Magic: The Gathering

Deck building

Basics:

• Set a goal: Could be building around a car you really like, playing casually with friends or planning to compete in tournaments.
• Set a budget: Want to proxy? Want all the mythics? What can you possibly build?
• Set a strategy:
  • Aggro: Plays cheap aggressive creatures and spells that overwhelm the opponent
  • Combo:
  • Control: Try to stop whatever the opponent is trying to do, and drop a large threat to close the game. Or a combination
  • Midrange (Aggro+Combo): The deck wants powerfull "enter the battlefield" effects with versatile removal spells. Basically, stands in between of all strats.
  • Tempo (Aggro+Control):
  • Combo+Control?:
• Similar to rock, paper, scissors: Aggro beats Control beats Combo beats Aggro
  • Midrange seats between Combo and Aggro, so beats Aggro

The colors:

• Red: aggressive, I want to play creatures/spells quickly and cheaply so I kill my opponent before they have a chance to build up
• Blue: control, I want to control what my opponents do, counter their spells at the right time in order to thwart their plans
• Green: big, I want to attack with big creatures and completely dominate the creature side of the board
• White: life gain, I want to gain life so I don't have to worry about being attacked
• Black: I want to make my opponents lose life and utilize the cards in my graveyard that I've already spent

This is a rule of thumb to wrap your head around the colors, but they may vary.

Research: No shame in using decklists from other sites to get inspiration, specially when you really know what you are doing. mtggoldfish.com

Construction: Standard: Min 60 cards + 15 sideboard - Can't have more than 4 of any card other than basic lands. Mana base: - Every strategy demands a different amount of mana, but as a baseline, don't go lower than 20. - Aggro (20-22) | Mid-range (23-25) | Control (25-27) - Cool cards aren't worth anything if you can't use them. Balance: - Remember you need a win condition so, you cannot build a deck with no creatures or a bunch of defensive spells. - As a starting point 2:1 creature to enchantment ratio, but each strategy varies. Aggro needs more creatures, while control fewer.

Rule of Nine:

• The best way to start a new deck for total beginners is to pick 9 cards.
• With a playset of each (4 cards) then you'll have 36 already. Add 24 lands and you have a full deck
• Playtest and iterate on it. Add and remove until you find the right combination.

A general rule on card count:

• 4: I want to make sure this card is in my opening hand or see it every game, no matter what
• 3: I want to see this card at least once every game
• 2: A nice to have, but it's not crucial
• 1: Fun card, an "oh crap" card, a situational card

Finding cards:

• https://scryfall.com/advanced

Mechanics

Deathtouch

While it was fun building a deck only based on Deathtouch, it now is clear it has one glearing issue. It heavily depends on the opponents deciding to engage with me. If they choose to not block or not attack, I'm pretty much stuck letting them develop their board until they have enough power to stump me.

It's ok as A thing, but not THE thing of the deck.