| Remember when Esper Dragons hit the scene? It flexed its muscles in a big way at Grand Prix Krakow, where five of the Top 8 competitors were playing the powerful deck. But what you may not remember is that Grand Prix Krakow was almost six months ago! During those six months, it has been Siege Rhino this, Abzan Charm that, with a light dusting of Mantis Rider and Hangarback Walker to shake things up. But Michael Deidolori wasn't afraid to sleeve up the dragon based control deck and watching him do so took many by surprise. His win at #SCGWOR was a dominant one and may be a harbinger of things to come this weekend at #SCGMKE. As Battle For Zendikar spoilers keep making their way down the pipeline, it's going to be hard to say goodbye to this Standard format. For me, it has been the most fun Standard format to both watch and play. Rarely do we get to see this kind of balance and innovation during a year of action, but that's exactly what we have gotten. Just think of all the decks you could play—various forms of Abzan, various forms of Jeskai, Esper Dragons, G/R Dragons, G/R Devotion, Mono-White Devotion, Mono-Red Aggro. The list goes on and on and I'm hopeful that Battle For Zendikar brings the same kind of variety to Khans of Tarkir as Khans of Tarkir did to Theros. So what do I expect at #SCGMKE, our last Standard tournament with Theros? Truthfully, I don't know. I expected Abzan Aggro to destroy #SCGWOR last weekend, but Deidolori had other ideas with Esper Dragons. So, my best guess is to not make one at all because it's impossible to guess correctly. Like you, I will just sit back and watch all the action alongside Matthias Hunt, Ken Crocker, and the rest of the @SCGLive crew, as we prepare our for the Swan Song of one of the best Standard formats of all time. If you can't make it out to The Brew City for the last Theros/Khans of Tarkir Standard tournament, be sure to watch all the action at twitch.tv/SCGLive! — Cedric Phillips, Online Content Coordinator | | |  |  | Showing Off Your Prowess In Modern Abbot of Keral Keep was Patrick Chapin's pick for best card in Magic Origins. While many of us expected it to dominate in Standard, I don't think any of us expected to see it in Modern. Any of us except for The Innovator! Find out why Abbot and his Prowess friends are the real deal in Magic's most dynamic format. |  | Abzan Confluence It's not often that Andrew Boswell finds time to put pen to pad, but when he contacted me about writing an article, it would have been foolish of me to say no. This week, The Boz explains why Mana Confluence may have been the best card in Standard all along and why he wouldn't have been as successful without it. |  | Video: Treasure Hunt In Modern! Patrick Chapin's Temur Prowess deck might be the new best deck in Modern, but after watching this video by Gerry Thompson, there may be another deck vying for the title. If you've never seen Treasure Hunt + Zombie Infestation in action, this one is not to be missed. It even includes Gerry's signature wit. What's not to love!? | | | | | The reports of the death of Dragonlord Ojutai have been greatly exaggerated! The U/W Dragonlord played a key role in getting both Steven Hicks and Mike Deidolori to the finals of #SCGWOR. So the question became: Which shell is Dragonlord Ojutai better in? Jeskai or Esper? Watch and find out! |  | | Battle for Zendikar is almost upon us, but we still have one last big Standard tournament at #SCGMKE before Theros block and M15 rotate out. With that in mind, I recommend you play this powerful deck before rotation, so that Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver can get its proper sendoff into Modern! | | This list is a modified version of the deck played by Michael Deidolori to an Open Series win last weekend at #SCGWOR. I moved the copies of Jace, Vryn's Prodigy to the sideboard in favor of a few more removal spells in the main. I also cut the Dragonlord Silumgar so all of my opponent's creature removal spells are suboptimal at best. Furthermore, I added a copy of Orbs of Warding to the sideboard, bringing it to a total of two. I played against Mono-Red four different times with U/B Control this past weekend, so I really wanted to make sure that the list would have a better matchup against it and other aggressive decks for the weekend. Another very important change I made was to move the second copy of Ashiok from the sideboard to the main. As I'm sure you are aware, it's one of my favorite cards, as it is a mana-efficient way to take over a game. It is also a surprisingly effective card against Jeskai decks, as most Jeskai decks have great difficulty in removing Ashiok once it has been successfully cast. The final small change you might have noticed is with the manabase. I decided to cut a Haven of the Spirit Dragon for a Caves of Koilos. I am more concerned with having the correct colored mana available than returning a dragon in the late game. Your late game is strong enough against most decks and having access to all our spells early to avoid stumbling is more important. I think this updated list has a better matchup against aggressive strategies without sacrificing too much in the control matchups. Standard is winding down as we prepare for the new set, so play this powerful deck while you still have a chance! — Gerard Fabiano, @Gfabs5 | | The Standard format isn't the only thing rotating, as the Leaderboard for the Season Four points race continues to be in a state of constant flux. Thanks in large part to top finishes at #SCGWOR, the top of the Leaderboard has some new arrivals that are looking to make their way to the Players' Championship. Gerard Fabiano may not be a new name in the Magic world, but he is the new leader as far as Season Four points are concerned. Not only did Gerard finish in the Top 16 of #SCGWOR, but he also accumulated some extra points on our IQ circuit, catapulting him up the Leaderboard three spots. While the added pressure of being the current leader of the Season Four points race might get to some, it is business as usual for Gerard, who is looking to get back to the Players' Championship, where he finished as runner-up last year. If anyone can improve on that finish, it is Gerard Fabiano. Season Four may be all about the top of the Leaderboard, but it has its fair share of up-and-comers as well. One of those up-and-comers is Craig Rocco. |  | | Craig finished in the Top 32 of #SCGWOR and that finish, along with some points won on the IQ circuit, has moved him into our Leaderboard's Top 32. For all his hard work, Craig will now receive a bye at every Open Series event he attends, demonstrating that hard work really does pay off. Keep an eye out for Craig Rocco as he continues his ascent up the Leaderboard this season! While #SCGMKE is the Swan Song for Theros/M15 Standard before rotation, it still is a perfect time to acquire points in the Race to the Players' Championship. So come out to #SCGMKE to celebrate this Standard format's Last Breath! Can't make it to Milwaukee? Find an IQ near you and win points and prizes today! |  |  | | Friday, September 18 | | Invitational Qualifiers Newington, CT - Your Friendly Neighborhood Tabletop Shop Springfield, VA - Curio Cavern | Saturday, September 19 | | Invitational Qualifiers Arvada, CO - Game Heroes Carbondale, IL - GameFuzion Charlotte, NC - Get Some Game Columbia, MO - Magelings Games Dover, DE - TD4W Games Findlay, OH - Post Board Gaming Goose Creek, SC - Turtle Gaming Hatboro, PA - Stomping Grounds Lexington, KY - Legendary Games Lutherville, MD - Titan Games and Hobbies Nanuet, NY - ToyWiz Orlando, FL - Campus Cards & Games Prairieville, LA - Gamers Paradise Savannah, GA - The Guild Hall Sharonville, OH - Astonishing Comics and Games Steubenville, OH - Galaxy Games Youngtown, AZ - Game Boutique PPTQ (IQ Prizes) Augusta, GA - Augusta Book Exchange Morristown, TN - CM Games - Morristown San Antonio, TX - Dragon's Lair Comics and Fantasy GPT (IQ Prizes) Bay City, MI - The Stadium Clarksville, TN - Frontline Games | 1K Super Invitational Qualifiers Roanoke, VA - Star City Game Center GPT (1K Super IQ Prizes) Raleigh, NC - Event Horizon Games | Sunday, September 20 | | Invitational Qualifiers Baton Rouge, LA - Rocket's Hideout Cards & Games Boonton, NJ - Highlander Games & Comics Cary, NC - East Coast Gaming Cayce, SC - Ready To Play Trading Cards Dalton, GA - The Battlegrounds Games and Comics Danbury, CT - Gamers Gambit Kettering, OH - Mavericks Cards and Comics Lexington, KY - Legendary Games Lynbrook, NY - A Store of Fire and Dice Memphis, TN - Comic Cellar Cards, Comics & Games Overland, MO - Game Havel STL Roanoke, VA - Star City Game Center Toms River, NJ - Close Encounters Games PPTQ (IQ Prizes) Macon, GA - Prime Time Gaming Manteca, CA - War Torn Front | If you would like to unsubscribe and stop receiving these emails please click here. |
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