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In the seasonal tradition of giving thanks, I'd like to thank Wizards for making Ravnica and bringing a breath of multicolored freshness back to the game. The decision to reprint enemy-colored painlands in Ninth Edition also shows a commitment to furthering flexibility in deckbuilding going forward. I could grouse about why it hasn't been done prior to now, but I'll try to keep things on the positive tip. The more options available in the manabase, the greater variety of decks possible – it's that simple. One need only look toward the current renaissance in Extended for the proof. Ravnica lands + fetchlands + painlands mean good times for everybody.
Speaking of Extended, I've been working on a deck that borrows elements from the popular Red/White build making Top 8s around the world. I'm not sure if it's any good yet, as I haven't had an opportunity really to bring it out of the Magic Online serious room yet (due to lack of cards).
4 Frenzied Goblin
4 Goblin Piledriver
4 Goblin Warchief
3 Exalted Angel
3 Goblin Goon
2 Kataki, War's Wage
4 Lava Dart
4 Lightning Helix
4 Pillage
4 Suppression Field
2 Char
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Battlefield Forge
8 Mountain
6 Plains
Yes, I will be the first to admit: the Goblin chain is janky. I'm trying to find a set of creatures that work well under Suppression Field, as Grim Lavamancer and Goblin Legionnaire are definitely out. I also have a version with an alternate creature loadout that's a little more… Caucasian:
4 Savannah Lions
4 Silver Knight
4 Samurai of the Pale Curtain
3 Isamaru, Hound of Konda
3 Exalted Angel
2 Kataki, War's Wage
Mana base changes to:
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Battlefield Forge
9 Plains
5 Mountain
There are advantages and disadvantages to both creature bases. The Goblins obviously can follow their usual Onslaught Block marching orders and curve an opponent right out of the game, while the White creatures are sturdier and cause more problems against the field than the Red men. Samurai of the Pale Curtain ensures that stuff that gets burned or destroyed will get capped permanently and Silver Knight is just a solid beater and great in the mirror. On the other hand, this deck is going to be able to keep more creatures on the table generally, turning Goblin Goon a veritable all-star. Six damage is huge with everyone paying life for fetchlands, Ravnica lands, etc. Exalted Angel is common to both decks, as somehow everyone has forgotten how good it is. Yes it's susceptible to burn, but that's fine. Either deal with it or lose – that's my attitude. It's been ridiculous against Goblins and Affinity and good against everything else for me.
I don't really know which way I want to go with the kid core at this point, or if changing the Top 8 tested creature base completely to focus on Suppression Field is even worth it. It just seems that with nearly every deck having a ton of activated abilities, it's a smart metagame call. I could make a list of the cards that the Field affects, but that would take some time (and would be gratuitous word-padding anyway. The other option is to run the usual suspects and simply put four Suppression Field in the sideboard (as one Top-8er did), but I don't think you can dedicate that much precious space without giving up a bunch. Any ideas are welcomed.
Well, that's it for me on the Daily grind this week. I hope that everyone enjoyed it, but if you didn't then I don't care about you anyway, so there! Juuuuuuuuust kidding. I'm headed back to the couch now for the overtime of the Dallas / Denver game. Ahh, overtime football... another thing to be thankful for on Thanksgiving.
