[NCD] Qasali Pridemage

[quicksilver]

http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=88165&d=1239941404

He is very effecient. You can compare him to viridian zealot and see just how much better he is. Only major downfall is that he will often want to detroy counterbalance, and counterbalance is pretty good at stopping two drops.

I think this will see some legacy play.

[Tacosnape]

Dear Wizards,

Thank you for helping me to remain a valid deck archetype.

Sincerely,

Survival of the Fittest.



Yeah, this guy is beautiful. Seriously. It's like Watchwolf and Naturalize/Disenchant had hot babymaking sex.

This and Lord of Extinction make me tingle.

[Volt]

http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=88165&d=1239941404

He is very effecient. You can compare him to viridian zealot and see just how much better he is. Only major downfall is that he will often want to detroy counterbalance, and counterbalance is pretty good at stopping two drops.

I think this will see some legacy play.

I agree. It's a nice creature with a Seal of Cleansing built in for :1:. Also helps you win goyf wars.

[dirtyapes]

I think he is going to be a great SB card. He is a good beater with a seal of cleansing built in. I would be surprised if he did not see play in Legacy.

[Zach Tartell]

This and Lord of Destruction make me tingle.

I don't know what Lord of Destruction is.

[mujadaddy]

I don't know what Lord of Destruction is.Some type of Taco Vibrator...?

[Tacosnape]

I don't know what Lord of Destruction is.

Lord of Extinction. Sorry. The guy that is currently :3::b::g: and has Lord of Extinction's power and toughness are each equal to the number of cards in all graveyards.

[Mordel]

Dear Tacosnape,


I enjoy your new format for replying. Thanks for the mamories and lulz.


Sincerely,
Yello



Pridemages seem quite awesome. I am almost positive that they're going to make me try a lot more seriously to make a GW hate deck.

[BreathWeapon]

Any one else tempted to just MD this as a 4x in place of Nimble Mongoose? It does everything you want; wins Tarmogoyf mirrors, keeps Counterbalances off the board, destroys randomness and provides a reasonable clock. It's such a versatile clock and removal, just SBing it over Krosan Grip seems like a waste considering we're already MDing Tyrgon Predators.

[JeroenC]

It doesn't answer turn 1 Lackey and it doesn't have Shroud. It's a completely different creature from Mongoose, I really can't see the change being any good.

[morgan_coke]

mongoose quit answering t1 lackey when warren weirding got printed.

If you're in gw thresh, then yeah, I don't know why you wouldn't replace all your mongeese/trygons with these.

[etrigan]

Trygons, OK. Mongeese, NO.

[BreathWeapon]

Trygons, OK. Mongeese, NO.

Who's still running Geese? Pridemage is 2/2 + 1/1 with out Threshold, and if they STP Pridemage, that's just 1 less STP for Tarmogoyf. Pridemage does a ton of shit in the aggro-control mirror, Geese are just dead weight.

[Aggro_zombies]

Trygons, OK. Mongeese, NO.
Mongeese have been bad since Threshold stopped actually caring about getting threshold. Without stuff like Mental Note to power it up quickly, it stays as a 1/1 for one until turn four or five, and by then it's all Tarmogoyf fights, all the time.

Near-universal adoption of EE in control decks makes Goose pretty shitty as well.

[Volt]

Nah. Nimble Mongoose is still worthy. You can't run 8 Tarmogoyfs.

[Aggro_zombies]

You can't run 8 Tarmogoyfs.
Famous last words.

[morgan_coke]

Just noticed AZ's avatar. Dude, that is so wrong, on so many levels. And yet, so right, on so many, many others.

[etrigan]

I cannot count the number of times Mongeese have gone the distance against Landstill and other control decks. Shroud is hot, and it continues to be hot.

That Pridemage eats STPs destined for Tarmogoyf is a terrible argument. It relies on a) you have a Tarmogoyf, and b) that Tarmogoyf resolving. That Geese die to EE is irrelevant because Pridemage also dies to EE just as easily.

[Sigar]

Who's still running Geese? Pridemage is 2/2 + 1/1 with out Threshold, and if they STP Pridemage, that's just 1 less STP for Tarmogoyf. Pridemage does a ton of shit in the aggro-control mirror, Geese are just dead weight.

lol, so suddenly shroud is a bad thing?

Pridemage is fucking awesome, but comparing it to mongoose doesnt make much sense.

[BreathWeapon]

lol, so suddenly shroud is a bad thing?

Pridemage is fucking awesome, but comparing it to mongoose doesnt make much sense.

It does when Goose and Pridemage are fighting for the same slot, IMO, Pridemage is way, way better against Landstill than Goose is, because Pridemage doesn't require Threshold to be 3/3 and its Seal of Cleansing forces Landstill to remove it if they want to play Pernicious Deed, Counterbalance, Standstill or Dreadnought.

It's an incredibly good card vs control, all of their bombs are enchantments.

Here's a rough example,

4 Force of Will
4 Daze
4 Counterbalance
4 Spellsnare
4 Brainstorm
4 Sensei's Divining Top
4 Ponder
2 Jenara, Asura of War
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Qasali Pridemage
4 Swords to Plowshares
4 Flooded Strand
4 Windswept Heath
3 Tundra
3 Tropical Island
1 Island
1 Plains
1 Forest
1 Academy Ruins

Winning the Tarmogoyf war and the Counterbalance war with 1 card is just insane, barring a card advantage engine or a tutor like Dark Confidant or Trinket Mage, you've got everything you could ask for IMO.

[Sigar]

Yes, exalted makes you win goyf wars if the board looks like, you: goyf, pridemage, him: goyf.

It doesnt make sense to take 1 example to make pridemage look better than mongoose. So lets look at some more examples.

2x Mongoose kills attacking goyf, 2x pridemage doesnt. Mongoose doesnt die to red decks and spot removal, pridemage does. Mongoose costs 1 mana of a single color, pridemage doesnt. Pridemage kills enchantments and artifacts, mongoose doesnt. Mongoose requires threshold, but if your deck is NOT called threshold, you dont run mongoose.

Mongoose will always be a better beater/blocker than pridemage, and obviously pridemage the better utility creature.

[BreathWeapon]

Yes, exalted makes you win goyf wars if the board looks like, you: goyf, pridemage, him: goyf.

It doesnt make sense to take 1 example to make pridemage look better than mongoose. So lets look at some more examples.

2x Mongoose kills attacking goyf, 2x pridemage doesnt. Mongoose doesnt die to red decks and spot removal, pridemage does. Mongoose costs 1 mana of a single color, pridemage doesnt. Pridemage kills enchantments and artifacts, mongoose doesnt. Mongoose requires threshold, but if your deck is NOT called threshold, you dont run mongoose.

Mongoose will always be a better beater/blocker than pridemage, and obviously pridemage the better utility creature.

Granted, but aggro-control decks have shifted away from secondary threats and towards utility creatures regardless, Pridemage is just one of the best utility creatures available and a reasonable secondary threat at that.

If you're married to Goose, the argument is moot; Pridemage is just a damn fine MD choice any way you cut it.

[eq.firemind]

Some RWG Zoo lists run Wachwolf. Other lists run Whooly Thoctar. Third run both. Now they all will run Qasali Pridemage. Imagine, 4/4 Wild Nacatl or 3/4 Kird Ape + pain in ass on Turn 2.

And I think Bant Survival, BGW Rock and maybe Loam and Thresh with white will find some place for Pridemage.

IMHO the best thing about him is that then he resolves, he forces opponent to deal with him before playing Moat/Shackles/Deed/Crucible/early EE. As a bonus, he exchanges with Mishra's Factory.

[Black Mass]

I think ANY GW deck will profit from the printing of this little guy. Only downside to him is that he has cc2.

He's better in so many ways than harmonic sliver, viridian zealot, ...

[Atwa]

I'm going to test this thing in my Elf Survival deck. Zealot, although an Elf, does a very bad job at it's prime reason to be played (getting rid of Plague), and I hate the fact that with Harmonic Sliver you need to hold back the card until a Plague hit's play.

I know it's the same with Grip, but when a Plague get's rid of your mana elves, I'd rather spend 2 turns with Pridemage over waiting until my 3th landdrop makes playing Sliver possible.

It still need some testing, but at the moment I'm feeling Pridemage is better than both Zealot and Sliver.

[memnarch]

I don't think he is better then trygon predator in the threshold build. predator is at 3cc which is better against counterbalance, he eats hypno spectors. Not having to sac, the evasion and it pitches to force. MD enchantment hate is a great thing to have mainly because of balance though. So i would rather my spell be at 3CC.

[Pulp_Fiction]

Everyone keeps talking about Thresh but Zoo is really where this guy will shine. Killing Shackles and Chalice is just nasty, winning Goyf wars is a plus, a disenchant that attacks for 3 .... YES, swinging on turn 2 with a 4/4 Nacatl OH YES! That thing is just incredible! And even though I only play interesting decks, I would think Predator would be better in Thresh.

[from Cairo]

Yea he's definitely a bomb for Zoo, and at least another potential option for Thresh, Rock and Survival.

[michaelq]

I'm completely sold on this guy. He locks up many decks that are artifact/enchantment dependent, and can hold the board for his own. He has singlehandedly won me games against enchantress and painter grindstone in my testing on MWS.

Definitely a 2-of in any control build with green and white in it, imho. He's gotta be one of the best maindeckable utility beats around.

[lordofthepit]

For those of your that are running this in UGw treshhold, are you having trouble consistently dropping this guy early? Really useful when he hits, obviously, but to drop him turn two, you'd have to fetch a combination of two blue based non-basics or a basic Forest/Plains, which is hardly ideal.

[BreathWeapon]

For those of your that are running this in UGw treshhold, are you having trouble consistently dropping this guy early? Really useful when he hits, obviously, but to drop him turn two, you'd have to fetch a combination of two blue based non-basics or a basic Forest/Plains, which is hardly ideal.

It's problematic vs Tempo-Thresh and Goblins, but in those match ups, you don't have to drop Pridemage early. It's also really annoying vs Dreadstill, but considering how much he bends that deck over, it's totally worth grabbing off-color basics.

Basically, his CC is only a problem vs Goblins when you need a chump blocker and they're sitting on Waste/Port etc.

[lordofthepit]

It's problematic vs Tempo-Thresh and Goblins, but in those match ups, you don't have to drop Pridemage early. It's also really annoying vs Dreadstill, but considering how much he bends that deck over, it's totally worth grabbing off-color basics.

Basically, his CC is only a problem vs Goblins when you need a chump blocker and they're sitting on Waste/Port etc.

I think it's less of an issue when you know what your opponent is playing. It does become an issue in Game 1 when you're not sure how to balance two somewhat mutually exclusive goals--whether to drop the Pridemage early to take care of problematic enchantments/artifacts, or whether to fetch basics early to protect your mana base against non-basic hate.

I'm not debating whether the card should be included in most decks that can support it, just inquiring about how people have been playing it.

[Ch@os]

Everyone keeps talking about Thresh but Zoo is really where this guy will shine.

But who plays Zoo again?

[umbowta]

But who plays Zoo again?The answer to this question is as obvious as the reason you asked it. If you want to pidgeon hole yourself into playing only DTB's like the rest of the lemmings, go ahead.

[sauce]

confirmed to be amazing in the rock.

[spirit of the wretch]

For those of your that are running this in UGw treshhold, are you having trouble consistently dropping this guy early? Really useful when he hits, obviously, but to drop him turn two, you'd have to fetch a combination of two blue based non-basics or a basic Forest/Plains, which is hardly ideal.

That guy is amazing in Thresh! Just simply better than any other option you have.

[DragoFireheart]

confirmed to be amazing in the rock.

I'm gonna try and use 4-ofs of Pridemage and see how they work out.

[Misplayer]

spirit_of_the_wretch: in a more CB infested meta, isn't Trygon Predator better if only for it's increased likelihood to resolve through an opposing CB/Top, or am I missing something?

[Jaynel]

Pridemage comes down the same turn as Counterbalance, so if you're on the play you land Pridemage before they get Counterbalance down. If you're on the draw, they will have tapped out for CB, and unless they've preemptively stacked a 2cc on top, then Pridemage only needs to resolve through Force and Daze. I guess this strategy requires running 4 Pridemage though (which isn't necessarily a bad thing).

[DragoFireheart]

Pridemage comes down the same turn as Counterbalance, so if you're on the play you land Pridemage before they get Counterbalance down. If you're on the draw, they will have tapped out for CB, and unless they've preemptively stacked a 2cc on top, then Pridemage only needs to resolve through Force and Daze. I guess this strategy requires running 4 Pridemage though (which isn't necessarily a bad thing).


The thing is, you can't go wrong with a lot of pridemages.

Due to exalted, you have make attacking creatures into monsters of size. They also break Tarmogoyf stalls.

[keys]

But who plays Zoo again?

Creature focused "Zoo" may still be tier 3, but Rgw GoyfSligh made top 8 at GP Chicago, and shouldn't be counted out. The deck has been moving toward the g/w splash ever since Nacatl was printed, and Pridemage will undoubtedly be a very strong sideboard, if not main deck, utility creature along side Shusher.

[spirit of the wretch]

spirit_of_the_wretch: in a more CB infested meta, isn't Trygon Predator better if only for it's increased likelihood to resolve through an opposing CB/Top, or am I missing something?

In a CB infested meta he is cleary inferior, because you should be playng Ichorid... Even then: You can cast this guy on turn two, while no halfway decent Grow player will tap out for a CB on turn two (and run it into Daze), so it usually lands before the CB. Granted, if everybody and his mother were playing CB, Predator is better, but as I said, in that case I would strongly consider playing something like Dragon Stompy or Ichorid instead of another CB.dec.
In a "normal" legacy meta (as if something like that existed) he is just an all star. Really good if you need to push fast (an ability that white Grow lacks severely), nice utility against Vial/Ensnaring Bridge/Jitte etc that you ideally want to kill fast and he ends Goyf stalls.
I'm sure you all know that, I just list it to emphasise: this guy does A LOT. For very little mana. And he does it immediately. And he doesn't need to survive until your next attack step to do it.

[keys]

Don't kid, Pridemage is gonna be main decked in Zoo.

In Zoo, absolutely. In GoyfSligh, you normally have burn to point to the dome in the face of Moat and other problem enchantments that Shusher doesn't already solve. Pridemage replacing Shusher as the main deck utility creature of choice is a strong prediction, but we'll see if that holds up. Keep in mind that unlike Shusher, playing Pridemage on turn 2 prohibits the use of basic mountains.

[keys]

Why do we care about basic mountains? Wild Nacatl doesn't need basic mountains to get a boost.

http://sales.starcitygames.com//carddisplay.php?product=52959


Wild Nacatl gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Mountain.

Wild Nacatl gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Plains.

I know what the card says... there is still a preference for maintaining a resiliency to nonbasic hate, as well as a stable manabase. I don't know why you're arguing with me since I said Pridemage was a strong card. Read the GoyfSligh thread and it shouldn't be hard to determine my stance.

[Soulles]

After a long while of not playing any tournaments, i played one of 60 people last Sunday.

As a dedicated MUC player, i saw the card for the first time in the tournamnet (yeah, i don't follow Magic news anymore these days)

I was upset when i saw it. I have never seen such a strong common creature being printed. It is really absurd. This dude hits hard, comes down quickly and can function as a disenchant. I mean what the hell?

In the quarter finals, i felt how ridicilious this card is. Makes MUC totally obsolete.

[JeroenC]

It's an awesome card, yes... But how does this card obsolete MUC?

[TheInfamousBearAssassin]

I was upset when i saw it. I have never seen such a strong common creature being printed.

Wild Nacatl, Stinkweed Imp and a little someone I like to call Mr. Krosan Fucking Tusker would like a word with you.

[4eak]

@ JeroenC


It's an awesome card, yes... But how does this card obsolete MUC?

MUC heavily revolves around its artifact/enchantment spells to stabilize, amass card advantage, and answer the opponent. In particular, Vedalken Shackles, B2B and artifact-based board clearing are the usual bread winners; you use permission to get you to a point where you can play and abuse these artifacts/enchantments.

DE effects are extremely powerful against MUC. In fact, I pretty much stopped playing the deck full time when Krosan Grip was printed (a card which was probably the catalyst to Soulles version of MUC).

Now that a tier 1 maindeckable DE effect exists (in addition to the already excellent sb hate found in Grip), MUC seems like a pretty poor choice.

@ Soulles

IBA's list (while I love all those cards) only has one tier 1 creature (SImp) and it belongs in a very specific deck. Qasali, on the other hand, has a home in a ton of aggro-control and sligh decks.

Qasali is definitely one of the best common creatures printed in a long time. Perhaps I can understand why you would be upset--the card strengthens the most successful archetype in Legacy.



peace,
4eak

[Soulles]

Wild Nacatl, Stinkweed Imp and a little someone I like to call Mr. Krosan Fucking Tusker would like a word with you.

Can you get a clue before posting? Thanks

[TheInfamousBearAssassin]

Can you get a clue before posting? Thanks

Hey, check your pants- your ignorance is showing.


Also, you're missing an 's'.

[Mayk0l]

Speaking of common-rarity monsters, Wild Mongrel is still my all time favourite. I wish he were still playable, but I've heard the 1G spot has been filled, too bad.

Also, I'm trying to include Qasali Pridemage into my UGw Thresh build, but I really don't know what to cut. So far, the Exalted is the most persuasive ability on this card to run him (because it makes my Goyf bigger than theirs), seeing as his other ability can be fulfilled by Krosan Grip.

[Jaynel]

Speaking of common-rarity monsters, Wild Mongrel is still my all time favourite. I wish he were still playable, but I've heard the 1G spot has been filled, too bad.

Also, I'm trying to include Qasali Pridemage into my UGw Thresh build, but I really don't know what to cut. So far, the Exalted is the most persuasive ability on this card to run him (because it makes my Goyf bigger than theirs), seeing as his other ability can be fulfilled by Krosan Grip.

The Germans (okay fine, Team SPOD) have done a pretty good job integrating Pridemage into a Thresh-like shell.

[TheInfamousBearAssassin]

In seriousness, I don't know how good a Naturalize is if it gets countered by Counterbalance, however.

It doesn't seem bad in aggro decks like Zoo- I know Ian MacInnes did well with it at the last Virginia DLD- but I don't think it's got the versatility to fit into a whole bunch of aggro control decks.

Also, 4eak;

Nacatl has a better performance record in recent months than Dredge does. Top 8 at Chicago, for instance.

[Apex]

Don't know if anyone saw this, but:
http://www.deckcheck.net/deck.php?id=25942 and
http://www.deckcheck.net/deck.php?id=25936

were two decks that both maindecked 3 and 4 copies of Pridemage respectively. This was from a 474 (!!!) player event, deck 1 came in top 16, and deck 2 came in 4th. Deck 1 was a Survival build, and deck 2 was a UG/w Thresh (with Rhox War Monks too) build.

Seems pretty good so far.

And the metagame was pretty diverse, just looking at the top 16, there are many, many different archetypes represented (well, maybe not many of those "Nassif"/Baseruption type of thresholds, but still, pretty nice spread).

[Guevera59]

It's an awesome card, yes... But how does this card obsolete MUC?

Propaganda, B2B, Shackle: the core of MUC, essential parts of its game plan. This game plan being thwarted by a Seal of Primordium/Cleansing that beats for 2/3 is devastating.

[4eak]

@ TheInfamousBearAssassin


In seriousness, I don't know how good a Naturalize is if it gets countered by Counterbalance, however.

As to CB, I didn't think it would be good either. I assumed Trygon and Grip were simply better because they curved out of CB most of the time. In practice, I found the redundancy and ease of sliding into play on turn 2 outweighed the strengths of a 3cc DE effect. It preemptively answers CB very often, and when the redundancy gives you a decent chance to force one through a CB.

I could see instances where Grip would be preferred, but I think Qasali has outright replaced Trygon. Outside of Grip, the best answer to CB may not be a reactive one, especially when an opposing CB nullifies the cantrip engine you use to dig up a 1/2-of answer.

Being able to play 4x DE effects is just fantastic. There are many, many targets besides CB. I think the card curbs one of the previous weaknesses of Thresh in general.


I don't think it's got the versatility to fit into a whole bunch of aggro control decks.

Fits in Survival, Thresh, Zoo, most forms of Bant, a perhaps a few aggressive rock decks. Most of these decks are looking for strong utility creatures to complement Goyf. Qasali is good at this role.


Nacatl has a better performance record in recent months than Dredge does. Top 8 at Chicago, for instance.

Well then, I'm surprised Zoo hasn't been in the DTB forums. It could be the case that Ichorid is played in some locations (Europe perhaps) more than others.

I'm not convinced Nacatl is a tier 1 creature yet, but it may become one.







peace,
4eak

[DragoFireheart]

@ TheInfamousBearAssassin


Well then, I'm surprised Zoo hasn't been in the DTB forums. It could be the case that Ichorid is played in some locations (Europe perhaps) more than others.

I'm not convinced Nacatl is a tier 1 creature yet, but it may become one.




http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=23

Zoo is now a DTB.

[Guevera59]

But who plays Zoo again?




http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/f...splay.php?f=23

Zoo is now a DTB.

[from Cairo]

Yea I really think Qasali Pridemage pushed Zoo over the edge in that respect. It has been a strong deck for a while, but the utility and exalted added by the Pridemage really helps fill a MD hole, w/o sacrificing anything aggressive.

[Soulles]

Hey, check your pants- your ignorance is showing.


Also, you're missing an 's'.


You seem to miss brains. I really wonder why you gave me a list of useless creatures as a counter argument. Care to explain?

Are you saying that a 2/2 for 2 mana with 2 insane abilities, is the same a useless Cat or or a "Krosan fucking tusker", quoting you?

Anyway, keep playing on MWS. That matters most of cource.

[Guevera59]

This useless cat helped push Zoo into DTB status as well as Pridemage. Without Nacatl, Zoo would not be what it is now. You really seem extremely rude and ignorant for someone who can't spell and doesn't do their research. Yes, Pridemage is a great card, but it doesn't blow things like Nacatl and Wild Mongrel out of the water like you say it does.

[from Cairo]

This is getting pretty sidetracked, Pridemage clearly stacks up very well against other commons. There are some that are better, there are a ton that are worse.

At this point it sort of seems like all that there is to be said about the card has been said. It will be a staple in Zoo, where it is clearly amazing (along side Nacatl which isn't useless). It will see play in UGw Thresh, at the moment it doesn't seem auto include, but a few successful lists have been using it. It fills the some decks desire for MD Disenchant effect, others will still go with Krosan Grip or rely on Engineered Explosives.

[Forbiddian]

Does it matter that it's a common?

It's LEGAL. People will get four copies, whether it's a common or rare or that-new-purple-crap.

[Soulles]

This useless cat helped push Zoo into DTB status as well as Pridemage. Without Nacatl, Zoo would not be what it is now. You really seem extremely rude and ignorant for someone who can't spell and doesn't do his research. Yes, Pridemage is a great card, but it doesn't blow things like Nacatl and Wild Mongrel out of the water like you say it does.

Would you like to point out the spelling errors? I would like to improve my English, as much as i would like to improve your grammar. It should be the reason why we come and post here.

I am everything, except rude and arrogant. Most people, who know me, can confirm that. However, when IBA posts crap without any valid argumentation, i get upset. He does it allot.

Anyway, please explain me how this card does not blow out the cards you mentioned. I have never won or top8 a tournament. I always end up 0-2 and go home , because the lack of research for this game.

Teach me man.

EDIT:

Nacatl isn't useless. I want to take that back. However, he is nowhere near the power level of this new card. i just said the word in heat of the moment. Sorry.

[umbowta]

Does it matter that it's a common?

It's LEGAL. People will get four copies, whether it's a common or rare or that-new-purple-crap.Well put, Forbiddian. The only reason it mattered to me was the cost of the playset. It might have cost me $20 to get them if it was printed at rare.

Soulles, I think they're trying to say your handle is spelled incorrectly. "Soulless" maybe? It's pretty clear that IBA's Ad Hominem assaults are effective after all. Also, Nacatl is definitely on the power level of Pridemage. The problem is in comparing apples to oranges. Nacatl is a 3/3 for one mana. The legendary Isamaru, Hound of Konda is now afraid of cats. Pridemage is more of a utility creature that happens to be able to swing for 3 if it's on the attack alone. Lastly, Pridemage did not obselete MUC... just like Hip Hop didn't obselete Disco. You haven't been involved with any cryogenics experiments have you? Nevermind that.

I noticed you admit to not having won nor top8ed an event and I appreciate your honesty. You're in the right place to learn not only how to win in this format but also how to build and optimize your decks. The latter of which is one of IBA's more demonstrated characteristics. Abrasive as his advice may come across you'd do well to listen to the MtG side of it while dismissing the personal attacks as playful...just as you should dismiss my cryogenics remark. This is a game afterall.

[Skeggi]

I noticed you admit to not having won nor top8ed an event and I appreciate your honesty.
Actually, Soulles won a huge tournament in Belgium last year piloting MUC and he top 8's regularly.

[4eak]

@ umbowta


Also, Nacatl is definitely on the power level of Pridemage.

Nacatl belongs in one archetype. Pridemage has a home in many more. The deckbuilding requirements to play/abuse Nacatl can be viewed as a cost (a cost that pigeon-holes you into a single deck), and in this respect, Pridemage's versatility and low requirements justify its use and its makes it to be a much stronger creature in general. This is similar to the Goyf argument, which is that the card is extremely functional regardless of the deck you put it in, and because it has such a high overall playability with low requirements (just splash green), it is very powerful.

It takes a lot more work to make Nacatl a functionally powerful card. You need a very specific tactic (zoo/sligh) for Nacatl to be worth playing, while Pridemage can be played in decks with so many more roles.


I noticed you admit to not having won nor top8ed an event and I appreciate your honesty. You're in the right place to learn not only how to win in this format but also how to build and optimize your decks.

He was being fairly sarcastic. I don't think you've been following the MUC thread very much. I think your above advice applies to you; if Soulles thinks MUC is obsoleted by maindeck Qasali Pridemages, then you should listen.


Lastly, Pridemage did not obselete MUC... just like Hip Hop didn't obselete Disco.

That isn't a very good argument. Go test against Pridemage with MUC (all 3 builds), and you'll see why it is problematic. Grip and now Pridemage pose sizable barriers to MUC's viability because they answer MUC's gameplan (use permission to live long enough to drop an artifact/enchantment and stabilize).





peace,
4eak

[umbowta]

Actually, Soulles won a huge tournament in Belgium last year piloting MUC and he top 8's regularly.Funny. If that's true what is the point of misrepresting ones self? It would be almost rude and arogant to do that.

[Skeggi]

Soulles wins a 58 player tournament in Belgium. (http://www.deckcheck.net/deck.php?id=18288)

50% of the strength of MUC is Back to Basics. Back to Basics is a very good card against decks that will use Qasali Pridemage in the main. I think Soulles refers to that.

[4eak]

@ umbowta


Funny. If that's true what is the point of misrepresting ones self? It would be almost rude and arogant to do that.

Look at the post to which he was replying.

Soulles was within his rights to be frustrated as he's been ad hominem'd to death. A bit of sarcasm doesn't seem out of place. He was accused of being stupid and not researching, as if he had no authority to make claims about the power level of Pridemage and how it interacts with MUC.

When someone says he is wrong about Pridemage+MUC (without any support besides ad hominem) and says he obviously hasn't researched the issue, then I look at them as being the arrogant one. Anyone who had the right to disagree with him (because they are actually knowledge about how MUC operates) is likely to have followed the MUC thread and should know Soulles and his success with his version of MUC, and one would hope the critic would think twice before just brushing off what he had to say and insulting his knowledge of MUC.

Nacatl isn't on par with Pridemage (this is especially true in the MUC match). Soulles is right, Pridemage is a much stronger card.






peace,
4eak

[Goaswerfraiejen]

I've been seeing a lot of Pridemage on MWS these days, and it's been quite problematic for me--I can't just drop a Deed and wait any more, I have to have enough mana to activate it on the same turn. And usually, I can't afford to do that. Qasali Pridemage is exceptionally strong: not so much because of Exalted (which is great), but because of its handy Naturalize ability.

Nacatl is a great card, but it doesn't even register on my spectrum of annoying or troublesome cards. Pridemage, on the other hand, is quite high up there--partly because of its own obvious strengths, and partly because of the sorts of decks that it lends itself to.

It's a great card, and much as I rue its existence, I'm glad it was created and introduced to our format.

[umbowta]

@ umbowta



Nacatl belongs in one archetype. Pridemage has a home in many more.
Good point. I hadn't really thought of it that way.


@ umbowta

He was being fairly sarcastic. I don't think you've been following the MUC thread very much. I think your above advice applies to you; if Soulles thinks MUC is obsoleted by maindeck Qasali Pridemages, then you should listen.

Sarcasm i can appreciate but it wasn't evident at all in this case. As far as following the MUC thread, you're absolutely correct. MUC has been obsolete for a while and it's further dismantling by the presence of Pridemage is a joy to me. Don't even try to blame Pridemage for current inviability of MUC though. That's like a guy with a broken leg trying to blame a tazer for his inability to run.





It's a great card, and much as I rue its existence, I'm glad it was created and introduced to our format.I'd actually argue that the Pridmage has done a great deal to further balance the Legacy format. It has given Aggro the edge over control while control still pwns combo and combo still pwns aggro. All seems well.

[Peter_Rotten]

Beyond the point of return...