Slump?

[monovfox]

Hey guys. I did pretty terribly at some legacy events. I normally do pretty well (I did 1-3 drop bad this time). I feel like I was just out-drawn every time and there was nothing I could do. Either that or I mulled to 4 or 5. I am angry at deathrite shaman, jace, liliana, cheating merfolk and shardless BUG players (didn't realize until today). Am I just in a slump? Should I change decks?

More importantly, how the fuck do I get out of a slump? I don't have any other decks readily available.

[sauce]

take a break as nilla said.

i also recommend you get into other formats, especially limited and draft while you're taking a break.

also, go to the gym and work out if you don't already.

[Plague Sliver]

Paradoxically, the best way to break out of a slump is to think less about Magic.

At least for me, I find when I expect too much out of myself in tournaments I end up doing not as well. Just try to enjoy the ups and downs. Think of the game in the long run instead of individual matches/games/rounds/whatever. (Kind of like the poker player mentality)

Don't get too high when you win, don't get too down when you lose.

Good luck.

(And if you believe in fortune/karma, know that hopefully all your bad luck was used up in that tournament!)

[thecrav]

Paradoxically, the best way to break out of a slump is to think less about Magic.

When I stopped doing so much brewing and reviewing lists and articles and instead starting throwing together whatever I felt like playing, I found myself doing a lot better. I'm on the upswing in terms of thinking about MtG during the day, but thus far my results have stayed level - I've been in the top half of our local tournaments for the last month solid, which I'd only done a few times in the past year.

[L0cke]

When I stopped doing so much brewing and reviewing lists and articles and instead starting throwing together whatever I felt like playing, I found myself doing a lot better.


This. As soon as I stopped playing decks because I thought they were good and just started playing decks chock full of cards I loved to play I started winning consistently at my LGS. The other thing I started doing, although I don't know if this is contributing to recent successes or not, is limiting myself to one, maybe two copies of any given sideboard card. It keeps me from over-sideboarding for match-ups I think will be bad, and gives me better game against the more off the wall things that tend to show up at weekly events.

[Richard Cheese]

Paradoxically, the best way to break out of a slump is to think less about Magic.

At least for me, I find when I expect too much out of myself in tournaments I end up doing not as well. Just try to enjoy the ups and downs. Think of the game in the long run instead of individual matches/games/rounds/whatever. (Kind of like the poker player mentality)

Don't get too high when you win, don't get too down when you lose.

Good luck.

(And if you believe in fortune/karma, know that hopefully all your bad luck was used up in that tournament!)

I'm the opposite. The longer I go without playing, the less I feel the urge to. I try to keep myself interested by keeping up with the source and brewing/testing stuff in Cockatrice on my lunch break (or just all day). Usually if I can get myself excited about a deck, I'll want to go play with it and learn it/tune it.

[.dk]

I'm not a huge fan of taking a break from the game altogether as I would likely lose interest. What I do like is taking a break from something I've been doing for a while. i.e. find a deck that looks fun and play that instead of jamming the same pile of cards that I've been trying to get better with. Usually makes me think more and re-engage in the game itself as it turns out to be more fun than chore. Likewise if you have a small playgroup you'll likely end up picking something totally different than what you've usually been doing and can take your meta by surprise, a lot of times leading to some wins on that alone.

[Kayradis]

I do the same. Swap decks, try something different, come back to Elves.

Story of my life.

[coraz86]

Even try playing other games, too--you'd be surprised how much it helps to have a game like Shadows over Camelot (http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/15062/shadows-over-camelot) or Ad Astra (http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/38343/ad-astra) (or even something quicker and less intense like Tsuro (http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/16992/tsuro) or En Garde (http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/169/en-garde)), the way board games are fun but also sort of give other parts of your brain a workout.

I mean, sports or video games or some other kind of hobby totally work, but board games for me keep the social and physical aspects of Magic while giving me a break from Magic itself. Kind of the way you're supposed to chew gum to quit smoking.

[Kayradis]

Give Ascension a shot.
Im sure it improved my play somehow.

[Kyle]

I switch between similar addictions, and one helps me get away from the other.

Specifically, I recommend CASUAL home game poker. It's a lot more social, there's alcohol typically involved, and though it is possible to go on tilt just like in MtG, it is a great distraction. If I do poorly at poker one home game night, I say to myself "at least I've got Magic."

Surprisingly, I don't ever go on double-tilt and this helps me fulfill my desire for card game competition.

Another suggestion, get into co-op board games (such as Arkham Horror). If you do poorly or well, so does everyone, and it helps to have that REAL camaraderie.

[Tammit67]

Even try playing other games, too--you'd be surprised how much it helps to have a game like Shadows over Camelot (http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/15062/shadows-over-camelot)

I cant recommend that game or The Resistance/Avalon/7 wonders enough. Really well done games.

The Resistance/Avalon will help you read people, 7 wonders is basically drafting. And both are amazing games in their on right with huge replay value

[monovfox]

Took a break from legacy for a week. Came back, and now I feel like every single deck is just maindecking hate left an right. 4x liliana, 3x EE, 2x MD plague, maindeck sulfur elemental, punishing fire, maindeck zealous persecutions. Name it, I've seen it (not just at my LGS, but on cockatrice too)


I need a new deck, and I need one fast. I can't keep playing the same crap over and over again and keep losing .

[monovfox]

Don't know if I am out of the slump, but I got a top 8 today when playing Kiln Fiend burn!

A friend of mine convinced me to switch up decks for a few weeks, so I played Kiln Fiend Burn to a top 8 in a field of 46. It was awesome, and the deck was feeling really solid throughout the entire day.