Season V.5: 22nd of February 2013

Hey there all of you!

Last Friday the fifth Peasant tournament of the season sported 14 eager participants, but of course only one could prevail after four rounds of swiss. Walter successfully piloted his Teaching Posts to a 4-0 record, congratulations to you Walter!

Another record worthy of mentioning is Rob's third consecutive top performance with MBA, making him the new leader of this season's ranking, nicely done!

Then on to the rest of the field. This tournament knew the reappearance of two ol' boys in the Peasant format, MBC and Burn. Unfortunately, I did not expect either deck. In retrospect I especially like the call to play a burn deck this tournament, since not many lists from the last few tournaments supported tons of life gain or other weapons against burn. As for MBC, I love the deck and apparently draining someone to death is still a viable strategy.

So here are the decklists, some old, some new, none borrowed and some blue.

Enjoy!

Siebe

Rank

Player (click * to see decklist)

Deck

Colors

P/W/D

01.

Walter Fuglistahler *

Teaching Posts

4/4/0

Creatures 3 Sea Gate Oracle 4 Mulldrifter 2 Mnemonic Wall 1 Ulamog's Crusher Spells 4 Prophetic Prism 1 Isochron Scepter (U) 2 Mystical Teachings 2 Innocent Blood 2 Counterspell 1 Disfigure 1 Darkblast (U) 1 Capsize 1 Doom Blade 1 Skeletal Scrying (U) 1 Echoing Decay 1 Prohibit 1 Hideous Laughter (U) 1 Grim Harvest 1 Ghostly Flicker 1 Muddle the Mixture 1 Diabolic Edict 4 Preordain Lands 4 Swamp 8 Island 2 Dimir Aqueduct 1 Terramorphic Expanse 4 Glimmerpost 4 Cloudpost Sideboard 3 Deep Analysis 3 Disfigure 2 Serrated Arrows 1 Engineered Plague (U) 1 Perplex 1 Coffin Purge 1 Hindering Touch 2 Temporal Fissure 2 Dispel

02.

Jasper Boelens *

Unicorns on Fire... FIRE I Tell You! (formerly known as Cheese)

4/3/0

Creatures 4 Goblin Arsonist 4 Keldon Marauders 2 Mogg War Marshal Spells 4 Chain Lightning 4 Goblin Grenade 4 Lightning Bolt 4 Quest for Pure Flame (U) 3 Reckless Abandon 4 Krenko's Command 3 Searing Blaze 4 Fireblast 1 Volcanic Fallout (U) Lands 19 Mountain Sideboard 4 Martyr of Ashes 1 Gorilla Shaman 4 Guerilla Tactics 2 Smash to Smithereens 1 Red Elemental Blast 3 Pyroblast

03.

Alex Bieshuizen *

MBC

4/3/0

Creatures 3 Crypt Rats Spells 3 Demonic Tutor (U) 3 Sign in Blood 3 Duress 3 Corrupt 4 Hymn to Tourach 4 Drain Life 4 Innocent Blood 4 Consume Spirit 4 Geth's Verdict 2 Spinning Darkness 1 Engineered Plague (U) Lands 20 Swamp 1 Desert 1 Cabal Coffers (U) Sideboard 1 Crypt Rats 3 Distress 3 Ostracize 4 Tendrils of Corruption 1 Spinning Darkness 1 Duress 1 Relic of Progenitus 1 Nihil Spellbomb

04.

Rob de Jonge *

MBA

4/3/0

Creatures 4 Chittering Rats 4 Phyrexian Rager 2 Liliana's Specter 1 Shriekmaw (U) 2 Crypt Rats 2 Okiba-Gang Shinobi Spells 4 Dark Ritual 4 Hymn to Tourach 4 Sinkhole 4 Sign in Blood 4 Geth's Verdict 2 Snuff Out Lands 4 Mishra's Factory (U) 19 Swamp Sideboard 1 Grim Harvest 4 Rancid Earth 2 Crypt Rats 3 Relic of Progenitus 1 Snuff Out 4 Duress

05.

Mathijs Hoogeveen *

Elves

4/2/0

Creatures 4 Priest of Titania 4 Nettle Sentinel 4 Viridian Joiner 4 Timberwatch Elf 4 Birchlore Rangers 4 Llanowar Elves 2 Fyndhorn Elves 2 Lys Alana Huntmaster 3 Quirion Ranger Spells 3 Distant Melody 4 Lotus Petal 4 Rancor 4 Manamorphose 4 Umbral Mantle (U) Lands 10 Forest Sideboard 4 Wellwisher 1 Spider Spawning (U) 2 Naturalize 1 Kaervek's Torch 2 Taunting Elf 2 Relic of Progenitus 2 Scattershot Archer

06.

Sven Smit *

Faeries

4/2/0

Creatures 4 Cloud of Faeries 4 Spellstutter Sprite 4 Pestermite 4 Ninja of the Deep Hours Spells 4 Snap 4 Gush 4 Counterspell 4 Mana Leak 3 Spell Pierce 1 Mental Misstep (U) 4 Force of Will (U) Lands 3 Desert 17 Island Sideboard 4 Echoing Truth 4 Weatherseed Faeries 2 Relic of Progenitus 1 Negate 4 Blue Elemental Blast

07.

Niek Ottens *

Unknown

4/2/0

Creatures Spells Lands Sideboard

08.

Sepp Jansen *

Burning Rage

4/2/0

Creatures 4 Spark Elemental 4 Keldon Marauders Spells 4 Chain Lightning 4 Rift Bolt 4 Lava Spike 4 Lightning Bolt 4 Shrine of Burning Rage 4 Incinerate 1 Thunderbolt 1 Skullcrack 2 Flame Rift 4 Fireblast Lands 20 Mountain Sideboard 3 Searing Blaze 4 Smash to Smithereens 4 Guerilla Tactics 4 Red Elemental Blast

09.

Chris *** *

Naya Slivers

4/2/0

Creatures 3 Plated Sliver 3 Sidewinder Sliver 4 Virulent Sliver 4 Muscle Sliver 4 Sinew Sliver 1 Crystalline Sliver (U) 3 Gemhide Sliver 2 Heart Sliver 1 Spinneret Sliver 3 Homing Sliver Spells 2 Ranger's Guile 4 Aether Vial (U) 3 Lightning Bolt 1 Prismatic Strands 3 Temporal Isolation Lands 4 Naya Panorama 6 Forest 3 Mountain 6 Plains Sideboard 1 Disintegrate 2 Prismatic Strands 3 Faerie Macabre 2 Ancient Grudge 2 Ranger's Guile 3 Exile 2 Pyroblast

10.

Desmond Scholtens *

Storm on Discount

4/1/1

Creatures 4 Sunscape Familiar 4 Nightscape Familiar 4 Cloud of Faeries 4 Mulldrifter 1 Mnemonic Wall Spells 4 Snap 4 Accumulated Knowledge 4 Compulsive Research 3 Foresee 2 Deep Analysis 3 Temporal Fissure 1 Astral Steel Lands 2 Terramorphic Expanse 3 Evolving Wilds 2 Swamp 2 Plains 3 Azorius Chancery 4 Dimir Aqueduct 6 Island Sideboard 1 Blue Elemental Blast 1 Deep Analysis 1 Temporal Fissure 1 Mnemonic Wall 3 Turn Aside 3 Boomerang 3 Duress 2 Mountain

11.

Allard van der Made *

Postless Blink

4/1/1

Creatures 4 Mulldrifter 4 Squadron Hawk 4 Sea Gate Oracle 3 Trinket Mage Spells 4 Swords to Plowshares (U) 4 Preordain 3 Brainstorm 2 Journey to Nowhere 3 Momentary Blink 1 Dispeller's Capsule 1 Relic of Progenitus 1 Bonesplitter 2 Deep Analysis 1 Path to Exile (U) 1 Repeal Lands 4 Azorius Guildgate 1 Seat of the Synod 1 Ancient Den 10 Island 6 Plains Sideboard 3 Temple Acolyte 2 Tormod's Crypt 2 Spell Pierce 2 Dispel 1 Oblivion Ring 3 Disenchant 2 Sunlance

12.

Niels *** *

Can't Touch This

4/1/0

Creatures 4 Gladecover Scout 4 Slippery Bogle 4 Silhana Ledgewalker Spells 3 Spirit Mantle (U) 4 Ethereal Armor 3 Hyena Umbra 4 Armadillo Cloak 4 Rancor 4 Abundant Growth 2 Snake Umbra 4 Journey to Nowhere 2 Sylvan Library (U) Lands 4 Selesnya Guildgate 4 Snow-Covered Plains 10 Snow-Covered Forest Sideboard 3 Fists of Ironwood 3 Gelid Shackles 2 Spider Umbra 3 Seal of Primordial 2 Night Soil 2 Circle of Protection: Green

13.

Siebe van der Veer *

One-Sided Fallout

4/0/1

Creatures 4 Frilled Oculus 4 Frostburn Weird 2 Wee Dragonauts 2 Sylvok Replica 1 Trygon Predator (U) Spells 4 Mana Leak 2 Counterspell 4 Flame Slash 3 Lightning Bolt 4 Volcanic Fallout (U) 4 Preordain 4 Think Twice Lands 4 Izzet Guildgate 3 Simic Guildgate 3 Gruul Guildgate 6 Mountain 6 Island Sideboard 2 Fissure 2 Molten Rain 4 Spell Pierce 3 Red Elemental Blast 3 Ancient Grudge 1 Sylvok Replica

14.

Johan Rots *

One-Sided Fallout

4/0/1

Creatures 4 Frilled Oculus 4 Frostburn Weird 2 Wee Dragonauts 2 Sylvok Replica 1 Trygon Predator (U) 1 Havenwood Wurm Spells 4 Mana Leak 2 Counterspell 4 Flame Slash 3 Lightning Bolt 4 Volcanic Fallout (U) 4 Preordain 3 Think Twice Lands 4 Izzet Guildgate 3 Simic Guildgate 3 Gruul Guildgate 6 Mountain 6 Island Sideboard 2 Fissure 2 Whispersilk Cloak 4 Spell Pierce 3 Red Elemental Blast 3 Ancient Grudge 1 Havenwood Wurm

Season V.4: 25th of January 2013 - Winter Qualifier!

And that is four successful tournaments in a row! Although the Gatecrash prerelease madness was in the same weekend as our first qualifier of the season 16 people showed up to fight for assured participation of the Peasant Groningen Invitational at the end of the season. After four straight wins, Johan Rots can now rest assured knowing that he has secured his place, congratulations!

Piloting a White Weenie version that finds its strength in the sheer value of each of its cards, Johan illustrated that white is very powerful. He knew he would have a weak match-up against storm combo, but expected no one to wield that considering its weakness to faeries and in particular the discard oriented decks that have been skulking about recently. Against those two archetypes specifically, this White Weenie is quite strong.

As promised, I have given you all the decks that were played this tournament (and will keep doing so in the future) and among them we see not many new faces. Elves, Faeries, MBA, WW and Sepp's 'Can't Touch This' have all seen play quite often this season. The noteworthy new face here is Walter's 'Teaching Posts', the deck is a proper old school control deck featuring tons of tricks, card advantage and removal. Win conditions are few and far between, so protecting those is vital. However, with counter magic and ghostly flicker at your disposal this should be managable.

Another thing I find noteworthy about the decklists in this tournament is the predominance of monocolored decks. It seems that the guildgates have not yet been able to open up the way for more multicolored decks, but considering the speed of the format this is not too shocking I guess. Perhaps with the full complement of guildgates people will be able to break the metagame open? I personally think that the Dimir, Simic and Orzhov Guildgates might be able to achieve what some of the other guildgates could not yet do. Our opinions on the other two gates and the rest of Gatecrash will be up for your reading pleasure before the next tournament in a review of the set's top cards, but maybe you already have ideas a plenty with the new set and its mechanics? I am curious to find out what impact Gatecrash will have on the format, as well as that of Skeletal Scrying!

See you all in February, maybe with a new metagame?

Rank

Player (click * to see decklist)

Deck

Colors

P/W/D

1.

Johan Rots *

White Weenie

4/4/0

Creatures 4 Benevolent Bodyguard 4 Gideon's Lawkeeper 3 Shade of Trokair 4 Kor Skyfisher 4 Squadron Hawk 4 Order of Leitbur 2 Razor Golem 2 Kor Sanctifiers Spells 3 Bonesplitter 2 Mask of Memories (U) 3 Swords to Plowshares (U) 4 Journey to Nowhere Lands 21 Plains Sideboard 2 Disenchant 3 Sunlance 4 Pollen Remedy 3 Aven Riftwatcher 2 Seraph of Dawn 1 Dust to Dust

2.

Rob de Jonge *

Black Fish

4/3/0

Creatures 4 Chittering Rats 4 Phyrexian Rager 2 Liliana's Specter 1 Shriekmaw (U) 2 Crypt Rats 2 Okiba-Gang Shinobi Spells 4 Dark Ritual 4 Hymn to Tourach 4 Sinkhole 4 Sign in Blood 4 Geth's Verdict 2 Snuff Out Lands 4 Mishra's Factory (U) 19 Swamp Sideboard 1 Grim Harvest 4 Rancid Earth 2 Crypt Rats 3 Relic of Progenitus 1 Snuff Out 4 Duress

3.

Siebe van der Veer *

Faeries

4/3/0

Creatures 1 Cloud Sprite 4 Cloud of faeries 4 Spellstutter Sprite 4 Zephyr Sprite 4 Spire Golem Spells 4 Counterspell 4 Preordain 3 Gitaxian Probe 4 Snap 3 Gush 4 Favorable Winds (U) 3 Daze 1 Mental Misstep (U) Lands 17 Island Sideboard 2 Desert 2 Thornwind Faeries 3 Blue Elemental Blast 3 Spell Pierce 3 Into the Roil 2 Remove Soul

4.

Sylke Gosen *

Elves

4/3/0

Creatures 4 Birchlore Rangers 4 Nettle Sentinel 3 Quirion Ranger 4 Priest of Titania 4 Viridian Joiner 4 Llanowar Elves 2 Fyndhorn Elves 4 Timberwatch Elves Spells 3 Distant Melody 4 Manamorphose 4 Rancor 4 Lotus Petal 4 Umbral Mantle (U) Lands 12 Forest Sideboard 4 Wellwisher 2 Relic of Progenitus 2 Taunting Elf 1 Lys Alana Huntmaster 1 Spider Spawning (U) 3 Scattershot Archer 2 Naturalize

5.

Walter Fuglistahler *

Teaching Posts

4/3/0

Creatures 2 Mnemonic Wall 3 Sea Gate Oracle 4 Mulldrifter 1 Ulamog's Crusher Spells 1 Isochron Scepter (U) 1 Grim Harvest 1 Echoing Decay 1 Agony Warp 1 Diabolic Edict 1 Muddle the Mixture 1 Ghostly Flicker 1 Capsize 1 Hideous Laughter (U) 1 Doom Blade 1 Disfigure 2 Counterspell 4 Preordain 1 Prohibit 2 Mystical Teachings 4 Prophetic Prism 2 Innocent Blood Lands 1 Terramorphic Expanse 8 Island 5 Swamp 2 Dimir Aqueduct 4 Cloudpost 4 Glimmerpost Sideboard 3 Blue Elemental Blast 1 Disfigure 2 Deep Analysis 2 Temporal Fissure 1 Hindering Touch 1 Coffin Purge 2 Dispel 1 Perplex 1 Engineered Plague (U) 1 Haunting Hymn (U)

6.

Niels *** *

The Rack

4/2/1

Creatures 1 Ninja of the Deep Hours 4 Chittering Rats 3 Trinket Mage 3 Sea Gate Oracle 3 Mesmeric Fiend 1 Ravenous Rats Spells 4 The Rack (U) 1 Executioner's Capsule 4 Doom Blade 4 Raven's Crime 1 Engineered Plague (U) 4 Hymn to Tourach 2 Echoing Decay 2 Disfigure 1 Bonesplitter Lands 1 Vault of the Whispers 1 Evolving Wilds 4 Terramorphic Expanse 11 Swamp 5 Island Sideboard 1 Echoing Decay 3 Dispel 3 Tormod's Crypt 3 Desert 1 Relic of Progenitus 1 Okiba-Gang Shinobi 1 Tragic Slip 2 Diabolic Edict

7.

Andre Pannekoek *

Faeries

4/2/0

Creatures Spells Lands Sideboard

8.

Sepp Jansen *

Can't Touch This 2.0

4/2/0

Creatures 4 Gladecover Scout 4 Slippery Bogle 4 Silhana Ledgewalker 2 Taoist Hermit (U) Spells 1 Abundant Growth 2 Spirit Mantle (U) 2 Call to Serve 3 Ancestral Mask 4 Ethereal Armor 2 Spider Umbra 4 Rancor 4 Hyena Umbra 4 Armadillo Cloak Lands 11 Forest 9 Plains Sideboard 4 Temporal Isolation 2 Aura Gnarlid 1 Flickering Ward (U) 2 Naturalize 2 Journey to Nowhere 3 Dawn Charm 1 Hidden Spider

9.

Allard van der Made *

U/W Blink

4/2/0

Creatures 4 Mulldrifter 4 Sea Gate Oracle 1 Ninja of the Deep Hours 4 Porcelain Legionnaire 3 Aven Riftwatcher 3 Temple Acolyte Spells 4 Preordain 1 Ponder 2 Deep Analysis 2 Repeal 3 Momentary Blink 4 Swords to Plowshares (U) 1 Path to Exile (U) 2 Oblivion Ring Lands 4 Azorius Guildgate 11 Island 7 Plains Sideboard 3 Disenchant 3 Tormod's Crypt 1 Temple Acolyte 2 Sunlance 2 Journey to Nowhere 2 Dispel 2 Spell Pierce

10.

Danny Sardjan *

Faeries

4/2/0

Creatures 4 Spellstutter Sprite 4 Pestermite 4 Delver of Secrets 3 Cloud Sprite 4 Ninja of the Deep Hours Spells 2 Force of Will (U) 4 Mana Leak 4 Counterspell 4 Vapor Snag 2 Gush 3 Favorable Winds (U) 2 Exclude Lands 17 Island 3 Desert Sideboard 2 Spell Pierce 3 Blue Elemental Blast 3 Weatherseed Faeries 3 Echoing Truth 2 Relic of Progenitus 2 Spire Golem

11.

Niek Ottens *

Shrieking Rats

4/2/0

Creatures 4 Ravenous Rats 4 Chittering Rats 3 Lilliana's Specter 2 Okiba-gang Shinobi Spells 4 Shrieking Affliction (U) 4 Consume Spirit 4 Duress 4 Distress 2 Doom Blade 2 Geth's Verdict 2 Victim of the Night 1 Grasp of Darkness 1 Soul Reap 1 Diabolic Edict 1 The Rack (U) Lands 22 Swamp Sideboard 3 Black Cat 3 Murder 2 Cadaver Imp 2 Vile Rebirth 2 Faerie Macabre 1 Soul Burn 1 Drain Life 1 Crypt Rats

12.

Desmond Scholtens *

UR Tempo

4/1/0

Creatures 4 Delver of Secrets 4 Illusory Angel (U) 4 Kiln Fiend 4 Porcelain Legionnaire Spells 4 Gitaxian Probe 4 Ponder 3 Gush 4 Manamorphose 4 Snap 1 Apostle's Blessing 1 Force of Will (U) 4 Lightning Bolt 3 Lotus Petal Lands 2 Izzet Guildgate 6 Mountain 8 Island Sideboard 4 Electrickery 3 Apostle's Blessing 1 Mizzium Skin 3 Smash to Smithereens 2 Echoing Truth 1 Dispel 1 Spell Pierce

13.

Maarten Jacobs *

NeoTE

4/1/0

Creatures 4 Gatecreeper Vine 4 Sakura-tribe Elder 4 Golgari Brownscale 4 Stinkweed Imp 2 Crypt Rats 2 Tilling Treefolk 2 Wickerbough Elder 1 Shriekmaw (U) 1 Battlefield Scrounger Spells 3 Faithless Looting 2 Flame Jab 1 Raven's Crime 3 Sylvan Library (U) 4 Tortured Existence 1 Goblin Bombardment (U) Lands 4 Golgari Guildgate 4 Rakdos Guildgate 2 Mountain 8 Forest 4 Swamp Sideboard 1 Flame Jab 1 Spore Frog 1 Gorilla Shaman 2 Ancient Grudge 2 Raven's Crime 3 Faerie Macabre 3 Gnaw to the Bone 1 Crypt Rats 1 Heartstabber Mosquito

14.

Mathijs Hoogeveen *

Sensei's Erasure

4/1/0

Creatures 4 Trinket Mage 4 Etherium Sculptor 2 Sage of Epityr Spells 4 Lotus Petal 2 Helm of Awakening (U) 3 Sensei' Divining Top (U) 4 Dizzy Spell 4 Brainstorm 4 Ponder 4 Muddle the Mixture 3 Conjurer's Bauble 4 Jace's Erasure 4 Gitaxian Probe Lands 14 Island Sideboard 3 Essence Scatter 2 Echoing Truth 2 Downpour 3 Arcane Denial 3 Spell Pierce 2 Dispel

15.

Jan Rigter *

White Weenie

4/0/1

Creatures 4 Soul Warden 4 Doomed Traveler 4 Kor Skyfisher 4 Squadron Hawk 2 Kor Firewalker (U) 2 Suture Priest 4 Guardian of the Guildpact 4 Razor Golem Spells 2 Bonesplitter 1 Spectral Procession (U) 4 Journey to Nowhere 4 Unmake Lands 19 Plains 2 Desert Sideboard 2 Demistify 1 Dawn Charm 4 Order of Leitbur 2 Suture Priest 2 Kor Firewalker (U) 2 Seraph of Dawn 2 Thraben Sentry

16.

Marius Hollenga *

MBA

4/0/0

Creatures 4 Fume Spitter 4 Dauthi Slayer 4 Vampire Nighthawk (U) 3 Okiba-Gang Shinobi 1 Shriekmaw (U) 4 Vault Skirge 1 Rathi Trapper Spells 4 Bonesplitter 2 Grim Harvest 4 Lose Hope 4 Doom Blade 4 Sign in blood Lands 18 Swamp 3 Bojuka Bog Sideboard 4 Duress 4 Fearie Macabre 4 Vampire Lacerator 3 Rathi trapper

Banning Update 7: Don't Fret

First of all, we would like to state that we think the current metagame is healthy, perhaps even flourishing. Therefore this banning update will not remove a card from the pool, instead it will add one. As per 01-02-2013, Skeletal Scrying will be unbanned.

From the moment we assumed the role of Peasant Magic organisers in Groningen we have said we like the possibilities of the metagame as is, however, over the months we have entertained the idea of bringing back cards that do not seem so unbalanced in the current metagame. Long and plentiful discussion have led us to the conclusion that Skeletal Scrying was previously banned because of an archaic metagame. Back in those days, the card advantage brought by the Scrying was deemed too strong, which back then it was. In these days, however, the metagame has evolved and gained in power and finesse. Currently, Skeletal Scrying will not be too powerful anymore, or so we envision.

The unbanning of a card that is no longer a threat to the metagame results in a lean banlist and adds to the credibility and clarity of the format in general. We felt that Skeletal Scrying was the odd man out in the banlist and therefore needed to be removed from it.

Johan and Siebe

Season V.3: 28th of December 2012

Apparantly people like to play (Peasant) Magic in between the holidays! 17 people attended last friday's tournament, awesomesauce!

Rob de Jonge took the evening in a 4-0 sweep piloting Black Fish, congratulations! It is often times true that an aggressive deck exploits the weaknesses in the opponent's plays or draws. Black Fish, however, is the kind of deck that not only exploits those moments, but creates them! This power comes at a price though, as the deck is quite suicidal

The top 6 of this tournament is complemented by more disruption in UB Rack, one pure aggro deck (Boros) and three decks I would label as 'combo', reanimator being the most obvious of the three. Elves in my opinion is not a pure aggro deck as most of its critters have a supporting role. You might thignk Desmond's UR Tempo is an aggro deck, but as of this moment I label it as combo... I mean if you can manage a turn three kill with nothing but a kiln fiend you are 'comboing out' right?

As a sidenote: Due to several requests to have all decklists available here I will simply post all of them from next month on (reason for not doing that this months is that a significant number of decklists have gone AWOL). But this means that starting next year you will have all the more decks to study for do's, don'ts and perhaps that one card you hadn't considered just yet

Enjoy these last 2012 decklists, see you in 2013!

Rank

Player (click * to see decklist)

Deck

Colors

P/W/D

1.

Rob de Jonge *

Black Fish

4/4/0

Creatures 4 Chittering Rats 4 Phyrexian Rager 2 Liliana's Specter 1 Shriekmaw (U) 2 Crypt Rats 2 Okiba-Gang Shinobi Spells 4 Dark Ritual 4 Hymn to Tourach 4 Sinkhole 4 Sign in Blood 4 Geth's Verdict 2 Snuff Out Lands 4 Mishra's Factory 19 Swamp Sideboard 1 Grim Harvest 4 Rancid Earth 2 Crypt Rats 3 Relic of Progenitus 1 Snuff Out 4 Duress

2.

Jasper Boelens *

Black Unicorns

4/3/0

Creatures 4 Chittering Rats 3 Sea Gate Oracle 1 Ravenous Rats 3 Mesmeric Fiend 3 Trinket Mage Spells 1 Executioner's Capsule 3 Doom Blade 1 Nameless Inversion 4 Hymn to Tourach 4 Raven's Crime 4 The Rack (U) 2 Disfigure 2 Echoing Decay 1 Bonesplitter 1 Funeral Charm 1 Engineered Plague (U) Lands 3 Evolving Wilds 2 Terramorphic Expanse 1 Vault of Whispers 11 Snow-Covered Swamp 5 Snow-Covered Island Sideboard 4 Duress 1 Echoing Decay 2 Okiba-Gang Shinobi 2 Relic of Progenitus 3 Desert 1 Tormod's Crypt 1 Dispel

3.

Desmond Scholtens *

UR Tempo

4/3/0

Creatures 4 Illusory Angel (U) 4 Kiln Fiend 4 Keldon Marauders 4 Delver of Secrets Spells 4 Gitaxian Probe 4 Ponder 4 Gush 4 Manamorphose 4 Snap 1 Force of Will (U) 4 Lightning Bolt 3 Lotus Petal Lands 2 Izzet Guildgate 6 Mountain 8 Island Sideboard 4 Electrickery 4 Apostle's Blessing 3 Smash to Smithereens 2 Echoing Truth 1 Dispel 1 Spell Pierce

4.

Martijn Beljaars *

Boros

4/3/0

Creatures 4 Kiln Fiend 4 Kor Skyfisher 2 Aven Riftwatcher 4 Gore-House Chainwalker 4 Keldon Marauders 2 Porcelain Legionaire Spells 4 Lightning Bolt 4 Chain Lightning 3 Lightning Helix (U) 2 Isochron Scepter (U) 4 Galvanic Blast 3 Incinerate Lands 4 Great Furnace 4 Ancient Den 4 Terramorphic Expanse 5 Mountain 3 Plains Sideboard 2 Prismatic Strands 2 Standard Bearer 2 Hallow 4 Pyroblast 3 Crimson Acolyte 2 Smash to Smithereens

5.

Martijn Labohm *

Reanimator

4/3/0

Creatures 4 Hapless Researcher 4 Owl Familiar 4 Ulamog's Crusher 2 Pathrazer of Ulamog (U) Spells 4 Lotus Petal 4 Careful Study 4 Duress 1 Ponder 4 Preordain 3 Reanimate (U) 4 Exhume 3 Dragon Breath Lands 10 Island 9 Swamp Sideboard 3 Coffin Purge 4 Spell Pierce 2 Daze 4 Echoing Truth 2 Faerie Macabre

6.

Mathijs Hoogeveen *

Elves

4/3/0

Creatures 4 Priest of Titania 4 Nettle Sentinel 4 Viridian Joiner 4 Timberwatch Elf 4 Birchlore Rangers 4 Llanowar Elves 2 Fyndhorn Elves 2 Lys Alana Huntmaster 2 Taunting Elf 3 Quirion Ranger Spells 2 Lotus Petal 4 Rancor 4 Manamorphose 4 Umbral Mantle (U) Distant Melody Lands 10 Forest Sideboard 4 Wellwisher 1 Spider Spawning (U) 1 Taunting Elf 2 Naturalize 3 Kaervek's Torch 2 Relic of Progenitus 2 Scattershot Archer

Untouched gems in Peasant: Qasali Pridemage

Hello fellow players, interested in Peasant magic! I'm planning on putting a series of articles on the blog about strong cards in Peasant Magic that rarely see play. Why is it with some cards that we can see the potential but they never end up in our decks? This time let's look at Qasali Pridemage.

What do we see? It's a 2/2 Cat Wizard for GW. That's a bear. It has Exalted and for one colourless you can sacrifice him to destroy an artifact or enchantment. I think we can be quick to conclude that it is a strong card: a bear that boosts solitary attackers and holds an answer to opposing enchantments and artifacts.

So, why didn't we see a single Pridemage in any Peasant decklist for ages? I think the answer lies in the fact that there wasn't a deck in which he could fit. GW decks weren't good enough because they weren't able to cope with decks like Faeries, Blink or Storm. GW decks fight fair combats where other decks pack things like Hymn to Tourach, Mulldrifter or Spellstutter Sprite. Now I'm not saying that those cards are unfair, but they are powerful and put the opponent on a disadvantage in an aggressive way. They do 2 for 1 and most GW cards don't. The Pridemage is a support card that can fix certain problems, but it won't put you on cardadvantage and isn't a part of your winning combo.

But I think it is still possible to build a quite competitive GW deck with Qasali Pridemage. Martijn Beljaars played Midnight Presence on the Peasant tournament of october. Possibly maindeck and certainly in the sidboard he could have played some Pridemages. Let me inspire you to look further into GW.

Deck (click deck to see decklist)

Colors

GW Beats

Creatures 4 Avacyn's Pilgrim 4 Icatian Javelineers 4 Qasali Pridemage 4 Steward of Valeron 4 Kor Skyfisher 3 Watchwolf (U) 4 Centaur Healer Spells 2 Vines of Vastwood 3 Armadillo Cloak 4 Journey to Nowhere 2 Swords to Plowshares(U) Lands 4 Selesnya Guildgate 10 Forest 8 Plains

This deck is pretty straight forward and play decisions are not too difficult. It has got a few reactive cards in Vines of Vastwood and Swords to Plowshares, other than these it's just play creatures and put them sideways.

Something with a little more perseverance:

Deck (click deck to see decklist)

Colors

GW Populate

Creatures 4 Avacyn's Pilgrim 4 Sakura-Tribe Elder 4 Qasali Pridemage 4 Centaur Healer 2 Sensor Splicer Spells 4 Elephant Ambush 3 Beast Attack (U) 4 Rootborn Defenses 4 Journey to Nowhere 2 Swords to Plowshares (U) 2 Rancor Lands 4 Selesnya Guildgate 11 Forest 8 Plains

These are just example decks in which Qasali Pridemage fits. I'm sure you can do better than this and I'm looking forward to see some reactions!

Hope you enjoyed, see you next time,

Johan

Season V.2: 23rd of November 2012

And another great tournament in the Purperen Draak!

The top 6 of this tournament was aggressive, in your face and very very unfair with three faeries decks, MBA, a soldiers deck and the aptly named 'Can't touch this' of Sepp Jansen.

Let us first address Sepp's deck, some stats:

- Only two non-land card types, creatures and... ENCHANTMENTS!

- An enchantment to creature ratio of 27:14.

- Maybe the largest creature in peasant by turn three?

- I believe no one has played a portal: three kingdoms card before?

But all jokes aside, I think Sepp has showed his opponents that hexproof is a really good ability. Bring out your edict effects players!

Maarten saved my skin on my statement about discard from last tournament's blog. :) He also brought out one of the crown jewels of Peasant Magic, Sinkhole. His deck and performance persuaded me to finally get a playset of Sinkholes. Turn two Hymn or Sinkhole after a turn one dude will probably set you up beautifully for a win right then and there.

Jolmer played white weenie, as did Jan Rigter (not in top 6) and both players showed that white weenie will punish a player who misses a beat. This is the clear-cut sign of a good aggro deck, although I fear that sometimes white weenie is still too 'fair' to take on some of the other decks in the format.

Three faerie decks fill the remaining slots in top 6 and, although each player brought his own version of the deck, they proved that faeries remains a top contender in this format.

After two tournaments Desmond leads the charts of the competition with two very solid performances, good job! To all other seeking to gently drop-kick him from his throne, friday the 28th of December you will have the chance! I know I will try my hardest! :)

Le roi est mort, vive le roi!

Siebe says bye!

Rank

Player (click * to see decklist)

Deck

Colors

P/W/D

01.

Siebe van der Veer *

Faeries

4/3/0

Creatures 3 Cloud Sprite 4 Cloud of Faeries 4 Spellstutter Sprite 3 Zephyr Sprite 4 Ninja of the Deep Hours 3 Spire Golem Spells 4 Counterspell 4 Preordain 3 Gitaxian Probe 4 Snap 1 Mental Misstep (U) 4 Favorable Winds (U) 2 Daze Lands 17 Island Sideboard 4 Dispel 4 Blue Elemental Blast 3 Stormbound Geist 3 Pestermite 1 Gush

02.

Sepp Jansen *

Can't Touch This

4/3/0

Creatures 1 Primal Huntbeast 1 Taoist Hermit (U) 4 Slippery Bogle 4 Silhanna Ledgewalker 4 Gladecover Scout Spells 2 Abundant Growth 4 Rancor 3 Ancestral Mask 4 Hyena Umbra 2 Spider Umbra 1 Snake Umbra 3 Armadillo Cloak 2 Call to Serve 4 Ethereal Armor 1 Daily Regimen (U) 1 Flickering Ward (U) Lands 11 Forest 8 Plains Sideboard 1 Faith's Shield (U) 2 Sunlance 2 Prismatic Strands 1 Gleeful Sabotage 2 Aura Gnarlid 2 Journey to Nowhere 3 Temporal Isolation 1 Flickering Ward (U) 1 Hidden Spider

03.

Desmond Scholtens *

Faeries

4/3/0

Creatures 4 Spellstutter Sprite 4 Pestermite 4 Delver of Secrets 3 Cloud Sprite 1 Cloud of Faeries 4 Ninja of the Deep Hours Spells 1 Force of Will (U) 4 Mana Leak 4 Counterspell 4 Vapor Snag 3 Gush 4 Favorable Winds (U) Lands 17 Island 3 Desert Sideboard 2 Spell Pierce 3 Blue Elemental Blast 3 Weatherseed Faeries 3 Echoing Truth 2 Relic of Progenitus 2 Spire Golem

04.

Maarten Jacobs *

MBA - Black Fish

4/3/0

Creatures 4 Chittering Rats 4 Phyrexian Rager 2 Lilliana's Specter 1 Shriekmaw (U) 2 Crypt Rats 2 Okiba-gang Shinobi Spells 4 Dark Ritual 4 Hymn to Tourach 4 Sinkhole 4 Sign in Blood 4 Geth's Verdict 2 Snuff Out Lands 4 Mishra's Factory (U) 19 Swamp Sideboard 2 Crypt Rats 1 Snuff Out 1 Vendetta 1 Grim Harvest 3 Relic of Progenitus 3 Duress 4 Choking Sands

05.

Sven Smit *

Faeries

4/2/1

Creatures 4 Cloud of Faeries 4 Spellstutter Sprite 4 Pestermite 4 Ninja of the Deep Hours Spells 4 Snap 4 Gush 4 Counterspell 4 Mana Leak 3 Spell Pierce 1 Mental Misstep (U) 4 Force of Will (U) Lands 3 Desert 17 Island Sideboard 4 Echoing Truth 4 Weatherseed Faeries 2 Relic of Progenitus 1 Negate 4 Blue Elemental Blast

06.

Jolmer de Grijs *

WW Soldiers

4/2/1

Creatures 4 Gideon Lawkeeper 4 Veteran Armorsmith 4 Icatian Javelineer 4 Kor Skyfisher 4 Veteran Swordsmith 4 Enlistment Officer (U) 4 Kitesail Apprentice 3 Azorius Arrester 1 Elite Vanguard (U) Spells 4 Journey To Nowhere 4 Bonesplitter Lands 20 Plains Sideboard 4 Prismatic Strands 4 Aven Riftwatcher 4 Disenchant 3 Sunlance