[Single card discusion] Arcane Lab

[megamanx]

I know what most of you are thinking
"Any one playing arcane lab is insane"
Well i have just used  it in a local type 1 tourny, and it RULES.
I played it in fish and lets just say DIE COMBO DIE,
It totaly anialated draw7.dec,
what are your thoughts on it, i think it makes a great sideboard card,
and what are your stratagies and decks that you would use them in

This post lacks content, moved. -- Leviat

[RoadTrippin]

I've got quite a few issues with this card.
1. Null Rod, Counters, and NBLH (NonBasic Land Hate) should get you as confident as you're going to get concering the matchup.
2. Arcane Lab costs 3. How easily can you get a 3CC enchantment out fast enough for it to save you against long? Seems to me that Black Lotus is the only card that lets you drop it turn 1, and as far as I know, a lot of fish decks don't even run Lotus.
3. Draw7.dec isn't even something you can expect to play against regularly, and the Laboratory does minimal damage to Dragon- it's obviously flat out worse than crypt in the matchup.
4. Finally, Arcane Lab is even worse in the only matchup where it's playable (Tendrils/Draw7) than other forms of hate that you run maindeck.

I'm glad you're testing new ideas as innovation is key in this format, I just don't think this is one of the more promising ones.

[AngryPheldagrif]

The main problem with it is that it is vulnerable to:
Naturalize
Duress
Disenchant
Mana Drain
Force of Will
Pernicious Deed
Nev's Disk
etc.

Not only that, but it doesn't stop the abilities of:
Illusionary Mask
Goblin Welder
Worldgorger Dragon

Its's essentially worthless against most control, and a lot of combo will simply win first. The only decks that I can see this as viable against pack sideboard hate for it or will have already dropped much of their hand before it hits the board. Virtually every major archetype either maindecks or boards something against it, and it's quite a double-edged sword to the point in which some decks will just let it resolve and then beat your face in. A decklist would be extremely appreciated. I suppose when played efficiently in an optimized build of various decks it could be powerful, but I can't see it helping all that much in general, and I'd think the only real deck it would have much potential in would be something like ManStill that avoids the drawback. Just my {2}cents.

-Dan

PS: While I still think its unnecessary, we all play in different metagames. If its working for you then more power to you. Rogue ideas morally own netdecking.

[Harry Lime]

I've used the white version of this card, Rule of Law, in my SB for Parfait before, where I think it's more at home than any other deck. In blue-based control decks, you have better options to deal with combo, and will often want to play more than one spell a turn yourself, so it isn't always a great play.

[Meddling Mike]

I have seen arcane lab used effectively in a landstill deck once, it's not without potential, but it's really a great bomb vs. combo, but the problem is you could very well be dead by the time it matters, and if you do get it out in time, it's not as though they're incapable of dealing with it.