Living the Monastery Siege

Patrick is still in Belgium, gearing up to play in this weekend’s upcoming Pro Tour Dragons of Tarkir. He describes the experience as a kind of Monastery Siege.

Monastery SIege
Monastery Siege doesn’t really have much to do with this episode of Top Level Podcast.

Instead, our intrepid hosts Patrick Chapin and Michael J Flores discuss Patrick’s current playtest situation with his team The Pantheon, and twenty-odd years of high level tournament preparation skills, techniques, tactics, and technology generally. Including…

Which pros love to Stoke the Flames?
How to attack different formats, old and new
What are the good cards?
How are [other] people going to build decks based on the availability of good (new) cards?
Single v. multi-format events
Efficiently using limited playtest time
The Pantheon’s attitude towards sideboarding and playtesting with sideboards
The story of Mike Clair and seven Goblins decks
Assembling a gauntlet for established formats
Mike’s formula for extremes in metagaming
“We just play the best cards? Is that really a thing?”
Ben Rubin: master of taking from his environment
Why if two decks have a similar end game, the faster deck is favored
The concept of “bigger” v. “bigger end game”
Worlds 2005 and why Mori’s deck is one of Patrick’s all-time favorites for teaching deck building
Exploiting weaknesses in the metagame
Preparing for “middle ground” new formats that do not include a rotation
How card draw scales
Thought experiments around card draw versus expensive cards
How to expand your range as a player
Why every list Pantheon members post is expected to have a sideboard

… And more!

All in “Living the Monastery Siege”

Direct Download

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Speed, Nowhere, and Ojutai Exemplars

Ojutai Exemplars
Patrick’s short spiel on Ojutai’s Exemplars last week… Convinced Mike to buy a set!

How do you make a deck that is already the fastest deck in the format a half-turn faster?

Find out in “Speed, Nowhere, and Ojutai Exemplars”!

The importance of looking at formats from different angles?

“Speed, Nowhere, and Ojutai Exemplars” has got you covered!

Nostalgia? The history of Luis Scott-Vargas-winning tournaments?

… “Speed, Nowhere, and Ojutai Exemplars” I tell you!

[2009 World Champion] Andre Coimbra not believing some ridiculous turn-1 claim Mike makes?

“SPEED, NOWHERE, AND OJUTAI EXEMPLARS”

“We have math for this, man.”
-Patrick Chapin

From New York City!

From the middle of nowhere, Belgium!

Mike Flores and Patrick Chapin bring you the epic twentieth episode of Top Level Podcast… “Speed, Nowhere, and Ojutai Exemplars”

What’s it like for two of the ten best deck builders of all time* to upload five years of deck building into your head in five minutes (or five months)?

“Speed, Nowhere, and Ojutai Exemplars” (obv)

In addition to spending much of this podcast on the paradigm-shifting power of Ojutai Exemplars, Patrick and Mike talk about Secure the Wastes and some updates / revisions to Sidisi, Undead Vizier.

Secure the Wastes
“Secure the Wastes for zero” will be a surprisingly effective Ojutai Exemplars-saving play.

Sidisi, Undead Vizier
Make sure you know how to respond to the multiple triggers on Sidisi, Undead Vizier; also…

“The Pantheon rules the streets.”
-“Poet Laureate” Owen Turtenwald

All this and more in: “Speed, Nowhere, and Ojutai Exemplars”

Direct Download

* not Michael and / or Patrick BTW… But if you want to read about the Ten Best Deck Builders of All Time, check out Patrick’s book Next Level Deckbuilding

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Sidisi, Undead Vizier + the Best of B&W

Sidisi, Undead Vizier
Sidisi, Undead Vizier is one of the best black cards in Dragons of Tarkir.

Patrick and Michael go over the ins and outs of Sidisi, Undead Vizier and the Exploit mechanic in general. Sultai Emissary is going to have lots and lots of reasons to raise in value.

Damnable Pact
Damnable Pact, aka “DrainGeyser” is a flexible staple-to-be.

Damnable Pact is equally valuable pointed at you or your opponent (depending on the context of a game). Remember: When you point it at yourself, you’re probably not in a lot of danger, and / or you have a bit of cushion in the life points column.

shambling-goblin
It might look little, but Shambling Goblin is standing by to become a strapping shield.

Blood-Chin Fanatic

Blood-Chin Fanatic is a potential paradigm-changer for the Warriors linear. Patrick calls MichaelJ a genius for his take on Blood Chin Fanatic… But he also calls him a “Gnarled Mass afficionado” (which he is, let’s be honest).

Blood-Chin Rager
Blood-Chin Rager ain’t no slouch itself!

A 2/2 for two mana, Blood-Chin Rager will not be the most exciting Warrior in terms of power-to-casting cost ratio… But it will do good work for Team Warriors. Remember: Cowards Can’t Block Warriors; and with Blood-Chin Rager in the mix, everyone else is going to have a hard time, too.

Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit
Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit is much more than a 2/2 for two itself! Patrick makes quite the case for this card in “Sidisi, Undead Vizier + the Best of B&W”.

Arashin Foremost
Arashin Foremost is a creature packed with potential. Find out why this creature might be even more powerful than the once dominant Silverblade Paladin.

All in all Patrick Chapin and Michael J Flores blow out the best of black and white cards from Dragons of Tarkir. Give it all a listen, starting with Sidisi, Undead Vizier…

Direct Download

Want to hear more from these guys?

Patrick’s Magic: The Gathering Books

Michael’s Magic: The Gathering Books

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Deathmist Raptor & Devotion to Dragons of Tarkir


Deathmist Raptor
Deathmist Raptor is one of the best cards in the set… And might be THE best card in the set.

Mike tries really hard to get Patrick to not like Deathmist Raptor… But is not successful.

Deathmist Raptor is pretty good (not great) on rate… But it does so many other things that you will consistently make a profit on it.

Deathmist Raptor has two green mana symbols to contribute to the “Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx” cause (and obviously works well with preexisting Devotion threats Mastery of the Unseen and Whisperwood Elemental)… Which puts the boys on the “Devotion to…” theme.

Dragons of Tarkir in many ways ushers in a new age of Devotion decks. There are many tools to set up such decks across the various colors.


Ainok Survivalist
Ainok Survivalist will save many Deathmist Raptors, and even help out against a Banishing Light that MIGHT get him.

“This guy is nice.”
-Patrick

“I am terrified of any Hound at 1G.”
-Mike


Shorecrasher Elemental
With UUU in the upper-right, Shorecrasher Elemental seems tailor-made for a return to Mono-Blue Devotion.

“I can’t even conceive of the world where this guy’s playtest name was NOT ‘MegaMorphling.'”
-Patrick

“Patrick Chapin breaks the Internet.”
-Mike

As it is an Elemental, Shorecrasher Elemental was engineered to be “the chosen one” according to Patrick… Note the Master of Waves synergy.


Stratus Dancer
Stratus Dancer is just a great card, whether you play it in a Devotion to Blue deck or not.

The presence of so many effective blue Megamorph cards gives Mono-Blue Devotion a lot of play, tactical implications, and a profound ability to bluff. Unlike previous versions of Mono-Blue Devotion, the post-Dragons of Tarkir Mono-Blue Devotion deck will have great resilience versus removal.

Encase in Ice
Encase in Ice

Mirror Mockery
Mirror Mockery


Enchantments like Encase in Ice and Mirror Mockery give Mono-Blue Devotion more ways to build Devotion to Blue outside of committing to additional creatures. Playing Mirror Mockery on your own Master of Waves does too many good things (including double pumps during combat), plus, Mirror Mockery + Bident of Thassa is going to be just filthy.

Dragon Whisperer
Dragon Whisperer is the flagship that pulls together Red Devotion in the upcoming Standard.

All of this plus way more Dragons of Tarkir discussion!

All in:

“Deathmist Raptor & Devotion to Dragons of Tarkir”

Direct Download

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Anticipate a Control Revolution

Anticipate
Anticipate from Dragons of Tarkir might only be three-fourths of an Impulse… But man is it hot anyway.

Because there is currently a shortage of great two mana plays for control, Anticipate is poised to be great. You can leave your mana open for a Bile Blight, Disdainful Stroke, Negate, or what have you… But if the opponent doesn’t force you to pull the trigger, Anticipate gives you something meaningful to do with your two open mana.

Patrick Chapin and Michael J Flores go over Anticipate and a host of other “control” cards from the upcoming Magic: The Gathering set, Dragons of Tarkir!

Encase in Ice
Encase in Ice

Surge of Righteousness
Surge of Righteousness

Encase in Ice and Surge of Righteousness are new two mana plays that can help change the pace of threat-and-answer fights in Standard. Three mana will no longer be a fundamental underpinning of Standard.

Ditto on even more flexible removal like Radiant Purge or the returning Ultimate Price.

… And of course, if you aren’t forced to spend your mana, you can always Anticipate!

Self-Inflicted Wound
Self-Inflicted Wound

The two points of life loss tacked onto Self-Inflicted Wound can be surprisingly helpful for control decks set up too deal 18 (rather than 20) damage.

Michael thinks Ojutai’s Command might be a four-of! (Patrick warms up to Ojutai’s Command, at least a little bit.)

… Though Narset Transcendent gives Ojutai’s Command at the four.

Dragonlord Ojutai
Dragonlord Ojutai

Patrick conducts a master class in how to play with Dragonlord Ojutai, and why you might want to play more instants than sorceries… Even if Dragonlord Ojutai seems like it wants you to play tap-out control.

The key to Dragonlord Ojutai is the second time it hits you. Remember: the first turn you play Dragonlord Ojutai, it is very hard to hit. Every time Dragonlord Ojutai hits you… It’s like you get to Anticipate.

Narset Transcendent
Narset Transcendent

Patrick would guess that the emblem is an important part of value on Narset Transcendent.

Mike thinks it is all about that super high starting loyalty. “Sometimes it’s a Jayemdae Tome.”

Will Narset prove a factor in Modern?

In case you missed it… Narset Transcendent gets really consistent when paired with Courser of Kruphix. Does this card open the door for Bant Control in Standard?

Belive it or not, Patrick and Michael talk about more More and MORE Dragons of Tarkir.

Dragonlord Dromoka!

Silumgar’s Scorn!

Haven of the Spirit Dragon!

… All in “Anticipate a Control Revolution”

Direct Download

Don’t forget to check out Patrick’s book Next Level Deckbuilding, now in paperback!

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(Elder Dragon) Dragonlord Silumgar & More Dragons of Tarkir

Dragonlord Silumgar
Dragonlord Silumgar is going to be a game-changer.

Before we dig into Dragonlord Silumgar and other dragons from Dragons of Tarkir, Patrick and Michael share some mail / email / social media questions, including…

  • The availability of Next Level Deckbuilding!
  • A winning mindset (or, what Pro Tour Qualifier Mike should attend)
  • How good Whisperwood Elemental is versus Wingmate Roc in Abzan Aggro

… The answers might surprise you.

But for the next hour and a half our heroes peel back the scales of some of the preliminary Dragons of Tarkir spoilers, focusing on the dragon creatures, and one dragon in particular; an Elder Dragon, Dragonlord Silumgar.

Dragons of Tarkir?

“This set is aptly named.

“Do you know the set Dragon’s Maze is the first set in years with NO DRAGONS? There was one maze, though.

“Just don’t put the word ‘dragon’ in the name if there are no dragons.”

-Patrick Chapin

  • Who is that dangling from Dragonlord Silumgar’s neck? Oh, it’s Tasigur, the Golden Fang! (ew) (“That is some wicked crazy stuff.”)
  • Sunscorched Regent… Starts having a good rate at 6/5. “Put me down as ‘a skeptic.'”
  • Thunderbreak Regent has a ton of competition… But is something the format actually wants
  • Boltwing Marauder… Is not in the zip code of “powerful enough”.
  • Pristine Skywise is basically the same cost as Elspeth, Sun’s Champion and Soul of Theros… Can it compete?
  • Necromaster Dragon sure has an unwieldy text box (but is attractive to “people who are not us”)
  • Deathbringer Regent was born to murder Hornet Queens. “This guy is definitely turned on at the sight of a Hornet Queen!”

Deathbringer Regent
Note: This podcast refers to Deathbringer Regent as “Deathbringer Dragonlord” and “Dragonlord’s Reaper” due to an imperfect translation. Consider this note a correction.

What are you waiting for? Give a listen to “(Elder Dragon) Dragonlord Silumgar & More Dragons of Tarkir” now!

Direct Download

Want to hear more from these guys?

Patrick’s Magic: The Gathering Books

Michael’s Magic: The Gathering Books

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All Four Outpost Sieges

Outpost Siege
Outpost Siege

Find out why Patrick and Mike are going gaga over the — not one, not two, not three — but all four copies of Outpost Siege in Ben Stark’s R/W tempo deck!

But first…

Mike has had a long, hard, road on the PPTQ grind.

Playing in four events, Mike has finally put up a winning record!

(but a really winning record)

Mike played the “Top Level Podcast” version of B/U Control (changing only one card), before ultimately winning his PPTQ.

B/U Control by Top Level Podcast

2 Perilous Vault
2 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon

1 Thoughtseize
4 Bile Blight
2 Crux of Fate
4 Hero’s Downfall
2 Murderous Cut

4 Dig Through Time
2 Disdainful Stroke
4 Dissolve
2 Divination
3 Jace’s Ingenuity
1 Pearl Lake Ancient

4 Dismal Backwater
3 Opulent Palace
4 Island
4 Polluted Delta
4 Radiant Fountain
3 Swamp
4 Temple of Deceit
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

Sideboard
3 Drown in Sorrow
2 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
3 Thoughtseize
2 Aetherspouts
2 Disdainful Stroke
1 Pearl Lake Ancient
2 Silumgar, the Drifting Death

The one change was removing the Treasure Cruise in the sideboard for a second Pearl Lake Ancient; in matchups where you might want a Treasure Cruise, Pearl Lake Ancient provides inevitability.

Mike and Patrick also discuss prospective, additional, changes to the deck.

And then…

What’s so great about Ben Stark’s R/W Tempo list?

Is it that so many of the lands enter the battlefield untapped?

Is it the streamlined “four-ofs” of so many great cards (that people have been afraid to play four copies of before now)?

“Tuned!” comments one host.

“Gorgeous!” exclaims the other.

“How could I have ever doubted you R/W?” asks Mike…

Why it’s now okay to play all four copies of Outpost Siege.

R/W Tempo by Ben Stark

4 Goblin Rabblemaster
4 Hordeling Outburst
3 Lightning Strike
4 Outpost Siege
4 Stoke the Flames
4 Wild Slash

4 Chained to the Rocks
4 Seeker of the Way
4 Soulfire Grand Master
1 Valorous Stance

4 Battlefield Forge
3 Evolving Wilds
9 Mountain
4 Plains
4 Temple of Triumph

Sideboard
2 Valorous Stance
3 Stormbreath Dragon
2 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
2 Arc Lightning
3 Erase
3 Mastery of the Unseen

Plus a discussion of Wild Slash, and why you might want Wild Slash more than Lightning Strike in this deck.

A detailed examination of Abzan Control reveals the secret technologies of bringing in four copies of Fleecemane Lion from the sideboard.

How R/W’s move from Lightning Strike to Wild Slash, plus the growing popularity of Valorous Stance helps the Fleecemane Lion case.

Patrick discusses changes to Abzan!

The position of Sultai Control in the current metagame!

Antonino De Rosa’s innovative new Waste Not deck!

And more!

All in “All Four Outpost Sieges”

Direct Download

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How Does Temur Ascendancy Work?

Temur Ascendancy
Temur Ascendancy

Wondering how Temur Ascendancy (or at least the Temur Ascendancy combo) works?

So was Mike!

Patrick explains the mechanics of this crazy new combo deck… And more!

TLDR:

  • Patrick Chapin and Mike Flores explore three decks from this past weekend’s winner’s circle:
  • The nuances of B/U Control (both the recent Grand Prix win and how one listener took down a Preliminary Pro Tour Qualifier with Top Level Podcast’s build from last week)
  • The rise of G/R Devotion
  • How Temur Ascendancy works! (duh)

Why does Patrick favor consistency versus Mike favoring explosiveness?

Does Abzan Aggro (versus Abzan Midrange) help expert players hold their natural edges?

General nuances of Standard / which skills does Standard reward?

B/U Control

  • One selling point of B/U Control is how intuitive it can be
  • Twenty-seven lands? Mike can get behind twenty-eight.
  • Radiant Fountain… Gotta play four
  • Is Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver overrated?
  • Patrick corrects Mike’s sideboarding
  • Is it ever right to play 61 cards?
  • The best match of Magic Mike has ever played
  • How to play Abzan v. B/U Control

G/R Devotion and G/R Big Mana

  • Whisperwood Elemental is the card that puts this strategy back on the map
  • Effectively “six power in bodies” for five mana that gives you defense against Crux of Fate, End Hostilities, and even Ugin

Temur Ascendancy Combo

  • Temur Ascendancy + Voyaging Satyr + Temur Sabretooth –> Patrick explains how this is a big, big mana, combo
  • Temur Ascendancy Combo can play like an old school Fires of Yavimaya deck or a Green Devotion deck
  • “Wildly inconsistent.” -Patrick Chapin

    • All this and more in “How Does Temur Ascendancy Work?”

    Direct Download

    Love Patrick and Michael? Or at least their collective takes on Magic: The Gathering? Try some of their books:

    Patrick’s Magic: The Gathering Books

    Michael’s Magic: The Gathering Books

    Editor’s Note:
    Chapin forgot Memphis was this weekend (this podcast indicates it is next weekend)… He’ll still be there!

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    Become Immense and Gurmag Angler

    Become Immense
    “If you’re going to play Infect, it is indefensible to not play four Become Immense.”

    Patrick Chapin and Michael J Flores originally intended to talk about the various decks fielded by Patrick’s team — and the greatest team on Earth — the Pantheon at Pro Tour Fate Reforged.

    But…

    They end up recording some not-originally-intended-for-public-consumption chatter about Mike’s struggles in some recent PPTQs, disillusion with the Abzan clan, and general inability to win that results in a spontaneous brewer’s delight!

    In a kind of prequel to the main episode, you can listen as Patrick and Michael assemble a B/U Control deck for Standard designed to combat a format of largely Abzan decks, and how two of Magic’s most decorated deck designers approach metagaming, card selection, and sideboarding… While the microphones are “supposed” to be off.

    The result?

    B/U Control by Top Level Podcast

    2 Perilous Vault
    2 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon

    1 Thoughtseize
    4 Bile Blight
    2 Crux of Fate
    4 Hero’s Downfall
    2 Murderous Cut

    4 Dig Through Time
    2 Disdainful Stroke
    4 Dissolve
    2 Divination
    3 Jace’s Ingenuity
    1 Pearl Lake Ancient

    4 Dismal Backwater
    3 Opulent Palace
    4 Island
    4 Polluted Delta
    4 Radiant Fountain
    3 Swamp
    4 Temple of Deceit
    1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

    Sideboard
    3 Drown in Sorrow
    2 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
    3 Thoughtseize
    2 Aetherspouts
    2 Disdainful Stroke
    1 Treasure Cruise
    2 Silumgar, the Drifting Death

    Some notes from our hosts:

    • You don’t need more finishers – Ugin finishes everybody
    • You can side in Tasigur against “all opponents”
    • Some cool ways to gain percentage in how you pick your lands
    • Why you play Drown in Sorrow when it isn’t really the best in very many situations
    • How Silumgar, the Drifting Death beats up Elspeth, Sun’s Champion and Abzan in general
    • “Boring is fine as long as you’re winning”

    Patrick and Michael move on to Modern and talk about some of the successful decks of the Pantheon. Hall of Famer Jelger Wiegersma cracked Top 8 with a “stock” U/R Splinter Twin deck, and Jon Finkel finished out of the Top 8 on tiebreakers. Lots of in-depth discussion of these Modern archetypes — plus how to play with Amulet of Vigor — in the Modern middle section!

    Including this observation:
    “If you’re going to play Infect, it is indefensible to not play four Become Immense.”

    Finally, Patrick didn’t do well in the Modern portion of Pro Tour Fate Reforged himself… But he still loves his deck.

    “I’ve never gone 0-5 and been super happy with a deck before.”

    Have you seen his Modern deck?

    Just try to listen to “Become Immense and Gurmag Angler” without falling in love with it!

    Esper Delve by Patrick Chapin

    4 Mishra’s Bauble

    4 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
    4 Gurmag Angler
    2 Inquisition of Kozilek
    3 Liliana of the Veil
    2 Thoughtseize

    4 Gitaxian Probe
    4 Serum Visions
    4 Stubborn Denial
    4 Thoughtscour

    2 Lingering Souls
    4 Path to Exile

    4 Darkslick Shores
    2 Flooded Strand
    1 Godless Shrine
    1 Hallowed Fountain
    2 Island
    2 Marsh Flats
    4 Polluted Delta
    1 Swamp
    2 Watery Grave

    Sideboard
    3 Fulminator Mage
    3 Engineered Explosives
    2 Timely Reinforcements
    2 Kataki War’s Wage
    1 Deathmark
    1 Lingering Souls
    1 Plains
    1 Spellskite
    1 Meddling Mage

    All this and more in “Become Immense and Gurmag Angler”

    Direct Download

    Patrick’s book Next Level Deckbuilding will be out in paperback by Friday this week. Do yourself a favor and check out Next Level Deckbuilding at Star City Games!

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    The Rise of Dig Through Time in Legacy

    Dig Through Time
    Legacy lost Treasure Cruise but kept Dig Through Time.
    Dig Through Time is just starting to take the place of “the broken blue delve card” of the format.

    Thank God there are not Legacy Pro Tours any more!

    The absence of Legacy Pro Tours allows the format to largely avoid bannings and evolve on its own. The recent removal of Treasure Cruise from Legacy has yielded immediate diversity.

    Patrick Chapin (from the Pantheon house on the road) joins Michael J Flores for a first look at the Legacy format, post Treasure Cruise banning.

    … Starting of course with a Delver of Secrets-free Grixis Control deck featuring Dig Through Time!

    “My only sadness is that he is not playing Cruel Ultimatum.”
    -Patrick Chapin

    Come hear the Legacy chats about Dig Through Time in Grixis + seven other decks in…

    “The Rise of Dig Through Time in Legacy”

    Direct Download

    Your hosts

    Patrick Chapin – @thepchapin
    Michael J Flores – @fivewithflores

    Follow Top Level Podcast on social media!

    http://facebook.com/toplevelpodcast
    http://twitter.com/toplevelpodcast

    Love our podcast? Check out these Magic: The Gathering books by Patrick and Michael:

    Patrick’s Magic: The Gathering Books

    Michael’s Magic: The Gathering Books

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