Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Elite Arcanist-Zhur Taa Druid-Triton Tactics Infinite Combo

Here are two screen shots. It triggers 1 hits from Zhur Taa Druid without the need to tap any lands.





Optimized Minotaurs RTR to BNG Standard

I took out Astral Cornucopia (what was I thinking? I am not paying EDH!) and sideboard the less effective minotaurs. I also added two one drop creatures and a lot of spot removal, especially useful in Rakdos mirrors.






Sunday, February 23, 2014

Minotaurs deck updated for BNG

It will be awesome if there are more one drop and two drop minotaurs in Standard. For now, a compromise must be made to make sure the deck is not so clunky by including a non-minotaur one drop. And, yes, I added Spectral Cornupia. (Why not!!!)





Master of Cruelties deck updated for BNG

Still as much fun as when this card first came out, and also just as easily beatable, yet I love to play this type of deck.





Saturday, February 22, 2014

Astral Cornucopia Jund Standard Deck

I am having lots of fun with this deck. It turns out that Astral Cornupia leads to interesting plays. Play it for X=1 early to avoid mana screw, then if you play a second one, it is best to wait until it can be X=2, and then the fun begins because you can pay Extorts fairly easily late in the game.





Fishing out BNG Junk Rares and fun Uncommons

Here is the first batch. I still need to wait for others to go down in price, and that will take a month. I want to try an artifact ramp deck, add to my casual minotaurs, try something with a bunch of legendaries, do something green, and try out another Master of Waves deck with Fate Unraveler.


Monday, February 17, 2014

10th Edition+M10+M11+SOM+M12+ISD+M13+RTR+M14 Cube

Now, this is a much more affordable idea. All of these sets are either black border core sets or have recently rotated out of Standard; or will rotate out of this format by this October. This selection has 15 sets. It is one block and one core set larger than the largest Standard format. Only three of these sets (Mirrodin Besieged, New Phyrexia, and Dark Ascension) are small sets. Bounding a cube makes the experience a lot more fun. Otherwise, you eventually wind up dragging in every card ever printed. These are the selections I plan to build to, each in its own fat pack box that fits 300 sleeved cards:

1. Infect (1 box, 300 cards).
2. Artifacts (4 boxes, 1200 cards).
3. Tribals (5 boxes, 1500 cards). I have already built one of these as UB (Blue Black) Zombies. The other candidates are Humans and Angels (White), Vampires (Red Black), Goblins (Red) and Elves (Green).
4. Guilds of Ravnica (10 boxes, 3000 cards). Another alternative is to build to the five shards (Bant, Esper, Grixis, Naya, Jund) and use 5 boxes instead....that's only 1500 cards.

That's 20 fat pack boxes, 6000 cards or 4500 cards if we stick to shards for the RTR-themed selections. Most of these cards will be commons and uncommons, and that means that the sleeves will be worth as much as the cards, but I am a casual player, and why not! This cube will be missing many of the more expensive cards, and that is OK. I don't have the budget to pimp up one of these cubes.



Saturday, February 15, 2014

Two Ravnicas Cube: Simic

Name CMC Type Set Rarity
Trygon Predator 3 — Beast Dissension Uncommon
Assault Zeppelid 4 — Beast Dissension Common
Simic Guildmage 2 — Elf Wizard Dissension Uncommon
Zameck Guildmage 2 — Elf Wizard Gatecrash Uncommon
Master Biomancer 4 — Elf Wizard Gatecrash Mythic Rare
Shambleshark 2 — Fish Crab Gatecrash Common
Elusive Krasis 3 — Fish Mutant Gatecrash Uncommon
Omnibian 4 — Frog Dissension Rare
Species Gorger 5 — Frog Beast Dragon's Maze Uncommon
Plaxcaster Frogling 3 — Frog Mutant Dissension Uncommon
Beetleform Mage 3 — Human Insect Wizard Dragon's Maze Common
Biovisionary 3 — Human Wizard Gatecrash Rare
Fathom Mage 4 — Human Wizard Gatecrash Rare
Simic Sky Swallower 7 — Leviathan Dissension Rare
Nimbus Swimmer X — Leviathan Gatecrash Uncommon
Drakewing Krasis 3 — Lizard Drake Gatecrash Common
Merfolk of the Depths 6 — Merfolk Soldier Gatecrash Uncommon
Vigean Hydropon 3 — Plant Mutant Dissension Common
Progenitor Mimic 6 — Shapeshifter Dragon's Maze Mythic Rare
Coiling Oracle 2 — Snake Elf Druid Dissension Common
Bred for the Hunt 3 Enchantment Dragon's Maze Uncommon
Shielding Plax 3 Enchantment — Aura Dissension Common
Krasis Incubation 4 Enchantment — Aura Dragon's Maze Uncommon
Leafdrake Roost 5 Enchantment — Aura Dissension Uncommon
Bioshift 1 Instant Gatecrash Common
Bound // D (Determined) 2 Instant Dissension Rare
Hydroform 2 Instant Gatecrash Common
R // D (Research) 2 Instant Dissension Rare
Simic Charm 2 Instant Gatecrash Uncommon
Cytoshape 3 Instant Dissension Rare
Voidslime 3 Instant Dissension Rare
Plasm Capture 4 Instant Dragon's Maze Rare
Mystic Genesis 5 Instant Gatecrash Rare
Vigean Intuition 5 Instant Dissension Uncommon
Biomass Mutation X Instant Gatecrash Rare
Novijen, Heart of Progress Land Dissension Uncommon
Simic Growth Chamber Land Dissension Common
Breeding Pool Land — Forest Island Dissension Rare
Simic Guildgate Land — Gate Gatecrash Common
Beck // Call (Beck) 2 Sorcery Dragon's Maze Rare
Unexpected Results 4 Sorcery Gatecrash Rare
Urban Evolution 5 Sorcery Gatecrash Uncommon
Biomantic Mastery 7 Sorcery Dissension Rare


Two Ravnicas Cube: Selesnya

Name CMC Type Set Rarity
Bronzebeak Moa 4 — Bird Dragon's Maze Uncommon
Centaur Healer 3 — Centaur Cleric Return to Ravnica Common
Centaur Safeguard 3 — Centaur Warrior Ravnica Common
Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage 2 — Dryad Shaman Return to Ravnica Uncommon
Dryad Militant 1 — Dryad Soldier Return to Ravnica Uncommon
Voice of Resurgence 2 — Elemental Dragon's Maze Mythic Rare
Wayfaring Temple 3 — Elemental Return to Ravnica Rare
Risen Sanctuary 7 — Elemental Return to Ravnica Uncommon
Guardian of Vitu-Ghazi 8 — Elemental Ravnica Common
Loxodon Hierarch 4 — Elephant Cleric Ravnica Rare
Loxodon Smiter 3 — Elephant Soldier Return to Ravnica Rare
Selesnya Sagittars 5 — Elf Archer Ravnica Uncommon
Armored Wolf-Rider 5 — Elf Knight Dragon's Maze Common
Selesnya Evangel 2 — Elf Shaman Ravnica Common
Trostani's Summoner 7 — Elf Shaman Dragon's Maze Uncommon
Selesnya Guildmage 2 — Elf Wizard Ravnica Uncommon
Phytohydra 6 — Plant Hydra Ravnica Rare
Watchwolf 2 — Wolf Ravnica Uncommon
Armada Wurm 6 — Wurm Return to Ravnica Mythic Rare
Autochthon Wurm 15 — Wurm Ravnica Rare
Growing Ranks 4 Enchantment Return to Ravnica Rare
Glare of Subdual 4 Enchantment Ravnica Rare
Privileged Position 5 Enchantment Ravnica Rare
Collective Blessing 6 Enchantment Return to Ravnica Rare
Unflinching Courage 3 Enchantment — Aura Dragon's Maze Uncommon
Pollenbright Wings 6 Enchantment — Aura Ravnica Uncommon
Sundering Growth 2 Instant Return to Ravnica Common
Heroes' Reunion 2 Instant Return to Ravnica Uncommon
Seeds of Strength 2 Instant Ravnica Common
Selesnya Charm 2 Instant Return to Ravnica Uncommon
Common Bond 3 Instant Return to Ravnica Common
Ready // Willing (Ready) 3 Instant Dragon's Maze Rare
Congregation at Dawn 3 Instant Ravnica Uncommon
Advent of the Wurm 4 Instant Dragon's Maze Rare
Selesnya Sanctuary Land Ravnica Common
Vitu-Ghazi, the City-Tree Land Ravnica Uncommon
Temple Garden Land — Forest Plains Ravnica Rare
Selesnya Guildgate Land — Gate Return to Ravnica Common
Call of the Conclave 2 Sorcery Return to Ravnica Uncommon
Pure // Simple (Simple) 3 Sorcery Dissension Uncommon
Coursers' Accord 6 Sorcery Return to Ravnica Common
Supply // Demand (Supply) X Sorcery Dissension Uncommon


Two Ravnicas Cube: Rakdos

Name CMC Type Set Rarity
Avatar of Discord 3 — Avatar Dissension Rare
Master of Cruelties 5 — Demon Dragon's Maze Mythic Rare
Sire of Insanity 6 — Demon Dragon's Maze Rare
Rakdos Cackler 1 — Devil Return to Ravnica Uncommon
Rakdos Ragemutt 5 — Elemental Hound Return to Ravnica Uncommon
Spike Jester 2 — Goblin Warrior Dragon's Maze Uncommon
Cryptborn Horror 3 — Horror Return to Ravnica Rare
Dread Slag 5 — Horror Dissension Rare
Spawn of Rix Maadi 5 — Horror Return to Ravnica Common
Rakdos Shred-Freak 2 — Human Berserker Return to Ravnica Common
Rix Maadi Guildmage 2 — Human Shaman Return to Ravnica Uncommon
Rakdos Augermage 3 — Human Wizard Dissension Rare
Carnival Hellsteed 6 — Nightmare Horse Return to Ravnica Rare
Hellhole Flailer 3 — Ogre Warrior Return to Ravnica Uncommon
Jagged Poppet 3 — Ogre Warrior Dissension Uncommon
Gobhobbler Rats 2 — Rat Dissension Common
Hellhole Rats 4 — Rat Dissension Uncommon
Carnage Gladiator 4 — Skeleton Warrior Dragon's Maze Uncommon
Rakdos Ringleader 6 — Skeleton Warrior Return to Ravnica Uncommon
Rakdos Ickspitter 3 — Thrull Dissension Common
Rakdos Guildmage 2 — Zombie Shaman Dissension Uncommon
Rain of Gore 2 Enchantment Dissension Rare
Pain Magnification 3 Enchantment Dissension Uncommon
Anthem of Rakdos 5 Enchantment Dissension Rare
Havoc Festival 6 Enchantment Return to Ravnica Rare
Riot Spikes 1 Enchantment — Aura Dissension Common
Rakdos Charm 2 Instant Return to Ravnica Uncommon
Auger Spree 3 Instant Return to Ravnica Common
Hit // Run (Hit) 3 Instant Dissension Uncommon
Showstopper 3 Instant Dragon's Maze Uncommon
Wrecking Ball 4 Instant Dissension Common
Twinstrike 5 Instant Dissension Uncommon
Rakdos Carnarium Land Dissension Common
Rix Maadi, Dungeon Palace Land Dissension Uncommon
Rakdos Guildgate Land — Gate Return to Ravnica Common
Blood Crypt Land — Swamp Mountain Return to Ravnica Rare
Dreadbore 2 Sorcery Return to Ravnica Rare
Rise // Fall (Fall) 2 Sorcery Dissension Uncommon
Slaughter Games 4 Sorcery Return to Ravnica Rare
Skull Rend 5 Sorcery Return to Ravnica Common
Breaking // Entering (Entering) 6 Sorcery Dragon's Maze Rare
Morgue Burst 6 Sorcery Dragon's Maze Common
Rakdos's Return X Sorcery Return to Ravnica Mythic Rare


Two Ravnicas Cube: Orzhov

Name CMC Type Set Rarity
Deathpact Angel 6 — Angel Gatecrash Mythic Rare
Angel of Despair 7 — Angel Guildpact Rare
Blind Hunter 4 — Bat Guildpact Common
Alms Beast 4 — Beast Gatecrash Rare
Cartel Aristocrat 2 — Human Advisor Gatecrash Uncommon
Agent of Masks 5 — Human Advisor Guildpact Uncommon
High Priest of Penance 2 — Human Cleric Gatecrash Rare
Orzhov Pontiff 3 — Human Cleric Guildpact Rare
Sin Collector 3 — Human Cleric Dragon's Maze Uncommon
Vizkopa Confessor 5 — Human Cleric Gatecrash Uncommon
Orzhov Guildmage 2 — Human Wizard Guildpact Uncommon
Vizkopa Guildmage 2 — Human Wizard Gatecrash Uncommon
Souls of the Faultless 3 — Spirit Guildpact Uncommon
Mourning Thrull 2 — Thrull Guildpact Common
Kingpin's Pet 3 — Thrull Gatecrash Common
Maw of the Obzedat 5 — Thrull Dragon's Maze Uncommon
Treasury Thrull 6 — Thrull Gatecrash Rare
Tithe Drinker 2 — Vampire Dragon's Maze Common
Blood Baron of Vizkopa 5 — Vampire Dragon's Maze Mythic Rare
Debtors' Knell 7 Enchantment Guildpact Rare
Gift of Orzhova 3 Enchantment — Aura Gatecrash Uncommon
Pillory of the Sleepless 3 Enchantment — Aura Guildpact Common
One Thousand Lashes 4 Enchantment — Aura Gatecrash Uncommon
Beckon Apparition 1 Instant Gatecrash Common
Executioner's Swing 2 Instant Gatecrash Common
Orzhov Charm 2 Instant Gatecrash Uncommon
Hide // Seek (Seek) 2 Instant Dissension Rare
Mortify 3 Instant Guildpact Uncommon
Ready // Willing (Willing) 3 Instant Dragon's Maze Rare
Orzhov Basilica Land Guildpact Common
Orzhova, the Church of Deals Land Guildpact Uncommon
Orzhov Guildgate Land — Gate Gatecrash Common
Godless Shrine Land — Plains Swamp Guildpact Rare
Castigate 2 Sorcery Guildpact Common
Conjurer's Ban 2 Sorcery Guildpact Uncommon
Purge the Profane 4 Sorcery Gatecrash Common
Culling Sun 5 Sorcery Guildpact Rare
Crime // Punishment (Crime) 5 Sorcery Dissension Rare
Obzedat's Aid 5 Sorcery Dragon's Maze Rare
Merciless Eviction 6 Sorcery Gatecrash Rare
Immortal Servitude X Sorcery Gatecrash Rare
Debt to the Deathless X Sorcery Dragon's Maze Uncommon


Two Ravnicas Cube: Izzet

Name CMC Type Set Rarity
Nivix Cyclops 3 — Cyclops Dragon's Maze Common
Djinn Illuminatus 7 — Djinn Guildpact Rare
Hypersonic Dragon 5 — Dragon Return to Ravnica Rare
Nivmagus Elemental 1 — Elemental Return to Ravnica Rare
Wee Dragonauts 3 — Faerie Wizard Guildpact Common
Goblin Electromancer 2 — Goblin Wizard Return to Ravnica Common
Goblin Test Pilot 3 — Goblin Wizard Dragon's Maze Uncommon
Goblin Flectomancer 3 — Goblin Wizard Guildpact Uncommon
Izzet Guildmage 2 — Human Wizard Guildpact Uncommon
Nivix Guildmage 2 — Human Wizard Return to Ravnica Uncommon
Izzet Staticaster 3 — Human Wizard Return to Ravnica Uncommon
Izzet Chronarch 5 — Human Wizard Guildpact Common
Mercurial Chemister 5 — Human Wizard Return to Ravnica Rare
Blistercoil Weird 1 — Weird Return to Ravnica Uncommon
Frostburn Weird 2 — Weird Return to Ravnica Common
Gelectrode 3 — Weird Guildpact Uncommon
Fluxcharger 4 — Weird Dragon's Maze Uncommon
Petrahydrox 4 — Weird Guildpact Common
Chemister's Trick 2 Instant Return to Ravnica Common
Izzet Charm 2 Instant Return to Ravnica Uncommon
Leap of Flame 2 Instant Guildpact Common
Odds // Ends (Odds) 2 Instant Dissension Rare
Cerebral Vortex 3 Instant Guildpact Rare
Dragonshift 3 Instant Dragon's Maze Rare
Electrolyze 3 Instant Guildpact Uncommon
Schismotivate 3 Instant Guildpact Uncommon
Counterflux 3 Instant Return to Ravnica Rare
Essence Backlash 4 Instant Return to Ravnica Common
R // D (Development) 5 Instant Dissension Rare
Thoughtflare 5 Instant Return to Ravnica Uncommon
Firemind's Foresight 7 Instant Return to Ravnica Rare
Izzet Boilerworks Land Guildpact Common
Nivix, Aerie of the Firemind Land Guildpact Uncommon
Izzet Guildgate Land — Gate Return to Ravnica Common
Steam Vents Land — Island Mountain Return to Ravnica Rare
Teleportal 2 Sorcery Return to Ravnica Uncommon
Catch // Release (Catch) 3 Sorcery Dragon's Maze Rare
Stitch in Time 3 Sorcery Guildpact Rare
Blast of Genius 6 Sorcery Dragon's Maze Uncommon
Epic Experiment X Sorcery Return to Ravnica Mythic Rare
Invoke the Firemind X Sorcery Guildpact Rare


Two Ravnicas Cube: Gruul

Name CMC Type Set Rarity
Ghor-Clan Rampager 4 — Beast Gatecrash Uncommon
Zhur-Taa Ancient 5 — Beast Dragon's Maze Rare
Gruul Ragebeast 7 — Beast Gatecrash Rare
Zhur-Taa Swine 5 — Boar Gatecrash Common
Burning-Tree Shaman 3 — Centaur Shaman Guildpact Rare
Rumbling Slum 4 — Elemental Guildpact Rare
Rubblehulk 6 — Elemental Gatecrash Rare
Skarrgan Skybreaker 7 — Giant Shaman Guildpact Uncommon
Scab-Clan Giant 6 — Giant Warrior Dragon's Maze Uncommon
Feral Animist 3 — Goblin Shaman Guildpact Uncommon
Scab-Clan Mauler 2 — Human Berserker Guildpact Common
Wild Cantor 1 — Human Druid Guildpact Common
Zhur-Taa Druid 2 — Human Druid Dragon's Maze Common
Burning-Tree Emissary 2 — Human Shaman Gatecrash Uncommon
Gruul Guildmage 2 — Human Shaman Guildpact Uncommon
Skarrg Guildmage 2 — Human Shaman Gatecrash Uncommon
Rubblebelt Raiders 4 — Human Warrior Gatecrash Rare
Savageborn Hydra X — Hydra Dragon's Maze Mythic Rare
Giant Solifuge 4 — Insect Guildpact Rare
Burning-Tree Bloodscale 4 — Viashino Berserker Guildpact Common
Streetbreaker Wurm 5 — Wurm Guildpact Common
Ruination Wurm 6 — Wurm Gatecrash Common
Gruul War Chant 4 Enchantment Dragon's Maze Uncommon
Killer Instinct 6 Enchantment Guildpact Rare
Primal Visitation 5 Enchantment — Aura Gatecrash Common
Pit Fight 2 Instant Gatecrash Common
Gruul Charm 2 Instant Gatecrash Uncommon
Signal the Clans 2 Instant Gatecrash Rare
Hit // Run (Run) 5 Instant Dissension Uncommon
Gruul Turf Land Guildpact Common
Skarrg, the Rage Pits Land Guildpact Uncommon
Gruul Guildgate Land — Gate Gatecrash Common
Stomping Ground Land — Mountain Forest Guildpact Rare
Flesh // Blood (Blood) 2 Sorcery Dragon's Maze Rare
Ground Assault 2 Sorcery Gatecrash Uncommon
Pure // Simple (Pure) 3 Sorcery Dissension Uncommon
Wreak Havoc 4 Sorcery Guildpact Uncommon
Frenzied Tilling 5 Sorcery Gatecrash Uncommon
Clan Defiance X Sorcery Gatecrash Rare
Savage Twister X Sorcery Guildpact Uncommon


Two Ravnicas Cube: Golgari

Name CMC Type Set Rarity
Drooling Groodion 6 — Beast Ravnica Uncommon
Woodwraith Corrupter 6 — Elemental Horror Ravnica Rare
Deathrite Shaman 1 — Elf Shaman Return to Ravnica Rare
Golgari Guildmage 2 — Elf Shaman Ravnica Uncommon
Korozda Guildmage 2 — Elf Shaman Return to Ravnica Uncommon
Corpsejack Menace 4 — Fungus Return to Ravnica Rare
Korozda Gorgon 5 — Gorgon Dragon's Maze Uncommon
Grave-Shell Scarab 5 — Insect Ravnica Rare
Golgari Longlegs 5 — Insect Return to Ravnica Common
Gleancrawler 6 — Insect Horror Ravnica Rare
Rot Farm Skeleton 4 — Plant Skeleton Dragon's Maze Uncommon
Slitherhead 1 — Plant Zombie Return to Ravnica Uncommon
Dreg Mangler 3 — Plant Zombie Return to Ravnica Uncommon
Shambling Shell 3 — Plant Zombie Ravnica Common
Woodwraith Strangler 4 — Plant Zombie Ravnica Common
Vulturous Zombie 5 — Plant Zombie Ravnica Rare
Sluiceway Scorpion 4 — Scorpion Return to Ravnica Common
Trestle Troll 3 — Troll Return to Ravnica Common
Lotleth Troll 2 — Zombie Troll Return to Ravnica Rare
Golgari Rotwurm 5 — Zombie Wurm Ravnica Common
Dark Heart of the Wood 2 Enchantment Ravnica Uncommon
Golgari Germination 3 Enchantment Ravnica Uncommon
Bloodbond March 4 Enchantment Ravnica Rare
Deadbridge Chant 6 Enchantment Dragon's Maze Mythic Rare
Abrupt Decay 2 Instant Return to Ravnica Rare
Golgari Charm 2 Instant Return to Ravnica Uncommon
Grisly Salvage 2 Instant Return to Ravnica Common
Putrefy 3 Instant Ravnica Uncommon
Gaze of the Gorgon 4 Instant Ravnica Common
Bound // Determined (Bound) 5 Instant Dissension Rare
Golgari Rot Farm Land Ravnica Common
Svogthos, the Restless Tomb Land Ravnica Uncommon
Golgari Guildgate Land — Gate Return to Ravnica Common
Overgrown Tomb Land — Swamp Forest Ravnica Rare
Drown in Filth 2 Sorcery Dragon's Maze Common
Treasured Find 2 Sorcery Return to Ravnica Uncommon
Jarad's Orders 4 Sorcery Return to Ravnica Rare
Flesh // Blood (Flesh) 5 Sorcery Dragon's Maze Rare
Rites of Reaping 6 Sorcery Return to Ravnica Uncommon
Gaze of Granite X Sorcery Dragon's Maze Rare
Crime // Punishment (Punishment) X Sorcery Dissension Rare