tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67470821477665008422012-02-16T11:39:47.656-08:00Card and deck reviews of the Magic the Gathering Game, including Standard, Extended, Legacy, EDH, etc.shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747082147766500842.post-77136017341587368342011-11-06T21:19:00.000-08:002011-11-06T21:19:26.805-08:00

Hey, The new site is at Flipping the Table | Magic the Gathering Rogue Decks. Still keeping this site around, just going to be doing all the main posting on the new site. Short reason is that wordpress is just more versatile. See you there, Sketch

shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747082147766500842.post-74027715751150565332011-09-20T10:34:00.001-07:002011-09-20T10:34:55.486-07:00

Told you so.

shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747082147766500842.post-67024737961782925222011-08-24T18:57:00.000-07:002011-08-24T18:57:55.278-07:00

Hey guys, The Magic community is in a huge celebration over the new Modern format. Comprised of the cards using the new border introduced in 8th edition onward, Magic gives cards that disappeared prematurely another chance to shine. As you may recall, when Extended was dominated by the Dark Depths/Vampire Hexmage combo, rather than ban the cards vital to the combo, Wizards responded by making

shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747082147766500842.post-69331739036060556402011-08-09T18:52:00.000-07:002011-08-09T18:52:00.372-07:00

Hey guys, I was inspired to write this article after seeing someone tweet about Mental Misstep. In short, it was a post if   I realize that Mental Misstep is a powerful card, but banworthy?  I'd say it was an exaggeration on his part. So I decided to think it out and have the results to share with you.  Does Mental Misstep degenerate Legacy into a play-with-it or learn-to-play-against-it

shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747082147766500842.post-75872572045422819192011-07-26T19:26:00.000-07:002011-07-26T19:26:58.759-07:00

Hey guys, With Smallpox's debut in M12, I am having flashbacks of how good Solar Pox was when Time Spiral and its surrounding sets were legal.  The deck, a control deck with combo elements, utilizes the "drawbacks" of Smallpox to put the caster at an advantage over the opponent. I'm hoping to reproduce the success with this new card pool.  Check out a bit more in-depth history and the version I

shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747082147766500842.post-1913574666662179442011-07-10T22:16:00.000-07:002011-07-10T22:20:59.660-07:00

Hey guys, The full set of Magic 2012 is fully spoiled, and with it there are new cards.  Of particular interest today are the remixed versions of three of the original planeswalkers. While the original five have been landmarks of the previous two sets, the planeswalker roster gets shaken up in Magic 2012.  Black and white planeswalkers Sorin Markhov and Gideon Jura make a reappearance in

shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747082147766500842.post-46088215135862050202011-06-30T06:36:00.000-07:002011-06-30T06:36:00.360-07:00

Hey all, Ding dong, the Mind Sculptor is dead.  At least in Standard. On July 1 Mind Sculptor will no longer be Standard legal.  This marks the first Mythic and first planeswalker being banned from a format. Also getting pounded by the banhammer is Stoneforge Mystic. While Stoneforge Mystic is more deck reliant due to its use of equipment, the card is powerful enough to justify its banning.

shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747082147766500842.post-40700868380109947272011-02-07T07:04:00.000-08:002011-02-08T08:18:05.746-08:00

Hey, Mirrodin Besieged has been made public for around a week now so players can immerse themselves in the new set. I'm sure you're wondering what's good and what's not in the new set, so I'm doing this list. Right now this is just going on my initial thoughts and experience, so don't be surprised if a not-named card appears to dominate.  Also note that I want to represent each color in this

shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747082147766500842.post-2381147601350722552011-01-24T03:29:00.000-08:002011-01-24T03:29:50.093-08:00

[Just an FYI, this contains exactly -1- Mirrodin Besieged spoiler] Dear Darksteel Colossus, I really don't know how to say this.  I've found another man. I realize that you have an extremely sexy body that can destroy a player in two turns, but I've found better at a slightly higher cost.  Indestructible.  11/11.  Trample. Sure, he costs one more to bring out, but seriously, whenever we went

shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747082147766500842.post-54007205047636291582011-01-17T20:25:00.000-08:002011-01-17T20:25:57.716-08:00

Hey guys, Mythic cards are notorious for being considered overpowered.  In the past couple of seasons, you couldn't hear about a top deck without celebrities such as Jace, the Mind Sculptor, Lotus Cobra, or Baneslayer Angel.  They're just that good. Without a doubt, the latest mythic legend to enter the Magic universe is not a weakling.  She possesses decent stats for her cost, but her real

shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747082147766500842.post-20645320551916310152011-01-10T08:27:00.000-08:002011-01-10T08:27:36.676-08:00

Hey guys, Long story short, I've got a job that's going to cut some time out from writing here.  I also figure it's a New Year, so I need to see where I stand with the readers. So a new poll is up: WHAT DO YOU WANT TO READ ABOUT? Some suggestions are to the right. Feel free to select more than one. And if there's something you want covered that's not up there, drop a message in either of my

shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747082147766500842.post-60305313287154954962011-01-05T12:30:00.000-08:002011-01-05T12:32:29.764-08:00

Hey all, First off, Happy New Year's to you guys. Thanks for the support, both negative and positive that people who visit have provided. I wish you the best of luck for this coming 365 days. That said, I know people plan to do new things in the new year. It's tradition to make a resolution -- some change in one's life in an attempt to better it. So what if you decided to start writing

shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747082147766500842.post-12174979129671015562010-12-30T04:36:00.000-08:002010-12-30T04:36:08.316-08:00

Hey, Some people will go to great lengths to fulfill their dreams of working for the company that creates Magic the Gathering.  Imagine being able to design the next Tarmogoyf, Jace, or Tolarian Academy whilst rubbing elbows with designers like Mark Rosewater.  For years you have bought the product, played the game, and encouraged your friends to try it out.  And for once, you can use your

shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747082147766500842.post-37886297913754870072010-12-27T09:28:00.000-08:002010-12-27T09:29:03.510-08:00

Hey, According to the latest press release by Wizards of the Coast, the following changes have been made to the banned/restricted list in Legacy: Time Spiral is UNRESTRICTED Survival of the Fittest is BANNED Excellent news for players who are tired of seeing the same creature tutoring antics.  When games come down to a race to who gets a key card in play first (see Disciple of the Vault/

shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747082147766500842.post-20993943114480422882010-12-13T03:21:00.000-08:002010-12-13T03:21:40.895-08:00

Hey all, I recently tried making a monogreen control deck in Standard.  After systematically searching the interesting card types of green: enchantment, instant, and sorcery, nothing stood out to justify running straight green.  I plan to revisit the idea with an additional color. For now, I saw an interesting card for the upcoming sets.  While I don't see much artifact action in the general

shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747082147766500842.post-14320848623570887372010-12-02T10:48:00.000-08:002010-12-02T10:51:48.907-08:00

Hey guys, I'm not here to argue that Tarmogoyf is a legendary card. There's a reason it's been played heavily in all formats, justifying the $60.00 price tag for a single copy. Rather, I'm here to argue that Tarmogoyf is a mistake in terms of data management for the player. Allow me to elaborate... The problem I find is that Tarmogoyf is too complex.  The description "complex" is

shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747082147766500842.post-53446481942267240732010-11-26T02:50:00.000-08:002010-11-26T02:50:52.281-08:00

Hey, I'm trying something new.  Whenever I post about an exclusive format, I'll put the format in the title in brackets ( [ ] ) so that it's easy to identify. Now to the post. My obsession with playing wizards in Legacy started when I realized how well these cards worked together... The centerpiece of synergy is Puresight Merrow.  Opposition and Patron Wizard reward you for tapping a

shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747082147766500842.post-31399898106786441242010-11-18T03:37:00.000-08:002010-11-18T03:37:15.987-08:00

Hey, First off, I did a few aesthetic changes to the site. Nothing major, but it looks a bit cleaner now. Second, there's a new poll up! I want to know if you would move to Washington to work at the Wizards of the Coast headquarters. For those of you that entered the Great Designer Search 2, before diving into the contest, participants had to agree that if they won, they would move to Renton

shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747082147766500842.post-23617765288674107872010-11-11T00:33:00.000-08:002010-11-11T00:33:10.280-08:00

Hey, Poison decks.  Mathematically, they appeal to players since 10 damage is easier to deal than 20 damage.  The downside is that there are significantly less sources of poison than regular damage.  Cards with the capacity to give poison counters to the opponent are in black, green, and artifacts. That hasn't stopped players from trying however. Today I will be covering a card I've seen in

shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747082147766500842.post-61417860778533348902010-11-03T04:04:00.000-07:002010-11-03T04:04:46.687-07:00

Hey, The results of the poll of the best color in the Scars of Mirrodin are closed.  43 people voted, but only 1 color rose from the top.  The color that people feel is the strongest in the new set is... ARTIFACT I realize it's not an official color, but brown tops it for the best color at 17 votes.  It's no surprise since Scars of Mirrodin throws back to the original Mirrodin set, notorious

shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747082147766500842.post-74172617070065617162010-10-26T15:55:00.000-07:002010-10-26T15:55:18.401-07:00

Hey, For some reason I have not been into Magic the Gathering recently. Sure, I'll hop on to forums to help players and check Twitter for news, but I don't have the spark to pump out posts like a card-slinging fool. Nowadays I just have other things to do like get a real job, go out with friends, and play another card game called Alteil. I decided to check Twitter a few days ago and woke up

shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747082147766500842.post-60119679018626071472010-10-12T09:46:00.001-07:002010-10-12T09:46:57.637-07:00

Hey, Just a quick message. I've got a new section up which details custom Magic the Gathering cards I've come up with. It's only got one card right now, but expect that to change. You can access it by clicking here: Custom Magic the Gathering Cards Hope you enjoy it! @shadowsketched

shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747082147766500842.post-13525347039878991282010-10-10T06:31:00.000-07:002010-10-10T06:35:18.150-07:00

Hey all, As Scars of Mirrodin starts to show up on the Standard tournament scene, players are dealing with the loss of a block of cards containing one of the most feared mechanics of recent times: cascade. Some people are happy that they'll never have to stare down a Bloodbraid Elf in the environment again. Cascade is not the only mechanic rotating out when Scars comes in. Domain will trot

shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747082147766500842.post-74847238987271878092010-09-22T19:12:00.000-07:002010-09-22T19:21:38.959-07:00

Hey all, By special request of Twitterer @skepti I'm doing this article.  If there's any topic/idea that you're curious about, drop me a line.  I'll do what's in my power to make it happen.  Thanks again to @skepti. That aside, play speed. Play too fast, you're bound to a play mistake.  Missed trigger.  Damage miscalculation. Play too slow and you'll be accused of stalling.  Warning.  Game

shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747082147766500842.post-61646528014286303462010-09-14T23:23:00.000-07:002010-09-14T23:23:52.950-07:00

Hey all, For the most part, decks in Magic the Gathering fall into one of three categories: Combo Control Aggro Each category has a distinct strategy that caters to a certain playstyle.  Like turning your creatures at a 90 degree angle towards your opponent's face?  You'll like aggro.  Enjoy having your opponent worry about what he can and can't play?  You'll like control.  Combo is varied, but

shadowsketchedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05737877873541140226noreply@blogger.com0