balthasar
02-19-2014, 11:10 AM
On GP Paris 2014 I chose to play BUG Delver. Considering the popularity of tempo decks, I figured “if you can’t beat them, join them”. So I picked up this deck, since it's a decent match-up against a fair deal of the meta. I started out with a build that was successful on a SCG Open. It played 4 Stifle, 4 Bobs and 18 lands. However powerful Stifle is in a tempo deck, it is highly situational. So I considered another build with 20 lands, 2 Liliana and 2 Tombstalker. However, I missed the card advantage that Bob provides.
So I chose a middle mode with 19 lands, 4 Bob and 4 Hymn to Tourach. Hymn is more often than not an excellent 2 for 1. I have one slot left and decide to play a Disfigure main, because there are so many Deathrite Shamans, Stoneforge Mystics and Delver of Secrets in the meta.
The side is designed against tempo and combo. With the popularity of TNN I expected many combo players, because combo doesn’t give a damn about a 3/1 dude. So, counters and Golgari Charm to destroy armies of Goblins. Also I need answers to TNN myself, so I’ll play Golgari Charm. Against Elves I can use a sweeper, so why not play Golgari Charm. Did I mention Golgari Charm?
Grafdigger’s Cage is also a nice versatile sideboard card, because it’s good against Elves, Reanimator and Dredge. And of course, Disfigure is there to stop the aggression of opposing tempo decks.
My build of BUG Delver:
4 Wasteland
1 Bayou
2 Tropical Island
4 Underground Sea
3 Polluted Delta
3 Misty Rainforest
2 Flooded Strand
4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
4 Hymn to Tourach
4 Abrupt Decay
4 Daze
4 Force of Will
1 Disfigure
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Deathrite Shaman
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Dark Confidant
Sideboard
3 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Disfigure
3 Golgari Charm
3 Spell Pierce
1 Vendilion Clique
1 Maelstrom Pulse
1 Pithing Needle
1 Flusterstorm
I prepared this tournament by winning a couple of byes, so I could get some lunch for my teammates.
2-0
R3: some ultra-aggressive Sneaky Show deck. Game 1 he plays t1 Island and Preordain. T2 he plays and sacs Crystal Vein to cast S&T. I don’t have a Daze, so it resolves and he slams Emrakul. Game 2 is very similar.
2-1
R4: Patriot. I defeat him 2-1
3-1
R5: Patriot. I crush him 2-0.
4-1
R6: OmniShow. I lose game 1, but game 2 and 3 I have all the counters and Hymns.
5-1
R7: Manaless Dredge. This is the only match where I win the die roll (lolz). Game 1 I do have a Deathrite Shaman quite early in the game, but he has too much awesomeness and is able to Dread Return two Chancellor of the Annex. Game 2 I have a turn 1 Grafdigger’s Cage and he scoops in response. Game 3 I have another fast Grafdigger’s Cage and lots of counters to prevent him from Nature’s Claiming it. Easy does it. 2-1.
6-1
R8: EsperBlade in the VIP section. Game 1 I have Wastelands on the first two turns. T4 I play Bob. Bob never left my side that game, providing cards and dealing damage. My opponent plays Stoneforge, I have Decay. He plays another Stoneforge and I have another Decay. I Hymn him and my card advantage becomes too overwhelming. Game 2 I lose badly to TNN and answers to all my threats. Game 3 I have another t1 Wasteland and answers to all his Stoneforge Mystics and True-Name Nemesi. I win 2-1.
7-1 WHOOHOO I made day 2!!! (Personal record)
R9: Shardless BUG. I matchup I’d rather not see, but most importantly: my emotions and excitement prohibit me from playing neatly. I lose 1-2.
7-2
== DAY 2 ==
R10: I start the day by crushing ANT. Game 1 he has a Burning Wish to get Toxic Deluge and kills my three creatures by paying a mere 5 life. However, he never recovered from the double Hymn that I play t2 and t3. Game 2 I put enough pressure and have a healthy amount of counters. I win 2-0.
8-2
R11: Elves. The Hoof gets me twice. I lose 1-2.
8-3
R12: Merfolk. I lose horribly 0-2.
8-4
R13: TES. He manages to go off with Ad Nauseum g1. In g2 I have a couple of Hymns that take him out. In g3 he plays a Duress for protection. I Brainstorm in response, putting a Golgari Charm and Maelstrom Pulse on the top of my library. He goes combos and makes 18 goblins. I play Golgari Charm and kill all the little buggers. 2-1.
9-4
R14: Jund. My opponent is clearly unhappy with his draws. I show no mercy. 2-0.
10-4
R15: Elves. I lose game 1, but game 2 and 3 I have Golgari Charm at the right times. Game 3 I played it to kill an Elvish Visionary and two Dryad Arbors. Sweet. I win 2-1
11-4
I finish on rank 55 !! The third best Dutchman of GP Paris 2014. Crushed my personal record with no expectation to ever match this weekend again. I will cherish my BoM playmat that’s been signed by Rob Alexander.
Big up to my mates who traveled with me: Sander, Martijn and Anies. Martijn did better than I did: he is the second best Dutchman.
So I chose a middle mode with 19 lands, 4 Bob and 4 Hymn to Tourach. Hymn is more often than not an excellent 2 for 1. I have one slot left and decide to play a Disfigure main, because there are so many Deathrite Shamans, Stoneforge Mystics and Delver of Secrets in the meta.
The side is designed against tempo and combo. With the popularity of TNN I expected many combo players, because combo doesn’t give a damn about a 3/1 dude. So, counters and Golgari Charm to destroy armies of Goblins. Also I need answers to TNN myself, so I’ll play Golgari Charm. Against Elves I can use a sweeper, so why not play Golgari Charm. Did I mention Golgari Charm?
Grafdigger’s Cage is also a nice versatile sideboard card, because it’s good against Elves, Reanimator and Dredge. And of course, Disfigure is there to stop the aggression of opposing tempo decks.
My build of BUG Delver:
4 Wasteland
1 Bayou
2 Tropical Island
4 Underground Sea
3 Polluted Delta
3 Misty Rainforest
2 Flooded Strand
4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
4 Hymn to Tourach
4 Abrupt Decay
4 Daze
4 Force of Will
1 Disfigure
4 Delver of Secrets
4 Deathrite Shaman
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Dark Confidant
Sideboard
3 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Disfigure
3 Golgari Charm
3 Spell Pierce
1 Vendilion Clique
1 Maelstrom Pulse
1 Pithing Needle
1 Flusterstorm
I prepared this tournament by winning a couple of byes, so I could get some lunch for my teammates.
2-0
R3: some ultra-aggressive Sneaky Show deck. Game 1 he plays t1 Island and Preordain. T2 he plays and sacs Crystal Vein to cast S&T. I don’t have a Daze, so it resolves and he slams Emrakul. Game 2 is very similar.
2-1
R4: Patriot. I defeat him 2-1
3-1
R5: Patriot. I crush him 2-0.
4-1
R6: OmniShow. I lose game 1, but game 2 and 3 I have all the counters and Hymns.
5-1
R7: Manaless Dredge. This is the only match where I win the die roll (lolz). Game 1 I do have a Deathrite Shaman quite early in the game, but he has too much awesomeness and is able to Dread Return two Chancellor of the Annex. Game 2 I have a turn 1 Grafdigger’s Cage and he scoops in response. Game 3 I have another fast Grafdigger’s Cage and lots of counters to prevent him from Nature’s Claiming it. Easy does it. 2-1.
6-1
R8: EsperBlade in the VIP section. Game 1 I have Wastelands on the first two turns. T4 I play Bob. Bob never left my side that game, providing cards and dealing damage. My opponent plays Stoneforge, I have Decay. He plays another Stoneforge and I have another Decay. I Hymn him and my card advantage becomes too overwhelming. Game 2 I lose badly to TNN and answers to all my threats. Game 3 I have another t1 Wasteland and answers to all his Stoneforge Mystics and True-Name Nemesi. I win 2-1.
7-1 WHOOHOO I made day 2!!! (Personal record)
R9: Shardless BUG. I matchup I’d rather not see, but most importantly: my emotions and excitement prohibit me from playing neatly. I lose 1-2.
7-2
== DAY 2 ==
R10: I start the day by crushing ANT. Game 1 he has a Burning Wish to get Toxic Deluge and kills my three creatures by paying a mere 5 life. However, he never recovered from the double Hymn that I play t2 and t3. Game 2 I put enough pressure and have a healthy amount of counters. I win 2-0.
8-2
R11: Elves. The Hoof gets me twice. I lose 1-2.
8-3
R12: Merfolk. I lose horribly 0-2.
8-4
R13: TES. He manages to go off with Ad Nauseum g1. In g2 I have a couple of Hymns that take him out. In g3 he plays a Duress for protection. I Brainstorm in response, putting a Golgari Charm and Maelstrom Pulse on the top of my library. He goes combos and makes 18 goblins. I play Golgari Charm and kill all the little buggers. 2-1.
9-4
R14: Jund. My opponent is clearly unhappy with his draws. I show no mercy. 2-0.
10-4
R15: Elves. I lose game 1, but game 2 and 3 I have Golgari Charm at the right times. Game 3 I played it to kill an Elvish Visionary and two Dryad Arbors. Sweet. I win 2-1
11-4
I finish on rank 55 !! The third best Dutchman of GP Paris 2014. Crushed my personal record with no expectation to ever match this weekend again. I will cherish my BoM playmat that’s been signed by Rob Alexander.
Big up to my mates who traveled with me: Sander, Martijn and Anies. Martijn did better than I did: he is the second best Dutchman.