That right, Pygmy Hippo!  I figure hey, if they are dumb enough to play with a lousy 0/1 flier to stop permission, why wouldn't this guy fit the bill?  Furthermore, it serves as a dual purpose!  It gives you extra mana!

I know what your thinking, is this guy nuts or what?  Well in truth, my name speaks for itself, but crazy is good sometimes.  Here are the problems I face staring down at this 2/2 for UG, first off nothing reallly gives him a way to get by chump blockers or togs, secondly he is just a 2/2!  So, I came to the conclusion, since fire/ice is played a lot of decks out there today, why not fight fire / ice with fire/ice?  Sword of Fire and Ice that is.  

The next problem I faced with the creature is: what do you spend the extra mana on?  Spell don't seem sufficent enough, but gorilla shaman sure comes to mind, and not to mention an orcish settler would punch the game in your favor tremendously!  Most players won't leave much mana open if they know they are staring down such a disadvantage, so cool spells that really suck, like concentrate, suddenly become cool!

Forgive my over eager hyper tensive article, it's just me.  Now, the problem I present to you, is a deck that can utilize such a cool lil 2/2.

Moved to Casual. -Dr. Sylvan

Obviously if you don't give some consideration behing your post, your post will get locked, or in the case of posting it in the wrong place, moved instead.  It has become more apparent by looking at the various post on TMD, that the administrators are stopping any lame posting, repeat posting, or all around bad post.

Therefore, I would suggestion to everyone to think before you post, or you will just get rejected.  I know I am guilty of posting without thinking, resulting in a locked topic, so it's just a friendly reminder to produce something productive.  Feel free to frequently ask yourself, is this gonna get locked or moved if I post it?

In all honesty, the only reason I could see this card being utilized is if you were to abuse fetchlands, but still there is the issue of life, and ultimately at best it might be a sideboard card vs land destruction, unfortunately it cost 3!

After looking at the new Razorback Masticore I would have to agree with everyones post, this card is very viable, and in many ways much better than the original Masticore.  Though the 5 mana is high, slaver or workshop deck will definitely want to utilize this card!  You could call him Jugger What?  

While I feel Slaver is a very viable deck, I would even dare say tier 1, I still feel it needs to adress the mana flood issue it suffers sometimes.  Maybe I am alone in this matter, but I have had it happen enough to me that I think the deck needs something done about it.

I am seriously having a lack of saliva in my mouth when I look at spoilers for new sets, and as a whole I wonder if R&D will ever bring us banned or restricted cards again.  Obviously, like wine which grows better with age, R&D has refined their skills at not making bah roken cards, but then there is a lot left to be desired in the sets they do make.

Something that comes to mind when thinking of new sets is how much crap vs good cards are printed, how many cards are better than those already in print.  I know R&D can't please every magic enthusiast, though it would seem this last set was a decent to weak attempt to make some type 1 altering cards for us.

I would like to see the return of sets that have a massive amount of better than limited (sealed/draft/etc.) cards in it.  Give me good cards or let your boxes sit on the shelves!  Maybe I am being a little over dramatic about my distaste for the stuff R&D is making us, but maybe I am not alone either.

The real reason I chose this post is, one, I am starting to lose my taste for the new cards, secondly, because the state of the type 1 format is at a standstill and definitely needs some more cards to open the format up wider.  The currect state of type 1 is good, it could be better though.

Obviously your deck has some issues that need to be addressed, you asked for help, but really didn't listen to everyones comments.  So let me reiterate some of them for you.  The mind twist isn't needed, 3 duresses are a must though, secondly cunning wish is somewhat slow also.  Seriously, I love u/g/b, I just don't think your build is acceptable, the accumulated knowledge just don't seem needed in your deck.  I think you deck needs some more consideration.

I realize there is a difference between a full member, and a basic user, but I would like to ask the moderators just what it takes to go from a basic user to a full member?  I appologize now if I missed this topic somewhere.

Here's a hint: learn how to use the PM function.
-Matt[/color]

I am going to say right here right now, where in the red hell is the grim lavamancers?  The guy is too good not to play in ank sligh.   Since your playing null rods, I would seriously give him consideration.  Secondly, 4 Shrapnel blast is a definite must.  The deck looks like it would give control slaver, or slaver decks in general fits gallore.  Also, I have been considering something,  Pyrostatic pillar doesn't seem to make the cut for me, but thats just me.

I just love TFK, I fear though that it might get restricted eventually.  In all consideration, if your gonna be pitching artifacts to the grave, maybe you could use cool artifacts in the deck that would be a situational win, like null rod or something.

It is awful!
This post is terrible. If you can't write more content than this, don't even bother posting.[/color]

Have you considered thirst for knowledge?

I can't say that I care much for that version of B/W aggro control.  I will say that angel does undoubtably belong in b/w, she is absolutely amazing.

I have read what everyone has discussed, and carefully considered the options, but I would like to argue about one card in particular.

Skeletal Scrying cost BX to draw X cards at the cost 1 life / card, and -1 card in your grave, ultimately it is costly, but that doesn't mean it isn't good enough.  Quite frankly I see the card as insanely powerful, but not bah roken.

I still think Concentrate is a utilizable card with mana drain. turn 2 drain turn 3 concentrate seems very viable to me.

When I asked for a list of card drawing engines not in place, not many people responded, maybe that is because I wasn't more descriptive in what I asked for.

Card Drawing list #1

4 Brainstorms
4 Thirst For Knowledge
2 Skeletal Scrying
1 Ancestral Recall
4 Urza's Bauble

This is a list I came up with, but the problem with it, is it's slow, and takes up way too many slots in a deck.  But it does, surprisingly, have some insane draw power behind it.  This list is a better example of what I am looking for in a list of card drawing engines.  I am more focused on control decks than anything.  I love togs engine, but to me it's just not feasible for control.  I would like to find an engine that doesn't have too many slots taken up that can supply some serious threat to tog in draw power.

I have been playtesting some decks like, smeanslaver, tog, and dragon.  Their is no question that the card drawing engines of these decks are awesome.  The real question is, can we come up with a better card drawing engine.  I have been looking at concentrate, and it seems while the card does cost 2UU, tome was played, and it cost 8 mana to get 1 card, now that we are in a very fast type 1 environment, I would think the card could be utilized even.  Though it's a sorcery, 3 cards is still pretty powerful honestly.  The reason I am asking if we can make a better card drawing engine than those in place, is because I really do like to draw cards, and gain an advantage over my opponent, yet I don't like the decks mentioned earlier.

The best engine you can put together would be appreciated.  I deck list is not needed, but feel free to talk about the drawing mechanics, and as to why you feel the engine is powerful or very good.

It is of utmost importance that good articles like this one, and any future articles on TMD be kept going, due to the fact that they present an opportunity for good players to encourage newer players to keep on stomping.  Which is to say that with a good discussion, one that leads to other discussions, with some serious thought behind the words presented by players, we can all garnish something worth reading.  I applaud everyones well thought out post and replies.

I would like to applaud you all on the excellent articles and discussions you all have been posting with well thought out writting.  It is discussions like this that we should have regularly on TMD.  Keep up the great work.

I thank you all for your great interest in the subject, and yes I agree with all of you on a lot of things, and talking about all that you have helps people like me to see the positive in things, thank you.

Also this discussion has led me to consider other things in deck building, and type 1 thoughts in general, it's not every day we have positive people posting good things that are helpful to the community.  Keep it up!

Thank you soo much for saying that Phantom.    

The topic is, it's hard to make a new deck.  (original that is)

I firmly stand on this, cause I have had troubles making new decks with all the cards available, because I can't seem to find something that will be more broken enough to win, or good enough to compete with the better decks of type 1, like Tog, smeanslaver, and dragon.dec.  Part of this is because I really need more work at deck building.  The third part of the reason I find it hard to make a deck is because there have been so many decks made already.  It's hard to make an original deck.

Please feel free to comment on my article.

I notice it has been looked at alot, but not very many people have responded to the lengthy article, it is good or bad?

I am afraid that card wouldn't do too much in type 1.  

I don't like old mechanics.  Especially cumulative upkeep!

I think +2/+2 would make the card more desired.

That card would be too good.

That card should be printed, I love it's theme in itself.

I love the idea of trinisphere in a deck using artifact creatures and mishra's workshop, great job!

Here is something to consider, in all seriousness.

Outside of exalted angel, why do you need to run non-basics?
Would back to basics make this deck extremely stronger.  If you don't know the power of B2B, play with it, it's bahroken!

Furthermore, you won't get wasted if you run more basic lands.  Also, I believe your build would be much better with isochron scepter, cut the angels put the basics in and run both scepters and back to basics side.  That is my current suggestion, take it or leave it.

Ok, let me discuss one more thing, before I end this discussion, meaning I won't post on it any more.  Thank you guys for your insight, and posting me links to read some great articles.

Though I have one more question to through out here.  Psychatog has dominated not 1 but 3 formats, and it dominated hard when it had the right cards.  Now in type 1 it is unquestionably one of the best decks of the format.  Is Tog bah roken, maybe not, but does it need restricted?  I am just sick of seeing the deck win, win, and you know it, win some more!

You have a strong point, and yes I thoroughly agree with you.  Though I would like to say this in rebuttal.  I have played against almost all the decks, and have lost to many of the net deck Tog/Slaver/Dragon to a name a few.  And what I learned from these decks are they are so good, that those three decks alone can handle just about anything I can make.  Dragon to me is a degnerate deck, Meanslaver too, Tog though just seems like an insanely good deck, though not bahroken.

Maybe this is why I have felt so greatly about it being hard to make a good deck.  Though the true reason I find it hardest to make a deck is because almost every deck type you can think of making has been made before, so it becomes tougher and tougher to make a new deck in type 1.  Tweaking an old deck is not the same as making a new deck.  Making a new archetype is even harder.  So I stand on my statement, new decks are hard to make.

Hi Mtg gamers, my name is Gale Innes, better known as InsaneScrub.  I have been playing magic since the beginning of 1995, I started playing type one the following year after I had traded enough cards and had money.  I love to trade, make decks, and play in general most formats.  I don't like type 2 because of it's reflection of older decks, the speed, the mana base, and presently because they have changed the format so dramatically.

I am at heart am a control player, my favorite colors are blue and black, though I have been known to play green and white, I detest red for some reason or another.  I love cheese, but hate cards are annoying.  B2B, null rod, and chill, to name a few.  Cheese to me is a card that is insanely good, but not powerful enough to warrant restriction.  Cards that give you multiple effects like Fire/Ice, Gorilla Shaman, etc.

I hate broken decks and cards, they tend to lead to degenerate formats, dominating decks, like Academy, Long, and such decks that take the taste out of my mouth for magic.  If you play a turn 1 combo deck, and then you play a type 2 deck, you will understand.

I was born and have lived in Kansas City all my life, my greatest achievements are 6 type 1 tournaments in a row with "The Deck" undefeated, and 2nd at a masq block qualifier.  I had a rating of 1800+, but before I sold most of my cards I lost quite a few games of type 2 to exteremely bad luck.  I have won at least 60 tournaments in every format to date.  Though most of them were not sanctioned.

I consider myself a good deck builder and player, though I need lots of work to make it to the pro level.  I am not really a scrub, I just like the name, cause I wear a scrubby beard, though I do take the showers!  And I am make people laugh with my humor and charm.  Though I don't post much humor online.

To sum me up in a nut shell, I would say I am a quite friendly guy who loves magic, even to the point I have been called insane more than once by friends.