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. :)