I haven't been writing anything recently but since the Vanguard Stride to Victory game is out,
I might as well do what I've historically done and put up the passwords for the game.
I'm slowly farming decks with not much clue as to how deep I am into the story.
(Currently midway of the FICA G4).
1) ににれなさいねた - Clipping Deletor, Evo
2) もみすねみてと - Super Cosmic Hero, X-Rogue
3) かへけらせひう - Onmyo Regalia, Nega-keiopojisis
4) うふねむちのへむ - Lady Searcher of Planetary Minerals
5) めほかてもよわ - Dandelion Musketeer, Mirkka
6) たくふあふなひ - Harmonics Messiah
7)
8)
9)
10) わなえひたのね - Fhamgal
11) わいもくにみの - Twinkle Happiness, Pacifica
12) すれゆまらほへそ - Planet Idol, Pacifica
13) ちたうひたはえ - Costume Idol, Alk
14) ぬおきれもとにそ - Costume Idol, Alk
15) すれしぬめはも - Aurora Star, Coral
16) ゆうのかさとふ - Shangri-La Star, Coral
17)
18) さえへまりめわ - Top Idol, Riviere
19) めあしえひやけ - Bermuda Triangle Cadet, Shizuku
20) ほしぬえせとさ - Velvet Voice, Raindear
21) くめられちれぬ - Stealth Fiend, Lake Diver
22)
23) つきるぬせゆす - Lizard Soldier, Bellog
24) ゆしひきちほを - Dark Metal Chameleon
25) こきいすとつおふ - Flying Librarian
26) まよしせなたえい - Steam Breath Dragon (full art)
27) とをふねせえて - Laurel Knight, Sicilus (full art)
28) うともふとさも - Valkyrie of Reclamation, Padmini (full art)
29) はるしすはれよる - Kelpie Rider, Nikki (full art)
30) やれへむはりか - Destiny Dealer (full art)
Sunday, 24 January 2016
Monday, 12 October 2015
GPT Seattle/Tacoma Cleared! My first ever 2 round byes!!!
Yesterday I played in the GPT Seattle/Tacoma, aiming to get my 2 round byes by making top 8 and splitting there. Unfortunately, it was not all that easy.
I went undefeated in games with my Delver deck, playing 4 rounds (because I was paired down round 4) and drawing the last (I actually wanted to go 3-0, ID, play round 5 but the other way was fine as well, albeit a little riskier.)
We could not agree to split at the top 8 so I had to duke it out for yet another round in my quest to get there. Thankfully(!!) I won that critical round and the top 4 was ok to do a split and I managed to secure my byes, putting me on track in my plans to make my first day 2 at GP Seattle/Tacoma.
Round 1 vs D&T.
Game 1, we both mulliganed to 6 and my opponent had 1 Karakas (which I Wastelanded) and 1 Plains but he did not get to draw another land (despite running 23) for the rest of the game and I managed to just press over some defensive Mother of Runes with removal after they were used as blockers.
Game 2, things went bad for me as my opponent dropped Aether Vial after another Aether Vial and got quite far ahead with Stoneforge Mystics while my Grim Lavamancer was easily shut off by Rest in Peace.
I managed to stick down an Isochron Scepter imprinting Abrupt Decay and picked Rest in Peace to attack first while taking Batterskull's germ token damage. I managed to get an activation with Grim Lavamancer before it got hit by Swords to Plowshares and my Iscochron Scepter slowly took down permanents until a Pithing Needle came down. I eventually drew an Ancient Grudge for it and the game returned to my flow with Abrupt Decays eating something every turn. My opponent clocked up one of the 3 Aether Vials to 5 but I had a Dismember in hand for a Baneslayer Angel so I was completely fine. In between, I had to use a Stifle on a Wasteland on my last Volcanic Island so I was open to a Flickerwisp which would reset my Isochron Scepter (to a Lightning Bolt but I digress) but my opponent removed some (thankfully) as he knew I have either the black enchantment that gives white creatures -1/-1 or Sulfur Elemental (which I did and it ate a Thalia).
Round 2 vs Miracles.
Game 1, I played 1 threat at a time and met Swords to Plowshares and Terminus while I disrupted what I could. I managed to stop an Entreat the Angels and I had Jace, Vryn's Prodigy (sperm Jace) flipped and ticked to 9. I closed the game with Lightning Bolt, flashback Lightning Bolt, not wanting to put myself at any risk of losing to trying to be cheeky.
Game 2, I had a Delver flip and eat away chunks of life. My opponent used a Pyroblast on my Brainstorm seeing that I was having mana problems so the Insect went a long way (until 6 life with the help of Fetchlands of course) where I used Snapcaster Mage to try close.
Round 3 vs Shardless BUG
Game 1, I went on the offensive and maintained board presence to push the game to end before Ancestral Vision resolved. I had Deathrite Shaman and Tarmogoyf active with Lighting Bolt in hand with a Force of Will. When a Hymn to Tourach forced me to throw the Lightning Bolt, the damage on the table showed a lethal count next turn.
Game 2, my opponent was ahead with a 3x Deathrite Shaman and a Tarmogoyf. I slowly got back into the game with a Young Pyromancer (the tokens happily blocking the goyf) and throwing removals at Deathrite Shamans. I used Sylvan Library to put myself close to dying range but I had a Scavenging Ooze and a Deathrite Shaman. I looked tapped out (with only a Deathrite Shaman untapped) so my opponent tried to make me lose life but I used Deathrite Shaman to get green and used Scavenging Ooze to remove the target. I paid another 4 life to Sylvan Library and because of my very tempting life total of 1 life, my opponent missed the interaction of Scavenging Ooze again and Scavenging Ooze attacked the target to fizzle the ability. I was very open to removal for most of the game but it just panned out well I suppose.
Round 4 vs Sneak and Show
Game 1, I disrupted the game with Wasteland and Stifles eventually had a Young Pyromancer out and Tasigur out.
My hand had Spell Pierce, Daze and Force of Will so after a short battle, my new tokens cleared up the game.
Game 2, Delver knocked a few turns and when I had Jace, Vryn's Prodigy (aka sperm Jace) out, a Pyroclasm wiped them away. I couldn't really afford to be fighting over this so I let them go.
I eventually put out a Tasigur, the Golden Fang and a Deathrite Shaman and have a Lightning Bolt in hand which would seal the game if my opponent went down 3 life via either a Force of Will or a fetchland (which he played out). I Force of Willed his Sneak Attack and he Forced back, going to the range where I could win. After it resolved, he had a Lotus Petal and a Scalding Tarn for mana.
I had an active Deathrite Shaman so going to 2 made him dead on board. He passed the turn so I cast my Golgari Charm on his Sneak Attack and he had Flusterstorm for it. My last card was Snapcaster Mage so I could cast Lightning Bolt and Snapcaster it using Deathrite Shaman's mana producing ability but using Deathrite Shaman was probably the safer play so I used it instead.
Round 5 vs RUG Delver (ID)
Top 8 vs Sneak and Show
Game 1, I had Tarmogoyf attacking very modestly and my opponent tried to wait for counter backup despite having the option to turn 2 Show and Tell (which could fail miserably).
I eventually had counters which made took the game because my opponent's hand was filled with the big creatures.
I recall getting whopped by Pyroclasm so I took out Young Pyromancers.
Game 2, my opponent saw my double Force of Will hand with a Gitaxian Probe and the game progressed slowly because my opponent had mana issues with my constant attacking of his mana. A Tarmogoyf and Deathrite Shaman joined the battlefield while I tried to keep a tight hold on the game. The game ended when a Pyroclasm showed up but failed to prevent the inevitable.
Top 4 vs Miracles but the 4 of us split.
Despite having won this exact deck earlier in the day and having infinite time, I couldn't be so sure to think that the games would definitely be in my favor. I'm not too sure what my exact odds as I don't face Miracles that often nowadays so I chose to stick to the original plan to split somewhere and secure my byes which I need.
I went undefeated in games with my Delver deck, playing 4 rounds (because I was paired down round 4) and drawing the last (I actually wanted to go 3-0, ID, play round 5 but the other way was fine as well, albeit a little riskier.)
We could not agree to split at the top 8 so I had to duke it out for yet another round in my quest to get there. Thankfully(!!) I won that critical round and the top 4 was ok to do a split and I managed to secure my byes, putting me on track in my plans to make my first day 2 at GP Seattle/Tacoma.
Round 1 vs D&T.
Game 1, we both mulliganed to 6 and my opponent had 1 Karakas (which I Wastelanded) and 1 Plains but he did not get to draw another land (despite running 23) for the rest of the game and I managed to just press over some defensive Mother of Runes with removal after they were used as blockers.
Game 2, things went bad for me as my opponent dropped Aether Vial after another Aether Vial and got quite far ahead with Stoneforge Mystics while my Grim Lavamancer was easily shut off by Rest in Peace.
I managed to stick down an Isochron Scepter imprinting Abrupt Decay and picked Rest in Peace to attack first while taking Batterskull's germ token damage. I managed to get an activation with Grim Lavamancer before it got hit by Swords to Plowshares and my Iscochron Scepter slowly took down permanents until a Pithing Needle came down. I eventually drew an Ancient Grudge for it and the game returned to my flow with Abrupt Decays eating something every turn. My opponent clocked up one of the 3 Aether Vials to 5 but I had a Dismember in hand for a Baneslayer Angel so I was completely fine. In between, I had to use a Stifle on a Wasteland on my last Volcanic Island so I was open to a Flickerwisp which would reset my Isochron Scepter (to a Lightning Bolt but I digress) but my opponent removed some (thankfully) as he knew I have either the black enchantment that gives white creatures -1/-1 or Sulfur Elemental (which I did and it ate a Thalia).
Round 2 vs Miracles.
Game 1, I played 1 threat at a time and met Swords to Plowshares and Terminus while I disrupted what I could. I managed to stop an Entreat the Angels and I had Jace, Vryn's Prodigy (sperm Jace) flipped and ticked to 9. I closed the game with Lightning Bolt, flashback Lightning Bolt, not wanting to put myself at any risk of losing to trying to be cheeky.
Game 2, I had a Delver flip and eat away chunks of life. My opponent used a Pyroblast on my Brainstorm seeing that I was having mana problems so the Insect went a long way (until 6 life with the help of Fetchlands of course) where I used Snapcaster Mage to try close.
Round 3 vs Shardless BUG
Game 1, I went on the offensive and maintained board presence to push the game to end before Ancestral Vision resolved. I had Deathrite Shaman and Tarmogoyf active with Lighting Bolt in hand with a Force of Will. When a Hymn to Tourach forced me to throw the Lightning Bolt, the damage on the table showed a lethal count next turn.
Game 2, my opponent was ahead with a 3x Deathrite Shaman and a Tarmogoyf. I slowly got back into the game with a Young Pyromancer (the tokens happily blocking the goyf) and throwing removals at Deathrite Shamans. I used Sylvan Library to put myself close to dying range but I had a Scavenging Ooze and a Deathrite Shaman. I looked tapped out (with only a Deathrite Shaman untapped) so my opponent tried to make me lose life but I used Deathrite Shaman to get green and used Scavenging Ooze to remove the target. I paid another 4 life to Sylvan Library and because of my very tempting life total of 1 life, my opponent missed the interaction of Scavenging Ooze again and Scavenging Ooze attacked the target to fizzle the ability. I was very open to removal for most of the game but it just panned out well I suppose.
Round 4 vs Sneak and Show
Game 1, I disrupted the game with Wasteland and Stifles eventually had a Young Pyromancer out and Tasigur out.
My hand had Spell Pierce, Daze and Force of Will so after a short battle, my new tokens cleared up the game.
Game 2, Delver knocked a few turns and when I had Jace, Vryn's Prodigy (aka sperm Jace) out, a Pyroclasm wiped them away. I couldn't really afford to be fighting over this so I let them go.
I eventually put out a Tasigur, the Golden Fang and a Deathrite Shaman and have a Lightning Bolt in hand which would seal the game if my opponent went down 3 life via either a Force of Will or a fetchland (which he played out). I Force of Willed his Sneak Attack and he Forced back, going to the range where I could win. After it resolved, he had a Lotus Petal and a Scalding Tarn for mana.
I had an active Deathrite Shaman so going to 2 made him dead on board. He passed the turn so I cast my Golgari Charm on his Sneak Attack and he had Flusterstorm for it. My last card was Snapcaster Mage so I could cast Lightning Bolt and Snapcaster it using Deathrite Shaman's mana producing ability but using Deathrite Shaman was probably the safer play so I used it instead.
Round 5 vs RUG Delver (ID)
Top 8 vs Sneak and Show
Game 1, I had Tarmogoyf attacking very modestly and my opponent tried to wait for counter backup despite having the option to turn 2 Show and Tell (which could fail miserably).
I eventually had counters which made took the game because my opponent's hand was filled with the big creatures.
I recall getting whopped by Pyroclasm so I took out Young Pyromancers.
Game 2, my opponent saw my double Force of Will hand with a Gitaxian Probe and the game progressed slowly because my opponent had mana issues with my constant attacking of his mana. A Tarmogoyf and Deathrite Shaman joined the battlefield while I tried to keep a tight hold on the game. The game ended when a Pyroclasm showed up but failed to prevent the inevitable.
Top 4 vs Miracles but the 4 of us split.
Despite having won this exact deck earlier in the day and having infinite time, I couldn't be so sure to think that the games would definitely be in my favor. I'm not too sure what my exact odds as I don't face Miracles that often nowadays so I chose to stick to the original plan to split somewhere and secure my byes which I need.
Sunday, 20 September 2015
Prepping for Seattle/Tacoma
For the final leg of my Legacy GP tour,
I will be going to GP Seattle/Tacoma in November.
I've got my air tickets and preregistered for the VIP package (not sure if that's a good choice but I'm not really that interested in thinking about it now).
I have to settle my lodging and some visiting registration thingy which can only come after I have an address to put on it.
This all started early in the year when I decided to go to Kyoto for the first ever Legacy GP. I didn't intend to go for all 3 Legacy GPs of the year back then. I'm not sure if I broke up with my fiance before or after GP Kyoto but it was around then. With this opening in my life, I figured that I wanted to do something I liked before I ended up regretting never ever had been able to. For me, that would probably be to play Mtg at the competitive level. That said, I am not in any position where I could suddenly make Mtg into my lifestyle nor my lifeline. After Kyoto, I wanted to go for the Modern Masters GP in Chiba together with my friend but he couldn't make it so I thought that I would divert this intention into playing GP Lille and and also GP Seattle Tacoma, the other two Legacy GPs of the year.
I don't think this can continue for more than 1-2 years so this window is probably my first and last.
I have yet to day 2 in a GP so my first goal would be to do so in my strongest format.
(If I can't day 2 in my best format, I'm basically screwed anyway unless I'm just plain lucky.)
Unfortunately, things didn't go well for me at Kyoto nor at Lille. Lille was much worse as I ended up being disqualified midway, essentially busting my trip, and I was at risk of denying my own plans for Seattle Tacoma. To day 2, the most essential requirement would be to work out 2 byes which would lower the threshold of making day 2 from a tough 7-2 performance to a 5-2 performance (which is not an easy feat in itself). The 2 round byes would also filter out some very outlier decks that always plague the bottom tables that are essentially playable but not high tiered and that can easily knock out a deck prepared to face the big decks (unless I am playing a top tiered deck myself).
I missed my chances for getting byes for Kyoto and there weren't any for Lille locally as GP Singapore was just before that so no organizer in the right mind would divert precious income for some out of the way GPT. At some point, my biggest chances could only be found in the final dash.
I had to get my 2 byes at the GPT Seattle/Tacoma that are happening in October. There is a random shop holding a Standard GPT Seattle/Tacoma, a Legacy GPT and modern GPT organized by the shop I usually go to (and its affiliate) using connections.
If I manage to top 8 in one of them, I would probably be able to secure the 2 round byes since no one would need actually the byes so this is as good as it goes in terms of chances.
Thankfully, I scrapped out of my almost bannings which could have outright stopped me from playing in Oct/Nov, both of which were crucial in the scheme of things.
I've been playing the format regularly and have recently had good finishes (which all don't give much planeswalker points but I wouldn't have had enough anyway) so I think I'm in one of the better shapes I've been prior to a big event. There were many distractions with GP Singapore being Modern and being obligated to play the format. This time it's much cleaner.
I'm also adding exercise to my preparations in order to increase my physical capabilities to reduce the impact of fatigue/jetlag that I would have to face. I guess it's the same way as my playstyle; trying to add very minute advantages from every possible avenue.
I am trying to optimize my creature selection and my sideboarding now and I have 1 month and 1 week to complete that. Thankfully, Battle for Zendikar doesn't look like it would impact the format much with its big gap in cheap and efficient cards. I have a few that I like but I think I do not have to worry much about not being able to identify what would be good.
I would have to start more intensive preparations soon.
Too bad MTGO has some missing cards that I cannot test there and have to rely on real life testing to collect data on. (Good job Wotc for missing out Legacy legal cards)
I wonder if the Legacy DE schedule is favorable...
I will be going to GP Seattle/Tacoma in November.
I've got my air tickets and preregistered for the VIP package (not sure if that's a good choice but I'm not really that interested in thinking about it now).
I have to settle my lodging and some visiting registration thingy which can only come after I have an address to put on it.
This all started early in the year when I decided to go to Kyoto for the first ever Legacy GP. I didn't intend to go for all 3 Legacy GPs of the year back then. I'm not sure if I broke up with my fiance before or after GP Kyoto but it was around then. With this opening in my life, I figured that I wanted to do something I liked before I ended up regretting never ever had been able to. For me, that would probably be to play Mtg at the competitive level. That said, I am not in any position where I could suddenly make Mtg into my lifestyle nor my lifeline. After Kyoto, I wanted to go for the Modern Masters GP in Chiba together with my friend but he couldn't make it so I thought that I would divert this intention into playing GP Lille and and also GP Seattle Tacoma, the other two Legacy GPs of the year.
I don't think this can continue for more than 1-2 years so this window is probably my first and last.
I have yet to day 2 in a GP so my first goal would be to do so in my strongest format.
(If I can't day 2 in my best format, I'm basically screwed anyway unless I'm just plain lucky.)
Unfortunately, things didn't go well for me at Kyoto nor at Lille. Lille was much worse as I ended up being disqualified midway, essentially busting my trip, and I was at risk of denying my own plans for Seattle Tacoma. To day 2, the most essential requirement would be to work out 2 byes which would lower the threshold of making day 2 from a tough 7-2 performance to a 5-2 performance (which is not an easy feat in itself). The 2 round byes would also filter out some very outlier decks that always plague the bottom tables that are essentially playable but not high tiered and that can easily knock out a deck prepared to face the big decks (unless I am playing a top tiered deck myself).
I missed my chances for getting byes for Kyoto and there weren't any for Lille locally as GP Singapore was just before that so no organizer in the right mind would divert precious income for some out of the way GPT. At some point, my biggest chances could only be found in the final dash.
I had to get my 2 byes at the GPT Seattle/Tacoma that are happening in October. There is a random shop holding a Standard GPT Seattle/Tacoma, a Legacy GPT and modern GPT organized by the shop I usually go to (and its affiliate) using connections.
If I manage to top 8 in one of them, I would probably be able to secure the 2 round byes since no one would need actually the byes so this is as good as it goes in terms of chances.
Thankfully, I scrapped out of my almost bannings which could have outright stopped me from playing in Oct/Nov, both of which were crucial in the scheme of things.
I've been playing the format regularly and have recently had good finishes (which all don't give much planeswalker points but I wouldn't have had enough anyway) so I think I'm in one of the better shapes I've been prior to a big event. There were many distractions with GP Singapore being Modern and being obligated to play the format. This time it's much cleaner.
I'm also adding exercise to my preparations in order to increase my physical capabilities to reduce the impact of fatigue/jetlag that I would have to face. I guess it's the same way as my playstyle; trying to add very minute advantages from every possible avenue.
I am trying to optimize my creature selection and my sideboarding now and I have 1 month and 1 week to complete that. Thankfully, Battle for Zendikar doesn't look like it would impact the format much with its big gap in cheap and efficient cards. I have a few that I like but I think I do not have to worry much about not being able to identify what would be good.
I would have to start more intensive preparations soon.
Too bad MTGO has some missing cards that I cannot test there and have to rely on real life testing to collect data on. (Good job Wotc for missing out Legacy legal cards)
I wonder if the Legacy DE schedule is favorable...
Saturday, 5 September 2015
Took down the Singapore Legacy Champs with 4c Delver =)
Yesterday, I won the Singapore Legacy Championship 2015.
I was running a 4c Delver deck based off a list that was not running more than two Volcanic Islands (as I own only one).
I used that list as a shell and did some works on it.
3 Delver of Secrets
3 Deathrite Shaman
2 Tarmogoyf
2 Young Pyromancer
1 Snapcaster Mage
2 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
1 Vendilion Clique
4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
3 Stifle
2 Spell Pierce
3 Lightning Bolt
1 Sylvan Library
2 Daze
1 Counterspell
3 Abrupt Decay
3 Force of Will
2 Dig Through Time
4 Wasteland
2 Polluted Delta
2 Flooded Strand
2 Misty Rainforest
2 Scalding Tarn
2 Underground Sea
2 Volcanic Island
2 Tropical Island
SB
1 Force of Will
1 Extirpate
2 Pyroblast
1 Dismember
1 Flusterstorm
1 Duress
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Kolaghan's Command
1 Ancient Grudge
1 Sulfur Elemental
1 Vendilion Clique
1 Forked Bolt
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Life from the Loam
Round 1 - Mud 2-1
Game 1 starts off with Cavern of Souls naming construct,
I have between my hand and the top few cards of my library almost all my Wastelands which make me think that I've won. My opponent Wastelands my dual, preventing a Daze, and gets in a Metalworker which I unfortunately have no answers for.
Games 2 and 3 revolved around having some threats and counters for my opponent's. There were a few things I ignored like a Chalice at one and Lightning Greaves. A Wasteland - Life from the Loam lock took place in game 2 to close it. Game 3 was closed with a Force of Will on a slow bomb.
Round 2 - Grixis Delver 1-2
True Name Nemesis is incredibly tough to face from this matchup since I have zero outs apart from winning the damage race.
Game 1, True Name Nemesis comes out midway while we go back and forth trying to disrupt each other. My board could not keep up and easily lost.
Game 2, Stifles and Wastelands combined with Sylvan Library push me far ahead and I easily take the game while my opponent is trying to just see more of my deck which I selectively choose to reveal.
Game 3, I get into a semi Loam lock but my opponent plays a few basics so the lukewarm lock didn't do too much. My normal draws were crappy with lands and bolts facing a True Name Nemesis.
Round 3 - Omnitell 2-0
Both games, Sylvan Library makes it down and takes chunks of my life total in exchange for gas. Delver beats end game 1.
Game 2 I use Vendilion Clique to bash down and have my lone Lightning Bolt to clean up.
Round 4 - Omnitell 2-1
Game 1 ends fast with me having dead cards and no Force of Will.
Game 2 my Delver flips early and I have a Scavenging Ooze to join (and delay Dig Through time) while making a very quick clock.
Game 3 goes with Deathrite Shaman and Young Pyromancer while holding the fort with counters and Wasteland.
Round 5 - Esperblade 2-0
My opponent is the 2014 champion who they say has godly topdeck skills.
He doesn't start out with anything and gets Wastelanded heavily.
I see his hand with Vendilion Clique and beat down using gas from Sylvan Library.
Game 2, he gets out Delver (which I deal with) and True Name Nemesis. I have Deathrite Shaman,
Delver and Young Pyromancer on my side to race with him. After awhile TNN goes into defensive and I chain a bunch of spells to get a small army of elemental tokens out while having an Ancient Grudge in the graveyard from discarding to Jace, Vryn's Prodigy (aka sperm Jace). The grudge stares down the Umezawa's Jitte on the other side and a desperate Clique wearing it leaves the game to me casting Ancient Grudge and my opponent not having any counters which he doesn't and I take the game.
Round 6 - Omnitell 2-1
Prior to the round I am 9th in place and 10th is a burn deck.
I have to play it out and I don't like my chances at all.
Thankfully the pairings changed that and I faced a deck that I was far more comfortable with.
Game 1 I had Delver and counters to keep my game.
Game 2 I had a threat heavy hand but my opponent leisurely goes off once he gets 3 mana and I can't do much.
Game 3, an early Delver and probably another keeps the clock tight and the disruption goes all the way and I secure a high placing in the top 8.
T8 - Burn 2-1
Here I get paired with friggin-worst-matchup aka burn played by a very veteran Mtg player from when I was much younger. The odds don't look good in my favor despite playing first.
Game 1, I get pressed down and I try to stabilize to no avail.
Game 2, I have a get a very strong Deathrite Shaman (which gets killed) followed by a double Gofy draw,
The clock closes down very fast and I have a Force of Will for the Fireblast trying to eat my last 4 points.
Game 3, I Bolt a turn 1 Monastery Swiftspear, my early Delver gets burnt and my Goyf gets hit by Searing Blaze plus a Chain Lightning.
Eventually Goyf #2 comes to save the day and I stabilize at 8 life holding 2x Force of Will while my opponent has to start blocking, even with an Eidolon.
My Goyfs did a good job by showing up.
Technically, any chances of me taking this matchup can be found on goyfs racing.
T4 - Grixis Delver 2-1
We joke that we'd rather lose here than next round because we get a Volcanic Island at 3-4th place versus a Moat at 2nd.
Game 1, we trade blows and a Gurmag Angler comes down which I try to counter but gets Dazed.
I take my chances and attack to force my opponent to have a burn spell to win with my life down to 1 but he doesn't and my Insect Aberration takes the game.
Game 2, I thought that I would be really good with Life from the Loam but it gets countered with every attempt to cast it while a flipped Delver is beating away.
Game 3, we throw everything at each other and the game comes to a point whereby he has a Gurmag Angler, Deathrite Shaman and Young Pyromancer (no tokens) and I have a Young Pyromancer, Delver of Secrets (and something else). I reveal a timely Dig Through Time to flip the delver and cast it on the spot and end up chaining a few cantrips. I crash my guys into my opp and he trades the card I can't recall with Young Pyromancer and I get to Bolt the Deathrite which was already tapped. I hold a Volcanic Island out and a Pyroblast to guard against a Dig Through Time but it gets Wastelanded but no Dig Through Time comes. He casts a Deathrite Shaman which goes into defensive while I pepper some elemental attacks. I eventually win with just enough damage from a full swing. THANK YOU DIG THROUGH TIME!
Finals - vs Jund 2-0
Game 1, my opponent has out a basic Forest and basic Swamp while I have assorted threats from Young Pyromancer and goyf. My opponent eventually tries for a Toxic Deluge but I have Force of Will for it.
Game 2 starts out with us trying to get Deathrite Shaman dominance but I have enough removals for them and the board on my opponent's side looks similar to game 1.I use Sylvan Library to get ahead.
I had to make a difficult choice of having to Force of Will a removal on my Deathrite Shaman to secure my black mana for Abrupt Decay and I did so before using my Wastelands to eat his Wasteland and Grove of the Burnwillow to press down the board. I still get open to a Toxic Deluge but the topdeck was a Sensei's Divining Top which just climbed up there so at 2 mana it was not a possibility.
I won 4x Force of Will (which I sold off to a player at a player price but it's still very decent) and I was drawn a dickbutt on one of my blank cards (haha).
Next is my plan to get 2 round byes at Seattle Tacoma and to make my first day 2 there. =)
I was running a 4c Delver deck based off a list that was not running more than two Volcanic Islands (as I own only one).
I used that list as a shell and did some works on it.
3 Delver of Secrets
3 Deathrite Shaman
2 Tarmogoyf
2 Young Pyromancer
1 Snapcaster Mage
2 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
1 Vendilion Clique
4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
3 Stifle
2 Spell Pierce
3 Lightning Bolt
1 Sylvan Library
2 Daze
1 Counterspell
3 Abrupt Decay
3 Force of Will
2 Dig Through Time
4 Wasteland
2 Polluted Delta
2 Flooded Strand
2 Misty Rainforest
2 Scalding Tarn
2 Underground Sea
2 Volcanic Island
2 Tropical Island
SB
1 Force of Will
1 Extirpate
2 Pyroblast
1 Dismember
1 Flusterstorm
1 Duress
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Kolaghan's Command
1 Ancient Grudge
1 Sulfur Elemental
1 Vendilion Clique
1 Forked Bolt
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Life from the Loam
Round 1 - Mud 2-1
Game 1 starts off with Cavern of Souls naming construct,
I have between my hand and the top few cards of my library almost all my Wastelands which make me think that I've won. My opponent Wastelands my dual, preventing a Daze, and gets in a Metalworker which I unfortunately have no answers for.
Games 2 and 3 revolved around having some threats and counters for my opponent's. There were a few things I ignored like a Chalice at one and Lightning Greaves. A Wasteland - Life from the Loam lock took place in game 2 to close it. Game 3 was closed with a Force of Will on a slow bomb.
Round 2 - Grixis Delver 1-2
True Name Nemesis is incredibly tough to face from this matchup since I have zero outs apart from winning the damage race.
Game 1, True Name Nemesis comes out midway while we go back and forth trying to disrupt each other. My board could not keep up and easily lost.
Game 2, Stifles and Wastelands combined with Sylvan Library push me far ahead and I easily take the game while my opponent is trying to just see more of my deck which I selectively choose to reveal.
Game 3, I get into a semi Loam lock but my opponent plays a few basics so the lukewarm lock didn't do too much. My normal draws were crappy with lands and bolts facing a True Name Nemesis.
Round 3 - Omnitell 2-0
Both games, Sylvan Library makes it down and takes chunks of my life total in exchange for gas. Delver beats end game 1.
Game 2 I use Vendilion Clique to bash down and have my lone Lightning Bolt to clean up.
Round 4 - Omnitell 2-1
Game 1 ends fast with me having dead cards and no Force of Will.
Game 2 my Delver flips early and I have a Scavenging Ooze to join (and delay Dig Through time) while making a very quick clock.
Game 3 goes with Deathrite Shaman and Young Pyromancer while holding the fort with counters and Wasteland.
Round 5 - Esperblade 2-0
My opponent is the 2014 champion who they say has godly topdeck skills.
He doesn't start out with anything and gets Wastelanded heavily.
I see his hand with Vendilion Clique and beat down using gas from Sylvan Library.
Game 2, he gets out Delver (which I deal with) and True Name Nemesis. I have Deathrite Shaman,
Delver and Young Pyromancer on my side to race with him. After awhile TNN goes into defensive and I chain a bunch of spells to get a small army of elemental tokens out while having an Ancient Grudge in the graveyard from discarding to Jace, Vryn's Prodigy (aka sperm Jace). The grudge stares down the Umezawa's Jitte on the other side and a desperate Clique wearing it leaves the game to me casting Ancient Grudge and my opponent not having any counters which he doesn't and I take the game.
Round 6 - Omnitell 2-1
Prior to the round I am 9th in place and 10th is a burn deck.
I have to play it out and I don't like my chances at all.
Thankfully the pairings changed that and I faced a deck that I was far more comfortable with.
Game 1 I had Delver and counters to keep my game.
Game 2 I had a threat heavy hand but my opponent leisurely goes off once he gets 3 mana and I can't do much.
Game 3, an early Delver and probably another keeps the clock tight and the disruption goes all the way and I secure a high placing in the top 8.
T8 - Burn 2-1
Here I get paired with friggin-worst-matchup aka burn played by a very veteran Mtg player from when I was much younger. The odds don't look good in my favor despite playing first.
Game 1, I get pressed down and I try to stabilize to no avail.
Game 2, I have a get a very strong Deathrite Shaman (which gets killed) followed by a double Gofy draw,
The clock closes down very fast and I have a Force of Will for the Fireblast trying to eat my last 4 points.
Game 3, I Bolt a turn 1 Monastery Swiftspear, my early Delver gets burnt and my Goyf gets hit by Searing Blaze plus a Chain Lightning.
Eventually Goyf #2 comes to save the day and I stabilize at 8 life holding 2x Force of Will while my opponent has to start blocking, even with an Eidolon.
My Goyfs did a good job by showing up.
Technically, any chances of me taking this matchup can be found on goyfs racing.
T4 - Grixis Delver 2-1
We joke that we'd rather lose here than next round because we get a Volcanic Island at 3-4th place versus a Moat at 2nd.
Game 1, we trade blows and a Gurmag Angler comes down which I try to counter but gets Dazed.
I take my chances and attack to force my opponent to have a burn spell to win with my life down to 1 but he doesn't and my Insect Aberration takes the game.
Game 2, I thought that I would be really good with Life from the Loam but it gets countered with every attempt to cast it while a flipped Delver is beating away.
Game 3, we throw everything at each other and the game comes to a point whereby he has a Gurmag Angler, Deathrite Shaman and Young Pyromancer (no tokens) and I have a Young Pyromancer, Delver of Secrets (and something else). I reveal a timely Dig Through Time to flip the delver and cast it on the spot and end up chaining a few cantrips. I crash my guys into my opp and he trades the card I can't recall with Young Pyromancer and I get to Bolt the Deathrite which was already tapped. I hold a Volcanic Island out and a Pyroblast to guard against a Dig Through Time but it gets Wastelanded but no Dig Through Time comes. He casts a Deathrite Shaman which goes into defensive while I pepper some elemental attacks. I eventually win with just enough damage from a full swing. THANK YOU DIG THROUGH TIME!
Finals - vs Jund 2-0
Game 1, my opponent has out a basic Forest and basic Swamp while I have assorted threats from Young Pyromancer and goyf. My opponent eventually tries for a Toxic Deluge but I have Force of Will for it.
Game 2 starts out with us trying to get Deathrite Shaman dominance but I have enough removals for them and the board on my opponent's side looks similar to game 1.I use Sylvan Library to get ahead.
I had to make a difficult choice of having to Force of Will a removal on my Deathrite Shaman to secure my black mana for Abrupt Decay and I did so before using my Wastelands to eat his Wasteland and Grove of the Burnwillow to press down the board. I still get open to a Toxic Deluge but the topdeck was a Sensei's Divining Top which just climbed up there so at 2 mana it was not a possibility.
I won 4x Force of Will (which I sold off to a player at a player price but it's still very decent) and I was drawn a dickbutt on one of my blank cards (haha).
Next is my plan to get 2 round byes at Seattle Tacoma and to make my first day 2 there. =)
Tuesday, 14 July 2015
Post Lille
It's been a week since GP Lille.
I was DQ-ed in round 6 trying to come to a clean win-loss over a draw that would have happened since we were 3 minutes into game 3. I think that I should have dragged game 2 instead of prematurely conceding so that I would have won on a 1-0-1.
Being primarily on MTGO makes one think that games are meant to finish, even if through the clock.
It's something that takes time to cultivate I suppose.
I guess that's how miracles players do it since it gets difficult to close 3 actual games at times I would think (unless using Monastery Mentor as a win con).
The DQ has left me quite shaken since I am at a risk of being suspended depending on how my statement is interpreted. The odds are about 10% that I would be but the chance of it being there clings on very hard. I tried to look around for some info but the only thing I've gathered is that it is unlikely for anyone to be suspended on a first time offence (unless it's very big). I was upfront and honest about it so I hope it turns out well.
It being able to take effect in September is a big problem since GP Seattle-Tacoma is in November.
My friend at the shop was able to help host 2x GPTs at 2 different shops in Modern and in Legacy. Another shop has a Standard GPT for it as well. (I hope the dates do not clash)
I think I should be able to get the byes across those 3 chances since I probably just have to make top 8 for it as most people shouldn't want the byes. At least that is how I heard people used to do it.
For GP Lille, I brought with me 3 decks, a Food Chain deck, my BUG Delver and a deck that was heavily prepared to beat Miracles (or so I thought). They all run on the same BUG base so I only had to swap out some cards to get each one up. I heard that Europe was all about Miracles and Show and Tell. I met so many creature decks. I intended to play Food Chain in the grinders to guard my list, change to my delver if I couldn't win my first 2 attempts, and change to my third list if there were indeed many Miracles and Show and Tell around.
I timed out versus Miracles with Food Chain, got annoyed and changed to my delver deck and played a few grinders before changing to deck 3 to give it a shot and I played in 2 grinders.
I chose to play my delver deck for the GP onsite when I felt that the main reason to play it would be to avoid getting any unnecessary draws.
Round 1 I beat Miracles
Round 2 I lost to Cloudpost
Round 3 I beat Death and Taxes
Round 4 I beat UR Delver (running reactive spells which isn't optimal)
Round 5 I lost to Storm (with a bad call on hindsight after everything happened the way it happened).
Round 6 I was going to draw with Esper stoneblade with Lingering Souls but was DQed.
After that I played in a Legacy rebound side event.
Sunday I gave up playing to get to the artist Michael Sutfin who drew Sensei's Top, Yawgmoth's Bargain and my favorite Vendilion Clique.
I played some random stuff not Legacy after that and called it a day.
France was a very interesting country.
Every wall not privately owned seemed to have graffiti on it, probably an ongoing freedom notion.
There was much greenery around like Singapore, with more further away from the city center.
I'm not too sure why they call Singapore a green city if other places have so much vegetation.
They stand on the right side of the escalators.
Cars are left hand drives.
European women are at least C cupped. Most under that were probably Asian tourists or so I assumed. My brain was constantly narrating this point in many different forms.
They wore comfortable clothes and they like to show their bras from the side or from the shirts being transparent. Hardly anyone wore skirts to draw attention behind. I think their main allure is in front.
Their comic book translations were rather up to date and plentiful. I was quite surprised when I walked into a comic book store along a street littered with such shops. (I was walking a lot)
Everyone was probably used to it being cold since the metro was like an oven when it was frigging warm and there was no air conditioning.
I went to three card shops in Paris. In the third, everyone who came into it came by to shake each other's hands, including mine.
It felt to me like everyone could be French as long as they spoke the language. Everyone looks like what they would look like at my local card shop other than the fact that they primarily spoke French.
There were many people asking for money during my trip, with the first on my train ride to the city from the airport.
A homeless guy came and snatched my fries one night as I was eating at the street side shop.
The day time was incredibly long. I did not ever get to catch the night sky. When I woke up at 5am, the sun was already out and when I was out at 10.30pm, the sky was like the 7pm sky that I know of.
I was glad not to be pickpocketed during my trip and was very cautious throughout.
At Lille, everyone was out on the streets having dinner at 10+pm.
I was DQ-ed in round 6 trying to come to a clean win-loss over a draw that would have happened since we were 3 minutes into game 3. I think that I should have dragged game 2 instead of prematurely conceding so that I would have won on a 1-0-1.
Being primarily on MTGO makes one think that games are meant to finish, even if through the clock.
It's something that takes time to cultivate I suppose.
I guess that's how miracles players do it since it gets difficult to close 3 actual games at times I would think (unless using Monastery Mentor as a win con).
The DQ has left me quite shaken since I am at a risk of being suspended depending on how my statement is interpreted. The odds are about 10% that I would be but the chance of it being there clings on very hard. I tried to look around for some info but the only thing I've gathered is that it is unlikely for anyone to be suspended on a first time offence (unless it's very big). I was upfront and honest about it so I hope it turns out well.
It being able to take effect in September is a big problem since GP Seattle-Tacoma is in November.
My friend at the shop was able to help host 2x GPTs at 2 different shops in Modern and in Legacy. Another shop has a Standard GPT for it as well. (I hope the dates do not clash)
I think I should be able to get the byes across those 3 chances since I probably just have to make top 8 for it as most people shouldn't want the byes. At least that is how I heard people used to do it.
For GP Lille, I brought with me 3 decks, a Food Chain deck, my BUG Delver and a deck that was heavily prepared to beat Miracles (or so I thought). They all run on the same BUG base so I only had to swap out some cards to get each one up. I heard that Europe was all about Miracles and Show and Tell. I met so many creature decks. I intended to play Food Chain in the grinders to guard my list, change to my delver if I couldn't win my first 2 attempts, and change to my third list if there were indeed many Miracles and Show and Tell around.
I timed out versus Miracles with Food Chain, got annoyed and changed to my delver deck and played a few grinders before changing to deck 3 to give it a shot and I played in 2 grinders.
I chose to play my delver deck for the GP onsite when I felt that the main reason to play it would be to avoid getting any unnecessary draws.
Round 1 I beat Miracles
Round 2 I lost to Cloudpost
Round 3 I beat Death and Taxes
Round 4 I beat UR Delver (running reactive spells which isn't optimal)
Round 5 I lost to Storm (with a bad call on hindsight after everything happened the way it happened).
Round 6 I was going to draw with Esper stoneblade with Lingering Souls but was DQed.
After that I played in a Legacy rebound side event.
Sunday I gave up playing to get to the artist Michael Sutfin who drew Sensei's Top, Yawgmoth's Bargain and my favorite Vendilion Clique.
I played some random stuff not Legacy after that and called it a day.
France was a very interesting country.
Every wall not privately owned seemed to have graffiti on it, probably an ongoing freedom notion.
There was much greenery around like Singapore, with more further away from the city center.
I'm not too sure why they call Singapore a green city if other places have so much vegetation.
They stand on the right side of the escalators.
Cars are left hand drives.
European women are at least C cupped. Most under that were probably Asian tourists or so I assumed. My brain was constantly narrating this point in many different forms.
They wore comfortable clothes and they like to show their bras from the side or from the shirts being transparent. Hardly anyone wore skirts to draw attention behind. I think their main allure is in front.
Their comic book translations were rather up to date and plentiful. I was quite surprised when I walked into a comic book store along a street littered with such shops. (I was walking a lot)
Everyone was probably used to it being cold since the metro was like an oven when it was frigging warm and there was no air conditioning.
I went to three card shops in Paris. In the third, everyone who came into it came by to shake each other's hands, including mine.
It felt to me like everyone could be French as long as they spoke the language. Everyone looks like what they would look like at my local card shop other than the fact that they primarily spoke French.
There were many people asking for money during my trip, with the first on my train ride to the city from the airport.
A homeless guy came and snatched my fries one night as I was eating at the street side shop.
The day time was incredibly long. I did not ever get to catch the night sky. When I woke up at 5am, the sun was already out and when I was out at 10.30pm, the sky was like the 7pm sky that I know of.
I was glad not to be pickpocketed during my trip and was very cautious throughout.
At Lille, everyone was out on the streets having dinner at 10+pm.
Sunday, 28 June 2015
Pre-Lille
The past two weeks, I've been trying out Food Chain and discovered the power of Carpet of flowers.
I went 4-0 and 3-1 and 3-2 with Food Chain for a total of 10-3.
Last night I designed a deck to crush miracles and show and tell but was forced a draw against reanimator (which I would have won with another turn) and lost 2 rounds to creature decks which my prototype was fairly weak to. I'm having to figure out what I want to play for GP Lille next weekend. I have the infinite LCQs to do a final run but I probably would fall back to my delver deck that I am more familiar with unless I am more certain of the European metagame which my testing would probably be inaccurate for.
My modern gp run was 5-4 so I don't think I clocked much planeswalker points. I hope that next week would be a good week. Modern was quite crushing mentally with my deck hating me and me already hating the format but I think I should be able to hold my ground in Legacy. My target is the Legacy GP at the end of the year where I hope to get some crucial byes at. Lille would be a place to start to see what Legacy out of Asia and MTGO is like. I suspect the best Legacy players are in Europe but I'll see it for myself with my own way and put everything I have out there.
I hope I can clock some good sleep hours as I have a bad staying habit of getting too excited and not getting proper rest. I was really drained the past two days and I am going off to France in awhile.
I want myself to enjoy the GP.
I went 4-0 and 3-1 and 3-2 with Food Chain for a total of 10-3.
Last night I designed a deck to crush miracles and show and tell but was forced a draw against reanimator (which I would have won with another turn) and lost 2 rounds to creature decks which my prototype was fairly weak to. I'm having to figure out what I want to play for GP Lille next weekend. I have the infinite LCQs to do a final run but I probably would fall back to my delver deck that I am more familiar with unless I am more certain of the European metagame which my testing would probably be inaccurate for.
My modern gp run was 5-4 so I don't think I clocked much planeswalker points. I hope that next week would be a good week. Modern was quite crushing mentally with my deck hating me and me already hating the format but I think I should be able to hold my ground in Legacy. My target is the Legacy GP at the end of the year where I hope to get some crucial byes at. Lille would be a place to start to see what Legacy out of Asia and MTGO is like. I suspect the best Legacy players are in Europe but I'll see it for myself with my own way and put everything I have out there.
I hope I can clock some good sleep hours as I have a bad staying habit of getting too excited and not getting proper rest. I was really drained the past two days and I am going off to France in awhile.
I want myself to enjoy the GP.
Wednesday, 17 June 2015
4-0 with Food Chain
Last night's Legacy event was smaller than usual with only 12 people.
I managed to go 4-0 with Food Chain which I am considering playing for GP Lille.
I beat UWR stoneforge, DNT (with a 1-0 lead from my opp being late), Omnitell and UR delver.
I think the biggest problem I have is that I did well and did not have too much to struggle with.
That may be good for the outcome of the day but it definitely isn't very good for testing.
There are 2 main reasons why I wanted to play Food Chain:
1) It runs basics (and I can play my Singapore Island which I can't in my delver deck).
2) I got whooped by it.
The play that stuck in my mind was my opponent had a Food Chain, a fresh Deathrite Shaman and was tapped out. He exiled Deathrite for mana, and removed cards from the yard to cast Tasigur, exiled it to start the Griffin chains into Emrakul. Woot!
I tend to be very taken aback by the times when I get dominated by a certain archetype.
Following that, the brainstorm process starts to kick in and I try to find means and ways to overcome those archetypes. It's not too difficult to find broad solutions to specific problems.
My losses to lands had evolved my delver deck to have a much strong game against the lands deck.
My losses to Miracles brought my delver deck to a certain configuration much stronger against it as well.
However, I do give up to burn which I figured would probably require too many slots to properly fight.
I do not have a particularly strong 75 versus Food Chain.
I figured that Food Chain is probably at its peak of power with Dig Through Time and Tasigur being in the format and was very drawn to the deck so I took it out for a spin last night.
Legacy is difficult to test because it's not difficult to do well with any deck.
I played a few different decks to at least 3-1 finishes and it's not very indicative of how strong the deck is overall despite being able to see where its weakness lies since it comes down to the matchups and how to deal with their weaknesses and strengths. It becomes very difficult to say "this is the deck I want to play" if it's like that.
Anyway, I'm not too sure of what I am playing still or how to tweak the Food Chain deck and I have a Wed and a Fri (GP Side Event) and perhaps a Sun GP side event) to figure out.
Damn.
I managed to go 4-0 with Food Chain which I am considering playing for GP Lille.
I beat UWR stoneforge, DNT (with a 1-0 lead from my opp being late), Omnitell and UR delver.
I think the biggest problem I have is that I did well and did not have too much to struggle with.
That may be good for the outcome of the day but it definitely isn't very good for testing.
There are 2 main reasons why I wanted to play Food Chain:
1) It runs basics (and I can play my Singapore Island which I can't in my delver deck).
2) I got whooped by it.
The play that stuck in my mind was my opponent had a Food Chain, a fresh Deathrite Shaman and was tapped out. He exiled Deathrite for mana, and removed cards from the yard to cast Tasigur, exiled it to start the Griffin chains into Emrakul. Woot!
I tend to be very taken aback by the times when I get dominated by a certain archetype.
Following that, the brainstorm process starts to kick in and I try to find means and ways to overcome those archetypes. It's not too difficult to find broad solutions to specific problems.
My losses to lands had evolved my delver deck to have a much strong game against the lands deck.
My losses to Miracles brought my delver deck to a certain configuration much stronger against it as well.
However, I do give up to burn which I figured would probably require too many slots to properly fight.
I do not have a particularly strong 75 versus Food Chain.
I figured that Food Chain is probably at its peak of power with Dig Through Time and Tasigur being in the format and was very drawn to the deck so I took it out for a spin last night.
Legacy is difficult to test because it's not difficult to do well with any deck.
I played a few different decks to at least 3-1 finishes and it's not very indicative of how strong the deck is overall despite being able to see where its weakness lies since it comes down to the matchups and how to deal with their weaknesses and strengths. It becomes very difficult to say "this is the deck I want to play" if it's like that.
Anyway, I'm not too sure of what I am playing still or how to tweak the Food Chain deck and I have a Wed and a Fri (GP Side Event) and perhaps a Sun GP side event) to figure out.
Damn.
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