MARCH 2019: UR STORM

UR STORM 

Paeng Paeng 

Main deck

4 Pyromancer Ascension

3 Baral, Chief of Compliance

3 Past in Flames

2 Grapeshot

1 Electrodominance

4 Desperate Ritual

4 Pyretic Ritual

4 Manamorphose

1 Increasing Vengeance

4 Serum Vision

4 Sleight of Hand

4 Thought Scour

3 Faithless Looting

1 Peer Through Depths

1 Repeal

4 Scalding Tarn

2 Misty Rainforest

3 Steam Vents

4 Spirebluff Canal

3 Island

1 Mountain

Sideboard

1 Defense Grid
3 Lightning Bolt

2 Blood Moon

2 Echoing Truth

2 Abrade

2 Empty the Warrens

2 Surgical Extraction

1 Tormod's Crypt

Friday Quest

Mandaluyong City

16 March 2019

Dredge 1-2

Grix DS 2-0

Humans 2-0

BUG Control 2-1
(3-1) (7-3)

GG

Makati Cty

23 March 2019

UR Phoenix 2-1

UR Phoenix 2-1

BW Tokens 2-0

Gb Elves 1-2
Abzan 0-2
Humans 0-2
-dropped-

(3-3) (7-8)

Notes

It's raining Surgical Extractions. 

Versus Dredge: game three and it was in his second turn's upkeep (I had a Surgical Extraction in hand) and in his graveyard he had the following: Stingweed Imp, Bloodghast, and a Faithless Looting. I initially thought of firing my black instant card to the imp to slow him down but decided to hold it to check if there's something valuable after his dredge. I soon regret for not firing it.

Manamorphose got Surgical Extractioned many times. Good thing Faithless Looting is a red card and it helped me fish out the cards I need. 

Whenever I use multiple cantrips in a turn, I always take the combination that will give me the deepest dig possible. This is because digging deeper allows me to see more options for my hand. 

Electrodominance can also be a spot removal. 

And speaking of the new red instant card, here are some of the situations I had.

-He Surgical Extractioned my Manamorphose with high hopes that I'll be having a hard time to find blue mana for my cantrips. But an online Pyromancer Ascension plus Past in Flames + 2 red rituals + Electrodominance and a Increasing Vengeance won me the game. 

-Online Pyromancer Ascension + rituals + ED for x + copy ED off PA’s trigger = lethal x damage ftw.

-Baral, Chief of Compliance + rituals + ED for x  + leave 1 or 2 mana open + free PIF from your hand + recycle those red rituals + recycle the dead ED, this time for lethal x damage ftw.

-Baral + rituals + ED for x + Grapeshot from hand storm for lethal.

-Opponent’s end of turn (better if with Baral on the table, but can also be done without) + rituals and Manamorphose + ED for x damage + Empty the Warrens from hand. I have yet to experience the end of turn Grapeshot version of this. 

-Versus humans, opponent dropped 2 Meddling Mages naming Grapeshot and Past in Flames during his second and third turns. I ramped for x mana in my last possible turn dealing x ED damage (plus the copy off PA’s trigger to make it lethal) and the win the game.

-Opponent’s life total was at 15 and my storm count was only at 10. One card was left in my hand (Sleight of Hand); no online Pyromancer Ascension on the table and no Past in Flames in my graveyard and my floating mana was 18 (15R and 3U). I casted the last blue sorcery cantrip (15R – 2U – 11 storm count) and was able to fish out an Electrodominance. WIN.

-Opponent was still at 15. On my table I had the following: an online PA and 2 UR lands. I started my offensive onslaught by casting a Desperate Ritual and a Manamorphose (2 storm count, 6R 2U floating mana). Electrodominance for 6 (on the stack). PA trigger copying ED for 6 (on the stack). PA trigger resolves dealing 6 (down to 9). Before the Orignal ED resolves, dropped Grapeshot from the hand and casts it for free (with 3 storm count trigger) dealing 5 (3 due to storm trigger + 1 from the card itself + another 1 damage off the PA's trigger copy). Then the orignal ED resolves, dealing lethal damage. WIN.

-I had a game one situation wherein opponent Surgical Extractioned my Past in Flames, Grapeshots, and Manamorphoses. I still won the game by ramping into 14 red mana into Electrodominance + Increasing Vengeance.

Overall, I think Electrodominance is a very good addition to UR Storm because: (i) it serves as another win-con outlet; (ii) does not use graveyard; and (iii) you'll need not to worry about mass creature removals.

That's all for now guys. Thank you for reading.

Paeng 4983
0123456789

Modern tournaments around the Metro
March 30 
Radioactive (Anonas, QC)

March 31
Fast Effects (Pacita, Laguna)
Regran (QC)

April 7
Kick Engines (Cubao Expo)

MARCH 2019: ABZAN

The 38% win-rate spell was finally broken when I went undefeated at Fast Effects' second sanctioned modern tournament last March 9th. 

Fast Effects
Pacita, San Pedro, Laguna
9 March 2019 

UR Delver tempo 2-0

Mono Black control 2-0

Scapeshift 2-1

(3-0) (6-1)

Notes: 

Destroy whatever you can on his side before combat. Because whatever dies, grows the Tarmogoyf. 

Spirits off the Lingering Souls are superb in buying you time. 

I think I will really need to master the art of waiting in order for me to maximize the value of my removals. 

In the long run, I think Tireless Tracker is better than Dark Confidant, at least for this kind of build. 

Even though it was just a three rounder event, I am happy that somehow I improved piloting a BGx deck. 

That's all for now. Thank you very much for reading. 

Paeng_4983

FEBRUARY 2019: REVOLT ZOO

Revolt Zoo

Paeng Paeng

Main deck

4 Arid Mesa

4 Wooded Foothills

4 Windswept Heath

1 Misty Rainforest

2 Stomping Ground

1 Sacred Foundry

1 Temple Garden

1 Forest

4 Kird Ape

4 Goblin Guide

4 Narnam Renegade

4 Experiment One

4 Wild Nacatl

4 Hidden Herbalist

4 Burning Tree Emissary

4 Reckless Bushwhacker

2 Simian Spirit Guide

4 Lightning Bolt

4 Atarka's Command

Sideboard
4 Boros Charm

4 Chained to the Rocks

3 Tormod's Crypt
3 Destructive Revelry
1 Runed Halo

MADCAP GAMING
San Pedro, Laguna
23 Feb 2019

Match-up
RD 1 Mono Red Phoenix 2-1
RD 2 Mono White aggro 2-0
RD 3 Humans 0-2
RD 4 UR Phoenix 2-0
RD 5 Jund 2-1


REGRAN OPEN

Modern

24 Feb 2019

Match-up
RD 1 UR Phoenix 0-2
RD 2 Prison Deck 2-0
RD 3 8-rack 0-2
RD 4 Tron 1-2
RD 5 Ad Naus 2-0
RD 6 - dropped - 

Notes
Chained to the Rocks > Path to Exile. We are both aware that PTE offers speed; but I still prefer to use the enchantment card because: First, it dodges Dispel. Second, it can handle Reality Smasher, Emrakul, Aeon of Thorns, and the like creatures. And lastly, the land off the PTE could fuel your opponent's momentum. 

The attendance of artifact and/ or enchantment based decks are not that rampant these days. So I lessen Destructive Revelry's number by one to make room for a very good defensive card, Runed Halo. Runed Halo's versatility is well explained in Jeremy Dezani's article. 

Boros Charm. Dealing four damage to your opponent is nice but giving your permanents an indestructible is better.

I really love the extra speed off Simian Spirit Guide. I had this game wherein my opening hand was: fetch, SSG, AC, BTE, herbalist, narnam, and an ape. And in my next turn, I top decked my second land. Swing for 15 damage! After a quick computation, he immediately conceded.

Always look for the combination that will do maximum damage to your opponent. 

Cannot block flying creatures? Atarka's Command gives reach. In case Wurmcoil Engine is on the opposing table, Atarka's Command can negate the colorless' lifelink ability. 

Tormod's Crypt is great! Aside from it being free to cast and free to activate, it also helps in triggering Reckless Bushwhacker's surge cost.

Reckless Bushwhacker, even without any surge, has haste on its own. I had a game wherein I should have won three turns earlier if only if I was aware of its inherent haste ability.

I should have swang my entire team in front of an Eidolon of the Great Revel, but I hesitated. I was so concern of the ten (10) damages from the eidolon. If only I swing my team, his life total will go from 15 to 2. I clearly missed that line of play. 

Keeping four (4) land cards during your opening hand is not a good idea - except if it has three or four fetches in it. I think three lands (or two lands provided most, if not all, of the cards with it are at one casting cost) is a good number to keep. 

I really hate 8-rack especially Raven's Crime.

I lose to Tron because he top deck Ugin, the Spirit Dragon in both games.

Well I guess this is all for now. Thank you for reading and I hope to see you in any of the following eternal events around Metro Manila!

March 3
Fast Effects (Modern)
Cedric's Cafe (Vintage)
Radioactive (Pauper) 

March 10 
Kick Engines (Modern Majors III)
Radioactive (Modern)

March 17
Kick Engines (Legacy Majors III)
Mana Underground (Modern Tournament)
Regran Open (Modern)

March 23
Got Game (Modern tournament) 

March 30 
Radioactive (Modern)

March 31
Old School Magic (93-94) 
Regran Open (Modern)

April 7
Kick Engines (Modern Majors)

April 14
Kick Engines (Legacy Majors)

April 27

Malolos Toy Con (Moder)




Paeng Paeng
+6324091983

FEBRUARY 2019: REGRAN MODERN META

Hey you! Yes, you! This is going to be a quick read. Promise!

I know you are preparing for the upcoming Regran Modern tournament this 24 Feb 2019, right? Here's the statistic figure from the last three Regran Modern Open Tournaments (January 13th, January 27th, and February 10th) (top 8 only, 24 decks in total).

Enjoy!

Burn 4 (16.66%)

Dredge 3 (12.50%)

UR Storm 3 (12.50%)

Tron 2 (08.33%)

UR Phoenix 2 (08.33%)

Ad Naus 1 (04.16%)

Affinity 1 (04.16%)

BG 1 (04.16%)

Blue Moon 1 (04.16%)

BW Taxes 1 (04.16%)

CoCo 1 (04.16%)

Grisel-Shoal 1 (04.16%)

Humans 1 (04.16%)

Scapeshift 1 (04.16%)

UW Control 1 (04.16%)

I told you, it's going to be a quick read. Thank you and good night! 

Paeng Paeng

FEBRUARY 2019: JESKAI DOMINANCE

JESKAI DOMINANCE
Paeng Paeng

4 Steam Vents 
4 Flood Strands
3 Island 
4 Sulfur Falls / Spirebluff Canal
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Hallowed Fountain

4 Desperate Ritual 
4 Pyretic Ritual
4 Manamorphose
1 Increasing Vengeance

4 Serum Visions
4 Thought Scour
4 Sleight of Hand
3 Faithless Looting
1 Repeal
1 Peer Through Depths

4 Pyromancer Ascension
3 Baral, Chief of Compliance
2 Past in Flames
2 Grapeshot
1 Electrodominance
1 Silence / Gifts Ungiven / ETW / GS / PiF

Sideboard yet defined. 

FEBRUARY 2019: BOROS BURN

Skewer the Critics is one of the reasons why I sleeved modern boros burn deck for Regran's January 27th modern tournament. Though I had a disappointing stint from the event, my happiness towards the new red sorcery card did not just end there. 

So I still sleeved boros burn for the next Regran modern tournament - with a little adjustment in the sideboard. 

Regran Open (Modern)

Quezon City

10 Feb 2019

Boros Burn

Main deck

4 Skewer the Critics

4 Lightning Bolt

4 Lava Spike

4 Rift Bolt

4 Skullcrack
3 Searing Blaze

4 Boros Charm
2 Lightning Helix

4 Eidolon of the Great  Revel
4 Goblin Guide

4 Monastery Swiftspear

3 Mountains

4 Sacred Foundry

4 Inspiring Vantage 

8 red fetches

Sideboard

3 Path to Exile

2 Torpor Orb

2 Celestial Purge 

2 Ensnaring Bridge
2 Leyline of Sanctity
2 Rest in Peace
1 Graftdigger's Cage
1 Combust

Match-ups
UR Phoenix 2-0
Tron 2-1
UR Phoenix 2-1
Scapeshift-Prime time 2-1
UR Storm ID
UR Storm ID

(4-0-2)  (8-3)

Notes

My third top 8 finish out of the last four Regran Open Modern Tournament. 

Torpor Orb > Obstinate Baloth and friends. 

Eidolon of the Great Revel was amazing all day long  because it approximately inflicted six to eight damages each time it is on the table. I cannot imagine a burn deck without these creature enchantments in its sixty. 

I will probably remove those Celestial Purges in my fifteen because (I think) PTEs, RIPs, and Bridges are enough cards when going up against team Phoenix decks. I will replace them with either Wear // Tear or Smash to Smithereens because I had this one game vs UR Phoenix (game two of round three) that he had this Dragon's Claw and it irked me a lot because that gave him enough life cushions to send the game in a rubber match. 

This is all for now. Thank you for reading!

PAENG PAENG
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JANUARY 2019: BOROS BURN

Burn

Main deck

8 red fetch lands, 4 Sacred Foundry, 4 Inspiring Vantage, 3 Mountain

4 Lightning Bolt, 4 Lava Spike, 4 Rift Bolt, 4 Skewer the Critics, 3 Searing Blaze, 4 Skullcrack, 2 Lightning Helix, 4 Boros Charm

4 Goblin Guide, 4 Eidolon of the Great Revel, 4 Monastery Swiftspear

Sideboard

2 Ensnaring Bridge, 3 Path to Exile, 2 Torpor Orb, 2 Celestial Purge, 1 Graftdigger's Cage, 2 Kor Firewalker, 1 Mindbreak Trap

Regran Open

Regran Hobby Shop

Quezon City

27 January 2019

Notes

The last time I used a burn deck was on June 2016. To this day, my knowledge of the deck is a little out-of-date. To help me freshen things up, I asked a few active burn individuals about how is burn doing in today's meta. Most of them responded positively which was enough to convince me play the deck again. 

Ensnaring Bridge > Searing Blood. Yes the latter deals damage but I prefer the former because it can keep an army at bay - which is sufficient enough (at least for me) to buy time to win game.

I decided to include Torpor Orb in the 15 because I was expecting decks that abuse creatures which have comes into play triggers. 

Landfall timing is important. Most of the time during mid games, I crack my fetch land in my upkeep with a prayer that I'll be drawing a Searing Blaze on my draw step. 

Skewer the Critics, the number of this card in the main deck? TWO. Four is too much (I think). And three is ahhh... uhmmmm... Can be. (I think). 

I was having a great run during the first three rounds of the event. Unfortunately, it was in the fourth round when things suddenly changed after I answered a phone call that had something to do with work errand which left me no choice but to drop from the roll and report for duty. 

This is all for now. As of this posting, I am still trying to get rid of the adrenaline stress. ^_^ 

Thank you for reading! I hope to see you in any of the eternal tournaments that I have so far in my February 2019 calendar. 

February 2019
3 - Fast Effects (Modern) (Pacita, Laguna)
10 - Regran Open (modern) (Quezon City)
10 - Kick Engines (pre-modern) (Quezon City)
24 - Regran Open (modern) (Quezon City)
24 - Kick Engines (legacy) (Quezon City)

not yet confirmed
16 (or 17) - (modern) Canlubang, Laguna

Paeng Paeng
0987654321