Weekly Magic Playtesting Results
BR Vampires looks like it’s the real deal. Cutting back to 2 Mark of Mutinies from 3 looks like it was a good idea, but it does not feel good trying to Viscera Seer for one when a bomb creature hits the table. Also want to fit in Arc Trails, but that 2 extra damage from Burst Lightning has won me many games. Still very tempted to put Goblin Guides in, but the mana is so good right now I can’t justify it. Also tempted to put in Nantuko Shade, but don’t think it would play well with Kalastria Highborn (which is insane by itself, but also gives you some breathing room with Dark Tutelage). Seems like a lot of lists aren’t running Bloodthrone Vampire. If one of the major selling points of Bloodghast is Pyroclasm blowout resistance, then isn’t Bloodthrone Vampire another—albeit significantly inferior—version of that? It also gives another outlet for Mark and a way to throw vampires at your opponent via Highborn.
On another note, how insane is Dark Tutelage? Props to my playtest-mate for realizing this when we first got our hands on 2011.
UW Control with Luminarch/Proliferate also has a lot of potential depending on the match-ups. Definitely like it better than UB, but as always it depends on the meta.
Did not have a chance to test Valakut; hopefully I can open another Primeval Titan from the box of 2011 coming in next week.
Rebirth Red sure is explosive, but I can’t come to like the deck. Haven’t played it against Pyroclasm or Arc Trail and have no desire to. This deck is going back into the pile.
I’ve now played WW Quest and both the U and G splash variants and like Rebirth Red I can’t come to like it. This is also likely going back into the pile. I loved the U splash version on paper because I absolutely love Trinket Mage, Shared Discovery and Unified Will. However my draws were so bad in the 6-7 games I played with it, it left a really bad taste in my mouth. Doubt I’ll come back to this deck, even if it makes waves on the pro scene (which I doubt).
Didn’t make any tweaks to my Grand Architect deck so I didn’t play it. Really curious what kinda goodies lay in store for it with Besieged, as if Wurmcoil Engine wasn’t already juicy enough. I guess in truth I’m looking more for another nice utility 1cmc U creature; something that does something by itself unlike Enclave Cryptologist or Vedalken Certarch.
Played against a UR Kiln Fiend deck. Shit just wins out of nowhere with Distortion Strike and Assault Strobe. This deck could take the right meta by surprise. Turn Aside was a really interesting card choice in this deck and gives it a fighting chance against removal heavy decks.
Interesting to see Tumble Magnet making it into RUG lists. The card is insane. I’d love to see a pro level deck abusing it with Contagion Clasp.
And if it wasn’t obvious already, the Scars dual lands are completely insane for aggro decks. Really curious what kind of lands are going to be in Besieged. Another allied color dual land cycle seems out of the question, but maybe they can fit in something for opposing colors? Or is that too dangerous, considering how good RUG or BUG already are? Just not another Glimmerpost, please.
