The Funnest Combo Decks
michele oasheim
Most Saturday's I drive down to a nice store in Lake Genva, Wisconsin
called the Game Guild. It's a nice place where people play for fun more
than anything else. A lot of game designers live in the area (think
D&D), and I have had the pleasure of playing Dungeons and Dragons
several times with Gary Gygax. I got to test the new WWF card game with
the creator Ken Whitman and other well known people like Jim Ward are
always showing up. It's a great place to hang out and just spend time
with friends (and if I ever what serious competition I'll stroll down to
K.D.'s Cards and Collectibles which showcases a much harsher Magic
community).
Sorry, lost my train of thought and I just started rambling (god, I
can't spell worth a damn). After the Type 2 is over and D&D starts
(Ernie Gygax DM's) the remaining people put some tables together and
begin a large multi-player where everyone antes a crappy rare from any
set. Eliminate someone and get a card of your choice. It's nice
because we all have a differant definition of the word "crap" and deals
can be found. Whenever I play (I play D&D alot too) I always play
combo. Not any silly combo decks like Jar or Enchantress, but more own
brand of rareless infinite combo decks. Winning with style and a combo
nobody there has ever thought of is a real hoot (and a load of 8-12
rares is cool). Here's my current deck (just made it 10 minutes ago,
2:12 a.m. central time)
4 Malachite Tailsman
3 Elvish Lyrist
4 Elvish Lookout
4 Priest of Titania
4 Yavimaya Grangers
4 Llanowar Sentinals
3 Game Keeper
2 Gaea's Blessing
3 Broken Fall
3 Elvish Fury
4 Firewhip
5 Mountains
17 Forests
Get a Priest into play along with a lot of elves and then cast a Fury or
Fall. Untap the Priest with the Tailsman then recast the Fury or Fall.
Infinate mana, the hard way. I picked a lot of cards that I thought
were interesting like Firewhip (the kill), Game Keeper (odd), and the
Blessings (synergy) instead of just using standard cards like Fireballs
or Cradles. Best of all the combo is hard to detect so I can wait for
the perfect moment to cast a Taisman and go off. The combo cards (Fury,
Fall) both help protect the Priests, and Firewhip could prevent here
from getting Eradicated. I think the deck should have some Wood Spheres
and Titania's Chosen but I just don't have the room. Besides, I kind of
like the sillyness.
However, if the pot is really good I'll play this
4 Lotus Petal
2 Defense Grid
4 Reclaim
4 Oath of Druids
1 Pox
1 Urza'a Armor
1 Pestilence
1 Planar Birth
1 Rain of Filth
1 Yawgmoth's Will
2 Turnabout
4 Impulse
4 Portent
2 Interdict
4 Dark Ritual
8 Forests
8 Swamps
8 Islands
I can do a 2nd turn table kill with it if I get a god draw. Although
every version I've ever seen has been lousy 1-on-1 this is a excellent
multi-player deck. Never play it twice. Never.
Having fun is the key to Magic staying alive and well. The more you
kill the good time other people are trying to have, the more Magic dies.
Dillon L. Oasheim
"Booyah!"