On the eve of MKM Series Barcelona, it was time for us to once again take a step back and review what happened so far … Just seven weeks ago, players from all over Europe gathered in Hamburg for the fourth and penultimate stop of the MKM Series in 2017, including 34 veterans of Vintage.

Deck of the Tournament

After the restriction of Thorn of Amethyst and Monastery Mentor, the Vintage world was in turmoil, and it was interesting to see how the metagame adapted. In Hamburg, three White Eldrazi pilots made it to the quarterfinals as well as two Paradoxical Outcome Storm decks. In the end, however, Mishra's Workshop in the capable hands of Julian Knab defeated both.

Julian Knab – Ravager Shops

Main Deck:
  • 1 Tolarian Academy
  • 1 Strip Mine
  • 4 Wasteland
  • 4 Mishra's Workshop
  • 4 Ancient Tomb
  • 4 Mishra's Factory
  • 1 Black Lotus
  • 1 Mana Crypt
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Mox Emerald
  • 1 Mox Jet
  • 1 Mox Pearl
  • 1 Mox Sapphire
  • 1 Mox Ruby
  • 1 Chalice of the Void
  • 4 Sphere of Resistance
  • 1 Thorn of Amethyst
  • 1 Trinisphere
  • 3 Tangle Wire
  • 4 Phyrexian Revoker
  • 2 Steel Overseer
  • 4 Arcbound Ravager
  • 4 Walking Ballista
  • 4 Foundry Inspector
  • 2 Phyrexian Metamorph
  • 1 Lodestone Golem
  • 3 Precurser Golem
Sideboard:
  • 4 Grafdigger's Cage
  • 4 Relic of Progenitus
  • 2 Crucible of Worlds
  • 2 Wurmcoil Engine
  • 3 Dismember
txt version

Julian Knab – Ravager Shops
Main Deck:
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Strip Mine
4 Wasteland
4 Mishra's Workshop
4 Ancient Tomb
4 Mishra's Factory
1 Black Lotus
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby
1 Chalice of the Void
4 Sphere of Resistance
1 Thorn of Amethyst
1 Trinisphere
3 Tangle Wire
4 Phyrexian Revoker
2 Steel Overseer
4 Arcbound Ravager
4 Walking Ballista
4 Foundry Inspector
2 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Lodestone Golem
3 Precurser Golem
Sideboard:
4 Grafdigger's Cage
4 Relic of Progenitus
2 Crucible of Worlds
2 Wurmcoil Engine
3 Dismember

Match of the Tournament

The final between Julian Knab and Tom De Decker was notable for a few things. For one thing, both of the pricey Vintage decks in use here belonged to master of decks De Decker.

Julian Knab and Tom De Decker

Also, the two were sharing a hotel room for the event and De Decker had shared valuable advice with Knab. Specifically, he had taught Knab how to beat Paradoxical Storm. So it was quite the bittersweet victory for De Decker and his Paradoxical Storm deck that he now faced his roommate—and lost.

Notable Finishes

Tom De Decker had won the previous Vintage event at MKMS Prague and remained in contention for back-to-back victories up to the very end. For Julian Knab, meanwhile, this marked his fifth Top 8 at the MKM Series overall, and his third trophy. But even these stats could be topped. Rodrigo Togores and Mikael Linden both reached their sixth Top 8 at the Series, the only two players to do so this far! The Vintage playoffs truly featured a spectacular cast of proven experts!

You can read more about Vintage at the MKM Series Hamburg 2017 in our archives.