Recently, Stephen has faced a Vintage dilemma. As the leading voice for Magic’s broken format, discovering that all you ever knew about the strategy and the metagame now lies in tatters after some shocking in-game revelation… well, let’s just say that he’s a little peturbed by this. Today’s article tackles the issues faced, and also contains an exacting tournament report in Stephen’s signature meticulous style.
The weekend past in Roanoke at the SCG Power Nine double-header was a humbling experience that left me questioning what I know and not knowing what to question. I ended up taking home a Timetwister by the end of the weekend by getting 9th Place on Day Two, but the experience has reshaped my view of Vintage and refined my understanding of Meandeck Gifts. So let me tell you what I learned in defeat.
When Wizards announced their “Great Designer Search,” we voted to run a search of our own to see who would replace Roland Chang on Vintage superteam Team Meandeck. We want the best! This test will challenge your understanding of the format, your knowledge of the community, your comprehension of proper Vintage etiquette and lingo… All to see if you have what it takes to make it in Vintage.
With the StarCityGames.com Power 9 weekend kicking off tomorrow, Stephen brings a fresh new deck to the Vintage table! Of course, the title of the article gives up a main component of this combo-tastic build – High Tide. Is this new deck a powerhouse capable of taking the top prizes this weekend… read on to find out!
Stephen has a formidible Vintage reputation, and today’s epic article centainly demonstrates why. At a recent Vintage tournament he didn’t drop a single game until the quarter-final… fine work indeed, especially considering the format. As usual, the article contains an amazing level of play-by-play analysis, and you can almost feel your game improving while you read it. Serious about Vintage? If so, this is unmissable.
Stephen follows up his excellent Puzzle article from yesterday with an in-depth look at a recent tournament he attended… with winning results. He shares detailed play-by-play data from each game, and has the decklists from each opponent too! All this, plus his views on Split Second cards in Magic’s most broken format…
A lot of recent Vintage debate has centered on the true nature of skill in Magic’s most broken format. Today’s excellent article sees Stephen, an undisputed Vintage powerhouse, lay down a number of intricate puzzles resolving around the combo applications of Gifts Ungiven. Looking to break your brain on this fine Monday morning? Then this is the article for you…
Some point in the not too distant past it simultaneously dawned upon the Magic community that this game was going to be here for a lot longer than most of us ever expected. Long after every other fad – from the hula hoop to the pog – had faded into Americana novelty, Magic has continued to thrive. Building on the past is the theme of Time Spiral. And while set designers have mined Alpha for ideas since the earliest expansions, until Time Spiral we have never seen a set thematically centered on nostalgia. And nostalgia — or at least building upon the past — is what Vintage is all about. That’s why, good or not, Time Spiral is the first set review I’ve ever written for Vintage.
The debate still rages… just how skillful is Magic’s most broken format? Does the abundance of early-turn kills and degenerate combos lead Vintage down the path of the Lucky Man? Stephen argues that the skill factor in Vintage is high indeed… but maybe not quite the same as the skill required for other, “fairer” formats.
In this excellent and comprehensive article, Stephen takes us through the latest developments of his most potent Vintage creation – Meandeck Gifts. The tweaks he suggests leads to a considerable tempo advantage over the old lists, and he backs up these changes with detailed match analysis. Another wonderful article from the master of Vintage writing.
Vintage is the oldest and grandest format sanctioned by the DCI. It has a history as rich and varied as the game itself. Despite that background, it is in a constant state of growth and flux. In today’s article, Stephen reprises his Ten Principles of Vintage, investigating the very cornerstones that underpin Magic’s most broken format.
Curious about Vintage? Confused by all the crazy terminology? Overwhelmed by the enormous card pool? Stephen has written this article for you. He’s put together, in a single place, a concise description of the top six decks in Vintage. An excellent primer for those looking to compete in Magic’s broken format. Take a look…
Stephen dives into a sack of correspondence, answering letters from Vintage experts and beginners alike! He shares his view on a couple of decks that are currently off the radar, talks about the processes he uses when preparing for a large event, shows us the importance of the testing team structure, and tells us his favorite archetypes and decks!
Last week, Stephen shared his preparation and deck choice for the “upcoming” Vintage Championship – Five-Color Pitch Long. Today’s article sees him share his views on the tournament. He discusses the current Vintage metagame, tells us where he thought things went right – and wrong – for him, and speculates on the future of Vintage Magic.
Stephen supplied this article with the following request: “Do not publish this article until after the Vintage World Championship.” In this revealing piece, he discusses his preparation for the biggest tournament on the Vintage calendar. He explains the tweaks and tech he considered for his weapon of choice, and he gives a lowdown of the tournament metagame going in. His actual thoughts on the tournament proper are coming next week!
