Hello everybody, and welcome to another edition of the Magic Show. This week we’re back, and we’re just twenty-four hours from one of the biggest tournaments of the year: Regionals. This week we’re going to look at what everyone else is playing, what you should be playing, and what I’m wielding in this wacky, wild and token-filled metagame. Let’s go!
Regionals 2009
Okay, so the results of a few PTQs are here and things are a little… ah… how do I put this? Out of whack right now. Last year we had the problem of Faeries. Faeries were everywhere, no one had powerful spells like Volcanic Fallout to combat them, and they crushed like few other decks have crushed.
This year the issue is B/W Tokens. This deck has taken second at the Pro Tour and comprised a full half of the slots in both PTQs held in Richmond last weekend. That’s a lot. Statistically it’s insanely top-heavy, and luckily our own Jared Sylva returns from the weekend with stats and lists. Here is an example B/W Tokens list, the one that took the top spot on Sunday and is flying AJ Fields to Austin.
Creatures (15)
Planeswalkers (3)
Lands (25)
Spells (17)
So this is the new elephant in the room. It’s the archetype you’ll most likely sit across from two or more times on Saturday, which is significant in statistic terms, and depending on what you’re packing, could be significant in sadistic terms, depending on how much you enjoy bashing your face against Spectral Procession. Oh yeah, went there.
Either way, the combination of the powerful Spectral Procession – a card whose rise to power has been slow but steady and now sits comfortably at the top – along with Ajani Goldmane, another slow-burner who is finally showing what a kick-ass Planeswalker looks like, have made this deck the bomb diggity. Murderous Redcap has shown us, once again, how powerful he can be, whether it’s against Faeries, the mirror, or losing his -1/-1 Persist counters when activating Ajani Goldmane’s first ability. The combination of an army of dudes for cheap, +1/+1 counters and vigilance when need be, Persist monsters and Zealous Persecution to get around both the mirror and powerful sweepers like Infest or Volcanic Fallout, what else is there to play?
How about a variant instead? It turns out that B/W Tokens has another iteration: W/B Kithkin.
Creatures (20)
Planeswalkers (3)
Lands (25)
Spells (12)
This takes your basic Kithkin shell, that is to say the curve of Goldmeadow Stalwart/Figure of Destiny, Knight of Meadowgrain, and Wizened Cenn, then fills it chock full with powerful cards like Zealous Persecution to both wipe away blockers and pump the team. This variant is even more aggressive than those packing Bitterblossom, and Ajani Goldmane finally proves his worth as one of the best Planeswalkers around. It doesn’t run various roleplayers like Kitchen Finks and Murderous Redcap, but who cares about those guys when there’s smashin’ in the red zone to be had?
But all is not lost, as even though B/W decks took half of the Top 8s in Richmond, other decks are still viable. G/W Overrun is a powerful deck that got Magic pro David Irvine in the Top 4 on both days. Here’s the list:
Creatures (20)
Planeswalkers (4)
Lands (25)
Spells (11)
Now this takes a very similar yet different approach to a token-based strategy. Spectral Procession and Ajani Goldmane are in this one too, worry not, but it has the best game-ender available this side of Cruel Ultimatum in Overrun, and flipping Overrun off Windbrisk Heights in the sweet, sweet shizzle. However, this one runs fantastic accelerators and powerful Exalted creatures in Noble Hierarch and Qasali Pridemage. Between the acceleration and the ability to Disenchant both Bitterblossoms and Glorious Anthems, this shows you how powerful the Pridemage really is. You also, of course, get the oh-so-powerful Wilt-Leaf Liege, pumping your dudes while hoping your opponent actually picks it when they Thoughtseize you… which I’ve seen personally… twice. Seriously guys, don’t choose the Wilt-Leaf Liege with a discard spell. There are fewer ways to put you on full-blown life tilt immediately like telling your opponent to discard this duder.
However, for the Johnny in all of us, there’s the Sanity Grinding deck:
Oh yeah, just like Owling Mine showed up to wreck the metagame a few years ago, this deck does righteously unfair things to token decks. When Evacuation is practically Wrath of God, you know you have a warped metagame. This deck shuns the Reliquary Towers and Howling Mines that others had suggested and focuses on monsters like Overbeing of Myth and the Best Blue Card In Standard… Dream Fracture. I’m just kiddin’ ya, of course it’s Cryptic Command. This is one of those creations that no one takes seriously until they just mill you for thirty cards or so and then get another free spell from their Shelldock Isle.
Here’s an interesting fact: Every deck in both Richmond Top 8s, every single one, played a Hideaway land in their deck. Wow, does that tell you something or what? Give us free spells, and we’ll give you a format that features them prominently at the top tournament tables. More interesting facts: Using the StarCityGames Card Summary for the PTQ decks entered so far, the number one card played this season in the Top 8 is a basic Plains, and tied for second are the powerhouse duo Spectral Procession and Windbrisk Heights. You need answers to this combo in whatever you pack this weekend, or you will lose.
So what am I considering taking to Regionals? This monster that took 2nd place in the Maine PTQ:
Creatures (23)
- 4 Mogg Fanatic
- 4 Boggart Ram-Gang
- 4 Figure of Destiny
- 4 Hellspark Elemental
- 3 Goblin Outlander
- 4 Anathemancer
Lands (23)
Spells (14)
Sideboard
This is my kind of deck. Dudes, burn, and dudes that burn. Some interesting and powerful metagame choices in this deck. First, four Anathemancer is a must. People are simply not respecting this guy, and it’s starting to show. At this point I want to call Anathemancer Rodney Dangerfield. How about just Dangerfield? Seems good. Second, four Magma Spray is necessary in this world full of Finks and Redcaps. Terror takes care of that pesky Forge-Tender, and Flame Javelin is all around good times. The sideboard is also interesting. Chaotic Backlash used to combo quite nicely with Painter’s Servant at the top tables, but now the Servant is unnecessary while people are unafraid of playing lots and lots and lots of White permanents with no need to make them White with Painter. Puppeteer Clique brings back a mean Cloudgoat Ranger, and there really is no such thing as ‘too much Banefire.’ It’s like having too much money or something. “Guess I’ll ah…Banefire you to death. Again.”
Mike Flores is taking me in another direction, that of Jund Mana Ramp:
Creatures (19)
Lands (23)
Spells (18)
Now this is highly sexy because it’s just ramp and huge spells. That’s it. Dragons, X Spells, Shriekmaw, Makeshift Mannequin to drive people insane, it’s all here folks. This is the big, beefy deck that makes mana and more mana and then… as long as they haven’t Thoughtseized or Thought Scullered your hand… you drop the biggest, nastiest thing you can on ‘em. Dragons that make other dragons! 7/7 Elemental ass-kickers! Shriekmaws that attack and block! Dogs living with cats! It’s madness!
Of course, in comparison with the 2nd place deck from the Dallas PTQ, it’s quite different. It has no Planeswalkers, it has no sexy Alara Reborn spell (Maelstrom Pulse), it does not in fact feature a big shiny hammer of pain (Loxodon Warhammer). That said, the long game is insane and there is a lot sexy about Makeshift Mannequin these days. It’s the Lil’ Zombify That Could!
Five-Color Control is always spoken of but oh-so-rare, but Zach Jesse made the Top 8 with this:
Creatures (12)
Planeswalkers (2)
Lands (25)
Spells (21)
A few sexy additions here. First, is that an Enigma Sphinx? Naw, that can’t be. Srsly? Enigma, dat you? I see you, c’mon out here. A 5/4 flying duder that gets a free spell, and this deck is chock full of one-of surprises. Maelstrom Pulses, Runed Halo, Pyroclasm, couple of Planeswalkers, even Soul Manipulation showed up! I love that card. Raise Dead and Remove Soul got busy and this awesome gold card is the result. And by ‘got busy’ I mean they stapled them onto one another, and we get the results.
But seriously, Enigma Sphinx flipping Oona, Queen of the Fae has to be the absolute sickest. Hell, I’m not looking a gift Cascade in the mouth, I’d be happy with just a Mulldrifter, thanks.
Speaking of overpowered creatures, how about a Reveillark list?
Creatures (21)
- 4 Mulldrifter
- 2 Shriekmaw
- 3 Sower of Temptation
- 3 Reveillark
- 4 Murderous Redcap
- 2 Glen Elendra Archmage
- 3 Tidehollow Sculler
Lands (24)
Spells (15)
This deck is back to running a full boat of Murderous Redcap and you need to have a way to either remove a graveyard or have multiple ways of dealing with Sower of Temptation. Glen Elendra Archmage is still a huge problem for a huge number of decks. This annoying Negate with legs will probably be kickin’ around Extended for years to come, and we’ve got one last cycle of her meddling ways.
Speaking of, where are all the Meddling Mages at? I think Patrick Chapin said it best: there is just too much removal right now. Meddling Mage has to contend with Volcanic Fallout, sure, but it also has to contend with Terminate, Terror, Pyroclasm, Wrath of God, Path to Exile, and more. With that said, make sure you’re ready for the Great White Menace That Isn’t Tokens.
The last deck I want to look at is Putrid Elves, the deck that takes advantage of the two mana 4/4 in the form of Putrid Leech.
Creatures (20)
Planeswalkers (3)
Lands (23)
Spells (14)
Sideboard
Sure, Putrid Leech needs an activation, but who cares? You’re the beatdown. Your life total is Just Some Number until you stop turning guys sideways, then you worry about it. Llanowar Elves into Putrid Leech into Wren’s Run Vanquisher is eight points of power swinging your way on Turn 4, and with the six you could’ve potentially dealt so far, knocking your goldfish opponent to six life on Turn 4 has to feel good. That said, in the real world your opponent won’t be swimming in a little bowl and that’s where Thoughtseize and Maelstrom Pulse come into play. Profane Command is the finisher, along with your Planeswalker and your awesome land that turns into a trampling Ape.
So what can you expect at your Regionals? Are you ready for the B/W Token menace? You best believe you’ll be seeing Bitterblossoms and Ajani Goldmanes in your near future, so be prepared. Take a friend. Better yet, take a friend that doesn’t ‘do the tournament scene’ and check out this awesome team idea courtesy of Glenn Godard from SunMesa Events. Didn’t I tell you about how he saved States? Well, he’s got a brilliant idea for Regionals. You and a buddy form a team. Call it whatever you like. You guys compete in the tournament, giving it all you got. You’ll still get individual prizes as usual along with team prizes too. When it’s all over, he takes the number of Match Points you have – that is, 3 for a win, 1 for a tie – adds all of them between you, and then divides your combined DCI Rating by this number. The team with the lowest number gets two boxes of Alara Reborn!
Let’s give an example. Let’s say you got two Pro Tour Champions with a combined rating of 4000. And then you’ve got yourself, sitting at 1800, and your friend who’s never played in a tournament in his life at the starting rating of 1600. Turns out fortune smiles on both groups: everyone goes 10-0! 10 wins means 30 match points per person, so 60 match points for the team. Using this math, the Pro Tour All-Stars have a score of 66.66. Your team’s score is 53.33. You and your friend each take home a box of Alara Reborn! Now that’s how you get people into the tournament scene.
Speaking of, Glenn’s got one more good idea I hope all other organizers pay attention to, and not just for extremely large tournaments like Regionals. He’s giving away a special prize to the person who finishes the highest with no rares in their deck. If you scoff at those ridiculous $20 rares and flashy Hideaway lands and just enjoy smashing face with commons and uncommons, now’s your chance to show off your deckbuilding prowess. The person who finishes the highest with no rares goes home with a full set of Planeswalkers. Yup, every one from both Ajanis to Tezzeret.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your weapon of choice, get yourself to the Regionals page on Wizards.com to find your nearest location, and let’s kick some Standard butt. There’s a whole lot of decks that still aren’t being played or talked about, and this token-rich format is keen for Sanity Grinders everywhere. Good luck in your attempts, as I’ll be slinging cardboard and hoping for an invite to Nationals myself.
Until next time, Magic players, this is Evan Erwin. Tapping the cards… so you don’t have to.
Evan “misterorange” Erwin
twitter dot com slash misterorange
eerwin +at+ gmail +dot+ com
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I’m trying real hard to be the shepherd.