Six players managed to escape yesterday's competition with pristine 9-0 records. Mono-blue was well-represented, with five out of six going for Thassa, God of the Sea and Master of Waves. The deck of Andreas Ganz is more innovative: it's Mono Black Devotion at its core, but features a novel white splash.
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Round 10 Feature Match - Marcello Calvetto vs. (13) Jérémy Dezani
by Tobi Henke
Frenchman Jérémy Dezani crashed onto the scene last year with a victory at Grand Prix Lyon, followed by two more GP Top 8 appearances this year (and preceded by a Top 8 in 2009). A promising start and he certainly delivered on the promise at the big stage when he won Pro Tour Theros in Dublin. There, he was playing the then-new Mono-Blue Devotion deck, and he stuck with it for this event, earning a 9-0 record so far. Going into the tournament, he was ranked number 13 in the world, a position he would likely improve upon here.
9-0 was also the overnight score of the somewhat less known Italian player Marcello Calvetto, although he had made three Grand Prix Top 8s between 2008 and 2011. Calvetto, like Dezani, chose Mono-Blue Devotion, so the battle here was going to be a mirror match. Would proven mono-blue expert Dezani take the victory, or would Calvetto beat the champ at his own game?
Game 1
In the early game it was all about building up an army. Calvetto assembled Cloudfin Raptor, Thassa, God of The Sea, and Master of Waves plus three tokens, whereas Dezani had Cloudfin Raptor, Nightveil Specter, and Jace, Architect of Thought, whom he used to find his own Master of Waves. Now the actual action started: Calvetto summoned a second Master of Waves and attacked with his tokens, killing Jace.
Dezani fought back with another Cloudfin Raptor and Master of Waves creating six tokens, but Calvetto redoubled his efforts with Bident of Thassa, attacking with tokens and the finally active Thassa, God of the Sea.
After blocks, the table was decidedly less crowded. For one thing, all Elemental tokens were gone and Dezani was left with just a 2/3 Cloudfin Raptor and his Nightveil Specter, whereas Calvetto still had his two copies of Master of Waves, a 3/4 Cloudfin Raptor, Thassa, God of the Sea, and the aforementioned Bident of Thassa, which he now used to force Dezani to attack. Before blocks, though, Dezani returned the opposing Cloudfin Raptor with Cyclonic Rift and, in his second main phase, cast his own 5/5 Thassa. Suddenly, the board state didn't look quite as bad for Dezani anymore. However, the players' lifetotals had Dezani at a severe disadvantage. Two attacks with unblockable Thassa and two unblockable Masters sealed the deal.
Game 2
Calvetto quickly boosted out three 2/3 fliers in the form of one Cloudfin Raptor and two Nightveil Specters, while Dezani held the fort with one 1/2 Cloudfin Raptor and Jace, Architect of Thought's +1 ability. Dezani tried to fight back with Master of Waves, but thanks to Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx, Calvetto was able to cast Domestication on said Master (killing all of Dezani's Elementals) and Thassa, God of the Sea.
Dezani had his own Domestication to steal one Nightveil Specter and his own Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx. Next turn, Calvetto went for the blowout by overloading Cyclonic Rift. Dezani had the Dispel to stop it, then overloaded his own Cyclonic Rift—a sudden turn of events. Calvetto picked up his nonland permanents and, on second thoughts, picked up his lands too. With just ten minutes left on the clock, the players were off to the deciding game, considerably speeding up their pace to finish the match in time.
Game 3
Calvetto's Frostburn Weird met Dezani's Tidebinder Mage. On turn three, Calvetto cast Thassa, God of the Sea, while Dezani passed without play, then countered Nightveil Specter with Gainsay, before untapping and summoning Master of Waves, generating three tokens. Calvetto, on turn five, still didn't have a fourth land but cast Cloudfin Raptor plus another Frostburn Weird and attacked with Thassa.
Dezani had another Tidebinder Mage to tap down Calvetto's second Weird as well, then cast, with the help of Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx, Jace, Architect of Thought and Judge's Familiar, and attacked with tokens and Tidebinder Mage. Calvetto traded away his 1/2 Cloudfin Raptor for a token and took 6, falling to 10. He untapped, scried again with Thassa, and still didn't find a fourth land. He glumly looked at his board of Thassa, God of the Sea and two tapped Frostburn Weirds and passed the turn.
When Dezani activated Jace, Architect of Thought's second ability revealing Gainsay, Calvetto offered his hand in concession.
Marcello Calvetto 1-2 (13) Jérémy Dezani
After the game, Dezani revealed the four Frostburn Weirds he had safely tucked away in his sideboard and told Calvetto: "You really need to know how to sideboard." For a second it appeared as if Calvetto wanted to argue the point but in the end he thought better of it and simply accepted the advice.
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Sunday, 12:55 p.m. – Quick Question:
What Deck Will Be Most Represented in the Top 8?
by Tobi Henke
Martin Jůza: Mono-Blue or Mono-Black. One of those for sure. Let's say a Nightveil Specter deck.
Valentin Mackl: Mono-Black. And at least one Mono-Blue, because I'm playing it.
Simon Görtzen: Mono-Black.
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Day 2 Metagame Breakdown
by Frank Karsten
Day 2 of Grand Prix Vienna is underway, and I've looked through the Day 2 decklists to get a breakdown of the metagame. Here's how the field looks like today:
| Blue Devotion |
23% |
| Black Devotion |
17% |
| Esper Control |
11% |
| Red Devotion with a white splash |
9% |
| Blue-White Control |
5% |
| White Weenie with a red splash |
5% |
| Green Devotion with a red splash |
4% |
| Black Devotion with a green splash |
4% |
| Mono Red Aggro |
4% |
| Selesnya Aggro |
4% |
| Red Burn with a white splash |
3% |
| Black Control with a white splash |
2% |
| Junk Midrange |
2% |
| Jund Midrange |
2% |
| Green-Black Aggro |
1% |
| Blue Devotion with a white splash |
1% |
| Other |
3% |
Mono-colored decks (usually based on the devotion mechanic, and possibly with a small splash) appear to be the way to go in Standard right now.
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Sunday, 1:55 p.m. – Quick Question: How Do You Beat Mono-Blue with Your Deck?
by Tobi Henke
Martin Jůza: Lots and lots of removal. And Pack Rat which Mono-Blue sometimes can't race.
Valentin Mackl: Beat them? Join them! And I have a good sideboard for the mirror: four Gainsays, three Domestications, two Rapid Hybridizations.
Simon Görtzen: Controlling the board with removal works fine unless they draw too many cheap creatures.
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Round 13 Feature Match - Marcin Staciwa (Mono-Blue Devotion) vs. Robert Jurkovic (Mono-Blue Devotion)
by Tobi Henke
"You have no loss, right?" asked veteran Slovak pro Robert Jurkovic when he sat down at the feature match table. "Yes," said a smiling Marcin Staciwa, the last undefeated player in the tournament, who clearly hadn't expected such a winning streak. "It's crazy!" Jurkovic entered the round with a respectable 11-1 score, no match for Staciwa's straight 12-0, but intent on leaving both players with the same 12-1 afterwards.
The match-up here was one we've seen before, as both players brought Mono-Blue Devotion. There's just no way to avoid the mirror match this weekend, it appears, at least not at the top tables.
Game 1
As always the first couple of turns were spent simply dropping creatures onto the battlefield. Staciwa had a pair of Cloudfin Raptors, Nightveil Specter, and Master of Waves, while Jurkovic cast Cloudfin Raptor, Judge's Familiar, Nightveil Specter, and Thassa, God of the Sea.
The real action started now. Staciwa's Frostburn Weird gave both his Raptors a third +1/+1 counter and then he attacked with all of his creatures save Master of Waves and Nightveil Specter. Staciwa lost two tokens and a Cloudfin Raptor, but Jurkovic lost Judge's Familiar and 11 life falling to 8.
To add insult to injury, Staciwa overloaded Cyclonic Rift with the help of Nykthos Shrine to Nyx on his next turn. Thanks to Mutavault and his own Cyclonic Rift (not overloaded unfortunately) Jurkovic survived the ensuing attack on 3. He still lost to the recast Master of Waves two turns later.
Game 2
This was a quick affair. Jurkovic started with Cloudfin Raptor, Thassa, God of the Sea, and Domesticate on the Nightveil Specter that had been Staciwa's first play of the game. Staciwa's Master of Waves with his one lonely Elemental token wasn't nearly enough to stem the tide. Jurkovic added his own Nightveil Specter to the stolen one, attacked with everything, including Thassa and Mutavault, and soon Staciwa shuffled up his cards for game three.
Game 3
It was clear Staciwa had a counter-heavy draw here as he passed turn after turn without play. After his turn-one Cloudfin Raptor, Jurkovic succesfully baited a Gainsay with Tidebinder Mage, then resolved a second Tidebinder Mage while himself countering Staciwa's Master of Waves. A second Master of Waves resolved but was stolen via Domestication and things looked dim for Staciwa, even though he had a third Master of Waves and finally was allowed to keep it.
All of these trades had severely depleted the players' resources and soon both were down to one card in hand. However, Jurkovic had Jace, Architect of Thought and used him to get Rapid Hybridization and Tidebinder Mage. Staciwa's Master of Waves was turned into a 3/3 Frog Lizard and that was tapped with Tidebinder Mage. Next, Jace came up with Nightveil Specter and while the cards kept flowing for Jurkovic, the only thing in flux on Staciwa's side was his lifetotal. It kept falling and falling until he conceded.
Marcin Staciwa 1-2 Robert Jurkovic
"So what score do you think makes Top 8?" Staciwa asked sheepishly.
"You probably need X-2."
"So one more win ..."
"Good luck!"
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Sunday, 2:15 p.m. – Quick Question #3:
How Do You Beat Mono-Black with Your Deck?
by Tobi Henke
Martin Jůza: Draw better I guess. Also people often sideboard incorrectly. For example they leave in the expensive Desecration Demon when it just trades for a one mana spell [Dark Betrayal] anyway. But in the end it's pretty much all about Thoughtseize followed by Underworld Connections. Whoever can stick Connections usually wins.
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Sunday, 2:45 p.m. - Interesting Day 2 Decklists
by Frank Karsten
As I went through the Day 2 decklists earlier today, there were several decks that looked particularly interesting to me. None of their pilots are currently in contention for a Top 16 finish, but they are something different and could be fun to try out at a local Friday Night Magic. Here are the lists.
Christoph Wagner
a:26:{i:0;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:6:"Forest";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:4:"land";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"6";}i:1;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:17:"Golgari Guildgate";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:4:"land";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"4";}i:2;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:9:"Mutavault";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:4:"land";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"2";}i:3;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:14:"Overgrown Tomb";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:4:"land";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"4";}i:4;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:5:"Swamp";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:4:"land";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"8";}i:5;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:16:"Deathrite Shaman";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:8:"creature";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"3";}i:6;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:17:"Desecration Demon";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:8:"creature";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"3";}i:7;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:13:"Elvish Mystic";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:8:"creature";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"4";}i:8;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:19:"Reaper of the Wilds";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:8:"creature";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"3";}i:9;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:15:"Scavenging Ooze";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:8:"creature";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"2";}i:10;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:16:"Shadowborn Demon";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:8:"creature";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"2";}i:11;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:12:"Witchstalker";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:8:"creature";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"3";}i:12;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:12:"Abrupt Decay";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:7:"instant";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"2";}i:13;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:12:"Bow of Nylea";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:8:"artifact";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"1";}i:14;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:21:"Commune with the Gods";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:7:"sorcery";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"4";}i:15;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:15:"Gaze of Granite";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:7:"sorcery";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"1";}i:16;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:15:"Hero's Downfall";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:7:"instant";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"2";}i:17;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:15:"Primeval Bounty";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:11:"enchantment";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"1";}i:18;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:7:"Putrefy";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:7:"instant";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"1";}i:19;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:14:"Whip of Erebos";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:8:"artifact";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"2";}i:20;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:17:"Vraska the Unseen";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:12:"planeswalker";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"2";}i:21;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:19:"Fade into Antiquity";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:7:"sorcery";s:10:"deck_count";i:0;}i:22;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:13:"Golgari Charm";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:7:"instant";s:10:"deck_count";i:0;}i:23;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:16:"Mistcutter Hydra";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:8:"creature";s:10:"deck_count";i:0;}i:24;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:14:"Pharika's Cure";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:7:"instant";s:10:"deck_count";i:0;}i:25;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:14:"Pithing Needle";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:8:"artifact";s:10:"deck_count";i:0;}}
I love how this deck can use Commune with the Gods to fill up the graveyard, thereby turning on Deathrite Shaman and Whip of Erebos. The deck also has plenty of utility enchantments for Commune with the Gods to find: besides the aforementioned Whip of Erebos, there is also Bow of Nylea and Primeval Bounty. I also want to point out Gaze of Granite as an excellent answer to an onslaught of Pack Rat tokens.
Marco Wellmann
a:25:{i:0;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:6:"Forest";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:4:"land";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"8";}i:1;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:6:"Plains";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:4:"land";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"7";}i:2;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:18:"Selesnya Guildgate";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:4:"land";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"4";}i:3;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:13:"Temple Garden";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:4:"land";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"4";}i:4;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:18:"Archangel of Thune";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:8:"creature";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"4";}i:5;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:10:"Boon Satyr";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:8:"creature";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"2";}i:6;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:19:"Fiendslayer Paladin";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:8:"creature";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"3";}i:7;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:14:"Kalonian Hydra";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:8:"creature";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"2";}i:8;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:23:"Polukranos, World Eater";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:8:"creature";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"1";}i:9;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:15:"Scavenging Ooze";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:8:"creature";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"1";}i:10;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:15:"Sylvan Caryatid";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:8:"creature";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"4";}i:11;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:26:"Trostani, Selesnya's Voice";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:8:"creature";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"3";}i:12;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:19:"Voice of Resurgence";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:8:"creature";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"4";}i:13;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:18:"Advent of the Wurm";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:7:"instant";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"4";}i:14;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:12:"Bow of Nylea";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:8:"artifact";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"1";}i:15;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:9:"Pit Fight";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:7:"instant";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"2";}i:16;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:14:"Selesnya Charm";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:7:"instant";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"4";}i:17;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:26:"Ajani, Caller of the Pride";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:12:"planeswalker";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"1";}i:18;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:23:"Elspeth, Sun's Champion";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:12:"planeswalker";s:10:"deck_count";s:1:"1";}i:19;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:15:"Glare of Heresy";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:7:"sorcery";s:10:"deck_count";i:0;}i:20;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:11:"Last Breath";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:7:"instant";s:10:"deck_count";i:0;}i:21;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:16:"Mistcutter Hydra";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:8:"creature";s:10:"deck_count";i:0;}i:22;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:14:"Pithing Needle";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:8:"artifact";s:10:"deck_count";i:0;}i:23;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:7:"Plummet";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:7:"instant";s:10:"deck_count";i:0;}i:24;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:9:"card_meta";O:8:"stdClass":2:{s:5:"title";s:17:"Rootborn Defenses";s:22:"field_card_image_front";a:0:{}}s:4:"type";s:7:"instant";s:10:"deck_count";i:0;}}
Voice of Resurgence, Advent of the Wurm, Selesnya Charm...this looked like a regular Selesnya deck to me at first. And then I saw the high end. This deck can use Sylvan Caryatid to ramp into a quick Archangel of Thune, which together with Pit Fight can lead to some devastating blowouts. Not only can does it allow you to kill an opposing creature, but a fighting Archangel of Thune also results in a lifelink trigger, boosting all of your creatures at instant speed.
Julien de Graat
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After Invisible Stalker and Geist of Saint Traft rotated out of Standard, I thought we had seen the last of Hexproof decks. Julien de Graat had other ideas. There are still a few hexproof creatures around, and beefing them up with Deviant Glee and Ethereal Armor can still be a potent strategy against opponents who rely on Ultimate Price and Hero's Downfall. The land count in this deck seems dangerously low, but the idea is interesting.
Stefan Kleimeier
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The little kid in me rejoiced upon seeing 3 Worldspine Wurm in a Day 2 deck. Of course, 11 mana is a lot. But Garruk, Caller of Beasts can dump them in play early on, and Nykthos, Shrine to Nix can potentially produce the mana to hardcast them. It may be a bit ambitious, but it's certainly exciting.
Alessandro Portaro
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There are two remarkable tweaks in this Esper list. First, four maindeck Nightveil Specter. Apparently, even without any devotion synergies, its potential to provide a steady stream of cards is powerful enough to warrant maindeck inclusion. Second, three maindeck Last Breath. It's cheap, it's efficient, and in contrast to Ultimate Price and Doom Blade it can actually target Nightveil Specter, which remains one of the most important cards in the format.
Todor Rosic
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This is not your average White Weenie deck that is merely trying to kill you as fast as possible. This deck also features a powerful mid game, as it can use Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx to power out a lot of tokens with Heliod, God of the Sun, or a game-ending Aurelia's Fury.
Carlo Tampieri
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After Doomed Traveler and Blood Artist rotated out of Standard, I expected we would never see another Aristocrat deck, but Carlo Tampieri made Day 2 with this innovative approach. If you assemble the combo of Voice of Resurgence + Gift of Immortality along with a sacrifice outlet such as Cartel Aristocrat, you can churn out Elemental tokens at an impressive pace. It may be easily disruptable, but it is very powerful if you can get it to work.
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Sunday, 2:55 p.m. – The New Black (-White)
by Tobi Henke
Andreas Ganz was the only undefeated player yesterday who didn't reach his 9-0 score on the back of Mono-Blue Devotion, so it was an obvious choice to take a closer look at his deck. Here it is in all ist glory:
Andreas Ganz
