-Greg
A bonus post for tonight, dudes. EDH with the team is always hilarious, and in this covert sound clip that Brenna took one night, you can hear Tom's extreme anger over Luciano's dick move.
What happened:
Tom has some token making monsters out, and some tokens. I have three relatively harmless Slivers. Pete has some utility guys that aren't really a threat. Luciano casts Hex to destroy six creatures. He looks around the board before pointing rapidly at Tom's guys, including his 1/1 Dragon and Saproling tokens saying "this one, this one, this one..." Tom FFO's.
Here's the File
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Extended Season - Archetype Primer
-Greg
I'm afraid we aren't testing enough for extended season, especially for the decks we're home-brewing, so starting the week I get back from vacation we're going to definitely invest some more time into testing relevant matchups. "But what are the relevant matchups?" you ask. Honestly, that's pretty up in the air, as the format is this far only defined by the top Austin lists and the hypothetical bottom-line aggro speed.
Enemy number one, though, is probably going to be Tezzerator.
The Blue Deck that LSV will play - Tezzerator
What it is: Nasty. Cheap counters and removal will hold you down until they can draw or tutor up their two combo pieces (Sword of the Week + Thopter Foundry), at which point you'll die to a swarm of 1/1 Thopters. If you haven't seen the combo before, it's pretty easy to understand: Foundry allows you to sac an artifact to gain a life and get a 1/1 token. If a 1/1 creature comes into play for you and Sword of the Meek is in your graveyard, you can return it to play and attach it to the creature. If both are in play, you sac Sword to Foundry as part of the cost so it's in the yard when the ability resolves, the token comes into play, and you return the sword and stick it on the token. Then you just do it over and over again until you're out of lands to tap.
If anyone wants a good primer on how to play the deck, or a good list, you should definitely check out Luis Scott Vargas's write-up on Channel Fireball.
How you beat it: The players who will be piloting this deck are going to cover a wide range of skill levels, from inept players new to the format to competent to dangerous gun-slingers like LSV. What you've got to do is remember that this deck is built to leverage their skill against yours, so you have to play smart - even against someone who you think is a doofus. A lot of what you'll be doing are just the same things you already probably know just from playing against control in the past. Some pointers:
I'm afraid we aren't testing enough for extended season, especially for the decks we're home-brewing, so starting the week I get back from vacation we're going to definitely invest some more time into testing relevant matchups. "But what are the relevant matchups?" you ask. Honestly, that's pretty up in the air, as the format is this far only defined by the top Austin lists and the hypothetical bottom-line aggro speed.
Enemy number one, though, is probably going to be Tezzerator.
The Blue Deck that LSV will play - Tezzerator
What it is: Nasty. Cheap counters and removal will hold you down until they can draw or tutor up their two combo pieces (Sword of the Week + Thopter Foundry), at which point you'll die to a swarm of 1/1 Thopters. If you haven't seen the combo before, it's pretty easy to understand: Foundry allows you to sac an artifact to gain a life and get a 1/1 token. If a 1/1 creature comes into play for you and Sword of the Meek is in your graveyard, you can return it to play and attach it to the creature. If both are in play, you sac Sword to Foundry as part of the cost so it's in the yard when the ability resolves, the token comes into play, and you return the sword and stick it on the token. Then you just do it over and over again until you're out of lands to tap.
If anyone wants a good primer on how to play the deck, or a good list, you should definitely check out Luis Scott Vargas's write-up on Channel Fireball.
How you beat it: The players who will be piloting this deck are going to cover a wide range of skill levels, from inept players new to the format to competent to dangerous gun-slingers like LSV. What you've got to do is remember that this deck is built to leverage their skill against yours, so you have to play smart - even against someone who you think is a doofus. A lot of what you'll be doing are just the same things you already probably know just from playing against control in the past. Some pointers:
- A lot of the spells you'll need you either have to get out fast, or cost 2, so you'll be either playing through or around Spell Snare and Mana Leak for the entire game. Don't walk your Tarmogoyf into an open Island.
- Don't over-extend. Most lists run at least two Wrath/Day of Judgement main, with plenty of ways to dig for them. A good player will also be more likely to keep a hand that's good against aggro, because of the prevelance of Zoo.
- Be aggressive, especially game one when you don't have targeted hate against them. If you don't win before they assemble their combo, you will not win.
- Don't take out all your removal post-board. A lot of lists pack Baneslayer in the side, and this isn't a creature most decks can race.
- Think hard about what gifts you'll be giving them. A good player will give you two options that aren't really options, either forcing you to give them the mana they need (by playing artifact lands and snow-covered lands), or giving them their missing combo pieces (by getting the cards, or things that get them anyway).
- Pack hate. Keep some of it main.
Monday, December 21, 2009
B/W Martyr of Sands
-Greg
Anyone who's ever played with my wife, or even played in the same room with her, knows this: my wife is more interested in gaining copious amounts of life than she is in winning the game. Even in decks not specifically designed to gain life, I have seen her bend her cardboard minions to her devastating will and shoot her life total into the hundreds. I remember a recent 1K she, to the chagrin of a very serious player (who was feverishly snapping the cards in his finely tuned deck), crashed an exalted Baneslayer Angel repeatedly into a wall of bird tokens, climbing quite rapidly to 246 life before he agreed to go to the third game. Even worse, before the advent of the M10 rules changes it was quite common to hear things from her like "Equip Loxodon Warhammer on my Divinity of Pride." These games were not about winning. They were about abject humiliation of an opponent; amidst a generation of boys who were raised to believe whole-heartedly in self-affirmation through the accrual of "points," - she viciously hammered (no pun intended) into their heads a startling and inescapable truth: shes has way more points than you.
Another peculiar, yet endearing, quality she has is an unabashed hatred for Extended.
"EXTENDED IS TERRIBLE." - Wife, via Twitter
"Hell no I don't want to play Extended. Let's just play Standard." - Wife, at the table
"It's boring to watch someone combo off. Why do a hobby if not to have fun?" - Wife, Via Gchat just now.
"Of course I love you; I put the knife down, didn't I?" - Wife, in the kitchen
And while that last quote isn't exactly about Extended, she does have a good point about the high level of awful a player experiences when watching their opponent play card after card with no chance of interacting with the game-state. That is boring. The magic, though, is that Extended is not legacy; there's no Ad Nauseum/Tendrils of Corruption, no Dream Halls/Conflux, and not any real combo deck that can compete with the insane level of aggro that abounds. Ok, ok, there's Hexmage/Depths - but that deck is, to be fair... Bad. The only way I can figure out that it made top 8 at Austin is that it was driven by the highly competent, and irredeemably lucky, PV. Ok, and sure, you've got your Sword of the Meek/Thopter Foundry package... Ok, that deck is good, but not unbeatable or format warping.
And don't even tell me about Dragonstorm or All-in-Red with Deus of Calamity. Unless you're just pushed to the point of drooling at a turn 1 fatty, wonky decks with unpredictable, unreliable, and unrecoverable tendencies aren't going to give you the power AND consistency you need to win, um, consistently. And powerfully.
But I digress! So now, with my wife's two most prominent MTG idiosyncrasies detailed - how was I to convince her that Extended was a fun format?
FUCKING MARTYR OF SANDS.
I have tinkered with this deck a little, and found it to be enjoyable despite how long the games tended to be. Dying with this deck on the table in front of you is harder than it should be, and the look of despair on your opponents faces when they realize how much damage they'll have to do to you is priceless. Problem was, like with Conley Woods' deck from Austin, it's equally difficult to kill with this Deck of Defense (+200 HP, +20 Defense, -1000 Attack). At first, I splashed red. Hated it. Then I splashed green. Hated it. Then I went back to Black/White. Seemed better. Then I started adding Felidar Sovereign, and we were getting somewhere. Here's the decklist:
// Deck file for Magic Workstation (http://www.magicworkstation.com)
// Lands
2 [EVE] Fetid Heath
2 [TSP] Vesuva
2 [ZEN] Arid Mesa
3 [ZEN] Emeria, the Sky Ruin
4 [GP] Godless Shrine
4 [ZEN] Marsh Flats
1 [SHM] Mistveil Plains
6 [M10] Plains
1 [M10] Swamp
// Creatures
1 [ZEN] Felidar Sovereign
2 [SHM] Kitchen Finks
4 [CS] Martyr of Sands
2 [PLC] Necrotic Sliver
2 [ALA] Ranger of Eos
// Spells
3 [CFX] Path to Exile
2 [M10] Diabolic Tutor
3 [LRW] Oblivion Ring
1 [SHM] Runed Halo
1 [ZEN] Sorin Markov
4 [ARE] Castigate
4 [9E] Phyrexian Arena
2 [DIS] Proclamation of Rebirth
2 [10E] Wrath of God
2 [ZEN] Day of Judgment
// Sideboard
SB: 1 [CFX] Path to Exile
SB: 1 [SHM] Runed Halo
SB: 2 [M10] Pithing Needle
SB: 4 [PLC] Extirpate
SB: 3 [ZEN] Ravenous Trap
SB: 1 [EVE] Figure of Destiny
SB: 2 [LRW] Wispmare
SB: 1 [SOK] Kagemaro, First to Suffer
The drill is simple. Draw a shit-load of cards with Arena, gain a shit-load of life with Martyr, recur a shit-load of dudes with Emeria, kill a shit-load of lands with the Slivers, and eventually win with a hard-to-kill Sorin or a Felidar when your life total is in the upper shit-loads.
A friend recommended we try Dread Return in the main for extra flair, and I'm definitely going to try running a copy. The two Emerias bring back plenty of Necrotic Slivers (to lock them out of mana) and Martyrs (to gain gratuitous amounts of life), but I can see a situation in which you might Emeria back two Finks, sac, and dread return them for Sovereign against an opponent with no lands. Seems good, but possibly win-moreish. Another option I'm entertaining is Grim Discovery. There are lots of Ghost Quarters floating around these days, and being able to buy-back your Emeria and a dude seems like a solid plan in a deck that needs Emeria and some dudes to recur.
Anyway, I'm tired of writing for now. I'll update in the next few days or so after some playtesting with both options.
As always, comments, critique, and hate-mail are more than welcome. Hit me up!
Anyone who's ever played with my wife, or even played in the same room with her, knows this: my wife is more interested in gaining copious amounts of life than she is in winning the game. Even in decks not specifically designed to gain life, I have seen her bend her cardboard minions to her devastating will and shoot her life total into the hundreds. I remember a recent 1K she, to the chagrin of a very serious player (who was feverishly snapping the cards in his finely tuned deck), crashed an exalted Baneslayer Angel repeatedly into a wall of bird tokens, climbing quite rapidly to 246 life before he agreed to go to the third game. Even worse, before the advent of the M10 rules changes it was quite common to hear things from her like "Equip Loxodon Warhammer on my Divinity of Pride." These games were not about winning. They were about abject humiliation of an opponent; amidst a generation of boys who were raised to believe whole-heartedly in self-affirmation through the accrual of "points," - she viciously hammered (no pun intended) into their heads a startling and inescapable truth: shes has way more points than you.
Another peculiar, yet endearing, quality she has is an unabashed hatred for Extended.
"EXTENDED IS TERRIBLE." - Wife, via Twitter
"Hell no I don't want to play Extended. Let's just play Standard." - Wife, at the table
"It's boring to watch someone combo off. Why do a hobby if not to have fun?" - Wife, Via Gchat just now.
"Of course I love you; I put the knife down, didn't I?" - Wife, in the kitchen
And while that last quote isn't exactly about Extended, she does have a good point about the high level of awful a player experiences when watching their opponent play card after card with no chance of interacting with the game-state. That is boring. The magic, though, is that Extended is not legacy; there's no Ad Nauseum/Tendrils of Corruption, no Dream Halls/Conflux, and not any real combo deck that can compete with the insane level of aggro that abounds. Ok, ok, there's Hexmage/Depths - but that deck is, to be fair... Bad. The only way I can figure out that it made top 8 at Austin is that it was driven by the highly competent, and irredeemably lucky, PV. Ok, and sure, you've got your Sword of the Meek/Thopter Foundry package... Ok, that deck is good, but not unbeatable or format warping.
And don't even tell me about Dragonstorm or All-in-Red with Deus of Calamity. Unless you're just pushed to the point of drooling at a turn 1 fatty, wonky decks with unpredictable, unreliable, and unrecoverable tendencies aren't going to give you the power AND consistency you need to win, um, consistently. And powerfully.
But I digress! So now, with my wife's two most prominent MTG idiosyncrasies detailed - how was I to convince her that Extended was a fun format?
FUCKING MARTYR OF SANDS.
I have tinkered with this deck a little, and found it to be enjoyable despite how long the games tended to be. Dying with this deck on the table in front of you is harder than it should be, and the look of despair on your opponents faces when they realize how much damage they'll have to do to you is priceless. Problem was, like with Conley Woods' deck from Austin, it's equally difficult to kill with this Deck of Defense (+200 HP, +20 Defense, -1000 Attack). At first, I splashed red. Hated it. Then I splashed green. Hated it. Then I went back to Black/White. Seemed better. Then I started adding Felidar Sovereign, and we were getting somewhere. Here's the decklist:
// Deck file for Magic Workstation (http://www.magicworkstation.com)
// Lands
2 [EVE] Fetid Heath
2 [TSP] Vesuva
2 [ZEN] Arid Mesa
3 [ZEN] Emeria, the Sky Ruin
4 [GP] Godless Shrine
4 [ZEN] Marsh Flats
1 [SHM] Mistveil Plains
6 [M10] Plains
1 [M10] Swamp
// Creatures
1 [ZEN] Felidar Sovereign
2 [SHM] Kitchen Finks
4 [CS] Martyr of Sands
2 [PLC] Necrotic Sliver
2 [ALA] Ranger of Eos
// Spells
3 [CFX] Path to Exile
2 [M10] Diabolic Tutor
3 [LRW] Oblivion Ring
1 [SHM] Runed Halo
1 [ZEN] Sorin Markov
4 [ARE] Castigate
4 [9E] Phyrexian Arena
2 [DIS] Proclamation of Rebirth
2 [10E] Wrath of God
2 [ZEN] Day of Judgment
// Sideboard
SB: 1 [CFX] Path to Exile
SB: 1 [SHM] Runed Halo
SB: 2 [M10] Pithing Needle
SB: 4 [PLC] Extirpate
SB: 3 [ZEN] Ravenous Trap
SB: 1 [EVE] Figure of Destiny
SB: 2 [LRW] Wispmare
SB: 1 [SOK] Kagemaro, First to Suffer
The drill is simple. Draw a shit-load of cards with Arena, gain a shit-load of life with Martyr, recur a shit-load of dudes with Emeria, kill a shit-load of lands with the Slivers, and eventually win with a hard-to-kill Sorin or a Felidar when your life total is in the upper shit-loads.
A friend recommended we try Dread Return in the main for extra flair, and I'm definitely going to try running a copy. The two Emerias bring back plenty of Necrotic Slivers (to lock them out of mana) and Martyrs (to gain gratuitous amounts of life), but I can see a situation in which you might Emeria back two Finks, sac, and dread return them for Sovereign against an opponent with no lands. Seems good, but possibly win-moreish. Another option I'm entertaining is Grim Discovery. There are lots of Ghost Quarters floating around these days, and being able to buy-back your Emeria and a dude seems like a solid plan in a deck that needs Emeria and some dudes to recur.
Anyway, I'm tired of writing for now. I'll update in the next few days or so after some playtesting with both options.
As always, comments, critique, and hate-mail are more than welcome. Hit me up!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Top 2009 States Lists from OK and KS
-Greg
Hey, guys! It's been a while, but I just wanted to drop in and hit you guys with some decklists.
While checking out the States decklists, I noticed that there was literally no place on the web where you could see the top 8 decks from Oklahoma. I know it seems weird that someone might want to see these lists, since the big OK isn't really a hopping place for MTG, but being born and raised there, I have a strange attraction to keeping up on the ole' home state. Eventually, my online research led me to the tournament organizer's email address, and he was kind enough to provide me with the finalists' decks from OK and KS States tourneys. So, without further ado, here, for the first time on the internet ever, four deep-fried, southern decks for your viewing pleasure :
drumroll
Oklahoma Champion - Gerald Sixkiller - U/W Control
4 Fieldmist Borderpost
4 Glacial Fortress
2 Island
4 Marsh Flats
10 Plains
4 Knight of the White Orchid
4 Baneslayer Angel
4 Vedalken Outlander
3 Oblivion Ring
2 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
3 Emeria Angel
4 Path to Exile
4 Devout Lightcaster
4 White Knight
4 Honor the Pure
Sideboard:
2 Celestial Purge
3 Mind Control
2 Brave the Elements
4 Negate
2 Day of Judgment
2 Journey to Nowhere
Oklahoma Second Place- Tony Menzer - Jund
4 Savage Lands
4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Rootbound Crag
4 Dragonskull Summit
3 Mountain
3 Swamp
3 Forest
4 Sprouting Thrinax
4 Bloodbraid Elf
3 Siege-Gang Commander
4 Broodmate Dragon
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Rampant Growth
2 Terminate
4 Blightning
3 Maelstrom Pulse
3 Bituminous Blast
1 Chandra Nalaar
Sideboard:
4 Relic Crush
4 Jund Charm
4 Goblin Ruinblaster
2 Mind Rot
1 Maelstrom Pulse
Kansas Champion - Michael Mead - RDW
4 Jackal Familiar
4 Goblin Bushwhacker
4 Ball Lightning
4 Hell's Thunder
4 Goblin Guide
4 Burst Lightning
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Hellspark Elemental
4 Banefire
2 Earthquake
4 Teetering Peaks
18 Mountain
Sideboard:
2 Earthquake
3 Act of Treason
3 Manabarbs
2 Elemental Appeal
2 Chandra Nalaar
3 Unstable Footing
Kansas Second Place - Sean Patchen - Naya Lightsaber
4 Bloodbraid Elf
3 Baneslayer Angel
4 Noble Hierarch
4 Qasali Pridemage
3 Wild Nacatl
4 Wooly Thoctar
4 Birds of Paradise
3 Ajani Vengeant
1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Journey to Nowhere
1 Oran-Rief, the Vastwood
3 Sunpetal Grove
4 Arid Mesa
3 Plains
3 Mountain
3 Rootbound Crag
6 Forest
Sideboard
3 Acidic Slime
4 Goblin Ruinblaster
2 Dauntless Escort
3 Luminarch Ascension
3 Unstable Footing
Hey, guys! It's been a while, but I just wanted to drop in and hit you guys with some decklists.
While checking out the States decklists, I noticed that there was literally no place on the web where you could see the top 8 decks from Oklahoma. I know it seems weird that someone might want to see these lists, since the big OK isn't really a hopping place for MTG, but being born and raised there, I have a strange attraction to keeping up on the ole' home state. Eventually, my online research led me to the tournament organizer's email address, and he was kind enough to provide me with the finalists' decks from OK and KS States tourneys. So, without further ado, here, for the first time on the internet ever, four deep-fried, southern decks for your viewing pleasure :
drumroll
Oklahoma Champion - Gerald Sixkiller - U/W Control
4 Fieldmist Borderpost
4 Glacial Fortress
2 Island
4 Marsh Flats
10 Plains
4 Knight of the White Orchid
4 Baneslayer Angel
4 Vedalken Outlander
3 Oblivion Ring
2 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
3 Emeria Angel
4 Path to Exile
4 Devout Lightcaster
4 White Knight
4 Honor the Pure
Sideboard:
2 Celestial Purge
3 Mind Control
2 Brave the Elements
4 Negate
2 Day of Judgment
2 Journey to Nowhere
Oklahoma Second Place- Tony Menzer - Jund
4 Savage Lands
4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Rootbound Crag
4 Dragonskull Summit
3 Mountain
3 Swamp
3 Forest
4 Sprouting Thrinax
4 Bloodbraid Elf
3 Siege-Gang Commander
4 Broodmate Dragon
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Rampant Growth
2 Terminate
4 Blightning
3 Maelstrom Pulse
3 Bituminous Blast
1 Chandra Nalaar
Sideboard:
4 Relic Crush
4 Jund Charm
4 Goblin Ruinblaster
2 Mind Rot
1 Maelstrom Pulse
Kansas Champion - Michael Mead - RDW
4 Jackal Familiar
4 Goblin Bushwhacker
4 Ball Lightning
4 Hell's Thunder
4 Goblin Guide
4 Burst Lightning
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Hellspark Elemental
4 Banefire
2 Earthquake
4 Teetering Peaks
18 Mountain
Sideboard:
2 Earthquake
3 Act of Treason
3 Manabarbs
2 Elemental Appeal
2 Chandra Nalaar
3 Unstable Footing
Kansas Second Place - Sean Patchen - Naya Lightsaber
4 Bloodbraid Elf
3 Baneslayer Angel
4 Noble Hierarch
4 Qasali Pridemage
3 Wild Nacatl
4 Wooly Thoctar
4 Birds of Paradise
3 Ajani Vengeant
1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Journey to Nowhere
1 Oran-Rief, the Vastwood
3 Sunpetal Grove
4 Arid Mesa
3 Plains
3 Mountain
3 Rootbound Crag
6 Forest
Sideboard
3 Acidic Slime
4 Goblin Ruinblaster
2 Dauntless Escort
3 Luminarch Ascension
3 Unstable Footing
Friday, December 4, 2009
Testing for States - Update
-Greg
After running the GWb Junk list through a gauntlet of games, I've got to say I'm pretty happy with where it ended up. I found Putrid Leech to be pretty underwhelming, and since I was being smashed by Eldrazi decks to no end, I made the switch to Qasali Pridemage in the main. Emeria Angel was also completely ridiculous in conjunction with Knight of Reliquary and Lotus Cobra. I really think this deck is where I want it now.
Lands
5 [UNH] Forest
4 [ZEN] Marsh Flats
3 [UNH] Plains
2 [M10] Sunpetal Grove
3 [M10] Terramorphic Expanse
4 [ZEN] Verdant Catacombs
2 [UNH] Swamp
Creatures
2 [CFX] Thornling
4 [M10] Baneslayer Angel
4 [CFX] Knight of the Reliquary
3 [ZEN] Lotus Cobra
3 [ZEN] Emeria Angel
4 [CFX] Noble Hierarch
4 [ARB] Qasali Pridemage
2 [ALA] Elspeth, Knight-Errant
Spells
3 [ARB] Behemoth Sledge
4 [ARB] Maelstrom Pulse
3 [CFX] Path to Exile
Sideboard
1 Path to Exile
4 Zealous Persecution
3 Day of Judgement
2 Oblivion Ring
3 Dauntless Escort
2 Duress
Taking it to FNM tonight to hopefully get some more games under my belt before I head off to States on Saturday. Good luck to everyone!
After running the GWb Junk list through a gauntlet of games, I've got to say I'm pretty happy with where it ended up. I found Putrid Leech to be pretty underwhelming, and since I was being smashed by Eldrazi decks to no end, I made the switch to Qasali Pridemage in the main. Emeria Angel was also completely ridiculous in conjunction with Knight of Reliquary and Lotus Cobra. I really think this deck is where I want it now.
Lands
5 [UNH] Forest
4 [ZEN] Marsh Flats
3 [UNH] Plains
2 [M10] Sunpetal Grove
3 [M10] Terramorphic Expanse
4 [ZEN] Verdant Catacombs
2 [UNH] Swamp
Creatures
2 [CFX] Thornling
4 [M10] Baneslayer Angel
4 [CFX] Knight of the Reliquary
3 [ZEN] Lotus Cobra
3 [ZEN] Emeria Angel
4 [CFX] Noble Hierarch
4 [ARB] Qasali Pridemage
2 [ALA] Elspeth, Knight-Errant
Spells
3 [ARB] Behemoth Sledge
4 [ARB] Maelstrom Pulse
3 [CFX] Path to Exile
Sideboard
1 Path to Exile
4 Zealous Persecution
3 Day of Judgement
2 Oblivion Ring
3 Dauntless Escort
2 Duress
Taking it to FNM tonight to hopefully get some more games under my belt before I head off to States on Saturday. Good luck to everyone!
Monday, November 30, 2009
States
-Greg
If you've read my most recent post, you'll know I'm not exactly thrilled to play Standard. Also, if you were at Pastimes this past Saturday, you'll know that the level of hatred I have for playing Jund is probably second only to the hatred I had for last season's 5CC lists. So, with States coming up this weekend, I'm trying to hit that balance between playing a deck that is strong enough to win, and doesn't make me hate every match. Looks like I'm going back to the GWb list I ran a few weeks ago.
Here's the list. Any tips or ideas for how to strengthen it are greatly appreciated.
Lands
5 [UNH] Forest
4 [ZEN] Marsh Flats
3 [UNH] Plains
2 [M10] Sunpetal Grove
3 [M10] Terramorphic Expanse
4 [ZEN] Verdant Catacombs
2 [UNH] Swamp
Creatures
3 [CFX] Thornling
4 [M10] Baneslayer Angel
4 [CFX] Knight of the Reliquary
3 [ZEN] Lotus Cobra
4 [CFX] Noble Hierarch
4 [ARB] Putrid Leech
2 [ALA] Elspeth, Knight-Errant
2 [LRW] Garruk Wildspeaker
Spells
3 [ARB] Behemoth Sledge
4 [ARB] Maelstrom Pulse
3 [CFX] Path to Exile
Sideboard
SB: 1 [CFX] Path to Exile
SB: 3 [M10] Duress
SB: 4 [ARB] Zealous Persecution
SB: 2 [ZEN] Day of Judgment
SB: 3 [ALA] Tidehollow Sculler
SB: 2 [ALA] Oblivion Ring
If you've read my most recent post, you'll know I'm not exactly thrilled to play Standard. Also, if you were at Pastimes this past Saturday, you'll know that the level of hatred I have for playing Jund is probably second only to the hatred I had for last season's 5CC lists. So, with States coming up this weekend, I'm trying to hit that balance between playing a deck that is strong enough to win, and doesn't make me hate every match. Looks like I'm going back to the GWb list I ran a few weeks ago.
Here's the list. Any tips or ideas for how to strengthen it are greatly appreciated.
Lands
5 [UNH] Forest
4 [ZEN] Marsh Flats
3 [UNH] Plains
2 [M10] Sunpetal Grove
3 [M10] Terramorphic Expanse
4 [ZEN] Verdant Catacombs
2 [UNH] Swamp
Creatures
3 [CFX] Thornling
4 [M10] Baneslayer Angel
4 [CFX] Knight of the Reliquary
3 [ZEN] Lotus Cobra
4 [CFX] Noble Hierarch
4 [ARB] Putrid Leech
2 [ALA] Elspeth, Knight-Errant
2 [LRW] Garruk Wildspeaker
Spells
3 [ARB] Behemoth Sledge
4 [ARB] Maelstrom Pulse
3 [CFX] Path to Exile
Sideboard
SB: 1 [CFX] Path to Exile
SB: 3 [M10] Duress
SB: 4 [ARB] Zealous Persecution
SB: 2 [ZEN] Day of Judgment
SB: 3 [ALA] Tidehollow Sculler
SB: 2 [ALA] Oblivion Ring
Monday, November 23, 2009
Bad Decks, Extended, Que Sera Sera
-Greg
So, despite my spotty record in the year I've been playing competitive MTG, I still can''t consider myself much of a casual player. I don't really enjoy playing EDH more than once every six months or so (although I do love to watch the games - especially if Pete and Luciano are playing. SHOUTOUT GUYS!). I find Planechase to be especially unlikeable, as each player's turn is excrutiatingly long, leaving me to watch in bordeome as everyone shouts and grabs at cards and stacks enough triggers to make me roll my eyes. At the opposite end of the spectrum, I also don't enjoy playing the inevitable 60-card formatless decks that people will always have - but for opposite reasons. Since these decks are normally carried around and piloted by people new to the game, or just getting back into it, I try to suffer through the matchups with whatever I have on me, sticking around after to offer whatever advice or new card primers I can - and while the latter part is always a good experience, I do not find the games themselve to be enjoyable. Sadly, it's as if I can't shake that need for competition and winning. Sure, casual games can test your knowledge, memory, and ability to juggle various triggers (especially true for EDH), but the thrill is just not there for me.
The best part about any casual format, something I hope most of you would agree with, is that casual players are just awesome people. EDH players always want to show you their insane combos and win conditions. New players always want to share interesting deck lists and ideas, and still have that New Player Smell® of someone who's just having a good time. Old players starting up again have cool stories about their experiences with older sets, and share my appreciation of the sort-of return to basics (or at least flavor) that M10 brought. On the flip-side, players like myself who prefer slugging out out 1v1 matches full of tricks and mind-games tend to be enormous assholes. I've heard enough sarcastic iterations of "nice deck" or "nice draw," or even straight-up aggression and resentment to losing to know that the only real joy to be had at a PTQ or higher is winning. I'm ok with that, sure, but no matter how thick-skinned I am, I still wish I could be playing these intensely competitive games with these intensely friendly people - something that only really happens when we can organize a good 8-man cube draft.
The point I'm trying to make, in a very round-about way, is that Standard right now is just not my favorite format. There are interesting ways to win, interesting cards, and there's definitely been a gauntlet thrown down by Jund (who doesn't love a challenge?) - but I can't seem to get into a format where you just do this:
1) Grab four Baneslayers
2) Add 46 support cards
3) Bash
Not to say there's no complexity or room for maneuvering, but it definitely says something when both the Channelfireball crew and Japanese national team's sickest take on the format is to run a stock Jund list with more gas. These problems were really becoming obvious to me this weekend, as Brenna took to our kitchen table with a white-weenie deck that packed only eight mana-producing lands. It was fast, scary, and cute - but by using this modified strategy...
1) Grab four Baneslayers
2) Add 46 support cards (board sweepers, stallers, mana rampers, and big dudes)
3) Survive six turns until she runs out of gas
4) Deal fifty damage in a few big swings
it was not too difficult. There are other options in the current meta, too, but they seem to fall back on similar strategies. That is, if you play Rhox War Monk, isn't he doing the same thing as Baneslayer? He's a big dude with lifelink, meant to establish board presence and lower your opponent's life total while upping yours. Throw this thinking in with a staggering glut of spot-removal, mostly irrelevant card-draw, and you've got yourself a format that's defined by creatured-driven attrition wars. Do you have a bigger dude than me? Do you have spot removal? Cool, let's sideboard.
What you'll notice in my modified strategy is no real mention of what the support cards are, which I assure you, is irrelevant and predictable. In fact, you could probably build the deck I was running with only that information, and knowledge of my colors (GWb). Lotus Cobra? Check. Knight of the Reliquary? Check. Path? Check. Maelstrom Pulse? Check. Furthremore, what would you say the most powerful control cards in the format are? Is Wall of Denial on your list? Because if not, it should be, and regardless of whether or not people will agree with me that WoD is a "control card," it most certainly is. It is, in fact, a prominent control card, central to a deck's strategy. Last season, Plumeveil filled a similar function, but didn't even come close in the wall's level of importance. In short, mucking up the battlefield before laying down a flier is the control strategy in the Standard season of late 2009. There are other options, sure, but how long can you cascade into Spreading Seas and still say to yourself, yeah, Blue rules? Not long, I don't think.
But to tie this in to my previous statements about casual vs competitive magic... Well, people who are playing Standard seem to be strictly divided in two camps: nice casual players, and competitive jerks. In a bizarre twist of fate, though, these two player camps are using the same strategy, and it revolves almost entirely around tables covered in dudes. Just think what life would be like if they hadn't printed Day of Judgement...
So, with my rant aside, I've been getting more and more into Extended. There is an entirely new level of complexity to explore, more options and outs available, and more explosive games that rely on your ability to build and drive.
All I have to do now is convince my wife that it's fun...
So, despite my spotty record in the year I've been playing competitive MTG, I still can''t consider myself much of a casual player. I don't really enjoy playing EDH more than once every six months or so (although I do love to watch the games - especially if Pete and Luciano are playing. SHOUTOUT GUYS!). I find Planechase to be especially unlikeable, as each player's turn is excrutiatingly long, leaving me to watch in bordeome as everyone shouts and grabs at cards and stacks enough triggers to make me roll my eyes. At the opposite end of the spectrum, I also don't enjoy playing the inevitable 60-card formatless decks that people will always have - but for opposite reasons. Since these decks are normally carried around and piloted by people new to the game, or just getting back into it, I try to suffer through the matchups with whatever I have on me, sticking around after to offer whatever advice or new card primers I can - and while the latter part is always a good experience, I do not find the games themselve to be enjoyable. Sadly, it's as if I can't shake that need for competition and winning. Sure, casual games can test your knowledge, memory, and ability to juggle various triggers (especially true for EDH), but the thrill is just not there for me.
The best part about any casual format, something I hope most of you would agree with, is that casual players are just awesome people. EDH players always want to show you their insane combos and win conditions. New players always want to share interesting deck lists and ideas, and still have that New Player Smell® of someone who's just having a good time. Old players starting up again have cool stories about their experiences with older sets, and share my appreciation of the sort-of return to basics (or at least flavor) that M10 brought. On the flip-side, players like myself who prefer slugging out out 1v1 matches full of tricks and mind-games tend to be enormous assholes. I've heard enough sarcastic iterations of "nice deck" or "nice draw," or even straight-up aggression and resentment to losing to know that the only real joy to be had at a PTQ or higher is winning. I'm ok with that, sure, but no matter how thick-skinned I am, I still wish I could be playing these intensely competitive games with these intensely friendly people - something that only really happens when we can organize a good 8-man cube draft.
The point I'm trying to make, in a very round-about way, is that Standard right now is just not my favorite format. There are interesting ways to win, interesting cards, and there's definitely been a gauntlet thrown down by Jund (who doesn't love a challenge?) - but I can't seem to get into a format where you just do this:
1) Grab four Baneslayers
2) Add 46 support cards
3) Bash
Not to say there's no complexity or room for maneuvering, but it definitely says something when both the Channelfireball crew and Japanese national team's sickest take on the format is to run a stock Jund list with more gas. These problems were really becoming obvious to me this weekend, as Brenna took to our kitchen table with a white-weenie deck that packed only eight mana-producing lands. It was fast, scary, and cute - but by using this modified strategy...
1) Grab four Baneslayers
2) Add 46 support cards (board sweepers, stallers, mana rampers, and big dudes)
3) Survive six turns until she runs out of gas
4) Deal fifty damage in a few big swings
it was not too difficult. There are other options in the current meta, too, but they seem to fall back on similar strategies. That is, if you play Rhox War Monk, isn't he doing the same thing as Baneslayer? He's a big dude with lifelink, meant to establish board presence and lower your opponent's life total while upping yours. Throw this thinking in with a staggering glut of spot-removal, mostly irrelevant card-draw, and you've got yourself a format that's defined by creatured-driven attrition wars. Do you have a bigger dude than me? Do you have spot removal? Cool, let's sideboard.
What you'll notice in my modified strategy is no real mention of what the support cards are, which I assure you, is irrelevant and predictable. In fact, you could probably build the deck I was running with only that information, and knowledge of my colors (GWb). Lotus Cobra? Check. Knight of the Reliquary? Check. Path? Check. Maelstrom Pulse? Check. Furthremore, what would you say the most powerful control cards in the format are? Is Wall of Denial on your list? Because if not, it should be, and regardless of whether or not people will agree with me that WoD is a "control card," it most certainly is. It is, in fact, a prominent control card, central to a deck's strategy. Last season, Plumeveil filled a similar function, but didn't even come close in the wall's level of importance. In short, mucking up the battlefield before laying down a flier is the control strategy in the Standard season of late 2009. There are other options, sure, but how long can you cascade into Spreading Seas and still say to yourself, yeah, Blue rules? Not long, I don't think.
But to tie this in to my previous statements about casual vs competitive magic... Well, people who are playing Standard seem to be strictly divided in two camps: nice casual players, and competitive jerks. In a bizarre twist of fate, though, these two player camps are using the same strategy, and it revolves almost entirely around tables covered in dudes. Just think what life would be like if they hadn't printed Day of Judgement...
So, with my rant aside, I've been getting more and more into Extended. There is an entirely new level of complexity to explore, more options and outs available, and more explosive games that rely on your ability to build and drive.
All I have to do now is convince my wife that it's fun...
Monday, November 16, 2009
GP Minneapolis, BAD DECKS GO
-Greg
Bryan, Luciano, Pete, and I piled into the car this weekend and made the 7-hour trip to Minneapolis for the Grand Prix. Our two days there were, for the most part, uneventful. Bryan finished day one with an impressive record of 7-1, but couldn't quite get there in the day 2 drafts. I went in with no byes, and had to admit to myself somewhere around round six that I couldn't play well enough to ride my mediocre pool to victory. In hindsight, I realize I made some errors in my final build, so at any rate, I paid forty bucks for a lesson in limited craftsmanship and a Chrome Mox. Fair enough.
For the first time in all the events I've played with my go-to "suck it, nerd" playmat, I finally managed to offend someone. I'm not sure what he aimed to gain from telling the judge my mat was confrontational, but since the judge and I had seen each other at other events (and because he was a reasonable person with a sense of humor), I know what he didn't gain: anything.
So, since the only real advice I have for someone looking to succeed in sealed is "open a sick pool and destroy everything that stands in your way," I'll tell you about our next adventure: Friday Night Bad Magic.
The goal is this: Build a terrible deck. Go to FNM. Win. We brewed up a hilarious set of rules, caveats, and ideas, and are planning to take our awful decks to the Lich's Lair this Friday, after which I'll post here about our experience.
Bryan, Luciano, Pete, and I piled into the car this weekend and made the 7-hour trip to Minneapolis for the Grand Prix. Our two days there were, for the most part, uneventful. Bryan finished day one with an impressive record of 7-1, but couldn't quite get there in the day 2 drafts. I went in with no byes, and had to admit to myself somewhere around round six that I couldn't play well enough to ride my mediocre pool to victory. In hindsight, I realize I made some errors in my final build, so at any rate, I paid forty bucks for a lesson in limited craftsmanship and a Chrome Mox. Fair enough.
For the first time in all the events I've played with my go-to "suck it, nerd" playmat, I finally managed to offend someone. I'm not sure what he aimed to gain from telling the judge my mat was confrontational, but since the judge and I had seen each other at other events (and because he was a reasonable person with a sense of humor), I know what he didn't gain: anything.
So, since the only real advice I have for someone looking to succeed in sealed is "open a sick pool and destroy everything that stands in your way," I'll tell you about our next adventure: Friday Night Bad Magic.
The goal is this: Build a terrible deck. Go to FNM. Win. We brewed up a hilarious set of rules, caveats, and ideas, and are planning to take our awful decks to the Lich's Lair this Friday, after which I'll post here about our experience.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
OMG STANDARD DECKS YES
-Greg
I just logged into my Tweeter and noticed Evan Erwin had linked to a blog entry here about the Cat/Bird Deck, which has become quite infamous in our local group of players. I'm glad people seem to enjoy the story, and I hope it inspires everyone to help out new players - Brenna and I had such a fun time building and playing it, that it wasn't like it was charity. It was just awesome.
I just logged into my Tweeter and noticed Evan Erwin had linked to a blog entry here about the Cat/Bird Deck, which has become quite infamous in our local group of players. I'm glad people seem to enjoy the story, and I hope it inspires everyone to help out new players - Brenna and I had such a fun time building and playing it, that it wasn't like it was charity. It was just awesome.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Pastimes Halloween 1K
-Greg
The Pastimes Halloween 1K - The Subtle Art of Dreamcrushing Yourself
This past Saturday, Brenna and I sleeved up some new decks to hit up a 1K Standard tournament at Pastimes, in Chicago. A couple other guys we play with a lot were there, and I feel like between us, we had more than enough talent to put at least one of us in the top 8. Unlike most Pastimes events, this one was relatively small (meaning, less than 60 people), so while it was still a competitive REL event, it was much more laid back than other events we've attended there.
Anyway, here's the list I ran. Note I was short 3 Lotus Cobras, so I had to make due with a couple Stags and a Bird. The board was built with Boros Bushwacker, Jund (and by extension, the ubiquitous vampires decks), and random anti-Jund control decks in mind.
Lands
5 [UNH] Forest
4 [ZEN] Marsh Flats
3 [UNH] Plains
1 [M10] Sunpetal Grove
4 [M10] Terramorphic Expanse
4 [ZEN] Verdant Catacombs
2 [UNH] Swamp
Creatures
3 [CFX] Thornling
4 [M10] Baneslayer Angel
4 [CFX] Knight of the Reliquary
1 [ZEN] Lotus Cobra
4 [CFX] Noble Hierarch
4 [ARB] Putrid Leech
2 [ALA] Elspeth, Knight-Errant
2 [LRW] Garruk Wildspeaker
2 [M10] Great Sable Stag
1 [M10] Birds of Paradise
Spells
3 [ARB] Behemoth Sledge
4 [ARB] Maelstrom Pulse
3 [CFX] Path to Exile
Sideboard
SB: 1 [CFX] Path to Exile
SB: 3 [M10] Duress
SB: 4 [ARB] Zealous Persecution
SB: 3 [CFX] Celestial Purge
SB: 1 [ZEN] Day of Judgment
SB: 3 [ALA] Tidehollow Sculler
Round 1 - Andrew with Vampires
I sat down across a guy who had no sleeves on his deck, and managed to notice a Blood Seeker while he was shuffling. Game 1 I dropped a Stable Stag on the second turn, followed soon after by a hammer and that was pretty much it. Game 2, he does a little better, but my dudes were just bigger and faster, and my removal was better. Funny thing is, this guy's unsleeved deck had had several expensive cards in it- including a foil Bloodwitch and a foil Nocturnus. Sleeves cost $6. If just ONE of your cards is worth more than that (Nocturnus - $30, Bloodwitch - $6, etc, etc), then why in the hell aren't you using sleeves?
1-0
Round 2 - Jesus with Mono-Green Elves (yes, this really is a good deck)
This round I sat down across from a guy who gave me a ridiculous beating the last time we played. His play is tight, and his decks are always crazy tech that I've never seen before, so I was definitely worried. In a freak bit of luck, my opponent had been given a game loss in round 1 due to a deck reg error, so we started off on game two. He took the lead pretty quickly, with various mana rampers into a Garrku and Eldrazi Monument, and I had literally no outs. Game 3, I sandbagged a Pulse for a long time, resisiting the urge to take out all his Beast tokens. I finally manage to stick a Baneslayer to hold off his attackers, stick a hammer on it, and pass the turn. He plays like thirty more dudes, drops the monument, and Eldrazi gives him an indestructible wall of flying beasts and Elves. I untap, Pulse the Monument, and swing for lethal.
2-0
Round 3- Matt Jensen with Dredge (yes, this really is a real Standard deck)
This round I play against one of the funnier dudes in the room, who happens to have good taste in hats. I watched him play a little earlier, and I knew he was playing some bizarre mill-yourself-unearth homebrew. Game one was pretty terrible. I kept a slow hand, he milled a bunch of dudes, got an active Crypt, and unearthed for like 18. Awesome, good game dude. I board in all my RFG stuff, and keep a much faster hand. I ramp into double Thornling and we go to game three. It was pretty much the same, though, as he has trouble getting Crypts online before I can lay the beats. Hierarch was a total all-star this game, dropping him to five points - low enough that I can end things in only a couple of Thornling swings. Thornling fucking rules.
3-0
Round 4 - Nick with Boros Bushwacker
These games were just embarassing. I can't get a fast hand, can't fix my mana, and he plays around the Zealous Persecution I was bagging to wipe the board.
3-1
Round 5 - Bryan with 4-Color Cascade
Lucky me, I get paired up with a friend in round five. We discuss ID'ing, but after we run some numbers, we realize that with a draw, it's possible for both of us to be out of to-8 contention. Both decks seemed evenly matched against the other top-8 chumps, so we play it out. Game 1, I mull to six, and after Blightning, I just fold up and die. Next game was a little better for me, as I stick an early Lotus Cobra and ramp into Thornling with enough mana to make him move. Game 3 was really similar to game 3. I keep a slow but powerful hand, and stick a Baneslayer on turn 4. We go back and forth, and I'm really overextending to keep up with his card advantage. My draws are good, though, and I manage to keep his board mostly clear until we get to this situation:
Bryan's at 10, I'm at 40. I have two Baneslayers, he has one Baneslayer and a Wurm. I have three cards in hand, and if he draws dead I can push through for lethal in a couple turns, even with his Baneslayer lifegain. My board position is almost completely unbeatable. I tap GGB, and Pulse his Baneslayer. Bryan looks at me, then makes a gun shape with his hand and shoots all three angels, "Pew, pew, pew." Oops.
So yeah, literally gave Bryan the game because I am completely incapable of playing Magic. Anyway, I guess if you're going to totally fuck up, you might as well do it at a time in which you give your buddy a shot at some prize money.
3-2
Anyway, at this point there was about a 2% chance that I can manage to finish in the top 8, but it involves a complicated and improbable series of up-and-down-pairings, crushed dreams, and Halloween magic. Luci and Bryan are both win-and-in, so I decide to play the round. Even if I'm not able to eek my way in, I can at least dream-crush some other slob.
Round 6 - Chris with RUW Control
I hadn't eaten much by this point, and was a little on tilt about the last game, so I obviously wasn't in the best mood. I felt a little bad about my mood, though, because Chris seemed like a pretty nice guy. I'm obviously in complete moron mood still when I try to pulse a Capsule when he had mana open. He just sac'd it in response, and I just had to laugh at my own stupidity. I take a second and get my head together, because I was definitely not losing this round. Stag hits the board, and work around his control long enough to stick a Baneslayer to hold off his unkillable Sphinx of Jwar Isle. He scoops it up, and I board in my Sculler/Duress package. Game two, I took four damage from fetch lands and ramped into the win. Thanks, Thornling.
4-2
Ninth place. Awesome. Bryan ended up in the top 8, but Luci's vampire opponent forced the draw to put herself in, and Luci out.
Overall, I have to say this deck is one of the strongest Standard decks I've played in a long, long time. It's fast, it's packed with threats, and the board is flexible enough to give you an answer to almost any deck you might face. Vampires is practically a bye for it, and Jund is nearly as easy. Dedicated control is a bit of an issue, but speed of the mana-ramping, the disruption board, and the flexibility of the threats can really put you in the clear if you're on top of your game. Luckily, most control decks now are hybridized anti-jund builds, and this deck totally eats them alive. The biggest problem is Boros Bushwacker - it's just so fast! The Zealous Persecutions are great in this matchup, but if your opponents are leaving fetchlands open then you are seriously screwed. Your two biggest threats, Baneslayer and Thornling, are going to practically give you this game if you can live that long. Good luck with that one.
As for changes I would make, I did have some small issues with the land. 23 feels like just the right amount, leaving me mana/color screwed in only one game all day. But I did have several instances where I had literally no basic land left to grab from fetches or paths, and was often wishing I had a second Sunpetal Grove to grab with Knight of Reliquary. Figuring out what to cut is hard, though, because everything is balanced out really well. Terramorphic is the easy pick, but the damn thing is surprisingly good, working with the fetches to give you access to almost any combination of early turn plays. Here's how I would run the lands now (but I'm still not sure if the second Sunpetal is better than a full set of Terramorphics):
5 [UNH] Forest
3 [ZEN] Marsh Flats
4 [UNH] Plains
2 [M10] Sunpetal Grove
3 [M10] Terramorphic Expanse
4 [ZEN] Verdant Catacombs
2 [UNH] Swamp
As for the main - I loved it. Sable Stag was an incredible main deck card all day, so even though I threw them in last-minute, I can't imagine cutting them to put Cobras back in. Cobra is really good, though, much better than I expected, so that Bird needs to be replaced with a snake ASAP. But what do you cut to make room? Wel... Nothing. As it is, I feel like running four Cobras forces the deck to run like a deck based around Cobras. That probably doesn't make sense, but I only wanted to go all-in on a Cobra about half the time - so running two Cobras makes sense to me. If you wanted to run this list, and needed all four snakes, then the obvious cut is the Stags - but it might be prudent to drop a Pulse and possibly a Knight. Right now Stag is just that good. Vampires can't kill it, Jund pretty much has to bolt it, and control decks built to hose Jund will have to waste valuable Paths to keep him at bay. Then again, if the meta starts to fill up with Boros or this new green elves thing, then they'll need to go back to the board.
The fourth Pulse could easily be a Path, but I'm still undecided. I love the hammers. They are completely broken, and easily give you games you don't deserve by basically turning your tokens or early drops into mini-Baneslayers.
Anyway, enough rambling. This is what I'd run if I were doing another tourney tomorrow:
Creatures
3 [CFX] Thornling
4 [M10] Baneslayer Angel
4 [CFX] Knight of the Reliquary
2 [ZEN] Lotus Cobra
4 [CFX] Noble Hierarch
4 [ARB] Putrid Leech
2 [ALA] Elspeth, Knight-Errant
2 [LRW] Garruk Wildspeaker
2 [M10] Great Sable Stag
Spells
3 [ARB] Behemoth Sledge
4 [ARB] Maelstrom Pulse
3 [CFX] Path to Exile
The Pastimes Halloween 1K - The Subtle Art of Dreamcrushing Yourself
This past Saturday, Brenna and I sleeved up some new decks to hit up a 1K Standard tournament at Pastimes, in Chicago. A couple other guys we play with a lot were there, and I feel like between us, we had more than enough talent to put at least one of us in the top 8. Unlike most Pastimes events, this one was relatively small (meaning, less than 60 people), so while it was still a competitive REL event, it was much more laid back than other events we've attended there.
Anyway, here's the list I ran. Note I was short 3 Lotus Cobras, so I had to make due with a couple Stags and a Bird. The board was built with Boros Bushwacker, Jund (and by extension, the ubiquitous vampires decks), and random anti-Jund control decks in mind.
Lands
5 [UNH] Forest
4 [ZEN] Marsh Flats
3 [UNH] Plains
1 [M10] Sunpetal Grove
4 [M10] Terramorphic Expanse
4 [ZEN] Verdant Catacombs
2 [UNH] Swamp
Creatures
3 [CFX] Thornling
4 [M10] Baneslayer Angel
4 [CFX] Knight of the Reliquary
1 [ZEN] Lotus Cobra
4 [CFX] Noble Hierarch
4 [ARB] Putrid Leech
2 [ALA] Elspeth, Knight-Errant
2 [LRW] Garruk Wildspeaker
2 [M10] Great Sable Stag
1 [M10] Birds of Paradise
Spells
3 [ARB] Behemoth Sledge
4 [ARB] Maelstrom Pulse
3 [CFX] Path to Exile
Sideboard
SB: 1 [CFX] Path to Exile
SB: 3 [M10] Duress
SB: 4 [ARB] Zealous Persecution
SB: 3 [CFX] Celestial Purge
SB: 1 [ZEN] Day of Judgment
SB: 3 [ALA] Tidehollow Sculler
Round 1 - Andrew with Vampires
I sat down across a guy who had no sleeves on his deck, and managed to notice a Blood Seeker while he was shuffling. Game 1 I dropped a Stable Stag on the second turn, followed soon after by a hammer and that was pretty much it. Game 2, he does a little better, but my dudes were just bigger and faster, and my removal was better. Funny thing is, this guy's unsleeved deck had had several expensive cards in it- including a foil Bloodwitch and a foil Nocturnus. Sleeves cost $6. If just ONE of your cards is worth more than that (Nocturnus - $30, Bloodwitch - $6, etc, etc), then why in the hell aren't you using sleeves?
1-0
Round 2 - Jesus with Mono-Green Elves (yes, this really is a good deck)
This round I sat down across from a guy who gave me a ridiculous beating the last time we played. His play is tight, and his decks are always crazy tech that I've never seen before, so I was definitely worried. In a freak bit of luck, my opponent had been given a game loss in round 1 due to a deck reg error, so we started off on game two. He took the lead pretty quickly, with various mana rampers into a Garrku and Eldrazi Monument, and I had literally no outs. Game 3, I sandbagged a Pulse for a long time, resisiting the urge to take out all his Beast tokens. I finally manage to stick a Baneslayer to hold off his attackers, stick a hammer on it, and pass the turn. He plays like thirty more dudes, drops the monument, and Eldrazi gives him an indestructible wall of flying beasts and Elves. I untap, Pulse the Monument, and swing for lethal.
2-0
Round 3- Matt Jensen with Dredge (yes, this really is a real Standard deck)
This round I play against one of the funnier dudes in the room, who happens to have good taste in hats. I watched him play a little earlier, and I knew he was playing some bizarre mill-yourself-unearth homebrew. Game one was pretty terrible. I kept a slow hand, he milled a bunch of dudes, got an active Crypt, and unearthed for like 18. Awesome, good game dude. I board in all my RFG stuff, and keep a much faster hand. I ramp into double Thornling and we go to game three. It was pretty much the same, though, as he has trouble getting Crypts online before I can lay the beats. Hierarch was a total all-star this game, dropping him to five points - low enough that I can end things in only a couple of Thornling swings. Thornling fucking rules.
3-0
Round 4 - Nick with Boros Bushwacker
These games were just embarassing. I can't get a fast hand, can't fix my mana, and he plays around the Zealous Persecution I was bagging to wipe the board.
3-1
Round 5 - Bryan with 4-Color Cascade
Lucky me, I get paired up with a friend in round five. We discuss ID'ing, but after we run some numbers, we realize that with a draw, it's possible for both of us to be out of to-8 contention. Both decks seemed evenly matched against the other top-8 chumps, so we play it out. Game 1, I mull to six, and after Blightning, I just fold up and die. Next game was a little better for me, as I stick an early Lotus Cobra and ramp into Thornling with enough mana to make him move. Game 3 was really similar to game 3. I keep a slow but powerful hand, and stick a Baneslayer on turn 4. We go back and forth, and I'm really overextending to keep up with his card advantage. My draws are good, though, and I manage to keep his board mostly clear until we get to this situation:
Bryan's at 10, I'm at 40. I have two Baneslayers, he has one Baneslayer and a Wurm. I have three cards in hand, and if he draws dead I can push through for lethal in a couple turns, even with his Baneslayer lifegain. My board position is almost completely unbeatable. I tap GGB, and Pulse his Baneslayer. Bryan looks at me, then makes a gun shape with his hand and shoots all three angels, "Pew, pew, pew." Oops.
So yeah, literally gave Bryan the game because I am completely incapable of playing Magic. Anyway, I guess if you're going to totally fuck up, you might as well do it at a time in which you give your buddy a shot at some prize money.
3-2
Anyway, at this point there was about a 2% chance that I can manage to finish in the top 8, but it involves a complicated and improbable series of up-and-down-pairings, crushed dreams, and Halloween magic. Luci and Bryan are both win-and-in, so I decide to play the round. Even if I'm not able to eek my way in, I can at least dream-crush some other slob.
Round 6 - Chris with RUW Control
I hadn't eaten much by this point, and was a little on tilt about the last game, so I obviously wasn't in the best mood. I felt a little bad about my mood, though, because Chris seemed like a pretty nice guy. I'm obviously in complete moron mood still when I try to pulse a Capsule when he had mana open. He just sac'd it in response, and I just had to laugh at my own stupidity. I take a second and get my head together, because I was definitely not losing this round. Stag hits the board, and work around his control long enough to stick a Baneslayer to hold off his unkillable Sphinx of Jwar Isle. He scoops it up, and I board in my Sculler/Duress package. Game two, I took four damage from fetch lands and ramped into the win. Thanks, Thornling.
4-2
Ninth place. Awesome. Bryan ended up in the top 8, but Luci's vampire opponent forced the draw to put herself in, and Luci out.
Overall, I have to say this deck is one of the strongest Standard decks I've played in a long, long time. It's fast, it's packed with threats, and the board is flexible enough to give you an answer to almost any deck you might face. Vampires is practically a bye for it, and Jund is nearly as easy. Dedicated control is a bit of an issue, but speed of the mana-ramping, the disruption board, and the flexibility of the threats can really put you in the clear if you're on top of your game. Luckily, most control decks now are hybridized anti-jund builds, and this deck totally eats them alive. The biggest problem is Boros Bushwacker - it's just so fast! The Zealous Persecutions are great in this matchup, but if your opponents are leaving fetchlands open then you are seriously screwed. Your two biggest threats, Baneslayer and Thornling, are going to practically give you this game if you can live that long. Good luck with that one.
As for changes I would make, I did have some small issues with the land. 23 feels like just the right amount, leaving me mana/color screwed in only one game all day. But I did have several instances where I had literally no basic land left to grab from fetches or paths, and was often wishing I had a second Sunpetal Grove to grab with Knight of Reliquary. Figuring out what to cut is hard, though, because everything is balanced out really well. Terramorphic is the easy pick, but the damn thing is surprisingly good, working with the fetches to give you access to almost any combination of early turn plays. Here's how I would run the lands now (but I'm still not sure if the second Sunpetal is better than a full set of Terramorphics):
5 [UNH] Forest
3 [ZEN] Marsh Flats
4 [UNH] Plains
2 [M10] Sunpetal Grove
3 [M10] Terramorphic Expanse
4 [ZEN] Verdant Catacombs
2 [UNH] Swamp
As for the main - I loved it. Sable Stag was an incredible main deck card all day, so even though I threw them in last-minute, I can't imagine cutting them to put Cobras back in. Cobra is really good, though, much better than I expected, so that Bird needs to be replaced with a snake ASAP. But what do you cut to make room? Wel... Nothing. As it is, I feel like running four Cobras forces the deck to run like a deck based around Cobras. That probably doesn't make sense, but I only wanted to go all-in on a Cobra about half the time - so running two Cobras makes sense to me. If you wanted to run this list, and needed all four snakes, then the obvious cut is the Stags - but it might be prudent to drop a Pulse and possibly a Knight. Right now Stag is just that good. Vampires can't kill it, Jund pretty much has to bolt it, and control decks built to hose Jund will have to waste valuable Paths to keep him at bay. Then again, if the meta starts to fill up with Boros or this new green elves thing, then they'll need to go back to the board.
The fourth Pulse could easily be a Path, but I'm still undecided. I love the hammers. They are completely broken, and easily give you games you don't deserve by basically turning your tokens or early drops into mini-Baneslayers.
Anyway, enough rambling. This is what I'd run if I were doing another tourney tomorrow:
Creatures
3 [CFX] Thornling
4 [M10] Baneslayer Angel
4 [CFX] Knight of the Reliquary
2 [ZEN] Lotus Cobra
4 [CFX] Noble Hierarch
4 [ARB] Putrid Leech
2 [ALA] Elspeth, Knight-Errant
2 [LRW] Garruk Wildspeaker
2 [M10] Great Sable Stag
Spells
3 [ARB] Behemoth Sledge
4 [ARB] Maelstrom Pulse
3 [CFX] Path to Exile
Sunday, October 11, 2009
So there's this young kid, like 11 or 12, who goes to our usual card shop all the time. He shows up two hours early, is there every night cards are played, and unlike most kids his age, is polite, courteous, and generally really likable. He loves cats, and is always showing us pictures of them on his phone. He also loves theme decks, even going so far as to try and scrape together commons and uncommons to make a Kor deck, which seemed bizarre. Of course, these two loves overlap, so this guy's always talking about making a cat/bird deck, which we think is hilarious. Anyway, because this idea is so awesome and funny, and because we love homebrewed and janky decks, Brenna and I built him a cat/bird theme deck that's standard legal - and it's been holding its own against all our other decks. We're going to take it to him tonight, and I hope he likes it. I can't wait to lose to this ridiculous thing at FNM. Here's the list:
2 armillary sphere
2 sylvan bounty
2 overrun
4 khanli heart expedition
2 behemoth sledge
4 journey to nowhere
2 marisi's twinclaws
2 welkin guide
3 aven squire
3 wild leotau
3 scythe tiger
4 steppe lynx
4 wild nacatl
4 naya panorama
2 jungle shrine
2 mountain
8 plains
8 forest
Total value, including basic lands, is $12. Awesome.
UPDATE: This kid totally beat Pete's fully loaded Jund deck at FNM to face me in the finals. I was so happy to see that cat/bird deck that I split with him to put him in third place*.
*He had to be paired up, as I was the only 3-0 going into round 4, and the only 2-1's were people I'd already played.
2 armillary sphere
2 sylvan bounty
2 overrun
4 khanli heart expedition
2 behemoth sledge
4 journey to nowhere
2 marisi's twinclaws
2 welkin guide
3 aven squire
3 wild leotau
3 scythe tiger
4 steppe lynx
4 wild nacatl
4 naya panorama
2 jungle shrine
2 mountain
8 plains
8 forest
Total value, including basic lands, is $12. Awesome.
UPDATE: This kid totally beat Pete's fully loaded Jund deck at FNM to face me in the finals. I was so happy to see that cat/bird deck that I split with him to put him in third place*.
*He had to be paired up, as I was the only 3-0 going into round 4, and the only 2-1's were people I'd already played.
Monday, October 5, 2009
// Lands
4 [UNH] Forest
8 [UNH] Island
4 [ALA] Seaside Citadel
4 [ZEN] Misty Rainforest
2 [ZEN] Magosi, the Waterveil
2 [M10] Glacial Fortress
// Creatures
3 [ZEN] Scute Mob
4 [ARB] Lorescale Coatl
// Spells
3 [MOR] Negate
3 [M10] Garruk Wildspeaker
3 [M10] Jace Beleren
4 [ZEN] Spell Pierce
2 [M10] Essence Scatter
2 [ZEN] Mindbreak Trap
4 [M10] Time Warp
4 [M10] Ponder
4 [CFX] Path to Exile
// Sideboard
SB: 4 [M10] Pithing Needle
SB: 4 [ZEN] Day of Judgment
SB: 4 [ZEN] Cosi's Trickster
SB: 3 [M10] Sleep
The point is pretty simple: counter spells, draw cards, remove threats, play some Scute Mobs and Coatls, take some extra turns, and bash for 20.
I started out trying to play just G/U, but blue in standard is weak enough now that it really needed a splash to make it work. White was a pretty easy choice, as it gave me access to two cards the deck really needed: Day of Judgment and Path to Exile. I considered black as a splash, but the better black cards really want you to have a lot of swamps, which wasn't a concession I wanted to make.
Like I said before, blue has been significantly weakened in Standard since we lost Cryptic Command and Broken Ambitions, so the control suite is a reflection of the sub-par permission spells available. Running Negates and Scatters is dicey, sure, but Spell Pierce has been an incredible card for me in testing. It helps keep red's burn spells and white's token/pump spells at bay, and blows out control match-ups where counter battles are critical. Mindbreak Trap is pretty cool, but four mana to counter a spell (even an uncounterable spell) is a steep price. Two feels like the right number, but two more in the board can't hurt. I haven't nailed a three-spell cascade yet, but after abusing cascade last PTQ season, I have certainly cast enough to know that they happen frequently enough to want some protection.
Jace is still the best card-draw available, but isn't enough alone - hence the full set of Ponder. It's nice to help craft better hands, and a ratio of 1 mana: 1 card is better than you get out of Jace a lot of the time. Don't argue against this; you know people play Maelstrom Pulse.
Time Warp could probably be cut to three, since it's so awful to see two in your opening seven. But taking extra turns with Mobs, Coatls, and planeswalkers on the board is so pro I hesitate to run less than the full set. Magosi is pretty interesting, too. I don't know if you guys have messed with it much, but skipping a turn with a Silence or relevant counters in hand is really a breeze... Not that there are any Silences in the deck, although I haven't ruled it out.
The sideboard isn't really a sideboard, more of short-list of cards I wish I could squeeze into the main. Needles seem extremely relevant with the new Zendikar cards, and DoJ is pretty important against creature-heavy decks that want to outpace you. Sleep isn't totally necessary with all the Warps. Trickster is situational enough to be almost useless, although I have had opponents choose not to search for a land when he's on the board, and fetch-lands can make him pretty huge. On the whole, Coatl is just, you know, better, so the best I can offer Kosi is a sb slot.
Anyway, more testing is the next step. Wish me luck!
4 [UNH] Forest
8 [UNH] Island
4 [ALA] Seaside Citadel
4 [ZEN] Misty Rainforest
2 [ZEN] Magosi, the Waterveil
2 [M10] Glacial Fortress
// Creatures
3 [ZEN] Scute Mob
4 [ARB] Lorescale Coatl
// Spells
3 [MOR] Negate
3 [M10] Garruk Wildspeaker
3 [M10] Jace Beleren
4 [ZEN] Spell Pierce
2 [M10] Essence Scatter
2 [ZEN] Mindbreak Trap
4 [M10] Time Warp
4 [M10] Ponder
4 [CFX] Path to Exile
// Sideboard
SB: 4 [M10] Pithing Needle
SB: 4 [ZEN] Day of Judgment
SB: 4 [ZEN] Cosi's Trickster
SB: 3 [M10] Sleep
The point is pretty simple: counter spells, draw cards, remove threats, play some Scute Mobs and Coatls, take some extra turns, and bash for 20.
I started out trying to play just G/U, but blue in standard is weak enough now that it really needed a splash to make it work. White was a pretty easy choice, as it gave me access to two cards the deck really needed: Day of Judgment and Path to Exile. I considered black as a splash, but the better black cards really want you to have a lot of swamps, which wasn't a concession I wanted to make.
Like I said before, blue has been significantly weakened in Standard since we lost Cryptic Command and Broken Ambitions, so the control suite is a reflection of the sub-par permission spells available. Running Negates and Scatters is dicey, sure, but Spell Pierce has been an incredible card for me in testing. It helps keep red's burn spells and white's token/pump spells at bay, and blows out control match-ups where counter battles are critical. Mindbreak Trap is pretty cool, but four mana to counter a spell (even an uncounterable spell) is a steep price. Two feels like the right number, but two more in the board can't hurt. I haven't nailed a three-spell cascade yet, but after abusing cascade last PTQ season, I have certainly cast enough to know that they happen frequently enough to want some protection.
Jace is still the best card-draw available, but isn't enough alone - hence the full set of Ponder. It's nice to help craft better hands, and a ratio of 1 mana: 1 card is better than you get out of Jace a lot of the time. Don't argue against this; you know people play Maelstrom Pulse.
Time Warp could probably be cut to three, since it's so awful to see two in your opening seven. But taking extra turns with Mobs, Coatls, and planeswalkers on the board is so pro I hesitate to run less than the full set. Magosi is pretty interesting, too. I don't know if you guys have messed with it much, but skipping a turn with a Silence or relevant counters in hand is really a breeze... Not that there are any Silences in the deck, although I haven't ruled it out.
The sideboard isn't really a sideboard, more of short-list of cards I wish I could squeeze into the main. Needles seem extremely relevant with the new Zendikar cards, and DoJ is pretty important against creature-heavy decks that want to outpace you. Sleep isn't totally necessary with all the Warps. Trickster is situational enough to be almost useless, although I have had opponents choose not to search for a land when he's on the board, and fetch-lands can make him pretty huge. On the whole, Coatl is just, you know, better, so the best I can offer Kosi is a sb slot.
Anyway, more testing is the next step. Wish me luck!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
duuuuuuuuuuuuuude
-Greg
So, Gen Con PTQs, all told, would've cost us around $120 each. Per tournament.
So we bailed.
On the plus side, there are two more PTQs this season within driving distance of us: Detroit and Des Moines. We're not sure if we're going to either at this point, but we normally don't make up our minds until a few days before anyway.
Anyway, if you guys are in the area, Brenna and I will be going to FNM this weekend at the Lich's Lair in Lansing, IL. We'll also probably be doing an M10 sealed at our place Saturday, so if anyone wants in on it just message me. Good luck finding M10 packs!
So, anyway, about decks: I have no idea what to do in Standard right now. Control decks are huge right now, and so a deck should take advantage of the glacial speed of a deck full of Vivids. On the other side of the coin, this prevelance of control means a deck has to be able to beat the fast aggro decks that crop up to take advantage of the metagame. The major sweepers going around happen at three mana (red sweepers like Fallout and Jund Charm), or five or six (white sweepers like Austere Command and Hallowed Burial), so if has a lot of creatures, it has to be able to get past turn three without losing position, and either win by or be able to recover from a turn five reset. You should also try to minimize the scale to which the biggest kill spells affect you.
In short, a deck has to be fast, have a powerful mid and late game, and be extremely resilient to destructive and disruptive tactics - basically, a deck has to be able to do anything, and recover from anything. This deck doesn't exist.
But there is one that's close. Elf Combo is good. Forge-Tender helps with the early sweepers, while cheap, efficient elves and massive card draw help recover from total resets. Cruel Ultimatum is nothing to you, as you can pitch a cheap dork to it, and if in a good position, you should be able to shrug off the life and card disadvantage. Primal Command is an enormous pain for tap-lands, and with all the accel you can get it off on turn turn three or four on a regular basis. Against aggro, you have plent of your own dorks to chump block, and Primal Command can be used to gain gratuitous amounts of life. Speaking of gratuitious amounts of life, I've been adding Soul Warden lately. I gained 25 life in one turn earlier today using Primals and one Warden.
The most important part is a splash for one card: Banefire. Banefire will flat out give you games that you have no business of winning by keeping you from having to wait a turn to rush your million elves in. It also fights through Cryptic Commands by simply blowing your opponent out in the first main phase, because chances are, they'll sand-bag it to tap your team down. Running a single mountain main might not be the best idea, but it allows you to fetch your red source from an opposing Path to Exile, which frees up your Manamorphs to help you get through your deck more quickly.
Here's the list I'm rocking at FNM tomorrow:
// Deck file for Magic Workstation (http://www.magicworkstation.com)
// Lands
12 [IN] Forest (3)
3 [M10] Sunpetal Grove
2 [SHM] Wooded Bastion
1 [UNH] Mountain
// Creatures
4 [ALA] Elvish Visionary
4 [MOR] Heritage Druid
4 [R] Llanowar Elves
4 [EVE] Nettle Sentinel
4 [ALA] Ranger of Eos
4 [EVE] Regal Force
4 [M10] Elvish Archdruid
1 [LRW] Burrenton Forge-Tender
3 [SHM] Devoted Druid
1 [M10] Soul Warden
// Spells
1 [CFX] Banefire
4 [SHM] Manamorphose
4 [LRW] Primal Command
// Sideboard
SB: 3 [LRW] Burrenton Forge-Tender
SB: 4 [CFX] Path to Exile
SB: 3 [LRW] Cloudthresher
SB: 1 [M10] Naturalize
SB: 4 [SHM] Guttural Response
So, Gen Con PTQs, all told, would've cost us around $120 each. Per tournament.
So we bailed.
On the plus side, there are two more PTQs this season within driving distance of us: Detroit and Des Moines. We're not sure if we're going to either at this point, but we normally don't make up our minds until a few days before anyway.
Anyway, if you guys are in the area, Brenna and I will be going to FNM this weekend at the Lich's Lair in Lansing, IL. We'll also probably be doing an M10 sealed at our place Saturday, so if anyone wants in on it just message me. Good luck finding M10 packs!
So, anyway, about decks: I have no idea what to do in Standard right now. Control decks are huge right now, and so a deck should take advantage of the glacial speed of a deck full of Vivids. On the other side of the coin, this prevelance of control means a deck has to be able to beat the fast aggro decks that crop up to take advantage of the metagame. The major sweepers going around happen at three mana (red sweepers like Fallout and Jund Charm), or five or six (white sweepers like Austere Command and Hallowed Burial), so if has a lot of creatures, it has to be able to get past turn three without losing position, and either win by or be able to recover from a turn five reset. You should also try to minimize the scale to which the biggest kill spells affect you.
In short, a deck has to be fast, have a powerful mid and late game, and be extremely resilient to destructive and disruptive tactics - basically, a deck has to be able to do anything, and recover from anything. This deck doesn't exist.
But there is one that's close. Elf Combo is good. Forge-Tender helps with the early sweepers, while cheap, efficient elves and massive card draw help recover from total resets. Cruel Ultimatum is nothing to you, as you can pitch a cheap dork to it, and if in a good position, you should be able to shrug off the life and card disadvantage. Primal Command is an enormous pain for tap-lands, and with all the accel you can get it off on turn turn three or four on a regular basis. Against aggro, you have plent of your own dorks to chump block, and Primal Command can be used to gain gratuitous amounts of life. Speaking of gratuitious amounts of life, I've been adding Soul Warden lately. I gained 25 life in one turn earlier today using Primals and one Warden.
The most important part is a splash for one card: Banefire. Banefire will flat out give you games that you have no business of winning by keeping you from having to wait a turn to rush your million elves in. It also fights through Cryptic Commands by simply blowing your opponent out in the first main phase, because chances are, they'll sand-bag it to tap your team down. Running a single mountain main might not be the best idea, but it allows you to fetch your red source from an opposing Path to Exile, which frees up your Manamorphs to help you get through your deck more quickly.
Here's the list I'm rocking at FNM tomorrow:
// Deck file for Magic Workstation (http://www.magicworkstation.com)
// Lands
12 [IN] Forest (3)
3 [M10] Sunpetal Grove
2 [SHM] Wooded Bastion
1 [UNH] Mountain
// Creatures
4 [ALA] Elvish Visionary
4 [MOR] Heritage Druid
4 [R] Llanowar Elves
4 [EVE] Nettle Sentinel
4 [ALA] Ranger of Eos
4 [EVE] Regal Force
4 [M10] Elvish Archdruid
1 [LRW] Burrenton Forge-Tender
3 [SHM] Devoted Druid
1 [M10] Soul Warden
// Spells
1 [CFX] Banefire
4 [SHM] Manamorphose
4 [LRW] Primal Command
// Sideboard
SB: 3 [LRW] Burrenton Forge-Tender
SB: 4 [CFX] Path to Exile
SB: 3 [LRW] Cloudthresher
SB: 1 [M10] Naturalize
SB: 4 [SHM] Guttural Response
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
-Greg
Hey guys. Madison ended up being a total wash for me, and my record was completely abysmal. I got some bad draws, kept some sketchy hands, and basically paid through the nose for not being fast enough to keep up with any form of aggro. Brenna did well, going 4-3, and narrowly missing the 5-2 record she needed to finish in prizes. I'll not spoil what she was up to, as I'm hoping she'll write here about what was a really interesting day for her. BUT, the man of the hour was our buddy Matt Grandgeorge, who was debating a last-minute change to some junk deck, and instead took his Baneslayer/Cascade deck all the way to first place! Congrats, Matt.
I'll give a couple brief paragraphs in a minute about my matchups, but first I have to tell you guys this story about Magic Workstation...
There was a guy with a game open who requested you not use counters or bounce spells from shadowmoor, conflux, and some other new set. So, being a little bored of playing fair games against people who are sane, I joined. I grabbed the first deck I saw with no blue (a type 2 elf/banefire combo), and popped in.
The game was going fine for a few turns, and I had a throng of elves and a few lands on my fourth turn, to his bird of paradise and sword of fire and ice. I play primal command, choosing to bounce his equipment, and search for a guy. Here is the transcript of what happened after that.
bounce the sword, search creature
dog ears is looking its Library...
Did you read the game name?
dog ears shuffles library
dog ears stops looking its Library...
yeah, no counters
i don't have any counters :/
dog ears is looking its Library...
dog ears puts Elvish Archdruid into play from Library
dog ears shuffles library
dog ears stops looking its Library...
So you read the 2nd word and the 2nd to last word and somehow
missed all the rest?
dog ears puts Elvish Archdruid to Hand from Play
it said no shadowmoor, conflux counters or something
just a bunch of sets that you didn't like the counterspells from
it also said 'No Returns"
dude, you're playing one of the most broken pieces of
equipment of all time, and you're complaining about my primal command?
Either play the game you joined or forfeit
you forfeit!
I win
you don't
You joined my game
because i won
not the other way around
i refuse to concede
Then I suggest you choose another for Primal
if you refuse to follow the rules, then you lose automatically.
Actually, if you refuse to play the game you joined, you
automatically forfeit
Because you should have never joined in the first place
and i still say that i choose the modes of returning your
sword of fire and ice to your library's top, and i will search a
creature
so thanks for the win
yeah right
Learn to read
thank YOU for the win
because i am winning so hard
i was going to make a million elves
dog ears is now the controller of Sword of Fire and Ice
Sword of Fire and Ice's note changed: bounced
Kam is now the controller of Sword of Fire and Ice
dog ears is now the controller of Sword of Fire and Ice
dog ears puts a Sword of Fire and Ice on top of Library from Play
Kam puts Sword of Fire and Ice into play from Library
dog ears is now the controller of Sword of Fire and Ice
Kam is now the controller of Sword of Fire and Ice
dog ears is now the controller of Sword of Fire and Ice
Kam is now the controller of Sword of Fire and Ice
dog ears is now the controller of Sword of Fire and Ice
Kam is now the controller of Sword of Fire and Ice
dog ears puts a 0/1 Sore Loser token into play
Kam is now the controller of Sore Loser
dog ears is now the controller of Sore Loser
Kam is now the controller of Sore Loser
INCREDIBLE.
Anyway, the tournament:
Round 1 - 4C Bloodbraid
I totally dominated game 1, dropping creatures, countering spells, and bashing for the win in around 9 minutes. Game 2 was totally opposite, as I drew nothing relevant, and died to lots of hasty dorks. Game 3, I mulliganed to a SICK 6 card hand, and realized I had drawn seven cards. I call a judge immediately, who issues me a warning for improper mulligan, and has me go down to five. I get a one lander, and fight for surprisingly long time, but his card advantage just happened faster than mine. So, rather than losing to superior skill, I lose to my own inability to count to six, and am the only one on the team to lose round 1. Stellar.
Round 2 - Fucking Time Sieve.
Game 1 is mine again, hitting Larks for infinite Siege-Gang Commanders, and blow him out with multiple Austere Commands. Game 2 I tap out for massive board advantage, betting that he can't go off - and of course, he luck-sacks the top deck to hit me for exacties. Game 3, I walk right into a Safe Passge with lethal on the board, and lose in extension turn 4, with about 25 peole standing around us. The game was close, but his playing was just tighter than mine.
Round 3 - QUILLSPIKE COMBO
The only interesting thing to happen here was this: I punt massively by not countering Deathrender, which he uses to somehow put Progenitus on the board. I dig hard with Lark/Mulldrifter and Jace, finding two Cryptics to stall two turns, and do exactly twelve damage with Lark and an enormous Figure of Destiny to completely crush this extremely nice person's dreams.
Round 4 - RDW
These games were really boring, as his deck just couldn't get there. Runed Halos, Cryptic Commands, and Siege-Gangs are too much, and we wrap it up fast.
Round 4 - BR Aggro
This guy got total vengeance on his mono-colored counterpart, and it's over before I know it. The awful thing about magic is if your opponent gets the nuts and you don't, you're toast. I had to mulligan to five, got hit by a nasty Thought Hemorrhage for Cryptic Command (my only hope), and am forced to Halo for Hemmorhage it next turn. He smiles when I scoop, showing me two more in his hand. What an awful time.
Round 5 - Sulli Merfolk
He takes the beatdown role game one and two, taking game one with Wakethrasher + Sygg, River Guide, and I can't keep up. Next game, I lock him completely out and Banefire for the win with three life - just enough to not get Harm's Wayed to death. Game 3 I lose in some way that must have been stupid, because I didn't even write it down.
Round 6 - Soldiers
He takes me to two life two games in a row, and I lock him down and blow him out. It was pretty boring, actually. Sweep soldiers, play Larks, bounce Larks post-combat for Siege-Gangs and Anathemancers.
Round 7 - Soldiers
Two frustrating games of not drawing the right mana, and the tournament is over. Too many soldiers, not enough Austere Commands.
Hey guys. Madison ended up being a total wash for me, and my record was completely abysmal. I got some bad draws, kept some sketchy hands, and basically paid through the nose for not being fast enough to keep up with any form of aggro. Brenna did well, going 4-3, and narrowly missing the 5-2 record she needed to finish in prizes. I'll not spoil what she was up to, as I'm hoping she'll write here about what was a really interesting day for her. BUT, the man of the hour was our buddy Matt Grandgeorge, who was debating a last-minute change to some junk deck, and instead took his Baneslayer/Cascade deck all the way to first place! Congrats, Matt.
I'll give a couple brief paragraphs in a minute about my matchups, but first I have to tell you guys this story about Magic Workstation...
There was a guy with a game open who requested you not use counters or bounce spells from shadowmoor, conflux, and some other new set. So, being a little bored of playing fair games against people who are sane, I joined. I grabbed the first deck I saw with no blue (a type 2 elf/banefire combo), and popped in.
The game was going fine for a few turns, and I had a throng of elves and a few lands on my fourth turn, to his bird of paradise and sword of fire and ice. I play primal command, choosing to bounce his equipment, and search for a guy. Here is the transcript of what happened after that.
dog ears is looking its Library...
dog ears shuffles library
dog ears stops looking its Library...
dog ears is looking its Library...
dog ears puts Elvish Archdruid into play from Library
dog ears shuffles library
dog ears stops looking its Library...
missed all the rest?
dog ears puts Elvish Archdruid to Hand from Play
equipment of all time, and you're complaining about my primal command?
automatically forfeit
sword of fire and ice to your library's top, and i will search a
creature
dog ears is now the controller of Sword of Fire and Ice
Sword of Fire and Ice's note changed: bounced
Kam is now the controller of Sword of Fire and Ice
dog ears is now the controller of Sword of Fire and Ice
dog ears puts a Sword of Fire and Ice on top of Library from Play
Kam puts Sword of Fire and Ice into play from Library
dog ears is now the controller of Sword of Fire and Ice
Kam is now the controller of Sword of Fire and Ice
dog ears is now the controller of Sword of Fire and Ice
Kam is now the controller of Sword of Fire and Ice
dog ears is now the controller of Sword of Fire and Ice
Kam is now the controller of Sword of Fire and Ice
dog ears puts a 0/1 Sore Loser token into play
Kam is now the controller of Sore Loser
dog ears is now the controller of Sore Loser
Kam is now the controller of Sore Loser
INCREDIBLE.
Anyway, the tournament:
Round 1 - 4C Bloodbraid
I totally dominated game 1, dropping creatures, countering spells, and bashing for the win in around 9 minutes. Game 2 was totally opposite, as I drew nothing relevant, and died to lots of hasty dorks. Game 3, I mulliganed to a SICK 6 card hand, and realized I had drawn seven cards. I call a judge immediately, who issues me a warning for improper mulligan, and has me go down to five. I get a one lander, and fight for surprisingly long time, but his card advantage just happened faster than mine. So, rather than losing to superior skill, I lose to my own inability to count to six, and am the only one on the team to lose round 1. Stellar.
Round 2 - Fucking Time Sieve.
Game 1 is mine again, hitting Larks for infinite Siege-Gang Commanders, and blow him out with multiple Austere Commands. Game 2 I tap out for massive board advantage, betting that he can't go off - and of course, he luck-sacks the top deck to hit me for exacties. Game 3, I walk right into a Safe Passge with lethal on the board, and lose in extension turn 4, with about 25 peole standing around us. The game was close, but his playing was just tighter than mine.
Round 3 - QUILLSPIKE COMBO
The only interesting thing to happen here was this: I punt massively by not countering Deathrender, which he uses to somehow put Progenitus on the board. I dig hard with Lark/Mulldrifter and Jace, finding two Cryptics to stall two turns, and do exactly twelve damage with Lark and an enormous Figure of Destiny to completely crush this extremely nice person's dreams.
Round 4 - RDW
These games were really boring, as his deck just couldn't get there. Runed Halos, Cryptic Commands, and Siege-Gangs are too much, and we wrap it up fast.
Round 4 - BR Aggro
This guy got total vengeance on his mono-colored counterpart, and it's over before I know it. The awful thing about magic is if your opponent gets the nuts and you don't, you're toast. I had to mulligan to five, got hit by a nasty Thought Hemorrhage for Cryptic Command (my only hope), and am forced to Halo for Hemmorhage it next turn. He smiles when I scoop, showing me two more in his hand. What an awful time.
Round 5 - Sulli Merfolk
He takes the beatdown role game one and two, taking game one with Wakethrasher + Sygg, River Guide, and I can't keep up. Next game, I lock him completely out and Banefire for the win with three life - just enough to not get Harm's Wayed to death. Game 3 I lose in some way that must have been stupid, because I didn't even write it down.
Round 6 - Soldiers
He takes me to two life two games in a row, and I lock him down and blow him out. It was pretty boring, actually. Sweep soldiers, play Larks, bounce Larks post-combat for Siege-Gangs and Anathemancers.
Round 7 - Soldiers
Two frustrating games of not drawing the right mana, and the tournament is over. Too many soldiers, not enough Austere Commands.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Reveillark Revolution
-Greg
Here's what I've been working on lately, and what I'll be rocking at the Madison PTQ this Saturday. It still needs some minor tweaking, but I am confident in the direction it's headed.
Lands
3 Island
4 Vivid Crag
2 Vivid Meadow
1 Mountain
1 Plains
4 Reflecting Pool
4 Vivid Creek
4 Mystic Gate
3 Cascade Bluffs
Guys
3 Reveillark
4 Mulldrifter
4 Figure of Destiny
3 Ajani Vengeant
2 Siege-Gang Commander
4 Anathemancer
Spells
4 Cryptic Command
2 Hindering Light
2 Austere Command
3 Volcanic Fallout
3 Path to Exile
Sideboard (not sure on this yet- you'll notice I have too many cards...)
SB: 1 Austere Command
SB: 1 Volcanic Fallout
SB: 4 Lightning Bolt
SB: 4 Negate
SB: 2 Double Negative
SB: 1 Banefire
SB: 2 Jace Beleren
SB: 2 Sower of Temptation
SB: 2 Runed Halo
The Mana
The mana base is pretty much what you'd expect from a three-colored 'Lark build - heavy on Vivids, filters, and just enough basics to get by. This is a huge liability, however, as any deck rocking their own Anathemancers (or even worse, 'Mancers and Makeshift Mannequins) is going to potentially take you to the cleaners very quickly. One blowout I can already foresee is your opponent nailing your lark with a Puppeteer Clique, swinging for four with haste, and exiling it in the end step for two of their own Anthemancers - but I digress. One way around this would be to play more basics - obviously - but I'm not sure if that's a viable option. Although it's a no-brainer for U/W Lark to utilize Border Posts, I can't see cutting four cards to add Knight of the White Orchid for acceleration. I'm also tempted by the idea of running more basics in addition to Terramorphic Expanse, but that really hinders your ability to come up with the right color combinations. It also hurts you because you just need a lot of lands on-board if you want to get there. Evoking 'Lark is great, but you need mana open for the counter wars you're going to have. As of right now, I'm just going to play around this - I'm getting pretty good at all-out Anathemancer wars against 5CC and Jund.
The Dudes
In my testing this past few weeks, I've found Glen Elendra to be an especially disappointing card, eschewing to run more 2 cc counters instead. By the time she's on the board, you've already dropped four mana, and will need two more to get full use of her. At an average of 3 mana per spell, you might as well be running Cancel. I know, I know, it's about setting your next turns up, she recurs with 'Lark - but I'm just not buying into the effectiveness or efficiency of the card, and I'm always wishing she was a Commander or Anathemancer when the time comes.
Figure and Mulldrifter were easy four-ofs, and I couldn't imagine running this deck without them. Three Reveillarks also seem to be sufficient in this build, but I won't dismiss the idea of running four.
Sower of Temptation has been mostly underwhelming, too, because of the proliferance of control and weenie decks in the meta. Sowering a Spirit Token is a total waste, and hitting a Broodmate, Chameleon Colossus, or any other fattie in Jund is going to get you an EOT Fallout or Lightning Bolt. This card might still be useful in the board, however, if you come up against some crazy build that relies on ramping into enormous beats - but there really aren't that many of them around. I'm still not sure about it, but I'm leaning towards dropping them completely. I guess it depends on what the Starcity clones are up to this week - hopefully they'll be too busy organizing Catchphrases games to realize that people are building and tuning decks to beat the Conley Woods Special and 5CC.
Siege-gang Commander is possibly the weakest link in the deck, which is a good sign because he is most definitely a powerhouse.
Anathemancer? FUCK YES.
Spellz
Trying to find what spells I need to run to fill in the weak spots in the deck has been a really difficult task, but I think what I have here (while not totally optimal on paper) is approaching the optimal build.
Cryptic Command is an easy call, and is often what gives you the firepower, gas, and flexibility to turn games around.
Austere Command is normally seen as a Janky spell, but I couldn't be more impressed by it. Hallowed Burial happens a turn sooner, sure, but there are so many decks that are completely crippled by the other two options that it makes no sense to me to run anything else - especially not when you're trying to blow up your own guys. Burial doesn't do that. Trust me, guys, with Wrath gone, Austere Command is the new hot shit.
Path and Fallout are necessary evils, and buy you the time you'll need against aggro. I'm not sure about 3 of each, but it seems to be working.
Laugh if you want, but Hindering Light is a total ass-saver. It's not perfect by any means, and I might yet be pushed to replace them with Negates or Essence Scatters (is that the M10 one? Can't remember). Another option is Flashfreeze, as it still counters a lot Jund spells, both dangerous Ultimatums, and Primal Command - none of which is a laughing matter if allowed to resolve.
The Sideboard
I'm really too tired to think of anything enlightening to say here, but I think most of the cards listed have specific, obvious roles. Double Negative is an interesting card, but will probably make the cut that gets me down to 15.
Anyway, thanks for reading, guys. Hopefully, I'll have better luck in Madison than I've had the past two PTQs, and won't be too ashamed to post a full tournament report.
Wish me luck!
Here's what I've been working on lately, and what I'll be rocking at the Madison PTQ this Saturday. It still needs some minor tweaking, but I am confident in the direction it's headed.
Lands
3 Island
4 Vivid Crag
2 Vivid Meadow
1 Mountain
1 Plains
4 Reflecting Pool
4 Vivid Creek
4 Mystic Gate
3 Cascade Bluffs
Guys
3 Reveillark
4 Mulldrifter
4 Figure of Destiny
3 Ajani Vengeant
2 Siege-Gang Commander
4 Anathemancer
Spells
4 Cryptic Command
2 Hindering Light
2 Austere Command
3 Volcanic Fallout
3 Path to Exile
Sideboard (not sure on this yet- you'll notice I have too many cards...)
SB: 1 Austere Command
SB: 1 Volcanic Fallout
SB: 4 Lightning Bolt
SB: 4 Negate
SB: 2 Double Negative
SB: 1 Banefire
SB: 2 Jace Beleren
SB: 2 Sower of Temptation
SB: 2 Runed Halo
The Mana
The mana base is pretty much what you'd expect from a three-colored 'Lark build - heavy on Vivids, filters, and just enough basics to get by. This is a huge liability, however, as any deck rocking their own Anathemancers (or even worse, 'Mancers and Makeshift Mannequins) is going to potentially take you to the cleaners very quickly. One blowout I can already foresee is your opponent nailing your lark with a Puppeteer Clique, swinging for four with haste, and exiling it in the end step for two of their own Anthemancers - but I digress. One way around this would be to play more basics - obviously - but I'm not sure if that's a viable option. Although it's a no-brainer for U/W Lark to utilize Border Posts, I can't see cutting four cards to add Knight of the White Orchid for acceleration. I'm also tempted by the idea of running more basics in addition to Terramorphic Expanse, but that really hinders your ability to come up with the right color combinations. It also hurts you because you just need a lot of lands on-board if you want to get there. Evoking 'Lark is great, but you need mana open for the counter wars you're going to have. As of right now, I'm just going to play around this - I'm getting pretty good at all-out Anathemancer wars against 5CC and Jund.
The Dudes
In my testing this past few weeks, I've found Glen Elendra to be an especially disappointing card, eschewing to run more 2 cc counters instead. By the time she's on the board, you've already dropped four mana, and will need two more to get full use of her. At an average of 3 mana per spell, you might as well be running Cancel. I know, I know, it's about setting your next turns up, she recurs with 'Lark - but I'm just not buying into the effectiveness or efficiency of the card, and I'm always wishing she was a Commander or Anathemancer when the time comes.
Figure and Mulldrifter were easy four-ofs, and I couldn't imagine running this deck without them. Three Reveillarks also seem to be sufficient in this build, but I won't dismiss the idea of running four.
Sower of Temptation has been mostly underwhelming, too, because of the proliferance of control and weenie decks in the meta. Sowering a Spirit Token is a total waste, and hitting a Broodmate, Chameleon Colossus, or any other fattie in Jund is going to get you an EOT Fallout or Lightning Bolt. This card might still be useful in the board, however, if you come up against some crazy build that relies on ramping into enormous beats - but there really aren't that many of them around. I'm still not sure about it, but I'm leaning towards dropping them completely. I guess it depends on what the Starcity clones are up to this week - hopefully they'll be too busy organizing Catchphrases games to realize that people are building and tuning decks to beat the Conley Woods Special and 5CC.
Siege-gang Commander is possibly the weakest link in the deck, which is a good sign because he is most definitely a powerhouse.
Anathemancer? FUCK YES.
Spellz
Trying to find what spells I need to run to fill in the weak spots in the deck has been a really difficult task, but I think what I have here (while not totally optimal on paper) is approaching the optimal build.
Cryptic Command is an easy call, and is often what gives you the firepower, gas, and flexibility to turn games around.
Austere Command is normally seen as a Janky spell, but I couldn't be more impressed by it. Hallowed Burial happens a turn sooner, sure, but there are so many decks that are completely crippled by the other two options that it makes no sense to me to run anything else - especially not when you're trying to blow up your own guys. Burial doesn't do that. Trust me, guys, with Wrath gone, Austere Command is the new hot shit.
Path and Fallout are necessary evils, and buy you the time you'll need against aggro. I'm not sure about 3 of each, but it seems to be working.
Laugh if you want, but Hindering Light is a total ass-saver. It's not perfect by any means, and I might yet be pushed to replace them with Negates or Essence Scatters (is that the M10 one? Can't remember). Another option is Flashfreeze, as it still counters a lot Jund spells, both dangerous Ultimatums, and Primal Command - none of which is a laughing matter if allowed to resolve.
The Sideboard
I'm really too tired to think of anything enlightening to say here, but I think most of the cards listed have specific, obvious roles. Double Negative is an interesting card, but will probably make the cut that gets me down to 15.
Anyway, thanks for reading, guys. Hopefully, I'll have better luck in Madison than I've had the past two PTQs, and won't be too ashamed to post a full tournament report.
Wish me luck!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
LARK LARK LARK
-Greg
For the PTQ this past weekend, I decided to change decks last minute from the RWU Lark build I've been working on to Five Color Blood, I deck I have little experience with. I said to myself, what's the worst that can happen? I have plenty of experience with Cruel Control, this runs the three best cards I can think of (Cryptic, Bloodbraid, Cruel Ultimatum), and it's all nestled in a nice, removal heavy Jundy shell. NOTHING CAN GO WRONG RIGHT?
Game one, I double-double-Crueled (which is when you cast Ultimatum twice in a game, two games in a row), and I was feeling pretty OK. Kitchen Finks was doing his thing, Fallout was stellar (as always), Putrid Leech applied the early beats, and the deck was working with only minor hiccups. The mana was perfect, the curve was decent, and a deck with a few tricks is always better than a deck with no tricks.
Then everything went wrong.
Round two, I lost in a very close third game to a highly competent Faeries pilot. 1-1. Then, I played a hobbit who was playing Jund, and realized that, in my hasty building, I brought literally no answer to a Chameleon Colossus. I massively punt game three, when I inexplicably name Kitchen Finks instead of Colossus with my turn four Thought Hemorrhage. 1-2. Then, I play Faeries again, mulliganing into even weaker hands only to be triple-Mistind Cliqued in two not-so-close games. 1-3. Brenna is doing ok, so I stick around, and can hopefully regain some point loss on the rating. Next round, I'm at the why-are-you-even-here tables, and I eat this poor kid alive. He hits me with a main-deck Traumatize, and I can't even hold my laughter in. He says "Your deck is fucking amazing, why are you 1-3?" I have no idea, good sir, perhaps it is a lack of playtesting. 2-3. Then I lose two quick ones to mana screw, never finding the seventh land for my game-changing Ultimatum.
So what do I think about the deck? It's alright. It offers some oppurtunity to outplay an opponent, and on paper it has a seemingly tight game against most of the field. The problem is, you need to be drawing a land and a spell every turn - something Cascade can't always do for you. This is an especially troublesome situation against aggro, as you have to be tapping out on your turn to put up a fight, making your instants much less valuable than before. Furthermore, aggr0/control hybrids have a very real tendency to completely fold to real control decks - and there are lots of those around these days. I would definitley not recommend anyone play it anytime soon, unless they are going to use a time machine to go back to before Chapin thought it up - and even then I'd really have to recommend B/W Tokens.
Anyway, we're gearing up now for PTQ Madison on the 8th, and I'm going to stick with what I know is right - Reveillark. Stay tuned for a possible decklist after we test tonight.
SCRUB SCRUB SCRUB
For the PTQ this past weekend, I decided to change decks last minute from the RWU Lark build I've been working on to Five Color Blood, I deck I have little experience with. I said to myself, what's the worst that can happen? I have plenty of experience with Cruel Control, this runs the three best cards I can think of (Cryptic, Bloodbraid, Cruel Ultimatum), and it's all nestled in a nice, removal heavy Jundy shell. NOTHING CAN GO WRONG RIGHT?
Game one, I double-double-Crueled (which is when you cast Ultimatum twice in a game, two games in a row), and I was feeling pretty OK. Kitchen Finks was doing his thing, Fallout was stellar (as always), Putrid Leech applied the early beats, and the deck was working with only minor hiccups. The mana was perfect, the curve was decent, and a deck with a few tricks is always better than a deck with no tricks.
Then everything went wrong.
Round two, I lost in a very close third game to a highly competent Faeries pilot. 1-1. Then, I played a hobbit who was playing Jund, and realized that, in my hasty building, I brought literally no answer to a Chameleon Colossus. I massively punt game three, when I inexplicably name Kitchen Finks instead of Colossus with my turn four Thought Hemorrhage. 1-2. Then, I play Faeries again, mulliganing into even weaker hands only to be triple-Mistind Cliqued in two not-so-close games. 1-3. Brenna is doing ok, so I stick around, and can hopefully regain some point loss on the rating. Next round, I'm at the why-are-you-even-here tables, and I eat this poor kid alive. He hits me with a main-deck Traumatize, and I can't even hold my laughter in. He says "Your deck is fucking amazing, why are you 1-3?" I have no idea, good sir, perhaps it is a lack of playtesting. 2-3. Then I lose two quick ones to mana screw, never finding the seventh land for my game-changing Ultimatum.
So what do I think about the deck? It's alright. It offers some oppurtunity to outplay an opponent, and on paper it has a seemingly tight game against most of the field. The problem is, you need to be drawing a land and a spell every turn - something Cascade can't always do for you. This is an especially troublesome situation against aggro, as you have to be tapping out on your turn to put up a fight, making your instants much less valuable than before. Furthermore, aggr0/control hybrids have a very real tendency to completely fold to real control decks - and there are lots of those around these days. I would definitley not recommend anyone play it anytime soon, unless they are going to use a time machine to go back to before Chapin thought it up - and even then I'd really have to recommend B/W Tokens.
Anyway, we're gearing up now for PTQ Madison on the 8th, and I'm going to stick with what I know is right - Reveillark. Stay tuned for a possible decklist after we test tonight.
SCRUB SCRUB SCRUB
Monday, July 13, 2009
-Greg
Hey, guys. I've been testing a U/W Reveillark build using post-M10 rotation rules, despite the common consensus that it is "dead" or on the decline. It's still a very strong deck, and I'm advocating the following list:
Main Side
For a brief overview of everything, you should check out my article on Blackborder, which can be found here.
Hey, guys. I've been testing a U/W Reveillark build using post-M10 rotation rules, despite the common consensus that it is "dead" or on the decline. It's still a very strong deck, and I'm advocating the following list:
Main Side
For a brief overview of everything, you should check out my article on Blackborder, which can be found here.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
PTQ Indianapolis
-greg
Brenna and I packed up this weekend and drove down south to slug it out at the Indianapolis PTQ. The drive from chicago is 3 or 4 hours, so only four of us from Team Barnabus were there: Me, Brenna, CJ, and Luciano. The event was in a pretty strange motel/mall thing with a bank and Starbucks in the lobby, and there was a conference for people hoping to go to the NFL right next to our nerdfest - sadly, the potential for hilarity fizzled on the stack.
I was expecting to see a lot of Faeries and Jund decks, and little to no Swans, so Brenna and I chose and changed our decks accordingly. She went mono-white Kithkin with En Vecs and Unmakes in the side, and I decided pick B/W Tokens back up. I practiced a lot this week with Jund ramp, but its best matchups were still only about 50/50. I also tried a Dark Lark deck with Fulminators and Redcaps a little, but it proved to be totally awful against literally every deck that can be built in Standard - even 60islands.dec**.
Before we sleeved up our final 75's, I meandered around taking some last-minute intel. I felt a little relieved, as almost every person I saw was counting Putrid Leeches and Bloodbraid Elves; The sort of person who lays all their cards face up right before a tournament is not the sort of player I am worried about, so I was confident that all my playtesting in the matchup would pan out. There were also a lot more U/W Lark players than I was expecting, which was a dumb call on my part because it's been popping up in top 8's and on MWS quite a bit. We wrote our lists down, made fun of Adrian Sullivan* a little (backwards hat, kum-n-go shirt), I rolled out my favorite playmat ***, and we were off.
Round 1: Jund Cascade
Game 1, he hits the sweet shit with Leech into Ram Gang. I stall with Finks, and when he hits two Leeches and a Ram-Gang, I Wrath. He topdecks a Bloodbraid into Pulse to take out my Spirit Token defense, and I lose a close one. I board out the Scullers because of their inability to stay on the board, and put in my single Celestial Purge and three Forge-Tenders.
Game 2, I keep my opening hand of Forge Tender, Wrath, Path to Exile, Cloudgoat, with good lands. He curves out perfectly again, but I have all the spot removal and board sweepers to hold him off until I can start dropping Finks and Ajanis. He is obviously agitated, as my life climbs back from 2 to 14, and I crush him in just a couple of big swings. These are the games that make you want to play BW Tokens forever.
Game 3 goes perfectly for me, and he gets land-screwed. He Jund Charmed for counters instead of Pyroclasm and I pathed his investment. Nothing else happened, and Finks with Ajani got there.
1-0
Round 2: U/W Lark
Game 1 my opponent plays massive card draw, digging in vain for some way to win. I had the turn two Bitterblossom, and ended up pathing his Sower EOT to Ajani/Finks smash FTW after about ten minutes. I wrote down "how does this deck win" in my notes.
Game 2 is close, but he manages to lock the board down. My life is 6 to his 4, and he drops a Lark I can't kill.
Game 3 is the same crap, with him playing Meddling Mages and coutering what he can. Tokens takes off well, but his control has the board locked down, and he stabilizes extremely well at 2 life (to my 24) and a full grip of 7. I have no card in hand, nothing on the board but lands, and he taps out to play lark. I topdeck Murderous Redcap like a total noob for the final points.
2-0.
Round 3: That 5CC deck with Obelisks and Planeswalkers that's been going around.
The first two games were pretty boring. Game 1 his deck did what it was supposed to do, and I didn't draw lands. Game 2 we traded places, and I rushed tokens FTW. Game 3 I totally punted by attacking with a persisted redcap into a Meddling Mage. Yeah, way to go, dork, you just lost your last blocker for nothing. He ended up doing exactly the last 4 points with that mage and Obelisk in our fifth extension turn, which I could've stopped with one blocker, turning a disappointing draw into a well-deserved loss.
2-1.
Round 4: Teh Fae
Game 1 was close, with me getting him down to two life before he locked everything down and somehow dealt 14 damage after a cryptic tap-down. Awesome, wow, Faeries is so cool. Game 2, I kept a two-lander, and never found a third or any black for the Persecution. Not that it mattered, as I saw two Mistbind Cliques in a row, and that was that.
2-2
Round5: MOAR FERRIES
I was considering dropping now, but chances were good I could still end up in packs, and besides, the room was already paid up for the night. Game 1, things went well enough, but Scions of Oona sealed the deal in his favor. Game 2, we both drew way too many lands, and literally nothing happened for six turns except for six swings with a single Scion. I finally dropped a dude and ended this excellent example of why Magic is such a joke sometimes. Game three was how Fae vs BW is supposed to go, and I ZP'd his dudes, and bashed with an increasingly huge army of faceless fliers.
3-2
Round 6: Faeires. Again.
This games were a little more involved than the last ones I'd played, involved enough that I couldn't really take a lot of notes. I finally came out of the fog that round 3 put me in, and held his butterfly army down with Zealous Persecution. The matchup is already one I feel like is in the favor of a good Tokens player, but a smart ZP can make or break a game. Game 2, I purged his Bitterblossom during my upkeep in response to a Mistbind, and that left me open to setup my field, which felt good. I did try to path a Scion with another Scion on the field, and so all my good plays up til then meant nothing. Whatever, I won, so Faeries an suck it.
4-2.
Round 7: Dark Bant
This was a deck I wasn't really expecting, and so I was worried I wouldn't be able to get through it. Turns out I was right.
Game 1, he got me down to twelve with a double-striking Treetop, but I held him down long enough to drive a shit-load of tokens in an 18-point alpha strike.
Game 2 was ugly, and I couldn't hang. He got a god draw, and shot up to 30+ life, and I struggled to even keep blockers on the field.
Game 3 was a lot closer, but you can't wrath a Tree-top. Scullers proved to be totally worthless with a Wrath in hand. Need two cards? Here you go!
4-3-SCRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUB
Notes on the day:
Black/White Tokens is still my favorite deck in today's Standard, and I can't see anything knocking it out of contention until M10 rolls around. Its matchup against Faeries is good to great, depending on the pilots on either side, and it has enough early hand disruption to contend with control (with a little luck, of course) and all the Pyroclasm-type spells floating around. Its weakness is sweepers and out-the-gate aggro, but it packs enough spot-removal and cheap creatures to be resilient enough to come back from or prevent almost anything.
Then again, we'll see what happens with M10. Anyway, 'til next time, remember to sleeve up before you play - you don't want to get your deck dirty.
* I see Adrian Sullivan at every event I go to, and he's starting to look at me in this weird way, like he recognizes me but he's not sure why. It's because Team Barnabus goes to every event within driving distance of the greater Chicago area, dudes, we are EVERYWHERE.
** Technically, this is a vintage deck. Oh well.
*** My favorite playmat is the best playmat known to man. It's all white, except for small black letters at the end facing my opponent. It says "suck it nerd."
Brenna and I packed up this weekend and drove down south to slug it out at the Indianapolis PTQ. The drive from chicago is 3 or 4 hours, so only four of us from Team Barnabus were there: Me, Brenna, CJ, and Luciano. The event was in a pretty strange motel/mall thing with a bank and Starbucks in the lobby, and there was a conference for people hoping to go to the NFL right next to our nerdfest - sadly, the potential for hilarity fizzled on the stack.
I was expecting to see a lot of Faeries and Jund decks, and little to no Swans, so Brenna and I chose and changed our decks accordingly. She went mono-white Kithkin with En Vecs and Unmakes in the side, and I decided pick B/W Tokens back up. I practiced a lot this week with Jund ramp, but its best matchups were still only about 50/50. I also tried a Dark Lark deck with Fulminators and Redcaps a little, but it proved to be totally awful against literally every deck that can be built in Standard - even 60islands.dec**.
Before we sleeved up our final 75's, I meandered around taking some last-minute intel. I felt a little relieved, as almost every person I saw was counting Putrid Leeches and Bloodbraid Elves; The sort of person who lays all their cards face up right before a tournament is not the sort of player I am worried about, so I was confident that all my playtesting in the matchup would pan out. There were also a lot more U/W Lark players than I was expecting, which was a dumb call on my part because it's been popping up in top 8's and on MWS quite a bit. We wrote our lists down, made fun of Adrian Sullivan* a little (backwards hat, kum-n-go shirt), I rolled out my favorite playmat ***, and we were off.
Round 1: Jund Cascade
Game 1, he hits the sweet shit with Leech into Ram Gang. I stall with Finks, and when he hits two Leeches and a Ram-Gang, I Wrath. He topdecks a Bloodbraid into Pulse to take out my Spirit Token defense, and I lose a close one. I board out the Scullers because of their inability to stay on the board, and put in my single Celestial Purge and three Forge-Tenders.
Game 2, I keep my opening hand of Forge Tender, Wrath, Path to Exile, Cloudgoat, with good lands. He curves out perfectly again, but I have all the spot removal and board sweepers to hold him off until I can start dropping Finks and Ajanis. He is obviously agitated, as my life climbs back from 2 to 14, and I crush him in just a couple of big swings. These are the games that make you want to play BW Tokens forever.
Game 3 goes perfectly for me, and he gets land-screwed. He Jund Charmed for counters instead of Pyroclasm and I pathed his investment. Nothing else happened, and Finks with Ajani got there.
1-0
Round 2: U/W Lark
Game 1 my opponent plays massive card draw, digging in vain for some way to win. I had the turn two Bitterblossom, and ended up pathing his Sower EOT to Ajani/Finks smash FTW after about ten minutes. I wrote down "how does this deck win" in my notes.
Game 2 is close, but he manages to lock the board down. My life is 6 to his 4, and he drops a Lark I can't kill.
Game 3 is the same crap, with him playing Meddling Mages and coutering what he can. Tokens takes off well, but his control has the board locked down, and he stabilizes extremely well at 2 life (to my 24) and a full grip of 7. I have no card in hand, nothing on the board but lands, and he taps out to play lark. I topdeck Murderous Redcap like a total noob for the final points.
2-0.
Round 3: That 5CC deck with Obelisks and Planeswalkers that's been going around.
The first two games were pretty boring. Game 1 his deck did what it was supposed to do, and I didn't draw lands. Game 2 we traded places, and I rushed tokens FTW. Game 3 I totally punted by attacking with a persisted redcap into a Meddling Mage. Yeah, way to go, dork, you just lost your last blocker for nothing. He ended up doing exactly the last 4 points with that mage and Obelisk in our fifth extension turn, which I could've stopped with one blocker, turning a disappointing draw into a well-deserved loss.
2-1.
Round 4: Teh Fae
Game 1 was close, with me getting him down to two life before he locked everything down and somehow dealt 14 damage after a cryptic tap-down. Awesome, wow, Faeries is so cool. Game 2, I kept a two-lander, and never found a third or any black for the Persecution. Not that it mattered, as I saw two Mistbind Cliques in a row, and that was that.
2-2
Round5: MOAR FERRIES
I was considering dropping now, but chances were good I could still end up in packs, and besides, the room was already paid up for the night. Game 1, things went well enough, but Scions of Oona sealed the deal in his favor. Game 2, we both drew way too many lands, and literally nothing happened for six turns except for six swings with a single Scion. I finally dropped a dude and ended this excellent example of why Magic is such a joke sometimes. Game three was how Fae vs BW is supposed to go, and I ZP'd his dudes, and bashed with an increasingly huge army of faceless fliers.
3-2
Round 6: Faeires. Again.
This games were a little more involved than the last ones I'd played, involved enough that I couldn't really take a lot of notes. I finally came out of the fog that round 3 put me in, and held his butterfly army down with Zealous Persecution. The matchup is already one I feel like is in the favor of a good Tokens player, but a smart ZP can make or break a game. Game 2, I purged his Bitterblossom during my upkeep in response to a Mistbind, and that left me open to setup my field, which felt good. I did try to path a Scion with another Scion on the field, and so all my good plays up til then meant nothing. Whatever, I won, so Faeries an suck it.
4-2.
Round 7: Dark Bant
This was a deck I wasn't really expecting, and so I was worried I wouldn't be able to get through it. Turns out I was right.
Game 1, he got me down to twelve with a double-striking Treetop, but I held him down long enough to drive a shit-load of tokens in an 18-point alpha strike.
Game 2 was ugly, and I couldn't hang. He got a god draw, and shot up to 30+ life, and I struggled to even keep blockers on the field.
Game 3 was a lot closer, but you can't wrath a Tree-top. Scullers proved to be totally worthless with a Wrath in hand. Need two cards? Here you go!
4-3-SCRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUB
Notes on the day:
Black/White Tokens is still my favorite deck in today's Standard, and I can't see anything knocking it out of contention until M10 rolls around. Its matchup against Faeries is good to great, depending on the pilots on either side, and it has enough early hand disruption to contend with control (with a little luck, of course) and all the Pyroclasm-type spells floating around. Its weakness is sweepers and out-the-gate aggro, but it packs enough spot-removal and cheap creatures to be resilient enough to come back from or prevent almost anything.
Then again, we'll see what happens with M10. Anyway, 'til next time, remember to sleeve up before you play - you don't want to get your deck dirty.
* I see Adrian Sullivan at every event I go to, and he's starting to look at me in this weird way, like he recognizes me but he's not sure why. It's because Team Barnabus goes to every event within driving distance of the greater Chicago area, dudes, we are EVERYWHERE.
** Technically, this is a vintage deck. Oh well.
*** My favorite playmat is the best playmat known to man. It's all white, except for small black letters at the end facing my opponent. It says "suck it nerd."
Monday, June 8, 2009
JUND RAMP
-Greg
Even though I'm a firm believer in the power of Black/White Tokens, I've been messing around with a Jund Ramp deck lately - and it has been SMASHING almost everything in the field. We've taken to calling it the Brood-Mot Dragon Deck, in memory of Glen's historic mispronunciation of Broodmate at FNM. Here's my current list:
Smashing:
4 Anathemancer
4 Broodmate Dragon
3 Chameleon Colossus
1 Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund (ed. LOL - Brenna)
Ramping:
4 Fertile Ground
3 Rampant Growth
3 Garruk Wildspeaker
Removing:
4 Terminate
3 Lavalanche
3 Maelstrom Pulse
3 Volcanic Fallout
2 Banefire
Tapping:
4 Reflecting Pool
4 Treetop Village
3 Savage Lands
2 Firelit Thicket
2 Twilight Mire
3 Swamp
3 Mountain
2 Forest
Sideboard:
4 Guttural Response
4 Kitchen Finks
3 Thought Hemorrhage
2 Cloudthresher
2 Loxodon Warhammer
Even though I'm a firm believer in the power of Black/White Tokens, I've been messing around with a Jund Ramp deck lately - and it has been SMASHING almost everything in the field. We've taken to calling it the Brood-Mot Dragon Deck, in memory of Glen's historic mispronunciation of Broodmate at FNM. Here's my current list:
Smashing:
4 Anathemancer
4 Broodmate Dragon
3 Chameleon Colossus
1 Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund (ed. LOL - Brenna)
Ramping:
4 Fertile Ground
3 Rampant Growth
3 Garruk Wildspeaker
Removing:
4 Terminate
3 Lavalanche
3 Maelstrom Pulse
3 Volcanic Fallout
2 Banefire
Tapping:
4 Reflecting Pool
4 Treetop Village
3 Savage Lands
2 Firelit Thicket
2 Twilight Mire
3 Swamp
3 Mountain
2 Forest
Sideboard:
4 Guttural Response
4 Kitchen Finks
3 Thought Hemorrhage
2 Cloudthresher
2 Loxodon Warhammer
Saturday, May 30, 2009
B/W Tokens for the New Meta
-Greg
First off: Our buddy Bryan Mohr who writes the Quick 'n' Toasted blog has made it to day two at the GP, playing a cool B/W Kithkin build. We definitely wish we were in Tacoma to cheer him on.
Also on our list of followers is an interesting fellow we met at PTQ. This guy is devoting his entire summer to MTG and roadtripping, hitting up every PTQ he can as he treks across the States with his vintage suitcase and pleasant demeanor. Defintely check out his blog, and look for him at venues near you!
Aaaaand, here's my new list for Black/White Tokens, updated with more of a control element than it had before. The resurgence of Faeries and the new Swan Cascade combo deck made it necessary to put the Scullers back in, and the mainboard Pithing Needles are a big help against nearly every deck floating around out there, even offering some help against Anathemancers on game one. Of course, in the hands of a B/R Aggro player, the 'Mancer is just a part of a borderline impotent machine, but the extra edge is definitely necessary for pre-board 5 Color Bloodbraid and Jund Ramp matches which use him much more effectively.
I cut the two main Wraths to make room for the Needles, but I'm still not totally sold on this idea. They're certainly useful in buying you time in matches against other token decks, but unless your opponent really overextends, then it's really likely that you've already lost the match. I feel like this is mostly a problem in the GW Tokens match, in which I'd rather have a fog effect for their attack, followed up by a Zealous Persecution attack on mine following. I usually side in Thoughtseize in this match, too, as their deck proves pretty powerless if you strip their Overruns and take out their Lieges. The Wraths are still there, 3 in the sideboard, as the ability to wipe an opponent's board clean is definitely useful.
I also picked up two Mirrorweaves, which I didn't have before for some reason. I love combat tricks, and have been dreaming of what it would be like to instant-up a full army of Rhox Warmonks...
Anyway, I'll be testing more when I can, and I'll update the blog as I go. This is probably the deck I'll be taking to the next four PTQs I attend, and any help you guys can provide with the changing meta and how to board against it is more than appreciated. Also, my summer class was canceled, so anyone wanting to playtest, just get in touch with me!
Main:
4 Tidehollow Sculler
4 Kitchen Finks
3 Cloudgoat Ranger
3 Murderous Redcap
4 Path to Exile (is Terror better?)
2 Zealous Persecution
4 Spectral Procession
4 Glorious Anthem
3 Ajani Goldmane
3 Bitterblossom
2 Pithing Needle
4 Arcane Sanctum
4 Fetid Heath
4 Reflecting Pool
4 Winkdbrisk Heights
2 Mutavault
3 Plains
3 Swamp
Sideboard:
1 Zealous Persecution
2 Identity Crisis
2 Batwing Brume
2 Story Circle
2 Runed Halo
3 Thoughtseize
3 Wrath of God
First off: Our buddy Bryan Mohr who writes the Quick 'n' Toasted blog has made it to day two at the GP, playing a cool B/W Kithkin build. We definitely wish we were in Tacoma to cheer him on.
Also on our list of followers is an interesting fellow we met at PTQ. This guy is devoting his entire summer to MTG and roadtripping, hitting up every PTQ he can as he treks across the States with his vintage suitcase and pleasant demeanor. Defintely check out his blog, and look for him at venues near you!
Aaaaand, here's my new list for Black/White Tokens, updated with more of a control element than it had before. The resurgence of Faeries and the new Swan Cascade combo deck made it necessary to put the Scullers back in, and the mainboard Pithing Needles are a big help against nearly every deck floating around out there, even offering some help against Anathemancers on game one. Of course, in the hands of a B/R Aggro player, the 'Mancer is just a part of a borderline impotent machine, but the extra edge is definitely necessary for pre-board 5 Color Bloodbraid and Jund Ramp matches which use him much more effectively.
I cut the two main Wraths to make room for the Needles, but I'm still not totally sold on this idea. They're certainly useful in buying you time in matches against other token decks, but unless your opponent really overextends, then it's really likely that you've already lost the match. I feel like this is mostly a problem in the GW Tokens match, in which I'd rather have a fog effect for their attack, followed up by a Zealous Persecution attack on mine following. I usually side in Thoughtseize in this match, too, as their deck proves pretty powerless if you strip their Overruns and take out their Lieges. The Wraths are still there, 3 in the sideboard, as the ability to wipe an opponent's board clean is definitely useful.
I also picked up two Mirrorweaves, which I didn't have before for some reason. I love combat tricks, and have been dreaming of what it would be like to instant-up a full army of Rhox Warmonks...
Anyway, I'll be testing more when I can, and I'll update the blog as I go. This is probably the deck I'll be taking to the next four PTQs I attend, and any help you guys can provide with the changing meta and how to board against it is more than appreciated. Also, my summer class was canceled, so anyone wanting to playtest, just get in touch with me!
Main:
4 Tidehollow Sculler
4 Kitchen Finks
3 Cloudgoat Ranger
3 Murderous Redcap
4 Path to Exile (is Terror better?)
2 Zealous Persecution
4 Spectral Procession
4 Glorious Anthem
3 Ajani Goldmane
3 Bitterblossom
2 Pithing Needle
4 Arcane Sanctum
4 Fetid Heath
4 Reflecting Pool
4 Winkdbrisk Heights
2 Mutavault
3 Plains
3 Swamp
Sideboard:
1 Zealous Persecution
2 Identity Crisis
2 Batwing Brume
2 Story Circle
2 Runed Halo
3 Thoughtseize
3 Wrath of God
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Regionals - SUCCESS
-Greg
Regionals was a great success for Team Barnabus!
CJ: Green/White Overrun - SECOND PLACE GOING TO NATIONALS HOLY SHIT
Phil: BR Aggro Demigod - 6-3, smashing all the mirror matches. He was the most successful BR Aggro of the day, landing in the top 10%-15% range.
Brenna: Boat Brew, 5-4, had a rough start, but pulled out amazing plays all day. After she warmed up, people were crowding around the table to watch her games.
Greg: 5CC, 3-3-3, tuned it to beat Faeries and BW Tokens and faced neither. Only human in existence to draw three games in a Regionals event.
Kimball: 4-5, was dropping jaws all day with his unexpected combination of cheap creatures and unstoppable enchantments.
Pete: UW Lark, had a positive record, and had possibly more fun than anyone at the entire event. I'm going to specifically request that Pete not take his medication on game days. :)
Sean: Had a string of rough matches, including one mandatory re-sleeve, but had a lot of luck testing a new Bloodbraid beats deck.
Tom: Tom's Naya Ramp seemed like a good deck, but Tom couldn't draw lands all day. Worst streak of luck I've ever seen.
Even though CJ was the man of the hour, I feel like we all could share in his win. It was his deck and playing that put him at the top, and we were glad to have been behind him the entire time. If anyone gets a chance, look for CJ (Charles Hendricks) in Adrian Sullivan's article this week at
This Saturday, we're all headed to PTQ at Pastimes in Niles, and I'll be posting our decklists here. I'll start with mine today, the infamous Black/White Tokens:
Kitchen Finks has been the shining star in every deck I've played for like six months, so I'm thinking of dropping one Cloudgoat Ranger (which I feel is a little underpowered) for the fourth Finks. Redcap seems necessary for board control, and he can accelerate my wins pretty well with direct damage if need be. I've been running 4 of the power cards in the deck, because they seem to be what makes it win: spectral, blossom, anthem, and now zealous persecution always feel like blowouts when they hit the board.
After talking to the guy that got first seat at Regionals, I was pretty sold on the deck. He said he started out just playtesting it so his buddies could get the match down, and ended up running it instead because it just decimated everything else. I have to agree with his assertion, as this thing is slaughtering every other deck Brenna and I can put on it. So anyway, here's the list as it is now, but it's definitely still being worked on:
Maindeck:
Critters:
4 Tidehollow Sculler
3 Cloudgoat Ranger
3 Murderous Redcap
3 Kitchen Finks
Spellz:
4 Spectral Procession
4 Bitterblossom
4 Glorious Anthem
4 Zealous Persecution
3 Path To Exile
3 Ajani Goldmane
Lands:
3 Plains
1 Swamp
4 Arcane Sanctum
3 Caves Of Koilos
4 Fetid Heath
2 Mutavault
4 Reflecting Pool
4 Windbrisk Heights
Sideboard:
3 Burrenton Forge-tender
3 Wispmare
1 Zealous Persecution
2 Identity Crisis
3 Wrath Of God
2 Terror
Regionals was a great success for Team Barnabus!
CJ: Green/White Overrun - SECOND PLACE GOING TO NATIONALS HOLY SHIT
Phil: BR Aggro Demigod - 6-3, smashing all the mirror matches. He was the most successful BR Aggro of the day, landing in the top 10%-15% range.
Brenna: Boat Brew, 5-4, had a rough start, but pulled out amazing plays all day. After she warmed up, people were crowding around the table to watch her games.
Greg: 5CC, 3-3-3, tuned it to beat Faeries and BW Tokens and faced neither. Only human in existence to draw three games in a Regionals event.
Kimball: 4-5, was dropping jaws all day with his unexpected combination of cheap creatures and unstoppable enchantments.
Pete: UW Lark, had a positive record, and had possibly more fun than anyone at the entire event. I'm going to specifically request that Pete not take his medication on game days. :)
Sean: Had a string of rough matches, including one mandatory re-sleeve, but had a lot of luck testing a new Bloodbraid beats deck.
Tom: Tom's Naya Ramp seemed like a good deck, but Tom couldn't draw lands all day. Worst streak of luck I've ever seen.
Even though CJ was the man of the hour, I feel like we all could share in his win. It was his deck and playing that put him at the top, and we were glad to have been behind him the entire time. If anyone gets a chance, look for CJ (Charles Hendricks) in Adrian Sullivan's article this week at
This Saturday, we're all headed to PTQ at Pastimes in Niles, and I'll be posting our decklists here. I'll start with mine today, the infamous Black/White Tokens:
Kitchen Finks has been the shining star in every deck I've played for like six months, so I'm thinking of dropping one Cloudgoat Ranger (which I feel is a little underpowered) for the fourth Finks. Redcap seems necessary for board control, and he can accelerate my wins pretty well with direct damage if need be. I've been running 4 of the power cards in the deck, because they seem to be what makes it win: spectral, blossom, anthem, and now zealous persecution always feel like blowouts when they hit the board.
After talking to the guy that got first seat at Regionals, I was pretty sold on the deck. He said he started out just playtesting it so his buddies could get the match down, and ended up running it instead because it just decimated everything else. I have to agree with his assertion, as this thing is slaughtering every other deck Brenna and I can put on it. So anyway, here's the list as it is now, but it's definitely still being worked on:
Maindeck:
Critters:
4 Tidehollow Sculler
3 Cloudgoat Ranger
3 Murderous Redcap
3 Kitchen Finks
Spellz:
4 Spectral Procession
4 Bitterblossom
4 Glorious Anthem
4 Zealous Persecution
3 Path To Exile
3 Ajani Goldmane
Lands:
3 Plains
1 Swamp
4 Arcane Sanctum
3 Caves Of Koilos
4 Fetid Heath
2 Mutavault
4 Reflecting Pool
4 Windbrisk Heights
Sideboard:
3 Burrenton Forge-tender
3 Wispmare
1 Zealous Persecution
2 Identity Crisis
3 Wrath Of God
2 Terror
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Brennalark - Take 2
-Greg
After some deliberation, Brenna and I have made some interesting changes to her Lark decklist. Brenna's pointed out the the Kitchen Finks are a little iffy on the aggro front, and can't be bought back with Lark, so they were an easy drop for us. Also, a lot of matches are going to be really tough with no board sweepers, especially none main, and enchantment removal could be a huge problem. Speed and tempo were also issues we were facing, specifically against aggro and control. I think the new list is a definite improvement (with a lot of help from Todd Anderson). The only problem is this list completely drops Smash to Smithereens, a card Brenna specifically requested we hang on to, and leaves her with basically no artifact removal. I'm thinking that since most people only play with one or two Needles, it won't be an issue because of how many bombs the deck packs.
3 Mogg Fanatic
3 Figure of Destiny
1 Flamekin Harbinger
4 Fulminator Mage
2 Ranger of Eos
3 Reveillark
3 Siege-Gang Commander
2 Knights of Meadowgrain
1 Stillmoon Cavalier
4 Mind Stone
4 Ajani Vengeant
3 Wrath of God
4 Spectral Procession
3 Plains
4 Mountain
4 Jungle Shrine
4 Battlefield Forge
4 Rugged Prairie
4 Windbrisk Heights
Sideboard:
4 Guttural Response
2 Burrenton Forge-Tender
3 Path to Exile
3 Volcanic Fallout
2 Wispmare
1 Wrath of God
After some deliberation, Brenna and I have made some interesting changes to her Lark decklist. Brenna's pointed out the the Kitchen Finks are a little iffy on the aggro front, and can't be bought back with Lark, so they were an easy drop for us. Also, a lot of matches are going to be really tough with no board sweepers, especially none main, and enchantment removal could be a huge problem. Speed and tempo were also issues we were facing, specifically against aggro and control. I think the new list is a definite improvement (with a lot of help from Todd Anderson). The only problem is this list completely drops Smash to Smithereens, a card Brenna specifically requested we hang on to, and leaves her with basically no artifact removal. I'm thinking that since most people only play with one or two Needles, it won't be an issue because of how many bombs the deck packs.
3 Mogg Fanatic
3 Figure of Destiny
1 Flamekin Harbinger
4 Fulminator Mage
2 Ranger of Eos
3 Reveillark
3 Siege-Gang Commander
2 Knights of Meadowgrain
1 Stillmoon Cavalier
4 Mind Stone
4 Ajani Vengeant
3 Wrath of God
4 Spectral Procession
3 Plains
4 Mountain
4 Jungle Shrine
4 Battlefield Forge
4 Rugged Prairie
4 Windbrisk Heights
Sideboard:
4 Guttural Response
2 Burrenton Forge-Tender
3 Path to Exile
3 Volcanic Fallout
2 Wispmare
1 Wrath of God
Monday, May 4, 2009
Regionals
-Greg
Regionals is right around the corner, and so I've been perusing decklists and scouring the new set for ideas. So far, it looks like I'll be running a 5CC variant, and Brenna will be running a pretty aggressive Boat Brew build. Twincast and Sanity Grinding stocks are depleted across the internet, so that will definitely be a deciding factor for our sideboards. I've seen a lot of B/R Aggro, which after some playing this weekend, I don't feel is that much of a threat to anything but Blue/White Lark and Faeries.
About Brenna's Lark deck:
Brenna has been playing a homebrew R/W midrange aggro for a while now, but even with the copious amounts of life-gain it can do, it still lacks the extra oomph required to take it all the way. As soon as she read the text on Lark, I knew from the look on her face that she'd be building a R/W Lark deck. We've been kicking some ideas around, and I'm leaning toward this list:
1 Stillmoon Cavalier
4 Figure of Destiny
3 Kitchn Finks
4 Knight of the Meadowgrain
4 Mogg Fanatic
3 Murderous Redcap
3 Ranger of Eos
3 Reviellark
3 Siege-gang Commander
3 Ajani Vengeant
4 Mindstone
3 Spectral Procession
3 Mountain
4 Plains
4 Battlefield Forge
4 Rugged Prairie
4 Windbrisk Heights
4 Jungle Shrine
Sideboard:
2 Banefire
2 Wrath of God
4 Smash to Smithereens
3 Forge-tender
4 Guttural Response
The sideboard is pretty easy to understand, but I'm not quite sold on it yet. Brenna hates it when her Figures are Pithing Needled - actually, she hates it so bad that she wants to not just remove the needle, but punish its owner. Smash to Smithereens is a perfect card for this attitude. Wrath is for hard to kill bastards, and could certainly fill Banefire's two slots to be a four-of.
Otherwise, the deck is a pretty standard Boat Brew build. It drops creatures from turn one, and it runs full throttle until the game is up. One notable exception is Knights of the Meadowgrain instead of Knight of the White Orchid. Brenna felt like the life-gain was more important than the ability to catch-up with lands, and it's the go-to card for her for any white deck. :)
Hopefully we'll be playtesting it this week!
Regionals is right around the corner, and so I've been perusing decklists and scouring the new set for ideas. So far, it looks like I'll be running a 5CC variant, and Brenna will be running a pretty aggressive Boat Brew build. Twincast and Sanity Grinding stocks are depleted across the internet, so that will definitely be a deciding factor for our sideboards. I've seen a lot of B/R Aggro, which after some playing this weekend, I don't feel is that much of a threat to anything but Blue/White Lark and Faeries.
About Brenna's Lark deck:
Brenna has been playing a homebrew R/W midrange aggro for a while now, but even with the copious amounts of life-gain it can do, it still lacks the extra oomph required to take it all the way. As soon as she read the text on Lark, I knew from the look on her face that she'd be building a R/W Lark deck. We've been kicking some ideas around, and I'm leaning toward this list:
1 Stillmoon Cavalier
4 Figure of Destiny
3 Kitchn Finks
4 Knight of the Meadowgrain
4 Mogg Fanatic
3 Murderous Redcap
3 Ranger of Eos
3 Reviellark
3 Siege-gang Commander
3 Ajani Vengeant
4 Mindstone
3 Spectral Procession
3 Mountain
4 Plains
4 Battlefield Forge
4 Rugged Prairie
4 Windbrisk Heights
Sideboard:
2 Banefire
2 Wrath of God
4 Smash to Smithereens
3 Forge-tender
4 Guttural Response
The sideboard is pretty easy to understand, but I'm not quite sold on it yet. Brenna hates it when her Figures are Pithing Needled - actually, she hates it so bad that she wants to not just remove the needle, but punish its owner. Smash to Smithereens is a perfect card for this attitude. Wrath is for hard to kill bastards, and could certainly fill Banefire's two slots to be a four-of.
Otherwise, the deck is a pretty standard Boat Brew build. It drops creatures from turn one, and it runs full throttle until the game is up. One notable exception is Knights of the Meadowgrain instead of Knight of the White Orchid. Brenna felt like the life-gain was more important than the ability to catch-up with lands, and it's the go-to card for her for any white deck. :)
Hopefully we'll be playtesting it this week!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
To Blightning, or not to Blightning
-Greg
Anyone who talks to me about magic for any amount of time knows that I love aggro. Looking back, this has been a common theme in the decks I built even as a pup, always preferring smash with a Craw Wurm or burn with a Lightning Bolt than to somehow Counterspell my opponent into submission. Games that went like this, and players who played like this, were irritating nuisances to me, and losses to these decks were more like being robbed than beaten. Suffice to say, the only urges I've ever had to play blue did not stem from a joy derived from the manipulation of the game, as I am, at best, bored by what I view as an irritating niche full birds and on-you-you-didn'ts. The only reason to ever play blue was to win, which is akin to selling your child to strangers to buy a Segway.
This need did eventually win out over my need for mutual assured destruction, and so I have been piloting a 5CC deck for some time now. Though I have won a fair amount of games, it has proven to be the most boring, soul-sucking experience I've had with magic; My opponents have not had fun on the other side of the table - at all - and the endless mirror matches have been like playing a game of chess in which you don't move a piece for ten minutes, then spend twenty more moving pieces back and forth. I can't take it anymore. I am going to play a Black/Red Aggro deck, and I am going to hoot and cheer at my own reckless abandon - ratings and rankings be damned.
But, since I've come back to the game (right before Conflux was released), this archetype has seemed to be a gasping, pitiful option. Demigod was trumped by Path to Exile, Terror was useless against Chameleon Colossus. We were swept over by tokens and unTerrorable Broodmate Dragons, and beaten to death by nigh-invincible planeswalkers. Things have been bleak. But, with the advent of new tech in Alara Reborn, are things different? Though we weren't necessarily top-tier, we had some powerful tools before: Volcanic Fallout was certainly a fantastic addition to the aresenal, giving us the edge over G/W Overrun variants, Faeries, and some help against Kithkin. Banefire was another great addition. Some things we've always had, like Everlasting Torment, which helps keep opponents from gaining enough life to get out of burn range. But 5CC was still huge problem, Reviellark was death-on-wheels, and even shit Esper decks have proven to be an enormous pain, handing us our own asses on a commemerative Cryptic Command plate. What's a guy to do?
Well, now, we do have some new toys.
Terror has long been a staple in most decks, and at instant speed, it has proven to be a most excellent answer to Figure of Destiny or Wall of Reverence. Come up against some Esper creatures, though, and you're boned. Enter Terminate:
Still an instant, still a 2 converted cost spell, still a full-on destruction machine - only this time, you can smash faces in the mirror match, or against decks with artifact creatures. This card is certainly no major improvement (and certainly not a contender for Path to Exile), but it is nonetheless a welcomed improvement.
I do see two huge problems for Terminate in the current Standard environment: Chameleon Colossus and Burrenton Forge-Tender, who are untargetable by Terminate because of pro-red and pro-black, respectively. But that's not new, and certainly not enough reason to run this excellent high-speed piece of weaponry.
A card I see being even more helpful in troublesome matches is Thought Hemorrhage. Teamed up with a Guttural Response (to neutralize counterspells), this badboy can strip 5CC of its more bothersome cards, and probably deal a fair amount of damage in the process. If they're holding two Cryptics, cast one, and you Guttural to counter - you've still spent two cards to remove four of theirs - four very important cards, no less. 3 damage is gravy. Think of the other problem matches and their key components: take out the Larks, the Overruns, the Dorans, and suddenly your field advantage is greatly improved.
While I haven't playtested this card to be sure of its power level, I'm assuming it's not really powerful enough to maindeck, but could be a key component in the sideboard.
The card I'm most excited to add to my decklist is Anathemancer. Murderous Redcap has proven to be a powerful card in BR Aggro, and could be considered a staple. He does two damage when you get him on the board, swings and blocks for two, and persists for an extra point, and is relatively good for small removal, or to push your opponent closer to the edge. He does not, however, win games, and is very susceptible to countermagic.
But Anathemancer... Anathemancer is game ender. For 1 less mana than Redcap, he can generally hit the board around the same time, and deal the same amount of burn to a player. Even better, late in the game he can be unearthed (which is an activated ability, immune to Broken Ambitions and other spells) to seriously hurt your opponent. By the time you have seven mana sources, how many non-basics will your opponent have? Probably enough to wrap things up.
So, in short, the RG Aggro archetype has gotten better. Certainly, our 5 Color Control and Boat Brew matchups are looking better and better, and our already strong games against GW Overrun and Faeries are only that much better. But, only time and games will tell how far ahead we've come - and how far the meta game has come with us. So, good luck guys, and remember to sleeve up before you play - you don't want to get your cardboard dirty.
Anyone who talks to me about magic for any amount of time knows that I love aggro. Looking back, this has been a common theme in the decks I built even as a pup, always preferring smash with a Craw Wurm or burn with a Lightning Bolt than to somehow Counterspell my opponent into submission. Games that went like this, and players who played like this, were irritating nuisances to me, and losses to these decks were more like being robbed than beaten. Suffice to say, the only urges I've ever had to play blue did not stem from a joy derived from the manipulation of the game, as I am, at best, bored by what I view as an irritating niche full birds and on-you-you-didn'ts. The only reason to ever play blue was to win, which is akin to selling your child to strangers to buy a Segway.
This need did eventually win out over my need for mutual assured destruction, and so I have been piloting a 5CC deck for some time now. Though I have won a fair amount of games, it has proven to be the most boring, soul-sucking experience I've had with magic; My opponents have not had fun on the other side of the table - at all - and the endless mirror matches have been like playing a game of chess in which you don't move a piece for ten minutes, then spend twenty more moving pieces back and forth. I can't take it anymore. I am going to play a Black/Red Aggro deck, and I am going to hoot and cheer at my own reckless abandon - ratings and rankings be damned.
But, since I've come back to the game (right before Conflux was released), this archetype has seemed to be a gasping, pitiful option. Demigod was trumped by Path to Exile, Terror was useless against Chameleon Colossus. We were swept over by tokens and unTerrorable Broodmate Dragons, and beaten to death by nigh-invincible planeswalkers. Things have been bleak. But, with the advent of new tech in Alara Reborn, are things different? Though we weren't necessarily top-tier, we had some powerful tools before: Volcanic Fallout was certainly a fantastic addition to the aresenal, giving us the edge over G/W Overrun variants, Faeries, and some help against Kithkin. Banefire was another great addition. Some things we've always had, like Everlasting Torment, which helps keep opponents from gaining enough life to get out of burn range. But 5CC was still huge problem, Reviellark was death-on-wheels, and even shit Esper decks have proven to be an enormous pain, handing us our own asses on a commemerative Cryptic Command plate. What's a guy to do?
Well, now, we do have some new toys.
Terror has long been a staple in most decks, and at instant speed, it has proven to be a most excellent answer to Figure of Destiny or Wall of Reverence. Come up against some Esper creatures, though, and you're boned. Enter Terminate:
Still an instant, still a 2 converted cost spell, still a full-on destruction machine - only this time, you can smash faces in the mirror match, or against decks with artifact creatures. This card is certainly no major improvement (and certainly not a contender for Path to Exile), but it is nonetheless a welcomed improvement.
I do see two huge problems for Terminate in the current Standard environment: Chameleon Colossus and Burrenton Forge-Tender, who are untargetable by Terminate because of pro-red and pro-black, respectively. But that's not new, and certainly not enough reason to run this excellent high-speed piece of weaponry.
A card I see being even more helpful in troublesome matches is Thought Hemorrhage. Teamed up with a Guttural Response (to neutralize counterspells), this badboy can strip 5CC of its more bothersome cards, and probably deal a fair amount of damage in the process. If they're holding two Cryptics, cast one, and you Guttural to counter - you've still spent two cards to remove four of theirs - four very important cards, no less. 3 damage is gravy. Think of the other problem matches and their key components: take out the Larks, the Overruns, the Dorans, and suddenly your field advantage is greatly improved.While I haven't playtested this card to be sure of its power level, I'm assuming it's not really powerful enough to maindeck, but could be a key component in the sideboard.
The card I'm most excited to add to my decklist is Anathemancer. Murderous Redcap has proven to be a powerful card in BR Aggro, and could be considered a staple. He does two damage when you get him on the board, swings and blocks for two, and persists for an extra point, and is relatively good for small removal, or to push your opponent closer to the edge. He does not, however, win games, and is very susceptible to countermagic.
But Anathemancer... Anathemancer is game ender. For 1 less mana than Redcap, he can generally hit the board around the same time, and deal the same amount of burn to a player. Even better, late in the game he can be unearthed (which is an activated ability, immune to Broken Ambitions and other spells) to seriously hurt your opponent. By the time you have seven mana sources, how many non-basics will your opponent have? Probably enough to wrap things up.
So, in short, the RG Aggro archetype has gotten better. Certainly, our 5 Color Control and Boat Brew matchups are looking better and better, and our already strong games against GW Overrun and Faeries are only that much better. But, only time and games will tell how far ahead we've come - and how far the meta game has come with us. So, good luck guys, and remember to sleeve up before you play - you don't want to get your cardboard dirty.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Don't Be Cruel
A Beginner's Guide to Manabases and Smashing Faces with 5 Color Control
Five Color Control, Cruel Control, Grixis Control, whatever variant you've seen - it's all about the same thing: complete and utter domination of your opponent's hand and tempo, the playing field, and of the game itself. It's not hard to see how successful Five Color Control has been in achieving this goal; players have landed an incredibly high number of top-4 and top-8 finishes with the deck. Gabe Nassif was piloting the deck in what has proven to be one of the most memorable game wins of all time. It's also not difficult to see that the deck, and its variants, run powerful, game-ending cards, like Broodmate Dragon, Cryptic Command, and Banefire.
It is, however, difficult at first to see how the darn thing works - especially for casual players, newcomers, or those who are coming back to the game after a long absence. And that's exactly why I've been drafted to write this article: I recently came back to the game myself, and subsequently went from asking everyone in the shop why Cryptic Command was so expensive ($25?!), to demolishing FNMs with my own 5CC build. Now, I'll admit that I can be sort of a knucklehead, but I assure you, I am a uniquely qualified knucklehead.
So now that we've gone over how your deck will run and win, it's important to understand the power level of the deck's individual parts. Let's look over some of the more popular 5CC staples, and discuss their role in victory.
Cryptic Command
This is widely known as the best card in Standard, and for good reason. Cryptic does two things for you, both very important: First, it gives you inherent card advantage by allowing you to, with one card, cast two spells. As if this weren't enough, this card allows you to choose which two spells you want from a list of four butt savers. The other thing Cryptic gives you is advantage: tempo advantage, board advantage, life advantage, and card advantage. Think of it this way: you not only can tap all of his creatures to prevent yourself from a fatal beating, you also get to draw a card when you do so. You not only get to counter that pump spell, but you also get to bounce the Figure of Destiny they dumped 11 mana into before it can connect to your frail body. Cryptic also targets permanents for bouncing, so it can even get rid of irritating Planeswalkers.
Broken Ambitions
This surprisingly versatile card, unlike many counterspells (Countersquall or Remove Soul, for example), has no restriction on the type of spell it can counter, making it good in any matchup. Late game, if your opponent taps out for a Cruel Ultimatum or some other big game-ender, you're there with this card. Early game, if your opponent taps out turn two to drop a Wooly Thoctor, you can, with only two mana open, neutralize his threat for another crucial early turn. The possibility of milling him for four cards, and the ability to help set up your next turn is just a double layer of icing.
This little guy never runs out of gas, either, and only grows more powerful with each land drop.
Broodmate Dragon
The thing you have to keep in mind with Broodmate is that you're getting two separate creatures in one card. As we've discussed before, two cards in one is always good - and it's even better when it's delivered in the form of two flying beaters. Other builds run things like Battlegrace Angel, which can be incredible card in a deck like this, but Broodmate Dragon is leagues better than almost any creature because of the spot removal in Standard. For example, one Terror from your opponent will kill your angel, but it can only take your token away if you played Broodmate. Path to Exile is the same way: for one mana your Angel is gone forever, but they can only get one Dragon.
Esper Charm
Another exceptional card in terms of advantage. It gives you three options: accelerate your own card advantage by drawing, ruin your opponent's hand by discarding, or destroy an enchantment. It's at instant speed, too, allowing you to force a discard right after your oppenent draws (a ridiculously good tactic.), or draw cards at the end of their turn, when you can be reasonably sure you won't need your open mana for counterspells. The card is also crucial in matchups with decks whose power cards are enchantments, as it kills a number of nuicance cards: Bitterblossom, Runed Halo (which will stop your Banefire), and Story Circle (which will stop your Broodmates).
Wrath of God
Board sweeping at its finest. It wipes out entire armies, including creatures with protection from white and shroud because it doesn't actually target them. This is your trump card against fast decks like Kithkin or Red Deck Wins, slaughtering everything on their board that can deal damage except for man lands like Mutavault.
Banefire
The beauty behind Banefire is in its simplicity. It is burn - uncounterable, unpreventable, and game-ending.
Cruel Ultimatum
This card does it all- and does it well. Not only does it take out an opponent's creature - they have to sacrifice it, which means even a Progenitus falls to this badboy. Then your opponent has to ditch three cards that they've been hanging on to long enough to assure that one of them is probably that game ending Banefire. Throw in a ten point life difference in your favor, drawing three cards, and getting back a Broodmate Dragon, and you've got yourself one of the most efficient spells of all time.
But, doesn't that casting cost look a little intimidating? Don't worry, friends - I promise you'll be dropping this bomb often with no trouble at all.
It is, however, difficult at first to see how the darn thing works - especially for casual players, newcomers, or those who are coming back to the game after a long absence. And that's exactly why I've been drafted to write this article: I recently came back to the game myself, and subsequently went from asking everyone in the shop why Cryptic Command was so expensive ($25?!), to demolishing FNMs with my own 5CC build. Now, I'll admit that I can be sort of a knucklehead, but I assure you, I am a uniquely qualified knucklehead.
How to Win
Five Color Control is exactly what it sounds like: a deck that uses all five colors in Magic to "control" the game. Put simply, your goal is to stop your opponent from doing what they need to do to win, while you set yourself up for a big, flashy finish. In your arsenal are counterspells, which are spells that stop your opponent's spells from doing anything when they play them. To stop your opponent's ground assault, you'll also have at your disposal a slew of removal removal spells, which is any card that kills your opponent's creatures. You're even using some creatures of your own, specially designed to stop your opponent's attackers and buy you the time you need.
So far, it sounds like all this deck does is keep anyone from doing anything - which, I'll admit, sounds really boring - but the defensive portion of your game is a means to a spectacular end. Your games should happen in two phases:
1) Neutralizing any threat thrown at you, and build up your lands so that you can cast your big, scary spells.
2) Attack without mercy.
You see, you have to control the game for so long because the spells you need to win have high mana costs. Your goal is to counter, remove, defend, stall the game until you're ready to fight, then hit them with Cruel Ultimatums, Banefires, Broodmate Dragons, and everything you can draw that deals damage quickly.
Since 5CC is such a popular deck, you'll likely come up against people who've found ways to keep you from winning like this. Broodmate Dragon is a very popular card in this type of deck, and so a lot of people will sideboard in cards that keep it from being a threat. While not quite as strong as a dragon, your Mulldrifters do attack for two damage each, a crucial amount in long games in which you can't rely on Broodmate or Banefire.
Other games, your opponent may gain so much life that dealing damage is no longer a feasible way to win. At times like these, you can rely on one of the most popular non-damage ways to win a game, called "milling." This is a technique in which you force your opponent draw and discard cards, or to put cards from their library into their graveyard, with the goal of causing them to lose when they no longer have any cards to draw. Jace Beleren's ultimate ability mills for 20 cards, which is usually enough to draw them out first.
So far, it sounds like all this deck does is keep anyone from doing anything - which, I'll admit, sounds really boring - but the defensive portion of your game is a means to a spectacular end. Your games should happen in two phases:
1) Neutralizing any threat thrown at you, and build up your lands so that you can cast your big, scary spells.
2) Attack without mercy.
You see, you have to control the game for so long because the spells you need to win have high mana costs. Your goal is to counter, remove, defend, stall the game until you're ready to fight, then hit them with Cruel Ultimatums, Banefires, Broodmate Dragons, and everything you can draw that deals damage quickly.
Since 5CC is such a popular deck, you'll likely come up against people who've found ways to keep you from winning like this. Broodmate Dragon is a very popular card in this type of deck, and so a lot of people will sideboard in cards that keep it from being a threat. While not quite as strong as a dragon, your Mulldrifters do attack for two damage each, a crucial amount in long games in which you can't rely on Broodmate or Banefire.
Other games, your opponent may gain so much life that dealing damage is no longer a feasible way to win. At times like these, you can rely on one of the most popular non-damage ways to win a game, called "milling." This is a technique in which you force your opponent draw and discard cards, or to put cards from their library into their graveyard, with the goal of causing them to lose when they no longer have any cards to draw. Jace Beleren's ultimate ability mills for 20 cards, which is usually enough to draw them out first.
The Cards
So now that we've gone over how your deck will run and win, it's important to understand the power level of the deck's individual parts. Let's look over some of the more popular 5CC staples, and discuss their role in victory.
Cryptic CommandThis is widely known as the best card in Standard, and for good reason. Cryptic does two things for you, both very important: First, it gives you inherent card advantage by allowing you to, with one card, cast two spells. As if this weren't enough, this card allows you to choose which two spells you want from a list of four butt savers. The other thing Cryptic gives you is advantage: tempo advantage, board advantage, life advantage, and card advantage. Think of it this way: you not only can tap all of his creatures to prevent yourself from a fatal beating, you also get to draw a card when you do so. You not only get to counter that pump spell, but you also get to bounce the Figure of Destiny they dumped 11 mana into before it can connect to your frail body. Cryptic also targets permanents for bouncing, so it can even get rid of irritating Planeswalkers.
Broken Ambitions
This surprisingly versatile card, unlike many counterspells (Countersquall or Remove Soul, for example), has no restriction on the type of spell it can counter, making it good in any matchup. Late game, if your opponent taps out for a Cruel Ultimatum or some other big game-ender, you're there with this card. Early game, if your opponent taps out turn two to drop a Wooly Thoctor, you can, with only two mana open, neutralize his threat for another crucial early turn. The possibility of milling him for four cards, and the ability to help set up your next turn is just a double layer of icing.
This little guy never runs out of gas, either, and only grows more powerful with each land drop.
Broodmate Dragon
The thing you have to keep in mind with Broodmate is that you're getting two separate creatures in one card. As we've discussed before, two cards in one is always good - and it's even better when it's delivered in the form of two flying beaters. Other builds run things like Battlegrace Angel, which can be incredible card in a deck like this, but Broodmate Dragon is leagues better than almost any creature because of the spot removal in Standard. For example, one Terror from your opponent will kill your angel, but it can only take your token away if you played Broodmate. Path to Exile is the same way: for one mana your Angel is gone forever, but they can only get one Dragon.
Esper Charm
Another exceptional card in terms of advantage. It gives you three options: accelerate your own card advantage by drawing, ruin your opponent's hand by discarding, or destroy an enchantment. It's at instant speed, too, allowing you to force a discard right after your oppenent draws (a ridiculously good tactic.), or draw cards at the end of their turn, when you can be reasonably sure you won't need your open mana for counterspells. The card is also crucial in matchups with decks whose power cards are enchantments, as it kills a number of nuicance cards: Bitterblossom, Runed Halo (which will stop your Banefire), and Story Circle (which will stop your Broodmates).
Wrath of God
Board sweeping at its finest. It wipes out entire armies, including creatures with protection from white and shroud because it doesn't actually target them. This is your trump card against fast decks like Kithkin or Red Deck Wins, slaughtering everything on their board that can deal damage except for man lands like Mutavault.
Banefire
The beauty behind Banefire is in its simplicity. It is burn - uncounterable, unpreventable, and game-ending.
Cruel Ultimatum
This card does it all- and does it well. Not only does it take out an opponent's creature - they have to sacrifice it, which means even a Progenitus falls to this badboy. Then your opponent has to ditch three cards that they've been hanging on to long enough to assure that one of them is probably that game ending Banefire. Throw in a ten point life difference in your favor, drawing three cards, and getting back a Broodmate Dragon, and you've got yourself one of the most efficient spells of all time.
But, doesn't that casting cost look a little intimidating? Don't worry, friends - I promise you'll be dropping this bomb often with no trouble at all.
The Resources
So now that we've seen the weapons of 5 Color Control, you might be asking yourself how you can possibly pay for all of that. Certainly, you won't be able to with basic lands, and even the tri-lands from recent sets couldn't do it alone. What we have to do to get all these colors, is look back a little further...
Vivid Lands
There are five vivid lands all together, one for each color of mana. They all come into play tapped, and can produce any color of mana twice in a game. Mystic Creek is the most important, as you'll be using far more blue mana than any other color, so four of these is the norm, backed up by two each of Vivid Marsh, Vivid Crag, and Vivid meadow. This, of course, all depends on how your mana requirements are in the unique deck you build.
Filter Lands
The next step on our road to ultimate mana flexibility are filter lands. These guys allow you to take mana of one color, and turn it into any combination you need of two colors. There are ten different filter lands, one for each possible two-color combination. Just remember, they need colored mana to activate, and so they're worthless on the first turn.
Reflecting Pool
This is the card that makes it all work.
A Reflecting Pool with a Vivid land in play can produce any color of mana - with no drawbacks. It doesn't even come into play tapped. With just a filter land, it can produce either color the filter could, allowing you to then activate your filter land and get any two-color combination that it allows. This is the synergy that will drive your deck over the top, allowing you to cast any spell you want, including turn two Terror and Broken Ambitions.
Vivid Lands
There are five vivid lands all together, one for each color of mana. They all come into play tapped, and can produce any color of mana twice in a game. Mystic Creek is the most important, as you'll be using far more blue mana than any other color, so four of these is the norm, backed up by two each of Vivid Marsh, Vivid Crag, and Vivid meadow. This, of course, all depends on how your mana requirements are in the unique deck you build.
Filter Lands
The next step on our road to ultimate mana flexibility are filter lands. These guys allow you to take mana of one color, and turn it into any combination you need of two colors. There are ten different filter lands, one for each possible two-color combination. Just remember, they need colored mana to activate, and so they're worthless on the first turn.
Reflecting Pool
This is the card that makes it all work.
A Reflecting Pool with a Vivid land in play can produce any color of mana - with no drawbacks. It doesn't even come into play tapped. With just a filter land, it can produce either color the filter could, allowing you to then activate your filter land and get any two-color combination that it allows. This is the synergy that will drive your deck over the top, allowing you to cast any spell you want, including turn two Terror and Broken Ambitions.
The Rest
Five Color Control is a great deck, and while it might be more difficult to play with than other decks, it can also be more rewarding. To round this article out, I'd like to present to you four decks, all first-place finishers, that show the current spectrum of 5CC and its variants. Good luck out there!
1 Pithing Needle
3 Broodmate Dragon
4 Mulldrifter
3 Plumeveil
3 Wall Of Reverence
4 Broken Ambitions
1 Celestial Purge
4 Cryptic Command
4 Esper Charm
1 Terror
4 Volcanic Fallout
2 Cruel Ultimatum
3 Island
2 Cascade Bluffs
2 Exotic Orchard
1 Mystic Gate
4 Reflecting Pool
4 Sunken Ruins
2 Vivid Crag
4 Vivid Creek
3 Vivid Marsh
2 Vivid Meadow
Sideboard:
4 Scepter Of Fugue
1 Wispmare
1 Celestial Purge
2 Negate
1 Remove Soul
2 Wydwen, The Biting Gale
2 Infest
2 Wrath Of God
Five Color Control is a great deck, and while it might be more difficult to play with than other decks, it can also be more rewarding. To round this article out, I'd like to present to you four decks, all first-place finishers, that show the current spectrum of 5CC and its variants. Good luck out there!
Nassif's 1st Place Deck from Pro Tour in Kyoto - 5 Color Control
Maindeck:1 Pithing Needle
3 Broodmate Dragon
4 Mulldrifter
3 Plumeveil
3 Wall Of Reverence
4 Broken Ambitions
1 Celestial Purge
4 Cryptic Command
4 Esper Charm
1 Terror
4 Volcanic Fallout
2 Cruel Ultimatum
3 Island
2 Cascade Bluffs
2 Exotic Orchard
1 Mystic Gate
4 Reflecting Pool
4 Sunken Ruins
2 Vivid Crag
4 Vivid Creek
3 Vivid Marsh
2 Vivid Meadow
Sideboard:
4 Scepter Of Fugue
1 Wispmare
1 Celestial Purge
2 Negate
1 Remove Soul
2 Wydwen, The Biting Gale
2 Infest
2 Wrath Of God
Nathaniel Chafe's 1st Place Deck from States - 5 Color Control
Maindeck:
2 Cloudthresher
4 Kitchen Finks
4 Mulldrifter
1 Nucklavee
3 Bant Charm
4 Cryptic Command
4 Esper Charm
3 Remove Soul
2 Cruel Ultimatum
1 Mind Shatter
2 Pyroclasm
4 Wrath Of God
2 Cascade Bluffs
2 Flooded Grove
2 Mystic Gate
4 Reflecting Pool
2 Sunken Ruins
4 Vivid Creek
3 Vivid Grove
2 Vivid Marsh
3 Vivid Meadow
Sideboard:
2 Relic Of Progenitus
2 Cloudthresher
2 Runed Halo
3 Condemn
3 Resounding Thunder
2 Vendilion Clique
1 Mind Shatter
2 Cloudthresher
4 Kitchen Finks
4 Mulldrifter
1 Nucklavee
3 Bant Charm
4 Cryptic Command
4 Esper Charm
3 Remove Soul
2 Cruel Ultimatum
1 Mind Shatter
2 Pyroclasm
4 Wrath Of God
2 Cascade Bluffs
2 Flooded Grove
2 Mystic Gate
4 Reflecting Pool
2 Sunken Ruins
4 Vivid Creek
3 Vivid Grove
2 Vivid Marsh
3 Vivid Meadow
Sideboard:
2 Relic Of Progenitus
2 Cloudthresher
2 Runed Halo
3 Condemn
3 Resounding Thunder
2 Vendilion Clique
1 Mind Shatter
Steven Grueshaber's 1st Place Deck from States- Cruel Control
Maindeck:
2 Broodmate Dragon
4 Mulldrifter
1 Nucklavee
4 Condemn
4 Cryptic Command
4 Esper Charm
2 Negate
2 Remove Soul
2 Resounding Thunder
2 Jace Beleren
3 Cruel Ultimatum
2 Pyroclasm
2 Wrath Of God
1 Island
1 Adarkar Wastes
1 Battlefield Forge
1 Cascade Bluffs
2 Flooded Grove
2 Mystic Gate
4 Reflecting Pool
2 Sunken Ruins
4 Vivid Creek
2 Vivid Grove
3 Vivid Marsh
3 Vivid Meadow
Sideboard:
1 Relic Of Progenitus
4 Cloudthresher
1 Plumeveil
2 Runed Halo
1 Counterbore
1 Negate
2 Resounding Wave
1 Firespout
2 Wrath Of God
2 Broodmate Dragon
4 Mulldrifter
1 Nucklavee
4 Condemn
4 Cryptic Command
4 Esper Charm
2 Negate
2 Remove Soul
2 Resounding Thunder
2 Jace Beleren
3 Cruel Ultimatum
2 Pyroclasm
2 Wrath Of God
1 Island
1 Adarkar Wastes
1 Battlefield Forge
1 Cascade Bluffs
2 Flooded Grove
2 Mystic Gate
4 Reflecting Pool
2 Sunken Ruins
4 Vivid Creek
2 Vivid Grove
3 Vivid Marsh
3 Vivid Meadow
Sideboard:
1 Relic Of Progenitus
4 Cloudthresher
1 Plumeveil
2 Runed Halo
1 Counterbore
1 Negate
2 Resounding Wave
1 Firespout
2 Wrath Of God
Matt Owens's First Place Deck - Grixis Control
Maindeck:
4 Demigod Of Revenge
4 Mulldrifter
3 Plumeveil
2 Shriekmaw
3 Broken Ambitions
4 Cryptic Command
4 Makeshift Mannequin
4 Volcanic Fallout
2 Jace Beleren
1 Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker
1 Banefire
2 Cruel Ultimatum
1 Profane Command
Lands
2 Island
3 Swamp
1 Cascade Bluffs
4 Crumbling Necropolis
3 Graven Cairns
4 Reflecting Pool
4 Secluded Glen
4 Sunken Ruins
Sideboard:
2 Relic Of Progenitus
1 Puppeteer Clique
2 Sower Of Temptation
2 Spitebellows
3 Guerrilla Tactics
1 Ascendant Evincar
3 Infest
1 Syphon Life
4 Demigod Of Revenge
4 Mulldrifter
3 Plumeveil
2 Shriekmaw
3 Broken Ambitions
4 Cryptic Command
4 Makeshift Mannequin
4 Volcanic Fallout
2 Jace Beleren
1 Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker
1 Banefire
2 Cruel Ultimatum
1 Profane Command
Lands
2 Island
3 Swamp
1 Cascade Bluffs
4 Crumbling Necropolis
3 Graven Cairns
4 Reflecting Pool
4 Secluded Glen
4 Sunken Ruins
Sideboard:
2 Relic Of Progenitus
1 Puppeteer Clique
2 Sower Of Temptation
2 Spitebellows
3 Guerrilla Tactics
1 Ascendant Evincar
3 Infest
1 Syphon Life
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