BG Elves Deck Performance Analysis

In preparation for the Gold Rush later today (because it's past midnight already hehe), I decided to compile the results of all my sanctioned tournaments in the past couple of months, when playing the BG Elves deck archetype. Here are the results:

Mono Red - Won 8, Lost 5 - 62%
Elves/Rock - Won 6, Lost 6 - 50%
White Weenie - Won 3, Lost 7, Draw 1 - 27%
Random Deck - Won 5, Lost 3, Draw 1 - 56%
Faeries - Won 2, Lost 6 - 25%
Mono Black - Won 1, Lost 3 - 25%
5-Color Control - Won 1, Lost 2 - 33%
Mana Ramp - Won 0, Lost 3 - 0%
Planeswalkers - Won 2, Lost 0 - 100%
Mannequin - Won 1, Lost 1 - 50%
5-Color Elementals - Won 1, Lost 1 - 50%
Land D - Won 1, Lost 1 - 50%
Merfolk - Won 0, Lost 2 - 0%

Here are my observations:
1. The poor showing against Faeries is due to my inability to pilot the deck correctly in the beginning. Most, if not all, of the losses were in my early months of playing the deck.

2. The other deck archetypes' results are not very reliable as I haven't played enough against them.

3. As expected, I do well against random decks (decks I've played only once, ever).

4. The mirror is basically a coin toss. Perhaps I need better SB to have the advantage in the mirror.

5. And last, but most definitely not the least -- I suck against Kithkins. Now I know I really need that fourth Infest in the SB.

FNM - Dec 26, 2008

I needed to playtest for the 2008 Gold Rush tomorrow, so I played once again in my local store's FNM to practice. I wanted to try something in the BG Elves deck, by MD'ing Primal Commands.



// Lands
4 [LRW] Gilt-Leaf Palace
4 [10E] Llanowar Wastes
2 [EVE] Twilight Mire
4 [MOR] Mutavault
4 [10E] Treetop Village
3 [UNH] Forest
3 [UNH] Swamp

// Creatures
4 [10E] Llanowar Elves
4 [LRW] Wren's Run Vanquisher
4 [10E] Troll Ascetic
2 [10E] Civic Wayfinder
4 [MOR] Chameleon Colossus
1 [LRW] Cloudthresher
3 [LRW] Garruk Wildspeaker

// Spells
3 [MOR] Bitterblossom
1 [10E] Loxodon Warhammer
3 [LRW] Nameless Inversion
2 [LRW] Eyeblight's Ending
3 [LRW] Profane Command
2 [LRW] Primal Command

// Sideboard
SB: 4 [LRW] Thoughtseize
SB: 3 [ALA] Infest
SB: 3 [LRW] Cloudthresher
SB: 1 [LRW] Primal Command
SB: 1 [LRW] Shriekmaw
SB: 2 [10E] Mind Rot
SB: 1 [MOR] Mind Shatter


Round 1: vs. WW Kithkins (lost)

First up: Kithkins. In terms of playtesting, this was good. In terms of doing well in the FNM, it was bad. Historically, I just have a bad record against this deck. Anyway, history repeats itself as I easily lost in 2 games. In the first game, my opponent got some help with me getting mana drought. In the second game, it was close all the way, but my opponent squeezed out the win in the end.

Game standing: 0-2
Match standing: 0-1


Round 2: vs. Mono Red Elementals (won)

My opponent and I both mulliganed to 5 for our first game, which I eventually lost thanks to a Rage Forger and a pair of Sunflare Shamans. I got back and won both sideboarded games though, thanks to a Profane Command in the second game, and a crucial Infest in the third game.

Game standing: 2-3
Match standing: 1-1


Round 3: vs. BG Elves (won)

I knew it was a mirror match even before we started, because I partially saw my opponent playtest before the FNM started. So when I drew the singleton Warhammer, along with a couple of dudes in my starting hand, the decision to keep was very easy. Unfortunately though, my opponent had all the removals and my Warhammer was reduced to a useless artifact with no one to equip it to. I eventually lost the one-sided game. In game 2, it was my turn to beat my opponent, and I finished the game with a Profane Command. I also found out that my opponent had an "incomplete deck" as he was using Briarhorns and Snakeforms. That gave me the confidence that I had the advantage in the deciding game. Game 3 though was the closest of all, and we were racing all game, with my Bitterblossom online, and my opponent gaining a bunch of life thanks to a couple of Kitchen Finks. In the end, I topdecked a Garruk to decide the game in my favor.

Game standing: 4-4
Match standing: 2-1


Round 4: vs. UW Reveillark (won)

My 4th round opponent was beside me in round 3, so I knew he had the Knight-Captain of Eos/Reveillark engine in his deck. I thought to myself, boy, this is going to be a looong game. It proved to be wrong though, as I my deck gave me the right cards at the right time, and I won both games very easily. The first game while at 37 life (thanks to Warhammer), and the second game via an early Garruk overrun, which my opponent had no answer to.

Game standing: 6-4
Match standing: 3-1

My final standing was good enough for a 5th place finish, and won me another booster pack -- which turned up to contain another crappy birdie. Oh well. I just hope to do as well as I did today, in the Gold Rush tomorrow. Good luck to me.

Christmas Gift - 2008

One of the best gifts I received in Christmas 2008:



It was from my Tito Benjie in Canada, who went home for the holidays.

I just found out that despite costing just $15 (~PhP 750) in the US, this product was released on a very limited basis here in Manila and is being sold for Php 1,200. Whoa.

Merry Christmas indeed! :)

FNM - Dec 12, 2008

I followed the netdeck trend, and inserted Bitterblossoms onto the BG Elves deck. I further tuned the MD and moved the Thoughtseizes onto the SB as the meta in my local shop is more aggro than control.



// Lands
4 [LRW] Gilt-Leaf Palace
4 [10E] Llanowar Wastes
2 [EVE] Twilight Mire
4 [MOR] Mutavault
4 [10E] Treetop Village
3 [UNH] Forest
3 [UNH] Swamp

// Creatures
4 [10E] Llanowar Elves
4 [LRW] Wren's Run Vanquisher
4 [10E] Troll Ascetic
2 [10E] Civic Wayfinder
4 [MOR] Chameleon Colossus
3 [LRW] Cloudthresher
3 [LRW] Garruk Wildspeaker

// Spells
3 [MOR] Bitterblossom
3 [LRW] Profane Command
3 [LRW] Nameless Inversion
2 [LRW] Eyeblight's Ending
1 [10E] Loxodon Warhammer

// Sideboard
SB: 4 [LRW] Thoughtseize
SB: 3 [ALA] Infest
SB: 4 [SHM] Kitchen Finks
SB: 1 [LRW] Cloudthresher
SB: 1 [MOR] Mind Shatter
SB: 2 [10E] Mind Rot


Round 1: vs. WW Kithkins (lost)

The FNM crowd was larger than usual -- 28 players -- and there were a couple of good players in the room. As is my usual "practice", I once again got paired with one of the better players in the first round. He was playing Kithkins, so I once again wished that I had that 4th Infest in my SB (I really need to get that one ASAP).

Anyway, back to the match, things didn't start well, as I mull'd to 5. To add insult to injury, my opponent had a pretty good draw (which is pretty common for Kithkins, due to its amazing consistency), and I lost via a Mirrorweave to a Wizened Cenn.

SB: +3 Infest, -1 Thresher, -2 Colossus

In game 2, things started out better. I kept my initial 7 for one, and I had him down to 6 life later in the game, with me still at perfect life. He unfortunately stabilized and I had to attack every turn just to keep him at that level (he was gaining life thanks to a Glorious Anthem and a Knight of Meadowgrain). I had an Infest and a Profane in hand, which could both win me the game, but couldn't draw that second black mana source. I eventually lost via consecutive Cloudgoat Rangers which overwhelmed the board.

Game standing: 0-2
Match standing: 0-1


Round 2: vs. Naya Planeswalkers (won)

My opponent started things off with a Jungle Shrine... and nothing else. I went blazing on the game, with a Warhammer'd Ascetic, and won the game at 32 life, and my opponent having played just a single Garruk all game.

SB: +4 Thoughtseize, -1 Warhammer, -2 Threshers, -1 Nameless

In the second game, I demolished my opponent again with Beast tokens from Garruk, and a Profane Command to finish him off. I was still at perfect life at that point.

Game standing: 2-2
Match standing: 1-1


Round 3: vs. Mono Red Aggro Budget (won)

This was a fun game. It kinda reminded me of playing with Tyrone at UP from 10 years ago, as my opponent was consistently playing turn 1 Raging Goblin, then turn 2 Fists of the Anvil (Blood Lust anyone?) -- on all three games! LOL. I believe he had no creatures with 4cc or more, as it seems he was sending off a bunch of weenies all the time -- Heartlash Cinder, Boggart Ram-Gang, etc. His burn was being wasted on my creatures though, so he was always having a hard time finishing me off. I won in 3 fun games.

Game standing: 4-3
Match standing: 2-1


Round 4: vs. UB Mannequin (won)

Once again, I was in a do-or-die scenario. Win, and I get a pack. Lose, and I go home empty-handed. Things didn't start well, as my opponent beat me with Oona, Queen of the Fae.

SB: +4 Thoughtseize, -1 Warhammer, -2 Threshers, -1 Nameless

In game 2, the Blossoms finally went online. I never drew them on any other game -- and in this one, I finally got a taste of why Faeries win with them. You just don't have to do anything else, just sit back, control the board, and watch the tokens attack.

In game 3, I drew a Garruk godhand. Overrun ftw!

Game standing: 6-4
Match standing: 3-1


After the match, I was watching my first round opponent in a battle of undefeateds at table 2. I wanted him to win (to improve my tiebreaks), but he unfortunately lost, so I settled for 7th place. I won a Shadowmoor pack, with this birdie at the rare slot:

FNM - Dec 5, 2008

I was on a two-week Magic semi-hiatus due to increased workload and a brand-new distraction, so I was a bit out of touch in terms of Magic news, metagaming, and deck techs. Still, I was determined to play at least one more FNM this month in order to get the Hippie promo card, so when an opportunity popped up, I grabbed the chance and took the tried and tested BG Elves deck to our local FNM.


Round 1: vs. BW Hybrids (won)

My opponent's body language was shouting "tournament-newbie", so I was glad to face him in the first round. However, things quickly turned around, as I got bullied by a Nightsky Mimic and an Edge'd up Beckon Apparition token, to quickly lose game one.

SB: -4 Thoughtseize, +3 Infest, +1 Warhammer

In game 2, my opponent showed his inexperience when he overextended over and over to my Infests, and I took him down with a pair of Vanquishers. In game 3, my Colossi finally showed up, but before I could rejoice with the protection from black ability, my opponent had Oblivion Rings to remove the giant changelings. It went down the wire, with me at 5 life and him at 3 life, but the game changer was a Cloudthresher, which blocked an attacker and eventually finished him off on my turn.

Game standing: 2-1
Match standing: 1-0


Round 2: vs. WW Kithkins (draw)

I faced off in the second round against an acquaintance whom I was playtesting with, just before the FNM started. I knew he was playing Kithkins, and I knew he was pretty good in Magic, but I also knew that he never won in our playtests, so I had some sort of mental advantage over him. Game 1 was very close, with both of us getting to 6 life, but just like in the previous game, a mid-combat Thresher did him in and wiped his Spectral Procession tokens.

SB: -4 Thoughtseize, +3 Infest, +1 Warhammer

In game 2, my opponent had a pretty good draw, activating his Windbrisk Heights for a free Mirrorweave on my Colossus ftw. Game 3 was very very close. With my opponent having 3 Spectral tokens once again, I couldn't put down my Colossus for fear of getting beat up once again by a 'Weave. The result was a long and slow race in life, which eventually ended with a draw -- me at 5 life and him at 7 life. The Profanes just didn't come out... not even a single one. :(

Game standing: 3-2-1
Match standing: 1-0-1


Round 3: vs. Naya (won)

My next opponent was a regular top 8 player in my store's FNM. I got lucky though when he got stuck at 2 lands in our first game, and I easily beat him at perfect life. In game 2, I made a HUGE misplay, by blocking his attacking Warhammered Colossus (7/4) with my Wayfinder and a mid-combat Cloudthresher (9/9 total). I thought the trick was on him, when I figured that even if he pumped the Colossus, it would just be at 8/8. I totally forgot about the +3/+0 bonus that the Warhammer gave, and of course his Colossus, post-pump, was a beastly 14/11. Both my creatures died, my opponent went up to 30 life, and I covered my face with my hands in shame. In game 3 though, I went back to my winning ways, and beat him while still at perfect life. I had some help though from his manabase, as he was taking too much pain from ouchlands.

Game standing: 5-3-1
Match standing: 2-0-1


Round 4: vs. Mono G Elves (lost)

After 3 rounds, we found out that there was just 1 person with a 3-0 record. And he was playing the person I drew with in the second round. Basically, if I won the 4th round, I was guaranteed a top 2 to 3 finish, and a shiny foil Shrapnel Blast. Unfortunately, that was not to be, as my opponent (playing an Elf deck that I felt was inferior to mine) had really awesome draws. Let me put it this way -- three words -- Three Imperious Perfects. In the second game, it was more of the same, as my Infests stayed in the bottom of the deck. To think that he was greatly overextending with Wolf Skull Shamans, and Bramblewood Paragons, and a single copy of the black sorcery could have easily swung the game in my favor. Oh well. Once again, shit happens.

Game standing: 5-5-1
Match standing: 2-1-1

Still good enough though for a 6th place finish, and one Shards of Alara prize pack. What did it contain? This blue monstrosity:

FNM - Nov 21, 2008

Our BG Elves deck has been doing pretty good recently, but it doesn't seem to get over the hump of actually winning an FNM, or top 8-ing a tourney. Because of that, and also to inject some change in my FNM experience, I sleeved up a Planeswalker Control deck, influenced by the recent Fellowship of the Ring creation in the PT Berlin LCQ, and modified based on card availability:



// Lands
4 [SHM] Reflecting Pool
4 [ALA] Jungle Shrine
3 [EVE] Rugged Prairie
2 [10E] Battlefield Forge
1 [SHM] Wooded Bastion
4 [10E] Brushland
4 [10E] Treetop Village
2 [SHM] Fire-Lit Thicket

// Creatures
4 [LRW] Garruk Wildspeaker
4 [LRW] Chandra Nalaar
2 [ALA] Ajani Vengeant
1 [ALA] Elspeth, Knight-Errant
4 [SHM] Kitchen Finks

// Spells
4 [LRW] Fertile Ground
2 [10E] Mind Stone
4 [10E] Wrath of God
3 [10E] Pyroclasm
4 [10E] Condemn
2 [LRW] Oblivion Ring
2 [ALA] Naya Charm

// Sideboard
SB: 4 [SHM] Guttural Response
SB: 4 [LRW] Cloudthresher
SB: 3 [LRW] Primal Command
SB: 2 [LRW] Oblivion Ring
SB: 2 [SHM] Faerie Macabre

Having 7 board sweepers and 8 spot removals (counting the Naya Charms), the deck should run over Kithkin and any other aggro deck. 5-color control should also be an easy matchup, as they don't have any answer to planeswalkers (unless for some reason, they run O-Rings in the SB). It would have a problem against Faeries (due to Flying) and any deck running burn, such as RDW or Blightning Beatdown.

Anyway, here's what happened 5 hours ago:

Round 1: vs. WW Kithkin (lost)

My opponent opens with Plains-Stalwart, and I secretly smile as I start the first game. I end up doing business as usual, controlling the board, and finishing up with Elspeth and Chandra.

My SB strategy for aggro is "There is no sideboard plan", so I just shuffle my deck for game 2.

In game 2, my opponent pulls off a god draw, and kills me in an alpha strike despite being at 22 life. Windbrisk-Mirrorweave ftw. What do you know...

In game 3, it starts off much like game 1, when he would lay down threats, and I would Wrath. Lay down more threats, then Pyroclasm. Lay down more threats, then Wrath. Wash, rinse, repeat. Up until a single Figure of Destiny falls through the cracks, which eventually becomes a mighty-morphing-flying-first-striking-power-ranger. I topdeck a Condemn for it, but draw only lands afterward, and he finishes me off with two knights - Orchid and Meadowgrain.

Game standing: 1-2
Match standing: 0-1


Round 2: vs. WW Kithkin (won)

Heavily disappointed after the first round, I wanted to redeem myself with my second round opponent, who also happens to play the short white weenie tribe. This time though, my deck stops disappointing me, and I easily run him over in 2 games -- first game via ultimate abilities of Chandra and Garruk (in a single turn), and second game via non-stop Beast tokens from Garruk.

Game standing: 3-2
Match standing: 1-1


Round 3: vs. Mono Green Elf Ball (won)

This was another easy match, as elf ball decks always overcommit to the board, and a single Pyroclasm would ruin their day. On the second game, I even get to do "The Dream" -- Ajani 1-sided Armageddon, followed by Wrath of God = no permanents in play for my opponent.

Game standing: 5-2
Match standing: 2-1


Round 4: vs. WW Kithkin (lost)

My 4th round opponent's first play was Plains-Go, and I knew he was playing Kithkins. However, after 2 more Plains-Go turns, I started to doubt myself -- what is this, mono-white control? However, when his 4th land was a Windbrisk Heights, I knew he just kept an extremely slow hand. And he paid for it, as I easily won game 1 behind Garruk Beast tokens.

For game 2, my starting hand was Brushland, Treetop, Finks, Wrath, and 3 random PWs. Not bad, I thought... I could Finks, then wait for 4 mana to Wrath the board.

And then, time stood still, all hell broke loose, and my deck went to the Phantom Zone. Apparently, my opponent used The Force, and did a Jedi-cut. I never got a third land! I drew a Mind Stone eventually, which I used to play my Finks, but the Stone was quickly O-ring'd by my opponent. WTF. O-ring as land D. By then, I was already being overrun by FOD's and knights.

For game 3, I thought for a while, but decided to keep another 2-hand land (both Treetops). What do you know... my deck wasn't finished playing games with me, and all I drew afterwards was a third Treetop and a Reflecting Pool. Mono-green ftl.

Game standing: 6-4
Match standing: 2-2

Oh well, shit happens.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to test the deck against Faeries and 5-color control, but heck, I still felt good about the "promise" of the deck. Setting aside those ridiculously bad draws in rounds 1 and 4, it actually did its job and steamrolled my opponents.

I'm looking forward to further refining the deck... though, I think I have to get a hold of a few more Elspeths and Ajanis first... ;-)

Magic Player Rewards - Nov 14, 2008

I received the following in the mail last week:



- Foil Textless Cryptic Command
- Textless Unmake
- Textless Pyroclasm
- Oversized Feral Hydra
- Sarkhan Vol DCI membership card

I should have gotten more, but Wizards/DCI decided not to use all of my rewards points in the past 3 months (I wonder why...). But anyway, it's all good. For sure, I'll be able to use that Pyroclasm. ;-)

Will the real Kenji please stand up?

2005 MTG Player of the Year, Kenji Tsumura.



2008, um, Starbucks Drinker of the Year, Kenji Bayutas...



Do I look Japanese to you? LOL.

1700

I was doing my usual morning MTG surfing when I came across this in my DCI account:



I have finally broken the 1700 constructed barrier! :)

Looking at my play history, I also discovered that my all time low was 1480, after losing round 1 of the Shadowmoor Standard Inaugural. Browsing through the matches also made me reminisce about my previous deck choices (ie. Pickles, Goblins, pre-Mirrorweave White Weenie), sideboard "strategies" (ie. Deathmark, Paladin en-Vec, Tivadar of Thorn), and play styles (ie. attempting to play a control deck with no knowledge of the metagame whatsoever).

It took almost a year to get here, but at least I now feel that I'm actually starting to accomplish something. :) I wonder when I will ever post about breaking 1800 (if I ever get there at all)...

Alara Standard Inaugurals - Nov 8, 2008

The Elf deck has been playing out well for me recently, so I decided to give it another go at the Alara Standard Inaugurals at Galleria yesterday.



// Lands
4 [LRW] Gilt-Leaf Palace
4 [10E] Llanowar Wastes
2 [EVE] Twilight Mire
4 [MOR] Mutavault
4 [10E] Treetop Village
3 [UNH] Forest
3 [UNH] Swamp

// Creatures
4 [10E] Llanowar Elves
4 [LRW] Wren's Run Vanquisher
4 [10E] Troll Ascetic
3 [10E] Civic Wayfinder
4 [MOR] Chameleon Colossus
3 [LRW] Cloudthresher

// Spells
4 [LRW] Thoughtseize
4 [LRW] Nameless Inversion
2 [LRW] Eyeblight's Ending
4 [LRW] Profane Command

// Sideboard
SB: 1 [10E] Loxodon Warhammer
SB: 4 [SHM] Kitchen Finks
SB: 1 [MOR] Mind Shatter
SB: 2 [10E] Mind Rot
SB: 3 [LRW] Garruk Wildspeaker
SB: 1 [LRW] Cloudthresher
SB: 3 [ALA] Infest


Round 1: vs. UB Faeries (won)

I have a pretty good matchup against Faeries, having 3 MD Cloudthreshers, so I was glad to have faced the deck early. In fact, my SB strategy for it was to just remove 1 Nameless Inversion, in favor of a 4th Cloudthresher. My theory proved right in the first round, as I "relatively easily" won 2-0 against my opponent (it's never easy to win against Faeries, as they are probably the most resilient deck in Standard right now) thanks to some crucial evoking of Cloudthreshers, in response to his Mistbind Cliques.

Game standing: 2-0
Match standing: 1-0


Round 2: vs. WW Kithkins (lost)

My opponent and I were joking before the game that we were in the "feature match" area, as we were sitting in Table 1. :) After shuffling though, things quickly turned serious, especially for me, as I was getting beat up very quickly by Cenn and Ajani-pumped Kithkins. I eventually lost the game and went to my sideboards:

SB: +3 Infest, +1 Finks, -4 Thoughtseize

In game 2, bad luck fell upon me and I just couldn't draw any of my 13 removal spells (all creatures!) and my opponent's massive Kithkin horde was just too many for my Cloudthresher and Colossus.

Game standing: 2-2
Match standing: 1-1


Round 3: vs. WW Kithkins (won)

Having just lost pretty badly to a Kithkin deck, I was pumped to face another one -- I wanted revenge. Haha. And revenge I got, as I won two easy games behind the back of early Colossi.

Game standing: 4-2
Match standing: 2-1


Round 4: vs. UB Faeries (lost)

I got matched up against the guy who placed 3rd in the 2008 Philippine Nationals. Good luck to me! He was playing Faeries though, so I knew I had an inside chance of winning. In game 1, I took a chance and played a 1-land (Treetop Village) hand that had a Llanowar Elf, a Vanquisher, and a Cloudthresher. It proved to be wrong though, and once my opponent saw that I didn't have a second land, he quickly Agony Warped my mana elf, and I was just too far back behind and didn't stand a chance.

In game 2, things went the other way around, and I easily won the game with just a Llanowar Elf and a Civic Wayfinder. I knew he would counter any other spells I played, so I baited him to tap out and I won with a Profane ftw.

Game 3 was a close one, with both of us at 10 life at one point... until my opponent played his Mistbind Clique. He then put a Warhammer onto the huge Faerie, and with a single swing, the game changed a lot and he was suddenly at 17 and me at 3 life. I had an answer though for the Clique (Eyeblight's Ending) but had no answer to his other Faeries (a Conclave and a Bitterblossom token). I then decided to play a mind game with him. With a Colossus for defense, I separated my mana into 3 piles -- 4 mana (for pumping), 3 mana & 2 mana -- bluffing to have 2 removal spells. I then passed the turn. He thought for a long while -- what could I be holding??? -- but eventually decided to go for it. He activated the Conclave and swung. I shook his hand and showed the lone Eyeblight's Ending in my hand. :) He was all smiles. GG.

Game standing: 5-4
Match standing: 2-2


Round 5: vs. WW Kithkins (won)

It was apparently Kithkins and Faeries Day, as I once again got paired against the little white men. In game 1, I made a crucial misplay by not killing one of my opponent's 3 creatures before combat, so he was able to play a crucial Unmake behind his Windbrisk Heights. I lost the game. In game 2, it was my turn to beat him, and he had no answer against the tandem of Colossus and Ascetic. In game 3, my opponent did the misplaying this time, and tried to Unmake my Colossus. Pro black baby! I, of course, won that game. :)

Game standing: 7-5
Match standing: 3-2


Round 6: vs. 5-color Elementals (won)

I was happy to face a non-Kithkin, non-Faerie opponent in round 6. I was not happy to face my opponent though. He was just drop dead serious in playing, and he played extremely fast. And worst of all, he was a sore loser... frequenting a loud "Tsk!" each time I did something that was not good for him. What was important was that I beat him easily in 2 games. I didn't even sideboard anything for game 2. Haha. Take that.

Game standing: 9-5
Match standing: 4-2


Round 7: vs. WW Kithkins (lost)

After 6 rounds, I was at 21st place (in a tournament of around 100 players), and prizes were going to be given to the top 24 players. Basically, it was a do-or-die match. Win, and I go home with a couple of packs. Lose, and I go home. Period. Unfortunately, I knew my opponent and I knew he was a very good Kithkin player, having piloted the deck to a couple of decent finishes and top 8's. All that I had going for me, was that I had already beaten him before in a Block Constructed tourney, while using that same deck.

I couldn't remember much of the match though. Probably selective amnesia or something. Haha. All I can remember was that I lost both times to a Mirrorweave. God, I hate that card. LOL.

Game standing: 9-7
Match standing: 4-3


I went home empty-handed, but still quite satisfied with my finish. At least, I had an outside chance to win -- I just didn't deliver when it counted the most. But like Joven said, at least I'm now a Blind-Spot Giant. :)

FNM - Nov 7, 2008

After a decent finish in last week's FNM, I used the same BG Elves deck again last Friday. However, noticing that a good amount of Red decks were being played in my local store, I decided to main deck Kitchen Finks instead of Cloudthreshers.



// Lands
4 [LRW] Gilt-Leaf Palace
4 [10E] Llanowar Wastes
2 [EVE] Twilight Mire
4 [MOR] Mutavault
4 [10E] Treetop Village
3 [UNH] Forest
3 [UNH] Swamp

// Creatures
4 [10E] Llanowar Elves
4 [LRW] Wren's Run Vanquisher
4 [10E] Troll Ascetic
3 [10E] Civic Wayfinder
3 [SHM] Kitchen Finks
4 [MOR] Chameleon Colossus

// Spells
4 [LRW] Thoughtseize
4 [LRW] Nameless Inversion
2 [LRW] Eyeblight's Ending
4 [LRW] Profane Command

// Sideboard
SB: 3 [LRW] Garruk Wildspeaker
SB: 1 [MOR] Mind Shatter
SB: 2 [10E] Mind Rot
SB: 1 [SHM] Kitchen Finks
SB: 4 [LRW] Cloudthresher
SB: 3 [ALA] Infest
SB: 1 [10E] Loxodon Warhammer


Round 1: vs. Cruel Control (won)

My "lucky" tendency for awesome round 1's continued that day, when I got paired up with the best player in the room - a regular Nats player whose surname and team name are almost synonymous with Filipino Magic. Good luck to me!

In game 1, things went to a great start as I was able to early Thoughtseize a Wrath away, and he couldn't keep up to my early beats of Vanquishers, and I beat him with a Profane to the face.

SB: +1 Mind Shatter, +2 Mind Rot, +3 Garruk, -3 Finks, -2 Nameless, -1 Profane

In game 2, I basically got Cruel Ultimatum'd twice, and lost. In game 3, I once again got lucky with my early Thoughtseize, and took out a crucial Remove Soul. I afterwards squeaked in a Mind Rot after an evoked Mulldrifter on his side, and he just got too far back, and lost to a Warhammer'd Ascetic. GG!

Game standing: 2-1
Match standing: 1-0


Round 2: Mono Red Aggro (won)

In game 1, we were just racing life, but apparently, you almost always never win that way against a Red deck, and I lost to a Demigod and an Incinerate to the face.

SB: +1 Warhammer, +1 Finks, +2 Mind Rot, -4 Thoughtseize

In game 2, my opponent didn't stand a chance against 2 Colossi. In game 3, my Kitchen Finks army went online, which is just not fair for the Red deck. ;)

Game standing: 4-2
Match standing: 2-0


Round 3: WW Kithkins (lost)

I basically got demolished in this round. Losing game 1 with my opponent at 43 life (thanks to two Knight of Meadowgrains with multiple Ajani counters), and losing game 2 via Mirrorweave with him still at perfect life.

Game standing: 4-4
Match standing: 2-1


Round 4: Fellowship of the Ring (won)

This was, unexpectedly, the most difficult, but still the most fun game I had all day. My opponent was using something similar to the decklist that popped up on the PT Berlin LCQ, with 14 Planeswalkers and utilizing their synergy with Rings of Brighthearth. My opponent always had 2 to 3 Planeswalkers online all the time, and I was basically just attacking every turn so that they wouldn't be able to use their super abilities.

My opponent would, for example, make 2 Soldier tokens from Elspeth, AND lock down my 2 Mutavaults with Ajani Vengeant, AND deal me 2 damage with Chandra ALL ON THE SAME TURN. Take note: all those abilities gave the respective planeswalkers +1 loyalty. I was just very lucky that my opponent didn't draw ANY of his 4 Wraths, so my Troll Ascetics eventually did their job and cleaned his board away of any remaining planeswalkers (thanks to some crucial Fear abilities via Profane). By the time I beat him on our first game though, time was already up, and I gladly won the round. :)

Game standing: 5-4
Match standing: 3-1


In the end, my 3-1 finish was apparently good enough for 3rd place (some pairings ended up in draws, which went in my favor), and I won 1 Alara pack (Battlegrace Angel), 1 Shadowmoor pack (Deep-Slumber Titan) and an Isochron Scepter FNM card -- my very first FNM card won via standings (and not just given away for free :) )



Good times. :)

FNM - Oct 31, 2008

For the first time in how-long-I-can't-remember, The Company, er, Organization I work for (haha feeling Prison Break) had a holiday on a day when everyone else was going to work. That wouldn't stop me from playing at the FNM though, and I braved the heavy traffic on a nearby cemetery to get to Ongkeco's Hobby Shop at University Mall.

I used the new BG Elves build in the new Standard of 10E-LOR-SHM-ALA, but used Troll Ascetic in the slot where most decks put Kitchen Finks. I figured that was the way to go, because based on my previous FNM there, the FNM was always won by control deck variants. Anyway, here's the deck:



// Lands
4 [LRW] Gilt-Leaf Palace
4 [10E] Llanowar Wastes
2 [EVE] Twilight Mire
4 [MOR] Mutavault
4 [10E] Treetop Village
3 [UNH] Forest
3 [UNH] Swamp

// Creatures
4 [10E] Llanowar Elves
4 [LRW] Wren's Run Vanquisher
4 [10E] Troll Ascetic
3 [10E] Civic Wayfinder
4 [MOR] Chameleon Colossus
3 [LRW] Cloudthresher

// Spells
4 [LRW] Thoughtseize
4 [LRW] Profane Command
4 [LRW] Nameless Inversion
2 [LRW] Eyeblight's Ending

// Sideboard
SB: 1 [LRW] Cloudthresher
SB: 1 [10E] Loxodon Warhammer
SB: 3 [ALA] Infest
SB: 3 [10E] Mind Rot
SB: 3 [LRW] Garruk Wildspeaker
SB: 2 [SHM] Kitchen Finks
SB: 2 [SHM] Faerie Macabre


Round 1: vs. Mono Red Aggro (won)

I kept a hand of 3 Colossi and no early drops, and felt bad when my opponent played a first turn Mogg Fanatic -- this was going to end quickly. Luckily though, I drew a second turn Vanquisher to help fight off an onslaught of more Fanatics, Maniacs, and even a conspired Giantbaiting. In the end though, my opponent had no answer to 2 Colossi and a Troll Ascetic and I won the first game.

SB: +1 Lox Warhammer, +2 Finks, +3 Mind Rot, -4 Thoughtseize, -2 Cloudthresher

In the second game, it was more of the same, and in the final turn of the game, my opponent thought for a loooong time before finally deciding to concede against my army of Vanquishers and manlands.

Game standing: 2-0
Match standing: 1-0


Round 2: vs. BG Elves (won)

I was up against the guy who was watching behind my back when Joven and I were playtesting right before the FNM. Oh no. The guy knows every single card in my deck. Imagine my surprise when his first play of the game was to put down a Treetop Village -- it was a mirror match! Eventually, I found out that he was using the build that had Bitterblossom, after a first turn Thoughtseize for me. Bye bye Bitter. However, he had answers for all my creatures, while I had none against his, and I died against his army of Kitchen Finks and Vanquishers.

SB: +3 Garruk, -3 Cloudthresher

My plan was to outrace him, and outrace I did. He was matching my every single move, doing a Thoughtseize after mine, playing a Vanquisher after mine, and a Wayfinder after mine. However, I had my ace in the hole -- Garruk Wildspeaker. In the end, he couldn't find a way out against my Beast army and lost the second game.

In the third game, Garruk didn't come online, so we were just racing in the beginning. I eventually got board position though, and he was just defending against my attack every turn. I won in the end via a Profane on his defender and on the dome. (I eventually found out that I could have won a turn earlier via the fear + lose life modes. Oh well. ;-) )

Game standing: 4-1
Match standing: 2-0


Round 3: vs. Mono Red Aggro (lost)

I played against an irritating opponent in the third round. First off, he arrived late in our game (he was outside talking on the phone, while everyone else but us were already playing). Then, he kept on talking on his two phones while we were playing. And finally, he was just too damn lucky. Basically, I lost game 1 on poor draws, and I lost game 2 because I mulliganed to 4.

Game standing: 4-3
Match standing: 2-1


Round 4: vs. BG Land D (won)

In the first game, my bad luck from the previous game appeared to have stretched to this round, as I once again mulliganed to 4. Tough luck. I was all set to go home at 2-2, when I looked at my 4-card hand and saw 1 Wayfinder, 1 Forest, 1 Swamp and 1 Thoughtseize. Oh well, at least I get to reduce his hand by 1. Imagine my surprise when I saw 2 lands and a chock-full of Land Destruction spells in his hand -- Rain of Tears, Drain the Well, Poison the Well, Creeping Mold, and Fulminator Mage! I took the Rain of Tears out, and proceeded with the game. My opponent played his first land and passed.

On turn two, I drew and played a Vanquisher. Lucky number 1. :) My opponent played his second land and passed.

On turn 3, I drew another Thoughtseize. I got out his Fulminator Mage and found 2 Primal Commands in his hand. I attacked with the Vanquisher, 20-17. My opponent passed. No third land! Lucky number 2. :)

On turn 4, I drew a third land. Lucky number 3! I attacked with my Vanquisher again, 20-14, and played the Wayfinder.

You get the picture. :) My opponent didn't find his third land (a CIP Treetop Village) until it was too late, and I won (against a Land D deck) despite mulliganing to 4. Priceless. :)

SB: +3 Garruk, -3 Cloudthresher

Oh, what the heck. I couldn't remember anything about the second game -- except that I won. I was too ecstatic about the first game win. :)

Game standing: 6-3
Match standing: 3-1

Good enough for a 5th place finish, and a Shards of Alara booster pack as prize. Unfortunately, the pack contained crap -- Crucible of Fire crap -- but the night was still fun though, because of that mull-to-4-win. :)

Magic is fun. :)

FNM - Oct 17, 2008

I was in Bangkok last week for a duty travel and a weekend vacation (aka shopping) with Beej. Of course, I wouldn't let the opportunity pass without playing a sanctioned game in a foreign land. By hook or by crook, I was going to play in Bangkok! :)

Before leaving last week, I did two things to try to accomplish my mission:

1. I got into contact with Kong, a Thai player that I played in the recent GP Manila. We exchanged emails a few times, but when it was time for him to tell me about the location of MTG stores in Bangkok, he didn't reply in time. In fairness to him, he DID reply eventually this week, and said that he was apparently also out of town for work.

2. I brought a list of FNM locations in Bangkok from MTG.com. I then asked the receptionist of my hotel which of those were nearest, and she pointed me to Big Magic at the Amarin Plaza. That was where my adventure began. :)

On Friday afternoon, after my meeting had concluded, I proceeded to confirm the location of Big Magic, and walked from my meeting venue (Nai Lert Park Hotel) to Amarin Plaza, which was one Skytrain station away. When I reached Amarin Plaza, I went to the 3rd floor where it was supposed to be, and walked around the floor around three times. I never found it. :( Disgusted, I went downstairs to the Information counter, to confirm what was obviously the case -- the shop has closed and is no longer there. :( Luckily though, the lady knew where Big Magic had moved! :) She gave me the new location -- Union Mall -- and directions on how to get there.

Psyched up with my new found knowledge, I went back to my hotel (Baiyoke Suite Hotel) to drop off my laptop and get my deck and binder. I walked to Rachathewi BTS station, and took the train to Mo Chit station. When I got there, I took a taxi to Union Mall, and after a few minutes of looking, voila, I was there! Big Magic indeed! :)

The shop was just small, pretty much like NG in Galleria, but they had a few more tables in place outside the stall. I was just in time for their booster draft FNM signup (360 bhat), and was 4th in the signup sheet. After looking at a couple of binders for singles, I was about to start a casual game with someone when they announced that our 8-man pod had filled up. It's time! :)

My first pick was a Thunder-Thrash Elder, but eventually ran out of red cards, but eventually proceeded to draft a Naya deck. Here's the deck that I built (note: the shop lent us card sleeves to use!):



// Lands
7 [ALA] Forest
5 [ALA] Mountain
5 [ALA] Plains

// Creatures
1 [ALA] Algae Gharial
1 [ALA] Cylian Elf
1 [ALA] Court Archers
1 [ALA] Naya Battlemage
1 [ALA] Cavern Thoctar
1 [ALA] Skullmulcher
1 [ALA] Mosstodon
1 [ALA] Woolly Thoctar
1 [ALA] Thunder-Thrash Elder
1 [ALA] Viashino Skeleton
1 [ALA] Incurable Ogre
1 [ALA] Knight of the Skyward Eye
1 [ALA] Guardians of Akrasa
1 [ALA] Sunseed Nurturer
2 [ALA] Rip-Clan Crasher

// Spells
1 [ALA] Obelisk of Naya
1 [ALA] Sigil Blessing
1 [ALA] Branching Bolt
1 [ALA] Excommunicate
1 [ALA] Magma Spray
1 [ALA] Resounding Roar
1 [ALA] Lush Growth

The first round was against a Grixis deck, where I had a lot of trouble against a couple of Tidehollow Strix and Undead Leotau's. The second round was against a Naya mirror, but he apparently had a superior deck to mine, as he had multiple Wild Nacatl's, while I had none. Unfortunately, I sucked in my very first IRL draft experience, and went 0-2 in two rounds of play (though both rounds took 3 games). Good thing though that everyone in the pod got an FNM card. :) Now I have a souvenir from Bangkok. :)



After the game, I chatted with a few of the other players, and even got to play a few casual games against two guys -- one with our draft decks; and another, playing Standard with his Jund tokens deck featuring Sprouting Thrinax and Mycoloth.

All in all, it was a truly unforgettable experience, one that I will always remember Bangkok by. :) I hope to be able to go back there later. :)

FNM - Oct 10, 2008

This is my first time to get my feet wet in post-Shards of Alara standard. Unfortunately, I still haven't decided on a particular deck to build, so for today's FNM, I decided to just build a deck based on cards that we currently have. At the same, I also wanted to use something new, and since this is an FNM in a brand-new location (what will, hopefully, be our home base) I also wanted to use something fun.

This is what I came up with:


// Lands
4 [10E] Treetop Village
18 [UNH] Forest

// Creatures
4 [10E] Llanowar Elves
4 [EVE] Nettle Sentinel
4 [EVE] Twinblade Slasher
4 [LRW] Wren's Run Vanquisher
4 [EVE] Talara's Battalion
4 [10E] Troll Ascetic
2 [SHM] Boggart Ram-Gang
2 [SHM] Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers

// Spells
4 [SHM] Manamorphose
3 [10E] Giant Growth
2 [SHM] Tower Above
1 [10E] Loxodon Warhammer

// Sideboard
SB: 4 [SHM] Raking Canopy
SB: 4 [EVE] Snakeform
SB: 2 [SHM] Guttural Response
SB: 2 [10E] Naturalize
SB: 3 [SHM] Faerie Macabre


Round 1: vs. Quick 'N Toast (lost)

My opponent's first two land drops were vivid lands. I think to myself: Great. I bring a fun deck in this FNM, and someone is playing QNT. And I have to play him. :( Anyway, I decide to give it a go, and in the first game, I actually give him a run for his money -- despite being able to cast a Broodmate Dragon, I was actually able to kill both! Giant Growth on one, and Tower Above on the other. But heck, my opponent goes ballistic on me, as he taps colors on 7 mana for Cruel Ultimatum, netting him back his Broodmate buddies and the win.

SB: -3 Giant Growth, +3 Snakeform

In game 2, I drop him down to 9 life, but he slowly creeps back with Kitchen Finks shenanigans. He eventually drops his Broodmate buddies again -- and I kill both again! This time with Snakeform and Tower Above. However, he later drops his "other dragon", in the form of Oona, Queen of the Fae, and I scoop, without anything to do against the large faerie.

Game standing: 0-2
Match standing: 0-1


Round 2: vs. BG Rock (won)

Basically, my opponent beats me with his Colossus in game 2, but I won games 1 & 3 with the Troll-Hammer combo.

Game standing: 2-3
Match standing: 1-1


Round 3: vs. Quick 'N Toast (lost)

Wow, two players are playing QNT. I ask my opponent why he's 1-1, he tells me someone else is playing Faeries. Wow. Then, my luck completely abandons me, as I mulligan to 4... with no lands! I decide to give it a go, but of course lost the game. In game 2, I gain control of the board, but my opponent always has that resiliency with Kitchen Finks and Rhox War Monk lifegains shenanigans. I eventually lose to a flashed out Cloudthresher, sweeping my attackers and netting him a gargantuan beatstick that I cannot handle.

Game standing: 2-5
Match standing: 1-2


Round 4: vs. Mono Red Goblins (won)

My opponent and I joke around that we're just there to wait for the random FNM card giveaway, and in the process, I beat him easily in two games. I get surprised with Fists of the Anvil at one point, but my opponent gets even more surprised, when I did a double Giant Growth. Ha, take that. :)

Game standing: 4-5
Match standing: 2-2

All players that had no chance of getting to top 3, were asked to roll a 20-sided die. The one with the highest roll would win the fourth FNM card. I actually got the highest roll (13), tied with someone else, but when they did the rankings, the TO mentioned that I actually rank 6th overall, and was actually winning a pack! Wow. I take the pack, and the Serrated Arrows foil went to the other guy. Inside the pack was a mythic rare:



Coolness. I gotta think of a deck for The Anima. :)