5D's Unlimited Proxy Tournament Report

[mr.grim]

For starters, I would like to thank everyone who showed up today. It was awesome to see people make the trip from as far away as Long Island and Maryland. It was a pleasure hosting you in our humble, little shop. We had 14 people show up to do battle. One person in attendance looked around the room and said, "Wow, this is a room full of ringers. This feels like a party." He couldn't have been more right. For all of you who missed it, the event was a blast and midway through we did have a party. It was an exhilarating time as 14 grown-ass men had a sporadic pizza party!

The event was 4 rounds, with a cut to top 8: 1st place was $110 in store credit; 2nd place $50; 3rd and 4th $30; 5th-8th $20.
Everyone else received a participant prize.

**Special thanks to Shawn Griffiths and J.D. for the help with judging and the DCI reporter.**

Top 8 Pairings and Results

Justin Kohler      VS.      Keith "J.R." Homschek; Kohler wins
Tom Dixon         VS.      Joe Mackiewick; Dixon wins
Jonathan Geras  VS.      Shawn Griffiths; Geras wins
Keith Seals        VS.      James Saltsman; Seals wins

Top 4 Pairings and Results

Tom Dixon        VS.       Jonathan Geras; Geras wins
Justin Kohler     VS.       Keith Seals; Seals wins

Finals

Jonathan Geras  VS.      Keith Seals

Keith and Jon decided to split the prize and play it out for the glory; Seals wins
Congratulations to Keith "Mr. Grim" Seals and to the rest of the Top 8!

Top 8 Decklists

First Place - Keith Seals, Workshop Stax

1- Tolarian Academy
4- Cavern of Souls
4- Mishra's Workshop
1- Strip Mine
4- Wasteland
4- Ancient Tomb
1- Mana Crypt
1- Sol Ring
1- Black Lotus
5- Moxen
2- Phyrexian Revoker
3- Phyrexian Metamorph
4- Koldotha Forgemaster
4- Lodestone Golem
2- Wurmcoil Engine
1- Duplicant
1- Steel Hellkite
1- Sundering Titan
4- Tangle Wire
1- Trinisphere
3- Thorn of Amethyst
4- Sphere of Resistance
4- Chalice of the Void

Sideboard

2- Ghost Quarter
4- Grafdigger's Cage
1- Steel Hellkite
2- Crucible of Worlds
3- Dismember
2- Witchbane Orb
1- Duplicant

Second Place - Jonathan Geras, Ramrod: Gottshall's Baby

4- Cursecatcher
4- Silvergill Adept
4- Lord of Atlantis
4- Master of the Pearl Trident
3- Phantasmal Image
3- Mental Misstep
2- Daze
4- Force of Will
1- Ancestral Recall
1- Timewalk
1- Black Lotus
1- Mox Sapphire
3- Null Rod
10- Island
4- Wasteland
4-Cavern of Souls
1- Strip Mine
1- Waterfront Bouncer
1- Sygg, River Cutthroat
3- True Name Nemesis
1- Steel Sabotage

Sideboard

4- Grafdigger's Cage
4- Dismember
2- Hurkyl's Recall
2- Steel Sabotage
2- Flusterstorm
1- Echoing Truth

Third/Fourth - Justin Kohler, Red Deck Wins

1- Magus of the Future
2- Vendilion Clique
4- Trinket Mage
1- Ancestral Recall
1- Flustestorm
1- Thirst for Knowledge
3- Mental Misstep
2- Spell Snare
4- Force of Will
4- Mana Drain
2- Swords to Plowshares
1- Timewalk
3- Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1- Black Lotus
1- Engineered Explosives
1- Grafdigger's Cage
1- Mana Crypt
5- Moxen
1- Sol Ring
2- Sensei's Divining Top
1- Plains
1- Tolarian Academy
2- Cavern of Souls
2- Polluted Delta
3- Island
3- Tundra
4- Flooded Strand
2- Auriok Salvagers
1- Aether
1- Spellbomb

Sideboard

3- Rest in Peace
2- Disenchant
1-Grafdigger's Cage
1- Pithing Needle
1- Flusterstorm
1- Tormods Crypt
2- Swords to Plowshares
2- Magus of the Unseen
1- Path to Exile
1- Devout Witness

Third/Fourth - Tom Dixon, Risky Business

4- Treasure Cruise
4- Snapcaster Mage
4- Force of Will
2- Jace, the Mind Sculptor
3- Mental Misstep
1- Ancestral Recall
1- Black Lotus
1- Mox Jet
1- Mox Ruby
1- Mox Sapphire
1- Timewalk
1- Dack Fayden
1- Library of Alexandria
2- Mana Drain
1- Sol Ring
2- Engineered Explosives
4- Scalding Tarn
3- Volcanic Island
2- Underground Sea
2- Spell Snare
1- Brainstorm
3- Lightning Bolt
1- Nihil Spellbomb
3- Preordain
2- Island
1- Strip Mine
1- Mountain
1- Demonic Tutor
1- Keranos, God of Storms
3- Flooded Strand
2- Izzet Charm

Sideboard

2- Nihil Spellbomb
2- Red Elemental Blast
2- Mindbreak Trap
4- Ingot Chewer
1- Yixlid Jailer
1- Toxic Deluge
2- Ravenous Trap
1- Dismember

Top 8 - James Saltsman, No deck name provided

1- Black Lotus
4- Chalice of the Void
1- Crucible of Worlds
1- Mana Crypt
5- Moxen
1- Sol Ring
4- Sphere of Resistance
4- Tangle Wire
1- Trinisphere
3- Dismember
2- Ancient Tomb
4- Mishra's Factory
4- Mishra's Workshop
3- Mutavault
1- Strip Mine
1- Tolarian Academy
4- Wasteland
4- Lodestone Golem
4- Phyrexian Metamorph
4- Phyrexian Revoker
4- Porcelain Legionnaire

Sideboard

3- Batterskull
1- Crucible of Worlds
4- Grafdigger's Cage
2- Ratchet Bomb
2- Relic of Progenitus
1- Ghost Quarter
2- Karakas

Top 8 - Keith "J.R." Homschek, No deck name provided

1- Blightsteel Colossus
2- Snapcaster Mage
1- Time Vault
1- Voltaic Key
1- Sensei's Divining Top
4- Force of Will
3- Mana Drain
3- Mental Misstep
2- Lightning Bolt
1- Flusterstorm
1- Tinker
1- Ancestral Recall
1- Brainstorm
1- Thirst for Knowledge
1- Fire/Ice
1- Abrupt Decay
1- Hurkyl's Recall
1- Timewalk
1- Noxious Revival
1- Gifts Ungiven
1- Mystical Tutor
1- Vampiric Tutor
1- Demonic Tutor
1- Yawgmoth's Will
1- Merchant Scroll
1- Dig Through Time
1- Toxic Deluge
2- Jace, the Mind Sculptor
2- Island
3- Polluted Delta
2- Scalding Tarn
2- Underground Sea
2- Volcanic Island
1- Tropical Island
1- City of Brass
1- Library of Alexandria
1- Tolarian Academy
1- Mana Crypt
1- Sol Ring
1- Black Lotus
1- Mox Sapphire
1- Mox Jet
1- Mox Emerald
1- Mox Ruby

Sideboard

2- Yixlid Jailer
2- Ingot Chewer
2- Red Elemental Blast
2- Dismember
1- Ancient Grudge
1- Abrupt Decay
1- Viashino Heretic
2- Pithing Needle
2- Extripate

Top 8 - Joe Mackiewicz, Stacktastic

4- Lodestone Golem
3- Phyrexian Revoker
3- Phyrexian Metamorph
2- Karn, Silver Golem
2- Triskelion
1- Batterskull
4- Tangle Wire
4- Sphere of Resistance
4- Chalice of the Void
4- Smokestacks
2- Crucible of Worlds
1- Trinishpere
1- Black Lotus
1- Mana Crypt
1- Sol Ring
5- Moxen
4- Mishra's Workshop
4- Mishra's Factory
4- Ancient Tomb
4- Wasteland
1 Strip Mine
1- Tolarian Academy

Sideboard

1- Batterskull
2- Wurmcoil Engine
1- Duplicant
2- Null Rod
4- Grafdrigger's Cage
3- Dismember
2- Ghost Quarter

Top 8 - Shawn Griffiths, Terra Nova Nova

4- Mishra's Workshop
4- Ancient Tomb
4- Wasteland
4- Mishra's Factory
1- Strip Mine
1- Karakas
5- Moxen
1- Sol Ring
4- Phyrexian Revoker
4- Lodestone Golem
4- Dismember
4- Sphere of Resistance
4- Thorn of Amethyst
3- Null Rod
4- Chalice of the Void
1- Tolarian Academy
1- Darksteel Juggernaut
4- Phyrexian Metamorph
4- Mutavault

Sideboard

4- Grafdigger's Cage
2- Mortarpod
2- Batterskull
1- Darksteel Juggernaut
1- Karakas
3- Tabernacle at Pendlevale
2- Sculpting Steel



In conclusion...

I really would have liked to have seen more local players at this event, but that shouldn't take away from the stellar group of dudes who took the time to come sling some cardboard in little, ole' Wyoming, Pa. Overall, we felt today was a success and a great start for future events at 5D's. We would like to do the next event on a Sunday, sometime in November. More details to follow.

Later til then,
Mr. Grim

[Methuselahn]

Thanks for the write-up!

Top 8 - James Saltsman, No deck name provided

hmm.  I only see 44 cards listed maindeck.

[mr.grim]

Fixed!

[rpf5029]

Great write up! 

Thanks to everyone who came out -- I'm sorry that I missed it.  Ramrod really defended the home turf, so that's cool. 

Tom Dixon wins the award for best deck name ever. 

[Samoht]

Great write up! 

Thanks to everyone who came out -- I'm sorry that I missed it.  Ramrod really defended the home turf, so that's cool. 

Tom Dixon wins the award for best deck name ever. 

Thanks Fish! Props to JD Nir for the assist.

Also, you have a gift from me to you that I gave Shawn Griffiths.

[StrongSide]

great write up and awesome time for all who came. It was a really down to earth kind of environment where the learning curve was great and the competition was friendly. Every time we have a local event I will be there!

[ramrodjon]

Ramrod on Ramrod crime at so many events.  Great time at 5-D's and thanks to Sally for hosting!  Nice to have something close on a Sunday and hope she runs more in the future.

[Choke]

@Tom/Samoht: How happy were you with the deck's perfomance (obviously not too unhappy with T4), would you change anything?

[Samoht]

@Tom/Samoht: How happy were you with the deck's perfomance (obviously not too unhappy with T4), would you change anything?

The deck played very well. Jon Geras is a champion and played very well in the semi's to slay me. That said, I battled back against Merfolk in G3 after he had Caverns (Strip Mine'd), 2 True-Name Nemesis, several (4+) Lords, etc. until he drew Ancestral Recall. My 2 card hand was Izzet Charm and Spell Snare. He had 3 mana. I drew 0 Treasure Cruise/Ancestral over the course of this protracted game and that more than anything tells me that the card is absurdly powerful. I truly feel that if I had hit any of my 5 Ancestrals before Jon hit his 1 I'd have gotten there. Of course his Ancestral found the 2nd Cavern and Silvergill Adepts and I was pushed down pretty quickly. I really liked the decks ability to interact on different levels and switch gears pretty fluidly from control to aggression. I occasionally wanted a WIN NOW type option but I feel as if that would just be too greedy and diminish the long term plans of the deck. I don't want to overreact to the game with Jon, but I feel as if Gush is a viable option to those clumping situations that might fit in well as a 2 of. Finding those 2 spots is another can of worms. Jace is really good in this deck, mostly just as Snapcaster 5+6. It's a little strange to not be looking to Fateseal as often, but returning Snapcaster with a healthy GY is so backbreaking to opponents. Still, I Fateseal'd the most of any mode and ended games that way quite often. The deck 1 for 1's exceptionally well and then once you control the draws of your opponent the game typically ends.

[TheWhiteDragon]

4 shop decks in the top 8.  Looks good to me

[ramrodjon]

Hahaha, I wouldn't say I'm a champion, Tom, but my timely A-Call was pretty stellar.  Always a pleasure playing you!

[brianpk80]

The decks with the most Caverns rose to the top.  That is no accident. 

[mr.grim]

I remember saying something about caverns a long time ago . . . . .
Soooooooooooo good!

[msg67183]

I remember saying something about caverns a long time ago . . . . .
Soooooooooooo good!

Agreed. I was talking about this yesterday with some people. I said the pillars should change to
Forces
Ritual Based Combo
Workshop Based Decks
Bazaar Based Decks
Cavern of Soul Based Aggro

[brianpk80]

I remember saying something about caverns a long time ago . . . . .
Soooooooooooo good!

Agreed. I was talking about this yesterday with some people. I said the pillars should change to
Forces
Ritual Based Combo
Workshop Based Decks
Bazaar Based Decks
Cavern of Soul Based Aggro

It's definitely a major player.  The thing is though that Cavern is now sees play Blue Control, Blue Combo-Control, Workshop, Fish Decks, Dredge sideboards, and there are even Tendrils based Cavern decks running Auriok and/or Magus of the Future.  It is an archetype transcending staple of the format.  Best printing this decade so far.