Ok, so on Monday at like 8pm I noticed that there was a post in the Tournament section, posted earlier that night reading:
Type 1 tournament
Tuesday, August 17th
5:30 pm
$12.00 / $14.00
And I thought for a few seconds:
That's tomorrow.
What are they thinking? How many people will show up on a Tuesday night at 5:30?
I'll be there for sure.
Next big question was what to play and while thinking about that I formalized my current thoughts on the Crucible meta game. First, Wastelands and Strip Mines are everywhere (especially in Minneapolis) and decks that have never had a broken land destruction element to them now do.
Second, because of this decks are being built with larger mana bases and more fetch/dual lands to even things out.
Third, mana bases are becoming more polluted and less consistent (mulliganing is more prevalent than I have ever seen it).
In addition, locally, blue based decks have multiplied like rabbits making control more common here than I have seen it in years.
I concluded, therefore, that this meta game was ripe for both Bloodmoon and cheap efficient fat.
I played:
TNT
4 Mishra’s Workshop
4 Taiga
4 Wooded Foothills
1 Windswept Heath
5 Forest
1 Mountain
7 SoLoMoxen
1 Grim Monolith
1 Mana Crypt
4 Goblin Welder
4 Juggernaut
3 Su-chi
1 Karn
1 Duplicant
1 Sundering Titian
1 Razormzne Masticore
1 Platinum Angel
2 Triskelion
1 Anger
1 Gorilla Shaman
1 Quirion Ranger
1 Squee
4 Survival
4 Bloodmoon
2 Naturalize
SB:
3 Red Elemental Blast
3 Aftifact Mutation
3 Trinisphere
2 Tormod’s Crypt
2 Winter Orb
1 Goblin Sharpshooter
1 Elf Replica
When I got there I was surprised by the turn out (40 people) for a weekday magic tournament. I chatted with the regulars, play tested with Craig (Milton) and got ready for what was to become a marathon tourney.
Round one.
The judges computer would not print and he had to announce the parings verbally while we all had to sit quietly and wait for our number to be called.
My opponent was playing two land belcher (so much for Bloodmoon) I got first and drop a survival. He land grants and drops a bunch of cheap mana acceleration. I realize what I was playing against and go get both welder and mox monkey. He finally manages to get belcher both in play and activated the turn before I beat him to death with a Juggy but he goes thirteen cards before finding his other land. Wow. I had no right to win that game.
SB: - 4 Bloodmoon, -1 Sundering Titian, -1 Duplicant, + 3 Artifact Mutation, +3 Trinisphere
Game 2: He goes first and goes really fast. I stand no chance.
Game 3: First turn Trinisphere. My opponent scoops.
Round 2 Jeremy playing the Man Show
Game 1:
I mulligan to 5. Jeremy goes first and drops workshop Trinisphere. I look at my hand with :Welder, Mox, 2 fetch, and survival and realize that I am going to lose the game. So I make it look like I am playing R/G Beatz (badly) and keep fetching out land that can be wasted and only managed to cast a naturalize on a tangle wire (after asking several stack questions to make me look dumb).
SB: - 1 Sundering Titian, -1 Razormane, -1 Su-Chi, +3 Artifact Mutation
Game 2:
I go turn 1: My opponent mulliganed and kept a hand full of wastes and strips. I survival off a forest and a mox. Jeremy blinks. I quickly gain tempo and use mox monkey to keep jewelry off the board. Bloodmoon seals the game a few turn later. My opponent immediately reaches for his sideboard again.
Game 3:
We both finally got playable hands, this was a long skill intensive game. I ultimately won because of Anger. I got to use my welders the turn they hit the board and he had to wait for the Pimpbot to splat them.
Round 3 (now almost 8pm)
Some home built rogue 5 color artifact aggro deck. It was pretty cool with lots of tutors and plowshears.
Game 1: I play a Juggernaut all of the first four turns, but ultimately a welder kills him.
I only sided in artifact mutations (same choices as above) because I was unsure of what my opponent was playing but I should have also put in winter orb.
Game 2:
I mulligan into a keepable but losing hand.
Game 3:
Yuck, again, another long drawn out artifact deck showdown. My mana base (basic land) and Anger again win it for me.
Round 4: Craig (Milton) with 4cc
I get out an early survival and welder, and proceed to use sundering titan and mox monkey to destroy his whole board in one turn.
SB: -1 Su-chi, -2 disenchant, - 1 Quirion Ranger, -1 Triskelion, +3 REB, +2 Winter Orb
Game 2 : Bloodmoon.
Round 5 Mike Vraa with 4cc
We ID but decide to play for ante rather than just sit and think about how tired we were. We flip through each other trade books for a while and settle on : WHITE BOADERED MANA VAULTS. With big money on the line I smash him silly. Only after the match do I realize that I put up a revised card and him a 4th edition. I was grifted. The nerve of some players.
Top 8: Jon Tschida (Frost) with TPS (Almost 11)
I scan the top 8 and see all other players playing control decks. I get the one combo deck.
I honestly do not remember much of this match I was so tired by this point. I took few notes. I won in 3 games. The matches were grueling, aggro vs. combo took longer than all the other control vs. control games. Bloodmoon and trinisphere were both the MVPs.
My sideboarding consisted of:
- 10 non essential creature cards cards, + 3 REB, +3 Trinisphere, +3 Artifact Mutation, +1 Elf Replica
Semi’s vs. Grow
Game 1: An early juggy combined with bloodmoon win.
SB: same as 4cc
Game 2: Winter Orb was not expcted and slowed the game way down. I finally got an active welder with like 10 lands in play. I welded out the orb for some creature untapped and used survival + anger to go apeshit, killing him (14 damage or so) in one massive turn.
Finals with Mike Vraa now just after 12:30
Game one. I keep a risky hand: Bloodmoon, Welder, Mox Monkey, mana Crypt, Taiga, Juggy, anger.
I try for the turn one bloodmoon but it is forced. He goes lotus mox monkey, wasteland.
I never see another land but find lots of off color jewelry. I still am unsure about keeping this hand I have gone back and forth on it all day.
Game 2:
My first hand is: Ruby, REB, Welder, Fetch, Fetch, Fetch, Forest. I toss it. Craig (who was watching over my shoulder objects but I still think its crap. My hand of 6 is worse. I finally settle on a hand with both a survival and bloodmoon but no acceleration. I ultimately end up getting worked over by an active library and a card disadvantage that I can never recoup.
Over all it was a blast but it was over WAY to late at night. The traffic jam at 1:30 am on the interstate (WTF?) did not help either.
