My name is Steven Minelli, a former competitive player. I've participated in numerous Regionals and two Pro Tours in recent years. Now I'm a new dad: with less time available and not wanting to give up on Magic, I chose a format that doesn't require constant updates.
I've been playing Premodern since December 2025. I found the Premodern community in Brescia that plays at my trusted local game store, Planet Fun in Rovato (BS). They welcomed me immediately and helped me get into the format, as well as assisting me in acquiring cards for various tournaments. With them, the hype is always off the charts at every event.
The Deck
This is the decklist that allowed me to secure first place in the Top 8 of the Mole Premodern Retro Series:
The Tournament
Saturday morning: wake up at 6:30 AM, meet at 7:15 AM, and we're off to Bologna for the tournament organized by MOLE.
The expedition to retrieve the Dreadnought consisted of 8 players from Brescia: myself, Mauro Ferri, Marco Specchia, Simone Fumagalli, Davide Zedda, Ale Galli, Federico Redolfi (aka Fede Samba), and Alessandro Codenotti, who already lives in Bologna.
Arriving at the splendid location of the Airport Hotel Bologna, we immediately grab a coffee like true gentlemen at the hotel bar. We enter the conference room and immediately feel the nostalgic vibes of old PTQs (even the same aromas!). A quick tour of the vendors and we await the start of the tournament in a chill mood.
Round 1 – Stiflenought Mirror
Having only recently started playing the format, I had never faced the mirror, but one thing I understood immediately: Mishra’s Factory is incredibly strong in the matchup.
G1 He tries to resolve a fast Dreadnought but fails. Unfortunately, two Mishra's then incredibly lower the clock before I can find my Dreadnought with counters to protect it.
G2 I resolve a Dominate on his Mishra's in the early turns. He casts Gush to find a Foil and is left with no lands. My Dreadnought enters and GG.
G3 Again, the Mishra's force me to accelerate, and this leads him to resolve Dominate on my Dreadnought.
We start with a loss.
0-1
Round 2 – UW Rebels
G1 My opponent mulligans to 4 and doesn't have many chances.
G2 He gets stuck on three lands and takes a Stifle on a fetch. Dreadnought enters, and I manage to protect it.
1-1
Round 3 – UW Replenish
G1 Nuts hand with fast Dreadnought and protection. I cast Portent on his top card and see Swords to Plowshares, Plains, and Deep Analysis, so I shuffle.
I don't quite understand what he's playing, so I sideboard for something between UW Standstill and Replenish. Some cards are good in both matchups, like Annul.
G2 I counter everything, and thanks to card advantage, I manage to resolve Dreadnought, which quickly closes out the game.
2-1
Round 4 – Mono R Sligh
My opponent is a very nice guy. I had seen him playing Sligh in previous rounds, so I start with a small advantage in my opening hand choice.
G1 I'm on the draw, mulligan to 6. I keep a hand without a fast Dreadnought but with two counters, including Foil, which synergizes with the two Accumulated Knowledge in hand.
The plan holds, but he gets to five lands, two of which are Barbarian Rings, and offers me a Chinese New Year every turn from the top. I lose by a hair.
G2 Super risky hand: 2 Hydroblast, Impulse, Gush, Dreadnought, and only one Island.
He casts Sirocco.
I read the card: "Are you crazy?! Counter!!"
We laugh at the power of the card. I find the second land and quickly close out the game.
G3 Fast Dreadnought. He still tries to close on turn four by drawing Lightning Bolt, but I have a counter ready.
3-1
Round 5 – Intentional Draw
We ask for the standings. We are at table 3 and decide to draw.
3-1-1
I enter the Top 8 as eighth seed, with 6 players from our Brescia expedition.
Top 8 – Mauro Ferri (Tinker Fling)
G1 I cast Peek and Portent on his top card. I counter Tangle Wire and then play Dreadnought with Counterspell open. He has a Tinker that doesn't resolve.
G2 Hand with Thwart. He resolves Defense Grid. Tinker sacrificing Grid → free Thwart.
He tries Phyrexian Devourer, but I bounce it with Chain of Vapor.
The Dreadnought arrives.
Portent MVP.
Top 4 – Simone Fumagalli (Goblins)
G1 Against Goblin Lackey, I have Foil. I resolve Dreadnought and close out.
G2 Hand with turn two Phyrexian Dreadnought, but I make a mistake with Opt. Naturalize + Red Elemental Blast arrive.
I lose.
G3 He starts slow, and I build up protection to close out.
Finals – Fede Samba (UW Standstill)
Difficult matchup.
G1 Midgame, Dreadnought enters and attacks once before dying. We are left without resources.
An epic counter war begins:
Phyrexian
Dreadnought
Annul
Counterspell Thwart
Vision Charm
Powder Keg
Stifle
Flash of Insight
The Dreadnought survives and closes out.
G2 I lose to Faerie Conclave and don't find Tsabo’s Web.
G3 I resolve Tsabo’s Web, but Phyrexian Furnace limits my Accumulated Knowledge.
Two Meddling Mages name Brain Freeze and Chain of Vapor.
By stealing the Mage with Dominate, I manage to turn the game around.
Key turn:
- Tsabo’s Web
- Stifle on Powder Keg
- Brain Freeze
I mill 12-15 cards.
By stealing the second Mage with Dominate and using Vision Charm, I finish off my opponent's deck.
THE ANCIENT ARTIFACT RETURNS HOME!
Conclusions
I found the format fun right from the start. Added to this is a fantastic community and the excellent organization of the tournament, which offered a trophy worthy of a recovery expedition, as well as a very tempting prize pool.
Now the ancient artifact is safe in our trusted game store, headquarters of Premodern Brescia, where it is displayed in all its Dreadnought-ness.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to my expedition companions and the community.
Thanks to Andrea Mutti, who lent me the entire deck and gave me valuable advice.
Congratulations also to the captain of MOLE, Francesco Guidorizzi, for organizing a splendid event, capable of bringing back the expeditions of old PTQs.
See you at the next event.
Steven Minelli
__
It was a cold winter morning. The sun had just risen, pale through the clouds, when a photo of an ancient artifact depicting the Phyrexian Dreadnought was posted in the Premodern group. Soon after, I received a phone call:
"Hey buddy, we need to save that Dreadnought! We need your help for the expedition."
"I'm in, count me in!"
Bad weather was approaching, and I had to reach my friends before the wind got too strong. Our research had lasted for months... now that ancient Dreadnought had to be saved. It seemed impossible, but we did it.
Premodern Brescia, true flavor.
