Resource Management

[Belzera]

My main resource is equipment. I have plenty of cards that mitigate their costs, so mana isn't an issue, I have cards that let me draw, so that's not an issue, and I just need one replaceable creature to turn into an unstoppable killing machine.

The funniest thing I've found with equipment is using a Worldslayer with a Phylactery Lich and something along the lines of a Whispersilk Cloak. Instant lockout.

Try using Worldslayer with a Darksteel Sentinel [http://gatherer.wizards.com/pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=207865]. The fun that could be had ^_^'

 

[Souplex]

My main resource is equipment. I have plenty of cards that mitigate their costs, so mana isn't an issue, I have cards that let me draw, so that's not an issue, and I just need one replaceable creature to turn into an unstoppable killing machine.

The funniest thing I've found with equipment is using a Worldslayer with a Phylactery Lich and something along the lines of a Whispersilk Cloak. Instant lockout.

I've been trying to play standard legal, which is somewhat difficult with the ghetto-ization of equipments.

A couple things. Mana Leak is in no way an efficient counter. An efficient counter would be something like Force of Will, or an actual Counterspell. When you're talking in the realm of counterspells, their CMC is more important than their true cost. So Mana Leak and Counterspell both have a CMC of 2 and Mana Leak provides an escape clause. I'll take the Counterspell any day. Or, if you must have a counter with a cost of 1U, use Arcane Denial, especially if you're playing Combo.

That's exactly why they haven't reprinted counterspell in forever, balance issues.
They brought back lightning bolt for a bit, and it was disastrous.
Now the standard coverall counter costs 1UU, and specialized counters such as remove soul or those with an escape clause cost 1U. It's all to keep things relatively fun for everyone.

 

[A. Smith]

A couple things. Mana Leak is in no way an efficient counter. An efficient counter would be something like Force of Will, or an actual Counterspell. When you're talking in the realm of counterspells, their CMC is more important than their true cost. So Mana Leak and Counterspell both have a CMC of 2 and Mana Leak provides an escape clause. I'll take the Counterspell any day. Or, if you must have a counter with a cost of 1U, use Arcane Denial, especially if you're playing Combo.

Of course, mana leak is outright dreadful when playing in older formats where the original Counterspell or Force of will are available, but in the current standard, Mana Leak is the only 2-CMC universal counterspell. Other "counterspells" are either 3-CMC (Cancel, or the strictly better Dissipate), or have restrictions (Negate, Psychic barrier, Corrupted Resolve, Flashfreeze; or if you're going to a CMC of 1 but even more restricted, you have Steel Sabotage, Mental Misstep and Turn Aside).

It's run as a 4-of in basically every deck that has access to blue mana.

Besides, 3 mana is often plenty for it to be a hard counter.

Well, I know yeah. But come on! Counterspell should've never been rotated out. I have no idea why it's not in every core set. If core's purpose is to introduce people to the game, then why wouldn't you have a card where it's name is it's effect. Easy to learn and remember. On the note of Mental Misstep, that's actually one of the few recent good ones. There's a reason it's banned in Legacy.

I don't entirely disagree with you; it doesn't make sense that the core set doesn't have a card called "counterspell".

However.

As souplex said, it's just OP, just like the old lightning bolt. Worse then that, it's extremely strong without any thought being put into it, just like Lightning Bolt. Oh sure, as for other counterspells you need to choose which spells to counter, but there's no competition with other counterspells... In the current standard environment, many decks (including mine) run more counterspells in sideboard just to replace mana leak if the opponent is doing something that you have the specialized counter to.

Another resource to be managed, really.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

*Snip*

*Snip*

Well, I've never noticed anything OP happening with those cards. I guess I'm just too used to Eternal formats.

My main resource is equipment. I have plenty of cards that mitigate their costs, so mana isn't an issue, I have cards that let me draw, so that's not an issue, and I just need one replaceable creature to turn into an unstoppable killing machine.

The funniest thing I've found with equipment is using a Worldslayer with a Phylactery Lich and something along the lines of a Whispersilk Cloak. Instant lockout.

Try using Worldslayer with a Darksteel Sentinel [http://gatherer.wizards.com/pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=207865]. The fun that could be had ^_^'

The problem with Darksteel Sentinel is its cost. Phylactery Lich is a 5/5 indestructible for BBB. One of the best opening hands in that deck is him, a Darksteel Relic and a Dark Ritual. Turn 1 5/5 indestructible.

Since I play Legacy and Vintage, it's all about cheap, efficient spells. And Phylactery Lich is one of the most efficient creatures I've ever seen.

 

[A. Smith]

Granted, maybe I went to far in my last post; I shouldn't have used "OP". Very few individual cards are OP (oddities like Black Lotus notwithstanding).

The cards themselves aren't OP, but I'd say they work within a different style of game compared to the standard format.

As you say, it's entirely possible to have a 5/5 indestructible creature on the board on turn 1 - in those circumstances, countermagic has to be dirt-cheap and extremely quick, otherwise it would be completely irrelevant. In standard (at least the current standard), games are longer, and not countering the first spell your opponent casts will never be game ending in and of itself; in fact, the extra breathing room it allows makes aggro decks like RDW viable with a smaller and inferior pool of cards as compared to other format's.

 

[pppppppppppppppppp]

Thanks, love these articles since I'm coincidentally trying to get into the game myself.

When I started, I was way too focused on life amounts. My friend had to beat me several times to convince me that cards like Sacred Nectar or Angel Feather aren't worth it. Now I get why Necropotence is so damn overpowered.

I borrowed some of his cards, and now I'm sporting a pretty sweet blue/white control deck. My favorite card so far is Spiketail Hatchling, it's a flyer and a Force Spike built into one. And they're so cute too. ^_^