EPTSo I did a couple prereleases this past weekend as per usual. Wasn't really hyped up for this set as I haven't really played much over the past 2-3 months since life gets in the way of drafting, but I figure this will likely be the last chance I get to play much magic for a long time for similar reasons to earlier blogs I've posted so...
Two Headed Giant, Sunday afternoon
I really enjoy these. Not only do they offer a vastly different and fun way to play, they also allow my friend and I to argue and fight and play scheme and bond and whatnot.
Rares:
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Metallic Mimic (promo)
Ajani, Unyielding
Quicksmith Spy
Lifecrafter's Bestiary
Botanical Sanctum
Fateful Showdown
Merchant's Dockhand
Ajani, Unyielding
Quicksmith Spy
Lifecrafter's Bestiary
Botanical Sanctum
Fateful Showdown
Merchant's Dockhand
In a counterpoint to last 2HG event we did, this time my pool was the bombier of the two. Our options were essentially to break out the obvious best of my colours, white and green and have us each play one, or have one very strong deck and a slightly weaker one. Ultiamtely we decided I'd go WG and play the Ajani and he went UB artifacts with Tezzeret's Touch, splashing R for Embraal Gear-smashers since the 2HG game mode doubles down on its effect.
I should note here that for some reason, the sealed pools opened at this event and the one to follow were absolutely gut-wrenchingly fucking insane. Of the three groups of two at our table alone, two Inventions were opened. Throughout the rest of the night, I think something like 8-10 inventions total were opened in...I want to say 50 or so people's worth of Prerelease Packs and prize packs? Ridiculous odds. And of course neither of us pulled one haha. My friend was upset he didn't even pull a single foil OR mythic. Managed to open a Torrential Gearhulk at the solo even later but I digress.
Just short summaries of these games before I get to the main event:
Round 1
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All i remember is they dropped Sword of War and Peace on us after one of the dudes mulled to 5, then cast Baral's Expertise to clear our board and the Death-Cascade-O-Tron (Treasure Keeper) for free that was similarly backbreaking. I can't remember what. I literally thought the game was over at that point, but I managed to pull off my trump card: Consulate Crackdown. Removed the troublesome artifacts from the game and we slowly clawed our way back for the win in an extremely close game. A great round and a lot of fun. Solid opponents.
Round 2
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We played against the guys who crushed us with aggro allies in 2HG Oath of the Gatewatch. This time it was a mirror match: they were also running GW and UB, but they had a Tezzeret on their side as well. This one ended in a draw though I think we had the long game.
Round 3
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We played against some of the Spikey regulars. Literally poker-faced the whole game, didn't even talk to each other. I get that people are allowed to be/play how they want, and they weren't rude or mean or anything, but somehow...I just find not socializing when I play a lot less fun. They refused the split too. Takes some of the joy out of it for me. In any case they absolutely friggin' CRUSHED us with heavy aggro. One dude basically did all the work with an almost mono-R deck splashing white, dropping Renegade Freighters left and right and smashing us down until we were finally able to stabilize at 3 life. At which point the dude topdecks Chandra and hits us for 4 to the face.
Ultimately I'm not sure if we played the pool right (he eventually took out his R splash beccause those bruisers weren't getting there) but we did some fun stuff (he also pulled a Mimic and managed to name all sorts of fun creature types with them), pulled some useless stuff (he opened an Inspiring Statuary and then another one later as a promo)
and had a good time overall.
Prize Pack Pulls:
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Walking Ballista
Heroic Intervention
Heroic Intervention
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Solo Prerelease
Here's the pool:
Rares:
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Herald of Anguish
Disallow
Merchant's Dockhand
Oath of Ajani (promo)
Oath of Ajani
Saheeli's Artistry
Insidious Will
Disallow
Merchant's Dockhand
Oath of Ajani (promo)
Oath of Ajani
Saheeli's Artistry
Insidious Will
So, the big black Demon is one of very few super-bombs in the set, and my black was looking pretty good, as were my on-color rares for blue. I barely opened any white cards at all, so that was out. The choice was essentially whether to go full 3 color with Grixis, or to splash a color. Ultimately I decided to try something that was a little bit outside my comfort zone. I tend not to play very controlling decks or durdly ones, I generally worry about curving out and playing good stuff rather than working to any sort of odd gameplan. With this deck I had the materials to make something fun work so I decided to give it a try. I built my deck around artifacts and the Improvise mechanic, essentially attempting to crush my opponents with card advantage and an early big-ass Demon.
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/grixis-artifax/
Match 1 vs UW stuff
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This guy was real nice. We went back-and forth all game disrupting each others' game plans, calling out each others' good plays here and there. Just a very fun match. In game 1 I powered out my Demon which he was able to slowly stall for a few turns at a time tapping it down/bouncing it, but ultimately the card advantage and board state proved too great. Game 2 was INSANELY close. We were coming down to time, my demon was removed, and I was staring down a bunch of vehicles, including the Heart of Kiran. I was able to stall out my pulling Saheeli's Artistry on him, naming the Heart and bouncing his UW 3/2 flier (that also bounces artifacts) but it came down to me having one life left in turns, a vehicle and a flier on the board, and him with a flier and a Servo. I literally said out loud 'I lose' and all but scooped to him there but I sat back and waited---AND HE DIDN'T ATTACK. I then went on to win on the next turn.
He shook my hand and was very jovial about it all but I still kinda felt awful (I imagine he was doing his best to hide the salt as well as I profusely apologised). It felt a little bit scummy when you're 'table talking' the entirety of the game back and forth and then suddenly clam up when the win is on the line. I know I didn't technically do anything wrong and it's not my responsibility to point out what plays my opponent should make, but hopefully I'm still conveying that some part of it still feels like I'm a jerk and don't deserve it.
Record 1-0
He shook my hand and was very jovial about it all but I still kinda felt awful (I imagine he was doing his best to hide the salt as well as I profusely apologised). It felt a little bit scummy when you're 'table talking' the entirety of the game back and forth and then suddenly clam up when the win is on the line. I know I didn't technically do anything wrong and it's not my responsibility to point out what plays my opponent should make, but hopefully I'm still conveying that some part of it still feels like I'm a jerk and don't deserve it.
Record 1-0
Match 2 vs GB stuff
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GB is supposed to have a counters theme but Game 1 my opponent had an 'I'm flooding the hell out' theme. Easy win first game. The second game he pulled a win out of nowhere by attacking through with tramplers for lethal after removing a bunch of blockers all at the same time with Monstrous Onslaught and some other removal spell when I probably had the win on the board next turn. Game 3 he pulls out a Demon of his own which we promptly smashed into each other and traded. At any point in either of the 2nd or 3rd games I think Saheeli's Artistry would have handed me an easy win but I never drew it against him unfortunately. Also really nice guy. Felt like I should have won it, but it probably would have required me to both play and draw a little better. I think the first game made me let down my guard.
Record 1-1
Record 1-1
Match 3 vs UW combo
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Ended up splitting this one with a store employee so we played a game for fun. Another super nice guy. He was mana screwed and I had him down to something like 5-6 life after removing Aetherstorm Roc and a monstrous board but then he started playing creatures and slowing me down. I finally Iced Over his Pacification Array and was ready to start smashing in but then came the combo: Reservoir Walker + Mechanized Production. Gain life and energy every turn, use the energy to draw cards with Shielded Aether Thief and the blue enchantment from Kaladesh. I couldn't hit him for enough in the end and he just won. Super fun game again though, and really genuinely cool to lose to something like that.
Final record: 1-1-1
Final record: 1-1-1
Stuff I learned: I am capable of building a cool deck with a clear plan that does things! Trophy Mage grabbing FIligree Familiar was a house. Preventing mana screw with Maps and recurring them for Impovising felt really good, as did spending energy to make Thopters at the drop of a hat for beats or more free mana. Demon was big friggin' demon. I even played durdly 'draw some cards' cards. Although next time, remember that Reverse Engineer is NOT an instant.
Prize Pack Pulls:
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Indomitable Creativity
Sram, Senior Edificer
Sram, Senior Edificer
As always, comments/questions are more than welcome, and in fact encouraged. If there's anything anyone reading this does not understand I'd be more than happy to explain some of the terminology or choices I made.
