Wednesday, September 14, 2011

An Ode to Rogue

Last week I calculated averages of the top decks in Classic Pauper according to the daily event results. This week I'm going to be looking at those brave souls who not only showed up with something different, but did so and won. All the decks I look at today went 3-1 or better in at least one daily event in the last six weeks.

There were actually a lot of "rogue decks" to look through. Most of them were variations of the top decks. A few were even merges of two different top decks. Some known but out of style decks also showed up: Mystical Teachings, Slivers, Elves, Boros, and white/blue bounce. There was a white/blue aggro deck, a Kiln Fiend/Wee Dragonaut burn deck, and a few blue/red control/burn types.

I selected five of my favorite decks. I have a lot of respect for all the people who brought one of these decks whether I included it in my top five or not (you know who you are). I've taken the liberty of naming these. I've listed them in no particular order.


Jace's Erasure

LennonMarx - Pauper Daily #2628549 on 07/31/2011 - 4-0



Main

Sideboard



2 Azorius Chancery
3 Evolving Wilds
3 Forest
5 Island
3 Lonely Sandbar
2 Plains
1 Secluded Steppe
1 Simic Growth Chamber
2 Terramorphic Expanse
4 Arcane Denial
4 Brainstorm
4 Dawn Charm
4 Ethereal Haze
4 Jace's Erasure
4 Moment's Peace
2 Muddle the Mixture
1 Oona's Grace
4 See Beyond
3 Vision Skeins
4 Words of Wisdom

3 Counterspell
3 Hydroblast
2 Oblivion Ring
3 Relic of Progenitus
4 Rest for the Weary

Artifact Boros

Check_Raise33 - Pauper Daily #2653733 on 08/08/2011 - 4-0



Main

Sideboard



4 Ancient Den
4 Great Furnace
6 Mountain
6 Plains
4 Court Homunculus
4 Glint Hawk
4 Goblin Legionnaire
4 Kor Skyfisher
4 Squadron Hawk
4 Bonesplitter
4 Chain Lightning
4 Incinerate
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Searing Blaze
2 Volcanic Hammer

1 Circle of Protection: Black
2 Crimson Acolyte
2 Dust to Dust
2 Gorilla Shaman
4 Pyroblast
4 Standard Bearer

Four Color Control

lazzanja - Pauper Daily #2653724 on 08/06/2011 - 4-0



Main

Sideboard



1 Azorius Chancery
1 Dimir Aqueduct
2 Evolving Wilds
3 Island
1 Mountain
3 Plains
4 Rupture Spire
3 Swamp
2 Terramorphic Expanse
3 Aven Riftwatcher
3 Blind Hunter
3 Faceless Butcher
4 Mulldrifter
3 Sea Gate Oracle
1 Azorius Signet
1 Dimir Signet
1 Disturbed Burial
2 Evincar's Justice
3 Fieldmist Borderpost
3 Journey to Nowhere
3 Momentary Blink
2 Oblivion Ring
1 Orzhov Signet
4 Terminate
3 Veinfire Borderpost

3 Castigate
1 Echoing Decay
1 Evincar's Justice
3 Faultgrinder
3 Ingot Chewer
3 Mournwhelk
1 Vendetta

Four Color Creatures

daxerz - Pauper Daily #2586663 on 07/14/2011 - 3-1



Main

Sideboard



4 Evolving Wilds
4 Forest
3 Island
2 Khalni Garden
6 Plains
4 Terramorphic Expanse
4 Kor Skyfisher
4 Kozilek's Predator
2 Mulldrifter
4 Nest Invader
4 Sea Gate Oracle
4 Squadron Hawk
4 Suture Priest
3 Foresee
4 Inspired Charge
4 Journey to Nowhere

4 Hindering Touch
4 Swamp
4 Warren Pilferers
1 Whitesun's Passage
2 Yavimaya Wurm

30 Snow-Covered Swamps!

Tocawe - Pauper Daily #2536975 on 07/14/2011 - 3-1



Main

Sideboard



30 Snow-Covered Swamp
4 Drift of the Dead
4 Fog of Gnats
4 Bubbling Muck
4 Consume Spirit
4 Corrupt
4 Drain Life
2 Grasp of Darkness
4 Pestilence

4 Disciple of the Vault
3 Dross Golem
3 Festercreep
1 Grasp of Darkness
4 Nausea

Building your own deck to win at the kitchen table or in the casual room is one thing, but building a deck that can win at a high level is another. I know daily events aren't the Pro Tour, but these are tournaments with prize packs and entry fees on the line. Congrats to these brewmasters. Note Jace's Erasure was played by multiple people; I just choose the first in my list.

For some players their goal is simple: win. Whether they use a rogue deck or Public Enemy No. 1 is irrelevant. I respect this, but to me, deck building is the most enjoyable part of Magic, and building a tournament level deck is more impressive than winning with an existing one. Not to mention sometimes these rogue decks become not-so-rogue and win consistently at the top tables. Somebody put together each tier one deck for the first time.

Winning three matches in a Daily Event with your own deck is an accomplishment. Fancy yourself a deck builder? Can one of your creations hang with the big dogs?

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