So the first tournament of the year is over, and we got to see what RTR brought to the table. We saw a couple good decks, but the rest of them...well lets just say I hope people test more for this week, especially with Provincials/States coming up.
Its not to say this didnt give us a good baseline, but the best decks to look at finished 1-4, and the 4th deck is a little iffy on my count, and I'll explain why.
So to start with, we got a bit of a metagame from this event, so at least it wasn't a complete failure in terms of States information. Last year we had Wolf Run Ramp win the first SCG (was it first? May have been 2nd..) and it tore apart states. By the end of States I remember checking to see what won and it was like 50% WRR or something stupid. The nice thing about RTR Is that it won't quite be that drastic, however it could end up where a lot of people end up on the same deck and start winning with it. My bets are a lot of people copy the SCG winning list, which for those of you good players is a good thing as once the list is know its a LOT easier to win. For you Jund/RB decks here's a tip: Slaughter Game's the Entreat's
As for the actual gauntlet, a lot of it is based on the SCG Open, however I dont think a lot of people realise that a 2nd tournament happened and provided 2 very well built lists took 2nd and 5th in that tournament, which, luckily for you, I will include
So here we are. First list is one that I think can take over some tourneys: Jund Midrange
So this list was piloted by Lauren Nolan, and is one of the more well built lists in the tournament for sure.
Most people knew Jund was going to be a deck, however a lot of people didnt realise how good of a card Olivia Voldaren is. Good luck getting her now though, and for those of you who DID get her, congratulations. You just made triple of what you paid, as before the SCG tourney she could be had for $5...
The other good thing about this list is the fact that every card in the deck is either a Land, Kill Spell, or a threat. Seriously. Look at that list again. It runs 30 "lands" (4 Farseek, 2 Keyrune), 9 kill spells, and 19 threats. However, there are a couple things I don't like about the list.
First off, as good as Avenger is, RakDW and RDW are going to be big decks at States. How do I know this? Well the deck is relatively cheap to build, and after Wu's Top 16 with the deck, people who don't participate in these forums will now have a basis to go off of (those of you who want to play it and are on here, talk to Zemanjaski. He's got you covered). Avenger just isn't as good a threat as another 3 drop. The card? Vampire Nighthawk. This card is phenomenal and with Kessig Wolf Run in the deck, its also a nice stabilizer to boot.
The other thing I don't like goes hand in hand with Vampire Nighthawk being included. Strangleroot Geist, although good, is just NOT a good threat on its own. In a deck like this, every creature you play should have a huge impact late game, as that is where the deck wants to be. Although Geist is a strong card, I really don't like it in this list.
Lastly, with the UWR Miracles list winning, I think the removal suite needs an update. With Detention Sphere and Planeswalkers probably at an all time high this weekend, Abrupt Decay and Dreadbore need to be moved to the main, along with my new favourite creature in Standard, and if i wasn't so high on Bant I'd play this list with it.
Thundermaw Hellkite
Go ahead and read that. Then read Olivia. Then go ahead and hit yourself in the head. Yes you. Lauren if your reading this, I forgive you. But the rest of you.
WOW
This card is BONKERS. With Jace and Tamiyo and Garruk everywhere, and sweepers and sorcery removal at an all time high, this card NEEDS To be played in this deck. Think Cedric Phillips GR Deck but...better...It comes into play, taps all fliers, and hits the face/walker for 5. If you have Olivia, they have 1 turn or they are probably dead.
So with this in mind, where SHOULD Jund be for this weekend?
Sideboard is pending, but if i was on Jund Midrange, this is what I'd be playing.
Next up for the decks to watch is UW/x miracles.
Wait...didnt UWR Miracles win the SCG: Open? Why yes, it did. However, its not the only UW deck to be running Terminus and Entreat the Angels, and in my opinion its not even the best one. But, alas, a lot of people will disagree with me so I will discuss both.
To start, lets look at the winning list:
| UWR Miracles, First Place List by Todd AndersonMagic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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2 Snapcaster Mage 4 Jace, Architect of Thought 2 Tamiyo, the Moon Sage 4 Azorius Charm 4 Detention Sphere 3 Entreat the Angels 4 Pillar of Flame 1 Supreme Verdict 2 Syncopate 4 Terminus 4 Think Twice | 4 Clifftop Retreat 1 Desolate Lighthouse 4 Glacial Fortress 4 Hallowed Fountain 2 Island 4 Plains 4 Steam Vents 3 Sulfur Falls | SIDEBOARD 2 Dissipate 3 Geist of Saint Traft 2 Jace, Memory Adept 2 Negate 2 Purify the Grave 2 Sundering Growth 2 Supreme Verdict | |
Well, as much as I'm not in love with it, gotta give credit to the Roanoke crew. This list took down the Open, which contrary to belief isn't actually that easy to do. Todd Anderson is on his game, so that should be taken into consideration as well.
The list is strong, however, some changes have to be made due to one card, and Brad Nelson learned this the hard way.
Slaughter Games
In the win and in game, Brad Nelson had his Entreat the Angels, and singlehandidly all of his win conditions (Well minus Tamiyo ultimate into Pillar of flame...right Todd...) extracted from his deck. With that, accompanied with flood, Brad missed top 8. Due to this, the first thing that needs to be done is add in Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius. This fancy dragon should be an auto-2 of in the future lists, as its an answer me threat that also draws you cards, acting as more Think Twices for more miracles. I mean, really, why this card NOT in the list is beyond me...
A couple other minor changes could be made, including adding in Augur of Bolas's, adding Mizzium Mortars, etc etc. This is all preference, but a good starting point is here:
Again, sideboard pending, but I'm a lot less sure about this list. I do think Niv-Mizzet deserves a spot, but like I said some of the other spells could warrant inclusion, but the list is pretty much the same so you can't REALLY go wrong...
Anyway...if you've been following my posts at all, you'll know that my UW/x deck eschews red for green...and i am MUCH happier with the results of it:
| DeckMagic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards | ||
|---|---|---|
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2 Centaur Healer 3 Restoration Angel 4 Thragtusk 2 Angel of Serenity 2 Garruk, Primal Hunter 3 Jace, Architect of Thought 4 Farseek 2 Think Twice 2 Feeling of Dread 2 Azorius Charm 3 Detention Sphere 3 Terminus 1 Supreme Verdict 2 Entreat the Angels | 4 Glacial Fortress 4 Hinterland Harbour 4 Hallowed Fountain 4 Temple Garden 2 Sunpetal Grove 3 Forest 2 Island 2 Plains | Sideboard 1 of the Following: Ray of Revelation Sigarda, Host of Herons 2 Negate 2 Dissipate 2 Tamiyo, the Moon Sage 2 Supreme Verdict 3 Rest in Peace 3 Geist of Saint Traft |
So this deck really has it all. Its got Garruk, it has Thragtusk, it has Angel of Serenity, it has ramp, it has Entreat the Angels, it has Tamiyo in the sideboard. In short...
It has EVERYTHING.
This is my call to win the most Provincials/States and here is why. Although its control, it IS a little off the radar. Most people are going to look at the TCG/SCG top 8 lists and call it a day. If your one of those people, BAD. BAD BAD BAD. Go look at the the Top 32 lists of the SCG. You'll get a much better view of the metagame. Anyway, even if you DO look at the SCG top 32, the Bant Control decks in the SCG Open...they're horrid. Like bad. REALLY REALLY Bad. Selesnya Charm? 1 Think Twice? 3 Sphinx's Revelation? NO GARRUK, PRIMAL HUNTER?! Ya...lets just say I wasn't happy.
This list is my own personal list, and hopefully when you google Saskatchewan Provincial champ, you'll see my name with this list on it
So I'm a little impartial, but the deck is incredibly powerful, as anyone who has tested with me this week can tell you.The deck synergizes very well, and is insanely strong. It also has game against literally EVERY deck in the format, and if you play with it a tonne, most matches become favourable due to intricacies you pick up along the way.
Angel of Serenity is a card that is maximized in this list, and i think this is probably the 2nd best list to play it in, with the first being Rites of some sort (coming i swear!). The fact that its not only a sweeper, but also drawing Thragtusks and Angels is huge.
Thats the other thing. Against Control, you have WAY more threats than your opponent, and they all have ways around your opponents instant speed removal. and with most lists running very little counter magic, haymakers are where you want to be, and this one has no short of them.
If you don't believe me, try the list. It is very strong, and although I wanted to keep it under wraps, I'm a very outspoken person and I just couldn't hold this in
So now we come to the aggro decks you should be looking for. Everyone knows Zombies is a deck, and most people are aware of Humans by now...For reference, here are the 2 best starting points for these decks, imo:
I didn't say it was perfect I just said this is where I'd start.
The humans deck is all about curve outs. Paladin, Ajani and Sublime Archangel allow you to hit for stupid amounts of damage, and Spectral Flight on a Geist of Saint Traft is VERY good. Hit for 8? Ya I'll take that...
The zombies list is harder to build, as you NEED to be Jund. BG just doesnt have the reach BR does, and BR doesnt have Lotleth Troll. Rancor is not very good as its a green spell that isn't good late game. Not one bit.
However, the aggro list I would recommend? Rak Deck wins
The sideboard for this, as is pattern so far, is also pending
This list hits you like a TRUCK. If you blink, you may just die, and it has probably the most consistent nut draw in the format. Couple that with a resilient threat in Falkenrath Aristocrat, a card that can at times say "I win" in Zealous Conscripts, the best 2 drops red can buy, and 10 one drops, one of which when paired with Brimstone Volley hits for 9 damage? Ya sign me up please.
The deck has serious problems with Thragtusk, but I dont think its any worse than Zombies. In fact I'd say it deals with it better, as they drop Thragtusk and you swing over with an Aristocrat and make it a 5/2.
This is THE Aggro deck of the format, and if your not ready for it, you WILL die to it. Have lifegain in your deck somewhere boys and girls, and think before you shock yourself or you will die to 2 Searing Spears and a Brimstone volley to the face...it sucks really
Finally, we have our "combo" deck of the format. No, not infinite stuff. More like...RAWR MONSTER RAWR!
We have 2 lists to base off of, one which won the SCG Open, the other, and in my opinion the better one, put 2 exact copies into the TCG 5k Top 8.
| 4 Colour Rites, 2nd Place List by Chris WeidingerMagic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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4 Angel of Serenity 3 Centaur Healer 2 Griselbrand 4 Thragtusk 2 Dreadbore 4 Faithless Looting 1 Golgari Charm 4 Grisly Salvage 3 Lingering Souls 4 Mulch 2 Rolling Temblor 4 Unburial Rites | 4 Blood Crypt 3 Clifftop Retreat 4 Overgrown Tomb 3 Rootbound Crag 3 Sunpetal Grove 4 Temple Garden 2 Woodland Cemetery | SIDEBOARD 2 Bonfire of the Damned 1 Centaur Healer 3 Duress 1 Elderscale Wurm 1 Golgari Charm 2 Oblivion Ring 1 Ray of Revelation 2 Rhox Faithmender 1 Sever the Bloodline 1 Vraska the Unseen | |
| Junk Rites, 5th-8th Place List by Bryan GottliebMagic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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4 Angel of Serenity 3 Arbor Elf 4 Avacyn's Pilgrim 2 Borderland Ranger 1 Deathrite Shaman 3 Restoration Angel 4 Thragtusk 4 Grisly Salvage 4 Lingering Souls 4 Mulch 4 Unburial Rites | 5 Forest 1 Gavony Township 4 Overgrown Tomb 2 Plains 3 Sunpetal Grove 1 Swamp 4 Temple Garden 1 Vault of the Archangel 2 Woodland Cemetery | SIDEBOARD 2 Angel of Glory's Rise 2 Centaur Healer 1 Deathrite Shaman 2 Divine Reckoning 2 Duress 2 Oblivion Ring 3 Ranger's Path 1 Vraska the Unseen | |
This list is the better one in my opinion, as it has an actual plan b, and an out to Rest in Peace.
Fight!
I think the proper way to build this, tho, is to maximize Gavony Township. I like that he's not playing too many colours, and Borderland Ranger and Thragtusk allow you to stabilize and get to 7 mana to hard cast Angel of Serenity. Not only that, Restoration Angel in this list is quite good, as it blinks tusks and rangers to allow you even MORE time/resources to get to Angel.
If your testing reanimator, this is the list to be testing people. On another note, the Rangers Path's have me curious as to if they ever sided into a more Junk control list against control decks...Vraska, Ranger's Path, Centaur Healers...I'm not sure as I haven't tested much with this, but its something to keep an open mind for.
Changes I'd make are dropping the Vault and a forest for 2 Gavony's as a start.
The last list I'm going to show you today before I sleep is the 2nd place list from Hartford, and a VERY good tokens list:
| Esper Tokens, 2nd Place list by James RynkewiczMagic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
4 Augur of Bolas 3 Snapcaster Mage 3 Favorable Winds 2 Forbidden Alchemy 4 Intangible Virtue 4 Lingering Souls 2 Midnight Haunting 1 Negate 2 Syncopate 4 Talrand's Invocation 3 Tragic Slip 1 Ultimate Price 4 Unsummon | 4 Drowned Catacomb 2 Evolving Wilds 4 Glacial Fortress 4 Hallowed Fountain 3 Island 2 Plains 2 Swamp 2 Vault of the Archangel | SIDEBOARD 1 ? 2 Dissipate 1 Duress 3 Geist of Saint Traft 2 Knight of Glory 1 Negate 1 Oblivion Ring 2 Purify the Grave 1 Rootborn Defenses 1 Ultimate Price | |
(The 1 ? mark I'm unsure about, but I would -1 Duress and add 2 Appetite for brains)
This list I can't give too much analysis on, but after testing it its the one deck that gives my Bant List headaches. You just don't have enough sweepers. Its why i added a Cyclonic Rift to the board.
If this deck ever gets 2 Anthems on the field, all your spells basically have "answer me" written on them. 4 mana for 2 4/4s? 5 mana for 4 3/3's? Keep an eye on this deck folks. My pick for sleeper deck of the format.
Phew. That was a doozie. Hopefully its helpful. Like always, leave a comment below. If you want to contact me, give me a PM or tweet me. I'm DXI-Edge everywhere but twitter, where I'm @3totheFace.
As always, thanks for reading, and have a good one folks. Good luck this weekend, and if one my lists wins for you let me know so I know I'm onto something
Bye!
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Posted Oct 12, 2012I figured that not enough people from my meta would be reading this so i decided to go a little more in depth to give you guys exactly how i felt about specific decks and how to make them better, which is how a lot of writers DONT do it. Normally they explain the list and end it at that. I wanted to give you guys my opinion to make them better. You decide if its right or wrong.
thanks for commenting/reading and hope to see more in the future
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Posted Oct 11, 2012