Sealed Pack & Silver Age Interview

Having just returned from Pro Circuit San Francisco, where he placed 59th, Shaun has seen consistent success in Vs. System. Taking out the Auckland $10k earlier this year, as well as last year's Brisbane $10k, and with multiple $10k Top 8s, he is without doubt one of Australia-Pacific's premier players. A key designer of the ‘High Voltage’ and 'Good Guys' decks and 'GLEE' (which later formed the basis of G’Lock) Shaun has proven he's up to scratch in constructed. Can he make the cut in Sealed Pack today?

Who is your favorite comic character?

I have not read many comics, so my opinions are more based on flavor and the little I know of them as opposed to storyline. My favorite Marvel character would have to be Punisher, though there are some others that rank a close second. As for DC, I really like Batman, love the dark aspect to his whole psyche. I guess I just like the vigilante.

What card do you most want to crack in sealed today?

Would have to be something generic like Removed from Continuity, Blinding Rage or Thanagar. If I got enough Team-Ups, then Brainiac and Captain Marvel, Earth’s Mightiest Mortal are also good. However — assuming I got the cards to go with it — I would like Dr. Fate's Tower . . . anyone who opens that and the three equipment will get some easy wins.

Is there any card you can build a deck around in Crisis Sealed? (eg in

X-Men: Black Bird Blue, Sinister Citadel, etc.)

In sealed it's hard. If you get the right locations, then Ahmed Samsarra can be built around; likewise you can build around Dr. Fate's Tower, but it's rare you get all the cards. In draft this is not the case — Samsarra is fairly easy to build a deck around. You can also build a strong deck around Katar Hol ◊ Hawkman, Eternal Hero. If you can actually draft all the Fate Artifacts, plus Dr. Fate's Tower . . . that deck is easily up there with the strongest draft decks.

What do you think is the best archetype / overall strategy in Crisis Sealed?

Once again this depends on sealed and draft. In sealed the best plan is a solid curve, with good equipment if you get it, and the best 8-11 blue and green cards you can fit in (depending on your equipment). As for draft, Villains United / Secret Six is very good, JSA-Hawkman is strong, Checkmate is good — but overdrafted — and Shadowpact is good if you can get all the cards for it (though often better off as a splash).

What's the most underrated card in sealed?

Lois Lane is hugely underrated . . . though it still goes in a very narrow deck. She is a great tutor if you pick up some of the Earth 2 characters as your draft progresses.

Who is going to win today?

Have no idea; I think I'm an outside chance, but would just be stoked to make Top 8. In the end, if someone is able to draft fate artifacts in the Top 8 draft, my money will be on them.

What's the most busted card in Vs. System at the moment?

Dr. Fate's Tower in both Sealed and Modern Age . . . It's fine in Golden and Silver.

What are your impressions of Silver Age so far?

I'm really enjoying it. Once you get the Enemy of My Enemy you have so many different options when deck building. I love what Enemy of My Enemy is doing to the metagame, it allows such diversity. Also, it's nice to see the old power decks take a little break now and then.

What's the best card in Silver Age?

Enemy of My Enemy. It's just sad that it's not easier for the average player to get. Personally, I propose people be allowed to proxy it in hobby league events, though this may lead to less sales. The card is selling for rather large amounts, which has some players crying foul. However, I like what the card does. They just need to make some mono-team decks more viable now.

What's the best deck in Silver Age?

Deep Green would be arguably the best deck. Personally, I like a build of Checkmate closer to what I played at PC San Fran. But you can't argue with results, and Deep Green has performed. On a side note, I was calling my deck Deep Blue after the computer that beat the human at chess. Never thought of taking it one step further and calling it Deep Green.

Are you excited about Heralds of Galactus?

I'm always excited about new Vs. System sets; every one brings the chance to build new, fun and strong decks. The last three sets of JLA (Good Guys), MXM (High Voltage) and DCR (Deep Blue) have all been really fun to build decks with and my team (The Four Horsemen) has been able to find something good as each set comes out.