[Free Article] My Vintage Brews

[forests failed you]

New article up on SCG today, check it out:

http://www.starcitygames.com/article/25366_My-Vintage-Brews.html

Keep in mind, these decks are more 'ideas' for things to build around in the future, and not finished, polished, tuned, ready to play lists. 

They are more ideas for things that in the abstract ought to perform well against some of the more popular strategies in Vintage, and even untuned have been putting up pretty good results for me.

Anyways, enjoy

[StanleyAugust]

Deathrite Shaman is great. Take a look at this beast of a deck I've brewed up:

Lands: 21

4 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine
4 Windswept Heath
3 Marsh Flats
2 Savannah
2 Bayou
2 Scrubland
1 Plains
1 Swamp
1 Forest

Creatures: 21

4 Deathrite Shaman
4 Dark Confidant
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3 Qasali Pridemage
3 Aven Mindcensor
2 Gaddock Teeg
2 Knight of the Reliquary

Other: 19

4 Thoughtseize
3 Mental Misstep
3 Stony Silence
2 Swords to Plowshares
2 Abrupt Decay
1 Demonic Consultation
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Jet

Sideboard: 15

3 Rest in Peace
3 Grafdigger's Cage
3 Nature's Claim
2 Swords to Plowshares
2 Kataki War's Wage
1 Gaddock Teeg
1 Qasali Pridemage

II.  Lack Of Content

Purpose:  Bandwidth fees are expensive and no one likes sifting through dozens of posts to find one that is worthwhile.  Specific examples of posts that violate this rule include, but are not limited to:

2.  Posts which include decklists alone; card choices should be addressed and explained in order for a post to be useful.

Please add more content to your post - Prospero

[disrupting specter]

I'm still not sure how Deathrite Shaman and Oath of Druids can win against Mishra's Workshop on the draw. It seems to go on the same pile of all the other decks of "This deck is amazing if only I my spells were good at an additional  first turn."

You are right in saying that Tinker has lost some value due to removal, most notably Phyrexian Metamorph. About the same time you first switched Blightsteel Colossus for Wurmcoil Engine, I put Platinum Angel in my sideboard. Good observation. However, I've been told that cards like Pristine Angel don't get around metamorph. I'm sure there are people that know better that can speak to this. I don't quite understand it myself. I've been told that when metamorph was in Standard, it could copy Geist of Saint Traft.

[Samoht]

I'm still not sure how Deathrite Shaman and Oath of Druids can win against Mishra's Workshop on the draw. It seems to go on the same pile of all the other decks of "This deck is amazing if only I my spells were good at an additional  first turn."

You are right in saying that Tinker has lost some value due to removal, most notably Phyrexian Metamorph. About the same time you first switched Blightsteel Colossus for Wurmcoil Engine, I put Platinum Angel in my sideboard. Good observation. However, I've been told that cards like Pristine Angel don't get around metamorph. I'm sure there are people that know better that can speak to this. I don't quite understand it myself. I've been told that when metamorph was in Standard, it could copy Geist of Saint Traft.

It doesn't get around it in that they can still copy it. However, they have a much harder time getting any level of use out of it.

[DubDub]

It seems like Iona is better than Pristine Angel.

Instead of conditional protection from all colors you get to turn off a color entirely for the opponent.  (i.e. better against Metamorph, better for protecting other permanents you control, better for disrupting the opponent's gameplan)
It has higher P/T for combat with creatures instead of protection, and it has higher power for ending the game more quickly when you go on offense.
The lack of pseudo-vigilance is a consideration, but not a major one I don't think (since Iona can't attack until you hopefully have Oathed another defender up).
Iona is weak to on-board Jace, Karakas (which also hits Pristine), or decks sporting multiple colors of removal.

I remain hesitant to use Pristine for that slot: defensive fatty against creatures.  Iona is much more disruptive and quicker.  Sphinx is better against a horde.  And if you survive a turn on defense Emrakul is immensely more likely to ensure a kill once you swing.

[Cruel Ultimatum]

I dont think I have ever lost after oathing up gristlebrand.

[Samoht]

I dont think I have ever lost after oathing up gristlebrand.

Play Raf more, you will.