Subject: Wilson Zero Deck (T1) Date: Thu, 1 Oct 98 21:13:04 UT From: "Mike Wilson" To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com This is the deck I played at the UK & Ireland Classic Championship at Gen Con UK. The tournament was a great success and has created new interest in the format, proving that classic play is more than a matter of 'who goes first wins', and is a marvellous spectator sport - Classic decks can do things that just aren't seen in other formats. I placed second with this Recycle Engine: some credit must go to my friend James Wilson, who first demonstrated the Recycle Zero Engine to me in a standard deck. It is named for the number of zero-casting cost artifacts (24). 4 City of brass 3 Recycle 2 Undicovered Paradise 1 Eureka 1 Gemstone mine 1 Fastbond 1 Library of Alexandria 1 Regrowth 4 Lotus Petal 4 Hurkyl's Recall 4 Urza's Bauble 2 Mystical Tutor 1 Mox Emerald 1 Timetwister 1 Mox Sapphire 1 Time Walk 1 Mox Jet 1 Ancestral Recall 1 Mox Pearl 1 Interdict 1 Black Lotus 1 Zuran Orb 3 Vampiric Tutor 3 Phyrexian Walker 1 Demonic Tutor 3 Lion's Eye Diamond 4 Mana Crypt 1 Wheel of Fortune 1 Sol Ring 1 Kaervek's Torch 1 Pyroblast 1 Enlightened Tutor 1 Disenchant 1 Lim-Dul's Vault 1 Abeyance Sideboard: 2 Emerald Charm 2 Pyroblast 1 Abeyance 1 Interdict 3 Disenchant 1 Braingeyser 1 Mangara's Blessing 1 Meekstone 1 Balance 1 Ivory Tower 1 Black Vise I had numerous comments and enquiries during the tournament, so I decided to post to the Dojo. After losing the first round match 2-0, I thought perhaps I'd made a mistake in coming with this particular deck, but it's a complicated engine and not easy to learn. I learned more about the deck as I played it. Average kill time: turn 4. I achieved one turn 1 kill, and approximately five turn 2 kills (including both duels in the quarter final). The deck works by casting Recycle, then drawing huge amounts of cards with it - easy because of the zero- or low casting cost of the spells in the deck and the large amount of artifact mana. I employ 7 tutors plus the tutor-like Lim-Dul's Vault, to find Recycle and the means to cast it; then the key to victory is to find the Hurkyl's Recalls which allow massive card drawing when the zero-artifacts are re-cast under Recycle, and generate the mana necessary to Torch your opponent for however much life he's got. Abeyance before the killing Torch prevents any nasty surprises. I found two 'modes' of operation playing this deck: First, as outlined above, find Recycle and enough mana to cast it with cards remaining in hand. Cast Recycle and begin drawing (generally this deck should kill on the same turn it casts Recycle - to stall is a Bad Thing. Second, and more powerful, empty your hand of mana artifacts then cast (or tutor for and cast) Wheel of Fortune or Timetwister. a new hand of 7 cards and mana on the table allows more leeway and greater options once Recycle comes out, which should be very soon. There are a number of changes that I'd make, but couldn't in time for the Tournament because I built it at Gen Con the night before and didn't have access to everything. The Phyrexian Walkers would have been Shield Spheres, but now I'd choose Tormod's Crypt. I might also add a Gustha's Scepter, and perhaps a Brainstorm or two. Balance belongs in the main deck, perhaps Braingeyser does too. Emerald Charm is a superior choice to disenchant for its ability to untap a permanent (land or Mana Crypt). Hydoblasts are necessary in the sideboard, not against burn but to kill Mox monkeys, which were a greater threat than I supposed; although I won one duel on turn 2 whilst staring at a monkey across the table, I received serious monkey beat-down in the final. Any comments, queries or suggestions can be addressed to me at Michael-Wilson@msn.com Mike Wilson.