We are looking at the last peasant tournament of the year! With 9 players, I'll be posting the top 4.
I was lucky enough to win a peasant tournament for the first time! :) I player a tweaked G/W cloak build, adding blue for Rhox War Monk. It looks like already the metagame is adapting to the aggro decks that were played last time.
Results
1. Martijn Hennink (13 - Bant Cloak)
2. Maarten Jacobs (11 - Tortured Existence)
3. Jasper Boelens (9 - WUB AuraBlink)
4. Erik-Sander Kwebeman (7 - MBCu)
5. Martijn Labohm (6 - Mono Red)
6. Bart Holkenborg (6 - Faeries)
7. Oswin ten Brinke (6 - Graveriders)
8. Niels Gramser (6 - GwB Aggro)
9. Guus Venhuizen (3 - Firespout Aggro)
Martijn Hennink - Bant Cloak
1st place (13 points)
Creatures
4 Kor Skyfisher
2 Llanowar Knight
4 Qasali Pridemage
4 Safehold Elite
2 Valeron Outlander
4 Aven Riftwatcher
3 Rhox War Monk (U)
Spells
2 Swords to Plowshares (U)
4 Journey to Nowhere
4 Armadillo Cloak
4 Shield of the Oversoul
Lands
4 Irrigation Ditch
7 Forest
1 Island
7 Plains
4 Terramorphic Expanse
Sideboard
SB: 1 Island
SB: 3 Relic of Progenitus
SB: 4 Galina's Knight
SB: 3 Rune of Protection: Black
SB: 4 Holy Light
Maarten Jacobs - Tortured Existence
2nd place (11 points)
Creatures
4 Spore Frog
4 Sakura-Tribe Elder
3 Crypt Rats
1 Eternal Witness (U)
2 Farhaven Elf
4 Golgari Brownscale
4 Stinkweed Imp
1 Yavimaya Elder
1 Vampire Nighthawk (U)
3 Wickerbough Elder
1 Battlefield Scrounger
1 Krosan Tusker
Spells
4 Tortured Existence
3 Sylvan Library (U)
Lands
12 Forest
12 Swamp
Sideboard
SB: 2 Grim Harvest
SB: 2 Mesmeric Fiend
SB: 4 Nausea
SB: 2 Night Soil
SB: 4 Nourish
SB: 1 Crypt Rats
Jasper Boelens - WUB AuraBlink
3rd place (9 points)
Creatures
4 Ravenous Rats
4 Temple Acolyte
4 Auramancer
4 Aven Riftwatcher
4 Mulldrifter
4 Shriekmaw (U)
2 Æthersnipe
Spells
4 Angelic Renewal
4 Momentary Blink
1 Necromancy (U)
2 Seal of Doom
Lands
6 Island
8 Plains
5 Swamp
4 Terramorphic Expanse
Sideboard
SB: 3 Duress
SB: 2 Hydroblast
SB: 2 Relic of Progenitus
SB: 2 Crimson Acolyte
SB: 4 Echoing Decay
SB: 2 Prismatic Strands
Erik-Sander Kwebeman - MBCu
4th place (7 points)
Creatures
4 Chittering Rats
3 Crypt Rats
4 Mulldrifter
Spells
4 Innocent Blood
4 Diabolic Edict
1 Grim Harvest
4 Hymn to Tourach
4 Probe
2 Deep Analysis
4 Tendrils of Corruption
2 Corrupt
Lands
3 Dimir Aqueduct
1 Esper Panorama
1 Grixis Panorama
2 Island
13 Swamp
4 Terramorphic Expanse
Sideboard
SB: 4 Blue Elemental Blast
SB: 4 Duress
SB: 2 Infest (U)
SB: 3 Vampire Nighthawk (U)
SB: 2 Corrupt
19 December 2009
13 December 2009
Results November 27, 2009
A respectable 16 people showed up in November, so here's some more decklists! There were a lot of aggro decks, but in light of the new bannings that is to be expected, since aggro is always the go-to in a new environment.
Note that we had to do pairings by hand for this tournament, so a definitive ranking is not available. Only seven players made a 3-2 or better record, and those are the listst I'll show you. The last undefeated player of the day was Guus, so he took first place.
T8 Decklists
1. Guus Venhuizen (12 - Elves)
2. Anne Cnossen (12 - Dirty Kitty)
2. Jan Kotlarski (12 - RG Aggro)
2. Martijn Labohm (12 - Mono Red)
5. Erik-Sander Kwebeman (9 - Boros Landfall)
5. Martijn Beljaars (9 - Zoofall)
5. Martijn Hennink (9 - Rapid Eye Movement)
Guus Venhuizen - Elves
1st place (12 points)
Creatures
4 Birchlore Ranger
4 Fyndhorn Elves
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Nettle Sentinel
4 Quirion Ranger
4 Elvish Visionary
2 Quirion Sentinel
4 Thornweald Archer
1 Wren's Run Vanquisher (U)
4 Imperious Perfect (U)
4 Timberwatch Elf
4 Winnower Patrol
Spells
1 Vines of Vastwood
4 Wirewood Pride
Lands
12 Forest
Sideboard
SB: 3 Scattershot Archer
SB: 4 Gleeful Sabotage
SB: 4 Wellwisher
SB: 4 Wrap in Vigor
Anne Cnossen - Dirty Kitty
2nd place (12 points)
Creatures
2 Goblin Sledder
4 Skirk Prospector
4 Tinderwall
1 Wild Cantor
1 Goblin Recuiter (U)
4 Mogg War Marshal
4 Goblin Matron
1 Goblin Warchief (U)
Spells
4 Lotus Petal
4 Rite of Flame
1 Grapeshot
3 Fecundity (U)
4 Seething Song
4 Empty the Warrens
Lands
8 Forest
10 Mountain
Sideboard
SB: 9 Swamp
SB: 1 Pyroblast
SB: 2 Red Elemental Blast
SB: 1 Naturalize
SB: 2 Tin-Street Hooligan
Jan Kotlarski - RG Aggro
2nd place (12 points)
Creatures
4 Kird Ape
4 Skyshroud Ridgeback
4 Horned Kavu
2 Rip-Clan Crasher
3 Scab-Clan Mauler
4 Bloodbraid Elf (U)
1 Phantom Centaur (U)
Spells
2 Disintegrate
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Rancor
4 Incinerate
4 Manamorphose
Lands
9 Forest
9 Mountain
4 Terramorphic Expanse
Sideboard
SB: 4 Relic of Progenitus
SB: 4 Hull Breach
SB: 4 Nacatl Outlander
SB: 3 Branching Bolt
Martijn Labohm - Mono Red
2nd place (12 points)
Creatures
4 Goblin Bushwhacker
4 Mogg Fanatic
4 Keldon Marauders
3 Mogg Flunkies
4 Plated Geopede
Spells
3 Burst Lightning
3 Chain Lightning
3 Kaervek's Torch
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Incinerate
4 Rift Bolt
2 Fireblast
Lands
2 Desert
13 Mountain
4 Teetering Peaks
Sideboard
SB: 3 Tormod's Crypt
SB: 4 Martyr of Ashes
SB: 1 Kaervek's Torch
SB: 4 Punishing Fire (U)
SB: 3 Smash to Smithereens
Erik-Sander Kwebeman - Boros Landfall
5th place (9 points)
Creatures
3 Goblin Bushwhacker
4 Steppe Lynx
4 Keldon Marauders
4 Kor Skyfisher
4 Plated Geopede
3 Kor Hookmaster
4 Skyknight Legionnaire
Spells
3 Burst Lightning
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Journey to Nowhere
Lands
6 Mountain
2 Naya Panorama
8 Plains
4 Teetering Peaks
4 Terramorphic Expanse
Sideboard
SB: 3 Relic of Progenitus
SB: 1 Magma Spray
SB: 1 Pyroblast
SB: 2 Red Elemental Blast
SB: 4 Pyroclasm (U)
SB: 1 Intimidation Bolt (U)
SB: 3 Wispmare
Martijn Beljaars - Zoofall
5th place (9 points)
Creatures
1 Kird Ape
4 Wild Nacatl
4 Sakura-Tribe Elder
4 Steppe Lynx
4 Kor Skyfisher
4 Plated Geopede
3 Wooly Thoctar (U)
Spells
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Rancor
2 Lightning Helix (U)
2 Zektar Shrine Expedition
2 Harrow
Lands
5 Forest
3 Mountain
4 Naya Panorama
4 Plains
2 Teetering Peaks
4 Terramorphic Expanse
Sideboard
SB: 1 Bloodfire Dwarf
SB: 3 Hallow
SB: 4 Pyroblast
SB: 1 Sandstorm
SB: 2 Vines of Vastwood
SB: 4 Qasali Pridemage
Martijn Hennink - Rapid Eye Movement
5th place (9 points)
Creatures
2 Kor Skyfisher
4 Safehold Elite
4 Temple Acolyte
4 Aven Riftwatcher
4 Brackwater Elemental
2 Flickerwisp (U)
4 Mulldrifter
3 Noble Templar
Spells
4 Momentary Blink
3 Fieldmist Borderpost
3 Unmake
3 Dreams of the Dead (U)
Lands
3 Azorius Chancery
7 Island
10 Plains
Sideboard
SB: 3 Relic of Progenitus
SB: 3 Rune of Protection: Black
SB: 3 Seal of Cleansing
SB: 3 Auramancer
SB: 3 Holy Light
Note that we had to do pairings by hand for this tournament, so a definitive ranking is not available. Only seven players made a 3-2 or better record, and those are the listst I'll show you. The last undefeated player of the day was Guus, so he took first place.
T8 Decklists
1. Guus Venhuizen (12 - Elves)
2. Anne Cnossen (12 - Dirty Kitty)
2. Jan Kotlarski (12 - RG Aggro)
2. Martijn Labohm (12 - Mono Red)
5. Erik-Sander Kwebeman (9 - Boros Landfall)
5. Martijn Beljaars (9 - Zoofall)
5. Martijn Hennink (9 - Rapid Eye Movement)
Guus Venhuizen - Elves
1st place (12 points)
Creatures
4 Birchlore Ranger
4 Fyndhorn Elves
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Nettle Sentinel
4 Quirion Ranger
4 Elvish Visionary
2 Quirion Sentinel
4 Thornweald Archer
1 Wren's Run Vanquisher (U)
4 Imperious Perfect (U)
4 Timberwatch Elf
4 Winnower Patrol
Spells
1 Vines of Vastwood
4 Wirewood Pride
Lands
12 Forest
Sideboard
SB: 3 Scattershot Archer
SB: 4 Gleeful Sabotage
SB: 4 Wellwisher
SB: 4 Wrap in Vigor
Anne Cnossen - Dirty Kitty
2nd place (12 points)
Creatures
2 Goblin Sledder
4 Skirk Prospector
4 Tinderwall
1 Wild Cantor
1 Goblin Recuiter (U)
4 Mogg War Marshal
4 Goblin Matron
1 Goblin Warchief (U)
Spells
4 Lotus Petal
4 Rite of Flame
1 Grapeshot
3 Fecundity (U)
4 Seething Song
4 Empty the Warrens
Lands
8 Forest
10 Mountain
Sideboard
SB: 9 Swamp
SB: 1 Pyroblast
SB: 2 Red Elemental Blast
SB: 1 Naturalize
SB: 2 Tin-Street Hooligan
Jan Kotlarski - RG Aggro
2nd place (12 points)
Creatures
4 Kird Ape
4 Skyshroud Ridgeback
4 Horned Kavu
2 Rip-Clan Crasher
3 Scab-Clan Mauler
4 Bloodbraid Elf (U)
1 Phantom Centaur (U)
Spells
2 Disintegrate
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Rancor
4 Incinerate
4 Manamorphose
Lands
9 Forest
9 Mountain
4 Terramorphic Expanse
Sideboard
SB: 4 Relic of Progenitus
SB: 4 Hull Breach
SB: 4 Nacatl Outlander
SB: 3 Branching Bolt
Martijn Labohm - Mono Red
2nd place (12 points)
Creatures
4 Goblin Bushwhacker
4 Mogg Fanatic
4 Keldon Marauders
3 Mogg Flunkies
4 Plated Geopede
Spells
3 Burst Lightning
3 Chain Lightning
3 Kaervek's Torch
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Incinerate
4 Rift Bolt
2 Fireblast
Lands
2 Desert
13 Mountain
4 Teetering Peaks
Sideboard
SB: 3 Tormod's Crypt
SB: 4 Martyr of Ashes
SB: 1 Kaervek's Torch
SB: 4 Punishing Fire (U)
SB: 3 Smash to Smithereens
Erik-Sander Kwebeman - Boros Landfall
5th place (9 points)
Creatures
3 Goblin Bushwhacker
4 Steppe Lynx
4 Keldon Marauders
4 Kor Skyfisher
4 Plated Geopede
3 Kor Hookmaster
4 Skyknight Legionnaire
Spells
3 Burst Lightning
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Journey to Nowhere
Lands
6 Mountain
2 Naya Panorama
8 Plains
4 Teetering Peaks
4 Terramorphic Expanse
Sideboard
SB: 3 Relic of Progenitus
SB: 1 Magma Spray
SB: 1 Pyroblast
SB: 2 Red Elemental Blast
SB: 4 Pyroclasm (U)
SB: 1 Intimidation Bolt (U)
SB: 3 Wispmare
Martijn Beljaars - Zoofall
5th place (9 points)
Creatures
1 Kird Ape
4 Wild Nacatl
4 Sakura-Tribe Elder
4 Steppe Lynx
4 Kor Skyfisher
4 Plated Geopede
3 Wooly Thoctar (U)
Spells
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Rancor
2 Lightning Helix (U)
2 Zektar Shrine Expedition
2 Harrow
Lands
5 Forest
3 Mountain
4 Naya Panorama
4 Plains
2 Teetering Peaks
4 Terramorphic Expanse
Sideboard
SB: 1 Bloodfire Dwarf
SB: 3 Hallow
SB: 4 Pyroblast
SB: 1 Sandstorm
SB: 2 Vines of Vastwood
SB: 4 Qasali Pridemage
Martijn Hennink - Rapid Eye Movement
5th place (9 points)
Creatures
2 Kor Skyfisher
4 Safehold Elite
4 Temple Acolyte
4 Aven Riftwatcher
4 Brackwater Elemental
2 Flickerwisp (U)
4 Mulldrifter
3 Noble Templar
Spells
4 Momentary Blink
3 Fieldmist Borderpost
3 Unmake
3 Dreams of the Dead (U)
Lands
3 Azorius Chancery
7 Island
10 Plains
Sideboard
SB: 3 Relic of Progenitus
SB: 3 Rune of Protection: Black
SB: 3 Seal of Cleansing
SB: 3 Auramancer
SB: 3 Holy Light
25 November 2009
Apologies
I haven't come around to posting the decklists of last month's top 6. Apologies for that. Amongst others I have been studying for a TMap Next Foundation exam which I aced yesterday (well, okay, I got 90% of the questions right, close enough right?). So, I'm really happy and with a little bit of luck I'll have some more free time in december.
Anyway, you read it right. A top 6, because only 6 players showed up. A lot of regulars couldn't make it, so we're hoping this is not a trend. A few regulars moved out (of Groningen) or quit magic though in the past half year, so we are looking for fresh blood (queue vampire jokes).
Though I don't have the decklists, I can give you a quick summary of the tournament. There were 4 Thopter Foundry decks. Two standard affinity builds, one wUB affinity build (with basic lands?), and one combo build with Ashnod's Altar. The other two decks were a Taïga deck and my own B/R aggro hand build (with Hymn to Tourach, Blightning, Chittering Rats, and Funeral Charm, and 3 Vampire Nighthawk and 2 Torrent of Souls).
We did get the chance to play 5 rounds by playing each opponent once. I lost, as expected, to Taïga. The deck is too aggressive for my 4 Vampire Lacerators and 4 Carnophage. I also lost 1-2 in a really awkard match vs the weird affinity Thopter Foundry deck. The last game was really awful. I muliganned and kept an opener with 1 land, a Dark Ritual and some quick beats. I subsequently drew nearly every mana source in my deck and imagine I would have lost even to a Homelands sealed deck with that draw. I handily defeated the other three Thopter builds though, gleefully bashing up on artifact land with my sideboarded Gorilla Shaman and disrupting their hand with just a little bit too much discard spells.
My deck, off the top of my head, looked something like this. It plays pretty well, and the Rakdos Carnarium means your light land count doesn't really matter, because you'll reach that magical 5 mana to cast that devastating Torrent of Souls anyway. That card is sick by the way!
Martijn Hennink - BR Hand
4th place (9 points)
Creatures
4 Carnophage
4 Vampire Lacerator
4 Blind Creeper
4 Dauthi Slayer
4 Chittering Rats
3 Vampire Nighthawk (U)
Spells
4 Dark Ritual
4 Funeral Charm
4 Hymn to Tourach
4 Blightning
2 Torrent of Souls (U)
Mana
4 Rakdos Carnarium
13 Swamp
4 Teetering Peaks
Sideboard
SB: 4 Gorilla Shaman
SB: 4 Red Elemental Blast
SB: 3 Relic of Progenitus
SB: 2 Flaring Pain
SB: 2 Smash to Smithereens
Anyway, you read it right. A top 6, because only 6 players showed up. A lot of regulars couldn't make it, so we're hoping this is not a trend. A few regulars moved out (of Groningen) or quit magic though in the past half year, so we are looking for fresh blood (queue vampire jokes).
Though I don't have the decklists, I can give you a quick summary of the tournament. There were 4 Thopter Foundry decks. Two standard affinity builds, one wUB affinity build (with basic lands?), and one combo build with Ashnod's Altar. The other two decks were a Taïga deck and my own B/R aggro hand build (with Hymn to Tourach, Blightning, Chittering Rats, and Funeral Charm, and 3 Vampire Nighthawk and 2 Torrent of Souls).
We did get the chance to play 5 rounds by playing each opponent once. I lost, as expected, to Taïga. The deck is too aggressive for my 4 Vampire Lacerators and 4 Carnophage. I also lost 1-2 in a really awkard match vs the weird affinity Thopter Foundry deck. The last game was really awful. I muliganned and kept an opener with 1 land, a Dark Ritual and some quick beats. I subsequently drew nearly every mana source in my deck and imagine I would have lost even to a Homelands sealed deck with that draw. I handily defeated the other three Thopter builds though, gleefully bashing up on artifact land with my sideboarded Gorilla Shaman and disrupting their hand with just a little bit too much discard spells.
My deck, off the top of my head, looked something like this. It plays pretty well, and the Rakdos Carnarium means your light land count doesn't really matter, because you'll reach that magical 5 mana to cast that devastating Torrent of Souls anyway. That card is sick by the way!
Martijn Hennink - BR Hand
4th place (9 points)
Creatures
4 Carnophage
4 Vampire Lacerator
4 Blind Creeper
4 Dauthi Slayer
4 Chittering Rats
3 Vampire Nighthawk (U)
Spells
4 Dark Ritual
4 Funeral Charm
4 Hymn to Tourach
4 Blightning
2 Torrent of Souls (U)
Mana
4 Rakdos Carnarium
13 Swamp
4 Teetering Peaks
Sideboard
SB: 4 Gorilla Shaman
SB: 4 Red Elemental Blast
SB: 3 Relic of Progenitus
SB: 2 Flaring Pain
SB: 2 Smash to Smithereens
14 November 2009
Banned List Update
Yet again, there's been an update to the banned list. As of 14/11/2009 all the artifact lands are once again banned in peasant tournaments in Groningen. Despite all good intentions, Affinity has risen to the top again, and has been one of three tier 1 decks in the past half year. The lands were almost exclusively used in affinity, and using them in other strategies (such as Trinket Mage) hasn't been succesful. Instead of banning more pieces of the great artifact puzzle we decided that there is no love lost for the deck, and just rebanned the lands. We can merely learn from our mistakes, at least we tried.
Thopter Foundry has been a huge factor in the succes of the neo-Affinity decks, but without the lands we don't feel it is as dangerous anymore. Because the combo with Sword of the Meek (and Ashnod's Altar) still exist, we did decide to add it to the watchlist.
The second tier 1 deck has been Faeries. Basically there were two builds. One utilized Force of Will, a very powerful card to be sure. The other build abused Counterbalance. While the power level didn't differ much, the second build was considerably less fun to play against. In an attempt to revitalize the metagame and make it more fun we decided to ban Counterbalance.
The third tier 1 deck is Mono Black Control. The deck drifts in and out of competition, winning tournaments whenever aggro is the dominant archetype. In an attempt to make the deck more fair without neutering its core concept, we banned Skeletal Scrying. It is the only card in the metagame that consistently draws more than 3 cards, at instant speed, in a mono black deck. That gave MBC just a little bit too much reach, and we look forward to what uncommon MBC will play in its stead.
If you were thinking Demonic Tutor, think again. Another unfun deck, to play against at least, is the non-ineractive Grapeshot Combo deck. Demonic Consultation and Demonic Tutor were banned to make that deck less consistent in its draws, while at the same time making sure their storm count doesn't rack up as fast.
Two other popular combo decks, Dirty Kitty and ElfBall, were left untouched. They are a lot more interactive, and the past showed us that a wider range of decks can sideboard effectively against the two strategies. We are okay with combo decks, but they have to offer more interactivity and just a little bit less consistency to remain fun to play against.
Of course, banning the artifact lands has the side effect of other cards becoming much less impressive. As a result, Cranial Plating is unbanned as of 14/11/2009, and Disciple of the Vault has been removed from the watchlist.
We are eager to see if the bannings will have the desired results: a more varied metagame that is more fun to play than before. We do believe we made some steps in the right direction, neutering black-based Combo and MBC, and removing Affinity and Counterbalance from the metagame.
To see the full list of banned cards, click here.
Thopter Foundry has been a huge factor in the succes of the neo-Affinity decks, but without the lands we don't feel it is as dangerous anymore. Because the combo with Sword of the Meek (and Ashnod's Altar) still exist, we did decide to add it to the watchlist.
The second tier 1 deck has been Faeries. Basically there were two builds. One utilized Force of Will, a very powerful card to be sure. The other build abused Counterbalance. While the power level didn't differ much, the second build was considerably less fun to play against. In an attempt to revitalize the metagame and make it more fun we decided to ban Counterbalance.
The third tier 1 deck is Mono Black Control. The deck drifts in and out of competition, winning tournaments whenever aggro is the dominant archetype. In an attempt to make the deck more fair without neutering its core concept, we banned Skeletal Scrying. It is the only card in the metagame that consistently draws more than 3 cards, at instant speed, in a mono black deck. That gave MBC just a little bit too much reach, and we look forward to what uncommon MBC will play in its stead.
If you were thinking Demonic Tutor, think again. Another unfun deck, to play against at least, is the non-ineractive Grapeshot Combo deck. Demonic Consultation and Demonic Tutor were banned to make that deck less consistent in its draws, while at the same time making sure their storm count doesn't rack up as fast.
Two other popular combo decks, Dirty Kitty and ElfBall, were left untouched. They are a lot more interactive, and the past showed us that a wider range of decks can sideboard effectively against the two strategies. We are okay with combo decks, but they have to offer more interactivity and just a little bit less consistency to remain fun to play against.
Of course, banning the artifact lands has the side effect of other cards becoming much less impressive. As a result, Cranial Plating is unbanned as of 14/11/2009, and Disciple of the Vault has been removed from the watchlist.
We are eager to see if the bannings will have the desired results: a more varied metagame that is more fun to play than before. We do believe we made some steps in the right direction, neutering black-based Combo and MBC, and removing Affinity and Counterbalance from the metagame.
To see the full list of banned cards, click here.
21 October 2009
Results September 25, 2009
13 people played in September, and I've got a new T8 for you. I'm missing some of the decklists, but Foundry Affinity and Grapeshot Storm are well known decks. I hope I'll get to see the UR Control list though, so I can post it. Blue control decks made a strong showing this time, with two different faerie builds, the UR Control deck, and another MUC deck that finished outside the T8. Needless to say, Gijsbert and I weren't happy campers with our combo decks...
Also, this marks the first time ever I played the same deck twice at a tournament. I'm quite proud of myself and my first steps to spikehood, but constructing new decks is still what draws me to Magic the Gathering, so we'll have to wait and see if this is a fluke or the dawn of a new psychographic profile ;)
T8 Decklists
1. Martijn Beljaars (15 - Foundry Affinity)
2. Maarten Jacobs (12 - Countertop Faeries)
3. Niels Gramser (9 - UR Control)
4. Guus Venhuizen (9 - Elves)
5. Gijsbert Haaksman (9 - Grapeshot Storm)
6. Bart Holkenborg (9 - Faeries)
7. Oscar de Boer (9 - GW Aggro)
8. Martijn Hennink (7 - Arcane Tide)
Martijn Beljaars - Foundry Affinity
1st place (15 points)
Creatures
4 Arcbound Worker
4 Disciple of the vault
4 Glaze fiend
4 Frogmite
4 Myr Eenforcer
4 Quicksilver Behemoth
Spells
4 Chromatic star
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Springleaf drum
1 Sword of the meek (U)
4 Thopter foundry (U)
4 Thoughtcast
Lands
3 Ancient den
4 Great furnace
4 Seat of the synod
4 Vault of whispers
Sideboard
SB: 3 Krark-Clan Shaman
SB: 4 Pyroblast
SB: 4 Relic of Progenitus
SB: 4 Ancient Grudge
Maarten Jacobs - Countertop Faeries
2nd place (12 points)
Creatures
4 Cloud of Faeries
4 Spellstutter Sprite
4 Pestermite
4 Ninja of the Deep Hours
Spells
4 Brainstorm
2 Sensei's Divining Top (U)
3 Counterbalance (U)
4 Counterspell
4 Mana Leak
3 Snap
4 Gush
Lands
3 Desert
17 Island
Sideboard
SB: 4 Annul
SB: 4 Disrupt
SB: 3 Thornwind Faeries
SB: 4 Errant Ephemeron
Niels Gramser - UR Control
3rd place (9 points)
Creatures
4 Trinket Mage
1 Ninja of the Deep Hours
4 Mulldrifter
3 Spire Golem
Spells
1 Bonesplitter
4 Brainstorm
4 Lightning Bolt
1 Pyrite Spellbomb
1 Sensei's Divining Top (U)
3 Skred
3 Counterbalance (U)
4 Counterspell
1 Echoing Truth
3 Incinerate
1 Firespout (U)
Lands
2 Desert
11 Snow-Covered Island
5 Snow-Covered Mountain
4 Terramorphic Expanse
Sideboard
SB: 1 Tormod's Crypt
SB: 4 Blue Elemental Blast
SB: 4 Envelop
SB: 3 Red Elemental Blast
SB: 1 Echoing Truth
SB: 2 Negate
SB: 1 Swirling Sandstorm
Guus Venhuizen - Elves
4th place (9 points)
Creatures
4 Birchlore Rangers
4 Fyndhorn Elves
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Nettle Sentinel
4 Quirion Ranger
3 Elvish Visionary
4 Thornweald Archer
1 Wren's Run Vanquisher (U)
4 Imperious Perfect (U)
2 Quirion Sentinel
4 Timberwatch Elves
3 Winnower Patrol
Spells
4 Wirewood Pride
3 Distant Melody
Lands
12 Forest
Sideboard
SB: 4 Gleeful Sabotage
SB: 3 Night Soil
SB: 4 Wellwisher
SB: 4 Wrap in Vigor
Gijsbert Haaksman - Grapeshot Storm
5th place (9 points)
Spells
4 Lotus Petal
4 Chomatic Sphere
4 Chromatic Star
4 Dark Ritual
1 Demonic Consultation (U)
4 Rite of Flames
3 Demonic Tutor (U)
4 Grapeshot
4 Ideas Unbound
4 Manamorphose
3 Words of Wisdom
4 Seething Song
1 Ignite Memories (U)
Lands
4 Anchient Spring
4 Irrigation Ditch
4 Island
4 Sulfur Vent
Sideboard
SB: 4 Disrupt
SB: 3 Duress
SB: 4 Red Elemental Blast
SB: 4 Early Frost
Bart Holkenborg - Faeries
6th place (9 points)
Creatures
4 Cloud of Faeries
4 Spellstutter Sprite
4 Pestermite
4 Ninja of the Deep Hours
Spells
4 Force Spike
2 Spell Snare (U)
4 Counterspell
4 Mana Leak
3 Snap
3 Force of Will (U)
4 Gush
Lands
3 Desert
17 Island
Sideboard
SB: 3 Annul
SB: 3 Blue Elemental Blast
SB: 2 Disrupt
SB: 4 Relic of Progenitus
SB: 3 Negate
Oscar de Boer - GW Aggro
7th place (9 points)
Creatures
2 Thornscape Apprentice
4 Bant Sureblade
4 Safehold Elite
4 Qasali Pridemage
4 Blastoderm
3 Charging Troll (U)
Spells
4 Niveous Wisps
2 Phyrexian Vault (U)
4 Armadillo Cloak
2 Oblivion Ring
4 Shield of the Oversoul
Lands
11 Forest
10 Plains
2 Selesnya Sanctuary
Sideboard
SB: 4 Spore Frog
SB: 1 Llanowar Knight
SB: 4 Naturalize
SB: 2 Steward of Valeron
SB: 2 Valeron Outlander
SB: 2 Oblivion Ring
Martijn Hennink - Arcane Tide
8th place (7 points)
Spells
1 Evermind (U)
4 Brainstorm
1 Gigadrowse
4 High Tide
4 Ponder
4 Reach Through Mists
4 Accumulated Knowledge
2 Dampen Thought (U)
4 Ideas Unbound
4 Merchant Scroll
4 Peer Through Depths
4 Psychic Puppetry
2 Stream of Unconsciousness (U)
1 Oona's Grace
Lands
17 Island
Sideboard
SB: 4 Disrupt
SB: 3 Gigadrowse
SB: 4 Hydroblast
SB: 4 Mystic Remora
Also, this marks the first time ever I played the same deck twice at a tournament. I'm quite proud of myself and my first steps to spikehood, but constructing new decks is still what draws me to Magic the Gathering, so we'll have to wait and see if this is a fluke or the dawn of a new psychographic profile ;)
T8 Decklists
1. Martijn Beljaars (15 - Foundry Affinity)
2. Maarten Jacobs (12 - Countertop Faeries)
3. Niels Gramser (9 - UR Control)
4. Guus Venhuizen (9 - Elves)
5. Gijsbert Haaksman (9 - Grapeshot Storm)
6. Bart Holkenborg (9 - Faeries)
7. Oscar de Boer (9 - GW Aggro)
8. Martijn Hennink (7 - Arcane Tide)
Martijn Beljaars - Foundry Affinity
1st place (15 points)
Creatures
4 Arcbound Worker
4 Disciple of the vault
4 Glaze fiend
4 Frogmite
4 Myr Eenforcer
4 Quicksilver Behemoth
Spells
4 Chromatic star
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Springleaf drum
1 Sword of the meek (U)
4 Thopter foundry (U)
4 Thoughtcast
Lands
3 Ancient den
4 Great furnace
4 Seat of the synod
4 Vault of whispers
Sideboard
SB: 3 Krark-Clan Shaman
SB: 4 Pyroblast
SB: 4 Relic of Progenitus
SB: 4 Ancient Grudge
Maarten Jacobs - Countertop Faeries
2nd place (12 points)
Creatures
4 Cloud of Faeries
4 Spellstutter Sprite
4 Pestermite
4 Ninja of the Deep Hours
Spells
4 Brainstorm
2 Sensei's Divining Top (U)
3 Counterbalance (U)
4 Counterspell
4 Mana Leak
3 Snap
4 Gush
Lands
3 Desert
17 Island
Sideboard
SB: 4 Annul
SB: 4 Disrupt
SB: 3 Thornwind Faeries
SB: 4 Errant Ephemeron
Niels Gramser - UR Control
3rd place (9 points)
Creatures
4 Trinket Mage
1 Ninja of the Deep Hours
4 Mulldrifter
3 Spire Golem
Spells
1 Bonesplitter
4 Brainstorm
4 Lightning Bolt
1 Pyrite Spellbomb
1 Sensei's Divining Top (U)
3 Skred
3 Counterbalance (U)
4 Counterspell
1 Echoing Truth
3 Incinerate
1 Firespout (U)
Lands
2 Desert
11 Snow-Covered Island
5 Snow-Covered Mountain
4 Terramorphic Expanse
Sideboard
SB: 1 Tormod's Crypt
SB: 4 Blue Elemental Blast
SB: 4 Envelop
SB: 3 Red Elemental Blast
SB: 1 Echoing Truth
SB: 2 Negate
SB: 1 Swirling Sandstorm
Guus Venhuizen - Elves
4th place (9 points)
Creatures
4 Birchlore Rangers
4 Fyndhorn Elves
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Nettle Sentinel
4 Quirion Ranger
3 Elvish Visionary
4 Thornweald Archer
1 Wren's Run Vanquisher (U)
4 Imperious Perfect (U)
2 Quirion Sentinel
4 Timberwatch Elves
3 Winnower Patrol
Spells
4 Wirewood Pride
3 Distant Melody
Lands
12 Forest
Sideboard
SB: 4 Gleeful Sabotage
SB: 3 Night Soil
SB: 4 Wellwisher
SB: 4 Wrap in Vigor
Gijsbert Haaksman - Grapeshot Storm
5th place (9 points)
Spells
4 Lotus Petal
4 Chomatic Sphere
4 Chromatic Star
4 Dark Ritual
1 Demonic Consultation (U)
4 Rite of Flames
3 Demonic Tutor (U)
4 Grapeshot
4 Ideas Unbound
4 Manamorphose
3 Words of Wisdom
4 Seething Song
1 Ignite Memories (U)
Lands
4 Anchient Spring
4 Irrigation Ditch
4 Island
4 Sulfur Vent
Sideboard
SB: 4 Disrupt
SB: 3 Duress
SB: 4 Red Elemental Blast
SB: 4 Early Frost
Bart Holkenborg - Faeries
6th place (9 points)
Creatures
4 Cloud of Faeries
4 Spellstutter Sprite
4 Pestermite
4 Ninja of the Deep Hours
Spells
4 Force Spike
2 Spell Snare (U)
4 Counterspell
4 Mana Leak
3 Snap
3 Force of Will (U)
4 Gush
Lands
3 Desert
17 Island
Sideboard
SB: 3 Annul
SB: 3 Blue Elemental Blast
SB: 2 Disrupt
SB: 4 Relic of Progenitus
SB: 3 Negate
Oscar de Boer - GW Aggro
7th place (9 points)
Creatures
2 Thornscape Apprentice
4 Bant Sureblade
4 Safehold Elite
4 Qasali Pridemage
4 Blastoderm
3 Charging Troll (U)
Spells
4 Niveous Wisps
2 Phyrexian Vault (U)
4 Armadillo Cloak
2 Oblivion Ring
4 Shield of the Oversoul
Lands
11 Forest
10 Plains
2 Selesnya Sanctuary
Sideboard
SB: 4 Spore Frog
SB: 1 Llanowar Knight
SB: 4 Naturalize
SB: 2 Steward of Valeron
SB: 2 Valeron Outlander
SB: 2 Oblivion Ring
Martijn Hennink - Arcane Tide
8th place (7 points)
Spells
1 Evermind (U)
4 Brainstorm
1 Gigadrowse
4 High Tide
4 Ponder
4 Reach Through Mists
4 Accumulated Knowledge
2 Dampen Thought (U)
4 Ideas Unbound
4 Merchant Scroll
4 Peer Through Depths
4 Psychic Puppetry
2 Stream of Unconsciousness (U)
1 Oona's Grace
Lands
17 Island
Sideboard
SB: 4 Disrupt
SB: 3 Gigadrowse
SB: 4 Hydroblast
SB: 4 Mystic Remora
30 August 2009
Results August 28, 2009
Fresh results are in! The holidays took its heaviest toll yet, only 10 people participated, with a lot of regulars missing. Hopefully we'll see more people show up come September. Low attendance means I will present you with a top 4 this time. Three well-known decks, and a new blink deck I concocted with a little gem from Ice Age as one of my uncommons! In case you don't get it: when you exile a reanimated or unearthed creature with Flickerwisp or Momentary Blink, it does return to play. So, I had a great time, even though we only had time for four games. It's also interesting to note that Astral Slide, Tortured Existence and MBC all finished outside the T4. We are adapting, we are... Enjoy!
T4 Decklists
1. Martijn Labohm (10 - Foundry Affinity)
2. Martijn Hennink (9 - Rapid Eye Movement)
3. Bart Holkenborg (9 - Faeries)
4. Rob de Jonge (9 - Taïga)
Martijn Labohm - Foundry Affinity
1st place (10 points)
Creatures
4 Arcbound Worker
4 Disciple of the Vault
4 Glaze Fiend
4 Frogmite
4 Myr Enforcer
4 Quicksilver Behemoth
Spells
4 Chromatic Star
3 Lightning Bolt
4 Springleaf Drum
1 Shrapnel Blast (U)
4 Thopter Foundry (U)
4 Thoughtcast
Lands
4 Ancient Den
4 Great Furnace
4 Seat of the Synod
4 Vault of Whispers
Sideboard
SB: 2 Tormod's Crypt
SB: 1 Lightning Bolt
SB: 4 Pyroblast
SB: 4 Smash to Smithereens
SB: 4 Holy Day
Martijn Hennink - Rapid Eye Movement
2nd place (9 points)
Creatures
4 Safehold Elite
4 Temple Acolyte
4 Aven Riftwatcher
1 Auramancer
4 Brackwater Elemental
3 Flickerwisp (U)
4 Mulldrifter
2 Noble Templar
Spells
4 Momentary Blink
2 Vulshok Morningstar
3 Fieldmist Borderpost
3 Unmake
2 Dreams of the Dead (U)
Lands
3 Azorius Chancery
7 Island
10 Plains
Sideboard
SB: 2 Relic of Progenitus
SB: 2 Circle of Protection: Black
SB: 3 Rune of Protection: Black
SB: 2 Seal of Cleansing
SB: 4 Dust to Dust
SB: 2 Holy Light
Bart Holkenborg - Faeries
3rd place (9 points)
Creatures
4 Cloud of Faeries
4 Spellstutter Sprite
4 Pestermite
4 Ninja of the Deep Hours
Spells
4 Force Spike
2 Spell Snare (U)
4 Counterspell
4 Mana Leak
3 Snap
3 Force of Will (U)
4 Gush
Lands
3 Desert
17 Island
Sideboard
SB: 4 Annul
SB: 3 Blue Elemental Blast
SB: 2 Disrupt
SB: 2 Hydroblast
SB: 4 Negate
Rob de Jonge - Taïga
4th place (9 points)
Creatures
2 Jungle Lion
4 Kird Ape
4 Wild Nacatl
4 Keldon Marauders
4 Scab-Clan Mauler
1 Boggart Ram-Gang (U)
4 Bloodbraid Elf (U)
Spells
3 Seal of Fire
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Rancor
4 Incinerate
2 Fireblast
Lands
11 Forest
11 Mountain
Sideboard
SB: 1 Overload
SB: 4 Red Elemental Blast
SB: 3 Relic of Progenitus
SB: 2 Smash
SB: 1 Smash to Smithereens
SB: 4 Naturalize
T4 Decklists
1. Martijn Labohm (10 - Foundry Affinity)
2. Martijn Hennink (9 - Rapid Eye Movement)
3. Bart Holkenborg (9 - Faeries)
4. Rob de Jonge (9 - Taïga)
Martijn Labohm - Foundry Affinity
1st place (10 points)
Creatures
4 Arcbound Worker
4 Disciple of the Vault
4 Glaze Fiend
4 Frogmite
4 Myr Enforcer
4 Quicksilver Behemoth
Spells
4 Chromatic Star
3 Lightning Bolt
4 Springleaf Drum
1 Shrapnel Blast (U)
4 Thopter Foundry (U)
4 Thoughtcast
Lands
4 Ancient Den
4 Great Furnace
4 Seat of the Synod
4 Vault of Whispers
Sideboard
SB: 2 Tormod's Crypt
SB: 1 Lightning Bolt
SB: 4 Pyroblast
SB: 4 Smash to Smithereens
SB: 4 Holy Day
Martijn Hennink - Rapid Eye Movement
2nd place (9 points)
Creatures
4 Safehold Elite
4 Temple Acolyte
4 Aven Riftwatcher
1 Auramancer
4 Brackwater Elemental
3 Flickerwisp (U)
4 Mulldrifter
2 Noble Templar
Spells
4 Momentary Blink
2 Vulshok Morningstar
3 Fieldmist Borderpost
3 Unmake
2 Dreams of the Dead (U)
Lands
3 Azorius Chancery
7 Island
10 Plains
Sideboard
SB: 2 Relic of Progenitus
SB: 2 Circle of Protection: Black
SB: 3 Rune of Protection: Black
SB: 2 Seal of Cleansing
SB: 4 Dust to Dust
SB: 2 Holy Light
Bart Holkenborg - Faeries
3rd place (9 points)
Creatures
4 Cloud of Faeries
4 Spellstutter Sprite
4 Pestermite
4 Ninja of the Deep Hours
Spells
4 Force Spike
2 Spell Snare (U)
4 Counterspell
4 Mana Leak
3 Snap
3 Force of Will (U)
4 Gush
Lands
3 Desert
17 Island
Sideboard
SB: 4 Annul
SB: 3 Blue Elemental Blast
SB: 2 Disrupt
SB: 2 Hydroblast
SB: 4 Negate
Rob de Jonge - Taïga
4th place (9 points)
Creatures
2 Jungle Lion
4 Kird Ape
4 Wild Nacatl
4 Keldon Marauders
4 Scab-Clan Mauler
1 Boggart Ram-Gang (U)
4 Bloodbraid Elf (U)
Spells
3 Seal of Fire
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Rancor
4 Incinerate
2 Fireblast
Lands
11 Forest
11 Mountain
Sideboard
SB: 1 Overload
SB: 4 Red Elemental Blast
SB: 3 Relic of Progenitus
SB: 2 Smash
SB: 1 Smash to Smithereens
SB: 4 Naturalize
28 August 2009
M2010 Set Review
Welcome to another installment of my peasant magic set reviews. We've had a while to play with M2010, and already some commons have seen play. My usual prediction on the playability of the cards will have to make place for actual facts in some cases! If you have been following this blog for a while, you know what'll happen next. Yes, I will once again pore over each common and label its playability or lack thereof. I'll end with a quick glance at some possible gems in the uncommon slot. Of course half of the cards are a known commodity, but that will only make the job easier for me, right? Alright, I promise I will not include any reprints in this review. Now let's move on!
For reference, you can find the full Visual Spoiler here!
M2010 commons
White
Angel's Mercy
While 7 life is a lot, so is 4 mana. Renewed Faith is about 183 times better than this.
Verdict: Won't see play.
Blinding Mage
Master Decoy without a relevant creature type. Seeing that Master Decoy is already outclassed by its Kithkin sibling Goldmeadow Harrier, I foresee a life of embittered loneliness for this mage.
Verdict: Won't see play
Divine Verdict
A new name doesn't make Neck Snap any more playable.
Verdict: Won't see play
Glorious Charge
When would you ever play this above Kjeldoran War Cry or Surge of Thoughtweft?
Verdict: Won't see play
Griffin Sentinel
See Divine Verdict, but replace Neck Snap with Skyhunter Prowler.
Verdict: Won't see play
Lifelink
Look! A worse Spirit Link!
Verdict: Won't see play
Palace Guard
This card has some merit in limited, but in peasant it is too slow with not enough power to impact the board. Also, there are simply better soldiers to be found.
Verdict: Won't see play
Safe Passage
Can be brutal in limited play. This card will have to compete with Prismatic Strands though, and I just can't see this winning that fight, unless white becomes the best color in peasant or too many multicolor decks make the Strands too unreliable. For now I don't see that happening, but who knows?.
Verdict: Might see play
Siege Mastodon
Strictly for limited, but pretty good in that environment.
Verdict: Won't see play
Silvercoat Lion
The incredible unplayable Eager Cadets, without a relevant creature type!
Verdict: Won't see play
Divine Offering
Good sideboard option, pity it's a sorcery. I would have been all over this if this had been an instant!
Verdict: Might see play
Stormfront Pegasus
This is a pretty decent card. 2 power for 2 mana with evasion, sounds like Gaea's Skyfolk, and that saw play (admittedly mainly to trigger a certain mimic).
Verdict: Might see play
Veteran Armorsmith
Well, this is a very good card that should not be ignored if you want to run a soldier deck in peasant. Someone already did.
Verdict: Already saw play
Veteran Swordsmith
Well, this is a very good card that should not be ignored if you want to run a soldier deck in peasant. Someone already did.
Verdict: Already saw play.
Wall of Faith
Sometimes "Won't see play" means "You should never play these, so you can burn your copies with a clear conscience if you are out of chopped wood in the middle of winter and desperately in need of a fire."
Verdict: Won't see play
Blue
Convincing Mirage
Well... This is better than Phantasmal Terrain!
Verdict: Won't see play
Disorient
Riiiight.
Verdict: Won't see play
Divination
Counsel of the Soratami in disguise! Still vastly inferior to good old Mulldrifter.
Verdict: Won't see play
Essence Scatter
I would play this over Remove Soul for the incredible cool art. Remove Soul sees play from time to time, when blue rises to quell the tide of... well... things it seeks to quell I suppose.
Verdict: Might see play
Ice Cage
Euipment and pump spells are way too popular for this to really shine. Add to that (near) creatureless decks like MBC and Arcane Tide and you can see this is going nowhere.
Verdict: Won't see play
Illusionary Servant
The good news is, equipment can't target your guys, and most other targeted spells aim to kill anyway. This is actually a pretty good card that should put up a fight in blue-based aggro decks.
Verdict: Will see play
Serpent of the Endless Sea
Somewhere inside I feel the urge to build a peasant deck with this and Convincing Mirage... X/X [i]is[/i] a monster!
Verdict: Won't see play
Tome Scour
5 cards eh? Still looks like an inferior Vision Charm, but put enough of these cards together and you end up with genuine a mill deck! You need 12+ of these to reliably mill your opponent's whole deck in a timely fashion however, so I think I'll stick to Arcane Tide if I want to mill opponents to death.
Verdict: Won't see play
Zephyr Sprite
A Flying Men in a relevant tribe. I heard 1 power adds up in faeries?
Verdict: Might see play
Black
Acolyte of Xathrid
If you want to win the game 1 point at a time, Onyx Goblet is probably the way to go in black. This card sure isn't.
Verdict: Won't see play
Child of Night
2 power for 2 mana is nice in black. Lifelink is actually a pretty useful ability, and I'm confident this card will find a home somewhere.
Verdict: Will see play
Disentomb
Raise Dead << Unearth in peasant magic.
Verdict: Won't see play
Doom Blade
Better then Terror in a world where affinity is Tier 1. You probably won't be surprised that it was included in one of last month's decks.
Verdict: Already saw play
Dread Warlock
Similarly, fear becomes much, much better, once you take out the artifact factor. Still, a 2/2 unblockable (there aren't that many black creatures in our meta) for three doesn't really translate into a clock, does it?
Verdict: Might see play
Kelinore Bat
Perfect for limited, perfect crap for constructed.
Verdict: Won't see play
Sign in Blood
A killer card draw spell! Adopted by MBC in the blink of an eye.
Verdict: Already saw play
Soul Bleed
Like I said, Onyx Goblet.
Verdict: Won't see play
Vampire Aristocrat
I still think zombie is a more relevant creature type, don't you? Zendikar might change that though, I heard it is chock full of blooddrinkers.
Verdict: Might see play
Warpath Ghoul
Currently one of the best deals a zombie deck can get a 3 mana. Yeah I know, peasant zombies still blows.
Verdict: Won't see play
Zombie Goliath
Case in point.
Verdict: Won't see play
Red
Berserkers of Blood Ridge
That's a lot of power for a red common. Still, peasant is a fast format in which a 4/4 for 5 with a disadvantage shouldn't make the cut. I'ld be happy to be proven wrong though in this case, I love this card!
Verdict: Won't see play
Verdict:
Green
Verdict:
Artifact
Verdict:
Hmm... that's a pretty impressive list! But it doesn't stop there, because this time there are some uncommons that might shake things up a bit! Let's discuss!
M2010 Uncommons
Verdict:
Very impressive! My predictions gave Conflux 6 commons and 3 uncommons that I though would see play, this time around it's 16 commons and 4 uncommons! To be fair, that does include the Borderpost cycle and Terminate. I hope you'll enjoy these cards just as much as I will. Still, I know I'm going to play me some Alara Reborn cards for a long while!
Hoping you'll enjoy this set as much as I will,
-Hennink
For reference, you can find the full Visual Spoiler here!
Angel's Mercy
While 7 life is a lot, so is 4 mana. Renewed Faith is about 183 times better than this.
Verdict: Won't see play.
Blinding Mage
Master Decoy without a relevant creature type. Seeing that Master Decoy is already outclassed by its Kithkin sibling Goldmeadow Harrier, I foresee a life of embittered loneliness for this mage.
Verdict: Won't see play
Divine Verdict
A new name doesn't make Neck Snap any more playable.
Verdict: Won't see play
Glorious Charge
When would you ever play this above Kjeldoran War Cry or Surge of Thoughtweft?
Verdict: Won't see play
Griffin Sentinel
See Divine Verdict, but replace Neck Snap with Skyhunter Prowler.
Verdict: Won't see play
Lifelink
Look! A worse Spirit Link!
Verdict: Won't see play
Palace Guard
This card has some merit in limited, but in peasant it is too slow with not enough power to impact the board. Also, there are simply better soldiers to be found.
Verdict: Won't see play
Safe Passage
Can be brutal in limited play. This card will have to compete with Prismatic Strands though, and I just can't see this winning that fight, unless white becomes the best color in peasant or too many multicolor decks make the Strands too unreliable. For now I don't see that happening, but who knows?.
Verdict: Might see play
Siege Mastodon
Strictly for limited, but pretty good in that environment.
Verdict: Won't see play
Silvercoat Lion
The incredible unplayable Eager Cadets, without a relevant creature type!
Verdict: Won't see play
Divine Offering
Good sideboard option, pity it's a sorcery. I would have been all over this if this had been an instant!
Verdict: Might see play
Stormfront Pegasus
This is a pretty decent card. 2 power for 2 mana with evasion, sounds like Gaea's Skyfolk, and that saw play (admittedly mainly to trigger a certain mimic).
Verdict: Might see play
Veteran Armorsmith
Well, this is a very good card that should not be ignored if you want to run a soldier deck in peasant. Someone already did.
Verdict: Already saw play
Veteran Swordsmith
Well, this is a very good card that should not be ignored if you want to run a soldier deck in peasant. Someone already did.
Verdict: Already saw play.
Wall of Faith
Sometimes "Won't see play" means "You should never play these, so you can burn your copies with a clear conscience if you are out of chopped wood in the middle of winter and desperately in need of a fire."
Verdict: Won't see play
Convincing Mirage
Well... This is better than Phantasmal Terrain!
Verdict: Won't see play
Disorient
Riiiight.
Verdict: Won't see play
Divination
Counsel of the Soratami in disguise! Still vastly inferior to good old Mulldrifter.
Verdict: Won't see play
Essence Scatter
I would play this over Remove Soul for the incredible cool art. Remove Soul sees play from time to time, when blue rises to quell the tide of... well... things it seeks to quell I suppose.
Verdict: Might see play
Ice Cage
Euipment and pump spells are way too popular for this to really shine. Add to that (near) creatureless decks like MBC and Arcane Tide and you can see this is going nowhere.
Verdict: Won't see play
Illusionary Servant
The good news is, equipment can't target your guys, and most other targeted spells aim to kill anyway. This is actually a pretty good card that should put up a fight in blue-based aggro decks.
Verdict: Will see play
Serpent of the Endless Sea
Somewhere inside I feel the urge to build a peasant deck with this and Convincing Mirage... X/X [i]is[/i] a monster!
Verdict: Won't see play
Tome Scour
5 cards eh? Still looks like an inferior Vision Charm, but put enough of these cards together and you end up with genuine a mill deck! You need 12+ of these to reliably mill your opponent's whole deck in a timely fashion however, so I think I'll stick to Arcane Tide if I want to mill opponents to death.
Verdict: Won't see play
Zephyr Sprite
A Flying Men in a relevant tribe. I heard 1 power adds up in faeries?
Verdict: Might see play
Acolyte of Xathrid
If you want to win the game 1 point at a time, Onyx Goblet is probably the way to go in black. This card sure isn't.
Verdict: Won't see play
Child of Night
2 power for 2 mana is nice in black. Lifelink is actually a pretty useful ability, and I'm confident this card will find a home somewhere.
Verdict: Will see play
Disentomb
Raise Dead << Unearth in peasant magic.
Verdict: Won't see play
Doom Blade
Better then Terror in a world where affinity is Tier 1. You probably won't be surprised that it was included in one of last month's decks.
Verdict: Already saw play
Dread Warlock
Similarly, fear becomes much, much better, once you take out the artifact factor. Still, a 2/2 unblockable (there aren't that many black creatures in our meta) for three doesn't really translate into a clock, does it?
Verdict: Might see play
Kelinore Bat
Perfect for limited, perfect crap for constructed.
Verdict: Won't see play
Sign in Blood
A killer card draw spell! Adopted by MBC in the blink of an eye.
Verdict: Already saw play
Soul Bleed
Like I said, Onyx Goblet.
Verdict: Won't see play
Vampire Aristocrat
I still think zombie is a more relevant creature type, don't you? Zendikar might change that though, I heard it is chock full of blooddrinkers.
Verdict: Might see play
Warpath Ghoul
Currently one of the best deals a zombie deck can get a 3 mana. Yeah I know, peasant zombies still blows.
Verdict: Won't see play
Zombie Goliath
Case in point.
Verdict: Won't see play
Berserkers of Blood Ridge
That's a lot of power for a red common. Still, peasant is a fast format in which a 4/4 for 5 with a disadvantage shouldn't make the cut. I'ld be happy to be proven wrong though in this case, I love this card!
Verdict: Won't see play
Verdict:
Verdict:
Verdict:
Hmm... that's a pretty impressive list! But it doesn't stop there, because this time there are some uncommons that might shake things up a bit! Let's discuss!
Verdict:
Very impressive! My predictions gave Conflux 6 commons and 3 uncommons that I though would see play, this time around it's 16 commons and 4 uncommons! To be fair, that does include the Borderpost cycle and Terminate. I hope you'll enjoy these cards just as much as I will. Still, I know I'm going to play me some Alara Reborn cards for a long while!
Hoping you'll enjoy this set as much as I will,
-Hennink
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