This thread contains the results for week 1 of All Blind Tournament #18 and is the start of week 2 of ABT#18.
Week 1 of ABT#18
This round was 'Deep Discount' - Colored spells cost 10 less to cast. 5 cards, no land rule.
This turned out to be a fun format - thanks to Draco9 for coming up with it! Certain cards turned up a fair bit, but there was also some really interesting tech in some decks. This might be a format worth revisiting in future.
Welcome to CogMonocle! New to ABT this week.
This month's prize is a copy of the excellent puzzle game Sokobond. Mainly because more people should play it - it's fun!
3) Draco9 : "I Have a Ligature and I'm Not Afraid to Use It!" Æther Snap / Maze of Ith / Nettlevine Blight / Dark Depths / Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth Not one but two cards I didn't even consider! Looks as though you made the opposite mistake from me and were expecting more countermagic than actually showed up?
10) Mogg : "In Response, Infinite Saprolings" Basking Rootwalla / Foil / Graypelt Refuge / Sprout Swarm / Tundra Rootwalla! Very nice! This comes very close to being an "I broke the format" deck, but several players saw the token swarm thing coming and brought their leylines. Despite this you might still win...
There was one Badger submitted. The round was therefore awesome!
Next Round : Week 2 of ABT#18
Next Round will be 'Bringing Xy Back'
Entries are due by Tuesday Night.
Bringing Xy Back
Format Rules
Deck size: 3 cards
Land Rule: Basic Land Rule Special Rules:
* Players begin on 50 life.
* Whenever a card uses some value 'X' in its rules text, X is 4 instead of the value given by the card rules.
* There are some additional bans (see below).
What is Blind Magic?
Blind Magic is an online Magic format played here on the forums. Players play with an extremely limited deck size, such as 3 cards. Players begin with their entire deck (ie: those three cards) in hand and have no library (players don't lose when they fail to draw a card because of this). Due to the extremely limited number of play options given with their small deck size, games are calculated, rather then played, with an absolute determined winner (or a tie). Each player plays a match of two games against each other player who submitted - once going first, and once going second. Wins, losses, and ties for each of those two games are calculated by the moderator and players. The actual fun of the game comes from trying to decide which cards you will be playing.
What is the All Blind Tournament?
The All Blind Tournament is a four-week XCB tournament, which spans all card blind formats and embraces a progressive anti-metagame. For each week of the four-week tournament, a new XCB format is announced for players to enter. Players compete for points (similiar to the PotM points for previous XCB games) each round. At the end of the four-week tournament, the player who has accumulated the most points over the four weeks wins the tournament, and receives a real-world prize.
Basic Rules of All Blind Tournament
Below lies the rules of ABT written in laymen's terms for ease of understanding.
While a comprehensive rule system exists, new players and quick glances are best left for this basic explanation.
Overview
The All Blind Tournament (ABT) is a Magic tournament that consists of four rounds of X Card Blind (XCB), run entirely within this forum. To compete, entrants submit decks containing X cards which are played against each other. Scoring assumes optimal play, without randomness or concealed information.
Deck Construction Rules
1. A deck must contain exactly X cards.
2. A deck may contain any number of copies of any Vintage-legal card, but can't contain any cards on the ABT Banned List.
3. A player's deck must not enable that player to win the game before an opponent's second turn.
4. A player's deck must not enable that player to force an opponent to lose any cards in his or her hand before an opponent's second turn.
5. A player's deck must enable that player to win the game.
Deck Submission Rules
6. An entrant submits his or her deck to the ABT moderator by private message (pm).
Playing the Decks
7. Entrants don't actually play their decks, because game results can be determined theoretically.
8. Each player starts the game with the cards in his or her deck in his or her hand.
9. A player doesn't lose the game as a result of being unable to draw a card.
10. A random effect resolves in favor of the opponent of the owner of that effect.
11. Players know all information that would normally be concealed from them.
12. Each player plays one two-game match against each other player, and each player is the starting player once per match.
Points
13. The entrant with the most points in a round is the round winner. For each match, an entrant earns 3 points per game win and 1 point per drawn game. However, an entrant earns only 2 points for a split match (each player wins a game).
14. The entrant with the most points in the four rounds comprising the ABT is the tournament winner. Extra Rules
15. Some optional rules may be used; see Optional Rules.
16. The Basic Rules don't cover every issue. For in-depth rules, see Comprehensive Rules.
Optional Rules
Land Rule
Any player may play a basic land of his or her choice from outside the game any time he or she could normally play a land.
Expanded Land Rule
Any player may play a basic land 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.
Alternative Land Rule
If a player would draw a card from an empty library, that player puts a basic land card 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.
Sanctioned Magic Format
A deck may contain only cards contained in sets legal in the specified format.
Counter Rule
Until each player has completed two turns, each player ignores any part of an effect of a source an opponent owns that would counter a spell that player controls.
Life Rule
If neither player would win otherwise, then the player who maintains the higher life total wins the game. Determine whether a deck enables the player of that deck to win the game as though this rule didn't exist.
Special Format
Other rules are specified.
XCB Comprehensive Rules
Below lies the comprehensive rules system for the ABT.
Rules are written for precision and game clarification. They are not written for ease of reading.
Game Rules
1.1. There are many versions of XCB. Each version has a name, of the form XCB 'Land Rule' 'Sanctioned Magic Format' 'Special Format' '(Bonus)' 'Counter Rule' 'Life Rule'.
1.1a. X is a number.
1.1b. 'Land Rule' can be LR, ELR, ALR, or nothing. LR indicates that the basic land rule is in effect, ELR indicates that the expanded land rule is in effect, and ALR indicates that the alternative land rule is in effect (see Rule 1.7).
1.1c. 'Sanctioned Magic Format' can be the name of a sanctioned Magic constructed format or nothing. The name of a format indicates that only cards contained in sets legal in that format may be submitted. This is an exception to rule 2.3c.
1.1d. 'Special Format' can be the name of at least one special format or nothing. The name of a special format indicates that the special format in effect (see Rule 1.8).
1.1e. 'Bonus' can be (Bonus) or nothing. (Bonus) modifies the preceding special format, indicating that an entrant must not follow the rules of that format, but that entrant will earn a specified number of bonus points if he or she does (see Rule 2.4f).
1.1f. 'Counter Rule' can be C or nothing. C indicates that the counter rule is in effect (see Rule 1.9).
1.1g. 'Life Rule' can be LF, AL, or nothing. LF indicates that the life rule is in effect and AL indicates that the alternative life rule is in effect (see Rule 1.10).
1.2. Decks are not played, but are scored as though they were. The player of a deck is the entrant who submitted that deck.
1.3. Except for the changes described in these rules, games follow the rules for a normal game of Magic.
1.3a. Ignore any part of an instruction that isn't covered by these rules or the rules of Magic.
1.3b. Rules 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 (see Rule 2.3d).
1.4. An entrant's deck contains exactly X cards (see Rule 1.1).
1.4a. A player's opening hand contains the cards in his or her deck.
1.4b. Players don't draw hands or mulligan.
1.4c. Players don't have sideboards.
1.5. Players' libraries begin the game empty.
1.5a. A player doesn't lose the game as a result of being unable to draw a card.
1.6. A cost or effect that would produce a random result produces the result that least benefits the player who paid the cost or the owner of the source of the effect instead.
1.7. Some versions of XCB use a land rule.
1.7a. 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.
1.7b. This is the expanded 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.
1.7c. This is the alternative land rule (ALR). 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.
1.8. Some versions of XCB use a special format. A special format is an extra set of rules. These rules overwrite any other applicable rules. A non-comprehensive list of special formats is maintained here.
1.8a. Some special formats cause players to draw hands. The drawn cards become part of that player's opening hand.
1.8b. Some special formats generate continuous effects. Continuous effects generated by special formats are applied in the order those formats are listed in the XCB version name, before any other effects that could be applied in a layer.
1.8c. Some special formats require an entrant to make some number of decisions in addition to or instead of submitting a deck. An entrant's submission is that entrant's deck and any decisions that entrant makes. An entrant's submission must not violate rule 2.3 if all instances of the word 'deck' in that rule are replaced with 'submission'.
1.8d. Some special formats refer to decks that obtain or could obtain results. Saying that a deck obtains or could obtain a result means that the player of that deck obtains or could obtain that result in a game or match against another player (see Rule 1.11). If a deck obtains or could obtain a result against another deck, then the player of that deck obtains or could obtain that result against the player of the other deck.
1.9. Some versions of XCB use the counter rule.
1.9a. This is the counter rule (C). Until each player has completed two turns, each player ignores any part of an effect of a source an opponent owns that would counter a spell that player controls.
1.10. Some versions of XCB use a life rule.
1.10a. This is the life rule (LF). If neither player would win otherwise, then the player who maintains the higher life total wins the game. Determine whether a deck enables the player of that deck to win a match as though this rule didn't exist (see Rule 2.3b).
1.10b. This is the alternative life rule (AL). If neither player would win otherwise, then the player who maintains the higher life total wins the game.
1.11. Each player plays one match against each other player.
1.11a. Each match has two games.
1.11b. Each player is the starting player for one game in each match.
1.11c. Games are played with perfect information; players know the identities of face-down cards and cards in hidden zones, and players know which decisions have been made by other players.
1.11d. Games are played optimally. The best outcome for a player is to win the game and the worst outcome is to lose the game.
1.11e. 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.
1.11f. If a game would continue indefinitely, then the game is a draw.
Tournament Rules
2.1. Entrants compete in a competition.
2.1a. The shortest type of competition is a round. Typically, each round lasts one week.
2.1b. The ABT is a competition consisting of four rounds.
2.2. An entrant submits his or her deck to the ABT moderator.
2.2a. An entrant submits his or her deck by private message (pm).
2.2b. An entrant may submit multiple decks, but only the most recently submitted deck is counted.
2.2c. An illegal deck is not counted. At the moderator’s discretion, an illegal deck may be replaced by a similar deck – in which any cards causing that deck to be illegal have been removed or replaced.
2.2d. The moderator determines the result of each match. Entrants may challenge results, but not after the results of the first round of a new ABT has been posted, except at the moderator's discretion.
2.2e. An entrant may name his or her deck. If an entrant doesn't, then the moderator may name it.
2.3. Decks are subject to some restrictions.
2.3a. An entrant may not submit a deck that could enable the player of that deck to win the game or force any cards in an opponent's hand to change zones before an opponent's second turn. A card is forced to change zones if the owner of that card could make no sequence of decisions that would not result in either that card changing zones or that player losing the game before his or her second turn. Ignore this rule in the following cases:
i. All cards in an opponent's hand that would be forced to change zones would not be cast by that opponent and would enter the battlefield under that opponent's control. For example, a 4CB deck with two copies of Black Lotus could contain Stronghold Gambit but could not contain Wild Evocation.
ii. All cards in an opponent's hand that weren't there as a result of a cost or effect that opponent controlled that would be forced to change zones during the resolution of a spell or ability would be in that opponent's hand after that spell or ability resolved. For example, a 3CB deck could contain Timetwister and Black Lotus but an 8CB deck could not.
iii. Cards in an opponent's hand would be forced to change zones only if cards in that opponent's hand that started outside the game would cause that opponent's maximum hand size at the start of the game to be exceeded. For example, a 3CB LR deck could contain two copies of Ancestral Recall.
iv. The rule would be violated only in a game that existed as a result of an effect that resolved not before the specified turn or until each player had completed the specified number of turns that restarted the game or created a subgame. For example, a 2CB LR deck could contain Karn Liberated.
2.3b. An entrant may not submit a deck that wouldn't enable the player of that deck to win a match (see Rule 2.4d) against the player of at least one deck satisfying all rules.
2.3c. A deck may contain any number of copies of any card legal in Vintage (Type 1). Except as modified by a special format, all cards used in a game must be legal in Vintage.
2.3d. A deck may contain any number of copies of any card that will become legal in Vintage upon release of a set that's been revealed fully and officially since the start of the round.
2.3e. A deck may not contain any cards on the ABT Banned List.
2.4. Points determine round standings.
2.4a. Entrants are ranked – first to last – in order of decreasing number of points.
2.4b. For each match, an entrant earns 3 points per game win and 1 point per drawn game.
2.4c. The combined result of both games in a match is called a match result. Possible match results are: 6 – two wins, 4 – a win and a draw, 3 or 2 or S – a win and a loss, 2 – two draws, 1 – a draw and a loss, and 0 – two losses.
2.4d. Some match results are also denoted by names: two wins – match win, a win and a loss – split match, two draws – draw, and two losses – match loss. An entrant wins the match if he or she wins both games, splits the match if he or she wins a game and loses a game, draws a match if he or she draws both games, and loses the match if he or she loses both games.
2.4e. An entrant earns only 2 points for a split match. This is an exception to rule 2.4b.
2.4f. An entrant may earn a number of bonus points defined by a special format. An entrant earns these points in addition to any other points.
2.4g. A table of match results is posted at the end of each round. Its rows represent entrants and its columns represent those entrants' opponents. An entrant's total number of points is listed at the end of his or her row.
2.5. The entrant with the most tournament points over the course of the ABT is the tournament winner.
2.5a. Each round, an entrant receives tournament points equal to his or her average match result for that round multiplied by 100, rounded to the nearest integer or some number of decimal places chosen at the moderator's discretion. For example, an entrant scoring 6-6-6-6-X-0-0-0 in a round with 8 entrants receives 340 tournament points ((6 + 6 + 6 + 6) / (8 - 1) x 100).
2.5b. If two or more entrants would win the ABT, then each of those entrants competes in additional rounds specified by the moderator, until only one entrant has the most tournament points. Each additional round contains only the entrants who have the most tournament points. The moderator may specify a limit to the number of additional rounds.
3. Prize Rules
3.1. A prize shall be given to the tournament winner.
3.1a. The winner of the tournament shall be given the prize described within the tournament, or a suitable replacement upon the tournament's end.
3.1b. If the winner of the tournament has won two or more tournaments, then the highest ranked entrant who hasn't won two or more tournaments shall be given the prize instead.
3.1c. If the winner was a moderator for two or more rounds of the tournament, then the highest ranked entrant who wasn't the moderator for two or more rounds of that tournament shall be given the prize instead. This is to ensure fair play.
3.1d. An entrant may decline the prize. If he or she does, then that entrant may designate another entrant to receive the prize.
3.1e. Entrants under the age of 18 are ineligible for prizes, due to federal laws regarding the sharing of personal information of minors.
3.1f. In the event that a prize can't be given to an entrant, the moderator will do his best to find another suitable way to reward that entrant.
3.1g. No prize is 100% guaranteed, but is assumed upon a good faith basis. Let's face it, with international customs, weird laws, etc, we can't guarantee anything. We'll do our best.
3.2. As a prized tournament, special scoring rules and practices are in place.
3.2a. Entrants are responsible for their own scoring. Assistance will be given, especially to new entrants, but it is ultimately up to each entrant to ensure his or her scoring is completed and accurate.
3.2b. Incomplete scores are considered losses, even to both players in a match if necessary. This is to make sure a winner is determined at the end of a tournament.
3.2c. The moderator always has the final word regarding scores and rules. Entrants may question any scoring the moderator does, until the moderator says that a match's scoring is final.
3.2d. The moderator may, at his or her discretion, determine a match is too difficult to calculate and give it a tie score, or his or her best guess. Again, this is final.
3.2e. Once a winner has been announced as final, that entrant shall receive the prize, even if errors in scoring or points are shown later.
Permanently Banned Cards
The following cards are permanently banned in the All Blind Tournament.
Each round will have an additional banned list that extends beyond, but always includes, these cards.
Tournament Prize
The prize this month is a copy of the excellent puzzle game Sokobond.
Player Standings
Previous standings will always be posted below the opening post of each week's thread.
Standings will be updated after the current week has been completed and score checking has finished.
--
(I'm on on this site much anymore. If you want to get in touch it's probably best to email me: dom@heffalumps.org)
Forum Awards: Best Writer 2005, Best Limited Strategist 2005-2012
5CB PotM - June 2005, November 2005, February 2006, April 2008, May 2008, Feb 2009
MTGSalvation Articles: 1-20, plus guest appearance on MTGCast #86!
<Limited Clan>
--
(I'm on on this site much anymore. If you want to get in touch it's probably best to email me: dom@heffalumps.org)
Forum Awards: Best Writer 2005, Best Limited Strategist 2005-2012
5CB PotM - June 2005, November 2005, February 2006, April 2008, May 2008, Feb 2009
MTGSalvation Articles: 1-20, plus guest appearance on MTGCast #86!
<Limited Clan>
I will provide the prize for ABT#16 month. It'll be a Steam game of your choice, plus any applicable DLCs, that totals 20 dollars or less. You'll have to add me as a Steam friend so I can send it to you as a gift.
If there was no prize provided for ABT#17, I can provide that also. So bateleur for ABT#17?
Mistcutter Hydra can kill before a player's 2nd turn.
Unless the opponent has somehow gained 1 life!
My results from this week:
1 | X 3 6 3 6 0 3 0 6 0 2 | 32 |
1) bateleur : "Death By a Thousand Cutpurses"
Black Lotus / Aluren / Cavern Harpy / Stern Proctor / Rishadan Cutpurse
vs
2) WhammWhamme : "Get a Life"
Grove of the Burnwillows / Mistcutter Hydra / Leyline of Singularity / Karakas / Pithing Needle
3-3 On the play I can kill all his permanents one at a time. On the draw Pithing Needle stops me from returning Harpy.
3) Draco9 : "I Have a Ligature and I'm Not Afraid to Use It!"
Æther Snap / Maze of Ith / Nettlevine Blight / Dark Depths / Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
6-0 My opponents things all get sacrificed.
4) CogMonocle : "Leyline of Io"
Leyline of Lifeforce / Leyline of the Void / Leyline of Singularity / Serra's Sanctum / Iona, Shield of Emeria
3-3 On the play the enchantments gets sacrificed so Iona is never cast, but on the draw Iona locks me out.
5) tomsloger : "Scarecrow Tribal"
Reaper King / Reaper King / Cavern of Souls / Changeling Berserker / Heap Doll
6-0 My opponents things all get sacrificed. Reaper King never triggers.
6) Reyemile : "Monowhite"
Black Lotus / Pact of Negation / Celestial Dawn / Platinum Angel / Mycosynth Lattice
0-6 I cannot beat Angel. Pact counters Cutpurse.
7) piato : "I'll Have Whatever She's Having"
Leyline of Lifeforce / Ancient Den / Phyrexian Metamorph / Phyrexian Metamorph / Iona, Shield of Emeria
3-3 On the play Den gets sacrificed with piato's first spell on the stack. On the draw Iona locks me out. Metamorph never gets to copy anything.
8) aurorasparrow : "Emerian Revolution"
Island / Ertai’s Meddling / Black Lotus / Iona, Shield of Emeria / Martial Coup
0-6 Even on the play I can't do anything since Iona names Blue.
9) Feyd Ruin : "I Have a Quagnoth and I'm Not Afraid to Use It!"
Elvish Spirit Guide / Karakas / Leyline of Singularity / Phyrexian Metamorph / Quagnoth
6-0 My opponents things all get sacrificed. Metamorph never gets to copy anything.
11) knobbodi : "Many burst, such flying spaghetti monster":
Gemstone Cavern / Volcanic Island / Spell Burst / Through the Breach / Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
2-2 My opponent cannot win if he ever lets me resolve Aluren. So he doesn't.
And finally, my deck code for next week: 5698685A33003A688E21F8373BA71DC7 (MD5 checksum of "Card / Card / Card" using http://onlinemd5.com/)
--
(I'm on on this site much anymore. If you want to get in touch it's probably best to email me: dom@heffalumps.org)
Forum Awards: Best Writer 2005, Best Limited Strategist 2005-2012
5CB PotM - June 2005, November 2005, February 2006, April 2008, May 2008, Feb 2009
MTGSalvation Articles: 1-20, plus guest appearance on MTGCast #86!
<Limited Clan>
bateleur : "Death By a Thousand Cutpurses" Black Lotus / Aluren / Cavern Harpy / Stern Proctor / Rishadan Cutpurse
6-0 with aluren in play, i can cast king and without passing priority cast heap doll destroying alluren. from there, my stuff is just bigger.
2) WhammWhamme : "Get a Life" Grove of the Burnwillows / Mistcutter Hydra / Leyline of Singularity / Karakas / Pithing Needle
2-2 on the play, i destroy leyline on t1 and swing 6. hydra swings back for 10, minus the life gain. 11-14. turn 2 i swing 12 and make a blocker. so you obviously dont swing with hydra and tie.
on the draw, you can play karakas first and force me to legend rule away one of my reaper kings to kill it with the same end result
if you instead go the aggro route, i go to 11 t1. i go reaper king, cavern, berserker destroying leyline, reaper king, swing 6. you swing back for 10. 1-14. my backswing is for 12 and leaves heap doll to block. so you dont do that and we draw.
11) knobbodi : "Many burst, such flying spaghetti monster": Gemstone Cavern / Volcanic Island / Spell Burst / Through the Breach / Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
6-0 on the play, if you start with caverns exiling island, i let one reaper king be countered to destroy your land with the other and heap doll.
if you exile spellburst, i run out one reaper king and cast berserker destroying caverns. swing 5. you can emrakul back, annhilating berserker. but then reaper king comes back and the other one gets cast on my turn to destroy volcanic island and win eventually.
if you exile anything else, you cant win anyway to i beat down with heap doll
when you play first, you can swing with emmy on t1 but i can keep you from ever doing it again.
5 | 6 2 6 3 X 3 3 3 6 3 6 | 36 | 360
edit: i seem to disagree with both of the results that were posted while i was typing this. will have to come back later.
6-0 with aluren in play, i can cast king and without passing priority cast heap doll destroying alluren. from there, my stuff is just bigger.
Erm... Heap Doll doesn't have Split Second, you know!
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
--
(I'm on on this site much anymore. If you want to get in touch it's probably best to email me: dom@heffalumps.org)
Forum Awards: Best Writer 2005, Best Limited Strategist 2005-2012
5CB PotM - June 2005, November 2005, February 2006, April 2008, May 2008, Feb 2009
MTGSalvation Articles: 1-20, plus guest appearance on MTGCast #86!
<Limited Clan>
Bateleur, I just spell burst your lotus, or eot through the breach. Should be 6-0 me
Ah, good point, I'd forgotten Through the Breach didn't have to be used before combat.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
--
(I'm on on this site much anymore. If you want to get in touch it's probably best to email me: dom@heffalumps.org)
Forum Awards: Best Writer 2005, Best Limited Strategist 2005-2012
5CB PotM - June 2005, November 2005, February 2006, April 2008, May 2008, Feb 2009
MTGSalvation Articles: 1-20, plus guest appearance on MTGCast #86!
<Limited Clan>
4) CogMonocle : "Leyline of Io"
Leyline of Lifeforce / Leyline of the Void / Leyline of Singularity / Serra's Sanctum / Iona, Shield of Emeria
I used the sanctum instead of Black Lotus out of fear of countermagic, but losing my leylines seemed to happen more often than that.
1) bateleur : "Death By a Thousand Cutpurses"
Black Lotus / Aluren / Cavern Harpy / Stern Proctor / Rishadan Cutpurse
3-3 On the play I get iona down under you naming blue, on the draw you only even need to play the cutpurse.
2) WhammWhamme : "Get a Life"
Grove of the Burnwillows / Mistcutter Hydra / Leyline of Singularity / Karakas / Pithing Needle
0-6
3) Draco9 : "I Have a Ligature and I'm Not Afraid to Use It!"
Æther Snap / Maze of Ith / Nettlevine Blight / Dark Depths / Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1-1 Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I get down too fast for him to cast anything, and then Maze of Ith prevents me from sealing the deal (on both the draw and the play)
5) tomsloger : "Scarecrow Tribal"
Reaper King / Reaper King / Cavern of Souls / Changeling Berserker / Heap Doll
3-3
6) Reyemile : "Monowhite"
Black Lotus / Pact of Negation / Celestial Dawn / Platinum Angel / Mycosynth Lattice
3-3 On the play I naming white, there's nothing he can do. On the draw he gets the lattice down too quickly.
7) piato : "I'll Have Whatever She's Having"
Leyline of Lifeforce / Ancient Den / Phyrexian Metamorph / Phyrexian Metamorph / Iona, Shield of Emeria
3-3 Leyline of Singularity won't mess with his metamorphs, right?
8) aurorasparrow : "Emerian Revolution"
Island / Ertai’s Meddling / Black Lotus / Iona, Shield of Emeria / Martial Coup
3-3
9) Feyd Ruin : "I Have a Quagnoth and I'm Not Afraid to Use It!"
Elvish Spirit Guide / Karakas / Leyline of Singularity / Phyrexian Metamorph / Quagnoth
0-6
10) Mogg : "In Response, Infinite Saproling
Basking Rootwalla / Foil / Graypelt Refuge / Sprout Swarm / Tundra
6-0 You can still get rootwalla down by targetting Iona with foil, but Singularity means you'll never have more than 2 power.
11) knobbodi : "Many burst, such flying spaghetti monster":
Gemstone Cavern / Volcanic Island / Spell Burst / Through the Breach / Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
3-3 Still not sure whether getting iona down even without leylines or avoiding countermagic is better.
4 | 3 0 1 X 3 3 3 3 0 6 3 | 25 | 250
Edit: Things broke when I tried editing things.
For next week, how would an ability like Candelabra of Tawnos work? Is the cost 4, or just the effect? Is it only X's in the rules box, and not in the mana cost? I'm assuming the mana cost isn't locked to X = 4 being the cornucopia is banned.
Foil can be cast targeting an uncounterable spell - it just won't have any effect when it resolves. Consequently, I make an arbitrarily large number of tokens in response to you casting a spell.
8) aurorasparrow : "Emerian Revolution" / ’s Meddling / / / This seems like a good way to build an deck, but it's still quite a bit weaker on the draw, which may be a problem.
1) bateleur : "Death By a Thousand Cutpurses" / / / /
ruins everything. 6-0
2) WhammWhamme : "" / / / /
Leyline/ is pretty insane against me, but I can tie with . 2-2
3) Draco9 : "I Have a Ligature and I'm Not Afraid to Use It!" Æther / / / /
+ Meddling on is fast enough. 6-0
4) CogMonocle : "Leyline of Io" / / / /
Whomever goes first wins. 3-3
5) tomsloger : " Tribal" / / / /
I win on the play.
On the draw, you can either play 1 King, 1 King + Berserker, or 1 King + Berserker + 1 King.
If you play 1 King, I cast and race. is held off by Meddling.
If you play 1 King + Berserker, I for 11. or King gets Meddled. I outrace via swarming.
If you play 1 King + Berserker + 1 King, same as above.
vs 1. (bateleur): I got nothin'. 0-6
vs 3. (Draco9): On the play, turn one Hydra turn two Needle on Maze punches his ticket without Blight helping. On the draw I don't think I can win, but I can hold Karakas for Marit Lage. 4-1
vs. 4. (CogMonocle): I bounce Iona and beat with Hydra. 6-0
vs. 5. (tomsloger): I'll take tom's word for it. 2-2
vs. 6. (Reyemile): Karakas means he can't win. On the play, I resolve Hydra. 6-0
vs. 7. (piato): I can bounce Iona, Metamorph is irrelevant. 6-0
vs. 8. (aurorasparrow): I'd win this match if it wasn''t for that meddling Ertai! 2-2
vs. 9. (Feyd_Ruin): I needle Karakas, then 11/11 Hydra trumps his threats. 6-0
vs. 10. (Mogg): Stupid new Legends rule - Karakas/Leyline doesn't let me beat infinite tokens! 2-2
vs. 11. (knobbodi): Karakas beats Emrakul. Hydra is uncounterable. 6-0
Mogg: Remember, you don't auto-lose to Leyline Karakas. You can make a 1/1 they can't get rid of. Which is a tie vs. me and a loss vs... pretty much everyone else with a Leyline, actually, since twin Quagnoths beat one 1/1, as does Iona...
For next week, how would an ability like Candelabra of Tawnos work? Is the cost 4, or just the effect? Is it only X's in the rules box, and not in the mana cost? I'm assuming the mana cost isn't locked to X = 4 being the cornucopia is banned.
Candelabra will have an activation cost of 4 to untap 4 lands. And yes, it is only Xs in the rules box and not the mana cost. So, for example, you can cast Nourishing Shoal for GG and gain 4 life!
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<Limited Clan>
1. Can't stop cutpurse 0-6
2. Metamorph's 2 life is too much. 0-6
3. Karakas drops after token to bounce. Metamorph-legend-rule-away Blighted Quagnoth. 6-0
4. Leylines cancel. Quagnoth beats. 6-0
5. You beat me with a 1/1 heap doll. 0-6
6. Karakas the angel; drop a split second quagnoth on play. 4-1
7. Quanoth ties metamorph twin. 2-2
8. Karakas Iona. or Metamorph his token, even meddled, then bounce his token. 6-0
9. x
0. All that for a single token... that blocks pretty well. 2-2
1. Take the first swing, karakas the rest. Split Sec Quanoth kills. 6-0
This looks as though you were anticipating discard? I admit to being puzzled by your choice of threat.
Split Second & Shroud.
I expected more permission. Elvish Spirit Guide / Manamorphose / Draining Whelk would have been epic.
I'm really surprised to not see more permission, seeing as how Lotus->Iona was so tempting.
Feyd_Ruin ; like I said, vs. Mogg you can make TWO Quagnoths (one an artifact) and attack with both at once. 6-0
Also, Quagnoth was a better threat this week than people might think; it's immune to Karakas and it's immune to Ertai's Meddling. (iirc, Meddling doesn't counter, so it worked on my Hydra... rassum frassum)
3) Draco9 : "I Have a Ligature and I'm Not Afraid to Use It!"
Æther Snap / Maze of Ith / Nettlevine Blight / Dark Depths / Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
6) Reyemile : "Monowhite"
Black Lotus / Pact of Negation / Celestial Dawn / Platinum Angel / Mycosynth Lattice
11) knobbodi : "Many burst, such flying spaghetti monster":
Gemstone Cavern / Volcanic Island / Spell Burst / Through the Breach / Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
3 vs 6 2-2 Maze stops Angel from killing.
3 vs 11 0-6 Emrakul beats Maze.
6 vs 11 6-0 Pact deals with Meddling. Lattice locks out Through the Breach.
Note that for all the rest of the missing stuff I've assumed the people who have posted results are right, but knobbodi in particular may wish to verify some of that since I was expecting a higher score for that deck.
Nonetheless, I provisionally declare WhammWhamme to have won ABT 18.1 - congratulations!
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<Limited Clan>
Which of the following cards does the special rule affect?
Uh... none of those have X anywhere in the rules text, do they? So unless I've missed some weird subtlety the answer is: none of them.
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<Limited Clan>
1) Darksteel Colossus gets +4/+4
2) Darksteel colossus gets +4/+4, and its converted mana cost is now 4.
3) The spell fails, because 4 is not the highest converted mana cost among permanents I control.
I think its (1), because the card isn't attempting to change a converted mana cost. Basically, you ignore everything that says 'where X is blah blah blah".
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<Limited Clan>
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Week 1 of ABT#18
This round was 'Deep Discount' - Colored spells cost 10 less to cast. 5 cards, no land rule.
This turned out to be a fun format - thanks to Draco9 for coming up with it! Certain cards turned up a fair bit, but there was also some really interesting tech in some decks. This might be a format worth revisiting in future.
Welcome to CogMonocle! New to ABT this week.
This month's prize is a copy of the excellent puzzle game Sokobond. Mainly because more people should play it - it's fun!
The Entries
1) bateleur : "Death By a Thousand Cutpurses"
Black Lotus / Aluren / Cavern Harpy / Stern Proctor / Rishadan Cutpurse
In a format where you can deploy four threats via a single land, surely countermagic won't get played? Oops.
2) WhammWhamme : "Get a Life"
Grove of the Burnwillows / Mistcutter Hydra / Leyline of Singularity / Karakas / Pithing Needle
Very nice design here - looks slightly underpowered at first glance, but interacts well with so many of the key cards in this format.
3) Draco9 : "I Have a Ligature and I'm Not Afraid to Use It!"
Æther Snap / Maze of Ith / Nettlevine Blight / Dark Depths / Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
Not one but two cards I didn't even consider! Looks as though you made the opposite mistake from me and were expecting more countermagic than actually showed up?
4) CogMonocle : "Leyline of Io"
Leyline of Lifeforce / Leyline of the Void / Leyline of Singularity / Serra's Sanctum / Iona, Shield of Emeria
Welcome to ABT! Casting Iona seems like a great plan, although as it turned out you might have been better just doing it with a Black Lotus...
5) tomsloger : "Scarecrow Tribal"
Reaper King / Reaper King / Cavern of Souls / Changeling Berserker / Heap Doll
Reaper King is a nice bit of tech, but the power level of the format was high enough that it falls well short of being broken.
6) Reyemile : "Monowhite"
Black Lotus / Pact of Negation / Celestial Dawn / Platinum Angel / Mycosynth Lattice
This deck is a work of art. I love it!
7) piato : "I'll Have Whatever She's Having"
Leyline of Lifeforce / Ancient Den / Phyrexian Metamorph / Phyrexian Metamorph / Iona, Shield of Emeria
Clever! Took me a moment to even understand how you cast Iona here! Metamorph is a nice option to have, but sadly not many players submitted good targets for it.
8) aurorasparrow : "Emerian Revolution"
Island / Ertai’s Meddling / Black Lotus / Iona, Shield of Emeria / Martial Coup
This seems like a good way to build an Emeria deck, but it's still quite a bit weaker on the draw, which may be a problem.
9) Feyd Ruin : "I Have a Quagnoth and I'm Not Afraid to Use It!"
Elvish Spirit Guide / Karakas / Leyline of Singularity / Phyrexian Metamorph / Quagnoth
This looks as though you were anticipating discard? I admit to being puzzled by your choice of threat.
10) Mogg : "In Response, Infinite Saprolings"
Basking Rootwalla / Foil / Graypelt Refuge / Sprout Swarm / Tundra
Rootwalla! Very nice! This comes very close to being an "I broke the format" deck, but several players saw the token swarm thing coming and brought their leylines. Despite this you might still win...
11) knobbodi : "Many burst, such flying spaghetti monster":
Gemstone Cavern / Volcanic Island / Spell Burst / Through the Breach / Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
The potential is there, but this looks a little awkward. Not being able to hold up Spell Burst and send Emrakul at the same time might result in a lot of draws.
The Grid
X | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 | PT | TPs
1 | X 3 6 3 6 0 3 0 6 0 0 | 30 | 300
2 | 3 X 4 6 2 6 6 2 6 2 6 | 42 | 420
3 | 0 1 X 4 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 | 09 | 090
4 | 3 0 1 X 3 3 3 3 0 6 3 | 25 | 250
5 | 0 2 6 3 X 3 3 3 6 0 6 | 28 | 280
6 | 6 0 2 3 3 X 3 3 1 6 6 | 29 | 290
7 | 3 0 2 3 3 3 X 3 2 0 6 | 20 | 200
8 | 6 2 6 3 6 3 3 X 0 0 6 | 32 | 320
9 | 0 0 6 6 0 4 2 6 X 2 6 | 32 | 320
0 | 6 2 6 0 6 0 6 6 2 X 6 | 40 | 400
1 | 6 0 6 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 X | 14 | 140
The Results
WhammWhamme wins week 1!
TPnts player
420 WhammWhamme
400 Mogg
320 aurorasparrow
320 Feyd Ruin
300 bateleur
290 Reyemile
280 tomsloger
250 CogMonocle
200 piato
140 knobbodi
090 Draco9
There was one Badger submitted. The round was therefore awesome!
Next Round will be 'Bringing Xy Back'
Entries are due by Tuesday Night.
Bringing Xy Back
Deck size: 3 cards
Land Rule: Basic Land Rule
Special Rules:
* Players begin on 50 life.
* Whenever a card uses some value 'X' in its rules text, X is 4 instead of the value given by the card rules.
* There are some additional bans (see below).
Submit decks to bateleur.
Additional Ban List
Blind Magic is an online Magic format played here on the forums. Players play with an extremely limited deck size, such as 3 cards. Players begin with their entire deck (ie: those three cards) in hand and have no library (players don't lose when they fail to draw a card because of this). Due to the extremely limited number of play options given with their small deck size, games are calculated, rather then played, with an absolute determined winner (or a tie). Each player plays a match of two games against each other player who submitted - once going first, and once going second. Wins, losses, and ties for each of those two games are calculated by the moderator and players. The actual fun of the game comes from trying to decide which cards you will be playing.
What is the All Blind Tournament?
The All Blind Tournament is a four-week XCB tournament, which spans all card blind formats and embraces a progressive anti-metagame. For each week of the four-week tournament, a new XCB format is announced for players to enter. Players compete for points (similiar to the PotM points for previous XCB games) each round. At the end of the four-week tournament, the player who has accumulated the most points over the four weeks wins the tournament, and receives a real-world prize.
Basic Rules of All Blind Tournament
Below lies the rules of ABT written in laymen's terms for ease of understanding.
While a comprehensive rule system exists, new players and quick glances are best left for this basic explanation.
2. A deck may contain any number of copies of any Vintage-legal card, but can't contain any cards on the ABT Banned List.
3. A player's deck must not enable that player to win the game before an opponent's second turn.
4. A player's deck must not enable that player to force an opponent to lose any cards in his or her hand before an opponent's second turn.
5. A player's deck must enable that player to win the game.
8. Each player starts the game with the cards in his or her deck in his or her hand.
9. A player doesn't lose the game as a result of being unable to draw a card.
10. A random effect resolves in favor of the opponent of the owner of that effect.
11. Players know all information that would normally be concealed from them.
12. Each player plays one two-game match against each other player, and each player is the starting player once per match.
Extra Rules
16. The Basic Rules don't cover every issue. For in-depth rules, see Comprehensive Rules.
Land Rule
XCB Comprehensive Rules
Below lies the comprehensive rules system for the ABT.
Rules are written for precision and game clarification. They are not written for ease of reading.
Game Rules
1.1. There are many versions of XCB. Each version has a name, of the form XCB 'Land Rule' 'Sanctioned Magic Format' 'Special Format' '(Bonus)' 'Counter Rule' 'Life Rule'.
1.1b. 'Land Rule' can be LR, ELR, ALR, or nothing. LR indicates that the basic land rule is in effect, ELR indicates that the expanded land rule is in effect, and ALR indicates that the alternative land rule is in effect (see Rule 1.7).
1.1c. 'Sanctioned Magic Format' can be the name of a sanctioned Magic constructed format or nothing. The name of a format indicates that only cards contained in sets legal in that format may be submitted. This is an exception to rule 2.3c.
1.1d. 'Special Format' can be the name of at least one special format or nothing. The name of a special format indicates that the special format in effect (see Rule 1.8).
1.1e. 'Bonus' can be (Bonus) or nothing. (Bonus) modifies the preceding special format, indicating that an entrant must not follow the rules of that format, but that entrant will earn a specified number of bonus points if he or she does (see Rule 2.4f).
1.1f. 'Counter Rule' can be C or nothing. C indicates that the counter rule is in effect (see Rule 1.9).
1.1g. 'Life Rule' can be LF, AL, or nothing. LF indicates that the life rule is in effect and AL indicates that the alternative life rule is in effect (see Rule 1.10).
1.3. Except for the changes described in these rules, games follow the rules for a normal game of Magic.
1.3b. Rules 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 (see Rule 2.3d).
1.4b. Players don't draw hands or mulligan.
1.4c. Players don't have sideboards.
1.7. Some versions of XCB use a land rule.
1.7b. This is the expanded 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.
1.7c. This is the alternative land rule (ALR). 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.
1.8b. Some special formats generate continuous effects. Continuous effects generated by special formats are applied in the order those formats are listed in the XCB version name, before any other effects that could be applied in a layer.
1.8c. Some special formats require an entrant to make some number of decisions in addition to or instead of submitting a deck. An entrant's submission is that entrant's deck and any decisions that entrant makes. An entrant's submission must not violate rule 2.3 if all instances of the word 'deck' in that rule are replaced with 'submission'.
1.8d. Some special formats refer to decks that obtain or could obtain results. Saying that a deck obtains or could obtain a result means that the player of that deck obtains or could obtain that result in a game or match against another player (see Rule 1.11). If a deck obtains or could obtain a result against another deck, then the player of that deck obtains or could obtain that result against the player of the other deck.
1.10b. This is the alternative life rule (AL). If neither player would win otherwise, then the player who maintains the higher life total wins the game.
1.11b. Each player is the starting player for one game in each match.
1.11c. Games are played with perfect information; players know the identities of face-down cards and cards in hidden zones, and players know which decisions have been made by other players.
1.11d. Games are played optimally. The best outcome for a player is to win the game and the worst outcome is to lose the game.
1.11e. 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.
1.11f. If a game would continue indefinitely, then the game is a draw.
2.1. Entrants compete in a competition.
2.1b. The ABT is a competition consisting of four rounds.
2.2b. An entrant may submit multiple decks, but only the most recently submitted deck is counted.
2.2c. An illegal deck is not counted. At the moderator’s discretion, an illegal deck may be replaced by a similar deck – in which any cards causing that deck to be illegal have been removed or replaced.
2.2d. The moderator determines the result of each match. Entrants may challenge results, but not after the results of the first round of a new ABT has been posted, except at the moderator's discretion.
2.2e. An entrant may name his or her deck. If an entrant doesn't, then the moderator may name it.
ii. All cards in an opponent's hand that weren't there as a result of a cost or effect that opponent controlled that would be forced to change zones during the resolution of a spell or ability would be in that opponent's hand after that spell or ability resolved. For example, a 3CB deck could contain Timetwister and Black Lotus but an 8CB deck could not.
iii. Cards in an opponent's hand would be forced to change zones only if cards in that opponent's hand that started outside the game would cause that opponent's maximum hand size at the start of the game to be exceeded. For example, a 3CB LR deck could contain two copies of Ancestral Recall.
iv. The rule would be violated only in a game that existed as a result of an effect that resolved not before the specified turn or until each player had completed the specified number of turns that restarted the game or created a subgame. For example, a 2CB LR deck could contain Karn Liberated.
2.3c. A deck may contain any number of copies of any card legal in Vintage (Type 1). Except as modified by a special format, all cards used in a game must be legal in Vintage.
2.3d. A deck may contain any number of copies of any card that will become legal in Vintage upon release of a set that's been revealed fully and officially since the start of the round.
2.3e. A deck may not contain any cards on the ABT Banned List.
2.4b. For each match, an entrant earns 3 points per game win and 1 point per drawn game.
2.4c. The combined result of both games in a match is called a match result. Possible match results are: 6 – two wins, 4 – a win and a draw, 3 or 2 or S – a win and a loss, 2 – two draws, 1 – a draw and a loss, and 0 – two losses.
2.4d. Some match results are also denoted by names: two wins – match win, a win and a loss – split match, two draws – draw, and two losses – match loss. An entrant wins the match if he or she wins both games, splits the match if he or she wins a game and loses a game, draws a match if he or she draws both games, and loses the match if he or she loses both games.
2.4e. An entrant earns only 2 points for a split match. This is an exception to rule 2.4b.
2.4f. An entrant may earn a number of bonus points defined by a special format. An entrant earns these points in addition to any other points.
2.4g. A table of match results is posted at the end of each round. Its rows represent entrants and its columns represent those entrants' opponents. An entrant's total number of points is listed at the end of his or her row.
2.5b. If two or more entrants would win the ABT, then each of those entrants competes in additional rounds specified by the moderator, until only one entrant has the most tournament points. Each additional round contains only the entrants who have the most tournament points. The moderator may specify a limit to the number of additional rounds.
3.1. A prize shall be given to the tournament winner.
3.1b. If the winner of the tournament has won two or more tournaments, then the highest ranked entrant who hasn't won two or more tournaments shall be given the prize instead.
3.1c. If the winner was a moderator for two or more rounds of the tournament, then the highest ranked entrant who wasn't the moderator for two or more rounds of that tournament shall be given the prize instead. This is to ensure fair play.
3.1d. An entrant may decline the prize. If he or she does, then that entrant may designate another entrant to receive the prize.
3.1e. Entrants under the age of 18 are ineligible for prizes, due to federal laws regarding the sharing of personal information of minors.
3.1f. In the event that a prize can't be given to an entrant, the moderator will do his best to find another suitable way to reward that entrant.
3.1g. No prize is 100% guaranteed, but is assumed upon a good faith basis. Let's face it, with international customs, weird laws, etc, we can't guarantee anything. We'll do our best.
3.2b. Incomplete scores are considered losses, even to both players in a match if necessary. This is to make sure a winner is determined at the end of a tournament.
3.2c. The moderator always has the final word regarding scores and rules. Entrants may question any scoring the moderator does, until the moderator says that a match's scoring is final.
3.2d. The moderator may, at his or her discretion, determine a match is too difficult to calculate and give it a tie score, or his or her best guess. Again, this is final.
3.2e. Once a winner has been announced as final, that entrant shall receive the prize, even if errors in scoring or points are shown later.
Permanently Banned Cards
The following cards are permanently banned in the All Blind Tournament.
Each round will have an additional banned list that extends beyond, but always includes, these cards.
Channel
Fastbond
Flash
Show and Tell
Disruption
Chancellor of the Annex
Force of Will
Leyline of Anticipation
Trinisphere
Lands
Ghost Quarter
Strip Mine
Wasteland
Win Conditions
Barren Glory
Laboratory Maniac
Magus of the Moon
Meddling Mage
The Rack
Vampire Hexmage
Land Rule Banned Cards
The following cards are often worth banning when a Land Rule is used.
They are included here for reference.
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
Tournament Prize
The prize this month is a copy of the excellent puzzle game Sokobond.
Player Standings
Previous standings will always be posted below the opening post of each week's thread.
Standings will be updated after the current week has been completed and score checking has finished.
(I'm on on this site much anymore. If you want to get in touch it's probably best to email me: dom@heffalumps.org)
Forum Awards: Best Writer 2005, Best Limited Strategist 2005-2012
5CB PotM - June 2005, November 2005, February 2006, April 2008, May 2008, Feb 2009
MTGSalvation Articles: 1-20, plus guest appearance on MTGCast #86!
<Limited Clan>
Mogg 400
aurorasparrow 320
Feyd Ruin 320
bateleur 300
Reyemile 290
tomsloger 280
CogMonocle 250
piato 200
knobbodi 140
Draco9 090
(I'm on on this site much anymore. If you want to get in touch it's probably best to email me: dom@heffalumps.org)
Forum Awards: Best Writer 2005, Best Limited Strategist 2005-2012
5CB PotM - June 2005, November 2005, February 2006, April 2008, May 2008, Feb 2009
MTGSalvation Articles: 1-20, plus guest appearance on MTGCast #86!
<Limited Clan>
If there was no prize provided for ABT#17, I can provide that also. So bateleur for ABT#17?
4th place at CCC&G Pro Tour
Chances of bad hands (<2 or >4 land):
21: 28.9%
22: 27.5%
23: 26.3%
24: 25.5%
25: 25.1%
26: 25.3%
Unless the opponent has somehow gained 1 life!
My results from this week:
1 | X 3 6 3 6 0 3 0 6 0 2 | 32 |
1) bateleur : "Death By a Thousand Cutpurses"
Black Lotus / Aluren / Cavern Harpy / Stern Proctor / Rishadan Cutpurse
vs
2) WhammWhamme : "Get a Life"
Grove of the Burnwillows / Mistcutter Hydra / Leyline of Singularity / Karakas / Pithing Needle
3-3 On the play I can kill all his permanents one at a time. On the draw Pithing Needle stops me from returning Harpy.
3) Draco9 : "I Have a Ligature and I'm Not Afraid to Use It!"
Æther Snap / Maze of Ith / Nettlevine Blight / Dark Depths / Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
6-0 My opponents things all get sacrificed.
4) CogMonocle : "Leyline of Io"
Leyline of Lifeforce / Leyline of the Void / Leyline of Singularity / Serra's Sanctum / Iona, Shield of Emeria
3-3 On the play the enchantments gets sacrificed so Iona is never cast, but on the draw Iona locks me out.
5) tomsloger : "Scarecrow Tribal"
Reaper King / Reaper King / Cavern of Souls / Changeling Berserker / Heap Doll
6-0 My opponents things all get sacrificed. Reaper King never triggers.
6) Reyemile : "Monowhite"
Black Lotus / Pact of Negation / Celestial Dawn / Platinum Angel / Mycosynth Lattice
0-6 I cannot beat Angel. Pact counters Cutpurse.
7) piato : "I'll Have Whatever She's Having"
Leyline of Lifeforce / Ancient Den / Phyrexian Metamorph / Phyrexian Metamorph / Iona, Shield of Emeria
3-3 On the play Den gets sacrificed with piato's first spell on the stack. On the draw Iona locks me out. Metamorph never gets to copy anything.
8) aurorasparrow : "Emerian Revolution"
Island / Ertai’s Meddling / Black Lotus / Iona, Shield of Emeria / Martial Coup
0-6 Even on the play I can't do anything since Iona names Blue.
9) Feyd Ruin : "I Have a Quagnoth and I'm Not Afraid to Use It!"
Elvish Spirit Guide / Karakas / Leyline of Singularity / Phyrexian Metamorph / Quagnoth
6-0 My opponents things all get sacrificed. Metamorph never gets to copy anything.
10) Mogg : "In Response, Infinite Saprolings"
Basking Rootwalla / Foil / Graypelt Refuge / Sprout Swarm / Tundra
0-6 I get eaten by Saprolings.
11) knobbodi : "Many burst, such flying spaghetti monster":
Gemstone Cavern / Volcanic Island / Spell Burst / Through the Breach / Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
2-2 My opponent cannot win if he ever lets me resolve Aluren. So he doesn't.
And finally, my deck code for next week: 5698685A33003A688E21F8373BA71DC7 (MD5 checksum of "Card / Card / Card" using http://onlinemd5.com/)
(I'm on on this site much anymore. If you want to get in touch it's probably best to email me: dom@heffalumps.org)
Forum Awards: Best Writer 2005, Best Limited Strategist 2005-2012
5CB PotM - June 2005, November 2005, February 2006, April 2008, May 2008, Feb 2009
MTGSalvation Articles: 1-20, plus guest appearance on MTGCast #86!
<Limited Clan>
Hydra is a turn one 10/10. With the life gain from Burnwillows, two swings from Hydra drops an opponent only to 1 life.
EDIT:
X| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
0| 6 2 6 0 6 0 6 6 2 X 6 | 40 | 400
I don't think any of my matches is complicated this time.
EDIT 2: Updated my grid per WW's and Feyd's comments.
BWTeysa, Orzhov Scion
GWRhys the Redeemed
GUKruphix, God of Horizons
GRXenagos, God of Revels
GThrun, the Last Troll
GStompy
5) tomsloger : "Scarecrow Tribal"
Reaper King / Reaper King / Cavern of Souls / Changeling Berserker / Heap Doll1)
Black Lotus / Aluren / Cavern Harpy / Stern Proctor / Rishadan Cutpurse
6-0 with aluren in play, i can cast king and without passing priority cast heap doll destroying alluren. from there, my stuff is just bigger.
2) WhammWhamme : "Get a Life"
Grove of the Burnwillows / Mistcutter Hydra / Leyline of Singularity / Karakas / Pithing Needle
2-2 on the play, i destroy leyline on t1 and swing 6. hydra swings back for 10, minus the life gain. 11-14. turn 2 i swing 12 and make a blocker. so you obviously dont swing with hydra and tie.
on the draw, you can play karakas first and force me to legend rule away one of my reaper kings to kill it with the same end result
if you instead go the aggro route, i go to 11 t1. i go reaper king, cavern, berserker destroying leyline, reaper king, swing 6. you swing back for 10. 1-14. my backswing is for 12 and leaves heap doll to block. so you dont do that and we draw.
3) Draco9 : "I Have a Ligature and I'm Not Afraid to Use It!"
Æther Snap / Maze of Ith / Nettlevine Blight / Dark Depths / Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
6-0 i destroy too mana lands for you to ever play anything releavant
4) CogMonocle : "Leyline of Io"
Leyline of Lifeforce / Leyline of the Void / Leyline of Singularity / Serra's Sanctum / Iona, Shield of Emeria
3-3 on the play i destroy a leyline. on the draw you lock me out.
6) Reyemile : "Monowhite"
Black Lotus / Pact of Negation / Celestial Dawn / Platinum Angel / Mycosynth Lattice
3-3 cavern plus permanent destruction gets me there eventually, but only if theres a reaper king in play before lattice.
7) piato : "I'll Have Whatever She's Having"
Leyline of Lifeforce / Ancient Den / Phyrexian Metamorph / Phyrexian Metamorph / Iona, Shield of Emeria
3-3 iona locks me, win on the play.
8) aurorasparrow : "Emerian Revolution"
Island / Ertai’s Meddling / Black Lotus / Iona, Shield of Emeria / Martial Coup
3-3, like the rest of iona decks
9) Feyd Ruin : "I Have a Quagnoth and I'm Not Afraid to Use It!"
Elvish Spirit Guide / Karakas / Leyline of Singularity / Phyrexian Metamorph / Quagnoth
6-0 even letting one of my reaper kings die to legend rule to kill karakas, i have more power
10) Mogg : "In Response, Infinite Saprolings"
Basking Rootwalla / Foil / Graypelt Refuge / Sprout Swarm / Tundra
3-3 on the play, i give you nothing to counter and destroy refuge. on the draw, not so much.
11) knobbodi : "Many burst, such flying spaghetti monster":
Gemstone Cavern / Volcanic Island / Spell Burst / Through the Breach / Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
6-0 on the play, if you start with caverns exiling island, i let one reaper king be countered to destroy your land with the other and heap doll.
if you exile spellburst, i run out one reaper king and cast berserker destroying caverns. swing 5. you can emrakul back, annhilating berserker. but then reaper king comes back and the other one gets cast on my turn to destroy volcanic island and win eventually.
if you exile anything else, you cant win anyway to i beat down with heap doll
when you play first, you can swing with emmy on t1 but i can keep you from ever doing it again.
5 | 6 2 6 3 X 3 3 3 6 3 6 | 36 | 360
edit: i seem to disagree with both of the results that were posted while i was typing this. will have to come back later.
Erm... Heap Doll doesn't have Split Second, you know!
(I'm on on this site much anymore. If you want to get in touch it's probably best to email me: dom@heffalumps.org)
Forum Awards: Best Writer 2005, Best Limited Strategist 2005-2012
5CB PotM - June 2005, November 2005, February 2006, April 2008, May 2008, Feb 2009
MTGSalvation Articles: 1-20, plus guest appearance on MTGCast #86!
<Limited Clan>
Ah, good point, I'd forgotten Through the Breach didn't have to be used before combat.
(I'm on on this site much anymore. If you want to get in touch it's probably best to email me: dom@heffalumps.org)
Forum Awards: Best Writer 2005, Best Limited Strategist 2005-2012
5CB PotM - June 2005, November 2005, February 2006, April 2008, May 2008, Feb 2009
MTGSalvation Articles: 1-20, plus guest appearance on MTGCast #86!
<Limited Clan>
Leyline of Lifeforce / Leyline of the Void / Leyline of Singularity / Serra's Sanctum / Iona, Shield of Emeria
I used the sanctum instead of Black Lotus out of fear of countermagic, but losing my leylines seemed to happen more often than that.
1) bateleur : "Death By a Thousand Cutpurses"
Black Lotus / Aluren / Cavern Harpy / Stern Proctor / Rishadan Cutpurse
3-3 On the play I get iona down under you naming blue, on the draw you only even need to play the cutpurse.
2) WhammWhamme : "Get a Life"
Grove of the Burnwillows / Mistcutter Hydra / Leyline of Singularity / Karakas / Pithing Needle
0-6
3) Draco9 : "I Have a Ligature and I'm Not Afraid to Use It!"
Æther Snap / Maze of Ith / Nettlevine Blight / Dark Depths / Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1-1 Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I get down too fast for him to cast anything, and then Maze of Ith prevents me from sealing the deal (on both the draw and the play)
5) tomsloger : "Scarecrow Tribal"
Reaper King / Reaper King / Cavern of Souls / Changeling Berserker / Heap Doll
3-3
6) Reyemile : "Monowhite"
Black Lotus / Pact of Negation / Celestial Dawn / Platinum Angel / Mycosynth Lattice
3-3 On the play I naming white, there's nothing he can do. On the draw he gets the lattice down too quickly.
7) piato : "I'll Have Whatever She's Having"
Leyline of Lifeforce / Ancient Den / Phyrexian Metamorph / Phyrexian Metamorph / Iona, Shield of Emeria
3-3 Leyline of Singularity won't mess with his metamorphs, right?
8) aurorasparrow : "Emerian Revolution"
Island / Ertai’s Meddling / Black Lotus / Iona, Shield of Emeria / Martial Coup
3-3
9) Feyd Ruin : "I Have a Quagnoth and I'm Not Afraid to Use It!"
Elvish Spirit Guide / Karakas / Leyline of Singularity / Phyrexian Metamorph / Quagnoth
0-6
10) Mogg : "In Response, Infinite Saproling
Basking Rootwalla / Foil / Graypelt Refuge / Sprout Swarm / Tundra
6-0 You can still get rootwalla down by targetting Iona with foil, but Singularity means you'll never have more than 2 power.
11) knobbodi : "Many burst, such flying spaghetti monster":
Gemstone Cavern / Volcanic Island / Spell Burst / Through the Breach / Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
3-3 Still not sure whether getting iona down even without leylines or avoiding countermagic is better.
4 | 3 0 1 X 3 3 3 3 0 6 3 | 25 | 250
Edit: Things broke when I tried editing things.
For next week, how would an ability like Candelabra of Tawnos work? Is the cost 4, or just the effect? Is it only X's in the rules box, and not in the mana cost? I'm assuming the mana cost isn't locked to X = 4 being the cornucopia is banned.
Foil can be cast targeting an uncounterable spell - it just won't have any effect when it resolves. Consequently, I make an arbitrarily large number of tokens in response to you casting a spell.
BWTeysa, Orzhov Scion
GWRhys the Redeemed
GUKruphix, God of Horizons
GRXenagos, God of Revels
GThrun, the Last Troll
GStompy
/ ’s Meddling / / /
This seems like a good way to build an deck, but it's still quite a bit weaker on the draw, which may be a problem.
1) bateleur : "Death By a Thousand Cutpurses"
/ / / /
ruins everything. 6-0
2) WhammWhamme : ""
/ / / /
Leyline/ is pretty insane against me, but I can tie with . 2-2
3) Draco9 : "I Have a Ligature and I'm Not Afraid to Use It!"
Æther / / / /
+ Meddling on is fast enough. 6-0
4) CogMonocle : "Leyline of Io"
/ / / /
Whomever goes first wins. 3-3
5) tomsloger : " Tribal"
/ / / /
I win on the play.
On the draw, you can either play 1 King, 1 King + Berserker, or 1 King + Berserker + 1 King.
If you play 1 King, I cast and race. is held off by Meddling.
If you play 1 King + Berserker, I for 11. or King gets Meddled. I outrace via swarming.
If you play 1 King + Berserker + 1 King, same as above.
6-0
6) Reyemile : "Monowhite"
/ / / /
Whomever goes first wins. 3-3
7) piato : "I'll Have Whatever She's Having"
/ / / /
Whomever goes first wins. 3-3
9) Feyd Ruin : "I Have a and I'm Not Afraid to Use It!"
/ / / /
/Leyline stops my win conditions. stops yours. 2-2
10) Mogg : "In Response, Infinite s
/ Foil / / /
Oh geez. 0-6
11) knobbodi : "Many burst, such flying spaghetti monster":
Gemstone Cavern / / / /
I can force through and win. 6-0
08 | 6 2 6 3 6 3 3 X 2 0 6 | 34
4th place at CCC&G Pro Tour
Chances of bad hands (<2 or >4 land):
21: 28.9%
22: 27.5%
23: 26.3%
24: 25.5%
25: 25.1%
26: 25.3%
2 | 0 X 4 6 2 6 6 2 6 2 6 | 40 | ???
Results for WhammeWhamme:
vs 1. (bateleur): I got nothin'. 0-6
vs 3. (Draco9): On the play, turn one Hydra turn two Needle on Maze punches his ticket without Blight helping. On the draw I don't think I can win, but I can hold Karakas for Marit Lage. 4-1
vs. 4. (CogMonocle): I bounce Iona and beat with Hydra. 6-0
vs. 5. (tomsloger): I'll take tom's word for it. 2-2
vs. 6. (Reyemile): Karakas means he can't win. On the play, I resolve Hydra. 6-0
vs. 7. (piato): I can bounce Iona, Metamorph is irrelevant. 6-0
vs. 8. (aurorasparrow): I'd win this match if it wasn''t for that meddling Ertai! 2-2
vs. 9. (Feyd_Ruin): I needle Karakas, then 11/11 Hydra trumps his threats. 6-0
vs. 10. (Mogg): Stupid new Legends rule - Karakas/Leyline doesn't let me beat infinite tokens! 2-2
vs. 11. (knobbodi): Karakas beats Emrakul. Hydra is uncounterable. 6-0
Mogg: Remember, you don't auto-lose to Leyline Karakas. You can make a 1/1 they can't get rid of. Which is a tie vs. me and a loss vs... pretty much everyone else with a Leyline, actually, since twin Quagnoths beat one 1/1, as does Iona...
Candelabra will have an activation cost of 4 to untap 4 lands. And yes, it is only Xs in the rules box and not the mana cost. So, for example, you can cast Nourishing Shoal for GG and gain 4 life!
(I'm on on this site much anymore. If you want to get in touch it's probably best to email me: dom@heffalumps.org)
Forum Awards: Best Writer 2005, Best Limited Strategist 2005-2012
5CB PotM - June 2005, November 2005, February 2006, April 2008, May 2008, Feb 2009
MTGSalvation Articles: 1-20, plus guest appearance on MTGCast #86!
<Limited Clan>
2. Metamorph's 2 life is too much. 0-6
3. Karakas drops after token to bounce. Metamorph-legend-rule-away Blighted Quagnoth. 6-0
4. Leylines cancel. Quagnoth beats. 6-0
5. You beat me with a 1/1 heap doll. 0-6
6. Karakas the angel; drop a split second quagnoth on play. 4-1
7. Quanoth ties metamorph twin. 2-2
8. Karakas Iona. or Metamorph his token, even meddled, then bounce his token. 6-0
9. x
0. All that for a single token... that blocks pretty well. 2-2
1. Take the first swing, karakas the rest. Split Sec Quanoth kills. 6-0
X | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 |
9 | 0 0 6 6 0 4 2 6 X 2 6 | 32 | 320
Split Second & Shroud.
I expected more permission.
Elvish Spirit Guide / Manamorphose / Draining Whelk would have been epic.
I'm really surprised to not see more permission, seeing as how Lotus->Iona was so tempting.
I'm also surprised Progenitus didn't come to play.
ESG/ESG/ Dramatic Entrance is an instant speed Progenitus with an open slot.
No longer staff here.
Also, Quagnoth was a better threat this week than people might think; it's immune to Karakas and it's immune to Ertai's Meddling. (iirc, Meddling doesn't counter, so it worked on my Hydra... rassum frassum)
(It unfortunately copies the name, then becomes legendary)
If I don't have leyline in play, he has a million tokens.
No longer staff here.
3) Draco9 : "I Have a Ligature and I'm Not Afraid to Use It!"
Æther Snap / Maze of Ith / Nettlevine Blight / Dark Depths / Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
6) Reyemile : "Monowhite"
Black Lotus / Pact of Negation / Celestial Dawn / Platinum Angel / Mycosynth Lattice
11) knobbodi : "Many burst, such flying spaghetti monster":
Gemstone Cavern / Volcanic Island / Spell Burst / Through the Breach / Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
3 vs 6 2-2 Maze stops Angel from killing.
3 vs 11 0-6 Emrakul beats Maze.
6 vs 11 6-0 Pact deals with Meddling. Lattice locks out Through the Breach.
Note that for all the rest of the missing stuff I've assumed the people who have posted results are right, but knobbodi in particular may wish to verify some of that since I was expecting a higher score for that deck.
Nonetheless, I provisionally declare WhammWhamme to have won ABT 18.1 - congratulations!
(I'm on on this site much anymore. If you want to get in touch it's probably best to email me: dom@heffalumps.org)
Forum Awards: Best Writer 2005, Best Limited Strategist 2005-2012
5CB PotM - June 2005, November 2005, February 2006, April 2008, May 2008, Feb 2009
MTGSalvation Articles: 1-20, plus guest appearance on MTGCast #86!
<Limited Clan>
Which of the following cards does the special rule affect?
4th place at CCC&G Pro Tour
Chances of bad hands (<2 or >4 land):
21: 28.9%
22: 27.5%
23: 26.3%
24: 25.5%
25: 25.1%
26: 25.3%
Uh... none of those have X anywhere in the rules text, do they? So unless I've missed some weird subtlety the answer is: none of them.
(I'm on on this site much anymore. If you want to get in touch it's probably best to email me: dom@heffalumps.org)
Forum Awards: Best Writer 2005, Best Limited Strategist 2005-2012
5CB PotM - June 2005, November 2005, February 2006, April 2008, May 2008, Feb 2009
MTGSalvation Articles: 1-20, plus guest appearance on MTGCast #86!
<Limited Clan>
I control Darksteel Colossus and cast Accelerated Mutation. What happens?
1) Darksteel Colossus gets +4/+4
2) Darksteel colossus gets +4/+4, and its converted mana cost is now 4.
3) The spell fails, because 4 is not the highest converted mana cost among permanents I control.
This is correct.
(I'm on on this site much anymore. If you want to get in touch it's probably best to email me: dom@heffalumps.org)
Forum Awards: Best Writer 2005, Best Limited Strategist 2005-2012
5CB PotM - June 2005, November 2005, February 2006, April 2008, May 2008, Feb 2009
MTGSalvation Articles: 1-20, plus guest appearance on MTGCast #86!
<Limited Clan>