Got wrecked today. 2 person FNM. London mulligan again.
Round 1 vs. Humans. I draw my best draw yet with the deck. I get Hogaak and another 10 power of creatures on turn 2. He plays Kitesail Freebooter, sees my remaining hand, and scoops. In the next game, he mulls to 6. Double Leyline of the Void. I kept on 1 land, Faithless Looting, Insolent Neonate. He gets 3 lands into play and just plays a bunch of creatures. I get stuck on 1 land, and can't do much with 2 Leylines. Not even sure if I can rebuild if I were to draw a 2nd land and 2 Wispmare. I cannot beat this draw. In the final game, I keep with Faithless Looting and Cathartic Reunion. He has Leyline of the Void to start off. I draw and discard. Then I discard 2 cards to Cathartic Reunion. On turn 3, I make the mistake. I reluctantly play a Stitcher's Supplier because I want to have a creature on board. It mills X, X, Wispmare. I lost right there, as I play a few 1/1s while he plays Unsettled Mariner, Image on Mariner (after I Lightning Axe Champion of the Parish), and then Auriok Champion. I draw a few lands and scoop. 1-2.
Round 2 vs. Mono Red Phoenix. I keep on 1 land (again!) and double Insolent Neonate. I can't find a 2nd land and when I play Stitcher's Supplier, it puts 2 Vengevine. I die on turn 3. In the next game, I lose to drawing a 2nd and 3rd copy of Hogaak while my opponent Gut Shots my Stitcher's Supplier into Ravenous Trap. Not easy to play around that one and with all those cards gone, the extra Hogaaks are NOT good in hand. Cruuuushed. 0-2.
Round 3 vs. Dredge. In the first game, I literally don't draw nothing but lands, so I start losing the race. On turn 5, I tell him I can mill his deck. The problem? I'm at 6 life and he has 3 Creeping Chill in the deck. He is about to scoop when he realizes this. I milled him a bit and when I saw the 2nd copy and was at 3 life, I assumed there were 2 more. Maybe a mistake? (he had Hogaak and Stitcher's Suppliers) In the next game, he has Tormod's Crypt and a lot of early pressure. Had 2 cards in hand since the beginning, so probably had the answer to Leyline of the Void as well. I got stuck with a bunch of lands. Near the bottom of my deck was 4 Hogaak, 4 Bridge from Below, and 4 Altar of Dementia. Hey, all the potential ban prospects. LOL. 0-2.
Round 4 vs. UW Control. The first game is ugly. I keep on 2 land (!!!!) this time. I peel land after land and smash with Gravecrawler and Bloodghast. He eventually Surgical Extractions both after some Supreme Verdict/Wrath of God/ScM action. Narset hit the board and Jace. I keep drawing Hogaaks. After Narset has been in play for a million turns, I draw Cathartic Reunion into Faithless Looting. The next game is similar, but he does Detention Sphere on my double Altar of Dementia. He uses 2 Path to Exile and 2 Celestial Purge this game, but eventually I run him out of options in the late game. I go for flashback Faithless Looting with 3 Hogaak in hand. He uses his last card to Force of Negation. I then play the Altar and win after that. There is not much time for the final game. I put pressure on him and him having only 2 land in his opener slowed him a bit. When he drew and played his 3rd land, he did triple Path to Exile. Then he did Vendilion Clique and started racing me, but I actually drew a good card - Faithless Looting and he had to Wrath of God the next turn. I killed a Narset with Wispmare and this game went to time. He scooped to me in the end. We both had pretty good hands. He may have beaten me because Hogaak top decks ass while UW has many hits (1 more Path to Exile and 2 Celestial Purge left in the deck and since I Wispmare #2 on turn 2 Rest in Peace, he probably draws ScMs). 2-1.
I got 1-3. Got demolished. I saw what happened when my opponents were prepared, drew their optimal hands, and I drew multiple Hogaak, no grave hate removal, no 2nd land, or only lands. It was not good.
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Legacy - Sneak Show, BR Reanimator, Miracles, UW Stoneblade
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/ Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander - Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build) (dead format for me)
I will probably try a list with an Overgrown Tomb or 2. Currently I have 2 Gemstone Mine. I have had problems hard casting Vengevines, but part of that honestly was just to drawing multiples in the mid game, which probably shouldn't happen often. I will certainly try it some time within the next few weeks though (I'm away from many of my cards right now...)
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Legacy - Sneak Show, BR Reanimator, Miracles, UW Stoneblade
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/ Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander - Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build) (dead format for me)
Can you explain exactly what happened? I'm curious as well because I've heard that Wear/Tear is the best tech so far and it seems promising. Maybe I'm wrong?
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Legacy - Sneak Show, BR Reanimator, Miracles, UW Stoneblade
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/ Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander - Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build) (dead format for me)
Round 1 vs. Neobrand. Not much happened this round. I was scared my opponent was going to kill me the whole time, but he didn't play anything and I killed him on turn 3 and 4 with the mill. Missed on a single land or Simian Spirit Guide in game 1 and drew too many land in the last game. 2-0.
Round 2 vs. UR Phoenix. This was my most stressful and toughest round. He beat me in game 1 with turn 3 on the play 2 Phoenixes. He raced me and I had Hogaak, but could not find Altar. In the next game, I Lightning Axe a Thing and he spins his wheels while I crunch with many creatures. In the final game, it is somewhat close again, but turn 2 Thoughtseize let me know that he had double Bolt, Shenanigans, and something else. I tracked each card and made sure not to get close to Bolt range. I eventually found Vengevine and he had to Bolt some creatures. He had no shot at racing after this. Whew! 2-1.
Round 3 vs. Hogaak. In the first game, I sacrificed 2 creatures to blow up his Bridges. Then, the difference was that he had 3 Assassin's Trophy and 1 Surgical Extraction main board. He could not get his Vengevine back until it was too late. I found and then got MY Vengevine back and got to work. He literally needed to get Vengevine online and he would have had it. The next game looks bad for me with Plague Engineer on "Zombie." But I find 2 Bridge from Below on a Stitcher's Supplier and it allows me to use B each turn with Gravecrawler in the yard to get a bunch of 1/1 Zombies. We trade Hogaaks and keep bringing them back, but my 8 Zombies from 2 turns of using the 4-5 lands I had with Gravecrawler allowed me to swing for lethal as he was too low before he had stabilized with Plague Engineer. Missed a Vengevine trigger here too after casting Gravecrawler 4 times, but got it the next turn casting Gravecrawler 5 times. 2-0.
Round 4 vs. UW Control. I mull three 0 land hands. It was London Mulligan this tournament. We both get stuck on land, but he does turn 4 Vendilion Clique into Field of Ruin, double Path to Exile Hogaak and Vengevine. Then he does Timely Reinforcements when I put a bunch of 2/1s out. Then he does Cryptic Command into swing with Colonnade and that same Vendilion Clique, which had been pecking away at me. In the next game, he went Celestial Purge on Hogaak, so I sacrificed him. But I didn't have enough gas to get him next turn, so I Looted away Wispmare, thinking he wouldn't Celestial Purge if he had Rest in Peace on turn 2, right? Nope, turn 3 Rest in Peace, then Timely Reinforcements for my small dudes, then Supreme Verdict, they are all gone. 4 swings from a Colonnade later, I'm dead. He absolutely smashed me with a deck that has a rough matchup vs. Hogaak. 0-2.
Round 5 vs. Grixis Shadow. In the first game, I keep a greedy Looting 2 Vengevine into double dudes, but he turn 1 Thoughtseizes me, taking Looting. I struggle, but his Shadows come a bit late, as I am able to get a bunch of 2/1s and then I get Bridge from Below, sac outlet, and lands with Bloodghasts. When I sac EoT, he scoops. In the next game, I go super wide with Hogaak, Vengevines, and 2/1s. 2-0.
Round 6 vs. Titanshift. In the first game, he ramps until he can get Prime Time if it's his last card. It won't kill Hogaak though, so he needs some poor draws from me and good ones from him. Alas, he does NOT have Prime Time. It's a super late Relic of Progenitus, which cantrips him into scooping since he only had 5 mana left. In the next game, I take a long time playing. I made a mistake on TWO Vengevine triggers within 3 turns of each other, but go for milling him as much as I can since he has 1 card. If that card is Scapeshift, I lose the next turn, so I go all out. I mill 3 Valakut and 3 Scapeshift, among other cards. He has 9 cards left. I have 3. Double Damping Sphere slowed me down, but I was able to draw Ingot Chewer and he scooped since he didn't have win-cons left. He had went for Anger of the Gods, but I milled him for 8 in response. 2-0.
Round 7 vs. RG Loam. We ID'd into the top 8. I didn't know what he was on, but I found out in the top 8. 0-0-3.
Top 8 vs. RG Loam. There's not much to say here. I kill him on turn 3 and see no hate - just some cycling. I don't know what's going on, but he keeps on 1 land in the next game with Ravenous Trap, which gets Looting, Ghast, Vine on turn 1. But he struggles on lands and I rebuild and crunch through. He said he had 28 lands, so he honestly should have drawn land some time this game. He eventually drew a Forest and played Tarmogoyf, but I then killed him with Hogaak, Carrion Feeders, and Gravecrawler, Bloodghasts. 2-0.'
Top 4 vs Dredge. We split the top 4, so he scooped to me. 2-0.
Finals vs. Amulet. We split the top 4, so he scooped to me. It was 10:30 at night, a grueling 7 rounds + top 8, so we were ready to go home. 2-0.
We top 4 split, so they conceded to me for PW points and accounting. So I guess I have to settle for top 4,
23-7-1 now with the deck. Not quite the 14-2 I am with Neobrand, but pretty steady.
Legacy - Sneak Show, BR Reanimator, Miracles, UW Stoneblade
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/ Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander - Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build) (dead format for me)
I played in a 18 person tournament today. New place for me again. Had a rough go around. (they did London mulligan, but I didn't take advantage enough)
Round 1 vs. Whir Prison. I had been playing GB Rock vs. his RW Taxes before the tournament for fun. Then we got paired. In the first game, I'm scared of turn 2 Chalice of the Void after I turn 2 Altar of Dementia. I kill him the next turn after he doesn't play that. In the next game, he had Grafdigger's Cage, but I had double Bridge from Below and double Insolent Neonate, so I created a bunch of Zombies and smashed through. Had he gotten Ensnaring Bridge, it would have slowed me down. I had Shenanigans somewhere in the deck. But he didn't get it and the Zombies pulled their weight. 2-0.
Round 2 vs. Cheerios. He plays Marsh Flats. I assume some deck I can beat. Stitcher's Supplier, mill 3 land. He does Sram and draws 4 cards right away. I play Altar of Dementia and set up for next turn, but I don't have it for sure. He plays Puresteel Paladin and ends the game with triple Retract. In the next game, he got stuck on 1 land. He had Leyline of Sanctity, but I had Wispmare. It didn't matter. I don't find Altar of Dementia, so I kill him with Zombies and Hogaak. In the final game, he kills me on turn 3 again. I tried a mulligan, but couldn't find Lightning Axe or Thoughtseize. Leyline of Sanctity stops Thoughtseize anyway, so I was wary of that. 1-2.
Round 3 vs. Grixis Shadow. I thought for sure I'd play against the Neoform player, but it turned out he lost because of a poor Judge call. He was 0-2. In game 1, he puts a bunch of stuff on the field while I just have non blockers. But I draw Altar of Dementia and get there before I die a horrible death to 2 Death's Shadow, a Snapcaster Mage, and a Seasoned Pyromancer. In the next game, he has Leyline of the Void into Thoughtseize into Gurmag Angler into Plague Engineer. Bye bye double Gravecrawler and Stitcher's Supplier. I only have 2 Bloodghasts against a Leyline of the Void, a Plague Engineer, and a Gurmag Angler. In the final game, I played too safe. I played around Surgical Extraction by doing Faithless Looting on turn 2 to discard 2 Bloodghasts with Fetchland in hand. But he had Stubborn Denial. My thought is that he sided them out since it's only good vs. Altar of Dementia ... AND players who Loot without playing their land first. Doh! This cost me and even though I get a big board, he has Gurmag Angler and Death's Shadow on the turn before lethal. I can only swing him down to 1 if he doesn't block, but then I die on the swing back. So I swing him to 4. He untaps and attacks only with Death's Shadow. I assume he's waiting for a bad block so I block with Zombie token and Stitcher's Supplier - my only 2 blockers. He does Temur Battle Rage and it's over. He got stuck on 1 land for a bit, but my draws were lands and a Bloodghast while I kept with double Gravecrawler, hoping to hedge against grave hate. This one surely was a punt. 1-2.
Round 4 vs. BW Tokens. In the first game, he has a choice to discard Insolent Neonate, Bloodghast, or Bridge from Below. Yes, I should have mulliganed. I end up getting there after missing my first land drop, but finding Hogaak. He goes for Path to Exile, but I have Carrion Feeder. In fact, I drew all 4 Altar of Dementia and 3 Hogaaks this game. So it was slow. In the next game, I do Stitcher's Supplier, putting 2 Bridge from Below in the yard. I draw Faithless Looting and then put another one in and then start getting a hoard of Zombies to turn 4 kill him. I kept the hand because Godless Shrine and Wispmare, but he actually really didn't have grave hate. 2-0.
Round 5 vs. GB Midrange. In the first game, my hand was iffy. I drew 4 Carrion Feeder and an Altar of Dementia, which got Assassin's Trophied. I lose. In the next game, he does turn 1 Forest Nihil Spellbomb, exile my Faithless Looting, Vengevine, and Bloodghast. I slow roll and am waiting for him to cast a creature, any creature, so I can Lightning Axe, discarding Vengevine, play 2 creatures and get it back. He doesn't and eventually I draw enough to get Hogaak to infinite mill him. In the final game, I have drawn 3 Carrion Feeder. I tell myself if I draw the 4th like Game 1, I will scoop on the spot. Instead I draw Faithless Looting and put myself in a good spot until Kalitas comes down on turn 4. Now, Altar of Dementia is nearly useless. He makes a big mistake attacking, trying to get through for lethal, but I block everything to not die to Collective Brutality. I'm at 4. His Kalitas died to Hogaak, putting him at 24. He does Damnation. I mill myself 8 cards, then let the other 5 creatures die to get 5 Zombies. The next turn I go off and mill him for lethal. He needed to do Damnation before Kalitas died to Hogaak. I think he got mixed up because I nearly let 1 of his 2 Zombies through to put me to 2 life. When I realized it would put me to 2, I took it back, something I can't do at Comp REL. I feel a bit badly about this one, but I should know better and make the right blocks. Also didn't notice that I had a Zombie to block with as well since it was far away (my fault) from my other blocking creatures. He was a good sport about it. He showed me 2 Extirpate, 3 Nihil Spellbomb, 1 Grafdigger's Cage, and something else that I forgot against me. Got unlucky with drawing the hate, especially using 3 Assassin's Trophy before I finally got Hogaak aboard. No more removal... I guess he could have drawn the 4th or Maelstrom Pulse... 2-1.
Legacy - Sneak Show, BR Reanimator, Miracles, UW Stoneblade
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/ Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander - Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build) (dead format for me)
I do think in theory that Nature's Claims and Ass Trophy are better. I may try them soon. My 2 spot of Cathartic Reunions haven't been holding their water, but I haven't seen a better replacement (in theory of course). I actually DO play 2 Green sources in double Gemstone Mine, but they are nearly impossible to find.
When I lost game 2 to the mirror, I had 2 Vengevine in hand when we both had Leyline of the Void out, but only 1 Gemstone Mine. That game would have been won if I had a single Green source to fetch. But I'm scared of diluting Red sources. Don't wanna have that Overgrown Tomb/Faithless Looting hand. In game 3, I also had double Vengevine in hand in a similar game (I did not have Leyline, but he mulled to 5), but I won on the back of Gravecrawler and Wispmare beats.
*Also I should not be afraid to default to Nature's Claim. That single card has won me more matches of Modern magic than any other single card. I have played a HUGE variety of decks and Nature's Claim has been in nearly every one that supported Green. I often wonder what Modern would be for me without Nature's Claim. (I've done all kinds of things with it. I've Nature's Claimed my own Ethereal Armor when a Burn opponent cast Deflecting Palm, then won a few turns later. I've used it as removal obviously. I've hit my own Rancor and done disgusting things against Burn with it - you Destructive Revelry my Aura, no I Nature's Claim it.)
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Legacy - Sneak Show, BR Reanimator, Miracles, UW Stoneblade
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/ Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander - Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build) (dead format for me)
With most decks you can ignore what they are doing because you're faster. Outside of that, you bring in destruction for their HATE vs. you. If their deck is potentially quicker, like Storm, Infect, or Devoted Devastation, then you bring in Lightning Axe or in your case, Darkblast for the latter two. In my opinion, Silent Gravestone is not that good because it stops what, Surgical Extraction? You can usually win through 1-2 of these anyway. It's the Leylines and Ravenous Traps that get sticky.
Outside of that, I don't think there are SB guides. You can probably look up sideboard guides for Bridge Vine BEFORE Hogaak and the siding would be similar. Even siding with Dredge would be similar, so you can look up those. The rest is mostly done on instinct and experience with graveyard based decks vs. non graveyard based decks.
I usually take out Bloodghasts and 1 Gravecrawler when I side things in. You probably can get away with siding Vengevine(s) as well if the graveyard hate is turn 0 or super quick and affects the whole yard.
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Legacy - Sneak Show, BR Reanimator, Miracles, UW Stoneblade
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/ Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander - Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build) (dead format for me)
What are people doing with their flex slots? I'm building this deck and thinking of including 2-3 Leyline of the Void in the main deck. I'm also trying more fetch lands than normal so I can do more tricks with Bloodghast
I have 2 Cathartic Reunion. I think you wanna have more draw, at least from what I heard Kanister (Piotr Glogowski) say when I watched his stream.
Legacy - Sneak Show, BR Reanimator, Miracles, UW Stoneblade
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/ Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander - Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build) (dead format for me)
Round 1 vs. Burn. I combo out on turn 3 after turn 2 Altar of Dementia. In the next game, I get killed before I can untap on turn 3. In the final game, I turn 4 mill him out and he scoops. He may not have known that he could upkeep throw burn at me. He had 3 cards in hand and I was at 5. 2-1.
Round 2 vs. BW Sorins. In the first game, he our 3 Wrath of God, getting my turn 2 Hogaak and friends. I am lucky to draw a land to start flashing back Faithless Lootings and this is what won the game. I had gas later on, bringing back the Vengevine and then Hogaak. Got there. In the next game, he did Extirpate on Bridge from Below, but Vengevines and friends get there. He also had to mulligan to 5 this game. 2-0.
Round 3 vs. Druid Devastation. In game 1, I lose to the combo on turn 3 on the draw for me. I probably had him on my turn 3. In the next game, I get the combo on turn 3 after he set up his own possible turn 3. In the final game after a mull to 6, I scry Thoughtseize to the bottom because I want to find a 2nd land. I do have Lightning Axe, which slows him down, but I find land #2 on turn 3 to set up a turn 4 win. But he combos off again and kills me. 1-2.
Round 4 vs. UR Phoenix. In the first game, he plays Thing in the Ice. I kill him on turn 3. In the next game, I Thoughtseize and take Finale of Promise, which I think was a mistake. I should have taken Sleight of Hand. He had Negate and I had Altar of Dementia, but I could put creatures out to put him on the back foot and then play it when he deals with th creatures. He ends up Bolt, Looting, Thought Scour and attack with 2 Phoenix to put me to 6. Dead next turn, I cast Altar of Dementia and go off pretty easily. Tough matchup for him and he definitely made the right call, putting me on a next turn dead clock. I had drawn a 2nd Altar of Dementia by that time, so I could have cared less if I get the first one Negated. 2-0.
Round 5 vs. GW Elves. If I draw, there's a chance I get only top 5, which only top 4 moves on. That is what would have happened, as all the other pieces fell into place. But I got there, going off on turn 3 after he dork into Elvish Archdruid in game 1. In game 2, I smell Rest in Peace, so I save my Looting. He doesn't have it, but does turn 2 Dwayne's Elite, so I respond with Lightning Axe. Then I get Thoughtseize on turn 3 to do it, snaring Reclamation Sage from him before landing an Altar of Dementia. I win the very next turn. 2-0.
Top 4 vs. Druid Devastation. We split in the top 4, but he doesn't want the play mat. He scoops to me. Whew! Could have been tough, although I was the #1 see, so on the play potentially. 2-0
Finals vs. Storm. In the first game, he Remands my turn 3 win. He untags and tries to go off, but doesn't have the Electromancer dude, so he just Grapeshots my board a bit, but I Faithless Looting, drawing a Bloodghast and play a land, getting 2 Bloodghasts to swing for lethal. In the next game, I can't deal with a turn 2 Electromancer and he wins on turn 3, knowing that it looked like I win on my turn 3 since I had cast Altar of Dementia. The final game is ugly. I keep a stupid hand - a 1 lander that had 2 Bridge from Below in it. My first 2 draw steps were Leyline of the Void X 2, but after 3 Remand, I find land while he has 6 in play, and go off to mill him for lethal. He had 2 cards in hand and I was scared that he would have Noxious Revival and go off with everything in the yard for Past in Flames. I should have obviously mulliganed to Thoughtseize, Lightning Axe, or Leyline of the Void. Dumb, dumb. At least mull to 2 land... Better lucky than good. 2-1.
I go 6-1, including the win! I found out later on that there's a larger tournament nearby. Kinda sad for that, but happy that the deck performed well.
Legacy - Sneak Show, BR Reanimator, Miracles, UW Stoneblade
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/ Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander - Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build) (dead format for me)
26 person FNM.
Round 1 vs. Tron. I empty my hand out ridiculously quickly and even turn 3 Tron on the play, Karn or Wurmcoil would not be enough since I had a creature sacrifice outlet and he was low on life. No grave hate seen here and game 2, I do Ingot Chewer to chew an Expedition Map on turn 2. This bought me time. 2-0.
Round 2 vs. Mono Red Phoenix. In the first game, he played Bolts and Prowess Bros on the play to put me to 1 life. But I untap and mill him out to win. In the next game, he Loots Phoenix into Bolt/Bolt/Surgical Extraction my Vengevines, swing with Phoenix. I can't race this, although I have him dead on board on my turn 3 to a quick draw, but he untaps and Bolt, Bolt, Forked Bolt. I die. In the final game, it is similar, but I am able to block a Prowess dude with a Zombie from Bridge from Below, after he Prowess dude into Loot, Bolt, Surgical Extraction and Phoenix swing. But I have nothing on the untap. May have gotten there if I found an Altar of Dementia or Hogaak. Maybe... 1-2.
Round 3 vs. UB Mill. He does Surgical Extraction X 2 in game 1, but I cast Hogaak from hand and swing him twice. In the next game, he got Extirpate X 2 and Surgical Extraction X 2, but I once again finally draw Hogaak (he had no milling pressure) and swing him twice. He had 2 cards in hand before the lethal swing after drawing a card for the turn. He played Ensnaring Bridge (and I had no Altar of Dementia left in the deck), but I had Shenanigans in my graveyard. I Dredge 1. Ingot Chewer falls in the graveyard and he scoops. 2-0.
Round 4 vs. UR Phoenix. In the first game, he missed flipping a turn 2 Thing in the Ice on turn 3 on the play, so he had to chump Hogaak, Carrion Feeder, or Vengevine for lethal. He can't win after that. In the next game, he DOES flip Thing in the Ice, even after turn 1 Ravenous Trap when I Loot 2 Bridge from Below in the yard. Manamorphoses get it flipped and he Bolts enough stuff out of the way, while adding a Phoenix to the mix to finish me. In the final game, he has Ravenous Trap, but I put 2 cards in the yard, play a bunch of 1 mana dudes and Delve 2 cards to cast Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis on turn 3. He scoops. 2-1.
I finish 3-1. Another guy finished 4-0 with the deck. Amazing deck! Definitely gives me an upper hand and I have not always had that in Modern.
Legacy - Sneak Show, BR Reanimator, Miracles, UW Stoneblade
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/ Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander - Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build) (dead format for me)
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Round 1 vs. Humans. I draw my best draw yet with the deck. I get Hogaak and another 10 power of creatures on turn 2. He plays Kitesail Freebooter, sees my remaining hand, and scoops. In the next game, he mulls to 6. Double Leyline of the Void. I kept on 1 land, Faithless Looting, Insolent Neonate. He gets 3 lands into play and just plays a bunch of creatures. I get stuck on 1 land, and can't do much with 2 Leylines. Not even sure if I can rebuild if I were to draw a 2nd land and 2 Wispmare. I cannot beat this draw. In the final game, I keep with Faithless Looting and Cathartic Reunion. He has Leyline of the Void to start off. I draw and discard. Then I discard 2 cards to Cathartic Reunion. On turn 3, I make the mistake. I reluctantly play a Stitcher's Supplier because I want to have a creature on board. It mills X, X, Wispmare. I lost right there, as I play a few 1/1s while he plays Unsettled Mariner, Image on Mariner (after I Lightning Axe Champion of the Parish), and then Auriok Champion. I draw a few lands and scoop. 1-2.
Round 2 vs. Mono Red Phoenix. I keep on 1 land (again!) and double Insolent Neonate. I can't find a 2nd land and when I play Stitcher's Supplier, it puts 2 Vengevine. I die on turn 3. In the next game, I lose to drawing a 2nd and 3rd copy of Hogaak while my opponent Gut Shots my Stitcher's Supplier into Ravenous Trap. Not easy to play around that one and with all those cards gone, the extra Hogaaks are NOT good in hand. Cruuuushed. 0-2.
Round 3 vs. Dredge. In the first game, I literally don't draw nothing but lands, so I start losing the race. On turn 5, I tell him I can mill his deck. The problem? I'm at 6 life and he has 3 Creeping Chill in the deck. He is about to scoop when he realizes this. I milled him a bit and when I saw the 2nd copy and was at 3 life, I assumed there were 2 more. Maybe a mistake? (he had Hogaak and Stitcher's Suppliers) In the next game, he has Tormod's Crypt and a lot of early pressure. Had 2 cards in hand since the beginning, so probably had the answer to Leyline of the Void as well. I got stuck with a bunch of lands. Near the bottom of my deck was 4 Hogaak, 4 Bridge from Below, and 4 Altar of Dementia. Hey, all the potential ban prospects. LOL. 0-2.
Round 4 vs. UW Control. The first game is ugly. I keep on 2 land (!!!!) this time. I peel land after land and smash with Gravecrawler and Bloodghast. He eventually Surgical Extractions both after some Supreme Verdict/Wrath of God/ScM action. Narset hit the board and Jace. I keep drawing Hogaaks. After Narset has been in play for a million turns, I draw Cathartic Reunion into Faithless Looting. The next game is similar, but he does Detention Sphere on my double Altar of Dementia. He uses 2 Path to Exile and 2 Celestial Purge this game, but eventually I run him out of options in the late game. I go for flashback Faithless Looting with 3 Hogaak in hand. He uses his last card to Force of Negation. I then play the Altar and win after that. There is not much time for the final game. I put pressure on him and him having only 2 land in his opener slowed him a bit. When he drew and played his 3rd land, he did triple Path to Exile. Then he did Vendilion Clique and started racing me, but I actually drew a good card - Faithless Looting and he had to Wrath of God the next turn. I killed a Narset with Wispmare and this game went to time. He scooped to me in the end. We both had pretty good hands. He may have beaten me because Hogaak top decks ass while UW has many hits (1 more Path to Exile and 2 Celestial Purge left in the deck and since I Wispmare #2 on turn 2 Rest in Peace, he probably draws ScMs). 2-1.
I got 1-3. Got demolished. I saw what happened when my opponents were prepared, drew their optimal hands, and I drew multiple Hogaak, no grave hate removal, no 2nd land, or only lands. It was not good.
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/
Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander -
Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build)(dead format for me)Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/
Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander -
Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build)(dead format for me)Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/
Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander -
Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build)(dead format for me)Round 1 vs. Neobrand. Not much happened this round. I was scared my opponent was going to kill me the whole time, but he didn't play anything and I killed him on turn 3 and 4 with the mill. Missed on a single land or Simian Spirit Guide in game 1 and drew too many land in the last game. 2-0.
Round 2 vs. UR Phoenix. This was my most stressful and toughest round. He beat me in game 1 with turn 3 on the play 2 Phoenixes. He raced me and I had Hogaak, but could not find Altar. In the next game, I Lightning Axe a Thing and he spins his wheels while I crunch with many creatures. In the final game, it is somewhat close again, but turn 2 Thoughtseize let me know that he had double Bolt, Shenanigans, and something else. I tracked each card and made sure not to get close to Bolt range. I eventually found Vengevine and he had to Bolt some creatures. He had no shot at racing after this. Whew! 2-1.
Round 3 vs. Hogaak. In the first game, I sacrificed 2 creatures to blow up his Bridges. Then, the difference was that he had 3 Assassin's Trophy and 1 Surgical Extraction main board. He could not get his Vengevine back until it was too late. I found and then got MY Vengevine back and got to work. He literally needed to get Vengevine online and he would have had it. The next game looks bad for me with Plague Engineer on "Zombie." But I find 2 Bridge from Below on a Stitcher's Supplier and it allows me to use B each turn with Gravecrawler in the yard to get a bunch of 1/1 Zombies. We trade Hogaaks and keep bringing them back, but my 8 Zombies from 2 turns of using the 4-5 lands I had with Gravecrawler allowed me to swing for lethal as he was too low before he had stabilized with Plague Engineer. Missed a Vengevine trigger here too after casting Gravecrawler 4 times, but got it the next turn casting Gravecrawler 5 times. 2-0.
Round 4 vs. UW Control. I mull three 0 land hands. It was London Mulligan this tournament. We both get stuck on land, but he does turn 4 Vendilion Clique into Field of Ruin, double Path to Exile Hogaak and Vengevine. Then he does Timely Reinforcements when I put a bunch of 2/1s out. Then he does Cryptic Command into swing with Colonnade and that same Vendilion Clique, which had been pecking away at me. In the next game, he went Celestial Purge on Hogaak, so I sacrificed him. But I didn't have enough gas to get him next turn, so I Looted away Wispmare, thinking he wouldn't Celestial Purge if he had Rest in Peace on turn 2, right? Nope, turn 3 Rest in Peace, then Timely Reinforcements for my small dudes, then Supreme Verdict, they are all gone. 4 swings from a Colonnade later, I'm dead. He absolutely smashed me with a deck that has a rough matchup vs. Hogaak. 0-2.
Round 5 vs. Grixis Shadow. In the first game, I keep a greedy Looting 2 Vengevine into double dudes, but he turn 1 Thoughtseizes me, taking Looting. I struggle, but his Shadows come a bit late, as I am able to get a bunch of 2/1s and then I get Bridge from Below, sac outlet, and lands with Bloodghasts. When I sac EoT, he scoops. In the next game, I go super wide with Hogaak, Vengevines, and 2/1s. 2-0.
Round 6 vs. Titanshift. In the first game, he ramps until he can get Prime Time if it's his last card. It won't kill Hogaak though, so he needs some poor draws from me and good ones from him. Alas, he does NOT have Prime Time. It's a super late Relic of Progenitus, which cantrips him into scooping since he only had 5 mana left. In the next game, I take a long time playing. I made a mistake on TWO Vengevine triggers within 3 turns of each other, but go for milling him as much as I can since he has 1 card. If that card is Scapeshift, I lose the next turn, so I go all out. I mill 3 Valakut and 3 Scapeshift, among other cards. He has 9 cards left. I have 3. Double Damping Sphere slowed me down, but I was able to draw Ingot Chewer and he scooped since he didn't have win-cons left. He had went for Anger of the Gods, but I milled him for 8 in response. 2-0.
Round 7 vs. RG Loam. We ID'd into the top 8. I didn't know what he was on, but I found out in the top 8. 0-0-3.
Top 8 vs. RG Loam. There's not much to say here. I kill him on turn 3 and see no hate - just some cycling. I don't know what's going on, but he keeps on 1 land in the next game with Ravenous Trap, which gets Looting, Ghast, Vine on turn 1. But he struggles on lands and I rebuild and crunch through. He said he had 28 lands, so he honestly should have drawn land some time this game. He eventually drew a Forest and played Tarmogoyf, but I then killed him with Hogaak, Carrion Feeders, and Gravecrawler, Bloodghasts. 2-0.'
Top 4 vs Dredge. We split the top 4, so he scooped to me. 2-0.
Finals vs. Amulet. We split the top 4, so he scooped to me. It was 10:30 at night, a grueling 7 rounds + top 8, so we were ready to go home. 2-0.
We top 4 split, so they conceded to me for PW points and accounting. So I guess I have to settle for top 4,
23-7-1 now with the deck. Not quite the 14-2 I am with Neobrand, but pretty steady.
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/
Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander -
Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build)(dead format for me)Round 1 vs. Whir Prison. I had been playing GB Rock vs. his RW Taxes before the tournament for fun. Then we got paired. In the first game, I'm scared of turn 2 Chalice of the Void after I turn 2 Altar of Dementia. I kill him the next turn after he doesn't play that. In the next game, he had Grafdigger's Cage, but I had double Bridge from Below and double Insolent Neonate, so I created a bunch of Zombies and smashed through. Had he gotten Ensnaring Bridge, it would have slowed me down. I had Shenanigans somewhere in the deck. But he didn't get it and the Zombies pulled their weight. 2-0.
Round 2 vs. Cheerios. He plays Marsh Flats. I assume some deck I can beat. Stitcher's Supplier, mill 3 land. He does Sram and draws 4 cards right away. I play Altar of Dementia and set up for next turn, but I don't have it for sure. He plays Puresteel Paladin and ends the game with triple Retract. In the next game, he got stuck on 1 land. He had Leyline of Sanctity, but I had Wispmare. It didn't matter. I don't find Altar of Dementia, so I kill him with Zombies and Hogaak. In the final game, he kills me on turn 3 again. I tried a mulligan, but couldn't find Lightning Axe or Thoughtseize. Leyline of Sanctity stops Thoughtseize anyway, so I was wary of that. 1-2.
Round 3 vs. Grixis Shadow. I thought for sure I'd play against the Neoform player, but it turned out he lost because of a poor Judge call. He was 0-2. In game 1, he puts a bunch of stuff on the field while I just have non blockers. But I draw Altar of Dementia and get there before I die a horrible death to 2 Death's Shadow, a Snapcaster Mage, and a Seasoned Pyromancer. In the next game, he has Leyline of the Void into Thoughtseize into Gurmag Angler into Plague Engineer. Bye bye double Gravecrawler and Stitcher's Supplier. I only have 2 Bloodghasts against a Leyline of the Void, a Plague Engineer, and a Gurmag Angler. In the final game, I played too safe. I played around Surgical Extraction by doing Faithless Looting on turn 2 to discard 2 Bloodghasts with Fetchland in hand. But he had Stubborn Denial. My thought is that he sided them out since it's only good vs. Altar of Dementia ... AND players who Loot without playing their land first. Doh! This cost me and even though I get a big board, he has Gurmag Angler and Death's Shadow on the turn before lethal. I can only swing him down to 1 if he doesn't block, but then I die on the swing back. So I swing him to 4. He untaps and attacks only with Death's Shadow. I assume he's waiting for a bad block so I block with Zombie token and Stitcher's Supplier - my only 2 blockers. He does Temur Battle Rage and it's over. He got stuck on 1 land for a bit, but my draws were lands and a Bloodghast while I kept with double Gravecrawler, hoping to hedge against grave hate. This one surely was a punt. 1-2.
Round 4 vs. BW Tokens. In the first game, he has a choice to discard Insolent Neonate, Bloodghast, or Bridge from Below. Yes, I should have mulliganed. I end up getting there after missing my first land drop, but finding Hogaak. He goes for Path to Exile, but I have Carrion Feeder. In fact, I drew all 4 Altar of Dementia and 3 Hogaaks this game. So it was slow. In the next game, I do Stitcher's Supplier, putting 2 Bridge from Below in the yard. I draw Faithless Looting and then put another one in and then start getting a hoard of Zombies to turn 4 kill him. I kept the hand because Godless Shrine and Wispmare, but he actually really didn't have grave hate. 2-0.
Round 5 vs. GB Midrange. In the first game, my hand was iffy. I drew 4 Carrion Feeder and an Altar of Dementia, which got Assassin's Trophied. I lose. In the next game, he does turn 1 Forest Nihil Spellbomb, exile my Faithless Looting, Vengevine, and Bloodghast. I slow roll and am waiting for him to cast a creature, any creature, so I can Lightning Axe, discarding Vengevine, play 2 creatures and get it back. He doesn't and eventually I draw enough to get Hogaak to infinite mill him. In the final game, I have drawn 3 Carrion Feeder. I tell myself if I draw the 4th like Game 1, I will scoop on the spot. Instead I draw Faithless Looting and put myself in a good spot until Kalitas comes down on turn 4. Now, Altar of Dementia is nearly useless. He makes a big mistake attacking, trying to get through for lethal, but I block everything to not die to Collective Brutality. I'm at 4. His Kalitas died to Hogaak, putting him at 24. He does Damnation. I mill myself 8 cards, then let the other 5 creatures die to get 5 Zombies. The next turn I go off and mill him for lethal. He needed to do Damnation before Kalitas died to Hogaak. I think he got mixed up because I nearly let 1 of his 2 Zombies through to put me to 2 life. When I realized it would put me to 2, I took it back, something I can't do at Comp REL. I feel a bit badly about this one, but I should know better and make the right blocks. Also didn't notice that I had a Zombie to block with as well since it was far away (my fault) from my other blocking creatures. He was a good sport about it. He showed me 2 Extirpate, 3 Nihil Spellbomb, 1 Grafdigger's Cage, and something else that I forgot against me. Got unlucky with drawing the hate, especially using 3 Assassin's Trophy before I finally got Hogaak aboard. No more removal... I guess he could have drawn the 4th or Maelstrom Pulse... 2-1.
I go 3-2.
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/
Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander -
Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build)(dead format for me)When I lost game 2 to the mirror, I had 2 Vengevine in hand when we both had Leyline of the Void out, but only 1 Gemstone Mine. That game would have been won if I had a single Green source to fetch. But I'm scared of diluting Red sources. Don't wanna have that Overgrown Tomb/Faithless Looting hand. In game 3, I also had double Vengevine in hand in a similar game (I did not have Leyline, but he mulled to 5), but I won on the back of Gravecrawler and Wispmare beats.
*Also I should not be afraid to default to Nature's Claim. That single card has won me more matches of Modern magic than any other single card. I have played a HUGE variety of decks and Nature's Claim has been in nearly every one that supported Green. I often wonder what Modern would be for me without Nature's Claim. (I've done all kinds of things with it. I've Nature's Claimed my own Ethereal Armor when a Burn opponent cast Deflecting Palm, then won a few turns later. I've used it as removal obviously. I've hit my own Rancor and done disgusting things against Burn with it - you Destructive Revelry my Aura, no I Nature's Claim it.)
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/
Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander -
Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build)(dead format for me)Outside of that, I don't think there are SB guides. You can probably look up sideboard guides for Bridge Vine BEFORE Hogaak and the siding would be similar. Even siding with Dredge would be similar, so you can look up those. The rest is mostly done on instinct and experience with graveyard based decks vs. non graveyard based decks.
I usually take out Bloodghasts and 1 Gravecrawler when I side things in. You probably can get away with siding Vengevine(s) as well if the graveyard hate is turn 0 or super quick and affects the whole yard.
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/
Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander -
Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build)(dead format for me)Yes, it was. Technically I didn't beat him since he scooped to me after we top 4 split. He didn't want the play mat. I did.
I have 2 Cathartic Reunion. I think you wanna have more draw, at least from what I heard Kanister (Piotr Glogowski) say when I watched his stream.
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/
Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander -
Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build)(dead format for me)Round 1 vs. Burn. I combo out on turn 3 after turn 2 Altar of Dementia. In the next game, I get killed before I can untap on turn 3. In the final game, I turn 4 mill him out and he scoops. He may not have known that he could upkeep throw burn at me. He had 3 cards in hand and I was at 5. 2-1.
Round 2 vs. BW Sorins. In the first game, he our 3 Wrath of God, getting my turn 2 Hogaak and friends. I am lucky to draw a land to start flashing back Faithless Lootings and this is what won the game. I had gas later on, bringing back the Vengevine and then Hogaak. Got there. In the next game, he did Extirpate on Bridge from Below, but Vengevines and friends get there. He also had to mulligan to 5 this game. 2-0.
Round 3 vs. Druid Devastation. In game 1, I lose to the combo on turn 3 on the draw for me. I probably had him on my turn 3. In the next game, I get the combo on turn 3 after he set up his own possible turn 3. In the final game after a mull to 6, I scry Thoughtseize to the bottom because I want to find a 2nd land. I do have Lightning Axe, which slows him down, but I find land #2 on turn 3 to set up a turn 4 win. But he combos off again and kills me. 1-2.
Round 4 vs. UR Phoenix. In the first game, he plays Thing in the Ice. I kill him on turn 3. In the next game, I Thoughtseize and take Finale of Promise, which I think was a mistake. I should have taken Sleight of Hand. He had Negate and I had Altar of Dementia, but I could put creatures out to put him on the back foot and then play it when he deals with th creatures. He ends up Bolt, Looting, Thought Scour and attack with 2 Phoenix to put me to 6. Dead next turn, I cast Altar of Dementia and go off pretty easily. Tough matchup for him and he definitely made the right call, putting me on a next turn dead clock. I had drawn a 2nd Altar of Dementia by that time, so I could have cared less if I get the first one Negated. 2-0.
Round 5 vs. GW Elves. If I draw, there's a chance I get only top 5, which only top 4 moves on. That is what would have happened, as all the other pieces fell into place. But I got there, going off on turn 3 after he dork into Elvish Archdruid in game 1. In game 2, I smell Rest in Peace, so I save my Looting. He doesn't have it, but does turn 2 Dwayne's Elite, so I respond with Lightning Axe. Then I get Thoughtseize on turn 3 to do it, snaring Reclamation Sage from him before landing an Altar of Dementia. I win the very next turn. 2-0.
Top 4 vs. Druid Devastation. We split in the top 4, but he doesn't want the play mat. He scoops to me. Whew! Could have been tough, although I was the #1 see, so on the play potentially. 2-0
Finals vs. Storm. In the first game, he Remands my turn 3 win. He untags and tries to go off, but doesn't have the Electromancer dude, so he just Grapeshots my board a bit, but I Faithless Looting, drawing a Bloodghast and play a land, getting 2 Bloodghasts to swing for lethal. In the next game, I can't deal with a turn 2 Electromancer and he wins on turn 3, knowing that it looked like I win on my turn 3 since I had cast Altar of Dementia. The final game is ugly. I keep a stupid hand - a 1 lander that had 2 Bridge from Below in it. My first 2 draw steps were Leyline of the Void X 2, but after 3 Remand, I find land while he has 6 in play, and go off to mill him for lethal. He had 2 cards in hand and I was scared that he would have Noxious Revival and go off with everything in the yard for Past in Flames. I should have obviously mulliganed to Thoughtseize, Lightning Axe, or Leyline of the Void. Dumb, dumb. At least mull to 2 land... Better lucky than good. 2-1.
I go 6-1, including the win! I found out later on that there's a larger tournament nearby. Kinda sad for that, but happy that the deck performed well.
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/
Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander -
Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build)(dead format for me)Round 1 vs. Tron. I empty my hand out ridiculously quickly and even turn 3 Tron on the play, Karn or Wurmcoil would not be enough since I had a creature sacrifice outlet and he was low on life. No grave hate seen here and game 2, I do Ingot Chewer to chew an Expedition Map on turn 2. This bought me time. 2-0.
Round 2 vs. Mono Red Phoenix. In the first game, he played Bolts and Prowess Bros on the play to put me to 1 life. But I untap and mill him out to win. In the next game, he Loots Phoenix into Bolt/Bolt/Surgical Extraction my Vengevines, swing with Phoenix. I can't race this, although I have him dead on board on my turn 3 to a quick draw, but he untaps and Bolt, Bolt, Forked Bolt. I die. In the final game, it is similar, but I am able to block a Prowess dude with a Zombie from Bridge from Below, after he Prowess dude into Loot, Bolt, Surgical Extraction and Phoenix swing. But I have nothing on the untap. May have gotten there if I found an Altar of Dementia or Hogaak. Maybe... 1-2.
Round 3 vs. UB Mill. He does Surgical Extraction X 2 in game 1, but I cast Hogaak from hand and swing him twice. In the next game, he got Extirpate X 2 and Surgical Extraction X 2, but I once again finally draw Hogaak (he had no milling pressure) and swing him twice. He had 2 cards in hand before the lethal swing after drawing a card for the turn. He played Ensnaring Bridge (and I had no Altar of Dementia left in the deck), but I had Shenanigans in my graveyard. I Dredge 1. Ingot Chewer falls in the graveyard and he scoops. 2-0.
Round 4 vs. UR Phoenix. In the first game, he missed flipping a turn 2 Thing in the Ice on turn 3 on the play, so he had to chump Hogaak, Carrion Feeder, or Vengevine for lethal. He can't win after that. In the next game, he DOES flip Thing in the Ice, even after turn 1 Ravenous Trap when I Loot 2 Bridge from Below in the yard. Manamorphoses get it flipped and he Bolts enough stuff out of the way, while adding a Phoenix to the mix to finish me. In the final game, he has Ravenous Trap, but I put 2 cards in the yard, play a bunch of 1 mana dudes and Delve 2 cards to cast Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis on turn 3. He scoops. 2-1.
I finish 3-1. Another guy finished 4-0 with the deck. Amazing deck! Definitely gives me an upper hand and I have not always had that in Modern.
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/
Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander -
Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build)(dead format for me)