by Rei Barker
So first and foremost I’m thinking about what kind of deck I need to grind with to qualify for nationals. I know what I’ll be playing when I qualify but I’ll get to that later. Currently, I’m sitting by myself in a dark room mulling it over and I’ve decided to make a list detailing what I need to succeed.
- I need to be able to beat kithkin/red
- I need to be able to win in a timely fashion
- I need to be “on point” with my plays and decisions and keep my mistakes to a minimum
So I’ve decided to play faeries. Every single person I’ve spoken to about grinders, or indeed any form of constructed magic, has offered the opinion that Fae is an unwise choice. There is a small part of me that just likes to do the opposite of what people say for some reason, but for the most part I am fairly confident in my abilities and the deck. I’m no PV or Sam Black, that is to say I’m not a Fae expert by any means. But I did realise a month ago that I was a bad Fae player. So I took it upon myself to change this deplorable state of affairs. Where did I start? Why the internet of course. That veritable cornucopia of information has certainly had much to offer.
I began my journey by paying a visit to SCG.com and reading pretty much every article that has mentioned standard in the last six months, paying special attention to those concerning Faeries. Next I decided that the particular build of Faeries I wish to play needed to be optimized. So I did the best thing I could. Netdeck! I took Chapin’s build and copied it card for card. I figured Chapin knows a bit more about cards than I do and it’s a build people would be testing against. Then I played and played and played.
Back to my list.
- I need to be able to beat kithkin/red
Kithkin can be a hard matchup for Faeries but I’m thinking that I can just mise it. Good strategy I know but that is just how it is. Often I’ve found that they are quite even and that either deck is capable of blowout victories. Basically I just want to win the die roll and play correctly. I feel that by playing 4 Agony Warp in the maindeck i can make a lot of profitable blocks and swing the board position that kithkin invariably gains in the first two turns, back to my side of the board. Then Mistbind and Cryptic Command get me in there. I have not worked out my sideboard against kithkin yet but there is a lot to choose from. Deathmark will be there for sure, Sower of Temptation isn’t in my main so it seems i need some. Infest isn’t good enough with Honor of the pure around. (Plumeveil? Sleep?)
As for red I don’t think it is that much of a problem honestly, Mogg Fanatic not making the cut in M10 helps Faeries so much in this matchup. Mistbind Clique has become a lot better as well because they can’t float mana into their draw step anymore. Also Spellstutter Sprite can counter their best burn spell on her Pat Malone which is great. Also I plan to mise out any Ball Lightnings coming at me with a cheeky Peppersmoke.
- 2. I need to be able to win in a timely fashion
- 3. I need to be “on point” with my plays and decisions and keep my mistakes to a minimum
I guess with these two I just need to test/ practice. Playing with the new rules as much as possible and getting to know any new interactions that come is vital. The aforementioned Mistbind Clique, for example, becomes a little less flexible as you cannot put damage on the stack, making combat tricks a little less fun for the little blue dudes. Winning in a timely fashion shouldn’t be too much of an issue considering I imagine most decks will be quite aggro. Not making mistakes is something that is a recent addition to my repertoire, having realized that focusing on what I am doing is actually conducive to success in most things, but I am very prone to forgetting these things. I know some strategies that some might not like, but they work for me. Rest well blah blah, all that stuff that’s written in every “how to play well guide.” It works for some and not for others, simple as that. I personally plan to get at least six hours, and do my breathing exercises when I rise in the morn. They relax me and help me to think clearly about what I am doing. I would go for a run but Canberra is bloody freezing in the morning.
I know I said I would get to what I’m playing if/when I Q for nationals but while I have been writing this I realized I knew all along what deck I like. Faeries. Not because it’s all I have physically, but because of the reasons I have stated in the above paragraphs and more. It’s the deck I’m most comfortable and familiar with and I think that matters quite a lot. It’ s not that I’m overly attached to it, It’s the deck I think is the best. Good luck with whatever you decide to lay and I’ll hopefully see you at nationals.
PS. I f you have any Drowned Catacombs holla at me. I have none. Two(2) Indestructability in the same sealed pool? Poppycock!
