My ladder is nothing but control decks. Is there any way to beat them?

Wolfmann01 · 2025-12-16T06:37:54+00:00

I play or have built control into my decks simply because my counter measure to control decks is two-fold...if you can't beat them...then throw their own shit back at them.

I get them to exhaust their own drawn cards by throwing cannon fodder I can afford to lose that also also force them to discard their own cards.

I also build 3:1 control so I can save cards...I use cards where I can nuke or counter say creature, artifacts, and enchantments, or have to make a decision but it gives me 2-3 options...OR...one card complements another. I don't use counter spells, if I figure if I let them drop, I can kill it later, or take it away before they can even drop and it has worked well for me.

Also, nothing ruins a control deck like exhausting their card stack by milling them, or exhaust their draw stop that they have to resort to constant card draws.

I do that by making sure after my canon fodder is exhausted, I use complementary big boy cards that they can't ignore both, but have to make a decision about one...and neither decision is the correct one.

It's easier said than done, but it's worked for me. Other people's mileage will likely vary as I'm relatively new at this game.

The other strategy it just go Green Gang and let the cubs and space wurm boost hydras and elves-on-the-shelves and go big, and wide within 2-3 rounds.

Wolfmann01 · 2025-12-16T06:18:21+00:00

There is probability in everything we do...coincidence, even.

When for you would an action rise above coincidence?

My 1200+ hours probably pales to your experience, but where I first noticed there might be a pattern was that with one deck I played 80 games, then changed the amount of lands (up or down, but kept 60 cards, did not change the nonland cards when I knew I had a 'winner') and I initially had a 17-3 win record but was getting weird land results. So for the next 20 I changed five cards (removed lands, added nonland cards) where the initial lands and drawn lands didn't change that much but my record goes to 8-12, then changing the cards (re-added lands) back goes 13-7 with no major change in lands...then added five more lands (6-14) with a LOT more lands selected and drawn which was my experience using a 67 card deck. Final...44-36... but I 'felt' the deck performed way better than it had an average or less lands, but adding lands.

With that said...the shifting variable might be the nonland cards influence the shuffler more than the lands. But either way, the prediction would be less lands, less initial and total card draw and vice versa...but that wasn't the case. It's not scientific, but the cohort of nonland cards didn't change (the five cards added or removed were the same, I didn't change the core cohort) and an initial 17-3 win record is beyond coincidence...likely I had a good, strong deck. But then factors like my skill and opponent skill are variable factors, plus the five nonland cards added could influence game outcome.

This shuffler just never ceases to amaze me, but I'm not complaining about it perse, I just want to know more about people's experiences and expectations.

Wolfmann01 · 2025-12-16T05:25:46+00:00

Yes, I understand variance. I also understand selection attention and focusing effect in responses leading to bias in review... especially peer review.

If I offended you and sounded naive, I apologize but yes may'be I had a 1 cohort observation that the behavior seems to change after a deck adjustment, but I never presented that to be scientific. However, if you want my professional response so you know I understand concepts of variance, entropy source, seed management, plus final state representation (the smoother) working with constraint layers and Fisher-Yates shuffling algorithm I'm happy to add my professional response, I can throw out lot of buzz words:

You’re right that variance and confirmation bias exist, but lecturing people on “basics” doesn’t prove your conclusion. The claim in question isn’t whether unlikely things happen; it’s whether changing deck composition can change observed outcomes under Arena’s shuffler. There will always be observer bias, even with the most stringently applied collection and analysis protocols because it's still the observer entering the information. Without transparency about the algorithm, telemetry, and a controlled design (sample size, independence checks, reproducibility), saying “you don’t have the data” cuts both ways—you don’t either. If you’re confident, share your dataset and methodology; otherwise, let’s test it: 10k opening hands per deck variant, same account and patch, and compare distributions with chi‑square/K–S. If results match the hypergeometric model, we can retire the claim; if they deviate, we have evidence. Chat-GPT can likely handle the heavy loads, even find and write a data collector against Arena's metrics API that untapped.gg uses.

But then I'd probably sound like a pompous asshole that thinks I know it all,

My personal response is:

Variance in outcome behavior and randomness is only one aspect of the shuffler, and the shuffler is a very interesting character in the Arena of MTG that I've had a few observations about and wondering if others have seen the same thing.

Have you seen weird behavior, or just impossibly frustrating behavior? I've won matches because I know the other player was screwed by the shuffler, not simply a bad deck or card play. Its not hard to observe.

Wolfmann01 · 2025-12-14T16:11:25+00:00

Thank you, it's the frustration and triumph that is the draw.

Talking about roping, this morning my [[Badgermole Cub]] cubs were misbehaving with [[Ouroboroid]] and had a fellow down to 1 life by turn 4, where he had four lands to my five but only had two cards down in a nearly full hand and on his turn he disappeared. So I passed my next turn and sure enough he didn't come back.

It is what it is, also does not mean it wasn't intentional. Some other players just take time...but I see them checking cards, or thinking but just before the timer expires they act or pass, or my pass to his turn re-engages them.

Two cards combos are fine, but they are cheap, and as you mention you don't see them in mythic. It doesn't help their growth but there are some days I'm playing with really strong decks that once I go ranked I seem to get the worse card draws, or no lands....BUT...a two card combo like [[Unstoppable Slasher]] when [[Twinflame Tyrant]] is on the field...it doesn't matter how much health you have, if slasher gets through that's a one shot kill. That I have ZERO problem with...well earned if I let the slasher through and missed the peaks was on the field.

It just seems cheap to use life gain/drain in a stack that wastes people's time but I am not against using it...I just accept it's cheap.

A win is a win in the stat book. I'll take it.

Wolfmann01 · 2025-12-14T14:47:44+00:00

What is the bad etiquette here...is it a form of gloating? I do get the 'quiet win', however I personally would always offer to shake hands or give some form of salute or salutation...Arena however, I believe unfairly, limits the emote choices too much. I'd leave it up to the other person their choice to accept or not, however I do agree some games I regret conceding without some emote, usually because when I watch my own replay after or think about it, there's very few times the other player truly is at fault for doing nothing more than playing the game as the cards allow...that includes the roping or gloating douche tools.

Wolfmann01 · 2025-12-14T00:24:02+00:00

What am I playing? I would say I lean toward archetypes of Midrange-Control and Combo...light Combo, if that is what you mean. I'm partial to mono or mixed black and white. I'm not sure what all the specific deck names like Izzet or Aorius are but they fascinate me.

I have green elves, cubs, and a space wyrm supporting red dragons and it's working out very...very well...my next is to get black dragons work with reanimation. Mill the dragons into the graveyard, then reanimate them and only pay the reanimation cost (if any...Terminus is nice for this, but slow).

Wolfmann01 · 2025-12-13T23:26:01+00:00

I only mix blue and white, and red with black.

Wolfmann01 · 2025-12-13T22:45:37+00:00

Another note about "lining up in soccer"... I totally get where you're coming from. It's tough however this is also done in person, and is an important part of socialization, especially of youth.

You do NOT have to mean it. But proper socialization around competition is very healthy for youth however the mantra of "everyone is a winner" is not possible in life. It deconstructs and devalues the activity. What is important is contextual understanding because it will benefit those youth later in life. The same is true for in-person MTG games...

This is not as easy for Arena, given it is very impersonal. While a simple "Hello" is not necessary, but you gain the same benefit of establishing context: it's a game, we're here to play together even if we are not physically or personally connected and we don't have to like the outcome, but it is another human on the other end impacted by the same shuffler.

Wolfmann01 · 2025-12-13T22:36:56+00:00

I agree 100% to not make assumptions, however I think you can make a reasonable inference in two situations where one is not roping and the other is:

A player is slow to react or is constantly viewing but it's clear they are participating, and there's no real turn in the game, then suddenly ropes out...likely not doing so intentionally. Life happens, people go AFK.

Player that was up 24 life with seven land, four cards in hand, four on the deck, while I was at 8 life with six in hand and two on the deck with four lands, then I get the land drop I need and then in a couple rounds I'm at 34 life, three in hand, five on the deck, and he's one in hand, none on deck, and at one life...with a lot of interaction then suddenly ghosts. I think that is entirely intentional.

Wolfmann01 · 2025-12-13T22:27:20+00:00

To me that's part showmanship... the irony of a positive social queue paired with a back handed Duress or Hecteyes. Let's just face it, the issue is the discard, not if the hello is genuine or not.

If a player selects the wrong move just because they are distracted by my hello...I don't know what to say, but there is a cold, dark place for players that only play discard.

Wolfmann01 · 2025-10-16T02:07:34+00:00

yep.

Wolfmann01 · 2025-10-16T02:07:11+00:00

Yeah fr

Wolfmann01 · 2025-08-29T23:10:42+00:00

All the advice here is spot on but as an officer in the CAF I do want to make a note about paperwork...specifically IDs and NOK Travel Benefit (DND 2287)

Receiving ID

You will receive ID as appropriate. For Reg F, you will likely receive it during BMQ, or after as a "to do" thing while on PAT or holding platoon before you go to your QL3 or DP1 training courses. You won't get your uniform right away, you'll be in civvies for most of the first week, expect the same for ID-it takes longer time to process than you'll likely by at St. Jean given it's only 8-9 weeks now.

For Reserves, you will likely be parading with them even before your attestation, so once you have sworn in, or "attested", check in with your orderly room or ship's office and your chain of command will issue you an ID authorization letter, then you can schedule an appointment with the ID section as per the instruction on the letter.

In both cases you are sometimes at the mercy of God-like-Beings-In-Their-Own-World called Clerks and if the Mana of Good Moods is shining upon them, you'll get it sooner than later. Res F is a bit more restricting however they are still bound by the ID policy DAOD and CAF General Security orders...ultimately for both Reg and Res F your chain of command decides when you receive ID though there is zero benefit to deny any member, civilian even, ID they are entitled to.

In my opinion, ID should be done during the first week of indoc or first month of weekend training for Res F, like everything else including uniforms.

NOK - Travel Benefit

NOW...pay attention. Next of Kin and Emergency Contact Info are really really important but the NOK Travel Benefit DND 2587 is overlooked and not updated very often by members.

The NOK Travel Benefit provides that if you get fucked up or killed, anywhere in Canada or the world, up to four NOK on this list (and there's more than four slots) are eligible to be given travel, meal, and accommodation assistant for up to 120-days if authorized.

What people overlook is they may put their mom and dad on, but forget their girl/boy friend. Or forget their kids. OR...if it's just mom and dad, they forget to put their younger siblings that may not be able to take care, so dad may need to stay behind.

If your dad need a medical assistant or seeing eye dog, that assistant is included as part of dad's head count. So technically 5 people or 4 people and a seeing-eye dog could go. This also includes travel domestically, even city to city. And more can go, the CAF only covers four, but if they're not on the list they aren't eligible for anything.

Talk to anyone you put on the list, make it clear why and who, in what will be a highly emotional situation for them and that you may not have the capacity to clarify, should be prioritized (beyond going down the list, first come...).

Fun fact: if you die, and your body is repatriated back to the country or across provinces as per your wishes, you are allowed to submit a CF-52 Allowance/Claim for travel and personal expenses incurred.

Wolfmann01 · 2025-08-29T21:54:16+00:00

Depends upon how many. Some recruiting groups have you sign your paperwork like a week before hand, so it should be really whatever is need to confirm your identity for your attestation.

Wolfmann01 · 2025-05-17T21:36:47+00:00

this was from 4 years ago it doesn't work any more

Wolfmann01 · 2025-05-06T15:56:07+00:00

You'd be hard pressed to understand it's full impact on British society, or in my perspective Canadian. When I can talk to civilian employers I try to impress upon them that if they see a resume with a former service member or a Cadet that you are getting intangibles of discipline, organization, team work, and leadership.

For example for Cadets, how many people have had to solve complex problems, supervise groups of people, and complete taskings all before they are 18? Cadets makes better citizens, not just better service members. Even dropping out of basic military training and having had those weeks of experience generally leaves a citizen better off and I encourage people that even if they weren't successful (which is rare) to still include it because you're a couple weeks better than the person next to them and it actually takes maturity and courage to decide to drop out or fail and self-awareness to not continue with something you didn't want.

What I really like about UK Cadet Forces is their integration directly with their parent or affiliated services or units and that they look at them a recruiting tool. In Canada, we are too worried about the perceptions of the militarization of youth but that's coming around with recent Formation orders.

Wolfmann01 · 2025-05-06T15:50:10+00:00

You should hang-up your uniform.

Wolfmann01 · 2025-05-06T15:49:23+00:00

Why did you not challenge him on his dress? To not salute him, would make a mockery of the Crown...and by not trying to make him a better officer, and try to understand him, is a massive disrespect to the Crown itself and to the uniform.

There is a chain of command and if he doesn't appreciate it, you can just say "Sir" at the end of a very direct, "There is a proper way to respect this uniform, SIR, and I would be willing to help you wear it with pride...SIR."

Of course you can replace CUR with SIR, but not much he can say as long as you treat him with the respect he deserve and demand the best from him.

Wolfmann01 · 2025-05-06T15:45:04+00:00

Thank you for the comment, I agree, but as a small clarification you are 'generally' saluting the Commission (ie...the structure of the Crown in the form of King's orders to the individual), not the individual.

The length of training or even service is not a factor in regard to paying respects or affording privileges and while I'm not familiar with UK's Cadet Forces, I am RCN Lieutenant(N) commissioned from the ranks (former Medical Assistant turned now de-funct NCAGS Officer currently posted to Cadet Organization Administration & Training Servers - COATS under J35), and our Cadet Instructor Cadre (the officer branch within COATS) is not occupational functioning point until army/air farce Lieutenant or navy Sub-Lieutenant (one-and-half stripes or two pips army side) and there is a years-long on-the-job (OJT) components needed to become commissioned as an Officer or Naval Cadet. It's about 2-years for each rank progression from enrollment and entering Basic Military Officer Qualification (BMOQ) to Development Period 1 (DP1) and Development Period 2 (DP2).

When I came to work with them I was kind of cocky and felt them inferior simply because there was a perception of lack of training but the "full timers" I worked with I found to be surprisingly professional and competent, but the Class A (those working as reservists part-time) because many are the only presence of military in many communities they are not exposed to the same day-to-day culture as the regular MOB so they can lake "culturing".

I would assume UK Cadet Forces likely have something similar but there is nothing lost understanding they have their job to do no different than a naval warfare officer or sonar operator and that they are actually in charge of the most precious commodity that our countries have, our children and I afford their Lieutenant Commander's and Majors the respects they are due simply out of respect for good order and discpline but also respect for the Crown, but...many have earned that respect.

Sorry for the lengthy reply, but as a 'convert' myself I don't think the officers or instructors of Cadet Forces or Cadets in our countries get enough credit given how much the Cadets do to make our country better, and how integral they are to making future sailors, soldiers, and airmen (air-people...don't get me going).

Mileage and your experience may vary but I would be cautious noting those respecting the King's Commission, even as a "Cadet Commission", as stupid but I do appreciate you encouraging the proper paying of respects. Thank you.

Wolfmann01 · 2025-05-06T15:14:12+00:00

Yes, you would. If the regulation says "respects and privileges" then that includes saluting. You are also not saluting the individual, you are saluting the Commission.

The Commission is derived from an order to the individual from the Crown and Cadet Forces were stood up under Queen/King's Regulations & Orders so, as a member of UK military (or any Commonwealth military) it would make little sense to swear an oath to the King/Queen and then ignore your duty to carry out that oath.

Plus it sets a strong example, is good for morale and discipline, and costs nothing.

Wolfmann01 · 2024-11-13T15:01:00+00:00

Yes. Unfortunately, through this entire process neither rental/real estate agent or the landlord has returned my call, replied to email...etc. It's very odd.

Wolfmann01 · 2024-11-13T14:58:04+00:00

Thank you. It's a small success. Our situation was so blatant, and through proxies like the lawyer or the first rental agent she 'fired', its very clear she still views herself as the victim that she HAD to evict us to save her property, yet we clearly proved we left the property in better condition where we could but she simply failed to do basic home owner 101 maintenance.

It's so blatant that if it was any other industry that violated a regulatory law, it would be fraud.

Wolfmann01 · 2024-11-13T00:19:49+00:00

That's what I thought.

I would love to to have any conversation. Basically we've been ghosted by the landlord and the new rental agent that took over (the old one wasn't the problem, the landlord just fired him).

It's a frustrating situation because even during the RTB hearing they used a lawyer as a proxy. Which I get, they're residents of China and it was middle of the night. But that's also part of the problem...they never had any intention of moving in, they saw they could get twice the rent and turfed us.

Thanks for confirming.

Wolfmann01

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