TO Report ELD's Mox XV

[ELD]

I apologize that for the unusual lag in posting a report, but I have been unable to find the decklists.  It would seem that the best course of action is to request that the players who made Top 8 post their lists in this thread. 

I appreciate the support of everyone who made this event a success.  Thank you to everyone who pre-registered.  By getting a good estimate for attendance, I save greatly on set up time.  To thank those who pre-registered, at every one of my events I do a drawing for a Foil ELD Proxy.  This time it was a Mox Pearl.  Congratulations to Dan Yarrington, winner of the Foil ELD Proxy Mox Pearl.  To thank everyone who carpools to my events, I do a drawing for that months Custom Proxy.  Congratulations to Nick Rodridgues, winner of the Custom Proxy Library of Alexandria.  Thanks to Over the Edge Games for supporting the Vintage Community.  I look forward to working with OTE again in the near future. 



We had 30 players, so the prize support stood as is, with some extra choices thrown in for good measure. 

1st Place - Mox Ruby - GUARANTEED!
2nd Place - 1st pick of Playset of 4x Force of Will or Alpha Beserk or Foil Goblin Welder or Beta Chaos Orb
3rd Place - 2nd pick of Playset of 4x Force of Will or Alpha Beserk or Foil Goblin Welder or Beta Chaos Orb
4th Place - Playset of 4x Foil Forbidden Orchard or Foil Tinker and Foil Platinum Angel or Foil Pithing Needle and Foil Trinket Mage
5th-8th - Choice from Type 1 STAPLE SWAG including All the Dual Lands, Force of Will and other Type 1 Staples
                       or 2 cards from the PIMPED SWAG including Foils, Black boardered goodness, ELD Proxies and more.

The Top 4 elected to split, taking a cash buyback. 

                Op-Match    PL-Duel    Op-Duel   Matches
Rank    No.    Name    Points    Win%    Win%    Win%   P/W/D/B
  1     8   Demonic Attorney    12   48.0000   72.7273   45.5478   5/4/0/0
  2    18   David Lawrence    12   44.0000   69.2308   43.0303   5/4/0/0
  3     9   Rich Shay    11   60.0000   66.6667   52.8388   5/3/2/0
  4    11   Corey Fraser    11   60.0000   61.5385   54.6294   5/3/2/0
  5    10   James Tamulevich    11   56.0000   57.1429   47.5897   5/3/2/0
  6     2   Nick Rodrigues    11   56.0000   53.3333   53.1302   5/3/2/0
  7    23   Travis LAPLANTE    10   58.6667   57.1429   59.6503   5/3/1/0
  8     4   Dan Amalfi    10   54.6667   61.5385   50.6410   5/3/1/0
  9    14   Craig Dupre     9   58.6667   63.6364   53.9134   5/3/0/0
 10    13   Dan Yarrington     9   56.0000   46.1538   50.6827   5/3/0/0
 11     3   Joe Bernier     9   52.6667   53.8462   48.8278   5/3/0/0
 12    26   Stephan Houdlette     9   49.3333   58.3333   48.1518   5/3/0/0
 13    16   Scott Bluementhal     9   37.3333   66.6667   36.2637   5/3/0/0
 14    28   Pat Crane     7   53.3333   45.4545   52.6807   5/2/1/0
 15    30   Louis Gentile     7   44.0000   53.8462   42.9437   5/2/1/0
 16    12   Sara Yarrington     6   65.3333   42.8571   61.9231   5/2/0/0
 17    24   Stefan Ellsworth     6   61.3333   38.4615   56.7433   5/2/0/0
 18     5   Matt macauley     6   56.6667   50.0000   51.4892   5/2/0/0
 19     6   Thomas Higgins     6   50.6667   46.1538   49.2774   5/2/0/0
 20    15   Blaine Christiansen     6   50.6667   33.3333   55.0117   5/2/0/0
 21    29   Matt LeBlanc     6   41.6667   50.0000   43.7879   4/2/0/0
 22    20   Brian Rozzero     5   41.3333   45.4545   42.4242   5/1/2/0
 23     7   Micah Greenbaum     3   53.3333   33.3333   52.3077   5/1/0/0
 24    27   Bryan Camidge     3   52.0833   36.3636   50.6313   4/1/0/0
 25    19   Lloyd Anderson     3   52.0833   36.3636   45.8586   4/1/0/0
 26    22   Jason Healy     3   52.0833   30.0000   50.6061   4/1/0/0
 27    17   Nathaniel Bowe     3   48.0000   25.0000   48.0836   5/1/0/0
 28    21   Nick Marinelli     3   42.6667   33.3333   42.5641   5/1/0/0
 29     1   Kevin Peterson     0   59.2593   14.2857   53.1746   3/0/0/0
 30    25   Marc Tuttle     0   33.3333   25.0000   43.9815   3/0/0/0

Top 8 pairings
 --------------------------------
  1 (  8) Demonic Attorney
  8 (  4) Dan Amalfi
 --------------------------------
  5 ( 10) James Tamulevich
  4 ( 11) Corey Fraser
 --------------------------------
  3 (  9) Rich Shay
  6 (  2) Nick Rodrigues
 --------------------------------
  7 ( 23) Travis LAPLANTE
  2 ( 18) David Lawrence
 --------------------------------

Demonic Attorney def Dan Amalfi
Corey Fraser def James Tamulevich
Nick Rodrigues def Rich Shay
David Lawrence def Travis LAPLANTE

Top 4 opted to split a cash buyback.  Congratulations to the Top 4, it was a very tough field.  I look forward to seeing you all at ELD's Mox XVIII at Stillpoint in Fall River, MA

[StarOrc]

Here is my list and you can see my tourney report here http://www.themanadrain.com/index.php?topic=36217.0.

Corey Fraser

Maindeck
1 Tolarian Academy
3 Polluted Delta
3 Flooded Strand
3 Underground Sea
3 Volcanic Island
1 Island
1 Snow Covered Island
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
1 Lotus Petal
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Emerald*
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl*
1 Mox Ruby*
1 Mox Sapphire*

4 Force of Will
4 Mana Drain****

3 Painter Servant
2 Grindstone**
1 Trinket Mage
1 Darksteel Colossus
1 Empty the Warrens
2 Goblin Welder
1 Mindslaver

1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
1 Sensei's Divining Top
4 Thirst for Knowledge

1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Tormod's Crypt
 
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Tinker
1 Time Walk
1 Gifts Ungiven

SB
3 Tormod's Crypt
2 Engineered Explosives
2 Rack and Ruin
2 Ingot Chewer
4 Duress
2 Lava Dart

[Cane1024]

Nick Rodrigues w/ Control Slaver

Maindeck:

1 Tolarian Academy
1 Library of Alexandria
3 Polluted Delta
2 Flooded Strand
2 Underground Sea
4 Volcanic Island
3 Island
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
1 Lotus Petal
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
4 Force of Will
4 Mana Drain
1 Triskelivus
1 Sundering Titan
1 Empty the Warrens
4 Goblin Welder
2 Mindslaver
2 Gorilla Shaman
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
2 Sensei's Divining Top
4 Thirst for Knowledge
1 Tormod's Crypt
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Tinker
1 Time Walk
1 Fact or Fiction
1 Echoing Truth


Sideboard:

3 Tormod's Crypt
2 Pyroclasm
3 Rack and Ruin
2 Ingot Chewer
3 Duress
2 Lava Dart

[Eastman]

This was a terrific event.  When they have the tournament organizer's conference Eric should do the morning session on how to run a good event. Everything went smoothly, info. was posted frequently, and the prize structure was excellent for all levels.

I played Ichorid.  It's heavily meadbert inspired, though I played with the dread return targets a bit so I'd have a fast combo win.   I found that to be worthwhile and I would run it in any meta.  After losing round 1 I went undefeated until splitting in the top 4.  My girlfriend got my $110 cash prize as a bribe for not complaining that I started playing magic again. 

32 Core
4 Bazaar of Baghdad
4 Serum Powder
4 Bridge from Below
4 Ichorid
4 Narcomoeba
4 Golgari Grave Troll
4 Golgari Thug
4 Stinkweek Imp


7 Combo
2 Cephalid Sage
1 Flame-Kin Zealot
1 Angel of Despair
3 Dread Return

17 Disruption
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Leyline of the Void
4 Unmask
4 Cabal Therapy
1 Strip Mine

4 MD SB
4 City of Brass


15 Sideboard
4 Gemstone Mine
4 Chain of Vapor
Some emerald charms
Some wispmares
Some darkblasts


Two points of value to add:

1.  I think some have argued that Leyline isn't optimal/necessary as disruption for various reasons.  I'd add to those arguments that it has enormous value as Bridge from Below protection.  I've found that game changing frequently when I've played Ichorid.

2.  This is really minor but in the future I would cut 1-2 city of brass for something from the SB.  It makes no sense to say you have a 19 card SB, pick 4 cards to put in the main, and have all 4 be lands.  Might as well mix in an out card rather than have all 4 be dead.  I know you can hardcast therapy but that only slightly diminishes my point.

[M.Solymossy]

OMG Eastman is alive?!  Baller!

[Naurion]

Two points of value to add:

1.  I think some have argued that Leyline isn't optimal/necessary as disruption for various reasons.  I'd add to those arguments that it has enormous value as Bridge from Below protection.  I've found that game changing frequently when I've played Ichorid.

2.  This is really minor but in the future I would cut 1-2 city of brass for something from the SB.  It makes no sense to say you have a 19 card SB, pick 4 cards to put in the main, and have all 4 be lands.  Might as well mix in an out card rather than have all 4 be dead.  I know you can hardcast therapy but that only slightly diminishes my point.

I completely agree with your first point. I always want to see Leyline against Aggro, it gives you an incredible advantage.

And for your second point I would like to add that I believe part of the reasoning behind the lands maindeck is to give you an out in the mirror in game 1. Assuming both players mulligan to Leyline, its a matter of putting 2-3 lands together in order to hardcast Narcomoebas, Thugs and potentially Stinkweed Imp. However, if you are going to cut Petrified Field (admittedly the weakest card in the deck), you have less opportunity to hardcast guys. That is where the name Manaless Ichorid comes from, you don't need lands.

[nataz]

hows the stripmine without p-field to return it? Also, if you are looking to move SB/COB slots, seems like 2x darkblast in, 2x COB out would be the best choice. Keeps the dredge count up that way.

[Eastman]

OMG Eastman is alive?!  Baller!

Hellz yah.  Congrats on the T8!

hows the stripmine without p-field to return it? Also, if you are looking to move SB/COB slots, seems like 2x darkblast in, 2x COB out would be the best choice. Keeps the dredge count up that way.

I don't think the lack of p-field really impacts the usefulness of strip mine in this list.  If I had p-field I'd probably be returning bazaar or waiting to return one.  You wouldn't replay strip until turn 4 (1. Bazaar, 2. Strip, 3. p-field, 4. Strip), and the game is either won or lost at that point I think. And even if it is still ongoing I think in the vast majority of situations you'd rather get a bazaar and speed yourself along. Strip mine is really only used turn 2 to keep them from finding an answer or racing you.

That said strip mine itself is just ok.  It's good disruption, but the ichorid I have sleeved might be better with a darkblast in that spot.  I found myself siding it out like all the time. 

[Demonic Attorney]

Demonic Attorney, Pitch Long

4 Dark Ritual
4 Force of Will
4 Duress
3 Cabal Ritual
2 Grim Tutor
2 Tendrils of Agony
1 Chain of Vapor
1 Rebuild
Demonic Tutor
Mystical Tutor
Vampiric Tutor
Imperial Seal
Ancestral Recall
Time Walk
Timetwister
Windfall
Tinker
Memory Jar
Yawgmoth's Will
Yawgmoth's Bargain
Necropotence
Fact or Fiction
Gifts Ungiven
Mind's Desire
Brainstorm
Ponder

4x Polluted Delta
1x Bloodstained Mire
4x Underground Sea
1x Bayou
1x Swamp
Tolarian Academy
5x Mox
Lotus
Mana Crypt
Sol Ring
Lotus Petal


Sideboard:

4x Tarmogoyf
3x Dark Confidant
3x Hymn to Tourach
2x Extirpate
1x Yixlid Jailer
1x Hurkyl's Recall
1x Tropical Island

[Liam-K]

I don't think the lack of p-field really impacts the usefulness of strip mine in this list.  If I had p-field I'd probably be returning bazaar or waiting to return one.  You wouldn't replay strip until turn 4 (1. Bazaar, 2. Strip, 3. p-field, 4. Strip), and the game is either won or lost at that point I think. And even if it is still ongoing I think in the vast majority of situations you'd rather get a bazaar and speed yourself along. Strip mine is really only used turn 2 to keep them from finding an answer or racing you.

That said strip mine itself is just ok.  It's good disruption, but the ichorid I have sleeved might be better with a darkblast in that spot.  I found myself siding it out like all the time. 

Well I found when I was messing around with it p-field -> strip mine usually happened on turn 3, when I didn't actually have the strip in my hand and instead dredged it into the bin.  Can be fast enough if you went first.

[Naurion]

Well I found when I was messing around with it p-field -> strip mine usually happened on turn 3, when I didn't actually have the strip in my hand and instead dredged it into the bin.  Can be fast enough if you went first.

This is a question for everyone about how worth-while Strip Mine is:

In versions of Ichorid with Petrified Field and only disruptive Dread Return creatures (Angel, Chosen, Titan, E-Witness, not Sage+Zealot), what do you think the advantages/disadvantages are of running either 1 Strip Mine, or a second copy of your only Dread Return target?

[nataz]

To be fair, you always have at least 4+x dread return targets, with X being your standard disruption/combo slots, and 4 being grave troll. Bringing back a huge grave troll wins a lot of games, and it can even block at DSC multiple turns buying you time against tinker -> DSC.

[Liam-K]

Well I found when I was messing around with it p-field -> strip mine usually happened on turn 3, when I didn't actually have the strip in my hand and instead dredged it into the bin.  Can be fast enough if you went first.

This is a question for everyone about how worth-while Strip Mine is:

In versions of Ichorid with Petrified Field and only disruptive Dread Return creatures (Angel, Chosen, Titan, E-Witness, not Sage+Zealot), what do you think the advantages/disadvantages are of running either 1 Strip Mine, or a second copy of your only Dread Return target?

I haven't tested versions such as this but my gut instinct is to say p-field makes more sense in a Sage/FKZ list because putting a second bazaar into play is much more likely to end the game immediately in such a build, and binning the rest of your library puts you at enough risk you'll want to end the game.  However, it does help both versions overcome wasteland.