2012)

Hi. Fun fact: in the year 2004 I was a 14 year old Timmy who wrote a string of articles on this site. The last of which was so provocative it got another whole article in response. Oh how proud I was. Then I stopped playing for three years. Now I only play Vintage casual, which is a very lonely format. [Editor’s note: Hey, that’s essentially what I play. But I don’t call it that for fear of scaring people away.] But I’m here with a wizard deck that I want to show ya’ll.

Wizard Deck
22: Island
2: Fugitive Wizard
4: Hapless Researcher
4: Information Dealer
4: Patron Wizard
4: Sower of Temptation
3: Quicksilver Dragon

2: Twiddle
2: Unsummon
4: Force Spike
2: Boomerang
4: Counterspell
4: Rhystic Study

That’s it. Here’s how it plays: the deck was built around Patron Wizard. Originally I was running 4 Fugitive Wizards because I wanted to flood the board with 1 drops and then plant a Patron Wizard on turn 3, making it difficult for opponents to play spells without getting their lands clogged up, or just plain getting their stuff countered. The beauty of Patron Wizard is that he can be used every turn, not like a 1 and done instant. The deck is maddening when it works perfectly, which is maybe forty percent of the time. The only thing I’ve seen derail it under its ideal conditions is a cycled Slice and Dice. I can’t say I would consider a maindeck Stifle. Perhaps in the sideboard though. Speaking of sideboards, here’s my loose leaf version of a sideboard for the wizard deck.

3 Divert
2 Krovikan Sorcerer
4 Zuran Spellcaster
1 FOIL Intervene (the best.)
1 Boomerang
2 Unsummon
2 Annex

I don’t usually remember to use the sideboard in casual play, oh well. It’s largely untested although I have to say that a Rhystic Study in conjunction with Annex is pretty funny to watch. Very frustrating. Otherwise, I really haven’t gotten a handhold on the sideboard. This deck might never get prepped for tournament play so the goal is to make it ready to take on universals. This means basic stuff like a way to deal with creatures and enchantments if they resolve and then to make sure they’re countered the next time the opponents winds up to cast.

Quicksilver Dragon is obviously the win condition, and I have to say I’m pretty happy with it. It’s less dependent and more effective than the previous win, Nameless One. If you don’t have the Patron Wizard in your opening hand, you want Unsummon or Force Spike for your one mana slot. Unless you zilch a Hapless Researcher to go find something. Sower of Temptation allows you to play without Patron Wizard; he’s been a very valuable addition. Generally I have a rule that I don’t play with sets beyond Kamigawa but for him I decided screw it. Twiddle can also be a Counterspell in effect; you can tap one land of your opponents’ to hamstring them for 1 turn, then set up your Counterspell condition during your own upkeep. Another highly underrated play (and card?) is the turn two Boomerang. Yes I cast the instant as a sorcery. I Boomerang the land after playing first. So maybe you go like this: turn one: Island. Pass. Their turn: Land, Spell. You say Ne’er before, casting Force Spike or Unsummon. Turn two, Boomerang their land. The board development from that point forward is yours to manipulate. Even if all you can muster on turn 3 is Rhystic Study, you still have set yourself up to be competitive for the game’s duration.

Please comment on this article! I love love love feedback. Things I’m thinking of include putting in Imagecrafter for Fugitive Wizard and Dream’s Grip over Twiddle.

Rate Article

5 (best) 4 3 2 1

Discuss Article

Click here to discuss this article in forum or leave comments for the author.

RSS Feed

This article is provided to you by CardShark.com - A Better Way to Buy and Sell Collectable Games Online. Please check out the rest of our site - you won't be disappointed.

View More Articles