[Free Article] Deck Archeology with Team R&D

[voltron00x]

Team R&D has two of the better deck-builders and format-analyzers I've come across in my time playing Magic. So, today, some of my general thoughts on why you should learn to speak the language of decks, and then some practical application with Rich Shay in Legacy (Dreadstill) and Brad Granberry (Vintage). Hope you enjoy.

http://www.starcitygames.com/magic/legacy/21126_The_Long_and_Winding_Road_Deck_Archeology_with_Team_RD.html

[Amon Amarth]

You are one of the more entertaining and consistent writers. Always a good read.

I really like the Dreadstill list. I like being able to combo out with my control decks and put other decks into a controlling position, which they typically can't perform very well. I <3 Dreadnought. I've always been a fan of the miser Daze because your opponent has to respect it. Also 10 2CC cards seems right for CB if you use fetches appropriately.

As for the Goblins matchup, I probably won't worry about it too much. UBW Dreadstill is very well positioned against the rest of the format. There really isn't much more you can really do to improve the deck while maintaining it's inherent strengths. From your article this seems like the conclusion you and Rich came to. I've always felt that I'd just try and play tighter in these situations and try and pull put a win. EPlague after board don't hurt too much either.

[pippo84]

This article was a good read especially because I played Dreadstill for years!
Happy to see the deck work, but I think the list is really spread around: almost everything is played in 3 copies!

I appreciated the beginning of the article especially: good job!

[menace13]

That was a great article. The mini reports of the testing would have been awesome.

[voltron00x]

That was a great article. The mini reports of the testing would have been awesome.

For the Legacy portion, you mean? Rich may have done other testing but mostly our discussions were conceptual. I have done recent testing with R/b and R/g Goblins, not as if the builds have really changed that much outside of the wider use of Chieftain. We did play a few games, and the post-board build with Needles for Vial plus E. Plagues seemed reasonable.

Now, I feel as if I have played a hundred Vintage games against Brad in the last month, and it has really changed my views on Gush and the current Vintage metagame. Those would have been interesting sessions to record, although the important learning was more about understanding the format / metagame more so than understanding any one specific match-up.

[samurai_socks]

Great article.

Some sideboard plans for the Dreadstill deck would be great.

-Cheers-

[menace13]

For the Legacy portion, you mean? Rich may have done other testing but mostly our discussions were conceptual. I have done recent testing with R/b and R/g Goblins, not as if the builds have really changed that much outside of the wider use of Chieftain. We did play a few games, and the post-board build with Needles for Vial plus E. Plagues seemed reasonable.

Now, I feel as if I have played a hundred Vintage games against Brad in the last month, and it has really changed my views on Gush and the current Vintage metagame. Those would have been interesting sessions to record, although the important learning was more about understanding the format / metagame more so than understanding any one specific match-up.


Both formats, It would be something I am sure more readers would be interested in than just myself. Insight on how You, Shay and Granberry approached the match ups, what hands were kept/mulled, what reads were made/told, sideboarding, etc.

[Michael Keller]

You are one of the more entertaining and consistent writers. Always a good read.

Except that the article's title is misspelled. Not very good at proofreading.

[ESG]

Writers don't necessarily do their own titles or headlines. Many times it's the editor who does that. (Not sure which is the case here.)

[voltron00x]

Except that the article's title is misspelled. Not very good at proofreading.

True, a missing "a" in the title definitely ruins the rest of the article.

[Amon Amarth]

Now that I am aware of your egregious error I am much less willing to read any future articles. Oh wait no I just checked it is still an interesting article.

[voltron00x]

Menace - FYI I spoke with Brad, we're going to work on putting some testing sessions together for various decks. Hope to have that up some time later this month, as I need to test for the DC and NJ SCG Opens anyway.