Tapped Out

It hit me when I received my MPR last week -- a Sign in Blood, and a Negate. What? That's it?

I guess this is it.

See you around. My Magic activities would be limited to reading the official site for now.

Magic Game Day - Aug 14, 2009

"3 beers + 3 shots of tequila = 3 losses"

I had planned to play in the Magic Game Day tournament in our local store, but got forced to join an after-office drinking activity by my bosses, which made me arrive at the shop at the very last minute of registration. By the time we were filling up our decklists (they were required because it was a higher-K level than the usual 4K FNM), I was unprepared and hadn't played much of the new deck that I brought -- Jund Mannequin, aka The Conley Woods Special:



// Lands
4 [SHM] Reflecting Pool
4 [LRW] Vivid Grove
4 [LRW] Vivid Crag
2 [LRW] Vivid Marsh
3 [EVE] Twilight Mire
2 [SHM] Fire-Lit Thicket
2 [UNH] Forest
2 [UNH] Mountain
1 [UNH] Swamp

// Creatures
4 [ARB] Putrid Leech
4 [SHM] Kitchen Finks
4 [LRW] Mulldrifter
4 [LRW] Shriekmaw
4 [ARB] Bloodbraid Elf
2 [ALA] Caldera Hellion
2 [LRW] Cloudthresher

// Spells
4 [LRW] Makeshift Mannequin
4 [CFX] Volcanic Fallout
3 [ARB] Maelstrom Pulse
1 [ALA] Jund Charm

// Sideboard
SB: 3 [M10] Great Sable Stag
SB: 2 [LRW] Cloudthresher
SB: 4 [ARB] Anathemancer
SB: 3 [ARB] Thought Hemorrhage
SB: 3 [M10] Deathmark


Round 1: vs. GW Tokens (won)

In game 1, I get 2 early Putrid Leeches which were just too much for my opponent's small creatures. In game 2, he boards in Great Sable Stag, which I try to remove via Caldera Hellion. Unfortunately, it was a huge misplay as my opponent had a Wilt Leaf Liege in play -- the Stag was a 4/4! In the deciding game, I Thought Hemorrhage his Stags, and remove everything else he puts on the board.

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


Round 2: vs. WW Kithkins (lost)

I face one of the regular winners in the FNM of my local store. I knew he was playing the Kithkin deck of the store owner, and that he was very proficient in playing it. Our first game was epic, as it lasted for a good part of the total time alloted for the round. In the end, a crucial Path to Exile of my Cloudthresher was the game winner for him. In game 2, I had removal for all of his creatures and he emptied his hand in doing so. I had a single Putrid Leech on board, and on his turn, he topdecks a Cloudgoat Ranger, which combined with the Honor of the Pure on board, was enough to kill me on a single swing.

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


Round 3: vs. GW Tokens (lost)

I face another GW token deck, and once again the first game was epic with me maximizing my Mulldrifters and Shriekmaws to full potential in getting rid of everything he could put on board, on my way to a very close win. In game 2, I mull to 5 with 2 lands but with wrong colors for the spells that I had. I decide to keep it, instead of mulling to 4. My opponent, on the other hand, gets the nuts draw and kills me with an Overrun on turn 5. In game 3, I get stuck on 3 lands for the duration of the game. :(

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


Round 4: vs. WW Soliders (lost)

I can't remember much from this game, except for the really complex combat math that we both had to endure throughout. He had creatures that give +1/+0, +0/+1, there's creatures that give +1/+1 to soldiers only, there's enchantments that give +1/+1 to all, there's exalted dudes that give +1/+1 to single attackers, you get the point. All I remember is that we went 1-1 in two close games, and then I lost the final game to another mana drought (stuck in 2 lands). I kept a 2-land hand that had a Putrid Leech play on turn 2, but the 3rd land came in too late, as the game was out of reach by then.

Final game standing: 4-7
Final match standing: 1-3


At this point, I already dropped from the tournament, as I was out of contention of the top 24 who were going to get prizes. And it was almost 11pm at this point, so if I played out the last round, I would just miss the last train home. Oh well. Time to go home.

FNM - Aug 7, 2009

With the Blightning deck doing pretty badly the past couple of weeks, I decided to take a break from it, and netdecked Christopher Murray's Bw control deck for last night's FNM.



// Lands
3 [EVE] Fetid Heath
1 [SHM] Reflecting Pool
15 [10E] Swamp
4 [M10] Plains

// Creatures
4 [ALA] Tidehollow Sculler
4 [EVE] Stillmoon Cavalier
2 [CFX] Nyxathid
4 [SHM] Demigod of Revenge
4 [LRW] Shriekmaw

// Spells
4 [LRW] Thoughtseize
2 [M10] Duress
2 [EVE] Raven's Crime
2 [M10] Mind Shatter
3 [LRW] Profane Command
4 [CFX] Path to Exile
2 [M10] Liliana Vess

// Sideboard
SB: 4 [LRW] Burrenton Forge-Tender
SB: 2 [M10] Duress
SB: 2 [LRW] Austere Command
SB: 2 [EVE] Hallowed Burial
SB: 4 [ALA] Infest
SB: 1 [ARB] Zealous Persecution


Round 1: vs. BR Aggro (won)

The night began when our TO said that there were going to be only 3 rounds tonight, because we started really late (7pm), and that there were very few players (<20). And when pairings were setup for round 1, I got a BYE!

I was already watching another player (the eventual first place winner last night) on his first match, when another player arrived to the store and wanted to play in the FNM. Now I have an opponent.

He turned out to have a very similar deck to the one I was using the past few weeks, but with minor differences (ie. he was using Sign in Blood). In the end, I easily won in 2 games -- on the first, I beat him with 2 Demigods; on the second, I just massacred his hand and beat him with Tidehollow Scullers.

Wow, that's a good sign -- beating my old deck -- and it was the first time in a LOOONG time that I had won on the first round.

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


At this point, my pen lost its ink, so I was using dice to keep track of life totals for the remainder of the night. Thus, I have very little memory of the details of the games. And apparently, it was a premonition of the losses that will follow... :(


Round 2: vs. Br Discarder (lost)

I was up against my second round opponent in last week's FNM, so I knew his deck from the get-go. I remember our first game being very funny. :) He would cast Shriekmaw, I would cast the same. We would trade in combat. Then he would cast another one. I would Profane it and bring back my 'Maw. Then he would Profane mine and bring back his 'Maw. Good times. In the end, he would beat me in 3 games, behind a double Thought Hemorrhage -- the first one for Path to Exile, then after seeing 2 Demigods in my hand, he would cast another one, for the Demigod.

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


Round 3: vs. Naya (lost)

This was my third consecutive week to play against this guy -- the one with the Naya deck that had Cerodon Yearlings. We were 1-1 so far (him winning the first time, then I won last week), and he was starting to say that this was our decision round. He was then surprised when he saw a Fetid Heath in my second land drop. Whoa, new deck? Our "decision game" turned out to be the start of a new battle.

Anyway, it turned out to be a bad round. On the first game, my opponent was even making mistakes in the game, but I still lost. Once, he attacked me with a 3/3 Nacatl with a Stillmoon Cavalier waiting to pump and first strike. And he even cast a Volcanic Fallout with him having more creatures on board. Eventually, I lost via Ajani Vengeant -- I had no answer for it, once it came online -- and a one-sided Armageddon plain and simply just wins games. :(

Afterwards, our second game was reminiscent of our very first game two weeks ago -- I had to mulligan to 4. Nuff said. I lost that game.

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


Apparently, the only time that I get lucky is on the dice roll for the random foil cards. Last night, I rolled a 7 -- but it was still enough to get second pick on the foil cards (other players rolled a 6, 5, and 4; the winner rolled a 20). I had the chance to get another foil Slave of Bolas, but decided to pass on it, and pick something else this time -- a foil DCI Mind Control.

FNM - Jul 31, 2009

"Trust the Japanese."

I decided to netdeck Taichi Fujimoto's BR Aggro deck from the 2009 Japanese Nats, with a few minor changes:

-4 Blightning, +4 Boggart Ram-Gang
-4 Magma Spray, +4 Tarfire
-2 Shriekmaw, +2 Chaotic Backlash


Round 1: vs. Combo Elves (lost)

I keep a decent hand of 2 lands, Bolt, Hellspark, Ram-Gang, Javelin, Javelin. The third land didn't decide to show up until the 6th turn though, and by that time it was too late.

-4 Anathemancer, -4 Javelin, +4 Firespout, +2 Deathmark, +2 Shriekmaw

I'm confident with my Elves matchup, with 8 sweepers post-SB, and a ton of removal. And on the second game, it really started to look that way, as I was on my way to winning after clearing the board multiple times in the game. With my opponent at 7 life, I unearth my Hellspark, and drop a Demigod ftw... but wait! In comes Cloudthresher for my opponent (a singleton which he drew!), sending my Demigod to the ground, and putting him at 2 life. I Deathmark the Thresher before passing the turn to him, but on his turn, he plays Regal Force and goes off. :(

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


Round 2: vs. Br Discarder (lost)

I mull to 6 on the first game, and my opponent starts talking about how he's pressured to win the game now that I mull'd. WTF? Apparently, it so happens that he plays a discarder deck, so the one less card was a huge advantage for him. Anyway, I apply quick beats as I always do, but he Terminates most of my creatures, and stabilizes at 7 life. All the while, he's pecking at my hand with Scepter of Fugue, and eventually drops a monstrous Nyxathid on the board. With nothing to kill the black elemental with, I lose the game.

-4 Fallout, -1 Anathemancer, +3 Bitterblossom, +2 Manabarbs

I play a turn 2 Bitterblossom and a turn 5 Manabarbs (I missed one land drop). He's able to Fallout once, but afterwards, I just sit back and watch my faerie army do their thing. :)

In the third game, I send my opponent all the way down to 1 life, but my lone attacker by then -- a Ram-Gang -- meets a gigantic Nyxathid. I was safely at 17 life then, so I decide to attack and wither his elemental, and hope for the best topdeck. Then, I draw land after land, and meanwhile, my opponent drops a SECOND Nyxathid. I slide my final draw across the table, and guess what, it was another land. :( I've just been Nyx'd!

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


Round 3: BYE
Loser round. Nuff said.

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


Round 4: vs. Naya (won)

By this time, I've just been texting Beej to come to UM early. And meanwhile, I play my final round against my round 1 opponent from last week. I easily win game 1 this time (no more mulling to 5), and board in Deathmarks and Shriekmaws for my Anathemancers (which were useless all night). In the second game, we play an extremely close game, with both of us in topdeck mode and at 6 life, but he draws Cliffrunner Behemoth. With Trace of Abundance in play, it has haste AND lifelink -- meaning I lose. Game 3 gets by very quickly and I win with minimal problems. 3/3 Wild Nacatl? Bolt that. Bloodbraid Elf into Cerodon Yearling? Fallout that. Woolly Thoctar? Deathmark that. Another Thoctar? Shriekmaw that. And swing. :)

OMG, it felt so good to finally get a win.

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

Of course, I get grouped again with the losers who will battle it out for random foil cards. I was one of the winners again, and guess what I picked AGAIN? Another DCI foil Slave of Bolas. LOLZ!

FNM - Jul 24, 2009

If the M10 Prerelease was my first tournament in 2 months, last Friday's FNM was my first Standard tourney in more than 3 months! And rust (and a lot of bad luck) definitely played a factor in my downfall to a measly 2-2 record. :(

First off, here's the deck that I took to the FNM. It's basically a post-M10 build of the Blightning deck that I've been using before the 3-month layoff.



// Lands
2 [M10] Dragonskull Summit
4 [SHM] Graven Cairns
4 [ALA] Savage Lands
2 [SHM] Reflecting Pool
11 [UNH] Mountain
1 [UNH] Swamp

// Creatures
4 [EVE] Figure of Destiny
4 [CFX] Hellspark Elemental
4 [M10] Ball Lightning
4 [SHM] Boggart Ram-Gang
4 [SHM] Demigod of Revenge

// Spells
4 [M10] Lightning Bolt
4 [SHM] Flame Javelin
4 [CFX] Volcanic Fallout
4 [ALA] Blightning

// Sideboard
SB: 3 [SHM] Firespout
SB: 4 [LRW] Shriekmaw
SB: 2 [M10] Deathmark
SB: 3 [ARB] Anathemancer
SB: 3 [MOR] Bitterblossom


Round 1: vs. Naya (lost)

The first thing I found out about my opponent is that he was a newbie -- as evidenced by the new DCI card that our TO handed to him as we were shuffling our decks. I thought to myself, this is good -- I'm being eased off nicely back to MTG tourneys with an easy round. :) That was until I mulliganed twice to start things off in the night. I even pondered on mulling for a third time as my 5-card hand (on the play) had only one land, a Lightning Bolt, and three 3cc cards. I decided to keep, and quickly got punished by a pair of Cerodon Yearlings. Eventually, I was able to clear the board, with both of us going into topdeck mode but I drew all lands, and I was beaten by a THIRD Cerodon Yearling.

The second game eased off my doubts on whether I chose a decent deck, when I easily finished my opponent off at perfect life.

In the deciding game, my opponent shifted from putting a bunch of hasted, vigilanced 2/2 beasts, to plain vanilla 5/4 beasts, in the form of Woolly Thoctars. I didn't have enough removal to kill all of them, and I got outraced to a first round defeat.

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


Round 2: vs. Wg Exalted (lost)

On the second round, I got paired against a player that I was watching before the FNM started. I knew he was playing a white weenie deck, but except for kithkins, he used a bunch of exalted guys. In the first game, I had no answer to a Behemoth Sledge strapped on to a Sigiled Paladin. In the second game, much like the first round, I also got back at my opponent with a quick and easy victory. In the third game, despite having 7 sweepers in my deck (4 Fallouts & 3 Firespouts), I drew just 1 Firespout all game, and lost to an army of spirit tokens and Akrasan Squires.

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


At this point, I was totally down on myself, having lost 2 rounds to players I could have easily beaten 3 months ago. I decided to continue playing anyway, as it was still early and I didn't want to go home without at least a single win under my belt.


Round 3: vs. Jund (won)

There you are, Ball Lightning! I drew and played a pair of early 6/1 tramplers on my way to an easy game 1 win. By the time we were done, all my opponent could cast was one Putrid Leech. :) In the second game, my opponent beat me with Bloodbraid Elves and Scarland Thrinaxes (and saprolings). In the third game, I finally got to see my Figure of Destinies (first time all night!) on the way to an easy victory -- and my first one in more than three months. :)

Game standing: 4-5
Match standing: 1-2


Round 4: vs. Naya-Uril (won)

In the fourth and final round, I got the surprise of my night, when on my way to my supposed easy victory in the first game, I got smacked down by a Uril, the Miststalker, with a Runes of the Deus attached to it, and a Qasali Pridemage in play. Do the math -- that's 20 damage in one turn. Right. My opponent got so happy in that first game though, that he forgot to show up in the final 2 games, and I easily beat him with Demigods and burn. Good thing Uril never showed up again.

Final game standing: 6-6
Final match standing: 2-2

As usual, the losers of the tourney rolled the dice for random free foil cards. Luckily, I was one of two lucky winners, and despite the abysmal record, managed to take home a DCI foil Slave of Bolas.

Magic Player Rewards - July 14, 2009

Just received the following in the mail today:



I got an oversized Lightning Bolt card, and just one textless card -- Terminate, because I hadn't played much recently. But the 'older card' that came with it was a Flame Javelin! Yeah! :)

WotC sure knows how to inspire me to play again. :)

Magic 2010 Prerelease - July 11, 2009

Whoa! Hello Magic world!

I had been dormant from Magic for more than 2 months (as evidenced by my previous post: the Alara Reborn PR!) -- I basically skipped the whole Alara Reborn expansion -- but that's what happens when a hectic work schedule gets in the way. :(

Anyway, I'm back, and I hope to be as active in Magic as I was before the "temporary freeze" -- going to FNMs, playing online, and maybe some weekend tourneys -- and the first step to getting my feet wet again was playing in the Magic 2010 (M10) prerelease. :)

Here's the deck that I built and played:



// Lands
7 [M10] Swamp
4 [M10] Mountain
4 [M10] Plains
1 [M10] Terramorphic Expanse
1 [M10] Gargoyle Castle

// Creatures
2cc:
1 [M10] Child of Night
1 [M10] Stormfront Pegasus
3cc:
1 [M10] Prodigal Pyromancer
1 [M10] Goblin Artillery
1 [M10] Looming Shade
1 [M10] Warpath Ghoul
1 [M10] Royal Assassin
1 [M10] Dread Warlock
4cc:
1 [M10] Howling Banshee
1 [M10] Lightning Elemental
5cc and up:
1 [M10] Serra Angel
2 [M10] Berserkers of Blood Ridge
1 [M10] Siege Mastodon

// Spells
2 [M10] Harm's Way
1 [M10] Deathmark
1 [M10] Doom Blade
1 [M10] Lightning Bolt
1 [M10] Lava Axe
1 [M10] Pyroclasm
1 [M10] Disentomb
1 [M10] Rise from the Grave


A pretty good deck, in my opinion, but piloted very poorly by the deckbuilder. :P And it didn't help that I got home pretty late the previous night from a drinking session. >:-)

I went just 2-2 in 4 rounds, but the deck had flashes of brilliance at times.

My MVP was Harm's Way -- that card is just superb. It's a combat trick, a burn spell, and just pure awesomeness all rolled into one. :)

My biggest misplay (which I, of course, realized only after the tourney) was with Royal Assassin. I drew and played it just once in all 4 rounds, but in that only time that it went online, I never used it on my opponent's turn. I would let my opponent attack, take the damage, and then kill the creature in my turn. Duh!

Of course, a prerelease would not be complete without some fun moments:
1. I was once at 2 life, and my opponent defeated me with a Sign in Blood -- targetting me. :)

2. Me and my opponent were both in topdeck mode, and in a battle of attrition. I topdeck Serra Angel (which he has nothing to block with), play it and pass the turn. He topdecks Lifelink, casts it on the Serra Angel, and says he gains the life dealt by the angel. I call the judge, and he correctly explains that the owner of the creature gains the life. Lifelink ftw! :)

3. Joven and I have a new recruit -- my officemate, Randy -- who is a fellow UP alumni, and also played Magic around the time we were playing it back in college. All three of us went 2-2 during the PR. :)

Good times.

Alara Reborn Prerelease - May 3, 2009

Due to Customs issues, the Alara Reborn Prerelease here in Manila was delayed by a week. We were all still up for it though, so Joven and I went to our local store on the day of the Pacquiao-Hatton fight, to feed our MTG addiction.

I open a sealed pool that contained Thought Hemorrhage, Spellbreaker Behemoth, and Rafiq of the Many. I contemplated dropping since we were going to pass the registered pool, but eventually decided to play anyway, as I crossed my fingers to get passed at least a decently playable pool of cards.

I was wrong.

My card pool was weak in all 5 shards, and had very little mana fixing to splash any of my "bombs" on other shards. I ended up playing an RG-heavy Naya deck:



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

// Creatures
2cc:
1 [ALA] Elvish Visionary
1 [ALA] Knight of the Skyward Eye
1 [ALA] Sigiled Paladin
3cc:
1 [ALA] Vithian Stinger
1 [ALA] Exuberant Firestoker
1 [ALA] Hissing Iguanar
1 [ARB] Godtracker of Jund
1 [ALA] Mayael the Anima
4cc:
1 [ALA] Godtoucher
5cc or more:
1 [ALA] Mycoloth
2 [ARB] Gorger Wurm
1 [ARB] Pale Recluse
1 [ARB] Valley Rannet
1 [ARB] Dragon Broodmother

// Spells
1 [ARB] Intimidation Bolt
1 [ALA] Soul's Fire
1 [ALA] Magma Spray
1 [ARB] Sangrite Backlash
1 [ARB] Colossal Might
1 [ALA] Dragon Fodder
1 [ARB] Trace of Abundance
1 [ARB] Behemoth Sledge


Simply put, I won in all games when I drew either the Mycoloth and/or the Dragon Broodmother. In all other games, I lost.

I made a couple of misplays, most notably:
1. Forgetting the upkeep trigger of the Exuberant Firestoker
2. Playing Intimidation Bolt on my opponent's defender, before declaring attackers
3. Playing Sangrite Backlash at EOT of my opponent (I thought it was an Agony Warp, LOL)

In the end, I finished with a 3-1 record (which was decent, considering my god awful card pool) -- the 3rd "win" was against Joven, whom I got paired with on the final round.

None of us got a t-shirt this time around, but it was still worth the (1 week) wait. Too bad though that we didn't get any "money cards" this time around. Hopefully we get a little bit luckier on our booster box and fatpacks. ;-)

City Champs - Apr 18, 2009

A chance to win extended art Mutavault or Bramblewood Paragon...


Round 1: vs. Naya (lost)

In game 1, I get stuck in 2 lands, and get surprised with a main deck Burrenton Forge Tender from my opponent. I lose, of course, to the unorthodox Naya deck. In game 2, a pair of Ram-Gangs is all I need to win. In game 3, my opponent plays 2 Reveillarks, while I get mana flooded FTL.

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


Round 2: vs UB Faeries (lost)

I get faced against a familiar Nats player, but when I see him play Sunken Ruins, I smile a bit, as this is supposed to be a good matchup for me. However, it was not to be, as an early Mistbind Clique does me in, and I have no answer for the 4/4 flyer. In game 2, I mulligan to 5, and another early Mistbind Clique defeats me. Oh well.

There goes the EA Mutavault...

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


Round 3: vs. BGW Doran (won)

I totally forgot any details about this round. All I remember is my crucial SB of the Everlasting Torment, and I win it in 3 games.

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


Round 4: vs. Bant (lost)

I lose in 2 games due to lifegain shenanigans.

Game standing: 3-7
Match standing: 1-3

I contemplate dropping from the tourney at this point, but since I was meeting someone for a card deal, I just continued playing while I wait.


Round 5: vs. 4-color Ramp (won)

In game 1, I have no answer against a Broodmate Dragon. In game 2, I get really unlucky with a mull to 5. But get awesome draws, and I get my turn 1 FOD all the way to 8/8 ftw. In game 3, FOD once again won the game for me -- 2 of them.

Game standing: 5-8
Match standing: 2-3


Round 6: vs. Dark Bant (lost)

All I remember here is that I didn't see the Doran, nor his black manabase in game 1 (where I lost), so I assumed that it was a pure Bant deck -- making me SB incorrectly. The legendary treefolk came up in game 2 though, and screwed my plans to get back in the game. Afterwards, I just dropped from the tourney. There goes the EA Paragon...

Final game standing: 5-10
Match standing: 2-4


Disappointing, to say the least. :(

FNM - Apr 17, 2009

I've been pretty busy with work lately, so I haven't been able to blog about my recent tourneys. Good thing I finally found an excuse to take a day off, and finally found some time to try to recall my recent mistakes, misplays and errors. LOL. Here's the first of three tourneys that I haven't blogged yet. I'll try to remember as much as I can, but since it's been a few weeks already, well... let's just say I'm going to trust what I wrote in my score sheets. ;-)


I planned to join the City Champs on that weekend, so I used the FNM to try to "playtest" the Blightning deck.

Round 1: vs. Esper Mannequin (won)

Things didn't start off well, as I mulliganed to 5. But I still kept enough pressure to put my opponent down to 2. However, a Mannequin'd Inkwell Leviathan sealed the deal, and I couldn't do anything against the shrouded trampling monstrosity. In game 2, I took the gamble and kept a 1-land hand of FOD, Hellspark & Ram-Gang. It paid off and I drew 2 lands in the next 2 turns, to easily beat my opponent. In game 3, I once again applied early beats and my opponent tried to delay the game with a Magister Sphinx, but he had no answers to my hasty army.

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


Round 2: vs. Bant Control (won)

Game 1 was pretty easy as I finished the game unscathed. In game 2, my opponent dropped 3 Stoic Angels throughout the course of the game, and I ran out of answers for that. In game 3, a crucial Everlasting Torment sealed the deal for my opponent, as he couldn't gain life off his Rhox War Monks.

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


Round 3: Naya Planeswalkers (lost)

What can you do when you're facing your opponent along side Ajani Vengeant, Garruk, Sarkhan Vol & Chandra? Scoop. In game 2, it was me who got burned, as my opponent accumulated a huge Banefire directed straight at my dome.

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


Round 4: RW Kithkin (won)

This was an easy matchup. I practically threw all my burn at my opponent in both games, on my way to a 3-1 finish.

Final game standing: 6-4
Final match standing: 3-1

WNM - Apr 8, 2009

Yes, you read that right -- WNM -- Wednesday Night Magic. Our local store was closed from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday, so the usual FNM became a WNM.

I used the same Blightning deck that won the FNM last week -- completing the Ram-Gangs to 4, reducing the Remains to 3 -- hoping for the best that I, at least, get to win some more packs this week.


Round 1: Jund Land D (won)

Things went off to an awesome start, as I got a dream matchup against a land destruction deck. My deck had a sickly low curve, so this type of strategy would not work at all against me. I easily beat my opponent in 2 short games unscathed.

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


Round 2: RW Reveillark (lost)

In round 2, I had a taste of the new tech in RW Reveillark decks -- Balefire Liege. I lost in 2 epic games -- both times putting my opponent down to a really low life, and in both times, a Liege (or 2) saved him from sure death. I have to think of a way to play around this card, if I am to place even decently in the upcoming City Champs.

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


Round 3: Jund Tokens/Ramp (lost)

In round 3, my bad luck started kicking in, as I mulliganed on both games on my way to losing against a Jund deck. In the first game, I was just too slow off the gates, and a Broodmate Dragon sealed my fate. In the second game, I actually did a little better, but a crucial Primal Command saved my opponents ass. He eventually beat me in a single swoop, while I was still at 14 life, via a Torrent of Souls.

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


Round 4: 5-Color Control (won)

In game 1 of round 4, my opponent had no chance against my barrage of quick hasty creatures. In game 2, my bad luck once again did me in, as I mulliganed to 5, kept a slow hand, and eventually lost the game. In game 3, I was on my way to ending the night at 1-3, when I mulliganed to 4 -- yes, four. It was either no lands, or all lands for 3 straight shuffles. But in one of the strangest games I've played ever, I actually still won the game. Lands appeared just in the right draws, and I drew just the right type of threats against my opponent. It also helped that my opponent drew not a single Cryptic Command all game. :)

Final game standing: 4-5
Final match standing: 2-2


Of course, such a standing wouldn't win anything, but in our local shop, where random prizes are given away like candy, I still didn't go home empty-handed -- winning an FNM foil Desert as a random prize. :)



Happy holy week. ;-)

FNM - Apr 3, 2009

I went back to the Blightning deck with minor modifications (removing Blightning LOL) and used it on yesterday's FNM:



// Lands
4 [10E] Sulfurous Springs
4 [FUT] Graven Cairns
4 [LRW] Auntie's Hovel
2 [SHM] Reflecting Pool
1 [10E] Ghitu Encampment
8 [ALA] Mountain

// Creatures
4 [EVE] Figure of Destiny
4 [10E] Mogg Fanatic
4 [CFX] Hellspark Elemental
4 [CFX] Goblin Outlander
3 [SHM] Boggart Ram-Gang
4 [CFX] Shambling Remains

// Spells
4 [10E] Incinerate
4 [SHM] Flame Javelin
2 [LRW] Tarfire
3 [CFX] Volcanic Fallout
1 [CFX] Banefire

// Sideboard
SB: 4 [LRW] Thoughtseize
SB: 4 [MOR] Bitterblossom
SB: 4 [ALA] Infest
SB: 3 [LRW] Shriekmaw


Round 1 started with something I've never had before: a BYE. There were apparently an odd number of players, and I was the lucky one to get that free round one win.

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


Round 2: vs. BRu rogue deck

On my first game of the night, things went to an awesome start, as my opponent was stuck in 3 lands, and was unable to cast anything except for a lone Hellspark Elemental. The drawback of that was, I had no idea what my opponent's deck was. All I saw aside from the hasty elemental were Swamps and Mountains, so in sideboarding, I decided to put the Thoughtseizes for the Goblin Outlanders.

In game 2, my opponent's deck unraveled, and I got smothered by his combo of Necroskitter + Soul Snuffers. He also had splashed blue for card draw, in the form of Jace Beleren. Yeah, weird, I know, but that's what I saw and what beat me.

In game 3, my sideboard finally came out, and I was able to take out a Necroskitter from his hand, disabling his combo. I then beat him with my unearth dudes.

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


Round 3: vs. 4-Color Control

Game 1 of my next match took a long time, as eventually he was able to clear my board with a Martial Coup for 5, and I was in serious trouble against the control deck. He was down to 8 life though, so just a pair of cards -- Hellspark Elemental and Banefire -- was able to seal the deal.

In game 2, my opponent was once again on a luck drought as he was stuck in 2 lands. I was also able to Thoughtseize his removal -- a pair of Celestial Purge's -- and it was enough to quickly finish the game.

In game 3, Thoughtseize once again won the game for me, as I was able to grab a crucial Battlegrace Angel, and also a Broodmate Dragon at turns 4 and 5 -- FTW.


Game standing: 4-2
Match standing: 3-0


Round 4: vs. GWr Little Kid

The advantage of playing a red deck is that your rounds finish quickly and you are able to watch how other players' decks play out. That advantage was very beneficial to me, as I was able to scout my final round opponent before I played against him. I knew that he played the Little Kid deck, with a bunch of GW hybrid creatures along with the aura Shield of the Oversoul to create a flying indestructible monstrosity. He splashed red primarily for Firespout, but he might some other cards up his sleeve that I didn't see. He also had the Progenitus baby, Oversoul of Dusk, which I had no answer to -- should he be able to draw and play it.

Anyway, I knew then what I should do -- always clear the board for creatures, and keep mana open for removal so that I can 2-for-1 him when he plays the aura. That's what exactly I did, as he never had a creature to play the aura on, and I was lucky as well that he never drew into the Oversoul of Dusk, and I quickly dispatched him in 2 games.

Final game standing: 6-2
Final match standing: 4-0


For the very first time, I got first place in the FNM! :) It took quite a bit of luck, but I'll take that any time. :) To sweeten the win even further, due to the relatively larger number of players this week, instead of the usual FNM card (this month it was a Merrow Reejerey), the first place got the Gateway prize -- a foil DCI Path to Exile! Yeah! In addition, Joven (playing the Elf deck), also won a DCI foil Hellspark Elemental! Yeah! The booster pack prizes were a bit crappy at rare though -- the uncommons were so-so -- but it was just icing on the awesome cake that I had yesterday. :)



Best. FNM. Ever. :)

FNM - Mar 20, 2009

The Blightning deck failed me miserably the day before, so I decided to take the BG Elves deck again to the FNM.



Round 1: vs. UW Merfolk (lost)

Things didn't start off well, as I got stuck at 3 lands and I easily lost game 1. In the second game, I ran out of removal and a single Wake Thrasher beat me to a pulp very quickly.

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


Round 2: vs. Blightning Aggro (lost)

Disappointed at my first round (it was supposed to be a good matchup for me) I vowed to do better in my second round. Alas, it was not to be, as I once again got beat 0-2 by a goblin-build Blightning deck. Voracious Dragon combined with Goblin Assault did me in on the second game.

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


Round 3: vs. Esper Control (lost)

I had the man-land god draw in the first game, as I very quickly beat my opponent with a Treetop Village and a pair of Mutavaults. In the second game, a pair of Magister Sphinx -- the first one putting my opponent at 10 life (from 2 life), and the second one putting me at 10 life (from 24 life) -- sealed the deal for my opponent. In game 3, I made a stupid mistake that cost me the round. I was at 18 life, and my opponent at 8 life, but my opponent had board advantage because he had 7 power worth of creatures on the board (forgot what). Time was then called while it was his turn. In my turn (turn 1), I did something irrelevant. In his turn (turn 2), he swinged for 7, putting me at 11. Then on my turn (turn 3), I drew zip again, and after a few minutes of pondering, and knowing that I had no way of winning it, I scooped up my cards. Duh! It was then that everyone watching reminded me that my opponent didn't have enough damage to kill me on the 4th turn, which was his last. Stupid stupid mistake. It was supposed to end in a draw, but I "conceded".

Game standing: 1-6
Match standing: 0-3


Round 4: vs. BW Discarder (won)

After the last round's stupidity error, I had decided to drop from the tourney. However, the TO didn't register my drop, so I got paired anyway with someone else with a 0-3 record. Not wanting to cause further confusion, I decided to play anyway. Good thing I did, as I at least finally got my share of wins, by beating my opponent easily in two games. All I remember is that I had Profanes for each of his Nyxathids, and I beat him with faerie tokens and manlands.

Final game standing: 3-6
Final match standing: 1-3

Disappointing performances are starting to pile up again... :(

WPN Gateway Level Tourney - Mar 19, 2009

Three weeks ago, when I went to our local store to playtest with Joven (after a looong day of work, I should say), I caught some players do a sanctioned 8-man draft. Wanting to possibly join the draft the following week, I arrived at the store a little earlier than usual. Unfortunately, when I arrived, nobody was there to draft. Fortunately though, some players were trying to fill-up an 8-man Standard Constructed tournament instead. Of course, I signed up. :) When all slots were filled (there were 10 of us), we started the tournament, and I played with my Blightning deck from the past two FNMs.



Round 1: vs. Bant Control (lost)

When my opponent first cast a Seaside Citadel, I thought that I was perhaps against the Dark Doran deck, or some form of Bant aggro deck. However, when my opponent Broken Ambition'd my third turn Shambling Remains, I knew I was up against the control version of the deck. I never really had a chance to win in the first game, as my opponent had countermagic for most of my spells, and he kept on gaining life (via Rhox War Monk) while I worked hard to trim it down. I knew it was GG when he played Oona, Queen of the Fae, and I conceded soon after that. In the second game, my deck cooperated a little bit better, putting my opponent down to 6 life a couple of times, but two Primal Commands (gaining life on both times, of course) are just too much for any red deck to beat. I eventually lost to an EOT Cloudthresher from my opponent.

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


Round 2: vs. 5-Color Control (lost)

I was up against a player whom I've playtested a few games with before the tourney started. I knew that he was playing the Nassif 5-color deck from the recent PT Kyoto. On both games, I had him in the ropes, and in both games, he went right back and beat me with a Cruel Ultimatum. With tremendous card advantage, I just had no chance to beat him afterwards. In the first game, he beat me with Broodmate Dragon and buddy. In game 2, to add insult to injury, he finished me off with a Volcanic Fallout.

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


Since it was a 16K tournament, and I had no chance anyway with getting any prize (it was only 3 rounds), I dropped from the tournament right after my second loss. I thought perhaps it was not a good day for me luck-wise, so I would probably be losing again on my third round and lose most of my DCI points unnecessarily.

On the flip side though, Joven finished the tournament on third place with a 2-1 record, and got a Conflux booster pack and a foil Hellspark Elemental DCI promo card. :)