Edit: Damn Brian De Mars stealing my fire (even if he did the same thing last year). This was mostly written before his worldwide article came out today.
Well another year has come and gone. 2013 was a great year for Australian Vintage. We had a record number of events, both large events and monthly events. We also had record numbers of people at many of the events and we saw the introduction of an even bigger Vintage Series for 2014. This post will be a reflective piece, taking the reader through the 2013, the big events, the winning decks and the evolution of the Australian Metagame. To do this I will be going through all of the results available on The Mana Drain and will attempt to identify trends as they appear. I hope that in future this task becomes even more difficult as the number of events increases. Obviously this review will have a strong Victorian presence as Melbourne held the biggest number of events recorded so some statistics may not reflect the Australian average but the concentration of Victorian events also allows us to see an ever changing metagame.
The results I will use for this will be:
A person/deck who makes top 4 in any event with fewer than 20 players but greater than 8.
A person/deck which makes top 8 in any event with 20+ players.
That generally falls into the smaller monthly events’ top 4 players/decklists and the GP’s/Masters having a top 8.
I understand that this may be very dense with a heap of lists but 2013 is really the first year that we have 12 good months of data with something all year round.
Where better to start such as review than the first tournament of the year with Next Level Vintage: January Edition. January saw 10 players making their way out to Next Level Games, Dandenong with Burning Tendrils defeating Cobra Gush in the finals. Burning Wish was unrestricted the preceding September but took a full 5 months before it actually won an event in Australia. This seemed like a bit of a changing of the guard as Cobra Gush had been popular throughout 2011 and into 2012 but was eventually usurped as the combo deck of choice. Both lists were fairly standard affairs with little/no breakout technology giving them the edge. Cobra Gush was just outmoded by the sheer brutality of Griselbrand.
1) Joshua Butler - Burning Tendrils
Well another year has come and gone. 2013 was a great year for Australian Vintage. We had a record number of events, both large events and monthly events. We also had record numbers of people at many of the events and we saw the introduction of an even bigger Vintage Series for 2014. This post will be a reflective piece, taking the reader through the 2013, the big events, the winning decks and the evolution of the Australian Metagame. To do this I will be going through all of the results available on The Mana Drain and will attempt to identify trends as they appear. I hope that in future this task becomes even more difficult as the number of events increases. Obviously this review will have a strong Victorian presence as Melbourne held the biggest number of events recorded so some statistics may not reflect the Australian average but the concentration of Victorian events also allows us to see an ever changing metagame.
The results I will use for this will be:
A person/deck who makes top 4 in any event with fewer than 20 players but greater than 8.
A person/deck which makes top 8 in any event with 20+ players.
That generally falls into the smaller monthly events’ top 4 players/decklists and the GP’s/Masters having a top 8.
I understand that this may be very dense with a heap of lists but 2013 is really the first year that we have 12 good months of data with something all year round.
Where better to start such as review than the first tournament of the year with Next Level Vintage: January Edition. January saw 10 players making their way out to Next Level Games, Dandenong with Burning Tendrils defeating Cobra Gush in the finals. Burning Wish was unrestricted the preceding September but took a full 5 months before it actually won an event in Australia. This seemed like a bit of a changing of the guard as Cobra Gush had been popular throughout 2011 and into 2012 but was eventually usurped as the combo deck of choice. Both lists were fairly standard affairs with little/no breakout technology giving them the edge. Cobra Gush was just outmoded by the sheer brutality of Griselbrand.
1) Joshua Butler - Burning Tendrils
Lands
4 City of Brass
4 Forbidden Orchard
2 Gemstone Mine
1 Tolarian Academy
4 City of Brass
4 Forbidden Orchard
2 Gemstone Mine
1 Tolarian Academy
Artifacts
1 Black Lotus
2 Chrome Mox
1 Lion's Eye Diamond
1 Lotus Petal
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mana Vault
1 Memory Jar
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
2 Mox Opal
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Sol Ring
1 Black Lotus
2 Chrome Mox
1 Lion's Eye Diamond
1 Lotus Petal
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mana Vault
1 Memory Jar
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
2 Mox Opal
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Sol Ring
Creatures
2 Griselbrand
2 Griselbrand
Enchantments
1 Necropotence
4 Oath of Druids
1 Yawgmoth's Bargain
1 Necropotence
4 Oath of Druids
1 Yawgmoth's Bargain
Sorceries
4 Burning Wish
1 Demonic Tutor
4 Duress
1 Mind's Desire
1 Time Walk
1 Timetwister
1 Tinker
1 Wheel of Fortune
1 Windfall
4 Burning Wish
1 Demonic Tutor
4 Duress
1 Mind's Desire
1 Time Walk
1 Timetwister
1 Tinker
1 Wheel of Fortune
1 Windfall
Instants
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
4 Dark Ritual
1 Demonic Consultation
2 Hurklyl's Recall
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
4 Dark Ritual
1 Demonic Consultation
2 Hurklyl's Recall
1 Vampiric Tutor
Sideboard
2 Ancient Grudge
4 Ancient Tomb
1 Balance
1 Diminishing Returns
1 Empty the Warrens
1 Laboratory Maniac
2 Ravenous Trap
1 Shattering Spree
1 Tendrils of Agony
1 Yawgmoth's Will
2 Ancient Grudge
4 Ancient Tomb
1 Balance
1 Diminishing Returns
1 Empty the Warrens
1 Laboratory Maniac
2 Ravenous Trap
1 Shattering Spree
1 Tendrils of Agony
1 Yawgmoth's Will
2) Tim Dolphin - Cobra Gush
Lands
1 Island
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Flooded Strand
3 Misty Rainforest
2 Polluted Delta
3 Scalding Tarn
2 Tropical Island
2 Underground Sea
1 Volcanic Island
Lands
1 Island
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Flooded Strand
3 Misty Rainforest
2 Polluted Delta
3 Scalding Tarn
2 Tropical Island
2 Underground Sea
1 Volcanic Island
Artifacts
1 Black Lotus
1 Mana Crypt
1 Memory Jar
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Sol Ring
1 Black Lotus
1 Mana Crypt
1 Memory Jar
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Sol Ring
Creatures
1 Blightsteel Colossus
4 Lotus Cobra
1 Blightsteel Colossus
4 Lotus Cobra
Enchantments
1 Fastbond
1 Necropotence
1 Yawgmoth's Bargain
1 Fastbond
1 Necropotence
1 Yawgmoth's Bargain
Planeswalkers
2 Jace, The Mind Sculptor
2 Jace, The Mind Sculptor
Sorceries
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Mind's Desire
4 Preordain
1 Tendrils of Agony
1 Time Walk
1 Timetwister
1 Tinker
1 Wheel of Fortune
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Mind's Desire
4 Preordain
1 Tendrils of Agony
1 Time Walk
1 Timetwister
1 Tinker
1 Wheel of Fortune
1 Yawgmoth's Will
Instants
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
4 Force of Will
4 Gush
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
4 Force of Will
4 Gush
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
Sideboard
2 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Pithing Needle
1 Yixlid Jailer
2 Leyline of the Void
2 Flusterstorm
1 Hurkyl's Recall
2 Lightning Bolt
2 Nature's Claim
1 Rebuild
2 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Pithing Needle
1 Yixlid Jailer
2 Leyline of the Void
2 Flusterstorm
1 Hurkyl's Recall
2 Lightning Bolt
2 Nature's Claim
1 Rebuild
Rounding out the top 4 of this event was Merfolk and Mono R Shops
Late January saw Top Deck Events running the first
GP of the year which was held in Sydney. GP Sydney saw a whopping 26 players
make their way to the side event to get come card slinging action happening.
That’s 26 players out for Sanctioned Vintage while there was still a GP going
on. That’s just awesome. In the end, the grand final was not played out due to
time constraints, only partly due to a marathon Semi-final between RUG Delver
and Burning Tendrils. Regardless of the split, the finals was awarded to
Lachlan Saunders on his classic 5C Control list he had been working on and
tuning since early-mid 2012. His opponent was newcomer James ‘Jimbo” Dowling
who had only had his first taste of Vintage the month before.
Were the finals to be played out the decklists would have been:
1) Lachlan Saunders – 5c Control
Were the finals to be played out the decklists would have been:
1) Lachlan Saunders – 5c Control
Lands (18)
2 Polluted Delta
2 Misty Rainforest
2 Underground Sea
2 Volcanic Island
2 Tropical Island
2 Island
1 Snow-Covered Island
1 Tundra
1 City of Brass
1 Flooded Strand
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Tolarian Academy
2 Polluted Delta
2 Misty Rainforest
2 Underground Sea
2 Volcanic Island
2 Tropical Island
2 Island
1 Snow-Covered Island
1 Tundra
1 City of Brass
1 Flooded Strand
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Tolarian Academy
Artifacts (11)
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Pearl
1 Black Lotus
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
1 Time Vault
1 Voltaic Key
1 Sensei’s Divining Top
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Pearl
1 Black Lotus
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
1 Time Vault
1 Voltaic Key
1 Sensei’s Divining Top
Creatures (6)
1 Sower of Temptation
1 Myr Battlesphere
1 Goblin Welder
1 Gorilla Shaman
1 Trygon Predator
1 Snapcaster Mage
1 Sower of Temptation
1 Myr Battlesphere
1 Goblin Welder
1 Gorilla Shaman
1 Trygon Predator
1 Snapcaster Mage
Planeswalkers (2)
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Sorceries (6)
1 Time Walk
1 Balance
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Tinker
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Time Walk
1 Balance
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Tinker
1 Merchant Scroll
Instants (17)
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Fire//Ice
1 Mindbreak Trap
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Gifts Ungiven
1 Thirst for Knowledge
2 Mana Drain
2 Mental Misstep
4 Force of Will
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Fire//Ice
1 Mindbreak Trap
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Gifts Ungiven
1 Thirst for Knowledge
2 Mana Drain
2 Mental Misstep
4 Force of Will
Sideboard (15)
4 Leyline of the Void
1 Mindbreak Trap
1 Pernicious Deed
2 Ingot Chewer
1 Ray of Revelation
1 Ancient Grudge
1 Pyroblast
1 Red Elemental Blast
2 Grafdiggers Cage
1 Tormod’s Crypt
4 Leyline of the Void
1 Mindbreak Trap
1 Pernicious Deed
2 Ingot Chewer
1 Ray of Revelation
1 Ancient Grudge
1 Pyroblast
1 Red Elemental Blast
2 Grafdiggers Cage
1 Tormod’s Crypt
2) James (Jimbo) Dowling – RUG Delver
Lands (14)
3 Scalding Tarn
3 Misty Rainforest
2 Tropical Island
2 Volcanic Island
3 Snow-covered Island
1 Forest
3 Scalding Tarn
3 Misty Rainforest
2 Tropical Island
2 Volcanic Island
3 Snow-covered Island
1 Forest
Artifacts(4)
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Black Lotus
Creatures(11)
4 Delver of Secrets
2 Vendillion Clique
2 Snapcaster Mage
3 Tarmogoyf
4 Delver of Secrets
2 Vendillion Clique
2 Snapcaster Mage
3 Tarmogoyf
Sorceries(5)
3 Preordain
1 Time Walk
1 Ponder
3 Preordain
1 Time Walk
1 Ponder
Instants(26)
3 Flusterstorm
4 Gush
4 Force of Will
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Mental Misstep
2 Spell Snare
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Brainstorm
1 Stifle
1 Steel Sabotage
1 Nature’s Claim
1 Ancient Grudge
1 Ancestral Recall
3 Flusterstorm
4 Gush
4 Force of Will
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Mental Misstep
2 Spell Snare
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Brainstorm
1 Stifle
1 Steel Sabotage
1 Nature’s Claim
1 Ancient Grudge
1 Ancestral Recall
Sideboard (15)
1 Stifle
1 Steel Sabotage
1 Ancient Grudge
2 Ingot Chewer
3 Grafdiggers Cage
1 Mountain
3 Nature’s Claim
1 Pyroblast
1 Red Elemental Blast
1 Pithing Needle
1 Stifle
1 Steel Sabotage
1 Ancient Grudge
2 Ingot Chewer
3 Grafdiggers Cage
1 Mountain
3 Nature’s Claim
1 Pyroblast
1 Red Elemental Blast
1 Pithing Needle
Rounding out the top 8 of this event were:
Ritual Oath
Martello Shops
Grixis Control
Aggro Shops
4c Control
Grixis Control
Ritual Oath
Martello Shops
Grixis Control
Aggro Shops
4c Control
Grixis Control
This tournament was a complete blast. Not only was
it a large sanctioned event for Vintage but it also was the first instance of a
recurring theme with large Vintage events in Australia. Large Australian
Vintage events throughout 2013 all had a very heavy Blue Based Control emphasis
with Shops and Dredge lacking in numbers and support. We all understand that
this is Vintage and Blue decks are everywhere but the amount of blue decks seen
in many of our larger tournaments is bigger than what would be suggested as the
worldwide standard.
February saw our first Vintage Masters Qualifier come and go and to everybody’s surprise it was the Fish who came out on top. The mixture of clock, resilient dudes and impact upon the opponent caught a super sweet spot where we had an all Fish final. In the end it was Andy Horne’s Walking (Junk) Fish who emerged victorious defeating Bill’s Noble Fish list. Both lists had disposed of their much more broken brethren in the semis in the form of Turbo Tezzeret and Grixis Control respectively.
Andy Horne (Walking Fish)
February saw our first Vintage Masters Qualifier come and go and to everybody’s surprise it was the Fish who came out on top. The mixture of clock, resilient dudes and impact upon the opponent caught a super sweet spot where we had an all Fish final. In the end it was Andy Horne’s Walking (Junk) Fish who emerged victorious defeating Bill’s Noble Fish list. Both lists had disposed of their much more broken brethren in the semis in the form of Turbo Tezzeret and Grixis Control respectively.
Andy Horne (Walking Fish)
Lands
1 Tropical Island
1 Scrubland
1 Bayou
2 Savannah
2 Horizon Canopy
4 Windswept Heath
3 Cavern of Souls
1 Strip Mine
4 Wasteland
1 Karakas
1 Tropical Island
1 Scrubland
1 Bayou
2 Savannah
2 Horizon Canopy
4 Windswept Heath
3 Cavern of Souls
1 Strip Mine
4 Wasteland
1 Karakas
Artifacts
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Lotus Petal
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Lotus Petal
Creatures
2 Kataki, War’s Wage
3 Aven Mindcensor
3 Qasali Pridemage
4 Dark Confidant
1 Mayor of Avabruck
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3 Knight of the Reliquary
1 Gaddock Teeg
4 Noble Hierarch
2 Kataki, War’s Wage
3 Aven Mindcensor
3 Qasali Pridemage
4 Dark Confidant
1 Mayor of Avabruck
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3 Knight of the Reliquary
1 Gaddock Teeg
4 Noble Hierarch
Sorceries
1 Time Walk
1 Time Walk
Instants
1 Ancestral Recall
2 Abrupt Decay
4 Swords to Plowshares
3 Mental Misstep
1 Ancestral Recall
2 Abrupt Decay
4 Swords to Plowshares
3 Mental Misstep
Sideboard
2 Path to Exile
2 Wall of Denial
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Kataki War's Wage
4 Grafdigger’s Cage
2 Mindbreak Trap
1 Yixlid Jailer
2 Mayor Avabruck
2 Path to Exile
2 Wall of Denial
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Kataki War's Wage
4 Grafdigger’s Cage
2 Mindbreak Trap
1 Yixlid Jailer
2 Mayor Avabruck
P.S. Check out Wall of Denial in the board !!!
2) Bill Murphy (Noble Fish)
Lands
2 Cavern of Souls
1 Strip Mine
3 Wasteland
4 Misty Rainforest
3 Tropical Island
1 Forest
1 Island
2 Tundra
2 Cavern of Souls
1 Strip Mine
3 Wasteland
4 Misty Rainforest
3 Tropical Island
1 Forest
1 Island
2 Tundra
Artifacts
3 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Emerald
1 Black Lotus
3 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Emerald
1 Black Lotus
Creatures
4 Dryad Militant
4 Noble Hierarch
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4 Quasali Pridemage
4 Trygon Predator
3 Ethersworn Cannonist
3 Meddling Mage
4 Dryad Militant
4 Noble Hierarch
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4 Quasali Pridemage
4 Trygon Predator
3 Ethersworn Cannonist
3 Meddling Mage
Enchantments
3 Stony Silence
3 Stony Silence
Sorceries
1 Time Walk
1 Time Walk
Instants
2 Steel Sabotage
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
2 Steel Sabotage
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
Sideboard
2 Dismember
1 Steel Sabotage
1 Tropical Island
2 Hurkyl's Recall
3 Ravenous Trap
1 Stony Silence
1 Tropical Island
1 Wasteland
2 Path the Exile
2 Dismember
1 Steel Sabotage
1 Tropical Island
2 Hurkyl's Recall
3 Ravenous Trap
1 Stony Silence
1 Tropical Island
1 Wasteland
2 Path the Exile
Fish decks and the null rod pillar had an awesome start in 2013 with high placing’s in all the events thus far. Nobody was expecting an all Fish final and it was really great as it provided a great capstone to the first quadrant of 2013.
March saw only 8 players make their way out to NLG (The smallest event that fired) for their Vintage fix. This time the broken decks fought back with Burning Long once again taking down the tournament, this time defeating the all new Tezzeret’s Picnic in the finals. This pairing was the start of a couple of things for the NLG community. Ben Kearney would go on to become NLG’s resident Combo pilot for his tenure there, frequently making appearances with his combo deck. Tezzerets Picnic would also pick up some steam in the coming months and would eventually be picked up by a couple of players overseas and see some success in both America and Europe. This was the first time a “new” deck attributable to an Australian has had success overseas to my knowledge.
1) Ben Kearney - Burning Long
Lands (11)
2 Gemstone Mine
4 City of Brass
4 Forbidden Orchard
1 Tolarian Academy
2 Gemstone Mine
4 City of Brass
4 Forbidden Orchard
1 Tolarian Academy
Artifacts (15)
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Opal
1 Lotus Petal
1 Mana Crypt
2 Chrome Mox
1 Lion's Eye Diamond
1 Sol Ring
1 Memory Jar
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Opal
1 Lotus Petal
1 Mana Crypt
2 Chrome Mox
1 Lion's Eye Diamond
1 Sol Ring
1 Memory Jar
Creatures (2)
2 Griselbrand
2 Griselbrand
Enchantments (6)
4 Oath of Druids
1 Necropotence
1 Yawgmoth's Bargain
4 Oath of Druids
1 Necropotence
1 Yawgmoth's Bargain
Instants (9)
4 Dark Ritual
2 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Brainstorm
1 Ancestral Recall
4 Dark Ritual
2 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Brainstorm
1 Ancestral Recall
Sorceries (17)
1 Wheel of Fortune
1 Windfall
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Mind's Desire
4 Burning Wish
4 Duress
1 Thoughtseize
1 Tinker
1 Ponder
1 Time Walk
1 Timetwister
1 Wheel of Fortune
1 Windfall
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Mind's Desire
4 Burning Wish
4 Duress
1 Thoughtseize
1 Tinker
1 Ponder
1 Time Walk
1 Timetwister
Sideboard
1 Gleeful Sabotage
1 Thoughtseize
1 Laboratory Maniac
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Pyroclasm
1 Tendrils of Agony
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Show and Tell
3 Ancient Tomb
1 Empty the Warrens
1 Gleeful Sabotage
1 Thoughtseize
1 Laboratory Maniac
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Pyroclasm
1 Tendrils of Agony
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Show and Tell
3 Ancient Tomb
1 Empty the Warrens
2) James 'Jimbo' Dowling - Tezzeret's Picnic
Lands (14)
4 Polluted Delta
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Flooded Strand
2 Underground Sea
5 Island
1 Swamp
4 Polluted Delta
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Flooded Strand
2 Underground Sea
5 Island
1 Swamp
Artifacts (18)
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Sol Ring
3 Grim Monolith
1 Mana Vault
3 Voltaic Key
1 Time Vault
2 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Sol Ring
3 Grim Monolith
1 Mana Vault
3 Voltaic Key
1 Time Vault
2 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Nihil Spellbomb
Creatures (1)
1 Myr Battlesphere
1 Myr Battlesphere
Planeswalkers (7)
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
2 Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas
2 Tezzeret the Seeker
1 Karn Liberated
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
2 Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas
2 Tezzeret the Seeker
1 Karn Liberated
Enchantments (2)
2 Back to Basics
2 Back to Basics
Instants (14)
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Thirst for Knowledge
4 Force of Will
3 Mana Drain
2 Steel Sabotage
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Darkblast
1 Vampiric Tutor
Sorceries (4)
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Time Walk
1 Tinker
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Thirst for Knowledge
4 Force of Will
3 Mana Drain
2 Steel Sabotage
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Darkblast
1 Vampiric Tutor
Sorceries (4)
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Time Walk
1 Tinker
1 Yawgmoth's Will
Sideboard (15)
3 Yixlid Jailer
1 Relic of Progenitus
1 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Trinisphere
2 Mental Misstep
1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1 Steel Sabotage
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Wurmcoil Engine
3 Dismember
3 Yixlid Jailer
1 Relic of Progenitus
1 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Trinisphere
2 Mental Misstep
1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1 Steel Sabotage
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Wurmcoil Engine
3 Dismember
The semi-final opponents of these decks were Strixis Control and Espresso respectively.
April saw the number of players at NLG spike back up to 12 for their Vintage monthly. At the end of the day it was old stalwart Weng Cheong who took down the event with Forgemaster Shops, marking the first win for a Shop deck in 2013. This pre-New Phyrexia deck went undefeated on the day defeating the new and improved Tezzeret’s Picnic in the finals to take home all the marbles.
1) Weng Cheong - Forgemaster Shops
Lands (17)
4 Mishra's Workshop
4 Ancient Tomb
3 City of Traitors
4 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine
1 Tolarian Academy
4 Mishra's Workshop
4 Ancient Tomb
3 City of Traitors
4 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine
1 Tolarian Academy
Artifacts (25)
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mana Vault
3 Sphere of Resistance
4 Thorn of Amethyst
1 Trinisphere
4 Tangle Wire
4 Chalice of the Void
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mana Vault
3 Sphere of Resistance
4 Thorn of Amethyst
1 Trinisphere
4 Tangle Wire
4 Chalice of the Void
Creatures (18)
4 Metalworker
4 Lodestone Golem
4 Kuldotha Forgemaster
1 Steel Hellkite
1 Myr Battlesphere
1 Karn, Silver Golem
1 Sundering Titan
1 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Duplicant
4 Metalworker
4 Lodestone Golem
4 Kuldotha Forgemaster
1 Steel Hellkite
1 Myr Battlesphere
1 Karn, Silver Golem
1 Sundering Titan
1 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Duplicant
Sideboard (15)
3 Grafdigger's Cage
3 Phyrexian Metamorph
4 Relic of Progenitus
2 Duplicant
2 Crucible of Worlds
1 Steel Hellkite
3 Grafdigger's Cage
3 Phyrexian Metamorph
4 Relic of Progenitus
2 Duplicant
2 Crucible of Worlds
1 Steel Hellkite
2) James 'Jimbo' Dowling
Lands (15)
5 Island
1 Swamp
2 Underground Sea
4 Polluted Delta
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Tolarian Academy
5 Island
1 Swamp
2 Underground Sea
4 Polluted Delta
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Tolarian Academy
Artifacts (17)
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Vault
3 Grim Monolith
3 Voltaic Key
1 Time Vault
2 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Vault
3 Grim Monolith
3 Voltaic Key
1 Time Vault
2 Sensei's Divining Top
Creatures (1)
1 Inkwell Leviathan
1 Inkwell Leviathan
Enchantments (2)
2 Back to Basics
2 Back to Basics
Planeswalkers (6)
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
2 Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas
2 Tezzeret the Seeker
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
2 Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas
2 Tezzeret the Seeker
Sorceries (5)
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Imperial Seal
1 Time Walk
1 Tinker
1 Yawgmoth's Will
Instants (14)
1 Ancestral recall
1 Echoing Truth
4 Force of Will
3 Mana Drain
2 Steel Sabotage
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Thirst for Knowledge
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Imperial Seal
1 Time Walk
1 Tinker
1 Yawgmoth's Will
Instants (14)
1 Ancestral recall
1 Echoing Truth
4 Force of Will
3 Mana Drain
2 Steel Sabotage
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Thirst for Knowledge
1 Vampiric Tutor
Sideboard (15)
2 Dismember
2 Flusterstorm
4 Leyline of the Void
3 Mental Misstep
1 Tormod's Crypt
1 Trinisphere
2 Yixlid Jailer
2 Dismember
2 Flusterstorm
4 Leyline of the Void
3 Mental Misstep
1 Tormod's Crypt
1 Trinisphere
2 Yixlid Jailer
Rounding out the rest of the top 4 were:
Burning Long
Grixis Control
By this point of the year, the creature renaissance that had been so apparent in the early months seemed well and truly over with the first Fish deck barely making the top 50% in 6th place.
At the end of April, the unrestriction of Regrowth was announced and on the very first day of its unrestriction it made its presence known 4-0ing NLV: May Edition. The winning list was a Gush list toting 4 Regrowth along with the full cantrip package. Forgemasters once again reared their head as the strongest shop deck in the environment, however this time it was the more mana punishing Martello variety. Of note is that this is the last instance of Martello as it gives way to other shop strategies in the coming months.
1) Joshua Butler (Gush Tinker)
Burning Long
Grixis Control
By this point of the year, the creature renaissance that had been so apparent in the early months seemed well and truly over with the first Fish deck barely making the top 50% in 6th place.
At the end of April, the unrestriction of Regrowth was announced and on the very first day of its unrestriction it made its presence known 4-0ing NLV: May Edition. The winning list was a Gush list toting 4 Regrowth along with the full cantrip package. Forgemasters once again reared their head as the strongest shop deck in the environment, however this time it was the more mana punishing Martello variety. Of note is that this is the last instance of Martello as it gives way to other shop strategies in the coming months.
1) Joshua Butler (Gush Tinker)
Lands (14)
2 Island
1 Flooded Strand
1 Polluted Delta
2 Scalding Tarn
2 Misty Rainforest
2 Tropical Island
2 Underground Sea
1 Volcanic Island
1 Library of Alexandria
Artifacts (6)
1 Black Lotus
1 Sol Ring
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
2 Island
1 Flooded Strand
1 Polluted Delta
2 Scalding Tarn
2 Misty Rainforest
2 Tropical Island
2 Underground Sea
1 Volcanic Island
1 Library of Alexandria
Artifacts (6)
1 Black Lotus
1 Sol Ring
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
Creatures (1)
1 Blightsteel Colossus
1 Blightsteel Colossus
Enchantments (1)
1 Fastbond
1 Fastbond
Planeswalkers (2)
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Sorceries (15)
4 Duress
4 Regrowth
1 Time Walk
1 Ponder
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Tinker
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Empty the Warrens
4 Duress
4 Regrowth
1 Time Walk
1 Ponder
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Tinker
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Empty the Warrens
Instants (21)
4 Force of Will
4 Gush
3 Mental Misstep
2 Mana Drain
2 Far//Away
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Gifts Ungiven
1 Brainstorm
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
4 Force of Will
4 Gush
3 Mental Misstep
2 Mana Drain
2 Far//Away
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Gifts Ungiven
1 Brainstorm
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
Sideboard (15)
3 Trygon Predator
2 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Tormod's Crypt
2 Yixlid Jailer
3 Ravenous Trap
2 Fire//Ice
2 Mindbreak Trap
3 Trygon Predator
2 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Tormod's Crypt
2 Yixlid Jailer
3 Ravenous Trap
2 Fire//Ice
2 Mindbreak Trap
2) Gavin Kroeger (Martello Shops)
Lands (19)
4 Mishra’s Workshop
4 Mishra’s Factory
4 Ancient Tomb
4 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine
1 Tolarian Academy
1 City of Traitors
4 Mishra’s Workshop
4 Mishra’s Factory
4 Ancient Tomb
4 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine
1 Tolarian Academy
1 City of Traitors
Creatures (17)
4 Lodestone Golem
4 Kuldotha Forgemaster
3 Phyrexian Revoker
3 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Sundering Titan
1 Steel Hellkite
1 Duplicant
4 Lodestone Golem
4 Kuldotha Forgemaster
3 Phyrexian Revoker
3 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Sundering Titan
1 Steel Hellkite
1 Duplicant
Artifacts (24)
1 Black Lotus
1 Sol Ring
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mana Crypt
4 Tangle Wire
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Thorn of Amethyst
3 Sphere of Resistance
1 Trinisphere
1 Black Lotus
1 Sol Ring
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mana Crypt
4 Tangle Wire
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Thorn of Amethyst
3 Sphere of Resistance
1 Trinisphere
Sideboard
(15)
4 Grafdigger’s Cage
2 Tormod’s Crypt
2 Duplicant
2 Crucible of Worlds
2 Ratchet Bombs
2 Ensnaring Bridge
1 Wurmcoil Engine
4 Grafdigger’s Cage
2 Tormod’s Crypt
2 Duplicant
2 Crucible of Worlds
2 Ratchet Bombs
2 Ensnaring Bridge
1 Wurmcoil Engine
Filling out the top 4 of this event was:
Burning Long
Dark Times
Unfortunately we only had 9 players for the June NLG event, though it was the week before a larger event and was at the very beginning of the largest month of the year and was not expected to fire. Given that, having the 9 players make it out was awesome as we had two different Vintage events on the same weekend. For this event it was Espresso Shops which actually taking out the smaller of the two events on the weekend defeating the first instance of a dredge deck in a top 4/8 of the year, nearly a full 6 months into the year.
1) Joshua Butler – Espresso Shops
Burning Long
Dark Times
Unfortunately we only had 9 players for the June NLG event, though it was the week before a larger event and was at the very beginning of the largest month of the year and was not expected to fire. Given that, having the 9 players make it out was awesome as we had two different Vintage events on the same weekend. For this event it was Espresso Shops which actually taking out the smaller of the two events on the weekend defeating the first instance of a dredge deck in a top 4/8 of the year, nearly a full 6 months into the year.
1) Joshua Butler – Espresso Shops
Lands (18)
4 Mishra’s Workshop
4 Mishra’s Factory
4 Wasteland
3 Ancient Tomb
1 City of Traitors
1 Strip Mine
1 Tolarian Academy
4 Mishra’s Workshop
4 Mishra’s Factory
4 Wasteland
3 Ancient Tomb
1 City of Traitors
1 Strip Mine
1 Tolarian Academy
Mana Rocks (7)
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Peal
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Peal
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
Artefacts (25)
4 Smokestack
4 Tangle Wire
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Serum Powder
4 Sphere of Resistance
3 Crucible of Worlds
2 Thorn of Amethyst
4 Smokestack
4 Tangle Wire
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Serum Powder
4 Sphere of Resistance
3 Crucible of Worlds
2 Thorn of Amethyst
Creatures (10)
4 Lodestone Golem
3 Karn, Silver Golem
2 Phyrexian Revoker
1 Duplicant
4 Lodestone Golem
3 Karn, Silver Golem
2 Phyrexian Revoker
1 Duplicant
Sideboard
4 Leyline of the Void
4 Leyline of Sanctity
2 Grafdigger’s Cage
2 Pithing Needle
1 Tabernacle at Pendral Vale
1 Maze of Ith
1 Wurmcoil Engine
4 Leyline of the Void
4 Leyline of Sanctity
2 Grafdigger’s Cage
2 Pithing Needle
1 Tabernacle at Pendral Vale
1 Maze of Ith
1 Wurmcoil Engine
2) Ben McCoy – Dredge
Lands (14)
4 Bazaar of Baghdad
4 Undiscovered Paradise
4 City of Brass
2 Dakmoor Salvage
4 Bazaar of Baghdad
4 Undiscovered Paradise
4 City of Brass
2 Dakmoor Salvage
Artefacts (4)
4 Serum Powder
4 Serum Powder
Creatures (27)
4 Bloodghast
4 Narcomoeba
4 Golgari Grave-Troll
4 Stinkweed Imp
3 Golgari Thug
3 Ichorid
3 Fatestitcher
1 Flamekin Zealot
1 Woodfall Primus
4 Bloodghast
4 Narcomoeba
4 Golgari Grave-Troll
4 Stinkweed Imp
3 Golgari Thug
3 Ichorid
3 Fatestitcher
1 Flamekin Zealot
1 Woodfall Primus
Enchantments (4)
4 Bridge from Below
4 Bridge from Below
Sorceries (7)
4 Cabal Therapy
3 Dread Return
4 Cabal Therapy
3 Dread Return
Instants (5)
4 Ancient Grudge
1 Darkblast
4 Ancient Grudge
1 Darkblast
Sideboard (15)
4 Leyline of the Void
4 Chalice of the Void
2 Petrified Field
4 Nature’s Claim
1 Darkblast
4 Leyline of the Void
4 Chalice of the Void
2 Petrified Field
4 Nature’s Claim
1 Darkblast
This event was also the first appearance of Armadeus
Kurz’s BUG Fish List which would ultimately be the very influential and popular
in the months to come. In fact both BUG Fish and Espresso decks represented
here would become staples of Australian tournaments in the months ahead.
Only 7 days later, 23 players were battling it out for a Mox when Good Games Melbourne held the first Moxalicious tournament of the year. This was Melbourne’s first large event and we had a bunch of players down from NSW and Canberra which made the atmosphere great. At the end of the day, it was Grixis Control in the hands of Isaac Egan who reigned supreme overcoming Martim Fernandes on Terra Nova in three long games.
1) Isaac Egan – Grixis Control
Only 7 days later, 23 players were battling it out for a Mox when Good Games Melbourne held the first Moxalicious tournament of the year. This was Melbourne’s first large event and we had a bunch of players down from NSW and Canberra which made the atmosphere great. At the end of the day, it was Grixis Control in the hands of Isaac Egan who reigned supreme overcoming Martim Fernandes on Terra Nova in three long games.
1) Isaac Egan – Grixis Control
Lands (16)
4 Polluted Delta
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Underground Sea
2 Volcanic Island
1 Library of Alexandria
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Island
1 Swamp
4 Polluted Delta
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Underground Sea
2 Volcanic Island
1 Library of Alexandria
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Island
1 Swamp
Artifacts (10)
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Emerald
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Crypt
1 Time Vault
1 Voltaic Key
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Emerald
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Crypt
1 Time Vault
1 Voltaic Key
Creatures (7)
4 Dark Confidant
2 Snapcaster Mage
1 Myr Battlesphere
4 Dark Confidant
2 Snapcaster Mage
1 Myr Battlesphere
Planeswalkers (3)
3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Sorcery (5)
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Time Walk
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Tinker
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Time Walk
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Tinker
Instants (19)
4 Force of Will
2 Mental Misstep
2 Spell Pierce
2 Mana Drain
3 Lightning Bolt
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Brainstorm
1 Gift’s Ungiven
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
4 Force of Will
2 Mental Misstep
2 Spell Pierce
2 Mana Drain
3 Lightning Bolt
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Brainstorm
1 Gift’s Ungiven
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
Sideboard (15)
4 Ingot Chewer
4 Grafdigger’s Cage
3 Yixlid Jailer
1 Mountain
1 Strip Mine
1 Mental Misstep
1 Lightning Bolt
4 Ingot Chewer
4 Grafdigger’s Cage
3 Yixlid Jailer
1 Mountain
1 Strip Mine
1 Mental Misstep
1 Lightning Bolt
2) Martim Fernandes – Terra Nova
Lands (20)
4 Mishra’s Workshop
4 Wasteland
4 Ancient Tomb
4 Mishra’s Factory
2 Mutavault
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Strip Mine
4 Mishra’s Workshop
4 Wasteland
4 Ancient Tomb
4 Mishra’s Factory
2 Mutavault
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Strip Mine
Artifacts (25)
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Jet
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Sphere of Resistance
4 Tangle Wire
4 Thorn of Amethyst
1 Trinisphere
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Jet
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Sphere of Resistance
4 Tangle Wire
4 Thorn of Amethyst
1 Trinisphere
Creatures (15)
4 Lodestone Golem
4 Phyrexian Metamorph
3 Porcelain Leigionaire
3 Phyrexian Revoker
1 Karn, Silver Golem
4 Lodestone Golem
4 Phyrexian Metamorph
3 Porcelain Leigionaire
3 Phyrexian Revoker
1 Karn, Silver Golem
Sideboard (15)
1 Karn, Silver Golem
1 Sculpting Steel
4 Grafdigger’s Cage
3 Crucible of Worlds
4 Tormod’s Crpyt
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Porcelain Legionnaire
1 Karn, Silver Golem
1 Sculpting Steel
4 Grafdigger’s Cage
3 Crucible of Worlds
4 Tormod’s Crpyt
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Porcelain Legionnaire
At this point of the year, Grixis was pushing its way back to the top of the control heap in the hands of a few key Melbourne based players. Isaac Egan and Daniel Unwin, who also made top 8, (among others) have become poster children for the archetype and regularly place highly with it.
BUG Fish and Dredge also made their way into the top 8 but ultimately did not make the finals, Glenn Shanley’s staple “The Wheel”, Mono Red Shops, and Metalworker also made top 8. Lee Greaves, you did it!!!
But June is not yet over.
The Queen’s Vault in Sydney also drew in 11 players that month competing for a Time Vault. This time it was the BoM Fish list which had been seeing increasing amounts of play since it won the BoM which took down the event cementing its place as a tough contender, edging our Sydney stalwart Robert Bartlett on his wacky Grixis brew. Also of note is the TPS deck piloted by Dion Wong in third place. The final member of the top 4 was Francis Lam on U/W Bomberman.
1) Justin - BUG Fish
17 LANDS
4 Polluted Delta
3 Underground Sea
3 Tropical Island
3 Wasteland
1 Bayou
1 Strip Mine
1 Verdant Catacombs
1 Misty Rainforest
4 Polluted Delta
3 Underground Sea
3 Tropical Island
3 Wasteland
1 Bayou
1 Strip Mine
1 Verdant Catacombs
1 Misty Rainforest
16 CREATURES
4 Dark Confidant
4 Deathrite Shaman
4 Snapcaster Mage
2 Trygon Predator
2 Scavenging Ooze
4 Dark Confidant
4 Deathrite Shaman
4 Snapcaster Mage
2 Trygon Predator
2 Scavenging Ooze
22 INSTANTS and SORCERIES
4 Abrupt Decay
4 Force of Will
3 Mental Misstep
2 Spell Pierce
2 Flusterstorm
2 Steel Sabotage
1 Time Walk
1 Brainstorm
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Demonic Tutor
4 Abrupt Decay
4 Force of Will
3 Mental Misstep
2 Spell Pierce
2 Flusterstorm
2 Steel Sabotage
1 Time Walk
1 Brainstorm
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Demonic Tutor
5 OTHER SPELLS
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Emerald
1 Null Rod
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Emerald
1 Null Rod
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
SIDEBOARD
1 Wasteland
1 Trygon Predator
1 Steel Sabotage
1 Null Rod
4 Leyline of the Void
2 Yixlid Jailer
1 Swamp
4 Snuff Out
1 Wasteland
1 Trygon Predator
1 Steel Sabotage
1 Null Rod
4 Leyline of the Void
2 Yixlid Jailer
1 Swamp
4 Snuff Out
2) Robert Bartlett – Grixis
1 Badlands
1 Black Lotus
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Blightsteel Colossus
1 Brainstorm
4 Dark Confidant
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Flusterstorm
4 Force of Will
1 Gifts Ungiven
1 Goblin Welder
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Imperial Seal
1 Island
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1 Library of Alexandria
1 Mana Crypt
2 Mana Drain
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mystical Tutor
3 Polluted Delta
1 Ponder
3 Scalding Tarn
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Snapcaster Mage
1 Sol Ring
1 Strip Mine
1 Tezzeret the Seeker
1 Time Vault
1 Time Walk
1 Tinker
1 Tolarian Academy
3 Underground Sea
1 Vampiric Tutor
2 Volcanic Island
1 Voltaic Key
2 Wasteland
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Black Lotus
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Blightsteel Colossus
1 Brainstorm
4 Dark Confidant
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Flusterstorm
4 Force of Will
1 Gifts Ungiven
1 Goblin Welder
1 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Imperial Seal
1 Island
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1 Library of Alexandria
1 Mana Crypt
2 Mana Drain
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mystical Tutor
3 Polluted Delta
1 Ponder
3 Scalding Tarn
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Snapcaster Mage
1 Sol Ring
1 Strip Mine
1 Tezzeret the Seeker
1 Time Vault
1 Time Walk
1 Tinker
1 Tolarian Academy
3 Underground Sea
1 Vampiric Tutor
2 Volcanic Island
1 Voltaic Key
2 Wasteland
1 Yawgmoth's Will
Sideboard
1 Flusterstorm
1 Hurkyl's Recall
4 Ingot Chewer
4 Leyline of the Void
1 Nihil Spellbomb
2 Pithing Needle
1 Rack and Ruin
1 Rebuild
1 Flusterstorm
1 Hurkyl's Recall
4 Ingot Chewer
4 Leyline of the Void
1 Nihil Spellbomb
2 Pithing Needle
1 Rack and Ruin
1 Rebuild
We finally closed out the first half of 2013 with the Brisbane based Librarypalooza tournament which drew a further 10 players for some Vintage action. U/R landstill was apparently the place to be for this tournament for it was David Brotchie who defeated Martello shops. While that may seem a repeat of 2012 Vintage Champs, the rest certainly were not. The remaining top 4 slots were double BoM Bug Fish lists.
1st Place - Landstill - David Brotchie
4 Standstill
4 Jace, the Mindsculptor
4 Force of Will
2 Misdirection
2 Mental Misstep
2 Mindbreak Trap
2 Red Elemental Blast
4 Mana Drain
1 Echoing Truth
1 Ancestral Recall
3 Engineered Explosives
2 Crucible of Worlds
4 Lightning Bolt
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Library of Alexandria
1 Mountain
3 Island
1 Underground Sea
3 Volcanic Island
4 Scalding Tarn
4 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine
4 Mishra's Factory
1 Flooded Strand
4 Jace, the Mindsculptor
4 Force of Will
2 Misdirection
2 Mental Misstep
2 Mindbreak Trap
2 Red Elemental Blast
4 Mana Drain
1 Echoing Truth
1 Ancestral Recall
3 Engineered Explosives
2 Crucible of Worlds
4 Lightning Bolt
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Library of Alexandria
1 Mountain
3 Island
1 Underground Sea
3 Volcanic Island
4 Scalding Tarn
4 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine
4 Mishra's Factory
1 Flooded Strand
1 SB:
4 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Bojuka Bog
2 Yixlid Jailer
4 Ingot Chewer
3 Smash to Smithereens
4 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Bojuka Bog
2 Yixlid Jailer
4 Ingot Chewer
3 Smash to Smithereens
2nd Place - MUD - Nicholas Chmielewski
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mana Vault
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mana Vault
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
4 Lodestone Golem
4 Chalice of the Void
3 Sphere of Resistance
4 Thorn of Amethyst
4 Tangle Wire
3 Kuldotha Forgemaster
1 Duplicant
1 Staff of Nin
1 Steel Hellkite
1 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Sundering Titan
2 Phyrexian Revoker
3 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Trinisphere
4 Mishra's Workshop
4 Mishra's Factory
4 Wasteland
4 Ancient Tomb
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Strip Mine
1 Tolarian Academy
4 Chalice of the Void
3 Sphere of Resistance
4 Thorn of Amethyst
4 Tangle Wire
3 Kuldotha Forgemaster
1 Duplicant
1 Staff of Nin
1 Steel Hellkite
1 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Sundering Titan
2 Phyrexian Revoker
3 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Trinisphere
4 Mishra's Workshop
4 Mishra's Factory
4 Wasteland
4 Ancient Tomb
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Strip Mine
1 Tolarian Academy
1 SB:
2 Ghost Quarter
2 Crucible of Worlds
3 Ratchet Bomb
3 Tormod's Crypt
4 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Ghost Quarter
2 Crucible of Worlds
3 Ratchet Bomb
3 Tormod's Crypt
4 Grafdigger's Cage
Six months into the year and we had seen some definite changes in the Australian metagame. The early months saw eclectic swings between Combo and and the rest of the metagame but as we approached the middle of the year the combo-control decks such as Grixis had started to really pull ahead of the pack. Workshops had also started appearing with more consistency though there had not been any one archetype predominant. After Bazaar of Moxen, Armadeus Kurz’s BUG Fish list really put a name for itself as over 4 tournaments it placed in top 4/8’s 5 times.
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