March Magic Madness - Divisional Semis - Lands, Instants, Sorceries, Enchantments

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KrazyCaley

28 March 2013

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We're down to four contenders in each bracket, which means we're in the round of 32 overall. Who will move on to the finals for each bracket? As always, if you haven't voted yet on prior brackets, go to the bottom and do so.

Land Semifinals


(1) Original Dual Lands (i.e. Bayou )

Mishra's Workshop puts up a nasty fight, but completely breaking any artifact deck couldn't keep up with the flexibility of straight-up untapped dual lands.

vs.

(11) Shocklands (i.e. Overgrown Tombfoil )

The low-seeded Shocklands continue their march through the bracket, disposing of the $100+ The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale in the process. But now they're up against something strictly better. Will their more recent use and cheaper price see them through?


(5) Cabal Coffers

Cabal Coffers proves too much for the humble basic lands. but has a tough matchup to make it to the land finals.

vs.

(2) Tolarian Academy

Just barely scratching out a victory against the fetchlands, Tolarian Academy will now determine whether players prefer really crazy amounts of blue or black mana.


Instant Semifinals


(1) Ancestral Recall

Path to Exile was a worthy opponent, but couldn't stand up to one of the Power Nine.

vs.

(4) Lightning Bolt

In an entertaining, high-class matchup, Bolt defeats Dark Ritual, but now must get past perhaps the most overpowered card of all time to proceed.


(3) Swords to Plowshares

Force of Will took the early lead, but Swords made an authoritative comeback to ensure that only the top four seeds would remain.

vs.

(2) Counterspell

Capsize offered little resistance, and now we'll have a duel between two of the finest control tools in the game.


Sorceries Semifinals


(1) Time Walk

No contest vs. Yawgmoth's Will, which, while broken, is not as broken as the almighty Time Skeletons.

vs.

(6) Tinker

Tinker handles Armageddon with surprising ease. But will this banned artifact tutor be able to match Time Walk, another Power Nine member?


(5) Balance

Midnight strikes for Bribery. Balance has yet to face an opponent ranked higher than 12, so it will face a true test this time around.

vs.

(2) Demonic Tutor

A sad farewell from the fan favorite Wrath of God, which looked feeble against Prof. Demon.


Enchantments Bracket


(1) Survival of the Fittest

Survival had a rough match against the stubborn Oblivion Ring, but it ends up taking care of business. Is this a mere bump in the road, or a sign of more serious problems for the sickle-wielding murderer Mogg?

vs.

(11) Fastbond

The badly combo-broken green enchantment again spits its defiance at the seeding committee by emerging victorious in a long, hard struggle with Moat. How will it fare against its fellow superpowered green enchantment?


(3) Necropotence

Making Sylvan Library look bad isn't easy, but Necropotence did it, and has its eyes on the enchantment finals.

vs.

(2) Land Tax

Land Tax jumped out to a slight early lead against Mirari's Wake and just barely hung onto it through the match. Now it faces Necropotence. It's Death vs. Taxes: who will win?

Shocklands. The original duals are the entire reason that Legacy is unplayable for most casual MtG'ers.

Tolarian Academy . I've played against too many mono-black decks and i'm sick of the coffers.

Lightning Bolt . Why vote for a card that I will never cast? Bolt is more fun anyways.

Counterspell . It just has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?

(no vote). Tinker is dumb, and I'm not gonna vote for power nine.

Tinker . Changed my mind. Screw the power nine.

Balance . Because people who tutor too much in EDH are jerkbags.

Survival of the Fittest . Gotta love my Triumph of the Hordes engine card.

Necropotence . That guy on Land Tax is ugly. At least the necro is supposed to be ugly.

March 28, 2013 6:48 a.m.

dcarpntr says... #2

March 28, 2013 8:14 a.m.

Zen_Toombs says... #4

(1) Shocklands - Modern playable, NOT costing hundreds of dollars, and far more balanced on the whole.

(2) Cabal Coffers is less broken and I feel like it's more interesting.


(1) Lightning Bolt because Modern playable, and not completely broken.

(2) I've always just found Swords to Plowshares to be cooler.


(1) Time Walk is less broken.

(2) Demonic Tutor is so good. SOO GOOD


(1) I'm not voting for Fastbond , I'm voting against Survival. Actually, I'd like to vote against both, but such is life.

(2) Land Tax is a good card that rewards intelligent play, and also isn't inherently broken.

March 28, 2013 9:06 a.m.

doinitwrong says... #5




March 28, 2013 9:47 a.m.

Goody says... #6

  1. Original Duals. I don't care if they're more expensive and whatnot, they're still strictly better - this is a best card matchup, not most balanced or most efficient for your wallet. Duals are strictly better after all.
  2. Tolarian Academy . Less restrictive, Coffers needs large amounts of Swamps which restricts the decks it can go on. The Academy needs Artifacts, but those are much more flexible.
  3. Ancestral Recall . Simply a better boon.
  4. Swords to Plowshares . While it can't stop spells, it's less mana intensive, more flexible, and Counterspell has been functionally reprinted a few times. Not much comes close to the power level of Swords and Path in terms of removal.
  5. Time Walk . Very brokenly powerful, even if you can get a Blightsteel Colossus turn 1 with Tinker .
  6. Demonic Tutor . Balance requires building around, Demonic Tutor is just ridiculous in any deck.
  7. Survival of the Fittest . Almost like a reusable Demonic Tutor for green creatures, except that it can also bring graveyard shenanigans. Fastbond is broken, but very narrow.
  8. Necropotence . It's ridonkulous. Land Tax asks you to hold back, Necropotence puts you miles ahead.
March 28, 2013 10:04 a.m.

cartwheelnurd says... #7

Lands: Tolarian Academy vs Original Duals

Instants: Ancestral Recall vs Swords to Plowshares

Sorceries: Time Walk vs Balance

Enchantments: Fastbond vs Necropotence

March 28, 2013 10:12 a.m.

1) Shocklands. There actually buyable.

2)Tolarian Academy


1) Ancestrall Recall

2)Counterspell. Oh? You try to Swords to plowshares my creature? Counterspell.


1) Time Walk, more fun.

2) Balance


1) Fastbond

2)Necropetence

March 28, 2013 10:12 a.m.

Rhadamanthus says... #9

  1. Original Duals win because they're just so elegant and pretty
  2. Cabal Coffers wins because it's not Legendary and I prefer a ton of Black mana

  1. Ancestral Recall wins because this is a Boon matchup, and it's the most powerful one
  2. Swords to Plowshares wins simply because I like it more

  1. Time Walk wins because it's Time Walk
  2. Balance wins because it's just a better card

  1. Survival of the Fittest wins because I've never been all that excited about Fastbond
  2. Necropotence wins because it's just a better card
March 28, 2013 10:14 a.m.

gufymike says... #10

Duals

Tolarian

Recall

Counterspell

time walk

demonic tutor

fastbond

land tax.

March 28, 2013 10:16 a.m.

Wabbbit says... #11

Lands

  • Ugh, I didn't want to vote for the original duels. Sadly, the duels are strictly better. Original duels.

  • Tolarian Academy . It doesn't require an extra 2 to use it!

Instants

  • Ancestral Recall . It's obviously the better card here, we are not voting if we will ever cast it, or how pricey it may be, we are trying to determine the best mtg card of all time. I don't see the point in leaving out Ancestral Recall just because it's insanely good. Heck, that should give us all the MORE reason to vote it to the next round!

  • Counterspell . I mean c'mon, it Counterspell s Swords to Plowshares haha.

Sorceries

  • Ok, so what would you rather have: An extra turn on turn 2, or a turn 3 Blightsteel Colossus ? Which one wins you the game? Tinker gets my vote, as seen in my previous sentence.

  • Just...just Demonic Tutor .

Enchantments

March 28, 2013 10:35 a.m.

Kravian says... #13

Lands

1) Shocklands (because I actually have some of them, also the new art is beautiful)

2) Tolarian Academy : although I'm more of a Gaea's Cradle man myself, getting more mana for making more of something in order to get more of that thing is always cool.

Instants

1) Ancestral Recall , with a sidenote of RIP Lightning Bolt .

2) Counterspell , having just put together a Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind deck that runs 17 flavors of counterspells, I can't help but vote for the granddaddy.

Soceries

1) Tinker , for the same reason buffy has.

2) Demonic Tutor .

Enchantments

1) Survival of the Fittest , never be upset to draw a mana dork ever, ever again.

2) Land Tax , this isn't just about keeping up with a ramper, it's about deck thinning in a huge way.

March 28, 2013 11:20 a.m.

yousquiddinme says... #14

Lands:

  1. Shocklands because while the original duals are strictly better, the shocks are applicable in more formats right now and imo the original duals are a bit overpowered. Plus I've always loved the shocklands.

  2. Cabal Coffers is a lot more fun than Academy, and the fact that more decks could use coffers than could use academy, I vote coffers.

Instants:

  1. Lightning Bolt is my favorite red magic card..and Ancestral ISN'T my favorite blue card. I know bolt is doomed, but I still vote Bolt.

  2. Swords to Plowshares is the most efficient removal in Magic.

Sorceries:

  1. Tinker can do a lot more broken things than Time Walk . I know an extra turn is absurdly good for the price, but Tinker wins games in ONE turn.

  2. Demonic Tutor puts a CARD in your HAND.

Enchantments:

  1. Fastbond just lets you do so many dumb things. While Survival is also capable of that, Fastbond is just the business.

  2. Necropotence is arguably the most powerful black card ever printed.

March 28, 2013 11:58 a.m.

DaShPrime says... #15

Lands

  1. Dual Lands - Much as I like the shockland art, strictly better is strictly better
  2. Tolarian Academy - Doesn't require an extra 2 mana, but close fight because Cabal Coffers isn't legendary

Instants

  1. Ancestral Recall - Power 9 is Power 9
  2. Swords to Plowshares - Purely personal preference, in my opinion both are ridiculously strong

Sorceries

  1. Tinker - Tinker wins games man, Time Walk just puts you in a position to win. Close, but not as close as a turn one Blightsteel Colossus
  2. Balance - Once again, personal preference since I like to play enchantments

Enchantments

  1. Fastbond - Not very much of a fight, didn't really like Survival of the Fittest , though it IS really strong
  2. Necropotence - Extremely close, Necropotence by a hair
March 28, 2013 12:01 p.m.

Zerix says... #16

Lands:

  1. Original Dual Lands

  2. Cabal Coffers

Instants:

  1. Lightning Bolt

  2. Swords to Plowshares

Sorceries:

  1. Tinker

  2. Demonic Tutor

Enchantments:

  1. Fastbond

  2. Necropotence

March 28, 2013 12:04 p.m.
  1. shocklands b/c you can actually get some to play with
  2. Cabal Coffers b/c the other one produces blue mana
  3. Lightning Bolt still some of the best burn ever printed and it isn't OP cuz they keep printing it. Power you can actually use!
  4. Swords to Plowshares awesome white uber removal!
  5. Tinker b/c the other card is broken and shouldn't be here.
  6. Demonic Tutor simple and elegant ... did you see how many words are on the other card?
  7. Survival of the Fittest both super wordy green cards... booo...
  8. Land Tax b/c it is easier to cast.
March 28, 2013 12:20 p.m.

Thrandir says... #18

lands

original dual lands

Cabal Coffers

Instants

Lightning Bolt

Swords to Plowshares

Sorceries

Tinker

Demonic Tutor

Enchanments

Fastbond

Land Tax

March 28, 2013 12:24 p.m.

GureiSeion says... #19

  1. Dual Lands - I may only be able to play them in Shandalar and other's cubes, but that's enough in my book.
  2. Cabal Coffers - Less investment to that crazy return.
    -------
  3. Ancestral Recall - Battle of the Three-For-Ones!
  4. Swords to Plowshares - Because I'm more reactive than proactive.
    -------
  5. Tinker - Guaranteed to be more than an Explore .
  6. Demonic Tutor - Is it too late to bring up boats again?
    -------
  7. Fastbond - Still crazy in my book.
  8. Necropotence - You can still try to evade taxes.
March 28, 2013 1:18 p.m.

Nobody said we have to vote for the strictly better cards. This is a vote, and as such we have a choice. Pick whichever one you personally like better.

March 28, 2013 1:46 p.m.

Chubbub says... #21

  1. shocks
  2. Tolarian Academy
  3. Lightning Bolt
  4. Counterspell
  5. Tinker
  6. Demonic Tutor
  7. Fastbond
  8. Necropotence
March 28, 2013 2:46 p.m.
  1. Original Duals
  2. Tolarian Academy

  3. Ancestrall Recall

  4. Counterspell

  5. Tinker

  6. Balance

  7. Survival of the Fittest

  8. Necropotence
March 28, 2013 4:51 p.m.

rtm2 says... #23

  1. duals

  2. Tolarian Academy - way quicker and more productive than coffers

1.Ancestral Recall - nothing will ever come close to drawing 3 cards at instant speed for U

  1. Counterspell - swords kills a creature, counterspell kills a creature, enchantment, artifact, sorcery, instant, or planeswalker.

  2. Tinker - for most people, an extra turn 2 doesn't mean more than a land/weenie drop. tinker brings out a win condition.

  3. Balance - tutoring is amazing, but being able to cast a wrath of god/armageddon/mind twist whenever you want for 2 mana is just not fair

  4. Fastbond - putting 3-4 lands on the table on turn 1 is just rediculous

  5. Necropotence - fixing your mana for the game is nice, but getting to your win conditions or utility is even nicer. especially with blacks ability to gain life.
March 28, 2013 5:27 p.m.

alpinefroggy says... #24

1) Tolarian Academy

2) Original duels

1)ancestral recal

3) Sword to plowshares

1) Time walk

2) demonic tutor

1) survival of the fittest

3)Necropotence

March 28, 2013 6:11 p.m.

Cdawg44 says... #25

  1. Original Dual Lands, it's pretty blatant. They come in untapped for free rather than 2 health. Should be a no-brainer.
  2. Tolarian Academy doesn't require any mana to tap it.
  3. Ancestral Recall . Nothing can compete with the Power Nine.
  4. Counterspell because.... Counterspell
  5. Time Walk same reason as #3
  6. Demonic Tutor . This was actually a tough one for me, but overall, the Tutor takes it.
  7. Fastbond PLAY ALL THE MANA! lol
  8. Land Tax
March 29, 2013 2:50 a.m.

Nemesis says... #26

March 29, 2013 3:17 a.m.

sewellius says... #27

  1. Original Duals.
  2. Tolarian Academy
  3. Ancestral Recall . If I was factoring money, the Bolt would definitely be a winner.
  4. Swords to Plowshares . Bigger fan of White than Blue. Exile effect and cheaper wins for me.
  5. Time Walk . This did feel pretty close to me.
  6. Balance . You'll never have to be behind.
  7. Survival of the Fittest .
  8. Necropotence . Lol, Death vs Taxes.
March 29, 2013 1:08 p.m.

heuertag says... #28

(1) Original Dual Lands (i.e. Bayou )

(2) Tolarian Academy


(4) Lightning Bolt

(2) Counterspell


(1) Time Walk

(2) Demonic Tutor


(11) Fastbond

(2) Land Tax

March 29, 2013 1:30 p.m.

Well, clearly there is a huge backlash for price in this community, but in any case...

Original duals, because they are strictly better.

Tolarian Academy because artifact decks are fun.

Ancestral Recall because while Bolt is one of my favorite cards, my neverending problems in Burn are lack of cards. What up, Recall?

Swords to Plowshares because flexibility in time is slightly better than flexibility in things answered.

Time Walk because while artifact decks are fun (as mentioned previously), taking an extra turn is too powerful an effect to pass up.

Demonic Tutor because Balance feels even more douchey than tutoring in EDH.

Fastbond because it's MUCH faster.

Necropotence because it's MUCH faster.

March 29, 2013 2:42 p.m.

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