Portfolio Changes:
None.

Looks like buying cards rotating out of Extended hasn't hurt us yet.

Last month, I mentioned facing a crossroads. Down one path lies Shards of Alara and a handful of amazing commons and uncommons, down the other lies some rares that make up the base of Boros Deck Wins, White Weenie, Zoo, Gaea's Might, and Red Deck Wins. The biggest selling point between each path is the price stability. Shards of Alara cards fluctuate heavily since Standard tournament decks are ill-defined still, while the rares we want have been stable for years. After checking the common and uncommon prices it was a no brainer to pick up some Shards and a few other sets right now. They were simply just too well priced and powered to pass up.

In our third month, we're moving up a notch to Lite Magic levels. Lite Magic simply means no rares. So this month we'll have a Pauper and a Lite deck that both delve further into White. So let’s look at the cards and see our new toys.

Card #1: Wild Nacatl (4) (Pauper Deck)
It's hard to decide if Wild Nacatl is better or worse than its cousin Kird Ape. While the Kitty can get a tad larger, it also doesn't grow quite as fast as Kird Ape without a strong land base. Lite and Pauper decks take a little longer to reach its 3/3 point. What makes Wild Nacatl much better than Kird Ape in my book though is that it's a common and only $0.29 each.

Subtotal: $1.16
Total: $1.16

Card #2: Steward of Valeron (4) (Pauper Deck)
Last month we picked up Werebear as a late game Lawnmower Elf. This week our Pauper deck is throwing out threshold and we need a new better lawn care specialist. Steward of Valeron matches our wishes, bringing a 2/2 vigilant mana maker for a mere two mana. While he never grows to the level of Werebear, he definitely makes an early game impact on both the aggro and acceleration end. At only $0.19 each, it's a steal.

Subtotal: $0.76
Total: $1.92

Card #3: Naya Panorama (4) (Pauper Deck)
Lands are vital to game play, and a good variety of land over simple basic lands often distinguishes your newer players from your pro players. Naya Panorama for me was a quick choice to pick up over Terramorphic Expanse because it produces mana the turn it comes into play, and offers flipping into our three primary lands: Mountains, Plains, and Forests. Ideally, the only replacements for the Panoramas are the Fetchlands, preferably Windswept Heath or Wooded Foothills, although it may be sometime before we actually get any of them. At $0.15 each, this was a throw in card, and its value won't likely decrease any.

Subtotal: $0.60
Total: $2.52

Card #4: Sigil Blessing (4) (Pauper Deck)
This is a very sweet card. I've seen it do its work in Limited, and I have a feeling even in Constructed players simply won't be able to anticipate the Sigil Blessing threat correctly. At $0.15 each, this is a great card, which may finally usurp Giant Growth as the staple aggro deck trick.

Subtotal: $0.60
Total: $3.12

Card #5: Woolly Thoctar (4) (Peasant Deck)
We'll probably be building towards Boros or Zoo style decks first so our first Peasant deck will reflect their play styles. Many of these uncommons will actually see play in our Zoo deck. Woolly Thoctar, in particular, is one of the most efficient aggro beasts in the game, lacking the serious downfalls other massive fatties incur. Sure three colors in itself is a drawback, but not enough to ignore it, especially when it's only $1.25.

Subtotal: $5
Total: $8.12

Card #6: Qasali Ambusher (4) (Peasant Deck)
While Qasali Ambusher played straight up is no better than your average Spider creature (and in many cases worse), its true power comes from its ability to create a free blocker, and additional swarmer on the next turn. This is important for mirror matches versus any style of aggro deck where numbers are vital. They are currently $1.00 each so we'll go ahead and pick them up, although they may be a little overhyped.

Subtotal: $4
Total: $12.12

Card #7: Boros Swiftblade (4) (Peasant Deck)
Boros Swiftblade is the little engine that could. While a meager little fella no larger than a Squire, the Swiftblade is known to be a scavenger, turning even the most meager weapons into weapons of mass destruction. The preferred weapon of the Swiftblade is the accursed Umezawa's Jitte, although it can make do with much cheaper means such as an Armadillo Cloak or a Bonesplitter. So yeah, we'll be getting a set of four for $0.29 each.

Subtotal: $1.16
Total: $13.28

Card #8: Watchwolf (4) (Peasant Deck)
Hard to believe that the Watchwolf is running at $1.49 each considering Thoctars are at $1.25. That $1.49 price tag has proven stable though, and while not overwhelmingly powerful, a 3/3 for two is nothing to sneeze at. It is one of the reasons why Zoo continues to out aggro the even speedier White Weenie. We're getting four of these as well.

Subtotal: $5.96
Total: $19.24

Card #9: Civic Wayfinder (4) (Pauper Deck)
I held off adding this little bad boy until the end. Civic Wayfinder in many regards is one of the most underappreciated and misplayed cards. His fan boys tend to play him in situations where he's not good, while even more players just think he's not good enough to ever see play. I find Civic the perfect match for any low-mid range aggro deck that needs mana fixing or ramping. We need fixing, and his alternate Sakura-Tribe Elder is too expensive for our meager leftover cash. At $0.15, Civic Wayfinder will be our boy this month.

Subtotal: $0.60
Total: $19.84

With nine brand new playsets, we're ready to pump out not one, but three brand spanking new decks. The Pauper deck will play similar to the first incarnation, while the lite decks will get your prepared for the aggro roots of our future. Over the next few months, this month's lite deck will take shape into an honest to goodness tourney-style deck. It may take awhile for its lands to match up, as they aren't cheap.

You should notice this month that aspects from both of the previous installments have merged together to form a totally different concept in aggro. The idea of threshold and madness from Digg Dogg have been replaced with the concept of slow boil aggro, while the burn aspect of Red Green Beats has been replaced with aggro superiority. I may have lost you, so let’s make it simple, this deck says "Smash!"

Conceptually you should play this deck the same as any aggro deck, attacking hard early and going all in on a massive alpha strike. Armadillo Cloak got a second buddy in Phantom Tiger, while Steward of Valeron makes a great third choice. A cloaked Tiger is nearly undefeatable in combat, requiring pure game removal or de-cloaking to kill. Having three good cloak carriers in the same deck should help improve its efficiency. If you have a card you like better than Hull Breach and Tin Street Hooligan they are your most customizable pieces that can be adapted to fit your meta/tastes.

This is a steamroller deck. Its creatures come out fast and come out big. As with many of our decks, Armadillo Cloak plays a major role in breaking stalemates. There are many good choices for it, although Steward of Valeron, Silhana Ledgewalker, and Boros Swiftblade make the most usage of it, a turn four attacking, cloaked Thoctar is near game ending itself. I think the deck plays fairly easy so I'll leave it at that.

This is our uncommon-common version of the deck. Imagine what happens when we throw some rare cards into the mix. Obviously the potential for greatness is there as good cards are replaced with outright amazing ones. As is, my promise is to next month add at least a small amount of said amazing rares. The problem with the rares we are going to want is that they often cost $4-$12 each and we often want full play sets. If you have any suggestions of which rares you want to see, drop me a line in the forum or in the blog.

Speaking of the blog, all the decks found in these articles and more can be found in the new Casual Collections blog. Don't worry though, it's all about discussion and usage. The monthly feature will always be the only thing to add cards to the collection.

All prices as of 10/26/08 at www.mtgfanatic.com 

~Cashew~

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Articles Spotlights from 2008:
A Fresh Perspective: Stasis - Part One.
The Apprentice Magician - Part Six.
Design on a Dime: The Lunch Meat Edition!
Fit the Flavor 2008 - FINALE!
The Games People Play - Market & EDH.
Sarpadian Empires, Vol VII: Foreword.
More Evil Than Evil.
Pauper Chronicles: Top O' the Morningtide to You!
Words from the Streetz: Uncommon and Common Magical Treasures.
The Writers Guild: The Inside Scoop.