1st place Bg Knives for 11/17/02

[ump]

[Edit:  How could I forget to mention that this tournament was at Crazy Cards in Lyons (Chicago suburb).  That alone should give this report a lot more credibility.]

There was a tournament on Saturday as scheduled, but enough people were interested on Saturday to come again on Sunday, so we had a second previously unscheduled tournament.  I brought the same deck both days.  The last minute additions (as compared to two weeks ago) were based on a couple cards that I was able to acquire prior to the tournament on Saturday.  I was still unsuccessful in acquiring more Masticores so I figured I would put in a Spirtmonger in its place at least for now.  I guess either would serve my purpose for now.  Also, I was able to obtain a Polluted Delta.  Here is the deck list.

1 Strip Mine
3 Wasteland
4 Bayou
4 Tainted Woods
2 Bloodstained Mire
1 Polluted Delta
6 Swamp
1 Mox Jet
1 Black Lotus
4 Hypnotic Specter
4 Phyrexian Negator
1 Masticore
2 Spiritmonger
4 Duress
4 Hymn To Tourach
4 Sinkhole
4 Pernicious Deed
2 Diabolic Edict
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Necropotence
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Regrowth
4 Dark Ritual

1 Demonic Consultation
2 Ebony Charm
1 Tormod's Crypt
1 Haunting Echoes
2 River Boa
2 Order of the Ebon Hand
2 Powder Keg
2 Diabolic Edict
1 Perish
1 Tsunami

I already mentioned the changes to the maindeck from last time.  The sideboard is a little different as I tried out Haunting Echoes in place of a second Tormod's Crypt and with a River Boa out of the main deck, it got bumped to the sideboard.

Round 1 (2-0) - Grow (Ug with Wild Mongrels, Merfolk Looters, Werebears)

1st game - I tried attacking his lands and hand early with some success.  He was running Land Grants instead of Fetchlands and that really hurt him as I knew when I could force something through.  Eventually, he got a Dryad out that was pumped to 5/5.  I answered with a Spirtmonger.  The next turn I had a Specter.  The Spiritmonger served as defense as it prevented the Dryad from attacking.  The Specter went to town as I was waiting for him to discard a Wonder to the Mongrel.  Fortunately for me, he didn't get it.

2nd game - A little bit of land destruction and him being flooded with only islands went a long way as I believe a River Boa slowly ate away his life total.  He eventually got a Merfolk Looter into play late, but couldn't keep the early green creatures in play as I edicted them or deeded them away.  I eventually even got Perish but didn't need it as the only threat I had was the River Boa and was able to draw answers to the early green creatures.

Round 2 (2-0) - Reanimator

1st game - I already forgot.

2nd game - I believe this is the game where he got a second turn Verdant Force.  I had just tapped out to cast a River Boa, otherwise I would have been able to edict it.  I think I draw a Demonic Tutor, fetch a Powder Keg, block the Verdant Force with the River Boa, cast the powder keg, blow it up to kill the tokens, and edict his Verdant Force.  Later in the game, I Ebony Charm his Squee and Horrors to stop his Zombie Infestation from being unbearable.  I have a specter at this point to prevent future zombie tokens from coming into play.  I was getting my River Boa blocked by a 2/2 zombie token each turn as I regenerated the River Boa.  At one point either this game or the first I got a Masticore with one card in my hand that he was able to duress away to kill the Masticore next turn.

Round 3 (0-2) - Sligh (traditional instead of Goblin Sligh)

1st game - I believe I deeded away his early creature threat.  It came to the point where I needed more threats fast, so I did something unconventional and played a Necropotence.  I got a Spiritmonger into play and almost got him, but he managed enough direct damage to get me.  I don't regret casting the Necropotence as it almost saved me.  I know Sligh is one of my worst matchups, but at least I am getting closer to finally beating it.  For whatever reason I did better against Sligh at GenCon (with my B/u variation) beating it twice, coming very close making a critical error in the third game, and losing one other time.  I played it 5 times so far at Crazy Cards and only managed one game win so far.

2nd game - I somehow manage to survive long enough to cast a Haunting Echoes on him and get rid of a lot of good stuff.  I think I follow it up with another Spiritmonger.  At that point, he goes the direct damage route and finishes me soon enough.  I don't know, maybe I make it sound like I at least have some chance against Sligh when I don't, but at least I don't completely feel like it's an automatic loss for me.

Round 4 (2-0) Rebels

1st game - I win the draw and go land - duress (his black lotus) - lotus - mox - masticore.  Then some land destruction and edicting his 1/2 rebels.

2nd game - More land destruction means rebels can't swarm me as I am able to pick off the small ones that make it into play.  I believe I only saw a total of 3 of the 1cc rebels all match as I didn't let him have any others or even those for long.

Playoff round 1 (2-0) OSE

1st game - Once again land destruction this time getting his early good lands.  He gets to keep a lot of pain lands and slowly loses life as he tries to counter all my stuff.  I eventually get a deed after the third try and manage to deed away a Morphling that makes it into play.  I get a second attempt at a Spiritmonger into play and basically he just needs to attack once to win.

2nd game - I don't remember the details of this game, but chances are a River Boa did a fair number of damage and I probably didn't take any damage again this game.

Playoff round 2 (2-0) Reanimator

1st game - This is the same reanimator I faced earlier (and I'm glad that he beat Sligh in the other playoff game last round).  I went first and managed a land-dark ritual-duress-duress-mana burn.  I believe this is the game I had a third turn Negator face a Krovikan Horror.  I played a Specter the next round and stuck with three lands only, I went for broke and attacked with both my creatures.  The horror block and sacrificed itself for another damage and I got rid of all my lands.  I rode the two creatures for the win.

2nd game - He went first and dropped a land.  I went land-ritual-duress-duress-duress.  I forget how the rest of the match went, but I always topdecked an answer.


Conclusions

A few things that I noticed is that I was very lucky with my topdecking and get my mox and/or lotus in my opening hand far more than statistically I should be able to.  Maybe from my other tournament report I downgraded the importance of River Boa too much.  However, it still has a valuable place in my sideboard, but the Sinkholes maindeck are invaluable once again.  Anyways, I almost have enough cards to play a different deck in the near future and won't be as predictable about what deck I play.

So how many people noticed that all my games were sweeps as I swept 5 and got swept once?

Saturday
I played the same deck on Saturday but didn't do as well.  I later realized at home after the tournament that I messed myself up with the two cards I acquired as I replaced Polluted Delta for Swamp and Spiritmonger for River Boa, put them both in the main deck(?) and just before the tournament counted only 14 cards in my sideboard missing a River Boa.  I took a River Boa from the extra cards and a sleeve from my swamp from my extra cards and put that in my sideboard.  It didn't click to me there that the swamp with the sleeve belonged in my deck.  After I got home, I realized my mistake and somehow still had a legal deck as I had exactly 60 cards in my main deck and 15 in my sideboard but was lacking a Swamp and had an extra River Boa (to make 3).

I got a first round bye.  Second round, I got swept by Nethervoid with the key play being that he got a Nev. Disk in time to kill a first turn negator.  Third round - I swept Trix (probably with the help of some land destruction and a timely edict on his morphling second game).  In the fourth round, I lost (1-2) to Earthcraft.  In the first game, he play land, I play ritual-negator, he played earthcraft, I swung, he played squirrel nest, I swung, he passed as tapped creatures did him no good this turn, I reluctantly swung as I didn't find an answer.  At the end of my turn, he made a large number of squirrels and attack me at his turn.  In the third game, I died again to the combo with a Sinkhole sitting on top of my library after I died.  So Earthcraft made it to the playoffs instead of me.  That's okay as I would have lost to Sligh anyways.  Well, at least I learned that a four turn clock still gives people enough time to get answers.  Maybe I need to get a Berserk for the ability to have a three turn or one turn clock (first turn land-ritual-negator, second turn lotus for green-berserk-regrowth-berserk-swing for 20).

[carl]

Quote (ump @ Nov. 18 2002,23:08)
Round 2 (2-0) - Reanimator
2nd game - I believe this is the game where he got a second turn Verdant Force.  I had just tapped out to cast a River Boa, otherwise I would have been able to edict it.

Can't you edict in response of the token generated?

In your upkeep, the token generation goes on the stack.
You get priority and play Edict.
Edict resolves, Verdant Force is sacrificed.
The token comes into play.

Quote Round 3 (0-2) - Sligh (traditional instead of Goblin Sligh)

2nd game - I somehow manage to survive long enough to cast a Haunting Echoes on him and get rid of a lot of good stuff.

What is the point of sideboarding Haunting Echoes against Sligh?
I don't get it. Are you hoping to play it when he has played one of each of his spells?

Quote Maybe I need to get a Berserk for the ability to have a three turn or one turn clock (first turn land-ritual-negator, second turn lotus for green-berserk-regrowth-berserk-swing for 20).

Berserk is crap as long as it is restricted (and it doesn't need to be unrestricted IMHO)

Thanks for the report.

[Freddie]

"I went land-ritual-duress-duress-duress"

Oh my god!

How did your opponent react?

The odds of that are pretty slim... but I bet it helped you out allot.

Good job, and thanks for the report!

-Freddie

[Hyperion]

I'd have to agree that some of the SB choices seem a bit odd; I'm assuming some are metagame choices or are placeholders until you get the "ideal" cards; case in point: Order of the Ebon Hand, Tsunami and Haunting Echoes. Furthermore, River Boa seems like something you'd either maindeck or not run at all. And why no Naturalize? Does the metagame just not call for it?

Congratulations on a job well done! I've been avoiding Sinkholes in favor of more win conditions, but it seems like they've been working well for you so maybe I'll give them a try.

[ump]

I know that one of my biggest weaknesses is bad sideboard and bad sideboarding.  Unfortunately, most of these sideboard choices end up being, <this deck> beat me and if I had <this> I would have won.  I'm sure that is the wrong attitude to take but I do believe in most matchups the main deck needs only little tweaks to get past an opponent.

Quote What is the point of sideboarding Haunting Echoes against Sligh?

Haunting Echoes is something that I am trying out until I find the right graveyard hate that I need.  I know all the arguments against it, but I thought I would give it a try.  Haunting Echoes is probably futile against Sligh, but I don't think I had anything better to play.  I sided out Wastelands, Negators, Necro and possibly some Hymns and wasn't sure of my reasoning of Haunting Echoes over Hymns.  I did get rid of a lot of good stuff, but he obviously had enough burn to finish me off before the Spiritmonger was able to do enough damage.  I got rid of at least 7-8 different things including a creature, ball of lightning (that got edicted), and a lot of direct damage spells.  I probably cut his library and choices in half.  I guess I am just getting desperate against Sligh and need to try to acquire more traditional stuff likel Masticore and Spinning Darkness.

Quote And why no Naturalize? Does the metagame just not call for it?

Naturalize seems like a decent choice and there are enough enchantment combos in this metagame, but for now, Pernicious Deeds and Powder Kegs are sufficient.  Until I need it, I probably won't try it.

Quote River Boa seems like something you'd either maindeck or not run at all.

If you read my previous tournament report, I may have downplayed the important of River Boas, but I will say that they have a valuable place in the deck and for me that place in now in the sideboard as additional creatures to come in especially since sometimes Negators need to come out.

Order of the Ebon Hand seems like a logical choice for a metagame that uses Swords to Plowshare a lot.  Also, it's nice to have a creature that can get past Sacred Mesa tokens.  However, with my recent purchase of Berserk, it may be removed in favor of Spinning Darkness or something else.

Quote I've been avoiding Sinkholes in favor of more win conditions, but it seems like they've been working well for you so maybe I'll give them a try.

I believe strongly in land destruction.  I'm glad that you are reconsidering it.  Keep in mind that my Sinkholes replaced your River Boas in the main deck so you may need to consider the tainted lands based on how you fit them into your deck.

Quote "I went land-ritual-duress-duress-duress"

Oh my god!

How did your opponent react?

After I went land-ritual-duress-duress-duress, he pretty much didn't care about the game anymore.  That and the fact that I have also beaten him fairly easily in all the previous encounters that day.  I know that reanimator is a good matchup for me, especially after sideboarding.  I think I pulled Exhume, Demonic Tutor(?), and Dark Ritual.  He had another Dark Ritual and land.  The Demonic Tutor doesn't sound right because he went first and could have gone land-ritual-ritual-tutor for entomb-entomb-exhume.  I know I had the option of casting a creature (Order of the Ebon Hand) but chose to go the two more duress route.

Quote Can't you edict in response of the token generated?

You're right, I didn't think of it at the time.

Quote Berserk is crap as long as it is restricted.

Berserk was kind of an impulsive purchase that I bought recently and I guess I have no choice but to test it out now.  I figure at worst it will shorten the clock for an opponent to respond by one.  Also, I see possibilities of giving a Spiritmonger trample for some serious damage as a surprise factor.  Look for future tournament reports to see if this card works out for me.

I was getting a little worried that nobody was interested in the report.  Thanks for the support to everyone.

[carl]

You sideboard is

Quote 1 Demonic Consultation
2 Ebony Charm
1 Tormod's Crypt
1 Haunting Echoes
2 River Boa
2 Order of the Ebon Hand
2 Powder Keg
2 Diabolic Edict
1 Perish
1 Tsunami

You say that your problem matchup is Sligh. What do you have against Sligh?
Nothing.
You need some life gain to be able to race Sligh.
I'd go for 4 Spike Feeder if you can afford the mana cost. They go instead of 4 Negators.
You have 4 graveyard removal slots, that's too many. 2-3 Tormod's Crypt/Phyrexian Furnace should be fine.
I don't think Tsunami is good, 4 MC Sorcery. If it's against mono-blue, try City of Solitude.

Also, why Demonic Consultation in the board?
Vampiric Tutor, I would understand, but DC...

'Hope this helps.

[Fishhead]

Quote I sided out Wastelands, Negators, Necro and possibly some Hymns and wasn't sure of my reasoning of Haunting Echoes over Hymns.  

The Hymns are really better; you are generally hoping to 1) destroy his hand/land before he can use it (early game) or 2) catch Fireblasts in his hand before he can afford to sac 2 Mountains (mid game).  Haunting Echoes is cute, and if you needed to fill (Negator) slots its probably not horrible, but it shouldnt go in for Hymns.

Quote You need some life gain to be able to race Sligh.

The two classic lifegains for black are Bottle Gnomes and Spinning Darkness.  The Gnomes are awesome as they block Pups and other random 2/1s (well, usually they just suck up a Bolt instead, but thats a 6 point swing in the life-score).  Spin requires 3 cards in the grave, so it can be a pain to set up; but theres nothing like Spinning a Ball Lighting for a 9 point swing.  

Another card to consider is Contagion.  The ability to pitch-cast it and take out two small creatures makes it very good against Sligh.  Not lifegain, but still good in the matchup (and in several others.)

[ump]

Thanks for the pointers.  I'll see if I can't get Bottle Gnomes or Spinning Darkness in time for the tournament.  I have Contagions, but lately the Sligh creatures have been less of a problem then the burn.  Spike Feeders also seem reasonable, but I'm sure they will be harder to find in time.

Demonic Consultation was a carryover from when I had 3 Planar Voids in the deck.  I use it to find silver bullets like first turn Planar Voids against graveyard recursion.  Even without the Planar Voids, I still use it against tough decks that I may need an answer for NOW such as a deed or an edict.  So far, when I have had to used it, it has worked out well.  I could go into a better analysis of why Demonic Consultation is better than Vampiric Tutor, but I'd rather not right now.

Graveyard removal is a MUST in this metagame.  There are numerous combo decks that use graveyard recurssion.  In the past I have used 3 Planar Voids and 1 Demonic Consultation to make four.  I still haven't found the correct mix now without the Planar Voids, so I am testing out a few different things.  It's too early for me to say Haunting Echoes is useless.

Tsumani is there for OSE, Grow, Trix, etc.  I am less worried about them countering my stuff than I am about them building up too much.

Thanks again for the input.

[Hyperion]

I don't like Spike Feeder because of the 1GG mana cost. That's not easy to achieve with this deck. If I felt that I could afford that, I'd probably just go all out and run Ravenous Baloth, which should be a monster against Sligh if you can get it out in time.

Otherwise the other suggested spells could do the trick, but I think a more proactive solution than lifegain...that's why I guess of those suggested, Spinning Darkness would be what I'd lean towards. Though I think additional Powder Kegs in the SB (beyond the 2 you have) would be worth considering as well.

[Matt The Great]

Do not try to race Sligh, you will fail. If you want to beat Sligh, you don't need lifegain, you need to understand that you're the control, and he is the beatdown - thus, an early Hymn is one of your best tools against Sligh, because they cannot do anything to stop it (counters, MisD), and no matter what you get, you should be happy to see those two cards go (even grabbing two Mountains can mean he's manascrewed, especially if Sligh starts using fetchlands en masse). Never ever take out Hymns against Sligh.

I also wouldn't take out Wasteland against Sligh unless you had something in mind to bring in - your deck runs a little heavier on the fat creatures than mine or Hyperion's, and you can use that extra mana.

The way to beat sligh, I have found, is to Duress and Hymn them early while you soak up 2-3 hits from their creatures, then go for a Deed and wipe them out. That usually leaves them at 1-2 land and 1-2 cards in hand, while I have 3-4 land and 2-3 cards in hand. At this point I try for creatures, even Negator - if I have the permanents to sacrifice, he's still a huge clock. I side out two Negators usually, but it can be nice to have a huge fatty around, though since you have a Core AND two Mongers, you probably don't need it.

Generally this plan has been good to me, I haven't ever felt the need for lifegain. Even so, I would run Bottle Gnomes before Feeder - GG can be hard against Wasteland, and Gnomes can be Ritualed out.

Oh, and congratulations on the win. Always nice to see reports, and even nicer to see B/g win.\n\n

[ump]

Your suggestions are helpful.  I'll try out not taking the Wastelands and any Hymns out.  However, I am currently leaning towards trying 2 Bottle Gnomes in the sideboard, most likely taking out the Order of the Ebon Hand.  I still believe that Masticores would be ideal, but I still haven't been able to acquire more.

[NetherVoid]

using hymn agains sly is ok but after sideboarding comes into play sly usually has gorilla tactics and if you  accidently pull 2 of those thats already 8 life gone...i dont think hymns are that good against sly...

[Hyperion]

Quote (NetherVoid @ Nov. 22 2002,10:18)using hymn agains sly is ok but after sideboarding comes into play sly usually has gorilla tactics and if you  accidently pull 2 of those thats already 8 life gone...i dont think hymns are that good against sly...

If the Sligh player is lucky enough to have two Guerrilla Tactics in hand at the time you Hymn AND have both of them get discarded by the Hymn, well, that's enough luck to earn them the match win. But honestly, what are the chances of that? By that logic, you should side out Hynotic Specter as well right ?

That's like saying you shouldn't run Hymn against any blue-based deck because they might have Misdirection for it, even though the Hymn will tear the opponent's hand apart most of the time otherwise.

You're essentially saying one shouldn't use a great card because the opponent *may* be able to answer it.  Get real, this is Type 1 and there's always an answer to something if you look hard enough. There are plenty of cards that are worse against Sligh that you should be siding out before siding out Hymn to Tourach, such as Negator or Duress, depending on how much SB space you devote to the Sligh matchup.

[Fishhead]

Hyperion is 100% right.  

I made the mistake of siding out my Hymns against a Sligh player during Black Summer; back when I was first starting out in tournaments.  (Of course, that was back when people were seriously playing with Tactics; generally T1 Sligh players today have a 15 card sideboard against blue, not black.

It was a big mistake, and my Sligh opponent patiently explained why after the game.  As Hyperion says, Black is going to beat Red by disrupting it and then swinging with a big creature.  The Hymn is your best card for disruption and if you give it up, then what exactly is your new plan?