Last Thursday night felt like shades of SPDC Season 2 were coming back to haunt us. It’s 2 UR control decks that dominated the tournament, despite WW and blinkdrifter decks showing up in good numbers.
Two UR control decks (UR Storm Control and URw Burnt Nemo) beat WW, Blinkdrifter and much more to face each other in the finals, where Kehmesis beat Icarodx to take home the gold.
One amazing feat is Icarodx losing the first game in all of his matches, but finishing with a 5-1 record. Talk about come backs. Meanwhile, Kehmesis won all his matches 2-0, besides his 2nd round match loss to StillIrise’s Uber Teachings.
All in all, it was a very interesting events with a lot of newer decks beating on the established tier one decks. UR illusions, UR Storm Control, UR Burnt Nemo… See a pattern? It looks like SPDC Season 2!
There was also a new UGb good stuff deck called “Chill Teachings” that went 3-0 in swiss. A very interesting control deck that was designed and piloted by White_Djinn.
Uber Teachings and Stick N’ Stones also made their usual trip to the playoffs, once again failing short.
Event Thread
The metagame
SPDC 4.07 Metagame is also available in the forums.
Metagame
Thanks to all those who participated in the metagame gathering.
Aggro
GravespwnGoddess-> WW :t4:
Krosanbeast9359-> WW
zaxx81-> WW
hokusai22-> WW
ecupiratefan69-> WW
arachnid1313-> RDW
jnr91-> MG Elves
NanoChaos-> MG Elves
WoCoNation-> Strawberry Shortcake
Mid-range
bluedragon123-> Blinkdrifter :t8:
BlueWurm-> Blinkdrifter
Bulldog333-> Blinkdrifter
53N531-> Dark Hulk
hurriboy-> Stick N’ Stones :t8:
33arod-> Dark Evocation(?)
Javafreak911-> UGR Slivers
Aggro-Control
Me5794-> UR Illusions
nybaseb3-> UR Illusions :t8:
VTC-> Blue Beats
Control
StillIRise -> Uber Teachings :t4:
HWolverine83-> DS Rock
Stiffdiddypinky-> DS Rock
redleg-> DS Rock
White_djinn-> UGb Chill Teachings :t4:
Icarodx-> Burnt Nemo :2nd:
Combo-Control
Kehmesis-> Storm Control :1st:
—-
WW – :t4: :dot: :dot: :dot: :dot:
RDW – :dot:
MG Elves – :dot: :dot:
Strawberry Shortcake – :dot:
Blinkdrifter – :t8: :dot: :dot:
Dark Hulk – :t8:
Stick N’ Stones – :t8:
Dark Evocation – :dot:
UGR Slivers – :dot:
UR Illusions – :t8: :dot:
Blue Beats – :dot:
Burnt Nemo – :2nd:
Uber Teachings – :t8:
DS Rock – :dot: :dot: :dot:
Chill Teachings – :t8:
Storm Control – :1st:
—-
I don’t think standard has ever been as interesting as it is right now. Tons of decks are viable. New ones are showing up and pulling off good results. We haven’t seen this in a very long time.
Standard players are used to see dominating decks throughout a season. This season seemed like it was going in that direction when Blinkdrifter was annihilating all opposition, until WW showed up. And now, WW hasn’t won an event in quite some time, and it’s not because it lacks any backers.
There were 5 WW and 3 Blinkdrifter decks this week, but only one of each reached the playoff rounds. That’s 2 out of 8 decks and hardly dominating. I think it’s fair to say that while they are still very strong decks, the domination is over and it didn’t last as long as I had expected.
What’s great in such a shifting metagame is that we’re starting to see some rock, paper, scissors loop. The best decks can’t win all the time anymore because there are way too many factors to take into account. And in my opinion, standard hasn’t been this healthy in a very long time, if ever.
Playoffs
TOP 8:
——————————–
(1) White Djinn (Chill Teachings)
(8) Kehmesis (Storm Control)
——————————–
(5) Still I Rise (Uber Teachings)
(4) Nybaseb3 (UR Illusions)
——————————–
(3) Hurriboy (Stick N’ Stones)
(6) GravespwnGoddess (WW)
——————————–
(7) Bluedragon123 (Blinkdrifter)
(2) Icarodx (Burnt Nemo)
——————————–
TOP 4:
——————————–
(8) Kehmesis (Storm Control)
(5) Still I Rise (Uber Teachings)
——————————–
(6) GravespwnGoddess (WW)
(2) Icarodx (Burnt Nemo)
——————————–
Final:
——————————–
(8) Kehmesis (Storm Control)
(2) Icarodx (Burnt Nemo)
——————————–
Metagame Breakdown
You can always access the standard Top 8 metagame at PDCMagic’s Forums.
Standard Top 8 Metagame
Includes all Standard (SPDC and MPDC) events to date.
Kehm’s personal top 5 decks: (what are yours?)
1- WW
2- Blinkdrifter
3- Storm Control
4- Uber Teachings
5- UR Illusions
Up and coming: Burnt Nemo, Buffeting Boggarts, Dark Hulk.
If we look at the top 5 decks, we can see some pretty interesting match ups. All the decks have strong and less strong matches. I think the weakest link is surprisingly blinkdrifter, but due to its history, I had to put it up there. However, WW and uber teachings have really good matches against it, and Storm Control is around 50%.
WW is also losing steam with the emergence of the UR control decks and the surprisingly popular DS Rock. I personally have no idea why it is played because it never wins, but it does beat WW. DS Rock’s record is near pathetic with 2 top 8s since the beginning of the season, and probably more than 20 appearances. Time to give up.
Power Rankings
Here’s how the power ratings are calculated:
Each event, players gain points depending on the final standings:
1st – 10 points
2nd – 7 points
T4 – 4 points
T8 – 2 points
Other – 0 point
The power rating of a player is the point average for the current season. (By adding all points accumulated and dividing the total by the number of event participations, we get the average/power rating)
Players who play in less than 40% (2/5) of the events will suffer a small penalty.
There are 38 ranked players out of 94. To be ranked you need to reach the playoff rounds once.
The number of events played serve as first tie breakers, followed by the best finishes.
Thanks to Eegag for the top 5 Icons
Rank
1 
Subliminal man (4.75) – :1st: :2nd: :t8:
2 
Kehmesis (4.00) – :1st: :t4: :t8:
3 
Baron Sengir (3.40) – :2nd: :t4: :t8: :t8: :t8:
4 
Bluedragon (3.33) – :1st: :t8:
5 
Boin (3.33) – :1st: :t8:
6 Icarodx (3.14) – :2nd: :2nd: :t4: :t8: :t8:
7 GravespwnGoddess (3.06) – :2nd: :t4:
8 Krosanbeast (3.00) – :1st: :t4: :t4: :t4: :t8:
9 Kingritz (2.78) – :1st:
10 Cecilia Jupe (2.78) – :1st:
10 Eegag (2.78) – :1st:
12 Evu (2.75)
13 Karakusk (2.50)
14 Khirareq (2.50)
15 StillIRise (2.00)
16 Hurriboy (2.00)
17 Robe (1.75)
18 Death Knight (1.67)
19 Rancorous Fool (1.67)
20 Serra Monk (1.67)
21 Plainstrider (1.50)
22 Kaityson (1.20)
23 Me5794 (1.13)
24 Cp70 (1.11)
25 Cadaeic (1.11)
26 White Djinn (1.11)
27 LostSymphonies (1.00)
28 Jtamaro (0.56)
29 Redleg (0.56)
30 ZechMaples (0.56)
31 Brokn990 (0.56)
32 Leadwing Coachman (0.56)
33 Nybaseb (0.56)
34 WoCoNation (0.50)
35 HWolverine (0.40)
36 Jamuraa (0.40)
37 Lysandar (0.40)
38 Carinon (0.29)
Most Events Played: Krosanbeast (9)
Most Playoffs: Krosanbeast, Baron Sengir, Icarodx (5)
Most wins: Cecilia Jupe, Eegag, Karakusk, Subliminal Man, Kingritz, Krosanbeast, Boin, BlueDragon, Kehmesis (1)
Most Points: Krosanbeast (25)
Best Playoff %: Baron Sengir (100%) (Most events played as tie breaker)
Decklist
1st place deck – Storm Control – Piloted by Kehmesis
4 Remove Soul
10 Snow-Covered Island
9 Snow-Covered Mountain
4 Empty the Warrens
4 Errant Ephemeron
3 Foresee
4 Grapeshot
3 Martyr of Ashes
4 Ponder
4 Rift Bolt
4 Skred
4 Terramorphic Expanse
3 Think Twice
Sideboard
4 Faerie Trickery
1 Foresee
1 Martyr of Ashes
4 Rite of Flame
4 Rune Snag
1 Think Twice
Not much that hasn’t been said last week. The changes are the Rite of Flame and Remove Soul main deck switch.
Congrats! (yes it feels weird)
—
2nd place deck – Burnt Nemo – Piloted by Icarodx
2 Incinerate
1 Island
4 Remove Soul
10 Snow-Covered Island
6 Snow-Covered Mountain
1 Snow-Covered Plains
4 Errant Ephemeron
4 Lash Out
2 Momentary Blink
4 Mulldrifter
2 Ponder
4 Rune Snag
2 Shimmering Grotto
4 Skred
4 Terramorphic Expanse
4 Think Twice
2 AEthersnipe
Sideboard
3 Aven Riftwatcher
3 Faerie Trickery
3 Infiltrator il-Kor
3 Oblivion Ring
3 Subterranean Shambler
Icarodx’s deck is basically a UR Control deck that splashes white for 2 main deck blinks, 3 sideboard riftwatcher and 3 sideboard oblivion ring. It is really close to a 2 color deck, making the mana base pretty strong and consistent. The burnt fish aspect of the deck is nearly gone. Ica transformed the old burnt aggro decks into a control monster instead. The deck’s main weakness is probably the small amount of win conditions, making it very vulnerable to removal heavy decks. That’s probably why there are 9 creatures in the sideboard, and also why he did not win a single game 1 in the whole tournament… Perhaps.
Congrats!
—
Top 8 deck – Chill Teachings (Snow Control) – Piloted by White Djinn
1 Faerie Trickery
1 Nameless Inversion
2 Broken Ambitions
4 Aurochs Herd
4 Chilling Shade
4 Dreamspoiler Witches
4 Edge of Autumn
4 Mystical Teachings
4 Rune Snag
4 Search for Tomorrow
4 Sprout Swarm
3 Snow-Covered Swamp
4 Terramorphic Expanse
6 Snow-Covered Island
11 Snow-Covered Forest
Sideboard
1 Evolution Charm
1 Naturalize
1 Wrap in Vigor
4 Eyeblight’s Ending
4 Grim Harvest
4 Think Twice
White Djinn finished 1st after the swiss rounds, going 3-0. He was unprepared for Storm, and he still gave a hell of a fight. The deck is very impressive. It is packing removal and counterspells, making dreamspoiler witch a permanent removal tool. He also has 12 very strong win conditions with the cows, the (very big) Chilling Shade and the annoying sprout swarm.
Congrats!
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)
Nothing to report this week as I was late with my last report due to the holidays and included MPDC in it.
Is there something you would like to see in these reports? Post a comment!
Well, that is 2 standard wins in a row for Storm Control, a top 4 and a 2-1 finish in 4 participations. Can we expect a lot of token hate next week? Maybe more players will lean towards the underplayed Uber Teachings.
See you next week!
Kehm.
“This season is a poster child for Standard being too limited a cardpool for a healthy format.” -Polyjak
That was barely 2 weeks ago, how times have changed. =)
That was me, btw. =p
Well, I think he posted this before thinking it through.
He had a point in that we’re missing 2 small sets compared to last season. But TS block was successful, so it definitely has nothing to do with the card pool.
I can’t tell whether the format is bad or Standard players are just too open to suggestion.
I don’t understand this! I have never been wrong before…!
@kehm:
I think that Muldrifter can support harc core control strategies just like Mystical Teachings can, and this can be a trend to the future post-TSP. URw drifter could be a better name now that the deck is a control deck? In the same fashion of UBr Teachings name?
1) How the number of win conditions can be a weakness in a control deck? Tell that to teachings
2) My sideboard was very underused in reality. The match I most changed the dek was the final when I brought 3 aven and 3 shambler in, but was unable to have a good draw or more than 1 of each to work around counters. I blame my streak of game 1 losses to luck more than everything, and the recovers on the deck
Ica:
Teachings or other permission decks have many cards to back up its 4 EE’s. The latest version still has lots of counters, but since it has less than before it now uses a harvest. Not running out of win conditions is important.
You have 2 blinks and 4 runesnag, it’s not a lot. The all 1 game losses was a side joke, but I honestly think the deck could have a really hard time against a removal heavy deck (that you were fortunate not to face in the tournament).
Fortunate? How do you explain the win against teachings? Isn
If I remember your game against teachings correctly, you lost game 1 and won game 3(?) because HE ran out of win conditions.