[Article] April-May Type 1 Potpourri

[Dr. Sylvan]

http://www.starcitygames.com/php/news/expandnews.php?Article=7561

[wuaffiliate]

1 Incinerate lol

good read doc

[rvs]

Also, Pyroblast was weird to count, but I eventually called it a "sometimes," because if its controller chose the "destroy target permanent if it is Blue" mode, then there would have to be another permanent in play, which won't always be true,

You're wrong. Pyroblast can always be misdirected (there's no mode-choosing like with reb). Just read the difference in wording.

[Dr. Sylvan]

Pyroblast
{R}
Instant
Choose one -- Counter target spell if it's blue; or destroy target permanent if it's blue.

That's not modal? If it's set to target a permanent, there has to be another in play to be Misdirected onto. However slim this chance may be, it is still a "condition" just like it's a condition to have another artifact in play, even if there almost always will be one. Objectivity is lame. :p

OTOH, I am wrong about Animate Dead-type enchantments, as TheFram IMed me about. The black Misd numbers are a little off because of this.

[rvs]

hmmm maybe I should update my oracle wording. I was pretty sure you could always misdirect it regardless.

edit: btw, in any case, chances are 0.01% that you can't.

[Jebus]

Perhaps I can clear this up.

Yes, REB and Pyroblast (and their Blue counterparts) are all modal; thus the "Choose one" phrase.

However, Pyro/Hydroblast are much easier to Misdirect than than REB/BEB.

REB and BEB require the target spell/permanent (depending on mode) to be red or blue.

Pyro/Hydro do not require the permanent/spell to be that particular color, it just won't do anything when it resolves unless it is the right color.

However, depending on the mode it was played with, it still can only target either a spell or permanent.

Also, just start convincing people that Willbender is good and get them to run it.  Then your MisD numbers for black won't be so off.

[dandan]

I nearly had a heart attack when I saw Portal in the list until I scrolled to the bottom of the article and found Sleight of Hand. You are such a tease!!

I love these articles - they show that someone somewhere runs even jankier cards than me!!

[PucktheCat]

Um . . . Animate Dead isn't misdirectable . . . is it?

Leo

Edit: I see you already mentioned this above, thanks Jebus.

[Jebus]

Um . . . Animate Dead isn't misdirectable . . . is it?

Leo

He already corrected himself above.

But, no it is not.  The only thing that could change the target of animate dead is Willbender.

[Toad]

FYI Phil, the latest Oracle wording can be found at the following URL :

http://www.wizards.com/dci/oracle/ORALL06-01-04.txt

CrystalKeep is not reliable anymore since D'Angelo is not maintaining the website anymore.

[DavidHernandez]

Phil,

I was looking at the MisD stats that you posted.

The key colors involved regarding Misdirection are Blue, White, and Black. Since there are the colors used in the best decks (4cControl, Hulk, Slaver (both types), GAT, 7/10, GayR) I thought it might be interesting to see how many key cards in those decks would be good targets.

4cControl: 12/60 = 20%

Hulk: 11/60 = 18.33%

Workshop (Meandeck) Slaver: 5/60 = 8.33%

Control Slaver: 9/60 = 15%

GAT: 14/60 = 23.33%

7/10 Split: 5/60 = 8.33%

GayR: 14/60 = 23.33%

This means that every opening hand has a decent potential of 1 or 2 MisD targets in it, NOT including sideboards.

Those targets include:

Force of Will
Mana Drain
Deep Analysis
Ancestral Recall
Misdirection
Curiosity
Stifle

Mind Twist

Swords to Plowshares

Other important randomness includes:

Disenchant
Dismantling Blow
REB
BEB
Shattering Pulse
Lightning Bolt
Hymn to Tourach
Diabolic Edict

Of course, this isn't anything new. I'm just offering the perspective that with the decks we see in play, an excellent Misdirection target is probably available all the time.  What makes this important is that the potential targets are (in many cases) game-breaking plays.

dave

[Toad]

I really don't consider Mana Drain or Force of Will as being excellent Misdirection targets. Braingeyser and Stroke of Genius were. If you are using Misdirection for the previous cards, you are basically using Misdirection as a weaker Force of Will. Misdirection sucks when your opponent is casting a big Skeletal Scrying, the AK for 3, Balance, Thirst for Knowledge, Minsdlaver, Goblin Welder, etc ...

I've done some intensive testing vs GAT with 4CC lately, and most of the time my opponent had Misdirection in hand, he would rather have Counterspell or Daze.