Replays finally look like they are going to be back on for a while. I'm pretty pleased with that. You see the next Pro Tour Qualifier format happens to be Extended, and to get any edge that I think I can get in the wide open format, I have turned to recaping the events the Extended events that happen on our beloved program, MTGO!
Watching replays can be a huge learning expirence. Maybe you do not know how a deck list Ideal works, well chances are you can camp out in the tournament lobby watching replays of everyone to see the deck in action. Maybe you need a fantastic Dredge list? Well the replays show the graveyards so the only thing stopping you from having the list is a utensil to record it with. Watching players play Magic can also open your eyes in regards to certain ways to play a deck. For instance, let's say Ideal is playing Zoo. I would typically grab a Solitary Confinement as soon as possible, but is that the best play? Maybe the board has not fully developed, or the Zoo player got a rare slow draw. Would Dovescape be a better enchantment for you then? When is the right time to go for Form of the Dragon? Watching replays to me at least, is like playing online poker. You get a lot of hands in a short period of time, which allows you to learn more in a shorter period of time.
I guess the main bullet point of that is when replays are on, you should be using them.
I am pretty sure I have said this already but this article series will be covering Extended* for a period of one week at a time. Each week you will see me back here with the top eight decks in each premier event*. Hopefully, I'll be able to have interviews with some players after they have finished they matches to get thoughts on matchups, and of course I'll be scouring the web and the program for the hottest decklists. Let's go on to the recap!
MTGO Extended Recap (12/7/07 to 12/10/07)I want to add that I am recapping five events, which leads us to forty decks for this week, future articles will cover a time period, from the Tuesday of the previous week to the Monday of the next. That's going to be a ton of data!
Winner - Runner-up - Semifinals - Quarterfinals
Colors | Deck Name | Placings | Percentage |
| Chase Rare Control | | 20% |
| Zoo | | 17.5% |
| PT Junk | | 10% |
| Dredge | | 7.5% |
| Goblins | | 7.5% |
| Flow Rock | | 5% |
| Ideal | | 5% |
| Blue Green Aggro | | 2.5% |
| Aggro Loam | | 2.5% |
| Standard Elves | | 2.5% |
| Affinity | | 2.5% |
| Blue White Tron | | 2.5% |
| Blue Green Tron | | 2.5% |
| Gifts Rock | | 2.5% |
| Krark Clan Combo | | 2.5% |
| Tooth and Desire | | 2.5% |
| Red Deck Wins | | 2.5% |
| Dropped/Timed Out | | 2.5% |
Let's take a moment to learn a little more about the decks that had more than one top eight now!
- Chase Rare Control: This is a three color tempo deck that looks to abuse an enchantment from Coldsnap called Counterbalance. It controls the board, draws some extra cards with Dark Confidant and ends the game with a couple of swings with a Jitte equipped Wizard. This deck won the most recent Extended Pro Tour.
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Zoo: Typically a three color aggro deck, though some are going to add a fourth main color to use Dark Confidant now. What you get is a bunch of cheap burn, and some of the most solid beatdown creatures printed. Tarmogoyf is huge here, as he is typically a 3/4 for two mana.
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PT Junk: This deck won the PTQ at Worlds, and is a throw back to the old PT Junk decks from the days of old. I consider this to be a more refined Zoo deck, spread across three colors with more disruption for Combo decks because you get to play hand removal spells like Duress and Cabal Therapy.
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Dredge: One of the quickest combo decks in the field. It can win on turn two, and does so often. It plays well with the graveyard, and it should, as it abuses the Dredge mechanic to dump your entire library into the yard and flashback a Dread Return targeting Flame Kin Zealot. You sacrifice Narcomoeba to get Zombie tokens from Bridge from Below and a whole host of hasty undead because of the Zeaolt.
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Goblins: A Mono red deck that looks to take advantage of the synergy within the Goblin tribe. This deck is capable of stupid turns, like one I took last season, that went something like this. Turn one, Mountain Rite of Flame, Rite of Flame, Goblin Warchief Goblin Piledriver attack for five on turn one. I attacked for a lot of damage before my opponent drew a card!*
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Ideal: Combo deck that plays like the Desire decks of old. Uses Invasion lands like Geothermal Crevice to power out your expensive epic spell (Enduring Ideal), from there you play one spell a turn, but you win the game with Form of the Dragon, or can lock them out from dealing damage with the Solitary Confinment Dovescape combo.
- Flow Rock: This is a control deck of sorts. It looks to take advantage of the large amounts of non basic lands played in the format, and locks opponent's out of the game by destroying their lands with Destructive Flow.
Let's take a look at a couple of decklists that will be a representive of their archtypes. Sadly no one would share this week, but hopefully next week, we'll have some people ready to talk! | |
On tap for next week will be more coverage, more decklists, and more Extended as we build to the next PTQ season, I hope you will join me for the next Extended Top Forty!
Joshua
*Yes, it will eventually be Lorwyn Block coverage
*Yes I won that game!
3 Comments
You may want to differentiate splits in finals from outright wins.
Is Teeg a non-factor? I'd think it would be a powerful hoser of the big combo decks (and dredge).
Yes I should, that will be done starting with the next set of recaps, coming out next week.
Strategy can be of great help. Most especially on how the game works. - Marla Ahlgrimm