Again, I’d like to say thank you to those of you who competed in my last contest, “In the Spirit of Squirrels and Saprolings”. I’ve gotten some feedback on that competition and how it was graded, and I’ve decided to make some changes. As to whether or not they will make the deck building more fun and interesting, we’ll see. As this column and it's deck competitions go along, things are naturally going to evolve and change. I hope that you’ll stick with me on it. I’m still in the process of updating rules and regulations, so things are going to be at least another article before I post the next deck competition. Stick with it though, I think you’ll find its theme very appropriate with the new set Ravinca: City of Guilds coming down the pipe.

By the by, Ravinca is being prereleased the weekend of the 24th-25th of September. Although I might not be able to make it due to my University student status (and lack of a car) let me be the first to encourage you all to get out there, play a prerelease! If it’s your first tournament, Prereleases are great to get you used to the environment. Plus, you’ll get an early look at all the shiny new and fun cards, and you’ll get that fresh cardboard smell from new boosters… I love the smell of fresh cardboard at 7 in the morning. Most tournament organizers have their own website, which you can access through www.magicthegathering.com. In the Ohio-Michigan- Pennsylvania area, Professional Event Services (PES) runs our tourneys, and they do a great job helping newbies get started.

Back to RTDB

With the inclusion now of 9th Edition there are a few cards that fall into my “all time favorites” list. One of those cards is Verdant Force. I was very… very excited when I heard that this big boy would be coming out again. Verdant Force is a card that hits all genres of player, the player who likes to play to win, the player who likes to play big, and the player who does the combo stuff, like me. In Verdant Force, competitive players find a massive body that gives you another creature each turn, another expendable point of damage ready to come down and end the game in your favor. Combo players love it because a creature comes into play every turn! Whether they’re coupling this with cards like Clash of Realities, Blasting Station, or Death Match, it doesn’t matter. It’s fun to work with. Players who love BIG things are never disappointed by Verdant Force. Big 7/7 creature, big effect, and of course, who can forget that GIGANTIC MANA COST! For 5GGG, Verdant Force isn’t cheap. But, fear not, unhappy reader! I have a way to fix that.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: If only Verdant Force made Beeble tokens.... huh-huh... well... I thought it was funny.  Where's my Artificial Evolution when I need it!?!]

This weeks deck focuses around a combo posted In MDV’s August Combo’s list, located here. Scroll down a bit, and you’ll see Pattern of Rebirth. With Yavimaya Elder and Heart Warden, it becomes, 5G, go find a creature in your library and put it into play. Draw a card. That’s good. Really, really good. It’s any creature! Any! Sundering Titan! Darksteel Colossus! And those are just big creatures!

But, along with Heart Warden and Yavimaya Elder, Streetz forgot to mention Marker Beetles from Urza’s Destiny! And who could forget the T2 favorite Sakura-Tribe Elder? And what if you threw Fecundity in the mix, drawing more cards for sacrificing your creatures? I think we’ve got the makings of a deck…

Let’s take a look.

[EDITOR'S COMMENT: Where's the Scent of Ivy??]

This game starts early with Sakura-tribe Elders and Yavimaya Elders fetching early land. These two creatures make it easier to get the land you need, and get it quickly. Heart Warden and Marker Beetles are also used to rip through your deck in search of your first Pattern Of Rebirth. After you’ve got it, play it on a creature, and let the fun begin!

Pattern Of Rebirth is a major tutor, and it’s letting you pick any creature in your deck… but don’t just grab the first Verdant Force or Jugan you can find. Wait a minute. Pattern Of Rebirth finds any creature. If you’ll notice, I took the liberty of adding two situational, but powerful cards. Elvish Lyrist and Viridian Shaman are spot removal. If you need them to take out an opponent’s big artifact or Genju of the Realm, now would be the time to do it. Use your Pattern Of Rebirth to find those creatures to take care of your opponent’s non-creature pests. If there are no such threats coming your way, go ahead, smash face! It’s time to beat your opponent into a senseless pulp, then beat the senseless pulp until it’s not recognizable as a Magic player anymore! Go testosterone rush!

My creatures choices were really based on monogreen largeness. Myojin Of Life's Web is a nice creature to fetch if your hand is loaded down with creatures. Also, it’s a nice 8/8 indestructible, so that’s always a plus. [EDITOR'S NOTE: If you use Pattern of Rebirth to bring the Myojin into play, it will not come into play with a divinity counter and thus is not indestructible and it doesn't have it's nifty 'remove the divinity counter' ability.  Just a reminder.]  Verdant Force has been added for the reasons I mentioned earlier, and Plated Slagwurm is your answer to pesky cards like Dark Banishing, Terror and Cage of Hands.

Fecundity and Words Of Wilding sets up a nice little synergy where you can sacrifice your creatures, draw a card from their ability, and then get a nice little 2/2 bear to replace them. I have drawn myself out in this deck, so Words sets up a nice little block to make sure you can’t deck yourself.

Things to Remember

1) Game state is important. Try to assess your opponent’s deck and what’s going on before fetching your creatures. You need to be prepared for what’s coming, and if you pick the wrong creature, you could be in a major world of hurt.

2) Attacking early is good. Get off a few early points of damage with your Elders and Beetles. Then, after you’ve used Pattern Of Rebirth, use your fetched creatures to finish your opponent off.

3) Yavimaya Elder, Heart Warden and Marker Beetles are Utility creatures. When I say this, what I mean is that each of these creatures has another ability that you can use. Yavimaya Elder can get you out a tight spot with land, Heart Warden can accelerate your mana, and Marker Beetles can get a creature out of tight spot. Make sure you use those abilities to their fullest ability.

4) Fecundity makes life fun for you, but not for your opponent. Go ahead and chump block. Go ahead and sacrifice those creatures. With Fecundity, you’ll get another card for each creature lost, and when your creatures are already drawing you cards, it’ll be easy to find replacements for them. Fecundity keeps your hand full, so don’t forget its importance when thinking about an opening hand.

Suggestions for Card Additions

Any monstrous creature is a good pick for this deck. Cards like Darksteel Colossus and Sundering Titan are really good for this deck, but hurt you money wise. Expect their costs to go down a bit after Mirrodin cycles from T2. Krosan Colossus is a big creature, but I wouldn’t use it personally.

Toolbox creatures may be good in this situation. Cards like Windborn Muse and other creatures that affect game state like Silent Arbiter are good additions. Since Pattern of Rebirth hits all creatures, getting something like Sliver Queen or Akroma, Angel of Wrath wouldn’t be too far of a stretch.

Although there are plenty of creatures with sacrifice effects in this deck, there are plenty of sacrificible cards out there for you to use. Playing two colors like G/B gives you access to cards like Bile Urchin and at the same time amazing beaters like Hypnox.

Use Pattern of Rebirth to surprise your opponent with a card like Rorix. Grabbing an off color card can throw your opponent off guard, and so much the better. Unpredictability is always a good thing, as it makes your opponent have to work harder to guess your moves.

Well, that’s it for me this week. Join me next week for another go here on RtDB. I might even have a deck contest for you! And remember: Casual fun is only a dollar bin away.

~Death_By_Beebles~

If you have a supposed junk or dollar rare that you would like Death_By_Beebles to cover in Raiding the Dollar Bins, contact him at : deathbybeebles@yahoo.com ... It’ll make him happy. Not in a creepy way, of course, but he’ll be happy in a sort of Christmasy- birthdayish happy way. No kidding. Really.

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