Post by yugular on Sept 16, 2011 9:13:03 GMT -5
Affinity Primer
I. Introduction
Affinity is a traditional deck that can be found from all Eternal formats and it is always doing relatively well. Pauper doesn't make an exception to this, actually Affinity is one of the tier1 decks in Pauper (12/2011).
Pauper has always been aggressive deck that fills the board with aggressive creatures and races for the win. Synergies make the deck run smoothly and Affinity mechanic makes sure you have the best board presence in the early game, not only in number of creatures but also in the quality of them. Affinity also has a small combo option as a plan B if the Aggressive punch doesn't get there and reach is needed.
There are two typical Affinity builds in Pauper with some variance of course. This thread will explore both types WUBR Affinity & UBRG Affinity.
Pauper's Cage podcast has also worked on Affinity primer that can be found here:
pauperscage.blogspot.fi/2012/07/primer-affinity.html
II. The Deck
Manabase & Fixing
The most problematic area of Affinity. Affinity is an aggressive deck that generally runs 16-20 lands. And the lands are vulnerable to removal as basic lands are replaced with Mirrodin artifact lands to boost Affinity mechanic. 4 colours with shaky manabase is the achilles heels of this deck and artifact manafixing is needed.
Springleaf Drum: Decent fixing that can turn Disciples of the Vault & creatures with summoning sickness into any mana.
Chromatic Star & Chromatic Sphere: Cheap manafixing that triggers Disciple and digs you for more cards.
Terrarion: Slower version of the above mentioned.
Prophetic Prism: One mana slower than Chromatic fixers but stays in the battlefield.
Lotus Petal: Efficient one time fixer that can create very pacey starts.
Aggressive creatures
The deck beats other aggressive decks by playing more efficient creatures and also in high volumes.
Carapace Forger: Two mana 4/4. Green option.
Auriok Sunchaser: White substitute for Capapace Forger. Always smaller but has evasion.
Frogmite: Usually a free 2/2.
Myr Enforcer: Cheap 4/4.
Somber Hoverguard: Cheap 3/2 flier.
Atog: Two mana 1/2 that can eat artifacts to finish the game if unblocked.
Somber Hoverguard: 3/2 flier with affinity.
Combo
Affinity also has an out for stalled boardstates in the form of Atog/Disciple of Vault with the option for Fling.
Disciple of Vault: Always makes the clock faster because Chromatic fixers trigger it quite many times and also adds value for creature trading. Atog just makes DoV silly by making it a reach utility.
Fling: Offers the possibility to win games from far behind. Eat artifacts with Atog and Fling for 15 isn't unusual.
Draw Engine
The deck needs steam and while the manafixing artifacts dig deeper the true draw power is the most cost-efficient card in the format (heck even in Legacy!).
Thoughtcast: 90% of the time -> U: Draw 2 cards, only one card less than Ancestral Recall!!!
Rush of Knowledge: Expensive draw spell that can draw up to 7 cards in this deck. Sees some play as a one of.
Sideboard options
Lightning Bolt: Galvanic Blasts #5-6 if needed.
Gorilla Shaman: The single best card for mirror match, first turn Shaman = win.
Ancient Grudge: More ways to battle in mirror and deal with Golems.
Doom Blade: Spot Removal.
Diabolic Edict: Edict Removal.
Pyrite Spellbomb: Early removal/late reach that also triggers Disciple.
Duress: Hand disruption.
Hydroblast: Hate for red decks.
Pyroblast: Hate for blue decks.
Krark-Clan Shaman: Board sweeper against some decks.
Echoing Decay: Board sweeper.
Scar: One mana instant to battle infect.
Scale of Chiss-Goria: Protection: Instant speed free +0/+1 for your creature.
Elecrtrickery: The new fans-favourite sideboard card can also be considered for Affinity.
III.The Deck Lists
yugular's Fling Affinity (Dec 2012)
www.mtgdeckbuilder.net/Decks/ViewDeck/218464
(18) Lands
4x Seat of the Synod
4x Vault of Whispers
4x Great Furnace
4x Tree of Tales
2x Darksteel Citadel
(20) Creatures
4x Disciple of Vault
4x Atog
4x Carapace Forger
4x Frogmite
4x Myr Enforcer
(22) Spells
4x Thoughtcast
2x Fling
4x Galvanic Blast
4x Chromatic Star
4x Chromatic Sphere
4x Springleaf Drum
1x Scale of Chiss-Goria
(15) Sideboard
2x Ancient Grudge
1x Gorilla Shaman
2x Duress
2x Diabolic Edict
4x Hydroblast
4x Pyroblast
tarkanmag (3-1)
Pauper Daily #4703610 on 12/06/2012
www.wizards.com/Magic/Digital/MagicOnlineTourn.aspx?x=mtg/digital/magiconline/tourn/4703610
(17) Lands
4x Seat of the Synod
4x Vault of Whispers
4x Great Furnace
4x Tree of Tales
1x Darksteel Citadel
(22) Creatures
4x Disciple of Vault
4x Atog
4x Carapace Forger
4x Frogmite
4x Myr Enforcer
2x Somber Hoverguard
(21) Spells
4x Thoughtcast
2x Fling
4x Galvanic Blast
4x Chromatic Star
4x Springleaf Drum
1x Terrarion
2x Prophetic Prism
(15) Sideboard
3x Ancient Grudge
2x Dispel
4x Duress
2x Echoing Decay
4x Pyroblast
IV. The Matchups (updated dec2012)
I haven't played the deck in a while and decided to take down sideboard analysis that was old information. Please keep comments coming for updates!
Affinity - Mirror:
Matchup really depends on who has the better sideboard options and happens to get them on starting hand. Mulligan decisions are really important. Turn 1 Gorilla Shaman is usually a win on a play.
Sideboarding:
Gorilla Shaman is definitely the best card against Affinity, but horrible topdeck - therefore it is suggested to only side in 2-3. Ancient Grudge is good backup.
I. Introduction
Affinity is a traditional deck that can be found from all Eternal formats and it is always doing relatively well. Pauper doesn't make an exception to this, actually Affinity is one of the tier1 decks in Pauper (12/2011).
Pauper has always been aggressive deck that fills the board with aggressive creatures and races for the win. Synergies make the deck run smoothly and Affinity mechanic makes sure you have the best board presence in the early game, not only in number of creatures but also in the quality of them. Affinity also has a small combo option as a plan B if the Aggressive punch doesn't get there and reach is needed.
There are two typical Affinity builds in Pauper with some variance of course. This thread will explore both types WUBR Affinity & UBRG Affinity.
Pauper's Cage podcast has also worked on Affinity primer that can be found here:
pauperscage.blogspot.fi/2012/07/primer-affinity.html
II. The Deck
Manabase & Fixing
The most problematic area of Affinity. Affinity is an aggressive deck that generally runs 16-20 lands. And the lands are vulnerable to removal as basic lands are replaced with Mirrodin artifact lands to boost Affinity mechanic. 4 colours with shaky manabase is the achilles heels of this deck and artifact manafixing is needed.
Springleaf Drum: Decent fixing that can turn Disciples of the Vault & creatures with summoning sickness into any mana.
Chromatic Star & Chromatic Sphere: Cheap manafixing that triggers Disciple and digs you for more cards.
Terrarion: Slower version of the above mentioned.
Prophetic Prism: One mana slower than Chromatic fixers but stays in the battlefield.
Lotus Petal: Efficient one time fixer that can create very pacey starts.
Aggressive creatures
The deck beats other aggressive decks by playing more efficient creatures and also in high volumes.
Carapace Forger: Two mana 4/4. Green option.
Auriok Sunchaser: White substitute for Capapace Forger. Always smaller but has evasion.
Frogmite: Usually a free 2/2.
Myr Enforcer: Cheap 4/4.
Somber Hoverguard: Cheap 3/2 flier.
Atog: Two mana 1/2 that can eat artifacts to finish the game if unblocked.
Somber Hoverguard: 3/2 flier with affinity.
Combo
Affinity also has an out for stalled boardstates in the form of Atog/Disciple of Vault with the option for Fling.
Disciple of Vault: Always makes the clock faster because Chromatic fixers trigger it quite many times and also adds value for creature trading. Atog just makes DoV silly by making it a reach utility.
Fling: Offers the possibility to win games from far behind. Eat artifacts with Atog and Fling for 15 isn't unusual.
Draw Engine
The deck needs steam and while the manafixing artifacts dig deeper the true draw power is the most cost-efficient card in the format (heck even in Legacy!).
Thoughtcast: 90% of the time -> U: Draw 2 cards, only one card less than Ancestral Recall!!!
Rush of Knowledge: Expensive draw spell that can draw up to 7 cards in this deck. Sees some play as a one of.
Sideboard options
Lightning Bolt: Galvanic Blasts #5-6 if needed.
Gorilla Shaman: The single best card for mirror match, first turn Shaman = win.
Ancient Grudge: More ways to battle in mirror and deal with Golems.
Doom Blade: Spot Removal.
Diabolic Edict: Edict Removal.
Pyrite Spellbomb: Early removal/late reach that also triggers Disciple.
Duress: Hand disruption.
Hydroblast: Hate for red decks.
Pyroblast: Hate for blue decks.
Krark-Clan Shaman: Board sweeper against some decks.
Echoing Decay: Board sweeper.
Scar: One mana instant to battle infect.
Scale of Chiss-Goria: Protection: Instant speed free +0/+1 for your creature.
Elecrtrickery: The new fans-favourite sideboard card can also be considered for Affinity.
III.The Deck Lists
yugular's Fling Affinity (Dec 2012)
www.mtgdeckbuilder.net/Decks/ViewDeck/218464
(18) Lands
4x Seat of the Synod
4x Vault of Whispers
4x Great Furnace
4x Tree of Tales
2x Darksteel Citadel
(20) Creatures
4x Disciple of Vault
4x Atog
4x Carapace Forger
4x Frogmite
4x Myr Enforcer
(22) Spells
4x Thoughtcast
2x Fling
4x Galvanic Blast
4x Chromatic Star
4x Chromatic Sphere
4x Springleaf Drum
1x Scale of Chiss-Goria
(15) Sideboard
2x Ancient Grudge
1x Gorilla Shaman
2x Duress
2x Diabolic Edict
4x Hydroblast
4x Pyroblast
tarkanmag (3-1)
Pauper Daily #4703610 on 12/06/2012
www.wizards.com/Magic/Digital/MagicOnlineTourn.aspx?x=mtg/digital/magiconline/tourn/4703610
(17) Lands
4x Seat of the Synod
4x Vault of Whispers
4x Great Furnace
4x Tree of Tales
1x Darksteel Citadel
(22) Creatures
4x Disciple of Vault
4x Atog
4x Carapace Forger
4x Frogmite
4x Myr Enforcer
2x Somber Hoverguard
(21) Spells
4x Thoughtcast
2x Fling
4x Galvanic Blast
4x Chromatic Star
4x Springleaf Drum
1x Terrarion
2x Prophetic Prism
(15) Sideboard
3x Ancient Grudge
2x Dispel
4x Duress
2x Echoing Decay
4x Pyroblast
IV. The Matchups (updated dec2012)
I haven't played the deck in a while and decided to take down sideboard analysis that was old information. Please keep comments coming for updates!
Affinity - Mirror:
Matchup really depends on who has the better sideboard options and happens to get them on starting hand. Mulligan decisions are really important. Turn 1 Gorilla Shaman is usually a win on a play.
Sideboarding:
Gorilla Shaman is definitely the best card against Affinity, but horrible topdeck - therefore it is suggested to only side in 2-3. Ancient Grudge is good backup.