Subject: Is card disadvantage an advantage? Date: Sun, 11 Oct 98 22:04:21 -0400 From: Thomas Adams To: Card advantage in magic has been defined as a cornerstone strategy of any successful deck (i.e. "The Deck," "D5C/U5C," "CounterPhoenix/Hammer," etc.). This strategy has dated back since Magic began. However, card disadvantage has also been used as a viable strategy (Bazaar Reanimator, Classic Reanimator, Balance/Rack Decks, ViseAge, etc.) Only until till most recently has Magic been able to use this concept too its fullest extent After the "Cursed Scroll" made its appearance in many top decks, this concept was made possible. For instance, the whole purpose of the Sligh was do dump your hand as quick as possible then slap down a scroll and wail on you opponent. Although having card dissadvantage in decks like the Sligh is important, I think it is more complicated then that. The point I am trying to make is that your had is an important resource, and this statement is growing in importance as new sets are being released. After Tempest, Stronghold brought us new cards that added to this concept. For example, "Ensnaring Bridge" gives a clear advantage to an player who doesn't have any cards in hand. A player simply turns card dissadvantage into a bonus by stoping creatures from attacking. Another card that also turns your hand into a resource is "Dream Halls." People have criticized "Dream Halls" because of its double edge nature, but it can be turned into a powerful tool as Zvi has demonstrated. Finaly, the Mox Diamond is also use your hand as a resource. It relies on extra lands in hand to give you a mana advantage. When, Exodus was released this theme was emphasized ten fold. For instance, Exodus bombarded us with Keeper of the Mind, Penance, Aether Tide, Ephemeron, Forbid, Volraths Dungeon, Mage il-Vec, Sonic Burst, Ogre Shaman, etc. Exodus also gave some potentialy powerful cards which in my opinion, are devastatingly powerful when used properly. Mind Over Matter Null Brooch Peace of Mind Oath of Scholars Seismic Assault Manabond Survival of the Fitest Mind Over Matter in my opinion, is almost a bah-roken card because of its versatility. The only thing that prevents it from being any more powerful is its casting cost (2UUUU). When you look at it from face value its not very impressive, but when you have that baby in play with a Mana Vault and a hand full of cards (ouch, thats pretty powerful). Null Brooch's power is also over looked. It can be tossed into any deck. Its ability is almost uncounterable. You can use it in conjunction with many cards Cursed Scroll, Scalding Tongs, Enstnaring Bridge, Manabond, etc. Peace of Mind is a Zuran Orb for your hand, and it is easily splashable. Oath of Scholars is a little on the expensive side, but if you don't have any cards in your hand its like an Ancestral Recall every turn (where have we heard that one before). Seismic Assault turns any excess lands you come across into a Shock, and it is compatible with Tongs, Cursed Scroll, and Ensnaring Bridge. Manabond is a card that may take a little pondering. If you use a deck that relies on card disadvantage it is a good way too dump cards (Reanimator, Living Death), and play more lands on the opening turn. Furthermore it works well with cards that allow you to search your library and put cards in your hand (Mulch, Tithe, etc.). Survival of the Fitest this is awesome. Discard a creature card for a Worldly Tutor, and it works fantasticly well with Living Death decks. I hope it is very clear that card disadvantage/hand resource is concievably an new type of deck archtype. As a closing note, I would like to say that a deck that sucessfully combines hand resources and card advantage will be ultra powerfull in Type II. Thank You Geoff Adams tiromancy@hotmail.com