90sMTG Open IV Report — 3rd Place w/Turbo Doomsday

Chris Banuchi and his Legacy live gameplay content have been a pillar of the community for years. Chris’ welcoming vibe and hilariously wry commentary have attracted a huge following. Years ago, I was a semi-regular at the Gamestoria weeklies in Queens, despite the 90-mile drive. The NYC eternal community is consistently impressive, both in quality of play and personality.

On October 17th, 90sMTG organized the fourth edition of their Open tournament series. I’d never been able to attend one before, but I’ve been on leave for six weeks caring for my twin infants by myself during the day. This earned enough goodwill from my exquisite partner to drive down and play.

A few new Legacy players have been birthed from our Pauper scene up here in New Paltz, and one of them, a boulderer named Max, wanted to check out a bigger Legacy tournament. He’s also a fan of Chris and 90sMTG, and he looked forward to meeting some of the luminaries from coverage.

{Volley of Boulders} by Tony Szczudlo

We arrived early and quickly started seeing familiar, friendly faces. The community titan Paolo was among the first, then Eternal Durdles bosses Zac and Phil. Some other upstate homies Edgar, Matt, and Jonayed (recently transplanted to the city) said, "what up." Old friends and adversaries Matt, Gabe, Rockford, Noah, Dave, David, Hank, Zach, Louise, Bill, Greg, Ed, Adri, Andrew, Herman, Adam, and Alec checked in and chatted. It was a warm return to this corner of the competitive scene.

Many of us were preparing for Eternal Weekend. A few decks are in contention for me to play, but I wanted to try out the old standby, {Doomsday}. It still goes fast and puts heavy pressure on opponents. Some {Doomsday} visionaries have been working on a sleek turbo version, and that’s what I played.

This deck includes six cyclers, too many {Personal Tutor}s, and some sideboard tech. {Voice of Victory} can be played off our off-color basic {Swamp} and {Cavern of Souls} (notably, {Doomsday} doesn't include unplayable basic {Plains}) to resolve a {Thassa’s Oracle} trigger through any number of {Consign to Memory} and {Stifle}.

There are three small changes. The sideboard changed one {Force of Negation}, one {Consign to Memory}, and one {Flow State} into one {Leyline of Sanctity}, one {Leyline of the Void}, and one {Nihil Spellbomb}. After taking the above photo and discussing with {Doomsday} confidants, I decided I needed to interact with the graveyard, and that smattering of cards covers different decks and needs. Ultimately, this sideboard needs work, but it let me try a lot of stuff. We were quickly paired for Round 1, and it was time to get to work.

Round 1: [u][r] Delver WW (1-0)

My opponent was a strong Pauper player, showing a Top 8 playmat from SCGCon Las Vegas. They were newer to Legacy.

In game one, I had a turn one protected {Doomsday}. I built an extremely safe and fast pile, and since I didn’t need a {Force of Will} to protect {Doomsday} itself, I felt confident I could beat almost anything my opponent would present. They played a fetchland and fetched untapped {Steam Vents}.

On my turn, I cycled to {Cavern of Souls} and played {Thassa’s Oracle}. With no responses, we went to game two. My sideboard plan here, in what is typically a very difficult matchup, is to bring in a lot of discard and removal and try to keep their early pressure off the board. It’s a tall order, but this version of {Doomsday} is sacrificing a lot of game against Tempo decks.

{Fatal Push} by Eric Velhagen

The logic is that our sideboard pivots against both Izzet and Dimir tempo take up a lot of space and may not even improve the matchup that much. The infernal jury is still out on that logic. In any case, my opponent plays an early {Dragon’s Rage Channeler} that starts chipping in for damage but doesn't get delirious. I have a few turns to set up, protect, and resolve my {Doomsday} at 17 life.

I build a pile with removal and an uncounterable {Thassa's Oracle}, plus a backup {Thassa's Oracle} to beat {Consign to Memory}. My opponent adds a {Delver of Secrets} to the board and keeps attacking for small damage. I {Fatal Push} the {Dragon's Rage Channeler} but am still staring down a lethal attack. I am required to end the game and play my {Thassa's Oracle} through a {Cavern of Souls}. My opponent concedes, and we start to clean up. They show me a {Red Elemental Blast} in hand, and to the chagrin of future {Doomsday} opponents, I explain the {Thassa's Oracle} trigger.

{Aluren} by April Lee

Round 2: [u][w][g] AlurenTell LWL (1-1)

In game one, my opponent plays a turn one {Tundra} and {Ponder}. I have a turn one {Doomsday} and build a fairly typical pile. On their turn, they play {Show and Tell}, put in {Omniscience}, and play {Acererak the Archlich}.

We go to game two. I resolved a swift {Doomsday} with {Force of Will} and built a pile that lets me cycle into {Thassa's Oracle} if {Show and Tell} or {Aluren} arrives. My opponent activates {Boseiju, Who Endures}, to destroy one of my lands, but I have {Edge of Autumn} in hand. On my next turn, I cycle to a protected {Thassa's Oracle}, and we go to game three.

My opponent leads on a fetchland. I have land, {Dark Ritual}, {Doomsday}. The rest of my hand is {Consider}, {Island}, {Flow State}, {Misdirection}, and {Ponder}. When I cast {Doomsday}, they fetch and {Brainstorm}. {Doomsday} resolves.

{Consider} by Zezhou Chen

I build a pile of {Street Wraith}, {Thoughtseize}, {Thassa’s Oracle}, {Cavern of Souls}, {Thassa’s Oracle}. Everything goes according to plan: my opponent plays a land and casts another {Brainstorm}. They pass back. I draw {Street Wraith}, {Ponder} into the {Thoughtseize}, and cast it. They respond with {Veil of Summer}. That’s ok.

They pass again. I cycle to {Cavern of Souls} and play {Thassa's Oracle}. My opponent replicates a {Consign to Memory}; still fine. However, on their turn they play {Aluren} and pass. Now I am in a terrible position. I draw my last {Thassa's Oracle} and am forced to play it. They have the {Acererak the Archlich} over the top, and I lose.

This was a bad misplay on my part. {Cavern of Souls} does not need to be in my pile. Perhaps I was convinced I’d need the mana source to beat another {Boseiju, Who Endures}. but I know that deck plays only one, and it was pointless in game two, so I doubted my opponent would try again.

{Thassa's Oracle} by Jesper Ejsing

The {Cavern of Souls} should have been {Force of Will}. I don’t need to worry about {Force of Will} anyway, since I still had {Misdirection} and a blue card in my hand. The game can play out similarly, except this time when my opponent plays {Acererak the Archlich} I can {Force of Will} it. My opponent was very good and made top 8. Thank you for keeping my breakers good!

Round 3: [g][b] Pox WW (2-1)

I sat down across from my friend Matt Ivans of card-lending fame. We wrote about each other’s Eternal Weekends last year. We knew each other’s decks and chuckled at how small a 72-person event was.

Matt wins the die roll, and I mull to six. On his turn, he casts {Inquisition of Kozilek}, sees an instant kill, and takes my {Doomsday}. Unfortunately, I immediately cantrip into another one, and we go to game two.

Here, Matt plays an early {Disruptor Flute} on {Doomsday}. However, he doesn't have much pressure, and I build up a lot of mana. I cast a six-mana {Doomsday} and can win from there. Pox is likely an overall good matchup for {Doomsday}, as most decks without stack interaction are. However, Legacy decks are powerful, and there is ubiquitous hate, such as the aforementioned {Disruptor Flute}. I certainly don't feel like Pox is an auto-win, with their {Mox Diamond} acceleration, {Wasteland}, and hand disruption.

{Disruptor Flute} by Xavier Ribeiro

Round 4: [u][b] {Doomsday} WW (3-1)

Once again, I sit across from a player I’m on a first-name basis with. It’s Zach King, who made a strong run at Eternal Weekend last year on Turbo {Doomsday}. Again, we shrug at the sense of humor “random” pairings have.

I win the die roll, and in game one I have a turn-one kill. I go for it, Zach has no interaction, and I win. He also had the turn one, so it’s better lucky than good for me. In game two, I had early interaction and the {Doomsday}, and it ended fast. The mirror is pretty straightforward, and I drew slightly better.

Round 5: [u][r] WelderCam WLW (4-1)

My opponent is Herman, a previous Open champion. I know him as an excellent Tempo player, although for a while I have seen him playing Boros Energy. Before the tournament, a side comment put him on WelderCam, and we simply confirmed what we’re each playing.

{Goblin Bombardment} by Brian Snõddy

He’s on the play in game one. I {Force of Will} a {Goblin Welder}, then win. I take out all of my {Force of Will} and {Daze}, and bring in a smorgasbord of removal and utility cards. Herman has a clock, and I don’t do much, and we go to game three.

I have a turn one win and execute it. Cam is a fast combo deck and is very powerful, but my draw got me there.

Round 6: [g][b] Hogaak WW (5-1)

In game one, I have yet another turn-one kill. My opponent doesn’t interact. I sat near them in the previous round, but did not pay close attention — I know their deck has {Moonshadow}. I assume it is [u][b] Tempo and board accordingly. 

In game two, my opponent leads on {Bayou} and casts {Cabal Therapy}. With {Disruptor Flute} in hand, they name {Dark Ritual}, hoping to head off the turn one. Unfortunately, my mull to six is: {Doomsday}, {Lotus Petal}, {Lotus Petal}, {Lotus Petal}, fetchland, {Street Wraith}. I draw an inconsequential card and win. The moral of the story is to always, always name the card that beats you. My opponent was very nice, and we had a good conversation after the game. 

{Cabal Therapy} by Ron Spencer

Round 7: [u][w] Phelia WW (6-1)

After six rounds, I sat in seventh overall. Four other 5-1s can all intentional draw (ID) into the top 8. However, my opponent (who missed round one by going to the wrong Hex and Co!) was 4-1-1 and had to play. So we sit down for a win-and-in. These games are on camera and are very good.

I win the die roll and keep a {Doomsday} hand without enough mana. We play a few turns, and I use both of my {Thoughtseize}s. My opponent later said he thought I was on [u][b] Tempo at this point. I keep finding awkward cards off cantrips. My opponent has an attacking {Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student} and eventually a {Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd}.

The Phelia grows and eventually blinks a warped {Quantum Riddler}. Having drawn six or so cards off these interactions, I expect the worst. At the last possible moment, I have no choice but to take my shot. My opponent never found {Force of Will} or {Force of Negation}, and I win.

{Dark Ritual} by Sandra Everingham

In game two, my opponent plays a {Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student} and passes. I develop for a couple of turns, and my opponent misses a land drop or two. With three lands, I play my {Dark Ritual} and {Doomsday}. My opponent has a {Force of Will}, as do I.

After that stack clears, my opponent has a {Force of Negation}. With {Edge of Autumn} and {Brainstorm} in hand, I cast the emergency {Brainstorm}. I have several outs here, including my {Flusterstorm}. I find {Misdirection}, {Force of Will}, and another card. I quickly take the two blue cards and cast {Misdirection} on the {Force of Negation} (to save the point of life). My opponent calls a judge, who confirms that {Misdirection} works as I played it: upon resolution, {Force of Negation} fizzles because its target, my {Misdirection}, has already resolved.

{Misdirection} by Paolo Parente

With zero pressure, I build an incredibly safe pile. I pass, and my opponent adds {Lavinia, Azorius Renegade}, to the board. I draw and pass again. My opponent attacks and develops lands. I draw and pass for a third time. I sustain another attack and get the turn. I cycle twice, play {Cavern of Souls} naming Bard, use it to cast {Voice of Victory}, and cast {Thassa’s Oracle} with no options for my opponent.

After needing to play, I’m now the top seed. We take our awkward photos, and I proceed to my quarterfinals match.

Quarterfinals: [g][b] Hogaak WLW

In game one, I need to use the horrendous {Personal Tutor} to find a {Doomsday}. My notes make it look like my opponent cast {Thoughtseize}, and we’ll see on the video, but I proceed to win immediately. 

In game two, I mulligan to four. I keep land, {Doomsday}, {Brainstorm}, {Street Wraith}. This time my opponent's {Cabal Therapy} hits. I begin to develop, but the pressure from my opponent’s deck is immense. I find another {Doomsday}, get a {Lion’s Eye Diamond} into play. On the final turn, I can draw {Dark Ritual} and win on the spot, but I don’t find it.

{Lotus Petal} by April Lee

In game three, I mulliganed to five. My hand is {Lotus Petal}, {Lotus Petal}, {Personal Tutor}, {Street Wraith}, {Dark Ritual}. I use every resource, and cast {Doomsday}, build the pile, and pass with no cards in hand and no lands. My pile is a very straightforward {Lion’s Eye Diamond}, {Street Wraith}, {Consider}, {Street Wraith}, {Thassa’s Oracle}.

My opponent plays a {Moonshadow}. I draw, play my {Lion's Eye Diamond} to protect it from discard, and pass. My opponent plays a {Stitcher’s Supplier} and fetches an {Underground Mortuary}, hoping to buff the {Moonshadow} quickly to kill me. It isn’t enough damage, and I win on my turn. My opponent’s brother is watching and reveals that the {Boseiju. Who Endures} in hand could have destroyed the {Lion's Eye Diamond} and won the game.

This was a clear example of the extreme pressure wrought by {Doomsday}. I don’t fault any opponent at the end of a long day, unfamiliar with the intricacies of {Doomsday}, for missing a play. In any case, I think I built the only possible pile from that situation. My opponent plays much more discard than artifact-destruction effects, and anything I try needs to beat that.

Semifinals: [u][r] WelderCam WLL

My semifinals opponent is Rockford, fellow father of two and Gamestoria favorite. We have played many times.

In game one, I have the instant-kill. Rockford rolls his eyes, and we go to game two.

Rockford plays an early {Damping Sphere}. I cast a four-mana {Doomsday]. Rockford draws {Goblin Engineer}, plays it with haste off {Arena of Glory}, finds {Disruptor Flute}, and names {Edge of Autumn}. I lose to damage from a {Phyrexian Dragon Engine}, unable to cycle my {Street Wraith}s or cast two spells.

{Arena of Glory} by Piotr Dura

In game three, I have a swift {Doomsday} protected by {Force of Will} and a blue card. I build a straightforward and safe pile. Rockford plays {Lotus Petal} and {Urza’s Saga}. I decide to shove and lose to a replicated {Consign to Memory}, a two-of in Rockford’s deck. Good beats!

The tournament was a lot of fun, and thank you again to Chris for putting it together. Someday I’ll break through.

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Featured image: {Personal Tutor} by D. Alexander Gregory