GenCon 2014 Friday Vintage – Decklists, Metagame Breakdown, and Pictures

Magic at GenCon 2014 was a mild success, and the largest of the Vintage tournaments was held on Friday, August 15 2014. With the move of Vintage and Legacy Champs events offsite to the new ‘Eternal Weekend’ in Philly there were fewer players than in years past, but people still traveled from as far as California and the Carolinas in to Indianapolis in order to spar in the gentlemen’s format. Friday’s event drew 62 players to battle for an invite to the GenCon Invitational (where you win an all-expenses paid trip to next year’s GenCon), as well as various mediocre sealed product.

We’ve posted the Top 16 decklists in the first section, then noted all decks by player for a metagame breakdown in the next section, and then added pictures from our Twitter feed from our live coverage of the event in the final section.

A special thanks to head judge Ingrid Bergman, event judge Christopher Walton, and Pastimes for their help and cooperation in bringing you these decklists.

Top 8 Quarterfinals

1 Michael Swailes (UW StoneBlade) vs. 8 Frank L. (BUG Tempo) – Swailes wins

4 Sam Krohlow (Delver 4C) vs. 5 JR Goldberg (Landstill URG) – Krohlow wins

3 Ronald Rodgers (Forgemaster Workshops) vs. 6 Mike Kiesel (BUG Tempo) – Kiesel wins

2 Sean O’Brien (Forgemaster Workshops) vs. 7 Paul Callis (Burning Tendrils Oath) – O’Brien wins

Top 4 Semifinals

1 Michael Swailes (UW StoneBlade) vs. 4 Sam Krohlow (Delver 4C) – Krohlow wins

2 Sean O’Brien (Forgemaster Shops) vs. 6 Mike Kiesel (BUG Tempo) – Kiesel wins

Top 2 Finals

4 Sam Krohlow (Delver 4C) vs. 6 Mike Kiesel (BUG Tempo) – Kiesel wins

Top 16 Decklists, by Final Standing

BUG

[Business] (38)
Force of Will
Mental Misstep
Spell Pierce
Steel Sabotage
Abrupt Decay
Null Rod
Brainstorm
Ancestral Recall
Time Walk
Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Vampiric Tutor
Demonic Tutor
Deathrite Shaman
Dark Confidant
Snapcaster Mage
Scavenging Ooze
Trygon Predator
True-Name Nemesis

[/Business] (0)

[Mana Sources] (22)
Black Lotus
Mox Emerald
Mox Jet
Mox Sapphire
Polluted Delta
Verdant Catacombs
Misty Rainforest
Underground Sea
Tropical Island
Bayou
Strip Mine
Wasteland

[/Mana Sources] (0)
[Sideboard] (15)
Grafdigger’s Cage
Flusterstorm
Toxic Deluge
Darkblast
Dismember
Energy Flux
Steel Sabotage
Nature’s Claim
Surgical Extraction
Yixlid Jailer[/Sideboard]

Delver

[Business] (42)
Force of Will
Mental Misstep
Spell Snare
Steel Sabotage
Lightning Bolt
Abrupt Decay
Ancient Grudge
Vampiric Tutor
Mystical Tutor
Gush
Preordain
Ponder
Brainstorm
Ancestral Recall
Time Walk
Delver of Secrets
Deathrite Shaman
Young Pyromancer
Snapcaster Mage
Scavenging Ooze
Vendilion Clique

[/Business] (0)

[Mana Sources] (18)
Black Lotus
Mox Jet
Mox Ruby
Mox Sapphire
Scalding Tarn
Polluted Delta
Flooded Strand
Misty Rainforest
Underground Sea
Volcanic Island
Tropical Island
Island

[/Mana Sources] (0)
[Sideboard] (15)
Nature’s Claim
Abrupt Decay
Flusterstorm
Ancient Grudge
Ingot Chewer
Dismember
Grafdigger’s Cage
Mountain
Red Elemental Blast
Surgical Extraction[/Sideboard]

UW

[Business] (35)
Force of Will
Mental Misstep
Flusterstorm
Spell Snare
Mana Drain
Swords to Plowshares
Disenchant
Sensei’s Divining Top
Ancestral Recall
Time Walk
Thirst for Knowledge
Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Trinket Mage
Stoneforge Mystic
Magus of the Future
Batterskull
Grafdigger’s Cage

[/Business] (0)

[Mana Sources] (25)
Mox Opal
Mox Emerald
Mox Jet
Mox Pearl
Mox Ruby
Mox Sapphire
Mana Crypt
Sol Ring
Tolarian Academy
Flooded Strand
Scalding Tarn
Tundra
Island
Plains
Cavern of Souls

[/Mana Sources] (0)
[Sideboard] (15)
Sword of Fire and Ice
Grafdigger’s Cage
Pithing Needle
Disenchant
Rest in Peace
Engineered Explosives
Magus of the Unseen
Vendilion Clique
Swords to Plowshares
Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
Ethersworn Canonist[/Sideboard]

Forgemaster

[Business] (33)
Chalice of the Void
Thorn of Amethyst
Phyrexian Revoker
Lightning Greaves
Trinisphere
Metalworker
Lodestone Golem
Kuldotha Forgemaster
Wurmcoil Engine
Steel Hellkite
Triskelion
Sundering Titan

[/Business] (0)

[Mana Sources] (27)
Black Lotus
Mox Emerald
Mox Jet
Mox Pearl
Mox Ruby
Mox Sapphire
Mana Crypt
Sol Ring
Mana Vault
Tolarian Academy
Mishra’s Workshop
Ancient Tomb
Cavern of Souls
Strip Mine
Wasteland

[/Mana Sources] (0)
[Sideboard] (15)
Grafdigger’s Cage
Crucible of Worlds
Ratchet Bomb
Duplicant
Witchbane Orb
Batterskull[/Sideboard]

Forgemaster

[Business] (36)
Chalice of the Vod
Thorn of Amethyst
Sphere of Resistance
Lightning Greaves
Trinisphere
Crucible of Worlds
Metalworker
Lodestone Golem
Karn, Silver Golem
Kuldotha Forgemaster
Duplicant
Wurmcoil Engine
Staff of Nin
Blightsteel Colossus

[/Business] (0)

[Mana Sources] (24)
Black Lotus
Mox Emerald
Mox Jet
Mox Pearl
Mox Ruby
Mox Sapphire
Sol Ring
Tolarian Academy
Mishra’s Workshop
Ancient Tomb
Mishra’s Factory
Cavern of Souls
Strip Mine
Wasteland

[/Mana Sources] (0)
[Sideboard] (15)
Tormod’s Crypt
Pithing Needle
Crucible of Worlds
Ghost Quarter
Dismember
Mindbreak Trap
Jester’s Cap
Sundering Titan
Grafdigger’s Cage
Steel Hellkite[/Sideboard]

Landstill

[Business] (34)
Force of Will
Misdirection
Mindbreak Trap
Mental Misstep
Spell Pierce
Mana Drain
Lightning Bolt
Fire//Ice
Ancient Grudge
Ancestral Recall
Time Walk
Standstill
Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Engineered Explosives
Crucible of Worlds

[/Business] (0)

[Mana Sources] (26)
Black Lotus
Mox Ruby
Mox Sapphire
Scalding Tarn
Polluted Delta
Volcanic Island
Tropical Island
Island
Mountain
Mishra’s Factory
Library of Alexandria
Strip Mine
Wasteland

[/Mana Sources] (0)
[Sideboard] (15)
Goblin Welder
Flusterstorm
Grafdigger’s Cage
Tormod’s Crypt
Pyroclasm
Red Elemental Blast
Ingot Chewer[/Sideboard]

Burning

[Business] (30)
Duress
Hurkyl’s Recall
Repeal
Vampiric Tutor
Demonic Tutor
Burning Wish
Ponder
Brainstorm
Ancestral Recall
Time Walk
Oath of Druids
Wheel of Fortune
Timetwister
Necropotence
Memory Jar
Yawgmoth’s Bargain
Mind’s Desire
Griselbrand

[/Business] (0)

[Mana Sources] (30)
Dark Ritual
Lion’s Eye Diamond
Lotus Petal
Black Lotus
Mox Opal
Chrome Mox
Mox Emerald
Mox Jet
Mox Pearl
Mox Ruby
Mox Sapphire
Mana Crypt
Sol Ring
Mana Vault
Tolarian Academy
Forbidden Orchard
City of Brass
Gemstone Mine

[/Mana Sources] (0)
[Sideboard] (15)
Show and Tell
Griselbrand
Ancient Tomb
Yawgmoth’s Will
Empty the Warrens
Tendrils of Agony
Nature’s Claim
Shattering Spree
Defense Grid
Windfall
Pyroclasm[/Sideboard]

BUG

[Business] (38)
Force of Will
Mental Misstep
Spell Pierce
Flusterstorm
Steel Sabotage
Abrupt Decay
Crucible of Worlds
Null Rod
Sensei’s Divining Top
Brainstorm
Ancestral Recall
Time Walk
Vampiric Tutor
Demonic Tutor
Deathrite Shaman
Dark Confidant
Snapcaster Mage
Scavenging Ooze
Trygon Predator
Vendilion Clique
True-Name Nemesis

[/Business] (0)

[Mana Sources] (22)
Black Lotus
Mox Emerald
Mox Jet
Mox Sapphire
Polluted Delta
Misty Rainforest
Underground Sea
Tropical Island
Bayou
Strip Mine
Wasteland

[/Mana Sources] (0)
[Sideboard] (15)
Leyline of the Void
Grafdigger’s Cage
Misdirection
Scavenging Ooze
Darkblast
Null Rod
Energy Flux
Hurkyl’s Recall
Nature’s Claim
Trygon Predator[/Sideboard]

Oath,

[Business] (36)
Force of Will
Misdirection
Mental Misstep
Thoughtseize
Mana Drain
Nature’s Claim
Ancient Grudge
Hurkyl’s Recall
Preordain
Ponder
Brainstorm
Ancestral Recall
Time Walk
Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Mystical Tutor
Vampiric Tutor
Merchant Scroll
Demonic Tutor
Tinker
Oath of Druids
Gaea’s Blessing
Blightsteel Colossus
Griselbrand
Yawgmoth’s Will

[/Business] (0)

[Mana Sources] (24)
Black Lotus
Mox Emerald
Mox Jet
Mox Pearl
Mox Ruby
Mox Sapphire
Mana Crypt
Sol Ring
Forbidden Orchard
Polluted Delta
Misty Rainforest
Flooded Strand
Tropical Island
Underground Sea
Volcanic Island
Island

[/Mana Sources] (0)
[Sideboard] (15)
Nihil Spellbomb
Leyline of the Void
Red Elemental Blast
Nature’s Claim
Toxic Deluge
Flusterstorm
Swan Song
Ancient Grudge[/Sideboard]

Burning

[Business] (30)
Duress
Defense Grid
Hurkyl’s Recall
Vampiric Tutor
Demonic Tutor
Tinker
Burning Wish
Ponder
Brainstorm
Ancestral Recall
Time Walk
Oath of Druids
Wheel of Fortune
Timetwister
Windfall
Necropotence
Memory Jar
Yawgmoth’s Bargain
Mind’s Desire
Griselbrand

[/Business] (0)

[Mana Sources] (30)
Dark Ritual
Lion’s Eye Diamond
Lotus Petal
Black Lotus
Mox Opal
Chrome Mox
Mox Emerald
Mox Jet
Mox Pearl
Mox Ruby
Mox Sapphire
Mana Crypt
Sol Ring
Mana Vault
Tolarian Academy
Forbidden Orchard
Mana Confluence
Gemstone Mine

[/Mana Sources] (0)
[Sideboard] (15)
Show and Tell
Abrupt Decay
Ancient Tomb
Yawgmoth’s Will
Tendrils of Agony
Hurkyl’s Recall
Nature’s Claim
Diminishing Returns
Thoughtseize
Shattering Spree
Defense Grid
Revoke Existence
Balance of Power
Strip Mine[/Sideboard]

Grixis

[Business] (36)
Force of Will
Mental Misstep
Thoughtseize
Mana Drain
Lightning Bolt
Steel Sabotage
Hurkyl’s Recall
Izzet Charm
Toxic Deluge
Vampiric Tutor
Mystical Tutor
Merchant Scroll
Tinker
Gifts Ungiven
Tezzeret the Seeker
Sensei’s Divining Top
Brainstorm
Ancestral Recall
Time Walk
Thirst for Knowledge
Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Snapcaster Mage
Blightsteel Colossus
Voltaic Key
Time Vault
Yawgmoth’s Will

[/Business] (0)

[Mana Sources] (23)
Black Lotus
Mox Emerald
Mox Jet
Mox Pearl
Mox Ruby
Mox Sapphire
Mana Crypt
Sol Ring
Tolarian Academy
Library of Alexandria
Scalding Tarn
Polluted Delta
Underground Sea
Volcanic Island
Island

[/Mana Sources] (0)
[Sideboard] (15)
Grafdigger’s Cage
Ingot Chewer
Lightning Bolt
Mountain
Nihil Spellbomb
Pithing Needle
Pyroclasm
Red Elemental Blast
Yixlid Jailer
Ravenous Trap[/Sideboard]

Grixis

[Business] (36)
Force of Will
Mental Misstep
Spell Snare
Spell Pierce
Mana Drain
Lightning Bolt
Vampiric Tutor
Merchant Scroll
Tinker
Brainstorm
Ancestral Recall
Time Walk
Thirst for Knowledge
Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Dack Fayden
Ral Zarek
Snapcaster Mage
Dark Confidant
Blightsteel Colossus
Voltaic Key
Time Vault
Yawgmoth’s Will

[/Business] (0)

[Mana Sources] (24)
Black Lotus
Mox Emerald
Mox Jet
Mox Pearl
Mox Ruby
Mox Sapphire
Mana Crypt
Sol Ring
Library of Alexandria
Scalding Tarn
Polluted Delta
Misty Rainforest
Underground Sea
Volcanic Island
Island
Strip Mine

[/Mana Sources] (0)
[Sideboard] (15)
Grafdigger’s Cage
Ingot Chewer
Lightning Bolt
Repeal
Steel Sabotage
Pithing Needle
Flusterstorm
Hurkyl’s Recall
Red Elemental Blast
Tormod’s Crypt[/Sideboard]

4C

[Business] (36)
Force of Will
Mental Misstep
Flusterstorm
Mana Drain
Lightning Bolt
Abrupt Decay
Ancient Grudge
Hurkyl’s Recall
Ancient Grudge
Mystical Tutor
Vampiric Tutor
Merchant Scroll
Demonic Tutor
Tinker
Tezzeret the Seeker
Ponder
Brainstorm
Ancestral Recall
Time Walk
Thirst for Knowledge
Dack Fayden
Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Snapcaster Mage
Blightsteel Colossus
Time Vault
Voltaic Key
Yawgmoth’s Will

[/Business] (0)

[Mana Sources] (24)
Black Lotus
Mox Emerald
Mox Jet
Mox Pearl
Mox Ruby
Mox Sapphire
Mana Crypt
Sol Ring
Tolarian Academy
Library of Alexandria
Polluted Delta
Misty Rainforest
Underground Sea
Volcanic Island
Tropical Island
Island

[/Mana Sources] (0)
[Sideboard] (15)
Leyline of the Void
Extirpate
Pyroblast
Nature’s Claim
Abrupt Decay
Forest[/Sideboard]

Delver

[Business] (43)
Force of Will
Misdirection
Mental Misstep
Flusterstorm
Spell Pierce
Lightning Bolt
Ancient Grudge
Fire//Ice
Mystical Tutor
Gush
Preordain
Ponder
Brainstorm
Ancestral Recall
Time Walk
Delver of Secrets
Young Pyromancer
Snapcaster Mage
Trygon Predator

[/Business] (0)

[Mana Sources] (17)
Black Lotus
Mox Ruby
Mox Sapphire
Scalding Tarn
Polluted Delta
Flooded Strand
Misty Rainforest
Volcanic Island
Tropical Island
Island

[/Mana Sources] (0)
[Sideboard] (15)
Leyline of the Void
Grafdigger’s Cage
Nature’s Claim
Pyroblast
Ingot Chewer
Mountain[/Sideboard]

Oath,

[Business] (38)
Force of Will
Misdirection
Mental Misstep
Swan Song
Counterspell
Abrupt Decay
Ponder
Brainstorm
Ancestral Recall
Time Walk
Timetwister
Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Mystical Tutor
Vampiric Tutor
Demonic Tutor
Tinker
Show and Tell
Oath of Druids
Gaea’s Blessing
Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
Griselbrand
Voltaic Key
Time Vault
Yawgmoth’s Will

[/Business] (0)

[Mana Sources] (24)
Lotus Petal
Black Lotus
Mox Emerald
Mox Jet
Mox Pearl
Mox Ruby
Mox Sapphire
Mana Crypt
Sol Ring
Forbidden Orchard
Polluted Delta
Misty Rainforest
Tropical Island
Underground Sea
Island

[/Mana Sources] (0)
[Sideboard] (15)
Pernicious Deed
Misdirection
Abrupt Decay
Pithing Needle
Show and Tell
Hurkyl’s Recall
Nature’s Claim
Ravenous Trap[/Sideboard]

BUG

[Business] (37)
Force of Will
Mental Misstep
Thoughtseize
Steel Sabotage
Abrupt Decay
Liliana of the Veil
Null Rod
Ponder
Brainstorm
Ancestral Recall
Time Walk
Vampiric Tutor
Demonic Tutor
Deathrite Shaman
Dark Confidant
Snapcaster Mage
Vendilion Clique
Trygon Predator
True-Name Nemesis

[/Business] (0)

[Mana Sources] (23)
Black Lotus
Mox Emerald
Mox Jet
Mox Sapphire
Polluted Delta
Misty Rainforest
Underground Sea
Tropical Island
Bayou
Cavern of Souls
Strip Mine
Wasteland

[/Mana Sources] (0)
[Sideboard] (15)
Tormod’s Crypt
Liliana of the Veil
Null Rod
THoughtseize
Mindbreak Trap
Umezawa’s Jitte
Mental Misstep
Inquisition of Kozilek
Grafdigger’s Cage
Nihil Spellbomb
True-Name Nemesis
Spell Pierce
Steel Sabotage[/Sideboard]

Metagame Report

Grouped by Deck
5C Humans – 1
4C Control – 3
BGW Junk – 1
Bomberman UW – 2
Bomberman UWB – 2
BUG Control – 2
BUG Tempo – 7
Burning Oath Tendrils – 3
Cobra Gush Storm – 1
Delver 4C – 1
Delver BUG – 1
Delver RUG – 2
Dredge – 2
Elves BG – 1
Forgemaster Workshops – 6
Gitaxian Storm – 2
Grixis Control – 6
Grixis Show and Tell – 1
GW Aggro Control – 1
Landstill URG – 1
Leyline Depths Combo BW – 1
Mono Blue Control – 1
Null Rod Workshops – 1
Oath – 6
Replenish Combo – 1
RW Workshop Aggro – 1
Sun Droplet/Pyrostatic Pillar/Spellshock.dec – 1
Survival Aggro – 1
UW StoneBlade – 2
Vampires BW – 1
Total: 62

Most Notably Absent: Grixis Welder Control, Doomsday, Smokestack Workshops, Merfolk

Very Loosely Grouped by Archetype
Dredge – 2
Forces (4C Control, Bomberman UW, Bomberman UWB, BUG Control, BUG Tempo, Cobra Gush Storm, Delver 4C, Delver BUG, Delver RUG, Grixis Control, Grixis Tezzeret Control, Grixis Show and Tell, Landstill URG, Mono Blue Control, Oath, Sun Droplet/Pyrostatic Pillar/Spellshock.dec, UW StoneBlade) – 39
Non-Force Combo (Burning Oath Tendrils, Gitaxian Storm, Leyline Depths Combo BW, Replenish Combo) – 7
Other (5C Humans, BGW Junk, Elves BG, GW Aggro Control, Survival Aggro, Vampires BW) – 6
Workshops (Forgemaster Workshops, Null Rod Workshops, RW Workshop Aggro) – 8
Total: 62

All Decks, by Player Last Name
Acton, Jon – Forgemaster Workshops
Adams, Jason – Grixis Control
Ata, David – Delver RUG
Ball, Benjamin – Gitaxian Storm
Becker, Adrian – Survival Aggro
Buck, Katie – Oath
Buck, Vincent – 4C Control
Bugoli, Anthony – Grixis Control
Callis, Paul – Burning Oath Tendrils
Crowley, Dave – Oath
Dafoe, Byrce – Dredge (w/ 4 Laboratory Maniac & 4 Griselbrand main)
Dixon, Thomas – BUG Control
Foster, Daniel – Mono Blue Control (w/ Consecrated Sphinx)
Franks, Justin – Burning Oath Tendrils
Frawley, Joshua – Forgemaster Workshops
French, Shawn – BGW Junk
Generas, Josh – Gitaxian Storm
Goldberg, JR – Landstill URG
Gouthro, Michael – Bomberman UWB
Hammack, Jon – Grixis Control
Hazard, Matt – RW Workshop Aggro
Hefner, Jessy – GW Aggro Control
Houin, Ryan – Sun Droplet/Pyrostatic Pillar/Spellshock.dec
Jaco, Jason – Delver BUG
Jafri, Ali – Oath
Jennings, Raymond – Grixis Control
Johnson, Richard – UW StoneBlade
Johnson, Sean – Forgemaster Workshops
Jones, Jeremy – 4C Control
Kiesel, Mike – BUG Tempo
Kohler, Justin – Bomberman UW
Kravitz, Mike – BUG Tempo
Krohlow, Sam – Delver 4C
Lapay, Chris – Grixis Show and Tell
Lastnamewithheldbyrequest, Frank – BUG Tempo
Littlechild, Alex – Replenish Combo
Ludowese, Ben – Elves BG
Ludowese, Nick – Vampires BW
Lura, Jason – BUG Control
Makino, Bernie – Grixis Control
Martens, William – Forgemaster Workshops
Mayes, John – Oath
Milian, Dan – Cobra Gush Storm
Miller, Greg – Leyline Depths Combo BW
Moes, Geoffrey – BUG Tempo
Moes, Nat – Bomberman UW
Moritz, CJ – Null Rod Workshops
O’Brien, Sean – Forgemaster Workshops
Ponce, Nate – Delver RUG
Prementine, Christopher – Burning Oath Tendrils
Robbins, Sean – Oath
Rodgers, Ronald – Forgemaster Workshops
Rao, Mith – 4C Control
Rowe, Brian – BUG Tempo
Sadler, Jordan – Bomberman UWB
Smith, Matt – Grixis Control
Stewart, Robert – BUG Tempo
Stierman, Steven – 5C Humans
Swailes, Michael – UW StoneBlade
Swan, Kevin – Oath
Todd, Dannon – Dredge (w/Ingot Chewers main)
Tosch, Jeff – BUG Tempo
Total: 62

Coverage Photos

(Click on any picture to expand photo)