Block Constructed Magic: Tempest Block Constructed Continued

The initial feature on tempest block constructed decks can be found here. Below are the other contenders of that PTQ Rome season from 1998. Where the previous analysis focused on the aggressive creature based builds, these decks explored more soft combo and control oriented themes.

One of the most feared decks in the format for it's ability to just "go off" was the Recurring Survival deck created by pro John Finkel. It was a wicked combination of cards that dumped creatures into the graveyard quickly with Hermit Druid and Survival of the Fittest and then reanimated them using either Recurring Nightmare or Living Death. Opponents' would be staring down a seemingly innocent Wall of Blossoms only to then be faced with a Verdant Force that was traded in for it. The toolbox of creatures was potent: Coffin Queen, Thrull Surgeon, Cloudchaser Eagle, Shard Phoenix. Whatever effect was needed, the creatures in the deck could provide it. This was done to wear down the opposition until you simply brought them all back into play to for the finish with a Living Death.

Recurring Survival

Creatures

4 Wall of Blossoms
4 Hermit Druid
3 Spike Feeder
2 Spike Weaver
1 Verdant Force
2 Thrull Surgeon
2 Coffin Queen
1 Stronghold Assassin
2 Tradewind Rider
2 Cloudchaser Eagle
1 Shard Phoenix
1 Anarchist

Spells

3 Mox Diamond
4 Survival of the Fittest
2 Living Death
4 Recurring Nightmare

Land

2 Reflecting Pool
2 Volrath's Stronghold
2 Rootwater Depths
2 Cinder Marsh
2 Mogg Hollows
1 Skyrshroud Forest
7 Forest
4 Swamp

Sideboard

4 Boil
2 Dread of Night
2 Rats of Rath
1 Oath of Ghouls
1 Lobotomy
1 Bottle Gnomes
1 Coffin Queen
1 Stronghold Taskmaster
1 Scragnoth
1 Spike Feeder


The Counter-Phoenix deck was the pure control deck in the format that exploited the power of Intuition to achieve card advantage with the graveyard recursion ability of the Shard Phoenix backed with over 10 permission spells. Using a Scroll Rack to fix your hand was also a clever combination to dig deep into the deck and find the combo. Intuition would then force a shuffle, refreshing the scroll rack for additional library manipulation.

In addition to the card draw, deck fix, and permission magic, Counter-Phoenix used bounce and burn to deal with threats before finally taking over the game with a recurring Capsize or phoenixes. The sideboard could transform the deck by adding Grindstone to quickly run mono-color decks out of cards, or shore up defenses against faster decks by using Mogg fanatics or Thalakos Drifters.


Counter Phoenix

Creatures

4 Shard Phoenix

Spells

4 Whispers of the Muse
4 Counterspell
4 Mana Leak
3 Forbid
4 Intuition
4 Shock
3 Capsize
3 Scroll Rack

Land

4 Reflecting Pool
12 Island
11 Mountain

Sideboard

3 Thalakos Drifters
3 Shattering Pulse
3 Portcullis
3 Mogg Fanatic
3 Grindstone

Finally, the Tradewind Rider, Awakening deck was another control deck with a soft lock that sought to survive early and dominate late game. This deck was piloted by both Zvi Mowshowitz and Kai Budde during the PTQ season. Backed with permission magic it utilized green creatures to establish itself early and prevent getting stomped on by faster decks. Late game it dropped a Tradewind Rider and started bouncing permanents back into the opponent's hand. With enough mana Capsize could also aid in this effort. A Scragnoth or Grindstone out of the sideboard was employed to finish off the opponent.


Tradewind Awakening

Spells

4 Whispers of the Muse
4 Counterspell
3 Forbid
3 Awakening
3 Capsize
4 Legacy's Allure

Creatures

2 Spike Weaver
2 Spike Feeder
2 Scragnoth
4 Tradewind Rider
4 Wall of Blossoms

Land

10 Island
3 Skyshroud Forest
4 Reflecting Pool
8 Forest
Sideboard

3 Hammerhead Shark
3 Torture Chamber
3 Grindstone
2 Spike Feeder
4 Mana Leak

All three of these decks had an impact on getting to PTQ back in 1998. All three won qualifiers and were a notable part of the PTQ Rome meta-game.