Old School MTG Deck Tech: Land Destruction

Big thanks to Drew Epstein for sharing his Old School 93/94 format Land Destruction deck with me! Thanks for letting me talk about that deck and modify it for the channel!
This is a very solid Land Destruction deck that's designed for the current Old School format meta using Eternal Central rules. Drew played this in the 2020 Winter Derby and had a solid 4 wins 4 losses finish. I was very impressed with how fast the deck got started and destroyed mana so I knew the base of this deck was really solid. This is my attempt to improve what this deck was already best at doing.
The 2020 Winter Derby was a tournament with over 150 competitors where all the games were played on video cameras over the internet. The matches are organized on a private Facebook group and it's a real treat for anybody whom loves these old Magic the Gathering decks but cannot find the time to attend normal tournaments. I also played a version of The Deck in this tournament and ended with a 5-3 finish.
Finished Deck List
4x Stone Rain
4x Sinkhole
4x Ice Storm
4x Birds of Paradise
2x Sedge Troll
2x Demonic Hordes
3x Scavenger Folk
3x Nevinnyrals Disk
1x Chaos Orb
1x Demonic Tutor
2x Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale
2x Nether Void
1x Regrowth
1x Mind Twist
1x Ancestrall Recall
4x Strip Mine
4x Badlands
4x Bayou
3x Taiga
3x City of Brass
1x Library of Alexandria
1x Black Lotus
1x Sol Ring
1x Mox Jet
1x Mox Ruby
1x Mox Emerald
1x Mox Sapphire
1x City in a Bottle
3x Red Elemental Blast
3x Tranquility
2x Flashfires
2x Tsunami
2x Earthquake
2x Hurricane
=== HOW TO CONTACT EDWIN ===
Email: [e-mail]
PO Box 2333
Windermere, FL 34786
/ edwin_the_magic_engineer

[@drewepstein146]

Excellent Video and Presentation Edwin! Thanks for the shout out. Some really intriguing changes you came up with here! I did find the Beast strategy along with transmute to be useful but also mediocre, so yeah that could be swapped for sure. I completely agree about the Vamps and Mana Vault. Going down to 2 Trolls is heart-breaking and I'm sure a real tough choice there. 3 disks feels right after running it with 4. Regrowth was not in the build due to space and tough choices for me, but it is of course excellent. I really really like the idea of Scavenger Folk and Hordes. Nether Void you are spot on for the strategy. Tabernacle and your thinking is very interesting. I don't currently have them, but I'm also uncertain as they are not a guaranteed removal for game winners but are definitely more useful as protracted deterrence.

[@EdwintheMagicEngineer]

I recommend play testing with the list I put up, but specifically DON'T use the Tabernacles as a "deterrent" If you play them aggressively to slow down your opponent they will HOLD (not cast) their creatures until they draw a strip mine. Hit the Tabernacle, then play creatures. If instead you hold the tabernacle and lure them into squeaking out those creatures while you blow up land... then when you drop the Tabernacle it's an unexpected board wipe and their mana is below the needed curve. Yeah the Trolls are super good in the deck. Spending more time trying to figure out how to at least fit 1 more in is worth doing. But I suspect that rather then assuming... you'll have to play lot of games and pay attention to when you draw cards what you MOST COMMONLY WISH THAT CARD WAS. That's the card you likely need more of in the deck.

[@85mcarnold]

This is one of those decks that takes me back. I was only 10 when I started playing in ‘95. With it being so long ago and there not being an established metagame at that time it’s hard to remember some of the decks I played against, but this one I do. It was one of my first tournaments and this guy was running the same core B/R/G land destruction with Black Vise and Storm Seeker for the win. There were 2 guys that showed up with identical mono blue control (4 Counterspells, 4 Power Sink, 4 Spell Blast, 4 Control Magic, etc) that just got worked. I forget what I brought, some 3 color Hypnotic Specter deck, but I was running around 26 lands and was able to beat him because he couldn’t fully lock me out. If I had the cards for old school, I would love to be able to rock that land destruction base with more of an aggro build like Juzam and Erhnam.

[@shibbidydoowop]

I bit the bullet and got myself a beta sinkhole that was signed by Sandra Everingham...it's a magnificent card

[@chrisross2040]

Maybe a couple Will-O-The-Wisps could help out with those flying men you had trouble with and other threats, switch out the Earthquakes in the sideboard for them? I really like the deck tho, nice job to both you dudes! The addition of the Tabernacle and the Nether Voids is really nice. I played Land Destruction back in the day and used Will-O's, Paralyze and bolts to deal with creature threat but damn that Tabernacle would be devastating when played at the right time.

[@Clabian96]

Thanks for the old school deck tech!

[@EdwintheMagicEngineer]

Thanks for the comment Shaggy :)

[@trianglespank]

Great video, much enjoyed!

[@EdwintheMagicEngineer]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching and leaving a comment :)

[@coryd531]

I love the changes but I don’t think I would run Earthquakes. Also agree with the extra Taiga

[@royalrosario3110]

haha I JUST built a version of this last week I was considering running this year. Impeccable timing.

[@EdwintheMagicEngineer]

Hi Royal! What was your list? How is it working?

[@royalrosario3110]

@@EdwintheMagicEngineer this is based on cards that I have available to me atm. I paired land destruction with card destruction. Haven't had a chance to playtest at all either yet 4x sinkhole 4x hypnotic spectre 4x hymn to tourach 4x dark ritual 1x mind twist 1x demonic tutor 4x stone rain 4x lightning bolt 1x wheel of fortune 1x shatterstorm 1x earthquake 4x chain lightning 1x fork 1x fireball 1x Shivan Dragon 1x chaos orb 1x mox ruby 1x mox jet 4x strip mine 4x mishra's factory 4x bad lands 5x swamp 5x mountain

[@kiddynamite666]

I played land destruction for a long time and back in the days BLACK VISE was the main source of damage. Esay to cast (colorless), fast to play (can be cast before counterspell), effective when opponent can't play cards from is hand and can't be the target of bolts, swords to plowshare. A MUST.

[@MajesticPhoto]

In the sideboard you listed 2 Tropical Storm, but I think you meant 2 Hurricanes. I have been working on a similar deck. I like the idea of Troll with Disks I will probably add those into mine. Thanks for the sharing your insight into the deck.

[@EdwintheMagicEngineer]

Whoops, good catch. Thank you!!

[@291bossman]

Great video! Scavenger Folk is great with artifact removal however, may i suggest Xenic Poltergeist. Combined with the Tabernacle, now his artifact(S) will have an upkeep cost. Best part, it can kill a mox each turn. With the SF, it's a one and done.

[@EdwintheMagicEngineer]

Interesting thought, but he's a little too brittle and what I feel the deck needs late game is something to keep popping lands. 20 cards into land destruction is often not enough to keep up with their late game land drops. If I was really worried about artifacts I would simply pack a bit more blue and add Energy Flux.

[@ThermalCowboy]

Hey ETME, I played an unpowered version during the Derby and went 2-6. I ran all the land destruction 4 kird apes, 3 trolls, 3 bolts, and a Shivan. 4 birds,3 elves of deep shadow, 1 sylvan,1crumble. 3 paralyze and a evil presence a few mishras factorys. I found a couple of major weaknesses...the Serendib Efreet and Blood Moon. First turn Dib, you have no answers for it main deck and opponents running strips too...it means trouble. It's really hard to overcome when opponents drop moxen first turn and they are able to operate with your land destruction. If a blood moon gets out it's pretty much game over. My sideboard wasn't very thought out 4 REB, 1 Active Volcano, 4 gloom, 1 maze, 1 paralyze, 3 crumbles....It was my first OS tournament and I had a lot of fun and 1 of my wins was a conceed. but i didn't get totally blown out. I had some bad luck, a couple of time I had them locked down with no mana and I just drew mana for 7-8 turns in a row. Your build doesn't have the answers for Dibs... Looking at the top 16 what do you see DIBS everywhere! and StP for the birds Great video as always thanks! Would love to play you again sometime!

[@ThermalCowboy]

tabernacles is a good pick though!

[@EdwintheMagicEngineer]

I think what you are doing is GREAT. There is no better way to learn what works and what does not then just trying out other decks. Sometimes it's hard not to see it like a loss being bad... just remember going in that you are playing for FUN and to LEARN what makes that deck work and fall apart. I always noticed that after playing a deck and knowing what I lose to... then when I'm on the other side of the table I know exactly what to do.

[@emitought97]

4 strip mines is overpower, it should be restricted, I've played with such a deck. Really good deck.

[@EdwintheMagicEngineer]

When it works it really works! The other day I lost an entire game to a turn 1 flying man played on the opposing side that I was never able to answer.

[@mtgnoob9988]

I agree. I like the EU rules better (can't recall what they are called) but I like how strip is restricted.

[@RA-jk9qd]

Hey Edwin love the deck tech videos! I actually playtested your version vs The Deck, and the Deck was winning game 1 (I didn't test sideboards) about 70% of the time. A couple of issues I noticed: 1) There doesn't seem to be a enough win cons. Alot of times I would eliminate their lands but wouldn't be able to take advantage of the turns they do nothing. They build their manabase back up (usually with Fellwars) enough to do eliminate threats that trickle out (Disk, Troll, Hordes) via StP or Disenchant. Eliminating the City of Brass would help neutralize the effectiveness of Fellwars. Maybe put back the fireball? 2) I tended to run out of gas midgame, maybe add a wheel or braingeyser if you keep the City of Brass. In the latter case why not add Timewalk as well? I'm sure you can eliminate a couple of land destruction spells & not miss a beat. 3) Timetwister shined vs this deck as alot of games went long. Maybe trying adding a Tormod's Crypt into the sideboard. You could even maindeck it if play Timetwister yourself as your draw engine. 4) Some more maindeck artifact elimination would go along way to help the mana screw rather than just depend on scavenger folk or disk. A main deck shatterstorm instead of a disk or LD spell could be lethal! Look forward to hearing your thoughts!

[@EdwintheMagicEngineer]

I would honestly have to see those games to know for sure you were playing the deck correctly. When playing against The Deck you gotta pitch any hand that is not blowing up lands 1st or 2nd turn. It's CRITICAL you keep them off their mana early because that's the only way you force the Deck player to make bad choices. Also, hit their WHITE mana as top priority because that will keep them off Disenchant, and they need disenchant for your disk. Don't ever cast a Sinkhole when you have open mana for a Stone Rain or Ice Storm. Keep your cheapest mana destruction close at hand if it's an option, so later you can screw up their tempo/game plan with a strip and a sinkhole on the same turn. Don't strip or blow up their factories. You WANT them to tap the factory plus 1 other mana to aggressively attack you. That puts you two turns closer to the mana curve and usually opens the door for you to pop a land (going for white mostly) If the deck player gets aggressive with me with his factory... next thing he knows it's turn 10, he has me at 8 life, but no blue or white mana showing. THEN the disk and troll comes out. If he is playing Fellwar stones, consider not dropping your City of Brass on game 1. You really don't want him having white mana. Maybe even board them out game 2 or at least a few of them. Stuff like that. Are you sure you were doing that?

[@RA-jk9qd]

@@EdwintheMagicEngineer Ok I will retest, I was keeping them off of white but was not doing all of those things.

[@soldierofmankind]

Hey Edwin, nice deck tech as always. Would it be possible for you to do a version of this deck on a budget / unpowered. Also kindly do a GW version of ernhamggeddon - budget / unpowered as well. Thank you Edwin and more power to your channel! 🙂

[@EdwintheMagicEngineer]

Hi Ben, thanks for the kind words. I did a version of Erhnam-A-Geddon on live stream then played it at GP Vegas. But it was powered. I could do a budget version of that and land destruction sure. Keep in mind though, budget land destruction might be really hard to pull off. Because as soon as the other guy gets underneath your mana denial then that game plan is over.

[@thirdwavefinance8154]

What do you think of these: 1) 2 black vise instead of 2 hordes. good early game damage & forces opponent to play out cards if possible walking into nevinyrral’s disk. good mid/late game - hand size grows as it’s harder for opponent to play spells as lands are removed & low CMC means it’s easy to cast in same turn as other land removal spells. 2) sylvan library instead of mind twist. provides filtering and easier access to required colors & card draw in emergency. all of the land destruction would already have a similar effect as mind twist mid/late game or against higher CMC decks - opponent cant play cards. if opponent has low CMC spells they’ll already be able to get several out before mind twist and can already take care of those with removal 3) 2 drain life in sideboard replacing 1 tranquility & 1 red elemental blast. would help survive(via life gain) fast low CMC decks & instant/sorcery-heavy burn, but would also provide some creature removal & game ending life loss for opponent.

[@EdwintheMagicEngineer]

The biggest problem a land destruction deck has is an opponent emptying their hand unto the table and now YOU are behind the curve. You are dropping 3 mana land destruction but their threats are already on the table and killing you. That's the #1 problem for mana destruction decks and Black Vise does nothing to help that already bad situation. Sure, neither does the Hordes help with early game... but that's not the problem he is trying to solve. Hordes serves two purposes. Keeping game plan A going, and Beating them to death. Vise can kill late game, but if it's out early game and winning... that was a game I was already going to win. If you are dropping one land a turn and can't play spells... this deck already has you dead. Sylvan Library is a GOOD card to consider in this build. Especially if there was SOME WAY to get some shuffle effects in there... it could really be fantastic. I'm not sure what would come out for it... not the Mind Twist. I would not remove a card that "wins the game" for one that "helps a lot". If I needed life gain, Ivory tower might be a better choice. If I need more removal it's likely I would add Bolt/Terror/Disk/Paralyze before Drain Life.

[@Polmax2312]

What are the thoughts about adjusting this deck to Atlantic environment with restricted Strip Mines? I personally added another Sedge Troll, 2 Deserts (meta pick against the field of 1/1 creatures in top8), and as a 61 card I added wheel of fortune. Tested with Blights, but deck suffers from the lack of cheap creature removal more, so had to adjust. Losing against t1 flying man, t2 scrib sprite is frustrating.

[@EdwintheMagicEngineer]

An Atlantic adjustment is a good question. My first thought is perhaps leaning on Pestilence with a decent blocker so it sticks around but you can nuke small creatures even with flying.

[@jeffscalise5927]

Thanks for this. I’m working on a mono black build myself - Sinkhole/Evil Presence/Horde/Blight/Strip Mine. Going the multicolor route certainly opens other doors. What are your thoughts on adding something like Ivory Tower? Having a single land allows opponent to cast bolts/chains/grenades. Thanks again!

[@EdwintheMagicEngineer]

I was very on the fence about Ivory Tower. Yeah it might be the best defense against a red burn deck.

[@DVS57REBEL]

@@EdwintheMagicEngineer i run an ivory in sideboard

[@EdwintheMagicEngineer]

@@DVS57REBEL It's likely a great choice for the deck, I can't fault it.

[@DVS57REBEL]

I have a version of this with nethervoids, its pretty nasty lock

[@EdwintheMagicEngineer]

Indeed, in every single test game I played, when the Nether Void hit the table that was game.

[@joeb1522]

Great video. It would be really great if you posted games with this deck. Would Mishra's Factory work in this deck since it is a good synergy with disk, tabernacle, and nether void? Or is the mana base pretty thin already for factories?

[@drewepstein146]

That's actually one of the ideas I was tinkering with on the next iteration because of that synergy.

[@ajitayzon7855]

@@drewepstein146 is this decklist the same as the one you played against timmy the sorcerer?

[@vintagemagiccollector2245]

The biggest weakness i see in this deck is the ability to own 2 Tabernackles haha $$$$!!!

[@EdwintheMagicEngineer]

LOL yeah, those dang cards are spendy now. I can clearly remember even when moxes were clearing $500 each and Lotus was $800 I could still get Tabernacles for like $50. Then "Landstill" became an thing in legacy... and they SHOT UP.

[@mtgnoob9988]

I was just looking at a naya build based on land's edge but now this looks fascinating. Just bought my first nether void and was wondering what to do with it ha.

[@EdwintheMagicEngineer]

Nether void is for sure a very powerful card!

[@mtgnoob9988]

@@EdwintheMagicEngineer Just traded for my second void! Now the question is does this work unpowered?

[@EdwintheMagicEngineer]

@@mtgnoob9988 it can yes... but you will need more "clean up the mess" type stuff. This specific build works by destroying mana on turns 1 and 2, never letting them get started. If you cannot prevent them from getting started then shift the focus to mass destruction like earthquake, wrath of god, nevinyrrals disk etc

[@tragicslip]

White weenie with strips and Armageddon. You get best removal and disenchant on color

[@EdwintheMagicEngineer]

And you also allow a control deck or combo deck a few turns to set up before blowing geddon. White weenie is good! But I cannot remember the last time it won a tournament.

[@davidsupervagabond3505]

Do you have a video of a battle with this deck ? 🤩

[@EdwintheMagicEngineer]

I think it was played on a Live stream that aired around the same time as this video.

[@TimmytheSorcerer]

Brutal deck Edwin! Have you been playtesting it already? (hint, hint :D)

[@EdwintheMagicEngineer]

I have yes. Are you hinting that you would like to play a game?

[@drewepstein146]

I know I'd love to play "The" Timmy with a version of my deck :-)

[@joeb1522]

Timmy, have you play tested this deck on your channel?

[@drewepstein146]

@@joeb1522 He just uploaded a video of our match actually :-)

[@joeb1522]

@@drewepstein146 Thanks for letting me know. I don't see it uploaded. I will keep looking.

[@Zman82]

Where's black vise? Always had four in my land destruction. Even a howling mine can make it better with the vise out.

[@andrewlyons6566]

Edwin the Magic Engineer What about sideboarding glooms?

[@Gearsturfs]

Playing small creatures with tabernacle seems really risky Have you played this yet? You’ve got birds and folk with a game plan of dropping tabernacle to slow your opponent down In a deck that needs as much mana early as possible to blow up lands So that will tap down 1-2 sources on your side always in the early game since you need both small creatures

[@EdwintheMagicEngineer]

I think you missed how those cards are used. Birds is 90% there to give you 2nd turn land Destruction consistently. After turn 3 you usually don't care about the birds very much. If a tabernacle comes out, the birds just pays for himself. Or you tap a bad mana source (like a strip) to keep the birds open (for any color). So the birds survives the Tabernacle just fine, but most importantly he lets you 2nd turn start popping lands. The Scavenger Folk usually don't stay very long. Their JOB is to suck down Plows, and Counterspells from your opponent. A control player WILL counterspell a Scavenger Folk if he needs his mox/sol ring/Jayemdae Tomb. Sure the Folk can stay around and swing a few times... and sometimes he does that. But most of the time he blows up a mana rock or eats a plow making it safe for the Troll or Hordes. DON'T use the Tabernacles as a "early deterrent" If you play them aggressively to slow down your opponent they will HOLD (not cast) their creatures until they draw a strip mine. Hit the Tabernacle, then play creatures. If instead you hold the tabernacle and lure them into squeaking out those creatures while you blow up land... then when you drop the Tabernacle it's an unexpected board wipe and their mana is below the needed curve. Tabernacle is not set down pre-emptively to slow them down. Tabernacle is a manaless board-wipe for creatures. That's how I use it. I hold it, don't let them know I have it. I just keep blowing up lands, blowing up lands. They sqeak out a couple creatures, I take hits while finishing off their mana. THEN I drop the Tabernacle and wipe their creatures (usually while casting the last Stone Rain etc.). The goal of my deck design is keeping the game plan on (BLOWING UP MANA) for turns 1 through 5. Then stuff that leverages their lack of mana to lock them down. That's the idea. Make sense?

[@ReNoMellow]

Miss gorilla shaman to eat opponent mox, orb and racks

[@EdwintheMagicEngineer]

Alliances is unfortunately not a legal set in Old School format.

[@yogsothoth-tz2bu]

Maybe sylvan library can work.