Eternal Weekend is the premier event for fans of Magic: The Gathering's (MTG) Legacy and Vintage formats. For those unfamiliar, these formats allow you to play with almost every card ever printed, leading to incredibly diverse and powerful decks. Every year, players eagerly anticipate the cutting-edge strategies and innovative decklists that emerge from this tournament. This year's Eternal Weekend was no exception, showcasing some truly impressive and groundbreaking decks. Understanding these decklists is crucial for any competitive player or anyone looking to stay informed about the ever-evolving landscape of these formats. So, let's dive into the top decklists from MTG Eternal Weekend 2024 and explore what made them so successful. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a curious spectator, there's something here for everyone interested in the pinnacle of competitive MTG. The aim of this article is to break down these complex lists into digestible information, offering insights into card choices, strategies, and the overall metagame. Knowing what the top players are bringing to the table can significantly improve your own game, regardless of your skill level. Stick around as we dissect the winning strategies and tech choices that defined MTG Eternal Weekend 2024!

Key Takeaways from Eternal Weekend 2024

Before we jump into specific decklists, let's discuss some overarching themes and trends that emerged from Eternal Weekend 2024. These key takeaways provide context for understanding the individual deck choices and highlight the evolving metagame.

• Resurgence of Classic Archetypes: While new cards and strategies always make an appearance, Eternal Weekend 2024 saw a resurgence of some classic archetypes. Decks like Delver, Eldrazi, and Doomsday reminded everyone of their enduring power and adaptability. This suggests that mastering fundamental strategies is still highly relevant, even in a format as vast as Legacy or Vintage. Understanding the core principles of these archetypes can give you a significant edge, whether you're piloting them yourself or playing against them. It's a testament to the well-designed nature of these older strategies that they can continue to compete at the highest levels.
• Impact of New Card Releases: Of course, no Eternal Weekend would be complete without the impact of new card releases. Sets like Murders at Karlov Manor and Outlaws of Thunder Junction introduced powerful new tools that were quickly adopted by competitive players. Cards like Delney, Streetwise Lookout found homes in unexpected places, showcasing the creativity and adaptability of the MTG community. Keeping an eye on new releases is crucial for staying ahead of the curve, as they often introduce game-changing mechanics and synergies. The ability to quickly evaluate and integrate new cards into existing strategies is a hallmark of successful Eternal Weekend competitors.
• Adaptation to the Metagame: A crucial aspect of any competitive tournament is the ability to adapt to the prevailing metagame. Many players brought decks specifically designed to counter the expected strategies, leading to interesting tech choices and sideboard strategies. This highlights the importance of understanding what your opponents are likely to play and preparing accordingly. Successful players often anticipate metagame trends and adjust their decks to gain an advantage. This constant adaptation is what makes formats like Legacy and Vintage so dynamic and engaging.
• The Power of Mana Denial: Mana denial strategies continue to be a significant force in both Legacy and Vintage. Decks that can disrupt the opponent's mana base, such as those featuring Wasteland and Chalice of the Void, were prevalent. These strategies aim to restrict the opponent's ability to cast spells, creating a significant advantage. Understanding how to play both with and against mana denial is essential for success in these formats. It requires careful planning and resource management to navigate these challenging matchups.

Top Decklists from MTG Eternal Weekend 2024

Now, let's dive into some of the standout decklists from the tournament. We'll break down the key cards, strategies, and sideboard choices that made these decks successful.

1. 5C White Plume Delver

The ever-popular Delver strategy made a strong showing at Eternal Weekend 2024, with innovative variants pushing the archetype in new directions. Among these, the 5C White Plume Delver list stood out due to its adaptability and raw power. Delver decks are known for their aggressive early game, backed up by disruptive elements and efficient threats. The 5C White Plume Delver list took this concept and ran with it, adding even more flexibility and resilience.

Key Cards and Strategy:

• Delver of Secrets: The namesake of the deck, Delver of Secrets, remains a crucial threat. Its ability to transform into Insectile Aberration provides a fast and efficient clock, pressuring the opponent from the early turns. The deck is designed to maximize the chances of flipping Delver on turn one, setting up an aggressive start.
• White Plume Adventurer: This card is at the heart of what gives this deck its name. It's a creature that generates value with each attack. It's ability to venture into the dungeon is very important in this deck. Venture into the dungeon effects help trigger Delirium, draw cards, and generate value.
• Brainstorm and Ponder: These cantrips are essential for setting up Delver flips and finding the right cards at the right time. Brainstorm allows you to manipulate the top of your deck, while Ponder provides a peek at the next three cards. Mastering these cards is crucial for piloting any Delver deck effectively.
• Wasteland and Daze: These disruptive elements are key to disrupting the opponent's mana base and tempo. Wasteland can destroy nonbasic lands, crippling mana-hungry strategies, while Daze provides a cheap counterspell to protect your threats and disrupt key plays.
• Lightning Bolt and Unholy Heat: Efficient removal spells are crucial for clearing the way for your threats and dealing with opposing creatures. Lightning Bolt provides a versatile option for both removal and direct damage, while Unholy Heat can scale to deal with larger threats.

Why it Worked:

This deck's success came from its ability to adapt to a wide range of matchups. The combination of aggressive threats, disruptive elements, and efficient removal made it a formidable opponent. The addition of White Plume Adventurer provided extra value and flexibility, pushing the deck over the top. The deck's mana base, while complex, allowed it to cast its spells reliably, thanks to fetch lands and dual lands.

2. Mono-Red Prison

Mono-Red Prison is an archetype known for its ability to lock opponents out of the game with a combination of mana denial and powerful lock pieces. This strategy aims to restrict the opponent's resources and prevent them from executing their game plan. The Mono-Red Prison deck that emerged from Eternal Weekend 2024 was particularly refined, showcasing the power of a well-tuned prison strategy.

Key Cards and Strategy:

• Chalice of the Void: This is a cornerstone of any prison strategy, shutting down entire classes of spells depending on the number of counters on it. Setting Chalice on one can cripple decks that rely on cheap cantrips and removal spells.
• Blood Moon and Magus of the Moon: These cards punish greedy mana bases and shut down nonbasic lands, severely restricting the opponent's ability to cast spells. Blood Moon is particularly effective against decks that rely on fetch lands and dual lands.
• Ensnaring Bridge: This artifact prevents creatures with power greater than the number of cards in your hand from attacking, effectively shutting down creature-based strategies. It's a powerful tool for controlling the board and preventing damage.
• Simian Spirit Guide and City of Traitors: These cards provide explosive mana acceleration, allowing you to deploy your lock pieces quickly and efficiently. Simian Spirit Guide can be exiled from your hand to add mana, while City of Traitors provides a burst of mana but comes with the drawback of sacrificing it later.
• Fury: This creature offers a powerful way to clear the board and deal with opposing threats. Its ability to be cast for free by sacrificing a red card makes it a valuable tool for maintaining control of the game.

Why it Worked:

The success of Mono-Red Prison at Eternal Weekend 2024 can be attributed to its ability to prey on the metagame. With many decks relying on complex mana bases and cheap spells, the prison strategy was well-positioned to disrupt their plans. The deck's consistency and ability to quickly establish a lock made it a formidable opponent.

3. UB Shadow

UB Shadow is a deck known for its aggressive strategy centered around Death's Shadow, a creature whose power and toughness increase as your life total decreases. This archetype combines efficient threats with disruptive elements, aiming to quickly close out games. The UB Shadow deck that performed well at Eternal Weekend 2024 showcased the enduring power of this strategy.

Key Cards and Strategy:

• Death's Shadow: The star of the deck, Death's Shadow, becomes a massive threat as your life total decreases. The deck is designed to aggressively lower your life total while protecting Death's Shadow and clearing the way for attacks.
• Street Wraith: This card allows you to lower your life total and draw a card for free, fueling Death's Shadow and providing card advantage. It's a crucial component of the deck's strategy.
• Daze and Counterspell: These counterspells protect your threats and disrupt the opponent's key plays. Daze provides a cheap option for disrupting early game plays, while Counterspell offers a more reliable answer to later threats.
• Fatal Push and Unearth: Efficient removal spells are essential for clearing the way for your threats and dealing with opposing creatures. Fatal Push can efficiently remove early threats, while Unholy Heat can scale to deal with larger threats.
• Brainstorm and Ponder: These cantrips help you find the right cards at the right time and set up your draws. Brainstorm allows you to manipulate the top of your deck, while Ponder provides a peek at the next three cards.

Why it Worked:

The success of UB Shadow at Eternal Weekend 2024 can be attributed to its speed and efficiency. The deck is capable of quickly deploying massive threats and disrupting the opponent's plans, making it a formidable opponent in the fast-paced world of Legacy. Its ability to adapt to different matchups and sideboard effectively also contributed to its success.

Conclusion

MTG Eternal Weekend 2024 was a showcase of innovation, adaptation, and the enduring power of classic archetypes. The top decklists highlighted the importance of understanding the metagame, adapting to new card releases, and mastering fundamental strategies. Whether you're a competitive player or a casual enthusiast, studying these decklists can provide valuable insights into the ever-evolving world of Magic: The Gathering. From the resurgence of Delver to the dominance of Mono-Red Prison and the aggression of UB Shadow, Eternal Weekend 2024 offered a diverse range of strategies that captivated players and spectators alike. As we look ahead to future tournaments, it will be interesting to see how these strategies evolve and how new innovations will shape the landscape of Legacy and Vintage. Keep experimenting, keep adapting, and keep exploring the endless possibilities that Magic: The Gathering has to offer!