Quote from FoodChainGoblins »Quote from gkourou »Modern seems like it's in a healthy spot outside of that Hogaak deck(even this might be fine).
I saw both Red Bull tournaments and there was so much fun, interactive magic, with lot's of back and forths and decisions in it, where the most skilled players eventually won(especially in Italy, Javier Dominguez proved again why we should consider him one of the best MTG players in the world).
I would take a "No Changes" today, it's just that I think Modern is soooo fun and interactive outside of Hogaak, that this would make Modern great again!
Do you have a link for coverage? I would love to watch it. Thanks in advance.
https://m.twitch.tv/channelfireball/profile
There should be an archive here
Edit:
I think this is the direct link
https://m.twitch.tv/videos/449376980
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/449480106
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Yep. I have chosen to not ever use the ignore function because nobody has bothered me all that much. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion (especially when that opinion coincides with mine *evil laugh)
I spent a LOT of time here on this site, much more than any other site. There was a time where I admittedly spammed as much as I could to get my post count up. I wanted to feel important, lol. (yes, it is pretty immature of me) Nowadays, I haven't been super upset with the Ban decisions as much as I have for the Unban decisions. I actually really don't enjoy the current meta, which I feel is 10 hate cards vs. my busted deck in a London Mulligan rule yard.
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I'm assuming because it can sacrifice to itself, it kills many X/1 creatures in the format, it is just so flexible. It just does a lot of stuff in the format, even as just a 1/1 or 2/2.
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You should check out the Deck Tech by Brian Coval (former SCG Invitational winner). He said that the deck is reminiscent of the KCI deck, with Urza being the new "KCI."
The deck wins with Thopter Foundry and Sword of the Meek. Each mana, each turn, each artifact that produces U with Urza out, puts 1/1 fliers. Usually there will be an Ensnaring Bridge, so the opponent can't attack. Then the Urza player will draw a card and turn X 1/1s sideways. Pretty brutal stuff. Top 8 competitor Justin Porchas played the deck at 2 local tournaments and I actually didn't realize how strong it was. I was wondering why he'd play something so "bad." Lol, look how wrong I was...
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Yep, it looks like Urza, Lord High Artificer is starting to go up a bit after SCG Brian Coval's deck tech and Justin Porchas (a player local to me) top 8ing the Dallas Magic Fest.
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Yep, Regran. 81 players.
I think players were ready for Hogaak. Opponents showed me the grave hate that they had. Also there weren't as many Hogaaks as a friend of mine (from beating me with Cheerios yesterday at Concealed Courtyard) thought there would be.
I literally wanted to run Humans, as I think it has a good matchup vs. Hogaak, but I think Hogaak's days are numbered and I want to jam as much of it as I can before it gets banned. It's a bit sad, as there are many other Horizons cards I want to try - W6 Jund, Seasoned Pyromancer decks, Unearth, Urza, and more. But I will be able to play those later on; Hogaak won't be around too long. It will dodge the next ban announcement. They can't ban it quicker than they did Eye of Ugin. That would be hilarious. But it should come some time after that, most likely the next one or definitely not more than 3 announcements.
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BTW, 3 Hogaak in the top 9. This is what I remembered.
1. Hogaak
2. Amulet with Karn
3. Dredge
4. UR Phoenix
5. Humans
6. RG Loam
7. Hogaak
8. UW Control
9. Hogaak at 5-1-1 on breakers (I played him in Round 3)
4
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I personally never said any of this, so it must be someone else. I admit that the deck should have somethings banned. It took me 20 matches to figure that out, even if I had a feeling right away.
What is my record?
(it must be terrible; I predicted the Stoneforge Unban every B & R announcement since 2013 until the last 2 when I did NOT predict it anymore cuz I got tired)
P.S. - Are you playing a lot now? I know you like some Cheerios, which seems pretty well placed in this meta.
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I believe this is the correct ban. Bridge Vine gets a strict upgrade in Carrion Feeder over Viscera Seer, but still is a manageable deck. Altar is not a given in the deck anymore because the mill plan is not deterministic without Hogaak. (You need a lotta Vengevines, Bridges, and Bloodghasts right away.)
Yep. You force your opponent to have TWO different ways to stop your angles AND a win-con of their own.
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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.
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.