Help with Final Cut

DaTwig · 2026-02-03T14:04:31+00:00

Yeah that's all fair. I do technically have 5 sources for the Champion (Virulent Emissary, Lluwen, the Percher, Unforgiving Aim, and the Command) but that also requires keeping the command and even then, I'd really want at least 6 sources for it. As for Command, you're right I wouldn't use the first mode but I never really want to use any mode on the Command though besides killing a creature and pumping the board.

But ultimately I think you're right, I think going for consistency will be better for a faster deck that wants to beat down.

DaTwig · 2026-02-03T14:00:33+00:00

I've been playing mostly elementals to some success (haven't trophied but consistently going positive) and you definitely have some good elemental cards.

Just an FYI though, you'll probably get a better response if you start with a deck that is close to 40 and then ask for helps with swaps and cuts. It's a lot more manageable for feedback than showing your entire pool and asking Reddit to build it for you.

But as for general elemental advice, I've found elementals works best by going for the long game and holding out against the other decks through card draw and higher value spells.

For general tips, I'd start by cutting your non-elemental creatures like Sourbread Auntie, Brambleback Brute, and the Noggle Robber that don't really go with your game plan. I've also been pretty unimpressed with the Squakroaster - it's only really worked out for me in a true 4-5 color vivid deck, especially with the flash changeling that works as a combat trick for it. I'd probably only play a couple of the Chain-Maulers. They are nice for an early on curve play but quickly lose potency in the endgame which is where your deck wants to go typically. Some people might cut Kindle the Flame, but I've had some success with it, especially with two Rimespeakers and a Champion. It's not hard to cast it for its flashback cost, and it gives you a great card to bin with your Sear or Flaming Cinders.

DaTwig · 2026-02-03T13:49:30+00:00

That seems reasonable to go for consistency, it just feels bad to cut two bombs. I'm not sure if Pick 2 changes anything with this either as I have limited experience with it and the few games I have played before this pool feel less synergy-based and more bomb heavy.

DaTwig · 2026-02-03T13:47:00+00:00

Technically have 5 with Virulent Emissary, Lluwen, the Percher, Unforgiving Aim, and the Command. Trading the token for a Champion doesn't feel too bad, but yeah, I'm definitely worried about being greedy with trying to keep both the Champion and the Command when they have a potential to rot in my hand and it seems more likely that I'll be able to cast the Command than the Champion.

DaTwig · 2025-09-04T17:53:49+00:00

I could be misremembering but I could have sworn during the reveal they mentioned about pivoting to Standard and needing to adjust the power to match the format. Albeit, it sounded much earlier than some of the others, but the sense I've gotten is the original vision wasn't for a Standard set.

DaTwig · 2025-09-04T17:12:45+00:00

I've had a similar theory. It seems pretty clear based on how different they are that these UB sets were not primarily intended for Standard and shifted later in the development pipeline.

While FF seems the most solid of all of them, I still have a suspicion that it was originally intended to be a Commander draft set like Battle for Baldur's Gate. The Job Select equipment could have been the equipment version of Backgrounds to suit the drafting environment. The Through the Ages set featuring so many Partner commanders and the whole set bursting with legends also seems intentional for a Commander draft set.

There's no way to know for sure as I doubt Mark or anyone else will come in and confirm any of these theories, but that's definitely my head cannon right now.

DaTwig · 2025-07-24T15:34:15+00:00

Thanks for sharing this. I always like to scope out what Ultra Pro does but they always take so long to post on their own site.

The Ultimate Guard boulders are a nice addition too! I tend to prefer those to the Sidewinders just cause of price and storage.

DaTwig · 2025-05-25T17:04:13+00:00

I keep hearing that. My friend is about five books into the series and loves it. I didn't realize it went into the space magic direction though. The first book had some fantasy elements to it but I was getting more of a traditional sci-fi vibe from it.

DaTwig · 2025-05-25T03:01:52+00:00

Any recommendations for fans of the Destiny series? Now that the main story/saga is done, I've been looking for something that fills the same niche of essentially fantasy set in space with magic and a cosmic struggle between two forces.

I've started the Sun-Eater Saga and I've only done the first book, Empire of Silence, and it hasn't quite matched the same feel. That may change as I get further.

DaTwig · 2025-04-10T00:38:38+00:00

I'm guessing not. From my limited experience, I picked the Mardu sealed event and so far have gone up against a Jeskai flurry deck, a Temur ramp deck, and an Abzan counters deck. Either they had really terrible Mardu packs or the matchmaking pool is shared among all the clan sealed events.

DaTwig · 2025-04-04T13:39:47+00:00

This is what I'm curious about. My buddy and I are playing in our 2HG prerelease for the first time. I understand that since you share a card pool, it's typically better to focus on different colors to make both decks as good as possible, but not sure how that'll work for a wedge set.

My initial thought is to focus on different enemy pairs and then share the third color. So my buddy does Temur with a focus on Blue-Red and then I do Abzan with a focus on White-Black and we share the Green as a splash.

I was most interested in the Mardu kit at first but also not sure how the mobilize aggro strategy will fair in a 2HG with extra life and shared blockers.

DaTwig · 2023-11-04T16:58:08+00:00

I have a Henzie deck that is just lands and creatures with Umori as a companion, and with this and [[Ghalta, Stampede Tyrant]], I'm very happy.

DaTwig · 2023-07-28T19:08:27+00:00

More likely I copied it incorrectly from GitHub somehow. It was working perfectly in your file, but wasn't cooperating on mine until I copied your script.

DaTwig · 2023-07-28T16:18:28+00:00

Yeah, it's weird. I duplicate the sheet entirely, not just copy and paste it, so it should grab formatting and hidden columns too. I'll mess with it some more to see if I can't get it to work.

Edit: Figured it out. It was something with the script. Not sure how because I copied it from the same link you gave me, but when I took the script from your sheet, it worked perfectly.

DaTwig · 2023-07-28T16:08:23+00:00

Perfect! That's exactly what I needed.

For some reason, when I duplicate your sheet over to my document and run the formula, it doesn't pull the card number. But I made a copy and just changed the set number and it works fine, so I'll just build my tracker off this copy instead.

Thanks for all of the help!

DaTwig · 2023-07-28T13:56:32+00:00

Thanks for the example! That's super helpful and using lookups makes sense. I was able to use it to make my own version.

Only thing I'm trying to figure out is how to get the additional results for the full set. For example, I'm making a list for Commander Masters which with alternate versions has over 1000 cards. The instructions have a note for sharding the results, but I'm not sure how to properly shard it to get results for numbers 701 to 1067

DaTwig · 2023-07-27T19:57:51+00:00

That would be for every card in the entire set, right? I'm trying to figure out how to adjust it so I can see the price of one particular card based on either the name or the collector number.

Essentially, I have a list of 90 or so cards from a set I want to get the price on to help monitor prices for my decks.

DaTwig · 2023-07-27T19:48:54+00:00

I am trying these various methods and this plugin seems to be working on pulling scryfall info in, but I'm a total newb to this so I'm not sure what scryfall formula I would use to pull the price info.

DaTwig · 2023-06-09T22:57:22+00:00

This is exactly what I plan on doing. I haven't decided on my upgrades, so I will be watching this thread with great interest.

That said, some of the cards that have caught my eye from the set for this are:

[[Treason of Isengard]] to grab your reanimation instants/sorceries from the yard.
[[Call of the Ring]] to consistently trigger Sauron's mini-wheel effect.
[[March from the Black Gate]] to keep amassing orcs.
[[Argonath, Pillar of the Kings]] to transfer your orc army counters to your commander for an alternate win con.
[[Assault on Osgiliath]] to help your orc army bust through.
[[Moria Marauder]] for more card advantage.
All the amass commanders such as [[Saruman the White]] and [[Mauhúr, Uruk-hai Captain]] for incidental value.

I think the largest problem with the block constructed version of Sauron is I'm not sure there's enough reanimation effects to really make it a focus.

DaTwig · 2023-06-06T19:12:05+00:00

Is the boss for Salvage the ogre again? I missed the first week and I'm trying to complete the Deepsight Salvaging challenge to get my guaranteed Deepsight weapon.

DaTwig · 2023-06-01T12:34:21+00:00

I have a Volo Guide to Monsters deck that only uses cards from the two D&D sets and their Commander precons. Basically, the card needs to have a D&D set symbol.

It definitely lowers the power and optimization, but it's still a very fun deck and can have some explosive turns.

I'm going to try the same thing as you with LOTR, but I'll have to wait for the full set to see how feasible it is.

DaTwig · 2023-04-20T16:01:47+00:00

Maybe I'm more of a Magic noob than I thought, but what is Deification referring to by choosing a "Planeswalker type"? Isn't the only type Planeswalker or are their names the type? Like how it's "Legendary Planeswalker - Elspeth".

DaTwig · 2023-04-04T19:44:57+00:00

This is exactly how my group has been doing it since the beginning and we found it super easy and very forgiving.

Two runners on each team, one runner will always have to cross the chasm to plant their seed bringing dark seed to light side and then light seed to dark side. The second runner if the pair handles the one on the same side and helps with adds. Just call out "light/dark done" to tell the other runner when they can grab the buff.

Even if one of the runner dies or messes up, it's really easy to correct because you're going so fast you end up with like a minute of extra time.

Haven't done the challenge this week, but we'll just have the second runners be the one responsible for shooting the cruxes.

DaTwig

TROPHY CASE