iPhone Magic 2013

Discussion in 'iPhone and iPad Games' started by Vernimator, Jun 20, 2012.

  1. Brrobotix

    Brrobotix Well-Known Member

    Oct 24, 2011
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    Can someone give me a rundown of the strategies/skills involved in each of the decks in the 2 expansion decks (deck pack 2 and 3)? Also, how usable they are (for example, is it too slow?)? Im thinking about getting them but wondering if its worth the trouble.
     
  2. FoolishEarthling

    FoolishEarthling Well-Known Member

    Jun 24, 2012
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    Manchester, UK
    Deck Pack 2 (GR Gruul, WB Orzhov) is a mixed bag.

    The Gruul deck is more interesting than Garruk, but not much more interesting. There are good laughs to be had by Berzerking up some huge 16/6 monster from a 4/4 and winning games, but it's a one-trick pony. The Orzhov deck is one of the strongest in the game, and perhaps the deck I'm playing against most often online - good versatile removal and solid threats, it's a great deck.

    Deck Pack 3 (UB Dimir, UWGRB Five Color)

    This is all about the 5 colour deck, which has all the crazy massive 6-9 mana cards, and some ways of casting them. The Dimir deck looks uninspiring (the theme is little creatures your opponent can't block, which won't stop him smashing your face in while you peck them for 2 per turn). The 5c deck is fun though, if you like casting ridonkulous spells. It also seems to be really powerful.
     
  3. LordGek

    LordGek Well-Known Member
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    Feb 19, 2009
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    #1283 LordGek, Jan 12, 2013
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2013
    Is it just me or has the contextual card help gone to crap in these DLC packs? I used to rely on "More Info" to explain new card mechanics I'd never seen before but when I played a card last night with "Plain Cycling" the more info only covered silly basic aspects like this is a creature (no, duh) but nothing on what Plain Cycling is (looking elsewhere online I now get it is a tricky thing of discarding that card for a cost to pull up a plains card from my deck). :(

    Other than that I'm actually pretty impressed how they made Dimir (Mr. Rainbow) an actual viable deck!
     
  4. FoolishEarthling

    FoolishEarthling Well-Known Member

    Jun 24, 2012
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    I think the 5c deck may be one of the strongest in the game - it has all the mass removal you could want, and some really tough threats. The only thing it's missing is a bit of lifegain somewhere along the line, because you tend to stabilise on pretty low health... it's a shame none of the Charms have a lifegain option.

    Like I said, I'd be interested to see how people are building the 5 color deck as it has so many attractive options...

    Real Estate
    4 Rampant Growth
    4 Cultivate

    FEED! ME! MORE!
    2 Savage Twister
    2 Bant Charm
    2 Naya Charm
    2 Jund Charm
    1 Maelstrom Pulse
    1 Pernicious Deed
    3 Vindicate
    3 Day of Judgement
    4 Allied Strategies
    2 Prophetic Bolt

    Too Hot To Handle
    2 Broodmate Dragon
    1 Enigma Sphinx
    1 Empyrial Archangel
    1 Sphinx of the Steel Wind

    2 Evolving Wilds
    4 Terramorphic Expanse
    3 Island
    4 Plains
    4 Swamp
    4 Mountain
    5 Forest

    The card I want to play but can't quite fit in is Violent Ultimatum, which with Vindicate and Naya Charm recursion I can use to completely smash all their lands. The casting cost on the Ultimatum is just too rich, though - you usually only need 1 Mountain and the Ultimatum asks you for three.
     
  5. Brrobotix

    Brrobotix Well-Known Member

    Oct 24, 2011
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    It seems that the 5 mana deck is good but very slow, relying on growth cards to speed the mana growth process. I've been able to win with faster decks a few times online.

    Also, anyone have impressions of the expansion decks, and those in the first deck pack? I just bought 2 and 3, and I have the expansion. Just wondering which decks are worth my time to grind out the unlockable cards.(I'm pretty fond of Golgari)
     
  6. FoolishEarthling

    FoolishEarthling Well-Known Member

    Jun 24, 2012
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    Manchester, UK
    Golgari is an excellent deck - pretty close to a stock tournament deck known as 'Rock', with some powerful and versatile removal (I can't believe they gave you Pernicious Deed) and really big scary men. Troll Ascetic is a proper beatstick as well. It's definitely one of the Top 5 decks in the game, and one of the decks you pick if you're genuinely trying to win.

    I don't like the Selesnaya deck because it doesn't do enough to disrupt the opponent, although I recognise that if it gets Parallel Lives down it can quickly swarm opponents.

    Rakdos is a pretty standard aggressive deck that has a killer card in - the Demigod of Revenge. If they draw two Demigod of Revenge it beats pretty much anything. The rest of a the deck is full of cards that you'd rather not play - I spent ages trying to find a Rakdos list that was good because I felt there was one, but however you build it there are only 55 good cards, and 5 are forced to play 5 cards that you don't really ever want to draw.

    Izzet is a decent control deck - I'd put it as the second best on the list. It can't beat big creatures because all the removal is based on burn spells, so a Pelakka Wurm causes it fits, but there are enough ways of trading positively with your opponent and getting ahead on cards to make it a serious deck (Prophetic Bolt, Arc Lightning, Electrolyze, Thunder Dragon).

    Azorious is the unusual one, because I think it's the only case where a Duels 2013 deck has inspired a real life deck. In the past month the Modern PTQs have seen the surprise rise of a deck known as 'Slippery Bogle' which revolves around playing a 1/1 Hexproof creature on your first turn then stacking a load of creature Aura's on it. It features the key cards from the Azorious deck (Kor Spiritdancer, Daybreak Coronet) and I'm pretty sure that deck only exists because somebody played this deck on Duels and decided to make it in real life. Anyway, Azorious is very different to other decks so worth exploring for that reason alone. Often it wins or loses games on the quality of it's opening hand so Mulligans are important - if you get a creature and a couple of good enchantments you win. If you get all creatures or all enchantments you lose.
     
  7. FoolishEarthling

    FoolishEarthling Well-Known Member

    Jun 24, 2012
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    It's for that reason that my deck packs pretty much ALL the mass removal. I tested it vs Krenko a lot and the 5 colour deck is definitely favourite in the matchup. The only match I lost online was to Goblin Grenade, when I was about to win. Odric doesn't really stand a chance because you've got ways of killing Honor of the Pure. I lost to double Demigod vs Rakdos, but any deck loses to double Demigod. Haven't tried vs Gruul. I'm pretty sure the 5c deck is right up there with the best decks. The one I'm worried about is Jace's Millstone deck - all the land filtering you do makes your deck smaller, which helps him out.
     
  8. FoolishEarthling

    FoolishEarthling Well-Known Member

    Jun 24, 2012
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    Manchester, UK
    This is a game I just played vs Odric, to illustrate how strong you are vs creature rush...

    Forest

    Plains, Elite Vanguard

    Island, Rampant Growth for Mountain

    Plains, Attack for 2 (18), Squadron Hawk

    Island, Cultivate for Swamp and Plains

    Plains, Attended Knight, attack for 3 (15)

    Plains, Savage Twister for 2

    Plains, Squadron hawk, Squadron Hawk

    Forest, Cultivate for Swamp and Plains

    Plains, attack for 2 (13), Crusader of Odric, Squadron Hawk

    Cultivate for Island and Mountain, Mountain, Savage Twister for 1

    Flickerwisp

    Allied Strategies for 5 cards, Broodmate Dragon

    Flickerwisp, exile token Dragon

    Forest, Maelstrom Pulse two Flickerwisps, attack for 4 (16)

    Crusader of Odric, Fiend Hunter to exile Broodmate Dragon

    Plains, Vindicate Fiend Hunter (return Broodmate and Token), play Broodmate Dragon #2

    Oblivion Ring a dragon token (topdecked to survive a turn)

    attack for 12 (4), Terramorphic Expanse for Mountain

    Plains, attack for 1 (12)

    Swamp, attack for 12 (-8)


    Game over. I had a Pernicious Deed in my opening hand that I never needed to use, so was in no danger of losing at any point. Between Cultivate and Allied Strategies I'd drawn 50% more cards than my opponent... you can't beat that kind of firepower.
     
  9. Brrobotix

    Brrobotix Well-Known Member

    Oct 24, 2011
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    Yup, I beat a guy online with that deck. Although I also lost to the same guy when he was able to play a few big creatures and I didn't have enough mind control/clone spells available. I think Jaces deck might be my favorite.

    I really like the Golgari. The AI once used pernicious deed in combo with two blood artists and about 8 creatures total on the field to beat me in one turn, when I had 16 life. There's a lot of opportunities with the deck, that's for sure. How should I build it though?
     
  10. Wizards_Sean

    Wizards_Sean Active Member

    Jul 23, 2012
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    Associate Community Manager for Magic: The Gatheri
    Seattle, WA
    Good to see everyone's enjoying the Mana Mastery and Rogues' Gallery decks! FYI, if anyone's interested in connecting with more members of the Duels iPad community, there's a new thread in the official forums where people are listing their usernames. It might be a good way to put your Magic skills to the test. :)
     
  11. FoolishEarthling

    FoolishEarthling Well-Known Member

    Jun 24, 2012
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    FoolishEarthling

    Or if you're in Europe and coming to GP London then I'll be on coverage, come say hi!
     
  12. CoreyB

    CoreyB Well-Known Member

    Aug 25, 2011
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    Aircraft Mechanic
    Chicago, IL
    I need some help from some pros, I'm getting killed by Odric in the revenge campaign. What do I need to do to beat this guy, he is to quick. I've been trying with the new mana deck but its just not working for me.
     
  13. Brrobotix

    Brrobotix Well-Known Member

    Oct 24, 2011
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    Try to slim down the higher cost cards in the goblin gang deck and use it. It might take a few tries, but the goblin gang is the fastest deck I've come across so far. Also you might want to look into Chandra's fire deck which has a lot of skills that can burn away multiple enemies
     
  14. FoolishEarthling

    FoolishEarthling Well-Known Member

    Jun 24, 2012
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    Mr Burkhart?

    The Revenge Odric is probably the end of game boss for Duels 2013 - he hits like a truck, always has removal for your men, and doesn't lie down. Krenko tests your speed more, but Odric just keeps asking questions until (most) decks run out of answers.

    Anyway... if you've fully unlocked the 5 colour deck then this matchup is pretty easy because you've way more board sweepers than he has ways of making dudes. If you're missing stuff like the Jund Charms from your unlock pile I imagine it's a bit more awkward.

    If I remember from when I first faced Odric the Chandra deck has good game once it's unlocked, otherwise one of your best plans is to go on the offense or to play a deck with Enchantment removal to attack his Oblivion Rings and Journey to Nowhere - one of your best plays is to convince him he can attack by playing possum then removing an Oblivion Ring/Fiend Hunter at instant speed to give yourself a blocker and eat his guy.

    But like I said, the 5c deck is one of your best options in the matchup (as I demonstrated back a page). He just walks headlong into all your board sweepers all day long. Easy meat.
     
  15. CoreyB

    CoreyB Well-Known Member

    Aug 25, 2011
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    Aircraft Mechanic
    Chicago, IL
    Wow, used your advice won first time, wasn't even close. Thanks a lot.
     
  16. CoreyB

    CoreyB Well-Known Member

    Aug 25, 2011
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    Aircraft Mechanic
    Chicago, IL
    I need your help again, this time Krenko. Who should I use and what strategy. I have all decks and cards. He drops so many cards so fast, then pumps them up, plus sacrifices for direct damage, I barely last 4 rounds.
     
  17. darkhorse

    darkhorse Well-Known Member

    Jan 18, 2009
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    #1297 darkhorse, Jan 20, 2013
    Last edited: Jan 20, 2013
    Chandra FTW. I'm pretty sure I ran through just her deck in the campaign and revenge campaign, and eventually beat everyone. Also if you haven't already, trim your deck down to about 60-61 cards so you can get whatever you need sooner...

    As for strat... uhh burn everything he throws at ya haha.
     
  18. Moonmist

    Moonmist Well-Known Member

    May 13, 2009
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    at my computer?
    I am new to magic and need help. What is the best deck to use against Golgari in the expansion campaign... He is the only one I cannot seem to beat.
     
  19. tabs

    tabs Well-Known Member

    Feb 26, 2009
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    Goblin seems to work fine, as with any deck. Best tip I can give you is to use the deck that you are comfortable with. Having a good deck build as well as knowing how to use it properly is crucial. And also, do not start a game with a bad hand. Quit and start the game again until you are happy with your hand (example, first turn goblin guide and second turn instigator and third turn chieftain with a goblin grenade to boot). Good luck.
     
  20. Moonmist

    Moonmist Well-Known Member

    May 13, 2009
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    at my computer?
    Thanks for the tip. I actually beat it the first try after posting that using the mindstorms deck.
     

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