I suppose most would kick off the whole shebang with the cursory introduction, where I teach you who I am but you fail to learn why you should actually care; shall we break with convention?
I’m Glenn Jones, and I attend the University of Florida. Recently, I decided to become more competitive at Magic, and Limited was a format I had been learning and loving for the past several years as I took a hiatus. I felt comfortable with the idea of a Sealed PTQ as my re-entry. I am not an abysmal player; I have a couple of Grand Prix Trial Top 8s to my name, some JSS success, and my 8-0-1 Ravnica prerelease performance had also given me some hope. To make things even better, the PTQ was being hosted in the UF Student Union, a block from my dorm! I came back a couple days early, and took my first stab at Pro Tour success.
I got there, commiserated and registered, and this is the Sealed pack I received. My build will follow.
Artifacts: 5
2 Dimir Signet
1 Selesnya Signet
1 Glass Golem
1 Terrarion
Red: 10
1 Barbarian Riftcutter
1 Dogpile
1 Fiery Conclusion
2 Goblin Fire Fiend
1 Ordruun Commando
2 Sabertooth Alley cat
1 Smash
Boros: 3
1 Boros Recruit
1 Razia’s Purification
1 Sunhome Enforcer
White: 9
1 Boros Fury Shield
1 Dromad Purebred
1 Faith’s Fetters
2 Leave No Trace
1 Loxodon Gatekeeper
1 Oathsworn Giant
1 Wojek Siren
1 Votary of the Conclave
Selesnya: 2
1 Congregation at Dawn
1 Guardian of Vitu-Ghazi
Green: 12
1 Gather Courage
1 Golgari Brownscale
1 Goliath Spider
1 Hunted Troll
1 Ivy Dancer
1 Siege Wurm
2 Sundering Vitae
2 Transluminant
1 Vinelasher Kudzu
Golgari: 3
2 Golgari Rotwurm
1 Putrefy
Black: 12
1 Infectious Host
2 Last Gasp
1 Keening Banshee
1 Mausoleum Turnkey
1 Mortipede
1 Netherborn Phalanx
1 Ribbons of the Night
1 Sins of the Past
2 Stinkweed Imp
1 Strands of Undeath
Dimir: 3
2 Consult the Necrosages
1 Twisted Justice
Blue: 16
1 Compulsive Research
1 Dizzy Spell
1 Drift of Phantasms
1 Ethereal Usher
1 Halcyon Glaze
1 Quickchange
1 Remand
1 Snapping Drake
1 Tattered Drake
1 Telling Time
1 Terraformer
2 Tidewater Minion
1 Vedalken Dismisser
2 Zephyr Spirit
…..
….
…
..
.
Okay, here we go!
I immediately checked the rares, and saw that while Red, White, and Green had playables, none were bombtastic. Loxodon Gatekeeper is good, and Vinelasher Kudzu is on a similar power level, and Razia’s Purification can be solid*…but generally, these weren’t a big deal.
So, it looks like I can’t be a double-Glare luck-sack.
The Red and White both, to me, were cases of “extreme quality, in small numbers.” Red had a couple of solid guys, but I could count them on one hand. White was the same: too shallow. Faith’s Fetters would make a reasonable splash… except that this deck had no Farseek, Civic Wayfinder, or even two-drop Transmuters for my Signets! Not even a single bounce-land! What a screw!
Black was obviously very good, with double Last Gasp, double Stinkweed Imp, a Keening Banshee, and Ribbons of the Night. Green would also be an obvious inclusion, thanks to the Wurms and Putrefy.
My first inclination was a Green/Black deck, splashing Blue and/or White, but every time I looked at the Blue, Halcyon Glaze and fliers kept begging to be included. I knew the card-drawing would help smooth mana consistency in seven rounds of Sealed play.
Suddenly, I realized the Green in my deck wasn’t wonderful. Three Grizzly Bears and a Siege Wurm. I would not be favored by this setup. Needing Green mana early and then ignoring it for the rest of the game seemed a poor plan. I was letting my romantic feelings for the efficiency of Kudzu and Siege Wurm get in the way of the build, so I cut the Green down to the Golgari Rotwurms and Putrefy, and went with a Blue/Black splash Green build. I’m convinced it was the right direction, though I am sure some forum members will disagree.
Here’s my build:
2 Forest
8 Swamp
7 Island
1 Selesnya Signet
2 Last Gasp
1 Remand
1 Consult the Necrosages
1 Compulsive Research
1 Drift of Phantasms
1 Terraformer
1 Halcyon Glaze
1 Putrefy
2 Stinkweed Imp
1 Keening Banshee
1 Snapping Drake
1 Mortipede
1 Strands of Undeath
1 Mausoleum Turnkey
1 Tattered Drake
1 Ribbons of the Night
2 Golgari Rotwurm
1 Netherborn Phalanx
1 Vedalken Dismisser
The build felt solid. Maybe I should’ve considered Tidewater Minion, but I never felt the need. I had some good stall early, a great removal package, and a small set of fatties (one being a three-drop 4/4 flier, who could end the game).
My build ran the Signet and seventeen land, and I often sided in the second Signet. Many people believed I should have cut a land for a Terrarion. I believe that consistency is most important in Sealed, because power level is out of your hands in a number of ways. Build your deck to consistently incorporate the same plan over and over, as opposed to taking advantage of raw power draws that will only win a couple of rounds. Since most people would prefer to draw, I could squeak in with tempo and have solid land drops, and had card-draw to make up for the dip in quantity of non-lands. It seemed to pay off, enabling me to keep two-land hands.
I have no idea if this is obvious to most. I was discouraged from this plan by many people… yet I finished higher than all of them.
I was happy with build. Strangely, I believe only two games were won without Halcyon Glaze in play, and every loss was without Glaze. Against slower decks, I could outnumber their fliers and end the ground combat. I think I was relatively lucky to only play one solid Red/White deck. They can put out a fast army, although the Green/White I faced in Round 4 showed me how devastating an unchecked Selesnya Evangel could become.
Onto the gameplay!
Round 1: Steve Yu or Wu…with G/W/b
I am a little nervous, but Steve is a chill guy. We hang out and talk several times throughout the day. He’s also a local, and informs me of some guys to talk to about local playing. For those not “in the know,” the Gainesville Magic scene is the equivalent of a prairie-dog pack: they pop out of the ground every here and there, but are difficult to actually catch.
Game one, I keep a cool hand…Mortipede, Strands of Undeath, Keening Banshee and Snapping Drake, plus land.
He drops turn three Trophy Hunter. Big frowns.
Trying to figure out a way to kill it, I drop Mortipede with no Green available. I’ve drawn a Last Gasp… there’s some hope alive!
He drops a second Trophy Hunter.
Crap.
I go for the Strands of Undeath. Maybe I can race him… but he has a Last Gasp of his own. At this point, I realize he has no second Forest…and that the only dudes I have left are x/2 fliers. I punk his other guy with Banshee, Glaze up, and eventually get some ground beaters down to hold him off (and even kill both Trophy Hunters, once I top the second Last Gasp). I make a solid read on Seeds of Strength, preventing a free Wrath on his part. My fliers and Halcyon Glaze triumph by the time he has double Green, and he can’t pull it out. Amazing luck for me.
Game two, he pops out a Fists of Ironwood and double Scatter the Seeds, after a Trophy Hunter that aces my Stinkweed Imp (using a Golgari Signet for a second Green source…this guy cannot draw Forests!). Billions of tokens overwhelm me like tiny demonic harbingers. My Golgari Rotwurm and Keening Banshee can’t kill them fast enough.
Game three is better. Halcyon Glaze, Snapping and Tattered Drakes, Vedalken Dismisser, and finally the Netherborn Phalanx. He has a Trophy Hunter again, with a Shambling Shell, but no second Green. Savage flying beats are coming hard as time gets called. My hand is nuts, with Ribbons of the Night and Last Gasp, and my board is three damage short of the kill after the Netherborn Phalanx, on turn five of extra turns. Fortunately, Steve has the Seeds of Strength to clinch my game three win.
Mad props go out to Steve for being such an honorable, good-natured Gainesville-ian.
Record: 1-0
Round 2: Jeremy Mathis with G/u/r/w
This guy, as soon as I sat down, I knew was one of those players. The guys who are good, but act like jerks because they can, and it’s annoying. He even started staring at me, unblinking, as we shuffled, trying to psych me out. I contemplated licking my lips really slowly- the ladies love it, the guys less so- but elected to just let him dry out his eyes. Which he does.
Game one, I have some early flying, but his odd mana mix becomes obvious when he plays Drowsing Shaman with Faith’s Fetters, Galvanic Arc, Flight of Fancy, and Fists of Ironwood in the graveyard. He had already laid a Fetters on a random guy… so he goes for a Copy Enchantment. At this point, we have a problem.
I ask what he’s targeting with Copy Enchantment, and he replies “Fetters and Rotwurm.” I start to tap the mana and say “Guess I’ll sac my guy…” and pick up Golgari Rotwurm. I immediately realize I can counter his spell with the old “removal of target,” and call a judge to be sure. Jeremy alleges I asked specifically for the new Fetters-copy’s target. After much bickering, and a Yu-Gi-Oh level attempt of judge manipulation, the judge rules that his declaration of “Rotwurm” skipped my chance for priority, and I get to keep my 5/4 and counter his spell.
I didn’t feel bad about that at all, honestly. You reap what you sow.
I seize game two as he attempts to Galvanic Arc my Drift of Phantasms after attacking with a bear. He enchants his guy, so I cast Last Gasp and keep the Wall- sorry, “Defender.” Keening Banshee plus Last Gasp seals his Drowsing Shaman, and Halcyon Glaze plus Tattered Drake take it home.
Good riddance.
Record: 2-0. Hey, this isn’t so bad…
Round 3: Adam Fox with B/g/u
Game one is distressing, as I am handed my first game one face-slap loss. He opens with Roofstalker Wight and a worrisome Drowsing Shaman. I think I’ve stabilized at fourteen, but he makes Fists of the Ironwood, Scatter the Seeds, and Netherborn Phalanx to my face. How rude. I could tell he was pretty good at the mind games, from some of his tricks and bluffs, and he continued to wear at me with them. My sleep deprivation wasn’t helping.
Game two sees an early Keening Banshee, Halcyon Glaze, and Snapping Drake. I simply outrace him. There’s an important Last Gasp in here for some kind of Aura. This was so fast-paced, my notes are dry.
Game three saw more of the same. Glaze is my God. He drops out a Bottled Cloister, and on the turn when I have the kill on the table, sitting pretty at five life, he makes an amazing amount of 1/1 guys. I grow concerned, wondering at his demeanor as to how he does not die…until I realize he is tapped out. At which point, I also realize his hand is removed from the game.
Man, am I good at Magic or what?
I think he was pissed at my ineptitude in realizing I had won.
Record: 3-0, living the dream.
Round 4: Bill Stead with G/W/b
This guy was by far the coolest guy I met, and we had a good-natured match. Unfortunately, he was also pretty good and handed me my first loss. Sadface.
He opens with Selesnya Evangel and Veteran Armorer. I pop out Glaze on turn three, and blow my Ribbons on the Evangel; it’s just too threatening. I point out to Bill that I have yet to win a game with Glaze not in play, and he promptly Seed Sparks it when he hits four mana, to my chagrin and his amusement. Frowns.
His Vitu-Ghazi, the City-Tree goes nuts, as does some other good card I don’t remember. I think was rare… Hour of Reckoning? I know he had that. I didn’t take any notes on this round; it was extremely mind-bending just to play it.
Game two opens badly. I Last Gasp the early Selesnya Evangel, and even get some Stinkweed Imp beats going. He places a Faith’s Fetters on my Snapping Drake, and another my Golgari Rotwurm (which I sacrifice in response). Suddenly, out pop Grave-Shell Scarab and Bramble Elemental. Eek.
I quickly go down to three in comparison to his twenty-one, and am about to concede, but I realize something important…
There is a Halcyon Glaze in play!
I enter serious mode and topdeck Ribbons of the Night on the Bramble Elemental like a pro. He bashes with Grave-Shell Scarab, negating my lifegain, but I topdeck a Mortipede. They trade (well, not really…) in his next attack phase, and I ask him if he is dredging on the “sacrifice” effect of Grave-Shell Scarab. Upon realizing he could do this, he does so…and dredges Pollenbright Wings, a perfect out.
Apparently, the Force is strong with me. He accuses me of mad hacks, but I promise no walling or aimbot shenanigans are afoot. A Vedalken Dismisser buys me more time and more face-smashery. As does a Terraformer. As do three more randomly ripped chump-blockers he is incapable of handling, and my 4/4 conditional hero pulls it out.
Mise.
The look on Bill’s face progressed from amusement at my attempts to come back, to confusion, to genuine concern and finally to disbelief.
Game three, an early Selesnya Evangel enables a fast Conclave Equenaut, and he has an Elvish Skysweeper. I draw zero removal, and transmute Drift of Phantasms for a Putrefy on the Conclave Equenaut. I agonized over this decision. My hand had a Tattered and Snapping Drake, so the Elvish Skysweeper was a huge problem, and the Evangel would eventually remove the game from my hands…but at eleven life, a three-power flier that none of my fliers could beat would be more dangerous in the short-term with six tokens already in play. That clock was too much. I think it was unwinnable, but I’m curious if people disagree with my choices.
He Faith’s Fetters my Golgari Rotwurm, ending my dream of tricking him into the six-life range… where I could rot him to death with the sixth Swamp I was slow-rolling before I died. He wins at seven life. Sadface.
Afterwards, via Bill, I find a guy who is part of a new gaming store that has opened recently. There is a place to play Magic in Gainesville! I feel a wave of elation. It was very tingly.
It may have been an allergic reaction, come to think of it. I should check on that.
Record: 3-1. But Bill was cool, and he makes Top 8.
Round 5: Michael Upham with RW
Game one seemed amazing for me. I’m smashing through the air with Keening Banshee, Stinkweed Imping all over, and even have Mausoleum Turnkey. The only thing I don’t have is the ability to cast my Goglari Rotwurm, and I have an itchy feeling he will be necessary.
Brightflame, dealing three damage to four of my guys, convinces me I was right. He wins what was formerly a very uneven race, although I make some feeble attempts at a recovery.
Game two saw fliers all over, with some removal for his Thundersong Trumpeter. Woohoo. No Glaze, I think.
Game three, I make what I am still unsure was a mistake. I mulligan a no-land hand, keeping a six-grip of Forest, Swamp, Consult the Necrosages, Snapping Drake, Putrefy, Drift of Phantasms. I draw an Island or Dimir Signet at any time during my next three draws- while on the draw- it becomes one of the best hands I could have. Early blocker, removal for Thundersong Trumpeter, and Consult the Necrosages could even clear out his Brightflame (or Rally the Righteous) after he expends his hand.
Unfortunately, I don’t even hit a land until turn six or so, by which point I am so dead my ancestors are beckoning me into the light. Based on the outcome, a mulligan was appropriate, but based on that hand? I’m curious what other members of the site would have done. I still felt like the mulligan was a passable, if risky decision; one Blue source in three draws when there are eight left in thirty-three cards seems like I’m only asking to get a little luckier than statistics dictate; like, 33% vs. 24% per draw, with a big pay-off for the island. No island, maybe that’s feasible, but no land at all in six draws? Bad beat.
Record: 3-2. Crap, what a bummer! Michael makes Top 8’s.
Round 6: Brian Hiebel with G/B/w
I learn from Steve, my first round, that Brian is a local guy who runs bands and DJs. Cool beans.
At this point, my PT: Prague dream is basically over. I try to loosen up and make top sixteen, to score some packs. Brian opens slowly in game one, while I get Stinkweed Imp online and a Drift of Phantasms for backup, followed by Keening Banshee on his Civic Wayfinder, and a Snapping Drake. All he has is a Centaur Safeguard, and swings in on turn five.
I have my Drift of Phantasms…
And I don’t block.
I’ve no idea why. Maybe the blue tablecloth was hiding my guy… Whatever, no big deal right?
That’s foreshadowing, by the way.
Next, he Moldervine Cloaks his guy, who I can’t block with Drift at all, and we are racing. When we’re both at five life, and I have Stinkweed Imp and Drift of Phantasms up to make the winning block, he drops out…Master Warcraft.
And thus, not blocking on turn five costs me the game on turn eight.
And thus did I go an entire game without blocking with my defender.
Game two, I have Halcyon Glaze fast. Fliers and removal follow.
Game three, the same.
Apparently, my Glazing skills have grown to the Master-level.
Record: 4-2. I need to make Top 16 for a prize.
Round 7: Jonathan Summers with RWG
This match was, strangely, the least interesting of the entire day. Game one sees Jonathan hosed on two lands. I make Halcyon Glaze, Stinkweed Imp, dude, dude, win.
Game two is Glaze-less, and involves a few creatures on his side and a Keening Banshee on mine. He casts Overwhelm at one point, but I remove a bear with Last Gasp, feeling he must have outs if I’m sat on a low life total. I find out he has Flame Fusillade via idle conversation, and transmute Netherborn Phalanx for Vedalken Dismisser on his Sparkmage Apprentice, ensuring he has nothing going into his last turn.
Other than Flame Fusillade, his deck seemed decidedly average, as did his play…maybe he had Glare of Subdual or something similar? I just don’t know how he won four, honestly.
Record: 5-2. Ugh.
Well, it is a bummer that I didn’t make Top 8, of course… but I did score eleventh place, which was good for bragging rights, nine packs standard prize, and another nine packs for being one of the top eight amateurs in the event (not already in the knockout stages). I went on to do a side draft, scoring a nutty Boros deck with Master Warcraft, Lightning Helix, Devouring Light, and Sunforger. It screamed me to my first finals (with Boros) in Ravnica draft ever. It is the only archetype I avoid like the plague, but the packs forced me to it. Three players were in Blue/Black, my favorite two colors, and two of them were my neighbors.
I even got a free pack because I was using purple sleeves with a yellow shirt, which coincidentally happened to be the Tournament Organizer’s company colors. Nice.
So I end the day 24 packs and a lot of experience the richer, and have a brisk walk back to my dorm. I think my deck was as solid as any, on a general level, but the lack of those high-powered rares like Grave-Shell Scarab and Brightflame definitely gave my opponents an edge. Guess I need to get luckier with the bombs.
This is my first article for Star City, and I hope it entertained. Leave feedback in the forums, yada yada. I might just make a habit of this… I’m a creative writing major, and I could use the free criticism.
– Glenn Jones
– themagicweasel on MODO
– [email protected] (remove the NOSPAM)
* – How could this go on Star City without a footnote?