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The Mimeoplasm Play-By-Play

Sheldon Menery has another Commander play-by-play for you, this time with his The Mimeoplasm deck. Read exactly how the game played out to see if you’d like to try the deck yourself.

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I think I’m back in full swing of getting games recorded. I don’t necessarily want to go to the well every week (especially since sometimes I think it takes my focus off the game enough to lead me into some suboptimal plays), but it’s an arrow I like having in my quiver. Sometimes when I do play-by-play, we get abbreviated games. Sometimes, we get the long, interesting ones. This is one of the latter (and, as a note, it was recorded before Avacyn Restored was legal, although the decklist at the end reflects the one card from AVR which got swapped in now: Dreadwaters).

One of the things about the deck is its really tight mana base. This is the first time I’ve experimented with so few lands, in this case 34. Most things are pretty cheap, but without ramp I’m probably pretty well screwed, even using the "guaranteed three lands" Gis mulligan employed at Armada (and in all my casual games). It’s a little greedy but hasn’t bitten me yet in the dozen or so times I’ve played the deck. I think eventually I’ll go up to more lands just for consistency’s sake.

I sat down to play with Kyle, Chris, and Yocaliz. Kyle played his Treva "infinite life gain" deck, Chris his aggressive Skullbriar, and Yocaliz played Chris’ Nin the Pain Artist deck. Yocaliz is a pretty good constructed player who keeps saying, "I need to build my own Commander deck." After playing three games, he said it more. Just the way he played this game told me he’ll be a good player in the format, understanding where strong ends and degenerate begins.

TURN 1

Me:  Gilt-Leaf Palace.

Kyle:  Graypelt Refuge (41).

Yocaliz:  Mountain.

Chris:  Swamp.

TURN 2

Me:  Underground Sea.

Kyle:  Plains.

Yocaliz:  Island, Nin.

Chris:  Forest, Skullbriar, attack me. Kyle Condemns Skullbriar, Chris to (41). The tuck debate that you’re thinking about right now didn’t happen at the table.

TURN 3

Me:  Swamp, Dimir Cutpurse.

Kyle:  Sejiri Refuge (42).

Yocaliz:  Island.

Chris:  Green Sun’s Zenith for two. We think he’s going to get Skullbriar back, but he gets Mayor of Avabruck instead. Chris definitely marches to the beat of his own drummer.

TURN 4

Me:  Swamp, attack Yocaliz (38), with the requisite draw and discard. He mentions how much he likes the Cutpurse. I cast Crystal Shard.

Kyle:  Druidic Satchel, bounceland.

Yocaliz:  Mountain. At EOT, I bounce Mayor.

Chris:  Sculpting Steel on Druidic Satchel. There are so many man-purses now, I feel like I’m in (insert name of trendy city). Discard Massacre Wurm.

TURN 5

Me:  Attack Chris (38). Overgrown Tomb untapped (38) so that I can cast Yavimaya Elder.

Kyle:  Plains, Wall of Reverence. EOT to (43).

Yocaliz:  Command Tower.

Chris:  Springjack Pasture. EOT, I bounce the Wall. Chris responds with casting Makeshift Mannequin targeting his Massacre Wurm. Yocaliz targets Nin with itself so he doesn’t take damage. Wurm kills my guys (34).

TURN 6

Me:  Island, Pernicious Deed.

Kyle:  Activates Satchel, sees Ajani (45). Recasts Wall of Reverence (46).

Yocaliz:  Izzet Boilerworks. Brainstorms now, has nothing, has to discard.

Chris:  Acidic Slime targeting Crystal Shard. I target the Wurm with the Shard just to kill it.

TURN 7

Me:  Extractor Demon.

Kyle:  Activate Satchel for a Plains. Casts Ajani, gains two and at EOT goes to (49).

Yocaliz:  Dreamstone Hedron. We have a short conversation about how I’ve played the card before and it’s always been kind of disappointing. Terramorphic Expanse, which he cracks now (the way a Commander player knows how to do).

Chris:  Activates Druidic Satchel revealing Beast Within (43). Attacks Ajani with the Slime.

TURN 8

Me:  Forest, Traumatize. I think a minute about who has the bigger guys for juicy The Mimeoplasm targets, and it seems like it’s probably Chris. The good news is that he does. The bad news is that he also has Gaea’s Blessing in his deck. Way to waste a turn (although it’s info that I have for later). Attack Chris with the Demon (38).

Kyle:  Plains, Palinchron. Activates Ajani and the Satchel and EOT goes to (55). I wait for him to bounce Palinchron infi times to dagger him with the Demon (which I actually can’t, since the triggers have to resolve one at a time and he’ll know it’s coming after the first one), but he simply sits with open mana.

Yocaliz:  Blatant Thievery, targeting both Satchels and Pernicious Deed. I think for a bit but then let him keep the Deed instead of blowing it.

Chris:  Mayor of Avabruck.

TURN 9

Me:  Island, Rite of Replication targeting Acidic Slime. Kyle unfortunately gets rid of it with Swords to Plowshares.

Kyle:  That play seems odder when Kyle casts Austere Command for artifacts and enchantments. Yocaliz has Spell Crumple waiting for it. Kyle uses Ajani to add +1 counters to all his guys and battles Yocaliz (33). At EOT, he goes to (62).

Yocaliz:  Izzet Chronarch getting back Blatant Thievery.

Chris:  Asceticism.

TURN 10

Me:  Woodfall Primus. I wouldn’t generally take out a land other than the "bad" ones (Cabal Coffers, Academy Ruins, and friends), but I can stop Kyle’s infinite mana combo by taking out Selesnya Sanctuary.

Kyle:  Treva, Simic Growth Chamber, bounces Plains. Ajani counters up guys again. Palinchron attacks Yocaliz (27). EOT to (67), and Yocaliz activates Satchel getting two tokens.

Yocaliz:  Draws three off of the Hedron, looking for some action. Gets none and discards. I’m not sure if he’s being cagey or playing poorly, but knowing how good a player he is, I suspect it’s the former.

Chris:  Upkeep Transforms the Mayor, EOT gets a Wolf token.

TURN 11

Me:  Woodfall Primus attacks Ajani. He blocks with Treva, which kills the Woodfall Primus (milling Kyle for two), blowing up his other bounceland when it comes back. I miscalculate, thinking I can kill all the fliers with Tornado Elemental, but end up not getting the Wall and killing my Demon. I cycle Krosan Tusker now to drop the land.

Kyle:  Boon Reflection. Attack me (38). EOT to (81), and Yocaliz gets another token.

Yocaliz:  Nothing. Chris makes a Goat.

Chris:  Nothing. EOT gets a Wolf.

TURN 12

Me:  Island, Deny Reality on Palinchron, cascading into the unexciting Rite of Consumption. I sacrifice the Woodfall Primus to target Chris (35), and Yocaliz blows the Deed. Chris regenerates the Howlpack Alpha. I cast Regrowth on the Deed and cast it again. It wasn’t exactly part of a plan, but worked out pretty well.

Kyle:  Howlpack Alpha transforms back into the Mayor. Casts Questing Phelddagrif.

Yocaliz:  Charmbreaker Devils. Chris makes a Goat.

Chris:  Avenger of Zendikar, drops a land. Attacks me with Mayor. Kyle gives me a token from the Phelddagrif, and I block.

TURN 13

Me:  Deed. The Mimeoplasm copying Wall of Reverence and taking the Artisan of Kozilek in Yocaliz’s graveyard. EOT to (49).

Kyle:  Kavu Predator.

Yocaliz:  During upkeep, Charmbreaker gets back Mystic Speculation (randomly). Blatant Thievery targets Phelddagrif, The Mimeoplasm, and Springjack Pasture. Kyle responds by giving Yocaliz ten life so that Kavu Predator gets +10. Attacks me with the now 8/4 Devil. At EOT, his Mimeo-Wall gains him eleven (52), meaning Kavu Predator gets +11.

Chris:  Overwhelming Stampede and sends it all at Kyle, who blocks the 10/10 with the Predator and eats the rest (39). At least he’s back down in reasonable territory.

TURN 14

Me:  Nothing.

Kyle:  Arbiter of Knollridge setting all of us to (52), meaning the Predator is now immense. Sends the attack back to Chris. I Deed for seven.

Yocaliz:  Crystal Shard and Body Double, copying Chronarch, getting back Blatant Thievery again.

Chris:  Casts Skullbriar, which he’s obviously drawn, and attacks Kyle (51).

TURN 15

Me:  Nothing, but I’ve drawn Cryptic Command and also have Archive Trap in my hand.

Kyle:  Armistice. At EOT, Yocaliz Shards back Body Double.

Yocaliz:  Blatant Thievery targeting three different lands. Kyle Oblations his. Casts Mystic Speculation.

Chris:  Primordial Hydra for lots. Skullbriar attacks Yocaliz (50).

TURN 16

Me:  Command Tower, Lord of Extinction, who’s pretty big.

Kyle:  Battlegrace Angel. At EOT, Yocaliz Shards the Hydra since Chris is tapped out.

Yocaliz:  Casts Body Double again, copying Chronarch, getting back Blatant Thievery. Recasts it, but I decide to use Cryptic Command, bouncing Body Double and countering the Thievery. We’re late enough in the game that it’s time to try to end Yocaliz’s tomfoolery.

Chris:  Attack Yocaliz with Skullbriar (47).

TURN 17

Me:  Lord of Extinction is 64/64, so I swing into Yocaliz, hoping to kill him. He has nothing and no one else moves to save him. Boom Tube has boomed.

Kyle:  Transcendent Master, which he levels up six times, and casts Sol Ring.

Chris:  Bojuka Bog me then Profane Command for seven, killing the Master and returning Avenger of Zendikar. Attacks me with Skullbriar (49).

TURN 18

Me:  Attack Kyle with the 23/23 Lord of Extinction (27). Big Game Hunter on Avenger of Zendikar so that I can The Mimeoplasm back Chris’ Avenger and get counters from Kyle’s Palinchron, netting me twelve Plants.

Kyle:  Battlegrace Angel attacks me (44), Kyle to (32). Cast Storm Herd.

Chris:  Raps the top of his library and says, "Come on Massacre Wurm!!!" Doesn’t draw it, so he casts Momentous Fall on Skullbriar (56). Drops a land, Exploration, and casts Syphon Mind, getting Spearbreaker Behemoth from me and Words of Worship from Kyle. Recasts Primordial Hydra.

TURN 19

Me:  I draw Demonic Tutor and look through my library for answers. Kyle’s Storm Herd and Chris’ Plant army are significant, and I’m the guy left out in the cold. I’m not playing Massacre Wurm so that’s out, and I’m not playing any Bribery effects to get Chris’. Damnation is an option, but that doesn’t really do much besides get us back to parity. I count the number of creatures in play and count the cards in my library (actually, I count my permanents—it’s faster). I give it a, "Why not?" and cast Decree of Pain, drawing 58, leaving me with eight cards in my library. I think I can win this. Maybe. I cast Chains of Mephistopheles, my new secret tech to keep the other two from being able to draw too many answers, then Reanimate Lord of Extinction (42). I discard, keeping a few relevant answers.

Kyle:  Treva.

Chris:  Terastodon, taking out Armistice. Otherwise avoids giving anyone dudes.

TURN 20

Me:  Eternal Witness to get back Mystic Snake, cast Oversold Cemetery and Altar of Dementia. I can mill out Kyle, but know I can’t do it to Chris until after he casts Gaea’s Blessing (and doesn’t have a way to put it back into his library). I’m pretty sure I can win here if I don’t deck myself first—and since I have Sensei’s Divining Top, I have control over the rest of the library.

Kyle:  On Kyle’s upkeep, I sacrifice Lord of Extinction to Altar of Dementia. Chris responds by destroying Oversold Cemetery with Krosan Grip, a play that will keep him in the game. Kyle dies in his draw step.

Chris:  Prismatic Omen, Skullbriar, Wound Reflection. Wound Reflection gets countered by Mystic Snake. Attacks me with Terastodon and Skullbriar. I block both, Ewit and Mystic Snake having done their duty.

TURN 21

Me:  On my upkeep, Genesis gets back Lord of Extinction and I cast it and Riftsweeper, shuffling Cryptic Command back in. Now I know I’m in pretty good shape.

Chris:  Casts Dread Return on Mayor of Avabruck. Riftsweeper blocks Skullbriar, and I take the nine (35). I think my only danger is general damage from Skullbriar.

TURN 22

Me:  Genesis gets back Shriekmaw, which I evoke to take out the Mayor. With the trigger on the stack, I mill him for three. I’m not worried about Blessing at this point, since my graveyard is larger than his life total. I think I’m killing him right here, but I miss the fact that he still has Springjack Pasture. He makes a Goat to block. I cast Puppeteer Clique to get his Hydra out.

Chris:  Drops a land and swings at me with Terastodon (24). At EOT, I Top with five cards left, assuming I’ll hit the Cryptic Command. I don’t.

TURN 23

Me:  Genesis back Acidic Slime to take out the Pasture. He makes a token to block, so I don’t bother attacking.

Chris:  He battles me for nine again, but this time I block with the Slime. That card is so good. Boom Tube blocks Skullbriar. He tries to cast Black Sun’s Zenith for seven, but I have Voidslime. He casts Jaddi Lifestrider. I keep Puppeteer Clique / Altar shenanigans ready for whatever he might try. EOT, I Top and still don’t see the Cryptic Command (so obviously it’s the last card).

TURN 24

Me:  Genesis back Eternal Witness, get Demonic Tutor, "search" up the CC, cast it, and win.

After Kyle was out, it was only a matter of time since my advantages had large increments and Chains of Mephistopheles kept Chris from catching up. It’s a card I’m going to have to consider doing some more with since it prevents players from simply out-drawing you. If your methods of getting more mileage out of resources don’t involve drawing (like with Oversold Cemetery, Genesis, or a general like Karador), it can definitely work in your favor. At least it deserves a little more exploration.

The Mimeoplasm
Sheldon Menery
0th Place at Test deck on 05-20-2012
Commander
Magic Arena

Creatures (30)

Planeswalkers (1)

Lands (22)

Spells (48)

Magic Card Back


As you’re reading this, I’m winging my way back from Pro Tour Avacyn Restored. Next week, I’ll have all the stories of how the Chaos was Embraced in Barcelona.