Innistrad: Standard Decklist Gauntlet

So today we are going to talk about some of the Standard Competitive decks.  These decks are all customized as I would run them, so they are not 100% 'cut and paste' netdecks.  That would be boring.  I'm a huge fan of "one-ofs" and "toolbox" 'stratigems', a passion in which I exercise whenever I construct a deck.  Most of these decks are indeed inspired on tournament winning decks.  These tourney decks are just plain better than the rest, most of the time. There is a reason these decks win tournaments.  Some of them, like my W/u human deck, is 100% hand-crafted awesomeness where I just took a simple idea (in that case, my goal was to make a themed deck around humans and maximizing value from Angelic Destiny) and fleshed it out into my own deck.  In any case, enjoy the decks and let me know in the comment section what you think (or in most cases, how bad the idea of me fitting a Moldgraf Monstrocity into Wolf Run is)

November FNM Promo - GO FOR THE THROAT

Not much to say about this one, except that this is one of the few awesome FNM foils that they have ever printed.  Another bonus, its not about to rotate!  Check out the sick art,  go find a FNM, and get you some in November!

SPG Trade Center

Check out this blog often?  Bookmark it!

What I'm looking for:

- Keep in mind, these are my offers in cash.  If you want to trade, I will trade equally with you.
(last updated 2/5/12 - bold indicates a new entry or an updated price)
Foil Counterlash $2.50
Sorin $25
Liliana $18
Huntmaster of the Fells $6
Havengul Lich $6
Vorapede $3
Mikaeus, the Unhallowed $3
FOIL Mikaeus $6
FOIL Lingering Souls $4.50
FOIL Strangleroot Geist $2
FOIL Faithless Looting $4
Grafdigger's Cage $4
Champion of the Parish $1.50
FOIL Champion $5
Garruk Relentless $10
Grimgrin, the Corpse Born $2
Heartless Summoning $1
Isolated Chapel $4
Olivia $4
Snapcaster Mage $15
FOIL Dissipate $2.50
FOIL Forbidden Alchemy $4
FOIL Unburial Rites $1.50
Garruk, Primal Hunter $10
Solemn Simulacrum $5



Also looking for any and all standard dual lands.


Here are my Dark Ascension trades:

- Thalia, Guardian of Thraben X2
- Thraben Doomsayer
- Increasing Devotion X2
- Dungeon Geists
- Increasing Confusion
- Increasing Ambition
- FOIL Curse of Misfortunes
- Gravecrawler X2
- FOIL PROMO Gravecrawler X2
- Geralf's Messenger X2
- FOIL Hellrider
- Ghoultree
- Deranged Outcast
- Elbrus, the binding blade
- Helvault
- Grim Backwoods X2
- Drogskol Reaver
- FOIL Huntmaster of the Fells






And here is my old collection, most is still relevant.

(last updated 1/18/2012)

6X Hero of the Bladehold
3X Grand Abolisher
1X FOIL Timely Reinforcements
4X Gideon Jura
1X Puresteel Paladin
3X Champion of the Parish
1X FOIL Blade Splicer
1X Jap Blade Splicer
8X Day of Judgment
3X Lord of the Unreal
1X FOIL Lord of the Unreal
2x Jace, Memory Adept
1x Frost Titan (foil promo)
1x Frost Titan
1x Phantasmal Image
2X Phyrexian Metamorph
2X Jap Phyrexian Metamorph
1X  Phyrexian Metamorph (foil promo)
2X Mindshrieker
2X Jin-Gitaxias
4X Surgical Extraction
1X Jap Surgical Extraction
2X Surgical Extraction (foil promo)
1X Jap Sorin Markov
2x Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon
1X Black Sun's Zenith
2X Phyrexian Obliterator
2X Phyrexian Crusader
2X Jap Phyrexian Crusader
12X Dismember
10X Go for the Throat
3x Inferno Titan
1X Chandra, the Firebrand
1X Chandra, the Firebrand JAP
1x Stromkirk Noble
1X Foil Jap Full art Zendikar Mountain #244
1X Jap Primeval Titan
1X Garruk Primal Hunter
2X Dungrove Elder (foil promo)
1X Dungrove Elder
4X Birthing Pod
4X Birds of Paradise (foil buyabox promo)
2X Karn Liberated
1X Venser, the Sojourner
2X Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas
4X Wurmcoil Engine
1X Jap Lashwrithe
1X Lashwrithe
1X Foil Ratchet Bomb
1X Jap Solemn Simulacrum (mirrodin)
1X Sword of War and peace
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
1x Sword of Body and Mind
1x Jap Spellskite
1X FOIL Spellskite
4X Blackcleave Cliffs
2X Kessig Wolf Run
3X Woodland Cemetery
3X Sulfur Falls
1X FOIL Sulfur Falls
1X Hinterland Harbor
5X Clifftop Retreat
2X Inkmoth Nexus
1X Razorverge Thicket
4X Copperline Gorge
4X Full Art Ponder
1X Foil Gitaxian Probe
3X Beast Within
1X Jap Beast Within
1X Jap Timely Reinforcements
1X Oblivion Ring
1X FOIL Ghost Quarter
1X FOIL Nihil Spellbomb
2X Bloodline Keeper
1X FOIL Midnight Haunting
1X FOIL Mindshrieker
1x Moorland Haunt
2X FOIL Delver of Secrets
AND TOOOONNNS MORE

Also, I have a lot of rotated stock including tons of fetchlands and several legacy staples.  Also some solid stuff for modern as well.  Message if interested in this type of stuff and if it becomes popular I will add a section for it.


Looking to get into magic?  Building your first deck?  Just need some land?  Message me and I'll try to help you build a deck on a budget and give you some valuable tips.

Sealed items for Sale/trade:

Rot from Within - Event Deck(comes with a Green Sun Zenith and an Inkmoth Nexus) - $20
From the Vault: Relics - $100 or best offer
Ultra-Pro Planeswalkers 2 Playmat - $10


Sets of 100 random cards - $5 (includes commons, uncommons, foils, rares, and sometimes mythics!)


60 Card Preconstructed Decks:

Superior Collection - Great for starting out
Illusions [u] (Featuring Lord of the Unreal) - $8
Myr Smash [W](Featuring Myr BattleSphere) - $6
Vampires [B/r](Featuring Bloodline Keeper)  $10 (BEST SELLER!)
Burn [R](Featuring Devil's Play) - $8
Bant Humans [U/W/G](Featuring Champion of the Parish) - $9
Equipment [W](Featuring Puresteel Paladin) - $10
The Rock [G/B] (Featuring Woodland Cemetery) - $10
Delver [U/r] (Featuring Sulfur Falls) - $15 (HOT SELLER!)
NEW!!!   Spider Spawning [U/G/b] (Featuring Frost Titan!) - $9
NEW!!!   Solar Flare [B/U/w] (Featuring Sheoldred, The Whispering One!) - $15
NEW!!!   Shape Anew [U/b] (Featuring Blightsteel Colossus) - $12 SOLD OUT

Epic Collection - Great homemade decks for the competitive player
Mono-White Humans (Featuring Hero of the Bladehold) - $30 SALE $25!!!
Green-White Tokens (Featuring Elspeth Tirel) - $35  SALE $30!!!
Blue-Black Control (Featuring Grave Titan) - $20
NEW!!!!  Black/White Tokens (Featuring Vault of the Archangel) - $15

Also, due to popular demand, I will be doing repacks again.  Repacks come in "flights" of 50 and in each flight will be at least one high in demand card*. (In the past I have done Chandra, the Firebrand, and Karn Liberated[when he was 35 bucks!])  In each repack you will recieve 8 commons, 2-3 uncommons, 1 rare/mythic, and 1 bonus card.  The bonus card will always be either: A rare, a mythic rare, a foil, or a promotional card.  The bonus card can come from any set.

Repack Pricing:

Innistrad Repacks
1 pack - $2
3 packs - $5
7 packs - $10

* Odds of pulling a High Demand Card: Approx 1:50.  Odds of pulling a Mythic rare: Approx 1:15.  Odds of pulling a Foil: 1:5.  Odds of pulling a Jace the Mind Sculptor: 0000000000000

How to trade, etc:

The easiest way to set up a trade is if you know me.  I mean, I work at Walmart, so its not that hard to find me. 

If that doesnt work I also accept paypal and can ship it out to you. 

To contact me to work out a trade, I'd recommend facebook.  I check it daily.  If you dont have access to my facebook, you can email me @ webmastertorio@yahoo.com - the only problem being that I do not check it often.  You can comment at the end of this blog as well and I'll try to keep up with it. 


WHY AM I DOING THIS?
So, I've been wanting to put this together for a long time. Basically I wanted to make a complete list of trades I have, and cards I need. I'd love to have it auto-update every time a card changes value, or everytime a card gets traded or acquired. However I have not the technology nor the time. So expect this to be semi-updated around 3 times a month. Prices will change, so I may offer you a different price at the time of trading.

Why SPG? While the shop closed, the trades did not. I have been actively trading, selling, and buying cards from most of our "regulars" since we closed down. No, I dont have a brick and mortar store, and no, this does not fix our problem with us not having a place to play. But, this does keep a steady supply of cards flowing throughout our small community, and it does in turn keep Magic alive (somewhat). I have connections through several sites and shops and I try to get boxes at the cheapest possible price for our playgroup. This is no secret between us, but its not something I was public about until now. For now, the actual store is dead, with no plans to return. But I will keep a "cartel" going, and try be a mobile storefront for Spruce Pine's Magic card needs.

So, for this section, I'm going to list the cards my group or myself need, and what we have up for trade. Chances are, we have a ton more up for trade but we dont really want to trade them off unless we get a good deal. For example, I have a Thrun, the Last Troll ($13) that I dont really want to part with. You have a Foil Isolated Chapel ($18) that you arent really attached to. I would most likely trade off the attached card in favor of more value.

Also, I'll pretty much take any card, but if I'm not looking for it, expect a grave decrease in my offer. For example: You have a Grave Titan ($10) and you want to get rid of it before it's value drops. I have no need for it, and I also know it's value will drop soon as well. I would offer around $3-$4 for it, as opposed to $7-$8 if I needed it.


FAQ:

Q: Do you have "insert card name here"?
A: I might.  I'd use the comment section below and let me know what you are looking for.  I'll comment back or email you if you leave an email address.

Q: I don't agree with the prices you have. 
A: I'm not going to give full retail price on anything.  Sorry.  I'm never really desperate for anything, so you can't make a quick buck off me like that.  I do offer fair prices for cards I'm looking for compared to say, ebay, but if that still doesn't sound fair to you then I'd have to recommend you do business elsewhere.

Q: I have a foil version of something you are looking for.  Does that mean you'll give me double?
A: Maybe.  That would depend on the card and if I even have that much to give.  Just let me know and we will figure it out.

Q: I want to make a deal, but I don't trust dealing with random people online.  What should I do? 
A: Personally, if you dont know me in person, I wouldnt deal with me.   But thats just me.  This was designed mostly for the Spruce Pine Gaming community. The only other way I can think of doing it is sending an offer to you via ebay, but in that case, you'll have to cover all the fees.

Q: I have a ton of cards and I don't know what they are worth.  How much can I get for them?
A: If I know you in person, then we can do one of two things.  I can give you an amount based on what quantity you have (assuming they are all commons) or I can appraise them for you for a small fee.  The downside to me appraising them is if you have nothing of value I probably won't offer you anything.

Q: I have many cards of value but none are on your list.  Will you not give me premium value for my cards?
A: Depends on the situation.  If we are talking Black Lotuses, its not that the price isnt right, its that I dont have that kind of money (to spend on cardboard).  It might be that I feel it is overpriced.  Maybe no one in our playgroup uses it.  Or maybe I just forgot to list it.  In any case, message me what you have for trade and I'll get back to you.

Q: You said you can ship them to me.  How much is that going to cost me?
A: I'm not going to rip you on the shipping.  I'll charge an amount equal to the estimated shipping cost +5% to cover any varience.  If you want it shipped in a bubble mailer, I'll charge 50 cents.  If you want insurance, I'll charge insurance.  Pretty much you'll pay a fair price.

The sad fate of our Spruce Pine Magic Community

Ok so Innistrad is hot stuff and even though we are back to playing fair games of magic instead of fighting Jace wars and dying over and over to a glorified mountain and being slain by a bird somehow wielding a magical sword, people in my area aren't playing Magic very much anymore. 

This is the first and probably only time I will say anything about the Spruce Pine Gaming and Gamer's Haunt 'feud' publicly.  I don't care what anyone says, SPG revived Magic in our area.  We helped introduce some of the most loyal Gamer's Haunt customers to Magic in the first place.  Ben and myself took a huge risk (and ultimately lost a ton of money and not to mention time and friends) creating a community and uniting all of us gamers and we even gave them shelter from the harsh outside world.  I met a lot of you guys that read this through that outlet, and we wouldn't even talk today if it wasn't for SPG.  Today, it has been nearly a year since Ben and my dream was flushed down the drain.  Within that year, I started losing contact with a lot of those that were very important in my life back then.  Also, within that year, our primary competition, Gamer's Haunt, decided to move their shop to Weaverville, effectively making playing Magic at a semi-competitive level impossible for so many of us Magic players. 

In other words, we got fucked.

I say that not in the petty sense that we lost our SPG because its all their fault, or because they decided to move.  I'm saying that the timing was horrible.  I have so many "what if?" scenarios popping in my head.  The most obvious one is "What if they moved 6 months sooner?" Would SPG still be a thing? 

SPG failed for so many reasons, not just one.  Its not right to blame the Gamer's Haunt for wanting to make money, that's why we were in the business as well.  So take myself out of the equation.  I am speaking to you, the local Spruce Pine Magic player.  YOU got fucked.

YOU can't play competitive Magic unless you travel over 1 hour away.
YOU can't buy cards at a discounted shop price.
YOU don't even have a place to play cards even just for fun (Hell, my small playgroup plays at McDonalds since we don't have anyplace to play and believe me, its annoying having all those old farts staring you down for 'devil worshipping' in their chapel.)

Magic is only fun with a community of players, each one bringing their skills and traits into the group.  I'm trying my damnest to keep us alive, but we can only stay alive on these scraps for so long.  My play group has diminished to only 5 players (from 20 something), and even they have started to lose interest.  I fear if we don't do something soon, we will just lose this thing that brought us so close together nearly 2 years ago.

In hopes of keeping us alive,

Torio

(PS: Roy, if you happen to read this, I mean no offense to you and your business, I am merely illustrating a point to all of us Magic players that we, together, have brought into this world of Magic, and we both, together, have let them all down.)

Solar Flare

A few notes about this:

- This was my first version of the deck.  After playtesting, I found some issues and rebuilt it.  I'm not going to post my current version of the deck, but I will share some of my notes about it.
- The mana is very screwy in this deck.  I hate that marsh flats is gone.  Double black for Lil, Double blue for Dissipate, double white for Sun T.  Hard to pull off.
- Phantasmal Image rocks some of the time.  Other times its not so good.  On the other hand, if he is in the graveyard then hes always a good time as he plays well with Sun T.
- Dissipate was rarely castable.
- Black Sun Zenith came in handy a few times.  Still iffy on it with the black double tho.
- Forbidden alchemy makes the deck work.  Always run 4.
- Not enough kill conditions, even with them being recurring.
- Snapcaster is insane.  Still think 3 is the right number.  (in this deck)
- think twice is good, but probably not better than ponder.
- Sheoldred, Whispering One is for fun, probably could be any fatty you have (elesh norn comes to mind)
- Might be running too much removal.

Overall the deck runs smoothly when you dont run into mana bumps.  Needs some tweaking as is but the Sun titan Liliana Combo works very well.