Quick recap:
- I switched from Bant Company to Grixis Control on the Monday before the tournament. I had been playing Bant Company for a while now and took it to CnH PPTQ Top 4 before losing to the eventual winner, Scott, and his BR Dragons.
- I only had a short playtest session with Team Decards to test drive the deck. Deck was OK but not great.
- I spent more time during the week watching Paul Cheon videos. He had around 6 hours of streamed video content on Grixis Control.
- Decided to invest in MTGO Jaces on the Friday before the PPTQ to give some last minute testing.
- 0-5 my first League.
- Sleeved up the deck anyway. I really wanted to make Jace broken with Dig Through Time before rotation. Also I just invested in a playset of Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet. Time to cash in.
- Came up on top for the event, beating teammate Eugene Tong in the finals with Esper “Paint Dry” Control
So with the boring stuff out of the way, this was how I came about in choosing Grixis Control for the PPTQ…..
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Nissa, Vastwood Seer breathed slowly as the sun began to rise over the horizon. It was not long before the battle would once again come to Zendikar. Her previous defeat to the Dragons of Tarkir was still fresh in Nissa's mind. Her warriors were well prepared for the might of the Dragons. But she had not anticipated the Dragons allegiance with the human artificers and their leader, Pia and Kiran Naalar. Their thopter bombing were simply too much and Nissa had to order a retreat.
Another battle was looming and Nissa’s wounds are barely healed. She took a deep breath of the cool breeze and enjoyed the one moment of peace before the carnage ahead.
“Warriors assemble!!” Nissa summoned.
In less than a minute, the sound of footsteps rumbled down the thick forests beneath her feet as Nissa’s troop of green warriors comprising Den Protectors, their sidekicks Deathmist Raptors, Slyvan Advocates and the tireless Reflector Mages huddled up in front of the Elf lord.
“We seem to be missing a few.” Nissa hissed in dismay.
One of the Reflector Mages stood out and pointed to the sky. The Eldrazi Skyspawners were still out on patrol duty, while their Wingmate Rocs were still at their never-ending aerial acrobats. Nissa looked around again.
“Where’s Jace?”
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Zzzzzzz…….
Jace rarely dreamt of wealth and riches and in fact, the proud mage rarely dreamt at all. It was the rare time Jace felt his mind not tormented with rage, magic or war. Riches and luxury felt so nice and comforting, even if Jace was fully aware it was all just a dream. So he remained in slumber, ignoring the repeated sirens of Nissa’s calling. Though in deep sleep, the mind mage wasn’t completely unconscious and suddenly he sensed a familiar presence drawing closer to him. Jace woke up, fists clenched up ready to ignite with blue mana. Across him, was a familiar face.
Kalitas.
Jace: That’s a face I once wished never to see again.
Kalitas: Oh my Great Mage, is that how you greet a guest?
Jace: Guests are my friends. You are far from a being a friend of mine. State your business here and be off!!
Kalitas shrugged a little and adjusted his posture. Jace, along with the other Planeswalkers, still has anguish towards Kalitas and his kind. He betrayed the people of Zendikar to the Eldrazis, became their slaves and Kalitas was responsible for so many lives that were lost during the battles with the titans. Kalitas himself was spared by Chandra, who was once in debted to Kalitas when they were fighting on the same side before Kalitas turned.
Kalitas: I was sent here by Chandra. You see, there’s this war that’s coming up at Hobby Quarters. I reckon that, between Chandra and myself, we have things under control with our black and red magic…. But Chandra felt, something was missing. Like we were running out gas pretty quickly and just couldn’t keep the flames burning, the evil going….
Jace: What are you jibbering about Vampire?!
Kalitas: In short, Chandra would like you to come along to our little party. We need you. Actually…. Chandra needs you. You see, things haven’t been the same since you left her by the….
Jace: SILENCE blood-sucker!! I have no intentions of discussing my love interest with you.
Kalitas: Love interest?? Seriously?? I meant to say that Chandra was upset when you didn’t come back from the restroom at McDonalds. Chandra thought it was because she let loose some gas… you know, her gas is quite a stinker. But love??
Jace: Oh that… I had to take a call. It was Nissa and she said it was important that I go to her right away.
Kalitas: So you dumped the hot redhead for the pointy ear nymph? Goooood jobbbb…..
Jace: Enough!! Are you here to ask for my help or mock me??
Jace stood up, raised his hood and stormed out of his crib into the open marketplace. Kalitas quickly got up and gave chase.
Kalitas: Jace, my man…. Don’t be such a baby. I was kidding! Honest!! I was pretty serious about Chandra asking for your help. She knew you just got back from the battle with the Dragons and also kind of pissed off that after all the work you did for Nissa, the critical moment she shoves you to the sideboard to watch from the bench. How unfair!!
Jace kept walking down the main street and Kalitas tried his best to keep up.
Kalitas: Look… I can promise you this. We won’t…. we will never …. Let you watch from the sideboard ok? Chandra reckons you are the key to this war and she… I mean, we, will need you every step of the way.
Jace stopped in his tracks and turned to Kalitas.
Jace: What is it that you need me to do?
Kalitas: Oh well, the usual Jace stuff. Dig Through Time, flashback a thing or two, Negate and Dispel some annoying spells, those things that you are good at. You can leave the brawling to me and Chandra.
Jace: Are we fighting Eldrazi again?
Kalitas: Maybe… but I reckon we would run into a mix of Siege Rhinos, some humans with Hardened Scales and of course Dragons….
Jace eyes lit up a little. He hungered for revenge after being sidelined in their last encounter with the Dragons.
Kalitas: But I do have to caution you Great Mage, Chandra feels there is a higher being at work here. The zoo monsters all could be just a distraction. The real challenge could be the end boss.
Jace: And do you know who this end boss is?
Kalitas: I do not Great Mage. But rumor has it that he hangs his opponent to dry and die of a slow and painful death.
Jace: Dry? As in like drying paint?
Kalitas: Aye Great Mage. Paint Dry.
Jace: Sounds like fun. Let us be off then.
Jace put his arms on Kalitas shoulders and within seconds, both planeswalked away from the crowded streets.
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Knock knock!
Nissa: Jace?? You here?
Nissa looked around the empty room where Jace was sleeping only moments ago. The room was still warm. Nissa turned to go, but a familiar stench caught her nostrils.
Kalitas…..
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