Metagame choices

[CCClark]

I would like to make a thread on Metagaming.  The reason why is that I have an odd position in that there is Type 1 tournys every Sunday here at our local store and i might as well make this productive in allowing people to post their own metagame and ask for help on what would be a prime choice in sideboard options or total decktype for the area.

Anyway, here's what runs rampant in my area:

2 FCG (not so good players but decent enough)
1 Mono-Blue Control  (good player behind it)
1 Chapin Gro  (piloted by Chapin no less)
1 Long.dec (piloted by Chapins brother)
1 Oath control  (excellent player)
1 Oshawa Stompy   (one of our best players)

The rest are made up of random players of about 20 people that play anything from random versions of parfait to total nonsense that manages to disrupt people because they are there at all.   (Nothing like getting hit with things like Reality Twist because someone had a wild hair that week)

Anyway, my point was what goes well in an enviroment with no such thing as TNT, Mask, Stax, or other such well tested Type 1 decks?

I was considering playing Mask until I hit a FCG type deck and it becomes a lil tough to pull out the combo quick enough.   The control types are no problem but typical goblins becomes tricky.   The random Stompy deck doesn't help with the main null rods and such.  Typically I have done well with my control Slavery deck except hitting some of the random decks with an extreme amount of hate for it have forced me to consider other ideas.  Considering we play every week I can't play the same deck too long.

Please if you would discuss what goes well in a metagame like this and then post your metagame for discussion afterwards.  
It may give people a good idea of what to play and what to play for different types of metagames.  

[OPColby]

Well, I'm a big advocate for URB Landstill.  (Or just the Blue-Red version.)

In my opinion, the commonly ran UR Landstill would rock everything there except for Oshawa Stompy (which you will probably NEVER win a game against.)

Check it out, and also check out U/R Fish and TnT.

You might even want to try Dragon.

[AngryPheldagrif]

Having trouble getting the combo out fast enough with Mask? Try this!  It'll solve your FCG problems and rip up random decks like there's no tomorrow. Rip the sideboard down to whatever works in your meta, though.

Good luck,
-Dan

[paradigm]

In ann ill-define environment with few fully developed type one decks, combo is usually a strong answer.

You'll need to define exactly what you mean by long.dec - is it TPS, Draw 7, or some variant?

Regardless, it would seem like Draw 7 would be strong deck here. The maindeck Force of Will gives you strength against other combo, and Draw 7 has more speed than FCG on average, and as for the long.dec, you have Force of Will (explaining the build here would allow for furthur analysis) to assist, as well as the consistency that Draw 7 has with its superior draw engine.

The Xantid Swarms are also a house for blue control decks of any type - by not trying to rush the combo but hiding behind a Swarm, it frustrates blue control - especially since these listed decks will have fewer answers than Hulk Smash, Control Slaver, and 4C control to them. In addition, you always have the advantage since they must mulligan into a Swarm and with the possible exception of the Oath control, they lack Duress as well.

Draw 7 also runs over aggro - although you have to be aware of the presence of Null Rod - which may be present, especially in Oshawa. However, when it comes to the scope of one tournament, you have the advantage since you know what your opponents are running and they aren't as sure about you - as you can more adequetely plan for the presence of Null Rod - and since they have to mull aggressively to get one, their attack becomes blunted, hopefully enough to buy time.

The lack of Control Slaver or Hulk plays a key role is choosing to play Draw 7 - the control decks here just aren't a threat, and you have advantages over the rest of the field as well.

Whatever you chose,
Good luck in breaking your metagame open!

[Smmenen]

Wait a second - Chapin is still playing?  I thought he was in jail.  Long?  Are they using Death Long?  What is long according to you?

Steve

[CCClark]

Yup, Chapin is in jail I found out.  I was wondering why I haven't seen him in a while.   Guess it'll be a while before he's back also considering what he went in for.

Anyway, thanks for the advice.   I was playing a similar deck to the mask variant you linked to, though I ran 4 pacts (I just like them) The deck just seemed to whip itself a lot due to it's lack of search if the initial naught gets killed due to a topdecking master and that's just annoying.

The Long deck was a draw 7 just for the record, though he is back in school so that one is no longer a consideration.      

Anyone know of a decent draw 7 deck list?  Typing draw into the search gets an amazing amount of stuff that has nothing to do with what you wanted  lol.   It might be a good idea for me to keep one around for a change here and there later as I usually draw a lot of peoples sideboards my way after playing the same deck too long lol.    I haven't really kept track of the combo decks since it's rare to see one anymore.  Most people around here consider them really boring to play against, but it's nice to mangle people occationally.

[Smmenen]

Chapin has been in jail for a long time now.  I wrote an article on a deck called Draw7 for Starcitygames.  Here is an update and primer of that deck:

http://www.starcitygames.com/php/news/expandnews.php?Article=7216

Steve

[CCClark]

Wow, I am impressed, that is one "go for the gusto" type deck.  I have built a few solitaire types before but I never was brave enough to use the (omg please don have good stuff in the remove pile) power of Diminishing returns.   lol


Anyway, this is the mana base for what I was playing a while back (the rest of the deck is very close).  The mana differs quite a bit, though I never had a problem stalling for mana.   I was wondering why you picked the lone underground sea, it seems a lil out of place.  I have a liking to Undiscovereds I guess.  I also had a candelabra, but that was mainly to keep from stalling to color hosing, it went in and out of the deck often.   Another difference is a Scroll rack.  That one is just a personal touch.  I just like it.   The returns change a lot having an extra draw card to throw in so there's probably no need for it in your version.   Just curious on how you got to the mana base numbers, mine was just from playtesting the hell out of it and slowly tuning it in against Chapin (while he was out of jail).  

Though I guess it's been a while since I played anything similar oviously.   I don't think Tendrils was even out yet whan I last played mine.  I still had a Stroke for a win condition.  

1   Tolarian Academy
1   Library of Alexandria
1   Gemstone Mine
1   Undiscovered Paradise
4   City of Brass
1   Strip Mine
5   SoloMoxen
1   Mana Crypt
1   Grim Monolith
1   Mana Vault
1   Lotus Petal
1   Candelabra of Tawnos
1   Lion's Eye Diamond
4   Dark Ritual
4              Elvish Spirit Guide

By the way, thank you for the link, I know it's considered pretty annoying to ask for deck lists here.  I like your version of the deck much better anyway.   It just seems "ballsy".   Makes you want to add a consult and say "Rawr" real loud.  lol

[Toad]

If you want to play a ballsy deck that wrecks low powered metagames, just try the german 2-land Charbelcher deck.

[Smmenen]

Except with the proper one land configuration.

Steve