As my second and final Pro Tour Qualifier approaches this weekend, I pray that I have taken my own advice.  

Hollywood!

(cue Red Hot Chili Peppers theme music…again….)

While the Extended format has changed considerably over the course of the past few weeks, a few things still remain clear:

1. GP: Vancouver did not really shake up the format too much.  Despite the presence of red-based aggro decks all over the environment (or perhaps because of it?), Combo and Control decks showed up all over the top 8.  The eventual winner, Paul Cheon, played a counter-heavy update of Next Level Blue that dropped the namesake Counterbalance engine. 
2. Aggro is still going strong – With not one, but two PTQ wins last week, Domain Zoo is starting to pick up steam once again.  Goblins won several PTQs on 2/16.  Goyf Deck Wins also has many strong adherents.
3. Bring graveyard hate.  Dredge, Aggro Loam, UG Tron, and many others prove that you must pack at least 6 cards in your sideboard to prey upon graveyard strategies.

Above all, however, I still feel like Doran Rock is the most flexible deck in the format.  My dream of Californication rests upon the consistency and power of Doran.  When and if the dream fades, I can sell my entire collection of Invasion, Odyssey, and Onslaught for a nice, tidy profit.

Here is my list for Saturday’s PT: Hollywood qualifier in Richmond, VA:

Dream of Californication

Creatures (22)

4x Birds of Paradise

4x Tarmogoyf

4x Dark Confidant

4x Doran, the Siege Tower

3x Eternal Witness

3x Loxodon Hierarch

Spells (17)

4x Cabal Therapy

2x Duress

2x Profane Command

2x Chrome Mox

4x Vindicate

3x Putrefy

Land (21)

4x Windswept Heath

2x Polluted Delta

1x Wooded Foothills

3x Treetop Village

1x Shizo, Death’s Storehouse

2x Forest

2x Swamp

1x Plains

2x Overgrown Tomb

2x Godless Shrine

1x Temple Garden

Sideboard:

4x Extirpate

2x Offalsnout

1x Duress

1x Putrefy

3x Pernicious Deed

2x Umezawa’s Jitte

2x Mystic Enforcer

Explanation of Card Choices:

1. Birds of Paradise over Treefolk Harbinger

The most controversial decision in the deck.  I have seen Cole Abernathy’s build on magicthegathering.com, and I really think it is strong [just look up Daniel Hanson's build].  Daniel Hanson performed well with this build at Grand Prix: Vancouver, and I don’t deny his results.  In fact, I really like the ability to customize the list with singleton copies of Chameleon Colossus and Crib Swap.  I simply hate the thought of not being able to play a turn 2 Doran or Vindicate against combo and control.  I know that permission from Cabal Therapy and Duress should be able to swing those matches in your favor, but I truly feel the acceleration is necessary.  I am staking my PTQ performance on this decision.  If I fail to do well with this build, I know I made the wrong choice. 

2. 2x Chrome Mox

This is a nod to the need for acceleration, and the presence of Blood Moon and Magus of the Moon.  Chrome Mox, imprinting Doran, Loxodon Hierarch, or Putrefy all allow for access to multiple colors.  I may regret not playing a third Mox. 

3. Putrefy over Smother

While everyone knows that Smother is ridiculous in Extended right now, I feel like a lot of players are metagaming against Smother.  When Ravenous Baloth and Spiritmonger surge in popularity in Beasts Rock, Blistering Firecat wrecks house in Goyf Deck Wins, and the presence of key artifacts like Vedalken Shackles and Mindslaver define the metagame, Smother loses its dominance.  Putrefy allows me to kill all creatures, deny regeneration, and take down Shackles.  To me, that’s too much of a good thing to pass up. 

4. Duress over Thoughtseize

In my opinion, why should I spend 2 precious life points against aggro to take a creature out of my opponent’s deck?  Unless I can miraculously grab double Tarmogoyf (impossible with Thoughtseize, very possible with Cabal Therapy), Thoughtseize is just a really, really expensive Duress.  Duress is a “pain-free” look at my opponent’s hand, and the ability to nab a key burn spell, combo component, or artifact is simply too strong to pass over. 

5. 7 Fetchlands, 0 Murmuring Bosk, 3 Treetop Village

Most builds I have seen run 6 fetchlands, but I don’t really understand why running another fetch is a bad call.  I don’t feel like Murmuring Bosk is a solid addition outside of the Treefolk Harbinger version of the deck.  I never want to take additional points of pain against aggro decks.  I chose to run 3x Treetop Village rather than the full set due to mana constraints.  Unless I don’t have a 1cc spell, I don’t really want to play Treetop until at least turn 4 or 5.  To me, that means I have to cut it down to 3 in the deck.

6. Eternal Witness and Profane Command

I wonder if the Eternal Witness/Profane Command combo is a little too cutesy for today’s Extended.  I have actually begun to question whether or not these 5 slots would be better spent on 3x Treefolk Harbinger, 1x Chameleon Colossus, and 1x Crib Swap.  I could then free up board space to run more focused tech like Krosan Grip.  I often wonder how much the Eternal Witness will hit play at a crucial point in the match, allowing the recursion that I need to win the game.  I may at the least drop the 3^rd Witness for something else to kill aggro in the main deck.

7. Sideboard decision #1 – 2x Chameleon Colossus and 2x Armadillo Cloak OR 2x Mystic Enforcer and 2x Umezawa’s Jitte

In the mirror match, I want a significant advantage.  To me, that means I need to run a pro-black creature.  Two options – Chameleon Colossus and Mystic Enforcer – exist.  I selected Mystic Enforcer for the simple fact that it flies.  Although I have serious dreams about playing Chameleon Colossus and Armadillo Cloak in back to back turns against aggro, then winning the game, Umezawa’s Jitte is simply too flexible to ignore.  I have to play Mystic Enforcer with Jitte since I will never be able to punch through the Goblins’ defense (too many tokens) or gain Jitte counters (too many sacrifice outlets).  If I do gain any type of Jitte counters, I will win the game.  Armadillo Cloak + Chameleon Colossus is a nice combo, however, I just wish the Colossus had trample on its own.  If I were to use Hanson’s build, I would just run the singleton Colossus in the main deck, and play both Jitte and Cloak out of the board.  That would be a beating. 

8. Sideboard decision #2 – Correct number of Dredge hate = 6 – 4x Extirpate, 2x Offalsnout

Forgive me, I really like Offalsnout.  Although it is much less powerful than Tormod’s Crypt, it is also much less expected.  Against Dredge, Chain of Vapor stops Tormod’s Crypt cold; Offalsnout wins you the game by taking out Bridge from Below and their best creature.  Against UG Tron, Repeal stops Tormod’s Crypt; Offalsnout is extremely difficult to Remand or Repeal.  Against Next Level Blue, I would rather not give my opponents any information about graveyard hate, or telegraph Crypt from a mile away.  Against Aggro Loam, Tormod’s Crypt is definitely much better than Offalsnout, although offing a Life from the Loam is still a really strong play.  I really do not want to play against any Extended combo deck without 4x Extirpate, I don’t care what combo deck it is.  Leyline of the Void runs into the same problems as Tormod’s Crypt, unfortunately, since Chain of Vapor and Krosan Grip both deal with the enchantment.

9. Sideboard decision #3 – No Gaddock Teeg

Many players are starting to put Gaddock Teeg into main deck Doran Rock builds, but I have no inclination to follow the pack.  While Gaddock Teeg definitely stops key cards from many decks cold, I can’t play Teeg and Birds of Paradise in the main deck, or I will punt the aggro matchup.  For the Treefolk Harbinger build, if you decide to drop Profane Command, then Gaddock Teeg is a great 2cc replacement.  For my sideboard, Teeg is still a serious option to consider.  Perhaps I simply like the extra Putrefy against aggro and the extra Duress against control.  It seems a little more flexible.

10. Sideboard decision #4 – No enchantment hate

Although I worry about Enduring Ideal, Threads of Disloyalty, and other random enchantments in a large PTQ field, I am relying upon disruption to make the biggest difference in these matchups.  I know that I can disrupt the Ideal player with 4x Cabal Therapy, 2x Duress (3x post-board), 3x Putrefy (4x post-board), and 4x Vindicate to take the match.  I worry about Threads of Disloyalty a great deal, since I really have no good answer.  It is going to be a two-for-one every time against my build of Doran.  Counterbalance is also a concern, and I think that my deck will be significantly worse against Next Level Blue (Patrick Chapin and Gerry Thompson’s build) than Previous Level Blue (Paul Cheon’s GP: Vancouver-winning list).

Cards I am particularly concerned about seeing across from me:

1. Goblins – Game 1 is not a strong matchup for me, in particular, since I will not be able to stop the hordes of Goblins if they hit a decent-sized Goblin Ringleader.  3x Pernicious Deed help in Games 2-3, but my build is particularly poor against a decent Goblins deck.  To me, if I see a ton of Goblins at the tournament, I may audible to the Treefolk Harbinger version of the list.  I would really, really hate to change lists at the last minute, but Treefolk Harbinger, albeit slower, turns the Goblins’ matchup into a favorable advantage for me in Game 1.  Pernicious Deed is subject to Krosan Grip out of the Goblins’ board.
2. Threads of Disloyalty – For reasons already mentioned, Threads of Disloyalty is an automatic two-for-one against my deck.  It is one of the main reasons I think about adding 2x Krosan Grip somewhere in the board.
3. Counterbalance – I can get locked out if they simply float a 3cc spell somewhere around the top of the library.  Completely.  Seal of Primordium is an option, plus it helps against Affinity.
4. Chameleon Colossus – Aside from chump blocks, I can not stop Chameleon Colossus at all.  Without a sacrifice outlet, Colossus plus Umezawa’s Jitte will definitely own me. 
5. Breakthrough – Turn 2 win?  Sure, why not…

Sideboarding Strategy:

Dredge: +4 Extirpate, +2 Offalsnout, +3 Pernicious Deed

-4 Doran, the Siege Tower, -4 Vindicate, -1 Profane Command

I have thought about adding the Duress out of the board as well, but I have decided that 6 disruption effects and 6 graveyard effects are strong enough, and the board sweeper of Pernicious Deed is much better than the 4x Vindicate.  I could leave 2x Vindicate in the deck to guard against Leyline of the Void ruining my Offalsnout tech, but I just feel like it is subpar in this matchup.  I cut Doran since Pernicious Deed set to 3 should take down my opponent’s board, and leave me my Loxodon Hierarchs.  Plus, once I Extirpate Dread Return, he has to win through small beats.  Loxodon Hierarch is a great answer to small beats. 

Next Level Blue: +1 Duress, +1 Putrefy, +2 Offalsnout

-3 Loxodon Hierarch, -1 Eternal Witness

I like having Offalsnout out of the sideboard to deal with Academy Ruins recursion.  I have thought about putting in couple of Extirpates to remove Threads of Disloyalty and Vedalken Shackles from the game permanently, once destroyed.  I am simply unsure of what else I should cut at that point.  Maybe the Offalsnout are a little too cutesy at that point.

Goblins: +3 Pernicious Deed, +1 Putrefy, +2 Mystic Enforcer, +2 Umezawa’s Jitte

-4 Dark Confidant, -2 Duress, -1 Cabal Therapy, -1 Eternal Witness

Against Goblins, disruption matters a little bit less than creature kill.  I may not need the Mystic Enforcer/Umezawa’s Jitte combo, and if I find that to be the case, I will simply play the Jittes.  Although I like having Dark Confidant draw me extra removal, I really can’t afford the life loss.

Goyf Deck Wins and Domain Zoo: +1 Putrefy, +3 Pernicious Deed, +2 Umezawa’s Jitte

-2 Duress, -4 Dark Confidant

For the same reasons as the matchup against Goblins, red burn decks require a board sweeper in Pernicious Deed and extra spot removal in Putrefy and Umezawa’s Jitte.  Dark Confidant hurts the deck too much with life loss, and Duress is simply unnecessary.

Enduring Ideal and TEPS: +1 Putrefy, +1 Duress, +4 Extirpate

-3 Loxodon Hierarch, -2 Profane Command, -1 Doran, the Siege Tower

Just disrupt the combo plan, Extirpate any cards that help the combo go off, and try to race for the win.  Putrefy is particularly strong against Lotus Bloom during your opponent’s upkeep.   Remember that you have no ability to defeat an Ideal player once the Ideal goes off, so either a) focus on mana denial or b) focus on disruption.

UG Tron: +1 Putrefy, +1 Duress, +3 Extirpate, +2 Offalsnout

-3 Loxodon Hierarch, -2 Profane Command, -1 Doran, the Siege Tower, -1 Eternal Witness

I don’t feel like you need the full complement of Extirpates in this matchup, since you are betting to be able to stop a few key cards.  I board in 3x Extirpate just to ensure that I draw an Extirpate.  I don’t like cutting  the third Eternal Witness in this matchup, and I may in fact cut a second Doran, the Siege Tower to make up for it. 

Mirror: +1 Putrefy, +2 Mystic Enforcer, +2 Umezawa’s Jitte

-3 Loxodon Hierarch, -2 Duress

In the mirror match, Duress is definitely weaker than Thoughtseize, so it really has to go to the side.  Loxodon Hierarch makes for a strong regeneration effect, but for the most part, I think it is weaker than Mystic Enforcer in this matchup.  I would much rather play Jitte + equip or Mystic Enforcer on turn 3 than Loxodon Hierarch. 

Alternative Model:

If you are gung-ho on playing Treefolk Harbinger, here is the build I plan to bring if I notice a ton of Goblins in the room:

Redwood Rock

Creatures (22)

4x Treefolk Harbinger

4x Dark Confidant

4x Tarmogoyf

2x Eternal Witness

2x Gaddock Teeg

3x Doran, the Siege Tower

1x Chameleon Colossus

2x Loxodon Hierarch

Spells (17)

4x Cabal Therapy

2x Duress

3x Putrefy

1x Crib Swap

3x Chrome Mox

4x Vindicate

Land (21)

4x Windswept Heath

1x Polluted Delta

1x Wooded Foothills

3x Treetop Village

1x Shizo, Death’s Storehouse

3x Forest

2x Swamp

1x Plains

2x Overgrown Tomb

1x Godless Shrine

1x Temple Garden

1x Murmuring Bosk

Sideboard

4x Extirpate

2x Offalsnout

1x Chameleon Colossus

2x Armadillo Cloak

2x Krosan Grip

1x Duress

3x Pernicious Deed

I would like to sneak another Gaddock Teeg into the sideboard somewhere, probably at the expense of a Krosan Grip.

Good luck this weekend!

Thomas M. Trovato

Falkor in the Forums

Bookmark: