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By: walkerdog, Tyler Walker
Jun 30 2009 2:27am
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This weekend, the wife and daughter were out of town, giving me the run of the house.  I quickly decided to play in all three Classic PEs.  I ran Zoo in the first two, to a 5-5 record with no Top 8.  Bad hands, mulligans to four, a few misplays, just ugly Magic.  Ok, so I pull out Tezzerator.  I'd ALMOST made Top 8 the last time I ran it, but got "drawn out" in some matchups that were at least moderately favorable.  That's not to discredit my opponents or their decks however.  I really enjoyed playing with the big Blue lug, so I wanted to see if I could run it to a Top 8.  I felt like much like Pro Tour: Berlin, Tezz could be the solution to an Elf and Zoo metagame.  Many touted Chalice of the Void as a prime card in the current meta-game, so I decided to fully dedicate to these two cards.

I went from my last list, and cut a few cards.  The most notable in my mind were all of my creatures.  Tarmogoyf and Trinket Mage are two of my favorite cards to run in a deck, so cutting them hurt me.  I wept bitterly for the loss of my friends, but they're slow and Goyf makes me run shocklands, so I decided that they had to go.  As I mentioned before, I'd decided to really dedicate my deck to Chalice of the Void.  That meant Brainstorm should probably be cut since they get shut down by Chalice.  I did add White for Swords to Plowshares and a singleton Decree of Justice.  The Decree was my concession to other Landstill decks.  In the mirror, a Standstill will often enter the Battlefield only to have the two decks stare at each other and try to trade Mishra's Factory and Wasteland each other and generally just wage a land-war.  Being able to pump out a few 1/1 men in the mirror can be back-breaking as even if they get Factory advantage, it can be hard to push damage past your little fellas, and then you just have to find your Wastelands and Factories to win the battle.  Eventually, they'll have to pop the 'Still.

Going back to the Chalice, I ran the fourth Chrome Mox to be able to try to hit a turn one Chalice set to one (or turn three set to two).  I cut Vedalken Shackles from the maindeck and shifted it to the sideboard.  It was amazing sometimes, but usually you just wanted to tutor up either Ensnaring Bridge against aggro or Crucible of Worlds against control as soon as possible.  My sideboard had contained, among other things, three Helm of Obedience and the full four Leyline of the Void as both a concession to the existence of decks like Flash and Loam and as another kill-condition that takes people by surprise sometimes.  I cut down to one Helm that could still be tutored up by Tezzeret due to needing more sideboard space, and "three" Helms were still plenty.  My sideboard was built towards beating the Aggro decks mostly as my maindeck was fairly focused on Combo and control (somewhat).  Here's what I went with.

 

 

I would have liked one more Pithing Needle in the sideboard, but that was a luxury that I felt I couldn't afford, given the cards I wanted in the board.  I also should have had one Vindicate in the board and I just brain-farted it.  I PROBABLY would have cut a Threads for it or possibly Shackles.  Zuran Orb warrants another sideboard spot, but I didn't have one handy, and the Spellbomb is actualy pretty silly as you can recur it with Ruins for five life a turn against Burn.  Mostly though, I'd like another ZOrb I think.  The Mox/Land ratio was solid I think, but man were there some awkward draws.  How do I get 1-land multiple Mox hands 4+ times a tournament.  Ah well.  I made the decision to go with four hard Counterspell to keep people honest, and they were mostly great all day.

So, I talk with GEmeister about the list a little going in, and Rukcus had me believing in Chalices, so I decided I'd give it a go.  I was matched with tallandskinnyman in the first round.  He had UGW Thresh.  Game one, I led with Top off an Island and then a Wasteland while he had a couple of duals fetched up.  I played a second Top and tried Standstill.  He played Force of Will pitching Bant Charm.  He had Meddling Mage named Counterbalance and Noble Hierarch.  I played Crucible, then land, and used Swords on the Mage.  He untapped into a Bant Charm on the Crucible and hit me.  I played Chalice set to two, then Chrome mox removing Standstill, a bit of a mistake I think, but I was pushing for Tezz mana.  He untapped into Jenara, Asura of War.  Then I saw a Mishra's Factory come up on the Top.   Ugggg if I'd just played Standstill by itself.  He beat me up with Asura in three turns while I Topped and Topped and died.

Hmm.  "Nice to see that people are playing decks that get blown out by Elves!" is running through my head a little bitterly.  I sided in Threads and Shackles, cutting Chalices.  I mulliganed, then played a turn one Standstill off of an Underground Sea and a Chrome Mox pitching Counterspell.  On turn two, I drew a Counterbalance and passed back, holdling it, Bridge, and Swords.  He played land and passed.  I drew FoW and passed.  He tried Qasali Pridemage and I FoWed, pitching a Counterspell I drew.  I also drew two lands, including Wasteland.  I untapped and played Wasteland, then Counterbalance, and hit his Breeding Pool with Wasteland.  He played a basic Forest and tried Pridemage again, this time hitting Counterbalance on top of my library.  Nice!  I played another Counterbalance and passed holding Pithing Needle too.  He had a basic Island, and Tarmogoyf.  I revealed Top on top of my library, and let him have the Goyf.  I played my Top, then played Swords on Goyf.  He has Disrupt, but I have the mana to pay it, after I see Shackles sitting on top waiting for his three-casting-cost man.  He plays a land and passed.  I played Pithing Needle on Pridemage and passed.  Stupidly, I drew the Shackles.  Ah well.  I untapped and resolved Ensnaring Bridge with FoW backup if neccessary, which it was not.  He had Bant Charm for the Bridge, but I pitched FoW to FoW to stop that nonsense.  I replayed Top and passed. 

He played Bant Charm again, and it stuck this time.  I took a beating.  I untapped, drew Academy Ruins, and played Shackles.  He had Counterspell.  I passed back.  He tried Hierarch.  I found Swords on top of my Library which I'd left floating there before, so I didn't have to Top which saved me a mana.  He tried Tarmogoyf.  I saw Threads and no two-casting cost spell, so he resolved.  I untapped into Threads on his Goyf, which was a 5/6.  Tall tried Brainstorm in response, but that failed in the face of my floated Swords on top of my library.  He untapped into another Goyf.  I Topped, seeing Top, Swords, and Wasteland.  It resolved.  I drew Wasteland and passed back.  He drew and passed back.  I Topped and saw Tezz.  Swords came to my hand and I passed back.  He had land-go.  I Topped into Tezz, Factory, and Top. I played Factory and passed the turn.  He broke a fetch, played another, and shipped it.  I Topped into Counterbalance.  I played Tezz and untapped Mox with him.  I saw Decree of Justice on top of my library.  I untapped artifacts with Tezz.  I topped into land and drew it, foolishly missing a Tezz activation.  He tried Goyf, and CB got him.  I used Swords on his Goyf, and he tried Disrupt.  I revealed Top to counter it, but he had Force of Will.  I broke a fetch and Topped into Top, CB, AND FoW, countering his.  He scooped.

He opened with Needle on Top.  I had Wasteland for his Tundra.  He went with Breeding Pool and Noble Hierach, and I blew it up with Swords... nope!  Walked right into Disrupt!  Idiot!  I tried Standstill.  He had Daze.  I ran Force of Will pitching Counterbalance and he had FoW pitching Counterspell.  He untapped into Pridemage.  I was able to stick Tezz after taking beats, but he blew up Bridge with Pridemage and I found nothing relevant in the meantime and died.  I shouldn't have walked into Disrupt, and then into Daze, so it's my fault as least PARTLY, although he did have a pretty sick opener.

A quick aside.  I often-times get unfairly (to others) frustrated with the the field's deck-choices.  For example, right now Elves and Zoo have been DOMINATING T8s post-Necro.  So what do I see when I enter a PE?  Zoo, Elves, ok, this makes sense, UGW THRESH?  ANT?  MER?  REALLY?  While those decks aren't BAD, they just aren't particularly effective given the expected meta of a Top 8.  I try to build my decks to win, or come close to winning, every tournament I enter.  T8 is six packs, which, while nice, is not particularly exciting compared to 12+.  That said, I do understand the mind-set, but I get frustrated with it.  TASM would go on to T8 with his deck, so it worked out for him just fine I suppose.

Round two I'm paired with mjl52.  He is mono-black aggro.  I set up Top, while he has Duress, taking Chalice of the Void and leaving me Swords, Force of will and another Top.  I top into Counterbalance.  He plays Dark Confidant.  I have no Tundra or Fetch, so I top into FoW and pitch it to another FoW.  He has Knight of Stromgald, and I see nothing on top to help me.  He also has Lake of the Dead.  He uses it to play Jitte.  I take beats.  He has Necropotence!  I have nothing to Top into, so I scoop'em.

I sided -4 Chalice despite knowing his deck cost two mostly.  I brought in Shackles and Threads.  I also took out SOMETHING to be able to play the Helmline combo, but I do not remember what!  He beats me down early.  I have Top and lands, and get Tezz out, fetching up Bridge to shut down his O.  I'm sitting back, Top Top Top, Top Top  Top digging for cards.  I hold a Counterspell.  He reveals Extirpate to Dark Confidant while I have Counterspell, two lands, and FoW in my graveyard.  I keep pumping Tezz up.  He hits me with Hymn to Tourach to play Null Rod.  What.  Null Rod?  I mean, I know Affinity made a T8 spot, but REALLY?  Mannnnnnnnnnn.  And he kept Jitte in.  Ouch.  I consider scooping.  I don't.  Let's just say we go on for QUITE A WHILE.  I'm keeping 0 or 1 cards in my hand, he's vomitting out 2/1s, 2/2s, Necropotence, etc.  He had 17 cards left in his library and plays Dark Confidant.

"How INTERESTING!" I think.  I know that at one point in his previous match, he was spitting out Drain Life, so I wonder if he still has it in, and is digging for it.  Otherwise WHY PLAY BOB?  He follows with another Bob and Ivory Tower.  Hmm.  He's revealing cards like a maniac while I use Threads on his men.  On the thirtieth turn, he is down to two cards in his deck, and I have a plan.  I had drawn Standstill the turn before, but he took it with Duress.  This time I have to pray he messes up the play.  He untaps and has his last (I think?) Extirpate revealed to Bob.  "Please," I think, "Please donk this up and take my scary Counterspells!"  He agrees with that, and Extirpates them.  YAUS!  Now, PLEASE reason that you WANT me to draw cards as my cards don't matter and you want to kill me past Bridge.  YAUS.  I get to keep it.  I draw... STANDSTILL!  SICK!  I play it, and hope one more time, "Please miss the significance of this play!".

 

The third game was a lot simpler.  He kept a bad hand.  I had T1 Top, T2 Counterbalance in response to his "Land, Ivory Tower, no land, Imperial Seal,' opener.  He did get to Hymn me, and I revealed Tundra to Top, but I just FoWed with Counterspell, holding Counterspell and Threads, along with EE.  Hymn met Counterspell this time.  The THIRD Hymn got Threads and EE, leaving me Decree, but at this point I'm hitting all my lands.  He has Shade.  I top and see FoW, Leyline of the Void, and Top.  I cycle the Decree and top into Counterspell, then play the second Top.  He has Demonic Tutor which runs into the CS on top of my library.  I Top into Ensnaring Bridge and play it.  Bob runs into the CS on top of my library.  That's kind of like Chalice set to two right?  I top into Helm and play it, holding back FoW.  He has Extirpate for my Counterspells.  FROWNTOWN!  Breaks up my Chalice!  I top and find Counterbalance waiting for me on top.  I top into Engineered Plague which I'd sided in for Swords, and play it naming Shade.  PEACE SHADE!  I find Crucible and play it, then another Factory to join my side.  He tries Jitte which gets CB'd.  Threads is floating under CB.  I get a fetch and begin Factory-model beatdown.   He tries Shade and I just let it enter play and die to Plague.  He then dies to timing out.

Okay, so that round was uglier than my daughter learning to crawl.  Seriously, she figured out how to crawl, but then took two days to really get it down.  That meant she was stumbling in mid-crawl, rolling sometimes, pushing backwards due to too much drive with her arms.  It was like watching someone with two broken legs and a missing arm crawling (no offense to anyone with a missing arm and two broken legs.  I know you're out there.).  After two days she figured it out and flys around the house now.  Good times!

Next up I had a mirror-matchup.  Well, mirror in that we were both Blue decks with Force of Will.  And Countertop.  And some other similiar cards.  However, Ace of Drafts was running a more aggressive build, UGBW in nature, that splashed for all the good cards.  I run out a Chalice at one, then try for two and it eats a Daze.  Then he gets Goyf out. I have EE for two, but he Forces it, and rides it and another Goyf beat me to 10.  MAN!  That SUCKS.  I try to build up mana and he SKIPS his attack step.  Yay!  I take down to two, cycle Decree, and find Crucible. I untap and draw land!  At one life I try Tezzeret the Seeker!  Seek me something!  He allows it.  I fetch ENSNARING BRIDGE.  YESSSSS!  I hit him with my token for kicks.  He plays Counterbalance.  I get Top off Tezz and start Wastelanding him with Crucible out.  When my Counterbalance stuffs his Demonic Tutor, he scoops'em up.  I don't remember exactly how I SBed (I should take notes like Whiffy, but I've relied heavily on my memory all my life, and find it harder to focus and concentrate if I break up playing games to talk/chat/type/write).  I BELIEVE I went -3 Chalice + 3 Threads.  Makes sense I think?  I believe I cut Standstill or something to make room for Helmline, and Decree came out too.

I opened to a hand of double Leyline, two lands and Chalice.  Hmm.  I get the Leyline out, and play land-go.  He brainstorms, then plays Goyf.  I drop Counterbalance into play.  He has Krosan Grip and I reveal Academy Ruins.  His Goyf is now a 1/2.  I play Ruins, then Chalice at one.  He has Counterbalance.  I keep playing lands.  He drops a second Goyf and Wastelands my Ruins.  Goyfs are 2/3s now.  He beats down to 12.  Soon he's just pummeling me and I never catch up to stablize.

Again, I open with Leyline.  I also kept an AWFUL keep: Factory, Top, Counterbalance x 2, Threads and Bridge.  He has Underground Sea, and then plays Thoughtseize on my Bridge.  I top and see Sea, Mox, and Chalice.  I lay the Sea and pass back.  He has Bob.  I Top into a fetch, then try Counterbalance.  He Forces it, pitching Brainstorm.  I Top and see Wasteland, Sea, and Crucible.  Ohhh... Crucible.  I put Wasteland then Crucible.  He reveals Trygon Predator to Bob.  Next, Ace has Thoughtseize and takes Threads, plays Top and passes back.  I play Wasteland and then draw the Crucible.  I play Crucible.  Then I Wasteland his Tundra.  He Tops on his upkeep and reveals Polluted Delta.  Nice.  Bob hits me and he has the Delta for his land.  I offer Counterbalance for his perusal.  He cracks Delta for an Island, Brainstorms, and allows it.  I play Wasteland from my GY, then (misplay like a knucklehead?) Wasteland his land, THEN play Top.  I maybe should have Topped first to bypass Daze, but this prevented him from hiding his Sea from my Wasteland, so I felt it was correct.  He Topped into an Overgrown Tomb, then played an Island.  Attacks took me to 13, but he was at nine from land-pain and Bob-pain.  I Topped on upkeep, seeing Shackles (I guess I brought them in too!), EE, and Sea.  I took the EE and left Shackles on Top.  Predator THAT!  I played a fetch from my GY and passed it back.  He took two from Daze revealed by Bob, two more from playing Tomb untapped, and played Predator.  BALANCED!  He scooped at that point.  Close, but I felt like the four-color Top deck is really risky with 2-3 different shocklands AND color-screw possible too, but it does have a REALLY high power-level.

Here is round four:

 

Quick synopsis if you can't watch video where you're at:  I know he's Loam.  I set up Chalice at two game one, then only have to counter 5-6 cards in his entire deck (1-2 Eternal Witness and 4 Countryside Crusher) unless he has Terravore or something.  Game two I open with Leyline.  He blows it up, and I stick it and Counterbalance.  He blows up Leyline again, but really never gets going and I keep him off his plays.  He scoops with less than 10 cards in the deck and my fouth Leyline about to enter play. 
 

Round five:  I am paired down I find out afterwards.  I'm matched with The_Crisp_One, who is playing another in a long line of awful but effective burn decks to contend for a Classic PE Top 8. 

Turns out that winning makes everything better, including being paired down! 

I'm matched with Puremtgo's own Eddie112 who is running Belcher.  Also, at this point I would like to point out that you may feel like Motu is a vit controversial, and you MIGHT be right (although I think he's been a steadily improving and entertaining, along with "occasionally wrong" author), he is ABSOLUTELY raising the bar by providing video content in his articles, and motivated me to try this format for a full report.  I hope you like it, and if you do, you should thank him for getting me off my butt and doing it too.  Here is Round Six:

Round seven I was matched with AndersT.  I was excited to finally face Elves! in a PE with a deck that had been built to move on past them, but at the same time, I was a little concerned.  Could I do it?  Would my ignoring Kenny O's Pyrite Spellbomb, in not having it in my list, hurt me?  We would see.  Here are the two videos I made of the matches:

Pt two of AndersT vs Me.

I scooped the finals to Wizards Not of the Coast as the deck was pretty exhausting to play, which is kind of sad, but whatever.  I hope you enjoyed the report!  I know I made a lot of misplays, but I got there.  Thanks for reading!

26 Comments

whoops by Anonymous (not verified) at Tue, 06/30/2009 - 05:28
Anonymous's picture

Your writing style is full of anger. This gives your piece much flavor unlike the other writers do not utilize this type of angst.

Thanks by walkerdog at Tue, 06/30/2009 - 06:10
walkerdog's picture
5

I'm always glad to entertain. I try to utilize in moderation the frustration I sometimes feel in games as a means of entertaining my audience and communicating with them. Also, sometimes I'm just angry.

When i read this article, i by LOurs at Tue, 06/30/2009 - 08:36
LOurs's picture
5

When i read this article, i realize why classic is my favorite format and why control archetypes are by far the builds i prefer !
Awesome explainations, exciting games vs various opponents & decks. Plus, as i said out there, videos are a perfect add to all that by giving a visual & "live" support to your explainations.

i sum up my thoughts :

GREAT ! :)

Thanks! by walkerdog at Tue, 06/30/2009 - 08:50
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Thanks Lou. Randel Flag pointed out that Chalice @ 1 is even more important than Chalice @ 0 vs Belcher. I feel like Chalice @ 0 is really important on Turn 1 to set up a defense, but after that Chalice @ 1 IS VERY important. Thanks for the feedback from him too.

Chalice by eddie112 at Tue, 06/30/2009 - 09:50
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Chalice is just terrible for belcher if it's at 0 or at 1. 1 is much better overall. If you are playing blue it really doesn't matter though. it's so hard to go off against a blue deck without chalice, if blue has a chalice for 1 or 0, it just makes it a nightmare. Blecher is such a glass cannon, very powerful but rolls over alot. If the meta continues to be full of zoo belcher will be a contender. Only blue and black decks really interact with it at this point.

In the current meta, belcher by LOurs at Tue, 06/30/2009 - 10:34
LOurs's picture

In the current meta, belcher is probably the deck which has the best probabilities to win on turn 1 & 2. Belcher is usualy a bet which is resolved during the flip coin :)

If the burn match up is pretty cool for belcher player, in my experience, the fact that there is no counters makes this build hugely too sensitive in average ... even vs zoo. If ever you dont manage to have a turn 1 winning hand, an Orim, gaddock or a canonist on T2 and the game is almost over (these card should be played in zoo's SB) . If you are running vs blue, xantid/pyrob hate cards seem not enough to me to defeat chill, hydrob, chalice or a simple needle (a post SB warrens as Plan B is playable, and probably better).
Again belcher could be pretty strong, but it could be really frustrating to pilot also, and something is lacking into : either counters (why not pact?) or duress effect (which seems really difficult to put into without unmask available).

Canonist by eddie112 at Tue, 06/30/2009 - 12:30
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Canonist almost always doesn't matter. I can usually cheat belcher in with artifacts and RFG mana+ 1 spell. Teeg isn't a problem as long as i draw a tutor or a wish. Zoo is simply terrible against it. Lots of classic players know that i'm quite fond of zoo and play it often, but you really cant interact with belcher, or dredge, not to give away another deck i'm considering very strong in this meta.

If you aren't running blue or black you really really cant interact with belcher.

That being said, anything blue is almost an autoloss. Black is close to that bad. So if your willing to roll the dice on not playing against blue or black belcher is fantastic.

Also, belcher cant play pact, as we typically need 5-6 cards to go off. Pact is just another non mana producing non win card.

If i remember i'll post my list in the comments for the person that asked. It's similiar to the list that was posted already.

where can I see the belcher by Anonymous (not verified) at Tue, 06/30/2009 - 11:39
Anonymous's picture

where can I see the belcher list?

This list is an example of by LOurs at Tue, 06/30/2009 - 11:45
LOurs's picture

This list is an example of storm belcher, there are some variants also

Maindeck
1 Taiga
4 Elvish Spirit Shaman
4 Simian Spirit Shaman
4 Tinder Wall
4 Wild Cantor
3 Street Wraith
4 Burning Wish
4 Dark Ritual
4 Rite of Flames
4 Manamorphose
4 Chrome Mox
4 Lion's Eye Diamond
3 Seething Song
4 Demonic Consultation
4 Goblin Charbelcher
2 Empty the Warrens
1 Tendrils of Agony
1 Mana Crypt
1 Imperial Seal
Sideboard
4 Pyroblast
3 Shattering Spree
1 Diminishing Returns
1 Cabal Therapy
1 Hull Breach
1 Simplify
1 Pyroclasm
1 Empty the Warrens
1 Tendrils of Agony
1 Grapeshot

More, please. I'm also a fan by Parabola01 at Tue, 06/30/2009 - 12:18
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5

More, please.

I'm also a fan of this angry writing style. It gives the article a good tone that anyone who has played Magic can connect with.

"Then he gets Goyf out. I have EE for two, but he Forces it, and rides it and another Goyf beat me to 10. MAN! That SUCKS."

This is a lot easier to connect with than something like:

"My opponent then chose to play a 2/3 Tarmogoyf. He passed, and I attempted to play Engineered Explosives, but he had a Force of Will. He played another 2/3 Tarmogoyf and attacked me until I had 10 units of life left."

by the way by eddie112 at Tue, 06/30/2009 - 12:30
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5

awesome as usual walker.

Bant is great against Zoo by Anonymous (not verified) at Tue, 06/30/2009 - 12:49
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Bant is great against Zoo which the meta is full of. I think they have more top 8's than elves. Bant isn't a auto win for elves. Its not great. I try not to zig with every top 8.

bant by whiffy at Tue, 06/30/2009 - 13:18
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5

Bant isn't as good as you think against zoo. It isnt weak, but its a fight

gj walker. not only did you put control in the finals you put a 5cc planeswalker there too.

Awesome. by Whatisfgh (not verified) at Tue, 06/30/2009 - 13:41
Whatisfgh's picture

I had already sneaked a peak at the replays from when the event fired but it's always nice to see you make vids, as yours are enjoyable ;)

In the game against elves are you using tez's untap abilty? I can't tell since I can't see the number and you're going too fast ;)

If you are, you should probably use it on factory to either reset your mana or increase your clock. (also you might have not gotten the UW dual land in that one game since you can't cast swords with your chalice for one out)

awk.. nm on the clock.. but by Whatisfgh (not verified) at Tue, 06/30/2009 - 13:44
Whatisfgh's picture

awk.. nm on the clock.. but the mana ;) not that it really mattered I think.

Sigh.. I miss forums where I by Whatisfgh (not verified) at Tue, 06/30/2009 - 13:46
Whatisfgh's picture

Sigh.. I miss forums where I can edit posts... yeah on the clock since you can activate, pump untap swing... for some reason I though you would have to untap in the attack phase <.< sorry for comment spam.

Good points by walkerdog at Tue, 06/30/2009 - 15:11
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Thank you everyone. Very good point on the Factory Whatisfgh. I actually just dislike Bant in general as it seems like you're playing a more fair, and less tempo-oriented Thresh, but it's won some games and made some T8s (and won a few too) so I can't dislike it TOO much. I do like Belcher a lot for this Meta, and given what I ran into, Eddie probably would have either finalled or won in my position too.

You're angry at people for by Anonymous (not verified) at Tue, 06/30/2009 - 21:33
Anonymous's picture

You're angry at people for choosing bad decks. But then you run this pile and screw up constantly. Nice.

Thanks by walkerdog at Tue, 06/30/2009 - 21:43
walkerdog's picture

Glad to get the congratulations. Fortunately, I'm only mad at people for running decks/sideboards that ignore the current good decks, not for running BAD decks. Also, try the pile a few games. It's pretty fun to Tezz someone out!

Thanks! by rukcus at Tue, 06/30/2009 - 21:44
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Thanks for the shoutouts! Also, good to see some videos in the Classic articles now too, I'll have to butt heads with you on how to post some of my replays.

Utterly fantastic content, as by Toasty (not verified) at Tue, 06/30/2009 - 22:54
Toasty's picture

Utterly fantastic content, as a Legacy player who doesn't want 70 tix Force of Wills it's fantastic seeing high level Classic play. Reading about the top decks is only fun for so long without seeing/playing. GREAT WORK! :)

Re: Rukcus/Toasty by walkerdog at Tue, 06/30/2009 - 23:12
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5

Thanks both of you. I enjoy shout-outs too. They're fun. We can get you set up to record fairly easily I think.

Re: FoW, my basic mindset is that the price is fine if it stays roughly where it is now, and rises very slowly. However, the anticipated explosion of demand when online Legacy is here has me concerned that we'll see FoW spike to 150+. FoW has dropped recently to around 60, and I wonder if this is based on speculation that it may get a "reprint" as a MOCS card or as a Tier 8/9 card in the new player reward program (this would be optimal in my mind).

Belcher list by eddie112 at Tue, 06/30/2009 - 23:18
eddie112's picture
5

Since some of you had asked, here is my belcher pile. Yes i play 2 lands. The reasons are numerous. I really like combo in general against alot of the decks being run. Blue being the exception. Is this deck better than elves? Probably not. It's faster, but less resiliant. If i get in trouble i cant bash face with guys or clamp my way out. Is it better than dredge? I dont know no one is playing it. Combo is relevant, especially when there are so few dedicated control decks.

Will i play belcher this weekend? I guess you'll all have to check walkerdogs article next week to find out! Also the board might seem strange, however, i board 0 cards against anything non blue, as generally you dont board in 70/30 matchups, and i honestly could use MORE against blue.

4 Chrome Mox
3 Manamorphose
1 Mana Crypt
3 Tinder Wall
4 Simian Spirit Guide
2 Cabal Ritual
2 Dark Ritual
1 Badlands
4 Lotus Petal
4 Goblin Charbelcher
1 Vampiric Tutor
2 Dark Ritual
1 Taiga
4 Burning Wish
3 Empty the Warrens
3 Seething Song
4 Elvish Spirit Guide
1 Street Wraith
1 Demonic Tutor
4 Lion's Eye Diamond
3 Desperate Ritual
1 Demonic Consultation
4 Rite of Flame

Sideboard
1 Diminishing Returns
3 Xantid Swarm
1 Shattering Spree
1 Tendrils of Agony
1 Pyroclasm
1 Banefire
1 Empty the Warrens
1 Hull Breach
1 Infernal Contract
4 Pyroblast

Awesome Article by enkogneto at Wed, 07/01/2009 - 10:13
enkogneto's picture

First time reader and I'm very impressed. I don't play the older formats, unless you would include pauper. I'm thinking about getting into it though. Looks fun. Good job man, and keep it up.

Awesome Article by enkogneto at Wed, 07/01/2009 - 10:14
enkogneto's picture

First time reader and I'm very impressed. I don't play the older formats, unless you would include pauper. I'm thinking about getting into it though. Looks fun. Good job man, and keep it up.

Have to disagree with the by quetzilla at Thu, 07/02/2009 - 01:10
quetzilla's picture

Have to disagree with the 'angry writing' fans -- I got tired of it early and skipped to the end of the article. To address the point raised about sub-optimal deck choices (aka UGW thresh when the author feels it seems bad), allow me to bring up an oft-stated point about deck selection:

When in doubt, play the deck you are most comfortable with.

There's a good chance the thresh player was just comfortable with thresh... no need to get all boggled about it :P.