Pre-Alara Block Constructed - Sep 20, 2008

I've been doing relatively well with Doran Assassins, so I continued using the same 75-card deck as last week, in yesterday's tournament.


Round 1: vs. Kithkins (won)

Things didn't start off well, when I mulliganed to 5, and quickly lost game 1. In game 2, my opponent couldn't do anything but chump-block against both Doran & Colossus on the board, and lost. In game 3, it was his turn to get unlucky as he was mana screwed, and he lost the decider.

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


Round 2: vs. Mario Pascoli's 5-color Wizard deck (won)

In game 1, the Harbinger-Harbinger-Doran pro move did my opponent in, and I quickly won while still at perfect life.

SB: +1 Cloudthresher, +4 Thoughtseize, +1 Wickerbough Elder, -4 Scarblade Elite, -2 Firespout

In game 2, I attempted another pro move, but my Doran met a Crib Swap on the attack. Good thing I topdecked another Doran on the next turn, and I eventually won as my opponent had no choice but to once again chump-block.

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


Round 3: vs. UG Merfolk (won)

I got a bit lucky as my opponent rarely drew into his Colossi, and I had too much removal against the rest of his creatures. I easily won both games against the fish deck. In game 2 specifically, he delayed the game a bit with 3 consecutive Cryptic Commands, but eventually ran out of defensive spells.

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


Round 4: vs. Kithkins (won)

My opponent arrived quite late for our 4th round match up (definitely worth a game 1 loss). However, knowing that he was a nice guy, I knew he had a valid reason, so I let him proceed to play in our first game. He mulliganed to 5 on that game, but had a decent hand so it wasn't so one-sided. He still eventually lost though to a Profane. In game 2, it was my turn to be unlucky as I was mana screwed and had no white mana to cast Doran with. In game 3, I had superior board position with a Scarblade Elite, Doran and Colossus up against his small Kithkin army. When I attacked with Doran & Colossus, my opponent blocked both and Mirrorweaved my Scarblade Elite. I had ran out of assassin cards in my graveyard at that point, but good thing I had kept 2 open mana and a Nameless Inversion to kill his 'weave target. He eventually lost that game, of course.

Game standing: 8-2
Match standing: 4-0


I think this would be the first time that I was ever at 4-0. I was feeling very good at my chances at winning a prize today. :)


Round 5: vs. Quick N' Toast (lost)

And then came my round 5 opponent. I knew my opponent, and also knew that I had never won against him before (I have faced him, I think, twice before). In game 1, I quickly set him down to 2 life, but in true QNT fashion, he went up back to 10 life thanks to Kitchen Finks and Mannequin shenanigans. I was eventually able to put him back to 3 life (I was at 12 life and tapped out at that point), when I was surprised at his EOT Mannequin of a Cloudthresher. And with a Shriekmaw also on the board on his side, he had lethal for me in a single attack.

SB: +3 Faerie Macabre, +4 Thoughtseize, +1 Wickerbough Elder, -4 Scarblade Elite, -3 Firespout, -1 Doran

In game 2, my opponent made a crucial mistake -- despite having me Thoughtseized, and him knowing that I had Profane in hand, he tapped out to cast a Shriekmaw. He was perhaps confident as he also had a couple of Kitchen Finks on board to defend as well. However, I had enough mana to Profane for 3, killing his Shriekmaw and giving my Doran and 2 Harbingers fear ftw (he was at 11 life).

In game 3, I was too slow in putting my opponent's life down and saw a huge problem when he put down Oona Queen of the Fae on the board. I had no choice but to cast my Faerie Macabre after that, to block -- and I was actually able to kill Oona by blocking and a Nameless Inversion. However, my opponent already had a small faerie army at that point, and I didn't draw into my Cloudthreshers to reset the board. I eventually got my first loss of the day.

Game standing: 9-4
Match standing: 4-1


Round 6: vs. Kithkins (lost)

In game 1, my opponent and I were racing. It came to a point when I knew I was going to win if only he had no Thistledown Liege in hand. I decided to go for it, and tapped out to attack. He took the damage and fell down to 6. I was at 9 life at that point. When it was his turn to attack, guess what, one of his two cards in hand was the Liege. GG.

In game 2, my luck had really ran out. I mulliganed to 5, though I had a decent enough hand to put him down to 9 life. However, Ajani Goldmane was the difference, as consecutive +1/+1 counters and vigilance on his Knight of Meadowgrains and Order of Whiteclay did me in. He eventually won at 35 life.

Game standing: 9-6
Match standing: 4-2


Round 7: vs. Quick N' Toast (lost)

After 6 rounds, my opponent was at 4-1-1 and at 7th place, while I was at 4-2 and at 8th place (having the best tie breaks among everyone with 12 points). Pre-release passes were going to be distributed to the top 7 finishers. The top 6 players above us had all ID'ed so the 7th PR pass was going to be given to one of us. I agreed to concede to my opponent -- besides, I had already paid for my PR with a different TO. Eastwood is just too far away. ;-)

Final game standing: 9-8
Final match standing: 4-3

Pre-Alara Triple Treat (Block) - Sep 13, 2008

I used the same Doran Assassins deck that I used in the Grand Prix:



// Lands
4 [MOR] Murmuring Bosk
1 [SHM] Reflecting Pool
4 [LRW] Gilt-Leaf Palace
2 [EVE] Twilight Mire
1 [EVE] Fetid Heath
4 [LRW] Vivid Grove
4 [LRW] Vivid Marsh
2 [UNH] Forest
2 [UNH] Swamp

// Creatures
4 [LRW] Treefolk Harbinger
4 [LRW] Wren's Run Vanquisher
4 [MOR] Scarblade Elite
4 [LRW] Doran, the Siege Tower
4 [MOR] Chameleon Colossus
3 [LRW] Cloudthresher

// Spells
4 [LRW] Nameless Inversion
4 [LRW] Profane Command
2 [LRW] Crib Swap
3 [SHM] Firespout

// Sideboard
SB: 1 [LRW] Cloudthresher
SB: 2 [LRW] Crib Swap
SB: 4 [LRW] Thoughtseize
SB: 4 [SHM] Kitchen Finks
SB: 3 [SHM] Faerie Macabre
SB: 1 [EVE] Wickerbough Elder


Round 1: vs. Mirror (lost)

My first round opponent's first play was a Murmuring Bosk into a Treefolk Harbinger. Great -- a mirror match -- which pretty much means it's a 50-50. The first game started off exactly that way, with me just winning at the end via a double Firespout, killing my opponent's Colossus, and me with a Cloudthresher surviving the fire blaze.

SB: -3 Cloudthresher, +2 Crib Swap, +1 Wickerbough Elder

In game 2, it pretty much more of the same, but my opponent won the race thanks to a crucial Primal Command -- with both of us at 5 life, it then put him back to 12. In game 3, we did mirror pro moves, but I ran out of gas eventually, and lost.

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


Round 2: vs. Gb Warriors (lost)

I'm always comfortable with aggro matchups, with my huge arsenal of removal, but this one was apparently too fast for me as my opponent beat me with the Colossus-on-Battle Axe-haste trick. I made the same SB strategy as the previous match because this deck, like the mirror, had no flyers -- thus taking out the Threshers.

SB: -3 Cloudthresher, +2 Crib Swap, +1 Wickerbough Elder

In game 2, my opponent couldn't do anything to the Harbinger-Harbinger-Doran pro moves, and I easily beat him at 20 life. In game 3, we were once again racing, and we were eventually both at top deck mode at the end, with him at 5 life, and me at 3 life. He had a Crib Swap token in play though, which put me down even more to 1 life, until I was able to Nameless Inversion it. However, despite the long topdeck battle, he still won and drew his Profane Command before I did. (He had 2 in his deck; I had 4)

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


Despite being down 0-2, I didn't lose hope, and I was aiming to bounce back to 5-2, after 7 rounds. One can always dream, right? ;)


Round 3: vs. Mono G Warriors (won)

My opponent's first play: Nettle Sentinel. What? You again?

I easily won the first game though, thanks to a Firespout, leaving my Doran alone in the board. In game 2, it was a close battle all the way, but I lost to 2 Crib Swap tokens (Yes, you read that right -- I lost to two 1/1 tokens). In game 3, I was back to my winning ways and beat him with a Profane burn to the face and fear to swing.

That's 1 down, 4 to go.

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


Round 4: vs. UR Rogues (won)

In round 4, I was reading my opponent's cards all match, as he was playing a mono-red deck, but utilizing the UR hybrid cards from Eventide (which I'm not very familiar with). I still beat him though in the first game with a Profane to the face. :)

SB: -2 Cloudthresher, +2 Crib Swap

He beat me in the second with a boarded-in Inside Out and a Crag Puca (apparently, this one is also good against Doran). And I beat him in the third game quite easily with various beats.

That's 2 down, 3 to go.

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


Round 5: vs. UB Faeries (won)

My faeries opponent was serious... dead serious. And I couldn't buy a conversation with him, even if I wanted to. But heck, serious or not, he couldn't do anything against my semi-pro moves (1 Harbinger only), and easily lost game 1.

SB: +1 Cloudthresher, +4 Thoughtseize, +1 Wickerbough Elder, -4 Scarblade Elite, -2 Firespout, -1 Doran

In game 2, I was able to do the full pro move... almost, because he had Broken Ambitions for my Doran. But anyway, I was still able to pull off the win as he was not able to draw the Cryptic Command late in the game to bounce the Bitterblossom that eventually killed him off.

3 down, 2 to go.

Game standing: 8-6
Match standing: 3-2


Round 6: vs. Quick N' Toast (won)

This round was surprisingly one-sided, as I easily won both games -- the first one with various beats and a Profane in the end, and the second game thanks to a mana flood for my opponent (which is the common drawback of the QnT deck). It was actually a scary sight as his first 4 lands were a Vivid Creek and 3 Reflecting Pools (whoa) -- he could practically cast anything. Luckily for me (and unluckily for my opponent), he didn't have anything to cast. LOL.

4 down, 1 to go.

Game standing: 10-6
Match standing: 4-2


Round 7: vs. UB Faeries (lost)

This is it. It's the final round, I was at 12th place, and playing for a slot in the top 10. The top 6 would get pre-release passes, and 7th to 10th places would get booster pack prizes.

It didn't start so well, as I lost game 1 after mulling to 6, and some pretty bad draws.

Game 2 was fun though. There was a funny sequence (can't remember it exactly), but he basically had a Sower championed by a Mistbind Clique in play, as well as some other faeries; while I had a Doran, a Harbinger, and a few other creatures. He made a crucial mistake in combat when he could have ended up with the Sower back and stealing my Doran, but instead he ended up with the Sower and my Harbinger. He attacked for a turn or 2 with the Sower, which I was eventually able to kill off with a Nameless Inversion, and ended with him at 1 life, and me at 3 life. I drew a Cloudthresher, looked at his open mana (enough for a Cryptic Command or a Broken Ambitions), he had 3 cards in hand.... and I decided to evoke the flashy elemental. I won the game -- he had no counters in hand. :)

And then, suddenly, I choked. Or should I say, my deck choked. :( I mulled to 5, and kept a hand of 1 Thresher, 1 Vanquisher, 2 Vivid Lands, and 1 Murmuring Bosk. On the next 3 turns, I drew nothing but more lands. This ended with the inevitable, and I of course lost the game, with all my lands coming into play tapped, nothing to reveal for my Vanquisher, and nothing else to play.

Game standing: 11-8
Match standing: 4-3

4-3 is not bad I guess. It's a good stepping stone up to my short-term objective of getting into a top 8. And I found out eventually (based on NG forum posts) that my round 7 opponent ended at 8th place, but the packs he won were all crappy. >:-)

I'm just happy that, at least, my ratings went up a bit again yesterday. :)

1700, here I come! ;-)

Grand Prix Manila - Aug 30, 2008

Here we go. The moment we've all been waiting for. It was an amazing event attended by 640 players -- it could have been a lot more, if not for the play area limitations.



I used the same Doran Assassins deck that I used in the GPT, but put all the Firespouts on the main deck, and the 2 Crib Swaps in the board (for those pesky Demigods of Revenge). I also lowered the land count to 24, as I felt that I got mana flooded too often. Finally, I put a singleton Wickerbough Elder in the SB for those game-breaking Runed Halos set to Doran and/or Colossus:



// Lands
4 [MOR] Murmuring Bosk
4 [LRW] Gilt-Leaf Palace
2 [EVE] Twilight Mire
1 [SHM] Reflecting Pool
1 [EVE] Fetid Heath
4 [LRW] Vivid Grove
4 [LRW] Vivid Marsh
2 [UNH] Forest
2 [UNH] Swamp

// Creatures
4 [LRW] Treefolk Harbinger
4 [LRW] Wren's Run Vanquisher
4 [MOR] Scarblade Elite
4 [LRW] Doran, the Siege Tower
4 [MOR] Chameleon Colossus
3 [LRW] Cloudthresher

// Spells
4 [LRW] Nameless Inversion
2 [LRW] Crib Swap
4 [LRW] Profane Command
3 [SHM] Firespout

// Sideboard
SB: 1 [LRW] Cloudthresher
SB: 2 [LRW] Crib Swap
SB: 4 [LRW] Thoughtseize
SB: 4 [SHM] Kitchen Finks
SB: 3 [SHM] Faerie Macabre
SB: 1 [EVE] Wickerbough Elder


Round 1: vs. Kithkins (won)

I went to a very good start in the Grand Prix as I was able to do my "pro moves" of Harbinger-Harbinger-Doran in the first game. My opponent was chump blocking all game, and I killed off any remaining creatures to win it easily.

My deck was built against creature-based decks like Kithkin, having 3 MD Firespouts (as mentioned earlier) and the whole suite of Nameless Inversions, Scarblade Elites and 2 Crib Swaps. Therefore, my sideboard strategy for Kithkin is -- none.

In the second game, I mulled to a 1-land, 5-card hand, and lost with my opponent at 30 life (thanks to a couple of Knight of Meadowgrains). In the third game, my opponent and I were in a life race, with all-in attacks and no blocks. Unfortunately for him, Kithkin decks have no "burn" cards, while mine had a Profane Command ftw.

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


Round 2: vs. Kithkins (lost)

Winning the die roll and on the play, I made a crucial mistake in the first game by keeping a 2-land hand, with 2 Colossus and a Firespout. I didn't know my opponent's deck and paid the price for it -- losing quickly in the first game. In the second game, I thought for a while but still kept a hand that included 1 Colossus, 1 Nameless Inversion, 1 Firespout and 2 lands. I once again paid the price for keeping a bad hand, as I drew 2 more Colossus in the ensuing turns, as my second round ended in record time -- just at around 10 or 15 mins into the round.

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


At this point, I had some time to kill in the tournament, so I decided to have our Chameleon Colossus, Makeshift Mannequins and Dusk Urchins signed by artist Darrell Riche. :)



Round 3: vs. Kithkins (won)

I was up against the wife of a famous Magic player/entrepreneur... and her deck -- Kithkins again. Same as the first round, I was able to do my "pro moves" again, and easily won game 1. In game 2, my opponent and I traded damages for a while, up until when I was at 7 life, and she attacked with 3 Spirit tokens, and then Mirrorweaved my Vanquisher ftw. In game 3, I did a semi-pro move of just Harbinger to Doran, but it was enough to once again win against the Kithkin deck.

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


Round 4: vs. UG Merfolk (won)

Finally, a non-Kithkin opponent. In game 1, I won behind the back of just one Vanquisher, while removing all creatures that he was casting with Nameless Inversions and Crib Swaps.

SB: +3 Thoughtseize, -3 Cloudthresher

In game 2, I made a mistake in my SB (see above) by taking out the Threshers. I ran out of removal and lost to a crucial Sower of Temptation on my Colossus.

SB: +3 Cloudthresher, -3 Thoughtseize

Game 3 was so one-sided (I removed practically everything that my opponent cast), that my opponent was obviously pissed off at the end of the round, he didn't even want to talk to me while signing the result slip. Oh well, I was just happy I won. :)

Game standing: 6-5
Match standing: 3-1


Round 5: vs. Archon Toast (lost)

In game 1, my opponent cast some early Kitchen Finks, but after he used up both counters on his Vivid Meadow to counter some spells of mine, he practically became mana screwed, and he couldn't do anything and eventually lost the game.

SB: +4 Thoughtseize, -3 Firespout, -1 Scarblade Elite

In game 2, I went for the "pro move" but my first 2 Harbingers died to a Firespout. He then cast Runed Halo naming Doran, and I pretty much got nullified at that point. He proceeded in the game by digging up Oona, Queen of the Fae via Oona's Grace ftw.

Before game 3, having basically lost due to the card advantage generated by Oona's Grace, I did some serious thinking of putting in Faerie Macabres. However, after remembering that my opponent has never cast a single Makeshift Mannequin, I decided against it.

Game 3 was a classic -- easily one of the best sanctioned games I've ever played, period. It started with me attempting another "pro move". Unfortunately, my opponent had the Broken Ambitions in hand (he obviously didn't side it out) to counter my Doran. Afterwards, it was a blood bath. I would do some beats, then he would cast a Kitchen Finks. He would Oblivion Ring my Doran. He would Runed Halo for Chameleon Colossus. I would destroy the Runed Halo, but he would bounce it with Cryptic Command... and counter it when I attempt to cast it again. He would eventually win the game behind two cards -- Makeshift Mannequins (which he only cast on the third game), and Oona's Grace (once again). I knew I should have sided-in those Macabres...

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


Round 6: vs. Doran Shamans (lost)

The round didn't start so well, with me once again mulling to 5, with 1-land. I of course lost the first game very quickly. I was still quite confident with my deck on the mirror match though, as I was playing the Assassins version, which I believe was better than the Shaman version (featuring Leaf Crowned Elder and Wolf Skull Shaman). I just had to get a decent draw.

SB: -3 Cloudthresher, +2 Crib Swap, +1 Wickerbough Elder

Game 2 was, as expected, very close. At the end, here's what happened: with me at 12 life and him at 9 life, he attacked with a Colossus (with 7 mana open), with a Harbinger left behind as blocker. I also had a Colossus, and also had 7 mana open. He was probably expecting me to trade Colossi, but he was surprised when I didn't block. He pumped the colossus, putting me at 4 life. At EOT, I Nameless inversion his Harbinger. He was shocked. If I could just draw 1 land (to double pump the Colossus), or a Profane (I could pump the Colossus, and Profane for 1), I would win. I slowly peeked at my draw... and it was a land. :) Despite just being on the second game, my opponent had to shake my hand in congratulations. We were now at 1-1.

Game 3 was even better than the previous game. It started with me playing a Doran. My opponent then cast another Doran, to kill it off. On my turn, I played a second Doran. Guess what -- my opponent also cast a second Doran to kill it off. Eventually, my opponent was able put me down to 6 with various other beats and Profanes. Then, I stabilized and eventually got a Colossus online and put him down to 4 life -- when he finally Crib Swapped my Colossus. The shapeshifter was able to put him down two more points to put him at 2 life. Then, it was his turn to use a Colossus. Fortunately, I had a Crib Swap in hand, and he had to attack me with his Shapeshifter. We were both in top deck mode, as the changeling put me to 5... then 4... then 3... then 2... then 1. On the last draw, I once again slowly peeked at my draw... praying and wishing that something similar to game 2 would happen. In a way, I got what I wished for, as I drew just another land. I smiled and congratulated my opponent. :) See you in October in Bangkok! ;)

Game standing: 8-9
Match standing: 3-3


After the match, I had to drop out of the tournament, because we had a concert to watch. :)

All in all, the Grand Prix was a big success -- that one annual leave was definitely worth it. ;) I got to see some of the pros -- Levy, Saito, and Nakamura -- I was even able to see an actual Saito match (he didn't slap himself though), I got our Colossi and Mannequins signed, I played a really decent game of Magic the whole day (aside from that one round against the Kithkin, I actually had a shot at winning all the other rounds) -- and most of all, I had fun. :) I do hope that the Grand Prix, or even better, the Pro Tour, would come back here in Manila in the following years. :)

Pro Tour Berlin Qualifier I - Aug 16, 2008

With the 2008 Philippine Nationals in the history books (with Polar Nest conceding in the Finals to his good friend Bayani), it's now Block season, and we have exactly two weeks to prepare for the upcoming Grand Prix Manila.

For a couple of weeks now, I have had this idea of a Doran Assassin deck, but I just never had the opportunity to use it because I was unable to play in the Block Division of the Philippine Open, and an earlier Block tournament got cancelled because very few players signed up. Anyway, here comes GP Denver, and I saw Hunter Burton's deck make it to the Top 8... it looked very familiar... with a few minor differences (Wren's Run Vanquisher instead of Stillmoon Cavalier), it was practically the same deck! I just had to change the mana base because we had only 1 Reflecting Pool. But heck, after a few playtests, it proved to be manageable. So anyway, here's the Doran Assassin deck that I used in yesterday's Berlin PTQ I. I wasn't able to get the Stillmoon Cavaliers in time, so I ended up with practically the same MD as Burton's.



// Lands
4 [MOR] Murmuring Bosk
4 [LRW] Gilt-Leaf Palace
1 [SHM] Reflecting Pool
2 [EVE] Twilight Mire
2 [EVE] Fetid Heath
4 [LRW] Vivid Grove
4 [LRW] Vivid Marsh
2 [UNH] Forest
2 [UNH] Swamp

// Creatures
4 [LRW] Treefolk Harbinger
4 [LRW] Wren's Run Vanquisher
4 [MOR] Scarblade Elite
4 [LRW] Doran, the Siege Tower
4 [MOR] Chameleon Colossus
3 [LRW] Cloudthresher

// Spells
4 [LRW] Nameless Inversion
4 [LRW] Crib Swap
4 [LRW] Profane Command

// Sideboard
SB: 1 [LRW] Cloudthresher
SB: 4 [LRW] Thoughtseize
SB: 3 [SHM] Guttural Response
SB: 4 [SHM] Kitchen Finks
SB: 3 [SHM] Faerie Macabre

Round 1: vs. Chapin Toast (lost)

I really have the worst luck in matchups, as I was quickly paired against a top player in Round 1. He used Patrick Chapin's latest build of Quick 'N Toast featuring Archon of Justice, Oona's Grace and Runed Halo -- the one used by the eventual champ of GP Denver, Gerry Thompson. In the first game, I had a blistering start of double Harbinger and Doran, and he very quickly lost. In the second game, I had a pretty good start as well, but he was able to shutdown Doran with Runed Halo, so he was able to prolong the game and I eventually lost to some Kitchen Finks and Mulldrifter beats. In the third game, I got almost completely shutdown, with both Doran and Chameleon Colossus getting named by 2 Runed Halos. I eventually resolved my third threat, Cloudthresher, but he was able to Cryptic Command (tap + bounce) ftw.

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


Round 2: vs. Elf Grenade (won)

This was a fun game. I lost pretty badly in the first game, but I had fun watching the elf grenade in action. I mean, Luminescent Rain for 10, and gain 20 life? What's not fun about that? But the fun had to stop in the second and third game, as I killed each crucial elf that he had, and he never even damaged me in both games.

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


Round 3: vs. Gr Treefolk (won)

Game 1 wasn't close, with 3 Timber Protectors in my opponent's board. In game 2, I was able to Thoughtseize a crucial Fertile Ground and my opponent got too delayed and lost, despite being able to Dawnglow Infusion twice. In the third game, I made a risk by keeping a 1-land hand with 1 Swamp, 1 Thoughtseize, 3 Vanquishers and 2 Nameless Inversions. The risk paid off, when I drew my second hand right on the draw, and won the match.

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


Round 4: vs. Chapin Toast (lost)

I was up against another top player, which was actually the cousin of my first round opponent. He was even using the same Chapin Toast deck. The first game was really close, with my opponent at 4 life, and me at 2 life in the end. But then, Kitchen Finks did its job, and my opponent went all the way up to 10 again. In the final play, my opponent thought for quite a while, having a Mulldrifter ready to attack, and me with 6 mana open, threatening a Cloudthresher. But when he finally realized that I was down to 2, he eventually attacked, and I scooped (although I did have the Thresher in hand). In game 2, I was able to win very easily despite some more Kitchen Finks shenanigans. In game 3, my opponent was "borrowing" my dead creatures with Puppeteer Clique all day, and it was too late by the time I got Crib Swap, and I had already lost the match.

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


Round 5: vs. WW Kithkin (lost)

It's pretty easy to determine the outcome of Kithkin matches. If they resolve a Mirrorweave on their attack, it pretty much means they've won. If they do it on the defense, it means you're winning. The latter was the case on the first game, and I won despite having no creatures on board, via an evoked Thresher (he was on 1 life). In game 2, the former was the case, as I had no chance against the 1-2-3-4 combo of Stalwart, Cenn, Spectral Procession, Mirrorweave. Game 3 was the best game of all, with both of us at 2 life, and top deck mode at the end. Too bad I drew all lands, and my opponent was eventually able to draw Rise of the Hobgoblins, netting him 7 angry Goblin Soldiers ftw.

Game standing: 7-8
Match standing: 2-3


Round 6: vs. BR Wild Swing (won)

To be honest, I was surprised my opponent even got to 2-3 with his deck. It was the ultimate rogue deck, with him using a bunch of cards I've never seen in sanctioned tournaments before, like Wild Swing and Rekindled Flame. It was fun though, not just because I won undamaged in both games, but because he was quite lucky with his Wild Swings... even hitting Doran, and my lone Reflecting Pool (making me mana screwed for a short time).

Game standing: 9-8
Match standing: 3-3


Round 7: vs. W Weenie (won)

It was the end of the day, and I was expecting another "normal" player in round 7, but I was surprised to see myself paired once again, against a top player. That makes 3 Nats players in one tournament. Wow. Anyway, if I ever want to be competitive in Magic, I had to get used to this. In the end, I eventually saw why he was in the loser's bracket this time, as he was using a weird mono white deck, that had the usual Kithkins and Mirrorweave, but also had some Safehold Elites in it. He was probably trying to innovate, but obviously the innovation didn't work. I beat him easy in 2 games, and gained me some major DCI points in the process. ;-)

Final game standing: 11-8
Final match standing: 4-3


Final verdict: The Doran Assassin deck has lots of potential -- having some game, even against the top control deck of the format, Quick 'N Toast. But it still has to be further improved and tested against other archetypes, as I never played against Faeries, RDW, and the mirror. Hopefully, we can make those improvements by next week's PTQ.