Congrats on the finish. It's always cool to see tournament reports.

I notice you said you guys all drove in from NYC.

Is there a place that holds local events still? And do you know where the "scene" is since neutral ground closed and stopped holding Sunday type one events?

@Topical_Island Thanks! :) I'll PM you.

Permanent sources of disruption are so much better, I agree. Arcane Lab and such are back-breakers.

Nice work Jeff! Glad to see you back in action!

@Chiaroscuro No, per Ray's writeup:
"I got coverage streaming, but not recording and still no commentary."

Top 8 decklists:

1st Joe Brennan with Monkee Bizniss (planeswalker control)
1 black lotus
1 mox jet
1 mox ruby
1mox emerald
1 mox pearl
1 mox sapphire
1 time walk
1 ancestral recall
1 pyroblast
1 island
1 jace the mind sculptor
1 brainstorm
1 stripmine
1 treasure cruise
1 ponder
1 balance
1 mystical tutor
1 dig through time
1 library of alexandria
1 vendilion clique
1 karakas
1 chandra, torch of defiance
1 misty rainforest
1 polluted delta
2 scalding tarn
3 volcanic island
2 flooded strand
3 tundra
3 swords to plowshares
3 mental misstep
2 gitaxian probe
4 force of will
2 dack fayden
2 preordain
3 gush
3 jace vryn's prodigy
3 monastery mentor
1 engineered explosives
sb: 2 containment priest, 1 fragmentize, 2 rest in peace, 1 supreme verdict, 1 swords to plowshares, 2 pithing needle, 2 engineered explosives, 2 wear/tera, 2 pyroblast

2nd Stephen Nowakowski Gush Mentor
4 flooded strand
3 polluted delta
3 tundra
2 volcanic island
2 island
1 library of alexandria
1 strip mine
1 black lotus
1 mox sapphire
1 mox pearl
1 mox ruby
4 force of will
4 mental misstep
2 pyroblast
4 gitaxian probe
1 brainstorm
1 ponder
3 preordain
1 treasure cruise
1 dig through time
1 ancestral recall
1 time walk
1 snapcaster mage
1 jace the mindsculptor
2 jace vryn's prodigy
2 dack fayden
3 monastery mentor
1 stony silence
1 sudden shock
3 swords to plowshares
3 gush
sb: 1 pyroblast, 2 disenchant, 2 fragmentize, 1 balance, 1 plains, 1 wasteland, 1 stony silence, 1 rest in peace, 3 grafdiggers cage, 2 tormod's crypt

3rd Keith Seals Car shops
1 strip mine
1 tolarian academy
4 mishra's factory
4 wasteland
4 ancient tomb
4 mishra's workshop
1 mox jet
1 mox pearl
1 mox ruby
1 mox sapphire
1 mox emerald
1 black lotus
1 sol ring
1 mana crypt
4 tangle wire
4 sphere of resistance
4 thorn of amethyst
1 trinisphere
1 chalice of the void
4 fleetwheel cruiser
1 lodestone golem
1 karn, silver golem
2 hangarback walker
4 walking ballista
4 phyrexian revoker
4 arcbound ravager
sb: 3 crucible of worlds, 2 tormod's crypt, 2 wurmcoil engine, 1 pithing needle, 2 relic of progenitus, 4 grafdiggers cage, 1 dismember

4th Dan Barkon Car shops
1 strip mine
1 tolarian academy
4 mishra's factory
4 wasteland
4 ancient tomb
4 mishra's workshop
1 ghost quarter
1 mox jet
1 mox pearl
1 mox ruby
1 mox sapphire
1 mox emerald
1 black lotus
1 sol ring
1 mana crypt
4 tangle wire
4 sphere of resistance
4 thorn of amethyst
1 trinisphere
1 chalice of the void
4 fleetwheel cruiser
1 lodestone golem
2 hangarback walker
4 walking ballista
4 phyrexian revoker
4 arcbound ravager
sb: 4 grafdiggers cage, 2 relic of progenitus, 2 crucible of worlds, 2 dismember, 2 steel hellkite, 1 wurmcoil engine, 1 jester's cap, 1 ratchet bomb

5-8th

Greg Hoover on Paradoxical Gush
1 mox emerald
1 mox jet
1 mox opal
1 mox pearl
1 mox ruby
1 mox sapphire
1 black lotus
1 sol ring
1 mana crypt
1 mana vault
1 sensei's divining top
1 time vault
1 voltaic key
3 monastery mentor
1 blighsteel colossus
3 gush
3 paradoxical outcome
1 brainstorm
1 ancestral recall
1 dig through time
4 force of will
2 mental misstep
2 flusterstorm
1 mindbreak trap
1 ancient grudge
1 swords to plowshares
3 tundra
2 volcanic island
3 polluted delta
2 flooded strand
1 library of alexandria
1 jace the mindsculptor
1 dack fayden
1 nahiri the harbinger
1 treasure cruise
2 gitaxian probe
1 tinker
1 time walk
1 fragmentize
sb: 3x pithing needle, 2x swords to plowshares, 1x engineered explosives, 3x fragmentize, 1x tormod's crypt, 2x ancient grudge, 1 grafdiggers cage, 1 containment priest

Josh Barkon
1 strip mine
1 tolarian academy
4 mishra's factory
4 wasteland
4 ancient tomb
4 mishra's workshop
1 mox jet
1 mox pearl
1 mox ruby
1 mox sapphire
1 mox emerald
1 black lotus
1 sol ring
1 mana crypt
4 tangle wire
4 sphere of resistance
4 thorn of amethyst
1 trinisphere
1 chalice of the void
4 fleetwheel cruiser
1 lodestone golem
1 phyrexian metamorph
2 hangarback walker
4 walking ballista
4 phyrexian revoker
4 arcbound ravager
sb: 1 tormod's crypt, 4 grafdiggers cage, 2 relic of progenitus, 2 dismember, 3 crucible of worlds, 1 ratchet bomb, 1 steel hellkite, 1 wurmcoil engine

William Dayton Ravager shops
4 ancient tomb
2 inventor's fair
2 mishra's factor
4 mishra's workshop
1 strip mine
1 tolarian academy
4 wasteland
4 arcbound ravager
4 foundry inspector
1 lodestone golem
4 phyrexian revoker
1 steel hellkite
4 walking ballista
1 black lotus
1 chalice of the void
1 crucible of worlds
1 mana crypt
1 mox emerald
1 mox jet
1 mox ruby
1 mox sapphire
1 sol ring
4 sphere of resistance
1 spine of ish sah
4 tangle wire
4 thorn of amethyst
1 trinisphere
sb: 2 crucible of worlds, 4 grafdiggers cage, 2 hangarback walker, 1 phyrexian metamorph, 2 ratchet bomb, 3 tormod's crypt, 1 wurmcoil engine

Jeremy Beaver The hydra of trest (bug hydra)
3 tropical island
3 underground sea
1 forest
1 island
3 misty rainforest
2 verdant catacombs
2 polluted delta
1 library of alexandria
1 black lotus
1 mox emerald
1 mox jet
1 mox sapphire
3 deathrite shaman
2 jace vryn's prodigy
3 leovold, emissary of trest
3 managorger hydra
1 ancestral recall
1 brainstorm
1 demonic tutor
1 dig through time
1 flusterstorm
1 mindbreak trap
1 misdirection
1 time walk
1 treasure cruise
1 force of will
3 gush
3 mental misstep
3 preordain
2 abrupt decay
2 fatal push
1 jace the mind sculptor
2 null rod
sb: 1 abrupt decay, 1 murderous cut, 1 snuffout, 1 mindbreak trap, 1 virulent plague, 1 ravenous trap, 1 tormod's crypt, 2 yixlid jailer, 3 grafdiggers cage, 3 nature's claim

Thanks, I think I remember you we played way back in 2010 in Columbus. http://morphling.de/top8decks.php?id=1213&highlight=3#place3 I came in 3rd with dark times deck here. I'll consider your advice. Note that Paradoxical Storm is a very aggressive deck and I did use MBT 3 times on turn one, I just did not mention it.

Thanks for doing all this, @thecravenone!

@Ten-Ten said in The Deck is back! 3-1 at Vintage event @GP Utrecht:

@Joep Nice list and report. Have you considered Jace, Vryn's Prodigy alongside or in place of Snapcaster?

Thanks!

I have thought about it briefly, but never tested him out. The main reason is that right now the deck invalidates a lot of the removal opponents play as the creatures have already done their damage when they enter the battlefield. Jace, Vryn's Prodigy would change that and actively make any removal my opponent has good and worth fighting over, which means I'll be spending resources on a fight I would otherwise not have to.

On the other hand, the upside is pretty good. The looting does seem to be where I wanted to be with Dack, as drawing and discarding 1 or 2 cards is pretty much all I would need in this deck. The upside that it turns into another snapcaster is also awesome.

If I decide to play another planeswalker, this might just hit the sweet spot in terms of upside. I would not replace a snapcaster at this point, because those are too important with the Terminus package, and they also serve the role of surprise blocker. In addition, I run 2 Mental Missteps at this point, making Snapcaster a great addition.

That said, I am still a little hesistant given what I outlined earlier. Then again, it's a solid card that I might just give a spin to get a real feel for it other than theorizing over it.

BOAM! Mini 2 card muddy report!

4 Ancient Tomb 4 Mishra's Workshop 4 Cavern of Souls 2 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth 1 Tolarian Academy 1 Mox Pearl 1 Black Lotus 1 Mana Vault 1 Sol Ring 1 Mana Crypt 1 Mox Jet 1 Mox Sapphire 1 Mox Ruby 1 Mox Emerald 1 Memory Jar 1 Mox Opal 1 Chalice of the Void 4 Serum Powder 4 Leyline of the Void 4 Helm of Obedience 4 Grindstone 1 Trinisphere 4 Thorn of Amethyst 4 Painter's Servant 1 Lodestone Golem 4 Kuldotha Forgemaster 2 Walking Ballista 1 Blightsteel Colossus SB: 2 Pithing Needle SB: 2 Phyrexian Revoker SB: 1 Sundering Titan SB: 2 Razormane Masticore SB: 1 Crucible of Worlds SB: 1 Platinum Angel SB: 1 Witchbane Orb SB: 4 Leyline of Sanctity SB: 1 Walking Ballista

r1 bye
r2 vs mono red: g1 I lose the die roll and my opening 7 is leyline, helm, painter, grindstone, workshop, ancient tomb, mox. unfortunately he has t1 blood moon and rabblemaster off of ancient tomb, ssg, black lotus and I cannot assemble anything fast enough. g2 he has the nuts off a mull to 6 with t1 null rod and a chewer for my razormane masticore. this definitely felt like my worst matchup in the room.

r3 vs shops: g1 I am on the play and mulligan to 6, keeping workshop, serum powder, 2 mox, painter, grindstone. I play out my entire hand in that order preparing for the turn 2 activation. unfortunately he has t1 revoker (his only main deck out) for the grindstone. I am unable to assemble another combo before I lose. g2 I fall to a null rod, needle, and 3 wastelands powered out by a t1 foundry inspector.

r4 vs w eldrazi: g1 I play out my entire opening 6 on turn 1: workshop, mox, lodestone golem, mox, mox, painter's servant. he only has lands that hurt him and no moxen to power out threats that can challenge LSG. g2 he has a t1 null rod and wastelands to prevent me from powering out anything meaningful.

g3 is the interesting one and deserves its own paragraph. I begin by serum powdering away 4 hands in a row - 28 cards. achievement unlocked. I powdered away 8 lands, 3 mox, lotus, sol ring, and a bunch of creatures, but notably only 4 combo pieces. The remaining 32 cards have 12 combo pieces, which seems great, but they're a bit mana light. 2 workshops, 2 tombs, 3 caverns, 3 mox, and mana crypt are the remaining mana sources (11 total). I then end up mulliganing to 4 keeping helm, helm, mana crypt, mox, scrying cavern to the top. Not ideal. Unfortunately for my opponent he kept a threat-light hand and I ended up winning off of a razormane masticore. Vintage magic, everyone.

for those keeping track at home: 0 combo kills, 2 beatdown kills. not exactly what I set out to do, but them's the breaks!

Lol @lhc
Thank you for the list.
How was Hope of Ghirapur for you?

Yeah, unfortunately my sleeping has been messed up lately where I'm having long periods of being awake followed by long periods of sleep. Still, that is an improvement from just long periods of sleep when my depression is in full force so yay to me. XD

I considered it, but chose to try it this way. I think next time I may run them main & see what happens.

The thought behind reservoir is with increasing amounts of decks that are pressing the board this would buy me time and also serve as a win condition over the course of a game whereas something like tendrils typically has a small window for you to play it in to actually win. It also serves as a win condition that can't be Flusterstormed like tendrils. I was able to win 4 of 5 games with it in play throughout the weekend, but typically the wins were via vault/key and if the opponent asked for the win condition i would just show the tezzeret.

Yes, jd nir was my outcome mentor opponent. While i stated that the games came down to whoever had countermagic to hit the big spells his Top was putting in overtime allowing him to find his countermagic in crucial spots. But like i stated in original post, they were back and forth, pretty intense and well played games.

The sideboard is something that I want to toy with more, perhaps getting something like Propaganda in there to slow a creature rush and buy me more time.

That's so awesome! I said in another thread that I thought a well designed Landstill deck could perform well in this tournament, and you are a landstill master!

It would be awesome if someone could post the rest of the Top 8 on TMD!

@stsung Thank you for keeping the series going and for having the time and patience to write everything down. Your shared thoughts are much appreciated.

Keep up the great work!

@nedleeds whoa, I didn't know you were there! The whole GP was great, actually. The food carts weren't that bad too. I had more gyudon over those three days than I've had in the past two years. Prizes could have been better I guess. The GP Hong Kong Vintage side event last year had a sick prize pool. Guaranteed foil Origins PW uncut sheet for the winner, and Legends packs for top 8. And there were only 11 players!

@Islandswamp Thanks! Yeah I mentioned it in the report. I ran 74 out of his 75 cards, and I would have played 75 if I had a second Show and Tell. The Library definitely did some work, though.

I think the Delver guy might have already known I was on Oath, but I tried to bluff anyway in case he didn't. The Mentor guy (the eventual winner btw) definitely knew.

In order to have a follow up for my P9C Afterthoughts I needed to play more matches and if possible also play in several Vintage tournaments before the next P9C. I played in 3 different events (with 3-1 records) but decided to write a report from Vintage Daily event to promote it. There will be a follow up article sooner or later.

http://puremtgo.com/articles/vintage-daily-report-urw-delver-journey-part-2