---

Evu said that there were two ways to stop mulldrifter. The obvious solution is counterspells. The other is discard. Well Evu did very well to demonstrate that discard could stop mulldrifter, but he ended up just one match shy from going all the way. Kingritz dominated with his own version of UBWr blink, Kingdrifter.

After Eegag reviewed Mulldrifter in the Lorwyn preview, there was a big debate on whether or not mulldrifter was worthy of all the attention it had and whether or not it was a format-defining card.

Let's remember what he said:

"MULLDRIFTER - FLAGSHIP
Now this is a FLAGSHIP. With such an abusive ability – come into play, draw two cards – and such a good card to abuse it with – Momentary Blink – the deck almost builds itself. The only question is will blue/white decks find enough power to draw into, or will they need to add a third color? Regardless, Mulldrifter will be played, extensively, as a control finisher and as well as an aggro-control card advantage monster."

I don't think he could have been more dead on. Mulldrifter IS a monster, IS played extensively and IS format defining. The new question is: What will stop it?

Event Thread

------------------------

The metagame

Thanks to Icarodx and all those who participated in the metagame collection this week.

SPDC 4.02 Metagame is available in the forums.

Metagame

- First place
- Second place
- Top 4
- Top 8

Mono-colored Aggro (3)
RDW
White Weenie

Multicolored Aggro (5)
Strawberry Shortcake
Cheapo Elves!
RG aggro
BR goblins
GWB Fungus

Mid-range Aggro Control (4)
Blinkdrifter
WUB
UB madness

Control (8)
UBeR Teachings
Nearly MBC
MBC
UBeR Evoke
UB Dreamspoiler
UB Faeries
Kingdrifter

Mono-color combo (1)
Red Storm

It took a few events. but there is now a pretty good mix of control and aggro decks and both are doing quite good.

The most notable decks are the two UW Blinkdrifter decks that failed to reach the playoff and the two Uber control decks that keeps showing consistency.

------------------------

Playoffs

TOP 8:

--------------------------------
(1) Evu (MBC)
(8) Death Kight (Ubervoke)
--------------------------------
(5) Krosanbeast (WW)
(4) Rancorous Fool (Red Sligh)
--------------------------------
(3) Kaityson (Uber Teachings)
(6 Plainstrider (RG Aggro)
--------------------------------
(7) Jtamaro (UB Madness)
(2) Kingritz (Kingdrifter)
--------------------------------

TOP 4:

--------------------------------
(1) Evu (MBC)
(5) Krosanbeast (WW)
--------------------------------
(3) Kaityson (Uber Teachings)
(2) Kingritz (Kingdrifter)
--------------------------------

Final:

--------------------------------
(1) Evu (MBC)
(2) Kingritz (Kingdrifter)
--------------------------------

------------------------

Metagame Breakdown

You can always access the standard Top 8 metagame at the PoP's Forums.

Standard Top 8 Metagame

Includes all Standard (SPDC and MPDC) events to date.

(Writer's note: I will no longer repost the season metagame here, as it takes a ridiculous amount of time for something that's available in one click)

Although Blinkdrifter didn't make it to the playoffs in this week's SPDC, it won last monday's MPDC. U/W blink decks are still the most dominating decks this season and Mulldrifter keeps proving to be one of the best card in standard.
Uber Control decks keep doing quite good, but are still looking for their first victory.
Another deck is starting to show consistency albeit not doing better than top 4 so far, is Red Deck Wins (or Red sligh variants). RDW has two top 4 and two top 8 showings in 5 events, making it the 3rd most successful archtype in this very young and diverse metagame.

------------------------

Power Rankings

There are 17 ranked players this week. To be ranked, you need a power rating above 0.

(new) Number of events played serve as first tie breaker, followed by best finishes.

Format:

Rank. Player name (Power Rating) - (Last week's Rank)

Thanks to Eegag for the top 5 Icons

01. Evu (6.00) - (5)

02. Cecilia Jupe (5.00) - (1)

02. Eegag (5.00) - (3)

04. Baron Sengir (5.00) - (4)

05. Icarodx (4.00) - (2)

06. Kingritz (3.33) - (NEW!)
07. KrosanBeast (2.67) - (6)
08. Deathknight (2.00) - (6)
08. Kaityson (2.00) - (11)
10. Still I Rise (2.00) - (8)
11. Cadaeic (2.00) - (9)
11. Kehmesis (2.00) - (9)
11. Rancorous Fool (2.00) - (New!)
11. Plainstrider (2.00) - (New!)
11. Jtamaro (2.00) - (New!)
16. Jamuraa (0.67) - (11)
16. WoCoNation (0.67) - (11)

------------------------

Decklist

1st place deck - Kingdrifter - Piloted by Kingritz

4 Pit Keeper
3 Ravenous Rats
4 Phyrexian Rager
4 Aven Riftwatcher
4 Mulldrifter
2 Mournwhelk
2 Mystical Teachings
4 Momentary Blink
2 Grim Harvest
3 Skred
3 Strangling Soot
2 Prismatic Lens
4 Shimmering Grotto
4 Terramorphic Expanse
5 Snow-Covered Island
1 Snow-Covered Mountain
4 Snow-Covered Plains
5 Snow-Covered Swamp

Sideboard
3 Martyr of Bones
2 Mournwhelk
1 Ravenous Rats
1 Grim Harvest
1 Mystical Teachings
2 Dream Stalker
1 Skred
1 Strangling Soot
3 Subterranean Shambler

Kingdrifter is Kingritz's take on blink/control decks. It could be considered the new age Orzhov Blink, or more specifically Mystical Blinkings, as if it hadn't haunted us enough already. Every single creature has a come into play (CIP) ability and is the perfect target for both blink and grim harvest. Besides Aven Riftwatcher, which is there to stop aggressive decks, all the other creatures offer card advantage, whether they make the pilot draw or the opponent discard. The only exception might be Pit keeper, which makes you "draw" only under a condition.

Congrats!

----

2nd place deck - Apology (MBC) - Piloted by Evu

22 Snow-Covered Swamp
3 Prismatic Lens

4 Mindstab
4 Distress
2 Psychotic Episode

2 Terror
2 Strangling Soot
4 Ichor Slick
4 Tendrils of Corruption

4 Phyrexian Rager
4 Gathan Raiders
3 Gorgon Recluse

2 Grim Harvest

Sideboard
1 Snow-Covered Mountain
1 Prismatic Lens
4 Hurly-Burly
2 Terror
2 Psychotic Episode
2 Strangling Soot
3 Death Rattle

Evu went the discard route in order to stop the mulldrifter decks. He's packing a ton disruption and removal spells, but very few creatures. The two grim harvests ensures he will not run out of win conditions against removal-heavy decks. There is also a subtle madness sub-theme, with 4 madness enablers and a few madness cards that are very "hardcastable".

Congrats!

------------------------

MPDC 1.01

If anyone would like to write for MPDC, please contact Polyjak. If you would like to have any data I have gathered or my article templates, contact me. (You can PM us in the forums)

Last Monday was MPDC 1.02 and Icarodx won with, guess what, a Blinkdrifter deck.

Here's the Metagame

And the Event Thread

---

That's it for this week. We'll see you next Thursday for some more Mulldrifter action! :)

Kehm.