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FadeToBlack
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« on: January 26, 2009, 02:23:38 pm » |
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I’m sitting at home today instead of school due to some illness…so I guess now is a good time to do a write-up about my deck and the events that unfolded Saturday. Just a heads-up, I’m not really sure whether this will turn out to be more of a deck discussion of tourney report. On top of that, all of my game notes were thrown away, so we’re going off my vague memory…but here we go.
So I haven’t played Vintage in a month, but nothing like an opportunity at my first Moxen to get me going. I live in NE, so I already know that everyone is bringing their Drains. On top of that, I notice that most of the upper echelons are running Tez, or Tezzless-Tez with Remora and Meditate Shenanigans. So seems like a good time to be running some men right?
I show up at my buddy Paul’s (Soon-Man) house the night before the tournament with plenty of cards in hand to brew up something silly. We get to discussing what I’m going to be playing, and I end up making the silly remark of playing Painter without Painters. The last tournament I went to, 6 of my 7 game wins with Painter came via sideboard Tarmogoyfs, and not Mr. Useless (Painter). I like the idea of playing all the powerful cards, but I can’t say I’m real interested in playing (what I consider to be) yucky win conditions like Grindstone or Time Vault. After some brainstorming and such, we end up with this:
// Lands
2 Flooded Strand
4 Island
4 Polluted Delta
2 Underground Sea
3 Tropical Island
// Creatures
2 Trinket Mage
4 Tarmogoyf
2 Vendilion Clique
1 Darksteel Colossus
// Spells
1 Lotus Petal
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Gifts Ungiven
1 Tormod's Crypt
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Ponder
1 Brainstorm
1 Mystical Tutor
3 Mana Drain
4 Force of Will
4 Thirst for Knowledge
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Fact or Fiction
1 Pithing Needle
1 Tinker
1 Regrowth
1 Time Walk
// Sideboard
SB: 3 Volcanic Island
SB: 1 Tormod's Crypt
SB: 2 Pyroblast
SB: 1 Relic of Progenitus
SB: 2 Ancient Grudge
SB: 1 Leyline of the Void
SB: 1 Red Elemental Blast
SB: 1 Ingot Chewer
SB: 1 Darkblast
SB: 2 Sower of Temptation
I’m sure a few of you are scratching your heads when you look at this list, so feel free to drop questions. I’ll cover a few things first, and then get on with the actual tournament.
First off, as this is the card most people gave me the crazy look about, is Vendilion Clique. I absolutely love this guy. First, it’s a fairy, which we all know (or at least those who play other formats) is pretty much the greatest thing ever in these current times. Secondly, it’s a 3 power flier - it’s a reasonable clock and can win games that our ground-stalled via Goyfs. Next, it has flash – this gives you even more things to do if you choose to sit on Drain mana, and can even randomly ambush a man (Welder, Magus of the Moon, etc). Most importantly, it gives you information – most times, you won’t even take a card, but you now have an idea of how to set up the game.
The only other thing I want to touch upon right now is sideboarding red (including the lands). I love having a stable mana base (note the four Islands), so I’d rather not toss a 4th color in MD. However, red opens up a lot of options that I don’t think I can find in other colors. Grudge is the best answer to artifacts IMO, and Pyroblast/REB seal up already solid Drain matchups. Additionally, having extra lands in the board is huge. Against Shops, I’m adding 3 lands, and against anyone that doesn’t have Wastelands, I’m adding a fourth color at no expense. I guess this is consuming a lot of board space, but you will also notice that I only have to devote 3 slots to dredge (as opposed to 6-8) because of the Trinket Mage package.
So on to the tournament itself….
Round 1 vs Jeff with BG “Stuff” –
I introduce myself to my opponent, and he tells me that this is his first tournament, so I’m a little curious to see what he’s playing. When he leads off with Barren Moor, Mox, Mox, Lotus Blossom, my interest is further piqued. However, as the game further progresses, I notice that he’s playing a lot of cards that are generally considered casual – Sengir Vampire, Nefashu, etc. While my Mana Crypt slowly eats me, I deploy a Tarmogoyf and Tinker up a Colossus. While I’m careful to play around his Apprentice Necromancer, I’m able to take this one without too much trouble.
I sideboard out some junk (Pithing Needle, Tormod’s Crypt) for a pair of Sowers.
G2 is more of the same, except this time, he’s mana screwed to compound his already weaker deck. A quick Goyf, followed by lots of card drawing via Fact or Fiction and Thirst for Knowledge and a Yawgmoth’s Will makes for an easy victory.
Jeff, if you’re out there, I hope you had fun at your first tournament and continue playing Vintage.
1-0 (2-0)
Round 2 vs Paul with Manaless Ichorid –
So I’m unfortunately paired against my buddy, but I guess that’s bound to happen. He helped build this deck, and I built is Ichorid lameness, so information is even. It’s worth noting that Paul can’t ever play seriously, especially against me, so shenanigans are always likely to ensue.
I draw my opening 7, praying for some of my Trinket Mage targets to be there. I see not only Pithing Needle, but an EE and Trinket Mage as well, so I’m happy…until I realize that I do not have a single mana source. I figure that it’s worth the risk as even if he has Chalice, a land off the top for Needle should buy me sufficient time.
Paul mulls to 5 and drops Bazaar and makes it do what it does. I peel the top card....Black Lotus! I play Lotus, Ponder (finding a Tropical Island) and then Trinket Mage, tutoring up Crypt and playing it with EE. While this gives him another turn to use Bazaar, I figure that Crypt+EE is too much anyhow, and there is no way that I’d be casting the Mage anytime soon otherwise. He does nothing relevant the next turn except Dredge, flopping two Ichorids and some Bridges. I Crypt, and then lock his Bazaar with Needle. With only 3 cards in hand (so 5 turns till he can discard), he scoops.
I initially bring in just the 3 obvious cards (Leyline, Crypt, Relic), but then Sowers and Darkblast. And then Ingot Chewer. Honestly, I’m not sure why, but blowing up a Chalice seemed fun. I sideboard out some stuff I don’t want to see, like Vendilion Clique and Mana Drain.
Like a champ, I have both Crypt and the singleton Leyline (which Paul insulted me about the entire night before), though he has a Chalice on zero. He bounces my Leyline at some point, and even drops at Chalice at 1 as well. Despite this, I’m able to redeploy Leyline before he ever really gets anything going. With things pretty much locked up, we start being ridiculous. I Tinker away my Sensei’s Top, grabbing Sol Ring, to play my Engineered Explosives at X=2, Sunburst 0, and blow up his Chalices just because I can. After some laughing, crying, and shouting at one another, we pick up the cards.
2-0 (4-0)
Round 3 vs. Jeremiah with Meditate Remora -
Jeremiah drew against Rich the previous round, so I’m unfortunately paired down. However, I at least know what I’m up against (including Meloku, but not his Vedalken Shackles shenanigans).
Game 1 he gets down a turn 1 Remora, and this is something I have no experience against. My plan is just to get to a Goyf, and protect it. He just keeps paying upkeep on the Remora, and I cast an EOT Thirst followed by Ancestral after ramping up to 4 mana the old fashion way. He draws a few cards, but after a single Force, I’m able to resolve both of my spells. Unfortunately, there is no Goyf in the drawn cards, and when I’m finally able to drop one two turns later, he has a Vedalken Shackles ready to snag it (with plenty of “Islands” out). The rest is elementary beatings as he pounds me with my own man.
I bring in the Blasts and Volcs for 3 Islands and some stuff like Tormod’s Crypt. It’s worth noting that I had no real consistent SB patterns, as I tend to look through my deck for things I don’t like, such as topdeck tutors or Merchant Scroll (which I’m told is quite wrong). I don’t bring in any artifact hate, as I’m unsure of how many Shackles he has, and I honestly can say I’m not that fearful of Time Vault.
Game 2 is a blur, but I remember getting down an early Goyf and playing a Japanese Vendilion Clique that confused the crap out of him. I also recall him playing a Vedalken Shackles, which indicated he was almost certainly playing more than just a miser’s singleton. Somehow or another, random aggro beats get there.
I sideboard in the Ingot Chewer and Grudges for some more stuff I dislike.
Jeremiah contemplates his hand for a very long time, but eventually keeps. He plays t1 Sapphire into Ponder, and then drops a land, indicating he kept something sketchy. I go something like Land, go, and he plays 2 Moxen and a Time Vault. I drop a Trinket Mage the next turn, and tutor up Pithing Needle. He activates his Time Vault, which confuses the crap out of me. I drop the Needle and a Goyf, while he takes his turn and an extra. He plays a Vedalken Shackles, but still only has one land down and a bunch of Moxen. I start doing silly things like Time Walk, Ancestral, Regrow my Time Walk, and that’s that.
After the match, I ask Jeremiah about activating the Time Vault. I don’t want to misquote him, but I was still a little confused after his explanation. If someone out there can tell me what the value in skipping a turn for another one later is, I’d like to know (not sarcastic at all, just genuinely confused).
3-0 (6-1)
Round 4 vs Rich Shay with Meditate Remora -
I’m fairly happy that I get to play against another Drain matchup (especially one with Old Man instead of Shackles), though I know that a master like Rich isn’t going to make things easy.
Game 1 I drop a lot of accelerators, leading with a Thirst into a Trinket Mage. I get some beats in, and try some spells that mostly end up countered. He eventually Tinkers up a Colossus, but is forced to leave it back on defense due to a potential lethal alpha strike. I resolve Yawgmoth’s Will, and that’s enough to get there.
I sideboard the same as in Game 2 vs Jeremiah.
I don’t really remember this game, though I’m pretty sure I have a slower start while he develops his hand. He has a quick Tinker, and I’m fairly helpless as my 2 Trinket Mages can just sit back and watch my die. It’s important to note here that I do not have any bounce spells, a mistake for sure. I also found myself tutoring up nonsense with my Trinket Mages much of the time, as casting a Pithing Needle early in the game didn’t feel that important. Thus, I’m fairly certain Aether Spellbomb needs a slot, as the majority of my losses came at the hands of DSC even after I resolved Trinket Mages that got nothing of importance.
Game 3 my hand is gas, as I resolve an Ancestral on his upkeep (drawing Mox Pearl, Emerald, and something else with Goyf in hand *durf durf*) and a green man on my turn uncontested. He gets rid of the Goyf via EE, as I get some Trinket beats in as time winds down. He has a Psychatog on the table, though it’s not quite lethal yet (despite my Mana Crypt). I’m able to draw into a Demonic Tutor for Will, and have Time Walk/Goyf and other such nonsense to end it. I offer Rich a draw, as a win does nothing more for me (a draw puts me into the top 8), and he had the misfortune of being paired up (already having a draw).
3-0-1 (7-2-1)
Round 5 vs John Longo with GoodStuff.dec -
ID
3-0-2 (7-2-2)
So the top 8 is composed of 2 Medidate Remora, 1 CS, 1 UBGW Fish, 1 Tez, 1 Oath, 1 GoodStuff, and 1 of whatever exactly I’m playing. I don’t want to play against Oath (have only ever played against it once) or Fish (just scares me), so I’m quite content when I get paired up against Tez.
Top 8 vs Blaine with Tezzeret -
Game 1 he starts with Island, Top, while I lead off with land, Mox Sapphire, Mox Jet, Lotus, casting a Vendilion Clique during his draw step. I take Vampiric Tutor (as I’m cold to Tinker with no counter magic in hand), leaving Mana Vault and Academy Ruins, and maybe something else. He drops a Tolarian Academy, and continues to play cards off the top to the point where I know exactly what he has in his hand at all times. I drop a pair of Goyfs, aiding the Clique in beating him down to 10. I ponder, putting a Force in hand and leaving Time Walk on top. He attempts to play an EE for 2, and I Force. He Tops in response, and Drains back. He makes some comment about not being able to use EE because he didn’t use Tolarian Academy with Top in play, so I realize that he’s forgotten all about Mana Drain. He ends his turn, and I prompt him to burn for 5. This leads to him calling the judge, and after some lengthy discussion I am informed that I have to indicate to him that he has 5 mana in his pool due to Drain. I’m a little steamed about this, as I’ve never heard of this before…but that’s the ruling, so I have to roll with it. He burns down to 7, and I attack him down to 4, Time Walk, and beat him to 1. He’s short of being able to recur EE, draws, and scoops.
I bring in the Blasts and Volcs for 3 Islands and aforementioned stuff.
I get a quick Goyf down and a Trinket Mage to serve up some early beats. He Threads my Goyf, so I DT up a Blast to stop that. I eventually cast a rather unnecessary Tinker for Colosssus and a Regrowth on a Time Walk to put him away.
4-0-2 (9-2-2)
Top 4 vs John Longo -
John and I are a little disappointed to be playing each other in the top 4, but that’s just how things are.
Game 1 I start with an early Goyf, and drop him to 13. I Tinker up Colossus, and so does he. I attack with both, and the DSCs bounce off one another, dropping him to 9. John furiously draws cards, using Gush and Night’s Whisper (and maybe something else), and finds himself a Time Walk to end it with two swings of the big dumb robot.
I sideboard in the Blasts, Volcs, and Sowers, as I know that he is packing Goyfs as well.
Game 2 I lead with t1 Mox, Land, Goyf. Goyf keeps attacking John while he draws a bunch of land, and he’s stuck on 1 life with 2 fetchlands in play, a Vampiric Tutor, and a Force of Will. Awkward.
Game 3 I’m just outclassed. I get 2 Goyfs down quick, but he has one of his own, and a Sower for one of mine. I mise a Pyroblast off the top to regain my man, but he Yawg Will’s back the Sower. When I rip a land and he casts a Regrowth with a plenty of goodness in the yard, I scoop.
Final: 4-1-2 (10-4-2), 3rd Place
So that’s the end of the tale I guess, though I’d like to share a few more words.
Honestly, I’m not sure how good this deck is in an overall power level sense, but it does a lot of things right. I play in the Drain-infested NE, so you have to be prepared to deal with those decks round after round.
Rich and Jeremiah and several others have taken up to using Remora and Meditate to bury other Drain opponents in card advantage. Against Tez, Painter, or other threat-light decks, this is all but a guaranteed victory.
I have taken a different approach. Some may say this isn’t a Drain deck, and while in one sense, it isn’t, I’m still packing that UU spell and draw spells that often accompany it in other decks. Instead of trying to win the CA war, I’m going basically the opposite route. By playing t1 Mox, Tropical Island, Tarmogoyf, a lot of things have happened. You have put yourself down a card in a matchup that’s often about. But you’ve also made something out of a turn where I find you often do nothing, and most importantly, you’ve put a clock down. I watched more than a few Drain matchups involving Remoras and Medidates on Saturday, and those games go FOREVER. As Rich pointed out, the draw engine makes sure that your drain opponent won’t win…but that doesn’t mean you will either. By putting something down that promises to end the game within 5-6 turns, you pressure them into winning quickly, which, aside from Tinker, the deck isn’t very good at. You also make things like Remora and especially Medidate less than great, as your glad to sit there and do nothing while the Green Man gets in there for 4.
Now, I may be speaking somewhat out of my “jurisdiction”, as I have never played with the Remora deck. However, I can honestly say that most of the games I played against Drain decks never felt close. Sure, I may have drawn appreciably well in some of them, but I also had plenty of play mistakes to counterbalance that. When you drop a t1 Monster and all they can do is cough up an Enchantment that wants you to do nothing, you happily oblige while you smack them around. I’m not trying to sound arrogant or make the deck sound like the best thing since slice bread…but it certainly does a lot of things well.
Props-
• Pandemonium, for hosting another great event. I know you guys are trying hard to draw more people every event, and I will certainly keep coming back
• My bestest buddy Paul, for helping in the creation of this “thing”, and always keeping me company at the tournaments. Definitely wouldn’t be showing up to Vintage tourneys without this guy.
• John Longo, for taking down the tournament with at least a couple of big Green Men.
• All my opponents, who were friendly kept things fun
• I’m definitely missing something/someone….so…here’s to that
Slops-
• Not having Aether Spellbomb
• Eating lunch at 711
• Leaving my Sower of Temptations at home and having to proxy them
• Any game notes/names/information that is wrong
Feel free to post question or comments or whatever, as I’m always happy to listen, answer, and seek ways to improve this creation.
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