SEA Championship Philippine Invitational: Jonathan Vidal's Ruby Storm Shines

Date: July 19, 2024

Tournament: SEA Championship Philippine Invitational

Rank: 6th out of 24 Players

Deck: Ruby Storm

Contemporary Nook is proud to share the highlights from the SEA Championship Philippine Invitational, a highly competitive qualifier event that saw 24 top Modern players vying for the top spots. Jonathan Vidal's exceptional performance with his Ruby Storm deck earned him a well-deserved 6th place finish, showcasing the power and potential of his strategy in the current Modern Horizons 3 meta.

Primer:

Ruby Storm is a new combo deck in the Modern format highlighted by its namesake combo card Ruby Medallion which was reprinted in Modern Horizons 3 making it legal for the format, known for its explosive potential and ability to generate a large amount of mana quickly. The deck revolves around Ruby Medallion, which reduces the mana cost of red spells, allowing the player to cast multiple spells in a single turn. Utilizing ritual spells like Desperate Ritual and Pyretic Ritual for extra mana, and card draw spells like Manamorphose, Reckless Impulse, and Wrenn's Resolve to keep the combo going, Ruby Storm can chain together numerous spells. Graveyard recursion through Past in Flames and Underworld Breach further increases the storm count, leading to a lethal Grapeshot finisher. The deck aims to assemble its key pieces quickly, generate massive mana, and win with a high storm count, often catching opponents off guard with its sudden, powerful turns.

Match Highlights and Key Moments

Round 1: Ruby Storm vs. Tron (2-1 Win) 

Key Card: Static Prison  

Highlight: Targeting Chalice of the Void

Key Plays and Clutch Move!: Jonathan expertly cast Wish to play Underworld Breach, utilizing graveyard cards to finish the combo with Grape Shot. This strategic targeting and precise play secured a crucial victory.

Round 2: Ruby Storm vs. Eldrazi (2-1 Win)

Key Card: Static Prison 

Highlight: Targeting Damping Sphere

Clutch Moves: Achieving a Turn 2 win with a god draw! Jonathan showcased the explosive potential of Ruby Storm, ending the game swiftly with a Grape Shot combo.

Note: A Turn 2 kill with Ruby Storm involves drawing and playing Mountain, Strike It Rich, Mountain, Ruby Medallion, Desperate Ritual, Manamorphose, Desperate Ritual, Manamorphose, Wish for Underworld Breach, and using Desperate Ritual, Pyretic Ritual, Manamorphose, and Grapeshot from the graveyard.

Round 3: Ruby Storm vs. Scam (0-2 Loss)

Key Card: Orim's Chant 

Highlight: A misplay with Orim's Chant led to a learning moment. Despite the loss, Jonathan reflected on the close nature of the match, particularly game 2 where Ragavan's attack exiled Static Prison, influencing the outcome.

Round 4: Ruby Storm vs. Omnath (2-1 Win)

Key Card: Alchemist's Gambit 

Highlight: Exploiting The One Ring’s weakness by preventing damage. Jonathan’s opponent targeted Ral with Solitude, but Jonathan used Rituals to win the flip and finished with Gambit's effect, creating 40 Goblin Tokens for a spectacular victory.

Round 5: Ruby Storm vs. Nadu (1-2 Loss)

Key Card: Orim's Chant 

Highlight: The lack of Orim's Chant in hand for combo disruption was a significant disadvantage. The match extended to the last 5 turns, with the opponent boarding out Thassa’s Oracle, resulting in a time-consuming and intense showdown.

Decklist: Ruby Storm

Creatures: 4

4 Ral, Monsoon Mage 

Spells: 33

4 Manamorphose 

4 Desperate Ritual 

4 Pyretic Ritual 

4 Reckless Impulse 

4 Wrenn's Resolve 

3 Past in Flames 

3 Wish 

3 Strike It Rich 

2 Glimpse the Impossible 

1 Valakut Awakening 

1 Grapeshot

Others: 5

4 Ruby Medallion 

1 Unstable Amulet

Lands: 18

5 Mountain 

4 Wooded Foothills 

4 Arid Mesa 

2 Elegant Parlor 

2 Sacred Foundry 

1 Scalding Tarn

Sideboard: 15

4 Static Prison 

3 Empty the Warrens 

2 Orim's Chant 

1 Grapeshot 

1 Past in Flames 

1 Shattering Spree 

1 Alchemist's Gambit 

1 Underworld Breach 

1 Jegantha, the Wellspring (companion) 

Strengths of Ruby Storm in Modern Horizons 3 Meta

Ruby Storm is proving to be a formidable contender in the Modern Horizons 3 meta. The deck’s explosive capabilities enable quick and decisive victories, often outpacing opponents before they can adequately respond. Key cards like Ral, Monsoon Mage and Alchemist's Gambit provide the necessary firepower to overwhelm adversaries. The synergy between rituals and graveyard recursion ensures a high storm count, making each game a thrilling experience.

Final Standings:

1st - Kevin Motus (Yawgmoth Golgari)

2nd - Jerome Francisco (Rakdos Scam)

3rd - Michael Cabrerabanter (Bant Nadu)

4th - Francis De Guzman (Eldrazi Agro)

5th - Ronald Pates (RG Eldrazi)

6th - Jonathan Vidal (Ruby Storm)

7th - Denis Bueno (UR Murktide)

8th - Jeff Dolor (UB Mill)

Acknowledgments

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Jonathan Vidal for his outstanding performance and to all the participants for making the SEA Championship Philippine Invitational a remarkable event. This qualifier paves the way for the Ludus' SEA Championship Philippine Invitational on August 3, 2024, at SMX Music Hall, where the winner will earn an invite to the SEA Regional Championship Q1 2025.

Contemporary Nook is dedicated to providing a premier venue for Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts. We invite you to join us for future events and experience the camaraderie and competition that define our community.