A friendly reminder before September 5th

Hello folks!

After days, weeks or even months of preparing for the much anticipated modern WMCQ this September 5th in Glorieta 5 Makati, can you answer all the questions: Are you ready for it? Your main deck and its fifteen card sideboards, are they final? Have you done pre-registering for the event? If you’re not qualified to participate in the said event because you failed to gain at least 300 planeswalker points from the period fixed by WOTC, do you have any plans of playing in any of the Last Chance Qualifiers pod that Neutral Grounds Glorieta will host this September 4th? Whatever your answers, I wish you good luck!

And let me expound a little my good luck by adding some reminders that I wish will be of help for your modern WMCQ campaign.

First, please be in Glorieta 5 Makati at least an hour ahead of the designated time for players’ meeting. This is to lessen, if not totally avoid, whatever hassle you might encounter along the way.  Also, please try not to be late in each round. This is WMCQ, judges will strictly implement the rules regarding tardiness.

Second, please write neatly and make sure that you will completely note down the name and number of the cards properly on your deck list. To those who are not aware of this: abbreviation and short cuts are not allowed. As much as possible, do not make any last minute deck tweak for this may result for your deck list error violation which might cause you losing one game.

Third, the first five rounds of the event are important. Normally this serves as our indicator if we have any chances of making it to the top eight. So make sure that your body is well conditioned for the gruesome battle. A decent sleep, a great breakfast, water and snacks are just some of the things you will need to fuel yourself in propelling your way to the top.

Fourth, stop look and listen. Whenever there is an action being done, STOP for a second and try to LOOK on the table and check for whatever effect and/ or triggers that may arise. And if a problem occurs, never hesitate to call a judge. Whatever the ruling, LISTEN to him for you might use the lesson learned to your succeeding rounds.

And lastly, enjoy every second of it. This is just a game. There’s no need to take things personally. If you are that dead serious with it, fine. As much as possible, please do not lose your cool during the event.

Again people, have fun and GOOD LUCK in your respective campaign!

-Tiyo Paeng

MODERN META (8-25-15)

Hello folks!

Modern WMCQ is just days away!

Aren’t you excited? Are you satisfied with your deck’s outcome from the FNMs or any modern tournaments you participated? Are you, in whatever way, still undecided with what deck or sideboard card/s to use? Are you still wondering how the meta would look like? These are just some of the queries I am sure that are popping out from your inquisitive mind. With this article, I hope I’ll be of help with your preparation by briefly discussing our would be meta – at least as I foresee it.

 

Burn base decks

Mono Red Burn (RDW), Naya Burn, Boros, RGw Burn and Sligh are some of the decks that falls under this name. Make sure you use your resources wisely because they deplete opponent’s life in a very short notice. If you are thinking of using enchantment or artifact as your sideboard of choice, think again for they have Destructive Revelry as counter measure for your hate. And do not forget about their Skullcrack and Flame of the Blood Hand just in case you plan to flight them with life gain.

Fast aggro decks

To name a few right now Infect, Naya, Gruul beats, Mono Green agro, Soul sister, Zoo, GW agro, Boogles, delver base agro decks, Affinity and Elves. Speed is their key weapon. And if you cannot keep up with them, good luck. Mass removals (Pyroclasm and the like) or prison cards (Ghostly Prison and the like) are a very good way of keeping them at bay. Or if you think you can outrun them, better.

Mid game aggro decks

Collected Company, UWx Geist variant, Merfolk, Abzan Rhino, Junk DnT, RUG, GW Maverick, Living End and Tokens are just some of the decks that we see in our meta. Unlike those decks that fall under the fast agro deck group, they normally win during mid game because they tend to control the early part of the game either by disrupting/ controlling your board state or by out tempo-ing you with their counters and removals or by simply taxing your spell more.

BGx decks

Jund, Junk, BG, and BUG are the decks that come out from my mind. They specialize in controlling the boards, although some includes cards at hand and graveyard. If you are on a fair deck, expect a grindy situation. Also blue decks be warned, they have Chokes. For those builds that love to control you by means of disrupt, do not forget Leyline of Sanctity.

Kiki Jiki variant

UR and URw are the most popular variation of this archetype. Please be aware that the deck can also be used as an alternative main deck (or even a transformational) win condition in Collected Company, RW midrange decks, Grixies, UR or URw non twin main deck variants and Living End decks. Always use your spot removals wisely.

Control decks

When we talk about control, Manila has the following: Esper, Tron variants, Blue Moon, Tezeret Control, Grixies, UW and UWr control, Mono Black, Scred Red, Solar Flare and Lantern Control. Board control is their specialty, so bear in mind that over committing against any of them is not be a good idea. If you are facing this archetype, please play astutely.

Combo decks

Bloom Titan, Hive Mind, storm base decks, Jeskai Ascendancy, twin variants, Ad Nauseam and Melira Pod are the combo decks we normally see in our meta. Eidolon of Rhetoric, Eidolon of the Great Rebel, Thalia, Ethersworn Canonist, Surgical Extraction, Extirpate and Vryn Wingmare are the best known hates for this group. And if your sideboard card did not come in time, good luck.

There you have it folks. I wish you good luck in our fast approaching modern WMCQ (Glorieta 5, September 5th).

-Paeng

Misplay

Hello folks!

We both know that at some point of our playing days, we all have that not-so-good-tournament-performance. Some attribute this to their getting up at the wrong side of the bed. Some connect this to whatever feng shui they have for their decks. Some simply blame their sideboard card which fails to reach their hand in time. While others fault themselves because of their misplays.

Misplay, a lot of people define this as “making play X when play Y was the better play.” As pointed out by James Reed in his work, there are reasons why people misplays: (i) lack of knowledge, (ii) forgetting or overlooking cards or effects and (iii) Playing cards, attacking and/ or blocking (PAB) in an incorrect manner. Aside from having it during your game/ match, are you aware that misplay can also be committed even before and after the game/ match? This was mentioned in an article by Dan Barrett in which he discussed the seven (7) types of misplays. Number one (1), five (5) and six (6) talked about: (i) poor knowledge of the format/ metagame; (ii) poor deck choice; (iii) not having constructed your sideboard correctly; (iv) poor shuffling; (v) arriving late at your designated table; and (vi) deck registration error. Although Xrystina Marcos was talking about losing her game in her work, she mentioned one good definition of a misplay; and that is to be able to see what was wrong with my first and second line-of-play.

Our modern WMCQ is just three weeks away. Here are some of friendly reminders that might help you in reducing them, I hope.

1. You must carefully assess every card in your seventy-five (75). Because modern is so diverse, be certain that every card in your seventy-five are flexible enough that can deal with other archetypes.

2. It is utmost important that you must correctly write the card name and its numbers in your deck list. Abbreviation and/ or short cut are not allowed. Please do not forget to write your name and DCI number at the designated box.

3. There should be no discrepancies between players’ life points. Make sure to check this every time a damage or loss of life is being done. One life point could be the difference between winning from losing the game. To help you remember things, especially if there is a need for a review, please write down a word or an abbreviation of that card that causes the damage/ loss of life beside the life changes on your note pad.

4. Communicate well with your opponent. Make sure that both of you are on the same page to avoid any issues that might arise.

5. Armed yourself with the correct rules, interaction, and proper trigger resolution/ reactions of your cards. You can gain this through any of the following: (i) brainstorm or play test religiously with your group and discuss the different scenarios that you’ll encounter; (ii) play at your LGS or modern FNMs; (iii) simply ask any judge or get some tips from player/s who is/are on the same deck as you are.

6. When playing, make sure you’ll mentally double/ triple check each move you’ll do. Also before making a move, make sure to read each card on the table (especially those of your opponent’s) so that you will not miss any trigger that might hamper your plan. Exercise the same vigilant thinking in each spell you cast, before you could announce anything, check for any triggers that might affect you and/ or your spell. Please do everything at a reasonable phase.

7. Always be attentive at your opponent’s every move. Make sure he is doing everything proper.

8. If you find yourself in the middle of whatever argument with your opponent, do not settle things between yourselves. Call a judge for better enlightenment.

9. During combat, make sure you are fully aware of those creatures that have first or double strike, trample, lifelink, protection and other abilities inherent of the creatures involved. Make sure of your math is correct. Again, compute everything at a reasonable phase.

10. Getting to excited, nervous, cocky or other emotions within you can also be a contributory factor in helping you in committing misplays. So please control yourself of these factors.

11. If you commit a misplay in a game, do not overreact. Overreacting to it will put you in a quicksand thus making you prone to commit more misplays later on. Remain calm, assess the result of the situation and figure out if there is another way for you to win the game. (Reed)  

12. And lastly, some people commit this after the game, please do not forget your belongings especially your deck. This is the biggest misplay ever you will make.

Misplay will always be there for us to commit if we’re not that prudent enough. And if in case you just did one, do not overreact and do not waste time by blaming or debating yourself during the game. Just be calm, regroup and try to win the game with whatever left in you.

Thank you for spending your precious time reading this.

I hope you remember any of this when September 5th comes.

And in case you are looking for a great playground for a modern play test in preparation for your modern WMCQ, here:

All Fridays where a LGS host a modern FNM.

August 15

GPT at R4, Zapote Road, Alabang

PPTQ at Battlegrounds, Pasig

August 16

PPTQ at Comic Quest
*This will be at Alphaland Mall, Magallanes, Makati*

PPTQ at Tobey's Cafe, Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong

August 29

GPT Sydney at Xtreme Hobby Cafe, UST Sampaloc, Manila

Champion gets 10k pesos cash.

Have a great day everyone!

-Paeng

Manila’s modern World Magic Cup Qualifiers (modern WMCQ) is set on 5 September 2015. Our beloved Neutral Grounds will host this event and will take place at Glorietta V’s ground level. Sweet news for every modern player. A chance to put his name and be part of the 2015 Team Philippines Worlds.

Philippine modern meta is full of combo decks. Ad Nauseam, Bloom Titan, Collected Company variants, Twin variants and Infect are the decks they say are the most rampant in the field right now. When asked for agro decks, they responded with: Red Deck Wins variants, Affinity, Delver Variants, Merfolk and Jund/Junk. And as for control decks, Tron variant, Grixis and UW were their answers.

“I never thought I’ll be facing <deck>.”

“I told you. <Name of the side board card> is a must in this kind of event.”

“Alas! I boarded the wrong card. I never thought he’d take those away for game three.”

“My side board card didn’t reach me in time, thus I lose.”

“I have dedicated <number of side board cards> for Boogles deck. I didn’t face one.”

“Most of my side boards are meant for combo decks, I faced none.”

These are just some of the reasoning you will hear from the players usually after a round.

Side board/ side boarding is a very important part/ aspect of our game. Let us talk about it.

In an article penned by Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa, he suggested that side board slot should be expanded from 15 to 20 cards.  Personally, I like this idea. Just imagine the possibilities of what we can do with it; playing in a Grand Prix Modern with 20 cards as your side board. Who wouldn’t like that? Unfortunately, as long as Wizard of the Coast (WOTC) does not change the number of our sideboard cards, we are left with no choice but to enlist 15 and maximize its usage to the fullest. And speaking of maximizing it to its fullest, Reid Duke confers it in his work. He said it in this wise, “Your card choices are made based on what you intend to do during side boarding, and what you do during side boarding fits with your card choices.”

In order to help us on how to improve our side boarding, I asked some players if they can share their secret/ tips on how they do it.

Juancho Fabregas: It is important to know your deck’s weaknesses. From there, commit some slots on the side board.

Arrian Ordoñez: I normally check first the archetypes that are my bad match up. Then play test those decks to help me understand more. And lastly after games of playing against them, decide how many side board cards I will allot to help me improve my winning percentage.

Jason Baes: I side board to negate their side boards.

Paul Licarte: I do not like my sixty to be diluted with the side boards. So most of my fifteen has one-off with Blood Moon and Stony Silence as exception.

Ricardo Nisperos Jr: It is important also to know what to remove from your sixty.

Rami Hourani: If I am on a tried and tested deck, and is on everyone’s radar, I’ll probably need more devastating cards to help me counter their preparedness.

Richmond Tan: I looked at the possible meta and adjust my side boards accordingly.

Lizzie Dee: Gauntlet play testing with possible side board cards in the deck is how we do things. In this way, we can fully assess if those cards are really needed especially against bad match ups. And I also read materials relevant to the format I intend to participate.

Allan Oca: I’ll check for any recent tournaments and check the content of their side boards. And will try to analyze why they have such. From there, I will try to improve my side board line up. Meta reading is also a must.

Jackson Azarcon: Most of my side boards are for my bad match ups, namely Tron and combo decks.

Carlos Callangan: In usually adopt the list of the recently most successful deck. Then adjust his side board list a little in order for it to perfectly suit in our meta.

Martin Marcelo: I want my side board option to be very good against something in the meta instead of being just decent against many deck. 

Hezekiah Dealca: I usually have the one-off card. Take my side board plan versus Twin for example. I use Choke as one of them.  Choke is very good versus blue decks. But playing with two Choke in a meta so diverse, I don’t think it is a good idea because chances of facing that many blue decks is slim. That’s why I prefer the one-offs for there are cards that are good against not just one but against another as well.

Philipp Schonegger: My fifteen complements my sixty.

Eugenio Araño: When side boarding, remember these questions: (i) How did I lose/win? (ii)Are there cards in my hand/ battlefield that did little or no impact?

There you have it guys. 

I hope you remember the tips they shared. 

Good luck in your preparation for modern WMCQ!

- Paeng

Hello, my name is ....

27 July 2016

Hello everyone! Welcome to my page, Dear Tiyo Paeng!

My name is Paeng from Manila, Philippines. This page will contain mostly my Magic: The Gathering (MTG) opinion, thought and tournament experiences. Other topics that I will post here are food, travel and some daily experiences.

Going back to MTG, eternal is the format that I relish the most; more specifically legacy and modern. The Epic Storm (TES), Belcher, AnT, Burn and Five Peso Mono Green Stumpy are my legecy decks. As for modern, I have the following: UR Storm, Burn, URw Delver Tempo and Goblins.

It was the year 1996 when two of my classmate then introduced me this game. They thought me how to use fire, black-blue magic, and white sorcery. But what really interest me then was the brute strength that mono green team has to offer. My MTG playing days was cut short when Weatherlight (1997) came out primarily because I got addicted with other hobbies. 2007 when the game reintroduce itself again. I was passing by Synergy then when I saw a bunch of guys sitting across and beside each other, with poker faces on and holding a number of cards. And ever since rediscovering it, it becomes my primary hobby.

I do not have that much to gascon in my resume as a player. And if I am to write down my answer on 'what are your greatest accomplishments in MTG', I would probably write these down: ( i ) owning chiefly Paeng Cup Eternal Tournaments, ( ii ) playing the game and seeing the world because of it; ( iii ) winning every legacy and modern tournaments, regardless of its population size, or even just by making it to the top 8 of a big eternal event; and lastly ( iv ) meeting new individuals.

And there it is, my brief introductory about myself. And since 5 September 2015 is fast approaching, which means modern WMCQ, most probably my next post will be with that format.

Until then folks! Thanks for reading!

-Paeng