If you're on the draw I would play jet, delta, crack delta for Underground and seal for Necropotence leaving yourself the ability to Ancestral if you so choose.

Brian, you've already posted this event once.

http://www.themanadrain.com/index.php?topic=36092.0

Hopefully the Columbus event gets moved since the prize support for this tournament is much better. For what it's worth, most of the Kalamazoo/BC players should be in attendance.

Urborg doesn't apply its ability until the Blood Moon/Magus applies, and as such it's effect is negated. Basically, Magus/Moon > Urborg in all instances, since the Urborg is dependent on Blood Moon, the moon effect would have to be removed in order for it to function as normal.

For reference this is the oracle text on Mana Vault straight from wizard's homepage. The card as it is printed was changed to this wording a long time ago.

Storm counts each spell that was played for the turn, regardless of whether they have been countered or not. Your brain freeze will function as you most likely want it to, resolving with 15 copies, 12 for each Kobold, 1 for Chalice, 1 fo Multani and the last for the Brain Freeze itself. Note that just by reading the card itself you will notice it says nothing about the resolution of spells played.

You must respond to either the trigger or top activation since revealing is part of the resolution of counterbalance's ability.

I think these would be excluded as the title of the article is the 10 best "spells" in the format. The rest of your list seems pretty on point minus the ponders.

The Greater Gargadons sacrifice spirit tokens.

I'll let him know you're trying to get ahold of him.

In the same respect you rely less on your graveyard and gain card advantage with more reliability than gifts. Gekoratel is correct in the statement that T1T and AK decks take the control roll and combo off when the situation is comfortable for them.

Pretty interesting article too Steve, combo and control have been pushing toward the same goal for some time now. After Waterbury the number of combo/control decks which were viable shot through the roof.

I would have to believe impulse would be better than scroll, because you have no real way to find an oath in the early game without making a series of plays that put you behind in tempo. Finding a counter is probably not that big of an issue with you on the play because you are going to set down a chalice or produce some form of disruption against combo and control. It seems without a first turn oath in hand you may suffer trying to find it over the coarse of the game while avoiding Tyrant ending up in your hand at one point or another.


From previous experience, vampiric in the side isn't all that terrible of an idea. It allows you to get a needed walk or clutch card exactly when you need it. Also, with the author being dead set on setting chalice at one, it may be hard to justify having it in the side or main at all. It is potentially the worst card disadvantage tutor because of his weak mana base and his general strategy.

Edit: Why rebuild over hurkyl's in the side? It would seem you always want your chalices to stay in play if you fear extirpate. Outside of stax setting chalice at 2 I cant think of a whole lot of reasons why it's there over hurkyl's.

Congradulations on the finish, and good to see some new tweaks to an old deck.


The effect of running red for recoup is two fold. You may play a slightly slower roll in control games, but are able to run better bombs in your sideboard. Red helps out your fish and stax matchups a lot, but hurts your combo game plan to some extent. Other than a few small differences you're running the T1T/"Drain TPS" lists that have been around forever, and I have to wonder why you chose thirst for knowledge? You dont run needles or colossus so it seems all you can pitch to the thirsts is your acceleration, and sometimes AK's. It seems gifts and DA would have been better options.

Once again, congradulations on your finish!