Ante Up

Last night, I had my first ante deck battle. It was against Vern, piloting a deck he won from Vipat, a U/B synergistic deck (4 Mulldrifter, 4 Shriekmaw, 4 Tidehollow Strix, 4 Sedraxis Alchemist, 4 Unsummon, 3 Soul Manipulation, 3 Puppeteer Clique, 1 Profane Command). Vern’s rares: 3 Puppeteer Cliques & 1 Profane Command.

I was playing my Thopter Foundry deck that is also very synergistic (4 Glazefiend, 4 Thopter Foundry, 4 Esperzoa, 4 Kaleidostone, 2 Ethersworn Shieldmage, 2 Sanctum Gargoyle). This deck lost about 30% of its power due to the new rule changes (damage doesn’t stack) but it’s still a decent deck. Johan’s rare: Sigil of Distinction.

Game 1: I don’t pull out Thopter Foundry or Glazefiend, but I’m able to keep up with Vern as we trade creatures for the first 7 rounds. Then Vern drops Puppeteer Clique and gains a lot of tempo, I try to regain the advantage by dropping 3 Oblivion Rings taking care of some of Vern’s creatures, but he drops another Puppeteer Clique and soon after I lose the race.

Vern 1 – Johan 0

Game 2: I keep a hand with two Sludge Striders and a Sigil of Distinction. I have a slow hand but I’m not too worried about it. Vern drops a few creatures in the first few rounds but I’m able to even out the life to 18 to 18 with the Sludge Strider’s ability. I drop another Sludge Strider and Vern Unsummons my other Sludge Strider. Vern had an Oona’s Gatewarden in play and I didn’t want any -1/-1 tokens on my guys so I drop Sigil of Distinction down with 5 charge counters on it. I must of hit 3 Ponders in this game and eventually got out my Esperzoa/Kaleidostone combo. Vern immediately got rid of my Esperzoa but I was able to regain it thanks to Sanctum Gargoyle, a card that caught Vern by surprise. That plus Vern hitting some useless cards against me like Shriekmaw, eventually allowed me to overcome him.

Vern 1 – Johan 1

Game 3: I have a fantastic hand and am able to go turn 1 Borderpost, turn 2 Glazefiend, turn 3 Thopter Foundry, turn 4 Esperzoa, turn 5 Kaleidostone. I was able to get both Glazefiend/Thopter Foundry & Esperzoa/Kaleidostone combos going. A few turns later, with Vern at 12 life, I was able to get both Glazefiend and Esperzoa to attack unblocked. I then sac’ed a bunch of artifacts to pump up my Glazefiend into an 8/9, winning me the game.

Vern 1 – Johan 2

Game 4: My monkey cut hurts Vern as he keeps a risky but killer hand of 1 Island, a couple Tidehollow Strixes, Agony Warps, & Mulldrifters. All he needs to hit is a Swamp and eventually another mana source and he’ll be fine. But unfortunately he doesn’t and I’m able to go turn 1 Borderpost, turn 2 Glazefiend, turn 3 Kaleidostone, turn 4 Esperzoa. On Vern’s last turn, he has 2 Islands in play and 7 cards in his hand and finally draws his black mana source… an Arcane Sanctum which comes into play tapped. My next turn I alpha strike and win the match.

Vern 1 – Johan 3

Vern’s Shriekmaws were useless against my deck because all of my creatures were artifacts and all Vern could do was bounce back his Mulldrfters and my creatures. I won a bunch of games because of my card draw: Ponder & Esperzoa/Kaleidostone combo. Sludge Strider and Thopter Foundry also allowed me to hang in there because they gained me life and provided more synergy and blockers.

I’m already in the process of taking Vipat’s deck apart already. I know, it’s sad but I really need those Puppeteer Cliques and that Profane will look nice in my Cube. Ante up!