The Legacy metagame is currently wide open and ready for the taking. I understand some players feel RUG Delver is too dominant but in the big scheme of things a metagame where RUG Delver takes center stage gives players the opportunity to send creatures into the Red Zone in a format with some of the best creatures in the game. The reason is that decks like RUG Delver help keep combo decks in check! When decks that kill you on turn 1 or 2 are not flooding the field it gives players the opportunity to attack opponents the good old-fashioned way: on the battlefield.
Legacy has always had this checks and balance system thanks to Force of Will which is why I have always been 100% against the banning of Force of Will even when people screamed for it. It's strange to think that Force of Will actually indirectly assists decks like The Rock and Maverick because without Force of Will I am not sure those decks would even be an option. It would be a metagame flooded by turn 1 or 2 kills with little room for diversity.
With the Legacy metagame being as wide open as it is you have the opportunity to be creative in deck design. Legacy tournaments tend to have a large percentage of home brew style decks. When designing a deck with which my goal is to be attacking with creatures I always try to ask myself a couple of questions.
1. Can my deck recover from eight Sword effects?
I frequently ask myself this question because Snapcaster with Swords to Plowshares and Path to Exile is still a real threat in Legacy. It might just be me but I feel I always play at least one or two Stoneblade variants during every SCG Legacy Open I play in. Some decks work through this with card advantage like Goblin Ringleader other decks protect their team with cards like Mother of Runes or counterspells and some decks go with an alternate game plan like casting burn spells. In any case it's a fair question to ask yourself before you sleeve up your 75.
2. What is the most important card in my deck?
In some decks it's Stoneforge Mystic and in others it's drawing lots of cards off of Dark Confidant so your opponents can't catch up. Or it can be Knight of the Reliquary coming in for the final blow or fetching up that Karakas or Bojuka Bog. Understanding the most important card for a particular matchup and protecting it is crucial for success. Playing around Daze is necessary with the best card in your deck. I can't tell you how many times even during playtesting that people have slammed down Stoneforge Mystic on turn 2 only to have it countered by Daze and lose because of it.
3. Is my game plan diluted?
In Legacy you can't plan for everything and a good portion of the decks you play against could be home brews. It's important to remember your overall game plan and not build away from it during sideboarding. We have all seen when players lose the game with a bunch of Tormod's Crypts against a RUG opponent or a bunch of artifact removal against U/W opponents. Don't take away what makes your deck viable to begin with. This is why I am a fan of cards that are not so narrow like Qasali Pridemage or Karakas especially in a deck with Knight of the Reliquary.
Here are the decks would I consider attacking with at my next Legacy event in no particular order:
Humans
Creatures (22)
- 4 Dark Confidant
- 4 Knight of the Reliquary
- 2 Mirran Crusader
- 4 Mother of Runes
- 4 Noble Hierarch
- 4 Stoneforge Mystic
Lands (22)
Spells (16)
This is the deck I have been working with the most as of late. This is the updated version I have been playing since my last article. Lately I have been playing the deck with Thalia in the sideboard in favor of more Vindicates and Path to Exile. Keeping Thalia in the maindeck is fine; it just depends on your preference and what matchups you're expecting. I was having issues with Thalia making my Lingering Souls and Vindicates awkward at times which is something to keep in mind since those are key elements of the deck.
Overall I have been very excited with the deck's performance in a field of Delver and Merfolk. It's a great way to approach the current Legacy environment.
Goblins
Creatures (32)
- 4 Gempalm Incinerator
- 1 Goblin Chieftain
- 4 Goblin Lackey
- 4 Goblin Matron
- 3 Goblin Piledriver
- 4 Goblin Ringleader
- 1 Goblin Sharpshooter
- 4 Goblin Warchief
- 2 Mogg War Marshal
- 1 Siege-Gang Commander
- 2 Stingscourger
- 1 Tuktuk Scrapper
- 1 Krenko, Mob Boss
Lands (22)
Spells (6)
There was a time when many players considered Goblins the best deck in the format. You were guaranteed to play Goblins at least once at every Legacy tournament you entered. The times have obviously changed since then and the all the other creatures have caught up to the quality of the Goblins but I feel Goblins is in a great place in the metagame now.
One of the biggest reasons is Zoo has declined in popularity. The Zoo versus Goblins matchup is absolutely awful for the Goblins player. With Zoo on the decline and Merfolk on the rise it has never been a better time to dust off the old Goblin deck and battle!
I really like the inclusion of Krenko Mob Boss. It's cool to see new cards added to this old school tribal deck especially with what this guy can do on turn 4 with a Lord that gives Goblins haste in play! Usually it involves opponents dying.
Merfolk
Creatures (22)
- 2 Coralhelm Commander
- 4 Cursecatcher
- 4 Lord of Atlantis
- 4 Master of the Pearl Trident
- 4 Merrow Reejerey
- 4 Silvergill Adept
Lands (20)
Spells (18)
Merfolk has seen a spike in popularity partly because of its ability have eight Islandwalk Lords in the deck now thanks to Master of Pearl Trident. It is also well positioned with how current Delver decks are built. When building your version of Merfolk I would put some thought into technology for the mirror.
Maybe more Umezawa's Jitte are the answer or even Vapor Snags to put combat in your favor when the opposing Merfolk attack. Either way it's something to consider since you will have plenty of cards to side out games 2 and 3. With the ability to protect its team with Spell Pierce and Force of Will and drawing cards with Standstill and Silvergill Adept I would give this deck some strong consideration before your next Legacy event.
Zoo
Creatures (25)
- 4 Grim Lavamancer
- 4 Knight of the Reliquary
- 4 Loam Lion
- 2 Qasali Pridemage
- 4 Tarmogoyf
- 4 Wild Nacatl
- 3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
Lands (21)
Spells (14)
- 2 Grafdigger's Cage
- 2 Tormod's Crypt
- 2 Jotun Grunt
- 3 Choke
- 3 Ancient Grudge
- 2 Red Elemental Blast
- 1 Bojuka Bog
Sideboard
I know some players have been moving away from Zoo lately but I really do enjoy Mr. Price's list. Drawing cards through Horizon Canopy and taking full advantage of Knight of Reliquary in a deck that is ultra aggressive gives the deck the ability to end games quickly with many efficient creatures and burn spells.
Thalia works wonderfully in this deck giving it the disruption it needs so it has the opportunity to get the last few points of damage through.
Maverick
Creatures (26)
- 1 Fauna Shaman
- 4 Knight of the Reliquary
- 4 Mother of Runes
- 4 Noble Hierarch
- 3 Qasali Pridemage
- 2 Scavenging Ooze
- 1 Scryb Ranger
- 1 Stoneforge Mystic
- 1 Gaddock Teeg
- 4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
- 1 Dryad Arbor
Lands (22)
Spells (12)
One of the best G/W decks to ever be assembled has been putting up good results lately because of its ability to Tutor up answers through Green Sun's Zenith and Fauna Shaman. This aggressive creature deck having these Tutors along with a toolbox of cards like Scryb Ranger and Scavenging Ooze that serve as devastating answers to their respective situations makes it a powerhouse. I don't see Maverick going away any time soon as a devastating force in the format. Todd Anderson wrote a great breakdown on the deck.
I'm looking forward to a great Sunday of Legacy at SCG Open Series: Minneapolis. With a major Legacy event happening every weekend the key to the format is to pick a deck stick with it and get to know it inside and out. You should work to understand key matchups that you expect to play against like Stoneblade RUG Delver and Merfolk.
Attacking in this format is definitely something I feel comfortable doing and I hope it stays that way. I believe all of the decks listed above have the ability to take down an upcoming SCG Legacy Open and I look forward to seeing them do so!
Thanks for reading!
Gene Richtsmeier
gene.richtsmeier@gmail.com
About Gene Richtsmeier
Gene Richtsmeier has been a frequent competitor at the top tables on the SCG Open circuit and made sixth place at the 2010 SCG Legacy Open in Kansas City.