Notes to...
Artifacts:
4 Aeolipile
This is of course a signature of the deck. Its use was primarilyto
give the 'Pile an edge over Knight-Necro.
R Black Vise (versions 2.0, 2.1)
After discovering the 'Pile's weakness against U/W decks in generalin
the first game, I decided the Vise would be a welcome addition. As JohnShuler
has always maintained, I am also quite "skilled" at drawingthe Vise on turn
1.
R Zuran Orb
Quite frankly, I usually hate drawing this card.
White:
4 Armageddon
Another signature card. This is one of the only edges the 'Pile has
over U/W decks, which tend to be extremely
mana-intensive.
R Balance
I lament her loss.
4 Disenchant
These must be the Mirage Disenchants with the Charles
Gillespieillustration. The female wizard is in-line with the all-girl
theme.
R Land Tax
I am sorry to see you go, old friend.
4 Order of Leitbur
The gold-armored Bryon Wackwitz illustration is essential. Again,this
is to fit in with the all-girl theme.
4 Order of White Shield
There is only one illustration for the Ice Age representative.
LucildeFiksdotter is of course a woman warrior.
4 Serra Angel
The backbone of this deck is now lost to us. Farewell, my
dear.
4 Swords to Plowshares
The Ice Age version is of course used, because the wonderful KajaFoglio
illustration (of a woman, of course) fits in far better than the ugly main-set
version. Unfortunately, Wizards of the Coast believes that white players would
rather use Blessed Wine than Swords to Plowshares.
2 Wrath of God
A second-tier defensive measure... Very effective in game 1
againstNecropotence and Sligh. It is usually removed agaisnt small creature
Necrodecks,but stays in against Sligh for fear of Wildfire Emissary.
Land:
4 Kjeldoran Outpost
A strong weapon against U/W in the first game. Very effective
againstDystopia in game 2.
4 Mishra's Factory
The all-important first line of offense. Use of anti-creature
measuresagainst this land means that later-game assaults by Knights
andespecially Serra Angels will be unmolested.
18 Plains
Staple card.
R Strip Mine
Staple card.
Sideboard:
R Black Vise (version 1.0 only)
Originally used only against Necropotence and U/W Control
decks.
4 Nevinyrral's Disk
Probably the most important card in the sideboard. It serves multipleuses
against the Necrodeck's Glooms, the artifact defense of the Prison,and the
permission-protected lock of Turbo-Stasis. The Disk is also essential agaisnt
the potential of Wildfire Emissaries from red decks.
4 Serrated Arrows
An amazing card against other small creature decks. It, like otherfine
cards, should have been included in the 5th Edition of the basic set.I am
sorry to see you go, old friend.
2 Winter Orb (versions 1.0, 2.0)
Used primarily against U/W Control and Stasis. Stasis especially findsthis
card impossible to deal with.
2 Abbey Gargoyle (version 1.0 only)
An additional flying creature against the Island Sanctuaries of
thePhiladelphia PTQ, and an effective blocker and unstoppable attacker
againstSligh.
3 Conversion (versions 2.0, 2.1)
An utter lock agaisnt Sligh and monored in general. My use of Conversionin
New York prompted the use of alternate mana sources around the country(primarily
City of Brass and Dwarven Ruins).
2 Divine Offering (version 2.0 only)
These should have been used in version 1.0 in Philadelphia. If I had used
version 2.0 there, I would likely have qualified on my first attempt.
4 Divine Offering (version 2.1 only)
Potential overkill. I was disgusted by my performance against WinterOrb
in New York.
2 Wrath of God (version 1.0 only)
I decided that these were not essential with my large amount of
creature-killin the main deck and 4 Arrows already in the sideboard.