Posted on by Peter Alonzi

Match Recap with Dads

Welcome to part II of the unknown length part series on the Nettling Dad’s mono white draftravaganza. For the draft and deckbuild part see part I here.

Match Summary

This run started good 2-0. But then went off the rails for a 2-3 finish. I will not bury the lead, in game 3 my mana wasn’t perfect and I let it get to me and that propagated through the remaining games. So what do you do about it? You pick one game and call in the Benalish Dad for coaching.

Coaching Summary

A good discord chat thread and then a live screen share session and we had a solid breakdown and discussion of game 4, (details here). From that we identified a few key coaching points for me to focus on. They are:

  1. mental fortitude – know what tilts you and step away if you can
  2. prove it – if you read that they have a combat trick it is usually wise to make them prove it
  3. plan – have a plan, update your plan, don’t get stuck in an outdated plan

There are couple other context points to hit.

  1. I have been on hiatus from magic for 7 years, AFR was my first set back but as LSV points out in LR #614, ~”you cannot play matches in MID like you did in AFR, this ain’t a core set”. I am definitely digging out of a hole there. e.g., coaching point number 2 is something I worked on a decade ago and it is back with a vengeance.
  2. Once AFR draft got boring I started grinding mono white weenie in standard 2022, once I learned the format I was winning a ton on autopilot and I think it actually caused me to lose my limited edge.

Coaching Details

The Benalish Dad provided a few step marks in my replays for us to focus on. I tried to remember where my mind was at in that moment and then compare to what I could see looking back at the replay later. In particular we identified that I was not seeing all of my options and that my lack of mental toughness (on tilt) was the root cause.

In both of these scenarios it is my turn. What’s the play? (post in the comments)

Conclusion

I now have some coaching points to work on. My plan is to isolate and focus on one point at a time until I level up then move on to the next. And then once I am better at these I will still lose games and we will still be able to recap and coach!

Posted on by Peter Alonzi · 2 Comments

Building with the Dads

I started a draft and it was bonkers. And then I was joined by the Benalish Dad and Matt_Daemon for deckbuilding. Part II will be the match recap. Let’s go!

The Draft

link to draft recap: https://www.17lands.com/draft/6a4c9538b1c64ca7bc8be0696dfa1317

The Build

This draft was very heavy on payables, here are the late cuts.

My interest in Sungold Barrage comes from wanting a way to clear out a big blocker. In the end we decided to go with pump spells.

My interest in Lunarch Veteran came from listening to Lords of Limited (link) and their discussion about the card. I still think I should have found a way to fit them in but is 5 one drops really the way to go? Is it really better than Chaplain of Alms?

Follow up on these points in the match recap post.

Final Decklist

Come back for part 2 to see how it went!

editor’s note

That deck is pure fire! I might have put the lunarch veteran back in and cut an Odric’s Outrider (which is a fine card, but grinder than this deck)

Posted on by Peter Alonzi · 1 Comment

Blaggro

Let’s talk about black aggro aka blaggro. I had fun playing with a couple pieces in a recent draft. I got a trophy, but, it’s real early in the format, so get your grains of salt ready. Anyway, let’s go

Check out this 2-drop. It was bonkers for me. TBF, I think the value will drop as people learn the format. But for now, this bad boy grows big.

And having shown a opener lets look at a finisher that is better than you think on first glance.

In case you missed it the second part says “whenever a creature dies”. Which means ….

Is spicy.

To see what I’m talking about check out the final game of this draft, but ignore the first few turns where my mind was off somewhere else: https://www.17lands.com/draft/713df7f4e51d4ddfb6e0f2a65bdaea90

Also please ignore the part of that one game where I forgot instants exists, that was a rough moment for me.

Posted on by Peter Alonzi

Welcome to Innistrad

Alert! Alert! Alert! Contortionist Troupe is the real deal!

Seriously, XG get X counters is usually good and this team is a house. Only gets better in multiples. Buy Buy Buy!

Editor’s Note

Also note the pretty clever pun on contortionist, since it can “contort” itself into whatever power you need to turn on Coven! Brilliant design.

Posted on by Peter Alonzi

I Installed 17 Lands

So I finally got around to doing a security check on the 17 lands software. The code is on github here (https://github.com/rconroy293/mtga-log-client), and they could try to snake you since you give over admin rights, but I figured, “hey, live a little”.

Here is a link to the draft: https://www.17lands.com/draft/675bf21b1b4e4af4aba957d6e610eb86. I also recorded commentary on this draft just for you, Benalish Dad.

Pack 1

Packs 2 and 3

Deckbuilding notes


There wasn’t anything really tricky here. All of the two drops and three drops were very powerful. The four drops were just 3x Inspiring Bard which is ideal for a Roper infused Pack Tactics deck. And due to the Goblin lords the five slot was very easy. We didn’t need the dragon as a finisher and green is the worst dragon anyway.

Match Results: 7-1

*trophy emoji*

Fortunately for me I was only play in three quarters of the games. That really boosts the chances for the pack tactics deck. Unfortunately the patch for AFR busted the game logs so we can’t dig into it. You will have to be satisfied with the ledger. Specific notes:

  • g1: I flooded hard
  • g2: As you can see in the record I only saw swamps from them, safe to say they had a color problem
  • g3: They misplayed pretty severely for a platinum player
  • g4: I got the dream curve
  • g5: I got the dream curve
  • g6: I made a minor play error but my opponent got mana problems
  • g7: Curved well but they had removal and such so it took a while longer
  • g8: They stumbled on land so it wasn’t close.
Posted on by Peter Alonzi

[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE] PSA: Play 3 Colors

Attn: Everyone

I was drafting along, minding my own business when all of the sudden I got passed Bahamut p2p2. I wasn’t in white but said, “let’s do it”. I wound up in “3 color good stuff” and it worked. I was 6-1 and then in game 8 was RNG away from the win.

This is your fault!

Here’s the deal, there is a ton of fixing in this set. The power you get from going to three colors is bonkers. You get multiple bombs. So let’s talk about fixing.

Here are the bombs I played

And here is the late game gas I never had trouble casting

FWIW: I consider a White Dragon a bomb and if you drop a Purple Worm on turn 5 (which I did twice) it is a bomb too. I should also mention that Volo doubling any of those feels real good.

Part I: Fixing

First of all, please ignore all the comments you have heard about this set being not a good set for splashing because there is no color fixing. Those were early reports and they did not realize that every card that says ‘treasure’ or ‘venture’ is a color fixer. See this post.

Secondly, there are two lands that help with fixing and the dragon land is a doozy. In this set if you want dragons you get dragons so it is on point.

You have to get some of these for this plan to work.

Oh, and there is one more thing about lands. Play 18 lands. I’ll say it again. Play 18 lands. Your 23rd card is not as good as having that clutch 3rd color producing land. And the power you get from being able to play more bombs is all you need.

Finally, the real reason this whole thing can fly. The mana smoothing algorithm in best of one matches on arena. Did you know that when arena presents you a hand at the start of the game it is actually the more color balanced of two random draws from your deck? Well if you didn’t I’m here to tell you that Wizards has your back and they give you two cracks at getting the color apple. In a three color deck this means you are gonna hit two of your colors in the first draw and then you just have to work your plan to get the third.

I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention my ramp all star

Mage Hand FTW!

Results: 6-3

I started 6-1 was an RNG away from winning (they drew their dragon and I drew land, it could have gone the other way). I had no chance in the last game, it was the only game of the nine where I had color problems. It was all blue hand and no Islands.

Screenshots:

This is the power of the mana smoothing algorithm. Is there luck here? Absolutely, but it is not as lucky as you think.
I just had to share this board state. The board is mostly GW, especially when you see the White Dragon in the yard. But don’t forget to look at that Blue Dragon in the hand that is castable.

Decklist:

Deck


1 Minimus Containment (AFR) 24
1 Intrepid Outlander (AFR) 191
1 Purple Worm (AFR) 201
1 Gretchen Titchwillow (AFR) 223
1 Prosperous Innkeeper (AFR) 200
1 Shortcut Seeker (AFR) 73
1 Volo, Guide to Monsters (AFR) 238
1 Grand Master of Flowers (AFR) 17
1 Charmed Sleep (AFR) 50
3 Clever Conjurer (AFR) 51
1 Blue Dragon (AFR) 49
1 Rimeshield Frost Giant (AFR) 69
1 Loyal Warhound (AFR) 23
1 Drizzt Do’Urden (AFR) 220
1 Underdark Basilisk (AFR) 208
1 Half-Elf Monk (AFR) 19
1 White Dragon (AFR) 41
1 Temple of the Dragon Queen (AFR) 260
1 Secret Door (AFR) 71
1 Portable Hole (AFR) 33
1 Contact Other Plane (AFR) 52
6 Forest (AFR) 281
5 Island (AFR) 269
6 Plains (AFR) 265

Sideboard
1 Dragon’s Fire (AFR) 139
1 Leather Armor (AFR) 248
2 Circle of the Moon Druid (AFR) 177
1 You Meet in a Tavern (AFR) 215
1 Inspiring Bard (AFR) 189
2 Ranger’s Longbow (AFR) 203
1 Sylvan Shepherd (AFR) 206
1 Soulknife Spy (AFR) 75
2 Iron Golem (AFR) 247
1 Ranger’s Hawk (AFR) 37
1 You Find the Villains’ Lair (AFR) 84
1 Air-Cult Elemental (AFR) 45
1 Shocking Grasp (AFR) 72
1 Mimic (AFR) 249
1 Silver Raven (AFR) 74
1 Compelled Duel (AFR) 178

Posted on by Peter Alonzi

Draft Report: “Top” – Black/Green Morbid

This report goes into detail a different way than before. It was a pretty easy read on the table that BG was the place for me and that RW was open but not the right place for me. (Sidenote: the first deck I ever played was BG with a Force of Nature and a Lord of the Pit)

I want to touch on some solid cards and then get into draft deck talk. Here we go!

I have listened to the reviews on Limited Resources and read some articles over at channel fireball. I think things are starting to emerge.

  • Commons and Uncommons – link
  • Everything else – link
  • Channel Fireball – link

Taking that advice influenced me to rank a few cards higher than I had before.

These pieces fit nicely into a BG deck along with a couple other very nice pieces. I was pretty good on my read of these three but I was timid on the Ghast. NO MORE!

The one thing I wound up in trouble on was removal. I had to run two Eyes of the Beholder instead of something more efficient.

I’m not gonna get greedy and demand a Power Word Kill, but I’d take it! I will say the instant speed on the eyes is nice.

Overall I thought it was solid and had the major components I’m looking for right now.

  • Early action plan
  • A plan to win
  • The ability to handle big butts

There’s more of course but right now that serves for basis of conversation. Let’s drill into the ‘plan to win’. The format is young and in flux. The meta isn’t decided and drafts are going to fluctuate. You can put too much into it yet. There are open questions:

  • Which archetypes are weak/strong?
  • Which archetypes are aggro/mid range/control?
  • How much do Bombs matter?
  • Do people realize how easily treasure let’s you splash? – link

With all of that said, they way I go forward is to look for deck lists and see if I can draft that list. It’s tricky because early on in the format a lot of nonesense. As that frenzy decays we will see what decks are possible to draft. And then start to think, “Ok, I’m drafting BG and I have these pieces but I am missing X”. Once we get there, it is showtime, the format is mature, and we can begin to play magic.

ps: you may be wondering how the draft went. I was disappointed. It went 4-1 and then I went loss loss to finish on 4-3. Those last two losses were particularly tough because in each game I finished by drawing consecutive 5 lands and 4 lands respectively. They were tight games but I gotta feel that flooding out on both cost me at least one win and then I’d still be going.

Posted on by Peter Alonzi

Sealed Report: It’s a wave AND a particle

I’d love to say every game is winnable but it just ain’t so.

I’d love to think every game is lost because of the choices I’ve made, but i just ain’t so.

Sometimes you make the optimal choices and still lose.

Randomness is a thing and this set has a lot of d20s!

This is my first event recap post. I always start out a new format with a sealed event at the prerelease. It’s wild and fun. It is tough to assess because you don’t even know the cards yet but I will do my best. And also take this opportunity to talk about how I review.

I always write down a couple notes on why I won or lost. Let’s take a look at those notes and then give them a second angry look. The key is in the moment to write down why I thought I lost. And then look at those statements to see if I am blaming myself, bad luck, them having better cards, mana, etc. The end goal is to realize when I’m spot on and when I’m not. Thinking this way enables me to identify areas where I can improve.

  • g1 – L – got stuck on 4 mana also minor play mistakes
  • g2 – W – They got mana screwed hard and couldn’t recover
  • g3 – L – I drew lands 5 turns in a row and got on the back foot; they had more powerful cards
  • g4 – W – poor play by opponent; I held back a finisher they didn’t see coming FTW alpha strike
  • g5 – L – I did not know the set and got lit up by set specific tricks (like black creature with flash makes a damaged creature die); they had more powerful cards

What patterns do we see? Do I ever use the same description on win and loss. For example I say “they had more powerful cards” when I lose, but I never say that when I win. Interesting!!!!!!

See wasn’t that fun. Sometimes we are embarrassed to say why we thought we lost publicly. We may worry people will say we are ‘stupid’ or something. But this is how I improve. I take a critical look at why I think I won and lost.

Bonus info: The name at the top in quotes is the name of my deck so if you ever want to duel that deck just friend Nettling Dad#97363 on area and it is on!

Posted on by Peter Alonzi · 1 Comment

PSA: Splashes are free

So I haven’t played since the introduction of treasure. But it is crazy easy to get treasure in this set. So that means you can splash a fun rare like Orcus for free.

And the best part is one of the dungeons has create a treasure token on the second level.

Benalish Dad Commentary

Granted, this needs some “venture” action (White/Blue/Black largely) to dig to that treasure. But you can rely upon it as a game plan! Very reminiscent of knowing that you have Environmental Sciences in the lessonboard from Strixhaven. Count on that treasure!

Posted on by Peter Alonzi · 2 Comments

The Nettling Dad is Back

Hello everyone. This is the Nettling Dad and it is a pleasure to be back in the MTG blogging world1. Many thanks to the Benalish Dad for the invite. Before we get started a little background is in order.

About me: My gaming life is primarily defined by two games MTG and D&D. I started playing both during the same year, 1994. Originally MTG was dominant, until Ice Age (’95) when D&D took over2. However I was back to MTG a decade later when Ravnica: City of Guilds debuted (’05). Finally the pendulum swung back to D&D after Theros Block (’14). Which brings us to today … the introduction of D&D IP into the MTG multiverse. Let’s see what happens…

… one more thing you need to know about me … I’m a limited player. Don’t get me wrong, I build 60-card decks for fun if an idea strikes my fancy. I’m not a monster. But there is just something about the purity of the limited format that calls me.

So here’s my approach. I am in for one set and one set only3.

I mean just looks at what cards are like in this set.

But there will be a lot of things to learn. I have no idea where the color pie is at now: Is Howl from beyond still black? Is Granite Gargoyle still red? Is green still about nature? Did Mark Rosewater write an update to his 2017 color pie article4?

This will be my first foray into playing MTG digitally. I downloaded MODO about ten years ago but it was … crash time city … so I gave up. I’m off an running with MTG Arena so I should have no trouble learning which buttons to push before D&D:AitFR (AFR) drops on July 8. I still have to figure out where to put my DCI number … but I am super excited for NO SHUFFLING EVER AGAIN!

Footnotes

1. RIP Magical Notes
2. You may suspect, and you’d be right, that it was really Fallen Empires that drove me away, but the process wasn’t complete until Ice Age was released. In much the same way that the rot set in with The Last Jedi and then we all unfairly took it out on Solo.
3. I know, I don’t believe it either, just humor me.
4. MECHANICAL COLOR PIE 2017