I am hoping, despite the unimpressive finish, this report meets approval. Prior to this tournament the deck placed 9th/44 in Salem and 4th/26 in Nashua.
The metagame: There were no fewer than 5 Drain Slaver decks, at least 2 Gay/r, at least 2 4cControl, Stax, GAT, and the ever-popular Mono-U Illusions/Donate.
The tournament took place Sat 7/31. The 7/10 list I used is at the bottom, for reference. It is principally based on wuaffiliate's build.
ROUND 1 vs. Mat Richardson (Drain Slaver, of course)
Game 1: First question he asks, "Do you use TMD?" We both see 13s on the die roll. Perhaps this number was a harbinger of things to come for me this afternoon. He has a Force for my turn 1 play (Trinisphere.) He proceeds to Mindslaver me very early on turn 2 or turn 3. I play, or rather, observe the next couple of turns until I am convinced he can perpetuate the lock.
Game 2: SB -4 Trinipshere,-4 Chalice,-3 Trike,+2 BEB,+3 Rack&Ruin,+3 Crucible,+3 Pyroblast. He counters my Ancestral then deploys a Welder. I have a Lotus in the yard, so he can disrupt my board pretty well. Pentavus comes online. I don't have R&R. He untaps and I scoop.
0-1-0
ROUND 2 vs. Scott Limoges (GAT)
Game 1: GAT is a very good matchup for 7/10. I get out an early 3Sphere and go to work on his mana base. He gets some early beats in with Monkey but succumbs to 2 Titans
Game 2: SB -3 Trike,+3 Pyroblast. Looks like I have the game in the bag. His board is 1 Underground Sea and 1 Island. My only artifact in play is a 3Sphere. I weld it out for a Titan to destroy his lands and play a 2nd Welder. Next turn he makes like Donald Trump and Fires both my Welders. My bad for overextending. He drops Tog. We stall for a while until he draws an answer to Titan and swings for the kill. Well played, Scott!
Game 3: I waste several of his lands, then Jar in to Karn. He fails to draw more land, and the Silver Golem goes the distance.
1-1-0
ROUND 3 vs. Aaron Kerzner (4c Control)
He beats me like a rented mule. You can read more about it here if you'd like:
http://www.themanadrain.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=187631-2-0
ROUND 4 vs. G ? (B/R 'SuiSligh' with Spark Elementals)
Not much of note here, as this is a deck no one will encounter outside of Cape Cod. I won the match 2-1. The kid beat me with Turn 1 Carnophage & Turn 2 Hatred in the second game. Heh.
2-2-0
ROUND 5 vs. ?
My opponent would rather trade than play, so I win by the 2 sweetest words in the English language. Still not enough juice for the top 8. I go home and watch the Red Sox lose as well.
3-2-0
CONCLUSION
I am sticking with the deck for now. Thinking about -2 Triskelion +2 Gorilla Shaman. Along with Big Big Monkey Man (Karn) that would enhance mana denial vs. control. SB -1 Karn +1 ?. I also need to playtest the Drain Slaver matchup since everyone and their mother runs it around here. Any constructive criticism is especially welcome. Thank you and good afternoon.
Goblin Welder X 4
Sundering Titan X 3
Triskelion X 3
Duplicant X 1
Karn,Silver Golem X 1
Thirst for Knowledge X 4
Ancestral Recall X 1
Fact or Fiction X 1
Memory Jar X 1
Mystical Tutor X 1
Tinker X 1
Trinisphere X 4
Chalice of the Void X 4
SoLoMoxCrypt X 8
Mana Vault X 1
Gilded Lotus X 3
Mishra's Workshop X 4
Volcanic Island X 4
Shivan Reef X 3
Ancient Tomb X 2
Tolarian Academy X 1
Wasteland X 4
Strip Mine X 1
Sideboard
Rack and Ruin X 3
Shattering Pulse X 1
Pyroblast X 3
Blue Elemental Blast X 3
Crucible of Worlds X 3
Duplicant X 1
Karn, Silver Golem X 1
