Magic The Gathering Old school: Four Seasons in SF Bay Area

Antiquities expansion (released in March 1994) featured a card called Mishra Factory. The first land that could turn into a man is likely the best card in the Old School format. It also happen to feature four different artworks: Winter, Spring, Fall and Summer: One for each of the four seasons.

From left to right: Spring, Fall, Winter and Summer



I always loved the Mishra Factories and they gave me an idea: Since a lot of friends want to try Old School but don't have a deck for it, I would built a few for them to play. Each deck would feature a full set of a season. Each deck would represent a significant archetype of the Old School format:





So far it has been really well received: I usually bring the four decks to a friend's place and I only ask to pick a season. It is pretty cool way to start an evening and feel like we are back to 1993.

Winter

I am still debating replacing the Icy Manipulators with two fireballs. The rest of the deck is pretty solid.

As you may have read in a previous article I have a thing for cards with an history. This desk features some of my most beat up cards. The beauty is in the eye of the beholder as people say...




A sexy playset of winter. Beat up.

Summer

Summer is sun, Summer is Life and Summer is light. It is the opposite of Winter. It had to be a White Weenie. You can tell how much I like this deck since it is almost full black border (sadly the Black Lotus with is CE).

This deck went through several iterations. I came in second place in Berkley with it:


I eventually decided to cut Balance and Army of Allah. I also replaced the Strip Mine with an extra plain since I got mana screwed a few times. The deck intentionally runs low on mana sources and rely on land tax.
The deck is played monotonically: Drop a lot of treats very fast, remove whatever is in the way with Swords and Disenchants. As soon as the board is advantageous: Wipe all the lands with Armageddon.

Fall

Fall is red. The obvious deck to make was Burn. But to make it really competitive, representative of the format and also add a touch of nostalgia it had to be a Lestree Zoo Deck. The list is not what Bertrand played originally during the first World Championship (and what we replayed in Toronto). It has been modified after much playtesting.

The Philosophy of this deck is twofolds:

• Drop a creature turn one or two. Do 4-6 damage.
• Finish your opponent with Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning and Psionic Blast

While the Serendib Efreets and the Gorillas are no brainers I still question if I should have an other Ernahm Djinn instead of the Elvish Archers. The Whirling Devish can look bizarre but they are very good against Juzamns and can grow pretty fast against "Spring" deck.
This desk looks strong but it has one huge weakness, called City in a bottle which can wipe out the entire first row. If the bottle doesn't come too early during the game the deck can still do well since it usually finishes with Burns.

Spring

Finally was Spring: When nature comes back to live after surviving Winter. Surviving it the spirit of "The Deck" which you will face at ANY tournament you go. The Deck is also how I got into Old School: In 2009, before Magnus and his marvelous blog I stumbled upon the pictures of a guy going old school at a Vintage event. I never got to know who played it but I was hooked instantly to the idea of playing old decks:






Notice he is playing a version closer to what Brian Weissman pioneered (with Moat). The version I built i as copy of NoobCon 7 winner

This deck features a cool set of signed Cities by Mark Pool.



I especially like the alter with a face in the sky where he re-purposed the sun into an eye :) !



$40 a piece one year ago but now $200 each these days due to the explosion of MtG Old School community: Beta Jayemdae Tome

Let's play !!

If you live in San Francisco Bay area I would love to play with you ! Shot me an email :) !

 

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