I've been getting a lot of reader feedback not only about Repack as a format, but also the educational articles I've been putting out on the subject. The last series Repack Walk Through, was what I think was a huge hit, and created a lot of buzz. It appears now though, that people get the point of the lesson, so I'm moving on to another topic. Folks seem to get what cards were best in the packs, but have been asking more about the why. To try an address this, I'm taking up a new Repack article theme.
Simply put, each week, I'm going to use the "random card" feature on Gatherer to pull an interesting card, and then exhaust myself talking about it from a repack perspective. I think this weeks card is fairly appropriate for Repack, as many of our drafting, playing and card evaluation skills have to be relearned as applied to this unique format. First off, since this is an uncommon, odds are this will not been seen again in another pack, and it's power level makes it unlikely to wheel, so if you want it, better take it. Seeing this later then say fourth or fifth pick, signals blue is fairly open.
The casting cost of 1UU makes this a fairly dedicated blue spell, you won't be able to splash this with very much success. It may pair well with a splashed spell from another color, potentially allowing you to use it twice. This card will lend itself mostly to a UR deck, for example to get back a key red removal spell. For instance, you could use your Fireball or Blaze, both easily picked up and splashed in repack these days, early to take out an early creature that was causing problems. Your opponent is going to feel pretty good dropping later creatures, confident that you won't have another X removal spell.
What ever you return with this will need to be good enough to overcome to factors. First, you probably won't have enough mana to cast relearn, and the returned spell on the same turn, so you have potentially time walked yourself, at least for the main phases of your turn. If you are stable in control, or on the beats, this may be less of a factor. Secondly, you have telegraphed your next move to your opponent, who knows that the card is back in your hand. Odds are, your opponent won't fall for the same trick twice, or will attempt to play around your efforts.
So there it is in a nut shell, hope this little example helps you out. Come on back next week, and we will do it again.
The casting cost of 1UU makes this a fairly dedicated blue spell, you won't be able to splash this with very much success. It may pair well with a splashed spell from another color, potentially allowing you to use it twice. This card will lend itself mostly to a UR deck, for example to get back a key red removal spell. For instance, you could use your Fireball or Blaze, both easily picked up and splashed in repack these days, early to take out an early creature that was causing problems. Your opponent is going to feel pretty good dropping later creatures, confident that you won't have another X removal spell.
What ever you return with this will need to be good enough to overcome to factors. First, you probably won't have enough mana to cast relearn, and the returned spell on the same turn, so you have potentially time walked yourself, at least for the main phases of your turn. If you are stable in control, or on the beats, this may be less of a factor. Secondly, you have telegraphed your next move to your opponent, who knows that the card is back in your hand. Odds are, your opponent won't fall for the same trick twice, or will attempt to play around your efforts.
So there it is in a nut shell, hope this little example helps you out. Come on back next week, and we will do it again.
Comments