Welcome all to the second installment of 3CBX. The feared deck from last week was not played at all this time, and neither was any form of land destruction in land form, something that was rumored to destroy the format.
The question remains: are competitors simply not trying to break the format, or does the X rule prevent the need to implement a banned list?
Dryad Arbor / Force of Will / Misdirection X: Strip Mine
A simple deck, but nonetheless a powerful one. Misdirection wasn't useful this round unfortunately, but the duo of force and Dryad was good enough. Luckily, noone ran Wasteland/Ghost Quarter.
Even though this deck cannot win (because the opponent can simply choose not to play a card, and you have no other threats), it resulted in plenty of draws.
Daring to use Black Lotus wasn't such a bad idea after all. Explosive deck that punishes pretty much everything.
The rules are exactly the same as for 3CB except for a few additional changes:
. In addition to the three cards you submit for your deck, you choose a fourth card, called the X card. The X card means it is the card you cross out, or ban, for your matches. Before a match, your opponent must exile all copies of card X, until the end of the match. You may still use that card.
. There is no rule against winning the game or forcing your opponent to move cards from their hand before the first turn or second turn or anything.
. The final new rule is that if a game would end in a draw, instead the player with more life wins instead.
. There will be no cards banned except that you can only use Vintage legal cards.
Everything else is the same:
. Each player enters their deck to the moderator, who composes the results of every single player playing each other player in matches of two games each.
. Optimal play is assumed. Luck-based effects instead least benefit their controller.
. Un-Cards, depending on which ones they are, may be permitted. It is up to the moderator to decide that.
. The scoring system of the other CBs are used: 6-0 (straight win), 2-2 (one win one loss, or two draws), 4-1 (one win and one draw).
Next week will be a normal week again, and decklists are due next Friday. I really want to get a feel of if there are any dominating strategies or will it always be this varied (a good thing I think)?
yah my last weeks deck would have been good this week, I was the only one who played something that could beat it. Would have tied for first I think. Just beacuse it didn't win this round doesn't mean it's not broken.
I'll never get to play my Pendelhaven, Form of the Squirrel, Dryad Arbor, I think that's the only other good un deck
edit Hunted Horror ties with double rack
1 land
--. play rack
2 take 2 damage play Hunted Horror L=8
--. play rack
3. take 6 damage attack for 7 L=14/12
4. take 6 damage attack for 7 L=7/6
5. take 6 damage
I don't know if nom is town or scum. But I'd like to point out this type of behavior is his standard modus operandi.
Court Mafia: Day 1, hatch plan to KILL EVERYONE ELSE IN A SINGLE NIGHT, when the plan only allows him to hit 11 random players, ATTEMPTS TO FIRE ANYHOW (Roleblocked).
In other words....Nom is an impulsive player who doesn't think about planning long-term or listening to others. I wouldn't be surprised if he was town. At all.
yah my last weeks deck would have been good this week, I was the only one who played something that could beat it. Would have tied for first I think. Just beacuse it didn't win this round doesn't mean it's not broken.
I'll never get to play my Pendelhaven, Form of the Squirrel, Dryad Arbor, I think that's the only other good un deck
edit Hunted Horror ties with double rack
1 land
--. play rack
2 take 2 damage play Hunted Horror L=8
--. play rack
3. take 6 damage attack for 7 L=14/12
4. take 6 damage attack for 7 L=7/6
5. take 6 damage
Yeah that's what I thought at first too, until I remebered about Leyline of Singularity.
Also, Nom Anor, there is no rule about having to win in this 3CB. If your deck can't win, that is the deckbuilders fault, and I shouldn't need to remind them.
If your deck doesn't work at all, then I will tell them.
The reason we chose to have the 'must be able to win' rule is that a) submitting a deck that draws to everything is never a good strategy (the best it can do is tie for first if everyone else does the same thing) and b) it is pretty lame for people who want to take the game seriously to have their scores messed with by someone who is by definition (see point a) not taking the game seriously.
Once POTM is involved, it gets a little more interesting, since conceivably playing a draw-everything deck could be a way of forfeiting a round to safely maintain a lead. I think most people would also want to discourage that sort of behavior as well, since not everyone wants to have to care about POTM.
Personally, it doesn't really matter to me much--the one time it would get me angry would be if I would have won a round if the no-win deck had not been there, but I ended up losing because of it. (such as I only draw against it, but the guy in second gets a straight win, letting him steal the lead)
I don't know if nom is town or scum. But I'd like to point out this type of behavior is his standard modus operandi.
Court Mafia: Day 1, hatch plan to KILL EVERYONE ELSE IN A SINGLE NIGHT, when the plan only allows him to hit 11 random players, ATTEMPTS TO FIRE ANYHOW (Roleblocked).
In other words....Nom is an impulsive player who doesn't think about planning long-term or listening to others. I wouldn't be surprised if he was town. At all.
The question remains: are competitors simply not trying to break the format, or does the X rule prevent the need to implement a banned list?
The Rack / Epochrasite / Mishra's Workshop X: Black Lotus
Solid strategy all around.
2. Nom Anor
Dryad Arbor / Force of Will / Misdirection X: Strip Mine
A simple deck, but nonetheless a powerful one. Misdirection wasn't useful this round unfortunately, but the duo of force and Dryad was good enough. Luckily, noone ran Wasteland/Ghost Quarter.
3. Hinotama
Lodestone Golem / Mishra's Workshop / Sol Ring X: Mishra's Workshop
If only the rack was not an artifact, or if Golem worked on all spells.
4. ~Tilde~
Peat Bog / Hunted Horror / Leyline of Singularity X: Channel
This was a bit slow at times setting up, but I believe you are able to outrace Error1. Correct me if I'm wrong. Amusing how you beat double Racks too.
5. Keifru
Darksteel Citadel / The Rack / The Rack X: Channel
Even though this deck cannot win (because the opponent can simply choose not to play a card, and you have no other threats), it resulted in plenty of draws.
6. Personman
Black Lotus / Black Lotus / Rakdos the Defiler X: Black Lotus
Daring to use Black Lotus wasn't such a bad idea after all. Explosive deck that punishes pretty much everything.
. In addition to the three cards you submit for your deck, you choose a fourth card, called the X card. The X card means it is the card you cross out, or ban, for your matches. Before a match, your opponent must exile all copies of card X, until the end of the match. You may still use that card.
. There is no rule against winning the game or forcing your opponent to move cards from their hand before the first turn or second turn or anything.
. The final new rule is that if a game would end in a draw, instead the player with more life wins instead.
. There will be no cards banned except that you can only use Vintage legal cards.
Everything else is the same:
. Each player enters their deck to the moderator, who composes the results of every single player playing each other player in matches of two games each.
. Optimal play is assumed. Luck-based effects instead least benefit their controller.
. Un-Cards, depending on which ones they are, may be permitted. It is up to the moderator to decide that.
. The scoring system of the other CBs are used: 6-0 (straight win), 2-2 (one win one loss, or two draws), 4-1 (one win and one draw).
On to the scoring:
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 X 6 0 0 2 6 = 14
2 0 X 6 6 2 6 = 20
3 6 0 X 6 2 2 = 16
4 6 0 0 X 6 0 = 12
5 2 2 2 0 X 0 = 6
6 0 0 2 6 6 X = 14
Nom Anor wins 3CBX 2!
Next week will be a normal week again, and decklists are due next Friday. I really want to get a feel of if there are any dominating strategies or will it always be this varied (a good thing I think)?
I'll never get to play my Pendelhaven, Form of the Squirrel, Dryad Arbor, I think that's the only other good un deck
edit Hunted Horror ties with double rack
1 land
--. play rack
2 take 2 damage play Hunted Horror L=8
--. play rack
3. take 6 damage attack for 7 L=14/12
4. take 6 damage attack for 7 L=7/6
5. take 6 damage
Question:
Isn't the 2x rack+citadel deck illegal since it can't win? I though that was an XCB rule.
Leyline prevents Keifru from playing both Racks.
Note to self: Your mafia theories are usually wrong, so don't act on them.
Yeah that's what I thought at first too, until I remebered about Leyline of Singularity.
Also, Nom Anor, there is no rule about having to win in this 3CB. If your deck can't win, that is the deckbuilders fault, and I shouldn't need to remind them.
If your deck doesn't work at all, then I will tell them.
Once POTM is involved, it gets a little more interesting, since conceivably playing a draw-everything deck could be a way of forfeiting a round to safely maintain a lead. I think most people would also want to discourage that sort of behavior as well, since not everyone wants to have to care about POTM.
RIP Krensae Fluidtail: Sleep well with the fish