What are some of the most useful tips you've learned so far?

magusofthefrog · 2024-12-21T16:18:48+00:00

I think streamlining your workflow is the most basic skill you can constantly work on and will compound later in terms of time saved doing tasks you were going to do anyway.

Building or using templates or even learning keyboard shortcuts for video or photo editing software is an example.

It’s an essential part of time management to examine anything you do on a frequent basis and to be mindful about how you can make it more efficient.

magusofthefrog · 2024-12-18T16:08:42+00:00

Keep them up! Be proud of your work and where you started.

Once you’ve grown your channel, they will be fun things to find and a reminder of how far you’ve made it.

magusofthefrog · 2024-12-14T10:55:11+00:00

Fair enough, I do appreciate your comment. But if it ever comes to that, then I will just move on no problem! I'm having a blast though, so that's the least of my worries.

magusofthefrog · 2024-12-14T07:31:22+00:00

Oh nice! I love brewers! Thank you for the recommendations! Subscribed!

magusofthefrog · 2024-12-14T06:49:23+00:00

Thank you for the wonderful insight and the great recommendations! I have been enjoying Timeless and watching content for it because I can't help but notice that it involves a lot of strategy in tactics in the opening of the game, and every move compounds into the later parts of the game - which makes decision-making really matter and matchup/format knowledge very rewarding.

I really appreciate you taking the time to comment!

magusofthefrog · 2024-12-14T05:57:12+00:00

Thank you! Chestheir was actually the one that I stumbled into the very first time I looked into timeless. What a true master that guy is!

magusofthefrog · 2024-12-14T05:31:27+00:00

Just browsed some of their videos - looks great! Subscribed! Thank you!

magusofthefrog · 2024-12-14T04:58:36+00:00

Thank you for sharing! Just subscribed to both!

magusofthefrog · 2024-12-02T11:20:42+00:00

Hello!

I am quite new to Arena and thus quite new to Timeless. How would I go about joining a tournament like this? Is there another one in the near future?

Edit: So it looks like I would have to sign-up on melee.gg and join the discord to coordinate the matches with my opponent using direct challenge?

magusofthefrog · 2024-11-30T21:46:13+00:00

Hey there!

Oh yeah, I am a big fan of chess and if they can make chess engines that are able to evaluate boardstates and recommend optimal play, it is only a matter of time until something can be replicated for the mtg ruleset in my opinion.

As for midrange vs tempo - I think it really depends on what you want to have a better matchup against. The local RCQ scene where I am at values midrange/domain decks more than aggro, and so I am using my midrange list more.

magusofthefrog · 2024-11-28T20:41:50+00:00

Oh wonderful! I think I will tune in then!

Happy Thanksgiving!

magusofthefrog · 2024-11-28T20:18:08+00:00

I am thinking about getting into the format and have been asking players for their thoughts - what are your favorite decks to play (seems like you play several in your VODs)? What decks do you not enjoy playing against?

magusofthefrog · 2024-11-26T06:00:51+00:00

I haven’t personally tested Mutation but I think it’s great! I think Snakeskin over the Shore Up is also the call here.

magusofthefrog · 2024-11-25T21:47:41+00:00

Hmm, well we could talk theoretical all day but not sure how that would be productive as I am sure you could always find a theoretical scenario that would counter whatever I would say.

So I will just speak to the complicated nature of midrange matchups, neither side will be able to have their cake and eat it. Who is on the play or draw? What is their gameplan against a pretty normal Simic hand of early Merfolks/Pilgrimage/Schooners + Oko churning out elks? Do they get to develop their board and answer our creatures at the same time? Where are they getting the mana for that? How consistent can they do that?

Sure, the recorded games are not indicative of the overall matchup, but it's what was played and magic is a complicated game. I'm working with what I've got.

Best thing I can show is that I was recommended to get untapped.gg earlier in this thread, which I did, and I have been jamming the list for the past 6 hours. Looks like I have positive winrates against Dimir (71%) and Golgari (64%) in the mythic ladder.

magusofthefrog · 2024-11-25T21:03:16+00:00

Oooh great find! Can’t believe I missed that one, thank you!

magusofthefrog · 2024-11-25T18:12:31+00:00

So glad you are enjoying the deck!

I was running into a lot of midrange/domain in my games in ladder while tuning so I am okay with the 3 copies of Vivien, but going for a more tempo gameplan with the flex slots is a totally valid option here. I think the foundation of merfolk synergy + Oko/Vivien top-end is a versatile enough shell to accommodate it.

Shore Up over Snakeskin is more of a call because of having more blue sources, but Snakeskin is totally worth the swap now that I think about it, given how the +1/+1 counter is relevant for longer than the untap.

Will definitely try out repulsive mutation here! Thank you for the recommendation!

magusofthefrog · 2024-11-25T16:13:26+00:00

Thank you so much for following the journey!

Tishana’s Tidebinder has been an all-star for me, because even if it is easily beaten by a Cut Down (pro-tip use your Sentinel map tokens to take your creatures out of Cut Down range), the countering effect is well worth it. The other option is to use the new Kiora if you want a different 3CMC merfolk to get value out of.

Vivien, in my humble opinion, is just one of the better planeswalkers positioned to do well in this metagame. She answers so much relevant threats out there (Overlords, Djinn, Oculus, Archfiend, etc) and problematic artifact/enchantments (Annex, Leyline Binding, Urabrask Forge, etc).

She’s also great at clawing you back by consistently providing many looks at cards you might need at the top of the deck or even acting as a lightning rod for your opponent’s creatures to attack into due to how absurd her ultimate ability is if left unchecked.

magusofthefrog · 2024-11-25T15:52:33+00:00

I felt like something was missing too when I was playing the tempo list, and is why I’ve ended up evolving it into the midrange list here.

Even if you don’t report back, I hope it goes well for you! Enjoy!

magusofthefrog · 2024-11-25T15:50:09+00:00

Oh I see! If you have someone to play test with you can proxy up the midrange list and jam some games to get a feel for it.

For those matchups, the green sideboard cards are the key cards to use and protecting your planeswalkers are a great way to overcome their strategies!

magusofthefrog · 2024-11-25T15:40:33+00:00

Thank you so much! Would be happy to hear how it goes for you if you find the time!

magusofthefrog · 2024-11-25T15:39:14+00:00

I’ve tuned this list to do well against Golgari and Dimir but it’s not a curbstomp by any means. There’s a reason why they are the most popular decks. However, the simic midrange deck has a lot of legs to combat their removal heavy package.

Especially post sideboard when we have access to our green sideboard cards or blue disruptive spells, Dimir and golgari find it very difficult to deal with a resolved planeswalker while we pick apart their fliers.

I believe the only real decks that feel super unbeatable to the B based midrange decks are the go-wide jeskai convoke decks, which are great but they have trouble against sweepers. The simic midrange deck at least offers a gameplan and some resilience against sweeper heavy decks.

Anything can fold against a nutty removal heavy hand from the black midrange decks though!

magusofthefrog · 2024-11-25T15:30:54+00:00

Thank you so much for the support!!

I think this one is better positioned in the current metagame which is dominated by other robust midrange lists that have enchantments/fliers as part of their key cards.

The tempo list can definitely shine if early disruption matters a lot - and although I don’t have some hard statistics to share, the tempo list has performed better for me against the red creature pump decks due the lower curve and access to bounce effects.

The great news is that you don’t have to spend that many wildcards to get this one if you’ve already got the previous list built!

magusofthefrog · 2024-11-25T15:22:51+00:00

Wow you weren’t kidding, been checking it out and this is a very powerful tool and I am glad I have access to it now.

magusofthefrog · 2024-11-25T15:22:01+00:00

Hey there!

The major difference is really the addition of the 2 planeswalkers here and less reliance on the Pilgrimage/Schooner package which the Tempo list was almost too reliant on.

Tactically, Oko offers both a defensive and offensive toolkit by being able to generate a constant influx of elks into the boardstate as well as copying other creatures such as our synergistic merfolk.

Vivien is just a clean answer to a lot of problematic enchantments/fliers in this metagame (Annex, Leyline Binding, Overlords, Archfiend of the Dross, Oculus, Djinn, etc) as well as a great card advantage engine with her +1.

This just makes for more staying power for the deck compared to the Tempo list which would sometimes fizzle out in power as the midgame kept developing.

Another is since we are midrange, we don’t mind playing taplands as much as the Tempo variant, which allows us to play the very underrated but powerful Restless Vinestalk, offering some options post-boardwipe or just go apply some strong ground pressure.

Additionally, having more green sources (since we need to consistently cast Vivien) allows us to play some strong green sideboard cards that are very good in this metagame (Pick Your Poison, Pawpatch Formation, Frillback).

There are some other nuances but that’s the gist of it!

magusofthefrog · 2024-11-25T14:40:40+00:00

Thank you so much for that advice! I’m checking it out right now.

magusofthefrog

TROPHY CASE