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.

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. :)

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. :)

FNM - Mar 13, 2009

The Blightning deck did fairly well last week, so I used it again on this week's FNM.


Round 1: vs. BW Tokens (won)

My opponent's deck is one of the Tier 1 decks of the current Standard format, but for some reason, this is the first time that I had ever seen or played against this deck. Anyway, the first game ended in my favor, but did have an interesting thing happen towards the end. I had him quickly down to 1 life, with a Goblin Outlander on the board, but my opponent played an Ajani Goldmane and gained 2 life with the planeswalker's first ability. It took 5 full turns of -2/+2 life swings before I eventually drew an Incinerate to finish him off. Quite scary, considering a single card from him usually nets 3 to 4 creatures. In the second game, I lost very quickly because I got stuck at 2 lands. In the third game, I finished him quickly once again, courtesy of my unearth creatures.

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


Round 2: vs. Esper Control (won)

I'm happy each time I face a control deck, and this time was no different. The first game quickly finished in my favor with a combination of Hellspark Elementals and a lot of burn. The second game though was a bit more exciting when I had him at 2 life, but no creatures on the board and no cards in hand. I was in top deck mode for a few turns once again, until I eventually drew the Flame Javelin to finish him off. After the game, I asked my opponent why I never saw a Cryptic Command all match. He said that his CC's were used by a teammate in another deck, so he had no choice but to use Punish Ignorance -- which he DID use a couple of times, saving him from losing a few times as well.

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


Round 3: vs. Blightning Beatdown (lost)

When pairings were first announced, I was actually matched up with a player whom I knew was playing a 5-color control deck. I was happy about this, and in fact, had my Hellspark Elemental already attacking on turn 2, when the TO announced that we had to be repaired -- one player apparently had dropped from the tournament, but wasn't properly removed from the pairings. When the new pairings were announced, I got switched to a mirror match.

Despite having slightly different builds (my opponent had 5-drops in the form of Demigod of Revenge, while I had the more aggresive build of no 5-drops), this matchup is actually just a coin toss. In the first game, I had Mogg Fanatics against his 1/1 Figure of Destinies, and he had removal for most of my creatures, until he ran out of them and a pair of Boggart Ram-Gangs finished him off. In the second game, we went down the wire, with both of us at 5 life. No creatures were on the board, he had zero cards in hand, and I had 1 card -- Volcanic Fallout -- which I played at the end of his turn. We were both at 3 life then, and I slowly peeked at my draw. It was a land. I passed the turn, and he drew an Incinerate ftw. Game 3 was a reverse of our first game, with me playing control to his aggresive creatures, and when I finally ran out of gas, he finished me off with his creatures.

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


Round 4: vs. WW Kithkins (won)

I was up against the deck that I hated the most while I was playing the Elves deck -- WW Kithkins. Things didn't change as I quickly lost game 1, courtesy of an early Burrenton Forge-Tender, and an Ajani pumping his creatures. In game 2, I was able to make a super Figure of Destiny, and he had no answer against the 8/8 flying avatar. In game 3, he went greedy and kept a 1-land hand with 3 Burrenton Forge-Tenders, but ended up losing the match thanks to just a swarm of creatures on my end. Each BFT could only block one creature, luckily. :)

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


I apparently ended up with pretty good tiebreaks, because despite having a couple of other players at 3-1, I ended up in 4th place (3rd place to all the way down to 8th place were all at 3-1). Too bad I barely lost out on the Kitchen Finks FNM card (it was given to the top 3 finishers), but at least, I won two Conflux boosters this time. They both contained crappy rares, but at least I got these two uncommons:



That completes the set, so it's good enough for me. :)

FNM - Mar 6, 2009

The metagame in our local shop has become more control-based rather than aggro-based, so we sleeved up an aggresive Blightning Beatdown deck for last Friday'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
3 [CFX] Volcanic Fallout
3 [ALA] Magma Spray

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


Round 1: vs. Jund Ramp (lost)

I liked my odds on my first round matchup, as I was up against a slow deck, and I had decent SBs for his particular deck (Infest for tokens, Blightning for disruption, and Bitterblossom as chump blocker generator). I took him to 5 life quickly on both games, and on both games I ran out of gas and was at topdeck mode at that point. In game 1, he cast Violent Ultimatum twice on me to get back on the game and win it. In game 2, he cast Hellkite Overlord ftw.

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


Round 2: vs. UBR Reanimator (won)

I was surprised when my opponent's first spell on the game was a Merfolk Looter. Oh no. I didn't expect anyone to still use this type of deck, so I had no graveyard hate in my SB. I had to finish the game quickly. In game 1, I was still safely at 18 life, but lost to a single spell -- Torrent of Souls putting back Inkwell Leviathan to play. That, along with Marsh Flitter and buddies was enough for a single lethal alpha strike.

I lost on the first 3 games of the night, but was still hopeful that things would turn the other way and I would still be able to finish decently for the night. Good thing they did. :)

In games 2 and 3, my deck finally did what it was supposed to do, and beat my opponent very quickly, before any graveyard shenanigans. In fact, I was the one with GY spells, as I beat him with my unearth creatures.

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


Round 3: vs. 5-Color Control (won)

Both games played out very similarly on this one. I would play some creatures, he would Wrath, I would play some more creatures, he would Wrath, then I would finish him with burn. On the second game, it was even a Mogg Fanatic, with him at 1 life, with Cryptic Command mana available, but no Cryptic Command spell. :)

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


Round 4: vs. 5-Color Control (won)

Similar QnT deck, similar results. I got a Hellspark draw in the first game, as all 4 copies came out and did double duty. Unearth ftw! In game 2, Blightning beatdown became Bitterblossom beatdown, as I was able to play the powerful enchantment in turn two. He had no chance against the incremental damage that the faerie tokens were making. I think the game ended with me having 6 or 7 tokens in play.

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

There were only two players with better records, but, despite being tied with third place, I had the worst tiebreaks (having lost early in the rounds), so I ended up finishing 6th place overall, and won a lone Shadowmoor booster pack, containing this crappy enchantment:



Better than nothing.