@Lindsay Lohan do some digging. You get 3 free packs from each recent set with a code. It's usually "play[set name]". Even if you don't use the cards, it's free progress toward wildcards.
Also the starting decks are pretty decent and there are some YT vids out there with budget tweaks to help the decks succeed a bit more.
Also it may be worth setting up an account (and the app) on Untapped.gg. It provides some very nice stats on decks if you ever want to check details on how well you are performing.
Before I go too far down this rabbit hole and start playing tutorials - how is Arena in terms of budget? I haven't played Magic for years but was thinking it looked like a nice way to get back into it casually. I was hoping to play some against bots and beginners but not get super into competitive stuff because I just can't spend a massive amount. Can I have fun with this at a minimal cost?
I have been playing for a year and a half and have spent zero money, so..yes?
To back this up, I started in the closed beta around the time of Amonkhet and have payed absolutely nothing*.
*To Arena itself. I still play plenty of paper events and occasionally get codes for free packs from them.
I'm pretty sure at least a couple of the free decks could get you comfortably to plat if climbing the ladder is your thing. And if the free decks won't do it, it's laughably easy with a budget white lifegain deck.
I'm pretty sure at least a couple of the free decks could get you comfortably to plat if climbing the ladder is your thing. And if the free decks won't do it, it's laughably easy with a budget white lifegain deck.
So, I threw together a b/w control deck to try out Teferi, Master of Time. He seemed really interesting to play around with and after playing a whole bunch with him today, I'm fairly sure he's really something special.
Having his abilities at instant speed is just pretty crazy. Drawing 2 and discarding 2 is good in a deck that wants to dig for answers is obviously strong (and I was pairing it with the kraken making enchant. Turns out putting three counters at least on each of those a turn is funny as hell) but the phase out, oh boy the phase out.
Having that ability on tap at instant speed is just such a blowout for some decks. Anything playing with mutations and enchantments folds to it instantly. I've had four maybe five games today where my opponent goes for a big mutate and I phase the target out in response and they time out trying to think around it. I blew one opponent out by phasing out their mutant stack and then following it up with a wrath. Obviously you can pull the same "no target" trick with enchants. This isn't even including the ability to protect himself from essentially any dmg greater than 3 from most creatures, or remove a key blocker to swing for a win (hell two if you have enough counters.)
I'm going to miss Kaya's Ghostform though.
Had one Alseid protect from Teferi's phasing and other Teferi's bouncing last game, so my enchanted dude could still wreck face and win.
Then Arena doesn't like me because 1WU Teferi is both a blue source and a white source so you need to give your target Prot from multicolored. I've tried it more than once against a gold card and it hasn't worked.
War of the Spark can't rotate out fast enough, it's going to make the Standard BO1 queue so much better.
Yeah, but you absolutely can punish someone for going 'GG' and then taking the maximum time possible every turn until your inevitable victory.
I always have to laugh because the people that rope me, and thankfully it's pretty rare, are always running some 200 card jank deck and suddenly they're all pissy when it doesn't fire. If I can refrain from childishly roping the opponent that drew perfect for their combo, and top decked direct answers to my plays, every time, Mr. 200 cards can chill out and go next.
Is there a good anti-boardwipe replacement for Kaya's Ghostform post rotation?
Just want to protect specific creatures from being removed by something untargeted.
Is there a good anti-boardwipe replacement for Kaya's Ghostform post rotation?
Just want to protect specific creatures from being removed by something untargeted.
There's Minion's Return in black, but it costs 2B. There's Fight As One in white.
For black? I can't think any specific, but there's a black enchantment that brings back a dead creature with a +/+ counter, and there's a couple cards let let you dig through your graveyard and bring stuff back. I've been using Fight as One as cheap instant protection in my blue white fliers deck with some success, it really only has value though because everyone in Diamond is spamming hard removal right now. I'm starting to realize it might be a better idea to run blue counterspells instead though..my fliers deck is commonly getting within 1 turn of winning early and then getting wiped before it can finish.
Would Luminous Broodmoth protect against a wipe? Or would it not fire because it dies at the same time as the rest of your creatures? This ruling seems to imply it would fire.
If Luminous Broodmoth dies at the same time as a creature without flying, its ability triggers for that creature.
Dark_Side on
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Munkus BeaverYou don't have to attend every argument you are invited to.Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPAregular
Would Luminous Broodmoth protect against a wipe? Or would it not fire because it dies at the same time as the rest of your creatures? This ruling seems to imply it would fire.
If Luminous Broodmoth dies at the same time as a creature without flying, its ability triggers for that creature.
It fires.
Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
Then Arena doesn't like me because 1WU Teferi is both a blue source and a white source so you need to give your target Prot from multicolored. I've tried it more than once against a gold card and it hasn't worked.
If it is a card that actually targets (not a sweeper) then yes alseid would work. A gold card is each of its listed colors. If you have protection from one of those colors you have protection from that card. And yes this works in Arena.
Is there a good anti-boardwipe replacement for Kaya's Ghostform post rotation?
Just want to protect specific creatures from being removed by something untargeted.
So, I threw together a b/w control deck to try out Teferi, Master of Time. He seemed really interesting to play around with and after playing a whole bunch with him today, I'm fairly sure he's really something special.
Having his abilities at instant speed is just pretty crazy. Drawing 2 and discarding 2 is good in a deck that wants to dig for answers is obviously strong (and I was pairing it with the kraken making enchant. Turns out putting three counters at least on each of those a turn is funny as hell) but the phase out, oh boy the phase out.
Having that ability on tap at instant speed is just such a blowout for some decks. Anything playing with mutations and enchantments folds to it instantly. I've had four maybe five games today where my opponent goes for a big mutate and I phase the target out in response and they time out trying to think around it. I blew one opponent out by phasing out their mutant stack and then following it up with a wrath. Obviously you can pull the same "no target" trick with enchants. This isn't even including the ability to protect himself from essentially any dmg greater than 3 from most creatures, or remove a key blocker to swing for a win (hell two if you have enough counters.)
He's fun as hell to play with.
Blue is U, not B. Black is B.
I ate an engineer
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ElldrenIs a woman dammitceterum censeoRegistered Userregular
I mean the obvious counter to Ugin is to only play permanents that are 8cmc or more
I prefer to just end the game before they can have 8 mana.
Same, but currently for my deck that means stacking glitters on things and hoping this deck that's doing nothing but playing lands doesn't get a board wipe or a bounce.
The game that triggered my comment I had the guy down to 3 after playing a bit cautiously.
And then Ugin on turn 6 or 5.
And Lurrus is both a horrendous tell for the Ugin player, and can't get stuff back from exile.
Posts
Also the starting decks are pretty decent and there are some YT vids out there with budget tweaks to help the decks succeed a bit more.
Also it may be worth setting up an account (and the app) on Untapped.gg. It provides some very nice stats on decks if you ever want to check details on how well you are performing.
To back this up, I started in the closed beta around the time of Amonkhet and have payed absolutely nothing*.
*To Arena itself. I still play plenty of paper events and occasionally get codes for free packs from them.
There needs to be an in-game report button though.
You can't punish people for their router dropping their connection.
Yeah, but you absolutely can punish someone for going 'GG' and then taking the maximum time possible every turn until your inevitable victory.
I also presume that the player is not going to get kicked out unless they repeat the behaviour and are reported multiple times.
Well, I presume that they're not going to be banned if they spend money on the game, but that's a bit cynical.
Having his abilities at instant speed is just pretty crazy. Drawing 2 and discarding 2 is good in a deck that wants to dig for answers is obviously strong (and I was pairing it with the kraken making enchant. Turns out putting three counters at least on each of those a turn is funny as hell) but the phase out, oh boy the phase out.
Having that ability on tap at instant speed is just such a blowout for some decks. Anything playing with mutations and enchantments folds to it instantly. I've had four maybe five games today where my opponent goes for a big mutate and I phase the target out in response and they time out trying to think around it. I blew one opponent out by phasing out their mutant stack and then following it up with a wrath. Obviously you can pull the same "no target" trick with enchants. This isn't even including the ability to protect himself from essentially any dmg greater than 3 from most creatures, or remove a key blocker to swing for a win (hell two if you have enough counters.)
He's fun as hell to play with.
Can't phase my things Teferi.
I'm going to miss Kaya's Ghostform though.
Had one Alseid protect from Teferi's phasing and other Teferi's bouncing last game, so my enchanted dude could still wreck face and win.
Why? You sac him to prevent the bounce, and the card draw.
I have no idea what you mean.
3feri tries to bounce, Alseid sacs, ability fizzles, then 1/1 hits 3feri and he dies.
It's great.
War of the Spark can't rotate out fast enough, it's going to make the Standard BO1 queue so much better.
I always have to laugh because the people that rope me, and thankfully it's pretty rare, are always running some 200 card jank deck and suddenly they're all pissy when it doesn't fire. If I can refrain from childishly roping the opponent that drew perfect for their combo, and top decked direct answers to my plays, every time, Mr. 200 cards can chill out and go next.
It wouldn't be punishing them, though, it would be rewarding me for having to put up with them.
Just want to protect specific creatures from being removed by something untargeted.
There's Minion's Return in black, but it costs 2B. There's Fight As One in white.
Give white a phase your creature spell next set please thankyou
Because yeah, this BW enchantment Lurrus deck has got me to Diamond Rank 3 before running out of time.
And losing Ghostform will hurt.
It fires.
Now my deck has to either be high cost or aggro fast enough to beat him out (and go first) I guess.
If it is a card that actually targets (not a sweeper) then yes alseid would work. A gold card is each of its listed colors. If you have protection from one of those colors you have protection from that card. And yes this works in Arena.
Or counter him
When they start printing white counterspells let me know
I will not say that it is good but it is certainly fun to play, in a mono-red kind of MUST ATTACK EVERY TURN kind of way.
Deck:
Critiques are welcome. Suggestions from this thread got my rakdos sac deck up to diamond.
13 years ago? :P
Heroic Intervention
Blue is U, not B. Black is B.
Exactly
Unless they reprinted it in M21 and I somehow missed it
The duality of Magic is beautiful
Same, but currently for my deck that means stacking glitters on things and hoping this deck that's doing nothing but playing lands doesn't get a board wipe or a bounce.
The game that triggered my comment I had the guy down to 3 after playing a bit cautiously.
And then Ugin on turn 6 or 5.
And Lurrus is both a horrendous tell for the Ugin player, and can't get stuff back from exile.
Mono-silver makes him a little unhappy too. EDIT: I guess you could also run, say, Farfinder but that little cutie doesn't combo with Steel Overseer.
I think I hate M21.
Another non-interactive ramp/boardwipe deck with Peer into the Abyss (+Dreams) as the wincon.
weeee
>.>
This sounds like my jam, what's this deck? And does it have ugin in it? It definitely has ugin in it, right?
(I love Ugin, he was the first card I pulled in a paper draft years ago and I'm so happy he's reprinted)