EBA for 2006, and my first real Waterbury experience.

Many many moons ago I won an extended PTQ with Dump Truck. Now I'm sure a lot of you don't know it was a complete pile that was metagamed heavily and was designed to beat Tinker. Well it did beat tinker (THEY HAD FOUR IN EXTENDED) and ran bad cards like Peek and the oh so slow sorcery speed Vindicate and Shadowmage Infiltrator (yea I know these cards sound great on paper but actually blow ass). I know the deck inside out, and worked on it a while ago last year but it didn't have oomph to really compete.

Another problem was me and Vintage were never that close. I never really put much time in it. I was always busy with other formats (Extended and Limited now mostly). I won a random Mox here and there knew a few guys mainly Ultima, Josh Meckes (Waterbury winner), Luiggi, and spoke to a few random guys like Ashok. But you all know what happens when your in college, suddenly assloads of testing time comes. Which allows me to come into this format which some say is plagued with stagnation. I really think too many people are too dismissive and aren't really being open minded and throwing enough thoughts out. It's almost like writing a book when you build a rogue deck and just throw out random thoughts on paper.

Following up I began to open my thoughts and fell in love with a dude named Dark Confidant. Now everyone and their mothers are trying to stick this guy in any and every deck. I think this decision is questionable. Dark Confidant is really a replacement for Ophidian in a way. A deck that would like Ophidian would drool over Confidant (Except maybe mono-blue). For Dark Confidant to really be used to it's full extent the game needs to be dragged out and Confidant will take the game for you. I believe its still actually decent in combo decks but it's real potential shines in slow piece of crap decks that never had a real draw engine to begin with. And this card is ESPECIALLY potent for decks that swing for the win. Try and think Macey Rock in Extended he was abusive with a Sword Of Fire And Ice or Jitte.

So my crappy pet deck now has a draw engine to keep up with other decks. Sounds good so far. So here we go I present you a VIABLE version of EBA/Bob and Pikula.

Dudes:
4x Dark Confidant
4x Meddling Mage
2x Exalted Angel
1x Old Man Of The Sea (This guy bent over Fish and UbaStax all day)

Disruption:
4x Force Of Will
4x Mana Drain
3x Duress

Meta Choices:
2x Swords To Plowshares
1x Darkblast
1x Disenchant

Other shiznit:
4x Brainstorm (A MUST)
1x Fact Or Fiction
1x Ancestral Recall
1x Time Walk
1x Yawgmoth's Will
1x Sensei's Diving Top (Umezawa's Jitte in other tournaments at Waterbury)
1x Vampiric Tutor
1x Mystical Tutor
1x Demonic Tutor

Mana:
5x Moxen
1x Lotus
4x Flooded Strand
2x Polluted Delta
3x Underground Sea
3x Tundra
2x City Of Brass
1x Island
1x Plains

SB:
3x Null Rod
3x Sacred Ground
2x Old Man Of The Sea (THANKS ROLAND!)
2x Disenchant
2x Swords To Plowshares
1x Gilded Drake
1x Duress
1x Gush

I played this deck at Two tournaments (and two smaller random tournys at Waterbury, winning both). Some people liked it some people hated it. It's all about your point of view. I will give some brief reasoning of card choices and I will go into how Waterbury was one of the best magic experiences and worst at the same time.

Remember this is a metagame deck and you can pick apart cards and adjust it all to however you'd like but these are the cards that naturally fit...

Creatures: Dark Confidant is the only reason I even thought about this deck. I played older versions for fun earlier in the year and they were GOD AWFUL. Negator was a steaming pile of horseshit since he randomly lost too many games to random cards from FTK to Lightning Bolt. Meddling Mage is a very excellent guy to team with Duress. It really gets into your opponents deck and forces them to find a Brainstorm to chuck dead cards away. Exalted Angel is probably the most questionable dude, but let me tell you fish is still everywhere. You flip him with a FoW vs fish and its over. Its also a decent clock which a lot of aggro control lacks. Everytime I have flipped an angel over I have rarely lost a game. Also Jitte (which I played in the side events) on Exalted will race a Colossus anyday. And her with a Jitte that has counters will hand Oath's ass on a silver platter. Finally Old Man was a metagame choice that was overall superb for the obvious critters.

Disruption: I think Duress and FoW seems pretty obvious but Mana Drain may seem out of place. The main reason I played Drain is for two reasons, one is Yawg Will and the second is to have more counters then other aggro-control like fish. I felt that the four FoW in fish really couldn't hold it together. Fish can't win a counter war often enough but drains also allowed an easily dropped angel.

Other choices that may allow you to raise an eyebrow:
-Sensei's Diving Top: This card acted almost like another Brainstorm, it was definitely neat and reduced Confidant blows quite often. A wise choice would be to run this card since it allows you to dig for a tutor, counter, or random singleton you desperately need. The shuffle effects in the deck are certainly more then enough for it.

-Gilded Drake sb this card was the bomb, Josh Meckes convinced me into this guy and he really beat on Oath and Mr. DSC. I really wish I ran more, but definitely my next Vintage event will certainly have more.

Performance:

Before Waterbury I went out to Jersey a week prior to play this pile.

There was something around twenty players and I ended up in third place(undefeated in swiss) and ended up losing to Ultima's new deck since he is the greatest topdecker ever and I applaud him always for being the player and guy he is.

Round 1: Bob with Slaver
This went to three games since I lost game 2 to an early Tinkered Pentavus which i certainly can't plow. Game three I hold him at bay with a flipped up Angel and a Null Rod racing a Colossus.

Round 2: Jason with Savannah Lions Fish
Game 1 Old Man got tutored up and really did him in. Game 2 I dropped a Sacred Ground and an Angel with an Old Man went the distance.

Round 3: Ashok with Uba Stax
Game 1 I went down to six. I had a very nice opening though, Lotus following into Duress, Confidant and I dropped an Underground Sea into a recall. I kept all his threats off the board and Old Man Of The Sea took it with Confidant. Game 2 he opened with Gorilla Shaman. I layed a Sacred Ground turn one and turn two layed a Old Man Of The Sea off a Lotus and Gorilla Shaman nuked his whole board leaving him with just too lands.

I drew the next round with Joe Davis and we would meet for the third and fourth place prize to play it out.

Top 4: Ultima with his wacky Tendrils featuring AK's and such.
Game 1 was definitely a close one. I snatched his AK for four with a Duress and layed a Mage on Tendrils. Like the champ he is with nothing good in hand he peels a Yawgmoth's Bargain off the top we all know what follows. Game 2 I flip up an early Angel paired with Confidant, I resolve a juicy Yawgmoth's Will. Game 3 was extremely close. I throw down a lot of Null Rods. But Tinker Colossus comes out of no where. I didn't see him other games and with many STP's boarded out I get my face reamed.

Bonus Round: Joe Davis with Meandeck Gifts
Game 1 I lead off with an early Meddling Mage on Tinker and another on Pyroclasm he never gets anywhere really. Game 2 he tried to make me give him Recoup off his gifts but my super Jedi mind powers sensed the dark side of a Black Lotus. But congrats to Joe with his solid finish on day two of Waterbury.

Waterbury...why Vintage should be more respected then it actually is.

So I ride up with Josh, Roland Chang, Ralph, and Vincent all friends and nice guys. I built my deck did some random testing with Roland and we split the games even with me partially intoxicated.

I meet some great people and introduce myself to Probasco, Kyle Leith and a few others, all seemed very friendly and intelligent I enjoyed talking theory with them for sure and random great personalities will definitely make me travel to more Type 1 events. Also a lot of cards were stolen to me worth around $400. But the help a lot of people were willing to offer me and the compensation some people gave me for my loss was rather warm. Thanks many to all of you. And I was rather dumb for dropping at X-2 with amazing tiebreakers since I lost to the Gifts player who was 5-0 at one point was rather silly. Next time I'll know better, I hate being lazy.

Round 1: EBA MIRROR!?!?!
Game 1, My opponent leads with an early Negator looking at my Confidant. I gladly chump my Confidant into a Negator and let him sit there with oh so little permanents.

SB: -1 Darkblast, -1 Disenchant, -1 Meddling Mage, +2 Swords To Plowshares, +1 Duress

Game 2, I lead with a Meddling Mage on Negator and my opponent lays down a VEDALKEN SHACKLES wow that certainly was interesting! It really allows him to wreck me hard. Taking everything I could play.

SB: -1 Duress, +1 Meddling Mage (Shackles!)

Game 3 Was ended by my opponent running a Phyrexian Negator into an Exalted Angel, bad play.
1-0

Round 2: Michael Heherington with Gifts (Belcher Kill)
Heres a huge problem for my deck. Its a card called Library Of Alexandria. I completely ignored it and I have no answer. Both games he draws into it and it kicks the living hell out of me. Next time I know to have an answer. I do almost nothing relevant compared to what he is doing. I deserve this loss. What did I sideboard? Some Null Rods but it doesn't matter since Library would still own a control mirror.
1-1

Round 3: Oath
This was an intense and fun match indeed.
Game 1, I discenchant an Oath and drop some Mages on Oath and Rushing River. I feel naming Oath on two Mages might now be extremely wise all the time. They go the distance.

SB: -1 Darkblast, -2 Exalted Angel, -1 Old Man Of The Sea,-1 Dark Confidant, +2 Disenchant, +1 Gilded Drake, +1 Swords To Plowshares, +1 Duress

Game 2, he has a turn one oath with a counter back up. I Disenchant it sees a Force. I Plow a dude on his upkeep when he Oaths it and bye goes Spirit Of The Night. I play nothing relevant and he brings out Hydra. Then Akroma comes up and my Gilded Drake fails under a HUGE counter war.

Game 3, I get down a Confidant and he brings and Oath to town. Gilded Drake gets Vamped for and eats Akroma for dinner. I even Disenchanted his Oath to elimnate a shred of hope.
2-1

Round 4, Control Slaver sporting FTK in the board.
Game 1, This involves one of the scariest hands ever. I duress and see a Black Lotus, Tinker, Yawg Will, and Ancestral. I put up a good fight but my efforts eventually flop.

SB: -1 Sensei's Diving Top, -1 Mox Ruby, -1 Exalted Angel, +2 Null Rod, +1 Duress
Game 2, I lead with a Duress and see lots of goodies like a FTK, Lotus and Brainstorm. I snatch Brainstorm and he doesn't really get far. I lay a Mage on FTK bring an Angel to play and win shortly after.

SB: -1 Duress, -1 Darkblast (Welder left apparently), +1 Null Rod, +1 Gilded Drake

Game 3, This is slaughter. I drop a turn one Null Rod and rack up insane card advantage with a Confidant. He takes it all the way and yes only him.
3-1

Moooovin on up. My tiebreakers are very strong too since my loss is X-0

Round 5 My demise since I lose my morale. SALVAGERS
Game 1, I play a very 4cc ish style route. My opponent gets no where while my angel comes in morphed. I flip her and FoW a Yawgmoth's Will. My opponent never gets in the game.

SB: -1 Darkblast, -1 Mox Ruby, -1 Sensei's Diving Top, -1 Disenchant, +3 Null Rod, +1 Swords To Plowshares

Game 2, He tinkers for Darksteel Colossus. It stomps on my fresh Meddling Mages. Naming Trinket Mage and Auriok Salvagers. My opponent admits his extreme luck from topdecking Tinker but it happens.

SB: -1 Old Man Of The Sea, +1 Gilded Drake

Game 3, This is oh so close. I get down a Mage on Salvagers and this is definitely a poor choice by me since Tinker is what I was worried about for sure. He resolves a Yawgmoth's Will that really lets him go broken. But I creep back into the game by ripping his hand apart and laying down a Confidant. I am dying for lands at this point since I have my own Yawg Will and him lacking counterspells. The big man resolves after his Force Of Will saves him. This is the point of desperation, I cast FoF and reveal the best Fact Or Fiction EVER

Swords
Meddling Mage
Gilded Drake
Mana Drain
FoW

My opponent separates Drake or the rest. I take the rest and alas I need a land either way. If I had it. That game would be mine. He swings for thirteen putting me low. And drops a spellbomb stopping all hopes of me plowing then putting up a final defensive since I have a Mage to chump a Mage. I untap Plow then lose to the power of the Trinkets.... : (
3-2

Round 6, Uba Stax
At this point I really don't want to play anymore but lets see what happens.
Game 1, I destroy him with Old Man Of The Sea taking Gorilla Shaman and eating his board.
Game 2, I mull down to 5 and keep a two land hand with Sacred Ground but I just have no will to play anymore and give my opponent the win.

That was dumb but I just wanted to stop playing. I probably could have also made top 16 but next time I'll be a little wiser.

I ended up playing two side events and winning both kicking the crap out fish and UbaStax. I had a really good match against someone named Jigglypuff and we both played rather well and I enjoyed playing vs. good players quite a lot.

For the future, Wastelands are definitely needed with a Strip. Also I would like to play Cunning Wish to cut down on dead cards. I think cutting one Meddling Mage would be a great idea. They aren't as powerful as I thought they would be, but they were still great. Also upping the Drake count would be good.

If you ever play this deck, please please for dear God hold your brainstorms unless your mana screwed or need some SERIOUS steam. Don't break fetches ever until you are Mana Flooded. The deck will run so much better. And Duress, either cast Duress turn one on the play or save it until you really need it. I can give some more tips if anyone wants but I would like to close on an optimistic note and I will say I'd like to continue my work on this deck because I feel it is promising.

All your ideas will be considered with a very open mind and I will respond with enthusiasm.

Hope you enjoyed reading!
Many thanks to a great tournament and I enjoyed meeting many faces which are on these forums.

-Elias

Since all the cool kids do it:
Props:
All the cool cats I met and Josh for winning and dropping me back into NYC when it was way far.
Umezawa's Jitte for being insane on an Exalted Angel.
That GWS guy with a very sweet amount of foils.
Everyone who helped me out for my stolen cards.
Ultima for a lot of insigt on deck building in this format.

Slops:
That prick who stole my stuff. Burn bastard burn.
Tinker, wow that card was annoying when there was four and it's still annoying.
Myself for being retarded and not letting myself continue to probably make top 16 since Oath was everywhere in the X-2 bracket, smooth Elias smooth.

-Elias