Binary Brutality

I got to play a few games with Matt and he was messing around with a couple new decks. I got beat pretty good; they were combo decks using Creative Technique and Maelstrom Wanderer, the other Sunbird's Invocation, Panantir of Orthanc and Approach of the Second Sun. 

What I learned from those games was that my sideboards wasn't quite where it needed to be. If I was going to deal with Storm decks like this, I needed Mindbreak Trap to help. And I know that the cards listed don't say Storm on them, but they work the same way and I believe if I am able to remove spells from the stack, that should put a big monkeywrench into the plans. 

But I will say that the Urza's Saga addition has been great, and Lavaspur Boots a very helpful addition to the deck. With those changes, I got some games against Fuz and the deck did very well. 

Here's the list:

2 Mishra's Bauble
4 Urza's Bauble
1 Aether Spellbomb
3 Barbed Spike}
1 Lavaspur Boots

3 Sai, Master Thopterist
3 Emry, Lurker of the Loch
2 Master of Etherium
4 Ethersworn Canonist
4 Patchwork Automaton
3 Kappa Cannoneer
2 Syr Ginger, the Meal Ender

3 Dispatch
1 Swords to Plowshares

3 Seat of the Synod
3 Ancient Den
4 Razortide Bridge
1 Plains
2 Island
1 Otawara, Soaring City
4 Mystic Gate
4 Urza's Saga

2 Thoughtcast

15 Sideboard|
SB: 4 Tormod's Crypt
SB: 1 Pithing Needle
SB: 1 Sunbeam Spellbomb
SB: 2 Hydroblast
SB: 1 Swords to Plowshares
SB: 2 Blue Elemental Blast
SB: 2 Metallic Rebuke
SB: 2 Archive Trap

Finally, I'm going to be on the road this weekend so no Tuesday post, but hopefully I'll have some cool things to talk about on Thursday. Cheers!

Snapping Dolphins

Here's a solid video on the breakdown of the Marvel Snap in-game economics. Understanding how to best use your resources is always helpful, as well as understanding how they are attempting to manipulate the FOMO of the audience. 

Plus, I think Hoogland does an excellent job framing what the makers of Marvel Snap are about. Knowledge is power. (Sorry I meant to get this up yesterday!)

Harder Than It Looks

This is a picture of my nephew with other members of his baseball team, on their last home game as high school seniors. I haven't gotten to see him play often but getting to watch two games of baseball last week I was struck by a couple things. 

First; I should admit that I'm not a big fan of baseball. As a result, the games that I've seen have generally been on TV, played by professionals. My impression of the game is shaped by that. 

So watching high schoolers play baseball is a very different game. Plays that are all but taken for granted in the pros are things that these kids are still wrestling with. It wasn't for lack of hustle or a desire to play their best-shit just happens that they aren't experienced enough to be prepared for. I watched the games: they were all out there doing their best. 

But, it also reminded me of something Caitlin said to our group a few months ago, about how our playgroup played very well for the time we put into Magic. 

Right. If I wanted to, I could probably be much, much better at Magic than I am. I have the resources, but what I have decided is that my time should go elsewhere. Magic-most games really-are part of how I extend my friendships and spend time with people I care about. 

These kids have lives they're trying to manage too. Some of them may go on to the next level of play-and that's great! But it will take a dedication to the craft that most people aren't willing to put in because they have other things they want to do.

And that's ok too! There is nothing wrong with just playing games for fun and this was an excellent reminder that this IS why I play a game. Hopefully, that's why they keep playing, too.

I Dug This

I came across this person's take on a Mr. Negative deck and wanted to give it a little love. 

First, I like the angle he's going for with this deck. I've been a fan of Negative decks for awhile but like a lot of namesake decks, they falter if you don't get the right card.

More importantly, though: I like the way he talks through this play lines and thought processes in the games he plays. If someone is newer to Marvel Snap, I think they might find this really useful!

Compiling

Noah pointed out to me that Tezzeret, Artifice Master was a 5 mana card that if I didn't have protection just generated 1/1 thopters. "It's great when you draw two cards, " he said. 

And this is a very good point. By the time Tezzeret arrives, I am probably in a 'win more' situation or one where I really need to stabilize and Tezzeret doesn't help stabalize. Kappa Cannoneers are now $6. Let's give those a shot.

2 Mishra's Bauble
4 Urza's Bauble
1 Aether Spellbomb
1 Sunbeam Spellbomb
3 Barbed Spike

3 Sai, Master Thopterist
3 Emry, Lurker of the Loch
2 Master of Etherium
4 Ethersworn Canonist
4 Patchwork Automaton
3 Kappa Cannoneer|
2 Akal Pakal, First Among Equals

3 Dispatch
1 Swords to Plowshares

3 Seat of the Synod
3 Ancient Den
4 Razortide Bridge
3 Plains
4 Island
1 Otawara, Soaring City
4 Mystic Gate

2 Thoughtcast

Going through my cards one day, I realized that I had extra Thoughtcasts in my binder. Why should they sit there? This deck wants card draw! 

I'm also looking at Akal Pakal to see if that is good. I never really liked Riddlesmith, and I'm hoping the 1/5 body on Akal will make it a little more sturdy. 

I'm also thinking of a sideboard now, and with Lavaspur Boots starting to get some attention, maybe I'll put the Sunbeam Spellbomb there, maindeck the Boots and have a side that goes:

4 Hydroblast
2 Syr Ginger, the Meal Ender
4 Tormod's Crypt
1 Pithing Needle
1 Dispatch
2 Torpor Orb
1 Sunbeam Spellbomb

I'm considering running Syr Ginger maindeck too: the card seems like fun and the appropriate amount of silly. But for now: Hydroblast to stop Red artifact removal, Tormod's Crypt for the graveyard strategies, Pithing Needle as a catch all, Dispatch for extra removal and Torpor Orb as another good stopgap.