The LiquidLegends Lounge - Page 1386

For the record, she was my right neighbour and I cut a Boon of Emrakul somewhat late, and got passed a Dead Weight when she opened pack 3, and another one for the 4th pick (so her 3rd). She told me she was more of a Pokemon player although she knew Magic, and when she said we didn't lend enough sleeves (40 tho) she explained she had a low curve and 14 lands... we made her cut Alm of the Vein x2 and also add a land or two.

Game 1 I kept a hand a bit sketchy, had a Shepherd and Stitcher out, ready to attach Lunarch Mantle to it and kill fast through the air if needed, but I was casting Startled Awake anyway.
And drawing an Anguished Unmaking when I brought the creature out, oops. Plus the mill obviously gave her Delirium, prompting a quick Dusk Feaster to prevent me from attacking in the air, equipped with Cathar's Shield the next turn so I can't even double block it.
I still managed to hit a bit, and planned to attack with 2 flyers (only Dusk with Mutation attached could block) and empty my hand asap to let her Asylum Visitor kill her, but she had Noosegraf Mob out and played Campaign of Vengeance... synergy! I promptly died to the drain.

Game 2 I had to mull, with an hand a bit slow, but found Startled Awake again, and she remained stuck on one mana for 3 turns after mulling to 5. Not much to had aside from a misused Constable (on her end step rather than my upkeep) that let me swing with the 1/1.
Game 3 Looked to be harder with a Standad-Bearer to shit 1/1s (again had Startled Awake in hand). However she emptied her hand playing Fiend Binder the previous turn, even though she didn't need it (Feaster and Campaign of Vengeance out, I was on 4 life after a couple swings), so when I bounced the Standard-Bearer she couldn't drop a token in response, and I milled her out.

He first-picked her. According to him B was wide open and he should have switched to it but clung too much on Tamiyo (W was picked by the 3 guys on his right: GW, me, and the BW), he still got a fuckton of G though, like the fighting Stag, Prey Upon, a couple Bloodbriars...
He's also the guy who played Emerge with the absolutely busted perfect clues package off of the SOI pack last draft.

Anyway he was playing Emerge so I didn't expect to win.
I actually managed to get him somewhat low between removal, bounce, and a Vexing Scutler buffed with Harvest Hand. However dealing with 2x Wretched Gryff and a Bloodbriar with 2 counters is...
Sigardian Priest did a lot of work until the Stag came down and sniped it.
Tamiyo came out, but he didn't keep enough defense so I bounced his creature and killed her with the Scuttler. In the end I dropped him to 4 life but he had way too wide a board.

Game 2 was more of the same (including Stag on Priest action), with me also getting stuck on lands for super long (and having to Imprison his Gryff to even ramp him), Bloodbriar saved from Puncturing Light by an Explosive Apparatus (completely overlooked that, so did he at first), a Tamiyo better protected this time...
Tbh I'm surprised that I fought this long against Emerge built right (again... ).

I asked him about the Bloodbriars since every time he gets value out of them, and he told me he tends to pick them "mid pack." As a matter of fact I maybe saw one early pack 1 and that was all.
He also drew more of his Emerge creatures than me, and Gryffs give more value than a Scuttler when I don't have sorceries/instants.

Oh boy were these games close...
Quick summary of how it went: all 3 games I got stuck on lands very early while he hit his, he played the 4/4 hellbent rare on curve. Yeah, not great for my deck.
He'll show me 2x Bombardment, Collective Defiance, Reduce to Ashes, Spreading Flames, Certain Death...

Game 1 I played Imprisoned in the Moon on the hellbent, and had Censer out and Stitcher + Fog Walker.
Gave him the 5th mana to exile my equipped Walker, and 2 turns later when I had a Scuttler emerged out gave him the 7th mana to kill it with Spreading Flames.
I also had to bounce a simple Graf Rats early on to survive blocking it + Galvanic Bombardment, not great.
At some point I only had Drownyard Explorers+Censer when he played Midnight Scavengers and melded... then played Grotesque Mutation on top of it. I go from 10 to 2 while he goes from 10 to 18. Yeah.
Of note, I cast Startled Awake once, but I couldn't finish him off simply because I couldn't afford a dead turn flipping it to avoid dying.
Spontaneous Mutation saves me next turn (right 5 cards in the yard for the Host), and I get Shepherd so I start hitting in the air, hoping he doesn't have another trick or burn to finish me off... then he plays Thermo-Alchemist and I topdeck Apothecary Geist... my opponent gets tense when he realises that I can keep bouncing it to not just buy a couple turns but get out of Thermo/burn range. With both flyers and his now almost empty library he loses. Phew.

Game 2 starts the same (and again I'm stuck 4+ turns on 3 mana with multiple 4-mana plays, and I end up forced to Imprison and ramp him). This time Thermo-Alchemist comes down turn 2 so I can't dawdle... well I don't have a choice. :<
It comes down to me having Reaper and a couple creatures out but none in the yard (Reduce to Ashes exiled the only killed one) and him passing the turn with Outcast and 7 mana without attacking. I alpha strike, thinking I can handle the trample crackback because I have Enlightened Maniac to play after, and he kills a creature with Outcast so I can win next turn using Reaper's Delirium (he's on 4 life, woulda died previous turn with a creature in the yard).
He transforms Outcast EoT, swings, and I realise I'll prob die to tap out for pump + alchemist. Actually he's got Grotesque Mutation so he doesn't need that, and gains way too much life. My loss was decided for at least a couple turns then, even if I didn't swing on the ground the previous turn and blocked the Outcast with enough to stem the trampling, 13 life gained would be too much for me to win before the Alchemist finishes me off.

Game 3 I get stuck on two mana for 3+ turns this time, ffs. And the 4/4 comes down again, and I have Fog + Censer again. I take 8 from Brazen Wolves + hellbent, 'cause I only have one creature, no 4rd land and too afraid to chump. He plays Reduce to Ashes on curve anyway.
I Shieldmate EoT (coulda used it to block and survive, but a trick woulda killed walker anyway), and miraculously topdeck a land for Faith Unbroken. He doesn't attack with Wolves, indicating he doesn't actually have a burn/trick to get the hellbent back (4/3 vs 4/5), and I slap Lunarch Mantle just to get out of Spreading Flames or Collective Defiance + Bombardment range.
The whole game I'm terrified of any removal or an alpha strike (I'm on 8 life I have to block) followed by a burn/trick, but it doesn't come and we go to turns, with my 6/7 that can fly, and a censer sitting there 'cause I need to hold mana for bounce... with a couple more creatures to hold the fort I'd certainly try to sac a couple lands to kill him (haunted dead gave him a token to block the first attack), but it's way too risky. If I draw Startled Awake, or if he draws more creatures or burn or the Alchemist... it can decide the game.
In the end I survive turns.