So after a strikingly unimpressive, and bordering on humiliating showing at FNM a few weeks ago, I tuned my deck up again, and decided to make another run at it. Special props to my little Mage for cracking a Batterskull and a Mental Misstep from a a pack during packwars. Hooray for $30 packs! I made some last minute tweaks to the manabase which I hadn't talked about yet, so let me start with a full list.
This build did so much better. It had less explosive potential, but far higher consistency. The multiple Tempered Steels were crushing when backing multiple affected creatures. The combination of Stoneforge, and Batterskull was nothing short of amazing. I ended the night 3-1, having 2 shutout rounds, and only folding to RDW. WTH is that about, the mono-budget deck I refused to play kicked my teeth in? Got to do something about that. Time to brew a side board, but first the tweaks to the main.
First thing is my missing sword, which I was so missing during the RDW match. Making a creature proRed, and getting life swing would have been so good! I lucked up that someone there was happy to take my extra Doubling Season straight up for a Sword of War and Peace. That finished my cycle of Swords, and adds a much needed tool to this Standard deck. It should be a clear upgrade from the existing Sword of Vengeance I also want to pick up 2 additional Etched Champions, as it simply walks across so many tables, and shakes off most board removal. I have a line on the missing two, and with any luck should be able to trade into them with little relevant outlay this Wednesday at casual night. I've also really been underwhelmed with the one of toolbox finisher package I've been running, and plan to either refine it a great deal, or scrap it all together for more aggro options. These may be better off in the board?
What this deck really wants is a 4th Stoneforge, and a 3rd Opal, but each has it's problems. Opal is pretty clear cut, $20 is just too much for a third copy of this card right now. Standard has it's price inflated, and while it is used in Legacy Affinity, it will be cheaper later. Stoneforge faces a similar problem with it's $15 price tag, plus the added complication of the rumored ban-hammer, and expected rotation with the Fall set. In addition, this deck may also loses Overseer, and Thopters with the Fall rotation, which may easily make the deck unplayable in it's current concept. In short I wont be putting any cash into this deck for the time being, depending instead on trade prowess to tweak it up. In any case it looks like I have a Standard deck for the foreseeable future
19 Plains
2 Mox Opal
4 Signal Pests
4 Ornnithopter
4 Memnite
4 Steel Overseer
4 Porcelain Legionaire
3 Stoneforge Mystic
2 Etched Champion
Hex Parasite
Darksteel Juggernaut
Triskelion
Wurmcoil Engine
Myr Battlsphere
Vault Skirge
4 Tempered Steel
Sword of Vengence
Sword of Body and Mind
Sword of Feast and Famine
Batterskull
What this deck really wants is a 4th Stoneforge, and a 3rd Opal, but each has it's problems. Opal is pretty clear cut, $20 is just too much for a third copy of this card right now. Standard has it's price inflated, and while it is used in Legacy Affinity, it will be cheaper later. Stoneforge faces a similar problem with it's $15 price tag, plus the added complication of the rumored ban-hammer, and expected rotation with the Fall set. In addition, this deck may also loses Overseer, and Thopters with the Fall rotation, which may easily make the deck unplayable in it's current concept. In short I wont be putting any cash into this deck for the time being, depending instead on trade prowess to tweak it up. In any case it looks like I have a Standard deck for the foreseeable future
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