Biography
Name:
DeQuan Watson
Many
readers have gathered a lot of information about me
through my writings. For those of you that haven't
though, this should tell you a little more.
I'm 25 years old and I own my own business. Well,
more accurately I own a game store. The Game Closet, my
store, is one of the premiere places to play in the
Texas. I play Magic on a pretty regular basis. I help
people build decks and teach the game to people multiple
times a week. Owning a store is neat, because it gives
me another perspective to write my articles from. I can
usually tell what the average player likes and can judge
some of the tendencies of the average player a little
better. Of course, owning a store means I have
knowledge of a lot of games and not just Magic. I also
find out my fair share of insider information on the
industry. But having other resources to pull from makes
for more informative writings.
However, I know a decent bit about pro level play as
well. I myself have
played on the Pro Tour. I have multiple Top 8 finishes
at Pro Tour Qualifiers. I also have made Day Two at two
Grand Prix tournaments. I have also been invited to the
Event horizons Invitational. These are not stellar
achievements, but high enough to let you know I have my
head on straight when talking about the game. I also
spend lots of time each week talking to, e-mailing, or
chatting with top level players. I get to see their
perspective on a lot of things as well. Between the
two, I think I get a good sense of balance of the game.
Most importantly, I still enjoy the game for the
sake of the game itself. I like the time, the
competition, and the general interaction of players. I
plan to be playing it until it fades away...if it ever
does.
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The Dragon's Den
Gotta Love a New Format
By DeQuan Watson -
March 1, 2006
I'm not sure how many of you
love a new format. I know
that I sure do. There's
usually a revival of an old
deck type or two.
 You
get to see a couple of new
decks. And some old decks
finally get some convenient
answers to them.
We held an event this past
weekend and the results were
very interesting. We had a
top 8 where all the colors
got represented. We had a
variety of control decks and
aggressive decks. There
were even some right in the
middle.
More than anything, I think
that diversity is important
to a format. That's what
keeps it interesting and
makes testing and playing
fun. When there is a large
variety of things to be
played, it keeps the format
from going stale. It also
makes it less frustrating,
because you have other
options that you can turn
to. If you find a tough
matchup or something you
don't like dealing with, you
can come back at it with a
different deck. Sometimes,
you may want to change decks
just to be different. But
you still want it to be
competitive. The current
environment should allow you
to do that.
I know that most of you
reading this are probably
more interested in the decks
below than what I have to
say. So, we'll get right to
those. I will have a few
comments below each deck.
Jim Shuman (1st)
|
Ghazi-Glare Homebrew
|
2
Birds of Paradise
2
Seedborn Muse
4
Loxodon Hierarch
2
Stampeding Serow
4
Carven Caryatid
4
Llanowar Elves
3
Selensya Guildmage
3
Wood Eleves
1
Hokori, Dust Drinker
1
Yosei, the Morning
Star
2
Arashi, the Sky
Asunder
3
Glare of Subdual
2
Priviledged Position
3
Umezawa's Jitte
2
Naturalize
6
Forest
3
Plains
2
Brushland
4
Vitu-Ghazi, the
City-Tree
4
Temple Garden
3
Selesnya Sanctuary
1
Okina, Temple to the
Grandfathers |
Sideboard
2
Pithing Needle
4
Reciprocate
3
Circle of
Protection: Red
2
Yosei, the Morning
Star
2
Ivory Mask
1
Scour
1
Seed Spark |
The most interesting thing
about this deck is the use
of Stampeding Serow. And
honestly, it might even need
to go up by one in this
deck. It can be used to get
more land (Wood Elves), gain
more life (Loxodon
Hierarch), or even draw
cards (Carven Caryatid).
So, overall all, this deck
gets mad props for
creativity on an old theme.
Chris Block (2nd)
|
BW Thing
|
4
Mortify
4
Blind Hunter
3
Phyrexian Arena
3
Wrath of God
3
Devouring Light
3
Shrieking Grotesque
3
Ravenous Rats
3
Yosei, the Morning
Star
2
Persecute
2
Kokusho, the Evening
Star
2
Kagemaro, First to
Suffer
2
Dark Banishing
1
Ghost Council of
Orzhova
3
Orzhova Signet
4
Godless Shrine
1
Orzhova, the Church
of Deals
1
Miren, the Moaning
Well
2
Caves of Koilos
6
Swamp
8
Plains |
Sideboard
2
Ivory Mask
3
Ghostway
3
Cranial Extraction
3
Kami of Ancient Law
4
Slay |
There's not a lot to say
about this deck. This one
is pretty much loaded up
with the good cards in each
of it's colors. It only
packs a few creatures, so if
you play this deck, don't
get careless. If you are
frivolous about the use of
your critters, you could end
up in trouble. Other than
that, this is a solid deck
as well.
Chris Arthur (3rd/4th)
|
RG
|
4
Burning-Tree Shaman
1
Char
4
Clacial Ray
1
Gruul Turf
1
Volcani Hammer
4
Scab-Clan Mauler
4
Stomping Ground
1
Wear Away
2
Umezawa's Jitte
4
Rumbling Slum
4
Lava Spike
3
Kird Ape
4
Kodama's Might
4
Frenzied Goblin
4
Dryad Sophisticate
3
Karplulsan Forest
6
Forest
6
Mountain |
sideboard
1
Blood Moon
2
Dosan the Falling
Leaf
2
Pyroclasm
1
Defense Grid
2
Smash
1
Silklash Spider
1
Arashi, the Sky
Asunder
2
Mana Clash
2
Splinter
1
Wear Away |
I might switch Volcanic
Hammer into another Char and
turn the Frenzied Goblin
into Wild Cantor. It might
also be worth finding room
for a guildmage or two.
Other than that, this should
look a lot like the
stereotypical G/R deck that
you'll find in your local
FNM scene.
Matt Stassen (3rd/4th)
|
Ghazi Glare
|
4
Temple Garden
4
Brushland
4
Vitu-Ghazi, the
City-Tree
4
Selesnya Sanctuary
6
Forest
1
Okina, Temple to the
Grandfathers
4
Selesnya Guildmage
3
Kodama of the North
Tree
4
Loxodon Hierarch
2
Congregation at Dawn
3
Glare of Subdual
3
Seed Spark
4
Umezaw's Jitte
2
Arashi, the Sky
Asunder
3
Yosei, the Morning
Star
3
Llanowar Elves
4
Wood Elves
1
Birds of Paradise
1
Paladin en-Vec |
sideboard
3
Defense Grid
1
Kodama of the North
Tree
1
Silklash Spider
1
Yosei, the Morning
Star
3
Paladin en-Vec
3
Greater Good
2
Naturalize
1
Arashi, the Sky
Asunder |
Standard fare here. nothing
exciting, but it gets the
job done.
Casey Gonzales (5th-8th)
|
BWG
|
|
2
Svogthos, the
Restless Tomb
1
Vitu-Ghazi, the
City Tree
1
Miren, the
Moaning Well
1
Shizo, Death;s
Storehouse
2
Temple Garden
2
Godless Shrine
4
Overgrown Tomb
1
Plains
4
Forest
3
Swamp
4
Phyrexian Arena
2
Loxodon
Warhammer
2
Umezawa's Jitte
2
Selesnya
Guildmage
2
Kodama of the
North Tree
2
Loxodon Hierarch
3
Kokusho, the
Evening Star
1
Kagmaro, First
to Suffer
1
Ink-Eyes,
Servant of Oni
4
Hypnotic Specter
4
Birds of
Paradise
2
Elves of Deep
Shadow
2
Sakura-Tribe
Elder
1
Wood Elves
3
Putrefy
1
Kodama's Reach
3
Mortify
|
sideboard
2
Leyline of Lifeforce
2
Leyline of the Void
2
Eradicate
1
Kagemaro, First to
Suffer
1
Pithing Needle
1
Life from the Loam
2
Shadow of Doubt
4
Cranial Extraction |
I know that Casey worked on
this deck for a long while.
At first glance, it appears
to be all over the board.
But once you play it or see
it in action, you get a
quick idea of how focused
and surprising it can be.
There's very little this
deck CAN'T do.
Paul Hagan (5th-8th)
|
RW Weenie
|
4
Char
2
Eight-and-a-Half
Tails
4
Glorious Anthem
4
Hand of Honor
4
Isamaru, Hound of
Konda
2
Kami of Ancient Law
3
Lantern Kami
4
Leonin Skyhunter
4
Lightning Helix
4
Savannah Lions
1
Suntail Hawk
4
Umezawa's Jitte
4
Battlefield Forge
1
Eiganjo Castle
9
Plains
4
Sacred Foundry
1
Shinka, the
Bloodsoaked Keep
1
Sunhome, Fortress of
the Legion |
sideboard
3
Blood Moon
3
Devouring Light
3
Empty-Shrine
Kannushi
3
Ghostway
3
Terashi's Grasp |
This deck did OK, but needs
a few modifications.
Isamaru can be dropped down
to 2 copies. And 8.5 Tails
can go the way of the dodo
as well. It's definitely a
fun and interesting deck.
And it's good to see that
white weenie still has legs.
Clifton Powell (5th-8th)
| BU
Legendary-Killer |
3
Loxodon Warhammer
4
Leyline of
Sungularity
4
Hinder
3
Hunted Phantasm
4
Twincast
4
Hunted Horror
4
Dark Confidant
4
Hypnotic Specter
4
Hero's Demise
4
Last Gasp
11
Swamp
6
Island
4
Watery Grave
1
Minamo, School at
Water's Edge |
sideboard
3
Mana Leak
1
Keiga, the Tide Star
1
Kokusho, the Evening
Star
2
Pithing Needle
1
Kagemaro, First to
Suffer
1
Meloku the Clouded
Mirror
1
Ink-Eye's, Servant
of the Oni
2
Nezumi Graverobber
3
Gifts Ungiven |
This deck has some neat
stuff built into it. I
would however, give up a
couple of the creatures to
add in a couple of Hideous
Laughter. Other than that,
this is an interesting deck
to play. It might be the
weakest overall of the eight
decks, but it is truly fun.
Donna Carroll (5th-8th)
|
BW
|
4
Paladin en Vec
4
Hypnotic Specter
2
Ghost Council of
Orzhova
2
Orzhova Guildmage
2
Courier Hawk
3
Leonin Skyhunter
3
Suntail Hawk
3
Lantern Kami
3
Will-'o-Wisp
4
Glorious Anthem
3
Devouring Light
3
Mortify
2
Umezawa's Jitte
3
Loxodon Warhammer
4
Godless Shrine
2
Caves of Koilos
2
Orzhov Basilica
7
Swamp
7
Plains |
sideboard
3
Supression Field
3
Terashi's Grasp
3
Sacred Ground
2
Promise of Bunrei
2
Hand of Honor
2
Hand of Cruelty |
This deck surprised me a
little bit. It would appear
that this deck wouldn't have
the power to punch through
when it needed it. However,
it did just that. The
quantities of a few cards
need to be adjusted, but
this is definitely a good
start to a new idea
Well, there you have it.
It's a new dawn on a new
format. Put this
information to use and get
after it!
Until next time,
DeQuan Watson
a.k.a. PowrDragn
PowrDragn at Pojo dot com
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