Contained within are some relatively advanced strategies. If you do not fully grasp the game's core mechanics, I suggest checking strategy elsewhere first.
Maxing the Top and Playing for Outs: how to rip like a champion
'Playing for outs' is what I refer to as playing with the top of your deck in mind, instead of just looking at the immediate options. Like, if the only way for you to survive on board is by playing a Tidal Wavenext turn, then that's what you need to play for. Anything else and you lose. So go ahead and hit your opponent with your allies, punish him a bit, don't try to staunch a blow that will kill you no matter what. And don't bother dropping more allies onto the table, either. You'll just be playing into your own sweeper.
If you end up losing, then oh well. There's not much else you could have done. But if you 'rip like a champion', then slam that wave on the board. Suddenly, your hand is a stack of beats that you weren't playing because you were fishing for the wipe, meanwhile your opponent overextended to push for lethal. Now you have him. If you weren't playing for outs, you would have emptied that hand and now you're in the same boat he's in, only you have the lower life total. He probably has 5-6 turns to draw a weapon and you're pretty much dead, but now you've shortened that clock a ton. Now you're the aggressor.
That's a pretty drastic example. Let's say your opponent has a Berserker's Edge
Your hand contains three cards, and all of them are Kristopher Wyld.
You could throw all your wylds at the weapon, sure. You'd lose three cards, and your opponent brings you to 3 life. Then you're playing off the top, while he still has say two cards in hand and a Blood Frenzy
If you wait a turn, he gets one swing in, puts you to 6, and the weapon is enough that your Wylds can kill it. But is it worth it? Let's say your draw off the top is a War Banner
Let's say your deck has 20 cards left in it, including three smashes, two King's Pride
If you play out your hand, it's not very likely that you'll be able to win. Sure, it's possible, but if your opponent isn't an idiot he should have you. What you need to do is play for outs. Wait another turn, go for the KP or Smashing Blow
This kind of playstyle will do a few things. First of all, you need to know your deck, and your opponent's. Very well. You need to know exactly how they can win, and exactly how your deck can stop that from happening. Any less and you'll just end up making mistakes. You also need to know how to evaluate your hand, to figure out how easily you can answer him with what you have and what position that will force you into before deciding to play for outs.
Secondly, people will think you're a lucky f***. And for good reason. From their end, it looks like you got nothing, like you've given up and you're not even trying to fight back. Which in a way, you have, unless you find your out. People will rarely see this method of play as skill, even if it puts you in the best possible position like none of your other options would. People WILL get mad. They WILL hate you. That's just how it is.
Have you ever thought to yourself, "I need to draw XXX or I lose"? If so, it's time to play for outs.
Originally Posted by Orenjer
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