Comments on: The Intro Decks of New Phyrexia

By: ertaislament

ertaislament — Thu, 19 May 2011 01:42:59 +0000

A winner has been drawn- thank you to all who participated! We'll be having many more giveaways ahead, so kindly keep Quiet Speculation high on your reads list!

By: Bill the Nerd

Bill the Nerd — Thu, 19 May 2011 00:46:50 +0000

I long for the day (sometime soon with the Commander brand) when the rare foil in these is a legend with a build around deck. They could show off mechanics and increase sales.

By: @fatecreatr

@fatecreatr — Wed, 18 May 2011 19:38:32 +0000

In reply to legacyinferno. I think you're making a lot of assumptions there. During prerelease and release events a lot of the intro decks are shifted. Also, WotC has all the sales data. If it made more sense to sell them the old way instead then they would, so the sales must be worth while. Additionally, since Jay's articles are consistently some of the most read on the site, I would say there is a LOT of interest in intro decks.

By: R. Mark Slack

R. Mark Slack — Wed, 18 May 2011 19:27:59 +0000

I enjoy the new decks quite a bit, they actually feel like a deck I would see at a casual table. Some of the older decks have cards in them that are obvious throw-ins that should be immediately replaced. The new decks showcase the block well while maintaining sound strategy

By: legacyinferno

legacyinferno — Wed, 18 May 2011 19:13:48 +0000

The rares in an intro pack are usually pretty weak, I would love wizards to go back to the old days of just selling 60 card decks with 3 rares, x uncommons, and x commons. the intro packs are neat but pretty much useless to most magic players. even newbs steer away from them. so whats the point of selling a failing product let alone a product that doesnt even offer more than pre-conned junk rares. at least u get a booster in the decks.

By: Jose Estorga

Jose Estorga — Wed, 18 May 2011 18:27:42 +0000

Personally I think that intro decks are great for new players and should be used to try and keep some rares and uncommons from getting to high in cost. I know that is bad for us trying to make money on magic but over all I don’t think it is good to have lots of $3 uncommons and many $15 rares as it hurts the game overall.

By: @Tuzgai

@Tuzgai — Wed, 18 May 2011 18:23:38 +0000

I got the Artful Destruction deck and really enjoy the interaction between Precursor Golem and the rest of the deck. Sure, losing your whole team to a single Lightning Bolt isn't fun, but trampling over everything with a single Giant Growth is very satisfying. I'd second the opinion that in this case the older rare was well-placed.

By: Ryknow041

Ryknow041 — Sun, 15 May 2011 15:04:57 +0000

I have to agree with the author on how the flavor of the intro decks has improved since the Zendikar black as well as the choices of core set cards thrown into the mix. The Artful Destruction deck looks the most fun to me as a tribal deck, which it seems others are saying as well.

Thanks for the articles!! I've just stumbled upon you and am enjoying the reads!

By: Nik

Nik — Sat, 14 May 2011 11:20:37 +0000

Overall these changes are definitely positive. I love that they are choosing synergy here over novelty. A very good choice!

By: Jason Reeson

Jason Reeson — Fri, 13 May 2011 13:37:09 +0000

I have to say I was quite disappointed in the the intro packs. I've grabbed one from each of the last few sets but i won't be getting one this time around. I know I'm probably the only one, but I was quite impressed with the power of the Sword of War and Peace. I managed to crack one at the pre-release last weekend and it proved to be the difference maker quite a few times. Its pretty sweet and has now found a home in my my mono-white EDH deck with Kemba. Looking forward to playing with Jin.

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 13 May 2011 12:37:24 +0000

In regards to intro decks, I was surprised to see them fully on sale ever since the pre-release. I’ve never paid much attention to precons before this release. Does WotC usually make these available for retail prior to the official set release? Seems like a debatable practice in itself.

By: goldenj

goldenj — Fri, 13 May 2011 12:26:26 +0000

These are New Phrexian intro decks. With rare exception, the intro deck rares have not been chase, and it's a completely classless move to chintz on even that meager standard. They used to come with three rares, so the classy move would have been to add a third rare from a previous set. Then they know with greater certainty that they're not giving away the farm.

It goes towards purpose and audience. Purpose: promote the new set, and this move weakens that. Audience: casual player, interested in fun rares. At best, this is neutral for that, and probably negative.

I'm wondering if it's a way to add emphasis to the event decks by increasing suckage of the competing product.

By: Geir-Tore Lindsve

Geir-Tore Lindsve — Fri, 13 May 2011 11:55:13 +0000

Just bought "Artful Destruction" as my first ever Magic deck after reading positive comments about it. Joining three others at the office for some MtG lunchtime action 🙂

By: @JulesRobins

@JulesRobins — Fri, 13 May 2011 05:32:23 +0000

Thanks for the insight into intro pack design. It's pretty rare that I play with these, but I like to know which ones to recommend to new players. On that note, I think that the rare change is for the best: far fewer established Magic players (who want new cards) will buy these than players who are starting out. A better play experience is more important than more desirable cards.

By: MiniLuv

MiniLuv — Fri, 13 May 2011 04:58:59 +0000

Tower of Calamities was BY FAR the worst rare that could have went into Feast of Flesh. Waiting endlessly to hit 8 mana and using it on a creature that most likely has a toughness far below the damage it deals. I would accept a lightning bolt over that card any day.

On the side note, the new intro packs are definitely more theme based and I've thoroughly been enjoying the phyrexian mana in the the packs. Wizards headed back in the right direction again.

By: @tcpwalker

@tcpwalker — Thu, 12 May 2011 23:47:04 +0000

I love the Phyrexian mana and so I decided to grab Life for Death for open dueling last Saturday. I won every game I played, more often than not using Immolating Souleater's Phyrexian Firebreathing. Looking forward to playing the other decks as they appear.

By: Charles R

Charles R — Thu, 12 May 2011 21:24:35 +0000

I'm also dissappointed about not having two rares from the new set, and it will probably keep me from buying one of these decks. They could have easily put in some other rare from NP that still fit that maybe wasn't strictly on theme for the deck.

By: @CardGameNut

@CardGameNut — Thu, 12 May 2011 18:52:41 +0000

I'd honestly much rather have rares from the new set be in the theme decks. Someone a few posts up said Xenograft would be good. It would round out the high end of the curve and give your other splicers their own abilities. Plus, it's already got a Sliver-type feel, and you know how people love them some Slivers. 🙂

Also, for Feast of Flesh, how about Invader Parasite instead of Tower of Calamities? Run in a theme deck vs. theme deck setting, I don't think he'd be too bad since it's pretty well all basics anyway.

By: Ryan Spivey

Ryan Spivey — Thu, 12 May 2011 17:25:51 +0000

Played with the GW Golem deck at a pre-release last weekend. I love me some Splicers!

By: @HipsterVenser

@HipsterVenser — Thu, 12 May 2011 15:07:11 +0000

In reply to nghfvjygu. I agree with Tower of Calamities. Big ol' WTF on that one! Poor decision.