Round 1 vs Tron, 2 – 1 Victory.
I had play-tested earlier in the week with a different variant of the deck and never took a game. The Tron player is without a doubt the best player in the room, so as a round 1 matchup it was not looking fun. The changes I had made to the deck before entering proved extremely useful. Jin-Gitaxis, Core Augur was the difference in game 1 and I was eventually able to take our first game. I mulled to 6 in game 2 after siding out 2x Ardent Plea in favor of 2x Stony Silence. Somewhat unlucky draws led to a very quick turn 4 Karn/Lattice and a scoop from myself. Game 3 I sided out 2x Timely Reinforcements and 1x Stony Silence in favor of 3x Disenchant. Kept my opening 7 and we had a very long game 3. As Foretold on 2 meant I was able to break the turn 5 Karn/Lattice board and Unburial Rites my Jin-Gitaxis. After a bit of a stalemate, I traded with a wurmcoil and cast Living End for Elesh Norn/Jin-Gitaxis/Iona + a bunch of cyclers and was able to take game 3.
Round 2 vs Burn, 2 – 1 Victory
Burn was a tough matchup through playtesting all week. Those two Timely Reinforcements I added proved to carry me through this best of 3. Game 1 I lost quickly because I kept a hand I shouldn’t have and my opponent played exactly how they should’ve. Sided in Leylines for game 2, kept an opener with a Timely and Leyline; took game 2 easily. Game 3 was closer, but drawing into both copies of Timely was crucial. Eventually stone walled opponent with a Striped Riverwinder and took the game off an Unburialed Elesh Norn.
Round 3 vs Merfolk, 0 – 2 Loss
Merfolk Mistbinder is a hell of a card when you play minimal interaction. Got crushed game 1 due to the speed of his Merfolk deck. Sided a Supreme Verdict & a Path to Exile for game 2. It was closer and I was able to remove his Mistbinder, but a misplay on my part meant I cast Gifts Ungiven for an Iona, Shield of Emeria instead of Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite. I’m not sure if it would have mattered due to the amount of Lord effects he had in play, but it would have bought me an extra turn and a chance to find Living End or Supreme Verdict. Either way, a tough 0 – 2 after a good start.
Round 4 vs Humans, 1 – 2 Loss
Mantis Rider is scary. Game 1 was close but I was slightly behind curve and 2x Mantis Rider is a quick way to lose. Sided in a Supreme Verdict and Path to Exile for games 2 and 3. Game 2 I was on perfect curve and was able to cycle heavily into a turn 3 As Foretold/Living End to win. Game 3 my opponent dropped a Kitesail Freebooter and took my only out to his board. Held on for a little while but eventually lost to Mantis Riders.
Overall Thoughts/Comments/Potential Changes:
For such a hastily thrown together deck, it performed well I think. Jin-Gitaxis, Core Augur always felt like a better option than Iona, Shield of Emeria. Timely Reinforcements is never a dead card in this particular room because there are people playing Elves, Merfolk, Burn and Humans. Ardent Plea is neat, but there are definitely better options. Iona & the Ardent Pleas will be removed in favour of something else. The sideboard was painful, and I threw together what I had based on what I brought with me which was obviously suboptimal. Dispel wasn’t needed, nor were the Drake Haven’s. I will post an updated decklist soon.
