what's the best tool...

[Iccerus]

To use to theory build decks? Trainer, pen and paper and wiki? Or is there an actual tool that let's you?

[pikachufan2164]

Trainer + playtesting.

Testing the deck in Trainer allows you to tweak quanta balance, synergies, and other deck details before spending electrum on the deck in the live game.

[Drake_XIV]

I actually just choose a random card and see what I can do with it...  This usually means hitting the trainer.

[furballdn]

I actually only use the trainer to finalize tests. Usually I come up with some idea, go "hmm", maybe take a brief wiki walk, and then try balancing it out (start with a 18/12/12 build and work from there). Trainer is last.

[eaglgenes101]

I write up a deck, post it in deck help, then if I get the OK, I might build it in trainer, then (very rarely) I might build it in the actual game.

[Iccerus]

 Thanks for the input peoples, it helps a bunch!

[bowlerdude04]

Personally I do pretty much the same process as furball. If I come up with an idea I'll think about it for a bit, look at the wiki quickly, and then start writing it up. Once I have something that looks good, take it to the trainer and make the final tweaks to make sure it's playing well and has good quanta balance and such. Of course, I don't have anywhere near the cards to actually build the decks in game yet, but it's fun to do anyway..

[ElementalDearWatson]

I don't really like to use the trainer.  It's probably just me being silly but, for me, part of the fun of the game is trying out different ideas.  If I'm going to try out everything in a little bubble where I'm insulated from any harm that might befall me, then what's the point in playing the main game at all, anyway?  If I'm only going to play decks that are completely optimised, then why bother playing any decks other than those which are proven to be the best against whatever league I'm looking to play against?

To be honest, as far as what I get out of the game goes, if I was going to start doing that, then I might as well just only play in trainer.

[vivimancer]

best tool in Elements, apart from Furball? 

[furballdn]

best tool in Elements, apart from Furball? 

I don't know whether to be happy or scared by that comment D:

[RootRanger]

It generally helps to have a brain, although it isn't absolutely necessary for competing at a high level.