July 25th - N.Y.S.E. Challenge (Official)

[Prospero]

        First off I would like to thank everyone that came down to Friendly Neighborhood Comics yesterday.  A special thanks goes to all my friends from the Philadelphia area – I couldn’t believe how many of you showed and it meant quite a bit to me that you all came.  Thank you.
   
        I was entirely unsure as to how many players we’d get and with 31 I was happily surprised.  To those of you who missed the event, I will be running another event towards the end of August.  I will most likely be making this a monthly event.  An announcement will be put up during the next few days with all the necessary information in regards to the August event.
   
        The metagame was primarily divided between Oath, Stax and Tezzeret.  


The Complete Metagame Breakdown:


Tezzeret: 10 (Classic Tezzeret, Aggro Tezzeret, Ritual Tezzeret)
5CStax: 4
Oath:   5
TPS: 2
Monoblack Control: 1
Elves!: 1
Dredge: 1
Fish: 1
MaskNaught: 1
Swans Combo: 1
Goblins: 1
Counter/Top: 1
Tombstalker Aggro: 1
Underworld Dreams/Megrim: 1

        The new interpretations of Tezzeret were quite interesting.  Several of the builds were seemingly influenced by Jimmy McCarthy’s finish at the I.C.B.M. Open on Day 1.  There was also a solitary Ritual Tezzeret, and several Aggro Tezzeret variants with maindeck Tarmogoyfs.  There were no variants running Mystic Remora’s as most everyone had decided to run Dark Confidants in lieu of “The Fish”.
   

Standings after the Swiss:


1.  Jeff Folinus (Confidant TPS)
2.  Jeremy Beaver (Ritual Tezzeret)
3.  Josh Barkon (Oath)
4.  Josh Lalo (Oath)
5.  Max Brown (N.Y.S.E. Black Market)
6.  Joe Stevens (Tezzeret)
7.  Ryan Fisher (Elves)
8.  Raffaele Forino (N.Y.S.E. Stax)

        The 6/20 restrictions don’t seem to have done all that much to the field, as Tezzeret comprised 32.25% of the field.   Still, two of the five Oath decks made top 8, and while Tezzeret was roughly 1/3 of the decks in the main event, his percentage in top 8 dropped to 25%.  
   

Top 8 Pairings and Results


1.  Forino (N.Y.S.E. Stax) v. Folinus (Confidant TPS) – Forino wins 2-1
2.  Lalo (Oath) v. Brown (N.Y.S.E. Black Market) – Lalo wins 2-0
3.  Barkon (Oath) v. Stevens (Tezzeret) – Barkon wins 2-1
4.  Fisher (Elves!) v. Beaver (Ritual Tezzeret) – Fisher wins 2-1


Top 4 Matches


1.  Forino (N.Y.S.E. Stax) v. Lalo (Oath) – Lalo wins 2-1
2.  Barkon (Oath) v. Fisher (Elves!) – Fisher wins 2-1


Finals


1.  Fisher (Elves!) v. Lalo (Oath) – Fisher wins 2-0
   

        Fisher’s little green men managed to take it down as his combo was just too much for Lalo.  There’s no dishonor in that, as Fisher’s combo took down all comers.  
   
        A hearty congratulations to Ryan Fisher, Josh Lalo and to all our top 8 competitors.  Oath v. Elves! was an improbable match for the finals but it was a great match to watch.  
   

Top 8 Decklists:


1.  Jeff Folinus – Confidant TPS

1 Flooded Strand
1 Tolarian Academy
2 Swamp
2 Island
3 Underground Sea
4 Polluted Delta
1 Black Lotus
1 Lotus Petal
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mana Vault
1 Sensei’s Divining Top
1 Sol Ring
1 Memory Jar
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
1 Chain of Vapor
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Ponder
1 Repeal
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Time Walk
1 Timetwister
1 Tinker
4 Force of Will
1 Mind’s Desire
4 Dark Ritual
4 Duress
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Cabal Ritual
4 Dark Confidant
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Necropotence
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
2 Tendrils of Agony
1 Yawgmoth’s Bargain

SB
2 Mystic Remora
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
2 Slaughter Pact
1 Yixlid Jailer
4 Leyline of the the Void
1 Tormod’s Crypt
1 Pithing Needle
1 Inkwell Leviathan
1 Island
1 Swamp


2. Jeremy Beaver – Ritual Tezz

3 Underground Sea
3 Polluted Delta
2 Flooded Strand
2 Tropical Island
2 Island
1 Swamp
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
1 Lotus Petal
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
1 Voltaic Key
1 Time Vault
1 Regrowth
4 Force of Will
1 Thirst for Knowledge
1 Tezzeret, the Seeker
1 Misdirection
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
1Chain of Vapor
1 Ponder
1 Fact or Fiction
1 Gifts Ungiven
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Time Walk
1 Tinker
1 Inkwell Leviathan
1 Jace Beleren
3 Night’s Whisper
2 Duress
2 Thoughtseize
3 Dark Ritual
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
1 Tendrils of Agony

SB
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Rebuild
1 Trinisphere
1 Tormod’s Crypt
1 Massacre
2 Sower of Temptation
2 Pithing Needle
3 Yixlid Jailer
3 Tarmogoyf


3.  Josh Barkon – Oath

4 Forbidden Orchard
3 Underground Sea
2 Tropical Island
2 Flooded Strand
2 Polluted Delta
1 Island
1 Tolarian Academy
2 Hellkite Overloard
4 Oath of Druids
4 Force of Will
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Negate
3 Impulse
1 Misdirection
1 Lim Dul’s Vault
1 Tezzeret, the Seeker
1 Ponder
1 Brainstorm
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Time Walk
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Gaea’s Blessing
1 Scroll Rack
1 Sensei’s Divining Top
1 Black Lotus
1 Lotus Petal
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Sol Ring
1 Time Vault
1 Voltaic Key
1 Echoing Truth
1 Hurkyl’s Recall

SB
3 Extirpate
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Empyrial Archangel
3 Energy Flux
2 Hurkyl’s Recall
3 Engineered Plague


4. Josh Lalo “Mana Ichorid” (Oath)

1 Tinker
1 Ponder
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Gaea’s Blessing
2 Intuition
2 Pithing Needle
4 Oath of Druids
2 Duress
2 Deep Analysis
2 Platinum Angel
1 Time Walk
4 Force of Will
1 Echoing Truth
1 Thirst for Knowledge
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
4 Pact of Negation
4 Mana Drain
2 Underground Sea
1 Tropical Island
1 Volcanic Island
4 Forbidden Orchard
2 Flooded Strand
2 Polluted Delta
1 Strip Mine
3 Island
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Emerald
1 Lotus Petal
1 Sol Ring

SB
2 Empyrial Archangel
1 Akroma, Angel of Wrath
1 Hellkite Overlord
1 Darkblast
1 Rebuild
1 Krosan Grip
2 Ancient Grudge
4 Leyline of the Void
1 Darksteel Colossus
1 Pyroclasm

5. Max Brown – N.Y.S.E. Black Market

4 Leyline of the Void
4 Duress
4 Dark Confidant
4 Phyrexian Negator
4 Dark Ritual
3 Hymn to Tourach
3 Thoughtseize
3 Nantuko Shade
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Imperial Seal
1 Null Rod
1 Pithing Needle
1 Chalice of the Void
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
1 Helm of Obedience
1 Mox Jet
1 Black Lotus
1 Diabolic Edict
1 Emissary of Despair
1 Strip Mine
3 Wasteland
1 Mishra’s Factory
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
13 Swamp

SB
2 Pithing Needle
2 Chains of Mephistopheles
2 Contagion
3 Null Rod
2 Yixlid Jailer
1 Wasteland
1 Darkblast
1 Diabolic Edict
1 Emissary of Despair

6. Joe Stevens - Tezzeret

1 Voltaic Key
1 Fact or Fiction
1 Sensei’s Divining Top
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Gifts Ungiven
1 Tinker
1 Imperial Seal
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Sphinx of the Steel Wind
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mana Vault
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Brainstorm
1 Mana Crypt
1 Ponder
1 Time Walk
1 Sol Ring
1 Mox Pearl
1 Black Lotus
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Misdirection
1 Time Vault
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Mox Jet
1 Thirst for Knowledge
4 Force of Will
2 Thoughtseize
2 Duress
2 Tezzeret, the Seeker
4 Mana Drain
2 Night’s Whisper
1 Tolarian Academy
3 Flooded Strand
1 Snow Covered Island
2 Island
3 Underground Sea
3 Polluted Delta
2 Volcanic Island

SB
2 Tormod’s Crypt
2 Extirpate
2 Red Elemental Blast
3 Pyroclasm
2 Rack and Ruin
4 Ingot Chewer (What Joe, did you expect Stax in the Stax capital of the U.S.?)

7. Ryan Fisher – Elves!

4 Llanowar Elf
3 Fyndhorn Elves
4 Heritage Druid
4 Nettle Sentinel
4 Quirion Ranger
4 Wirewood Hivemaster
4 Birchlore Ranger
1 Regal Force
1 Eternal Witness
1 Viridian Shaman
1 Viridian Zealot
4 Glimpse of Nature
4 Skullclamp
3 Summoner’s Pact
1 Grapeshot
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Emerald
3 Windswept Heath
3 Wooded Foothills
2 Bayou
4 Forest
1 Fastbond
1 Gaea’s Cradle
1 Demonic Tutor

SB
2 Krosan Grip
4 Thoughtseize
2 Seeds of Innocence
3 Pithing Needle
3 Xantid Swarm
1 Vampiric Tutor

8. Raffaele Forino – N.Y.S.E. Stax

1 Balance
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Tinker
1 Darkblast
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Demonic Tutor
4 Goblin Welder
2 Gorilla Shaman

1 Black Lotus
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Vault
2 Powder Keg
3 Sphere of Resistance
3 Crucible of Worlds
4 Tangle Wire
1 Trinisphere
4 Smokestack
1 Karn, Silver Golem
1 Triskelion
1 Sundering Titan

1 Barbarian Ring
1 Bazaar of Baghdad
1 Strip Mine
1 Tolarian Academy
3 Gemstone Mine
4 City of Brass
4 Mishra's Workshop
4 Wasteland

SB

4 Leyline of the Void
3 Red Elemental Blast
2 Ancient Grudge
3 Chalice of the Void
1 Tormod's Crypt
2 Pithing Needle

        I would love to have some feedback on the event, so please feel free to PM me and let me know what you thought of the event, the site, the prize structure, judging, and anything else that comes to mind.  
   
        Thank you again to all who showed!

[personalbackfire]

Nick, thanks for running this event! I thought it was smoothly run and it was a good time; I look forward to the next event! Congrads to Forino and Folinus to top 8ing!

[Ufactor]

*cough*

Now maybe the fellas who made Top 4 at Jim Hanley's Universe can retroactively post tournament results..

[2nd_lawl]

This tournament was great, the venue was well lit and well air conditioned(a world first for a t1 tournament), and the event was run smoothly. Thanks again to nick and FNC for running the event, I had great time.

[Yare]

Thanks for a great event. It was also a very good turnout; I hope we can have this many again in the future.

[MirariKnight]

*cough*

Now maybe the fellas who made Top 4 at Jim Hanley's Universe can retroactively post tournament results..

Yeah we should probably get around to that at some point. Hopefully before we go again this weekend.

Anyway thanks Nick for running this and congrats to Ryan for destroying me in the finals, and everyone else in the top 8 as well. I had a great time playing with you guys.
Will Engineered Plague be the new sideboard tech?

[mr.grim]

Nick once again thanks for holding this event it was a blast!!!! THe ac was nice and shop was clean!!! It was very neat to see all off the offbeat builds that some peeps played.

Id like to give props and congrats to Mr.Top Deck himself J.Beaver!!!!
Three top 8s in your last 4 events.Thats why you the man!

Congrats to Team Rebel Alliance member Josh B. on his top 8.
Ya see Josh i told you i know my oath lol!

And now let me introduce the newest member of the Alliance.....

The combo kid...
Ryan Fisher !!!!!!! Dude ya did one hell of job blasting your way to winning the event !!!!!!

[voltron00x]

Nick, glad this was a success and I look forward to coming to the next one.

Obviously I am extremely happy with that top 4.  2 Oath and an Elves?  Awesome.  Maybe someone should start writing about those decks.  Oh, wait...

The elves list really runs NO Symbiotes and a full play-set of Hivemasters?  That's interesting, if its accurate.

[Prospero]

Nick, glad this was a success and I look forward to coming to the next one.

Obviously I am extremely happy with that top 4.  2 Oath and an Elves?  Awesome.  Maybe someone should start writing about those decks.  Oh, wait...

The elves list really runs NO Symbiotes and a full play-set of Hivemasters?  That's interesting, if its accurate.

It took me off guard as well.  It's pretty tough to question anything though after watching him tear through top 8 like he did yesterday.  I didn't think that Oath would have such a bad matchup against Elves! - then again, it's not like this is something that I thought about much before yesterday. 

Nice once again thanks for holding this event it was a blast!!!! THe ac was nice and shop was clean!!! It was very neat to see all off the offbeat builds that some peeps played.

Id like to give pros and congrats to Mr.Top Deck himself J.Beaver!!!!
Three topsin your last 4 events.Thats why you the man!

Congrats to Team Rebel Alliance member Josh B. on his top 8.
Ya see Josh i told you i know my oath lol!

If there is a Mr. Top Deck out there, it's definitely Beaver.

The AC in the store was pretty awesome.  The company was better though.

[Ufactor]

*cough*

Now maybe the fellas who made Top 4 at Jim Hanley's Universe can retroactively post tournament results..

Yeah we should probably get around to that at some point. Hopefully before we go again this weekend.

Wait...! Does this refer to Connecticon or an NY tournament that I just haven't heard about??

[MirariKnight]

*cough*

Now maybe the fellas who made Top 4 at Jim Hanley's Universe can retroactively post tournament results..

Yeah we should probably get around to that at some point. Hopefully before we go again this weekend.

Wait...! Does this refer to Connecticon or an NY tournament that I just haven't heard about??

I was referring to the (not yet announced but assumed?) Jim Hanley's this upcoming weekend because unfortunately I will have to miss Connecticon because of work.

[Cunningbeaver]

Nick, glad this was a success and I look forward to coming to the next one.

Obviously I am extremely happy with that top 4.  2 Oath and an Elves?  Awesome.  Maybe someone should start writing about those decks.  Oh, wait...

The elves list really runs NO Symbiotes and a full play-set of Hivemasters?  That's interesting, if its accurate.

Those hivemasters were symbiotes.  I'm almost positive its a typo.

I don't know if Ryan posts here or has an account. Again I'm pretty sure it was symbiotes and not hivemasters.

[Sporkcore]

This was a hell of a tournament and I was excited to see so many people come out for the event. Hopefully we can make Long Island a big name in the Vintage community with more of these events.

[shadow00]

This was a hell of a tournament and I was excited to see so many people come out for the event. Hopefully we can make Long Island a big name in the Vintage community with more of these events.

I second that

[MirariKnight]

I don't know if Ryan posts here or has an account. Again I'm pretty sure it was symbiotes and not hivemasters.

They were symbiotes

[Prospero]

I don't know if Ryan posts here or has an account. Again I'm pretty sure it was symbiotes and not hivemasters.

They were symbiotes

I just went over the lists again and it was an error on Ryan's part, as he did write Hivemaster, not Symbiote, down.  I did not deck check Ryan over the course of the day, so the error wasn't caught.  I was primarily checking for the basics - like the number of proxies that people used on the day, and that all lists were legal.

I'm sure that it wasn't on purpose, but I would remind everyone to pay attention to the decklists you hand in.  Mistakes like that can cost you in a tournament, and nobody likes receiving, or handing out, losses like that.

In addition the last decklist, which had been withheld, has been posted.  

[FAVO!!!!1]

I wanted to go, but I am currently in Ohio with my girlfriend visiting her family... But I'm glad it was a blast (and had air conditioning!) Hopefully I can make the next event.

Congrats to Barkon for playing something other than Tez and making top 8. And congrats to the Elves player for housing the event. And what is up with the mono black list sitting there? Shades? Really? I'm interested to hear about it from the pilot or any other NYSE member involved with the building of said deck.

[Gekoratel]

I just wanted to thank Nick for running the event it was a really good time and I enjoyed getting to battle against some people I've never played before.  I was happy with my deck choice and had some particularly great games against Raffaele Forino (although going 0-2 in matches doesn't feel great).  If your to hold these on a regular basis I'd say its a safe bet that Steve, AJ, and myself would make the trek.

[Shock Wave]

I would strongly consider coming to one of these events. Please keep everyone informed of upcoming tourneys!

[A.-1.]

I would strongly consider coming to one of these events. Please keep everyone informed of upcoming tourneys!

@Nick If you're still thinking about having another one of these at the end of August, may I suggest Saturday Aug. 29th?

Eric is having a BLotus tourney on the 22th and there's the Blue Bell one the first week of Sept.

[2nd_lawl]

And what is up with the mono black list sitting there? Shades? Really? I'm interested to hear about it from the pilot or any other NYSE member involved with the building of said deck.

The Deck is Built to prey on Tezz(At the last t1 I was at before this, at jim hanleys universe, I went 4-0 on the day against Decks with 4x mana drain, and split in the finals with Nick with a nearly identical list).  R1, I played 5cstax and won, round 2 i played Tezz w/ Nights whisper and won, Round 3 I played 5cstax and won.  I drew rounds 4 and 5, and played Oath in the t8, which is a rough match up, especially since I didn't have the 2 possible peices of anti-oath technology that can make the match up significantly better (engineered plague & ensnaring bridge).  It seems like the field was very prepared for Tezz, which is why I feel like it failed to convert.  The all star card on the day was emissary of despair, which was in play for every single game that I won against stax. 

Regarding Nantuko Shade: Its kind of janky, but you need a 2 drop creature so you go Duress+Guy off ritual on turn 1, the only other decent black 2 drop is flesh reaver and he hurts you too much.  Shade gets there enough of the time for me that Im at peace with the role he plays in the deck despite his pure power level not being quite up to par for the format. 

In b4 someone tells me to splash green for tormogoyf, He cant be played off dark ritual, is kind of a nonbo with leyline of the void(which is too good to cut) and opens the deck up to being much much more vulnerable to waste effects them im comfortable with in a deck with only 19 lands and 1 mox.

[forcethewill]

Dear Max Brown,

Splash white for glittering lynx. Also what about entrails feaster?  These bad boys would really spice up ur build. Also with the white splash you can regen a spectral lynx... Its just so there...

[MirariKnight]

Max I actually really like your deck, and I did feel like it had a good match against most of the field. ObeyLine seems pretty good too as an alternate win. It just has a terrible Oath matchup in which case you would want Engineered Plague most likely.

[rpf5029]

Sorry everyone!  

Yes, they were Wirewood Symbiotes... I get confused because the Symbiote is an Insect type creature, so whenever I think about the insect, I say "HIVEmaster".  I do it almost every time I refer to the card--I just can't keep it straight.  Whoopsies!  

Nick, thanks for the wonderful event.  Getting to the venue was quite an adventure, but the rounds went smooth, and the shop was nice and cool all day.  I loved the benches.  They reminded me of my home store.  

Most of my performance at this tournament had to do with luck.  Besides being the biggest moron on the planet and not keeping my stupid creatures straight--the Symbiote isn't actually an Elf, so it doesn't fall under my obsession as closely (and I still need a fourth foil one, if anybody has it ) -- and not getting deck checked, I had some lucksack draws throughout the day, and poor Josh in the semis, having to mull to three game two and four game three.  If it weren't for his deck rolling over and dieing on him, I had a slim chance at making it past the main deck chalices and the boarded Engineered Plagues *shudders*.  That match was absolutely surreal.  

I would like to point out, however, that if we were deck-checked before round 1 of the top 8, it wouldn't have mattered, 'cuz I 2-0ed Beav like a champ anyway :-p  Just kidding--luv ya, Beav!

As for the rest of the tournament, Round 1 I played against the gentleman running Mask-naught.  Game one he uses Trinket [ed.] Mage to tutor for Engineered Explosives, but can't cast it.  I screw up somewhere while trying to combo the next turn, and forgot I had a green mana floating at one point.  He took game 1.  Game 2 I played a bunch of creatures and beat him to death.  Game 3 I managed to combo with Grapeshot, much to his surprise.  He didn't know I was running storm combo, so he didn't board in Arcane Laboatory--lucky me.  

Round 2 I played against Dom, who I drove up with, playing Oath.  I'm pretty sure Game 1 I combo-ed him out.  Game 2 was hilarious, and by far my favorite mach all day.  He goes turn 1 land, mox, lotus, sac lotus to play 3 sphere.  I pllay land, go.  He drops a Orchard and casts Imperial Seal for the oath.  I play a land, hit him for one, and pass.  He plays Oath, giving me another buddy, and passes.  I drop a land, Grip his oath, and start beating him to death with his own tokens, and starting turn four, some elves that I can finally drop.  Nothing beats winning through a T-sphere when all of your stuff costs 1.  

Round 3 I played against a gentleman playing Tezzeret.  I'm not sure what happened game 1, or if he won a game.  I do remember having to drop a turn 1 Nettle Sentinel on the play, and, ironically, he drops Tezz turn 2.  I swing to kill Tezz, but manage to combo off anyway.  

After I-Ding the next to rounds, I played Jeremy Beaver in the quarter finals.  I managed to combo both games, but literally the turn before he would have killed me.  I had some sick rips in these games, and managed to squeeze past him.  They were great games, though, as Jer and I sat there bickering like old men at each other.  It was awesome.  

As I mentioned before, Josh got royally screwed in the semis.  I don't think I've ever seen a deck crap out on anyone like it there.  He played Chalice on 1 very early game one--turn 2 I believe, after I'd played a Fyndhorn elf, and didn't draw business for almost 10 turns.  The little 1/1 took him half way to death before he finally found Oath and I got dragon punched.  Again, games 2 and 3 were just stupid with how much he had to mulligan.  Game three he found the oath eventually, but I had lethal in guys on the board.  This was a match I probably should not have won.

The gentleman I played in the finals was a great guy, as well.  Luck found me again as he didn't really know how to interact with my deck, although game 1 he--on the play--played a turn one Pithing Needle on Skullclamp, which was a fantastic move.  Both games 1 and 2 I managed to find my answers for Oath, which helped tremendously.  Game 2 he countered a turn 2 Heritage Druid, which was a great move, but my hand was stacked and I had a back-up.  

All the people I played against on Saturday were great players who were gracious and fun to play against.  I would definitely return to STAX country for another tournament.  (Oh, yeah, and lucky circumstance # 54534343 -- I managed to not run into STAX all day.  That archetype is not a fun time for me. )

[MirariKnight]

I think you won game 2 of the finals more because of triple Glimspe than having an answer for Oath haha.
And game 1 Pithing Needle on the play is my signature move.

Btw how did the MaskNought player (that's my friend Sean) tutor for Explosives with Meddling Mage? I'm guessing Trinket Mage? I'm just asking because he was trying to describe the game to me the other day and he was kicking himself for not boarding in Arcane Labs.

[rpf5029]

I think you won game 2 of the finals more because of triple Glimspe than having an answer for Oath haha.
And game 1 Pithing Needle on the play is my signature move.

Btw how did the MaskNought player (that's my friend Sean) tutor for Explosives with Meddling Mage? I'm guessing Trinket Mage? I'm just asking because he was trying to describe the game to me the other day and he was kicking himself for not boarding in Arcane Labs.

Because I'm a bad Magic Player who can't get his card names straight!    Yes, it was Trinket Mage, and yes, I'm semi-retarded.  I forgot about the triple glimpse... didn't you duress one of 'em, too?

[FAVO!!!!1]

And what is up with the mono black list sitting there? Shades? Really? I'm interested to hear about it from the pilot or any other NYSE member involved with the building of said deck.

The Deck is Built to prey on Tezz(At the last t1 I was at before this, at jim hanleys universe, I went 4-0 on the day against Decks with 4x mana drain, and split in the finals with Nick with a nearly identical list).  R1, I played 5cstax and won, round 2 i played Tezz w/ Nights whisper and won, Round 3 I played 5cstax and won.  I drew rounds 4 and 5, and played Oath in the t8, which is a rough match up, especially since I didn't have the 2 possible peices of anti-oath technology that can make the match up significantly better (engineered plague & ensnaring bridge).  It seems like the field was very prepared for Tezz, which is why I feel like it failed to convert.  The all star card on the day was emissary of despair, which was in play for every single game that I won against stax. 

Regarding Nantuko Shade: Its kind of janky, but you need a 2 drop creature so you go Duress+Guy off ritual on turn 1, the only other decent black 2 drop is flesh reaver and he hurts you too much.  Shade gets there enough of the time for me that Im at peace with the role he plays in the deck despite his pure power level not being quite up to par for the format. 

In b4 someone tells me to splash green for tormogoyf, He cant be played off dark ritual, is kind of a nonbo with leyline of the void(which is too good to cut) and opens the deck up to being much much more vulnerable to waste effects them im comfortable with in a deck with only 19 lands and 1 mox.

So would you say that your primary goal is to race your opponent before he/she can recoup all of his/her card lose from your duress and hymns? If not, would you consider Black Knight in the future? Sure, Shade uses your extra Rituals, but Black Knight can block all those fish dudes (minus Tarmogofy) that are still prevalent in the format and attack through a Sphinx (which doesn't seem relevant when your racing against Sphinx anyway, but still something to look over.) Wouldn't the extra 3 main deck Null Rods help break the tempo your opponent retains from going first?

[MirariKnight]

Because I'm a bad Magic Player who can't get his card names straight!    Yes, it was Trinket Mage, and yes, I'm semi-retarded.  I forgot about the triple glimpse... didn't you duress one of 'em, too?

I know I Forced one of them but I might have Duressed one too. But I know you still resolved 2 somehow which btw is pretty insane. That deck is a lot more resilient than I imagined.

[2nd_lawl]

So would you say that your primary goal is to race your opponent before he/she can recoup all of his/her card lose from your duress and hymns? If not, would you consider Black Knight in the future? Sure, Shade uses your extra Rituals, but Black Knight can block all those fish dudes (minus Tarmogofy) that are still prevalent in the format and attack through a Sphinx (which doesn't seem relevant when your racing against Sphinx anyway, but still something to look over.) Wouldn't the extra 3 main deck Null Rods help break the tempo your opponent retains from going first?

black knight is terrible, and the deck isn't really trying to race, so much as it is trying to Dead cards.  As bad as Nantuko shade is he is many many times better than Black knight.  more null rods are unnecessary, as the deck already has an excellent match up against Tezz and tps. Also Hymn isn't a primary part of the game plan (although its good in certain match ups) I just went down to 2 in the main.

[Tobi]

Nice! Congratulations for Elves making it.

There is one problem with those Oath lists.
Lalo's maindeck is 62 cards, while Barkon's is 58. So probably, 2 cards got moved.