TABLETOP TALES PRESENTS
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This article serves two purposes: To share the nerd entertainment around with anyone who might find it interesting and, in this case, to share my experience with Modern Masters 2015.
You can find Magic Cards in super stores (Ex. Walmart, Target) but the best place you can buy your cards, meet other players, and play in events is at your local comic book store or hobby shop. I buy most of my cards at The Comic Cellar. Here is a link to its Google Maps location at 3620 Austin Peay Highway #2 Memphis, TN 38128.
And here is a link to Comic Cellar's Website
Modern
Masters 2015 is not your average Magic set: each pack runs you $10 and,
rather than being a standard block, it is a set created for drafting
and building Modern decks. Modern is a format that includes cards from
8th Edition and on. This means Modern is a format that changes as new
cards are added but is fairly stable. Furthermore, as the cards don't
rotate out of the format, Modern staples retain their value much better
than most other cards do in their respective format. So, you're paying
for cards that, on average, have higher value and hold their value due
to their timeless nature. This is also a draft set so you can expect the
set to suffer from a few wonky additions to make drafting smooth but
ultimately is a value set for anyone wanting to get into Modern or get a
trade binder full of Modern staples. But mostly I just wanted to draft!
In the draft, we had a pod of eight players. In order to draft, each
player received three packs. You take a card from the pack and pass it
to the right/left with each players taking turns taking a card from each
pack until there are no more cards. Rinse and repeat twice. Everybody
ends up with 45 cards and uses those materials to create a 40 card or
greater deck with available lands. The draft is best of three against
three opponents. Based on your outcome, you are placed higher in the
standing and the winner gets a prize.
And I wanted to win this time, so I built the best deck I could and even drew some amazing rares with amazing value!
TABLETOP TALES PRESENTS
MODERN MASTERS 2015 DRAFT:
"BW SPIRITS OF ELESH NORN"
This deck's goal was to use removal-- from two Nameless Inversions to an Oblivion Ring-- until you can get a board presence. I figured I could either outrace my opponents or, if I got lucky, put down Elesh Norn and win that turn or the next with a board wipe into making all my creatures bonafide bombs with ease. I had success against slower decks and Elesh Norn was always a bomb but some small misplays still wound up costing me a match.
CONTAINS 40 CARDS
CREATURES
(13 Creatures: 6 Black, 1 Black/White & 6 White Creatures)
IDEAL 1ST HAND
Deck contains. 2.
Reasons? These nifty little two drops are a solid early game drop that can eek you out an early advantage or, when combod with buffs, give you some deadly flyers.
Deck contains. 1.
Reasons? And here is the gem of the draft: a foil Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite is not just a money card, it is a bomb in any format, and it turns my tokens and flyers almost unstoppable AND she kills everything with two or less toughness when she hits the battlefield. BRUTAL!
Deck contains. 1.
Reasons? No love for a guy that can pump to win in late game and counts as a spirit?
Deck contains. 1.
Reasons? This guy isn't the most exciting bomb but a 4/4 flyer fits a potent niche in our strat.
Deck contains. 1.
Reasons? The other bomb in this deck is Mirran Crusader that, with the help of Sickle Slicer and Elesh, Norn can swing in for 6 first strike and 6 normal damage! And he can survive all the black removal in the format!
Deck contains. 2.
Reasons? The spirit theme shows itself with a great card that can set up swings, chump blocks, and even bring back Nameless Inversions and other spirits from the graveyard.
Deck contains. 1.
Reasons? This guy is the chump block king. Block every round, respawn every round, and stall until you can set up.
Deck contains. 1.
Reasons? Recursion and synergy with Soul Shift make this baby a potent card in the format
Deck contains. 1.
Reasons? This guy is one of the best Soulshifters that can take out foes for a fall pretty quick and bring back removal.
Deck contains. 1.
Reasons? Not the best pick for this deck but he can pick up a Sickleslicer for 3 extra mana.
Deck contains. 1.
Reasons? Another okay card that can get some extra damage/life with its ability but mostly serves as a way to get those Nameless Inversions.
NON-CREATURE SPELLS
(10
Non-Creature Spells: 2 Black Sorcery, 3 Blue Instants, 1 Equipment, 1 White Enchantment, 2 White Instants, 1 White Sorcery)
Deck contains. 1.
Reasons? With so many tokens, I don't mind trading one to get rid of my enemy's big bombs.
Deck contains. 1.
Reasons? It is one of the best removal cards in the format. And I am playing Swamps. Wingo!
Deck contains. 2.
Reasons? This is a fantastic card in most black decks as it is a kill spell that works for a pump spell in a pinch but, in a spirit deck with Soulshift, it has amazing synergy!
Deck contains. 1.
Reasons? There are a few enchantment removals in the format but Oblivion Ring is still a great way to deal with threats and destroys tokens.
Deck contains. 2.
Reasons? Speaking of tokens, Raise the Alarms puts guy down for us and at instant speed! When ombined with Elesh Norn, Raise the Alarm and Spectral Procession give this deck major board presence.
Deck contains. 1.
Reasons? This guy is a creature that you can do stuff with, chump block or sac, and then equip to your flyers or double striker for maximum carnage. And he is colorless. Nice.
Deck contains. 1.
Reasons? This card's mana cost is so flexible and it puts down three flying bodies that can ping or chump block thru the skies!
Deck contains. 1.
Reasons? A little slow, a little expensive, but being able to "destroy target creature" cannot be underestimated with the many bombs in this format.
LANDS
(17 Lands: 9 Plains, 7 Swamps)
CONTAINS: 9
CONTAINS: 8
IDEAL 1ST HAND
