Well its time for another shot at fame and fortune among the DMF Vintage crew. I have broken out the super secret tek for this one. I'm running a U/G/B Spiny Starfish Invasion Deck that will own all. Well all that actually show up for this.

Well it figures that with Shawn changing up the days there was bound to be a couple of stray sheep that couldn't make it this time.


On another note, I am a controll player therefore I will controll the tempo of the game, my opponent and any spells that he intends to resolve, that is my job. However I cannot be expected to controll "TIME". So if our match ends in turns don't hate me, hate yourself for not being able to kill me in 50 min!!!     -- Re: Shawn

Another fine article indeed Smmenen, was a bit curious about the whole tinker thing but the posts summed that up.  And I agree as you mentioned before, the debate between the 2 and 3 color slaver is a hard one. Personally I find that the 2 decks have there own place and time meta dependant of course.  However I tend to use the "goth+" version a bit more often due to the tweaks made to the build and the stability of the deck in the current format.  Having, or not having a Yawg will in a controll deck with only 8 hard counters to me is like jumping out of a plane with or with out a parachute.

Although that may be a little dramatic of an example im sure you get the point.  The inherint strength of slaver comes not from any one element but from the combined efforts of all parts, in some harmonic symphony of drawing,controll, and trix that all get to happen all over again thanks to the maestro himself Yawgmoth.

Then again things are changing due to the recent B&R which i will not get involved with here although I will say that I support most of the arguements you made in that thread.  


What will come of the Controll V.S. Combo???

The duplicant is a wise choice and obviously a powerful card in the right meta. Personally I dont think its that needed main deck.

Pending the meta your playing the duplicant is a sideboard card. If the meta is Heavy Oath then sure throw one in the board however the way slaver runs is so tight that giving up a spot  for the dupe is hard for me to see. Im running a version of goth slaver and I have not had a problem with oath. I do however have the option of wishing for answers and that changes the way the deck plays alot. I have found that wishing for an answer to most problems is better then having a dead draw VS any deck.

Take for instance TPS what is the dupe gona do for you there?? or Doomsday??  What about dragon?  I know that Its kinda tired but what about Belcher?   Any thats my piont that I try not to have a dead draw against any deck in the format. Although I am currious to see how you run the rest of your deck because it might help make your choices make more sence.

Well about that guy, I dont want to add salt an open wound. So i will say that it was all in good fun.    Good points about the deck however i may have over-emphasized the importance of the Stop Oath from coing down part.   Anyway thanks for the seccond thoughts.

Sence the topic of this thread was "Which deck to play?" Ill touch on that for a min then make a small comment about the aspiring lvl 1 Judge that will allow you to "pay life" when your at 0 and platz is on the board....

First off there really is no matchup between Oath and Slaver, I mean the slaver player needs to start the game with a FOW unless your going first and see Mox Sapphire+Volcanic+Mana Drain either way you must have the controll game in mind before trying to get the lock.  Thats not due to the inherent strength of Oath but just to the redundency in the deck that makes it perform what it came to do quickly.

For the most part the Counter war is something that you let them win after draining their hand of counters that will inturn allow you to resolve your Tinker+Platinum Angel before they oath which means... GG about 90% of the time because by turn 3 you should be leading the card advantage by at least 3-5 cards not to mention that the oath will be scrambling to figure out what to do against your Angel.  

Now lets say that the Mighty oath has gone turn one Orchard + Mox =Oath of Druids...... OMG.....  ok well at that point you either start ther counter war over oath or let it resolve and grab your ankles...  I prefer the first because although you have used your counters (1-2) you have also baited them to use theirs and the odds of them having 3 FOW opening hand are astranomical let alone not having to pitch one to the other just to protect their little oath of druids. which leaves you 3 turns to cunning wish for the answer or tinker for the win either way you have alot more options as a slaver player.

All I can say about that is the real world has proven to me that oath cannot consistantly beat slaver. After testing against it and facing it in actual tournament play oath can not get lucky enough fast enough to beat the massive card draw and controll aspects of Slaver.

So now with that in mind "Which Deck To Play"

Well the choice is clear all of you must play the Oath for multiple reasons. One is to try and prove me wrong and the other is that the more of you playing oath means that you may stomp your way to the semi's but ill meet you there and that matchup in the semi's is almost a bye into T8 so COME BRING YOUR OATH.





Oh and bty about that judge kid, let me know when you become a judge so I can come play at one of your events and bargain for my whole deck. while being at 0 life.  

First off Good job on the SCG article it was a nice perspective on a big part of CS.  I personally feel that the Intuition/AK engine is a ideal choice and thus far it has proven itself although it may leave your opening hand a bit less then desireable all of the cards say "hey I can get you more cards". Now that deserves some merit. And as mentioned i have no prob pitching an intuition to a FOW to stop a First turn 3phere. The deck mechanic works well in setting up a Amazing yawg will turn too after intuitively searching for the time walk, Ancestral recall, welder etc...  I mean there are countless ways that the intuition works hard for you. Its up to you to be intuitive about what to look for.

Thats quite an article, I must say how i do love the depth of your writing and for the most part I usually come away thinking about things that I never thought I think about after reading your articles.  Dont know weather its a good or bad thing but thanks for helping me kill some time and find something new to read on the Drain!

Well Im looking forward to the next event in which I will be paired with the one person I bring just like every time. Ya know I think its kinda weird I played in about 5 tournaments recently while attending with a friend and in all of them I have been paired with my friend in the first or seccond round, I think good 'ole Mr. Fantazy has got it out for me!!   Dont make me sick my donkey on you Shawn!!!!