Hello everybody. So, I had a pretty good weekend as far as Magic goes and I thought that with Mocs Season 7 fast approaching that this article may actually be relevant to a greater number of people then most who would read and enjoy. At any rate, as the header suggested this time it's all about Counterbalance. Although it's in a Thopter Foundry/Sword of the Meek control deck. Most people are familiar with this decks M.O. but for those who aren’t, it tries to get a soft lock going with Counterbalance and Sensei's Divining Top then just stalling the board until it can dig up the past Extended super combo, or a Jace, the Mind Sculptor. 

So the story starts on July 5th. I had an opportunity to play in a Daily Event and I was all set to play New Horizons, which is a tempo deck with lots of fat monsters and counterspells. About ten minutes before the event started I quickly decided that I wanted to play with Humility, so I went and revamped my old list from April to this.

Thopter Balance

2nd in a DE and 6th in two PE's.

Creatures 0 cards Other Spells 1 Moat 4 Swords to Plowshares 1 Sword of the Meek 1 Engineered Explosives 4 Counterbalance 4 Enlightened Tutor 1 Tormod's Crypt 4 Sensei's Divining Top 2 Thopter Foundry 4 Force of Will 2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor 1 Humility 3 Counterspell 1 Crucible of Worlds 4 Brainstorm 1 Oblivion Ring 38 cards

Lands 7 Island 3 Misty Rainforest 1 Underground Sea 2 Tundra 1 Tropical Island 2 Plains 1 Seat of the Synod 4 Flooded Strand 1 Academy Ruins 22 cards Sideboard 1 Engineered Explosives 1 Circle of Protection: Red 2 Relic of Progenitus 1 Tormod's Crypt 1 Serenity 1 Pithing Needle 1 Back to Basics 3 Path to Exile 4 Meddling Mage 15 cards

I'll do a brief over view of the deck, as I plan on talking in detail about card choices through out the article. The main deck is pretty much self explanatory, with the exception of Tormod's Crypt, Mystical Tutor isn't banned yet, and with four tutors I can always find it game one and not have to wait for my wins in the post board. The side board as well as the main deck is more geared for a creature metagame, I.E. Merfolk, Zoo, and New Horizons. One reason to play this deck over other control archetypes is it's near perfect mana base. There are a healthy amount of basic lands, and the deck does win with out any non basics all the time. This is especially good when you factor in Wasteland and Price of Progress. On to the events!

July 5th Daily Event. 28 Players 2nd place.  http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Digital/MagicOnlineTourn.aspx?x=mtg/digital/magiconline/tourn/1373764

RD1 Zoo 2-0 sideboard +3 Path to Exile +1 Engineered Explosives -1 Tormod's Crypt -1 Crucible of Worlds -1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor-1 Counterbalance
Both of these games played out pretty similar. Get to a really low life total with some kind of control on the board, either through Moat, Humility, or spot removal. Play my combo and win the game. The goal with Zoo is to just burn away all there guys or make them irrelevant with an enchantment, and then set up your life gain to undo there direct damage. Humility is also huge in this match up as it turns off Qasali Pridemage.

Match up all stars.

RD2 Belcher 2-0 sideboard -4 Swords to Plowshares -1 Tormod's Crypt -1 Humility +4 Meddling Mage +1 Engineered Explosives +1 Pithing Needle
Knowing he was playing belcher I kept a risky Hand with out Force of Will but with a turn 2 Counter/top lock on the play. He eventually (Empty the Warrens) for like 6 or 8 guys. I get an Explosives, wipe his team, and he concedes. Game 2 I Forced his all in Infernal Tutor on turn 1 or 2, and played the lock down.

Match up all stars

RD3 Merfolk 2-0 sideboard +3 Path to Exile +1 Engineered Explosives +1 Pithing Needle -1 Tormod's Crypt -1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor -3 Counterbalance
Merfolk is a pretty good match up for a deck. All the spot removal and 4cc enchantments really put a huge damper in there plan of tempoing you out. The fact that there Wastelands are mostly dead help give you an edge as well. The Counterbalances don't do much because they don't really have scary spells, and its dead to Aether Vial. If you play around Daze and get Plains early, you’re in for a good game.

Match up all stars

Rd4 Deedstill 1-2 sideboard +1 Back To Basics +1 Engineered Explosives +1 Pithing Needle +2 Meddling Mage -1 Moat -1 Humility -1 Tormod's Crypt -1 Swords to Plowshares -1 Thopter Foundry
I was really dreading this match up. My deck doesn’t seem to stack up well to his. In game 1 I got a quick Counterbalance lock and Jaced him out. Game 2 and 3 he crushed me under Pernicious Deed And Jace, The Mind Sculptor. In game 3 however he had a Mishra's Factory and Jace eating me away from 8 or 10 life. He also only had 40 seconds on his clock. If I had been able to deal with the Factory I would have timed him out, oh well he got my removal and I had to be happy with a 3-1 and 6 packs.

Match up all stars

 

I thought the event went swimmingly and didn't change up the deck at all for the next event. I was happy with the performance and hedged my bets that I wouldn’t face Deedstill.

July 10th 5th after swiss, 6th place.  http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Digital/MagicOnlineTourn.aspx?x=mtg/digital/magiconline/tourn/1395803

RD1 Canadian Thresh 2-1 sideboard +1 Engineered Explosives +1 Back to Basics -1 Tormod's Crypt -1 Humility
I get beat down by  a Nimble Mongoose in the game I lost. In the games I won Jace came out to play with my enchantments and I also got Thopter Sword online. The biggest threat out of this deck is turn 1 Mongoose. If you can slam a Moat or Counterbalance lock on the board you get to take your sweet time finding the win.

Match up all stars

RD2 Dredge 2-1 sideboard +2 Relic of Progenitus +1 Tormod's Crypt +1 Engineered Explosives +1 Pithing Needle -1each of Crucible of Worlds Swords to Plowshares Humility Oblivion Ring Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Game 1 is hilarious. I wish I could post it. I draw a Tormod's Crypt on the play and hold it. He goes all in with Breakthrough and I Crypt him for the game on my turn. Game 2 he gets me, I mulligan a good hand away for hate and had to mull two more times for mana. Never came, but there was always game 3. This time I drew lands and hate. Recurring Crypt off of Academy Ruins sealed the deal on turn 4.

Match up all stars

RD3 Imperial Aluren 2-1 sideboard +4 Meddling Mage +1 Pithing Needle -1 Crucible of Worlds -2 Counterbalance -1 Moat -1 Oblivion Ring
I got destroyed in game 1. He was able to rip up my hand and then just comboed my face off with Aluren. In the post board games Mage was amazing combined with the fact that my multicolor opponent was short on colors both of those games. I think I may have lucked out in this match, but I’m not sure. I'm also pretty sure I sided out too many Counterbalance

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RD4 Death and Taxes 0-2 sideboard +3 Path to Exile +1 Pithing Needle +1 Engineered Explosives -1 Tormod's Crypt -3 Counterbalance -1 Crucible of Worlds
I'm not sure if I’m playing the match up incorrectly or if I’m just unlucky. I remember that his Wastelands were effective in at least 1 game. The deck creates these tricky game states that always seem to end in Sword of Fire and Ice  with varied casting costs of guys on the table. My kingdom for a Pernicious Deed

Match up all stars


RD5 Vial Bant sideboard +1 Engineered Explosives +2 Path to Exile -1 Crucible of Worlds -1 Tormod's Crypt -1 Counterbalance
This match up is a little fuzzy in my brain, but I am pretty sure that I just spot removal-ed my way to a position that he couldn't break free from. In game 2 I remember he had like no action and was quickly down to 1 card in hand. If you play around Daze, it's not too hard to win a match up like this.

Match up all stars

RD6 Zoo 1-2 sideboard +3 Path to Exile +1 Engineered Explosives -1 Tormod's Crypt -1 Crucible of Worlds -1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor-1 Counterbalance
The game I won was all about him having a slower start and me getting all the spot removal I could muster from my deck. The two games that I lost I am sure he had a turn 1 dude, and then just raced me to death. I was a little disappointed that I lost this, but was ok with it since I ended up in Top8 regardless. Also I guess it's only fair since this was my RD1 opponent of the DE, and now we're even.
 
Match up all stars.

 

TOP8 Aeon Bridge 1-2 sideboard +4 Meddling Mage +1 Back to Basics +1 Engineered Explosives +1 Pithing Needle -1 Tormod's Crypt -1 Crucible of Worlds -2 Swords to Plowshares -1 Moat -1 Thopter Foundry
In game 1 he was able to cheaty face Emrakul, the Aeons Torn into play and then Stifled my Oblivion Ring trigger. There is a chance I could have survived with my on board Thopter/Sword, but I was pretty sure I was toast. In game 2 I’m pretty sure that he played Show and Tell for an eldrazi, and my O-Ring took care of it. Game 3 was pretty close and if I remember correctly victory was within my grasp. I had a Mage out and was stopping him from playing Show and Tell, but he eventually drew into one of his Phyrexian Dreadnoughts and then activated (Mosswart Bridge). I can't rightly remember what game it was but I had a Humility down and was stopping him cold, till he got a Krosan Grip and owned me with the 15/15.
 

Match up all stars

 

So all in all this was a great event for me. I played some really strong decks and pilots, while also performing pretty well with this deck. I know I made some play errors, but the disparity in archetype knowledge between myself and my opponents really helped give me an edge. I was really stoked with the Aluren deck splitting the finals, as well as Aeon Bridge. The former cause I tried really hard to get it to work in Classic, and the later because it is a cool new deck that looks scarily consistent if not a touch slow when not deploying turn 2 12/12's. Havenwood Battleground seems incredible as an 8th way to land a turn 3 Aluren and the fact that the format has moved away from Wasteland makes it even better. I wouldn't be surprised to see these decks show up at the Mocs. The next day I worked in the morning and came home in time for the second Premier Event. I joined out of boredom, sure that it would fail to get its 33 player minimum. I was very surprised indeed, when I came back to the computer and found myself in round 1.

July 11th 3rd after swiss 6th place.  http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Digital/MagicOnlineTourn.aspx?x=mtg/digital/magiconline/tourn/1395804

RD1 Mirror 1-2 sideboard +4 Meddling Mage +1 (Engineered Explosive) +2 Relic of Progenitus -4 (Sword to Plowshares) -1 Moat -1 Humility -1 Tormod's Crypt
Game 1, I get locked out by Counterbalance and he gets me with Thopters. In game 2 I get the early lock and then assemble a board of Thopter Sword and Mage naming Thopter Foundry. Game 3 is a long, long drawn out affair. I had Academy Ruins recursion going with Engineered Explosives. With the help of both (Tropical Island) and (Underground Sea) I was able to keep his board very clear. I stopped his combo once and then blew up both of his Jaces. The one thing I failed to kill was Crucible of Worlds. I figured that he had sided down to one Foundry so I didn’t kill his free deck shuffle every turn. In retrospect it was a mistake but I was low on time and pretty sure I would deck him at 16 cards, before he found the second Foundry and comboed me out again.
 

Match up all stars

 

RD2 Bye.
Huzzah I get to walk around my house and eat some food.
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RD3 New Horizons 1-2 side board +3 Path to Exile -1 Humility -2 Counterbalance
This seems like an easy match up for me. They only have a few guys to deal with and only Terravore can cause me any serious discomfort. Having access to seven spot removal post board also is wildly in your favor. Thopter sword invalidates most of there creatures and moat shuts them down. There mana denial package is ineffective against you and if you play around Daze they have only Force of Will to interact with you.
 

Match up all stars

 

RD4 Reanimator 2-1 side board +2 Relic of Progenitus +1 Tormod's Crypt +1 Engineered Explosives +4 Meddling Mage -4 Swords to Plowshares -1 Moat -1 Crucible of Worlds -1 Oblivion Ring -1 Thopter Foundry
I would like to preface this recount with the fact that I was on fire this round. Every card I drew was a perfect top deck for me. In this match up I again get my singleton Tormod's in my opener. My opponent was a little surprised. At any rate that allows me to pressure him with my lock components and Thopter comes online. In game 2 I thought I was all locked up. I had a Relic and a Jace on the table. He had (Iona, Shield of Emeria) in the graveyard and I chose to Counterspell his Exhume instead of activating Relic. He countered back and then played down a Pithing Needle on Jace, and got Iona in my face. In game 3 I get all kinds of hate and he finally gets a Null Rod down shutting off my entire deck with his Pithing Needle on my planes walker again. Good thing I sided in 4 Mage as they did all the heavy lifting while keeping Entomb and Show and Tell dead.

Match up all stars

 
RD5 Bloodbraid Elf Zoo 2-1 sideboard +3 Path to Exile +1 Engineered Explosives -1 Tormod's Crypt -1 Crucible of Worlds -1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor-1 Counterbalance
This deck was a little different, and capable of much more explosive late games then your normal Zoo deck. However, it went pretty much according to plan when I was on the play.
 

Match up all stars.


RD6 RDW 2-0 He scooped me in since he was 5-0 at that point.
Hooray for two Byes in the same event. Him scooping also made it so my clan mate was able to squeak into 8th on his OMW%.
Match up all stars


 

TOP8 RDW 1-2 sideboard +1 Circle of Protection: Red +4 Meddling Mage -1 each of Moat Humility Crucible of Worlds Tormod's Crypt Oblivion Ring
This is really a pretty good match up I swear. All you have to do is get Thopter Sword online and you have won. In game one I had a turn 4 Combo. However I didn't play tight enough. On his turn 4 he was able to Shrapnel Blast, Price of Progress and Fireblast me for exacties. If I had Sacked my Seat of the Synod I would have survived the turn with 2 life and probably won the game. In game 2 I am able to untap with my combo in place, while using Mages and Swords to buy time. In game 3 I got an early Cop: Red and was able to start stabilizing. Unfortunately he had Pithing Needle and Pyroblast for my Counterspell. From there he burned me out pretty easily.
 

Match up all stars

So 3 events in the books and I feel like I had a chance at advancing in all of them. A little more familiarity with the deck and I’m sure that I can tighten up my play enough to get over the quarter finals hump. Since we have looked at this deck through 3 events and 16 rounds of play there are a few cards that I would like to talk about, either coming in or leaving the deck.

I think now that Mystical Tutor is banned, that the Tormod's Crypt can become the sideboard Pithing Needle. The sideboard also needs a little bit of a clean up and would suggest putting in Extirpate and something for the mirror. I would really like to try out Elspeth, Knight-Errant either in the main or side, as it seems really good in a control match up. Crucible of Worlds does not do enough for me, and I would think that I either want it gone or want a Wasteland or two to make it worth keeping. Serenity never did anything but I like it since my deck seems to have the room, and it might be great in a world of Grim Monolith and possibly Null Rod, not to mention the random Affinity or Enchantress match ups. The winning deck from the Sunday Event ran a Tezzeret the Seeker. He said it was terrible but I do value the idea of another win condition. With all that said, good luck to those playing for there chance at going to Worlds, and I would suggest that if this deck interests you, you should start practicing now. It is a hard deck to pilot correctly, but worth the trouble of learning.

I hope that my experiment with the layout and flow of the article was a success, if not though let me know and I’ll never ever do it again. Ha ha.

Until next time, whiffy out!

Georgios Efelis
whiffy penguin on Modo
Member of Clan Magic Eternal