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 Tutors, 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: 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: 
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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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: 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 Thoughtseizes. My opponent later said he thought I was on 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: 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: 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 Wraiths 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
