Hey guys! Magic: The Gathering's Eternal Weekend is like, the biggest party for fans of Legacy and Vintage. It's where the most seasoned players come to throw down with some seriously powerful decks. If you're anything like me, you're always itching to see what innovative strategies and decklists emerge from these events. So, let's dive into the top decklists from MTG Eternal Weekend 2024, breaking down what made them tick and why they dominated the competition!

What is Eternal Weekend?

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the decklists, let's quickly cover what Eternal Weekend is all about. Eternal Weekend is a series of high-stakes Magic: The Gathering tournaments focusing on the Eternal formats: Legacy and Vintage. These formats allow cards from almost the entire history of Magic, leading to incredibly diverse and powerful decks. The events attract top players worldwide, making it a true test of skill and deckbuilding prowess. Think of it as the Olympics of Legacy and Vintage, where only the best strategies and players survive.

Why Eternal Weekend Decklists Matter

Analyzing Eternal Weekend decklists is super valuable for a few reasons:

• Innovation Showcase: These tournaments often reveal new tech and innovative strategies that reshape the metagame.
• Meta Snapshot: They provide a clear picture of what the top decks are and how they're being built to tackle the competition.
• Inspiration Galore: Whether you're a seasoned Eternal player or just getting started, these lists offer tons of inspiration for your own deckbuilding.

Top Legacy Decklists from Eternal Weekend 2024

Okay, let's get to the main event – the Legacy decklists that crushed it at Eternal Weekend 2024!

1. Doomsday

Doomsday is always a popular contender, and for good reason. The deck is designed around the card Doomsday, which exiles your library and leaves you with a five-card pile that you must then use to win the game. Piloting Doomsday requires a deep understanding of the format and precise sequencing, but the payoff is a fast and consistent combo kill. At Eternal Weekend 2024, Doomsday lists were refined to be even more resilient against disruption and faster than ever before. Key cards in these lists included Street Wraith for cheap cycling, Gitaxian Probe for peeking at the opponent’s hand, and various powerful cantrips like Ponder and Brainstorm to set up the perfect Doomsday pile. The ability to sculpt your hand and protect your combo from countermagic makes Doomsday a formidable force in the Legacy format. Furthermore, players often include sideboard options to transform the deck into a more controlling build, catching opponents off guard and improving matchups against decks that heavily rely on graveyard strategies.

2. Delver

Ah, Delver. This archetype is like the Swiss Army knife of Legacy – adaptable, efficient, and always a threat. Delver decks typically revolve around Delver of Secrets, a cheap threat that can quickly transform into an evasive beater. These decks combine efficient threats with cheap countermagic and disruption to control the board and pressure the opponent. At Eternal Weekend 2024, Delver decks continued to evolve, incorporating new cards and strategies to stay ahead of the metagame. One notable trend was the increased use of Orcish Bowmasters, which provides both a strong threat and a way to punish opponents for drawing extra cards. Other key cards included Brainstorm, Ponder, Daze, and Wasteland, all of which help to control the pace of the game and disrupt the opponent's plans. The flexibility and resilience of Delver decks make them a perennial favorite among Legacy players, and their continued success at Eternal Weekend 2024 is a testament to their enduring power.

3. Initiative

Initiative decks are the new kids on the block, using the Initiative mechanic to generate value and overwhelm opponents. These decks typically include cards like White Plume Adventurer and Seasoned Dungeoneer to quickly take the Initiative and start delving into dungeons, gaining powerful abilities and card advantage. At Eternal Weekend 2024, Initiative decks proved to be a major force, showcasing their ability to dominate the board and quickly close out games. Key to the success of these decks is their ability to generate a snowball effect, where each dungeon level completed provides more resources and advantages, making it increasingly difficult for opponents to catch up. Furthermore, many Initiative decks include efficient removal spells and countermagic to protect their creatures and disrupt the opponent's strategy. The speed and consistency of Initiative decks make them a formidable opponent in the Legacy format, and their strong showing at Eternal Weekend 2024 has solidified their place as a top-tier archetype.

Top Vintage Decklists from Eternal Weekend 2024

Alright, Vintage fanatics, it's your turn! Let's break down the top Vintage decklists from Eternal Weekend 2024.

1. The One Ring

The One Ring decks have become a dominant force in Vintage, leveraging the card's powerful card advantage and protection to control the game. These decks typically combine The One Ring with efficient mana acceleration and disruption to overwhelm opponents. At Eternal Weekend 2024, The One Ring decks were refined to be even more resilient against hate and faster than ever before. Key cards in these lists included Mox Emerald, Mox Sapphire, and other Power Nine cards for fast mana, as well as Mental Misstep and Force of Will for countermagic. The ability to quickly deploy The One Ring and protect it from removal makes these decks incredibly difficult to beat. Furthermore, many The One Ring decks include powerful finishers like Hullbreaker Horror or Murktide Regent to quickly close out games once they have established control of the board. The combination of card advantage, protection, and powerful threats makes The One Ring decks a top-tier choice in the Vintage format.

2. Paradoxical Outcome

Paradoxical Outcome is a combo deck that aims to generate a massive amount of mana and card advantage by casting Paradoxical Outcome multiple times. These decks typically include a high density of zero-mana artifacts like Mox Opal and Lotus Petal, as well as cards like Tinker to find key combo pieces. At Eternal Weekend 2024, Paradoxical Outcome decks showcased their ability to assemble their combo quickly and consistently, overwhelming opponents with a flurry of spells. Key to the success of these decks is their ability to generate a critical mass of mana and card advantage, allowing them to cast Paradoxical Outcome multiple times in a single turn. Furthermore, many Paradoxical Outcome decks include powerful finishers like Aetherflux Reservoir to quickly close out games once they have assembled their combo. The speed and explosiveness of Paradoxical Outcome decks make them a formidable opponent in the Vintage format, and their strong showing at Eternal Weekend 2024 has solidified their place as a top-tier archetype.

3. White Initiative

White Initiative decks in Vintage look to leverage the power of Initiative cards like White Plume Adventurer and Seasoned Dungeoneer, similar to their Legacy counterparts. However, in Vintage, the faster mana and more powerful card pool allow these decks to be even more explosive. At Eternal Weekend 2024, White Initiative decks proved to be a major force, showcasing their ability to dominate the board and quickly close out games. Key to the success of these decks is their ability to generate a snowball effect, where each dungeon level completed provides more resources and advantages. Furthermore, many White Initiative decks include powerful cards like Thalia, Guardian of Thraben and Drannith Magistrate to disrupt the opponent's strategy and protect their own. The speed and consistency of White Initiative decks make them a formidable opponent in the Vintage format, and their strong showing at Eternal Weekend 2024 has solidified their place as a top-tier archetype.

Key Takeaways from Eternal Weekend 2024

So, what did we learn from Eternal Weekend 2024? Here's a quick rundown:

• Format Diversity: Both Legacy and Vintage continue to be diverse formats with a wide range of viable strategies.
• Adaptation is Key: The top decks are constantly evolving to adapt to the metagame and stay ahead of the competition.
• Power is Still King: In Vintage, the Power Nine and other fast mana sources continue to play a crucial role in the top decks.
• Initiative's Impact: The Initiative mechanic has made a significant impact on both Legacy and Vintage, creating new and exciting strategies.

Final Thoughts

Eternal Weekend 2024 was another thrilling showcase of the Eternal formats, highlighting the innovation and skill of the Magic: The Gathering community. Whether you're a seasoned Eternal player or just a curious spectator, there's always something to learn from these events. Keep experimenting, keep innovating, and who knows – maybe we'll see your decklist at the top of the standings next year!