Creatures

Spells

Modern
Blazing Shoal is banned.
Cloudpost is banned.
Green Sun’s Zenith is banned.
Ponder is banned.
Preordain is banned.
Rite of Flame is banned.

Extended
Jace, the Mind Sculptor is banned.
Mental Misstep is banned.
Ponder is banned.
Preordain is banned.
Stoneforge Mystic is banned.

Legacy
Mental Misstep is banned.

Vintage
Fact or Fiction is no longer restricted.

Scars of Mirrodin Block Constructed, Standard
No changes

For more explaination of the B&R changes please go to:
http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/feature/161b

Before I get started into the deck I have been practicing to great results I would like to go over what I consider to be the top 5 decks in overextended to give you a brief history on what you’re trying to attack. I would also like to say before I do that the format is so diverse focusing on 1-hell 5 strategies is flawed. My deck runs cards that are universal in their implications so that I can hold my own against all decks not just that 5 that I will list and go over.

Here are the top 5 enemies and brief synopsis of each:

1.       Living End

Living End is a combo deck that cycles a bunch of creatures then plays a cascade spell into Living End to generate a bunch if bad creatures into play. Even though the creatures suck you are at least getting 4-6 of them usually so that is hard to handle. Here is a list for reference:

Voidmaw’s Living End, 3-1

This is one of the best lists that I have seen. The Dryad Arber so you can have a target for Demonic Dread is missing from some lists and I would not like Forbidden Orchard as that can get you in the wrong quickly as they have at least one blocker for the next turn to dig for more answers. Keep in mind you are not allowed to play anything with mana cost less than 3 as your cascade spells to hit Living End would be random then.

2.       Zoo/Burn

Yes, I am well aware that these are two different archetypes and I am not going to jumble them into one. I am going to focus on Zoo but burn, boros, big red, and all in red are all viable options right now. Zoo has put up the most consistent results out of the lot and I am going to look at two different deck lists that have done well. The first has done well basically since the first TMOE.

Ranth’s Hateful Zoo, 3-1

servism’s Burn Zoo, 3-1

This list is far more threatening as Sulfuric Vortex negates a lot of things that are there to stop regular zoo decks. This is obviously a more burn heavy version not relying as heavy on creatures to finish the game. Out of the two I do like the second list better for tournaments as drawing Great Sable Stag against mono red burn seems like it would be really bad. You have to draw the right cards for the right situations which I do not like.

3.       Cloudpost/Tron/Big Mana Decks

These decks are built to abuse big mana engines to drop out powerful late game spells early. They are equipped with disruption and counters to prevent you from disrupting their mana and to get to the mid-late game. Here are two sample deck lists:

Lemurite’s U/B Twelvepost, 4-0

gjagasia’s U/G Twelvepost, 3-1

As you can tell the first list has more creature control and has more of a plan to win the game with creatures and a side plan to end with Mindslaver lock. The U/G list is set up to end with Mindslaver lock after using Gift’s Ungiven to search up the pieces and Moment’s Peace to delay the game.

4.       Combo Elves

This is probably my least favorite deck to play against out of the bunch. They are extremely resilient to disruption and can kill you turn three consistently. To top it off their sideboard plan now covers then a lot of the time by bringing back a lot of hasted 4/3’s. Here is a sample decklist:

As you can see the main plan is to play Emrakul after making tons of mana and drawing almost your entire deck by playing Glimpse of Nature and making tons of mana with Heritage Druid and Nettle Sentinel. The sideboard backup plan includes Buried Alive and Vengevine so that you can just make a bunch of hasted beaters and attack with all your little creatures.

5.       Scepter Chant

This deck has only came up recently but put up rather good numbers in the past couple weeks. The basis is to abuse Scepter with either Orim’s Chant or Counterspell. Here is a sample list that did well last Tuesday:

HRRNighthawk’s Scepter-Chant, 4-0 (5:30)

As you can see Cunning Wish is going to search up the instants in the sideboard. I honestly hate the sideboard on these because there are too many targets. If you are running 11 targets for Wish you need 4 Wish in the maindeck. I would work on streamlining the sideboard and deciding what you want circumstances you see yourself needing certain cards in.

So with all of this being said I do not want to pretend like I am an expert of any of the decks listed about. I have played them all and against them all but I can not claim to be the best. What I will say is that my deck is very solid against all of these lists and I feel quite confident in almost all of these matchups.

Here is the list I have been testing called, “Harvesting dubyas”

4 Tranquil Thicket

3 Barren Moor

3 Verdant Catacombs

3 Swamp

3 Forest

2 Golgari Rot Farm

2 Overgrown Tomb

2 Ghost Quarter

1 Bojuka Bog

1 Mountain

1 Blood Crypt

4 Sakura-Tribe Elder

4 Kitchen Finks

4 Tarmogoyf

4 Life from the Loam

4 Thoughtseize

3 Death Cloud

3 Raven’s Crime

2 Duress

2 Putrefy

2 Engineered Explosives

2 Damnation

1 Worm Harvest

Sideboad:

3 Engineered Plague

3 Relic of Progenitus

3 Ancient Grudge

2 Obstinate Baloth

2 Memoricide

1 Ghost Quarter

1 Deathmark

This is a deck I was testing for Pro Tour Berlin. The fact that the Elves matchup should be good is what made me first want to pick up this list and give it a try. Back then I was more focused on the Zoo match as well. Now there are other lists but overall the strategy is very easy to adapt. Here is a sideboarding guide against the top 5 decks since I do not want to explain every card.

Vs. Living End

+3 Relic or Progenitis

+2 Memoricide

-2 Engineered Explosives

-2 Putrefy

-1 Kitchen Finks

There is not good way to Explosives as all their cards end up costing more than three. Putrefy is a mute point when all of their creatures are kind of bad anyway and Kitchen Finks just blocks later on and I would rather be attempting to disrupt the combo at that point. The only other switch I debated was -1 Golgari Rot Farm +1 Ghost Quarter to help deal with Fulminator Mage but decided with all the discard I could play around it.

Vs. Zoo

+1 Deathmark

+2 Obstinate Baloth

-1 Death Cloud

-2 Duress

You want to keep the Thoughtseize as usually you can hit a spell or creature that would deal you more damage than 2 in the end. I would happily pay two life for my opponent to discard a Sulfuric Vortex or Tarmogoyf. The Baloth are just there to draw cards and the Deathmark is there as a help against Elves but is fine to bring it for turn one threats. Especially if they play a turn one Steppe Lynx as that is almost always 4 damage.

Vs. Post Decks

-2 Damnation

-2 Engineered Explosives

-4 Kitchen Finks

+2 Memoricide

+1 Ghost Quarter

+3 Relic of Progenitus

+2 Ancient Grudge

Kitchen Finks is just slow and really does not do anything other than beat for three and waste a turn. Your goal is to slow them down by using a mixture of Ghost Quarter and Life from the Loam along with your discard to disrupt their mana base. Memoricide is there the either take out their Sundering Titan or Wurmcoil Engine and to have Relic to fight their graveyard recursion.

Vs. Elves Combo

+ 3 Engineered Plague

+1 Deathmark

+3 Relic of Progenitus

-1 Deathcloud

-2 Duress

-2 Putrefy

-1 Life from the Loam

Plague is the obvious concession to this deck and unfortunately they bring in Vengevine so this only hurts one of their strategies which is why I bring in the Relic’s as well. I take out Duress and Putrefy as Duress does not do enough and Putrefy is weak against 4 Vengevine and 6 Elves. The Life from the Loam comes out because you will not need them early for cycling as you will want to tap out on your early turns. The Deathcloud comes out as it is too slow and by the time you set it up for 3 they will have way more creatures than that.

Vs. Scepter Chant

-2 Kitchen Finks

-2 Damnation

+ 3 Ancient Grudge

+1 Ghost Quarter

The Ghost Quarter is to stop Academy Ruins and to stop any Man-lands they man run. They Grudge’s are obviously for the Scepter. It is important to note that they likely will be trying to run out Teferi if they have time. This is where the Raven’s Crime comes in handy. Playing a turn 1 Raven’s Crime is clutch a lot of the time and following that with Life from the Loam really helps to not give them the time they need to set up.

It is not a loving feeling when the wonderful DCI sends you an email saying play or your information is getting deleted. I had planned on going to some dumb draft thing like 30 minutes away from my house. This seemed really bad in comparison to going to see my friends that I had not seen in a while as we have all moved to different spots of the state/country.

A few weeks before I had decided to go to the PTQ in Chicago I started to test and my friend and all around good player Jeremiah Nelson who had gotten 2^nd with G/W trap at a PTQ in Madison. This got me to start testing the deck and determining what it needed to be great. He told me the only reason he was not playing it was the luck factor. What a kick in the balls it is to play 3 hideaways and the best card under them is Nest Invader……yeah……awkward.

I got a lovely message from Jeremiah saying that Chicago was not going to be possible for him but if I wanted to go with them to Des Moines I can. So, essentially he was asking me to go to a PTQ that I have tested very little for and not be graced with the most delicious pizza know to man…Giordonnos. This seemed like I was getting the raw deal but I gave in as I had to play somewhere to keep my rating.

While my rating is not spectacular I did used to be good and ended at 1909. The goal for this tournament was to not let it drop under 1900. This seems easy but losing one match you usually have to win 2-3 to make up for it.

So I drove the hour to my friend Ben’s house and he would be driving to Des Moines. We were going to Cedar Rapids the night before and staying at Jeremiah’s apartment then waking up and driving the 2 hours to Des Moines….then driving back to Cedar Rapids…then 3.5 hours to Ben’s house….then an hour back to mine. You can almost feel the pain as you read that. But it is worth it right?

So getting to the apartment we get our decks together where I decided that my sideboard needs to have 4 Cloudthresher because Sower of Temptation scares me and Faeries is always played a lot. Here is the deck list that I registered for the tournament.

4 Birds of Paradise

4 Noble Hierarch

4 Knight of the Reliquary

4 Nest Invader

4 Primeval Titan

4 Lotus Cobra

4 Emrakul, the Aeons Torn

2 Baneslayer Angel

4 Summoning Trap

4 Misty Rainforest

5 Forest

2 Mosswort Bridge

1 Murmuring Bosk

1 Mutavault

1 Khalni Garden

4 Razorverge Thicket

2 Verdant Catacombs

4 Windbrisk Heights

1 Stirring Wildwood

1 Tectonic Edge

Sideboard

4 Cloudthresher

2 Nature’s Claim

3 Burrenton Forge-Tender

3 Leyline of Sanctity

3 Path to Exile

The Khalni Garden is a 2^nd Mutavault that I could not find and would not pay for because I am stubborn and the dealer was non-existent. Back in my day a PTQ had 2-5 dealers with overpriced cards. This PTQ had 0 real dealers but the TO had a 2-3 binders filled with mostly land and foils. You can imagine how pleased the people who needed cards where for this. I am not sure if this is the normal but it is really rough to think that it is.

We do the whole players meeting thing and get down to business.

Round 1 vs. Random barn playing Mono White-

This guy is why I sometimes hate magic. I wake up before every tournament and shower and put on clean clothes. If you are going to come to a tournament smelling of dead things and have the nastiest pony tail in the world you are not going to do well. That being said game 1 I knew this match should be highly in my favor. I eventually got to Titan and then Emrakul. Game 2 he had INFY removal and I never got 3 guys together. Game 3 was my favorite. I played well to give myself a chance against his mass removal and got a Windbrisk Heights from Titan and passed. He drew his card did something that didn’t matter and passed back. I realize at the end of his turn that I had forgotten to hideaway a card(rusty) and say I need to get a warning for this and search. He says and I quote,” That’s just how it is.” He was clearly either unknowing of the rules or just a complete moron. I call a judge and tell the judge how it should be and he agrees. The top four cards where land, Emrakul x3. I hideaway and Emrakul attack with 3 guys and he loses and gets like 3^rd grader cranky when things don’t go your way.

Mono white is an awful deck and I have no idea how people win with this deck. If you play it you are basically saying I am ok with having to hit perfect match-ups to win today. Not the best decision

1-0

Round 2 another mono white deck but worse list

He was tuned more towards the UW decks and had nothing for me a lot of the times. I beat him in an easy two games.

2-0

Round 3 vs. Bant

This match should be a home run for me. It is the only one I really tested. Game 1 I get stalled for a long time doing nothing relevant and he ends up with a sword and I can’t keep up.

Game 2 I had gotten a titan out and had him dead on board with nothing he could do as he had 4 land and a Mirran Crusader. I even had a Nature’s Claim and Noble Hierarch to cast it for a sword. He draws a land and acts like Jesus has just ascended from Heaven to rapture it up. He plays his land and plays Finest Hour and attacks. I think about it and say…go to 3? He says that is 20 and I lose. I call a judge because I did not realize that the exalted triggers stack and rather than fight about taking it back because I am a moron I sign the slip. I could have simply destroyed the Finest Hour but that was just not as fun as my costing me the match.

Round 4 vs. Mono Red guy

You could tell he thought he was the nuts and could never lose. This is funny as he was 2-1 just like me so obviously he can. I go first and play a Hierarch and he plays Figure of Destiny. I play Windbrisk Heights and found an Emrakul then played Nest Invader giving me 3 guys. All I had to do was not have one of my guys killed and I win on turn 3! I passed and he attacks. I do not block and say, “Take 2?” He thinks for a seconds and agrees then plays another Figure and loses the next turn.

Game 2 was worse for me as I drew like crap and he got there. Game 3 he was using all of his mana for his Dragonlord and I just waited and Path to Exiled it. I won with Baneslayer and two Burrenton Forger-Tender in my hand.

Round 5 vs. Boros and Ken Bearl

Or…Boy Meets Bearl….

Game 1 he did not have much going on and it seemed like I could not lose. I had my guys and they were larger. Eventually I got an Emrakul into play.

Game 2 was much of the same. I think he had some bad draws which attributed but this match-up should be in my favor anyway.

Round 6 and it’s win and make top 8 as I could draw the last round vs U/W

I had scouted this guy the previous round end and he made roughly 5 play mistakes in one game but his deck was good so he got past it.

Game 1 I beat him with not much resistance.

I lost Game 2 as he got sword early and I was too afraid of Sower of Temptation and should have just continued running our guys. He took a mulligan to 5 in game 2 but my hand was rough and he played Stoneforge turn 2 and I could not deal with the Sword and I drew Emrakul 3 straight turns which hurt something awful.

Game 3 I took a mulligan and my hand was awful but I kept instead of going down further than 5. I got to the point where I went for Titan and he countered, I had Pact but he has Spell Pierce which should have been side boarded out. He played awful in game 2 and side boarded incorrectly but I couldn’t beat sword again so I lost.

If I had played better I think I could have won but here we are. Advice would not be much help as PTQ’s are changing soon enough anyway. I am starting to test standard so I can play in a National’s qualifier and whatever I play will have Squadron Hawk as it is insane.

Any questions about the list or the deck in general leave then in the comment’s.

http://www.wizards.com/Magic/tcg/events.aspx?x=mtg/event/magicweekend/paris11

Grand Prix: This will likely be the largest Grand Prix ever with it being in Europe and with the draw of the Pro Tour as well. The format is Sealed Deck then Draft with the newly released Mirrodin Besieged. With it being a new format you will likely see some pro’s at the top of the standings who have been grinding on MTGO. If I had to put my money on anyone for this event I would take 7 unknowns and 1 established pro to top 8. Just for fun I will throw out the name of David Ochoa.I read his articles on ChannelFireball and he is fantastic at limited. This of course is barring him top 8′ing the pro tour which is definitely a possibility.

Pro Tour Paris

The format for this Pro Tour is as always 6 rounds of draft with a standard top-8. I think one would be ignorant to ignore that the standard format will likely not change much with just the one set being added. You can bet that all the best teams are testing now that the full set is released. I will not take the time to go through the spoiler and the cards I feel will add to the old decks or that could be decks on their own. I am one who could give a crap less about what every single pro wants to tell me about the new format. Every time a set comes out I dread the month after as it is just 500 articles on the new cards and limited formats which I don’t play often.

If you really love to read these articles you should probably start with LSV’s and go from there as his knowledge is usually useful. PV I usually read because he is more like me. For those wondering, is it that every new card is just worse than something else more realistic rather than stuck on playing the new cards.

My picks for this tournament just like I did last time will be:

Brian Kibler- I picked him last time too and he was almost the perfect pick. Watching him play with Caw-go is amazing and although nobody else can possibly win with it he can not lose. As long as he tests drafting enough I can easily see him top 8′ing this event.

Brad Nelson- I have some issues with this pick but I have faith anyway. I know that he will be versed in standard so as to take on Mr. Matignon for the player of the year title. It scares me that he will not be as focused for the main event as he will for the playoff but I am putting my faith in him for the run.

Which finally brings me to the player of the year playoff. Who do I honestly believe will win? If I had to pick someone it would be Guillaume Matignon. It scares me that Brad is willing to die for this title and Guillaume is just playing for fun. Brad will be 100% more prepared but it comes down to one match-up in standard and who can build a double sealed. If you have never done a double sealed before it is basically two amazing sealed decked crammed into one. Fire up magic workstation and generate one just to look at how good the decks are.

Final Picks

GP Paris

The Field > The Pro’s

PT Paris

Brain Kibler

Brad Nelson

PotY Playoff

Guillaume Matignon

GO PACKERS

After Day two I am still in the lead with Brian Kibler and David Ochoa leading the pack with 52 points between them! With another 6 rounds of extended and top 8 the few who picked PVDDR are still in contention!

The Logic Knot is proud to present

Pick your Magic the Gathering Worlds Champion!!!

How it works

Each contestant will pick two individuals who will be competing in Worlds in Japan and one National team competing as the tiebreaker. The points accumulated by the individuals will be added together and the contestant with the highest amount will win. Tiebreakers will be broken by picking a National Team to back in the team competition.

How to Enter:

You can enter the competition several ways:

1. You can send you picks to thelogicknot@gmail.com with your name attached.
2. You can send me a facebook message to thelogicknot or reply to one of the posts about it that I do.
3. Reply to this post right here on TheLogicKnot.com!

PRIZES!!!

First place will be getting a prize most fitting of the World Championships team competition. They will be getting a card for each format played in the team event; Legacy, Extended, and Standard.

Legacy: Show and Tell

Extended: Foil Coralhelm Commander

Standard: Summoning Trap and Eldrazi Temple

So make your picks and I will be posting mine to be part of the fun soon. Thanks for playing and good luck!

For more information regarding the world championships you may visit www.magicthegathering.com or http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=events/magic/worlds

My Picks!!!!!

Individual-

Brian Kibler

David Ochoa

Team Tiebreaker-

Czech Republic

Respond with your lists!

Lands

1 Glimmerpost

Creatures

1 Corpse Cur

1 Leaden Myr

1 Moriok Replica

1 Saberclaw Golem

1 Silver Myr

1 Snapsail Glider

1 Sylvok Replica

1 Blackcleave Goblin

1 Contagious Nim

1 Plague Stinger

2 Carapace Forger

2 Copperhorn Scout

2 Cystbearer

3 Molder Beast

1 Tel-Jilad Fallen

1 Scoria Elemental

2 Lumengrid Drake

1 Scrapdiver Serpent

1 Screeching Silcaw

2 Vedalken Certarch

1 Glint Hawk

1 Kemba’s Skyguard

1 Loxodon Wayfarer

1 Kuldotha Phoenix

1 Indomitable Archangel

1 Necropede

1 Rust Tick

1 Embersmith

1 Ogre Geargrabber

1 Oxidda Scrapmelter

1 Copper Myr

Spells

1 Accorder’s Shield

2 Echo Circlet

1 Flight Spellbomb

1 Origin Spellbomb

1 Sylvok Lifestaff

1 Blunt the Assault

1 Untamed Might

1 Wing Puncture

1 Kuldotha Rebirth

1 Shatter

1 Turn to Slag

1 Bonds of Quicksilver

1 Disperse

2 Steady Progress

1 Stoic Rebuttal

1 Vault Skyward

1 Arrest

1 Seize the Initiative

2 Soul Parry

1 Contagion Engine

1 Memoricide

1 Dissipation Field

1 Culling Dais

1 Liquimetal Coating

2 Throne of Geth

1 Trigon of Corruption

1 Trigon of Infestation

1 Trigon of Mending

1 Trigon of Thought

1 Halt Order

2 Volition Reins

Survival- Over the past month or so this deck has been dominating the format and looks as though there is no end in sight.  I have tried a few things that seem to maybe be over the edge, however, seem fine to me. The most notable was trying to find a deck that I could run Leyline of the Void in the maindeck. This is however flawed because they can easily search up a way to kill the Leyline and win the turn after most of the time. This gives you until turn 3-4 with a 6 card opener to win not counting (depending on versions) Force of Will, Daze, or Cabal Therapy.

When I look at what makes the deck insane is not Vengevine per say but more the fact they can search up answers to your hate. Right now there is one deck that I am looking at as a possible answer. Goblins is a good deck inherently with a maindeck eye toward survival while not sacrificing the game verses other top decks.

Goblins-

3 Pithing Needle

4 Aether Vial

3 Gempalm Incinerator

4 Goblin Lackey

4 Goblin Matron

3 Goblin Piledriver

4 Goblin Ringleader

1 Goblin Sharpshooter

4 Goblin Warchief

3 Mogg War Marshal

1 Siege-Gang Commander

1 Skirk Prospector

1 Tin Street Hooligan

7 Mountain

3 Arid Mesa

4 Rishadan Port

3 Scalding Tarn

2 Taiga

4 Wasteland

Sideboard:

4 Leyline of the Void

1 Stingscourger

2 Krosan Grip

3 Mindbreak Trap

3 Pyrokinesis

1 Pithing Needle

1 Goblin Piledriver

The benefits here are that have something like Pithing Needle maindeck hurts other decks in the format as well. From something as simple as not allowing their SDT to activate to being as simple as naming a sacrifice land to run the mana denial plans as well. Look at the top 5 decks in legacy as I see them based off tournament results:

Survival- Pithing Needle obviously hits their namesake as well as several other cards in the deck that are less important. Once you Needle Survival of the Fittest your plan is to either outlast their creatures while killing their Fuana Shaman if they run them; or to continuously refill with Ringleaders and Matrons until you can alpha via your card advantage.

Merfolk- You can use needle to shut off Aether Vial if they have it and they don’t which may happen quite a bit due to Daze and Force. You can not let Coralhelm Commander level, Mutavault attack, or stop them from searching for land via their Polluted Delta etc.

Countertop- There is so many different versions you can face here I but the basics are the same with hitting their Thopter Foundry combo being a plus. Jace 2.0, Sensei’s Divining Top, and Engineered Explosives are all great targets but what you name depends on the game state.

Goblins Mirror- Sometimes it can come down to them having Aether Vial and you not which needle does shine in. Other times you will need to shut down Sharpshooter or Siege-Gang Commander. Rare occasions of mana-light hands will result in you being able to stop their Rishadan Port’s or Wasteland’s.

GWB Junk- Fixing their mana with Sensei’s Divining Top is a normal occurrence. Depending on build you can see versions with Umezawa’s Jitte and other equipment that you can shut down and even the occasional Pernicious Deed.

I have done some testing with this build to good success even when I don’t draw the needle and want to give you a side boarding plan for the top decks.

Vs. Survival

-1 Tin Street Holigan -4 Aether Vial

+1 Pithing Needle+4 Leyline of the Void

Aether Vial is fantastic and I am probably crazy for taking it out but it is not needed in this matchup. You want to turn 1 Needle Survival then turn 2 play a treat and start getting in beats. With that line of plays that means Vial is not active til turn 3 and at that point you can play a Matron. I have only tested this a few times but it has worked fine in those games.

Vs. Merfolk

-4 Goblin Lackey

+1 Goblin Piledriver +3 Pyrokinesis

Countertop

-1 Goblin Sharpshooter -2 Gempalm Incinerator -1 Mogg War Marshall

+1 Pithing Needle +2 Krosan Grip +1 Goblin Piledriver

Goblins Mirror

-3 Pithing Needle -1 Goblin Piledriver

+3 Pyrokinesis +1 Krosan Grip

I do like bringing in one Krosan Grip here for the random Aether Vial kill as well as some Goblin decks I have seen Jitte in the sideboard of.

GWB Junk

-3 Pithing Needle

+1 Stingscourger +1 Goblin Piledriver +1 Pyrokinesis

Next week I will be playing a 10 game set against a UG survival deck. This will be 4 preboard and 6 postboard with my current sideboarding plans as it is the best way to test since that is the ratio in a tournament. Although it will not be 100% play by play as I hate writing things like that it will give you the important plays and any updates to the Goblins list going forward.

Thank you for reading, feel free to comment in the forums.

Chris “Chef” Heath

Chef4575@gmail.com

So being poor and having little to no motivation I slowly drifted to the state I was before the last Pro Tour. I love to play control, there is nothing more satisfying in this game than drawing cards and playing Wrath of God. This being said, I was obviously excited to watch Nassif pilot the 5cc deck to the top of the tour I decided that I was definately not a fan of the walls.

After once again testing for a long time I decided my version just wasn’t fast enough. Obviously 5cc is not usually catagorized as a speed deck, however, doing nothing until turn 3 to play a Jace does not get it done. So then this new set Alara Reborn came out. Going through the spoiler nothing really peeked my interest.

Sure Cascade seems to be a fine mechanic, Medddling Mage will be medicore at best, and there was nothing that include the words instant and draw a card in the same line so I mostly didn’t care. The best card in the set is Anathemancer, the way people think about mana bases will probably not change right away and blighting players will take advantage of this for a while.

I can see blightning being overpopular at regionals this year due to the new cards Anathemancer and Terminate. Being a patron for anything with a control feel I knew that there were a few cards I was in love with:

Cryptic Command: This is obvious for anyone playing blue

Makeshift Mannequin: Ever since block PTQ’s I have been throwing this card into everything.
Attacking other control decks and aggro decks ever at the EOT has been amazing for me.

Cruel Ultimatum: Anyone who has cast this nows just how good it feels. If you make to to turn 7 without losing you basically win with this card. Granted I have had people drop in 2 Wilt-Leaf Leige’s off the discard, but thats a risk I am MORE than willing to take.

From here I wanted to put in some Mulldrifters and Shriekmaws, as well as some Sower of Temptation. I searched the web for decklists and I came across Grixis Control. This deck seemed to have it all with a stable manabase, all the cards I wanted including 4 Makeshift Mannequin! So I went with a list into testing and found some things I did not like.

Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker while being extremely greedy and good was never better than Cruel Ultimatum. Even if it was Ultimatum number two the life Gain was extremely relavent. Broken Ambitions were not that good for me because I was alway tapping out for something be it Mulldrifter, Jace Beleren, or Cruel Ultimatum. Or just wanting to leave mana up for Volcanic Fallout and Makeshift Mannequin.

I took the testing knowledge and made a new list and tested it again. The second time around I found that I really wanted something maindeck that can be a Mannequined pseudo Wrath of God. Soul Snuffer and Caldera Hellion were both considered but Hellion was leagues above. Let’s go ahead and get a look at this Monstrosity:

4 Demigod of Revenge
4 Mulldrifter
3 Plumeveil
3 Shriekmaw
2 Sower of Temptation
1 Caldera Hellion

4 Cryptic Command
4 Makeshift Mannequin
4 Volcanic Fallout

3 Cruel Ultimatum
1 Banefire

2 Jace Beleren

4 Crumbling Necropolis
4 Reflecting Pool
4 Secluded Glen
3 Cascade Bluffs
3 Swamp
3 Graven Cairns
2 Island
2 Sunken Ruins

Sideboard:
4 Scepter of Fugue
3 Pyroclasm
3 Negate
1 Caldera Hellion
1 Spitebellows
1 Sower of Temptation
1 Ascendant Evincar
1 Shriekmaw

And now for your card by card evaluation and sideboarding pleasures…

4 Demigod of Revenge- I have to admit I was very skeptical about this guy. With Path to Exile out there I just assumed he would not be good. Many time he has come back in multiples or just put a clock on an opponent that other cards wouldn’t be able to due as easily.

4 Mulldrifter- Card advantage is always key.

3 Plumeveil- Just a good card to sure up the early game vs aggro.

3 Shriekmaw- Started as a two of but now after board you have all four. Routinely keeps player off enough attackers for Heights, kills Teegs, and axe’s many a creature.

2 Sower of Temptation- The only thing better than killing a creature is taking thiers. This card started as Broken Ambitions one and two and then was Spitebellows. Eventually I realized that as much as I like Spitebellows, Sower would be more relavant and turn on my Secluded Glen. It’s stayed in ever since.

1 Caldera Hellion- This started as Broken Ambitions #3. I really wanted a guy I can Mannequin back that can kill off tokens from Spectral Procession and Cloudgoat Ranger. After thinking of Soul Snuffers I found Caldera Hellion who also can get the ranger itself. Although I realize its usually a suicide mission its well worth the 4 mana instant Wrath of God.

4 Cryptic Command- These will be a staple in any deck that can afford to play them.

4 Makeshift Mannequin-Four may seem a bit excessive but they are the cornerstone of what you are trying to do. A lot of times they just make way for you to resolve a Demigod or Cruel and they are worth thier weight in gold.

4 Volcanic Fallout-This card is ridiculously good.

3 Cruel Ultimatum- Yes, three. Before I had two and one Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker but as I said earlier. The Nicol Bolas just is not as good without the life gain and hand disruption.

1 Banefire- This is probably the most suspect card in the deck. I do like that I can random burn someone out but I could easily see this becoming a 3rd Sower or maybe even another Jace.

2 Jace Beleren- More card draw. I think two is the right number because I never want more than one but it can be a forcefield as well.

4 Crumbling Necropolis
4 Reflecting Pool
4 Secluded Glen
3 Cascade Bluffs
3 Swamp
3 Graven Cairns
2 Island
2 Sunken Ruins

I have had no problems with this manabase.

Sideboard:
4 Scepter of Fugue- I love this card. Ever since I was playing 5cc months ago I have been running these sb. When teamed with Negate you can really get the upper hand in the control matchup. Or in a pinch use it on yourself and Mannequin something back.

3 Pyroclasm- For token decks. I like Pyroclasm more than Infest. Both are good in this spot but on the draw you want to be able to swipe the board turn 2.

3 Negate- In the control mirrors this is very good as it almost says your spell costs 1U more and its uncounterable.

1 Caldera Hellion- Another sweeper than can come in off Mannequin.

1 Spitebellows – I wanted a way to kill Doran. Mannequin this guy block and kill another creature. Good stuff.

1 Sower of Temptation- Still good.

1 Ascendant Evincar- Against tokens if they do not have a pump spell like Glorius Anthem then this is basically Wrath of God.

1 Shriekmaw- Another card for Dark Bant or just regular Bant decks.

As far as gameplay goes here’s what you would not like to see.

Blighting Decks:

You really don’t have much to combat these decks. You have to hope you can stall to Demigod and Cruel to race. It always helps if they burn out a Plumeveil but chances are your not winning. I think its fine to look at the format as you can’t beat em’ all.

Sideboarding:-1 Caldera Hellion -2 Volcanic Fallout+3 Negate

More or less just trying to stop the burn. You have a much better chance if they are running creature heavy versions but regardless Negates will hopefully stop damage or the death of a Plumeveil.

Faeries:

This matchup is a little in thier favor. Maindeck you have 4 Fallout’s and can attack end of turn with Mannequin’s after an early Mulldrifter. The worst card for us is Mistbind Clique but if it resolves there are many ways to kill it and usually you can evoke Shriekmaw and Mannequin it back if needed. It showing up in multiples though is not promissing.

Sideboarding-4 Demigod of Revenge -1 Caldera Hellion -1 Cruel Ultimatum -2 Shriekmaw +4 Scepter of Fugue +3 Negate +1 Ascendant Evincar

Demigod is very good at not getting through for damage here. It’s really only good if it either comes in multiples or they do not have a bitterblossom. Ultimatum is fine as a two of here because you have Negate to protect it now. Shriekmaw usually does not have as many targets as usual and Ascendant Evincar will wipe thier board if it come’s in during most situations. All in all if you open a hand with Scepter be happy and start attacking thier hand.

Now that that’s out of the way let’s see some of the better matchup’s.

G/w Tokens and BW Tokens

These decks serve about the same purpose, play cards that make numerous creatures with some amount of pump spells and disruption. Then attack for the win with maybe a little Windbrisking here and there. Overall you have yourself 4 Fallout maindeck, 1 Hellion, 3 Shriekmaw, 3 Plumeveil, 4 Command, and when you find yourself past turn 4-5 it’s usually over with Ultimatum.

Sideboarding:-1 Banefire -2 Jace Beleren -2 Sower of Temptation+3 Pyroclasm, +1 Caldera Hellion, + 1 Ascendant Evincar

If you get to the point where Banefire is relevant here you have already won. I take out Jace because chances are turn 3 I will want to play something aggressive to disrupt them not lay out Jace. A lot of times I find myself Shriekmawing a token to keep them off thier Height’s. Sower comes out because with 4 Fallout and 3 Pyroclasm you don’t want something that’s going to be on the table to be effective with 2 Toughness.

Kithkin

This matchup is more or less like the token’s matchup with the added bonus that as opposed to plainswalkers and disruption the just have guys that die to Shriekmaw. I go back and forth on the sideboarding here but I’m fairly certain I would go with this.

Sideboarding-1 Banefire -1 Cruel Ultimatum -4 Demigod of Revenge+3 Pyroclasm +1 Caldera Hellion +1 Shriekmaw +1 Ascenant Evincar

Basically you get rid of 6 finisher’s for things to help push you to the late game. Sower still doesn’t play nice with the rest of the Pyroclasm effect’s but here it is not as bad since you can get Cenn’s and other good creatures as opposed to just getting a token.

Dark Bant:

I thought this matchup would be about 50/50 and it would probably depend on the draw. A fast Doran is not what you want to see. Sure, you can destroy an early Rhox War Monk but that Doran just can’t die to Shriekmaw. Overall you should have enough to slow them down enough to get there. Also, beware of Teeg as he really is a pain.

Sideboarding:
On the Play–4 Volcanic Fallout -1 Caldera Hellion+2 Pyroclasm +1 Spitebellows +1 Sower of Temptation +1 Shriekmaw
On the Draw-3 Volcanic Fallout+1 Spitebellows +1 Sower of Temptation +1 Shriekmaw

On the play here I like being able to slow them down with a turn two pyroclasm on their mana creature. Other than that same base. Fallout kill’s next to nothing and the only creature that it hits I care about is Teeg but with 4 Shriekmaw I should get there more often than not.

5cc

This matchup maindeck is good for you. Ajani Vengeant is a bit of a worry but you can contain it long enough with a Fallout or Two to set up some end of turn Mannequin action then untap into something backbreaking.

Sideboarding-3 Plumeveil -1 Calera Hellion -2 Volcanic Fallout -1 Sower of Temptation+4 Scepter of Fugue +3 Negate

Here seem’s pretty self explanitory. You want to get rid of of Plumeveil’s as they can not attack. Sower loses value but keeping one is fine for Broodmate. Hellion is worthless here as well as Fallout is only staying in to help buy time again Plainswalkers until the Scepters and the Negate’s do thier job.

Lark Decks

I have only tested breifly against these decks. Seems like it could be tough depending on thier build but I would go with the thier slow and I have 3 Cruel Ultimatum plan if it were me.

Sideboarding:

Boat Brew:-1 Banefire -2Jace Beleren -1 Caldera Hellion -1 Volcanic Fallout+3 Pyroclasm +1 Sower of Temptation +1 Shriekmaw

Esperlark:-1 Caldera Hellion+1 Sower of Temptation

Against Boat Brew you want the early Clasm to hit Figure’s before they get it to a 4/4.Esperlark you want the extra sower to help combat thier Glen Elandra Archmage’s.Unfortunately, I have not tested enough vs thier archetypes to know if I’m right but it seems ok. Maybe bringing in Scepter against Esperlark. Only time will tell…

Due to some prior engagements I may not be able to attend my regional’s this year but if you go to yours maybe throw this deck on MWS and see what you think.

Thanks for reading as I would love you hear what people think.Hit me in the forums or feel free to email me questions at chef4575@gmail.com

XOXOXOX

Chef

Today I am going to look at Threshold in the Legacy format. At its heart, Threshold is an UG aggro control deck that focuses on cheap and “free” disruption (Force of Will, Daze), cycling card drawers, (Brainstorm, Mental Note) and cheap creatures that grow and go the distance (Nimble Mongoose, Tarmogoyf). This deck has a lot of flavors including additional colors, but all are blue and green.

Nearly all lists feature the following cards:

Disruption:

4 Force of Will
4 Daze—8 “free” counters is an important feature that helps identify the deck

2-4 additional counters (Counterspell or Spell Snare most often)

4 Stifle
4 Wasteland: Some versions don’t run these in favor of more option cards, but I am convinced that they are
too good against the mirror and Landstill to be ignored—games are won and lost in the first three turns based on
Stifling fetchlands and wastelands, and Wastelanding duals. If I could run any more here, I would.

Creatures:
4 Tarmogoyf—a new addition to the deck, his ability compliments the quick “Threshold” feature of the deck,
while reducing the need to gain actual threshold
4 Nimble Mongoose—at 1 mana the Mongoose is the only of the original creatures to make the transition without losing place.
0-2 Additional creatures: These can be Quirion Dryad (with a grow subtheme), Werebear (who has been replaced as a 4 of by Tarmogoyf),
or occasionally Mystic Enforcer.

Draw:
4 Brainstorm: the best cantrip draw spell there is.

4-6 additional cantrips: one mana cost is the order of the day, these can be filled out by Ponder,
Mental Note (seeks threshold fastest), or Opt (instant speed to play EOT)
Deck Options

UGw: White was the original third color for threshold. This gives the deck most notably Swords to Plowshares,
as well as access to Mystic Enforcer for a third solid creature choice. Occasionally Oblivion Ring is included
as well, partially to fuel Tarmogoyf.

UGr: Red offers two main cards: Lightning Bolt and Fire//Ice. The argument for these in red over the
white Swords is that they will still clear all the creatures they need to clear, and can hit the head as well.
I feel this version has lost value from the past since even Lightning Bolt will rarely kill Tarmogoyf.

Ugrw: Taking the best of both worlds, with Swords and Fire//Ice or Lightning Bolt.

UGb: This version is made to include Dark Confidant. All the lists I’ve seen extrapolate Dark Confidant to including
Sensei’s Divining Top and then Counterbalance, and truly this is a different deck.

Sensei’s Divining Top/Counterbalance: Some UGw and UGr versions include the Counterbalance package, usually in place of Stifles. While this is a powerful option, it draws the focus away from the core of threshold, and opens the deck to losing an early land war. Pushing the deck to include basic Islands takes it into the realm of being a different deck.

Phyrexian Dreadnaught: the one mana 12/12 has shown his head in a lot of decks recently, thanks to a return to his printed text that allows Stifle to bring him in safely. The theory is that in a deck with Stifles already maindeck, 2-4 slots can be devoted to a truly monstrous win condition. The obvious disadvantages are that it allows a two for one (counter the Stifle or Swords the Dreadnaught)
and that it eats up slots that could be otherwise spent (disruption or draw).

I feel that these last three options are valid, but that they aren’t truly Threshold. Focused deckbuilding is most often rewarded and that using these designer packages can most often draw focus away. A deck built to be UB with Trinket Mage, maindeck Stifle, and Countertop powered by Dark Confidant certainly can exist—but this isn’t threshold, and crossing the two dilutes both strategies.

Taking these factors into consideration, I decided that the optimal list would be UGW. The red versions I feel have lost value—Fire/Ice doesn’t kill many relevant creatures at this point, and Lighting Bolt will rarely kill Tarmogoyf, so the firepower of Swords to Plowshares seems absolutely necessary.

UGW Threshold
4 Wasteland
4 Tundra
4 Tropical Island
4 Flooded Strand
1 Island

4 Tarmogoyf
4 Nimble Mongoose
2 Mystic Enforcer

2 Hoofprints of the Stag
1 Jace Beleren

4 Force of Will
4 Daze
3 Spell Snare
4 Stifle
4 Swords to Plowshares

4 Ponder

3 Engineered Explosives

Sideboard:
4 Gaddock Teeg
4 Tividar’s Crusade
4 Tormod’s Crypt
3 Teferi’s Response

The Hoofprints of the Stag and Jace Beleren exist to feed Tarmogoyf to his full potential, as do the Engineered Explosives.

The Matchups
Cephalid Breakfeast:
This is a solid matchup for you so long as you are able to recognize the threats and the matchup. Don’t waste counters on Tarmogoyf if you can deal with him with either a blocker or Swords to Plowshares. You need to save counters for Dread Return. The key piece is Cephalid Illusionist—this is the method that Cephalid Breakfeast uses to get cards into the graveyard. The second key is Sutured Ghoul—the kill. The final defense is a Swords to Plowshares aimed at the Sutured Ghoul. It’s also possible to win an early Stifle war and lock them out of lands.

Side: -2 Hoofprints, -1 Jace Beleren, -1 1 Ponder, +4 Tormod’s Crypt. Tormod’s Crypt.

Tormod’s offers a very powerful foil to their strategy. After sideboard they will bring in Abeyance to stop you from using both the Swords and your counters. Get Crypt into play early, and hold it for the right moment to remove the graveyard. Unlike the Dredge matchup, Cephalid Breakfeast doesn’t have many relevant cards in the graveyard until the end, so even if they have the Krosan Grip you can’t expend the Tormod’s Crypt unless you can hit the Sutured Ghoul.

Dredge: This matchup is more difficult than the Cephalid Breakfeast match as they don’t really need to resolve any spells. Your Swords to Plowshares are best used by eliminating Ichorid. Chances are your early counters are going to be eaten by Cabal Therapy. Anytime you can counter a spell that puts more cards into their hand, do. Game one will always remain a fairly difficult match, but the deck has inconsistency problems and you will be looking to steal game one.

Side: -2 Hoofprints, -1 Jace Beleren, -1 Ponder, +4 Tormod’s Crypt.

Tormod’s Crypt should be used anytime you can remove a Bridge from Below, but because they will not have the mana for Krosan Grip you can afford to wait until the optimal time. If they have little or no hand and no means of discarding on board (like a Putrid Imp) you can use the Crypt to remove their Dredge creatures, setting them back to turn one essentially. Deploy Engineered Explosives for 0 and save the mana to use it if they begin generating Zombie tokens. Remember—you can use colorless mana to play Engineered Explosives for 0 by paying no colored mana if they deploy a Chalice of the Void. The matchup becomes much better in the second two games, as the focus switches from you stealing a game, to them stealing a game.

Goblins: Goblins will come out of the gate hard and running. If you are on the play, Daze can slow them a lot by hitting Goblin Lackey. Game one they have the genuine potential to overrun you if they get a good start, so slowing them down is a priority. If they lay a fetch early, hit it with a Stifle as usual—this timewalk might be all you need to get running. Your best Swords targets are Goblin Lackey, Goblin Piledriver and Goblin Warchief. Tarmogoyf’s high toughness will matter as he can block most of the Goblins and live. Engineered Explosives for whichever casting cost you can hit two or more creatures with—don’t play it for 2 if you will have to risk your Goyf, but beware allowing them to generate enough goblins to use a Gempalm Incinerator to kill your Tarmogoyf.

Side: -2 Hoofprints, -1 Jace Beleren, -1 Ponder, +4 Tividar’s Crusade.

Tividar’s Crusade destroys all goblins. It costs one less than Wrath of God, and leaves your Tarmogoyf on the board. Unfortunately it is still sorcery speed, so you need to be wary of if they can generate a killing force in one turn. If a Warchief is on board and you can hit 2-3 Goblins, spending the Crusade is usually a good use of resources, especially if this will allow you to go onto the offensive.

Landstill: This is a half turn off of being a mirror match. The 8 most important cards in your deck are Wasteland and Stifle. Use Stifles only on Wastelands and fetch lands. Use Wastelands anytime you can hit a land without fear of the stifle. Swords to Plowshares their Mishra’s Factories. Avoid getting caught up in a counter war—remember what you are trying to do. If the spell that resolves at the end isn’t worth it, don’t waste the counter.

The keys to this matchup are initiative and control. Remind yourself that you are in control. You will expend your resources when you choose. You will decide when your opponent expends his resources. You have the initiative. Your creatures are better and once one is in play you don’t need to do anything but protect it and retain the initiative.

Side: -3 Engineered Explosives, +3 Teferi’s Response.

Once Teferi’s response comes in, their Wastelands become Ancestral Recalls for you. This turns the early land war, and will allow your follow up Tarmogoyf to roll in virtually unmolested as they will be scrambling to generate the mana to make plays.

Storm Combo: The difficulty with storm combo is that no one of their spells matter much. Your best bet is to counter the early mana (Chrome Mox, Lion’s Eye Diamond, or Mox Diamond). They will spend the first turn or two developing mana position, if you can counter a mana artifact and Wasteland away their first land drop you put yourself into position. Save the Stifle for their storm spell. Use Engineered Explosives for 0 to destroy mana artifacts.

The key card for them to win through your counters is Orim’s Chant—you have to counter it because otherwise you cannot counter or respond to anything else that turn.

Side: -4 Swords to Plowshares, +4 Gaddock Teeg.

Despite having Force of Will, Gaddock Teeg offers more power for you, as for them to win they must cast a 4 or higher mana cost spell (Tendrils of Agony or Empty the Warrens) and their primary setup spell (Ad Nauseum) is also affected.

Threshold (Mirror): Since you go in with no strategic superiority in this matchup you will have to trely on play skill. As in the Landstill match you need to be in control—you decide when a counter war will happen and do not allow yourself to be drawn into one you do not want. Your Engineered Explosives can hit all the relevant creatures except Mystic Enforcer so save Swords to the Enforcer, or for large threatening Tarmogoyf’s early on.

Side: -1 Brainstorm, -1 Ponder, -1 Nimble Mongoose, +3 Teferi’s Response.

The early land war is the key to the matchup, and as with the Landstill match, a well time Teferi’s Response will win the game. You can afford to skimp on Brainstorm and Ponders as the card draw from Response will compensate.

Threshold feels very strong in the metagame. You can handle the aggro decks easily, and have strategic superiority over a lot of slower decks. The biggest advantage of Threshold over a deck like Landstill is Tarmogoyf. Tarmogoyf isn’t a fair card and taking advantage of the ability to run unfair cards is offers a lot of value to a deck—to be able to do so in an aggro-control frame as compared to say, a combo deck creates a wealth of options. If you have the experience playing control, Threshold is an excellent choice, though you will need to be able to devote a fair amount of time to testing and learning the nuances of the deck.

Love,
Nate Love