Friday, January 25, 2008

Another FNM, another PR

Jan 18 - FNM @ Galle

After last week's encouraging results, I decided to join again on last week's FNM. Instead of using the BR Goblin deck again though, I decided to use Beej's white weenie deck instead.

// Lands
2 [10E] Forbidding Watchtower
2 [LRW] Windbrisk Heights
2 [TSP] Flagstones of Trokair
16 [LRW] Plains

// Creatures
4 [TSB] Icatian Javelineers
4 [TSP] Knight of the Holy Nimbus
4 [LRW] Knight of Meadowgrain
4 [PLC] Calciderm
4 [TSP] Serra Avenger
2 [LRW] Mirror Entity
2 [TSP] Celestial Crusader

// Spells
4 [LRW] Oblivion Ring
2 [TSP] Temporal Isolation
2 [10E] Condemn
4 [TSP] Griffin Guide
2 [LRW] Militia's Pride

// Sideboard
SB: 4 [10E] Paladin en-Vec
SB: 4 [PLC] Sunlance
SB: 3 [TSB] Disenchant
SB: 2 [LRW] Hoofprints of the Stag
SB: 2 [10E] Rule of Law

Rd 1: Won vs. mono-black discarder

Rd 2: Draw vs. a UB control animator/Teferi deck
I'm quite proud of this round, despite just getting a draw, because my opponent was a regular winner in G2 FNMs. :)

Rd 3: Lost vs. another mono-black discarder
My opponent suggested I use Loxodon Warhammer instead of Griffin Guide. Hmmm... maybe.

Rd 4: Won vs. RG mana-ramp

Final standing: 2-1-1 Good for another 12th place finish, with a Time Spiral booster as prize. The pack was crappy though -- the lone "non-crap" card being a Scryb Ranger.


Jan 19 - Morningtide Pre-release @ Galle

Met with Jovs at 8:45am on the Taft MRT station. When we arrived at Galleria at around 9:15am, there was already a long line! The distribution of pods was starting though -- this being the only bright spot on the MOR PR -- everything went on as scheduled. Unfortunately, due to "circumstances that were beyond their control", we got 6 MOR booster packs instead of the expected 1 Lorwyn Tournament Pack + 3 MOR packs. There goes our wishes to get a Garruk... :(

Noteable cards: NONE. :( Maybe some, if you consider Titan's Revenge, Oona's Blackguard, and the warrior and soldier equipments. But I didn't get a Mutavault, Murmuring Bosk, nor a Mind Shatter. :(

Anyway, I really need to work on my deck-building. I built a UBR rogue/prowl deck, and ended up with a 2-2 standing. I didn't realize until after the first round though that my mana curve was bad (most of my spells were 4cc and up), so I had to make a "revised deck" for use on game 2's -- I basically converted my deck to UBG after each first game.

Most probably as a result of the use of MOR packs, we weren't able to get our booster prizes immediately. Instead, we got "vouchers" which, as of this morning, we apparently can't claim until the weekend of the release on Feb 1.

All in all, despite the setbacks, the PR was still fun. It's always nice to see, have, and use new cards (Moonglove Changeling + Thornbite Staff rocks). :)

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

First prize

Actually, I got 12th place in last Friday's FNM but this is my first prize ever, since I started joining sanctioned competitive Magic. :) 50+ naman yung kasali, so this is a pretty decent finish, at least for me. Hehe. Thanks to Jovs for lending me sideboard cards. Hindi ko nagamit yung Extirpate, pero very useful ang Cryoclasm! :)



Got 160 PhP value for 120 PhP entrance fee... plus LRT & MRT fare... bawi lang. Hehe.

For my own personal log of games (and for other Magic players who might accidentally read this blog), here's my tourney report:

Round 1: Lost to a UR deck packed with Sulfur Elementals and Epochrasites. Kaya sana talunin, kung wala lang syang Pyroclasm.

Round 2: Won vs a mono-blue Illusion deck (Riftwing Cloudskate, Errant Ephemeron, Krovikan Mist). Nakaka-disrupt sya with bounce spells, pero my Goblins are too fast and too many for his deck.

Round 3: Won vs a Spinerock/Dragonstorm deck. Thanks to Gargadon! Almost lost in 1 game when I forgot to "sac all lands, attack with gargadon" until 1 turn later.

Round 4: Won vs a mono-white Kithkin deck. Note to self: Think of a solution to Dolmen Gate. Hmm. Maybe *I* should use it.

I ended up with a 3-1 record after 4 rounds, which is apparently good enough for a 12th place finish. :) I'll play again this coming Friday hehe.

The Morningtide pre-release is this coming weekend... Sana may Garruk sa Lorwyn Tournament Pack. Hehe.