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VarienTanafres
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« on: September 29, 2004, 01:23:20 pm » |
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Ok, so I've been working with EBA for about 8 months now. I've gone to only 2 major tournaments, and many smaller tournaments. Smaller tournaments it fairs well, but in the larger realm, it likes to show how weak it really is. I'm trying ot break it down, possibly break EBA in 4cC, which just so happens to be rising in popularity. At one point in time, people said this deck has potential. I tried searching for that, and failed. Maybe I'm not playing cards right, maybe I'm missing key cards. *shrugs* Up for suggestions, whether to stick with it or dump it and move on.
This is what I played at Endicott with. Creatures: 2x Exalted Angel 2x Grim Lavamancer (never saw this guy during play) 3x Meddling Mage 3x Ophidian Draw: 1x Ancestral Recall 1x Skeleton Scrying 3x Brainstorm 1x Demonic Tutor 1x Vampiric Tutor 1x Mystical Tutor Control: 4x Force of Will 2x Mana Drain 1x Vindicate 1x Fire/Ice 1x Swords to Plowshares 3x Duress 1x Mind Twist Other: 1x Decree of Justice 1x Future Sight 1x Time Walk 1x Yawgmoth's Will 2x Cunning Wish Land: 1x Sol Ring 1x Mox Sapphire 1x Mox Pearl 1x Black Lotus 4x Flooded Strand 5x Strips 3x Tundra 3x Underground Sea 2x Volcanic Island 1x Island 1x Library of Alexandria S/B: 2x Phyrexian Negator 1x Moat 1x Damping Matrix 1x Null Rod 1x Rack and Ruin 1x Swords to Plowshares 1x Blue Elemental Blast 1x Disenchant 1x Fact of Fiction 1x Stifle 1x Ebony Charm 1x Gush 1x Tsabo's Web 1x Open Slot (i forget what I was using at the time)
I was told that the deck looked nice, but too bad it didn't play nice.
Meddling Mage: These guys didn't help me out too much. They delayed Worldgorger for like 7 turns, in which in that time, I drew crap for cards. like 5 land of the 7 draws. But then later in the tournament, it shut down a Belcher and Long Death. I'm thinking this card should be more for the sideboard nowadays.
Grim Lavamancer: I originally put him in to deal with Welders, but I never drew him once while playing. A second reason for him being in was if I had Moat out, he'd still be useful...guess not. So I'm not sure how well he works in EBA.
Decree of Justice: Always handy, never dead card. How can you say no? Able to be used with Drained mana. This card helped whenever I ripped it off the top. Early use let me use my Drains confindently and late in the game I had enough mana to use it wisely.
Skeleton Scrying: Lots of people don't like this card. I happen to like because it's a good control draw card. Can't be misdirected, and you control on how much you draw. Loss of life and removal card from graveyard is little matter if you need to draw a needed answer. Will try other's suggestions and take it out.
Vindicate: great removal card for cheap. Wanted more in the deck, but didnt' get them in time. Vindicate helped me out more then the Swords to Plowshares did.
Fire/Ice: If your gonna play with R/U, you should play with card. It was helpful, but not that helpful to make this deck tech.
Mind Twist: Ok, this card is a gamble. Specially when against blue. This card was either great for me, or a dead card. I think it's wreck two of my opponents (total of 2 games) Is it still worth keeping?
Future Sight: Ok, I admit, I screwed up. I really like this card tho. It's hard to cast, but was worth it when I played. I was only able to play this card once and it didn't help me that much. I should drop this card, even though I'd like to keep it.
Yawgmoth's Will: I originally did not have this card in my deck period. After the Enidcott tournament, i'm glad that changed my mind. It is the most broken card in the game afterall. (or at least in my opinion)
Pyrexian Negator: Control vs Control, this guy is one of the best to have on the board. Other then another control deck, I don't use this guy much.
Tsabo's Web: Yes, Tsabo's Web. It only helped me once, but it still helped. I didn't pull it enough times to have efficent use on later used decks. Not sure how to feel about it still, should give it more playtest before I drop.
Null Rod: Should be in every deck, but should I use Damping Matrix here instead? It'll shut decks down, but will it hurt me just as much them? I see Damping Matrix almost as good, and pretty much doesn't effect me or my cards at all.
Cards that use to be in the deck. Sword of Fire and Ice: Abuse. That's all I can say with this card on an Exalted Angel. It hurts, lets you draw, deal extra damage and protect your creature. But can room be made for this card? I ended up dropping 1 of 2, then ended up dropping altogether. It's another Future Sight in my eyes.
Moat Maindeck: Good ol Moat. Very handy, but not always needed. I sideboarded this card, the only reason for that is because my angels are still dangerous.
The Abyss: Moat and The Abyss is great way to keep creature control. I did sideboard this card because it wasn't always needed. I ended up dropping it because The Abyss just isn't good enough to have in this deck. I can get some other handy instant card to Wish for in it's place.
I also think the land base is weak, I should be running like 24 lands instead of 20. should I add basics? or more duals? ah, the questions. I placed around 42nd at the tournament, nothing noteable. After the second appearance at larger scaled tournament, I decided that EBA just isn't enough. I'd post against some decks, but I vaguely remember the weekend. I can't really name all the cards I had and played, but if requested, I can recall mostly what happened on every round.
Great tournament Bryce and everyone else who was involved!!!
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