3CB #96 Results and Discussion/3CB Tournament #97 (Special Format!)

[Godder]

I'd like to congratulate Tragedy Illissius as the winner of 3CB Tournament #96! This week saw Karakas + Leyline of Singularity being rather useful, especially against the Show and Tell decks, and the Restore Balance/Durkwood Boar combination was again a winner. My apologies for the delay in getting this done, but I have family visiting from Australia and have had lots of gatherings to attend. The turnout wasn't so hot, but after some doubt over which scoring method to use, that's not surprising. I ended up sticking with the status quo to make it easier, but there is some sentiment for something different entirely, so I thought we could try a Trinisphere/Upwelling format for a change. See below for the rules.

Edit: My apologies to Illissius and Tragedy in particular and everyone in general - I'm not sure how I missed Illissius' second deck, but I did, and it was entered in time, so I've redone the results. I also changed the two bonus point additions to 30 for the relevant decks, as Illissius has a good point there, too.

3CB Tournament #96 Card list:

Mesmeric Fiend
Nezumi Shortfang
Blackmail
Cabal Therapy
Abandon Hope
Pulse of the Dross
Pox
Mind Swords
Smallpox
Coercion
Nullstone Gargoyle
Form of the Dragon
Ghost Quarter
Strip Mine
Wasteland
The Rack
Balance
Glacial Chasm
Trinisphere
Null Chamber
Any deck that can have more than 2 mana in its mana pool on the first turn
Any deck that can force the opponent to discard more than one card in a turn
Any deck that can goldfish on turn 1
Any deck that can't win if the opposition does nothing e.g. Mishra's Workshop, Trinisphere, Wheel of Torture (aka The Mise Prize, given out to decks that score lots of 2-2 draws)

Decks:

1   The Old Man   -   Magecraft 2k7   -   Mox Pearl   Mox Sapphire   Meddling Mage
2   Illissius   -   Shock Rocker   -   Black Lotus   Swarmyard   Barbed Shocker
3   Godder   -   Down on the Swamp   -   Bayou   Thallid   Duress
4   Nomad   -   Witnessing Fortune   -   Black Lotus   Eternal Witness   Wheel of Fortune
5   Yare   -   Resistance is Futile   -   Mishra's Workshop   Sphere of Resistance   Soldevi Sentry
6   The Old Man   -   I win Turn 2   -   Black Lotus   Show and Tell   Serra Avatar
7   Technogeek5000   -   New Balance deck   -   Mox Pearl   Restore Balance   Ivory Giant
8   ReAnimator   -   Black Thabbath   -   Black Lotus   Deathspore Thallid   Blackmail
9   Technogeek5000   -   Lands FTW!!!   -   Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale   Mishra's Factory   Petrified Field
10   ReAnimator   -   Land Ho! Yarrrr   -   Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale   Sheltered Valley   Mishra's Factory
11   Tragedy   -   Super Secret Platinum Tech   -   Black Lotus   Show and Tell   Platinum Angel
12   Yare   -   Oh Rats   -   Black Lotus   Ravenous Rats   The Rack
13   Illissius   -   Let's Do That Balance Thing Again   -   Gemstone Mine   Restore Balance   Durkwood Baloth
14   Tragedy   -   Sex with Animals   -   Isamaru, Hound of Konda   Karakas   Leyline of Singularity

Results:

      1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   0   1   2   3   Bonus  Total  Position
1|   X   3   3   3   3   3   3   3   0   0   3   3   1   1   40   69   9
2|   3   X   3   3   3   3   4   3   6   6   3   3   4   3   30   77   3
3|   3   3   X   3   3   3   3   3   0   0   3   3   0   0   40   67   11
4|   3   3   3   X   3   3   4   3   4   4   3   3   3   3   30   72   7
5|   3   3   3   3   X   3   3   3   0   0   3   3   0   3   30   60   14
6|   3   3   3   3   3   X   6   3   0   0   0   3   6   0   30   63   12
7|   3   1   3   1   3   0   X   1   6   6   0   0   2   6   40   72   7
8|   3   3   3   3   3   3   4   X   2   4   3   3   4   3   20   61   13
9|   6   0   6   1   6   6   0   2   X   2   6   0   0   2   40   77   3
0|   6   0   6   1   6   6   0   1   2   X   6   0   0   2   40   76   5
1|   3   3   3   3   3   6   6   3   0   0   X   3   6   0   30   69   9
2|   3   3   3   3   3   3   6   3   6   6   3   X   6   6   20   74   6
3|   4   1   6   3   6   0   2   1   6   6   0   0   X   6   40   81   1
4|   4   3   6   3   3   6   0   3   2   2   6   0   0   X   40   78   2

After the storage lands were out in force last week, Lotus decks made a comeback as the format reversed its deceleration. Meanwhile, 3-lands.dec continues to do well, with the sole difference this week being that Petrified Field is better against Blackmail than Sheltered Valley. Even with the smaller field, the variety was still excellent.

For next time: Trinisphere/Upwelling! This is a somewhat different format in which there is a permanent Trinisphere and Upwelling effect in play which can't be removed in anyway. For those of you who are unsure what they do, Trinisphere makes spells cost a minimum of 3, and Upwelling stops mana pools from emptying, which allows players to store mana across turns without suffering mana burn. Additionally, a Sacred Ground effect is in play. This format has a banned list as below:

Banned list:

Balance
Pox
Smallpox
Show and Tell
Channel
Mishra's Workshop
City of Traitors
Ancient Tomb
Mishra's Factory
Treetop Village
Any deck that can force the opponent to discard more than one card in a turn
Any deck that can goldfish on turn 1
Any deck that can't win if the opposition does nothing e.g. Mishra's Workshop, Trinisphere, Wheel of Torture (aka The Mise Prize)
Cards from Unglued/Unhinged

3-Card Blind (3CB) is a very unique game. With thanks to Zoneseek, the rules are as follows:

• Your deck comprises 3 cards, all of which start in your hand.
• The library starts at 0 cards and you have no sideboard (Wishes fetch nothing).
• Random effects always go in your opponent's favour.
• All hands are revealed, so you always make the best possible play.
• You don't lose as a result of not being able to draw a card. If cards are put into your library, you draw normally.
• Other than the aforementioned, normal Magic rules apply.
• Decks are played against each other deck twice by the Moderator, once going first, once going second. For each win, you score 3. For each draw, you score 1. For each loss, you score 0.
• While it may seem obvious, decks may not use cards from the 3CB Banned List. Illegal decks and decks with illegal cards will be rejected.

To make an entry, PM your deck to Godder in the following format:

Subject: 3CB Tournament #97 Entry
Deck Name
Card #1
Card #2
Card #3

Optional Deck discussion, random sucking up, etc.

Entries close March 31. Players may enter up to two decks, but I reserve the right to restrict entries to one deck per player if sufficient entries are received, so please designate your preferred deck, just in case.

[technogeek5000]

Nice 2nd place, congrats to tragedy for the double win. I have a teched deck for the next one, i just have to make sure it works.

Also, could you explain how karakas/leyline beats show and tell.

[Yare]

So I gather that we aren't allowed to use cards either banned list this time or are we still doing "super broken fest"?

[Godder]

So I gather that we aren't allowed to use cards either banned list this time or are we still doing "super broken fest"?

Banned cards are actually banned for this one.

Also, could you explain how karakas/leyline beats show and tell.

Leyline makes all creatures legendary and Karakas returns target legendary creature to its owner's hand. With Leyline in play, Karakas can return opposing creatures to hand. If those creatures were powered out using Black Lotus -> Show and Tell, then there's no way of getting them back into play should they ever leave play. Tabernacle beats Show and Tell decks as well, because they have no way of paying .

[Illissius]

I do believe I sent a second deck in, was it not received? (For the record, twas the classic Gemstone Mine, Durkwood Baloth, Restore Balance).

I also think Shock Rocker (as well as entry #4) should be penalised only ten points: the wording in previous rounds was "entries will receive a 10 point bonus for each card in the deck that is not on the list below, and an additional 10 points if they don't breach any of the rules at the bottom (note the new rule!)". None of the three cards are on the list, so 30 points, and it breaks two of the rules, so it doesn't get the last ten.

Trinisphere/Upwelling sounds fun.

[Godder]

Oops! Check the newly calculated results with the extra deck and the corrected bonuses. It's not really what I had in mind, but that's how I worded it, so that's how it ought to be applied.

My apologies to everyone for that.

[Elric]

I think that Trinisphere/Upwelling/Sacred Ground is going to be a fun format.

Edit: Just wondering- I assume Sacred Ground is a "fixed effect that can't be removed" like Trinisphere and Upwelling.

Does Sacred Ground's effect apply to lands that are creatures as well as lands (e.g., animated Mishra's Factory)? 

[Illissius]

I think that Trinisphere/Upwelling/Sacred Ground is going to be a fun format.

Edit: Just wondering- I assume Sacred Ground is a "fixed effect that can't be removed" like Trinisphere and Upwelling.

Does Sacred Ground's effect apply to lands that are creatures as well as lands (e.g., animated Mishra's Factory)? 

Yes and no. It applies to Stone Rain effects whether or not the land is a creature, but not to fatal damage, because that isn't considered to be a source controlled by an opponent, rather the rules of the game.

Also, Mishra's Factory appears to be banned.

[diopter]

Balance
Pox
Smallpox
Show and Tell
Channel
Mishra's Workshop
City of Traitors
Ancient Tomb
Mishra's Factory
Treetop Village

Is this banned list in addition to the normal 3CB banned list? Or is this it as far as bannination goes?

[technogeek5000]

I think that balance and restore balance should be on the banned list for the normal format.

Restore balance was fine before. But now since the recent rule change has slowed down the format, restore balance is just as deadly as balance was because few decks can win before restore balance or stop it from being played, and those decks normally lose points for breaking a rule.

Also i just realized something.

Any deck that can goldfish on turn 1

Is there really any deck that can win on turn 1. Im not asking people to give me ideas for decks im just interested to see if there is any (short of attacking with a hasted creature after channel) combination of 3 cards that will deal 20 damage to the opponent on the first turn.

[parallax]

There aren't any decks that can win on turn 1 in 3CB, but the rule is there sort of "just in case". It's mostly there so that no one forgets to add it when the rules change and to maintain consistency with 4CB, where I believe it is possible. Also, it might be possible in some of the alternate rule 3CB (although that would be a really wacky set of additional rules).

[Godder]

If a format allowed you to start with mana in your pool, say, then Lotus, Channel, Kaervek's Torch would be a t1 win (for example). I've considered a format like that, so it's not entirely out of the question. In 4CB, Lotus, Lotus, Salvagers, <win condition> is a turn 1 win, so it's true that the rule is more applicable in larger nCB formats.

Note that Sacred Ground will trigger if you sacrifice lands to Restore Balance, and that there are decks that can outpace it. Also, it will cost 3 to play (3Sphere effect) when it finishes being suspended and the win condition will also cost at least 3, so it's not like it's totally overpowered. However, if we think it's a problem, say now, and I'll ban it as well.

If it's not on the ban list, it's not banned.

[technogeek5000]

If a format allowed you to start with mana in your pool, say, then Lotus, Channel, Kaervek's Torch would be a t1 win (for example). I've considered a format like that, so it's not entirely out of the question. In 4CB, Lotus, Lotus, Salvagers, <win condition> is a turn 1 win, so it's true that the rule is more applicable in larger nCB formats.

Note that Sacred Ground will trigger if you sacrifice lands to Restore Balance, and that there are decks that can outpace it. Also, it will cost 3 to play (3Sphere effect) when it finishes being suspended and the win condition will also cost at least 3, so it's not like it's totally overpowered. However, if we think it's a problem, say now, and I'll ban it as well.

If it's not on the ban list, it's not banned.

Wat i said about Restore balance was not for the 3sphere/upwelling/sacred ground format, obviously it is much weaker there. Wat i meant was the normal 3cb format, restore balance seems to powerful to be awarded 40 points. Its much stronger now that the format has slowed down with the new rule.

[Tragedy]

So close, a well. I agree with technogeek that restore balance is to powerful with the new rule slowing down the format.

[Godder]

Restore Balance is vulnerable to quite a few things, both because of Suspend and because it's quite slow. However, if people really hate it that much, it could be banned if/when the ban list returns.

[InfinityCircuit]

Actually, Black Lotus, Black Lotus, The Cheese Stands Alone is a turn one kill but is banned for other reasons.

[Illissius]

I am hereby substituting for Godder and reminding everyone that the deadline is tomorrow. Send decks, folks. The more, the merrier.

EDIT -- Okay, sorry, that was badly worded. I am not holding the 3CB or anything of the sort. I've just taken it upon myself to remind people to send decks, which is what Godder usually does when turnout is low (so maybe this means that it's not).

[Tragedy]

So what ever happened with this.

[Godder]

Apologies, but I've suddenly been swamped with work, and getting this done has become a real task in part due to the complexity of the format. I'm almost done, and will post the results asap, but FWIW, Technogeek and Illissius broke the format totally by playing Leyline of the Void, Strip Mine, Urza's Factory. Excluding the mirror, thus far both decks have scored 6-0 victories in every match, which is unheard of - even Lotus-Rack-Balance had plenty of 3-3 draws with anti-Lotus decks.

Get your decks ready for 3CB 98, though, which will be a return to normal with the banned list.

[technogeek5000]

Lol sweet, congrats to Illusius for breaking the format by my side.

[Illissius]

Excluding the mirror, thus far both decks have scored 6-0 victories in every match, which is unheard of - even Lotus-Rack-Balance had plenty of 3-3 draws with anti-Lotus decks.

Hm, so there were no other decks with multiple lands which could foil us (Urborg/Urami/Horobi, for example)? I fretted a bit about whether to use Factory or Tomb of Urami as the kill; Urami beats opposing Factories but loses to Maze of Ith, among other considerations. (The deciding one was noticing that a single Karakas also beats Urami).

Lotus-Rack-Balance did do pretty well two tournaments ago, if I'm remembering correctly, it had a clean run other than the two Blackmail decks.

Get your decks ready for 3CB 98, though, which will be a return to normal with the banned list.

Will Future Sight be legal? We'll have the spoiler by the end of the week, at latest...

Apologies, but I've suddenly been swamped with work, and getting this done has become a real task in part due to the complexity of the format.

Thanks for the effort. I could lend a hand next time, if you need one.

[Yare]

I was definitely trying to come up with a way to break the format using Leyline and Strip Mine, but I could not come up with the solution.  Congratulations to you guys on coming up with it.