Last Saturday held the first-ever Theros Block Tournament here in the MtG Iloilo community. It was initially my suggestion to have this format because Theros block is now completed with Journey into Nyx and secondly, Standard is again becoming stagnant with the same old metagame.

Good thing the players’ response was a positive one and thirteen participants showed up to the battle. That means a four-round tournament with a top-four player cutoff for the prizes.

The deck I played was Naya Midrange referenced from the Top 8 decks at Grand Prix Manchester. Here is a recap of my matchups:

Round 1 vs Red Green Elspeth won 2-1
Round 2 vs Gruul Midrange won 2-0
Round 3 vs Mono Black Aggro lost 0-2
Round 4 vs Junk Midrange won 2-0

I finished third place and won a BNG booster pack. My goal to get to the top 2 for the Hall of Triumph promo foil prize was cut short but still, I am happy with the results. The deck is a contender and will definitely have a slot in the top decks in Standard after the rotation. Here are the top 4 players of the tournament:

MtG Iloilo Tournament Results
Theros Block Event (June 7, 2014)
Top 4:
1st, Godo (Mono Black Aggro)
2nd, Mik (Mono Blue Devo)
3rd, Mark Ian (Naya Midrange)
4th, Ric (Gruul Midrange)

13 players, 4 rounds of gameplay

Here are the pics taken from the event.

This is a one-week delayed update from Theros Block Constructed Gameday in Bacolod, but I am still going to post it to inform you all. The deck that I have decided to pilot was Esper control, primarily because of my familiarization of that archetype

in Standard, whereas my teammate Oliver played Chapin’s Junk Midrange champion deck from the Pro Tour. Based on the two lists I’ve posted on Part 1, my final build was somewhat their crossbred.

Here is my version of Esper Control for Theros Block:

Maindeck
6 Island
6 Swamp
4 Temple of Silence
4 Temple of Enlightenment
4 Temple of Deceit
2 Plains

3 Prognostic Sphinx

3 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
4 Elspeth, Sun’s Champion

4 Hero’s Downfall
4 Bile Blight
2 Silence the Believers
4 Divination
3 Thoughtseize
3 Dissolve
1 Drown in Sorrow
1 Gild
1 Deicide
1 Banishing Light

Sideboard
1 Banishing Light
2 Dark Betrayal
1 Dissolve
2 Drown in Sorrow
1 Glare of Heresy
1 Psychic Intrusion
3 Omenspeaker
1 Gainsay
1 Fated Retribution
1 Revoke Existence
1 Thoughtseize

This lot of one-ofs makes my sideboarding open against most of the deck archetypes in the Block, though more of the cards listed were for aggro matchups.

The trip to Bacolod was an ordeal for us. We went to the ferry port late, around 10am, thinking there was a normal scheduled trip for the three fast craft companies. We then found out that Supercat canceled their trips for the rest of that day, and people were scrambling to buy tickets at Ocean Jet. I arrived to see people lining up while crowding the ticket booth. I immediately called Oliver for plan B, of going to the Dumangas Roro port.

With an extra expense and dealing with the taxi, we eventually got ourselves going to the town, and we arrived at around 11:20 am. A lot of people were also there, lining up to buy tickets for the next scheduled trip at 12 noon. We had no choice but to line up and endure the heat while hoping that we could be included as passengers on that trip. The line started moving around 30 minutes later, and we then finally bought our tickets and got on the Roro ferry before its departure.

The trip was two hour,s and we arrived just five minutes before 2 pm, the scheduled time of the Gameday tournament. Good thing we had Erson as our contact at the venue and told him that we’ll be a little late. We got the venue at Island Spoon in Lacson Street ten minutes later, and with no time even for a quick lunch. We just did the final double-checking of our decklists and sideboard. There were around 22 participants, so that means a five-round tournament is expected. Pairings were announced for Round 1, and we wished each other good luck and hoped for Team Iloilo to win.

The summary of my matchups in the preliminary rounds was as follows:

Round 1 vs Junk Midrange – Won 2-1
Round 2 vs Red Green Elspeth – Won 2-0
Round 3 vs Red Green Elspeth – Won 2-0
Round 4 – ID
Round 5 – ID

It was satisfying that the deck performed well against Junk and Red Green, which I initially presumed that I would be far behind fast mana accelerators and early planeswalkers. My cards curved perfectly well and answered their threats at the right turns. Thoughtseize helped a lot in determining their sequence of plays and my turn-by-turn decisions as well. I got first in the rankings after the 5 preliminary rounds.

I will cut this part for now so I can discuss in detail my quarterfinal matchup and the turnout of the Bacolod Gameday event. Also, I will share how the Iloilo community welcomed this format with its first Theros Block tournament yesterday.

Thanks for the reading, and until next post.

Wizards uploaded yesterday a video which somewhat summaries the story in the plane of Theros. The first three parts reshow the trailer videos of each of the sets in the Theros block whereas the last part previewed the conclusion of the battle of

Elspeth and Ajani to Xenagos. Just a short hint: there are cameos of the characters in Elspeth’s past. Check out the Theros Block Reels video below.

The last scene in the video somewhat gave me the creeps of what Elspeth’s future form will be or if she ever gets to be printed in a non-White color. We’ll soon see what Wizards will come up with.

Oh yeah, my favorite part: it is MtG spoiler/preview season once again guys. The mothership site officially started the previews of the upcoming set Born of the Gods, the second set in the Theros block. They began with the discussion of the mechanics in the set and also a preview of the first multicolored God. Presenting, Ephara, God of the Polis:

Also in the previews today are three Scry lands of the colors Blue White, White Green, and Black Red. This now will complete the Azorious Control decks as well as my planned Rakdos Aggro deck. Speaking of which, there is a potential arsenal to add in these types of decks with the pseudo-Confidant Pain Seer. Check him out below.

Lastly, here is the Born of the Gods set’s trailer video. Enjoy!

So we have this somewhat new deck archetype experiment to open in the first tournament of the year of Magic Iloilo. Raoul suggested this list from the recent GP Shizouka trial winner decks. The deck is a remake of the Auras deck that somewhat was one of the best decks in the Standard before Theros. The Japanese version utilized the current available Hexproof Green creatures, with support of Voice of Resurgence.

Here is the decklist:

Maindeck
4 Selesnya Guildgate
4 Overgrown Tomb
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Stomping Ground
4 Temple Garden
2 Temple of Abandon

4 Witchstalker
4 Gladecover Scout
4 Voice of Resurgence
3 Ghor-Clan Rampager

1 Aurelia’s Fury
4 Boros Charm
3 Selesnya Charm
4 Ethereal Armor
4 Unflinching Courage
4 Madcap Skills
3 Gift of Orzhova

Sideboard
3 Mending Touch
4 Chained to the Rocks
4 Skylasher
4 Skullcrack

The change we did though is that we switched the singleton Aurelia’s Fury to a fourth Ghor-Clan Rampager. That gives the deck sixteen critters so that the starting draws would not be awkward with just Aura spells and no one to enchant.

I piloted the deck in the FNM to a successful 3-0-1 record (we draw the last round). The matchups were against Red Green Land D, Selesnya Aggro and Mono Blue. The boarding is somewhat elementary but I didn’t know which matchup to board in the Mending Touches since Boros Charm already does the trick.

Overall I enjoyed piloting the deck as it can curve into explosive draws with a turn one Gladecover Scout. If you want to start the year with an unusual deck then I would suggest this list.

Until next post.

I’ve read upon a deck idea from the MtGUK site (Manaleak.com) pertaining to the use of Purphoros, God of the Forge in Mono Blue Devotion deck. This splash makes your critters deadlier even before attacking because of the bonus two damage with coming-into-play trigger. Here is the decklist that I’ve came up with:

Lands
15 Island
2 Izzet Guildgate
4 Steam Vents
3 Mutavault
1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx

Creatures
4 Frostburn Weird
2 Purphoros, God of the Forge
4 Thassa, God of the Sea
4 Master of Waves
4 Nightveil Specter
4 Cloudfin Raptor
4 Tidebinder Mage

Spells
2 Jace, Architect of Thought
2 Ral Zarek
2 Rapid Hybridization
1 Cyclonic Rift
2 Bident of Thassa

The Red splash are two Purphoros, God of the Forge and two Ral Zarek. The Izzet planeswalker does a lot of combat tricks in benefit of the deck, and even can deal the final points of damage.

The creature cut was the Judge’s Familiar which I’ve noticed is the one that’s usually sided out in most of the deck matchups. The usual suspects are still there, but Purphoros makes it more interesting, and deadly.

The card draw setup is still the same two-ofs: Jace, Architect of Thought and Bident of Thassa. Also, Rapid Hybridization is still the removal of choice. The token can also be dealt with by Ral Zarek just in case.

Let me know what you think of the deck. Post your comments and suggestions below. I’d appreciate it.

That is about it for the deck. Until next post.

Here are the top eight decks of the recently concluded MTG Iloilo Championships 2013 Day 1 Individual Standard. I was lucky to get into the 2nd spot after 5 preliminary rounds with a record of 4-1 (also with a little help from Rino). Unexpectedly, there were eight different archetypes that made in the top 8. Not what I’ve been expecting with the dominance of Devotion Blue and Black in the metagame. Anyhow, here are the decklists:

Cheljohn (B/G Midrange – Makoy Killer)
Main:
8 Swamp
6 Forest
4 Overgrown Tomb
4 Golgari Guildgate
1 Temple of Deceit

2 Polukranos, World Eater
2 Scavenging Ooze
4 Reaper of the Wilds
4 Pack Rat
4 Desecration Demon

4 Heroes Downfall
4 Abrupt Decay
3 Golgari Charm
3 Devour Flesh
3 Thoughtseize
3 Underworld Connections
1 Duress
1 Whip of Erebos

Side:
3 Duress
3 Mistcutter Hydra
1 Thoughtseize
1 Vraska, the Unseen
1 Erebos, God of the Dead
1 Underground Connections
1 Plummet
1 Deadbridge Chant
1 Ultimate Price
1 Doom Blade
1 Golgari Charm

Mark Ian (R/W Devotion)
Main:
12 Mountin
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Temple of Triumph
3 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
2 Boros Guildgate

4 Ash Zealot
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Fanatic of Mogis
4 Frostburn Weird
4 Stormbreath Dragon
2 Purphoros, God of the Forge

3 Chained to the Rocks
3 Mizzium Mortars
2 Hammer of Purphoros
1 Chandra, Pyromaster

Side:
3 Anger of the Gods
3 Boros Charm
3 Warleader’s Helix
2 Assemble the Legion
1 Chained to the Rocks
1 Chandra, Pyromaster
1 Mizzium Mortars
1 Wear/Tear

Ralph (G/W Flash)
Main:
8 Forest
7 Plains
4 Temple Garden
4 Selesnya Guildgate

4 Voice of Resurgence
4 Experiment One
4 Mistcutter Hydra
4 Banisher Priest
3 Skylasher
3 Boon Satyr
2 Elvish Mystic
2 Fleecemane Lion
1 Scavenging Ooze

4 Selesnya Charm
4 Advent of the Wurm
1 Last Breath
1 Ajani, Caller of the Pride

Side:
4 Unflinching Courage
3 Witchstalker
2 Glare of Heresy
2 Last Breath
2 Riot Control
1 Boon Satyr
1 Scavenging Ooze

Ramon (B/W Aggro)
Main:
8 Plains
4 Godless Shrine
4 Temple of Silence
4 Mutavault
1 Swamp
1 Orzhov Guildgate

4 Soldier of the Pantheon
4 Dryad Militant
4 Boros Elite
4 Daring Skyjek
4 Precinct Captain
4 Banisher Priest
3 Imposing Sovereign
2 Xathrid Necromancer

4 Brave the Elements
3 Orzhov Charm
2 Spear of Heliod

Side:
3 Doom Blade
3 Dark Betrayal
2 Thoughtseize
2 Profit/Loss
2 Xathrid Necromancer
2 Sin Collector
1 Orzhov Charm

Eric (B/W Midrange) – best in handwriting
Main:
12 Swamp
4 Temple of Silence
4 Godless Shrine
4 Mutavault
1 Plains

4 Pack Rat
4 Desecration Demon
4 Blood Baron of Vizkopa
1 Sin Collector

4 Heroes Downfall
4 Devour Flesh
4 Thoughtseize
4 Underworld Connections
2 Ultimate Price
2 Duress
2 Last Breath

Side:
3 Dark Betrayal
3 Lifebane Zombie
3 Pithing Needle
2 Sin Collector
1 Duress
1 Shrivel
1 Doom Blade

Mark (U/W Control – Anti Mark Alloso Deck)
Main:
8 Plains
8 Island
4 Hallowed Fountain
4 Azorious Guildgate
2 Mutavault

1 Aetherling

4 Detention Sphere
4 Supreme Verdict
4 Dissolve
4 Divination
4 Sphinx’s Revelation
3 Azorious Charm
3 Jace, Architect of Thought
2 Syncopate
1 Elspeth, Sun’s Champion
1 Elixer of Immortality
1 Ratchet Bomb
1 Last Breath
1 Celestial Flare

Side:
3 Fiendslayer Paladin
2 Pithing Needle
2 Gainsay
2 Negate
1 Last Breath
1 Rathcet Bomb
1 Jace, Memory Adept
1 Blind Obedience
1 Celestial Flare
1 Sundering Growth

AJ (Naya halo-halo)
Main:
4 Temple Garden
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Stomping Ground
4 Temple of Abandon
4 Temple of Triumph
3 Mountain
2 Plains

4 Voice of Resurgence
4 Boros Reckoner
3 Loxodon Smiter
3 Stormbreath Dragon

4 Magma Jet
3 Mizzium Mortars
3 Chained to the Rocks
3 Advent of the Wurm
3 Xenagos, the Reveler
2 Chandra, Pyromaster
2 Warleader’s Helix
1 Aurelia’s Fury

Side:
4 Mistcutter Hydra
2 Selesnya Charm
2 Assemble the Legion
2 Unflinching Courage
2 Ruric Thar, the Unbowed
2 Wear/Tear
1 Mizzium Mortars

Alex (R/G Devotion)
Main:
7 Forest
5 Mountain
4 Temple of Abandon
4 Stomping Grounds
4 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx

4 Elvish Mystic
4 Sylvan Caryatid
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Mistcutter Hydra
4 Polukranos, World Eater
4 Stormbreath Dragon
3 Arbor Colossus

4 Domri Rade
3 Mizzium Mortars
2 Xenagos, the Reveler

Side:
4 Nylea’s Disciple
3 Ruric Thar, the Unbowed
2 Pithing Needle
2 Destructive Revelry
2 Electrickery
1 Mizzium Mortars
1 Ranger’s Guile

Sundays are our time to relax and play other Magic formats. We resumed these sessions about two weeks ago, hanging around the same ol’ Coffee Break in Smallville. Commander was the format introduced to teach the new players and also to give the community exposure to those who might be interested in learning Magic (the Gathering).

Another format that we’ve decided to bring back was Pauper Standard. Pauper rules means that only the Common card in Standard are to be used. Last Sunday, I’ve decided to brew a Pauper deck based on the popular Devotion to Black deck in Standard. Here is what I’ve came up with:

Lands
12 Swamp
8 Plains
4 Orzhov Guildgate

Creatures
3 Baleful Eidolon
2 Dutiful Thrull
4 Tithe Drinker
3 Disciple of Phenax
2 Kingpin’s Pet
4 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
2 Auramancer

Spells
2 Mark of the Vampire
2 Read the Bones
3 Quag Sickness
3 Pacifism
2 Grisly Spectacle
4 Pharika’s Cure

The first version I’ve tested two weeks ago was just mono Black, but then I’ve realized that some color splashing is needed in the deck. There was a reference I browsed from PDCMagic that was Blue Black and with a playset of Archaeomancer. That moment flashed back a mini combo that I used to do in Magic2014 Limited. The cards were Auramancer & Quag Sickness, and that made me decide that White is the splash color. And what would be the best Guild for those colors? The controlling Orzhov syndicate of course.

Extort seem to be a powerful mechanic to use in the deck, in addition to the gray merchant’s soul drain, making your late game play powerful.

I’ve tested the deck versus Mono Red Aggro, Mono Green and Green White Heroic and the results are outstanding. You just grind them with early removals and with the deathtouch Baleful Eidolon while Extorting to their life totals.

My next plan is to create an Orzhov aggro pseudo-midrange Standard deck for Tithe Drinker. She seemed to be an efficient two-drop as well as a late game Extort finisher. We’ll see what shenanigans I can come up with.

That is a wrap. Until next post.

I am sharing today a decklist from the top 16 decks of the recent Standard Grand Prix in Albuquerque. That GP saw Owen Turtenwald (piloted Mono Black Devotion) winning back-to-back, with just last weekend’s win at Washington DC. This deck archetype I am about to feature though is another take of the controllish burn deck & which it only has seven creatures to utilize for attacking.

I have counted about twenty sources of direct burn damage spells in the main and backed up by an interesting sideboard plan.

The deck finished at 11th place with 36 pts. Here is the list, played by Joe Demestrio:

Maindeck
4 Temple of Silence
4 Temple of Triumph
1 Temple of Abandon
4 Sacred Foundry
10 Mountain

4 Chandra’s Phoenix
3 Stormbreath Dragon

2 Chandra, Pyromaster
4 Shock
4 Chained to the Rocks
4 Lightning Strike
4 Magma Jet
4 Boros Charm
4 Anger of the Gods
3 Warleader’s Helix
2 Mizzium Mortars

Sideboard
4 Skullcrack
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Toil & Trouble
2 Assemble the Legion
1 Mizzium Mortars

I have come upon another deck archetype which is a rebirth of a deck in the days of Innistrad Standard: Bant Hexproof. In those days, the Bant utilized powerful critters like Geist of Saint Traft & Invisible Stalker and aura spells like Spectral Flight. In this current version, I turned into just two colors with Green and White.

Theros offered Enchantment creatures that can be ‘bestowed’ to gain advantage in combat. One of the popular Bestow creatures is Boon Satyr, a 4/2 in a cheap three drop but with a Flashy bestow for combat tricks. He has already gained a spot in G/W Aggro decks and will surely have one in my list.

Speaking of which:

Selesnya Hexproof by Mark Ian Alloso
Standard

Lands
8 Forest
2 Mutavault
8 Plains
1 Selesnya Guildgate
4 Temple Garden

Creatures
4 Boon Satyr
2 Celestial Archon
4 Elvish Mystic
2 Fiendslayer Paladin
4 Gladecover Scout
4 Witchstalker

Spells
1 Bow of Nylea
4 Ethereal Armor
2 Gift of Orzhova
2 Oath of the Ancient Wood
2 Pacifism
2 Selesnya Charm
4 Unflinching Courage

Ethereal Armor would still be the best enchantment in the deck, which end games quickly with a big pump on your hexproof guy with 21 enchantments maindeck.

Aside from the usual Unflinching Courage, Gift of Orzhova is another source of lifegain and evasion.

The new enchantment choice here is Oath of the Ancient Wood which gives your creature a bonus +1/+1 pump for each enchantment that enter play. That in turn gives you a faster clock and also give you option to pump your other Hexproof critter. Let say you have a Witchstalker and a Gladecover Scout in play and you drew Ethereal Armor. You can enchant the armor to the scout to give it +2/+2 with oath in play and the +1/+1 trigger can get your Witchstalker to a 4/4.

My creature choices are of the standard, with the new inclusion of Celestial Archon. Not an impressive five drop, but an addition to Ethereal Armor pump and oath trigger. In the late game his Bestow is at much use, getting a lowly critter into a flying, first striking threat.

Pacifism & Selesnya Charm are the pseudo removals in the deck which mostly answers the popular threats in Standard.

I have not created the sideboard yet, so it would be a big help if I can get your input on this deck list. Feel free to comment on the box below. I thank you in advance.

That’s about it for this deck tech. until next post.

In Monday’s edition of the Magic Arcana at the mothership, Wizards made an announcement of the third set of the Theros Block: Journey Into Nyx. The set will be released on May 2nd, 2014 with prerelease events on April 26-27, 2014.

More details of the Journey Into Nyx set on the link below.

http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/arcana/1361

One of my recent deck archetypes played was the Red Green Midrange version that Brad Nelson piloted in PT Theros. It looks at first like a typical ramp deck but uses a fast kill combo with half of Flesh/Blood and Bloodrush or Monstrosity.

The deck in my record has garnered me a 4-0 in FNM and a top 8 in Bacolod Theros Gameday. Dragons are the deck’s superstar and so far its only bad matchup is the Mono Black Devotion deck though Mono Blue is also a threat.

I have created an updated decklist based on the recent results of major tournaments and Grand Prix.

Lands
4 Stomping Ground
4 Temple of Abandon
9 Forest
6 Mountain

Creatures
4 Boon Satyr
4 Elvish Mystic
1 Polis Crusher
4 Polukranos, World Eater
3 Ghor-Clan Rampager
2 Scavenging Ooze
4 Stormbreath Dragon
4 Sylvan Caryatid

Spells
1 Bow of Nylea
4 Domri Rade
2 Flesh/Blood
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Xenagos, the Reveler

The card changes are Polis Crusher, Bow of Nylea, and additional Boon Satyr to make it four. The crusher replaced the fourth rampager whereas one Flesh/Blood was cut for the bow. One-ofs may not be that effective but this gives you answers in the main deck for certain matchups.

Polis Crusher can answer random enchantments like Underworld Connections, Detention Sphere, and Whip of Erebos and is a huge trampler by itself. Bow of Nylea with Polukranos’ monstrosity is a big blowout for the opponent’s critters and also gives you a lot of other options to do in the late game.

Boon Satyr is sort of a five-drop in the deck’s curve with the use of Bestow as a powerful combat trick.

My sideboard would probably look like this:

2 Bramblecrush
3 Burning Earth
3 Mistcutter Hydra
1 Mizzium Mortars
2 Plummet
2 Ranger’s Guile
2 Ratchet Bomb

Most in the list are my preference against specific deck archetypes like Bramblecrush and Plummet. I am also glad to have returned Burning Earth to the list to use against Esper and Borzhov decks. I have doubts about Ratchet Bomb versus Boros and Rakdos aggro decks but I am also concerned about dealing with Selesnya’s tokens (on which my last match was a disaster). We shall see if the local metagame shifts into more aggro decks again and fewer devotion decks.

That should be a wrap for this post, and until next time.