They're all playable and you know it.


A good example includes Rotted Hulk.

The cheapest and best Hulk we have.

It's the Universal Solvent of Hulks.

Name another hulk in duels that doesn't die to reprisal or grasp of darkness. That's why rotted is the best hulk

It does die to Solvent though...very playable, but not in this meta.

I'm pretty sure we have as many versions of "creature doesn't untap" auras as there are sets in Duels...

Thanks, Fel. I really look forward to these reviews from you each set.

I was just going to let it go as a simple disagreement among casual acquaintances, but after seeing you rate Shielded Aether Thief and Take into Custody with 1's (even tho the former only offers fringe usage in a fringe archetype, and the latter will never beat out better options in the only archetype that might want it) - I have to refile my complaint about Conviction. At least that has a good home in a fringe archetype

Its a feature they can add to the new search engine.

@CGB, To be fair, we don't have a Limited format to take advantage of the constructed garbage.

"Hide cards even the AI is too smart to use?"

There was no write-up on Expertise, Fel. Also, i think the top five picks should be shown in pictures in the article. You only have 2 of them this time around.

Great write up, thanks! I LOVE that demon.

Back in Black.

@Barney
There was a write-up for Expertise and there were 3 pics in the article. Maybe you missed them because you read on your phone? I know the front page formating is not really phone friendly.

With the new additions, do you think mono-black control is viable?

I think it might be. There is certainly good enough removal, the only issue is threats, but I think they should be fine by now. 2 or 3 Seasons ago, I built a pretty decent mono black control out of some form of crats, and it was pretty good already, just not top tier.

I think the more likely new mono deck has to be green though. Green just got a bunch of missing one drops that might just have made it valid - and the 2 drop mana elf could also be a big boost.

On the creature tip, I still think we should be looking UW for aggro control (which basically hasn't changed this time :-/) and either boros, gruul, or mono red for pure aggro (as usual). (well maybe rakdos too actually, I need to look at that deck again, bunch of new vampires this time).

edit: so I am not sure about aggro yet, lol.

Again, define viable, please.

The only reasonable definition of "viable": tournament-competent.

If you want to actually win the tournament, no. There's no actual reward to go monocolor in our pool besides "because I want to". Ask me again when they reprint Gray Merchant of Asphodel and friends.

I actually think mono-Green is already viable with KLD; we have three quality 1-drops (Kessig Prowler, Scythe Leopard, Gnarlwood Dryad; all at Uncommon), "Mythic Uncommons" in the 2-drop slot (Duskwatch Recruiter, Longtusk Cub, Undercity Troll (and also Sylvan Advocate)), and amazing curve-plays for t3-5 (Bristling Hydra, Verdurous Gearhulk, all of the Nissas, Tireless Tracker). Add two amazing combat tricks (Blossoming Defense and Primal Bellow (probably the best payoff for being mono-green IMO)), a good removal spell (Nature's Way) and maybe a vehicle or two; and there you have your Stompy deck.
Also I have had some success with GC Ramp; though I don't know whether you'd consider that mono-green.


Mono-Black is not that far off being playable; in fact I have had some success with mono-Black during BfZ and have built a mono-black deck for fun which is close enough to playable right now. Maybe AER gives that deck the (fatal) push it needs.

I'd settle for Tendrils of Corruption tbh.

That works too. But still, we have so many strong Artifacts in our pool right now that making a decent monocolor deck of any color shouldn't be very hard. It's chances of winning a tournament are incredibly low (therefore not fitting your definition of viable), but you wouldn't be embarrassed by taking the deck to a few games simply based on the power of your cards.