Bold Predictions Gone Right

After coming back from the summer, I heard about 3 decks that have become very powerful pro-level decks. All 3 I had thought about and conceptualized before they exploded in popularity. The 3 decks? Life Gain (called Soul Sisters by Conley Woods), Pyromancer Ascension, and Primeval Pinnacle.

The life gain I was originally working on was WB to utilize lifelinking vampires and Sanguine Bond. In addition to Sanguine Bond, I used Felidar Sovereign as a win condition. The Soul Sisters list is fairly similar, but Serra Ascendant is a simply amazing addition from M11. Here's My decklist

The pyromancer ascension deck I have is different from the pro-tour list because I run Kiln Fiend and Surrakur Spellblade. Here is my decklist

The Primeval Pinnacle deck was one I first found on Channel Fireball back when Worldwake was just released. Obviously Primeval Titan wasn't released yet,but the deck was still very powerful. That later became the RUG deck that did insanely well on the pro tour that was Zendikar Block constructed. I don't play RUG because I don't want to buy 4x Jace TMS. The deck hasn't changed much, just became more popular. Here is my decklist

I have had the pyromancer ascension deck for a while, and have already written about it in this blog. I just finished putting together the other 2 decks recently, so I recorded a game of Lifegain vs Primeval Pinnacle.

Lifegain won the roll and kept an opening hand of 7 consisting of:
Kabira Crossroads
2x Plains
Soul's Attendant
Soul Warden
Ajani Goldmane
Baneslayer Angel

Titan also kept an opening hand of 7 consisting of:
Valakut, the Molten Pinnicle
Terramorphic Expanse
Mountain
Harrow
Cultivate
Primeval Titan
Comet Storm

Turn 1:
Life went first playing a Plains followed by Soul's Attendant.
Titan (D - Mountain) played a Terramorphic Expanse that fetched a forest.
20 - 20

Turn 2:
Life (D - Serra Ascendant) played Kabira Crossroads and then Soul Warden, and attacked with the Soul's Attendant [Looking back, the better play was plains, Soul Warden, Serra Ascendant, then attack]
Titan (D - Valakut) played Valakut and then passed
23 - 19

Turn 3:
Life (D - Survival Cache) played a plains, then the Survival Cache, which drew another Survival Cache, and then attacked for 2.
Titan (D - Explore) played a Mountain followed by Harrow, sacrificing a forest to find a forest and a mountain. Then, with those 2 lands I played Explore (D - Mountain) and played a second Valakut
25 - 17

Turn 4:
Life had Survival Cache rebound (D - Plains, War Priest of Thune), then played a plains followed by Serra Ascendant and another Survival Cache (D - Plains), and attacked for another 2.
Titan (D - Khalni Heart Expedition) played a mountain followed by Cultivate, which put a Forest into play and a Mountain in hand.
31 - 15

Turn 5:
Life had Survival Cache rebound (D - Baneslayer Angel, Plains) and played a plains and Baneslayer, then attacked for 8, gaining 6 off lifelink
Titan (D - Harrow) started the turn by playing Khalni Heart Expedition and then a mountain. Harrow, sacrificing a forest, fetched 2 mountains which started the insane activations of Valakut. Each Mountain played because 2 free lightning bolts. The 12 damage was split 6&6 to kill the Baneslayer and the Serra Ascendant. Then the Khalni Heard Expedition was sacrificed for a forest and a mountain. The mountain created 2 lightning bolts killing the Soul Sisters.
41 - 7

Turn 6:
Life (D - Plains) played the plains, and then played Soul Warden followed by Baneslayer.
Titan (D - Oracle of Mul Daya) played a Mountain, which killed the Baneslayer, and then Primeval Titan, fetching the last 2 copies of Valakut, the Molten Pinnicle. [There are only 4 more mountains in the deck, and with the opponent at 43 life, we need to make sure each mountain does as much damage as possible. The current board position is stable enough at the moment to allow for preparation]
43 - 7

Turn 7:
Life (D - Sunspring Expedition) played War Priest of Thune and Ajani Goldmane, and then used Ajani's +1 ability.
Titan (D - Destructive Force) tapped out for Comet Storm, dealing 9 damage each to both enemy creatures, Ajani, and the opponent's life total. Then, I attacked with the Primeval Titan, fetching a pair of Mountains, each of them doing 12 damage to the face.
7-7

Turn 8:
Life drew a Soul Warden and conceded.

I think this was a really cool game that exemplified the power of both of these decks. I think if I didn't make the play mistake for the Life deck on turn 2, things could have ended very differently , because there would have been more pressure on the Primeval player. I look forward to playing Primeval Force at tonight's (TONIGHT!!) fnm.