Zemanjaski on Sligh (lists, theory, video)

[zemanjaski]

Upcoming personal project. Tracking the development of my Sligh from day 1 on MODO through an entire season. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll listen to Ellie Goulding's entire discography at least once.

Ever wanted to see inside the mind of an 1900+ rated player? See how they think, how they build decks and theorise.

Will be taking short article and video requests. Aiming for: 1x video and 1x article /week.

[deck]PyroRed Sligh v 1.1[/deck]

Is PyroRed the best deck in the format? Let's find out.

THEORY VIDEOS:

Zemanjaski on Red Deck Wins #1: Red Deck Wins Basics

Link to recording: http://www.twitch.tv/zemanjaski/b/464384701

Topics Covered:
- history of competitive red decks
- mana sum theory
- modern adaptations
- understanding theoretical applications to in-game strategy and decision making

Zemanjaski on Mono Red #2: Mono Red Card Evaluation feat. Gweivyth

COMING SOON~

Topics Covered:
- AIR vs Sligh vs RDW vs Kuroda; key differences in strategy and how this affects card evaluation
- some thoughs on 1 drops
- tension in the two drop slot; Ash Zealot vs BTE; YP vs GHC vs FFS and deck building concessions based on these choices
- burn, what's most appropriate for your archetype?

STREAMS:

[zemanjaski]

Reserved.

[photodyer]

How about the structural theory behind construction of a sligh deck, including card evaluation relative to the deck's game plan?

[DerWille]

I'm looking forward to this. One of the things I liked about your twitch videos is that you would explain why you would make the plays that you do. For example, when you would commit everything to the board or when you would hold back.

A great starter for newer players would be basic red sligh mechanics. It can be little things like how to properly order your actions in a turn. It can also be knowing when to balance developing your board presence vs burning what they currently have, i.e., I have Firedrinker Satyr on the field, my opponent has an Elvish Mystic. Do I BTE-> Firefist Striker or Magma Jet the elf?

[Khaospawn]

Predictions on THE decks to beat?

[Ascension]

Predictions on THE decks to beat?

Archangel Aggro or G/W Lifegain will be played, pretty much the same 60 from INN-RTR season. A lot of that deck is rotation proof.

[zemanjaski]

How about video lectures instead of articles? That way I can actually demonstrate the ideas with cards. Thoughts?

[DroppinSuga]

How about video lectures instead of articles? That way I can actually demonstrate the ideas with cards. Thoughts?

That's a great idea, especially if your sexy face is in it.

[redthirst]

I'd watch.

I mean, I still read your posts with the accent, but it's not the same.

[Calamity]

Your main deck is within 2 or 3 cards of my current 75, this'll be interesting.

[redthirst]

Most shells are pretty close. I think I like -2 Shock, +1 Hammer, +1 Mutavault myself, but the deck looks really strong.

[DerWille]

How about video lectures instead of articles? That way I can actually demonstrate the ideas with cards. Thoughts?

I think that would be best.

[zemanjaski]

Cool. Ill start with a video on this 75, and use it as a starting point to discuss:
- sligh deck building
- sligh theory
- trends in aggro strategy (how the game is changed over the last two seasons and what this means; eg, falter effects are now core strategy, whereas they used to be fringe. Synergy is big in red etc etc)

Then each week ill try to cover both changes to the deck and metagame developments, maybe work through some key game scenarios that come up.

Ill tackle decision making in recorded matches (DEs and PEs) since I think that's easiest.

Thoughts?

[DroppinSuga]

Accent + face + magical brilliance = Youtube sensation

[DroppinSuga]

I honestly think you should start by writing an article on why a red deck wants to play Firedrinker.

[photodyer]

James, that sounds excellent. Seriously. Taking what we are experiencing in the developing meta and explaining what's behind it will be a relational teaching tool like no other.

[zemanjaski]

I honestly think you should start by writing an article on why a red deck wants to play Firedrinker.

See to me it's self evident. Ill be sure to discuss all 75 cards in the first video.

[DroppinSuga]

I honestly think you should start by writing an article on why a red deck wants to play Firedrinker.

See to me it's self evident. Ill be sure to discuss all 75 cards in the first video.

I understand why it's evident to us, but if you talk to most people, they want to know why you would play this card with such a downside. Just something you may want to throw in the video.

[redthirst]

Agreed with Suga.

You get to a certain point where you automatically evaluate cards based on likely scenarios and past experiences and can immediately tell that the card is busted. But you forget when you were just starting the game and thought Swords to Plowshares was garbage because it gave your opponent life, Wrath of God sucked because it killed all your creatures too, and Force of Will was strictly worse than Counterspell (Cost 5 or 2-for-1s me and pings a life? No thanks.).

[rcwraspy]

I honestly think you should start by writing an article on why a red deck wants to play Firedrinker.

See to me it's self evident. Ill be sure to discuss all 75 cards in the first video.

I understand why it's evident to us, but if you talk to most people, they want to know why you would play this card with such a downside. Just something you may want to throw in the video.[/quote:
1d4utobg]
Unfortunately I have to echo this. No matter what I say, and trust me, I've been saying the right things, I have some friends who think Firedrinker is unplayable because of the "downside." Getting told why it's just what Red needs by someone with more clout than just a buddy of theirs they play with would be a great teaching tool I think.

[zemanjaski]

Most shells are pretty close. I think I like -2 Shock, +1 Hammer, +1 Mutavault myself, but the deck looks really strong.

I do like running extra land...and is the worst card in the deck...don't think I'd run an extra hammer though; maybe 1x Flames of the Firebrand, since it's good with Chandra and Phoenix and does much of what Shock does anyway....

RE: Firedrinker, yep. Gotcha, will do. It's a skill testing card for sure, and I think bring a good red Mage requires a fairly unique skillset.

[windstrider]

Functionally speaking, Rakdos Cackler has much the same drawback as the Satyr. Not being able to block looks like a rather serious trade off in a game full of battleship creatures. Sure, you can use Cackler to chump block, but if you're doing that then you're generally losing the game anyway. It's basically the same thing with the Satyr.

Satyr is such a brilliant little card. It's going to lead to a lot of players wondering how they lost to such a "bad" card.

Edit: z, could you also throw in a discussion of alternative card choices? Ash Zealot springs immediately to mind.

[Helios]

Looks great, Z. Can't wait to see the video.

[JWarson88]

an article on card synergy vs card quality for deck building purposes would be nice. and also strategies on how to play aggro decks that have stronger creatures on curve, especially green based decks.

[LP, of the Fires]

Talk about the tension between ash zealot and BTE and why they should almost never be in the same deck.

Talk about the pros and cons of keeping loose hands(I've started doing this a lot more and haven't really noticed a change in my win%).

Talk about how our clan is AMAZING.

[redthirst]

Talk about the tension between ash zealot and BTE and why they should almost never be in the same deck.

Nay-sayers can attempt, but fail, to blow me.

[hamfactorial]

Talk about the tension between ash zealot and BTE and why they should almost never be in the same deck.

Talk about the pros and cons of keeping loose hands(I've started doing this a lot more and haven't really noticed a change in my win%).

Talk about how our clan is AMAZING.

You've been keeping loose hands more? I've also found that a hand with enough land usually gives me the play that I need to stay in the game. Mulling aggressively tends to leave me with awful starts.

[LP, of the Fires]

I still generally mulligan more then most people, but instead of 4 times every three games, it's closer to 2.

[zemanjaski]

an article on card synergy vs card quality for deck building purposes would be nice. and also strategies on how to play aggro decks that have stronger creatures on curve, especially green based decks.

Can you expand on your second point?

[Yarpus]

Explain why we should not force bad 4CMC creatures into our decks just because Hellrider was good.
I mean, I have that issue when trying to build Mono Red.

[zemanjaski]

^thats a good one. Too many people just try to rebuild decks that have been successful in the past, even when the card pool doesn't really allow it and the meta doesn't have the same features.

[Kaitscralt]

talk about how the 3/3 haste maker Ogre from M14 will never see play

also don't get too philosophical just make videos of you playing your decks in standard. that's what everybody likes to see.

[Verseau]

Upcoming personal project. Tracking the development of my Sligh from day 1 on MODO through an entire season. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll listen to Ellie Goulding's entire discography at least once.

Ever wanted to see inside the mind of an 1900+ rated player? See how they think, how they build decks and theorise.

Will be taking short article and video requests. Aiming for: 1x video and 1x article /week.

This is as good a starting point as any. Ill definitely be trying Boros and Gruul variants at some point; Sledgehammer as well.

First article request now open!

Damn Z, you make me wet

talk about how the 3/3 haste maker Ogre from M14 will never see play

also don't get too philosophical just make videos of you playing your decks in standard. that's what everybody likes to see.

Because in Sligh, at turn 4 we already have to win, or really close to win,
dropping an Ogre at turn 4 who just sit there until next turn is just not cut it for Sligh

[zemanjaski]

In the current card pool he's very nearly a 3/3 no abilities.

[Yarpus]

If we do play 4CMC card, it should be able to finish the game on it's own on the empty field.
Hellrider was basically 4/3 with Haste when board was empty.
None of the cards we currently do have access to offer that.

[Khaospawn]

I still have hope for the Mogi fanatic.

[Yarpus]

Same. The blow-out potential is high enough to consider him as 4CMC Sorcery that deals damage equal to your devotion, creature is just an addition which doesn't matter that much. At least playing him on the empty field is not THAT bad. Especially when you have Hammer running.

[JWarson88]

an article on card synergy vs card quality for deck building purposes would be nice. and also strategies on how to play aggro decks that have stronger creatures on curve, especially green based decks.

Can you expand on your second point?

From my understanding Sligh Decks strength is that it can race against control decks with a fast clock and punish decks with greedy mana bases. However I don't quite understand the strategy we would take when playing against an aggro deck that has stronger creatures than us on curve, especially green based decks with
kalonian tuskers and hydras. Does that make a little more sense?

[zemanjaski]

Yep! Will cover it

[Link]

Sideboarding in aggro is definitely something I myself need work on.

Also taggin epic thread