The morning of the event had arrived! I woke up at 7:30AM, put on my Jupiter Games shirt, grabbed a jacket, picked up my backpack, and was out the door. In Syracuse, people have adjusted to grey skies, cold weather, and warming up cars in the morning. I don’t think I’ll ever enjoy it — I hate being cold so much. My car takes forever to heat-up, I swear I was half-way to Binghamton by the time I could feel my fingers again. Before I left, I plugged in my phone and put on Saves the Day and enjoyed “Stay What You Are” for the entire trip.
When I get to Jupiter Games, Eli Kassis tells me that he has a Japanese Foil [[Past in Flames]] for me! Not a bad way to start the day.
the epic Storm
Main Deck
- 4 [[Burning Wish]]
- 4 [[Infernal Tutor]]
- 4 [[Brainstorm]]
- 4 [[Ponder]]
- 2 [[Ad Nauseam]]
- 1 [[Tendrils of Agony]]
- 4 [[Duress]]
- 3 [[Orim’s Chant]]
- 1 [[Silence]]
- 4 [[Rite of Flame]]
- 4 [[Dark Ritual]]
- 4 [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]
- 4 [[Lotus Petal]]
- 4 [[Chrome Mox]]
- 4 [[Gemstone Mine]]
- 2 [[City of Brass]]
- 2 [[Underground Sea]]
- 1 [[Volcanic Island]]
- 2 [[Scalding Tarn]]
- 1 [[Polluted Delta]]
- 1 [[Bloodstained Mire]]
Sideboard
- 3 [[Pyroblast]]
- 2 [[Echoing Truth]]
- 1 [[Wipe Away]]
- 1 [[Deathmark]]
- 1 [[Thoughtseize]]
- 1 [[Shattering Spree]]
- 1 [[Grapeshot]]
- 1 [[Empty the Warrens]]
- 1 [[Tendrils of Agony]]
- 1 [[Ill-Gotten Gains]]
- 1 [[Past in Flames]]
- 1 [[Diminishing Returns]]
Jupiter Games NELCQRound One – Dan Rae with BUG Delver[[Stifle|]][[Wasteland|]][[Tendrils of Agony|]]Game One:
Dan opens with two [[Wasteland]] and [[Stifle]] to keep me off of mana. I continually draw into [[Chrome Mox]] and [[Duress]], which doesn’t help. By the time my opponent kills me, I have drawn all four copies of [[Duress]] and [[Chrome Mox]].
Sideboarding: -1 [[Infernal Tutor]], -1 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Chrome Mox]], +3 [[Pyroblast]]
Game Two:
I open with [[Gemstone Mine]] into [[Ponder]]. Another [[Wasteland]]. I draw and just pass the turn. [[Delver of Secrets]] from Dan. On my turn, I cast [[Lotus Petal]], [[Chrome Mox]] (Imprint: [[Infernal Tutor]]), [[Orim’s Chant]] ([[Force of Will]]), [[Dark Ritual]], [[Dark Ritual]], and [[Ad Nauseam]]. Afterwards, I play [[Duress]] which reveals a pair of [[Stifle]] and [[Spell Snare]]. I play all my cards and [[Grapeshot]] for twenty.
Game Three:
Two copies of [[Wasteland]] is how we’re starting the third game. Dan then plays [[Thoughtseize]] into [[Tarmogoyf]]. Meanwhile, I play a [[Chrome Mox]] (Imprint: [[Tendrils of Agony]]) and [[Duress]] a few times. Dan continually attacks me down with a 2/3 [[Tarmogoyf]] to the point where I am pressured to try and win. I have a [[Scalding Tarn]] in play with the black [[Chrome Mox]] and I know my opponent’s hand is: [[Stifle]], [[Stifle]], [[Force of Will]], and [[Spell Snare]]. I draw for the turn and it was [[Gemstone Mine]], I play it, and then cast [[Lotus Petal]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Orim’s Chant]] ([[Force of Will]]), and I [[Pyroblast]]. [Orim’s Chant]] resolves and then I play [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], then activate my [[Scalding Tarn]] so that I can cast [[Infernal Tutor]]. I pick up my deck and notice my [[Tendrils of Agony]] is underneath my [[Chrome Mox]]. I thought I had the game wrapped up! I begin to think to myself, “What are my outs?” I have to Jedi Mind-Trick my opponent. I play the last card in my hand, which is the [[Infernal Tutor]]. I count the Storm out loud and say, “it’s lethal.” My opponent picks up their cards, we shake hands, and the match-slip is collected.
I tell them after a few minutes that they shouldn’t have conceded, because I couldn’t win and then explain why. Before I know it, we’re having a discussion with the judge because my opponent is very angry. The judge says that nothing illegal happened. I felt bad, I didn’t want to win that way, and U I thought I was helping them for situations in the future. Oh well.
2-1 | 1-0Round Two – Ning Li with RUG Control[[Vendilion Clique|]][[Orim’s Chant|]][[Thoughtseize|]]Game One:
Ning just destroys me. I keep a hand with double [[Duress]], a cantrip, and mana. I play out the [[Brainstorm]] and see nothing which forces me to draw through it. Eventually, I draw an [[Ad Nauseam]]. At the end of that turn, a [[Vendilion Clique]] is cast. “In response, [[Ad Nauseam]]?” [[Force of Will]]. From there it’s just attack steps with [[Vendilion Clique]] and “Fate Seals” with [[Jace, the Mind Sculptor]].
Sideboarding: -1 [[Infernal Tutor]], -1 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Chrome Mox]], +3 [[Pyroblast]]
Game Two:
I open with [[Volcanic Island]]. Ning plays [[Tropical Island]]. I [[Brainstorm]] on the end step, hoping to win on my turn. [[Underground Sea]] and [[Ponder]]. Ning draws and casts [[Brainstorm]], I [[Pyroblast]]. On my turn, I draw, play [[Gemstone Mine]] and cast [[Orim’s Chant]] into [[Rite of Flame]], [[Dark Ritual]], and [[Ad Nauseam]].
Game Three:
Ning mulligans and we both play “land-go” until turn four when I decide to sacrifice a few fetch lands in an attempt to play around [[Stifle]]. I then cast a [[Burning Wish]] for [[Thoughtseize]]. Ning plays a [[Tarmogoyf]] and passes. I play [[Thoughtseize]], which is met by [[Counterspell]] — leaving Ning with two cards in hand. [[Pyroblast]] the [[Counterspell]].[[Force of Will]] and a [[Tarmogoyf]] are revealed. [[Dark Ritual]], [[Dark Ritual]], and [[Ad Nauseam]].
4-2 | 2-0Round Three – Nate with GWB “Junk” Midrange[[Silence|]][[Tarmogoyf|]][[Ad Nauseam|]]While we’re shuffling Nate tells me that they’re from Boston and made the drive, it’s certainly not a short one! It’s cool to see people travel that far for Legacy.
Game One:
I open a hand of: [[Dark Ritual]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Underground Sea]], [[Ponder]], [[Chrome Mox]], [[Ad Nauseam]], and [[Silence]]. I win the roll and to play around [[Force of Will]] I decide to [[Ponder]] instead of going all-in on the first turn. If I find a [[Gemstone Mine]], [[City of Brass]], or [[Lotus Petal]], I will have a protected turn two win. I find a [[Gemstone Mine]] off the [[Ponder]] and pass. Nate plays [[Verdant Catacombs]]. I untap, draw, play [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Silence]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Dark Ritual]], and [[Ad Nauseam]].
Sideboarding: -3 [[Orim’s Chant]], -1 [[Silence]], +2 [[Echoing Truth]], +1 [[Wipe Away]], +1 [[Deathmark]]
Game Two:
I mulligan and keep a hand of: [[Ponder]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Underground Sea]], and [[City of Brass]]. [[Ponder]] doesn’t find anything and I play out my pair of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]. I die to a single [[Tarmogoyf]].
Game Three:
I keep another hand with cantrips and mana. Once again, I find myself not drawing any relevant spells. Late in the game Nate plays a [[Choke]] tapping down my [[Underground Sea]] and then plays a [[Wasteland]] on a [[City of Brass]]. I play two fetch lands over the next two turns and I sit on them until I draw an [[Ad Nauseam]] turn nine. I use both fetch lands, then cast [[Rite of Flame]], [[Dark Ritual]], and [[Ad Nauseam]].
6-3 | 3-0Round Four – Eric Fry with Welder MUD[[Past in Flames|]][[Trinisphere|]][[Ponder|]]I see Eli and he asks if I’ve cast the foil Japanese [[Past in Flames]] yet. Unfortunately, I haven’t — I told myself that I would this round.
Game One:
My starting seven cards are: [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Brainstorm]], [[Infernal Tutor]], and [[Ponder]]. I begin by playing [[Gemstone Mine]] and [[Ponder]] into [[Chrome Mox]], [[Dark Ritual]], and an [[Underground Sea]] — draw the [[Dark Ritual]] off of [[Ponder]]. Cast [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Infernal Tutor]], and [[Ad Nauseam]].
Sideboarding: -3 [[Orim’s Chant]], -1 [[Silence]], +2 [[Echoing Truth]], +1 [[Wipe Away]], +1 [[Thoughtseize]]
Game Two:
Eric opens with [[Ancient Tomb]], [[Grim Monolith]], and [[Trinisphere]].
Game Three:
I mulligan and open with: [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Scalding Tarn]], [[City of Brass]], [[Wipe Away]], [[Dark Ritual]], and [[Ad Nauseam]]. I begin by playing [[Scalding Tarn]]. Eric opens with [[Great Furnace]], [[Chalice of the Void]] with zero counters, and then they looked at their hand. After a long pause, Eric casts [[Mox Opal]] into [[Chalice of the Void]]. I play [[City of Brass]] and pass. Eric draws and passes. [[Gemstone Mine]]. At the end of Eric’s turn, I play [[Wipe Away]] on the [[Chalice of the Void]]. On my turn, I [[Dark Ritual]], [[Dark Ritual]], and [[Ad Nauseam]]. But I told myself that I would cast the [[Past in Flames]], because of that, I played out everything, cast [[Tendrils of Agony]] targeting them until they’re down to two life and then myself for the rest. I play [[Burning Wish]], [[Past in Flames]], Flashback [[Ad Nauseam]], draw my deck down to four cards, play a few cantrips, and eventually [[Burning Wish]] into a very large [[Grapeshot]]. Eric was a good sport and was encouraging me.
8-4 | 4-0Round Five – Eli Kassis with UW DelverBlade[[Ad Nauseam|]][[Delver of Secrets|]][[Stoneforge Mystic|]]Game One:
[[Ponder]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Ad Nauseam]], [[Underground Sea]], and [[City of Brass]]. I’m on the play and put [[Underground Sea]] into play, following it up with [[Ponder]]. [[Ponder]] finds [[Dark Ritual]]. I then play [[Lotus Petal]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], and [[Ad Nauseam]]? Resolves.
Sideboarding: -1 [[Infernal Tutor]], -1 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Chrome Mox]], +3 [[Pyroblast]]
Game Two:
I keep a hand of: [[Underground Sea]], [[Duress]], [[Duress]], [[Ponder]], [[Brainstorm]], [[Dark Ritual]], and [[Burning Wish]]. I never see another land while [[Delver of Secrets]] beats me down the entire game.
Game Three:
I opened with one [[Underground Sea]] into [[Duress]]. [[Duress]] reveals: [[Tundra]], [[Flooded Strand]], [[Force of Will]], [[Mana leak]], [[Brainstorm]], [[Delver of Secrets]], and [[Stoneforge Mystic]]. I discard the [[Brainstorm]]. Eli plays [[Delver of Secrets]]. I play [[Dark Ritual]] and [[Duress]] discarding [[Force of Will]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Burning Wish]], and [[Empty the Warrens]]. I did the math wrong because of the [[Delver of Secrets]] and by the time [[Batterskull]] hits the table Eli was able to stabilize. Without the block from [[Delver of Secrets]], I would get there. My mistake. In hindsight, [[Diminishing Returns]] was my only play.
9-6 | 4-1Round Six – Jurgis with RUG Delver[[Orim’s Chant|]][[Stifle|]][[Pyroblast|]]Game One:
We play “land, go” for the first two turns of the match. At the end of the third turn, I cast [[Brainstorm]] — now looking at 10 cards: [[Brainstorm]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Orim’s Chant]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Ad Nauseam]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[City of Brass]], [[Gemstone Mine]], and [[Chrome Mox]]. I put [[Ad Nauseam]] second from the top and draw. I play out [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Orim’s Chant]] ([[Force of Will]]), [[Brainstorm]], (sacrificing [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] for in response) and [[Ad Nauseam]].
Sideboarding: -1 [[Infernal Tutor]], -1 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Chrome Mox]], +3 [[Pyroblast]]
Game Two:
I open with [[Gemstone Mine]] and [[Ponder]]. Jurgis played and used [[Wasteland]]. [[Scalding Tarn]], pass. [[Island]], pass. [[Volcanic Island]], pass. [[Misty Rainforest]], pass. I play [[Brainstorm]] on the end-step because of the [[Pyroblast]] in my hand. Upkeep use [[Scalding Tarn]], which meets a [[Stifle]]. I [[Pyroblast]]. Play a land and [[Duress]]. Then I cast [[Lotus Petal]], [[Orim’s Chant]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Infernal Tutor]], and [[Ad Nauseam]].
11-6 | 5-1Round Seven – Joe with Imperial Painter11-6-1 | 5-1-1Top Eight – Ethan Heilicher with New Horizons[[Stifle|]][[Tendrils of Agony|]][[Wasteland|]]There was something fishy going on, in top 8, it was switched to be “random pairings” so that the two people with game losses for a deck registration error faced each other. I was supposed to face the Goblins player and receive a free win. Instead, I’m facing my friend Ethan on a very difficult match-up. Ethan tries to talk me into the top eight split, but I have a personal rule — no splitting, no matter what.
Game One:
Ethan keeps me off of mana with multiple copies of [[Stifle]] and [[Wasteland]]. I sit there and get beaten down by a [[Delver of Secrets]].
Sideboarding: -1 [[Infernal Tutor]], -1 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Chrome Mox]], +3 [[Pyroblast]]
Game Two:
Ethan mulligans and my opening hand contains two [[Duress]]. It turns into a long game where Ethan uses [[Surgical Extraction]] twice — removing [[Rite of Flame]] and [[Infernal Tutor]] during my combo turn. The down side for Ethan is that I had [[Tendrils of Agony]] in hand and it made winning fairly easy.
Game Three:
I mulligan and keep a hand of: [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Duress]], [[Pyroblast]], with three lands. Ethan plays two copies of [[Nimble Mongoose]] followed by a [[Tarmogoyf]]. Meanwhile, I’m praying to draw an action spell, but it never happens.
12-8-1 | 5-2-1Closing & General Thoughts
Hope you enjoyed the report! Until next time, keep storming!
Game One:
Dan opens with two [[Wasteland]] and [[Stifle]] to keep me off of mana. I continually draw into [[Chrome Mox]] and [[Duress]], which doesn’t help. By the time my opponent kills me, I have drawn all four copies of [[Duress]] and [[Chrome Mox]].
Sideboarding: -1 [[Infernal Tutor]], -1 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Chrome Mox]], +3 [[Pyroblast]]
Game Two:
I open with [[Gemstone Mine]] into [[Ponder]]. Another [[Wasteland]]. I draw and just pass the turn. [[Delver of Secrets]] from Dan. On my turn, I cast [[Lotus Petal]], [[Chrome Mox]] (Imprint: [[Infernal Tutor]]), [[Orim’s Chant]] ([[Force of Will]]), [[Dark Ritual]], [[Dark Ritual]], and [[Ad Nauseam]]. Afterwards, I play [[Duress]] which reveals a pair of [[Stifle]] and [[Spell Snare]]. I play all my cards and [[Grapeshot]] for twenty.
Game Three:
Two copies of [[Wasteland]] is how we’re starting the third game. Dan then plays [[Thoughtseize]] into [[Tarmogoyf]]. Meanwhile, I play a [[Chrome Mox]] (Imprint: [[Tendrils of Agony]]) and [[Duress]] a few times. Dan continually attacks me down with a 2/3 [[Tarmogoyf]] to the point where I am pressured to try and win. I have a [[Scalding Tarn]] in play with the black [[Chrome Mox]] and I know my opponent’s hand is: [[Stifle]], [[Stifle]], [[Force of Will]], and [[Spell Snare]]. I draw for the turn and it was [[Gemstone Mine]], I play it, and then cast [[Lotus Petal]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Orim’s Chant]] ([[Force of Will]]), and I [[Pyroblast]]. [Orim’s Chant]] resolves and then I play [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], then activate my [[Scalding Tarn]] so that I can cast [[Infernal Tutor]]. I pick up my deck and notice my [[Tendrils of Agony]] is underneath my [[Chrome Mox]]. I thought I had the game wrapped up! I begin to think to myself, “What are my outs?” I have to Jedi Mind-Trick my opponent. I play the last card in my hand, which is the [[Infernal Tutor]]. I count the Storm out loud and say, “it’s lethal.” My opponent picks up their cards, we shake hands, and the match-slip is collected.
I tell them after a few minutes that they shouldn’t have conceded, because I couldn’t win and then explain why. Before I know it, we’re having a discussion with the judge because my opponent is very angry. The judge says that nothing illegal happened. I felt bad, I didn’t want to win that way, and U I thought I was helping them for situations in the future. Oh well.
Round Two – Ning Li with RUG Control[[Vendilion Clique|]][[Orim’s Chant|]][[Thoughtseize|]]Game One:
Ning just destroys me. I keep a hand with double [[Duress]], a cantrip, and mana. I play out the [[Brainstorm]] and see nothing which forces me to draw through it. Eventually, I draw an [[Ad Nauseam]]. At the end of that turn, a [[Vendilion Clique]] is cast. “In response, [[Ad Nauseam]]?” [[Force of Will]]. From there it’s just attack steps with [[Vendilion Clique]] and “Fate Seals” with [[Jace, the Mind Sculptor]].
Sideboarding: -1 [[Infernal Tutor]], -1 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Chrome Mox]], +3 [[Pyroblast]]
Game Two:
I open with [[Volcanic Island]]. Ning plays [[Tropical Island]]. I [[Brainstorm]] on the end step, hoping to win on my turn. [[Underground Sea]] and [[Ponder]]. Ning draws and casts [[Brainstorm]], I [[Pyroblast]]. On my turn, I draw, play [[Gemstone Mine]] and cast [[Orim’s Chant]] into [[Rite of Flame]], [[Dark Ritual]], and [[Ad Nauseam]].
Game Three:
Ning mulligans and we both play “land-go” until turn four when I decide to sacrifice a few fetch lands in an attempt to play around [[Stifle]]. I then cast a [[Burning Wish]] for [[Thoughtseize]]. Ning plays a [[Tarmogoyf]] and passes. I play [[Thoughtseize]], which is met by [[Counterspell]] — leaving Ning with two cards in hand. [[Pyroblast]] the [[Counterspell]].[[Force of Will]] and a [[Tarmogoyf]] are revealed. [[Dark Ritual]], [[Dark Ritual]], and [[Ad Nauseam]].
4-2 | 2-0Round Three – Nate with GWB “Junk” Midrange[[Silence|]][[Tarmogoyf|]][[Ad Nauseam|]]While we’re shuffling Nate tells me that they’re from Boston and made the drive, it’s certainly not a short one! It’s cool to see people travel that far for Legacy.
Game One:
I open a hand of: [[Dark Ritual]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Underground Sea]], [[Ponder]], [[Chrome Mox]], [[Ad Nauseam]], and [[Silence]]. I win the roll and to play around [[Force of Will]] I decide to [[Ponder]] instead of going all-in on the first turn. If I find a [[Gemstone Mine]], [[City of Brass]], or [[Lotus Petal]], I will have a protected turn two win. I find a [[Gemstone Mine]] off the [[Ponder]] and pass. Nate plays [[Verdant Catacombs]]. I untap, draw, play [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Silence]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Dark Ritual]], and [[Ad Nauseam]].
Sideboarding: -3 [[Orim’s Chant]], -1 [[Silence]], +2 [[Echoing Truth]], +1 [[Wipe Away]], +1 [[Deathmark]]
Game Two:
I mulligan and keep a hand of: [[Ponder]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Underground Sea]], and [[City of Brass]]. [[Ponder]] doesn’t find anything and I play out my pair of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]. I die to a single [[Tarmogoyf]].
Game Three:
I keep another hand with cantrips and mana. Once again, I find myself not drawing any relevant spells. Late in the game Nate plays a [[Choke]] tapping down my [[Underground Sea]] and then plays a [[Wasteland]] on a [[City of Brass]]. I play two fetch lands over the next two turns and I sit on them until I draw an [[Ad Nauseam]] turn nine. I use both fetch lands, then cast [[Rite of Flame]], [[Dark Ritual]], and [[Ad Nauseam]].
6-3 | 3-0Round Four – Eric Fry with Welder MUD[[Past in Flames|]][[Trinisphere|]][[Ponder|]]I see Eli and he asks if I’ve cast the foil Japanese [[Past in Flames]] yet. Unfortunately, I haven’t — I told myself that I would this round.
Game One:
My starting seven cards are: [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Brainstorm]], [[Infernal Tutor]], and [[Ponder]]. I begin by playing [[Gemstone Mine]] and [[Ponder]] into [[Chrome Mox]], [[Dark Ritual]], and an [[Underground Sea]] — draw the [[Dark Ritual]] off of [[Ponder]]. Cast [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Infernal Tutor]], and [[Ad Nauseam]].
Sideboarding: -3 [[Orim’s Chant]], -1 [[Silence]], +2 [[Echoing Truth]], +1 [[Wipe Away]], +1 [[Thoughtseize]]
Game Two:
Eric opens with [[Ancient Tomb]], [[Grim Monolith]], and [[Trinisphere]].
Game Three:
I mulligan and open with: [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Scalding Tarn]], [[City of Brass]], [[Wipe Away]], [[Dark Ritual]], and [[Ad Nauseam]]. I begin by playing [[Scalding Tarn]]. Eric opens with [[Great Furnace]], [[Chalice of the Void]] with zero counters, and then they looked at their hand. After a long pause, Eric casts [[Mox Opal]] into [[Chalice of the Void]]. I play [[City of Brass]] and pass. Eric draws and passes. [[Gemstone Mine]]. At the end of Eric’s turn, I play [[Wipe Away]] on the [[Chalice of the Void]]. On my turn, I [[Dark Ritual]], [[Dark Ritual]], and [[Ad Nauseam]]. But I told myself that I would cast the [[Past in Flames]], because of that, I played out everything, cast [[Tendrils of Agony]] targeting them until they’re down to two life and then myself for the rest. I play [[Burning Wish]], [[Past in Flames]], Flashback [[Ad Nauseam]], draw my deck down to four cards, play a few cantrips, and eventually [[Burning Wish]] into a very large [[Grapeshot]]. Eric was a good sport and was encouraging me.
8-4 | 4-0Round Five – Eli Kassis with UW DelverBlade[[Ad Nauseam|]][[Delver of Secrets|]][[Stoneforge Mystic|]]Game One:
[[Ponder]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Ad Nauseam]], [[Underground Sea]], and [[City of Brass]]. I’m on the play and put [[Underground Sea]] into play, following it up with [[Ponder]]. [[Ponder]] finds [[Dark Ritual]]. I then play [[Lotus Petal]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], and [[Ad Nauseam]]? Resolves.
Sideboarding: -1 [[Infernal Tutor]], -1 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Chrome Mox]], +3 [[Pyroblast]]
Game Two:
I keep a hand of: [[Underground Sea]], [[Duress]], [[Duress]], [[Ponder]], [[Brainstorm]], [[Dark Ritual]], and [[Burning Wish]]. I never see another land while [[Delver of Secrets]] beats me down the entire game.
Game Three:
I opened with one [[Underground Sea]] into [[Duress]]. [[Duress]] reveals: [[Tundra]], [[Flooded Strand]], [[Force of Will]], [[Mana leak]], [[Brainstorm]], [[Delver of Secrets]], and [[Stoneforge Mystic]]. I discard the [[Brainstorm]]. Eli plays [[Delver of Secrets]]. I play [[Dark Ritual]] and [[Duress]] discarding [[Force of Will]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Burning Wish]], and [[Empty the Warrens]]. I did the math wrong because of the [[Delver of Secrets]] and by the time [[Batterskull]] hits the table Eli was able to stabilize. Without the block from [[Delver of Secrets]], I would get there. My mistake. In hindsight, [[Diminishing Returns]] was my only play.
9-6 | 4-1Round Six – Jurgis with RUG Delver[[Orim’s Chant|]][[Stifle|]][[Pyroblast|]]Game One:
We play “land, go” for the first two turns of the match. At the end of the third turn, I cast [[Brainstorm]] — now looking at 10 cards: [[Brainstorm]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Orim’s Chant]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Ad Nauseam]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[City of Brass]], [[Gemstone Mine]], and [[Chrome Mox]]. I put [[Ad Nauseam]] second from the top and draw. I play out [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Orim’s Chant]] ([[Force of Will]]), [[Brainstorm]], (sacrificing [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] for in response) and [[Ad Nauseam]].
Sideboarding: -1 [[Infernal Tutor]], -1 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Chrome Mox]], +3 [[Pyroblast]]
Game Two:
I open with [[Gemstone Mine]] and [[Ponder]]. Jurgis played and used [[Wasteland]]. [[Scalding Tarn]], pass. [[Island]], pass. [[Volcanic Island]], pass. [[Misty Rainforest]], pass. I play [[Brainstorm]] on the end-step because of the [[Pyroblast]] in my hand. Upkeep use [[Scalding Tarn]], which meets a [[Stifle]]. I [[Pyroblast]]. Play a land and [[Duress]]. Then I cast [[Lotus Petal]], [[Orim’s Chant]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Infernal Tutor]], and [[Ad Nauseam]].
11-6 | 5-1Round Seven – Joe with Imperial Painter11-6-1 | 5-1-1Top Eight – Ethan Heilicher with New Horizons[[Stifle|]][[Tendrils of Agony|]][[Wasteland|]]There was something fishy going on, in top 8, it was switched to be “random pairings” so that the two people with game losses for a deck registration error faced each other. I was supposed to face the Goblins player and receive a free win. Instead, I’m facing my friend Ethan on a very difficult match-up. Ethan tries to talk me into the top eight split, but I have a personal rule — no splitting, no matter what.
Game One:
Ethan keeps me off of mana with multiple copies of [[Stifle]] and [[Wasteland]]. I sit there and get beaten down by a [[Delver of Secrets]].
Sideboarding: -1 [[Infernal Tutor]], -1 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Chrome Mox]], +3 [[Pyroblast]]
Game Two:
Ethan mulligans and my opening hand contains two [[Duress]]. It turns into a long game where Ethan uses [[Surgical Extraction]] twice — removing [[Rite of Flame]] and [[Infernal Tutor]] during my combo turn. The down side for Ethan is that I had [[Tendrils of Agony]] in hand and it made winning fairly easy.
Game Three:
I mulligan and keep a hand of: [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Duress]], [[Pyroblast]], with three lands. Ethan plays two copies of [[Nimble Mongoose]] followed by a [[Tarmogoyf]]. Meanwhile, I’m praying to draw an action spell, but it never happens.
12-8-1 | 5-2-1Closing & General Thoughts
Hope you enjoyed the report! Until next time, keep storming!
While we’re shuffling Nate tells me that they’re from Boston and made the drive, it’s certainly not a short one! It’s cool to see people travel that far for Legacy.
Game One:
I open a hand of: [[Dark Ritual]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Underground Sea]], [[Ponder]], [[Chrome Mox]], [[Ad Nauseam]], and [[Silence]]. I win the roll and to play around [[Force of Will]] I decide to [[Ponder]] instead of going all-in on the first turn. If I find a [[Gemstone Mine]], [[City of Brass]], or [[Lotus Petal]], I will have a protected turn two win. I find a [[Gemstone Mine]] off the [[Ponder]] and pass. Nate plays [[Verdant Catacombs]]. I untap, draw, play [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Silence]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Dark Ritual]], and [[Ad Nauseam]].
Sideboarding: -3 [[Orim’s Chant]], -1 [[Silence]], +2 [[Echoing Truth]], +1 [[Wipe Away]], +1 [[Deathmark]]
Game Two:
I mulligan and keep a hand of: [[Ponder]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Underground Sea]], and [[City of Brass]]. [[Ponder]] doesn’t find anything and I play out my pair of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]. I die to a single [[Tarmogoyf]].
Game Three:
I keep another hand with cantrips and mana. Once again, I find myself not drawing any relevant spells. Late in the game Nate plays a [[Choke]] tapping down my [[Underground Sea]] and then plays a [[Wasteland]] on a [[City of Brass]]. I play two fetch lands over the next two turns and I sit on them until I draw an [[Ad Nauseam]] turn nine. I use both fetch lands, then cast [[Rite of Flame]], [[Dark Ritual]], and [[Ad Nauseam]].
Round Four – Eric Fry with Welder MUD[[Past in Flames|]][[Trinisphere|]][[Ponder|]]I see Eli and he asks if I’ve cast the foil Japanese [[Past in Flames]] yet. Unfortunately, I haven’t — I told myself that I would this round.
Game One:
My starting seven cards are: [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Brainstorm]], [[Infernal Tutor]], and [[Ponder]]. I begin by playing [[Gemstone Mine]] and [[Ponder]] into [[Chrome Mox]], [[Dark Ritual]], and an [[Underground Sea]] — draw the [[Dark Ritual]] off of [[Ponder]]. Cast [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Infernal Tutor]], and [[Ad Nauseam]].
Sideboarding: -3 [[Orim’s Chant]], -1 [[Silence]], +2 [[Echoing Truth]], +1 [[Wipe Away]], +1 [[Thoughtseize]]
Game Two:
Eric opens with [[Ancient Tomb]], [[Grim Monolith]], and [[Trinisphere]].
Game Three:
I mulligan and open with: [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Scalding Tarn]], [[City of Brass]], [[Wipe Away]], [[Dark Ritual]], and [[Ad Nauseam]]. I begin by playing [[Scalding Tarn]]. Eric opens with [[Great Furnace]], [[Chalice of the Void]] with zero counters, and then they looked at their hand. After a long pause, Eric casts [[Mox Opal]] into [[Chalice of the Void]]. I play [[City of Brass]] and pass. Eric draws and passes. [[Gemstone Mine]]. At the end of Eric’s turn, I play [[Wipe Away]] on the [[Chalice of the Void]]. On my turn, I [[Dark Ritual]], [[Dark Ritual]], and [[Ad Nauseam]]. But I told myself that I would cast the [[Past in Flames]], because of that, I played out everything, cast [[Tendrils of Agony]] targeting them until they’re down to two life and then myself for the rest. I play [[Burning Wish]], [[Past in Flames]], Flashback [[Ad Nauseam]], draw my deck down to four cards, play a few cantrips, and eventually [[Burning Wish]] into a very large [[Grapeshot]]. Eric was a good sport and was encouraging me.
8-4 | 4-0Round Five – Eli Kassis with UW DelverBlade[[Ad Nauseam|]][[Delver of Secrets|]][[Stoneforge Mystic|]]Game One:
[[Ponder]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Ad Nauseam]], [[Underground Sea]], and [[City of Brass]]. I’m on the play and put [[Underground Sea]] into play, following it up with [[Ponder]]. [[Ponder]] finds [[Dark Ritual]]. I then play [[Lotus Petal]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], and [[Ad Nauseam]]? Resolves.
Sideboarding: -1 [[Infernal Tutor]], -1 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Chrome Mox]], +3 [[Pyroblast]]
Game Two:
I keep a hand of: [[Underground Sea]], [[Duress]], [[Duress]], [[Ponder]], [[Brainstorm]], [[Dark Ritual]], and [[Burning Wish]]. I never see another land while [[Delver of Secrets]] beats me down the entire game.
Game Three:
I opened with one [[Underground Sea]] into [[Duress]]. [[Duress]] reveals: [[Tundra]], [[Flooded Strand]], [[Force of Will]], [[Mana leak]], [[Brainstorm]], [[Delver of Secrets]], and [[Stoneforge Mystic]]. I discard the [[Brainstorm]]. Eli plays [[Delver of Secrets]]. I play [[Dark Ritual]] and [[Duress]] discarding [[Force of Will]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Burning Wish]], and [[Empty the Warrens]]. I did the math wrong because of the [[Delver of Secrets]] and by the time [[Batterskull]] hits the table Eli was able to stabilize. Without the block from [[Delver of Secrets]], I would get there. My mistake. In hindsight, [[Diminishing Returns]] was my only play.
9-6 | 4-1Round Six – Jurgis with RUG Delver[[Orim’s Chant|]][[Stifle|]][[Pyroblast|]]Game One:
We play “land, go” for the first two turns of the match. At the end of the third turn, I cast [[Brainstorm]] — now looking at 10 cards: [[Brainstorm]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Orim’s Chant]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Ad Nauseam]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[City of Brass]], [[Gemstone Mine]], and [[Chrome Mox]]. I put [[Ad Nauseam]] second from the top and draw. I play out [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Orim’s Chant]] ([[Force of Will]]), [[Brainstorm]], (sacrificing [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] for in response) and [[Ad Nauseam]].
Sideboarding: -1 [[Infernal Tutor]], -1 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Chrome Mox]], +3 [[Pyroblast]]
Game Two:
I open with [[Gemstone Mine]] and [[Ponder]]. Jurgis played and used [[Wasteland]]. [[Scalding Tarn]], pass. [[Island]], pass. [[Volcanic Island]], pass. [[Misty Rainforest]], pass. I play [[Brainstorm]] on the end-step because of the [[Pyroblast]] in my hand. Upkeep use [[Scalding Tarn]], which meets a [[Stifle]]. I [[Pyroblast]]. Play a land and [[Duress]]. Then I cast [[Lotus Petal]], [[Orim’s Chant]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Infernal Tutor]], and [[Ad Nauseam]].
11-6 | 5-1Round Seven – Joe with Imperial Painter11-6-1 | 5-1-1Top Eight – Ethan Heilicher with New Horizons[[Stifle|]][[Tendrils of Agony|]][[Wasteland|]]There was something fishy going on, in top 8, it was switched to be “random pairings” so that the two people with game losses for a deck registration error faced each other. I was supposed to face the Goblins player and receive a free win. Instead, I’m facing my friend Ethan on a very difficult match-up. Ethan tries to talk me into the top eight split, but I have a personal rule — no splitting, no matter what.
Game One:
Ethan keeps me off of mana with multiple copies of [[Stifle]] and [[Wasteland]]. I sit there and get beaten down by a [[Delver of Secrets]].
Sideboarding: -1 [[Infernal Tutor]], -1 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Chrome Mox]], +3 [[Pyroblast]]
Game Two:
Ethan mulligans and my opening hand contains two [[Duress]]. It turns into a long game where Ethan uses [[Surgical Extraction]] twice — removing [[Rite of Flame]] and [[Infernal Tutor]] during my combo turn. The down side for Ethan is that I had [[Tendrils of Agony]] in hand and it made winning fairly easy.
Game Three:
I mulligan and keep a hand of: [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Duress]], [[Pyroblast]], with three lands. Ethan plays two copies of [[Nimble Mongoose]] followed by a [[Tarmogoyf]]. Meanwhile, I’m praying to draw an action spell, but it never happens.
12-8-1 | 5-2-1Closing & General Thoughts
Hope you enjoyed the report! Until next time, keep storming!
Game One:
[[Ponder]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Ad Nauseam]], [[Underground Sea]], and [[City of Brass]]. I’m on the play and put [[Underground Sea]] into play, following it up with [[Ponder]]. [[Ponder]] finds [[Dark Ritual]]. I then play [[Lotus Petal]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], and [[Ad Nauseam]]? Resolves.
Sideboarding: -1 [[Infernal Tutor]], -1 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Chrome Mox]], +3 [[Pyroblast]]
Game Two:
I keep a hand of: [[Underground Sea]], [[Duress]], [[Duress]], [[Ponder]], [[Brainstorm]], [[Dark Ritual]], and [[Burning Wish]]. I never see another land while [[Delver of Secrets]] beats me down the entire game.
Game Three:
I opened with one [[Underground Sea]] into [[Duress]]. [[Duress]] reveals: [[Tundra]], [[Flooded Strand]], [[Force of Will]], [[Mana leak]], [[Brainstorm]], [[Delver of Secrets]], and [[Stoneforge Mystic]]. I discard the [[Brainstorm]]. Eli plays [[Delver of Secrets]]. I play [[Dark Ritual]] and [[Duress]] discarding [[Force of Will]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Burning Wish]], and [[Empty the Warrens]]. I did the math wrong because of the [[Delver of Secrets]] and by the time [[Batterskull]] hits the table Eli was able to stabilize. Without the block from [[Delver of Secrets]], I would get there. My mistake. In hindsight, [[Diminishing Returns]] was my only play.
