[GP Providence] Coverage & Results

[cdr]

New thread for the event.

Tons of Sourcers here, many with spicy brews. I've seen ancient cards being played I've never seen played in Legacy before. I've seen Gitaxian Probes vastly outnumbering Counterbalances. I've seen 32 person grinders with 32 different decks.

GGSLive (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ggslive) will have live streaming, starting maybe around noon or 1sh EDT.

@mtgthesource (https://twitter.com/#!/mtgthesource) will have random tweets.

[(nameless one)]

Good luck Sourcers!

[Julian23]

I'm gonna be playing a showmatch against Rishard on MODO after round3.

[TheInfamousBearAssassin]

Where can one find standings?

[god_campbell]

http://wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/eventcoverage/gppro11/welcome

[Kage]

Seems like Caw-Blade found its way to Legacy, too!

[cdr]

The difference in perspective of the official coverage (aka BDM) and mine is interesting. BDM's is heavily heavily skewed towards pros and grinders as expected.

Nightmare rates as worth interviewing only because he writes for/hangs out with C-F.

[cdr]

Some day 2 Sourcers, to best of my knowledge:

http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/eventcoverage/gppro11/standgreen9

5 Ho, David * [USA] 24 77.08%
9 Rynkiewicz, James D * [USA] 24 71.79%
24 Caffrey, Michael * [USA] 21 77.77%
40 Barnello, Adam * [USA] 21 67.68%
42 Anderson, Andrew T * [USA] 21 67.59%
44 Feinstein, David I * [USA] 21 66.89%
68 Hatfield, Alix * [USA] 21 58.86%
70 Cook, Bryant A * [USA] 21 58.53%

http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/eventcoverage/gppro11/standblue9

2 Hatfield, Jesse * [USA] 27 74.69%
3 Patnode, Nicholas * [USA] 27 73.10%
7 Fisher, William W * [USA] 24 72.48%
9 Lax, Ari M * [USA] 24 71.52%
12 Barber, Jon R * [USA] 24 70.37%
24 Price, David * [USA] 22 62.04%


100% sure I missed people, hard to keep track of real name/source name links, especially for people I've only met once or twice.

There's two or three undefeated goblin decks, just silly. And between Alix, Jesse, and Dave Price's records zoo is obviously strong.

[Eldar]

23 Kelley, Shane T * [USA] 22 63.62%

That is me btw.

[Tammit67]

There's two or three undefeated goblin decks, just silly. And between Alix, Jesse, and Dave Price's records zoo is obviously strong.

Excellent, all according to plan. (evil laugh)

[lordofthepit]

There's two or three undefeated goblin decks, just silly. And between Alix, Jesse, and Dave Price's records zoo is obviously strong.

Is there a link to what archetypes these players are piloting, or is that reserved because there's another day of play to go?

[dahcmai]

Is there a link to a live coverage where you can watch some games like the SCg ones have?

[hyc8028]

http://www.ggslive.com/

[r3dd09]

Glad to see Cook playing and making it to day 2.

[TeenieBopper]

As much as I love him, I kinda have to root against Bryant. There's no way that room would be big enough for his ego if he made back to back Legacy GP top 8's.

[Julian23]

Goblins undefeated? Interesting! I predicted the GP to be taken down bei either Merfolk, Team America or Goblins.

[plus_ten]

Hey mates.

Does anyone know when the Day 2 coverage start (local time, which is -5 timezone)? The timezone is really really unfriendly here (+10, bloody hell!).

[cdr]

9ish local time (EDT) is when day 2 starts, so I suspect coverage starts then.

[J.V.]

Andrew Maag is also playing goblins, I'm not sure if he is on the source but his brother is Maagler.

Edit: He finished 7-2

[Deviruchi]

I can't wait to see day 2 metagame.

[JeroenC]

So Cook is playing TES, right?

[RaNDoMxGeSTuReS]

So Cook is playing Countertop, right?

[J.V.]

Nick Patronde Beat Jesse Hatfield 2-0 in round 10

[TeenieBopper]

1. I find it amusing and somewhat appropriate that they typo'd his name to Mike Patnode.
2. Goblins beat Zoo? Holy shit.

[Michael Keller]

After all those beatings Patnode took with the sharks over the years in Syracuse, the kid has a chance to do it all. Unbelievable.

[J.V.]

2. Goblins beat Zoo? Holy shit.

Wasteland is good.

[RaNDoMxGeSTuReS]

2. Goblins beat Zoo? Holy shit.

Jesse was pretty land light both games. Wasteland and port kept him down. If Goblins can get you to the late game, even if you're playing Zoo, you lose. Because all they do is "gas-gas-gas-gas."

[(nameless one)]

Hey, at the GGSLive coverage, who won the Merfolk vs. Aluren match?

[Jonathan Alexander]

Merfolk I think. The Aluren player didn't have a single green mana available but had the combo in hand (with Cabal Therapy in his graveyard I think). The merfolk player had a leveled Coralhelm Commander.

Also, how awesome is Reid Duke? He's still undefeated after thirteen rounds of Magic. That deck is simply amazing, it's so flexible.

[Philipp2293]

The Aluren match was so sad to watch. Also, what is Reid Duke playing, I guess it's RUG Order?

[Mr.C]

Who got DQ'ed???

[Jonathan Alexander]

Yepp, it's RUG Order. I think it's quite interesting that he's running Lavamancer, Jitte and four blasts in his sideboard. He must have expected a lot of Merfolk.

Day 1 Undefeated Decks. (http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/eventcoverage/gppro11/day1undefeated)

[VsTheWorld]

Via my Facebook news feed, 9 minutes ago:

Adam Barnello: Wheels fell off. Dead.

[mossivo1986]

Wish I could have made this one. Missed the sourcers from the east coast :P

[Dia_Bot]

Yepp, it's RUG Order. I think it's quite interesting that he's running Lavamancer, Jitte and four blasts in his sideboard. He must have expected a lot of Merfolk.

Day 1 Undefeated Decks. (http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/eventcoverage/gppro11/day1undefeated)

There were 33 in day 2, apparently he was right :).

[lorddotm]

There were 33 in day 2, apparently he was right :).

Was anyone not expecting Merfolk?

[Jonathan Alexander]

Yeah, pretty impressive. That's like 25% of the Day 2 meta. I wonder how he boarded against them.

[Gheizen64]

Hive mind in the T8, wow.

And 8 different decks in T8 lol.

[(nameless one)]

What's in Top8?

[RaNDoMxGeSTuReS]

NO RUG, Merfolk, UW Landstill, BUG Landstill, Hive Mind Combo, Bant, Zoo and Painted Stone.

[(nameless one)]

Calling it, another deck with Force of Will will take first.

[Artowis]

Just some interesting numbers from the T7 (hive mind list not posted yet).
1) Mental Misstep - 23
2) Force of Will - 20
3) Brainstorm - 20
4) Wasteland - 15
5) JTMS - 9
6) Tarmogoyf - 9
7) Standstill - 8
8) Green Sun's Zenith - 7
9) Stoneforge Mystic - 6
10) Aether Vial / Top - 4

Hive Mind - 4

Metalworker - 0 Tendrils of Agony - 0

edit: just noticed they didn't post the hive mind list up yet. frowns. will update once I see it.

[Gheizen64]

Just some interesting numbers from the T7 (hive mind list not posted yet).
1) Mental Misstep - 23
2) Force of Will - 20
3) Brainstorm - 20
4) Wasteland - 15
5) JTMS - 9
6) Tarmogoyf - 9
7) Standstill - 8
8) Green Sun's Zenith - 7
9) Stoneforge Mystic - 6
10) Aether Vial / Top - 4

Hive Mind - 4

Metalworker - 0 Tendrils of Agony - 0

edit: just noticed they didn't post the hive mind list up yet. frowns. will update once I see it.

With MM on the loose like this, it's time to unban tax, mana vault, black vise, fastbond, demonic consultation, vampiric, mystical, imperial seal, skullclamp and sol ring!

[Occam]

PV vs Rynkiewicz being featured now. PV will probably win there as it's a good matchup for him. NO RUG vs Hive Mind in the other.

Is anyone else watching the coverage incredibly irritated with Drew Levin? The number of times he talks about himself, Gerry Thompson, a combination of Gerry Thompson and himself, or goes off on some self-absorbed tangent is pissing the hell out of me.

[Aggro_zombies]

PV vs Rynkiewicz being featured now. PV will probably win there as it's a good matchup for him. NO RUG vs Hive Mind in the other.

Is anyone else watching the coverage incredibly irritated with Drew Levin? The number of times he talks about himself, Gerry Thompson, a combination of Gerry Thompson and himself, or goes off on some self-absorbed tangent is pissing the hell out of me.
Not watching the coverage, but has he rationalized away a Goblins list being undefeated on Day One yet?

Also, if you've read his articles, that behavior is not unexpected. Dude knows how to give himself a pat on the back.

[Occam]

As expected, yes. Apparently Patnode must have done some artful dodging with regards to MMS.

Yeah, I kind of got that impression about a guy who actually wrote an article about hubris while completely missing the irony of such an article. His constant references to the scg ringers and how they play more legacy than anyone else (and of course the implication of superiority that comes with that) is hubris at best and obnoxious at worst.

On topic, though, PV is probably going down a game soon.

[dschalter]

Not watching the coverage, but has he rationalized away a Goblins list being undefeated on Day One yet?

Also, if you've read his articles, that behavior is not unexpected. Dude knows how to give himself a pat on the back.

Well, the Goblins deck did go 2-4 on day 2.

[Jonathan Alexander]

Not watching the coverage, but has he rationalized away a Goblins list being undefeated on Day One yet?

Also, if you've read his articles, that behavior is not unexpected. Dude knows how to give himself a pat on the back.

Actually, that was Chapin. When they told him that Goblins and Zoo went undefeated Day 1 but now seemed to have lost he was like "so they finally played against Mental Misstep".

Reid Duke is 0-1 against Hive Mind? What's going on there?

[Aggro_zombies]

Actually, that was Chapin. When they told him that Goblins and Zoo went undefeated Day 1 but now seemed to have lost he was like "so they finally played against Mental Misstep".

Reid Duke is 0-1 against Hive Mind? What's going on there?
Given the huge hype for Mental Misstep, I find it hard to believe you'd be able to move around the tournament floor for an entire fucking day without tripping over one, but meh.

Zoo didn't make the second-most-common archetype on day two for nothing (second only to Merfolk, which also only put one person into the t8, is arguably hurt less by MMS, and which can profitably run the card itself).

[Occam]

Drew Levin repeated Chapin's points when discussing what happened to the 9-0 day 1 decks. Patnode/Jesse Hatfield etc who went off the boil in day2.

Anyway, Hive Mind beat RUG, will face Bant in the final. Hive Mind is going to win this -- it'll be hilarious.

[Jonathan Alexander]

I'm pretty sure that he was ironic, but it was definitely funny. Zoo is definitely a strong choice right now, you can tune it to have good matchups against most commonly played decks, especially Merfolk.

Anyway, Hive Mind vs. Bant in the finals? What do you guys think?

[Michael Keller]

Yeah, I kind of got that impression about a guy who actually wrote an article about hubris while completely missing the irony of such an article. His constant references to the scg ringers and how they play more legacy than anyone else (and of course the implication of superiority that comes with that) is hubris at best and obnoxious at worst.

On topic, though, PV is probably going down a game soon.

+99999999999999999999999999999999.

[(nameless one)]

I wouldn't be surpised that after Hive Mind wins it all, the namesake card's value would go up 1000% of it's current value.

[Jak]

I wouldn't be surpised that after Hive Mind wins it all, the namesake card's value would go up 1000% of it's current value.

You better expect it. It's already sold out at SCG at $0.99. Watch that price jump.

[pandaman]

I wouldn't be surpised that after Hive Mind wins it all, the namesake card's value would go up 1000% of it's current value.

It's still $0.99 on SCG - buy them now?

With no Force of Will, Bant may have trouble pre-board. But post board should be interesting. Go Hive Mind!

[Artowis]

Apparently I was a year off in calling Hive Mind a legit deck. This finals is actually unreal.

[lordofthepit]

I wouldn't be surpised that after Hive Mind wins it all, the namesake card's value would go up 1000% of it's current value.

Well, it's still available for 9 cents on some random shops on TCGPlayer.com.

I got my playset last month, but I can't imagine this will go up significantly (i.e. above $5 for a sustained amount of time). There were so many M11 rares opened, that no one can realistically try to corner the market.

[Richard Cheese]

Well, it's still available for 9 cents on some random shops on TCGPlayer.com.

I got my playset last month, but I can't imagine this will go up significantly (i.e. above $5 for a sustained amount of time). There were so many M11 rares opened, that no one can realistically try to corner the market.

I think Hive Mind was only in M10. Grabbed a Chinese set for .99 just in case people go nuts. WOO HOO SPECULATION!

[Amon Amarth]

Actually, that was Chapin. When they told him that Goblins and Zoo went undefeated Day 1 but now seemed to have lost he was like "so they finally played against Mental Misstep".


World doesn't conform to my expectations. Must keep making excuses and marginalizing decks.

[MattH]

And they LAUGHED at me when I bought 8 Hive Minds at $0.24 each back in January!

[Occam]

James Rynkiewicz wins with Bant GSZ in 3.

[Gheizen64]

Calling it, another deck with Force of Will will take first.

Incredible, but you guessed wrong! :D

[NecroYawgmoth]

too bad =(

Hivemind at 1st place would have been soooo hilarious =D=D=D

[Julian23]

Calling it, another deck with Force of Will will take first.

Reality making you eat your words.

[KindGrind]

The commentators: "Oh no, the guy who bought 100 Hive Mind must be so regretting this".

Really? Do they really believe that because it didn't actually win people won't be playing this more than it was played before? The deck is obviously strong making it that far.

[Gheizen64]

The commentators: "Oh no, the guy who bought 100 Hive Mind must be so regretting this".

Really? Do they really believe that because it didn't actually win people won't be playing this more than it was played before? The deck is obviously strong making it that far.

Imho it must have dodged a lot of TA, seems like an horrible matchup for it to me...

[TossUsToLions]

The bant deck that won had no Forces and only one Goyf. Interesting, to say the least

[Deviruchi]

Great job jimirynk !

[menace13]

Imho it must have dodged a lot of TA, seems like an horrible matchup for it to me...
There wasn't a lot of TA. Not at least in day 2. Out of 100 something decks only 8 TA. Majority of field was merf and Zoo.

[Fry]

Great job James! Hopefully you don't repeat that at Jupiter next month ;)

[KindGrind]

There wasn't a lot of TA. Not at least in day 2. Out of 100 something decks only 8 TA. Majority of field was merf and Zoo.

Misdirection is pretty good against TA, mind you. Granted he only played 2, I believe, but still.

[Finn]

That Hive Mind deck intrigues me. They still don't have the list posted for some reason. But I am understanding that he has quite a few pacts in there that are nearly useless until the turn he lands Hive Mind. The doomed hand of dogshit that Bryan was holding in the last game of the finals seems like it has to be a relatively common occurrence given all that chaf. As soon as your opponent starts picking on your sculpting spells with their Missteps you are in an even tighter spot. Also, It is a 3-card combo. Those still exist? I suppose you can plop down Emrakul, but that appears to be secondary. I am very interested to see exactly how he kept it all together all tournament long.

[Xero]

I'm sure almost no one knew how to fight that deck though. It is fairly fast and has Misstep-immune combo pieces.

[DragoFireheart]

I'm sure almost no one knew how to fight that deck though. It is fairly fast and has Misstep-immune combo pieces.


Home-brew decks, while good for the surprise factor, are good for just that. Once people adapt, the deck will then die out. As Finn stated, it's too easy for Luck to screw over the Hive Mind pilot.

[Rune]

It's a pretty broken and resilient combo deck because it gets to play Pact of Negation, has a solid mana base, doesn't care much about Misstep and Spell Snare and the deck can be relatively fast when needed. Being able to play around all hate bears is also a strong asset. I think he got a bit unlucky in g3 by drawing so much crap. However, I think he didn't play his cantrips optimally sometimes. For instance, in one of the games he lost, he kept 2 bricks on top with Ponder and then Brainstormed into them without having a shuffle effect, so some of it was also his own fault.

Anyway, the deck has some more or less exploitable problems:
- opponents being able to randomly pay for pacts
- the deck relies heavily on Intuition to find its pieces. Hello, Extirpate/Cranial Extraction? (although you can sometimes play around it if it's just a pact you need)
- Stifle and Cursecatcher = savagery
- against fast decks, you're a 3-card combo deck a lot of the time since reaching 6 mana quickly isn't always easy.

I'm a little bit sad that the "HERP DERP SHOW AND TELL I WIN??" decks are outperforming Storm as the best combo archetype now :<


But anyway, congrats to jimirynk!

[GradStudentGuy]

Maybe some sort of cunning wish build may be better so you can tutor for the correct pact during the combo. Its not like they can counter cunning wish once Hive mind is out.

[(nameless one)]

Calling it, another deck with Force of Will will take first.

I'm actually happy that this didn't happen. For the first time, a FoW-less deck wins a Legacy GP, though it is still a blue-splash deck.

[Tammit67]

Maybe some sort of cunning wish build may be better so you can tutor for the correct pact during the combo. Its not like they can counter cunning wish once Hive mind is out.

Yeah, but a for every cursecatcher or daze you opponent has, you need an additional pact to go off with hivemind. Good luck being top tier with that monkey on your back.

[wweenieking]

Congrats to James and also fellow sourcer JKubilis on their finishes. Nicely done guys.

[menace13]

Wasn't there some Stark character a while back who claimed that non pros cannot win a GP?
Anyway...

No-FoW Bant just trolled the GP. Deedstill makes its 2nd GP top 8(highly customizable?).

[Mr.C]

Wasn't there some Stark character a while back who claimed that non pros cannot win a GP?
Anyway...

No-FoW Bant just trolled the GP. Deedstill makes its 2nd GP top 8(highly customizable?).

Both of those are good decks. But Hive Mind? Geez!

[GGoober]

Love the no-FOW Bant list in first place. It's like a big FU to people who swear that FoW is absolutely neccessary in the 'best' deck. I would say that MM/Brainstorm these days are making much more impact that FoW has been (7/8 decks packing MM!)

[Tammit67]

I wouldn't go claiming FoW isn't necessary though. He metagamed for the practically 0 combo players day 2, and lost game 1 to hivemind. I'd be interested to what he'd bring in a more combo-y meta

[Arsenal]

Does a combo meta even exist anymore post-Mental Misstep?

[Koby]

Does a combo meta even exist anymore post-Mental Misstep?

Yes, such a meta exists. (http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/showthread.php?20391-Tournament-Sunday-May-22-2011-Knight-Ware-Inc.-Los-Angeles-CA-10-entry&p=552039&viewfull=1#post552039)

[Arsenal]

Yes, such a meta exists. (http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/showthread.php?20391-Tournament-Sunday-May-22-2011-Knight-Ware-Inc.-Los-Angeles-CA-10-entry&p=552039&viewfull=1#post552039)

Seeing how disproportionate the total number of all combo decks:decks running MM was, I'm not surprised at all to see combo do so well in a field largely devoid of MM.

[HAVE HEART]

Both of those are good decks. But Hive Mind? Geez!

You need to play the deck. Looking at it, it seems like the worst pile of trash. Once you play it, you realize that, unless your opponent completely understands your deck and how to attack it, then it is really hard to lose (you have to punt/suck).

[thecrav]

Has a decklist for the HiveMind deck been posted yet? I can't seem to find it anywhere.

[JonBarber]

I wouldn't go claiming FoW isn't necessary though. He metagamed for the practically 0 combo players day 2, and lost game 1 to hivemind. I'd be interested to what he'd bring in a more combo-y meta

I played the exact same 75 getting 11th place. I actually 2-0'd Ari Lax playing UB storm. The maindeck is pretty soft to combo (clique+karakas is really the only answer). But we get a ton of hate post board

[five]

Anyone else think that James's win is great for the Legacy format? It shows everybody that you don't need to do broken things to take down a tournament, nor do you have to be from the Pro Tour. Apparently you don't even need hard counters to stop others from their broken shenanigans. Anyways, props to James Rynkiewicz. Cool deck, dude.

As far as Hivemind goes, I was surprised to see it in the finals. I have beaten that deck before by just Stifling the Pact's trigger during my upkeep. I also had Force of Will, which made it pretty easy to stop Hivemind from hitting the table...
The deck is essentially a 3 card combo (Show and Tell + Hivemind + Pacts), which has to be hard to assemble at times. Yeah I saw how fast he can ramp to 6, but still, come on...I just don't see this one taking over the meta anytime soon. It is cool to see something different getting some attention though. Props to Bryan Eleyet for piloting it into the finals.

What a great day for Legacy!

[swoop]

I am willing to give many many internet goldz to people who give me aluren decklist

[Valarne]

Hive Mind must be somewhat strong, because in two of the three matches I saw Eleyet play (swiss and final), he played his cantrips quite poorly, especially in the final, and he still made it through all those rounds - probably beating plenty of blue decks. The third game, against Turtenwald, was a nice keep, but still kinda sketchy, as he needed to rip a land. Against that deck he had the time though, so it made sense to keep, being so full of gas.

I don't like these Show and Tell decks with a million dead cards, but when this one goes off, its really resilient, with all those Pacts. Plopping down Emrakul is very loose, and this plan a seems way better than Sneak Attack, since it actually wins the game.

[GoboLord]

I don't like these Show and Tell decks with a million dead cards...

Erm, and those Pacts aren't dead cards until the combo-turn? Good point about Sneak Show is, that you aren't at risk of killing yourself (while Stifle on Hive Mind's ability can cost you the game).

[bob2008]

Sorry if this is a bit off topic - I know that you can stifle the HiveMind trigger but how about CotV?

Does Chalice@0 stop the pact-combo?

I mean CotV counters the pact, and since the "pay XXXX or DIE-clause" happens only once the spell

resolves, it would work, doesnt it ?

Even if there are not many people running CotV atm -I just wanna know whether this could work.

thanks in advance...


best regards,

bob

[lordofthepit]

Sorry if this is a bit off topic - I know that you can stifle the HiveMind trigger but how about CotV?

Does Chalice@0 stop the pact-combo?

I mean CotV counters the pact, and since the "pay XXXX or DIE-clause" happens only once the spell

resolves, it would work, doesnt it ?

Even if there are not many people running CotV atm -I just wanna know whether this could work.

thanks in advance...


best regards,

bob

No, it only counters their copy, but the Hive Mind trigger will still put "your" copy on the stack, and you'll have to pay it on your next upkeep (or lose).

[(nameless one)]

I am willing to give many many internet goldz to people who give me aluren decklist

From what I saw on the coverage, it runs Imperial Recruiter.

[swoop]

From what I saw on the coverage, it runs Imperial Recruiter.

I saw it has Firespout, Therapy, Glitaxian Probe, Wall of blossoms as well. Oh and it has Aluren too!

[cdr]

Star City grabbed the decklists, sadly - I was going to get at least the T64 decks typed up otherwise. Maybe I'll still be able to get them, but doubtful.

[ddalgaard]

Has a decklist for the HiveMind deck been posted yet? I can't seem to find it anywhere.

Here it is:
http://www.mtgpulse.com/event.php?e=1265#14108

[DragoFireheart]

I wouldn't go claiming FoW isn't necessary though. He metagamed for the practically 0 combo players day 2, and lost game 1 to hivemind. I'd be interested to what he'd bring in a more combo-y meta


Exactly. His deck thrived in a meta devoid of combo. Had there been more combo players, the deck would have failed horribly. The fact is, he made a meta-game deck as he was anticipating a lack of combo. (By combo I mean storm combo).

[(nameless one)]

I saw it has Firespout, Therapy, Glitaxian Probe, Wall of blossoms as well. Oh and it has Aluren too!

The Aluren that he never drew!


Star City grabbed the decklists, sadly - I was going to get at least the T64 decks typed up otherwise. Maybe I'll still be able to get them, but doubtful.

I'm guessing give it a week (for SCG Premiums)?

[plus_ten]

I dislike this damn Hive Mind deck. It's essentially just another S&T with an extra playset of 'S&T'-combo-piece that is 6 to cast. There are 10 win-cons (were those pacts ever played?) that require the HM to work... So, rather than S&T being the engine, HM becomes a middleman to either S&T or Grim Monolith (or being a 6-drop engine itself) to run pacts!?

Funny thing is.. this deck just made more sheeples, following the Energy Field shenanigans.

PS. I hope this is not too soon... What is happening with the playmats? I am still keen to participate in this 'The Source Fundraiser' for 1 and have it shipped down under.

[Tammit67]

Exactly. His deck thrived in a meta devoid of combo. Had there been more combo players, the deck would have failed horribly. The fact is, he made a meta-game deck as he was anticipating a lack of combo. (By combo I mean storm combo).

Well, as Barber said post board he brings in a lot, and storm pilots are going to assume you have FoW main. I don't think he would have failed horribly.

[dahcmai]

We have a Hive Mind player in our meta that actually does pretty well though his list isn't as good as this one, but it shows the power of that little combo well.

Hive Mind can be really dangerous. It just casts that thing and it's pretty much over right there. There's not too many decks that do anything about a Show and Tell other than Emrakul or something else irrelevant. Not to mention playing a Show and Tell against one of these decks is kind of scary.

I can totally understand how it got so far. It dodged some decks with heavy counters obviously, but it's still a scary fast combo.

[cdr]

I'm guessing give it a week (for SCG Premiums)?

SCG is doing archtypes for all 1180 lists, but isn't typing any lists.

They have their invitational this week, which means 2+ weeks before you get the archtypes.

[Tammit67]

Not mention I'm sure they will butcher half the names.

[Valarne]

Erm, and those Pacts aren't dead cards until the combo-turn? Good point about Sneak Show is, that you aren't at risk of killing yourself (while Stifle on Hive Mind's ability can cost you the game).

Maybe my words were unclear - my disregard for Show and Tell decks include this one. The Pacts are dead cards yeah.

[godryk]

It would seem that someone is claiming Hive Mind is the new deck to beat, as you all are in such a hurry to bash it. This deck has been around for a while, it comes from another format and some people found the combo cool and tried to brew some Legacy lists. Some friends of mine did, a few months ago.

An then we have one guy who had a Mental Misstep-proof combo and certain amount of luck in a meta packed with Misstep hysteria and aggro decks. Well, good for him, it's clear that this won't be the new deck to beat. Maybe we can all learn a lesson from this. You know, perhaps, not every deck that make it to the top8 at a SCG Open or even at a GP is broken, and maybe not every player that tops is the next Bobby Fischer. Maybe.

[Lego]

I'm actually happy that this didn't happen. For the first time, a FoW-less deck wins a Legacy GP, though it is still a blue-splash deck.

I just want to point out that this isn't the first time. Patron of the Akki took down the first one.

[dahcmai]

The Hive Mind is far from a "Deck to Beat". It needs to pull a few more wins than that. Dream Halls was clamored to be put in there just a bit ago and we all see how that went. Once people got used to it, it failed.