Subject: Static Orb deck idea Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 16:20:17 +-100 From: The Roy Family To: "'fkusumot@ix.netcom.com'" This idea came to me while thinking about the new orb. Static orb would probably shut down most decks, right? Now, if you could play better under its conditions than your opponent, then you should be set, correct? With Icy Manipulator out in thbe Standard environment, you've got only a few cards that would help you out (Listed Below). I'd like to name this "METAL FIRE" if it manages to become popular (against all odds). The way this deck should work, goes as follows 1st turn- land 2nd turn- Medallion 3rd turn- Orb 4th turn- play a tradewind and continue to stock up on permanents or drop a Fattie and pound on them Here's an idea of what should go in. 4 Sapphire Meddalions ("What, I don't have to tap my mana?") 4 Ghost Town (Once that Orb enters play, it's ability begins to make sense, and works fine for paying artifact mana. Actually it kicks butt) Undiscovered Paradise (This one is also an idea. Same as above any way you look at it, and say you want to add colors) Apathy (This one is only an idea. Great early game advantage, yet wonderful to untap your own creatures, once you have the Orb) 4 Static Orb (Establish the lock, once you have to many in hand, hope you'll discard it to apathy) 2 or 4 Meditate (big deal I skip a turn, he takes one turn to untap only two permanents, I counter his spell, draw four cards, OK! Maybe, I'll pitch some cards to untap some Apathy affected creatures) 2 or 4 Impulse (A great reason to use blue) Twiddle (Also and idea. You do well without it, better with it. So your oppenent untaps only two permanents a turn, I untap all of them) Boomerang (Bounce back your Orb, or their permanents) 4 Tradewind Rider (Even better, a cost efficient reusable Boomerang) 4 Man-o-War (Duh!) 4 Counter Spell (Efficient) 4 Memory Lapse (Ditto) 4 Sage Owls (Library manipulation, plus, a creature to use with the Tradewind) Some really big flying creatures (Incredibly cost efficient once you have the Medallions, and give a serious pounding when your opponent can't handle it, or the Orb) The idea is to win with damage, unless anybody can find a way deck your opponent without stopping the card drawing. If Undiscovered Paradise is used, Abeyance might also be a good idea to put in. While playtesting, I've realized that Tradewind Riders makes this deck kill. My opponent untaps two permanents, I untap all of mine. I've just played three games, now there isn't much to learn through such little playtesting, but I'm convinced it can work well. Considering I just played a very quick Type I Goblin deck and I'm playing Standard, and lasted all the way to 21 cards left in my library, this worked well. Life totals, mine = 4, his = 11 until a double Ball Lightning and a Goblin Balloon Brigade, managed to get by 3 Tradewind Riders. I also managed to get out 4 Sapphire Medallions, and 13 land. The Tradewind Riders, and Ghost Towns are beyond God-like. It basically reminds me of a Prison Lock Deck. He untaps two permanents and I untap 20 or so, but It's late and I'm to tired to hurt my eyes counting. It holds well even without the Orbs. I'm rethinking my idea though. Twiddle (gotta get his permanents tapped) should go in, or a worthy replacement. Boomerang (has to go, Tradewind Riders are much more effective). More counters (Dismiss, and Dissipate, because first of all, they become extremely efficient, once the medallions are out, that is usually pretty quick). More Fatties (I managed to get out an Air Elemental early on without the Orb, kill some Goblin Balloon Brigades, and wreak havoc untill it was buried with a big ol' Goblin Grenade) This is a work in progress, so anybody who has the resources to try this out, and the deck building skills to try different ways to win with it, please e-mail at the top address. I think it would be really cool if this became one of the new staple decks, but I severely need massive input. It has great potential to be something big. If anyone can last 35 turns against Red Cheese, It's gotta mean something. :-) Props: to everyone that tries this out for me. to anyone who tries it out at a tournament, loses, and doesn't send me a letter bomb! :-) to anyone who doesn't judge books by their cover. Slops: to anyone that thinks this was written by some computer nerd teenager, with acne galore, and has no personal social life (NOW AIN'T THAT CUTE, BUT IT'S WRONG!) P.S. Sorry I gotta go to bed now, my mommy says so. My 6:30 curfew is a real bummer. (Just kiddin') Thanks for reading, Justin Haugen