Going Rogue part 2 - a little help with deckbuilding from worlds

By Jim Marlow (and Ben Heath)

Hey everyone,

So my last article has hopefully thrown down a gauntlet to you maelstrom pulse whores, and/or bloodbraid lovers, to learn that you can actually gain an advantage over your opponant by having a weaker deck....

I heard from this weeks fnm that a player went 0-3 with jund, although someone else went 4-0.
Heathy ninja edit: The winning deck at worlds was jund hate, such is the dominance of jund in the field at the moment. Jund was also used a lot in the PTQs, seen as a solid deck. Interestingly only 1 Jund deck made the PTQ top 8.

So clearly jund is a swingy deck, with both good and bad performances possible. However, despite over 35% (i think) of the worlds fields playing jund, and a good few of them up at the higher tables, there were some really awesome and clearly powerful rogue decks that managed to equal the results posted by broodmate and co.

Here is a look at some of the crazy decks that went 5-1 or better during the standard portion of worlds.

Petr Brodzek
Main Deck 60 cards

4 Arid Mesa
7 Mountain
4 Naya Panorama
1 Plains
4 Scalding Tarn
4 Terramorphic Expanse

4 Goblin Guide
4 Hell's Thunder
4 Hellspark Elemental
4 Plated Geopede

4 Ajani Vengeant
4 Burst Lightning
4 Earthquake
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Zektar Shrine Expedition

Sideboard
2 Chandra Ablaze
4 Goblin Ruinblaster
4 Path to Exile
3 Quenchable Fire
2 Volcanic Fallout

Im surely not the only one to read this decklist and wonder how this guys standard deck got mixed in with his draft deck . Panorama's in standard: BONKERS!
Ninja edit 2: 1 is ok, it's decent manafixing, and can be seen as another fetch land, albeit a very bad one. Since he already has 8 fetches, I'm not entirely sure he needs any more.

This deck is clearly full of unusual choices, but results speak for themselves, and in a format full of aggro decks, this attempts to outrace them all. Ruinblaster is fast becoming my favourite card in standard....but what the hell does quenchable fire do?


Benjamin Rozmon
2009 World Championships,

Main Deck
4 Arid Mesa
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Island
2 Mountain
4 Plains
4 Scalding Tarn
4 Sejiri Refuge

2 Sphinx of Jwar Isle
3 Wall of Denial

3 Ajani Vengeant
2 Day of Judgment
3 Double Negative
3 Earthquake
4 Flashfreeze
3 Jace Beleren
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Mind Spring
3 Oblivion Ring
2 Path to Exile

sideboard
1 Ajani Vengeant
4 Baneslayer Angel
1 Day of Judgment
3 Essence Scatter
2 Felidar Sovereign
4 Spreading Seas

It seems like loads of pro's tried and failed to brew the succesful control deck that blue mages were hoping for (myself included). Again this deck is not the control deck i expected to emerge as the strongest, sans baneslayer and with maindeck double negative and earthquake. Spreading seas in the board is more proof that mana denial seems to be the strategy of choice against the b/r/g menace (doesn't quite have the same ring to it)

Yet another ninja edit:
Blue mages were left bitterly disappointed after blue failed to make a name for itself at worlds. From what I saw it looks as though control players need to pick a shard. Go bant for spreading seas deck or grixis for crul pyromancer combo. Don't go esper, it's simply too weak at the moment.

Conley Woods
2009 World Championships,
Main Deck

4 Forest
1 Misty Rainforest
4 Mountain
4 Savage Lands
3 Scalding Tarn
3 Swamp
4 Verdant Catacombs

4 Acidic Slime
4 Goblin Ruinblaster
4 Lotus Cobra
4 Mold Shambler
2 Ob Nixilis, the Fallen
4 Rampaging Baloths

4 Harrow
4 Khalni Heart Expedition
3 Terminate
4 Violent Ultimatum

sideboard
3 Caldera Hellion
4 Cruel Ultimatum
2 Island
4 Jund Charm
1 Swamp
1 Terminate

This deck was always going to get talked about. This deck is absolute insanity, and i think probably the only bit of fun in a completely boring and uninteractive format. If im going to be uninteractive i want to be casting violent ultimatum turn 3, not aimlessly flipping the top cards of my deck over in search for a blightning like an ape!


I hope these three decks have whet your appetites for the standard constructed event in Leeds next week, and hopfully some decks like these and/or some of your own designs show up to cause havoc among the format. I know that some people enjoy playing well tuned decks, that will always do well and are the best....but i hope there's still some people that would prefer to have a massive laugh doing crazy things with their own brews. If the satisfaction of playing your own deck, or something you've tweaked yourself isn't enough, then surely beating all the netdeckers with khalni heart expedition or zektar shrine expedition is.

I look forward to seeing everyone's monstrosities next wednesday (or tuesday?), hopefully i wont create a monster by writing this because i will stil metagame against jund....and probably face 15 spreading seas decks or something.

Final ninja edit:
It would be okay if all the jund decks had something different about them, like the last deck. But they don't. No, one of Siege -Gangs, Master of Wild Hunts and other stupid creatures doesn't count. I will be posting a deck that, although didn't go 5-1 or better, I whole-heartedly believe to be the best control deck there is at the moment. For those of you who are interested, yes I did play jund in Rome. I'm now sick to the back teeth of seeing jund decks, so I'm glad I got that out the way now! But looking back, I would have played this decklist, all to be revealed!


See you all next week,

Jim .....and Ben.


As always, feel free to comment on the article below. If you would like to contribute to the blog via and article, pictures, or absolutely anything, please contact me at ss07jm@leeds.ac.uk

Team Leeds Update, and going Rogue at worlds

By Jim Marlow

Hey everyone,

The sealed deck ptq season has almost passed, with only a few left...and i dont know if there is any chance of many people attending the remaining ptq's, although im looking into London, and whispers of a potentially messy Dundee trip were seen wandering round TJ's on various occasions.

The good news is, however, that if any further proof was needed that in the last 12 months Leeds has become a stomping ground of players itching to get on the tour, Andy Edwards managed to do just that this season, which is great news for both Andy and Team Leeds, im sure Andy will do really well in San Diego.

Extended season follows shortly after christmas, this time with blue envelopes bound all the way to San Juan. I have for some time considered extended to be the best constructed format (with lejacy a close second), so im pretty excited to get a delicious brew ready for January. The one thing i have decided about my deck already, however, is that it isn't going to be a netdeck, or probably even an established archetype.

I have constructed magic really tedious for a couple of reasons lately, especially in standard. Firstly, the type of decks around at the moment deliver horrible mirror matches. Mirror matches will always be horrible to some extent, but so many decks put me off simply by the fact that i may have to play against it as well (thanks, cascade!).

Going rogue is something that i have been pretty keen on for a while now, i think as long as the deck is still up there in terms of power level, then i am happy to sacrifice a little bit of efficiency for the extra percentage that going rogue gets you. Conley woods has, in the last year or so, made a name for himself based on solid performances with original decks. I think his performance shows that there shouldn't be too much pressure on picking rock, paper or scissors....because somewhere out there might be a slightly less powerful deck that noone really knows how to play against.

Why is the rogue factor important? I think having an original deck is a major advantage. In most high level constructed events, you will probably know around 70 of an opponants 75 after their first land drop. If you have a rogue deck however, the opponant will, for example, not know how to play their deck based on what you have. This problem only gets trickiet with sideboarding, when, without knowing whats in your deck, an opponant has little chance of knowing what to put in against you, and even if they do, not anticipating a rogue deck may mean they simply dont have anything in theirc sideboard to deal with your deck.

I know going rogue isn't for everyone, and i know that my deckbuilding skills wont allow me to break formats with rogue decks everytime, or at all. However, iv pretty much decided that from now on, all my constructed decks will be out of the ordinary. Im, personally, more than happy to play a slightly less powerful deck on the basis that the rogue factor will get me there, and if it doesn't, im pretty happy to be playing something different and more fun to play; because it's always more satisfying to be playing a deck you've made or inovated.

So the point of this article is to get Team Leeds to put their deckbuilding hats on again. We do get some crazy decks at WNM, but with a lot of the team looking to push PTQ's and higher level tournaments, most guys are choosing to stick with decks hot from Pro Tour or 5K top 8's.

Thats about all for this today sadly, im on my girlfriends laptop and the battery is running out. Tomorrow i will go through some of the best rogue standard decks from worlds, and hopefully that will get the creative juices flowing and we will see some crazy decks turn up next wednesday at standard WNM

.....or ill spend a long night taking 3 damage and discarding two cards.


Untill then,


Jim.


As always, feel free to comment on the article below. If you would like to contribute to the blog via and article, pictures, or absolutely anything, please contact me at ss07jm@leeds.ac.uk

Guest Column: Worlds Day 3 with Mick

By Mick Edwards

Since so much happened at worlds I have decided to only write about the games on day 3 as it was one of the better days for me (and not just because I won more games on day 3).

The previous night I had built a Zoo list using blood moons and molten rain with Mark Glenister. But afterwards a friend of mine on the Norwegian team convinced me I would be playing zoo for the wrong reasons and I should go with the deck I had been testing instead of the one I had just made up. So here is the decklist I played:

4 River of Tears

2 Swamp

1 Island

1 Dark Depths

3 Sunken Ruins

3 Tolaria West

2 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

2 Watery Grave

2 Underground River

1 Ghost Quarter

4 Chrome Mox

4 Thoughtseize

3 Dark Confidant

1 Vampire Hexmage

1 Time Seive (thanks Rob)

1 Shred Memory

1 Echoing Truth

2 Repeal

3 Engineered Explosives

3 Chalice of the Void

4 Muddle the Mixture

3 Beseech the Queen

4 Thopter Foundry

4 Sword of the Meek

---Side---

3 Damnation

3 Ravenous Trap

1 Ghost Quarter

1 Tormod’s Crypt

2 Hurkyl’s Recall

1 Pithing Needle

2 Threads of Disloyalty

1 Doom Blade

1 Yixlid Jailor

But before the extended started there were 2 rounds of team event. Ironically the 2 teams we played against were the 2 teams I had been testing with at the hotel and so we mostly knew each others decks before hand.

Round 3: Norway

This game resulted in a draw due to the Zoo vs Martyr game going to time. And Fortunately the Norwegian captain had a turn where he played standstill followed immediately by Aether Vial instead of the other way around (he was playing legacy merfolk).

More interestingly the whole round got disrupted by everyone having to fill out forms to join the Italian sports federation in order to get paid for the event.

Round 4: Isreal

I can’t remember any of these games particularly well as I think we all won these pretty fast going 3-0 across the team.

So from the Team rounds Great Britain had gone 3-0-1 which was pretty good to balance out the less than impressive individual records. Onto Extended:

Round 1: Hypergenesis

Game 1:I managed to assemble the combo fairly fast here but the turn after this he cascaded into hypergenesis with enough in hand to win the game.

Game 2: I flukily got both Hexmage and Dark Depths in my opening hand and made a turn 2 20/20 on the play, that was enough to win that game.

Game 3: This game seemed like it was back and forth a lot but really I was never too worried. From early on I had chalice set to 0 but when he eventually destroyed it with krosan grip and combed off I was ready with the Damnation to undo his combo and a tutor to get a second Chalice. He managed to combo off a second time but I had a second Damnation by this time so I was I no hurry to combo off too fast and eventually won with thopters.

1-0

Round 2: WU Thopter Combo

My opponent here was a guy on the Australian Team and I had previously leant him a Chalice of the Void so I figured he was playing some sort of control deck. The ‘mirror’ turned out to be one of the most fun games of magic I’d played in a long time and the 1^st game lasted nearly 50 minutes.

Game 1:

His deck was a slower more control version so although I was able to assemble my combo first, when he assembled his combo he was able to get more land in play to better use it. At one point he even cast gifts ungiven for 4 land when he was at 8 land already! In trying to get an edge I tried various things, from using explosives to blow up both our combos to casting chalice so neither of us could replay the combo should we draw it again (I drew the thopter foundry the next turn, at this point both our academy ruins were in the graveyard).

Eventually the chalice got removed and we both replayed the combo. I then tutored up time sieve and waited until it could not be countered to go infinite to take the game (thanks again Rob).

Game 2:

He assembled his combo very fast, but not before time was called and I used Echoing Truth and Hurkyl’s Recall to survive long enough to force a drawn game but a won round.

2-0

Round 3: UR Control

Game 1: He gets an early blood moon which locks me out of the game.

Game 2: He again gets an early blood moon, but this time it’s too late as I’ve already played my thopter foundry and I combo off through it (he gets me a warning as I accidently try to imprint time sieve on a chrome mox)

Game 3: I keep a hand with an island and a mox and some black spells thinking it will be good as I can play around blood moon. Then he goes turn 1 mox into chalice for 0, then turn 2 blood moon! I eventually draw my swamp to explosives for 3 and kill his blood moon but the next turn he drops a chalice for 2 to stop me from playing my combo (Afterwards I felt stupid for not saving my explosives to kill his chalices but with 2 chalices at 0 and a blood moon in play there is no way for me to actually do that). I go for another win condition: manually removing dark depths counters, and the turn I get a 20/20 he plays Venser for the win.

2-1

Round 4: Hypergenesis

Game 1: I play chalice for 0 and he can’t deal with it so casts nothing all game.

Game 2: He combos off on turn 2... But I’m almost glad as my hand contains foundry, sword and time sieve and enough land (inc. Acad ruins) to go infinite should I draw a land in my next 3 draws. However, he puts 2 Angel of Despair into play so I concede rather than show him my tech.

Game 3: He mulligans and keeps a 1 land hand which kills my chalice for 0 with Ingot Chewer, but I tutor up a second chalice before he finds his second land and I win soon after.

3-1

Round 4: Martyr

I don’t remember much about this round except he was playing a weird martyr build and he won 1 game because he had double castigate to remove my combo. In another game I managed to get my combo just in time as he had exactly lethal plus path and I was able to make 1 thopter... leaving me at 1 life when he cast path. I then untapped and made about 5 thopters and gain 5 life to win a few turns later.

4-1

Round 5: Zoo

Game 1: I have the worst draw in the world against zoo as I draw 3 thoughtseize in a row (one gets imprinted on a mox) and he draws pridemage to play in between my thoughtseizes. Despite this I manage to combo off when he is tapped out to make a few blockers, but he uses punishing fire combo to clear them out of the way so he can swing in for the win.

Game 2: I use chrome mox to make a turn 1 sword of the meek as a decoy as I have hexmage + dark depths in hand. He makes turn 2 kataki and I make a 20/20 the following turn. He plays path from the top of his library (how lucky) and then begins playing meddling mages. After he has played 2 meddling mage both naming thopter foundry I kill them both with engineered explosives... so he sets his next mage to explosives when I academy ruins it to my hand. I have echoing truth ready but not enough mana to cast that + explosives + activate and he wins the next turn as he had been beating in for a long time.

4-2

I felt both games against zoo were very unlucky draws for me and very lucky draws for him (he told me the path was off the top.) I really enjoyed playing the deck and was very glad I didn’t play zoo instead as most of my match-ups would have been a lot tougher for zoo.

Mick

Drafting with Jim #14

By Jim Marlow

Hey everyone,

I know these articles were pretty popular when i did a few around alara block, so im trying to do as many as my (extremely) limited online budget will allow, although luckily i have been opening and selling fetchlands (something like 8 out of 7 drafts now), to fund the recent run of draft articles. Sorry that i didn't do too many in the last month or so but being poor, not opening baneslayers or duals....and triple M10 as the format were all causes for me to largely abandon modo untill Zendikar.

Anyway, this last couple of drafts i have done seem to have been a big improvement. I feel like i have a pretty good grasp of how the format works now, and how the state of the format affects my pick order.

So here is the first of a couple drafts i have to go up, when Andy came over to join me for a little sess. I know everyone is bored of me saying, but if this draft doesn't point out how i manage to lose with the best deck at the table, im not sure what will.


Event #: 677539
Time: 11/9/2009 2:26:20 PM
Players:
MrNinja
hairy_monster
Pheonix_Firebringer
--> wiggi1
Hugoh
svampubben
dancefly
JunkoZ

------ ZEN ------

Pack 1 pick 1:
--> Kor Skyfisher
Oran-Rief Recluse
Mold Shambler
Merfolk Seastalkers
Hagra Crocodile
Kor Hookmaster
Tuktuk Grunts
Trailblazer's Boots
Beastmaster Ascension
Teetering Peaks
Heartstabber Mosquito
Swamp
Stonework Puma
Quest for the Gravelord
Whiplash Trap

Its skyfisher or the 2 black cards here, and i like skyfisher bet and would rather ship the black.

Pack 1 pick 2:
Joraga Bard
--> Kor Skyfisher
Bladetusk Boar
Quest for the Gravelord
Whiplash Trap
Piranha Marsh
Slaughter Cry
Electropotence
Scythe Tiger
Mire Blight
Sunspring Expedition
Vastwood Gorger
Quest for the Gemblades
Mountain

Nice!

Pack 1 pick 3:
Into the Roil
Surrakar Marauder
Unstable Footing
Frontier Guide (FOIL)
Expedition Map
Island
Hideous End
Grazing Gladehart
Stonework Puma
--> Shepherd of the Lost
Pillarfield Ox
Umara Raptor
Kor Sanctifiers

I dont want too many 5 mana spells in the deck i hope to draft, and i would be happy with either the raptor or sanctifiers, but shepherd is so much better i cant pass it.

Pack 1 pick 4:
Kabira Crossroads
Hagra Diabolist
Nimbus Wings
--> Zektar Shrine Expedition
Landbind Ritual
Primal Bellow
Trapfinder's Trick
Mold Shambler
Hagra Crocodile
Zendikar Farguide
Swamp
Soul Stair Expedition

Most aggresive card in the pack, considering i am feeding black

Pack 1 pick 5:
Forest
Heartstabber Mosquito
--> Goblin Shortcutter
Kor Cartographer
Tanglesap
Desecrated Earth
Seascape Aerialist
Makindi Shieldmate
Caller of Gales
Mark of Mutiny
Blood Seeker

Pack 1 pick 6:
Soul Stair Expedition
Territorial Baloth
Sunspring Expedition
Mire Blight
Kor Cartographer
Jwar Isle Refuge
Tempest Owl
--> Windborne Charge
Baloth Cage Trap
Forest

Pack 1 pick 7:
Kabira Crossroads
--> Kor Skyfisher
Sejiri Refuge
Island
Mold Shambler
Spidersilk Net
Heartstabber Mosquito
Highland Berserker
Needlebite Trap

Zing Zing Zing!

(i forgot to mention this was a 4-3-2-2 - we were in a little bit of a hurry and the 8-4 had 0 people in the queue to the 4-3-2-2 having 6!)

Pack 1 pick 8:
Hedron Scrabbler
Paralyzing Grasp
Forest
Giant Scorpion
--> Goblin Bushwhacker
Hagra Diabolist
Ondu Cleric
Seascape Aerialist

Pack 1 pick 9:
Hagra Crocodile
Trailblazer's Boots
Beastmaster Ascension
--> Teetering Peaks
Heartstabber Mosquito
Swamp
Stonework Puma

not bad with trips fisher

Pack 1 pick 10:
Piranha Marsh
Scythe Tiger
Mire Blight
Sunspring Expedition
--> Quest for the Gemblades
Mountain

Pack 1 pick 11:
--> Surrakar Marauder
Unstable Footing
Expedition Map
Island
Pillarfield Ox

Pack 1 pick 12:
--> Kabira Crossroads
Landbind Ritual
Trapfinder's Trick
Swamp

Pack 1 pick 13:
Forest
Desecrated Earth
--> Caller of Gales

Pack 1 pick 14:
Mire Blight
--> Forest

Pack 1 pick 15:
--> Island

------ ZEN ------

Pack 2 pick 1:
Goblin War Paint
Spire Barrage
Ior Ruin Expedition
Kraken Hatchling
Hellfire Mongrel
Desecrated Earth
Island
Seismic Shudder
Surrakar Marauder
Spidersilk Net
Caravan Hurda
Turntimber Grove
Kor Aeronaut
--> Verdant Catacombs
Needlebite Trap

Pretty good pack to get a money rare in, nothing too bomby. Probs would have taken aeronaut if not.

Pack 2 pick 2:
Beast Hunt (FOIL)
Mind Sludge
Paralyzing Grasp
Piranha Marsh
Sky Ruin Drake
--> Bladetusk Boar
Spidersilk Net
Harrow
Welkin Tern
Grazing Gladehart
Island
Bloodghast
Kor Cartographer
Murasa Pyromancer

Pack 2 pick 3:
Harrow
--> Shatterskull Giant
Grazing Gladehart
Into the Roil
Graypelt Refuge
Bold Defense
Swamp
Kor Duelist
Nimana Sell-Sword
Tuktuk Grunts
Ior Ruin Expedition
Devout Lightcaster
Tajuru Archer

Pack 2 pick 4:
Frontier Guide
Gomazoa
Goblin War Paint
Oran-Rief, the Vastwood
Plains
Blood Seeker
Ior Ruin Expedition
Guul Draz Vampire
Lethargy Trap
--> Kor Hookmaster
Territorial Baloth
Tanglesap

Pack 2 pick 5:
Spreading Seas
Trapmaker's Snare
--> Adventuring Gear
Savage Silhouette
Goblin Bushwhacker
Reckless Scholar
Lethargy Trap
Ondu Cleric
Forest
Brave the Elements
Cliff Threader

Pack 2 pick 6:
Runeflare Trap
Ruinous Minotaur
--> Torch Slinger
Vastwood Gorger
Island
Reckless Scholar
Territorial Baloth
Blood Tribute
Teetering Peaks
Soaring Seacliff

Pack 2 pick 7:
Kor Duelist
Goblin War Paint
Goblin Shortcutter
Plains
Narrow Escape
--> Kor Hookmaster
Nissa's Chosen
Goblin Shortcutter (FOIL)
Sadistic Sacrament

Pack 2 pick 8:
Pillarfield Ox
--> Turntimber Basilisk
Forest
Timbermaw Larva
Narrow Escape
Kraken Hatchling
Desecrated Earth
Caller of Gales

Im not a big fan of narrow escape, but apparently everyone else is. I prefer to take a card that makes my flyers block it.

Pack 2 pick 9:
Goblin War Paint
Ior Ruin Expedition
Desecrated Earth
Island
--> Seismic Shudder
Caravan Hurda
Turntimber Grove

Pack 2 pick 10:
Beast Hunt (FOIL)
--> Mind Sludge
Paralyzing Grasp
Piranha Marsh
Spidersilk Net
Island

Pack 2 pick 11:
--> Graypelt Refuge
Swamp
Kor Duelist
Ior Ruin Expedition
Tajuru Archer

Pack 2 pick 12:
--> Frontier Guide
Plains
Ior Ruin Expedition
Tanglesap

Pack 2 pick 13:
--> Spreading Seas
Trapmaker's Snare
Forest

Pack 2 pick 14:
Island
--> Soaring Seacliff

Pack 2 pick 15:
--> Kor Duelist

------ ZEN ------

Pack 3 pick 1:
Makindi Shieldmate
Caller of Gales
Blood Seeker
--> Marsh Flats
Vines of Vastwood
Ruinous Minotaur
Quest for Pure Flame
Plains
Giant Scorpion
Stonework Puma
Tanglesap
Paralyzing Grasp
Pillarfield Ox
Gomazoa
Quest for the Gemblades

See pack 2

Pack 3 pick 2:
Molten Ravager
Mountain
Arrow Volley Trap
Mind Sludge
Mire Blight
Zendikar Farguide
Khalni Heart Expedition
Archmage Ascension
Tuktuk Grunts
Soul Stair Expedition
Quest for the Holy Relic
Kor Sanctifiers
Crypt Ripper
--> Magma Rift

Pack 3 pick 3:
Kazandu Refuge
Highland Berserker
Cosi's Trickster
Forest (FOIL)
Kabira Crossroads
Giant Scorpion
--> Disfigure
Savage Silhouette
Reckless Scholar
Desecrated Earth
Cobra Trap
Plains
Narrow Escape

Yuk!

Pack 3 pick 4:
Goblin Shortcutter
Turntimber Grove
Spreading Seas
Ior Ruin Expedition
Caravan Hurda
Nissa's Chosen
Emeria, the Sky Ruin
Plains
Guul Draz Vampire
Graypelt Refuge
Carnage Altar
--> Steppe Lynx

Pack 3 pick 5:
Landbind Ritual
Grim Discovery
Cancel
Savage Silhouette
Noble Vestige
Shatterskull Giant
Mindless Null
--> Journey to Nowhere
Joraga Bard
Mountain
Demolish

Yay!

Pack 3 pick 6:
--> Pitfall Trap
Kor Outfitter
Ravenous Trap
Spidersilk Net
Joraga Bard
Kor Hookmaster
Quest for Pure Flame (FOIL)
Grim Discovery
Swamp
Surrakar Marauder

This is why i never take removal packs 1 and 2...

Pack 3 pick 7:
--> Steppe Lynx
Grim Discovery
Akoum Refuge
Demolish
Spell Pierce
Goblin Ruinblaster
Forest
Bog Tatters
Kor Outfitter

Pack 3 pick 8:
Quest for Ancient Secrets
Bog Tatters
--> Slaughter Cry
Kor Outfitter
Shieldmate's Blessing
Beast Hunt
Bold Defense
Swamp

Pack 3 pick 9:
Caller of Gales
Ruinous Minotaur
Quest for Pure Flame
Plains
Tanglesap
Pillarfield Ox
--> Quest for the Gemblades

Pack 3 pick 10:
Mountain
Mire Blight
Zendikar Farguide
Archmage Ascension
--> Soul Stair Expedition
Quest for the Holy Relic

Pack 3 pick 11:
--> Forest (FOIL)
Kabira Crossroads
Desecrated Earth
Plains
Narrow Escape

Pack 3 pick 12:
Turntimber Grove
--> Caravan Hurda
Plains
Carnage Altar

Pack 3 pick 13:
Noble Vestige
--> Mindless Null
Mountain

Pack 3 pick 14:
Ravenous Trap
--> Swamp

Pack 3 pick 15:
--> Forest


im pretty sure the deck i made was absolutely nonsense, i didn't really percieve a way to lose with it.

Round 1 - 5 colour allies.

Game 1 he made irrelevant allies to my mull to 5, then made an eldrazi monument, nice.

Game 2 - he made 5 different refuge lands, played a guy which i killed, then passed with 7 lands in play, 5 cards in hand and i killed him

Game 3 - He played some allies, i got him to 2, then he made ondu cleric then more allies to go to 20 life again, awkward. Then he found kazuul warlord with his sea-gate loremaster.....awkward.

So i lose with a deck which barring pedo's, is just the absolute nuts, ah well.


Untill then,


Jim


As always, feel free to comment on this article, or anything related or unrelated to magic whatsoever. If you would like to contribute to the TLM blog, please email any pictures, ideas or articles to ss07jm@leeds.ac.uk

Drafting with Jim #13

By Jim Marlow

Hey everyone,

Obviously when im not scrubbing in real life PTQ's, i find some time for a good relaxing scrub on modo. As i said last time, i said i have drafted a couple of times where i felt like i had the best deck at the table then managed to get blown out round 1 or 2.....well here is one of my drafts from a few weeks back and so far the only online zendikar draft i have made prizes in (out of 4), even though my deck isn't really the hotness.

(btw i had hoped to force b/r)

Players:
thatsme
MaraK72
Lamppost
emeng
pinktanktops
HOTFELLASareMyKryptonite
--> wiggi1
Metapod

------ ZEN ------

Pack 1 pick 1:
Merfolk Wayfinder
Kraken Hatchling
Heartstabber Mosquito
Oran-Rief Survivalist
Desecrated Earth
Swamp
Lethargy Trap
Tanglesap
Kor Sanctifiers
Feast of Blood
Goblin Bushwhacker
Akoum Refuge
Sky Ruin Drake (FOIL)
Makindi Shieldmate
--> Marsh Flats

nice, especially in a pack where another 1st pick doesn't immediately jump out (burst lightning, pedo, hideous)

Pack 1 pick 2:
Soaring Seacliff
Expedition Map
Blood Seeker
Spreading Seas
Nissa's Chosen
Ondu Cleric
Narrow Escape
Brave the Elements
Baloth Cage Trap
Cosi's Trickster
Steppe Lynx
Swamp
--> Crypt Ripper
Goblin Shortcutter

ouch, maybe the blood seeker was better, but i didn't really use to rate him very highly due to 1 power

Pack 1 pick 3:
Trailblazer's Boots
Trapfinder's Trick
Scythe Tiger
Nimbus Wings
Vines of Vastwood
Magma Rift
Sky Ruin Drake
Forest
Pillarfield Ox
Relic Crush
--> Burst Lightning
Punishing Fire
Vampire's Bite

nice

Pack 1 pick 4:
Æther Figment
--> Shatterskull Giant
Plains
Hagra Crocodile
Makindi Shieldmate
Carnage Altar
Giant Scorpion
Savage Silhouette
Goblin Bushwhacker
Spreading Seas
Windrider Eel
Ondu Cleric

Pack 1 pick 5:
Grim Discovery
Plains
Relic Crush
Bog Tatters
Kor Cartographer
--> Torch Slinger
Kor Outfitter
Demolish
Spell Pierce
Quest for Ancient Secrets
Territorial Baloth

you cant imagine how much i want batters to wheel!

Pack 1 pick 6:
Goblin War Paint
Timbermaw Larva
Desecrated Earth
Goblin Ruinblaster
Bold Defense
Frontier Guide
Unstable Footing
--> Ruinous Minotaur
Caller of Gales
Island

Pack 1 pick 7:
Spell Pierce
Piranha Marsh
Grim Discovery
--> Bog Tatters
Quest for Pure Flame
Swamp
Grazing Gladehart
Sunspring Expedition
Kor Outfitter

Pack 1 pick 8:
Grappling Hook
Noble Vestige
Soul Stair Expedition
Runeflare Trap
--> Teetering Peaks
Tempest Owl
Sunspring Expedition
Mountain

Pack 1 pick 9:
Merfolk Wayfinder
Desecrated Earth
Swamp
Lethargy Trap
Tanglesap
Goblin Bushwhacker
--> Akoum Refuge

probs should have been the bushwacker here, so far i havent had too many little red or black men though, and i didn't really know how good he was.

Pack 1 pick 10:
Expedition Map
Spreading Seas
Narrow Escape
Brave the Elements
Cosi's Trickster
--> Swamp

why did i take swamp?

Pack 1 pick 11:
Trailblazer's Boots
Scythe Tiger
Forest
Relic Crush
--> Vampire's Bite

Pack 1 pick 12:
Plains
Carnage Altar
--> Savage Silhouette
Spreading Seas

Pack 1 pick 13:
--> Relic Crush
Demolish
Quest for Ancient Secrets

Pack 1 pick 14:
--> Unstable Footing
Island

Pack 1 pick 15:
--> Quest for Pure Flame

------ ZEN ------

Pack 2 pick 1:
Timbermaw Larva
Seismic Shudder
Jwar Isle Refuge
Cliff Threader
Hedron Scrabbler
Khalni Gem
Pitfall Trap
Spreading Seas
Ondu Cleric
Explorer's Scope
Island
Disfigure
--> Eldrazi Monument
Bladetusk Boar
Paralyzing Grasp

Pack 2 pick 2:
Stonework Puma
Quest for the Gravelord
Pillarfield Ox
Swamp
Ruinous Minotaur
--> Hideous End
Murasa Pyromancer
Narrow Escape
Into the Roil
Caller of Gales
Frontier Guide
Goblin War Paint
Grazing Gladehart
Nissa's Chosen

good.

Pack 2 pick 3:
Mountain
Desecrated Earth
Gomazoa (FOIL)
Jwar Isle Refuge
Kabira Crossroads
River Boa
Teetering Peaks
Goblin War Paint
Khalni Gem
Reckless Scholar
--> Hagra Crocodile
Caller of Gales
Vastwood Gorger

Pack 2 pick 4:
Sadistic Sacrament
Baloth Woodcrasher
Goblin Bushwhacker
Lethargy Trap
Guul Draz Vampire
Expedition Map
Welkin Tern
Blood Seeker
Kazandu Refuge
--> Spire Barrage
Swamp
Tanglesap

Pack 2 pick 5:
--> Giant Scorpion
Tempest Owl
Kazandu Refuge
Molten Ravager
Khalni Heart Expedition
Sunspring Expedition
Mire Blight
Lullmage Mentor
Plains
Bog Tatters (FOIL)
Paralyzing Grasp

Pack 2 pick 6:
Timbermaw Larva
Lethargy Trap
--> Bladetusk Boar
Piranha Marsh
Plains
Vastwood Gorger
Goblin Bushwhacker
Quest for Ancient Secrets
Tanglesap
Makindi Shieldmate

this is a nice pick.

Pack 2 pick 7:
Spidersilk Net
Mold Shambler
Kor Cartographer
Emeria, the Sky Ruin
Kabira Crossroads
Savage Silhouette
--> Akoum Refuge
Reckless Scholar
Swamp

Pack 2 pick 8:
Turntimber Grove
Seismic Shudder
Archmage Ascension
--> Giant Scorpion
Hagra Diabolist
Desecrated Earth
Plains
Kraken Hatchling

i like the scorpion, looks like my deck is slightly slower than i hoped though, at least these should help. probably should have taken the soul stair expedition earlier (i think i took teetering peaks over it)

Pack 2 pick 9:
Seismic Shudder
Jwar Isle Refuge
--> Cliff Threader
Spreading Seas
Ondu Cleric
Explorer's Scope
Island

seismic shudder here? probs

Pack 2 pick 10:
Swamp
Narrow Escape
Caller of Gales
Frontier Guide
Goblin War Paint
--> Nissa's Chosen

Pack 2 pick 11:
Mountain
Desecrated Earth
Jwar Isle Refuge
--> Goblin War Paint
Caller of Gales

Pack 2 pick 12:
Sadistic Sacrament
--> Lethargy Trap
Swamp
Tanglesap

Pack 2 pick 13:
Sunspring Expedition
--> Mire Blight
Plains

Pack 2 pick 14:
--> Lethargy Trap
Plains

Pack 2 pick 15:
--> Swamp

------ ZEN ------

Pack 3 pick 1:
Into the Roil
Mark of Mutiny
Bloodghast (FOIL)
Expedition Map
Vastwood Gorger
Oran-Rief, the Vastwood
Umara Raptor
Kor Sanctifiers
Jwar Isle Refuge
Bold Defense
Swamp
Ruinous Minotaur
--> Hideous End
Surrakar Marauder
Gatekeeper of Malakir

nice pack, didnt really know what to take, although im kindly pointed out towards the bloodghas and eldrazi monument combo.....ah.

Pack 3 pick 2:
Spell Pierce
Zektar Shrine Expedition
Plains
Mindless Null
Soaring Seacliff
Tempest Owl
--> Heartstabber Mosquito
Turntimber Basilisk
Harrow
Noble Vestige
Kor Sanctifiers
Landbind Ritual
Hedron Scrabbler
Electropotence

Pack 3 pick 3:
Nissa's Chosen
Quest for Pure Flame
Magosi, the Waterveil
Spire Barrage
Narrow Escape
Spidersilk Net
Caravan Hurda
--> Guul Draz Vampire
Goblin Shortcutter
Turntimber Grove
Quest for the Gemblades
Soaring Seacliff (FOIL)
Swamp

Pack 3 pick 4:
Geyser Glider
Quest for Pure Flame
Beast Hunt
Goblin Guide
--> Plated Geopede
Electropotence (FOIL)
Molten Ravager
Grim Discovery
Greenweaver Druid
Soul Stair Expedition
Kor Hookmaster
Plains

Pack 3 pick 5:
Mountain
--> Crypt Ripper
Eternity Vessel
Mold Shambler
Tuktuk Grunts
Ior Ruin Expedition
Kabira Crossroads
Steppe Lynx
Mark of Mutiny
Runeflare Trap
Teetering Peaks

Pack 3 pick 6:
Magma Rift
Shieldmate's Blessing
Zendikar Farguide
Brave the Elements
Bog Tatters
--> Torch Slinger
Trapmaker's Snare
Slaughter Cry
Oran-Rief Recluse
Island

Pack 3 pick 7:
Noble Vestige
Mire Blight
Hedron Scrabbler
Windborne Charge
Forest
Tempest Owl
Kor Duelist (FOIL)
Scythe Tiger
--> Zektar Shrine Expedition

Pack 3 pick 8:
Caravan Hurda
Island
Seascape Aerialist
Highland Berserker
Turntimber Grove
Windborne Charge
--> Giant Scorpion
Seismic Shudder

Pack 3 pick 9:
Mark of Mutiny
Expedition Map
Vastwood Gorger
Jwar Isle Refuge
Bold Defense
Swamp
--> Ruinous Minotaur

Pack 3 pick 10:
--> Zektar Shrine Expedition
Plains
Soaring Seacliff
Noble Vestige
Landbind Ritual
Hedron Scrabbler

Pack 3 pick 11:
Quest for Pure Flame
Spidersilk Net
--> Caravan Hurda
Turntimber Grove
Swamp

Pack 3 pick 12:
Quest for Pure Flame
Beast Hunt
--> Molten Ravager
Plains

Pack 3 pick 13:
Mountain
--> Tuktuk Grunts
Runeflare Trap

Pack 3 pick 14:
--> Shieldmate's Blessing
Island

Pack 3 pick 15:
--> Forest

Basically i lose the final after being denied the split.....someone had been watching the replays i guess.

Quite a few mispicks here, far more than i thought i had made, which is a bit annoying looking back at it, but it was one of my earlier drafts and i was still of the opinion big green was ok, luckily other people in the draft were too.

See you soon, hopefully i will have done a draft when im not awful before then, buti wouldn't count on it.

Untill then,


Jim


As always, feel free to comment on this article, or anything related or unrelated to magic whatsoever. If you would like to contribute to the TLM blog, please email any pictures, ideas or articles to ss07jm@leeds.ac.uk

AE says GG to CB - PTQ Cambridge 7th November

By Jim Marlow

Hey everyone,

Firstly, i hope everyone in Leeds and elsewhere is ok. Leeds WNM is proving as popular as ever, nearly 3 pods turned out this week for draft, despite missing a couple of people that might be expected. I think it is a massive testament to the work of, primarily Rob Wagner, who had to fill the void left by Rik, always a very popular and efficient Tournament Organiser, yet Rob has more than risen to the challenge, and the increase in attendance is fantastic for the Team Leeds and the wider magic community.

The PTQ season is in full swing now with Gravesend, Cambridge yesterday and next week Birmingham, ands zendikar is proving to be a highly popular format, from pros to players of relative inexperiance.


Err.....i don't really know where to start this PTQ report, if at all to be honest. Since getting back from the PTQ i have been struggling to think of any funnier experiances than those i had over the last two days with Martin and Beard, and yet i think the simple fact is that this weekend has been an absolute cracker; hilarious, dusgusting and succesful.

Before i do get started however, i want to firstly both thank and congratulate the staff of Inner Sanctum Collectables for a highly succesful first PTQ, im sure the success of this one means it will be a mainstay of English PTQ's in years to come. Also, it's good to see the hard work of shopkeepers/TO's paid off by being rewarded events like this, especially when they rise to the occasion and make it a day to remember.

On friday Martin and Andy picked me up to head down to my house for a night spent before the PTQ on Saturday. After a short discussion we decided that despite an agreement to take Mick down as well, he would probably win, and thought that by leaving him here it would be a far more level playing field for everyone else going to Cambridge. So the three of us made our way down to Bury St Edmunds, leaving at 2 to avoid the friday rush our traffic, sadly meaning we had to go down as a threesome. (why can't i write this without thinking a nasty, cheers you two)

Leaving early also meant arriving early, and we got back to my place about 5ish. After frequenting the local gaming shop to find they didn't have boosters, we went to our second form of sanctuary, the pub....for dinner.

Sadly, dinner turned in to the three of us getting quite severly drunk on a short tour of some of the fine pubs in town, oops.

Saturday morning was difficult, with all 3 of us basically spending the early part of the day 'holding in', with mixed levels of success.

I had been given a good pool, i felt (even if the judge decided there wasn't an issue when it did not have 4 vampire nighthawks in it). The deck i made was u/w, with dubs skyfisher, dubs umara raptor, welkin tern, sky ruin drake, world queller and celestial mantle, which after a "days" play and conversations with others still leaves me unsure of it's power level. Either way, annoyingly my only removal was 1 pitfall trap, with an into the roil and whiplash trap to support, but i wasn't sure i could deal with either huge men if i wasn't fast enough, or lots of quick small men if i was too slow....so hopefully i could get decent draws with some of my many flyers.

After going out of the tournament i saw i probably misbuilt by not putting 2 makindi shieldmates in my deck. I thought long and hard about their inclusion but i didn't think their benefit to the raptor was great enough to put them in over other guys. However, i think now i should have decided my deck was going to hopefully stall the ground long enough to push through with flyers, never mind, i was pissed.

Round 1 - Lee Wood

Mulligan to 5 both games....

I think i conceeded the second game when i was on 40 life, after my celestial mantle'd guy got in. Sadly, both my celestial mantle and luminarch ascencion got kor sanctified, sigh.

Round 2 - Craig Jones

Luckily, my mulligans are met with some from my opponant, which makes this match at least a little fairer, especially as i draw some flyers, which it turns out my opponant cant really deal with. His deck has a decent amount of removal but dubs skyfisher gets there.

Game 3 i finally keep a 7 card hand and again find some flyers to get some damage in. skyfisher and adventuring gear gets me a good way into Craig's life total, and despite finding a blocker or two, my flyers push through.

I take a lot of confidence from this match, because i was pretty happy with my pool and deck, at least to some extent, so i was sure i could go at least 4 or 5 rounds in, if not sneak in with some luck.

Round 3 - can't remember

My opponant is playing naya colours, which is ok but im a bit threatened by the possibility of green because my deck has very little which can deal with fat men.

Game 1 i go to 5 and despite decent draws i cant fight a territorial baloth and vastwood gorger.

Game 2, my opponant goes to 5, which is nice.....but my deck doesn't serve me quite the aggressive start i need (i.e the god draw), and i find that i still cant beat territorial baloth and vastwood gorger, especially when pitfall trap meets vines of vastwood.

1-2 droop.

So, not quite the droid i was looking for here. I was pretty annoyed becaus in the space of 3 rounds i felt like i had played more non-games than actual games. I felt dissapointed because the deck could, and probably should have done better, but ultimately thats the way the cookie crumbles some times.

Luckily, Andy Edwards was having a much better time with his deck, which didn't seem like it was a great deal better than mine. But after a loss early on decided he had also made a drunken misbuild and decided and 18 card transformational sideboard was the best way to get there. Rumour has it that a certain tog batters from the board proved itself to be crucial in countless victories in the tournament, what a guy.

....and it was.

Serving him the 4 straight wins in a row that he needed to get into top 8 with a 5-1-1 record.

Annoyingly, i was not able to watch the top 8 draft because i had joined a team draft against some guys from London which sadly we lost to some very close matches, meaning they got picks 1-3 of the rares when we rochester drafted them

This wasn't the worst outcome in the world however, seeing as the 18 boosters we used served up these gems.

2 x Sorin Markhov
2 x Day of Judgement
1 x Lotus Cobra
1 x Marsh Flats

so everyone got a nice card, i ended up with a day of judgement, and paying £6.50 for that and a giggle getting it wasn't the worst in the world.

Anyway, i come back to see Andy's deck, which is very small, aggressive b/r men, with a very good removal suite and a couple of tricks. It seems ok, not the best in the world because clearly other people are in red, but if his little guys can do enough his burn can get him home.

The long and short of it is that Andy Edwards won the draft, and the PTQ, getting some help along the way: firstly by certain matches going his way in the top 8, meaning Andy dodged 2 very nasty looking decks which could have been trouble, but secondly by drawing his 4th and 5 land in a sad end to a good day when he won the final in an epic mana screw on both sides of the table. Luckily, Andy's cheap deck meant he could play a few spells, and finding land meant he could then unleash a shatterskull giant to his opponants empty board thanks to a swamp drawn for gatekeeper of malakir. No 4th land for his opponant meant the slaughter cry in hand was for exactsies, even without the hideous end or spire barrage in hand, squelch.

Another crazy story from the PTQ was in Andy's semi final, after Andy had gome 1-0 up. Andy ships an ok, but not amazing 7...then gets back a terrible 6, then 5, then 4?!?. He scoops up his 4 dejected and stares back at double vampire lacerator, verdant catacombs, mountain....seems good. Turn 1; lacerator. Turn 2; draw mountain, in, lacerator. Turn 3; draw goblin bushwacker, kick and in for 8!!!!

Congratulations to Andy Edwards for winning the PTQ, there are few magic players who deserve this kind of success more than Andy, and its nice to see good guys going to the pro tour to represent England at a game where being good has a strong correlation with being a cock.

wow, what a crazy couple of days. Another member of Team Leeds on the tour, another Edwards, at least someone can keep Potter company on his travels.

Highlights

1. Andy tripping over the ramp in the game room.

2. Bum dribble

3. Nick not finding the droids he was looking for

4. Tog batters getting there for Andy, alllllllll the way to the top 8

5. An 11p Shivan Dragon

6. Chiqito's

Lowlights

1. Leaving Potter behind

2. Me being a scrub AND not getting a fetchland

3. Whatever happened in the queue to register for the PTQ

4. Not thinking of putting 4 vampire nighthawks in a condom up my arse


I wish all PTQ's were like this, except i wouldn't mind a bit of success and Andy scrubbing next time tbh. But aside from the PTQ, the experiance was crazy, i went home with a sore head, a bunch of hilarious memories, and a mouth that badly needs washing out with soap....bring on Birmingham next week.

Untill then,


Jim


As always, feel free to comment on this article, or anything related or unrelated to magic whatsoever. If you would like to contribute to the TLM blog, please email any pictures, ideas or articles to ss07jm@leeds.ac.uk

Drafting with Jim #12

By Jim Marlow

Hey everyone,

I hope all is well in Leeds. I am absolutely snowed under with work at the moment so i havent been keeping tabs on either of the major strategy websites, so i have been trying to keep on top of the latest developments when i have a few spare moments. Either way, i feel like i am well out of the loop on the comings and goings of magic.

It feels like ages since i have done one of these articles, but i evetually found the dark corner of my computer where the draft recorder saves its files too, meaning i have a couple of recent drafts i can now post without the hassle of desperately trying to write down cards during the draft, although im not sure it means i will do any better.

Me and Mick decided the other night to join an 8-4 queue, in the hope that one of us might get some boosters we could split, and obv being the best drafters in the world i was already planning on how to spend my 6...

Here's how it went

Event #: 652962
Time: 10/29/2009 10:42:57 PM
Players:
Tower
mickmickmick182
Elvish_Warrior
Brunert
watashi kattakotoga nai
Dark Enigma
--> wiggi1
Alexey_Antonenko

------ ZEN ------

Pack 1 pick 1:
Shatterskull Giant
Island
Umara Raptor
Trapmaker's Snare (FOIL)
Vines of Vastwood
Kor Cartographer
Torch Slinger
Hagra Diabolist
Giant Scorpion
Quest for the Gemblades
--> Windrider Eel
Quest for Pure Flame
Savage Silhouette
Territorial Baloth
Beastmaster Ascension

quite a tough pick from a strong pack, but im not sure of how bomby the acension is, and to be honest i dont want to be green.

Pack 1 pick 2:
Surrakar Marauder
Nimana Sell-Sword
Grazing Gladehart
Shepherd of the Lost
Hideous End
Kor Cartographer
Shatterskull Giant
Expedition Map
--> Welkin Tern
Bold Defense
Summoner's Bane
Forest
Into the Roil
Graypelt Refuge

Not really sure if the tern is the pick over hideous end, but blue looks to be my main colour and i dont really want to be passing terns if this is the case.

Pack 1 pick 3:
--> Welkin Tern
Blood Seeker
Kor Cartographer
Hedron Scrabbler
Spidersilk Net
Kor Duelist
Goblin Bushwhacker
Forest
Lethargy Trap
Jwar Isle Refuge
Merfolk Wayfinder
Ondu Cleric
Goblin War Paint

Quite a nice tern of events, these first 3 picks seem pretty hot.

Pack 1 pick 4:
Timbermaw Larva
Akoum Refuge
Narrow Escape
Piranha Marsh
Goblin Shortcutter
Ruinous Minotaur
Spreading Seas
Bold Defense
Into the Roil
Swamp
--> Guul Draz Vampire
Goblin Ruinblaster

I dont know if this is correct but i like this guy and he brings the beats, although i have passed a couple black cards. U/B is my favourite combination in zen though so given half the chance...

Pack 1 pick 5:
Mindless Null
Swamp
Savage Silhouette
Hedron Scrabbler
Teetering Peaks (FOIL)
Reckless Scholar
Mark of Mutiny
--> Tempest Owl
Kazandu Refuge
Noble Vestige
Zektar Shrine Expedition

Probably should have taken the mindless null here maybe, i think i was just going mad for flyers, but saying that this guys not extremely awful, right?

Pack 1 pick 6:
Vastwood Gorger
Ruinous Minotaur
Spreading Seas
Bold Defense
--> Guul Draz Vampire
Seismic Shudder
Nissa's Chosen
Greenweaver Druid
Mountain
Runeflare Trap

pretty good i guess

Pack 1 pick 7:
Kabira Crossroads
Runeflare Trap
Unstable Footing (FOIL)
Forest
Explorer's Scope
Expedition Map
Teetering Peaks
Tuktuk Grunts
--> Reckless Scholar

dont like this guy too much but hes ok

Pack 1 pick 8:
Seismic Shudder
Tanglesap
Turntimber Grove
Mountain
Soaring Seacliff
Lullmage Mentor
--> Kraken Hatchling
Caravan Hurda

Pack 1 pick 9:
Shatterskull Giant
Island
Trapmaker's Snare (FOIL)
Kor Cartographer
--> Giant Scorpion
Quest for Pure Flame
Savage Silhouette

yay!

Pack 1 pick 10:
--> Shatterskull Giant
Expedition Map
Bold Defense
Summoner's Bane
Forest
Graypelt Refuge


Pack 1 pick 11:
Hedron Scrabbler
Spidersilk Net
Forest
--> Lethargy Trap
Goblin War Paint

Pack 1 pick 12:
--> Ruinous Minotaur
Spreading Seas
Swamp
Goblin Ruinblaster

Pack 1 pick 13:
--> Swamp
Hedron Scrabbler
Noble Vestige

Pack 1 pick 14:
Mountain
--> Runeflare Trap

Pack 1 pick 15:
--> Forest

------ ZEN ------

Pack 2 pick 1:
Caller of Gales
Blood Seeker
Merfolk Seastalkers
Goblin Guide
Spire Barrage
Nissa's Chosen
Mountain
--> Disfigure (FOIL)
Goblin War Paint
Pitfall Trap
Kor Sanctifiers
Ior Ruin Expedition
Kraken Hatchling
Harrow
Trailblazer's Boots

Disfigure is fine here, another strong pack too, which is cool. Would be nice if the expedition or hatchling came back

Pack 2 pick 2:
Joraga Bard
Bladetusk Boar
Arrow Volley Trap
--> Nimana Sell-Sword
Tempest Owl
Vastwood Gorger
Noble Vestige
Soul Stair Expedition
Greenweaver Druid
Whiplash Trap
Plains
Mindless Null
Sunspring Expedition
Tajuru Archer

good guy

Pack 2 pick 3:
Molten Ravager
Grim Discovery
Shieldmate's Blessing
Shoal Serpent
Cosi's Trickster (FOIL)
Oran-Rief Survivalist
Swamp
Quest for Ancient Secrets
Beast Hunt
Electropotence
Inferno Trap
--> Crypt Ripper
Primal Bellow

Good guy, not sure he's exactly pick 3 material

Pack 2 pick 4:
Lethargy Trap
Nissa's Chosen
Goblin Bushwhacker
Desecrated Earth
Kabira Crossroads
Highland Berserker
Kor Aeronaut
Summoning Trap
Mold Shambler
Mountain
Brave the Elements
--> Whiplash Trap

Pack 2 pick 5:
Plains
Pillarfield Ox
Bloodchief Ascension
Bold Defense
Soaring Seacliff
Territorial Baloth
Graypelt Refuge
Carnage Altar
Vines of Vastwood
--> Sky Ruin Drake
Shatterskull Giant

Pack 2 pick 6:
Mountain
Tanglesap
Piranha Marsh
--> Sky Ruin Drake
Pitfall Trap
Makindi Shieldmate
Cliff Threader
Spreading Seas
Ravenous Trap
Paralyzing Grasp

Argh, this one came to bite me in the ass. I underrate paralysing grasp a little bit, and this pick was wrong. Stupid tempting if slightly underwhelming blue flyers!!!!

Pack 2 pick 7:
--> Kraken Hatchling
Pyromancer Ascension
Forest
Landbind Ritual
Goblin War Paint
Hedron Crab
Hagra Crocodile
Teetering Peaks
Mold Shambler

Pack 2 pick 8:
Nissa's Chosen
Goblin War Paint
--> Kraken Hatchling
Ondu Cleric
Merfolk Wayfinder
Island
Landbind Ritual
Reckless Scholar

Yes, trips hatchling, now all i need is some adventuring gear for the ptq top 8!

Pack 2 pick 9:
Caller of Gales
Nissa's Chosen
Mountain
Goblin War Paint
--> Ior Ruin Expedition
Kraken Hatchling
Trailblazer's Boots

both coming back is a good sign, i dont want a 4th hatchling do i?

Pack 2 pick 10:
Noble Vestige
Soul Stair Expedition
Greenweaver Druid
Plains
--> Mindless Null
Sunspring Expedition

It costs 3, best card in my deck!!!

Pack 2 pick 11:
Shieldmate's Blessing
--> Shoal Serpent
Swamp
Quest for Ancient Secrets
Beast Hunt

Pack 2 pick 12:
--> Lethargy Trap
Desecrated Earth
Mountain
Brave the Elements

Pack 2 pick 13:
Plains
--> Soaring Seacliff
Carnage Altar

Pack 2 pick 14:
Spreading Seas
--> Ravenous Trap

Pack 2 pick 15:
--> Forest

------ ZEN ------

Pack 3 pick 1:
Piranha Marsh
Sky Ruin Drake
Oran-Rief Recluse
Kor Hookmaster
Grazing Gladehart
Journey to Nowhere
Quest for Pure Flame
Adventuring Gear
Surrakar Marauder
Vampire Hexmage
Forest
--> Halo Hunter
Highland Berserker
Spidersilk Net
Murasa Pyromancer

nice, bombs are always good.

Pack 3 pick 2:
Grim Discovery
Bog Tatters
Vampire Hexmage
Kor Outfitter
Swamp
Relic Crush
Gomazoa
Demolish
--> Sphinx of Lost Truths
Ior Ruin Expedition
Hellfire Mongrel
Oran-Rief Recluse
Spell Pierce
Torch Slinger

ding!

Pack 3 pick 3:
Oran-Rief Survivalist
Expedition Map
--> Welkin Tern
Tempest Owl
Molten Ravager
Swamp
Mire Blight
Khalni Heart Expedition
Akoum Refuge
Spire Barrage
Magma Rift
Khalni Gem
Soul Stair Expedition

3 terns is pretty nice.

Pack 3 pick 4:
--> Disfigure
Timbermaw Larva
Nimbus Wings
Unstable Footing
Zektar Shrine Expedition
Summoner's Bane
Sadistic Sacrament
Explorer's Scope
Vampire's Bite
Island
Trapfinder's Trick
Zendikar Farguide

Good removal, this pack is going so much better than the dissapointing 2nd pack, looks like cutting the colours im in has worked.

Pack 3 pick 5:
Ior Ruin Expedition
Mountain
Noble Vestige
Trailblazer's Boots
Spidersilk Net
Tempest Owl
Spell Pierce
Spire Barrage
--> Surrakar Marauder
Nimbus Wings
Mindless Null


Pack 3 pick 6:
Seismic Shudder
Caller of Gales
Merfolk Seastalkers
Trapmaker's Snare
Spidersilk Net
Caravan Hurda
Goblin War Paint
--> Welkin Tern
Kraken Hatchling
Forest

Squelch!

Pack 3 pick 7:
Island
--> Quest for the Gravelord
Shieldmate's Blessing
Khalni Heart Expedition
Molten Ravager
Mire Blight
Zendikar Farguide
Seascape Aerialist
Kor Cartographer

love this card.

Pack 3 pick 8:
--> Guul Draz Vampire
Seismic Shudder
Jwar Isle Refuge
Lavaball Trap
Spreading Seas
Oran-Rief Recluse
Plains
Narrow Escape


Pack 3 pick 9:
Piranha Marsh
--> Oran-Rief Recluse
Kor Hookmaster
Quest for Pure Flame
Adventuring Gear
Highland Berserker
Spidersilk Net

Pack 3 pick 10:
Grim Discovery
Kor Outfitter
Swamp
Demolish
--> Hellfire Mongrel
Spell Pierce

Pack 3 pick 11:
--> Tempest Owl
Molten Ravager
Swamp
Mire Blight
Soul Stair Expedition

Pack 3 pick 12:
Sadistic Sacrament
Island
Trapfinder's Trick
--> Zendikar Farguide

Pack 3 pick 13:
Mountain
Noble Vestige
--> Spell Pierce

Pack 3 pick 14:
--> Caller of Gales
Forest

Pack 3 pick 15:
--> Island


My deck (i only need tern 1 and 2!)

3 x guul draz vampire
2 x kraken hatchling
2 x disfigure
1 x quest for the gravlord
4 x welkin tern
1 x ior ruin expedition
1 x surrakar marauder
1 x mindless null
1 x giant scorpion
1 x windrider eel
1 x nimana sell-sword
1 x whiplash trap
2 x sky ruin drake
1 x halo hunter
1 x sphinx of lost truths

9 x swamp
8 x island

i thought this deck was pretty sick tbh. The curve is pretty awful, but hopefully i can beat down sufficiently early on, and a lot of my early drops are fine to draw later on anyway. Maybe the hideous end was the pick over the 1st tern because i dont have as much removal as i would like, and i definately regret taking sky ruin drake over the paralysing grasp, which would have smoothed my curve a little as well.

I ended up losing my second round with it, and my first round was far closer than i imagined (double arrow volley trap and a day of judgement!). In the first round the game i lost, and the other which was close was due to not being able to deal with his territorial baloth (despite having sky ruin drake in hand, grrr!). Round 2 i think i played a pretty sick r/b deck, with at least 2 bladetusk boars. It was a pretty close race but he had more removal than me which made it a lot easier for him. Im pretty bummed because i thought the deck looked to be one i feel like i could 3-0 with. I think if i could make a couple of changes this certainly could have been a winning deck, but i guess thats life.

Oh, i think mick lost his first round (standard!)

Ill have the second draft of that night up in a few days (it is considerably worse considering my semi-rage due to not making prizes in this draft)

Untill then,


Jim


As always, feel free to comment on this article, or anything related or unrelated to magic whatsoever. If you would like to contribute to the TLM blog, please email any pictures, ideas or articles to ss07jm@leeds.ac.uk

Player of the Year Race

By Wagz

Since taking over the running of WNM I have had easy access to the standings at the end of the night. Armed with this information, I took it upon myself to make up a Player of the Year Race. Each WNM I will give points to the top-placed players and sum them over the weeks. The winner gets points equal to the number of rounds (each pod is counted separately in draft) and then 1 point less is awarded to the next player, and so on until we reach 0 points. So, the results from the last 7 weeks are:

12pts - Mick Edwards

8pts - Andy Edwards

7pts - Rob Catton & John Ingham

6pts - Rob Wagner

This is still not that much information so good luck to all players with the rest of the year - still 2 months of results to collect!