This thread contains the results for week 2 of All Blind Tournament #18 and is the start of week 3 of ABT#18.
Week 2 of ABT#18
This round was 'Bringing Xy Back' - 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.
Was pleased with the quality of entries this week. Everyone seemed to get the hang of the fact that it's a very high powered format and nobody brought a knife to a gunfight. The question is, who brought the biggest gun?
The Entries
1) bateleur : "The Man With Two Shadows" Death's Shadow / Death's Shadow / Syncopate The plan here was to buy enough tempo with Syncopate that my cheap aggro could get the job done. Looks like I wasn't fast enough.
3) tomsloger : "Carpet of Zombies" Carpet of Flowers / Endless Ranks of the Dead / Arcane Denial Endless Ranks is a lovely bit of tech. Will be interested to see if Denial plays better for you than Syncopate would have done.
4) WhammWhamme : "You Gelly?" Gelatinous Genesis / Gelatinous Genesis / Vindicate Double Genesis pays off here since nobody brought Ratchet Bomb to the party (although there is one Leyline). Vindicate is a smart choice.
5) Reyemile : "Quoth the Raven" Carpet of Flowers / Nevermore / Felidar Sovereign Clever stuff. I thought Nevermore was a bad metagame call in a field of 1-drops until I realised that it deals with precisely those things you don't auto-win against with Sovereign!
6) CogMonocle : "IDK, Black Vise" Syncopate / Black Sun's Zenith / Black Vise Zenith was a nice choice here, but this is the one deck where Syncopate maybe wanted to be Arcane Denial because you need a lot of time to win.
8) Mogg : "Arbitrarily Many More Times, With Feeling" Carpet of Flowers / Nantuko Shrine / Sprout Swarm Particularly nice that this can make a lethal threat and then do it again if it's dealt with.
9) knobbodi : "Fan Service" Harabaz Druid / Pemmin's Aura / Fanning the Flames Well, this definitely wins in a convincing manner, but the vulnerability of that Druid is a serious weakness.
10) aurorasparrow : "No Spell Control" Leyline of Singularity / Karakas / Inkmoth Nexus Two thirds of your deck on creature control?! Good call - the meta is indeed full of creatures!
Only one player besides me submitted a deck name this round. Sad times.
Next Round : Week 3 of ABT#18
Next Round will be 'Superheroes'
Entries are due by the end of Monday.
Superheroes
Format Rules
Deck size: 5 cards
Land Rule: Alternative Land Rule Special Rules:
* At the end of the second player's 100th turn, if one player has dealt more damage than any other then that player wins the game and all other players lose. Otherwise the game is a draw. Effects which prevent a player from losing the game do not apply here. (Damage dealt includes by all sources you control. Life gain, life loss and damage you deal to yourself are not relevant to this rule.)
* Players cannot lose the game or win the game in any other way.
* All lands have Shroud.
* You control an emblem which reads: "Pay 2 life: Put a card you own on top of your library from anywhere." (Reminder: You cannot pay life you don't have.)
As the name implies, this format is inspired by the way comic book superheroes kick the stuffing out of each other with massively powerful attacks and yet somehow never actually die!
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'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>
1) bateleur : "The Man With Two Shadows"
Death's Shadow / Death's Shadow / Syncopate
vs
2) Draco9 : "Ooze Misadventured Piteous Overthrows"
Gelatinous Genesis / Sundering Growth / Wheel of Sun and Moon
2-2 Genesis on turn one allows one Shadow to be blocked and killed (leaving two Oozes), Wheel can resolve through Syncopate on turn six and then Growth (destroying Wheel) on turn 7 can make a third Ooze, which results in a stalemate. Waiting until after Wheel resolves to cast Genesis is too slow.
3) tomsloger : "Carpet of Zombies"
Carpet of Flowers / Endless Ranks of the Dead / Arcane Denial
0-6 Zombies chump block until they can swarm for the win. (Carpet of Flowers with Arcane Denial backup gets past Syncopate on turn three.)
0-6 "You figure that's just gotta be jelly 'cos jam just don't shake like that" - Alabama 3.
5) Reyemile : "Quoth the Raven"
Carpet of Flowers / Nevermore / Felidar Sovereign
3-3 Turn 1 Nevermore naming Death's Shadow is a win, otherwise turn 1 Death's Shadow takes his life below 40 before Sovereign can resolve.
6) CogMonocle : "IDK, Black Vise"
Syncopate / Black Sun's Zenith / Black Vise
6-0 Zenith can't kill the Shadows. My Syncopate lets the second one resolve through his Syncopate.
7) Feyd Ruin : "Debt Collector"
Debt to the Deathless / Maelstrom Pulse / Wheel of Sun and Moon
6-0 He cannot safely cast Wheel until turn 6. The Shadows kill on my turn five. Casting Pulse earlier gets it Syncopated, then even with Wheel I win the race.
8) Mogg : "Arbitrarily Many More Times, With Feeling"
Carpet of Flowers / Nantuko Shrine / Sprout Swarm
3-3 Once Mogg has four Saprolings in play the Carpet negates my Syncopate and he can combo. When I'm on the play I can delay Carpet until turn five and therefore the combo until turn six. I win on my turn six, which is sooner.
0-6 Druid cannot be played on turn one, so I hold up Syncopate to delay it and win the race.
10) aurorasparrow : "No Spell Control"
Leyline of Singularity / Karakas / Inkmoth Nexus
6-0
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>
vs bateleur: 6-0 (he knows why)
vs Draco9: On the play, I'm too fast. On the draw, he has tokens. 3-3
vs tomsloger: On the play, I'm too fast, honest. 3-3
vs Reyemile: 3-3. He wins turn 3 on the play, I beat him up enough on the play.
vs. CogMonocle: I vindicate his win-con, can't actively win. 2-2.
vs. Feyd_Ruin: On the play I can keep him off 3 mana (for Pulse). On the draw... dang recurring Pulse.
vs. Mogg: So many tokens! 0-6
vs. knobbodi: Vindicate or bust. 3-3
vs. aurorasparrow: Vindicate Leyline, Tokens take it down. 6-0
Important note: By popular request I have emergency banned Pact of Negation.
Apologies to those who had already submitted.
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>
1: Syncopate exiles pulse before I can pay. 8 Can't race 18. 0-6
2: Ties. Tokens/Sunder every 2 turns vs Pulse/Wheel every 2 turns. 2-2
3: Denial Wheel or Wheel. 3-3
4: Too Speedy on my draw, not so on my play. 3-3
5: Can't race win trigger through Nevermore. 0-6
6: Pulse Vise paying Syncopate. Wheel and drain. 6-0
7: x
8: My PermaPulse locks it. But I can't use pulse elsewhere or drain or i'm facing infinite. 2-2
9: Turn 3 win vs turn 3 pulse. 3-3
0: I drain turn 10. He swings lethal turn 11. 6-0
Not nearly as good as I had hoped.
Didn't have much time this week to really dig through the meta :/
5-8: 6-0: Nevermore locks me out.
6-8: 0-6: Black Vise isn't fast enough for Syncopate to be relevant, and eot Swarm beats Zenith.
7-8: 0-6: I wait to cast Shrine with five untapped lands. Pulse targetting Shrine begets infinite tokens in response, and no Pulse begets infinite tokens eot.
8-0: 0-6: Leyline.
Bateleur, I'm pretty sure I win against you. Starting turn 3 I can play zenith and hold syncopate, and then you do 9 + 18 + 10 + 2 damage = 39 damage, and that's when you're on the play.
1) bateleur : "The Man With Two Shadows"
Death's Shadow / Death's Shadow / Syncopate
6-0, as described above (I think)
2) Draco9 : "Ooze Misadventured Piteous Overthrows"
Gelatinous Genesis / Sundering Growth / Wheel of Sun and Moon
2-2, Yeah, arcane denial would've been pretty good here, but in the next match...
3) tomsloger : "Carpet of Zombies"
Carpet of Flowers / Endless Ranks of the Dead / Arcane Denial
6-0, I lead with island, counter Ranks, if he counters back then I can just zenith him out and play vise, if he doesn't counter back, I play vise and hold up syncopate
4) WhammWhamme : "You Gelly?"
Gelatinous Genesis / Gelatinous Genesis / Vindicate
2-2 Black Sun's Zenith, vindicate's my vise on turn 7. Another game where denial is better
5) Reyemile : "Quoth the Raven"
Carpet of Flowers / Nevermore / Felidar Sovereign
0-6, He plays nevermore on turn 3 naming BSZ, plays Sovereign turn 6 and then wins through combat damage.
7) Feyd Ruin : "Debt Collector"
Debt to the Deathless / Maelstrom Pulse / Wheel of Sun and Moon
0-6
8) Mogg : "Arbitrarily Many More Times, With Feeling"
Carpet of Flowers / Nantuko Shrine / Sprout Swarm
0-6
10) aurorasparrow : "No Spell Control" Leyline of Singularity / Karakas / Inkmoth Nexus Two thirds of your deck on creature control?! Good call - the meta is indeed full of creatures!
1) bateleur : "The Man With Two Shadows" Death's Shadow / Death's Shadow / Syncopate The plan here was to buy enough tempo with Syncopate that my cheap aggro could get the job done. Looks like I wasn't fast enough.
Also: Does Angel of Jubilation deactivate the emblem?
Unfortunately, yes. Would have been nice to spot that a bit earlier.
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>
I am extending the deadline for ABT 18.3 to 24 hours from the time of this post.
The reason is: two players submitted decks which were illegal for broadly the same reason. I caught one at the time of submission but didn't catch the other even though it was submitted earlier. Under the circumstances I think it's fairer to allow that player time to resubmit and consequently I have extended the deadline for everyone.
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>
Week 2 of ABT#18
This round was 'Bringing Xy Back' - 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.
Was pleased with the quality of entries this week. Everyone seemed to get the hang of the fact that it's a very high powered format and nobody brought a knife to a gunfight. The question is, who brought the biggest gun?
The Entries
1) bateleur : "The Man With Two Shadows"
Death's Shadow / Death's Shadow / Syncopate
The plan here was to buy enough tempo with Syncopate that my cheap aggro could get the job done. Looks like I wasn't fast enough.
2) Draco9 : "Ooze Misadventured Piteous Overthrows"
Gelatinous Genesis / Sundering Growth / Wheel of Sun and Moon
Nice mix of early board presence, resilience and versatility, but feels maybe a bit underpowered.
3) tomsloger : "Carpet of Zombies"
Carpet of Flowers / Endless Ranks of the Dead / Arcane Denial
Endless Ranks is a lovely bit of tech. Will be interested to see if Denial plays better for you than Syncopate would have done.
4) WhammWhamme : "You Gelly?"
Gelatinous Genesis / Gelatinous Genesis / Vindicate
Double Genesis pays off here since nobody brought Ratchet Bomb to the party (although there is one Leyline). Vindicate is a smart choice.
5) Reyemile : "Quoth the Raven"
Carpet of Flowers / Nevermore / Felidar Sovereign
Clever stuff. I thought Nevermore was a bad metagame call in a field of 1-drops until I realised that it deals with precisely those things you don't auto-win against with Sovereign!
6) CogMonocle : "IDK, Black Vise"
Syncopate / Black Sun's Zenith / Black Vise
Zenith was a nice choice here, but this is the one deck where Syncopate maybe wanted to be Arcane Denial because you need a lot of time to win.
7) Feyd Ruin : "Debt Collector"
Debt to the Deathless / Maelstrom Pulse / Wheel of Sun and Moon
This is almost great, but I suspect it's a bit too slow due to the need to get Wheel down before you start casting other things.
8) Mogg : "Arbitrarily Many More Times, With Feeling"
Carpet of Flowers / Nantuko Shrine / Sprout Swarm
Particularly nice that this can make a lethal threat and then do it again if it's dealt with.
9) knobbodi : "Fan Service"
Harabaz Druid / Pemmin's Aura / Fanning the Flames
Well, this definitely wins in a convincing manner, but the vulnerability of that Druid is a serious weakness.
10) aurorasparrow : "No Spell Control"
Leyline of Singularity / Karakas / Inkmoth Nexus
Two thirds of your deck on creature control?! Good call - the meta is indeed full of creatures!
The Grid
1 | X 2 0 0 3 0 6 3 6 0 | 18 | 200
2 | 2 X 3 3 3 0 2 3 0 6 | 18 | 200
3 | 6 3 X 3 0 0 3 3 6 0 | 20 | 222
4 | 6 3 3 X 3 2 3 0 3 6 | 24 | 267
5 | 3 3 6 3 X 6 6 6 6 0 | 36 | 400
6 | 6 6 6 2 0 X 0 0 6 0 | 26 | 289
7 | 0 2 3 3 0 6 X 0 3 6 | 20 | 222
8 | 3 3 3 6 0 6 6 X 3 0 | 26 | 289
9 | 0 6 0 3 0 0 3 3 X 0 | 12 | 133
10| 6 0 6 0 6 6 0 6 6 X | 36 | 400
The Results
Reyemile and aurorasparrow win week 2!
TPnts player
400 Reyemile
400 aurorasparrow
289 CogMonocle
289 Mogg
267 WhammWhamme
222 tomsloger
222 Feyd Ruin
200 bateleur
200 Draco9
133 knobbodi
Only one player besides me submitted a deck name this round. Sad times.
Next Round will be 'Superheroes'
Entries are due by the end of Monday.
Superheroes
Deck size: 5 cards
Land Rule: Alternative Land Rule
Special Rules:
* At the end of the second player's 100th turn, if one player has dealt more damage than any other then that player wins the game and all other players lose. Otherwise the game is a draw. Effects which prevent a player from losing the game do not apply here. (Damage dealt includes by all sources you control. Life gain, life loss and damage you deal to yourself are not relevant to this rule.)
* Players cannot lose the game or win the game in any other way.
* All lands have Shroud.
* You control an emblem which reads: "Pay 2 life: Put a card you own on top of your library from anywhere." (Reminder: You cannot pay life you don't have.)
As the name implies, this format is inspired by the way comic book superheroes kick the stuffing out of each other with massively powerful attacks and yet somehow never actually die!
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>
Reyemile 690
Mogg 689
WhammWhamme 687
Feyd Ruin 542
tomsloger 502
bateleur 500
CogMonocle 539
knobbodi 273
piato 200
Draco9 290
(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>
3) tomsloger : "Carpet of Zombies"
Carpet of Flowers / Endless Ranks of the Dead / Arcane Denial
Death's Shadow / Death's Shadow / Syncopate
6-0 on the play, ranks makes blockers aplenty. on the draw, i wait to have denial mana up when i cast it.
2) Draco9 : "Ooze Misadventured Piteous Overthrows"
Gelatinous Genesis / Sundering Growth / Wheel of Sun and Moon
3-3 on the play i get ranks down t1 and have denial for growth. win by double blocking a bunch. if you cast t2 growth, i counter it and its over. if you cast wheel first, i get 3 upkeeps of zombies which is enough.
4) WhammWhamme : "You Gelly?"
Gelatinous Genesis / Gelatinous Genesis / Vindicate
6-0 i stop vindicate and eventually overwhelm
5) Reyemile : "Quoth the Raven"
Carpet of Flowers / Nevermore / Felidar Sovereign
0-6
6) CogMonocle : "IDK, Black Vise"
Syncopate / Black Sun's Zenith / Black Vise
0-6
7) Feyd Ruin : "Debt Collector"
Debt to the Deathless / Maelstrom Pulse / Wheel of Sun and Moon
3-3 denial wheel on the play
8) Mogg : "Arbitrarily Many More Times, With Feeling"
Carpet of Flowers / Nantuko Shrine / Sprout Swarm
3-3 counter swarm on the play.
9) knobbodi : "Fan Service"
Harabaz Druid / Pemmin's Aura / Fanning the Flames
6-0 denial
10) aurorasparrow : "No Spell Control"
Leyline of Singularity / Karakas / Inkmoth Nexus
0-6 ouch
3 | 6 3 X 6 0 0 3 3 6 0 | 24
and the answer is yes, syncopate would have been 8 points better.
My deck code for next week: 1A9412EE6873D54EC49B8ABBE9422096 (MD5 checksum of "Card / Card / Card / Card / Card" using http://onlinemd5.com/)Whoops - just noticed that's illegal! Since nobody else has submitted yet I'll resubmit in a minute.
OK, fixed deck code: 37F751F575288A8E66B2CBDBA52C853E
Sorry about that! Underestimated my own format!
(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>
VS:
1: syncopate sets me back plenty enough 0-6
2: untap my guy in response to sundering growth 6-0
3: arcane denial 0-6
4: It's a race 3-3
5: nevermore 0-6
6: BSZ plus syncopate 0-6
7: Turn 3 pulse vs turn 3 win 3-3
8: It's a race 3-3
10: karakas in response to aura 0-6
9 | 0 6 0 3 0 0 3 3 0 | 12
1) bateleur : "The Man With Two Shadows"
Death's Shadow / Death's Shadow / Syncopate
vs
2) Draco9 : "Ooze Misadventured Piteous Overthrows"
Gelatinous Genesis / Sundering Growth / Wheel of Sun and Moon
2-2 Genesis on turn one allows one Shadow to be blocked and killed (leaving two Oozes), Wheel can resolve through Syncopate on turn six and then Growth (destroying Wheel) on turn 7 can make a third Ooze, which results in a stalemate. Waiting until after Wheel resolves to cast Genesis is too slow.
3) tomsloger : "Carpet of Zombies"
Carpet of Flowers / Endless Ranks of the Dead / Arcane Denial
0-6 Zombies chump block until they can swarm for the win. (Carpet of Flowers with Arcane Denial backup gets past Syncopate on turn three.)
4) WhammWhamme : "You Gelly?"
Gelatinous Genesis / Gelatinous Genesis / Vindicate
0-6 "You figure that's just gotta be jelly 'cos jam just don't shake like that" - Alabama 3.
5) Reyemile : "Quoth the Raven"
Carpet of Flowers / Nevermore / Felidar Sovereign
3-3 Turn 1 Nevermore naming Death's Shadow is a win, otherwise turn 1 Death's Shadow takes his life below 40 before Sovereign can resolve.
6) CogMonocle : "IDK, Black Vise"
Syncopate / Black Sun's Zenith / Black Vise
6-0 Zenith can't kill the Shadows. My Syncopate lets the second one resolve through his Syncopate.
7) Feyd Ruin : "Debt Collector"
Debt to the Deathless / Maelstrom Pulse / Wheel of Sun and Moon
6-0 He cannot safely cast Wheel until turn 6. The Shadows kill on my turn five. Casting Pulse earlier gets it Syncopated, then even with Wheel I win the race.
8) Mogg : "Arbitrarily Many More Times, With Feeling"
Carpet of Flowers / Nantuko Shrine / Sprout Swarm
3-3 Once Mogg has four Saprolings in play the Carpet negates my Syncopate and he can combo. When I'm on the play I can delay Carpet until turn five and therefore the combo until turn six. I win on my turn six, which is sooner.
9) knobbodi : "Fan Service"
Harabaz Druid / Pemmin's Aura / Fanning the Flames
0-6 Druid cannot be played on turn one, so I hold up Syncopate to delay it and win the race.
10) aurorasparrow : "No Spell Control"
Leyline of Singularity / Karakas / Inkmoth Nexus
6-0
(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>
Also, next week does the activated ability mean I can pay 2 life to take a card from, say, the bottom of my library and put it on top?
vs Draco9: On the play, I'm too fast. On the draw, he has tokens. 3-3
vs tomsloger: On the play, I'm too fast, honest. 3-3
vs Reyemile: 3-3. He wins turn 3 on the play, I beat him up enough on the play.
vs. CogMonocle: I vindicate his win-con, can't actively win. 2-2.
vs. Feyd_Ruin: On the play I can keep him off 3 mana (for Pulse). On the draw... dang recurring Pulse.
vs. Mogg: So many tokens! 0-6
vs. knobbodi: Vindicate or bust. 3-3
vs. aurorasparrow: Vindicate Leyline, Tokens take it down. 6-0
X | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 | PT | TPs
4 | 6 3 3 X 3 2 3 0 3 6 | 24 | ???
Apologies to those who had already submitted.
(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>
7 | 0 2 3 3 0 6 X 2 3 6 | 22 | 244
1: Syncopate exiles pulse before I can pay. 8 Can't race 18. 0-6
2: Ties. Tokens/Sunder every 2 turns vs Pulse/Wheel every 2 turns. 2-2
3: Denial Wheel or Wheel. 3-3
4: Too Speedy on my draw, not so on my play. 3-3
5: Can't race win trigger through Nevermore. 0-6
6: Pulse Vise paying Syncopate. Wheel and drain. 6-0
7: x
8: My PermaPulse locks it. But I can't use pulse elsewhere or drain or i'm facing infinite. 2-2
9: Turn 3 win vs turn 3 pulse. 3-3
0: I drain turn 10. He swings lethal turn 11. 6-0
Not nearly as good as I had hoped.
Didn't have much time this week to really dig through the meta :/
No longer staff here.
X| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 |
8| 3 3 3 6 0 6 6 X 3 0 | 26 | 289
5-8: 6-0: Nevermore locks me out.
6-8: 0-6: Black Vise isn't fast enough for Syncopate to be relevant, and eot Swarm beats Zenith.
7-8: 0-6: I wait to cast Shrine with five untapped lands. Pulse targetting Shrine begets infinite tokens in response, and no Pulse begets infinite tokens eot.
8-0: 0-6: Leyline.
BWTeysa, Orzhov Scion
GWRhys the Redeemed
GUKruphix, God of Horizons
GRXenagos, God of Revels
GThrun, the Last Troll
GStompy
1) bateleur : "The Man With Two Shadows"
Death's Shadow / Death's Shadow / Syncopate
6-0, as described above (I think)
2) Draco9 : "Ooze Misadventured Piteous Overthrows"
Gelatinous Genesis / Sundering Growth / Wheel of Sun and Moon
2-2, Yeah, arcane denial would've been pretty good here, but in the next match...
3) tomsloger : "Carpet of Zombies"
Carpet of Flowers / Endless Ranks of the Dead / Arcane Denial
6-0, I lead with island, counter Ranks, if he counters back then I can just zenith him out and play vise, if he doesn't counter back, I play vise and hold up syncopate
4) WhammWhamme : "You Gelly?"
Gelatinous Genesis / Gelatinous Genesis / Vindicate
2-2 Black Sun's Zenith, vindicate's my vise on turn 7. Another game where denial is better
5) Reyemile : "Quoth the Raven"
Carpet of Flowers / Nevermore / Felidar Sovereign
0-6, He plays nevermore on turn 3 naming BSZ, plays Sovereign turn 6 and then wins through combat damage.
7) Feyd Ruin : "Debt Collector"
Debt to the Deathless / Maelstrom Pulse / Wheel of Sun and Moon
0-6
8) Mogg : "Arbitrarily Many More Times, With Feeling"
Carpet of Flowers / Nantuko Shrine / Sprout Swarm
0-6
9) knobbodi : "Fan Service"
Harabaz Druid / Pemmin's Aura / Fanning the Flames
6-0
10) aurorasparrow : "No Spell Control"
Leyline of Singularity / Karakas / Inkmoth Nexus
0-6, can't interact, am outraced.
6 | 6 2 6 2 0 X 0 0 6 0 | 22
Leyline of Singularity / Karakas / Inkmoth Nexus
Two thirds of your deck on creature control?! Good call - the meta is indeed full of creatures!
Death's Shadow / Death's Shadow / Syncopate
The plan here was to buy enough tempo with Syncopate that my cheap aggro could get the job done. Looks like I wasn't fast enough.
6-0
2) Draco9 : "Ooze Misadventured Piteous Overthrows"
Gelatinous Genesis / Sundering Growth / Wheel of Sun and Moon
0-6
3) tomsloger : "Carpet of Zombies"
Carpet of Flowers / Endless Ranks of the Dead / Arcane Denial
6-0
4) WhammWhamme : "You Gelly?"
Gelatinous Genesis / Gelatinous Genesis / Vindicate
0-6
5) Reyemile : "Quoth the Raven"
Carpet of Flowers / Nevermore / Felidar Sovereign
6-0
6) CogMonocle : "IDK, Black Vise"
Syncopate / Black Sun's Zenith / Black Vise
6-0
7) Feyd Ruin : "Debt Collector"
Debt to the Deathless / Maelstrom Pulse / Wheel of Sun and Moon
0-6
8) Mogg : "Arbitrarily Many More Times, With Feeling"
Carpet of Flowers / Nantuko Shrine / Sprout Swarm
6-0
9) knobbodi : "Fan Service"
Harabaz Druid / Pemmin's Aura / Fanning the Flames
6-0
10 | 6 0 6 0 6 6 0 6 6 X | 36
Also: Does anywhere mean removed from the game as well?
Also: Does Angel of Jubilation deactivate the emblem?
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%
Yes.
Unfortunately, yes. Would have been nice to spot that a bit earlier.
(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>
The reason is: two players submitted decks which were illegal for broadly the same reason. I caught one at the time of submission but didn't catch the other even though it was submitted earlier. Under the circumstances I think it's fairer to allow that player time to resubmit and consequently I have extended the deadline for everyone.
(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>
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%