Pre-Constructed Decks

[Rakarth]

What do people think of the pre-constructed decks? Any good for newbies or anyone for that matter? Are they a good way to get cards in a certain theme or just a waste of money?

I was thinking of buying Azorius Ascendant because they are White and Blue and the decks seems to play in a similar vein I want to but is there a better way to get the cards?

Thanks, Rakarth

 

[turgy22]

I don't think any of the precons are "playable" in the form that they're presented in. They're supposed to give players a general feel for certain aspects of the sets and really lack the cohesiveness of a real constructed deck.

But that doesn't mean I don't like them. I think most of the precons provide an excellent foundation for starting a deck. When Mirrodin was released, I was able to build a pretty decent affinity deck using the Sacrificial Bam and Bait and Bludgeon precons. Of course, as time went on and everyone realized how over-powered affinity was, I couldn't play it anymore, but it's still a good example of the usefulness of precons.

The second reason I like precons is so I can get specific cards I'm looking for. I used to get booster boxes and sometimes I'd only get 3 of some uncommons and use a precon to round it out. In Fifth Dawn, I bought a Stampede precon in order to get my fourth Eternal Witness and Magma Jet online instead of getting ripped off trying to trade for them. I did the same thing in Ravnica, buying the Golgari precon, which came with 2 Putrefy, 2 Darkblast, 2 Recollect, a Moldervine Cloak, Savra and Golgari Grave-Troll - all cards that I wanted. And, of course, everyone knows that the Betrayers' Rats Nest precon comes with Umezawa's Jitte and used to be able to get purchased online cheaper than the Jitte.

So anyway, if you want to buy a precon, look at the rares and uncommons. If they're cards that you really want and you don't think you can get them for cheaper, then go for it. Personally, none of the precons in Guildpact or Dissension really impressed me much. But I certainly think they're a good tool and a good deal for the right people.

 

[Oversoul]

They were kind of good in Urza's Saga. You could open up a pre-con, shuffle it, and generally the beat people at my local store. Good times. I think one of them was considered a little too good and they toned down pre-cons after that...

 

[Limited]

i think most precon are playable; they are just not very good. the idea is that you yourself can easily find ways to improve upon them.
some of the older ones were broken (aluren comes to mind) but nowadays they are meant to get people started on deckbuilding..

 

[DarthFerret]

I like the precons for mew players because they generally will have some pretty simple examples of most of the key abilities, plus combine a couple of colors so that casting can be delved into as well. Good training tool. At a shop back in 1996 (I think) I was hired? to build several "precons" that the owner would sell off for about $8.00 per deck. Each one had the general commonality make up of a starter pack, yet would only be 1-2 colors. The lady paid me a rare card for each box I would make. It was amazing how many of those she could sell in a weeks time. (I think I made about 15 a week for her, and they were almost always sold out. The most popular was the green/black vampire or basilisk decks!)

 

[Limited]

And what do you mean when you speak of these so-called "mew" players?

Are they cats?

 

[Killer Joe]

Way back during Tempest when the pre-cons first came out I would buy them and I never really played them, I would strip out the good cards and use 'em for my constructed decks. I kept up all the way until Apocalypse then I puttered out, I slowed down to about only buying three of the available 12 from a block then I just stopped.

During Mirrodin I bought the all White one and it was "eh", I just used the lands because they were cool to me.

Kamigawa block I bought four of the 12. When Ravnica came out I committed myself to getting all 10 pre-cons, why? <shoulder shrug> I dunno. I just did and I like them and I'm going to commit to maybe sorta kinda playing them casually somewhere at sometime for some reason, I 'da know, maybe.

Yes. I like pre-cons.

No. They're not worth much.

 

[Homestar]

Now I'm not sure about the older ones, but, the new ones, I personally don't like. I think some of them have a couple good cards or a rare you could use somewhere else. But in no way are they good to play out of the box. Possible to do? yes, are they good? no.

 

[Lythand]

I played a precon the first tourney I played in aftr the 3 years off. Just to get the magic feel again. Let me tell you, they are lgal and T2, but thats it. I would not suggest using one in a tournament. for casual play or teaching someone how to play, whch is what I use em for, then they are ok.

 

[Ferret]

Precons started off as an idea I really liked back when they were first released (Tempest), but then I thought then I bought one (for the rares that I knew were in them ) and then I looked at the little instruction book inside and saw their "suggestions" on building "better" verisons of the precon decks. Most of them involved lots of rares from other sets. It was almost as bad as .net decks. Creativity was being sacrificed in the name of marketting...

-Ferret

"...not to mention the impact on the secondary market..."

 

[Nightstalkers]

I find precons to be cute and enjoyable to play right out of the box against another one out of the box. The basis behind the precons is to really introduce you to the use of the set's various mechanics and does quite a good job if I may say so. Plus hey, you never know when you might have a really good card come in one (like Umezawa's Jitte).

 

[orgg]

I miss the days Precons had three rares and ten uncommons in them... They havn't been like that since Exodus.

 

[Killer Joe]

Pre-cons played with the Vanguard Cards (or Avatars) are kinda cool. The next time I host a 'Night of Magic' with Moosey and friends I may suggest we try that.