tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545697715600261422024-03-13T12:39:40.886-07:00Make Things Great in LifeMagic: the Gathering, Food and Personal ExperiencesBryan Inno Wonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863849121901110898noreply@blogger.comBlogger285125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654569771560026142.post-24222381495785845072017-01-16T08:10:00.000-08:002017-01-16T08:10:26.002-08:00Top 8 at Eternal Euphoria (Manila) with Elves!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was on a trip to Manila recently, and it just happened to fall on the Legacy day of Eternal Euphoria - a set of tournaments in Modern, Legacy, and Vintage. I missed the Vintage tournament, and I really wanted to join the Legacy tournament because I thought it would surely be larger than the 8-mans I usually join in Cebu. I picked my Elves deck for this tourney, mostly because the players at Kick Engines (the card shop that hosted the tournament) liked to pimp their decks, and I thought I'd bring my best pimp deck so far. The deck is mostly Japanese non-foil except for 5 cards in the maindeck and a few in the sideboard. I also thought it would do well in the expected metagame of MUD, Eldrazi, and midrange decks.</div>
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I had a quick, but intensely satisfying lunch at Tim Ho Wan and proceeded to the venue as quickly as I could. I literally ate at Tim Ho Wan every single day I was in Manila. I cannot wait for it to open in Cebu. I arrived at the venue about 15 minutes past registration time, but the shop was still closed. I didn't know people were usually late at these things. At least, one of my friends was already there, so we had a few playtest games at a place that served espresso. Their espresso machine, a single group Rancilio, didn't even have a faceplate! I have no idea how they accessed the brewing functions on the thing, but the coffee was surprisingly quite drinkable. </div>
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After a few rounds playing Storm, we went back to the store for registration. It took some time for everyone to get registered, so we ended up starting the tournament at about 2:30. Really late but I was definitely still playing. I mean, I was already there, right? Apparently, delays like this one were common there, so I won't be too early next time!</div>
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Round 1: Infect</div>
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G1 I mull to 6. He opens with land, Glistener and I cry. I make an Elf. He plays two Hierarchs and hits me for 3. He attacks me again before I use two Zeniths to find Ranger and Dryad Arbor to fog him while I pray for a Natural Order off the top. He Brainstorms into Berserk and I die.<br />
G2 I mulligan to 4 and lose. I still manage to get into a position where I can fog his Elf and pray for a NO for lethal, but he gets a Blighted Agent and I lose to it.<br />
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Round 2: Burn</div>
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G1 I mull to 5 and lose.<br />
G2 I mull to 5 and lose. UGH! I lost to Burn with Elves. First time for everything.</div>
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Round 3: UR Delver</div>
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G1 I play elves and he doesn't seem to have anything other than the Delver that doesn't want to flip. I Glimpse and kill after casting Nissa into Hoof.<br />
G2 We get into a race situation that I win with a hardcast Hoof right before he kills me with his flipped Delver and Stormchaser. I think this matchup is pretty good for Elves.</div>
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1-2</div>
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Round 4: Pox</div>
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G1 He starts with a Dark Ritual, Liliana, +1. I play a land and creature. He casts Smallpox. I play another Land and Creature, he casts Smallpox. I manage to topdeck enough creatures to kill his Liliana, but he plays a Tombstalker. I find the Natural Order before he kills me.<br />
G2 I mulligan my hand of 2 lands and no card advantage. I keep a 5-land hand with Green Sun's Zenith. Hey, this is Pox. As long as you can keep casting stuff, you can win. He opens with Inquisition of Kozilek taking my GSZ, then follows up with a Hymn taking a land and a topdecked Nettle Sentinel. He later casts Massacre on the four creatures that I manage to get into play, but I bounce the Visionary with a Symbiote. A few turns later, I know he has Black Sun's Zenith due to a Cursed Scroll reveal. I Glimpse anyway, because I needed to find a Rec Sage or I was going to lose the game to the Scroll. I Glimpse into three draws, finding the Reclamation Sage. Pretty good. So he sweeps the three creatures with his Zenith, and I cast Sage to kill the Scroll. He starts attacking with his Mishra's Factory, and he soon adds one more Factory and a Nether Spirit to his side while I drew lands and a Wirewood Symbiote. Fortunately for me, my opponent forgot I had Pendelhaven, so he attacked his 2/2 factories into my 2/3 Symbiote and I got to kill one. I drew a Deathrite Shaman and started eating things out of graveyards. I found a Scavenging Ooze and then a Natural Order to win the insanely grindy game. This is what usually happens in Pox games. Elves is forced into a grindy game with no hand, then somehow recovers with a card advantage engine, and finally closes the game before dying to Pox's win conditions.<br />
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2-2<br />
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Round 5: Death and Taxes</div>
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G1 I felt pretty good that I was matched up against D&T. I thought I could still make top 8 with 3-2. He started with a land, pass. I played an Elf, and he played a Stoneforge for Jitte. I played a bunch of creatures on my turn, including a Symbiote and Visionary. His turn 3 Thalia, Heretic Cathar completely ruined my turn 3 Hoof plan (I had Cradle to make 8 mana and Hoof in hand), and I had to try to find Rec Sage for the Jitte soon or I would have died to a topdecked Mother of Runes. He had Wasteland on board so I couldn't play my Cradle. I topdecked the Reclamation Sage after I block-bounced his Thalia with a Visionary. He realized he had to plow the Symbiote and did exactly that. I cast the Sage to kill the Jitte and we grind forever. Eventually, he got Revoker on Ranger and Heritage, and the game slowed down to a crawl. He gave me a window by using both of his Wastelands on Cavern and another land (Bayou, I think). I punished him by playing the Cradle and passing the turn, untapping, and casting the Hoof. I had both cards in my opening 7!<br />
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G2 He opens with a land, and I play an Elf as usual. He plays a Turn 2 Revoker on something, and I just keep playing Elves. This game goes long enough for him to be able to find a Sanctum Prelate with Recruiter of the Guard, and then cast Prelate on 4 to block Natural Order. I need either Hoof or Decay to win through it. I topdeck the Hoof, play my Cradle, and win.</div>
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The tournament had only 18 players (usually there are around 30 for the Legacy events here!) so I managed to place 6th with my meager 3-2 record.</div>
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Top 8:</div>
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G1: I don't know what my opponent is playing. I keep a hand with Visionary, Symbiote, and GSZ to get the best friends down on T2. He Reanimates Sire of Insanity on turn 1.</div>
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G2: I mull to 4 and I still have nothing. He turn 1s me with Iona anyway.<br />
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Well, that was a massive buzzkill, but it was bound to happen. There were three Reanimator decks in the Top 8, one Infect, and one Miracles. I didn't have high hopes once I knew what most players were on in that Top 8. I'm just happy I made top 8 at all with Elves. It's one of my favorite decks of all time, not because I'm particularly devoted to the tribe. I actually hate playing most tribal decks in Legacy because they tend to be linear and underpowered even when their synergies come up, but Elves is on a completely different level. Elves players are well aware that the deck is deceptively complicated and powerful. </div>
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I think I might be too picky with my hands. In the match against burn, I mulliganed hands that I thought wouldn't be able to race my opponent, and I ended up with a worse hand by the time I mulliganed to 5. It happened in both games.</div>
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I'm definitely glad I made it to this tournament, though. I saw a lot of familiar faces from back when Manila had 50-60 player Legacy tournaments every other week. It was a great experience for me, and it felt great to hit Top 8 right after the Vintage Top 4 in Chiba. People say 2016 sucked, but it seemed alright to me!</div>
Ixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13628741136715916400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654569771560026142.post-23829353672778871952016-12-14T04:32:00.002-08:002016-12-14T17:20:21.450-08:00GP Chiba Side Event - Top 4 in the Asia Vintage Championship Winter 2016!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Loml5YmfvTo/WFE9h0NtgGI/AAAAAAAADHA/4nHLepTTKrkwTNe-vx6bnmjIvNAOtJLEwCLcB/s1600/ar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Loml5YmfvTo/WFE9h0NtgGI/AAAAAAAADHA/4nHLepTTKrkwTNe-vx6bnmjIvNAOtJLEwCLcB/s200/ar.jpg" width="140" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fKeaWlVUkH0/V21YxV7E3dI/AAAAAAAAAtc/2Dm_K6iO18cLRRrFDR9LK9sT0ishG_vbgCPcB/s1600/blotus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fKeaWlVUkH0/V21YxV7E3dI/AAAAAAAAAtc/2Dm_K6iO18cLRRrFDR9LK9sT0ishG_vbgCPcB/s200/blotus.jpg" width="143" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ivn7FblQUUI/WFE9h2Dw7aI/AAAAAAAADHE/mGcATU-QQukdnj9rgR7shDGF74OM-LK6QCLcB/s1600/sapph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ivn7FblQUUI/WFE9h2Dw7aI/AAAAAAAADHE/mGcATU-QQukdnj9rgR7shDGF74OM-LK6QCLcB/s200/sapph.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
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Even before I went to Grand Prix Chiba, I told myself I would be fine with not making Day 2 of the Main Event because there was a Vintage tournament that was likely to be fairly large. Vintage is extremely rare in Manila, and completely non-existent in Cebu, so I knew I didn't want to miss this chance to play with some Power cards!</div>
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I didn't bother with a difficult deck for this tournament. I decided to play Oath because it was a pretty simple deck to play. This was the list I played:<br /><br />
16 Lands<br />
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4<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Forbidden Orchard<br />
1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Island<br />
1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Library of Alexandria<br />
4<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Misty Rainforest<br />
1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Strip Mine<br />
2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tropical Island<br />
3<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Underground Sea<br />
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2 Creatures<br />
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1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Emrakul, the Aeons Torn<br />
1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Griselbrand<br />
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42 Spells<br />
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4<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Abrupt Decay<br />
1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ancestral Recall<br />
1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Brainstorm<br />
1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dig Through Time<br />
2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Flusterstorm<br />
4<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Force of Will<br />
4<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mental Misstep<br />
1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Vampiric Tutor<br />
1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Demonic Tutor<br />
1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ponder<br />
3<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Preordain<br />
1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Show and Tell<br />
1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Time Walk<br />
2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Toxic Deluge<br />
1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Treasure Cruise<br />
1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dragon Breath<br />
4<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Oath of Druids<br />
1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Black Lotus<br />
1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mox Emerald<br />
1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mox Jet<br />
1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mox Pearl<br />
1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mox Ruby<br />
1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mox Sapphire<br />
1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sol Ring<br />
2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Jace, the Mind Sculptor<br />
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1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Savannah<br />
1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite<br />
1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Terastodon<br />
2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mindbreak Trap<br />
3<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Nature's Claim<br />
1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Toxic Deluge<br />
4<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Rest in Peace<br />
2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Pithing Needle<br />
<br /><br /> The idea is to play Oath of Druids, trigger it with either Orchard tokens or the opponent naturally playing creatures, and to cheat out the only two creatures in the maindeck: Emrakul, the Aeons Torn, and Griselbrand. It can even give them haste by milling the Dragon Breath off the Oath trigger. It can win off of good keeps and raw power, which I needed because I do not get to play a lot of Vintage and have no skill or format knowledge to leverage. I didn't have ANY practice at all with the deck, because I'm the only Vintage player I know of in Cebu. I just copied Yves Dahinden's Oath list from Eternal Weekend Europe's Top 8, but I replaced one Show and Tell with a Library of Alexandria because I only had one Show and Tell, heh. I anticipated many boring games of just tapping two mana, cheating a monster into play and winning off the opening hand that I draw, like the Show and Tell decks in Legacy. Contrary to my expectations, I ended up having many difficult, thrilling, and awkward games, all while having a relaxed atmosphere compared to Day 1. It was a lot easier to have fun in this 72-man event!</div>
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On to my matches!</div>
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R1 Oath mirror (1-0)</div>
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G1 I win the die roll and open a hand with Library, Vampiric Tutor, two Oaths, and an Orchard. I play a Library. He preordains off a rainbow land. I suspect Oath so I keep my oaths in hand. I draw from Library twice over two turns, and let him cast an Oath with his Orchard. Then I play my Orchard and tap it to tutor for another Orchard. I win by triggering his Oath. This game was the first Oath mirror I had ever played, but my friend told me this is how it plays out. It worked! </div>
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G2 I mull to 6 and he Show and Tells on turn 3. I lose the counter war and the game. </div>
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G3 I had a double Oath hand with Orchard. I cast Oath, he Forces. I cast an Oath and it resolves. He gets to cast Show and Tell into Omniscience, but passes the turn. I Oath into Dragon breath and Emrakul, killing all 6 of his permanents immediately.</div>
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R2 BUG Fish (1-1)</div>
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G1 He plays T1 Bob. I lose soon after without revealing that I'm on Oath. </div>
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G2 He boards very lightly and plays a T1 Bob again. I T2 Oath and win.</div>
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G3 I have nothing, and die to his T1 Bob into beats.</div>
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R3 Mono Red Moon (2-1)</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GK_HKaJIwS8/WFEq5FGqSDI/AAAAAAAADGA/MPzyhoI6UxEF7LGt_riwK5cPQZv80dB6ACLcB/s1600/magus%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bmoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GK_HKaJIwS8/WFEq5FGqSDI/AAAAAAAADGA/MPzyhoI6UxEF7LGt_riwK5cPQZv80dB6ACLcB/s320/magus%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bmoon.jpg" width="224" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2MS38UH41Ig/WFEq4xzqKgI/AAAAAAAADF8/1OXsZT-pnBc7o6MljbvYQkmmoP-xjcBFgCLcB/s1600/bloodmoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2MS38UH41Ig/WFEq4xzqKgI/AAAAAAAADF8/1OXsZT-pnBc7o6MljbvYQkmmoP-xjcBFgCLcB/s320/bloodmoon.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="224" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">These cards. In Vintage. </span></div>
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G1 I keep Demonic Tutor, Orchard, Black Lotus, Orchard, and two fetches. He goes T1 Chrome Mox tossing Blood Moon, Tomb, Magus of the moon. WAT. I draw, play fetch and Lotus, pass. He plays another Magus. The only way I can do anything is to topdeck either Oath, or Mox Emerald. Like a pro, I obviously topdeck Mox Emerald, crack Black Lotus to tutor Oath, cast it, and win. Skill game.</div>
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G2 He has T1 Mox, Mox, Sol Ring, Rabblemaster. I attempt to read the card, but it's Japanese. I soon get an Oath. He plays an Ensnaring Bridge. I flip a lot of cards to find a Dragon Breath and Emrakul, but I can't attack. I find a Nature's Claim, so I hold off until his EOT to kill his bridge. He casts <i>another</i> bridge. I kill the first one, but I need to find another card to deal with it. I don't even know if there's another in the Library! I play on, casting Treasure Cruise, Ancestral Recall, Ponder, Preordain, in no particular order, then with 3 cards in my library, I Brainstorm into the last Abrupt Decay! I return 2 lands. He casts Blood Moon which would have ruined everything by not letting me cast Decay and the Deluge I need to clear his board. He would have killed me on the crack back because Griselbrand was in my hand. I Force the Moon, Decay the Bridge, cast the Toxic Deluge, and annihilate for the flawless victory with 1 card in the library! Absolute insanity! My opponent's soul was so crushed that he did not leave his seat for a long time. I had some coffee, walked around the event, talked to my friends, and went back to the table and he was still there looking destroyed.</div>
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R4 Shops (3-1)</div>
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G1 T1 Sphere.</div>
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T1 Orchard Mox Mox Mox. We laugh, but I think he died a little inside.</div>
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T2 Chalice 2. Decay Sphere EOT.</div>
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T2 Land, go.</div>
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T3 Sphere on stack AR, Decay chalice.</div>
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T4 He casts Revoker on something.</div>
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T4 Oath!</div>
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T5 Thorn</div>
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T5 Oath into Emrakul</div>
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T6 Metamorph on Emrakul</div>
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T6 Oath into Dragon Breath Griselbrand. I try to find Time Walk but my opponent reminds me he's at 8 so I win with a Breath pump.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This guy can hit Emrakul - it doesn't target!</td></tr>
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G2 He casts a T1 Revoker on Lotus</div>
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T1 Oath</div>
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T2 I think he casts a TKS?</div>
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T2 Oath into Emrakul</div>
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T3 Metamorph again!</div>
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T3 Oath into Elesh. Attack into his smaller Emrakul for the win. I'm not even sure if I want Elesh Norn in the matchup but I boarded it in anyway.</div>
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R5 Mentor (4-1)</div>
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G1 I only remember decaying a flipped Jace and Oathing him out. I didn't show him I was on Oath until I had to.</div>
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G2 I Oath out a Grisel, he Plows it. I Misstep. He Snapcasters the Plow, I draw 7, cast Dig Through Time to find a Misstep+FOW to win the game.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-njVW-LKZYBY/WFEr25TIMMI/AAAAAAAADGM/Rav3XYT7pRk0XdGqUpL1GJ1G3GfRPXLEQCLcB/s1600/misstep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-njVW-LKZYBY/WFEr25TIMMI/AAAAAAAADGM/Rav3XYT7pRk0XdGqUpL1GJ1G3GfRPXLEQCLcB/s320/misstep.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is one of the reasons why Vintage will never be a goldfish format.</td></tr>
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R6 Paradoxical Storm (5-1)</div>
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G1 I Flusterstorm a Paradoxical Outcome for 3 without realizing he has an untapped Monolith. Dead on turn 3 (an extra turn after a Time Walk.)</div>
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G2 I Misstep his Sol Ring, he FOWs. He tries to cast Wheel of Fortune, I Mindbreak Trap it. I win from there with like 3 more counters and a Tutor into Oath. He could have completely destroyed me if he had let his Sol Ring get countered and FOWed the Mindbreak Trap instead!</div>
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G3 He mulls to 5, I counter his twister and cast Oath. He can't beat Griselbrand drawing tons of counters.</div>
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R6 ID to make Top 8 at 5-1-1! This is my first time ever to do this. </div>
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T8 UR Delver</div>
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G1 I play duals to hide my Oathing intentions. He plays Young Pyromancer, I Oath into a Griselbrand. He casts Snapcaster Mage targeting Gush with no mana available. I wonder what he wanted to do with it, but I let it resolve, and then he tries to cast Gush by returning Islands. I call the judge because I know it doesn't work. It's not allowed and he loses to my Griselbrand. I have to imagine he's done that play during the Swiss rounds.</div>
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G2 I snap keep my hand of Double Oath and mana. He plays a Delver, Pierces an Oath, and casts Ancestral. I didn't bother fighting it, because my plan was to cast the other Oath with FOW up. I cast the Oath, I believe he Pierces it again, and I FOW to resolve it. He casts another Delver because he doesn't really have anything. I Oath into Griselbrand, then I Oath into Dragon Breath + Emrakul. I attempt to attach it, but he calls the judge to clarify. It works and I win. My friends cheered me on during this match, and the judge told them to be careful. Hahah!</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8HSOX1y8u20/WFE6xPHNSyI/AAAAAAAADGc/dTP2p9oGeFEE8AREK4sLXksJkzotseS8wCLcB/s1600/emra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8HSOX1y8u20/WFE6xPHNSyI/AAAAAAAADGc/dTP2p9oGeFEE8AREK4sLXksJkzotseS8wCLcB/s320/emra.jpg" width="224" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EutlNxKBSS0/WFE60xaXszI/AAAAAAAADGk/9QXZS5tWKQ4Im29du6ITZoWDb2LCYZqQQCLcB/s1600/dbreath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EutlNxKBSS0/WFE60xaXszI/AAAAAAAADGk/9QXZS5tWKQ4Im29du6ITZoWDb2LCYZqQQCLcB/s320/dbreath.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Still smashing people for 1G</span></div>
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T4 Mentor</div>
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G1 I keep a hand with Library of Alexandria and Strip Mine. I play Library, draw a card off it before he Wastes it. I Strip his next land and he hits no lands off 4 Preordains. I cast Jace, then I Oath. He plows Griselbrand, draw 7, discard Emrakul and Dragon Breath. I reveal both during my next Oath Trigger. I swing, he's at 1. I cast time walk when I could have just pumped Emrakul. Man I suck at Dragon Breath.</div>
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G2 I can't break through a Cage + Priest and die to Mentor with Gush.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ve04LC-xXy0/WFE7ndAeohI/AAAAAAAADGw/QmQnQF0BVyYhZXHbUC7NLu9J2Kx6c3wRQCLcB/s1600/cage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ve04LC-xXy0/WFE7ndAeohI/AAAAAAAADGw/QmQnQF0BVyYhZXHbUC7NLu9J2Kx6c3wRQCLcB/s320/cage.jpg" width="224" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-78nXLQMRPqo/WFE7nkXwAGI/AAAAAAAADG0/TPDIt72dBXcFa_zEcXT8mEVlAuM6svdEQCLcB/s1600/conpriest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-78nXLQMRPqo/WFE7nkXwAGI/AAAAAAAADG0/TPDIt72dBXcFa_zEcXT8mEVlAuM6svdEQCLcB/s320/conpriest.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The standard "Don't Oath me, Bro!" package</span></div>
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G3 He has no action until T3 where he casts a Mentor. I decay it. He casts Priest, which I allow. I have Deluge and Show and Tell in hand, but I thought he had another Mentor in hand so I tried to hold off on the Deluge. Then he cast Cage, and then Ancestral, Time Walk, Cruise, and Dig to put the game completely out of reach. The way out of that situation was to Deluge away the Priest, and then Oath to draw either creature in my deck on the draw step, then Show and Tell it. Obviously, I would need both spells to resolve, but my opponent had seven cards to my three. That wasn't going to happen. I lost!</div>
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Oath is apparently still a good deck, and pretty easy to play. One thing that surprised me, though, is the value that Oath gains from bluffing the deck. I won a few games simply because my opponent didn't know I was on Oath, so they casted their creatures early or spent counters on my Ancestrals so that Oath could resolve.</div>
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And so my massive lucksack of a run ended in the Top 4 of the Winter 2016 Asia Vintage Championship. I still can't believe it! It's now been almost three weeks since the event, and I'm still ecstatic about it! The prizes were interesting for the top 2 slots: a choice between a Crucible of Worlds Masterpiece painting plus a Japanese box of Kaladesh, or a Kaladesh foil set plus a Japanese box of Kaladesh. 3rd/4th got 18 packs. I opened all my packs and pulled nothing of worth, but whatever. I joined the tournament for the sake of getting to play Vintage, and I managed a great run that I won't forget. This is actually my first big finish in any moderately sized tournament - I've only really played 8-mans for many years now.</div>
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If you're interested in the deck lists, the top 8 can be found <a href="http://www.hareruyamtg.com/en/k/kD19169S/">HERE</a>. Final rankings were not posted in order for whatever reason.</div>
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I had tremendous fun at the Grand Prix, meeting all the fellow Filipinos from Manila, Japan, and Singapore who also joined the Main Event. There were about 13 of us, some of whom were old friends I hadn't seen in a long time. A Japanese friend of mine also went to Day 2 to cheer me on. I hadn't seen him in maybe two years, so that was great! I also met some guys who were in the Grand Prix Hong Kong 2015 Vintage side event with me, which was really cool! One of them was watching us play in the Hong Kong side event, and he made the finals of this tournament! It would have been interesting if I had been in the finals against him. All in all I had a fantastic experience. 11/10 would play a Vintage side event in Japan again!</div>
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Ixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13628741136715916400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654569771560026142.post-15519377390468785502016-06-24T09:48:00.001-07:002016-06-25T02:19:40.652-07:00Release the ANT<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BqJQjruzMRg/V21Y1f_zwXI/AAAAAAAAAtA/xa0ybUYzzOIdIVhzgYwMqqB3tf7pkqnngCKgB/s1600/tendrils.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BqJQjruzMRg/V21Y1f_zwXI/AAAAAAAAAtA/xa0ybUYzzOIdIVhzgYwMqqB3tf7pkqnngCKgB/s200/tendrils.jpg" width="143" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b9htTnMIVVY/V21ZaZEaIdI/AAAAAAAAAtM/W0byLfonwAwrlFcATf-IFcCdWTsFp4QRACLcB/s1600/LED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b9htTnMIVVY/V21ZaZEaIdI/AAAAAAAAAtM/W0byLfonwAwrlFcATf-IFcCdWTsFp4QRACLcB/s200/LED.jpg" width="143" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xi8sTH1HrFc/V21Za5pHnRI/AAAAAAAAAtU/RpDydo4Jy20mDENrE5OA9JXP9CL8yF1VwCLcB/s1600/itutor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xi8sTH1HrFc/V21Za5pHnRI/AAAAAAAAAtU/RpDydo4Jy20mDENrE5OA9JXP9CL8yF1VwCLcB/s200/itutor.jpg" width="143" /></a></div>
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After a long while, I'm back with another tournament report from Cebu's Legacy scene! It's been some time since my first post here, and we've managed to launch quite a few Legacy tournaments since then. After winning with Elves, I've gone 2-2, 3-1, and 4-0 with Elves, 3-1 with Grixis Delver, 2-2 and 4-0 with Lands, and now 4-0 with my actual favorite deck: ANT. I can't remember the details of most of those tournaments anymore, but I will be writing about the last tournament I joined with Lands. I had some spicy tech that I'm sure my opponents didn't enjoy. I'm very, very happy that we've been getting our Legacy events to fire now. I believe we've now run more tournaments in 2016 than the whole of 2015. The relatively consistent events have generated some interest from new players who want to try Legacy.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have a thing for complicated decks with multiple paths to victory, so I always have loads of fun whenever I play ANT. A perfect example of this is the recent Grand Prix Prague finals. That match was just an incredible showcase of Legacy as a format, and of both Miracles and Storm as two of the most powerful decks. I've played Rodrigo Togores' lists since last year, and I have had no reason to doubt it, especially after the GP finals. I played his list as-is, but changed my sideboard for my local metagame.</span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ad Nauseam Tendrils
Maindeck:
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">4 Ponder</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">4 Gitaxian Probe</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Preordain</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">4 Infernal Tutor</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">3 Duress</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">3 Cabal Therapy</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Tendrils of Agony</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">2 Past in Flames</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">4 Brainstorm</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">4 Dark Ritual</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">4 Cabal Ritual</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Ad Nauseam</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Rain of Filth</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">4 Lotus Petal</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">4 Lion's Eye Diamond</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Sensei's Divining Top</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">2 Underground Sea</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Volcanic Island</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Bayou</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Tropical Island</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Island</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Swamp</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">4 Polluted Delta</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">4 Misty Rainforest</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sideboard:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 Dread of Night</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">4 Abrupt Decay</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Surgical Extraction</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Flusterstorm</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 Xantid Swarm</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Tendrils of Agony</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 Echoing Truth</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Empty the Warrens</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I played nothing but ANT for around 8 months last year, but I've been playing Storm variants in Legacy and Vintage for years now. I haven't played it in a tournament since November 2015, though. The deck is extremely powerful, but also very difficult to play correctly. The goal of the deck is to cast Tendrils of Agony with enough Storm copies to kill the opponent on the spot. This is possible because the deck is composed mostly of very efficient mana sources and cantrips. Normally, this is done by abusing the interaction between Infernal Tutor and Lion's Eye Diamond. If the player cracks the Lion's Eye Diamond while Infernal Tutor is on the stack, the Tutor resolves after the discard effect and is guaranteed to be Hell-bent. The mana from the LED will be floating after the Tutor resolves. This effectively turns Infernal Tutor + Lion's Eye Diamond into Demonic Tutor + Black Lotus. Who doesn't love playing Vintage cards in Legacy?
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fKeaWlVUkH0/V21YxV7E3dI/AAAAAAAAAs4/l00YGV9hrusMRxkx8xCa0gymZuAfr9wDACLcB/s1600/blotus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fKeaWlVUkH0/V21YxV7E3dI/AAAAAAAAAs4/l00YGV9hrusMRxkx8xCa0gymZuAfr9wDACLcB/s1600/blotus.jpg" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JLUAfT2Q22A/V21Y1YsnkzI/AAAAAAAAAtE/LWKdt6Dn1pE8ymdNB0UvngHtmlb3eYR1wCLcB/s1600/dtutor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JLUAfT2Q22A/V21Y1YsnkzI/AAAAAAAAAtE/LWKdt6Dn1pE8ymdNB0UvngHtmlb3eYR1wCLcB/s1600/dtutor.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Despite the deck's name, the deck does not actively try to resolve Ad Nauseam. This spell is very inconsistent and is best avoided unless the life total is very high, or the risk of bricking is worth it, such as in a Turn 1 Ad Nauseam. </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">The vast majority of ANT kills come from casting two Rituals, Infernal Tutor cracking LED, and finding Past In Flames. Casting PIF will let the player flash back the rituals and the Tutor, which then finds Tendrils of Agony. This kill is far safer and more consistent than Ad Nauseam. I know this sounds extremely specific and narrow, but there are many, many different ways that a lethal Tendrils can happen without Lion's Eye Diamond or even Tutors. However, a lot of these lethal plays can be quite convoluted and difficult to spot. The 14 cantrips in the deck provide a rock-solid foundation for consistency, and the discard spells and Gitaxian Probe help in getting perfect information and protecting the combo. It is really a beautifully designed deck that rewards practice.</span><br />
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Here's how my tournament went: </div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">G1 I race him. ANT is one of the decks that Elves can do next to nothing against in Game 1. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">-3 Duress -1 Sensei's Divining Top</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">+2 Echoing Truth +2 Abrupt Decay</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have no idea what he's playing in the SB, but I thought he'd bring in permanents. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">G2 I Truth a T2 Priest of Titania with my slow hand. He has a Symbiote and this is a budget build, so it's possible that he has way more 1 mana elves than usual. This means a T2 Priest can easily turn into a T3 Hoof. He Zeniths into Wellwisher (!) and I have to go all in because I'm not beating Wellwisher, Symbiote, and Priest before I get Hoofed. I get there with Ad Nauseam. He shows me that he boarded in Mindbreak Trap. Whew!
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This card can be a complete blowout for ANT when it's unexpected!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">R2 Omnitell</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">G1 He goes first, plays a land and passes. I Ponder. He plays another land and passes again. I Probe, and he shows me a hand that can go off easily on Turn 3 through discard. I have to try to Therapy and he Brainstorms. I call Show and Tell and miss. He had Emrakul in hand, and I think that might have been the correct call regardless because if I hit, he has to shuffle the library and lose. I also made another misplay here. I realize now I should have Brainstormed while my opponent's Brainstorm was on the stack so I could try to find another Cabal Therapy. I Brainstormed after it resolved, which he gladly Spell Pierced. A well-deserved loss for me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">-3 Therapy, -1 Preordain, -1 Swamp, -1 Top, -1 Past in Flames</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">+2 Echoing Truth, +2 Xantid Swarm, +1 Flusterstorm, +1 Krosan Grip, +1 Surgical Extraction</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I thought he was boarding in Leylines of Sanctity or some other annoying permanents. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">G2 I probe on Turn 2 and find out he has T2 RIP (turns out he boarded this!) with no counters against my PIF hand. I go off against an open Brainstorm on Turn 2 and kill him. Sometimes, being really fast is the best answer to hate.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">G3 We both cantrip until I Duress on T2. He Brainstorms and shows me a hand with Probe, land, Emrakul. I can go off through anything he draws next turn, so I take the Probe because the only way I lose is Show and Tell into Omniscience into Emrakul. I pass. He Ponders and passes. I probe and go off. He casts Impulse and fully yields priority to me. I don't screw up and I kill him. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">G1 I keep a slow hand that has cantrips and disruption but few combo cards. I get raced by Angler and Delver. He has no disruption, but I can't cast the Ad Nauseam in hand with no rituals, and I have very little life anyway.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">-1 Ad Nauseam, -1 Preordain, -1 Top</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">+1 Empty the Warrens, +1 Tendrils of Agony, +1 Flusterstorm</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ad Nauseam is pretty bad in this matchup. Usually, my life total goes down so fast that it gets stuck in my hand. Tendrils and Empty are fantastic, on the other hand.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">G2 I am happy with my Island PIF, LED, IT, and Delta hand. I play Island, pass. He blind Therapies for LED and hits. I completely forgot about the Therapies in this deck, so I didn't play the LED! I draw another LED, play Land IT for LED, play both LEDs, pass. I don't remember how but he ends up with a Pyromancer and a Token, but forgets to Therapy. Some turns later I have 4 lands and 2 LEDs and I'm forced to go off due to low life. I resolve PIF with zero rituals in the graveyard and a Tendrils in hand. I flashback a Probe seeing DRS and a Land. I draw my SECOND tendrils! That means I can't use the IT in my graveyard to find a Tendrils! I'm forced to crack my second LED for UUU to try and cantrip into a way to flashback my PIF, to give my Tendrils flashback. I find a couple of rituals and manage to get there! Now that I think about it, I could have cracked at least one LED before resolving the PIF. That way, my first Tendrils would be in the graveyard before the PIF resolved. I didn't know what he had in hand, though, so that would have been very risky.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">G3 He plays a turn 1 DRS. I probe and see 2 Wasteland, Probe, Therapy, but no counters. I go off T1 with Dark Ritual, IT, crack LED discarding PIF, search for Cabal Ritual and Flashback PIF. Sweet. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I haven't decided if I hate Innistrad for printing this card</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">or if I love Innistrad for printing this card. </td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">6-2 in Games</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">R4 Merfolk with Chalice</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">G1 I start with Top and LED because I saw him play a Chalice in the previous rounds. He has 1U for the entire game with lords in his hand. Keeps attacking me with Cursecatchers, Mutavault, and Phantasmal Cursecatchers. I have to spend a Brainstorm and a Rain of Filth to get myself to a safe life total in case he gets to play a lord. He correctly counters them with catchers, but loses his clock. I keep filtering until I find the kill at 5 life with 1 Petal and 2 LEDs in play. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">-3 Cabal Therapy, -1 Preordain, -1 Ad Nauseam, -1 Sensei's Divining Top, -1 Rain of Filth</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">+2 Xantid Swarm, +1 Tendrils of Agony, +2 Echoing Truth, +1 Krosan Grip, +1 Empty the Warrens</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was very confident that he wouldn't keep Dismembers and Jitte in, so I brought in the Xantid Swarms. I didn't bring in the Decays because I didn't feel like I needed to stop too many permanents, just one or two Chalices that I can probably play around with lots of Storm cards anyway.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">G2 He has to FOW a T1 Xantid Swarm with a mulliganed hand. Great! He plays a T2 Lord and a T3 catcher. He takes me to 12 life. I float 8 black mana with Rituals, Tendrils him for 12, cast PIF from hand, and Tendrils him again in the same turn without Tutors or LEDs! He did not draw any Chalices, but I would have been able to Tendrils him to death through one Chalice on 1 or 0 with my hand. I love this deck. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GfWYHnkLg-g/V21Y1VJwhZI/AAAAAAAAAtc/FdlulOHKkoM2KiQrKoP1faYDCG1fzJbGgCKgB/s1600/cotv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GfWYHnkLg-g/V21Y1VJwhZI/AAAAAAAAAtc/FdlulOHKkoM2KiQrKoP1faYDCG1fzJbGgCKgB/s1600/cotv.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No Storm player ever wants to see this on the table</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">8-2 in Games</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">4-0 in Matches for first place!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This metagame was as expected: at least 50% combo. ANT is not bad at all against a metagame like this. I think it's only really weak to Reanimator, MUD, and Eldrazi.</span></div>
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<div>
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">I guess I've still got it! I had some very interesting lines of play against a bunch of interesting matchups, so I'm really glad I played ANT. I actually rolled a die to choose whether I'd play Lands or ANT, and it rolled Lands. I counted only 14 cards in the sideboard, though, so I had to pick ANT instead! Speaking of Lands, I'll post about that tournament in a few days, so watch out for that!</span></div>
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Ixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13628741136715916400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654569771560026142.post-26030151209849026702016-06-14T22:06:00.002-07:002016-06-24T08:30:03.867-07:00All-In Manaless Dredge
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<b><i>All-in Manaless Dredge</i></b><b> by Bryan Inno Wong </b><br />
<table align="top"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid black;" width="70%"><table><tbody>
<tr><td align="top" style="vertical-align: top;" width="200"><b>Creatures:</b><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ichorid.jpg">Ichorid</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Nether_Shadow.jpg">Nether Shadow</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Narcomoeba.jpg">Narcomoeba</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Golgari_Grave-Troll.jpg">Golgari Grave-Troll</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Stinkweed_Imp.jpg">Stinkweed Imp</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Golgari_Thug.jpg">Golgari Thug</a><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Shambling_Shell.jpg">Shambling Shell</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Street_Wraith.jpg">Street Wraith</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Phantasmagorian.jpg">Phantasmagorian</a><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Balustrade_Spy.jpg">Balustrade Spy</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Flayer_of_the_Hatebound.jpg">Flayer of the Hatebound</a>
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Chancellor_of_the_Annex.jpg">Chancellor of the Annex</a>
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Serra_Avatar.jpg">Serra Avatar</a>
</td><td width="200"><b>Sorceries:</b><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Gitaxian_Probe.jpg">Gitaxian Probe</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Dread_Return.jpg">Dread Return</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Cabal_Therapy.jpg">Cabal Therapy</a><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Enchantments:</b><br />
4 <a class="simple" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Bridge_From_Below.jpg">Bridge From Below</a><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;"><b>Sideboard:</b><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mindbreak_Trap.jpg">Mindbreak Trap</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Contagion.jpg">Contagion</a><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Faerie_Macabre.jpg">Faerie Macabre</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ashen_Rider.jpg">Ashen Rider</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Noxious_Revival.jpg">Noxious Revival</a><br />
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<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Bryan Inno Wonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863849121901110898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654569771560026142.post-11744519857012725262016-05-16T08:21:00.003-07:002016-06-02T22:56:13.956-07:00Manaless Dredging Folds to One CardHello everybody. It's been a while since I have written an article and the truth is - magic itself. I have been on a 2 month hiatus and with roughly 6 months to go, Grand Prix Chiba is fast approaching and it's now time to get back into playing Legacy. Let me be clear about some things - yes, this is an article about Manaless Dredge. Say what??! Is that even a tier 1 or 1.5 deck? Well, it's actually not, but it sure is a hell of a lot of fun deck to play. Another thing is no - this is not a primer about Manaless Dredge - but maybe I will do that in another article. <br />
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But one this is for sure, as the title says, I think there is an important rule in playing legacy that we should remember when selecting a deck and that is "to NEVER choose a deck that folds to one card". Rest in Peace. Leyline of the Void. Grafdigger's Cage. Deathrite Shaman. BOOM! Those are 4 cards, and yet Manaless Dredge may fold to each of those cards - "You are not making a lot of sense Mr Bryan Wong!". Maybe or maybe not but let's get to Dredging anyway!
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UmqSCunAceM/VznkdIPf5yI/AAAAAAAABZ0/Iw9WY_RyqP0C5tWGIAsPz9FYPuNfsGxfQCLcB/s1600/grave-troll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UmqSCunAceM/VznkdIPf5yI/AAAAAAAABZ0/Iw9WY_RyqP0C5tWGIAsPz9FYPuNfsGxfQCLcB/s400/grave-troll.jpg" /></a></div>
<b><i></i></b><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<b><i>Manaless Dredge</i></b><b> by Bryan Inno Wong </b><br />
<table align="top"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid black;" width="70%"><table><tbody>
<tr><td align="top" style="vertical-align: top;" width="200"><b>Creatures:</b><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ichorid.jpg">Ichorid</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Nether_Shadow.jpg">Nether Shadow</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Narcomoeba.jpg">Narcomoeba</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Golgari_Grave-Troll.jpg">Golgari Grave-Troll</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Stinkweed_Imp.jpg">Stinkweed Imp</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Golgari_Thug.jpg">Golgari Thug</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Shambling_Shell.jpg">Shambling Shell</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Street_Wraith.jpg">Street Wraith</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Phantasmagorian.jpg">Phantasmagorian</a><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Whirlpool_Rider.jpg">Whirlpool Rider</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Flayer_of_the_Hatebound.jpg">Flayer of the Hatebound</a></td><td width="200"><b>Sorceries:</b><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Gitaxian_Probe.jpg">Gitaxian Probe</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Dread_Return.jpg">Dread Return</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Cabal_Therapy.jpg">Cabal Therapy</a><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Enchantments:</b><br />
4 <a class="simple" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Bridge_From_Below.jpg">Bridge From Below</a><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Instants:</b><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Force_of_Will.jpg">Force of Will</a><br />
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</tbody></table>
</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;"><b>Sideboard:</b><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Force_of_Will.jpg">Force of Will</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mindbreak_Trap.jpg">Mindbreak Trap</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Disrupting_Shoal.jpg">Disrupting Shoal</a><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Contagion.jpg">Contagion</a><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Faerie_Macabre.jpg">Faerie Macabre</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ashen_Rider.jpg">Ashen Rider</a><br />
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<br />
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</tbody></table>
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Eversince the printing of Deathrite Shaman, it was believed that graveyard-based strategies like dredge will be pushed out of tournament scenes. I want to point out that while Deathrite Shaman makes it harder for the deck - it definitely is not impossible. Here are some pointers in playing against Deathrite Shaman.<br />
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1. If you have a Phantasmagorian and dredger - lead with a Phantasmagorian. An active Deathrite Shaman user will not remove your Phantasmagorian, since you will be able to respond and discard multiple dredgers.<br />
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2. Contagions on the side are for deathrite shamans and other graveyard hoser creatures.<br />
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3. Blue for counterspells. Force of Will and Disrupting Shoals should counter Deathrite Shamans, Grafdigger's Cage and Rest in Peace.<br />
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I have dabbled with the Green-splash version of Manaless Dredge. But it was the Blue-version that made me feel comfortable. Having access to counterspells allows you to have a catch-all solution to graveyard hate. This answers the weaknesses of having a enchantment removals provided by green such that cards like Rest in Peace already do their part as soon as they resolve - so countering them is your best answer. There is however, one card that has been left unanswered.<br />
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Leyline of the Void.<br />
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Leylines have a unique ability. If they are in the opening hand, the game is started with them in play. They are not being cast - therefore they cannot be countered. If your metagame is full of Reanimators, then it might not be easy since Leyline of the Void also plays around the counterspells of reanimator. For me, a 1st turn Leyline of the Void is definitely game over for the blue manaless dredge - but this is not game over for the green version.<br />
<br />
Whichever version is chosen, Manaless Dredge simply cannot answer all hate cards. It may not be a tier 1 deck but it can easily steal a tournament away if the metagame is not prepared. But the existence of Reanimator - another heavily graveyard-dependent strategy makes it difficult for Manaless Dredge to shine. It may just be a matter of identifying your metagame if dredge is viable or not, however, overall, the current legacy metagame is still blue - thus it is still a metagame that Manaless can thrive.Bryan Inno Wonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863849121901110898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654569771560026142.post-46149510764283948222016-04-02T09:47:00.000-07:002016-06-14T22:11:28.061-07:00All Those Faces Under The Hoof <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uh46YRI_h7o/Vv_2LwKVOaI/AAAAAAAAArM/xTlt-mQNA9gzecZgZEdcAQGqwIqnlgICg/s1600/hoof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uh46YRI_h7o/Vv_2LwKVOaI/AAAAAAAAArM/xTlt-mQNA9gzecZgZEdcAQGqwIqnlgICg/s320/hoof.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Hello everyone! I’m Jun Mendero, and I have been playing Magic: The Gathering on and off since 1997. I’ve sold out of and bought into the game several times, but I’ve been playing Legacy, Vintage, and (reluctantly testing) Modern since 2010 and I don’t think I’ll quit anytime soon.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-0583003e-d78e-d5af-862b-ee23bf09329d" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Legacy scene in Cebu is quite small at the moment, which is understandable considering the prices of Legacy decks. It’s so small that when two players stopped playing, we could not fire a tournament for two months. Fortunately, we managed to get our tournaments running again, with a major milestone of running two in the same week! We are hoping to run weekly Legacy tournaments after this.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I could only join one of the two tournaments, and I won it with Elves. It’s the first deck I bought into when I started playing Magic again, so I can say I've had some practice with it. Elves used to be just a cute and terrible deck that could only really win through insane Glimpse chains, but with several fantastic printings, it slowly turned into the powerhouse it is today.</span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I played this Natural Order list to a 4-0:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<b><i>Elves</i></b><b> by Jun Mendero </b><br />
<table align="top"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid black;" width="70%"><table><tbody>
<tr><td align="top" style="vertical-align: top;" width="200"><br />
<b>Creatures:</b><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Heritage_Druid.jpg">Heritage Druid</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Nettle_Sentinel.jpg">Nettle Sentinel</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Quirion_Ranger.jpg">Quirion Ranger</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Elvish_Visionary.jpg">Elvish Visionary</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Wirewood_Symbiote.jpg">Wirewood Symbiote</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Birchlore_Rangers%20.jpg">Birchlore Rangers </a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Deathrite_Shaman.jpg">Deathrite Shaman</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Craterhoof_Behemoth.jpg">Craterhoof Behemoth</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Reclamation_Sage.jpg">Reclamation Sage</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Dryad_Arbor.jpg">Dryad Arbor</a><br />
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<b>Sorceries:</b><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Natural_Order.jpg">Natural Order</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Glimpse_of_Nature.jpg">Glimpse of Nature</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Green_Sun's_Zenith.jpg">Green Sun's Zenith</a></td>
<td width="200"><br />
<b>Lands:</b><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Windswept_Heath.jpg">Windswept Heath</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Verdant_Catacombs.jpg">Verdant Catacombs</a><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Wooded_Foothills.jpg">Wooded Foothills</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Bayou.jpg">Bayou</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Cavern_of_Souls.jpg">Cavern of Souls</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Pendelhaven.jpg">Pendelhaven</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Gaea's_Cradle.jpg">Gaea's Cradle</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Forest.jpg">Forest</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;"><b>Sideboard:</b><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Null_Rod.jpg">Null Rod</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Shaman_of_the_Pack.jpg">Shaman of the Pack</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Cabal_Therapy.jpg">Cabal Therapy</a><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Abrupt_Decay.jpg">Abrupt Decay</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Pithing_Needle.jpg">Pithing Needle</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Gaddock_Teeg.jpg">Gaddock Teeg</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Scavenging_Ooze.jpg">Scavenging Ooze</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Surgical_Extraction.jpg">Surgical Extraction</a><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Thoughtseize.jpg">Thoughtseize</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love playing Elves. This deck walks the line between fair and broken. It plays multiple copies of <a href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Glimpse_of_Nature.jpg">Ancestral Recall</a>, <a href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Natural_Order.jpg">Tinker</a>, and <a href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Gaeas_Cradle.jpg">Tolarian Academy</a>, yet it is somehow very difficult to play optimally. I believe these cards give it the flexibility it needs to change its gameplan on the fly, but the difficulty comes in identifying and evaluating the lines available. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is inherently powerful, but very weak to faster combo decks. There is nothing it can do against Storm decks Game 1, and the discard in Game 2 is often not enough to stop them. Belcher and other T1 kill decks are practically automatic losses. It is also weak against Miracles because it is difficult to recover through a Counterbalance lock after a Terminus. It is not soft to spot removal, though, because it simply draws too many cards for spot removal to keep up. Sweepers are not backbreaking against Elves for the same reason. I have won so many games where I had my board swept twice. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I replaced the fourth Natural Order with a Sylvan Library because I prefer to play this deck patiently - as if it were a really broken midrange deck. I usually don’t try to set up a combo until I am sure that it will finish the game or I have no choice but to go off. With this game plan, setting up the “green Dark Confidant” team of Symbiote + Visionary is almost always priority #1. Once that is established, the opponent will struggle to deal damage, and will often fall so far behind on cards that the Elves player can just keep casting Hoof tutors until one resolves and kills the opponent.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A note on playing Glimpse: there is rarely any need to hold Glimpse of Nature for bigger combo turns. I consider it the green Ancestral Recall and I play it that way. It is often a value card that can draw 3-5 cards without ending the game. Some people are not satisfied when a Glimpse chain ends without killing, but I like drawing tons of cards for 1 mana without playing blue...in Legacy. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My tournament went this way:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">R1: BG Reanimator</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">G1: T1 Entomb, T2 Elesh Norn off a mull to 5. I scoop.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-4 Elvish Visionary -4 Wirewood Symbiote -1 Reclamation Sage</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">+2 Cabal Therapy +3 Thoughtseize +2 Surgical Extraction +1 Scavenging Ooze +1 Pithing Needle</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">G2: Snap keep a T1 Deathrite hand. He loses.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0ZY9h4rmr6E/Vv_krS2Hh5I/AAAAAAAAAqg/-bwp96mWXh8tzFQc6KWY4pxDNhq6VLvhw/s1600/DRS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0ZY9h4rmr6E/Vv_krS2Hh5I/AAAAAAAAAqg/-bwp96mWXh8tzFQc6KWY4pxDNhq6VLvhw/s320/DRS.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This card single-handedly gives Elves an honest chance against Reanimator. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">G3: I kept a weak hand with some elves and a Surgical. He mulls to 5 and has nothing, which is good. Eventually I find a Deathrite, but he casts a Griselbrand with 3 Dark Rituals. He has 6 life, and I have 2 Bayous and two other lands. I float B, activate Deathrite, bounce the Bayou to untap with Quirion Ranger, play the Bayou, activate Deathrite again, then Green Sun’s Zenith for another Quirion Ranger to untap the Deathrite again to blast him for exactly 6. I absolutely hate this matchup, especially Dark Ritual versions. It's really draw dependent and produces some really boring games.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2-1 in Games</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1-0 in Matches</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">R2: Omnitell</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">G1: I know he is on Omnitell, so I just keep a hand with a few creatures so I can actually attack if his deck messes up. That’s exactly what happens: He cantrips for 5 turns while I have next to nothing. I just attack for some damage. He ends up Showing an Emrakul. I Show the Gaea’s Cradle I’ve been holding, then cast a Glimpse and chain into a bunch of elves but no kill. He attacks, I take 15 and sac 6. I finally manage to Hoof next turn against his hand of Spell Pierces.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-3 Elvish Visionary, -3 Wirewood Symbiote, -1 Heritage Druid, -1 Nettle Sentinel</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">+1 Gaddock Teeg, +2 Cabal Therapy, +2 Surgical Extraction, +3 Thoughtseize</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">G2: His deck durdles to death again. I have a T2 Sylvan Library. He attempts to race by casting EOT Wish for Intuition. I pay 8 to Sylvan just to increase my weenie clock. He passes the turn. I pay another 4 for Cradle + Hoof, which I cast immediately. It gets Forced, and he casts Intuition for Show and Tell at the end of my turn. When it resolves and he passes priority, I hit Show and Tell with Surgical Extraction and take the match.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6vkSWIVr7E8/Vv_0AspNDYI/AAAAAAAAAq4/lCrIuRq6hhY-1zd2Yxhdo5EHPxAl-UWQQ/s1600/feels%2Bgood.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6vkSWIVr7E8/Vv_0AspNDYI/AAAAAAAAAq4/lCrIuRq6hhY-1zd2Yxhdo5EHPxAl-UWQQ/s1600/feels%2Bgood.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When you Extract the only thing your opponent's deck ever does</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4-1 in Games</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2-0 in Matches</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">R3: Death and Taxes</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">G1: I just Hoof through some stuff. This is just a horrible matchup for Death and Taxes.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-1 Heritage Druid -2 Nettle Sentinel -1 Natural Order -2 Glimpse of Nature</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">+2 Abrupt Decay +1 Null Rod +1 Pithing Needle +1 Shaman of the Pack</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I sideboarded this way because I figure that I will rarely want to hold creatures in hand against Death and Taxes. Jitte is the only card that can beat Elves, and the rest of the deck is so good against Death and Taxes that I can afford to pile up the hate on Jitte.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">G2: He gets a Jitte in play from his hand, and I Zenith for Wirewood Symbiote to prevent combat damage. He plows it and gets Jitte counters, I lose shortly after.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
G3: I don’t remember exactly what happened here. I know he wasted a land and played Mom on his Turn 3. I Glimpsed into the kill right after that, and he showed me the Ethersworn Canonist in hand. He wanted to protect it with Mom before playing it, but that didn’t pay off.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6-2 in Games</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3-0 in Matches</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">R4: All Spells</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">G1: Here we go, unwinnable matchup! Well, my opponent mulls to 4 and has nothing against the Turn 1 Deathrite from my 6-card hand. That was pure luck!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-4 Elvish Visionary -4 Wirewood Symbiote -1 Reclamation Sage </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">+2 Cabal Therapy +3 Thoughtseize +2 Surgical Extraction +1 Scavenging Ooze +1 Null Rod</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">G2: Alright, time to lose. He starts with a Chrome Mox with an Undercity Informer imprint. Elvish Spirit Guide, Summoner’s Pact for another one, then casts an Undercity Informer. Then he Passes the turn! I win! Nothing like winning a game on Turn 1 with Elves, right?</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ayjr-wRrUnY/Vv_yRTKaRSI/AAAAAAAAAqs/QH_YLWhfN10Hi7pAI5ol8TEAfNIsz33NQ/s1600/S-Pact.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ayjr-wRrUnY/Vv_yRTKaRSI/AAAAAAAAAqs/QH_YLWhfN10Hi7pAI5ol8TEAfNIsz33NQ/s320/S-Pact.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I lost to my own Pact trigger many years ago. I finally saw it happen to someone else.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8-2 in Games</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4-0 in Matches</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It has been a long time since I played this deck in a tournament, and I’m glad I managed a good showing with it. This is also the first time I played this deck since I finished pimping the maindeck. <span style="font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px;">I really wish I had played against blue tempo and control decks, though. I find those matchups far more interesting than the rather linear decks I played against in this tournament. </span>I’ll leave you with a relatively old photo of my maindeck, but I’ll be back with more Legacy and Vintage posts. Enjoy!
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Ixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13628741136715916400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654569771560026142.post-963057185982420482016-03-22T07:29:00.002-07:002016-03-24T06:19:30.595-07:00Planeswalkers of Shadows Over Innistrad Innistrad has been and will always be an important block in my Magic the Gathering life and it has been my favorite block flavor-wise and story-wise. The first Innistrad block gave us a lot of cards that are even continuously being used in a lot of eternal formats - personally, my Modern and Legacy lists include Liliana of the Veil, Geist of Saint Traft, Snapcaster Mage, Delver of Secrets.<br />
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Shadows Over Innistrad visits the horror-themed plane again and hopefully this will not disappoint us. Before we proceed to the planeswalkers in this block, let us appreciate this very cool playmat for the Shadows Over Innistrad Gameday champion.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7-VtzaO1Lz8/VvFKuAK1YUI/AAAAAAAABYs/FvoryCdcpl4HcFfY5WTeB2kpYpQk8XH6A/s1600/gameday-playmat.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7-VtzaO1Lz8/VvFKuAK1YUI/AAAAAAAABYs/FvoryCdcpl4HcFfY5WTeB2kpYpQk8XH6A/s400/gameday-playmat.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a>The first planeswalker for this set is no one else but the lord of this plane - Sorin Markhov. Sorin returns to this set with very promising abilities just right for a control deck like Esper. Sorin, Grim Nemesis has a +1 ability then lets you draw a card and reducing your opponent's life. This is perfect for Esper or Orzhov midrange and control decks and unlike Dark Confidant, putting cards with big mana costs like Planeswalkers and big impact spells can be used with Sorin. His -X ability would have been better if it can target a player instead but the fact that it can let you gain life is a bonus. I love his ultimate though, since this goes well with his +1 ability and it is the perfect finisher for a control-based deck.<br />
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Second is Nahiri. Based on the flavor texts of the cards in the spoilers, it seems that this set focuses on Nahiri and Sorin as Nahiri promised destruction and suffering to Sorin and Innistrad. Personally, I think Nahiri has a lot of potential for Modern and Legacy. Nahiri, the Harbinger's first two abilities are fair abilities - hand filtering and a way to protect herself (being able to target an enchantment makes it even better). But what is scary about Nahiri is her ultimate as her -8 ability can be activated after two activations of her +2 ability. Oh I just can't imagine the look on your opponent's face as you get an Emrakul from your deck and attack. ^_^<br />
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Third is our very first Werewolf Planeswalker - Arlinn Kord. Arlinn has 5 abilities and that is one more than Jace, the Mind Sculptor's, isn't that great already? This card is more of a version 2 of Huntmaster of the Fells. I think the 0 and -1 abilities will be the mostly used abilities of Arlinn Kord. More like Huntmaster, Arlinn Kord's most likely play is generate a 2/2 wolf and flip to Arlinn, Embraced by the Moon where she has her best ability in my opinion - and that is lightning bolt at the cost of just 1 loyalty counter. Being red and green can also assure you are aggressive enough to have creatures in play when she flips and that is where her +1 ability for mini overrun really shines. In terms of power level, I think she is tied to Nahiri but they both go into very different decks and their success will be dictated by the success of their respective decks. I can foresee Arlinn easily having a home in Red-Green based aggro decks for Standard and Modern.<br />
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Lastly, Magic's Poster boy gets another card - Jace, Unraveler of Secrets. Jace has been my favorite Planeswalker of all time and the reality is there are two versions of Jace that costs more than $75 and maybe this is a way for wizards to balance out the average power levels of planeswalkers because I honestly do not like this Jace. Outside of Standard, I don't think this card can find a home. The best ability is the -8 as having a non-removable source of counterspells. Scry 1 and drawing a card is also very good but -2 as his way to protect himself just makes it more difficult to reach 8 loyalty counters to trigger his best ability.<br />
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What do you think about the new planeswalkers? Which among them will see play in Standard, Modern and Legacy? Let me know in the comments section below.<br />
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This set having 4 planeswalkers and other sweet mythics like Archangel Avacyn and several good rares makes it a very strong set in terms of power level. We are nearly halfway in the spoilers now and I sure hope that all the good stuffs hasn't been revealed yet. Looking forward to the rest of the set so that we can start brewing as soon as possible. Peace out guys!Bryan Inno Wonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863849121901110898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654569771560026142.post-51080856241393268272015-03-15T21:08:00.000-07:002016-03-23T21:07:32.885-07:00Tetsu TsukemenIf you are in Shibuya abnd you are craving for some Tsukemen, then I got the place for you -- Tetsu Tsukemen.<br />
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The shop is conveniently located near the Hachiko Exit of Shibuya Station in Tokyo.<br />
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However, The shop is not located in the main road so you need to go into the smaller alleys of Shibuya to get there.<br />
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Upon entering the shop, there is a machine where you can select your order and will receive your payment. The price is also displayed in the buttons of the machine. Ordering is easy but not all orders have pictures but some helpful common terms will help.<br />
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Tsukemen : Warm Noodles will be served separately with your soup.<br />
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Atsumori : Similar to the tsukemen but your Noodles are served with hot/warm water to keep the noodles warmer.<br />
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After ordering in the machine. The machine will issue your change and a stub. This stub will then be given to the staff after he/she shows you to your table. There are both counter seats and table seats available in the shop but most likely, if you are alone, you will be seated in the counter seat.<br />
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Upon receiving your stub, the staff will usually ask you how much "men" or noodles do you want. In tetsu, the regular serving is 200 grams of noodles is the regular or "futsu". You can also ask for "chuu mori" = 250 grams. "Oo mori" is 300 grams. "Toku mori" is 400 grams. Increasing your noodles until Toku Mori is free of charge. But personally I haven't tried Toku mori as I think I cannot eat all of the 400 grams.<br />
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When your order arrives, enjoy your meal!<br />
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As you eat your Tsukemen, your soup will eventually lose its warmth since the noodles that you dipped are basically cooler than your soup. If you want your soup to warm up again simply ask the staff for a hot stone or "Yaki Ishi". You can then put the Yaki Ishi in your soup to warm it up. Do not touch the stone, use a spoon.<br />
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"Hondashi" is also available in the counter or your table. Compared to ramen, the soup of the tsukemen is thicker. If you want to drink it, you can mix the warm hondashi broth to your soup and drink it afterwards. Although some people drink the soup as it is but I do think it is too thick.<br />
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Thank you very much for the read. If you visit Shibuya and you crave for Tsukemen, by any means drop by Tetsu!Bryan Inno Wonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863849121901110898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654569771560026142.post-46721956509685826612015-03-07T18:01:00.000-08:002016-03-21T22:01:47.756-07:00Snowboarding Time in Iiyama NaganoWith the cold winter going away soon and Spring slowly warming things up, I did not let an opportunity to go snowboarding pass. Experiencing this adventure filled me up with mixed emotions - ranging from heart-stopping majestic scenery to painful buttocks from constant falling. But once you learn how to do it properly, it sure is great! Some of my friends here tell me that Filipino and Snowboarding is a bit unusual for them since the Philippines is relatively a warm/hot country, but if there's one thing that Filipinos do is that we love to try things out - especially things we cannot experience in our daily lives living in a warm region.
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<a name='more'></a><br />Bryan Inno Wonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863849121901110898noreply@blogger.com0日本, 長野県飯山市36.8517445 138.3654951999999436.648623 138.04277169999995 37.054866000000004 138.68821869999994tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654569771560026142.post-72744885712736017872014-10-04T08:00:00.000-07:002015-03-07T17:21:52.505-08:00Playing with Modern Affinity Once Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Affinity or Robots is one of the pure aggro decks in the modern format that is very fast and resilient. A deck so focused in strategy that it is very difficult to deal with in game 1. However, it is also a deck that is very easy to hate with multiple cards in the modern environment post sideboard. I will discuss my current deck list for Affinity / Robots and what I want to change in the deck after playing modern for the first time here in Japan.<br />
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<b><i>Modern Robots / Affinity</i></b><b> by Bryan Inno Wong </b><br />
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<tr><td align="top" style="vertical-align: top;" width="200"><b>Lands:</b><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Blinkmoth_Nexus.jpg">Blinkmoth Nexus</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Inkmoth_Nexus.jpg">Inkmoth Nexus</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Glimmervoid.jpg">Glimmervoid</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Darksteel_Citadel.jpg">Darksteel Citadel</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Island.jpg">Island</a><br />
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<b>Creatures:</b><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ornithopter.jpg">Ornithopter</a><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Memnite.jpg">Memnite</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Vault_Skirge.jpg">Vault Skirge</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Signal_Pest.jpg">Signal Pest</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Arcbound_Ravager.jpg">Arcbound Ravager</a><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Steel_Overseer.jpg">Steel Overseer</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Master_of_Etherium.jpg">Master of Etherium</a><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Etched_Champion.jpg">Etched Champion</a></td><td width="200"><b>Non-Creature Artifacts:</b><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mox_Opal.jpg">Mox Opal</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Cranial_Plating.jpg">Cranial Plating</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Springleaf_Drum.jpg">Springleaf Drum</a><br />
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<b>Enchantments:</b><br />
3 <a class="simple" href="https://deckbox.org/mtg/Ensoul Artifact">Ensoul Artifact</a><br />
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<b>Sorceries:</b><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Thoughtcast.jpg">Thoughtcast</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;"><b>Sideboard:</b><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Thoughtseize.jpg">Thoughtseize</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ancient_Grudge.jpg">Ancient Grudge</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Spellskite.jpg">Spellskite</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Etched_Champion.jpg">Etched Champion</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Dismember.jpg">Dismember</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Spell_Pierce.jpg">Spell Pierce</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Choke.jpg">Choke</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Rule_of_Law.jpg">Rule of Law</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Whipflare.jpg">Whipflare</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Grafdigger's_Cage.jpg">Grafdigger's Cage</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Nature's_Claim.jpg">Nature's Claim</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Illness_in_the_Ranks.jpg">Illness in the Ranks</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Affinity has changed so much throught the years that the current configuration for the deck only has 1 card with the "Affinity" mechanic and that card is Thoughtcast. At this rate, I might have to follow what everyone says and change the name to Robots eventually but as long as I have a card with the affinity mechanic in the deck, I think I will still call the deck Affinity.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I have been having a steady decklist for Affinity ever since the introduction of the Scars of Mirrodin block but the introduction of Ensoul Artifact in M15 is so great for Affinity that the only question to ask is how many copies of it should be included in the deck and what to remove. In my current deck list, my idea was to move into the mono-blue main deck route and opted to remove the main deck Galvanic Blasts. I though these changes will be more focused to the aggro side of things and should be enough to put early pressure quickly and win the game quickly.
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b49RvOIbMtE/VDEdDY_zYlI/AAAAAAAABUI/ptfJD2_1xLo/s1600/thoughtcast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b49RvOIbMtE/VDEdDY_zYlI/AAAAAAAABUI/ptfJD2_1xLo/s1600/thoughtcast.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></a></div>
<br />
Technically, my decision to keep the Thoughtcasts is for me to have a chance to recover in situations where I need to mulligan (and it is quite important to mulligan when playing the deck). But this decision also makes me weaker to control and tempo strategies. WIth my current configuration, I planned to put it into test in a 3-round modern tournament last friday night.<br />
<br />
<i>Matchups:</i><br />
<br />
<b>vs UWR Control (Loss 1-2)</b><br />
<br />
<b>vs Dimir Mill (Win 2-0)</b><br />
<br />
<b>vs Ad Nauseam Combo (Win 2-0)</b><br />
<br />
<i>What I want to Change</i><br />
<br />
One thing that I really missed in the UWR matchup is the 4 damage removal that could hit Restoration Angel and Celestial Colonnade, so I wanted to put some Galvanic Blasts back in the deck. It could also be good in finishing the game off by dealing damage directly into the player and good for stopping Deceiver Exarch combo decks.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PCETg7TF6LQ/VDEdLNJ3l3I/AAAAAAAABUU/WR2Gwg2_vdk/s1600/galvanic-blast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PCETg7TF6LQ/VDEdLNJ3l3I/AAAAAAAABUU/WR2Gwg2_vdk/s1600/galvanic-blast.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><i>Modern Robots </i></b><b>by Bryan Inno Wong </b><br />
<table align="top"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid black;" width="70%"><table><tbody>
<tr><td align="top" style="vertical-align: top;" width="200"><b>Lands:</b><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Blinkmoth_Nexus.jpg">Blinkmoth Nexus</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Inkmoth_Nexus.jpg">Inkmoth Nexus</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Glimmervoid.jpg">Glimmervoid</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Darksteel_Citadel.jpg">Darksteel Citadel</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Island.jpg">Island</a><br />
<br />
<b>Creatures:</b><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ornithopter.jpg">Ornithopter</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Memnite.jpg">Memnite</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Vault_Skirge.jpg">Vault Skirge</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Signal_Pest.jpg">Signal Pest</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Arcbound_Ravager.jpg">Arcbound Ravager</a><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Steel_Overseer.jpg">Steel Overseer</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Master_of_Etherium.jpg">Master of Etherium</a><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Etched_Champion.jpg">Etched Champion</a></td><td width="200"><b>Non-Creature Artifacts:</b><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mox_Opal.jpg">Mox Opal</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Cranial_Plating.jpg">Cranial Plating</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Springleaf_Drum.jpg">Springleaf Drum</a><br />
<b><br /></b><b>Enchantments:</b><br />
3 <a class="simple" href="https://deckbox.org/mtg/Ensoul Artifact">Ensoul Artifact</a><br />
<b><br /></b><b>Instants:</b><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Galvanic_Blast.jpg">Galvanic Blast</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;"><b>Sideboard:</b><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Thoughtseize.jpg">Thoughtseize</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ancient_Grudge.jpg">Ancient Grudge</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Spellskite.jpg">Spellskite</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Etched_Champion.jpg">Etched Champion</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Dismember.jpg">Dismember</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Spell_Pierce.jpg">Spell Pierce</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Choke.jpg">Choke</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Rule_of_Law.jpg">Rule of Law</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Whipflare.jpg">Whipflare</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Grafdigger's_Cage.jpg">Grafdigger's Cage</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Nature's_Claim.jpg">Nature's Claim</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Illness_in_the_Ranks.jpg">Illness in the Ranks</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Bryan Inno Wonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863849121901110898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654569771560026142.post-13941858418910685152014-08-27T17:30:00.001-07:002016-03-23T22:49:43.116-07:00November 2014 FNM Card - Brain Maggot with PictureNo doubt about it, Brain Maggot is a great card and an FNM promo version of the card is pretty sweet. The art is eerily good. It gives me goosebumps but it is a masterpiece and I love it! I might need to go to FNMs every week for November for this promo.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xnyhNwF4-3U/U_5yVWkxpiI/AAAAAAAABR8/Tp5l-iS9y5c/s1600/brain-maggot-fnm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xnyhNwF4-3U/U_5yVWkxpiI/AAAAAAAABR8/Tp5l-iS9y5c/s1600/brain-maggot-fnm.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
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<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
A closer look at the artwork. Wow, it's scary and I just feel like the maggot is in my ear. But this is a great magic card and a great promo. Thanks Wizards!
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XN6AKQhYgeU/U_5yUBIRYAI/AAAAAAAABRo/n253BPMdXT4/s1600/brain-maggot-fnm-art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XN6AKQhYgeU/U_5yUBIRYAI/AAAAAAAABRo/n253BPMdXT4/s1600/brain-maggot-fnm-art.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Bryan Inno Wonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863849121901110898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654569771560026142.post-70738007185637712112014-08-27T17:17:00.001-07:002016-03-23T22:50:06.032-07:00October 2014 FNM Card - Fanatic of Xenagos with PictureThe FNM Promo for October is a party goer and a devotee to the Revel God Xenagos. Compared to last month's FNM promo, Fanatic of Xenagos didn't really have much appearance in the competitive Standard picture, even though it has one of the best or better Tribute effects in my opinion. If you think Red-Green Aggro will be a thing for the future, aim for this FNM promo for October besides, the art is cool.
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-asU5d1UH6_I/U_5yV9krMvI/AAAAAAAABRw/0l51MeNEiFc/s1600/fanatic-of-xenagos-fnm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-asU5d1UH6_I/U_5yV9krMvI/AAAAAAAABRw/0l51MeNEiFc/s320/fanatic-of-xenagos-fnm.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a><br />
Looking at the artwork closer, I like this since it is a drunk centaur. Just perfect for what you expect to be a Fanatic of the party-god Xenagos.
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l3MSo4_tCuI/U_5yWtdtiFI/AAAAAAAABR4/mC6Ng-CkHXg/s1600/fanatic-of-xenagos_fnm-art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l3MSo4_tCuI/U_5yWtdtiFI/AAAAAAAABR4/mC6Ng-CkHXg/s320/fanatic-of-xenagos_fnm-art.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Bryan Inno Wonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863849121901110898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654569771560026142.post-61629210444903912742014-08-27T17:08:00.001-07:002016-03-23T22:50:20.309-07:00September 2014 FNM Card - Banishing Light with PictureThe FNM Promo in September is a Standard staple after the rotation. A good promo at the right time. Banishing Light is the functional reprint of the good old Oblivion Ring and it surely gets the job done.
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yqnEJ9oU6qU/U_5yUBviaNI/AAAAAAAABRQ/RQ6EfyrJUBc/s1600/banishing-light-fnm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yqnEJ9oU6qU/U_5yUBviaNI/AAAAAAAABRQ/RQ6EfyrJUBc/s320/banishing-light-fnm.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
I am not a very good fan of this art compared to the previous FNM promo arts since I really don't see the idea of a banishing light in the artwork. But flavorwise, it is okay since the hero was dealing with some sort of a god in the artwork. And a Banishing Light promo is still a Banishing Light.
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8e8vnM0QesI/U_5yUMmW64I/AAAAAAAABRU/Kc3jbHeo-8I/s1600/banishinglight_art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8e8vnM0QesI/U_5yUMmW64I/AAAAAAAABRU/Kc3jbHeo-8I/s320/banishinglight_art.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Bryan Inno Wonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863849121901110898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654569771560026142.post-4755100537553952014-06-27T20:21:00.000-07:002014-06-27T20:23:59.067-07:00July 2014 FNM Card - Magma Spray with PictureFriday Night Magic in July will be red hot with a foil Magma Spray as the FNM Promo Card. Wow, this is the first promo card to feature the new M15 border and it definitely looks great in this promo along with a very nice artwork with Koth in it.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kmXmiH6eVYw/U64ur6kvSdI/AAAAAAAABPk/sFzqMyjme0w/s1600/magma-spray-fnm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kmXmiH6eVYw/U64ur6kvSdI/AAAAAAAABPk/sFzqMyjme0w/s1600/magma-spray-fnm.jpg" height="320" width="229" /></a></div>
<br />
A closer look at the superb artwork on this promo card.
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zWLF5GikR7M/U64ur2kLjzI/AAAAAAAABPo/3I3DdYMT5cU/s1600/magma-spray-artwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zWLF5GikR7M/U64ur2kLjzI/AAAAAAAABPo/3I3DdYMT5cU/s1600/magma-spray-artwork.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
This is the recent version of Magma Spray in Journey into Nyx.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B-3QzVpskQs/U64ur96tKCI/AAAAAAAABPw/zSoNIV29VL4/s1600/magma-spray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B-3QzVpskQs/U64ur96tKCI/AAAAAAAABPw/zSoNIV29VL4/s1600/magma-spray.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></a></div>
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Bryan Inno Wonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863849121901110898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654569771560026142.post-44751131934817539022014-06-22T16:48:00.001-07:002016-03-23T22:51:34.070-07:00Devotion in Nagano Championship Trials 2014 Saku City<br />
<b><i>MonoRed Devotion</i></b><b> by Bryan Inno Wong - Semifinalist</b><br />
<table align="top"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid black;" width="70%"><table><tbody>
<tr><td align="top" style="vertical-align: top;" width="200"><b>Lands:</b><br />
21 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mountain.jpg">Mountain</a><br />
<br />
<b>Creatures:</b><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Rakdos_Cackler.jpg">Rakdos Cackler</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Firedrinker_Satyr.jpg">Firedrinker Satyr</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Burning-Tree_Emissary.jpg">Burning-Tree Emissary</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ash_Zealot.jpg">Ash Zealot</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Rakdos_Shred-Freak.jpg">Rakdos Shred-Freak</a><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Firefist_Striker.jpg">Firefist Striker</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Boros_Reckoner.jpg">Boros Reckoner</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Chandra's_Phoenix.jpg">Chandra's Phoenix</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Fanatic_of_Mogis.jpg">Fanatic of Mogis</a></td><td width="200"><b><br /></b><b>Instants:</b><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Lightning_Strike.jpg">Lightning Strike</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Magma_Jet.jpg">Magma Jet</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Shock.jpg">Shock</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;"><b>Sideboard:</b><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Searing_Blood.jpg">Searing Blood</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mizzium_Mortars.jpg">Mizzium Mortars</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Magma_Spray.jpg">Magma Spray</a><br />
2 <a class="simple" href="https://deckbox.org/mtg/Harness%20by%20Force">Harness by Force</a>
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Skullcrack.jpg">Skullcrack</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Matchups:<br />
<br />
Round 1 vs MonoBlue Devotion (L 1-2)<br />
<br />
Round 2 vs Naya Midrange (W 2-0)<br />
<br />
Round 3 vs GW Beatdown (W 2-0)<br />
<br />
Round 4 vs Esper Control (W 2-1)<br />
<br />
Top 4:<br />
Semifinals vs Naya Beatdown (L 0-2)Bryan Inno Wonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863849121901110898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654569771560026142.post-14052486197922815052014-05-29T20:31:00.000-07:002016-03-23T22:51:53.357-07:00Magic101: Maximizing BudgetWhen it comes to almost everything in life - may it be doing the things we want, travelling, hobbies, eating outside or even buying groceries - everything falls under a budget. This becomes the upper bound, a limit. Without this limit, we can go bankrupt and not save anything for our future. This is not about lessons in life and economics, this is about enjoying things even on a budget. Hobbies are just one aspect in life and putting everything you've got in your hobby is, for me, pretty much plain stupid and unreasonable. Savings and investment is still the way to live life to assure ourselves of a future (+1 Win in Life's game). I will talk about Magic: the Gathering but I think the concept is applicable to other things in life.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BY_v_7v2Skk/U4f8tgCb0fI/AAAAAAAABPQ/9Y4ovCEvH7s/s1600/budget.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BY_v_7v2Skk/U4f8tgCb0fI/AAAAAAAABPQ/9Y4ovCEvH7s/s1600/budget.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<b>Spending is a Privilege</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
People who do Magic: the Gathering, for me, can be categorized into two major divisions - collectors and players. The unique thing about Magic is that it is not only a card game, but it also has other dimensions such as a collectible. Being a collector will demand more resources than being a player since being a player will just require you to get the cards you need to win / use in your deck. But most people become collectors too as the game can be an indirect investment - these game cards are worth money in the market. However in the world of players, the sample can also be divided into Playing within the Budget and Having the Best Deck. For someone who thinks about the future, the best route to take is to play within your Budget.<br />
<br />
<b>Accepting Reality</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
To accept reality is the most important thing for me. In reality, we are always tempted to go beyond the budget. Winning tournaments, getting the prizes, honour - all of these things tempt me to go beyond, but by accepting the fact that other people simply have bigger budget than me can make me focus on exploring and properly evaluating my alternatives (example, the less expensive cards) and in comes strategy. What you may lack in budget, you make up for it in other ways.<br />
<br />
<b>Strategy : Consistency over Power</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Having a small budget isn't really a bad thing. Since our budget will not include buying all the expensive and powerful cards, putting your mind to work to build your strategy in how to beat the best decks is something that you may want to focus on. One thing that I can think of is you can't beat power by sheer power, "Powerful" cards are powerful on their own and may not be beaten in terms of power level by your alternative ones. But you can work on consistency. Magic for example have a lot of game aspects that may provide inconsistency, for example: the number of colors that you use in your deck, the mana curve, the chance of casting your spells at the right time, drawing the cards that you need at a specific time. Powerful cards are still useless if you cannot use them anyway. So by building a deck that you can use everything that you can draw is a good way to start your strategy with.<br />
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<b>Strategy: Do your Homework</b><br />
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Games are unpredictable. People are unpredictable. A person may show up and bring a deck that isn't powerful but since a person likes a certain strategy he or she may still bring it to a tournament. But Human Nature will dictate that people come in tournaments to WIN. Nobody definitely wants to lose. Thanks to the internet, knowing the decks that WIN in the rest of the world and preparing for those matchups is easier today than say, 10 years ago. People who want to win will have a greater chance to use similar decks (people don't usually copy everything, they will of course modify it a little to increase their chance of winning the local tournaments), so by studying these decks, you can find their weaknesses and know their game play making it better to strategize against them.<br />
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<b>Strategy: Know the Best card</b><br />
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In Magic, sometimes, the best decks have a common denominator and sometimes it boils down to a card. For example, when you see that the Top 8 out of the 2000+ participants in a big tournament all use a certain card, beat that card. Personally, I think that the best card in the current standard is Thoughtseize (and I like this card so much). So I would like to make a budget deck that can beat Thoughtseize. Since Thoughtseize causes life loss and it can only target one card. Make a deck that doesn't rely in one card to win. And make a deck that can maximize in dealing damage fast. If half of the players in a tournament use Thoughtseize, then I might have a better chance of winning the tournament.<br />
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Let me end this article with the saying: "If you can't join them, beat them!" :) Thanks for the read! Have a great day.Bryan Inno Wonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863849121901110898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654569771560026142.post-34007568148653608692014-05-20T08:33:00.001-07:002016-03-23T22:52:11.440-07:00Playing with Fire - Journey Into NyxMore than two weeks after the release of Journey Into Nyx, Standard opens up new brews that can potentially change the tournament scenes in the next months. People will continue to brew with the new Gods, Black receives Temple of Malady to splash for green and Esper receives even more tools to stamp their existence in the coming tournament pictures. Today I wanted to write about the deck that doesn't receive much love lately - Mono Red and I wanted to look at the new tools in Journey Into Nyx that can help Red in the coming months.<br />
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<h1>
MonoRed Journey Into Nyx</h1>
Journey Into Nyx may not have given Red some instant game-changing tools but we have received some very good support cards. With these tools, my <a href="http://www.innomtg.info/2014/03/monored-devotion.html">Red Devotion deck</a>'s angle of attack may need to change as well. Let's take a look at them:
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xRm4aRzpJ9g/U3toRNdjDDI/AAAAAAAABN0/R5URFfhY_3s/s1600/eidolon-of-great-revel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xRm4aRzpJ9g/U3toRNdjDDI/AAAAAAAABN0/R5URFfhY_3s/s1600/eidolon-of-great-revel.jpg" width="140" /></a>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SGqDOOYsoPM/U3toRE0SHoI/AAAAAAAABN8/VoTfxXahuO4/s1600/harness-by-force.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SGqDOOYsoPM/U3toRE0SHoI/AAAAAAAABN8/VoTfxXahuO4/s1600/harness-by-force.jpg" width="140" /></a>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RWY7xAhsJb4/U3toROlbKoI/AAAAAAAABN4/ikoBS18QR1o/s1600/magma-spray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RWY7xAhsJb4/U3toROlbKoI/AAAAAAAABN4/ikoBS18QR1o/s1600/magma-spray.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
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<b>Eidolon of Great Revel</b><br />
For me, this is one of the most interesting cards for red in this set. Those who played during the time of Pyrostatic Pillar can justify the power of the card. Eidolon of Great Revel comes with a 2/2 body and whether or not that can be something good or bad will require a lot of testing and brewing. I may be wrong about this but I think I will still give this card more time to prove itself but it will surely be in Red's 75 in the future. For me, the decision of playing it main deck or in the sideboard will be a matter of a metagame call.<br />
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<b>Harness by Force</b><br />
For mono Red, this card will replace Act of Treason in the sideboard. Act of Treason is very good against any green matchup and the possibility to target two or more creatures in the later part of the game is just too good of a bonus to overlook.<br />
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<b>Magma Spray</b><br />
Just like when this card was printed way back, it was, at best, a sideboard card. Now it can exile Voice of Resurgence. It can also be boarded in aggro matchups. I think the magic number will still be 2 in the sideboard.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8e0sMM_ac5o/U3toR7T4xUI/AAAAAAAABOA/0A7HIDiILYk/s1600/mogis-warhound.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8e0sMM_ac5o/U3toR7T4xUI/AAAAAAAABOA/0A7HIDiILYk/s1600/mogis-warhound.jpg" width="140" /></a>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ds5XjDZYP5I/U3toSIMRInI/AAAAAAAABOI/ZmF_pV2bycA/s1600/prophetic-flamespeaker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ds5XjDZYP5I/U3toSIMRInI/AAAAAAAABOI/ZmF_pV2bycA/s1600/prophetic-flamespeaker.jpg" width="140" /></a>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mc5Db-yaOaI/U3toSQHBBiI/AAAAAAAABOQ/Fwt8wn2tqGU/s1600/twinflame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mc5Db-yaOaI/U3toSQHBBiI/AAAAAAAABOQ/Fwt8wn2tqGU/s1600/twinflame.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
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<b>Mogis's Warhound</b><br />
This warhound is the card that I like most in the set. A Grizzly Bear at worst, and a mana cost that can be played with the mana from Burning-Tree Emissary is a playable card in red. The Bestow cost of this card also curves completely with red thus making it a good card to pressure your opponent with in the early game. It can also get your creature out of Bile Blight's reach and once Bestowed, will enable you to push extra damage after a board sweep.<br />
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<b>Prophetic Flamespeaker</b><br />
I am looking forward to using this card in the future. The double strike in this creature enables you to pseudo-draw 2 cards and that Chandra-like ability is something that Red can always use. However with a mana cost of 3, it needs to compete with Boros Reckoner, Chandra's Phoenix and Hammer of Purphoros making it difficult to use at the moment before the current 3 drops cycle out.<br />
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<b>Twinflame</b><br />
Twinflame is an interesting card that can be used in an aggro red deck or in a deck that utilizes creatures with strong triggered abilities. I will definitely keep an eye on this card since cards like this one has the potential to be very good depending on the cards that will be printed in the future.<br />
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<b>The Potential Shift - back</b><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0E5iQDI6WvA/U3tzn-zR_QI/AAAAAAAABOw/XlPlrak_WH0/s1600/madcap-skills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0E5iQDI6WvA/U3tzn-zR_QI/AAAAAAAABOw/XlPlrak_WH0/s1600/madcap-skills.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
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Although splashing White may still be one of the best viable option to deal with annoying creatures and control (with cards like Chained to the Rocks, Banishing Light, Assemble the Legion), I think staying with Mono Red can be viable but will require you to focus in dealing damage as soon as possible. Although one possible route to take is to stay with devotion with cards like Fanatic of Mogis, Purphoros, God of the Forge and Stormbreath Dragon to utilize the Power of Eidolon of Great Revel, for this article, I would like to push for rush attack and returning to the old Madcap Skills to supplement Mogis's Warhound as a safer brew to bring for the next tournament. With the Temple cycle already complete, this deck will attack decks playing tapped lands in the early game. This will give you better chances against Midrange decks that are rampant at the moment and may give you a chance to not overcommit on the board and still win the game.<br />
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<b><i>MonoRed Journey Into Nyx</i></b><b> by Bryan Inno Wong</b><br />
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<tr><td align="top" style="vertical-align: top;" width="200"><b>Lands:</b><br />
20 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mountain.jpg">Mountain</a><br />
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<b>Creatures:</b><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Rakdos_Cackler.jpg">Rakdos Cackler</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Firedrinker_Satyr.jpg">Firedrinker Satyr</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Burning-Tree_Emissary.jpg">Burning-Tree Emissary</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ash_Zealot.jpg">Ash Zealot</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Firefist_Striker.jpg">Firefist Striker</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mogis's_Warhound.jpg">Mogis's Warhound</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Chandra's_Phoenix.jpg">Chandra's Phoenix</a></td><td width="200"><b>Enchantments:</b><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Madcap_Skills.jpg">Madcap Skills</a><br />
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<b>Instants:</b><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Lightning_Strike.jpg">Lightning Strike</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Magma_Jet.jpg">Magma Jet</a><br />
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</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;"><b>Sideboard:</b><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Hammer_of_Purphoros.jpg">Hammer of Purphoros</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mizzium_Mortars.jpg">Mizzium Mortars</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Magma_Spray.jpg">Magma Spray</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://i.tcgplayer.com/82250.jpg">Harness by Force</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Skullcrack.jpg">Skullcrack</a><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Boros_Reckoner.jpg">Boros Reckoner</a><br />
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What do you guys think? You can also leave comments on your other successful brews for Red using the new cards from journey into Nyx.Bryan Inno Wonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863849121901110898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654569771560026142.post-73196566308818675442014-05-08T21:04:00.000-07:002016-03-23T23:00:08.051-07:00Magic101 - Playing Mini MastersWhen you experienced playing Magic: the Gathering or any other card game, you would know that opening booster packs is one of the most exciting and thrilling aspect of the game. But if you can also play a game in addition to the thrill of opening packs, now that would be so much better.<br />
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This game is called Mini-Masters, or others call it "Pack Wars", and it's really quite simple to play. Your deck will be comprised of the pack contents and you just need to add basic lands to your deck and you're set! Here are the details on how to play:<br />
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<a name='more'></a>1. Each player needs a single booster pack of Magic cards. Any expansion will do, in our case we used Gatecrash since I was looking for specific rares/mythics in this particular set.<br />
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2. Each player opens his or her pack without looking at its contents. Be sure to remove the token / advertisement card.<br />
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3. Add two of each basic land (Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, and Forest) to your pack contents. Note: other players play this by adding three of each basic land.<br />
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4. Shuffle your deck and play a regular game of Magic: the Gathering.<br />
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Since the players don't know their pack contents yet, they are playing the game carrying the excitement of knowing the cards that he or she got with each draw, thus maintaining the surprise and excitement factor brought by opening packs. You also get to experience using the cards first hand or winning with the rare card that you were hoping to get. You may win or lose the game but drawing your mythic rare card during the game lets you go home with a smile on your face.<br />
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Just another way of enjoying Magic: the Gathering.Bryan Inno Wonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863849121901110898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654569771560026142.post-72811487965110445552014-04-20T05:15:00.000-07:002014-05-12T06:16:12.653-07:00Gyu Karubi Don<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3TF7Rd6KU1I/U1O4ClZrn-I/AAAAAAAABLg/Zfd-_4GFhqk/s1600/20140313_183839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3TF7Rd6KU1I/U1O4ClZrn-I/AAAAAAAABLg/Zfd-_4GFhqk/s1600/20140313_183839.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Japanese word Karubi means Sesame Seeds. And this beef bowl with sesame seeds is different from the regular Gyudon. This Sesame Seed Beef Bowl comes with a thicker beef that is grill-cooked. For someone who likes grilled food so much, I could say that this is my favorite dish in Yoshinoya. However, this dish is a bit more expensive than your regular gyudon dishes but for the additional price, it's definitely worth it. Gyu Karubi don comes with a special barbecue sauce that you will put on top of your beef before you attack. ^_^
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Of course, Gyudon will not be complete without the addition of spices and pickled ginger. Bryan Inno Wonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863849121901110898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654569771560026142.post-17697437710037194782014-04-15T06:54:00.002-07:002014-05-12T06:16:24.978-07:00June 2014 FNM Card - Dissolve with PictureJune 2014's Friday Night Magic Promo Card is Dissolve.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dhWRuISsctg/U005zu4rAiI/AAAAAAAABLI/SeIGxiH1KTo/s1600/dissolve-fnm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dhWRuISsctg/U005zu4rAiI/AAAAAAAABLI/SeIGxiH1KTo/s1600/dissolve-fnm.jpg" height="320" width="229" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a>I think this is a very good choice by Wizards to give as a promo card. The card is very useful for control decks in Standard.<br />
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This is the original artwork of Dissolve from Theros.
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<br />Bryan Inno Wonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863849121901110898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654569771560026142.post-68009459243756653112014-04-15T06:45:00.004-07:002014-05-12T06:16:36.126-07:00May 2014 FNM Card - Tormented Hero with PictureMay 2014's Friday Night Magic Promo Card is Tormented Hero.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>A closer look of the artwork:<br />
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Now, to compare it with the original artwork of Tormented Hero from Theros.<br />
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Bryan Inno Wonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863849121901110898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654569771560026142.post-86083441179896199862014-03-24T06:27:00.001-07:002014-05-12T06:16:55.748-07:00Sukiya Yakitori Don (Grilled Chicken Bowl)Like Yoshinoya, Sukiya also has a lot of branches in Japan. From the major cities to the provinces, these restaurants are very easy to locate and spot. Sukiya restaurant signage are commonly written in Japanese as すき家 but the color of the logo makes it very easy to identify and remember.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aM0Rf5vzH1U/UzAvDwOdETI/AAAAAAAABKI/uWqJ34Ob2cM/s1600/sukiya-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aM0Rf5vzH1U/UzAvDwOdETI/AAAAAAAABKI/uWqJ34Ob2cM/s1600/sukiya-logo.jpg" /></a></div>
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This is the 2nd restaurant that I will feature that is famous in Japan when it comes to Gyudon and Curry. Previously, I posted about <a href="http://www.innomtg.info/2014/02/yoshinoya-beef-bowl.html">Yoshinoya's Gyudon</a> (Beef Bowl). Instead of Beef bowl or Curry, I decided to go for Yakitoridon (焼き鳥) or Grilled Chicken Rice Bowl.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6qZ3-81fU8M/UzAvjlix9VI/AAAAAAAABKQ/zGbVNPF6NeA/s1600/20140318_190901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6qZ3-81fU8M/UzAvjlix9VI/AAAAAAAABKQ/zGbVNPF6NeA/s1600/20140318_190901.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a>In Sukiya, you can also order food in different servings: namely, standard-serving (nami, or namimori, 並盛), large-serving (oomori, 大盛), or extra-large-serving (tokumori, 特盛). Usually, tokumori has the same amount of rice as with ooori but it has 2-times as much meat. In Sukiya, unlike Yoshinoya, an even bigger serving can be ordered if you really feel like extra hungry: this is the Mega serving (メーガ) [still pronounced as Mega in Japanese] that has 3-times the meat of oomori. ^_^<br />
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Yakitori, famous as a food paired with beer and other alcoholic beverages, is commonly used for barbecue chicken meat, skin, or liver, Sukiya's Yakitoridon is purely made-up of chicken meat (mostly thigh part).<br />
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Sukiya's Yakitoridon is served with rice with nori bits (Seaweed), spring onions and sesame seeds on top. I may not even add anything on top of it to make it even greater. It is also served with cold brown tea that you can refill anytime in the shop.Bryan Inno Wonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863849121901110898noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654569771560026142.post-90960930428488378072014-03-14T08:43:00.000-07:002016-03-23T23:00:27.464-07:00Magic101 - Knowing Your DeckIn the world today, information is everywhere. In the world of Magic: the Gathering deck building, getting all the information that you need is very easy compared to, say 10 years ago. Information is very accessible now that with just a click, the discussions about a certain deck or the recent top 8 deck lists in major events around the world can be viewed in our computers and phones.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WpExsmdHNF0/UyMnIxQpD1I/AAAAAAAABJk/Z7zsL9I1zvA/s1600/magic-deck-building.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WpExsmdHNF0/UyMnIxQpD1I/AAAAAAAABJk/Z7zsL9I1zvA/s1600/magic-deck-building.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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As someone who played the game way back before internet access became very easy, I used to open my booster packs, read every card that I get in the packs, and try to think about a deck for them. The fun part was play testing the decks with my friends. Usually, these experiments don't work out so either I just abandon the idea or keep working on it. And so, I buy more booster packs just to get additional copies of the cards, try to evaluate new cards again, repeat this process until I finish a deck with the strategy that I want. Without knowing, through this process, I usually end up with a deck that I know inside and out. I know how many copies of a certain card in the deck, I know how many creature cards are there, I know the right time when to properly use a card, or I know how many Islands or Mountains are there in my deck. Since I know my deck and I tested it many times while building it, decision making for these decks are easier for me compared to the decks that I only borrowed from a friend.</div>
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Know Your Deck</h1>
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With the growth of Magic: the Gathering since that time and the abundance of information nowadays, many people will have the liberty of skipping the process of experimenting with cards. Don't get me wrong, that is a very good thing. Since I am not alone in this world, there are definitely other people who had the same idea as mine and they may have already gone through the process of testing the cards and may have already shared their ideas online. By accessing these information, we save a lot of time and we can just select the most efficient cards to use via the experiences of other people. One possible problem with this is that we may not know our decks as well as those people who did the experiments. That is why, <i>it is very important to play with your deck multiple times and know how it reacts with different matchups</i>. I am not really into the idea of looking at the recent top decks then just buying the whole decklist and immediately bring it on Friday Night Magic tournaments and expect to top 8 the tournament.</div>
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<b><i>Getting the right cards is different from knowing the cards</i></b><br />
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Recent top decks are decks that underwent a lot of revisions. The player who won with it has definitely put in a lot of work to modify it many times and surely, it wasn't just an overnight process. For example, <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Domri_Rade.jpg">Domri Rade</a> is a very good card, and everybody else in the world may say that every optimized red-green deck should have it. But actually winning with Domri Rade and using its abilities correctly takes a lot of time to practice and mastery. The way I decide on how to use Domri's ability may be different compared to a person who has been using it for more than a year, and sometimes, when you ask that person the reason for his/her actions, the person may not even offer an explanation. It's just that he or she KNOWS that it was the best thing to do under that particular situation.</div>
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<b><i>Knowing your deck will greatly help in Mulligans</i></b><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R0hmHgh0h64/UyMnJ40fRRI/AAAAAAAABJ0/RvoBpDJvCBI/s1600/mulligan.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R0hmHgh0h64/UyMnJ40fRRI/AAAAAAAABJ0/RvoBpDJvCBI/s1600/mulligan.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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If we are playing a control deck and we will have an opening hand of : <i><a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Island.jpg">Island</a>, <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Island.jpg">Island</a>, <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Island.jpg">Island</a>, <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Plains.jpg">Plains</a>, <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Plains.jpg">Plains</a>, <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Azorius_Charm.jpg">Azorius Charm</a> </i>and<i> <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Supreme_Verdict.jpg">Supreme Verdict</a></i>, a player who really knows that his or her deck is<i> </i>control and would be winning in the long game would probably keep this hand. Even with no creatures, this is a keep. Since we know that we don't need creatures early on and we have a Supreme Verdict to protect us against aggro decks, this hand conforms to our goal of winning the game when game goes long. </div>
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Likewise, a Monored player may not keep a hand of : <i><a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mountain.jpg">Mountain</a>, <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mountain.jpg">Mountain</a>, <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mountain.jpg">Mountain</a>, <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mountain.jpg">Mountain</a>, <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mountain.jpg">Mountain</a>, <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Shock.jpg">Shock</a>, </i>and<i> <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Lightning_Strike.jpg">Lightning Strike</a>. </i> Provided that the player built the deck with the goal of winning quickly - by attacking with cheap creatures, this hand will definitely not give the player a big chance of winning the game, does it? So this hand may be an automatic mulligan until, say, we get early creature drops.</div>
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<b><i>Knowing your deck changes game-time decisions</i></b><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Mmcs9PfloQ/UyMnJLnbhPI/AAAAAAAABJg/jvBio7Lrs-c/s1600/dissolve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Mmcs9PfloQ/UyMnJLnbhPI/AAAAAAAABJg/jvBio7Lrs-c/s1600/dissolve.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
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Let's just say that you are piloting a Dimir deck. For the sake of having an example, let's just say that you only have 3 counterspells in your deck (probably Dissolve) and a bunch of removals like <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Doom_Blade.jpg">Doom Blade</a>, <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Hero's_Downfall.jpg">Hero's Downfall</a> and <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ultimate_Price.jpg">Ultimate Price</a>. When you have a Dissolve in hand and you don't have a removal spell, will you use your counterspell to counter the <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Polukranos,_World_Eater.jpg">Polukranos, World Eater</a> of your opponent? I'm not saying that there is a definite answer to this, but by knowing that my deck has a LOT of ways to kill a creature, I may not counter that spell. I think that I will have more chances of drawing a spell that can kill the Polukranos so I'd rather save my counterspell for something that my deck cannot answer. Likewise, if my opponent casts an <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Assemble_the_Legion.jpg">Assemble the Legion</a>, by knowing that I don't have anything in my main deck to deal with enchantments, I know that I should use the Dissolve to counter this spell.</div>
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What I described above are just some of the benefits of knowing your deck. Knowing your deck will give you more chances of winning. And remember to not just cast cards from your hand just because you have the mana to cast them. Try to just give it a simple thought first: if casting this spell is something that you want to do. Knowing how your deck operates and wins is something worth considering.</div>
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Bryan Inno Wonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863849121901110898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654569771560026142.post-40402796736275477092014-03-11T07:46:00.001-07:002016-03-23T22:55:19.906-07:00Playing Monored DevotionAfter playtesting with a <a href="http://www.innomtg.info/2014/03/gruul-aggro-post-born-of-gods.html">Gruul Aggro deck</a> for a few weeks, I wanted to drop Green and just go with a monocolor deck to make the manabase more consistent. I still wanted to pressure the opponent and to use burn spells to finish the game up or destroy early game blockers, so I new I need to keep playing red.<br />
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<h1>
MonoRed Devotion</h1>
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The transition from <a href="http://www.innomtg.info/2014/03/gruul-aggro-post-born-of-gods.html">Gruul </a>to mono red devotion is not that difficult. The playing style is similar and to increase the devotion count, we need to play Chandra's Phoenix and Fanatic of Mogis instead of the Fanatic of Xenagos and Ghor-Clan Rampager as the 3 and 4 mana-drops of the deck. Playing with no dual lands also gives us the liberty to just run 20 lands thus increasing our creature and spell counts.<br />
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<i><b>Chandra's Phoenix</b></i><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LVSO4V_MBhs/UyBhlywIkJI/AAAAAAAABI8/qOgN3iiNZRM/s1600/chandras-phoenix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LVSO4V_MBhs/UyBhlywIkJI/AAAAAAAABI8/qOgN3iiNZRM/s1600/chandras-phoenix.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
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Chandra's Phoenix is just great for this deck. Along with <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ash_Zealot.jpg">Ash Zealot</a>, Chandra's Phoenix will quickly trigger the Battalion ability of <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Firefist_Striker.jpg">Firefist Striker</a>, thus letting you push early damage when your opponent leaves just 1 blocker. Phoenix also flies through most of the defenders in standard and the ability for recursion and the 2 red mana in the mana cost is an auto-include to any red devotion list.<br />
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<i><b>Fanatic of Mogis</b></i><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-64jV3HWY3B0/UyBhlz_auiI/AAAAAAAABJA/O3g1P-Yl8WM/s1600/fanatic-of-mogis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-64jV3HWY3B0/UyBhlz_auiI/AAAAAAAABJA/O3g1P-Yl8WM/s1600/fanatic-of-mogis.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
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Fanatic of Mogis might be the reason to play Red Devotion. This card comes down with the possibility of finishing your opponent after the early damage dealt by your other creatures in the deck. Even when you drop this creature after your battlefield is wiped out, 4 mana for a potential 4 damage attack while dealing at least 1 damage from devotion is still a good card. Also, your haste creatures will give you the extra damage when your opponent will tap out for the 4th turn Supreme Verdict.<br />
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<i><b>Magma Jet vs Searing Blood</b></i><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l3W_rxKJxOk/UyBhl5PODZI/AAAAAAAABJE/zjdge-oOE2U/s1600/magma-jet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l3W_rxKJxOk/UyBhl5PODZI/AAAAAAAABJE/zjdge-oOE2U/s1600/magma-jet.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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For several weeks, I tried to playtest Searing Blood and I wanted to believe that it will be an auto-include in all red decks. Don't get me wrong, Searing Blood is still a very good card, but in this deck, I found the scry ability of Magma Jet to be more valuable than the possible extra 3 damage of Searing Blood. Scry fixes your draw when you are waiting for the 4th land to be able to cast your <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Fanatic_of_Mogis.jpg">Fanatic of Mogis</a> on the next turn. And the possibility to cast Magma Jet via the mana produced by Burning-Tree Emissary is a plus.<br />
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<b><i>MonoRed Devotion</i></b><b> by Bryan Inno Wong</b><br />
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<tr><td style="border: 1px solid black;" width="70%"><table><tbody>
<tr><td align="top" style="vertical-align: top;" width="200"><b>Lands:</b><br />
20 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mountain.jpg">Mountain</a><br />
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<b>Creatures:</b><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Rakdos_Cackler.jpg">Rakdos Cackler</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Firedrinker_Satyr.jpg">Firedrinker Satyr</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Burning-Tree_Emissary.jpg">Burning-Tree Emissary</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ash_Zealot.jpg">Ash Zealot</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Firefist_Striker.jpg">Firefist Striker</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Archetype_of_Aggression.jpg">Archetype of Aggression</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Chandra's_Phoenix.jpg">Chandra's Phoenix</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Fanatic_of_Mogis.jpg">Fanatic of Mogis</a></td><td width="200"><b>Instants:</b><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Shock.jpg">Shock</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Lightning_Strike.jpg">Lightning Strike</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Magma_Jet.jpg">Magma Jet</a><br />
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</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;"><b>Sideboard:</b><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Hammer_of_Purphoros.jpg">Hammer of Purphoros</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mizzium_Mortars.jpg">Mizzium Mortars</a><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Frostburn_Weird.jpg">Frostburn Weird</a><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Act_of_Treason.jpg">Act of Treason</a><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Skullcrack.jpg">Skullcrack</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Peak_Eruption.jpg">Peak Eruption</a><br />
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I finished 1st place in our local FNM last week. Although many may question the addition of <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Archetype_of_Aggression.jpg">Archetype of Aggression</a> in the main deck instead of Boros Reckoners, I thought that the card can give us trample against token decks. It also prevents your opponent's creatures from having trample in late games (especially via Nylea or Ghor-clan Rampager). This allows us to survive late game matchups while using burn spells and Chandra's Phoenix to grind out a victory. However, I found myself siding out these 2 <b><i>Archetype of Aggression</i></b> in ALL of my games, so I think we can put in 2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Boros_Reckoner.jpg">Boros Reckoners</a> or 2 more Shocks to take their place in the maindeck. For the sideboard, I like to increase the number of <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mizzium_Mortars.jpg">Mizzium Mortars</a> since I am expecting to face more <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Brimaz,_King_of_Oreskos.jpg">Brimaz, King of Oreskos</a> and <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Courser_of_Kruphix.jpg">Courser of Kruphix</a> in the future. For now, here are my matchups from last week's tournament.<br />
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Matchups:<br />
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Monored Devotion vs Bant Kiora Control splash Black: (2-0)<br />
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Monored Devotion vs Mono Black Devotion: (2-0)<br />
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Monored Devotion vs GW Hexproof : (2-1)<br />
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That's it for now. Next time, I will post my sideboard decisions and some tips on how to play differently on some matchups. I will try to continue to edit the deck and post updates on how I will be doing in the local tournaments.Bryan Inno Wonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863849121901110898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-654569771560026142.post-75554058232465286392014-03-05T03:58:00.002-08:002016-03-23T22:55:40.545-07:00Gruul Aggro Post Born of the Gods With the Release of Born of the Gods, I think Gruul Aggro got some new goodies worth playing. For the last 2 weeks, I was trying to build an Aggro Gruul deck. It will be my first tournaments here in Japan so I though an aggro deck might be a good way to practice Magic with the Japanese language level that I have. <br />
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<b>Fanatic of Xenagos
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Of all the Tribute cards released in Born of the Gods, I think this is one of the best. We all know how making your opponent choose for you is not a good effect. But the options for Fanatic of Xenegos are good either way for an aggro deck.
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I6U14duJ8Fc/UxcV1nfr1kI/AAAAAAAABIg/5eY89RdzUlA/s1600/fanatic-of-xenagos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I6U14duJ8Fc/UxcV1nfr1kI/AAAAAAAABIg/5eY89RdzUlA/s1600/fanatic-of-xenagos.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
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<b>Searing Blood</b><br />
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I am really loving this card. Against other Red and aggro decks, this shines the most. But it is also very good against midrange strategies since as we put a lot of pressure in the battlefield, Searing Blood will make your opponent think twice before blocking.
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B4ix_bL1IFQ/UxcV5gPj32I/AAAAAAAABIo/1Yzz0o6tmLc/s1600/searing-blood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B4ix_bL1IFQ/UxcV5gPj32I/AAAAAAAABIo/1Yzz0o6tmLc/s1600/searing-blood.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
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<b>Maximizing Burning-Tree Emmisary and Ghor-Clan Rampager</b><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xn--5OYyils/UxcUWNy15vI/AAAAAAAABIQ/Yjgh95lGuSQ/s1600/burning-tree-emmisary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xn--5OYyils/UxcUWNy15vI/AAAAAAAABIQ/Yjgh95lGuSQ/s1600/burning-tree-emmisary.jpg" width="224" /></a>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jvc9n-nj3tI/UxcUWP1Gn8I/AAAAAAAABIM/BBSwHhVWWRk/s1600/ghor-clan-rampager.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jvc9n-nj3tI/UxcUWP1Gn8I/AAAAAAAABIM/BBSwHhVWWRk/s1600/ghor-clan-rampager.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
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The deck was basically made to maximize the mana produced by Burning-Tree Emissary. With a full set of Gore-House Chainwalker and Firefist Striker as the other
2-drops, this deck will definitely clog the board on turn 2 to keep putting pressure on the opponent. Ghor-clan Rampager is there to give trample and reach. I could say that the trample is very important especially in racing games. You can also hard cast it as a 4/4 trampler, but I seldom use this option in the deck. For the burn package, although most people use Magma Jet, I chose to use the good old Shocks, Lightning Strikes for mana efficiency. <br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Gruul Aggro </b></span><b>by Bryan Inno Wong</b><br />
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<tr><td style="border: 1px solid black;" width="70%"><table><tbody>
<tr><td align="top" style="vertical-align: top;" width="200"><b>Lands:</b><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Stomping_Ground.jpg">Stomping Ground</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Gruul%20Guildgate.jpg">Gruul Guildgate</a><br />
11 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mountain.jpg">Mountain</a><br />
1 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Forest.jpg">Forest</a><br />
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<b>Creatures:</b><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Rakdos_Cackler.jpg">Rakdos Cackler</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Firedrinker_Satyr.jpg">Firedrinker Satyr</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Burning-Tree_Emissary.jpg">Burning-Tree Emissary</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Gore-House_Chainwalker.jpg">Gore-House Chainwalker</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Firefist_Striker.jpg">Firefist Striker</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Fanatic_of_Xenagos.jpg">Fanatic of Xenagos</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Ghor-Clan_Rampager.jpg">Ghor-Clan Rampager</a></td><td width="200"><b>Instants:</b><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Shock.jpg">Shock</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Lightning_Strike.jpg">Lightning Strike</a><br />
4 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Searing_Blood.jpg">Searing Blood</a><br />
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</tbody></table>
</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;"><b>Sideboard:</b><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Hammer_of_Purphoros.jpg">Hammer of Purphoros</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Mizzium_Mortars.jpg">Mizzium Mortars</a><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Destructive_Revelry.jpg">Destructive Revelry</a><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Act_of_Treason.jpg">Act of Treason</a><br />
3 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Skullcrack.jpg">Skullcrack</a><br />
2 <a class="screenshot" href="http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/Flames_of_the_Firebrand.jpg">Flames of the Firebrand</a><br />
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</tbody></table>
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<b>Matchup Results:</b><br />
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Gruul Aggro vs Boros Burn : (2-1)<br />
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Gruul Aggro vs GR Monsters : (3-3)<br />
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Gruul Aggro vs RG Devotion : (0-2)<br />
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Gruul Aggro vs Monoblack Devotion : (0-2)<br />
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Gruul Aggro vs Monowhite Aggro : (2-0)<br />
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<b>Notes:</b><br />
After 2 weeks of playing this deck, I think that this deck is really good in an Aggro meta. But since the current Meta is filled with Mono Black and RG midrange strategies, this deck may come up short against those decks. I am currently working on a Monored Devotion deck to put it in a position to combat midrange strategies. I will be posting the new decklist and how well it will go in the tournaments in my local shop.Bryan Inno Wonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863849121901110898noreply@blogger.com0