Battle of the Sets V - Pre-tournament info & discussion

[Legend]

NEW DARKSTEEL DECK:


4 Spire Golem
4 Arcbound Crusher
4 Arcbound Stinger
4 Arcbound Slith
4 Arcbound Ravager
4 Arcbound Worker
4 Myr Moonvessel
4 Genesis Chamber
4 Skullclamp
4 Darksteel Citadel
4 Blinkmoth Nexus
16 Island

[Zelc]

Wow, that looks really impressive.  However, it looks like it has the potential to fizzle if it doesn't draw Skullclamp.  Maybe 2 Swords of Fire and Ice could be added?  They'd function as additional card draw to find your Skullclamps, and they deal extra damage to boot.

[Legend]

Sword will be tested. Its tough to find room, though. Obviously the difference between drawing Clamp and not drawing Clamp is like night and day, but I don't think the deck will fizzle. It still has a number of other powerful features, such as Chamber/Ravager, Chamber/Crusher, or just plain old moving modular counters around.

But I like Sword a lot. Tought to find room, though. We'll see.

[Alfred]

My suggestion:

-4 Moonvessel
+4 Aether Vial

That will make "going off" with the deck much, much easier.

EDIT:

Oh yeah, and:

-16 Island
-4 Spire Golem
+16 Swamp
+4 Dross Golem

It's cheaper, has more power and is also evasive, so I think that this would be the better choice.

[Legend]

Aether Vial I have already tested. It was surprisingly lacking. I understand all of its merits.

However, I prefer Moonvessel simply because this deck can use as many creatures as possible. Moonvessel is innocuous, but it is a free two cards off Skullclamp, provides an additional creature off Chamber, and is another body to put modular counters on. I like having 28 creatures.

Also, this deck can cast all of its creatures without any difficulty (i.e. no problem casting something like Meddling Mage as in the PT Columbus winning deck). Vial has more value when multiple colors of mana are involved.

Vial has proven its worth in constructed formats. But after taking a lot of draws with this deck both with Vial and without Vial, I preferred the Vial-less version. The Vial just didn't seem to do that much. This is a close call, though.

As for the Golem selection, I actually prefer Spire Golem over Dross Golem. Yes, Dross Golem may be slightly easier to cast (the situation in which it would be easier to cast being if two swamps plus a Citadel/Nexus is in play - the Golem would be castable on turn three - whereas if two islands are in play plus a Citadel/Nexus, Spire is not yet castable).

However, Spire Golem is still a turn three drop much of the time (16 Islands, starting out with three straight Islands happens reasonably often). Otherwise, it can wait till turn four and the third turn can be spent doing something else worthwhile.

More importantly though are two other considerations.

First, flying is a better evasive ability than fear.

Second, Spire Golem with its higher toughness is significantly harder to remove than is Dross Golem.

One argument for Dross Golem might be that it deals an extra damage.
But with so many modular counters being bandied about, Spire Golem will
be able to increase its power without much difficulty, while offering a more durable body and the superior flying ability.

So I'd like to leave the deck as is. As always, further testing is a good option to make sure a deck is at its best. But for now I'll leave the current version with the Spires and Moonvessels, while Aether Vial and Sword of Fire/Ice wait on the sidelines.

Again, this is subject to change, as both Aether Vial and Sword of Fire/Ice obviously have their own merits. Dross Golem can be reviewed as well. For now, though, the above list is fine.


UPDATE: Minor change to Odyssey:  -1 Cephalid Coliseum, +1 Island

[Legend]

Alfred has come up with a fun, interesting and creative new Stronghold deck.

No more G/W bad aggro. Here it is:


4 Sliver Queen
4 Flame Wave
3 Flowstone Mauler
4 Shard Phoenix
4 Shock
4 Dream Halls
4 Thalakos Deceiver
4 Sift
4 Mana Leak
11 Island
14 Mountain


As for Darksteel, the above list is now official. Aether Vial and Sword of Fire/Ice did not make it, as the posted list is running flawlessly.

Also, here are the Battle of the Sets all-time standings:

The formatting after the cut-and-paste isn't the best, so using Mirrodin as an example, what you see below are overall match record (12-3 for Mirrodin), overall games record (39-22 for Mirrodin) and then the finishes in each tournament (Mirrodin did not play in BOTS I, then made the quarterfinals, then won, made the quarterfinals, and made the final four last time. Same order goes for the rest of the sets in the standings.


BATTLE OF THE SETS ALL-TIME STATISTICS (UPDATED THROUGH BOTS V)*


SET   MWL   GWL   Finishes


1. Mirrodin   12-3   39-22   DNP, Top 8, WIN, Top 8, Top 4

2. Antiquities   14-4 44-20 Top 4, Top 8, R2, WIN, Top 4

3. Tempest 13-4 41-15 Top 8, WIN, Finals, R2, Top 8

4. Torment 12-4 40-21 R2, Top 8, Top 4, R2, WIN

5. Apocalypse 9-4 32-21 WIN, R2, R2, R1, Finals

6. Onslaught 11-5 36-18 Finals, R2, R1, Finals, Top 8

7. Odyssey 10-5 34-23 R2, Top 4, Top 4, R2, Top 8

8. Masques 9-5 30-22 R1, Finals, R2, Top 8, Top 8

9. Darksteel 5-3 20-16 DNP, DNP, Top 8, Top 4, R1

10. Destiny 6-5 21-19 Top 8, Top 8, Top 8, R2, R1

11. Legends 5-5 19-17 Top 8, R1, R2, Top 8, R1

12. Arabian 5-5 21-20-1 R1, Top 4, R2, R2, R1

13. Scourge 5-5 21-20 R1, R2, R2, Top 8, R2

14. Kamigawa 1-1 4-4 DNP, DNP, DNP, DNP, R2

15. Exodus 5-5 16-18 R2, R2, Top 8, R2 , R1

16. Prophecy 4-5 16-18 R2, R1, R1, Top 4, R1

17. Legions 4-5 16-21 R2, R1, Top 8, R1, R2

18. Nemesis 3-5 14-17 R2, R2, R1, R2, R1

19. Saga 3-5 15-19 R1, R1, R2, R2, R2

20. Legacy 3-5 15-20-1 Top 8, R1, R1, R1, R2

21. Stronghold 3-5 10-19 Top 4, R1, R1, R1, R1

22. Fifth Dawn 1-2 5-8 DNP, DNP, DNP, R1, R2

23. Alliances 2-5 14-18 R2, R2, R1, R1, R1

24. Invasion 2-5 10-18 R1, R1, R2, R1, R2

25. Visions 1-5 5-17-1 R1, R2, R1, R1, R1

26. Mirage 1-5 4-15 R1, R2, R1, R1, R1

27. Planeshift 1-5 4-17 R1, R1, R1, R1, R2

28. Ice Age 0-5 8-15

29. Weatherlight 0-5 7-15

30. Judgment 0-5 5-15

31. The Dark 0-5 3-15-1

32. Fallen Empires 0-5 1-15

33. Homelands 0-4 1-12

*play-in matches not included in main-event standings

PLAY-IN MATCH RESULTS

BOTS V: The Dark d. Homelands, 3-1

[Legend]

OK, there are two more new decks to announce - for Visions & Judgment.

Judgment will stay W/G but with more emphasis on the white to take Judgment from a plodding ground-based attack to a more effective air attack. Now green will just be a splash for Brushhopper, Elephant Guide, and flashback on Ray of Revelation.

Visions goes from lackluster B/G to a Sandsipoise lockdown combo deck.

Jet, I know you had been suggesting this for a long time. So your wish finally comes true, and it was long overdue. We finally have a viable list for Sandsipoise. No more lackluster B/G beatdown. Here are the new decks:


VISIONS

4 Peace Talks
4 Equipoise
4 Impulse
4 Vision Charm
4 Sands of Time
4 Wand of Denial
4 Coercion
4 Vampiric Tutor
2 Forbidden Ritual
8 Island
8 Plains
8 Swamp
2 Undiscovered Paradise


JUDGMENT

4 Glory
4 Battle Screech
3 Commander Eesha
4 Anurid Brushhopper
4 Elephant Guide
4 Ray of Revelation
4 Phantom Nomad
4 Suntail Hawk
4 Spurnmage Advocate
10 Forest
15 Plains



I'm going to post all 33 completely updated decks below so you can see exactly where the format stands right now.

[Legend]

ALL 34 DECKLISTS - completely updated



#1: ARABIAN NIGHTS

4 Juzam Djinn
4 Oubliette
4 Erg Raiders
4 Old Man of the Sea
4 Serendib Efreet
4 Flying Men
4 Unstable Mutation
4 Erhnam Djinn
4 Library of Alexandria
4 City of Brass
10 Swamp
10 Island


#2: ANTIQUITIES

4 Triskelion
4 Tetravus
4 Clockwork Avian
4 Tawnos's Coffin
4 Su-Chi
4 Rocket Launcher
4 Primal Clay
4 Onulet
4 Candelabra of Tawnos
4 Mishra's Workshop
4 Mishra's Factory
4 Strip Mine
4 Urza's Power Plant
4 Urza's Mine
4 Urza's Tower


#3: LEGENDS

4 Moat
4 Thunder Spirit
3 Greater Realm of Preservation
4 Spirit Link
4 Land Tax
3 Firestorm Phoenix
4 Pyrotechnics
3 Land's Edge
4 Chain Lightning
10 Mountain
17 Plains


#4: THE DARK

4 Inferno
4 Eternal Flame
4 Fissure
4 Ball Lightning
4 Sisters of the Flame
3 Brothers of Fire
4 Fire Drake
4 Fellwar Stone
4 Maze of Ith
25 Mountain


#5: FALLEN EMPIRES

4 Thrull Champion
4 Derelor
4 Armor Thrull
4 Mindstab Thrull
4 Necrite
4 Order of the Ebon Hand
4 Hymn to Tourach
4 Thrull Retainer
4 Aeolipile
4 Ebon Stronghold
20 Swamp


#6: ICE AGE

4 Jokulhaups
4 Incinerate
3 Demonic Consultation
4 Abyssal Specter
4 Foul Familiar
4 Dark Banishing
4 Necropotence
4 Zuran Orb
4 Dark Ritual
4 Sulfurous Springs
8 Mountain
13 Swamp


#7: HOMELANDS

4 Abbey Gargoyles
4 Abbey Matron
4 Aysen Bureaucrats
4 Death Speakers
3 Autumn Willow
4 Roots
4 Leaping Lizard
4 Spectral Bears
4 Serrated Arrows
11 Forest
14 Plains


#8: ALLIANCES

4 Balduvian Horde
4 Pillage
4 Primitive Justice
4 Guerilla Tactics
4 Death Spark
4 Pyrokinesis
4 Deadly Insect
4 Yavimaya Ants
4 Elvish Ranger
11 Forest
13 Mountain


#9: MIRAGE

4 Volcanic Dragon
4 Wildfire Emissary
4 Hammer of Bogardan
4 Savage Twister
4 Incinerate
4 Kaervek's Torch
4 Wall of Roots
4 Rampant Growth
4 Fire Diamond
4 Mountain Valley
5 Forest
15 Mountain


#10: VISIONS

4 Peace Talks
4 Equipoise
4 Impulse
4 Vision Charm
4 Sands of Time
4 Wand of Denial
4 Coercion
4 Vampiric Tutor
2 Forbidden Ritual
8 Island
8 Plains
8 Swamp
2 Undiscovered Paradise


#11: WEATHERLIGHT

4 Empyrial Armor
4 Benalish Knight
4 Soul Shepherd
4 Serenity
4 Duskrider Falcon
4 Avizoa
4 Phantom Warrior
4 Sage Owl
4 Serrated Biskelion
4 Gemstone Mine
9 Island
11 Plains


#12: TEMPEST

4 Dismiss
4 Intuition
3 Capsize
4 Counterspell
4 Whispers of the Muse
4 Humility
4 Orim's Prayer
4 Sapphire Medallion
3 Grindstone
4 Reflecting Pool
10 Plains
12 Island


#13: STRONGHOLD

4 Sliver Queen
4 Flame Wave
3 Flowstone Mauler
4 Shard Phoenix
4 Shock
4 Dream Halls
4 Thalakos Deceiver
4 Sift
4 Mana Leak
12 Island
13 Mountain


#14: EXODUS

1 Spike Hatcher
4 Spike Weaver
4 Wood Elves
4 Survival of the Fittest
4 Pygmy Troll
1 Pit Spawn
2 Dauthi Jackal
4 Recurring Nightmare
4 Oath of Ghouls
4 Thrull Surgeon
1 Keeper of the Dead
1 Plaguebearer
2 Thopter Squadron
12 Forest
12 Swamp


#15: URZA'S SAGA

4 Time Spiral
3 Karn, Silver Golem
4 Phyrexian Processor
4 Smokestack
4 Worn Powerstone
4 Pit Trap
4 Thran Turbine
4 Voltaic Key
4 Claws of Gix
4 Tolarian Academy
4 Blasted Landscape
17 Island


#16: URZA'S LEGACY

2 Palinchron
4 Weatherseed Faeries
4 Fleeting Image
4 Cloud of Faeries
4 Snap
4 Miscalculation
4 Might of Oaks
4 Simian Grunts
4 Rancor
4 Faerie Conclave
4 Treetop Village
7 Forest
11 Island


#17: URZA'S DESTINY

4 Thorn Elemental
4 Ancient Silverback
4 Plow Under
4 Pattern of Rebirth
4 Yavimaya Elder
4 Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
4 Heart Warden
4 Masticore
4 Thran Dynamo
24 Forest


#18: MERCADIAN MASQUES

4 Reverent Mantra
3 Story Circle
4 Cho-Manno's Blessing
4 Thermal Glider
4 Nightwind Glider
4 Disenchant
2 Ramosian Lieutenant
4 Fresh Volunteers
4 Steadfast Guard
4 Ramosian Sergeant
4 Rishadan Port
19 Plains


#19: NEMESIS

4 Saproling Burst
4 Blastoderm
4 Wild Mammoth
4 Stampede Driver
4 Skyshroud Ridgeback
4 Mogg Alarm
4 Arc Mage
4 Mogg Toady
4 Seal of Fire
12 Mountain
12 Forest


#20: PROPHECY

4 Scoria Cat
4 Citadel of Pain
4 Rhystic Lightning
4 Veteran Brawlers
4 Branded Brawlers
4 Troublesome Spirit
4 Ribbon Snake
4 Spiketail Hatchling
4 Chimeric Idol
12 Island
12 Mountain


#21: INVASION

3 Void
4 Blazing Specter
4 Pyre Zombie
4 Shivan Zombie
4 Ravenous Rats
4 Addle
4 Skizzik
4 Urza's Rage
4 Ghitu Fire
1 Keldon Necropolis
4 Urborg Volcano
10 Swamp
10 Mountain


#22: PLANESHIFT

4 Lava Zombie
4 Terminate
4 Phyrexian Scuta
4 Lord of the Undead
4 Nightscape Familiar
4 Maggot Carrier
4 Flametongue Kavu
4 Magma Burst
4 Thunderscape Battlemage
11 Mountain
13 Swamp


#23: APOCALYPSE

4 Spiritmonger
4 Pernicious Deed
4 Vindicate
4 Death Grasp
4 Gerrard's Verdict
2 Desolation Angel
4 Phyrexian Arena
4 Spectral Lynx
4 Caves of Koilos
4 Llanowar Wastes
4 Forest
8 Plains
10 Swamp


#24: ODYSSEY

4 Psychatog
4 Shadowmage Infiltrator
3 Upheaval
2 Persuasion
4 Concentrate
4 Aether Burst
4 Standstill
4 Ghastly Demise
4 Innocent Blood
4 Darkwater Catacombs
2 Cephalid Coliseum
10 Swamp
11 Island


#25: TORMENT

4 Laquatus's Champion
3 Mind Sludge
4 Shambling Swarm
4 Faceless Butcher
4 Rancid Earth
4 Nantuko Shade
4 Mesmeric Fiend
4 Chainer's Edict
3 Cabal Coffers
26 Swamp


#26: JUDGMENT

4 Glory
4 Battle Screech
3 Commander Eesha
4 Anurid Brushhopper
4 Elephant Guide
4 Ray of Revelation
4 Phantom Nomad
4 Suntail Hawk
4 Spurnmage Advocate  
10 Forest
15 Plains


#27: ONSLAUGHT

4 Exalted Angel
4 Akroma's Vengeance
4 Astral Slide
4 Akroma's Blessing
4 Renewed Faith
4 Starstorm
4 Lightning Rift
4 Shock
4 Secluded Steppe
4 Forgotten Cave
8 Mountain
12 Plains


#28: LEGIONS

4 Clickslither
4 Goblin Goon
4 Gempalm Incinerator
4 Unstable Hulk
4 Skirk Marauder
4 Skirk Drill Sergeant
4 Goblin Lookout
4 Goblin Grappler
4 Warbreak Trumpeter
24 Mountain


#29: SCOURGE

4 Eternal Dragon
4 Noble Templar
4 Daru Warchief
4 Dawn Elemental
4 Decree of Justice
4 Wing Shards
4 Dragon Scales
4 Silver Knight
4 Temple of the False God
24 Plains


#30: MIRRODIN

4 Somber Hoverguard
4 Thoughtcast
4 Shrapnel Blast
4 Atog
4 Disciple of the Vault
4 Myr Enforcer
4 Frogmite  
4 Pyrite Spellbomb
4 Bonesplitter
4 Ornithopter
4 Welding Jar
4 Glimmervoid
4 Seat of the Synod
4 Great Furnace
4 Vault of Whispers


#31: DARKSTEEL

4 Spire Golem
4 Arcbound Crusher
4 Arcbound Stinger
4 Arcbound Slith
4 Arcbound Ravager
4 Arcbound Worker
4 Myr Moonvessel
4 Genesis Chamber
4 Skullclamp
4 Darksteel Citadel
4 Blinkmoth Nexus
16 Island


#32: FIFTH DAWN

4 Engineered Explosives
4 Pentad Prism
4 Wayfarer's Bauble
4 Skyreach Manta
4 Bringer of the Green Dawn
4 Bringer of the Blue Dawn
4 Channel the Suns
4 Eternal Witness
4 Joiner Adept
3 Swamp
3 Mountain
3 Plains
3 Island
12 Forest


#33: CHAMPIONS OF KAMIGAWA

4 Kokusho, the Evening Star  
4 Hideous Laughter
4 Cranial Extraction
4 Rend Flesh
4 Waking Nightmare  
4 Distress
3 Swallowing Plague
4 Sakura-Tribe Elder
4 Hana Kami
1 Okina, Temple to the Grandfather
1 Shizo, Death's Storehouse
7 Forest
16 Swamp


#34 BETRAYERS OF KAMIGAWA

1 Oyobi, Who Split the Heavens
4 Final Judgment
4 Terashi's Grasp
4 Genju of the Fields
4 Three Tragedies
4 Yukora the Prisoner
4 Eradicate
4 Horobi's Whisper
4 Sickening Shoal
11 Plains
16 Swamp