Battle of the Expansion Sets III Announcement

[Legend]

With the forums back up & the Darksteel Prerelease coming up, its time for the long awaited, highly anticipated Battle of the Expansion Sets III!

I will be posting decklists, seedings, & pairings in the next couple of days. Then the tournament can begin as soon as I line up a few players. Look here for more info this week.

[Jacob Orlove]

Will darksteel be one of the sets involved? And what's happening with Saga?

I can probably make enough time to play some of the matches.

[Legend]

Darksteel will be involved,

Urza's Saga will be Mono Black, and...

You are welcome to play, the more players the better.

I'll note though that there are two things that will delay the start of the tournament, as much as I'd like to move ahead ASAP...

1. I need to get my full account back so I can get use of the edit and delete functions, so I'd rather wait until then (If anyone who can remedy this situation sees this, that would be helpful). This basic account just will not do.

2. I need the full Darksteel Spoiler in order to make the deck (and so I can decide whether it is an upper or lower tier deck)

[MuzzonoAmi]

I'd be willing to play as well. Just give me a list and I'll learn it.

[Crovax]

This would be cool. Im interested in playing.

[Legend]

My account has been restored, so I can now edit & delete. I'll start posting decklists, and we can begin once I get Darksteel sorted out. All who wish to play are welcome. It is preferable that any would-be participants have AIM to set up matches, but other arrangements can probably be worked out.

Meanwhile, here is some basic information about Battle of the Expansion Sets III, for those who are either not familiar with the tournament, or for those who would like a brief review.


FORMAT:

-Single Elimination
-Each match is best 3 out of 5


SEEDINGS & PAIRINGS:


I employed a couple of different pairing methods in Battle of the Expansion Sets I & II, and I'm going to try something new this time to increase the possible constellation of matches as much as possible.

I'll be using a two-division system so as to avoid restricting each set's possible opponents.  With 31 sets, this means that there will only be one first round bye this time, which will go to Tempest as the defending champion. With Tempest as the number 1 seed, the 30 other decks will be divided into two groups. The top 15 decks will comprise Division I, and the bottom 15 decks will comprise Division II. Within each Division, I will seed randomly. So for example, Antiquities, a Division I deck, could be seeded anywhere from #2 to #16. Meanwhile, Fallen Empires, a Division II deck, could be seeded anywhere from #17 to #31. Remember, these seedings will in many cases not be reflections of a deck's true position - the purpose here is not to rank the decks in an exact way, merely to establish two loose divisions for the purposes of seeding. The division system is not a strict evaluation tool; rather its only two purposes are to prevent two clearly superior decks from having to play each other in the first round, and also to prevent absurd situations, such as Homelands ending up with the #2 seed, or Apocalypse as the #30 seed.

Once these seedings are randomly drawn, the decks will be bracketed & paired as normal (#2 v. #31, #3 v. #30 etc) and the tournament can begin. Right now, I am waiting on Darksteel to determine which Division it will be in.


PAST RESULTS:


Battle of the Expansion Sets I:

Champion: APOCALYPSE
Finalist: ONSLAUGHT
Semifinalist: ANTIQUITIES
Semifinalist: STRONGHOLD
Finals Result: APOCALYPSE d. ONSLAUGHT, 3-0


Battle of the Expansion Sets II:

Champion: TEMPEST
Finalist: MERCADIAN MASQUES
Semifinalist: ARABIAN NIGHTS
Semifinalist: ODYSSEY
Finals Result: TEMPEST d. MERCADIAN MASQUES, 3-1

[Legend]

I'll have all of them up within a couple of days.


DECKLISTS (In Chronological Order):


#1: ARABIAN NIGHTS

4 Juzam Djinn
4 Oubliette
4 Erg Raiders
4 Old Man of the Sea
4 Serendib Efreet
4 Flying Men
4 Unstable Mutation
4 Erhnam Djinn
4 Library of Alexandria
4 City of Brass
10 Swamp
10 Island



#2: ANTIQUITIES

4 Triskelion
4 Tetravus
4 Clockwork Avian
4 Tawnos's Coffin
4 Su-Chi
4 Rocket Launcher
4 Onulet
4 Jalum Tome
4 Candelabra of Tawnos
4 Mishra's Workshop
4 Mishra's Factory
4 Strip Mine
4 Urza's Power Plant
4 Urza's Mine
4 Urza's Tower



#3: LEGENDS

4 Moat
4 Thunder Spirit
3 Greater Realm of Preservation
4 Spirit Link
4 Land Tax
3 Firestorm Phoenix
4 Pyrotechnics
3 Land's Edge
4 Chain Lightning
10 Mountain
17 Plains



#4: THE DARK

4 Inferno
4 Eternal Flame
4 Fissure
4 Ball Lightning
4 Sisters of the Flame
4 Brothers of Fire
4 Goblins of the Flarg
4 Goblin Digging Team
4 Fellwar Stone
24 Mountain



#5: FALLEN EMPIRES

4 Thrull Champion
4 Derelor
4 Armor Thrull
4 Mindstab Thrull
4 Necrite
4 Order of the Ebon Hand
4 Hymn to Tourach
4 Thrull Retainer
4 Aeolipile
4 Ebon Stronghold
20 Swamp



#6: ICE AGE

2 Stormbind
4 Johtull Wurm
4 Stunted Growth
4 Thermokarst
4 Tinder Wall
4 Fyndhorn Elves
4 Stone Rain
4 Incinerate
3 Lava Burst
4 Icy Manipulator
4 Karplusan Forest
7 Mountain
12 Forest



#7: HOMELANDS

4 Eron the Relentless
4 An-Zerrin Ruins
4 Anaba Spirit Crafter
4 Anaba Shaman
4 Anaba Bodyguard
4 Anaba Ancestor
4 Dwarven Trader
4 Dwarven Pony
4 Didgeridoo
24 Mountain



#8: ALLIANCES

4 Pyrokinesis
4 Balduvian Horde
4 Pillage
4 Guerilla Tactics
2 Primitive Justice
4 Death Spark
4 Deadly Insect
4 Yavimaya Ants
4 Phyrexian War Beast
3 Thawing Glaciers
10 Forest
13 Mountain



#9: MIRAGE

4 Volcanic Dragon
4 Wildfire Emissary
4 Hammer of Bogardan
4 Volcanic Geyser
4 Incinerate
4 Spitting Earth
4 Kaervek's Torch
4 Fire Diamond
28 Mountain



#10: VISIONS

4 Creeping Mold
4 Uktabi Orangutan
1 City of Solitude
1 Emerald Charm
4 River Boa
4 Nekrataal
4 Fallen Askari
4 Vampiric Tutor
4 Man-o-'War
1 Scalebane's Elite
1 Retribution of the Meek
2 Snake Basket
4 Undiscovered Paradise
2 Island
10 Forest
10 Swamp



#11: WEATHERLIGHT

4 Empyrial Armor
4 Aura of Silence
4 Benalish Knight
4 Soul Shepherd
4 Duskrider Falcon
4 Phantom Warrior
4 Ophidian
4 Sage Owl
4 Serrated Biskelion
4 Gemstone Mine
9 Island
11 Plains



#12: TEMPEST

4 Dismiss
4 Intuition
3 Capsize
4 Counterspell
4 Whispers of the Muse
4 Humility
4 Orim's Prayer
4 Sapphire Medallion
3 Grindstone
4 Reflecting Pool
10 Plains
12 Island



#13: STRONGHOLD

4 Victual Sliver
4 Warrior Angel
4 Soltari Champion
4 Warrior en-Kor
4 Youthful Knight
4 Spined Wurm
4 Spike Feeder
4 Elven Rite
4 Wall of Blossoms
12 Plains
12 Forest



#14: EXODUS

1 Spike Hatcher
4 Spike Weaver
4 Wood Elves
4 Survival of the Fittest
4 Pygmy Troll
1 Pit Spawn
1 Dauthi Jackal
4 Recurring Nightmare
4 Oath of Ghouls
4 Thrull Surgeon
1 Soul Warden
1 Keeper of the Dead
1 Plaguebearer
1 Thopter Squadron
1 Mindless Automaton
12 Forest
12 Swamp



#15: URZA'S SAGA

4 Corrupt
4 Befoul
4 Persecute
3 Yawgmoth's Will
4 Expunge
4 Lurking Evil
4 Skittering Skirge
4 Duress
4 Dark Ritual
25 Swamp



#16: URZA'S LEGACY

2 Palinchron
4 Weatherseed Faeries
4 Fleeting Image
4 Cloud of Faeries
4 Snap
4 Miscalculation
4 Might of Oaks
4 Simian Grunts
4 Rancor
4 Faerie Conclave
4 Treetop Village
7 Forest
11 Island



#17: URZA'S DESTINY

4 Thorn Elemental
4 Ancient Silverback
4 Plow Under
4 Pattern of Rebirth
4 Yavimaya Elder
4 Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
4 Heart Warden
4 Masticore
4 Thran Dynamo
24 Forest



#18: MERCADIAN MASQUES

3 Reverent Mantra
4 Story Circle
4 Cho-Manno's Blessing
4 Thermal Glider
4 Nightwind Glider
4 Disenchant
2 Ramosian Lieutenant
4 Fresh Volunteers
4 Steadfast Guard
4 Ramosian Sergeant
4 Rishadan Port
19 Plains



#19: NEMESIS

4 Rising Waters
4 Stronghold Zeppelin
2 Wandering Eye
4 Daze
4 Cloudskate
4 Rootwater Thief
4 Sneaky Homunculus
4 Trickster Mage
4 Seal of Removal
4 Tangle Wire
22 Island



#20: PROPHECY

4 Scoria Cat
4 Flameshot
4 Keldon Berserker
4 Rhystic Lightning
4 Spur Grappler
4 Ridgeline Rager
4 Veteran Brawlers
4 Branded Brawlers
4 Chimeric Idol
24 Mountain



#21: INVASION

4 Void
4 Blazing Specter
4 Shivan Zombie
4 Plague Spitter
4 Ravenous Rats
4 Addle
4 Skizzik
4 Urza's Rage
4 Ghitu Fire
4 Urborg Volcano
10 Swamp
10 Mountain



#22: PLANESHIFT

4 Lava Zombie
4 Terminate
4 Phyrexian Scuta
4 Lord of the Undead
4 Nightscape Familiar
4 Maggot Carrier
4 Flametongue Kavu
4 Magma Burst
4 Thunderscape Battlemage
11 Mountain
13 Swamp


#23: APOCALYPSE

4 Spiritmonger
4 Pernicious Deed
4 Vindicate
4 Death Grasp
4 Gerrard's Verdict
2 Desolation Angel
4 Phyrexian Arena
4 Spectral Lynx
4 Caves of Koilos
4 Llanowar Wastes
4 Forest
8 Plains
10 Swamp



#24: ODYSSEY

4 Psychatog
4 Shadowmage Infiltrator
3 Upheaval
2 Persuasion
4 Concentrate
4 Aether Burst
4 Standstill
4 Ghastly Demise
4 Innocent Blood
4 Darkwater Catacombs
3 Cephalid Coliseum
10 Swamp
10 Island



#25: TORMENT

4 Laquatus's Champion
3 Mind Sludge
3 Shambling Swarm
4 Faceless Butcher
4 Rancid Earth
4 Nantuko Shade
4 Mesmeric Fiend
4 Chainer's Edict
4 Cabal Coffers
26 Swamp



#26: JUDGMENT

4 Mirari's Wake
4 Anurid Brushhopper
4 Crush of Wurms
4 Phantom Centaur
4 Elephant Guide
4 Ray of Revelation
4 Harvester Druid
4 Phantom Nomad
4 Krosan Verge
9 Plains
15 Forest



#27: ONSLAUGHT

4 Exalted Angel
4 Akroma's Vengeance
4 Astral Slide
4 Akroma's Blessing
4 Renewed Faith
4 Starstorm
4 Lightning Rift
4 Shock
4 Secluded Steppe
4 Forgotten Cave
8 Mountain
12 Plains



#28: LEGIONS

4 Clickslither
4 Goblin Goon
4 Gempalm Incinerator
4 Unstable Hulk
4 Skirk Marauder
4 Skirk Drill Sergeant
4 Goblin Lookout
4 Goblin Grappler
4 Warbreak Trumpeter
24 Mountain


#29: SCOURGE

4 Eternal Dragon
4 Noble Templar
4 Daru Warchief
4 Dawn Elemental
4 Decree of Justice
4 Wing Shards
4 Dragon Scales
4 Silver Knight
4 Temple of the False God
24 Plains



#30: MIRRODIN

4 Somber Hoverguard
4 Shrapnel Blast
4 Atog
4 Pyrite Spellbomb
4 Disciple of the Vault
4 Myr Enforcer
4 Frogmite
4 Tooth of Chiss-Goria
4 Bonesplitter
4 Welding Jar
4 Ornithopter
4 Glimmervoid
4 Seat of the Synod
4 Great Furnace
4 Vault of Whispers



#31: DARKSTEEL

4 Fireball
4 Barbed Lightning
4 Flamebreak
4 Pulse of the Forge
4 Drooling Ogre
4 Juggernaut
4 Oxidda Golem
4 Arcbound Slith
4 Arcbound Worker
24 Mountain

[Legend]

Looking over the currently incomplete, but significant information about Darksteel, I am expecting that Darksteel will offer a strong, but Division II quality beatdown deck. I'd also like to see Darksteel prove itself in competition before promoting it to Divsion I anyway. So I am prepared to go ahead with the seedings & pairings, & the tournament can begin in the next couple of days. With that in mind, here are the two Divisions:



BYE (Defending Champ): Tempest

DIVISION I:


Arabian Nights
Antiquities
Legends
Tempest
Exodus
Urza's Saga
Urza's Destiny
Mercadian Masques
Invasion
Planeshift
Apocalypse
Odyssey
Torment
Onslaught
Scourge


DIVISION II:

The Dark
Fallen Empires
Ice Age
Homelands
Alliances
Mirage
Visions
Weatherlight
Stronghold
Urza's Lgeacy
Nemesis
Prophecy
Judgment
Legions
Darksteel



Now, as I write this, I will determine the seedings for the tournament by picking randomly out of a hat. There are 30 strips of paper (one each for every expansion, save Tempest, since it has the bye) each with an expansion name written on it. The Division I decks will be seeded
from #2-#16 in the order I pull them out of the hat. The Division II decks will be seeded #17-#31 in the order they are pulled out. Let the drawing begin.


DRAWING ORDER:


1. Apocalypse (I)
2. Urza's Legacy (II)
3. Darksteel (II)
4. Mirage (II)
5. Weatherlight (II)
6. Prophecy (II)
7. Visions (II)
8. Judgment (II)
9. Antiquities (I)
10. Odyssey (I)
11. Planeshift (I)
12. Arabian Nights (I)
13. Alliances (II)
14. Homelands (II)
15. Mirrodin (I)
16. Urza's Destiny (I)
17. Stronghold (II)
18. The Dark (II)
19. Invasion (I)
20. Legends (I)
21. Legions (II)
22. Fallen Empires (II)
23. Exodus (I)
24. Urza's Saga (I)
25. Nemesis (II)
26. Scourge (I)
27. Ice Age (II)
28. Torment (I)
29. Onslaught (I)
30. Mercadian Masques (I)



Based on the order in which the expansions were drawn, here are the seedings for the tournament:



#1: TEMPEST
#2: APOCALYPSE
#3: ANTIQUITES
#4: ODYSSEY
#5: PLANESHIFT
#6: ARABIAN NIGHTS
#7: MIRRODIN
#8: URZA'S DESTINY
#9: INVASION
#10: LEGENDS
#11: EXODUS
#12: URZA'S SAGA
#13: SCOURGE
#14: TORMENT
#15: ONSLAUGHT
#16: MERCADIAN MASQUES
-------------------------------------
#17: URZA'S LEGACY
#18: DARKSTEEL
#19: MIRAGE
#20: WEATHERLIGHT
#21: PROPHECY
#22: VISIONS
#23: JUDGMENT
#24: ALLIANCES
#25: HOMELANDS
#26: STRONGHOLD
#27: THE DARK
#28: LEGIONS
#29: FALLEN EMPIRES
#30: NEMESIS
#31: ICE AGE
#32: (Bye)



First Round Pairings will be posted in the Bracket shortly.

[Legend]

BRACKET:


1:TEMPEST
32: (Bye)

16: MERCADIAN MASQUES
17: URZA'S LEGACY

8: URZA'S DESTINY
25: HOMELANDS

9: INVASION
24: ALLIANCES

4: ODYSSEY
29: FALLEN EMPIRES

13: SCOURGE
20: WEATHERLIGHT

5: PLANESHIFT
28: LEGIONS

12: URZA'S SAGA
21: PROPHECY
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2: APOCALYPSE
31: ICE AGE

15: ONSLAUGHT
18: DARKSTEEL

7: MIRRODIN
26: STRONGHOLD

10: LEGENDS
23: JUDGMENT

3: ANTIQUITIES
30: NEMESIS

14: TORMENT
19: MIRAGE

6: ARABIAN NIGHTS
27: THE DARK

11: EXODUS
22: VISIONS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------