The Magic 2011 Core Set was released a couple weeks ago now, and members of my causal Magic group are already finding creative ways to incorporate new cards into old decks. The week prior to the release we marched up to Lindstrom, MN to play the prerelease at a little shop called Crimson Dragon Games. The Prerelease has become a sort of ritual for us – it’s the one time we play Magic outside the comfort of my home.
I used to play tournaments regularly, but in the last year I’ve been forced to cut back because of finances. Prereleases allow me to flirt with the good ole days, and as any good limited player knows, it also offers a chance to play Magic with some cards you may never otherwise play with. Magic 2011 was a bit of a shock as a core set since 46% of cards represented new designs (not typical of core sets), and some of these new cards were outright disgusting when attained in 2+ quantities. Take this guy for instance:
One of my opponents was fortunate enough to pull three of these snarling beasts, and he also had no trouble consistently dropping one against me on turn two each game we played. Magic 2011 sealed is a slow format, and Garruk’s Companion can be a real chisel early in a game, especially if supported by Giant Growth, Leyline of Vitality, Sword of Vengeance, or Warlord’s Axe. If you’re playing mono green in sealed M2011 format, Garruk’s Companion is a must play, and if you’re playing a two color deck, he is still highly advisable. Three color deck? Careful.
Yet if you can survive a Garruk’s Companion blitz by erecting a couple walls or throwing down a White Knight, it does become susceptible to one of the oldest and meanest cards in sealed core set history. The Companion’s friends don’t fare well either as my opponents found out, and when this old school card is paired with a new and flashy uncommon creature from M2011, pellets really hit the fan. These two cards I’m talking about are none other than:
Fireball doesn’t see much constructed play these days, but in sealed format, it’s still the fury! If played correctly it’s almost always a two-for-one trade on the tabletop, but when combined with a new card like Fire Servant, it actually become a reliable end game. I pulled two Fireballs and one Fire Servant from my card pool, and the Fireballs created sad faces on my opponents all day long. When the Fire Servant entered play it was almost always a deal closer. Long story short: Fireball and Fire Servant combined were really, really good, and turned multiple games heavily in my favor. They’ll do the same for you – trust me.
Those are probably my two biggest takeaways from the M2011 prerelease. Profound? Not really, but it’s the truth, and one you should bear in mind at your next M2011 sealed tournament. 