Duals to Protect the Jewels was a spectacular achievement for Melbourne Legacy, assembling sixty-six players for an event with prizes entirely donated from players, and a proportion of entry going towards the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. We also had silent auctions of cards, a sausage sizzle, sweet games and some sweet banter. You can find the photo album outlining all the festivities here.
However, I’m going to be talking about how the metagame shook out and what this means for Melbourne Legacy going forward. With a few large events popping up in the near future – such as the Eternal Weekend at NLG Dandenong – getting data on these large tournaments are more and more pertinent for player preparation ahead.
Firstly, let’s look at the some charts outlining decks played on the day, with the bar cart highlighting how effectively decks converted to wins, and give a bit of profile on each of the most-played ones:
The decks that put up the biggest numbers were Death & Taxes and Grixis Delver, with six players, Miracles and Sneak & Show with five and Storm with four.
Melbourne has had a long history with Death & Taxes, and the deck has brought many Melbournian players, such as myself, to a reasonable amount of success. The deck has always been easy to pick up and play for new players – you just cast some idiots that cripple the opponent, and Wasteland them here and there – but Melbourne has also fostered many who are well-versed in the ways of the White creatures. If anything, Melbourne has become a hotbed for excellent Death & Taxes players, and the Top 8 certain showed off players who have been rewarded for their dedication and have a deep understanding of how the deck interacts with many matchups. No amount of hate people packed in their sideboards pre-emptively, be they Sulfur Elementals or Dread of Nights, were able to stop the dominance of the White creatures. It also helps that traditionally poor matchups like Elves and incredibly fast combo decks were largely unseen.
Grixis Delver was far the most popular Delver variant and was tied for highest number of appearances with Death & Taxes. However, none of the copies pushed into the Top 8. Grixis Delver has been a favourite of many newer players to the format as their first foray into Brainstorm, and many also picked up Steven Stamopoulos’ Team Australia version eschewing Young Pyromancer and adding Tombstalker. The powerful core of Delver, Lightning Bolt and the pile of disruption are always going to be great, but with Death & Taxes and other non-blue, hateful decks very prominent in Melbourne, it’s very easy for the so-called “Honda Civic” of Legacy to have its game plan rendered ineffective without tight play.
Miracles has been the top-dog in the global Legacy scene for many years, but in Melbourne its popularity has been climbing quite slowly, but has nonetheless reached the third most represented deck in this event. Its difficulty is high and can be cumbersome for newer players, which certainly reduces its numbers and means that typically only enfranchised players pick it up – and place quite well with it. Typical Mentor lists were quite popular, though Top 8ing list was a more hardcore Predict-heavy build. Also featured was Matthew Larcombe on the Esper build he has been touting recently.
Sneak & Show was the combo deck of the day, despite the hostile presence of Death & Taxes – which definitely may have contributed to the deck’s lacklustre performance overall, placing nowhere in the Top 16. Sneak & Show is a strong entry point for newer players due to the sheer strength and speed in which it can assemble its combo, while also rewarding those who have experience with the deck due to finer decision points making or breaking wins. Sideboarding, in particular, needs to be set up to fight the expected Death & Taxes metagame. Some opted for the tactics Kentaro Yamamoto won with – a man-plan in the sideboard involving Grim Lavamancer and Vendilion Clique to control the board – while others took the OmniAttack builds, involving main deck Omniscience, Cunning Wish and a corresponding wish board to dodge the Karakas of the world. Although not placing in Top 8, Sneak & Show is one of the more scary decks to expect at a tournament in Melbourne and definitely needs some slots dedicated to it.
Last of the more widely played decks was Storm. Unlike Sneak & Show, this was widely adopted by veterans of the deck, who are able to navigate through the precariousness of the hatebears and countermagic of the format. Although occasionally similarly straightforward to Sneak & Show, Storm has a lot more threatening matchups than just Thalia.dec thanks to the Chalice of the Voids of the world, and hence requires a bit more finesse in certain situations. Storm has rewarded its well-versed players, utilising and angling their decks effectively against the expected metagame, with solid success, many of them achieving high finishes within Top 8s and Top 16s consistently.
Other than these big players, other decks took the limelight. Merfolk made a surprising appearance in the Top 8 (with a lot of spice!) and was at the top tables frequently, Lands made solid showings despite it typically being uncommon (until now!) in Melbourne and my lovely and unloved RUG Delver had the same amount of appearances as its much more loved BUG cousin! Lesser known decks like Pox, Painter (the pimpest Painter ever), Stax and pure Black-Green The Rock also made appearances! Legacy in Melbourne, although the more popular decks are now bubbling to the surface, still has its fair share of interesting archetypes.
Next up, a closer look at our Top 8ers! In order of Top 8 seeding:
| Name: Leon Raymond Age: 21 Hometown: Camberwell Archetype: 4c Loam How long have you been playing Legacy? Why did you play your deck this weekend? Most memorable moment of the Swiss? What was the standout card from your deck? |
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| Name: Michael Kelly Age: 23 Hometown: Melbourne Archetype: Death & Taxes How long have you been playing Legacy? Why did you play your deck this weekend? It’s the deck that I have the most experience with in Legacy. Most memorable moment of the Swiss? What was the standout card from your deck? |
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| Name: Brennan Garcia Age: 24 Hometown: Sunbury Archetype: Miracles How long have you been playing Legacy? Why did you play your deck this weekend? Most memorable moment of the Swiss? What was the standout card from your deck? |
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| Name: John Atkin Age: 28 Hometown: Melbourne Archetype: Death & Taxes How long have you been playing Legacy? Why did you play your deck this weekend? Most memorable moment of the Swiss? |
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| Name: Jesse Dent Age: 21 Hometown: Warragul Archetype: 4c Control How long have you been playing Legacy? Why did you play your deck this weekend? I’m a big fan of all sorts of control, and saw the list a couple of days beforehand and thought it was really sweet. Most memorable moment of the Swiss? What was the standout card from your deck? |
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| Name: Soohan “Han” Sohn Age: 31 Hometown: Busan, South Korea Archetype: Eldrazi Aggro How long have you been playing Legacy? Why did you play your deck this weekend? Most memorable moment of the Swiss? What was the standout card from your deck? |
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| Name: Jack Jiggens Age:21 Hometown: Brisbane Archetype: Death & Taxes How long have you been playing Legacy? About 2 years. Why did you play your deck this weekend? It’s the deck I feel most comfortable playing in this meta. Most memorable moment of the Swiss? What was the standout card from your deck? |
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| Name: Joe Michael Caragan Age: 32 Hometown: Burnside, Melbourne Archetype: Merfolk How long have you been playing Legacy? Why did you play your deck this weekend? Most memorable moment of the Swiss? What was the Standout card from your deck? True-Name Nemesis. |
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And then the Top 8 broke down as below!
Jack Jiggens took away the trophy! You can find his report here, along with a few others – Michael Kelly, mine and 10th-placer Michael Webb – with more to come, I’m sure.
Lastly, what everyone has wanted: the Top 8 lists. I’ll also be listing the Top 16 too, as a bit more coverage and spicy decks to look over!
Top 8
| 1st Jack Jiggens Death & Taxes Creatures: (26) 4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben 4 Mother of Runes 4 Flickerwisp 3 Phyrexian Revoker 3 Stoneforge Mystic 2 Serra Avenger 2 Mirran Crusader 2 Sanctum Prelate 2 Recruiter of the Guard Non-Creature Spells: (11) Lands: (23) |
Sideboard: (15) 1 Faerie Macabre 2 Rest in Peace 2 Containment Priest 2 Council’s Judgment 2 Path to Exile 2 Ethersworn Canonist 1 Orzhov Pontiff 1 Pithing Needle 1 Palace Jailer 1 Leonin Relic-Warder |
| 2nd John Atkin Death & Taxes Creatures: (26) Non-Creature Spells: (11) Lands: (23) |
Sideboard: (15) 1 Sanctum Prelate 1 Batterskull 1 Pithing Needle 2 Rest in Peace 1 Containment Priest 2 Council’s Judgment 2 Path to Exile 2 Ethersworn Canonist 2 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar 1 Disenchant |
| 3-4th Leon Raymond 4c Loam Creatures: (10) 1 Gaddock Teeg 4 Knight of the Reliquary 1 Scavenging Ooze Non-Creature Spells: (24) Lands: (26) |
Sideboard: (15) 1 Abrupt Decay 1 Toxic Deluge 1 Bojuka Bog 2 Ethersworn Canonist 1 Garruk Relentless 2 Golgari Charm 3 Leyline of the Void 1 Maelstrom Pulse 2 Swords to Plowshares 1 The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale |
| 3-4th Soohan Sohn Eldrazi Stompy Creatures: (23) 4 Eldrazi Mimic 1 Endbringer 4 Endless One 4 Matter Reshaper 4 Reality Smasher 2 Simian Spirit Guide 4 Thought-Knot Seer Non-Creature Spells: (11) 1 Warping Wail 2 Dismember 4 Chalice of the Void 2 Thorn of Amethyst 2 Umezawa’s Jitte Lands: (26) |
Sideboard: (15) 1 Endbringer 1 Warping Wail 2 Thorn of Amethyst 4 Leyline of the Void 2 Pithing Needle 2 Ratchet Bomb 1 Sphere of Resistance 2 All Is Dust |
| 5-8th Brennan Garcia Miracles Creatures: (3) 3 Snapcaster Mage Non-Creature Spells: (37) 4 Ponder 4 Swords to Plowshares 4 Sensei’s Divining Top 4 Counterbalance 4 Terminus 2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor 2 Entreat the Angels 1 Council’s Judgment 1 Engineered Explosives 2 Predict 4 Force of Will 1 Counterspell Lands: (20) |
Sideboard: (15) 3 Flusterstorm 2 Surgical Extraction 2 Wear // Tear 2 Monastery Mentor 2 Pyroblast 2 Red Elemental Blast 1 Mountain 1 From the Ashes |
| 5-8th Jesse Dent 4c Control Creatures: (13) 4 Deathrite Shaman 4 Snapcaster Mage 1 Vendilion Clique 4 Baleful Strix Non-Creature Spells: (27) 2 Kolaghan’s Command 4 Force of Will 3 Fatal Push 2 Abrupt Decay 2 Counterspell 4 Brainstorm 4 Ponder 2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor 1 Painful Truths 2 Thoughtseize Lands: (20) |
Sideboard: (15) 1 Vendilion Clique 1 Fatal Push 1 Abrupt Decay 2 Thoughtseize 1 Pyroblast 2 Diabolic Edict 1 Leovold, Emissary of Trest 1 Toxic Deluge 1 Flusterstorm 1 Red Elemental Blast 1 Pithing Needle 2 Surgical Extraction |
| 5-8th Michael Kelly Death & Taxes Creatures: (26) 4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben 4 Stoneforge Mystic 4 Flickerwisp 3 Phyrexian Revoker 2 Recruiter of the Guard 2 Mirran Crusader 2 Serra Avenger 1 Sanctum Prelate Non-Creature Spells: (11) Lands: (23) |
Sideboard: (15) 2 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar 1 Sword of Light and Shadow 2 Path to Exile 2 Council’s Judgment 1 Pithing Needle 2 Rest in Peace 1 Containment Priest 2 Ethersworn Canonist 2 Faerie Macabre |
| 5-8th Joe Michael Caragan Merfolk Creatures: (26) 1 Vendilion Clique 4 Lord of Atlantis 4 Cursecatcher 4 Silvergill Adept 4 Master of the Pearl Trident 4 True-Name Nemesis 3 Phantasmal Image 2 Master of Waves Non-Creature Spells: (14) 4 Aether Vial 1 Umezawa’s Jitte 4 Force of Will 2 Daze 1 Echoing Truth 2 Opposition Lands: (20) |
Sideboard: (15) 2 Submerge 1 Dismember 1 Flusterstorm 2 Ratchet Bomb 1 Pithing Needle 2 Surgical Extraction 2 Carry Away 1 Back to Basics 3 Chalice of the Void |
Top 16
| 9th Sean Brown RUG Delver Creatures: (10) 4 Nimble Mongoose 2 Hooting Mandrills Non-Creature Spells: (32) Lands: (18) |
Sideboard: (15) 1 Ancient Grudge 1 Barbarian Ring 1 Flusterstorm 1 Forked Bolt 1 Null Rod 3 Pyroblast 1 Submerge 1 Sudden Demise 1 Surgical Extraction 2 True-Name Nemesis 2 Winter Orb |
| 10th Michael Webb Storm Non-Creature Spells: (45) 4 Brainstorm 4 Gitaxian Probe 4 Ponder 1 Preordain 1 Ad Nauseam 4 Cabal Ritual 3 Cabal Therapy 4 Dark Ritual 3 Duress 4 Infernal Tutor 1 Rain of Filth 1 Tendrils of Agony 2 Past in Flames 4 Lion’s Eye Diamond 4 Lotus Petal 1 Sensei’s Divining Top Lands: (15) |
Sideboard: (15) 4 Abrupt Decay 2 Echoing Truth 2 Disfigure 1 Empty the Warrens 2 Flusterstorm 1 Extirpate 1 Sensei’s Divining Top 2 Tendrils of Agony |
| 11th Stephen Tang Miracles Creatures: (6) 3 Snapcaster Mage Non-Creature Spells: (34) Lands: (20) |
Sideboard: (15) 3 Pyroblast 2 Flusterstorm 2 Vendilion Clique 2 Surgical Extraction 2 Wear // Tear 1 Blood Moon 2 Engineered Explosives |
| 12th Tom Hurst Imperial Painter Creatures: (15) 2 Simian Spirit Guide 3 Goblin Welder 1 Magus of the Moon 1 Jaya Ballard, Task Mage 4 Imperial Recruiter 4 Painter’s Servant Non-Creature Spells: (23) Lands: (19) |
Sideboard: (15) 3 Lightning Bolt 1 Ensnaring Bridge 1 Rest in Peace 2 Tormod’s Crypt 2 Pyroclasm 1 Trinisphere 1 Phyrexian Revoker 1 Engineered Explosives 1 Koth of the Hammer 1 Nahiri, the Harbinger 1 Manic Vandal |
| 13th Phillip Unwin Lands Non-Creature Spells: (25) 4 Crop Rotation 4 Exploration 4 Gamble 4 Life from the Loam 1 Manabond 1 Molten Vortex 4 Mox Diamond 3 Punishing Fire Lands: (35) |
Sideboard: (15) 1 Chalice of the Void 1 Karakas 1 Kozilek’s Return 4 Krosan Grip 4 Sphere of Resistance 3 Tireless Tracker 1 Trinisphere |
| 14th Andrew Killey Burn Creatures: (14) 4 Monastery Swiftspear 2 Grim Lavamancer 4 Eidolon of the Great Revel Non-Creature Spells: (26) Lands: (20) |
Sideboard: (15) 2 Sulfur Elemental 2 Searing Blaze 2 Pyrostatic Pillar 3 Exquisite Firecraft 3 Destructive Revelry 2 Relic of Progenitus 1 Grafdigger’ s Cage |
| 15th Graham King Lands Non-Creature Spells: (24) 4 Gamble 1 Molten Vortex 3 Punishing Fire 4 Crop Rotation 4 Exploration 4 Life from the Loam 4 Mox Diamond Lands: (36) |
Sideboard: (15) 3 Chalice of the Void 4 Krosan Grip 2 Pithing Needle 3 Sphere of Resistance 1 Surgical Extraction 2 Tireless Tracker |
| 16th Trent Mizzi Storm Non-Creature Spells: (45) 4 Brainstorm 3 Burning Wish 4 Cabal Ritual 4 Cabal Therapy 4 Dark Ritual 4 Gitaxian Probe 4 Infernal Tutor 1 Past in Flames 4 Ponder 1 Tendrils of Agony Lands: (15) |
Sideboard: (15) 2 Chain of Vapor 2 Crash 1 Dark Petition 1 Deathmark 1 Disfigure 1 Duress 1 Empty the Warrens 1 Massacre 1 Past in Flames 1 Shattering Spree 2 Surgical Extraction 1 Tendrils of Agony |
Phew! And there ends our bit of coverage of DtPtJ. Thank you all who attended, organisers Steven Stamopoulos, Rob Gascard and Isaac Cafarella along with all those who donated!
Expect some more sweet, sweet Legacy in the future.
By Sean Brown
