[MTGO] What to Remove?

When building a deck, we start with ideas of our strategy, of how we intend to win.

Then we choose cards and make a prototype. These cards cost money.

Then we refine the deck, replacing cards - often with more expensive ones, but not always.

After a while, the main deck building dilemma is: 'what to remove?'

By the M:tG rules, deck can consist of minimum 60 cards. It is a good practice to keep this minimum, as adding too much affects probability, predictability of drawing powerful cards, negatively.

Deck's speed & mana curve should be considered, but not only that - there are ways to turn the tide of battle & win with slower decks as well.

With a 'Darefire' Deck, i focused on a Vampire tribe & cards that do direct damage mostly.

Direct damage spells are used to remove opponent's creatures, or to finish him or her when he or she is in range.

Vampyres in this Deck are kept fairly small & cheap in mana, support each other, and scale their abilities with time.

In practice this results in doing 20+ damage in 4-6 turns when unopposed.

In a tribal deck there should be 20-28 tribal creature cards, in my opinion.

Recently i've 'armed' myself with some cards, but chose to not put most of these in this Deck.


Example 1:



... i've considered adding a powerful creature, Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet, but considering mana costs, mana curve & deck's speed - there was nothing to remove to give space to put him in.

Our current most powerful creature cards - Bloodline Keeper & Olivia Voldaren are far more powerful considering their abilities & costs, anyway.


Example 2:



Door of Destinies might be powerful in a tribal deck, but i prefer to increase creature count with creatures that also have power/toughness increasing abilities / Bloodline Keeper, Stromkirk Captain, Captivating Vampire /. Door of Destinies is worth nothing without a decent creature count, anyway.

... just had no space in a deck for these.


Example 3:




... i've considered replacing sideboard's 2x Hero's Downfall with 2x Dreadbore.

Mana cost is smaller & more aligned with 'Darefire' Deck's colors, so it was a simple decision.

Did it when i could afford the cards.


Example 4:



While Vanquisher's Banner might seem a nice replacement to Mind's Eye, there are other considerations.

Mind's Eye allows to draw at least 3x more of cards / there are 21 Vampire cards in 'Darefire' /.

But even more importantly, i need Mind's Eye for Art's purposes, as i wish to create art that uses ideas from my cards & decks.

Mind's Eye is also related with Buddhism & Esoterics, important parts of an Art Style i am creating: 'Art of Magick & Light'.

These arguments might seem not valid or silly to most, but M:tG is not my priority in life, i have different needs than most dedicated M:tG players.