Ever since Sigil of the Empty Throne had been spoiled, I have had a pretty decent crush on it. How come? It's not the most versatile by any means. In order for the card to work, you basically have to build a deck around it. This was a challenge that I was most eager to try (and it's a color outside of red, which I inevitably seem to wind up in).

Empty Throne Ramp (60 cards)

Allow me to explain how the deck operates. First, lay lands and ramp enchants such as Fertile Ground and Overgrowth. In the meantime, lock down your opponent's board by taking advantage of the O-rings and Lignify. I chose Lignify over Weight of Conscience for two reasons. First, it takes the abilities away (important!!), secondly, Martial Coup cleans up 0/4 blockers nicely. By turn four or five you will likely be able to throw down an Empty Throne or a 5-soldier Martial Coup. Just keep on locking down until your angels and/or soldiers take your opponent over.


Merfolk Control - This was my first match for the night. Opponent opened up with a couple Stonybrook Bannerets and a Wake Thrasher. I started with a hand full of green spells but no forest in sight. My opponent, in turn, kept beating me in the face with the Wake Thrasher. Game two, I sideboarded in a bit more creature hate, to find that my opponent's hand for game two was not so many creatures as it was a bunch of counter spell. By the end, he had played two Cryptic Commands and three Sage's Dousing. Doh! 0-2

White Lockdown - I found it rather funny to see that I was playing against a white lockdown deck that revolved more around the use of Cho-Manno, Revolutionary and Pariah, as well as other game-stalling cards. His win condition was also, from what I understood, Sigil of the Empty Throne and/or Divinity of Pride. At one point, I was down to 4 life and two Empty Thrones on the table before he ran out of steam. I then took advantage of a moment when he was tapped out to restore my life to 24 using Dawnglow Infusion. A turn later, I drew an O-Ring, got two Angels on the table and ended with that. Second game went very quick. He got mana screwed and I had pumped out 5 angels before game end. 2-0

Mono Red - This one was pretty interesting. First game, He pounded me with two Boggart Ram Gangs quite severely before I could PtE or Lignify them. He then pulled a Demigod of Revenge, which I PtE'd before he could get any damage in. Couple burn spells later and I was toast. The second and third games, I sideboarded in two Celestial Purge as well as a couple negates to counter some red hate (also to negate any possible enchantment breakers). Both rounds I was able to get Story Circle out, which really ended the game in itself. Both rounds, I was able to pull off a couple 7+ Martial Coups, which finished the games in my favor. 2-1


Bant Aggro - Both games were very quick. My hand for the first game had an Overgrowth, PtE, O-Ring and Empty Throne. I took care of his initial threats and then went for the kill with the angels. Game two, I started with two Martial Coups and two Overgrowths in hand. My next draw was yet another Martial Coup! Turn four, I Overgrowthed twice. Turn five, he was tapped out, so I laid a 9 Cost Martial Coup! BAM! Seven Soldiers ready to go. Attacked the next turn, Martial Couped again for 8 new, untapped soldiers and won with those. 2-0