Strategies for NY and type 2

By Zvi S Mowshowitz · 1998-03-23

Originally published on The Dojo · Currently available

I just got back from Cherry Hill, which was pretty uneventfull but I did get one draft in against seven good opponents (Justin & Brian Schneider, Williams, Finkel, Mills, and 2 others). I lost round 1 to two mana stalls but learned that the deck I was considering IS draftable, namely W/U Walls/Flyers/Shadow with a lot of control, a lot like the MiViWe deck everyone drafts. I think there were two blue players, me and Finkel, and he was drafting R/U sligh. The majority of the field got great decks.

My theory for Meinz that blue was being ignored seems to still be true, and right now I think anyone who gets an early Rootwater Hunter or another opening should take blue. Any of the colors can complement it, but the best are Black for shadow and removal, or White for its defense.

In type 2, Stronghold creates a situation that says to me: All too easy, which makes things difficult. There are many degenerate ideas running around, like Hermet Druid/ Haunting Misery (no basics), Intruder Alarm (2 birds + drake), etc, in addition to prosperous bloom. On top of that, it is now increadably easy to gain massive card economy, with cards like Pursuit Of Knowledge (Sylvan, Brainstorm, etc), Mulch ( Scroll Rack, Sylvan, Gaia's Blessing, Brainstorm), Hermit Druit (Land), etc, and many ways to get life (Vicreal Sliver, Spike Feeder, Venerable Monk, Bottle Gnomes, all w/ Corpse Dance, Contemplation, Gerrard's Wisdom). In addition, there are Horn of Greed, Ruination, Sliver Queen, etc.

What to do with all this stuff? I don't know yet; Horn of Greed is a great card if you just play 4 Wasteland, 4 Undiscovered, 4 Querion Ranger, since you get an extra card guarenteed.

A few examples of degeneracy (NOT tested or refined)

5 Swamp

1 Forest

4 Necropotence

2 Mulch

3 Scroll Rack