Showdown at High Noon | Vintage Tournament Report w/WelderCam

Magic: The Gathering · by Mbaskette · May 19, 2026

“Let’s run a proxy Vintage Event…”

—Musings among dedicated Magic players in the heart of Dallas, TX.

Why not? We all love Magic: The Gathering (MTG); we have a great community of about 25 dedicated players who attend weekly to play Legacy, and we all adore casting iconic spells such as {The One Ring}, {Force of Will}, {Swords to Plowshares}, among others.

I'm a “dirty combo player” who prefers spells that end the game, like {Tendrils of Agony} and {Show and Tell}. But how did we get here? Dedication and showing up every week.

I remember on Aug. 22, 2024, Legacy was in a bad place. [u][b] Rescaminator haunted metas, and our proud group of about 10 legacy players dwindled. Thursday Night Legacy had only five players.

{Grief} by Nicholas Gregory

On Aug. 26, 2025, Wizards of the Coast (WotC) banned {Grief}. That next Thursday, our five became 12. A new life was breathed into the format, and even though we would go through many iterations of “Players like [u][b] and want to cast their spells,” we kept showing up.

Fast forward to today. We routinely take up 11-plus tables for Eternal Magic. Inspired by our brothers (every close friend in Texas is considered Family) down in Houston with the Buffalo Chicken Dip series and Romancing the Stones in Austin, we decided we wanted more —we wanted a Western-themed showdown—why not? We Texans are proud.

North Texas Eternal Magic: High Noon Vintage Tournament Series

We created a sweet logo, had T-shirts made with sheriff and deputy badges for our volunteer staff, and, because Texas, we smoked some pulled pork, and had peach AND cherry cobblers for the event.

We knew we were onto something when someone came up with the start time of {High Noon}, and thus, the North Texas Eternal Magic: High Noon Vintage tournament series was born.

With an incredibly affordable $10 cash entry with full payout to the Top 8, and some foil-stamped promo cards for each player, the Top 8, and the champion, we were ready to duel. We even set up a recording for feature matches, which will be uploaded to our YouTube channel at a later date.

Twenty-Six players saddled up their horses and made their way to a small store in Farmers Branch, TX, named Milton’s Collectibles. Milton rented a play space next door to his TCG business, which was perfect for us to sling cardboard.

Players moseyed on down from Oklahoma City (194 miles), Waco (109 miles), and even Austin (210 Miles) to cast some even more iconic spells.

{Black Lotus} by Christopher Rush

Pause between each for Dramatic Effect

{Black Lotus}, The Moxen, {Time Walk}, {Ancestral Recall}, {Sewer-veillance Cam}..?

Yep, I decided to play TMNT slop. Also fueled by getting insane luck in getting the first-ever signed {Sewer-veillance Cam}s.

[u][r] Welder Cam

DECKLIST_START

Creatures (13)

4 {Goblin Welder} [r]
4 {Goblin Engineer} [1][r]
4 {Emry, Lurker of the Loch} [2][u]
1 {Chaos Defiler} [3][b][r]

Sorceries (9)

3 {Stock Up} [2][u]
2 {Lórien Revealed} [3][u][u]
1 {Demonic Tutor} [1][b]
1 {Gitaxian Probe} [up]
1 {Time Walk} [1][u]
1 {Tinker} [2][u]

Instants (7)

4 {Force of Will} [3][u][u]
1 {Ancestral Recall} [u]
1 {Mental Misstep} [up]
1 {Intuition} [2][u]

Artifacts (19)

3 {Sewer-veillance Cam} [u]
2 {Arcum's Astrolabe} [s]
1 {Black Lotus} [0]
1 {Bolas's Citadel} [3][b][b][b]
1 {Legion Extruder} [1][r]
1 {Mana Crypt} [0]
1 {Mox Emerald} [0]
1 {Mox Jet} [0]
1 {Mox Pearl} [0]
1 {Mox Ruby} [0]
1 {Mox Sapphire} [0]
1 {Sensei's Divining Top} [1]
1 {Sol Ring} [1]
1 {Vexing Bauble} [1]
1 {Manifold Key} [1]
1 {Time Vault} [2]

Lands (12)

4 {Scalding Tarn}
3 {Snow-Covered Island}
1 {Snow-Covered Mountain}
1 {Tolarian Academy}
1 {Underground Sea}
1 {Urza's Saga}
1 {Volcanic Island}

Sideboard

2 {Abrade} [1][r]
2 {Consign to Memory} [u]
1 {Echoing Truth} [1][u]
1 {Flusterstorm} [u]
1 {Hurkyl's Recall} [1][u]
1 {Null Rod} [2]
1 {Pithing Needle} [1]
1 {Portal to Phyrexia} [9]
2 {Pyroblast} [r]
1 {Soul-Guide Lantern} [1]
1 {Sphinx of the Steel Wind} [5][w][u][b]
1 {Tormod's Crypt} [0]

DECKLIST_END

I did not create this list. All credit to Justin Gennari, also known as IamActuallyLvL1 on Magic: The Gathering Online (MTGO).

Lately, I have been a “pig who eats slop” and haven't played a single game of Vintage. I watched Justin’s 5-0 league on MTGO, and I was SOLD.

I've been enjoying WelderCam Combo in Legacy. While there’s still debate about whether it’s competitive or how to build the list, one thing is for sure: it’s crazy fun. The lines to win games feel like your mind is unlocking new power.

{Touch of Brilliance} by Kaja Foglio

With Vintage powered cards, it feels like when Chancellor Palpatine zaps Mace Windu with 1,000,000 gigawatts of electricity in Revenge of the Sith (UNLIMITED POWER). 

What's the Combo?

If you’re unaware of how the combo works, {Goblin Welder} activates to weld {Sewer-weillance Cam} for an artifact card in your graveyard. Sewer-veillance Cam untaps {Goblin Welder} when it leaves the battlefield, allowing you to activate {Goblin Welder} again.

This combo is quite resilient. Drawing your deck and infinite damage gets around opposing {Null Rod}s and sphere effects. The Vintage version sees an upgrade in {Bolas's Citadel}, which is tutorable via {Goblin Engineer}, then weld it into play or cast it with {Emry, Lurker of the Loch}.

{Sewer-veillance Cam} by Nicholas Gregory

{Black Lotus} is super powerful, and I found that in most of my games, I tutored it out with {Urza’s Saga}. Tutoring, sacrificing, and recasting {Black Lotus} with {Emry, Lurker of the Loch}, is an easy way to power huge spells like {Portal to Phyrexia}, {Lorien Revealed}, or {Bolas's Citadel}.

I had a turn where I used {Emry, Lurker of the Loch}, multiple times to recast {Black Lotus} make [u][u][u], sacrificing my {Sewer-veillance Cam} to draw two, untapping {Emry, Lurker of the Loch}, and recasting {Black Lotus}, cast {Sewer-veillance Cam}, and repeat.

Despite some pretty good plays during the event, however, I, as a self-proclaimed juggernaut of mediocrity, decided to fail myself in deckbuilding by making a few changes to the list.

{Brainstorm} by DiTerlizzi

In Justin’s original video, he mentioned wanting {Brainstorm} or {Gitaxian Probe}, and that maybe the correct number of {Sewer-veillance Cam}s was less than four. I cut one {Sewer-veillance Cam} and one {Stock Up}, for a {Gitaxian Probe} (which won me a game) and an {Intuition}, which is super fun in Legacy when you tutor three {Sewer-veillance Cam}s, but it felt so clunky in Vintage.

Missing that fourth {Sewer-veillance Cam} absolutely lost me one, possibly two games. If I play the list again, I would absolutely play the fourth {Sewer-veillance Cam} and find a different cut. 

Anyway, you’re probably ready to sit around a campfire and hear some tales, so let’s get to the tournament.

{Golos, Tireless Pilgrim} by Joseph Meehan

Round One vs Golos Shops | LWW

Game One

Opponent opened with a typical aggro-Shops hand featuring {Patchwork Automaton} and two {Stonecoil Serpent}s. I landed an early {Emry, Lurker of the Loch} to hold off one {Stonecoil Serpent}, but a {Sphere of Resistance} slowed me down, and shops finished me off.

Game Two

Opponent opened on {Black Lotus} into {Null Rod}. I landed {Goblin Welder} and built up free mana that I couldn’t tap while they lacked pressure.

End step, I welded away {Null Rod} for their {Black Lotus}, untapped, used my mana rocks, welded {Null Rod} back in for a {Sphere of Resistance} to reduce costs, then cast {Chaos Defiler} to kill {Golos, Tireless Pilgrim}, and win.

Game Three

Opponent had a turn one {Sphere of Resistance} into turn two {Wurmcoil Engine}, but I answered with turn two {Tinker} for {Sphinx of the Steel Wind} and closed it out.

{Opposition Agent} by Scott Murphy

Round Two vs Rakdos {Opposition Agent} Combo | WW

Game One

I made two constructs with a turn one {Urza's Saga}. My opponent cast {Opposition Agent} in response to my {Urza Saga}'s search, then untapped and locked out my draws with {Mornsong Aria}.

Fortunately, my constructs were already 5/5s, and {Legion Extruder} let me swap them for 3/3s in response to the {Rakdos Charm}s my opponent kept searching, so they still went the distance.

Game Two

I {Mental Misstep}ped their turn one {Dark Ritual}, then played {Goblin Welder}, {Black Lotus}, {Legion Extruder}, and {Sol Ring}. They cast a turn two {Opposition Agent}, but I untapped, swapped {Legion Extruder} for {Black Lotus}, cast {Sewer-veillance Cam}, and combo’d off.

{Dark Ritual} by Sandra Everingham

Round Three vs Matt Batista (Top 8 EW 2025) on Mono [b] Scam | LWL

Game One

After {Mental Misstep}ping Matt’s turn one {Dark Ritual}, I built a board with {Arcum's Astrolabe}, mana rocks, {Emry, Lurker of the Loch}, and {Goblin Engineer}. Matt cast {Sedgemoor Witch}.

I had a big combo turn with {Emry, Lurker of the Loch}, {Black Lotus}, and {Sewer-veillance Cam}'s second ability to draw two cards. That eventually led me to cast {Bolas's Citadel}, where I continued to combo. Down the fourth {Sewer-Veillance Cam}, however, left me short of the kill, and I fizzled with 10 cards left in my library.

There were two times in this game where I was one mana short of casting {Time Vault} off of {Emry, Lurker of the Loch}, {Goblin Engineer}ing a {Manifold Key} to the graveyard, and winning the game.

Game Two

I started with mana rocks into {Goblin Welder} and {Emry, Lurker of the Loch}, which milled {Time Vault}. Matt opened on {Barrowgoyf} and {Fatal Push} for {Goblin Welder}.

I assembled Vault-Key combo with a top deck {Goblin Engineer}, but felt dead to my {Mana Crypt} and an onboard {Mai, Scornful Striker} from Matt; I had no onboard pressure. I proceeded to win five straight {Mana Crypt} flips, finally topdecking a {Chaos Defiler} to deal with {Mai, Scornful Striker}, and then {Tinker}ed my {Mana Crypt}.

Game Three

Matt opened with {Thoughtseize} into {Mai, Scornful Striker}, and cleared my constructs with {Fatal Push}es. Between {Mai, Scornful Striker}, and {Bolas's Citadel}, every spell cost a ton of life; I couldn’t get there. {Mai, Scornful Striker}, dealt all 20 damage to me and 14 to Matt.

{Paradoxical Outcome} by Nils Hamm

Round Four vs Grixis PO Lurrus | WLW

Game One

My opponent and I started slowly. They found multiple {Paradoxical Outcome}s (draw two; draw five, respectively) but seemed to only draw mana. I {Tinker}ed for {Bolas's Citadel} that went {Into the Flood Maw}. I resolved it again, a few turns later, with a {Black Lotus} and found the {Time Vault} combo.

Game Two

My opponent quickly assembled {Hexing Squelcher} plus {Time Vault}, and I was stuck with two {Force of Will}s and two {Pyroblast}s stranded in my hand.

Game Three

Opponent and I traded resources back and forth, including me forcing a turn-one, kicked {Thundertrap Trainer}. I {Force of Will}ed {Karn, The Great Creator}, and eventually hit {Tinker} into {Sphinx of the Steel Wind}.

{Clarion Conqueror} by Nathaniel Himawan

Round Five vs Mono [w] Initiative | LL

Game One

Opponent led with {Cavern of Souls}, naming human into {Chrome Mox}, which I {Force of Will}ed. They cast {Mana Crypt} into {Void Mirror}. I untapped and cast {Goblin Welder}, and passed.

Opponent played {Karakas} and cast {Clarion Conqueror}. The following turn, they cast {Anointed Peacekeeper}. I died pretty quickly after.

Game Two

I kept a hand of {Volcanic Island}, {Goblin Welder}, {Sensei's Divining Top}, {Sewer-veillance Cam}, {Abrade}, and {Mental Misstep}. My opponent revealed a {Chancellor of the Annex}.

I played {Volcanic Island} (doh!), planning to hold up pay life plus mana for {Mental Misstep}. Opponent {Wasteland}ed my {Volcanic Island}.

I played {Island}, cast {Sensei's Divining Top}, which was countered by {Chancellor of the Annex}, and passed. Opponent played {Cavern of Souls}, naming dragon, cast {Black Lotus} into {Clarion Conqueror}. I cry. I never recover or draw another land as OP has tombs to power out more three- and four-drop creatures.

{Mai, Scornful Striker} by Hori Airi

Top 8 vs Mono [b] Scam | LWL

I was pretty satisfied with a 3-2, especially because one of my losses was a really close match against Matt, and it was my first foray into Vintage. The pulled pork hit the spot, and someone brought some peach habanero jam for it.

Top 8 was announced, and I was surprised to see that breakers went my way and I made it in, but I would have to rematch with Matt, who was the two seed.

Game One

I {Mental Misstep}ped Matt’s turn one {Dark Ritual}, then developed with {Arcum's Astrolabe}, {Mana Crypt}, {Emry, Lurker of the Loch}, and {Goblin Engineer} for {Black Lotus}.

Matt built pressure with {Barrowgoyf}, {Grief}, and {Sedgemoor Witch} over a few turns. I wound up at four life. I used {Goblin Engineer} to weld back {Black Lotus} and cast {Chaos Defiler} to kill {Barrowgoyf}, but {Chain of Smog} made infinite tokens with {Sedgemoor Witch}, and I conceded.

Game Two

I opened on {Urza's Saga}, two Moxen into {Emry, Lurker of the Loch}, milling {Chaos Defiler}. Matt cast {Dark Ritual} into {Thoughtseize}, which I {Force of Will}ed. He {Reanimate}d my {Chaos Defiler} to kill {Emry, Lurker of the Loch}. I ate damage a few turns. 

My {Urza's Saga} found {Black Lotus}, and with a {Sol Ring} and more land drops, I hardcast {Portal to Phyrexia}, but {Chaos Defiler}’s death trigger destroyed it. I then topdecked {Gitaxan Probe} into {Tinker} for {Sphinx of the Steel Wind}, which carried the game.

Game Three

Matt opened on {Black Lotus}, {Vexing Bauble}, and {Barrowgoyf}. I opened with {Sol Ring} into {Sensei's Divining Top}. His {Thoughtseize} took my {Stock Up}.

My turn two {Emry, Lurker of the Loch} died to {Fatal Push}. I cast {Time Walk} into {Goblin Engineer} for {Black Lotus}, but wasn't left with much else. I answered a {Vexing Bauble} with {Abrade}. I was one mana short of casting the {Bolas's Citadel} in my hand.

After he attacked with a {Barrowgoyf} and whiffed, I cast {Goblin Welder}. Matt cast {Sheoldred, The Apocalypse}, and {Demonic Tutor} to {Fatal Push} my blocker, and finish me off.

{Fresh Meat} by Dave Allsop

That's Some Good Gaming

At the end of the day. I played Magic for seven hours on my $10 entry, scored two promo cards, a few bucks, an unhealthy amount of BBQ and Desserts, but most importantly, the reaffirmation of the amazing community we have for Eternal Magic in the North Texas area. Oh yeah, and my new unceasing desire to play more Vintage now.

For information about North Texas Eternal Magic, check out our website!

NTXMTG.com

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Featured image: {Goblin Welder} by Scott M. Fischer