[Article] Budget Legacy - Chalice Affinity

[Zach Tartell]

Link

"Welcome back to Budget Legacy. The deck I will be discussing today is a special one, in that it's a unique member of a much larger archetype, but is by far the most successful of the class. Affinity has struggled to compete in Legacy, due to the inconsistency and fragility of typical builds. I actually played Affinity for a short while in 2005 before deciding that it was too vulnerable to hate, and that I could not accept the weak late game. I also wanted to build decks around more powerful manabases, that could more consistently support my favorite play in this format, Chalice of the Void. After years of being an incredibly strong play with many support cards, it has only been in the last few months that players are starting to realize how good this card is and attempting to take advantage of it, or at least have better preparation against it."

[Shriekmaw]

It would be nice if your going to start a thread to give a little more information about the link, instead of nothing. I know your trying to be helpful, but some additional information would be nice.

[Di]

It would be nice if your going to start a thread to give a little more information about the link, instead of nothing. I know your trying to be helpful, but some additional information would be nice.

Does the title not help, or do you honestly need someone to explain what Chalice Affinity is? Seriously, it's like speaking to a 5-year old.

As for the deck itself, I love it but it's really been overhyped. The deck gets absolutely destroyed by Goblins, and seeing how Goblins is predicted to take up around 1/4 of the Columbus field, it seems like a rather poor metagame choice. That is, unless you overload the sideboard with hate, which at that point you're better off choosing a different deck.

[Machinus]

As for the deck itself, I love it but it's really been overhyped.

I don't buy into the idea that "hype" has a noticeable effect on Legacy, but even if it did keep in mind my goal with this miniseries is to suggest some cheap-er decks for people to play. The title is "Budget Legacy" so obviously my first priority is not to find the best possible choice for Columbus.

[freakish777]

This article was an easier read than your recent Goblins analysis piece for whatever reason, although some parts concerning how the deck plays seemed a little obvious (Chalice + Affinity synergy, soooo good). I'm not sure it's something you should be cutting out though, detailing why something's in there is good for when things just don't click.

[Di]

I don't buy into the idea that "hype" has a noticeable effect on Legacy, but even if it did keep in mind my goal with this miniseries is to suggest some cheap-er decks for people to play. The title is "Budget Legacy" so obviously my first priority is not to find the best possible choice for Columbus.

Oh I understand the meaning of the miniseries and I applaud you for doing so. However, don't you find it rather demeaning to the readers if you're pointing them to a deck that isn't a good choice - be it budget or not? I'm not trying to bash on you or anything so please don't take it that way, but if I would at least steer them towards something that has a better chance. That way, they won't go 0-3 drop and then start a Machinus hate club because the deck he told them to play did bad when it faced Goblins every round.

Also, I suppose hype was the wrong word for me to use. "Overrated" is probably a lot better.

[Machinus]

Oh I understand the meaning of the miniseries and I applaud you for doing so. However, don't you find it rather demeaning to the readers if you're pointing them to a deck that isn't a good choice - be it budget or not? I'm not trying to bash on you or anything so please don't take it that way, but if I would at least steer them towards something that has a better chance. That way, they won't go 0-3 drop and then start a Machinus hate club because the deck he told them to play did bad when it faced Goblins every round.

I'm not sure I understand what you are saying. You say you understand the point of the column - ok, so it is a column that is restricted to budget decks. I am writing about what I think are the best possible budget decks. What part of this is demeaning? If someone is restricted to a budget I strongly recommend they read my column; if not, they can consult other resources to find the best choice. I'm not sure I see how this is negative in any way.

If you're on a budget and worried specifically that this deck is inadequate in the Goblins matchup, then why wouldn't you choose a different deck from this series? They will vary in matchup strength depending on player experience and metagame expectations, but I am trying to provide as many options as possible so players with restrictions can find something to play and actually go to this tournament.

I do think Chalice Affinity is a reasonably good deck, but I did state clearly that it suffers in the late game against Goblins and it has a hard time with hate cards. I am not trying to suggest that people play this deck over something else, I'm just offering a tournament-tested option for those players who don't have access to the more expensive decks.

[Di]

I am writing about what I think are the best possible budget decks. What part of this is demeaning? If someone is restricted to a budget I strongly recommend they read my column; if not, they can consult other resources to find the best choice. I'm not sure I see how this is negative in any way.

Demeaning because you know full well that despite what you're saying to the reader, they will be going into the event with a poor deck choice. There are obviously going to be budget decks that do bad, but there are also some that are good deck choices as well. I just think pointing them towards a choice that you know will have a very hard road ahead of them is wrong. Obviously they could choose a different deck from the series, but I think it'd just be better to write about the decks that have the absolute best chance of performing well.

[Machinus]

I think it'd just be better to write about the decks that have the absolute best chance of performing well.

Well I agree, but I think I have chosen those based on a true adherence to the "budget" criterion. If you like, you can PM me the decks you think I should be writing about, and I will tell you if they are among the ones I am working on. I am taking "budget" seriously, and there are still a few decks to go, so perhaps you will be satisfied at the end, but I don't think there are any decks that fit the description that I have left out.

[Belgareth]

I really don't think a deck with force of will and chrome mox can ever be considered budget.
You could probably play a lot better if you have the budget for moxes and FoW's, also as much as I admire aFoWnity, it's not all that special (it shows up in europe a lot more so I have experience on this).
The biggest complaints by budget players are always Duals and Fows, hence wotc producing rav duals and pact of negation imo.
Most budget players come from extended in my experience, that means they actually likely have some extended staples, so maybe the moxes are ok but if you allow them you get on the slippery slope of allowing fetches and 75% of goblins.
A budget deck is probably burn, MG stompy etc. If a new player reads this article as budget and sees FoWs and moxes , they are going to expect good results and this deck is just not consistent enough to give them.

Just out of interest , what are these "true budget criterion" you have adhered too ? I apologise if I missed them in a previous article but I tend to only read bardo's column.

[Zach Tartell]

It would be nice if your going to start a thread to give a little more information about the link, instead of nothing. I know your trying to be helpful, but some additional information would be nice.

Bite me, dick. Although Di apparently covered it already, what part of "Budget Legacy - Chalice Affinity" can you misunderstand? Completely unnecessary.

Also, I think that affinity is a good, cheap deck to play. W/o FOW's it's retail price is a grand (hold your breath) sixty bucks, at most. With them, and the chalices, we're up to (OMG) about 140, and with chrom moxen about 180. Which is slightly less than half of what I paid for my Beta Savannahs. And what you'd drop if you were buying the non-fetch mana-base for UGr thresh. So, yes, it's a budget deck. None of the "You need 3 Chains in the board or you lose to solidarity" or "Moat is necessary in this deck" or "Tabernackle really helps the goblins matchup." Just $80 for FOW's, and $40 for chrome moxen. ANd like thirty for ravagers, then chump change for the rest. CHeap cheap cheap.

I liked it. A good place for an extended kid to start and he can even just play normal afffinity and use diciples.

Edit: Also, you guys must remember, these articles are not for the seasoned Legacy vet. THey're more for the cuddly Standard kids who don't know what FOW stands for, or who have to ask what RTFC means.

[Machinus]

Just out of interest , what are these "true budget criterion" you have adhered too ? I apologise if I missed them in a previous article but I tend to only read bardo's column.

I haven't published them but I think by the end of the series it will be pretty clear. The prices of these decks are sharply contrasted with the more competitive ones that have very expensive manabases on top of expensive and sometimes very rare cards.

[Belgareth]

I still think that most extended players entering the format will probably have the fetches (probably most of goblins actually too) , so theoretically if FoW's are fair game on a budget , then swap chrome moxes for resets (resets are actually much cheaper than moxes here) and you could claim solidarity is a budget deck too ?.

Anyway without getting too far off track I was just curious what classifies as budget as the average standard manabase costs equally as much as a legacy one (don't even get me started on T2 zoo or extended domain zoo manabases). Most people when they think budget think mono colour deck with no cards over 6-8$ .
I'm just trying to work out which audience it's aimed at, but I'll watch the rest of the articles and see where you go.

[Silverdragon]

I don't like that the original list is hidden in a small link (the word "tournament" in that one sentence) but the actual article is really good. You explained strenghts and weaknesses of the deck, you explained your changes to the manabase and you even covered the sideboard.
In my opinion this deck is definitely budget enough because it's cheaper than most Standard and Extended decks.
@Diablos It should be mentioned that although the Goblins matchup is bad it is far from unwinnable and the deck has a good matchup against a lot of other decks (much like Fairy Stompy). So even if Goblins is 25% of the field then 75% of the field will be other decks you may be able to beat.

[TeenieBopper]

Personally, I think it's doing a disservice to give budget deck ideas for a GP. I mean really, if you're going to plop down $30 for a shot at winning five grand, you should probably suggest them to suck it up and build the best possible affinity deck, regardless of cost.

Bite me, dick. Although Di apparently covered it already, what part of "Budget Legacy - Chalice Affinity" can you misunderstand? Completely unnecessary.

Hypocrisy ftl.

You could have quoted the following:

I also wanted to build decks around more powerful manabases, that could more consistently support my favorite play in this format, Chalice of the Void. After years of being an incredibly strong play with many support cards, it has only been in the last few months that players are starting to realize how good this card is and attempting to take advantage of it, or at least have better preparation against it.

and then posted the link.

In short, perhaps it's better if you just let the author post a link to their own article. They do it better.

Oh yeah, and don't be an ass.

[Shriekmaw]

I think the article does a very good job in describing the strengths and weaknesses of the deck with a good matchup analysis. I do realize that this deck is cheaper than most of the decks in Legacy to build, but if I was on a tight budget I would probably just build the traditional affinity build since you can get the whole deck under 50 dollars. Vial Affinity does have pretty decent matchups against most of the decks in the field with a 50/50 goblins matchup at least.

[Happy Gilmore]

At first I was skeptical about Keg in the board due to the fact that it kills all your artifact lands/chalice/mox/thopter set to zero, but after looking over your list I notice that you have supprisingly few lands that actually get destroyed by it and the rest can be controled. Although the ability to conserve mana by running EE seems like a much better plan personally. From your article you talk about blowing Keg at one, something EE can do better and faster. Thresh post board can have access to Krosan Grip, Ancient Grudge, and other hate that makes running Keg not so hot. Well done on the article. And may I suggest that your next one be on Red Death, it really is not all that expensive to build.

Sinkhole:15-25
Negator: 5
Shade: 7-10
giant/ritual/anurid/bolt/duress/hymn/: practically nothing
Wasteland: 6-12
Spectre: 3-7
Chain lightning: 4-7

And of couse the fetches which run from 10-18, but since these cards are in most collections I don't think that price factor is all that relevant. With the exception of Sinkhole everything else is fairly easy to obtain.

[Machinus]

it really is not all that expensive to build

The optimal manabase runs 8 fetches and 3 duals. On top of that the deck runs sinkholes and shades, and needs jittes in the board to work. It's just a little too much to fit.

[Happy Gilmore]

The optimal manabase runs 8 fetches and 3 duals. On top of that the deck runs sinkholes and shades, and needs jittes in the board to work. It's just a little too much to fit.

Fair enough. Out of curiousity how much is CRIT Belcher and TES to build? What about that GR agro loam deck, or are you skipping that one because you already did one on Terra Geddon?

Edit: Enchantress is another deck that might be worth mentioning.

[Ewokslayer]

Edit: Enchantress is another deck that might be worth mentioning.

Enchantress is incredibly expensive.