SEPTEMBER: GW Aggro, Naya Burn and Prison modern decks

For September 2016, I only get to play in five modern tournaments. The first was PC Butlers' PPTQ Dublin. I borrowed Binoy Espina's brew of GW aggro deck but went 0-3-2 with it. I faced the following decks: Bant Eldrazi, Death Shadow, Grixies, Mardu and Affinity. Well, as per Binoy, most of them were bad match up for his GW. I cannot recall much from that day except: (i) Thalia, Heretical Cathar was the best performing creature from his cast and (ii) how I wish his four drops were any of the grizzly utility bears. Next was a GPT at Coswort. Whenever I play fire, I usually sleeve my Boros. But for this one, I joined the bandwagon (Naya Burn) and had a total mark of 6-1 (swiss plus play-offs). Due to heavy rain, the top finishers just decided to have the packs split equally and gave the bye to the player who will go to Grand Prix it feeds. My matches by the way from that were: BW Eldrazi, UW Control, Gw Boogles, Grixis and Infect. I lost to Grixis in two games due to one land keep. My next modern was at Regran's Modern Open in which we had it six rounds. I am not sure if they had play-offs because I left the venue after round four because of poor record. I had a miserable 1-3 win-loss mark (Mono White Prison deck). I lost to the following: 4c Scapeshift, RG Tron and Abzan while my lone win came at the expense of a RG Titan-shift deck. A week after WMCQ, in which I did not take part of because of a very important errand, I participated in MDP's Saturday and Sunday games. Saturday only saw eight players. I brought my Mono white Prison deck and won all my games: BUG, Burn, Jund. Congratulations MDP for reaching core level WPN status because there were fourteen players on Sunday's event. Sadly, I (Prison deck) only had one win (Burn) and three losses (Ad Naus, BUG and Bant Eldrazi). 

11-10-3 was my total win-loss-draw mark. Not really a very good mark. I'll just have to do better in the next games. Until then folks! Thanks for reading! By the way, my calendar for October 2016:

Oct 1
PPTQ (Modern) at Hobby Pro (BF Homes Parañaque)
GPT (Modern) at R4 (Zapote Road)
Legacy tourney at ARJ (Molino)

Oct 2
One box KTK Modern tournament at Kick Engines (Cubao Expo)
Team event legacy hosted by Cedric's at BCI (Greenhills)
Sunday modern at FQ (Gabbys Mandaluyong)

Oct 8 
PPTQ (Modern) at Xtreme Cafe (Manila)
PPTQ (Modern) at NG District (Imus)

Oct 9
7th Leg PPO Modern Open at PC Butler (Sta Rosa)

Oct 14
Legacy FNM at NG Glorietta (Makati)
Modern at Black Kings Bar (Quezon City)

Oct 16
GPT (Legacy) at Kick Engines (Cubao Expo)

SEPTEMBER: Grand Prix Guangzhou 2016 (Pyromancer Ascension)

A tournament report from the Grand Prix Guangzhou, China

26 to 28 August 2016

Grand Prix Guangzhou, China (modern) is the first of two Grands Prix that I am attending for 2016. Weeks before its scheduled day one, I tried my best to locate online any of Guangzhou's or China's top performing modern decks but had no luck. So the pages tcdecks, mtgtop8 and the likes are the sites that I relied to predict on how the meta will look like. I started my preparation just this July by sleeving the unstorm version for I felt then that it was in a better position than its ritual base sibling. Unfortunately things went discordantly from what I excepted. I participated in four 40-man plus tournaments but only managed to enlist a top eight once. By the end of July, I assessed not just my performance but also the deck. Did I play poorly? How come it's  in a better position when the results were different? Does it really suit my playing style? These were just some of the questions that bugged me.

I decided to stop the losing streak by sleeving the ritual base ascension. I do not have wait that long in August to be back in the winning column because I went all the way to the finals of Friday Quest's GPT. Sadly I lost that one. The following week I went to Got Game's GPT to grind again the same seventy-five. I managed to sneaked into its the top eight but had to concede immediately because the weather was worsening by the minute. My last tune up tournament was on Pinoy Planeswalker's Fifth Modern Open that was held at Coswort. 

The Main Event
Saturday, day one. While on the way to the venue, two haunting misplay memories from June 2015 Grand Prix Singapore suddenly came into picture. Those misplays serve as my grim reminder that I must focus not just on every storm or color calculation I make, or drawn card/s, or deducted life points; but also on the smallest detail of my actions. While waiting for the players' meeting, I went back on my notes (mostly my posts here) to help me remember things/ tips. Before going to the per round report, here is my seventy-five.

RD 1 Merfolk
Our game one ended quickly because I went off at turn two. How? Here. I was on the draw, turn one drop Scalding Tarn, cracked it at his end of turn for a Steam Vents. Second turn, fired Gitaxian Probe (drew Past in Flames) and saw a bunch of lord effects. At the drop of the hat, I review cards in my hands in the hope that everything will fit in a square. Here's the rest of the sequence. Dropped an Island tapped both lands for Pyretic Ritual followed by Manamorphose (Gitaxian Probe) into a Goblin Electromancer. Used the remaining red source for two Desperate Rituals. Pay two life points again for the second Gitaxian Probe (Manamorphose). Cast the second Manamorphose (Grapeshot). Storm count is now at eight with floating four red and two blue and my hand has a Grapeshot and a Past in Flames. Fired the Grapeshot for nine damages before slingging Past in Flames. Recycled some rituals into Grapeshot thus effectively netting my first victory in China.

Game two was different. Cursecatcher and friends (counter spells) were there to halt every attempt I made. I eventually surrendered to his school of fish. I had an almost the same opening seven just like what I had from our game one. The only difference was Manamorphose only came to my aid in fourth turn. I began my assault with a Gixtaxian Probe, saw his lone Negate bravely standing tall against my rituals, golden goblin, Gifts Ungiven and Past in Flames. I win through Grapeshot just as before time expires.

out: 1 Goblin Electromancer, 1 Pyromancer Ascension, 1 Thought Scour, 1 Sleight of Hand, 1 Gitaxian Probe
in: 4 Lightning Bolt, 1 Echoing Truth

Tip: Most of the time Merfolks will not have creature removals for games two or three. So never hesitate to bring your goblin on turn two so that you'll have more resources on the following turn. Also, always fetch for those Steam Vents. If you are asking why, Spreading Seas can make you go mono blue.

1-0  (2-1)

RD 2 Grixies
Game one, I started my turn three by paying two life points for Gitaxian Probe and saw his hand: Young Pyromancer, Lightning Bolt, Mana Leak, land and Izzet Charm; and ended it with calling my golden goblin to the table. He started his fourth turn with a Young Pyromancer then bolt my goblin before tapping out for Serum Visions. Perfect! Just the way I wanted him to be, tapped out. For my fourth turn, I summoned my second goblin, jam all the ritual and Manamorphoses into Gifts Ungiven calling out this pile: Past in Flames, a ritual, Grapeshot and Manamorphose. He offered to go to game two instead of selecting which cards will go to my hand and graveyard. I lost game two because he drew all the counter spells he needed in stopping my onslaughts. Gurmag Angler and Tasigur, the Golden Fang team-up to force a do-or-die game. Game three was unforgettable. Time was a little below five minutes when I glanced at it.

I murmured to my deck that we need a fast win condition. My opening seven and six were not great. My heart beats fast as I drew my five: land, two rituals, Empty the Warrens and Manamorphose. Another land card from the scry, KEEP. When I get my turn two, my hand was: two rituals, Manamorphose, ETW. Testing the waters for counter spells, I casted one of the rituals. He just allowed it. Then the second ritual. He looks at me in the eye. I blinked and checked my graveyard. He allowed the second ritual to resolve. I bring down the Manamorphose, and asked him if this is good. Again, he looked at me in the eye as if he was an eagle sizing up at his prey. I flinch from his dagger and turned my attention to my graveyard and started to separate them into two piles. He tank for a second or two, looking and observing my actions before allowing the Manamorphose. I drew brick from the red-green spell. Bring down ETW and started counting the storm. "FOUR. For FOUR. Eight tokens, if all resolves." I lion-heartedly said to him. He just nod signifying that all ETW resolves. Those tokens were able to deal eight damages a turn after they were called for duty. Then in his turn, he summoned a Young Pyromancer to which I gave a thumbs up for its resolution. In a hotfoot, he paid two life points (Gitaxian Probe) and points at me for his sorcery peeping card. Realizing his recklessness, I waved my hands like "look sir I do not have anything on my hand." He immediately drew a card off the Gitaxian Probe and pointed to his Young Pyromancer and went to grab an elemental token. I did not allow such. I politely explained to him about his mistrigger. He called for a judge to enlightened him on his error. He casted a Lightning Bolt (this time he made sure that he will have a token off his YP) killing one of the goblins before passing the turn. I drew for the turn, Grapeshot. Cast it at his YP then I swang all the remaing seven 1/1 goblins. He blocked one. He drew for his final turn and extended a hand. WIN!

out: 3 Gitaxian Probe
in: 3 Empty the Warrens

2-0  (4-2)

RD 3 Bant Eldrazi
I won our first game without me seeing that much information from him. All I know for three turns were he dropped ouch lands and a Noble Hierarch. In Game two, Eldrazi Temple managed to sneaked into his hands and used it in calling out an Eldrazi Displacer. That was his final turn of the round because I ended it with goblin, rituals and Gifts Ungiven fetching: Past in Flames, ritual, Manamorphose and Grapeshot.

out: 1 Thought Scour  
in: 1 Echoing Truth

TIP: I prefer not to use the ETWs if I have no idea what the opposing player is on.

3-0  (6-2)

RD 4 URW Ascension TITI
Game one, I was weavering on the early part of game one because I thought that he was on URW Nahiri. His first two land drops were a Hallowed Fountain and a Steam Vents plus he was not doing anything an except casting an  end of turn Thought Scour that milled a Lightning Bolt and a Serum Visions. It was only on turn five that I was able to clam myself when I saw his hand, thanks to my Gitaxian Probe: Slieight of Hand, Serum Visions, Lightning Helix and Lightning Bolt. I won the game a turn after via Goblin, rituals, gifts and PiF. He won game two in stlye, flipping his two foil Thing in the Ice in one turn with Gitaxian Probe, Serum Visions, Lightning Bolt and Lightning Helix then swing for 14. Game three: we came to a cross point where he had an online Pyromancer Ascension and six open mana while I only had four mana and a couple of Pyromancer Ascension with one counter each on the table; and my hand was: a Desperate Ritual, Gifts Ungiven and a Gitaxian Probe. The moment he untapped his land, I started calling the names of all the angel and saints for I know the end is near. To everyone's surprise he dropped Thing in the Ice, flipped it after four spells and pass the turn. I cannot believe it! Six mana open with an online ascension, and opted to go the muscle way? I took a deep breath and untap, checked my cards at hand: Desperate Ritual, Gifts Ungiven and a Gitaxian Probe. On my table I had four mana and a couple of Pyromancer Ascension with one counter each. And in my graveyard: Desperate Ritual, Pyretic Ritual, Sleight of Hand, Gitaxian Probe, Though Scour and a Manamorphose. I drew for the turn, Past in Flames. Again my hand now is: Desperate Ritual, Gifts Ungiven, Gitaxian Probe and Past in Flames; and I have four mana and a couple of ascensions that has a counter on each. My life points was at twelve (I think) and surely passing the turn is not an option because if he's able to draw a bolt or helix or cantrip into bolt spell plus attack, I am dead. Okay deck I believe in you, LET'S DO THIS!

Cast Desperate Ritual to make both ascensions go online. Now I am just needing a land in order for me to go the Past in Flames route. I have 3 red floating and two open mana. I paid two life points but draw bricks (Manamorphose, Serum Visions and Echoing Truth). I laid back on the chair, talked to myself, checked my hand: manaM, sisions, truth, gifts and PiF with 3 red floating and 2 open mana. Firing visions will undoubtedly be the end of my streak. I still have one route available, Gifts Ungiven. Cast the 4cc instant blue spell leaving me with one red floating. The copies (off the ascensions tiggers) had the same content: ritual, ritual, manam and Grapeshot. But the last one (the original one) had this: Sulfur Falls, Island, Mountain and Shivan Reef. He extends his hand as soon as I revealed the Past in Flames. WIN.

out: 1 Thought Scour
in: 1 Echoing Truth

4-0  (8-3)

RD 5 ScapeShift
Unfortunely for him, he drew bricks in both games. I simply took advantage of the situation by going as fast as I can. Game one I went off turn five via an online ascension into Grapeshot. Game two, despite his Engineered Explosives at zero, I still went off at turn 4 via goblin, rituals, gifts and double Grapeshot.


out: 1 Thought Scour, 1 Gitaxian Probe, 1 Pyromancer Ascension, 1 Sleight of Hand
in: 3 Blood Moon, 1 Echoing Truth

5-0  (10-3)

RD 6 Death Shadow
I lost game one in one blow: Monastery Swiftspear, Mutagenic Growth, Become Immense and Temur Battle Rage. My Lightning Bolts took care of his early beaters before double Grapeshots forced a rubber match. Game three, situation was this: life points 16 (me) 13 (him). On the table he had a Wild Nacatl, Death's Shadow and a Monastery Swiftspear and two Stomping Grounds open and three or four cards at hand, while on my side: 14 goblin tokens. I swang for 10. He blocked three and took seven, 16 (me) 7 (him).  I prayed to Keranos that no bolt will be thrown at me at my end of turn. He untapped for his turn, YES NO BOLT! Drew for the turn and attacked. I placed one goblin on swiftspear, nacatl and two at his shadow. He makes a little calculation, then extends his hand. WIN.

out: 3 Gitaxian Probe, 1 Gifts Ungiven, 1 Pyromancer Ascension, 1 Sleight of Hand, 1 Thought Scour, 1 Grapeshot
in: 4 Lightning Bolt, 1 Echoing Truth, 3 Empty the Warrens

6-0  (12-4)

RD 7 Infect
Game one: turn two he pumped his infect elf with Pendelhaven and Might of Old Krosa before attacking me with it. I said take. Then two more Mutagenic Growth show up. I pick up my lonely tapped Steam Vents after that nefarious incident. Games two (and three), he had an opening Leyline of Sanctity but a second turn Blood Moon shuts him totally down. I took my time in sculpting my hand before inflicting his first loss of the day. WIN.

out: 1 Goblin Electromancer, 1 Thought Scour, 1 Sleight of Hand, 3 Gitaxian Probe, 1 Gifts Ungiven
in: 2 Blood Moon, 4 Lightning Bolt, 1 Echoing Truth  


7-0  (14-5)

RD 8 UR Storm
Off the bat I knew that we are mirror. I lost this round in two games because he drew better cards.

out: 1 Sleight of Hand
in: 1 Echoing Truth

7-1  (14-7)

RD 9 URW Nahiri
Game one: at one point he tapped out his resources. I finished him off when I got my turn back. In game two, he kept a hand full of counter spells and enchantment removal. I lose to his Emrakul, the Aeons Torn in one swing.  Midgame of game three: I used Gitaxian Probe and saw his solid hand: two Negate, 1 Wear/ Tear, 1 Engineered Explosives and 1 Electrolyze. Then cast Empty the Warrens (storm two) in which he just let it resolves. Four 1/1 managed to deal damage before he was able to control them via Electrolyze, bolt and Snapcaster Mage to bolt again. In his second tapping out, I summoned 6 tokens this time his Engineered Explosive took care of them. I drew the following turn (third copy of ETW). I lean back to have a good look at the table then read our situation. For his side of the table: three open mana, life points is at nine or ten (I think) and 4 cards at hand in which two of them are Negate. His lands could have been at five but he opt to bring down his Rest in Peace as his assurance for my Past in Flames loop. And I have these: (hand) ETW, fetch, probe and two rituals; (lands) three blue-red mana. I look at the clock and it's at a little over 7 minutes. I make my move by firing Gitaxian Probe (storm 1). He has the same cards at hand just I expected. Probe gifted me a thrid copy of ritual. Cast the first of three rituals (storm 2). He put on the table his beautiful bling Negate (storm 3) to counter my slightly played ritual. I then dropped my fetch searched for an island, tapped both lands for my second (storm 4/ 3 red) and third (storm 5/ 4 red) rituals into ETW (storm 6) for 12 1/1 goblins. He failed to draw any answers for my angry mob. I win in one swing. WIN. 


out: 1 Grapeshot, 1 Pyromancer Ascension, 1 Thought Scour, 1 Gifts Ungiven, 1 Gitaxian Probe
in: 2 Blood Moon, 3 Empty the Warrens

8-1  (16-8)


RD 10 Bant Queller
Game one, I had terrible mistake. I accidentally put a card on top of the pile of my cards at hand while resolving the scry of Serum Vision. I got a warning and he got to choose a card from my hand, shuffle it back to my library. I lose game one because of his timely Spell Quellers exiling all my key spells. I won game two because I puked 16 goblins by turn two. Won game three as well by wiping his entire battalion with Grapeshot and a turn after, recur all instant and sorceries from the graveyard. 

out: 1 Thought Scour, 1 Gitaxian Probe, 1 Pyromancer Ascension, 1 Sleight of Hand
in: 4 Lightning Bolt

9-1  (18-9)

RD 11 Ad Nauseam
Game one: in his turn three, he taps out for Phyrexian Unlife. And when I got my turn back (turn three), I started with the golden goblin then jam all of my spells (rituals, manaM and cantrips) until I was able to fish-out a Past in Flames; recycled them over until Grapeshot reaches my hand for the win. On my second turn, I dropped Defense Grid. On my third turn, I summoned 26 goblin tokens. I called (again) all the angel saints that he will not go off in his would be last turn. My prayers were answered! I swang for lethal. He had an Angel's Grace but could not use it because he was not able to meet Defense Grid's requirement. WIN.

out: 4 Gitaxian Probe, 1 Sleight of Hand, 1 Pyromancer Ascension  
in: 1 Empty the Warrens, 1 Defense Grid, 1 Echoing Truth, 3 Blood Moon

10-1  (20-9)

RD 12 Mardu
I won game one through Pyromancer Ascension that went online on turn four or five. Blood Moon totally contused on his quest of having an x-1 mark by round 13.

out: 1 Grapeshot, 1 Pyromancer Ascension, 1 Gitaxian Probe
in: 3 Blood Moon

11-1  (22-9)

RD 13 Naya Burn
I lost in two games because the deck gave me bricks after bricks while on his end, it seems like he has an infinite supplies of goodies (Goblin Guide, Monastery Swiftspears, Eidolon of the Great Revel and bolt spells) in both games.

out: 2 Pyromancer Ascension, 4 Gitaxian Probe, 1 Thought Scour
in: 4 Lightning Bolt, 2 Empty the Warrens, 1 Echoing Truth

11-2  (22-11)

RD 14 Goryo
I lost game one because he as able to pull out his combo a turn before I can go off. An online Pyromancer Ascension carried the team to game three. Unfortunately, things did not went for the home team in the deciding game. To make matters even worse, he was able to pull his combo, again, a turn before I do. The lost serves as the last nail to the coffin on my aspiration of playing in the top 8 of a Grand Prix.

out: 1 Thought Scour, 1 Sleight of Hand
in: 1 Blood Moon, 1 Echoing Truth 


11-3  (23-13)

RD 15 Infect
I lost game one because I drew bricks. He was successfully dealt 10 poison counters by fourth turn. Game two, I won in my third turn thanks to my discount giving goblin making all my red rituals ala Dark Rituals. He had Spell Pierces in halting my attempt to go off.

out: 1 Goblin Electromancer, 1 Thought Scour, 1 Sleight of Hand, 3 Gitaxian Probe, 1 Gifts Ungiven
in: 2 Blood Moon, 4 Lightning Bolt, 1 Echoing Truth

11-4  (24-15)

At the end of two days of modern magic, I landed at 37th place. Gifts Ungiven was superb all tournament long. A million thanks to all Filipino modern community for without guys, I would not hone my counting skills! To JFFL, RJFL and Chabengs. And lastly to HF, MM all the angel and saints, YOU WERE ALL GREAT!

And before I end this, here is my calendar for modern.

September 3
PPTQ at PC Butlers (Sta Rosa, Laguna)

September 4
PPTQ at NG Centris (Quezon Ave.)
GPT at Coswort (Dasmarinas)
Modern at Kick Engines (Cubao Expo)

Thank you very much for reading!  

-Paeng Paeng
6214089146

AUGUST: 5 Peso Stumpy in Grand Prix Guangzhou, China (side event)

I promised my 5 peso stumpy deck that whenever I go abroad I'll take her with me. So when I went to Guangzhou, China for the Grand Prix, I fulfilled again that promise. She get the chance to dance in China's ballroom floor when I registered her for the legacy side event. Even though the said event had only four rounds, it has a lot of unforgettable things.

RD 1 MUD Eldrazi

Game one ended when he called a Chalice of the Void setting it at one. However, things were different in game two because I had him at turn two. Two Invigorates and two Berserks to my attacking Jungle Lion on my turn two forced a do-or-die game. Unfortunately I got stuck on one land in our game three, sans I lose. 

0-1  (1-2) 

RD 2 Sneak Attack

For game one, his Emrakul 15/15 ate me and my pets alive. In game two, Griselbrand swang at full speed but Fog greeted him not just once, but twice. I won game two with a collected effort from Kavu Predator, Nettle Sentinel, Rancor and Skarrgan Pit-Skulk. But game three did not end in our favor. Griselbrand and Emrakul team-up to hand us our second loss of the day. Show and Tell into Sneak Attack into Griselbrand and Emrakul, GG.

0-2  (2-4)

RD 3 Eldrazi and Taxes

Second turn Stoneforge Mystics Calling out an Umezawa's Jitte, GG. Jungle Lion immediately avenge our loss by finishing him off on turn two,  two Invigorates and two Berserks. Game three took us like 30 minutes to settle things down. A top decked Eldrazi Displacer was all he needed to send my creatures to oblivion thus nullifying their inherent abilities to block. 

0-3  (3-6)

RD 4 bye

YAHOO! A win for my beloved deck in a foreign soil! I know its a bye, but I'd still count it as a win.  ^_^

What a weekend it was! Thank you for reading and I wish you all good luck in the upcoming third WMCQ this September 17th.


-Paeng Paeng

AUGUST: Pyromancer Ascension

After a frustrating July with the Unstorm version, I summoned my ritual base deck to help me get back on the winning track. August 6th was a perfect date for raking planeswalker points due to high number of modern PPTQ and GPT contests around the metro. Sadly, I sit out on all events because I went pokemon hunting with my son. The following day, in as much that I would like to play in a PPTQ than a GPT because of its multiplier, I went to Friday Quest's GPT,  with this list, because it was the nearest playground that offers a multiplier to where I was. FQ registered 21 players, five rounds of elimination swiss and a cut to top 8 to help determine who will have the bye allotted. My matches were as follows.

Ad Nauseam 1-1

Mono Black W

Abzan Aggro W

Naya Burn W

Titan Shift id      

Q: UWr Nahiri W

S: Naya Burn W

F: Titan Shift L

I ponder on three things from this experience. First, game one versus Ad Nauseam. He used his Pact of Negation in vitiating my game breaking ritual. During his upkeep, after resolving his flower artifact from its suspension, cracked it and tapped his two mana cast Ad Nauseam with Phyrexian Unlife on his side. Realizing that I do not have counters to halt his engine, he grabbed his entire deck and showed it to me. I checked its content and respectfully gave it back then began picking up my cards. As soon as I was skimming on my fifteen, I suddenly recall his Pact of Negation trigger. I should have won that one but instead of crying over spilt milk, I simply shrug it off and focused on our incoming game two. Second, Echoing Truth is an answer against an unknown deck especially if the game ended in just three or four turns without you seeing much from his side. This happened to me against my third round opponent, an Abzan aggro. I won game one on turn three. I did not see that much so I included my singleton Echoing Truth together with my three pieces of Empty the Warrens without me knowing that it will save my ass from the jaws of defeat by bouncing Worship before swinging for lethal. Third, an opening hand with only a land (regardless if it is a basic, dual or fetch land) is a big no especially if you're in the finals. With me behind the wheels of an Ascension deck, especially if it has two or three cantrips with it, I am not that pessimistic. Unfortunately against the Titan shift, I kept a hand of a Sulfur Falls, rituals, Manamorphose and a Blood Moon. Three or four turns after, I lose.

August 13th saw three modern GPTs around the metro, Got Game (Makati Square), Dragonforge (Katipunan) and PC Butlers (Sta Rosa). I went to Got Game's GPT because it's the nearest to where I was. Because of the bad weather, Got Game only had 26 players, 5 rounds of elimination swiss and a cut to top 8 to help determine who will have the bye for Grand Prix Kuala Lumpur. My matches were as follows.


Naya burn W
Elves  W
Ad Nauseam W
* ID
CoCo id

* - I cannot recall what was his deck.

And since I do not after the byes for GP Kuala Lumpur, not to mention the worsening weather, I simply conceded to my quarter finals opponent (Dredge) so that I can go home early. There were only two good things that I would like to share from this grind. First against Naya Burn. It was his third turn, I think. He's tapped out but had an active Eidolon of the Great Revel plus a bunch of cards at hand; and to make more unfavorable I was down to twelve life points. I dropped my third land, cast Goblin Electromancer (10), cast a ritual (8) (3R), then Manamorphose (6) (2R 2B), followed by Serum Visions (4) (2R 1B) that handed the Grapeshot I needed in killing his enchantment creature (2) (1R 1B). I win from there (through another ritual, Past in Flames into recycling my graveyard). Second, against Ad Nauseam. His Spoils from the Vault failed him because the named card  showed only after 22 flips. Mentally looking back I think I do not have any misplays in this grind.

August 20th, Coswort hobby shop (Dasmariñas, Cavite) hosted Pinoy Planeswalker's Fifth Modern Series. There were 18 players, 5 rounds of swiss with play-offs. By the way I am still on the same seventy-five. My matches were as follows.

Merfolk 2-0
UR Eldrazi 2-1
Grixis 1-2
Wb Eldrazi hatebears 2-1
Bloom ID

Q: Merfolk 2-0
S: Infect 1-2

Reminders
I've said this before, and I will say it here again. Against the Merfolk deck, always fetch for Steam Vents because you do not want to go double island (thanks to their Speading Seas turning your lone source of red mana) a turn after your second land. Also, there's a probability that his school of fish can out run (lord effects plus islandwalk) your horde of goblins. If you're planning to take the goblin route still, make sure you'll win in one swing. Again, please be mindful of their Cursecatchers for it can ruin your math. Gifts Ungiven instructs us to look for up to FOUR cards with DIFFERENT names on it. This could also mean four different lands. I could have won my third round if I only saw that side of the coin.

All in all I ended up with a 12-3-5 win-loss-draw mark. I hope I'll have good results in the upcoming war that I'll be participating with. Anyway, before parting our ways, my calendar for modern.

August 27
Modern returns at BCI Jupiter Makati
PPTQ hosted by R4

Day one
Grand Prix USA
Grand Prix China
Grand Prix France

August 28
PPTQ at Dragonforge (Katipunan, QC)

Day two
Grand Prix USA
Grand Prix China
Grand Prix France

September 3
PPTQ at PC Butlers (Sta Rosa, Laguna)

September 4
PPTQ at NG Centris (Quezon Ave.)

Thanks for reading!

-Paeng Paeng
6214089146

AUGUST: The Epic Storm (TES)

I had five chances of testing my TES deck but only managed to play one. It was a legacy FNM at Neutral Grounds Glorietta (Makati). We only had it 4 rounds. My match ups were as follows.

Burn 2-1

Belcher 2-0

Burn 2-1

Lands 2-0

My losses were due to their Eidolon of the Great Rebel. I had two good memory that I can recall from this FNM. First was gainst the belcher. It was game two he summoned 14 or 16 1/1 goblin in his turn one. I Ponder shuffle and just pass in my opening turn. His troupe almost depleted my life total. When I got my turn back, before the draw phase, my relevant hand was a Lotus Petal, an Underground Sea, a Dark Ritual, 2 Rite of Flames and Lion's Eye Diamond before top decking an Infernal Tutor for the turn. Second was against the land deck. Game two I summoned a mob of goblins. I prayed like a saint that no Glacial Chasm or The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale or Crop Rotation will come to his aid. My prayer was heard by the storm god Keranos. Thank you for granting!

And before I end this, here is my legacy calendar. 

Regular legacy tournaments

August 16, 23 and 30 

Cedric's 

Manila

August 20 and 27

Kick Engine's

Cubao Expo

   

August 20

ARJ

Molino Mall

Molino, Cavite

Legacy special monthly

August 28th

Cedric's

Manila

Thanks for reading guys! I hope to see you in any eternal tournaments!

-Paeng Paeng

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JULY: PPTQ Dublin

I sat out all but one of last year's modern PPTQ tournaments due to a personal reason. For this year's PPTQ modern contests, I hope that I will be able to book my name in one of the seats they'll be giving away. My campaign begins at Neutral Grounds Alabang Town Center (July 23rd). For a registration fee of Php 300, we got 67 players, 7 rounds of swiss plus cut to top 8 play offs. I bet everyone of those 67 players went home very happy. I dropped from the said event after the sixth round. My matches by the way were as follows.

Grixis 0-2
RUG 2-0
URW Nahiri 1-2
Jund 2-1
Affinity 2-0
Grixis 1-2

The loses
One land keep. Out of 15 games, probably I had it like 5 to 7 games. And out of those numbers, I lost like 3 or 4 times. It really takes guts in deciding if you are going to keep such. Sometimes it gives you very good draws, well if that's the case then good job and congrats for your gamble pays-off. But most of the time, you will just end up losing the game because you lack the correct number of mana for your spells. Unfortunately, during this PPTQ at NG ATC, I experienced the latter.

Another reason why I lost games was falling short of mana. Recalling one of those games, I was just needing  a Manamorphose to ignite the loop. But unfortunately, when it reached my hand, I only had like one floating available. My remedy to this problems, go off at the last possible window of opportunity.

And lastly, the paying of two life points from either Noxious Revival or Gitaxian Probe. There are two answers to this problem (I think): (i) use them patiently and wisely; (ii) include Lightning Helix. With the addition of the boros spell, it not just ease the scoring load from Lightning Bolt, it also gives you enough life cushion. Meaning it gives you an extra time needed in order for you to do or set up the loop. And speaking of Lightning Helix in an Ascension deck, congratulations to Harane Kenta and Akira Asahara for landing second and fourth respectively in their modern WMCQ.

Friday  Quest's PPTQ was scheduled on the following day but I failed to be there on time. I still went there and took a selfie while everyone was wearing their poker faces. That's level two Judge Nick Yu giving us a thumbs up by the way.

And before parting our ways, my calendar for the next two weeks. Enjoy.

July 2016
30 - PPTQ at Wabshaq (Casimiro)

31- PPTQ at Kick Engines (Cubao Expo)
31 - GPT at Raxx (Marikina)

August 2016
6 - PPTQ at NG Glorietta (Makati)
6 - PPTQ at MTG Vault (Banawe St. QC)
6 - GPT at R4 (Zapote Road, Alabang)
6 - GPT at Hobby Pro Central (BF Homes)
6 - GPT at Regran (QC)
6 - GPT at Madcap (San Pedro)
6 - GPT at Wabshaq (Casimiro)

7 - PPTQ at Madcap (San Pedro)
7 - GPT at FQ (Mandaluyong)

In case you are asking where is the RPTQ it feeds, here.

Thank you very much and I wish each and everyone of you a happy August ahead!

-Paeng Paeng
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JULY: Pyromancer Ascension

Modern season was officially upon us right after the first World Magic Cup Qualifier (WMCQ) had its winner. The two weekends following it, aside from the regular modern PR-pass tournaments in every shop, we saw multiple modern GPTs. To name a few: Dragonforge (Katipunan), Raxx (Marikina), Hobby Pro Central (BF Homes), NG ATC (Alabang), Modern Series Open at MDP and Wabshaq (Madcap Gaming), Regran Open Modern (Quezon City), PC Butlers (Sta Rosa) and Got Game (Makati Square).

July 3, less than a week before the scheduled second WMCQ, I brought my beloved Pyromancer Ascension deck at Got Game's modern GPT. I had the same sixty but differs a little with the fifteen. The said event had 60 plus players, six rounds and a cut to top eight playoffs. Here were my matches. 

Valakut 2-0

Ad naus 1-1

URW Nahiri 1-1

Affinity 2-1

Jund 2-1

Naya Burn 2-0

Q: Jund 0-2   

The event reminded me of three things. First, timing is very important against an Ad Nauseam deck. This archetype can win at instant speed even if you have an online Pyromancer Ascension on your table. All he will have to do is respond to one of your spell, either at your first spell or the spell before whatever your win condition, draw his entire library, use his Pact of Negations either in negating your spell or to protect his, and win from there via Lightning Storm. And if in case he does not have the combo pieces yet, he can still halt your offensive onslaught by firing an Angel's Grace or Silence.

Second, URW Nahiri Control deck, excluding Snapcaster Mage's flashback giving ability, has an average number of six to seven counter spells in its main; and two to three more plus other form of hate for your permanents in its sideboard. So if you find yourself paired against this deck, patience is going to be your best friend. Seize the moment when he taps out or when there are only a few lands available for him to use.

And third, keeping a one lander in a game three, is ... uhmmmm ... not a good idea.

Three days after, there were a lot of modern tournaments around the metro because July 6th was declared a non working holiday. After finishing all my obligations for the day, I went to the nearest to my home, Aaron Manalo's group at BGC High Street. I brought the same seventy-five. We started like six in the evening and had it four rounds. My matches were as follows.

Esper 2-0
Mono Black Control 2-1
RG Tron 2-0
4c Gifts Control 2-0    

Visions of Beyond was superb against Mono Black Control because it draws me heap of cards that I used in sustaining my momentum. Also, Noxious Revival did a great job keeping Gifts Esper's Unburial - Iona, Shield of Emeria route at bay. If you happen to be around BGC High Street on a Wednesday night, and is itching to play modern, you can find them at the second floor of Bo's Coffee BGC HS.

July 9, the day everyone was excited for. There were a total of 450 plus registered players; which means ten rounds plus day two top 8 playoffs. Unfortunately I had a miserable start dropping three of my first four games. I left the event two rounds before its scheduled completion with a 4-4 win-loss mark. My match ups were as follows:

Affinity - L
URW Nahiri - L
Jund - W
RG Tron - L
UW control - W
Ad Nauseam - W
Naya Burn - W
Elves - L

Before ending this, here's what I have in my modern calendar for the next few weeks. Enjoy!

July 2016
July 23 - PPTQ at NG ATC (Alabang)
July 23 - GPT at Dragonforge (Katipunan)
July 24 - PPTQ at Friday Quest (Mandaluyong)
July 24 - GPT at NG District (Imus)
July 30 - PPTQ at Wabshaq (Casimiro)            
July 31 - PPTQ at Kick Engines (Cubao)
July 31 - GPT at Raxx (Marikina) 

August 2016
August 6 - PPTQ at NG Gloritta (Makati)
August 6 - PPTQ at MTG Vault (Banawe)
August 6 - GPT at R4 (Zapote Road) 
August 6 - GPT at Hobby Pro (BF Homes)
August 6 - GPT at Regran (Quezon City)
August 6 - GPT at Madcap (San Pedro)
August 6 - GPT at Wabshaq (Casimiro)
August 7 - PPTQ at Madcap (San Pedro)
August 7 - GPT at Friday Quest (Mandaluyong)




 The RPTQ that these modern PPTQ feed can be found here.
Thank you very much for reading! 

-Paeng Paeng

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