Top Deck Games June NEV Series TO Report

[Iron_Chef]

Thank you to everyone who showed up to the June Topdeck Games NEV event yesterday!  We had 32 players and at the end of the event Justin Kohler’s Bomberman stood atop the field!


Full Metagame Breakdown:

(check back later today for the chart!!)

Drains:


Meandeck Strix Control: 3
Drain Tendrils: 1
URG Landstill: 3
Emrakul Show and Oath: 1
Turbo Tezz: 1
U/W Bomberman: 2
Jace Gush: 1


Workshops:


Espresso Stax: 3
Martello Shops: 2
Blue Shop Show & Tell: 1
Magus Shops: 1


Null Rods:


RUG Delver: 2
Noble Fish: 1
Remora RUG: 1
Shardless Noble Fish: 3


Bazaars:

BoM Dredge: 2
3 Decks, 1 Box: 1

 
Rituals: 


Ritual Oath: 3


Top Eight Pairings and Results:


Brad Jarman vs. Tom Dixon – Jarman wins
Tom Evaristo vs. Matt Bliffert – Evaristo wins
Justin Kohler vs. Samantha Reichert – Kohler wins
Rob Edwards vs. James Hangley – Edwards wins


Top Four Pairings and Results:


Brad Jarman vs. Tom Evaristo – Jarmn wins
Justin Kohler vs. Rob Edwards – Kohler wins


Finals:


Justin Kohler vs. Brad Jarman – Kohler wins

Congratulations to Justin Kohler, Brad Jarman and all of my top eight competitors!


Top Eight Decklists:


1st – Justin Kohler
“Red Deck Wins” (U/W Bomberman)

2 Auriok Salvagers
3 Aven Mindcensor
4 Trinket Mage
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Thirst for Knowledge
3 Spell Snare
4 Force of Will
4 Mana Drain
3 Mental Misstep
1 Flusterstorm
1 Time Walk
4 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1 Aether Spellbomb
1 Black Lotus
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Grafdigger’s Cage
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Sol Ring
2 Sensei’s Divining Top
1 Library of Alexandria
1 Plains
1 Tolarian Academy
2 Polluted Delta
3 Tundra
4 Flooded Strand
4 Island

SB:

1 Flusterstorm
2 Grafdigger’s Cage
1 Tormod’s Crypt
4 Swords to Plowshares
3 Kataki, War’s Wage
3 Energy Flux
1 Pithing Needle

2nd – Brad Jarman
“Potucek Landstill” (URG Landstill)

4 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
4 Standstill
4 Force of Will
4 Mana Drain
2 Misdirection
2 Mindbreak Trap
2 Mental Misstep
2 Red Elemental Blast
4 Engineered Explosives
2 Crucible of Worlds
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Chain of Vapor
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
2 Fire/Ice
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Black Lotus
1 Library of Alexandria
1 Mountain
2 Island
1 Tropical Island
3 Volcanic Island
4 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine
4 Mishra’s Factory
4 Scalding Tarn
1 Misty Rainforest

SB:

4 Leyline of the Void
2 Grafdigger’s Cage
2 Ancient Grudge
1 Artifact Mutation
3 Ingot Chewer
2 Lightning Bolt
1 Tropical Island

3rd - Rob Edwards
Martello Shops

4 Mishra’s Workshop
4 Ancient Tomb
4 Wasteland
4 Mishra’s Factory
1 Strip Mine
1 Tolarian Academy
1 City of Traitors
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Sapphire
4 Kuldotha Forgemaster
4 Lodestone Golem
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Tangle Wire
4 Thorn of Amethyst
3 Sphere of Resistance
3 Phyrexian Revoker
3 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Trinisphere
1 Duplicant
1 Sundering Titan
1 Steel Hellkite

SB:

4 Tormod’s Crypt
2 Duplicant
2 Crucible of Worlds
2 The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale
2 Ensnaring Bridge
2 Ratchet Bomb
1 Wurmcoil Engine

4th - Tom Evaristo
Meandeck Strix Control

2 Mana Drain
4 Force of Will
1 Black Lotus
1 Time Vault
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
3 Mental Misstep
2 Flusterstorm
1 Nihil Spellbomb
2 Goblin Welder
3 Baleful Strix
4 Dark Confidant
1 Sensei’s Divining Top
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
1 Ponder
1 Time Walk
1 Thirst for Knowledge
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Tinker
1 Blightsteel Colossus
1 Voltaic Key
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
1 Tolarian Academy
2 Underground Sea
2 Volcanic Island
1 Swamp
1 Island
1 Mountain
2 Misty Rainforest
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Polluted Delta

SB:

2 Lightning Bolt
3 Nihil Spellbomb
3 Grafdigger’s Cage
3 Ingot Chewer
2 Flusterstorm
1 Sower of Temptation
1 Trinisphere

5th – James Hangley
“The Password is Taco” (Ritual Oath)

4 Oath of Druids
4 Forbidden Orchard
1 Mind’s Desire
1 Nature’s Claim
2 Griselbrand
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Pearl
1 Black Lotus
1 Sol Ring
1 Time Walk
4 Dark Ritual
2 Thoughtseize
1 Memory’s Journey
2 Tendrils of Agony
4 Force of Will
1 Mental Misstep
1 Polluted Delta
4 Misty Rainforest
2 Tropical Island
2 Underground Sea
1 Volcanic Island
1 Island
3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Necropotence
1 Yawgmoth’s Bargain
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
1 Ponder
1 Mana Crypt
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Show and Tell
1 Brainstorm
1 Lotus Petal

SB:

1 Dismember
2 Pyroclasm
1 Forest
1 Duress
4 Leyline of the Void
2 Nature’s Claim
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
2 Flusterstorm
1 Surgical Extraction

6th – Tom Dixon
Ritual Oath

4 Force of Will
4 Oath of Druids
4 Dark Ritual
1 Brainstorm
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Show and Tell
1 Ponder
1 Nature’s Claim
1 Memory’s Journey
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Time Walk
1 Lotus Petal
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Crypt
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
2 Thoughtseize
1 Mana Drain
2 Griselbrand
2 Tendrils of Agony
1 Mind’s Desire
1 Yawgmoth’s Bargain
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Necropotence
4 Forbidden Orchard
1 Polluted Delta
4 Misty Rainforest
1 Island
2 Underground Sea
3 Tropical Island

SB:

2 Ravenous Trap
1 Duress
1 Forest
2 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Dismember
2 Nature’s Claim
4 Leyline of the Void
2 Flusterstorm

7th – Matt Bliffert
RUG Remora

1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
1 Sol Ring
3 Snapcaster Mage
3 Tarmogoyf
1 Fastbond
4 Mystic Remora
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Ancient Grudge
1 Brainstorm
1 Fire/Ice
3 Flusterstorm
4 Force of Will
4 Gush
3 Mana Drain
3 Mental Misstep
1 Steel Sabotage
2 Island
3 Misty Rainforest
4 Scalding Tarn
3 Tropical Island
3 Volcanic Island
3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1 Ponder
1 Time Walk

SB:

3 Grafdigger’s Cage
3 Ingot Chewer
1 Thrun, the Last Troll
1 Ancient Grudge
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
2 Ravenous Trap
2 Red Elemental Blast
1 Steel Sabotage
1 Mountain

8th – Samantha Reichert
Noble Fish

4 Noble Hierarch
4 Qasali Pridemage
4 Meddling Mage
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Shardless Agent
3 Ethersworn Canonist
3 Kataki, War’s Wage
3 Stony Silence
1 Trygon Predator
4 Force of Will
3 Path to Exile
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Time Walk
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Emerald
1 Black Lotus
4 Misty Rainforest
4 Wasteland
3 Tundra
3 Tropical Island
1 Strip Mine
1 Forest
1 Plains

SB:

3 Dismember
3 Grafdigger’s Cage
3 Ravenous Trap
3 Trygon Predator
3 Serenity


Conclusion:


Thank you to everyone who made the trip to Topdeck Games for some Vintage!  The next NEV event is in New York, next weekend.  I hope to see you all there!

[voltron00x]

Great tournament, thanks again for supporting Vintage Nick.  Also I noticed there was no chart, might I suggesting using "Excel" to make it?   

[oshkoshhaitsyosh]

Thanks for another awesome event Nick, and congrats to the top 8 and Kholer for winning!

Jarman, love the deck name! Hahahaha

[mr.grim]

PROPS to MR. Hangley, Dixon ,and Justin along with the rest of the top8!

[Pokey]

Thanks guys.  I'm happy I finally took one down with this deck after coming close with a second place finish the weekend prior.  For those that have never played with/against it, the deck is very good.  It's like control, aggro, and combo in the same deck.  Mostly control, but you have the tools to handle any situation.

[Samoht]

Thanks guys.  I'm happy I finally took one down with this deck after coming close with a second place finish the weekend prior.  For those that have never played with/against it, the deck is very good.  It's like control, aggro, and combo in the same deck.  Mostly control, but you have the tools to handle any situation.

I'll give you control and combo, but not sure I'm buying the Aggro part of Bomberman.

Congratulaitions to you, and thanks to all that have sent them my way.

[Pokey]

Thanks guys.  I'm happy I finally took one down with this deck after coming close with a second place finish the weekend prior.  For those that have never played with/against it, the deck is very good.  It's like control, aggro, and combo in the same deck.  Mostly control, but you have the tools to handle any situation.

I'll give you control and combo, but not sure I'm buying the Aggro part of Bomberman.

Congratulaitions to you, and thanks to all that have sent them my way.

It's certainly not an "aggro" deck by any means, but it has elements of one.  I mean, the only win con in the whole deck other than Jace ultimate, which I rarely ever use, is attacking with 2 power guys.

[thebliff]

Going "aggro" doesn't count when you take all the turns to play out your entire deck AND then Time Walk to attack with all your 2 power guys.

Grats on the win Justin and to the rest of the top 8!  See everyone in NY!

[Samoht]

Thanks guys.  I'm happy I finally took one down with this deck after coming close with a second place finish the weekend prior.  For those that have never played with/against it, the deck is very good.  It's like control, aggro, and combo in the same deck.  Mostly control, but you have the tools to handle any situation.

I'll give you control and combo, but not sure I'm buying the Aggro part of Bomberman.

Congratulaitions to you, and thanks to all that have sent them my way.

It's certainly not an "aggro" deck by any means, but it has elements of one.  I mean, the only win con in the whole deck other than Jace ultimate, which I rarely ever use, is attacking with 2 power guys.

Right, but you don't really swarm anyone or overpower anything. It's like calling Gorilla Shaman from Keeper an aggro card. Sure, it attacks people and often kills them, but it's not really "aggro" in the sense of the word. Now, if your list ran Meddling Mage, Spellstutter Sprite, and Vendilion Clique I'd back your aggro moniker all day.

Also, Bliff, congrats to you. Meant to do it in the earlier post but forgot to.

[Pokey]

@ Matt:  I actually only win by combo-ing out about 1/3 of the time, I'd say.

@ Tom:  Haha, ok.  You win this one.

[oshkoshhaitsyosh]

Thanks guys.  I'm happy I finally took one down with this deck after coming close with a second place finish the weekend prior.  For those that have never played with/against it, the deck is very good.  It's like control, aggro, and combo in the same deck.  Mostly control, but you have the tools to handle any situation.

I agree with the aggro statement here. In some cases this deck can look like fish with a bunch of dudes on the field turning sideways. I know what you mean by this Justin, as I have played a very similar list haha. Congrats anywho.

[Pokey]

I suppose it depends on your definition of aggro.  I won a game once where I just played a trinket mage and attacked for 20 whilst countering everything.  Does that count?   

[Samoht]

I suppose it depends on your definition of aggro.  I won a game once where I just played a trinket mage and attacked for 20 whilst countering everything.  Does that count?   

I would say no, but that's me.

[bluemage55]

@Pokey:

1. Did you ever wish the second SDT was something else, especially since you already have 4 Trinket Mages to tutor it when needed?  Or does the ability to put it on top and shuffle it away make up for the redundancy?

2. Is mana screw or being forced to mulligan unplayable hands too often ever an issue?  I ask because you have 8 cards at 3cc and 6 cards at 4cc, which seems like a lot for a Vintage deck, even one with Drains and Trinket Mages.

[Pokey]

@Pokey:

1. Did you ever wish the second SDT was something else, especially since you already have 4 Trinket Mages to tutor it when needed?  Or does the ability to put it on top and shuffle it away make up for the redundancy?

2. Is mana screw or being forced to mulligan unplayable hands too often ever an issue?  I ask because you have 8 cards at 3cc and 6 cards at 4cc, which seems like a lot for a Vintage deck, even one with Drains and Trinket Mages.

1.  Top is really good in this deck.  It's a huge advantage to have one.  Sometimes it gets countered, so it's nice to have a spare that you can tutor for.  Plus, if you have a top in play, you'll never draw the second one.

2.  I actually don't mulligan any more or less than I do with any other deck.  The only time the high curve matters is in the shop matchup, which is bad.  I lean heavily on the sideboard to win that mathcup, although I actually don't board out any of the 4 cc cards, because they are the ones that win the game for you.

[HelloSamwise]

I suppose it depends on your definition of aggro.  I won a game once where I just played a trinket mage and attacked for 20 whilst countering everything.  Does that count?   

Pretty sure I died Game 2 to two Trinket Mages.

Seemed pretty aggro at the time.   

Grats on your win, Justin!!

[thebliff]

Anyone who defines "Red Deck Wins" as anything but an aggro deck is clearly wrong...   

[chrispikula]

I don't really get the Aven Mindcensors in Bomberman. 

Very cool top 8.

[TheProfessor]

I think the Aven Mindcensor's would be better as Snapcaster Mage's, but I could be missing something.

[A.-1.]

Snapcaster and Cage play really well together.

[Pokey]

I play Mindcensor in that slot because it's what most of the European players were doing.  Never changed it because I liked it and the card is really good at hosing blue decks, and a few random other things.  Tried switching them to Snapcasters for one tournament and didn't like it at all.  So many times, there are either no relevant cards in your graveyard, or just all the wrong conditional counterspells.  Sure, flashing back ancestral is awesome, but that rarely happens when you aren't playing any tutors.  Also, I had issues with Snapcaster being a huge non-bo with maindeck Cage.

[Worldslayer]

Congratulations to all of the top 8, especially the Delawarians for continuing to hold down 25% of the top eight despite being a far smaller % of the turnout. I was thinking our state motto could be "Delaware: We Penetrate". Thoughts?


Bomberman totally counts as an aggro/tempo deck if it wants to. The aggro plan is to play dudes, draw cards, and counter/bounce everything the bad guy tries until they're dead. That sounds like a delver deck to me, and the internets tell me those count. All of the internets.

Only seeing one shop deck in the top 8 makes me so warm and fuzzy inside I can't accurately describe it clothed. Somewhere, somehow, a Dark Ritual just got its wings. Or something.

I'm sad I didn't make this one, but the way Vintage is happening anymore I can't wait for the next one.

Congratulations again to everyone!

[Samoht]

Bomberman totally counts as an aggro/tempo deck if it wants to. The aggro plan is to play dudes, draw cards, and counter/bounce everything the bad guy tries until they're dead. That sounds like a delver deck to me, and the internets tell me those count. All of the internets.

The internet has been wrong before. If you've ever seen a Keeper deck play Gorilla Shaman and Goblin Welder and then counter/bounce everything, you have to concede that's not a fair assessment. Now, what pushed Delver over is the cards in supplement the deck plays, namely the other creatures. Even Delver itself is purely an aggressive card. Trinket Mage is not aggressive, it is a tutor. That doesn't mean it can't apply pressure or attack for wins, but to call it aggressive is a bit stretched. Salvagers is an enabler for card advantage and combo's. It's also a 2/4, we can not call that an aggressive card. Possibly we can call a 3 mana 2/1 flash flyer aggressive, but that is not it's purpose. It's a restrictor, and thus again, I still come to the conclusion that despite playing 8 creatures Bomberman can not accurately be described as aggro. Also, it's complete lack of a 1 drop creature adds to its lack of aggressive nature.

[Mr. Type 4]

Congratulations to Justin for finally getting 1st with that Bomberman deck - he's been on a bit of a roll with it but until now hadn't gotten that first.  The Bomberman deck looks bad on paper with all those marginal 3-4 mana creatures in it, but it plays a solid mana base and has tools for forcing the late game where it really shines.  I'm going to agree with Tom Dixon here and say the deck is far from aggro -  if you're playing an aggro role as Bomberman it's probably because your opponent is mana screwed.

[oshkoshhaitsyosh]

The aggro route actually happens much more then all of you think, not just when your opponent is mana screwed. This deck inherently shuts off so many ways an opponent can win a game. Let's look at a few of them. Trinket into cage, this stops yawgs will, tinker, oath, snapcaster, and cards of that nature which a lot of blue decks win with. Next the density in creatures in this deck make it hard for an opposing Jace to win the game, which again many blue decks crutch on Jace. Then there was mindcensor, this guy also stops tinker in most cases, hoses every tutor (which are cards that may have your opponent win), can slow down fetch land production, and many more applications that I don't care to discuss. And finally if this deck runs upon a true aggro deck it has access to ee, assuming you can stop stony silence from resolving.

Conclusion: this deck stops an opponent from furthering there game plan quite well, and consequently if this deck doesn't have the combo assembles it is turning a bunch of dudes sideways! This doesn't happen only because an opponent is mana screw it happens because this deck is designed to stop other decks from winning, while having access to a combo itself!

And finally in my opinion there is a clear difference between a deck having a possible aggro game plan as a route to victory, and a deck being a "aggro deck". So let's put this one to rest lol, I'm outies!

[Samoht]

The aggro route actually happens much more then all of you think, not just when your opponent is mana screwed. This deck inherently shuts off so many ways an opponent can win a game. Let's look at a few of them. Trinket into cage, this stops yawgs will, tinker, oath, snapcaster, and cards of that nature which a lot of blue decks win with. Next the density in creatures in this deck make it hard for an opposing Jace to win the game, which again many blue decks crutch on Jace. Then there was mindcensor, this guy also stops tinker in most cases, hoses every tutor (which are cards that may have your opponent win), can slow down fetch land production, and many more applications that I don't care to discuss. And finally if this deck runs upon a true aggro deck it has access to ee, assuming you can stop stony silence from resolving.

Conclusion: this deck stops an opponent from furthering there game plan quite well, and consequently if this deck doesn't have the combo assembles it is turning a bunch of dudes sideways! This doesn't happen only because an opponent is mana screw it happens because this deck is designed to stop other decks from winning, while having access to a combo itself!

And finally in my opinion there is a clear difference between a deck having a possible aggro game plan as a route to victory, and a deck being a "aggro deck". So let's put this one to rest lol, I'm outies!

Attacking with creatures and being aggro aren't the same thing. That's what I'm getting at. Sure, The deck can stick an EoT Mindcensor and then a Trinket Mage and win through counters/Time Walk without ever comboing. No one is disagreeing with that. Even the examples you cite are not aggro, they are control. Tutoring up Cage and then swinging 10 times is NOT aggro.  Attacking with overcosted Grizzly Bears is not aggro. That doesn't mean it's not effective or that it can't win that way, but it is not the same as playing a 1 mana 3/2 flyer or a 2 mana 5/6 (or both). In essence, this is like calling Standstill, which is a pure control deck, an aggro deck because it runs Mishra's Factory. When this deck wins by playing creatures and attacking, it does so because of the counters and the permission cards. That is a control strategy, not an aggressive one.