{"id":796,"date":"2019-01-16T23:54:01","date_gmt":"2019-01-16T21:54:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/premodernmagic.com\/blog\/?p=796"},"modified":"2019-01-17T00:13:03","modified_gmt":"2019-01-16T22:13:03","slug":"runner-ups-report-from-the-mid-atlantic-championship-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/premodernmagic.com\/blog\/runner-ups-report-from-the-mid-atlantic-championship-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Runner-Up’s Report from the Mid-Atlantic Championship 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the first week of 2019, Big-Cat Aaron Coleman arranged The Mid-Atlantic Premodern Championship in Baltimore on the US east coast. With 23 players, it was the largest US tournament so far. Today’s guest post by MJ Worsham is the runner-up’s report from that event (this seems to become a tradition by the way, see previous runner-up testimonies\u00a0here<\/a> and here<\/a>). Enjoy! \/ Martin<\/em><\/p>\n

As Magic players, we are lucky to have many options for ways to play with our cards. Some prefer Standard and Modern while others like Commander and Draft. Not too long ago, my roommate mentioned this new format called \u201cPremodern\u201d using sets from 1995 through 2003 (4th Edition through Scourge). Seeing that the latter half of this era was where my relationship with the game started, I was immediately intrigued and dove right in.<\/p>\n

My name is MJ Worsham, and I have been playing Magic: The Gathering off and on since 2000. At the time, it was a casual foray into a game that wasn\u2019t Pok\u00e9mon (candidly it was much easier and more captivating to an 11-year old\u2019s brain). Since then, the game has become a part of my life and has taken me to many cool places, and from it I have made some of my best friends.<\/p>\n

Looking through lists, it was a great walk down memory lane \u2013 Astral Slide<\/a>, Psychatog<\/a>, Survival of the Fittest<\/a>\u2014what a time in the game. As powerful as those cards are, there was one other that really piqued my interest as something I had not cast in a long time:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

For anyone that knows me, it is not a secret that I love me some red cards across all formats. While I (think I) can play anything, and can find enjoyment in piloting most decks, nothing really satisfies me more than asking sheepish opponents \u201cYou\u2019re at three?\u201d, and then deploying one of many mana efficient burn spells to end the game.<\/p>\n

Fast forward to this weekend\u2014Big-Cat Coleman started advertising the 2019 Mid-Atlantic Premodern Championship a few months ago and it immediately went on the calendar. With the brain trust of my roommates and a few friends (James Buckingham, Philip Young, Austin Blackner), we jammed many a game and tuned our lists while also fully knowing we would still be reading many cards over the course of the tournament.\u00a023 powerful, nostalgic wizards arrived for five rounds of fun and we set off. Here is the list I registered:<\/p>\n

Mid-Atlantic Champs 2019: MJ Worsham, 2nd<\/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>
<\/i><\/span><\/div><\/div>

MAIN DECK | 60 cards<\/h4>
Creatures: 14<\/div>
4<\/span> Goblin Cadets<\/a><\/div>
4<\/span> Jackal Pup<\/a><\/div>
4<\/span> Ball Lightning<\/a><\/div>
2<\/span> Grim Lavamancer<\/a><\/div><\/div>
Instants and Sorceries: 21<\/div>
4<\/span> Lightning Bolt<\/a><\/div>
4<\/span> Incinerate<\/a><\/div>
4<\/span> Volcanic Hammer<\/a><\/div>
3<\/span> Firebolt<\/a><\/div>
3<\/span> Flame Rift<\/a><\/div>
3<\/span> Fireblast<\/a><\/div><\/div>
Others: 5<\/div>
3<\/span> Cursed Scroll<\/a><\/div>
2<\/span> Sulfuric Vortex<\/a><\/div><\/div>
Lands: 20<\/div>
4<\/span> Wooded Foothills<\/a><\/div>
4<\/span> Bloodstained Mire<\/a><\/div>
10<\/span> Mountain<\/a><\/div>
2<\/span> Barbarian Ring<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>

SIDEBOARD | 15 cards<\/h4>
3<\/span> Tormod's Crypt<\/a><\/div>
3<\/span> Pyroblast<\/a><\/div>
2<\/span> Flaring Pain<\/a><\/div>
2<\/span> Shattering Pulse<\/a><\/div>
2<\/span> Price of Progress<\/a><\/div>
2<\/span> Boil<\/a><\/div>
1<\/span> Slice and Dice<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Deck downloaded from - http:\/\/premodernmagic.com\n------------------------------------------------\nMid-Atlantic Champs 2019: MJ Worsham, 2nd\n------------------------------------------------\nMAIN DECK (60)\n\nCreatures: 14\n4 Goblin Cadets\n4 Jackal Pup\n4 Ball Lightning\n2 Grim Lavamancer\n\nInstants and Sorceries: 21\n4 Lightning Bolt\n4 Incinerate\n4 Volcanic Hammer\n3 Firebolt\n3 Flame Rift\n3 Fireblast\n\nOthers: 5\n3 Cursed Scroll\n2 Sulfuric Vortex\n\nLands: 20\n4 Wooded Foothills\n4 Bloodstained Mire\n10 Mountain\n2 Barbarian Ring\n\n\nSIDEBOARD (15)\n3 Tormod's Crypt\n3 Pyroblast\n2 Flaring Pain\n2 Shattering Pulse\n2 Price of Progress\n2 Boil\n1 Slice and Dice\n------------------------------------------------\nDeck downloaded from - http:\/\/premodernmagic.com\n<\/div>
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SIDEBOARD<\/h4>
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http:\/\/premodernmagic.com<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a>\n

A couple of things about the list\u2014the first is I expected more blue and graveyard-based decks, and less of the mirror so I basically ignored that and went with five anti-blue cards. Second, again expecting more blue-white, I main decked the Sulfuric Vortex<\/a>es which was great. Third, I played Goblin Cadets<\/a> thinking I would get a lot of value over not paying the echo on control in a control heavy meta, and that was a mistake\u2014more on that later.<\/p>\n

Round 1: Survival (?), Matt<\/h3>\n

I wasn\u2019t sure what Matt was playing\u2014unfortunately, the games were lopsided. I recall a Living Wish<\/a> for a Peacekeeper<\/a> versus my spell heavy draw game 1, followed by mana issues for him game 2. This quickly taught me how much I had to learn as I was clueless when sideboarding:<\/p>\n

-1 Volcanic Hammer<\/a>
\n-3 Firebolt<\/a>
\n-1 Flame Rift<\/a>
\n+3 Tormod’s Crypt<\/a>
\n+2 Price of Progress<\/a><\/p>\n

Result:\u00a02\u20130<\/strong><\/p>\n

Round 2: The Rock, Jonathan<\/h3>\n

Fun round! In Game 1 the jig was up as he led with multiple Duress<\/a>es, but I was able to land a few creatures, a Sulfuric Vortex<\/a>, and Ball Lightning<\/a> helped close things. Game 2 was much closer as I landed a Sulfuric Vortex<\/a> to neuter his Ravenous Baloth<\/a>, but then needed to race both it and my Vortex. A timely Fireblast<\/a> and some damage off the top closed this game up.<\/p>\n

Sideboarding:
\n-1 Volcanic Hammer<\/a>
\n-1 Cursed Scroll<\/a>
\n+2 Tormod’s Crypt<\/a><\/p>\n

Result:\u00a02\u20130<\/strong><\/p>\n

Round 3: Sligh, Albert<\/h3>\n

This was what I was waiting for\u2014I love red mirrors win or lose, and I had yet to play it in this format. I won the die roll and felt pretty solid about my chances. As expected, I win game one, but take a lot of Jackal Pup<\/a> damage, which immediately set off the alarm that I didn\u2019t have enough cards to side in, and that was going to be an issue. Game 2 I take the ol\u2019 Ball Lightning<\/a> + Fireblast on turn 4. It definitely feels worse being on the receiving end. Unfortunately game 3 wasn\u2019t close as I mulled to 3, but that happens and we move on.<\/p>\n

Sideboarding:
\n-2 Sulfuric Vortex<\/a>
\n-1 Flame Rift<\/a>
\n+2 Shattering Pulse<\/a>
\n+1 Slice and Dice<\/a><\/p>\n

Result: 1\u20132<\/strong><\/p>\n

Round 4: UW, James<\/h3>\n

James is my roommate, testing partner, and good friend. I fortunately got the pair down and he was a swell guy and scooped me into ID land.<\/p>\n

Result:\u00a02\u20130<\/strong><\/p>\n

Round 5: Shapeshifter Survival, Paul.\u00a0ID.<\/h3>\n

It was a clean cut and I managed to hold the third seed so I got the coveted play\/draw option.<\/p>\n

Quarterfinals: The Rock, Jonathan<\/h3>\n

Same opponent from the Swiss, but things went much differently this time. Game 1 I keep a slow hand on the play and cannot find Sulfuric Vortex<\/a> for this Ravenous Baloth<\/a> and succumb to that and a Terravore<\/a>. Game 2 is much smoother, he draws a lot of lands, and I am able to get him to 0. Game 3, however, was very tight\u2014we trade creatures and burn spells back and forth, but I am stuck on two lands. Eventually, he Duress<\/a>es me and sees the two Ball Lightning<\/a> stuck in my hand\u2014I then proceed to draw the remaining two and start praying he doesn\u2019t find a Cabal Therapy<\/a>. Eventually, I draw land and get to deploy my threats while he floods a bit and we are able to close it out.<\/p>\n

Result:\u00a02\u20131<\/strong><\/p>\n

Semifinals: Mono Black, Allen<\/h3>\n

I think Allen was the only one on this, and it is something I have looked at building, too. Either way, I feel like it\u2019s a good matchup and we start the game. Game 1 I flood a bit and he gets a Nantuko Shade<\/a> and Hypnotic Specter<\/a> down pressuring me. Eventually, I find a Cursed Scroll<\/a> to pick off the creatures and crack back with a Jackal Pup<\/a> plus some burn. Game 2 I keep a risky one-lander with Barbarian Ring<\/a>, then he accidentally drops a Wasteland<\/a> out of his hand (whoops). I don\u2019t get much doing and a few Sarcomancy<\/a>s plus a Knight of Stromgald<\/a> kill me. Game 3 I get out to a quick start and keep the board clear with Firebolt<\/a>s, then eventually we get into a race where I have many live draws\u2014one of which being a Ball Lightning<\/a> that swings through his Withered Wretch<\/a> when he was at 3 life.<\/p>\n

Sideboarding
\n-1 Flame Rift<\/a>
\n+1 Slice and Dice<\/a><\/p>\n

Result:\u00a02\u20131<\/strong><\/p>\n

Finals: UW Control, James.<\/h3>\n

As we drew it up, my roommate and I meet in the finals. He wants the trophy so I concede and we hug it out, then go home. We have played this matchup a lot and his inclusion of Renewed Faith<\/a> plus the Absorb<\/a>s make it tough game 1 unless I stick a Sulfuric Vortex<\/a>; game 2 and 3 really become a play\/draw Vortex plus Flaring Pain<\/a> dance while trying to avoid him sticking an Angel. Sadly, I don\u2019t have real details for this match but it was a long day and we wanted to get home.<\/p>\n

All in all, it was a great tournament and it was awesome to see so many people make it out for such a young and relatively unknown format. I hope that reports like this get more people into it, and the next time I get to play we see a larger field and even more diverse metagame.<\/p>\n

As for the list, I liked a lot of it, but if I had to play the tournament again, I would do the following changes.<\/p>\n

Main deck:
\n-4 Goblin Cadets<\/a>
\n-1 Sulfuric Vortex<\/a>
\n-1 Flame Rift<\/a>
\n+4 Mogg Fanatic<\/a>
\n+1 Fireblast<\/a>
\n+1 Lava Dart<\/a><\/p>\n

Sideboard:
\n-1 Tormod’s Crypt<\/a>
\n-1 Boil<\/a>
\n+1 Lava Dart<\/a>
\n+1 Sulfuric Vortex<\/a><\/p>\n

Thanks for reading!
\n\u2013 MJ<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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