Rogue Decks

[Robert the Swordsman]

Who out there plays a rogue deck?

What is it?

Why do you play this deck or rogue decks in general?

Have you had any success?

I personally don't like to play established archetypes because, for me, the most enjoyable part of the game is coming up with your own thing and doing well with it (or trying to, anyway). If I ever go to a tournament and see something unique, I become instantly intrigued and try to find out as much as I can about it. This will be a neat way to see what exists.

To start the conversation up, I currently play a U/B control deck that has a few rather non-generic card choices, but no crazy combos or synergy or anything, just decent controlling-ness.

I won't post a list because I'd prefer that this thread not become devoted to any particular deck. If you'd like to, you can post a decklist, but I'd personally prefer if any tips / pointers / insults be confined to the land of wind and PMs.

(Just in case, though, you can PM me if you'd like a list of what I'm playing. )

I've had a decent amount of success with it, much more so than I have in the past with other creations. This is the first time I've tried anything with a normal blue-control base, and I gotta' say it's working rather efficiently (I used to be one of those anti-blue crusaders in my very early days, but I got over that ages ago).

Disclaimer: I do not want this to turn in to a thread about why "netdecks" or "netdeckers" are terrible (I despise that term, by the way, for it is most commonly used by those who complain about them). I totally have NO problem with established archetypes nor the people who play them, and I view building a rogue deck as trying to navigate through a maze of different decks that already exist; it is clear that you will run in to walls some time or another, but every once in a while you'll be able to get through safely.

Remember, friends: just because you're playing a rogue deck doesn't mean you have an excuse for every time you lose.

Thank you very much.

[serialjester]

Here's the last deck I played. I played this at SCG Chicago to a 5-3 record.

4 Workshop
4 Ancient Tomb
4 Wasteland
3 Rishadan Port
1 Strip Mine
1 Academy
9 SoLoMoxCryptVault

4 Mycosynth Golem
4 Arcbound Crusher
4 Frogmite
4 Enforcer
1 Duplicant
1 Karn

3 Genesis Chamber
3 Chalice
3 Plating
4 SkullClamp
1 Jar
2 Cursed Totem

It's something I've played for about six months, in various different builds. I've taken it apart now, because I'm burned out on Workshop decks.

Why I play rogue decks is simple. I have every card that is worth a damn in this game. Thus I do not have to fight it out all crazy to win prize just so My cardpool expands. Most people are competing to get the cardpool I have. The luxury this provides is that I can build any deck I want, so why build a deck everyone else is playing? I like to play something that is instantly distinguishable as a deck I put together.

I aim to not only play rogue, but play competitive rogue, to play something that can beat top decks. My losses at SCG Chicago were to JACO with his UGb Oath, due to his timely FoW's on Duplicant, I lost to Tog because of multiple Rack and Ruins, and I lost to Gro due to 3 Hurkyll's Recall in 3 consecutive turns. So the deck did good, it just had some bad times which can happen. I beat Oath, SuiBlack(who cares), U/W Fish, Stax and 2 Land Belcher, so with the exception of Suicide I faced competitive decks all day.

I think netdecking is good to a certain extent. You learn how to play the game if you're playing the best decks around. However at the same time I think that the established archetypes are the 'schools' of T1, where you learn what's going on. Once you build up your cardpool and have a wide selection of cards that fall into the competitive/tech/experimental categories, and once you establish a working and theoretical understanding of the game, the decision to continue to netdeck inhibits your abilities as a deckbuilder and a player. When you don't have to sit down and really twist yourself up in order to get a deck how you want it, when you can copy a list and make a few changes to suit your metagame, when the deck you're playing isn't something that has come to be no different than you are, something is wrong with the whole thing. People don't focus on building decks anymore, they focus on playing them.

There are too few deckbuilders and visionaries in this game. Nobody takes risks, they want a deck which has been tested and ran by hundreds if not thousands of people. There is a certain advantage in that, the more people contribute to a deck the more ideas are going to circulate, the faster it will become streamlined and reach its' peak. But at that point most of the work is done for them, which is a well established goal of sorts in this day and age. Few people are willing to risk their entrance fee on their own ideas, and that's a shame.

Of course, this is hinged on the fact that someone has an idea of their own. Most don't and don't know where to get one. It's the way of the world. I enjoy what I play. I want to win with it, definitely. When I lose I don't give up on it and jump on someones' bandwagon, I figure out what I can do within the scope of what I'm playing. When I win it's great, when I lose it's fine, because win or lose I'm doing it on My terms.

I think the best approach to this format is get your power, get the stuff you need to compete, play whatever you need to in order to learn, get a grasp on the game, and at some point start working on your own ideas, based on what you know and what you can/will play. There's no point in not trying to make something work, alot of cards are broken as hell but are taboo or neglected because of their colour/type/etc. The defined netdeck metagame is a boon to anyone who can examine it and build a deck on their own that can compete within it. Taking advantage of that is the priority of the rogue player.

[rvs]

Last weekend I played an Oath deck that oathed up Salvagers instead of some fatty, and killed with Pyrite Spellbomb. That's as Rogue as I probably get.

[Kasuras]

Because I don't have the money to just play any deck in the format; I'll have to choose from either the established budget decks such as fish, FCG or landstill. Or: make a rogue deck such as Enchantress.

The lack of proxy events in my area also contribute to the fact that I'll have to find a way to overpower the other players, taken that I don't like fish or FCG, and don't own drains: its just a necessary evil for me.

I've played netdecks for a long time though, even if it had power. I just proxied it up, but eventually: there came a time when I realized I could never play that deck without the proxies in the near future, so why not choose a deck that I can get?

In short summary: I'm afraid I must to play rogue in order of being competitive.

[Royal Ass.]

When I got back into Vintage a couple years ago I started playing a Rogue deck.  And I mean a real Rogue deck, not an established deck with some card changes.  I did this mostly out of ignorance.  I then started pimping it out.  It has some success, but it will always be inherantly flawed.  I've tried to make is the best it can be while keeping the same kill condition and colors.  
 
I have now moved away from the Rogue deck after learning more about the game and deck building.  I've moved to the dark side and play control slaver.  However, every now and then I bust out the pimped out rogue goodness and people always get a kick out of it.  

I have tons of respect for people that play their own creation.  I started first playing Magic before the internet really kicked off, so I still cling to the mentality that it is a cop-out to copy a deck.  However, it is stupid to deny the fact that the main net decks really are some of the best deck out there because of all the contrabution they have recieved.

I think if every player just tried playing a Rogue deck every now and then they would find that it is really fun.  You can always go back to playing your established deck.  But at a small tournament there is no reason not to spice it up with a Rogue deck once and a while.  Getting respect for winning with a net deck is one thing, but getting props for playing with a cool unique deck you built that noone else thought of, even if you scub out, can be just as good.  Especialy if it involves attacking with a double Berserked Ball Lighting for 24 damage that you Unearthed out of your graveyard into play.

[jpmeyer]

The Internet can turn today's rogue deck into tommorow's mainstream deck.

[Moxlotus]

I played mono red Stacker to 7th place at SCG Chicago.  Not exactly a new rogue deck, but one that's been out of flavor for like 3 years.

[LotusHead]

Go Rogue!

I play a U/W Auriok Salvagers Combo/Control deck with Trinket Mage backup.  I love this deck! After 3 months, I finally have my manabase stabilized. What a joy! Thanks to all the TMDrs who contributed/flamed/read the old Salvagers threads. My Rogue deck rules!

[TheWhiteDragon]

I played a rogue deck called TMS.  It won prize in both richmond SCGs that it attended.  Rogue can be very good.  I got the first place prize on the suprise factor and strength of the deck.  I got 8th the second time because the deck was just good even after everyone knew the decklist.  I hate netdecking as well, but I do it in building a gauntlet for playtesting.  If you can judge the metagame and have good deckbuilding/playing skills, a rogue deck can clean house at a tourney.