Syed, Grixis Tainted Pact, Wins Historic Hooglandia Open

Zan Syed won the Historic Hooglandia Open on Saturday with Grixis Tainted Pact.

Grixis Tainted Pact

Zan Syed

1st Place at Hooglandia Open on 05-08-2021

Historic

Creatures (7)

• 1 Augur of Bolas
• 1 Crackling Drake
• 1 Bonecrusher Giant
• 1 Fae of Wishes
• 2 Thassa's Oracle
• 1 Sea Gate Stormcaller

Planeswalkers (2)

• 1 Jace, Wielder of Mysteries
• 1 Narset, Parter of Veils

Lands (22)

• 1 Swamp
• 1 Mountain
• 1 Island
• 1 Snow-Covered Island
• 1 Snow-Covered Swamp
• 1 Watery Grave
• 1 Steam Vents
• 1 Blood Crypt
• 1 Dragonskull Summit
• 1 Drowned Catacomb
• 1 Evolving Wilds
• 1 Sulfur Falls
• 1 Temple of Deceit
• 1 Spirebluff Canal
• 1 Fetid Pools
• 1 Canyon Slough
• 1 Fabled Passage
• 1 Zagoth Triome
• 1 Raugrin Triome
• 1 Clearwater Pathway
• 1 Riverglide Pathway
• 1 Blightstep Pathway

Spells (29)

• 1 Brainstorm
• 1 Memory Lapse
• 1 Opt
• 2 Tainted Pact
• 1 Coldsteel Heart
• 1 Pact of Negation
• 1 Thoughtseize
• 1 Inquisition of Kozilek
• 1 Anger of the Gods
• 1 Languish
• 1 Fatal Push
• 1 Censor
• 1 Sweltering Suns
• 1 Supreme Will
• 1 Search for Azcanta
• 1 Mastermind's Acquisition
• 1 Wishclaw Talisman
• 1 Cling to Dust
• 1 Storm's Wrath
• 1 Heartless Act
• 1 Mazemind Tome
• 1 Valakut Awakening
• 1 Bloodchief's Thirst
• 1 Silundi Vision
• 1 Behold the Multiverse
• 1 Prismari Command
• 1 Solve the Equation
• 1 Baleful Mastery

Sideboard

• 1 Duress
• 1 Tainted Pact
• 1 Negate
• 1 Disdainful Stroke
• 1 Crux of Fate
• 1 Jace, Wielder of Mysteries
• 1 Narset's Reversal
• 1 Thought Distortion
• 1 Aether Gust
• 1 Legion's End
• 1 Mystical Dispute
• 1 Underworld Breach
• 1 Erebos's Intervention
• 1 Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger
• 1 Soul-Guide Lantern

Syed won the double-elimination tournament by rattling off seven straight wins after losing in the third round, including defeating Mat Bimonte on Orzhov Death’s Shadow twice in the finals to claim the title. Bimonte had reached the finals with a 7-0 run, but couldn’t put together the pressure and disruption needed to take down Syed’s version of Grixis Tainted Pact.

Orzhov Death's Shadow

Mat Bimonte

2nd Place at Hooglandia Open on 05-08-2021

Historic

Creatures (28)

• 4 Ranger of Eos
• 4 Death's Shadow
• 4 Adanto Vanguard
• 4 Knight of the Ebon Legion
• 1 Faerie Guidemother
• 1 Giant Killer
• 1 Alseid of Life's Bounty
• 1 Selfless Savior
• 4 Skyclave Apparition
• 4 Elite Spellbinder

Lands (16)

• 1 Plains
• 1 Swamp
• 4 Godless Shrine
• 4 Concealed Courtyard
• 1 Ifnir Deadlands
• 1 Castle Locthwain
• 4 Brightclimb Pathway

Spells (16)

• 4 Thoughtseize
• 2 Inquisition of Kozilek
• 2 Bloodchief's Thirst
• 4 Emeria's Call
• 4 Agadeem's Awakening

Sideboard

• 2 Duress
• 2 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
• 2 Rest in Peace
• 1 Ashiok, Dream Render
• 2 Dire Tactics
• 1 Bloodchief's Thirst
• 2 Archon of Emeria
• 2 Vanishing Verse
• 1 Fracture

Syed was one of three Tainted Pact players in the Top 8 while the 79-person event had six Tainted Pact decks in total. Joe Andrees finished in third place with Jeskai Control (Yorion). The Top 8 was rounded out with one copy of Gruul Aggro, Izzet Aggro, and Dimir Rogues (Lurrus).

See the Top 8 decklists.