Dreamer’s Tournament Report, Top 8 Goth-Smurf(U/W/B Control)

[Draven]

Dreamer’s Vintage Mox Tournament
1/6/05
Prize: Unlimited Mox Jet
Participants: 27
Placing: 5-8 (not sure exactly where I came out at the end)
Deck Played: Goth-Smurf (U/W/B Control)

This month’s tournament started off pretty uneventful. I cruised around Winona picking up Alan and Nick and we were on the road by 10:00am. The roads were really mucky so we had to make a pit stop to pickup more windshield juice because I went through a ton of it on the way up. We got to Dreamers at our usual time of about 12:15, signed in and sat down to prepare ourselves for the competition. Alan was playing his Salvager’s combo again and Nick was playing R/G Beats. I was playing my bastardization of 4cc. For this month, the deck was:

Mana Source
3 Wasteland
1 Stripmine
4 Flooded Strand
2 Polluted Delta
4 Island
3 Plains
1 Swamp
1 Underground Sea
1 Tundra
1 Sol Ring
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl

Utility
1 Crucible of Worlds
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
1 Timewalk
1 Disenchant
1 Dismantling Blow
1 Balance
3 Swords to Plowshares

Counter
4 Force of Will
4 Mana Drain

Search/Draw
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Merchant Scroll
4 Brainstorm
1 Ancestral Recall
4 Accumulated Knowledge

Win
2 Exalted Angel
1 Tinker
1 Darksteel Colossus

Sideboard
1 Energy Flux
2 Counterspell
1 Stifle
1 Swords to Plowshares
2 Disenchant
1 Gaea’s Blessing
1 Diabolic Edict
2 Blue Elemental Blast
1 Aura of Silence
1 Tormad’s Crypt
1 Crucible of Worlds
1 More card I can’t remember

Well, I made two major changes since last month. The first was completely cutting Red from the sideboard. The benefit of this was cutting the two Volcanic Islands and running two more basics. This helped me work around the Wastelands even better than last month. I never missed the Red in the board either. The Disenchants worked just fine in replacement for the Rack and Ruin. The second change was cutting the Cunning Wishes. I was already running 3 Swords to Plowshares maindeck and I replaced the Wishes with artifact/enchantment kill and that worked quite well. Well, on to the tournament.

Round 1, Ravager Affinity played by Kevin Lehn

The first game was a long game of little tiny beats by Myr and Frogmites. I could never really get anything going. His Mana Crypt put major beats on Kevin, doing a total of 12 points of damage. I had a Colossus out at one point, but I had to Swords it in order to gain enough lives to survive the mana burn I was going to take off a Mana Drain. I actually had him at one point, but he pulled a Tendrils for six life that I never saw coming. That gave him just enough to survive my colossus swing and therefore gave him the game. Game 2 was much shorter, however, not at all in favor either. He drew an early Ravager, which I STP’d, but he drew another Ravager with the Genesis Chamber and Disciple. I was just more than I could handle. This match-up was really hard for me. Kevin’s deck was really fast and it had a lot of threats. I know he was in the Top 8, so I am curious to find out how he ended up doing.

Games: 0-2
Match: 0-1

Round 2, Bye
Round two was my easiest round of the tournament. Due to my horrible showing at Round 1, I ended up with the bye round 2. I went and watched Nick and Alan play their respective games.

Games: 0-2
Match: 1-1

Round 3, Myr Incubator/Ironworks Combo played by Corey Christian
Nick played Corey last round, so I had an idea of what he was playing already. Scouting sure helps the rounds… Corey opened up game 1 with a Seat of the Synod, Mox Diamond and Lotus Petal. My opening hand was sheer Vintage brokenness. I went Land, Mox, Lotus, Tinker (for Colossus), Demonic Tutor for Timewalk. I passed the turn, expecting Corey to do little and then my DSC was going to swing twice in a row, but Corey top decked his Tinker and Tinkered out his own DSC. Now our brutes just stood there staring each other down. We both went draw go for a couple turns. At one point, I Brainstormed and Fetched, putting the Timewalk back because I was worried about STPing his DSC. After I put the Walk back and laid the fetch, I realized what I did and asked if he minded if I backed up, I said he would rather not and I respected his choice. I STP’d his DSC and swung with mine. At that point, he scooped saying you still have the Timewalk in your hand. After we were shuffling up for game 2, I informed him of my mistake when I wanted to back up and that I didn’t in fact have the Walk in my hand. I lucked out in my mistake.

Game 2 was very quick, he comboed off very early and beat me with 19 little Myr dudes. As fast as game 2 was, game 3 was even quicker. My first couple turns were land, go. His first two turns were Vault of Whispers; go (he had two out at my third turn.) I went Black Lotus into a Demonic Tutor for an Energy Flux. When the Energy Flux hit the table, Corey scooped up and said good game. I was pretty happy about that game. This round’s MVP was defiantly the Energy Flux.

Games: 2-3
Match: 2-1

Round 4, Alan Koxlien playing Salvagers Combo
Well, neither Alan nor I were happy we had to play each other round 4. Had it been round 5, we would have had a much easier time taking the intentional draw, however, the way it set, the winner of our match would go on to the Top 8 and the loser would be out. We talked about or options and figured out if we took our draw now and both won in Round 5, we would both make it into the Top 8, however, if we took our draw now and both lost round 5, neither of us would make Top 8. Eventually, we decided to take out chances in round 5 and take our draw now. Alan and I play each other so often; our decks are 50-50 against each other. Incidentally, we played the match out, just to play and Alan comboed off game 1 and beat me to death with a DSC game 2.

Games: 2-3
Match: 2-1-1

Round 5, Chris Clark playing Elf Crack
Chris started off the match asking if I would be up for drawing, because he was 3-1 and a draw would get him in. I informed him I took a draw already and needed this win to get in. This round was intense because one of us would make it to Top 8 and the other wouldn’t. His deck was very interesting, basically what he did was cast a bunch of elves, cast Biorhythm and swing away. Luckily, I was able to Drain his Biorhythm with a DSC on the board. I had a Will in my hand and I topdecked the Timewalk. During my first main phase, I Will’d and Chris scooped. Game 2 was much shorter. I STP’d his early elves and Tinkered out a DSC and he scooped with another turn for him to go, however, I am guessing with no creatures on his side, he has no answers for a DSC.

Games: 4-3
Match: 3-1-1

Round 1: Top 8, Mike Eggleston playing Angel-Still (U/W Landstill with Exalted)
Game 1 was a very long manland beatdown. I was able to get a face up Angel on the board, but he had two STPs and I only had one counter. Mike also had a Crucible/Stripmine going, which is auto lose for most decks. Game 2 was very quick. I Tinkered out a very early Colossus and he didn’t find an answer. Game 3 was very similar to Game 1. It was very long and it had a very slow and brutal death. I did get a DSC out, but he had the STP again. I was never able to gain control in game 3. Alan used to have a similar Landstill, those games were always so long, we were always glad we didn’t play each other in the tournament because we figured we would never have time to complete a match. We had epic matches that would last for 2-3 hours for 3 games.

Games: 5-5
Match: 3-2-1

This was the second month in a row I made Top 8, so I am still feeling pretty good. The changes I have made in the last few months have made the deck much stronger and more resilient to non-basic hate. I can’t honestly think of any major changes I plan on making for the next tournament. The only thing I might do is change the Dismantling Blow for one more Disenchant, but I don’t know. I am still thinking about it.

[Mixing Mike]

So you lost to a T2 deck, got a bye, beat some ironworks deck, Salvagers, and Elves to get into Top 8.

Not to offend, but can I ask where is the value in this report?

[That0neguy]

If you think that was bad I played TPS got crap hands and went like this:

Round 1 - Ironworks
G1: he played artifact land so i figured affinity turned out to be ironworks and I was slow playing so he kills me before I figure I can just auto win with a a ton of mana and a bomb.
G2+3: don't remeber but i won them by killing turn 2-3

Round 2 - ravager
It wasn't actually that bad.  However I draw absolute crap and draw like 5 lands and he kills me before I can do anything 2 games in a row.  I should have mulliganed better.  I also had to pitch my time spiral to FOW which was my only bussiness spell to stop from dying, that hurt a lot.

Round 3 - 4-5CC not sure.
He draws tons of counters foreverthing I play includinging 2 duress and a FOW.  I finally resolve a bomb and he draws into more counters while my deck craps out.

Round 4 - Mono red burn
G1:  First turn power out a desire and luck into bargain and get the first turn kill.
G2:  I lost this somehow I think it involved necro and my deck hating me(crapping out on multiple draw 7s) along with fireblasts.  
G3:  Turn 2 kill

Round 5 - Workshop Aggo I think
G1:  I kill him after bouncing trinisphere.
G2:  I think i have 8 more like than I actually do and power out bargain ask my life total and find out its actualy 7 and not 15 so bargain craps out on me so i kill my self drawing 99 cards.
G3:  I get lazy and SB the Collosus and tinker it out turn 2  Swing turn 3.  He takes a long time to get out karn and a razormana masticore and trinsiphere.  EOT REcall him with desire timespiral and a couple lands in play.  Swing for match.

I end up 3/2 and place 10th.

I should have done better but I mostly lost due to crap hands and crapping out on draw 7s.

I did some testing against doomsday after and go 3-0 before i have to go home to do some homework.

BTW why did you maindeck dismatling blow it doesn't seem that good if anything just run it as a cunning wish target.  I would have used the second disenchant instead since there was so much oath there.  I think like 5-6 people played it.  Also has Jason sent you the T8 yet?

[Draven]

I was running a Dismantling Blow because they are pretty hot to drain into. I havn't heard from Jason yet, but I am curious on how it all turned out. Sorry to hear about the decking crapping out on you. That is the very reason I am not playing TPS, I playtested quite a bit and it always stalled out on me.

[BloodyClownSuit]

in a 27 participant tourny, can you make the top 8 with a record of 3-2-1, worse tiebreakers 'cause of the round one lose, and round two bye?

[Draven]

What did you say? If I understand your question correctly, yes, I did make Top 8 with a round 1 loss and a round 2 bye.

[Chiz]

Is it possible to have the decklist of the Salvager deck?? I just want to see what is his build!

[gustoh]

So who ended up with the Jet at the end? And I haven't played a Dreamers power tournament for the past 4-5 months now due to conflicting schedules... The second Sundays never work out for me... boo hoo

LT...

[illuzion]

Not to offend, but can I ask where is the value in this report?

In vintage terms, I'd say it helps to illustrate the strength of the player base in Minnesota, and to some degree the strength of vintage at large.   Judging from my travels all over the U.S., as well as the world, this is not as atypical as you might think.  You may live in an area with good vintage action, but don't think this is the norm.  In fact, I often end up in places where magic play of any kind is scarce, and I'm not just talking about third world countries, either.

[Draven]

Is it possible to have the decklist of the Salvager deck?? I just want to see what is his build!

Here is the link to his report and deck list.

http://www.themanadrain.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=21365

Later...

[BloodyClownSuit]

What did you say? If I understand your question correctly, yes, I did make Top 8 with a round 1 loss and a round 2 bye.

that's cool. just seemed the calculations would have left 10 people with a record of 4-2 or better in a tourney with 27 people and 6 rounds. keep up the good showing and reports.

[koxl0003]

What did you say? If I understand your question correctly, yes, I did make Top 8 with a round 1 loss and a round 2 bye.

that's cool. just seemed the calculations would have left 10 people with a record of 4-2 or better in a tourney with 27 people and 6 rounds. keep up the good showing and reports.

There's a simple explanation: The tournament was 5 rounds, not 6. The cut off ended up being 3-1-1 (10 pts). 9th place was 3-2.

[That0neguy]

The top 6 all drew in if they didn't I think some of the lower records could have made it in.

[bebe]

So you lost to a T2 deck, got a bye, beat some ironworks deck, Salvagers, and Elves to get into Top 8.

Not to offend, but can I ask where is the value in this report?

We had about the same number of people in Toronto and also played five rounds with the cut off 3-1-1 for top eight. I never played the numerous Oath, Stax, TPS and 5/3 in the Swiss. They were all represented at a ten proxy tournament. But strange things happen. I ended up with some easy match ups playing a Highlander deck and made top eight. The month before I played the same deck and just missed top eight in a fifty person tournament when I lost to a Salvagers and Oath deck after beating Fish, Aggro and STax. You would have thought Fish and Stax would be tougher match ups.

I'm sure that oput of 27 players there were some very strong decks at the tournament but you play against what you draw. I wouldn't think Elf/Crack  to be a strong deck but iearned its spot at the top tables with a 3-1 record. Wonder who it beat? And how did Landstill get that far? What decks did it beat?

These reports are entertaining and also give us a peek at the various metas around the country. Despite the fact that a number decks clearly seem to be Tier 2 decks you still need to prepare for them or you will be sadly surprised when that R/g beats deck overunns your Trni/Stax or Slaver. I've surprised a number of very strong players as they had no idea what to side against my clearly gimpy deck.

[Milton]

I play at Dreamer's.  Many very, very good players play at that store, players who have won large tournaments and even placed T8 at GenCon in the T1 Championships.

It was, though, Packers v. Vikings on Sunday, and some of us regulars didn't show up because we were watching the game.

[waSP]

We had the game on at the store, Craig, sorry to have missed you in the one tournament I'll probably play for 6 months.

MixinMike, this is the Newbie forum; things are less heavily scrutinized here.  What was the value of your post.  Maybe PM'ing a mod would have been better.

The Ravager decks at Dreamers are not bad.  They may try to pigeonhole somewhat, but that doesn't decrease their power by any means.  Killing turn 3 with a double Cranial Plating can really come out of nowhere (and running Tangle Wire is a nice stall technique).  I don't know about that specific build, but affinity decks (maybe arcbound is a little more accurate) can be very successful).

The Landstill deck split with the Control Slaver.  Landstill got most of the cards he needed to play Fish (a set of Volcanics, grims, some other stuff) and Control Slaver took the Jet.

My performance was very poor.  I planned for a metagame that was vastly different than the one I faced.  I planned on seeing workshop aggro decks, so, my creatures weren't the right ones to handle normal creatures.  I ended up 2-3 .

[That0neguy]

Wasp what did you play.

Also its weird that we played against all of the more random decks since the feild wasn't anywhere near as scrubby as it looks from the reports.  There was quite a bit of Oath (i think i counted 6-8), CS, 1-2 workshop aggro, and like 4 multiple color control.  which isn't to bad considering its a 27 person tourney.