Subject: Deck/Strategy (Urza's Saga) Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1998 12:14:33 -0400 From: "Douglas J. McKay" To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com [DECK/STRATEGY] Doug McKay (djmckay@mailbox.syr.edu) Deck: "Serra Sneak", a T2 deck for the tempest/urza cycle. Let me digress before I start: I just read the white card-by-card for Urza's on the main page here at the Dojo, and I vehemently disagree! First of all : the Avatar. At first glance: wow! a 20/20! what were they thinking! At second glance: Yeah, but did I ever play with polar kraken? I undstand a bad predisposition to big creatures, but obviously this guy didn't look for hidden combos - read on to see them! Also, Congregate and Soul Sculpter are very powerful in sealed deck - don't pass them by! (p.s. Did you notice that Glorious Anthem is better that Crusade in every way?) Anyways, I really wanted to be on top of the Urza's Saga scene, because last time I didn't get my hands on the oath of druids before it went up to $8+. This time, I have scrutinized the spoiler and found what I think will be the power cards for the set (e.g. $8-$20). I don't know about you, but I'm going on a shopping spree as soon the singles market opens up! Here's my deck idea, which is EXTREMELY expensive (44 rares out of 60 cards, not including sideboard!), but it's just a prototype anyways. I think variations of this will be one of the big decks in the new cycle, along with MOM decks, but that's another story. Here's the deck I call... "Serra Sneak" Artifact: 3 Mox Diamond Green: 4 Birds of Paradise 4 Endless Wurm 4 Child of Gaea Red: 3 Gamble 4 Sneak Attack 2 Bedlam White: 4 Serra Avatar 4 Monk Idealist 3 Angelic Chorus 3 Rememberance 2 Disenchant Land: 4 City of Brass 4 Brushland 4 Scabland 4 Karplusian Forest 4 Reflecting Pool Sideboard: 2 Shivan Gorge 3 Pariah 2 Disenchant 2 Oath of Druids 3 Absolute Grace 3 Fling I hope you can get a least some idea of what this deck does. Please, check out the spoiler if you're lost. I saved alot of reading for the intiated by not writing out the card descriptions here. Basically, the deck centers around two Urza cards: Sneak Attack, a red enchantment, and Serra Avatar, a white creature. When used in conjunction, the deck usually kills immediately (plus it ignores the arcane lab, did you notice?). However, there are some other hidden combos. I'll go over them... Avatar + Angelic Chorus: If you play the avatar with this enchantment in play, your life total doubles, and this causes the avatar's power to double in turn! Avatar + Rememberance: Since you shuffle the avatar into your deck when it dies rememberance gaurantees you another avatar no matter how much it dies! Avatar + Bedlam: Poor serra doesn't even fly! Fortunately, this red enchantment here makes her completely unblockable! This card combo is almost unstoppable. So, basically, the ultimate is getting one or more avatars + sneak attack + rememberance + angelic chorus: you life total doubles & you get to attack with a 40/40 creature (or higher?!?!) for one red! The Gambles help get the combo - get sneak attack first, the get the avatar. The others are secondary, because you can still do alot of damage. If you Gamble away a vital enchantment, don't worry, that's what the Idealists are for. These guys are also helpful if you actually cast a wurm w/out sneak & want to keep it for more than one turn. (Bonus combo that's not in here: Endless Wurm + Angelic Halo!) Here's the token God Draw: Turn 1: Land, Mox (+ land to discard), Birds Turn 2: Land, Sneak Attack Turn 3: Land, Bedlam, Avatar! You can get it 2nd turn if you draw first & get another mox, but it empties your hand. This way assumes playing first (which you should ALWAYS do!!!) and makes the Avatar unblockable on top of everything! This is a great scenario, but unlikely, and it's not the only way to kill, but keep the playing order in mind. Sideboard notes: Fling is a great kill card with the Avatar, but bedlam makes it unnecessary. It's there just in case. There are 2 extra disenchants for anti-creature decks etc. (ps. if they've got it, don't disenchant the oath!!!) Pariah is for the Avatar, but fits on the other creatures in an emergency. This should only be necessary in a swarm when you can't take on the numbers. Absolute Grace is for suiblack (it works like a bedlam), and Shivan Gorge is for SERIOUS anti-creature (I always include a card that can win even vs. a deck the seems made to counter mine). it's also handy vs. sligh & tims, and can't be countered! (see ya, cmu blue!) I think Shivan Gorge is going to be the next Scroll, but I could be wrong (Another combo: Gorge + Antagonism - low powered, but consistent; how do you think cursed scroll got so big?). Counters might give this deck trouble, especially the vile Ertai + Arcane Lab combo! However, it's no biggie if you drop a Sneak before they can Ertai/Forbid it, plus you can SB for... the Shivan Gorges! (that's Ertai's ass!). I'd love to see some responses & alterations posted so don't be shy! Let's see if this monster works!