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Originally posted by iccarus:
All right, time for a last week scramble for a new standard deck.

After testing pod heavily for the last two weeks, I just can't seem to find a version of the deck that works. The lack of ways to reliably find pod without also adding too many non-creatures to the deck is just killing me.

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Isn't it suppose to work where you can use it as a beatdown deck if you don't get the pods?

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Originally posted by WeedIan:
Isn't it suppose to work where you can use it as a beatdown deck if you don't get the pods?

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Yeah. From my experience the deck should be able to function without the pods in order for it to do well.

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Originally posted by WeedIan:
Isn't it suppose to work where you can use it as a beatdown deck if you don't get the pods?

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Not really. That was the Vengevine/Hero version that died with rotation. The current version is about card advantage and 187s.

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Originally posted by WeedIan:
Isn't it suppose to work where you can use it as a beatdown deck if you don't get the pods?

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In theory, yes. You should be able to semi-function without a pod in play. However, the deck is much more focused on getting value out of creatures with 187 effects.

I might just be frustrated because RDW has been destroying my bant lists...which is the variant I most want to play and have been trying to get working.

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quote:

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Originally posted by iccarus:
In theory, yes. You should be able to semi-function without a pod in play. However, the deck is much more focused on getting value out of creatures with 187 effects.

I might just be frustrated because RDW has been destroying my bant lists...which is the variant I most want to play and have been trying to get working.

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My friend has been using GWB Pod for the last couple of weeks. You definitely want to play at least 3 Blade Splicer, if not the full set. And he said he couldn't lose to RDW at all. I can ask him for a decklist if you want.

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Originally posted by gaeacradle:
My friend has been using GWB Pod for the last couple of weeks. You definitely want to play at least 3 Blade Splicer, if not the full set. And he said he couldn't lose to RDW at all. I can ask him for a decklist if you want.

He said he is also thinking about Naya Pod, since Arc Trail and Ancient Grudge is really strong right now.

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I'd love to see the GWB list. I might try to do a little more testing with Naya. The problem with those builds is there are so many creatures you pod into and then sit on, rather than podding up the chain for more value.

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Originally posted by iccarus:
I'd love to see the GWB list. I might try to do a little more testing with Naya. The problem with those builds is there are so many creatures you pod into and then sit on, rather than podding up the chain for more value.

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Eventually, played mono-white. Germ tokens -> Glint Hawk -> Puresteel was very nice in any mid game situation, plus it enables Metalcraft. But in the end, just ditched the plan. With only 4 sets out, the creature chains aren't at their most robust.

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Originally posted by choco man:
I actually tried 1-2 Birthing Pod in my Puresteel list. At first in a G/W vers. that insured my BoP's turned into Puresteel anytime I wanted it.

Eventually, played mono-white. Germ tokens -> Glint Hawk -> Puresteel was very nice in any mid game situation, plus it enables Metalcraft. But in the end, just ditched the plan. With only 4 sets out, the creature chains aren't at their most robust.

I'd really like to be able to do with Birthing Pod what you can do with it in Modern (Melira combos, persist, etc.) The pod decks at my FNM seem like good-stuff lists instead of functional decks.

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Could go G/W and try to pod up the Relic-Warder/Suture Priest/Metamorph combo. I used to have Warder and Priest as 1-ofs in my board before rotation to randomly pod up and combo.

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Originally posted by ryan2754:
wHAT IS EVERYONE'S deal with Heartless Summoning? To me, it seems like a BAD Semblance Anvil.

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Stromkirk Noble is super over priced right now.

Sold out at $10 on Star City, are people nuts? I think people are all building RDW because its easy to play aggro in an undeveloped Meta game.

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Originally posted by WeedIan:
Funny thing

Stromkirk Noble is super over priced right now.

Sold out at $10 on Star City, are people nuts? I think people are all building RDW because its easy to play aggro in an undeveloped metagame.

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Pretty much. Pro humans is not nearly as good as people are making it out to be. Tempered steel and birthing pod don't use much humans (if any at all), and the only deck that'll be consistently dropping a human turn 1 or 2 is WW. And that's probably not gonna pan out, seeing how it never does.

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Originally posted by Bugger:
Pretty much. Pro humans is not nearly as good as people are making it out to be. Tempered steel and birthing pod don't use much humans (if any at all), and the only deck that'll be consistently dropping a human turn 1 or 2 is WW. And that's probably not gonna pan out, seeing how it never does.

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I played against a pretty sweet GW Human deck. I thought Stromkirk would be good but not $10+ good considering he is a 1/1 that doesn't attack as a 2/2 until turn 3.

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Originally posted by WeedIan:
I played against a pretty sweet GW Human deck. I thought Stromkirk would be good but not $10+ good considering he is a 1/1 that doesn't attack as a 2/2 until turn 3.

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Meh, assuming this is the second time in the past 10 years that WW goes the distance it still only makes the noble a sideboard card. GW humans might get to tier 1 but I have a hard time believing it'll be as dominant as caw-blade (in which case deck-specific hate would be a smart choice to maindeck)

http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?ID=5551

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I randomly came across this old article from 2005 about trading:
http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?ID=5551

Thoughts?

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"Mint" is a term that should only apply to a completely flawless card; edges, surface, centering and corners should all be flawless in a mint condition card. Most pack-fresh cards aren't even in mint condition in my opinion as many are not centered correctly or have imperfect corners due to the cutting process.

So, yes, a Near Mint card isn't the same as a Mint card, but neither is it acceptable for it to have visible wear...that's what EX or EX+ is for.

~MM

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Originally posted by Tha Gunslinga:
My personal grading scale tops out at NM, and I have seen many others that do as well. Mint means perfect. Perfect cards basically don't exist.

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This day and age with grading a Mint card really is only one that slabbed with a 9.5 or 10 on it.

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Originally posted by TimeBeing:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Tha Gunslinga:
My personal grading scale tops out at NM, and I have seen many others that do as well. Mint means perfect. Perfect cards basically don't exist.

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This day and age with grading a Mint card really is only one that slabbed with a 9.5 or 10 on it.[/QUOTE]

Have always like aggro, and I got Champions of the Parish and Mentors of the Meek before they apparently got up to over $5 each.

I expect the price to die down, but I got Mentors for $3 each and I was stoked.