Date: Mon, 04 Aug 1997 16:54:54 -0400 (EDT) From: Thomas F Pahutski 366-5788 Subject: PTQ Chicago mid point analysis Well, this is just about the mid point for the Chicago Qualifier and the dominate decks seem to be engraved in stone for the rest of the season, in my honest oppinion. They are: 1. B/U Ophidian decks Nekratal, Man'O War, Ophidian, Countermagic, Discard 2. R Celerity decks Hammer, Torch, Incinerate, T. Minotaur, Lancers, Settlers 3. B/U/r Necratog decks Necratog, E's Famaliar, Crypt rats, Fallen Askari, Man'O War, Countermagic, Shadow Guildmages, Song of Blood 4. U Big Blue Waterspout, Man'O War, Floodgate, Cloud Elemental, Ophidian, Countermagic 5. U/w Blue Ophidian/Hazerider Waterspout, Hazerider, Man'O War, Ophidian, Countermagic, Abeyance 6. B/R BWD (Burn, Weenie, Discard) Stupor, Fallen Askari, Hammer, Torch, Nekratal, Lancers, Shadow Guildmages You must also prepare for the once in a while Falcon/Armor decks, Green Big Creature Cantrip, Sands of Time/Equipose, White Knight with U for back up, and Aether Wisdom decks (R/W). That should pretty much cover it. The local group of players came up with this additional analysis. The weaknesses: 1. B/U Ophidian can be hurt by Crypt rats, Nekratal, Heavier discard, and/or Heavier Countermagic, also I believe it can be messed up pretty good with Mangara's Blessing and actually Cursed Totem. 2. Red Celerity can be hurt by Countermagic, Walls such as Floodgate and Roots, Abeyance, Hazerider, and Quicksands. Honarable Passage of course is the best. With the help of Phyrexian Furnace you can stop the Hammer. 3. B/U/r Necratog decks can be hurt by Countermagic, Phyrexian Furnace, again the underated Cursed Totem, Crypt rats and Quicksands (In response I quicksands, In response I crypt rat, etc.). Shadowbane and Gerrad's Wisdom are quick fixes also. 4. U Big Blue decks can be knocked down with some good red burn, Heavy Countermagic, Mindbend to take out Waterspouts, Heavy Discard, Nekratal and Crypt rats. The merkats don't handle the blue flyers. The best thing to do to the blue player is to speed up the game...weenies are a good start...but watch out for the Floodgate. 5. U/w Ophidian/Hazerider decks can be hurt when they are caught without countermagic. Black is the best way to deal with this deck as red suffers severly...Nekratal and Crypt rats to eliminate Waterspouts, Ophidians, and Hazerider. Early weenie assault hurts as this player wants to slow down the game with Memory lapse and Abeyance. 6. B/R BWD decks can be hurt by countermagic backed up with quicksands. Knights of the Mist are excellent against any deck with 5+ knights. Man O War and Abeyance can slow down the assault on the ground and with the burn/discard respectively. This player suffers from the long and drawn out games. The other decks have obvious weakness that everyone can figure out as an exercise to the reader. Some help... Red vs. Red...the key to your game should be the Final Fortune you have in your sideboard...this is the way to get the edge. Nekratal is by far the most deadly of creatures. Almost always it will take two of your cards if played against you. Countermagic is by far the best way to handle him. Personally I prefer the Sage Owl to impulse...why? Impulse nets you your best card of the next four. Sage Owl puts that card as the next card, but the key is Blue needs something to get in some early damage and serve as a blocker later. On average we figure that Sage Owls can deal 3 points of damage before handled properly. Also information is key if you know the next four cards...you can tune your play in that direction. Watch Necratog if left to the late game he can be crushing. Try to counter...if it gets by use timing to your advantage. Opponent attacks with Necratog, sac the quicksand, he pumps up the Necratog, crypt rat for 2, he pumps up, crypt rat for 2...you get the idea. Drain his graveyard and his Necratog will be a little 1/2 blocker. Use crypt rats the turn they get into play. Our group is confuse on the Powersink vs. Memory Lapse debate. Know Abeyance...know that you can't tap lands for mana. There is a lot more about this card, be prepared...if used properly and timely it can draw a gap into the opponents strategy. Aether Flash and Gerrad's Wisdom is a deadly combination...countermagic can break this deck up, along with heavy discard and heavy burn. Incinerates tear up the opponents regenerators - River Boas and Jungle Trolls. Shadow Guildmages giving you trouble? Side in Serrated Biskelion...but be careful, in response to you killing his Guildmage he will ping the SB. I have not figured out the great benefit of Rainbow Efreet, you almost always need six mana untaped to keep her around is she better than the Waterspout. With all of the special creatures like Nekratal, Sage Owl, and Man O war, I am very surprised I have not seen Dragon Mask in any competitive deck. It sucks up mana but is it worth it? It can take a creature out of Quicksand range. The five most popular cards will be Nekratal, Ophidian, Crypt rats, Man O War, and Quicksand...be very prepared for them!!! Good Luck, Tom P. and group