Friday Night Magic: The Winner’s Circle #5

Hi Everybody! Bill Carrig here again in the Winner’s Circle. This week I’ve got FNM winner Robert Brittain with me. He was piloting a Green/White Deck featuring Trostani, Selesnya’s Voice and Archangel of Thune. Quite a nasty combo for a deck that generates a lot of creatures.

For reference here’s his decklist:
4x Elvish Mystic
4x Sylvan Caryatid
4x Voice of Resurgence
4x Fleecemane Lion
2x Loxodon Smiter
3x Trostani, Selesnya’s Voice
3x Archangel of Thune
3x Mistcutter Hydra
1x Kalonian Hydra
1x Spear of Heliod
2x Selesnya Charm
4x Advent of the Wurm
2x Ajani, Caller of the Pride
1x Elspeth, Sun’s Champion
4x Temple Garden
10x Plains
8x Forest

Sideboard
1x Soldier of the Pantheon
2x Bow of Nylea
1x Savage Summoning
1x Witchstalker
1x Glare of Heresy
1x Ratchet Bomb
3x Fiendslayer Paladin
2x Hunt the Hunter
1x Imposing Sovereign
1x Elixir of Immortality
1x Naturalize

Bill: Alright Rob, this deck seems pretty cool. You’ve got big guys and little guys, a decent mana curve, some ramp thrown in, a splash of planeswalkers and other token makers. I like it. It might be risky to play without guildgates, but that’s how I’d do it. Sylvan Caryatid can fix your mana for you. What else can you tell me about this deck?

Rob: I love the trostani/archangel combo! It gives all your dudes so many +1 counters. Making a turn 3 Advent of the Wurm on their turn to kill off an attacker is definitely one of my favorite moves in this deck. During one of my matches at this FNM, my opponent had about 7 creatures out, including 2 Kalonian Hydras at 8 counters each, and some other big dudes. I was down to 8 life. I put out Elspeth, Sun’s Champion and did her -3 to destroy all creatures with power 4 or greater and he was completely shocked as he was putting all but 2 of his creatures in his graveyard as i was left with most of mine. That right there was probably the best moment of the night!

Bill: Wow! Elspeth is definitely a powerhouse in our new standard format. I see that you’re just running the 1 for now. Do you have plans to add another?

Rob:  I would probably add 1 more Elspeth when I get another, but I’m not too sure though. I would hate drawing 2 of her in my opening hand instead of my early drops.

Bill: Right, at 6 she’s a late game bomb and you’re trying to be aggressive here. Have you considered Unflinching Courage? I’ve seen that do some work when paired up with a monstrous Fleecemain Lion.

Rob: Yes. I tried using Unfliching Courage, but I just had better results without it. With Trostani and Archangel, I have enough lifelink to keep me alive and my creatures power/toughness are high enough were they don’t need the boost to win.

Bill: Ok. That makes sense. So what’s the ideal matchup for this deck?

Rob: My favorite match up is against Red Deck Wins. I just side in my 3 Fiendslayer Paladins and see the pain on their faces when I get him out turn 2.

Bill: Ha ha! Sounds more like Red Deck Doesn’t Win! What do you have for the control matchup?

Rob: Mistcutter Hydra was a big card for me this FNM here. No one is really expecting a creature with haste facing a Green/White deck and it has pro blue! It’s great against control decks, but that’s probably my weakest matchup.

Bill: After the performance of Mono Blue at the Pro Tour this weekend, I’m sure we will see a lot more of that deck. Mistcutter Hydra will keep getting better and better! Any parting comments or shout outs you would like to add, Rob?

Rob: Shout outs to all judges and hard workers at Dave and Adam’s for providing an amazing gaming atmosphere for both new and serious players. I would love to see more and more people here every week!

Bill: Thanks Rob and congratulations! Just a reminder to all of you, we will be running our Theros Game Day this Saturday at 10am. Doors open at 9. I hope to see all of you again on Friday for another great FNM and Dave and Adam’s Card World on Transit Road. Maybe I’ll see you in the Winner’s Circle too!