If you could only have one deck...

[JPoJohnson]

Lets say that you can only have one legacy deck from this point going forward. It's the one that you'll use for local tournaments and large tournaments. I've seen quite a few players such as Bryant Cook always adjusting TES based on expected meta and always trying to improve it or Michael Keller (although retired Dredge now) always looking for new ways to revolutionize his deck and bring it into the limelight.

I thought it would be interesting to know what one deck you would play from this point going forward and why. Power? Interest? Variety of playstyle?

[T-101]

Junk.

The power level is there. No turn 1/2 wins or fancy Brainstorms, but individual card power is strong across the board. Thoughtseize, Bob, Goyf, Stoneforge, Hymn, Library, Liliana, the list goes on.

Variety of play style is like the tag line for Junk. There a lot of different ways to build the deck. Aggro/Disruption is the baseline, but you can go for a fast clock, or Knight of the Reliquary shenanigans, or Green Sun's Zenith, or Enlightened Tutor packages, etc.

I also get a kick out of playing what folks like to call an 'honest' or 'fair' deck. You win by attacking with creatures. Sure, Bob and Stoneforge aren't the poster children for fair cards, and Goyf and Jitte were last minute R&D snafu's. But it's not like the deck is playing 15/15s that destroy you entire board for the cost of 2U, and we're not playing cards that have the word 'Storm' or 'Dredge' on them (Life from the Loam excluded).

Of all the decks I've played, or tried to play (looking at you, Doomsday), Junk is the one I happen to enjoy the most.

[bakofried]

I bought into Maverick years ago, and while the meta is really hostile, I'm still glad I did. Tons of directions to take, tons of customization, etc.

[Dice_Box]

I hate this question because it shows how far the deck has fallen. Once, I would have snap answered "Goblins" but I just can not realistically do that any more. Now I would have to say Elves. I can tinker with it, I enjoy it and it is a complex deck that gives my mind a workout. I would sit Painter next to it as my follow up choice, but if I have one deck from here on out, its going to be Elves.

RIP Goblins.

[JPoJohnson]

I hate this question because it shows how far the deck has fallen. Once, I would have snap answered "Goblins" but I just can not realistically do that any more. Now I would have to say Elves. I can tinker with it, I enjoy it and it is a complex deck that gives my mind a workout. I would sit Painter next to it as my follow up choice, but if I have one deck from here on out, its going to be Elves.

RIP Goblins.

My brother still mains goblins in legacy. It's still viable in some metas...

Personally, I find this question extremely hard to answer since I have so many different decks that I tinker around with... But I think in the end I would either go with Merfolk. I've owned a Merfolk deck of one sort or another since 2004. Played them in every format and it's what I'm most comfortable with. I find it odd now that I think about it though because I haven't actually entered my Merfolk deck into a tournament in well over a year, but there is no hesitation with which deck choice I would select (Especially odd now that we have 8 TNN I suppose haha).

[Bed Decks Palyer]

I don't own decks, I own cards, so this makes no sen...

Oh, sorry. I meant RUG Thresh. But I'm still more and more inclined that it should have been something with Savannahs, KotRs and Swords to Plows.

[Zombie]

Elves or BUG Delver for me, I think. Storm is really fun too, but if I have to play a deck for eternity I'd rather spend it casting Deathrites and Abrupt Decays.

[twndomn]

Has to be Miracles. The disciples of Lossett have been tweaking that archtype for years now.

[Sloshthedark]

Storm.... preferably ANT you may say... I prefer spells to creatures, especially because of the power creep, I really hate, I mean HATE newborder cards, I always liked fringe decks and strategies, like being in the driver seat, like challenges where experience and knowledge is rewarded and notably to be Me shaper of my destiny rather than luck... you have to LOVE the intense turns, delicate dance between the counterspells and the mindgame... basically any time I open up 7 of a different deck or even think of it and open up 7 of Ant I'm 100% happy with my choice... even small changes may affect the deck dramatically so it never get's boring... until Brainstorm get's axed there's no need to change for me... Storm just fits me perfectly in every way

basically Mtg for me is Storm and the old cards ... no highlander, modern, whatever stupidity... other deck's interest me just to know how to beat them best

[Higgs]

+1 on ANT

[keys]

This is an interesting question because I consolidated my collection fairly recently (to pay for grad school), but when I made the decision I realized that I have more of a preference for color combinations than for actual deck archetypes (although in some cases only a limited number of archetypes are supported in the meta). Specific archetypes may diminish in power or fun over the years, where as color combinations (as a principle) allow greater flexibility in terms of adapting to the meta.

In that sense, I've always been fond of Red, Blue, Green, from back when I was a kid playing different versions of R/G Stompy and Counterburn. I ended up selling everything that couldn't be used in either RUG Delver, U/R Painter, or U/R(g) Landstill.

I've played all three in every eternal format (except modern). If I had to choose just one, it would probably be RUG Delver, simply because it is so easily ported to different formats, and the power level will always be high, but anything with Lightning bolt will do, basically.

[sjmcc13]

Either ANT or Doomsday (if I am going to stick with only 1 deck, then I can expect to have the time to master it)

[lyracian]

The answer partly depends on what you mean by "one deck"; if I keep a 150 cards for Counter-top I can play Miracles, Thropters, RIP/Helm, mono-blue, Stoneforge, I have even seen a Punishing Fires list.

If you mean keep 75 cards that you will never change then Pox or D&T would be my choice.

[DarkJester]

Lets say that you can only have one legacy deck from this point going forward. It's the one that you'll use for local tournaments and large tournaments. I've seen quite a few players such as Bryant Cook always adjusting TES based on expected meta and always trying to improve it or Michael Keller (although retired Dredge now) always looking for new ways to revolutionize his deck and bring it into the limelight.

I thought it would be interesting to know what one deck you would play from this point going forward and why. Power? Interest? Variety of playstyle?

I have chosen DREDGE ( Vintage and Legacy) and sold the rest of my (non-EDH-)Stuff last year in summer. Never regretted it. Still, I need some cool new cards for a Modern-Dredge-Deck with Bridges and Moebas.

[AggroControl]

I'd probably keep Junk with enough cards to flesh out Toolbox, Disruption, Control or Loam depending on what looked ok in the meta of the moment. I can see a real argument for keeping just Death and Taxes due to it's consistency and the ability to tune it for different metas. D&T does feel a little bit more fragile than Junk to me if currently somewhat more powerful. It's more easily hated on if people want to do it.

[apple713]

Dark depths combo. It can be played as straight combo or with control or in an aggro type deck.

[Lt. Quattro]

I would have to go with :r:/:g: lands. Never thought I would see the day gamble was a good card.

[Purgatory]

If it was solely for tournament competitiveness, I'd probably go with RUG Delver, since it's the deck I've had most success with historically, and it is probably the deck that I feel most comfortable playing. That said, if I was to have fun with my one remaining deck, I'd go with something durdly with a nice toolbox. Flexibility means higher variance which in general leads to more fun, imho.

[mini1337s]

Bant, the midrange deck

[easysantiago]

I have chosen DREDGE ( Vintage and Legacy) and sold the rest of my (non-EDH-)Stuff last year in summer. Never regretted it. Still, I need some cool new cards for a Modern-Dredge-Deck with Bridges and Moebas.

I am with you on this one. I play variants of Manaless right now, but I am working towards Dredge in Legacy and Vintage. Because Modern is so ubiquitous, I occasionally flirt with Affinity and dual format Burn, but Dredge is the only archetype I am really interested in investing time in. If there was a bigger Legacy scene where I lived, I probably wouldn't dabble with other deck archetypes than Dredge.

[lordofthepit]

I love Legacy because there are so many decks that you can play that are all powerful and enjoyable, but if I could only have one deck, I would be a total spike about it: Canadian Threshold.

It is definitely not one of my favorite decks to play, but it's been consistently one of the best decks in the format for what feels like forever.

[Choirgirl Hotel]

Lands. I'm one of those. Control Lands.

[LeoCop 90]

Definitely goblins. I know it struggles to be competitive nowadays but it was my first love and i would stick with it if i only had access to a single deck. Partly because the main reason to play magic to me is having fun (although i am competitive and play goblins very few now) , partly because i feel legacy will become like vintage so i'd better keep a deck i like, instead of trying to stay up to date with a format that wizards is trying to screw in every single manner (printing super dumb cards, never changing the ban list....)

[ThomasDowd]

Any and all storm variants.

Followed by delver variants, RUG primarily.

I actually did this recently and purged a lot of my blue staples. I now feel very dumb and am in the process of getting rug back together.

just got to win big i guess. and feel very pained when I have to find/ buy goyfs.

fuck you modern/ modern masters. will be patiently awaiting the price dip when the modern "season" is over but with the new OP changes i doubt they will drop, since theoretically it is now modern season year round, 'maybe', but not really because that doesn't make stores money.

[TsumiBand]

Tight Sight

[from Cairo]

Probably Death and Taxes. It's the deck that I like playing the most.

[emidln]

Storm. I've been playing Fetchland Tendrils for a very long time, a deck that grew out of Iggy Pop. Sometimes it played Grim Tutor. Other times it played Doomsday. Still usually kills with Tendrils.

[coraz86]

Going with lyracian re: build flexibility, but I've been in love with bgx decks based around Bob and discard for my entire Legacy career, so the Team America/Eva Green/Junk threshold it is for me. Even though I know that comprises like four hundred cards.

[jake556]

For me it is Imperial Painter, this deck has so many intricacies it never gets boring. It's combo, aggro, and control all in one. Moon wins never get old, blowing up basics with instant 1 mana Vindicates is a dream come true! Goblin Welder is a powerhouse that is truly underrated in Legacy. Watching countless players equip Sword of Fire and Ice with Painter on Blue is just entertainment in itself. I have played many Legacy decks and I can honestly say that no other deck has ever brought me the satisfaction that Painter has. I could go on but you get the point.

[cab0747]

Another one for painter here for all of the reasons jake stated. For being a 2 card combo that seems linear, the deck is very interactive and powerful. More importantly, it hasn't bored me yet.

D&T comes in a close second for me.

If we were also talking about decks we don't own, I might throw RUG Delver in the mix. My friend plays it and it is very fun and it has been a powerhouse for quite awhile.

[Admiral_Arzar]

MOAT STOMPY

#nedleedsfanclub

[Technicolor Mage]

I am not playing it much anymore as I have moved on to Death and Taxes as my pet deck, but if it could only be one, I am not ashamed to admit I would just play Sneak and Show. It's consistent, the power level is pretty obscene and sometimes you just want to go for it, regardless of what is in the opponents hand!

[rancOr_]

Esper Stoneblade.. Always a solid choice no matter what u are playing against .Very skill rewarding deck !

[Octopusman]

I do only have one deck. Recently sold duals, forces, JTMS... Everything else...

I play one deck. Dragon Stompy.
I'm a lock piece whore, stasis isn't viable, and vintage is more dead than legacy.
It's the most fun in my eyes based on what I liked playing, too much $ to keep up with this game based on how much I played and and upkeep will be cheap.

[TsumiBand]

I have an older Goblins list put together that would honestly probably be easier to maintain than any of my other would-be Legacy decks (BW Deadguy on the cheap, Spring Tide lolol, Naya Slivers 'n Burn featuring shockland technology, Bant Exalted w/ Force of Will (on loan from Spring Tide) again featuring shockland tech). So unless there's a sweet Mirrorweave Kithkin list that is Legacy viable, if I haaaad to pick just one deck AND anyone in Nebraska actually played fucking Legacy, it'd probably be Goblins. I guess.

[Bed Decks Palyer]

I do only have one deck. Recently sold duals, forces, JTMS... Everything else...

I play one deck. Dragon Stompy.
I'm a lock piece whore, stasis isn't viable, and vintage is more dead than legacy.
It's the most fun in my eyes based on what I liked playing, too much $ to keep up with this game based on how much I played and and upkeep will be cheap.

Well done! Nice choice of funny, brutal, inconsistent and powerful deck. I played Faerie Stompy a lot, but stopped after Decay became thing. With eight Moons, this is not a problem, I guess...

[Myelectronicdays]

Going down to 1 deck seems tough. I'm personally trying to skim down to just 2.. One tier 1 deck (RUG).. and a deck I'll play more often and have more fun. (pox loam).

Although I'm almost jonesing to just ditch rug also.

[.dk]

Doomsday. If you can no longer metagame with deck choices, a resilient and diverse combo deck seems like the best choice. And... it takes forever to get decent, so you'll have plenty of years to learn and be entertained. :)

[Mr Miagi]

Jund Nic-fit.

Grindfest :cool:

[Finn]

Is the question categorically different from "What is your favorite deck?" In the minds of all you responders?

[Myelectronicdays]

I feel like unless your grinding circuits for a yearly salary.. I tend to just gravitate towards the most fun deck.. that is still marginally competetive.

[Grand Superior]

Is the question categorically different from "What is your favorite deck?" In the minds of all you responders?

To me it is. Sneak and Show is one of my favourite decks in Legacy but I only bring it out when I don't feel like thinking or when the meta calls for it. It does get old after a while and is not something that I would consider to be my only deck in the format.

My answer would probably be Esper Deathblade. It's not in my top three favourite decks, but it has tons of lines of play and enough variety to stay interesting long term.

[lyracian]

Is the question categorically different from "What is your favorite deck?" In the minds of all you responders?
Marginally different rather that categorically different. If I only have one deck it needs to be something I would feel happy playing in a GP; which generally means a blue deck with Force and Brainstorm. I would also want it to be a deck that can adapt to the meta. For some people there favorite deck might also be there competitive deck but it does not always hold true.

[JPoJohnson]

Is the question categorically different from "What is your favorite deck?" In the minds of all you responders?

It is to me. I chose Merfolk because it's competitive and holds a special place since I've played it since Opposition/Static Orb back 10ish years ago. I play it the least amount compared to other legacy decks (RUG/Miracles/UWR Delver/BUG/TES/Dredge etc etc), but it's just always been there.

[TsumiBand]

Is the question categorically different from "What is your favorite deck?" In the minds of all you responders?

For me, definitely.

I picked Goblins because it is probably the most 'assembled' of any of my Legacy decks; where other decks have some lousy card choices because budget concerns, the Goblins I acquired have stayed more or less 'good enough' and all I'd really need to do is read a recent list, get whatever dumb Gobs or lands that isn't in the deck, and then move forward from there. So even though the deck is not necessarily Tier 1 these days it is probably the better go-to for me considering my other jank. (then again if I'm selling out, theoretically, I might want to sell towards a goal -- it isn't like I wouldn't want to play those Force of Wills I have sitting around)

[Bed Decks Palyer]

I changed my mind. If I could have only one deck, I'd love to have... two decks.
I'd love if my wife started to play the game (and like it, of course, it's not like it should have been another marital duty).

Then I'd build us a GW and RW deck, fine tune them against each other and play them while having a glass of good wine similarly how other people play canasta or wutnot on their evenings.
GW: mana elves and BoPs, River BOas, utility dudes, big green creatures, geddon, StP + Reprisal, Hurricane; an aggro-aggro-control deck.
RW: dmg-based removal, StP + Reprisal, Wraths, defensive dudes, big finishers like dragons or angels, etc.; an aggro-control-control deck.

Alpha-Scourge or maybe simply 1996-1998; those were the times I loved the game the most.

[Sloshthedark]

I changed my mind. If I could have only one deck, I'd love to have... two decks.
I'd love if my wife started to play the game (and like it, of course, it's not like it should have been another marital duty).

Then I'd build us a GW and RW deck, fine tune them against each other and play them while having a glass of good wine similarly how other people play canasta or wutnot on their evenings.
GW: mana elves and BoPs, River BOas, utility dudes, big green creatures, geddon, StP + Reprisal, Hurricane; an aggro-aggro-control deck.
RW: dmg-based removal, StP + Reprisal, Wraths, defensive dudes, big finishers like dragons or angels, etc.; an aggro-control-control deck.

Alpha-Scourge or maybe simply 1996-1998; those were the times I loved the game the most.

...in the middle of 5th game of Carcassone last Sunday I wondering why we ain't just slinging moxen and fireballs... also dreaming about roads and castles :eyebrow:

[JPoJohnson]

I changed my mind. If I could have only one deck, I'd love to have... two decks.
I'd love if my wife started to play the game (and like it, of course, it's not like it should have been another marital duty).

Then I'd build us a GW and RW deck, fine tune them against each other and play them while having a glass of good wine similarly how other people play canasta or wutnot on their evenings.
GW: mana elves and BoPs, River BOas, utility dudes, big green creatures, geddon, StP + Reprisal, Hurricane; an aggro-aggro-control deck.
RW: dmg-based removal, StP + Reprisal, Wraths, defensive dudes, big finishers like dragons or angels, etc.; an aggro-control-control deck.

Alpha-Scourge or maybe simply 1996-1998; those were the times I loved the game the most.

I don't think it matters how many times I try to explain the game to my wife... I think the only deck she understands a little bit about is Slivers... I can't actually see her ever playing the game regardless of how much I would absolutely LOVE that!

[Bed Decks Palyer]

Gentlemen, it's about the chromosome. It cannot be changed. /dream

[blackheartz]

If I could only have one deck, it would be U/W Miracles. No matter how many decks I change, sooner or later, I always come back to Miracles.

[Lemnear]

If I could only have one deck, it would be U/W Miracles. No matter how many decks I change, sooner or later, I always come back to Miracles.

The deck has only 2 years of history, so acting like it was a lifelong relation is a bit off ;p

[Sylphnir]

Elves would be my choice.
I picked the game up during Onslaught block and since then always had some kind of elfball sleeved up.
Granted most of the time my deck was ramp-into-rhox level garbage but I always loved it.

[kingtk3]

I would chose Waterfall (RUGb cascade) or food chain cascade, maybe the latter (and it's not very difficult to change between the two wit side if I please).

I would miss Turbo Eldrazi though...

[pochy]

i would keep my beloved Reanimator.
That's the reason i started pimping it time ago, and i continue pimping a little more when i can. I just feel the deck as the most confortable for me, despite the fact i hate losing to that fu**ing karakas (xD), but the child that there still is in me really love to have some beautiful fatties on my board. In my "wet dreams" i'm still very young, here with my mono-black deck exhuming some Akroma :') (or even better some Worldgorger Dragon :Q___)

[SHABOOGS]

Dredge. I picked up the deck four years ago. I had a blast playing it so I sold all my other cards and never played anything else.

[blackheartz]

The deck has only 2 years of history, so acting like it was a lifelong relation is a bit off ;p

Actually, for me, it is less than a two-year relationship with Miracles, but with U/W control decks it is a lifelong one. So yes it would be more appropriate for me to say that sooner or later I always return to the aforementioned archetype. :tongue:

Edit: Error

[MGB]

For me, definitely.

I picked Goblins because it is probably the most 'assembled' of any of my Legacy decks; where other decks have some lousy card choices because budget concerns, the Goblins I acquired have stayed more or less 'good enough' and all I'd really need to do is read a recent list, get whatever dumb Gobs or lands that isn't in the deck, and then move forward from there. So even though the deck is not necessarily Tier 1 these days it is probably the better go-to for me considering my other jank. (then again if I'm selling out, theoretically, I might want to sell towards a goal -- it isn't like I wouldn't want to play those Force of Wills I have sitting around)

Did you splash green for Tarmogoyf yet though?

[cab0747]

I changed my mind. If I could have only one deck, I'd love to have... two decks.
I'd love if my wife started to play the game (and like it, of course, it's not like it should have been another marital duty).

Magic is guy time for me. I'm kind of happy my lady has no interest in playing. :smile:

[MGB]

If I wanted to mostly have fun playing, but still play relatively competitively:

Soldier Stompy

If I wanted to just flat-out win as much as possible without sacrificing too much fun:

Reanimator prior to the Mystical Tutor banning - or if I can't choose historical decks, then probably BUG Delver.

[TsumiBand]

Did you splash green for Tarmogoyf yet though?

http://youtu.be/NpGY4ZFgcCU?t=17s

[Megadeus]

I'm already all in on dead guy. Don't feel like going through the trouble of getting any other cards anymore. I just sold off my excess duals and shit.

[Higgs]

Did you splash green for Tarmogoyf yet though?

lol. It's like I remember this discussion from... 2007? Also reminded me of Iggy Pop and BBS. Not sure if these were all in the same time frame.

[MGB]

lol. It's like I remember this discussion from... 2007? Also reminded me of Iggy Pop and BBS. Not sure if these were all in the same time frame.

The funniest and most depressing argument for me was the constant posts every other week in the Mono Blue Control thread suggesting posters to just add the fetchlands, tropical islands, and tarmogoyfs already. Mono. Blue. Control. Never mind that 4 Tarmogoyfs would eat every single bit of removal your opponent has if that's one of the few creatures you're playing. Never mind that the whole purpose of that deck was to exploit Back to Basics. Never mind that in Mono Blue Control Tarmogoyf is a glorified Wall.

[TsumiBand]

The funniest and most depressing argument for me was the constant posts every other week in the Mono Blue Control thread suggesting posters to just add the fetchlands, tropical islands, and tarmogoyfs already. Mono. Blue. Control. Never mind that 4 Tarmogoyfs would eat every single bit of removal your opponent has if that's one of the few creatures you're playing. Never mind that the whole purpose of that deck was to exploit Back to Basics. Never mind that in Mono Blue Control Tarmogoyf is a glorified Wall.

Yeah, Tarmogoyf was a major dick. Merfolk/g for Goyf. Goblins/g for Goyf. IGG/g, because if you whiff and poop on your combo, at least you have a 6/7 for :1::g:. There was a time when there was not a valid argument against running Tarmogoyf in virtually every deck; it was always a consideration, and it was almost always wrong not to account for it.

Put another way, thbthptbptphptbptphptphpthptpbtphptphptbptphptpbptphptpbptphptphpthpbpptbptbptpbtphptbptphphpptpbtth.

[FieryBalrog]

Miracles is the only deck I really have left, as I put everything else into making tons of EDH decks.

So, Miracles. Really fun deck.

[Rome]

It would be junk!
It was my first legacy deck 10 years ago and i love it.
I can play all the cratures which i like and i have a little toolbox with knight.

[Bed Decks Palyer]

It would be junk!
It was my first legacy deck 10 years ago and i love it.
I can play all the cratures which i like and i have a little toolbox with knight.

This color combination is fascinating. I sold my GBW stuff long ago, but sometimes I miss it. I especially like the "real" Junk decks with the playsets-only structure.

[Nation Prophetic]

Probably some sort of Affinity build. I have the most fun playing that style of deck.