[Video] Team America: An Origin Story

[voltron00x]

Based on conversation in the SCG Forums today, it's become clear that a number of people aren't aware of where the name "Team America" came from in reference to the Legacy deck. So, being the helpful guy I am, I've made a handy movie to clear things up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD_WO8sUzFw

Enjoy!

[Amon Amarth]

I can't tell anyone why but this is absolutely true.

[socialite]

The history behind the creation of this deck is quite interesting, as it sort of started out as a joke deck of Dave Gearhart's, referred to as "Europe". It was blue and black only, played confidants and stalkers as the only creatures, combined with the same LD package as Team America. Also, it played 4 maindeck extirpates and no removal. To say the least it was pretty bad (although pretty fun to play). The name was a reference to the vast differences between European and American legacy meta games, and was a homage to alot of cards that rarely see play in America.

As time went on, Dave and I started changing the deck around, at one point playing dreadnoughts in the main and also adding snuff outs. Eventually tarmogoyfs were added and the deck started looking strong. So, we started testing it and preparing the sideboard and maindeck for the Source tournament. Dave of course was locked in to playing It's The Fear, but me and Eric G. (Bourgeoise) decided to give Team America a shot. Eric had some rotten luck in the swiss (pun intended), but I went X - 0 and wound up finishing in the top 4.

The idea behind Team America was essentially to merge the successful elements of tempo based threshold and suicide black. A proactive disruption suite, and a total of 12 "free" spells (force of will, daze, snuff out), allows this deck to be a tempo-generating machine. The 8 threats it plays must all be answered quickly, as they end the game in short order, and the cantrip base of 4 ponder/4 brainstorm smooth out the deck's consistency; something where traditional suicide strategies tend to fall short.

While Team America does not run as many threats as a deck like Eva Green, and lacks the explosiveness of dark ritual, it gains powerful cards like force of will and daze, along with a cantrip engine. It is not quite as consistent as threshold lists running top but you unfortunately make that sacrifice to be more proactive.

I (as well as Dave) will probably be able to go more in depth with some of the card choices as questions are asked, but the list really is quite tight and well tested. The only real controversy right now is the argument of hymn to tourach over sinkhole. Both cards brutally attack an opponent's resources in different ways, but when it comes down to it it really is a metagame consideration. With more blue based aggro control, hymn is probably going to be stronger. If more multicolored control decks show up, as well as survival, sinkhole is going to probably be a better choice.

I only vaguely remembered this because the first 10 pages of that thread were full of hyper casual fail suggestions of bad cards and I posted in it making fun of them.

[nitewolf9]

With a $20,000 donation you can be upgraded to tier 3 status, and more of the origin will be revealed to you.

[voltron00x]

I’m pretty sure that thread is just an item planted by hackers, just like Satan planted Fossils in the earth to turn us away from evolution. At least, that’s what I heard from the weirdos that came to my door a while back.

Also, “David Gearhart” playing “Europe”? Obviously this character is a Socialist Robot working for the Obama administration.

And, any similarities between this video and Scientology are because both are completely and absolutely true.