The guys are right. The fourth Fireblast. See if you can do a teensy bit of scouting b4 the tourney starts - make your call on Price of Progress based on that. Conserving sideboard space by 2 cards would be a good thing if the PoPs are worthy maindeck.
I've also noticed you are running 5 sweepers. Are you sure this is necessary? Racing creatures with burn to the dome is a time honoured tradition, a stack of Goblins or Empty the Warrens combo would be all that can keep up.
I've noticed the 3 Anarchys on the side there, with 19 land you may stumble before casting these. It's a calculated risk I suppose. Pyroblasts should also ideally be 50% Red Elemental Blast for Meddling Mage (Cabal Therapy, etc.) reasons - nitpicking here I know. Sulfuric Vortex is also a card which I'd really like in an unknown metagame, perhaps even as a 2-of maindeck. Lifegain is soooo annoying to us burnologists! Take Pithing Needles with you too - they may not make your cut, but there are often key cards like Aether Vial, Jitte or Survival which can be great to hose.
Incidently, I'm having no troubles using Barbarian Ring without fetches. It tends to be the last damage thrown, and Fireblast usually gets threshold.
So yeah, see what you can scout out and react to it. If your sideboard ends up as a bunch of 2-ofs, the Browbeats may be better than usual for the dig.
Elmdorz, Sh33p is right. Anarchy is a common sideboard card for this and many other pesky white enchantments such as Worship and Solitary Confinement. It should be noted that Burn versions running fewer lands than 20 may encounter difficulty casting it in a timely fashion.
Sulfuric Vortex is a card which often makes maindeck, and with the trusty Moggs may give you wins vs control decks packing the Mask. Flamebreak doesn't target either, same with Flame Rift which you may choose to run as a metagame call. With the Mask being a 4drop and all, chances are you can mise a win using all this as you'll have a few turns of burn to throw at them before the enchantment comes down.
If there is a lot of this kind of thing in your meta (including Chill), you may want to consider the white splashed burn varient, popularised by Lightning Helix. Disenchants off the board is the advantage.
Yeah mate, Burn IS still competitive. Flattened a tournament with it again just yesterday, 2-0 all the way through. Same list as page 2, doctored sideboard to combat expected hate (7 x REB/Pyroblast, 4 x Shattering Spree, 2 x Pithing Needle, 2 x Culling Scales).
Just 1 thing with the 'no creatures' thing - it's true. I'd only ever consider a few specifics for the sideboard, and only actually put them there after some good testing and specific metagame knowledge. Having critters on the board can be good, when control opponents have sided their removal out. Keldon Marauders can be a nice two drop off the board, but still not much of a topdeck. In matchups where he might be good, Dwarven Miner might actually be better...
Blood Moon is on your list, that's why I didn't mention it. Forgot about the Magus though, and I've been running the odd critter in the board too, taking advantage of ppl siding their removal out for game 2...What we have to remember with these is they turn off Price of Progress.
Lorwyn has nothing for us.
Heres that list, like usual it was customized during rego with whatever info I could gather on the field. No tags, you know all the spells...
Sideboard was a bit clunky, but I didn't use much of it. Field featured multiple Solidarity and UGw Thresh (counter/top) decks, Death and Taxes, Goyffinnity, suiblack, Meathooks, iggy pop, and many miscellaneous aggro. I faced nothing but aggro and didn't drop a game, dodging the counter/tops as they were beat by Vial aggro decks. I faced Meathooks, an Elf deck with Garruks, Goyffinity and D&T. Lucky day, lotsa Lorwyn boosters for me X^D
I played against a version of Raffinity last weekend which ran Tarmogoyfs. It just had to happen *sighs* The guy used Mox Diamond too, and had 'goyf 2/3 turn one on the play, and plated up for the swing T2. I took 7, and said 'ouch'...
Workable or fad?
Aggro of all flavours can be solved easily with Repercussion on the board. In my aggro meta, it has been instrumental it totally hosing aggro into several 1st place finishes, including at GP Brisbane last weekend. Burn is pretty damn strong vs aggro, a bridges build is overkill and potentially less consistent.
I'd also like to drop more possible sideboard tech into the mix.
Sirocco, Defense Grid - good vs Solidarity, OK vs Thresh. Just REBs and Pyroblast are usually ok though, and PPillar is another fine card still effective here.
Meltdown, Shattering Spree - The pick of the anti-artifact cards available. SS is usually better vs Stax styles and random Jittes, Meltdown a great hoser for the Raffinity decks popping up in increasing numbers.
I'm just going to drop other stuff from my bag of tricks in a bundle, you'll figure it out. I recommend taking a selection along to tourneys, some specific hate vs whatever others have brought along will often win an event, given Legacy events are typically 3 - 5 rounds.
Barbarian Ring debate - I have reason to run Anarchy in my meta, so needed a little more mana. Barbarian Ring made sense as mountains 19 and 20. Whenever they have been wastelanded, I've noticed that the opponent is typically suffering greater tempo loss from losing a land than I am. The pain and antisynergy with Price of Progress has been noted, yet is typically fine and usually played around. The other card relevant is Pithing Needle - often run maindeck is some lists, and BRing is often named. This is also typically fine, as it leaves the Moggs free to sac, it tempts them to keep it in game 2 instead of a potentally worse hoser, and stopping 2-4 damage is next to nothing to us.
As 75 card lists tend towards lower average casting costs, BRing is worse - mana disruption is bad for us if we are running fewer lands to begin with, and BRing has greater chance of being an early land drop and hurting us more.
Compeditive?....well, sorta. It's a bit worse with Goblins dropping in popularity (was a good matchup), but Thresh and most combodecks have to play very well to win vs a teched burn deck. I cannot recommend the white splash however...the pain the manabase gives you + price of progress means that the helix life just lets you break even, it's less reliable, and more easily hated...
The mono-R versions are faster - more 1cc = 3 damage. ATM, I'd be using a couple of Vortex's main. Look at the things you would be interested in disenchanting...they can all be solved between REB, Pithing Needle and Anarchy can't they? Analyzing what is needed in your metagame is strictly superior to diluting the deck with white. (be sure to slip in more mana sources for Anarchy if required).
I mean really, Sharahzad got banned!!!
All in all, burn can still win, and when correctly teched is almost tier 1.8!
Getting the hard lock down FAST is critical, IMHO the UG decks do that best. Using the cards others have mentioned can achieve this second turn, in multiple ways. Obvs freecounters are crucial.
I agree with the Owls, stalling is bad, sometimes there aren't enough judges.
The trick is Chain of Vapor/Rescue. Its the cheapest way to get an untap, and you need that to drop the owls (or whatever, sheesh go nuts and slam a Serra Sphinx)
The other trick you might like is ways to tap out opponents. Power Sink is OK, Mana Short is the classic.
There is a lot of mana acceleration around, this pushes Stasis towards more countermagic. Cheapstuff is great in addition to the freebies, stuff like Annul, Disrupt, Force Spike (watch 'em play around it when you side it out)
I recall that some UG Root Maze versions also used Tradewind Rider. Indeed, some ATS folx ran Stasis. Thought about an ATS hybrid for this?
yeah, it was a really tricky one as I recall for the judges to pinpoint, thier main issue being intent. I'm no judge at all, but I believe somewhere there's something which covers ppl delibrerately leading other players astray, perhaps the rules under misrepresentation cover it. your call of 'unsportsmanlike behaviour' might indeed be the call too.
I do think its a clever one, which is why it has stuck with me all these years. I've only had someone try it on me once, the attempt unsuccessful due to me hearing about it awile beforehand, but many others I know have spotted it too.
I'd do the legal legwork, but I've found the comprehensive rules cure my chronic insomnia , and the main thing is to watch out for it!
If anyone happens to be over here for a holiday, I got all the info. Cardstores, multiplayer nights, tournament decktest sessions, unsanctioned events (like Moxalicious). Just so happens I'm in a big team, we play at my place close to 24/7, and theres a YHA hostel two doors up, with a bus stop to the best cardstore in the country in between!
Great article as always. Theres a lot here I try to make newer players aware of too (gunslinger). In the spirit of public service, I'd like to inform us all on another classic which you may never see again. (checked past 2 threads, didn't spot it.)
The jedi mind trick
This one is a con job, and presumably works better on older players who play for the love of the game or shy, reserved people. Cheater engages in friendly conversation and banter during shuffle up, mood is light and airy. Cheat loses dice roll, and is on the draw, and as decks are cut and the mulligan decision is made, cheats demeanor changes into all business in a flash; responses are curt, and are almost barked over the question.
cheat: keep?
dude: yeah, how about yo...
cheat: keep, *points at dudes library* GO! *authoritative command*
Dude, flustered at the change in tempo of discourse, does what he's told - draws a card.
cheat: JUDGE!
...and later...
Judge: Did you tell him to draw a card?
cheat: No way, I said go!
Keep an eye out for this one, it was all over the place when the change to 'play or draw' came in, and still surfaces here and there. If discovered, what kind of cheat does it fall under in the floor rules?
Once again, it's a great article. I'm especially pleased it will roll around on the classics schedule once in a while, great to keep informing successive generations in the game.
oh oh oh, 1 more for the current n00bs.
Q: What does a textless Reciprocate do?
A: Well, since I'm a salesman and you're gullible.....
I think there is something to it, but Daves out there can be much worse than players. When Dave becomes a judge, things can get pretty bad. Here in Australia, a Dave is the T.O. for Nats.....many ppl play casual and unsanctioned drafts rather than side events after dropping or failing to grind in. Some ppl travelled over 12 000 kms by car just for 2 rounds, rather than play more and have to deal with the turd.
This is great news. I've been waiting for this at least a decade. I believe Legacy is the purest form of MTG, as close as a tournament can get to how Richard Garfield originally envisaged the game. The fact the format has been overlooked at the top levels of organised play has always felt like a ripoff. It'll also be nice to see a Worlds in which players will have to demonstrate thier mastery of Limited, Constructed AND Eternal formats, perhaps upping the skill level of all spectators in the process.
We Australians just put together our best national team in ages, and Legacy is both popular and tested for here...bring on Worlds!
I've also noticed you are running 5 sweepers. Are you sure this is necessary? Racing creatures with burn to the dome is a time honoured tradition, a stack of Goblins or Empty the Warrens combo would be all that can keep up.
I've noticed the 3 Anarchys on the side there, with 19 land you may stumble before casting these. It's a calculated risk I suppose. Pyroblasts should also ideally be 50% Red Elemental Blast for Meddling Mage (Cabal Therapy, etc.) reasons - nitpicking here I know.
Incidently, I'm having no troubles using Barbarian Ring without fetches. It tends to be the last damage thrown, and Fireblast usually gets threshold.
So yeah, see what you can scout out and react to it. If your sideboard ends up as a bunch of 2-ofs, the Browbeats may be better than usual for the dig.
Sulfuric Vortex is a card which often makes maindeck, and with the trusty Moggs may give you wins vs control decks packing the Mask. Flamebreak doesn't target either, same with Flame Rift which you may choose to run as a metagame call. With the Mask being a 4drop and all, chances are you can mise a win using all this as you'll have a few turns of burn to throw at them before the enchantment comes down.
If there is a lot of this kind of thing in your meta (including Chill), you may want to consider the white splashed burn varient, popularised by Lightning Helix. Disenchants off the board is the advantage.
Keldon Marauders can be a nice two drop off the board, but still not much of a topdeck. In matchups where he might be good, Dwarven Miner might actually be better...
Lorwyn has nothing for us.
Heres that list, like usual it was customized during rego with whatever info I could gather on the field. No tags, you know all the spells...
4 Mogg Fanatic
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Chain Lightning
4 Rift Bolt
4 Lava Spike
4 Incinerate
4 Magma Jet
4 Price of Progress
4 Fireblast
4 Flamebreak
2 Barbarian Ring
18 Mountain
Sideboard
3 Repercussion
3 Pyrostatic Pillar
3 REB
2 Pyroblast
2 Anarchy
2 Shattering Spree
Sideboard was a bit clunky, but I didn't use much of it. Field featured multiple Solidarity and UGw Thresh (counter/top) decks, Death and Taxes, Goyffinnity, suiblack, Meathooks, iggy pop, and many miscellaneous aggro. I faced nothing but aggro and didn't drop a game, dodging the counter/tops as they were beat by Vial aggro decks. I faced Meathooks, an Elf deck with Garruks, Goyffinity and D&T. Lucky day, lotsa Lorwyn boosters for me X^D
Workable or fad?
I'd also like to drop more possible sideboard tech into the mix.
Sirocco, Defense Grid - good vs Solidarity, OK vs Thresh. Just REBs and Pyroblast are usually ok though, and PPillar is another fine card still effective here.
Meltdown, Shattering Spree - The pick of the anti-artifact cards available. SS is usually better vs Stax styles and random Jittes, Meltdown a great hoser for the Raffinity decks popping up in increasing numbers.
I'm just going to drop other stuff from my bag of tricks in a bundle, you'll figure it out. I recommend taking a selection along to tourneys, some specific hate vs whatever others have brought along will often win an event, given Legacy events are typically 3 - 5 rounds.
Cursed Totem, Stabilizer, Tsabo's Web, Culling Scales, Mindstorm Crown, Nevinryall's Disk, Dwarven Miner (and Dwarven Blastminer), Keldon Marauders, Genju of the Spires, Flaring Pain, Ignorant Bliss, Boil.
Another possible sweeper - Breath of Darigaaz.
The deck used last weekend was very standard mono-R dome scorching material, and can be found here.
http://www.mtgparadise.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=23421&st=30&start=30
Barbarian Ring debate - I have reason to run Anarchy in my meta, so needed a little more mana. Barbarian Ring made sense as mountains 19 and 20. Whenever they have been wastelanded, I've noticed that the opponent is typically suffering greater tempo loss from losing a land than I am. The pain and antisynergy with Price of Progress has been noted, yet is typically fine and usually played around. The other card relevant is Pithing Needle - often run maindeck is some lists, and BRing is often named. This is also typically fine, as it leaves the Moggs free to sac, it tempts them to keep it in game 2 instead of a potentally worse hoser, and stopping 2-4 damage is next to nothing to us.
As 75 card lists tend towards lower average casting costs, BRing is worse - mana disruption is bad for us if we are running fewer lands to begin with, and BRing has greater chance of being an early land drop and hurting us more.
Thanx for the new primer Sh33p!
Sorry, I just grabbed the first deck I saw.
The mono-R versions are faster - more 1cc = 3 damage. ATM, I'd be using a couple of Vortex's main. Look at the things you would be interested in disenchanting...they can all be solved between REB, Pithing Needle and Anarchy can't they? Analyzing what is needed in your metagame is strictly superior to diluting the deck with white. (be sure to slip in more mana sources for Anarchy if required).
I mean really, Sharahzad got banned!!!
All in all, burn can still win, and when correctly teched is almost tier 1.8!
I agree with the Owls, stalling is bad, sometimes there aren't enough judges.
The trick is Chain of Vapor/Rescue. Its the cheapest way to get an untap, and you need that to drop the owls (or whatever, sheesh go nuts and slam a Serra Sphinx)
The other trick you might like is ways to tap out opponents. Power Sink is OK, Mana Short is the classic.
There is a lot of mana acceleration around, this pushes Stasis towards more countermagic. Cheapstuff is great in addition to the freebies, stuff like Annul, Disrupt, Force Spike (watch 'em play around it when you side it out)
I recall that some UG Root Maze versions also used Tradewind Rider. Indeed, some ATS folx ran Stasis. Thought about an ATS hybrid for this?
I do think its a clever one, which is why it has stuck with me all these years. I've only had someone try it on me once, the attempt unsuccessful due to me hearing about it awile beforehand, but many others I know have spotted it too.
I'd do the legal legwork, but I've found the comprehensive rules cure my chronic insomnia
If anyone happens to be over here for a holiday, I got all the info. Cardstores, multiplayer nights, tournament decktest sessions, unsanctioned events (like Moxalicious). Just so happens I'm in a big team, we play at my place close to 24/7, and theres a YHA hostel two doors up, with a bus stop to the best cardstore in the country in between!
PM me, I dare ya.
The jedi mind trick
This one is a con job, and presumably works better on older players who play for the love of the game or shy, reserved people. Cheater engages in friendly conversation and banter during shuffle up, mood is light and airy. Cheat loses dice roll, and is on the draw, and as decks are cut and the mulligan decision is made, cheats demeanor changes into all business in a flash; responses are curt, and are almost barked over the question.
cheat: keep?
dude: yeah, how about yo...
cheat: keep, *points at dudes library* GO! *authoritative command*
Dude, flustered at the change in tempo of discourse, does what he's told - draws a card.
cheat: JUDGE!
...and later...
Judge: Did you tell him to draw a card?
cheat: No way, I said go!
Keep an eye out for this one, it was all over the place when the change to 'play or draw' came in, and still surfaces here and there. If discovered, what kind of cheat does it fall under in the floor rules?
Once again, it's a great article. I'm especially pleased it will roll around on the classics schedule once in a while, great to keep informing successive generations in the game.
oh oh oh, 1 more for the current n00bs.
Q: What does a textless Reciprocate do?
A: Well, since I'm a salesman and you're gullible.....
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=58060 - old elf thread started by Shindig Ascension. I can only find it 'coz I got an infraction there. *whoops!*
M
G
This is great news. I've been waiting for this at least a decade. I believe Legacy is the purest form of MTG, as close as a tournament can get to how Richard Garfield originally envisaged the game. The fact the format has been overlooked at the top levels of organised play has always felt like a ripoff. It'll also be nice to see a Worlds in which players will have to demonstrate thier mastery of Limited, Constructed AND Eternal formats, perhaps upping the skill level of all spectators in the process.
We Australians just put together our best national team in ages, and Legacy is both popular and tested for here...bring on Worlds!