This is the results for Perfect Hand Magic League 34:04.
Perfect Hand Magic League 34:02
This round was 4C DLR Bane.
Commentary
Strictly speaking, this week's rule a variation of the "standard" Bane format, since I added the clause about "from sources you don't control". It was interesting to see so many creatures this week, despite their inability to deal damage!
Next week's format will be "5 Card Artificers" - all-colorless decks. Check out the details in next week's thread.
4 Card DLR - Bane
Prevent all damage that would be dealt to you from sources you do not control.
Deck Size: 4 Land Rule: Draw Land Rule (7.3c) Additional Banned list: Land Rule Banned list (please remember to check Land Rule and regular PHM Banned List)
The Grid X | 1 2 3 4 5 6 | PT | Points
1| X 0 3 6 6 0 | 14 | 280
2| 6 X 6 6 3 0 | 20 | 400
3| 3 0 X 6 6 3 | 16 | 320
4| 0 0 0 X 3 0 | 03 | 060
5| 0 3 0 3 X 6 | 10 | 200
6| 6 6 3 6 6 X | 26 | 520
Contents
1. Overview
2. Game Rules
3. Deck Construction Rules
4. Entry
5. Perfect Hand Magic League
6. Scoring
7. Variant Format Rules
1. Overview
Perfect Hand Magic (PHM) is a competitive strategy game for two or more players. It can be played using pencil and paper; however, it's most commonly played via online forum. To play the game, each player secretly chooses a specified number of Magic cards which form that player's hand. Once all players have chosen hands, the hands are revealed and scored.
The object of the game is to choose the hand that will score the most points. The score for each hand is determined by the result that it would achieve if it were used to play two games of Magic – one match – against each competing hand; the rules for these theoretical games are covered in Section 2 – Game Rules. During each theoretical game, the theoretical player of each hand employs the strategy that will maximize the score for his or her hand, taking into account the strategy of his or her opponent.
A hand scores 3 points for each game that it would win, 0 points for each game it would lose, and 1 point for each game that would end in a draw. However, a hand scores only 2 points for any match that would have a symmetrical result, regardless of whether the result would be two drawn games or a win for each hand.
The composition of a hand is limited only by a short banned list and a few restrictions on the game states that it can enable; these restrictions are covered in Section 3 – Deck Composition.
2. Game Rules
2.1. Except for the changes described in these rules, games follow the rules for a normal game of Magic.
2.1a. Changes to the Comprehensive Rules or the Oracle text of a card take effect at the following times:
i. Changes that would take effect during the prerelease for a set take effect during the first round for which cards from that set may be submitted instead.
ii. Changes that would take effect at any other time take effect during the first round for which those rules have been in effect since the start of the round instead.
2.1b. Ignore any part of an instruction that isn't covered by these rules or the rules of Magic.
2.2. A player's opening hand contains that player's chosen cards.
2.3. Players' libraries begin the game empty.
2.3a. A player doesn't lose the game as a result of being unable to draw a card.
2.4. A cost or effect that would produce a random result produces the result that least benefits the player who paid that cost or the owner of the source of that effect instead.
2.5. Each player is the starting player for one game in each match.
2.6. Players know the identities of all face-down cards and cards in hidden zones, and players know which decisions have been made by other players.
2.7. If a game would continue indefinitely, then the game is a draw.
2.8. If a loop containing at least one optional action would be repeated indefinitely during a turn, then any player may propose a number of times for that loop to repeat instead. If a player does, then each other player may propose a different number and the loop is repeated for the greatest number of times proposed instead. No player is required to make a choice that would end a loop that crosses multiple turns.
2.9. Cards can't be brought into the game from outside the game.
3. Hand Construction Rules
3.1. A player may not choose an opening hand that could enable that player to achieve any of the following results before an opponent's second turn would begin, such that that opponent could make no sequence of decisions that would not result in at least one of these results:
i. win the game
ii. take an infinite number of turns
iii. cause a card to leave an opponent's hand.
Ignore this rule in the following cases:
3.1a. That player's hand would be legal if that player's opponents' cards had no rules text.
3.1b. That player's hand would be legal if that player's opponents had no maximum hand size.
3.1c. That player could achieve one of these results only during a game that was restarted after an opponent's second turn had begun.
3.1d. All cards that would leave an opponent's hand during the resolution of an effect would be put onto the battlefield by that effect.
3.1e. All cards that would leave an opponent's hand during the resolution of an effect would be in that opponent's hand once that effect resolved.
3.2. A hand may contain any number of copies of any card legal in Vintage.
3.2a. An unreleased card is treated as though it's legal in Vintage if it will become legal in Vintage upon release and if the release notes for the set that contains that card were published prior to the start of the round (See rule 4.1).
3.3. A hand may not contain any cards on the PHM Banned List.
4. Entry
4.1. A player plays a round of PHM by submitting a list of his or her chosen cards to the PHM moderator.
4.2. A player may change his or her hand until the posted deadline.
4.2a. If a player submits an illegal hand, then the moderator will try to notify that player to change his or her hand prior to the deadline. If the hand is discovered to be illegal after the deadline – or if the player does not submit a new hand – then the moderator may either disqualify that hand or replace it with a similar hand, in which any cards causing that hand to be illegal have been removed or replaced.
4.2b. The moderator also will try to notify a player if that player's hand doesn't enable that player to win the game against any possible hand.
4.3. A player may name his or her hand. If that player doesn't, then the PHM moderator may name it. The PHM moderator may also rename a player's hand at his or discretion.
5. Perfect Hand Magic League
5.1. PHM League play consists of four rounds of PHM.
5.2. Each round, a player earns League points according to the following formula:
League Points = Points Scored / Number of Opponents x 100 (rounded to the nearest integer)
5.3. The player with the most League points at the end of League play is the PHM League winner.
5.3a. If multiple players have the most League points at the end of the League, then the PHM moderator may allow those players to play additional rounds until only one of those players has the most League points or until a specified number of additional rounds have been played.
6. Scoring
6.1. A table of match results is posted at the end of each round. Each row lists one player's results against each other player. A player's points and League points are tallied at the end of his or her row.
6.2. A player may earn bonus League points as specified by the PHM moderator.
6.3. Each player is responsible for determining the match results for his or her hand.
6.3a. Players are encouraged to determine or verify additional match results.
6.3b. An undetermined match result is counted as a loss for both players in that match.
6.3c. A player may challenge any result until the moderator announces that the result is final.
7. Variant Format Rules
7.1. Perfect Hand Magic has been played with hands containing between one and seven cards. Additionally, the Game Rules and Deck Construction Rules have been adapted to create hundreds of variant formats. Five commonly-played variants are described in Sections 7.3-7.7.
7.2. The rules of a variant format overwrite any other applicable rules.
7.2a. Some variant formats generate continuous effects. A continuous effect generated by a variant format is treated as having the earliest timestamp within a layer or sublayer. If continuous effects generated by multiple variant formats would apply in the same layer or sublayer, assign timestamps to those effects in the order that the variant formats are listed in the rules or name of the round.
7.2b. Some variant formats require a player to make some number of decisions in addition to or instead of submitting a hand. A player's submission must comply with the Hand Construction Rules, taking into account any decisions made at this time.
7.2c. Some variant formats require players to make decisions "before the start of each game". For these decisions, follow the "Active Player, Nonactive Player order" rule, replacing "active player" with "starting player".
7.3. Land Rule Variant.
7.3a. This is the basic land rule (LR). Any player may play a basic land or basic snow land of the subtype of his or her choice from outside the game any time he or she could normally play a land. A hand may not contain any cards on the Land Rule Banned List.
7.3b. This is the extra land rule (ELR). Any player may play a basic land or basic snow land of the subtype of his or her choice from outside the game any time he or she could normally play a land. Any player may play an additional land on each of his or her turns from his or her hand. A hand may not contain any cards on the Land Rule Banned List.
7.3c. This is the draw land rule (DLR). If a player would draw a card from an empty library, that player puts a basic land or basic snow land card of the subtype of his or her choice from outside the game into his or her hand instead. The starting player doesn't skip the draw step of his or her first turn. A hand may not contain any cards on the Land Rule Banned List.
7.4a. Only cards contained in sets legal in the named format may be submitted.
7.5. Life Rule (LF).
7.5a. If neither player would win otherwise, then the player who maintains the higher life total wins the game.
7.5b. A player must choose an opening hand that enables that player to win both games of a match against at least one legal hand, irrespective of rule 7.5a.
7.6. Backbuild.
7.6a. Players exchanges hands before the start of each match. A hand must enable the player of that hand to win both games of a match against a specified hand or specified hands. Ignore rule 3.1.
7.7. Bonus Points.
7.7a. A player earns bonus points if his or her hand meets specified requirements.
PHM Banned List
The following cards are automatically banned in all Perfect Hand Magic League rounds unless otherwise specified by the round rules. Each round may have an additional banned list that extends beyond, but always includes, these cards.
Land Rule Banned List
"Land Rule" is the most common variant for PHM, and thus a separate ban list has been developed to allow for easier moderation. The following cards are banned in Perfect Hand Magic League rounds when a Land Rule is used. There will be a reminder of this on the round rules.
Budget Builds:
You get 6 points to buy your deck. Mythics are 4, Rares are 3, Uncommons 2 and Commons 1. Lands (cards with Land as one of their types) are worth one less. Basic lands are considered to be Common, and therefore 0 points.
Budget Builds:
You get 6 points to buy your deck. Mythics are 4, Rares are 3, Uncommons 2 and Commons 1. Lands (cards with Land as one of their types) are worth one less. Basic lands are considered to be Common, and therefore 0 points.
dont forget a cap on total cards. 8 basic lands to discard cards is a thing
Tom, I do not mean to include a card cap, I think it adds a little more depth. Unless there's some super broken things that are only available through discard, but using 1 point on graveyard removal seems very easy to do. Faerie Macabre or Tormods Crypt (good ole chronicles) would both be only a point, and Bojuka Bog can be free (but uses a land drop). It may make having a common-land toolbox be the right choice, which might make the format more complex than it needs to be.
As for banding, does the damage assignment replacement only if a creature with the banding keyword is blocked, or if a creature in a band is blocked? I also don't think giving everything banding is good enough to push out spell based decks (Shelldock Emrakul, Beast Elixir, etc) in favor of creature decks (Brimaz, Thrun, Mayor). But it could be a fun french vanilla round.
For WhammeWhamme and his turn 2 Emrakul deck (with miscellaneous win-con)...
vs. 01 Madmanquail: Emrakul > Countespells. 6-0
vs. 02 tomsloger: Turn 2 Emrakul > CMC 3 spells 6-0
vs. 03 Mogg: I chop this one, since he kills on turn "2" 3-3
vs. 04 Stormageddonx: Turn 2 Emrakul > CMC 3 spells 6-0
vs. 05 nerdyjoe: Turn 2 Emrakul > Turn 3 Emrakul 6-0
needed cheaper disruption. actually mana leak instead of beast would have been perfect.
i am learning.
X | 1 2 3 4 5 6 | PT | Points
4 | 0 0 0 X 3 0 | 3 |
01 Madmanquail :: "Speech Lessons" Azor's Elocutors / Arcane Denial / Platinum Angel / Profane Command
6-0? skipping irrelevant turns:
t1 cast elixir
t3 cast chalice. gain 1. 21
m5 cant cast elocutors without arcane denial backup. if you do, i activate elixir and recast on my turn and outrace you.
m7 still cant cast elocutors. if you do, i beast a land and you cant counter elixir
m8 cast elocutors. i beast elocutors and activate elixir. activate chalice and flip.
t8,9,10,11 activate chalice of death to win. redraw bw for angel
1-3: 3-3: Playing first, Mogg wins on MMQ's second upkeep. Playing second is described in the spoiler.
Mogg makes t1 Choker and the game devolves into managing Choker counters.
MMQ must leave two mana until the end of my turn to prevent Power Artifact.
Listed as life total (after choker damage), lands at end of turn, choker counters at start of turn (when damage is dealt)
1: 19, 2, 1
3: 18, 2, 2
1: 16, 3, 3
Path 1:
3: 14, 3, 4, 1 adds a counter
1: 10, 4, 6, 3 removes a counter
3: 8, 4, 6, 1 adds a counter
1: 2, 5, 8, 1 adds a counter, 3 removes a counter eot and upkeep, but takes 8 and loses
Path 2:
3: 14, 3, 4, 1 adds a counter
1: 10, 4, 6, 3 adds a counter
3: 6, 4, 8, 3 adds a counter, 1 removes a counter
1: survives the turn, 3 loses
This is the results for Perfect Hand Magic League 34:04.
Perfect Hand Magic League 34:02
This round was 4C DLR Bane.
Commentary
Strictly speaking, this week's rule a variation of the "standard" Bane format, since I added the clause about "from sources you don't control". It was interesting to see so many creatures this week, despite their inability to deal damage!
Next week's format will be "5 Card Artificers" - all-colorless decks. Check out the details in next week's thread.
4 Card DLR - Bane
Prevent all damage that would be dealt to you from sources you do not control.
Deck Size: 4
Land Rule: Draw Land Rule (7.3c)
Additional Banned list: Land Rule Banned list (please remember to check Land Rule and regular PHM Banned List)
The Entries
01 Madmanquail :: "Speech Lessons"
Azor's Elocutors / Arcane Denial / Platinum Angel / Profane Command
Slow but hopefully will be a curveball
02 tomsloger :: "Beast Life"
Chalice of Life / Leyline of Sanctity / Beast Within / Elixir of Immortality
Beast Elixir seems rather weak this week, I suppose this will be an interesting test of their relative power level
03 Mogg :: "Powerchoker"
Chancellor of the Tangle / Grim Monolith / Jinxed Choker / Power Artifact
Just slow enough, but still very fast
04 xStormaggedonx :: "Squirrels!"
Beast Within / Epic Struggle / Earthcraft / Squirrel Nest
Epic struggle seems like a solid option to get around the round rule
05 nerdyjoe :: "Grimrakul"
Power Artifact / Grim Monolith / Emrakul, the Aeons Torn / Darksteel Reactor
Emrakul, while unable to win the game, does a great job of disrupting the opponent
06 WhammeWhamme :: "Emrakul's Eye"
Shelldock Isle / Lion's Eye Diamond / Emrakul, the Aeons Torn / Helix Pinnacle
Similar to nerdyjoe's deck, this seems strong
The Grid
X | 1 2 3 4 5 6 | PT | Points
1| X 0 3 6 6 0 | 14 | 280
2| 6 X 6 6 3 0 | 20 | 400
3| 3 0 X 6 6 3 | 16 | 320
4| 0 0 0 X 3 0 | 03 | 060
5| 0 3 0 3 X 6 | 10 | 200
6| 6 6 3 6 6 X | 26 | 520
1. Overview
2. Game Rules
3. Deck Construction Rules
4. Entry
5. Perfect Hand Magic League
6. Scoring
7. Variant Format Rules
1. Overview
Perfect Hand Magic (PHM) is a competitive strategy game for two or more players. It can be played using pencil and paper; however, it's most commonly played via online forum. To play the game, each player secretly chooses a specified number of Magic cards which form that player's hand. Once all players have chosen hands, the hands are revealed and scored.
The object of the game is to choose the hand that will score the most points. The score for each hand is determined by the result that it would achieve if it were used to play two games of Magic – one match – against each competing hand; the rules for these theoretical games are covered in Section 2 – Game Rules. During each theoretical game, the theoretical player of each hand employs the strategy that will maximize the score for his or her hand, taking into account the strategy of his or her opponent.
A hand scores 3 points for each game that it would win, 0 points for each game it would lose, and 1 point for each game that would end in a draw. However, a hand scores only 2 points for any match that would have a symmetrical result, regardless of whether the result would be two drawn games or a win for each hand.
The composition of a hand is limited only by a short banned list and a few restrictions on the game states that it can enable; these restrictions are covered in Section 3 – Deck Composition.
2. Game Rules
2.1. Except for the changes described in these rules, games follow the rules for a normal game of Magic.
2.2. A player's opening hand contains that player's chosen cards.
2.3. Players' libraries begin the game empty.
2.4. A cost or effect that would produce a random result produces the result that least benefits the player who paid that cost or the owner of the source of that effect instead.
2.5. Each player is the starting player for one game in each match.
2.6. Players know the identities of all face-down cards and cards in hidden zones, and players know which decisions have been made by other players.
2.7. If a game would continue indefinitely, then the game is a draw.
2.8. If a loop containing at least one optional action would be repeated indefinitely during a turn, then any player may propose a number of times for that loop to repeat instead. If a player does, then each other player may propose a different number and the loop is repeated for the greatest number of times proposed instead. No player is required to make a choice that would end a loop that crosses multiple turns.
2.9. Cards can't be brought into the game from outside the game.
3. Hand Construction Rules
3.1. A player may not choose an opening hand that could enable that player to achieve any of the following results before an opponent's second turn would begin, such that that opponent could make no sequence of decisions that would not result in at least one of these results:
Ignore this rule in the following cases:
3.2. A hand may contain any number of copies of any card legal in Vintage.
3.3. A hand may not contain any cards on the PHM Banned List.
4. Entry
4.1. A player plays a round of PHM by submitting a list of his or her chosen cards to the PHM moderator.
4.2. A player may change his or her hand until the posted deadline.
4.3. A player may name his or her hand. If that player doesn't, then the PHM moderator may name it. The PHM moderator may also rename a player's hand at his or discretion.
5. Perfect Hand Magic League
5.1. PHM League play consists of four rounds of PHM.
5.2. Each round, a player earns League points according to the following formula:
5.3. The player with the most League points at the end of League play is the PHM League winner.
6. Scoring
6.1. A table of match results is posted at the end of each round. Each row lists one player's results against each other player. A player's points and League points are tallied at the end of his or her row.
6.2. A player may earn bonus League points as specified by the PHM moderator.
6.3. Each player is responsible for determining the match results for his or her hand.
7. Variant Format Rules
7.1. Perfect Hand Magic has been played with hands containing between one and seven cards. Additionally, the Game Rules and Deck Construction Rules have been adapted to create hundreds of variant formats. Five commonly-played variants are described in Sections 7.3-7.7.
7.2. The rules of a variant format overwrite any other applicable rules.
7.3. Land Rule Variant.
7.4. Sanctioned Magic Format Variant.
7.5. Life Rule (LF).
7.6. Backbuild.
7.7. Bonus Points.
PHM Banned List
The following cards are automatically banned in all Perfect Hand Magic League rounds unless otherwise specified by the round rules. Each round may have an additional banned list that extends beyond, but always includes, these cards.
Acceleration
Channel
Fastbond
Flash
Show and Tell
Disruption
Pact of Negation
Chancellor of the Annex
Force of Will
Leyline of Anticipation
Trinisphere
Lands
Ghost Quarter
Strip Mine
Wasteland
Win Conditions
Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
Barren Glory
Laboratory Maniac
Magus of the Moon
Meddling Mage
The Rack
Vampire Hexmage
Land Rule Banned List
"Land Rule" is the most common variant for PHM, and thus a separate ban list has been developed to allow for easier moderation. The following cards are banned in Perfect Hand Magic League rounds when a Land Rule is used. There will be a reminder of this on the round rules.
Acceleration
Black Lotus
Disruption
Balancing Act
Energy Field
Time Walk
Win Conditions
Beacon of Creation
Maralen of the Mornsong
Nezumi Shortfang
Red Sun's Zenith
White Sun's Zenith
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Budget Builds:
You get 6 points to buy your deck. Mythics are 4, Rares are 3, Uncommons 2 and Commons 1. Lands (cards with Land as one of their types) are worth one less. Basic lands are considered to be Common, and therefore 0 points.
All creatures have banding, deck must contain at least two creatures.
really, only one creature needs to have banding
As for banding, does the damage assignment replacement only if a creature with the banding keyword is blocked, or if a creature in a band is blocked? I also don't think giving everything banding is good enough to push out spell based decks (Shelldock Emrakul, Beast Elixir, etc) in favor of creature decks (Brimaz, Thrun, Mayor). But it could be a fun french vanilla round.
Follow me to be notified when weekly Perfect Hand Magic results are posted
Follow me to be notified when weekly Perfect Hand Magic results are posted
vs. 01 Madmanquail: Emrakul > Countespells. 6-0
vs. 02 tomsloger: Turn 2 Emrakul > CMC 3 spells 6-0
vs. 03 Mogg: I chop this one, since he kills on turn "2" 3-3
vs. 04 Stormageddonx: Turn 2 Emrakul > CMC 3 spells 6-0
vs. 05 nerdyjoe: Turn 2 Emrakul > Turn 3 Emrakul 6-0
X | 1 2 3 4 5 6 | PT | Points
6 | 6 6 3 6 6 X | 26 |
...and since tom beats Mogg, I think that's the round to me.
does emrakul get you the extra turn if you play him from shelldock? if not then we're 3/3
i am learning.
X | 1 2 3 4 5 6 | PT | Points
4 | 0 0 0 X 3 0 | 3 |
02 tomsloger :: "Beast Life"
Chalice of Life / Leyline of Sanctity / Beast Within / Elixir of Immortality
Azor's Elocutors / Arcane Denial / Platinum Angel / Profane Command
6-0? skipping irrelevant turns:
t1 cast elixir
t3 cast chalice. gain 1. 21
m5 cant cast elocutors without arcane denial backup. if you do, i activate elixir and recast on my turn and outrace you.
m7 still cant cast elocutors. if you do, i beast a land and you cant counter elixir
m8 cast elocutors. i beast elocutors and activate elixir. activate chalice and flip.
t8,9,10,11 activate chalice of death to win. redraw bw for angel
03 Mogg :: "Powerchoker"
Chancellor of the Tangle / Grim Monolith / Jinxed Choker / Power Artifact
6-0 choker says target opponent
04 xStormaggedonx :: "Squirrels!"
Beast Within / Epic Struggle / Earthcraft / Squirrel Nest
6-0 beast within your epic struggle
05 nerdyjoe :: "Grimrakul"
Power Artifact / Grim Monolith / Emrakul, the Aeons Torn / Darksteel Reactor
3-3 beast disrupts combo when im on the play
06 WhammeWhamme :: "Emrakul's Eye"
Shelldock Isle / Lion's Eye Diamond / Emrakul, the Aeons Torn / Helix Pinnacle
0-6 agreed
2 | 6 X 6 6 3 0 | 20
1| X 0 3 6 6 0 | 14 | 280
2| 6 X 6 6 3 0 | 20 | 400
3| 3 0 X 6 6 3 | 16 | 320
4| 0 0 0 X 3 0 | 03 | 60
5| 0 3 0 3 X 6 | 10 | 200
6| 6 6 3 6 6 X | 26 | 520
1-3: 3-3: Playing first, Mogg wins on MMQ's second upkeep. Playing second is described in the spoiler.
MMQ must leave two mana until the end of my turn to prevent Power Artifact.
Listed as life total (after choker damage), lands at end of turn, choker counters at start of turn (when damage is dealt)
1: 19, 2, 1
3: 18, 2, 2
1: 16, 3, 3
Path 1:
3: 14, 3, 4, 1 adds a counter
1: 10, 4, 6, 3 removes a counter
3: 8, 4, 6, 1 adds a counter
1: 2, 5, 8, 1 adds a counter, 3 removes a counter eot and upkeep, but takes 8 and loses
Path 2:
3: 14, 3, 4, 1 adds a counter
1: 10, 4, 6, 3 adds a counter
3: 6, 4, 8, 3 adds a counter, 1 removes a counter
1: survives the turn, 3 loses
3-5: 6-0: 3 wins faster.
WhammeWhamme wins.
BWTeysa, Orzhov Scion
GWRhys the Redeemed
GUKruphix, God of Horizons
GRXenagos, God of Revels
GThrun, the Last Troll
GStompy
WhammeWhamme350 280 400 520 | 1550
Madmanquail600 280 200 280 | 1360
tomsloger250 200 360 400 | 1210
nerdyjoe150 400 400 200 | 1150
MoggXXX 040 XXX 320 | 0360
Feyd_RuinXXX 320 XXX XXX | 0320
xStormaggedonx050 XXX 160 060 | 0270
psymunn42XXX XXX 120 XXX | 0120
WhammeWhamme wins PHML 34 with an average score of 388.
BWTeysa, Orzhov Scion
GWRhys the Redeemed
GUKruphix, God of Horizons
GRXenagos, God of Revels
GThrun, the Last Troll
GStompy