so i played way too much magic on saturday (thanks magic online!) and now magic online is broken on my computer (thanks magic online!) so i will talk about my weekend expirience.
saturday morning i wake up at my friends apartment after i fell asleep watching tv, because hey its been 3 months since i last watched tv and i could not stop! so i went to mcdonalds for some breakfast and came back to base and then i got to my room and turned on magic online....
sold some junk rares, got some tickets, played a constructed 8 man. round 1 i play against heartbeat mirror, and well the guy sucks so i win. game 2 i bring in the kudzus and get some pressure, he thinks this means i sided out my combo and plays heartbeat and passes the turn. well im not that terrible so i just go off in his face for the win. nice card there! round 2 is a black white deck who has cranial turn 3 (i remand) turn 4 (resolves, naming heartbeat) turn 5 (i remand) and turn 6(muddle the mixture). i keep playing lands and reaches and end up drawing enough harvests to win with a maga or something. game 2 i get turn 2 kudzu and some elders doing beats but he somehow stops me and i misplay my meloku and lose a few turns later. game 3 i bring 3/4ths the combo back in, get cranialed for heartbeat again, and then he draws nothing forever and i harvest/invoke him out. im pretty sure that cranial is better on harvest because bw runs 4 mortify, but then maybe i dont know what im talking about. finals = split.
so i decide to draft. first pick last gasp, looking to go UBx, i get a next pick faiths fetters, and then 3rd pick Agrus Kos, so i move into boros, and its so good i never get a third color besides a few blind hunters i decide not to play. i had 2 trumpeter, 2 legionare, boros guildmage, gruul guildmage, infinite 2 drops, a rally, and 2 pyromatics (best common in GP). i crush 4-0 to finals then split.
so i decide more constructed. i dont remember much about this, just i think it was easier this time i split in finals.
draft again. this time i first pick arc and go boros the whole time. i end up with a slightly less powerful deck than last draft, but im confidant. unfortunatly, i screw up with trumpeter like 8 turns in a row with misclick and shit and i lose. i think maybe i should take a nap and stop making stupid errors, but i decide fuck it draft again.
this time i go UBW with infinite walls, double informant and an entrancer. i win first round getting lucky game 1, then just not taking damage game 2. i lose round 2 because my deck just really isnt that good, and i dont convulute something cuz im terrible.
i stop to get some dinner, then play another constructed, this time losing to URzatron Wildfire in round 1 because of annex after board. not sure how i beat that card, i guess i need naturalize.
anyway maybe ill post my heartbeat list later
03 April 2006
19 March 2006
2 Headed Giant States
so i went to two headed giant states on saturday, i was playing with AJ Fields, one of the few decent players ive met since moving to SC. i did little practice with the format, just some magic workstation sealeds and kinda looked just to get a feel for the number of playable cards you could expect to get. as for the 2HG format, last week we did 2HG type 2 which i played heartbeat in, so i didnt really learn anything.
anyway we leave early saturday get some breakfast and go to columbia. register etc. build decks. key cards from our decks:
AJ's deck had mostly fat green stuff (siege wurm, guardian of vhitu ghazi) and combat tricks (wildsize, seeds of strength). had 2 black tapper guys, and 2 restless bones. all in all it was kinda mediocre, had Angel of Despair and Birds of Paradise though!
My deck was a crazy aura deck. here are the cards:
Fists of Ironwood
Galvanic Arc
Flight of Fancy
Mark of Eviction
Stasis Cell
Auratouched Mage
Drake Familiar
2 Ogre Savant
and the bomb of all bombs, Cloudstone Curio.
Round 1
we get kinda unlucky and have to play against one of the 4 best teams there, but we are also in that group. we get some early tempo and get them down to about 15 before they stabilize, but i get skyrider trainee enchated with blue magemark and get them down to 3 before they answer and then AJ's ledgewalker does the last point on the last extra turn.
1-0
Round 2
another good team, but i get the curio and arc and drake and fists and ogre savant, so like every turn i kill a guy, bounce a guy, bounce their faiths fetters so we can attack, and we get 2 1/1s. few turns later they had nothing left.
2-0
round 3
the other good team from charleston, we draw with them to get some lunch! i win the die roll and pick mexican food, but the service was total shit, no like poor tippng occurs.
2-0-1
round 4
some really bad team that has 3x runeboggle. well we play around it and crush them, even though they had smash for my cuiro.
3-0-1
round 5
paired up against the team with the "best" "player" in SC, but since we already drew once we have to play here. they get some really good draws, and we lose. they gained somelthing like 20 lilfe this game from fetters, douse in gloom, mourning thrull, and ribbons of night.
3-1-1
round 6
have to play this round to make top 4, these guys apparently have good decks, we get a good start however as i get mark of eviction and galvanic arc on partners ledgewalker, but they have orzhov pontiff to stop it! soon we are in a bad position facing down a ghost council, an evangel, and a skysweaper that looks like its going to kill all of our evasion. knowing we dont have long, we start swinging with most everyone, and droning buerocrats makes it so they cant block effectivly and they get too low on life to counter attack, and we somehow pull it out.
4-1-1
top 4! the 4 best teams there made top 4, showing that its a skill testing format, and i like it for that. only problem is the games take way too long. anyway our top 4 decks were pretty nuts, aj has 2 pillory and mortify and moldervine cloak. i have hammerfist giant, double leap of flame, and living inferno.
top 4:
we lose the die roll and have to play first for the first time all day, but we get a decent curve with aj getting 1 drop 2 drop and me with 2 drop 3 drop. they have some tricks but i get hammerfist giant on turn 6. turn 7 i leap of flame our team and activate giant, they have to wildsize and withdstand to save their guys, but we swing in for 6 + 8 from giant. next turn i draw anohter leap, but aj draws chant of vhitu ghazi, so we just swing iwth everyone, combat damage on, use giant, in response chant, gain 71 life. at that point they are at 18 or so, we pillory a guy, my giant does 8 and regens with gaze from aj and hten finishes them off one turn later.
after this we watch the other top 4 match where our good friends are facing the evil empire which has the "best" "cheater" in the state. even though runyon played pretty bad at times, he makes the plays when he needs to, and they pull out a leap of flame victory for just enough when they are at 1. how lucky.
so finals we get to play runyon and chi, the guys we drew with round 3. their decks are apparently garbage, but they get some early beats... and then overwhelm, but we chump enough and stabilize at 6 while aj's vinelasher kudzu with moldervine cloak and flight of fancy get through for the win.
so we win and aj finally gets a state championship titile after coming so close so many times before.
anyway we leave early saturday get some breakfast and go to columbia. register etc. build decks. key cards from our decks:
AJ's deck had mostly fat green stuff (siege wurm, guardian of vhitu ghazi) and combat tricks (wildsize, seeds of strength). had 2 black tapper guys, and 2 restless bones. all in all it was kinda mediocre, had Angel of Despair and Birds of Paradise though!
My deck was a crazy aura deck. here are the cards:
Fists of Ironwood
Galvanic Arc
Flight of Fancy
Mark of Eviction
Stasis Cell
Auratouched Mage
Drake Familiar
2 Ogre Savant
and the bomb of all bombs, Cloudstone Curio.
Round 1
we get kinda unlucky and have to play against one of the 4 best teams there, but we are also in that group. we get some early tempo and get them down to about 15 before they stabilize, but i get skyrider trainee enchated with blue magemark and get them down to 3 before they answer and then AJ's ledgewalker does the last point on the last extra turn.
1-0
Round 2
another good team, but i get the curio and arc and drake and fists and ogre savant, so like every turn i kill a guy, bounce a guy, bounce their faiths fetters so we can attack, and we get 2 1/1s. few turns later they had nothing left.
2-0
round 3
the other good team from charleston, we draw with them to get some lunch! i win the die roll and pick mexican food, but the service was total shit, no like poor tippng occurs.
2-0-1
round 4
some really bad team that has 3x runeboggle. well we play around it and crush them, even though they had smash for my cuiro.
3-0-1
round 5
paired up against the team with the "best" "player" in SC, but since we already drew once we have to play here. they get some really good draws, and we lose. they gained somelthing like 20 lilfe this game from fetters, douse in gloom, mourning thrull, and ribbons of night.
3-1-1
round 6
have to play this round to make top 4, these guys apparently have good decks, we get a good start however as i get mark of eviction and galvanic arc on partners ledgewalker, but they have orzhov pontiff to stop it! soon we are in a bad position facing down a ghost council, an evangel, and a skysweaper that looks like its going to kill all of our evasion. knowing we dont have long, we start swinging with most everyone, and droning buerocrats makes it so they cant block effectivly and they get too low on life to counter attack, and we somehow pull it out.
4-1-1
top 4! the 4 best teams there made top 4, showing that its a skill testing format, and i like it for that. only problem is the games take way too long. anyway our top 4 decks were pretty nuts, aj has 2 pillory and mortify and moldervine cloak. i have hammerfist giant, double leap of flame, and living inferno.
top 4:
we lose the die roll and have to play first for the first time all day, but we get a decent curve with aj getting 1 drop 2 drop and me with 2 drop 3 drop. they have some tricks but i get hammerfist giant on turn 6. turn 7 i leap of flame our team and activate giant, they have to wildsize and withdstand to save their guys, but we swing in for 6 + 8 from giant. next turn i draw anohter leap, but aj draws chant of vhitu ghazi, so we just swing iwth everyone, combat damage on, use giant, in response chant, gain 71 life. at that point they are at 18 or so, we pillory a guy, my giant does 8 and regens with gaze from aj and hten finishes them off one turn later.
after this we watch the other top 4 match where our good friends are facing the evil empire which has the "best" "cheater" in the state. even though runyon played pretty bad at times, he makes the plays when he needs to, and they pull out a leap of flame victory for just enough when they are at 1. how lucky.
so finals we get to play runyon and chi, the guys we drew with round 3. their decks are apparently garbage, but they get some early beats... and then overwhelm, but we chump enough and stabilize at 6 while aj's vinelasher kudzu with moldervine cloak and flight of fancy get through for the win.
so we win and aj finally gets a state championship titile after coming so close so many times before.
22 January 2006
Guildpact
Guildpact prerelease this weekend. i did not attend. it looks like a solid set, been making some type 2 decks today to see how it goes.
deck 1: 8 putrefy deck
4 putrefy
4 mortify
4 jitte
4 birds
4 elves of deep shadow
4 hyppie
4 woodelves
2 heirarch
2 kokusho
3 arashi
2 ink eyes
2 north tree
some lands (mostly forest type dual lands)
deck 2: WWbob
4 dark confidant
3 isamaru
4 savannah lions
4 leonine skyhunter
3 kami of ancient law
2 suntail hawk
2 lantern kami
4 mortify
4 jitte
4 last gasp
2 otherworldly journy
2 cruel edict
some lands
deck 3: GRw (suggested by nathan)
4 elves
3 birds
4 kird ape
4 watchwolf
4 burningtree shaman
4 heirarch
4 jitte
4 helix
4 char
3 otherworldly journey
some lands (include 2 skargg pits thingy)
somethoughts:
GRw loses to 8 putrefy deck
8 Putrefy deck is fairly inconsistant with its explosiveness, but has lots of good sideboard stuff
WWbob is fun, agressive, but not very disruptive and doesnt have any reach. maybe needs anthem or hokori or something.
thoughts on format:
jitte is really good, i think you have to play it if you are aggro at all (ww sometimes runs suppression field, but i cant see not playing jitte when you have more creatures and yours have evasion)
UR decks get better with new set (obv) so lookout for Wildfire, URzatron, and UR LD Magnivore.
i got a few pals q'd for Honolulu so ill be helping them test, if you want to help let me know.
deck 1: 8 putrefy deck
4 putrefy
4 mortify
4 jitte
4 birds
4 elves of deep shadow
4 hyppie
4 woodelves
2 heirarch
2 kokusho
3 arashi
2 ink eyes
2 north tree
some lands (mostly forest type dual lands)
deck 2: WWbob
4 dark confidant
3 isamaru
4 savannah lions
4 leonine skyhunter
3 kami of ancient law
2 suntail hawk
2 lantern kami
4 mortify
4 jitte
4 last gasp
2 otherworldly journy
2 cruel edict
some lands
deck 3: GRw (suggested by nathan)
4 elves
3 birds
4 kird ape
4 watchwolf
4 burningtree shaman
4 heirarch
4 jitte
4 helix
4 char
3 otherworldly journey
some lands (include 2 skargg pits thingy)
somethoughts:
GRw loses to 8 putrefy deck
8 Putrefy deck is fairly inconsistant with its explosiveness, but has lots of good sideboard stuff
WWbob is fun, agressive, but not very disruptive and doesnt have any reach. maybe needs anthem or hokori or something.
thoughts on format:
jitte is really good, i think you have to play it if you are aggro at all (ww sometimes runs suppression field, but i cant see not playing jitte when you have more creatures and yours have evasion)
UR decks get better with new set (obv) so lookout for Wildfire, URzatron, and UR LD Magnivore.
i got a few pals q'd for Honolulu so ill be helping them test, if you want to help let me know.
12 January 2006
Jonny Magic
so i finished reading Jonny Magic and the Card Shark Kids by David Kushner. its the book about Jon Finkel, probably the best magic player ever. i would not have said that before i read the book, as i've always thought results spoke more so Kai was best, but yea Finkel owns Kai, maybe.
regardless, the book details jon's life as a fat nerd boy picked on by everybody, to being a magic pro picked on by his closest friends, to finally breaking out of his shell and becoming a blackjack card counting millionaire. needless to say, there is alot about finkel's life i didn't know. so all in all the book wasnt too bad, kinda dumb when talking about magic, but good through the other parts. seems to take a veiw about being smart and not fitting in that i don't agree with,but he sticks with it and is fairly convincing.
after reading the book, my veiw of Jon Finkel as a magic player went up alot, but my veiw of him as a human being went down alot as well.
i could talk about it more but i dont want to get preachy, which i know i can do sometimes.
regardless, the book details jon's life as a fat nerd boy picked on by everybody, to being a magic pro picked on by his closest friends, to finally breaking out of his shell and becoming a blackjack card counting millionaire. needless to say, there is alot about finkel's life i didn't know. so all in all the book wasnt too bad, kinda dumb when talking about magic, but good through the other parts. seems to take a veiw about being smart and not fitting in that i don't agree with,but he sticks with it and is fairly convincing.
after reading the book, my veiw of Jon Finkel as a magic player went up alot, but my veiw of him as a human being went down alot as well.
i could talk about it more but i dont want to get preachy, which i know i can do sometimes.
10 January 2006
Tom Ross
so was reading tml about ptq in shreveport LA this past weekend and apparently tom ross won. i didn't even know he still played, but he msgd me on AIM to confirm that he did indeed win, and had me post his winning decklist for him. its good to see old players getting back into the game, and if i recall he's pretty good. but then ive never seen him play...
we played once on modo when i believe he beat me. i was reading his profile and saw he was tom ross (i read everyone's profile) and i knew he had recently won a qualifier for Yokohama, which i also had qualified for (my one and so far only chance to play on the PT). we got to talking about whether either of us were going to attend or not, with school and money and stuff i did not end up attending (still get amateur prize tho!) not sure if he ended up going. i kept his name on my buddy lists but forgot about it until today.
thats the tom ross story. congrats tom!
we played once on modo when i believe he beat me. i was reading his profile and saw he was tom ross (i read everyone's profile) and i knew he had recently won a qualifier for Yokohama, which i also had qualified for (my one and so far only chance to play on the PT). we got to talking about whether either of us were going to attend or not, with school and money and stuff i did not end up attending (still get amateur prize tho!) not sure if he ended up going. i kept his name on my buddy lists but forgot about it until today.
thats the tom ross story. congrats tom!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)