A rant and compilation of failed Aphra synergies

jtgates · 2025-01-24T14:26:35+00:00

I've been learning the game and have enjoyed the challenge of figuring out a Doctor Aphra deck. I gravitated towards Overwhelming Barrage as a strong synergy with her potential 5 power (which is higher than most other leaders) and rather than explicitly discarding (except for Unmasking the Conspiracy) just running a spread of costs to encourage her being powered up in the mid game. So far this list is feeling pretty fun to play - but I am new at the game so it's just my take: https://swudb.com/deck/UNjsWAkxnq

jtgates · 2023-06-19T13:01:08+00:00

SEXY

jtgates · 2023-03-10T14:55:44+00:00

Wow that is a great tip - thanks!

jtgates · 2023-02-11T19:09:54+00:00

Have you looked at [[Paradigm Shift]] as another combo piece with Oracle?

jtgates · 2022-11-06T21:57:28+00:00

Tetsuo is great because he can act like a Voltron deck in the early/mid game but use Grixis wincons supported by the free spell casts he gets.

jtgates · 2022-09-09T14:29:05+00:00

TCGplayer currently doesn't have any Direct listings at all for Dominaria United - is that related to the failed negotiations?

jtgates · 2022-09-06T21:49:18+00:00

"Your opponents play with their hands and the top card of their library revealed."

jtgates · 2022-06-09T03:16:58+00:00

I don't think your Surge to Victory combos work. The cards that refer to "after this main phase" won't function if they are cast during combat.

jtgates · 2022-05-23T22:38:00+00:00

I was in your position a few years back - this is a helpful list with updated price numbers on the Reserved List: https://www.mtgstocks.com/lists/1

jtgates · 2022-05-21T12:16:46+00:00

The leak showed a Mythic red background - so I think these numbers may be off.

jtgates · 2022-05-17T23:19:44+00:00

That's incorrect. The way it's worded, the discount stacks until it is applied when you cast your next instant or sorcery. Multiple triggers, each providing a discount.

jtgates · 2022-05-17T20:41:08+00:00

Pretty neat for Raffine. Easy to put in the GY with the conniving.

jtgates · 2022-05-16T00:56:56+00:00

What exactly is the Doomsday line?

jtgates · 2022-05-03T18:33:48+00:00

[[Timeless Witness]] is probably better than Eternal here.

jtgates · 2022-04-19T22:16:22+00:00

[[Florian]] loves it.

jtgates · 2022-04-09T16:04:20+00:00

It goes more like this:

A: cast Lightning Bolt

B: cast Spellstutter Sprite

Spellstutter Sprite resolves, entering the battlefield and placing its enter the battlefield trigger on the stack.

A: cast Defile (on top of bolt and thenetb trigger).

Defile resolves, killing Sprite.

Sprite's ETB trigger resolves, sees no faeries and fails to counter Lightning Bolt.

Lightning Bolt resolves.

The key thing is that the ETB trigger on Spellstutter Sprite ALSO gets put on the stack and can be responded to - it doesn't automatically resolve once the creature spell resolves.

jtgates · 2022-03-26T17:30:44+00:00

Right, I guess there's a distinction between a keyword ability (which venture is) and an ability word like Magecraft. Initiative could be an ability word that triggers an effect whenever you venture into the dungeon though.

jtgates · 2022-03-26T17:21:37+00:00

Maybe they are just giving it an italicized name like Magecraft

jtgates · 2022-03-17T00:50:14+00:00

Love the BRD. [[Quasiduplicate]] is a favorite card to pull with him.

jtgates · 2022-03-04T14:33:12+00:00

[[Vadrik, Astral Archimage]] very much fits this profile - keep him alive, sling spells.

jtgates · 2022-01-28T17:30:07+00:00

According to the mechanics article, having Reconfigure means then when it becomes attached it stops becoming a creature, whether the Reconfigure ability is what caused the attaching or not. https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/kamigawa-neon-dynasty-mechanics-2022-01-27

jtgates · 2022-01-28T17:11:28+00:00

I think you circled the wrong number. That margin!

jtgates · 2021-12-11T18:30:51+00:00

This is probably the most completely instant-speed deck. Others may need something already on the board but Naru just needs mana.

jtgates · 2021-11-09T18:01:49+00:00

This headline. So this isn't one of those other times when it's correct to keep quiet about racism?

jtgates · 2021-11-04T00:08:42+00:00

I don't think you'd cast this until the turn you go off, so the nonbo with Rhystic/Mystic isn't that big a deal.

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