Firing Off TWO Modern SEs (formerly DEs) in One Day! 

 And so it began, not with a whimper, but with a mighty ROAR!. We managed to get two (Count 'em! Two!) Modern SEs fired off on the 11th of December. I took the following Zoo deck for a ride, and failed miserably. While I would love to blame the shuffler, and poor draws, the fact of the matter is that the "power" cards in this deck were borrowed from a clan member, along with three shocklands from another player, on the day of the event. So I only had a few hours to get to know how to play this particular deck. I can only blame myself in the end. Or could it be that the meta has evolved to hate Zoo? Judge for yourself.

Blighted Zoo

 

Creatures 3 Bloodbraid Elf 4 Goblin Guide 3 Knight of the Reliquary 4 Qasali Pridemage 3 Tarmogoyf 4 Wild Nacatl 21 cards Other Spells 3 Blightning 4 Lightning Bolt 4 Path to Exile 2 Tribal Flames 2 Elspeth, Knight-Errant 1 Gideon Jura 16 cards

Lands 4 Arid Mesa 2 Forest 1 Godless Shrine 3 Mountain 1 Overgrown Tomb 3 Plains 1 Sacred Foundry 1 Stomping Ground 1 Swamp 1 Temple Garden 1 Treetop Village 4 Verdant Catacombs 23 cards Sideboard 3 Ancient Grudge 3 Dismember 3 Gaddock Teeg 3 Searing Blaze 3 Tormod's Crypt 15 cards

 One would think Zoo is pretty straightforward: turn your creatures sideways and smash face. But I managed to do this wrong somehow.

Event #3137375

 This event fired off with sixteen players. I didn't keep track of who my opponents were, because at this point of the event, I hadn't considered writing this article yet. I remember the games clearly, but cannot for the life of me remember who my opponents were. I used opponent names from the results page for this event, based on the decks I saw across from me. My apologies, and in future SEs that I might play in, I will keep better notes! 

Round 1

 I faced a Storm deck. In game one I was on the play. My opponent managed to combo off on his turn two with a god hand, and plopped down umpteen Goblin tokens. I had one blocker out when he went off, and got a second one out on my turn. But by then it was too late. Goblin pie was force fed into my gullet at an alarming rate, and I was dead on his turn four. 0-1

 I sided out one each of Bloodbraid Elf, Blightning, and Tribal Flames, and sided in three Gaddock Teegs. My opponent fiddled as I played creature after creature, including a turn three Gaddock Teeg He managed to combo off a Grapeshot storm, but not enough for lethal, and I killed him by turn six. 1-1

 I left the deck as it was, taking time to smoke half a cigarette to make it seem like I was sideboarding, and the third game was pretty much a rehash of the second. 2-1

 I was feeling good about the deck, and thought I might stand a chance! But pride cometh before the fall...

Round 2

 It started out bad. I was sitting across from either timthetornado or DMKking. I was on the draw, and had a Goblin Guide, Knight of the Reliquary, Lightning Bolt, Path to Exile, and three fetches in hand. To me, it seemed like a decent hand, and in many matchups, it would be. Then, suddenly there was Darksteel Citadel, Memnite, Ornithopter, Signal Pest, and Mox Opal across from me. I knew I was in trouble. I drew a Gideon Jura, fetched a Sacred Foundry, paid two life, and exiled the Pest. I believe that was a mistake in retrospect. I somehow got my formats confused and thought "he doesn't have any basic lands". But this is not Pauper, and out came a Mountain. On his turn he laid an Inkmoth Nexus, and brought out another Pest, and a Vault Skirge. Oh boy. I drew an Overgrown Tomb, fetched a Temple Garden, brought it in tapped, and bolted the Pest. Out comes Arcbound Ravager and Cranial Plating. I drew another bolt, fetched a Forest, and laid out the Knight hoping to mitigate some of the damage. My knight was promptly Dispatched into exile. It continued on in this fashion for another two turns, and I was dead. 0-1

 I sided out all three Planewalkers for Ancient Grudge. My opponent had dud draws, and I had good ones, because I managed to win that game by the skin of my teeth with four poison counters on me. Ancient Grudge came in handy, and served me well. I thought to myself "I may be able to pull this off!"  1-1

 Game three found me leaving the deck as sided for game two. I was on the play, and had to mulligan to five before I saw a land. A land. I paid two life to have my Sacred Foundry come in untapped, and swung with my Goblin Guide. My opponent dropped a Mountain and some artifacts, and Galvanic Blasted my Guide. It went downhill fast after that. 1-2

Round 3

 Again, I was sitting across the table from the other one of either timthetormnado or DMKking. Game one I'm on the draw, keep a decent hand, and felt my heart sink when suddenly there was Darksteel Citadel, Memnite, Ornithopter, and Signal Pest across from me before I even draw a card, again! At least there wasn't a Mox. Yet. I won't bore you with the details of this one, because it was basically a replay of Round Two.

 After my second match loss, I dropped with a record of 1-2. I put myself in queue immediately for the next SE, because I believed this deck could still show decently. After all, wasn't Zoo the flagship deck of Modern? Isn't it the "most powerful" deck in the format? This gave me a little time so that I could playtest the deck some more. Perhaps to see if I couldn't learn how to pilot it a little better as well.

Event #3137387

 

 We had twenty players join this event! Woo hoo! 

 

Round 1

 

 Here I sat, across from apaulogy, who had confided in me pre-event that he was running Esper Control. I know the only way to beat control is to come in swinging hard and fast, and beat it to the ground before it can stabilize and turn the tables. In game one, I managed to do this. 1-0

 

 In game 2, I boarded out all four paths for two Searing Blaze and two Tormod's Crypt. I only saw a few critters come out Spellstutter Sprite and Vendilion Clique, so figured I'd be better off doing damage than exiling, and also to prevent Think Twice from flashbacking. I came out hard and fast again, and got him down to low single digits, but he managed to stabilize, and start turning the tables. With Esper Charms and Cryptic Commands, he was managing to keep his hand reasonably full, while I was reduced to topdeck mode. I knew there was no way to come back at this point, as everything I tried was being rendered useless. Rather than prolong the agony, I conceded the game to go to game three. 1-1

 

 Game three, I left the deck with the same configuration as game 2. I managed to get him even lower before he stabilized, and it was close going. I was this close to finishing him off before he managed to stablize. Topdecking a bolt could have given me the win, but no such luck. With him teetering on the brink of death, he turned it around and strangled me. 1-2

 

Round 2

 

 In round two, I faced a RDW deck piloted by alex79008. In game one he blasted me over and over again, much too quickly for me to do anything other than scream for mercy. Lightning Bolting my Goblin Guide or Wild Nacatl, followed by a Brimstone Volley was tearing me a new one in five life chunks, much too fast for me to deal with. It was over by turn five. 0-1

 

 For game two, I boarded out three Blightning for three Searing Blaze, because his hand was emptying fast in the first game, and I'd much rather pop the Stormblood Berserker I had seen in first game. I had a god hand, and managed to beat him down hard and fast, though it was a close game. Blood Moon came out, but I already had beasts on the board when it came, so it didn't hurt me too badly. I was still in the low single digits when I finally managed to kill him. 1-1

 

 I left the deck as it was from round two for the next game, and it was nailbiter that has us both down to bolt range and "empty" (I think he had two lands in hand) hands by turn 5, where we topdecked useless cards for a while in a race to see who could do something first. I actually had a full hand, but he had layed out a Blood Moon which made my manabase useless. This "race for a bolt" is one that favors RDW. And sure enough, he drew the damage he needed, and finished me. 1-2

 

 Since I was out of the running, again, I dropped, and played around with the deck some more. While I still think Blightning is an awesome card to splash B for, I feel I missing some "key concept", and for the life of me, still can't figure out exactly what that is. Maybe it was trying to incorporate some damage/discard strategies in a Zoo deck. Maybe I should go for more B and some disruption rather than Goblin Guide. Maybe it was poor sideboarding. I'm still hurting from the beating I took.

 

 I have looked in on the SE room (Menu > Play > Tournaments > Scheduled Events) at random times throughout the week, and a few more have fired, and continue to fire. I know that others, as well as myself, plan on continuing to promote these informal weekend SE parties. It's wonderful to see Modern being played! And I had a great time, even if I did fall flat. And I hope to see you there, as well! 

 

 

Punishing Fire and Wild Nacatl Hit by M'banor!

 The December 20th Banned and Restricted List came out, and Punishing Fire and Wild Nacatl both were smashed under the mighty banhammer. We will see what happens to Zoo now. 

 

Eurodrive! #9 Round-up

 

Jund Rock

grapplingfarang

Creatures 2 Grim Lavamancer 4 Tarmogoyf 4 Bloodbraid Elf 4 Kitchen Finks 4 Demigod of Revenge 18 cards Other Spells 2 Terminate 3 Punishing Fire 3 Liliana of the Veil 4 Lightning Bolt 2 Thoughtseize 3 Blightning 2 Maelstrom Pulse 19 cards

Lands 2 Scalding Tarn 4 Overgrown Tomb 2 Swamp 2 Mountain 2 Blood Crypt 2 Forest 1 Stomping Ground 4 Verdant Catacombs 4 Grove of the Burnwillows 23 cards Sideboard 1 Sword of Fire and Ice 4 Ancient Grudge 3 Jund Charm 1 Thoughtseize 1 Sword of Feast and Famine 2 Extirpate 1 Maelstrom Pulse 2 Kavu Predator 15 cards

 

 This is the winning deck as piloted by grapplingfarang, who also won the very first Eurodrive! with Elves, for his second Eurodrive! championship. This is one of those brutal decks that wrenches and disrupts it's opponent's hand, then proceeds to lay a smackdown. Thoughtseize and Blightning keep opponents hands low, and Liliana of the Veil is an all-star. (As well as being sexy and "all that"!) The big beaters are in here as well. It is more than a little disheartening to see Goyf into Finks into Bloodbraiding another Goyf into one or more Demigod of Revenge bearing down on one's exposed throat!

 

 

WU Caw Blade

apaulogy

Creatures 2 Blade Splicer 2 Sun Titan 4 Squadron Hawk 2 Phantasmal Image 4 Kitchen Finks 14 cards Other Spells 2 Into the Roil 4 Mana Leak 4 Cryptic Command 4 Path to Exile 3 Elspeth, Knight-Errant 3 Spell Snare 20 cards

Lands 2 Scalding Tarn 2 Hallowed Fountain 2 Plains 4 Mutavault 2 Mystic Gate 4 Celestial Colonnade 1 Tectonic Edge 1 Marsh Flats 4 Snow-Covered Island 4 Glacial Fortress 26 cards Sideboard 2 Hurkyl's Recall 1 Sword of Fire and Ice 2 Vendilion Clique 3 Day of Judgment 2 Oblivion Ring 3 Mindbreak Trap 1 Sword of Feast and Famine 1 Sword of Light and Shadow 15 cards

 

 WU Caw Blade showed up, piloted by apaulogy, giving everyone nightmares. The Birds! Many of you young folks might not be familiar with this particular movie. After all, it's in black and white. But still, a true classic, straddling that fine border between horror and sci-fi. If you haven't seen it, please feel free to. I give it two thumbs up.

 

 Anyway, in true Hitchcockian style, this deck pecked it's opponents to death all the way to the finals, where it flew into the side of the Rock.

 

 

Semifinalists

 

 Again, I have to say I am not much of a control guy. I have no idea what to comment on in these two decks. Both seem like solid enough builds to me, and both seem to be focused on delay and strangle and dig for answers. I understand that a lot of players like this strategy, and I dabble with it from time to time, but it doesn't suit my mind set. I'm more of an in-your-face kind of player, and like to turn creatures sideways. 

 

 So, that being said, here are the two semifinalists, which both happen to be WUB (aka Esper) control decks.

Esper Snappy Teachings

Anihilus

Creatures 1 Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir 1 Grave Titan 4 Snapcaster Mage 6 cards Other Spells 1 Rest for the Weary 1 Go for the Throat 1 Extirpate 1 Tribute to Hunger 3 Mystical Teachings 1 Day of Judgment 1 Slaughter Pact 1 Consume the Meek 4 Inquisition of Kozilek 1 Smother 4 Esper Charm 1 Echoing Truth 3 Dissipate 1 Negate 4 Cryptic Command 28 cards

Lands 4 Adarkar Wastes 2 Glacial Fortress 1 Plains 1 Glacial Fortress 4 Arcane Sanctum 2 Drowned Catacomb 1 Drowned Catacomb 3 Island 1 Swamp 1 Minamo, School at Water's Edge 4 Creeping Tar Pit 2 Tectonic Edge 26 cards Sideboard 3 Leyline of Sanctity 1 Deathmark 1 Wurmcoil Engine 1 Aura of Silence 3 Deathmark 2 Relic of Progenitus 1 Sphinx of Jwar Isle 1 Disenchant 2 Luminarch Ascension 15 cards

Esper Control

BEAFy

Creatures 4 Death's Shadow 2 Tombstalker 6 cards Other Spells 4 Mishra's Bauble 1 Tormod's Crypt 4 Esper Charm 2 Gitaxian Probe 2 Engineered Explosives 2 Pithing Needle 4 Thirst for Knowledge 2 Deprive 4 Dismember 2 Vedalken Shackles 3 Mana Leak 4 Spell Snare 34 cards

Lands 4 Scalding Tarn 3 Watery Grave 4 Misty Rainforest 2 Hallowed Fountain 1 Academy Ruins 1 Island 1 Snow-Covered Swamp 4 Snow-Covered Island 20 cards Sideboard 2 Duress 2 Trinket Mage 2 Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir 4 Meddling Mage 2 Surgical Extraction 3 Oust 15 cards

Martyr-Proc

SomeViet

Creatures 4 Ranger of Eos 4 Martyr of Sands 3 Student of Warfare 1 Figure of Destiny 1 Weathered Wayfarer 4 Serra Ascendant 4 Squadron Hawk 21 cards Other Spells 2 Elspeth, Knight-Errant 3 Wrath of God 3 Ghostly Prison 4 Path to Exile 4 Proclamation of Rebirth 16 cards

Lands 4 Flagstones of Trokair 3 Emeria, the Sky Ruin 2 Mistveil Plains 10 Plains 4 Ghost Quarter 23 cards Sideboard 4 Mana Tithe 4 Leyline of Sanctity 3 Oblivion Ring 1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant 3 Torpor Orb 15 cards

Jund Rock

Asia

Creatures 2 Tarmogoyf 2 Vampire Nighthawk 4 Bloodbraid Elf 1 Dark Confidant 3 Kitchen Finks 12 cards Other Spells 2 Rise/Fall 3 Maelstrom Pulse 2 Blightning 1 Garruk Relentless 1 Victim of Night 3 Damnation 1 Surgical Extraction 3 Terminate 1 Mimic Vat 4 Inquisition of Kozilek 3 Liliana of the Veil 1 Thoughtseize 25 cards

Lands 1 Raging Ravine 1 Reflecting Pool 1 Stomping Ground 1 Misty Rainforest 1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth 1 Bojuka Bog 1 Blood Crypt 2 Overgrown Tomb 2 Rootbound Crag 2 Dragonskull Summit 4 Verdant Catacombs 1 Swamp 3 Woodland Cemetery 2 Forest 23 cards Sideboard 2 Duress 1 Tribute to Hunger 1 Memoricide 4 Leyline of the Void 1 Victim of Night 1 Damnation 1 Terminate 1 Firespout 2 Blightning 1 Kitchen Finks 15 cards

R(akdos)DW

FallenCherub

Creatures 4 Tattermunge Maniac 2 Nezumi Graverobber 3 Arc-Slogger 4 Keldon Marauders 13 cards Other Spells 4 Lightning Bolt 4 Night's Whisper 2 Searing Blaze 4 Brimstone Volley 4 Incinerate 1 Char 1 Reverberate 4 Blightning 24 cards

Lands 15 Mountain 4 Dragonskull Summit 1 Sulfurous Springs 3 Swamp 23 cards Sideboard 2 Pyroclasm 3 Smash to Smithereens 4 Faerie Macabre 4 Molten Rain 2 Pulse of the Forge 15 cards

Esper Snappy Teachings

Anihilus

Creatures 1 Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir 1 Grave Titan 4 Snapcaster Mage 6 cards Other Spells 1 Rest for the Weary 1 Go for the Throat 1 Grim Harvest 1 Extirpate 1 Tribute to Hunger 3 Mystical Teachings 1 Slaughter Pact 1 Consume the Meek 4 Inquisition of Kozilek 1 Smother 4 Esper Charm 1 Echoing Truth 3 Dissipate 1 Negate 4 Cryptic Command 28 cards

Lands 4 Adarkar Wastes 2 Glacial Fortress 1 Glacial Fortress 4 Arcane Sanctum 2 Drowned Catacomb 1 Plains 1 Drowned Catacomb 3 Island 1 Swamp 1 Minamo, School at Water's Edge 4 Creeping Tar Pit 2 Tectonic Edge 26 cards Sideboard 3 Leyline of Sanctity 1 Deathmark 1 Wurmcoil Engine 2 Relic of Progenitus 1 Day of Judgment 3 Deathmark 1 Sphinx of Jwar Isle 1 Disenchant 2 Luminarch Ascension 15 cards