{"id":675,"date":"2018-12-05T00:11:25","date_gmt":"2018-12-04T22:11:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/premodernmagic.com\/blog\/?p=675"},"modified":"2018-12-05T00:20:38","modified_gmt":"2018-12-04T22:20:38","slug":"rocking-the-premodern-online-tournament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/premodernmagic.com\/blog\/rocking-the-premodern-online-tournament\/","title":{"rendered":"Rocking the Premodern Online Tournament"},"content":{"rendered":"

Well, actually, I ended up not rocking it very much, but the deck had a good run all the way to the very end. Without further ado, here\u2019s my tournament report from the first edition of the Premodern Online Open<\/a>, featuring The Rock.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have been following this blog, you may remember that I ended my previous article Journeying into Premodern<\/a>\u00a0with the intention to put together a Rock list. Here it is:<\/span><\/p>\n

Online Open I: Martin Stark<\/div>
<\/i>Spoiler view<\/span><\/span><\/i>List with preview card<\/span><\/span><\/i>Show\/hide sideboard<\/span><\/span><\/i>Download photo of deck<\/span><\/span><\/i>Download text file of deck<\/span><\/span><\/div>
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MAIN DECK | 60 cards<\/h4>
Instants and Sorceries: 6<\/div>
4<\/span> Cabal Therapy<\/a><\/div>
2<\/span> Vendetta<\/a><\/div><\/div>
Creatures: 22<\/div>
4<\/span> Wall of Roots<\/a><\/div>
4<\/span> Ravenous Baloth<\/a><\/div>
2<\/span> Wall of Blossoms<\/a><\/div>
2<\/span> Spiritmonger<\/a><\/div>
3<\/span> Festering Goblin<\/a><\/div>
3<\/span> Yavimaya Elder<\/a><\/div>
3<\/span> Deranged Hermit<\/a><\/div>
1<\/span> Spike Feeder<\/a><\/div><\/div>
Others: 7<\/div>
4<\/span> Pernicious Deed<\/a><\/div>
2<\/span> Recurring Nightmare<\/a><\/div>
1<\/span> Yawgmoth's Bargain<\/a><\/div><\/div>
Lands: 25<\/div>
6<\/span> Forest<\/a><\/div>
7<\/span> Swamp<\/a><\/div>
1<\/span> Volrath's Stronghold<\/a><\/div>
4<\/span> Llanowar Wastes<\/a><\/div>
4<\/span> Treetop Village<\/a><\/div>
3<\/span> Mishra's Factory<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>

SIDEBOARD | 15 cards<\/h4>
4<\/span> Tormod's Crypt<\/a><\/div>
3<\/span> Duress<\/a><\/div>
1<\/span> Chainer's Edict<\/a><\/div>
3<\/span> Engineered Plague<\/a><\/div>
2<\/span> City of Solitude<\/a><\/div>
1<\/span> Spike Feeder<\/a><\/div>
1<\/span> Yawgmoth's Bargain<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Deck downloaded from - http:\/\/premodernmagic.com\n------------------------------------------------\nOnline Open I: Martin Stark\n------------------------------------------------\nMAIN DECK (60)\n\nInstants and Sorceries: 6\n4 Cabal Therapy\n2 Vendetta\n\nCreatures: 22\n4 Wall of Roots\n4 Ravenous Baloth\n2 Wall of Blossoms\n2 Spiritmonger\n3 Festering Goblin\n3 Yavimaya Elder\n3 Deranged Hermit\n1 Spike Feeder\n\nOthers: 7\n4 Pernicious Deed\n2 Recurring Nightmare\n1 Yawgmoth's Bargain\n\nLands: 25\n6 Forest\n7 Swamp\n1 Volrath's Stronghold\n4 Llanowar Wastes\n4 Treetop Village\n3 Mishra's Factory\n\n\nSIDEBOARD (15)\n4 Tormod's Crypt\n3 Duress\n1 Chainer's Edict\n3 Engineered Plague\n2 City of Solitude\n1 Spike Feeder\n1 Yawgmoth's Bargain\n------------------------------------------------\nDeck downloaded from - http:\/\/premodernmagic.com\n<\/div>
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http:\/\/premodernmagic.com<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

This take on the archetype differs in important ways compared to most other The Rock variants floating around (e.g. no Birds of Paradise), but rather than analyzing this here, let’s go straight to the matches.<\/p>\n

Round 1: Blood Lust Sligh<\/span><\/h2>\n

So this is a matchup that should favour The Rock, my build being tuned as aggro-control, or midrange, if you will.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Game 1<\/strong><\/p>\n

I had no discard during game 1, so I assumed I was facing off versus a regular Sligh list. He had a decent start, and I thought I was about to stabilize when I was caught off guard by Blood Lust<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

0-1<\/span><\/p>\n

Game 2<\/strong><\/p>\n

Out: 1 Yawgmoth’s Bargain<\/a>, 1 Deranged Hermit<\/a>, 2 Yavimaya Elder<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

In: 1 Spike Feeder<\/a>, 3 Duress<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

I Duress<\/a>ed turn 1 and saw two Ball Lightning<\/a>, Furnace of Rath<\/a>, Incinerate<\/a>, with my opponent having two lands in play. I went into the tank for some time, and ended up picking the Furnace of Rath<\/a>, since I would never be able to win the long game if it resolved, should my opponent get to four mana.<\/span><\/p>\n

My opponent ripped two lands off of the top during the consecutive turns, and I deployed walls to block as much incoming Ball Lightning<\/a> damage as possible. Having bought myself enough time, I eventually started going off with Ravenous Baloth<\/a> and Recurring Nightmare<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

1-1<\/span><\/p>\n

Game 3<\/strong><\/p>\n

This ended up being a non-game, with me deploying walls, into Pernicious Deed<\/a>, into Ravenous Baloth<\/a>s.<\/span><\/p>\n

2-1<\/span><\/p>\n

Result: 1-0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Round 2: Goblins<\/span><\/h2>\n

This is also a matchup that I consider to be slightly favoured for The Rock, and it is also one of the matchups I\u2019ve had the chance to practice the most.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Game 1<\/strong><\/p>\n

I kept a hand with Festering Goblin<\/a>, Recurring Nightmare<\/a>, Deranged Hermit<\/a>. I lost the dice roll, and my opponent led with turn 1 Goblin Lackey<\/a>, the god start. However, my turn 1 Festering Goblin<\/a> was good enough to keep me alive for the longer game, eventually allowing me to make over 20 squirrels with my favourite dreamy Deranged Hermit<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

1-0<\/span><\/p>\n

Game 2<\/strong><\/p>\n

Out: 1 Yawgmoth’s Bargain<\/a>, 1 Volrath’s Stronghold<\/a>, 1 Yavimaya Elder<\/a>, 1 Spike Feeder<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

In: 3 Engineered Plague<\/a>, 1 Chainer’s Edict<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

I was extremely happy to see Festering Goblin<\/a> and Vendetta<\/a> in my opening hand. My opponent started out with turn 1 Goblin Lackey<\/a> again, but my beloved black goblin turned out to be stronger. <\/span><\/p>\n

The opponent played a couple of Goblin King<\/a>s and a Goblin Warchief<\/a>, but I was able to trade favourably in combat thanks to a Ravenous Baloth<\/a>, a few walls, and the Vendetta<\/a> as a combat trick, shrinking the remaining goblins. <\/span><\/p>\n

I eventually won with the help of Pernicious Deed<\/a>(s) and a couple of Ravenous Baloth<\/a>s. I aggressively traded in combat before the goblin player could find a Goblin Ringleader<\/a> to rebuild.<\/span><\/p>\n

2-0<\/span><\/p>\n

Result: 2-0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Round 3: GW ‘Geddon Tax Rack<\/span><\/h2>\n

I have never seen a list like this before, so I didn\u2019t know what to expect.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Game 1<\/strong><\/p>\n

Swords to Plowshares<\/a> was the key card in this game. A Serra Angel<\/a> into Armageddon<\/a> resulted in a fairly quick game.<\/span><\/p>\n

0-1<\/span><\/p>\n

Game 2<\/strong><\/p>\n

I cannot remember the sideboarding, but I believe I would have brought in Chainer’s Edict<\/a> and 3 Duress<\/a>, taking out high CMC cards.<\/span><\/p>\n

The game started out with me having a few Wall of Roots<\/a>, which greatly helped versus the mana denial\/Armageddon<\/a> plan. Beatdown with a few big beasts won this game in quick order.<\/span><\/p>\n

Game 3<\/strong><\/p>\n

A long game of cripples, Pernicious Deed<\/a>s from my side killed early mana dorks from my opponent. He ended up casting more than a few Armageddon<\/a>s and Swords to Plowshares<\/a>. Having a single Wall of Roots<\/a> on the board eventually led to me having the upside after a Armageddon<\/a>, and a single Ravenous Baloth<\/a> went unchallenged for a few rounds.<\/span><\/p>\n

2-1<\/span><\/p>\n

Result: 3-0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Round 4: Suicide Black<\/span><\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

Not a great matchup.<\/span><\/p>\n

Game 1<\/strong><\/p>\n

I kept a hand with two Cabal Therapy<\/a>, two Vendetta<\/a> and two lands. My opponent turned out to be on Suicide Black, and I got a taste of the downside of Vendetta<\/a> for the first time. I died in two or three turns.<\/span><\/p>\n

0-1<\/span><\/p>\n

Game 2<\/strong><\/p>\n

Out: dead cards and anything that\u2019s slow.<\/span>
\n<\/span>In: 1 Chainer’s Edict<\/a> and 3 Duress<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

I mulliganed to six, keeping a hand with Pernicious Deed<\/a>. I got Unmask<\/a>ed on turn 2, and Lake of the Dead<\/a> into turn 3 Hatred<\/a> for 18 on Dauthi Horror<\/a> was game.<\/span><\/p>\n

0-2<\/span><\/p>\n

Result: 3-1<\/h3>\n

Round 5: Pandeburst (my favourite round!)<\/span><\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

Game 1<\/strong><\/p>\n

I kept a pretty normal hand with Yavimaya Elder<\/a>, Ravenous Baloth<\/a>, Deranged Hermit<\/a>, but only two lands. My opponent started out with two basic Island<\/a>s and doing nothing, which made me put him on Trix or UW Standstill.<\/span><\/p>\n

Turn 3 he resolved Attunement<\/a>, I didn\u2019t draw my fourth land and couldn\u2019t deploy the Ravenous Baloth<\/a> (which would have saved me), and promptly died to Replenish<\/a> returning Pandemonium<\/a> and Saproling Burst<\/a> for 21 damage on turn 4.<\/span><\/p>\n

0-1<\/span><\/p>\n

Game 2<\/strong><\/p>\n

Out: 4 Pernicious Deed<\/a>, 1 Yavimaya Elder<\/a>, 1 Yawgmoth’s Bargain<\/a>, 2 Festering Goblin<\/a>s<\/span><\/p>\n

In: 3 Duress<\/a>, 4 Tormod’s Crypt<\/a>, 1 Spike Feeder<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

I kept an opening hand with Tormod’s Crypt<\/a>, walls, Ravenous Baloth<\/a>, Cabal Therapy<\/a>, and three green lands. I held the Tormod’s Crypt<\/a> in hand for as long as I calculated possible to not expose it to artifact removal. I eventually cast it together with a Ravenous Baloth<\/a>, when I read the opponent as being a turn away from going off.<\/span><\/p>\n

I was stuck on green mana only, and did not know what my opponent was up to. I eventually had two Ravenous Baloth<\/a>s, two Treetop Village<\/a>, and a Spike Feeder<\/a>. I felt pretty good with my opponent at 7 life, but he started hardcasting Saproling Burst<\/a>s to stay alive and managed to buy himself several extra turns, and putting the Bursts in the graveyard.<\/span><\/p>\n

I eventually found a Swamp<\/a> somewhere around turn 8\u20139 to cast a Duress<\/a> which stole a key Replenish<\/a>, and allowing me to see that the opponent also had Counterspell<\/a> in the deck. This bought me enough time to close out the game.<\/span><\/p>\n

1-1<\/span><\/p>\n

Game 3<\/strong> (Wall of text ahead, this was an awesome game!)<\/span><\/p>\n

I mulliganed to six cards and kept two Swamp<\/a>, Tormod’s Crypt<\/a>, Cabal Therapy<\/a>, Wall of Blossoms<\/a> and Festering Goblin<\/a>. I was not happy, but did not feel that going to five would do me any favours. \u00a0I s<\/span>cryed a a Wall of Roots<\/a> to the bottom.<\/span><\/p>\n

My opponent went turn one Island<\/a> and I went turn 1 Festering Goblin<\/a>, whereafter my opponent played another Island<\/a> on turn 2. I swung for 1 and cast Cabal Therapy<\/a> naming Attunement<\/a>. I missed, but flashed the spell back to steal a Replenish<\/a>, leaving my opponent with mostly cantrips and lands. <\/span><\/p>\n

I kept the Tormod’s Crypt<\/a> in hand, not seeing the need to play it yet. My opponent cast Careful Study<\/a> discarding Pandemonium<\/a> and Saproling Burst<\/a>, and I followed up with playing my Tormod’s Crypt<\/a>. I got stuck on three Swamp<\/a>s for a while, casting a Recurring Nightmare<\/a> onto a board with no way of using it. I found a second Tormod’s Crypt<\/a> which got countered, and a Cabal Therapy<\/a> that missed (I believe naming Pandemonium<\/a> because my opponent only had a single red source, and Replenish<\/a> was a dead card due to the Crypt. Ripping a red source and hardcasting Pandemonium<\/a> into Saproling Burst<\/a> was my opponent’s out).<\/span><\/p>\n

My opponent did nothing but play lands and some cantrips, and he eventually forced me to crack Tormod’s Crypt<\/a> with a Seal of Cleansing<\/a>, removing his combo pieces from the graveyard, but allowing him to start setting up again. <\/span><\/p>\n

I found a Treetop Village<\/a>, but could still do nothing with only the single green source. My opponent hardcasted a Pandemonium<\/a>, and the next turn I deployed Wall of Roots<\/a> into Wall of Blossoms<\/a>, sacrificing the blossoms to flash back Cabal Therapy<\/a> naming Saproling Burst<\/a>, stealing it out of his hand (phew<\/em>).<\/span><\/p>\n

At this stage it should be mentioned that I had not yet realized that Pandemonium<\/a> is a World Enchantment!<\/span><\/p>\n

I didn’t have a land in hand, so I sacrificed the Wall of Roots<\/a> to recur Wall of Blossoms<\/a> to cantrip, leaving me with access to four mana the next turn (I would have had five, had I not done this). I had two Deranged Hermit<\/a>s in hand, which would have put my opponent on a two-turn clock shooting him for 9 a pop. I realized my mistake, and I get nervous that I have thrown away the game by giving him extra time.<\/span><\/p>\n

The following turn my opponent Intuition<\/a>s for Counterspell<\/a> to prevent my top-decked Tormod’s Crypt<\/a> from hitting the board. Since I didn’t top deck a land, I cumbersomely spent my turn recurring back the Wall of Roots<\/a> and passed the turn. I needed that five mana. <\/span><\/p>\n

My opponent plays an Attunement<\/a> with zero cards left in hand and passes. Okay, maybe we can get there.<\/span><\/p>\n

I’m at 20 life.<\/p>\n

I finally have access to five mana, and my hand presented two options:<\/span><\/p>\n