Harlequin
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« on: January 30, 2006, 11:45:52 pm » |
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This is my first Tournament report everyone, so please bear with me. Its the first time I've ever placed noteworthily, so I figured I would give it a shot.
I've been playing U/W Fish for awhile, basically since SoK rolled by, ditching my 2 Icatian Javalineers main (which I scrubbed out of Day 1 Waterbury with), I opted for the smarter and more versitile Kataki, which I should have never doubted. Anyhow, onto the meat. here's my decklist.
// Lands
3 Island
1 Plains
3 Mishra's Factory
1 Strip Mine
4 Flooded Strand
4 Wasteland
4 Tundra
// Creatures
4 Ninja of Deep Hours (TY Anthony for the Foil ones^_^ )
4 Meddling Mage
4 Flying Men (Best creature in magic, eat it Welder!)
2 Kataki, War's Wage
//Spells
4 Force of Will
1 Ancestral Recall (now I don't need a proxy!)
1 Black Lotus (the Bloatus)
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Sapphire
4 Swords to Plowshares
1 Time Walk
3 Daze
3 Stifle
3 Curiosity
1 Misdirection
3 Null Rod
// Sideboard
1 Null Rod
3 Energy Flux
3 Silver Knight
3 Disenchant
3 Extract (MVP)
2 Kataki, War's Wage
There's the Hog himself. some explainations for deviant (Crossman now laughs at his computer at me) choices.
3 Mishras over 4. Mishras SUCK opening hand. I cry like a little girl when I see one. Done. 3 islands 1 plains, Same concept as mishra, I love seeing the colored mana opener. I tried 1 polluted for a 5th fetch, it thins too much. 2 Kataki, War's Wage MD, 2 SB. I actually had 1 Kataki sb, 1 sacred Ground sb, but forgot to update my list, and got a game loss because of it. *curses own stupidity for not updating list*, sacred ground is better for the 4th slot against stacks, but alas, next time. Kataki pwns, no explaination needed. 4 STP obvious choice over 3 due to even combo running creatures (not just DSC, confidant). 3 Curiosity. Takes the place of Standstill. I hate standstill, makes you play too slow. Curiosity lets you go for their freakin head. 3 Silver Knight SB. good versus the billions of red aggro/control decks you'll see the first 3 rounds, great versus fish mirror, basically lets me win the aggro mirror. 3 Extract SB. best card of the night, one I sided in the most. some great picks for the night (DSC, Time Vault, Psychatog). I never got to pull a creature from oath /cry.
OK! boring stuff over!
Round 1
Nice guy from Michigan playing traditional AK/Tog. (So bad with names, I'll never remember unless Ray lets me know)
Game 1
I honestly don't remember much of these early matches. I got a Meddling Mage on the board naming AK early, turn 2 I believe. Ninja'd him up. Renamed Tog with Mage, and proceeded to go to game 2 after winning the 1st match.
SB out 3x Stifle 1 Ninja SB in 1 Null Rod 3x Extract
Game 2
This game was a tad longer then the 1st. I slowed down the beats in lieu of extracting for a tog. Flyingman/Ninja combo went to work, STP put the 2nd out of 3 togs to RFG, which he removed his non-Yawg cards to gain 10+ life on tog for, but he couldn't recover.
He was a great guy (can't remember his name I asked him 3 times too >,<), hope to see him again, poor Michigan folks got crushed due to lack of knowledge of our meta.
Round 2
Andy Probasco playing Confidant Tendrils. I can't explain to the celebrities out there what its like being the small fish taking on a Mammoth of names suchas Andy Probasco, but let it be said, that I nearly crapped myself knowing I would play against the Gifts creator himself. Intimidation factor x 100, activated.
Game 1
After I see a confidant hit the board I start to weep not having a STP in sight, but I proceed with my terrible beats, with him not blocking 6 damage. He reveals Mind's Desire off confidant. wham, basically takes him out of the game, but the Stifle on a fetch, and stifle on the Desire assisted him with it.
SB out x2Kataki x1Ninja x1 Misdirection SB in 1xNull Rod 3x Extract
Game 2
As if game 1 wasn't unfair enough, I see 3 Stifles this game, and the flying men/Ninja go to work again.
Round 3
I thought this guy in a hoodie was a little kid, but lo and behold he's an old vet from back in the day, as the person nexto him had a little chat beforehand about nearly every meta from High-Tide forward. Intimidation factor, increased to 10. Anyhow he's playing Gifts/Flame Fussilade
Game 1
After an initial counter-war, which I win, he draws no gas (draw) and no guns (counters). I did have time to see a gifts, which got countered, so at least I knew how to side.
SB out 2x STP x3 Stifle SB in 1x Null Rod 1x Kataki 3x Extract
Game 2
After 5 turns both of his wins are extracted, and he doesn't scoop. Chivalrous, silly, but chivalrous.
Round 4
Enter the DICK. Either this guy was a mute with a pineapple up his bum, or he had termites in his underwear, but either way, he was one pissed guy. I saw my friend playing the Oath Mirror against him (at this point I've scouted everyone at the first 16 tables), and he didn't look any happier.
BEFORE game 1 starts, we both get deckchecked. Surprisingly we BOTH had errors. this is when I found out about my kataki/sacred ground swap that I forgot to amend, and he had a snow covered island listed as a normal island. (you laugh, but when your opponent gifts for mox Sapphire, Lotus, Island, snow covered island, you won't). So we BOTH get match "wins" against each other, and go directly to game 3, unsided.
Game 3
I know he's playing oath, so this matchup will make him cry. I do know however that he runs maindeck Ancient Hydra, so this might get interesting. I lock down intially with a null rod, with no counter response, so I know he contriving a plot against me. Lo and behold next turn we have a fantastic counterwar over a Tinker, which he loses (due to 3+ cards drawn from ninja, and flying man as a pitch weee!). After that I believe I have the game locked as I play a Meddling mage naming oath. He doesn't scoop though, being the stubborn little bastard that he is, so I know he has more tricks. 3+ cards later for him, and 8+ cards later for me, he drops hardcast Ancient Hydra. daze? bam. game over 2 turns later. I offer hand to shake (as always), and he angrily refuses to shake it , what a little pissant. I hope he fries.
Round 5
Hatcher informed me about how we would most likely get paired, and since we go way back to the old country, we should draw together. I know Hatcher can be a tricky little devil, but he's a good guy when it comes down to it, respect is exchanged before pairings are up. We get paired together, and ID. Its noteworthy to mention that we DO play for fun (and discuss openly what we would SB against each other) and I beat him out of 3 games (the only match I have that day that goes to 3 games legitimately. His deck gives me a run for my money, but I'll be happy to face it in the finals.
Round 6
Joe playing Gifts/Fussilade. WHAT IS WITH THE Drain DECKS!? I wanted to play some stacks/red aggro! grrr! sideboard slots, sitting idlely /cry
Game 1
These games are pretty vicious. Another Tinker-war which I win via ninja-rocketfuel, and then the kataki/ninja/mage beats roll on through.
SB out x2 STP x3 Stifle SB in x1 Null Rod, x1 Kataki, x3 Extract
Game 2
This game was such a slaughter my friend and Hatcher both had to walk away to comment to each other. Ninjas from turn 2 on, Null Rod, Kataki, Extract. I saw all the MVPs. it was like an All-Star game. At this point I was starting to get pretty confident and cocky, so my Intimidation meter was negative, into Cockiness meter 100+. Let the sassy comments flow. Later on I'll regret not looking for his 2nd win condition, as I learned it was Tendrils and not Vault, I might have changed my normal Fussilade SB option of Stifles-out, oh wells.
Round 7
Unknown big guy with a Spawn shirt on, playing Undergrown Dredge/Control
The two of us ID'd in, and happily for me, as I know this deck requires graveyard hate or fast wins to succeed, neither of which I have. After we mosey around for a bit and his friends depart we play a game unsided for fun, I get throttled, and am happy that we will be in opposite brackets in top 8.
TOP 8 WOO HOO!!
Round 1 Quarterfinals
JIGGLEYPUFF! omg, my arch nemesis. leh sux! why couldn't jiggles play that Undergrown Dredge/control guy! bleahh! I hate playing jiggles, he always one-up's me like I'm a friggin goomba. Anyhow, its about time to get some divine revenge, I can feel it. He's playing what he always plays, Gifts/Fussilade
Game 1
Jiggles Mulls to 6. woo hooo! Flying Man into Ninja pulls this one away after jiggles fails to find answers. (I swear he's going to start running Maindeck rebs now)
SB out x3 Stifle x2 STP SB in x1 Null Rod x1 Kataki x3 Extract
Game 2
This is the longest game 2 of my life. After a gruelingly long fight over daze's and thirsts, I wind up with more cards them him with ninja with curiosity going to town. Against a normal opponent that would be game, but jiggles grits down and starts blasting guys like crazy. Pyroclasm, reb, reb, Rack and Ruin mishra. the dudes are dropping like flies, but I persist. I manage to get off 2 extracts, and in the 2nd Extract is my missplay. after getting DSC, I go for Yawg Will, seeing the Flame Fussilade in the grave, instead of just getting Time Vault like a GOOD PLAYER. This extends the game a good 10 turns, with Jiggles holding a 2nd Flame Fussilade in his hand and him having to topdeck Time Vault. He is at 3 life, and cannot fetch/Vamp for the vault, so lets me know, "This has to be time vault" tapping the top of his library. and like the HACKER that he is.. pulls time vault off, plays it, no counter, resolves! He has 4 mana left, and says "do you have a counter" with only 2 cards in his hand, and I show him the daze. fwew! won by the skin on my chinny chin chin!
Round 2 Semifinals
Joe! the same guy I promised a rematch after smashing his face in Round 6!
Game 1
He starts with Lotus - Brainstorm - Sol ring - Fetch. Derr. this isn't good. I go upkeep Ancestral... I guess that's ok. Eventually after a massive counterwar, I have enough to get down a Ninja to take home the win though. those foil ninjas are HOT! (Ty again Anthony!)
SB out 2x STP 3x Stifle SB in x1 Null rod x1 Kataki x3 Extract
(Noteworthy to mention I didn't know he was playing Tendrils as 2nd win, and probably would've kept in stifles and out with 1 Mage, 1 Curiosity, and kept 2 katakis in)
(I also am giddy to see that Hatcher crushed both the Undergrown Dredge/Control guy and the other Oath matchup. If I win this game its Hatcher versus me! woo hoo!)
Game 2
Long and grueling is the name of this game, I have a hand of null rod and tons of reactionary items, but no creatures. Keep, as its juicy. I proceed to draw my other 2 null rods and more reactionary stuff.
including 2 extracts, BOTH of which go off, with plenty untapped for him, I guess he was drawing horribly too. I tear out DSC and Tendrils of Agony, after not seeing a Burning wish. He eventually "goes off" at 2 hp left with yawg, bouncing Null rods with Echoing truth, "Mage naming Rebuild that I saw, Truth which was in his hand", and when he's upto 9 spell count he asks me, so game 3 then? I give him this sideways look, and say "no, show me the win" he continues on, draws down to 5 cards in his library and admits that he has no wins left, and was trying to get me to admit a loss, as he sb'd out burning wish. WOO HOO! FINALS BABY!
FINALS
Hatcher and I are both tired as hell, have work the next day and don't really want to play. Hatcher and I ask to inspect the cards to discuss a deal. Ray then comes over and says all shadely, "Ya see... here's the thing... I don't actually.. "quote marks" haaavve the cards...." ....
....
....
Hatcher and i go to strangle him and he busts out laughing. *shakes head* what a maroon. he had ém in his pocket.
After looking over the cards (AR is a bit ruffled, and Mox is pretty hot) I consider hatcher's offer, but like HELL am I going to split over this mox/ancestral, even though Hatcher's offer is very generous. After consulting my friend, who offers me the perfect advise of "Just earn it, whatever it may be", I gladly don my weapons against what would be one of my previous sensei's of Magic. *bows*
Hatcher and myself had discussed how since both of our decks control tempo so verymuch, the match will most likely come down to the die roll. so this moment is tense. He rolls a 7 on a 20 sided die. YES! I can beat that! And I roll!? ... a 4.. >.> damnit! That's ok, let him think he has this in the bag, I'll get him rankly.
Game 1 FIGHT!
Meddling Mage comes out early naming Mana Drain (before 2 U is active for him), then a stifle on a fetch. The flying man/ninja team follows, and then a 2nd mage naming Crucible. Not much to say, Hatcher simply cannot recover even with a tinker-collossus, which I stp. game 2. DSC farmers, ftw.
SB out x3 Null Rod x1 Misdirection (too much card loss) SB in x1 Kataki (fearing needles on ninja and needing blockers) x3 Silver Knight baby! yeah! first time in!
Game 2
I keep a highly reactionary hand with no colored mana, but mishra/waste, 2 STPs, Ancestral, Curiosity, Flying Man. I can DO THIS! Keep! he goes Land, go. Draw Ninja of deep hours *curses* Mishra go. (I get a wierd look from him). I draw a colored mana source, yes!. Ancestral upkeep! draw a force *fwew* and fuel for flying men, curiosity on flying men, He forces, I force back removing ninja. That Flying man with a curiosity does 12 points of damage over 12 turns, and basically wins the game. He has a misplay of attacking into a kataki I just played, but I'm certain he was toast anyhow. I win de Ancestral! weeeee doggy!
Great games, great people, BAD HEADACHE, but good times. God this is long. har. see yáll around ^_^
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