[Premium Article] Type One Tezzeret Dissected

[Smmenen]

http://www.starcitygames.com/magic/vintage/16789_So_Many_Insane_Plays_Vintage_Tezzeret_Dissected.html

Editor's Blurb:

Monday, December 1st - When Shards of Alara hit the scene, Vintage maestro Stephen Menendian pounced on the promising planeswalker Tezzeret the Seeker. The card is no bearing fine Vintage fruit, and Stephen crunches the numbers to make the strongest composite list possible. Could this be the new leader in the Vintage metagame?

What I've done in this article is to take a look at all 37 Tez lists that have made top 8 since its introduction into the format.   

You can see every card that has ever been played in a Vintage Tez list in this article. 

[pierce]

an interesting approach. since college is making it impossible to do physical testing, this article will allow me to do a lot of playtesting in my head this week. thnx

[Smmenen]

Thank you.  I hope that alot of people draw inspiration from this article.  I've done the hard work and presented every single card ever tried in a Tez list that made a top 8.   The sideboard database alone should be helpful. 

[Troy_Costisick]

Heya Steve,

Terrific article.  I love the detail there.  I wish there was more stuff like that other deck archetypes.  One question I did have was: What deck archetypes are natural predators for Tez.dec?  The first thing that comes to my mind would be Goblins but maybe Fish as well.  What do you think?

Peace,

-Troy

[Sporkcore]

Were there any cards that were in any of the random Tezz lists that made top 8 that you were surprised to see other than the large amount of Voltaic Keys?

You said in the article that you don't know why Engineered Explosives was so popular among the Tezz lists. I know that I wouldn't play a list without it. It's a simple solution to many problems the deck may face, specially since it seems a majority of the decks (if not all the decks) were 3 colors. In my list I also run Academy Ruins to make something like EE reusable.

All in all, I've found this article to be extremely interesting and gives me some insight in what to expect when I'm playing other Tezz lists.

[Eastman]

Wow neat project.  That list does look pretty good too.  Particularly the sideboard. Although I'm not so willing to trust people's judgment on sensei's top.  That seems like the sort of 1-of that people just toss in.  I've always been extremely suspicious of running 1-ofs on unrestricted cards.  And top is consistently an underperformer for me.  That might be a thread in itself though. 

And I knew before the article that most people prefer thirst, but it doesn't necessarily convince me.  I'm beginning to agree with Steve that people miss great intuition piles all day long.  Maybe it's the TFKs that force people to run top all day. 

[Smmenen]

Wow neat project.  That list does look pretty good too.  Particularly the sideboard. Although I'm not so willing to trust people's judgment on sensei's top.  That seems like the sort of 1-of that people just toss in.  I've always been extremely suspicious of running 1-ofs on unrestricted cards.  And top is consistently an underperformer for me.  That might be a thread in itself though. 

And I knew before the article that most people prefer thirst, but it doesn't necessarily convince me.  I'm beginning to agree with Steve that people miss great intuition piles all day long.  Maybe it's the TFKs that force people to run top all day. 

Was the giant list of SB cards helpful?   

I'm glad you liked it; your thread on GI's list inspired this article.   

[wiley]

Wow neat project.  That list does look pretty good too.  Particularly the sideboard. Although I'm not so willing to trust people's judgment on sensei's top.  That seems like the sort of 1-of that people just toss in.  I've always been extremely suspicious of running 1-ofs on unrestricted cards.  And top is consistently an underperformer for me.  That might be a thread in itself though. 

And I knew before the article that most people prefer thirst, but it doesn't necessarily convince me.  I'm beginning to agree with Steve that people miss great intuition piles all day long.  Maybe it's the TFKs that force people to run top all day. 

Was the giant list of SB cards helpful?   

I'm glad you liked it; your thread on GI's list inspired this article.   

First I would like to say that I really enjoyed the style of this article, whether it is borrowed or not you did an excellet job with it.  The information was well laid out and easy to digest.  I would love to see this type of article again for future control decks.

As for the Intuition over TFK argument, well Intuition is a very skill intensive, and sometimes mentally exhausting card.  That said, if you are good with the card then there shouldn't be a definite reason to not play it over thirst.  The fact that you can sometimes get an extra card off thirst or that you may become more open to grave hate with intuition should be mitigated by the fact that you get the cards you want then and there.  The only real way for it to backfire would be if you got time vault dropped into the yard and then crypted away, this can be avoided fairly easily by tutoring up tutors.  With such a compact and cheap combo I see intuition as the better card.

On top; it also helps to dig for tinker to get rid of crypt during infinite turns, or to attack as a 5/5 or as a cute trick with key.  I haven't liked it much in the past but it does have uses.

The engineered explosives can often buy the 1-2 turns needed against dredge in game 1.  It has some other uses as well, but that is most likely its primary reason for inclusion in the deck from my point of view.

[bluemage55]

Wow neat project.  That list does look pretty good too.  Particularly the sideboard. Although I'm not so willing to trust people's judgment on sensei's top.  That seems like the sort of 1-of that people just toss in.  I've always been extremely suspicious of running 1-ofs on unrestricted cards.  And top is consistently an underperformer for me.  That might be a thread in itself though. 

And I knew before the article that most people prefer thirst, but it doesn't necessarily convince me.  I'm beginning to agree with Steve that people miss great intuition piles all day long.  Maybe it's the TFKs that force people to run top all day. 

The main reason that Top makes sense as a 1-of is that it's extremely unsynergistic with itself. 

But as a singleton, Top can easily be disposed of with either TfK or a shuffle effect, giving it great flexibility on top of its intended usage for early draw fixing, Welder tricks, and winning topdeck contests.

[LordHomerCat]

Wow neat project.  That list does look pretty good too.  Particularly the sideboard. Although I'm not so willing to trust people's judgment on sensei's top.  That seems like the sort of 1-of that people just toss in.  I've always been extremely suspicious of running 1-ofs on unrestricted cards.  And top is consistently an underperformer for me.  That might be a thread in itself though. 

And I knew before the article that most people prefer thirst, but it doesn't necessarily convince me.  I'm beginning to agree with Steve that people miss great intuition piles all day long.  Maybe it's the TFKs that force people to run top all day. 

The main reason that Top makes sense as a 1-of is that it's extremely unsynergistic with itself. 

But as a singleton, Top can easily be disposed of with either TfK or a shuffle effect, giving it great flexibility on top of its intended usage for early draw fixing, Welder tricks, and winning topdeck contests.

But, if you draw 2 tops, can't you just shuffle the second one away on your first fetch or whatever?  Obviously having 2 in the opener isn't ideal, but past that you don't ever have to draw the second.  The only issue I see is that it takes time and mana to trade it into a new card, and it's not blue so you you might not have enough time to trade it in matches like TPS or belcher or Dredge.  But otherwise, you can pretty easily shuffle away the second.

I also think Top in Intuition based decks is much weaker than with Thirst.  The synergy between the two is excellent, in that you can get rid of the top once you've used it a couple times and have better stuff to do and not be down a card or anything by doing so.  Shuffling it away is always fine, but pitching it to thirst makes it real awesome once it has outlived its usefulness.  I played one with Thirsts in Tez this weekend and I will be leaving it in for the foreseeable future, after having cut it when I was using Intuitions instead (I also was really happy with thirst, and think I will keep it over intuition as well).

[M.Solymossy]

  I played one with Thirsts in Tez this weekend and I will be leaving it in for the foreseeable future

Wait... didn't you tell me ToP was TERRIBLE?   

[LordHomerCat]

  I played one with Thirsts in Tez this weekend and I will be leaving it in for the foreseeable future

Wait... didn't you tell me ToP was TERRIBLE?   

It was terrible with intuition.  I think I cast it like 4 times all weekend, and twice shuffled it away on the next turn.  I just happened to usually have it along with Mana Crypt and/or Sol Ring which makes it less of a waste of time and mana.  I wouldn't run two, but that's not to say its absolutely terrible to run multiples.

[CHaPuZaS]

I am copy-pasting my reply on SCG forums, since I want to get feedback of the deck and talk about it as much as possible:

My name is César Fernandez. I have Top8ed three times in a row, winning 2 +40-people events wih a Tezzeret decklist most people in Spain don´t like. My version is not running neither basic lands nor Tinket, for example, but it runs an army of artifacts to fuel Thoughtcast, a draw engine I thoght that needd to be used some time ago.

Once you wrote in an article that if ever existed a 1U casting cost spell that lets you draw two cards as an instant, it should be restricted. Well, I've found that accepting the risks of playing with a lot of artifacts, being raped by any opponent resolving Null Rod or Mox Monkey, Thoughtcast lost the instant speed and became a casting cost U in the way.

The deck is super explosive, giving you the ability to rule the board by turn 2-3 almost always. Yawg.Will is incredibly brutal in this deck, if you resolve it, those Pseud- Ancestrals named Thoughtcast will give an enormous card advantage.

I also run 2 Voltaic Keys. The many tricks you can do with Sensei, Seat of the Synod and coloring your mana...is just enough to put those on the maindeck.

You can see the decklists in the article or in this link:

http://www.deckcheck.net/list.php?creator=Cesar%20Fernandez

If you want to talk about the deck, you may still have my mail from when you wrote on the Mirari Magazine, i was your editor in chief, remember?

Good job with the analysis.

One last thing...Are you sure the composite decklist looks far better than any other individual, that's what people is not sure here. Also, this weekend is going to be celebrated in Madrid a 160 (predicted,more or less) people tournament in Madrid, may you pay attention to the Tezzeret's Lists results.

[bluemage55]

But, if you draw 2 tops, can't you just shuffle the second one away on your first fetch or whatever?  Obviously having 2 in the opener isn't ideal, but past that you don't ever have to draw the second.

My point was that it would take 2 such shuffle effects to dispose of both of them.  In other words, running only a singleton Top means you can reliably dispose of it when it's not needed.  Running two increases the odds of having a useless Top even after you've expended an effect to dispose of one.

[bluemage55]

You can see the decklists in the article or in this link:

http://www.deckcheck.net/list.php?creator=Cesar%20Fernandez

I suspect that the complete lack of basic lands and no maindeck graveyard hate, on top of the susceptibility to mox monkey and null rod, would probably means that your list has several significantly problematic matchups.

I cannot see how you could possibly expect to win against any sort of comprehensive mana-denial plan (whether Fish, Landstill, or DeezNaughts) or against Ichorid (2 SB T. Crypts and 2 SB Extirpate isn't nearly enough slots), except by getting lucky and comboing out.

[CHaPuZaS]

You can see the decklists in the article or in this link:

http://www.deckcheck.net/list.php?creator=Cesar%20Fernandez

I suspect that the complete lack of basic lands and no maindeck graveyard hate, on top of the susceptibility to mox monkey and null rod, would probably means that your list has several significantly problematic matchups.

I cannot see how you could possibly expect to win against any sort of comprehensive mana-denial plan (whether Fish, Landstill, or DeezNaughts) or against Ichorid (2 SB T. Crypts and 2 SB Extirpate isn't nearly enough slots), except by getting lucky and comboing out.

I constructed this decklist in order to be faster than any combo control deck in the actual meta. It has proven to be far faster than any of those, wnning me every round in the last 26 rounds (3 torunaments), except from one.

The problem is not the lack of basic lands, because I have accepted that Fish and Landstill are imposible pairings. This is a deck constructed looking at the metagame of the center of Spain:

Drain Deck -25
Fish Deck - 10
Workshop Deck - 7
Storm Combo - 7
Dredge Deck - 3
Oath - 1
Other - 2

With this statistics, I accept losing most games against the 10 fish deck in exchange of having a very good pairing against Drain decks, Storm combo, Oath and Dredge, being Workshops decks a good matchup if we take care of the deck's sideboard.

Dredge is a good matchup, 8 cards against Ichorid are enough. i've been playing Ingot Chewer in every sideboard during the last year. It's synergy with a Drain deck, summed up to the fact that against Workshops it's a Threat and an artifact destroyer, and an incredible good card against Ichorid, were you can remove every Bridge and destroy it's Chalices...Did you think about that? I really love Chewer, I've played it in gush Painters, RDT, Control Slaver and Tezzeret If you ever test the deck, you will discover how fast it is. çAs i've said, by turn 3, the game should be in your pocket, not because you've won, but because you've get an incredible card advantage or the control of the board. So, this deck can easily find a threat against Ichorid, giving the deck the time needed to fin the combo pieces.

So far the deck have won 2 Time Walks and a Dual Land for another top, so it may be worth the risk. If I do want to play a more controlish deck I should have tested Tezzeret Control, because, as anyone may notice, this is a very risky deck. For the moment, it's ok. I'm going to play in another big tournament, I'll handle everyone the results.

[Smmenen]

Cesar, of course I remember you.  Nice to have you on board and sharing your thoughts.  For Americans here, Cesar is sort of like the Rich Shay of Spain

[CHaPuZaS]

If any of you wants to know more about the deck, there are somereports and analysis, but they are written in Spanish.

For those able to read or comprehend panish:

Análisis de Tezzeret's Time

Report: Gran Final de la LMV- Top8

Report: 2ºLMV2 - Ganador

Report: 3º LMV2 - Ganador

For those accepting the horrible google Translations:

Analyzing Tezzeret's Time

Report: Great Final of the LMV- Top8

Report: 2nd LMV2 - Winner

Report: 3th LMV2 - Winner

[M.Solymossy]

It seams to me that you could cut 1 Sensei's Top and 1 Voltaic key for 2 Pithing Needles, and it will solve most of your problems. (Wasteland, Mox Monkey, etc).  Other than that, the thoughtcast draw engine does seem better than what we americans have been using.

[jamestosetti]

Looks like a pretty good list but  I may be to noob to play it. I still need to do alot more playtesting with it though. On the topic of tezz decks I have had excellent results with tezzeretgoyf that made top 4 in Rome recently.  It seems a little easier for me to play for some reson. I'd been playing tps for so long because I couldnt figure out how to win with drain decks because of lack of experience but I am able to play tezzgoyf and it makes me like mana drain so much im going to get a playset.

[bluemage55]

It seams to me that you could cut 1 Sensei's Top and 1 Voltaic key for 2 Pithing Needles, and it will solve most of your problems. (Wasteland, Mox Monkey, etc).  Other than that, the thoughtcast draw engine does seem better than what we americans have been using.

An additonal Top could be cut for T. Crypt as well, to shore up the lack of grave hate.

[CHaPuZaS]

Tops or Keys can't be cut off the deck. The thing is that this deck's defenses lay in it's speed. The deck is increidibly fast, and I'm sure that cutting those cards will downgrade it's speed.

If it's necessary to play a more controlish deck, Tezzeret Control is the answer, I've seen how it can control the board. But this deck works on speed. From all the cards that can be cut, the most possible, from my point of view, should be REB. Not every pairing is blue, so maybe there lie's the solution.

If I have to choose a card to incorporate it may be Pithing Needle, which makes sense in the maindeck, yesterday I had a lot of problems handing a first turn Welder. And it's another artifact. Another point for the card is that it may name Polluted and Flooded very friendly, I recently discovered that there is no reason to play Polleted or Flooded over Bloodstained mire, because I don't run basic lands. This may also change in the deck, shifting to 4 Bloodstaind +1.

[neotrophy]

CHaPuZaS / César: really impressive deck.  I must admit that a first glance, it looked a little like a pile to me.  But I started goldfishing it a bit and it's obvious that it's built for speed, and built well.  Yes, it has weaknesses, but like storm combo decks, it seems like it would gain defence from that raw speed.  Mana denial does look like a real pain though.

[Purple Hat]

Cesar,
Interesting deck.  did you consider grim monolith as a sub for one of the tops?  I'm not sure what effect this would have on speed, but with two keys it could be interesting as an accelerant and gives you yet another option to untap.  Then again it doesnt' really do much

[CHaPuZaS]

Grim monolith costs 2 mana, and isn't good without key, not even with it, given that the deck uses to need many colored mana, and few colorless.

Anyway, there's not enough space to place a Monolith in the deck, as I've found really acceptable the mana base.

Mana Denial is the nuts against Tezzeret's Time, in 25 games against UW Fish, I've won only 2.

[Mantis]

Heya Steve,

Terrific article.  I love the detail there.  I wish there was more stuff like that other deck archetypes.  One question I did have was: What deck archetypes are natural predators for Tez.dec?  The first thing that comes to my mind would be Goblins but maybe Fish as well.  What do you think?

Peace,

-Troy

Goblins sucks, it has no chance against any deck in the metagame. I tested it for quite some time and I just didn't get any positive matchup at all, Tez is no exception.

[Smmenen]

Heya Steve,

Terrific article.  I love the detail there.  I wish there was more stuff like that other deck archetypes.  One question I did have was: What deck archetypes are natural predators for Tez.dec?  The first thing that comes to my mind would be Goblins but maybe Fish as well.  What do you think?

Peace,

-Troy

Dark Ritual decks.   Ad Nauseam, TPS, Long variants.   Those decks are the natural predators to Tez.   

Also, Fish decks with 4 Null Rods. 

[M.Solymossy]

If your metagame is infested with Tezzeret, I would suggest Eric's BUG FISH deck.  I've beaten it one time out of five tournaments, and the one time was because I strung together some isane plays early.

[Odd mutation]

Grim monolith costs 2 mana, and isn't good without key, not even with it, given that the deck uses to need many colored mana, and few colorless.

Anyway, there's not enough space to place a Monolith in the deck, as I've found really acceptable the mana base.

Mana Denial is the nuts against Tezzeret's Time, in 25 games against UW Fish, I've won only 2.

Hi César,

Interesting list to say the least! Congratulations on the innovation.

Just an idea but since you're playing a lot of artifacts, could Master of Etherium be a solution to the difficult Fish match-up? it's been tested in Control Slaver recently with decent results...

Robrecht.

[bluemage55]

Goblins sucks, it has no chance against any deck in the metagame. I tested it for quite some time and I just didn't get any positive matchup at all, Tez is no exception.

I don't entirely agree.  There's a European player on MWS I've run into from time to time that plays a very finely tuned UR Goblins list that's basically a less-controlling Fish deck with more explosive beatdown.  Such a deck can give most Drain decks a decent run for their money, especially when you factor in maindeck REBs (with more in the SB).  Tez seems extra vulnerable to such a plan.  Daze + FoW + Null Rod + Goblins = Tez pilot headache.