Welcome back to Tribal Apocalypse!

   Table of Contents 

1. Last Week on Tribal Wars...
2. The High Price of Winning
3. Announcements
4. What's Next

Check the full archive for the "Diaries of the Apocalypse" series

LAST WEEK ON TRIBAL WARS...

 There was no Tribal Apocalypse last week, but the Diaries must continue, so let's have a look at the tribal lists that were being played last Saturday in the Magic world at large. Starting with Pioneer, which should have been the weekly format. Takeo Shin went Top 8 at the Hareruya Cup in Fukuoka, Japan, while piloting this Human list.

Humans

by Takeo Shin, Hareruya Cup, April 8

4 General's Enforcer 4 Thalia's Lieutenant 3 Adeline, Resplendent Cathar 3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben 2 General Kudro of Drannith 2 Hajar, Loyal Bodyguard 2 Hopeful Initiate 2 Kytheon, Hero of Akros 2 Melira, the Living Cure 2 Thalia, Heretic Cathar 1 Dauntless Bodyguard 1 Jerren, Corrupted Bishop 1 Dennick, Pious Apprentice 1 Lagrella, the Magpie 3 Skrelv, Defector Mite 4 Collected Company 1 Mox Amber	4 Plaza of Heroes 4 Secluded Courtyard 4 Unclaimed Territory 2 Mana Confluence 4 Temple Garden 3 Razorverge Thicket 1 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire	Sideboard: 3 Containment Priest 2 Kitesail Freebooter 2 Reflector Mage 2 Reidane, God of the Worthy 2 Tomik, Distinguished Advokist 1 Dennick, Pious Apprentice 2 Portable Hole 1 Urza's Ruinous Blast

 The deck uses 12 tribal lands (if we count Plaza of Heroes, due to the large number of strong legendaries Human we'd probably still run no matter what) to allow for splashes in all five colors in what's otherwise primarily a white build, as one would expect, with green as secondary for Collected Company. All most powerful Humans of late made the list, while Skrelv, Defector Mite is the off-tribe mascot, given that neither Mother of Runes nor Giver of Runes are in the format, so the little guy becomes the next best protector/damage pusher by default.

 Moving to Modern, here's the Elemental deck by Xerophim that got 3rd place in last Saturday's MTGO Challenge.

Elementals

by Xerophim, MTGO Challenge, April 8

4 Omnath, Locus of Creation 4 Risen Reef 4 Solitude 1 Fury 2 Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines 1 Atraxa, Grand Unifier 4 Teferi, Time Raveler 4 Leyline Binding 3 Fable of the Mirror-Breaker 4 Fire / Ice 3 Dead / Gone 1 Vindicate 4 Flooded Strand 4 Windswept Heath 3 Misty Rainforest 1 Breeding Pool 1 Godless Shrine 1 Hallowed Fountain 1 Stomping Ground	1 Steam Vents 1 Sacred Foundry 1 Temple Garden 1 Indatha Triome 1 Ketria Triome 2 Cavern of Souls 1 Forest 1 Island 1 Plains	Sideboard: 1 Keruga, the Macrosage 3 Endurance 3 Force of Vigor 3 Avalanche Riders 1 Shalai, Voice of Plenty 2 Murderous Cut 2 Unmoored Ego

 Unfortunately, despite the name, this wouldn't make for a proper Tribal Wars list, as there are only 13 maindeck Elementals. It's partially due to the recent introduction of Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines and her lackey Atraxa, Grand Unifier. Back when the abuse of the deck's various ETB triggers, especially Risen Reef's and Omnath's ETB, was achieved via Ephemerate, we would see a full set of tribal creatures – including, in certain lists, Flamekin Harbinger, Voice of Resurgence, and what-have-you.

 As for Legacy, Eli Goings took 2nd place at the MTG Bi-Monthly tournament of Knightly Gaming in Bathgate, Scotland. This was his Goblin deck.

Goblins

by Eli Goings, MTG Bi-Monthly, April 8

4 Goblin Lackey 4 Goblin Matron 4 Rundvelt Hordemaster 3 Mogg War Marshal 2 Goblin Ringleader 2 Goblin Warchief 2 Munitions Expert 2 Muxus, Goblin Grandee 2 Sling-Gang Lieutenant 2 Skirk Prospector 1 Goblin Trashmaster 1 Gut, True Soul Zealot 1 Pashalik Mons 1 Twinshot Sniper 4 Aether Vial 2 Pyrokinesis 4 Cavern of Souls 4 Wasteland 3 Rishadan Port	3 Bloodstained Mire 2 Wooded Foothills 1 Scalding Tarn 3 Badlands 3 Mountain	Sideboard: 3 Red Elemental Blast 1 Pyroblast 1 Pyrokinesis 2 Surgical Extraction 1 Earwig Squad 1 Goblin Cratermaker 1 Goblin Chainwhirler 1 Magus of the Moon 1 Chalice of the Void 1 Grafdigger's Cage 1 Unlicensed Hearse 1 Karakas

 Of course a Goblin build in any format will always be Tribal Wars-ready, because the little suckers naturally get their strength in numbers. Rundvelt Hordemaster from Dominaria United is the most recent lord to earn a spot among the all-star gobbos. It's also interesting to see how a Jumpstart card like Muxus, Goblin Grandee established itself as a Legacy staple, even as it was technically designed for casual play. And Munitions Expert from the original Modern Horizons really changed the way the Goblins are played, in that it pretty much single-handedly forced a black splash in all the builds where it's legal. So a Standard card, a Jumpstart card and a Modern card – Legacy is not as immutable a format as it's sometimes portrayed.

THE HIGH PRICE OF WINNING

 The Top 10 Cheapest Decks that Went Undefeated

1. -DiamondDust-'s Dinosaurs, $0.98, 2nd place on Event 539
2. SirFalcon2008's Goblins, $1.54, 1st place on Event 389
3. mihahitlor's Warriors, $1.95, 1st place on Event 233
4. morpphling's Vampires, $2.25, 1st place on Event 285
5. morpphling's Goblins, $2.35, 2nd place on Event 102
6. JogandoPelado's Berserkers, $2.80, 1st place on Event 248
7. kokonade1000's Berserkers, $2.95, 2nd place on Event 354
8. MisterMojoRising's Beasts, $.3.01, 1st place on Event 484
9. Gq1rf7's Goblins, $3.32, 1st place on Event 154
10. Bandit Keith's Soldiers, $3.48, 1st place on Event 422

 The Top 5 Cheapest Non-Goblin Decks that Went Undefeated

1. -DiamondDust-'s Dinosaurs, $0.98, 2nd place on Event 539
2. mihahitlor's Warriors, $1.95, 1st place on Event 233
3. morpphling's Vampires, $2.25, 1st place on Event 285
4. JogandoPelado's Berserkers, $2.80, 1st place on Event 248
5. kokonade1000's Berserkers, $2.95, 2nd place on Event 354

 NOTES: not adjusted to current prices; data collected since Event 85; Penny Dreadful events aren't counted.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 Just to remind you of a few things:

 The Up-and-Coming Virtual Plaque: When a tribe wins an event for the first time ever (losing Unhallowed status), its pilot will get bragging rights.

 The New Kids on the Block Imaginary Commemorative Plate: When a new tribe is introduced in the game, or reaches enough members to be played as a proper tribe (i.e. at least 3 members, so you can build a deck that features 4 copies of each plus 8 Changeling creatures), the first player to score a match win with it will get everyone's respect. You'll need a hard win, not a BYE or a win by no-show of your opponent. Tribes currently eligible: none. 

 The Hamtastic Trophy: The Biodiversity distinction dedicated to the memory of Erik Friborg is awarded to each player who registers the most different tribes (except Human, Elf and Goblin) during the year.

 The Top Players Lockout: Every time a Top Player (either a Google Era Top 8, an Ultimate Champion/Tribal Player of the Year, or a seasonal Top 8) will end undefeated in a specific format, they will not be allowed to register the same tribe and deck in that format again for 3 events (i.e. they'll have to register a different deck three times before coming back to the undefeated one). In some cases, specific combo or archetype-defining cards will also be locked out. A list of the current lockouts is maintained here.

 We're on Discord! Join us from here, chat about tribal things with other tribal players and arrange tribal games on MTGO all week long! (Or your can just keep using our Google Sheets bulletin board).

 WHAT'S NEXT

 The upcoming Tribal Apocalypse events of the Blippian Era (every Saturday at 17:00 GMT):

• 13.15 (Week 637 BE), on April 15: Modern
• 13.16 (Week 638 BE), on April 22: SilverBlack

Check out the ban lists and the event calendar.
SEE YOU ALL IN THE #TRIBAL ROOM!

Art disclaimers. Revel in Riches art by Eric Deschamps; Herald of Anafenza art by Aaron Miller.