Star City Games: Edison, NY (02/10/2013) — 10th Place

Friday was miserable, there is simply no other way to put it. With storm Nemo on the horizon, when I awoke for work I knew it was going to be a tough day. Since when does society name snowstorms? If they continue this, I just hope the next one is Dory. Anyway, I left work an hour early hoping to get a slight jump on the weather ahead, but it was all in vein. The snow was already coming down hard as I waited for Dan Walton and Eric LaFramboise to pick me up at my house. After I was in the car, we swung a couple blocks over to pick up Nick Patnode and we were our way.

The GPS along with MapQuest both said the trip should’ve taken about four hours and fifteen minutes. We didn’t make it to Binghamton until two hours into the trip, which is normally an hour long drive. Dan Walton continued to drive through the difficult conditions, which began to clear up a little once we hit New Jersey, and we finally arrived at our hotel after eight hours and thirty minutes of driving. I couldn’t believe Dan got us through it without much of a break. We found the room and found former Syracuse Magic player Phil Blechman building a Standard deck. The rest of us began to do the same thing, Dan and I were both on Boros Midrange with very similar lists, while Nick decided to build Esper Control out of my cards and Eric constructed a Naya Humans list.

The alarm went off, we prepared, and headed to the event center. I’m going to be completely honest; the place was a bit scummy and depressing. The building was very run down and not maintained at all during the weekend, including the bathrooms. It was poorly heated, I wore my jacket and Jupiter Games hoodie all weekend inside the building. The walls were a deep grey and black, bringing a very depressing presence to the weekend. Nonetheless, it was time to play Magic.

Star City Games: Legacy Challenge

Round One – Jeremiah Rudolph with Cloudpost

As we sit down I tell Jeremiah it’s been a very long time since we’ve played, they insist that we played four months ago at Jupiter Games when I piloted, Sneak & Show? I explain that I’ve never once played that deck. Jeremiah is convinced that I have. I offer a slapbet, Jeremiah agrees (I never had any intention of slapping anyone), I list the decks I’ve played in the last six months but Jeremiah doesn’t believe me and wants to search the Jupiter Games’s archives. Several people vouch for me, yet Jeremiah still doesn’t believe me.

Game One:

Jeremiah’s starting seven was revealed by a [[Gitaxian Probe]]: [[Repeal]], [[Crop Rotation]], [[Sensei’s Divining Top]], [[Glimmerpost]], [[Glimmerpost]], [[Cloudpost]], and a [[Tropical Island]]. It wasn’t much of a match for my hand that on turn two went [[Dark Ritual]], [[Infernal Tutor]] (Revealing: [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]), [[Rite of Flame]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Burning Wish]] for [[Ill-Gotten Gains]] and then cast it. Returning the pair of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and [[Infernal Tutor]], play them all for [[Burning Wish]] into [[Tendrils of Agony]].

Sideboarding: None

Game Two:

Jeremiah once again with a land into a [[Sensei’s Divining Top]]. I play a [[Gitaxian Probe]] revealing: [[Mindbreak Trap]], [[Surgical Extraction]], [[Bojuka Bog]], [[Vesuva]], [[Tropical Island]], and [[The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale]]. On my next turn, I cast [[Silence]], then play [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Infernal Tutor]] for [[Ad Nauseam]].

Round Two – Jackson with Dredge

Game One:

I win the die roll and lead the game off with a [[Gemstone Mine]] into [[Ponder]]. Jackson plays a [[Faithless Looting]]. I look at my hand and decide that I can cast [[Diminishing Returns]] floating without a land drop and that I should go for it. My gamble pays off as I cast a [[Tendrils of Agony]] for thirty-six life.

Sideboarding: None

Game Two:

Almost an identical game to the first game except it was turn three victory after Jackson mulliganed to four and I used the “[[Silence]]-Walk” every turn until I won.

Round Three – Chris with RUG Delver

Game One:

Chris wins the die-roll and begins with [[Tropical Island]] into [[Delver of Secrets]]. I play [[Volcanic Island]] and [[Ponder]], I then cast [[Lotus Petal]], [[Chrome Mox]] (Imprint: [[Infernal Tutor]]), [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Infernal Tutor]] for [[Empty the Warrens]]. I could’ve played [[Ad Nauseam]] but I suspected that my opponent may have a [[Daze]].

Sideboarding: -1 [[Infernal Tutor]], +1 [[Cabal Therapy]]

Game Two:

Chris mulligans to five, keep, and then just passes without. I play a [[Gitaxian Probe]] revealing: [[Wasteland]], [[Delver of Secrets]], [[Sylvan Library]], [[Nimble Mongoose]], and [[Brainstorm]]. I lay a [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], and [[Burning Wish]]. Sacrifice [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] for and cast [[Empty the Warrens]].

Round Four – Doug McKay with UR Delver

I had every intention of playing out the last round until I saw that it was Doug. The prize support in these things has always been very weak for 3-1. I felt like I had a very good match-up, not to sound too overly confident. I just didn’t want Doug to only receive six packs so we intentionally drew. $25 store credit and three packs each. I asked for my credit to go on the website so that I could buy Commander foils rather than cards I don’t need. My three packs were [[Blind Obedience]], [[Obzedat, Ghost Council]], and [[Merciless Eviction]] with a foil [[Godless Shrine]]. Too bad I couldn’t have opened these in a sealed deck event! I’ll take it though.

Just as the Legacy Challenge was ending, I found out that my friend and driver for the weekend Dan Walton just made top 8’d his third SCG event! Congrats to Dan, he’s a solid player who doesn’t get much attention. Dan deserved to finish highly in the event, especially after what he had to do to get us to Edison in that weather.

We left the convention center and went back to our hotel, ate at the connected Ruby Tuesdays. Enjoyed some decent food and prepared for the next day. The next morning felt routine, I sat down with Ning and we discussed sideboarding strategies before playing some commander. I had been working hard on my Kresh, the Bloodbraided deck and wanted to really evaluate some of my decisions. We enjoyed some quality games before the pairings were up for the first round

Star City Games: Legacy Open

Round One – Mike with MUD

Game One:

Mike wins the die roll and begins the game with a [[Cavern of Souls]] naming Construct then passes the turn. I draw and then cast a [[Gitaxian Probe]] (18 life) which reveals: [[Batterskull]], [[Sundering Titan]], [[Sundering Titan]], [[Ancient Tomb]], [[Lodestone Golem]], and a second [[Cavern of Souls]]. I draw and play a [[Ponder]] off of [[Gemstone Mine]] before passing pass the turn. Mike’s second turn was [[Ancient Tomb]] and pass. I simply couldn’t believe I was given two free turns against MUD. I untap, draw, and lay a [[City of Brass]]. I then begin to announce my Storm count — [[Dark Ritual]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Infernal Tutor]] (revealing: [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]), [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], tap [[City of Brass]], [[Burning Wish]] for [[Ill-Gotten Gains]] then cast it. Return the pair of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and [[Infernal Tutor]], replay the two [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Infernal Tutor]] for [[Burning Wish]], and then [[Tendrils of Agony]].

Sideboarding: -4 [[Silence]], -3 [[Duress]], +3 [[Abrupt Decay]], +2 [[Cabal Therapy]], +2 [[Chain of Vapor]]

Game Two:

My opening hand was pretty good against MUD. It consisted of: [[Dark Ritual]], [[Burning Wish]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Volcanic Island]], [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Ponder]], and [[Chain of Vapor]]. Mike mulligans then leads off with an [[Ancient Tomb]] before passing the turn. I draw a [[Brainstorm]] for turn, lay [[Gemstone Mine]] (I suspected Mike had a [[Wasteland]]), and then cast [[Ponder]] looking at [[Lotus Petal]], [[Infernal Tutor]], and [[Rite of Flame]]. I draw [[Lotus Petal]] and play it, pass. Mike plays a [[City of Traitors]] into [[Trinisphere]] before passing the turn to me. I draw [[Infernal Tutor]], play [[Volcanic Island]], and pass. Mike untaps, draws, taps [[City of Traitors]] and then puts another into play before casting a [[Wurmcoil Engine]]. On the end step, I sacrifice [[Lotus Petal]] to cast [[Chain of Vapor]] on [[Trinisphere]]. Draw the [[Rite of Flame]] and begin to count, this was going to be easy due to Mike being at sixteen life from the [[Ancient Tomb]]. I play [[City of Brass]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Brainstorm]] into more “tutor effects” and a [[Chrome Mox]], play the [[Chrome Mox]] without an Imprint, [[Infernal Tutor]] (revealing: [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]), [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Burning Wish]], and Mike is ready to sign the match-slip.

As we pack up, Mike says, “You’re lucky I didn’t draw one of my [[Mindbreak Trap]]s.” I laughed assuming that it was a joke — it clearly wasn’t, as three copies hit the table.

Round Two – David with Jund

I met David the night before, when I was asked to sign some [[Goblin Token]]s. After that we then proceeded to talk about Storm. I assumed that we were playing the mirror — I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Game One:

David wins the roll then starts the game off with a [[Verdant Catacombs]] for [[Bayou]] and casts a [[Thoughtseize]] discarding [[Burning Wish]]. My opening hand consisted of: [[Scalding Tarn]], [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Gitaxian Probe]], [[Ponder]], [[Brainstorm]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], and [[Burning Wish]]. Which was a pretty solid opening hand, too bad that it didn’t pan out. I draw another land for turn. I play the [[Gitaxian Probe]] and draw into a land and [[Ponder]], shuffle, and draw a [[Rite of Flame]]. Play the [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] on the table and pass. My hand quickly becomes destroyed by David’s pair of [[Hymn to Tourach]] over the next few turns. While waiting to recover David plays a pair of [[Deathrite Shaman]] and a [[Tarmogoyf]] before starting the onslaught. Instead of activating [[Deathrite Shaman]] to deal me damage David just attacks which ends up giving me an extra two turns to recover. I end up at one life with two [[City of Brass]] in play and draw [[Burning Wish]]. I cast [[Diminishing Returns]] floating . Unfortunately, my brand new seven cards aren’t very good.

Sideboarding: None

Game Two:

I lead off the game with a [[Gitaxian Probe]] which reveals a hand that is just too slow: [[Wasteland]], [[Wasteland]], [[Verdant Catacombs]], [[Bloodstained Mire]], [[Deathrite Shaman]], [[Hymn to Tourach]], and [[Dark Confidant]]. I have a turn two win in my hand through [[Wasteland]]. I play a [[Scalding Tarn]] and pass. David searches their deck for a [[Bayou]] and casts [[Thoughtseize]]. My game was now over — every turn after this was David absolutely destroying me.

Round Three – Joseph Tibbets with Jund

I was a bit unsure of what Joe was playing. His brother, Jeremy, is notorious for blue decks, I thought maybe Joe would be too — Once again, I was wrong.

Game One:

I lose the die roll once again, Joe mulligans and began with a [[Badlands]] casting [[Thoughtseize]]. [[Hymn to Tourach]] follows on the second turn and the next turn is a [[Dark Confidant]] paired with a [[Wasteland]] destroying my only land.

Sideboarding: None

Game Two:

I play [[Gitaxian Probe]] showing Joe’s hand of hand disruption, I follow up with an [[Underground Sea]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], and [[Infernal Tutor]] for [[Empty the Warrens]].

Game Three:

Joe opens with [[Duress]] which reveals: [[Ad Nauseam]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Underground Sea]], [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Duress]], and [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]. I thought for sure Joe was going to take [[Ad Nauseam]] but decides to target [[Duress]], meaning that a [[Hymn to Tourach]] was on its way. I draw another land for turn and play [[Gemstone Mine]] followed by [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]. Joe casts [[Hymn to Tourach]], what a surprise! [[Hymn to Tourach]] discards the additional land and a [[Rite of Flame]]. I untap and draw [[Silence]], play [[Underground Sea]], and pass. I cast [[Silence]] during Joe’s upkeep. On my turn, I draw a [[City of Brass]], tap my three lands, [[Rite of Flame]], and cast [[Ad Nauseam]] floating .

Round Four – Albert with MUD

Game One:

Albert wins the die roll and begins the game with [[Ancient Tomb]] into [[Grim Monolith]], taps [[Grim Monolith]] and casts [[Metalworker]]. I do a sigh of relief that it wasn’t [[Trinisphere]], however, I am still very nervous that I’m playing against MUD. I draw my card for turn and it’s a [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]. I search my deck using [[Polluted Delta]] to find an [[Underground Sea]], play [[Chrome Mox]] (Imprint: [[Empty the Warrens]]), [[Rite of Flame]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], and [[Infernal Tutor]] for [[Ad Nauseam]].

Sideboarding: -4 [[Silence]], -3 [[Duress]], +3 [[Abrupt Decay]], +2 [[Cabal Therapy]], +2 [[Chain of Vapor]]

Game Two:

Albert keeps a four-card hand. Lays an [[Ancient Tomb]] and passes. I play a turn one [[Ad Nauseam]] that couldn’t reveal any artifact mana. I discard down to seven cards, including an [[Abrupt Decay]]. I have a tapped [[Chrome Mox]] that’s black and a tapped [[Gemstone Mine]] when Albert begins the turn. A [[Trinisphere]] is slammed on the table. I draw, lay my land, and pass. Albert plays a [[Lodestone Golem]]. I cast [[Abrupt Decay]] in response. My only chance to win this game is to draw [[Chain of Vapor]] in the next few turns. I did not.

Game Three:

I mulligan to six, Albert shuffles to four. I start the game with ten [[Goblin Token]]s on the first turn from a start of: [[Rite of Flame]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Burning Wish]] into [[Empty the Warrens]].

Round Five – Scott with UWr Tempo

Game One:

Once again my opponent wins the die roll, I knew what Scott was on since we sat next to one another during the player’s meeting and had a few mutual friends. Scott plays a basic [[Island]] into [[Delver of Secrets]] on his turn. On my turn, I play a [[Ponder]]. Scott plays a [[Brainstorm]] during the upkeep, [[Delver of Secrets]] transforms, but Scott misses a land drop. I spend the next few turns setting up a turn four kill with double back-up. When I decide to go for it, I cast a [[Gitaxian Probe]] revealing a hand which has a pair of [[Daze]] with the lone [[Island]] and a [[Spell Pierce]] — I was shocked to say the least. I play [[Silence]] to draw out [[Spell Pierce]]. From there I play out my cards, getting Scott to [[Daze]], after that it was a simple [[Burning Wish]] into [[Tendrils of Agony]].

Sideboarding: -1 [[Infernal Tutor]], +1 [[Cabal Therapy]]

Game Two:

I keep a heavy hand absolutely full of mana and a [[Ponder]]. I cast it, shuffle, and a land. We play draw go until the end of turn three when Scott casts [[Vendilion Clique]] targeting me. I’m pretty embarrassed when all I have is mana. Scott attacks and passes. I draw [[Empty the Warrens]]! I play out all of my mana and cast [[Empty the Warrens]] for sixteen [[Goblin Token]]s. Scott just stares at two [[Force of Will]], a [[Daze]], and a [[Spell Pierce]] in hand.

Round Six – Jeremiah Rudolph with Cloudpost

I was building up some momentum; I beat Jeremiah the night before pretty handily. I was feeling decent about this match-up.

Game One:

I finally win my first die roll! I keep an opening hand of: [[Chrome Mox]], [[Chrome Mox]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Underground Sea]], [[Ad Nauseam]], and [[Brainstorm]]. I play [[Underground Sea]] and pass the turn. Jeremiah’s turn is just as quick, “[[Tropical Island]], go.” I draw [[Duress]] and cast [[Brainstorm]]. It draws [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], and [[Silence]] — all it needed to find was a single mana source and a colored card to Imprint. I spend the next few turns drawing through the [[Brainstorm]] as Jeremiah plays lands. It becomes too late by the time I can cast [[Ad Nauseam]], I had taken a couple of [[Primeval Titan]] htis and was simply too low on life.

Sideboarding: None

Game Two:

I keep an opening hand that consisted of: [[Brainstorm]], [[Brainstorm]], [[Scalding Tarn]], [[City of Brass]], [[Ponder]], [[Burning Wish]], [[Rite of Flame]], and [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]. I lay a [[City of Brass]] and cast [[Brainstorm]]. If [[Brainstorm]] hit some acceleration I would be able to drop a boat-load of [[Goblin Token]]s on the first turn. However, my [[Brainstorm]] drew a [[Chrome Mox]], [[Gitaxian Probe]], and an [[Infernal Tutor]] — just not good enough. I put [[Chrome Mox]] and [[Gitaxian Probe]] on top of my Library. Jeremiah plays a [[Sensei’s Divining Top]] and passes. I draw [[Gitaxian Probe]] and cast it: [[Blue Elemental Blast]], [[Flusterstorm]], [[Emrakul, the Aeons Torn]], [[Repeal]], [[Island]], and [[Glimmerpost]]. I draw [[Chrome Mox]], tap my [[City of Brass]] and cast [[Brainstorm]] again. This [[Brainstorm]] draws [[Chrome Mox]], [[Duress]], and the third [[Chrome Mox]]. I put two [[Chrome Mox]] back and shuffle using [[Scalding Tarn]], followed by a [[Ponder]]. The cards were rather unimpressive; I shuffle and draw [[Chrome Mox]]. Jeremiah does a couple small things on their turn. I draw a [[Gemstone Mine]], play it, and cast [[Ponder]], shuffle, and draw [[Chrome Mox]]. I cast the [[Duress]] and discard [[Flusterstorm]]. We spend a few turns going back and forth until my hand has a [[Silence]] and [[Ad Nauseam]]. I decide that I’m going to [[Silence]] Jeremiah on the upkeep and attempt to win. Jeremiah saw it coming and counters. I draw another [[Duress]] and attempt to discard any remaining counterspells, however, Jeremiah has several. Soon enough [[Emrakul, the Aeons Torn]] comes down off of [[Show and Tell]].

Round Seven – Ben with High Tide

I was feeling pretty defeated after losing the last round, but I told myself that I was going to do my best to win out. My goal for this thing was to see how high I could finish in the standings, and that’s what I was going to do.

Game One:

I mulligan down to six. I then go off unprotected on turn two to run into a [[Flusterstorm]] and then again on turn four before I see a [[Force of Will]]. Ben casts [[Time Spiral]] restocking my fuel and also giving me a [[Silence]] to stop the turn, however, Ben had the countermagic to continue. Ben is counting mana for what seems like an eternity when I say, “Do you have it? This turn has already been ten minutes, if you have the win just show me your hand and we can move onto game two.” Ben’s hand is stacked. We both reach for our sideboard.

Sideboarding: -1 [[Chrome Mox]], -1 [[Infernal Tutor]], -1 [[Ponder]], +3 [[Cabal Therapy]]

Game Two:

I mulligan again. This game can be defined by one turn, it’s late game, we both have four to five lands, I’m holding a pair of [[Silence]] and Ben had cast [[Cunning Wish]] for [[Turnabout]] on my last end step. I move to draw, I pause and wait for a response. Nothing, I draw a third [[Silence]], I play [[Chrome Mox]] (Imprint: [[Silence]]) and cast a [[Silence]] which is countered by [[Force of Will]] (removing [[Turnabout]]), I [[Silence]] again and Ben says, “Another [[Silence]]?!” I think to myself at this point, “Well, you’ve had two [[Force of Will]] as well as two [[Flusterstorm]] this game.” This is when Ben puts a third [[Flusterstorm]] on the table. I laugh and pass the turn. Ben now with two cards in hand plays [[Cunning Wish]] at the end of my turn — [[High Tide]] and [[Meditate]] were now known cards. On my turn, I [[Duress]], and Ben casts [[Meditate]] then a [[Force of Will]]. I decide to go for it and [[Ad Nauseam]] resolves!

Game Three:

Ben shuffles to six. This game is rather long, even lasting longer than the first two, we become some sort of feature match as people gather around. I drew seven of my ten pieces of disruption, I dwindle Ben’s hand down to a single [[Flusterstorm]] before drawing [[Cabal Therapy]]. I play it, Ben discards the [[Flusterstorm]] and reveals the last card in hand is a basic [[Island]]! I quickly tap some lands, [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Infernal Tutor]], and [[Ad Nauseam]].

Round Eight – Carlos with BUG Control

Game One:

I play a turn one [[Gitaxian Probe]] after Carlos starts off with a [[Bayou]] into [[Deathrite Shaman]]. [[Gitaxian Probe]] reveals: [[Abrupt Decay]], [[Liliana of the Veil]], [[Tropical Island]], [[Life from the Loam]], and [[Jace, the Mind Sculptor]]. I then draw a [[Dark Ritual]] off of [[Gitaxian Probe]] and cast [[Ponder]], which finds [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]. My hand was set up for a turn two at this point. Carlos draws and lays [[Tropical Island]] before passing. I decide to go for it anyway, draw, and put [[Volcanic Island]] into play. I cast [[Dark Ritual]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], and [[Infernal Tutor]] for [[Ad Nauseam]].

Sideboarding: -1 [[Empty the Warrens]], -1 [[Chrome Mox]], +2 [[Cabal Therapy]]

Game Two:

Carlos shuffles to five cards, I start with a [[Gitaxian Probe]], it shows: [[Mana Leak]], [[Vendilion Clique]], [[Abrupt Decay]], and a pair of lands. Sadly, I can’t combo off before Carlos can cast [[Vendilion Clique]]. On my turn three, I cast [[Cabal Therapy]] and instead of playing [[Vendilion Clique]], Carlos casts [[Mana Leak]]. From this point, I play [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Chrome Mox]], and finally [[Empty the Warrens]] from my hand. After that I use the Flashback on [[Cabal Therapy]]. Carlos draws for turn and concedes.

Round Nine – Ryan with Goblins

Ryan asks if I would like to draw. I kindly explain that I have no interest in drawing and that it’s just not what I want to do &mdash. Ryan doesn’t seem thrilled with that answer.

Game One:

Ryan wins the die roll and starts with a [[Scalding Tarn]]. I search my library using [[Scalding Tarn]] for [[Volcanic Island]], tap it, and cast [[Ponder]]. Ryan searches for a basic [[Mountain]] on my end step then plays uses [[Wasteland]] on my [[Volcanic Island]]. I play an [[Ad Nauseam]] off of [[Chrome Mox]] (Imprint: [[Infernal Tutor]]), [[Chrome Mox]] (Imprint: [[Silence]]), [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], and [[Infernal Tutor]]. I draw well over twenty cards and play a few mana sources before getting Ryan to concede when I cast [[Gitaxian Probe]].

Sideboarding: -4 [[Silence]], -3 [[Duress]], +3 [[Cabal Therapy]], +2 [[Abrupt Decay]], +2 [[Chain of Vapor]]

Game Two:

Ryan begins this game with [[Mountain]] into [[Goblin Lackey]]. Now it makes sense! My hand is: [[Burning Wish]], [[Infernal Tutor]], [[Infernal Tutor]], [[Chrome Mox]], and three lands. I draw [[Dark Ritual]] for turn. I play a land, [[Chrome Mox]] (Imprint: [[Infernal Tutor]]) and cast [[Burning Wish]] searching for [[Diminishing Returns]]. Ryan attacks with [[Goblin Lackey]] and drops a [[Goblin Ringleader]] into play. [[Goblin Ringleader]] reveals a [[Tin-Street Hooligan]] and a [[Goblin Warchief]]. [[Cavern of Souls]] comes down, naming Goblin, soon enough my [[Chrome Mox]] was destroy by [[Tin-Street Hooligan]]. I draw [[Lotus Petal]] for turn. Play my land and pass. Ryan plays a [[Wasteland]], destroys my land, attacks, and puts some creatures into play. My life total is dropping quickly. I draw another land, play it, [[Lotus Petal]], [[Dark Ritual]], and [[Diminishing Returns]]. My new seven is a mana short of victory.

Game Three:

We both mulligan. My opening hand is: [[Scalding Tarn]], [[Gemstone Mine]], [[City of Brass]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Cabal Therapy]], and [[Infernal Tutor]]. It’s fairly weak and I’m afraid that I might actually lose this. I put [[Gemstone Mine]] into play, tap it, and cast [[Cabal Therapy]] naming [[Goblin Lackey]]. Ryan sighs two copies are discarded leaving behind: [[Mountain]], [[Goblin Ringleader]], [[Goblin Matron]], and [[Goblin Sharpshooter]]. All Ryan does for the rest of the game is draw up to seven and then start discarding. I draw a [[Brainstorm]] but hang onto the spell for later, before I attempt to win the game I have seven lands in play with two in the graveyard. Ryan still hasn’t dealt me any damage. I eventually [[Brainstorm]] into [[Ad Nauseam]], tap five lands not named [[City of Brass]], and cast it.

As I’m filling out the match slip, Ryan asks if I’m sure that I would not like to draw. I say that I’m confident in my decision.

Totals & Stats

 

Closing & General Thoughts

I end up finishing in 10^th place right behind Ning who was 9^th after a tough loss in a win-and-in. There was also another person in the top 16 with The EPIC Storm named John Gatza (how did I not see them playing all weekend?!). Our good friend Royce Walter also made top 32 with TES, however, decided not to play the last round and drew. If Royce had played and won the last round there would’ve been four copies of The EPIC Storm in the top 16.

One die roll win on the day. When playing a deck like TES, it’s really bad to not be on the play. In match-ups such as Jund or MUD, if you’re on the play the percentages of winning dramatically increase. It’s all luck, you can’t be too concerned with something you can’t control. Just hope for something better next time. I just think my performance on the day would’ve been better had I won a few more rolls. My two losses were close and perhaps being on the play could’ve helped there.

Overall on the weekend, I think the deck performed quite well with three copies in the top 16 as well as another in the top 32. I was really pulling for Ning to win the round 9 on-camera feature match against Josh Ravitz. Ning just kept a pretty questionable hand and lost. Ning, Royce, and myself discussed some changes we’re considering.

The first change is to the main deck, while I didn’t find myself wanting another land at all this weekend, I did want another shuffle effect one or two times. Ning did lose the last round to not being able to find an initial mana source. [[Duress]] is rather low-impact compared to other cards in the deck such as [[Silence]] or [[Gitaxian Probe]], especially with blue decks not dominating the metagame at this time. It would make sense to cut [[Silence]] then right? You would think that, but with the remaining blue decks not playing [[Counterbalance]] and shifting back to [[Stifle]], [[Silence]] is stronger than ever. Not to mention, the ability to “[[Silence]]-Walk” an opponent to stop their [[Hymn to Tourach]].

The second change is to the sideboard, most of the time against blue decks I only side in one [[Cabal Therapy]] and leave the others as [[Burning Wish]] targets. I only side in all copies of [[Cabal Therapy]] against non-blue decks which are traditionally good match-ups. By shaving a rather unused [[Cabal Therapy]] and a [[Hull Breach]] we can improve tough match-ups such as Reanimator and Sneak & Show. Out of the people playing a [[Revoke Existence]] or [[Hull Breach]] in the slot this weekend, it wasn’t cast once. That means it simply just isn’t worth it’s place in the deck. Adding [[Xantid Swarm]] back into the deck helps problematic match-ups as well as matches against some rising decks like High Tide or [[Cloudpost]].

Now this something I considered not sharing, but I feel is necessary. Everyone really needs to step up their game with watching their own belongings, as well as keeping an eye out for your friends and community. There were three backpacks and a deck stolen on Sunday. The deck was (a fellow Jupiter Games player) Jim Higgenbottom’s TES deck with Italian black bordered duals, German Ice Age [[Brainstorm]]s, as well as other valuables. One of the backpacks belonged to yet another Jupiter Games enthusiast, Steve Thompson. Jupiter Games has always been a great place where 95% of the time belongings are turned in, it’s different at larger events. People are untrustworthy, even people most wouldn’t suspect.

What I’m trying to say here is that these large events, not everyone is there to enjoy themselves for a weekend of competition. Not everywhere you go is a trustworthy community like a Jupiter Games or a local gaming store, be aware of your surroundings and others. Even people that are established names.

Until next time, keep storming!