Watch this and you’ll never buy a precon again

Summary

In this video, the speaker critiques preconstructed Magic: The Gathering (MTG) decks, arguing that they are often overpriced and poorly constructed, making them less enjoyable for players. Despite their convenience for beginners, precons often suffer from issues like high pricing, limited synergy, and suboptimal performance. The speaker recommends better alternatives, including budget decks, online resources like EDHREC, and even Competitive EDH (CEDH) for players looking for more value and fun. The video emphasizes the importance of community-driven resources and advice to help players build more effective and affordable decks.

Takeaways

• 😀 Scammers use the 'Nigerian prince' scam to filter out people who would not fall for an obvious scam, allowing them to target those more gullible.
• 😀 Preconstructed (precon) decks are good for absolute beginners who are new to Magic: The Gathering and have no cards, providing an easy entry into the game.
• 😀 If you are familiar with Magic: The Gathering and watch content about it, precons are not the best option because they are designed for beginners, and there are better alternatives.
• 😀 The main drawbacks of precons are their high price and subpar card construction, often leading to frustrating gameplay experiences for new players.
• 😀 Precons often suffer from price inflation due to factors like licensing fees, which leads to overpriced decks, especially with sets like Final Fantasy-themed decks.
• 😀 Many precons feature unnecessary subthemes, making the decks clunky and inconsistent, and reducing the chances of a fun and smooth gameplay experience.
• 😀 Upgrading a precon deck to improve its performance comes with additional costs and a steep learning curve, especially for new players who might struggle with deck optimization.
• 😀 While some precons like the Esper Knights deck have a solid commander, the inflated prices still make them a less favorable option compared to budget-friendly alternatives.
• 😀 For players who are more experienced or willing to research, budget EDH decks from sources like YouTube channels, subreddits, and deck-building templates are better options than precons.
• 😀 EDHREC is a useful tool for finding budget-friendly deck lists based on popular commanders, helping players build affordable and effective decks without needing to buy overpriced precons.

Q & A

Why do scammers use the Nigerian prince scam despite its obvious nature?

Scammers use the Nigerian prince scam because it helps them self-select individuals who are more likely to fall for scams, filtering out those who are more skeptical or aware of common frauds.

What are preconstructed decks (precons) in Magic: The Gathering, and why are they good for beginners?

Preconstructed decks are ready-to-play Magic: The Gathering decks that offer a simple entry point for new players. They are designed to help new players learn the game without having to build a deck from scratch.

Why might precons not be the best option for players who are already familiar with Magic: The Gathering?

Players who are familiar with Magic may find precons underwhelming because they are often overpriced, poorly constructed, and contain cards that may not align with their strategies or goals in the game.

What is the primary issue with the price of precons, especially themed ones like Final Fantasy?

The price of precons, especially themed ones, is often inflated due to licensing fees for themes like Final Fantasy. This makes them significantly more expensive than similar decks, and the value of the cards may not justify the high price.

How do scalpers impact the value of precons?

Scalpers often buy popular precons in bulk and resell them at inflated prices, making it difficult for players to purchase them at a reasonable cost. This issue is not limited to themed precons but affects many regular preconstructed decks as well.

What problems arise with the deck construction of precons, especially regarding their commanders?

Many precons suffer from poor commander construction, where commanders like Renma in the Dusk Morn precon don’t trigger enough to justify being in the command zone. This leads to inconsistent gameplay and a subpar experience for players.

Why do sub-themes in precons often cause issues in deck functionality?

Sub-themes in precons can dilute the main deck's strategy or not synergize well, leading to slow, clunky games where players don't have a consistent game plan. This is especially frustrating for new players, who may struggle with understanding deck synergies.

What are the disadvantages of upgrading a precon deck?

Upgrading a precon involves additional costs and can be a knowledge challenge for new players. It requires understanding what cards to replace and how to improve the deck, which may be overwhelming without a proper guide.

What are some better alternatives to precons for both new and experienced players?

Better alternatives include budget EDH decks, which are more affordable and perform better, using websites like EDHREC for deck-building inspiration, and exploring CEDH, which offers proxy-friendly competitive decks that can be built cheaply.

How can EDHREC help players build budget decks?

EDHREC aggregates data from popular deck-building sites and shows the most common cards used for specific commanders. Players can filter for budget-friendly options, making it easier to build competitive and affordable decks.