Hall of Famer Reid Duke Wins Pioneer Pro-Tour With Indomitable Creativity

The return of real-life, in-person, paper pro-tours is something I and many others were very happy about. Pro-tour Phyrexia took place just a few days ago, with fan-favorite player Reid Duke taking first place with an Indomitable Creativity deck. It pains me that more people were not aware that the pro-tour had returned and many missed their opportunities to watch live.

Hopefully, as these continue to happen, the coverage will get better and more people can watch. However, that's a conversation for another day. Today, I would like to show off the list that Duke piloted to victory. So, without further ado, let's have a look at the first-place winning deck for the Phyrexia pro-tour.

Indomitable Creativity - By Reid Duke

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Main 60 cards (25 distinct)

Lands - 24

Side 15 cards (8 distinct)

Main 60 cards (25 distinct)

Lands - 24

Side 15 cards (8 distinct)

$€Tix

Main 60 cards (25 distinct)

Creature (2)
1 Worldspine Wurm			$7.69€5.230.02
1 Xenagos, God of Revels			$7.10€6.030.03
Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (34)
4 Impulse			$0.23€0.23
1 Spell Pierce			$0.25€0.180.03
1 Dig Through Time			$0.59€0.26
4 Fiery Impulse			$0.63€0.520.03
4 Indomitable Creativity			$9.00€9.470.56
1 Shark Typhoon			$6.50€7.471.12
4 Fire Prophecy			$0.25€0.150.03
1 Valakut Awakening			$7.130.02
2 Spikefield Hazard			$0.580.03
1 Secrets of the Key			$0.17€0.120.03
4 Fable of the Mirror-Breaker // Reflection of Kiki-Jiki			$15.00€20.0211.76
3 Make Disappear			$0.39€0.590.02
4 Big Score			$1.21€1.350.01
Land (24)
2 Mountain			$0.150.03
2 Shivan Reef			$1.46€1.080.02
4 Steam Vents			$13.86€11.451.63
2 Mutavault			$12.98€8.681.74
3 Spirebluff Canal			$9.99€9.690.47
4 Riverglide Pathway			$11.507.58
1 Hall of Storm Giants			$3.41
3 Stormcarved Coast			$6.52
2 Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance
1 Otawara, Soaring City

Side 15 cards (8 distinct)

2 Hullbreaker Horror			$7.40
2 Negate			$0.20€0.090.03
1 Disdainful Stroke			$0.15€0.060.03
3 Rending Volley			$2.14€2.180.96
2 Narset's Reversal			$8.89€5.230.13
1 Aether Gust			$0.40€0.330.03
1 Mystical Dispute			$0.49€0.440.05
3 Shark Typhoon			$6.50€7.471.12

Export

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Deck Breakdown

The version of the deck that Duke was piloting is what would be considered the combo version of the deck. As you can see, the deck plays only two creatures, Worldspine Wurm and Xenagos, God of Revels. Once you've made at least two creature tokens (via Fable of the Mirror-Breaker // Reflection of Kiki-Jiki or Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance) you can cast Indomitable Creativity and you're guaranteed to hit those two creatures.

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When you do, Xenagos, God of Revels will double the power of Worldspine Wurm and give it Haste. Swinging out with a 30/30 with trample is usually enough to win the game and it proved so for Duke, even through some incredible odds. Aside from the finishers mentioned the deck is comprised of cantrips, card draw, and removal/counterspells. One of the key functions of cards like Fire Prophecy is to put the two key creatures back into the deck.

Aside from the combo, there are a few other cards capable of closing out games as well. I'm talking mainly about Shark Typhoon butFable of the Mirror-Breaker // Reflection of Kiki-Jiki can win games as well. Watch Ried's first game in the video above and you'll see what I mean. The deck was already quite popular in Pioneer as well as Modern and Ried's piloting the deck to victory here will no doubt bring more eyes than ever to the archetype.

Conclusion

I'm elated to see the return of paper competitive magic and likewise to see Reid come away with his first pro-tour victory. If you missed the coverage of the event I suggest you go check it out. Likewise, if you've not played Indomitable Creativity give it a try. It's quite fun if you have a taste for combos.