[Article] The Brass Man Takes a Dutch Challenge to America!

[Marske]

The Report

Marske decided to take the Brass Man challenge, or I guess I took the Marske challenge, and played the following deck at the weekly Vintage tournament at Scholars’ in West Bridgewater, MA.

See how Brassman did with this European Storm Deck and how viable it is.

Enjoy,

[Zieby]

Andy,

Thank you for trying this deck and writhing this report.
I would like to discuss the deck a little more in detail with you if you don't mind.

Congratz on the Finish and hope to talk to you soon....

Arjan

[DubDub]

This was a great short read, thanks.

I've been trying to brew around Brainfreeze for a little while, though in a different shell.  With most of the Oath decks forgoing Gaea's Blessing, and with TV+Key supplanting Painter+Grindstone for the most part I think Brainfreeze is much better positioned than it has been in the past.

[vroman]

This was a great short read, thanks.

I've been trying to brew around Brainfreeze for a little while, though in a different shell.  With most of the Oath decks forgoing Gaea's Blessing, and with TV+Key supplanting Painter+Grindstone for the most part I think Brainfreeze is much better positioned than it has been in the past.

wrong. if you mill out combo-oaths library, you hand them the win when they krosan rec back yawg will.

[M.Solymossy]

This is why those of us who have played variations of the Blue deck have tormods crypt.  And if we brainfreeze the oath player, I can guarendamntee they won't resolve Krosan Reclamation

[TheBrassMan]

yeah, Tormod's Crypt definitely feels important to letting this deck function.  Without drawing it, or alternatively a second Brain Freeze to stop the reclamation, you need to be really comfortable with your hand to go off against Oath. 

@Zieby- feel free to discuss the deck here!

[DubDub]

This was a great short read, thanks.

I've been trying to brew around Brainfreeze for a little while, though in a different shell.  With most of the Oath decks forgoing Gaea's Blessing, and with TV+Key supplanting Painter+Grindstone for the most part I think Brainfreeze is much better positioned than it has been in the past.

wrong. if you mill out combo-oaths library, you hand them the win when they krosan rec back yawg will.

Krosan Reclamation is a spell.  Gaea's Blessing's trigger is not.  Not having to run Stifle is a non-trivial boon.

[vroman]

Sure, some times things go perfectly for you. However, its risky to have a win condition that gifts your opponent to the edge of victory, and then needs to take down another counter war to actually steal the game back.

[DubDub]

Its risky to have a win condition that gifts your opponent to the edge of victory, and then needs to take down another counter war to actually steal the game back.

That's true.

[Zieby]

This was a great short read, thanks.

I've been trying to brew around Brainfreeze for a little while, though in a different shell.  With most of the Oath decks forgoing Gaea's Blessing, and with TV+Key supplanting Painter+Grindstone for the most part I think Brainfreeze is much better positioned than it has been in the past.

wrong. if you mill out combo-oaths library, you hand them the win when they krosan rec back yawg will.

Whether Oath play's Gaea's Blessing or Krosan Reclamation doesn't make any difference, if you know you are playing against Oath.

The fact this deck doesn't kill within the first 2 or 3 turns in most games (It is possible), should give the information to you about the deck you are facing, if you know what decks are currently played within your metagame. Both these cards are easily answered with Tormod's Crypt or Ancestral Recall after you successfully stormed their Library.

This is why those of us who have played variations of the Blue deck have tormods crypt.  And if we brainfreeze the oath player, I can guarendamntee they won't resolve Krosan Reclamation

Seccond this statement as you can read above.

Its risky to have a win condition that gifts your opponent to the edge of victory, and then needs to take down another counter war to actually steal the game back.

That's true.

That is not true at all in my view. In all the games I played with this deck in the last 3 months, you always play cards prior or during the combo turn that needs to be answered by your opponent. If you can combo with this deck without your opponent trying to stop you, you should win the game with smart plays.

@ The Brassman
At the end of your report you comment on the fact that you would like to play TV+Key.
In my view there are no spots within the main deck that can be easily cut to fit in the 2 cards.
If you would play the deck with TV+Key, which cards would you cut for the combo?
 
A second point is that both parts of the combo are dead in your hand until you find the other part (ok, key can do nice tricks with Top or Vault but that’s about it). The thing I really like about this deck is the fact that all cards are Mana, Card Draw/Selection/Search or Disruption. I also believe that is one of the strengths of the deck.

What is your feeling about the speed of this deck, because the deck is in my view surprisingly fast with an average of turn 3 / 4 combo kill.

Regarding your boarding plan:
The SB is adjustable to any given metagame and the only place I would not take this deck to, is a place where more than 20% of the metagame is Remora Trap.

[TheBrassMan]

at first pass if I was trying to make room, I'd drop the Chain of Vapor, all of that bounce seems excessive, and then probably either Gush or Frantic Search, which really feel like the weakest cards in the deck.

[M.Solymossy]

Sure, some times things go perfectly for you. However, its risky to have a win condition that gifts your opponent to the edge of victory, and then needs to take down another counter war to actually steal the game back.

I disagree entirely.  I believe you're feeling the Oath deck is invincible, but the reality is if the Blue deck has gotten to the point where we're Brainfreezing you, you won't ever resolve your Krosan Reclamation. 

[Rico Suave]

I disagree entirely.  I believe you're feeling the Oath deck is invincible, but the reality is if the Blue deck has gotten to the point where we're Brainfreezing you, you won't ever resolve your Krosan Reclamation. 

This is a rather bold statement. 

It is one thing if the deck goes off with a giant Will, draws a ton of cards, then finishes with Brain Freeze and a ton of counters in hand.  Obviously, they would fight over the Will if they could. 

It is another to state it in such a way that the deck will always be in a position to counter KRec after a Brain Freeze.  Many times the Oath deck will be in a position to win, such as when Oath is on the board and they are threatening Iona next turn.  In these situations the Blue deck is forced to go off earlier than it would like.  Perhaps it can chain a Rebuild/HRecall into a few Repeals, maybe a F.Search, or some other combination of spells that would otherwise produce a lethal Brain Freeze but does very little about stopping KRec the next turn - especially if you are tapping down to perform this series of spells.

Now there will be times that Crypt is on the board, but there are other times where it is not drawn or it is countered.  Or it is necessary to cast the Ancestral on one's self in order to start the process.  In either case the "outs" to KRec are not certain outs. 

While the deck certainly has an advantage if it is in a position to Brain Freeze the entire library, stating with such absolute certainty that the Oath player won't ever resolve KRec is foolish. 

[Zieby]

at first pass if I was trying to make room, I'd drop the Chain of Vapor, all of that bounce seems excessive, and then probably either Gush or Frantic Search, which really feel like the weakest cards in the deck.

I think Gush and Frantic Search are both cards that are really needed in the deck.
They give you an opportunity to generate mana when going combo and I use Merchant Scroll allot to fetch these 2 cards mid combo.

Chain of Vapor is a card that could go, but you lose the possibility to Gifts Ungiven for 3 Mass storm enablers and a random card. This makes the deck less versatile and more focused on one way to generate storm.

A small note: During last Tuesday night Vintage in Breda I had a Mind’s Desire of 18 turn 2. Just to show the non believers of this deck of how explosive it can be.

Greetz Arjan