Other combo decks might seem faster, but they are more interactive, they have to play more spells and are using graveyard. Our countermeasures as 《Chalice of the Void》 (1 vs. Reanimator, 0 vs. Storm), 《Thalia, Guardian of Thraben》 and 《Leyline of the Void》 becomes more effective, sometimes having just one on the battlefield is enough to give you time to take the game. Don’t be afraid to mulligan aggressively, on a PT I’ve played game 3 against Lucas Esper Berthoud with BR Reanimator, I’ve mulliganed to 5 on the draw in search for 《Leyline of the Void》, but failed and kept some decent hand with 《Chalice of the Void》. That was clearly a mistake and I should have gone to 4 or lower. By the time I’ll play a 《Chalice》 he would already have a reanimated threat.

Against Storm, you can also consider siding out 《Maze of Ith》, but I think 《Mox》 fodder is more important than 2 damage.

Creature-Based Decks

Eldrazi, Death and Taxes, and RUG Delver were the most popular creature-based decks on this PT.

Against Eldrazi, game1 is all about 《Knight of the Reliquary》, if you untap with it in play, it will get you there alone. Usually Eldrazi deck is playing 2 《Dismember》 maindeck, keep that in mind.

After sideboard it becomes a bit more complicated thanks to his gravehate, if they don’t have it, you have a big advantage. If they start with 《Leyline》, one of the best lines of play is trying to harass his mana base (even though 《Eye of Ugin》 looks like a keystone of the deck, it gives no real mana and is legendary, you should destroy it last), then you proceed with either of 2 lines, depending on what you have.

1. You allow him to grow some board and wipe it out with 《Toxic Deluge》 (don’t be afraid to drop to 3+- life netting more creatures, it keeps you out of 《Walking Ballista》 range, but without proper defense you are as easily 《Reality Smashed》 with 10 life) or 《The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale》, then finish the game with anything.

2. You try to control the board, play a 《Liliana》 to take out his last creature. If his manabase is already softened and you don’t get hit by a 《Reality Smasher》 via 《Simian Spirit Guide》, 《Liliana》 should provide enough pressure for you to seize the initiative.

Death and Taxes is an interesting and even matchup. In game 1, they plays aggressive and you play control, you have all your interactions intact and preboard games seems pretty favored, the games are straightforward, but there is a few things you should be aware of:

– 《Flickerwisp》 can reset 《Chalice》 and 《Mox》.

– 《Sanctum Prelate》 shuts almost all of your removal, but you have 《Deluge》, 《Liliana》 and 《Cabal Pit》 to deal with it.

– Try to keep a fetchland at ready. It helps against 《Port》/《Wasteland》, but his nightmare card is 《Palace Jailer》, there is a ton of ways to deal with creatures and if you are able to push 《Dryad Arbor》 to get a crown, you’ll win in no time.

Post board they are going to play control with 《Rest in Peace》 and all that “Taxes”, leaving the aggro role to you. Like I said before, when you lose your grave-based advantage, the best cards are Planeswalkers and 《Bitterblossom》, your primary goal is install one of them as quickly as possible and try to ride it to victory. Side out all 《Chalice》, they have many ways to play around it.

RUG is the easiest matchup of the three and is favored. Of course, it has an unforgiving starts with two 1-drops + counters/《Wasteland》, but even with this scenario, the win is possible. 《Life from the Loam》 makes sure you won’t be screwed.

《Knight of the Reliquary》 is an absolute beast in this matchup, as long as play around 《Daze》, 《FoW》(and probably 《Submerge》 post board, but with 《Mox》 and 《Grove》 sometimes it’s possible to play without any 《Forest》 in play) will be the only answer for it, and once 《Knight》 resolves it is almost impossible to lose.

《Chalice of the Void》 with one counter shuts almost half of his functional cards, as with 《Knight》, if you connect it turn 1 or 2 it is a free win.

Control Deck

The most popular deck on a PT was Grixis Control and it is a good matchup as well. Game1 it is about 《Life from the Loam》 again, Grixis plays no gravehate maindeck and is pretty slow, once the 《Life from the Loam》 engine starts rolling, you’re going to drown him in cards. They have two cards that can provide you some trouble G1 – 《Jace, the Mind Sculptor》 and 《Gurmag Angler》, setting up your 《Life from the Loam》 engine takes some time and if they are able to quickly cast one of these and protect it with countermagic, situation becomes grim, but that’s the best deck, you can’t really expect it to put no resistance.

After sideboard, they will add some 《Surgical Extraction》, you shouldn’t be greedy about keeping graveyard-oriented starting hands. The all-star 《Bitterblossom》, 《Thalia》 and Planeswalkers comes in, so the matchup remains favored on the play and even-to-favored on the draw.

Conclusion

Concluding this lets summarize the Pros and Cons of the deck:

Legacy is a constantly shifting format. Some decks become dominant, then some old builds rise from the ashes. I like keeping in mind decks like Loam, sleeved up at the right time, they have a potential to show good results.

I hope you have enjoyed the reading and will find it useful.

Thanks and see you online,

Dmitriy Butakov