Four Commons for your viewing pleasure

[Killer Joe]

Here's the story: As many of you know, I am a Band Director and there are some fifteen kids that come down to the music wing to play Magic before school starts or during lunch and after-school before Jazz Band or Percussion ensemble starts. Many of these guys and gals are new to the game and only about two or three that actually have played in a tournament or two. At first, I was playing against their own quirky decks put together with the only cards they owned (it was like stepping back in time when Magic was new and you hear stories of how everybody played with weird decks because it was the only cards they owned) and me with TS or U/W Control, how tacky of me. So I started making COMMON decks for them that were slightly based off of known decks like; Counter-Sliver or Sligh or Green Beats, etc... Then I got to thinking, I'm diggin' this common decks thing, so I built a common to play against these young grasshoppers and it looks like this:
3x Snuff Out
2x Undertaker
4x Drake Hatchling
4x Stinging Barrier
4x Waterfront Bouncer
4x Vodalian Zombie
4x Recoil
4x Blastoderm
4x Spore Frog
4x Vine Trellis
4x Yavimaya Elder (hey, I didn't say these decks were supposed to be Type II legal, did I?)
9x Forest
7x Island
4x Swamp
To the trained eye you see a very weak deck, but when compared to another common deck, it's not so bad, especially when I get the Undertaker, Spore Frog, Yavimaya Elder thing going, WOW, I could last a long time with that lil' combo. When I pull it out, the guys usually sigh and mention to each other what a long game they're in for .

Some of you may know that I am a Blue/Green Mage (if there IS such a thing), so I've been working on my therapy deck called MadRemoval.dec (it's a B/R thing). I loved Terminate when I first saw it and was glad to see that it was a common (a rare common-add THAT to my list from another thread), so I thought it'd be cool to use it in my therapy deck. I've also have had this fantasy about playing land destruction too, it sounds,....e-v-i-l. So take a look at:
MadRemoval.dec
2x Aginizing Demise
4x Despoil
2x Diabolic Edict (get over that T2 thing alright, Sparky?)
2x Duress
2x Ostricize (a metegame choice)
4x Skittering Skirge (The only creature needed)
4X Soul Burn
4x Plague Spores
4x TERMINATE
1x Rolling Thunder (another metagame choice, I gave a kid a suedo Suicide Black deck with shadows. errrrr!)
4x Shock (I have 4x Lightning Bolts but nahhhhh, I didn't want a too broken common deck, )
4x Stone Rain
7x Mountain
4x Polluted Mire (man, this is a good card)
13x Swamp
I clean house with this thing, I rarely play it because of that, in fact, I've taken this gem to the shop and have smacked aroud a few top teir decks too)

I have made this G/W Horde deck several times for kids at school and it seems to be a favorite theme (I think Armadillo Cloak has something to do with it ). The version I keep in my desk looks like this:
3x Armadillo Cloak
4x Llanowar Knight
2x Scalebane's Elite (I know it's not a common but this is a weak deck!)
4x Mtenda Lion
4x Pouncing Jaguar
3x Simian Grunts
3x Spectral Bears (What rarity is THIS thing?)
3x Symbiosis
2x Heavy Balista
3x Pegasus Charger
4x Serra Zealot
4x Soltari Soldier
3x Youthful Knight
2x Drifting Meadow
8x Forest
7x Plains
2x Slippery Karst
I do bad with this deck unless I Cloak the Shadow guy on turn three. I need to work on this one more, any COMMON thoughts?

And lastly, I have always had this thing about a bounce and burn deck. This is the hardest of the four decks listed to play but it's fun, Fun, FUN!

U/R MadBounce.dec
1x Feldon's Cane (I know, shuddup already!)
4x Bommerang
4x Fog Elemental
4x Repulse
4x Rushing River
4x Seal of Removal
4x Incinerate (Hey, in THIS deck, I could use a little brokeness)
4x Magma Burst
4x Seal of Fire
4x Zap
14x Island
10x Mountain

Well, that's it, I have been having a great time with the kids at school making and playing these decks and we're actually going to be able to form a club for "Activities" Period twice a month, kewl. My collection is dwinddling a little but it's worth it. Any and all comments are welcomed !

From that dusty Road to Tourneyland, this is Yellojacket
Good Night America and all the ships at Sea.

 

[krichaiushii]

There are numerous common swamp and forestwalkers.

Kird Ape, Flame Rift, Rancor, and when originally published, River Boa, are all wonderful commons. Orcish Lumberjacks, Tinderwall, Yavimaya Wurm are fun commons too. If you throw black in the deck, the Stormscape (or Thunderscape -- the red one) Apprentice will work nicely -- as will Diabolic Edict and Expunge. For heavier black decks, Befoul is an excellent choice, and versatile. Certain of the charms from Mirage block should also be considered. Methinks Jackal Pup is common, too.

Don't overlook the venerable white commons -- Benalish Hero, Mesa Pegasus, and Holy Strength. Banding can be fun with Holy Armor. In blue, I have taken a shine to Sage/Spire Owls, with Capsize running a close second.

That's all for now. You've inspired me.

Thanks.

 

[Spiderman]

Maybe Mr. P can donate to your worthy cause... he said he has 50,000 of them that he can send for the cost of shipping...

 

[rkoelsch]

I am trying to find a way to make my collection managable. I could send some commons your way if you want. It would be better than just throwing them away. I don't have a lot of access to new players that I could share the commons with.

 

[Killer Joe]

This is a "Featured Thread", it can't be on the bottom like it was. Post, damn it !

 

[MrXarvox]

Since Invasion is the only set I've bought by the box, I often make all-invasion-common decks. My personal favorite among these is:

4x each of the 2 cc, 2/2 protection from ___ creatures from invaion.

4x each of the ___scape apprentices from invasion.

That's 40 cards total. I add 5 of each basic land. a 65-card deck, balanced in every way; and those apprentices can be (like moose bites) pretti nasti.

The +1/+1 abilities and the tapping, I've held off a big nasty fires deck with those buggers. For several turns anyway, till they got some cloaks...

but this deck is all commons!