Games Haven Monthly $1K Series 2019
17th Aug 2019
Games Haven Paya Lebar
Modern season is coming to an end but that's not going to stop us from having yet another Modern event! After a gauntlet of MCQ into 3 biggish Modern events, our Modern chain pauses here, on the August $1K Series event. 40 players attended to protest/support Hogaak and play for some nice monthly cash prizes, and enjoy some Modern at season's end.
Perhaps because of apprehension surrounding the upcoming banlist update on the 26th, the air of the room was quite relaxed and although there were still a good number of Hogaak decks, they weren't met with the kind of derision you usually find for metagame kings on the Internet. Then again, the Internet.
Our metagame mostly consisted of a microscopic snapshot of our MCQ turnout, which is completely unsurprising thanks to the relative saturation of Modern players on the island. This is to say, our largest turnouts were Hogaak, Tron and UW Control, with almost every other archetype being no more than 2-of's. Stick to your roots, we always say, and play what you like. That spirit truly contributes to a fun environment.
Speaking of play-what-you-like, the standout rogue deck on Saturday simply had to be without a doubt Treasure Hunt-Zombie Infestation. Its pilot went into the event fully expecting to drop out early, but ended up overturning a lot of early opposition and even went into Round 4 at 3-0! Many spectators were won over by the pure meme value of this long-forgotten rogue deck, and found themselves counting tiebreakers for him in the hopes that he would squeeze into the Top 8. Alas, not all memes could be realised, but the laughter in the Swiss rounds was one of the best background sounds one could hope to hear.
Even when one's objective is purely to have fun, having fun and staying competitive are not mutually exclusive. Graveyard hate abounded in sideboards everywhere, and plenty of hard mulligans for Leylines of the Void took place over the course of the day. It might be a good idea to hold on to your graveyard hate cards until the banlist update, because if Hogaak stays, we'd all still need them. As an illustration of how important exile is in this Modern format, the UW Control deck that made it to the top 8 maindecked a Winds of Abandon. Yes, feel free to check the Oracle text, we fully understand. Winds of Abandon. Phew.
Between anti-Hogaak tech and the Singaporean love of Lightning Bolts (what a beautiful sentiment), the current linearity of the local Modern metagame is something to be noted. Anyone who can pilot a deck with disruptive options well, with a bit of luck, will be able to throw wrenches into large portions of the metagame where the goal is basically to start a steam engine running and throw it barreling into another steam engine. Case in point - Chalice of the Void. The great offender of our round timer on Saturday, besides counterspells and Teferi, was the unassuming XX artifact. One could literally hear the screeching of the brakes as Chalice for 1 completely neutered a great deal of early plays, an event reminiscent of Legacy.
Ordinarily, we'd recommend Ensnaring Bridge to go alongside Chalice, which is indeed what some of our players did. However, we need to point out that Force of Vigor is a real card and as such we'd also advise you to be prudent and have some sort of backup plan. If nothing comes to mind immediately, perhaps it's time to go on a Treasure Hunt.
Our Top 8, far from being dominated by Hogaak, turned out to be incredibly diverse, which is nothing surprising for a day dominated with so many memes. There is much to be gained in Modern from knowing your matchups inside and out, a philosophy that has been reinforced in virtually every event since Eldrazi Winter, the dark days of Modern. But ultimately, the strong stay strong, and at the top of the mountain at the end of the day was our April event winner, Loh Han Boon! Many congratulations!
Top 8 Decklists
1st Place - Loh Han Boon
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
Tron
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Urza lands
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Oblivion Stone
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Not getting Tron
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
Tron is interesting
What are you hoping for in the upcoming banlist update?
Nothing
Hogaak shows up at your door uninvited and asks you out for lunch, what's the play?
Throw Mister Kyler in the dustbin
Mono Green Tron - Main Deck
4x Urza's Tower
4x Urza's Mine
4x Urza's Power Plant
4x Forest
1x Ghost Quarter
1x Sanctum of Ugin
1x Blast Zone
3x Wurmcoil Engine
4x Karn Liberated
2x Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger
2x Walking Ballista
4x Sylvan Scrying
4x Ancient Stirrings
1x Dismember
4x Chromatic Sphere
4x Chromatic Star
4x Expedition Map
3x Relic of Progenitus
4x Oblivion Stone
2x Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
Sideboard
2x Leyline of the Void
2x Leyline of Sancity
1x Obstinate Baloth
2x Thragtusk
2x Dismember
2x Veil of Summer
1x Emrakul, the Promised End
3x Nature's Claim
2nd Place - Tay Wen Kai
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
Izzet Phoenix
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Pyromancer Ascension. Catches people off guard.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Aria of Flame. Helped me win against control.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Bad matchups like UW, Urza [Combo] and Tron.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
Tron playing Leyline of Sanctity
What are you hoping for in the upcoming banlist update?
Please don't ban Looting.
Hogaak shows up at your door uninvited and asks you out for lunch, what's the play?
Throw Kyler under the bus
Izzet Phoenix - Main Deck
4x Spirebluff Canal
4x Scalding Tarn
2x Flooded Strand
2x Steam Vents
1x Fiery Islet
3x Island
2x Mountain
4x Thing in the Ice//Awoken Horror
4x Arclight Phoenix
4x Sleight of Hand
4x Serum Visions
4x Thought Scour
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Manamorphose
3x Surgical Extraction
1x Vapor Snag
1x Finale of Promise
1x Magmatic Sinkhole
1x Flame Slash
4x Faithless Looting
1x Aria of Flame
2x Pyromancer Ascension
Sideboard
3x Leyline of the Void
2x Blood Moon
2x Spell Pierce
2x Force of Negation
1x Saheeli, Sublime Artificer
2x Dragon's Claw
1x Abrade
1x Aria of Flame
1x Anger of the Gods
Top 4 - Chu Jian Liang
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
UW Control
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Island
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Winds of Abandon. Overloaded against Hogaak.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Opponents hate Force of Will "Negation"
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
T1 Chandra, Torch of Defiance [pictured above]
What are you hoping for in the upcoming banlist update?
Stoneforge Mystic unban. Twin unban please.
Hogaak shows up at your door uninvited and asks you out for lunch, what's the play?
RIP.
UW Control – Main Deck
4x Flooded Strand
2x Hallowed Fountain
2x Glacial Fortress
6x Island
2x Plains
3x Field of Ruin
1x Scalding Tarn
3x Celestial Colonnade
1x Geier Reach Sanitarium
3x Snapcaster Mage
2x Wall of Omens
1x Vendilion Clique
2x Force of Negation
4x Path to Exile
1x Winds of Abandon
2x Cryptic Command
1x Settle the Wreckage
1x Supreme Verdict
1x Timely Reinforcements
1x Logic Knot
1x Spell Snare
1x Mana Leak
4x Opt
2x Surgical Extraction
1x Detention Sphere
3x Narset, Parter of Veils
2x Jace, the Mind Sculptor
2x Teferi, Time Raveler
1x Teferi, Hero of Dominaria
Sideboard
1x Disdainful Stroke
2x Celestial Purge
3x Rest in Peace
2x Restoration Angel
1x Baneslayer Angel
1x Ceremonious Rejection
1x Dovin's Veto
1x Stony Silence
1x Cataclysmic Gearhulk
1x Timely Reinforcements
1x Wrath of God
Top 4 - Clarence Foo
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
UW Spirits
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Spell Queller, because it saves lives.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Teferi, Time Raveler. Never played it in a deck before last night, but Spell Queller + Teferi
is a sick combo.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
I mulliganed to five 3 times against Urza Thopter in the same round.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
My opponent Lattice locked me while I had Stony Silence on the board and I played 2 Kor Firewalkers against a burn deck.
What are you hoping for in the upcoming banlist update?
Either Hogaak gets banned or gets errata
Hogaak shows up at your door uninvited and asks you out for lunch, what's the play?
Throw Kyler and Hogaak under the bus
UW Spirits - Main Deck
4x Flooded Strand
4x Seachrome Coast
1x Cavern of Souls
3x Hallowed Fountain
2x Waterlogged Grove
1x Mutavault
3x Island
2x Plains
4x Mausoleum Wanderer
4x Rattlechains
4x Supreme Phantom
3x Unsettled Mariner
3x Selfless Spirit
4x Spell Queller
4x Drogskol Captain
2x Empyrean Eagle
3x Path to Exile
3x Force of Negation
4x Aether Vial
2x Teferi, Time Raveler
Sideboard
3x Leyline of the Void
2x Leyline of Sanctity
2x Kor Firewalker
2x Damping Sphere
3x Deputy of Detention
3x Stony Silence
Top 8 - Mar Abella
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
Humans. Humanity's last hope against Hogaak.
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Ancient Ziggurat. So ancient and amazing. I can play a 5 colour deck with 13 creature
types.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Unsettled Mariner. Thanks to my teammates for recommending it. Shoutout to Team
Chambaleros, Mana Lords and Team Pusang Gala.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Mana. Must have the right lands in your opening hand.
Sequencing and timing. All about playing your cards at the right time.
BLOOD MOON.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
Turn zero Leyline of the Void against Kelvin Chew's Hogaak.
What are you hoping for in the upcoming banlist update?
Hogaak saying byebye. Wish they'd unban Stoneforge Mystic. My equipment gathering dust already.
Hogaak shows up at your door uninvited and asks you out for lunch, what's the play?
Must ask Thalia if she's free first. Hogaak can have a date with Deputy of Detention in the exile zone.
5C Humans - Main Deck
1x Island
1x Plains
4x Ancient Ziggurat
4x Cavern of Souls
4x Horizon Canopy
1x Waterlogged Grove
4x Unclaimed Territory
4x Champion of the Prish
2x Deputy of Detention
3x Kitesail Freebooter
4x Mantis Rider
4x Meddling Mage
4x Noble Hierarch
3x Phantasmal Image
4x Reflector Mage
4x Thalia's Lieutenant
2x Unsettled Mariner
3x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4x Aether Vial
Sideboard
2x Damping Sphere
2x Collector Ouphe
3x Auriok Champion
4x Leyline of the Void
1x Dismember
2x Gaddock Teeg
1x Plague Engineer
Top 8 - Daniel Zhang
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
Red White Prison
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Ensnaring Bridge, as it buys me more time for the game.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
M20 Chandra, a 6-mana cost in a low landcount deck wasn't supposed to do this well
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Opening hand on go and draw.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
N/A
What are you hoping for in the upcoming banlist update?
Hogaak
Hogaak shows up at your door uninvited and asks you out for lunch, what's the play?
Cast Ensnaring Bridge and ask him if he made any appointment
RW Prison - Main Deck
11x Mountain
4x Gemstone Cavern
4x Arid Mesa
2x Plains
4x Simian Spirit Guide
4x Magus of the Moon
2x Hazoret, the Fervent
4x Desperate Ritual
2x Pyretic Ritual
3x Abrade
3x Anger of the Gods
4x Blood Moon
3x Chalice of the Void
3x Ensnaring Bridge
3x Karn, the Great Creator
3x Chandra, Torch of Defiance
1x Chandra, Awakened Inferno
Sideboard
1x Chalice of the Void
1x Engineered Explosives
1x Walking Ballista
1x Tormod's Crypt
1x Grafdigger's Cage
1x Pithing Needle
1x Liquimetal Coating
1x Trinisphere
1x Ensnaring Bridge
2x Rest in Peace
3x Timely Reinforcements
1x Worship
Top 8 - Ju Yaqiong
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
Hogaak
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Every one. The Supplier, the Wayfinder, the fetchlands, the Hogaak.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Assassin's Trophy. Killed 2 Zombie Infestations.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Need one more card like a fetchland to cast Hogaak but drew a regular land instead.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
Treasure Hunt guy mulled to 2 for a Treasure Hunt + Zombie Infestation hand.
What are you hoping for in the upcoming banlist update?
Ban Hogaak please. I miss the robots.
Hogaak shows up at your door uninvited and asks you out for lunch, what's the play?
For this week let's go! After the 26th I'm afraid I can never jio him for lunch liao.
Hogaak - Main Deck
1x Blooming Marsh
2x Blackcleave Cliffs
2x Overgrown Tomb
2x Blood Crypt
3x Verdant Catacombs
1x Swamp
2x Gemstone Mine
2x Polluted Delta
4x Bloodstained Mire
4x Gravecrawler
4x Stitcher's Supplier
2x Cryptbreaker
4x Vengevine
4x Satyr Wayfinder
4x Carrion Feeder
4x Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis
4x Bloodghast
2x Lotleth Troll
4x Faithless Looting
3x Lightning Axe
2x Assassin's Trophy
Sideboard
4x Thoughtseize
2x Fatal Push
4x Force of Vigor
1x Nature's Claim
4x Leyline of the Void
Top 8 - Tan Wei Siong
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
Stefan Schutz
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Mox Opal, because it's a mox.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
None
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Turn 2 Stony Silence.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
Winning against Leyline of the Void.
What are you hoping for in the upcoming banlist update?
Ban Hogaak and unban Bridge from Below.
Hogaak shows up at your door uninvited and asks you out for lunch, what's the play?
Exile him.
Urza ThopterSword - Main Deck
1x Inventors' Fair
1x Misty Rainforest
4x Polluted Delta
4x Scalding Tarn
5x Snow-Covered Island
1x Snow-Covered Mountain
1x Snow-Covered Swamp
1x Academy Ruins
1x Steam Vents
1x Watery Grave
2x Goblin Engineer
4x Urza, Lord High Artificer
1x Galvanic Blast
2x Whir of Invention
4x Arcum's Astrolabe
2x Chromatic Star
2x Ensnaring Bridge
1x Grafdigger's Cage
3x Mind Stone
4x Mishra's Bauble
4x Mox Opal
2x Nihil Spellbomb
1x Pithing Needle
1x Pyrite Spellbomb
2x Sword of the Meek
3x Thopter Foundry
2x Karn, the Great Creator
Sideboard
3x Ceremonious Rejection
1x Damping Sphere
1x Ensnaring Bridge
3x Fatal Push
1x Grafdigger's Cage
1x Master of Etherium
1x Mycosynth Lattice
1x Pithing Needle
1x Sword of the Meek
1x Thopter Foundry
1x Witchbane Orb
