Magic is a game of strategy and strategy* is about planning and
execution. If you have a bad plan from the start youll be at a huge
disadvantage. It's important that you have a good deck strategy before you
even show up to play the game.
If you put together a deck thats full of cards with amazing abilities,
but those abilities don't complement each other, you're going to have a
hard time winning the game. For example, Dream Twist, an instant that
makes a target player put the top three cards of their libraiy into the
graveyard and has flashback ability, is a great card. It can give you a
wonderful advantage.
Target player puts the top three cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard. Flashback 1 ・(\bu may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.) However, if you're running a deck that consists of mainly fast casting creatures with the hopes of killing the opponent within the first few rounds, Dream Twist would be pointless to add to your deck. Why? Because, there's no point in having an opponent remove cards from their libraiy if your intent is to kill them fast. A better card could be used in its place to fit your theme. In the game of Magic, you need to have a tlieme and winning strategy for your deck. A theme gives you a clear idea about how you can properly structure your deck. As you get deeper into the game you'll find that there are tons of different themes you can play. A few examples are Aggro, Control, Mill, Hexproof, Creature Types, Discard, Combo and more. Aggro themes play a lot of fast casting creatures and threats that are so quick an opponent cannot deal with them until 让's too late and their life is reduced to zero. Control themes prevent the opponent from executing their game plan. Then, when the person is out of options, a big threat card(s) is played that the opponent cannot respond to and ends up losing the game. Mill themes force the opponent to continuously discard cards from their libraiy until they cannot draw anymore. At that point the game is over and the mill deck owner wins. Hexproof themes contain creatures that have hexproof ability (it cannot be the target of spells) which are veiy hard to get rid of. Most liexproof decks beef up their creatures with enchantments until they are so powerful that the opponent dies within a few turns. Creature type themes focus on one type of creature and cast spells that continually beef them up. For example, a deck that is focused around goblin creatures and with every card that is played all goblins become enhanced in some way, such as gaining first strike or trample, getting +2/4-2. becoming unblockable and more. Discard themes focus on playing cards that cause the opponent to discard cards from their hand. By constantly eliminating the opponent's
cards he or she can never cast any spells. Rendering their deck useless. Combo themes assemble a combination of two or three specific cards as soon as possible. These cards, when used together produce an effect that is so overwhelming that the opponent cannot stop it and loses. As you can see, a theme is veiy important to building a powerful deck. It guides you in the selection of cards you choose to put into it. Going back to the example we provide in the beginning of this chapter, you can now see how Dream Twist would not be a veiy good card to add to an aggro deck. Nor would it be beneficial in a hexproof deck. The only ones it makes perfect sense in are the mill, control and possibly discard decks. Thafs because causing an opponent to remove cards from their libraiy fit within the theme of those decks. As you're tiying to construct a deck, use the above themes to help guide you in one direction. Or, find a card that you really like and tiy to build a theme around it. This can be a great way to come up with a deck that will surprise even the most challenging opponent, because most Magic the Gathering players are used to playing against these standard theme decks and won't know what him them. While building your deck it's also extremely important to include a winning strategy. In fact, it's best to have at least two in case the first one doesn't work. For example, let's say you are running a mill theme deck and vour goal is to deplete your opponent's libraiy so you can win the game. Well, imagine what would happen if you are up against someone who has a 100 card deck! Most likely they haven't read this book, but thafs aside the point. Running a mill deck against a 100 card deck is mostly likely going to have a hard time trying to compete. It will just take way too long to run his libraiy dry for you to win. So, it's best that you have another trick up your sleeve in case your main strategy doesn't work.
Many people who play mill decks also include a few high power creatures, such as Consuming Aberration, a creature whose power and toughness are equal to the number of cards in your opponent's graveyard and/or Wright of Precinct Six, a creature who gets +1/+1 for each creature in your opponent's graveyard. These types of creature are the perfect back up if libraiy milling doesn't fails to end the game. Creature — Horror 26January 20B' Consuming Aberration's power and toughness are each equal to the number of cards in your opponents' graveyards. Whenever you cast a spell, each opponent reveals cards from the top of his or her library until he or she reveals a land card, then puts those cards into his or her graveyard. 一^ Vo0am Ba炉 “ Z Mi wVmI 血 Hr 小 PWkOTC Wight of Precinct Six Wight of Precinct Six gets +1/+1 for each creature card in your opponents* graveyards. Even the lost and undead need a protector. Creature — Zombie Another good example would be an aggro deck that lias more than one way to win. Ail aggro deck's main focus is to pump out creatures so fast that the opponent can't react and dies quickly. However, what would happen if the opponent had a lot of creature removal spells and/or mana acceleration with big creatures they can cast just as quick? A one track aggro deck would lose pretty quickly. A back up strategy⁷ could be to add in some direct damage cards, such as Pillar of Flame, which does 2 damage to target creature or player or Searing Spear, which does 3 damage to target creature or player.
Another strategy could be to add in life gaining cards, so you can hopefully wait your opponenfs defenses out. Angels Mercy is an instant that allows you to gain 7 life ^ndAjani's Simsti'iker is a creature that has lifelink, damage dealt by this creature also causes you to gain that much life. ((Ajani's Sunstrike； | Creature — Cat Cleric Lifelink (Damage dealt by this creature also causes you to gain that much life.) uAjani goes where he is needed most and in his name zue keep his lands safe/' ——o*Ma<( Stewart IWJ 2012Wizard. ibe UjC 2-249 Our recommendation is that you visit the website TappedOut.net in order to get some concrete examples of theme decks. On this website you'll find themes of all kind, plus you can post a deck theme idea you are working and get feedback from other Magic the Gathering players. Members will tell you what's good or bad with it and help you build a stronger deck.
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