Hi All, it’s 2-25-19 and I just went 4-1 in my second Magic Online Competitive Modern League with BW Tokens since going 10-4-1 with Tokens at GP Toronto two weekends ago (see my tournament report below).
I beat Mono-Green Tron the last two times I played against it – in Round 10 at GP Toronto and in Round 4 of this league. Please join me as I share the secrets to beating our worst matchup.
Round 1 – Mono-White Eldrazi Taxes – Loss 0-2
Game 1 I’m on the draw and turn 1 IOK him to reveal both Thalias, Eldrazi Displacer, and pure gas. I take the displacer, but really all three of those cards are pretty bad for our deck. If I had been on the play, things might have been different, but he kills me quickly. Game 2 I mull to 6, play two Virtues, no tokens, and die with no fourth land.
In – Fatal Push, Runed Halo, Wrath of God
Out – 3 Auriok Champion
While I sang Auriok’s praises in my last league, realistically she comes out in a lot of our matchups. It might seem good to keep her to help us race, but she’s never attacking and a terrible blocker vs. Reality Smasher.
Round 2 – Izzet Phoenix – Won 2-0
Game 1 I dominate. Game 2 I keep a one-lander with Burrenton, Halo, and 2 Paths – why not, I’m just play-testing, after all. I path a turn 2 Thing in the Ice and whiff on two draw steps before playing Runed Halo on Phoenix and eventually drawing into gas. Vault of the Archangel buys me enough time to assemble the army. My opponent eventually draws Anger, wipes my board, but Secure the Wastes does its thing and comes to the rescue for an enormous attack next turn.
In – 1 Burrenton (for Anger of the Gods), 1 Fatal Push, 1 EE, Wrath (on the draw)
Out – 2 Zealous Persecution, 1 Sorin, 1 Thoughtseize
I might take another Thoughtseize out for that Sorin, but I think nabbing a Thing in the Ice turn 1 is good enough to leave it in.
Round 3 – Affinity Frenzy – Won 2-1
The new Affinity is tougher than the 2012 version because of Ghirapur Aether Grid. If they have it, they probably win. If they won’t, we probably win. Game 2 they had it.
In – 3 Stony, 2 Disenchant (save for the Aether Grid if you can!), 1 Runed Halo, 1 EE, 1 Push, 1 Burrenton (for Whipflare or a Galvanic Blast or one Aether Grid activation, blah)
Out – 4 Auriok, 3 Seize, 2 IOK
Secure the Wastes can certainly go so you might put in Wrath and 1 IOK (to nab the grid!) instead. I like Hidden Stockpile b/c it can block Etched Champion and help you find cards you need.
Round 4 – Mono-Green Tron – Won 2-1
Like Round 10 of GP Toronto, I get smashed game 1, but win the sideboard games. Check out my GP Toronto tournament report below for that match. My match here in Round 4 plays out a bit differently. Here are screenshots of how I won these games.
HOW TO BEAT TRON
It’s my opinion that we would mutilate our deck to add 4 ghost quarters or fulminator mages or any such things, and Tron would still beat us most days. I’m happy with my current configuration. The way you beat Tron is:
- Accept the reality that you will lose most games.
- Open the door to winning when one of these things happens:
- They stumble on mana. Race!
- You turn 1 discard spell them into turn 2 Stony Silence (nab Nature’s Claim on the play or draw or Expedition Map on the draw).
- They don’t have Nature’s Claim, they don’t play Expedition Map turn 1 (if you’re on the draw), and you turn 2 Stony Silence.
- They draw a bunch of green cards with no Forests or eggs to cast them and never assemble Tron. Race!
I believe Discard + Stony Silence is what you want. It keeps the rest of our deck intact and allows you to steal some games. You probably only need to beat Tron once in a big tournament, and while the games you lose look horrifically lopsided, you have a fair chance to get lucky and steal a match as I’ve done twice in a row now.
Some folks advocate for Ghost Quarters with Surgicals, but I think good old Stony Silence is what the doctor ordered.
In – 3 Stony Silence, 2 Duress, 2 Disenchant
Out – 4 Auriok Champion, 2 Zealous Persecution, 1 BB
Runed Halo just gets blown up, don’t play it. I used to run Lost Legacy, but they would just draw into another win condition. Damping Sphere seems ok, but they can still race you to 7 mana and annihilate you before you kill them.
Round 5 – Mono-Red Phoenix – Won 2-1
This matchup is insane – it reminds me of Mardu Pyromancer. Game 1 I mull to 4 on the play and concede in response to Monastery trigger. Games 2 & 3 are over almost as quickly as game 1.
In – 2 RIP, 2 Duress, 1 EE, 1 Burrenton, 1 Push, 1 Runed Halo
Out – 2 Virtue, 3 Seize, 1 Sorin, 2 BB
I think I’d leave Wrath out on the draw because we’re already so good here.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Beating Tron always feels awesome and I highly recommend it.
Auriok Champion was not the star she was in my 5-0 League – she came out in 3 of my 5 matches here. However, nothing beats knowing she’s in your deck when you sit down across from a great matchup. Tokens has bad matchups that you need to win, and Auriok gladly sits on the sidelines while our sideboard cards put in some work.