Now is the time to try something off the beaten path in Standard. Except for those of you within striking distance of the StarCityGames.com $5000 Standard Open in Philadelphia, the rest of us who might want to shuffle up a Standard deck to play will be going down to the local store for Friday Night Magic. With the more “serious” players likely working on their Limited game for the PTQ season, or gearing up for the upcoming Extended PTQs, the density of Good Players Playing Broken Decks at FNM will likely go down. That opens up more room for fun rogue strategies, doesn’t it?

In the spirit of that notion, I wanted to travel around the country and call out Champs decks piloted by people who broke their own path through the metagame jungle. These guys didn’t subscribe my Chicken Little take on the metagame being completely dominated by a trifecta of overpowered cards/themes, and they got at least a cool Top 8 playmat and a good number of booster packs for their boldness and play skill. These guys help me realize that Virginia’s results weren’t necessarily some weird fluke, and yes - you can do well without Cryptic Command, Reflecting Pool, and/or Faerie (Tribal) power.

From the Wintery land of Wakefield...

To kick off my cross-country revue, let’s start with the Green Mountain state, Vermont! In the early days of Magic writing, Jamie Wakefield brought his home state to life with a vibrant cast of characters, nearly all of who played Magic. I don’t know if Jamie’s still playing Magic now or not, but based on what did well there I’d say his love of creatures charging across the red zone lives on. Take a look at the new State Champ’s deck:

Naya Aggro A Standard deck, by Micah Rabin 1st place at a States/Champs tournament in Fairlee, Vermont, United States on 2008-11-09 As reported at http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/event/champs08/vermont Print this deck!
Maindeck: Creatures 4 Figure of Destiny 2 Hell's Thunder 4 Ranger of Eos 4 Rip-Clan Crasher 3 Spark Elemental 4 Woolly Thoctar Instants 4 Flame Javelin 4 Magma Spray 3 Naya Charm 4 Puncture Blast	Basic Lands 5 Mountain Lands 2 Battlefield Forge 4 Fire-Lit Thicket 4 Jungle Shrine 4 Karplusan Forest 1 Rugged Prairie 3 Treetop Village 1 Wooded Bastion	Sideboard: 2 Cloudthresher 2 Oblivion Ring 2 Chaotic Backlash 4 Guttural Response 2 Naturalize 3 Firespout
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Granted, Wakefield was fond of monocolored decks, but nowadays multicolor decks are just so ridiculously easy, why not play three or more colors? Actually, that reminds me of a rant I’ve been meaning to write about how making color fixing so easy is actually a pretty severe blow to one of Green’s supposed strengths – in true Wakefield style! – but I’ll save that for another time. Anyway, back to the list - I have no doubt that, if Wakefield could swallow playing multicolor creatures, he’d have loved Woolly Thoctar, and I know he’d have loved Naya Charm’s ability to clear away blockers - can’t you just see him splashing Naya Charm into an otherwise Mono-Green Elf deck? Micah’s deck isn’t just large critters smashing and burn thrashing; he’s got some nice card advantage working here with Ranger of Eos and Hell’s Thunder.

Twenty Knights A Standard deck, by John Thorson 3rd place at a States/Champs tournament in Fairlee, Vermont, United States on 2008-11-09 As reported at http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/event/champs08/vermont Print this deck!
Maindeck: Creatures 1 Kinsbaile Cavalier 4 Knight of Meadowgrain 4 Knight of the White Orchid 4 Steward of Valeron 4 Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers 3 Wilt-Leaf Liege Instants 4 Flame Javelin 4 Incinerate 3 Lash Out 2 Naya Charm Planeswalkers 1 Ajani Vengeant 1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant 2 Sarkhan Vol	Sorceries 2 Spectral Procession 1 Tower Above Basic Lands 3 Plains Lands 3 Battlefield Forge 1 Brushland 4 Jungle Shrine 1 Reflecting Pool 1 Rugged Prairie 4 Vivid Meadow 3 Wooded Bastion	Sideboard: 4 Relic of Progenitus 3 Chaotic Backlash 4 Guttural Response 2 Naya Charm 2 Ajani Vengeant
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Now, I tend to be more of a Green-monster guy rather than a White Weenie guy, but this deck does a nice job of playing just some really good beat-down creatures up and down the mana curve. Wilt-Leaf Liege is a card I’ve loved kicking around as a boost to anything from Wooly Thoctar to Doran, the Siege-Tower. Another thing to keep in mind though? It makes a darn good card (or two) to have in hand for when a Cruel Ultimatum resolves, don’t you think? Thorson adds just a dash of Planeswalker spice to go along with a pretty hot burn suite. The real kick though, the Naga Jolokia, is that singleton Tower Above - now that’s some heat!

Bant Ramp A Standard deck, by Jeremy C. Muir 4th place at a States/Champs tournament in Fairlee, Vermont, United States on 2008-11-09 As reported at http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/event/champs08/vermont Print this deck!
Maindeck: Creatures 4 Chameleon Colossus 3 Cloudthresher 3 Empyrial Archangel 4 Kitchen Finks Enchantments 4 Fertile Ground Planeswalkers 3 Garruk Wildspeaker	Sorceries 2 Austere Command 3 Primal Command 4 Rampant Growth 3 Tidings 4 Wrath of God Basic Lands 3 Forest 2 Island 2 Plains Lands 2 Flooded Grove 2 Mystic Gate 3 Reflecting Pool 4 Seaside Citadel 4 Treetop Village 2 Wooded Bastion	Sideboard: 1 Cloudthresher 1 Kederekt Leviathan 1 Wickerbough Elder 2 Wispmare 3 Condemn 4 Guttural Response 3 Negate
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Here we have Jeremy Muir, whom Wakefield-o-files will recognize as a recurring character. I have to say I love Jeremy’s deck, which I guess you’d call Bant Ramp, and I must give the man props for not giving in to the lure of Cryptic Command despite the Blue. He is not afraid to tap out during his turns, ramping up his mana to backbreaking sorceries: Wrath! Primal Command! Tidings! Boom-boom-BOOM! And then, when the smoke clears and there’s lots of mana lying around… down comes the ridiculous Empyrial Archangel, taunting you with her saucy good looks and J-Lo curves. She knows she’s worth every bit of the eight mana you bled to lay down for her.

What’s really funny is the Archangel isn’t even the most eye-popping surprise on this list… check out the sideboard Kederekt Leviathan. Click on the card link and think of the possibilities… I’ll wait…

You know you want to try it, don’t lie.

Doran the Explorer A Standard deck, by John Wickham 6th place at a States/Champs tournament in Portland, Maine, United States on 2008-11-09 As reported at http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/event/champs08/maine Print this deck!
Maindeck: Creatures 2 Battlegrace Angel 4 Birds of Paradise 1 Chameleon Colossus 1 Oversoul of Dusk 4 Qasali Ambusher 4 Steward of Valeron 1 Treefolk Harbinger 4 Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers 4 Wilt-Leaf Liege Enchantments 4 Oblivion Ring 2 Shield of the Oversoul Instants 1 Condemn	Legendary Creatures 4 Doran, the Siege Tower Planeswalkers 1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant 3 Garruk Wildspeaker Sorceries 4 Safewright Quest Basic Lands 6 Forest 7 Plains Lands 4 Murmuring Bosk	Sideboard: 3 Kitchen Finks 1 Oversoul of Dusk 3 Vexing Shusher 3 Wheel of Sun and Moon 1 Fracturing Gust 4 Gaddock Teeg
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Okay, so it ain’t Wakefield land, but it’s close... and I had hopes to maybe seeing John Rizzo’s name here in the Top 8, because then maybe we’d get a 20-page tournament report-slash-pop culture riff-slash-political rant-slash Gen-X philosophical manifesto-slash-treasure trove of utter nonsense. Where have you gone, JFR?

Okay, so back to John Wickham’s deck… remember what I was saying about Wilt-Leaf Liege? Wickham ain’t playing with his Liege deck - packing all four colors, and chock full of double-dipping boostafarians. Doran? Check. Cavaliers? Check. Teeg? Check (but in the sideboard). But wait, there’s more! Qasali Ambusher and Steward of Valeron and Oversoul of Dusk? Oh yeah! And I love how this deck can make even Birds of Paradise scary...

Down the Turbulent Atlantic Coast...

While I was waiting… and waiting… and waiting for Champs results to be posted, someone was kind enough to post a link to the North Carolina Champs Top 8. Now, first off, their attendance was an eye-popping 217 players; who do they think they are, Ohio?! Now, wrap your mind about all those players spread out across a vast sea of tables, battling over god knows how many Swiss rounds. Hearts are broken due to razor-thin tiebreakers, until finally a Top 8 emerges. Three rounds later you have one deck arise victorious from this epic battle…

… and it looks like this:

Elves A Standard deck, by Nathaniel Muesing 1st place at a States/Champs tournament in North Carolina on 2008-11-23 Print this deck!
Maindeck: Creatures 4 Bramblewood Paragon 2 Elvish Champion 4 Elvish Visionary 4 Heritage Druid 4 Imperious Perfect 4 Llanowar Elves 4 Nettle Sentinel 3 Regal Force 3 Wolf-Skull Shaman Instants 3 Manamorphose Sorceries 4 Overrun	Tribal Sorceries 3 Elvish Promenade 2 Hunting Triad Basic Lands 16 Forest	Sideboard: 4 Thorn of Amethyst 1 Wolf-Skull Shaman 4 Wren's Run Vanquisher 4 Guttural Response 2 Garruk Wildspeaker
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Okay, so maybe Jamie Wakefield changed his identity and moved down to the Tar Heel state... Mono-Green Elves FTW? Taking a cue from Extended, Muesing utilizes the insane mana engine of Heritage Druid and Nettle Sentinel to run Overrun and Regal Force in a 16-land deck. Now, I’m all about a Green deck doing well, but I have to say I’m completely shocked this deck would have won a large tournament. Did he dodge Wraths and Firespouts all day? I would love to read a tournament report by Mr. Meusing recounting his path to the trophy...

To the Hordes of the Mid-west...

I have to say, I find the Mid-west Magic intriguing; on the one hand, there are a ton of players, so finding people to play with is likely to be as easy as falling down. On the other hand, there are a ton of players, so doing well at these big tournaments has got to be excruciatingly difficult.

Planeswalker Control A Standard deck, by Chris Hodges 5th place at a States/Champs tournament in Columbus, Ohio, United States on 2008-11-09 As reported at http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/event/champs08/ohio Print this deck!
Maindeck: Creatures 4 Figure of Destiny 3 Kitchen Finks 3 Twilight Shepherd 4 Woolly Thoctar Enchantments 4 Fertile Ground 4 Oblivion Ring Instants 4 Condemn	Legendary Creatures 2 Brion Stoutarm Planeswalkers 2 Ajani Vengeant 1 Chandra Nalaar 1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant 3 Garruk Wildspeaker 2 Sarkhan Vol Basic Lands 1 Forest 1 Mountain 1 Plains Lands 1 Ancient Amphitheater 3 Battlefield Forge 3 Brushland 1 Fire-Lit Thicket 4 Jungle Shrine 3 Karplusan Forest 2 Reflecting Pool 2 Treetop Village 1 Wooded Bastion	Sideboard: 1 Kitchen Finks 1 Vexing Shusher 3 Wheel of Sun and Moon 4 Guttural Response 2 Primal Command 4 Wrath of God
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Take a look at this thing of beauty. He’s got a good helping of Planeswalker love, but he’s not all in, and avoids the trouble with running four-ofs. Before he gets to enlisting big-ticket allies, he’s got plenty of creature help, starting with the “deal with me or die” beating stick we know and dread, Figure of Destiny, rolling up to Woolly Thoctar and Kitchen Finks, and rounding things out with... Brion Stoutarm and Twilight Shepherd?! Brion looks a little curious until you realize that not only can you pump something large with Elspeth or Garruk and then chuck it, but you can also steal something with Sarkhan Vol and chuck it too - nice! Now, I love me some Twilight Shepherd, and I did some work to try and build a good quality deck around her, but it just never seemed to come together; seemed that she’d get countered or else stolen with Sower of Temptation. Chris Hodges obviously had no fear of that - didn’t even run Cloudthreshers, main or in the board.

Jund Ramp A Standard deck, by Lucas Duchow 6th place at a States/Champs tournament in Madison, Wisconsin, United States on 2008-11-09 As reported at http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/event/champs08/wisconsin Print this deck!
Maindeck: Creatures 2 Broodmate Dragon 4 Chameleon Colossus 1 Hellkite Overlord 4 Kitchen Finks 2 Shriekmaw Enchantments 4 Fertile Ground Instants 4 Resounding Thunder	Planeswalkers 4 Garruk Wildspeaker Sorceries 3 Firespout 2 Primal Command 4 Rampant Growth 3 Violent Ultimatum Basic Lands 6 Forest 2 Mountain 2 Swamp Lands 3 Fire-Lit Thicket 4 Savage Lands 4 Treetop Village 2 Twilight Mire	Sideboard: 1 Faerie Macabre 1 Foxfire Oak 1 Shriekmaw 4 Vithian Stinger 3 Jund Charm 1 Firespout 3 Mind Shatter 1 Primal Command
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Lucas Duchow has a pretty normal-looking Jund Ramp deck, packing cards that have you nodding along, grunting in agreement or at least appreciation... until you get to the sideboard. Vithian Stinger, you say? Hm, yeah he is indeed pretty good at pinging off Faeries, ain’t he? But... Foxfire Oak? Really? Foxfire Oak?! For six mana, I can certainly buy Cloudthresher. I can certainly buy Broodmate Dragon.

Foxfire Oak? Please tell me this was a dare...

And finally to the Hinterlands, where Anything’s Possible...

At first I was impressed with Jia Wu 1st Place deck from Alaska, chock full of Singletons... Except he’s playing 4 Reflecting Pools, 4 Cryptic Commands, and 4 Esper Charms for good-card-drawing-measure. If I were still cynical about the metagame, I would hold this up as proof - see? All you need are 4 Cryptics and 4 Reflecting Pool, and it doesn’t matter what else you put in the deck, it’ll win. Even a random bunch of singletons. Bah!

Zombies A Standard deck, by Shawn Kimura 8th place at a States/Champs tournament in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States on 2008-11-09 As reported at http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/event/champs08/hawaii Print this deck!
Maindeck: Artifact Creatures 4 Tidehollow Sculler Creatures 1 Battlegrace Angel 1 Gravedigger 4 Lord of the Undead 3 Reveillark 4 Stillmoon Cavalier 4 Viscera Dragger Planeswalkers 2 Liliana Vess	Sorceries 3 Raven's Crime 4 Thoughtseize Tribal Instants 3 Crib Swap 4 Nameless Inversion Basic Lands 3 Plains 12 Swamp Lands 4 Caves of Koilos 4 Fetid Heath	Sideboard: 1 Battlegrace Angel 4 Burrenton Forge-Tender 3 Faerie Macabre 2 Wispmare 1 Memory Plunder 4 Wrath of God
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Oh, now here we go - ZOMBIES! Stillmoon Cavalier is a metagame monster; try this exercise whenever you’re playing a Standard Magic deck; stop at some point and look at your cards. How many cards in hand can’t target Stillmoon? How many creatures in play can’t block or attack into the Stillmoon without just uselessly dying? You’ll be surprised how often that happens. Shawn Kimura takes 4 copies of Stillmoon and then surrounds it with eight ways to get it back, 4 of which can keep getting it back (and boosting it to boot).

So, you’re having a hard time dealing with Stillmoon? Okay, let’s dwindle your options even further, attacking your hand with Thoughtseize, Raven’s Crime, Tidehollow Sculler, and Liliana Vess. Yeah, things are looking bad now, especially once Liliana goes and tutors up a Battlegrace Angel to make my Stillmoon even more problematic.

Now, I have to wonder how many times he got to Memory Plunder a Cruel Ultimatum during the tournament…

Bloom Razer A Standard deck, by Randall Klemann 6th place at a States/Champs tournament in Casper, Wyoming, United States on 2008-11-09 As reported at http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/event/champs08/wyoming Print this deck!
Maindeck: Artifacts 1 Lich's Mirror 1 Loxodon Warhammer Creatures 4 Birds of Paradise 4 Bloom Tender 1 Chameleon Colossus 4 Figure of Destiny 4 Realm Razer 4 Woolly Thoctar Enchantments 1 Goblin Assault 4 Shield of the Oversoul Instants 1 Magma Spray 1 Naturalize 1 Naya Charm	Planeswalkers 1 Ajani Vengeant 2 Garruk Wildspeaker Sorceries 2 Firespout 1 Wrath of God Basic Lands 6 Forest 2 Mountain 3 Plains Lands 2 Fire-Lit Thicket 4 Jungle Shrine 2 Reflecting Pool 2 Rugged Prairie 2 Wooded Bastion	Sideboard: 1 Cloudthresher 1 Oversoul of Dusk 2 Vexing Shusher 2 Runed Halo 2 Wheel of Sun and Moon 2 Guttural Response 1 Magma Spray 1 Austere Command 1 Firespout 2 Eyes of the Wisent
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By now we’ve seen Bloom Tender/Realm Razer decks popping up in Top 8s and on columnists’ radars, but I wanted to draw attention to point of interest here to Randall Klemann’s deck and it’s one miser’s Lich’s Mirror. Now, I’ve been intrigued by Lich’s Mirror since it was spoiled because:

1. It’s a Lich thingie that doesn’t make you lose the game if something bad happens, which is cool (hey, it’s the mirror-opposite: it saves you if you lose the game!).
2. There’s got to be a way to abuse draw-7 cards that also get you back to twenty life.

As I was tinkering around with Lich’s Mirror ideas, it occurred to me you could break its symmetry with Puca’s Mischief, swapping your permanents with your opponent’s permanents, so that once the Mirror triggered your opponent would lose permanents while you retained some. Sadly you’d lose all your lands... and that’s when I made the connection with Realm Razer. If the Mirror triggered while a Razer was out, you’d get back the lands removed from the game by the Razer!

Sadly, I couldn’t seem to get a decent Puca’s Mischief/Mirror/Razer deck to come together before States. The omnipresence of Esper’s Charm also threw a wet blanket over that spark. Still, it’s glad to see at least one other fellow out there noted the semi-synergy of Realm Razer and Lich’s Mirror!

That about wraps up my trip around the country’s Champs Top 8s*. While Cryptic Command, Reflecting Pool, and Faerie/Tribal decks certainly compromised the vast majority of elimination round decks, I was pleasantly surprised to see decks other than Kithkin and RDW elbow their way into the club. What decks are you looking forward to playing at your local FNM?

That’s it for this week. Y’all have a good weekend, and I’ll see you next Thursday.

Take care!

Bennie

starcitygeezer AT gmail DOT com

Listening to:
Too Hot to Sleep, Eilen Jewell
Poor Boy Blues, Terry Garland
The Sweetest Taboo, Sade
She Sells Sanctuary, The Cult
All I Need, Antenna

* 8th Place – Montana. Check it out. Dude.