If you look at the top decks in Type 2 today, there are a number of cards that have been relegated to the trade binders that were once thought powerful. They pop up here and there, but the experienced players at States did not think they were tournament gamebreakers. Let's look first at Obliterate.

Obliterate
6RR
Sorcery
Obliterate can't be countered.
Destroy all artifacts, creatures, and lands. They can't be regenerated.

A number of decks emerged that tried hard to quickly cast an Obliterate and leave a creature token in play to finish the game. I have seen Still Life, Penumbras, et al, used as the kill mechanism... But none of these decks were truly dominating. The fact is, you do not need to play Obliterate quickly. It is often better to wait until your opponent has thrown some resources on the table before you use it. Turn nine or ten is perfect... But you need to find a way to stay alive until then. Wild Mongrels and Jungle Barriers serve this purpose well. Chump blocking with your elves is also a good strategy. When you are ready, Obliterate and play your Werebear or Mongeese or activate your Still Life. The deck is quite resilient.

4 Birds of Paradise
4 Werebear
4 Nimble Mongoose
4 Wild Mongrel
3 Jungle Barrier
4 Obliterate
4 Fact or Fiction
3 Fire/Ice
2 Prophetic Bolt
2 Still Life
5 Forest
4 Yavimaya Coast
3 Mountain
3 Tinder Farm
3 Geothermic Crevice
3 Shivan Reef
1 Shivan Oasis

Sideboard:
4 Standstill
3 Hull Breach
2 Teferi's Response
2 Divert
2 Prophetic Bolt
2 Simplify

Lets look at a few of the common matchups.

Control and Finkula: Obliterate cannot be countered. This alone makes it look good. Of course, Finkel decks can be stalled by the versatile Mongrel. You need to be patient against control and Finkula; try and draw out as many threats as possible before Obliterating and laying out a Mongoose. Mongoose cannot be bounced or destroyed, and Wrath is slow in coming after an Obliterate. Side in Standstills and Diverts for Barriers and Fire/Ices.

Opp/Orb: This is your toughest matchup. First game, get out Mongoose quickly. The second game gets better, with Simplify and Hull Breach coming in from the side.

R/G beats - No problem. Mongrels, Bolts, and Barriers will stall them long enough to Obliterate. Rarely have I found R/G able to outrace the deck unless I have a really bad draw.

Zombie/Upheaval: Well, the Mongrels can slow down the Finkels and Bolts will help. This is a race; your mana acceleration is better. Avoid counter wars. Side in Standstills for Jungle Barriers.

New Ponza: This deck is making appearances, and hurts you first game. I added a few Responses and Diverts to the side for land destruction, which had been a problem.

The deck has performed well and I've noticed similar versions popping up on the net lately. Remember this deck takes patience; don't Obliterate too early, tempting as it may be.

The other deck that showed promise early on was Traumatize.

Traumatize
3UU
Sorcery
Target player puts the top half of his or her library, rounded down, into his or her graveyard.

I kept hearing how broken it could be with Threshold, Flashback, or as a combo with Haunting Echoes... But of course, its obvious application is in a milling deck. The problem is surviving long enough to deck your opponent. Well, three cards can help a lot; Life Burst, Absorb, and Ancestral Tribute. I have finished games with forty life against aggro decks.

4 Howling Mine
3 Millstone
3 Traumatize
4 Wrath of God
2 Teferi's Moat
1 Rout
4 Fact or Fiction
4 Life Burst
1 Ancestral Tribute
4 Counterspell
4 Absorb
3 Repulse
11 Island
4 Plains
4 Adarkar Wastes
4 Coastal Tower

Sideboard:
2 Rout
1 Repulse
4 Gainsay
2 Mahamoti Djinn
3 Dismantling Blow
3 Hibernation

Control/Combo: The sideboard is geared to defeat decks packing few creatures. Side out Wraths, Routs, and Repulses for Gainsays and Mahamotis.

Aggro: Decks are hard-hit by extra Routs and Repulses, and Hibernations are golden against R/G.

Finkula/Upheaval: You will win the counter wars and gain a lot of life. Upheaval is a must counter and Dismantling Blows can be brought in.

I have recently been inspired to rejuvenate another forgotten card for Extended: I want to create a Pygmy Hippo/Winter Orb deck again. I believe it could be quite effective in today's metagame. Anyone with ideas can e-mail me at paul_shriar@hotmail.com.