4 Card Blind

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Originally Posted by Tylert

Just to be sure, we're using the legacy banlist althought we're playing block??

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Yeah, that's what I read from "no additional bannings". I also thought it would have been interesting to unban everything for Storm Season. It's not like Lotus into Lab Maniac would have been legal anyway. Still, this is just a slightly different conclusion. I could lament what is lost (and did a little), but that just means new things can shine.

I think we're locked in on the same Legacy banlist as through out this season, which is a bit different from how we might have done it, but not a problem (not that you were saying it was).

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Originally Posted by silkster

Yeah, that's why I read from "no additional bannings". I also thought it would have been interesting to unban everything for Storm Season. It's not like Lotus into Lab Maniac would have been legal anyway. Still, this is just a slightly different conclusion. I could lament what is lost (and did a little), but that just means new things can shine.

I think we're locked in on the same Legacy banlist as through out this season, which is a bit different from how we might have done it, but not a problem (not that you were saying it was).

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what bothers me is that we've played through the entire block without any bannings. So why now? :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tylert

what bothers me is that we've played through the entire block without any bannings. So why now? :)

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Yes, we play with the Legacy banning list. Reason: Blackmail, Ghost Quarter, ...
They're all possible now. Not just one that you can build around. You can encounter every round-breaker in the same round.
There's no way you can meta against all of them, so you'd have to choose. That feels wrong.

Also, no additional bannings, and I already started the round, so by all means play Ensnaring Bridge.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tylert

what bothers me is that we've played through the entire block without any bannings. So why now? :)

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There are some broken blocks.

Theros Beyond Death: Island, Island, Thassa's Oracle, Thassa's Oracle

Alpha: Black Lotus, Mox Ruby, Channel, Fireball

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Originally Posted by FTW

There are some broken blocks.

Theros Beyond Death: Island, Island, Thassa's Oracle, Thassa's Oracle

Alpha: Black Lotus, Mox Ruby, Channel, Fireball

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Alpha isn't an official block. I perhaps should have clarified, but were playing everything from Mirage block onwards.
I would like to skip the Ice Age block, because the official version uses cards that were released over a decade apart, and that feels dumb.

But you're right about the brokenness of certain cards in certain blocks.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Asthereal

Alpha isn't an official block. I perhaps should have clarified, but were playing everything from Mirage block onwards.
I would like to skip the Ice Age block, because the official version uses cards that were released over a decade apart, and that feels dumb.

But you're right about the brokenness of certain cards in certain blocks.

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I was going to play what seemed the most broken to me: ghost quarter deck. Guess I will have to find something else :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Asthereal

Alpha isn't an official block. I perhaps should have clarified, but were playing everything from Mirage block onwards.
I would like to skip the Ice Age block, because the official version uses cards that were released over a decade apart, and that feels dumb.

But you're right about the brokenness of certain cards in certain blocks.

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I'm fine skipping ice age block, but we should definitely clarify that now (I had been assuming it was an option).

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Originally Posted by alphastryk

I'm fine skipping ice age block, but we should definitely clarify that now (I had been assuming it was an option).

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That's a good point. I did not clarify this at the opening of the round, so if someone enters with an Ice Age deck, I guess it should be okay.
I don't think anyone will want to though, because there aren't many great cards in it, and the ones that are good are banned.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Asthereal

That's a good point. I did not clarify this at the opening of the round, so if someone enters with an Ice Age deck, I guess it should be okay.
I don't think anyone will want to though, because there aren't many great cards in it, and the ones that are good are banned.

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I tend to agree, the Ice Age block decks I tried to build just didn't make the cut.

I'm interested to see how many different blocks we actually end up with decks from, or if there's a clear winner in terms of power-level.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alphastryk

I tend to agree, the Ice Age block decks I tried to build just didn't make the cut.

I'm interested to see how many different blocks we actually end up with decks from, or if there's a clear winner in terms of power-level.

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I'd say yes, but what is really nice is that people will perhaps all play the deck that counters it :)

Well, let's find out:

DECKS FOR ROUND 9 OF SEASON 6: Blocked

1. Asthereal (TO): Forest, Swamp, Dreadhorde Invasion, Assassin's Trophy
2. GoblinSmashmaster: Lotus Bloom, Lotus Bloom, Gemstone Mine, Barren Glory
3. Wrath of Pie: Mutavault, Swamp, Bitterblossom, Stinkdrinker Bandit
4. alphastryk: Lotus Bloom, Lotus Bloom, Barren Glory, Pact of Negation
5. H: Swamp, Molten Slagheap, Avatar of Woe, Augur of Skulls
6. Tylert: Forest, Swamp, Dreadhorde Invasion, Assassin's Trophy
7. Moosedog: Lotus Bloom, Lotus Bloom, Lotus Bloom, Barren Glory
8. FTW: Swamp, Duress, Encroach, Vebulid
9. silkster: Subterranean Hangar, Rackling, Rain of Tears, Unmask

Please post your scores and cross-check with the opponents.
I'll update the Google Spreadsheet for the season, so you can enter your scores there as well: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...it?usp=sharing

Asthereal scores for round blocked:

1. Asthereal (TO): Forest, Swamp, Dreadhorde Invasion, Assassin's Trophy
That's me, uninspiredly borrowing a deck from the block tour seasons.
2. GoblinSmashmaster: Lotus Bloom, Lotus Bloom, Gemstone Mine, Barren Glory
Blow up Barren Glory, the Invasion wins it. 6-0
3. Wrath of Pie: Mutavault, Swamp, Bitterblossom, Stinkdrinker Bandit
Blow up Bitterblossom, the Invasion wins it. 6-0
4. alphastryk: Lotus Bloom, Lotus Bloom, Barren Glory, Pact of Negation
EDIT: I did not read the card. If I don't do anything, Barren Glory doesn't win you the game, as you're stuck with a Pact in hand. 2ND EDIT: You can't even Pact my wincon as it lands too soon, so I win twice. Lucky. 6-0
5. H: Swamp, Molten Slagheap, Avatar of Woe, Augur of Skulls
OTP I cast Invasion first and the blow up the stock land. OTD you can catch me with the discard and I need to do math. See below. I guess the Invasion is pretty fast. 6-0
6. Tylert: Forest, Swamp, Dreadhorde Invasion, Assassin's Trophy
OTP we both blow up eachothers first land. 3-3
7. Moosedog: Lotus Bloom, Lotus Bloom, Lotus Bloom, Barren Glory
Blow up Barren Glory, the Invasion wins it. 6-0
8. FTW: Swamp, Duress, Encroach, Vebulid
Encroach is a blank, but Duress is amazing. You take my Invasion, and I blow up your dude for two draws, I guess. 2-2
9. silkster: Subterranean Hangar, Rackling, Rain of Tears, Unmask
More math: do you Unmask my Trophy to try and win, or my Invasion to force draws? See below. Apparently the Invasion is fast, so you Unmask it for two draws. 2-2

Score: 37 points


Against H:
H: land
A: land
H: land, Augur
A: land, Invasion
H: make me discard Trophy thing, otheriwse I blow up MS and you're stuck
A: A19, 1/1
H: MS1
A: A18, 2/2, att H18
H: MS2
A: A17, 3/3, att H15
H: MS3
A: A16, 4/4, att H11
H: MS4
A: A15, 5/5, att H6
H: MS5
A: A14, 6/6, att H dead


Against silk:
s: land, Unmask Trophy
A: land
s: SH1
A: land, Invasion
s: SH2
A: A19, 1/1
s: SH3
A: A18, 2/2, att s18
s: SH4
A: A17, 3/3, att s15
s: cast Rackling
A: A13, 4/4, att s11
s: att, A11
A: A7, 5/5, att s6
s: wait
A: A3, 6/6, att, have to block, Rackling dies
s: ...
A: A2, 7/7, att ftw.
I would win this, so you Unmask my Invasion and I Trophy your land for two draws.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Asthereal

Asthereal scores for round blocked:

1. Asthereal (TO): Forest, Swamp, Dreadhorde Invasion, Assassin's Trophy
That's me, uninspiredly borrowing a deck from the block tour seasons.

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Boring but efficient! :)
In my calculations that was the best "legal" deck (The best unlegal deck was ghost quarter, mountain, stromkirk noble, forge devil which would have done wonders here except vs barren glory. Funny to note that everyone is playing it :) ).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Asthereal

4. alphastryk: Lotus Bloom, Lotus Bloom, Barren Glory, Pact of Negation
Blow up.. oh, Pact. Hmm. But you cast your Lotusses during your upkeep, so I can blow one of those up. But then you Pact that and still cast Glory. Hmm. Unless I find something, for now I'll write down 0-6

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Just don't play anything and alphastryk cannot play pact and win. 2-2.

Edit: seems like we can play invasion on turn 2 and win... so 6-0

Using Asthereal calculations, I count 37 for my total :) (Including the now win vs alphastryk)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tylert

Just don't play anything and alphastryk cannot play pact and win. 2-2.

Using Asthereal calculations, I count 33 for my total :)

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Reading is tech. :laugh:

Also it's worth noting that silk would have swept the round with the entry he had before changing it last minute.
I'll probably ban a card named Mind Swords for the last three rounds.

8. FTW: Swamp, Duress, Encroach, Vebulid

Great, Duress overperformed as a lot of people played Barren Glory, Dreadhorde and Bitterblossom as expected.

1. Asthereal (TO): Duress Dreadhorde and lose Vebulid to Trophy. DD 2-2
2. GoblinSmashmaster: Duress Barren Glory and attack with 20/20. WW 6-0
3. Wrath of Pie: OTP Encroach Mutavault shuts off your whole hand. OTD you lead with Mutavault, so I Duress Bitterblossom. Vebulid trades with Mutavault for the draw. WD 4-1
4. alphastryk: Turn 1 I Duress Barren Glory. If you Pact it, you lose. If you don't, I play Vebulid and attack with a 20/20. WW 6-0
5. H: OTP Encroach Slagheap shuts off your whole hand. OTD you lead with Slagheap and both Encroach and Duress are dead so I play Vebulid. Avatar kills Vebulid and I lose. WL 3-3
6. Tylert: Duress Dreadhorde and lose Vebulid to Trophy. DD 2-2
7. Moosedog: Duress Barren Glory and attack with 20/20. WW 6-0
9. silkster: OTP I Encroach Hangar, you Unmask Vebulid and we draw. OTD you play Hangar & Unmask my creature, and I have no answer to Rackling. DL 1-4

30 points (8 wins, 6 draws, 2 losses)

I'm surprised no one played
Phyrexian Dreadnought, Vision Charm (Mirage)
Pact of the Titan, Pact of the Titan, Angel's Grace (Time Spiral)
They race Barren Glory.

What was the Mind Swords deck? There isn't good fodder in that block.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FTW

I'm surprised no one played
Phyrexian Dreadnought, Vision Charm (Mirage)
Pact of the Titan, Pact of the Titan, Angel's Grace (Time Spiral)
They race Barren Glory.

What was the Mind Swords deck? There isn't good fodder in that block.

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There's Nether Spirit, which means turn one Ritual into Spirit, sac for Swords and then win with eternal Spirit.

I expected Dreadnought, so I packed removal for it.
I forgot about the Angel's Grace thing, but OTP I can blow up Plains before Grace can be cast and I'd win.

Trophy might be too good and should perhaps get the axe.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Asthereal

There's Nether Spirit, which means turn one Ritual into Spirit, sac for Swords and then win with eternal Spirit.

I expected Dreadnought, so I packed removal for it.
I forgot about the Angel's Grace thing, but OTP I can blow up Plains before Grace can be cast and I'd win.

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I'm surprised that never came up in our block tour. The discard deck for that round was something durdly with Parallax Nexus and slow lands.

I figured Duress handles Angel's Grace, Vision Charm, Barren Glory, Ensnaring Bridge, Reanimate, Bitterblossom/Dreadhorde, Dark Ritual. All the unfair stuff.

1. Asthereal (TO): Forest, Swamp, Dreadhorde Invasion, Assassin's Trophy

Dreadhorde Invasion comes down early and can't be Pacted safely, so I can't win.

0-6

2. GoblinSmashmaster: Lotus Bloom, Lotus Bloom, Gemstone Mine, Barren GloryI

I'm pretty sure you have the correct build of this deck, as Gemstone mine can pay for a taxing effect on each combo piece then goes away.

OTP, I can have my Pact up in time to force a draw, OTD I can't.

1-4

3. Wrath of Pie: Mutavault, Swamp, Bitterblossom, Stinkdrinker Bandit

You can win with Mutavault while never playing a spell to enable my Pact.

0-6

4. alphastryk: Lotus Bloom, Lotus Bloom, Barren Glory, Pact of Negation

This is me, outthinking myself like I did back in round 1 :(


5. H: Swamp, Molten Slagheap, Avatar of Woe, Augur of Skulls

You can always get the Augur down before I'm able to Pact it without dying, so I'm unable to win.

0-6

6. Tylert: Forest, Swamp, Dreadhorde Invasion, Assassin's Trophy

Dreadhorde Invasion comes down early and can't be Pacted safely, so I can't win.

0-6


7. Moosedog: Lotus Bloom, Lotus Bloom, Lotus Bloom, Barren Glory

OTP, I can have my Pact up in time to force a draw, OTD I can't.

1-4

8. FTW: Swamp, Duress, Encroach, Vebulid

Hey, this was literally my other deck! Which seems way better than what I submitted lol. Can't beat Duress

0-6

9. silkster: Subterranean Hangar, Rackling, Rain of Tears, Unmask

Hey look, more discard I can't beat.

0-6

Total: 2 points.

Well, I sure defeated myself that round.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alphastryk

2. GoblinSmashmaster: Lotus Bloom, Lotus Bloom, Gemstone Mine, Barren GloryI

If you go for it, I can use my Pact and and win. Otherwise I setup Barren Glory and stare at you. Another draw.

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I think you lose OTD because you need the Pact delay trigger to happen the turn you would win with Barren Glory

G - suspend Lotuses and tick down mine (3 time counters, 2 gems).
A - suspend Lotuses (3 time counters)

G - (2 time counters, 1 gem).
A - (2 time counters)

G - Gemstone Mine dies (1 time counter)
A - (1 time counter)

G - Lotuses resolve. Cast Barren Glory. If you Pact anything, you lose on next upkeep.
A - Lotuses resolve. Cast Barren Glory. Now you're free to Pact, but Gobbo has no spells left to cast.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FTW

I think you lose OTD because you need the Pact delay trigger to happen the turn you would win with Barren Glory

G - suspend Lotuses and tick down mine (3 time counters, 2 gems).
A - suspend Lotuses (3 time counters)

G - (2 time counters, 1 gem).
A - (2 time counters)

G - Gemstone Mine dies (1 time counter)
A - (1 time counter)

G - Lotuses resolve. Cast Barren Glory. If you Pact anything, you lose on next upkeep.
A - Lotuses resolve. Cast Barren Glory. Now you're free to Pact, but Gobbo has no spells left to cast.

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You're right, and that applies to both of my "mirror"s. I'll update above.