I went to Beyond Comics on Thursday 3/28/13 to play some Standard. I took Bant-Blinking-Idiots, which I augmented by removing an Avacyn's Pilgrim and a Somberwald Sage and putting in two copies of Sigarda, Host of Herons. Sixteen players showed up, so we played four rounds.
Round 1: Alex Geck with Bant Midrange
Alex and I have very similar decks, except for the fact that he has a lower mana curve and less late game presence. The matchup is not good for him in the current incarnation of his deck. In game one, I was able to start destroying Shocklands and establish a board presence. In game two, I managed to get two Master Biomancers in play and start making 8/8 Wolf Tokens with Garruk Relentless. (After the event, Alex tuned his deck up and we played, he performed much better after some small changes)
2-0
Round 2: Matt with Mono-Black Zombies/Aristocrats
Matt's deck used Skirsdag High Priest, Blood Artist, Gravecrawler and Sac outlets to quickly accumulate a strong board presence. In game one, I kept a questionable opener where I managed to play one spell all game; I was quickly overwhelmed with Diregraf Ghouls. In game two I managed to begin attacking Matt's land, but my deck was a bit slow and he was able to create some flying 5/5 demons. I destroyed all of his land, but he still had enough creatures to sac them to dual Blood Artists to hit me for 25 in one turn.
0-2
Round 3: Gabe with Saito Naya
Gabe was very aggressive on mulligans and sometimes it payed off for him. I this is a good match up for me as long as I do not let Domri Rade get out of control. In game one I destroyed all of his lands and established great board control. In game two, I stabilized with a Thragtusk that got hit with Pacifism and I lost that one. In game three, I destroyed most of his land and creatures as we were both doing a bit of a mid-range race. Angel of Serenity sealed it for me.
2-1
Round 4: Scott with Selesnya "Big butts".
We nicknamed Scott's deck "Big-Butts" for this slew of T5 creatures (Rhox Faithmender, Trostani, Armada Wurm) and copious lifegain. I watched him get up to around 45 the previous round against Naya Blitz. In game one I destroyed all of his land on the back of an Acidic Slime paired with Deadeye Navigator. In game two, I was a bit slower and had to battle through some life gain. I got Restoration Angel paired with Deadeye and then got Thragtusk and Fiend Hunter going. I exiled all of his creatures (Rhox Faithmender, Trostani, and two Thragtusks) before dropping the Acidic Slime the following turn. He conceded to the Acidic Slime at 58 life.
2-0
I went 2-0, 0-2, 2-1, 2-0 for a combined 6-3 going 3-1. Sigarda really did not show up in many games,
I am considering trading her out for two Angel of Jubilation (which actually shuts down a couple of reanimator strategies).
I think I will trek off to FNM tonight to see how I fare.
Until next time.
Friday, March 29, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Sunday Standard @Xanadu
Eric, Jimmy, Nick, and I went down to Xanadu Games in Baltimore, MD to play some Standard.
We had 18 people, which meant five rounds then a cut to top eight.
I took my Bant-Blinking-Idiots deck, which I updated to the following.
4 Avacyn's Pilgrim
4 Fiend Hunter
4 Somberwald Sage
3 Master Biomancer
4 Restoration Angel
3 Acidic Slime
4 Thragtusk
3 Deadeye Navigator
2 Prime Speaker Zegana
2 Angel of Serenity
2 Garruk Relentless
4 Breeding Pool
3 Cavern of Souls
3 Glacial Fortress
3 Hallowed Fountain
4 Hinterland Harbor
4 Sunpetal Grove
4 Temple Garden
Round 1: Alex with Junk (GWB) Midrange
My deck has an excellent matchup against midrange decks. I made my creatures bigger with Master Biomancer and outraced him.
2-0
Round 2: Robert with RUG midrange.
Robert may actually have been running 4 color, I do not recall. He also had Master Biomancer ramp going on. I was able to control the board by using Deadeye Navigator and Angel of Serenity to premanently exile things from his board. His matchup was not good against me.
2-0
Round 3: Clint with RWU Flash
Clint took game one by casting Harvest Pyre onto a Boros Reckoner. I responded by getting control in game two by destroying all of his lands. In game three Clint sided in his bigger package and used Angel of Serenity to clean up my board. I misplayed by not playing a Restoration Angel on my turn when Clint was tapped out. When I needed her, she got hit with "Dissipate". This lost me the game. (Not that I would not have lost anyways, but it would have bought me a turn to try and draw one of my five outs).
1-2
Round 4: NICHOLAS MARSDEN DITIZIO playing Bant Control.
Nick and I Intentioanlly drew so that we would be placed in a win-and-in in round 5.
1-1-1
Round 5: Stephen with Bant Control
Stephen's deck looked a lot like Bant Midrange early on, I had control in game one until he dropped a "Supreme Verdict" to wipe the board, netting him two 3/3 mini-thragtusks. He then played Gisela, Blade of Goldnight for the win. In game two I sided out Master Biomancer and Prime Speaker Zegana, trying to go a more control route. I was able to get two Angels of Serenity on line to nullify his board wipes.
In game three I got out an early "Nevermore" naming "Supreme Verdict" then began taking control of the game. He dropped an Acidic Slime to kill the Nevermore, followed by a Supreme Verdict to ice the game.
1-2
I finished 7-5 going 2-1-2 and losing my win-and-in. I played pretty poorly in the later rounds, especially Round 5. I sideboarded pretty awfully and need to learn how to do it better in the future.
Until next time.
We had 18 people, which meant five rounds then a cut to top eight.
I took my Bant-Blinking-Idiots deck, which I updated to the following.
4 Avacyn's Pilgrim
4 Fiend Hunter
4 Somberwald Sage
3 Master Biomancer
4 Restoration Angel
3 Acidic Slime
4 Thragtusk
3 Deadeye Navigator
2 Prime Speaker Zegana
2 Angel of Serenity
2 Garruk Relentless
4 Breeding Pool
3 Cavern of Souls
3 Glacial Fortress
3 Hallowed Fountain
4 Hinterland Harbor
4 Sunpetal Grove
4 Temple Garden
Round 1: Alex with Junk (GWB) Midrange
My deck has an excellent matchup against midrange decks. I made my creatures bigger with Master Biomancer and outraced him.
2-0
Round 2: Robert with RUG midrange.
Robert may actually have been running 4 color, I do not recall. He also had Master Biomancer ramp going on. I was able to control the board by using Deadeye Navigator and Angel of Serenity to premanently exile things from his board. His matchup was not good against me.
2-0
Round 3: Clint with RWU Flash
Clint took game one by casting Harvest Pyre onto a Boros Reckoner. I responded by getting control in game two by destroying all of his lands. In game three Clint sided in his bigger package and used Angel of Serenity to clean up my board. I misplayed by not playing a Restoration Angel on my turn when Clint was tapped out. When I needed her, she got hit with "Dissipate". This lost me the game. (Not that I would not have lost anyways, but it would have bought me a turn to try and draw one of my five outs).
1-2
Round 4: NICHOLAS MARSDEN DITIZIO playing Bant Control.
Nick and I Intentioanlly drew so that we would be placed in a win-and-in in round 5.
1-1-1
Round 5: Stephen with Bant Control
Stephen's deck looked a lot like Bant Midrange early on, I had control in game one until he dropped a "Supreme Verdict" to wipe the board, netting him two 3/3 mini-thragtusks. He then played Gisela, Blade of Goldnight for the win. In game two I sided out Master Biomancer and Prime Speaker Zegana, trying to go a more control route. I was able to get two Angels of Serenity on line to nullify his board wipes.
In game three I got out an early "Nevermore" naming "Supreme Verdict" then began taking control of the game. He dropped an Acidic Slime to kill the Nevermore, followed by a Supreme Verdict to ice the game.
1-2
I finished 7-5 going 2-1-2 and losing my win-and-in. I played pretty poorly in the later rounds, especially Round 5. I sideboarded pretty awfully and need to learn how to do it better in the future.
Until next time.
Monday, March 18, 2013
SCGDC 3/16/13
Nick, Jimmy, and I went down to SCGDC to compete in the Standard Open. I took a version of Midrange Bant Control that utilized Deadeye Navigator. I called it "Bant Blinking Idiots". The decklist:
4 Gyre Sage
4 Fiend Hunter
3 Master Biomancer
4 Restoration Angel
3 Acidic Slime
4 Thragtusk
3 Deadeye Navigator
2 Prime Speaker Zegana
2 Angel of Serenity
4 Farseek
2 Garruk Relentless
4 Breeding Pool
1 Forest
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Hallowed Fountain
4 Hinterland Harbor
4 Sunpetal Grove
4 Temple Garden
Sideboard:
2 Dispel
2 Feeling of Dread
3 Ghostly Flicker
3 Nevermore
2 Witchbane Orb
1 Angel of Serenity
2 Sylvan Primordial
After playing it during TNM, I was not super psyched about the deck, but had no desire to change it. If I went 0-2, I could at least enter some $10 drafts...
Round 1: Don with Bant Hexproof
Don got out to a quick start in round one and killed me quickly with Geist of St. Traft into Silverblade Paladin. In game two, I was on the play and kept a better hand. I got out a Master Biomancer followed by Thragtusk into Restoration Angel. In game three I failed to declare a blocker for a lethal Silverblade Paladin + Selesnya Charm attack while I was at seven. I chose to preserve my Fiend Hunter over losing the game. Derp.
1-2
Round 2: Vann with RBW Humanimator
As long as a Reanimator deck is not on a Craterhoof Behemoth plan, I feel comfortable about my matchup. I played a version of this until recently and know how to break it. (Hint: Exile the Sac outlets permanently)
Vann managed to get me in one game where I kept a questionable opener. I prevailed in game three by removing his ability to use White mana (via Acidic Slime).
2-1
Round 3: Carlton with B/G Zombies
This is also a good matchup for me as Fiend Hunter is awesome at killing both Geralf's Messenger and Lotleth Troll. I got my engine of Deadeye + Restoration + Fiend Hunter going in game one. Carlton conceded at 18 life and no non-land permanents.
In game two he got off to a quick start and got some early beats until I played a turn 3 Master Biomancer, followed by a turn 4 and turn 5 Master Biomancer into a 17/18 restoration Angel into a 19/17 Thragtusk.
Restoration Angel swung twice and killed him. Carlton had two Abrupt Decays in his hand with no legal targets.
2-0
Round 4: Ning with Humanimator (non-mill)
In game one I got to an early lead with Acidic Slime destroying lands, that on top of a mana screw led to a win. I sided in the hate (3 Nevermore one Witchbane Orb) for game two fearing an infinite mill. Ning instead made infinite Wolves and gained infinite life on the back of an Abrupt Decay freeing his Cartel Aristocrat. In game three I dropped a turn 3 Nevermore naming Abrupt Decay, followed by a Nevermore naming Unburial Rites, then I destroyed all his land.
2-1
Round 5: Damon with B/W Zombies
Another good matchup for me. Damon actually got me down to one life before I stabilized with Blinking Thragtusks and Fiend Hunters. In game two I played a closer game, I sided in Sylvan Primordial to deal with his Planeswalkers (Sorin and Liliana) once Sylvan Primordial hit play and I destroyed all of his Black Mana, I played Angel of Serenity to remove his last few blockers and swung for Lethal.
2-0
Round 6: Jared with Naya.
This match can be summed up with Acidic Slime shenanigans. In game one, I destroyed literally all of his land. In game two, he never had access to more than two mana a turn. (It sure sucks going to discard and pitching Domri Rade...)
2-0
Round 7: Jake with R/G Midrange.
Jake says his deck is midrange, but he sided out all of his 5-drops after game one. His deck was way too fast and synergistic for me. I was absolutely stomped. Highlights include using Domri Rade to have Fiend Hunter and Flinthoof Boar fight, releasing his Strangleroot Geist from Fiend Hunter's clutches. In game two he had back to back Hellriders (I dealt with both, but at sorcery speed). I have never played against this matchup and was woefully unprepared.
0-2
Thus ended my pretty decent day. I went 1-2, 2-1, 2-0, 2-1, 2-0, 2-0, 0-2 for a combined 11-6 record, 5-2 overall. I was generally pleased with the deck, apart from Gyre Sage, who is miserable in this deck. All of the other creatures performed excellently. My sideboard had some ass cards in it, but that will be rectified.
We actually talked before the tournament about how to make my deck better (i.e. faster) and came to one conclusion.
-4 Farseek +4 Avacyns Pilgrim
-4 Gyre Sage +4 Somberwald Sage
This is my best showing to date at an SCG event. (Previously it had been 4-2 at SCGBal - Legacy)
I feel pretty good about it in all honesty as I think it shows that I am getting better.
Plus, this deck is a homebrew. (No, I am not the first to use Prime Speaker in Bant, but I think I am the first to use Deadeye Navogator and get to at least 5-2)
I already made the changes to the main deck, although I think the Mana Base could be fine tuned.
I also need to make changes to the sideboard.
Until next time...
4 Gyre Sage
4 Fiend Hunter
3 Master Biomancer
4 Restoration Angel
3 Acidic Slime
4 Thragtusk
3 Deadeye Navigator
2 Prime Speaker Zegana
2 Angel of Serenity
4 Farseek
2 Garruk Relentless
4 Breeding Pool
1 Forest
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Hallowed Fountain
4 Hinterland Harbor
4 Sunpetal Grove
4 Temple Garden
Sideboard:
2 Dispel
2 Feeling of Dread
3 Ghostly Flicker
3 Nevermore
2 Witchbane Orb
1 Angel of Serenity
2 Sylvan Primordial
After playing it during TNM, I was not super psyched about the deck, but had no desire to change it. If I went 0-2, I could at least enter some $10 drafts...
Round 1: Don with Bant Hexproof
Don got out to a quick start in round one and killed me quickly with Geist of St. Traft into Silverblade Paladin. In game two, I was on the play and kept a better hand. I got out a Master Biomancer followed by Thragtusk into Restoration Angel. In game three I failed to declare a blocker for a lethal Silverblade Paladin + Selesnya Charm attack while I was at seven. I chose to preserve my Fiend Hunter over losing the game. Derp.
1-2
Round 2: Vann with RBW Humanimator
As long as a Reanimator deck is not on a Craterhoof Behemoth plan, I feel comfortable about my matchup. I played a version of this until recently and know how to break it. (Hint: Exile the Sac outlets permanently)
Vann managed to get me in one game where I kept a questionable opener. I prevailed in game three by removing his ability to use White mana (via Acidic Slime).
2-1
Round 3: Carlton with B/G Zombies
This is also a good matchup for me as Fiend Hunter is awesome at killing both Geralf's Messenger and Lotleth Troll. I got my engine of Deadeye + Restoration + Fiend Hunter going in game one. Carlton conceded at 18 life and no non-land permanents.
In game two he got off to a quick start and got some early beats until I played a turn 3 Master Biomancer, followed by a turn 4 and turn 5 Master Biomancer into a 17/18 restoration Angel into a 19/17 Thragtusk.
Restoration Angel swung twice and killed him. Carlton had two Abrupt Decays in his hand with no legal targets.
2-0
Round 4: Ning with Humanimator (non-mill)
In game one I got to an early lead with Acidic Slime destroying lands, that on top of a mana screw led to a win. I sided in the hate (3 Nevermore one Witchbane Orb) for game two fearing an infinite mill. Ning instead made infinite Wolves and gained infinite life on the back of an Abrupt Decay freeing his Cartel Aristocrat. In game three I dropped a turn 3 Nevermore naming Abrupt Decay, followed by a Nevermore naming Unburial Rites, then I destroyed all his land.
2-1
Round 5: Damon with B/W Zombies
Another good matchup for me. Damon actually got me down to one life before I stabilized with Blinking Thragtusks and Fiend Hunters. In game two I played a closer game, I sided in Sylvan Primordial to deal with his Planeswalkers (Sorin and Liliana) once Sylvan Primordial hit play and I destroyed all of his Black Mana, I played Angel of Serenity to remove his last few blockers and swung for Lethal.
2-0
Round 6: Jared with Naya.
This match can be summed up with Acidic Slime shenanigans. In game one, I destroyed literally all of his land. In game two, he never had access to more than two mana a turn. (It sure sucks going to discard and pitching Domri Rade...)
2-0
Round 7: Jake with R/G Midrange.
Jake says his deck is midrange, but he sided out all of his 5-drops after game one. His deck was way too fast and synergistic for me. I was absolutely stomped. Highlights include using Domri Rade to have Fiend Hunter and Flinthoof Boar fight, releasing his Strangleroot Geist from Fiend Hunter's clutches. In game two he had back to back Hellriders (I dealt with both, but at sorcery speed). I have never played against this matchup and was woefully unprepared.
0-2
Thus ended my pretty decent day. I went 1-2, 2-1, 2-0, 2-1, 2-0, 2-0, 0-2 for a combined 11-6 record, 5-2 overall. I was generally pleased with the deck, apart from Gyre Sage, who is miserable in this deck. All of the other creatures performed excellently. My sideboard had some ass cards in it, but that will be rectified.
We actually talked before the tournament about how to make my deck better (i.e. faster) and came to one conclusion.
-4 Farseek +4 Avacyns Pilgrim
-4 Gyre Sage +4 Somberwald Sage
This is my best showing to date at an SCG event. (Previously it had been 4-2 at SCGBal - Legacy)
I feel pretty good about it in all honesty as I think it shows that I am getting better.
Plus, this deck is a homebrew. (No, I am not the first to use Prime Speaker in Bant, but I think I am the first to use Deadeye Navogator and get to at least 5-2)
I already made the changes to the main deck, although I think the Mana Base could be fine tuned.
I also need to make changes to the sideboard.
Until next time...
Monday, March 11, 2013
PTQ 3/9/13 and SCGDC next weekend.
There was a PTQ held at Games and Stuff (G&S) in Glen Burnie MD this past Saturday. *As an aside G&S has just moved to a new location that is bigger and easier to park at.
The format of the event was modern, which I am not a fan of. The ban list seems to hinge on what decks are doing well at the moment and the apparent desire for the game to last longer than 3 turns, while still allowing kiki-jiki and birthing pod to combo off on turn 4. Why the hell are Green Sun's Zenith and Golgari Grave-Troll banned?
I arrived at the end of round 4, to find that two of my friends were doing relatively well. Nick and I entered two Gatecrash draft side events.
In the first draft, I was thinking of Simic, which turned into Dimir after pack three or so. I did get some late round bombs in the form of Nightveil Specter (which I fucking love), Lazav, and Consuming Aberration.
I went 1-1 in that draft losing to RUG (with three copies of Madcap Skills) I only had two removal cards and one bounce effect and was run over by 3/1 Cloufin Raptors and a 3/4 Elusive Krasis.
In the second draft I forced Orzhov and got three fliers with a pair of Shadow Slices. I took round one (my previous RUG opponent Max from the first round) due to a shadow slice top deck and some missed triggers from my opponent. I lost to a Simic deck in the following round. I ended the game with three "Cipher" cards in my hand. I did not have enough idiots in my deck to be able to race with Simic after a "merciless Eviction".
My 2-2 showing is better than my draft showing in Charlotte (0-4), so I think I am getting better at limited.
SCGDC is next weekend. I definitely plan on attending, but am unsure what to bring to the party, or even what events to attend.
For Standard, I have the choice between Jund and Bant. Naya Humans just took the Standard portion of SCGIndy so I expect to see a good amount of that and Naya Blitz in the Meta. I do not think my Bant deck is fast enough to be able to compete with 10 power on the board on turn 2. I hope to test it out during either TNM or FNM later this week.
Jund, I think is semi positioned to be able to deal with Naya Blitz or Naya Humans. Jund also seems to be a very popular deck in Standard (as well as in Modern and Legacy) and from what Patrick Chapin wrote about in his latest article on SCG, we can expect to see a lot of it. People will be prepared to beat up on Jund, but it will likely be the Jund list that has been floating around the internet for a few weeks. I do not like the deck, specifically, a few of the cards.
Arbor Elf: I hate mana dorks. Top-decking one of these on turn 8 is NOT a way to win a game. (Exception: Gyre sage, who has Evolve)
Pillar of Flame: I think this card is too slow. The prime targets of this card (Gravecrawler and Geralf's Messenger) are not really seeing a lot of play right now.
In my Jund, my one-drops will consist of Removal (Tragic Slip, and Human Frailty in the side) and hand destruction (Appetite for Brains and/or Duress).
I will put something together later today and post it up on deckbox for comment.
Until next time.
The format of the event was modern, which I am not a fan of. The ban list seems to hinge on what decks are doing well at the moment and the apparent desire for the game to last longer than 3 turns, while still allowing kiki-jiki and birthing pod to combo off on turn 4. Why the hell are Green Sun's Zenith and Golgari Grave-Troll banned?
I arrived at the end of round 4, to find that two of my friends were doing relatively well. Nick and I entered two Gatecrash draft side events.
In the first draft, I was thinking of Simic, which turned into Dimir after pack three or so. I did get some late round bombs in the form of Nightveil Specter (which I fucking love), Lazav, and Consuming Aberration.
I went 1-1 in that draft losing to RUG (with three copies of Madcap Skills) I only had two removal cards and one bounce effect and was run over by 3/1 Cloufin Raptors and a 3/4 Elusive Krasis.
In the second draft I forced Orzhov and got three fliers with a pair of Shadow Slices. I took round one (my previous RUG opponent Max from the first round) due to a shadow slice top deck and some missed triggers from my opponent. I lost to a Simic deck in the following round. I ended the game with three "Cipher" cards in my hand. I did not have enough idiots in my deck to be able to race with Simic after a "merciless Eviction".
My 2-2 showing is better than my draft showing in Charlotte (0-4), so I think I am getting better at limited.
SCGDC is next weekend. I definitely plan on attending, but am unsure what to bring to the party, or even what events to attend.
For Standard, I have the choice between Jund and Bant. Naya Humans just took the Standard portion of SCGIndy so I expect to see a good amount of that and Naya Blitz in the Meta. I do not think my Bant deck is fast enough to be able to compete with 10 power on the board on turn 2. I hope to test it out during either TNM or FNM later this week.
Jund, I think is semi positioned to be able to deal with Naya Blitz or Naya Humans. Jund also seems to be a very popular deck in Standard (as well as in Modern and Legacy) and from what Patrick Chapin wrote about in his latest article on SCG, we can expect to see a lot of it. People will be prepared to beat up on Jund, but it will likely be the Jund list that has been floating around the internet for a few weeks. I do not like the deck, specifically, a few of the cards.
Arbor Elf: I hate mana dorks. Top-decking one of these on turn 8 is NOT a way to win a game. (Exception: Gyre sage, who has Evolve)
Pillar of Flame: I think this card is too slow. The prime targets of this card (Gravecrawler and Geralf's Messenger) are not really seeing a lot of play right now.
In my Jund, my one-drops will consist of Removal (Tragic Slip, and Human Frailty in the side) and hand destruction (Appetite for Brains and/or Duress).
I will put something together later today and post it up on deckbox for comment.
Until next time.
Friday, March 8, 2013
TNM Gatecrash Draft
I decided to go to a Gatecrash draft. Despite my protests, we had a single 10-man pod...
In my first pack I opened "Prime Speaker Zegana" and windmilled it down on the table, face up. I then proceeded to tell the table to "stay out of my colors". Lol. They did, and I ended up with the following Simic deck.
-0
Simic Guildgate
-1
Forced Adaptaion
Cloudfin Raptor
-2
Frilled Oculus
Shambleshark
Greenside Watcher
Metropolis Sprite
Metropolis Sprite
Simic Charm
-3
Crocanura
Elusive Krasis
Slaughterhorn
Simic Keyrune
Drakewing Krasis
Nightveil Specter
-4
Keymaster Rogue
Scab-Clan Charger
-5
Rust Scarab
Adaptive Snapjaw
Leyline Phantom
Leyline Phantom
-6
Prime Speaker Zegana
Sapphire Drake
-7
Sylvan Primordial
I ended up going 2-1, 2-1, ID for a final record of 2-0-1.
My last round opponent and I played for the Promo Card, and I 2-0'd him. Afterwards I learned that he was only playing 13 land...
Here are the other cards I drafted (excluding basic land)
-0
Gruul Guildgate
-2
Clan Defiance
Pit Fight
Naturalize
Greenside Watcher
Greenside Watcher
-3
Warmind Infantry
Verdant Haven
Armored Transport
-5
Mindeye Drake
Adaptive Snapjaw
Towering Thunderfist
Zhur-Taa Swine
Fortress Cyclops
Is there anything that you guys might have done differently.
Until next time...
In my first pack I opened "Prime Speaker Zegana" and windmilled it down on the table, face up. I then proceeded to tell the table to "stay out of my colors". Lol. They did, and I ended up with the following Simic deck.
-0
Simic Guildgate
-1
Forced Adaptaion
Cloudfin Raptor
-2
Frilled Oculus
Shambleshark
Greenside Watcher
Metropolis Sprite
Metropolis Sprite
Simic Charm
-3
Crocanura
Elusive Krasis
Slaughterhorn
Simic Keyrune
Drakewing Krasis
Nightveil Specter
-4
Keymaster Rogue
Scab-Clan Charger
-5
Rust Scarab
Adaptive Snapjaw
Leyline Phantom
Leyline Phantom
-6
Prime Speaker Zegana
Sapphire Drake
-7
Sylvan Primordial
I ended up going 2-1, 2-1, ID for a final record of 2-0-1.
My last round opponent and I played for the Promo Card, and I 2-0'd him. Afterwards I learned that he was only playing 13 land...
Here are the other cards I drafted (excluding basic land)
-0
Gruul Guildgate
-2
Clan Defiance
Pit Fight
Naturalize
Greenside Watcher
Greenside Watcher
-3
Warmind Infantry
Verdant Haven
Armored Transport
-5
Mindeye Drake
Adaptive Snapjaw
Towering Thunderfist
Zhur-Taa Swine
Fortress Cyclops
Is there anything that you guys might have done differently.
Until next time...
Friday, March 1, 2013
TNM 2/28/13
I decided to head out to Beyond Comics in Frederick, MD to play some Thursday Night Magic (TNM).
I originally built Jund and toyed with the idea of making Esper Delver. I did not like the feel of Jund this time around. I also thought the Delver deck was too slow (comparatively speaking) and ineffective against decks that play Cavern of Souls.
I built the Humanimator Mill Combo deck that took second at GP Montreal.
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Fiend Hunter
4 Undercity Informer
3 Huntmaster of the Fells
4 Angel of Glory's Rise
4 Grisly Salvage
4 Faithless Looting
3 Farseek
3 Mulch
4 Unburial Rites
2 Blood Crypt
4 Cavern of Souls
2 Clifftop Retreat
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Sacred Foundry
3 Stomping Grounds
3 Sunpetal Grove
3 Temple Garden
4 Woodland Cemetery
-Side -
2 Purify the Grave
4 Abrupt Decay
3 Centaur Healer
3 Restoration Angel
3 Thragtusk
I barely had time to goldfish the deck before leaving my house between work and when I left for TNM.
Round 1: Dave with Boros Aggro
Dave's deck had a lot of "Battalion" creatures (Legion Loyalist, Frontline Medic, Boros Elite) with Boros Reckoner. In game one, I played some lands out of order and messed up a Grisly Salvage. I was horribly beaten. I sided in my suite of Abrupt Decay to deal with the Reckoners.
In games two and three I adopted a semi-aggro posture until I was able to get the combo off and deck Dave. In game three, Dave kept a four card mulligan, made a VERY bad attack, in my opinion, and then I got the combo off.
(2-1)
Round 2: Ian with Jund
In game one, I cast a Mulch that revealed two other Mulches and two Grisly Salvages. So I stalled on engine and got run over by dudes. I sided in Abrupt decay in case he had Grafdigger's cage. In game two, I filled up my yard pretty quick and then was hit with "Slaughter Games". I an messed up and named "Unburial Rites". I hard cast "Angel of Glory's Rise" (Which he should have named) on turn 6 and combo-milled.
I was fearful of "Slaughter Games" so I sided out my combo package (Angel of Glory's Rise and Undercity Informer) in favor of Centaur Healer, Thragtusk, and Restoration Angel.
I got a pretty fast start on Ian with Burning-Tree Emissary into Farseek. I then curved "Huntmaster of the Fells" into "Thragtusk". He played Olivia, but Fiend Hunter took care of her. (Twice, thanks to "Unburial Rites") He had sided in too many four drops and was unable to race my beaters.
(2-1)
Round 3: Matt with Mono-Black midrange.
Matt had played for a number of years since Revised. He took a decade hiatus and decided to get back into magic. His deck was mono-black with Duress, Murder, Geralf's Messenger, Gravecrawler, Diregraf Ghoul, and Desecration Demon. He was a bit unfamiliar with most of the cards, which is to be expected. I was able to get my combo engine going pretty fast and killed him pretty quickly in Game 1. I sided in "Abrupt Decay" as help if he brought in "Grafdigger's Cage". (Which, in retrospect, was unlikely since he had "Geralf's Messenger" and "Gravecrawler". He got me down to two life with mostly Geralf's Messenger until I stabilized. I thought I was safe, but then he hit me with "Sign in Blood" killing me. (Unexpected)
In game three I put the "Abrupt Decays" back into the board and revelled at my own idiocy for bringing them in to begin with.
In game three, he got me to two life and I was able to get the combo engine going thanks to a timely topdeck of Unburial Rites.
(2-1)
Round 4: Bill with Boros Aggro
Bill is a friend of Matt, they are kind of in the same boat in terms of coming "back to the game".
Bill had a Boros Aggro deck with "Spark Trooper" being the top of his curve. His deck also included "Lightning Mauler", "Frontline Medic", and "Boros Reckoner".
In game one, he got me down to one life on me being a bit reckless by attacking into him. I had ~12 outs and pulled one off the top to combo-out. I made no sideboard changes between games. In game two, it was not quite that close, I was at 4 life, but was well in control of the game, I got the combo engine going without need for an "Unburial Rites" and killed him.
I think if his "Spark Troopers" had been "Hellriders", he would have done better
(2-0)
I went 4-0 and got some packs, from which I pulled an Aurelia and a Merciless Eviction, and not much else.
I don't think I played flawlessly in these games, as it took me a few games to realize that I could use Undercity Informer to mill myself and not my opponent in order to fill the graveyard. I need to learn how to sideboard better as I was generally confused about my sideboarding options. Overall, the deck is fun for me to play, but there were a few groans when I would combo-off at very low life. I did gamble a lot on the deck, by losing blockers when I though I could combo-off the following turn; if I did not draw into the combo, I would have surely died.
Until next time...
I originally built Jund and toyed with the idea of making Esper Delver. I did not like the feel of Jund this time around. I also thought the Delver deck was too slow (comparatively speaking) and ineffective against decks that play Cavern of Souls.
I built the Humanimator Mill Combo deck that took second at GP Montreal.
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Fiend Hunter
4 Undercity Informer
3 Huntmaster of the Fells
4 Angel of Glory's Rise
4 Grisly Salvage
4 Faithless Looting
3 Farseek
3 Mulch
4 Unburial Rites
2 Blood Crypt
4 Cavern of Souls
2 Clifftop Retreat
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Sacred Foundry
3 Stomping Grounds
3 Sunpetal Grove
3 Temple Garden
4 Woodland Cemetery
-Side -
2 Purify the Grave
4 Abrupt Decay
3 Centaur Healer
3 Restoration Angel
3 Thragtusk
I barely had time to goldfish the deck before leaving my house between work and when I left for TNM.
Round 1: Dave with Boros Aggro
Dave's deck had a lot of "Battalion" creatures (Legion Loyalist, Frontline Medic, Boros Elite) with Boros Reckoner. In game one, I played some lands out of order and messed up a Grisly Salvage. I was horribly beaten. I sided in my suite of Abrupt Decay to deal with the Reckoners.
In games two and three I adopted a semi-aggro posture until I was able to get the combo off and deck Dave. In game three, Dave kept a four card mulligan, made a VERY bad attack, in my opinion, and then I got the combo off.
(2-1)
Round 2: Ian with Jund
In game one, I cast a Mulch that revealed two other Mulches and two Grisly Salvages. So I stalled on engine and got run over by dudes. I sided in Abrupt decay in case he had Grafdigger's cage. In game two, I filled up my yard pretty quick and then was hit with "Slaughter Games". I an messed up and named "Unburial Rites". I hard cast "Angel of Glory's Rise" (Which he should have named) on turn 6 and combo-milled.
I was fearful of "Slaughter Games" so I sided out my combo package (Angel of Glory's Rise and Undercity Informer) in favor of Centaur Healer, Thragtusk, and Restoration Angel.
I got a pretty fast start on Ian with Burning-Tree Emissary into Farseek. I then curved "Huntmaster of the Fells" into "Thragtusk". He played Olivia, but Fiend Hunter took care of her. (Twice, thanks to "Unburial Rites") He had sided in too many four drops and was unable to race my beaters.
(2-1)
Round 3: Matt with Mono-Black midrange.
Matt had played for a number of years since Revised. He took a decade hiatus and decided to get back into magic. His deck was mono-black with Duress, Murder, Geralf's Messenger, Gravecrawler, Diregraf Ghoul, and Desecration Demon. He was a bit unfamiliar with most of the cards, which is to be expected. I was able to get my combo engine going pretty fast and killed him pretty quickly in Game 1. I sided in "Abrupt Decay" as help if he brought in "Grafdigger's Cage". (Which, in retrospect, was unlikely since he had "Geralf's Messenger" and "Gravecrawler". He got me down to two life with mostly Geralf's Messenger until I stabilized. I thought I was safe, but then he hit me with "Sign in Blood" killing me. (Unexpected)
In game three I put the "Abrupt Decays" back into the board and revelled at my own idiocy for bringing them in to begin with.
In game three, he got me to two life and I was able to get the combo engine going thanks to a timely topdeck of Unburial Rites.
(2-1)
Round 4: Bill with Boros Aggro
Bill is a friend of Matt, they are kind of in the same boat in terms of coming "back to the game".
Bill had a Boros Aggro deck with "Spark Trooper" being the top of his curve. His deck also included "Lightning Mauler", "Frontline Medic", and "Boros Reckoner".
In game one, he got me down to one life on me being a bit reckless by attacking into him. I had ~12 outs and pulled one off the top to combo-out. I made no sideboard changes between games. In game two, it was not quite that close, I was at 4 life, but was well in control of the game, I got the combo engine going without need for an "Unburial Rites" and killed him.
I think if his "Spark Troopers" had been "Hellriders", he would have done better
(2-0)
I went 4-0 and got some packs, from which I pulled an Aurelia and a Merciless Eviction, and not much else.
I don't think I played flawlessly in these games, as it took me a few games to realize that I could use Undercity Informer to mill myself and not my opponent in order to fill the graveyard. I need to learn how to sideboard better as I was generally confused about my sideboarding options. Overall, the deck is fun for me to play, but there were a few groans when I would combo-off at very low life. I did gamble a lot on the deck, by losing blockers when I though I could combo-off the following turn; if I did not draw into the combo, I would have surely died.
Until next time...
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