Big Apple Highlander
Big Apple Highlander is a two-player singleton format using cards available in the Premodern sets (cards from 1995-2003).
Deck Construction Rules
A deck must contain at least 60 cards in the main and up to 15 cards in the sideboard.
With the exception of basic lands, no two cards in the deck may have the same English name.
Banned cards include: Amulet of Quoz, Bronze Tablet, Jeweled Bird, Rebirth, Tempest Efreet, and Timmerian Fiends. Other cards that are banned in Premodern, such as Yawgmoth’s Will or Brainstorm, are legal in Big Apple Highlander.
Play Rules
Similar to a typical Premodern match, players start at 20 life and the winner is determined in a best-of-three with sideboards accessible after the first game.
Example Decks
See below for deck photos used in events, leagues, and casually. Enjoy!
BAH Humbug 2024
In November 2024, the New York City crew organized BAH Humbug, a charity Big Apple Highlander event and raffle with 14 players in attendance. In total, the community raised $3,200 to be split between The Chick Mission and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Special thanks to Donato Giancola for his contributions and to Finback Brewery for hosting us! Congratulations to Andy L. for taking the event down with his Mono Red deck.
1st — FIWB(AH) by Andy L.
2nd — Zombies by Simon P.
3rd — Worldgorger Dragon by Bryan G.
4th — New Mexico by Sunny S.
(Deck Photo Prize) Full Scottish Breakfast by Chris C.
Reanimator by Joseph D.
BRU Good Stuff by Bryan M.
Enchantress by Ari C.
Storm by SWB
Maestros Karn Prison by Phil N.
Rebels by Christopher B.
Webcam League
(Fall 2024)
A webcam Big Apple Highlander league was organized on the Premodern Discord in the fall of 2024 with 24 players participating. The event was eventually won by Lanny H. on Storm.
1st — Storm by Lanny H.
2nd — Angel Stax by Brian L.
3rd — Replenish by Anton G.
4th — White Weenie by JarryGuy
5th — BR Midrange by Scramble
6th — UR Artifacts by Samuel Leng
7th — UB Reanimator by MachineMan10K
8th — Worldgorger Dragon by Wanderlust (CAB)
Maestros Karn Prison by Phil N.
BRG Disruption by K-Run
Domain Control by Gaunology
UWB Midrange by Elendrile
Elves by SKELETAH666
Dead Cleric Ale by Cody
Other Decks
Big Apple Highlander is a format with lots of potential to express your creativity and to play your favorite strategies. Here is an assortment of decks players have built.
Very Dimir, Very Mindful by Phil Nguyen
Jund Goblins by Sunny S.
Combo Pile by Samuel L.
The Rock by Robin L.
UR Control by Robin L.
UB Control by Robin L.
4C Artifacts by Robin L.
Counter Rebels by Chris B.
UB Control by Spire Golem