1996 Pro Tour Atlanta/Top 8 decks
| Pro Tour Atlanta | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Date | September 13–15, 1996 | |||
| Location |
 Atlanta, Georgia | |||
| Attendance |
Seniors: 192 Juniors: 62 Teams: 48 | |||
| Format |
Sealed Deck (Mirage) Team Sealed (Ice Age block) | |||
| Prize pool |
Masters: $150,000 Junior: $30,000 (Scholarships) Team: $25,000 | |||
| Winner |
Masters:  Frank AdlerJunior: Aaron SoudersTeam: Pacific Coast Legends | |||
| ||||
The Top 8 in both the Masters and Junior divisions both were given new sealed pools to compete with.
Masters division
Frank Adler
Champion Frank Adler built a 
deck with his Top 8 sealed pool.[1]
| “ | Adler's deck on Sunday contained three X damage spells: two mass-creature-destruction spells, Tropical Storm and Savage Twister, and Kaervek's Torch. Savage Twister was his main swing card; by casting it with few creatures in play, he could deal a crippling blow to his opponent. Adler's creatures with phasing worked well for this strategy, since he could cast Savage Twister when they were phased out.[2] | ” |
Creatures (12)
Sorceries (5)
Darwin Kastle
Finalist Darwin Kastle built a 
deck from his Top 8 sealed pool.[3] He did also sideboard out his green cards for either red or white for some of his games, including in the semis against Aaron Muranaka in order to blank the color-hoser Reign of Terror.[2][4]
| “ | Kastle actually played three different decks during the finals, swapping out his green for red or white. His base deck had two direct damage spells and a poking creature, along with two anti-creature enchantments, a dozen small-to mid-sized creatures and two big ones.[2] | ” |
John Yoo
Semi-finalist John Yoo built a deck out of the final days' pool. Key cards included Kaervek's Torch, Dwarven Nomad, Fetid Horror, and Sabertooth Cobra.[4]
Aaron Muranaka
Aaron Muranaka played a deck to a semi-final finish. He took advantage of cards like Volcanic Geyser, Reign of Terror, and Dream Fighter.[4]
Matt Vienneau
Matthew Vienneau ignored his own advice to stick to three colors.[5], playing in the finals. Notable cards in his deck were Phyrexian Purge, Ray of Command, Incinerate, and Superior Numbers.[4]
Terry Borer
Terry Borer's quarter-final deck was 
with Pacifism, Jabari's Infulence, and Urborg Panther.[6]
Chris Pikula
Chris Pikula had volcanic Geyser, Thirst, and "lots of good creatures" in his deck.[6]
Mike Long
Mike Long got dressed up for nothing, being kocked out in his quarter-final match. He had built a deck with Ray of Command, bone Harvest, Amulet of Unmaking, and countermagic.[6]
Junior Division
Aaron Sounders
18 year old Aaron, from Elburn Illinois, won the Junior division with a deck.[6][7]
| “ | When Souders finished sorting his cards for the finals, he commented that he'd probably be able to afford college this year. His cards were a Sealed-Deck dream. They included three direct-damage X spells, three other direct-damage spells, an Efreet that could tap to deal 2 damage to a creature with flying, and four other anti-creature spells.[7] | ” |
Creatures (12)
Louis Beryl
Runner-up Louis, aged 15 from Palm Beach Gardens in Florida, played in the Top 8.[6][7]
| “ | Beryl's deck was built along much the same lines as Souders's, though he didn't have as outrageous a collection of direct damage.[7] | ” |
Creatures (12)
References
- ↑ JasonVorthos (June 10, 2023). "Frank Adler Mirage Sealed - Champion Pro Tour Atlanta 1996 (website)". MTG Goldfish. Retrieved on July 25, 2025.
- ↑ a b c Beth Moursund (December 1996). "Mastering The Decks (website)". The Duelist Sideboard #4, pp. p26. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved on July 25, 2025.
- ↑ JasonVorthos (June 10, 2023). "Darwin Kastle Mirage Sealed - 2nd Pro Tour Atlanta 1996 (website)". MTG Goldfish. Retrieved on July 25, 2025.
- ↑ a b c d Beth Moursund (December 1996). "Pro Tour IV (pdf)". Inquest #20, pp. 54. Wizards. Archived from the original on August 2, 2025. Retrieved on August 2, 2025.
- ↑ Matthew Vienneau (November 22, 2005). "Pro Tour Atlanta 1996 Report. No, Really. (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on May 13, 2008. Retrieved on July 13, 2025.
- ↑ a b c d e Beth Moursund (December 1996). "Pro Tour IV (pdf)". Inquest #20, pp. 55. Wizards. Archived from the original on August 2, 2025. Retrieved on August 2, 2025.
- ↑ a b c d Beth Moursund (December 1996). "No Messing Around (English) (pdf)". The Duelist Sideboard issue 4, pp. 28. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on August 1, 2025. Retrieved on August 2, 2025.