Magic at GenCon 2014 was a mild success, and the largest of the Vintage tournaments was held on Friday, August 15 2014. With the move of Vintage and Legacy Champs events offsite to the new ‘Eternal Weekend’ in Philly there were fewer players than in years past, but people still traveled from as far as California and the Carolinas in to Indianapolis in order to spar in the gentlemen’s format. Friday’s event drew 62 players to battle for an invite to the GenCon Invitational (where you win an all-expenses paid trip to next year’s GenCon), as well as various mediocre sealed product.
We’ve posted the Top 16 decklists in the first section, then noted all decks by player for a metagame breakdown in the next section, and then added pictures from our Twitter feed from our live coverage of the event in the final section.
A special thanks to head judge Ingrid Bergman, event judge Christopher Walton, and Pastimes for their help and cooperation in bringing you these decklists.
Top 8 Quarterfinals
1 Michael Swailes (UW StoneBlade) vs. 8 Frank L. (BUG Tempo) – Swailes wins
Frank L. (BUG) battles Michael Swailes (UW Stoneforge) in Top 8 Friday #GenCon #VintageMTG pic.twitter.com/9Nfnc82slh
— Eternal Central (@EternalCentral) August 15, 2014
4 Sam Krohlow (Delver 4C) vs. 5 JR Goldberg (Landstill URG) – Krohlow wins
#TeamSerious teammates @sillysam71 (4C Delver) vs @wrestlingbubble (URG Landstill) Top 8 Friday #GenCon #VintageMTG pic.twitter.com/vfBHXFTHFd
— Eternal Central (@EternalCentral) August 16, 2014
3 Ronald Rodgers (Forgemaster Workshops) vs. 6 Mike Kiesel (BUG Tempo) – Kiesel wins
Ron Rodgers (Forgemaster) vs. Mike Kiesel (BUG Tempo) square off in Top 8 Friday #GenCon #VintageMTG pic.twitter.com/6sAUbEwONF
— Eternal Central (@EternalCentral) August 16, 2014
2 Sean O’Brien (Forgemaster Workshops) vs. 7 Paul Callis (Burning Tendrils Oath) – O’Brien wins
#TeamTusk teammates Sean O'Brien (Forgemaster) vs. Paul Callis (Burning Oath) in Top 8 Friday #GenCon #VintageMTG pic.twitter.com/OLz41ZEJVz
— Eternal Central (@EternalCentral) August 16, 2014
Top 4 Semifinals
1 Michael Swailes (UW StoneBlade) vs. 4 Sam Krohlow (Delver 4C) – Krohlow wins
.@sillysam71 (4C Delver) vs. Michael Swailes (UW StoneBlade) in Top 4 Friday #GenCon #VintageMTG. Looks like Legacy! pic.twitter.com/XnA0yGtkgb
— Eternal Central (@EternalCentral) August 16, 2014
2 Sean O’Brien (Forgemaster Shops) vs. 6 Mike Kiesel (BUG Tempo) – Kiesel wins
Sean O'Brien (Forgemaster) getting dirty vs. Mike Kiesel (BUG Tempo) in Top 4 Friday #GenCon #VintageMTG pic.twitter.com/exHN4tdUoV
— Eternal Central (@EternalCentral) August 16, 2014
Top 2 Finals
4 Sam Krohlow (Delver 4C) vs. 6 Mike Kiesel (BUG Tempo) – Kiesel wins
Mike Kiesel (BUG Tempo) defeats @sillysam71 (4C Delver) to win Friday's #GenCon #VintageMTG pic.twitter.com/Da9uMaPU6n
— Eternal Central (@EternalCentral) August 16, 2014
Top 16 Decklists, by Final Standing
BUG
Delver
UW
Forgemaster
| [Business] (33) 4 Chalice of the Void 4 Thorn of Amethyst 3 Phyrexian Revoker 3 Lightning Greaves 1 Trinisphere 4 Metalworker 4 Lodestone Golem 4 Kuldotha Forgemaster 3 Wurmcoil Engine 1 Steel Hellkite 1 Triskelion 1 Sundering Titan [Mana Sources] (27) 1 Black Lotus 1 Mox Emerald 1 Mox Jet 1 Mox Pearl 1 Mox Ruby 1 Mox Sapphire 1 Mana Crypt 1 Sol Ring 1 Mana Vault 1 Tolarian Academy 4 Mishra’s Workshop 4 Ancient Tomb 4 Cavern of Souls 1 Strip Mine 4 Wasteland [Sideboard] (15) 4 Grafdigger’s Cage 3 Crucible of Worlds 3 Ratchet Bomb 2 Duplicant 2 Witchbane Orb 1 Batterskull[/Sideboard] |
Forgemaster
Landstill
| [Business] (34) 4 Force of Will 1 Misdirection 2 Mindbreak Trap 1 Mental Misstep 2 Spell Pierce 4 Mana Drain 4 Lightning Bolt 1 Fire//Ice 1 Ancient Grudge 1 Ancestral Recall 1 Time Walk 4 Standstill 3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor 3 Engineered Explosives 2 Crucible of Worlds [Mana Sources] (26) 1 Black Lotus 1 Mox Ruby 1 Mox Sapphire 4 Scalding Tarn 1 Polluted Delta 3 Volcanic Island 1 Tropical Island 3 Island 1 Mountain 4 Mishra’s Factory 1 Library of Alexandria 1 Strip Mine 4 Wasteland [Sideboard] (15) 2 Goblin Welder 1 Flusterstorm 4 Grafdigger’s Cage 2 Tormod’s Crypt 2 Pyroclasm 1 Red Elemental Blast 3 Ingot Chewer[/Sideboard] |
Burning
| [Business] (30) 4 Duress 2 Hurkyl’s Recall 2 Repeal 1 Vampiric Tutor 1 Demonic Tutor 4 Burning Wish 1 Ponder 1 Brainstorm 1 Ancestral Recall 1 Time Walk 4 Oath of Druids 1 Wheel of Fortune 1 Timetwister 1 Necropotence 1 Memory Jar 1 Yawgmoth’s Bargain 1 Mind’s Desire 2 Griselbrand [Mana Sources] (30) 4 Dark Ritual 1 Lion’s Eye Diamond 1 Lotus Petal 1 Black Lotus 1 Mox Opal 2 Chrome Mox 1 Mox Emerald 1 Mox Jet 1 Mox Pearl 1 Mox Ruby 1 Mox Sapphire 1 Mana Crypt 1 Sol Ring 1 Mana Vault 1 Tolarian Academy 4 Forbidden Orchard 4 City of Brass 3 Gemstone Mine [Sideboard] (15) 3 Show and Tell 1 Griselbrand 3 Ancient Tomb 1 Yawgmoth’s Will 1 Empty the Warrens 1 Tendrils of Agony 1 Nature’s Claim 1 Shattering Spree 1 Defense Grid 1 Windfall 1 Pyroclasm[/Sideboard] |
BUG
Oath,
Burning
Grixis
Grixis
4C
Delver
| [Business] (43) 4 Force of Will 2 Misdirection 3 Mental Misstep 2 Flusterstorm 2 Spell Pierce 3 Lightning Bolt 1 Ancient Grudge 1 Fire//Ice 1 Mystical Tutor 4 Gush 4 Preordain 1 Ponder 1 Brainstorm 1 Ancestral Recall 1 Time Walk 4 Delver of Secrets 4 Young Pyromancer 2 Snapcaster Mage 2 Trygon Predator [Mana Sources] (17) 1 Black Lotus 1 Mox Ruby 1 Mox Sapphire 4 Scalding Tarn 1 Polluted Delta 1 Flooded Strand 1 Misty Rainforest 3 Volcanic Island 2 Tropical Island 2 Island [Sideboard] (15) 4 Leyline of the Void 3 Grafdigger’s Cage 1 Nature’s Claim 2 Pyroblast 4 Ingot Chewer 1 Mountain[/Sideboard] |
Oath,
BUG
Metagame Report
Grouped by Deck
5C Humans – 1
4C Control – 3
BGW Junk – 1
Bomberman UW – 2
Bomberman UWB – 2
BUG Control – 2
BUG Tempo – 7
Burning Oath Tendrils – 3
Cobra Gush Storm – 1
Delver 4C – 1
Delver BUG – 1
Delver RUG – 2
Dredge – 2
Elves BG – 1
Forgemaster Workshops – 6
Gitaxian Storm – 2
Grixis Control – 6
Grixis Show and Tell – 1
GW Aggro Control – 1
Landstill URG – 1
Leyline Depths Combo BW – 1
Mono Blue Control – 1
Null Rod Workshops – 1
Oath – 6
Replenish Combo – 1
RW Workshop Aggro – 1
Sun Droplet/Pyrostatic Pillar/Spellshock.dec – 1
Survival Aggro – 1
UW StoneBlade – 2
Vampires BW – 1
Total: 62
Most Notably Absent: Grixis Welder Control, Doomsday, Smokestack Workshops, Merfolk
Very Loosely Grouped by Archetype
Dredge – 2
Forces (4C Control, Bomberman UW, Bomberman UWB, BUG Control, BUG Tempo, Cobra Gush Storm, Delver 4C, Delver BUG, Delver RUG, Grixis Control, Grixis Tezzeret Control, Grixis Show and Tell, Landstill URG, Mono Blue Control, Oath, Sun Droplet/Pyrostatic Pillar/Spellshock.dec, UW StoneBlade) – 39
Non-Force Combo (Burning Oath Tendrils, Gitaxian Storm, Leyline Depths Combo BW, Replenish Combo) – 7
Other (5C Humans, BGW Junk, Elves BG, GW Aggro Control, Survival Aggro, Vampires BW) – 6
Workshops (Forgemaster Workshops, Null Rod Workshops, RW Workshop Aggro) – 8
Total: 62
All Decks, by Player Last Name
Acton, Jon – Forgemaster Workshops
Adams, Jason – Grixis Control
Ata, David – Delver RUG
Ball, Benjamin – Gitaxian Storm
Becker, Adrian – Survival Aggro
Buck, Katie – Oath
Buck, Vincent – 4C Control
Bugoli, Anthony – Grixis Control
Callis, Paul – Burning Oath Tendrils
Crowley, Dave – Oath
Dafoe, Byrce – Dredge (w/ 4 Laboratory Maniac & 4 Griselbrand main)
Dixon, Thomas – BUG Control
Foster, Daniel – Mono Blue Control (w/ Consecrated Sphinx)
Franks, Justin – Burning Oath Tendrils
Frawley, Joshua – Forgemaster Workshops
French, Shawn – BGW Junk
Generas, Josh – Gitaxian Storm
Goldberg, JR – Landstill URG
Gouthro, Michael – Bomberman UWB
Hammack, Jon – Grixis Control
Hazard, Matt – RW Workshop Aggro
Hefner, Jessy – GW Aggro Control
Houin, Ryan – Sun Droplet/Pyrostatic Pillar/Spellshock.dec
Jaco, Jason – Delver BUG
Jafri, Ali – Oath
Jennings, Raymond – Grixis Control
Johnson, Richard – UW StoneBlade
Johnson, Sean – Forgemaster Workshops
Jones, Jeremy – 4C Control
Kiesel, Mike – BUG Tempo
Kohler, Justin – Bomberman UW
Kravitz, Mike – BUG Tempo
Krohlow, Sam – Delver 4C
Lapay, Chris – Grixis Show and Tell
Lastnamewithheldbyrequest, Frank – BUG Tempo
Littlechild, Alex – Replenish Combo
Ludowese, Ben – Elves BG
Ludowese, Nick – Vampires BW
Lura, Jason – BUG Control
Makino, Bernie – Grixis Control
Martens, William – Forgemaster Workshops
Mayes, John – Oath
Milian, Dan – Cobra Gush Storm
Miller, Greg – Leyline Depths Combo BW
Moes, Geoffrey – BUG Tempo
Moes, Nat – Bomberman UW
Moritz, CJ – Null Rod Workshops
O’Brien, Sean – Forgemaster Workshops
Ponce, Nate – Delver RUG
Prementine, Christopher – Burning Oath Tendrils
Robbins, Sean – Oath
Rodgers, Ronald – Forgemaster Workshops
Rao, Mith – 4C Control
Rowe, Brian – BUG Tempo
Sadler, Jordan – Bomberman UWB
Smith, Matt – Grixis Control
Stewart, Robert – BUG Tempo
Stierman, Steven – 5C Humans
Swailes, Michael – UW StoneBlade
Swan, Kevin – Oath
Todd, Dannon – Dredge (w/Ingot Chewers main)
Tosch, Jeff – BUG Tempo
Total: 62
Coverage Photos
(Click on any picture to expand photo)
Friday Vintage at #GenCon Round 2. 62 players; 6 rounds of Swiss + cut to Top 8 playoff! pic.twitter.com/VvugUB8W3R
— Eternal Central (@EternalCentral) August 15, 2014
Friday #VintageMTG at #GenCon Round 3 Fight! pic.twitter.com/tLJrmRPThT
— Eternal Central (@EternalCentral) August 15, 2014
Control Slaver rides again at #GenCon @wrestlingbubble w/ commanding position Round 3 vs. William Martens #VintageMTG pic.twitter.com/eJ2j79yKLO
— Eternal Central (@EternalCentral) August 15, 2014
Friday #GenCon #VintageMTG Round 4; old schooler Sean O'Brien tries to grind out his Bomberman opponent Jordan Sadler pic.twitter.com/NaLNvufced
— Eternal Central (@EternalCentral) August 15, 2014
Friday #GenCon #VintageMTG Serious Vintage podcast host Geoff Moes BUGs his Gush combo opponent Dan Milian pic.twitter.com/ktdxJoDJjI
— Eternal Central (@EternalCentral) August 15, 2014
Friday #GenCon #VintageMTG Round 4 Dannon Todd (Dredge) vs. Daniel Foster (Mono Blue Control). Back to Basics #FTW pic.twitter.com/ZIdV2vnFKX
— Eternal Central (@EternalCentral) August 15, 2014
Friday #GenCon #VintageMTG Round 4 @sillysam71 (4C Delver) vs. Michael Swailes (UW StoneBlade) pic.twitter.com/LPyd5PEcF4
— Eternal Central (@EternalCentral) August 15, 2014
Friday #GenCon #VintageMTG Round 4 @mithmtg (4C #Valuetown Special) vs. Mike Kravitz (BUG Tempo) pic.twitter.com/rQ0rV4zmoI
— Eternal Central (@EternalCentral) August 15, 2014
Friday #GenCon #VintageMTG Round 5 Bryce Dafoe (Dredge) vs. Mike Kiesel (BUG Tempo) pic.twitter.com/R94OmF2S2Y
— Eternal Central (@EternalCentral) August 15, 2014
Friday #GenCon #VintageMTG Round 6 #TeamTusk both @ top table. Paul Callis 1st turn Necro + Time Walk vs Sean O'Brien pic.twitter.com/466MlLXlkI
— Eternal Central (@EternalCentral) August 15, 2014
Friday #GenCon #VintageMTG Round 6 @wrestlingbubble learning that Jace > all, except Bernie Makino's Ral Zarek pic.twitter.com/FBWP3Nkee5
— Eternal Central (@EternalCentral) August 15, 2014
Friday #GenCon #VintageMTG Round 6 Ron Rodgers' Workshops try to hold off Jon Hammack's eventual Yawgmoth's Will FTW pic.twitter.com/NPbzYZT5MT
— Eternal Central (@EternalCentral) August 15, 2014
Final Swiss standings Friday #GenCon #VintageMTG pic.twitter.com/bzRMCQDrPm
— Eternal Central (@EternalCentral) August 15, 2014