Magic Jon: Legacy Grand Prix

by Game Preserve on April 13, 2011

Magic Jon returns to us and by this point he needs no introduction.

Just recently the “Powers that Be” officially announced Phyrexian Mana. This mana allows players to use Life to cast spells, rather than pay mana costs. If they make a Counter Spell that uses this “Phyrexian Mana” everything is crazy forever. Why forever you ask? Legacy. In a Legacy tournament all but a few cards are legal. When I say all, I mean all. Every card ever printed, with the exception of a scant few, is legal in Legacy. And on April the 9th this fun unique style of tourney rolled its way into our Bloomington store.

The Game Preserve in Bloomington was graced with a Magic: The Gathering Grand Prix Providence trial tournament and the format for this year’s Grand Prix just happens to be the afore-mentioned Legacy. While I, thankfully, didn’t have to play in the event, I was there helping out and watching the matches. Sixteen folks showed up to play and try and win a 3rd round bye in the Grand Prix as well as the store’s prized Mana Vault. There were many locals and some folks from out of town. Their decks ran the gambit too. There were Burn decks, Goblin decks, Merfolk decks, and some Affinity/Tezzeret decks as well as some more eclectic decks. These included a Dredge deck and a deck that ran only one land and a Goblin Charbelcher.

All of these decks were interesting to watch in action. Most were fast decks that were played slowly and carefully. I saw many cards I hadn’t seen before as well as many that I would never trust myself to play with. Almost all decks ran with full sets of the Double Lands, as one might expect. I really shouldn’t try to give you my “expert” analyses, so I won’t. But I will tell you that after four swiss rounds the tournament was cut to a play-off of the top four.

The first round of the play-off saw Merfolks against Goblins, and due to the Merfolk player leaving his Force of Wills in his side board, the Goblins won in three games. While that game was being won, it was Burn against a “Mud” deck. From what I understand a Mud deck is a non-affinity based artifact deck that centers on use of Metalworker. It is so named due to its use of Brown-boardered artifacts. Burn won that match up. The Mud player blamed his loss on “lack of acceleration,” which I find very hard to believe.

The final game was Burn versus Goblins. Red v. Red. But it seemed that Burn just couldn’t compete with a Goblin horde. Goblins won in only two games landing its player a Mana Vault and a 3rd round bye. This is not to say the other participants walked away empty handed. The entire $25 entry fee was converted into prize support. Second place walked away with 18 packs of his choosing and even last place was rewarded for his time and effort with three packs. It was a very entertaining and rewarding use of a Saturday afternoon, for players and bystanders alike. And in two weeks, once the glow of our Grand Prix trail wears off it will be time for The Game Preserve to host a National Qualifier tournament where a trip to GenCon and a place in the Magic Nationals are up for grabs. We hope you’ll be there!

 

Top 4 Decks-

#1 – Goblins

Side board:

#2 – Burn

Side Board

#3 – Mud

Side Board

#4 – Merfolk

Side Board

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