Tarkir: Dragonstorm Store Champs/Player’s Championship Qualifier Recap

Tarkir: Dragonstorm Store Champs/Player’s Championship Qualifier Recap

With the release of Tarkir: Dragonstorm, the Standard format has been completely flipped on it’s head! With the printing of Cori-Steel Cutter, we’ve seen Izzet Prowess completely take over the format. Will this red aggro dominance carry over into our local metagame? Well, the answer is… yes-ish. In the hands of Canadian icon Phil ‘PSamms’ Samms, Izzet Prowess took down our 22 player Store Champs. With an impressive undefeated record of 6-0-2, Cori-Steel Cutter appears unbeatable, however there were only 10 copies total in our top 8! Let’s take a look at Phil’s winning list as well as the rest of the Top 8.

Phil Samms – Izzet Prowess (1^st)

Brad Perry – Orzhov Control (2^nd)

Adam Joyce – Mono-Black Midrange (3^rd-4^th)

Cody Leblanc – Orzhov Midrange (3^rd-4^th)

Austin Halliday – Mono-Black Demons (5^th-8^th)

Brandon Mullen – Boros Mice (5^th-8^th)

Patrick DeMone – Dimir Midrange (5^th-8^th)

Chris Brackley – Izzet Prowess (5^th-8^th)

If this Top 8 tells you anything, it looks like it’s a play Cutter or beat Cutter world in Standard right now! As always, I reached out to our Qualifier Champion for some thoughts, which wasn’t very hard to do since I work with this one! Let’s see what PSamms has to say about his tournament and the Standard format.

T: So, Mr. Champion, many people are saying that Cori-Steel Cutter is the boogeyman of the format. Do you think it lives up to the reputation it has in discussions online?

P: I’m not sure if Cutter lives up to the reputation, but the Prowess deck certainly does. It turns out when you have a deck that plays all the best cards in Standard, it’s better than the other decks.

T: Just a generically strong deck! I know it was a little while ago now, but can you remember any especially crazy turns or plays you had with the deck? Any memorable moments?

P: I don’t really remember anything specific, I know I had a couple games where I missed my 3^rd land for a couple turns but had 2 Cutters, so I eventually got to pop off. Also, there were a few games where I was empty handed and drew a cantrip or Stock Up into another one and was off to the races, but I think that’s kind of just what the deck is built to do.

T: Nice, is there anything you would change about the list you played?

P: There’s always flex slots/metagame choices you don’t get correct, but I was pretty happy with what I played. I’m kind o fa Spell Pierce hater, so I like just playing Disdainful Strokes, and Enduring Curiosity in the sideboard started happening after I copied this list, and I like that card a lot also.

T: Alright, last question. What does qualifying for the most prestigious event in the Maritimes, the HFXGames Player’s Championship™ mean to you?

P: In theory it means I play more and prepare for what is easily the coolest tournament we have available. In reality, I talk about playing more and preparing and then do nothing of the sort. Either way I’m excited and who knows, maybe I’m back? I know I care more about that tournament than any random RCQ or anything like that.

Do you want to qualify for the coolest tournament in the Maritimes? Well, your next chance is May 31^st! We will be hosting a Modern 4-slot RCQ that doubles as a Player’s Championship Qualifier! Even if you don’t take it down, you’ll be playing for Leaderboard Points and can qualify that way! On top of that, there will be prizing and promos to play for! Congrats again to Phil Samms and the rest of our Top 8 on a great tournament! See you May 31^st!

Written By: Travis Benedict Pro Tour Competitor, Cat Lover