Essentials

[jrr]

Nice observation. They are quite similar in cost. Decree draws a butt-ton of cards. I agree with your assessment.

Now as the other bit, with the new deck size, we don't have to have a replacement for every card. I think there's room to add something like Fight or Sudden Spoiling. The deck has nothing like either and I think it would be suiting to have one in the toolbox.

Well, both being instants, they at least deserve a spot in the wish board.
I'm still not convinced on Avatar of Fury staying, and I had not realized Wrexial was only 6 mana... I thought he was 8. I'm liking him more and more for a spot.

[kerbythepurplecow]

Wrexial is cheap! I'm thinking of pulling Thraximundur from contention. Expensive, and no evasion. Actually, I don't think there's a good reason to keep it.

[kerbythepurplecow]

Amusing observation: Loxodon Warhammer is not currently in the deck.

[jrr]

That is amusing... so does this mean we consider adding warhammer/sledge or remove both from consideration?

[TheAbe]

Let's see what the creature % is before we make that decision, after we make our changes

[kerbythepurplecow]

Okay, we'll leave that for a bit. There's still way too many cards even with subbing for some of the weaker cards in the Essentials. I think it's going to be time to make some hard cuts to the list of potentials.

I've got a project that will likely take most of the rest of my evening. Has to be done tonight to make room for mattress delivery in the morning too. If I get it done sooner than expected, I will post some of my ideas about the weaker cards on the list. Then we can debate on my bad choices and everyone's personal favorites and such. Otherwise, probably tomorrow.

[kerbythepurplecow]

Okay, first here's the current list of potentials. After the list I'll detail what I think should come off. Then we'll debate for a bit and see if we can't agree on some stuff.

Behemoth Sledge
Black Lotus
Citanul Flute
Crucible of Worlds
Expedition Map**
Lotus Bloom
Mox Emerald
Mox Jet
Mox Pearl
Mox Ruby
Mox Saphire
Oblivion Stone
Panoptic Mirror

All is Dust
Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre**

Contract from Below
Decree of Pain
Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief
Sudden Spoiling
Suffer the Past
Vampiric Tutor
Yawgmoth's Will

Compulsion
Draining Whelk
Gifts Ungiven
Intuition
Mystical Tutor
Recurring Insight
Rite of Replication**
Sphinx of Magosi
Thada Adel, Acquisitor**
Time Walk
Tinker
Trinket Mage

Anathemancer**
Captain Sisay
Dauntless Escort**
Empyrial Archangel**
Fight to the Death
Maelstrom Nexus**
Maelstrom Pulse
Novablast Wurm**
Prince of Thralls**
Rafiq of the Many**
Sen Triplets**
Trygon Predator
Wrexial, the Risen Deep

Acidic Slime
Hibernation's End
Life from the Loam
Realms Uncharted
Survival of the Fittest
Terastodon**

Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs**
Magmaw

Deathless Angel
Elspeth, Knight-Errant**
Enlightened Tutor
Luminarch Ascension**
Magus of the Disc
Marshal's Anthem**
Stoneforge Mystic**
Wall of Omens

Oblivion Stone - Keeping Decree of Pain in for now. All is Dust as well. Oblivion Stone gets the cut.

Sudden Spoiling - If it's between Fight to the Death and Sudden Spoiling, I'd rather try out the new trick. Sudden Spoiling can go back to its happy place in the wishboard.

Captain Sisay - Probably too slow and a bit past her prime.

Empyrial Archangel - I don't know, it just doesn't strike me as strong enough for the cost. 8 mana for that body is weak. The ability is neat and all, but likely to be a just a fog in the later game once the big boys come to play.

Novablast Wurm - The biggest drawback is that he allows regeneration. Other than that I don't see too much wrong with him. I just think there is better stuff still on the list.

Sen Triplets - Cost to body ratio is unimpressive. Ability is great, but might have people cause a lot of hate to be directed your way.

Trygon Predator - Feels too weak.

Jaya Ballard, Task Mage - Too small? Too fragile?

Elspeth, Knight-Errant
Luminarch Ascension
Magus of the Disc
Wall of Omens
These are some of the hard cuts. I think they're all good, but looking at the rest of the list I think they're a little further down. I may be wrong on these guys, but that's why I have you gents to help me debate on this stuff

These leaves 51 cards not counting Behemoth Sledge. I originally said around 36 slots of the 50 would be new non-land cards. I think we can change that to around 40 with all the moxes and the lotuses. So that means we have 11 extra cards unless we can find 11 cards to be replaced.

Per previous discussion, these cards are the most likely to be replaced. It's not a sure thing, just stuff we discussed. I'll add some extra info if the card hasn't been discussed.

Masticore
Diabolic Tutor With this many tutors coming in, seems okay to drop a super expensive one.
Tradewind Rider
Tidespount Tyrant
Kaervek the Merciless
Rith, the Awakener
Woolly Thoctar
Spitting Image Possibly for Rite of Replication. Rite doesn't have the recursive abuse, but it can have the just win factor. 2 mana cheaper for a single go too.
Supply/Demand Another weaker tutor. Also, Supply is rarely used.
Avatar of Fury I'm fine with continued debate. I just want some debate. Reasons why he is better than a lot of the other potentials goods.
Firestorm Still not sold on losing this.

And that's exactly 11 cards.