Legacy 2023, episode #6 (going with it)

 After taking the week off, I brought a slightly new version of r/w initiative. The deck has been cracking face, and I felt comfortable with it. Here is v1.5. Whats the difference you say? Well- basically, I removed two Anointed Peacekeepers and a Touch the Spirit Realm for 3 Fury. I made some minor changes in the sideboard by adding a 4th Fury. I was going to remove the Meltdown for By Force, but got lazy and did not. That move actually benefited me in match 1. 

 

Match 1 vs 8-Cast

Game 1- We both mulligan, but I play a pre-game effect (THE ONLY ONE OF THE NIGHT) with Chancellor of the Annex, and proceed to find his FoWs. Thankfully I got a Chalice down on 0, which really put the screws to him mid game. He gets down a Kappa Cannoneer, but I had down an Elite Spellbinder. His Ancient Tombs do as much damage to him, as my creatures which is the only reason I was able to pull it out. He played a SECOND Kappa, but lost by 1 health. Turns out- damage is damage. 

Game 2- I left the Chalices in, which is perfect vs 8-cast, and also 2 Abrade and my 1 of Meltdown. We both mulligan, but I go down to 5 because my hands were so mana horrible. We trade stuff back and forth. At one point, he thought he had it sown up with a Kappa, but I could pay the ward cost and Solitude it. He found a Sai, Master Thopterist... but I wound up having two Chalice on 0 and 1. His hand was all that... we both flooded on mana, but I found a Caves of Chaos Adventurer. That forced him to dump his hand to make Thopters to maybe stop me, but I had been holding my single Meltdown just for this. He made 4 Thopters, I meltdown, but he sacks a bunch hoping to find a Force.. which he did, but no other blue card. CRAZY match.

 

Match 2 vs Delver

Game 1- Both Mulligan, but I found a Chalice to slow his DRC. (well, sorta) I wound up getting a Duneoneer down, which wounds up going to the distance. I don't think he ever found delirium, which really helped. With the Duneoneer having protection from creatures, it did some serious work. He would take initiative back, but that worked out find for me. Taking 10 in one turn forced him to scoop.

Game 2- Mulliganed again, but feel good about anything. But didn't want to go down to 5. He lead AGAIN with a DRC. He meltdown my chalice, so belch. I tried to stabilize, but he Dazed and FoW me out of my Chalice and attempted threat of Spellbinder. He followed up with a Murktide. Too much, and no answers and flooded with lands. 

Game 3- Oh man, I had the answers. I know he's got Meltdown and Wastelands, which turns out to play into my game plan. I found a Cavern, name human, and drop my first Dunegoneer. He brazen borrowers it. He wastelands my cavern. Fine... perfect actually. I dropped my second cavern, and after I have two Duegoneers in and actually hit the final dungeon of top 10, hitting a solitude, and removing his murktide, he scoops. 

I think he was a little salty because after game 1 he said "fair game with the initiative" or some such.  But after game 3, I thought he was super salty, but he had gotten food at the 7-11 next door. Still, I took it that he isn't a fan of the mechanic. 

 

Match 3 vs Infect

Game 1- Worse than bad. Mulligan twice, and just lose to a shadow walker massively pumped. I MIGHT have had a chance if I had found Touch the Spirit Realm or Solitude, but no such luck. 

Game 2- Almost worse than game 1. Opening hand was wrong mana for color spells. Mulligan again, 1 land. Mulligan to 5, found a Chalice, but he already had things going. I wound up drawing 2 more Chalice. It was god AWFUL. 

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Things of note from the night- 

• I think I mulligan'd every hand but 1? Maybe?
• After winning match 2, I texted Andy "this deck wrecks face" (or slightly different version) and then promptly got pooped on. 
• Might actually show up next week with a different deck, good old fashion Titan-Post. Though there were two infect players this past week, and Post is best at just going WAY over the top of control decks, not super fast combos. Gotta think about that. 
• Welcome to Chris, a refugee from Titan. Their Tuesday nights are dead. Legacy isn't a thing there anymore 
  

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My working credit at Level Up is $45. I am happy with playing for free, but I might cash some of my credit out for something. Debating what though. 

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 Lastly, I picked up a good deal on a Mox Opal. The guy was friendly enough. Chatted back and forth about things. Got the card in, and it was fake. 

I HIGHLY recommend this video for understand what to look for on fake cards. The part explaining the off set printing alone is worth it (starting at 6:44):

Legacy 2023, episode #5 (I think)

After taking a week off, I returned to using the r/w initiative deck for some competition. For the record, I made no changes to the 60 cards, but I did switch out two sideboard cards by removing two Pyroclasm and replacing them with two StP. I did not believe that go-wide decks were still prevalent, but it turned out that I was mistaken. However, I was able to side-step the one I was worried about from succeeding. I faced the other one, but was able to effectively stop it. I still have confidence in this deck, as it is capable of applying early pressure and presenting must-answer threats.

Match 1 was against a doomsday
I was unsure of the opponent's strategy at first, even after the first game. I find it difficult to identify decks based solely on a few spells and lands. 

Game 1, I was able to win by opening with Chancellor, followed by Chalice on 1, and then Archon. He admitted that if I had not done so, I would have lost. Archon of Emeria is an excellent card. 

Game 2, my opponent successfully Doomsday'd me on turn one, and although I had a slight chance, a FoW quickly ended my hopes. 

Game 3, my opponent mulligan'd down to 5, and then used FoW to counter my turn 1 Chalice, which I was content with. I followed up with foot stomping, and he had nothing. It felt good to win.

Match 2 was against a mentor deck
I had never played against the opponent before, so I was unsure of what to expect. 

Game 1, I used pre-game Chancellor, followed by Chalice, followed by Dungeoneer, followed by Touch Spirit Realm on his Mentor. This allowed me to know that he was attempting to go wide. 

I cannot recall the details of game 2.

Match 3 was against a naya depths deck
I suspected that the opponent was using this strategy. 

Game 1, I was able to prevent the opponent's progress despite having a Maze out, through the use of Spellbinder and MY ONLY SOLITUDE THE ENTIRE NIGHT on his Knight. 

Game 2, I made a mistake by attacking with my only flyer, which allowed my opponent to create a 20/20. 

Game 3, I had numerous ways to prevent his "spaghetti monster," including 3 Magus, 2 StP, 4 Solitude, Karakas, and 3 Touch the Spirit Realm spells, but unfortunately, I did not draw any of them. Although I did have Archon out, it only slowed down his attempt to make a 20/20. Ultimately, I did not find any of my answers, but that is just how it goes sometimes.

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On a side note, I found it frustrating when some of the players were discussing the weeklies and deck choices. As an introvert, it takes me a while to process my thoughts before sharing them. I do not support the idea of gatekeeping a hobby that we all seem to enjoy. If paper play is available, we should celebrate it. I am not sure how many of the players showing up to the weekly events are practicing for a tournament or just trying to improve, but I believe that several are happy to be playing a format that they enjoy. For those who want to prepare for big events, I suggest playing online via MTGO or finding other players to practice with.

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In other news, I have started using CardSphere and have been slowly getting used to it. I was unsure of what to expect at first, but I have already acquired a SL Chrome Mox and have my sights. This sort of trading would almost be impossible on DeckBox. 

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 Currently in the kitty at Level Up games- $35. Still gonna carry at least $10 over week to week to play for "free."
However, there is a Legacy 1k coming up on 5/20. The entry fee is $40. Do I think I am willing to carve out 5-6 hours on a Saturday to play? Highly doubtful... would I like to play given the opportunity? Sure... Would I keep playing this deck- yup as I am familiar with it, and it seems good.