3 Rounds, then cut to top 4.
Match 1 - UWR Control - Ivan
This is a matchup I'm very familiar with having player UWR Control for a long time. Game 1 I won through Restoration Angel and Colonnade attacking while protecting them with Izzet Charm and Remand, and game two I managed to stabilize against him at 3 life until I could combo off with Restoration Angel and Kiki-Jiki with Dispel backup for a Cryptic Command I correctly assumed he had.
[1-0]
Match 2 - Norin Sisters - Nick
Another matchup that I have played very often, game one I managed to assemble the combo on turn 5 after he tapped out for Purphoros, since I knew the coast was clear (no path up). Game 2 I had a harder time keeping his board clear of Sisters, and eventually was forced to ignore the Deceiver-Twin combo in favor of Resto-Kiki so that I had enough power to offset the two life he would gain from each new Restoration Angel copy. I managed to get that combo around turn 10.
[2-0]
Match 3 - Ad Nauseam - Dylan
We decided to draw into the top 4. We played a few quick fun games, and I finally learned how Ad Nauseam works - and that I do not have a good matchup against it.
[2-0-1]
Match 4 - Top 8 - Ad Nauseam - Dylan
Same guy that I drew with earlier, except this time, we had to play. Game one I misplayed heavily and missed a window where I could have successfully combo'd off with dispel backup, and that cost me the game. Game two I managed a lucky remand on a lotus bloom to slow him down by 3 more turns, but incorrectly assumed that Ad Nauseam was a sorcery when I waited for his upkeep to Wear // Tear both a Bloom and Phyrexian Unlife. If I had done this on my turn, I would have just hit the Unlife, but would have at least drawn the game out longer.
[2-1-1]
Walked away with 5 packs of credit. All of my sideboarding today brought in Dispel and Swan Song, with specific matchup cards ebing: Anger of the Gods / Engineered Explosives coming in for Sisters, Rest in Peace for Control, and Wear // Tear for Ad Nauseam. I am really hurting without Leyline of Sanctity, which would at least delay an Ad Nauseam win and would provide sideboard against Burn (which I see often) and 8-Rack (which I've heard talk of), as well as general protection against decks that require targeting (Gifts, anything with Liliana of the Veil).
Deck Winnings History:
Previous: $57
New: $15
Total: $72
