We're going

to the Star City Open in Indianapolis next month.

I've long been a fan of Back to Basics in Legacy because it limits most decks to maybe three functional lands. In other words, it causes your opponent to stop playing Magic. A summer ago I went 3-2-1 in a Chicago 50-man playing Mono-Blue Control, maindecking four Back to Basics and four Propaganda. Aggro Loam and Domain Zoo haaaaated me; it was lovely. But I went to time a lot, and Mono-Red Goblins was a nightmare match-up. Further, Morphling just isn't good enough anymore.

This deck seems to address a lot of those complaints. Splash white but keep the Basics plan - Why didn't I think of that?

First thing I'm doing is cutting the Cunning Wishes for extra copies of Back to Basics, and probably dumping the Divining Tops for fourth copies of Fact or Fiction and Counterspell.

Past that, I get to board in Meddling Mage? Hell and damn yes. Plus the Sphinx is everything you pay 5 mana each turn to wish Morphling was, and I want to marry Elspeth.

In other news, this Pox deck seems exciting, although I've never been keen on Nether Spirit. "Ooh, my 2/2 with no abilities just won't go away, hahah, unless you're playing the most common removal spell in the format. What, Swords my guy? Aww..." I guess he chumps Tarmogoyf for awhile. Great. (I don't mean that. I do not think it is great at all. AT ALL.)

I mean, at the very least you could play Bloodghast instead...

Oh, and if like me you've been wondering whether that Vintage Selkie deck could find a viable port into Legacy, here's your answer.

Last thing: I don't really want to play Storm in Indianapolis, but if I were assembling a build for someone to test against, this would be it. No Lion's Eye Diamond, decent protection, and no ridiculously complicated kills using Doomsday or Ill Gotten Gains. In other words it's cheaper and easier to learn. Which is to say, in the hands of an idiot it's probably the more effective build.

That's what I love.

-Dan