I've played cards(like manavault) into chalice just so they can go to the graveyard and be welded into play.


    Anyway...... I've really enjoyed reading through these posts. I think the innovation that is going on in belcher is outstanding. I can't believe some of the cards that have come out since I stopped playing. One of the biggest obstacles of the original belcher builds was gererating enough 0 cc mana sources to have a viable deck. To see a deck list for 0 land belcher brings a tear to my eye (a happy tear). Keep up the good work! I'm sure I'll be lurking around the forums in the future to see what new variations everyone has come up with.

                                         -Michael Simister

    Also (kinda way off topic), while I've been away from the game, I've been working at a research and developement company. One of our projects was featured on discovery channel. It is a bit like a "real life" charbelcher.

http://s211.photobucket.com/albums/bb52/lucentspirit/?action=view&current=8ce1b124.flv

I sold my cards to feed myself while at college and devoted more time to FFXI online. I do however, still check the manadrain boards and play proxy games when the opportunity arises.

Anyway...... Almost anything you ever wanted to know about 2-land belcher with a blue splash can be found in a 7 page post (http://www.themanadrain.com/forums/index.php?topic=15329.0) created when belcher was still new.

For anyone without the heart to go back and read I'll go over a few things from my own experiences with the deck.

The deck's biggest weakness is it's manabase

Adding a 3rd land helps stabilize the deck's manabase but will often cause a belch to "fizzle" or require an additional turn or two to fish the 3rd land out

In a match-up where speed is your best stategy (against decks will null rod for example) you should run with 2 land

On the other hand, I always ran with 3 or more land in the deck post sideboard against control heavy decks like Tog and 4CC. These decks will likely counter your first and sometimes second attemt to develope a mana base or resolve a threat. This gives you additional time to weed lands out of the deck. The additional land also reduces the risk of a control deck shutting down your manabase entirely (which, from my experience, is usually the best strategy for a control deck against belcher)
 

Edited for being wrong: My mistake, thank you for looking it up Jacob

I told Smmenen I would write a primer on Belcher after going top 4 at GenCon. I ended up not doing it due to the lack of personal time and the fact people's interest in the deck faded. In light of the restrictiom of 3sphere, belcher has a new breath of life. Given the fact some people might actually be interested in reading a card/strategy analysis, I will try and post something in the next few weeks (yay for spring break).
 
       3sphere was the only card that ever really held back belcher due to the fact that land grant can be played for free under sphere of resistance and null rod requires two turns to come into play. A good counter wall can beat belcher, but mostly it comes down to topdecking and play skill.

          Sidebording vs belcher is different then sidebording vs tendrils. The decks are similar, but require different bullets to kill (ie. Sphere of resistence vs. damping matrix, chalice vs. null rod). I think the post restriction meta will likely see a boost in tendrils builds being played, and with it tendrils sideboard hate. It will be interesting to see how the meta reacts and if belcher may become prominent post 3sphere's restriction.

I think I would have tried to find a spot for grim monolith in this deck.  It's mana acceleration seems a natual inclusion. I also think I'd prefer to have vampiric tutor over a forth spoils.  
    The weakest part of the 2 land belcher deck is the mana base. Which is why this deck has trouble with the same decks that belcher does. I don't see much of a chance for this deck if an opponent lays down a trisphere.
      Thinning out a land with polluted delta doesn't make a huge difference. I think I would have gone with a gemstone mine instead.
       I'm personally a big fan of having an alternate route to victory. Belcher seems like a natural 1 of.  An early null rod can cripple this deck, fortunately null rod usually takes 2 turns to drop. It might make the addition of tinker collosus an option, at least for the SB.

As I recall, I hard cast a colossus via living wish on turn 1 at Gencon. I even had enough mana to cast a welder as counter bait before it. That was fun as hell. Belcher is capable of some VERY broken turn 1 plays.
        I've been playing with the idea of having a main deck colossus and  it's  not a bad way to go. Given the list above I'd trade out a duress for it.  
         I'd also like to note that mono blue belcher is NOT 2-land belcher. Mono blue belcher is really for the most part old school mono blue with belcher instead of morphling for a kill. With the exception of belcher they have almost no cards in common and their play style is completely different.
         Chromatic sphere is the #1 choice for color conversion in 2-land belcher. Every card is vital in this deck so color conversion that replaces itself is ideal. But you need more, I really prefer running 1 or 2 additional mana cylix because it plays well with the welders and tinker. This deck is Very inconsistant as far as what color mana will be available to you and you need  the 5th or 6th color converter to keep from getting screwed.

Great article Steve, and I'm not just saying that because you gave me such an awesome mention. You really do need to know a deck inside and out to play it well.  Even after 30+ hours of goldfish hands and deck design it still took me 3 or 4 tournaments before I really started to play belcher optimally. Even then, the exponential growth of options a combo deck can create from turn one makes it almost impossible to ever really master.

I used this card in an early version of dragon, I could use it against my opponent or cast it on myself if I had dragon in hand and no way to drop it into the yard. It also has the same use in various reanimater style decks.

The use of brushland had not really crossed my mind. If you have pariah on beloved chaplain and use it... that damage goes to chaplain and because it's not creature damage it would kill him.
       I did consider using armageddon but the 3W CC can be difficult to come up with at times. I found that it was best to keep casting costs at 3 or lower (worship and exalted being the only exception here) Mostly because after 3 mana is on the board your usually just recuring strip effects instead of dropping land.

This was a deck I had built for the most part six months ago. The main idea was to try and exploit the pariah/beloved chaplain combo in a budget deck. During play testing it did well against most every deck except for hulk which absolutely raped it (mostly because of deeds). Since Tog decks seems to have been almost non-existent lately I dusted it off, threw in some metagame hate and gave it a try.
      Although I had few expectations for the deck, it managed to top 4 in Columbus a week ago and it snagged me $50. I thought I would present it for discussion.

WG metagame hate deck AKA Jank.dec

    4 Savannah
    4 Windswept Heath
    3 Forest
    4 Plains
    1 Flooded Strand
    3 Gemstone Mine
    3 Wasteland
    2 True Believer
    2 Xantid Swarm
    4 Beloved Chaplain
    4 Elvish Spirit Guide
    4 Living Wish
    1 Enlightened Tutor
    3 Rancor
    2 Crucible of Worlds
    4 Pariah
    3 Null Rod
    1 Mox Emerald
    1 Mox Pearl
    2 Damping Matrix
    4 Swords to Plowshares
    1 Worship


SB: 1 Wasteland
       2 True Believer
       2 Xantid Swarm
       1 Crucible of Worlds
       1 Damping Matrix
       1 Strip Mine
       2 Ground Seal
       1 Exalted Angel
       2 Seal of Cleansing
       1 Viridian Zealot
       1 Maze of Ith

While looking at Top 8 deck lists from some the more recent tournaments it occurred to me that non-creature based direct damage (with the exception of Fire/Ice) has become almost non-existent in the format. This makes a card like Beloved Chaplain viable. It also makes the Pariah/Chaplain combo and worship an auto-win against many decks in the current meta that simply don’t have an answer for it.
       
How this deck plays:
 
               A good part of this deck is devoted to a very typical mana disruption strategy. It uses wastelands and null rod to slow the opponent’s mana development and try to even the tempo difference between it and the powered decks in the format. I did try something new here by putting strip mine in the sideboard and using living wish to find it should my opponent be using basic lands.
                 I also use damping matrix in the deck as a hoser for many of the current decks in the meta. The only card in the deck that is affected by damping matrix is Viridian Zealot, which is strictly a wish target.
              Also, to add to the decks tempo, I used 2 on color moxen and 4 Elvish Spirit Guides. This is vital in combo match ups where a turn 1 null rod can make or break the game. I also have to add that Elvish Spirit Guide can be huge when it comes to playing against an early trinisphere.
                In aggro match ups the deck plays with pariah, swords, and beloved chaplain. The idea is to delay the opponent’s damage long enough to get a chaplain on the board and swinging. It’s best if you can follow the chaplain with a pariah, but pariah can play well on it’s own when cast on your opponents creatures. Wishing out a maze of ith, putting down a worship, or pariah on chaplain can leave you in the clear to attack without worrying about leaving creatures untapped for defense. Since the chaplain is pro-creatures he’s unblockable and coupled with rancor can become a heavy hitter fast. Chaplain is the best damage dealer in the deck (yes, I know it sounds funny), should something happen, rancor on a xantid can work just as well.
              In the combo matchup an early null rod is key. After that you need true believer vs. decks like TPS to delay the game long enough for a win. Other then that, you may need crucible/strip effects to keep the combo player from going totally broken on you. This deck just destroys dragon combo with ground seal, seal of cleansing, swords, and strip effects dragon may just be this decks easiest match-up.  
             The control match-up can be tricky, but, is definitely winnable. Simply play the deck like a weenie deck. Control decks usually only have a few threats and take time to develop. If you can resolve some early threats it’s very possible to kill them before they can establish total board dominance. Although, fall out from fish haters makes it very likely you will have a much harder match games 2 and 3.  
              I feel like this deck could be streamlined a little more. One of my biggest problems with it so far is a lack of good tutors. I’m considering a splash of black just for that reason. Also, I feel like the 2 moxen could be cut entirely from the deck making it a viable deck for the budget player.

A few more things I have to add:

Major props to Doug Linn and his girlfriend for remembering I was allergic to chocolate and bringing sugar cookies to the last Columbus tournament. Woot!

Please don't post just to tell me how much this deck sucks. I'm well aware of it's lack of typical T1 brokness. This deck is Slow and deliberate and uses a hole in the current meta to it's advantage. I'm looking for constructive advise.

                Michael Simsiter

When I shuffle my opponents deck (in a serious tournament). The first thing I do is pile shuffle all the cards into three stacks. While I pile shuffle I count the number of cards in their deck (if I count more then 60 I ask to see the number of cards in their side board to make sure they didn't leave an extra card in the main deck). Also while I pile shuffle I look for cards that may be marked.  Then I do a side shuffle like Kerz demonstrated until I feel like the deck is sufficantly randomized (ocationaly I'll split the deck and switch the top with the bottom and continue to shuffle). Finally before I hand the deck back to them I make sure the pile is neat and feel the sides of the cards to make sure all the sleeves are the same length/shape. It's very easy to make one or two sleeves stick out from the rest making a particular card easy to cut to.
       I've won games via this method due to people having the wrong # of cards main deck. I've also never had any complaints from people about handling their cards improperly. It does take a while to go through the whole shuffling routine, but, that is why I only do it when I'm taking a match seriously.

Name: Michael Simister
Location: Cincinnati, OH.
Occupation: technician/student
School: University of Cincinnati
Power Owned: varies
Favorite Deck: anything but control

I played magic in the mid nineties somewhere between revised and ice age.   After Homelands was released I left magic and didn't pick up a deck of cards until a little over a year ago. I enjoy the game and the people I've met since I started playing again. I had the pleasure of working with Frimble (who I met at my first T1 tounament somewhere in Kentuckey) to co-create the Belcher deck. A deck that suprises me even afetr 1000 games. Hope to see you at the next tournament! -Lucent

Belcher does sometimes have a problem producing the correct color mana. Until recently I used 2 mana cylix in addition to the 4 chromatic spheres. Since then I've switched to 1 mana cylix in favor of an additional maindeck welder. When I had the 2 addtional cylix I almost never had a lack of the correct color mana.  I decided to put in the welder over the second cylix to free up a side board slot as well as up the "bomb" count in the deck. I do get color screwed on occation now, but I'm pretty content with cylix in the deck.
      As far as the trinistax match-up goes .... if I'm going second I expect a first turn sphere of resistance or trinisphere from them (if they don't mull into one they need to learn their matchups better).  Rather then scoop I side in all my land from the side board (1 workshop, 1 gemstone, and 1 taiga) as well as my artifact hate (most notable artifact mutation). Winning the game isn't so much belching for a win it's a game of gaining permanent advantage. If you can cast artifact mutation it's usually game.  If belcher goes first then I'll still side in artifact mutation and other hate, but leave out the extra land.

Good article Steve. That Belcher vs. Tog example sure seems familiar;). I'd say your right on the money about tempo. Fast consistant threats can be a powerfull disrutive tool.

Part of my reasoning behind using Cunning Wish was to have a win condition that could be used with a damping matrix in play. Damping matrix is seeing more play these days and it shuts down dragon via the fact you can't use laquartus to mill or sliver queen to create infinate tokens. Cunning Wish/Stroke of Genius SB gives you an alternate win condition that serves as a tutor if its not needed. I'd prefer to have a cunning wish in my deck rather then a second creature that I may or may not even need.  
     As for Memnarch, right now I play a SB conversion that changes from combo to animate/beat down. I use memnarch as one of my conversion creatures. Already having him in the deck saves me a slot. Blue is seldom an issue since I play U/B dragon and the color curve is much more forgiving then G/B/U.
    I know creating infinate tokens seems better then taking all your opponents permenatnts, but, going the tokens route gives your opponent a full turn to win the game. For decks like Belcher, Slaver, Draw7, FCG, or another Dragon.dec this may be all the time they need. If you take away all your opponents permenants and continue to do so it keeps the game locked in your favor from that point on.

If I'm running 4xCompulsion in the deck I run Cunning Wish instead of a creature for a second win condition. I then run Stroke of Genius in the sideboard. That way my second win condition is pitchable to FOW and can be used as a tutor for something else if needed. The down side is you can't use bazzar to find it.

Also, I've been toying with the idea of using memnarch as a win condition. You don't mill you opponents deck. You just take all their permanents and win via beatdown.

I can't beleive no one has mentioned Land Tax / Scroll Rack.

Ok.... I CAN beleive no has mentioned it because it's about as limited a draw engine as you can find. BUT....As far as card drawing goes it's amazing. In the days parfait was considered playable this draw engine was what made the deck viable.

Yahoo IM: Lucent_spirit
AOL IM: LucidTitan

Magic Workstation (lucentspirit)

Type 1

firewall: no

You could always just switch to combo. Then again I can remember tournaments where 2 long decks would play each other where taking 5 turns could last up to an hour (longer than any control deck I've seen go to time)

Really, I think the current time limits are just fine. If you need to take some time to make an important decision then by all means take your time. I've seen players take as much as 5 minutes to make a play (without complaint from either player). But, I also think that stalling your gameplay to the point where you can't finish game 1 is a little excessive (yes, I'm talking to you shahrazad).

just my .02

Here's a card long since packed away and forgotten about: Mystic Remora. I was browsing though some old cards when I came across this. It really struck me as something that might just have potential in Type 1.

For those of you that hate clicking links:

Mystic Remora
U
Enchantment
Cumulative Upkeep: 1
Whenever target opponent successfully casts a non-creature spell, you may draw a card. That player may pay 4 to counter this effect.

  Although this card has it's limitations I'm seriously considering it for a  couple of decks (Tog, Stax, Slaver, Mono Blue Control.....). Since most Type 1 decks tend to be VERY light on creatures it's not oftan a dead card. Against fast "poop your entire hand onto the table and draw some more cards" decks like Belcher and Draw7.dec Mystic Remora could make for a HUGE advantage in the game. At the very least this card either replaces itself or Seriously slows the opponent down.
   It only costs U! This is a first turn drop. Getting Mystic Remora on the table before you opponent can drop moxes and the like is just awesome. If nothing else, it's blue and you could always just pitch it to a Force of Will.
   The worst part about this card is the cumulative upkeep. It sometimes prevents you from keeping UU open on turn 2 if you didn't draw a mox to pay the upkeep. Obviosly this card works best with decks that run all the moxen, but how many decks these days don't?  
     The other down side of Mystic Remora is it only works for non-creature spells which means it isn't going to do much against decks like Food Chain Goblins, Madness, and Landstill which can play around it without huge difficulty.

If nothing else I think Mystic Remora could make a suitable SB card for Blue/Artifact based decks.

I played a pestilence deck in extended for a while. I actually won a few tournaments with it!

I don't have any record of what was exactly in the deck, but I know I used Vindicate and Death Grasp. I also used Obsidian Acolyte to combo with Crypt Rats. I also played Lashknife Barrier for a while but eventually cut because of it's casting cost and the fact it didn't do anything for the pro-black creatures.

Although pestilence is a fun deck I really don't think it has a place in type 1.

I've picked up cards from Dan Bock via ebay without difficulty.

How does Memory jar interact with Necropotence at end of turn? Do cards set aside by necro get discarded with your hand at EOT, do they go to your choice of hand, or do they automaticaly go to the hand you choose to keep?

If you consider how many Tier 1 decks have been made compared to the number of people trying to innovate them you shouldn't get at all frustrated when you can't make something new (and Teir 1).
      I also think the more innovation that happens and as more new Teir 1 decks are made the harder it will be to make new decks with the current card pool. But that's why new cards are constantly being printed!  
     Really good new decks are hard to make. All the really obvious good cards have pretty much been "discovered" and in many ways we are constantly waiting for the release of a new set or an overwelming need for inovation to find those "diamond in the ruff" cards.
      I find when I'm in the mood to try and build something new the first thing I do is start looking at cards. I just randomly start looking through all the cards ever printed and BOOM suddenly I'll have an idea for somehting new. If nothing else I think it's fun just to look at the art work and flavor text of cards long forgotten. If looking though a zillion cards isn't your style just start surfing the web. There are posting all over the place of new deck idea's and cards pre-selected as reading "break me".
      I think sometimes the difference between a Tier 2 deck and Tier 1 deck can be just a few cards, or maybe the splash of a different color. It's very possible someone has created an amazing deck, but, it hasn't had much attention because the deck builder is an average player and just hasn't done well enough for their deck to get the attention it should.
       Anyway that's just my opinion. I'm off to try and break Foil, Merieke Ri Berit, Dance of the Dead, Genesis, and Spore Frog.

I don't think there is a "best version" of belcher right now. Not enough people play it to really have any solid evidence as to what syle of deck would work better then others.
     Personally I really like having mystical tutor in the deck. It lets you get cards like Tinker, Channel, Yag. Will, Draw 7, Oxidize (post SB). I also really like having Tendrils as a back up kill in case my opponent gets something like a meddling mage or damping matrix on the table and you can't use/play the belcher. (If you feel like some heavy reading you should check out the old charbelcher 2004 thread) here
        @Zeke I'd say you build looks pretty good. The only thing I might strongly suggest is putting artifact mutaion in the SB. It can be HUGE in a stax matchup and it does pretty well against other workshop decks.  [/code]

Ikaragua, whenever I try to connect I just get booted right back out.

WOW! Raveger plays a whole lot better than I thought it would. Has anyone considered running gaea's cradle or crop rotaion in the deck. It just explodes when tolarian hits and crop rotation would give you a tutor for it.
    I'd really like to find a place for FoW. Tinker and memory jar seem like a good choices for the deck too. Although it's pretty tight as it is, I'm not sure what I would cut.

Part of why I mention a card like Wrath of God is that it can't be used against you fully under a mindslaver. Cards like Swords and Fire/Ice can be used to take out your own creatures. Mindslaver is a HUGE part of my metegame and I'd like to try to find some global style effects to put in my deck.

Has anyone using U/W landstill tried wrath of god? It's casting cost might be to much at 2WW, but it could clear the board of creatures a whole turn faster than Nev. Disk.

Something I've noticed lately is many people that don't have a full account want to post tournament reports. They can't post in the tournament section and all these reports end up flooding the open T1 forum. I don't think these reports add a huge amount to the topics in the open T1 forum, but I do oftan like to read them. Is it possible to have a tournament report section for non-members to help keep the open T1 forum free for topics better suited to open discussion?