Looking over all the decks I have taken to tournaments, or that I have religiously won with online- I noticed a common backdrop behind their various themes:

 

I wanted my opponent to cause DECK PENETRATION.

 

What do I mean by this weird concept?

 

  First, if my opponent damages me I get to see what cards are out of my deck and calculate the probabilities of drawing into the cards I want. But this is for more advanced playing, and usually not worth it. What is more pressing to the common player is using deck penetration to their advantage. How can I use my opponents damage out to help me? Well let’s take a look at one of my best decks- my wooden flute deck. It starts out with Prof. Flitwick. Now if my opponent damages me, I have the option of pulling back a Halloween Feast with out even drawing it! This is HUGE! I don’t have to draw and damage myself. Instead my opponent does my work for me and gets me my Halloween Feast. And hopefully also puts a Hedwig in my grave. From there, unlimited creature recycle can be endless. Another example is getting out a Hannah Abbott with the PCD decks. What happens when you have her out? Well if you didn’t draw the removal card you want, or your opponent made you miss your opportunity- Hannah Abbott welcomes damage. Hannah Abbott also does this in the new "circus" or character decks around. Pulling back crucial cards to complete a lock. Lastly I have also seen this used against me in a speedy snitch deck with Ollivanders and Christmas feast. He let me deal damage and then locked me down with the snitch.

 

  So when building your decks remember- all the best decks have a way of using your opponents damage to your advantage- that is not to say: don't damage your opponent. Just make sure when your opponent damages you it lets you get the cards you want instead of leaving them helplessly in your grave.

 

-Seth Gimlan