Sleeper Rare??

[Gary Lynch]

Its looking like control is going to be a thing in standard, this leads me to believe that Slaughter Games could be a sleeper rare. They are currently 99 cents on Starcitygames and could play a big part in control mirrors.

 

I can easily see adding black to my deck just for 4 of these out of the sideboard. Its uncounterable so you can just strip all your opponents win conditions.

 

I wouldnt be surprised if this happens before Gatecrash but I feel pretty sure it will when the next set of duals come out.

 

What do people think?

 

If I am right and it does become a staple for control mirrors how high can it go? My guess would be $5 max but probably about $4.

[Gary Lynch]

Just read that myself.

 

Something to consider though that even he thinks it could work for a week or 2, perhaps keep in mind for a 1 off big tournament (like the GP I have comming up).

 

Interesting that a pro like him didnt point out that Slaughter Games works well with Snapcaster Mage so you can remove more than just Entreat. Entreat would not even be the first card I named in a mirror style match as you have a bunch of answers to that already. I would name Jace if they didnt have it in play already.

[Dan Barrett]

I think that is because the decks it may work best in are the aggressive decks?

[Gary Lynch]

I can see it in different ways.

 

In an aggro deck you want to cast it to remove any card they can have to stop you winning, the problem with this is you waste a turn of applying no pressure and also they often have mutiple cards that stop you winning.

 

I think where the card really shines is in control mirrors. Control decks usually take a long time to win so there should be plenty of time to cast this at least twice. If you couple that with counters and removal how does another control deck ever win?

 

I think people will start to run more win conditions but im not sure many people will have enough to deal with an opponent who goes all in on the Slaughter Games plan.

 

If I can get the mana to work im pretty sure I will try it at GP Auckland in 3 weeks.

[Russell Davies]

I'm not convinced, yet. You're right that this sort of card is better in control mirrors than in an aggro deck (why not just roll out another burn spell/hasty dude?) but some people's days are going to get wrecked by tapping out for this on turn 4, naming Entreat, and then watching their opponent untap to slam a Jace or Tamiyo. Next game?

[Gary Lynch]

See my previous post, you name Jace first :)

 

Entreat isnt a big threat in the control mirror as you have an uncounterable wrath. Its only scary if its done end of your turn and 1 swing will kill you.

[Russell Davies]

You have an uncounterable Wrath in your deck, but not in your hand. And if it's the UW control mirror, I'll be rocking my Geists of St Traft after board, so you can have fun needing to find 2/3 wraths...

I guess what I'm saying is that the card design/development in Magic has moved away from Reactive cards and strategies, and more towards being proactive - I feel there are probably better cards to board in in a control mirror, unless your opponent has a bad list, in which case you're probably > 50% already...