that can run discard, Path to Exile, Lightning Bolt and various hatebears always fails to make an impact. Unless you can find some pro lists from the lasts 1-2 years I wouldn't bother with this color scheme for modern.
: Colors that are geared toward draw-go type control. I've played them a lot and it's meh. In tournaments Jund so much safer.
: Burn or bust. (Good. Warning: No goblin tribal in modern! No Tribal!)
: Merfolk, faeries or go home ( I believe they are both Tier 2?)
: Mono Discard or go home (Though the deck gets shut out by hate cards game 2 quite often)
: Big stompy (Crushes "fair" decks but can't stop combo very well at all, still loses to Jund)
: Soul Sisters lifegain deck or nothing (Tier 2 or 3? Not sure)
Other decks I am not knowledgeable enough to classify are the Amulet of Vigor + Primeval Titan combo decks or the Lanter Control decks. I don't even know what color lands they run : P
Final Advice: If you're going to buy into modern pick one of these decks becaues why not play the best?
Bloom Titan - Cheap, amazing Aggro/Combo deck
Splinter Twin - Starting with the version is safest/simplest.
Jund "normal" - It's expensive but always can put up a fight.
November 12, 2015 5:37 a.m.
AndWelcomeToTheJam says... #9
kengiczar Don't forget Delver and Dredgevine.
November 12, 2015 7:34 a.m.
libraryjoy says... #11
I'll suggest your local library - they may have a library sponsored group, know of a group of kids that plays there informally already, or be willing to start a group. Even if you're not a teen, often the teen services librarian will be the one willing to spearhead this type of activity.
November 12, 2015 11:21 a.m.
kengiczar GOBLINS. For a good entry level easy-to-pilot deck, look at The ULTIMATE Modern Goblins Primer . But if that's not your cup of tea, Naya burn is a VERY good deck. Having played it for a while, I can tell you, with a little practice, you can consistently top 8 FNMs. Also if you ever want to practice on untap.in, hit me up on my wall.
November 12, 2015 11:49 a.m.
mathemagic314 says... #13
What is this untap.in y'all mentioning? It says registration is down for a couple days, but I can't even find a description of the site anywhere.
November 12, 2015 12:48 p.m.
I have recently been in OP's place and would like to share some thoughts in hopes other may see them.
I started playing MtG during Alara block, stopped after New Phyrexia, and picked up again during the end of RTR. I have since spent the entirety of my play time in Standard and limited formats, with plans to continue through Shadow of Innistrad. My playgroup of anywhere from 3-10, dissolved when the hosts had a second baby and 2nd or 3rd in experience and powerlevel moved to another state. I wanted to continue playing magic, but most of my friends were moving onto the next WOW expansion or focusing on a GF, or pet and they didnt want to spend the money to play Magic.
So I moved on.
I sought out the highest level of competition within a reasonable distance from my home, and learned the cards and format, took it on the chin many times, made some friends along the way, and have genuinely gotten better at every facet within the game, including drafts. This meant learning to draft the right card, regardless of color plans and schemes, for the purpose of furthering my collection and trade bait for things i would need.
I cannot underscore the importance of playing the limited format to understand how cards interact within the standard model. Delve is really powerful, as shown in the appearance of Tasigur and Gurmag angler within Modern black decks. But it also means when to take the $5 land and not the vigilance, renown 2/2 common.
Over the past two years, I have gone multiple directions in Standard; tried many color combos and archetypes within draft and sealed;
gone 0-3-1 in standard to either see the huge flaws within my own deck or learn how Metas work; and found the internet a worthy adversary but ultimately too addicting with MtG:O.
Fun and being competitive go hand and hand. You need to find something that you like accomplishing within the game, that also leads to a fair amount of either competitive advantage or outlet for SQUEEE . If you simply want to be competitive, then expect to pay alot of money regardless of constructed format.If you want to have fun, then the world is your canvas, and MtG really is perfect and allows you the choice to win on your terms, and how you want.
I have gone 13-0-1 between BFZ game day, a wednesday night draft, and standard FNM this past week; winning all of the events, and getting some sick prizes, even within the packs i won (Omnath, Gideon, Man-lands). My time has arrived, and the "fun" purphoros/impact tremors token build i had last season, has morphed into a tier 1 threat/answer build that rapes dragons and even CC 4 color good stuff. Fun and competitiveness go hand and hand!
Jace is a 70$ card. There is nothing you can do about that, but changing your local Meta, and challenging people with something their not used to, can be the biggest advantage of all.
I will digress for a moment, as I truly could go on, but i hope even this helps you, and you can see that findind your way in magic can be an arduous task, but can lead to great things. Please feel free to respond and i will remark in kind.
November 12, 2015 1:14 p.m.
mathemagic314 says... #15
Thanks for the advice folks! All solid. And you're right HeavyR, I do have a problem with getting the more expensive lands specifically. I know I need to, I just cant force myself to do it just yet lol. Soon, I hope when I put more money away for the project. So I think I'm going to suck it up and play my first modern tournament at a local shop this Sunday. Maybe meet some new people that way at the very least. The only problem I'm facing now is I can't decide which of my decks to use since I have no real gauge of which is the most effective. So far I have 6 decks that I consider to be "almost there". I have a five-colored sliver Make you sliver with antici..........pation, a mono-black agro deck Dirt Cheap (Budget Black Devo), a black/white life-gain "Live Long and Prosper" (it won't let me tag that one for some reason), a black/blue mill It's Mill-er Time!, a mono-blue control deck Sea and Sky, and a black/white deathtouch agro deck First Strike, First Kill (VERY cheap). Those are the ones I put the most effort into, but since I have such little actual playing experience I am not sure which one would be more likely to be able to handle the different kinds of decks I might see at the competition.
JexInfinite says... #2
Read articles on Channel Fireball, and watches gameplay videos by LSV. You'll get better with practice, and by watching other people play. Deck primers are very helpful for knowing what to put in a deck.
November 12, 2015 1:56 a.m. Edited.