Monday 30 January 2017

JANUARY: UR STORM


Greetings everyone!

I am sure a lot of people were saddened when they announced the ousting of Gitaxian Probe from Modern. But what can we do? We are just merely mortals playing under their roof. So instead of getting frustrated at it, I simply moved on and find a suitable replacement for our dearest sorcery cantrip. Immediately the cards like Peek, Faithless Looting, Telling Time, Peer Through Depths, Anticipate, Visions of Beyond and Lightning Bolts were the things that come into mind. Amongst them, my top three are: Lightning Bolt, Faithless Looting and Peer Through Depths.

Faithless Looting and Peer Through Depths
Faithless Looting gives you the speed needed for you to dig in your first two turns. Peer Through Depths will give that deep plow you badly need, especially if there is an active online Pyromancer Ascension.

Lightning Bolt
My top pick is this card because of two reasons: (a) serves as a removal for his x/3 and below creatures; and (b) serves as the second win condition especially if Pyromancer Ascension is online.

Speaking of cards to be included in the deck, Baral, Chief of Compliance seems a neat pick but only if you are packing yours with a Remand for that Remand-Manamorphose loop combo. Otherwise, I'd say 3-1 split with Goblin Electromancer with the blue-red goblin at three.

For the month of January, only two ascension decks partake around Metro Manila’s GPT modern. Aside from me, Ian Rombawa did a great job on landing fifth (out of 45+ players) on Kick Engine’s GPT Vancouver. Faithless Looting was the card he picked as replacement for Gitaxian Probe and his match-ups are as follows:
4-1-1
RD 1 Abzan 2-0
RD 2 Boros 2-0
RD 3 Grixis Control 0-2
RD 4 Esper Control 2-0
RD 5 Eldrazi Taxes 2-0
RD 6 ID

And here's mine from the Finale Series of Pinoy Planeswalker Open:
4-2
RD 1 Grixis Control 2-0
RD 2 Eldrazi Bant 1-2
RD 3 Affinity 0-2
RD 4 Reanimator 2-0
RD 5 BW Tokens 2-0
RD 6 UW Thopter 2-0

Some notes that I would like to share from my experience:
- Lightning Bolts in the main are great except during my round fourth.
- I have no Faithless Looting, so my first turn cantripping maneuver was lessen. There were times that I felt the effect of not digging in my first turn. I'll definitely give the deck some changes in which I'll include a couple of this.
- Thing in the Ice is a Wrath of God with legs that flies. Super awesome against aggro base decks.
- I had a turn two win. Also, I had two turn three wins.
- Won against Disallow.
- Opponent forgot to pay for his Pact of Negation upkeep trigger.
-The eight cards at hand technique works well with four Grapeshots in the sixty.

Thank you very much for reading!
Until next time!

-Paeng4983





 

Tuesday 3 January 2017

JAN 2017: MODERN GPTs around the Metro Manila

Before we get the ball rolling, I wish you all the best things in life for this 2017!

I did not post that much during the last quarter of 2016 because I was not performing well in all of my outings with my Prison Deck. It was also during this time that I saw my worst modern output: a 13-game losing streak from two 0-5 (win-loss standing) GPTs and a regular four rounder! 

Anyway enough of those unfortunate memories, let me end my first post for 2017 with a compilation of Modern GPTs around the metro. Enjoy!

MTG Vault (near Banawe St., Quezon City)
February 4
March  4
April 1

Friday Quest (Gabbys, Mandaluyong)
January 7
February 5
March 5

Kick Engines (Cubao Expo, Quezon City)
January 21

Dragonforge (Katipunan, Quezon City)
January 8

Raxx (Marikina)
April 16

OHS (Vito Cruz, Manila)
February 4
March  4

Magical Dream Portal (Bicutan, Parañaque)
February 26

Oh My Games! (BF Home, Parañaque)
January 8
February 25

PC Butler (Sta. Rosa, Laguna)
January 7
February 5

R4 (Zapote Road, Las Piñas)
January 28

Mage Ring (Dasmariñas, Cavite)
January 8
February 24
March  5
April 2

-Paeng
6214089146