Yeah, at first I immediately thought of Husk for Aristocrats and Ulamog for ramp since I had no prior experience with the deck or that card, but I felt I was siding it in for value in a lot of matchups. IO on Mentor game 2 and Rhino game 3 against the Leap deck, and IO on Regent in the finals were huge momentum swings, especially if they're holding some in hand. I may up the count to 2 in my board.
Won a GPT for Oakland, which I was already planning to attend, so that's kinda cool. Sleeved up a Mardu Walkers list I saw from an SCG email and decided to give it a try over my RG Eldrazi deck without any practice. Turned out well.
Round 1 vs UG Ramp:
Opponent seemed kinda new to competitive play and made a few mistakes. He was still able to steal game 2 with two huge lands and Ugin ultimate, but Pia and Kiran got there game 3 with the fling ability. Pia and Kiran was an all star the entire day, btw.
2-1, 1-0
Round 2 vs Evolutionary Leap:
Game 1 was about 30+ minutes long. I lost a grindy affair to neverending tokens, Mentors and Rhinos. Game 2 an early Infinite Obliteration on Mentor stripped his hand and my Walkers took over. We had about 5 minutes left for game 3, and we were playing as fast as we could. I kept a hand with 2 Planar Outburst, which essentially won me the game. The speed made my opponent a little flustered I think, but I navigated a fast line to victory on turn 2 of extra turns. Shambling Vents were huge here.
2-1, 2-0
Round 3 vs Dark Jeskai:
This was a steamroll in my favor. He couldn't handle my walkers game 1, as I had a Gideon, Sorin and Ob on the board simultaneously. Game 2 was more of the same.
2-0, 3-0
Round 4 ID into Top 4.
Semifinals vs RB Dragons:
Game 1 I was down early to 2 Thunderbreak Regents, but a Painful Truths got me 2 Crackling Dooms to take care of the dragons. Vents and Sorin gained me some life back to stabilize and close it out. Pia and Kiran shined again. Love dropping Pia and the following turn a Sorin to gain 7. Game 2 he got stuck on 2 land and preemptively conceded.
2-0
Finals vs RB Dragons:
Game 1 was grindy but Pia and Kiran followed by Sorin shined yet again. Vents were big here too as they could essentially block his ground guys. My exile removal (Utter End) made my Hangarbacks better than his. Game 2 Infinite Obliteration on Thunderbreak Regent was big as I could easily deal with the rest of his threats. He mistakenly let my Gideon live and I attacked for 5 indestructible and a Vent while he was on chumpblock duty for a few turns. He landed a big Hangarback but I top decked Sarkhan to fly over for the win.
2-0
Deck felt awesome and seemed to have answers for everything. Weakest cards were Mardu Charm and Sarkhan. All stars were Vent, Gideon and Pia & Kiran.
I've been crushing on MTGO using the GP deck. The worst card definitely seems to be Sylvan Scrying since the land you grab doesn't come directly into play. I do like that you can get the Shrine and Sanctum though. Might try Natural Connection instead.
This is the deck I've been building. Basically control the board and win via Underworld Dreams. Not sure if I should add another win con like a Shivan Dragon or a Nightmare or something.
Round 1 vs UG Ramp:
Opponent seemed kinda new to competitive play and made a few mistakes. He was still able to steal game 2 with two huge lands and Ugin ultimate, but Pia and Kiran got there game 3 with the fling ability. Pia and Kiran was an all star the entire day, btw.
2-1, 1-0
Round 2 vs Evolutionary Leap:
Game 1 was about 30+ minutes long. I lost a grindy affair to neverending tokens, Mentors and Rhinos. Game 2 an early Infinite Obliteration on Mentor stripped his hand and my Walkers took over. We had about 5 minutes left for game 3, and we were playing as fast as we could. I kept a hand with 2 Planar Outburst, which essentially won me the game. The speed made my opponent a little flustered I think, but I navigated a fast line to victory on turn 2 of extra turns. Shambling Vents were huge here.
2-1, 2-0
Round 3 vs Dark Jeskai:
This was a steamroll in my favor. He couldn't handle my walkers game 1, as I had a Gideon, Sorin and Ob on the board simultaneously. Game 2 was more of the same.
2-0, 3-0
Round 4 ID into Top 4.
Semifinals vs RB Dragons:
Game 1 I was down early to 2 Thunderbreak Regents, but a Painful Truths got me 2 Crackling Dooms to take care of the dragons. Vents and Sorin gained me some life back to stabilize and close it out. Pia and Kiran shined again. Love dropping Pia and the following turn a Sorin to gain 7. Game 2 he got stuck on 2 land and preemptively conceded.
2-0
Finals vs RB Dragons:
Game 1 was grindy but Pia and Kiran followed by Sorin shined yet again. Vents were big here too as they could essentially block his ground guys. My exile removal (Utter End) made my Hangarbacks better than his. Game 2 Infinite Obliteration on Thunderbreak Regent was big as I could easily deal with the rest of his threats. He mistakenly let my Gideon live and I attacked for 5 indestructible and a Vent while he was on chumpblock duty for a few turns. He landed a big Hangarback but I top decked Sarkhan to fly over for the win.
2-0
Deck felt awesome and seemed to have answers for everything. Weakest cards were Mardu Charm and Sarkhan. All stars were Vent, Gideon and Pia & Kiran.
List:
2 Soulfire Grand Master
3 Pia and Kiran Nalaar
3 Duress
2 Painful Truths
1 Mardu Charm
2 Murderous Cut
4 Crackling Doom
3 Fiery Impulse
2 Utter End
2 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
1 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
1 Ob Nixilis Reignited
4 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
4 Nomad Outpost
4 Shambling Vent
4 Bloodstained Mire
2 Wooded Foothills
3 Mountain
2 Plains
1 Swamp
3 Battlefield Forge
1 Caves of Koilos
1 Canopy Vista
1 Smoldering Marsh
1 Mardu Charm
1 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
2 Transgress the Mind
1 Kolaghan's Command
2 Radiant Flames
1 Surge of Righteousness
2 Planar Outburst
1 Ob Nixilis Reignited
1 Ruinous Path
2 Mastery of the Unseen
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Flash Counter
1 Boomerang
1 Fork
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Recall
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Time Walk
1 Timetwister
1 Braingeyser
1 Wheel of Fortune
4 Winds of Change
1 Black Vise
1 Regrowth
1 Feldon's Cane
4 Howling Mine
4 Dark Ritual
1 Sol Ring
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Black Lotus
4 Underground Sea
4 Badlands
2 Volcanic Island
1 Library of Alexandria
4 City of Brass
2 Swamp
1 Island
SO. MUCH. FUN.
1 Sylvan Library
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Winds of Change
1 Wheel of Fortune
1 Mind Twist
4 Fellwar Stone
1 Balance
1 Regrowth
4 Dark Ritual
1 Sol Ring
1 Demonic Tutor
2 Icy Manipulator
1 Disenchant
1 The Abyss
1 Mirror Universe
2 Terror
2 Fireball
1 Nevinyrral's Disk
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
4 City of Brass
4 Badlands
2 Scrubland
1 Bayou
1 Strip Mine
1 Maze of Ith
9 Swamp