Last FNM I had a really fun night. The format was Two-Headed Giant where I randomly partnered with a deck that was totally incompatible with mine and we got summarily trounced. Serves me right for showing up last minute but that wasn't the fun part. After we were done we broke out the Planechase cards for some multiplayer shenanigans. Once again I really didn't have a good Multiplayer type of deck but was able to enjoy all the same.

That's the fun of Multiplayer games. They aren't about just winning. Sure you want to survive but really that's because you want to be involved with more card interactions. That is the real gem in Multiplayer games. Because there are more decks involved there are vastly more possible game scenarios and card interactions the game becomes more flavorful. It's like putting on those cheesy Prism glasses when you were a kid. You know the ones with the lens that distorted the light to make everything look funny and full of color. 1 vs 1 Magic is like looking through regular glasses and multiplayer is like everything is magnified and amplified with those crazy shades.

The reason I bring this up is what may be some lost terminology. One of the players that got knocked out early was wondering why he was getting attacked so much. It was simply a case of him being a Gorilla. This confused him. You see we play in a town where the local universities mascot is the Gorilla (Go Pitt) and he told me that he went to a Junior College up the road. So I felt the need to explain the 6 types of decks/players in a multiplayer game and what that means.

I don't know who started the classification of types but I do know that it has been evolving for quite some time now. I know it was pretty much classified when I started reading internet sources during Onslaught block.

Gorilla

The first type of deck we should look for is the Gorilla. Like its namesake, Gorilla decks are loud and proud. They play cards that force everyone to pay attention to them as they pound the chest and bellow above the din of the forest. Some Gorilla type cards are just huge face pounders like Woolly Thoctar and his Nayan cousins. They drop early a flex their huge muscles as often as possible.

These Gorillas are nothing to be feared in a true multiplayer format. One of the basic fundamentals in deck construction is the addition of some basic forms of removal. Now that Baneslayer Angel in the Gorillas deck must contend with multiple decks aiming their bombs at her.

The true Gorilla cards that I like to play in Multiplayer games are the ones that create some huge game changing effect. I call these cards the "Gorillas in the Mist." Wrath of God is a card that leads to card advantage in many 1vs1 games, do the math in a multiplayer. It can easily be a 20 for 1 with enough players. Syphon Mind is another classic, for 4 mana I can restock my whole hand. Syphon Soul can theoretically double your life for just 3 mana.

Whether you're into being the biggest dude at the table or like the surprise bombs Gorillas are the first threat and are often the first target because of the way they draw attention to themselves.

Spider

The next deck to fall last Friday was a Spider deck. Spiders like to bait and trap their opponents. Some do it by tricking their opponents into a misplay and then pouncing. The more their opponent struggles the more ensnared they become. All of the good Trap cards fit easily here. The Prowl and Ninjutsu mechanics are also the tools of the Spider. You make a bad decision of not blocking and BAM they hit you with some mega cool effect like stealing a critter. Thanks Ink Eyes, Servant of Oni.

But not all Spiders build webs. Some just trap their prey with quick reflexes and brutal poison. These decks are the combos. Most combos in 1 vs 1 Magic fall short in Multiplayer action since they are designed to go 20 and then say "Good game." But there are some cool combos out there. My favorite is Tooth and Nail fetching and playing Iona and Painters Servant. If you plan on Carrying a Combo Spider Deck you need to beware of two things. First is that once the table is aware of your presence all of the pesticide available will be coming your way. And second is that no one invites Spiders into their house so if you get a reputation for being a Spider other players will shy away from playing with you.

Rattlesnake

Take a moment to picture a Rattler. He draws as much attention to himself as the Gorilla right? Only, with the Rattlesnake it's defensive in nature. "As long as you don't attack me I'll leave you alone." At my local store (Asylum Anime in Pittsburg, Kansas) we play that you can only attack one person away. If a Snake is on your left you turn your critters to the right.

Vampire Nighthawk in Multiplayer is probably the best Standard Snake card right now. Deathtouch basically means that anything you attack with will die. The Flying makes it able to block all and the Lifelink is just gravy. But the player controlling Nighthawk should leave it untapped 90% of the time since it's only a 4 point life swing on the attack. Basilisk Collar plays the same but is actually a little more aggressive since you can attack with one critter and leave the other back to hold the rattle. Executioner's Capsule also serves the Rattler role as long as long as you have the mana open. Basically you can sit there and do your best Dirty Harry. "Do you feel lucky punk? Well do ya?"

Cockroach

What is the roach and what do they do? These small little insects basically don't die. Sure one or two may find the bottom of my shoe but how many thousands survive. They say that if there was a Nuclear Holocaust only roaches could survive in their current form. Cockroach decks are like that as well. They just don't die. They're also very quiet. Not causing any waves on the table and letting the attention go to the Gorillas of the table. My very first self built deck was a prime example of this. I had a bunch of black Regenerating creatures that would innocently live through combat and eventually pull me the win with a couple of Cabal Coffers and a Soul Burn to finish the job. Bloodghast is very cockroachey card. It seems that no matter how many ways you find to kill it, it just keeps coming back. Other cards like Grim Discovery can make powerful cards like Ob Nixilis, the Fallen a temporary cockroach as well.

Plankton

What? Did I say plankton? What abilities or talents does Plankton have that a Magic Player could want?

Plankton are basically the base of the food chain for the world. They feed everybody. Decks that play the Plankton style are full of cards that everyone benefits from. In the above mentioned Tooth and Nail deck I run a cool little enchantment called Heartbeat of Spring. Now everybody gets extra mana. What player in their right mind would want to knock me out of the game? Remember that if I die my enchantment goes with me. Also I am viewed to be as dangerous as plankton is. So I am considered to be no threat as well as a beneficial ally. Therefore I live long enough to play a couple of Early Harvest to get 9 mana and drop the Tooth and Nail. Voila, I just went from safe little plankton to a pouncing Spider as big as any Gorilla you can find.

Other cards that are Plankton like are Howling Mine and Font of Mythos. Since it was first Spoiled I placed Abyssal Persecutor in this category as well. Think about it. No one else on table can lose the game as long as you and your Persecutor live. That's feeding the world. Put the Control mage beside you below zero and now he'll protect you like his life depended on it. Because it does. Recently I have been told that supposedly you have to pick just one player to receive the benefit when play multiplayer. I don't know if this is true and I'm waiting to see a ruling. Even if it's true just make sure you pick the person that would be the best ally at the table.

Pigeon

Ever notice where Pigeons live? I really have no idea but I know the popular media puts them in the cities. The bigger the city the more likely you are to see Pigeons right. That's mostly because Pigeons can live off of the discarded remains that Humans leave behind and the more people there are the more food we leave them. Pigeon style cards and decks are based on the same concept the more players there are in a game the better they become. Compare Diabolic Edict with Innocent Blood. In 1 vs 1 games Diabolic Edict is far superior but when there are more players Innocent Blood can almost equal a Wrath of God. Imagine these plays. Turn one Deathgreeter, at a table with 10 players 6 play a one drop and 1 other gets turn two before you and plays a critter. Your Turn play a Deathgreeter then an Innocent Blood. That's a 7 for 2 card advantage gaining 8 life and Wrathing the board. Pretty cool. Very Pigeon.

Other Pigeon cards would include Verdant Force, Congregate, and Malakir Bloodwitch.

Homework

Well those are the types I know of. If you know of others feel free to post them. Your Homework is to post what your favorite type is and a favorite card in that aspect.

Next week I'll reveal my secret Extended Tech that I'll be carrying into the PTQ this weekend. Wish me luck there are a couple of matchups I really would like to avoid.

There's the bell. Remember to check in next week even though it's Spring Break.