Game #252: Siona, Captain of the Pyleas

Game #252: Siona, Captain of the Pyleas
Date: 2021-2-6
Location: Spelltable (OR, TX, NJ)
vs: Radha; Yorvo Lord of Garenbrig; Zacama, Primal Calamity
Result: Fun Win

This was my first, and only, Spelltable playing experience. It was fun. I played with my friend from Baltimore and his friends/family.  It took a bit of rigging to get my camera set right, but worked fine in the end.

I started with 4 lands, but little in the way of offense (of course, Siona is the only creature, so it’s hard to mount an early offense), though I had Spear of Heliod on turn 3.  Radha had a Magus of the Moon, and Yorvo got pretty crazy fast. Zacama had early beefy dinosaurs, but had to drop out due to lack of battery.  I played Siona on turn 4 and on turn 5 I played Shielded by Faith and made a Myriad  (10,000 being my arbitrarily large number of choice for this deck), but with no haste, Yorvo found an answer with Oblivion Stone, and my army perished.  However, by turn 9 I managed (and sadly it was not recorded exactly how) to beef up Siona to 1-shot Commander Damage size and win the game.

About the Deck (TappedOut — Someday):  Siona has cool art and I had planned to build her as a “creatureless” deck, though not an all Auras/Enchantments deck like Alela is.  It took me a bit of time to remember what Aura there was that could auto attach to a creature, but I managed to ‘figure it out’ on my own without turning to the internet to tell me how to break Siona.

Game #249 : Greven, Predator Captain

Game #249: Greven, Predator Captain
Date: 2021-1-2
Location: My House, Portland, OR
vs: Hamza, Guardian of Arashin
Result: Neutral Win

My wife had to work on the weekend, so I asked my Brother in Law if he wanted to bring his kids over to play with their cousins. He, unprompted, also brought his Commander deck, and as the 3-year-olds played noisily, and the 9-month-old tried to sleep, we tried to get a kitchen table game in.

I ramped to a turn 4 Greven, and Hamza just couldn’t keep up with Menace (or Threaten effects). I hit for 7 (Act of Treason on potential blocker, that got sacced), 10 (Enslave on a potential blocker, sacced), and then just 5 for the 21 commander damage.  It wasn’t a very fair match-up, but I had been meaning to play this deck.   The awake children were getting two loud on the main floor (where baby was sleeping), so we opted to go to the upstairs play area for the next game…

About the Deck (TappedOut — Someday):  This is a “Solo” Greven deck  (Solo being a better name for “Creatureless”).  It makes use of static buffs, good reusable auras and enchantments, a few ways to generate blockers, and lots of threaten type effects to feed Greven.  I own a copy of Hatred, but didn’t feel like buying another one for this deck; I don’t actually remember if I moved it to this one.

Game #155: Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest

Game #155: Shu YMeun, the Silent Tempest
Date: 2015-03-18
Location: Family Game Store
vs. Gisa; Sun Quan; Jarad; Shauku the Endbringer
Result: Fun Win

vs

 

I had lots of land to start, but it was a good thing. Sunquan started with a Chasm Skulker and Shauku cycled a Decree of Pain. I cast Shu Yun and on the next turn attacked Shauku (no blockers in a creatureless deck) after playing a Sol Ring, Jeskai Banner and Brute Force with enough mana left over to make my 9/7 guy punch twice for a total of 18, which sort of woke up everyone else. Shauku was also building a pretty strong presence with Greed, Coffers, a Mirari, etc. I missed my chance to turn Shauku into a Monkey with pongify before he equipped her with Swiftfoot boots, and then Shauku at my guy (who could now kill him with no help… though I wasn’t going to go after Shauku next).

Gisa had a rings of brighthearth that never got to get used, and tried for Ugin, which Sun Quan countered. Shauku ate a Vorinclex (yay!) and then Hexed away some of my stuff and a bunch of Sun Quan’s tokens. I recast Shu Yun and Shauku ate him again. At this point Sun Quan had 2 Caged Suns AND a Gauntlet of Power (and I only had one basic Island). Jarad and Shauku come close to clearing the board again, and some how they both get out of the game. I had been trying really hard to get some Jeskai Ascendancy shenanigans going, but I only had one card in hand most of the time (I did have a 0-cmc artifact, so a Banishing Knack would have been pretty rad).

Gisa tapped out, and I was able to use the double “Prowess” and a Pongify/Curse of the Swine/Merchant Scroll for/Brainstorm/rebounding un-blockable spell to buff up Shu Yun enough to kill Gisa. Sun Quan had a Leyline of Anticipation but was at 8 life, and smacked me down to 4. In response to the rebound he flashed in an Ulamog, thinking he had me beat, but the card I had kept with my Brainstorm was Ajani’s Presence, and I made Shu Yun indestructible AND unblockable and swung in to win the game as the store was closing up.

About the Deck (Tapped out Someday)
I thought about doing a Tiny Leaders Shu Yun, but EDH was more fun (I also am considering switching my RWU humans deck to being a shu-yun deck, but that is not this deck).

I really wanted to mess around with Jeskai Ascendancy, which reminded me a lot of the glory days of Miracle Gro, and I wanted an exuse to get Monastery Mentor into a deck as well. The deck is mostly Monk Tribal, but not entirely. It also has a Sunforger package, and plays Epic Experiment. I didn’t realize how explosive it could be (granted Brute Force is pretty, well… brutal) with Shu Yun. I briefly considered building it as Shu Yun only, but I did that with Narset (whose Transendant version may join this deck)

Game #154: Ayesha Tanaka

Game #154: Ayesha Tanaka
Date: 2015-03-18
Location: Family Game Store
Vs.Gisa; Gisela, Blade of Goldnight; Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord; Horde of Notions
Result: Neutral Scoop Loss

 vs

I had lands to play with plus a Silver Myr to start.   I had an early Trinket Mage (which I foolishly used to grab Helm of Chatzuk for the fun of it), and I played Ayesha pretty early on.  Gisela had a Militia’s Pride, Gisa had a Whip of Erebos and stuff. Jarad was getting down with an Ob Nixilis the Fallen and Liliana of the Dark Realms.  Horde of Notions cast a Windfall that kind of sucked for me (I lost Qucksilver Gargantuan, Pili-pala and the Alchemist guy that un-taps things, all of which I had plans for).

I  cast a Fabricate for Master Transmuter (also possibly a foolish choice), and then a Darksteel Juggernaut.   Jarad played the new Temur mill-8 and put 2 into play spell into a Massacre Wurm and Vorniclex (MAN do I hate Vorniclex), and I bit the bullet and turned it into a 0/1 indestructible insect artifact, but having to tap lands made it suck for me, and not for anyone else.  Gisa swung big at Gisela. I transmuted in a Colossus of Akros.  Jarad had built up a pretty big board and also had a Sheoldred that was messing me up a lot, and then Jarad cast Sepulchral Primordial taking my Quicksilver Gargantuan (who became a really big Gisa).

Jarad cast Wave of Vitriol, which really sucked for me since my entire board was artifacts (many indestructible ones that had to be sac-ed) and I had quite a few good non-basics in play. My hand at the time was two lands, and replacing my other non-basics with basics was going to do me jack squat.  I was basically out of the game, so I scooped to kill of the Quicksilver Gisa.

Actual Gisa swung huge at Jarad and went to 102 and then killed everyone else with a Gempalm Polluter.

About the Deck ( http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/ayesha-tanaka-sonic-titan/ )

Ayesha Tanaka has two things going for her: Banding, and a somewhat unique tap ability (okay, and also Silver Samurai/Destroyer Armor in the background), so I decided to build a deck around her.  Banding is one of my favorite old-school abilities, and I decided for this deck that it represents her being some sort of Mech pilot. There are plenty of giant indestructible robots (Darksteel, Blightsteel, and of Akros Colossi) and a few little ones to band with and absorb damage.  There are also a number of swords (I love Hero’s Blade) and shields and suits of armor for her to suit-up into if she needs to go it alone.  Lastly, this deck is the perfect fit for the Kaldra pieces, which always end up getting cut from other decks.

There are also some mana generating tricks (Grand Architect/Pili-Pala,  Illusionist’s Bracers and Aphetto Alchemist, etc) to fuel a giant Rocket Launcher if necessary.

I was listening to a lot of Yamantaka // Sonic Titan while building the deck and it seemed fitting to name the deck after them.  It was almost Ayesha Battles the Pink Robots (but she’s totally on the robots’ team)

Game #136: Narset, Enlightened Master

Game #136:Narset, Enlightened Master
Date: 2014-10-01
Location: Family Game Store
vs. Prime Speaker Zegana; Baru, Fist of Krosa
Result: Fun Loss

vs

I started the game with a three land hand, none of which produced colored mana (Sunhome, Slayer’s Stronghold, Cathedral of War). I kept it anyway and drew… Rogue’s Passage. By turn 6 I also had a mountain and a plains, but no blue. Baru had a Sylvan Library, Chameleon Colossus and was doing pretty well. Zegana was ramping and had a Psychosis Crawler. Baru hit 8 permanents on a Genesis Wave for 8 and was looking very strong.

I cast narset and swung into Zeganna, who did not block with a 4/4 Psychosis Crawler (thanks First Strike and Exalted). I got a Beacon of Tomorrows. On the extra turn I got two extra attacks, and I Long-Term Plans-ed for Alpha Brawl (to take care of Baru’s board) but didn’t notice that Baru had an Altar of Dementia, so it got milled away (grrrrr….). I had Divine Reckoning in hand to take care of Baru’s board when he was going to pop Nissa Worldwaker’s ultimate, but instead he just used Overrun via Garruk and smashed us.

About the Deck (http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/narset-pre-build-copy/)
Narset stood out to me as the most fun of the new Khans. My deck isn’t super original (I faced a similar one last week). Narset’s the only creature (other than kobold, Keyrune or Tatsumasa tokens). I tried to limit the number of Extra Turn spells, only playing Beacon of Tomorrows, but I do like Extra attacks a lot. Hedron Matrix is a favorite choice because it’s The Matrix, and Narset is Keanu. The other goal is to get all three in-color “Dragon” enchantments on her to make her a Serra Lightning Angel Dragon (4/4 Flying Vigilance, Haste, Firebreathing). Reconnaissance is gold in this deck too.

The Rest of the Night

We played another game with Balthor that got long and grindy. I played Marath, and had lots of opportunities and good draws, but kept getting foiled by Patron of the Moon and Roil Elemental. Patron eventually won. Then I played Teysa #3, but Balthor rolled us over.

Game #103: Pheldagriff

Game #103: Pheldagriff
Date: 2014-01-29
Location: Family Game Store
Vs: Balthor; Olivia Voldaren
Result: Fun Win

vs.

After losing to a brutal voltron-ing, I decided I’d go for the same result. I had 4 land in my hand (including two revised duals, unsleeved) plus a Fireshrieker. Olivia come down early, and I wanted to be cautious with my Hippo, so I waited until I could put an Unquestioned Authority on him (Do not question the authority of the hippo). In the mean time I cast a Lightmine Field and a Pygmy Hippo.

Olivia got up to 8/8 and then Balthor O-stoned. Olivia Ghost-Quartered Balthor’s Cabal Coffers and started building up. I was able to play Pheldagriff with the enchantment and then swing for double strike damage against Olivia. Next turn I played Eldrazi Conscription and killed Olivia, and killed Balthor (who had an empty hand) the following turn.

This deck was built to be played without mercy, so even though this was a somewhat direct win, I still had fun doing what it was supposed to.

About the Deck ( http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/flight-of-the-cosmic-hippo/ )

This deck used to be Rafiq, but around the time I started building Zur Group Hug, I decided it needed to become Brutal Hippo. I changed about 25 cards from Rafiq (who joined the 99) and added in things like Elesh Norn (here, have a DOA Hippo). The tapped out list is close, though I made a few changes yesterday.  It is named, of course, after Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.

Game #88: Chromium

Game #88: Chromium
Date: 2013-12-18
Location: Family Game Store, Savage, MD
vs. Ghave, Guru of Spores #2; Karona
Result: Fun Loss

VS

There was only about 30 minutes left until closing, but we were down to 3 players at our table, so we decided to throw down one more fast game. I picked Chromium, because, hey, someone actually posted a comment on the blog asking about the deck, and I like to give the fan what he or she wants.

I started with a three land hand and a myr and followed it up with an Invisible Stalker.  Karona had a shiny Necrotic Sliver, and eventually an early Karona, which, when it swung at me, got chump blocked by the stalker.  I play a Kusari-Gama  and use Steelshaper apprentice to grab Loxodon Warhammer.   The game is being played very fast and loose, and I’m soon down to 6 life.

Ghave does some mess of things with Renegade Krasis, the General, and Coat of Arms and has a bunch of super big saprolings.  I attack with Karona holding a War-hammer and Kusari Gama, hoping to gain boatloads of life, but instead he sacrifices all of his tokens to make the Krasis big, and everything else dead (though I do get 22 life out of the deal, but looking back I realize that it’s the Equipment dealing the damage).  That wasn’t the only rules error I made this game, I also misplayed Leonin Shikari thinking that it was Puresteel Paladin, and did at least one equip for 0 rather than at instant speed.

Eventually I am down to no creatures and a bunch of really good equipment.  Karona is gone, dead to general damage from Karona (thanks to my equipment and an attack from Ghave with it).  If I could’ve drawn a creature, I also had a gorgon’s flail and magebane armor in hand, but I didn’t, so I died to Ghave.

A fast, flawed, fun game.

About the Deck (http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/mechagodzilla/)

The goal is to abuse Rampage by assembling a giant dragon in armor. The “combo” is   Magebane Armor + Loxodon Warhammer + Gorgon’s Flail/Basilisk Collar + Nemesis Mask + Chromium  so that everything has to block Chromium (who no longer flies) so it gets bigger due to rampage and the deathtouch/trample effect wipes the board of creatures and player (hopefully).  It’s really hard to assemble, so there are  few other guys that can carry swords (Teeka’s Dragon!).

I also realized that I probably should have at least one of the original Elder Dragons as a deck.

Game #82: Krond the Dawn Clad

Game #82 : Krond the Dawn Glad
Date: 2013-11-12
Location: Family Game Store
vs: Karador, Ghost Chieftain; Prime Speaker Zeganna

vs.

This was a “Farewell Tour for Karador as well.  While Balthor is my most played-against general,  Prime Speaker Zeganna is the general I’ve faced the most different decks, this being the 6th different PSZ deck I’ve played against.

I start with a very forest-y hand, and a cluestone allows me to play an Umbra Mystic.  Karador starts loading up the graveyard with a hermit druid (this should have been a sign), and Zeganna has an early Fathom Mage.

I start loading up a Yavimaya Enchantress with Keen Sense, Daybreak Coronet, Pollenbright Wings and such. I get a few swings in before a Sylvok Replica gets rid of the Daybreak (man, I miss Community. Is it October 19th yet?).  Zeganna has a baby Jace and a Deadeye Navigator and Arcanis and a Reliquary tower and is drawing butt-loads of cards. Karador now has Greater Good.

Zeganna uses the Monstrosity Kraken to tap down my good stuff (including an Ethereally Armored Krond). Then uses Jace 4.0’s ultimate to grab Sheoldred and my Bear Umbra (we’d already killed one Bear Umbra) immediately thanks to the ever-adorable Gilder Bairn, and takes a really really LOooooooooOOOoooong time to do it. I start to untap, thinking it’s my turn finally, but that was still the first main phase, so there is also attacking and sorting through a 30+ card hand to be happening.

All I really want to do in this game is swing once with Krond so that I can exile the Reliquary Tower and not let PSZ have a 35 card hand, but that isn’t going to happen. I sac Krond to Sheoldred so I can re-cast him.  Then the board gets big and messy when Karador Twilight’s Calls at the end of my turn and kills us all with many ridiculous triggers from the 25 or so creatures that come into play.

This one was less fun than the last one, but I’m glad Karador got to retire at the top of his game.

About the Deck (tappedout coming someday)

This was the deck formerly known as Uril, which I took apart because I got bored of it. Krond is cooler because he doesn’t have Hexproof and doesn’t need to be overloaded with Auras.  I didn’t lose much by cutting red from the deck (and gained back an actual Taiga and Plateau).  Cutting red also let me make it a bit more Enchantress-y.  This deck has a lot of similar cards to my Bruna deck, but they feel very different to play.

Wizards needs to make a 5-color Archon Legend so I can make an Archon tribal deck. (Or I could just keep building different Karonas)

Game #53: AtogAtog

Game #53: AtogAtog
Date: 2013-08-28
Location: Family Game Store, Savage, MD
vs. Savra (GUILD)
result: fun loss

I kept a 2 land hand and drew into a third, playing the OG Atog on turn 2 and then just kept playing lands. Savra had lots of little things out, but also a Lotleth Troll that was big. Sisters of Stone Death come out and eats Atog, and my Mycosynth Lattice and Martyr’s Bond get Hull Breached. I Recoil the Troll and play a Legacy Weapon. Then Gaze of Granite wipes the baord. I recast AtogAtog witha Shield of the Oversoul, but Savra can keep making Bats with Skeletal Vampire and keep me having to sacrifice things. I also died to those bats.

At some point one of us could have won the game by sacrificing our entire board (as artifacts from the Lattice) to an AtogAtog. I don’t remember now which one of us it was, since we both had the Atog.

About the Deck ( http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/atogatogatogatogatogatog/ )

AtogAtog and all of his edible Children, plus a few more useful creatures. Mikeaus serves up a second helping, Thopter Assembly makes tasty artifact tokens for original atog, and Mycosynth lattice makes stuff extra Atog-edible. Also Enchanted Evening and other things.  Beyond that it’s just AtogAtog Voltron, but I like it!

Game #49.1, 49.2: Rafiq of the Many

Game #49.1: Rafiq of the Many
Date: 2013-08-15
Location: Home, Duluth, MN
vs. Thraximundar
Result: silly Loss

vs

One last game with my brother before heading back to Maryland. We were still doing Planechase, starting at Tember City, but we rolled to Kilnspire district on the first turn. I had 3 lands, and I tried to leave kilnspire district quickly, but to no avail. My brother casts an early Rooftop Storm thanks to the plane, and I cast Rafiq, but he counters with Thraximundar on turn 3 or four and I sacrifice Rafiq. I spend much mana trying to leave the plane, but I can only manage to cast Wax/Wane on the Rooftop Storm. Thraximundar hits me. I roll 4 times to leave the plane. Rafiq doesn’t stay on the board. I get rid of Rafiq, but the Kilnspire has like 9 counters on it, so Thrax is going to come back no matter what. I roll Chaos and kill Thrax, but hey, haste and I lose.

Since this was Rafiq’s last ride before being transformed into a Hippo tribal deck, and since turn 3 Thraximundar is unfun at any speed, we decided to play one more game.

Game #49.2
same day
vs Teneb the Harvester
Result: fun and epic win

vs

We started on the Furnace Layer, but it sucked so we pitched it. Norn’s Annex also sucked, so we pitched it and took Cliffside Market.
He started with a swamp, I had a 1 land hand with a Noble Hierarch. I played an Aven Squire, and my brother planeswalked us with Interplanar Tunnel into Stairs to Infinity. I play a Sword of Vengeance and suit up the Aven, then play Rafiq, who gets Beast Within-ed. I swing with the Aven, and Teneb Buries Alive Massacre Wurm, It That Betrays and Avatar of Woe. He reanimates the Wurm and I have to put the sword on the surviving Beast Token.

It that betrays is Zombified, but I Bant Charm it away and also find a way to Kill the Massacre Wurm. Teneb is loading the yard and making zombies with a Zombie Infestation, I have some more Exalted Birds, but they all die to Eternal Witness returning Zombify for the Massacre Wurm. I have Teneb at low life, but he keeps gaining life or wiping my board. Vault of the Archangel is doing work for his team.

I throw a Bear Umbra on Sigil Paladin and cast a Behemoth Sledge. After attacking I play Rafiq. Liliana Vess shows up and so does a giant Demon of some sort. I’m able to Meddle a Doom Blade aimed at Rafiq to take out Eternal Witness. Swinging with the Sledged and Sworded Rafiq is enough to secure a victory in Rafiq’s final game.

About the Deck (http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/rafiq-pilgrim/)

This was an Exalted/Rafiq Voltron deck. Nothing to special about it, but it did win some games in its day. I started pulling some of the artifacts in this list to put in other decks. Ultimately I decided that I wanted to make a vicious Pheldagriff deck, and reconfigured the deck enough to consider it to be taken apart and re-built.

Of course I wanted to cast Finest Hour a lot, because it makes me think of Scott Pilgrim, thus the name of the deck.