Illusion and Flames: Setup Impressions

Asylamb
Asylamb Posts: 188 Tile Toppler
in MtGPQ General Discussion

Let's start with the mundane things. I'm not a native English speaker, but to me "Illusions and Flames" would sound much more satisfying. It's not like Jace is a single illusion caster.
Now, to the actual event.
I've played the 3 required battles as both sides, and I can tell that decks are constructed well enough to be able to get 3 wins without losses.
Let's discuss the decks in more detail.

Chandra
Creatures

  • Adrenaline Jockey (AJ)
  • Burnout Bashtronaut (BB)
  • Dracosaur Auxiliary (DA)

  • Goblin Glory Chaser (GGC)
    Spells

  • Fiery Impulse

  • Pedal to the Metal

  • Smash to Smithereens
    Supports

  • Burner Rocket

  • Jayemdae Tome
  • Prism Ring

Parts that make sense:

  • BB is there to make use of Chandra's Passive;
  • DA is there to be a burn removal (needing Saddle 2);
  • AJ is there to Saddle DA.
  • Burner Rocket is there to feed Chandra's Ult. Although her SA2 would do better job at that.

Parts that don't:

  • Why is GGC there? It'd be fine to fill the 3rd slot with a random red OGI creature, but you already have 3 other creatures there.
  • Why Fiery Impulse over any other burn spell that has at least 3 default damage? Lightning Javelin would be better, if we look just at ORI commons.
  • Prism Ring also doesn't make much sense, since that variation of Chandra is creature-focused, not spell.
  • In general, why not use some basic DFT Vehicle supports instead of those other 2? That would make Chandra's Ult more playable.

===

Jace
Creatures

  • Duelist of the Mind
  • Nimble Brigand

  • Separatist Voidmage
    Spells

  • Anchor to the Aether

  • Calculated Dismissal
  • Failed Fording

  • Jailbreak Scheme
    Supports

  • Claustrophobia

  • Conduit Pylons
  • Psychic Rebuttal

I feel like this deck is much more thought-out, and also has gem conversion. It's much easier to play. Plus Jace's ult is not relying on the deck.

===

I would say that as long as the Setup decks go, both sides are playable. But it does give a favor to Jace for the control of it all. I'm afraid there is a big risk, that many people would just flock to Jace's side, based on their experience in the Setup stage. And it will wind up just like that situation when Eldrazi haven't won for ages, until players lacking that exclusive reward card, teamed up and spread the word.
Will Chandra be Eldrazi against her beloved Nissa?

Tagged:

Comments

  • naabaldan
    naabaldan Posts: 642 Critical Contributor

    You didn't mention that when facing Red Greg loves to hit himself instead of dealing 3 damage to his opponent or one of his opponents creatures...

  • ArielSira
    ArielSira Posts: 551 Critical Contributor
    edited 27 March 2025, 00:44

    To me they both felt like a bit of a slog (again).

    Chandra's deck is like Kalemne (really depends on the draw and managain). The Goblin and Prism Ring are bad to draw, Volcanic Rambler and some 1-2 gem converter would be a massive improvement already.

    Jace wins by stalling, bouncing and his 3rd ultimate, a little like Daxos, so mostly takes some time.

  • Lionpunisher
    Lionpunisher Posts: 2 Just Dropped In

    Feels like everyone is picking Jace wow

  • Asylamb
    Asylamb Posts: 188 Tile Toppler

    @Lionpunisher said:
    Feels like everyone is picking Jace wow

    Yay, that's what I was thinking.

  • Janosik
    Janosik Posts: 707 Critical Contributor

    This event has been very effective in demonstrating to me why I shouldn't buy Chandra, Spark Hunter

  • Keyler
    Keyler Posts: 74 Match Maker
    edited 28 March 2025, 06:07

    Yesterday, my cat built two much more interesting and synergic decks than these two preconstructed ones by simply randomly placing his paws on the tablet several times.
    Another missed opportunity to have something different and funny to play. Proving once again that there's not the slightest interest in adding even a hint of freshness and fun to the game. There are lot of interesting cards and also synergic in Aetherdrift to show how the set´s mechanics works and try to be atractives for the player to try to get them, but well, may be is better play with Origin´s cards that Nobody has ever played at all. Also we'll have to play these two horrible decks every time this event comes around forever. Congrats to the creative team for their utter laziness and lack of interest in this game.

  • Tremayne
    Tremayne Posts: 1,756 Chairperson of the Boards

    @all - come on - keep it civil. If you don’t like the event, you can state that without humiliating the devs.

    My 2-cent (for now) is
    1. that I find the starting Jace deck better than Chandra’s starting deck.
    2. Chandra seems weak compared to Jace initially, because Jace abilities are versatile to build around. Perhaps Chandra will seem better after having more experience with her.
    3. I think it is a mistake that Chandra does not have any conversion, but I think @Asylamb analysis is a good input for a tweak - for next iteration.
    4. When Chandra gets the right cards in the right order, her starter deck will win, so long as Jace draws poorly.

  • Asylamb
    Asylamb Posts: 188 Tile Toppler

    I agree with @Tremayne , that there is no reason to s**t on the event, just because it's not anything new. It's a Duel Decks event under a new wrap. I'd say the major differences are:

    • this event uses the existing PWs, instead of making up new ones;
    • this event doesn't make a whole new subset of cards (like ZvE or DvK).
      Both of the points above seem positive to me.
  • Asylamb
    Asylamb Posts: 188 Tile Toppler

    Now, to my further observations (past-Setup).
    Even tho the "node recharging" problem is gone, with full charges available at once, even tho it was never the problem for Duel Decks (correct me if I'm wrong), there is another problem tied to the same source.

    I live in the Russian Far-East (pretty much the same time zone as Japan and Australia). And I started playing Stage 2 right after I got a notice. And, I kid you not, out of 6 battles the first 5 were the same pre-built Chandra deck.
    At first I thought those were noobs who didn't know they could use their own decks. But then it dawned on me that those were the players who just didn't get a chance yet to set a different team.
    So, being in the Eastern hemisphere gives you more chances to go against an already known deck, instead of a potentially OP loop deck.

    I'm not sure how much of a problem that is, because in the Race stage I'm using the same deck as in Standing stage, and I'm yet to lose a battle.

  • Asylamb
    Asylamb Posts: 188 Tile Toppler

    After conferring with some fellow players, here are the suggestions for the pre-built Chandra deck:
    1. Gem conversion is a "must have". Not only does Chandra have only one positive mana bonus (in Red), she also loses in mana bonuses to Jace, who has a multicolor bonus spread, but also gets to +9 after some turns, overwhelming Chandra's mana bonuses by a large margin. And Jace's deck also has a Land unlike Chandra's.
    2. Eliminate the 4th creature for the red Land.
    3. Give Chandra better burn spells, she should be able to eliminate creatures like Duelist of the Mind with one spell. Fiery Impulse might have worked with lots of red conversion, but the deck has none of it.
    4. Tome and Ring to Vehicles.

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