If you're stuck at home because of the weather, obligations, or you're outta' $, you can tune to players rockin' out here.
The format is Standard.
Coverage will begin on Saturday at 10 a.m. ET.
Coverage will begin on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.
Coverage will begin on Sunday at 10 a.m. ET.
Coverage will be broken up with coverage of GP Vancouver (Modern) -- so keep that in mind as you tune in.
You can discuss GP Memphis below.
Please do not discuss:
- other formats (like Modern)
- standard cards and decks not relating to the event (i.e. "why do you guys think Jace isn't being played?")
- the freshness of blueberries at this time of year
I'm signed up, but it's probably $50 thrown away. The roads are ugly in this area, and the south is rarely equipped to handle these situations. By noon on Saturday, the temp is supposed to get into the 50's and melt everything, but I'm afraid it's going to be difficult for people to get to the convention center that morning. Anyone planning to get their today is in for the worst of it. Hopefully we'll have a decent turnout though, as Memphis hasn't had a major tournament since Worlds many years ago.
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Currently playing:
Standard: I, for one, welcome our new rhinoceros overlords
Modern: Pod's dead, Bob's back.
Legacy: Lands, Deathblade, Death and Taxes, Elves, MUD
Retired Legacy: Merfolk, Goblins, Jund, Delver, Reanimator
I'm signed up, but it's probably $50 thrown away. The roads are ugly in this area, and the south is rarely equipped to handle these situations. By noon on Saturday, the temp is supposed to get into the 50's and melt everything, but I'm afraid it's going to be difficult for people to get to the convention center that morning. Anyone planning to get their today is in for the worst of it. Hopefully we'll have a decent turnout though, as Memphis hasn't had a major tournament since Worlds many years ago.
It's insane to think that the South has been getting worse winter weather than us northerners. It's been an incredibly mild winter here in the Dakotas. That area has gotten weather recently that I wouldn't even feel comfortable driving in, and I'm used to driving in poor conditions with far better snow removal infrastructure in place. For everyone going, drive carefully and safely particularly if you've never driven in that sort of thing before. Warm weather after heavy snows is actually much worse than if it stayed cold, and take it slow if need be. It's always better to take a little extra time to get to your destination than to push what's reasonable.
And good luck at the tournament to all who make it.
It's not that our weather has been that bad by northern standards. We're just not equipped to handle it because it's so infrequent. No one has snow tires or chains, and most cities have minimal road clearing equipment, so it doesn't take more than an inch of ice to shut things down. I'm only about an hour away from Memphis, but the bridge over the Mississippi River is going to be a nightmare if it freezes again this afternoon.
But hey, with any luck I'll arrive late, take a first round loss, x-3 and drop in time to each lunch, and play some Legacy side events that evening.
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Currently playing:
Standard: I, for one, welcome our new rhinoceros overlords
Modern: Pod's dead, Bob's back.
Legacy: Lands, Deathblade, Death and Taxes, Elves, MUD
Retired Legacy: Merfolk, Goblins, Jund, Delver, Reanimator
It's not that our weather has been that bad by northern standards. We're just not equipped to handle it because it's so infrequent. No one has snow tires or chains, and most cities have minimal road clearing equipment, so it doesn't take more than an inch of ice to shut things down. I'm only about an hour away from Memphis, but the bridge over the Mississippi River is going to be a nightmare if it freezes again this afternoon.
Actually... the south's (And east coast) weather is worse this year. We just got our first significant snowfall a week or two ago. It's been incredibly mild, snow-wise. And that's what I was getting at. We have the machines to clear the roads, and significantly more experience driving in these conditions at that.
And be bloody well careful on that bridge. Bridges build a lot of ice very quickly, and glare or black ice at that much of the time. Not only that, but rising temperatures after a snowfall are just plain worse than it being sub freezing straight through. Snow that melts will freeze; snow that doesn't isn't as much of a problem. So even if it gets up to 50 degrees it could be worse than if it stayed freezing.
Just hoping everyone gets there and back safely, really.
But hey, with any luck I'll arrive late, take a first round loss, x-3 and drop in time to each lunch, and play some Legacy side events that evening.
That's always my hope. Scrub out and do some side events. Better than giving you a brief glimmer of hope only to be crushed later on.
A bit more on topic, what are you planning on bringing?
I was exited about watching this up until the point when the stream actually started. Now I've gotten used to rather poor coverage at GP's in general but my god is the Vid/Audio quality terrible.
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Brilliant ideas are stupid ideas that worked - Patrick Chapin
I stumble into the stream and I see floods of soldier tokens, Elspeths on both sides of the table on the two matches I have watched.
What is this, Theros block constructed?
Jokes aside, god I wish this were the actual metagame in my FNM. Standard midrange matches all day long... magical christmas land for me. But then the ugly reality steps in and I keep facing mono red and heroic aggro most of the time... sigh.
So many Abzan control decks in the top 8. Glad to see something else won, although it still shared 2 of the 3 colors. Apparently, Abzan is so strong that you can play it in aggro form, midrange form, and now "control" form. It's also becoming a major force in modern. The Siege Rhino is just that good.
so many abzan control decks lol. really wondering that non of the devotion lists made it to the top 8... why dont they show more decks than the top 8 at gp´s? the top 32 at least would be interesting.
UB / Sultai control seems to be dominating right now.
It's not as bad as watching the old UW Sphinx's Revelation decks but it's almost the same when they sit there countering everything and not getting on with the job of actually winning the game.
It just seems to go over the top of Abzan in the grindy games. Perhaps something like Anafenza, the Foremost will come back into favor getting under Disdainful Stroke.
Kudos to Ben Stark with his haste/burn/card advantage from Outpost Siege package taking him all the way to the final. He is such a good player that he is able to do well with an outlier deck so I'm not sure how good it's going to be long term.
They don't say Brad Nelson is master of standard for nothing. Another great performance but oh so ironic that he was beaten by Sultai the colors he played to win the SCG player championship
Dominating? I'm not even sure UB/Sultai Control is Tier 1 yet.
It's dominating because it's so good against R/W aggro/midrange which is all over the place now.
Yeah, it's as well positioned as it has been since PT KTK (which makes me happy since I've been playing U/B for a couple of months), but it still has its issues. Calling it dominating and comparing it to the Sphinx's Rev deck is a bit much; there were only 8 copies of UB/Sultai in the day 2 meta game.
It won one before Fate reforged and now two after. Although UB pearl lake control and Gfab control are different styles. Gfab is tap out control, tends to destroy more than it counters.
I think the deck folds to random unexpected decks but if it makes a deep run then it beats up on the other best decks of the format. It is actually having a nice broadening of the meta effect. while abazan has game against everything (although UB is one of its worst match ups) tries to narrow the format to abzan and decks that can beat abzan (RW aggro). Sometimes UBx just gets its arse kicked by random mono red aggro decks like at SCG LA.
It won one before Fate reforged and now two after. Although UB pearl lake control and Gfab control are different styles. Gfab is tap out control, tends to destroy more than it counters.
I think the deck folds to random unexpected decks but if it makes a deep run then it beats up on the other best decks of the format. It is actually having a nice broadening of the meta effect. while abazan has game against everything (although UB is one of its worst match ups) tries to narrow the format to abzan and decks that can beat abzan (RW aggro). Sometimes UBx just gets its arse kicked by random mono red aggro decks like at SCG LA.
UB is not by any means a bad matchup for Abzan. Its quite the opposite, Abzan is a very bad matchup for UB. All Abzan needs to do is only keep 2 threats on the board, use its abzan charms/read the bones to refill its hand and use thoughtseize to strip away draw spells. Its a very, easy matchup for a good Abzan player to the point where I'd argue its very lopsided in Abzan's favor.
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If you're attending, info is here.
If you're stuck at home because of the weather, obligations, or you're outta' $, you can tune to players rockin' out here.
The format is Standard.
Coverage will begin on Saturday at 10 a.m. ET.Coverage will begin on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.
Coverage will begin on Sunday at 10 a.m. ET.
Coverage will be broken up with coverage of GP Vancouver (Modern) -- so keep that in mind as you tune in.
You can discuss GP Memphis below.
Please do not discuss:
- other formats (like Modern)
- standard cards and decks not relating to the event (i.e. "why do you guys think Jace isn't being played?")
- the freshness of blueberries at this time of year
Thanks!
Lugger
Standard: I, for one, welcome our new rhinoceros overlords
Modern: Pod's dead, Bob's back.
Legacy: Lands, Deathblade, Death and Taxes, Elves, MUD
Retired Legacy: Merfolk, Goblins, Jund, Delver, Reanimator
It's insane to think that the South has been getting worse winter weather than us northerners. It's been an incredibly mild winter here in the Dakotas. That area has gotten weather recently that I wouldn't even feel comfortable driving in, and I'm used to driving in poor conditions with far better snow removal infrastructure in place. For everyone going, drive carefully and safely particularly if you've never driven in that sort of thing before. Warm weather after heavy snows is actually much worse than if it stayed cold, and take it slow if need be. It's always better to take a little extra time to get to your destination than to push what's reasonable.
And good luck at the tournament to all who make it.
But hey, with any luck I'll arrive late, take a first round loss, x-3 and drop in time to each lunch, and play some Legacy side events that evening.
Standard: I, for one, welcome our new rhinoceros overlords
Modern: Pod's dead, Bob's back.
Legacy: Lands, Deathblade, Death and Taxes, Elves, MUD
Retired Legacy: Merfolk, Goblins, Jund, Delver, Reanimator
Actually... the south's (And east coast) weather is worse this year. We just got our first significant snowfall a week or two ago. It's been incredibly mild, snow-wise. And that's what I was getting at. We have the machines to clear the roads, and significantly more experience driving in these conditions at that.
And be bloody well careful on that bridge. Bridges build a lot of ice very quickly, and glare or black ice at that much of the time. Not only that, but rising temperatures after a snowfall are just plain worse than it being sub freezing straight through. Snow that melts will freeze; snow that doesn't isn't as much of a problem. So even if it gets up to 50 degrees it could be worse than if it stayed freezing.
Just hoping everyone gets there and back safely, really.
That's always my hope. Scrub out and do some side events. Better than giving you a brief glimmer of hope only to be crushed later on.
A bit more on topic, what are you planning on bringing?
Honestly, a bit of a shame.
Edit: Saw it on Twitter. Abzan Midrange.
What is this, Theros block constructed?
Jokes aside, god I wish this were the actual metagame in my FNM. Standard midrange matches all day long... magical christmas land for me. But then the ugly reality steps in and I keep facing mono red and heroic aggro most of the time... sigh.
can you post a pic/proof? I didn't see it.
http://i.imgur.com/QCdyGZh.jpg
(I'm sorry if I'm violating an image leeching rule. I'm not sure how that works)
It's not as bad as watching the old UW Sphinx's Revelation decks but it's almost the same when they sit there countering everything and not getting on with the job of actually winning the game.
It just seems to go over the top of Abzan in the grindy games. Perhaps something like Anafenza, the Foremost will come back into favor getting under Disdainful Stroke.
Kudos to Ben Stark with his haste/burn/card advantage from Outpost Siege package taking him all the way to the final. He is such a good player that he is able to do well with an outlier deck so I'm not sure how good it's going to be long term.
They don't say Brad Nelson is master of standard for nothing. Another great performance but oh so ironic that he was beaten by Sultai the colors he played to win the SCG player championship
UR Blue-Red Control
Modern:
UBR Grixis Control
UWR Jeskai Control
Yeah, it's as well positioned as it has been since PT KTK (which makes me happy since I've been playing U/B for a couple of months), but it still has its issues. Calling it dominating and comparing it to the Sphinx's Rev deck is a bit much; there were only 8 copies of UB/Sultai in the day 2 meta game.
UR Blue-Red Control
Modern:
UBR Grixis Control
UWR Jeskai Control
It doesn't matter that Abzan decks were all over the top 8 if the control decks dispatched them to take the trophy.
It won one before Fate reforged and now two after. Although UB pearl lake control and Gfab control are different styles. Gfab is tap out control, tends to destroy more than it counters.
I think the deck folds to random unexpected decks but if it makes a deep run then it beats up on the other best decks of the format. It is actually having a nice broadening of the meta effect. while abazan has game against everything (although UB is one of its worst match ups) tries to narrow the format to abzan and decks that can beat abzan (RW aggro). Sometimes UBx just gets its arse kicked by random mono red aggro decks like at SCG LA.
Pioneer:UR Pheonix
Modern:U Mono U Tron
EDH
GB Glissa, the traitor: Army of Cans
UW Dragonlord Ojutai: Dragonlord NOjutai
UWGDerevi, Empyrial Tactician "you cannot fight the storm"
R Zirilan of the claw. The solution to every problem is dragons
UB Etrata, the Silencer Cloning assassination
Peasant cube: Cards I own
UB is not by any means a bad matchup for Abzan. Its quite the opposite, Abzan is a very bad matchup for UB. All Abzan needs to do is only keep 2 threats on the board, use its abzan charms/read the bones to refill its hand and use thoughtseize to strip away draw spells. Its a very, easy matchup for a good Abzan player to the point where I'd argue its very lopsided in Abzan's favor.