Enchanting Worcester

Hello Everyone!

This past weekend was GP Boston located an hour's drive from Boston in a sleepy hollow called Worcester.  I really don't know why they just don't call the event GP Worcester instead of changing back and forth between Boston, Worcester, and Boston-Worcester, but hey I guess logic doesn't always win.

I was planning on playing in the main event, however my girlfriend had an uncle die last week and the funeral was supposed to happen Friday, but it got bumped back to Saturday, so I did what simply seemed right and proper and went to the funeral instead of playing in the GP. I wound up getting into Worcester late Saturday, stayed the night in my friend's apartment, and then went in Day 2 specifically to play the TCG Platinum Legacy event.

Here's the list I registered for the event:

4x Argothian Enchantress

4x Enchantress's Presence
4x Wild Growth
4x Utopia Sprawl
3x Solitary Confinement
3x Sterling Grove
4x Elephant Grass
2x Mirri's Guile
1x Runed Halo
1x Sigil of the Empty Throne
1x MOAT
1x Words of War
1x Oblivion Ring

2x Replenish
4x Enlightened Tutor

2x Chrome Mox
4x Forest
2x Plains
2x Savannah
1x Taiga
1x Karakas
2x Serra Sanctum
4x Windswept Heath
2x Wooded Foothills
1x Verdant Catacombs

If you have never seen Enchantress play out, which I'm guessing is most people considering the deck is basically never played, I will be writing a piece on it probably tomorrow that should cover everything you need to know on how to play it, and some budget options so you don't have to break the bank over things like Moat.

Here's how the event went:

Round 1: Storm

This is easily my worst matchup, and game 1 was good evidence of that. Game 2 I thought I had him by having a Runed Halo naming Tendrils of Agony, an Elephant Grass in hand, and a Sterling Grove in play protecting the Halo, but he just Echoing Truthed the Grove, rituated a ton, tutored for a Past in Flames, recurred the rituats, bounced the halo, and then killed my with Tendrils.

0-2
0-1

Round 2: Esper-Blade

This is normally a good matchup for me, however he got me in 3 long grinding games. All of the games were close but he just got there. I was surprised and frankly disappointed at the loss, but I guess you still have to lose 2/5 of the time in your 60/40 advantage matchup.

1-2
0-2

Round 3: Merfolk

This guy's deck was SWEET! Everything was foil and judge promos were all around! However, he also had a decent matchup against me. This matchup obviously revolves around the red zone, so Elephant Grass and Moat are my game plans. Unfortunately for me, it didn't quite work too well and I lost in 3. However, he said he was dropping anyways, so he gave me the win

1-2
1-2

Round 4: Counter-Top

This matchup was obviously very slow and grindy, so naturally I was advantaged. Game 1 I was able to stick an early Enchantress and crush him hunder the weight of my card advantage followed up with Words of War. Game 2 was much of the same, but I won with Angel tokens insead.

2-0
2-2

Round 5: Zombies

This round started off so casually and fun as we were just joking around ad having a grand old time. This quickly changed however when I quickly prevented him from dealing me any damage because of Elephant Grass and a Runed Halo on Goblin Bombardment. Game 2 went in a similar fashion, although he was able to beat me down to 6 before I drew into the Grass and locked him out.

2-0
3-2

Round 6: RUG

This game was insane! Game 1 he dropped me down to 1 life before I stabilized and set up the double enchantress + Solitary Confinement lock. I was playing very loose and tired though by this point and twice I forgot to discard for Confinement. My opponent immediately pointed it out, and I immediately sacrificed it. Thankfully, I had a Replenish to save my butt! Game 2 rather hilarious. I ramped into a turn 3 or 4 Baneslayer Angel and he just sat there for a second looking at it. As it turns out, the burn in his hand was a Fire // Ice, he had a Grim Lavamancer in play, and only 3 mana so he just barely couldn't do it. Baneslayer attacked him 5 times and that was the game, ending with me at 27 life!

2-0
4-2

Round 7: Maverick

This was another very straightforward and easy matchup. I was worried that this turn 2 Thalia was going to cause me problems, but I quickly learned that while it can be obnoxious, Thalia doesn't really do much... I have 19 lands (6 of which are basic), 2 Mox, and 8 ramp enchantments for a total 29 mana sources in the deck. Having to pay 1 additional didn't even matter! The one thing that's tricky about maverick is that without Knight of the Reliquary, the deck doesn't really apply much pressure. He didn't draw knight game 1 and so I was able to lock him out while at 7 life and then fly over the top for the kill. Game 2, once again, was one solely by Baneslayer Angel. I dropped the angel while at 12 life, and the rest is history from there. The lifelink kept me well ahead in the race and I won at 15 life.

2-0
5-2

I actually felt like this was a perfect deck for the event! Storm is easily the worst matchup, but no one is playing storm right now! The format is very fair, and so Enchantress is actually well positioned. If the meta doesn't change much, then I think this is a perfectly legitimate choice going forwards. I think the Chrome Moxes are unnecessary until the format speeds up again, so I will have to do some investigative work to see what I should replace them with. I know I definitely want a second Runed Halo, but we will see....

That's all I have for today! Until next time, stay classy!

Ryan Lackie
Ryan.Lackie92@gmail.com
@ThingsILack