[Report] Team SPOD @ April Mannheim Event

[diffy]

More non-SPOD centric information (top8 lists etc.) can be found here (http://mtgthesource.com/forums/showpost.php?p=336207&postcount=775).

Preamble

At times I could almost tire of telling how awesome a SPODer's life can be: Saturday barbecue at a friend's bar with infinite meat, cheap beer (€0,70/0,4litre pint) and softdrinks (€0,40/0,4litre), board games, highlander and awesome people followed by 2h of Legacy theorizing at Stefan's place = awe... wait for it... some build-up to Legacy.
The next morning (4h of sleep have to be enough!), Martin Schreiber picked us up and we were off to Mannheim, obviously backed up by awesome music provided by yours truly.

Amongst others on the playlist:
Across the Border
Alestorm
Amon Amarth
Blind Guardian
Bob Marley
Children of Bodom
Cruachan
Die Apokalyptischen Reiter
Dropkick Murphys
Eluveitie
Ensiferum
Equilibrium
Eths
Fahnenflucht
Finntroll
Heidevolk
In Extremo
La Polla Records
Segismundo Toxikomano
Slayer
System of a Down
The Pogues
The Tossers

This is what Team SPOD ended up playing:
Harrald Locutus Herrlich – 5c Aggro Control feat. Nephilims!
Stefan Spirit of the Wretch Czolk – Previous Level Threshold
Daniel Adan Scherer – Previous Level Threshold
Clemens Der_imaginäre_Freund Wolff - Previous Level Threshold

Here's what I sleeved up:



/// Maindeck (60 cards)

// Lands (19)
4 Flooded Strand (http://magiccards.info/on/en/316.html)
4 Polluted Delta (http://magiccards.info/on/en/321.html)
3 Tropical Island (http://magiccards.info/be/en/299.html)
3 Underground Sea (http://magiccards.info/be/en/301.html)
2 Tundra (http://magiccards.info/be/en/300.html)
1 Plains (http://magiccards.info/apac/en/4.html)
2 Island (http://magiccards.info/apac/en/12.html)

// Guys (12)
4 Tarmogoyf (http://magiccards.info/fut/en/153.html)
4 Dark Confidant (http://magiccards.info/rav/en/81.html)
2 Trygon Predator (http://magiccards.info/di/en/133.html)
2 Trinket Mage (http://magiccards.info/5dn/en/39.html)

// Card Advantage (9)
4 Brainstorm (http://magiccards.info/mm/en/61.html)
1 Ponder (http://magiccards.info/lw/en/79.html)
4 Sensei's Divining Top (http://magiccards.info/chk/en/268.html)

// Permission (11)
4 Counterbalance (http://magiccards.info/cs/en/31.html)
4 Force of Will (http://magiccards.info/ai/en/42.html)
3 Daze (http://magiccards.info/ne/en/30.html)

// Removal (7)
4 Swords to Plowshares (http://magiccards.info/ia/en/278.html)
2 Vedalken Shackles (http://magiccards.info/5dn/en/164.html)
1 Engineered Explosives (http://magiccards.info/5dn/en/118.html)

// Stuff (2)
2 Umezawa's Jitte (http://magiccards.info/bok/en/163.html)

/// Sideboard (15 cards)
1 Relic of Progenitus (http://magiccards.info/ala/en/218.html)
1 Engineered Explosives (http://magiccards.info/5dn/en/118.html)
1 Krosan Grip (http://magiccards.info/ts/en/202.html)
2 Pithing Needle (http://magiccards.info/sok/en/158.html)
2 Gaddock Teeg (http://magiccards.info/lw/en/248.html)
2 Hydroblast (http://magiccards.info/ia/en/72.html)
1 Blue Elemental Blast (http://magiccards.info/be/en/50.html)
1 Path to Exile (http://magiccards.info/cfx/en/15.html)
4 Engineered Plague (http://magiccards.info/ul/en/51.html)


Adan and Stefan played the exact same maindeck 60.
Stefan opted for sideboard -1 Pithing Needle +1 Path to Exile.
Adan went with sideboard -1 Hydroblast +1 Blue Elemental Blast.

It's basically your GP-hyped list without the bad cards in the maindeck and with a better sideboard - I just wanted to see for myself if it's any good.

The removal of Sower of Temptation was motivated by the fact that he just adds inconsistencies to a deck whose wins are based entirely upon consistency: he's not consistently a removal-spell when you need a removal (because your opponent can just kill the Sower and get his threat back) and he's not consistently a beater when you need one (because the opponent doesn't always have a guy out you can steal).
He's also pretty much straight up worse than Vedalken Shackles. In the mirror, you'd only want to play Sower of Temptation with 5 lands out (because of Daze), and, by that time, Vedalken Shackles will always be able to steal the opposing Tarmogoyf too. In the few matchups where Vedalken Shackles will not be able to steal your opponent's guys which would mainly be against Aggro Loam, Sower of Temptation isn't much good either because you won't be hitting 4 mana if your opponent knows what he's doing. Against other, more aggressive decks, the recurring and 'harder to kill' aspect of Vedalken Shackles outweigh Sower of Temptation's advantages (whatever they may be in these matchups) by far. Umezawa's Jitte, on the other hand, is much better in these matchups which coincidentally tend to be badish matchups you want to improve on. They are also close to never dead (they help in Goyf wars, increase your clock against control etc.) which made the Sower → Jitte switch an easy one.
The sideboard is heavily influenced by my white-splashed build's which has proven itself to be solid over and over again.


Short Report:

Round 1 vs. Tobias Hesser with Wr Control

I'm on the draw.

He drops some Plateaus and an Ancient Tomb while I dig for stuff via Sensei's Divining Top and numerous fetchlands. On his third turn, he proceeds to drop a Humility for which I have the Daze. He then drops another Humility and an Elspeth, Knight Errant. At the point I think that I'm pretty much fucked, but I keep on playing because his clock isn't best and because I still have a Top and 3 fetchlands plus a Ponder to dig for my one out, the single Engineered Explosives. Long story short: he makes some tokens, I send one farming, drop down to 8 and find the Explosives the turn before my opponent planned to activate Elspeth's ultimate. I drop a Trygon Predator to prevent his tokens from killing me. He drops a Runed Halo naming Trygon Predator. I drop a Counterbalance to prevent pretty much anything else he has. The board is pretty much in my favor at this point: he doesn't get to resolve anything through my triple SdT + Counterbalance. I eventually find some beaters and a Jitte to solve the remaining tokens. He finds an Ajani Vengeant which brings me down to 5, I kill it the turn after and him shortly later.

-1 Vedalken Shackles
-1 Umezawa's Jitte
-3 Daze
-3 Swords to Plowshares
+2 Engineered Plague
+2 Pithing Needle
+2 Gaddock Teeg
+1 Krosan Grip
+1 Engineered Explosives

I drop a second turn Gaddock Teeg, he plays a Scepter and imprints Orim's Chant but can't activate it. I drop a Pithing Needle and Counterbalance + Top in the next two turns. That's game, Gaddock goes all the way while he can't play/resolve anything.

2:0
1-0-0 (2:0)

Round 2 vs. Stefan Benisch with Ubr ANT

I'm on the play.

I know what he's playing and therefore cringe at the sight of my first seven: Plains, Brainstorm x2, Counterbalance, Force of Will, Daze, Tarmogoyf. I just can't mulligan this against Combo.
Long story short, I don't find another land, he eventually finds a Duress and just combos me out.

-2 Vedalken Shackles
-2 Umezawa's Jitte
-2 Trygon Predator
-1 Plains
-1 Trinket Mage
+1 Engineered Explosives
+1 Blue Elemental Blast
+2 Hydroblast
+2 Gaddock Teeg
+2 Engineered Plague

Although I didn't see any red mana sources in the first game, I had this feeling that he had some Empty the Warrens in his board – call it Good Player's Intuition: I play red for EtW and Red Blasts in my ANT list, and Stefan is a good player so I thought that he might have caught up with this tech too. I kept in Swords to Plowshares for potential Dark Confidants.

My second turn Gaddock Teeg goes aggro, backed up by a Sensei's Divining Top in which I find a Blue Blast to cover up the one in my hand. He finds an Echoing Truth, bounces Gaddock, plays some stuff into Infernal Tutor. He only has 4 mana left and so I ask him if he's going for a mini- Empty the Warrens and let the tutor resolve. He does, in fact, get EtW – I Blue Blast two copies and his face turns all like 'damn that guy is good'. I re-drop my Gaddock Teeg as blocker, and cast double Swords to Plowshares on two tokens. His tokens still get me down to 6, but I eventually find a Trinket Mage as additional blocker and a Counterbalance to seal the deal.

He mulligans once.
Third game is quickly summarized: early Counterbalance > Combo.

2:1
2-0-0 (4:1)

Round 3 vs. Martin Seichter with Imperial Painter

I'm on the play.

I put on my Nassif glasses and intend to win this horrible (?) matchup.
I keep an extremely solid hand featuring a Force of Will, three fetchlands, a Swords to Plowshares, a Top and a Brainstorm.
He drops first turn Magus of the Moon which I send farming. That's one huge step closer to victory. I drop a Dark Confidant which finds me a Tarmogoyf. He drops a Painter's Servant and tries to destroy my Tarmgoyf. I rather destroy his Painter in response. Soon thereafter I find another Tarmogoyf – he can't handle my team and doesn't find any further combo pieces: I never had to use that Force of Will I had in my opening grip.

-2 Vedalken Shackles
-2 Umezawa's Jitte
-2 Counterbalance
+1 Path to Exile
+1 Krosan Grip
+1 Engineered Explosives
+1 Blue Elemental Blast
+2 Hydroblast

He mulligans once.
I have an early Dark Confidant and prevent all his Painter + Blast shenanigans by destroying his Painters as he casts his blasts. I then drop double Tarmogoyf and Goyf math is verified once again.

2:0

3-0-0 (6:1)

Round 4 vs. Daniel Scherer with 75card Mirror

I tell him that it would be cool of him to scoop to me because he's been leeching decks and play advice from me since for ever (and only been doing well when I provided him with a list) and because I could use the rating to get my second bye for Annecy.
He accepts because he's a cool guy.

2:0
4-0-0 (8:1)

Round 5 vs. Steffen Ball with RGW Aggro Loam

I'm on the play.

The switch to 4c has made this matchup so much worse. I'm not looking forward to this.
However, my first hand is amazing: double Tarmogoyf, three lands and a Ponder are pretty good against Aggro Loam, I hear. I lead up with Land, Ponder, he Wastes my land. I play another land, he wastes it. I continue to drop lands and drop triple Tarmogoyf aka.Elvish Warrior. He finds an Engineered Explosives and I don't have a Force of Will. Frowntown. I drop a Counterbalance and he has the Krosan Grip. He starts applying some beats via Knight of the Reliquary and Tarmogoyf. I have a Swords to Plowshares for both. I drop a SdT, a Dark Confidant and an Umezawa's Jitte which just about keep me alive. I find a Tarmogoyf and all looks good until he finds more broken 3mana guys + Skarrg (wtf.). I eventually stabilize again by killing his Countryside Crusher through a combination of my Tarmogoyf + Jitte. He starts waste-locking me, but I'm still ahead as my Dark Confidant + Jitte are starting to be a really solid board presence. He then finds a Volrath's Stronghold and yet another 3 mana guy. Great.
All the surrounding people agree that this game was like loosing with double Aces + Ace on the turn against some random river bullshit.

-2 Vedalken Shackles
-2 Umezawa's Jitte
-3 Daze
+1 Path to Exile
+1 Hydroblast
+1 Blue Elemental Blast
+1 Engineered Explosives
+1 Relic of Progenitus
+2 Pithing Needle

He looks at his opener and is like 'You'll hate me even more now'. I lead with a Pithing Needle on Wasteland, he has triple Mox Diamond, Life from the Loam, Volrath's Stronghold + Eternal Witness + Engineered Explosives + Tarmogoyf. Yay. I can handle it though. The thing breaking my neck is, wait for it. Burning Wish into. Wait for it. Bane... wait for it... Fire. Yeah, that's right. Banefire.

0:2
4-1-0 (8:3)


Other Tournament Stuff

I still come in first due to awesome breakers (all my opponents but the first round's went top4) and get €50 store credit which I split with Adan.
I also meet Simon Van Phanel Ritzka who made the trip all the way from Munich to play in the Nats-Qualifier held in the same location.


Performance of the rest of Team SPOD :

4-1-0 Adan
2-2-0 Stefan drop for Highlander like in the good ole' times
1-3-0 Harrald drop for Highlander like in the good ole' times

Two of my theories are backed up by this performance: Adan can only do well when playing my brews, Harrald's decks only do well the first time (after that, the surprise value is gone and the metagame has obviously adapted to beat his creations).

Top4 Overview:

22 players (low turnout due to the NatsQ in the same location):

€50 Store Credit -> 4-1-0 1st: 4c Theshold
€30 Store Credit -> 4-1-0 2nd: RGW Aggro Loam
€20 Store Credit -> 4-1-0 3rd: ANT/r
€10 Store Credit -> 4-1-0 4th: 4c Theshold


Postlude

Props:
Good music
Barbecue
Life
Slops:
Store Credit
4c Threshold - just worse than plain simple old 3c: it makes you loose more games you'd otherwise win due to manabase inconsistencies than it lets you win games due to Dark Confidant

[Zach Tartell]

You abandoned the highlander approach for a poor manabase and not even Thoughtseize? Tut tut, sir.

Actually, though, why the lack of Thoughtseize and 2 Jitte for 12 (14 counting Shackles) creatures? And no RWM.

Anyway, FORUM FIVE for taking first.

[KillemallCFH]

Heh, I've been listening to a shitload of Alestorm lately. Also, I'm going to see Amon Amarth at the end of April, along with Skeletonwitch (http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=16879) and some other band whose name escapes me (though I'm pretty sure whoever they are they suck).

@Magic: You're probably right that splashing for Bob alone isn't worth the manabase instability. But, as Zach already mentioned, I really think Thoughtseize should find its way into your 60. I'm also really unconvinced that Trinket Mage should be included, but I haven't really tested it, so it may be a lot better than it looks.

Anyways, congrats on the W.

[Jaiminho]

You abandoned the highlander approach for a poor manabase and not even Thoughtseize? Tut tut, sir.

Actually, though, why the lack of Thoughtseize and 2 Jitte for 12 (14 counting Shackles) creatures? And no RWM.

Anyway, FORUM FIVE for taking first.

Dark Confidant > Thoughtseize. The previous list (UGw) didn't use either, so why you need to include both when you can only include the better one? Also, having less black cards reduces dependancy on black mana, which solidifies the application of the concept of the splash of the black color.

Jitte doesn't fit there. Seems like a pet inclusion. I'd +1 Daze/Counterspell, +1 Needle on those spots.

[diffy]

Tut tut, sir.


I basically just wanted to try out the GP winning lists: this is not an evolution of Ugw but rather a merge of the two aforementioned decks (taking Trinket Mage off Probasco's list and adding it to Nassif's while switching around some cards).



Jitte doesn't fit there. Seems like a pet inclusion. I'd +1 Daze/Counterspell, +1 Needle on those spots.

Jitte is strong against this deck's bad matchups (Swarm Aggro, Goyf Slighesque decks etc.) while not being terribly narrow. That's a good thing.
Running few creatures does not really hurt Jitte's goodness as you're always going to have something to equip it to thanks to your dig.



lack of Thoughtseize


Basically I didn't want to increase the dependency on black (and therewith further hurt the manabase). Also, Thoughtseize isn't all that great in my opinion: there are just too many topdeckable bombs and cantrips in the format for discard to be at its best. Furthermore, Thoughtseize is only good in matchups that are rather okay already (mirror, control).



And no RWM.


I figured that with Trinket Mage for Engineered Explosives and double Umezawa's Jitte, I had enough slots for the aggro matchups. Also, the manabase is already bad enough, wanting to support cards requiring two splash colours won't help to make it any better.


I'm also really unconvinced that Trinket Mage should be included, but I haven't really tested it, so it may be a lot better than it looks.


Trinket Mage is good, even if you only run a very limited toolbox. For one, getting Engineered Explosives in the mirror or against anything aggressive is game-turning, and getting Sensei's Divining Top against anything else is also great: Top is just that good. Trinket Mage also frees up slots in the sideboard which is another good side-effect.



Alestorm


Alestorm is pure win. I'm probably going to see them, Heidevolk and Týr on April 13th which will be awesome.

[beastman]

Dammit, I wanna do barbecues before tournaments!

Nice report. I like the cutting of sower, but I would suggest at least 1 more grip in the board.

[URABAHN]

Amongst others on the playlist:

* Dropkick Murphys

THIS

[KillemallCFH]

Trinket Mage is good, even if you only run a very limited toolbox. For one, getting Engineered Explosives in the mirror or against anything aggressive is game-turning, and getting Sensei's Divining Top against anything else is also great: Top is just that good. Trinket Mage also frees up slots in the sideboard which is another good side-effect.Yeah, I get that toolboxes (even extremely small ones) are good, I'm just not thrilled about having to tap 3 lands for it. The one-of Enlightened Tutor from your previous builds just seems a lot less clunky, as well as more versatile. (Although I admit it is worse without B2B to search for.)
Also, Thoughtseize isn't all that great in my opinion: there are just too many topdeckable bombs and cantrips in the format for discard to be at its best.There's also a shitload of hands you'll run into that get reduced to crap by a turn one Thoughtseize. Granted, there are also some that shrug it off, but it is very seldom that you find a hand that, assuming you make the correct pick, is unaffected by Thoughtseize.
Furthermore, Thoughtseize is only good in matchups that are rather okay already (mirror, control).While these are certainly the matchups in which it shines, it is by no means "only good" against the blue mirror. As long as you treat it as just another counter/removal spell (albeit a proactive one), there are no matchups where leading with a Thoughtseize is "bad."

That being said, topdecking late game Thoughtseizes sucks. Ideally, all your library manipulation should be able to curtail this drawback, but it doesn't always pan out as such.

@Music: Along the veins of pirate Metal, I've also been listening to Swashbuckle (http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=45228) lately (in anticipation for them playing at Paganfest). Lyrics aside, they don't sound that "piratey" (aside from the guitar interludes spattered throughout their album), but they are an extremely solid and headbang-inducing Thrash/Death band. I imagine they will be awesome live.

[jeanbathez]

Interesting report !!! Like allways :wink:

I also thought about the 4C Threshold list, and also added 2 Trinkets, EE, but no Jitte and played 20 lands, i realzied the same things about manabase inconsistencies BUT STILL i'am not sure about Dark Confidant, he is so strong....I also think Thoughtseize isn`t needed

I'am still thinking and tinkering on that build....

[Adan]

As mentioned before, I also played 4color NQG (Not Quite Grow, because it's... not quite Grow anymore!).

Round 1 I played against Elke with RB... random... something...

Both games I have Counter-Top and can counter everything. I eventually win with Trinket Mage and Goyf.

2-0, 1-0-0

Round 2 I played Lukas Ansorge with RGBW Aggro Loam.

g1 I just remember that I go down due to double- Bunring Wish for 1) Loam and 2) Worm Harvest. Nasty card. I am on 4 Life, have Trinket and Trygon and Shackles and he has got 5 Tokens. My plan was to buy myself 1 more turn by stealing a Token and block 3, so 1 goes through and I get down on 1.
He plays a Skaarg, the Rage Pits and my plan is obsoleted.

g2 I can remember that I blasted a Crusher and StoP'd a Knight, Path'd another one and applied pressure with Goyf and Trygon while he does nothing special except cycling, dredging, cycling, dredging etc.
On 2 Life he plays a Dark Confidant as a chumpblocker. I simply draw and pas, he reveals Goyf ftl.

g3 He has got Chalice, Loam and everything annoying (no Wastelands, though) but no pressure. I assemble Countertop which he destroys with Krosan Grip. I can still do cardfiltering with Top and I am flooded like hell. But eventually I draw Trygon and can start to destroy the Chalice, giving me more free space to act. I end up with a position as follows:

Trygon, Trinket, 2x Goyf and Explosives in my hand, he is on 6 life. Due to the fact that I have Explosives, he scoops.

2-1, 2-0-0

Round 3 against Vladislaw Benner with Sligh

g1 I don't have Countertop but Trinket Mage and Jitte. He goes down.

g2 I have Countertop and he is flooded. I don't have either Force of Will or pressure. So when he ramped up to 8 mana, he hardcasted 3 times EOT Fireblast, bringing me down to 8. He then tried Price of Progress. I Top, see Land, Land, Top. So I activated my Flooded Strand and he played a 2nd Price in response, dealing exactly 8 Damage to me.

g3 I have everything: Top Balance Blasts Mage Jitte. I win.

2-1, 3-0-0

Round 4: Clemens with 75Mirror

I concede because my rating has been annihilated some time ago anyway and playing the 75 card mirror is absolutely no fun.
But now he owes me either 1-2 packs of sleeves or a new binder because mine is f.u.b.a.r.

Concede, 3-1-0

Round 5 against Martin Schreiber with Threshold/w feat Noble Hierarch.

Game 1 is won by a unanswered Confidant.

Game 2 I assemble Countertop, but he has Grip. I have a huge Goyf and beat him down. He assembles Counter-Top and has a Oblivion Ring, but I Krosan Grip it EOT and he scoops.

2-0, 4-1-0

I end up being 4th with strange tiebreakers I guess...

But I like the deck. It has some nice ideas:

- Ponder provides consistency, but is speeddisadvantage.

- 4 SDT are later better than Ponder and pultiple Tops are actually additional cards stored on the board. Also great synergy with Confidant and Balance OBV. You always want 1.

- Shackles & Sower (or Trinket Mage in this case) are broken against random shit. I guess I'd play Sower the next time because it would have been better against Aggro Loam, but Jitte was the gamewinner against Burn. So it's balanced, but Sower is at least a 2/2 vanilla Flyer in the worst cases while Jitte is dead.

- the 4color manabase is solid. It's vulnerable, but solid and consistent. The basic Plains may have a great effect as you will be able to play EE on 3 when you get annoyed by Blood Moon or Magus, but it makes opening hands worse. In Clemens match, his opening hand would have definitely been a keep if the Plains was a Tundra instead.

[jeanbathez]

- the 4color manabase is solid. It's vulnerable, but solid and consistent. The basic Plains may have a great effect as you will be able to play EE on 3 when you get annoyed by Blood Moon or Magus, but it makes opening hands worse. In Clemens match, his opening hand would have definitely been a keep if the Plains was a Tundra instead.


4c Threshold - just worse than plain simple old 3c: it makes you loose more games you'd otherwise win due to manabase inconsistencies than it lets you win games due to Dark Confidant[/list]

@ Adan and DIF : If i read both reports correct, you both come to different conclusions about the manabase ?

[Valdez]

But I like the deck. It has some nice ideas:
- Ponder provides consistency, but is speeddisadvantage.

- 4 SDT are later better than Ponder and pultiple Tops are actually additional cards stored on the board. Also great synergy with Confidant and Balance OBV. You always want 1.

- Shackles & Sower (or Trinket Mage in this case) are broken against random shit. I guess I'd play Sower the next time because it would have been better against Aggro Loam, but Jitte was the gamewinner against Burn. So it's balanced, but Sower is at least a 2/2 vanilla Flyer in the worst cases while Jitte is dead.

- the 4color manabase is solid. It's vulnerable, but solid and consistent. The basic Plains may have a great effect as you will be able to play EE on 3 when you get annoyed by Blood Moon or Magus, but it makes opening hands worse. In Clemens match, his opening hand would have definitely been a keep if the Plains was a Tundra instead.
#

i tested vindcate in place of the sower, cuz it helps vs balance, humility and random stuff in g1 and it allows you to counter cc3 spells more consistent, wich is quite nice vs loam, deeds, slivers and predators.

20 lands provide some protection from wastelands, cuz you simply draw into more lands, especially with an active confidant.
because of this i tested ethersworn adjudicator as some kind of morphling-like-lategame bomb, and it was quite funny.
adjudicator can turn games in the lategame vs. multiple (big) creatures, he dodges counterbalance and has viligance, but i'am still not sure if he isn't win more.

[godryk]

Amongst others on the playlist:

La Polla Records



Vintage spanish punk music FTW! "La Polla" is a classic... :wink:



Magic stuff


Also awesome, as usual. Have to try the list, as usual.