Saturday, August 30, 2014

The Pauper Gauntlet

Welcome to the Pauper Gauntlet, Season Two!

For more information on what happened in Season One, please read here: http://magicgatheringstrat.com/2014/06/the-pauper-gauntlet-season-one-2013/

What is the Pauper Gauntlet?
  • The Pauper Gauntlet is a competition between Pauper decks (not players) where the decks try to survive as long as possible. Every round decks are eliminated if they lose. The rounds get harder and harder (see below).
  • In the end, one deck will do what BorosKitty did in the first season and be the last remaining deck in the Gauntlet.
  • The Pauper Gauntlet is quite casual and meant to be taken as light entertainment. The first season in 2013 was a lot more successful than I expected, so I hope you will enjoy this one as well.
How can you get involved in the Pauper Gauntlet?
  • You can watch the videos on the YouTube channels MagicGatheringStrat and sngprop
  • You can read articles about the Gauntlet on this blog or on MagicGatheringStrat.com
  • You can brew a deck and submit it to the Gauntlet in the comments below
  • You can submit a deck you like to see played in the Gauntlet (that you perhaps did not brew yourself) in the comments below
  • You can champion a deck and win prizes. This will be detailed in my September 14th blog post here when the list of all decks is known. You can not become the champion of a deck before September 14th.


Submit a deck for the Pauper Gauntlet

You will need to submit a link to your deck list including a sideboard plan in the comments below.

  • Your deck is submitted for possible entry into the Pauper Gauntlet by posting in the comments below (and nowhere else).
  • Your deck must have a deck list available on a web site that I can link to. There are several such services. Here is one: http://tappedout.net/mtg-deck-builder/  Include than link in your post in the comments below.
  • You should include a sideboard plan to help me play the deck. The better you make the sideboard plan, the better my chances are to win with the deck. Remember that a majority of Magic duels are played after sideboarding. Here is a good example of a template for a sideboard plan: http://magicgatheringstrat.com/2014/07/pauper-gauntlet-competitor-13-stompy/
  • Your deck is more likely to be approved if it is unique (no similar deck is already approved), if it has community interest, if it has achieved results in Daily Events or Premier Events, if you have a sideboard plan and if you have tips about playing the deck.
  • You can submit a deck until noon GMT+2 September 10th in the comments to this blog post. If you submit later, your deck will not be in the second season of the Pauper Gauntlet. 
  • I have the final say whether a deck is approved or not.
  • The comments to this blog post is the only way to submit a deck to the Pauper Gauntlet. If your deck is submitted anywhere else, it will not be entered in the Pauper Gauntlet.
  • The list of the 23 decks pre-approved for the second season of the Pauper Gauntlet will be posted on this blog on September 14th 2014. They are also available here: http://magicgatheringstrat.com/2014/08/pauper-gauntlet-competitor-20-familiars/ 
  • You do not have to have access to Magic Online to submit a deck. In fact, several brewers were not on Magic Online for the last season. After all, you don't play your own deck in the Pauper Gauntlet. I play all decks. 
  • If you make a video playing the deck, that makes it more likely to be approved for the Gauntlet. You can get a free 30-day trial of the software I use here: http://www.techsmith.com/download/snagit/  (No, I do not get anything for promoting them)
Some tips on brewing for Pauper

I made this video with David Shaffer last year. It contains some useful tips about brewing aggro, control and combo in Pauper. It explains many things that are good to think about when brewing, including why two-color aggro decks have huge problems in the format.




23 decks are already qualified for the Pauper Gauntlet
A comprehensive list will be posted here on September 14th.

Spoilers are available in the master playlist for the Pauper Gauntlet S02 here



The rules
  • Whatever happens in the Paupet Gauntlet happens. There are no takebacks.
  • Every deck is played by the same player to make it fair (me).
  • The last remaining deck wins the Pauper Gauntlet S02
  • All the details about the competition and being the champion of a deck will be posted here on September 14th.
  • Every deck plays one match each round.
  • The first two rounds are double elimination, i.e. a deck has to lose both round one and round two to get eliminated.
  • Every round after round two is single elimination. Once a deck loses, it is eliminated from the Pauper Guantlet.
  • If all remaining decks are eliminated in one round, they all advance to the next round.
  • The details of the rounds are presented below
  • The opponent is the first person that joins the match on Magic Online. I intend this to be random but if people search me out to play me, that is fine with me.
  • Whenever Magic Online says I win (I win after playing, opponent leaves etc) the deck advances to the next round.
  • There will be a voteback after round 4. More details in the September 4th blog post (the 23 decks).
  • If there is a banning, brewers are allowed to update their decks or eliminate their decks if they feel the deck is now unplayable. 
  • Brewers are not allowed to update their deck lists if there are no bannings or other really good reasons (making an error in deck construction to begin with is not a good reason)
  • No more than 100 decks will be approved for the second season of the Pauper Gauntlet.
  • If you have any questions, please watch the first video in the playlist as it has a FAQ. If your question is not answered there, feel free to ask it in the comments. Please do not try to change the structure of the Pauper Gauntlet now. There will be an opportunity to evaluate the format after the Gauntlet is finished (as there was for season one).
The rounds
I will play the rounds in the following environments. The idea is that winning will get harder and harder.

Round 1-2: Any practice room on Magic Online except the Tournament Practice room (the hardest)
Round 3-12: The Tournament Practice Room on Magic Online
Round 13: The two-man queues on Magic Online
Round 14: An 8-man single elimination event. The deck(s) that gets the best results in the event advances to the next round.
Round 15: A Daily Event/Premier Event/Pauper Event for each deck. The deck(s) that gets the best results in the event advances to the next round. As these are extremely inconvenient for me right now (starting at 02.30 am only) there will be only one of these rounds.
Round 16-inf: The Tournament Practice Room on Magic Online

How can you follow the Pauper Gauntlet?
  • You can watch videos on youtube.com/magicgatheringstrat or youtube.com/sngprop
  • For your convenience all videos will be added to the Pauper Gauntlet Season Two playlist (the video above)
  • There will be some sort of weekly or biweekly show with me and some MagicGatheringStrat people summing up what has been going on lately in the Pauper Gauntlet. More details to follow on September 14th.
  • Every match will be posted on the @MagicGathStrat twitter account
  • There will be a blog post here every Sunday with the results of the previous week
How long will this take?
Last time it took roughly three months. This time - with a lot more decks and two rounds of double elimination - I expect it to last until New Year or way into 2015, but it is very hard to predict. I expect at least 350 matches, probably more than that.

What if I make a stupid play mistake?
Well, this video answers that question. I am by no means a perfect player and there will be mistakes. The brewer can help by making an extensive sideboard plan and providing tips & tricks for playing the deck.



Contact information
YouTube: MagicGatheringStrat (subscribe!)

and sngprop (subscribe there too)
Twitter: @MagicGathStrat  (hashtag: #paupergauntlet)
www.facebook.com/Magicgatheringstrat
Subscribe and Like please. It helps.



That's it. I hope you enjoy the second season of the Pauper Gauntlet.

The first deck (Illusory Tricks) will play the first match on September 14th. That match will be published on the MagicGatheringStrat YouTube channel.






333 comments:

  1. I would like to submit my own deck to the Pauper Gauntlet

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/gr-gruul-kitty/

    I hope You will like it, and decide to play it :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GruulKitty looks like a true grindy midrange kitty deck. It is now approved for the Gauntlet. 24 decks are confirmed so far.

      Delete
    2. I really like the text you wrote about the deck and the SB plan. Thanks for that. That is what I am looking for in deck submissions.

      Delete
  2. Thanks, Arkadiusz. Can I call it GruulKitty to be consistent with the other Kitty decks? Looks like a lot of fun!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Naturally, i add "big" in description just to highlight presence of Horned Kavu.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He is quite a big kitty. Only had 3 of him, had to chase down the last one, but now I have the deck built.

      Delete
  4. Presenting Thallid Bowl Control for the pauper gauntlet:

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/thallid-bowl-control/

    Looking forward to this :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Looks fun! Great deck, great SB plan! Thallid Bowl Control is in the Pauper Gauntlet. 25 decks confirmed!

      Delete
  5. Pauper gauntlet submission - Dimir Cipher Tricks: http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/dimir-cipher-tricks/

    ReplyDelete
  6. Pauper gauntlet submission - Esper Storm: http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/31-08-14-esper-storm/

    ReplyDelete
  7. Pauper gauntlet submission - Izzet Splice and Burn: http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/izzet-splice-and-burn/

    Good luck to all the decks! Hope I get at least one into the competition. My favorite to play with of my 3 submissions is Dimir Cipher, followed by Esper Storm. Izzet Splice and Burn is a newer one that I have not tested as much yet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Michael! Thanks for the submissions

      I like the idea behind Dimir Cipher. I would love that deck to work. The SB plan seems incomplete - is every card in the SB used? There are Excludes in the SB plan but not in the SB? Can you fix that? Have a look at http://magicgatheringstrat.com/2014/07/pauper-gauntlet-competitor-13-stompy/ for ideas about what decks to include sideboard plans against.

      Can you rename Esper Storm? I think that name will be assumed to be the Familiars deck by some players (or maybe that is the point?).

      I am putting Esper Storm and Izzet Splice and Burn on hold for the time being until I see how many submissions I get. After all, there are only a limited number of spots. I will give an answer about all the decks on hold no later than September 12th.

      If you fix the SB plan on Dimir Cipher, I will play it. I fear that it is a bit clunky (Stompy, Burn and MBC comes to mind as problem matchups) but the idea is so intriguing and I know a lot of people have been working on similar decks that I really want to play the deck. Looks like a lot of fun.

      I also want every readers opinion. If you think any of the decks that I put on hold should be in the Gauntlet, let me know in the comments.

      Delete
    2. Hi Dan, I will work on Dimir Cipher and all the sideboards a bit more. You are right that the Cipher deck is sometimes a bit slow and so a very fast aggro deck can sometimes be trouble. But it's a lot of fun to play and if you manage to lock people down, it's over soon enough. Esper Storm can be renamed Esper Divine. It's the fastest deck and I've killed people on T5-6 fairly often, even against some non-pauper decks. Check back soon for the sideboards.

      Delete
    3. Ok, will do! Thanks for replying quickly.

      Delete
    4. Dan, I've updated the Dimir Cipher SB plan to make it consistent and add a few more potential opponents. I don't have tons of experience playing against all the deck archetypes, but I did my best. Maybe others can comment if something looks stupid.

      Delete
    5. Thanks! Dimir Cipher Trick is approved for the Pauper Gauntlet. Now we have 27 decks.

      Delete
    6. I have been thinking about that Izzet deck. Can you extend the SB plan against more decks?

      Delete
    7. I'll work more on the Izzet deck and leave a note when I'm done. Shouldn't take long.

      Delete
    8. Revised the Izzet deck. I took your advice and removed the Mimic. I added Noggle Bandit and Razorfin Hunter instead, which are slightly harder to cast, but better overall. I also detailed the sideboard a bit more.

      Delete
    9. We did have a clout deck last year. I misplayed it horribly and it lost in the first round. But this deck is way more interesting as it also does the splice thing. Izzet Splice and Burn is in the Pauper Gauntlet. 43 decks approved

      Delete
  8. Anyone remember that David Shaffer article about five ideas that does not work for Pauper brewing? Can't find it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. It was in Thoughtcast series
    http://mtgostrat.com/2013/08/thoughtcast-top-five-mechanics-you-are-brewing-with-but-probably-shouldnt-be/

    Could You post list of 23 decks that already are in Pauper Gauntlet? It would prevent double posting them if someone want to subit something that already exist in meta.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, everybody should check out that article. I will add it to the article

      Delete
    2. Or not! The article is sadly dated. Don't brew with Mimics or weird infect decks but Madness is actually quite improved now

      Delete
    3. Let's see if the Mimics are really all that bad - Orzhov has Unmake, Blind Hunter, Edge of the Divinity and Beckon Apparition (if opponent is using their graveyard). Those are good spells outside the pump impact. But the deck needs to be able to compete even without the Mimic spells. Maybe that's the test - take out the Mimic, is your deck still viable?

      Delete
    4. That deck has been around a lot and it just never works very well, IMHO. Blind Hunter, Edge etc.. are in many failed brews. Having said that, ask me again on September 8th and we will see how many decks we have.

      Delete
    5. Another principle David often talked about was how two and three color aggro decks are just too slow and don't have the mana base to support them in Pauper. That is why all the successful aggro decks (WW, Stompy, Delver, Goblins) are one color decks. It is incredibly hard to match those with two-color aggro decks - that is why the two color lists that are not control are often very midrangy to work (BorosKitty etc). They need to play control vs the mono color aggro decks and if they can't, they are probably just doomed in the Pauper meta

      Delete
  10. My deathtouch deck: http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/assassins-apprentice/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. You need to add a sideboard plan. You will find a good example of the decks you need to face here: http://magicgatheringstrat.com/2014/07/pauper-gauntlet-competitor-13-stompy/ (in the sideboard plan at the end).

      Delete
    2. I added sideboard plan too. Thanks for alerting me about it. Here again: http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/assassins-apprentice/

      Delete
    3. This deck reminds me of Deluxe Death that I had a lot of fun with last year. Deathtouch is in the Pauper Gauntlet. 34 decks are now approved

      Delete
  11. The list of decks already in the Gauntlet is available in the Pauper Gauntlet playlist and will be part of the article here on Wednesday.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Here is a list of the 23 decks: http://magicgatheringstrat.com/2014/08/pauper-gauntlet-competitor-20-familiars/

    ReplyDelete
  13. I will be gone most of the day tomorrow Monday so expect more answers from me on Tuesday at the earliest, but I will be reading everything posted here

    ReplyDelete
  14. I asked Deluxeicoff to provide his favorite brew and he did. Its a mono white Metalcraft deck and it is the 26th approved deck in the Pauper Gauntlet. I will publish it

    ReplyDelete
  15. I submit People of the Sun, a mono-white tokens build focused on fast kills.

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/31-08-14-people-of-the-sun/

    I've had very good luck with this in the TP room and 2-man queues, but I haven't yet taken it into a DE (mostly because they just came back).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. With the metalcraft deck we now have two different WW builds. I like that. People of the Sun is approved for the Pauper Gauntlet. 28 decks are in. Great SB plan!

      Delete
    2. I've made some tweaks to the deck up at tappedout.net. I assume that the decklists aren't locked in until the gauntlet actually begins, correct?

      Delete
  16. 10 decks for you Dan. I am still working up sideboard plans. I will email them to you.

    Dimir Teachings
    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/31-08-14-dimir-teachings/

    Dumb Green Tron
    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/dumb-green-tron/

    Esper Value
    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/31-08-14-esper-value/

    Mono Blue Control
    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/31-08-14-aWW-mono-blue-control/

    4Color Winter Zoo
    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/4-color-winter-zoo/

    Persistently Undying
    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/persistently-undying/

    Mono Red Kuldotha Tron
    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/rebirth-tron/

    Tortured Toolbox
    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/31-08-14-tortured-toolbox/

    Ulamog's Re animator
    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/ulamogs-reanimator/

    White Weenie Tokens
    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/wwt/

    I'm trying to think up more if I can!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Please publish the SB plans as I will get uber-confused if I have to look for SB plans in different places when I play 100 decks :) Thanks for the big submission. I will go through each one

      Delete
    2. Dimir Teachings can't be left out. Its in and we have 29 decks. MUC is out as we already have a Mono Blue Control list in the 23 pre-approved decks

      Delete
    3. The Tron decks are on hold until we see how many decks we get. They are rogueish, which is nice, but aren't they just sub-par to RUG Tron? Write-ups on them would help

      Delete
    4. White Weenie Tokens are too similar to People of the Sun, so they are out. Tortured Toolbox is in. 31 decks.

      Delete
    5. Reanimator decks are notoriously bad in Pauper and we already have Exhume Control, so I will need quite a bit of convincing and write-up on that one.

      Delete
    6. You know me too well, Sam :) Persistently Undying - I just can't resist that. I hope I run into Control decks all day :) Persistently Undying is IN! We have 32 decks now. Go work on SB plans now please :)

      Delete
    7. Dimir Teachings Plan is done. I will do the next 3 the next 3 nights. I also submitted another deck.

      Delete
    8. Winter Zoo and Persistently Undying sideboard plans are both done.

      I made a slight update to Winter Zoo's Sideboard, and will email you an updated .dek file.

      Delete
    9. Could Mono Green Tron get a sideboard plan? The deck looks kinda fun and it has been ages since I resolved a Crop Rotation

      Delete
    10. Will do. I'm hopeful to get the rest of the Sideboard plans hammered out tonight.

      Delete
  17. Zoo is in. 30 decks. Esper Value needs a write-up with some explanation about what the decks wants to do and why it is good for the meta (and a SB plan but they all need that)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Mono Black Land Destruction

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/01-09-14-mono-black-land-destruction/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is the deck I have played against in several videos, right? I like it! MB LD is in. 33 decks approved

      Delete
    2. I would love some more decks in the SB plan. Check this article for some ideas on what to sideboard against: http://magicgatheringstrat.com/2014/07/pauper-gauntlet-competitor-13-stompy/

      I am going to run into 50+ different decks at least during this exercise and not knowing how to sideboard can throw a match and eliminate the deck.

      Delete
    3. Yes, this is the deck that you crushed, in several of your videos your videos. As a result of the defeat vs Burn I have decided to dedicate one spot in the sideboard to Syphon Soul which I changed to Gary just before submission. I am looking for a suggestion here. What's the best sideboard card vs Burn. Seems that's my worst matchup.

      Yes, I will add more decks to the sideboard plan. I am going to play this deck 3 times a day until the Gauntlet start, so I will have much better sideboard plan by then.

      Delete
  19. I would like to submit my own creation to the Gauntlet. A deck I play with my friends in our Friday night magic group. I call it "Rise of the Legionnaire", since I centered the creation around the "Porcelain Legionnaire".

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/rise-of-the-legionnaire/

    I enjoyed watching the first season of the Pauper Gauntlet. I hope you like the deck.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rise of the Legionairre is in the Pauper Gauntlet. 35 decks are now approved. There are now a bunch of mono white decks (and I know one more is coming) so the bar is now raised to mono-white decks ESPECIALLY weenie decks

      Delete
  20. Pauper Cogs

    1 Ancient Den
    2 Azorius Chancery
    1 Great Furnace
    6 Island
    2 Izzet Boilerworks
    3 Mountain
    1 Seat of the Synod
    3 Snow-Covered Plains
    3 Terramorphic Expanse
    3 Aether Spellbomb
    2 Firebolt
    2 Lightning Bolt
    3 Pyrite Spellbomb
    3 Leonin Squire
    4 Looter il-Kor
    4 Momentary Blink
    4 Aven Riftwatcher
    4 Trinket Mage
    3 Ninja of the Deep Hours
    3 Steamcore Weird
    3 Mulldrifter

    #60

    Sideboard:
    1 Bonesplitter
    3 Electrickery
    3 Electrostatic Bolt
    1 Sunbeam Spellbomb
    1 Viridian Longbow
    4 Counterspell
    2 Terashi's Grasp

    I will email you a link to the sideboard plan I promise :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oops

      Sideboard
      1 Bonesplitter
      3 Electrickery
      3 Electrostatic Bolt
      2 Relic of Progenitus
      1 Sunbeam Spellbomb
      1 Viridian Longbow
      2 Counterspell
      2 Terashi's Grasp

      Delete
    2. You have to put the deck on a separate web page so I can link to it in a way that people can find it quickly without going through these 100s of comments.

      Delete
    3. I should learn to read :)

      https://deckbox.org/sets/772157

      If any of the sb plan is confusing do not hesitate to ask!

      Delete
    4. Cogs is now in the Pauper Gauntlet. 37 decks approved

      Delete
  21. I would like to submit Pesky Clerics

    https://deckbox.org/sets/748315

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like this list a lot. Pestilence decks are a recurring fascination of mine, and this one is especially spicy with the Cleric subtheme and option to just beat down with the Vile Deacon, or slowly drain them with the Scholar of Athreos.

      Delete
    2. We must have a Pestilence deck! Pesky Clerics is approved for the Pauper Gauntlet. 36 decks are now in

      Delete
  22. Lilly's MBC
    http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/deck.asp?deck_id=1210823

    SB plan in the comments below the list

    I don't have access to MTGO but i do love watching you and brennon play decks. so i don't know if all cards are available. like hymn to tourach, but i listed the alternative if so. This deck has giving me good results at paper pauper tournaments.
    I hope you will select it so i can watch my deck in action.

    Johnny
    Proxy the Power™

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the nice comments, Johnny. I am really sorry, but one of the 23 decks is already a MBC list and this deck is too similar to it.
      http://magicgatheringstrat.com/2014/08/pauper-gauntlet-competitor-15-mono-black-control/

      Delete
  23. I would like everyone to think about staple tier 2 decks that have not been submitted yet. I have a few in mind. Can you think of any tier 2 decks that are not in yet? Feel free to make a list of such a deck if you have played it and think you can make a sideboar deck. You don't have to be super creative even if I appreciate the submissions of decks I have never ever seen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah there are some good decks that aren't in yet.

      Tier 1:
      Counterburn - https://deckbox.org/sets/744208
      Hexproof Auras - https://deckbox.org/sets/772939
      Infect - https://deckbox.org/sets/722967

      Tier 2:
      Elf Bomb - https://deckbox.org/sets/726350
      Midnight Presence - https://deckbox.org/sets/770737
      PauBlade - https://deckbox.org/sets/740009
      Trinket Blink-it - https://deckbox.org/sets/730973

      Any of those take your fancy?

      Delete
    2. Thanks, Aught3.

      CounterBurn is already in the Gauntlet as Izzet Control.
      Hexproof is approved for the Pauper Gauntlet. I prefer to call the deck "Hexproof" as I have done so in 30+ videos before
      Infect needs a SB plan
      Elf Bomb needs a SB plan
      Midnight Presence needs a SB plan
      I think PauBlade has been beaten to death as a concept and it has never really worked, so that one is on Hold
      Trinket Blink-It needs a SB plan

      38 decks are approved at this point





      Delete
    3. Ok, I can't resist Elf Bomb and Infect. They are in. Make SB plans please. 42 decks approved

      Delete
    4. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    5. Sweet, sideboard plans made.

      Btw, Dan has said below that any decks "on hold" e.g., PauBlade need some community support to be allowed into the Gauntlet so let him know if you want to see it.

      Delete
    6. Midnight Presence is in. Trinket Blink-it is on Hold and will need some love (I know I love these grindy midrange decks, but maybe I love them too much?)

      Can you write a few pointers on how to play Midnight Presence? I am sure I could screw that up quite easily

      Delete
    7. Midnight Presence makes that 47 approved decks right now

      Delete
  24. I submit the Sliver deck (I wrote this a while back):

    http://mtgostrat.com/2013/10/slivers-primer/

    ReplyDelete
  25. Do you have a good dredge deck yet? Here's one I cooked up that I think fits the archetype well:
    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/02-09-14-golgari-dredge/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. (I will do a proper sideboard plan if you want to use the deck, let me know)

      Delete
    2. Yeah, already got one. VaultBoyHunter's Tortured Toolbox. Hmm... that is a Tortured Existence deck though while this is not (how come it is not?) - if you make a good argument (and a SB plan) you could possibly convince me here. Its on Hold then.

      Delete
    3. Ok, I'll work on it a bit. I must plead ignorance - I didn't know of Tortured Existence until recently. However, the card advantage of Ghoulcaller's Chant and zombies is nice. So far I've found I can fairly consistently get a dredge guy into the graveyard early in the game. The Mulch + Raven's Crime combo here is also fun for late in the game (if you get there).

      Delete
    4. Ghoulcaller's chant and Zombies is a well known brewers trap in Pauper. It is just too slow to work properly. Chris weaver experimented a lot with it in MBC and in Dimir decks. I am still intrigued though. What do other readers think about the deck?

      Delete
    5. I think Zombies can work, I have a mono-black list myself that relies on cycling to feed Barrow ghoul. Besides, this is the Pauper gauntlet, let the games decide what's playable and what's not :)

      Delete
    6. I revised the dredge deck. I added Carrion Feeder and changed the sideboard a bit. With two decent one-drop creatures and Innocent Blood as viable T1 and T2 options, I don't feel it will be too slow (in that early removal is likely). Ghoulcaller's Chant is more for mid to late-game card advantage. See what you think!
      http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/golgari-undead-dredge/

      Delete
    7. Alright! Lets try it! Golgari Undead Dredge is in the Pauper Gauntlet. 44 decks approved

      Delete
  26. Again, if you need more archetypes, here is a nice infect deck that has a slightly slower but still effective approach. I will do a sideboard plan if you choose it:
    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/rotten-eggs-pauper-infect/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This falls under the do-not-add-a-color-to-aggressive decks clause I think. Multi-color infect decks have a horrible track record in Pauper. Sorry about that. This one is out.

      Delete
  27. I would like to enter my all-in Presence of Gond combo deck. http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/bant-presence/update/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just a heads up, the link doesn't work. Goes to a 404 thingy.

      Delete
    2. If You delete /update/ it is working ( http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/bant-presence/ )

      Delete
    3. Sorry, there is already a Midnight Presence deck entered above that has priority over this (entered earlier). I only want one Presence of Gond deck ... but wait, hmm, they look quite different. Hmm. This one is on hold. I will need a specific SB plan for quick reference

      Delete
    4. I have modified the sideboard plan, let me know if it is up to par yet or not.

      Delete
    5. Please make the sideboard very clear and specific with exactly which cards to take in and take out, like this one: http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/gr-gruul-kitty/

      Delete
    6. After our talk I think this needs to be in the Pauper Gauntlet. Bant Presence is IN. 46 decks approved. Keep working on that SB plan

      Delete
  28. Thunder Trees: A Jund Pauper Loam deck.

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/thunder-trees/

    Sideboard plan to come.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That looks insanely fun. This is approved. 40 decks are in.

      Delete
    2. Sideboard plan is up for Thunder Trees.

      Delete
    3. I made a slight change to the sideboard, and will send you an updated .dek file.

      Delete
  29. Hmm, I could share my BR aggro :P
    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/br-aggro-06-04-14-1/

    It will take 1-2 days to do proper sideboard plan and description (did't play it for 1-2 months).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Two-color aggro is generally bad in Pauper. The mana is not there to support it and you just get crushed by all the mono color aggro decks as well as the control decks built to tackle much faster aggro decks. This one is out. Sorry about that.

      Delete
    2. Two-color decks generally need to be either midrange or control to work in Pauper. There are exceptions, but they are very few.

      Delete
    3. No problem, I remember there was midrange/controll deck called "Blightning controll" about year ago, I will try to find it and post link.

      Delete
    4. I remember that. It was quite bad, if I recall correctly :)

      Delete
    5. Blighting is also a well known trap for Pauper brewers

      Delete
    6. Just like in Modern, its way too slow for the format

      Delete
  30. Any tournament winning decks (even from 2012 or 2013) that we have missed?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe not tournament power lvl, but still interesting decks:
      1. GR and UG Madness (with recent changes it should be finally playable)
      2. Dead dog (mongrel, vamp hounds, some madness and unearth creatures) - i saw GB tortured existence, but it was diffrent.
      3. WB extort controll
      4. Poo-Dragons
      5. UG (and i saw UGw version) turbo-fog

      Does anyone working on them? Have them any chances to qualify to Pauper Gauntlet?

      Delete
    2. Turbo-Fog and Po Dragons had super bad showings last year in the Pauper Gauntlet but they are still interesting decks. I think we need a UG Madness deck in the year of Vintage Masters. Nobody is working on that as far as I know. Stay away from Dead Dog and Extort I think

      Delete
    3. UG Madness usually just doesn't get there against the better decks. But something like this is decent if not good: https://deckbox.org/sets/740042

      Delete
    4. I agree but I think UG Madness falls under the "community interest" clause as everyone has been trying to brew it since VMA was released. It needs a SB plan though. But it is approved and we now have 48 decks

      Delete
    5. I, for one, love Turbo Dog, Dom's Hounds deck: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egxfDmmnhTY. I love any deck that uses the ravnica eidolons. Is Dom still available to update the deck?

      Also I still like the generic stock lists of BW nightsky aggro and Suicide Black. They might not be super-competitive, but there is a lot of history and tradition about them.

      Delete
    6. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    7. I would like to nominate TurboDog into the gauntlet just because I like the deck concept :)

      Delete
    8. Dom is occupied with non-magic stuff and I don't think he will participate this year around. Project X got in under VaultBoyHunter's tender care. Who will do the SB plan and parent Turbo Dog?

      I think Nightsky Aggro and Suicide Black are beaten to death at this point, so I will stay clear of them.

      Delete
    9. If someone can link me to Turbo Dog I'll look at it. I'm not familiar with it at all.

      Delete
  31. Are the rebels in? They have such a great theme song !

    http://www.gatherling.com/deck.php?mode=view&id=9913

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OMG, I had forgotten about that. Bava is working on a rebels deck, so no rebel submissions please

      Delete
  32. If you want to see a deck I have put on hold in the Gauntlet (and you are not the person submitting it) please comment and say so

    ReplyDelete
  33. I'll try to submit decks in a few days. However, there are some concepts I want to see. If no one wants to brew them, I'll try my hand at some of them.

    Allies!!!!!!!!
    Enchantments (but not hexproof)
    Flying Dinosaurs
    RDW

    Challenge decks (if anyone make a deck based on these themes, I will LOVE them forever
    Mercenaries
    Shambleshark
    Gatekeepers
    Ninja Tribal
    Arcane Splicing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've got Dan thinking about an arcane splicing deck… tell him if you want to see it, that will help my cause!
      http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/izzet-splice-and-burn/

      Delete
    2. Marvin did promise to deliver an updated version of the Allies deck from last year. Haven't heard anything from him since Aug 31st though.

      Good ideas! Looking forward to your own submissions as well, jphsnake

      Delete
    3. Did somebody call for the Gray Mercenaries of Asphodel?
      https://deckbox.org/sets/742302

      Delete
    4. That is indeed a mercenaries deck. It does need a sideboard plan

      Delete
    5. Mercenaries are fun. I'll be rooting for it.

      Delete
    6. People will think I am insane when I go Swamp-Rampart Crawler-Go :)

      Delete
    7. I feel that the Mercenary Deck should really use Dark Ritual. A T1 Cateran Brute sounds really good

      Delete
    8. Sounds like a nice idea. Plus if you draw it later you can put the extra mana towards more fetches. I will try it out.

      Delete
    9. Yep, love the Dark Ritual. Updated the decklist and started making a sideboard plan. Beat RUG Tron and Golgari Existence. Barely lost to the Affinity player, triple Disciple of the Vault into Atog was brutal.

      Delete
    10. Gray Mercenaries of Asphodel is approved for the Pauper Gauntlet. 55 decks are in

      Delete
  34. My first submission! Hope to get another couple in before tournament time.

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/nameless-oubliette/

    Hope it makes the cut ~ opinion?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry, that one seems too similar to the MBC list that is already in. Looking forward to more submissions from you though.

      Delete
  35. My submission: http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/croca-jund/

    I hope it´s enough .

    Greetings, Sammy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Everybody was quite amazed when I got my head smashed in by croca-jund in some video a while back. I think this is sufficiently interesting to make the cut. Croca Jund is in. 45 decks approved for the Gauntlet.

      Delete
    2. Devour Flesh in SB should be Diabolic Edict, right?

      Delete
    3. Well hard to say... vs Burn Matches this is the only card that gives me some life back, and if i play it vs Aura decks, it´s still good if i have the board presence of my creatures. I´m still struggeling on that card

      Delete
    4. OK, let me know which one to use before I start playing on the 14th. I have Diabolic Edict in the list now, but I should probably use Devour Flesh then

      Delete
  36. My latest and probably last entrant for your consideration - a mono white control deck:
    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/endangered-species/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is on hold as I already have a White Control deck coming and there are too many Mono White decks already. But I am intrigued and may return to this.

      Delete
    2. Fair enough. If you want a different look, this could be an Azorius deck as well and might even be stronger as such (eg. Momentary Blink w the flashback cost). But I'll leave it on hold till I here back from you.

      Delete
    3. I am still a bit sceptical, lets keep it on hold until next week when we see how many decks we have

      Delete
  37. Building the decks is taking a lot of time. Please send me the .dec files or .txt files of the deck list so I can just import them into Magic Online. I need lists for Bant Presence, Dimir Teachings, Elves, Hexproof, Golgari Undead Drede, Infect, Izzet Splice and Burn, Mono Black LD, People of the Sun, Pesky Clerics, Persistently Undying, Rise of the Legionairre, Thunder Trees, Tortured Toolbox and Winter Zoo (and all other decks you want to submit and all decks on hold). Email them to limitedmagic@gmail.com

    Or can I get them of the site somehow?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. On Deckbox you can hit Edit (top right) and Print to see a simplified view. Maybe you can import that into a txt file more easily?

      Delete
    2. I will have to try that, but I will do that after the 10th

      Delete
  38. On tappedout.net you can export to .txt or .dec. The button for that is just above the delete button on the right-hand navigation.

    ReplyDelete
  39. 3 more decks, I am working up the sideboard plans as I go.
    First two are from the first Gauntlet but I loves them so much.

    Project X
    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/04-09-14-project-x/

    Rot Wolf Control
    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/rot-wolf-control/

    Rot Wolf needs a Sideboard update overall before I write the Plan. It has many Anti Post cards, but its to late to work that up tonight.

    New deck for consideration.

    Grixis Control

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/04-09-14-pauper-grixis-control/

    Thanks Dan!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think the Grixis Control deck is too similar to Dimir Teachings.

      Project X and Rot Wolf Control are in. Feel free to do the updates for the SB plan for RWC. 50 decks approved

      Delete
  40. Greats from Germany!
    If its worth i will make a SB plan;

    deckstats.net/decks/2689/38635-blazing-spellbomb/de

    Keep going on, i love it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This looks intriguing. What makes it different from the Cogs deck above?

      Delete
    2. Hi,

      did not see that deck (very difficult to navigate only with my mobile phone; cause of a relication no computer atm.)
      My deck absolutely focused on blazing torch and pyrite Spellbomb and the endless return of this. With a Sculptor you can cast them for free. This and card advantage through "draw" Trinket, Leonin, but Hawk and Myr too + blink to control the board. Lotus has no negative effect or let me say only less negative effect. For example use it to cast a Trinket and search a land with this. Beside let u start relativly constant and fast start into play. Good old brainstorm cause of many shuffle effects.
      The Cogs decks above is similar in cards, but looks to me different in play. It based more on red, i only need this for pyrite.

      Delete
    3. Alternative: Exalted Flyers ( yes i know about 3 color and aggro, but it works very well and smothy...):

      http://deckstats.net/decks/2689/16356-exalted-flyers

      Delete
    4. Make a sideboard plan for Blazing Spellbomb and put the notes on how to play that deck in the comments on the web page so I can quickly find them please

      Delete
    5. Exalted flyers look like fun but wont it just be overrun by any other aggressive deck? What is the artful dodge there for - isn't the flying enough? Phantasmal Bears look a little random - what about the exalted wall from M13? It needs a SB plan too. And a SB (or am I just missing that, not being familiar with the plan). Please go to 60 cards too

      Delete
  41. First Submission: Mono-Green Devotion. Didn't change much from the video. It's pretty fun.

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/04-09-14-wPB-mono-green-devotion/

    I also would like to nominate CDavis's Heroic Red deck mainly because I like it and we really need a RDW deck that isn't goblins :)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4fpCH6Er1A&index=1&list=PL04lbfeNAaS-kn6ADggfZ_Hm4CyvgOqZt

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do however, suggest that we replace lava darts with lightning bolts in the heroic red deck.

      Delete
    2. Can you make a deck list and SB plan for the Heroic Red deck?

      Mono Green Devotion is in. 51 decks approved.

      Delete
    3. and a SB plan for Mono Green Devotion?

      Delete
    4. Here's the Mono-Red Heroic deck. I made a few changes but not much.

      http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/05-09-14-mono-red-heroic/

      Delete
    5. Mono Red Heroic is in. 54 decks approved. Glad to see some aggro decks. Is there no love for the turn 1 kill combo deck or any other fast aggressive mono-color strategy that we have missed?

      Delete
    6. David Shaffer wrote an article about the 1-land combo: http://mtgostrat.com/2013/11/1-land-spy-tournament-report-deck-discussion/

      And a glass cannon article: http://mtgostrat.com/2013/09/thoughtcast-glass-cannons-benefits-thought-experiments/

      Anyone nominate these yet?

      Delete
    7. No, but that one land combo deck is amazing and insane and I would love to see Dan play it.

      Dan!! Play the one land deck! Do it Dan!!

      Delete
    8. I will do it if someone builds a SB plan for it

      Delete
  42. Second Submission: WatchRites

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/watchrites/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. WatchRites is an amazingly fun deck. I can't wait to see it!!!

      Delete
    2. I remember promising you to let this in for the second season last year. So WatchRites is in. I will need a lot of instructions to play this deck. I am really scared of it for some reason.

      Delete
  43. Third Submission: Squawks to Plowshares. A deck that tries its absolute best to abuse Plow Through Reito. I also will highly encourage anyone to brew a deck with the sweep mechanic. It is oodles of fun!

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/squawks-to-plowshares/

    I also want to update BeastDown:

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/04-09-14-beastdown/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was waiting for Squawks to Plowshares. It is the best take on a Mono White Control deck I have seen so far. It is approved. 53 decks are in

      Delete
    2. Oh! Elephant Guide! I like it!

      Any SB advice for Neo-BeastDown?

      Delete
    3. I cut quicksands in Beastdown, don't know if that's correct or not. I'm just seeing a lot more MBC than I am seeing DelverFiend and such...

      Delete
    4. Maybe Ninjas are not really a problem for the beasts either. I will go with your decision of course

      Delete
    5. I guess I hate getting edicted more than I hate getting ninja'ed, but we'll have to see

      Delete
    6. Pestilence or Cholera (is that an expression in English?) :)

      Its your choice what you hate more, so I will go with that

      Delete
  44. Please go through the submissions and voice your support for any decks I have put on hold or not approved yet if you want to see them in the Gauntlet

    ReplyDelete
  45. If I ever fail to reply to anything and you see me replying to something else, please remind me. I might miss something here

    ReplyDelete
  46. It seems that we have the top 12 decks on mtggoldfish covered at least :)

    ReplyDelete
  47. So question, so what if something in Khans turns out to have some super-good and makes a deck a lot better or even leads to a new archetype?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The decks that are in can update with Khans cards but if there is en enitrely new deck it will have to wait for season three

      Delete
  48. Is anyone doing the Immolating Souleater combo deck/suicide white?? I went looking for the Souleater combo deck online but couldn't find it anywhere. It seemed fun when it worked.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Suicide White holds a special place in my heart, and it was the first deck to enter the last Pauper Gauntlet. However, it was built by me to 4-0 in a metagame full of cloudposts, but it might be worth a try for historical reasons at least

      http://mtgostrat.com/2013/06/pauper-gauntlet-competitor-one-suicide-white-a-pauper-deck/

      I did write an article about a superfun deck centered around souleater. You can combo off with souleater+ cleave+children+gather the townsfolk+lifelink. There are 3 versions of the deck, a combo a control, and an aggro. If this deck gets in (I won't cry if it doesn't), you can pick your version

      Delete
    2. The link http://mtgostrat.com/2013/08/keeping-watch-children-mo/

      Delete
    3. I deck I was thinking about was Devil Children.

      Dan! Let the children in Dan!!!!!!

      Delete
    4. Suicide White might be the most watched Pauper Gauntlet video still. I am interested in both decks, if one of you builds a SB plan for it

      Delete
  49. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  50. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry, the bar is raised for mono white decks - there are way too many in the Gauntlet already. Sorry about that, especially since there was a nice embryo of a SB plan there

      Delete
  51. Is there a dedicated eggs deck in Pauper? Mine is called Hobo Omelette.

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/hobo-omlette/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Needs SB plan. Is that not similar to cogs? The name is a major argument for letting the deck in. Its quite amazing

      Delete
  52. Attempt #2. Hopefully this one is original enough as the next two I'll try and submit in time are perhaps more original... but most likely have less of a chance of winning. Suppose that isn't the important part anyway... But we'll wait until I can find more time I guess.

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/realities-dementia/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What are the gambits for? Chance of winning is not unimportant. I think this deck is to similar to the two copies of AzoriusKitty that are already in the Gauntlet and that white is probably a stronger choice for second color. There is also five-color green that is a Reality Acid deck as well. Sorry about that

      Delete
  53. Hi Guys, i was reviewing my decks and i found the following ones.

    @Dan it´s your decision =) I will update them in soon with sideboard plan , depending which decks you want to include.


    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/05-09-14-vvV-zombie-tribal/

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/05-09-14-1-land-spy-combo/

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/crypt-songs-combo/

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/05-09-14-rg-madness/

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/bg-existence/

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/05-09-14-u-artifact/

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/05-09-14-ug-madness/

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/grixis-dl-control/

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/golgaytranquil/

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/2-many-tutors/

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/golgaytranquil/

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/05-09-14-vvV-zombie-tribal/

    http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/05-09-14-sgy-arcane/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think 1-land Spy, Gruul Madness, and Golgari Existence should be in.

      Delete
    2. 1-land spy gets in if someone builds a SB plan for it, like I said above

      Zombie tribal is out

      Isn't impulse a better card than Strategic Planning in Crypt-Songs? The deck was in the last Pauper Gaunltet in a slightly different version. This could get in with some work and extensive SB plan

      Delete
    3. Golgari Existence and UG Madness are already in the Gauntlet (as Tortured Toolbox and UG Madness)

      Delete
    4. Mono-Blue Artifacts look very unique. A write-up and a SB plan would increase its chances. It is on hold right now (as is RG Madness)

      Delete