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04-11-2000
 Theory Behind Magic: Can you win in the states without a Port?
This article is written 2 days before the states and the idea hit me while I was trying to build a decent deck for
the tourney. Could a person win the states without a Port in their deck? I used to believe that "it is not the cards you
play but how you play it" that matters most in magic tournaments. Yet, what happens if your opponent is as good a player as
you are (which is very likely during the top 8 play off) and they have 4 Ports in their deck while you have none? The
answer is, they would have much more advantage over you and only multi mulligan and stupid play on their side could save
the day.
For those who does not know what a Rishadan Port is I would suggest that you should get out of that rock you live under
now! Rishadan Port is a land card that allows you tap for a colorless mana or tap 1 colorless mana and the Port to tap
another land. The Port allows a player to slow their opponent down by tapping their land during their upkeep and make sure
multi-color decks do not get the mana they require. It also stops any tricks such as counter spells, Cho-Manno's Blessing
and Giant Growth on occasions by tapping your opponent's remaining land(s) at the end of their turn.
So why don't I use a Port in my deck if it is so good and powerful? The answer to this is a simple one - "Because I don't
have the money". A Port these days varies from $15 to $20 Australian dollars and having four would mean spending around $70
dollars IF there are people who are willing to sell them. Sure I could use anti-port cards like Tsabo's Web and Teferi's
Response but they are not really cards that you want to use in your main deck. So your opponent will have the Port
advantage over you for at least 1 game.
The most popular and optimal deck in the states this year I think would be the "Blasto-geddon" decks with its fast mana,
and quick kill. Plus, Ports with Tangle Wires then Armageddon is a very deadly combination; most decks wouldn't even have
much time or the capacity to deal with it. Good luck in playing cards like Tsabo's Web when you are on 2 lands with 2
Blastoderms banging you hard.
Good luck in the states everyone.
Minga Wong |
