Double wielding Greatswords in Lucca

The Paupergeddon is the biggest stage of competitive Pauper. Fellow reader, as you are probably taking part in the LPL or maybe another league, you are probably familiar with the Paupergeddon. For those of you who are not, let me give you a TL:DR. The Paupergeddon takes place in spring, summer and autumn and is attended by around 1000 players. It’s a 14 round tournament, split in two days. You have to perform well on day 1 to play on day 2. This year this meant making 18 points on day 1, like going 6-2 or a cheeky 5-0-3.

So far the biggest events I attended were the liga days in Leipzig and the Spirit of Pauper in Berlin with around 60 to 70 people. So quite a leap you could say. All started with this message on September 15th:

Translation: “Hey, are you interested in attending Paupergeddon this November?”

After I confirmed and checked back if there is still room at the delegation of Leipzig, it was set: I am going to compete in the Paupergeddon Autumn 2025. After initial hype I realised:

WHAT THE FRIDGE DO I PLAY?

Deck choice

This year I brought mostly White Weenies to the events I attended. I had some good results piloting the deck, also getting in some Top8’s with it here and there. So this would be my choice right? Eeeeasy. But it wasn’t. In September Weenies was a Tier 2 deck and I was struggling with matchups like Elves, Gruul Ramp, Spy and of course High Tide. I wanted to play something else, something where the change in play style isn’t that hard. While I pondered about my deck choice and player identity, Max won game day 5 with his Mono R Maxite list. Reading the blog post and checking out the list I thought: maybe I am a RDW player after all. I played it at locals, burning out opponents and shortly after went 6th at the Spirit of Pauper #15 with the list. I was mad with power.

But the longer I played the deck in the league, locals and on MTGO with varying success, a longing in my heart grew and grew. The desire to play Thraben Inspector, the desire to use my mana for a clue or two when I was flooded. The wish to violently beat down my opponents with Squadron Hawk. I was heartbroken and I decided to rent White Weenies for a MTGO league. And I instantly wondered: why did I leave you? You meant the world to me and I left you after a 3-2 on game day 3. Imbecile!

Two days later Jean-Michel took down the Common Island with Weenies and I knew what to play at Paupergeddon. But what should my list look like?

(Shoutout to Max Z. for creating these bangers btw)

Most cards in Weenies are pretty stock. The main decisions for me were:

1. Spiderman yes or no?
2. What pump spells do I use?
3. Journey to Nowhere yes or no?
4. Judges Familiar yes or no?
5. How many Martyrs of the Sands?

On game day 6 of the LPL the answers to these questions were (find decklist here):

1. Yes
2. 2 Guardians Pledge, 2 Summon: Choco/Mog
3. No
4. Yes
5. 2

After a Top8 on game day 6 I still wasn’t so sure if these were the right answers for me. I will try to break it down quickly and present my final list. Spiderman can provide tempo and extra value with his bounce, but also it sometimes feels like a brick in your hand. Being in top deck mode and ripping Spiderman can feel so awful.
When Dimir Faeries was a thing for a few weeks on MTGO it felt powerful to have a creature down on turn 2 that can’t be killed by Cast Down. But this was just a blip. In my list, Spiderman went out, in went one Choco/Mog and a Ramosian Rally. Meaning I also upped the amount of pump spells. Sweet stuff so far!

Journey to Nowhere still stays out of the deck. Yes, removing a threat is important, especially a Writhing Chrysalis or the like. But what if there is a way that can deal with these creatures and also help you to grow threats on your own board? I am of course talking about the Greatsword of Tyr aka the stupid sword. I am a strong believer in the stupid sword, hence it found a way in the main and side board. Mainly to break boards and as an option to grow creatures out of bolt and breath weapon range.

Judges Familiar, I am so proud of you, you are a dream come true, but you had to go. It was meant to make Spy stumble and stall out Arms of Hadar, but it just didn’t feel good enough. In went Destroy Evil to answer big creatures and attached Hydras.

Martyr of Sands, what a freaking card. I wasn’t a believer at first, but especially Martyr of Sands and Squadron Hawk send every burn player straight into despair. I upped to 3 Martyrs, removing the Hinterland Sanctifier.

Find my list here and let’s finally get into the games!

Games

Its 9 AM, after an exhausting journey to Lucca (don’t even get me started on this bullcrap), at the biggest tournament I ever played. I was nervous about punting and dropping out soon.
But I reminded myself that we play one game at a time, mistakes happen and sometimes the odds are just not in your favour. A bad standing doesn’t mean you are a bad player and that it was all for nothing. I don’t know who needs to read this, I know that I did.

1st Round: Mono R Madness 2-0

I dont consider this a super favoured matchup. Of course I have life gain and Prismatic Strands, but this deck has hands. You can go up to 30 or 40life and it just tears you to shreds.

First game: I am OTD and deploy an early Lunarch Veteran, my opponent finds 2 Sneaky Snacker that chip in. I resolve Squadron Hawk for chumping snackers and swinging back. They slowly run out of gas and have to use a Fireblast on a flipped Lunarch Veteran, but no use. With a pump spell I win the first game.

IN: 3 Martys of Sand and a Relic of Progenitus OUT: 1 Greatsword, 1 Choco/Mog, 2 Battle Screech

Second game: I mull to 6, they to 5. I resolve an early Martyr of Sand for 12 life. Top decking a Squadron Hawk the turn after, fml. But 12 life is just what I needed. The Squadron Hawks bully my opponent in the air, together with a Raffines Informant they go to 3 while I am on 10. They have nothing and I take down the match. Notice how the Martyr of Sands just brought me enough life to do so.

We are 1-0 BABYYY!

2nd Round: Golgari Gardens 2-0

This matchup is such an uphill battle for Weenies. So how did I do it? Swooord!

1st Game: I keep a healthy mix of creatures and lands OTD. I find an early Greatsword. They remove some creatures with Defile and a Tithing Blade, but I throw creatures on the board till something sticks. And it does stick. Attach stupid sword and go to town on them. They wrath the board with a Crypt Rat for 2 but its to late. One beater is enough to bring them down.

IN: 1 Relic, 1 Greatsword OUT: 2 Lunarch Veteran

2nd Game: Stupid sword in starting hand and also some creatures, most importantly a Skyfisher. Also a Ramosian Rally. I play to the board with Squadron Hawk, Thraben Inspector and the like. When they pull out a Drown in Sorrow they get catched off guard by the Ramosian Rally, making Thraben Inspector and Raffines survive. While they still have some single target removal, they run dry on interaction. As the dust settles there are a 3/4 Skyfisher and 5/6 Skyfisher with a sword, flying to victory.

Chat, we are 2-0 in this!

3rd Round: Mono U Delver 2-0

This matchup is clearly favoured for Weenies, no straight removal, no life gain, 4 flyers in Delver

1st Game: I keep 7 OTP. Lunarch Veteran and early creatures gain me life, I spit out Hawks and Birds with Battle Screech. They attack with Tolarian Terror and I just let it through. Again I draw a stupid sword, which seals the deal again. While I got reckless with taking hit by a snake and go down to 13, I tap down there flyer and attack for lethal. 1-0

IN: 1 Relic of Progenitus, 2 Destroy Evil OUT: 2 Lunarch Veteran, 1 Choco/Mog

2nd Game: I dont really know what happend. My life block says I was on 6 one time, but gained life back to 11. I think this game was won by Battle Screech tokens and other flyers.
2-0

3-0. I can’t believe it, my chances for a 6-2 are growing and growing.

4th Round: Mono B Sac 2-0

I don’t understand this matchup. Like fr fr. I’d say 50/50 but maybe Weenies is favoured here due the same reasons it is favoured in Mono U matchups.

1st round: I am OTP and we both mull to 6. I start with a Thraben Inspector, they slam their Carrion Feeder on T1. I look at my Thraben Charm in hand and think to myself “dont mind if I do”. I remove the Carrion feeder the second I untap. My Opponent never recovered from this. 1-0.

IN: 2 Holy Light, 2 Destroy Evil OUT: I forgot

2nd game: They get their engine humming with Vampire, Beetle and fodder. I can also develop a board with Battle Screech and Squadron Hawk. They swing for a bunch, right into my Holy Light. They sack everything in their Vampire and Beetle, I eat some damage, its not relevant with Guardians Pledge in hand. Untap with 5 birds when they are at 15, swing for 15 and win the game. 2-0.

4-0. 8 games and 8 wins, I never played so clean before. I just need a 2-2 now, which feels more than possible.

5th Round: UW Familiar 0-2

Horrible matchup, it feels so awful. Gain a bazillion life, block for life, go infinite. Its awful. Not to mention that my opponent is Lorenzo Bergamini, finalist of this Paupergeddon and a formidable player. I didnt know it at the time though, so I was rather chill, just two lads being 4-0 and all.

1st Game: They are OTP. I bring them down to 10 with an aggro line with relentless attacks but their life gain is too strong. Eventually they combo off.

IN: 1 Relic of Progenitus 2 Destroy Evil OUT: 3 Prismatic Strands

2nd Game: I again attack and attack and attack. Even their life gain can’t match me. But their creature that lets me skip my combat step does. They flicker the son of a gun a million times until one turn they tell me “I can attack now”. I was cooked. 0-2

4-1, This had to happen and it didn’t really make me less excited, two wins is all it takes I thought by myself.

6th Round: Jund Wildfire 2-1

This is a true 50/50. I can aggro them out and their KCS doesnt hit birds. Not a bad place to be in. Post board you can go for their lands. Doable.

1st Game: It was a long game. I can’t recall everything. I was growing my board as usual but they stabilise pretty good. At one point I swing them down to 7, just enough to clutch out the first win with some Hawks and birds. But a Pulse of Murasa puts them out of range, they gum up the board with Gitaxian Infiltrator and Chrysalis. I concede with 30 minutes on the clock. I need the time for the other games and its important to know when to concede. 0-1

IN: 2 Dust to Dust 1 Revoke Existence OUT:

2nd Game: I resolve a Dust to Dust to bring them off balance. They don’t find anything to answer my board. We are 1-1

Now I am at a crossroads. On the draw I thought about a different siding tech. Screw Dust to Dust, bring in a second sword and Destroy Evil. I can’t race their ramp on the play anyway, so let’s tango on the board instead. But I never really tested this. Should I make the move? I say to myself: screw lets side out Dust to Dust, they will never see this one coming.

3rd Game: I aggro them down with the most ballsy hand I kept in a while. One Raffines Informant a stupid sword a destroy Evil and a dream. They only have KCS and not many artifacts. The sword grows my Informant while I tap down the KCS. I don’t find many other creatures though and they finally cast down my Informant. A Pulse brings them up to 9 while we go to turns. Just around this time they find some blockers. They are on 7 life in my last turn, I can cast Guardians Pledge but they can block my few creatures and go down to 2. Now comes the part I am not that proud of. They ask me if I want to concede to them because a draw is useless for the both of us. I don’t want to though. I was so close and I am thinking that I can still go 6-1-1, so the draw might be useful in the end. They tell me it’s their first Geddon to make me concede, which makes me very stubborn, because I find it to be a bit distasteful. I tell them it’s mine too. I tell them I won’t concede and we can draw. After a short silence they concede to me. WHAT? They were so principled about the draw being useless they rather concede. I am very grateful but also feeling bad. Anyway 2-1 I guess.

We are 5-1, can we do it?

7th Round: Rakdos Madness 1-2

This is a very good matchup for Weenies. Their burn is nothing to laugh at, but not as ridiculous as Mono R Madness. Sneaky Snacker and Kitchen Imp can be easily blocked by Kor Skyfisher or a bunch of birds if necessary. If I win this match, I am locked for day 2!

1st Game: They are OTP, I have an okay start, but I keep a hand with no life gain or Strands at all. I develop my board a bit while they cast on drain spell after another. They gain 2, 3 then 2 again, and so on. I stabilise too late. While I knock them down from 32 to 23, they kill me. All in all they casted 6 out of 8 drain spells, paired with their clean gameplay I am blown out of the water. 0-1.

IN: 3 Martyrs of Sand, 1 Holy Light OUT: 1 Greatsword, 2 Thraben Charm, 1 Choco/Mog

2nd Game: OTP now. I keep seven cards that is all gas, no breaks. In their 3rd or 4th turn they tap out and full swing, putting me to 13. My board consists of 3 1/1 flyer, a 3/2 Informant and Thraben Inspector. I untap, cast Guardians Pledge and attack for lethal. Glorious clap back putting us 1-1.

3rd Game: For all the marbles. They are OTP. And again they start to gain life and drain me. An early Martyr of Sand puts me up to 30. I find a Lunarch Veteran later on to gain life and keep me at a cozy 20ish life. But I ran out of gas and drew lands for a long time. They cast and flashback Faithless Looting, crack blood after blood. At one point a End the Festivities wraths my board and they have a Sneaky Snacker. While it chips me down from 20, I find nothing that turns the tides. At the end I am at 6, they are at 4. An attack of the Snacker, plus a Epicure + Lightning Bolt seals the deal. I go down 1-2.

This was one of the best matches all weekend for me. My opponent played tight the whole match, I can only applaud them for how they pushed through this very rough match up! I was a bit sad being 5-2 but this was such a banger match. Now there was one last chance left going 6-2. Knees weak, moms spaghetti.

8th Round: Elves 0-2

My last matchup was Elves. Terrible matchup, not as abysmal as Familiars but still up there. I can only pray their Winding Ways and Lead the Stampedes find nothing, to get under them. Or have enough time to stall the board and swing in the air.

1st Game: I am OTP. While I get some damage in and put them to 15, they swing for 12 and end me the next turn. 0-1.

IN: 2 Holy Light, 2 Standard Bearer, 2 Destroy Evil OUT: 1 Greatsword, 1 Thraben Charm, 1 Choco/Mog, 2 Lunarch Veteran, 1 Prismatic Strands

2nd Game: I can assemble some birds in the air and also have a Guardians Pledge in hand. But they were able to resolve a Generous Ent and make a food. They have one card left in hand. I could attack here but it’s not lethal. If they have a Hydra in hand, I would die on the swing back. I pass the turn. They draw, play a land and bestow a Hydra. With a Destroy Evil I can get rid of it, but I also need to chump block here and there. I live for a few turns but they resolve their draw spells and are back to enough threads. I go down 0-2.

Conclusion

At the end I am 5-3, missing the mark to day 2 very close and placing 140th. Was I bummed out? Yeah. But not for long! An hour later I didn’t even know why I was bummed out. I went 5-3 on my first Paupergeddon! But even that doesn’t really matter. This Paupergeddon wasn’t at all about results. I mean of course one does compete to win, I would lie if I say that I didn’t daydream about going Top8. But results pale in comparison to all the fun I had. I often laughed so hard my belly hurt. It’s great to cheer for your friends and be cheered on by them. It really is true, shared sorrow is half the sorrow and shared joy is double the joy.

At the end all that I have left to say is: shoutout to the Leipzig delegation for making this Paupergeddon one of the most enjoyable tournaments I ever played. Also big shoutout to the Magdeburger Pauperbande and PttP, you are all awesome and make this game as exciting as it is. You know what is also true? This shit really is about the gathering.