2019-03-29 Collector's Inn 3-1 with Sultai Wilderness Reclamation Teachings

Decklist: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1774456#paper

Introduction:

• Switched out the garbage SB Teferi for a Noxious Revival to hedge vs discard (on USZ) and Surgical Extraction

Round 1 vs Jamie V on UR Living End (2-0, 1-0)
Turn 1 he exposes his game plan with a cycled Desert Cerodon. He counters several of my spells, but I only care about a couple of his. Maindeck Spell Snare an Electrodominance while swinging Snapcasters in for a bunch of damage.
Game 2 he gets off a turn 2? Living End for 2 5/5 hexproof serpents, but I have a Growth Spiral into chaining a bajillion Cryptic Commands to stabilize. Beyond that initial play though, he cycles and cycles and on his final turn suspends the last three cards in his hand: all Ancestral Visions.

Round 2 vs Jamie F on mono R Bushwhacker (0-2, 1-1)
Game 1 she Bushwhacked a bunch of little dudes and I had no removal.
Game 2 is the game where I did misplay: First I didn't fetch around a potential Blood Moon, secondly I fetched incorrectly vs a Blood Moon, and third I didn't flash in Snapcaster Mage in response to the Blood Moon as a chump blocker because I didn't recognize that I was in the danger zone.

Round 3 vs Curt on RB Skred Dragons (2-0, 2-1)
Game 1 I Remanded a ton of spells, recognized that he was on Blood Moon, and was able to preempt it. Sarkhan, Fireblood was a bit scary but I eventually took care of him and comboed off woohoo.
Game 2 he applied a lot more pressure but again I eventually stabilize and combo off.

Round 4 vs Alex S on UR Phoenix (2-0, 3-1)
He has no idea what I'm doing, which is a weakness of those who get into modern with their deck and think/hope that they can totally ignore what I'm doing.
Game 1 he flips a Thing but I'm able to remove it. He throws some burn spells at my face but eventually I start swinging with Snapcaster + Creeping Tar Pit for lethal while holding up counterspells.
Game 2 I'm able to gain enough life to stabilize again (bringing in all the lifegain cards vs Phoenix) and again chain attacks for lethal.

Thoughts:

• Managed to draw Growth Spirals and Wilderness Reclamations at opportune times this week
• Match 2 I really should have seen the Blood Moon coming / given more respect. Typically, mono R players are budget but she showed a Cavern of Souls in game 2 which should have hinted that the deck is non-budget enough to play Blood Moon to wreck people like me.

2019-03-21 Iron Buffalo 2-2 with Mardu Pyromancer

Decklist: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1774451#paper

Introduction:

• Went back to the deck I grinded through Summer 2018 with
• Only changed some cards in the sideboard, since I acquired a couple artifact pieces

Round 1 vs Marc on UW Control (2-0, 1-0)
Game 1 was pretty quick. Early discard to take his Search for Azcanta, see him low on land count. Drop a turn 3 Blood Moon and he concedes.
Game 2 I dismantle his hand and get some Spirit tokens going for the win.

Round 2 vs Ken on Eldrazi Tron (0-2, 1-1)
Both games I manage to discard his Chalice of the Void, but the card I really should have been going for is Blood Moon. Game 1 I had it but then he turn 3 TKS'd it.

Round 3 vs Reshad on GDS (2-0, 2-1)
I know what he's on from checking out the room. In game 1 I keep a sketchy two lander with Mountain, Sacred Foundry, Blood Moon, and some other cards. He Thoughtseizes me three times? and leaves me with Blood Moon, which I never cast because I topdeck a Blackcleave Cliffs and it would actually have screwed me while fixing his mana because he fetched for basics after seeing it.
Game 2 I find both Blood Moon and an Ensnaring Bridge, amass a token army behind the Bridge and alpha strike him.

Round 4 vs Matt D. on Mono G Tron (0-2, 2-2)
Another Tron matchup where I didn't prioritize Blood Moon enough. By which I mean that I didn't have it.
In game 2 specifically, I was on the play and he mulliganed to 5 cards. I Inquisition an Ancient Stirrings out of the hand, then turns 2 and 3 hit him again with a couple discard spells. Of course, I win the game (check game record for verification).

Thoughts:

• Fuck Tron
• Meta needs more Blood Moons

2018-12-21 D&A Modern FNM 2-2 with Mono W Emeria

Decklist: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1534030#paper

Mono W Emeria is one of my classic decks that I used to play a lot of in 2016-2017. It plays a slow grindy game and has insane lategame with recursion using both Sun Titan and Emeria, the Sky Ruin. It's control in that it doesn't do anything early and tries to accumulate a ton of incremental advantage.

Changes: I finally got an MPR Wrath of God, so I played that. I played a couple different forms of GY hate since that's important, but I can't play Rest in Peace because it's symmetrical.

Round 1 vs Adam on Merfolk (2-1, 1-0)
Lost game 1 to a disruptive Spreading Seas and like four lords off of a t1 vial. He didn't see much of my game plan.
In: 2 Dusk//Dawn, 1 Pithing Needle
Out: 2 Thalia, 1 Blessed Alliance
Game 2 I try to path a lord on his turn. He taps out for Spell Pierce, I untap, and Dusk his four lords.
Game 3 He knows about Dusk now, but I keep an opening hand with 3 lands, Dusk, and a Wrath of God. On his turn 5, my Path gets Pierced again. Go to my turn 6, I play an untapped land and resolve Dusk past his 2nd Pierce for crazy value, with Wrath of God for backup. I find a Titan and Path a topdecked Master of Waves for lethal.

Round 2 vs Steve on Dredge (1-2, 1-1)
Game 1 - lost because unable to interact + fast
In: 3 Surgical Extraction, 2 Tormod's Crypt, 1 Wheel of Sun and Moon, 1 Celestial Purge (bad choice)
Out: 4 Squadron Hawk, 2 Blessed Alliance, 1 Wall of Omens
Game 2: Opener has 2 Surgical, snap-keep. Turn 2 he discards a Stinkweed Imp to Cathartic Reunion, and I ruin him. I surgical one of his 2 Golgari Thugs later when it hits the bin, which was not ideal? but kept him off any further dredge action. I'd like to hit Life from the Loam instead. Nice win, he's stuck on 2 lands due to not fetching for a green source or hitting LftL.
Game 3: 7 card hand has no GY interaction, mulligan. 6 has a Surgical, 2? lands, Wrath, Titan, and something else. Fine, I guess. It doesn't do enough and I die to Narcomoeba-Bloodghasts.

Round 3 vs Ian on Experimental Frenzy Affinity (0-2, 1-2)
Plays way more 0 drops than typical affinity, also Frogmites and Myr Enforcers. He's really fast out of the gates, and I should have been mulliganing more aggressively for Stony Silence. His early 4/4s are reminiscent of Hollow Ones, and though I can chump for many turns I'm still too slow. Ravager and Plating both threaten lethal kills when his board is able to go wider than mine.
In: 3 Stony Silence, 2 Disenchant, 1 Pithing Needle
Out: 3 Wall of Omens, 2 Thalia, 1 Blessed Alliance I think?

Round 4 vs Brian on Hardened Scales affinity (2-0, 2-2)
Both games I'm able to stall out and take over. He didn't hit payoffs quickly enough.
In: 3 Stony Silence, 2 Disenchant, 1 Pithing Needle, 1 Wheel of Sun and Moon
Out: 4 Squadron Hawk, 2 Thalia, 1 Wall of Omens
Game 2 I Disenchant a Hardened Scales. He drops 2 Grafdigger's Cage, which stops my one Finks but nothing else since I didn't find Titan or Emeria. Instead I just murder him with 1/1s and 2/1s.

Thoughts:

• Pilgrim's Eye got the most "I need to read this card" reactions. It's a powerful Magic card, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
• Against my opponents the Thalias were pre-tty bad. Would have been fine against other players I saw tonight, but maybe I should change those slots.
• Should have SBd a Settle the Wreckage, probably in Celestial Purge's slot.
• Had fun doing Emeria things, though I wish I had faced slower decks.

The other deck: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1533977#paper

Built 8 rack for the kid again, changed a Fatal Push in the main to Nezumi Shortfang, altered the SB a bit. Added Liliana the Last Hope and Night of Soul's Betrayal for those annoying Kuldotha Rebirth go-wide decks, which paid off for him in round 4. Considered taking out Fulminators since Tron hasn't shown up in a while at the store. He ended up going 4-0 >:( He also took the play whenever possible, and that probably made a big difference.

Personally I usually try to slow the game down, and should instead be more proactive with both my decks and play patterns.

The store announced that they're continuing Modern FNM, but are:

• doubling the entry fee
• removing the pack for entering
• cutting rounds to 3 from 4
• and reducing the total prize pool ($60 total in credit per 8 entrants)

So 2-1s go infinite. Half the entrants get nada, and a maximum of a quarter of the entrants net value. Not really sure how this model is going to work out for players, but I suppose the store will find out soon enough.

2018-12-14 D&A Modern FNM 1-3 with Esper Seance

Decklist: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1522428#paper
Based on: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1467851#paper

Changes:

• Shriekmaws -> Lone Missionary: Meta has more aggro, and enough black/artifact creatures to make Shriekmaw look eh. However, Shriekmaw has that evasion going on for it so maybe I should have tried it out since I was slow closing
• Don't own/couldn't find Darkslick Shores, chose to play a second basic Plains
• SB: I don't own Ephara, but it's super cool.
• SB: Vs GY decks I'd rather just have t0 Leyline instead of... anything else.
• SB: Purge and Disenchant both actually hit Blood Moon, while Sundering Growth requires WW which is ... rough

Round 1 vs Scott W on "Go-Bots" (0-2, 0-1):
I kept a weak hand game 1, then a slightly better hand was too slow in game 2 as well. Not enough early interaction, Wall of Omens could only block 1 Kuldotha Rebirth token, etc.

Round 2 vs Alex on "Go-Bots" (2-0, 1-1):
Same deck, but I kept more proactive and interactive hands. Once I had both Hidden Stockpile and Seance out, I accumulated enough cards and life to have a good buffer. Still, took me like 8 turns to close.

Round 3 vs Bill on Ponza (0-2, 1-2)
Took care of his Blood Moons, Path'd Platinum Emperions, but just lost to to Stormbreath Dragons. He has inevitability by being way bigger. Even in my mono W Emeria deck, I at least have almost infinite chump blockers for Stormbreath with my Pilgrim's Eye (and Blessed Alliance as an actual answer).
Bill, if you're reading this, you should consider playing more Infernal Titans.

Round 4 vs John on Jeskai control (0-2, 1-3)
Both games I was just unable to pressure Teferi being slammed on t5 and upticking forever.
Game 2 I lost to 2x Surgical + Snapcaster (3rd Surgical)

Reflections:

• Long story, the deck is bad. You're playing do-nothing cards and do-nothing enchantments in a do-something format.
• Seance is just too slow of a payoff, and doesn't interact with the opponent enough. Compare to Waste Not which is cheap and rewards you for interacting through discard.
• Hidden Stockpile is neat but still you're just getting a 1/1 and scrying. Again, just not powerful enough for modern.
• Loses to GY interaction, which is not where you want to be - although it's maybe not fair to consider since I lost to triple Surgical
• Should have been playing some number of Thoughtseize, I think
• Mana requirements weren't too tough, which is probably more of a problem because it indicates that you're not playing powerful enough cards.
• Pack Rat - it really serves a late win-con that only combos with drawing mad cards with Mulldrifter, and unlike 8 rack which clears out opponent's hand and field it is unable to pressure effectively. Oh, on turn 3 you've spent 2 cards and 5 mana to make 4 power? That's cute.

2018-11-16 D&A Modern FNM Judging

This past FNM, I judged the event rather than participating. The night began with an unfortunate announcement that the store would no longer be running their FNMs (and accompanying YGO event) due to low attendance. Modern ended up firing with 13 people, standard with 10, and YGO with... 44? Crazy numbers. In the glory days, the store would get 100+, enough that the fire marshal would show up and warn them for exceeding capacity (because the room only had one means of egress/exit door, never mind that it was a store room with a friggin' garage door)

I can't say I was surprised by the news. They've always run a very generous prize structure even after adding the $5 entry fee. In fact, the payout guarantees that the event operates at a loss, hoping to make it up elsewhere. So after paying the entry fee, each player receives one free booster pack ($4 MSRP, but to the store it costs more like $2). Then depending on overall record, the prize structure looks like this:

• 4-0: 45 cash, or 60 credit
• 3-0-1: 30 cash, or 40 credit
• 3-1: 15 cash, or 20 credit
• 2-2: free entry into future event

So average players only need a 2-2 match record to go infinite. If 16 players show up, that results in only four players who need to pay in again next week (assuming no extra draws). In addition, the amount of payout is 1 x $45 + 3 x $15 for a total of $90 (or 120 in credit). So assuming that 16 players pay in, the store is already losing 10 bucks from the start, has given out 16 packs ($32), and we haven't even considered next week or overhead (upkeep, wages).

Now, on to some of the questions/situations I fielded.

• Chalice of the Void: If a player controls a Chalice, opponents can cast spells (that would be countered) into it hoping that their opponent forgets the trigger. However, the controller of Chalice cannot allow their own spells to resolve through Chalice, which would be considered cheating. This is due to a couple different elements of trigger policy: players are not required to remind their opponents of their (beneficial) triggers thereby helping their opponent beat them, and you are not allowed to forget detrimental triggers (which it is, if you control the Chalice & are casting a spell that would be countered).
• X is 0 everywhere except the stack. Relevant cards that interact with this: Abrupt Decay, Spell Snare, Eidolon of the Great Revel, Engineered Explosives, Chalice of the Void, Ratchet Bomb, and all the other X cost artifacts.
• Nullhide Ferox, then illegally casting noncreature spells. At regular REL, this could probably have been fixed? but was a pretty huge error. Kind of a similar thing to casting your own spells through Chalice.

Reflections:

• Judging is way more fun and interesting when people call you over.
• I wouldn't want to judge 100% of the time and play 0%, which is what most judges seem to do. Judges are usually... all judge all the time, and I think it's more fun to just play some sweet Magic
• Probably won't be judging again at this store, since they're only holding two more Magic events. Pretty unsure about when I'll next get the opportunity???

2018-11-09 D&A FNM Modern 3-1, or an Ode to Smallpox

Played 8 rack since my Seance cards hadn't all shown up.

https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1467005#paper

Round 1 - Ed / Unburial Rites-Soulflayer (2-1, 1-0)
Game 1 just went pretty poorly, as expected against a graveyard deck. Using Unburial Rites he reanimated a Borborygmos Enraged, but he had two Life from the Loams in the graveyard that would have stopped me from ever winning the game anyways.
In: 4x Leyline, 3x Surgical Extraction
Out: 4x Fatal Push, 2x Collective Brutality, 1x Bontu's
In games 2 and 3 I had turn 0 Leylines, and was able to strip the Assassin's Trophy in game 2 on my turn 1.
His deck seems neat, but I think blends too many strategies together and also lacks a cohesive manabase. Inclusions:

• Unburial Rites package - Rites, Iona, Elesh Norn, Griselbrand???
• Looting package - Faithless Looting, Burning Inquiry, Goblin Lore
• Soulflayer package - Soulflayer, Zetalpa, Griselbrand???
• Borborygmos package - Borborygmos Enraged, Life from the Loam, fetchlands
• Land package -  fetches, 1 of each basic (everything but Island), Ghost Quarter(s), shocklands, ???

Really not sure what the Griselbrand is supposed to do, and not a fan of the random loot effects. In game 2, while stripping the Assassin's Trophy from his hand, I noticed that he did have access to casting it turn 2... if he GQ'd the Temple Garden he played turn 1 to get a Swamp, leaving him with a single B source.
I really like the idea of trying something new, but it was just trying to use too many angles. If I were to change the deck, I'd make the following changes:

• Make GB primary - add Grisly Salvage and Sylvan Caryatids as glue
• Collective Brutality? I'm just a huge fan  of this card
• Cut the red cards to just Faithless Looting & red creatures that aren't meant to be cast - 1 Stomping Ground and 1 Blood Crypt, maybe a Mountain vs aggro
• Cut white sources, perhaps only a Temple Garden and Godless Shrine
• Probably cut Griselbrand and GQs - they're not really synergizing a ton
• Alternatively, throw some Goryo's Vengeance in there and see how that works out

Round 2 -  Alex / "Go-Bots" (2-0, 2-0)

Go-Bots is his name for the artifact-Kuldotha Rebirth-Bushwhacker aggro deck.
 He had relatively slow starts from him both games, which I was able to exploit.
My discard went after his Kuldotha Rebirths, which I think are the scariest cards in the matchup. I'm pretty sure it was the right call and luckily he never had the turn one Rebirth.
In: 2x Ratchet Bomb, 1x Bontu's
Out: 3x Thoughtseize

In game 2 I check with the judge on how Mishra's Bauble functions vs Rack effects. For the answer, check the section under reflections.

Round 3 - Andy / Scapeshift-midrange (0-2, 2-1)
Game 1
Lost to triple BBE
In: 4x Fulminator Mage, 3x Surgical Extraction
Out: 4x Fatal Push, 1x Bontu's, 2x CoBru?
Game 2
7 cards / 0 lands
6 cards / 0 lands
5 cards / 0 lands scry land on top
Never stood a chance in this game.

Round 4 - John / Jeskai control (2-0, 3-1)
Game 1
I realize I didn't de-sideboard, so I do that and mulligan to 6 (a reasonable solution at regular REL)
He mulligans to 5, I resolve a Wrench Mind and Smallpox, he concedes
In: 4x Fulminator Mage
Out: 4x Fatal Push? (1x Bontu's - I don't think I actually did this)
Game 2 - I go for a conservative line with turn 2 CoBru, not Wrench -> he t3 upkeeps a V Clique. Come close to dying, but manage to chain topdecks like a king: Smallpox, Lili, Lili, Smallpox... and end him on 0 cards with 5 rack effects out.

Reflections:

• I feel like Scapeshift is a bad matchup for 8 rack, much like the other big mana deck of Tron. They just play out a ton of lands/mana and Smallpox is ineffectual against their low creature density. They also don't need multiple cards in their hand - just the right one that just ends the game.
• I should maybe trim on Fatal Pushes, perhaps swap with some Funeral Charms
• I should probably get some Ensnaring Bridges, since they can just end the game on the spot
• Liliana of the Veil usage was kind of tough, but I think I made the right choices - she shined in closing out r4g2 (1st Lili was a 2 for 1 vs V Clique + Helix), but was terrible in r3g1 (vs BBE, mainly). Did some solid work in rounds 1 and 2 as well.
• Would I play 8 rack again? I can pull it out whenever. It's a moderately powerful deck that attempts to control the game using discard effects, which is a strong style of gameplay. It's best vs a format dominated by medium creature density decks, but is actually kind of bad vs big mana and the combo decks that only need a couple of cards to win (ex. pretty good vs Storm, bad vs Ad Nauseam)

Answer for Mishra's Bauble vs The Rack/Shrieking Affliction
The triggers go on the stack in APNAP order - that is, the active player puts their triggers on first, then the non-active player. So the non-active player's triggers resolve first. This ends up to my benefit, since the Racks deal full damage.
A similar situation arises vs Rift Bolt - if my opponent suspends a Rift Bolt, but is facing down a lethal rack, the rack effect kills them before Rift Bolt comes off suspend.

2018-11-16 D&A Modern FNM 4-0

Decklist: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1471418#paper

Round 1: Dale Mill (2-1, 1-0)
Dale doesn't play much, by his own admission. He pulled out a notebook, and noticed that "Dale vs Ben" was only two pages back - apparently I got trounced quite thoroughly, probably at the Dominaria prerelease. The record shows that I dealt him 1 point of damage in 2 games (and then he finished that game at 27).
I take down game 1, and lose game 2 to a pair of unanswered Hedron Crabs. Dale misses quite a few triggers, which I remind him about after the match. It's a little of sketchy to do so?, allowing my opponent to miss triggers at FNM (regular REL) but I stand by my philosophy on missed triggers, which aligns with missed trigger policy (tournament enforcement aka comp REL). If my opponent misses a trigger, I shouldn't have to remind them, holding my opponent's hand to help them beat me.

Round 2: Sam 8-rack (1-0-2, 2-0)
Sam was borrowing my 8 rack deck, which is why I packed "Owling Mine" for tonight
The maindeck is the same as my most recent version (2018-03 version), with a tailored sideboard for the local meta: 4x Leyline of the Void, 4x Fulminator Mage, 3x Surgical Extraction, 2x Ratchet Bomb, 1x Damnation, 1x Bontu's Last Reckoning. Not all the usual suspects were in attendance, but I think this was a reasonable plan for the expected field.

Game 1 was close. He got out a couple Racks, and had some good reach going, but my Fevered Visions were chipping away, until one turn we're both at 1 life, and Sam plays the last card in his hand. Smallpox. Game 2.
Game 2 was silly - won with multiple FV and opponent misplays in the last couple turns (tilt city). I Nourishing Shoal'd twice for a bajillion (28) extra life, which let me survive until almost decking. Liliana ult made me choose between 2 FV + Dictate + 4 lands vs Grafdigger's Cage (for Raven's Crime) + FV + a couple lands. I would have lost to drawing my deck, had opponent been RCing themselves way more aggressively - my fetchlands, Remands, and Cryptics all thinned my deck out to the point where I was going to lose on my next turn's end step (FV). I did offer indirect advice though, by confirming each discard spell's target (always me, except for once).
Game 3 was a draw. It might have been in my favor, but neither of us were in a super dominant position by turn 5, so I got there with my first 1-0-2 victory ever.
In hindsight, this matchup is actually worse for the Howling Mine/Fevered Visions deck than it would seem on paper - as long as 8 rack can answer the creature threats, RCing themselves will save them from the non-creature damage sources (Runeflare Trap, Fevered Visions).

Nathan burn (2-1, 3-0)
Lost game 1 as expected.
Game 2:
Me: "I'll be on the play"
Him: "Mulligan to 6 ... Mulligan to 5 ... Keep, scry"
Me: "Okay, pre-game actions?"
Him: "Uh, none."
Me: "Yeah me neither. Pass the turn, upkeep Nourishing Shoal to gain 14 life"
Game 3: I did not have the Nourishing Shoal-Autochthon Wurm combo, and only won through with Runeflare Trap because he missed some Eidolon of the Great Revel triggers.
Overall enjoyed the match, and I hope that he enjoyed me bringing this off-meta Fevered Visions deck instead of what everyone else plays, which is mostly netdecks/known archetypes. He pointed out insightfully that part of my success with rogue decks is that people don't necessarily know how to play against them.
I really try to bring something that can both do well and provide a unique Magic experience for other players, so this was a good match.

Austin Mono U Tron, pair-down, 0-2 (4-0)
We split, but played it anyways. I uh, tried playing out tempo Boomerangs & Thing in the Ice, but U Tron's gameplan of cheap soft-counters into huge Tron-land threats was just too much.
I haven't played U Tron in a long freaking time, if ever? though I know of it, and it still does broken Tron things by virtue of stupid ramp. They turn the corner very quickly from Remands and Condescends and Repeals to Ugin and Emrakul the Promised End. Fuck Tron, I guess.


Overall reflections:

• I should probably cut Ebony Owl Netsuke altogether. Howling Mine generally feels bad, and even Dictate of Kruphix isn't great since it's a 3 mana pass-turn-basically-do-nothing when the rest of the format is doing way more powerful things on their turn 3.
• Maybe there are some fringe cards out there that better enable Runeflare Trap and Fevered Visions, the real win-cons of the deck?
• I benefited a lot today from my opponents forgetting their own triggers. Ideally I shouldn't have to rely on that.
• I can get away with the Nourishing Shoal-Autochthon Wurm SB combo as long as the store is filled with burn & I keep my deck on the down low so people don't catch on too much. As I mentioned to my r4 opponent, I don't really have a good plan for Tron or big mana decks.
• Chalice of the Void is okay? like vs burn, which would open up some more SB slots
• Maybe Blood Moon? I have 7 basic Islands after all.
• Comment if you want specifics on how I would approach a matchup with the deck, SB choices, or SB decisions (which I didn't mention)
• edit: I kept gaining 14 life off Nourishing Shoal exiling Autochthon Wurm, when I should have been gaining 15. I should fix this.

2018-11-09 D&A FNM Modern 3-1

Updated decklist: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/1457422#paper

Differences from last week:

• -1 Urborg Tomb of Yawgmoth, +1 Blackcleave Cliffs
• -3 SSG, +3 Fatal Push
• SB: -3 Fatal Push, +3 Anger of the Gods

Round 1 - Steve / Grixis combo (1-2, 0-1)
There's got to be a better name for the deck that plays Goryo's Vengance, Living End, As Foretold, Griselbrand, Kiki-Jikki & Deceiver Exarch, and Jace Vryn's Prodigy. Game 1 I had a hand that didn't do anything (no Waste Not). Probably wasn't winning g1 anyways since I don't have graveyard interaction. Game 2 I drew all three Surgical Extractions and had an easy win. Game 3 was no action again and combo'd on turn 3, perhaps should have mulligan'd to 5 for a Surgical.
SB: +3 Surgical, +3 Liliana of the Veil, -3 Fatal Push, -3 Kolaghan's Command

Round 2 - Brian / Affinity (2-1, 1-1)
Game 1 he played a Blood Moon into an open fetchland, and I had a basic Island in my hand. the Blood Moon turned off all his manlands, which could have been a problem. Finished game 1 with a Collective Defiance, which is hilarious.
SB: +1 Fatal Push, +1 Kolaghan's Command, +3 Anger of the Gods, +1 Kalitas Traitor of Ghet, +1 Gifted Aetherborn
-2 Collective Defiance, -5 other cards I forget. JVP, Snapcasters, maybe Collective Brutalities
I think it's important to keep at least 1 Snapcaster in for the ability to flashback Torment of Hailfire.
Highlight from game 3 was weakening a Galvanic Blast targeting my Gifted Aetherborn, by removing their third artifact.

Round 3 - Ed / mono red Steam Kin? (2-0, 2-1)
Don't think it was a stock list. He played Mox Opal, Bomat Couriers, Memnites, Signal Pests, Bushwhackers, Runaway Steam-Kin, Risk Factors, Goblin Guides, Goblin Grenades. Not a lot in the way of direct burn spells. He brought me close both games, but Risk Factor worked out quite poorly for him - ex. from 6 life, take 4 because he has access to RRRR mana (Steam-Kin on 3 counters + lands), or letting him draw 3 cards with no available mana on that turn + Collective Brutality in hand.
SB: +1 Fatal Push, +1 Kolaghan's Command, +3 Anger of the Gods, +1 Kalitas Traitor of Ghet, +1 Gifted Aetherborn
-2 Collective Defiance, -2 Thoughtseize, -1 Damnation, -2 JVP?
Basically same sideboarding as round 2 vs Affinity


Round 4 - pair down vs Dan / budget elves (2-1, 3-1)
Lost game 1 to a bunch of dumb pointy-eared brutes.
SB: I don't even remember. Anger of the Gods did a lot of work here (and in the other matchups).
Game 3 I misplayed several times. The first was vs a telegraphed Collected Company (Heritage Druid + 2 elves + land). I had a Fatal Push and Anger of the Gods in hand. I should have Pushed the Druid in draw step or first main, then cast Anger in the next available main phase. Later on, though around 10 life, I was not under threat of lethal damage (even if he had two lords), and could have played a JVP with Anger of the Gods in the yard - setting up a next turn flashback. Instead I cast Wistful Thinking, and had to Wistful Thinking myself next turn to find a Snapcaster Mage for my Anger. Earlier I cast a Torment of Hailfire for X = 4, and after sweeping the board I used JVP to flash it back for X = 6.

Judge question: I control a Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet. I cast Anger of the Gods (my opponent has creatures, obviously). What happens - do I get zombies or not?

Answer: CR 616.1

Overall thoughts:

• The Fatal Push/Anger of the Gods combination was huge, at least vs my local store's meta. There are a lot of "burn" or aggro players whose decks play a ton of small creatures. Control, midrange, combo, and big mana are not super prevalent right now?
• There are several players at the store who play (at least some of the time) some variant of the deck I faced in round 3 (mono red aggro, utilizing Mox Opals).
• With all these aggro players running around, there are a lot of Goblin Guides running out there. But most of these players don't remember the attack trigger, which is super frustrating to me (and pretty sure illegal at comp REL). You don't just get a bigger Angry Goblin with no downside!
• Wistful Thinking is the game's silliest Mind Rot.
• DIY Ancestral Recall (Dream Salvage) is great. However, I don't think it's worth casting when it can only draw 1 card (enabled by Geier Reach Sanitarium/Thoughtseize/Collective Brutality/Liliana of the Veil).
• I should formalize my priority of fetch targets. Usually I prioritize BR, the BB/RR, then a U source - roughly corresponding to each turn. There's only a couple people playing Blood Moon? in which case I'd probably fetch Swamp-Island in that order, unless both my fetches are Bloodstained Mire.