Me again, got together with a friend and found out something to make with all those cards.

http://deckbox.org/sets/592349

Came up with this, played a few rounds with it, it works pretty good

*facepalm* Why do newer players always try mill? :P

Nothing against you specifically, but it's a recurring theme on here I've noticed. You'll find out through play and experience that it's easier to deal 20 damage than it is to mill 53 cards to win. Nice you were able to put something together though.

I will say this for you though. It's probably one of the most coherent and thought out mill decks by a new player I've seen in a while. I would make a couple small changes, if you have them some essence scatters, over the negates. You're more likely to have trouble dealing with creatures without real board wipes. You should really find some detention sphere's (or more o rings) and supreme verdicts when you can, or other board wipes.

I don't understand the obsession either.

A buddy and I play-tested a Phenax strategy on Saturday night against Esper control and BW Control...it sucked. I think he won 2 games out of 12.

Timber wrote:I don't understand the obsession either.

A buddy and I play-tested a Phenax strategy on Saturday night against Esper control and BW Control...it sucked. I think he won 2 games out of 12.

The obsession is because life is not concrete where as cards disappearing are. you can see the progress you're making as you're milling out an opponent and its satisfying to think that you're destroying all your opponent's good cards effortlessly.

With life you have to be able to conceptualize their life as a value and understand how its diminishing.


edit: WHoops forget deck based comments.

The big thing you want right now is more consistency. Pick some of the best performing cards for you and start getting more than one in by taking out the least good cards.

Grand Abolisher probably isnt adding a whole lot to the deck for example.

TRZ wrote: The obsession is because life is not concrete where as cards disappearing are. you can see the progress you're making as you're milling out an opponent and its satisfying to think that you're destroying all your opponent's good cards effortlessly.

With life you have to be able to conceptualize their life as a value and understand how its diminishing.

At this point, diminishing life totals for games is not abstract, it's the norm. I really don't follow this line of reasoning at all and it certainly doesn't make the deck any more effective because cards are physical things and life totals are just representations/concepts.

Scores in sports games are just concepts too, but I bet the broncos felt pretty bad last night :P

Milling has not, will not and will never be the most effective way to end a game. _period_ There's just no arguing the point.

I didnt mean to say that Mill is -good- just that people like it when they are first starting because it is more concrete than life damage. Think about the number of people that have serious issues saving money when they buy everything on credit/debit cards that can save perfectly well if they do all their transactions in cash.

Conceptualizing things like life or money in the bank is hard for people in general. Its part of what makes mill appealing even if it isnt the best way to play. Especially when you're first getting started!

Magic is an onion, yo... it has layers man... so deep... so very deep... life and stuff...

You're going too deep for me. I just want to talk about magic strategy and gaming :P

elpablo wrote:Magic is an onion, yo... it has layers man... so deep... so very deep... life and stuff...

You're going too deep for me. I just want to talk about magic strategy and gaming :P

Thats the beauty of this game :D

I'd rather not have a winstyle argument in an assistance request

I'll keep the tips in mind however and I thank you for them. When I have the money i'll be sure to try and grab a few multiples, but until them i'll stick with what i've got.

As for the criticism o the grand abolisher, I play it to prevent people from countering my sorceries with instants.

As for the mill vs killing the opponent, the friends I play run a lot of healing, like lifelink and so on, so destroying 20 life is more like destroying 40, or in the case of a certain white deck of my friends, well over 100.

Ah yes, life gain. The second huge trap that new players fall into.

If this is what you like to do, and it works in your play group, then do what you want. As long as you're having fun, that's all that matters.

Try and get yourself some alternate win conditions, like Jace's Phantasm or Azorius Keyrune. Something that helps your mill strategy, but lets you deal damage if that would be a faster way to win.

I'll keep that in mind yes. I've got low income however due to being a college student out of state. Most of my money goes to bills, the rest of it to food. I've got a little side savings however which i'll keep depositing into.

Timber wrote:Ah yes, life gain. The second huge trap that new players fall into.

If this is what you like to do, and it works in your play group, then do what you want. As long as you're having fun, that's all that matters.

This! :D


One thing to consider on the Countering your Mill stuff.

It could be helpful I suppose but there are plenty of useful creatures that can provide mill stuff in their own right or offer other useful effects to help you keep fighting that will always give you some benefit. Abolisher is sort of a catch all that tries to protect your spells but isnt always helpful. Its not bad by any means but largely depends on your local meta. It sounds as though you're just getting started and you arent terribly competitive so lets look at some cheap (or possibly free if you get in touch with me!) Options that could be useful.

Hedron Crab
Merfolk Looter
Merfolk Mesmerist
BellTower Sphinx
Brain Freeze
Cathartic Adept
Codex Shredder

Another thing you may want is creatures that can block for days to keep yourself safe while you work on going mill mill mill.

Yoked Ox
Kraken Hatchling
Guard Gomazoa
Fog Bank

and the grand daddy of all for funsies mill people and make them mad cards is never a bad move!
Traumatize

TRZ wrote:

Timber wrote:Ah yes, life gain. The second huge trap that new players fall into.

If this is what you like to do, and it works in your play group, then do what you want. As long as you're having fun, that's all that matters.

This! :D


One thing to consider on the Countering your Mill stuff.

It could be helpful I suppose but there are plenty of useful creatures that can provide mill stuff in their own right or offer other useful effects to help you keep fighting that will always give you some benefit. Abolisher is sort of a catch all that tries to protect your spells but isnt always helpful. Its not bad by any means but largely depends on your local meta. It sounds as though you're just getting started and you arent terribly competitive so lets look at some cheap (or possibly free if you get in touch with me!) Options that could be useful.

Hedron Crab
Merfolk Looter
Merfolk Mesmerist
BellTower Sphinx
Brain Freeze
Cathartic Adept
Codex Shredder

Another thing you may want is creatures that can block for days to keep yourself safe while you work on going mill mill mill.

Yoked Ox
Kraken Hatchling
Guard Gomazoa
Fog Bank

and the grand daddy of all for funsies mill people and make them mad cards is never a bad move!
Traumatize

Sounds like a plan.

(and how would one get in touch with you?)

SomeMTGnoob wrote: (and how would one get in touch with you?)

just start up a trade with me and remind me what you're specifically looking for right now and I'll see what I can do.

not sure if you are interested in it but there is a card that might suit the deck Crumbling Sanctuary. Not sure how far back you want to go with your cards though. It would effectively eliminate any life gain, puts everyone's deck on a timer, and most importantly- set you up because you can be prepaired for it.