WorldWake Preview Part 5

BDM, Flores and Will discuss the Top8Magic.com WorldWake Preview Card: Spell Contortion

WorldWake Preview Part 4

BDM, Flores and Will discuss the Top8Magic.com WorldWake Preview Card: Spell Contortion

WorldWake Preview Part 3

BDM, Flores and Will discuss the Top8Magic.com WorldWake Preview Card: Spell Contortion

WorldWake Preview Part 2

BDM, Flores and Will discuss the Top8Magic.com WorldWake Preview Card: Spell Contortion

WorldWake Preview Part 1

BDM, Flores and Will discuss the Top8Magic.com WorldWake Preview Card: Spell Contortion

Alara Reborn Card Preview: Glory of Warfare

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Flores and Price of Progress - Part 2

Will Price: I think I have a good T2 deck for Worlds/the Philly 5k.
Julian (Levin): O yeah
Julian: Ship it

Greedy Grixis
4 Bitterblossom
3 Grixis Charm
4 Cryptic Command
4 Makeshift Mannequin
3 Ajani Vengeant
4 Fulminator Mage
3 Sower of Temptation
4 Mulldrifter
3 Siege-Gang Commander
2 Shriekmaw
1 Reveillark

4 Reflecting Pool
4 Sunken Ruins
2 Rugged Prairie
1 Fetid Heath
1 Mystic Gate
2 Cascade Bluffs
1 Graven Cairns
2 Underground River
1 Shivan Reef
4 Crumbling Necropolis
3 Arcane Sanctum

Julian: What has this format come to.
Julian: I dunno what kind of criticisms I can give having never played a game with Shards.
Will: Don’t criticize, just praise.
Julian: Best deck I’ve ever seen.

Hey everyone, my name is Will Price, and I am a new member here at Top 8 Magic. You may recognize me from one of my several appearances on the podcast, or if you frequent Neutral Ground or PTQs in the New York area. I have been playing Magic semi-seriously the past few years (semi-serious in that I go to tournaments, just never win) and have always wanted to write about it. Hopefully through posting here I can motivate myself to take the game a bit more seriously and perform better in the tournament scene.

T2 is my favorite format. As such, I live for States (which thankfully returned) and Regionals, and the rare T2 PTQ season. Despite scrubbing at States (a story for a different post), there is still reason to play T2. There is a 5k event in Philly the first weekend of December, and Worlds the weekend after which I am hoping to attend.

This deck has been my project for the past two weeks, and I am currently of the opinion that it is quite strong. Let’s call it a Contender. Against a control deck, you play the pseudo-tempo game. Do your best to disrupt them early with Fulminator Mage and/or bouncing Vivid lands with Grixis Charm (or Cryptic if you want to get greedy). Once they are behind on lands your goal is to stick a threat and protect it. Use Mannequin aggressively on their EOT so you can resolve your big spells on your turn. They usually can’t beat an Ajani or a Bitterblossom. Against aggro you are the control deck. Fulminator Mage can often 2 for 1, trading with a guy and a man-land. Sower and Shriekmaw are insane, especially since you have Mannequin. They also can’t beat an Ajani. Or a Bitterblossom. Noticing a trend?

As for specific matchups and sideboarding, that data is not in yet. I have not done enough focused testing to certify this deck a winner. I see a lot of potential with this list and will be posting a lot about it between now and Worlds (maybe I can trick someone who is playing in the event to run it? I’m looking at you Fabiano). More explanation will come as I start heavy testing against real T2 decks (read: RDW, Kithkin, 5c, Faeries). Until then, I am inviting everyone who reads to test it, tweak it, and make suggestions. Here are a couple of things to think about:

Is Grixis Charm that good? It has a ton of utility, and the Overrun effect has won me a lot of races given the amount token production. Is it just a “win more,” or is it the real deal?

Am I crazy for not running more Reveillark?

Is the mana awful? I am not exactly an expert at building a land base. So far it has been fine, although I have had more than one game where Ajani is sitting in my hand because I am missing either red or white.

That’s it for now. Let me know what you what you think with comments!