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No. The problem with AVR (imo) is the lack of depth in build around cards. It feels like a core set because you are busy drafting 2 drops and 3 drops since Soulbound is well soul-crushing. If your deck can't beat something like 1 drop - 2 drop soulbound - 3 drop - 4 drop soulbound, then it's not going to do well.
Black gets around soulbound's mana cheating (when was the last time you were happy to draft a 4/3 vanilla 4 drop in green that COULD potentially fly/deathtouch/lifelink/haste etc.) with Homicidal Seclusion since all their stuff is gigantic and true removal is hard to come by and thus making aforementioned big things even harder to handle. Yet, that's balanced by just overall weaker color and thus making it difficult to dedicate yourself to that color from the get-go.
In fact, all of the colors aren't as deep as previous sets where you find yourself short on playables. Basically the crux of this set from my (as brief as possible since I really don't like this set) experience is the 4 power mark and the 3 toughness mark on creatures is very important along with the 2 drop slot. This makes sense considering the best commons play around these 3 concepts. Given there aren't any neat combo decks, the format is just plain bland to draft since everyone bar the Homicidal Seclusion drafters are drafting some kind of aggro deck based in W/R/G.
Like the only card I would want to see at 7 mana or more in this set in a draft is Greiselbrand, every other big card isn't even first pickable over the better uncommons and commons or second pickable in some instances. 6 drops are pushing it as is and they would have to impact the board upon entering the battlefield, not a turn after.
Soulbound just makes it very easy to overwhelm the opponent and IMO more punishing than the werewolf flip mechanic when facing slow hands. So you can't do anything but draft your deck like a core set.
Edit:
Figuring out what can and can't table in drafts is something you should be doing in any draft, it's definitely not limited (inadvertent pun) to just AVR.
Edit 2:
For comparison reasons, Shapeshifter was a rare as a 2 mana 1/1 that changed into various effects in Green for M12 while Soulbound in AVR is pretty common (another inadvertent pun). Just to illustrate how solid Soulbound is in Limited.
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To go further on Judicator's point- the lack of depth in every color makes drafting pretty stale since you really can't make picks based on what you think will spin around the table- it's rare to have a pack with 6 solid, maindeck cards. This makes drafting a lot less interesting as you can't formulate a plan and just have to figure out really quick what your seat should be playing.
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On June 22 2012 10:28 ManyCookies wrote:Show nested quote +On June 22 2012 09:58 Slakkoo wrote:
This game isnt really "noobfriendly", right? I've played some Duel of the planeswalker on the PS3 and I love the game even though I don't understand much, perhaps if some other noob wanna play, I'm in =) No and yes, sort of depends on who you play with and what you're trying to learn. If you're starting out, people will generally be merciful and help you out. Beyond that, my friends' teaching methods were "Keep making stupid mistakes until you lose enough games to look out for those mistakes". But it totally depends. And god was that not helpful at all, was it?
I really feel the Magic community is very open to new players. I can't count how many times I've seen a new guy at my store been given solid advice and even a hook-up with some cards for their deck. If you come in and want to get better at the game people will be there to help you out, just be a friendly dude =].
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On June 25 2012 03:09 Rainmaker5 wrote:
To go further on Judicator's point- the lack of depth in every color makes drafting pretty stale since you really can't make picks based on what you think will spin around the table- it's rare to have a pack with 6 solid, maindeck cards. This makes drafting a lot less interesting as you can't formulate a plan and just have to figure out really quick what your seat should be playing.
So it's like zendikar block with a shallow pool?
Glad I have had no time to play this format lol
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Kind of. It's a pretty bad. Landfall raped cause of its reuseable nature in a card type that everyone had to play in Lands. Same goes for Soulbound, except its a little more situational, but only slightly since you can't stack soulbound like you could for landfall triggers (1st world Magic problems imo). Anyways, soulbound is something that rewards good deck building anyways (curve considerations and etc.) and plays with the other common theme of Limited in Creatures. So yeah, its pretty oppressive.
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Wizards sells decks called "Event Decks" which are intended to be prebuilt decks that are a gateway into competitive play. They are like $25 and are competitive... for some definitions of competitive. I can't vouch for them personally, but any of them should be a decent start. Do you have friends that play?
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Goblins can be made for about 20$ :http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=357936
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On June 25 2012 16:48 huameng wrote:
Wizards sells decks called "Event Decks" which are intended to be prebuilt decks that are a gateway into competitive play. They are like $25 and are competitive... for some definitions of competitive. I can't vouch for them personally, but any of them should be a decent start. Do you have friends that play?
From the lists I've seen and having a friend who bought that Vampire one for some random casual play, they seem okay. Way stronger than your standard intro decks at least.
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Event decks would be the best place to start right now. It really isn't even close considering the cards you get. Do not get the starter packs.
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First off, event decks are quite a bit more expensive than starter decks and don't always offer anything super special because there's only 2 event decks per release, and 5 starters, which give more options.
But some of the current AVR starter decks come with top cards that can be used competitively "bound by strength"
http://sales.starcitygames.com/carddisplay.php?product=391921
for 15 bucks gets you a nice UG deck with a wolfir silverheart(amazing/competitive card)
It'll be cheaper at your local shop and not out of stock.
or "fiery dawn" http://sales.starcitygames.com/carddisplay.php?product=391920
gets you a great human intro with a zealous conscripts(another competitive card) for really cheap.
The starter packs are not bad if you know what you want to build.
Yes, event decks are usually good and 20 bucks for the current AVR ones isn't a bad price
http://sales.starcitygames.com/carddisplay.php?product=394408
if you wanted to build zombies, which is from what I read the cheapest competitive deck in standard, this is a pretty darn good start for 20 bucks, but I do suggest you do some reading on what you'd like to play.
I just started a month ago and having the best deck isn't everything, it's more important to make correct plays and get a little lucky. :p
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On June 22 2012 14:32 Judicator wrote:
In fact, all of the colors aren't as deep as previous sets where you find yourself short on playables. Basically the crux of this set from my (as brief as possible since I really don't like this set) experience is the 4 power mark and the 3 toughness mark on creatures is very important along with the 2 drop slot. This makes sense considering the best commons play around these 3 concepts. Given there aren't any neat combo decks, the format is just plain bland to draft since everyone bar the Homicidal Seclusion drafters are drafting some kind of aggro deck based in W/R/G.
Sometimes, the properly drafted R/W aggro deck is so explosive it's basically a combo deck.
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But a lot of the time it's not properly drafted so much as properly opened. You aren't guranteed to see multiple thatcher's revolts, or goldnight commanders. Riot Ringleaders are good in any deck. RW aggro can be good, but it's usually synergy more than anything.
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On June 26 2012 06:03 stormtemplar wrote:Show nested quote +On June 25 2012 16:48 huameng wrote:
Wizards sells decks called "Event Decks" which are intended to be prebuilt decks that are a gateway into competitive play. They are like $25 and are competitive... for some definitions of competitive. I can't vouch for them personally, but any of them should be a decent start. Do you have friends that play? Not really, sadly. There are a couple of game stores in the area that have magic tournaments where I'm hoping to play. Any recommendations among the event decks?
After giving them a decent once-over, I would avoid "deathfed" and "gleeful flames" and I think any of the other ones from Innistrad, Dark Ascension, and Avacyn Restored are good choices. Those two don't play as straight forwardly as the other decks, so the others will be a better place for you to start I think. Personally I think "Spiraling Doom" is the coolest and "Hold the Line" is the best. That being said, more important than being a little easier to learn or a little better is that you enjoy yourself enough to keep playing and getting better, so if there's something that catches your eye, I'd let that be the tiebreaker.
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Almost every piece is a common. Even without the Goldnight Commander, a properly sequenced curve puts around 13-16 damage on the board.
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Anyone else bummed that Shocklands aren't in?
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On June 26 2012 10:41 slyboogie wrote:
Almost every piece is a common. Even without the Goldnight Commander, a properly sequenced curve puts around 13-16 damage on the board.
Doesn't matter that every piece is common. It's just how the packs open. If someone else at your table is drafting red chances are, you are screwed. More importantly, the cards like Malcontents and Commander are pushes that deck over the top rather than just some gimmicky deck that works because people don't know that they need to trade.
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On June 26 2012 12:23 wunsun wrote:
Anyone else bummed that Shocklands aren't in?
No, because they'd never print shocklands in a core set.
They did print a strictly better Lord of Atlantis, though.
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On June 26 2012 23:02 deth2munkies wrote:Show nested quote +On June 26 2012 12:23 wunsun wrote:
Anyone else bummed that Shocklands aren't in? No, because they'd never print shocklands in a core set. They did print a strictly better Lord of Atlantis, though.
Think they'll print the whole cycle again in RtR?
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EPT
