1. If You Want to Succeed on The SCG Tour® You’re Going to Have to go Through Team MetaGameGurus.
A lot of discussion goes on about how to bring Magic into the next age of popular gaming. While a lot of players and people within the community were talking about how to make Magic relevant in an e-sports landscape, Team MGG was actually doing
something about it. A handful of teams have made themselves known through The SCG Tour®, but none have been anywhere near the level of this new murderers’
row of talent captained by SCG Players’ Champion Jim Davis. And the scariest part? They haven’t even been together long.
Creatures (13)
Lands (20)
Spells (27)
Creatures (13)
Lands (20)
Spells (27)
- 4 Might of Old Krosa
- 1 Spell Pierce
- 4 Vines of Vastwood
- 1 Distortion Strike
- 2 Twisted Image
- 4 Mutagenic Growth
- 2 Apostle's Blessing
- 4 Gitaxian Probe
- 1 Dismember
- 4 Become Immense
Sideboard
Creatures (6)
Planeswalkers (4)
Lands (23)
Spells (27)
Creatures (6)
Planeswalkers (4)
Lands (23)
Spells (27)
Three of the Top 4 and four of the Top 8? That is ridiculous.
2. A Limited Team Without Limits
As the legend goes, this squad was formed by random Twitter solicitation, double dog dares on international travel, and good old fashioned Magic
degeneracy.
Wizards of the Coast
While they weren’t able to take home the trophy
, the team composed of Brian Braun-Duin, Pascal Maynard, and our very own Shaheen Soorani managed to earn all kinds of Pro Tour perks for their last minute
decision to go grinding. BBD pulled into the lead of the Grand Prix Master race, Mr. Maynard got himself some Platinum status, and Shaheen now finds
himself qualified for another two Pro Tours.
Not bad for a bunch of degenerates!
3. Emrakul, the Promised End is Either Great or Terrible, Depending on Whom You’re Asking.
When the latest incarnation of Magic’s most famous space beast was shown to the world, there was a fairly decisive “meh” heard around the Multiverse.
That is, until pros started writing about her.
Now the masses aren’t quite sure what to make of the latest Emrakul. A lot of highly credible voices have jumped on the “this card doesn’t suck” bandwagon,
but we won’t know for sure how great the Promised End is until she’s sleeved up and shuffled in.
4. Legacy Returns!
What many consider to be the most beloved Constructed format of them all is at long last returning to SCGLive this weekend! The Worcester region is always
good for bringing out loads of dedicated Legacy players, and this weekend promises to be no exception.
Perhaps the most interesting factor this weekend will be how many Eternal Masters copies are floating around in the field. Accessibility has
always been the number one deterrent for many players reaching out and embracing the Legacy landscape. Let’s hope the admittedly limited print run of Eternal Masters has helped a lot of players make the dive into this amazing format.
5. Tamiyo, Field Researcher Seems Absurd.
Emma Handy was given the keys to the kingdom this past week, and the Tamiyo
reveal was a big one.
Tamiyo’s first Standard run in Avacyn Restored was present but not necessarily memorable. Since then she’s become sort of a forgotten factor in
the growing library of planeswalkers. The mana in this format is certainly a little stingier than it was when fetchlands roamed free, but if the pieces are
there, Tamiyo’s new look could be a huge player in upcoming Standard. After all, green and white are already dominating the format, with blue being one of
the more common supplements.
The last time we saw a card with a mana cost like this, it ran away with the format. Beware of this lady. You’re probably going to see her often over the
next year.
6. Sam Black Continues to Operate on a Different Frequency From the Rest of Us.
Jon Finkel once said that Sam Black would be his choice if he had to choose a person to put a deck into his hand the morning of a big tournament. That’s
high praise coming from someone with his pedigree.
It’s also fun to imagine what Jon would say if Sam handed him the list from his latest video.
Creatures (27)
- 1 Eternal Witness
- 1 Coiling Oracle
- 1 Serra Avenger
- 1 Tarmogoyf
- 1 Vendilion Clique
- 1 Kitchen Finks
- 1 Flickerwisp
- 1 Rhox War Monk
- 1 Noble Hierarch
- 1 Knight of the Reliquary
- 1 Blade Splicer
- 1 Scavenging Ooze
- 1 Phantasmal Image
- 1 Fiend Hunter
- 1 Snapcaster Mage
- 1 Geist of Saint Traft
- 1 Restoration Angel
- 1 Loxodon Smiter
- 1 Voice of Resurgence
- 1 Fleecemane Lion
- 1 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
- 1 Courser of Kruphix
- 1 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
- 1 Nissa, Vastwood Seer
- 1 Reflector Mage
- 1 Tireless Tracker
- 1 Duskwatch Recruiter
Lands (24)
Spells (9)
Sam’s most recent masterwork shows that sometimes a thought exercise in deckbuilding can be as educational and rewarding as putting together the perfect
list for a given event. Did this list show us something we didn’t know before? Maybe, maybe not. But either way, it continues to demonstrate that Sam’s
success isn’t an accident.
He knows things about this game that most of us do not. And he’s not afraid to explore the unknowns. It’s a lesson a lot of us could stand to learn a bit
about.
7. Michael Majors Gets Proactive. Tom Ross Gets Provocative.
Tinder has been a huge technological change in the way people find romance these days. Whether you’re unlucky in love or you play the field, Tinder is an
equal opportunity coupler.
Speaking of great couples, Michael Majors and Tom Ross spent their July 4th giving Eldritch Moon the Tinder treatment. Which cards are you swiping right on? Which cards are you swiping left on?
How long until the cards of Eldritch Moon take out a restraining order on Tom Ross?
8. Ross Merriam Wishes You a Happy Independence Day!
Our Daily Digest columnist and VS Series star has a good list for you if you wish to carry your
proud colors all the way into the #SCGWOR Standard Classic this weekend. Enjoy your July 4th, everyone! And if you do celebrate with a draft, remember:
green and black are probably open.