[TO Report] 41 Players for the April NEV Series @ TDG! Decklists, Metagame, etc!

[Iron_Chef]

Saturday saw 41 players battling it out for $1,000 in prizes and 79 NEV points!  Thanks to everyone who made the trip down to the store for the first time; it was great to see everyone.  As usual, there was an incredibly diverse metagame.  Oddly, not one player sleeved up Dredge for this tournament.  Onto the metagame breakdown, how the Top 8 played out, and the Top 8 decklists.



Top 8
Sean Robbins (Show and Oath) defeated Jeff Anand (Slaverless Slaver) 2-0
Ryan Glackin (JUND) defeated Ashok Chitturi (UW Stoneforge Delver) 2-1
John Jones (Turbo Tez) defeated Joel Lim (Black Magic) 2-1
Tom Dixon (Remora Gush) defeated Keith Seals (Snapcaster Jace Control) 2-0

Top 4
Sean Robbins defeated Tom Dixon 2-0
Ryan Glackin defeated John Jones 2-1

Finals
Sean Robbins defeated Ryan Glackin 2-1

Congratulations to Sean Robbins for winning the April NEV Series event at Top Deck Games!

Top 8 Decklists:

1st – Sean Robbins
Green Bean

4 Oath of Druids
2 Show and Tell
1 Channel
3 Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
1 Blightsteeel Colossus
4 Impulse
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Time Walk
1 Brainstorm
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Mystical Tutor
4 Force of Will
3 Mental Misstep
2 Mana Drain
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Beast Within
1 Tinker
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Crypt
4 Forbidden Orchard
3 Tropical Island
2 Underground Sea
2 Island
1 Forest
4 Misty Rainforest
1 Polluted Delta

SB:

2 Flusterstorm
2 Hurkyl’s Recall
2 Yixlid Jailer
2 Perish
4 Leyline of the Void
3 Nature’s Claim


2nd – Ryan Glackin
Jund!

4 Dark Confidant
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Diabolic Edict
4 Hymn to Tourach
4 Liliana of the Veil
2 Thoughtseize
1 Vampiric Tutor
3 Ancient Grudge
3 Lightning Bolt
2 Scavenging Ooze
2 Sylvan Library
2 Tarmogoyf
4 Bloodbraid Elf
1 Jund Charm
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Jet
2 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Sol Ring
2 Badlands
3 Bayou
3 Bloodstained Mire
1 Forest
1 Mountain
1 Swamp
1 Taiga
1 Treetop Village
3 Verdant Catacombs
3 Wooded Foothills

SB:

2 Diabolic Edict
4 Leyline of the Void
1 Thoughtseize
1 Ancient Grudge
4 Red Elemental Blast
2 Nature’s Claim
1 Nihil Spellbomb


3rd – John Jones
Turbo Tezz

1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Tinker
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
4 Force of Will
4 Gush
3 Mana Drain
3 Mental Misstep
2 Flusterstorm
1 Ponder
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
2 Tezzeret, the Seeker
2 Transmute Artifact
1 Time Walk
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
1 Echoing Truth
1 Brainstorm
1 Fastbond
1 Mox Jet
1 Lotus Petal
1 Black Lotus
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Sol Ring
1 Time Vault
1 Sensei’s Divining Top
3 Grim Monolith
2 Voltaic Key
1 Blightsteel Colossus
3 Underground Sea
1 Tropical Island
1 Island
2 Snow-Covered Island
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Flooded Strand
1 Polluted Delta
1 Misty Rainforest
2 Scalding Tarn

SB:

1 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Island
4 Leyline of the Void
2 Yixlid Jailer
1 Echoing Truth
1 Perish
3 Dismember
1 Flusterstorm
1 Misdirection


4th – Tom Dixon
Remora Gush + R

4 Force of Will
4 Gush
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Ancient Grudge
3 Mystic Remora
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Flusterstorm
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Brainstorm
1 Tarmogoyf
1 Mana Drain
1 Fastbond
1 Fire/Ice
1 Trygon Predator
1 Mindbreak Trap
1 Time Vault
1 Voltaic Key
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Green Sun’s Zenith
1 Preordain
2 Mental Misstep
1 Tinker
1 Blightsteel Colossus
1 Time Walk
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
2 Island
2 Polluted Delta
2 Flooded Strand
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Misty Rainforest
3 Tropical Island
2 Underground Sea
1 Volcanic Island
1 Library of Alexandria
1 Black Lotus
1 Sol Ring
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby

SB:

4 Leyline of the Void
2 Ravenous Trap
3 Ingot Chewer
1 Volcanic Island
1 Ancient Grudge
1 Flusterstorm
2 Sower of Temptation
1 Trygon Predator

5th – Keith Seals
J3

2 Misty Rainforest
3 Polluted Delta
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Library of Alexandria
2 Island
2 Tropical Island
2 Underground Sea
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Emerald
1 Lotus Petal
1 Black Lotus
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
1 Gifts Ungiven
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Flusterstorm
1 Flash of Insight
1 Nature’s Claim
1 Echoing Truth
1 Misdirection
1 Lim Dul’s Vault
4 Force of Will
3 Mental Misstep
3 Mana Drain
1 Ponder
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
2 Preordain
1 Time Walk
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Tinker
1 Time Vault
1 Voltaic Key
3 Snapcaster Mage
3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1 Blightsteel Colossus

SB:

2 Nature’s Claim
3 Extirpate
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Forest
1 Pithing Needle
2 Thoughtseize
2 Yixlid Jailer
2 Trygon Predator
1 Mindbreak Trap

6th – Jeff Anand
Cherry Parfait

1 Nature’s Claim
1 Ancient Grudge
2 Lightning Bolt
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
2 Snapcaster Mage
1 Black Lotus
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
1 Thirst for Knowledge
2 Forbidden Alchemy
2 Mental Misstep
3 Mana Drain
1 Time Vault
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Myr Battlesphere
1 Wurmcoil Engine
2 City of Brass
2 Island
4 Force of Will
2 Goblin Welder
1 Time Walk
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Voltaic Key
1 Sensei’s Divining Top
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Gifts Ungiven
1 Tinker
4 Flooded Strand
1 Tropical Island
3 Scalding Tarn
1 Tolarian Academy
2 Volcanic Island
2 Underground Sea

SB:

1 Ancient Grudge
1 Nature’s Claim
2 Ingot Chewer
1 Doom Blade
2 Flusterstorm
1 Red Elemental Blast
2 Grafdigger’s Cage
1 Surgical Extraction
4 Leyline of the Void

7th – Ashok Chitturi
U/W Stoneforge Delver

4 Delver of Secrets
4 Stoneforge Mystic
3 Snapcaster Mage
4 Force of Will
3 Mental Misstep
2 Mana Drain
2 Flusterstorm
1 Spell Snare
1 Spell Pierce
3 Preordain
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Time Walk
1 Brainstorm
1 Merchant Scroll
3 Swords to Plowshares
4 Island
4 Flooded Strand
3 Tundra
3 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine
1 Plains
2 Scalding Tarn
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
1 Black Lotus
2 Disenchant
1 Batterskull

SB:

4 Ravenous Trap
4 Morningtide
2 Serenity
2 Disenchant
1 Flusterstorm
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Sword of Fire and Ice

8th – Joel Lim
Black Magic

1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
1 Black Lotus
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Time Walk
1 Time Vault
1 Voltaic Key
1 Tinker
1 Blightsteel Colossus
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Crypt
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
2 Empty the Warrens
3 Night Whispers
1 Ancient Grudge
1 Brainstorm
1 Viashino Heretic
4 Force of Will
3 Mental Misstep
1 Flusterstorm
2 Mana Drain
4 Gush
1 Fastbond
3 Underground Sea
2 Tropical Island
1 Volcanic Island
2 Island
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Misty Rainforest
1 Mountain
1 Polluted Delta

SB:

4 Leyline of the Void
2 Yixlid Jailer
3 Ingot Chewer
1 Volcanic Island
2 Nature’s Claim
1 Pernicious Deed
1 Tormod’s Crypt
1 Flusterstorm

[Teps]

What format are we playing? Stoneforges, BBE, and Delvers? Still, awesome vintage top 8 with a big variety of decks. Not as much shops as I was expecting in top 8 though. I can't believe their was 0 dredge players. Too bad I couldn't go to this one I would have loved to play with the zombies.

[The M.E.T.H.O.D]

We did it! We have successfully copied and updated the European metagame from seven years ago.

[John Jones]

Yeah I'm trying to get the format in a state where Lich's Mirror or Battle of Wits becomes a solid choice. 

[Cruel Ultimatum]

We just need lingering souls to make a t8 appearance to tie it all together.

[brokenbacon]

This is definitely one of the craziest Top 8's I've seen in a loooong time. 4 Impulse w/ 4 Oath Targets? 4 Bloodbraid Elf?? 4 Hymn to Tourach????? AWESOME!!!!

[voltron00x]

Yeah I feel like this top 8 is actually pretty awesome.  While some of those top 8 decks may look strange, if you understand the metagame, you get why they're able to win.  It's like the wild wild west right now, which is awesome.

[chrispikula]

If you ask me why I think weird decks like this were able to make the top 8, I think my answer would be "somebody had to".  You would be hard pressed to convince me that a number of these decks are not just straight up terrible. 

[Samoht]

Was glad to crack top 8 again. Sean did win against me in top 4, but it was 2-1 not 2-0. I took game 1, then lost the next two. I'll elaborate more in my report.

[Commandant]

If you ask me why I think weird decks like this were able to make the top 8, I think my answer would be "somebody had to".  You would be hard pressed to convince me that a number of these decks are not just straight up terrible. 

+1

Props to an interesting meta nonetheless.

[Onslaught]

First the metagame allowed for Stoneforge Mystics,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't an aggro player.

Then it came for the other random aggro decks,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Fish player.

Then it came for Jund Charm,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a bad player.

Then it came for me,
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

[Bill Copes]

First the metagame allowed for Stoneforge Mystics,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't an aggro player.

Then it came for the other random aggro decks,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Fish player.

Then it came for Jund Charm,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a bad player.

Then it came for me,
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

You made my day.

Also, I've never had to look up so many cards for a top 8 in my entire life.  Kudos.

[thebliff]

All these "terrible" decks made for a very fun tournament and a great top 8 to watch.  I can't be the only one that is sick of watching Shops mirrors.

[mr.grim]

The only terrible thing about this event would be missing it. This was a fantastic day of card flopping from start to end. I feel terrible for the peeps who missed out!

@ Nick Coss . As always thanks for what you do and being a GOD KING!. lol

@ Sean R. .. Way to be a G.D CHAMPION!

@ The rest of the T8 props to you and your fantastic decks!

[Prospero]

All these "terrible" decks made for a very fun tournament and a great top 8 to watch.  I can't be the only one that is sick of watching Shops mirrors.

Hey, hey.  Hey!  Calm down.  And let's leave that talk outside...

(I actually agree with you.)

[Mr. Type 4]

Of course Sean Robbins won - he eliminated me from the tournament (the pattern emerges yet again) after my insane god hand fizzled.  I cant complain, tho, it was only fair for him to turn 1 Emrakrul me after I played Lotus, Ancestral, 2 preordains and Brainstorm on turn 1. Congratulations, Sean.

I had a pretty good day (4-2, 10th) despite losing round 1 to not showing up on time.  It was nice for no one to play Dredge.  All the maindeck Cages in that big slice of the meta-pie that is Noble Fish must have scared the Dredge monster away.  Dont get comfortable, though, Dredge is the best when people think its bad.

[voltron00x]

Of course Sean Robbins won - he eliminated me from the tournament (the pattern emerges yet again) after my insane god hand fizzled.  I cant complain, tho, it was only fair for him to turn 1 Emrakrul me after I played Lotus, Ancestral, 2 preordains and Brainstorm on turn 1. Congratulations, Sean.

I had a pretty good day (4-2, 10th) despite losing round 1 to not showing up on time.  It was nice for no one to play Dredge.  All the maindeck Cages in that big slice of the meta-pie that is Noble Fish must have scared the Dredge monster away.  Dont get comfortable, though, Dredge is the best when people think its bad.

Dredge is never actually bad, people only think it is. 

Sorry that I missed this one, but hopefully will be back with some new brew next time!

[chrispikula]

All these "terrible" decks made for a very fun tournament and a great top 8 to watch.  I can't be the only one that is sick of watching Shops mirrors.

There is no question that terrible decks are more fun to play and watch than good ones. This has been true since the beginning of time. 

[oshkoshhaitsyosh]

These "terrible" decks took down tier 1 decks along the way. So I would disagree with you calling these decks terrible. People told me landstill was terrible and I didn't care. Just because the lists aren't the norm does not make them terrible. Just some of my two cents bc looking at ppl post negatively about this top 8 is annoying frankly.

Congrats to all of the top 8!!! Change is good, makes for a fun and exciting format. I deff have to make the next one!

[The Atog Lord]

I am fairly convinced that Vintage Jund is not terrible at all.

[Commandant]

I am fairly convinced that Vintage Jund is not terrible at all.

Yeah Bloodbraid Elf looks sweet with Mox. 

[voltron00x]

I am fairly convinced that Vintage Jund is not terrible at all.

Yeah Bloodbraid Elf looks sweet with Mox. 

And Blightsteel Colossus looks sweet with Bob?

[Commandant]

I am fairly convinced that Vintage Jund is not terrible at all.

Yeah Bloodbraid Elf looks sweet with Mox. 

And Blightsteel Colossus looks sweet with Bob?

I wouldn't know. I've spent the last 8 months doing one of two things; blowing Bob up or drawing it under the table.

[chrispikula]

These "terrible" decks took down tier 1 decks along the way. So I would disagree with you calling these decks terrible. People told me landstill was terrible and I didn't care. Just because the lists aren't the norm does not make them terrible. Just some of my two cents bc looking at ppl post negatively about this top 8 is annoying frankly.

Congrats to all of the top 8!!! Change is good, makes for a fun and exciting format. I deff have to make the next one!

Yeah man you know me, just saying stupid shit all the time because decks don't look like "the norm". 

[KingSquee]

Yeah Bloodbraid Elf looks sweet with Mox. 

It sure does! It's still card advantage whether Bloodbraid Elf flips into Mox Emerald or Hymn to Tourach. The deck can set up Bloodbraid Elf shenanigans with Sylvan Library and/or Vamp Tutor quite nicely.

Keep in mind it is optional to cast the spell you cascade into. So if you reveal a Lilly when you already have one in play or a Grudge when only you control artifacts, just send it to the bottom.

(Funny aside: I missed the optional part of cascade in a recent Modern PTQ I played Jund in. I had Lilly in play, cast a Bloodbraid, and revealed and cast another Lilly, binning both of them. Funny thing is my two Tarmogoyfs grew by just enough as a result to kill my opponent. I swear this was not intentional!)

[Worldslayer]

I leave you guys alone for one damn vintage tournament and come back to find this. A faeries deck made t8 last time, this time we have u/w delver and jund. Are we just playing standard, now? Should I bring RDW next month?

Im kidding. I'm sort of between chris and matt here, in that it's good the top 8 wasn't 4x blue deck, 4x workshop deck, but.....really? I always knew I was lost at the whole metagaming thing, but if this is the top 8 im so lost I can't even find my way to my map, anymore. If anyone wants draw me a new one that'd be awesome. Kudos, though! The top 8 lists were getting kind of stale (which is probably half the reason this t8 happened).

So...what's left from standard tier 1s that we can break open? Valakut? Ravager affinity? B/W tokens?

(This is actually a really exciting time in vintage, even if I have NO idea what the hell is going on).

[brokenbacon]

(This is actually a really exciting time in vintage, even if I have NO idea what the hell is going on).

I completely agree with this statement.

[mikekilljoy]

ISo...what's left from standard tier 1s that we can break open? Valakut? Ravager affinity? B/W tokens?

(This is actually a really exciting time in vintage, even if I have NO idea what the hell is going on).

Totally agree.... that said, just wait for me to break the format again on May 5. Or just break a bunch of brain cells, not sure which yet.

[Cruel Ultimatum]

In standard, spreading seas beat the jund decks, will people start playing that? It doubles as removal for bazaar and turns on your seasingers...you know, for value.

[brokenbacon]

In standard, spreading seas beat the jund decks, will people start playing that? It doubles as removal for bazaar and turns on your seasingers...you know, for value.

Well-placed sarcasm is well-placed.