Games Haven Monthly $1K Series 2019
16th June 2019
Games Haven Paya Lebar
It was the Sunday of the Modern Horizons release and 43 players appeared on the horizon to do battle and participate in unfolding the new Modern metagame! With War of the Spark printing so many Modern-relevant playables, and Modern Horizons injecting cards directly into Modern, there has been an undercurrent of excitement running under our community to see how greatly the format would be shaken up in our small corner of the world Magic community. Early impressions from pros and influencers across the world as well as Magic Online already identified a few high-profile format shakers, and we were eager to see it play out in reality in the shop. All in all, it was a really interesting day, and MH does indeed look like it has shaken things up at least a bit (but probably quite a lot).
Besides Burn, there is the OTHER Lightning Bolt deck, Arclight Phoenix. Modern Arclight Phoenix puts its Standard counterpart to shame with sheer speed, power, and a resilience that you never would have expected out of a deck so far removed from the Abzan wedge. Phoenix builds on Sunday were mainly of two kinds, an Izzet version closer to the pre-MH build, and a mono-red one that had been sneakily rising in popularity before the MH release, and got solidified after with the addition of a few spicy new commons. And as we know, a lot of Red's power lies in their commons.
UR Phoenix builds have Fiery Islet as their go-to MH inclusion, but otherwise the build is roughly the same. Thing in the Ice and Blue allow for a strong sideboard game and a resilience against Surgical Extraction. Mono-Red, however, is enjoying a vast upgrade, and only from commons. Lava Dart and Shenanigans were criminally underrated locally, and the Phoenix players were vindicated in their faithful looting of playsets from the draft chaff. Both commons are cheap to cast, have effects the deck cares about, and recur themselves to allow you to keep on bringing back Arclight Phoenix again, and again, and again. No need to worry about blindly flashback-ing Faithless Looting, the available options now are incredible. Not to mention the return of an old flame ported over from the Mardu Pyromancer deck, Bedlam Reveler.
It would be remiss, of course, not to mention the boogeyman in the room, the new and arisen Bridgevine. The consistency issues from its older self are now almost nonexistent, and the weakness against targeted graveyard hate is now mitigated. Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis is yet another bullet for the internet keyboard warriors who claim that Delve is a broken mechanic, and its ability to be casted from the graveyard makes it even stronger. Delve by itself would probably have made Hogaak just another card, but its combination with Convoke makes its "drawback" almost nonexistent with the tools available to us in Modern. Targeting Hogaak with Surgical Extraction doesn't even help much either, the deck is resilient to any hate weaker than Leyline of the Void and is capable of performing even when slowed down. Whether the deck is ban-worthy or not is a topic beyond the expertise of this writer, but before we grab the pitchforks, it would be wise to increase our data sample. Or maybe ask Kelvin Chew.
As players invested in Magic's ability to keep itself fresh, it was heartening to see how Modern Horizons affected the archetypes already present. Regardless of performance, it was refreshing to feel the electrifying charge of brewery behind every little tweak to deck builds. From high-profile attempts like trying to make Thopter Sword infinite on the back of one expensive mythic rare like Urza, High Lord Artificer or bringing UW Control one step closer to Legacy with Force of Negation; to little "I can't believe I've played Modern for this long without this card being legal!" additions like Aria of Flame into Storm, or Pillage into Ponza. And, of course, Slivers. A very big shout out to you, Bryan Lim, for attempting what a huge subset of us secretly wants to see flourish in Modern. The Hive applauds your efforts.
What of the old guard? Fascinatingly, the largest hole in our turnout was Tron, which presented a whopping zero decks for the day. Other than that stunning occurrence, the rest of the tables were sprinkled with the holdouts from the diverse Modern metagame we have come to know and love. Burn was a no-brainer presence, with Lightning Bolt still Singapore's favourite card (rightfully so). UW Control have differing numbers of Teferi, Narset, Jace and Vendilion Clique that no two builds feel the same, which is quite amazing when one considers that being on the receiving end of a stabilized UW Control deck ALWAYS feels the same (hint: refer to the cardname of a certain black MH card that can be casted for free if it's not your turn). Pictured above, we had a surprising number of Valakut decks, and thinking on it, it was probably due to the ability to maindeck Anger of the Gods for those pesky Vengevines and Bloodghasts. We then rounded off the entire ensemble with a small peppering of decks such as Amulet Titan, YOLO One, Devoted Druid combo, Zombies (wow!) and a Jeskai Flash deck that simply has to be mentioned because it was lovingly named "Jeskai Ah Boys to Men".
Ultimately, against the gauntlet of matchups that emerged from the horizon, our winner at sunset was the one, the only, the completely expected Kelvin Chew! He took a deck that we haven't seen in a while in Modern, brought it through an Eldritch Evolution, and following his speedy victory, posted his decklist on Twitter for all his adherents to examine. Him having won the event, what better way to lead into the Top 8 decklists than with a quote from Kelvin?
Unfortunate victim: "Phew so fast... Turn 3 finish!"
Kelvin: "That's Modern!"
Top 8 Decklists
1st Place - Kelvin Chew
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
Devoted Druid Combo
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Eladamri's Call, enables me to search for missing combo pieces.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Postmortem Lunge. I combo'd off after a Supreme Verdict.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Not drawing Devoted Druid.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
Killing my own Devoted Druid and returning it with haste using Postmortem Lunge to combo off.
What is your favourite Modern Horizons card, and why?
Giver of Runes. The best start is T1 Giver of Runes into T2 Devoted Druid.
Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis - ho jiak, or mai jiak?
Jin ho jiak.
Devoted Druid Combo - Main Deck
4x Misty Rainforest
4x Snow-Covered Forest
4x Horizon Canopy
2x Temple Garden
4x Windswept Heath
1x Overgrown Tomb
2x Snow-Covered Plains
4x Giver of Runes
1x Shalai, Voice of Plenty
4x Vizier of Remedies
1x Walking Ballista
2x Duskwatch Recruiter
4x Devoted Druid
2x Eternal Witness
2x Noble Hierarch
4x Birds of Paradise
4x Finale of Devastation
4x Incubation//Incongruity
3x Postmortem Lunge
4x Eladamri's Call
Sideboard
2x Thrun, the Last Troll
4x Thoughtseize
3x Path to Exile
1x Tireless Tracker
1x Knight of Autumn
3x Ravenous Trap
1x Gaddock Teeg
2nd Place - Wu Yi Kai
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
4C Storm [sic]
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Noxious Revival
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Ravenous Trap. Can kill graveyard.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Not drawing lands.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
None.
What is your favourite Modern Horizons card, and why?
Shenanigans.
Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis - ho jiak, or mai jiak?
Ho jiak.
Storm - Main Deck
4x Steam Vents
4x Spirebluff Canal
3x Shivan Reef
1x Fiery Islet
2x Island
2x Snow-Covered Island
1x Mountain
3x Goblin Electromancer
4x Baral, Chief of Compliance
4x Serum Visions
3x Opt
3x Sleight of Hand
2x Remand
1x Unsubstantiate
1x Noxious Revival
4x Pyretic Ritual
4x Desperate Ritual
4x Manamorphose
4x Gifts Ungiven
2x Past in Flames
2x Grapeshot
1x Repeal
1x Peer Through Depths
Sideboard
3x Pieces of the Puzzle
2x Aria of Flame
2x Empty the Warrens
1x Echoing Truth
2x Ravenous Trap
1x Flame Slash
2x Lightning Bolt
1x Abrade
1x Shenanigans
Top 4 - Ian Teoh
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
Boros Burn
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Searing Blazes and Searing Bloods. Killing the creature while still dealing damage to face
wins games.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Path to Exile. Path to Exile targeting Hogaak saves 8 points of damage.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
My deck has no interaction against combo, especially Bridgevine. I also need to get
used to playing with Sunbaked Canyon.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
My opponent's Nature's Claim in response to my Smash to Smithereens saved him a lot of damage from me.
What is your favourite Modern Horizons card, and why?
Sunbaked Canyon! Makes my late game better!
Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis - ho jiak, or mai jiak?
Mai jiak. Bad for me as I have no true outs.
Boros Burn – Main Deck
3x Wooded Foothills
3x Bloodstained Mire
3x Arid Mesa
3x Sacred Foundry
2x Inspiring Vantage
3x Sunbaked Canyon
3x Mountain
4x Goblin Guide
4x Monastery Swiftspear
1x Grim Lavamancer
4x Eidolon of the Great Revel
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Lava Spike
3x Skewer the Critics
2x Rift Bolt
4x Searing Blaze
4x Boros Charm
3x Lightning Helix
3x Skullcrack
Sideboard
3x Smash to Smithereens
2x Path to Exile
2x Searing Blood
2x Kor Firewalker
2x Rest in Peace
1x Relic of Progenitus
1x Risk Factor
1x Skullcrack
1x Grim Lavamancer
"Aiya lost to Kelvin Chew"
-caption added by request
Top 4 - Andrew Lakondegai Sim
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
Mono Red Phoenix
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Finale of Promise
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Forked Bolt, got rid of pesky blockers.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Facing the mirror match.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
Opponent used 4 Martyr of Sands to drag our game.
What is your favourite Modern Horizons card, and why?
Lava Dart, enables Phoenix and kills opponents out of nowhere.
Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis - ho jiak, or mai jiak?
HO!!!
Mono Red Phoenix - Main Deck
10x Mountain
4x Wooded Foothills
4x Bloodstained Mire
4x Soul-Scar Mage
4x Monastery Swiftspear
4x Arclight Phoenix
3x Gut Shot
3x Lava Dart
3x Forked Bolt
3x Lava Spike
2x Finale of Promise
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Manamorphose
4x Faithless Looting
4x Light Up the Stage
Sideboard
3x Abrade
3x Seasoned Pyromancer
2x Blood Moon
2x Kozilek's Return
2x Ravenous Trap
2x Noxious Revival
1x Force of Vigor
Top 8 - Joseph Tan Boon Kiat
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
Mono Red Phoenix
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Phoenix!!
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Lava Dart.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Getting the right amount of land!
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
Hojiak deck is overrated!
What is your favourite Modern Horizons card, and why?
Can-lands!
Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis - ho jiak, or mai jiak?
Mai jiak! For sure!
Mono Red Phoenix - Main Deck
15x Mountain
1x Sunbaked Canyon
1x Fiery Islet
4x Soul-Scar Mage
4x Monastery Swiftspear
4x Arclight Phoenix
2x Bedlam Reveler
3x Gut Shot
2x Lava Dart
2x Forked Bolt
4x Lava Spike
2x Finale of Promise
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Manamorphose
4x Faithless Looting
4x Light Up the Stage
Sideboard
4x Leyline of the Void
3x Abrade
2x Blood Moon
2x Eidolon of the Great revel
1x Grim Lavamancer
3x Dragon's Claw
Old photo reused
Top 8 - David Tan
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
Hogaak Bridgevine
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
HOGAAK!!!
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
HOGAAK!!!!!
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
NO HOGAAK!!!!!!!
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
Land, elf, untap, land, 3-drop, die.
What is your favourite Modern Horizons card, and why?
HOGAAK!!!!!!!!!
Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis - ho jiak, or mai jiak?
FKIN HO JIAK
Hogaak Bridgevine - Main Deck
4x Blackcleave Cliffs
4x Blood Crypt
4x Bloodstained Mire
1x Godless Shrine
1x Marsh Flats
4x Polluted Delta
1x Swamp
4x Bloodghast
4x Carrion Feeder
4x Gravecrawler
4x Insolent Neonate
4x Stitcher's Supplier
4x Vengevine
4x Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis
4x Faithless Looting
1x Necrotic Wound
4x Altar of Dementia
4x Bridge from Below
Sideboard
2x Ingot Chewer
4x Leyline of the Void
2x Necrotic Wound
1x Shenanigans
2x Thoughtseize
4x Wispmare
Top 8 - 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?
Thing in the Ice. Help clear all the Zombies.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Lava Dart. Helps clear stuff even when not enough mana.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Not drawing lands.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
The Mono White Martyrproc mirror. [Editor's Note: WHICH, by the way, gave GH their first ever unintentional 0-0 draw]
What is your favourite Modern Horizons card, and why?
Not Hogaak.
Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis - ho jiak, or mai jiak?
No.
UR Phoenix - Main Deck
4x Scalding Tarn
2x Flooded Strand
2x Steam Vents
1x Sulfur Falls
4x Spirebluff Canal
3x Snow-Covered Island
2x Snow-Covered Mountain
4x Arclight Phoenix
4x Thing in the Ice//Awoken Horror
1x Crackling Drake
4x Serum Visions
4x Sleight of Hand
4x Manamorphose
4x Thought Scour
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Faithless Looting
2x Lava Dart
2x Surgical Extraction
1x Magmatic Sinkhole
1x Finale of Promise
1x Echoing Truth
2x Pyromancer Ascension
Sideboard
1x Surgical Extraction
1x Ravenous Trap
1x Chandra, Torch of Defiance
2x Spell Pierce
1x Dispel
1x Anger of the Gods
1x Beacon Bolt
2x Abrade
2x Blood Moon
1x Saheeli, Sublime Artificer
2x Alpine Moon
Top 8 - Calvin Chen
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
Arclight Red
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
I want to say my Snow-Covered Mountains because I got to cast spells. Hardcast
Arclight Phoenix FTW.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Should be Lava Dart, hides in graveyard to sneak shot opponents, and counts as two
spells in a card, makes Young Pyro triggers too good.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Running only 18 lands does give a higher mulligan rate. My loss was to mull to 5 and mull to 6 against Jeskai.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
I took 12 damage from a Farseek, figure it out. [Editor's Note: A clue to that lies in the writeup.]
What is your favourite Modern Horizons card, and why?
Lightning Skelemental!!! It's my favourite colour combination of Rakdos. One hit and the opponent is so far back.
Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis - ho jiak, or mai jiak?
Never met.
Mono Red Phoenix - Main Deck
16x Snow-Covered Mountain
2x Prismatic Vista
4x Monastery Swiftspear
4x Young Pyromancer
4x Arclight Phoenix
2x Bedlam Reveler
4x Faithless Looting
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Lava Spike
4x Lava Dart
4x Gut Shot
4x Manamorphose
2x Light Up the Stage
2x Finale of Promise
Sideboard
3x Blood Moon
2x Grim Lavamancer
3x Abrade
2x Rending Volley
2x Dragon's Claw
3x Tormod's Crypt
