Tournament Report from Morning Star Games, Savannah, GA.
December 22nd, 2002
Here's another tournament report from the South East contingent of Type I Magic. MSG hosted another Type I event in the midst of the holiday bustle and I for one found it to be a nice distraction. I've been out of the Magic loop since the VA States tournament where my modified Parfait posted a mediocre 2-2-1. Paragon Keeper and Mask-Naught wrecked me that day and I tweaked my deck to 'hopefully' better deal with those match ups. With the holidays we had less of a turn out than usual but it was a good time regardless. Charleston brought down 4 participants to this event and we all made a good showing. Once again I carried the Parfait mantle into battle. One word of caution: this report is long. For those interested in the abbreviated version here's a summary of my tournament results.
Swiss vs.:
1. White Life - Luke Armstrong (W: 2-0)
2. TurboLand/Candelabra of Tawnos? - Scott Nickerson (W: 2-0)
3. Parfait - Todd Judy (W: 1-0)
4. Paragon Keeper - Dave Allen (ID)
5. Black Aggro w/ Hatred - Troy Cooper (ID)
Top 8:
Q. Stacker 2 - Micheal "Pest" Peretz (W: 2-0)
S. Trix - Jon Spires (L: 0-2)
Number of Participants: 22
Prizes:
1st: UL Timetwister
2nd: Italian Mana Drain
3rd: Underworld Dreams
4th: 2 signed Force of Wills
----------------------------------------------
Here's my decklist for the day:
1 Enlightened Tutor
4 Orim's Chant
4 Agrivian Find
4 Swords to Plowshare
1 Balance
2 Replenish
2 Wrath of God
4 Land Tax
1 Blood Moon
1 Story Circle
2 Sacred Mesa
3 Aura of Silence
1 Humility
1 Ivory Mask
1 Tormod's Crypt
2 Zuran Orb
3 Scroll Rack
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Diamond
1 Lotus Petal
1 Sol Ring
1 Library of Alexandria
1 Strip Mine
2 Wastelands
1 Mountain
13 Plains
SB:
1 Tormod's Crypt
2 Ivory Tower
1 Thran Lens
1 Soldevi Digger
1 Masticore
1 Jester's Cap
2 Abolish
1 Replenish
1 Aegis of Honor
1 Karmic Justice
1 Aura Fracture
1 Light of Day
1 Humility
Some Notes on my current build:
I've been playing Parfait since March and have posted some good finishes with it in local events including 2 first place finishes. It started out as a carbon copy of K-Run's October 2001 version. Overtime though my build of it has slowly leaned more and more towards Klown's Great White Hype varient. I've been using all four Orim's Chants in the main for some time along with a single Story Circle, Ivory Tower and Powder Keg. The lastest revision is more geared towards winning the tougher control/combo matchups.
I moved the Ivory Tower to the SB and cut Powder Keg to add a 3rd Rack and a 2nd Replenish main deck. The Ivory Tower was moved to the SB for an additional slot against control. I've found it was only really needed against Sligh and possibly Trix (though never tested). It's almost always a dead card against Suicide if they get early discard rolling and other weenie decks (Stompy, Zoo, WW, Fish) aren't played much here. Soldevi Digger was moved to the side for a better over all card for game 1: Blood Moon. With minor modifications to my mana base (dropping Serra's Sanctum and a Wasteland for another Plains and a Mountain) I was able to make it work. It's a great card to have main deck versus Parfait's tougher matches. The Digger generally gets sided in against control match ups that I expect will be long drawn out games. Against Trix and TnT its an iffy card to bring in considering they can get explosive opening hands.
2nd Humility in the sideboard - Cursed Totem has been a main stay in my SB for sometime mainly because of TnT's annoying critters but more and more even with it out I was still getting pummeled by Juggs, Trikelions and Su-Chi's. Even against Morphling or other creatures with activated abilities Humility is always better. It's a more versatile card to side in, it adds a little more redundancy and it can be Replenished.
In the final week of prepping for this tournament I intended to drop the Masticore that resided in the SB for a 2nd Tormod's Crypt (3 total). It edged out the 'Core and turned out to be more versatile. I kept the 'Core in for this tournament because there were a lot of black aggro decks I thought it might help against. It never left my sideboard. If I had stuck to my guns and it was a 3rd Crypt instead that would have seen use.
Karmic Justice resides in my SB and not the main because the decks it would be good against are still in the minority in my area. Few decks played in my area have what I would call enough main deck board control to warrant Justice being in the main. Keeper's buyback spells from the SB wrecked me at the VA tournament and I was powerless to do anything about it. I was reluctant to try the Ring of Gix for the same reason Justice is in the SB - its not as good as a 2nd Zuran Orb against the field and I never seem to draw it when I need it. I tried to pay attention to which of my Zuran Orbs I drew into during matches (one is signed). At this point in time I'm going to stick with the 2 Zorbs over 1 Zorb and 1 Ring of Gix. Testing is definately necessary.
Anyway onto the tournament...
Round 1 vs. Luke Armstrong playing a White Life - Test of Endurance deck.
Game 1 - Luke opened up with a few Beloved Chaplains. I got out an early Mesa while still waiting on Land Tax. We exchanged blows as I dropped more board control. He played Serra Avatar. I dropped Humility and sent the Avatar farming and kept swinging with the Pegasi. I got the tax/rack engine rolling while he's gaining life here and there. I get him down to 1 and Wrath away my army of pegasus tokens fearing him playing a Congregate to draw out the game. He plays another creature. I swords it. Next turn swing for the win.
Side out: Blood Moon & the Mountain
Side in: 2nd Humiility & Jester's Cap
Game 2 - He leads off with Life Burst and another Beloved Chaplain. He gets Angelic Chorus and Test of Endurance in play but fails to draw into any of his fat creatures before I sac an Aura to kill off the Chorus. He casts a few more creatures, Beloved Chaplains, Radiant's Dragoons but he fails to pay echo on the next turn while my pegasus army is flying over their heads. Fly my pretties! Fly!
M: 1-0
d: 2-0
pts: 3
Round 2 vs. Scott Nickerson playing Candelabra of Tawnos/Horn of Greed/Something?
I honestly didn't see enough of his deck to figure out what it did. My first impression was that it was Turboland as he had a lot of similar cards that TL plays. As I found out later in the day it worked more off the Candelabra somehow.
Game 1 - I got out an early Blood Moon 3rd or 4th turn and he scooped after reading it. The game was so quick I still had no clue what exactly he was playing. I saw Savannah, Mishra Factory, Tropical Island, and Candelabra of Tawnos. Not wanting to be too hasty I didn't sideboard for Game 2.
Game 2 - He played first and I mulliganed down to 6 cards which included a Blood Moon. I started out a bit slower and after he Force of Will'd my first Aura. Blood Moon remained in my hand waiting for Chant backup. Several turns later under a Chant, Blood Moon hit the board and I got the Tax/Rack engine going while making some pegasus tokens. Even after the Moon resolved he played it out so I held an Argrivian Find in hand expecting some sort of hate against Blood Moon but he never played any. Pegasi swing for the win!
M: 2-0-0
d: 4-0
pts: 6
Round 3 vs. Todd Judy ( BurntGerbil ) playing Parfait.
Todd's deck was closer to K-Run's build though he did have a Blood Moon in the main plus 2 additional in the sideboard. He was also playing without an Ivory Mask and didn't seem to miss it in his match ups. I kept mine in because I was more concerned about Crypts, Caps and discard then burn.
Game 1 - We both opened up with 1st turn: Plains, Land Tax. We played a few rounds of Draw-Go until I finally pulled the trigger played a second land allowing him to Tax. I followed up with another land and an Aura of Silence and another the turn after that. I was able to keep his key cards off the table with the help of the Auras and a Replenish. I finally got the Mesa rolling and came across for the win.
With only a few minutes left in the round we didn't even start a 2nd game.
M: 3-0-0
d: 5-0
pts: 9
Round 4 vs. Dave Allen ( Carbon ) playing a modified Paragon Keeper.
We are both 3-0 and we ID'd.
M: 3-0-1
d: 5-0-1
pts: 11
Round 5 vs. Troy Cooper playing Black aggro with Hatred.
Troy was 3-1 at this point. We ID'd.
M: 3-0-2
d: 5-0-2
pts: 11
Top 8:
1. Me - Parfait/GWH
2. Dave Allen - Paragon Keeper
3. Troy Cooper - Black Aggro/Hatred
4. Todd Judy - Parfait
5. Jon Spires - Trix
6. Kevin Crafts - PT Junk
7. Hill Redwine - Paragon Keeper
8. Micheal Peretz - Stacker
Quarterfinals vs. Micheal Peretz playing Stacker.
Micheal was piloting Hill's Stacker deck and wasn't thrilled with his quarterfinal match. Any other deck he'd have a better chance with. Looking at the Top 8 this was the best match up I could hope for but I didn't want to underestimate "Pest" as he is affectionately known as around MSG or the explosive deck he was piloting. He's made Top 8's here before with a wide range of decks and that doesn't happen by chance.
Game 1 - I had the best 1st turn I could hope for: Plains, Lotus, Aura of Silence, Find, Lotus, Blood Moon. He starts off with a bolt and a few turns later a Juggernaught. I swords it and continue playing board control Ivory Mask, Humility, Tax, Rack. After several more turns he conceeds as he realizes that with all the protection and a Rack out he can't deck me.
Side out: 4 Orim's Chants
Side in: Humility, Jester's Cap, Aegis of Honor, Tormod's Crypt.
Now I know many say "Never side out the Chants". There a Time Walk. They stall out the game and allow you to draw your silver bullets and other answers. More and more especially in the TnT/Stacker/Funker match ups I'm finding I'd much rather have answers over stall. If you would've sideboarded differently let me know what you would've taken out and put in. I'm always interested in seeing others perspectives' on the Parfait match ups and sideboarding.
Game 2 - Micheal opened up with a Sui-Chi. I take a hit from it before I swords it. I get out an early Aegis of Honor and Story Circle but don't have a great deal of mana to power them so some burn gets thru. See! Ivory Mask is good! 4 mana = opponent has dead cards in their hand and deck. He plays a Black Vise when I'm trying to get the Tax/Rack going. I take a few hits from Vise knocking me down to 8 before I set up my hand to deal with it. Except I needed fast mana. I tutor for Black Lotus at the end of his turn and take only 2 from Black Vise on upkeep before I resolve the Land Taxes. In the middle of taxing I notice "hey there's the Black Lotus I tutored for... CRAP!" I feel like an idiot and silently berate myself for the misplay. I tax and Micheal cuts to... Black Lotus! Whew. I probably would've lost if I hadn't drawn it or gotten it off the Rack. I rack for lots and am able to Lotus, Find, mana, mana, mana, Ivory Mask, Humility, Mesa, Aura, Zuran Orb, Crypt - some of those with the help of a Replenish. With the game pretty much locked down I slowly begin my assault with pegasus tokens. I draw into Jester's Cap, play it and activate it during his End of Turn. I looked through the deck but virtually everything is neutered by either the Humility, Ivory Mask or Story Circle I have out on the board. I pull the Caps and he conceeds. I don't know why I pulled the Caps. He couldn't target me with them. About the only thing he could effectively cast were Browbeats. Story Circle had those in check.
M: 4-0-2
d: 7-0-2
Semifinals vs. Jon Spires ( Gilthanos01 ) playing Trix.
Game 1 - This was a looong drawn out affair. When we started Dave and Hill were on their 3rd game of their Quarterfinal Match. When we finished this game Dave had pulled out a victory from Hill and had already won his Semifinal Match versus Troy. Jon and me always have long drawn out games. As he said in his tournament report [
http://www.themanadrain.com/cgi-bin....;t=3453 ] they are epic in scale and revival some of the marathons I use to have with Darren Dew ( Zelif ) many moons ago. His Quarterfinal matchup was versus Todd playing Parfait as well so he even had a warm up match for this one. Not good!
I started off with early with several Auras and eventually a Blood Moon. I never drew into a Mesa but was able to Crypt him in response to Timetwister that claimed 2 or 3 Accumulated Knowledges, Yagmoth's Will, some counter magic and search. Several turns later with 3 Auras on the board Jon plays Cappsize with buyback targeting my Blood Moon. I sac an Aura to prevent the Cappsize from resolving. After Blood Moon is out of the way he plays Rushing River with kicker on the other 2 Auras and over the next few turns drops and Donates 2 Illusions. The first I let go but the 2nd one's upkeep cost eventually keeps me from doing much of anything else. A great game.
Game 2 - This one was over fairly quickly. I elected to play but didn't get very good hands after several mulligans. I could tell he had a good opening hand by the look on his face. He got out an early Morphling and pounded me. I was unable to draw into any answers and our epic match came to an anticlimactic end. Maybe next time.
M: 4-1-2
d: 7-2-2
Troy and I elected not to play and split the 3rd/4th prizes. I picked up the 2 signed FoW's for Jon to complete his set of 4 and Troy got the Underworld Dreams. In the finals Dave's modified Paragon Keeper defeated Jon in 3 games. That's Dave's 2nd Savannah tournament win in a row so congrats to him!
-- Notes --
I'm happy with the new build of Parfait-GWH (Great White Hype). I think the main deck Blood Moon helps tremendously against some of Parfait's tougher matchups. Maybe that's the main deck threat Parfait has been looking for. I like having multiple Replenishes in the main as well. It allows me to throw an early one just for a few extra Auras if I need to when I know I have another one coming. After sideboarding three Replenishes help a lot in the matches versus counters and heavy discard. I didn't get a lot of opportunites to use my sideboard but I think it's on the right track. I already have a few changes in mind. I don't think with a 2nd Humility in the side that Masticore is needed anymore. They'd both go in against similar match ups. With the popularity of TnT, Stacker and 2nd Crypt in the side ( 3 total ) would be better. I've been holding onto Aura Fracture knowing its good but never getting to use it effectively will be replaced by something else.
-- Props/Slops --
Many thanx to Evil Bill ( NST2SHN ) for all his help in playtesting with the advance version of Parfait-GWH.
To everyone from Charleston who made the trek to event. All four of us made Top 8. 3 made Top 4 and we had another All Charleston Finals. Great showing!
To Hill, Darren, Dave and Jon who have helped raise the bar in the Charleston - Savannah Type I circuit.
To K-Run for creating a fun and versatile deck to play.
To K-Run, Klown, Razor, Redman and the many others who have giving their time and effort towards improving Parfait with all the quality discussions on theManaDrain.com. I've really enjoyed them and hope to be able to contribute to them in the future.
Last but not least thanx to Zherbus for having theManaDrain and giving the Unregistered like myself a place to post.
-- Next Event --
The next Type I will be in Charleston, SC at the Green Dragon. Saturday, January 4th. call 843-797-2052 for details.
The next Type I in Savannah at Morning Star Games will be Sunday, January 19th. call 912-356-1066 for details.
Hope you enjoyed it!
Zombie Shakespeare
