And so to another Saturday morning in Lincoln but this time we have a double header with an Extended tournament followed by a Standard Event. The Extended event is going to be interesting as the idea was to try and bring in a few more players to the events by extending the card pool for the many magic players in Lincoln, Lincoln has lots of games players who will play anything with and have small collections for many games. No one though has any fetch lands or many of the more powerful cards so decks , indeed several of us had given up on the idea of Extended as it would have cost us too much to get the cards we would need like the fetch lands, lavamancers, vindicates and the like. It soon becomes obvious from our local web group that none of us have a tier 1 deck and will be playing tier 2 if our cards arrive on time from the web. So to the event and worst fears come to pass, a few of the regulars have decided not to turn up because of the format and those present are going to be playing an eclectic mix of decks of with a mix and match of cards.
I decide to run Boros with the splash green option.
1 Eijanjo castle
4 Vesuva
4 Gemstone Mine
4 Stomping Ground
1 Barbarian Ring
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Temple Garden
4 Silver Knight
4 Soltari Priest
3 Magus of the Scroll
3 Savannah Lions
2 Goblin Legionnaire
3 Isamaru, Hound of Konda
4 Kird Ape
4 Firebolt
4 Lightning Helix
3 Armadillo Cloak
4 Sudden Shock
Sideboard
3 Molten Rain
4 Umezawa's Jitte
4 Pyrostatic Pillar
4 Ancient Grudge
Now after testing prior to the event it soon becomes clear that life loss from shock lands is considerable and judging the environment fetch lands aren’t about so Molten rain will be less effective so slip in the Armadillo cloaks main deck. I don’t have any Lavamancer’s and for a one off event I certainly aren’t going to buy them when a couple of boosters are on the line for prize support so I’ll make do with Magus of the Scroll. It is magic on a budget though I did splash out for a few commons and uncommons to at least make the deck competitive.
Also playing are
Rochelle Wadner Snakes
Sonny Jensen Trinket Tog
Ollie Frith Discard ?
Louis Frith Goblins
Patrick O Reilly Elves ?
Nick Philips Ravager Affinity
‘Bingo’ No Stick
Round 1
I draw Rochelle and I know this will be interesting as I know how effective ‘Snakes’ used to be and it’s my first outing with this deck in a competitive setting. The game starts well for me as I drop Soltari priest turn 2 and Armadillo cloak it turn three to enhance it plus compensate the life loss from the shock lands. With burn to keep the snakes off the board it is a quick game win. Game two goes really well dropping multiple Silver Knights to pummel for the win.
Other results
Louis 2-0 Ollie
Nick 2-0 Bingo
Paddy 2-1 Sonny
I am pleased with the win but tempered with the fact it was Rochelle who seems to suffer against me so often.
Round 2
It’s Louis and Goblins. I am surprised when Louis is saying he has an optimum hand but only lays a land first turn, my second sees me lay the Soltari priest. Then Louis kicks off with something along the line of rite of flame, seething song, goblin war chief and empty the warrens for 9 goblins. Suddenly I am up against it as the hasted goblins come in and batter me but I manage to play an armadillo cloak on the Soltari priest to swing unblocked for some much needed life gain. Goblins are being sacrificed as Louis tries to secure the board but the response from my hand are multiple Silver Knights to act as a blocking wall. A solitary attacking Soltari priest manages to cause opponent to scoop unable to get past the top decked knights. Game 2 and I am worried as the goblins can kick in at any point and I lose life really quickly from the shock lands. Great start for me drawing Silver knights to evade the goblins but I am drawing burn and sudden shocks nail the goblins as they come to the table supported by more creatures. A pyrostatic pillar though locks the game unable to bring out most of his deck to block.
Sonny 2-0 Ollie
Rochelle 2-0 Bingo
Nick 2-1 Paddy
So the final is myself verses Nick, a fellow player from Grimsby who has started to attend more events outside of town.
Round 3
Having not played Extended before I am spending half my time reading the cards let alone knowing what they do though I know by reputation what some of the cards do. I start off game one with an ideal drop of Stomping Ground with Kird ape and let the beats begin as the monkeys start battering Nick and burn spells wipe out his creatures though it has to be said the life loss from land is proving to be a pain especially with no Armadillo cloak in sight. However, the relent assault of monkey’s makes for a narrow win as Nicks deck is about to lock as the Affinity is kicking into gear but sudden shock to a ravager is not pleasant ! The second game has me really worried about the viability of my deck as the mana base on opponents deck is superior to mine and whilst I am laying down some solid beats things are looking bleak my side. Then my opponent sacrifices his artefact lands to the ravager and unblocked strikes for eight putting me down to two and the balance of power has shifted against me. Nick then swings with the Ravager and his disciple of the vault, I have to block the Ravager with my Savannah Lion . Damage goes on the stack, my opponent sacrifices the Ravager to the disciple and oh hell that’s me dead but wait I have my goblin legionairre out. I sacrifice him to prevent the damage, hang on that’s life loss it can’t be prevented, nope the 1 damage on the stack from the disciple swinging. Bugger ! My opponent has one land and a creature and I have six land with an empty hand, I need to top deck or I am dead anyway. Of course, if any of us had actually played Extended one of us may have by now realised that Disciple of Vault is actually banned in Extended and further musings pretty much irrelevant. I draw Isamaru, aha 2/2 he can block, hang on a minute he only needs an artefact land and I am toast but then I check my graveyard and sat looking at me is a firebolt. FLASHBACK ! Say goodbye Mr Disciple, play Isamaru. Opponent does nothing. Isamaru swing. Opponent plays Seat of Synod, response Ancient Grudge ! My parentage at this point is questioned and my ruthless nature confirmed. Isamaru swings twice more for the win.
Louis beats Paddy
Sonny beats Rochelle
Ollie beats Bingo
8th Bingo 0
7th Ollie 3 (You know Ollie from the boards)
6th Rochelle 3
5th Paddyo 3
4th Sonny 6
3rd Nick 6
2nd Louis 6
1st Meeeeeeeee 9
Well, what a turn up for the books. I had actually campaigned against running Extended and actually ended up winning J. My two worst fears were realised, not many people really want to play Extended in the area but we pretty much had nothing better to do so it was another event towards DCI rewards cards and secondly my deck really was lucky to live through its own mana base though not many ways to get round that as basic lands would reduce the range of what could be cast and fetch lands an expensive luxury to be played occasionally. Otherwise, Magus of the Scroll is no Grim Lavamancer and wasn’t very effective, may just go for more beats next time or change the 2s and 3s off to 4s off e.g. Goblin legionairre and Armadillo cloak.
Well, the previous week had seen my first decent week at constructed being unbeaten at FNM Scarborough, the deck was to ride again as Firemane Angels beat their way through the opposition as the Martyr’s gain me more life than I can handle. The deck has been tweaked with more Vesuva’s as the yare just so effective in the deck. You play them early as Shock lands to get the lock down and then bounce them out later to the karoo lands and replay as karoo lands to allow for a bigger mana pool.
Round 1
Oh dear, I am well and truly in the dog house. You see I have been pitched against my girlfriend and well, it was erm really not a good time to be playing her if you get my drift. Rochelle hates my deck and I mean hates it as it just grinds her into submission. It has got so bad she won’t test against it, or she will but I have to accept celibacy. Anyway, game one starts quite well for her getting down creatures aiming to beat me down before I can lay a Martyr but luckily I have Condemns in hand plus plenty of burn suite. The Combo locks in and my life total starts its ominous climb and Rochelle has to contend with the Adarkar valkryie of doom as I ease to a first win. There is much conjecture at this point and a resigned expression before the second game starts. However, it has to be said things do start brightly for her and my life total hits single figures in fact things are looking quite bleak until a firemane angel hits the graveyard after I helix in response to it being condemned. Gain 3 and 1 more in upkeeps. However, the result is inevitable as I keep swinging for a 2-0 match win.
Sonny beats Louis 2-0
Ollie beats Bingo 2-0
Paddy and Nick 1-1
Round 2
I get to play Nick again, well least it ain’t Sonny as I have tested against his deck and I know it’s a decent deck but drives me up the wall. Things look on the up when Nick confesses he only built the deck the night before but when he wins the die roll and starts with a mountain and kird ape followed by turn two forest things may be looking bad. Martyr should beat aggro as they run out of steam but you do need to get that life jolt to take you out of range. So having to wrath on turn 4 before blood lusted creatures go crazy has put me in trouble. Wahay ! Draw Martyr but no proclamation, oh hell he’s played a rumbling slum and I’ve used my removal from hand on his other creatures. Oh hell block with Martyr and reveal 4 white cards back up to 24 but still could be nasty with that slum about. Then I top deck a condemn and feel a bit better. He then drops a second slum and this is getting out of hand but one is sent away. An wry smile as I draw a faith fetters and play it on the slum. Now it is killing us both during his upkeep but the clock is on my side with the superior life total. Play Firemane Angel swing, and just keep swinging. Nick has had to play this deck on Wednesday night at the games club and less than complimentary about my latest weapon of choice. Game 2 and some frantic sideboard action from Nick. Suffice to say not drawing a Martyr can be quite bad and blood thirsted scab clan maulers do some nasty things though lightning helix is worth its weight in gold. Then I get the Martyr and reveal seven white cards to gain 21 life and that’s me in the comfort zone in the late thirties. Play Akroma, Angel of Wrath and its game over with two further strikes. It’s another 2-0 for me.
Rochelle slaps Bingo 2-0
Paddy thumps Louis 2-0
Ollie beats Sonny 1-0
So I get to play Ollie Frith, Ollie is one of Lincolns better players and is one of the newer members of the Twincast community. There is much sniggering taking place on the other tables as the last two unbeaten players have a massive task ahead of them. I offer Ollie an Id as I can see where this is going and Yates is open down the Mall. Yes, Red White Martyr faces off against Blue White Snow Control Martyr. To describe this match requires the patience of a saint, it can only truly be appreciated by those who understand the finest elements of the game and the subtle nuances of Magic the Gathering. The TO did come over and ask how everyone was doing and the other three matches had all finished, Karl asked how we were doing and the response was “Oh still on game 1”, response “Life totals ?”, oh 187 plays 63 and a stunned TO “You do know we shut at Five ?”. And then my deck really began to become a majestic beast and even two firemane angels can’t outrace one Martyr it seems but hey gaining 63 life a turn is kewl ! Time on the round was called and we have to consider the possibility that would three extra turns allow one player to get a result. I was on 689 life so I was pretty safe, Ollie was on the more precarious 160 life. Yep, we shake hands and agree the draw.
Rochelle beats Nick 2-0
Sonny beats Paddy 2-0
Louis stuns Bingo 2-0
And so to the results ..
Yes, we had identical tiebreakers and even though I won the coin toss for the additional booster prize support. I draw is a fairer result.
So now is the time to get introspective about my deck. In two events it is unbeaten and won four of its six matches. That’s a decent record but those draws have to become wins if I want to take the deck to nationals season. We’ll see how well the new deck does over the next few weeks as will be attending a couple of events but Planar Chaos has given me the tools to upgrade the deck. The first card to join the party has to Akroma, Angel of Fury replacing an Adarkar Valkyrie as it cant be condemned, repealed, mortified adding another string to the offensive bow. There may also be another surprise in store for the deck, where do you think the deck is going for the next event with its deck list.
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