EPTMain:
4 Inkmoth Nexus
4 Blinkmoth Nexus
3 Glimmervoid
4 Darksteel Citidel
1 Island
4 Vault Skirge
4 Signal Pest
4 Ornithopter
4 Arcbound Ravager
4 Steel Overseer
3 Etched Champion
2 Memnite
1 Master of Etherium
4 Cranial Plating
4 Springleaf Drum
4 Mox Opal
4 Thoughtcast
1 Galvanic Blast
1 Spell Pierce
SB:
2 Blood Moon
2 Thoughtseize
1 Whipflare
2 Wear//Tear
1 Rest in Peace
1 Etched Champion
1 Topor Orb
1 Spell Pierce
2 Choke
2 Spellskite
Round 1
1-0 vs Scapeshift
Game 1 I had a clutch spell pierce on a Cryptic Command that he was using to tap down my board on my winning attack. Game 2 was extremely one-sided.
Round 2
2-0 vs Kiki Pod
I had a few play mistakes this round but in the end it didn't matter. I lost game 1 due to Galvanic Blasting a wall instead of a Restoration Angel. Games 2 and 3 played out smoothly enough and I was able to close it out.
Round 3
2-1 vs Hexproof Auras
This is probably my most dreaded matchup. I lost game 1 after both our life totals shot over 50. I had a 26/13 Vault Skirge that just couldn’t hack it against his Slippery Bogle with about a dozen auras on it. Game 2 I closed out quickly by Wear//Tearing his Spider Umbra and attacking in the air with Cranial Plating. Game 3, in one of my biggest mistakes of the day, I tapped out on turn 2 for an Etched Champion with a Mox Opal and 2 Blinkmoth Nexus’, and he responded by playing Stony Silence on his turn 2. I had a Wear//Tear and Spell Pierce in hand, which never saw the light of day that game due to having no colored mana.
Round 4
3-1 vs Melira Pod
My opponent got mana screwed game 2. A very unfortunate match overall.
Round 5
4-1 vs Melira Pod
I didn’t realize what he was playing game 1 because I had a natural turn 3 win on the play. I was able to drop 4 artifacts including a signal pest and a cranial plating thanks to having two Mox Opals on turn 1. Game 2 I boarded in both Wear//Tears and Blood Moons. I kept a hand that had 2 Wear//Tears and he never played any artifacts or enchantments, and he overwhelmed me with Kitchen Finks, Murderous Redcap and Voice of Resurgence. Game 3 I resolved a turn 4 Blood Moon and he scooped after fetching for 3 duals.
Round 6
4-2 vs B/W Tokens
I won game 1 pretty handedly and was confident in my success against this rogue matchup. I boarded in Whipflare and the 4th Etched Champion. Game 2 he ended up taking it after I had a very slow opening. He then offered to intentionally draw with me which I declined because I thought I had it on lock. Game 3 he resolved a Falkenrath Aristocrat and the board stalemated with him at 2 and me at 9. We both proceeded to draw-go back and forth for 3 turns, and he drew threats when I drew lands. I drew Whipflare but his Aristocrat just got bigger and his two Doomed Travelers just turned into fliers. GG.
Round 7
5-2 vs Zoo
At this point I had no chance to top 8 but I was playing for prizes since the winner would get top 16. I easily 2-0’d zoo by flying over his Kird Ape and Goblin Guide both games with a Cranial Plating on a Vault Skirge. He offered to split prizes before the match which I again declined (this time it was a good idea!)
I finished in 11th place, tied for 8th but with worse tiebreakers. Overall it was a very fun tournament and I love the state of Modern right now. Choke didn’t do too well, I was expecting to see Twin or Merfolk more. Hexproof Auras made a strong showing. The MVP of my deck was Spell Pierce, I'm very happy with the decision to throw it in at the last minute.
As for the top 8, I didn’t really see much except I’m positive that B/W Tokens, two versions of RUG Twin, and a Summer Bloom list all made it in.
Thanks for reading!
