Comments on: Dime a Dozen #23: Magic 2014 and Pauper

By: Jason Moore

Jason Moore — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 18:57:59 +0000

Anonymous – Yeah, Rush of Knowledge shows up from time to time and can be backbreaking! Good catch.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:43:26 +0000

Played the other day against an interesting affinity brew. It played a major game-changer in Rush of Knowledge. This combos extremely well with affinity guys like Myr Enforcer, Hoverguard, and Quicksilver Behemoth! Also can help keep you to just 2 colors potentially (red and blue).

By: newplan

newplan — Thu, 30 May 2013 22:33:24 +0000

Undying / persist and +1/+1 & -1/-1 counters – if the creature has damage on it that would be lethal and it gains a -1/-1 counter the counters never get a chance to negate each other and the creature does not come back with undying so you can kill a 2/2 young wolf with a 1/1 and a serrated arrow counter – as long as you use the arrow counter after the wolf has 1 damage on it.

If the creature is alive at any time with a +1/+1 counter and a -1/-1 counter then the counters negate one another and both disappear.

By: Jason Moore

Jason Moore — Thu, 30 May 2013 21:18:39 +0000

Matthew – I’m pretty sure it does “remove” the -1/-1 counter. That may or may not be what happens technically (as far as the rules are concerned), but that is effectively what will occur. I say this because the inverse is true for Undying (-1/-1 counters placed on a creature with undying allow it to come back once more).

By: Matthew

Matthew — Thu, 30 May 2013 16:12:49 +0000

From the Beast Mode deck: “Grazing Kelpie is possibly underpowered, but persists infinitely thanks to Advocate’s +1/+1 counter bestowal.”

Does adding a +1/+1 counter remove the -1/-1 counter that persist adds? Kelpie’s stats will be neutral but I think it still dies for good.

By: Jason Moore

Jason Moore — Thu, 30 May 2013 15:45:19 +0000

Greystone – Savage is in the sideboard currently.

newplan – I definitely see where you’re coming from. There are scenarios where having 4 colors is worse as well, but you’re right that playing Disciple for the potential benefits might be the way to go. Thanks for sharing the input!

By: newplan

newplan — Thu, 30 May 2013 04:22:56 +0000

Jason,

You may prefer the beat down plan – people have different styles and the best deck / best variation to play is the one that lets you win with a style that you can play well.

However, my thinking is that the combo is more likely to win you games than the beat down. Yes, the hoverguards are a good beat down card – but the strength of affinity (as I see it) isn’t in beat down it’s in the absolute power level of the deck – that power lets it beat the fissure combo by beating for a bit then eating the board to win.

The question is then about the mana and I don’t think you’ve gained anything by cutting a color. To cast the hoverguards you’re either: (a) tapping a seat of the synod (b) tapping a springleaf drum / prism or (c) using a one shot fixer. You’re exactly as likely to have a seat as you are to have a vault so (a) is the same for hoverguards / disciple and (b) and (c) both produce all color mana.

Actually, there’s a reason why your mana is worse with fewer colors. Example – you have hoverguard and thoughtcast in hand and only a vault and a springleaf drum. You can’t cast either card. If you have disciple you can cast it and use the drum to cast the thoughtcast. If you have hoverguard and thoughtcast with a seat you have your choice of spells to cast. If you have disciple and thoughtcast with a seat you can still thoughtcast and get 2 new draws to hit fixing. Basically every spell in affinity fixes and sets you up for more spells so the more diversified your colors are the better the chance you can start the chain by casting one of the spells.