Alex Tamblyn – June Event Winner

Name: Alex Tamblyn

# of Legacy Series Events Played:

8

AZMP Legacy Top 8s (which events?):

• March – Desert Sky Games – B/W Stoneblade
• April – ManaWerx – Reanimator
• June – Crusaders’ Retreat – Reanimator
• August – Play or Draw – Reanimator
• August – The Geekery – Reanimator

Non-AZMP MTG Accomplishments:

• $4,000 in scholarships from the Junior Super Series
• Top 4 2006 States
• Pro Tour Hollywood 2008 (12 Top 8 PTQ losses)
• SCG LA 2010 – Standard – Top 8, Legacy – 13th

Favorite Legacy Deck Of All Time:

I have played Burn, several Delver variants, Junk, B/W Stoneblade, Show & Tell, High Tide, Affinity, Shardless BUG, Eva Green, and probably a few random decks I am missing, and I have been loving Reanimator. That could change at any time. But right now, it is a very fun deck to play in tournaments.

What about Legacy draws you to the format? What is the best part about playing Legacy?

The diversity is what draws me to the format. Every deck is powerful in its own way. It takes time to learn the format but I enjoy the diversity.

In your opinion, how has the Legacy metagame evolved over the Series?

I feel like people tweaked their sideboards more than anything else. I know that the people who played the same deck throughout most of the events, were usually changing their sideboard and maindeck after learning from previous tournament experiences. I know that I personally changed my sideboard constantly and keep changing my 7th reanimate target in the maindeck.

What affected your deck choice from event to event?

How I felt about my previous tournament with the deck. I started off with Shardless BUG because I had great success with it previously in Starcity events. But, I could not play it fast enough and moved to B/W Stoneblade the next month. After losing to Tin Fins in Top 8 with B/W Stoneblade, I tried Reanimator and got stuck with it since.

What do you think is the most overrated deck for the Championships?

I do not think there is an overrated deck. I would stay away from any deck that you are not comfortable playing. Avoid playing a combo deck if you have never played it before. But all of the popular decks are also pretty good. Burn might be an exception. It is played much more than it should be, but that is because it is cheap to build. In no way is it uncompetitive. You just have to learn how to play it and know what to do versus certain matchups just like any other deck.

What do you think is the most underrated deck for the Championships?

Surprisingly, Reanimator feels like it is always underrated. Everyone is prepared with graveyard hate, but winning most game 1’s and having a good sideboard can help balance out their sideboard hate. I have only played 1 sort of mirror match in the 6 events playing Reanimator and it was the Necrotic Ooze version.

Legacy can be a scary format for those who are not intimately familiar with all of the cards. What advice would you recommend to novice Legacy players playing in the Championship?

Make sure you read cards and clarify anything that is confusing. Do not take your opponents words. Even if it is not on purpose, your opponent can easily be wrong and be misinforming you. I often call judges on calls that might sound dumb. Even after 16+ years, I will forget how a simple interaction works and will call a judge to clarify. It is much better than finding out the hard way. 

Bobby Greene – 2 Legacy Series Top 8s

Name: Bobby Greene

# of Legacy Series Events Played:

Not sure

AZMP Legacy Top 8s:

1-2 with a bunch of very close misses

Non-AZMP MTG Accomplishments:

Multiple Jupiter Games NELC (Northeast Legacy Championships) Top 8s, one win

Favorite Legacy Deck Of All Time:

Survival – the deck was just so much fun.

What about Legacy draws you to the format? What is the best part about playing Legacy?

How skill intensive the format is it really rewards knowledge and practice. The best part is how open the format is you can play almost anything.

In your opinion, how has the Legacy metagame evolved over the Series?

Burn became a real deck with the printing of Eidolon.

What affected your deck choice from event to event?

With how diverse Legacy is, I usually just play a deck that I’m going to enjoy that doesn’t lose to Burn.

What do you think is the most overrated deck for the Championships?

Death and taxes – I don’t think enough of its good match ups exist down here.

What do you think is the most underrated deck for the Championships?

Scapewish – People just don’t respect the deck at all.

Legacy can be a scary format for those who are not intimately familiar with all of the cards. What advice would you recommend to novice Legacy players playing in the Championship?

As much as I hate to say it, play Burn or some other non interactive deck to get your feet wet.

Nathan Cardinell – 2 Legacy Series Top 8s

Name: Nathan Cardinell

 # of Legacy Series Events Played:

7 (I think)

 AZMP Legacy Top 8s:

2 – April Event (Imperial Painter) and July Event (Moggcatcher Stompy)

Non-AZMP MTG Accomplishments:

Top 8ed SCG Phoenix Legacy Event with High Tide

Favorite Legacy Deck Of All Time:

Anything that would let me play Recurring Nightmare, Survival of the Fittest, and Birthing Pod but since that has never existed probably Moggcatcher.

 What about Legacy draws you to the format?

The fact that there are so many possibilities, yes there may not be that many tier 1 decks but there are infinite tier 1.5 -2 decks.

 What is the best part about playing Legacy?

The point at which you are so excited to see how you will lose that you don’t even mind.

 In your opinion, how has the Legacy metagame evolved over the Series?

People are playing basics. . . . Boo.

What affected your deck choice from event to event?

What looked like the most fun.

What do you think is the most overrated deck for the Championships?

Death and Taxes, don’t play it, just kidding the most overrated deck is probably something with Stoneforge Mystic in it.

 What do you think is the most underrated deck for the Championships?

Elves, not even close. Its worst matchup is Miracles, but maindeck Reclamation Sage is amazing.  It kills Counterbalance and can be Zenith’d for. If you have the deck you should play it (says the guy probably not playing it).

 Legacy can be a scary format for those who are not intimately familiar with all of the cards. What advice would you recommend to novice Legacy players playing in the Championship?

Find something you enjoy doing and play it. If you have ANY questions, call for a judge. We don’t mind and we like explaining the rules interactions. It’s not about trying to get your opponent; it’s about learning the interactions. Will you still make mistakes? Yes, but hopefully you will only make them once.