Preordain over Ponder?

Pauper forum

Posted on March 25, 2014, 4:54 p.m. by Necrotesque

I'm building a Reality Acid deck and every list I checked had 4 Preordain and no Ponder , and I was wondering why. Ponder digs 1 card more and still let's you draw. Am I missing something?

ChiefBell says... #2

Preordain lets you put cards you don't want on the bottom. Ponder doesn't.

March 25, 2014 4:57 p.m.

Necrotesque says... #3

It can, considering you can shuffle. Does it count?

March 25, 2014 5:01 p.m.

ChiefBell says... #4

Meh. I see what you mean. Still feels like you have more control over what you get with preordain.

March 25, 2014 5:02 p.m.

Servo_Token says... #5

The number of times that i've drawn a card that I shuffled away with Ponder says that Preordain is just better.

March 25, 2014 5:07 p.m.

Arvail says... #6

There's also Serum Visions to consider.

March 25, 2014 5:21 p.m.

ChiefBell says... #7

Isn't scrying before you draw better than drawing before you scry

March 25, 2014 5:28 p.m.

alulien says... #8

Serum Visions would only be a consideration in a Modern deck as both Preordain and Ponder are not legal. Since this is a Pauper deck all 3 are legal, I would agree with ChiefBell that scrying before you draw is almost always going to be the better outcome. Preordain !

March 25, 2014 5:36 p.m.

Magiclover318 says... #9

Yes and no, it's risky, because if you scry two and don't want them you can put them on bottom before drawing but then you are relying on the next top card.

Same with drawing before you scry though. I suppose I would rather scry before drawing.

March 25, 2014 5:36 p.m.

TurboFagoot says... #10

Ponder is only leagues better when you have Fetchlands. Without the ability to shuffle your deck (To only grab 1 of the three cards you saw), Ponder (like Brainstorm) gets much worse. The built in scry of Preordain makes it better in Pauper. (Obvious, but can't stress that enough)

March 25, 2014 6:01 p.m.

TurboFagoot says... #11

To put it another way, Ponder + Fetch is essentially "Scry 3, draw a card" to Preordains "Scry 2, draw a card".

March 25, 2014 6:02 p.m.

fluffybunnypants says... #12

Preordain is strictly better than Serum Visions .

April 22, 2014 8:31 a.m.

Didgeridooda says... #13

I like to Brainstorm , then Preordain or Ponder . I would not play Serum Visions in pauper. It is modern.

I want to run 4 Brainstorm , 4 Preordain . Not sure if I will also put in 2 ponders or not though.

April 22, 2014 1:02 p.m.

Gameover209X says... #14

4x Brainstorm and run 4x Evolving Wilds to manafix. Brainstorm becomes draw 3 for U

May 27, 2014 12:25 a.m.