The Workshop Scare
Wizards'”Ask Wizards” feature claims that Urza’s Saga was actually envisioned as the enchantment set, even if everyone remembers it as the broken artifact set. Apparently, no one’s going to make that mistake with Mirrodin – not if the new Mox Diamond is any indication.
With their fond memories of Urza block, Type I players are hoping Mirrodin isn’t going to offer anything degenerate. Ever since Stax broke the impression that the worst Mishra’s Workshop-fueled threats are creatures like Juggernaut and Su-Chi, control-oriented, Prison-esque Workshop decks have only continued to evolve, and are all but unrecognizable from the forerunner Stacker 2 and Teletubbies decks.
The latest is a mono-red Stax redux called Welder MUD:
Welder Mud, Carl Devos, Second Place, August 30, 2003 Eindhoven
Creatures (6)
4 Goblin Welder
2 Karn, Silver Golem
Artifacts (22)
4 Sphere of Resistance
3 Powder Keg
4 Tangle Wire
4 Smokestack
4 Grafted Skullcap
2 Null Brooch
1 Memory Jar
Mana (32)
4 Metalworker
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Vault
1 Strip Mine
4 Wasteland
1 Tolarian Academy
4 Mishra’s Workshop
2 City of Traitors
7 Mountain
Sideboard (15)
2 Ensnaring Bridge
3 Jester’s Cap
1 Null Brooch
1 Powder Keg
3 Rack and Ruin
3 Serrated Arrows
2 Tormod’s Crypt
It’s decks like the above that my fellow Paragon piloted that make you think again about your stand on the permanent and card disadvantage-free tempo boost provided by Mishra’s Workshop, as explained in”Counting Tempo.” There are other cards that can end player interaction on Turn 1, such as Winter Orb. It may not be so farfetched to offer boredom as a defensible ground for future bannings and restrictions.
Incidentally, a pure artifact deck similar to the above but removing Goblin Welder placed seventh, piloted by Stefan Gusenhoven. Kim Kluck won with The Shining, packing a single Psychatog and the Intuition/Accumulated Knowledge combo. A mana disruption-oriented”The Deck,” with even Timetwister to back the Gorilla Shamans, placed third:
“The Deck”, Leon Kusters, Third Place, August 30, 2003 Eindhoven
Blue (23)
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Time Walk
1 Timetwister
1 Mystical Tutor
4 Brainstorm
3 Cunning Wish
1 Fact or Fiction
1 Future Sight
1 Stroke of Genius
4 Mana Drain
4 Force of Will
1 Morphling
Black (6)
3 Duress
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
1 Mind Twist
White (2)
1 Balance
1 Swords to Plowshares
Red (2)
2 Gorilla Shaman
Mana (27)
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Sol Ring
1 Strip Mine
4 Wasteland
1 Library of Alexandria
1 City of Brass
2 Flooded Strand
2 Polluted Delta
4 Underground Sea
3 Tundra
3 Volcanic Island
Sideboard (15)
2 Arcane Laboratory
1 Blue Elemental Blast
1 Circle of Protection: Red
1 Fire / Ice
1 Gush
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
2 Red Elemental Blast
1 Shattering Pulse
1 Skeletal Scrying
1 Stifle
2 Swords to Plowshares
1 Vampiric Tutor
Head to head: Stax
With all the excitement about artifacts this week, I decided to move up a feature of an artifact-based deck, and we can fix the numbering later. Since fellow Paragon Steve Menendian already drew the Growing ‘Tog feature and I couldn’t find other notable Stax players like Matthieu Durand, a.k.a. Toad, I pulled a couple of very exciting games against someone you probably don’t know. Today, we welcome Guillaume Cardin, a student from Montreal. While he enjoys Type I, his higher-profile achievements include piloting U/G Madness to the quarterfinals of the last Canadian Nationals.
11:00:09 – — FreezyG says: ”You are not ready”
11:00:09 – — Rakso says: ”Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war”
11:00:15 – Rakso drew 7 cards.
11:00:15 – FreezyG drew 7 cards.
11:00:21 – It is now turn 1.
11:00:26 – Rakso plays Tundra.
11:00:29 – Rakso says:’during your upkeep’
The fighters of my squadron climb into the air, meeting the mysterious alien mecha in the air. I visualize my craft, easing it into transformation with my mind. Wings recede, and arms and legs reveal themselves. With barely a loss in velocity, the lead alien is riddled with autocannon fire. My momentum carries me past the wreckage, my craft spinning to catch a second alien, disintegrating its head unit.
The invaders scatter, leaving one of the green mecha to power into my position.
11:00:30 – It is now turn 2.
11:00:31 – Tundra is tapped.
11:00:32 – Rakso plays Ancestral Recall.
11:00:34 – FreezyG says:’k’
11:00:35 – Rakso drew 3 cards.
11:00:37 – Rakso says:’go’
If you read “Counting Card Advantage,” then you know this is good. I just put myself two partial turns ahead of him.
11:00:40 – FreezyG draws a card.
11:00:44 – FreezyG plays Mana Crypt.
11:00:45 – Mana Crypt is tapped.
11:00:46 – FreezyG plays Mana Vault.
11:00:49 – Rakso says:’jesus’
11:00:49 – FreezyG plays Badlands.
11:00:55 – Badlands is tapped.
11:00:56 – FreezyG plays Goblin Welder.
11:00:57 – FreezyG says:’?’
11:01:01 – Rakso says:’hmmmm’
11:01:02 – Rakso says:’k’
11:01:02 – FreezyG set Mana Vault NOT to Untap as Normal
11:01:04 – Mana Vault is tapped.
11:01:05 – FreezyG plays Smokestack.
11:01:08 – Rakso says:’k’
The single challenger dives down, thrusters wreathing it in a halo of fire. It closes and lets loose with a volley of missiles…
Now, if you also read “Counting Tempo,” then you know this isn’t good, because he just put himself four partial turns ahead of me, playing his Turn 1 as though it were Turn 5 already.
Unfortunately for me, I didn’t get a Force of Will to blunt his tempo. Thus, I’m locked down on my single land unless I can do something, and you know the metagame hasn’t come to the point where we maindeck Disenchant or Dismantling Blow again.
Hey, at least it’s not that bad. He could’ve drawn Mishra’s Workshop and gone into Turn 7 on Turn 1. In any case, that first-turn Ancestral sure looks a lot less formidable than it did thirty seconds ago.
11:01:11 – It is now turn 3.
11:01:16 – Rakso draws a card.
11:01:21 – FreezyG says:’that will hurt’
11:01:26 – Rakso plays Volcanic Island.
11:01:28 – Rakso plays Mox Jet.
11:01:30 – Rakso says:’oh it will eh?’
11:01:36 – FreezyG says:’will it?’
11:01:44 – Tundra is tapped.
11:01:45 – Mox Jet is tapped.
11:01:46 – Rakso plays Time Walk.
11:01:51 – FreezyG says:’ok’
11:01:53 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
11:01:55 – FreezyG says:’it will hurt later’
11:01:56 – Rakso plays Gorilla Shaman.
11:02:01 – FreezyG says:’or not’
Unexpectedly, I thrust straight into my opponent, dodging each projectile. Missile exhausts twirl around my own mecha even as my own cannon scores glancing blows on my impetuous friend.
11:02:02 – Tundra is untapped.
11:02:02 – Volcanic Island is untapped.
11:02:02 – Mox Jet is untapped.
11:02:02 – FreezyG says:’…’
11:02:04 – Rakso draws a card.
11:02:10 – Rakso plays Mox Pearl.
11:02:13 – Mox Pearl is tapped.
11:02:14 – Rakso plays Swords to Plowshares.
11:02:15 – FreezyG says:’this gorilla is such a bastard :)’
11:02:18 – FreezyG removes Goblin Welder from the game.
11:02:19 – FreezyG’s life is now 21. (+1)
11:02:22 – Gorilla Shaman is attacking.
11:02:25 – FreezyG’s life is now 20. (-1)
11:02:45 – Mox Jet is tapped.
11:02:50 – FreezyG buries Mana Crypt.
11:02:57 – FreezyG says:’WHY NOT VAULT !!!!!!’
11:02:59 – FreezyG says:’:)’
Again, tempo is extremely crucial in the early game, especially for a card advantage-based deck. You need a bit of time to bring your responses into play, and a Time Walk in my opening hand gives me that crucial shred of time I need to catch up.
Of course, there’s still that Smokestack.
11:03:00 – It is now turn 4.
11:03:07 – Smokestack now has 1 counters. (+1)
11:03:10 – FreezyG’s life is now 19. (-1)
11:03:11 – FreezyG draws a card.
My foe spins and comes in for another pass, more cautiously this time.
11:03:14 – It is now turn 5.
11:03:18 – FreezyG says:’HA!’
11:03:41 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
11:03:41 – Mox Jet is tapped.
11:03:42 – Mox Pearl is tapped.
11:03:44 – Rakso plays Cunning Wish.
11:03:47 – FreezyG says:’ouch’
11:03:49 – FreezyG says:’k’
11:03:54 – Rakso moves Disenchant from limbo to Rakso’s hand.
11:03:57 – Rakso buries Mox Pearl.
11:03:59 – Rakso draws a card.
11:04:01 – Gorilla Shaman is attacking.
11:04:05 – FreezyG’s life is now 18. (-1)
The duel turns into a deadly dance, with each of us jockeying for position, probing for openings, oblivious of the mecha exploding around us.
11:04:13 – It is now turn 6.
11:04:19 – FreezyG buries Mana Vault.
11:04:21 – Smokestack now has 2 counters. (+1)
11:04:23 – FreezyG draws a card.
You might think nothing is happening at this point, but you have to put yourself in the position of having to do tense Smokestack computations. The Stack will keep me short of the mana to Cunning Wish–Disenchant outright, ut I hedge my bets and get ready to remove a permanent from his computations, remove a key artifact, or kill his lock in case he goes crazy with the counters.
11:04:25 – It is now turn 7.
11:04:28 – FreezyG says:’argh’
11:04:34 – FreezyG says:’i’d need a workshop’
11:04:48 – Rakso buries Gorilla Shaman.
11:04:50 – Rakso buries Mox Jet.
11:04:52 – Rakso draws a card.
11:04:50 – It is now turn 8.
11:05:01 – FreezyG buries Smokestack.
11:05:01 – FreezyG buries Badlands.
11:05:03 – FreezyG draws a card.
My opponent blinks first. He changes direction abruptly, rocketing into a desperate climb.
11:05:06 – It is now turn 9.
11:05:09 – Rakso draws a card.
11:05:11 – It is now turn 10.
11:05:14 – FreezyG draws a card.
11:05:20 – Rakso says:’this is nuts :D’
11:05:26 – FreezyG plays Mox Jet.
11:05:27 – FreezyG says:’?’
11:05:29 – Rakso says:’k’
11:05:31 – Mox Jet is tapped.
11:05:32 – FreezyG plays Sol Ring.
11:05:33 – FreezyG says:’?’
11:05:36 – Rakso says:’k’
11:05:38 – Sol Ring is tapped.
11:05:39 – FreezyG plays Sphere of Resistance.
11:05:40 – Tundra is tapped.
11:05:41 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
11:05:42 – Rakso plays Mana Drain.
A subtle shift of my mecha’s shoulders, and my foe continues into its climb, trailing smoke from his back-mounted thruster unit.
11:05:46 – It is now turn 11.
11:05:49 – Rakso draws a card.
11:05:51 – Tundra is tapped.
11:05:51 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
11:05:53 – Rakso plays Braingeyser.
11:05:54 – Rakso buries Braingeyser.
11:05:55 – Rakso drew 2 cards.
The wounded mecha descends into the city below us. I move to press my advantage as he tries to lose himself in the buildings.
11:05:57 – It is now turn 12.
11:06:01 – FreezyG draws a card.
11:06:05 – It is now turn 13.
11:06:11 – Rakso draws a card.
11:06:13 – Rakso plays Black Lotus.
11:06:14 – It is now turn 14.
11:06:18 – FreezyG draws a card.
11:06:39 – Tundra is tapped.
11:06:39 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
11:06:41 – Rakso plays Disenchant.
11:06:47 – Rakso says:’hehehehe’
11:06:48 – FreezyG buries Sol Ring.
Wild particle beam shots streak past me as I lightly land on a rooftop. Several cannon rounds penetrate the more thinly armored areas of my opponent’s mecha before he rounds a corner and disappears.
His Smokestack backfired and he ended up mana screwing himself. All he needs, though, is a Workshop to unload the contents of his hand back at me. I take a cheap shot at him while he’s down, and move to end the duel quickly.
11:06:50 – It is now turn 15.
11:06:51 – Rakso draws a card.
11:06:51 – FreezyG says:’:/’
11:06:54 – Rakso plays Underground Sea.
11:06:56 – Rakso says:’I am EVIL’
11:07:02 – FreezyG says:’indeed’
11:07:04 – FreezyG says:’:/’
11:07:47 – Rakso says:’BBB’
11:07:48 – Rakso buries Black Lotus.
11:07:52 – Rakso plays Demonic Tutor.
11:08:05 – FreezyG says:’k’
11:08:10 – Rakso moves a card from Rakso’s library to Rakso’s hand.
11:08:18 – Tundra is tapped.
11:08:18 – Underground Sea is tapped.
11:08:24 – Rakso removes Yawgmoth’s Will from the game.
Intimately familiar with the city layout, I refuse the offer of a drawn-out cat and mouse. I rise on my thrusters and ease my mecha back into flight, legs folding back underneath and wings catching the air.
11:08:27 – Rakso moves Mox Jet from Rakso’s graveyard to tabletop.
11:08:29 – Rakso moves Black Lotus from Rakso’s graveyard to tabletop.
11:08:31 – Rakso moves Mox Pearl from Rakso’s graveyard to tabletop.
11:08:33 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
11:08:36 – Rakso moves Gorilla Shaman from Rakso’s graveyard to tabletop.
11:08:38 – Rakso removes Black Lotus from the game.
11:08:38 – FreezyG says:’concede’
11:08:41 – Rakso says:’UUU’
11:08:43 – FreezyG says:’stop :)’
11:08:47 – Rakso says:’lemme play it out for the log :D’
11:08:47 – FreezyG says:’i cant take it anymore !’
11:08:51 – Rakso says:’hehehehehe’
11:08:51 – FreezyG says:’k’
11:08:56 – Mox Pearl is tapped.
11:08:58 – Rakso removes Ancestral Recall from the game.
11:08:59 – Rakso drew 3 cards.
11:09:06 – Rakso removes Time Walk from the game.
11:09:07 – Mox Jet is tapped.
11:09:17 – Rakso removes Demonic Tutor from the game.
11:09:27 – Rakso moves a card from Rakso’s library to Rakso’s hand.
I spin my plane back towards my opponent, aligning myself with the street he turned into, and loose two missiles of my own.
Trapped by buildings on both sides, he desperately spins and launches back into the air, firing wildly at me all the while.
11:09:30 – Tundra is untapped.
11:09:30 – Volcanic Island is untapped.
11:09:30 – Underground Sea is untapped.
11:09:30 – Mox Jet is untapped.
11:09:30 – Mox Pearl is untapped.
11:09:32 – Rakso draws a card.
11:09:36 – Rakso plays Tundra.
11:09:43 – Gorilla Shaman is attacking.
11:09:48 – FreezyG’s life is now 17. (-1)
11:09:50 – Tundra is tapped.
11:09:50 – Tundra is tapped.
11:09:50 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
11:09:51 – Underground Sea is tapped.
11:09:51 – Mox Jet is tapped.
11:09:52 – Mox Pearl is tapped.
11:09:53 – Rakso plays Mind Twist.
11:09:56 – Rakso says:’5′
11:10:00 – FreezyG randomly buried Smokestack.
11:10:01 – FreezyG randomly buried Memory Jar.
11:10:03 – FreezyG randomly buried Meditate.
11:10:04 – FreezyG randomly buried Smokestack.
11:10:05 – FreezyG randomly buried Wheel of Fortune.
11:10:07 – FreezyG says:’ah’
11:10:07 – Rakso moves The Abyss from Rakso’s hand to Rakso’s graveyard.
11:10:08 – Rakso buries Mind Twist.
Too late, both missiles spear dead center into the mecha’s chest, disintegrating it even as his routed comrades retreat back towards their ship.
11:10:10 – FreezyG says:’i still have my kill!’
11:10:11 – FreezyG plays Karn, Silver Golem.
11:10:13 – Rakso plays Mana Drain.
11:10:14 – Rakso plays Mana Drain.
11:10:15 – Rakso plays Force of Will.
11:10:16 – Rakso plays Cunning Wish.
11:10:18 – Rakso plays Fire/Ice.
11:10:19 – Rakso plays Dromar’s Charm.
11:10:20 – Rakso plays Morphling.
11:10:23 – Rakso says:’4 counters’
11:10:24 – Rakso says:’Morphling’
11:10:25 – Rakso says:’and Pulse’
11:10:27 – FreezyG says:’bah’
11:10:29 – Rakso says:’:D’
Take Two
As you saw, breaking out of Workshop-backed opening locks is hardly the easiest thing in the metagame at present, and you have to mentally prepare your scripts for Sphere of Resistance openings, Tangle Wire openings, Smokestack openings, and everything in between, especially Welders. A brief stall is easily your last with all the mana your opponent can throw at you, and sometimes, you don’t even get to play before you’re left trying to squirm out of a lock.
Let’s try another game.
10:40:11 – — FreezyG says: ”You are not ready”
10:40:11 – — Rakso says: ”Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war”
10:40:26 – Rakso drew 7 cards.
10:40:26 – FreezyG drew 7 cards.
10:40:49 – FreezyG says:’kp’
10:40:52 – It is now turn 1.
10:40:54 – Rakso plays Underground Sea.
10:40:55 – It is now turn 2.
10:41:02 – FreezyG draws a card.
10:41:08 – FreezyG plays Mox Emerald.
10:41:11 – Mox Emerald is tapped.
10:41:12 – FreezyG plays Sol Ring.
10:41:17 – Rakso says:’k’
10:41:17 – FreezyG plays Strip Mine.
10:41:18 – FreezyG buries Strip Mine.
10:41:21 – Rakso buries Underground Sea.
10:41:22 – It is now turn 3.
10:41:24 – Rakso draws a card.
10:41:26 – Rakso plays Polluted Delta.
10:41:27 – Rakso’s life is now 19. (-1)
10:41:28 – Rakso buries Polluted Delta.
10:41:32 – Rakso moves Volcanic Island from Rakso’s library to tabletop.
10:41:35 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
10:41:39 – Rakso plays Mox Jet.
10:41:40 – Rakso plays Gorilla Shaman.
10:41:49 – Rakso says:’k?’
10:41:53 – FreezyG says:’k’
10:41:54 – Mox Jet is tapped.
10:42:00 – FreezyG buries Mox Emerald.
Again, I get a fortunate early Shaman to pester him with, but this time, I have less time to try to stop him before he gets going.
10:42:05 – It is now turn 4.
10:42:10 – FreezyG draws a card.
10:42:17 – FreezyG plays Polluted Delta.
10:42:18 – FreezyG buries Polluted Delta.
10:42:19 – FreezyG’s life is now 19. (-1)
10:42:23 – FreezyG moves Underground Sea from FreezyG’s library to tabletop.
10:42:25 – Sol Ring is tapped.
10:42:26 – Underground Sea is tapped.
10:42:27 – FreezyG plays Meditate.
10:42:29 – FreezyG says:’?’
10:42:31 – Rakso says:’k’
10:42:32 – FreezyG drew 4 cards.
Says Steve Menendian on Stax:”Meditate can often draw you into spells you need as a desperation move when you have nothing useful in hand, especially if you have large mana quantities available. Such a move is pretty risky but often pays, thanks to the deck’s high redundancy. It really is a very important part of what makes this deck work.”
10:42:48 – FreezyG plays Black Lotus.
10:42:49 – FreezyG buries Black Lotus.
10:42:50 – Rakso says:’k’
10:42:50 – FreezyG plays Lotus Petal.
10:42:51 – FreezyG buries Lotus Petal.
10:42:57 – FreezyG plays Smokestack.
10:43:00 – Rakso says:’k’
Well, guess what you just saw?
10:43:04 – It is now turn 5.
10:43:40 – Rakso says:’oh that hurts’
10:43:50 – FreezyG says:’:)’
10:44:06 – Rakso draws a card.
10:44:10 – Rakso plays Underground Sea.
10:44:11 – Gorilla Shaman is attacking.
10:44:47 – FreezyG’s life is now 18. (-1)
10:44:52 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
10:44:52 – Underground Sea is tapped.
10:44:53 – Mox Jet is tapped.
10:44:57 – Rakso says:’you have to admit’
10:45:00 – Rakso says:’your opening was scary’
10:45:05 – FreezyG says:’yeah’
10:45:07 – FreezyG buries Sol Ring.
10:45:11 – Volcanic Island is untapped.
10:45:11 – Underground Sea is untapped.
10:45:11 – Mox Jet is untapped.
10:45:11 – Gorilla Shaman is untapped.
10:45:13 – Rakso says:’second turn’
10:45:14 – FreezyG says:’your gorilla is more scary’
10:45:16 – Rakso draws a card.
10:45:38 – Rakso says:’damn’
10:45:53 – Gorilla Shaman is attacking.
10:45:56 – FreezyG’s life is now 17. (-1)
I find no solutions, and have to leave myself to killing his Sol Ring and beginning the tense permanent count.
10:45:59 – It is now turn 6.
10:46:05 – Smokestack now has 1 counters. (+1)
10:46:06 – FreezyG draws a card.
10:46:10 – FreezyG plays Volcanic Island.
10:46:12 – Underground Sea is tapped.
10:46:12 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
10:46:13 – FreezyG plays Sphere of Resistance.
10:46:15 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
10:46:15 – Underground Sea is tapped.
10:46:17 – Rakso plays Mana Drain.
This stops him from getting the upper hand – but unfortunately for me, I drew into creature removal I don’t need.
10:46:20 – It is now turn 7.
10:46:23 – FreezyG says:’ouch’
10:46:39 – Rakso buries Mox Jet.
10:46:44 – Rakso draws a card.
10:46:49 – Rakso plays Underground Sea.
10:46:55 – Rakso says:’2 mana’
10:47:02 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
10:47:03 – FreezyG says:’yes’
10:47:05 – Rakso plays Brainstorm.
10:47:07 – Rakso drew 3 cards.
10:47:07 – FreezyG says:’k’
10:48:06 – Rakso moves a facedown card to Rakso’s library.
10:48:08 – Rakso moves a facedown card to Rakso’s library.
10:48:14 – Rakso plays Mox Sapphire.
10:48:15 – Underground Sea is tapped.
10:48:15 – Underground Sea is tapped.
10:48:16 – Mox Sapphire is tapped.
10:48:17 – Rakso plays Morphling.
10:48:18 – Gorilla Shaman is attacking.
10:48:20 – Rakso says:’ah’
10:48:21 – Rakso says:’permanents’
10:48:21 – FreezyG’s life is now 16. (-1)
I Brainstorm the dead cards back, but don’t get anything. Having nothing better to do or draw, I play the Morphling and hope to race the wild Smokestack and anything else that might join it.
10:48:22 – It is now turn 8.
10:48:35 – FreezyG buries Volcanic Island.
10:48:37 – Smokestack now has 2 counters. (+1)
10:48:40 – Rakso says:’ooooohhhhhhh’
10:48:41 – FreezyG draws a card.
10:48:53 – FreezyG plays Volcanic Island.
10:48:56 – FreezyG plays Mox Pearl.
10:48:57 – Underground Sea is tapped.
10:48:57 – Rakso says:’tough guy’
10:48:57 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
10:48:57 – Mox Pearl is tapped.
10:48:58 – FreezyG removes Yawgmoth’s Will from the game.
10:49:01 – FreezyG says:’:)’
10:49:02 – Rakso says:’HOLY S**T’
10:49:04 – Rakso says:’okay’
10:49:08 – FreezyG says:’that will hurt’
With his topdeck, fat chance of that.
10:49:13 – FreezyG moves Lotus Petal from FreezyG’s graveyard to tabletop.
10:49:16 – FreezyG moves Black Lotus from FreezyG’s graveyard to tabletop.
10:49:19 – FreezyG moves Mox Emerald from FreezyG’s graveyard to tabletop.
10:49:28 – Mox Emerald is tapped.
10:49:30 – FreezyG moves Sol Ring from FreezyG’s graveyard to tabletop.
10:49:50 – FreezyG removes Black Lotus from the game.
10:49:52 – FreezyG moves Meditate from FreezyG’s graveyard to tabletop.
10:49:56 – Rakso says:’k’
10:49:59 – FreezyG drew 4 cards.
10:50:04 – FreezyG plays Mox Diamond.
10:50:06 – FreezyG moves Polluted Delta from FreezyG’s hand to FreezyG’s removed from game pile.
10:50:10 – Sol Ring is tapped.
10:50:12 – FreezyG plays Grim Monolith.
10:50:16 – FreezyG set Grim Monolith NOT to Untap as Normal
10:50:34 – Rakso says:’whatta topdeck’
10:50:44 – FreezyG says:’hmmm’
10:50:49 – Mox Diamond is tapped.
10:50:51 – FreezyG moves Lotus Petal from FreezyG’s graveyard to
reezyG’s removed from game pile.
10:50:55 – FreezyG moves Sphere of Resistance from FreezyG’s graveyard to tabletop.
10:51:06 – FreezyG says:’right’
10:51:13 – It is now turn 9.
10:51:55 – Rakso says:’/scratches head’
10:51:59 – FreezyG says:’:)’
10:52:03 – Mox Sapphire is tapped.
10:52:09 – FreezyG buries Mox Diamond.
10:52:10 – Rakso buries Morphling.
10:52:18 – Rakso buries Mox Sapphire.
10:52:25 – Rakso draws a card.
10:52:27 – Underground Sea is tapped.
10:52:32 – FreezyG buries Mox Emerald.
10:52:34 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
10:52:38 – FreezyG buries Mox Pearl.
10:52:45 – Rakso plays Wasteland.
10:52:52 – Gorilla Shaman is attacking.
10:52:55 – FreezyG’s life is now 15. (-1)
Not only does he regain all his mana and more than enough permanents to fuel Smokestack, his Meditate catches me at the perfect time.
10:53:26 – FreezyG says:’u can play again :)’
10:53:27 – Rakso says:’yeah’
10:53:31 – Rakso says:’that’s right’
10:53:33 – Volcanic Island is untapped.
10:53:33 – Underground Sea is untapped.
10:53:33 – Gorilla Shaman is untapped.
10:53:37 – FreezyG says:’i am a good guy :)’
10:54:00 – Underground Sea is tapped.
10:54:06 – Underground Sea is tapped.
10:54:09 – Volcanic Island is tapped.
10:54:31 – Rakso says:’actually’
10:54:31 – FreezyG buries Sol Ring.
10:54:32 – Rakso says:’hell with it’
10:54:39 – Rakso says:’I figure you’ll go to three anyway’
10:54:44 – FreezyG says:’:)’
10:54:51 – Rakso buries Wasteland.
10:54:52 – FreezyG buries Volcanic Island.
10:54:53 – Rakso buries Gorilla Shaman.
10:54:54 – Rakso draws a card.
I kill as many artifacts as I can, cut off his red and hope for the best in the face of a broken Will on the wrong end of the table.
10:54:56 – It is now turn 10.
10:55:00 – Rakso says:’that was a bum Brainstorm’
10:55:02 – Rakso says:’and you have 3 cards’
10:55:07 – Underground Sea is untapped.
10:55:11 – FreezyG says:’the gorila is gone ?’
10:55:16 – FreezyG says:’oh’
10:55:17 – FreezyG says:’stack :)’
10:55:17 – Rakso says:’gorilla or mana’
10:55:19 – Rakso says:’I figure’
10:55:27 – Rakso says:’you aren’t going to topdeck that much more Moxen’
10:55:28 – FreezyG says:’now my turn to think’
10:55:34 – Rakso says:’sac the perms’
10:55:38 – Rakso says:’then play new artifacts :D’
10:55:43 – FreezyG says:’yup’
10:55:44 – FreezyG says:’:)’
10:55:54 – FreezyG buries Sphere of Resistance.
10:55:55 – FreezyG buries Underground Sea.
10:56:03 – Rakso says:’yeah he DID’
10:56:04 – Smokestack now has 3 counters. (+1)
10:56:08 – FreezyG draws a card.
10:56:10 – It is now turn 11.
10:56:11 – FreezyG says:’hehe’
10:56:20 – FreezyG says:’u should see my hand :)’
10:56:21 – Rakso buries Underground Sea.
10:56:23 – Rakso buries Volcanic Island.
10:56:24 – Rakso buries Underground Sea.
10:56:26 – Rakso says:’a**hole’
10:56:27 – Rakso draws a card.
10:56:28 – It is now turn 12.
10:56:29 – FreezyG buries Smokestack.
10:56:30 – FreezyG buries Grim Monolith.
10:56:33 – FreezyG draws a card.
10:56:37 – FreezyG plays Mox Jet.
10:56:40 – FreezyG plays Mana Crypt.
10:56:42 – FreezyG plays Island.
10:56:44 – Mana Crypt is tapped.
10:56:44 – Island is tapped.
10:56:45 – Rakso says:’like I said’
10:56:45 – FreezyG plays Timetwister.
10:56:46 – Rakso says:’a**hole :D’
10:56:47 – FreezyG says:’:)’
Unfortunately, he still has a good mix in hand, and his free mana artifacts give him the advantage when Draw 7s come into play.
10:56:50 – Rakso moves a card from Rakso’s hand to Rakso’s library.
10:56:50 – Rakso moves a card from Rakso’s hand to Rakso’s library.
10:56:50 – Rakso moves a card from Rakso’s hand to Rakso’s library.
10:56:50 – Rakso moves a card from Rakso’s hand to Rakso’s library.
10:56:52 – Rakso moves Underground Sea from Rakso’s graveyard to Rakso’s library.
10:56:52 – Rakso moves Volcanic Island from Rakso’s graveyard to Rakso’s library.
10:56:52 – Rakso moves Underground Sea from Rakso’s graveyard to Rakso’s library.
10:56:52 – Rakso moves Wasteland from Rakso’s graveyard to Rakso’s library.
10:56:52 – Rakso moves Gorilla Shaman from Rakso’s graveyard to Rakso’s library.
10:56:52 – Rakso moves Mox Sapphire from Rakso’s graveyard to Rakso’s library.
10:56:52 – Rakso moves Morphling from Rakso’s graveyard to Rakso’s library.
10:56:52 – Rakso moves Brainstorm from Rakso’s graveyard to Rakso’s library.
10:56:52 – Rakso moves Mox Jet from Rakso’s graveyard to Rakso’s library.
10:56:52 – Rakso moves Mana Drain from Rakso’s graveyard to Rakso’s library.
10:56:52 – Rakso moves Polluted Delta from Rakso’s graveyard to Rakso’s library.
10:56:52 – Rakso moves Underground Sea from Rakso’s graveyard to Rakso’s library.
10:56:52 – Rakso is shuffling library…
10:56:54 – Rakso drew 7 cards.
10:56:55 – FreezyG moves Memory Jar from FreezyG’s hand to FreezyG’s graveyard.
10:56:58 – FreezyG moves Memory Jar from FreezyG’s graveyard to FreezyG’s library.
10:56:59 – FreezyG moves Grim Monolith from FreezyG’s graveyard to FreezyG’s library.
10:56:59 – FreezyG moves Smokestack from FreezyG’s graveyard to FreezyG’s library.
10:56:59 – FreezyG moves Underground Sea from FreezyG’s graveyard to FreezyG’s library.
10:56:59 – FreezyG moves Sphere of Resistance from FreezyG’s graveyard to FreezyG’s library.
10:56:59 – FreezyG moves Volcanic Island from FreezyG’s graveyard to FreezyG’s library.
10:56:59 – FreezyG moves Sol Ring from FreezyG’s graveyard to FreezyG’s library.
10:56:59 – FreezyG moves Mox Pearl from FreezyG’s graveyard to FreezyG’s library.
10:56:59 – FreezyG moves Mox Emerald from FreezyG’s graveyard to FreezyG’s library.
10:56:59 – FreezyG moves Mox Diamond from FreezyG’s graveyard to FreezyG’s library.
10:56:59 – FreezyG moves Volcanic Island from FreezyG’s graveyard to FreezyG’s library.
10:56:59 – FreezyG moves Polluted Delta from FreezyG’s graveyard to FreezyG’s library.
10:56:59 – FreezyG moves Strip Mine from FreezyG’s graveyard to FreezyG’s library.
10:57:00 – FreezyG is shuffling library…
10:57:01 – FreezyG buries Timetwister.
10:57:02 – FreezyG drew 7 cards.
10:57:33 – FreezyG plays Mox Diamond.
10:57:35 – FreezyG buries Mishra’s Workshop.
10:57:39 – Mox Diamond is tapped.
10:57:42 – FreezyG plays Ancestral Recall.
10:57:44 – FreezyG says:’me’
10:57:44 – Rakso says:’k’
10:57:46 – FreezyG drew 3 cards.
10:57:50 – FreezyG plays Mox Ruby.
10:57:50 – Mox Ruby is tapped.
10:57:51 – Mox Jet is tapped.
10:57:53 – FreezyG plays Sphere of Resistance.
If he’s pitching Mishra’s Workshop to Mox Diamond, I must be in trouble, right? Indeed, Guillaume called this his best ‘Twister ever.
10:57:54 – It is now turn 13.
10:57:57 – Rakso draws a card.
10:58:00 – Rakso plays Underground Sea.
10:58:02 – Rakso says:’concede?’
10:59:01 – FreezyG says:’ehe’
10:59:02 – Rakso says:’:)’
10:59:04 – FreezyG says:’not yet’
10:59:09 – FreezyG says:’i ‘ll play 1 or 2 turns’
10:59:11 – Rakso says:’lol’
10:59:12 – FreezyG says:’to see :)’
10:59:23 – Rakso says:’on one land’
10:59:25 – Rakso says:’with Sphere out’
10:59:28 – FreezyG says:’haha’
10:59:28 – Rakso says:’you got to be kidding :D’
10:59:32 – FreezyG plays Strip Mine.
10:59:33 – FreezyG moves Strip Mine from tabletop to FreezyG’s hand.
10:59:38 – Rakso says:’like I said’
10:59:40 – Rakso says:’A**HOLE :D’
I hope you enjoyed today’s beating. Keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best from Mirrodin and its new card face. After all, with recent gems like Mind’s Desire and the new Mox, do we really have any reason to fear the quality of R&D’s present crack supply?
Oscar Tan (e-mail: Rakso at StarCityGames.com)
rakso on #BDChat on EFNet
Paragon of Vintage
University of the Philippines, College of Law
Forum Administrator, Star City Games
Featured Writer, Star City Games
Author of the Control Player’s Bible
Maintainer, Beyond Dominia (R.I.P.)
Proud member of the Casual Player’s Alliance