Standard Constructed Results - 2/20/2011

[justinhering]

New players showed up today to test their skills at the weekly Sunday Standard Tournament at Fantasy Games & Hobbies. In total, we saw ten players register and play for this week's top winner.

The players and decks were as follows:

Josh - Grean Beatz
Kevin - CawGo!
Anja - Genesis Elves
Sal - Eldrazi Ramp
Billy - Mono Black Control
Joe - U/B Control
Stephen - Kuldtotha Red
Manny - Steel Engine
Justin - B/R Vampires
Aaren - Boros Knights

In third, frequent top-placer, Anja, with her Genesis Elf deck. For those that know the deck, it plays every good elf card in standard and gets there. Congratulations, Anja, on another top-3 finish.

In second, Manny, with his Steel Engine deck. The deck is mono-blue aggro (yes, you read that correctly) and features Grand Architect and a myriad of artifact bombs, like Wurmcoil Engine, Molten-Tail Masticore, Mindslaver and Contagion Engine. The deck is solid and an interesting build and concept.

In first, yours truly again, with B/R Vampires. In my personal quest to obliterate control decks, I faced three straight aggro decks...Boros Knights (2-0), Genesis Elves (2-1) and Steel Engine (2-0). The build was tweaked slightly mainboarding some Besieged tech (Go For the Throat) as well as two copies of Captivating Vampire. The Captivating Vampire actually won one game versus elves, seizing control of Khalni Hydra for the win. In the last three tournaments this deck has played, it finished 1st, 3rd and 1st respectively.

So what is the best deck in standard right now? Its an ongoing debate in the store. I think the current standard metagame features several decks that are the real deal. CawGo! is a pro-favorite, but budget players can build viable decks in this format and compete.

Personally, I'd love to see more players and more decks at the Sunday Standard Tournament. The competition is good and the spirit of the day is light and full of camaraderie.

Until next week...adios.

[chulak]

Thanks again justin for posting these every week.

I'd also like to say thank you for agreeing with me on that players can build viable budget decks in standard and be competetive. I don't like hearing when people think standard is all money. Yes, deckbuilding can be frustrating but thats part of the beginning experience and I give credit to people who build new things every week

[aaren]

ya justin I really appreciate the posts each week also, it helps me prepare new decks for the following week I'll come up with something special next week and i bet it'll do fairly well

[justinhering]

Appreciate the kind words, guys. I agree (and I used to be one of the 'Jace Haters'). Viable decks can be constructed with limited resources. In addition, people in the store are very accommodating. I always hear more than one person offer to lend expensive cards for decks that need some missing parts. Its part of the social element of the game.

Lastly, I think the deck is less important than the player. I made the comment last Sunday that I couldn't win a match against a casual deck with my Vampires when first playing the deck. It takes time, patience, and PRACTICE to get better with a deck. Your deck may be superior (or cost more money), but if I play mine better and more consistently, I will win almost every time.

In short, I'm a fan of standard again.

[deo]

What time is standard usually on sundays?

[chulak]

its at 2 on sundays

[deo]

thanks