This article will cover my M12 Game Day report, and then some cards I’m looking forward to using in the near future. Let me show you what sent me undefeated for Game Day, only losing one GAME all day in the finals.
| Creatures (23) 4 Birds of Paradise 4 Llanowar Elves 4 Grim Lavamancer 4 Skinshifter 4 Leatherback Baloth 2 Hero of Oxid Ridge 1 Urabrask the Hidden Non Creatures (14) 4 Lightning Bolt 4 Staggershock 3 Sword of War and Peace 3 Garruk Wildspeaker Land (23) 4 Copperline Gorge 4 Raging Ravine 2 Rootbound Crag 4 Misty Rainforest 1 Scalding Tarn 2 Mountain 6 Forest | Sideboard (15) 2 Act of Aggression 2 Combust 2 Creeping Corrosion 1 Thrun, the Last Troll 1 Molten-Tail Masticore 3 Obstinate Baloth 2 Arc Trail 2 Dismember |
I have been working on this deck for over a month and it has seen its fair share of changes. The best lesson from building decks is failure. This deck started as a kind of mono red with splash green. Eventually I found that being as aggressive as mono red, and Tempered Steel but not bringing anything new to the matchup wasn’t the way to go. Being 50/50 versus aggro wasn’t what I was trying to accomplish. So I decided to take a step back and see what each color could really offer me. I didn’t really grasp the full idea until I saw a deck tech with Zvi Mowshowitz from Pro Tour: Hollywood a few years ago. He had a full set of birds and elves to accelerate himself into big threatening creatures. His idea was to hit creatures that were either hard to deal with or big problems for opponents. Since I didn’t have Tarmogoyf, or Chameleon Colossus I decided to take a more synergistic route. The swords were a great option since I can swing with them on turn 3 with a turn 1 mana guy. Because I am hitting early (and my opponent has plenty of cards in hand) with a sword the best one for the job has to be Sword of War and Peace. I also didn’t want my mana dorks to be dead on the board after they ramped me up so that explains the Garruks and Heros in addition to the swords. Now I can sit here and explain all day but I know you want to see results. So here is a brief recap of each round.
Round 1 – Splinter Twin – 2-0
Game 1 – I was holding double bolt the entire game, and threatening it from turn 4 on. Turn 2 Skinshifter, and turn 3 Garruk made quick work.
Game 2 – I see a Dismember for when he tries to combo off and finish him off with a Hero and couple of birds.
Round 2 – Caw Blade – 2-0
Game 1 – I get to resolve a turn 4 Hero of Oxid Ridge to swing past a few Squadron Hawks and win.
Game 2 – He is threatening Mana Leak the entire game with a Tectonic Edge. But with a bird and elf in play i can swing past with my Raging Ravine. This forces him to tap for a Timely Reinforcements. I just untap and play my hero again and win 2 turns later.
Round 3 – Goblins – 2-0
Game 1 – I hit a turn 2 Leatherback Baloth and start swinging when he is out of creatures.
Game 2 – I was at 4 and top decked the land I needed to play an Obstinate Baloth. Hey luck works both ways in this game.
Round 4 – Mono Black – 2-0
Game 1 – He rips my hand apart with double inquisition. Lucky for me Garruk cant be targeted. I win off of better draws since we both started on 4 cards off of the hand disruption.
Game 2 – He keeps a 2 land hand and draws land the turn before I drop him to zero.
After a cut to top 4 my opponent conceeds to me because he needs to leave. Hey, I’m not going to argue with a free win.
Finals – Goblins – 2-1
Game 1 – I stabalize with a late Leatherback Baloth and when he overcommits to an attack I have a 5/5 Raging Ravine waiting.
Game 2 – Turn 1 Goblin Guide, turn 2 Goblin Wardriver, turn 3 double guide. I really wish I kept Slagstorm in my board hahaha.
Game 3 – He sees all three of his boarded leylines. I win off of Leatherback Baloth and Garruk.
Okay, now I would like to talk about some cards that I have my eye on for some future decks. These are cards that you WILL see in articles and decks I’m making. First, is probably one of my favorites, Visions of Beyond. I think this is the best card to use if you are into Grim Lavamancer. You don’t have to use this card immediately. How often are you threatening countermagic only to not use it? Just throw that one mana into it and boom your deck is a little thinner. The next card that I think isn’t seeing enough play is Green Sun’s Zenith. This card shuffles back into your deck! That means you have a better percentage of drawing it the longer the game goes on (each card drawn thins your deck). It’s a tutor, and tutors are some of the most powerful cards in Magic. Do Stoneforge Mystic, Fauna Shaman, and Trinket Mage ring a bell? Zenith even takes it a step higher by putting it right into play. I can’t wait to -2 the new Chandra to double zenith for Acidic Slimes or Vengevines. The last card I want to talk about is Sundial of the Infinite. There is just something about a card that lets you change and mess with the rules and state of the game that peaks my interest. Being able to turn off negative abilities on your turn or during the end of it are amazing to me. Well that is all I have right now. If I see you in a shop say hello and we can swap ideas and opinions.