Khans Prerelease overview
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Posted on Sept. 21, 2014, 11:40 p.m. by Ultimaodin
I want to begin by saying this was one of the funnest pre-releases I have ever been to. Even in the ones I didn't win, I enjoyed myself immensely.
I did three events all up and played Temur, Sultai and Mardu.
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Temur midnight:
Opened the box to ind my promo was the buy a box promo... damn it. Otherwise my pool was pretty all over the place. Having never actually played in a multi-coloured format for sealed (only did one rtr block draft) I initially refrained from the idea of going four colours, so instead mocked up two builds, one Temur, one Jeskai. Jeskai opened me up to more removal but not a great deal of win conditions while Temur was all about the win conditions. Decided to go Temur since the deck seemed better all round. Game 1 I came up against Mardu and got mana screwed (playing 17 lands one banner) and got destroyed. The second match he dropped his promo Zurgo followed by, another Zurgo.... yeah.... For round two I decided to try the Jeskai build and enjoyed the close play I had with my Abzan counterpart bouncing and killing all his outlast but after a while I noticed I had no way of closing out the game and we went to time as a draw... third match I went stuff it,played Temur splash white for a couple better middle guys and some extra removal such as the two Jeskai Charm s (also went to 18 land). I won this game easily as I effectively griptided his spell each turn and smashed him with my Snowhorn Rider s for both matches. Fourth game vs another Mardu player was close but in both games Sage of the Inward Eye brought me back from despair to steal the game. In all four games I never once drew my Master the Way . :(
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Sultai Saturday Morning:
I LOVE SULTAI and purple D20's. This was honestly the most fun I have ever had playing sealed. Sultai Ascendancy is now one of my favorite cards, Having a pool of only four kill spells, this card let me dig like a boss and basically lowed the cost of all my spells. My entire creature base was pretty close to being evasion though. Abomination of Gudul I'd have to say was MVP since I had three of them. The card filter they gave was so good and let me cast all my delve cards easily. I splashed white for Abzan Charm and High Sentinels of Arashin , who dominated every game, especially paired with the two Swarm of Bloodflies that also combo'd with Grim Haruspex to basically make my opponents dislike the concept ofkilling my creatures. Game one I versed a Jeskai deck piloted by a guy who used to play in Odyssey. This was one of the most gripping games I've had in a long time and super fun. We both kept playing tricks and spells to try and outmatch the other. I Ended up winning 1-0-1 on time but gave him the other pack because he was cool. Second round was another gripping match vs a four colour deck as a midrange mardu x abzan strategy. Once more went to time but I claimed victory in the last turn. All my fliers overwhelmed his land based build and Sultai Ascendancy helped me digfor the kill spell I needed to kill his reach giver and swing in for game. Game 3 went to time as a draw as my opponent slow played Abzan and I bricked the second game by drawing land after land even after I used Seek the Horizon . Fourth game ended once more in a draw. I took the first game easily with my onslaught of fliers and then the second match I brought him down to leathal range of a ridiculous board state of fliers turn 1 of overtime (sultai vs Sultai). Then he top decked a card I forgot was in the set - Roar of Challenge on his one power guy and swung for exact at me at me stealing game 2. I cried with laughter at the loss. Eiter way, had a lot of fun.
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Sunday Morning Mardu:
This one I went Mardu because I had work the afternoon and wanted to finish game 4 as quick as possible. I ended up having a hard time making cuts from my pool with so much removal that I cut three throttle in favour of the more aggressive removal. Ankle Shanker was my bomb rare but Chief of the Edge was my MVP buffing all my warriors. Game 1 was vs Abzan and he played 2 spells the entire first match which I removed and swung to kill. Game two he kept a one land hand in favour of having Disowned Ancestor and got punished by my swarm. Game 2 vs Temur theyonce more played two spells before I claimed the game. the second match they had a lot better chance but my list of removal kept me on top and attacking and Ankle Shanker helped me swing past a splashed Wingmate Roc as I survived removal using Feat of Resistance . Game 3 was vs Jeskai and a guy who 4-0'd the entire thing. Yeah I lost. Game 1 I got screwed out of my redmana and even though I brought him to seven life I bricked with red spells in my hand and couldn't get passed his doublestriker while he swung casually with his unblockable. Second match I brought him down to 5life and just needed 1 of my 2 Arrow Storm to win but this time I had the opposite problem as the first round and drew land after land allowing my opponent to stabalise and take the game. We had a third game for fun and I won by turn 5. He said he was glad I didn't play that hand in the previous matches and I wished him luck for the final. Game four I played another Jeskai deck, but this one was a lot less powerful built. I took game one with ease then game two he hit every single card that had or gave life link including a turn 5 Wingmate Roc After a quick amount of maths and drawing a card I knew that no matter what I drew I was going to lose, knowing I couldn't kill him before he killed me thanks to all his life gain. I offered a draw here so we could both get a pack each but knew my deck was better. I came out swinging match 3 and won against another turn 5 Wingmate Roc, this time my Ankel Shanker stuck on the board though so he was forced into some awkward blocks before I swung lethal, then headed to work.
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My rares from the weekend:
From left to right The top, the three dice of the clan I played and a few random foils.The first rare line:foil Pearl Lake Ancient, foil Butcher of the Horde, Wingmate Roc, Sidsi, Brood Tyrant, promo Rattleclaw Mystic (I wanted Surrak), regular Rattleclaw, a sneaky ponyback brigade (how this got in the photo I don't know), Ghostfire Blade, Meandering TowershellSecond Rare Line:Temur Ascendancy, Promo Narset, Enlightened Master (I actually traded another rare for this, of which I can't remember), High Sentinelsof Arashin, Jeering Instigator, Crackling Doom, foil Crackling Doom, Ankle Shanker, Jeskai Ascendancy, Heraldof Anafenza.Third Rare Line:Super awesome Mindswipe swag (yes I just used that damn word), Grim Haruspex, End Hostilities (oh yeah, I traded a third one of these and something else for a card I wanted, maybe the Narset?), Necropolis Fiend Mardu Ascendancy, Flooded Strand, Sage of the Inward Eye, Dig Through Time, Empty the PitsFourth Rare Line:Kheru Lich Lord, the other End Hostilities, Crater's Claws, Trail of Mystery, 2x Poluted Delta, Deflecting Palm, promo Sultai Ascendancy.
I had fun, especially enjoyed playing Sultai. While Saltai ended with most games as just scraping a win or ending in a draw, it was the most fun I've had playing a sealed pool. Delve is SOOOO GOOOD! Also, look at the pretty purple dice, look at it!
Rhinowarrior says... #3
I opened five packs so far and have got two fetchlands.
September 21, 2014 11:59 p.m.
TheAnnihilator says... #4
You up for trading any of these away? Cause I'm really loving all of your cards here (I'm so jealous of you! You got the pulls that I wanted to get.)
September 25, 2014 10:03 p.m.
Ultimaodin says... #5
What rares have already changed substantially as I traded today for 3 Surraks, mindswipe number 4 and the lands I require for my flash and burn deck. :)
September 26, 2014 8:39 a.m.
TheAnnihilator says... #6
Well, do you still have the Flooded Strand , Polluted Delta s and End Hostilities ?
September 26, 2014 9:22 a.m.
Ultimaodin says... #7
Nope all four of those are gone. Got two of the Windswept Heath and two Wooded Foothills an AEther Vial and 2 Leonin Arbiter :)
September 26, 2014 9:58 a.m.
TheAnnihilator says... #8
Wow, that's some good trading! You turned 3 Fetches and two standard-playable-only boardwipes into 4 fetches, an eternal staple (AEther Vial
), and some good modern cards (the Leonin Arbiter
s)? I wish I could trade like that.
Do you happen to have any other fetches that you'd be willing to trade for, say, another Windswept Heath ?
September 26, 2014 11 a.m.
Ultimaodin says... #9
Sadly I'm still a Heath and two foothills short myself as I want to build a Naya Hatebears deck. Origionally Was not going to run fetches myself but since they just reprinted 2 in my colours... why not.
Also through trades I got my hands on the Chandra andJace duel deck walkers. Aka Tank Beleren and chandra. Tank Beleren is the only Jace I actually like.Why, because he looks like a freaking tank! The heaths and the foothills are the only fetches I actually care for. The other fetches I open are solely to trade for these fetches.
Rhinowarrior says... #2
Very nice. i'll send you my address and we can work out when you want to send the cards to me. Preferably sooner because i am doing you a huge favor by taking these off your hands..
September 21, 2014 11:58 p.m.