PT Austin

[akfox]

Anyone intend to attend PT Austin? I'll be going at least for the first 3 days (Last Chance Qualifier on Thursday, and Qualifiers on Friday and Saturday as well). I only live an hour from Austin (+/- based on traffic), so it's not too much of a commute. Any reasonable amount of people are welcome to crash at my place if they make the trip.

All that being said, anyone have any ideas of what might be decent in Std post-rotation? I know we don't know what all is in Zendikar yet for the most part, but what are your opinions about cards to build around that we know of (Shards block and M10)? I have to get testing if I want to have any chance of grinding in. There's actually a pretty good amount of players in my area but they aren't quite up to the standard of Terry and Nate (and me, if I might be so bold).

[akfox]

Yeah, I know, doublepost...deal with it.

Anyway, it doesn't look like anyone wants to come to Texas. That's understandable as it's a pretty good haul and you all probably can't afford to take the time off of work. I just thought I'd ask.

I need this friggin' Zendikar set to be spoiled so I can actually make decks to test in preparation of the Last Chance Qualifier on the Thursday before the PT. I doubt I'll get in but I see no reason not to try. Whether or not I get in I need a good extended deck for either the PT or for the PTQ on Saturday. I expect I'll play Zoo.

This deck won a GP in March so I'll probably base my list off of it:

Creatures
4 Kird Ape
4 Mogg Fanatic
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Wild Nacatl
4 Woolly Thoctar

Enchantments
3 Seal Of Fire

Instants
2 Incinerate
4 Lightning Helix
4 Path To Exile

Legendary Artifacts
2 Umezawa's Jitte

Legendary Creatures
3 Gaddock Teeg
1 Isamaru, Hound Of Konda

Basic Lands
1 Forest
1 Mountain
1 Plains

Lands
4 Bloodstained Mire
2 Sacred Foundry
3 Stomping Ground
1 Temple Garden
4 Windswept Heath
4 Wooded Foothills

My questions:
1- is Mogg Fanatic still good enough to make the cut? If not, what should take his place? I'm thinking Goblin Guide from Zendikar might be nice, but I can't say at this moment that his drawback isn't too much (for those who don't know, Goblin Guide is a 2/2 haste for R, where your opp. reveals the top card of their library when he attacks...if it's a land, they draw it).

2- Obviously, 4x Lightning Bolt is going in. What combination of Seal/Incinerate/Path should I take out for it? I'm partial to burn (i.e. keeping the Incinerates) but I can see an argument for keeping Path.

3- Gaddock Teeg was there to stop combo...is he still needed? Sure, he still stops Wrath and I guess Cryptic Command, but I don't think Wrath will be too popular, at least immediately, and Faeries is already a decent matchup, especially post-board. Should I keep him? I'm thinking he should go and I'll put in Quasali Pridemage, though I'm not sure he's all the relevant either. What do you recommend?

I can't think of anything else relevant at the moment. It's too early to worry about sideboards until all the cards from Zendikar are known, though I know some number of Ancient Grudge and Volcanic Fallout are automatic.

I'm interested in hearing your responses.

[xes]

Hey,
You might want to check out the last chance QT. I looks like you may be thinking it's EXT while it is prob still standard. Otherwise the list looks strong for EX. For standard, Baneslayer is nice as well as cascade and lark and 5CC.

[The Aardvark]

The LCQ is indeed Standard, but it's post-rotation Standard. I'm not really sure what sort of decks will be viable, since we don't know most of Zendikar yet. I mean, there's something like Jund Cascade, which doesn't lose TOO much compared to a lot of decks; or Grixis Control, which can definitely be adapted for the rotation. Mono white soldiers is possible, but there will be a 4 mana Wrath, so who knows if it's viable.

As far as Extended goes, it's pretty much status quo, honestly. I will say that Doran improves greatly with the new fetches replacing the old ones, because now you can get every land you need with the B/G and B/W fetches more easily. I'm not sure if it's better than Zoo or anything, but it has a lot of potential; just watch out for Shackles. In an unknown meta, though, I'd just play Faeries, altered to remove the Elves hate, or at least reduce it.

Oh, and Mogg Fanatic is beyond terrible now. It's best use is to kill Confidant, which you will have a plethora of ways to do anyway. If you're going to play Zoo, you should look at the Naya Zoo lists from the end of the season that include Ranger of Eos, because that card is the best way to beat Faeries a lot of the time.

[akfox]

Yeah, the LCQ is standard, but as Terry pointed, I don't have any way of knowing what will be good for that. The PT is Ext/Std/Ext I think and the PTQ on Saturday is Ext so I'll prepare for what I know right now.

I don't know that Mogg Fanatic is "beyond terrible", but I'll take that as meaning it's not good enough. You've probably played it more than I (not at all) so I'll trust your judgement. One thing I hadn't thought of last night was Figure of Destiny. Not quite as aggro as a 2/2 haste goblin but with much more upside. I guess I'll be going with him unless something better comes along.

Ranger of Eos I will probably keep in the sideboard. I thought of him more as a strong play in the mirror, honestly, where you basically trade dudes all day and hope to outdraw the opponent. I'm not sure how he beats Faeries though, as it doesn't come out quick enough to avoid most of their countermagic. Perhaps you could educate me on that.

Also, what do you think of replacing Gaddock Teeg? I don't think he fits anymore, but I'm open to suggestions if you think he should stay or what to replace him with.

[The Aardvark]

The PT is Extended and Draft; every PT contains Constructed and Draft portions now.

Figure is ok, but you don't want more than 2, probably. It's mana intensive, and you'll often be doing better things with your mana. Mogg Fanatic is just not good enough. It's outclassed by every creature in the format, more or less, so I can't really see it being worthwhile, except maybe as a one-of Ranger target or something.

Ranger is stupid good. It beats Faeries because it just provides gas. Sure, it's counterable, but it's not going to happen very often, honestly, unless Faeries starts adding more Cryptics or something. Naya Zoo with 3-4 Rangers was a bad matchup for Faeries at the end of the PTQ season, and Ranger was a big part of that.

Teeg is ok, but think there is probably a better choice. The relevant question is what spells can you expect to stop that are actually played? The format is dominated by 1-3cc threats/answers, and I'm not sure Teeg is really a good fit. He might turn out to be amazing, of course, but right now I think he's pretty mediocre for a 2-drop.

Oh, and Jitte is probably the best card in the format, IMO, so if you choose to play without it you'll need some justification.

I will say that Dredge is probably better than people will give it credit for, as it has received all sorts of new tools recently: Burning Inquiry, new fetches, the color-hosing 7/7, Bloodghast, etc. If you think it would be under the radar, and it probably will be, it seems like a good call. High risk, but very much high reqard also. M10 rules also helped, because it means a lot fewer Mogg Fanatics will be around, which is a big boon.

Just my thoughts.

[akfox]

Jitte is in my list, I guess you didn't see it up there. It's a no brainer so far as I'm concerned, though whether or not the main should include 2 or 3 is up for debate, I suppose. I don't want to draw more than one, so at least pre-board I'll stick with 2, and bring in more for other decks playing it.

I guess if I were to add 3 Ranger I'd take out 3 Teeg for him, and for the Fanatics I'd bring in 2 FoD, maybe leave 1 as a Ranger tool and either another 1 drop or Quasali Pridemage. Any suggestions there? I only play 21 lands and with all the thinning I'll be doing I don't want to have 4 four drops...I just don't expect to be able to hit it that often, but it's nice to be have a long-game option. I'll test each way.

I think Dredge is pretty good and I may go that route instead. However, I have to wait and see if it is going to become popular before I try it. I don't want to sail through a sea of hate. If it looks like it will go under the radar I may acquire the cards for it...they're not hard to find and they won't be expensive, so I have no worries. I probably won't need fetches for it but I'll be getting them for Zoo anyway.

[akfox]

Here's what I'll start testing with. I'll make some annotations if I think they're warranted.

Creatures (23)
4 Kird Ape
4 Wild Nacatl
2 Figure of Destiny (could be Goblin Guide)
1 Isamaru, Hound Of Konda
4 Tarmogoyf
2 Qasali Pridemage (a decent body and a MD answer to Shackles and opposing Jittes)
4 Woolly Thoctar
2 Ranger of Eos (great in some matchups, but I don't want him clogging up my hand)

Spells (16)
1 Seal Of Fire (Tarmogoyf food)
1 Tarfire (Tarmogoyf needs his vitamins)
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Path To Exile
2 Umezawa's Jitte

Lands (21)
12 Fetchlands
3 Stomping Ground
2 Sacred Foundry
1 Temple Garden
1 Forest
1 Mountain
1 Plains

SB (provisional)
4 Volcanic Fallout
4 Relic of Progenitus (just in case...)
3 Ancient Grudge
2 Qasali Pridemage
1 Jitte
1 Isocron Scepter

If Goblin Guide turns out to be good I will probably shoehorn 4 of them in here (over Figure of Destiny, Isamaru and something else...hitting Nacatl/Ape on turn one and attacking for 4-7 on turn 2 (assuming 2 Goblin Guides) just seems strong, even if they do draw a land or two. Aside from that, anyone see any gaping holes? Am I missing a critical component in the MD or SB?

Next up, Dredge. I haven't put too much thought into this yet, but there are some cards spoiled in Zendikar that cannot be ignored. First, appearing in the role of Ichorid AND Narcomoeba:

Bloodghast BB
Creature - Vampire Spirit Rare
Bloodghast can't block.
Bloodghast has haste as long as an opponent has 10 life or less.
Landfall - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may return Bloodghast from your graveyard to the battlefield.
2/1

and playing the part of Cephalid Sage:

Sphinx of Lost Truths 3UU
Creature - Sphinx Rare
Kicker 1U
Flying
When Sphinx of Lost Truths enters the battlefield, draw three cards. Then if it wasn't kicked, discard three cards.
3/5

Without further ado, roll credits:

Creatures (26)
11 Dredge men (the Usual Suspects -1 Thug...I have 2 Dakmor Salvage to make up for him and enable Bloodghast)
4 Bloodghast
4 Narcomoeba
4 Oona's Prowler
2 Flamekin Zealot
1 Sphinx of The Sword of a Thousand Truths

Spells (18)
4 Tome Scour (don't know that this will make it, but it seems like a strong turn 1 play)
4 Burning Inquiry
3 Ideas Unbound/Goblin Lore
4 Bridge from Below
3 Dread Return

Land (16)
4 Gemstone Caverns
4 Gemstone Mine
2 Dakmor Salvage
6 undetermined dual lands/rainbow lands (not sure if I want to give my opponent Orchard tokens)

No SB yet...this list is extremely raw, but I have to start somewhere and unfortunately Tomoharu Saito didn't win a GP with a dredge deck earlier this year for me to base it off. Right now I'm just looking for suggestions. Tomorrow I will proxy these decks up to start testing this weekend. Any and all suggestions are welcome.