Originally Posted by
anakyn
Tylert, let's start from the end, this will be interesting.
Wrong. I clearly said it was my opinion. Read again my first post if you want.
I didn't "state" anything at all.
If I cared about "the majority of people" 's opinion, I wouldn't write a negative comment on D&T in the D&T thread, don't you think?
As you want.
Let's start from your own comment:
Believe me: I know D&T very well. A friend of mine (who also writes here sometimes) owns it and we played countless games against each other, with me playing several kinds of deck: control, combo, aggro, anything.
You're perfectly right: the main peculiarity of this deck is the mana denial plan. It's something this deck accomplishes not only with lands, but also with the fundamental support of many of its creatures: Thalia of course, but also Revoker (on Shaman / Hierarch / any mana producing permanent), Mindcensor and Flickerwisp (bouncing lands or anything that produces mana, especially with Vial @3).
About 1/3 of the deck can accomplish denial, and you play the strongest denial cards.
Consequently, you have probably the strongest denial in the Legacy metagame.
And that's exactly why I call it a plague for the metagame of this format.
The fact of it being a "creature deck" is not that relevant in my opinion: it only says something about the general complexity, but nothing about the "fun factor".
You know, you are D&T players, you are very well positioned in the current metagame, you are clearly happy with it, 'cause you like the deck and you win with it. It's a wonderful world.
Now try to put yourself in the perspective of someone playing against D&T.
Your lands will probably be Wastelanded and/or Ported, you non-land mana resources will be Revoked, your removal will be useless because Mother is in play, when (and if) you'll have some land in play there will be Thalia negating any spell costing more than 2-3 and doubling the cost of any 1-CC spell, and when (and if) you'll finally will be able to cast something relevant, you'll be either dead or facing a Batterskull or some Jitte-equipped creature.
Very fun, uh?
Yeah, it's not fun at all.
Because this deck, in the end, uses different tools but accomplishes one fundamental goal: negates opponent's gameplan until it's too late to matter or recover.
And you know why I strongly consider that having this kind of deck as a dominant Tier 1 is a big problem for the metagame and health of this format?
Because none likes to lose this way.
When a new player approaches to Legacy, I don't think that playing against D&T will be the best thing for him to be appealed.
There are other "ugly" and "unfunny" ways to win or to lose, of course, therefore there are other decks/cards that potentially harm the health of Legacy.
Someone playing Emrakul on 1st or 2nd turn, for example. I admit without a problem that S&T decks are even worse than D&T under this perspective.
But I think no other decks are so frustrating to play against.
Yes, Canadian's denial plan is strong too, but not as strong as D&T, and the fact is: even if you've just lost against it without having the opportunity to develop your gameplan (which happens pretty often), probably you won't have the same distaste in your mouth. Because you just lost to a deck that, with the maximum efficiency possible, has used one of his lands and a couple of spells to negate your plan, while using in the meantime the other 1-2 lands to find some beaters and put them into play, and you find yourself a couple of turns later with no threats on the field, your removal countered, and an army of 3+ power creatures flying over your head or smashing through your defenses.
Surely it can be frustrating too, but you can't help but to admire a deck like this. Because it's spectacular, and next time you wanna play something like that.
And yes, combo too can leave you with a frustrating loss. I admit that losing to a 1st / 2nd turn Emrakul or Griselbrand it's not something to like, in fact Sneak & Show and Reanimator are, in my opinion, horrible decks as well.
But what about Storm? You can lose to it even faster, but wow, you lose in such a fashion that you'll want to storm yourself on next occasion.
Take Jund now. Another "garbage" deck if you ask me.
Linear, simple, strong: sometimes the deck will just win without you taking any effort or particular decision. You have discard, removal, lots of mana, card advantage, a reasonable clock: you can wreck or be wrecked by a deck like this.
But it lets you play your game.
My point in the end is: Death & Taxes is one of those deck that, while can amuse the players piloting it, will probably draw hatred, annoyance and grudge by almost anyone playing against it.
I hope I just showed you none of your accusations were true.
