Tournament report
My peasant-magic Yahoo Group post.
To summarize: no tournament (not enough people) but a few good games/matches between people who wouldn't usually get together to play Peasant Magic, many of whom having never previously used MWS, mIRC, or the #peasant-magic channel. That's pretty good, right?
I played three matches on Saturday (2 of 3). I played against Goblins and Red Deck Wins with the deck I had planned on using in the tournament (which I'll come back to), then played against Red Deck Wins again, this time with ElfClamp.
I like ElfClamp a lot. I think it's one of the better aggro decks. I also don't think it's a deck that's likely to win any tournaments in the near future. It just walks into too much hate. Everyone is prepared for weenies (and artifacts, to a lesser extent), and ElfClamp is vulnerable to all of that stuff.
I ran into Sparksmith game one (with other burn) and into Fire Whip in games two and three, and that's pretty rough for ElfClamp but it's exactly the kind of decision players will/should be making. People's hate for White Weenie, Goblins, Red Deck Wins, Stompy, Fish, Aggro Black, and so on all translates pretty well to ElfClamp. I won game two against Red Deck Wins thanks to multiple Blastoderm, but lost games one and three. Obviously one match isn't enough to come to any real conclusions about the matchup, but I think this one happens to be pretty indicative.
The deck I had intended to play in the tournament was also monogreen:
4 x Sakura Tribe Elder
4 x Vine Trellis
2 x Acridian
4 x Simian Grunts
3 x Bull Elephant
4 x Blastoderm
4 x Endangered Armodon
4 x Land Grant
4 x Wear Away
4 x Kodama's Reach
4 x Serrated Arrows
4 x Strip Mine (*** UNCOMMON ***)
4 x Mishra's Factory
11 x Forest
Sideboard:
4 x Rending Vines
4 x Reap and Sow
4 x Springing Tiger
3 x Moment's Peace
That's 19 land, but 35 total mana sources, 17 creatures with more than 3 toughness (not counting Vine Trellis), and 8 slots devoted to disrupting the two most commonly encountered threats: Serrated Arrows for Weenies and Wear Away for artifacts (and it also hits Pestilence, Empyrial Armor, and other random enchantments). Additionally, Strip Mine also punishes players for extremely tight mana curves.
Springing Tiger and Reap and Sow are both for CofferKing. Those games should generally go long, making Springing Tiger a 5/5 for 4 and Reap and Sow a spell that destroys two land for 6 mana (destroy a land and fetch Strip Mine). Reap and Sow should also come in for ProsTides, and Springing Tiger should generally come in for other non-burn control decks. Rending Vines is especially good against decks running Mishra's Factory or artifact lands. Moment's Peace is for random aggro decks.
I do not believe this is the best deck in the format by any means, but it happens to have a good matchup vs. IsoBurn, some builds of CofferKing, and Affinity. Other aggro/weenie decks are tougher than Affinity but several are okay. I won on Saturday vs. Goblins 2-1 and vs. Red Deck Wins 2-0. Strip Mine was key in both matches, ruining the chances of Red Deck Wins (which was only running 17 land to support 1 and 2 mana spells) and preventing Goblins from casting spells after Goblin Recruiter. Serrated Arrows were also fantastic in both matchups. I'm not sure how it affected the games I won, but I think I might have won the game I lost had the Vine Trellises been Wall of Roots.
The deck doesn't quite scoop to ProsTides, since Strip Mine (and then Reap and Sow after boarding) can turn tight mana draws into mana screw, but it's a very bad matchup. You just don't goldfish fast enough unless they're sitting on one or two mana for several turns.
Cheers,
Chris Morling
To summarize: no tournament (not enough people) but a few good games/matches between people who wouldn't usually get together to play Peasant Magic, many of whom having never previously used MWS, mIRC, or the #peasant-magic channel. That's pretty good, right?
I played three matches on Saturday (2 of 3). I played against Goblins and Red Deck Wins with the deck I had planned on using in the tournament (which I'll come back to), then played against Red Deck Wins again, this time with ElfClamp.
I like ElfClamp a lot. I think it's one of the better aggro decks. I also don't think it's a deck that's likely to win any tournaments in the near future. It just walks into too much hate. Everyone is prepared for weenies (and artifacts, to a lesser extent), and ElfClamp is vulnerable to all of that stuff.
I ran into Sparksmith game one (with other burn) and into Fire Whip in games two and three, and that's pretty rough for ElfClamp but it's exactly the kind of decision players will/should be making. People's hate for White Weenie, Goblins, Red Deck Wins, Stompy, Fish, Aggro Black, and so on all translates pretty well to ElfClamp. I won game two against Red Deck Wins thanks to multiple Blastoderm, but lost games one and three. Obviously one match isn't enough to come to any real conclusions about the matchup, but I think this one happens to be pretty indicative.
The deck I had intended to play in the tournament was also monogreen:
4 x Sakura Tribe Elder
4 x Vine Trellis
2 x Acridian
4 x Simian Grunts
3 x Bull Elephant
4 x Blastoderm
4 x Endangered Armodon
4 x Land Grant
4 x Wear Away
4 x Kodama's Reach
4 x Serrated Arrows
4 x Strip Mine (*** UNCOMMON ***)
4 x Mishra's Factory
11 x Forest
Sideboard:
4 x Rending Vines
4 x Reap and Sow
4 x Springing Tiger
3 x Moment's Peace
That's 19 land, but 35 total mana sources, 17 creatures with more than 3 toughness (not counting Vine Trellis), and 8 slots devoted to disrupting the two most commonly encountered threats: Serrated Arrows for Weenies and Wear Away for artifacts (and it also hits Pestilence, Empyrial Armor, and other random enchantments). Additionally, Strip Mine also punishes players for extremely tight mana curves.
Springing Tiger and Reap and Sow are both for CofferKing. Those games should generally go long, making Springing Tiger a 5/5 for 4 and Reap and Sow a spell that destroys two land for 6 mana (destroy a land and fetch Strip Mine). Reap and Sow should also come in for ProsTides, and Springing Tiger should generally come in for other non-burn control decks. Rending Vines is especially good against decks running Mishra's Factory or artifact lands. Moment's Peace is for random aggro decks.
I do not believe this is the best deck in the format by any means, but it happens to have a good matchup vs. IsoBurn, some builds of CofferKing, and Affinity. Other aggro/weenie decks are tougher than Affinity but several are okay. I won on Saturday vs. Goblins 2-1 and vs. Red Deck Wins 2-0. Strip Mine was key in both matches, ruining the chances of Red Deck Wins (which was only running 17 land to support 1 and 2 mana spells) and preventing Goblins from casting spells after Goblin Recruiter. Serrated Arrows were also fantastic in both matchups. I'm not sure how it affected the games I won, but I think I might have won the game I lost had the Vine Trellises been Wall of Roots.
The deck doesn't quite scoop to ProsTides, since Strip Mine (and then Reap and Sow after boarding) can turn tight mana draws into mana screw, but it's a very bad matchup. You just don't goldfish fast enough unless they're sitting on one or two mana for several turns.
Cheers,
Chris Morling
posted by Chris Morling | 2:53 PM
8 Comments:
I like the green build. I have often used builds that use 4 stripmines for 4 of my uncommons. My suicide black PEZ deck still does. They are effective. Another option to fight combo (Tides) is to add 4 Tormod's Crypt in the SB. Not failsafe but pretty handy.
I like Bull elephant and many of your creature choices. Don't you have one Uncommon to spare, how about Phantom Centaur? A house vs black especially MBC and useful vs iso-burn too. And against nearly any aggro.
Sylvan Scrying or maybe Crop Rotation are other options that you could use to fetch up Stripmines.
Big props to Danny Morano who used Sol Rings to get turn 3 Blastos and BIG ANGRY 4 cc green fatties to the board. Long live Danny.
Yeah, Strip Mines work better at slowing your opponent and it gives you more time to set up. Strip Mines feel "cheap" though. I think Sol Rings would be for a more casual game.
Re: Tormod's Crypt:
Tormod's Crypt is not a good answer to Tides, except in a deck that already has very good game vs. Tides. The best that Tormod's Crypt can do is force a draw. Drawing games 2 and 3 is a bad strategy when you lose game 1 90% of the time. Even then, Tormod's Crypt doesn't help if the Tides player brings in an answer for it (like bounce or Vision Charm) since they can force you to use it then Cane in response. They're likely to have drawn their entire deck before they want to use the Cane, so they only need one answer.
Re: extra uncommon and Phantom Centaur:
Phantom Centaur is a great idea. I've been thinking about good cards vs. MBC and Centaur seems like it fits the bill.
Re: search for Strip Mines:
That's an interesting idea, at least for the board. I'd like more land destruction vs. Tides and (to a lesser extent) MBC and Crop Rotation is sort of like Raze in this deck.
Re: Sol Ring
Strip Mines ARE cheap, Marcus. Thay's why I'm running them.
Sol Ring was really clever a couple of years ago, but now Sol Ring seems like a mistake. To play it, you're betting that you won't face much artifact removal, and if you aren't facing much artifact removal, I'd rather run Affinity. I've also felt "Sol Ring screwed" when running the Ring too much of the time.
I think Sol Ring is good as a 1-of in Trinket Mage-based Affinity, though.
Cheers,
Chris
(I see you took this issue into consideration when constructing your deck!) I know this has been discussed in PEZ before but the big question appears to be again how to beat High-Tide. Framed! has really made Pro-Tides the deck to beat again I feel. I proxied it up and it will beat nearly everything game one. So What beats Tides?? Play a 300 card deck?
GREEN
Rust the Cane from the SB?
You chose having a fast fat-creature aggro clock (with Strpimines).
BLUE
Counterspells. Force of Will. Probably counter the Prosperities as Tides have near unlimited mana to cast it's spells and you may not. Force of Will does not require mana though. Blue Skies has some game against Tides with 4 Force of Wills and 4 straight Counters.
BLACK
Sinkhole and Duress, Hymns; although I have seen Tides fight through discard strategies amazingly well before, especially with Brainstorms hiding key spells back in the library.
WHITE
Uncommon: Gilded Light
Nothing else comes to mind. Just try to race, and pray.
RED
From the SB Red Elemental Blasts and Pyroblasts. Pretty good actually but devoting 4-8 slots for one deck is a lot. But may be worth it. Stone Rains?
ARTIFACTS
If your decks draws a lot of cards, and I mean a lot, It's own Feldon's cane may be an option. I now see that Tormods' Crypt doesn't really offer the Tides defence I thought it would, Tides can just Properity each other out of cards and draw games 2-3. You are right Chris, I don't know how I didn't see that before.
LANDS
As mentioned Stripmine.
RE: How to beat Tides:
Tides is tough. It's definitely one of the best decks in the format. I've been talking up IsoBurn a lot lately, but if I had come to the tournament last Saturday with the goal of winning, I'd have played Tides. It's nowhere near as strong as it was when it ran Brain Freeze, but it's still very strong.
Rust has the same problem as Tormod's Crypt: all it does is force a draw. Even then, it only forces a draw if it resolves. I like to run Disrupt in Tides (mostly for discard and land destruction) and if I'm activating the Cane, I've drawn most of my deck, including most of the Disrupts.
Feldon's Cane has the same problem as Rust and Tormod's Crypt. The best case scenario is a draw.
I'm not sure what Gilded Light does vs. Tides. It certainly doesn't stop Prosperity.
Discard is very effective at slowing ProsTides down, but it doesn't win the game by itself. You really need a good clock to accompany the discard. Jason Chapman and Nick have taken all the discard out of CofferKing for removal, because they've given up on Tides and chosen to shore up the Affinity matchup. I think a more aggressive black weenie deck should do much better against Tides, though.
Red and Blue both offer counterspells to deal with Tides. One of the reasons I like IsoBurn so much is because of the Tides matchup. Tides wins almost 100% of the presideboard games, but if IsoBurn brings in 3 Red Elemental Blasts and games 2 and 3 really turn around.
Game 1 is all about IsoBurn's mana management. On the turn that ProsTides goes off, each mountain becomes worth 5 damage (3 for Lightning Bolt, 2 for half the casting cost of Fireblast.) As long as IsoBurn has 4 land or fewer (and it does if Tides goes off before turn 5), Disrupt reduces this by 3 damage and draws a card -- that mana would otherwise have been used for another Lightning Bolt.
After boarding, the matchup is all about Tides' mana management. It has to go off early, still, because it's facing 2-5 points of burn at the end of every turn, and on the turn it goes off each mountain is worth 5 damage. It can't go off too early, though, because you want to try to play around Red Elemental Blast, ideally before the first untap effect of the turn, but certainly before the first untap effect after a Prosperity. Because Prosperity lets IsoBurn draw so much of its deck, even three Red Elemental Blasts force a massive shift in the way the deck plays.
Counterspells in blue are also very effective against Tides. Psychatog, for instance, has a great matchup.
When Brain Freeze was legal, Tides was much more threatening. Because of Storm, Tides could win simply by casting a series of spells and then Brain Freeze. Nothing needed to resolve at all. Mono-U was a great matchup, since it would invariably give the Tides player time to draw a great hand with plenty of Brain Freeze. Mono Red Burn was also a good matchup, since no Prosperity meant that the burn deck was limited to casting the spells it drew naturally. The only bad matchup was black weenie.
Cheers,
Chris
Damn you are right again! About Gilded Light and again about Feldon's Cane stopping cards like Rust and white's artifact countering Illumination. They only stop the Cane, and don't make a win, usually from there just a draw. Rust and Illumination are a surprise, but this point is moot.
aggro, discard, Sinkhole, Black
aggro or burn Red with SB blasts
control or skies Blue with counters
b/u Animater/P. Tog with Counters, Duress
aggro/Green w/4 Stripmines
aggro/White w/4 Stripmines?
very fast Elfclamp
very fast Channel Ball
Anything else besides running a huge library?? Maybe a fat deck is viable??
I just discovered PEZ and think the format has a great possibility for cheap fun! However, I wish you didn't use MWS, but apprentice instead. Is MWS that worth it? I saw how much you have to download and set up and this and that... it just seemed so complicated.
I just discovered PEZ and think the format has a great possibility for cheap fun! However, I wish you didn't use MWS, but apprentice instead. Is MWS that worth it? I saw how much you have to download and set up and this and that... it just seemed so complicated.
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