Howdy folks, it's Joe again and we're here with more sweet sweet Team Vintage Super League recap!
That's right folks, it's finally here. THE FINALS! One on side, we have the heavyweights of Team LSV (CFB) and on the other side we have the European team Snapcardster! WHO WILL WIN?! WILL LSV CRUSH ONCE MORE WITH OUTCOME? OR WILL THE PLUCKY SNAPCARDSTERS SAY "NO SIR, GOOD DAY!"
As always, you can find this week's decklists right over here.
As for the bans this week, CFB banned the Dredge deck, while Snapcardster axed Jeskai Control. Interestingly enough as pointed out by Randy Buehler on Twitter, they allowed LSV to have his Paradoxical Outcome deck that he's become so famous for winning with this season.
Finals Recap - Team CFB vs Snapcardster
You can watch the vod for this week here:
With LSV having to do pre-game commentary (meaning he can't play Round 1), we get things right underway with Sam Pardee (on Aggro Shops) vs Thomas Enevoldsen (on RUG Pyromancer)! Thomas kicks things off with a turn 1 Young Pyromancer with two Moxen to also make a Ponder to make an Elemental. Sam dumps Turn 1 Lodestone Golem off a Mishra's Workshop and Sol Ring. Thomas goes for Ancestral Recall off Merchant Scroll but due to the golem can't cast both. Sam casts Phyrexian Metamorph and copies his Lodestone Golem into a Steel Overseer, then Wasteland's Thomas's Volcanic Island. Sam draws his THIRD METAMORPH, making a THIRD Lodestone Golem. He swings in, while Thomas tries to block to kill one of the Golems. A tricky interaction with Arcbound Ravager pushes through the block and gives Sam the win.
Thomas starts off with a Ponder, having up Ancient Grudge in his hand. He draws Force of Will off the Ponder. Sam makes a Turn 1 Foundry Inspector off the Workshop, and then tries to make a second off Mana Crypt. Thomas counters it with Force of Will, untapping to Ancient Grudge the Inspector. Sam casts Chalice of the Void on 1, proceeding to Wasteland Thomas's Tropical Island. He follows up with another Wasteland, locking Thomas out of lands. He casts Arcbound Ravager and Walking Ballista as Thomas continues to draw no lands whatsoever. Thomas concedes to Sam Pardee!
Team CFB on the board at 1-0!
Michael Bonde jumps into the fray with Team Leovold! Sam Pardee kicks things off to try to push a Turn 1 Sol Ring which gets hit by Mental Misstep. Michael leads on Tropical Island, while Sam tries to Wasteland it, with Michael getting Ancestral Recall off. Sam casts Sphere of Resistance, which gets countered. Michael Wasteland's Sam's Ancient Tomb, but he rips a Mishra's Workshop off the top to stick a second Sphere of Resistance. Michael goes for a Green Sun's Zenith on 0, getting a Dryad Arbor. Sam casts Traxos, Scourge of Kroog after swinging with his Hangarback Walker and passes turn. Michael drops a Tarmogoyf while Sam is able to develop his board further, Strip Mine'ing his opponent's Underground Sea. Michael is able to GSZ for Deathrite Shaman before passing turn. Sam untaps and draws a Walking Ballista, being able to untap Traxos and swing in for the win.
Michael snap mulligans to 6, keeping a hand that lets him GSZ for Deathrite Shaman on Turn 1. Sam opens on Turn 1 Phyrexian Revoker off double Mox to hit the Deathrite. Michael passes the turn with Energy Flux in hand, getting Sam to commit a bunch more artifacts to the board for the Flux to be relevant. He dumps the Flux the following turn with another Deathrite. Sam untaps and finagles through the Flux triggers, keeping Steel Overseer and Phyrexian Revoker. He Strip Mine's the Underground Sea, passing back to Michael. Sam sacs the Overseer to the Energy Flux, pumping his Phyrexian Revoker to a 4/3. He swings in, with Michael drawing into Dismember to kill the Revoker during Sam's next turn. Sam elects to Wasteland Michael's Tropical Island, while Michael starts the Deathrite train. Sam is able to establish a Hangarback Walker but it gets knocked down to make two 1/1's by the Energy Flux. Michael gets a Tarmogoyf off a Green Sun's Zenith, passing turn for Sam to have to sacrifice his blockers, forcing the concession.
Sam resolves a Turn 1 Thorn of Amethyst into Arcbound Ravager to get Game 3 underway. Michael makes a Turn 1 Deathrite Shaman by chaining a few Moxen out under the Thorn. Sam swings in and pumps his Arcbound Ravager, while Michael just plays a land and passes. Sam swings in and Michael casts Nature's Claim, forcing Sam to move the counters to a Blinkmoth Nexus and then follow up with 1/1 Ballista. Michael untaps and casts Ancestral Recall into Oxidize on Ballista, Wasteland'ing the Blinkmoth with the counters. Michael is able to jam an Energy Flux after drawing after the Dark Confidant trigger. He gains more life with Deathrite, flipping an Abrupt Decay off the next Bob trigger. Sam tries to accelerate the race by swinging with a 1/1 flier to get some clock in, while Michael hard casts Dismember to kill it, stealing the match away!
Michael Bonde evens up the team series at 1-1!
And Josh Utter-Leyton FINALLY gets to play a match on White Eldrazi! On the play he tries for Turn 1 Eldrazi Temple into Mana Crypt, getting the Crypt Force of Will'ed. He follows up with a Mox Pearl into Thalia, Guardian of Thraben. Michael drops a Deathrite Shaman without a fetchland, while Josh makes double Eldrazi Displacer. Michael is able to drop Dark Confidant, while Josh continues to swing through with an enormous amount of pressure. Michael flips a Force of Will off of Bob, putting him to 1 and losing the game.
Michael mulls to 6 and plays a fetch, while Josh drops Turn 1 Thought-Knot Seer, taking the Dark Confidant. Michael plays the Dryad Arbor out, passing turn. Josh swings in and casts Phyrexian Revoker to name Jace, the Mind Sculptor. He then runs out a Palace Jailer, eating the Dryad Arbor and taking the Monarchy. Michael plays another fetch land and passes. Josh swings in, prompting Michael to flash in Snapcaster Mage to block, while Josh follows up with a Wasteland to cut Michael off Jace, prompting the concession.
Josh Utter-Leyton in his first match ever in full winning to bring CFB to 2-1!
Andreas Petersen takes the stage on Aggro Shops! He kicks things off on a Hangarback Walker on 2 counters, before playing Chalice of the Void on zero counters. Josh drops a Phyrexian Revoker naming Sol Ring while Andreas plays Arcbound Ravager. Both players sit in a stall, while Andreas draws a land to be able to start charging his Hangarback Walker. Michael plays a second Revoker naming Arcbound Ravager, prompting Andreas to pump/sac the Walker for four Thopters. He starts the train of beats in the air, dropping a Sphere of Resistance while continuing to put down flying pressure. He plays a second one as Josh just plays a Spirit of the Labyrinth and passes. Josh goes onto an attack plan, having to use Karakas on his own Thalia to survive combat while the Ravager dies, pumping a Thopter. Andreas keeps up the pressure, and Traxos, Scourge of Kroog comes down to seal Game 1.
Josh goes to 6 cards but has a Turn 1 Thought-Knot Seer, taking Precursor Golem. Andreas makes his own TKS with Phyrexian Metamorph. Josh goes to swing, prompting Andreas to not make the trade. He Wasteland's Andreas's Workshop, while Andreas plays out an Arcbound Ravager. Josh tries to Phyrexian Revoker prompting Andreas to sacrifice the Ravager to put a +1/+1 counter on the artifact-based TKS copy. He casts his own Phyrexian Revoker, naming Eldrazi Displacer, while Josh ends up drawing one on his next turn. Both players develop into a stall, with Andreas using Wasteland on an Eldrazi Temple. Josh grabs another Revoker, naming Walking Ballista. He drops a Containment Priest as a Grizzly Bear at the end of Andreas's next turn. Andreas draws and casts Precursor Golem making additional 3/3's. He comes in next turn swinging with two of the Golems, forcing Josh to block a Golem with TKS. Andreas uses Gut Shot to sac some artifacts to pump the Golem to kill the TKS. Josh draws a Wasteland using it to cut off Andreas's Workshop, forcing him to only have Ancient Tomb's. Andreas swings for the fences with both Golems, Foundry Inspector, and the Precursor Golem. Josh drops a Reality Smasher, choosing not to attack. Andreas swings with the team, taking the match and putting Snapcardster up to 2-2!
Matt Nass tags into the match on DREDGE! On the play he makes Bazaar of Baghdad passing turn. Andreas finds a Strip Mine, activating on his end step during Nass's first activation. Matt does some dredging, making a Narcomoeba and Prized Amalgam. He puts down the pressure, casting Dread Return to get back Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite, prompting an early concession to Game 2.
Andreas mulligans hard to three cards, while Matt Nass mulls to six with no Bazaar. He runs out Cabal Pit and City of Brass to cast Life from the Loam and get back a Bazaar to make a Hollow One. Andreas stumbles, not drawing any lands, while Matt is able to go off to the races in dredging, and is able to earn a concession from Andreas.
Team CFB up to 3-2!
Thomas Enevoldsen jumps into the fray with Humans! Matt makes a Turn 1 Bazaar of Baghdad and passes, while Thomas runs out two mana to project the Containment Priest in his hand. Matt activates his Bazaar on end step and upkeep and then dredges out Dakmor Salvage to force Thomas's hand on the Priest. Thomas makes a followup Thalia, Guardian of Thraben. Matt sets up to be able to Darkblast Thalia and the Priest, while Thomas runs out Phyrexian Revoker. Matt just draws and passes turn. Thomas draws into Meddling Mage, forcing Matt's hand to Darkblast Thalia, prompting a Mental Misstep war. Meddling Mage names Life from the Loam, giving Matt the turn to dredge back Darkblast a bunch in order to kill the Containment Priest. A second Meddling Mage comes down naming Dread Return. Matt dredges Stinkweed Imp and swings in with some dudes, hard casting a Stinkweed Imp in the followup main phase. Thomas casts Chalice of the Void on 2, but his threats just aren't enough to keep up with Matt's sheer pressure, earning the concession from Thomas.
Thomas starts off with Turn 1 Grafdigger's Cage, while Matt starts with Bazaar of Baghdad. Thomas takes it down with Wasteland, and Matt is able to reshape his hand a little, however Thomas draws a Strip Mine and casts Kitesail Freebooter, taking Darkblast. This allows Matt to cast Life from the Loam to get back the Bazaar of Baghdad. Thomas casts Meddling Mage naming Hollow One to cut Matt off from getting one into play. Matt starts just drawing off the top, making double Stinkweed Imp across the two turns to shut down Thomas's attacks. Thomas drops another Meddling Mage naming Life from the Loam, and hitting the Bazaar with a Wasteland. Thomas swings in, forcing Matt to block with the Imps, killing Containment Priest and the Meddling Mage naming Loam, making two Zombies. Thomas draws another Freebooter, being able to bait the removal from Matt's Cabal Pit. Thomas swings in for the fences, forcing Matt to block both creatures and use Cabal Pit to kill the Freebooter to free up the Darkblast. It's just not enough and Matt concedes to go to Game 3.
Matt goes on a Turn 1 Bazaar of Baghdad and starts dredging for the fences while Thomas has no chance against the double Bazaar hand even with a Turn 1 Wasteland. Matt goes to the races and Thomas's hand is just too slow to keep up with the sheer amount of dredge pressure and he takes it down!
Matt Nass and Dredge taking it down to 4-3 for Team CFB to WIN THE VINTAGE SUPER LEAGUE FINALS!
Notable Decklists - Team CFB
Team CFB certainly did a great job for this finals, bringing some strong decks and some strong play. Let's take a look at their best two lists:
Matt Nass's Dredge | Team Vintage Super League
4 Bloodghast
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
1 Ashen Rider
4 Golgari Grave-Troll
4 Prized Amalgam
4 Narcomoeba
4 Stinkweed Imp
2 Dread Return
4 Cabal Therapy
2 Life from the Loam
2 Darkblast
4 Force of Will
4 Mental Misstep
4 Serum Powder
4 Bridge from Below
1 Strip Mine
4 Bazaar of Baghdad
2 Cabal Pit
2 Riftstone Portal
2 Dakmor Salvage
1 Mana Confluence
3 Mana Confluence
4 Hollow One
2 City of Brass
4 Nature's Claim
2 Ancient Grudge
Be still my beating heart, Dredge! Dredge taking down the VSL is insane! Not just insane, but awesome to see tech such as Cabal Pit and Riftstone Portal being hyper effective against cards like Containment Priest and the like. Beautiful games all around by Matt Nass.
Josh Utter-Leyton's White Eldrazi | Team Vintage Super League
3 Containment Priest
4 Eldrazi Displacer
1 Lodestone Golem
4 Phyrexian Revoker
2 Reality Smasher
3 Spirit of the Labyrinth
4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
1 Thalia, Heretic Cathar
4 Thought-Knot Seer
2 Null Rod
1 Black Lotus
1 Chalice of the Void
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Sol Ring
1 Thorn of Amethyst
4 Ancient Tomb
4 Cavern of Souls
4 Eldrazi Temple
1 Horizon Canopy
1 Karakas
4 Plains
1 Strip Mine
1 Unclaimed Territory
4 Wasteland
1 Containment Priest
1 Mental Misstep
2 Palace Jailer
1 Fragmentize
2 Serenity
1 Stony Silence
2 Swords to Plowshares
1 Umezawa's Jitte
4 Leyline of the Void
This deck was POWERFUL. It showed a ton of strong and effective opening plays, and the sideboard plan of having Palace Jailer was simply absurd to watch.
Notable Decklists - Snapcardster
Likewise, Snapcardster also brought their A game to this finals match, and their decklists certainly show.
Michael Bonde's Team Leovold | Team Vintage Super League
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
3 Deathrite Shaman
3 Dark Confidant
2 Leovold, Emissary of Trest
1 Snapcaster Mage
1 Dryad Arbor
1 Ramunap Excavator
1 Tarmogoyf
1 Time Walk
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Thoughtseize
1 Preordain
2 Green Sun's Zenith
2 Spell Pierce
4 Force of Will
4 Mental Misstep
3 Abrupt Decay
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
1 Demonic Consultation
1 Mindbreak Trap
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Emerald
1 Black Lotus
1 Null Rod
4 Wasteland
2 Underground Sea
3 Verdant Catacombs
3 Tropical Island
1 Bayou
3 Misty Rainforest
1 Strip Mine
1 Library of Alexandria
4 Leyline of the Void
3 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Dismember
2 Oxidize
1 Flusterstorm
2 Energy Flux
1 Nature's Claim
Not only is Leovold, Emissary of Trest an absurdly good card still in this format, but so is Deathrite Shaman. This was a fun list to see when it worked well.
Thomas Enevoldsen's 5C Humans | Team Vintage Super League
4 Dark Confidant
2 Kambal, Consul of Allocation
4 Noble Hierarch
4 Phyrexian Revoker
2 Scab-Clan Berserker
4 Meddling Mage
4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
1 Thalia, Heretic Cathar
4 Kitesail Freebooter
1 Containment Priest
4 Mental Misstep
1 Black Lotus
1 Chalice of the Void
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Thorn of Amethyst
1 Null Rod
4 Cavern of Souls
4 Mana Confluence
1 Strip Mine
4 Unclaimed Territory
4 Wasteland
3 Containment Priest
4 Grafdigger's Cage
3 Kataki, War's Wage
3 Vithian Renegades
2 Mindbreak Trap
HUMANS! Humans is an awesome deck, with Modern powerhouses like Meddling Mage and Thalia, Guardian of Thraben making appearances next to Vintage playables like Scab-Clan Berserker. It was awesome to see this deck show up.
Post VSL Thoughts
Well, there we have it. The finals of Team Vintage Super League. I have to admit it's been one heck of a ride. From the absurdity of watching Channel Lich's Mirror, to steadily keeping up with Team Cardsphere's near-rise to the top, this season has been brilliant on every level. Kudos to Randy Buehler and Athena Froehlich for continuing to develop and build this series out as well as keeping Vintage Magic alive and well.
Personally, I had a lot of fun covering this series, and am thankful as always to CS for giving me the opportunity to do so. Not only that, during this time that VSL has been on, I was gifted the sheer opportunity of meeting several of the VSL personalities from So Many Insane Plays and The Academy at SCG Con in Roanoke, VA. This merely bolstered my hype and my love of this brilliant, beautiful format.
Wrapping Up
And that's all the time we have folks! We're wrapping up and this is the final article on Team Vintage Super League for this season!
Before we go, I would love to put a plug out there for the Untap Open League. They're an organization working with Andy Probasco (Otherwise known as The Brass Man, head of The Mana Drain, the best place for Vintage strategy and community) to develop an ongoing Swiss league on Untap.in.
You can read about their League system here. Check them out!
So that's that! What was your favorite part of Team Vintage Super League? Sound off and let me know what you thought about these articles as well the VSL, and as always you can hit me up Twitter or Discord if you want to talk about Vintage stuff! I'm always open!
And remember... UNTIL NEXT TIME MAY ALL YOUR MAGIC BE ETERNAL!!!!
