As a ftp player I expect to get “owned” lol in the Tournament. Still I thought I’d share the practice drill. I have 4 decks that in theory should give some small chance, but which one to play. It’s a pity as ftp as I don’t think there is a decent BO3 mode that has decent cost. The plan is to play each of the 4 decks in a 10 game gauntlet. I have saved gold for 4 constructed entries plus whatever I may earn as rewards.

Normally as a ftp player I will use a preconstructed (basically the 10 starter decks) with tweaks to grind the quest, then switch to playing one of the four to grind the wins for 5 win pack. So typically it’s between 2 and 3 packs a session. When I switched to dropping weekend play (a bit of a necessity really in reality) it can mean you get lucky in the week as you have more than one quest and if there is a mutual colour match it makes 3 packs rather than one per play session.

But for tournament I plan to play 10 games per session and record the decks (meta) faced and the win/loss record.

I am also potentially leaving a better available deck in the collection but with not necessarily being a naturally good deck builder that is far tricker. Putting effort into thinking I will come up with a better deck is likely a waste of effort - but still I will at least see what might be there - in particular looking at Selesnya and Boros.

Three colour decks are a whole different ball game but I assume some of the top decks may well be 3 colour - Jeskai maybe? Grixis? Esper?

The Tournament is going to be interesting anyway on 2 fronts - one what decks archetypes will make up the mix of entrants. Secondly what actual makes Top 8 and what goes into win.

With CGB being one of the sponsors and presumably participants as well I always enjoyed his Fight Club analysis of the decks and the matchups.

Curious to see too what preparations the other NGA participants are making in terms of deck choice and wether basing it on tried and tested pro tour meta (looking at you aggro White) or take a different approach based on what they see in particular in the constructed ladder. The real take away there from experience is there is a real diversity of decks being played from the early Arena favourites like merefolk tribal, to mono blue tempo and of course everything in between. I do see a lot of golgari which can be a good choice but the explorer version that I don’t have the cards for in full seems to favour the mirror.

The tournament of course as ever is going to be about the combination of the best deck builders and best players as it should be. It will just be enough to be a part of it. But curious also on the other participants approach to preparation and anything that I should bear in mind.

SD

Take it from Vert and I, the best way to prepare is guerrila masterbation

Gorilla*

You would want to assemble some amount of cards, and then build a budget deck based on what cards you already have.

Good (IMHO) budget options include:

Burn (critical cards: Electrostatic Membrane, Guttersnipe, Shock, Lightning Bolt. Obvious Monored route sadly requires a lot of rares (Chainwhirler, Steam-Kin, etc) to be good. For Izzet version, Enigma/Crackling drakes and Jump-Start draw spells. For Rakdos version, Sovergin's Bite and Vampire Sovergin.)

Tempo (critical cards: Curious Obsession, Siren Stormtamer, Dive Down, Spell Pierce. Monoblue version relies on tons of small evasive creatures and cheap specialized counterspells and protection spells, with Tempset Jhinn as an OP bomb. You can try Izzet for Auras version with Valduk and Champion of the Flame, or Azorius for just one or two Settle the Wreckage and an efficent ground onslaught.)

Weenie (critical cards: Healer's Hawk, Adanto Vanguard, Militia Bugler. Sure, monowhite has tons of OP rares and mythics to choose from, but Boros has Heroic Reinforcements, Trumpet Blasts, and Goblin Instigators. Meanwhile, Orzhov can play amazing Knights of Malice and Knights of Grace, and has a ton of 1-drops that attack for 2.)

Control (critical cards: Dead Weight, Cast Down, Golden Demise, Price of Fame. For Dimir version, counterspells aside, run enough Surveil, and the only grinding tool you'll ever want is Disinformation Campaign. For Orzhov, you need rare boardwipes and good black card draw, but, at uncommon, you get excellent universal removal and lifegain.

Excellent input useless. Thanks. A lot to think about. It’s one of the key issues but required skills to recognise in a varied collection with a variety of good mythic, rares and uncommons where the sweet spot is for a decent competitive deck. Cheers. SD

Gorilla masterbation!?
that sounds like a gorilla yanking your dick out...
Thats the secret to win a tourney?

No one said winning tournaments was easy.

Look, you either prepare or you don’t

Team NGA

I would also advise you, SquiderDragon, not to listen to anything divinevert and Black Barney have to say.


(just kidding)

you have no balls?

well I've never been happier to not be on Team NGA

I haven't won any tourney so I´m still whole and I´m scratching them at this very moment.
PS: those guys dont have dicks too

Anyway.. enough with the dick talk anyone wants to get some practice games?

I can play a couple games, and then either drop the tournament or send an email to the organizer with 75 cards change.

Oh man I just played 3 full games against Vert and I gotta do some work now

An object lesson I take it lol. SD