Sunday, June 12, 2016

Magic: The Gathering Standard PPTQ Honolulu 1K Top 8 Decklists

Thanks to all who participated in the Magic: The Gathering Standard Preliminary Pro Tour Qualifier (PPTQ) Honolulu $1K held Saturday, June 4th 2016, at Dragon's Den in Poughkeepsie, NY. Congratulations to our top 8 finishers, who all won prizes, and to the first place finisher, Jack Ma, who won $400 and an invite to the Regional PTQ! Here are the winning deck lists of the top eight finishers:

1st - Jack Ma, GW TOKENS

Creatures 16
4 Archangel Avacyn
4 Hangarback Walker
4 Sylvan Advocate
2 Thraben Inspector
2 Lambholt Pacifist

Spells: 19
4 Dromoka’s Command
4 Nissa, Voice of Zendikar
4 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
4 Oath of Nissa
1 Evolutionary Leap
2 Secure the Wastes

Lands: 25
4 Canopy Vista
4 Fortified Village
2 Westvale Abbey
7 Plains
8 Forest

Sideboard:15
2 Clip Wings
4 Declaration in Stone
2 Tragic Arrogance
2 Quarantine Field
1 Lambholt Pacifist
1 Dragonlord Dromoka
1 Sigarda, Herons Grace
1 Linvala, the Perserver
1 Stasis Snare

2nd - Tim Bachmann, BANT COMPANY

Creatures: 26
2 Jace, Vryn’s Prodigy
2 Nissa, Vastwood Seer
2 Eldrazi Displacer
4 Sylvan Advocate
4 Duskwatch Recruiter
4 Tireless Tracker
4 Bounding Krasis
4 Reflector Mage

Spells: 9
2 Declaration In Stone
3 Dromoka’s Command
4 Collected Company

Lands: 25
1 Wastes
1 Island
3 Plains
3 Forest
4 Evolving Wilds
2 Lumbering Falls
3 Canopy Vista
4 Yavimaya Coast
4 Prairie Stream

Sideboard:15
1 Dragonlord Dromoka
2 Invasive Surgery
1 Dispel
1 Surrak, the Hunt Caller
2 Tragic Arrogance
1 Declaration in Stone
2 Clip Wings
3 Negate


3rd - Joe Countryman, BW MIDRANGE

Creatures: 10
3 Archangel Avacyn
2 Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim
2 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
3 Hangar Back Walker

Spells: 24
2 Languish
2 Secure the Waste
1 Tragic Arrogance
3 Transgress the Mind
1 Declaration in Stone
3 Read the Bones
3 Anguished Unmaking
3 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
2 Ultimate Price
2 Grasp of Darkness
1 Silkwrap
1 Sorin, Grim Nemesis

Lands: 26
3 Westvale Abbey
3 Plains
3 Blighted Fen
5 Swamp
4 Shambling Vent
4 Forsaken Sanctuary
4 Caves of Koilos

Sideboard: 15
1 Ob Nixilis Reignited
2 Hallowed Fountain
1 Silkwrap
1 Tragic Arrogance
2 Thought-Knot Seer
1 Languish
3 Duress
1 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
3 Reality Smasher

4th - Matt Tumavitch, BANT HUMANS

Creatures: 25
4 Thraben Inspector
2 Knight of the White Orchid
3 Duskwatch Recruiter
4 Lambholt Pacifist
4 Reflector Mage
4 Tireless Tracker

Spells: 10
4 Collected Company
4 Dromoka’s Command
2 Ojutai’s Command

Lands:25
6 Plains
3 Forest
1 Island
4 Evolving Wilds
4 Fortified Village
3 Prairie Stream
2 Yavimaya Coast
2 Canopy Vista

Sideboard: 15
1 Knight of the White Orchid
3 Gryff’s Boon
2 Den Protector
3 Negate
2 Nissa, Vastwood Seer
1 Sigarda, Heron’s Grace
3 Tragic Arrogance

5th - Noah Landara, JUNK MIDRANGE

Creatures: 14
2 Den Protector
3 Sylvan Advocate
2 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
1 Linvala, the Preserver
2 Archangel Avacyn
2 Nissa, Vastwood Seer
2 Hangarback Walker

Spells:20
1 Ob Nixilis Reignited
2 Oath of Nissa
2 Dromoka’s Command
1 Ruinous Path
2 Grasp of Darkness
2 Painful Truths
2 Anguished Unmaking
2 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
2 Nissa, Voice of Zendikar
2 Secure the Wastes
2 Sorin, Grim Nemesis

Lands: 26
2 Canopy Vista
1 Plains
1 Swamp
4 Shambling Vent
3 Caves of Koilos
2 Westvale Abbey
3 Forest
4 Fortified Village
3 Hissing Quagmire
3 Llanowar Wastes

Sideboard: 15
1 Languish
1 To the Slaughter
2 Infinite Obliteration
3 Declaration in Stone
2 Hallowed Moonlight
1 Ob Nixilis Reignited
1 Hidden Dragonslayer
1 Tireless Tracker
1 Seasons Past
2 Duress

6th - Nick Langella, MARDU CONTROL

Creatures: 6
4 Goblin Dark Dwellers
2 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet

Spells:29
3 Fiery Impulse
2 Sinister Concoction
2 Transgress the Mind
2 Grasp of Darkness
1 Ultimate Price
4 Read the Bones
1 Kolaghan’s Command
3 Anguished Unmaking
3 Ruinous Path
2 Radiant Flames
4 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
2 Secure the Wastes

Lands:
2 Swamp
2 Plains
1 Mountain
2 Evolving Wilds
3 Foreboding Ruins
3 Smolding Marsh
4 Shambling Vent
3 Caves of Koilos
3 Battlefield Forge
2 Westvale Abby

Sideboard: 15
1 Thought-Knot Seer
1 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
1 Linvala, the Preserver
2 Duress
1 Ultimate Price
1 Transgress the Mind
1 Hallowed Moonlight
1 Radiant Flames
1 Kholgan’s Command
2 Eldrazi Displacer
3 Reality Smasher

7th - Joe Fassino, GB Ramp

Creatures: 11
4 Sylvan Advocate
4 Tireless Tracker
1 Den Protector
1 Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger
1 Ulvenwalkd Hydra

Spells: 23
2 Ruinous Path
2 Grasp of Darkness
1 Ultimate Price
1 Duress
2 Languish
1 Ob Nixilis Reignited
1 Transgress the Mind
1 The Great Aurora
3 Dark Petition
1 Seasons Past
1 Nissa’s Renewal
1 Pulse of Murasa
3 Explosive Vegetation
3 Nissa’s Pilgrimage

Lands: 26
1 Blighted Fen
5 Swamp
4 Evolving Wilds
4 Hissing Quagmire
4 Llanowar Wastes
8 Forest

Sideboard: 15
1 Gaea’s Revenge
1 Ultimate Price
2 Transgress the Mind
1 Clip Wings
1 Duress
1 Virulent Plague
1 To the Slaughter
1 Naturalize
1 Pick the Brains
1 Seasons Past
1 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
2 Languish
1 Worldbreaker

8th - Mike Bott, BANT HUMANS

Creatures: 26
4 Duskwatch Recruiter
3 Eldrazi Displacer
4 Lambholt’s Pacifist
4 Reflector Mage
4 Thalia’s Lieutenant
3 Thraben inspector
4 Tireless Tracker

Spells: 9
4 Collected Company
4 Dromoka’s Command
1 Ojutai’s Command

Lands: 24
5 Plains
1 Island
2 Forest
3 Canopy Vista
4 Evolving Wilds
4 Fortified Village
1 Prairie Stream
1 ?
4 Yavimaya Coast

Sideboard: 15
1 Gryff’s Boon
2 Den Protector
2 Archangel Avacyn
3 Negate
3 Ojutai’s Command
2 Declaration in Stone
2 ?

Monday, May 16, 2016

Yu-Gi-Oh! Prize Card Tournament Top 8 Deck List

Thanks to all who participated in the Yu-Gi-Oh! Prize Card Tournament held Saturday, April 30, 2016, at Gamer's Gambit in Danbury, CT. Congratulations to our top eight finishers and to the first place finisher, Paulie Aronson, who took home the Super Rare Ascension Sky Dragon! Here are the winning deck lists of the top eight finishers:

1st Place – Paulie Aronson

Deck Type – Domain Monarchs

Monsters: 16
3x Edea the Heavenly Squire
3x Ehther the Heavenly Monarch
3x Eidos the Underworld Squire
3x Erebus the Underworld Monarch
2x Kuraz the Light Monarch
1x Mithra the Thunder Vassal
1x Thestalos the Mega Monarch

Spells: 20
3x Domain of the True Monarchs
1x Foolish Burial
1x One for One
3x Pantheism of the Monarchs
1x Reasoning
1x Reinforcement of the Army
3x Return of the Monarchs
3x Tenacity of the Monarchs
3x The Monarchs Stormforth
1x Upstart Goblin

Traps: 4
1x Escalation of the Monarchs
3x The Prime Monarch

Extra Deck: 0

Side Deck: 15
1x Flying “C”
3x Maxx “C”
1x Dark Hole
3x Mystical Space Typhoon
1x Raigeki
3x Twin Twisters
3x Retort

2nd Place – Michael Pelaez

Deck Type – Draco-Pals

Monsters: 29
3x Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer
2x Performapal Silver Claw
2x Performapal Lizardraw
1x Performapal Partnaga
1x Performapal Skullcrobat Joker
1x Performapal Monkeyboard
1x Performapal Guiturtle
1x Performapal Secondonkey
1x Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer
2x Vector Pendulum, the Dracoslord
3x Master Pendulum, the Dracoslayer
2x Guiding Ariadne
1x Archfiend Eccentric
2x Summoner Monk
2x Armageddon Knight
1x Shaddoll Dragon
1x Masked Chameleon
1x Backwing - Zephyros the Elite
1x Performage Trick Clown

Spells: 11
3x Pendulum rising
2x Instant Fusion
2x Allure of Darkness
1x Reinforcement of the Army
1x Soul Charge
1x Draco Face off
1x Raigeki

Traps: 5
1x Solemn warning
2x Solemn Strike
2x Chaos Trap Hole
Side Deck: 15
2x Denko Sekka
2x Flying “C”
2x Maxx “C”
2x Effect Veiler
2x Mask of Restrict
3x System Down
2x Twin Twister

Extra Deck: 15
1x Stardust Dragon
1x Ignister Providence, the Blasting Dracoslayer
1x Magister Paladin Dracoslayer
1x King of the Feral Imps
1x Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer
1x Daigusto Emeral
1x Number 39: Utopia
1x Number s39 Utopia The Lightning
1x Abyss Dweller
1x Elder Entity Norden
1x Number 38: Hope Harbinger Dragon Titanic Galaxy
1x Number F0 : Utopic Future
1x Number 106: Giant Hand
1x Dinoster Power, Dracoslayer
1x Diamond Dire Wolf

3rd / 4th Place – Armaan Master

Deck Type – Kaiju Burning Abyss

Monsters: 33
1x Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss
2x Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss
1x Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss
2x Calcab, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss
2x Alich, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss
2x Barbar, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss
1x Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss
1x Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss
1x Tour Guide from the Underworld
3x Fiendish Rhino Warrior
1x Speedroid Terrortop
1x Speedroid Taketomborg
1x Gamaciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju
1x Gandarla, the Mystery Dusk Kaiju
1x Kumongous, the Sticky String Kaiju
3x Maxx “C”
2x Crane Crane
3x Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss

Spell Cards: 7
3x Twin Twister
1x Foolish Burial
1x Soul Charge
1x Interrupted Kaiju Slumber
1x The Beginning of the End

Side Deck: 15
2x Effect Veiler
3x System Down
1x Flying “C”
2x Dark Hole
1x Raigeki
2x Majesty’s fiend
2x Vanity’s Fiend
2x Mask of Restrict

Extra Deck: 15
3x Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss
3x Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal
2x Dante, Pilgrim of the Burning Abyss
1x The Phantom Knights of Break Sword
1x Number 47: Nightmare Shark
2x F0: Utopic Future
1x Number 30: Acid Golem of Destruction
1x Mechquipped Angineer
1x Vigil, Rockstar of the Burning Abyss

3rd / 4th Place – Phillip Pena

Deck Type – Phantom Knights

Monsters: 21
1x Crane Crane
3x The Phantom Knight of Ragged Gloves
3x The Phantom Knight of Silent Boots
3x Speedroid Terrortop
3x Maxx “C”
3x The Phantom Knight of Ancient Cloak
3x Raiden, Hand of the Lightsworn
1x The Phantom Kings of Fragile Armor
1x SpeedRoid Taketomborg

Spell Cards: 11
3x Twin Twisters
1x Reinforcement of the Army
3x Instant Fusion
2x Charge of the Light Bridge
1x Soul Charge
1x Foolish Burial

Trap Cards: 8
3x Phantom Knight’s Wing
2x Phantom Knight’s Sword
3x Phantom Knight’s Fogblade

Side Deck: 15
2x System Down
2x Galaxy Cyclone
2x The Phantom Knights of Tomb Shield
2x Mask of Restrict
2x Cyber Dragon Core
3x Flying “c”
1x Enemy Controller

Extra Deck: 15
1x Chimeratech Fortress Dragon
1x Dragoness the Wicked Knight
1x Elder Entity Norden
1x Black Rose Dragon
1x Leviair the Sea Dragon
1x Number 70: Utopic Dragon
2x Dante Traveler of the Burning Abyss
1x Dark Rebellion Dragon
1x Evilswarm Thanatos

5th - 8th Place – Jakob Smith

Deck Type – Majespecter & Pals

Monsters: 27
3x Majespecter Raccoon – Bunbuku
3x Majespecter Fox – Kyubi
3x Majespecter Toad – Ogama
3x Majespecter Cat – Nekomata
3x Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer
2x Performapal Lizardraw
1x Performapal Monkeboard
1x Performapal Skullcrobat Joker
1x Performapal Guitartle
1x Archfiend Eccentrick
1x Luster Pendulum, The dracoslayer
1x Performapal Secondonkey
3x Maxx “C”

Spell Cards: 7
3x Twin Twister
2x Majesty’s Pegasus
1x Upstart Goblin
1x Terraforming

Trap Cards: 6
2x Majespecter Tempest
2x Majespecter Tornado
2x Storming Mirror Force

Side Deck: 15
2x Effect Veiler
2x Flying “C”
1x Psi-blocker
1x Dark Hole
1x Raigeki
1x Mystical Space Typhoon
1x Soul Drain
2x Mask of Restrict
2x Rivalry of Warlords
2x Imperial Iron Wall

Extra Deck: 15
1x Number S39: Utopia The Lightning
1x Number 39: Utopia
1x King of the Feral Imps
2x Castel the Skyblaster Musketeer
1x Number 106: Giant Hand
1x Lightning Chidori
1x Majester Paladin, The Ascending Dracoslayer
1x Abyss Dweller
2x Gagaga Cowboy
1x The Phantom Knights of Break Sword
1x Totem Bird
1x Dinoster Power, The Might Dracoslayer
1x Ignister Prominence, The Blasting Dracoslayer

5th - 8th Place – Steven Robbins

Deck Type – Anti-meta

Monsters: 9
3x Majesty Fiend
3x Vanity Fiend
1x Invader of Darkness
2x Archlord Kristya

Spell Cards: 17
3x Card of Demise
3x Pot of Duality
1x Upstart Goblin
3x Terraforming
2x Mausoleum of the Emperor
3x The Monarchs Stormforth
2x Forbidden Lance

Trap Cards: 14
3x Solemn Strike
1x Solemn Warning
1x Soul Drain
2x Dark Bribe
2x Lose 1 Turn
2x Chaos Trap Hole
1x Vanity’s Emptiness
2x Phantom Knight’s Sword

Side Deck: 15
2x System Down
3x Twin Twists
1x Invader of Darkness
3x Magic Drain
3x Mask of Rest ???
2x Shadow-Imprisoning Mirrors
2x Light-Imprisoning Mirrors

Extra Deck: 15
1x Photon Strike Bounzer
1x Gem-knight Seraphinte
1x Frightfur Bear
1x Rainbow Dragon
1x Rainbow Neos
1x Gladiator Beast Heraklinos
1x Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon
1x Elemental Hero Tempest
1x Gladiator Beast Nerokius
1x Gladiator Beast Essadarii
1x Thousand Dragon
1x Gladiator Beast Gyzarus
1x Gam-Knight Amethyst
1x Dark Baltar the Terrible
1x Gaia Dragon the Thunder Charger

5th - 8th Place – Anthony Kelly

Deck Type – Quantum Monarchs

Monster: 23
3x Kuraz the Light Monarch
3x Super Quantum Red Layer
3x Erebus the Underworld Monarch
3x Ehther the Heavenly Monarch
3x Speedroid Terrortop
2x Eidos the Underworld Squire
2x Edea the Heavenly Squire
1x Speedroid Taketomborg
3x Maxx “C”

Spell Cards: 14
3x Tenacity of the Monarchs
3x Return of the Monarchs
3x Pantheism of the Monarchs
3x The Monarchs Stormforth
1x Domain of the Monarchs
1x Upstart Goblin

Trap Cards: 3
2x The Prime Monarch
1x Escalation of the Monarchs

Side Deck: 15
2x Vanity’s Fiend
2x Majesty’s Fiend
1x Frost Blast of the Monarchs
2x Mystical Space Typhoon
3x Twin Twister
2x XYZ Universe
3x Chaos Traphole

Extra Decks: 15
1x Divine Dragon Knight Felgrand
1x Number 38: Hope Harbinger Titanic Dragon Galaxy
1x Number 15: Gimmick Puppet Grinder
1x Gaia Dragon, The Thunder Charger
1x Constellar Ptolemy M7
1x Tiras, Keeper of Genesis
1x Stellarknight Constellar Diamond
1x Artifact Durendal
1x Number 61: Volcasaurus
1x Constellar Pleiades
1x Shark Fortress
1x Super Quantal Mech Beast Magnaliger
1x The Phantom Knights Break Sword
1x Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss
1x Totem Bird

5th - 8th Place – Daniel Carlisto

Deck Type – Dracopals

Monster: 29
3x Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer
3x Performapal Secondonkey
2x Performapal Guitartle
2x Performapal Lizarddraw
1x Performapal Monkeyboard
1x Performapal Skullcrobat Joker
1x Performapal Partnaga
1x Blackwing Zephyros the Elite
1x Shaddoll Dragon
2x Armaggedon Knight
1x Rescue Rabbit
1x Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer
2x Vector Pendulum, the Dracoverlord
3x Master Pendulum, the Dracoslayer
3x Archfiend Eccentrick
2x Performapal Silver Claw

Spell Cards: 9
3x Pendulum Rising
2x Instant Fusion
1x Reinforcement of the Army
1x Soul Charge
1x Upstart Goblin
1x Draco Face Off

Trap Cards: 2
1x Bottomless Trap Hole
1x Treacherous Trap Hole

Side Deck: 15
3x Mask of Restrict
3x Droll and Lock Bird
3x Twin Twister
3x Imperial Iron Wall
3x Maxx “C”

Extra Deck: 15
1x Dinoster Power, the Mighty Dracoslayer
1x Ignister Prominence, the Blasting Dracoslayer
1x Elder Entity Norden
1x Majester Paladin, the Ascending Dracoslayer
1x Abyss Dweller
1x King of the Feral Imps
1x Castel the Skyblaster Musketeer
1x Diagusto Emeral
1x Diamond Dire Wolf
1x Evilswarm Nightmare
1x Number 82 Heartlandraco
1x Cairngorgon, Antiluminescent Knight
1x Traptrix Rafflesia
1x 38 Hope Harbinger Dragon
1x F0 Utopic Future

Monday, March 14, 2016

Modern Musings - Chapter 1: The (Less Appreciated) Modern Landscape

I know by now everyone is sick of the same old song and dance you see in the Top 8 of every tournament, especially if they’re all going to be filled with the Lovecraftian horrors that Oath of the Gatewatch brought to the forefront of everyone’s mind. The point of this article isn’t going to be to rehash those same lists, but to bring a breath of fresh air to your Modern deckbuilding process.

The first deck I want to go over is Modern’s spin on a much loved, yet very feared mechanic: Dredge. This deck operates a bit like it’s Legacy counterpart: get as many cards as you can in the graveyard, throw some undead at your opponent, and finish them off in a blaze of glory. The only difference with this deck is that you also want a whole lot of cards in your hand, to fuel your alternate win-con: Conflagrate!



There’s a lot of pretty sweet stuff going on in this list, including a bunch of cards that you likely don’t see on a day to day basis; stuff like Vengeful Pharaoh and Squee, Goblin Nabob. They’re all here to serve a greater purpose though, don’t worry. The general goal of this deck is to dredge as many cards as you can into your graveyard in the early game with powerful dredgers like Golgari-Grave Troll and draw spells like Faithless Looting, to get incremental advantages from cards like Bloodghast and Lingering Souls.

While you’re playing the beatdown, there are still a bunch of ways to hold other decks at bay. With the 2-mana black enchantment, Zombie Infestation, you can either continue applying pressure with the cards you’re sure to have in hand, or make some blockers at instant speed; nothing screws up your opponent’s combat math like creatures showing up out of nowhere! Vengeful Pharaoh is another card that needs a particular home to really shine, and that home is here! It isn’t hard to incidentally mill one into the graveyard, and once it gets there once, it will just keep triggering and repeating its ability. There’s nothing quite like a kill spell that repeats itself and requires exactly 0 mana.

So now that we’re past the fluff, we can get to the real core of the deck. After turns of reloading on Bloodghasts and poking your opponents with Lingering Souls, you’ve reached the turning point. You’ve got 7 cards in hand including 2 Life from the Loams, and a Squee and a Conflagrate in the graveyard, and your opponent is ending their turn at a respectable 13 life. You studiously remember your upkeep trigger on Squee, and draw for turn. Your Loams each net you 3 lands, bringing your hand size up to 13 cards. If you’ve been following along, that’s conveniently your opponent’s life total, and it’s also convenient that that’s how much damage your Conflagrate is currently burning into them. That’s where the true magic in this deck lies; it tricks your opponent into thinking that your creatures are important, when you really just wanted to combo kill them.

The other deck I want to feature today is a pet project of mine, and is centered around my favorite card of all time: Monastery Mentor. I had been playing an Esper version of this deck for quite a while to some success, but I think that this deck has a chance to shine again if we can provide some changes based on past experiences. In this case, that translates to adding a 4th color to the deck entirely, and cutting some of the less consistent pieces. I’ll go over the basic premise of the deck, but here’s the current iteration:



It's effectively a 4c good stuff deck that wins with Lingering Souls most of the time, but I think this version is probably better than the original Esper version; the red provides reach with Lightning Bolt and Lightning Helix, and recursion of threats like Monastery Mentor and Snapcaster Mage with Kolaghan's Command. The red splash also provides more sideboard options and other possible threats like Pia and Kiran Nalaar, and cards to shore up the original worst matchup: Tron. Being able to recur Fulminator Mages with Kolaghan's Command or even just the ability to toss in Crumble to Dust should prove pretty useful, as I'm fairly confident that Tron will make a pretty big resurgence once the Eldrazi Menace recedes.

The most difficult parts of playing the deck are the manabase (4 colors, ridiculous right?), and the deck's seemingly conscious desire to draw lands past turn 5/6. I might switch the Vault of the Archangel to a Desolate Lighthouse so I can loot away extra lands, or I might just play a second Painful Truths. Making decisions is hard sometimes. If you guys have any suggestions, feel free to let me know.

I think the biggest strength of this deck is that it plays a lot like Jund, except that we can be a bit more flexible since we’ve got card selection in Serum Visions, and the ability to cast any of our instants or sorceries a second time with Snapcaster Mages. Besides that, we’ve frankly got as much removal as them anyway. Decks like these tend to do pretty well, as they’ve got game against pretty much the entire field, and they don’t straight up crumble to any side board silver bullets like a lot of decks can.

I think that both of these decks are poised to do pretty well once Shadows over Innistrad comes around, and brings a whole new Banned & Restricted list with it. The life span of the Eldrazi is nearly at its end, and who knows, we might even get some new toys to play with when April rolls around.

Written by: Zane Knapp

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Yu-Gi-Oh! OTS Championship Top Eight Decklists

Thanks to all who participated in the Yu-Gi-Oh! OTS Championship held Saturday, February 27, 2016, at Gamer's Gambit in Danbury. Congratulations to our top eight finishers and to the first place finisher, Bryce Catania, who won an invite to the 2016 WCQ National Qualifier and the Yu-Gi-Oh! OTS Championship playmat! Here are the winning deck lists of the top eight finishers:

1st - Bryce Catania


Monsters:
1- Kozmo Dark eclipse
3- kozmo dark destroyer
2-kozmo forerunner
2- kozmo sliprider
2-kozmo wicked witch
2-kozmo farmgirl
3-kozmo tincan
1-kozmo goodwitch
1-kozmo strawman
3-maxx c
2- effect veiler

Spells:
3-kozmotown
3-emergency teleport
2-twin twister
1- Raigeki

Traps:
3- Solemn Strike
3- call of the haunted
2-kozmojo
1-solemn warning

Side deck:
3-cyber dragon
1-flying c
2- archfiend eccentric
1- dark hole
3- wavering eyes
2-storming mirror force
3- mask of restrict

Extra deck:
2- chimeratech fortess dragon
1-psy-framelord omega
1-starlight red dragon archfiend
1- cyberdragon infinity
1-cyberdragon nova
1-constellar Pleiades
1-red eyes flame metal dragon
1-number 11: big eye
1-daigusto emerald
1-number 101: silent honor ark
1- castel, the skyblaster musketeer
1-gagaga cowboy
1-evilswarm nightmare
1-number 47: nightmare shark

2nd - Matthew Herrera


Monsters:
3- Magical Abductor
3- Armageddon knight
3-performapal donkey
3-performapal sorcerer
2-performapal lizard draw
1-performapal monkey board
1-performapal guiturtle
1-performapal skullcrobat joker
1-performer partnaga
1-luster pendulum dracoslayer
1-blackwing zephyros the elite
1-recover
1-x saber palomuro
1-Risebell the star adjuster

Spells:
3-upstart goblin
3-terraforming
3-chicken game
3-emergency teleport
3-emergency teleport

Traps:
1- traptrix traphole
1-bottomless trap hole

Side deck:
1-chimeratech fortress dragon
2-cyber dragon
1-shadoll dragon
1-twin twister
2- dark hole
1-raigeki
3- deck devastation virus
2-mask of restrict

Extra deck:
1-elder entity norden
1-karbonala warrior
1-Dinoster Power, the mighty dracoslayer
1-naturia beast
1- ignister prominence, the blasting dracoslyer
1- traptrix cell thesis
1- evilswarm nightmare
1-abyss dweller
1-daigusto emerald
1- majester paladin, the ascending dracoslayer
1-diamond dire wolf
1- Castel, the skyblaster muketeer
1- king of the feral imps
1- carnigorgon, the antiluminescent knight
1- number 66: master key beetle

3rd - Shermine Cianciolo


Monsters:
3- effect veiler
3-mermail abyssgaios
3-alantean heavenly infantry
3-neptabyss, the alantean prince
1-aqua spirit
1-mermail abysssprite
2-mermail abyssgunde
2-mermail abyssteus
1-mermail abyssturge
1- mermail abysslinde
2- alantean dragoons
2-alantean marksmen
1- deep sea diva
1-moulinglacia the emerald lord
1-mermail abyssleed

Spells:
3-upstart goblin
3-instant fusion
2-dark hole
1-soul charge
1-one for one
1- abyss scale of the mizuchi
1-raigeki

Traps:
1-abyss sphere

Side deck:
2-system down
2- ghost ogre & snow rabbit
2-forbidden chalice
3-twin twisters
2-imperial iron wall
2-anti spell fragrance
2- maxx c

Extra deck:
1- Armory arm
2-abyss dweller
1-trishula dragon of ice barrier
1-mecha phantom beast draccosack
2- elder entity norden
1-abyss mermail gaios
1- number 101: silent honor ark
1-black rose dragon
1-mermail abysstrite
1-bahamut shark
1-number 11: big eye
1-dewloren, tiger king of the ice barrier
1- tatsunoko

4th - Anthony Kelly


Monsters:
3- Armageddon knight
3-wisdom-eye magician
3-dragonpit magician
2- odd eyes pendulum dragon
2- oafdragon magician
2- majespecter unicorn kirin
1- blackwing zepyhros
1- performapal skullcrobat
1-majespecter raccoon bunbuku
1- performapal monkey board
1-dragonpulse magician
1-nobledragon magician
1- tuning magician
1- performapal tumpgirl

Spells:
3- wavering eyes
3-upstart goblin
2-terraforming
3-pendulum call
3-chicken game
1-odd eyes fusion
1-reinforcment of the army
1- sky iris

Side deck:
1-shaddoll hedgehog
1-shaddol dragon
1-shaddoll beast
2- fog king
3- shaddoll fusion
2-mystical space typhoon
2-psi-blocker
1- el shaddoll grysta
1- el shaddoll winda
1- el shaddoll shekhinaga

Extra deck:
1- odd eyes rebellion
2-odd eyes absolute dragon
1-number 39: utopia beyond
1-evilswarm nightmare
1-diamond dire wolf
1-abyss dweller
1-trishula
1-psy-framed omega
1-odd eyes meteorburst dragon
1-ignister, prominence the blasting dracoslayer
1- clear wing synchro dragon
1-ancient fairy dragon
2-odd eyes vortex

5th - Vincent Silverman


Monsters:
3-erebus the underworld monarch
3-ehther the heavenly monarch
1-thestalos the mega monarch
1-kuraz the light monarch
2-majesty’s fiend
3-edea the heavenly squire
2-eidos the underworld quire

Spells:
3-pantheism of the monarchs
3-tenacity of the monarchs
3-domain of the monarchs
3- the monarchs stormforth
3-return of the monarchs
3-upstart goblin
1-raigeki
1-one for one
1-foolish burial
1-reinforcemanet of the army

Traps:
3- the prime monarch
1- escalation of the monarchs

Side deck:
3- maxx c
3- twin twister
2- forbidden chalice
3-mind crush
3-cursed seal of the forbidden spell
1-vanity’s emptiness

6th - Armaan Masters


Monsters:
1-Tour Guide from the Underworld
1-Graff, motba
1-Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss
1-Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss
1-Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss
1-Barber, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss
1-Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss
1-Cagna, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss
1-Draghig, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss
1-Alich, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss
2-Effect Veiler
2- Fiendish Rhino Warrior
2- Maxx C

Spells:
2- Twin Twister
1-Foolish Burial
1-Raigeki

Traps:
3-Solemn Strike
2-Fire lake of the Burning Abyss
2- traveler of the Burning Abyss
3-Magic Drain
2-Horn of Heaven
1-Torrental Tribute
1-Solemn Warning
1-Vanity’s Emptiness
1-Skill Drain

Side Deck:
2- Master of Restrict
2- Imperial Iron Wall
2- Anti Spell fragrance
2- Gameciel, the sea turtle
1-Cyber Dragon
1-Cyber Dragon core
2-Vanity’s friend
1-effect veiler

Extra deck:
3- Dante, Traveler of the burning Abyss
1-Vrgil, Rock Strap
1- Number 47: Nightmare Shark
2-Number 30: Acid Golem
1-chimeratech fortress dragon
1- number 17: Leviathan dragon
1- mechquipped Angineer
1-number 49: fortune tune
1-number 20: giga brilliant
1-number F0- utopic future
2-Downerd Magician

7th - Kamal Williams


Monsters:
2- ghost ogre & snow rabbit
3-kozmo dark destroyer
1-kozmo dark eclipse
2-Kozmo farmgirl
1-kozmo forerunner
2- kozmo goodwitch
3-kozmo sliprider
1-kozmo strawman
3-kozmo tinman
2-kozmo wickedwitch
2-max c

Spells:
3-emergency teleport
3-kozmotown
1-raigeki
1-twin twister

Traps:
2- anti spell fragrance
3-call of the haunted
1-kozmojo
1-solemn warning
3-solemn strike

Side deck:
2-cyber dragon
1-maxx c
2-kaiser colosseum
2-system down
1-macro cosmos
3-mask of restrict
2- effect veiler
1-twin twister
1- dark hole

Extra deck:
1-chimeratech fortress dragon
1-ancient fairy dragon
1- black rose dragon
1-odd eyes meteorburst dragon
1-scarlight red dragon archfiend
1- trishula dragon of the ice barrier
1-castel, the skyblaster musketeer
1- abyss dweller
1- constellar Pleiades
1-cyber dragon nova
1- daigusto emerald
1- number 61: volcasaurus
1-number 82: heartlandraco
1-gagaga cowboy

8th - Nick Marvin


Monsters:
3- ehther the heavenly monarch
3-erebus the underworld monarch
1-caius the mega monarch
1-thestalos the mega monarch
1-Magesty’s fiend
3- edea the heavenly squire
3- eidos the underworld squire

Spells:
3-terraforming
3-chicken game
3-tenacity of monarchs
3-pantheismof the monarchs
3- the monarchs stormforth
3-domain of the true monarchs
1-return of the monarchs
1-foolish burial
1-reinforcement of the army
1- one for one

Traps:
2-the prime monarch
1- escalation of the monarchs

Side deck:
2- solemn scolding
1-the prime monarch
3-twin twister
2- mystical space typhoon
2-dark hole
1-raigeki
2- effect veiler
2-majesty’s fiend

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Magic $1k Modern Constructed Event Top 8 Decklists

Thanks to all who participated in the Magic: The Gathering $1k Modern Constructed Event held Saturday, January 2nd 2016, in Poughkeepsie. Congratulations to our top 8 finishers, who all won prizes, and to the first place finisher, Rich Cali, who won a $400 spending spree at Dragon's Den! Here are the winning deck lists of the top eight finishers:

Rich Cali, 1st - UR Twin


CREATURES: 12
4 Snapcaster Mage
2 Pestermite
4 Deceiver Exarch
2 Vendililion Clique

SPELLS: 25
2 Dispel
2 Cryptic Command
4 Remand
4 Lightning Bolt
1 Harvest Pyre
2 Electrolyze
4 Serum Visions
2 Spell Snare
4 Splinter Twin

LANDS: 23
1 Mountain
5 Island
4 Misty Rainforest
3 Sulfur Falls
3 Steam Vents
1 Stomping Ground
1 Tectonic Edge
1 Desolate Lighthouse

SIDEBOARD: 15
1 Dispel
2 Blood Moon
1 Grim Lavamancer
1 Keranos, God of Storms
1 Jace, Architect of Thought
1 Negate
2 Pia and Kiran Nalaar
1 Izzet Staticaster
1 Roast
2 Pyroclasm
2 Ancient Grudge

Paul Lake, 2nd - GR Tron


CREATURES: 6
3 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
1 Ulamog, the Ceasless Hungar
1 Void Winnower

SPELLS: 34
4 Karn Liberated
2 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
3 Oblivion Sower
4 Expedition Map
4 Ancient Stirrings
4 Sylvan Scrying
3 Pyroclasm
4 Chromatic Sphere
4 Chromatic Star
2 Relic of Progenitus

LANDS: 20
1 Forest
4 Grove of the Burnwillows
1 Eye of Ugin
1 Ghost Quarter
4 Urza’s Tower
4 Urza’s Mine
4 Urza’s Power Plant
1 Cavern of Souls

SIDEBOARD: 15
1 Crucible of Worlds
2 Obstinate Baloth
2 Spellskite
2 Rending Volley
4 Nature’s Claim
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Ghost Quarter
2 Sudden Shock

James Rynkiewicz, 3rd - UR Twin


CREATURES: 12
4 Snapcater Mage
4 Deceiver Exarch
2 Pestermite
2 Vendilion Clique

SPELLS: 25
2 Spell Snare
4 Serum Visions
3 Dispel
4 Remand
2 Cryptic Command
4 Lightning Bolt
1 Roast
4 Splinter Twin
1 Electrolyze

LANDS: 23
4 Island
2 Mountain
3 Steam Vents
3 Sulfur Falls
1 Stomping Ground
2 Desolate Lighthouse
4 Misty Rainforest
4 Scalding Tarn

SIDEBOARD:
1 Roast
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Pyroclasm
2 Negate
2 Jace, Architect of Thought
1 Shatterstorm
1 Rending Volley
2 Blood Moon
2 Keranos, God of Storms
2 Ancient Grudge

Craig Rocco, 4th - Blue Naya


CREATURES: 28
4 Birds of Paradise
2 Wall of Roots
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Wall of Omens
1 Phantasmal Image
1 Coiling Oracle
1 Qasali Pridemage
4 Voice of Resurgence
2 Spellskite
3 Eternal Witness
2 Kitchen Finks
4 Restoration Angel
2 Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker

SPELLS: 8
4 Path to Exile
4 Chord of Calling

LANDS: 24
4 Windswept Heath
2 Misty Rainforest
1 Wooded Foothills
1 Arid Mesa
2 Stomping Ground
1 Temple Garden
1 Breeding Pool
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Sacred Foundry
2 Forest
1 Plains
2 Horizon Canopy
2 Grove of the Burnwillows
1 Fire-Lit Thicket
2 Gavony Township

SIDEBOARD: 15
2 Rest in Peace
1 Linvala, Keeper of Silence
3 Negate
2 Pia and Kiran Nalaar
1 Reclamation Sage
1 Thragtusk
2 Lightning Bolt
2 Engineered Explosives
1 Chalice of the Void

Jonathan Cortez, 5th - Bring to Light Scapeshift


CREATURES: 5
1 Snapcaster Mage
4 Sakura Tribe Elder

SPELLS: 29
1 Dispel
4 Search for Tomorrow
2 Izzet Charm
2 Anticipate
2 Farseek
4 Remand
2 Electrolyze
1 Anger of the Gods
1 Hunting Wilds
3 Scapeshift
4 Cryptic Command
3 Bring to Light

LANDS: 26
1 Cinder Glade
1 Watery Grave
1 Swamp
1 Mountain
1 Flooded Grove
2 Forest
2 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
2 Breeding Pool
3 Island
4 Steam vents
4 Stomping Ground
4 Misty Rainforest

SIDEBOARD: 15
1 Ancient Grudge
1 Negate
2 Spellskite
2 Destructive Revelry
2 Anger of the Gods
1 Nissa, Vastwood Seer
4 Obstinate Baloth
1 Shatterstorm
1 Slaughter Games

Michael Keating, 6th - Amulet Bloom


CREATURES: 7
4 Primeval Bounty
2 Azusa, Lost but Seeking
1 Dragonlord Dromoka

SPELLS: 26
4 Amulet of Vigor
4 Serum Visions
4 Ancient Stirrings
4 Summoner’s Pact
4 Summer Bloom
3 Hive Mind
2 Pact of Negation
1 Slaughter Pact

LANDS: 27
4 Gemstone Mine
4 Simic Growth Chamber
3 Tolaria West
2 Selesnya Sanctuary
2 Gruul Turf
1 Golgari Rot Farm
1 Boros Garrison
1 Vesuva
1 Slayer’s Stronghold
1 Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
2 Forest
1 Khalani Garden
1 Radiant Fountain
1 Cavern of Souls
1 Mana Confluence
1 Tendo Ice Bridge

SIDEBOARD: 15
1 Kolaghan’s Command
1 Slaughter Pact
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Sigarda, Host of Herons
2 Krosan Grip
1 Chalice of the Void
2 Thragtusk
1 Courser of Kruphix
1 Pyroclasam
1 Cavern of Souls
1 Forest
1 Bojuko Bog
1 Ghost Quarter

Thomas Fitzsimmons, 7th - Affinity


CREATURES: 28
3 Memnite
4 Ornithopter
4 Signal Pest
3 Steel Overseer
3 Vault Skirge
4 Arcbound Ravager
4 Etched Champion
1 Spellskite
1 Hangarback Walker

SPELLS: 16
4 Cranial Plating
4 Galvanic Blast
4 Mox Opal
4 Springleaf Drum

LANDS: 16
4 Inkmothe Nexus
4 Blinkmoth Nexus
4 Darksteel Citadel
3 Glimmervoid
1 Mountain

SIDEBOARD: 15
3 Ancient Grudge
2 Whipflare
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Spell Pierce
2 Thoughtseize
1 Ethersworn Canonist
1 Ghirapur Aether Grid
1 Dismember
1 Torpor Orb

Nick Langella, 8th - Grixis Twin


CREATURES: 11
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Deceiver Exarch
2 Pestermite
1 Vendilion Clique

SPELLS: 26
4 Serum Visions
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Remand
1 Mana Leak
1 Dispel
2 Rise//Fall
3 Terminate
1 Murderous Cut
1 Cryptic Command
2 Kolaghan’s Command
3 Splinter Twin

LANDS: 23
4 Polluted Delta
2 Bloodstained Mire
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Steam Vents
1 Watery Grave
1 Blood Crypt
4 Island
1 Swamp
1 Desolate Lighthouse
3 Sulfur Falls

SIDEBOARD: 15
1 Anger of the Gods
2 Engineered Explosives
1 Rise//Fall
1 Thoughtseize
1 Vendilion Clique
1 Glen Elendra Archmage
1 Dispel
1 Bitter Blossom
1 Keranos, God of Storms
1 Blood Moon
1 Molten Rain
1 Negate
1 Tasigur, the Goldenfang
1 Izzet Staticaster