The Top 8 Plays in Magic: the Gathering History

After many requests, it's finally here. In a special Grand Prix edition of Magic TV, Andy Cooperfauss and Luis Scott-Vargas break down the 8 most exciting plays in the history of the Pro Tour.

[@rodrigomunoz3262]

It's very cool that they rented the set of "Between two ferns"

[@uiluj13]

i understanding that topdecking answers in highstake games is exciting, but topdecking is not what i had in mind when i think of best plays.

[@LaPoubelle42]

Smart plays are made all the time, they were going for the most "memorable" plays here... The rare and unforgettable moments in competitive magic history

[@whorcares123]

Ford LaBoube If that is the case, then it should have been "Top 8 Memorable Plays" or "Top 8 Memorable Moments"

[@AnotherScone]

Red_Dragon_Scale In that case, you should be an actual red dragon scale.

[@user-uc9ud8tv2g]

I felt like you for 4 of the scenes

[@CGoody564]

Ford LaBoube exactly. playing well with a deck you understand isn't all that hard. what makes these plays memorable are the minimal odds of success, but somehow coming through. getting lucky on the draw is a lot less likely to happen than someone playing well with a deck they know, and another difference is you have complete control of how you play the cards you have; you do not have any control of what cards you end up with though, save for certain effects. if people are going to bitch about topdecks, they shouldn't be playing a game based on drawing cards from a randomized deck. they should be playing something where the tools are the same and the odds are relatively similar. don't like luck? then don't play a game that is 1/3 based on luck of the draw

[@Brawler_1337]

One of my personal favorites is Frank Karsten Reclaiming a Gifts Ungiven, drawing it with Top, and then Giftsing for only Yosei and Kokusho. Gifts forces his opponent to put them both in the yard, where he will Goryo's Vengeance one next turn for the win due to his opponent's Form of the Dragon. It was apparently the first time that this particular trick with Gifts was used, so it leaves the commentators pretty stunned. Great topdecks are nice, but great skill teaches lessons.

[@AIMLESS-NAMELESS]

I hope you see this comment 6 years later. Check out rhystic studies most recent vid (abt gifts ungiven) ;)

[@sbcguitarist]

The look LSV gives Kibbler after Bonefire is revealed is fantastic.

[@basiliaspice]

Happy to see this back on my recommended. Such sweet plays

[@pierredupont1096]

Great list and glad the Lightning Helix play was tops, so memorable to this day.

[@Ox5f3759df]

The best Magic advice: "You Char to the face and knock the top of your deck. That's the play."

[@CGoody564]

When playing it "safe" ends with you dead anyway, you take your chances.

[@Supernov4]

The helix is overrated, that Nassif vs Chapin was 10x more entertaining. By far the best moment.

[@abj136]

Helix only wins because Randy goes bananas.

[@antalwahlers3574]

I don't agree with the "Helix was just a topdeck" argument. The whole point is that he could have charred a creature and improved his board position and "not lose" (at least not right the next turn). What makes the play so awesome is that he chose to forego the safe "don't lose" play and instead went for the high risk "if this works out I win - if it doesn't I lose" play by charring face and then topdecking. The topdeck is not the issue. The choice to bet the game on it is.

[@jondorsey2043]

@@antalwahlers3574 Well put. I couldn't agree more. This video is great fun. I hadn't seen LSV without the beard in years and i didn't recognize him.

[@zlodrim9284]

@Drew Biggah Topdecking is always exciting, especially on the biggest stage.

[@rendevoir4736]

The helix wins cause Jones wins. If Nassif had won that game, we would be looking at a different top

[@AIMLESS-NAMELESS]

His that windmill slam is so awesome, makes me smile every time

[@Pringlesman]

My two favorite MTG plays of all time, Chapin's Profane Command giving fear to all his legal targets and Mike Long's "Do I really have to play this out?" when he had no way to win.

[@SnackMuay]

Seeing the showmanship and calling out what card you wanna see is so cool. I can hardly imagine that ever being a thing in YGO (the card game I play). Maybe if you’re about to lose to deck out and your opponent has no backrow and no cards in hand, so you need to win on that specific turn? But even still it’s hard to imagine a scenario where the opponent wouldn’t be helped by having perfect knowledge of your hand. Even during your turn.

[@noesunyoutuber7680]

It's pretty much an equally bad play in Magic. Laying your hand out on the board is a formal declaration of "it doesn't matter that you know what's in my hand - either what's coming next wins me the game and you can't stop me or I lose." Unless Yu-Gi-Oh has some tech I don't know about (I've never played the game, I just vaguely understand some of the ways it differs from magic), it's only slightly worse there because you're not using a resource on the board to fuel your plays, but a limited amount of plays per turn - so you can't cross your fingers as you reach out to draw the cards and get that Hail Mary, because you can't play them until your next turn.

[@Jules-vf1zq]

you guys should do a part 2 of this and include just amazing plays recently or ones that did not quite make that list

[@CGoody564]

Jules Kowalski there really aren't any recent amazing plays

[@demiurge2501]

@@CGoody564 how about now

[@shot040]

LSV top decking Tamiyo in PT eldritch moon was pretty sick too.

[@KryXun]

I really want to watch that match again, anyone have a link?

[@odoacredacalcutta5085]

LSV has pretty much the same amount of similar 'top plays' in his career, to be honest

[@geertmulder8881]

Makihito vs Paulo is the best one for me. takes a serious mindset to get your head back into the game where you did a fuck up and manage to get it to go your way after all.

[@corriedebeer799]

I really enjoyed this video.

[@owengoddard926]

Any chance you guys could do another one of these! Or just during the quarantine maybe put together a compilation of all the sickest plays in MTG history.

[@imprintex]

Top notch top decks. Great vid.

[@itskermitborne9904]

How did you guys not have Yugi moto drawing the last piece of exodia as #1

[@Rishkar-Peema-Pants]

Yugioh ≠ Magic the gathering Nice try :D

[@heckmegeck2428]

Bucket it was a joke

[@pokefreak627]

@@Rishkar-Peema-Pants r/wooosh

[@psymar]

his last name is Mutoh

[@mikedr0806]

Because Yugi doesnt plays Pokimon.

[@GsKillz818]

I used to be in love with magic coverage.

[@adria8107]

I'm 24 seconds in but I'm already overwhelmed by the social awkwardness of their interaction

[@duckingswan]

You have some difficulty coping with social interactions?

[@SoDefCallidus]

Loved this video. Thanks for bringing top 8s back. It's why I subbed in the first place.

[@Canadiandawg]

Great video, ty. Could you please explain these cards and how they work in future vids, I'm a noob and I have no idea what you're talking about lol

[@canman87]

Been on a bit of a "Magic TV retrospective" the last couple of days, hence the delay on this comment. One of the other cool stories that wasn't touched on from that Honolulu '06 match between Craig and Olivier is that Oli's brother Antoine had such a bad matchup with his Owling Mine deck vs Craig in the quarters that he ended up playing an Ancestral Recall on camera and still lost the match. In a nutshell, in game 2 Antoine was going for the kill in Craig's draw step with a Sudden Impact and responded to it with an Ancestral Recall, which would have put Craig up to the requisite number of cards to take lethal. The issue is that Antoine was at 5 and had only had Shivan Reef as his red mana access, so he had to take a point to cast Sudden Impact. After everyone took a second to laugh about Antoine playing the Ancestral Recall, Craig responds with Char (of course!) and domes Antoine to take game 2. Fittingly, Antoine sort of jokingly throws his hand on the table while everyone busts up again. Randy says something along the lines that not even siding in Type 1 cards was enough to take the game. So yeah, perhaps not top 8 worthy in this context, but it was hilarious nonetheless. One last thing to note was that Antoine had just crushed PT LA earlier that season, so he was on a bit of a tear that year. It was great to see a dude that was so jovial at the table also playing super tight in the LA tournament, but his Honolulu quarterfinals match was essentially him goofing off; that matchup was just insanely bad for him (probably like, 5/95 or something absurd like that).

[@Aassymcass]

Amazing!

[@RiptornRory]

PVDDR having an early appearance. I wonder what his old self would say if he knew he ended up as a World Champ? But props to him for just being patient and seeing what Mihara had going on. Seen a lot of players scoop early against a combo deck, which is especially tricky if they didn't have it. But Makihito pulled it off. Great game.

[@jakehiggs9354]

Luis' face when the bonfire gets flipped is the best.

[@COJred1]

ikr

[@alanyuan8565]

We should make a top 8 moment of randy beluher reactions. "What is on top of the deck?" OMG it's lightning helix etc...

[@1234victorxD]

thats what makes magic so nice! its just a bunch of people playing an cardgame and having so much fun!

[@Reilavac]

One of the first games to spring to mind when I watched this was the Conley Woods vs Craig Wescoe Worlds 2011 Quaterfinal. While not exactly being top notch play skill (although Conley did dig himself out of a hole quite well) it was great just for the crowd interaction.

[@TheOvermaster]

Patrick Dickmann's play vs. the Blue Moon deck - whilst not as high stakes as this - is probably my favourite of the actual skill wins. I mean damn - the guy knows how to run RUG Twin.

[@MarkAvo]

Would LSV's Settle the Wreckage moment make an extended and updated list?

[@fo0liner1985]

death and taxes surviving 2 emrakul attacks and winning right after.. was pretty cool too if you ask me

[@markjohnston8691]

I believe he also had been attacked by a Griselbrand earlier in that game as well.

[@helderboymh]

fo0liner1985 :0 where can I find these

[@Adrianovaz2007]

I also want to watch that, any videos of the game?

[@aklepatzky]

Link

[@MTG_Viking]

Would love to see Top 8 plays from 2013-2017^^

[@conkyjoe8932]

Pat Chapin is a genious. That pen trick was GODLIKE

[@Demogorgon7007]

After watching this, I feel like tournaments used to be a lot more exciting and energetic.

[@spa9876]

The commentators were better honestly. That's part of it for sure. I can't stand today's coverage compared the old school guys. Randy Buehler and Mike Flores were the best coverage duo imo.

[@JR-xv6mv]

spaz9876 I think having Randy Buehler and LSV doing commentary is pretty damn good.

[@Demogorgon7007]

I like Patrick Sullivan and Cedric Phillips. They're a decent combo.

[@carlosspencer5369]

I disagree, the world magic cup is still very entertaining to watch if only for the team celebrations at the end.

[@cheeseburgersuperior1874]

Ok sign is banned. Yeah... That's already sign that fun, excitement, and joy is dead.

[@KolegaMaistor]

too bad most of these clips were recorded with a calculator

[@dudexx5389]

nah it was a pencil

[@zacheriashelm]

It's as if the clips are all old. And recorded on what they had. Stupid people saying stupid things

[@subzero308]

They were just recorded back when magic was actually a good game. Now a days the game is pretty bad. The Internet ruined magic strictly because of prices of cards.

[@RagingPoo]

3 words: Reverse Helm Combo. Honestly though any game involving Kennen Haas's Jund Depths deck. Another classic is Jacob Wilson and Alexander Hayne doing Legacy Troll Delver. The last game was the most epic thing I have ever seen in Magic. If you haven't seen these videos I highly recommend them.

[@MrZakuRetro]

so nostalgic

[@rbmyers2010]

My personal worst play was during a PPTQ, 2-2, playing for a top 8 position, I had put Saheeli/Felidar Guardian combo into Mardu vehicles as an odd curveball. I was one mana short from casting both with opponent being tapped down......so I thought. I could have cast Guardian to bounce my Aether Hub in order to have it come back in untapped and then be able to cast Saheeli. Not by best moment, but definitely learned from it.

[@commanderarena3259]

the old Channel fireball itself! :D

[@grayseeroly]

I'd love to see a list themed around the Gifts for two creatures play. That way the play that made me realise how much better i would have to get at magic if i wanted to win a pro tour (its a lot).

[@AugustusMayo]

Was really hoping to see Antoine Force Spiking a tog on this list :(

[@themaninnavyblue]

the look on lsv's face in the gif is priceless

[@CoolRanchSociology]

Top 8 times someone got really lucky. This is not what I was expecting.

[@BrotherAlpha]

I did something similar to the pen trick. I was slowly losing and unless I got a miracle draw, I wasn't going to be able to come back. So I attacked with everything and said I won. I went through the possible blocks to show I had won, but I "realized" I made a mistake in my math and the game wasn't over. The next turn, my opponent attacked with everything, and I used Simulacrum on my Will 'o the Wisp and even regenerated it. Then when he was completely tapped out, I attacked again and I won for real. The only way for me to win was to get him to commit an all out attack, so I had to bluff.

[@WinstonKillDeath]

Bluffing is always an interesting decision. I usually only bluff when I KNOW I can win by either goading my opponent into attacking against a trick or having them hold off. Case in point, last time I drafted Khans of Tarkir my opponent had enough creatures to outright kill me but he held off because I had 4 blockers and a hand of 6 and 4 lands untapped. By putting a card to the front of my hand when he played his land for turn, I got him to assume I had a response to an attack so he stayed his forces. Next turn I Master of Way'd him, then swung with lethal in the air. So much fun.

[@h2ohappydude563]

Can we get a updated list? O_O It's been 5 years, and there should be more on there!!

[@DerangedHermit]

LSV can add his own, lol

[@mikeynma]

No idea what is going on but they look like they are having fun and I am binge watching MTG vids now :)

[@Youmom465]

Why is this recommended to me it’s 2019 wth KZbin

[@tenbillionfliescantbewrong9238]

yeah who the fuck watches videos from the past. it's all about the live stream am i right? like literally nothing from 2013 is relevant in 2019. fucking boomers.

[@mradabaugh9406]

yeah

[@envysart797]

Honorable mentions for LSV breaking MTGO surely? xD

[@Meltedshadow940]

Yeah! more magic tv please!

[@johnhowe8424]

Yuuki ichikawa vs Jackson Cunningham in pro tour when yuuki used golgari charm to shrink the scooze to save it from selesnya charm and then win the game thereafter

[@amacuro]

+john howe - I was utterly mindblown that day when he did that. One of my favorites as well

[@ianw5663]

Absolutely. Very clever move; I remember watching this while it was happening and saying 'holy shit' when he said -1/-1. I think I'm a pretty strong player but it never crossed my mind. Ichikawa is great.

[@MrGunwitch]

Came here to say that, glad someone else pointed it out. The most headsup play I've even seen in a pro-game.

[@O0oFullMetalo0O]

Oh man, Kibler's face is priceless.

[@bsmith8166]

can you do top 8 best matchs of all time? I think that Bob Maher match would make the list.

[@ciscornBIG]

the channel fireball logo is kinda cute lol

[@EleosLupus]

What angel was that in the opening picture/animation ? I haven’t seen it b4

[@alanyuan8565]

I love listening to randy beluher's commentating.

[@dizzydank6]

yea i agree, was surprised the kibler/ finkel PT DKA game play didnt make it

[@Altorin]

Gotta love a good mise

[@brettschmuckler4242]

Post an updated list!

[@jordanharrison8769]

My favorite “smart” play was playing burn. Have a small red deck with a few burn spells. I pull “lethal” off the top which just a land. It’s my 4th land of the game “finally” and I have a hell rider in my hand that would be lethal against my opponent. After they gave me a tell that they had a blowout in hand by shocking in a land and ending turn I anticipated a sphinx’s revelation. Instead of going for the alpha I held up my four mana and just attacked with my ground guys. Leaving them low. And of course as anticipated my opponent hit a big sphinx’s rev and I play skull crack in response. They get the cards not the life. Then of course it passes to their turn where they play a thragtusk in an attempt to gain 5 more life. I use my second skull crack and prevent that life gain as well. she drops another blocker and passes to men we then I just win mill my hell rider and landscape mode killing her off the triggers where no blockers were even to be declared. It was my best moment where I had not only exactly the set up in my hand (skull crack was a board card) but also picked up on the cues to play it correctly. To me that’s better than just top decking a prayer. Although I’ve done that too. Got an opponent down to 2, they stabilize and and get me to lethal next turn. I know my deck and I know only one card can stop me from losing and it’s a lightning bolt. If it’s a dude or lands I won’t be able to swing in time. So as I go to draw I say the state farm jingle, “like a good neighbor, State Farm is there… with a bolt” and immediately flip over the top card of my deck, revealing of course a lightning bolt exactly and cementing not only a my win, but legendary memes for the LGS for years to come.

[@maddragonfurs6358]

Wow, you know what would be even better. If the quality didn’t go to pot so I could actually see the plays

[@forestreader]

that Drain Life in '99... that physically hurt to watch

[@tietscho]

This video was a decade ago. Like damn.

[@jablesusta]

For that exact reason. Even the guys who lost thought it was exciting. The mechanic is good, fills design space, makes flavor sense, and is fun.

[@stefanocorno4649]

oh man those unsleeved dual lands though...

[@aklepatzky]

This needs an update !

[@maelstrom197]

Chapin vs Nassif is possibly my all-time favourite Magic moment. The fact that Nassif survives at 1 life with Chapin at 20, then proceeds to do his own Ignite Memories when Chapin had an 8 drop and two 9 drops is just insane.

[@benzappo1000]

#1 now is LSV gut shot.

[@ItsCayboo]

loghtning helix is still way better

[@ZakanaHachihaCBC]

Naw, it was a sick way to end the game, but it was already locked up at that point because of Sower.

[@adampilarski7083]

LSV, we need the 'stache to come back.

[@FuzzMustard]

0:12 is the plants name Darksteel Humphrey? o.O

[@humphrex]

i think the best play of all time was discarding counterspell leading to scoop

[@bumpasaurus487]

I did the math and I think Nassif had a 10.6996% chance of surviving after the 5 copies of ignite memories, which isn’t as unlikely as it seemed, at least to me. It felt more like a 1% or 2% chance in my mind.

[@bumpasaurus487]

For those wondering how I got that: I started by figuring out the likelihood of not hitting the ignite memories in none of the 5 rolls. That’s 2/3 of the time on each roll. So 66.66% to miss the first roll, 44.444% to miss twice, 29.6296% to miss thrice, 19.753% to miss four times, and finally 13.1687% to miss the ignite all five rolls. Then, of those 13.1687% times that no ignite memories are hit, the five rolls have 6 different potential outcomes. Either: 1) all rites of flame 2) all grapeshots 3) 4 rites and 1 grapeshot 4) 4 grapeshots and 1 rites 5) 3 grapeshots and 2 rites 6) 2 grapeshots and 3 rites Those six potential outcomes are not equally likely, so you have to figure out the number of ways each can happen in a 5 rolls, which is kind of like playing yatzee with 5 coins, each with rites on one side and grapeshot on the other. 5 rites: only 1 way 5 grapeshots: only 1 way 4 rites/1 grapeshot: 5 ways 4 grapeshots/1 rites: 5 ways 3 rites/2 grapeshots: 10 ways 3 grapeshots/2 rites: 10 ways So that’s a total of 32 different potential combinations. And only 6 of them are combinations that kill him, the 1 combination that hits all 5 grapeshots, and the five combinations that hit 4 grapeshots and 1 rites. All the other combinations deal less than 9 damage, letting Nassif survive. So that’s 26/32 (81.25%) combinations that he survives in the 13.1687% of times that he’s lucky to avoid ignite each roll. So 81.25% of the 13.1687% equals: 10.6996%

[@simonh2011]

@@bumpasaurus487 I'll just trust u dude 😂

[@MrGarruk123]

Madness? THIS IS MAGIC!!!

[@deadeyeridge]

I always loved how socially awkward these guys are, never ready for the other to make a joke

[@prothico]

We need an update

[@garrettclayton4741]

UGH watching that Kibler topdeck still hurts to watch, and I wasnt even playing :(

[@bradswanson6788]

And in this installment of "Around one Fern"...

[@IamLostandDamned]

Kibler's Pro Tour Dark Ascension Semi vs Finkel. Double. Fuckin'. Whipflare.

[@mitchellmoncada2012]

@7:43 tell me you don't see LSV's leg lift up a bit lololol

[@7yditchfits]

Man, I never get tired of watching that Nassif Ignite Memories video. Pure luck, but a fun one nevertheless.

[@Meowmeow.age.6]

My best play was attacking with a carnophage turn two and casting hatred against mono red showing an untapped mountain. He had no shock. GG out go hatred and in come the bottle gnomes. Best slightly with suicide black. Rekt.

[@Meowmeow.age.6]

Ptq final.

[@Knightfall8]

i was hoping that notion thief play against daddy Jace was gonna make the list

[@057wolf]

Top 8 Top 8's!

[@tylerkahle332]

What is the cover angel on this video?

[@alanyuan8565]

Please make a compilation of randy beluher going "OMG it's unbelievable. OMG OMG. GUTSHOOT for the win!"

[@igniteaxiom]

watch SCGCIN - Legacy - Round 5 - Greg Smith vs Per Nystrom, best match ever.

[@KeeganMcKinney]

Are there any decks that still use topdeck strategies anymore?

[@demiurge2501]

Rats

[@ResidentBaddie]

This being limited to Pro Tours excludes the absolutely ridiculous Adam Prosak Storm bluff from whatever SCG that was in and it makes me sad.

[@BarbeqdBrwniez]

The amount of people watching this and commenting but missing the first 60 seconds where they say "this isn't top skilled plays, it's top sweet plays" is insane.

[@commentresurrection1841]

Is the commentator the same guy from the South Park Episode?

[@bluepower1177]

“There are hundreds of people watching this”. I’m surprised it’s that many 😂

[@Rorschachqp]

My fave moment is Shawn The Hammer Regnier winning PT Long Beach draft final, where he psyched out his opponent so bad, the guy left the match immediately after to go puke.

[@joshmcgregor5393]

What now? Link? Lmao

[@Rorschachqp]

Josh McGregor no link, I saw it in person.

[@joshmcgregor5393]

@@Rorschachqp remember the play? I'm curious as to how dude got a baseketball psychout in MTG 😂😂

[@Rorschachqp]

Josh McGregor Hammer was a very peculiar MTG player. He was a buff guy who was an arm wrestler and in that sport, there is a lot of psych “mental game”. He also played a lot of control in MTG constructed. PT 2 Long Beach was an unusual draft format of mostly 4th Edition plus like Fallen and Homelands if I remember correctly and Hammer drafted a blue white deck. His opponent had a Shivan Dragon and a Fireball. Hammer had a couple spell counters and a Control Magic. Hammer constantly made his opponent feel like he “had the counter” and in game 3, his opponent had the winning card in hand and didn’t cast it for like 20 turns because he thought Hammer would counter it even thoug Hammer had nothing.

[@Rorschachqp]

Josh McGregor if you do a search on Reddit, Shawn Hammer Regnier, one poster mentions him.

[@diabeticmonkey]

...And Aaron Forsythe just sitting there in the Bonfire clip wondering why the hell they printed miracle cards.

[@classyguy69]

long getting justice to concede in the finals is a top play

[@krinnphindalin6803]

Glorybringer might be on here now

[@gochubattamugga]

I was expecting LSV breaking MTGO with his infinite loop of O-Ring =(

[@teenagegringo393]

No Kiblers triple galvanic blast???

[@dustinhaas8538]

My man's Patrick Sullivan pop and fireblast on Ross Merriam, I was shook after watching that

[@HanDaimond]

The top 8 plays happened a long time ago. Nothing spectacular happened in recent years, hell, the only relevant event that I remember was the one where Patrick Chapin misplayed Ajani Mentor of Heroes' second ability.

[@ZakanaHachihaCBC]

There was one in the Pro Tour Born of the Gods Top8, where Scooze baits out a Selesnya Charm, with Golgari Charm using its -1/-1 mode to fizzle the Selesnya Charm.

[@josenellandrewtumulak2400]

+ZakanaHachihaCBC its actually pro tour m15 yuuki ichikawa vs jackson cunningham game 2

[@ZakanaHachihaCBC]

+Jose Nell Andrew Tumulak Thanks man, don't know why I thought it to have been Born.

[@Thexaios]

Truly one of the greatest plays ever captured on camera. I was watching the livestream of that PT when it happened, my mind was blown. It was the Golgari Charm heard round the world.

[@DerangedHermit]

LSV just added one to this list with that fucking Settle

[@jackiesingleton2351]

The guy who played Life Drain for 4 when he could have won if he Drained for more, is I think like 15 Years old at the time, latter in the match he Life Drained his opponent for max for the win! Showing he learned his lesson. That was a better moment than the pseudo mistake he made. And the whole match they could hear the crowd that could see both players hands and was yelling about cards as they were drawn. It was a weird set up. P