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By: Plainswalker83, Plainswalker83
Jun 14 2016 12:00pm
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     It is easy to talk about a plan but always much harder to enact it. When the fellowship left for Mordor the plan was simple, bring the ring to Mt. Doom and destroy it. In Princess Bride the plan was to rescue Princess Buttercup and save the day. In both scenarios there were obstacles but the goal was reached.

     I can only hope that my goal is reached as well. In my mind my goal is just as noble as Frodo's or Westley's but it will require plenty of work to get there.

     Step 1: Is the Deck

WR Humans
 
Creatures
3 Dragon Hunter
2 Expedition Envoy
3 Reckless Bushwhacker
3 Kytheon, Hero of Akros
4 Knight of the White Orchid
4 Town Gossipmonger
4 Thraben Inspector
4 Thalia's Lieutenant
15 cards

Other Spells
3 Gryff's Boon
4 Always Watching
4 Declaration in Stone
0 cards
Lands
4 Battlefield Forge
4 Needle Spires
14 Plains
22 cards

Reckless Bushwhacker

       I shared this last week but I did not go in depth why I am playing it or why I made the choices I did. The majority of the deck is pretty standard the special part about this list is the red splash. Red gives you access to the following.

                                                                Reckless Bushwhacker Needle spires

     What this splash gives the deck is 2 things. First it gives an extra 1 turn anthem effect with the bushwhacker. Because of the healthy amount of 1 and 2 drops it is very easy to always be casting the goblin for its surge cost. Which allows you crank out a ton more damage to help you win before your team gets Languished or anything else like that.

     Having access to the creature land is another huge bonus for this deck. There are so many times where you can have your opponent down to like 4 or less life and then they sweep your board away and you have nothing left. Or if they play a powerful planeswalker and you need something to attack it. One such example is when your ramp opponent cranks out a Chandra, Flamecaller and you have a Spires out to finish off the walker.

    One last option is adding a couple copies of Abbot of Keral Keep. The prowess is not always relevant but you can easily gain a few extra points of power when you play a Gryff's Boon, Always Watching, or even a removal spell like Declaration in Stone. The biggest benefit would be getting the extra card to draw. With everything in the deck being so cheap you are very likely to be able to play what you exile with the Abbot. Abbot is still on my radar and I may be testing it later this week.

     The sideboard has been very good for me as well. This is what I currently have.

                                                                          Silkwrap.jpgStasis Snare

      Simply put these are great removal spells when your opponent doesn't have Dromoka's Command. However it can even be correct to bring them in if they do have them because you can protect them with a Gryff's Boon or use them to protect and Always Watching.

                                  Gideon, Ally of ZendikarBygone_Bishop.jpgEerie_Interlude.jpg

     Usually these are brought in to further combat the Languish decks but Eerie Interlude has yet to even be cast. I am thinking that Hallowed Moonlight might be better in the slot to give me more options for Collected Company and the tokens decks.

                               

 

                                                 Gryffs_Boon.jpg  Anafenza_Kin_Tree_Spirit.jpg  

        Honestly I have never really used Anafenza much but the Militia Captain is great against decks that do not have sweepers because it gives you a huge threat that works very well with Thalia's Lieutenant. It really shines in the decks where the ground can get clogged up and works very well with the Gryff's Boon. That is the board I have been working with and as the meta changes of course the board will as well.

        Step:2 The plan and the goal. 

      Now because of the mistakes and the slump I have been in my Play Points and Tickets were almost nonexistent. I was down to 11 Play Points and 2 Tickets. The plan was to start with 2 mans, try to earn enough Play Points for a friendly league and then join the league. I knew that I would have to lean on Play Points because I do not really have an expendable income for tickets. Once I earn enough Play Points I can then start doing Competitive Leagues to continue to grind Qualifier Points. Along with my small amount of points and tickets, I started this grind with 1 QP. I am not even sure how I got it though I think it was Modern. So I start with 1 and the goal is 35, let's get to the grind.

       Step 3: The Journey (Grind)

     I had my deck built up and loaded. I know how it works because I have been playing this style for far too long. However I still decide to go to the Tournament Practice room and get a few reps in. After some practice it was time for my first 2 man. I am a bit nervous because I know that if I lose I will have to wait another week before even starting this journey. I win the die roll and get to see my opening 7. Now one of the beautiful parts of this deck is that most hands are easy keeps. If you have to mulligan the deck still is able to have good 6 card hands because of how cheap everything is to cast. There are times I am even very happy with keeping a 1 land hand especially on the draw. However this hand is almost one of the best you can get with the deck. Three 1 drops, 1 plains, 1 Battlefield Forge 1 Knight of the White Orchid, and 1 Always Watching. Being on the play with that hand can sometimes be too much for your opponent to overcome and I quickly won game 1. The deck I was playing against was the Mono Blue Brain in a Jar deck. I sided added in the Militia Captain and a Bygone Bishop and took out the Declaration in Stones and went into game 2. I had another good draw and my opponent missed a land drop giving me the chance to flood the board. They did not have enough islands for Engulf the Shore and I won game 2 easily. Just like that my quest was onto a good start but I had a long road ahead of me.

     Thankfully due to good draws, a consistent deck, and great matchups I quickly worked my way through the 2 mans earning 10 Play Points each time until I have a little over 80. I entered my first Friendly League knowing that I had to go 3-2 in order to at least break even. I was not sure exactly what the meta would be like in the Friendly league but I kept my deck the same and signed up.

      One of the best parts about using this deck is that the matches are fast I finished my first league at 3-2 allowing me to gain my points back and enter a league again. My losses came to the UR Eldrazi deck and BW Control deck. I don't believe the matchups are unwinnable, I just needed to learn how to play against them better. I did a few more leagues and still came out 3-2. I was getting frustrated with mediocrity but I kept my calm and entered another.

       This was my turning point. I finally went 4-1 in a league earning a pack, a QP, and 40 extra Play Points. That win kinda sparked something in me and I kept up the winning. I went 4-1 in a few more leagues and then even went 5-0 in my first league. I am now up to 7 QPs and have been always at least been earning Play Points or breaking even. I know that I have a long way to go but I have definitely learned something.

      Lessons I learned:

     First I have learned that I believe I picked the right deck to grind with. Yes I may have some hard match-ups but for the most part this deck can steam roll an opponent when they stumble on lands or do not draw the spot removal or sweeper.

     Secondly  I have learned that I have to be ready to expect any kind of deck especially in the friendly leagues. It seems that players are more apt to test things or bring decks that may be more off the radar. I have to quickly adapt to playing against them and learning how to sideboard on the fly. I cannot expect to stick to specific sideboard guides.

     Thirdly I have learned to pace myself. Part of me wanted to grind out all of the leagues in one big chunk but I know that would have been foolish. Some days I can get more in then others but I know that if I don't take my time then I will not be as focused as I should be. Even if this deck allows for quick games I still need to be smart about it.

        Going forward I will try the changes I mentioned and continue to grind and work towards my goal. One thing is for sure I am really learning the Standard Metagame and enjoying this journey no matter how hard it may be. 

Until next time!!