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So, as usual in the weeks before the release of a new set, I have been following the spoiler sites, and one of the rumored new cards might be:

Bone Saw (0)
Artifact-Equipment
Common
Equip 1. Equipped creature gets +1/+0

If true, this is obviously the "opposite" of Shuko, which is clearly a better card and which sees some play in some HL decks. Even though Bone Saw (if it exists) might not be as good (have to pay (1) every time you equip), do you believe it could be playable in those same decks that run Shuko?

Again; I apologize if this is the wrong location for this question...

Anyway, I've been wondering for months now... what is Karma (indicated near each post's originator) on this site; what do the +/- values mean, etc.?

So the MGA deck that I currently have (thanks to all of you for the great recommendations!) seems to be doing OK; maybe I'll try it for the next tournament (time willing, of course...). [Wondering if I should try to squeeze Sylvan Scrying in there...]

In the meantime, a couple months ago I tried a straight R burn deck; although it would either win or lose quickly there were too many entries in the "lose" category. I figured a RDW kind of deck would be better, but although I see the archetype referred to here I have not seen any decklists... here's my first stab at it:



// Lands (38)
    1 Temple of the False God
    1 Keldon Megaliths
    1 Mishra's Factory
    28 Snow-Covered Mountain
    1 Wasteland
    1 Mutavault
    1 Forgotten Cave
    1 Ghitu Encampment
    1 Scrying Sheets
    1 Smoldering Crater
    1 Fungal Reaches

// Creatures(35)
    1 Demigod of Revenge
    1 Blood Knight
    1 Ashenmoor Liege
    1 Rorix Bladewing
    1 Murderous Redcap
    1 Duergar Assailant
    1 Mudbutton Torchrunner
    1 Cinder Pyromancer
    1 Flameblast Dragon
    1 Akroma, Angel of Fury
    1 Greater Gargadon
    1 Keldon Marauders
    1 Boggart Ram-Gang
    1 Jackal Pup
    1 Goblin Patrol
    1 Vexing Shusher
    1 Duergar Hedge-Mage
    1 Dominus of Fealty
    1 Arc-Slogger
    1 Mogg Fanatic
    1 Magus of the Scroll
    1 Figure of Destiny
    1 Boartusk Liege
    1 Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
    1 Avatar of Discord
    1 Siege-Gang Commander
    1 Fireslinger
    1 Ashenmoor Gouger
    1 Stigma Lasher
    1 Kamahl, Pit Fighter
    1 Vulshok Sorcerer
    1 Flametongue Kavu
    1 Giant Solifuge
    1 Anger
    1 Fulminator Mage

// Other (27)
    1 Blood Moon
    1 Lava Blister
    1 Demonfire
    1 Rift Bolt
    1 Foriysian Totem
    1 Shock
    1 Nevinyrral's Disk
    1 Sensei's Divining Top
    1 Relic of Progenitus
    1 Lava Burst
    1 Goblin Charbelcher
    1 Kaervek's Torch
    1 Pyrokinesis
    1 Violent Eruption
    1 Incinerate
    1 Magma Jet
    1 Flame Javelin
    1 Fireball
    1 Char
    1 Volcanic Hammer
    1 Lightning Bolt
    1 Disintegrate
    1 Pyroclasm
    1 Aftershock
    1 Fireblast
    1 Molten Rain
    1 Browbeat


One that I'm looking at is Balefire Liege - thoughts on that?

Any other suggestions?

Yes even though I haven't the time to dedicate to the online league (I am seeing these reports of single games going for up to an hour - wow), I still play regularly with my sons and local people.

Anyway, I have never seen or heard of a mono G aggro deck in this format, and am curious to see if it has any potential. Here is a decklist that I have devised but not yet tested:

// Deck file for Magic Workstation

// Lands (38)
    1 Wasteland
    1 Treetop Village
    1 Pendelhaven
    1 Temple of the False God
    31 Forest
    1 Tranquil Thicket
    1 Slippery Karst
    1 Yavimaya Hollow

// Creatures (43)
    1 Rhox
    1 Troll Ascetic
    1 Talara's Battalion
    1 Seedborn Muse
    1 Roughshod Mentor
    1 Verdant Force
    1 Primalcrux
    1 Oversoul of Dusk
    1 Overbeing of Myth
    1 Masked Admirers
    1 Vexing Shusher
    1 Vigor
    1 Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers
    1 Wilt-Leaf Liege
    1 Woodfall Primus
    1 Rhox Charger
    1 Drumhunter
    1 Spearbreaker Behemoth
    1 Garruk Wildspeaker (planeswalker)
    1 Llanowar Elves
    1 Boartusk Liege
    1 Fyndhorn Elves
    1 Spectral Force
    1 Murkfiend Liege
    1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
    1 Jugan, the Rising Star
    1 Chameleon Colossus
    1 Eternal Witness
    1 Birds of Paradise
    1 Bloom Tender
    1 Kitchen Finks
    1 Boggart Ram-Gang
    1 Briarhorn
    1 Cloudthresher
    1 Doomgape
    1 Drove of Elves
    1 Elvish Piper
    1 Hag Hedge-Mage
    1 Giant Solifuge
    1 Krosan Cloudscraper
    1 Nettle Sentinel
    1 Symbiotic Wurm
    1 Tarmogoyf
    1 Ravenous Baloth

// Other Spells (19)
    1 Lightning Greaves
    1 Break Asunder
    1 Hurricane
    1 Slate of Ancestry
    1 Wildsize
    1 Gaea's Anthem
    1 Rancor
    1 Regrowth
    1 Harmonize
    1 Privileged Position
    1 Kodama's Reach
    1 Might of Old Krosa
    1 Giant Growth
    1 Primal Command
    1 Worldly Tutor
    1 Tooth and Nail
    1 Sensei's Divining Top
    1 Krosan Grip

Some random comments...

I have tried to include a few ways to "cheat" the bigger creatures into play (Elvish Piper, Tooth and Nail).

Mana accel is obviously key, so BoP, Llanowar/Fyndhorn Elves, Drumhunter (good when the big boys are in play also), Sakura-Tribe Elder, Kodama's Reach, Bloom Tender (great with the hybrid mana cards around; still solid even without)

I am kind of on the fence on the battle tricks (Giant Growth, Might of Old Krosa, Wildsize) but goldfishing so far - both solitaire and against other HL decks - suggests that they may have merit.

Obviously a lot of recent cards; as I think we're all aware WotC has been very good to Green over the past couple of years. And some of the hybrid mana cards seem interesting to me in this context as well.

Anyway, I would be very appreciate of any/all comments and criticisms.

First, I apologize if this is the incorrect location for this question.

There are a few cards from Shards of Alara I am considering for use in the new online HL league but the set isn't officially released yet... May they be used before the release date (October 3)?

OK - this is the current build I'm using...

// Lands
    1 Sunken Ruins
    1 Reflecting Pool
    1 Bad River
    1 Temple of the False God
    1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
    1 Dimir Aqueduct
    1 Tainted Isle
    1 Watery Grave
    1 Underground River
    1 Salt Marsh
    1 Frost Marsh
    1 Urza's Factory
    1 Terramorphic Expanse
    1 Faerie Conclave
    1 Spawning Pool
    1 Tolaria West
    11 Island
    8 Swamp
    1 Barren Moor
    1 Lonely Sandbar
    1 Secluded Glen

// Creatures
    1 Guile
    1 Dominating Licid
    1 Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir

// Artifacts
    1 Mind Stone
    1 Talisman of Dominance
    1 Sensei's Divining Top
    1 Staff of Domination
    1 Phyrexian Totem
    1 Chronatog Totem
    1 Dimir Signet
    1 Drake-Skull Cameo
    1 Nevinyrral's Disk
    1 Fellwar Stone

// Instants
    1 Muddle the Mixture
    1 Brainstorm
    1 Cryptic Command
    1 Remand
    1 Dismiss
    1 Rewind
    1 Mana Leak
    1 Pact of Negation
    1 Spell Snare
    1 Negate
    1 Remove Soul
    1 Counterspell
    1 Telling Time
    1 Spite/Malice
    1 Swat
    1 Smother
    1 Dominate
    1 Rend Flesh
    1 Sudden Death
    1 Eyeblight's Ending
    1 Force of Will   
    1 Chill to the Bone
    1 Devour in Shadow   
    1 Capsize
    1 Expunge
    1 Forbid
    1 Dissipate

// Enchantments

    1 Annex
    1 Control Magic
    1 Enslave
    1 Persuasion
    1 Confiscate
    1 Legacy's Allure
    1 Copy Enchantment
    1 Take Possession
    1 Debtors' Knell
    1 Treachery

// Sorceries

    1 Profane Command
    1 Night's Whisper
    1 Demonic Tutor
    1 Beacon of Unrest
    1 Diabolic Tutor
    1 Compulsive Research
    1 Counsel of the Soratami
    1 Ponder
    1 Foresee
    1 Ribbons of Night
    1 Damnation
    1 Ancestral Vision
   

Mythrandir suggested I include "pointers;" i.e. good/bad matchups, and what seems to be lacking. As to GOOD matchups, I would say I generally do well if the other guy (1) gets mana screwed, (2) gets mana flooded, or (3) has a skill/experience level that's lower than mine. BAD matchups are, well, the opposite.

Seriously, though; I am not noticing that my win/loss record is better/worse against any particular style of opponent. Overall, I can put in a better showing against any deck that is not too lightning fast,  but even against such fast decks (like direct damage, weenies, aggro) I still do not feel that I am intrinsically overpowered.

I will say that, even though I can often hang in a long time, the deck just seems to not have that extra "je ne sais quoi" to see it through successfully to the end. (This is all assuming, of course, that it is being played optimally by the controller, and frankly that's a whole other discussion.)

And here are some additional cards I have been considering as additions (of course, there's always the question of what to take out for each addition as I do not wish to go above 100 cards.)

Note that some of the cards below involve land-hate, as I am finding that a significant source of my troubles end up being land-based.

Land hate:

1 Nettlevine Blight
1 Pooling Venom
1 Shifting Borders OR Political Trickery
1 Poison the Well

I am also thinking that more bounce could be useful; right now there's really only Capsize, so perhaps

1 Recoil (I like it better than Boomerang due to the discard)

I have a lot of counters, but maybe not enough/optimal? Other possibilities:

1 Put Away (expensive but getting a card back - sort of -  from GY could definitely be useful)
1 Draining Whelk
1 Counterbalance
1 Time Stop (?)
1 Last Word (?)

Other robbery spells I have also considered:

1 Commandeer (although kind of situational and kind of expensive)
1 Steal Artifact (also somewhat conditional but potentially very good)
1 Blatant Thievery (expensive BUT perhaps to replace one of the other creature-only steal spells I have, like maybe Persuasion or Enslave)

Other miscellaneous considerations:

1 Worldpurge... for when things are just going wrong... an ultimate board sweep
1 Unmake, instead of one of the others (like maybe Chill to the Bone)
1 Mystical Teachings

SO - any and all comments are welcome, including other cards not mentioned here, including general comments on the advisability of the whole deck approach, etc. etc.... and I ask for as much detail in your responses as you are willing to muster.

Thanks guys!

OK - since this is my first online tournament, here are some questions:

1. I assume we are using Magic Workstation?
2. Do we need to submit a deck code, or decklist, prior to beginning? If so, to whom?
3. I assume each match is one game? (If not, please clarify.)
4. I assume that that each player is responsible for contacting his opponent to set up  a time for the match?
5. Is there a deadline for completion of the first round/week of matches?

Thanks for bearing with me...

What the heck... here's another one I put together recently, and it shows definite promise...

// Lands
    1 [US] Polluted Mire
    1 [RAV] Overgrown Tomb
    1 [10E] Llanowar Wastes
    1 [RAV] Golgari Rot Farm
    1 [PLC] Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
    1 [LRW] Vivid Grove
    1 [LRW] Vivid Marsh
    1 [TE] Wasteland
    1 [ON] Tranquil Thicket
    1 [TSB] Pendelhaven
    1 [ON] Wirewood Lodge
    1 [US] Slippery Karst
    1 [ON] Barren Moor
    1 [10E] Terramorphic Expanse
    4 [TSP] Swamp
    18 [LRW] Forest
    1 [MOR] Mutavault

// Creatures
    1 [10E] Llanowar Elves
    1 [GP] Silhana Starfletcher
    1 [AP] Sylvan Messenger
    1 [LRW] Wren's Run Packmaster
    1 [LRW] Nath of the Gilt-Leaf
    1 [LRW] Jagged-Scar Archers
    1 [LE] Wirewood Hivemaster
    1 [LRW] Wren's Run Vanquisher
    1 [LRW] Elvish Branchbender
    1 [ON] Taunting Elf
    1 [RAV] Elvish Skysweeper
    1 [AP] Llanowar Dead
    1 [US] Titania's Chosen
    1 [9E] Norwood Ranger
    1 [IN] Quirion Elves
    1 [IA] Fyndhorn Elves
    1 [ON] Wellwisher
    1 [RAV] Nullmage Shepherd
    1 [US] Elvish Herder
    1 [CS] Allosaurus Rider
    1 [LRW] Lys Alana Huntmaster
    1 [SC] Wirewood Guardian
    1 [PLC] Essence Warden
    1 [FUT] Llanowar Empath
    1 [ON] Voice of the Woods
    1 [ON] Heedless One
    1 [LRW] Elvish Harbinger
    1 [RAV] Golgari Guildmage
    1 [8E] Fyndhorn Elder
    1 [ON] Bloodline Shaman
    1 [AP] Urborg Elf
    1 [LRW] Nath's Elite
    1 [GP] Silhana Ledgewalker
    1 [ON] Wirewood Herald
    1 [RAV] Elves of Deep Shadow
    1 [10E] Civic Wayfinder
    1 [FUT] Thornweald Archer
    1 [LE] Timberwatch Elf
    1 [LRW] Imperious Perfect
    1 [10E] Elvish Champion
    1 [EX] Skyshroud Elite
    1 [LRW] Masked Admirers
    1 [MOR] Wolf-Skull Shaman
    1 [MOR] Rhys the Exiled
    1 [LRW] Liliana Vess

// Spells
    1 [SC] Break Asunder
    1 [CHK] Sensei's Divining Top
    1 [PLC] Gaea's Anthem
    1 [CHK] Rend Flesh
    1 [10E] Loxodon Warhammer
    1 [PLC] Damnation
    1 [PLC] Harmonize
    1 [RAV] Chord of Calling
    1 Demonic Tutor
    1 [RAV] Privileged Position
    1 [LRW] Prowess of the Fair
    1 [10E] Naturalize
    1 [OD] Overrun
    1 [RAV] Putrefy
    1 [FD] Night's Whisper
    1 [LRW] Eyeblight's Ending
    1 [9E] Diabolic Tutor
    1 [BOK] Umezawa's Jitte

Comments, suggestions? (Don't know why that stuff is underlined...)

I have had some success with this:

// Lands
    31 [9E] Plains
    1 [FUT] New Benalia
    1 [ON] Secluded Steppe
    1 [US] Drifting Meadow
    1 [ON] Daru Encampment
    1 [10E] Forbidding Watchtower

// Creatures
    1 [9E] Master Decoy
    1 [PLC] Revered Dead
    1 [RAV] Loxodon Gatekeeper
    1 [6E] Longbow Archer
    1 [OD] Lieutenant Kirtar
    1 [CS] Kjeldoran Outrider
    1 [7E] Intrepid Hero
    1 [ON] Whipcorder
    1 [RAV] Veteran Armorer
    1 [MM] Trap Runner
    1 [SH] Soltari Champion
    1 [LE] Sunstrike Legionnaire
    1 [PLC] Stormfront Riders
    1 [TE] Soltari Trooper
    1 [TE] Soltari Foot Soldier
    1 [MR] Auriok Bladewarden
    1 [LE] Deftblade Elite
    1 [SC] Daru Warchief
    1 [RAV] Conclave Phalanx
    1 [AP] Enlistment Officer
    1 [TSP] Castle Raptors
    1 [PLC] Benalish Commander
    1 [ON] Gustcloak Sentinel
    1 [TSB] Icatian Javelineers
    1 [7E] Honor Guard
    1 [ON] Gustcloak Skirmisher
    1 [CS] Field Marshal
    1 [ON] Gustcloak Savior
    1 [ON] Gustcloak Runner
    1 [ON] Gustcloak Harrier
    1 [SC] Frontline Strategist
    1 [ON] Pearlspear Courier
    1 [LRW] Goldmeadow Harrier
    1 [MOR] Ballyrush Banneret
    1 [MOR] Cenn's Tactician
    1 [MOR] Mosquito Guard
    1 [MOR] Preeminent Captain
    1 [PLC] Aven Riftwatcher

// Spells
    1 [ON] Slate of Ancestry
    1 [TSP] Candles of Leng
    1 [8E] Jayemdae Tome
    1 [CHK] Sensei's Divining Top
    1 [RAV] Bottled Cloister
    1 [DS] Sword of Fire and Ice
    1 [IA] Icy Manipulator
    1 [9E] Wrath of God
    1 [RAV] Hour of Reckoning
    1 [ON] Akroma's Vengeance
    1 [GP] Debtors' Knell
    1 [RAV] Faith's Fetters
    1 [ON] Mobilization
    1 [MR] Raise the Alarm
    1 [9E] Glorious Anthem
    1 [ON] Shared Triumph
    1 [9E] Coat of Arms
    1 [LRW] Oblivion Ring
    1 [RAV] Privileged Position
    1 [4E] Swords to Plowshares
    1 [TSP] Return to Dust
    1 [ON] Piety Charm
    1 [MI] Enlightened Tutor
    1 [LRW] Militia's Pride
    1 [TSP] Temporal Isolation
    1 [BOK] Umezawa's Jitte

A few thoughts...

1. There are only 38 creatures in here; as an aggro deck perhaps there should be 2-5 more? If so suggestions on inclusions and non-creature spells to remove? (like, maybe Jayemdae Tome; I also have a few other card-drawers and this one is awkward... although it has come in very handy a number of times...)

2. Land seems iffy. There are too many games with either mana screw OR mana flood; any way to smooth this out? Perhaps all Plains should be Snow and toss in a Scrying Sheets?

3. I am on the fence re: Hour of Reckoning (although it can be huge if the token generators have gotten going)... maybe swap it out for either another Soldier creature, or perhaps Nevinyrral's Disk?

Suggestions?