The Field: April 2019 CT Metagame Breakdown

April 18, 2019 Legacy, NRG Series

We’re back with another edition of The Field! This time, we’ll be sharing the data from the April 2019 Legacy CT that took place last weekend in Palatine, IL. Be sure to check out the Top 16 decklists and coverage replay for even more content from this event.

The 201 players created a metagame led by UW Control, Death & Taxes, and UR Delver, but there were over 50 unique archetypes represented in the field. Take a look!

Legacy is a format that players have been experimenting with for years, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t always new innovations. New sets still bring cards that allow for updated strategies in Legacy, and a few cards from expansion sets such as Conspiracy or Commander still make the cut for this format. Take a look at some of the most innovative decks we saw over the weekend:

Knox LingenfelterDoomsdayExport to:
Spells (32)4 x Brainstorm4 x Dark Ritual4 x Ponder4 x Thoughtseize3 x Duress2 x Preordain3 x Cabal Ritual2 x Lim-Dul’s Vault4 x Doomsday1 x Act on Impulse1 x Tendrils of Agony
Artifacts (9)4 x Lion’s Eye Diamond4 x Lotus Petal1 x Conjurer’s Bauble
Enchantments (4)4 x Experimental Frenzy
Lands (15)4 x Polluted Delta2 x Bloodstained Mire2 x Scalding Tarn2 x Underground Sea2 x Volcanic Island1 x Badlands1 x Island1 x Swamp
Sideboard4 x Empty the Warrens2 x Echoing Truth2 x Fatal Push2 x Flusterstorm1 x Abrade1 x Engineered Explosives1 x Hurkyl’s Recall1 x Massacre1 x Tormod’s Crypt
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George KeagleSliversExport to:
Creatures (21)4 x Galerider Sliver4 x Striking Sliver2 x Sidewinder Sliver4 x Crystalline Sliver4 x Hibernation Sliver4 x Predatory Sliver4 x Sinew Sliver2 x Muscle Sliver1 x Diffusion Sliver1 x Winged Sliver1 x Telekinetic Sliver
Artifacts (4)4 x Aether Vial
Spells (4)4 x Force of Will
Lands (21)4 x Cavern of Souls4 x Mutavault4 x Sliver Hive4 x Unclaimed Territory3 x Ancient Ziggurat2 x Karakas
Sideboard4 x Chalice of the Void4 x Leyline of the Void2 x Ethersworn Canonist2 x Harmonic Sliver1 x Containment Priest1 x Hunter Sliver1 x Syphon Sliver
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JP LampThe Antiquities WarExport to:
Creatures (8)2 x Walking Ballista3 x Master of Etherium3 x Sai, Master Thopterist
Planeswalkers (4)4 x Karn, Scion of Urza
Enchantments (4)4 x The Antiquities War
Spells (7)4 x Force of Will3 x Thoughtcast
Artifacts (17)4 x Chalice of the Void4 x Jeweled Amulet4 x Mox Opal2 x Urza’s Bauble1 x Tormod’s Crypt1 x AEther Spellbomb1 x Pithing Needle
Lands (20)4 x Ancient Tomb4 x Seat of the Synod4 x Wasteland2 x Darksteel Citadel3 x Island3 x Snow-Covered Island
Sideboard3 x Flusterstorm2 x Dismember2 x Warping Wail1 x Engineered Explosives1 x Karakas1 x Master of Etherium1 x Ratchet Bomb1 x Sai, Master Thopterist1 x Sorcerous Spyglass1 x Tormod’s Crypt1 x Welding Jar
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Paul MakarzykSteel StompyExport to:
Creatures (24)4 x Hangarback Walker4 x Walking Ballista4 x Arcbound Ravager4 x Steel Overseer2 x Phyrexian Revoker2 x Vault Skirge4 x Lodestone Golem
Planeswalkers (2)2 x Karn, Scion of Urza
Artifacts (14)4 x Chalice of the Void4 x Lotus Petal2 x Mox Opal4 x Thorn of Amethyst
Lands (20)4 x Ancient Tomb4 x City of Traitors4 x Wasteland2 x Blinkmoth Nexus2 x Darksteel Citadel2 x Karakas2 x Mishra’s Factory
Sideboard4 x Leyline of the Void3 x Ensnaring Bridge2 x Ratchet Bomb2 x Sorcerous Spyglass2 x Spellskite1 x Etched Champion1 x Umezawa’s Jitte
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Alexander LukeMerfolk StandstillExport to:
Creatures (25)2 x Benthic Biomancer2 x Cursecatcher2 x Mistcaller4 x Master of the Pearl Trident4 x Silvergill Adept3 x Merfolk Trickster2 x Lord of Atlantis4 x True-Name Nemesis2 x Patron Wizard
Artifacts (4)4 x Aether Vial
Enchantments (4)4 x Standstill
Spells (8)4 x Daze4 x Force of Will
Lands (19)4 x Mutavault4 x Wasteland2 x Polluted Delta9 x Island
Sideboard2 x Back to Basics2 x Blue Elemental Blast2 x Echoing Truth2 x Hurkyl’s Recall2 x Phyrexian Revoker2 x Relic of Progenitus1 x Ceremonious Rejection1 x Umezawa’s Jitte1 x Winter Orb
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Sam BlackZombie BombardmentExport to:
Creatures (18)4 x Carrion Feeder4 x Gravecrawler4 x Stitcher’s Supplier4 x Bloodghast2 x Gurmag Angler
Spells (16)4 x Cabal Therapy4 x Faithless Looting4 x Thoughtseize4 x Lingering Souls
Enchantments (6)3 x Bridge from Below3 x Goblin Bombardment
Lands (20)3 x Bloodstained Mire3 x Marsh Flats2 x Polluted Delta2 x Verdant Catacombs3 x Badlands3 x Scrubland2 x Undiscovered Paradise2 x Swamp
Sideboard3 x Surgical Extraction3 x Tidehollow Sculler2 x Swords to Plowshares2 x Wear // Tear2 x Zealous Persecution1 x Diabolic Edict1 x Malicious Affliction1 x Pithing Needle
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Joe BernalJeskai Thopter BladeExport to:
Creatures (8)4 x Snapcaster Mage4 x Stoneforge Mystic
Artifacts (9)2 x Engineered Explosives4 x Thopter Foundry1 x Sword of the Meek1 x Umezawa’s Jitte1 x Batterskull
Planeswalkers (2)2 x Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Spells (20)4 x Brainstorm4 x Flusterstorm4 x Ponder4 x Swords to Plowshares4 x Force of Will
Lands ()4 x Flooded Strand4 x Scalding Tarn3 x Arid Mesa1 x Volcanic Island1 x Tundra5 x Island2 x Plains1 x Mountain
Sideboard3 x Ethersworn Canonist3 x Surgical Extraction2 x Abrade2 x Celestial Purge2 x Izzet Staticaster2 x Red Elemental Blast1 x Pyroblast
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Shea StrausmanRuby StormExport to:
Spells (32)4 x Rite of Flame2 x Overmaster4 x Burning Wish4 x Manamorphose4 x Act on Impulse4 x Seething Song3 x Bonus Round2 x Past in Flames1 x Empty the Warrens3 x Reforge the Soul1 x Hazoret’s Undying Fury
Artifacts (13)4 x Lotus Petal3 x Lion’s Eye Diamond4 x Ruby Medallion2 x Helm of Awakening
Lands (15)3 x Ancient Tomb2 x City of Traitors10 x Mountain
Sideboard3 x Defense Grid3 x Surgical Extraction2 x Scab-Clan Berserker1 x Empty the Warrens1 x Firespout1 x Grapeshot1 x Mizzium Mortars1 x Past in Flames1 x Reforge the Soul1 x Shattering Spree
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Ben SchuetzenhoferBant CompanyExport to:
Creatures (30)4 x Mother of Runes4 x Noble Hierarch1 x Birds of Paradise4 x Meddling Mage3 x Stoneforge Mystic2 x Phantasmal Image2 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben4 x Spell Queller2 x True-Name Nemesis2 x Vendilion Clique1 x Deputy of Detention1 x Sanctum Prelate
Spells (8)4 x Swords to Plowshares4 x Collected Company
Artifacts (2)1 x Umezawa’s Jitte1 x Batterskull
Lands (21)4 x Flooded Strand3 x Windswept Heath2 x Misty Rainforest3 x Tundra2 x Tropical Island2 x Wasteland1 x Horizon Canopy1 x Karakas1 x Plains1 x Island1 x Forest
Sideboard2 x Containment Priest2 x Ethersworn Canonist2 x Faerie Macabre2 x Knight of Autumn1 x Deputy of Detention1 x Gaddock Teeg1 x Gideon, Ally of Zendikar1 x Phyrexian Revoker1 x Sanctum Prelate1 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben1 x True-Name Nemesis
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Blake BunchUR PainterExport to:
Creatures (12)1 x Walking Ballista2 x Goblin Welder4 x Painter’s Servant3 x Trinket Mage2 x Sai, Master Thopterist
Artifacts (13)2 x Mox Opal1 x Engineered Explosives1 x Mox Diamond1 x Tormod’s Crypt1 x AEther Spellbomb4 x Grindstone1 x Meekstone1 x Pithing Needle1 x Retrofitter Foundry
Spells (16)4 x Brainstorm4 x Ponder2 x Red Elemental Blast1 x Pyroblast1 x Transmute Artifact4 x Force of Will
Lands (19)3 x Polluted Delta1 x Flooded Strand3 x Volcanic Island4 x Ancient Tomb2 x Great Furnace2 x Seat of the Synod1 x Academy Ruins2 x Island1 x Mountain
Sideboard2 x Abrade2 x Blood Moon2 x Ensnaring Bridge2 x Flusterstorm2 x Tormod’s Crypt1 x Grim Lavamancer1 x Karn, Scion of Urza1 x Llawan, Cephalid Empress1 x Pithing Needle1 x Pyroblast
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Alex FransonSolidarityExport to:
Spells (42)4 x Brainstorm4 x High Tide2 x Flusterstorm2 x Opt2 x Peek4 x Reset3 x Impulse3 x Remand2 x Brain Freeze2 x Flash of Insight1 x Twincast3 x Cunning Wish3 x Meditate3 x Turnabout4 x Force of Will
Lands (18)3 x Flooded Strand3 x Polluted Delta12 x Island
Sideboard3 x Surgical Extraction1 x Blue Sun’s Zenith1 x Brain Freeze1 x Chain of Vapor1 x Echoing Truth1 x Flusterstorm1 x Meditate1 x Pact of Negation1 x Rebuild1 x Twincast1 x Turnabout1 x Vision Skeins1 x Wipe Away
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One excuse that some players give for not playing Legacy is the cost. Of course, dual lands and other staples are much higher than some of their Modern counterparts, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t play Legacy on a budget. Playing shocklands over duals in certain archetypes is certainly feasible, as well as playing decks without blue duals. Here are some of the decks that were slightly more budget-friendly than the rest of the field, and can likely be built with only a handful of additional cards if you already have a solid Modern collection:

Jarred FarkasUR DelverExport to:
Creatures (14)4 x Delver of Secrets4 x Pteramander4 x Young Pyromancer2 x True-Name Nemesis
Spells (23)4 x Brainstorm4 x Ponder3 x Chain Lightning1 x Forked Bolt1 x Vapor Snag4 x Daze2 x Light Up the Stage4 x Force of Will
Lands (23)4 x Wasteland4 x Scalding Tarn3 x Polluted Delta1 x Bloodstained Mire3 x Steam Vents2 x Island2 x Mountain
Sideboard3 x Flusterstorm2 x Abrade2 x Forked Bolt2 x Red Elemental Blast2 x Surgical Extraction2 x Vendilion Clique1 x Grafdigger’s Cage1 x Sulfuric Vortex
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Jarrod LewisNic FitExport to:
Creatures (18)4 x Veteran Explorer1 x Scavenging Ooze1 x Eternal Witness1 x Nissa, Vastwood Seer1 x Ramunap Excavator1 x Reclamation Sage1 x Runic Armasaur1 x Tireless Tracker1 x Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet1 x Doom Whisperer1 x The Gitrog Monster1 x Thragtusk1 x Titania, Protector of Argoth1 x Grave Titan1 x Woodland Bellower
Planeswalkers (2)1 x Liliana, the Last Hope1 x Vraska, Golgari Queen
Enchantments (3)3 x Pernicious Deed
Spells (15)4 x Cabal Therapy4 x Green Sun’s Zenith4 x Assassin’s Trophy2 x Abrupt Decay1 x Toxic Deluge
Lands (22)4 x Verdant Catacombs1 x Windswept Heath3 x Bayou2 x Ghost Quarter1 x Dryad Arbor1 x Phyrexian Tower1 x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth1 x Volrath’s Stronghold4 x Forest4 x Swamp
Sideboard4 x Leyline of the Void2 x Lost Legacy2 x Surgical Extraction2 x Thoughtseize1 x Diabolic Edict1 x Garruk, Apex Predator1 x Liliana of the Veil1 x Pulse of Murasa1 x Snuff Out
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Alexander HeaneyMardu MidrangeExport to:
Creatures (13)3 x Stoneforge Mystic2 x Dark Confidant2 x Tidehollow Sculler1 x Containment Priest2 x Stillmoon Cavalier1 x Imperial Recruiter2 x Queen Marchesa
Planeswalkers (4)2 x Liliana, the Last Hope1 x Kaya, Ghost Assassin1 x Liliana of the Veil
Artifacts (2)1 x Sword of Feast and Famine1 x Batterskull
Enchantments (4)2 x Bitterblossom2 x Blood Moon
Spells (14)2 x Lightning Bolt2 x Swords to Plowshares1 x Duress1 x Inquisition of Kozilek1 x Surgical Extraction1 x Thoughtseize2 x Collective Brutality2 x Kolaghan’s Command2 x Vindicate
Lands (23)2 x Bloodstained Mire2 x Marsh Flats1 x Arid Mesa2 x Ash Barrens2 x Wasteland1 x Bojuka Bog1 x Karakas4 x Plains4 x Swamp4 x Mountain
Sideboard2 x Lightning Helix2 x Pyroblast2 x Wear // Tear1 x Council’s Judgment1 x Diabolic Edict1 x Ethersworn Canonist1 x Kaya, Orzhov Usurper1 x Linvala, Keeper of Silence1 x Nahiri, the Lithomancer1 x Sword of Body and Mind1 x Tormod’s Crypt1 x Toxic Deluge
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Thanks for reading The Field! We’ll be back next month with a look at the metagame from the $5000 Modern CT in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Until next time!

Max Kahn is the Event Manager for the NRG Series and the Judge Manager for all Nerd Rage Gaming events. When he’s not answering your judge calls or working behind the scenes at your local event, he splits his time between Chicago, Seattle, and Twitter.

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Max Kahn


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