Games Haven Monthly $1K Series 2020
12th Jan 2020
Games Haven Paya Lebar
Astute observers will notice that when a new set is about to be released, we usually run Standard for the month's 1K Series event, after the set has released. But this time, with the Chinese New Year weighing on the calendar, we let Fortune God have his rightful place in the priority order and started the Western New Year off with Pioneer instead. 39 fellow devotees of Fortune God joined us in the store on Sunday for the event.
The concept as well as rough core of the deck is not a new addition to the metagame, but it took a ban of Leyline of Abundance and everyone's favourite boogeyman Oko for us to finally get here. Up and coming for the past 1.5 months has been Mono Green Ramp, a deck mostly ported over from Oath of the Gatewatch Standard with some Pioneer cardpool additions. Not to be confused with Devotion Ramp that uses Nykthos, this deck just aims to ramp the traditional style, as we have been doing for the past 26 years. When you land World Breakers on Turn 4, someone's world is definitely going to break. Also, with Oko no longer present to completely neuter World Elkers and Ulamog, the Ceaseless Elk, the coast is clear for the deck to do big flashy plays. It's no Modern Tron, but expect to see much more ramp decks in the near future, as its sheer power and inevitability given by Ulamog is something immediately obvious.
Oko's ban and Ramp's gradual surge in representation in the metagame is something that has affected the distribution of decks at a deeper level. Aggressive decks no longer need to worry about a constant stream of Food tokens, so they have returned with a vengeance, and with greater speed to boot. Aiming to shut down ramp decks before they draw and land threats, decks like Mono-Red Aggro, Gruul Beats and UR Ensoul Artifact are prioritizing damage and speed in their builds. In other news, Brazen Borrower is enjoying an uptick of play in UR Phoenix decks as well, if only to temporarily remove blockers with reach so they can push damage through. It seems like a bad tradeoff since there are so many cast triggers in the ramp deck, but to use the classic Singaporean phrase - sometimes bobian.
Speaking of reach, a deck with a significant drop in power level is UW Spirits. Previously already at a dubious spot because of the lack of Drogskol Captain, the significant number of creatures with reach in the Ramp deck might consign the deck to oblivion for now. Between the reach creatures and Spell Queller losing its effectiveness because of its own slow clock and the ramp deck having high cmc spells, it might be safer to save the deck for the day when midrange needs a beating instead. UW Control is also slightly disfavoured against Ramp, as the deck has an inbuilt threat recurrence package, strong effects on cast triggers, and Ulamog is indestructible. It's not all doom and gloom as it is with Spirits though, as the matchup is salvageable with some tweaking, mostly involving exile effects.
At this point it sounds like all our decks on Sunday were Ramp, but rest assured that there was plenty of diversity to go around. We had many players playing their pet decks, the only sign that they were concerned about metagaming at all being their sideboard choices and to a lesser extent, funky maindeck one-ofs. We had Abzan Midrange, BR Beatdown, Mono-Black Devotion (we seriously need more of these), Grixis Control, God-Pharaoh's Gift, and Mono-Green Not-Ramp. It is at this point where we turn to the one and only Sun Tzu for a relevant quote - "If you know thy enemy, and know thyself, then you need not fear the result of a hundred battles." Bet you never thought you'd see that line here.
Despite Ramp looking like the de facto Level 0 deck, we had a winner in an old classic. Leong Jiacheng, affectionately known by his nickname from his dark past Bakaboii, dismantled the competition with Arclight Phoenixes, Young Pyromancers and a sprinkling of Petty Theft (the card not the... you know)! Many congratulations to him as well as the rest of our Top 8!
Top 8 Decklists
1st Place - Leong Jiacheng
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
UR Phoenix
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Young Pyromancer, makes too many tokens.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Negate, very clear cut.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Too many 1-lander "bait hands".
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
1 Finale of Promise for X=0 just to make a Young Pyromancer token.
Theros spoilers are finished! What card from Theros: Beyond Death do you think can impact Pioneer, and why?
No comment because no new toys for Phoenix.
Heliod is being ganked by the other gods for his misdeeds in Theros 1! Whose side are you on?
None, I want more UR toys.
Izzet Phoenix - Main Deck
2x Fabled Passage
4x Steam Vents
3x Sulfur Falls
4x Spirebluff Canal
4x Island
3x Mountain
4x Arclight Phoenix
4x Young Pyromancer
2x Brazen Borrower//Petty Theft
1x Crackling Drake
4x Opt
4x Wild Slash
4x Lightning Axe
4x Izzet Charm
4x Chart a Course
4x Strategic Planning
1x Finale of Promise
4x Treasure Cruise
Sideboard
2x Magma Spray
2x Fry
2x Mizzium Mortars
3x Negate
2x Mystical Dispute
1x Narset, Parter of Veils
2x Saheeli, Sublime Artificer
1x Chandra, Torch of Defiance
2nd Place - Ong Shu Liang Taxi Beng
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
UG God-Pharaoh's Gift
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Zetalpa, Primal Dawn because it is too hard to deal with.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Agent of Treachery. At Games 2 & 3 in Round 4 it stole my opponent's creatures which
almost had me at lethal.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Not easy to pilot this deck when you don't have God-Pharaoh's Gift on the battlefield.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
Unfortunately not, although there were some questionable plays in R4 G3 against Chye Hwee, not sure if those moves were played correctly or not.
Theros spoilers are finished! What card from Theros: Beyond Death do you think can impact Pioneer, and why?
Haven't decided.
Heliod is being ganked by the other gods for his misdeeds in Theros 1! Whose side are you on?
I don't know any god, I don't pray to Satan either. I don't listen to heavy metal music and I don't use goats for rituals.
Simic God-Pharaoh's Gift - Main Deck
4x Aether Hub
4x Botanical Sanctum
4x Ipnu Rivulet
3x Forest
2x Breeding Pool
2x Yavimaya Coast
1x Geier Reach Sanitarium
1x Hashep Oasis
1x Island
4x Walking Ballista
4x Minister of Inquiries
4x Satyr Wayfinder
4x Champion of Wits
3x Emry, Lurker of the Loch
3x Verdurous Gearhulk
2x Elvish Mystic
2x Llanowar Elves
2x Glint-Nest Crane
2x Zetalpa, Primal Dawn
1x Agent of Treachery
1x Resolute Archangel
4x Gate to the Afterlife
2x God-Pharaoh's Gift
Sideboard
1x Padeem, Consul of Innovation
1x Pithing Needle
1x Scavenging Ooze
2x Agent of Treachery
2x Damping Sphere
2x Knight of Autumn
2x Plaguecrafter
2x Reclamation Sage
2x Tormod's Crypt
Top 4 - Faizal Rosmaruddin
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
RB Midrange
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Glorybringer. Lives up to its name.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Rekindling Felix [sic]. Resilient threat.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Combating graveyard decks. I had no GY hate.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
Surprised to see Taxi beng playing again.
Theros spoilers are finished! What card from Theros: Beyond Death do you think can impact Pioneer, and why?
Don't remember the spoilers.
Heliod is being ganked by the other gods for his misdeeds in Theros 1! Whose side are you on?
Gogo Elspeth!
Rakdos Midrange – Main Deck
4x Canyon Slough
9x Mountain
4x Dragonskull Summit
4x Blood Crypt
4x Ramunap Ruins
4x Soul-Scar Mage
4x Scrapheap Scrounger
4x Goblin Chainwhirler
4x Bonecrusher Giant//Stomp
4x Rekindling Phoenix
4x Glorybringer
4x Wild Slash
2x Lightning Strike
2x Dreadbore
2x Chandra, Torch of Defiance
1x Heart of Kiran
Sideboard
2x Abrade
3x Damping Sphere
2x Duress
2x Mizzium Mortars
1x Noxious Grasp
4x Thoughtseize
1x Chandra, Awakened Inferno
Top 4 - Daston Lam
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
Izzet Ensoul
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Ensoul Artifact, because 5/5 scissors.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Shrapnel Blast for lethal everytime.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Having my Ensoul-ed artifact nuked early.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
Nope.
Theros spoilers are finished! What card from Theros: Beyond Death do you think can impact Pioneer, and why?
Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath. Gain 3 life, draw a card and ramp...... 6/6 body. BROKEN!
Heliod is being ganked by the other gods for his misdeeds in Theros 1! Whose side are you on?
I am on any side who reads my MTG articles at Playy.World. I write Legacy, Pioneer and Modern deck techs as well as tournament reports. Any feedback is welcome.
Izzet Ensoul Artifact - Main Deck
4x Shivan Reef
4x Spirebluff Canal
4x Darksteel Citadel
3x Steam Vents
3x Spire of Industry
2x Mutavault
1x Island
4x Skilled Animator
4x Gingerbrute
4x Bomat Courier
4x Stonecoil Serpent
2x Ornithopter
2x Hope of Ghirapur
4x Shrapnel Blast
2x Metallic Rebuke
2x Wild Slash
1x Stubborn Denial
4x Ensoul Artifact
4x Ghostfire Blade
2x The Royal Scions
Sideboard
1x Dive Down
1x Grafdigger's Cage
1x Tormod's Crypt
1x Abrade
1x Rending Volley
2x Roast
2x Scrabbling Claws
2x Stubborn Denial
2x Karn, Scion of Urza
2x Aethersphere Harvester
Top 8 - Maxwell Li
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
Abzan
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Heart of Kiran. Good body, flying, dodges sweepers.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Warden of the First Tree. Good in breaking symmetry, can become very big if it goes
unchecked. Never a bad time to draw him, good at all stages of the game.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Mana issues, colours might not come right. You'll lose if you draw 4x Overgrown Tomb.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
N/A
Theros spoilers are finished! What card from Theros: Beyond Death do you think can impact Pioneer, and why?
Heliod, Sun-Crowned. Combos with Walking Ballista. Even if Ballista is banned, may be able to single-handedly support a lifegain oriented archetype.
Heliod is being ganked by the other gods for his misdeeds in Theros 1! Whose side are you on?
Heliod. He gives lifelink, how bad can he be?
Abzan Midrange - Main Deck
1x Blooming Marsh
2x Concealed Courtyard
4x Temple Garden
4x Spire of Industry
4x Godless Shrine
4x Overgrown Tomb
3x Fortified Village
3x Stonecoil Serpent
4x Toolcraft Exemplar
4x Warden of the First Tree
4x Scrapheap Scrounger
2x Lambholt Pacifist//Lambholt Butcher
4x Lovestruck Beast//Heart's Desire
2x Anafenza, the Foremost
2x Siege Rhino
2x Abrupt Decay
2x Abzan Charm
3x Glass Casket
4x Heart of Kiran
2x Gideon Blackblade
Sideboard
2x Knight of Autumn
2x Hushbringer
2x Noxious Grasp
2x Thalia, Heretic Cathar
2x Despark
2x Fatal Push
2x Damping Sphere
1x Kaya, Orzhov Usurper
Top 8 - Lim Jay Vin
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
Mono Green Devotion
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
The Great Henge - Nothing beats lifegain and card draw combination.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
The Great Henge with Growth-Chamber Guardian synergy - saved my neck and won me
the game a few times today.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Flooding.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
Facing off against 5 red creatures, the Great Henge and Growth-Chamber Guardian built me a formidable wall and drew into Ghalta for a turnaround win.
Theros spoilers are finished! What card from Theros: Beyond Death do you think can impact Pioneer, and why?
Heliod. Who doesn't know the 2-card combo with Walking Ballista by now?
Heliod is being ganked by the other gods for his misdeeds in Theros 1! Whose side are you on?
Heliod - have developed a love for lifegain and +1/+1 counters after playing my deck.
Mono-Green Devotion - Main Deck
15x Forest
1x Castle Garenbrig
2x Hashep Oasis
3x Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
4x Llanowar Elves
4x Elvish Mystic
4x Burning-Tree Emissary
4x Growth-Chamber Guardian
4x Lovestruck Beast//Heart's Desire
2x Rhonas the Indomitable
2x Surrak, the Hunt Caller
4x Steel Leaf Champion
1x Yorvo, Lord of Garenbrig
3x Ghalta, Primal Hunger
3x Aspect of Hydra
4x The Great Henge
Sideboard
2x Roar of Challenge
2x Blossoming Defense
2x Heroic Intervention
2x Shifting Ceratops
2x Reclamation Sage
2x Prey Upon
2x Tormod's Crypt
1x Scavenging Ooze
Top 8 - Heng Chye Hwee
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Darksteel Citadel. Because it is part one of the combo.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Stonecoil Serpent. Because it has reach. And trample. And protection from multicoloured.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Losing the dice roll.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
Almost suiciding my Gingerbrute into a Monastery Swiftspear. [Editor's Note: Monastery Swiftspear has haste and can thus block Gingerbrute.]
Theros spoilers are finished! What card from Theros: Beyond Death do you think can impact Pioneer, and why?
Heliod.
Heliod is being ganked by the other gods for his misdeeds in Theros 1! Whose side are you on?
Why did you spoil me? I haven't watched it yet.
Izzet Ensoul Artifact - Main Deck
4x Darksteel Citadel
1x Island
1x Mountain
2x Mutavault
4x Shivan reef
3x Spire of Industry
4x Spirebluff Canal
2x Steam Vents
4x Bomat Courier
2x Emry, Lurker of the Loch
4x Gingerbrute
2x Hope of Ghirapur
4x Skilled Animator
4x Stonecoil Serpent
1x Metallic Rebuke
4x Shrapnel Blast
2x Stubborn Denial
2x Wild Slash
4x Ghostfire Blade
4x Ensoul Artifact
2x The Royal Scions
Sideboard
2x Karn, Scion of Urza
1x Damping Sphere
2x Aethersphere Harvester
2x Hangarback Walker
2x Aether Gust
2x Roast
2x Tormod's Crypt
1x Metallic Rebuke
1x Dive Down
Top 8 - Alex Keng
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
Esper Doom
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Doom Foretold, it's the namesake card. It poses so much dilemma for the opponent.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Trial of Ambition. It can be recurred with Starfield of Nyx and Teferi, Time Raveler.
Most of my matchups made it relevant to target the opponent over the creature too.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Land base is the issue, lost a crucial game due to having 3 ETB tapped lands.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
Sided in Blightbeetle against Mono-Green in the hopes to chump block all day with its protection from green, but surprisingly it turned out to be really good against Growth-Chamber Guardian as well!
Theros spoilers are finished! What card from Theros: Beyond Death do you think can impact Pioneer, and why?
Many strong enchantments and/or creatures that enable synergies with the graveyard (i.e. the Elder Giants) that will potentially make Dredgeless Dredge stronger than it is now.
Heliod is being ganked by the other gods for his misdeeds in Theros 1! Whose side are you on?
Heliod lor.
Esper Doom Foretold - Main Deck
1x Castle Locthwain
2x Drowned Catacomb
2x Fabled Passage
3x Glacial Fortress
3x Godless Shrine
3x Hallowed Fountain
1x Island
1x Plains
2x Swamp
2x Temple of Silence
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
3x Watery Grave
1x Obzedat, Ghost Council
2x Dance of the Manse
2x Fatal Push
3x Supreme Verdict
2x Thoughtseize
2x Cast Out
1x Demonic Pact
4x Doom Foretold
4x Oath of Kaya
1x Starfield of Nyx
2x Trial of Ambition
4x Golden Egg
2x Prophetic Prism
2x Narset, Parter of Veils
4x Teferi, Time Raveler
Sideboard
2x Aether Gust
1x Blightbeetle
2x Dovin's Veto
2x Duress
1x Fall of the Thran
3x Infernal Reckoning
1x Kaya, Orzhov Usurper
2x Noxious Grasp
1x Pithing Needle
