While sifting out the aftermath of the Writer's Strike, we came across this article. It was submitted to us in an effort to help Streetz fill time until we came together on terms of the Strike. Unfortunately, Streetz gets so much email that it was lost in the pile of spam, enlargement, unmentionables ... oh, wait! ... that was my email box.

Anyways, once we found it, we felt that it was proper to publish it and say, "Thanks for trying to pick us up Thanatos!" I personally gave it a quick edit job (note the word quick) and now without further ado... Thanatos' 25 Decks of Rabbits. ~Tynion~
 

“So close, no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
and nothing else matters

Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
and nothing else matters”
Nothing Else Matters, Metallica

Welcome one and all to my den. Make yourselves at home. I know that most of you don’t know me, but I’ve been here and there writing occasionally, but never really found a place that I wanted to stay with or remembered to get stuff done for, or so the story goes. I think I have found a decent home though. Even though the regular writers are (were) on strike, I think there is really something here for me. I guess I owe it to you to tell you who I am for those of you that don’t know me. With no further ado, this is who I am (props to anyone who gets the references).

I am known by some as Willis, to others as starcraftha, and to yet a third group as Thanatos. I have been playing magic since Onslaught block came out, despite the act, I knew the game existed before then. I learned the basics from kids who played at school and was lucky enough to get some decent quantities of cards as gifts. That formed the kind of person I would be in the Magic community; I was to be a deck builder.

I have made quite a few decks, and have lost quite a few decks due to leaving them where I shouldn’t have; like at a church or in my car (which was stolen and most of my current stuff was taken). Despite these things, I still choose to build decks and attempt to step my game up to the next level. Someone not so famous said, “practice makes perfect” so I figure why not? There isn’t much else I can lose. If there is anything else you would like to know about me, let me know. I must get down to business now, so here is my most recent story and the inspiration it has given me.

About two months ago my van was stolen. It wasn’t really a big deal at the time, but I knew that it would cause me some fits. Thankfully the next day, it was found, but as all things go, there was a problem. Not any problem, mind you, but a rather large problem or two. My cards were in there when I left the vehicle, but they weren’t there when I retrieved it. Also, it was stripped of key components, therefore useless to me. Thankfully my girlfriend was with me, so that I didn’t get too emotional at this loss. This wasn’t the end of the story, but rather the beginning.

When the people I normally play this great game with heard the story they were very compassionate to me. In the next several limited events I played with them, they gave me most of their commons and uncommons. I now have more cards than I know what to do with. That’s when I got a good idea; making the 25 decks of Christmas. Unfortunately, that turned out to be a huge task that I have yet to complete. I do, however, have a couple of decks in the works. Okay, not just a couple, but 78 decks in all the various stages, from brainstorming to complete. A lot of different things inspire me, and that’s why so many decks were made. Today, I would like to share one with you, my friends, and tell you why I made it. Just give me a minute to raise the curtain…

By no means is this deck complete, but it is playable. I made this deck for two reasons: the first was that I knew that this was a good strategy for the days of yore, and I like some of the historic decks; the second reason was that I came across a few good, small creatures and just decided to start a new pile. This, in turn, turned into an aggro deck of each color. The variation I made for this deck is the amount of board pumping effects as non-permanents. This is to keep my opponent on his or her toes. The list that follows is the complete decklist after Morningtide is released.

This deck is designed to be faster and more streamlined than the other version. Unlike the other version, this deck can still survive against a deck packing Damnation and/or Wrath of God. If you know you are facing mass removal, this deck can get away with playing two or three threats and then reinforcing them for the win. It still keeps the surprise factor with the Swells and the Surges. As far as some of the other card choices, here is a rundown:

Mosquito Guard: First Strike makes him better, in my opinion, than Suntail Hawk because of the amount of Faeries with a toughness of one. He can also help out on the reinforce battle plan if need be.

Kithkin Zephyrnaut: A 2/2 is, admittedly, a little behind the curve, but it’s the kinship that makes him a winner to me. He goes from vanilla to vigilant Serra Angel, a nice change in my opinion.

Cenn’s Heir: Some people have called him Goblin Piledriver 2.0. With all of the Kithkin in the deck, it should be a significant attacker by the time you would want to play him, which is not on turn two. You should have enough other plays on turn two than to drop him, but you can if necessary.

Order of the Golden Cricket: This is one of the two drops I was talking about with the Heir. A 2/2 for 2 that can potentially fly if you need it to, which is great for getting around those pesky Shreikmaws or Doran’s. If you expect to see a lot of those, or other black critters, White Shield Crusader would work better for you here.

Mirror Entity: I love creatures with multiple purposes, and this one has three of them. The first is that it is a changling, which matters for some of the cards in here. The second use is that it has a pump ability built into it, which helps the non-Kithkin creatures out. The third, and admittedly worse, purpose is a target for removal. You can play around burn, if you know how to manipulate the stack if you suspect it. In order to play around burn, when they try to burn it, pump in response if you have the mana available.

Skyhunter Skirmisher: Flying and Double Strike is a nice combination of abilities. This gets even better when you include reinforce into the deck. It can even get by most Faeries without a problem.

Goldmeadow Stalwart: I remember playing against this guy when he was printed in 9th edition as well as in Kamigawa block. The two-power one drop is a staple of the White Weenie decks of yore, and this is the one for this block. There is plenty of Kithkin so that this can be played on the first turn of the game.

Serra Avenger: “You can't play Serra Avenger during your first, second, or third turns of the game.” Oh well, that’s why there are only two in here. A 3/3 with flying and vigilance is worth it, especially for 2.

Swell of Courage: Another multi-tasking card. First and foremost it is an instant double Glorious Anthem that won’t be expected. The second reason for the card, and why it replaced Kjeldoran War Cry is the reinforce ability. It can make a one-man army after a Wrath.

Surge of Thoughtweft: Another instant Anthem effect, only this one cantrips, which most aggro decks don’t have. It also triggers the Zephyrnaut’s kinship.

Rustic Clachan: I really like lands when they are good in the late game as well as the early game, which is exactly what this land is for.

Flagstones of Trokair: Even though this deck cannot abuse it the way some decks can, it is still nice to have some card advantage and deck thinning.

I hope that this foray into the design of White Weenie helps you to see not only a part of who I am, but also to give you another option whether it be at the kitchen table or at a tournament of your choice. Well, that’s all the time I have for today. Hopefully I will see you soon with another deck and some more stories on how my life is going. Remember that the past is not only for studying upon for mistakes, but it is also a foundation to build upon the successes of the past.

Thanatos

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The Apprentice Magician - Part Six.
Design on a Dime: The Lunch Meat Edition!
Fit the Flavor 2008 - FINALE!
The Games People Play - Market & EDH.
Sarpadian Empires, Vol VII: Foreword.
More Evil Than Evil.
Pauper Chronicles: Top O' the Morningtide to You!
Words from the Streetz: Uncommon and Common Magical Treasures.
The Writers Guild: The Inside Scoop.