UPDATE OF STANDARD

Well, hello again my friends! I decided to take some time and give you an update of a deck I have been working on for a few months now and how it has evolved. If you go back a few articles you may see a GW deck that I was raving about. I still love the deck and have spent lots of time updating it and tweaking it.

Here is one of the Key Cards shown above.

The last two FNM's have resulted in a 4-0-2 record and then a 5-0 record. Not the ideal undefeated streak i would like (2 draws) but undefeated none the less. I noticed that the changes to the maindeck and sideboard have really helped me out.

I will give you a rundown of Last nights FNM from memory.

Round 1 - BWG Vat Allies

Game 1 I had a difficult time because of a slow draw and also 3 discard spells from him. Luckily the 3rd discard spell was a horrifying revelation which netted me a Vengevine in the yard. (1:12 odds) After that I was able to outrace him thanks to a kicked Kor Sanctifiers on the Mimic Vat.

Game 2 I just flat out raced him and was able to overrun him quickly with various creatures including a Thrun.

Games 2-0 (2-0 Total)

Matches 1-0

Round 2 - GW Homebrew (Anti Day)

This deck is made with mana ramp and huge threats such as Baneslayer, Wurmcoil Engine, Mitotic Slime etc.

Game 1 He had to mul to 5 and never got it going. I just had to outrace him and play a Vengevine or two before he got it going.

Game 2 He had to mul again to 6 and I was able to do the same thing. He played a Baneslayer but I top decked a Journey just in time to swing for lethal.

Games 2-0 (4-0 Total)
Matches 2-0

Round 3 - Mono White Knights

Game 1 He got stuck on two mana and was only able to play 2 creatures and an Honor of the Pure. I was able to blow up the Honor with a kicked Kor Sanctifiers and just ran him over with a few creatures.

Game 2 My opponent had a much better start, he actually got me down to about 7 life. We went back and forth until I got 3 Vengevines on the field and was able to sneak in damage through his indestructible army. I forced him to chump block with his Knight Exemplar then got him down to 2. The next turn he played DOJ but I had a Stirring Wildwood to finish the job.

Games 2-0 (6-0 Total)
Matches 3-0

Round 4 - Caw Go w/Venser

Game 1 I started off the game with a couple squadron hawks and double Journeyed two of his hawks just after blowing up a fresh Tumble Magnet. I then had to spend lots of time fighting through 2 Vensers and 2 Jace's. Thrun got home after dealing with the planeswalkers. (Thrun was an All-Star)

Game 2 Had a similar start. Was able to keep him off of 5 mana for a couple turns with a timely Tec edge and playing a threat thanks to Lotus Cobra. I got Fauna shaman going just in time to get a couple vengevines in the yard and attacking a few turns later.

Games 2-0 (8-0- Total)
Matches 4-0

Round 5 - Caw Go w/Venser (Again)

Game 1 I had to mul to 6 but was able to get a good start with Lotus Cobra, It then went back and forth for a while until I got Thrun on board with regen mana up thanks to a fetch land (missed 3 land drops prior). I had a couple other threats so he had to Day to extend the game but I had the mana to regen Thrun. I was able to ride Thrun to victory.

Game 2 We went back and forth for a while, but he ultimately had way too many removal spells for me to deal with. 2x DOJ 2x condemn (vengevine & baneslayer) 3x journey (hawk, cobra, Fauna Shaman) he stalled until he was able to go ultimate with Jace.

Game 3 This game almost went to time. It would have been a much easier game if i would have triple Tec edged him on turn 7 instead of just hitting 2 of his four lands at his EOT turn 6. I was able to get lots of Vengevines out thanks to a fauna shaman that actually stayed alive for a few turns. after he chumped with all of his hawks I was finally able to get through with just 1 turn left.

Games 2-1 (9-1 Total)
Matches 5-0

Well i wound up with 1st place and a little product, but I really enjoyed myself and had a fun time playing with my updates. The weird part was that I never drew a Garruk, which was one of the changes I wanted to try out.

Here is the Updated list

CREATURES (27)

4x Birds of Paradise
4x Fauna Shaman
4x Vengevine
4x Squadron Hawk
3x Lotus Cobra
2x Kor Skyfisher
1x Baneslayer Angel
1x Acidic Slime
1x Kor Sanctifiers
2x Stoneforge Mystic
1x Thrun, The Last Troll

PLANESWALKERS (2)

2x Garruk, The Wildspeaker

SPELLS (7)

2x Day of Judgement
3x Journey to Nowhere
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
1x Basilisk Collar

LANDS (24)

3x Sunpetal Grove
4x Stirring Wildwood
2x Razorverge Thicket
3x Misty Rainforest
2x Marsh Flats
3x Tectonic Edge
4x Forest
3x Plains

I didn't feel like posting the sideboard yet but if you are interested, just let me know and I will post it. Again, thanks for reading and wish me luck in the future. I'm trying to ramp up and see if I can make a splash in the upcoming GP.

PTQ Update

Well, well, well,

I had a very difficult time in my most recent PTQ. I had a big time roller coaster ride and it was not a fun one. I started the PTQ 0-2 and almost dropped out of the tournament but decided I had to get some points back and still felt like I had a solid deck, just bad draws. I eventually clawed myself back with going 4-0 in the middle of the tournament. I felt very comfortable that I had a shot at some packs, I just had to win one more match. i proceeded to go 0-2 to finish a disappointing day. Here is a quick breakdown on the matches I had.

Rnd 1 GW Trap - Lost
Rnd 2 5 Color Control - Lost
Rnd 3 Jund - Won
Rnd 4 Jund - Won
Rnd 5 Naya - Won
Rnd 6 Jund - Won
Rnd 7 Faeries - Lost
Rnd 8 Elves (mono) - Lost

Just in case you did not read any of the previous articles, I was playing Doran. Honestly, even with a 4-4 record (not good) I would probably still play it again if I had a chance. I never felt like I was completely outmatched, but I did feel like I had some unlucky draws. If I were to play the same deck again I think I would only make 2 changes, one main deck and one sideboard.

Here was the list.

CREATURES (22)

3x Birds of Paradise
3x Treefolk Harbinger
1x Stoneforge Mystic
3x Putrid Leech
2x Quasali Pridemate
2x Kitchen Finks
3x Knight of the Reliquary
4x Doran, The Siege Tower
1x Thrun, The Last Troll

SPELLS (15)

2x Path to Exile
3x Thoughtseize
2x Duress
2x Inquisition of Kozilek
2x Green Sun's Zenith
1x Behemoth Sledge
3x Maelstrom Pulse

LANDS (25)

4x Forest
2x Swamp
2x Plains
3x Stirring Wildwood
4x Verdant Catacombs
1x Marsh Flats
3x Misty Rainforest
4x Murmuring Bosk
1x Sejiri Steppe

SIDEBOARD (15)

1x Bojuka Bog
2x Deathmark
2x Path to Exile
2x Kitchen Finks
2x Nature's Claim
3x Great sable Stag
3x Infest

As I mentioned before, I really enjoyed playing the deck and would have made only a couple changes.

Main Deck
-1 Quasali Pridemate
+1 Green Sun's Zenith

Green Sun's Zenith was sooooo good for me, I was never disappointed to draw it at any point in the game, be it late or early. It was always extremely useful since it fetches everything in my deck except for the mystic.

Sidebord
-1 Bojuka Bog
+1 Deathmark

Deathmark could be go for the throat all the same, but when I sided them in they won me several games, and could have won me more if I would have had extra to draw. Bojuka bog only got sided in against Jund, and i never had to use it!

Overall, I did enjoy myself but I was a little sad with the outcome. There were a couple of times where if I would have drawn a little different in key times I would have won 2-1 instead of losing 1-2. My 4-4 record could have easily been 6-2 but that's just how things work out sometimes.

Thanks again for reading. and if you have any questions or comments just leave me a note! Thanks!!!

Prerelease!!! Mirrodin Beseiged!!!

I would like to start by saying I really enjoyed the Prerelease of Mirrodin Besieged, it was different and fun. I had mediocre success with going 2-1 in swiss draft and 4-2 in sealed but I will take it (much better than losing a bunch of points).

The Positives

- Great idea to do Mirran vs. Phyrexia all around. (diff promos and diff packs)
- Renewal of old cards (Blightsteel Colossus. Inkmoth Nexus etc.)
- New planeswalker to get.
- Nice flow from set to set.

The Negatives

- Too much infect (cards you would love to fit in a deck you can't because its infect only)
- Too much infect (did i mention there was too much infect)
- Drafts were awkward due to the different pack types.

Overall It was a nice step forward in the development of MTG as a whole. They played to the masses with the ability to "Make your own decision". It will be really interesting to see how they follow it up with the 3rd set. I believe that Phrexia probably wins the war based on my local stores choices, but we will see. I am rooting for the good guys!!!

If you read this, leave me a note and tell me about your experience and what you chose! Until next time, have fun!!!

WHATS NEW

Hello everyone,

I would like to start by saying I am in the process of re-committing myself to Magic as a whole. I have been spending a lot of time getting into proper practices (or what I think are proper practices). I am tight on time with a full time job, a wife, and a child but I am doing my best to stay focused. My primary focus has been extended since that will be what the PTQ season and and Grand Prix will be. Now I know that the format will change because there is a new set coming out but that does not mean that it is too early to get to work. In fact i believe that the new set (a small set) will only make a marginal difference in the overall meta. I think that it may drag down a few decks from one tier to another and vice versa. i would even go as far as saying there could be one brand new deck that is created and competitive right away but not much more than that.

The biggest thing I have had to do is test, test, test. It is the only way to make sure you are prepared for what will come your way. With PTQ's you sometimes have the opportunity to steal games you should not win just simply because you are more prepared than your opponent. If I were to make a list off the top of my head of the primary factors that determine a match they would be.....

- The deck you are playing (including meta gaming)
- Play skill (including rules knowledge)
- Preparation
- Luck

I think if you are exceptional at one of these you can make up for some lack in one of the other categories. Luck obviously is out of your control but if you build a consistent and balanced deck and prepare it can seem to others that you have exceptional luck. You can create the perception of luck by playing the match based on what you anticipate because you have played these scenarios out time and time again through practice. It is a wonderful feeling when things come together that way.

Play skill is the hardest of these four to change. In a way it comes from years of playing and practicing. Some are much quicker students of the game and can pick up on some of the smallest details and use it to their advantage. I personally am still working on my rules knowledge and learn quite often from other players things I either didn't know or didn't catch previously, its exciting!

I am trying my best to keep an open mind about what deck I will play and what my game plan will be for the up coming events but I can't help to find myself drifting towards the deck I was originally planning to play. Thankfully I have been surprised that it is doing well against most of the current meta-game. Again though I can't get my hopes up to much until I have adequately tested and seen what changes will happen with Mirrodin Besieged.

In case you are wondering the deck I was referring to is Doran. To me it has a lot of game against not only a lot of decks maindeck answers but also most of their sideboards as well. Aside from Day of Judgement most of the other board sweepers don't hurt me too much since they only deal 2 damage or give everything -2/-2. All the hand destruction I pack helps me against control and combo, and typically my creatures are going to be bigger than most of the other agro decks. I did not plan on posting the list today but if anyone is interested send a message and I will be happy to post it.

Thanks guys, and for the original bloggers Nicki and Justin I will be at Area 51 tonight to get on you for not keeping up with your posts, lol

Until next time....Happy building.

Alternatives in Standard

Hello everyone,

I have to apologize, my plan was to play this last FNM with the deck that I highlighted in my last blog, but I didn't. I did something I usually never do, I went with something untested that I liked and just had to try. I made a deck that has one of my favorite cards in it.

VENGEVINE!!!!

The interesting thing is, the deck is not made specifically for vengevine, but I do have lots of ways to help it out.





Here is the list.

CREATURES (28)


4x Birds of Paradise
4x Fauna Shaman
4x Vengevine
4x Squadron Hawk
2x Kor Skyfisher
2x Baneslayer Angel
2x Sun Titan
1x Acidic Slime
1x Kor Sanctifiers
1x Stoneforge Mystic
1x Obstinate Baloth
1x Sunblast Angel
1x Linvala, Keeper of Silence

SPELLS (7)

3x Day of Judgement
3x Journey to Nowhere
1x Sword of Body and Mind

LANDS (25)

4x Sunpetal Grove
4x Stirring Wildwood
2x Razorverge Thicket
2x Misty Rainforest
1x Marsh Flats
3x Tectonic Edge
5x Forest
4x Plains

The deck is primarily made to just be highly cohesive and interactive. To me it makes the games more fun! (but also slower). The most know combination is Fauna Shaman with Squadron Hawk and Vengevine. It gives you extra creatures to pitch to get what you need. The Sun Titans and Skyfishers are there to help recycle cards but the Skyfisher is also very helpfull in a pinch to activate Vengevine.

SIDEBOARD (15)

2x Obstinate Baloth
1x Kor Sanctifier
1x Acidic Slime
1x Basilisk Collar
3x Leyline of Sanctity
3x Condemn
1x Mold Shambler
2x ?

I can't quite remember the two cards i am missing out of the sideboard, in fact I'm lucky i remembered what was in the deck at all with out having it on hand. I have a great respect for deck building because you never know how it comes out. I will tell you a quick rundown from memory of my 5 rounds.

NOTE: Don't have my book with me so sorry if the recounts are extremely rough. If you have any questions leave a post and I will give you better details later.

Round 1 (RUW Control)

Yea this was an interesting deck to play against because I wasn't quite sure what to get when I went searching with Shaman.

Game 1: To make a long story short I lost after he landed Jace, Frost Titan and Sun Titan.

Game 2: Held him off of 6 mana for a little while and was getting board advantage until he landed Jace #2, Sun Titan and Inferno Titan. Somehow went to time.....

Lost 0-1 (0-1)

Round 2 (RUG)

Cant remember exactly what happened but i do remember seeing more Jaces and more Titans. Managed to bring it to time 1-1.

Tied 1-1 (0-1-1)

Round 3 (UB Control)

This was a tough and fun match up. I was glad to get a chance to play against one of the best decks in the format. The best part about the match up was that I knew the guy was playing the deck how it was supposed to be played. For the 3rd straight match i had to deal with Jace.

Game 1: He stuck a 3rd turn Jace and I was lucky enough to get a Vengevine in immediately to deal with it. Shortly thereafter he played another one, but I was able to keep him off of 6 mana long enough with 2 tectonic edges and was able to play around a few counterspells and pull out the win.

Game 2: this game went much the same way, it honestly could have gone both ways but It went to time.

Won 1-0 (1-1-1)


Round 4 (White Artifact)

Played against my co-worker Mandi, it was like her 2nd ever FNM playing a mono white artifact build. It was a far better deck than I played my second FNM, but Vengevines just came out too fast and I was able to blow up a couple Tempered steels when i needed to.

Won 2-0 (2-1-1)

Round 5 (Pyromancers Ascension)

Kind of a bad match up pre-board because of my useless removal spells but I at least have a couple ways to blow up ascension main deck.

Game 1: Got a little lucky here, he had only 1 burn spell opening hand and only one counterspell by turn 4. I stuck an early vengevine and he didn't rip a bounce spell or lightning bolt in time to deal with it before he died.

Game 2: Sided out my Day's and Journeys and added a slime and sanctifier. Again I got a little lucky, on turn 4 he had 3 mana open and one counter on ascension, i played a kicked Kor Sanctifier expecting a counter and he had none. I then got vengevines going again for the win

Won 2-0 (3-1-1)

I was happy to end up in 6th place out of 30 people considering I had only played the deck once or twice and had a thrown together SB. The only thing I know for sure is that it is really tough to play around Jace especially 3 times in a row. So it makes me happy that I only lost 1 game considering.

I have a few ideas about possible changes to make, one of them would be adding 2 Gideon's main deck in place of a Baloth and a Sunblast Angel. In closing though I really enjoyed the deck, it was very "toolboxy" which is something me and my friend Eloy both like. The deck still has some weaknesses but is very fun. Overall I think this will be my deck of choice for a while.

P.S. for those of you who have taken the time to read this please take just a couple more seconds and leave me a message either to just say hello or give me some input on the deck. Thanks!

Tony Derbigny

Time for Change

As you may already have read a few articles ago I have been playing a really kool goblin build. I built it before the artifact goblins made headlines with a few top 8 finishes. My version uses rebirth but also uses far less artifacts. I have really enjoyed playing the deck, in fact I have been very successful with it. Over the last 6 or so FNM's I believe I have a record along the lines of 25-4. Which is solid in my opinion. But........

Its time to update my deck that I have been playing. Its time for a change. Why, you ask? Because I am in a position to where hate is flowing my way and other people are making versions of my deck and I want to be different. With the FNM (my local shop) metagame changing to where everyone is either running a pyroclasm or marsh casualties or tons of spot removal, I want to flip the script.

Now, at first thought with this picture, your saying to yourself...... everyone plays with trinket mage. It's in UB control, its in UBR, its in URG. Yea but here is where I went different. I went with a UW Artifact build. WHAT????? Yea that's what I was saying at first too but I have been working on the list and its seems to win in some very strange ways, it is not really a control deck by design but it has surprising resiliency. Check out the list.


CREATURES

3 Wall of Omens
3 Sea Gate Oracle
4 Trinket Mage
3 Etched Champion
2 Molten Tail Masticore
2 Wurmcoil Engine

SPELLS

3 Everflowing Chalice
2 Darksteel Axe
1 Chimeric Mass
1 Elixir of Immortality
1 Basilisk Collar
1 Brittle Effigy
2 Ratchet Bomb
2 Journey to Nowhere
2 Into the Roil
3 Day of Judgement

LANDS

6 Plains
6 Island
4 Celestial Colonnade
4 Glacial Fortress
2 Seachrome Coast
3 Tectonic Edge

The sideboard is yet to be finalized, I have a lot more play testing to do to get it where i need it. In fact the same can be said for the main deck. But here is a rough draft of where it would be.

SIDEBOARD

3 Leyline of Sanctity
3 Spell Pierce
1 Devout Lightcaster
2 Condemn
1 Ratchet Bomb
3 Kor Firewalker
2 Kor Sanctifiers

Ok so you may see already where this is going but just in case let me explain. When i build decks I typically have a few goals in mind.

-Synergy
-Multiple win conditions
-Answers for everything (Main and SB)

The deck meets all these goals to a degree and I will try to give a quick explanation for each.

SYNERGY

There are several things that I think attribute to synergy here but some of them are obvious and others not so much. Trinket mage and all the 1 or 0 drop artifacts is one. Well known due to UB control is all the recursion from elixir of immortality. You get to recur all sorts of fun toys like killed man lands, ratchet bombs, into the roils, day of judgement and all the creatures that help u draw cards etc. Molten Tail Masticore with all of my creatures (and yes I do know that he butts heads with elixir, which is why i cut him from 3 to 2) but when he is good he is great.

WIN CONDITIONS

One obvious win condition is Wurmcoil Engine and Masticore, but there are a few others. I can actually deal damage with my small guys thanks to some equipment. But one of the most fun ones is Etched Champion because of his great interaction with Darksteel Axe. He basically becomes a 4/2 that cant be blocked or killed by most anything. An unblockable guy with 4 power can end games fairly quickly.

ANSWERS

There are lots of answers in here as well. My early drop creatures and Day of judgements are my answers for early agro like Goblins, RDW, Infect and Elves. For Other control decks I have into the roil, tectonic edge, brittle effigy, ratchet bomb etc. For Mid range decks its just kind of a mixed bag, a little bit of everything.

In conclusion I really like this deck but I still have some work to do and testing to see if it is really as good as i hope, let me know what you think and hope you like it. Thanks.


Tony Derbigny

Alternatives In Standard

Hello everyone and if you are reading this I am appreciative of your support and hope you enjoy the articles. I have to get the original blogsters back on so I'm not the only one on but its still fun. I have a special treat for you today, I have a buddy who I am featuring in todays article. He recently won his first FNM with a very fun and even more importantly, very original deck. I have seen this thing in action and it is very kool! I asked him to send me the decklist and a quick write up on how it is supposed to work and he took it seriously and sent me a full article. I will share that with you today and hope you enjoy.

Here it is!!!
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MONO BLACK

Creatures
4 Nantuko Shade
4 Vampire Hexmage
4 Vampire Nighthawk
4 Gatekeeper of Malakir
4 Skinrender
3 Moriok Replica


Spells
4 Inquisition of Kozilek
3 Duress
3 Mind Sludge
3 Grim Discovery


Land
20 Swamp
4 Tectonic Edge


SB
2 Disfigure
3 Memoricide
3 Nihil Spellbomb
2 Ratchet Bomb
1 Duress
3 Black Night
1 Royal Assassin

Strategy:
This version of a Mono-Black deck tries to take advantage of all the creature decks in the meta with decent game against control decks. Many of creatures are two-for-ones in the form of:

· Gatekeeper of Malikir
· Skinrender
· Moriok Replica

Vampire Hexmage and Vampre Nighthawk serve two roles. While Hexmage is good at fighting planewalkers, Nighthawks allow the deck to race other aggro decks. Many times, Nighthawk is just another removal spell when the opponent is the beatdown deck. Other times, Hexmage is able to swing a couple times against opposing control decks and take down their plansewalkers. Duress is there for redundancy.

The main beater is Nantuko Shade. If he is able to slip under early counter magic, he can end games quickly if not answered.

The discard package can be strong if used in conjunction with an early beater. Against creature decks, I use the Inquisition of Koziilks as another removal spell and treat it as a cheaper Smother. The Mind Sludges are in there against ramp and control decks.

Tectonic Edges are in there to punish the 2-3 color decks that rely heavily on the dual lands for mana fixing. The ability to kill multiple lands early on, followed up by a Mind Sludge can be devastating for the opponent.
But what makes the deck “pop” are the Grim Discoverys. The ability to recycle Tectonic Edges and all of the two-for-one creatures is what helps the deck win attrition wars. Often, I am able to play Gatekeeper early on to make them sac a creature and then destroy a land. Rinse and repeat a few turns later and then eventually play a Mind Sludge to take out their hand. Often, the best play might only constitute getting back either a creature spell or a Tectonic edge. However, getting both back is awesome sauce.

So far at my FNMs, I have done well against all the creature decks from RDW, WW Quest, Poison and Allies. I have not faced Elves so I am not able to comment on this match up. Against creature decks, I board in the following:

OUT:
3 Mind Sludge
2 Vampire Hexmage

IN:
2 Disfigure
2 Ratchet Bomb
1 Royal Assassin

I wish I talk could more regarding the U/x control match ups. Not very many people are playing control at my local FNM but I tested against a U/B control list and I seemed to have a good match up since their Doom Blades were dead and I would attack the manabase. If I was able to get an early Nantuko Shade on board, then the game was over fairly quickly. I have also tested against U/W control and that match up is more challenging since many of their cards are also two for ones. Against U/W control, I board in the following:

OUT:
4 Skinrender
1 Gatekeeper of Malikir
2 Moriok Replica

IN:
1 Duress
3 Memoricide
3 Black Knight

Against U/B:
OUT:
4 Skinrender
1 Gatekeeper of Malikir
2 Moriok Replica

IN:
1 Duress
3 Memoricide
3 Nihil Spellbomb – Use this to foil their Elixir of Immortality plan

Since many control decks use big bombs as their finishers, I use the Memoricides to take them out if Jace the Mind Sculptor is not already on board.

I treat the ramp deck similar to the control decks. Board in a Duress, 3 Memoricides, the Royal Assassin and 2 Ratchet Bombs. If you get a Memoricide name Avenger of Zendikar since this deck is a dog against it. If not, then there is the hope to kill all the tokens with a Ratchet Bomb. Keep them off multiple Valakuts with Tectonic Edges and use Grim Discoverys to get them back. Even though many of your spells are not as powerful as the Valakut deck’s, you need to play the match up as if you are the control deck. Try to land a Mind Sludge as early as possible. Game two they will side in Obstinate Baloth. If I had to choose which creature I would rather fight between a Baloth or Avenger of Zendikar or Primeval Titan, I would choose the Baloth any day of the week. The life gain is negligible since you are the control deck in the match up.

This deck has also difficulties against Mimic Vat decks. If possible, make them discard the Mimic Vat or Memoricide it away games two and three. I try and combat Mimic Vat decks similar to ramp decks. Many times once you have the game under control, a couple swings from a Nantuko Shade will usually end the game.

I know there are other match ups I did not mention but at the moment, these are the decks I have played against at my local FNM. I imagine if Elves was a bigger deck in my meta, I would consider Marsh Causalities in the board as well.


Eloy Hernandez

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P.S. Eloy I would just like to thank you for your contribution and hope that we can talk about some more victories and new fresh ideas in the future. Great Job!!!!