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The Eldrazi was awakened and last Saturday we experienced a brand new and exciting limited game play of the pastime we love most, Magic the Gathering. Before the event, I was surprised that Wizards released the complete visual spoiler 2 days earlier while previous sets usually have it in public just after the Prerelease. Due to this, it gave us the opportunity to know all the cards prior to the Prerelease event.

Upon knowing the cards in the set, I have learned that it is based on fatties featuring the titanic Eldrazi dudes and their 0/1 harmless minions, the RPG type guys the levelers, walls that do some crazy stuff, and some awesome auras that can give your crits a little bonus and a second life, thanks to Totem Armor. I personally like the whole set just for the limited format so I’m a little thrilled to try it out at the Prerelease.

I came at Rei’s Place ahead of the scheduled plan – which is unusual for me to do, LOL – and everybody was excited to experience the fun that the new set could offer. We were handed 6 fresh boosters of Rise of the Eldrazi and a cool and shiny Prerelease card Emrakul, the Aeons Torn. I cracked my boosters giving me this card pool…

My Sealed Pool (90 cards)
White (13 cards)
1 Affa Guard Hound
1 Caravan Escort
2 Harmless Assault
1 Knight of Cliffhaven
1 Lone Missionary
1 Oust
2 Repel the Darkness
2 Soul’s Attendant
2 Totem-Guide Hartebeest

Blue (16 cards)
3 Champion’s Drake
1 Distortion Strike
1 Enclave Cryptologist
1 Fleeting Distraction
1 Hada Spy Patrol
1 Halimar Wavewatch
1 Jwari Scuttler
1 Lay Bare
1 Merfolk Observer
1 Merfolk Skyscout
1 Nacrolepsy
1 Regress
1 Sea Gate Oracle
1 Venerated Teacher

Black (18 cards)
1 Bala Ged Scorpion
2 Bloodrite Invoker
1 Bloodthrone Vampire
1 Cadaver Imp
1 Contaminated Ground
1 Curse of Wizardry
1 Escaped Null
1 Induce Despair
1 Pawn of Ulamog
2 Perish the Thought
1 Pestilence Demon
1 Vendetta
1 Virulent Swipe
1 Skeletal Wurm
2 Zof Shade

Red (17 cards)
1 Akoum Boulderfoot
1 Brood Birthing
1 Disaster Radius
1 Fissure Vent
2 Flame Slash
1 Goblin Tunneler
1 Grotag Siege-Runner
1 Kiln Fiend
3 Lagac Lizard
1 Magmaw
1 Raid Bombardment
1 Soulsurge Elemental
2 Spawning Breath

Green (14 cards)
1 Boar Umbra
1 Broodwarden
1 Daggerback Basilisk
1 Growth Spasm
1 Kozilek’s Predator
1 Leaf Arrow
1 Living Destiny
1 Naturalize
1 Nema Siltlurker
1 Ondu Giant
2 Pelakka Wurm
1 Spider Umbra
1 Vengevine

Others (12 cards)
1 Artisan of Kozilek
1 Dreamstone Hedron
1 Eldrazi Conscription
2 Hand of Emrakul
1 Keening Stone
1 Plains
1 Island
1 Swamp
2 Mountain
1 Forest

I was overjoyed when I opened a Vengevine, the card that I am chasing for in this set and a Pestilence Demon, a new addition for my Demon collection. Yet, I got a little bit frustrated when I saw that the other cards are epic fail for my constructed decks. I segregated the cards by color and choose those that are playable in limited, thinking the set is kind of slower than the Zendikar limited format.

At first, I was pleased to build a good Blue White Skies Deck featuring Champion’s Drake and some levelers but I’m not comfortable with the amount of playable level up dudes, besides it lessen the effectiveness of the drake. Furthermore, some of the cards in that color aren’t that excellent so I just leave them to the sidelines against much slower decks that have plenty of slow bombs. I easily abandoned black since it is not that strong and doesn’t have a great synergy with other colors, so that leaves me to Red and Green.

After some deep thoughts on what cards to play, I manage to setup this dreadful but fun deck to play…

The Deck

Deck Name: RG Mamaw Ramp
Lands (18 cards)
10 Forest
8 Mountain

Creatures (11 cards)
1 Artisan of Kozilek (Lebron James of the deck)
1 Broodwarden (The mother of all 0/1’s)
1 Daggerback Basilisk (The Fatty Killer)
1 Kozilek’s Predator (Ramp Model Number 1)
1 Ondu Giant (Ramp Model Number 2)
2 Pelakka Wurm (Kobe Bryant wannabe)
1 Vengevine (The Chase Card! Sweeeet!)
1 Akoum Boulderfoot (All time Utility Guy)
1 Magmaw (Mao’s invitational Card)
1 Soulsurge Elemental (The Underdog)

Spells (11 cards)
1 Eldrazi Conscription (The Element of Surprise)
1 Boar Umbra (Love Feeds)
1 Growth Spasm (Illegal Fixer)
1 Spider Umbra (Thunderbird)
1 Brood Birthing (Birth Control)
1 Disaster Radius (The Weapon of Ass Destruction)
2 Flame Slash (Dream Crusher)
2 Spawning Breath (Lighter)
1 Dreamstone Hedron (Mega Mind Stone)

Notable SB (5 cards)
1 Fissure Vent (for annoying artifacts)
1 Grotag Siege-Runner (Siege Tank)
1 Leaf Arrow (Baygon)
1 Living Destiny (Canabis)
1 Naturalize (for annoying artifacts number 2)

About the Deck

The theme of the deck is to ramp up to cast my big and scary monsters like Pelakka Wurm which I got 2 pieces and Artisan of Kozilek, a guy that can resurrect anyone from my team and can annihilate the opposition in the long game. What I like about Pelakka Wurm is that it gives you a large amount of life after the opponent’s beat you up in early turns, as well as a nice cantrip it if dies, so there is nothing to lose here.

My accelerator spells features the new way of ramping, putting some harmless 0/1 spawn into the battlefield, this includes Growth Spasm, Brood Birthing a semi Spectral Procession, Spawning Breath which has a dual purpose spell that can kill annoying weaklings and gives you a 0/1 ramp dude in return, while Kozilek’s Predator is a nice beatstick that gives you a couple of its younglings for mana.

The 0/1’s are also not for display after you ramp for your biggies, thanks to Broodwarden and Magmaw this punny spawns are not to be underestimated.

The Game Plan

1. Always draw first when winning the die roll.
2. Reserve the kills for super annoying cards.
3. Always read the f***ing cards especially those from the opponent.
4. Don’t be greedy.
5. Don’t make some buffoonic acts especially with mulligans.
4. Attack! Attack! Attack!

The Matchups

Round 1 vs Ramon

In game 1, Ramon played aggressively as more threats were laid down for the assault in early turns. My first play was Growth Spasm then Ondu Giant. The big fellow act as a traffic aid, stalling the board for a moment until I was able to cast a huge dude in the form of Akoum Boulderfoot which I blessed with piggy powers via Boar Umbra. Ramon was forced to chump block until he run out of blockers and after he draw no answers, he quickly scoops.

In game 2 Ramon was out of luck as he was color and mana screwed during the early turns. I was able to setup and summon Artizan of Kozilek at late game. Also I managed to neutralize his early assault with my traffic aider Ondu Giant and some enchant creature (creature kills).

Record: 1-0

Round 2 vs Travis

We had a long game 1 and he was able to beat me up early turn with his cheap and efficient creatures but I was able to stall the board with Ondu Giant and some punny 0/1’s spawns until my savior came up in the form of Pelakka Wurm. These earth eater gave me just enough life to keep me alive and kicking. Though Travis has a lot of answers including the Heat Ray that toasted my poor wurm, God’s grace continues to bestow me as I ripped an Artisan of Kozilek bringing back the wurm and that scenario was enough for Travis to scoop them up.

In game 2, Travis was able to drop the most remarkable green leveler in the set, the Beastbreaker of Bala Ged which soon wishes to become a snake since it was enchanted with Snake Umbra. It chunks my life total below half in no time but thanks to the swarm of spawns for I was able to hold back the onslaughter. While my spawns are busy dying to the Beastbreaker I was able to find answers for it with the 1-2 punch combination of Flame Slash and Spawning Breath wearing off the Totem Armor and finish up his team with a massive Disaster Radius for 6, thanks to Akoum Boulderfoot . In the post apocalyptic scenario, the time is called. Since Travis is still in healthy life and have lot of minions in the battlefield, we opted for a draw. But because I won game 1, that automatically puts me on the winning edge.

Record: 2-0

Round 3 vs Gian

It was a fast start for Gian in game 1 wherein he quickly left my life total into red. Fortunately, he was mana screwed and it stuck him for a couple of turns. Due to that, I was able to set up my ramp for my big guys but still, Gian has a lot of kills that neutralized my threats until I was able to awaken Artizan of Kozilek and quickly dispatched the game in favor of me.

In game 2, Gian was able to play consistently, dropping threat after threat until I was not able to hold off his Eldrazi Minions especially his own version of Artizan of Kozilek and turns later, I was annihilated. I was upset not being able to draw any of my big goons and kills… But oh well, to the deciding game it shall be.

The deciding was like “show me what you’ve got” scene as it came to a point wherein we were trading creatures and kills. When the dust settled down, the most exciting part of the game happened, the top deck mode! It was Gian who was first favored by the Gods, windmill slamming Artizan of Kozilek and brought him a fatty. I got Disaster Radius in hand but no creature to reveal and only a lone Akoum Boulderfoot in play bestowed with Spiderman’s power of the Spider Umbra. If Gian will swing next turn, I’ll be in great trouble, so it’s time for me to slow roll in my draw phase. Thank God the Almighty that he blessed me an Eldrazi Conscription and I rewarded it to my meekly looking Giant standing in front of an Eldrazi Titan. Ready to swing for lethal 15, Gian was forced to block with Artizan of Kozilek, leaving him the Rapacious One and a bloody 6 life. While I was at 9 life, the Rapacious One eats a chunk of it down to 4 which giving him 5 extra 0/1 spawns. I was stunned reading the card as he played Nomads’ Assembly that gives him 6 kor soldiers out of nowhere. Doing the math, I knew I’m dead for the next turn, hence it’s time for my final slow roll. Seeing that my draw was a Kozilek’s Predator, I was ecstatic as I windmill slammed Disaster Radius revealing the card that I drew. After reading the card, Gian offered a hand for concession. It was the most thrilling match in sealed I ever played so kudos to master Gian!

Record 3-0

Round 4 vs Tonton

Tonton is playing some kind of Jund colors (Red, Green, Black) so I sensed he has a lot of bombs and kills. During game 1, he had an early Daggerback Basilisk that ward off my bigger threats from attacking so I waited for the exact moment to kill the most annoying lizard in the table and swing with my team. Tonton started to show off his kills, and my team started to faint one by one. In the midst of despair, Pelakka Wurm showed up and all by itself took the victory (crocodile Dundy “bu-aya”).

In game 2, Tonton was able to unleash his “I never seen it before threats” starting with his Bramblesnap and the Vampire Aristocrat’s hot sister Bloodthrone Vampire. The Bramblesnap was a little bit annoying for it can single handedly crush me if I don’t have any answers to it, so I wasted no time and immediately dispatched it with Spawning Breath right in the precise moment. While Bloodthrone Vampire is pinching me, I began to ramp starting with Growth Spasm up to the last stage of Mind Stone the Dreamstone Hedron, which helped me fuel up the 2 Pelakka Wurm that got stuck in my opening hand. Not even Ulamog’s Crusher can crush the mighty duo!

After the match, we showed each other the cards in our pool and I was surprised to know that Tonton really got the best pool complete with bombs and kills. Good thing they never showed up in between games so I think I was just a lucksack.

Final Record 4-0

Final Thoughts

I was happy to win the prerelease again which rewarded me a cool t-shirt with Sarkhan the Mad on it and 4 free boosters for the taking. Overall, the set is fun to play in limited format but when it comes to constructed playable cards, there are only few I guess. It is also an advantage since I don’t have to spend a lot finding the cards for my deck this coming Grand Prix. For now, I’ll be trying a lot of deck versions with Rise of the Eldrazi in preparation for the big event. I’m very excited for the next standard metagame and try out the new cards from Rise of the Eldrazi. Cheers!

P.S.
My Top 5 cards from Rise of the Eldrazi
5. Consume the Meek
4. Consuming Vapors
3. Gideon Jura
2. Vengevine
1. Wall of Omens