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.
Monday, 12 October 2015
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.
Sunday, 31 May 2015
GPT 30/5/2015
So I recently pieced together a Grixis twin deck, evolved from the Grixis delver deck.
I took it to a GPT and spent some time deliberating on how to go about with the sideboard and tried a 2x Bitterblossom and 4x Spellstutter Sprite configuration to try to play as a faeries deck in game 2.
I think that idea extended from a 2 Bitterblossom slot and some influence from a guy playing a UW control deck with Spellstutter Sprites. I also wasn't sure of what I wanted so I could as well just try and see where it all goes while figuring out what are the tools I need.
The change itself wasn't too bad an idea but I think that the important part would be to accurately identify the decks whereby that strategy is good and where I should fight over the combo more.
A half baked faeries deck isn't going to get too far.
A half baked faeries deck isn't going to get too far.
Playing twin itself was a challenge because I ended up giving up 2 games where I could have won otherwise (on hindsight of course) but I had to be able to identify windows of opportunity to attack.
For example, in a game my opponent tapped out and cast Geist of Saint Traft and I could cast an Exarch. I topdecked Splinter Twin after that and would have won on the spot if I had just cast the Exarch in anticipation of a possible Splinter Twin. I lost the opportunity and the game.
The other instance was when my opponent cast Inquisition of Kozelik and I didn't cast the Exarch although I had double Splinter Twin in hand in fear of a Liliana.
I went 3-2 and dropped. I won collective, lost to URW Geist, won a GBW deck with Lingering Souls, won amulet bloom and lost to Jund (made a mistake of changing into the faeries deck).
Sunday, 17 May 2015
Buddyfight 3DS Password
So my brother bought the DS game for Buddyfight and made me get one too.
As always, I'm collecting the passwords for the game.
As always, I'm collecting the passwords for the game.
Here are some that I have (haven't tested out yet, mainly because there isn't anything I want so there might be errors)
I will update this as time goes on and if I manage to get more info.
Surprisingly, the passwords are not shared much as compared to the VG 3DS games...
Jade Golem Shyatan - てわんをひこえ
Violent Dragon Magnagran - えらあくろしまを
Tsukikage, Giant Shield - くふらてれほまち
Demon Way, Oborogenbu - わてきこへそあも
Black Dragon, Dientes - すてちろもれまか
Demon Lord, Joker Grunwald - にひくふえむ
Jackknife 10000 - にせちよみすりも
Rising Flare, Heat Edge - ほろたとそさきへ
Steel Blooded Dragon, Gavaldine - ねうめふへきの
Drum Bunker Dragon - いちむみこさぬ
Gargantua Punisher - おむやきかまと
Brave of the Sun, Gao - むしよこのさな
Dragon Knight, Tutankhamun - をろめちけこゆ
Witch of Mischief, Iris the Trickster - ぬしせもはゆれ
Update (15/7/2015): You can get (all? I dunno) the passwords from the official page
Thursday, 14 May 2015
Q-ed for a PTQ!!!
So I was bouncing off doing Legacy and Modern DEs (less inclined for Modern) and I noticed that there were these PTQ qualifiers going on. I mapped out the ones I could play in without going the extra mile and figured that I would want to try playing in a PT at some point in my life so I might as well try grinding some of these.
I went 4-1 and am qualified to play in a PTQ (limited) and need to place top to qualify for the PT.
To be honest, this is my first sealed outside prerelease and I have not once drafted the set since I don't do much limited nowadays anymore.
However, I still have in me ingrained years of experience of playing limited and am no slouch when it comes to playing sealed. (Drafting is a different beast altogether)
So I played all my bombs, have good creatures, removals and drew first when I could.
The 2GG 5/4 that gives haste is the nuts. I've had my Elder dragon swinging out on turn 6 with haste thanks to him. My Elder dragon is a frigging 5/7 flying lifelink with built-in Defence Grid to stop my opponent's combat tricks. How awesome is that?
I did make a few blunders that cost me my loss from not knowing exactly what my cards did.
Like in one game, I had Foul Removal but I was under the impression that it gave -x/-x based on the converted mana cost until I cast it and failed to kill the thing I was trying to kill and then realized it gave -x/-x based on the card's toughness.I also thought that bolster gave counters based on power rather than toughness until I cast my 5 mana bolster dude and realized that it was counting toughness instead.
In any case, below is my final moment that came from a turn 2 Soul Summons into my 2GG green Fires of Yavimaya that dominated the game with its hasty badassness,
Next up, to win the PTQ!
Tuesday, 12 May 2015
Preregistered for GP Lille~
GP Lille's webpage is here.
I booked a hostel that is half an hour walking distance from the event location.
I think I'll probably be walking there but I don't think I have much to complain about.
(Need to plan my Paris trip and book the stays)
The GP playmat looks wicked. It's Sensei's (friggin) Divining Top~
I preregistered for the main event and Infinite GPTs. At Kyoto I did 3 so for the same count the money is probably worth it.
Also. I'm back to streaming (figured out what was wrong with the setting of the streaming program) and will be streaming about twice a day for Legacy and maybe a Modern DE if I get to it.
I went 4-0 and 2-2 for Legacy today. Perhaps I'll find something different I want to play along the way but for now it's the NaoDelver list I'm using. I guess being stuck at home isn't all that bad.
I booked a hostel that is half an hour walking distance from the event location.
I think I'll probably be walking there but I don't think I have much to complain about.
(Need to plan my Paris trip and book the stays)
The GP playmat looks wicked. It's Sensei's (friggin) Divining Top~
I preregistered for the main event and Infinite GPTs. At Kyoto I did 3 so for the same count the money is probably worth it.
Also. I'm back to streaming (figured out what was wrong with the setting of the streaming program) and will be streaming about twice a day for Legacy and maybe a Modern DE if I get to it.
I went 4-0 and 2-2 for Legacy today. Perhaps I'll find something different I want to play along the way but for now it's the NaoDelver list I'm using. I guess being stuck at home isn't all that bad.
Monday, 11 May 2015
I lost to Pox...
I'm now officially stuck at home all thanks to chicken pox.
For an adult, it takes 2 weeks to a month to recover. GG.
Other than the fact that it destroyed at least 2 weeks of programs that I have packed myself with, my only solace is in the fact that I should be fine by my birthday which by extention also means GP Singapore and GP Lille are also unaffected.
It does mean that my classes are poof and my grinding of GPTs have come to a halt.
For an adult, it takes 2 weeks to a month to recover. GG.
Other than the fact that it destroyed at least 2 weeks of programs that I have packed myself with, my only solace is in the fact that I should be fine by my birthday which by extention also means GP Singapore and GP Lille are also unaffected.
It does mean that my classes are poof and my grinding of GPTs have come to a halt.
Being stuck at home means one thing: I'm back on MTGO.
I've played in a Tempest Remastered draft to the finals,
played a Modern DE 1-2 drop,
Vintage DE 1-2 drop and also a Legacy DE 3-1, playing in another later on.
I finally managed to get Wasteland #4 so I could get my deck up online.
I've played in a Tempest Remastered draft to the finals,
played a Modern DE 1-2 drop,
Vintage DE 1-2 drop and also a Legacy DE 3-1, playing in another later on.
I finally managed to get Wasteland #4 so I could get my deck up online.
I'll do some reading while staying in the sealed queue (for my bottle gnomes avatar).
My next DE would be the 8pm Legacy. Maybe I'll stream it or something if nothing goes haywire.
My next DE would be the 8pm Legacy. Maybe I'll stream it or something if nothing goes haywire.
Friday, 8 May 2015
Walking to the end of the 2015...
So end June is going to be GP Singapore.
Preregistration can be done at http://cleventsgp.com .
As to why it is so expensive is beyond me.
For a similar price, you'd get much more value going for a modern masters GP.
I can't fathom what goes into the price hike from $45 -> $83.
Thankfully, I am a working adult now, more than capable of paying for a GP, albeit an expensive one. Unfortunately, I just have to say that milking people blatantly is not right.
It's not about what you pay but what you get. We don't really get anything out from the $83 that goes in. If the whole event organization goes well, perhaps there could be some justification done to the price but the people I know are not very hopeful with regards to that.
I'm not very sure about what they mean since I wasn't really playing GP Singapore the past 2 times.
Past midnight on the Sunday of GP Singapore, I'll be headed to Paris, to loiter there a few days before heading down to GP Lille to play Legacy.
To prepare for that, I'm in an 8 week, twice a week course to relearn French in a feeble attempt to not be totally unable to communicate. Obviously, if they speak at their normal pace my brain wouldn't be able to comprehend anything (Je ne comprend pas!) but perhaps if I can use kiddy talk they would see my exterior and recognize me for the non-native I am and try to come down to my level and be kind enough to help me out.
I need to get lodging settled by next week I guess. I've been neglecting that.
I'm not worried about GP Singapore. It's like the next train stop from where I live and I know how to get around the Expo. I'll just be working to get the 2 round byes every single week until then and brushing up my deck along the way (Probably like 7-8 more attempts). Even if I do not eventually obtain the byes, I would have enough experience to get past rounds 1 and 2. I don't actually like Modern other than the fact that the lack of Deathrite Shaman makes it possible to let me cast a turn 2 Gurmag Angler and nothing beats the feeling of that.
As for Legacy, I'm currently scheduled to be playing it on Wednesday nights and I wouldn't be putting in much more effort to work on it. I can't actually get any byes for Lille here.
Tue - French class
Wed- Legacy
Thur - French class
Fri - probably church stuff
Sat/Sun - church day/ modern GPT
After mid-July, I would practice some Mtg Origins sealed to prepare for GP Hong Kong which is over the 8-9 August weekend. I don't think that my limited skills have gone down to the point where a core set would baffle me so I think just a daily lingering in the cards should suffice.
After that is another span of 2 months as I build up towards GP Seattle Tacoma.
Thankfully, it seems like we would be able to get GPTs for that going and a top 8 should allow a negotiation for the 2 round byes.
I'll be there to meet my Mtgo friend "Tweaker" and to play in the third and final Legacy GP of the year. (I'm openly hoping that there would be MTG cosplayers there)
I guess that that GP would be my best chance of doing well since I probably wouldn't have any byes for any of the other GPs I'll be attending.
I guess that would be what I'll be up to for this year.
Preregistration can be done at http://cleventsgp.com .
As to why it is so expensive is beyond me.
For a similar price, you'd get much more value going for a modern masters GP.
I can't fathom what goes into the price hike from $45 -> $83.
Thankfully, I am a working adult now, more than capable of paying for a GP, albeit an expensive one. Unfortunately, I just have to say that milking people blatantly is not right.
It's not about what you pay but what you get. We don't really get anything out from the $83 that goes in. If the whole event organization goes well, perhaps there could be some justification done to the price but the people I know are not very hopeful with regards to that.
I'm not very sure about what they mean since I wasn't really playing GP Singapore the past 2 times.
Past midnight on the Sunday of GP Singapore, I'll be headed to Paris, to loiter there a few days before heading down to GP Lille to play Legacy.
To prepare for that, I'm in an 8 week, twice a week course to relearn French in a feeble attempt to not be totally unable to communicate. Obviously, if they speak at their normal pace my brain wouldn't be able to comprehend anything (Je ne comprend pas!) but perhaps if I can use kiddy talk they would see my exterior and recognize me for the non-native I am and try to come down to my level and be kind enough to help me out.
I need to get lodging settled by next week I guess. I've been neglecting that.
I'm not worried about GP Singapore. It's like the next train stop from where I live and I know how to get around the Expo. I'll just be working to get the 2 round byes every single week until then and brushing up my deck along the way (Probably like 7-8 more attempts). Even if I do not eventually obtain the byes, I would have enough experience to get past rounds 1 and 2. I don't actually like Modern other than the fact that the lack of Deathrite Shaman makes it possible to let me cast a turn 2 Gurmag Angler and nothing beats the feeling of that.
As for Legacy, I'm currently scheduled to be playing it on Wednesday nights and I wouldn't be putting in much more effort to work on it. I can't actually get any byes for Lille here.
Tue - French class
Wed- Legacy
Thur - French class
Fri - probably church stuff
Sat/Sun - church day/ modern GPT
After mid-July, I would practice some Mtg Origins sealed to prepare for GP Hong Kong which is over the 8-9 August weekend. I don't think that my limited skills have gone down to the point where a core set would baffle me so I think just a daily lingering in the cards should suffice.
After that is another span of 2 months as I build up towards GP Seattle Tacoma.
Thankfully, it seems like we would be able to get GPTs for that going and a top 8 should allow a negotiation for the 2 round byes.
I'll be there to meet my Mtgo friend "Tweaker" and to play in the third and final Legacy GP of the year. (I'm openly hoping that there would be MTG cosplayers there)
I guess that that GP would be my best chance of doing well since I probably wouldn't have any byes for any of the other GPs I'll be attending.
I guess that would be what I'll be up to for this year.
Wednesday, 6 May 2015
Legacy 6/5/15
Last night I went 3-1 in a Legacy tourney playing my NaoDelver list, changing a Thrun for Tasigur in the SB.
Round 1 vs Omnitell
My opp came late so we proceeded with a game loss.
However, I lost game 2 as my maindeck configuration isn't very good vs Omni and my opp blind topdecked all his lands which got him out of Daze range.
The last game we traded spells here are there and I had used Extirpate on the Show and Tell discarded via Thoughtseize. He used Cunning Wish to get Through the Breach, had Boseiju to cast it but we were not fighting over that. It resolved, I cast Diabolic Edict backed with Counterspell.
Round 2 vs Miracles
Game 1 saw me going all the way with a Deathrite Shaman and Scavenging Ooze with some counter magic backup.
Game 2, a few Terminus flips push down my singular creatures, I have in play a Tarmogoyf and an Isochron Scepter imprinting Brainstorm. He casts Engineered Explosives for 2 but I have Stifle for it.
Round 3 vs URW Delver
Game 1, I won with my opponent not getting past 2 mana.
Game 2, My opponent has triple Delver of Secrets (one of which I remove with Abrupt Decay) but I lose the race.
Game 3, I keep a Karakas - Wasteland hand which is very risky. My blue sources get removed and I can't come back.
Round 4 vs Sneak and Show
Game 1, my opponent mulligans down to 4. I don't have much to interact but my creatures do their job.
Game 2, I lead with Delver and my opponent casts Show and Tell and has double Omniscience but nothing to end the game with. We fight over my delver and I am left with double Diabolic Edict in hand and my opponent's life goes low. Basically Emrakul or Griselbrand (<7 life) wouldn't help from that state unless he casts a triple Emrakul in a row.
Thankfully, my standings were good enough for me to not end up with packs but double in worth in store credits. (Phew)
Round 1 vs Omnitell
My opp came late so we proceeded with a game loss.
However, I lost game 2 as my maindeck configuration isn't very good vs Omni and my opp blind topdecked all his lands which got him out of Daze range.
The last game we traded spells here are there and I had used Extirpate on the Show and Tell discarded via Thoughtseize. He used Cunning Wish to get Through the Breach, had Boseiju to cast it but we were not fighting over that. It resolved, I cast Diabolic Edict backed with Counterspell.
Round 2 vs Miracles
Game 1 saw me going all the way with a Deathrite Shaman and Scavenging Ooze with some counter magic backup.
Game 2, a few Terminus flips push down my singular creatures, I have in play a Tarmogoyf and an Isochron Scepter imprinting Brainstorm. He casts Engineered Explosives for 2 but I have Stifle for it.
Round 3 vs URW Delver
Game 1, I won with my opponent not getting past 2 mana.
Game 2, My opponent has triple Delver of Secrets (one of which I remove with Abrupt Decay) but I lose the race.
Game 3, I keep a Karakas - Wasteland hand which is very risky. My blue sources get removed and I can't come back.
Round 4 vs Sneak and Show
Game 1, my opponent mulligans down to 4. I don't have much to interact but my creatures do their job.
Game 2, I lead with Delver and my opponent casts Show and Tell and has double Omniscience but nothing to end the game with. We fight over my delver and I am left with double Diabolic Edict in hand and my opponent's life goes low. Basically Emrakul or Griselbrand (<7 life) wouldn't help from that state unless he casts a triple Emrakul in a row.
Thankfully, my standings were good enough for me to not end up with packs but double in worth in store credits. (Phew)
Monday, 4 May 2015
GPT Singapore 03/05/2015
So yesterday, I went for a GPT Singapore (Modern) which somehow ended up with a 15 man turnout.
Unfortunately, I went 2-2 (1 win was a bye) and failed to make top8 (naturally).
Round 1, I lost to UW with Ojutai
Game 1, I had very poor draws and my threats could not stick. Was a very odd game but I felt like I could take the other 2 games.
Game 2, a sudden appearance by Spellstutter Sprite thwarted my game and forced me to choose how to allocate my removals. I had wasted removals on the faeries and was stuck against a Celestial Colonnade that ended the game because of an Engineered Explosives that forced me to wipe both graveyards with Relic of Progenitus.
Round 2, I lost to Splinter Twin, both games with me being stuck on 3 mana while my opponent has a turn 4 Deceiver Exarch + Dispel, Turn 5 Splinter Twin. Game 2 I had a turn 2 Spellskite out but he had 2x Lightning Bolts for it.
Insanely short games. His "not everyday is Sunday" luck helped him to go all the way to win the GPT against many lucky scenarios and some bad plays from his opponent.
Round 3 bye.
Round 4 vs Splinter Twin, 2-0.
I had a more decent hand and I knew what I was facing. I started by opting to draw on the die roll.
My opp had 3x Snapcaster Mage 1x Splinter Twin hand versus my threats.
I recalled that against a similar deck earlier, he had removed his combo pieces.
I tried to sideboard with that in mind and made some slight adjustments to not be open to it.
I had Relic of Progenitus to mess his yard and disrupt his Snapcaster Mage while I had my aggro game up. Won via a very control route.
Talked to the other Grixis delver player, told him about Kolaghan's Command and we decided to take out Electrolyze (which we both disliked) for Grim Lavamancer, perhaps influenced by its performance in the match of the Splinter Twin player versus affinity.
Have to continue to grind for the 2 byes.
Unfortunately, I went 2-2 (1 win was a bye) and failed to make top8 (naturally).
Round 1, I lost to UW with Ojutai
Game 1, I had very poor draws and my threats could not stick. Was a very odd game but I felt like I could take the other 2 games.
Game 2, a sudden appearance by Spellstutter Sprite thwarted my game and forced me to choose how to allocate my removals. I had wasted removals on the faeries and was stuck against a Celestial Colonnade that ended the game because of an Engineered Explosives that forced me to wipe both graveyards with Relic of Progenitus.
Round 2, I lost to Splinter Twin, both games with me being stuck on 3 mana while my opponent has a turn 4 Deceiver Exarch + Dispel, Turn 5 Splinter Twin. Game 2 I had a turn 2 Spellskite out but he had 2x Lightning Bolts for it.
Insanely short games. His "not everyday is Sunday" luck helped him to go all the way to win the GPT against many lucky scenarios and some bad plays from his opponent.
Round 3 bye.
Round 4 vs Splinter Twin, 2-0.
I had a more decent hand and I knew what I was facing. I started by opting to draw on the die roll.
My opp had 3x Snapcaster Mage 1x Splinter Twin hand versus my threats.
I recalled that against a similar deck earlier, he had removed his combo pieces.
I tried to sideboard with that in mind and made some slight adjustments to not be open to it.
I had Relic of Progenitus to mess his yard and disrupt his Snapcaster Mage while I had my aggro game up. Won via a very control route.
Talked to the other Grixis delver player, told him about Kolaghan's Command and we decided to take out Electrolyze (which we both disliked) for Grim Lavamancer, perhaps influenced by its performance in the match of the Splinter Twin player versus affinity.
Have to continue to grind for the 2 byes.
Tuesday, 28 April 2015
GPT Singapore 26/4/2015
Last Sunday, I went for a Modern GPT to try to get my 2 byes.
I was invited by my friend to go to a place in the west (1+ hr from my place) to play in a small GPT (16 man with preregistration). Eventually the place had 19 players, 3 of them walked-in so it became 5 rounds swiss with t8.
I went there because it sounded like the odds of getting the byes were really good.
I settled for a deck hybrid of the Young Pyromancer deck and the Zombie Fish with reference to MTGO daily results.
I couldn't really figure out the sideboard so I jammed cards that I could find.
I played:
4 Delver of Secrets
3 Snapcaster Mage
3 Zombie fish (don't have my cards now)
2 Young Pyromancer
2 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
4 Serum Vision
2 Gitaxian Probe
1 Deprive
1 Stubborn Denial
2 Mana Leak
4 Lightning Bolt
1 Burst Lightning
1 BR Command
4 Terminate (changing 1 to Murderous Cut to control the yard better)
4 Thought Scour
1 Electrolyze
2 Spell Snare
4 Polluted Delta
4 Bloodstained Mire
2 Steam Vents
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Watery Grave
1 Blood Crypt
4 Island
1 Swamp
1 Mountain
SB
1 Spellskite
1 Vandalblast
2 Blood Moon
3 Blightning
1 Rakdos Charm
1 Izzet Staticaster
1 Counter instant card
1 Stubborn Denial
1 Vendilion Clique
2 Dragon Claw
1 something
I went 4-0-1 in the swiss, and went to t4 before losing.
All my opponents made t8.
Round 1 vs Jund
2-0 with hyper aggressive turn 2 Zombie fish.
Delvers really require answers and Zombie fish is really tough to crack.
Round 2 vs Splinter Twin
Not sure if they run less combo pieces nowadays but having cheap answers plus disruption really went a long way. Kinda why it failed in Legacy.
Round 3 vs Tron
Game 1 I died to Wurmcoil Engine.
Game 2, Blood Moon plugged a turn 3 tron set and I managed to go all the way.
Game 3, he had a turn 3 Tron set and dropped an Oblivion Stone after which I played Blood Moon.
I was quite lucky to manage to control the board by killing my own stuff and forcing my opponent to wipe the board to exile his Wurmcoil Engine. The exchanges after that were quite unusual as I was struggling not to fall behind Eye of Ugin. I ended up winning when my opponent searched up Kozilek and tried to bomb my Young Pyromancer and I cast Lightning Bolt at him, and had 2 elemental tokens.
Round 4 vs Ad Nauseum
Everyone thought that we would ID. I kinda wanted planeswalker points.
He came and thought that he could help his friend get t8 by controlling the top tables.
Aggro zombie fish really stressed out the opponent who ended up having to play Angel's Grace as to not lose.
Game 2 I disrupted what I could with Blightning, RB command hitting his Pentad Prism + discard and forced him to try go off on my turn but I had counter magic for his Ad Nausuem.
Round 5 ID (Splinter Twin)
Top 8 vs Infect
Game 1, I drop down to 12 lift and a Dryad Arbor gets pumped to 12 points, killing me.
I made a mistake by not casting a blocker although I suspected that that would be a possible hole.
Game 2, he went down to 1 and I topdeck a Blightning which dodges Spellskite.
Game 3, I find out that Stubborn Denial is a Negate and not a Counterspell.
My opponent doesn't have many infect guys and tries to press me down with normal damage but I have a Young Pyromancer horizontally protecting me so I slowly gain full control over the game and have counters to manage pump spells.
Top 4 vs Jund (from round 1)
I had quite weak draws game 1 and I had a very bad flow like having delvers facing an active Chandra and casting both and not managing to flip (so both eventually died).
Game 2 my opponent had Batterskull on a Tarmogoyf and drew a Bonfire of the Damned to miracle me out of the game.
Looks like I still have to go around to grind out byes.
I was invited by my friend to go to a place in the west (1+ hr from my place) to play in a small GPT (16 man with preregistration). Eventually the place had 19 players, 3 of them walked-in so it became 5 rounds swiss with t8.
I went there because it sounded like the odds of getting the byes were really good.
I settled for a deck hybrid of the Young Pyromancer deck and the Zombie Fish with reference to MTGO daily results.
I couldn't really figure out the sideboard so I jammed cards that I could find.
I played:
4 Delver of Secrets
3 Snapcaster Mage
3 Zombie fish (don't have my cards now)
2 Young Pyromancer
2 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
4 Serum Vision
2 Gitaxian Probe
1 Deprive
1 Stubborn Denial
2 Mana Leak
4 Lightning Bolt
1 Burst Lightning
1 BR Command
4 Terminate (changing 1 to Murderous Cut to control the yard better)
4 Thought Scour
1 Electrolyze
2 Spell Snare
4 Polluted Delta
4 Bloodstained Mire
2 Steam Vents
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Watery Grave
1 Blood Crypt
4 Island
1 Swamp
1 Mountain
SB
1 Spellskite
1 Vandalblast
2 Blood Moon
3 Blightning
1 Rakdos Charm
1 Izzet Staticaster
1 Counter instant card
1 Stubborn Denial
1 Vendilion Clique
2 Dragon Claw
1 something
I went 4-0-1 in the swiss, and went to t4 before losing.
All my opponents made t8.
Round 1 vs Jund
2-0 with hyper aggressive turn 2 Zombie fish.
Delvers really require answers and Zombie fish is really tough to crack.
Round 2 vs Splinter Twin
Not sure if they run less combo pieces nowadays but having cheap answers plus disruption really went a long way. Kinda why it failed in Legacy.
Round 3 vs Tron
Game 1 I died to Wurmcoil Engine.
Game 2, Blood Moon plugged a turn 3 tron set and I managed to go all the way.
Game 3, he had a turn 3 Tron set and dropped an Oblivion Stone after which I played Blood Moon.
I was quite lucky to manage to control the board by killing my own stuff and forcing my opponent to wipe the board to exile his Wurmcoil Engine. The exchanges after that were quite unusual as I was struggling not to fall behind Eye of Ugin. I ended up winning when my opponent searched up Kozilek and tried to bomb my Young Pyromancer and I cast Lightning Bolt at him, and had 2 elemental tokens.
Round 4 vs Ad Nauseum
Everyone thought that we would ID. I kinda wanted planeswalker points.
He came and thought that he could help his friend get t8 by controlling the top tables.
Aggro zombie fish really stressed out the opponent who ended up having to play Angel's Grace as to not lose.
Game 2 I disrupted what I could with Blightning, RB command hitting his Pentad Prism + discard and forced him to try go off on my turn but I had counter magic for his Ad Nausuem.
Round 5 ID (Splinter Twin)
Top 8 vs Infect
Game 1, I drop down to 12 lift and a Dryad Arbor gets pumped to 12 points, killing me.
I made a mistake by not casting a blocker although I suspected that that would be a possible hole.
Game 2, he went down to 1 and I topdeck a Blightning which dodges Spellskite.
Game 3, I find out that Stubborn Denial is a Negate and not a Counterspell.
My opponent doesn't have many infect guys and tries to press me down with normal damage but I have a Young Pyromancer horizontally protecting me so I slowly gain full control over the game and have counters to manage pump spells.
Top 4 vs Jund (from round 1)
I had quite weak draws game 1 and I had a very bad flow like having delvers facing an active Chandra and casting both and not managing to flip (so both eventually died).
Game 2 my opponent had Batterskull on a Tarmogoyf and drew a Bonfire of the Damned to miracle me out of the game.
Looks like I still have to go around to grind out byes.
GP Kyoto Recap
So GP Kyoto is in the books and I didn't do too well in it.
I played my NaoDelver deck:
My rounds were chronicled on my playmat because I was damaging the Swords to Plowshares playmat from the GP too fast and I wanted to play on a playmat that I could afford damaging all the while making it interesting with an idea I came up with.
Round 1 vs Miracles
Game 1, my opponent started with Plains, Plains, Island, Mountain and couldn't do much with a hand of Vendilion Clique, Dig Through Time and Counterbalance that all needed UU.
Game 2, the combination of Stifle and Wastelands really suppressed the game. He could have cracked both his fetches at once but he cracked them across two turns, when I had mana available.
More land > 4th Ponder.
Round 2 vs Lands
Game 1, my opponent managed to get out a quick Marit Lage token, Bob drew me lands and I had no answer to it.
Game 2, my notes tell me that my opponent had 2 Punishing Fires in hand. Seems like I dealt my opponent 2 damage a turn so I might have cast Deathrite Shaman or had a tiny goyf or somehow managed to deal with that.
Game 3, I had in play Bitterblossom against which he casts Jace (which doesn't really interact well with the faerie tokens). I managed to attack into Jace and also a Nissa Worldwaker. The Marit Lage combo was out but I had a triple barrier of Karakas and Wasteland and Faerie tokens.
Life from the Loam helped me to maintain one Wasteland in play to prevent a wipeout from Tabernacle which ultimately secured the game. A Stifle stopped an Engineered Explosives set at 0.
Round 3 vs RUG Delver
Game 1, a Nimble Mongoose + burn managed to take the game while my cards hit all his counters (like Daze, Spell Snare). I was land-lite so I could not play around anything.
Game 2, I opted to draw first knowing that this would end up in an attrition match.
It did but I could not get my lands out and he managed to put down a Delver of Secrets which managed to go all the way vs my 0 lands.
Round 4 vs Jund
Game 1, Punishing Fires and Bloodbraid Elves took the game far away after my early Bitterblossom got hit by Thoughtseize.
Game 2, I had a landful hand that did was not able to interact with Jund. It did not help that my Life from the Loam did not see any Wasteland.
Round 5 vs Burn
Game 1 was just creatures followed by burn spells after burn spells.
Game 2, I managed to get a True-Name Nemesis down with an Umezawa's Jitte but was at a horrendously low life total. I ended up with 1 life and open to any burn spell but the last card in my opponent's hand was a land so I managed to climb out from there.
Game 3, I kept a 1 land hand that could handle some burn hands but I was stuck too long without my second land for me to do the plan to race the opponent.
Round 6 vs UR Delver
Both games I was pressed aggressively and I could not put up a strong enough defense and crumbled eventually.
Round 7 - No Show
Round 8 vs Ant
Game 1, I denied his mana and countered his rituals to prevent him from starting anything while Bob added more fuel.
Game 2, my opponent tried to go for it turn 1 ending with an Infernal Tutor but I had Force of Will.
I had to build up slowly to put some pressure but it wasn't particularly difficult from there.
Round 9 vs Enchantress
Game 1, I slowly attacked and countered components. The enchantments themselves did not do too much so I could slowly trade countermagic on the game changing enchantments.
Game 2, I was hit by the Rest in Peace + Helm of Obedience combo just after I had removed Enchantress' Prescence. There was quite a bit going on between some enchantments and Serra's Sanctum so I was taken aback when I did not have the window to react.
Game 3, my opponent had one of those slower hands and my creatures + counters took the game.
5-4
Super Sunday Series
Round 1 vs Miracles
Game 1, my life was chipped down by Bitterblossom and it looks like I took the game.
Game 2, I managed to disrupt his mana development and he had 2 Terminus and a Swords to Plowshares stuck in hand (versus my Thrun!). He managed to topdeck one from the top but I countered it and he soon scooped as his Top knew his fate and Stifle kept it like that.
Round 2 vs Esper Stoneblade
Game 1, I see a Batterskull unmolested and bashing.
Game 2, I had a timely Marsh Casualties for an open Vendilion Clique and True-Name Nemesis but my opponent had Force of Will for it and the game spiralled away since I don't have another proper answer. My own True-Name Nemesis doesn't help to race.
Round 3 vs Show and Tell (with black and red)
Game 1, my notes that my opponent's life total ended at 15. I think Show and Tell resolved and I had no answer.
Game 2, my notes showed that my opponent went down to 3 and I was at 14. I think Omniscience resolved and Emrakul came down and I did not any blocker on my side.
Round 4 vs Tezzerator
Games 1 and 2 look very one sided from the damage side. I recall Standstill messing up his Ensnaring Bridge and I know I managed to counter the key spells like Transmute Artifact / Tezzeret. His Chalice of the Void set at 1 did not affect me and I let him play his 1 mana card into it and told him that it was countered. Chalice users ALWAYS don't remember that it's 2-way.
Round 5 vs BUG Delver
Game 1, I think I had a True-Name Nemesis out and stopped his.
Game 2, I was on a mana problem and he flooded out his creatures. Couldn't come back from that.
Game 3, I managed to have the upper hand but his cards began to mirror mine and there was a slight stalemate. The game was decided when I drew Umezawa's Jitte and equipped. He scooped knowing that the tide of the game was tilted.
Round 6 vs Dredge
Game 1 starts out with LED, land, Breakthrough. I could not really do anything so I lost quite fast.
Game 2, my opponent had a very odd hand and I had multiple Deathrite Shamans in play as he played out 4 lands while I countered his discard spells, sealed with a Grafdigger's Cage.
Game 3, I cast a Deathrite Shaman and Firestorm blasts it away. My opponent slowly dredges against my Dark Confidant but I keep drawing into nothingness. I trade Dark Confidant with a zombie token to remove a singular Bridge from Below and hope that my opponent doesn't dredge into the goods. I eventually get Deathrite Shamans down and have to chump block. My opponent keeps his Narcomoebas in play and a sudden Grafdigger's Cage prevents him from sacrificing the Narcomoeba while I try to survive 2 points of jellyfish damage using Deathrite Shaman. Eventually, my opponent runs out in the deck and I win that way. I only had to be careful not to be careless to kill the jellyfishes.
Round 7 vs Elves
Game 1, my opponent had a few measly elves but 2 Deathrite Shamans in the mix. I had only one so he just simply ate all the sorceries and instants to knock out my life total. My counters simply added fuel to my eventual demise.
Game 2, my hand was Umezawa's Jitte, Abrupt Decay and Force of Will when my opponent cast Natural Order and I couldn't get back from an attack from the team plus Craterhoof Behemoth.
Round 8 vs Omnitell
Game 1, I had slowly chipped the opponent's life by 2 while disrupting the mana base and preparing for a counter war. A turn 2 Bob allowed the game to flow in my favor.
Game 2, Show and tell + Omniscience took the game.
Game 3, I had to Diabolic Edict myself to prevent an accidental death to Bob since it wasn't worth the risk to lose a game when I could probably win from an even footing. Eventually that plan panned out fine.
Round 9 vs Omnitell
Game 1, unfortunately for my opponent, I had 2 active Deathrite Shamans going on and I was chipping off his life and disrupting him with Wasteland but he ultimately managed cast Show and Tell off a Boseiju and he put out Emrakul. Our life totals were 6 to 19 by then. I cast Delver of Secrets and passed the turn. He attacked, I tried to Stifle but he cast Force of Will. I had Counterspell in hand but I looked at the board and decided that it didn't matter. I activated 2x Deathrite Shaman and brought him down to 1, sacrificed 6 permanents, kept a Deathrite Shaman and a Delver of Secrets and took 15, going down to 4. I untapped and attacked for the win. (The picture on the playmat illustrates this)
Game 2, I cast Thoughtseize to see 2x Dig Through Time, 2x Cunning Wish so I discarded Dig Through Time (as it is more annoying) and I have Extirpate in hand. I managed to Extirpate it later on to catch 2 Dig Through Time from hand (he drew 1 more) and I snagged up all 4 to my surprise (because I thought that one would be a Cunning Wish target. He didn't use his windows to cast Cunning Wish, perhaps trying not to lose life to Boseiju, but that allowed me to take full control over the game.
6-3
Monday, 13 April 2015
Pre GP Kyoto (T-1)
As of now, I have about a day to prepare for the trip itself.
I've set aside the exact amount for lodging so I need to plan money for traveling, food and spending.
I'm working on a spreadsheet with timetables, maps etc now.
Hopefully I get to finish it by today.
I'm reaching Itami airport in the morning of Thursday 9.10am.
For my lunch, I shall try out the Endo sushi for their omakase (means leave it to you) which includes an Ootoro (fatty tuna that would make you forget that you're eating fish) and 4 other random sushi for JPY 1050.
Here's a guide to the place if you want to eat there too. (open 5am to 2pm, closed on Sunday and public hols - the next is Apr 29).
After that, I'll be off to Denden town to buy some cards and stuff for the afternoon before settling dinner at somewhere cool (since I have options) and heading off to the dorm in Kyoto by 10pm. (Probably have to take dinner earlier to not be too late as travelling to Kyoto would take about an hour.)
Friday morning, I'll be playing in the Last Chance GPT in hopes of getting byes.
Registration starts at 10:00 and is cheaper if registered then.
Last Chance GPT Legacy
Entry fee: JPY 2,000 (JPY 1,000 if registered from 10:00~11:00)Registration timing: 10:00~16:00
Format: Legacy, 5 round, Single Elimination
Prizes: 1st place gets 2 round bye
1~8th placing gets Dragons of Tarkir packs (Japanese).
Starts when 32 people sign up.
After the day is over, I will be going to a place called Kyoto Ninja, a ninja themed restaurant.
I've managed to rope a few people to go with me so we'll probably go together at the end of the day.
Saturday is the event itself. I will play all the way even if I end up not eligible for day 2 (to get some planeswalker points to work for byes). (Unfortunately, no shop has bothered making a GPT Lille and it's past the shop's registration period - I went to ask yesterday - so I'll be getting them to do GPT Seattle-Tacoma when the time comes)
If I don't make it day 2 (which I haven't as of now), I shall be playing in the SSS event.
19 Apr 2015 (Sun)
Super Sunday Series Panda Cup Legacy
Entry fee: JPY 3,000
Registration timing: Saturday 09:00~21:00Format: Legacy
Pax: 409
Prizes:
1st gets a 10k point charged Hobby Station point card.
2nd~8th get a 3k point charged Hobby Station point card.
Top 4 get invite to the Draft Finals.
Top 16 get Dragons of Tarkir packs (Japanese) according to the tournament size.
The next day I shall be up reasonably early to make my way to the airport.
Unfortunately for me, I just found out that I have to make my way from Haneda (Tokyo) to Narita (Tokyo) as part of the transit. I was quite shocked this morning when I realized this but I guess I will just have to suck it up and rush over to the next airport.
I spent yesterday goldfishing a final change that knocked out #4 Deathrite Shaman in favor of a card that I have touched every season. I'm not certain how this goes but I somewhat disliked having multiple Deathrite Shamans hanging around so that evolved from that. I also came up with a plan to up my chances against Miracles so lets see how it all turns out at the event.
Tuesday, 7 April 2015
Road to Kyoto '15 - 7/4/15
I spent half a day thinking about Shorecrasher Elemental, thinking that its blink ability was similar to that of AEtherling, popping back in at the end of turn. I got really excited with the notion that I would have something to make life for Miracles more difficult but when I went to the shop and almost bought a foil copy, I read the text again and to my horror, it kinda just flipped down so it's still open to Council's Judgment and Terminus. =(
I wonder if it's still worth considering now.
I wonder if it's still worth considering now.
Sunday, 5 April 2015
Road to Kyoto '15 - 6/4/15
Yesterday, I played in the GPT Kyoto (Legacy) in an attempt to get the 2 round byes.
Unfortunately for me, I was on my alternate art Force of Will playmat (my serious playmat that I went 0-3 with last year in the local Legacy big event) and I carried on the lifetime losing streak of another 0-3 to a total of 0-6 before finally getting 2 wins (dredge and RUG delver), going 2-3 in the event.
Last minute, at the event, I changed the squid for Umezawa's Jitte to test whether or not that card belongs in the deck.
Round 1, I played against Miracles.
Miracles is tough because I do not have reach so this means that as long as my opponent is not at 0, there is a chance that I might just outright lose. (More on this later on)
The key point in the game was the last turn of game 3 where my opponent used Sensei's Divining Top to get to Pyroclasm which wiped my board which threatened lethal damage next turn.
Round 2, I faced a BUG delver deck.
The opponent was playing rather sloppily but my hands were not very good. He managed to stick down Dark Confidant protected by Deathrite Shamans vs my Diabolic Edicts in game 2 and in the last game he had 2 Force of Wills for my Marsh Casualties and my True-Name Nemesis. I had in play an Umezawa's Jitte (but no creatures - hoping that True-Name Nemesis + Jitte would go all the way) and had Redirect in hand but he misplayed early and locked himself out of green so he couldn't cast his Abrupt Decays. -_-"
Round 3, I faced Painter.
I won game 1 but I lost game 2 to a Sudden Shock off the Sensei's Divining Top on the turn before I would beat for lethal damage and in that game Bob hit both Dig through Time and Force of Will so I was trying very hard to manage the life totals. Game 3 my opponent had multiple Painter's Savant versus my plan to destroy the Painter in response to the Grindstone activation.
0-3
Round 4, I faced Dredge.
This is a rather bad matchup (traditionally) but I somehow won game 1 on the back of Deathrite Shaman doing its best to control the graveyard, joined by 2 more.
Game 2, I had Extirpate for Bridge from Below and Stifled a Narcomoeba trigger along the way.
2x Ichorid was beating me down.
I eventually managed to get Deathrite Shaman to deal with his Ichorid but he had a 8/8 Golgari Grave Troll beating down. However, his deck was really small by then and I easily chumped all the way to the last card.
Round 5, I faced RUG delver.
Game 1, the RUG king didn't play around Stifle so that and Wasteland went a long way.
Game 2, the game came down to a creature faceoff and my opponent down to 3, I had Abrupt Decay for his flipped delver so I managed to win.
2-3
Eventually, the top 8 split and gave the byes to a friend who is also going to Kyoto so I'm happy for him.
(I was quite happy to finally get out of the losing streak of the Force of Will playmat.)
After that I playtested against Miracles to get a feel of how to beat the deck.
I concluded that I would want to have 1-2 threats pressuring my opponent and that Jace would wreck me.
In the end, I found myself wanting to replace Spell Pierce (maybe 2), Daze (1 copy) for hard spells like Counterspell since Spell Pierce doesn't do anything against many decks in the format (like what is it supposed to hit vs BUG or Stoneblade). Ultimately, I am faced with the same line that made me go away from Divert in that people do not have to do anything too special to naturally play around it so I might as well play a hard version.
I know that that weakens my combo matchup so I'm not sure how I want to approach it.
I do know that if I do, my deck would look really different from whatever is currently being played.
I also need to figure out whether or not to use my playmat. Maybe I should just use what I get from the event. =/ Or did I exhaust all its bad luck already?
I play rather well in my own understanding but I don't have the luck to get through any serious events and that boggles me to no end.
Unfortunately for me, I was on my alternate art Force of Will playmat (my serious playmat that I went 0-3 with last year in the local Legacy big event) and I carried on the lifetime losing streak of another 0-3 to a total of 0-6 before finally getting 2 wins (dredge and RUG delver), going 2-3 in the event.
Last minute, at the event, I changed the squid for Umezawa's Jitte to test whether or not that card belongs in the deck.
Round 1, I played against Miracles.
Miracles is tough because I do not have reach so this means that as long as my opponent is not at 0, there is a chance that I might just outright lose. (More on this later on)
The key point in the game was the last turn of game 3 where my opponent used Sensei's Divining Top to get to Pyroclasm which wiped my board which threatened lethal damage next turn.
Round 2, I faced a BUG delver deck.
The opponent was playing rather sloppily but my hands were not very good. He managed to stick down Dark Confidant protected by Deathrite Shamans vs my Diabolic Edicts in game 2 and in the last game he had 2 Force of Wills for my Marsh Casualties and my True-Name Nemesis. I had in play an Umezawa's Jitte (but no creatures - hoping that True-Name Nemesis + Jitte would go all the way) and had Redirect in hand but he misplayed early and locked himself out of green so he couldn't cast his Abrupt Decays. -_-"
Round 3, I faced Painter.
I won game 1 but I lost game 2 to a Sudden Shock off the Sensei's Divining Top on the turn before I would beat for lethal damage and in that game Bob hit both Dig through Time and Force of Will so I was trying very hard to manage the life totals. Game 3 my opponent had multiple Painter's Savant versus my plan to destroy the Painter in response to the Grindstone activation.
0-3
Round 4, I faced Dredge.
This is a rather bad matchup (traditionally) but I somehow won game 1 on the back of Deathrite Shaman doing its best to control the graveyard, joined by 2 more.
Game 2, I had Extirpate for Bridge from Below and Stifled a Narcomoeba trigger along the way.
2x Ichorid was beating me down.
I eventually managed to get Deathrite Shaman to deal with his Ichorid but he had a 8/8 Golgari Grave Troll beating down. However, his deck was really small by then and I easily chumped all the way to the last card.
Round 5, I faced RUG delver.
Game 1, the RUG king didn't play around Stifle so that and Wasteland went a long way.
Game 2, the game came down to a creature faceoff and my opponent down to 3, I had Abrupt Decay for his flipped delver so I managed to win.
2-3
Eventually, the top 8 split and gave the byes to a friend who is also going to Kyoto so I'm happy for him.
(I was quite happy to finally get out of the losing streak of the Force of Will playmat.)
After that I playtested against Miracles to get a feel of how to beat the deck.
I concluded that I would want to have 1-2 threats pressuring my opponent and that Jace would wreck me.
In the end, I found myself wanting to replace Spell Pierce (maybe 2), Daze (1 copy) for hard spells like Counterspell since Spell Pierce doesn't do anything against many decks in the format (like what is it supposed to hit vs BUG or Stoneblade). Ultimately, I am faced with the same line that made me go away from Divert in that people do not have to do anything too special to naturally play around it so I might as well play a hard version.
I know that that weakens my combo matchup so I'm not sure how I want to approach it.
I do know that if I do, my deck would look really different from whatever is currently being played.
I also need to figure out whether or not to use my playmat. Maybe I should just use what I get from the event. =/ Or did I exhaust all its bad luck already?
I play rather well in my own understanding but I don't have the luck to get through any serious events and that boggles me to no end.
Wednesday, 1 April 2015
Road to Kyoto '15 - 1/4/15
Went 3-0 split last night, winning Esper Stoneblade, Omnitell and Lands with a split for first place.
The maindeck Diabolic Edicts and sideboard Life from the Loam really shined, with Edict beating Iona on blue, stoneblade's Tasigur and it was an out vs both the really hard to beat Emrakul and Marit Lage.
I tried a Dig Through Time over Dark Confidant #3 and it was really good, providing threats vs an active Punishing Fires lock and it provided very high quality cards. I have to say that they are good in very different parts of the game just like how Standstill and Ancestral Vision were so I think as much as they have dis-synergies with each other, I think that they can coexist well.
That said, Redirect was rather bad against Stoneblade when I was hoping to Redirect a Swords to Plowshares. That made me rethink what I want to play in that slot or how many I should even have since technically the first (if it catches anything) is already a very huge blowout. Perhaps I can free up an additional sideboard slot for something else.
In the middle of the tournament, I bought a foil Thoughseize (since the shop didn't have normal Thoughtseizes anyway) so I can finally replace the Duress slot.
I was also considering running Extirpate in place of Surgical Extraction since the Split second makes blue unable to react to a secret attack like Extirpate on nonbasic land or can break through soft answers like cycle land to save loam.
I have also decided to travel to France for GP Lille (Legacy) right after GP Singapore and I will take 2 months of French lessons prior to the trip (while not expecting to be able to use anything).
My tentative schedule is as follows:
5th April - GPT Kyoto
16th April ~ 20 April - GP Kyoto
Originally wanted to go to GP Chiba at end May for Modern Masters but my friend isn't going (I'm already headed to Kyoto alone) so I can't really bring myself to so I decided to go to Lille instead since it doesn't cost too significantly more.
26th June~28th June - GP Singapore
29th June - Travel to Paris
3rd July~5th July - GP Lille
7th~9th August - GP Hong Kong (Limited)
I've never made day 2 at a GP yet so I hope to do so sometime this year.
I pray that I'll have the luck to make it through the bigger events as I have terrible "serious" luck.
The maindeck Diabolic Edicts and sideboard Life from the Loam really shined, with Edict beating Iona on blue, stoneblade's Tasigur and it was an out vs both the really hard to beat Emrakul and Marit Lage.
I tried a Dig Through Time over Dark Confidant #3 and it was really good, providing threats vs an active Punishing Fires lock and it provided very high quality cards. I have to say that they are good in very different parts of the game just like how Standstill and Ancestral Vision were so I think as much as they have dis-synergies with each other, I think that they can coexist well.
That said, Redirect was rather bad against Stoneblade when I was hoping to Redirect a Swords to Plowshares. That made me rethink what I want to play in that slot or how many I should even have since technically the first (if it catches anything) is already a very huge blowout. Perhaps I can free up an additional sideboard slot for something else.
In the middle of the tournament, I bought a foil Thoughseize (since the shop didn't have normal Thoughtseizes anyway) so I can finally replace the Duress slot.
I was also considering running Extirpate in place of Surgical Extraction since the Split second makes blue unable to react to a secret attack like Extirpate on nonbasic land or can break through soft answers like cycle land to save loam.
I have also decided to travel to France for GP Lille (Legacy) right after GP Singapore and I will take 2 months of French lessons prior to the trip (while not expecting to be able to use anything).
My tentative schedule is as follows:
5th April - GPT Kyoto
16th April ~ 20 April - GP Kyoto
Originally wanted to go to GP Chiba at end May for Modern Masters but my friend isn't going (I'm already headed to Kyoto alone) so I can't really bring myself to so I decided to go to Lille instead since it doesn't cost too significantly more.
26th June~28th June - GP Singapore
29th June - Travel to Paris
3rd July~5th July - GP Lille
7th~9th August - GP Hong Kong (Limited)
I've never made day 2 at a GP yet so I hope to do so sometime this year.
I pray that I'll have the luck to make it through the bigger events as I have terrible "serious" luck.
Wednesday, 25 March 2015
Road to Kyoto '15 - 25/3/15
Yesterday, I went 3-1, losing to Painter and winning lands, aggro loam, UR delver.
Duress was crappy in a critical moment vs Painter. I shall play 2x Thoughtseize (need to buy one).
The secret Bitterblossom played a huge part in winning against lands and aggro loam.
It helped to generate blockers vs a Marit Lage token and bought enough time for me to go for the kill.
Against aggro loam, Liliana could only stare at it while the tokens came down (and protected my goyf from a sac ability).
The sideboarded Life from the Loam came into good use as well so I think it deserves a solid spot. It does help against the delver matchups too.
It helped to generate blockers vs a Marit Lage token and bought enough time for me to go for the kill.
Against aggro loam, Liliana could only stare at it while the tokens came down (and protected my goyf from a sac ability).
The sideboarded Life from the Loam came into good use as well so I think it deserves a solid spot. It does help against the delver matchups too.
I gave up trying to replace a goyf slot with Tasigur/Angler as I had a potential power boost from Bitterblossom (tribal ench) and I could reduce the damage count from blind Dark Confidant flips.
However, I do have thoughts on replacing Bob #3 with a Dig through Time as sometimes Dark Confidant isn't able to get the needed value when he's killed on sight. Naturally, my biggest issue is that a potential 8 in the blind Bob flips can be very intimidating and I could very well just lose a very critical game to it so I am unsure of whether or not this risk is worth taking. I shall ponder on this point.
I thought that I was up against RUG delver (when playing against UR delver) so I was quite happy when I stuck an Isochron Scepter with Diabolic Edict. I think Scepter and Abrupt Decay would go a long way in fighting some of the tough matchups (like painter) so I feel like I want to have this sideboard slot.
Also, because shardless is not as popular, the power of Divert seems very diminished as removals are cheap so they naturally have 2 mana up. I think I want to go with Redirect in place of Divert.
Duress was crappy in a critical moment vs Painter. I shall play 2x Thoughtseize (need to buy one).
Below is my current list:
3 Delver of Secrets
1 Bitterblossom
4 Deathrite Shaman
3 Tarmogoyf
1 Scavenging Ooze
3 Dark Confidant
1 True Name Nemesis
4 Brainstorm
3 Ponder
1 Gitaxian Probe
4 Stifle
2 Spell Pierce
3 Force of Will
4 Daze
3 Abrupt Decay
2 Diabolic Edict
4 Wasteland
8 Assorted Fetches
3 Underground Sea
3 Tropical Island
1 Bitterblossom
4 Deathrite Shaman
3 Tarmogoyf
1 Scavenging Ooze
3 Dark Confidant
1 True Name Nemesis
4 Brainstorm
3 Ponder
1 Gitaxian Probe
4 Stifle
2 Spell Pierce
3 Force of Will
4 Daze
3 Abrupt Decay
2 Diabolic Edict
4 Wasteland
8 Assorted Fetches
3 Underground Sea
3 Tropical Island
1 Thoughtseize
1 Isochron Scepter
2 Marsh Casualties
1 Duress (gonna change this)
2 Divert (and this)
1 Grafdigger's Cage (hits 8 cards in Elves so why not)
1 Force of Will
1 Flusterstorm
1 Vendilion Clique
1 Isochron Scepter
2 Marsh Casualties
1 Duress (gonna change this)
2 Divert (and this)
1 Grafdigger's Cage (hits 8 cards in Elves so why not)
1 Force of Will
1 Flusterstorm
1 Vendilion Clique
1 Massacre (random - need more thought into this)
1 Life from the Loam
1 Pithing Needle
1 Squid
1 Life from the Loam
1 Pithing Needle
1 Squid
Wednesday, 18 March 2015
Road to Kyoto '15 - 18/3/15
Went 2-2 yesterday, losing to RUG delver, the mirror and winning bant delver, burn.
In the RUG delver match, it ultimately came down to a Nimble Mongoose that I couldn't touch with my 2x Abrupt Decays and Disfigure (-_-") in hand.
In the mirror, I lost to Tasigur being hard to remove (as it should be - additional reason to play D. edict).
The final game came down to a delver and it not flipping but it did.
Following my premonitions on the previous day, I would replace Disfigure #2 with Diabolic Edict #2.
I am replacing a Tasigur with the 7 mana ugly angler fish delve 5/5 (I have no idea what it's called. The only copy I own is a foil Japanese version) to remove that slot's natural weakness to Karakas and its size can usually press down a 4/5 goyf. Its ability always seems to be non-trivial at most points so it might be negligible (or perhaps I'm not setting it up properly).
I have a Bitterblossom in place of delver #4 of which I cannot grasp the full effectiveness of.
Feels like it can give a huge edge in the mirror and RUG can't really deal with it as well.
I think Abrupt Decay #4 in the sideboard isn't really useful since it's a very marginal effect.
I wonder what good cards are in the new set. Perhaps I can work on the sideboard with cards from Dragons of Tarkir...
In the RUG delver match, it ultimately came down to a Nimble Mongoose that I couldn't touch with my 2x Abrupt Decays and Disfigure (-_-") in hand.
In the mirror, I lost to Tasigur being hard to remove (as it should be - additional reason to play D. edict).
The final game came down to a delver and it not flipping but it did.
Following my premonitions on the previous day, I would replace Disfigure #2 with Diabolic Edict #2.
I am replacing a Tasigur with the 7 mana ugly angler fish delve 5/5 (I have no idea what it's called. The only copy I own is a foil Japanese version) to remove that slot's natural weakness to Karakas and its size can usually press down a 4/5 goyf. Its ability always seems to be non-trivial at most points so it might be negligible (or perhaps I'm not setting it up properly).
I have a Bitterblossom in place of delver #4 of which I cannot grasp the full effectiveness of.
Feels like it can give a huge edge in the mirror and RUG can't really deal with it as well.
I think Abrupt Decay #4 in the sideboard isn't really useful since it's a very marginal effect.
I wonder what good cards are in the new set. Perhaps I can work on the sideboard with cards from Dragons of Tarkir...
Tuesday, 17 March 2015
Road to Kyoto '15 - 17/3/15
When I lost to the Marit Lage token last week, that loss really stuck into my mind.
I need an out to it or I would just outright lose to it.
With that notion in mind, I replaced Disfigure #2 for a Diabolic Edict.
I'm starting to think that perhaps a wider range would be more useful than an outright more efficient spell. Technically I have better game against Show and Tell, Marit Lage etc and it serves the exact same purpose against Stoneforge Mystic (unless there is a Deathrite Shaman beside it).
I think I might like that it catches Nimble Mongeese as well and can let me come back when paired up against True Name Nemesis. I'll be testing it a little. I do not think that the extra mana in the cost would come back to haunt me more than the added flexibility. If it does pay off, I could consider switching out Disfigure #1 as well. This does weaken the elf matchup if anything but I've been seeing more Emrakuls than Wirewood Symbiotes so it might make more sense.
I have also removed a 4th Ponder and put in a Gitaxian Probe last week as I wanted a way to fish out information against RUG so that I can better optimize my plays because there is a lot that goes into the sequencing like fetches/wastelands/Stifles/Daze that matter in the early game and that information really makes things very different.
(There are 3 different Ponder arts too. Just saying.)
(There are 3 different Ponder arts too. Just saying.)
I have a Bitterblossom replacing Delver #4 to test for now but I'm a little worried that it doesn't pair well with Dark Confidant (which could be replaced with Dig Through Time).
I'm not sure how this impacts the deck. I used to dislike Delver #4 in Classic (where I played it the most) so I want to test a cut on it to see if it makes any difference and test Bitterblossom at the same time.
I'm not sure how this impacts the deck. I used to dislike Delver #4 in Classic (where I played it the most) so I want to test a cut on it to see if it makes any difference and test Bitterblossom at the same time.
Have to come up with a refined sideboard as well. Still internally debating on what to use and I need to buy Thoughtseize #2 too.
I'll see how I fare tonight.
There is a modern deck that isn't too far off in terms of card selection so I think I should be going that direction when it comes to GP Singapore in June since I can finally play in it.
Monday, 16 March 2015
Dimension Robo~
On Saturday, I went with my brother's friend for a 2 man Vanguard tournament.
I wielded my brother's Dimension robo deck and my brother's friend played my DOTX deck.
I have no idea why the tournament format is so ugly, with its double elimination 1-1-3 where two people play best of 1 games, if there is a win on both sides, the winners play a best of 3 game.
I wielded my brother's Dimension robo deck and my brother's friend played my DOTX deck.
I played DP because Daikaiser is still the most badass nonsense (poorly designed because the fundamental game design is being attacked by its unique skill and the clan is so bugged) and Commander Laurel is also insane, especially since now most people have moved on to the perfect guards that can only guard the VG so the stride unit attacking the side, then restanding with Commander Laurel's skill would give a good handsize probably enough to tide you through the next few turns while trying to get to the end game of breakride + legion.
I have no idea why the tournament format is so ugly, with its double elimination 1-1-3 where two people play best of 1 games, if there is a win on both sides, the winners play a best of 3 game.
The single elimination portion of the tournament (top 16) was 3-3-3, best of 3, if there is a win on both sides, the winners play another best of 3 game.
It took about 4 hours to get through 3 rounds, after going 2-0, we were in the top 16 and we lost subsequently.
The only good thing was that the organizer offered cookies and gave everyone bottled water in the midst of the tournament and I thought that that was really cool. I've never seen this type of effort to give welfare to players. If I had a cardshop, I'd want to do that too.
The only good thing was that the organizer offered cookies and gave everyone bottled water in the midst of the tournament and I thought that that was really cool. I've never seen this type of effort to give welfare to players. If I had a cardshop, I'd want to do that too.
There was a bunch of seeker decks that really rushed very heavily and they skip their g3 ride to get the first stride/legion. I am still debating on whether or not that odd play is a good move on their part because it seems fundamentally flawed but yet tactically reasonable.
In any case, I did not get to Shin Great Daikaiser over Daikaiser which kinda sucked and my last round hand was really bad (with a bunch of small triggers and nothing to really stride or breakride on).
In any case, I did not get to Shin Great Daikaiser over Daikaiser which kinda sucked and my last round hand was really bad (with a bunch of small triggers and nothing to really stride or breakride on).
Went back without anything but a playmat that I bought at $15. Jibril is so hot.
Road to Kyoto '15 - 15/3/15
It's been awhile since I've blogged, mainly because there have been many changes in my personal life that I am having a rough time getting through. I haven't gotten much testing done despite having a full week of break although I did go 3-0-1, winning a GW deck with astral slide, Belcher, Sneak and Show and drawing with lands (which I am pretty sure is a bad matchup) to secure some store credits.
I played 2 games with lands and lost really quick to a turn 1 Dark Depths + Thespian Stage in game 1 and to another quick Marit Lage token by turn 2 in game 2. Not having Liliana of the Veil or Far/Away effect really cements that kill.
My Dark Confidant #3 and Underground Sea #3 came in the mail.
So I'm now waiting for Tropical Island #3 and hope to figure out a comfortable sideboard/maindeck configuration within the month.
I tested with 2x Phyrexian Dreadnought to push to close the game fast. It worked against the GW deck but I need to consider which matchups it would be good in (like burn) for it to earn its spot.
Truth be told, I'm not in a very good shape now so I'm just tugging myself along.
Doesn't help that I do not currently have #4 Daze nor #4 Wasteland online so testing could be a little difficult. I never would have imagined that I would need 4 Dazes in a deck (which is why I sold some last time) and the price spike is horrible. A copy is about 25 tickets. *pukeblood*
I played 2 games with lands and lost really quick to a turn 1 Dark Depths + Thespian Stage in game 1 and to another quick Marit Lage token by turn 2 in game 2. Not having Liliana of the Veil or Far/Away effect really cements that kill.
My Dark Confidant #3 and Underground Sea #3 came in the mail.
So I'm now waiting for Tropical Island #3 and hope to figure out a comfortable sideboard/maindeck configuration within the month.
I tested with 2x Phyrexian Dreadnought to push to close the game fast. It worked against the GW deck but I need to consider which matchups it would be good in (like burn) for it to earn its spot.
Truth be told, I'm not in a very good shape now so I'm just tugging myself along.
Doesn't help that I do not currently have #4 Daze nor #4 Wasteland online so testing could be a little difficult. I never would have imagined that I would need 4 Dazes in a deck (which is why I sold some last time) and the price spike is horrible. A copy is about 25 tickets. *pukeblood*
Wednesday, 4 March 2015
Road to Kyoto '15 - 4/3/15
Last night, I went to the local cardshop to play legacy since Wednesday is downtime day.
I played a meshup of cards supposed to be BUG delver and went 2-2, losing to deathblade, RUG delver, winning a UB deck with the B 13/13 and Omnitell.
I think I shall play BUG delver for GP Kyoto (because I am too uncertain about the current format to pilot something original) but I need
1) get much more familiar with the deck (plays, what I want to Daze - which I am pretty sure isn't everything I can, how to sideboard)
(I got blown out by RUG delver when I forgot to fetch when my opponent was tapped out - eep bad play)
2) tune the deck
3) buy the cards for the deck
I think I shouldn't have any trouble becoming proficient with a deck.
The third point is the biggest problem because cards take time to come by mail.
I bought my 4th Wasteland and my 3rd Abrupt Decay yesterday.
Just managed to get a deal for a French looking (I can make out what the text is saying so it should be) Tropical Island from twitter at USD 200.
That's Tropical Island #3.
I think I'll get Underground Sea #3 and Dark Confidant #3 from an online shop.
(I thought I had a normal one somewhere -_-")
I think I can work with the deck with long sessions of testing online. (I'm going to be on a week of holiday because I had to clear up some leaves).
I played a meshup of cards supposed to be BUG delver and went 2-2, losing to deathblade, RUG delver, winning a UB deck with the B 13/13 and Omnitell.
I think I shall play BUG delver for GP Kyoto (because I am too uncertain about the current format to pilot something original) but I need
1) get much more familiar with the deck (plays, what I want to Daze - which I am pretty sure isn't everything I can, how to sideboard)
(I got blown out by RUG delver when I forgot to fetch when my opponent was tapped out - eep bad play)
2) tune the deck
3) buy the cards for the deck
I think I shouldn't have any trouble becoming proficient with a deck.
The third point is the biggest problem because cards take time to come by mail.
I bought my 4th Wasteland and my 3rd Abrupt Decay yesterday.
Just managed to get a deal for a French looking (I can make out what the text is saying so it should be) Tropical Island from twitter at USD 200.
That's Tropical Island #3.
I think I'll get Underground Sea #3 and Dark Confidant #3 from an online shop.
(I thought I had a normal one somewhere -_-")
I think I can work with the deck with long sessions of testing online. (I'm going to be on a week of holiday because I had to clear up some leaves).
Tuesday, 3 March 2015
Road to Kyoto '15 - 3/3/15
Last night I tested out the control deck, going 0-2 (again), losing to Infect and Food Chain.
Infect is very strong with Pendelhaven and I ran out of cards against it.
Food Chain was tough because it could easily cast the Misthollow Griffins consecutively and I misplayed a crucial moment. Dig through time with Misthollow Griffin looks really good.
At this point, I'm a little demoralized having been on a very weak record.
I'm not sure what I need to do to change this or I should just take a stock list and run it for some time.
Time left: 1.5 months.
Infect is very strong with Pendelhaven and I ran out of cards against it.
Food Chain was tough because it could easily cast the Misthollow Griffins consecutively and I misplayed a crucial moment. Dig through time with Misthollow Griffin looks really good.
At this point, I'm a little demoralized having been on a very weak record.
I'm not sure what I need to do to change this or I should just take a stock list and run it for some time.
Time left: 1.5 months.
Monday, 2 March 2015
Road to Kyoto '15 - 2/3/15
7 weeks to the GP.
If I need to get cards, I would need to get them around now to be safe.
Last night I played Storm to an 0-2 drop. Very rusty with the head, deck and had quite a bunch of awful Ad Nauseum flips. I definitely wouldn't be playing this at the GP since I would definitely flip badly at some point to give up a few games.
I rested over the weekend as my hand was down and mousing would have been difficult.
I managed to settle my flight tickets in the meantime, flying in on Thursday and out on the Monday right after the GP.
There is also a local GPT early April which is in Legacy and nets a 2 round bye.
I think I might have to follow the new set closely and see what is good from there.
Being this undecided at this point is worrying actually. I shall read up more and do more research to see what can hold my interest and hopefully work from there up.
Update: Found a very enticing list not too far from my style of playing that went 3-1 in a DE.
2 Jace, TMS
1 Keranos
2 Snapcaster Mage
2 Thoughtseize
1 Toxic Deluge
4 Brainstorm
2 Counterflux
2 Counterspell
1 Diabolic Edict
2 Dig Through Time
3 Force of Will
3 Punishing Fire
1 Red Elemental Blast
2 Spell Pierce
2 Terminate
3 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Vedalken Shackles
3 Counterbalance
2 Badlands
4 Bloodstained Mire
3 Grove of the Burnwillows
3 Island
1 Mountain
1 Swamp
4 Polluted Delta
3 Volcanic Island
2 Underground Sea
SB
1 Force of Will
1 Red Elemental Blast
1 Duress
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Envelop
1 Flusterstorm
3 Leyline of the Void
1 Massacre
1 Nether Void
1 Night of Soul's Betrayal
1 Perish
1 Pyroclasm
If I need to get cards, I would need to get them around now to be safe.
Last night I played Storm to an 0-2 drop. Very rusty with the head, deck and had quite a bunch of awful Ad Nauseum flips. I definitely wouldn't be playing this at the GP since I would definitely flip badly at some point to give up a few games.
I rested over the weekend as my hand was down and mousing would have been difficult.
I managed to settle my flight tickets in the meantime, flying in on Thursday and out on the Monday right after the GP.
There is also a local GPT early April which is in Legacy and nets a 2 round bye.
I think I might have to follow the new set closely and see what is good from there.
Being this undecided at this point is worrying actually. I shall read up more and do more research to see what can hold my interest and hopefully work from there up.
Update: Found a very enticing list not too far from my style of playing that went 3-1 in a DE.
2 Jace, TMS
1 Keranos
2 Snapcaster Mage
2 Thoughtseize
1 Toxic Deluge
4 Brainstorm
2 Counterflux
2 Counterspell
1 Diabolic Edict
2 Dig Through Time
3 Force of Will
3 Punishing Fire
1 Red Elemental Blast
2 Spell Pierce
2 Terminate
3 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Vedalken Shackles
3 Counterbalance
2 Badlands
4 Bloodstained Mire
3 Grove of the Burnwillows
3 Island
1 Mountain
1 Swamp
4 Polluted Delta
3 Volcanic Island
2 Underground Sea
SB
1 Force of Will
1 Red Elemental Blast
1 Duress
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Envelop
1 Flusterstorm
3 Leyline of the Void
1 Massacre
1 Nether Void
1 Night of Soul's Betrayal
1 Perish
1 Pyroclasm
Thursday, 26 February 2015
Road to Kyoto '15 - 26/2/15
Played in a Legacy DE yesterday with an updated version of the old 4c control deck.
Went 2-2 with it, winning elves, Grixis pyromancer, losing to shardless bug and burn.
The replay (while it's still up): http://www.twitch.tv/tarmotog/b/629938090
Still pondering if I should just work on refining the deck or playing something like storm.
The problem with storm is that it is very hard to beat a very prepared player and it has some natural busts when going off.
The problem with my control deck is that it plays long (higher risks of draws/losses) and that it usually goes 2-1 if it wins and that might affect the standings in a large tournament from what I understand.
I have a very limited card pool in real life so I think that it would restrict heavily what I can play.
It doesn't help that my right hand is now badly injured. =/
Would have to account for slower mouse movements online with my left hand.
In any case I need to step up and win more or I'll end up losing too much funds during testing.
Went 2-2 with it, winning elves, Grixis pyromancer, losing to shardless bug and burn.
The replay (while it's still up): http://www.twitch.tv/tarmotog/b/629938090
Still pondering if I should just work on refining the deck or playing something like storm.
The problem with storm is that it is very hard to beat a very prepared player and it has some natural busts when going off.
The problem with my control deck is that it plays long (higher risks of draws/losses) and that it usually goes 2-1 if it wins and that might affect the standings in a large tournament from what I understand.
I have a very limited card pool in real life so I think that it would restrict heavily what I can play.
It doesn't help that my right hand is now badly injured. =/
Would have to account for slower mouse movements online with my left hand.
In any case I need to step up and win more or I'll end up losing too much funds during testing.
Wednesday, 25 February 2015
Road to Kyoto '15 - 25/2/15
24 Feb
Tested Splinter Twin in Legacy. Found that there was too many efficient spells to fight against in the format to want to win on a 2 card combo that cannot go off on the turn it resolves. Might as well play Show and Tell or something if I am interested in going in that direction.
The next thing I want to test out would be Jeskai Ascendancy or Miracles.
25 Feb
Went down to the local cardshop since it was MTGO downtime and I wanted to ask around to see who would be going to GP Kyoto as well. Unfortunately, the local response wasn't too good. I guess it'll be a solo-trip.
I gathered some cards in the morning and made a deck on the spot. Went 2-2 with a makeshift BUG control deck that looks similar to my control decks but lacking quite a few cards because not everything was in the box I brought out.
I lost to URW Stoneforge and dredge, winning mono U Show and tell and Sneak & Show.
Surprisingly, my "old deck" seemed more relevant that I gave it credit for.
Perhaps I can try an update on the deck and add in new cards and see how this goes.
I am worried about Young Pyromancer and Monastery Mentor since my main go-to card would be Toxic Deluge. Monastery Mentor I have greater fears for primarily because I have not seen it yet and I am afraid that adjusting to it might be a challenge if I do it suddenly.
Tested Splinter Twin in Legacy. Found that there was too many efficient spells to fight against in the format to want to win on a 2 card combo that cannot go off on the turn it resolves. Might as well play Show and Tell or something if I am interested in going in that direction.
The next thing I want to test out would be Jeskai Ascendancy or Miracles.
25 Feb
Went down to the local cardshop since it was MTGO downtime and I wanted to ask around to see who would be going to GP Kyoto as well. Unfortunately, the local response wasn't too good. I guess it'll be a solo-trip.
I gathered some cards in the morning and made a deck on the spot. Went 2-2 with a makeshift BUG control deck that looks similar to my control decks but lacking quite a few cards because not everything was in the box I brought out.
I lost to URW Stoneforge and dredge, winning mono U Show and tell and Sneak & Show.
Surprisingly, my "old deck" seemed more relevant that I gave it credit for.
Perhaps I can try an update on the deck and add in new cards and see how this goes.
I am worried about Young Pyromancer and Monastery Mentor since my main go-to card would be Toxic Deluge. Monastery Mentor I have greater fears for primarily because I have not seen it yet and I am afraid that adjusting to it might be a challenge if I do it suddenly.
Monday, 23 February 2015
Road to Kyoto '15 - 23/2/15
Last night, I took the prototype deck into a Daily Event.
I ended up 0-2, the first round losing to timeout and the second losing to a misclick when I was Pondering.
I'm not too sure how slow I am playing but my clock runs out really fast.
My takeaways:
My Wastelands are a good call vs Karakas which plays a huge role in the control matchup.
Unexpectedly Absent was not too great a call but it does have some potential to change the flow of the game. Unfortunately, the deck doesn't draw cards so it is difficult to pull away.
I need some source of inevitability.
I need a reliable way to get past Counterbalance.
I am considering running something that needs less time to play as I can't be timing out online nor irl.
I think I will try Jeskai Ascension or something tonight.
I ended up 0-2, the first round losing to timeout and the second losing to a misclick when I was Pondering.
I'm not too sure how slow I am playing but my clock runs out really fast.
My takeaways:
My Wastelands are a good call vs Karakas which plays a huge role in the control matchup.
Unexpectedly Absent was not too great a call but it does have some potential to change the flow of the game. Unfortunately, the deck doesn't draw cards so it is difficult to pull away.
I need some source of inevitability.
I need a reliable way to get past Counterbalance.
I am considering running something that needs less time to play as I can't be timing out online nor irl.
I think I will try Jeskai Ascension or something tonight.
Sunday, 22 February 2015
Road to Kyoto '15 - 22/2/15
I tweaked into a more white-based shell and ended up with a more stable deck.
I think I would not need the third Underground Sea with that version but having 2 WW spells worry me. Currently I have Unexpectedly Absent and Council of the Judgment in the maindeck over the 2x Abrupt Decays. I'm very undecided if I should have so many cantrips because I become very weak to Counterbalance and Chalice of the Void at 1.
With WW I would have to start setting up WWW on the board when I develop it and that means I would have to get more Tundras (I have no idea how) and I would be weaker to Blood Moon. =/
While researching, I found a Modern Esper list which looks similar to what I am trying to do.
The idea of Lingering Souls from Thought Scour sounds very neat,
2 Island
1 Plains
1 Swamp
2 Godless Shrine
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Watery Grave
4 Flooded Strand
4 Polluted Delta
1 Marsh Flats
4 Creeping Tar Pits
1 Vault of the Archangel
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Monastery Mentor
2 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
2 Slaughter Pact
4 Path to Exile
4 Thought Scour
4 Inquisition of Kosilek
2 Spell Snare
2 Thoughtseize
1 Disfigure
2 Remand
4 Lingering Souls
2 Murderous Cut
1 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
I'm still hoping to play some kind of quick kill as I liked how inevitable Dark Depths and the copy land was. The deck runs out of cards fast with Force of Will doing a -2 and most cards trade for parity. Feels like a countertop deck (which I could consider going into since Sensei's Divining Top sounds wicked with Monastery Mentor). Still finding it to figure out which direction to go since everything with Monastery Mentor sounds as good as each other.
Just booked accommodation. I booked a 4 guys hostel room near one of the train stations coming up from Kyoto. (Gojyo) After I get the flights arranged I should be good for the time being.
I think I would not need the third Underground Sea with that version but having 2 WW spells worry me. Currently I have Unexpectedly Absent and Council of the Judgment in the maindeck over the 2x Abrupt Decays. I'm very undecided if I should have so many cantrips because I become very weak to Counterbalance and Chalice of the Void at 1.
With WW I would have to start setting up WWW on the board when I develop it and that means I would have to get more Tundras (I have no idea how) and I would be weaker to Blood Moon. =/
While researching, I found a Modern Esper list which looks similar to what I am trying to do.
The idea of Lingering Souls from Thought Scour sounds very neat,
2 Island
1 Plains
1 Swamp
2 Godless Shrine
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Watery Grave
4 Flooded Strand
4 Polluted Delta
1 Marsh Flats
4 Creeping Tar Pits
1 Vault of the Archangel
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Monastery Mentor
2 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
2 Slaughter Pact
4 Path to Exile
4 Thought Scour
4 Inquisition of Kosilek
2 Spell Snare
2 Thoughtseize
1 Disfigure
2 Remand
4 Lingering Souls
2 Murderous Cut
1 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
I'm still hoping to play some kind of quick kill as I liked how inevitable Dark Depths and the copy land was. The deck runs out of cards fast with Force of Will doing a -2 and most cards trade for parity. Feels like a countertop deck (which I could consider going into since Sensei's Divining Top sounds wicked with Monastery Mentor). Still finding it to figure out which direction to go since everything with Monastery Mentor sounds as good as each other.
Just booked accommodation. I booked a 4 guys hostel room near one of the train stations coming up from Kyoto. (Gojyo) After I get the flights arranged I should be good for the time being.
Friday, 20 February 2015
Road to Kyoto '15 - 21/2/15
On the first day of testing, I came up with a mockup brew, following what I had said I had set out to do. The mana is a little odd as I ended up a little short of white mana when I had brought in the post sb Council's Judgments. I think I should just leave a green mana (or remove it completely), take out Abrupt Decays and put something like Vindicate or maybe just go for Council's Judgment.
There should be something I can use but I just haven't thought of it.
Maybe I should find some Esper lists for reference.
Anyway, Monastery Mentor was wicked sick. In one game, I cast turn 1 Deathrite Shaman, turn 2 Monastery Mentor + Gitaxian Probe, then on the following turn I managed to chain a few 1 mana spells (with the opponent countering one) and had a 5/5 and a 4/4 ready to bash. That would end the game pretty fast there if I can do it consistently.
Tasigur was awesome as a 4/5 since it readily blocked Batterskull tokens.
I put in Karakas (for Tasigur) after that and that opens up a little more legend tech like Vendilion Cliques and Geist of Saint Traft against some decks that can't do much against it.
I shall test a more white based build and see how it goes.
I think I can also try out a Jeskai Ascendancy combo build and see how it plays out since it runs on a very similar engine.
Oddly, the list I found looks like this:
4 Fatestitcher
4 Brainstorm
2 Dig Through Time
4 Force of Will
2 Gut Shot
1 Pact of Negation
2 Spell Pierce
4 Thought Scour
4 Jeskai Ascendancy
2 Wind Zendikon
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Treasure Cruise
1 Chrome Mox
4 Lotus Petal
4 Flooded Strand
3 Misty Rainforest
1 Snow-covered Island
3 Tundra
3 Volcanic Island
Obviously this is from the previous season but I find it interesting that
Wind Zendikon is used over Faerie Conclave.
Perhaps Wind Zendikon + fetchland = 1 more island?
The only thing that isn't here now is the 4x Treasure Cruise
but it might not have to win on the spot.
Hmm...
Thursday, 19 February 2015
Road to Kyoto '15 - 20/2/15
Today is the first official day I'm starting with preparations towards GP Kyoto.
I haven't played Legacy for a few months ever since the dreadful Treasure Cruise which game people access to 4x Ancestral Recall. I did not want to play in a format that simply encouraged me to make plays that were the total opposite of what I had practiced over the years.
To say that that era was very uncomfortable would be a great understatement.
I couldn't beat it and I did not particularly want to join it so I stepped away.
Now, I'm on my way back into the format, figuring out what I want to use.
Currently, I am thinking about playing the following cards:
Deathrite Shaman
Tasigur, the Golden Fang
Monastery Mentor
A quick search on mtgonline's decks, shows some decks I want to use as references:
URW Young Pyromancer:
1 Grim Lavamancer
4 Stoneforge Mystic
3 True-Name Nemesis
4 Young Pyromancer
4 Brainstorm
2 Dig Through Time
4 Force of Will
3 Lightning Bolt
2 Spell Pierce
4 Swords to Plowshares
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Ponder
1 Batterskull
1 Umezawa's Jitte
2 Arid Mesa
4 Flooded Strand
1 Island
1 Plains
4 Polluted Delta
1 Scalding Tarn
3 Tundra
3 Volcanic Island
Grixis Ver
1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
3 Cabal Therapy
2 Innocent Blood
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Ponder
4 Brainstorm
1 Counterspell
4 Dig Through Time
4 Force of Will
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Thought Scour
1 Baleful Strix
2 Snapcaster Mage
1 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
4 Young Pyromancer
2 Flooded Strand
1 Island
3 Misty Rainforest
1 Polluted Delta
3 Scalding Tarn
3 Underground Sea
4 Volcanic Island
And finally, a Shardless BUG deck:
2 Jace, the mind sculptor
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Baleful Strix
4 Deathrite Shaman
1 Scavenging Ooze
4 Shardless Agent
4 Tarmogoyf
1 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
4 Abrupt Decay
4 Brainstorm
4 Force of Will
4 Ancestral Visions
2 Hymn to Tourach
3 Throughseize
3 Bayou
1 Marsh Flats
3 Misty Rainforest
2 Polluted Delta
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Swamp
3 Tropical Island
3 Underground Sea
4 Verdant Catacombs
I want to take the Thoughtscour deck, replace bolts with swords, replace Young Pyromancer with some Monastery Mentor (maybe not 4), have a Cavern of Souls to cast uncounterable humans, add some Deathrite Shamans. I suspect that if I use the Young Pyromancer shell with Monastery Mentors instead, the showdown against Young Pyromancer should be easy with a simple trigger allowing each token to trump the elemental tokens. Perhaps I shouldn't be too greedy with Tasigur but I should just keep these at the back of my head while I think of how to execute the deck properly.
If I go the white route, I'd have to get some Tundras. (2 copies I guess... given my budget constraint)
I haven't played Legacy for a few months ever since the dreadful Treasure Cruise which game people access to 4x Ancestral Recall. I did not want to play in a format that simply encouraged me to make plays that were the total opposite of what I had practiced over the years.
To say that that era was very uncomfortable would be a great understatement.
I couldn't beat it and I did not particularly want to join it so I stepped away.
Now, I'm on my way back into the format, figuring out what I want to use.
Currently, I am thinking about playing the following cards:
Deathrite Shaman
Tasigur, the Golden Fang
Monastery Mentor
A quick search on mtgonline's decks, shows some decks I want to use as references:
URW Young Pyromancer:
1 Grim Lavamancer
4 Stoneforge Mystic
3 True-Name Nemesis
4 Young Pyromancer
4 Brainstorm
2 Dig Through Time
4 Force of Will
3 Lightning Bolt
2 Spell Pierce
4 Swords to Plowshares
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Ponder
1 Batterskull
1 Umezawa's Jitte
2 Arid Mesa
4 Flooded Strand
1 Island
1 Plains
4 Polluted Delta
1 Scalding Tarn
3 Tundra
3 Volcanic Island
Grixis Ver
1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
3 Cabal Therapy
2 Innocent Blood
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Ponder
4 Brainstorm
1 Counterspell
4 Dig Through Time
4 Force of Will
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Thought Scour
1 Baleful Strix
2 Snapcaster Mage
1 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
4 Young Pyromancer
2 Flooded Strand
1 Island
3 Misty Rainforest
1 Polluted Delta
3 Scalding Tarn
3 Underground Sea
4 Volcanic Island
And finally, a Shardless BUG deck:
2 Jace, the mind sculptor
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Baleful Strix
4 Deathrite Shaman
1 Scavenging Ooze
4 Shardless Agent
4 Tarmogoyf
1 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
4 Abrupt Decay
4 Brainstorm
4 Force of Will
4 Ancestral Visions
2 Hymn to Tourach
3 Throughseize
3 Bayou
1 Marsh Flats
3 Misty Rainforest
2 Polluted Delta
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Swamp
3 Tropical Island
3 Underground Sea
4 Verdant Catacombs
I want to take the Thoughtscour deck, replace bolts with swords, replace Young Pyromancer with some Monastery Mentor (maybe not 4), have a Cavern of Souls to cast uncounterable humans, add some Deathrite Shamans. I suspect that if I use the Young Pyromancer shell with Monastery Mentors instead, the showdown against Young Pyromancer should be easy with a simple trigger allowing each token to trump the elemental tokens. Perhaps I shouldn't be too greedy with Tasigur but I should just keep these at the back of my head while I think of how to execute the deck properly.
If I go the white route, I'd have to get some Tundras. (2 copies I guess... given my budget constraint)
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