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"The Wakefield School of Magic
Fatties are the one true road to Victory.
26 land in every deck.
Green Blows. Now and Forever, Green Just Blows.
Always wear your seatbelt.
The metagame is worthless."
-Jamie Wakefield
Hello Everyone,
This is my second part to my last article,"Scrubs Corner: The Spirit Of Wakefield Lives On..."
Since I am big fan of Jamie Wakefield and his theology of Magic, I will spend some time into recent 'Secret Force' decks being played since the recent bannings in Extended. Jamie has been out of Magic scene for over a year now, and his spirit and great articles are sorely missed. The only memories left are the dinosaurs turned slightly right...
To better understand where the current players (pros) got their idea for Secret Force, here's the original design:
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Fyndhorn Elves
3 Elvish Lyrists
4 Wall of Roots
3 Uktabi Monkeys
4 Spike Feeder
2 Spike Weaver
3 Verdant Forces
3 Overrun
4 Natural Order
4 Creeping Mold
3 Wastelands
3 Gaea's Cradle
16 Forests
As you can see, clearly the card to win with is Verdant Force -"The Biggest Fattie ever printed!" as Jamie would exclaim all the time in his articles and musings. Overrun is the other greedy card that takes advantage of the small Elves or extra Spikes on the board. Jamie was finally convinced by his friends to add the Gaea's Cradle and Wall of Roots for their explosive mana curve. A lot of control cards are seen: Monkeys, Lyrists, and Molds.
He stressed players to play the colors they love, thus playing a style they might be adapted to. An example would be Dave Price; even now his style is known as beatdown, with quick creature decks in every format.
His influence in the game is widely known to most Pros, since he hardly displayed anything but a positive attitude to all around him.
Wakefield: Play Green.
Huddled masses (spoken in monotone unison): Yes, Mr. Wakefield.
JW: Play what you feel comfortable with.
HM: Yes, Mr. Wakefield.
JW: Have fun.
HM: Yes, Mr. Wakefield.
- Mike Anderson
There were a couple of deck buildings. Pat Donovan found his victory at Neutral Ground, one of the best gaming stores in the U.S., with his version of 'Secret Force' last season:
4 Creeping Mold
1 Deranged Hermit
3 Elvish Lyrist
3 Fyndhorn Elves
2 Hunted Wumpus
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Natural Order
3 Overrun
1 Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
4 Spike Feeder
2 Uktabi Orangutan
2 Verdant Force
4 Wall of Roots
1 Dust Bowl
15 Forest
4 Gaea's Cradle
3 Wasteland
Sideboard:
3 Emerald Charm
3 Hail Storm
1 Lifeforce
3 Seeds of Innocence
1 Squallmonger
3 Tsunami
Pro Tour Chicago: Bob Maher, Jr. wins with 'Oath.' Picking up the crumbs in 50th is 'Secret Force,' played by Alex McConnell:
Secret Force
Played by Alex McConnell
Placed 50th
Deck Designer-Jamie Wakefield
Creatures (30)
3 Verdant Force
4 Wall of Roots
4 River Boa
4 Spike Feeder
4 Llanowar Elves
3 Fyndhorn Elves
3 Uktabi Orangutan
3 Elvish Lyrist
2 Spike Weaver
Spells (8)
4 Natural Order
4 Creeping Mold
Lands (22)
16 Forest
3 Wasteland
3 Gaea's Cradle
Sideboard:
3 Null Rod
3 Lifeforce
3 Choke
3 Emerald Charm
3 Phyrexian Furnace
This version, the most recent, played on September 14, by Iakae. Of course, the Feeders are missing (what were you thinking?!), but the concept still the same.
Secret Force
4 Plow Under
4 Natural Order
1 Woodripper
4 Wall of Roots
1 Verdant Force
2 Skyshroud Poacher
3 Quirion Ranger
4 Priest of Titania
3 Masticore
4 Llanowar Elves
2 Fyndhorn Elves
2 Elvish Lyrist
4 Deranged Hermit
4 Wasteland
3 Gaea's Cradle
15 Forest
Sideboard:
1 Tranquil Grove
2 City of Solitude
1 Squallmonger
1 Penumbra Wurm (Aaron Forsythe tech)
1 Spike Weaver
1 Masticore
4 Emerald Charm
4 Choke
Last time, I was going over four decks played at the 2001 World Championships. After hours of playtesting and some advice, I have narrowed it down to the two best decks. I will break down what advantage each has, why, and which is the best to play.
Michael Turian
Secret Force
2 Dust Bowl
14 Forest
3 Gaea's Cradle
4 Wasteland
4 Elvish Lyrist
4 Fyndhorn Elves
4 Llanowar Elves
3 Masticore
4 Spike Feeder
3 Spike Weaver
3 Uktabi Orangutan
2 Verdant Force
4 Wall of Roots
2 Creeping Mold
4 Natural Order
Sideboard:
3 Choke
4 Emerald Charm
1 Masticore
1 Penumbra Wurm
4 Powder Keg
1 Spike Weaver
1 Uktabi Orangutan
Alex Shvartsman
Secret Force
13 Forest
3 Gaea's Cradle
4 Wasteland
4 Deranged Hermit
3 Elvish Lyrist
4 Llanowar Elves
2 Masticore
4 Priest of Titania
4 Quirion Ranger
2 Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
1 Skyshroud Poacher
1 Spike Weaver
1 Squallmonger
4 Uktabi Orangutan
1 Verdant Force
4 Wall of Roots
1 Woodripper
4 Natural Order
Sideboard:
4 Choke
2 City of Solitude
2 Masticore
3 Splinter
4 Tranquil Grove
Now keep in mind that Aaron Forsythe also had the same deck (card for card) as Turian, but his record wasn't as good. Brian Davis had a similar deck, but I chose Alex because of a certain card played main. I thought I would clear that up.
Alex Shvartsman's Deck:
Mana: Alex is playing a low land count that is made up by his great one-drops, especially the Quirion Ranger, and his two drops.
19 Mana.
4 Wasteland: Great against dual lands, of course.
3 Gaea's Cradle: Typical
13 Forests: Lower than Turian's, but this is made up by the creatures. A lot of decks try to compensate for low land amount with more creatures, or artifacts that provide it. This way every card you draw can be considered something useful and not just another land.
Mana Curve: Alex and Turian both have equal first drops (excluding the Lyrists, as we can suppose that the Quirion Ranger is somewhat a mana provider if needed, but Alex's power curves dramatically with his two drops: the Priest, Rofellos, and Wall of Roots. Combo Quirion Ranger and Priest and Rofellos. (Although with the low number of forests in this deck, Rofellos seems like a poor card selection.)
1: 11
2: 10
3: 4
4: 9
5: 5
8: 1
Creatures: Alex's strategy is to get out some quick drops and then bring in a Deranged Hermit, hard-cast a Verdant Force or Masticore, or use Natural Order to select among his variety of creatures.
Deranged Hermit: A good card that can be useful against Sligh and white weenie. Alex doesn't play Spike Feeder, so he has to use Hermit as another way of destroying Sligh before its burn turns lethal.
Poacher: a utility card to find Hermit, also good to Natural Order for - only if you don't have Verdant Force in the deck at the time, of course.
Squallmonger: Some debate can be made about this card and its usefulness to take up a card slot. I like it - I've been convinced that flying Slivers and Tradewinds can falter to this card. It even works as direct damage to your opponent's head.
Spike Weaver: Only one. It's a utility card. Not a beatdown...for Alex. In Turian's version, this card helps bring the life total down. This is one card Alex probably used to survive for a while before Ordering up the"Biggest Fattie Ever."
4 Orangutans and one Woodripper: Apparently Alex and gang (whoever else selected this card) presumed that control blue would be present big time with Disks and Kegs.
Woodripper - now there's an awesome card. Alan showed that to me, and I was like wow, that's great! But why is he called Woodripper? He's a metal ripper! He destroys artifacts! If he destroyed forests, then he should be called Woodripper. Anyway....
-Jamie Wakefield
Masticore: Only two. Good choice.
Lyrists: Only three. I don't like this. With Oath running wild and all the powerful enchantments coming out, I would run four Lyrists. It might even take out one of Zvi's Explorations while you're beating him in the head with your Orangutan (that targeted his Horn of Greed). Who knows?
Michael Turian's Deck:
Mana: There is three more land in Michael's deck than Alex's. There is a reason for it.
14 Forests: He doesn't have as many two-drops as Alex. Need the forests.
3 Gaea's Cradle: Typical.
4 Wasteland: See - dual lands in graveyard!
2 Dust Bowl: This is where the extra three lands make up for themselves. As I said before, this is more of a control-style build.
Mana Curve: Eight first drops - right up the alley with Alex. The second drops are only Wall of Roots, and following that is your creatures that serve for beatings. The fourth drop is where you explode. An ideal hand is drop first-turn Elf, then a second-turn Wall of Roots, followed by a third turn Natural Order or Masticore.
1: 12
2: 4
3: 7
4: 12
8: 2
Creatures: Michael wants to control the game more. The difference is the extra two Creeping Molds in his main deck and one more Lyrist. The Spike Feeder is great against burn, and Spike Weaver is great against White Weenie.
2 Verdant Force: One to cast, one to Natural Order. Of course, you can Order for both, but with Swords to Plowshares in Extended, you can't be too sure...
Spike Feeders: Four reside in the home of this deck for Sligh, and also provides the great idea of switching counters around to protect your creatures from dying during combat.
Spike Weaver: Another great spike that stalls the game or sends itself into the red zone. It can do both; it can move counters to make it fatter.
Masticore: Turian plays three; one more than Alex. Makes sense from a 'control' aspect. It's good to knock down some tacklers while high-stepping towards the goal line in five turns or less...
Secret Force is really the epitome of my style: Controlled aggression. Masticore will not be going in Secret Force. I have tried to add different cards to Secret Force, but nothing seems to help it. It's as good as I can make it. It might be able to be a better deck - but then it would require so many changes that it wouldn't be my style any more.
- Jamie Wakefield
Sorry, Jamie - I have to disagree with you this time.
3 Orangutans: That and Creeping Molds help control the Disks and Kegs.
4 Lyrists: Along with two Creeping Molds, this makes sense. Oath is bad.
Which deck is better?
Turian by far, although I still think Deranged Hermit could be fit into the deck. If you're looking for a deck to delight your opponent, fit the metagame, be consistent, while pleasing your heart as you send your Force into the red zone, then Turian's is the deck to play.
Well I think is enough on the subject of 'Secret Force'.
I truly hope you all enjoyed the two articles on this subject. Next time I will ramble on about more up-to-date topics. After all, States is coming, folks.
If you have any questions: feel free to email me: houts000@hotmail.com
Practicing Scrubbiness in Wisconsin and keeping the Pro Tour hope alive,
Sincerely,
Shawn J. Houtsinger
The one and only,
HOUTS
www.starcitygames.com
www.ccgprime.com
