Geoffrey Miranda – White Trash
Creatures
4 Baneslayer Angel
4 Knight of the White Orchid
4 Guardian Seraph
3 Sanctum Gargoyle
2 Wall of Reverence
1 Captain of the Watch

Spells
4 Path to Exile
2 Day of Judgment
3 Armillary Sphere
2 Celestial Purge
2 Scourglass
1 Martial Coup
1 Obelisk of Alara

Lands
3 Emeria, the Sky Ruin
2 Arid Mesa
1 Mountain
19 Plains

Sideboard
2 Luminarch Ascension
2 Celestial Purge
4 Ethersworn Canonist
4 Pitfall Trap
1 Scourglass

Sam Lafferty – Bloody Spring Beauty
Creatures
4 Goblin Guide
4 Elite Vanguard
4 Steppe Lynx
4 Plated Geopede
4 Ranger of Eos
4 Knight of the White Orchid
2 Baneslayer Angel

Spells
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Harm’s Way
4 Path to Exile

Lands
4 Terramorphic Expanse
4 Arid Mesa
4 Mountain
1 Naya Panorama
9 Plains

Sideboard
4 Devout Lightcaster
4 Celestial Purge
4 Oblivion Ring
3 Banefire

Ryan Mayes – The New Control
Creatures
4 Goblin Guide
4 Elite Vanguard
4 Steppe Lynx
4 Plated Geopede
3 Ranger of Eos
4 Kor Skyfisher
2 Goblin Bushwhacker

Spells
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Burst Lightning
4 Path to Exile

Lands
3 Teetering Peaks
4 Scalding Tarn
4 Marsh Flats
4 Arid Mesa
4 Mountain
4 Plains

Sideboard
2 Ajani Vengeant
3 Celestial Purge
2 Manabarbs
3 Harm’s Way
1 Kor Sanctifiers
2 Oblivion Ring
2 Lapse of Certainty

Alexander Hayden – Jund Aggro
Creatures
2 Vampire Nighthawk
4 Putrid Leech
4 Sprouting Thrinax
4 Bloodbraid Elf

Spells
3 Bituminous Blast
3 Terminate
3 Jund Charm
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Chandra Nalaar
3 Maelstrom Pulse
4 Blightning

Land
5 Swamp
3 Forest
1 Crumbling Necropolis
1 Terramorphic Expanse
4 Savage Lands
4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Mountain
2 Kazandu Refuge
1 Akoum Refuge

Sidebaord
4Magma Spray
1 Chandra Nalaar
1 Pithing Needle
1 Deathmark
3 Vampire Hexmage
1 Nyxathid
2 Lightning Reaver

Don Brierly Twilight
Creatures
3 Broodmate Dragon
4 Sprouting Thrinax
4 Bloodbraid Elf

Spells
4 Bituminous Blast
4 Terminate
3 Jund Charm
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Chandra Nalaar
3 Maelstrom Pulse
3 Garruk Wildspeaker
2 Sarkhan Vol
2 Violent Ultimatum

Land
4 Swamp
2 Forest
6 Mountain
2 Dragonskull Summit
2 Rootbound Crag
4 Savage Lands
2 Oran-Rief, the Vastwood
1 Kazandu Refuge
2 Akoum Refuge

Sidebaord
1Jund Charm
1 Maelstrom Pulse
2 Volcanic Fallout
3 Goblin Assault
4 Duress
4 Blightning

Anthony Carlson- Vampires Strike Back
Creatures
3 Malakir Bloodwitch
4 Vampire Nocturnus
4 Vampire Nighthawk
4 Gatekeeper of Malakir
4 Bloodghast
4 Vampire Lacerator

Spells
4 Tendrils of Corruption
4 Sign in Blood
3 Disfigure
3 Mind Sludge

Lands
15 Swamp
4 Verdant Catacombs
4 Marsh Flats

Sideboard
3 Duress
4 Deathmark
4 Black Knight
3 Quest for the Gravelord
1 Disfigure

Austyn Tempesta
Creatures
3 Broodmate Dragon
4 Putrid Leech
4 Sprouting Thrinax
4 Bloodbraid Elf

Spells
4 Bituminous Blast
4 Terminate
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Garruk Wildspeaker
3 Maelstrom Pulse
3 Blightning

Land
3 Swamp
5 Forest
3 Rootbound Crag
3 Dragonskull Summit
4 Savage Lands
3 Verdant Catacombs
3 Mountain

Sidebaord
3 Great Sable Stag
2 Pyroclasm
2 Thought Hemorrhage
4 Jund Charm
3 Deathmark
1 Goblin Ruinblaster

Robert Wyatt
Creatures
3 Broodmate Dragon
4 Sprouting Thrinax
4 Bloodbraid Elf

Spells
3 Bituminous Blast
2 Terminate
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Garruk Wildspeaker
3 Maelstrom Pulse
4 Blightning
2 Resounding Thunder

Land
4 Swamp
4 Forest
4 Rootbound Crag
3 Dragonskull Summit
4 Savage Lands
4 Verdant Catacombs
2 Mountain

Sidebaord
4 Duress
1 Pyroclasm
2 Thought Hemorrhage
4 Jund Charm
4 Goblin Ruinblaster

Alexander Hadyen – Landfall Zoo
Creatures
4 Bloodbraid Elf
2 Putrid Leech
2 Scute Mob
4 Goblin Guide
4 Lotus Cobra
1 Ob Nixilis, the Fallen
4 Plated Geopede

Spells
4 Khalni Heart Expedition
2 Terminate
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Bituminous Blast
3 Harrow
3 Maelstrom Pulse

Lands
4 Rootbound Crag
4 Verdant Catacombs
2 Dragonskull Summit
2 Swamp
3 Savage Lands
4 Mountain
4 Arid Mesa
2 Forest

Sideboard
2 Terminate
2 Malakir Bloodwitch
2 Great Sable Stag
3 Thought Hemorrhage
3 Pithing Needle
2 Blightning
1 Ob Nixilis, the Fallen

Mike Pfaff
Creatures
4 Vampire Lacerator
4 Bloodghast
4 Vampire Nighthawk
4 Gatekeeper of Malakir
3 Vampire Hexmage
2 Black Knight
2 Malakir Bloodwitch

Spells
4 Duress
4 Tendrils of Corruption
3 Sign in Blood

Land
4 Verdant Catacombs
19 Swamp

Sideboard
3 Mind Sludge
3 Deathmark
3 Infest
4 Disfigure
4 Black Knight

David Boylston – Crabs in My Howling Mine
Creatures
4 Hedron Crab

Spells
4 Howling Mine
3 Font of Mythos
4 Archive Trap
2 Jace Beleren
4 Day of Judgment
3 Path to Exile
4 Angelsong
4 Fog
2 Safe Passage
4 Negate

Land
4 Plains
4 Forest
6 Island
4 Seaside Citadel
4 Misty Rainforest

Sideboard
4 Twincast
4 Sunspring Expedition
4 Flash Freeze
3 Relic of Progenitus
2 Celestial Purge

David Faulkner – Blood +
Creatures
4 Malakir Bloodwitch
4 Vampire Nocturnus
3 Vampire Nighthawk
4 Gatekeeper of Malakir
2 Vampire Hexmage
4 Bloodghast
4 Vampire Lacerator

Spells
4 Tendrils of Corruption
4 Sing in Blood
4 Disfigure

Lands
22 Swamp
1 Verdant Catacombs

Sideboard
4 Duress
3 Deathmark
3 Black Knight
2 Vampire Hexmage
3 Mind Sludge

Taylor Raflowitz
Creatures
4 Goblin Guide
4 Elite Vanguard
4 Steppe Lynx
4 Plated Geopede
3 Ranger of Eos
4 Kor Skyfisher
2 Goblin Bushwhacker

Spells
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Burst Lightning
4 Path to Exile

Lands
4 Teetering Peaks
4 Scalding Tarns
2 Marsh Flats
4 Arid Mesa
3 Mountain
4 Plains

Sideboard
3 goblin Ruinblaster
4 Celestial Purge
3 Magma Spray
4 Harm’s Way
1 Ranger of Eos

Joe Leigh – Bantchez
Creatures
4 Baneslayer Angel
4 Knight of the Reliquary
4 Noble Hierarch
4 Rhox War Monk
4 Steward of Valeron

Spells
4 Bant Charm
4 Path to Exile
3 Negate
3 Vines of Vastwood
3 Ajani Goldmane

Lands
2 Forest
3 Plains
2 Island
4 Sunpetal Grove
4 Misty Rainforest
3 Glacial Fortress
1 Gargoyle Castle
1 Tarramorphic Expanse
1 Oran-Rief, the Vastwood

Sideboard
4 Mind Control
1 Summoning Trap
4 Harm’s Way
4 Valeron Outlander
2 Hindering Light
1 Negate

Geoffrey Miranda – Whiteout
Creatures
4 Baneslayer Angel
4 Guardian Seraph
4 Knight of the White Orchid
2 Sanctum Gargoyle
2 Captain of the Watch
2 Wall of Reverance

Spells
4 Day of Judgment
4 Path to Exile
4 Armillary Sphere
3 Scourglass
3 Pitfall Trap
3 Obelisk of Alara

Lands
3 Emeria, the Sky Ruin
2 Arid Mesa
2 Mountains
18 Plains

Sideboard
1 Scourglass
2 Pitfall Trap
4 Luminarch Ascension
4 Celestial Purge
4 Ethersworn Canonist

Austym Tempesta
Creatures
4 Broodmate Dragon
4 Putrid Leech
4 Sprouting Thrinax
4 Bloodbraid Elf

Spells
4 Bituminous Blast
4 Terminate
4 Qasali Pridemage
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Garruk Wildpseaker
3 Maelstrom Pulse
3 Blightning

Land
5 Swamp
5 Forest
7 Rootbound Crag
9 Dragonskull Summit
4 Savage Land
1 Verdant Catacombs
3 Mountain

Sidebaord
4Great Sable Stag
2 Pyroclasm
2 Thought Hemorrhage
4 Jund Charm
3 Deathmark

Melvin Bernard Conyers – Vampires
Creatures
4 Gatekeeper of Malakir
4 Bloodghast
4 Vampire Lacerator
4 Vampire Nocturnus
3 Malakir Bloodwitch
1 Ob Nixilis, the Fallen
4 Vampire Nighthawk
2 Vampire Aristocrat

Spells
4 Sign in Blood
4 Doom Blade
4 Tendrils of Corruption

Lands
3 Verdant Catacombs
19 Swamp

Sideboard
15 Swamp

Andre Garcia – Cruel Truths
Creatures
4 Sphinx of Lost Truths

Spells
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Sign in Blood
1 Essence Scatter
1 Negate
4 Terminate
1 Jace Beleren
4 Blightning
2 Volcanic Fallout
1 Traumatic Visions
1 Chandra Nalaar
3 Cruel Ultimatum
1 Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker
1 Banefire
2 Earthquake

Land
3 Crumbling Necropolis
3 Dragonskull Summit
2 Drowned Catacomb
1 Scalding Tarn
6 Mountain
6 Swamp
6 Island

Sideboard
2 Pithing Needle
2 Essence Scatter
2 Into the Roil
1 Negate
3 Pyroclasm
3 Anathemancer
1 Volcanic Fallout
1 Thought Hemorrhage

David Sharffman
Creatures
4 Steppe Lynx
4 Goblin Guide
3 Elite Vanguard
4 Plated Geopede
4 White Knight
3 Ranger of Eos

Spells
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Harm’s Way
4 Path to Exile
3 Ajani Vengeant

Land
4 Arid Mesa
3 Scalding Tarn
4 Marsh Flats
7 Plains
5 Mountain
2 Jungle Shrine

Sideboard
4 Oblivion Ring
2 Banefire
2 Pyroclasm
2 Luminarch Ascension
2 Kor Sanctifiers
3 Celestial Purge

Cliff Weixler – 4 Color Cascade
Creatures
4 Bloodbraid Elf
4 Sprouting Thrinax
4 Baneslayer Angel
2 Ob Nixilis, the Fallen
2 Enlisted Wurm

Spells
4 Maelstrom Pulse
4 Terminate
3 Bituminous Blast
4 Captured Sunlight
2 Ajani Vengeant
2 Day of Judgment

Lands
4 Marsh Flats
3 Arid Mesa
2 Verdant Catacombs
3 Plains
2 Forest
2 Mountain
2 Swamp
3 Savage Lands
2 Jungle Shrine
2 Sunpetal Grove
1 Dragonskull Summit

Sideboard
3 Celestial Purge
3 Pyroclasm
1 Day of Judgment
4 Blightning
4 Mind Rot

Kean Tran – R/G Jank
Spells
4 Garruk Wildspeaker
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Nissa Revane
2 Overrun
1 Sarkhan Vol
1 Fireball

Creatures
4 Bloodbraid Elf
4 Nissa’s Chosen
4 Elvish Archdruid
4 Elvish Visionary
4 Llanowar Elves
3 Birds of Paradise

Lands
4 Terramorphic Expanse
4 Rootbound Crag
2 Mountain
12 Forest

Sideboard
4 Great Sable Stag
2 Windstorm
2 Pithing Needle
7 Mountain

Chris Lewis – The Unknown Soldier
Creatures
4 Akrasan Squire
4 Elite Vanguard
4 Veteran Swordsmith
4 Kazandu Blademaster
4 Kor Aeronaut

Spells
4 Honor of the Pure
4 Path to Exile
4 Conquerors Pledge
2 Ajani Goldmane
2 Elspeth, Knight Errant
2 Gargoyle Castle

Lands
2 Emeria, the Sky Ruin
20 Plains

Sideboard
4 Devout Lightcaster
4 Harm’s Way
4 Brave the Elements
3 Oblivion Ring

Cory Hall – Fire Down Below
Creatures
4 Bloodbraid Elf
4 Sprouting Thrinax
3 Broodmate Dragon

Spells
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Jund Charm
4 Bituminous Blast
3 Maelstrom Pulse
3 Terminate
3 Garruk Wildspeaker
2 Sarkhan Vol
2 Violent Ultimatum

Lands
4 Savage Lands
2 Rootbound Crag
2 Dragonskull Summit
6 Mountain
4 Swamp
2 Forest
2 Oran-Rief, the Vastwood
2 Akoum Refuge
1 Kazandu Refuge

Sideboard
4 Anathemancer
3 Goblin Assault
3 Duress
3 Volcanic Fallout
1 Maelstrom Pulse
1 Terminate

Maxwell Bryant – The Path to Justice
Creatures
4 Baneslayer Angel

Spells
4 Day of Judgment
4 Martial Coup
4 Qasali Pridemage
4 Harrow
2 Path to Exile
1 Conqueror’s Pledge
3 Luminarch Ascension
4 Garruk Wildspeaker
2 Journey to Nowhere

Land
4 Terramorphic Expanse
4 Bant Panorama
7 Forest
9 Plains

New decks were intoduced this week with the rotation of Zendikar into the Standard format. Among them came two new archetypal aggro decks just asking to be featured as a grudge-match: Vampires vs. Goblins. Which of the two depraved clans would win? Read on to find out…

Patrick Jarrett was playing the red goblin deck while David Sharfman piloted the black vampires. Sharfman won the roll, laid a swamp and a Vampire Lacerator and passed. Jarret laid a mountain and passed, then got Duressed out of a Dragon Fodder on Sharfman’s turn, going down to 20. Jarret played Goblin Guide and Goblin Bushwhacker, forcing his opponent to reveal Vampire Nocturnus as the top card of his deck, a bad omen of things to come.

Sharfman attacked with Vampire Lacerator, bringing Jarrett down to 16. a Kicked Gatekeeper of Malakir made Jarret sac his Bushwhacker. Teetering Peaks gave the Guide +2/+0 which was then blocked by the Gatekeeper.

Sharfman attacked with his Vampire Lacerator and passed. Jarrett played a mountain and also passed. Bloodghast came out and the Lacerator attacked, bringing Jaret down to 12. He played another mountain and a Warren Instigator and passed. The Bloodghast swung but was blocked by the Goblin Guide. Sharfman played Vampire Nighthawk and passed. Another Teetering Peak gave an unblocked Instigator +2/+0.

The Lacerator and Nighthawk attacked the following turn and were joined by Vampire Hexmage. Jarret played a mountain and passed. Sharfman brought out another Vampire Nocturnus, to which his opponent responded by Lightning Bolting his Nighthawk. The Nocturnus revealed a swamp on top of his deck, denying the vampires their boost. The Lacerator went in for two, bringing Jarret down to 4.

Jarrett played a Goblin Chieftan, hoping to give his remaining goblins a much needed boost, but after the following turn’s draw revealed another Nocturnus on top of Sharfman’s deck, Jarrett scooped and got ready for the next game.

Below are their decklists…

Geoffrey Mirandi – Jund Midrange
Creatures
4 Broodmate Dragon
4 Bloodbraid Elf
2 Bogardan Hellkite
3 Sprouting Thrinax

Spells
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Maelstrom Pulse
3 Garruk Wildspeaker
3 Fertile Ground
3 Rampant Growth
3 Resounding Thunder
3 Bituminous Blast

Lands
3 Savage Lands
3 Rootbound Crag
2 Dragonskull Summit
1 Terramorphic Expanse
5 Swamp
5 Forest
4 Mountain

Sideboard
3 Jund Charm
3 Anathemancer
2 Volcanic Fallout
1 Infest
1 Cloudthresher
1 Banefire
1 Great Sable Stag
1 Resounding Thunder
1 Spitting Image

Zachary Textar
Creatures
4 Merfolk Sovereign
4 Stonybrook Banneret
4 Silvergill Adept
2 Sower of Temptation
2 Sygg, River Guide
3 Wake Thrasher

Spells
4 Merrow Reejerey
4 Ponder
3 Path to Exile
4 Cryptic Command
3 Sage’s Dousing

Lands
3 Mystic Gate
4 Mutavault
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Wanderwine Hub
2 Plains
6 Island

Sideboard
4 Reveillark
1 Celestial Purge
1 Sleep
4 Meddling Mage
2 Glen Elendra Archmage
3 Burrenton Forge-Tender

Chris Lewis – One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
Creatures
4 Merrow Reejerey
4 Stonybrook Banneret
4 Silvergill Adept
4 Merfolk Sovereign
3 Sygg, River Guide
2 Sower of Temptation
3 Path to Exile

Spells
4 Sage’s Dousing
4 Cryptic Command
4 Ponder

Lands
4 Mutavault
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Wanderwine Hub
3 Mystic Gate
9 Island

Sideboard
3 Glen Elendra Archmage
4 Ethersworn Canonist
3 Burrenton Forge-Tender
2 Sower of Temptation
2 Reveillark

William Postlethwait
Creatures
4 Swans of Bryn Argoll
4 Baneslayer Angel
4 Ajani Vengeant
2 Banefire

Spells
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Intimidation Bolt
4 Flame Javelin
3 Pyroclasm
3 Volcanic Fallout
3 Hallowed Burial

Lands
6 Mountain
5 Plains
4 Savage Lands
2 Mutavault
4 Reflecting Pool
4 Rugged Prairie

Sideboard
3 Runed Halo
2 Fracturing Gust
1 Hallowed Burial
4 Guttural Response
4 Kitchen Finks
1 Banefire

Julius Heywood
Creatures
4 Mistbind Clique
4 Spellstutter Sprite
3 Scion of Oona
2 Sower of Temptation
1 Pestermite
1 Vendilion Clique

Spells
4 Bitterblossom
4 Cryptic Command
4 Ponder
2 Agony Warp
3 Doom Blade
4 Broken Ambitions

Lands
4 Secluded Glen
4 Mutavault
4 Drowned Catacomb
4 Sunken Ruins
5 Swamp
5 Island

Sideboard
3 Deathmark
3 Thoughtseize
4 Infest
2 Countersquall
3 Flashfreeze

Melvin Conyers Jr. – 5 Color Discard Control
Creatures
1 Sen Triplets
2 Broodmate Dragon
4 Shriekmaw
4 Bloodbraid Elf
3 Mulldrifter

Spells
2 Cruel Ultimatum
2 Makeshift Mannequin
3 Bituminous Blast
4 Esper Charm
3 Blightning
4 Cryptic Command
3 Hallowed Burial

Lands
1 Fire-Lit Thicket
1 Graven Cairns
2 Mystic Gate
2 Sunken Ruins
4 Reflecting Pool
3 Vivid Crag
4 Vivid Creek
4 Vivid Marsh
2 Island
2 Swamp

Sideboard
1 Burrenton Forge-Tender
2 Glen Elendra Archmage
3 Kitchen Finks
3 Fulminator Mage
3 Volcanic Fallout
3 Ethersworn Canonist

Colton Seabough – Kithkin
Creatures
2 Burrenton Forge-Tender
3 Goldmeadow Stalwart
4 Figure of Destiny
4 Wizened Cenn
4 Knight of Meadowgrain
2 Ranger of Eos
4 Cloudgoat Ranger

Spells
4 Spectral Procession
3 Path to Exile
4 Honor of the Pure
2 Ajani Vengeant

Lands
4 Windbrisk Heights
2 Rustic Clachan
18 Plains

Sideboard
1 Burrenton Forge-Tender
3 Stillmoon Cavalier
2 Silence
1 Ethersworn Canonist
1 Path to Exile
2 Unmake
3 Pithing Needle
2 Safe Passage

John Dean
Creatures
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Nettle Sentinel
4 Devoted Druid
4 Ranger of Eos
4 Heritage Druid
4 Regal Force
1 Mirror Entity
4 Elvish Archdruid
4 Elvish Visionary
1 Burrenton Forge-Tender
1 Gilt-Leaf Archdruid

Spells
4 Primal Command
2 Path to Exile

Lands
7 Forest
1 Plains
4 Wooded Bastion
4 Sunpetal Grove
3 Mosswort Bridge

Sideboard
1 Burrenton Forge-Tender
3 Mark of Asylum
4 Oversoul of Dusk
4 Great Sable Stag
3 Acidic Slime

1st Place: Forrest Mead
2nd Place: Ricky Calarco
3rd/4th Place: Sterling Schroeder and Jimmy Bishop
5th-8th Place: Joe Leigh, Zach Efland, David Sharfman, and Mike Minyon

Coverage
Zach Efland’s top 8 draft.
Pack 1 Pick 1: Siege-Gang Commander was windmilled.
Pick 2: Stampeding Rhino over Act of Treason and Phantom Warrior
Pick 3: Giant Growth over White Knight and Razorfoot Griffon
Pick 4: Centaur Courser over Merfolk Looter
Pick 5: Divination over Windstorm
Pick 6: Oakenform over Fog, Palace Guard, or Coat of Arms
Pick 7: Llanowar Elves
Pick 8: Horned Turtle over Flashfreeze
Pick 9: Sage Owl over Mold Adder and Naturalize
Pick 10: Mist Leopard
Pick 11: Rampant Growth
Pick 12: Yawning Fissure
Pick 13: Wurm’s Tooth
Pick 14: Spellbook

Pack 2
Pick 1: Craw Wurm over Sunpetal Grove, Wind Drake, and Whispersilk Cloak
Pick 2: Overrun over Might of Oaks and Craw Wurm
Pick 3: Cudgel Troll over Borderland Ranger and Wind Drake
Pick 4: Elvish Visionary over Runeclaw Bear and Terramorphic Expanse
Pick 5: Wall of Frost over Oakenform and Coral Merfolk
Pick 6: Safe Passage over Divine Verdict and Enormous Baloth
Pick 7: Diabolic Tutor
Pick 8: Levitation over Naturalize
Pick 9: Siege Mastodon over Oakenform
Pick 10: Lightning Elemental over Serpent of the Endless Sea
Pick 11: Kindled Fury
Pick 12: Acolyte of Xathrid
Pick 13: Shatter
Pick 14: Firebreathing

Pack 3
Pick 1: Acidic Slime over Giant Growth, Craw Wurm, and Phantom Warrior
Pick 2: Howl of the Night Pack over Negate and Unsummon
Pick 3: Prized Unicorn over Rampant Growth and Divination
Pick 4: Acidic Slime over Horned Turtle
Pick 5: Horned Turtle
Pick 6: Giant Spider over Ponder
Pick 7: Deathmark
Pick 8: Flashfreeze over Siege Mostodon
Pick 9: Essence Scatter
Pick 10: Unsummon over Flashfreeze
Pick 11: Wall of Bone
Pick 12: Regenerate
Pick 13: Burst of Speed
Pick 14: Tome Scour

Top 4 Match

Sterling Schroeder vs. Ricky Calarco

Game 1
Sterling won the die roll and chose to play first. He also led the action with a turn 2 Merfolk Looter. Ricky countered with a Child of Night. Sterling looted, discarded a Siege Mostodon, and passed the turn. The Child got in there for 2 and Assassinate ended the Looter’s career. Score: 18-22. Another blank turn for Sterling led to Child bashing again. Ricky played a Gorgon Flail after the attack. Score: 16-24. Sterling found his 2nd creature in Soul Warden. Ricky equipped the Flail and Child battled for 3. Sterling started to get in there with Soul Warden and played a Mind Control on the Child after combat. Ricky answered with a Wall of Bone and tossed the Flail on it. Sterling landed a Phantom Warrior and passed back the turn. After no play from Ricky, Sterling got in for 2 with his Phantom Warrior and attempted an Illusionary Servant that was met with an Essence Scatter. Ricky murdered the Warrior with an Assassinate, and landed a Child of Night on his following turn. The 2 Childs traded on the following turn, and Ricky attempted a Gravedigger. It met Cancel and this is where the game became very boring. Ricky played a Rod of Ruin and let the pinging begin. Soul Warden fell first, then we saw EOT pings for the next several turns. Finally, after quite a few turns of nothing Sterling played a Planar Cleansing. Ricky regenerated his Wall and Drudge Skeleton. (Which was the only play in the last 7 turns.) Ricky battled for 1 with the Skeleton and played a Zombie Goliath. Score: 13-24. Sterling answered with a Palace Guard and a Veteran Armorsmith. Ricky attempted a Sleep but it was Negated. The big Zombie rushed into combat and was chumped by the Palace Guard. Ricky landed another Goliath after combat. The 2nd Goliath met an Ice Cage. Xanthrid Demon and Warpath Ghoul came down for Ricky on the following turn. A Goliath was sacrificed first and Sterling went to 8. There was nothing on the next 3 turns but a sacked Goliath, Ghoul, and Skeleton to finish off Sterling.

Ricky 1, Sterling 0

Game 2
Sterling again chose to play and attempted a Veteran Armorsmith on turn 2. It met the Essence Scatter and Ricky followed up with Warpath Ghoul. After nothing from Sterling Ricky battled for 3 and played a Vampire Aristocrat. Score: 17-20. Sterling tried to catch ujp and played a Razorfoot Griffon. Ricky quickly slammed Weakness on it and sent in the team. The Griffon sacrificed itself in front of the Ghoul. Score: 15-20. Ricky had Divination and a Vampire Aristocrat after the attack. Sterling Pacified one Aristocrat and Ice Caged the other. The Ghoul again got in for 3 and a Zombie Goliath joined Ricky’s team. Sterling had a Siege Mostodon to try and get in the game. After spending awhile in the tank, Ricky plays his Xanthrid Demon. Score: 9-20. After nothing from Sterling, Ricky goes into the tank during his upkeep. His board is Vampire Aristocrat(Ice Cage), Vampire Aristocrat(Pacifism), Zombie Goliath, Warpath Ghoul, and Xanthrid Demon. He can sack his entire team to an Aristocrat and win with a burn for 10, but something as simple as an Unsummon would leave him crippled. He finally sacks an Aristocrat that was Pacisifismed. Score:7-20. During Ricky’s next upkeep, he tries to sack an assortment of creatures to his Aristocrat. He is told that Ice Cage prevents this play. On a side note: what is it called when its 4th and 20 on your own 15 yard line? I can’t remember the name of the play that you would run. Anyways, Ricky sacks a Zombie Goliath to put Sterling to 3. A sacked Ghoul on the next turn ensured the victory.

Ricky 2, Sterling 0

Finals

Forrest Mead vs. Ricky Calarco

Forrest won the die roll and chose to play. He had turn 2 Drudge Skeleton that was countered with a Merfolk Looter from Ricky. Forrest Consume Spirited the Looter for 1 and bashed for 1 with the Skeleton. Ricky answered with a Vampire Aristocrat. Forrest played a Kellinore Bat and passes. Ricky played another Aristocrat on his turn. Forrest’s Bat got in there for 2 and was join by a Dread Warlock. Ricky played a Wall of Bone and passed. The bat bashed again and was joined by another Drudge Skeleton. Ricky had a Zombie Goliath and passed. The Bat got in there again for Forrest. Score: 13-21. Ricky tried to catch up with Assassinate on the bat and a Drudge Skeleton of his own. A few turns passed and then Ricky landed a Warpath Ghoul. Forrest attempted a Looming Shade and it was Essence Scattered. Ricky consumed the Warlock for 2 and sent in his team. Forrest cast Tendrils of Corruption on Zombie Goliath that was sacked to the Aristocrat. Both of Forrest’s Skeletons jumped in front of the 2/2 Aristocrat and got the trade. Score 15-11. Forrest replenished his battlefield with a Black Knight. Ricky passed back to Forrest who played a Cemetary Reaper. Ricky played Divination that dug into Sleep and Forrest had no answer.

Ricky -1, Forrest – 0

Ricky boarded Weakness in and a Zombie Goliath out.

Game 2
Forrest chose to play again and led the charge with a turn 2 Drudge Skeleton. On the following turn it bashed for 1 and Looming Shade had its Essence Scattered. Again nothing from Ricky and the Skeleton bashed again. Bog Wraith joined the battlefield for Forrest. Ricky had only a Rod of Ruin for his turn. Drudge Skeleton was pumped with Unholy Strength and Forrest’s team battled for 6. Score: 12-20. The Wraith was Assassinated. The Skeleton came back in for 3. Mind Shatter for 3 left Ricky with only a land in his hand. Ricky drew a Skeleton of his own and played it. It was Tendrils of Corruption-ed from Forrest and another bash for 3. A Gravedigger from Ricky found a Zombie Goliath. It would seem Forrest was out of gas and passed the turn. Ricky played a Gorgon Flail and the Skeleton picked it up. Forrest found a Bat. Ricky pinged the Bat on his turn and was done. Forrest again had nothing and Ricky played his Zombie Goliath. Forrest tapped all of his mana to Consume Ricky for 6 and that was the game.

Ricky 1, Forrest 1

Ricky side-boarded in a Mind Rot.

Game 3
Ricky chose to play and led the action with a Child of Night. It battled the next turn and Ricky Signed in Blood after combat. Forrest had a Vampire Aristocrat. The Child picked up a Gorgon Flail and went into battle. It traded with Forrest’s Aristocrat. Forrest landed a Gravedigger that found his Aristocrat. Ricky answered with Zombie Goliath. Forrest had Consume Spirit ready for the Goliath. Ricky played a Skeleton and it picked up the Flail. Forrest played a Bat and a Mind Rot. Ricky had a Merfolk Looter. The bat flew in for 2 and Aristocrat rejoined the team. Ricky looted and thought for a while before discarding a Xanthrid Demon. Looter was Assassinated and the Bat smashed for another 2. The bat got in 2 more times before we saw a Bog Wraith meet Essence Scatter. The Bat got back in again and Disentomb found a Bog Wraith that was played. The Wraith and Bat got in for 5. Ricky had a Gravedigger to get back the demon. Forrest’s team again slammed for 5. The demon came down for Ricky. It me Tendrils of Corruption and Forrest finished the game with his bat and Wraith.

Congratulations to Forrest Mead, the July Season Champion!

Joe; Ice Age, Champions of Kamigawa, Magic 2010
Billy; Odyssey, Ravnica, Seventh

Game 1
The game started with a forty-dice roll-off; Joe rolled 142, Billy followed with 143 and chose to play.

Billy played Putrid Imp on turn one with Underground River. Joe Countered with Adarkar Wastes and Ponder. During Billy’s upkeep he discards Golgari Grave-Troll to the Imp to give it flying; he then dredges it back to his hand. He plays another Imp and discards another Troll, then plays Cabal Therapy and names Swords to Plowshares; Joe didn’t have any (2 Sensei’s Divining Tops, Elite Vanguard, Brainstorm, Ninja of the Deep Hours, Adarkar Wastes and Glacial Fortress). Billy plays another Underground River, sacks a Putrid Imp to flashback Cabal Therapy, naming Joe’s 2 Sensei’s Divining Tops, then attacks for 1. Joe drops an Elite Vanguard and passes. At the end of his turn, Billy brings Ichorid back into play, removing Putrid Imp from his graveyard. Billy dredges the Golgari Grave-Troll, dredging 3 straight Cabal Therapys in a row. He pitched another Troll to give his Imp flying and attacks with it and the Ichorid. Joe Plows the Ichorid, with only the Imp hitting for 1. Joe’s now at 13, Billy’s at 20 (thanks to the 3 from the Swords to Plowshares). Billy casts Cabal Therapy and hits the Ninja of the Deep. Joe swings for 2 with the Elite, then brings out a Jotun Grunt – a real dagger to Billy P’s plan. Billy dredges for the troll and takes 4 to flashback to Deep Analysis, then dredges Life from the Loam and Stinkweed Imp. Joe Brainstorms, then sends his Vanguard and Grunt on the offensive, only to have the Ninja smokebombs past the Elite and bashes Billy for another 6. The Vanguard comes back into play with the totals at 14-11; shamefully Billy picks up his cards, his utter defeat now inevitable.

Game 2
Joe boards in 4 Samurai of the Pale Curtain, Billy brings in 3 Ray of Revelations.

Billy is on the play, playing Watery Grave into Careful Study and pitches a Golgari-Rot Troll and Ray of Revelation. Joe lays down a plain and unleashes Isamaru, Hound of Konda. Billy dredges the Troll for 6 and hits an Imp, then Careful Study’s and pitches another Troll and an Ichorid. He plays a City of Brass, plays an Imp and passes. Joe plays Minamo and attacks with Isamaru – but shakes the battlefield up when the Ninja tags Isamaru out. Another dredge hits Cabal Therapy and another Troll, then Billy goes on the offensive with the 2 Imps. It’s down to 15-18. Flashbacking Deep Analysis brings it further down for Billy, leaving him at 11. He dredges another Imp and Troll hitting 2 more Imps, a Troll and an Ichorid. He casts Cabal Therapy but incorrectly calls out the Jotun Grunt – Joe reveals Isamaru, Swords to Plowshares, Sensei’s Divining Top, Force of Will, another Ninja and 2 Islands. Fail. Joe casts his top and activates it. The Ninja dishes out two more points of damage and grants him another card. Isamaru joins the battlefield and Joe passes the turn. Billy manages to retrieve 2 Ichorids, dredges the Troll to get a Wonder and another Troll and removes 2 Imps for an Ichorid. The 2 Ichorids charge into the fray – the score is now 11-12. Billy, clearly forgetting the Force of Will in Joe’s hand, fruitlessly casts another Imp only to have it countered, taking 2 from his pain lands in the process. Joe uses his Top and swings for another 4. Billy’s left at a mere 2. He returns 3 Ichorids, doesn’t dredge, and smashes Joe for 9, though to no avail. He scoops and shakes Joe’s hand. The match is over, proving once again that you don’t mess with ninjas.

Joe Lee and Eric Muensh split in the finals.