Vintage: October 15, Neutral Grounds Glorietta 2
I am all excited with this tournament. I did scrub out the last tournament but made top16 (12th). I know I was far from being better in playing my pet-deck Gifts. I play tested when I can, extensively against budget Oath, Landstill and Threshold, but only casually against random decks to kill time.
My last playtest was against Rommel (omheng_10), using Landstill and he beat me 8 out of 10 games. It was a massacre of sorts. I’m not sure if I learned anything significant being beaten badly, except that I am far from being average with this deck.
I first met with Ryan (VRy), owner of 7th.realm.com.ph to talk about business stuff and we went to McDonalds to have breakfast. We went our way to NG and continued our discussion. In a few minutes, Rommel walked by and gave me a pat in the back. I later reminded him that he volunteered to pay for my entrance because we are buddies and he did. J Thanks Rommel!
Lauren, PaoGo were already there talking about card pieces and all. There were a handful of players already. Mike Juan was a welcome sight chatting among players. That made me accept we all wish we don’t have conflicts in our monthly vintage tournaments, but sometimes it is just difficult to do so. We wish for the best to get as many players as we could, and sometimes we do. Unfortunately, this tournament is in conflict with BCI’s Sealed Deck tournament and the decrease in attendance maybe attributed to that.
When PaoGo completed his discussions with Lauren, I signed up the attendance sheet, got a deck list checklist and went on to the 2nd floor with Rommel.
Naps, Glenn (Filter), and the rest of the gang were there busy preparing their deck lists as well. I looked at my board and settled with the following:
Sideboard:
4 Duress
2 Red Elemental Blasts
2 Pyroblasts
3 Pithing Needle
3 Tormod’s Crypt
1 Tendrils of Agony
Mainboard :
Artifacts: 10
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mana Crypt
1 Lotus Petal
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Vault
Artifact Creature: 1
1 Darksteel Colossus
Instants: 26
4 Force of Will
4 Mana Drain
4 Brainstorm
4 Gifts Ungiven
2 Misdirection
2 Impulse
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Rebuild
1 Chain of Vapor
1 Fact or Fiction
1 Ancestral Recall
Sorceries: 8
2 Merchant Scroll
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Tinker
1 Time Walk
1 Recoup
1 Yagmoth’s Will
1 Burning Wish
Basic Lands:
5 Island
Non-basic Lands
3 Underground River
2 Volcanic Island
4 Flooded Strand
Legendary Land:
1 Tolarian Academy
Here’s my tournament report:
First Round: UW Fish (Jhay)
Game 1: I lost the die roll and he played first. I kept a sub par hand thinking Jhay was playing Oath. Well a first turn Aether Vial confirmed he is not. Without FoW, it hit the board. On the EOT of my 2nd turn, he played Icatian Javalineer. It entered the red zone and his accomplice, Ninja of the Deep Hours came via Ninjitsu. The card advantage was too much and I was not getting any gas from my draws. I conceded after two more turns when Grunt got into play.
Sideboarding, I got Duress, and Pithing Needles in. I sided out Mana Drains and Misdirection and Chain of Vapor.
Game 2: My hand was Flooded Strand, Underground Sea, Mox Pearl, Mana Vault, Ancestral Recall, Brainstorm and Impulse. I keep.
After Ancestral Recall, Brainstorm, Fetch to Shuffle, and Impulse plays in the succeeding storms, all I got where:
FoW, Duress, Pithing Needle 1 and 2. No gas. Only disruption. Mishra’s factory attacked and brought out Ninja of the Deep Hours again. Not even a Pithing Needle for Libray of Alexandria can save me with that Card Advantage (CA) he’s having.
Standing: 0W-0D-1L
What a way to start the tournament. I went down to get iced tea and spent some time just cooling of in the ground floor. I hope not to fall to a 0W-2L card or it’s over as easy as that.
Round 2: Spike (Intruder Combo)
We talked a little bit as I introduced myself to him. He said he was from the south, and as an avid supporter of our format, I encouraged him to join regularly. He explained he missed the September tournament but was able to participate the August one.
Game 1: He played a couple of basics but fetched for Underground Sea. I don’t know how his deck plays out so I played aggressively and played Tinker for the big man without FoW backup. Before the EOT, he played Diabolic Edict. J
I played cautiously then on, playing control. Once I had enough mana on the board and FoW & Mana Drain backup, I went for it.
Game 2: The first game took too long. I think that mostly happen on control versus control matchups. So after siding in cards, we went on at each other but again, it was like playing for CA. he had two merfolk looters that were both active so I was trying to make sure I can combo in. But time was called and we went to draw the second game.
I asked him if it was ok if we playtest one more game before the second round. I explained to him I still do not know how my deck can play out and he agreed. He was a good guy. Before anything significant happened, the pairings were posted and we’re on our way to our next round pairings. I wished him luck.
Standing: 1W-1L
Round 3: UW Fish (Jesse)
Jesse recognized me as the person asking him if his Misdirections are still available. I told him I was able to get a pair but he let me know if it became available.
Game 1: He was able to play Vial and Icatian Javalineer. Luckily, strip effects were a no show so I was able to build mana and combo out for the win.
I was just lucky with this match since there were no strip effects. I pulled my toolbox and got my sideboard cards, Pithing Needle, Duress and REBs.
Game 2: He mulled to 6 and played. He played Polluted Delta and passed the Turn. I Played Land, Mox. Brainstorm. I saw a Pithing Needle and gladly got it. I played it naming Wasteland! (yehey! Konting disruption). I played Duress and saw 2 meddling mages and a couple of spells. I think I chose Brainstorm. On his turn, he played Pikula 1 and named, Yagmoth’s Will. Knowing he has no current answers to a Tinker for the big man win, I went for it.
Standing: 2W-1L
After checking on the pairings, I was surprised I don’t have 6pts. So I confirmed with the judge. He then realized there was a mistake on the match recording. He fixed it and my next round is against…
Round 4: Landstill (Mondu the Great)
Mondu, one of the few remaining teachers of the game was jolly as usual. We talked about his sleeves being sharp-edged and all. Then we started.
Game 1: This game is good. I was able to force through a Fact or Fiction after a counter war of FoW. The pile was Tolarian, Sol Ring, Brainstorm, Darksteel Colossus, and Demonic Tutor. After some thought, he gave me this split:
1: Tolarian Academy, Sol Rin
2: Brainstorm, Demonic Tutor, Darksteel Colossus.
I playfully told him, he just gave me a headache.
After much consideration with what’s on my hand, I picked Pile 2.
On his turn, a Disk resolved.
I was able to force through Yagmoth’s will but I missed just going for the tinker play. He even mentioned it and I told him I was too cautious not to push it.
After several turns, I was able to build on moxens and mana and was able to protect a Gifts pile and DS went to win.
We chatted how we both made play mistakes and though it was bad it was good. There were a lot of choices to make.
Game 2: The turning point was that my busty opening hand was Land, Mox Jet, Mox Ruby, Mox Sapphire, FoW, Brainstorm, Merchant Scroll. He played Land Go. I drew into Ancestral Recall. He played Counterbalance if I’m not mistaken and I Forced it. I played Ancestral Recall and I think I got into very good cards and one of them was Black Lotus. After a duress, I think I was able to Merchant Scroll for Mystical Tutor for Yagmoth’s Will and Brainstorm into Will and win from there. It was my first 3rd turn win.
We realized we had more fun in the first game because we had a couple of interactions while the second game was just a very busty opening and plays from my part. I can’t agree more.
Standing: 3W-1L.
I went on the ground floor and got to talk to some players. Rommel was also at 3-1 and we were talking we might get paired on the next round. When pairings were posted, we were indeed paired. J We went to discuss that if we played this round together, one will surely not make top 8 with two losses. So we ID for 1-1.
Standing: 3W-1D-1L
I was paired with Glenn (Filter)
Round 6: Oath (Glenn)
Game 1: He had a one land play and has been discarding for quite a few turns. Then we had a counter war while I was protecting Demonic Tutor.
Sequence:
I played Demonic Tutor.
He played FoW, pitching Mana Leak. Target: Demonic Tutor.
I played Mana Drain. Target: his FoW.
He played Misdirection, pitching a blue card. Target: Mana Drain, to target his Misdirection.
I played FoW pitching Gifts Ungiven. Target: his Misdirection.
As I explain I will have 5 mana in my next main phase. He was arguing of course there’s no drain mana as it will fizzle etc. I was politely telling him to listen carefully, so he’ll understand I will have 5 mana. But he was persisting that no I wouldn’t have. Nung super kulit na ni Glenn, I called judge (nasobrahan ata sa lakas, kasi ang kulit talaga ni Glenn) but then cool Allan came to the rescue and tried to explain to Glenn. Nangulit pa rin si Glenn sobra. Until Allan sais let’s put them in the stack and let’s resolve them one by one before he accepted, ah yes. May mana nga.
By that time, I can say I lost the drive to win that game because parang it got to a point I don’t understand bakit ang kulit kulit nya.
So while shuffling up for the next game, I was giving him hints not to do it again.
Game 2: I was able to tinker the big man. But he was able to put an oath to play and he was able to oath up Platinum Angel. On my turn, I scrolled for Chain of Vapor. I then attacked with the big man that put him to negative life. I then played Chain of Vapor. He has two cards in hand. All lands are tapped. And he was thinking what to do. So I politely told Glenn, “Glenn, its either you have something or you don’t. If you don’t, I win. Let’s play the next game.” He still was thinking. Then he packed up.
We are now in a situation where in if we draw, we both won’t make Top8. So we need to decide who concedes. He concedes.
Top 8: Oath (PaoGo)
Game 1: We were fairly playing control until he was able to oath up Akroma but I was ready with my mana and I went for the combo tinker for the big and walk for the win.
Game 2: He mulled to four and I was able to combo for a Tendrils win.
Semis: UB 4-way win condition combo with masknought board
The semis was my most fun match all tournament because I was paired with one of the coolest players in Allan. He was piloting a combo deck hybrid and he got to combo out in the first game. His play was like: Dark Rit, Dark Rit, Tap U Sea, tap Island for UU. Play Mana Vault, Play Lotus Petal, Mind's Desire for 5! All the people got excited even myself. His first revel was Bob. Shuffle... Reveal FoW! Shuffle, reveal Gifts Ungiven!!! Woooohooo! All of us where oh boy, Allan is going FTW! Shuffle... Reveal Mana Severance?! Oh boy, he has a ton of options now. Lastly, Shuffle... Reveal Tundra! Whew! He played Bob. Spell Count 6. He played Gifts Ungiven. 7 Spells. He thought hard and finally, offered me LED, Demonic Tutor, ToA and Tinker. If I give him Tinker he obviously wins outright. Same goes for Tendrils og Agony. So I gave him LED and Demonic, but still, it goes all the way with Demonic Tutor for Yawgmoth's Will. What a game! My most fun match and I was just a witness. That's what I love about vintage, combo in general. When one has jacked up for position and got first to the draw of the gun, it's over.
I was able to work my way for my own combo in the second game by the help of Duress.
The third game was nearly identical to the second and I got the win. It was funny Allan mentioned after the game that I was right when I said that the first person to blink dies. I blinked on our first game, and boom! One of real experiences I got seeing my opponent combo out and kill me on the third turn.
Championship: Oath (Cheng)
I got the first game but his sideboard cards in the second and third wreck me. Game breaking plays were Duress and after seeing a Lotus and a Mox, drops Chalice for 0.
In the third game, his strip effects destroyed my mana and drain mana brought out Crucible of Worlds. Akroma and Razia finished off a very good game.
I ended up 2nd place on my second vintage tournament and was happy about it.
I got 6 packs for my effort. I sold two packs to Marcelle for 200, and I asked Pao to open one. Nothing much there though. Marcelle got Magus of the Disk though! way to break even!
Thanks to all those who played but props goes to: Lauren, Cheng, PaoGo, Ching, Mondu, Rommel and Allan for making Vintage tournaments all fun and exciting.
Slops to Glenn (Filter) for being makulit. hahaha! :)
Congrats to TX for placing 4 members in the top8: Cheng (Champ, back to back! Heart of a Champion), Manuel (Ching) and PaoGo.
