Better deck construction!

Welcome to my first article where I would explain how to make a better deck out of cards you open and get! I promised in the last article I’d show how this deck would run 3-0, and here is my explanation.

I mentioned before that this deck was in a wrong color, that he should run green instead of red. Even if he stayed in red, there was a Shaman, and black had a Vault Skirge, a card well needed in this deck.

Let’s start with two green creatures for four mana: Tangle Mantis and Thundering Tanadon. I know, Tanadon cost is six, but you always want to play it for four and hit hard in next turns. Drawback of four life is minimal, but remember, he is also an artifact, so shatter and many shatter-like stuff would kill it, thus making you spend four life for nothing. So be careful when playing the Tanadon. But, in this deck we got a Sword, so trample and sword is well worth to try. That’s why I would put both mentioned creatures.

Another two green creatures that are viable are Tel-Jilad Archers and Melira’s Keepers. 2/4 with reach and protection from artifacts is something we all wish against Moltensteel Dragon and other artifact monstrosities that fly and he can even attack. Melira’s Keepers are 4/4 that don’t have any worries against infect. I’m aware that this sealed had a minimal chance to have some infect deck, but still there were some infect builds, and body of 4/4 for five is ok for attacking and defending.

I love Vault Skirge and Spined Thopter. Well, usually you need to pay life for those, but they are fliers and with Sword, they definitely need to be in this deck. For instance, if Vault Skirge with Sword on it manages to hit opponent, you heal for 6 and return a creature. That is awesome for a one drop creature. Same goes with Thopter, he deals 1/10 of game every time he hits. Or combine those two (first drop Skirge, second Thopter) and you are going to hit hard if your opponent don’t have any fliers.

There are more fliers beside those two, so Glint Hawk and Glint hawk Idol are worth putting in this deck. But there is one expensive card, seven mana, for 5/5 creature, and personally I like that one.  Death-Mask Duplicant would make an excellent late creature for this deck (well, at least in absence of any bombs around). We have many fliers, few tramplers and Duplicant would benefit greatly out of those. Give him flying and sword, and game is over.

What I couldn’t believe is that he had a Steelshaper’s Gift and didn’t play card. It counts as a second sword in the deck, and I’d gladly have it and sword in the same hand, than to hope for the Sword alone.

In the last round, against white black opponent who had Skullclamp every game, he had to sideboard some red cards, mostly because of Unforge and Skirk-Clan Shaman: That way he’ll kill all one butt creatures and destroy the most card advantage card in opponent’s deck. I’m sure that with those corrections, this deck would easily go 3-0.

My friend ever forgot to play Test of Faith, a great white card. But all that was because he didn’t read the cards before making a deck. That is one big lesson to learn: take your time and read all the cards. Read them twice if you have to, but be certain how it works. Then put all viable cards in main, sort by color and see what will benefit you the most. Take two colors, and splash one if those two aren’t enough for the deck. Never, and I mean never play more than 40 cards in the deck. He had only one bomb and he needed it for win. Every card counts, so 40 are min and max at the same time.

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